South Africa: Presidency clarifies security team delays

By Dikeledi Molobela

Warsaw, Poland: The travel difficulties that have been experienced by the additional security team from South Africa in Warsaw, Poland, is not a cause for concern, says Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.

President Cyril Ramaphosas spokesperson said this after an additional security team that was meant to travel to the Ukrainian capital city Kyiv was delayed due to logistical and bureaucracy challenges.

There are already teams deployed on the ground that have conducted a security threat assessment and have given President Ramaphosa the green light to travel to Kyiv.

The African Leaders Peace Mission is an unprecedented and historical moment. It's the first time that the continent has united behind an attempt towards finding a resolution to a conflict outside the African continent. It's also the first time that a group of African Heads of State and government have travelled together on a peace mission, Magwenya told SAnews on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, President Ramaphosa paid a courtesy visit to Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw, ahead of the African Peace Initiative Mission.

President Ramaphosa along with the Presidents of Zambia, Senegal and the Comoros are proceeding to Ukraine by train for deliberations on Friday with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Presidents of Congo Brazzaville, Egypt and Uganda have sent their representatives for the mission.

The African countries are representatives of a continent that has felt the adverse economic impact of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Later tomorrow, the African leaders will leave Kyiv for St Petersburg, Russia, where the African delegation will engage with President Putin on Saturday, 17 June. -SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-06-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
European poll highlights willingness to see China as partner

Xinhua) 17:05, June 15, 2023

BERLIN, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Europeans want to remain neutral between China and the United States and are reluctant to "de-risk" from China, according to a recent poll by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).

The prevailing view in almost every country the institution polled is that China is Europe's "necessary partner," said the report issued on June 7.

This report, reflecting the opinions of 16,168 respondents, is based on a poll conducted in 11 European countries, including France, Germany and Spain.

On average, 62 percent of the respondents think their country should remain neutral to a "potential conflict between the United States and China," according to the poll.

The report says that Europeans do not seem to share the view of many American strategists that NATO's eastern flank and the Indo-Pacific are two interconnected theaters.

Meanwhile, the report noted that three-quarters of respondents agree that Europe cannot always rely on the United States and must look after its own defense capabilities. Less than 10 percent believe that the United States will always protect Europe.

The reluctance of Europeans to pick a side between China and the United States results from an interdependence between Europe and China, according to experts.

Economic ties have resulted in a much greater interdependence than most people outside the business sector might realize, said Jochum Haakma, chairman of the Netherlands-China Business Council and chairman of the EU-China Business Association in Brussels.

According to Haakma, the EU's interdependence with China calls for a pragmatic approach to balancing their relationship with the United States and China, making it essential to maintain good ties with China.

As essential trade partners, economic relations between China and the EU have been rapidly expanding in sectors of batteries, electric vehicles and photovoltaic products.

New investment from European companies in China went up by 70 percent to 12.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, according to data from China's Ministry of Commerce. Last year, China-EU bilateral trade hit a new high of 847.3 billion U.S. dollars.

Across the countries surveyed by the ECFR, only 22 percent of Europeans consider the region's economic relationship with China as bearing more risks than benefits.

Instead of being systematic rivals, Europe and China should be global partners to improve global governance, said Maria Joao Rodrigues, president of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies. "This can make a big difference for the world."

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Photo: The Canadian Press

Canada's highest court has deemed the pact between Canada and the United States to control the flow of asylum seekers across the shared border to be constitutional.

The Safe Third Country Agreement, which came into effect in 2004, recognizes Canada and the U.S. as safe places for potential refugees to seek protection.

Under the agreement, refugees must seek asylum in the first of the two countries they land in, and if their claim is rejected by one then they will not be successful if they try again on the other side of the border.

Opponents of the treaty asked the top court to declare that the legislation underpinning the pact violates the right to life, liberty and security of the person, saying the U.S. is not actually safe for many asylum seekers.

The Supreme Court found the legislative scheme underpinning the pact does not breach Section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The top court has asked the Federal Court to take a further look at the opponents' argument that the agreement violates of Section 15 of the Charter over allegations of unequal treatment for women in the U.S. who are fleeing domestic violence.
After two days of anxiety over sharing advertising space in the media, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday 'shared' a helicopter ride. The duo hopped into the same chopper for a function in Palghar and even returned in the same way this afternoon to Mumbai, said officials. The helicopter took off from Mumbai, dropped them at Palghar, barely 30-minutes flight, they landed and attended a government event and then returned by the same chopper a few hours later. This was in stark contrast to the past two days after the ruling Shiv Sena's 'ad-blitzkrieg' that created many heartburns in the ally Bharatiya Janata Party. For a couple of days, an apparently peeved Fadnavis even avoided sharing the dais with the CM for certain events, though the official reason cited was he suffered from an ear infection. Today, things were quite hunky-dory, the duo sat beside each other, smiling, exchanging notes and jokes, and even praising each other, and the political situation was turning normal. "Our friendship with Fadnavis is very old. It's like 'Jay-Veeru' or 'Dharam-Veer', a strong 'Fevicol Bond' and will never snap. He has done a lot for the state and we shall continue working together," said Shinde. "We have been working with Shinde for the past 25 years. The (Shiv Sena-BJP) alliance government is in power now, and will continue working together even tomorrow. One stray advertisement or statement does not affect our relations," declared Fadnavis. BJP MP Kapil M. Patil said that the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance is like the LIC - for this life and even after life. Both Shinde-Fadnavis also took the opportunity to take potshots at the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi CM Uddhav Thackeray, saying they were a 'hands-on regime' and not a 'Facebook live' government. --IANS qn/pgh ( 313 Words) 2023-06-15-17:18:03 (IANS)
As ethnic violence continues in Manipur for a month and a half now, 15 organisations of various communities have submitted a memorandum to the United Nations and various international agencies seeking their help to end the ongoing crisis in the northeastern state. The Manipur-based 15 organisations, in their joint memorandum, called for urgent attention on the issue of hunger, poverty, militarisation, partisan role of the central security forces, and violation of the ground rules of tripartite Suspension of Operation (SoO) agreement by the Kuki militants. They submitted the memorandum to the Secretary General, United Nations, International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva, Under Secretary-General, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UN Civil Society Section, Amnesty International and ICRC, India Chapter and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Asia. A spokesman of the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO), one of the 15 organisations, said that they underscored the breach of inter-community ties and peace in Manipur and in the northeastern region due to the evident involvement of foreign Chin-Kuki-Mizo (Myanmarese) mercenaries in inciting ethnic violence in Manipur. Unbiased international attention and intervention is the need of the hour in accordance with the established International Humanitarian Laws, he claimed. The memorandum drew the attention of the UN and other bodies to the issues of human rights violations and the blockade of Imphal-Dimapur National Highway, which is the lifeline of Manipur, by the Kuki militant groups and their supporting organisations. The AMUCO spokesman said that the issue of drug cartels and its ever-expanding financing network in the social and political life of the northeast region and India-Myanmar borderland has been placed before the UN. Cross-border insidious economic activities like human trafficking, poppy cultivation, deforestation, illegal immigration, ecological issues, and space politics complicated the state's situation, the memorandum said. "The democratic participation of Nagas, Meiteis, Kukis and Pangals (Manipur Muslims) in the independent constitutional and modern state making process in Manipur has been highlighted to acquaint the UN with the fraternal political history of Manipur," the memorandum said. It stresses on the inter-connected topography of Manipur as it apprises the international community to know that the small Manipur Valley is home to nearly 60 per cent of state's population which warrants for envisioning of a democratic and just land laws. Highlighting the issue of demography and geo-politics, the memorandum cites the issue of the influx of foreigners, inability on the part of the Centre to implement National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Zo exclusive greater homeland territorial project as among the key concerns that is to prove inimical to ethnic harmony, integrity, and peace in Manipur. The memorandum urged to ensure, act responsibly and to provide adequate security measures in vulnerable and sensitive areas so that the communities displaced can return to their original settlement areas. Besides the AMUCO, the 15 organisations include the Committee on Human Rights (COHR), National Research Centre (NRC), Porei Leimarol Meirapaibi Apunba Lup Manipur (PLMPAM), Indigenous People's Forum (IPF), All Manipur Women's Voluntary Association (AMAWOVA), Irabot Foundation Manipur (IFM), Manipur Students' Federation (MSF), All Manipur Ethnical Socio Cultural Organisation (AMESCO), and the All Manipur Meitei Pangal Clubs Organisation (AMMPCO). --IANS sc/vd ( 544 Words) 2023-06-15-17:30:04 (IANS)
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday has reserved its order on the review petition filed by the West Bengal State Election Commission against an earlier order by a division bench regarding deployment of central armed forces in seven sensitive districts during the forthcoming panchayat polls. During the prolonged hearing in the matter by a division bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya, the Chief Justice expressed ire over the lack of necessary security arrangements resulting in continuing clashes and violence in different pockets in West Bengal during the nomination phase. At one point of time, he even warned of passing an order for deployment of central armed forces throughout the state for the rural civic body polls. He expressed ire when counsel of the commission informed the court that the commission is yet to identify the sensitive booths in the state. The state government's counsel and Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member Kalyan Bandopadhyay urged the court not to pass any order that will benefit some political parties. "We have arranged for police from other states. We have requested the state governments of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Punjab and Tamil Nadu to send their forces to the state for the panchayat polls. There is no guarantee that deployment of central forces will be enough to infuse confidence in people," Bandopadhyay said. Chief Justice Sivagnanam also advised the counsel of the state government and the commission that if they are not satisfied with the earlier order on deployment of central armed forces, they have the right to approach a higher court on this count. "You have the scope for appearing at a higher court. But if you create a situation so that my order is not implemented I cannot just remain silent. Section 144 has been implemented at different places. The police should strictly enforce that," he said. Finally, after hearing all sides, the division bench reserved its order. --IANS src/vd A A ( 340 Words) 2023-06-15-18:30:05 (IANS)
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday urged Union Housing and Development Minister Hardeep Puri to include SAS Nagar (Mohali) in the Smart City project for its inclusive development. The Chief Minister, who called on Puri here, underscored the need to develop Mohali as Smart City. He apprised the Union Minister that Mohali is part of tri-city comprising Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula due to which this city holds immense significance. Mann said most of the departments of the state government have their head offices in this city due to which it is imperative to give further fillip to its growth and it is the need of hour to include this city in the Smart City Project for further holistic and planned growth. Mohali and its adjoining municipal committees like Zirakpur, Kharar, Derabassi, and Kurali have witnessed immense growth with the international airport and the presence of educational institutes, townships and industries. Mann said the area needs special funding to support planned growth and infrastructure development. Flagging another issue, the Chief Minister requested the restoration of the same ratio of funds under AMRUT 2.0 as was earlier in AMRUT 1. He said under AMRUT 1.0. the Centre and the state share was 50:50 for towns in one lakh to 10 lakh population category whereas under AMRUT 2.0, the Centre and the state share has been revised to 33:67 for the towns under the same population category, adding for million-plus cities like Ludhiana and Amritsar, the ratio was 33:67 (the Centre and the state share) and under AMRUT 2.0, it is 75:25. Mann said as these towns are rapidly expanding they need continuous infrastructure development for which the old share ratio must be restored. --IANS vg/vd ( 298 Words) 2023-06-15-18:46:02 (IANS)
Days after the Crime Branch police named him as the second accused in a cheating case, State Congress President K. Sudhakaran on Thursday filed an anticipatory bail plea in Kerala High Court. The complaint against Sudhakaran was that a person called Anoop had given Rs 25 lakh to the now jailed fake antique dealer, Monson Mavunkal at his Kochi office in 2018. When the money was being handed over, Sudhakaran was also present and he took Rs 10 lakh, promising to give the person a favour. The Crime Branch named Sudhakaran as the second accused and asked him to appear before the probe team on Wednesday. However, he said that he will be unable to do so and instead will appear before them on June 23. The Crime Branch then issued a fresh notice asking him to come that day. In his anticipatory bail plea filed through his counsel Mathew Kuzhalnaden, a first time Congress legislator, the top Congress Lok Sabha member from Kannur said this is nothing but a politically motivated case as in the first complaint of the complainant, his name was not there and it was after a long time, that his name was included. "I have done no wrong at all and I have not taken money from anyone and this is now being done to lower my dignity," said his petition. In September 2021, Mavunkal hogged the headlines after a person who was allegedly cheated to the tune of Rs 10 crore by Mavunkal, approached Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan which eventually led to Mavunkal's arrest. Mavunkal used to bring several VIPs to his palatial residence, a part of which was converted into a museum to store his 'precious' antiques, which he claimed included the "staff of Moses" and "two of the 30 silver coins that were taken by Judas to cheat Jesus Christ". The police said that he also displayed a throne said to be used by Tipu Sultan, as well as a huge collection of old Qurans, Bibles (Old Testament and New Testament), and old handwritten copies of the Bhagavad Gita. The first case surfaced, after pictures of the now retired state police chief Loknath Behra and serving additional director general of police Manoj Abraham visiting the "museum" of Mavunkal at Kochi went viral. As the matter went before the court, it asked how these top police officials never thought of how a museum like this can function as the rules are very clear. It also sought to know why the police set up a daily beat box at his house and the museum. Sudhakaran had then admitted that he had visited Mavunkal to get advice on a health issue that he was facing. Mavunkal, since his arrest, continues to be in judicial custody. A few days back, while being taken to the court, Mavunkal gave a clean chit to Sudhakaran. --IANS sg/uk/ ( 494 Words) 2023-06-15-20:44:03 (IANS)
Haryana AAP president and Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Gupta on Thursday targeted the Manohar Lal Khattar-led state government over the proposed rally of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Sirsa on June 18. Addressing a press conference here, Gupta said that the BJP government is scared. "Earlier Amit Shah's rally in Gohana was a flop because people did not turn up. Now the BJP rally has been fixed in Sirsa on June 18, that too should not be a flop, so the Khattar government has given notice to the AAP workers, farmers and sarpanches to be placed under house arrest by sitting in the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) court." The MP said that in the last nine years, the Khattar government did nothing in the state. The result of this was that wherever Khattar went, he had to face the anger of the public. "The Khattar government has issued an order regarding Amit Shah's rally on June 18, in which FIR would be lodged against AAP workers, farmers and sarpanches if they disturb the peace. Notice has already been given to AAP workers in Sirsa," Gupta said. He asked Khattar, can the people of the state not ask questions to their elected Chief Minister and Home Minister? "The Khattar government is misusing the law. Unfortunately, Aam Aadmi Party workers, farmers and sarpanches are being intimidated, threatened and cases are being filed against them." "The BJP and the JJP contested elections by abusing each other and later entered into a "Thugbandhan" and duped the people of the state. The present government has neither given good schools nor hospitals in the state and the state is number one in corruption, unemployment and crime," he added. --IANS str/bg ( 298 Words) 2023-06-15-20:48:03 (IANS)
A day after the Law Commission sought suggestions of public and recognised religious organisations on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Congress on Thursday termed it Modi Government's "desperation for a legitimate justification of its continuing agenda of polarization and diversion from its glaring failures". In a statement, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said that the 22nd Law Commission of India notified its intention to examine the UCC. This was being done, on a reference sent by the Ministry of Law & Justice. "It is strange that the Law Commission is seeking a fresh reference when in its press release it acknowledges that its predecessor, the 21st Law Commission had published a consultation paper on the subject in August 2018," Ramesh said. He also said that no reasons are given for why the subject is being revisited except for vague references to "the relevance and the importance of the subject and also the various court orders". The real reason is that the 21st Law Commission, after carrying out a detailed and comprehensive review of the subject, observed that it is "neither necessary nor desirable at this stage" to have a Uniform Civil Code. "This latest attempt represents the Modi Government's desperation for a legitimate justification of its continuing agenda of polarization and diversion from its glaring failures," Ramesh said hitting back at the government. He highlighted that the 21st Law Commission in para 1.15 of its 182-page 'Consultation Paper on Reform of Family Law' submitted on August 31, 2018 said, "While diversity of Indian culture can and should be celebrated, specific groups, or weaker sections of society must not be dis-privileged in the process. Resolution of this conflict does not mean abolition of all differences. "This Commission has therefore dealt with laws that are discriminatory rather than providing a uniform civil code which is neither necessary nor desirable at this stage. Most countries are now moving towards recognition of difference and the mere existence of difference does not imply discrimination, but is indicative of a robust democracy." Ramesh said that the Law Commission has produced an enviable body of work over the decades on numerous issues of national importance. "It should be mindful of that legacy and remember that the interests of the nation are distinct from the political ambitions of the BJP," he added. His remarks come a day after the Law Commission published a notice soliciting views and ideas of the public at large and recognised religious organisations about the UCC. --IANS aks/shb/ ( 428 Words) 2023-06-15-11:00:03 (IANS)
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the ex-officio chairperson of the National Capital Civil Services Authority (NCCSA) summoned the first meeting of the authority on June 20, and the authority is likely to discuss disciplinary proceedings against an officer. Meanwhile, even before the meeting of the NCCSA could be convened, the Chief Minister's office in a statement called the panel a "farce body". "However, even before the first meeting of the NCCSA could be convened, it became clear that the authority is nothing but a farce body. Several proposals related to services are being directly sent by the CS to the LG, bypassing the CM and the NCCSA," the Chief Minister's office release stated. Expressing his shock at the allegation, a LG secretariat official said that false and misleading statements comprising wrong assertions and half truths are being issued as official statements by the Chief Minister's Office. "It is shocking that false and misleading statements comprising patently wrong assertions and half truths are being issued as official statements of the Chief Minister's Office," said an LG Secretariat official. The statement further alleged that the Chief Secretary had sent several proposals related to the services being provided directly to the LG, bypassing the CM and the NCCSA. The statement further alleged that the LG had colluded to bypass the CM and NCCSA to directly issue suspension orders for an officer earlier. "Several proposals related to services are being directly sent by the CS to the LG, bypassing the CM and the NCCSA. Two weeks back, the Chief Secretary and the Lieutenant Governor colluded to bypass the CM and the NCCSA and directly issue suspension orders for an officer in another matter," it read. Reacting to the allegation, the official said that since the ordinance came into effect, not a single file related to the posting or transfer of Delhi government officials has been received by the Governor. He further said that the suspension was done on the recommendation of the NCCSA and CM, as the chairman was fully aware of it. "Not a single file pertaining to posting or transfer has been sent to or received by the LG Secretariat after the Ordinance came into effect. As far as the matter of suspension of an official is concerned, it was duly recommended by the authority (NCCSA) as per law, and the CM, as Chairman of the NCCSA, was fully aware of it," said an LG Secretariat official. Clarifying the Delhi LG's action, the official said the official whose suspension is being referred to in the CM's statement was suspended due gross violation and misuse of authority. He further questioned CM Kejriwal whether he was trying to save the corrupt and encourage corruption by raising questions over the suspension. "Moreover, in any case, the LG is the disciplinary authority as per previous and extant laws, and the matter of suspension being referred to in the CM's statement pertained to gross deviation from rules, amounting to misuse of authority for dispensing undue favours to individuals. Is the CM trying to save the corrupt and encourage corruption?" stated LG Secretariat official. (ANI)
Uttarkashi District Magistrate Abhishek Ruhela on Friday said that security forces are deployed in Purola and Section 144 will continue to be imposed in the wake of communal tension in Uttarakhand. Uttarkashi DM, Abhishek Ruhela said, "Section 144 will not be removed now, the decision will be taken only after taking stock of the situation. Security forces are deployed in Purola and no new attempt will be allowed to vitiate the atmosphere in any way." After the postponement of the proposed mahapanchayat on June 15 in Uttarakhand's Purola town, peace seems to be getting resorted after three days, since Section 144 was imposed. Vegetable markets and shops opened on Friday and local people stepped out of their house to buy essential items. Meanwhile, the district administration plans to continue Section 144 of the CrPC banning the assembly of more than four people until June 19. The Uttarkashi district administration on Wednesday refused permission for a Mahapanchayat proposed to be held on June 15 in Purola, which has been witnessing communal tensions over an alleged attempt to abduct a minor girl last month. Meanwhile, a mahapanchayat that was called in Dehradun on June 18 was also cancelled after Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami assured action, the police said. SSP Dehradun Dilip Singh Kunwar said, "There was an in-principle agreement between the parties and the proposed mahapanchayat has been cancelled after talks were held at several levels and on the assurance of the Chief Minister's action." The Chief Minister said, "We have appealed to all the people to maintain peace." He said that if anyone tries to vitiate the atmosphere, the law will take its course. "In the incidents that have happened so far, the administration has acted properly. If someone is guilty then the law will work against him. No one should take the law into their hands," he added. Earlier, the mahapanchayat at Dehradun was called following a meeting of the Ulema and some responsible people under the chairmanship of city Qazi Maulana Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi at Jama Masjid in Doon's Paltan Bazar. People from the Muslim community hailing from Dehradun, Vikasnagar, Haridwar, Roorkee, Haldwani and Udhamsinghnagar were scheduled to participate in the mahapanchayat, the city Qazi had said earlier. On June 9, CM Dhami held a high-level meeting in the secretariat and said that the "cases of love jihad that are coming up will be strictly investigated".State DGP Ashok Kumar, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) V Murugesan and officers of the Intelligence Department were present in the meeting. (ANI)
Photo: Alberni Valley Rescue Squad

Two women were rescued from a ledge in the Beaufort Range on Wednesday by the Alberni Valley Rescue Squad.

The group was called just before 7 p.m. by the Port Alberni RCMP after two French tourists became stranded near the end of what was to be a three-month hiking adventure.

Members of the group managed to make phone contact with the hikers and determined the best rescue option was to bring in a helicopter from Ascent Helicopters to get to the scene.

Once there, rescuers were lowered from the helicopter and then had to rappel close to 23 metres to get to the women.

The women were put into special harnesses and lifted to safety.

From the time we received the call to when the two subjects were safely in the helicopter with rescuers was approximately two and a half hours, said search manager Rick Johns. Without this capability, it is very likely rescuers would have been working to rescue these two well into the next day.

A second group of rescuers was also on the ground during the incident, ready to act if the helicopter had to return to its base due to low light or other emergencies.

The Alberni Valley team and other search-and-rescue groups around the province advise people venturing into the outdoors to have multiple means of communication and to have a route planned.

Search-and-rescue teams can be reached around the province by calling 911.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's advocate Pradeep Chandra on Friday asked Ranchi's MP-MLA court for 15 days time to appear physically. A hearing was held in the MP-MLA court of Ranchi on Friday in the case related to the alleged comment on Modi surname. The order for Rahul Gandhi to appear physically by the MP-MLA court has been challenged in the High Court. A person named Pradeep Modi, a resident of Ranchi, had filed a defamation case against Rahul Gandhi for commenting on the Modi surname. Ranchi MP-MLA court is hearing the matter. Rahul Gandhi had sought exemption from physical examination. MP/MLA court in Ranchi had rejected Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's plea for exemption from personal appearance in 'Modi surname case' in early May. Meanwhile, the Gujarat High Court had also reserved its order on Rahul Gandhi's plea seeking a stay on his conviction in the defamation case. Justice Hemant Prachchhak will pronounce the verdict after vacation. The court refused to grant any interim relief to Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi had moved the Gujarat High Court on April 25 challenging the Surat sessions court order which declined to stay his conviction in the criminal defamation case. During the hearing on April 29, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Rahul Gandhi, had sought time to produce certain documents on record after which the court adjourned the hearing to May 2. The Surat sessions court had on April 20 rejected Rahul Gandhi's plea seeking a stay on his conviction in the 2019 criminal defamation case. In his judgement, Additional sessions judge Robin P Mogera had cited Gandhi's stature as an MP and former chief of the country's second-largest political party and said he should have been more careful. He cited prima facie evidence and observations of the trial court and said it transpires that Gandhi made certain derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi apart from comparing people with the same surname with thieves. Mogera said the surname of the complainant in the case, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Purnesh Modi, is also Modi. "...the complainant is [also an] ex-minister and involved in public life and such defamatory remarks would have certainly harmed his reputation and caused him pain and agony in society," he said. Mogera cited the disqualification criteria under the Representation of the People Act and added that removal or disqualification as MP could not be termed irreversible or irreparable loss or damage to Gandhi. Following his conviction by a lower court in the criminal defamation case, Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as Lok Sabha MP. He had been elected to Lok Sabha from Wayanad in Kerala. The lower court sentenced the Congress leader to two years in jail on March 23 under sections 499 and 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in a case filed by Purnesh Modi. At a rally in Karnataka's Kolar in April 2019, Rahul Gandhi, in a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, "How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?" Following the session's court verdict, Congress had said it will move the Gujarat High Court. (ANI)
The Visakhapatnam police received a call from YSR Congress Party MP M.V.V. Satyanarayana informing that his wife, son and his friend, an auditor by profession were kidnapped on Tuesday. Speaking to ANI, Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner Ch. Trivikramavarma said, "We received a call from MP MVV Satyanarayana at 8 am today. He informed that his wife Jyothi, son Sharat Chandra and his friend G.Venkateswa Rao were kidnapped on 13th." The kidnappers broke into Satyanarayana house on Tuesday when the MP's son was alone, the police said. The demanded ransom from Satyanarayana's wife and took gold and cash from her, the CP said. "We deployed our teams in the city limits immediately. The kidnappers went inside the MP's house on Tuesday when the MP's son was alone in his house. The kidnappers who threatened him demanded money and made him called his mother. The kidnappers then threatened his mother and took gold and cash from her," the CP said. CP Trivikramavarma also added that on the same day the MP's auditor, G.Venkateswarao paid a visit to the Satyanarayana's place. The kidnappers also demanded ranson from him, he said. "G.Venkateswarao, an auditor by profession, paid a visit to Satyanarayana's place. The kidnappers demanded money from him. So far more than one and a half crore transactions have been done from Venkateswarao and Sarath Chandra's account," he said. The CP also added that there is evidence that the kidnappers physically assaulted them. "The kidnappers physically assaulted Venkateswarao and the MP's son Sharat Chandra. They have minor injuries," he said. The primary accused have been identified as Hemanth Kumar who has 12 cases registered against him including one murder case and several kidnapping cases, the CP said adding that he has been to prison and only came out 15 days back. Out of seven kidnapppers, two have been arrested. The have been identified as Hemanth and Rajesh, the police said. The CP stated that Satyanarayana got suspicious when Venkateswarao did not pick up the phone even though he was called several times. The Vishakhapatnam police mobilized 17 police teams in the city limits and then the Padbanabam police caught the kidnappers while they were escaping, he added. "We arrested two persons. We need to get more details. Our teams are under investigation. All three persons were safe." the CP said. (ANI)
With a prediction of heavy rainfall for the next two days for Gujarat after Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall in the state, Western Railways on Friday decided to cancel, partially cancel the operation of a few more trains as a precautionary measure in the cyclone prone areas over Western Railway. According to a press release issued by Sumit Thakur, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, 2 trains have been cancelled, 1 train short-terminated and 2 trains short-originated. "With this, 101 trains have been cancelled, 42 trains have been short-terminated, while 39 trains short-originated as a precautionary measure, in view of safety of passengers & train operations with respect to the onset of Cyclone Biparjoy," the PRO statement said. "Considering the alertness for the 'BIPARJOY' cyclone over Gujarat, Western Railway has further decided to cancel, partially cancel the operation of a few more trains as a precautionary measure in the cyclone-prone areas over Western Railway," the PRO added. The PRO informed that various safety and security precautions are also being taken by Western Railway for train passengers of these prone areas under the jurisdiction of WR. "Refund will be admissible as per extant rules," it added. As per the statement from Western Railways, Train No 09456 Bhuj -Sabarmati Special journey commencing on June 16 which was earlier notified to short originate from Gandhidham, is now cancelled. Train No 22955 Bandra Terminus - Bhuj Kutch Express of June 16 which was earlier notified as cancelled, will now run on its proper route. Train No 09455 Sabarmati - Bhuj journey commencing on June 16 is short terminated at Samakhiali while Train No 15668 Kamakhya - Gandhidham Express journey commencing on June 14 short terminated at Ahmedabad, the statement informed. The MET Director of Ahmedabad, Manorama Mohanty, said that Gujarat is likely to experience heavy rainfall today and tomorrow, as Cyclone Biparjoy weakens into a deep depression over the Saurashtra-Kutch region. (ANI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday asserted that the panchayat poll nomination process was peaceful, and slammed the opposition parties for trying to create an issue over some sporadic incidents. Questioning the Opposition parties over alleging violence in polls, Banerjee drew comparisons between CPI(M) rule and her governance as well as between West Bengal and other states while giving evidence of nominations filed by the political parties. "2.31 lakh nominations for the panchayat election were filed till yesterday, out of this 82,000 nominations were by Trinamool Congress and 1-1.5 lakh nominations were filed by other parties," she said. Banerjee criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for demanding the deployment of Central Forces in Bengal and said, "Today, Bam (Left) any Ram (BJP) or Shyam (Congress) are going out and asking for Central Forces deployment in Bengal, and blaming TMC for violence. Show me one state where so many nominations for the Panchayat Polls were allowed so peacefully." She challenged anyone to find another state where the panchayat poll nominations were allowed to proceed as peacefully as in Bengal. "She said I have always helped Bengal, be it during Amphan or Yaas. I have stood for you during the train accident in Gosaba, Murshidabad and provided the victims with 5 Lakhs compensation and Government jobs," she added. There is no other state other than Bengal where the panchayat poll nomination process is so peaceful. The nomination process for the panchayat elections had previously been marred by violence in the Bhangar area of South 24 Parganas district, where the ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition parties engaged in a war of words. Mamata said, "In Bhangar, the violence was done by goons, and TMC has nothing to do with it. We lost two of our workers there." TMC supremo's remarks came while she was addressing the culminating session of party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee led the two-month-long 'Jono Sanjog Yatra'. Banerjee's comments came after Governor C V Ananda Bose visited Bhangar to assess the impact of violence. After interacting with the victims of the violence, the West Bengal Governor assured that the perpetrators of violence would be silenced permanently under the law of the land. He further added that the people of West Bengal have the right to exercise their right to vote without fearing anyone. "I interacted with the victims of violence and locals. I can assure the people of Bengal that violence will be the first victim in this election. The perpetrators of violence will be silenced permanently under the Constitution and laws of the land. The peace-loving people of Bengal have a right to exercise their franchise unfearful of anybody else," said West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose. "Those who are saying that there is no peace in Bengal today, I would like to ask them - how was it during CPI(M) rule? Congress has had a government in several states, they want our support in the Parliament. We are ready to support them in opposing BJP. But they should not come to us to seek support in Bengal after joining hands with CPI(M)," she said. Earlier on Thursday, while reacting to the incident, he said "effective and corrective" action will be taken against those responsible. To maintain order, heavy security deployments have been made in the South 24 Parganas district. Tension and unease prevailed in several areas, particularly in the Bhangar block, where clashes between supporters of the ruling TMC and the Naushad Siddiqui-led Indian Secular Front (ISF) have occurred over the past two days. The panchayat elections in West Bengal will be held in a single phase on July 8, with the counting of votes scheduled for July 11. The panchayat polls in West Bengal are likely to see a fierce contest between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress, which is being touted as a litmus test for both parties ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections. (ANI)
Anil Kumar has been the Kerala Petroleum and Gas Workers Union General Secretary, Kochi.

The decision was taken in the Ernakulam district committee and district secretariat meetings of CPM held on Thursday in Kochi.

CPIM State Secretary MV Govindan also attended the meeting.

After the purchase landed him in controversy, Anil Kumar said that the car was purchased by his wife who is employed at Indian Oil Corporation.

Photos of Anil Kumar's Zesty Yellow Cooper S purchase were viral on social media. (ANI)
With people in some districts of Assam facing flood situation, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has appealed to local Aam Aadmi Party workers to assist in rescue and relief work. "Heavy rains and floods are affecting life in Assam. I appeal to all the local workers of the Aam Aadmi Party to serve the victims in the flood-affected districts and provide all possible help to the administration in rescue and relief work," Kejriwal said in a tweet. The situation in Assam is still grim as nearly 29,000 people in six districts are affected by the floods, Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said on Thursday. ASDMA said that due to incessant rain in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, the water levels of many rivers are rising, and flood waters and rainwater have flooded 25 villages and other areas under 10 revenue circles in Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Cachar, Nalbari, and Kamrup (Metro) districts. In view of the onset of the Monsoon and the possibility of rain-induced floods across the state, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on June 11 held a video conference with the DCs and other senior officers of the state administration to put in place necessary steps and ramp up flood preparedness and response system. "With the monsoon setting in, in the state, all the government departments including NHAI, NHIDC, NDRF and SDRF should become alert to negotiate with the flood and reach out to the affected people," he said. He also asked ASDMA to activate risk communication and early warning systems to warn people against the potential threats of the flood. In the event of flood water submerging the low-lying habitable areas, the Chief Minister asked the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to set up relief camps and streamline relief distribution. (ANI)
Acting Speaker of Delhi Legislative Assembly, Rakhi Birla, joined by Prakash Jarwal, a member of the SC/ST Committee and MLA, on Friday demanded an extensive investigation into the alleged involvement of senior officers in a multi-crore scam within the Delhi Government. During a press conference held at the Delhi Legislative Assembly on Friday, Rakhi Birla emphasised the detrimental impact of these officials, supported by the patronage of the Delhi Lieutenant Governor, on government operations and the well-being of citizens. "The issue of a potential scam was highlighted in the aftermath of a complaint filed by Nakul Kashyap accusing the Special Secretary (Vigilance and Services) of the Delhi Government, YVVJ Rajasekhar, of demanding a bribe of 5 to 10 lakh rupees in exchange for a job opportunity on compassionate grounds. Disturbingly, despite pursuing justice through official channels, Nakul Kashyap experienced threats, intimidation, and unjust arrest by the Delhi Police. This has raised concerns about a nexus between IAS Rajasekhar, the Delhi Police, the Delhi LG, and the Central Government," she said. Explaining the sequence of events Rakhi Birla, said, "Nakul Kashyap's father, an employee of the Health Department of the Delhi Government, had tragically passed away while on duty. Left grappling with emotional and financial hardships due to his father's demise, Nakul Kashyap approached YVVJ Rajasekhar's office, appealing for a job on compassionate grounds to provide much-needed support for his family." "Shockingly, the officer demanded a bribe of 5 to 10 lakh rupees in exchange for the job, resorting to verbal abuse and invoking derogatory caste-based slurs when Shri Nakul Kashyap refused to comply. Despite filing a complaint with the police, no action was taken, leaving Nakul Kashyap helpless," Birla added. She also said, "In an effort to seek justice, Nakul Kashyap lodged a complaint directly with the Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly on June 2. Taking prompt action, the SC/ST Committee of the Delhi Legislative Assembly convened a meeting on June 6, summoning YVVJ Rajasekhar. However, the accused failed to attend the meeting and wrote to the committee seeking two weeks' time to appear." "However, upon sensing the committee's proactive involvement, the accused officer resorted to deplorable tactics, employing threats and intimidation against the complainant, further exacerbating the gravity of the situation. Nakul Kashyap found himself relentlessly stalked and followed, subjected to distressing death threats, incessant anonymous phone calls, and even encounters with unfamiliar individuals tailing his every move. Concerned about the threat posed by the accused, Nakul Kashyap lodged a second complaint reporting these instances to the Delhi Legislative Assembly on June 10," she said further. Rakhi Birla informed, "The SC/ST committee, acknowledging the severity of the allegations, promptly convened another meeting on June 13, requiring the presence of both the accused and the complainant. On June 13, Nakul Kashyap was present and he even provided a written oath/affidavit outlining the threats, intimidation, and surveillance he is facing to withdraw his complaint, as also reflected in his statements to the committee." "Recognising the gravity of the situation, the committee sent a letter to the Commissioner of Delhi Police on June 14, urgently requesting security for the complainant and a conducive environment for him to speak freely and secure his rights. The complainant was scheduled to provide his statement to the Delhi Police at 2 PM today, but in a shocking turn of events, the Delhi Police arrested the complainant at 10 pm last night, jeopardising the pursuit of justice," she added. Unequivocally condemning any form of corruption, harassment, intimidation, and hooliganism by the said officer, Rakhi Birla, the Acting Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly also raised pertinent questions about the extent of such corrupt practices and the hindrance caused by officers who withhold files until bribes are paid. She said, "The said official allegedly demands bribes of exorbitant sums of money ranging from 5 to 10 lakh rupees in exchange for an employment opportunity, deliberately withholds crucial files unless bribes are paid, and shamelessly even resorts to caste-based slurs. I have been informed by the Delhi Legislative Assembly that there are approximately 300 to 350 such files involving individuals who are seeking to obtain jobs on compassionate grounds after the demise of a family member working under the jurisdiction of the Delhi government. If these officers are extorting 5 to 10 lakhs from job seekers, it is evident that they are potentially involved in a scam worth 15 to 30 crores, shielded by the Delhi LG's protection." She added, "One cannot help but question whether this official's audacious conduct is an isolated incident or indicative of a wider systemic issue. Are these officers brazenly exploiting their authority driven solely by their egos? It is quite evident that the patronage of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi has served as a catalyst, emboldening these officials who obstruct the work of the Delhi government and deprive the underprivileged citizens of their rights. This matter demands a thorough investigation to ascertain whether these officers are acting independently or in collusion with senior officials and the Delhi LG." Rakhi Birla criticised the negligence of the Lieutenant Governor (LG) in providing aid to a distraught family already burdened by emotional and financial struggles caused by the loss of their father. She highlighted the alarming trend of officers within the Delhi Government impeding progress by obstructing aid to the needy as well as corruption. She highlighted that the actions of corrupt officers and the Delhi Police are backed by the protection and support of the Central Government and the Delhi LG. Rakhi Birla underscored the need for a thorough investigation into the matter, urging the authorities to delve into the potential nexus between these officers, senior officials, the Delhi LG, and the Central Government. She noted, "This incident again exposes the Delhi LG's true face, highlighting his active hindrance of those in desperate need. Certain officers within the Delhi Government obstruct the people's efforts and instil fear of potential threats, including violence. Even the Delhi Police, under the jurisdiction of the Central Government, is implicated in oppressing a Dalit young man to coerce complaint withdrawal. These actions receive unwavering support from both the Central Government and the Delhi LG. Instead of providing assistance to a grief-stricken family already burdened by emotional and financial turmoil after their father's demise, the LG neglects his duty. It is crystal clear that the Delhi Police, the LG, and similar officials rely on the blessings and protection of the Central Government to function." Addressing the Delhi Police, Rakhi Birla urged them to provide security to Nakul Kashyap and promptly acknowledge the gravity of his case. "The accused, YYVJ Rajasekhar, must be arrested without delay, to ensure a fair investigation. The complainant's compelling case should be given the attention it deserves and he should be granted compassionate employment without further delay," she concluded. (ANI)
Slamming the Congress government in Karnataka for dropping chapters on Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar, Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party president Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Friday said that the decision was taken on the orders of Rahul Gandhi. The BJP state unit chief said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to remove portions of Swatantryaveer Savarkar from the textbook and that was done. "During Bharat Jodo yatra, Rahul Gandhi insulted Veer Savarkar two-three times. Congress had said that they will insult Savarkar further if they come to power and that's what they're doing in Karnataka. Rahul Gandhi asked Karnataka Chief Minister to remove portions of Savarkar from the textbook and that was done," Bawankule said. The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday approved the revision of Social Science and Kannada textbooks for classes 6 to 10 in state schools, dropping chapters on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder KB Hedgewar and Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar among others. On dropping Hedgewar from the textbooks, Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa on Thursday said that whatever changes the previous government have done last year have been changed. "Syllabus on KB Hedgewar has been dropped. Whatever changes they (previous govt) have done last year, we have changed it and reintroduced whatever was there last to last year," said Madhu Bangarappa, on the revised textbook syllabus. "Hedgewar chapter has been taken out. Whatever was manipulated has been omitted and reintroduced whatever was there last to last year. All the details will be available very soon," the Education minister added. (ANI)
Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena came down heavily on the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for deliberately denying drinking water and sewerage connections to slum dwellers at a recent meeting of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). DJB Vice-Chairman and AAP MLA Somnath Bharti, who is also an Authority Member, was present at the meeting. Saxena termed this deliberate stonewalling on the part of the DJB that was depriving the poorest of the poor with something as basic as water, as unfortunate and requested Somnath Bharti to avoid playing politics when it came to the welfare of the people of Delhi. It may be noted that the requests from DDA for the supply of water and laying of sewer lines is pending with the DJB since as early as 2013 in the case of Kalkaji and 2017 in the case of Jailorwala Bagh, the release stated. Taking strong exception to welfare of the poorest of the poor being put to political ransom by the DJB, LG Saxena pointed out that just during the last one month, he had allotted 17 pieces of land to the DJB for its various projects. The DDA or the LG had not demanded to barter the land given to DJB with water supply to the slum rehabilitation projects, the release read. "Thousands of slum dwellers from the Kalkaji Bhoomiheen Camp, who were shifted to modern multi-storey flats in November last year, are facing acute water crisis with Delhi Jal Board under AAP CM Arvind Kejriwal refusing to provide drinking water to the occupants of these flats. DDA has been supplying water to these people through tankers," it read. The AAP Government has been sitting over the DDA's request to provide water supply to the project that houses more than 2000 families. This intransigence on the part of DJB is despite the fact that it had approved the drawings for laying of pipelines for water supply and sewerage way back in 2019 following DDA's demand to this effect in 2014, it read. DDA, which had made all required payments in this regard in 2019 itself, has been writing consistently to the DJB, the last being a letter from VC (DDA) to CEO (DJB) on May 24, 2023. Similarly, for the Jailorwala Bagh in situ rehabilitation project that is ready for possession by another 1800 slum dweller families, the DJB has not till now even cleared the drawings for the laying down of water and sewer pipelines, despite the request to this effect having been made by the DDA as far back as in 2017. Persistent stonewalling by DJB led to the VC (DDA) escalating the matter to the Lt. Governor through a letter on June 2, 2023, it further said. Thereafter, the matter was taken up by the Lt Governor in the Authority meeting of DDA, where Member of the Authority, MLA Somnath Bharti, who is also the Vice-Chairman of DJB, was present and cornered, it read. The Kalkaji in situ rehabilitation project of the DDA that can house over 3000 slum dweller families was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 2, 2022, when he handed over keys to the beneficiaries at a widely reported function in Vigyan Bhawan. Similarly, the Jailorwala Bagh Project of the DDA which can house 1800 families is ready for allotment to slum dwellers, but it yet does not have the essential water supply and sewerage pipeline laid, in the absence of clearance by the Kejriwal Government, the release said. (ANI)
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday said that uproar, sloganeering and adjournment of the House in a planned manner are not good signs for the country's democracy and that they diminish the dignity of democracy itself. Om Birla, who is on a one-day visit to Mumbai, delivered the inaugural address at the First National Legislators Conference held at the Jio World Convention Centre, today. Birla lauded the initiative of holding the first-ever Legislators Conference and hoped that the discussions during its various Sessions would go a long way in empowering and strengthening our legislative bodies. He observed that as the oldest, largest and most vibrant democracy in the world, India has always supremely upheld democratic systems. Democratic institutions, Birla recalled, have not only existed but have thrived and flourished in different regions in India for millennia. Drawing the attention of the audience to the democratic journey of 75 years of India's Independence, he observed that the nation has made notable advancements and increased the scope of development in education, health, infrastructure, etc. which has had an overwhelming positive impact on the lives of the people. He said that legislative institutions have also similarly contributed to this momentous journey and they have evolved into strong representative institutions focused on public welfare. Referring to the role of legislative bodies in ensuring the socio-economic welfare of the people, the Lok Sabha Speaker emphasized that the functioning of our legislative bodies should be conducted in a dignified manner. He, however, lamented the fact that recent incidents of commotion and interruptions in the Houses are a matter of grave concern. He cautioned that uproar, sloganeering and adjournment of the House in a planned manner are not good signs for our democracy which diminish the dignity of democracy itself. Birla expressed the view that being the highest public representative institution, legislators are expected to work as role model for other institutions and organizations of the country. In this context, he opined that legislators should maintain high standards of discipline and decency in their public life as incidents of unruly behaviour tarnish their image. Being the representatives of the people, they should always try to hold the executive accountable to the House and House to the people. In this context, he highlighted that the role of the legislator is one of great responsibility as they were the crucial link between the citizen and the executive. As such, their sole responsibility is to effectively convey issues of the public interest, wishes, aspirations and needs of the populace to the executive. He emphasized that, in this perspective, it is crucial that discussions and dialogues in legislatures should be result oriented to effectively address the concerns. Referring to the role of legislators in the context of modern democracy, Birla counselled that not only are they expected to solve problems through discussion and dialogue but to ensure that such discussions are productive and achieve their intended objectives. Birla further observed that democracy is our moral system and thus it is imperative on the part of the legislators to self-analyze the shortcomings and find solutions to the challenges of the future. He opined that if solutions to the problems are not found by discussion and dialogue, then there will be a judicial intervention which is not appropriate for democracy. As such, there should be extensive discussions and debates on policies and issues which can make our legislatures effective, he opined. Elaborating on the role of the Constitution in shaping democracy in India, he added that as legislators they are expected to uphold the virtues of freedom, equality, and justice given by the Constitution. Birla illustrated that laws framed in the legislatures are the basis of all rights of the people. These very laws strengthened the country and the people and thus they needed to conscientiously work for strengthening them. During the day, he also inaugurated the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Innovation Expo. The Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Innovation Expo seeks to showcase Good Governance Models, Social Innovation and Innovative Development Models, Flagship Programs by State Governments, Institute, Individuals etc. Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis; Speaker, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Rahul Narwekar and Presiding Officers of State Legislative Assemblies and Councils also took part in the Conference. Besides, former Lok Sabha Speakers, Shivraj Patil, Meira Kumar and Sumitra Mahajan also attended the function. (ANI)
Photo: The Canadian Press

A truck driver who expressed hatred of Jews was convicted Friday of barging into a Pittsburgh synagogue and shooting everyone he could find, killing 11 congregants in an act of antisemitic terror for which he could be sentenced to die.

The guilty verdict was a foregone conclusion after Robert Bowers own lawyers conceded at the trials outset that he attacked and killed worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018, in the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. Jurors must now decide whether the 50-year-old should be sent to death row or sentenced to life in prison without parole as the federal trial shifts to a penalty phase expected to last several weeks.

Bowers was convicted of all 63 criminal counts he faced, including hate crimes resulting in death and obstruction of the free exercise of religion resulting in death. His attorneys had offered a guilty plea in return for a life sentence, but prosecutors refused, opting instead to take the case to trial and pursue the death penalty. Most of the victims families expressed support for the decision.

The jury deliberated about five hours over two days before reaching a verdict. Bowers, wearing a dark sweater, had little reaction, as has often been the case throughout the trial.

Bowers turned a sacred house of worship into a hunting ground, targeting his victims because of their religion, a prosecutor told jurors on Thursday. Reading the names of each of the 11 victims he killed, prosecutor Mary Hahn asked the jury to hold this defendant accountable ... and hold him accountable for those who cannot testify.

Bowers, who was armed with an AR-15 rifle and other weapons, also shot and wounded seven, including five responding police officers.

Prosecutors presented evidence of his deep-seated animosity toward Jews and immigrants. Over 11 days of testimony, jurors learned that Bowers had extensively posted, shared or liked antisemitic and white supremacist content on Gab, a social media platform popular with the far right, and praised Hitler and the Holocaust. Bowers told police that all these Jews need to die, Hahn said.

Survivors testified about the terror they felt that day, including a woman who recounted how she was shot in the arm and then realized her 97-year-old-mother had been shot and killed right next to her. Andrea Wedner, the trials last witness, told jurors she touched her mothers lifeless body and cried out, Mommy, before SWAT officers led her to safety.

With Bowers guilt established, survivors and family members of the deceased victims are expected to tell the jury about the devastating impact of his crimes. The penalty phase is scheduled to start one week after the verdict.

Bowers attorneys did not mount a defense at the guilt stage of the trial, signaling they will focus their efforts on trying to save his life. They plan to introduce evidence that Bowers has schizophrenia, epilepsy and brain impairments. Defense lawyer Judy Clarke had also sought to raise questions about Bowers motive, suggesting to jurors that his rampage was not motivated by religious hatred but his delusional belief that Jews were committing genocide by helping refugees settle in the United States.

The three congregations that shared the synagogue building  Dor Hadash, New Light and Tree of Life  have spoken out against antisemitism and other forms of bigotry since the attack. The Tree of Life congregation also is working on a plan to overhaul the synagogue building  which still stands but has been closed since the shootings  by creating a complex that would house a sanctuary, museum, memorial and center for fighting antisemitism.

The trial took place three years after President Joe Biden said during his 2020 campaign that he would work to end capital punishment at the federal level and in states that still use it. His attorney general, Merrick Garland, has temporarily paused executions to review policies and procedures. But federal prosecutors continue to vigorously work to uphold already-issued death sentences and, in some cases, to pursue the death penalty at trial for crimes that are eligible, as in Bowers case.
The MoU was signed between Prof BS Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, and Sudatta Mandal, Deputy Managing Director, SIDBI in the presence of Chief Guest Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education.

"As part of this MoU, joint initiatives/projects would be launched as part of the IIM Jammu-SIDBI partnership to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country," the statement informed.

"On this momentous occasion, an MoU was signed between IIM Jammu and the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to leverage its expertise in this field to create a supportive ecosystem for entrepreneurship in the country," it informed.

Minister of State Jitendra Singh and Lieutenant Governor Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha were the guests of honour on the occasion.

The 6th Convocation of the Indian Institute of Management was held in Jammu on Friday.(ANI)
Delhi Water Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on Friday wrote a letter to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena imploring him to expedite pending permissions for crucial water infrastructure projects as Chairman of Delhi Development Authority (DDA). Saurabh Bhardwaj also sought support for the AAP's Government demand for additional raw water allocation from the Central Govt, Uttar Pradesh Government and Haryana Government. "DJB has been working tirelessly to fulfil the commitment of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's vision of providing Drinking water to every citizen of Delhi. Delhi has a deficit of nearly 300 MGD and the gap will increase further due to the upcoming Central Government and DDA policy of land pooling, redevelopment projects and other commercial developments. Delhi is dependent on neighbouring States for the availability of drinking water through the Yamuna and Ganga," the letter read. "We have been continuously following up with the Governments of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for water requirements of people of Delhi, however, there has been no positive outcome," it added. Saurabh Bhardwaj in his letter mentioned that the Delhi Government has also proposed to the Government of Uttar Pradesh that it will give them treated effluent in lieu of raw drinking water. "We had also proposed to the Government of Uttar Pradesh that we could give them treated effluent in lieu of raw drinking water. As Uttar Pradesh was using its water for agricultural needs the treated effluent would have served their purpose. However, after initial discussions,even this proposal was not accepted by the Govt. of Uttar Pradesh," the letter said. "We have not yet received any support from the Govt. of India, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh or the Govt of Haryana in terms of additional raw water. You are requested to use your good officeto get additional raw water for the people of Delhi," it added. He further requested the Delhi LG Saxena to instruct the DDA officials to provide requisite no-objection certificates (NOC) related to tube wells, waterbodies and lakes so that water augmentation projects can be completed in time and the water deficit can be reduced. "You are humbly requested to expedite the NOCs of the tubewells, provide permissions of lakes waterbodies as DDA is the Department directing reporting to you. You are also requested to use your good office to get additional raw water from Govt of India, Govt of Uttar Pradesh and Govt of Haryana for the people of Delhi," it said. (ANI)
A complaint has been filed in the Kandivali police station after 'Azaan' (call to prayer) was allegedly played during morning prayers at a school in Mumbai, a senior police officer said on Friday. "The matter will be enquired from all angles. All necessary action will be taken," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ajay Kumar Bansal. "A complaint was received in Kandivali today that 'Azaan' was played during morning prayers at a school. Police have admitted the complaint and an inquiry has begun," DCP added. Further details are awaited. (ANI)
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's mediocre communication skills and the 2G spectrum allocation scam paved the way for PM Narendra Modi's rise, said former CEO of Prasar Bharati Shashi Shekhar in an exclusive interview with ANI, adding that PM Modi has rewritten the rules of communication with the use of technology. A technocrat and author of a book based on Prime Minister Modi's monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat', Shashi Shekhar Vempati is a leader in the media and technology space. "Dr Manmohan Singh's communication abilities were I mean very very mediocre let's put it that way. He was not a public speaker. He was very uncomfortable. He didn't inspire confidence so clearly that was also playing and then of course what happened with the 2G scam and the Radia tapes all of that I think added up to create the perfect set of conditions for PM Modi to rise", Shekhar said. Shekhar said that PM Modi plays the role not just of 'Chief executor but also as Communicator in Chief' which has been very effective in the administration process. "I think you can see that in fact even in the book I mentioned this that Mr Modi plays that role not just as Chief executor but also as Communicator-in-Chief. I think it is two roles you have to play to lead the administration and you also have to communicate what you're doing and I think it has been very effective at doing both of his roles", he added. The former CEO of Prasar Bharati said that PM Modi is India's first Prime Minister as well as a politician to think digitally which is very important in today's communication world. "...when I talk about him being the Communicator-in-Chief there's one aspect which is very distinctive. He's perhaps India's first not just the Prime Minister but also as a politician who thinks digital first. I think that's very important in today's communication world. It's not just about you know broadcast or print you have to think digital first. Your first statement on any given incident is 140 characters on Twitter. Your first reaction to something is an image on Instagram or you know or a live stream on YouTube and so on so that digital-first I think is a very distinctive aspect about his communication..." Shekhar said. Shekhar further highlighted how over-communication is sometimes the right thing to do in the digital era. "...I think it has to do with the fact that in this digital era where attention spans are so small where there's just so much of overload of information so many things that are crowding up your timelines, your WhatsApp groups and so on for you to get your message through you have to over-communicate in the hope that out of those 10 things that you would create maybe one will get noticed. I think that's the reality we are seeing I mean forget politics... Even in the media business, I've run a media company as well and you see the analytics, the data, the attention span is so small. It is so hard. Unless you know it's a phenomenally controversial subject you just can't get the attention of the audience and the audience is fragmented across you know a wide variety of topics so that is perhaps the reason why it's important to flood the audience because something will stick out, something will stand out. Also, I think there is an element of people also overreacting that they're too sensitive to some of this communication...", he added. Shashi Shekhar is also a member of Team Modi and worked in the 2014 campaign for the general elections. Shekhar has also been CEO of national broadcaster Prasar Bharati and is credited with having brought a change in the working style of the national broadcaster. (ANI)
After the murder of 21-year-old Manohar, a Dalit man in Chamba who was in an alleged relationship with a girl from the minority community last week, political bickering has escalated in the state. Section 144 and prohibitory orders have been enforced in the Kihar police station area of Chamba district in light of the murder. Former Himachal Pradesh CM and BJP leader Jairam Thakur was stopped by the police when he was on his way to visit the spot and victim's family. As the police officials stopped his convoy the crowd started raising slogans against the state government. "This incident has shocked the nation. After the incident, there has been anger among the locals. We must not be stopped from meeting the victim's family," former Himachal Pradesh CM and BJP leader Jairam Thakur said on the Chamba murder case. Former CM Jairam Thakur said, "A very shocking incident has occurred which has not only shaken the state but also the country. Every person in society is in pain. Manohar is murdered and his body mutilated into 8 parts. The youth belonged to the Dalit Hindu community. After the occurrence of such a horrific incident, there is a sense of anger in the area. He was the only earning member in the family. His parents are very old and sisters are married. Our party BJP had decided to meet the victim's family and I came here to meet them but the state government has imposed section 144 and stopped us on the way. With full responsibility I am saying that we will travel in our vehicles and reach the spot, no one will get down from their vehicles and say any controversial word. Our effort is to help the victim's family as our party's president Rajeev Bindal also stated that we wish to help the family financially which he has announced here. We wish to tell the victim's family that we are standing with them in this hour of grief. We came here to tell this to the family. But to stop us on the way is not justified. Since they have stopped us so now we are sitting on agitation. We requested the police officials to speak to the government and allow us to meet the victim's family. We wish to express our condolences to the grieving family. The Chief Minister should have come but he has not arrived here yet and no one from his government has visited the spot yet so it is our responsibility as a citizen to console the family but the instructions given to me was that I have to visit the spot alone. I have a responsible team with me and we will not do anything to disrupt the peace. We are waiting for the government officials to respond." (ANI)
Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the bill, called HB 18, that requires social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and TikTok to receive explicit consent from a minor's parent or guardian before they'd be allowed to create their own accounts.

"A digital service provider may collect a minor's personal identifying information if the minor's parent or guardian consents in a manner that is specific, informed, and unambiguous and takes into account the minor's age and the minor's developmental and cognitive needs and capabilities," read the bill.

The new bill also forces social media platforms to prevent children from seeing "harmful" content by creating new filtering systems.

Last week, Louisiana passed a similar bill to require parental consent.

States like Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey and Ohio have also considered similar laws.

Utah became the first US state to enact laws limiting how children can use social media.

Republican Governor Spencer Cox signed measures in March that require parental consent before kids can sign up for social media websites.

The new Utah laws also require that parents be given access to their child's accounts.

--IANS na/prw/dpb

( 221 Words)

2023-06-15-11:04:03 (IANS)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's State visit to the US next week is going to be an opportunity to work on trade ties between the US and India, US Representative Ami Bera said on Thursday (local time). At the invitation of US President Joe Biden, PM Narendra Modi will be on a state visit to the US from June 21 to June 24. During his visit, he will address the joint meeting of the US Congress for the second time. Biden and US First Lady Jill Biden will host PM Modi for a state dinner at the White House on June 22. Ami Bera, while speaking to ANI, said, "I think it's an important visit at this moment in time. You're seeing the US-India relationship grow, obviously, there are geopolitical challenges within Asia and so forth, and then India is also a rising economic power. So I think there's an opportunity to work on the US-India trade relationship. We're talking a lot about supply chains and coming out of the pandemic. I think there's a real opportunity for the two countries to grow together." In response to a question regarding the defence partnership between the two nations, US Congressman said that there should be tangible things coming out of PM Modi's visit to the US, and that discussion on the same is very likely during PM Modi's visit. "Certainly there should be some tangible things that come out of this visit. I think the defence space will be one of them. Is it the coproduction of helicopters? Is it more maritime partnership? Those are all things that we have been doing for a long time," Ami Bera said. "But, I think there's a real opportunity to accelerate some of those partnerships. And I think you'll be hearing some big things coming out of this. And then maybe there are some things on the supply chain front. Again, I think India, as we think about redundancy and supply chains, obviously, the pandemic exposed an over-reliance on China. I think India would be smart to present itself as an opportunity for US investment," he added. Ami Bera stressed that there has always been strong bipartisan support for the ties between the two nations. Notably, the invitation letter to PM Modi to address Capitol Hill on June 22 has bipartisan support. "There's always been strong bipartisan support for the US-India relationship. I was a former co-chair of the Caucus on India and Indian Americans. That's always been one of the largest caucuses in Congress. So, again, I think there's a recognition we're the world's oldest democracy, India is the world's largest democracy, and we should work together on those shared values of democratic principles, on free markets, on opportunity," he said. He also spoke about China's aggression in the maritime space in the South China Sea. He emphasised that China's aggressiveness in the South China Sea is forcing democracies to come together and look at shared values. On being asked whether China is one of the reasons behind bipartisan support for India, Ami Bera said, "Certainly, China has changed the calculus in Asia. It hasn't been in the United States of changing it, but China, with its aggressiveness in the maritime space in the South China Sea and India's northern line of control, is really forcing democracies, and free-market countries to come together and look at those shared values. Because I think we want to have a 21st century that's dictated not by force, but by rule of law, by competition and that's all a good thing." During his visit to India earlier this month, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin while addressing a press conference said that the world is witnessing bullying and coercion from China which was seeking to "redraw borders by force" and also threaten the national sovereignty of countries. US Congressman called India a rising economic power and the Indian Ocean region incredibly important geopolitically. He said that this is the time that India can take its rightful place at the table. Highlighting the role of Indian Americans in the political system and how the situation has changed in the past years in the US, he said that there are currently five house members and Vice President is also of Indian origin. "Well, So when first got elected to Congress in 2012, I was the only Indian American member of Congress. Well, fast forward to where we are today, there are five house members and the Vice President of the United States is of Indian origin. So, I think you're seeing the political clout within the diaspora, and we're seeing many more younger folks running for office so that certainly helps," he said. "But I also think, again, India is this rising economic power. It's now the most populous country in the world. Geopolitically, the Indian Ocean region is incredibly important, as is the Indo-Pacific. So, I think this is a moment in time when India can take its rightful place at the table. Now, that's not normally where India historically has been not aligned, but I think going into the future, India will be aligned hopefully with the West," he added. (ANI)
At least 15 people were killed, while 10 others have been rushed to hospital after a collision between a semi-trailer truck and bus full of seniors near the town of Carberry in Canada's Manitoba on Thursday (local time), Canada-based CBC News reported citing RCMP Manitoba Commanding Officer Assistant Commissioner Rob Hill. While addressing a press conference, Hill said the 25 people with the majority of them being seniors were travelling in the bus that collided with a semi-trailer truck. The bus was heading from the western Manitoba city of Dauphin, CBC News reported. Rob Hill said that 10 injured people have been taken to the hospital. However, he said that casualties might continue to change. Hill said, "Sadly this is a day in Manitoba and across Canada that will be remembered as one of tragedy and incredible sadness," CBC News reported. Hill added that many people in the Dauphin region are waiting for news about their loved ones. He said, "To all those waiting, I can't imagine how difficult it is not knowing if the person you love the most will be making it home tonight. I'm so sorry we cannot get you the definitive answers you need more quickly." Supt Rob Lasson, an officer in charge of major crime services, said Mounties were sent to the accident site at 11:43 am (local time), the report said. Lasson said that an initial probe has revealed that the bus carrying the seniors was heading to the south on Highway 5 and was crossing the eastbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway when it got hit by the semi. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has offered condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the crash. Taking to his official Twitter handle, he stated, "The news from Carberry, Manitoba is incredibly tragic. I'm sending my deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones today, and I'm keeping the injured in my thoughts. I cannot imagine the pain those affected are feeling - but Canadians are here for you." (ANI)
Buenos Aires [Argentina], June 16 (ANI/WAM): Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, led a senior UAE delegation to the Argentine Republic on 12 June 2023 aimed at enhancing ties between the two nations across various fields. The UAE delegation was welcomed by Santiago Cafiero, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship of Argentina. During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to strengthen economic exchange and foster cooperation in key sectors such as food security, renewable energy, and technology. Highlighting the importance of economic ties, the UAE-Argentina Business Forum was held, providing a platform for UAE companies, such as Mubadala and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), to explore business opportunities and forge new partnerships with companies in Argentina. Al Hashemy delivered opening remarks in which she emphasized the potential for mutual growth and investment between the two countries. The delegation also discussed with Fabiola Yanez, the First Lady of Argentina, the UAE's humanitarian efforts in Latin America. They also discussed the impact of climate change on the most vulnerable of the society and ways in which both the UAE and Argentina could partner together to address global challenges, in specific, those pertaining to the empowerment of young people. Al Hashemy attended a meeting hosted by Anahi Costa, President of the UAE-Argentine Parliamentary Friendship Committee. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the bilateral relationship, including on the parliamentary level. Furthermore, Al Hashemy participated in a panel discussion at the National Foreign Service Institute of Argentina, addressing diplomats and scholars, to discuss the UAE's foreign policy based on building bridges of dialogue and cooperation. Al Hashemy also met HE Cecilia Nicolini, State Secretary of Climate Change, Sustainable Development and Innovation, to highlight the UAE's commitment to sustainability and renewable energy. The minister further discussed the UAE Presidency of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) that will be hosted at Expo City Dubai in November. Recognizing the need for collective action on climate change, both officials explored ways to strengthen bilateral Cooperation in the field of sustainability both bilaterally and multilaterally. Al Hashemy also met with Cristina de Kirchner, the Vice President of Argentina and the President of the Senate who recalled with great fondness her state visit to the UAE in 2013. During the visit, the UAE and Argentina signed three Memorandums of Understanding: a MoU on technical cooperation, an MoU in the field of food security, and a framework agreement for cooperation in the field of banknotes. (ANI/WAM)
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Csaba Korosi has said that he is looking forward to participating in the International Day of Yoga celebrations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the UN Headquarters North Lawn in New York on June 21. Taking to his official Twitter handle, Csaba Korosi stated, "I am looking forward to participating in the 9th International Day of Yoga celebrations @UN with Prime Minister @NarendraModi at the UNHQ North Lawn next week." On June 13, United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, Shombi Sharp said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be leading the session of Yoga at the United Nations Secretariat in New York on June 21 this year. He said that it will be a "very big deal", adding that everybody in the world was quick to understand the importance of Yoga once International Yoga Day came into force. "International Yoga Day which came into force, I believe in 2015 was supported by 175 countries very - very quickly. Everybody I think in the world got on the board and understood, what an important and joyful day that is when we look at the international calendar. Yoga under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi who has really been pushing for international recognition of Yoga and supported the International Day, so the honourable Prime Minister will be leading this session of Yoga at the United Nations Secretariat on 21st June. I think it will be a big deal, Shombi Sharp said in an interview with ANI. "I think it will be a very very big day and also the message is there. It is about mindfulness, it is about supporting the mental health, it is about mind and body and being healthy," he added. The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga. The draft resolution establishing the International Day of Yoga was proposed by India and endorsed by a record 175 member states. The proposal was first introduced by PM Modi in his address during the opening of the 69th session of the General Assembly, in which he said, "Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action ... a holistic approach [that] is valuable to our health and well-being. Yoga is not just about exercise; it is a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature." (ANI)
On June 14, (Bell Canada, owner of) Canadas second-largest news broadcaster, CTV News, announced major unexpected lay-offs that affected not only staff at local television stations, but also high-profile bureau chiefs in several global cities.

By happenstance, on that same day, BBC television carried a panel discussion where the presenter stated, that, according to Pew Research data, 25% fewer viewers watch television newscasts than six years ago. The main reason given was there is too much bad news on television newscasts, which effects viewers' mental health. People are choosing to get their news from social media outlets.

I have always been an avid consumer of news, dating from early formative years in the U.K. listening to the BBC on my parents crackling tube radio, then through the transistor phase, and tuning into short-wave radio broadcasts from around the globe during my lengthy merchant navy career.

That was long before the days of the Internet, with the advent of so many information highways going in various directions and carrying what often turns out to be fake news. According to a technology website makeuseof.com, no news outlet is completely unbiased, but the top four that attempt to remain impartial are: the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Associated Press and the BBC.

Those of us who enjoy news broadcasts must be diligent to pick and choose between fact and fiction, while trying to keep informed. Remember, heres more than one meaning to the old adage No news is bad news.

Bernie Smith, Parksville
A Chinese woman arrested for vandalizing and stealing Kenya Power property has been released on a cash bail of Kenyan Shilling (Sh) 1 million, The Star reported. The Star is a daily newspaper published in Nairobi, Kenya. The woman, Luo Minghui pleaded not guilty to the two charges when she was arraigned at Mavoko Law Courts in Machakos County on Wednesday. She appeared before Principal Magistrate Eunice Kimaiyo. The suspect was represented in court by lawyer Cecil Miller. Kimaiyo said: "I have applied my knowledge and charges before court, the accused person's nationality, the public interest involved in this matter and I have set the cash bail at Sh1 million, the accused person is also to deposit her passport in court." She said she reached the bail terms on the consideration that the accused person is not Kenyan and finding a surety may be a challenge to her. Magistrate Kimaiyo said: "I'm also informed and it has been confirmed by the prosecutor that the accused person is out on police bail of Sh 100,000 issued on June 13, 2023. That bail was issued pending police investigations. Now that the investigations are over, the court needs to look into the charge sheet and make a determination." Kimaiyo said the matter will proceed for hearing on July 25, 2023, mention slated June 25 while a pretrial has been scheduled for June 27. In the first charge, Minghui was charged with stealing contrary to Section 268 (1) as read with Section 275 of the penal code. The particulars of the charge were that on diverse dates between April 30, 2023 and June 13, 2023 at an unknown place within the Republic of Kenya, jointly with others not before court, she stole 350 metres of copper valued at Sh700,000 being the property of Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO). As per the prosecution, she was arrested on June 12, 2023 and detained at Athi River police station before she was released on Sh100,000 police cash bail. The suspect in the second charge was accused of stealing contrary to section 268 (1) as read with Section 275 of the penal code. The court heard that on diverse dates between April 30, 2023 and June 13, 2023 at unknown place within the Republic of Kenya, jointly with others not before court, she stole copper earthing conductors and transformer fuses valued at Sh600,000, the property of Kenya Power & Lighting Company (KPLC). In the alternative count to count one, Minghui was charged with handling stolen goods contrary to section 322(1) (2) of the penal code. The particulars of the count was that on June 12, 2023 at Jinxin Commercial Limited, in Athi River subcounty within Machakos County, she dishonestly received and retained 98 metres of copper wires valued at Sh196,000, the property of Kenya Electricity Transmissions Company Limited (Ketraco) knowing or having reason to believe them to be stolen goods, as per The Star. The alternative count to count two was handling stolen goods contrary to section 322 (1) (2) of the penal code. (ANI)
ARY News is a Pakistani news channel.

As per details, the dacoits were fleeing after looting a man near Abdullah college North Nazimabad but police killed both of them in the encounter.

The police officials said that a citizen was also injured during the encounter. He was shot in the leg but he is safe now.

A Karachi citizen was earlier murdered by muggers for resisting robbery in Korangi's Kallu Chowk on Wednesday.

Police told the media that six dacoits surrounded a citizen in Korangi's Kallu Chowk. The citizen tried to resist the muggers who later opened fire at him.

The police officials said that the citizen namely Azhar Hussain received one bullet in his chest and others in his legs, as per ARY News.

Following the incident, 15 officials immediately rushed to the scene. In the exchange of fire, two alleged dacoits were arrested in wounded condition and others managed to flee from the scene.

In April, Karachi citizens apprehended two suspected street criminals near the Ayesha Manzil roundabout.

The suspects were allegedly attempting to rob a civilian at an ATM booth in the locality of Ayesha Manzil when they were caught by the locals, as per ARY News. (ANI)
The victim was identified as an English teacher who also served as the school's assistant headmaster. The assailant was arrested.

Lukavac Mayor Edin Dalic said on Wednesday on social media that no student was injured in the incident, Xinhua news agency reported.

The University Clinical Centre Tuzla said the victim "suffered a gunshot wound to the neck".

The Tuzla canton prosecutors said they had started an investigation into the shooting.

--IANS int/khz/

( 104 Words)

2023-06-15-01:26:01 (IANS)
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said on Wednesday that the Houthis used a bomb-laden drone to attack a military checkpoint near the complex of the 1st Brigade in the Al-Musina'a area in the southern part of Shabwa.

There were no immediate comments from the Houthi group, which rarely discloses its operations, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Yemeni government has repeatedly accused the Houthis of carrying out drone attacks in the oil-rich provinces of Shabwa and Marib, which have served as significant battlegrounds between the warring sides.

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.

--IANS int/khz/

( 183 Words)

2023-06-15-01:30:02 (IANS)
According to Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, the incident happened earlier on Wednesday in the border district of Shada in Yemen's northwestern province of Saada.

The injured were transported to a hospital in adjacent Razih district for medical treatment, the Houthi TV added.

There were no comments yet from the Saudi government on the alleged incident, Xinhua news agency reported.

Located in northwestern Yemen, Saada province shares borders with Saudi Arabia to the north and northwest. It is the most populous province in Yemen and serves as a stronghold of the Houthi group.

The northern border areas of Yemen have become notorious for smuggling activities and illegal migration of Yemenis and Africans who are in search of better opportunities.

Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since 2014 due to prolonged rivalry between the Houthis and the internationally recognised Yemeni government. In 2015, the Saudi-led coalition intervened in the conflict to support the Yemeni government.

--IANS int/khz/

( 191 Words)

2023-06-15-01:32:03 (IANS)
The Israeli military said that a mix-up led to a soldier's "unintentional" killing of a Palestinian toddler earlier this month as the trooper believed he was firing at Palestinian gunmen. Two-year-old Mohammad al-Tamimi was shot in the head while riding in a car with his father near the West Bank city of Ramallah on June 1, and died of his wounds four days later in an Israeli hospital, reports Xinhua news agency. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said the killing was a crime and demanded an international investigation. In an examination report published by the Israeli military on Wednesday, it said two Palestinian gunmen fired that night at the Israeli settlement of Neve Tzuf and soldiers. During the search after the gunmen, an officer noticed "a suspicious vehicle and fired several times into the air", before another soldier who heard the shots opened fire on Tamimi's family car, the report said. "The soldier thought they were the terrorists fleeing the scene and that they were firing at him from the vehicle," it added. Blaming miscommunication and "inadequacies in the commanders' control and command over the incident", the report noted that the officer who shot in the air will be reprimanded for violating orders. The incident came amid escalating violence between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank, a territory captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war. According to a report by the Israeli rights group Yesh Din, which analysed military data from 2017 to 2021, fewer than 1 per cent of the hundreds of complaints filed against Israeli soldiers on alleged offences against Palestinians resulted in prosecutions. --IANS ksk/ ( 283 Words) 2023-06-15-11:42:06 (IANS)
The Greek government has announced a three-day period of national mourning for the 79 victims of a shipwreck which occurred in international waters off the country's southwestern coast. Authorities have retrieved the bodies of 79 refugees after a fishing boat carrying an unknown number of passengers sank 47 nautical miles off Pylos town, Xinhua quoted Greek national news agency AMNA as saying. "Everyone's thoughts are with all the victims of the ruthless traffickers who take advantage of human misery," said caretaker Prime Minister Ioannis Sarmas. A total of 104 passengers have now been rescued, Nikolaos Alexiou, spokesperson for the maritime affairs and insular policy ministry told Greek national broadcaster ERT. A search and rescue operation to locate other passengers will continue during the night, he added. "We cannot give a number of passengers with certainty, but it was very large... My colleagues found an overloaded boat," he said. However, he did not confirm estimates that there were 400-700 passengers on board, which survivors gave to ERT and other media. They said the fishing boat which sank during night-time between Tuesday and Wednesday had been on the way from Libya to Italy. The incident happened in the area with the deepest waters across the Mediterranean Sea, and none of the survivors was wearing a lifejacket, according to Alexiou. Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou has travelled to the nearby city of Kalamata, where survivors are being taken. The President expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, calling for "coordination of EU member states to safeguard the lives and safety of migrants and refugees". Meanwhile, European Council President Charles Michel said the accident was a "heartbreaking reminder we must put an end to the unscrupulous business of smugglers". EU leaders will address the issue at the European Council on June 29-30, he said on Twitter. "We must continue to work together, with Member States and 3rd countries, to prevent such tragedies," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. So far this year, 72,778 refugees have arrived in Europe from the south, including 71,136 arrivals by sea to Italy, Greece, Spain, Cyprus and Malta, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). At least 1,037 people have died or been reported missing in the region since the start of 2023, according to UNHCR. --IANS ksk/ ( 391 Words) 2023-06-15-11:46:06 (IANS)
The AFP revealed they have also seized more than 6 tonnes of liquid and crystal methamphetamine imported to Australia from Canada in four separate shipments over five months, reports Xinhua news agency.

Two men have been charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs, if convicted, will face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Four more men, including a US national, have been charged with offences relating to trying to buy methamphetamine in Australia.

It is estimated that the seized methamphetamine amounted to almost 19 million individual street deals with a total value of A$1.7 billion ($1.1 billion).

The illicit drugs were found concealed in canola oil bottles bound for Victoria and New South Wales -- Australia's most populous states -- and replaced with harmless substances to give authorities time to identify offenders.

Alison Money, AFP chief medical officer, said methamphetamine was highly addictive and had a significant physical, mental and social impact on users.

"Every day, on average, 40 people are admitted to Australian hospitals from methamphetamine, heroin or cocaine use," Money said in a media release.

"Every week, on average, 16 Australians die from heroin, amphetamine or cocaine overdose."

--IANS ksk/

( 234 Words)

2023-06-15-12:48:03 (IANS)
The Productivity Commission published the latest data on Closing the Gap, a national framework aiming to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by achieving 19 socioeconomic targets, reports Xinhua news agency.

However, the update found only four of the 19 targets are on track to be met by 2031.

For example, the target to reduce the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people (10-17 years) in detention by at least 30 per cent, is improving and on track.

But the target to reduce the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults held in incarceration by at least 15 per cent, is not on track and worsening.

Linda Burney, the Minister for Indigenous Australians, said the lack of progress in the latest update shows the need for structural reform.

Australians are expected to vote late in 2023 in a referendum on whether to alter the constitution to establish an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

--IANS ksk/

( 198 Words)

2023-06-15-14:22:03 (IANS)
Survivors of a shipwreck wait to board a bus to transfer to Athens at the port of Kalamata, Greece, Friday, June 16, 2023. The round-the-clock effort continued off the coast of southern Greece despite little hope of finding survivors or bodies after none have been found since Wednesday, when 78 bodies were recovered and 104 people were rescued. (John Liakos/AP)

ATHENS, Greece  The Greek coast guard on Friday defended its response to a ship that went down off the countrys south coast and left more than 500 migrants presumed drowned. Criticism mounted over Europes yearslong failure to prevent such tragedies.

Patrol boats and a helicopter spent a third day scouring the area of the Mediterranean Sea where the packed fishing vessel capsized early Wednesday, in what the U.N. migration agency said could be the second deadliest migrant shipwreck recorded. The deadliest occurred when a vessel capsized off the coast of Libya en route to Italy in April 2015, killing an estimated 1,100 people.

Advertisement

Greek coast guard spokesman Nikos Alexiou said that both coast guard and private ships repeatedly offered by radio and loudspeaker to help the vessel Wednesday while it was in international waters, also heading from Libya to Italy, but they were rejected.

Alexiou argued that any effort to tow the overcrowded trawler or move hundreds of unwilling people onto nearby ships would have been too dangerous.

Advertisement

When you ... try forcibly to tie up to it or to attach a mooring rope, you will have a disturbance, and the people will surge  which, unfortunately is what happened in the end, Alexiou told state-run ERT TV. You will have caused the accident.

Alexiou also said that, after accepting food from a merchant ship, the trawlers passengers rejected a rope bringing more from a second merchant ship because they thought the whole process was a way for us to take them to Greece.

Greek authorities sent the first ship, the tanker Lucky Sailor, to give the migrants food and water. The company managing the tanker said Friday that the people on board were very hesitant to receive any assistance, and at any attempt of approach the boat started to maneuver away.

Eastern Mediterranean Maritime Limited said in a statement that the people on the trawler were eventually persuaded to accept supplies.

Experts said maritime law obligated Greek authorities to attempt a rescue.

They definitely had a duty to start rescue procedures given the condition of the vessel, said Professor Erik Rsg of the University of Oslos Institute of Private Law. He said a refusal of assistance can be overruled if deemed unreasonable, as it appeared to have been on Wednesday.

Flavio Di Giacomo of the Mediterranean office of the U.N. migration agency IOM tweeted that all migrant boats should be considered dangerous and rescued immediately because even when they appear to have no problems, in a few minutes they can sink.

Rescuers pulled 104 survivors from the water and later recovered 78 bodies but have not located any more since late Wednesday. The Greek coast guard said the search-and-rescue operation would continue beyond the standard 72 hours.

Advertisement

The U.N.s migration and refugee agencies issued a joint statement calling timely maritime search and rescues a legal and humanitarian imperative and calling for urgent and decisive action to prevent further deaths at sea.

A group of nongovernmental organizations, including Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders, said the EU should stop seeing solutions solely in the dismantling of smuggling networks, and set up state-led search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean..

The Greek government had specific responsibilities toward every passenger on the vessel, which was clearly in distress, Adriana Tidona of Amnesty International said. This is a tragedy of unimaginable proportions, all the more so because it was entirely preventable.

Greece and other southern EU nations that typically are the first destinations for Europe-bound asylum-seekers traveling by sea have toughened border protection measures in recent years, extending walls and intensifying maritime patrols.

This is a European problem. I think its time for Europe to be able, in solidarity, to define an effective migration policy for these kinds of situations not to happen again, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said during a news conference at U.N. headquarters in New York late Thursday.

The EUs executive commission says the 27-nation bloc is close to an agreement on how member countries can share responsibility in caring for migrants and refugees who undertake the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean.

Advertisement

A judicial investigation is also underway into the causes of the sinking. Greek officials say the vessel capsized minutes after it lost power, speculating that panic among the passengers may have caused the boat to list and roll over.

Most of the survivors were being moved Friday from a storage hangar at the southern port of Kalamata, where relatives also gathered to look for loved ones, to migrant shelters near Athens.

Abdo Sheikhi, a Kurdish Syrian living in Germany, traveled to Kalamata to find out what happened to five family members who were on the boat.

On Friday, he discovered that only his younger brother Ali and another relative had survived. He managed to speak on the phone to Ali, who has been moved to the camp near Athens.

(Ali) told me he jumped (off the) ship while the others could not jump, Sheikhi said. They were scared. They were holding on to the boat as it swayed.

Nine people  all men from Egypt, ranging in age from 20 to 40  were arrested and detained and charged Friday of people smuggling and participating in a criminal enterprise. Twenty-seven of the survivors remain hospitalized, health officials said. The smuggling suspects are due to appear in court Monday.

Advertisement

The IOM has estimated the boat carried as many as 750 people. The survivors were all boys and men from Egypt, Pakistan, Syria and the Palestinian territories. Alexiou, citing survivor accounts, said passengers in the hold of the fishing boat included women and children but that the number of missing, believed to be in the hundreds, still remained unclear.

Officials at a state-run morgue outside Athens photographed the faces of the victims and gathered DNA samples to start the identification process.

Late Friday, Greeces coast guard said a navy helicopter located a sailboat with migrants off southwestern Greece after being alerted by Italian authorities. It said three merchant ships had reached the vessel, which reported no trouble and was heading for Italy. ERT TV said about 60 people were believed to be on board

Frances DEmilio in Rome, Renata Brito in Barcelona, Sarah El Deeb in Beirut, Lebanon, and Costas Kantouris in Thessaloniki, Greece, contributed to this story.
A total of 104 passengers have been rescued, while a search and rescue operation was underway to locate a yet unclear number of missing, according to the report released on Wednesday.

The incident happened in international waters, 47 nautical miles off the coast of Pylos town during nighttime between Tuesday and Wednesday, and survivors told authorities the fishing boat had sailed off from Tobruk in Libya and was heading for Italy, ERT reported.

The Hellenic Coast Guard said in an earlier press statement that none of the passengers were wearing a life jacket and Greek authorities were alerted by Italian authorities about the incident, Xinhua news agency reported.

The nationalities of victims and survivors have not been identified yet.

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou will travel to the nearby city of Kalamata, where the rescued are being transferred, her office said.

On Tuesday evening, in a separate incident south of Crete island, Greek authorities rescued 80 migrants and refugees who were on board a sailing boat, Greek national news agency AMNA reported on Wednesday.

Greece has been at the forefront of the refugee and migrant influx since 2015 and hundreds have perished in the Aegean Sea in the past eight years.

--IANS int/khz/

( 246 Words)

2023-06-15-03:14:03 (IANS)
Turkish security forces "neutralised" 41 YPG members in Syria's Tal Rifat and Manbij regions, bringing the total number of "neutralised" YPG members to 53 since Sunday, the Ministry said on Wednesday in a statement.

Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralised" to imply that "terrorists" are killed, wounded, or captured in security operations.

The Defence Ministry said on Sunday that the YPG carried out simultaneous mortar and rocket harassment fires on the Operation Euphrates Shield zone of the Turkish army in northern Syria, as well as the Oncupinar police border posts in the southern Turkish province of Kilis, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Turkish army has been attacking the YPG posts in retaliation since the weekend.

The army launched Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016 in northern Syria as part of the efforts to create a YPG-free zone along its border in the neighbouring country.

Turkey sees the YPG group as the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and the EU, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for more than 30 years.

--IANS int/khz/

( 229 Words)

2023-06-15-03:20:03 (IANS)
"In Brussels, behind the scenes of all the meetings dealing with the issue of displaced Syrians, the Europeans are clinging to their position rejecting the return of the Syrians to their country," Hajjar tweeted on Wednesday.

He was questioning the purpose of the ongoing Seventh Brussels Conference held by the European Union on finding political solutions to the Syrian crisis.

"It is their duty to secure aid, but we will only be satisfied if the displaced return to their homeland," the Lebanese Minister noted.

On Tuesday, the Lebanese cabinet affirmed its final position that the displaced Syrians must return to their country safely and dignifiedly in line with international resolutions, Xinhua news agency reported.

The cabinet also announced that a Lebanese ministerial delegation would visit Syria soon to discuss the return of refugees with Syrian authorities.

Lebanon aims to secure a safe return for Syrian refugees to their homeland as the country's internal security and economic situation can no longer support their stay.

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib previously said there are about two million Syrian refugees in Lebanon, and the figure threatens to disrupt the structure of Lebanese society.

--IANS int/khz/

( 221 Words)

2023-06-15-06:14:04 (IANS)
After he cancelled his initial visit to Beijing earlier this year due to a Chinese spy balloon transiting the US, Secretary of State Antony Blinken will embark on a fresh visit to the Asian giant this weekend amid thawed bilateral ties. Blinken will be the first Biden administration official to travel to China and also the first since 2019, reports CNN. Confirming the visit, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink said on Wednesday that the two nations came "to the shared conclusion that now is the right time to engage at this level". Kritenbrink said he would not expect "a long list of deliverables" to come out of the visit, but described it as "a really critical series of engagements that we'll have in Beijing at a crucial time in the relationship that we again hope will, at a minimum, reduce the risk of miscalculation so that we do not veer into potential conflict". He said the agenda would focus on three main goals: establishing communication channels "that are open and empowered to discuss important challenges, address misperceptions and prevent miscalculation"; discussing US concerns "on a range of issues" as well as on "a host of regional and global security matters"; and "exploring potential cooperation on transnational challenges when it is in our interest in areas such as climate and global macroeconomic stability". In recent months, there have been a number of engagements between US and Chinese officials, including National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Kritenbrink himself "I think there's a realisation on both sides that it is important to have these channels of communication," CNN quoted the Assistant Secretary as saying. In a statement also on Wednesday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said that Blinken would meet "senior PRC officials" while in Beijing, adding that "we expect a series of visits in both directions in the period ahead" following the Secretary of State's visit. But neither Kritenbrink or Miller did not say if Blinken would meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. Prior to the public announcement of the trip, Blinken spoke on the phone with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang. China's Foreign Ministry said Qin used that call to stress "that the US needs to respect China's concerns, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and stop undermining China's sovereignty, security and development interests in the name of competition". --IANS ksk/ ( 406 Words) 2023-06-15-09:48:03 (IANS)
Owen is scheduled to receive a lethal injection at 6 p.m. at the Florida State Prison in Starke.

His execution will be the fourth in Florida this year, after a three year pause triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 62-year-old was convicted in 1986 for the bludgeoning death of Georgianna Worden at her Boca Raton home in May 1984, reports The Florida Times-Union.

Worden, who was a 38-year-old executive secretary and mother of two, was murdered while her children slept nearby.

In the same year, he also received the death penalty in the stabbing death of 14-year-old Karen Slattery, whom he had killedin March 1984 while she babysat two children in Delray Beach.

Both Boca Raton and Delray Beach are in Palm Beach County.

Meanwhile, Governor Ron DeSantis, a 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, signed the death warrant in Worden's case only.

Owen is one of the longest-held inmates on death row in Florida.

Currently, there are 293 people on Florida's death row.

Besides his death sentences, Owen had also received six life sentences.

--IANS ksk/

( 228 Words)

2023-06-15-11:12:03 (IANS)
An Indian-American doctor, accused of deliberately driving his Tesla off a cliff with his wife and children inside the vehicle, has been barred from practicing medicine by regulators in California, media reports said. Dharmesh Patel, a 41-year-old radiologist at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles, was charged with attempted first-degree murder and child abuse in February to which he pleaded not guilty. The Medical Board of California moved a motion this week in the court to bar Patel from practicing medicine, especially if he were released on bail, The Mercury News reported. Medical regulators argued in court filings that the move is necessary because Patel represented "an alarming danger to the publica in light of an "impairment of cognitive abilities needed to safely practice medicine". In their arguments, regulators cited statements made by Patel's wife to an emergency worker after she was rescued. She told him that Patel "did it on purpose". "He's depressed. He's a doctor. He said he was going to drive off the cliff. He purposely drove off," Patel's wife told the rescuer. "Public protection therefore requires that the defendant be prohibited from practicing medicine throughout the pendency" of his criminal case, the medical board's motion said. The request was approved by San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Rachel Holt at a hearing on June 12, The Mercury News reported. Patel's car was travelling south on State Route 1 on January 2 when it went over a 250-foot cliff at Devil's Slide, south of the Tom Lantos Tunnels, and flipped and landed on its wheels near the water's edge. Firefighters had to cut the vehicle to pull Patel's two children -- a seven-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy -- from the vehicle. Denying that he intentionally drove his car off the cliff, Patel told investigators that the sensor on his Model Y electric car indicated it had low tire pressure as he was driving his wife and two children on the Pacific Coast Highway on January 2 this year. He further told the investigators that he was trying to stop to check the tires when the vehicle tumbled down the cliff overlooking the ocean, court documents released last month said. On his mental health, Patel told investigators that he was "not really depressed", as accused by his wife. He told them that he "just felt down because times were bad in the world, the war and the drugs", according to an affidavit in support of his arrest. When investigators specifically asked if he was suicidal, Patel said "you know, not like a plan, not usually". He added that his wife had been "irritated" just before the crash because she didn't want to stop by his brother's house in Montara. He also told officers he was not on any medication or under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the crash. According to witnesses, the Tesla didn't show signs of slowing down before it plummeted off the cliff and the police report also does not indicate a malfunction. San Mateo District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said in January the Tesla was not in self-driving mode when it plunged into the rocky beachside bluff. If convicted of murder charges, Patel could be imprisoned for life. --IANS mi/ksk/ ( 555 Words) 2023-06-15-11:16:03 (IANS)
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, in Beijing on Friday, the State-run media Global Times reported. "You're the first American friend I have met in Beijing this year," Xi told Gates according to a report in the Chinese State media. "I often say that the foundation of China-US relations lies in people-to-people ties. We have always placed our hopes on the American people, and hope that peoples of our two countries will maintain their friendship," Xi said according to Global Times. According to a report in the Chinese news outlet, Xi praised Gates and his foundation for their long-term commitment to facilitating global poverty reduction, health, development as well as public welfare and charity work. President Xi also told Gates that China is willing to work with him and his foundation to continue strengthening cooperation in relevant fields, and provide support and help to other developing countries, the Global Times reported. Gates said that he is visiting China for the first time since 2019. Gates is the latest high-profile business titan to visit the country in recent months, Fox Business reported. The Microsoft co-founder on Wednesday tweeted: "I've just landed in Beijing for the first time since 2019, where I'm excited to visit with partners who have been working on global health and development challenges with @gatesfoundation for more than 15 years." The billionaire philanthropist had last met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2015, and in 2020 Xi had written a letter thanking Gates and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for pledging some USD 5 million to the country in its fight against COVID as per Fox Business. On Thursday, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said it will provide USD 50 million over the next five years to help Chinese efforts to battle disease. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced a renewed collaboration with the Beijing Municipal Government and Tsinghua University to support the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI) "in its efforts to improve health outcomes worldwide through lifesaving therapies for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, which disproportionately affect the world's poorest," according to release by the foundation. Meanwhile, as per Fox Business, China has been rolling out the red carpet for US CEOs in recent months. Gates has retired from leading Microsoft and appears to be overseas to focus on the work of the global charitable organization he founded with his ex-wife. Other high-profile visits to China this year included those by Tesla's Elon Musk and Apple's Tim Cook. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is expected to visit China soon. During Musk's three-day visit to China the Tesla chief checked in on the electric vehicle giant's operations and met with China's foreign minister. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon also visited China earlier this month during a trip to Asia to meet with employees there and in neighbouring Taiwan, as per Fox Business. (ANI)
Minister of State for External Affairs (MoS) V Muraleedharan on Friday met Zimbabwe's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs David Musabayana, the two discussed various aspects of India, Zimbabwe bilateral relations and means to enhance them further. "Delighted to interact with Dy. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Zimbabwe, H.E @DrMusabayana on the sidelines of CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Growth Partnership in New Delhi. Discussed various aspects of bilateral relations and means to enhance them further," MoS Muraleedharan tweeted on Friday. Vice President of Zimbabwe Constantino Chiwenga has arrived in New Delhi, informed the Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday. He came to India to attend the CII-EXIM Bank Conclave. His visit will boost the development partnership and trade and economic ties between the two countries. "Warm welcome to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga of Zimbabwe as he arrives in New Delhi for CII-EXIM Bank Conclave. The visit will give boost to India-Zimbabwe development partnership and trade & economic ties," tweeted Arindam Bagchi, MEA official spokesperson. India and Zimbabwe have a long history of close and cordial relations. India and Zimbabwe are members of the G20 in WTO and have a common position on IPRs and agricultural subsidies. Zimbabwe generally supports India in most of the elections in the multilateral fora and our Resolutions in the UN. The CII- EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership was launched in the year 2005 with the support of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Government of India, according to CII-EXIM Africa Conclave's official website. In the last sixteen editions, the Conclave has played a pivotal role in encouraging Indian companies to establish and grow their footprints in Africa. According to the website, the level of economic engagement between India and Africa has grown multi-dimensional and to reflect the changing contours of this dynamic relationship, the Conclave is being rechristened as "CII EXIM Bank Conclave on India Africa Growth Partnership" expanding the earlier focus on "Project Partnership". The upcoming edition focussed on project exports, trade, investments, and exchange of knowledge and expertise creating shared value for business and industry at large between India and Africa. (ANI)
US Congressman Buddy Carter has said the country looks forward to hearing Prime Minister Narendra Modi address a joint session of the US Congress. "US-India relationship is very important. We are looking forward to hearing PM Modi address the joint session. PM Modi has served the people well," said Carter on PM Modi's visit to US. US Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith on the PM's visit to US said: "Next week, we will be honored to have him (PM Modi) address a joint meeting of the Congress underscoring the significance of the relationship between the US and India." Smith said the bond between US and India is not just an alliance, it is a strategic and global partnership. US Representative Adam Smith said: "I welcome PM Modi to our country and thank him for his visit. We (US-India) share a strong relationship. I am looking forward towards strengthening the relationship between both countries and PM's visit here is a crucial part of doing that." Indian Chef Vikas Khanna on PM Modi's upcoming US visit said: "As an Indian living in America for the last almost 25 years, I'm really honored for Prime Minister Modi Ji's visit to the US. He has been a bridge between two greatest democracies in the world. At the same time, he has given us opportunities, given us a voice and also given us the pride to represent our country in America. I'm really looking forward to the visit and also be inspired to present India in its highest glory to the world." Meanwhile, US Department of State official spokesperson Matthew Miller in a press briefing on Thursday (local time) said US partnership with India is one of the "most consequential relationships" and the two nations work closely on the most vital priorities. He said that India plays a crucial role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific. Matthew Miller, however, refrained from divulging details on issues likely to be taken up for discussion during PM Modi's visit to the US. He said, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken looks forward to seeing PM Modi and other members of the Indian delegation in the US. "So I don't want to get ahead of the White House, who will be hosting Prime Minister Modi, of course. They will be making further announcements about the visit in the coming days leading up to the trip next week," Matthew Miller said. "I will say generally our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relationships...We work closely with India on our most vital priorities. They (India) play a crucial role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific that is connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient. And I know Secretary Blinken looks forward to seeing Prime Minister Modi and other members of the Indian delegation, while they're here and working to make progress on all the issues with which we consult with India. But in terms of any specific issues, I will defer to the White House for comment on that," he added. At the invitation of US President Joe Biden, PM Modi will be on a state visit to the United States from June 21 to June 24. Indian diaspora in the US is eagerly awaiting PM Modi's arrival. On June 22, more than 7000 Indian Americans are planning to be on the South Lawns of the White House when Biden and the First Lady Jill Biden would welcome PM Modi amidst a 21-gun salute. (ANI)
According to Fiqah-e-Jafria, the Maliki and Shafi'i schools of thought, and Shariat, a woman is permitted to make the yearly Islamic pilgrimage without a Mehram (a close male relative).

A woman who has permission from her parents or spouse can perform Hajj without a Mehram, according to the CII spokesperson, Geo News reported.

Moreover, the Ministry of Religious Affairs also sought the opinion of the council on the matter.

The Saudi Arabian government, in October last year, announced that Mehram -- a male blood relative with whom marriage is not permissible -- is no longer required to accompany a woman pilgrim from any part of the world.

The Saudi Minister for Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, made the statement at a press conference, bringing an end to the Kingdom's lengthy reign, according to Geo News.

Without a Mehram and in the company of "trusted women or a secure company, women are allowed to conduct Hajj or Umrah. This is the viewpoint of the Maliki and Shafi'i scholars, Geo News quoted Ahmed Saleh Halabi, advisor for Hajj and Umrah Services, as saying. (ANI)
Jen Easterly, director of the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, speaks at the National Association of Secretaries of State winter meeting, Feb. 16, 2023, in Washington. (Patrick Semansky/AP)

The Department of Energy and several other federal agencies were compromised in a Russian cyber-extortion gangs global hack of a file-transfer program popular with corporations and governments, but the impact was not expected to be great, Homeland Security officials said Thursday.

But for others among what could be hundreds of victims from industry to higher education  including patrons of at least two state motor vehicle agencies  the hack was beginning to show some serious impacts.

Advertisement

Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, told reporters that unlike the meticulous, stealthy SolarWinds hacking campaign attributed to state-backed Russian intelligence agents that was months in the making, this campaign was short, relatively superficial and caught quickly.

Based on discussions we have had with industry partners ... these intrusions are not being leveraged to gain broader access, to gain persistence into targeted systems, or to steal specific high value information in sum, as we understand it, this attack is largely an opportunistic one, Easterly said.

Advertisement

Although we are very concerned about this campaign and working on it with urgency, this is not a campaign like SolarWinds that presents a systemic risk to our national security or our nations networks, she added.

A senior CISA official said neither the U.S. military nor intelligence community was affected. Energy Department spokesperson Chad Smith said two agency entities were compromised but did not provide more detail.

Known victims to date include Louisianas Office of Motor Vehicles, Oregons Department of Transportation, the Nova Scotia provincial government, British Airways, the British Broadcasting Company and the U.K. drugstore chain Boots. The exploited program, MOVEit, is widely used by businesses to securely share files. Security experts say that can include sensitive financial and insurance data.

Louisiana officials said Thursday that people with a drivers license or vehicle registration in the state likely had their personal information exposed. That included their name, address, Social Security number and birthdate. They encouraged Louisiana residents to freeze their credit to guard against identity theft.

The Oregon Department of Transportation confirmed Thursday that the attackers accessed personal information, some sensitive, for about 3.5 million people to whom the state issued identity cards or drivers licenses.

The Cl0p ransomware syndicate behind the hack announced last week on its dark web site that its victims, who it suggested numbered in the hundreds, had until Wednesday to get in touch to negotiate a ransom or risk having sensitive stolen data dumped online.

The gang, among the worlds most prolific cybercrime syndicates, also claimed it would delete any data stolen from governments, cities and police departments.

The senior CISA official told reporters a small number of federal agencies were hit  declining to name them  and said this is not a widespread campaign affecting a large number of federal agencies. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the breach, said no federal agencies had received extortion demands and no data from an affected federal agency had been leaked online by Cl0p.

Advertisement

U.S. officials have no evidence to suggest coordination between Cl0p and the Russian government, the official said.

The parent company of MOVIEits U.S. maker, Progress Software, alerted customers to the breach on May 31 and issued a patch. But cybersecurity researchers say scores if not hundreds of companies could by then have had sensitive data quietly exfiltrated.

At this point, we are seeing industry estimates of several hundred of victims across the country, the senior CISA official said. Federal officials encouraged victims to come forward, but they often dont. The U.S. lacks a federal data breach law, and disclosure of hacks varies by state. Publicly traded corporations, health care providers and some critical infrastructure purveyors do have regulatory obligations.

The cybersecurity firm SecurityScorecard says it detected 2,500 vulnerable MOVEit servers across 790 organizations, including 200 government agencies. It said it was not able to break down those agencies by country.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in the Treasury Department uses MOVEit, according to federal contracting data. Spokeswoman Stephanie Collins said the agency was aware of the hack and has been monitoring the situation closely. She said it was conducting detailed forensic analysis of system activity and has not found any indications of a breach of sensitive information. She would not say how the agency uses the file-transfer program.

The hackers were actively scanning for targets, penetrating them and stealing data at least as far back as March 29, said SecurityScorecard threat analyst Jared Smith.

Advertisement

This is far from the first time Cl0p has breached a file-transfer program to gain access to data it could then use to extort companies. Other instances include GoAnywhere servers in early 2023 and Accellion File Transfer Application devices in 2020 and 2021.

The Associated Press emailed Cl0p on Thursday asking what government agencies it had hacked. It did not receive a response, but the gang posted a new message on its dark web leak site saying: We got a lot of emails about government data, we dont have it we have completely deleted this information we are only interested in business.

Cybersecurity experts say the Cl0p criminals are not to be trusted to keep their word. Allan Liska of the firm Recorded Future has said he is aware of at least three cases in which data stolen by ransomware crooks appeared on the dark web six to 10 months after victims paid ransoms.

AP reporters Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Eugene Johnson in Seattle and Nomaan Merchant and Rebecca Santana in Washington contributed to this report.
The workshops were organised by the Sharjah Book Authority and aimed to promote cultural exchange and open horizons between intellectuals of the two countries.

The first workshop, titled "The Intersection of Images, Letters and Words," was led by artist Khalid Mezaina from the UAE and Jin Myung from Korea. The workshop explored using calligraphy, collage and photography to create artworks that combine images, letters and words.

The second workshop, "The Arts of Printing and Painting," was led by researcher Ali Al-Abdan and artist An Kyung-mi. The workshop discussed the use of traditional symbols to represent local cultures in drawings and artworks.

The third workshop, titled "Digital Drawing," was led by teacher and visual artist Salama Al-Nuaimi and artist Ann Jo Sona. The workshop explored the opportunities for producing and developing simplified digital artworks.

The Sharjah Pavilion's workshop programme also includes a group workshop for Emirati and Korean artists who participated in previous workshops.

The activities of Sharjah Guest of Honour continue until 18th June and include 33 activities in which a group of Emirati and Korean writers, creators and academics participate. These activities include discussion sessions, literary activities and artistic performances that reflect the heritage of the emirate of Sharjah and the UAE. (ANI/WAM)
Pema Chewang, the president of the Bhutan Tendrel Party, expressed joy at learning of the impending birth of the third royal child.

Whereas, Vice President of Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa, Dasho Sonam Kinga, Vice President of Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa, stated, "We celebrate the joyous news of another sacred bead enriching the illustrious rosary of our royal lineage. Our ardent prayers are being answered."

According to Bhutan Live, following the recent announcement of the birth of the third Royal child, Bhutan is ecstatic. The Druk Gyalpo and Gyaltsuen shared the news with the public yesterday morning and thanked everyone for their persistent prayers and best wishes.

People all throughout the nation shared their joy as the news spread like wildfire.

Social media platforms were flooded with congratulations, prayers, and happy comments for the King and Queen shortly after the formal announcement was made on the King's Facebook page.

Prime Minister Lotay Tshering remarked, "Blessings come in various forms. Today's news was one such blessing. The nation feels enriched and spiritually uplifted by this news. To celebrate, I lit a butter lamp and offered my prayers at home," according to Bhutan Live.

Furthermore, the King and Queen of Bhutan were also congratulated by Chief Justice Chogyal Dago Rigdzin, who emphasised that this priceless autumnal gift represented continuity, blessings of peace, and prosperity in the land of Druk Yul.

He said with unbridled enthusiasm and excitement, "We are overjoyed and thrilled with this heartwarming news." (ANI)
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned Bushra Bibi, the wife of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan once again in National Crime Agency (NCA) 190 million pounds scandal, ARY News reported on Friday. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has once again summoned former first lady Bushra Bibi. For her attendance on June 22, the anti-corruption watchdog once more handed Bushra Bibi a call-up notice in the 190 million NCA affair. She has been told to provide the NAB investigators with any pertinent Al-Qadir Trust documents. Bushra Bibi was called on June 13 but did not show up before the NAB before the notification was issued, ARY News reported. The anti-corruption watchdog also called former principal secretary Azam Khan in the same case. On June 19, Azam Khan was requested by NAB Rawalpindi. The anti-graft watchdog called him on June 6, but he did not show up, as per ARY News. Earlier on June 13, Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau (NAB) summoned former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi to record her statement in the same case, The News International reported. The News International is an English-language newspaper in Pakistan. Initially, Bushra Bibi was summoned by the NAB Combined Investigation Team (CIT) as a witness being a trustee of Al-Qadir University Trust on June 7. But later, she sought an extension till June 8 with her husband. The CIT directed her to appear before the investigators on June 13. The NAB team issued a notice to Imran Khan's wife for her appearance on June 13 in Lahore, as per The News International. According to The News International, earlier, when Bushan Bibi was summoned by the CIT, she penned her reply, dismissing the NAB's allegations as baseless. She also said that does not have any information about the NCA settlement case. Earlier, the NAB, Rawalpindi summoned Bushra Bibi on June 7 to record her statement as a trustee of the Al-Qadir University Trust in the Pound 190 million National Crime Agency (NCA) UK settlement case, Pakistan-based The News International reported. The Al-Qadir Trust case alleges that the PTI chief and his wife, Bushra Bibi, obtained billions of rupees and land worth hundreds of kanals from a real estate firm for legalising PKR 50 billion that was identified and returned to the country by the UK during the previous PTI government, as per The News International report. Furthermore, Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were also charged in a fraud case filed at Islamabad's Kohsar Police Station for creating "fake receipts" in the sale of official items on June 7. (ANI)
India and the United States are connecting at a very different level, both economically and strategically, and this relationship has grown beyond the election cycles, Shashi Shekhar, an author and former Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati said on Friday. In an exclusive interview with ANI, Shekhar said, "India and the US are now connecting at a very different level both economically, strategically...with QUAD, all of these critical emerging technologies. I think the takeaways are beyond the election cycles, it is beyond individual leaders. It's basically a convergence of interest and a lot of shared values." "Even in the history of both, India and the US, these two democracies have evolved a lot of parallels and a lot of similarities. Their approach to diversity has been that of a 'Melting Pot' and our approach to diversity is finding that you know centuries-old cultural-connect across India. But both these democracies have something to show to the world, and that's a model which is very distinct from the Chinese model, and that is the takeaway," he said. Shashi Shekhar has authored 'Collective Spirit, Concrete Action' - a book based on 'Mann Ki Baat' - Prime Minister Narendra Modi's flagship monthly radio programme for connecting with the people of India. While commenting about the relationship between India and US, Shekhar said that US Defence Secretary, Lloyd Austin, and National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, recently visited India and that India and US have a strong relationship without an ambassador. "The fact that they (India-US) are going to announce the joint development of the engines for the aircraft the fact that Air India has played this huge order with Boeing, and the US president has acknowledged that," he pointed out. PM Modi is all set for his first state visit to the US next week where he will address a Joint Sitting of the US Congress and will also meet a number of American politicians, prominent citizens as well as noted personalities from the diaspora. PM Modi is visiting the US at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The visit will commence in New York where the Prime Minister will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations Headquarters on June 21. The prime minister will then travel to Washington D.C., where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22, and meet President Biden to continue their high-level dialogue. President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host a State Dinner in honour of the Prime Minister the same evening, according to a release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). PM Modi will at the invitation of US Congressional Leaders, including Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Speaker of the Senate Charles Schumer, address a Joint Sitting of the US Congress on June 22. On June 23, the prime minister will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by US Vice President Kamala Harris and State Secretary Antony Bilnken. In addition to official engagements, the Prime Minister is scheduled to have several curated interactions with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders. He will also meet members of the Indian Diaspora. (ANI)
The 10 cheapest countries where you can buy citizenship or residency for as low as $19,000

Gabriel Ramos/Getty Images

Eligible foreign investors can buy a golden passport or visa in over 30 countries around the world.

They provide citizenship or residency status in exchange for investing in the local economy.

Here are the 10 cheapest programs with investment requirements between $19,000 and $250,000.

Thailand golden visa: Minimum application fee of $19,000 required

Twin pagoda monastery built on top of the mountain in the North of Thailand during sunset. Guntaphat Pokasasipun/Getty Images

Thailand's "Elite Visa" membership program provides qualified foreign investors with a "Privilege Entry Visa" that is valid for up to 20 years.

There are eight different program options, ranging from "elite flexible one" to "elite ultimate privilege," according to Thailand Privilege Card Co., the state-owned enterprise within Thailand's federal tourism agency that runs the program.

The minimum payment required is an application fee of approximately $19,000.

Panama golden visa: $40,000 minimum investment required

Rodrigo Cuel/Shutterstock

Panama offers two main types of investor visas with requirements ranging from $40,000 to $750,000, according to Henley & Partners, a leading investor migration consultancy.

The least expensive route is the "Panama Reforestation Visa Program," where foreign investors can contribute $40,000 to a reforestation initiative approved by the Ministry of Environment.

Alternatively, you can apply through the "Qualified Investor Program" where applicants can receive permanent residence status in exchange for a real estate investment of $300,000, stock exchange investment of $500,000, or fixed-term bank deposit of $750,000.

Latvia golden visa: 60,000 minimum investment required

Riga, Latvia around Christmas time. Joe Daniel Price/Getty Images

The real estate investment option within Latvia's golden visa program was recently suspended in January 2022, leaving three alternative investment routes for foreign nationals seeking a residency permit, according to Henley & Partners.

1. A 50,000 investment into the equity capital of a Latvian company, plus a 10,000 contribution to the state budget.

2. Purchase 250,000 worth of "special-purpose interest-free bonds," plus a 38,000 to the state budget.

3. Invest 280,000 into the "subordinated capital of a Latvian bank for a period of five years," plus a 25,000 contribution to the state budget.

Antigua and Barbuda golden passport: $100,000 minimum investment required

Saint John's, Antigua And Barbuda Maria Ehrlich / EyeEm via Getty Images

There are four ways to qualify for Antigua and Barbuda's citizenship by investment program, according to the official government website.

The least expensive option is a $100,000 donation to the country's National Development Fund. Alternatively, applicants can donate $150,000 to the University of the West Indies.

Applicants also can invest in "designated, officially approved real estate" worth at least $400,000, which comes with a $30,000 processing fee.

The program's final and most expensive option is to invest at least $1.5 million into an approved business on the island, along with a $30,000 fee.

Dominica golden passport: $100,000 minimum investment required

Roseau, the capital of Dominica, an independent island republic in the Caribbean Sea. Westend61/Getty Images

There are two ways to qualify for the Caribbean island of Dominica's citizenship by investment program, according to the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica.

1. Donate $100,000 to the island's Economic Development Fund.

2. Purchase $200,000 worth of real estate in an approved development.

St. Lucia golden passport: $100,000 donation required

Aerial photo of the village Canaries on the Caribbean island St. Lucia. Westend61

St. Lucia, a volcanic island located in the eastern Caribbean, offers four different investment options in exchange for citizenship, according to the Investment Migration Council.

The least expensive option is a $100,000 donation to the island's National Economic Fund. Applicants who prefer to invest in real estate can purchase property worth at least $300,000, which cannot be sold for five years.

Additionally, you can invest a minimum of $3.5 million in an "approved enterprise project," which range from restaurants and cruise ports to universities and transportation infrastructure. The projects must create at least three permanent jobs in the local economy.

The final option is to invest a minimum of $500,000 in government bonds, which is currently discounted 50% under the COVID-19 relief program.

Grenada golden passport: $150,000 minimum investment required

Magazine Beach, near Maca Bana Villas, Point Salines in Grenada. Holger Leue/Getty Images

Grenada, an island nation in the West Indies, offers two qualifying options for its citizenship by investment program, according to the official government website:

1. $150,000 contribution to the National Transformation Fund, which finances projects in various industries including tourism, agriculture, and alternative energy

2. Purchase a property worth at least $220,000, which cannot be sold for four years.

St. Kitts and Nevis golden passport: $150,000 minimum contribution required

Waterfront Basseterre main settlement on St Kitts Caribbean island Andrew Woodley/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

There are three ways to qualify for St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment program, according to the official government website.

The first option is to donate $150,000 to the Sustainable Growth Fund, which was launched in 2018 to promote growth in various sectors including healthcare, education, alternative energy, climate change and resilience, and the promotion of indigenous entrepreneurship.

Alternatively, applicants can choose to contribute $175,000 toward the program's Alternative Investment Option.

The third and final option is to invest in an approved real estate project with a value of at least $200,000.

North Macedonia golden passport: 200,000 minimum investment required

Sunset over the hills in town of Veles, Macedonia. Kirill Rudenko/Getty Images

There are two options to purchase citizenship in North Macedonia, according to Henley & Partners:

1. Invest 200,000 in a private investment fund.

2. Invest 400,000 in "new facilities" excluding restaurants or shopping centers that create at least 10 local jobs.

Portugal golden visa: 250,000 minimum donation required

Funchal, Madeira. Getty

Portugal's golden visa program is one of the most popular investor visas among wealthy Americans, multiple investment migration firms previously told Insider.

There are eight distinct investment options, according to Portugal's federal immigration agency:

1 million capital transfer into a Portuguese bank account. The creation of 10 job positions. Purchase of real estate property worth at least 500,000. Purchase of real estate property "with construction dating back more than 30 years or located in urban regeneration areas" for at least 350,000. 350,000 contribution to approved scientific research activities. 250,000 contribution to approved artistic or cultural heritage initiatives. 350,000 capital transfer for the acquisition of investment fund or venture capital fund units. 350,000 investment toward a business headquartered in Portugal, combined with the creation of five permanent working jobs.

Read the original article on Business Insider
10 Things in Tech: Oracle rescinds job offers, Twitter is getting evicted, and CEOs predict whats next

It's finally Friday, friends. I'm Diamond Naga Siu. Big thanks to my amazing colleagues Hallam Bullock, Nathan Rennolds, and Lara O'Reilly for covering the newsletter while I was out.

To ease back into work, I've been playing the 24/7 livestream of the I-95 highway getting rebuilt after a section of it collapsed over the weekend. I find that the construction stream is pretty calming to play in the background.

My colleague Sonam Sheth, however, is quite confused as to why hundreds of other people are also watching it.

Now, let's dive into today's tech.

A warehouse full of Amazon boxes and products in Illinois.

Amazon doubling its warehouse footprint during the pandemic allowed it to recently shift to a regional shipping model to cut costs, an executive told the Wall Street Journal.Scott Olson/Getty Images

1. Amazon is planning to make more items eligible for free shipping. Amazon is reopening the Seller Fulfilled Prime program. It allows sellers to ship Prime-eligible products directly, instead of going through Amazon warehouses.

This setup means Amazon gets to list more items as eligible for free Prime shipping without having to significantly expand warehouses.

Amazon said sellers that want to join the program now need to pass a trial period. They have to ship over 99% of their orders on time with an order cancellation rate of less than 0.5%.

My colleague Eugene Kim has the details of the program, which he breaks down in his latest story.

Read the full report.

In other news:

solar system

The solar system.Withan Tor/Shutterstock

2. The five planets aligning this week. Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will line up close together on one side of the sun this week. It's an extremely rare event. Here's when, where, and how to see it.

3. Rescinded job offers and layoffs at Oracle. Its ailing health division slashed hundreds of employees on Thursday. The job cuts come amid ongoing troubles with a massive government project. More on the layoffs here.

4. Employees really don't want to return to the office. Remote workers anonymously shared the lengths they'd go to continue working from home. That included taking a 20% pay cut. See what else they'd sacrifice here.

5. Twitter is getting booted from its Colorado office. The company has reportedly gone months without paying rent. And now, its Colorado landlords have legal permission to kick the company out. More on the tenant troubles here.

6. AI helped Ikea design a "couch in an envelope." The portable couch only weighs 22 pounds and doesn't require any tools to assemble. Plus, it can be configured in more than 30 different ways. Check out the foldable furniture here.

7. CEOs share what's next. Insider talked with 33 CEOs at prominent companies about how rapidly evolving trends impact their leadership. They discussed tech, sustainability, DEI, and more. Dive into their outlooks here.

8. Mercedes-Benz + ChatGPT. The carmaker just announced a pilot program testing this partnership. They're allowing some 900,000 drivers to have full-on conversations with their vehicles. More here.

Odds and ends:

A pod or orcas with a baby killer whale

A pod or orcas, or killer whales, with a baby orca among them.Getty Images

9. Daily orca sightings in Spain and Portugal. Orca encounters are happening very frequently off the coasts of Spain and Portugal. They've become more common in recent months and could continue to rise. Find out more.

10. The US gives Russia's nuclear program about $1 billion every year. Many US companies rely on Russia's cheap nuclear fuel to produce emissions-free energy. The money goes to Russia's state-owned nuclear agency. Read more.

What we're watching today:

Elon Musk is slated to speak at the VivaTech conference in Paris.

Today marks the 60th anniversary of the first woman in space (Valentina Tereshkova).

Washington DC's Comic Con  dubbed Awesome Con  kicks off today.

Happy birthday, Tupac! Thanks for all the California Love.

Curated by Diamond Naga Siu in San Diego. (Feedback or tips? Email dsiu@insider.com or tweet @diamondnagasiu) Edited by Alistair Barr (tweet @alistairmbarr) in San Francisco and Nathan Rennolds (tweet @ncrennolds) in London.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A sign with the angel number 111

Picture this: youre strolling home, floating on a chance encounter you just had with a stranger who, you hope, will become a special someone sometime soon. Lost in thoughts about the potential future, your gaze catches a license plate displaying the numbers 111. In that instant, your eyes widen, and a flutter of excitement fills your heart. You vaguely recall reading that repeating numbers hold some sort of mystical significancecould this be a message? A sign that destiny is at play, intertwining your path with this intriguing individual?

Repeating numbers, such as 111 or the renowned 11:11, have fascinated and perplexed individuals throughout the ages. Many believe that these numbers are not mere coincidences but profound messages from the universe or a higher power. In fact, there exists a term to describe themangel numbers. These numbers have an uncanny ability to appear in the most ordinary of places, ranging from digital clocks to everyday receipts, sparking a sense of wonder and curiosity within us. But what does 111 angel number mean?

111 Angel Number Meaning

Angel number 111, in particular, carries profound significance. It serves as a messenger for a transformative journey of self-discovery, inviting you to embark on a new path of confidence, motivation, and independence.

The symbolic references associated with angel number 111 can be traced back to various spiritual and mythological sources. In literature and myth, the number 111 is often associated with unity, new beginnings, and the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. It is believed to carry a divine vibration that aligns you with the universal flow of abundance and manifestation.

111 Angel Number Spiritual Meaning

Spiritually, angel number 111 carries a powerful lesson. It encourages you to embrace the power of your thoughts and beliefs. This number serves as a reminder that your thoughts shape your reality and that maintaining a positive mindset is crucial for spiritual growth. By aligning your thoughts and intentions with love, abundance, and higher vibrations, you can manifest a more fulfilling and purposeful life.

Angel number 111 is also associated with the elements of fire and air. Fire symbolizes passion, inspiration, and the spark of creativity, while air represents intellect, communication, and the flow of ideas. The presence of angel number 111 in your life urges you to express your unique creativity, communicate your desires, and pursue your passions fearlessly.

Angel number 111 may also hold significance in terms of directions. It may symbolize the four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west. This suggests that your spiritual journey involves exploration, balance, and embracing the different aspects of your being.

111 Angel Number Meaning in Love

Regarding love and relationships, angel number 111 conveys harmony and alignment. It encourages you to maintain a positive mindset and focus on self-love and self-acceptance. By nurturing your own well-being and radiating positivity, you attract like-minded individuals who resonate with your energy.

Angel number 111 also signifies the importance of open and honest communication within your relationships. It serves as a reminder to express your needs, desires, and emotions clearly, fostering deeper connections and understanding with your loved ones.

Does 111 Angel Number Have Any Meaning for an Ex-Relationship?

In the context of an ex-relationship, angel number 111 may indicate the potential for healing and reconciliation. It serves as a reminder to release any lingering negative emotions and focus on forgiveness and growth. Seeing this number could be a sign that its time to let go of past grievances and open your heart to the possibility of a renewed connection.

Does 111 Angel Number Have Meaning for Finances or Work?

When it comes to finances and work, angel number 111 carries a message of abundance and manifestation. It encourages you to have faith in your abilities and believe in your own potential to create prosperity. This number serves as a reminder to focus on positive thoughts and take inspired action toward your career goals. By aligning your intentions with abundance and trusting divine guidance, you can attract financial success and fulfillment in your work.

How Does 111 Angel Number Help With Health?

Angel number 111 can also have an impact on your health and well-being. It serves as a reminder to prioritize self-care and listen to the needs of your body, mind, and spirit. This number encourages you to adopt a positive mindset toward your health and take proactive steps toward your overall well-being. Maintaining a balanced and harmonious lifestyle, you can experience increased vitality and a deeper connection with your inner self.

111 Angel Number Twin Flame

In the realm of spiritual connections, angel number 111 is often associated with the concept of a twin flame. A twin flame is believed to be the other half of your soul, sharing a deeply spiritual bond. When angel number 111 appears in relation to your twin flame, it signifies that your connection is divinely guided and supported. This number serves as a reminder to trust the journey, embrace the growth that comes with the connection, and seek unity with your twin flame on a spiritual level.

111 Angel Number And Zodiac Signs

The influence of angel number 111 can vary depending on your zodiac sign. Lets explore its significance for a few signs:

For Capricorns, angel number 111 brings a message of self-belief and determination. It encourages you to trust in your abilities and take bold steps towards your goals.

Scorpios may find that angel number 111 serves as a reminder to embrace transformation and release any limiting beliefs. It encourages you to tap into your inner power and trust the process of change.

For Aquarians, it reminds them to embrace their individuality and express their unique perspectives. It encourages you to honor your intuition and follow your own path.

For Taureans, angel number 111 signifies the importance of perseverance and patience. It serves as a reminder to stay grounded and trust that your efforts will yield fruitful results.

Leos may find that angel number 111 inspires them to embrace their creativity and shine their light. It encourages you to share your talents and gifts with the world, allowing your true essence to radiate.

Geminis get a message of clarity and focus. It serves as a reminder to channel your energy towards your passions and embrace opportunities for personal and intellectual growth.

For Libras, angel number 111 symbolizes balance and harmony. It encourages you to seek balance in all areas of your life and nurture your relationships with love and understanding.

Cancers are reminded to prioritize self-care and emotional well-being. It encourages you to create a nurturing environment for yourself and others.

For Pisceans, angel number 111 serves as a reminder to trust your intuition and embrace your spiritual gifts. It encourages you to connect with your higher self and follow the guidance of your inner wisdom.

What To Do After Seeing 111 Angel Number

Should you ignore angel number 111? Well, according to renowned numerologists and astrologers, ignoring the message behind angel number 111 would be unwise. If you are repeatedly seeing the angel number 111, its important to pay attention to this divine message and understand its significance in your life. Angel numbers are believed to be messages from the spiritual realm, guiding and providing insight to individuals. Here are some steps you can take after seeing angel number 111:

Reflect on the symbolism of number 111. Angel number 111 is composed of three 1s, which amplifies its significance. The number 1 represents new beginnings, individuality, and the power of positive thinking. Reflect on how these themes may relate to your life at the moment. Consider areas where you may be starting anew, embracing your uniqueness, or focusing on positive thoughts.

Trust your intuition. After encountering angel number 111, trust your intuition and inner wisdom. Your intuition is a powerful tool that can guide you towards the right path and help you make decisions aligned with your higher purpose. Pay attention to any intuitive nudges or gut feelings you may experience, as they may be related to the message the angels are trying to convey.

Take inspired action. Angel numbers are not mere coincidences; they serve as calls to action. After reflecting on the message of angel number 111 and seeking guidance, take inspired action towards aligning yourself with its meaning. This could involve making positive changes in your life, embracing new opportunities, or letting go of limiting beliefs that hinder your growth.

Seek guidance and support. Angel numbers often appear when we need guidance or support in our lives. If youre unsure about the message behind angel number 111 or how to apply it to your current situation, dont hesitate to seek guidance. You can meditate, pray, or consult with a spiritual advisor, mentor, or trusted friend who has knowledge of angelic symbolism.

Express gratitude. Finally, express gratitude to the divine and your guardian angels for their guidance and support. Gratitude opens the doors for more blessings and positive experiences to flow into your life. Take a moment each day to express your appreciation for the messages received through angel number 111, and for the continuous presence of your spiritual guides.

Remember, angel numbers are personalized messages from the divine realm, and their interpretation may vary depending on your unique circumstances. Stay open-minded, trust the process, and be patient as you navigate the path illuminated by angel number 111.

The post 111 Angel Number Meaning: In Love, Life, Twin Flame and More appeared first on 21Ninety.
Nessacus Regional Middle School in Dalton, Massachusetts Google Maps

A Jewish middle school teacher resigned after facing months of antisemitism from one of his students.

Morrison Robblee told Insider that administrators didn't take his frustrations seriously.

The incident is part of a disturbing larger trend of increasing antisemitism across the country.

A Jewish middle school teacher in Massachusetts resigned last month after dealing with what he said was months of ongoing antisemitic harassment from one of his sixth-grade students.

Morrison Robblee, who previously taught social studies at Nessacus Regional Middle School, told Insider on Friday that his former student's antisemitism gradually escalated into full-blown Nazi jokes and Holocaust references.

The 12-year-old student now faces a misdemeanor charge of criminal harassment, according to The Berkshire Eagle, after the Dalton Police Department charged him in juvenile court on Tuesday.

Representatives from the Dalton Police Department did not respond to Insider's request for comment. A spokesperson with the Berkshire District Attorney's Office declined to discuss specifics of the case, but told Insider that the district attorney is coordinating with the New England chapter of the Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires to try and prevent future hate incidents in the region.

Robblee told Insider the harassment began in February of this year, when he tried to quiet his class one day. The child began shouting homophobic slurs, Robblee said, and he immediately removed the student from the class. Later, the school administration held a "restorative circle," where the student, Robblee, and an administrator reflected on the incident together, Robblee said.

"The student didn't actually say anything during the meeting," Robblee said. "That probably should have cued me that this was not going to end."

Robblee told Insider the situation escalated further in April when he wore a Jewish kippah to school during Passover; the student made hateful comments about the traditional head covering, prompting Robblee to send him to detention.

A few days later, Robblee said the student approached him with what he thought would be a written apology. But the piece of paper was actually a violent drawing depicting Adolf Hitler standing over a dead person labeled "Jew," with swastikas and canisters labeled "gas" scattered across the page. Insider has viewed the drawing, which featured the words "Sorry Jew" written atop the page.

Robblee also provided Insider with several rough drafts the student had made. Robblee noted that the student had clearly gone to great lengths to create the offensive drawing.

berkshire student drawing drafts

Robblee provided Insider with drawings and a note the student gave him. The drawing on the left is the student's rough draft of a violent image depicting Adolf Hitler and a dead body labeled "Jew." The right image is an insulting note the student gave Robblee.Courtesy of Morrison Robblee

The school suspended the student and removed him from Robblee's class following the incident, according to Robblee, but he told Insider the student's harassment was allowed to persist in the hallways. Robblee said he still oversaw the student's curriculum, develop lessons, and grade his work, adding that throughout this period, the student emailed him insults about his teaching and sent him a handwritten note insulting him.

Lara Marcella, the then-president of the Central Berkshire Educators Association  the union representing educators in the region  told Insider that Robblee spoke with his union representative at the school about the fraught situation in May, who then requested a meeting with her.

After conducting her own investigation, Marcella said she decided it would be best for the union to file a grievance on behalf of the entire staff at the middle school, citing violations of health and safety.

"The Anti-Semitic and homophobic behavior of this student was abhorrent," Marcella said. "It is a frightening national trend that most school districts are beginning to address more seriously."

Robblee said his union representative encouraged him to bring the student's antisemitic drawings and emails to police. He also told administrators in a letter that he was concerned the student would be further radicalized with hate if steps weren't taken to discipline him.

Robblee told Insider the school failed to adequately protect him. He said administrators should have removed the student from the classroom earlier, provided a behavior technician or paraprofessional to monitor him, and implemented some sort of school-wide anti-bias education, such as holding an assembly or inviting the Anti-Defamation League to speak.

"They really tried to sweep this under the rug. They really tried to protect their reputation," Robblee said.

In May, the Central Berkshire Regional School District placed Robblee on administrative leave, citing the student's allegations that Robblee made a face at him in the hallway, according to The Eagle. Robblee told Insider that he did stick out his tongue at the student in a moment of frustration after the student swore at him.

Rather than return to his position following a verbal reprimand from the administration, Robblee said he chose to resign because he didn't feel like his concerns were being taken seriously.

"I take the keys out of my pocket, slide 'em across the table, and say, 'There's absolutely no way I am coming back to work in your school,'" Robblee told The Eagle.

Representatives with the school district did not respond to Insider's request for comment but did tell The Eagle that an investigation into Robblee's conduct is ongoing.

The incident in Dalton is part of a larger trend across the country of increasing antisemitism. An April report from Tel Aviv University's Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry and the US-based Anti-Defamation League found that antisemitism and related hate incidents were on the rise throughout 2022.

The number of antisemitic incidents in the country increased by 36% in the last year, including campus and school incidents up by nearly 50%. according to the report.

June 21, 2023: This story has been updated to include comments from Lara Marcella, the former president of the Central Berkshire Educators Association, who clarified that Mr. Robblee dealt primarily with his union representative during this incident.

Read the original article on Insider
14-year-old who disappeared after exams found alive; another student from same school still missing

A 14-year-old Gwinnett County girl who vanished after she took her final exams has been found alive.

Ashley NaVeah Bell disappeared on May 24. Video from a school surveillance camera last showed Bell leaving the Parkview High School campus.

Her family confirmed to Channel 2s Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson that she was found safe on Thursday and is back home.

TRENDING STORIES:

Police are still searching for another Parkview High School student who disappeared last month. Leila Novljakovic, 15, was last seen around 6 a.m. at her home off Ridgewood Drive in Lilburn heading to Parkview High School on May 16.

Police told Channel 2 Action News that they dont think the two cases are related, but are just a strange coincidence.

Novljakovic is 5 feet, 9 inches tall with red hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing a maroon shirt, gray sweatpants, black flip-flops and a pink backpack. Police also said she has a heart and circle tattoo on her left wrist.

Anyone who sees Novljakovic is urged to contact Gwinnett County police at 770-513-5300.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS
A mob supporting U.S. President Donald Trump breaks into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

An Illinois man was arrested Thursday and charged with participation in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol and will be transported to Washington, D.C., to face the charges.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, Nicholas Von Keudell, of Hampshire, is the latest of at least 38 arrests in Illinois of individuals accused of crimes committed at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021.

Advertisement

Von Keudell is the son of Trudy Castle, 57, who was earlier sentenced along with her sister, Kimberly DiFrancesco, 55, to 30 months of probation. Castle and DiFrancisco confirmed to FBI agents that Von Keudell traveled to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 5 with the pair and spent part of Jan. 6 at the Capitol with them.

According to the complaint, law enforcement body-worn camera footage of the Jan. 6 crowd, along with supplementary footage, displayed an individual alongside Castle and DiFrancisco who appears to be Von Keudell. Multiple images appeared to show Von Keudell inside the Capitol building and outside on restricted Capitol grounds between 2:24 and 3:49 p.m. At one point, the video allegedly shows Von Keudell attempting to reenter the building and being turned away.

Advertisement

The U.S. Department of Justice reported that in the 29 months since the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for involvement in the breach, including nearly 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.

The specific charges Von Keudell is facing include entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

There was no attorney listed for Von Keudell on the court docket as of Friday.

The arrest came a day before another Illinois resident, Thomas B. Adams Jr., 41, was sentenced to prison for felony and misdemeanor charges during the breach of the U.S. Capitol. Adams, of Springfield, was sentenced Friday to 14 months in prison, according to court records.

Chicago Tribunes Jason Meisner contributed.
Fourteen people were rescued in the early hours on Thursday after a charter boat struck a rock and began sinking near Santa Cruz Island, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

At about 2:30 a.m., the Coast Guard Command Center in Long Beach received a mayday call from the captain of the charter passenger vessel Sea Jay reporting that it was taking on water, the Coast Guard said.

The captain told the 10 passengers and three crew members to abandon the boat while he anchored the vessel and released the life raft. He then boarded the raft as well.

In response, a small boat was launched from Coast Guard Station Channel Islands, and a helicopter was dispatched from Forward Operating Base Point Mugu.

The Coast Guard also issued an emergency broadcast requesting help from any nearby vessels while crews were en route to the scene.

A nearby boat, the Sea Biscuit, heard the broadcast over the radio, quickly arrived on the scene, and began to recover the survivors, the Coast Guard said.

A short time later, a California Department of Fish and Wildlife small boat and a Coast Guard Station Channel Islands small boat arrived to transport the survivors to shore, where emergency medical services were standing by.

No injuries were reported.

This was a dynamic case that resulted in lives saved due to the quick actions of a good Samaritan, our Coast Guard watch-standers, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said Capt. Ryan Manning, commander of Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles  Long Beach.

Thankfully, we were able to quickly respond to ensure all persons made it home safely.

The Sea Jay, which reportedly is based out of Channel Islands Harbor, is fully submerged and anchored.

Passengers and crew are safe. Thats all what matters, Seajay Sportfishing wrote on its Facebook page Thursday afternoon. Thanks to all for your concerns. She is my great memory. And I will move forward to protect its name and memories.

The Coast Guard said a sheen has been reported in the vicinity of the vessel, and the boats diesel fuel tanks have a total capacity of 220 gallons.

The Coast Guard was working with partner agencies to respond to the pollution and investigate the cause behind the grounding and sinking.
20 photos that show how fatherhood has changed in the royal family

King Charles with Prince William and Prince Harry during the Royal Family's ski break at Klosters on March 31, 2005, in Switzerland. Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

King Charles was mostly raised by nannies and staff.

Prince Harry said Charles didn't hug him after sharing news of Princess Diana's death.

Prince William watches YouTube tutorials to learn how to style Princess Charlotte's hair.

In an authorized biography of King Charles, author Jonathan Dimbleby wrote that Charles was mostly raised by nannies and staff.

The Queen holding Princess Anne and Prince Philip holding then-Prince Charles circa 1951. Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

King Charles was born in 1948, four years before his mother, then Princess Elizabeth, became queen.

"Such an upbringing was by no means rare in those days (at least those households that could afford the appropriate staff)," Dimbleby wrote in "Prince of Wales: A Biography." "Although Prince Charles was not starved of parental affection, it was inevitably the nursery staff (interpreting the will of their employers) who taught him to play, who witnessed his first steps, who punished and rewarded him, who helped him put his first thoughts into words."

The Duke of Edinburgh still found moments of levity with his children amid a busy royal schedule.

Prince Charles and Princess Anne being pushed on a swing by Prince Philip on the grounds of Balmoral. PA Images via Getty Images

Prince Philip pushed then-Prince Charles and Princess Anne on a swing at Balmoral Castle.

Philip and Charles' father-son relationship wasn't always easy.

Charles talks to his father, Prince Philip, in front of a fireplace at Sandringham. PA Images via Getty Images

Prince Philip saw that Charles attended his former school, Gordonstoun in Scotland, which was far from the family's home. Charles reportedly had a tough experience at the school.

Dimbleby wrote that Charles was "inevitably separated from his parents more than they might have wished," causing him to feel that his parents were "emotionally distant" as well.

Charles has recalled how matter-of-fact his father could be when dealing with his family.

Prince Charles and his father in 1993. Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

In a 2021 documentary released after Prince Philip's death, Charles recalled his final conversation with his father, which was on the topic of Philip's 100th birthday party. (Philip would pass away two months before he turned 100.)

When Charles asked his father about the celebrations, Philip responded quickly, "Well, I've got to be alive for it, haven't I?"

Charles responded: "I knew you'd say that!"

In the same documentary, Prince Harry also shared how matter-of-fact his grandfather could be.

He said that when he came home from the Middle East and saw his grandfather, "There wasn't a deep level of discussion, more a case of, 'Well you made it. How was it?' That's how he was."

But their close bond remained.

Philip and Charles in 2016. Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

The father and son often sat together at royal weddings and events.

Charles released a heartfelt statement when Prince Philip, his "dear Papa," died at the age of 99 in April 2021.

Charles kisses his father, Prince Philip, in 2017. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

"As you can imagine, my family and I miss my father enormously," the statement read. "He was a much loved and appreciated figure and apart from anything else, I can imagine, he would be so deeply touched by the number of other people here and elsewhere around the world and the Commonwealth, who also I think, share our loss and our sorrow.



The statement continued: "My dear Papa was a very special person who I think above all else would have been amazed by the reaction and the touching things that have been said about him and from that point of view we are, my family, deeply grateful for all that. It will sustain us in this particular loss and at this particularly sad time. Thank you."

When his sons were small, King Charles said he "mucked around with them a great deal."

Charles and Princess Diana with Prince William in 1983. Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty Images

"As they get older, the more things perhaps they, being boys, can do with their father. That's obviously more and more enjoyable. But I've always mucked around with them a great deal," he said in the 1994 documentary "Charles: The Private Man, the Public Role." "When William was tiny, I used to muck around with him as much as I possibly could."

After Princess Diana's death in 1997, Charles took on the role of a single father.

Then-Prince Charles poses with Prince William and Prince Harry on vacation. Ken Goff/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

Prince William, who was 15 when his mother died, and Prince Harry, who was 12, acknowledged their father's difficult position in a 2017 BBC documentary.

"He was there for us," Prince Harry said. "One of the hardest things for a parent to have to do is to tell your children that your other parent has died."

However, in his memoir, Prince Harry said his relationship with Charles was complicated, and he claimed his father didn't hug him after sharing the news of Diana's death.

Prince Harry and King Charles at Diana's funeral in 1997. GERRY PENNY/AFP via Getty Images)

In his 2023 memoir, "Spare," Harry recalled his father telling him about Diana's death while they were on vacation in 1997, Insider's Mikhaila Friel reported.

"Darling boy, Mummy's been in a car crash," Charles told him, before letting him know she had died, according to Harry.

"Pa didn't hug me. He wasn't great at showing emotions under normal circumstances, how could he be expected to show them in such a crisis?" Harry wrote. "But his hand did fall once more on my knee and he said: 'It's going to be ok.'"

In "Spare," Harry also wrote that his father would write him letters instead of complimenting him in person, because he had trouble being "intimate face-to-face."

Kate Middleton captured a candid shot of then-Prince Charles and Prince William for Father's Day in 2019.

Prince William and King Charles in 2019. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge/Twitter

Kate, who studied art history in college, is a talented photographer.

Prince William practiced using a baby car seat before the birth of his first child.

Prince William with Prince George. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton

On a February 2020 episode of the podcast "Happy Mum, Happy Baby" hosted by Giovanna Fletcher, Kate revealed how nervous she and William were about bringing Prince George home.

"The duke, when he put Prince George in the car, that was seamless," Fletcher said of the televised moment after George's birth, when William and Kate were shown fastening their newborn into the car seat.

"We didn't think so at the time," Kate said. "We even tried to practice with a little baby doll, but you know, it just never works out the way you planned it, so it was quite hard to do that on the world's stage."

When Princess Charlotte came around, he began watching YouTube tutorials to figure out how to style her hair.

Prince William with Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

While visiting Blackpool in March 2019, William joked with a local dad in the crowd, telling him he learned how to make a ponytail by watching videos online.

He told him: "Never try to do a ponytail! It's a nightmare!"

Kate reportedly joined in on the debate, asking her husband: "Have you tried to do a plait? It's the weaving ... really hard."

William replied: "I can do a ponytail, but that's about it as I don't have enough hair to practice on!"

Now a father of three, William is a hands-on parent.

Prince William tackled by his kids. The Duchess of Cambridge via Reuters

For Father's Day and Prince William's birthday on June 21, 2020, the duke shared adorably candid photos of himself with George, Charlotte, and Louis.

Prince William held Prince Louis on his lap during celebrations for Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee.

Louis and William. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Harry and Meghan also attended the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022  their first joint appearance since leaving their royal duties behind.

He was photographed clearly having fun with Prince George during a volunteer day in May 2023.

Prince George and Prince William in May 2023. Daniel Leal - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Together, they used an excavator while taking part in the Big Help Out on May 8, 2023, one of the events that was held to celebrate King Charles' coronation. William also helped Louis navigate the machinery.

When Meghan Markle gave birth to Archie in 2019, William welcomed his brother to "the sleep deprivation society that is parenting."

One of King Charles' official 70th birthday photos. Chris Jackson/Getty Images

In the video clip, shared by Kensington Palace on Twitter, William and Kate said they were excited to meet the newest member of the family.

"We're absolutely thrilled, and looking forward to seeing him within the next few days when he's quietened down," William said. "I'm very pleased and glad to welcome my own brother to the sleep deprivation society that is parenting!"

Prince Harry held Archie at the family's first photo-call days after his birth.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Archie. Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Images

When William and Kate introduced their babies to the world, Kate usually held them for their first photos.

In Harry and Meghan's 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry said taking Archie on bike rides is a highlight of their new lives in California.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Archie. Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

"This year has been crazy for everybody, but to have outdoor space where I can go for walks with Archie, and we can go for walks as a family and with the dogs, and we can go on hikes," Harry told Winfrey in the interview, which aired in March 2021. "We'll go down to the beach, which is so close."

"I guess, the highlight for me is sticking him on the back of the bicycle in his little baby seat and taking him on these bike rides, which is something I was never able to do when I was young," he added.

On an episode of the podcast "Armchair Expert," Harry spoke about how he hoped to "break the cycle" of pain and suffering in his family.

Prince Harry with Archie. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Instagram

"There is no blame," he told host Dax Shepard in the episode, which aired in May 2021. "I don't think we should be pointing the finger or blaming anybody, but certainly when it comes to parenting. If I've experienced some form of pain or suffering because of the pain or suffering that perhaps my father or my parents had suffered, I'm going to make sure I break that cycle so that I don't pass it on, basically."

He later added: "It's hard to do but for me it comes down to awareness. I never saw it, I never knew about it, and then suddenly I started to piece it together and go, 'OK, so this is where he went to school, this is what happened, I know this about his life, I also know that is connected to his parents so that means he's treated me the way he was treated, so how can I change that for my own kids?'"

Despite their years-long rift, Harry and William have come together as a family when it matters.

Prince William and Prince Harry at Prince Philip's funeral. WPA Pool/Getty Images

Prince Harry shared details of his fallout with his brother in his 2022 Netflix series, "Harry & Meghan," and his memoir, "Spare."

But they reunited at Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021 and were spotted chatting after the ceremony. At the Queen's funeral in September 2022, they walked side-by-side in the procession. They also both attended King Charles' coronation in May 2023, although they were not seen together publicly and sat rows apart.

Read the original article on Insider
Philadelphia 18-year-old who went missing days before high school graduation found alive

Shalaya Porter went missing for 11 days starting June 5 but had reportedly been found alive and safe.

An 18-year-old Philadelphia woman who went missing five days before her high school graduation has returned home safely, according to NBC 10.

Philadelphia police said Shalaya Porters family last saw her on June 5 and was considered a missing person for 11 days.

She had been preparing to start her freshman year at Morgan State University in the fall, according to ABC 6.

Porters mother, grandmother and aunts gathered outside her high school this week handing out flyers, ABC 6 reported. A Motivational High School teacher also joined her family in bringing attention to her disappearance. They said its unusual that Porter disappeared without her cell phone and missed her graduation.

"I love you baby. Just please come home. We had so many plans. I'm supposed to be going to college with you," her mother Kaleia Porter told ABC 6 through tears.

Missing children What happens when a child disappears in America?

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shalaya Porter: Philadelphia teen who went missing is found alive
Russian attacks against Ukraine killed two civilians and wounded 16 more over the past 24 hours, according to regional authorities.

Russia targeted eight Ukrainian oblasts  Donetsk, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk and Luhansk.

Russian forces struck Kherson Oblast 54 times using artillery, mortars, drones, aviation, Grad MLRS, and missiles, the regional administration wrote on June 16. The attacks reportedly killed two people in the region and injured two more.

Russian attacks wounded 10 civilians in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk Oblast, reported Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. Russia hit at least 11 regional settlements, damaging 13 houses, the building of a cultural institution, two administrative buildings, and an infrastructure facility, said Kyrylenko.

Overnight and early on June 16, Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast was targeted nine times, resulting in damages to people's homes and critical infrastructure, according to the regional administration. There were no casualties.

Earlier on June 15, Russian troops attacked seven communities in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast, wounding three teenagers, one of whom has been hospitalized.

Russia's military struck Zaporizhzhia Oblast's Orikhiv in the morning of June 17, injuring a 55-year-old resident, the regional authorities wrote on Facebook. They reported receiving 24 reports about damages to civilians' property after Russia hit a total of 14 settlements in the region.

Russian troops hit three districts in Kharkiv Oblast, damaging a residential building and two outbuildings in the village of Lyptsi, as well as two residential buildings, a railway station, and an outbuilding in Kupiansk. No casualties were reported, according to the regional governor.
A 20-year-old Yakima man has been identified as the person who died after a gunman opened fire on a Benton City party.

Jesus A. Contreras Chacon was shot once in the back, said a Benton County Sheriffs Office statement released Thursday on the mass shooting Friday night.

He died in the back of a car fleeing the scene, according to the release. Its unclear whether he was shot in the garage or if he was shot inside the car.

An autopsy showed he died from the gunshot wound and its been ruled a homicide, Benton County Coroner Bill Leach said.

Contreras Chacon, who attended Eisenhower High School in Yakima, appears to have one previous conviction in 2020 for having a stolen gun and illegally possessing a gun.

This is the first new information released by investigators since Sunday about the shooting that rocked the sleepy, rural town of 3,400 about 15 miles west of the Tri-Cities.

According to court documents, someone opened fire into a crowded garage on Willard Avenue during a party with teens and young adults. Five others were wounded, including one who was hospitalized.

Sheriffs officials said they are continuing to investigate, but have not said whether they have arrested a suspect or issued an arrest warrant. Its also not clear if the shooting was a targeted attack or people were shot at random.

Two 15-year-old boys from Kennewick who were at the party were arrested after it was discovered they had stolen guns inside their backpacks at the party.

Neither teen appears to be connected to the shooting.

Court documents and one parent have said an unknown individual entered the party in the detached garage and began shooting multiple rounds.

One person said a number of shots were fired and then the gun was reloaded before another volley was fired.

Benton County deputies a couple miles away also heard the shots.

The gunfire sent the teens and young adults fleeing. Police later found 20 people hiding inside the home, while others had rushed friends to hospitals in Richland, Kennewick and Prosser.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Detective Jorge Garcia at 509-735-6555 ext. 7202 or jorge.garcia@co.benton.wa.us or Sgt. Horacio Gonzalez at 509-735-6555 ext. 7205 or horacio.gonzalez@co.benton.wa.us.
During the day, there were 21 skirmishes between the Ukrainian and Russian forces on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka fronts.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Quote: "During the day, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine inflicted 14 attacks on clusters of enemy personnel. In addition, our defenders destroyed three reconnaissance UAVs of operational-tactical level.

In the past day, units of Rocket Forces and Artillery hit a command point, three clusters of enemy personnel and four artillery units in combat positions, two electronic warfare stations and two more important enemy targets."

Details: During the day, the Russian forces launched another missile strike on Kyiv Oblast, using six Kh-47 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles and six Kalibr cruise missiles. The forces and means of air defence of the Air Force and Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed all 12 missiles.

In addition, during the day the Russians launched 24 air strikes, as well as about 35 attacks from multiple-launch missile systems. There are casualties amongst the civilian population, damage done to civilian infrastructure.

The Russians continued to focus their main efforts on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka fronts; there were 21 combat clashes recorded during the day.

On the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna fronts, the invading army maintains a military presence in the areas bordering Ukraine.

On the Kupiansk front, seven settlements in Kharkiv Oblast and the settlement of Novoselivske in Luhansk Oblast were subjected to artillery and mortar attacks.

On the Lyman front, the Russians launched an airstrike on the settlement of Spirne, Donetsk Oblast. Artillery shelling was recorded in seven settlements.

On the Bakhmut front, Russian forces launched air strikes in the areas of Bila Hora and New-York, Donetsk Oblast.

Ten settlements of Donetsk Oblast suffered from artillery shelling.

On the Avdiivka front, the Russians conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in and around Stepove and Avdiivka. An air strike was recorded in and around Avdiivka.

The invading forces also carried out artillery shelling in and around Avdiivka, Vesele and Karlivka, Donetsk Oblast.

On the Marinka front, Ukrainian forces repelled all Russian attacks in and around Marinka. The Russians launched air strikes in the areas of Marinka and Pobeda, Donetsk Oblast. At the same time, artillery shelling was carried out in the areas of five settlements of Donetsk Oblast.

On the Shakhtarsk front, the Russians carried out offensive operations on Novomykhailivka and Vodiane in Donetsk Oblast with no success. They also launched air strikes and shelling on five settlements of Donetsk Oblast.

On the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson fronts, the Russians are on the defensive. They carried out shelling of 11 settlements of Zaporizhzhia Oblast and 9 settlements of Kherson Oblast and the city of Kherson.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
At least three people were killed and more than 50 others were injured Thursday when a tornado struck the Texas Panhandle city of Perryton, officials said.

The tornado hit Perryton, which has a population of around 8,500, around 5:10 p.m., said Trent Hoffeditz, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Amarillo.

Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher said three people have been confirmed dead. A trailer park took a direct hit, he said.

The tornado caused "a lot of damage," especially to mobile homes and businesses, Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard told NBC affiliate KAMR of Amarillo.

Perryton Texas Tornado (David Erickson / AP)

It basically came across the city of Perryton from the northwest to the southeast, he told the station.

Two people were missing, he said.

Ochiltree General Hospital, which is in Perryton, said it had over 50 patients.

Injuries ranged from cuts and bruises to those more severe, and several patients in critical condition were transported to other hospitals, hospital spokesperson Amie Marrufo said.

Bouchard said about 56 people were treated at the hospital and released.

Video from a bystander showed damage in downtown Perryton, broken-off trees and damaged and destroyed homes, as well as at least one overturned truck.

A severe weather event in Perryton, Texas, on June 15, 2023. (Courtesy Malissa Thomas)

"Please keep the Perryton community in your prayers," state Rep. Four Price, who represents the area, said on social media.

"Many structures are damaged," Price said.

Power was out in the city, but generators were keeping water service operating, Mayor Kerry Symons said.

Gov. Greg Abbott said he directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to send help, including road crews and engineers.

"We remain ready to quickly provide any additional resources needed over the course of this severe weather event," Abbott said in a statement. "I ask all Texans to join Cecilia and me in praying for our fellow Texans who have been impacted by this horrific storm. Stay safe, Texas.

Two Texas urban search and rescue groups, Texas A&M Task Force 1 and Task Force 2, were being sent to the area under the direction of the state Division of Emergency Management, Texas A&M spokesperson Merribeth Kahlich said.

Damage due to severe weather in Perryton, Texas on June 15, 2023. (Courtesy Balko Fire and Rescue)

Forecasters believe a tornado struck the city based on video and photos. Its strength wont be known until damage surveys are done, Hoffeditz said.

The National Weather Service had issued a tornado warning for Perryton, and it later said a tornado had been confirmed north of the town.

Emergency managers and other officials in Hansford County, which is adjacent to Ochiltree County, where Perryton is, were paged, and they prepared to respond to a mass casualty or recovery event, said Hansford County Judge, or chief executive, Tim Glass.

The sheriff's office in nearby Hutchinson County was among the agencies that said they were traveling to the Perryton area to assist. The sheriff's office said on Facebook it was "a devastating tornado."

It was an unusually wet May in the Texas Panhandle, and moisture instability and lift helped create conditions for a thunderstorm, Hoffeditz said. An upper-level system also played a role.

"The environment was just primed for one to occur," Hoffeditz said. "Its just unfortunate it hit a populated area like Perryton."

The tornado was reported Thursday as tornado watches covered northern and central Texas and a large part of Oklahoma because of severe weather moving through the region, according to the weather service.

By Thursday night, storms had left the Panhandle, the weather service in Amarillo said. Tornado watches remained for part of Texas that included the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Damage surveys will be conducted to determine the strength of the tornado and its rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, Hoffeditz said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A 34-year old King City man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a Livingston woman was stabbed multiple times earlier this month, according to the Merced County Sheriffs Office.

Jorge Luis Alvarez, 34, of King City turned himself in to the King City Police Department and was transported to the Merced County Jail, according to a Facebook post by the Merced County Sheriffs Office. Alvarez was booked into the jail on Monday and charged with attempted murder and other domestic violence charges.

The incident occurred on June 4 when deputies responded to a call of a stabbing at a business on Peach Avenue in Livingston. Deputies located a woman who had been stabbed multiple times when they arrived at the scene.

The victim gave deputies a description of the reported assailant before she was transported to a local hospital.

The Merced County Sheriffs Office Investigation Bureau issued a warrant for Alvarezs arrest and detectives reached out to the King City Police Department for assistance with bringing Alvarez into custody.

Alvarezs bond was set at $800,000, according to jail records.
At least 5 dead after tornadoes hit the South; thousands without power after severe storms

Hundreds of thousands of residents in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi remained without power Friday following severe weather Thursday afternoon and deadly tornadoes in north Texas.

A tornado tore through the Texas Panhandle town of Perryton, killing three people, injuring dozens more and causing widespread damage as another series of fierce storms carved its way through Southern states. A person in Florida was killed Thursday and a man in Mississippi died early Friday, local outlets reported.

First responders from surrounding towns and cities and neighboring Oklahoma descended on Perryton, which is home to more than 8,000 people and located about 115 miles northeast of Amarillo, just south of the Oklahoma line.

Mobile home communities faced extensive damage, as did much of Perryton's downtown area.

Elsewhere in Texas and the southern United States, residents are being told to prepare for extreme heat through the weekend. The National Weather Service predicted temperatures will rise as high as the 110s.

Scorching temperatures in southern Texas and parts of coastal Louisiana "will represent a 15-25 degree anomaly for this time of year," the weather service said Friday.

A vehicle sits at the entrance to the Ellis Theater after a tornado struck Perryton, Texas, Thursday, June 15, 2023.

Current US weather watches, warnings map

Deaths, severe tornado damage in Texas, Florida and Mississippi

Early Friday, officials in Perryton, Texas lifted a curfew, which was enacted due to the widespread destruction and downed utility lines. Officials warned the downed lines would be difficult to see in the dark.

Officials in Perryton said three people were killed and more than 50 were hospitalized Thursday. Local officials added two people were missing as of Thursday night.

In Escambia County, Florida, one person was killed Thursday when a tornado caused a tree to fall on a home, county spokesperson Andie Gibson told the Pensacola News Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.

A man in Canton, Mississippi, died after a tree fell on him during stormy weather early Friday. Canton Police Chief Otha Brown told WLBT-TV the man was killed after high winds toppled a tree onto his carport as he was entering his car.

Buildings and vehicles show damage after a tornado struck Perryton, Texas, Thursday, June 15, 2023.

In Perryton, Texas, mobile homes were ripped apart and pickup trucks with shattered windshields were slammed against mounds of rubble in residential areas.

Perrytons downtown was also walloped. About two blocks of businesses were heavily damaged, including an office supply store, a floral shop and a hair salon along the town's Main Street. A minivan was shoved into the outer wall of a theater.

Breaking Overnight a Bank in Lavon Tx roof collapsed after storms rolled through. No injuries. This is video from the scene. pic.twitter.com/2evibgC3Rp  Mike Forbes (@mikeforbeswfaa) June 16, 2023

The roof of a bank in Lavon, Texas, collapsed after storms rolled through the area on Thursday evening, according to footage shared on social media. The town is over 400 miles away from Perryton, near Dallas. ABC News journalist Mike Forbes posted a video to Twitter of a branch of Independent Financial bank that was decimated by the storm.

In the video, the roof of a large wing of the bank building can be seen lying on the ground.

Debris covers a residential area in Perryton, Texas, Thursday, June 15, 2023, after a tornado struck the town.

Dangerously high temps in the South

Much of southern Texas, including Corpus Christi, Laredo and Victoria, are under excessive heat warnings from noon until 8 p.m.

The National Weather Service predicts the heat index there could reach 115 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

Southeastern Louisiana is also on alert for dangerously high temperatures Friday, with New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Lafayette expected to experience a heat index of up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

An Excessive Heat Watch is in effect for most of South Texas on Saturday. Heat index values of 115 degrees or higher are expected for 2 or more hours. Be cautious, there is an increased risk of heat stroke and heat exhaustion! #stxwx #txwx pic.twitter.com/Q0VJq2rVT0  NWS Corpus Christi (@NWSCorpus) June 16, 2023

The weather service Friday strongly urged people to "drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors."

"Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances," the weather service said.

Contributing: Jim Little, Pensacola News Journal; The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 5 dead after storms in Texas, Florida, Mississippi; high heat in South
41-year-old man lured Gwinnett 14-year-old girl to his home using dating app, police say

Police have arrested a 41-year-old man after they found a missing 14-year-old Gwinnett County student at his home in Clayton County.

The teen disappeared in May after she was last seen at her high school. On Friday, family members told Channel 2s Gwinnett County Bureau Chief Matt Johnson that she was found alive and is now home.

Channel 2 Action News is no longer identifying the girl or showing her face, since she is a victim.

Gwinnett police confirmed that they have a suspect in custody connected to the teens disappearance. Officers arrested 41-year-old Russell Cheeves at his home in Morrow.

Cheeves is accused of manipulating the 14-year-old on a dating app to come to his home on May 24 and that she was there for three weeks.

TRENDING STORIES:

Channel 2 Action News obtained exclusive video of Cheeves first appearance at the Clayton County Jail where he faced a child molestation charge.

Cheeves faces charges of enticing a child for indecent purposes and interference with custody.

He was denied bond on Friday and will remain in jail.

Gwinnett County police say sexual predators can find a number of ways to target young children.

I always encourage parents to monitor their children closely. Look at their social media. If you dont give them access to social media, even better, Sgt. Michele Pihera said.

IN OTHER NEWS:
Anjanette Young, who was a victim of a botched police raid, speaks with reporters following a committee meeting at City Hall on Nov. 10, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune)

A day after the Chicago Police Board fired the sergeant who oversaw the botched raid on her home, Anjanette Young said the boards decision was only a small piece of the Justice for which I have been waiting.

At its monthly meeting Thursday night, the board voted 5-3 to fire Sgt. Alex Wolinski, the highest-ranking officer on scene during the Feb. 21, 2019, raid at Youngs Near West Side home.

Advertisement

In a statement released Friday afternoon, Young expressed disappointment that the vote was not unanimous.

While my heart goes out to his family because they now suffer the consequences of his abhorrent misconduct, I wish all eight members of the Chicago Police Board would have recognized the need and urgency for Sergeant Wolinskis removal, Young said.

Advertisement

Although this event does not atone for the traumatic injustice I faced, knowing that members of the Chicago Police Board are starting to see how carelessly some Officers engage with the community gives me a little bit of peace, she added.

The three Police Board members who voted against Wolinskis firing were Steven Block, Nanette Doorley and Andreas Safakas.

Afternoon Briefing Weekdays Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

Wolinski now has 60 days to appeal the boards decision in Cook County Circuit Court, a process that typically takes several months, if not years, to resolve. Representatives for the CPD sergeants union did not respond to requests for comment Friday, and an attorney for Wolinski could not be reached.

Body-camera footage shows Chicago police officers conducting an errant raid on social worker Anjanette Youngs home on Feb. 21, 2019. (Chicago Police Department)

Acting on bad information, 13 CPD tactical officers used a no-knock warrant to enter Youngs home in search of a man believed to have an illegal gun. Police body-camera footage of the raid showed officers handcuffed Young, who was naked when police arrived, as she repeatedly told them that they were in the wrong place. Shortly after entering her home, one of the officers draped her with a blanket.

Video footage of the raid, first reported by CBS-2, prompted swift and harsh criticism of the CPDs search warrant policy. However, a proposed city ordinance that would ban the Police Departments use of no-knock warrants has stalled. Young also filed a lawsuit against the city that was settled last year for $2.9 million.

Then-police Superintendent David Brown brought administrative charges against Wolinski in November 2021, recommending that he be fired. Wolinski, who joined the department in 2002, was accused of violating eight departmental rules, including inattention to duty, disobedience of an order and disrespect to or maltreatment of any person.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability also called for Wolinskis firing.

Meanwhile, COPA said several other officers present during the raid should face suspensions, but to date, no other officers have faced Police Board charges for the raid.

Advertisement

Officers present at the raid also included Officer Ella French, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in West Englewood in August 2021.
A 58-year-old Benton City man died by suicide ending an eight-hour standoff with Tri-City Regional SWAT Thursday night.

Curtis Cheves was discovered by a drone inside a home near District Line Road after shooting himself, according to the Benton County Sheriffs Office and Coroner Bill Leach.

Leach has determined he died by suicide, and no autopsy is scheduled.

Benton County sheriffs deputies were called to the home about 6 p.m. after Cheves allegedly pointed a gun at his sister and threatened to kill her, according to a Facebook post. He allegedly stopped her from leaving for several hours.

The sheriffs office didnt say if she was still in the home when they were alerted to the situation. She wasnt killed.

Deputies soon surrounded the home and the Tri-Cities SWAT team was called. And they tried to reach him by phone, by text message and by using a loud speaker. They didnt have any success.

Police used a drone to search the house, and discovered Cheves dead inside. Its not clear when he died.

Cheves had one conviction for second-degree assault in Benton County in 2015, and he served a year in prison. He also had a 2008 Arizona conviction for forgery.

Detectives are continuing investigating his death, said a release.
Six people are dead after a murder-suicide in Marion County, Tennessee Thursday night, according to News Channel 9.

Three of those killed were children. A seventh person was also shot and remains in the hospital.

The shooting happened at a home on Pine Street in the Sequatchie community, which is about 15 miles from the northwest Georgia border.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, when officers responded to the home, it was on fire. The sheriff said it is unclear how many victims were shot. At least two died from smoke inhalation.

Sheriff Bo Burnett identified the shooter as Gary Don Barnett and some of the victims as Regina Barnett, the shooters estranged wife, two of the couples grandchildren, and another child. Another victim was Regina Barnetts daughter, Brittany Perez.

The childrens ages have not been released.

The person who survived was shot three times.

TRENDING STORIES:

Burnett told News Channel 9 its one of the worst crime scenes hes seen in his 43-year career.

You hear about these things but this is one of the worst Ive been involved in all my career as a law enforcement officer, Burnett told News Channel 9.

News Channel 9 obtained documents that show that Regina Barnett told a judge that she was afraid of her estranged husband in 2022.

According to the documents, Regina Barnett said:

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

My soon-to-be (e)x husband threatened to shoot me and he verbally abuses me every day. He also threatened to shoot my dog. He also has anywhere from 50 to 60 guns in his room. I am afraid he will get drunk and shoot me.

Barnett was charged with domestic assault in that case.

Regina Barnett was granted an order of protection, which was still in effect at the time of the murders, according to the sheriff.

IN OTHER NEWS:
Note: Updated to announce a special School Board meeting on June 20 at 3 p.m.

Just over a year ago the Pinellas County school system hired a new superintendent. Now its Hillsborough Countys turn, just three years after Addison Davis replaced Jeff Eakins.

Its not unusual these days for the top job in a large school district to turn over frequently. But finding a new leader has substantial implications for children, school employees and the community.

Here are six things to know as the Hillsborough County school district prepares to find its next leader:

What happened

Superintendent Addison Davis, who had an employment contract through June 2027, announced Thursday that he will step down, effective July 14. He said hes moving back to the Jacksonville area, where he was raised and began his career.

That means Hillsborough Countys seven-member elected school board must find a replacement to lead the seventh-largest district in the nation.

His reasons for leaving

He was not entirely clear in his resignation letter about the reason. He had not experienced the kind of community uprising and acrimony that has befallen superintendents in Sarasota County, Hernando County and districts around the country.

Next steps

The Hillsborough County School Board will convene a special meeting on Tuesday at 3 p.m, right before the scheduled 4 p.m. business meeting, to discuss next steps.

The most typical course of action is to hire a search firm. This can be a private firm or an organization such as the Florida School Boards Association, which assisted in selecting Kevin Hendrick for Pinellas. Such firms work hand-in-hand with the school boards in a process that typically takes months, sometimes as long as a year.

The Hillsborough board will likely name an interim superintendent to keep the system on track during the search. If the board and Davis agree, the district could hire him on a part-time basis for assistance.

Possible candidates for the job

Developments in school districts across Florida offer some possibilities.

Superintendents ousted over politics include some who might still have an interest in running a big Florida school system. Among them: Brennan Asplen of Sarasota County, Tim Smith of Escambia County and Mark Mullins of Brevard County.

Candidates who have been semifinalists or finalists for one or more of the openings include Scott Schneider, chief of schools in Duval County; Ann Hembrook, area superintendent in Marion County; Charles Van Zant, former superintendent of Clay County; Kim Moore, assistant superintendent in Pasco County (formerly a principal and district administrator in Hillsborough); and Ernie Lozano, former chief of staff in Broward County.

The Hillsborough school system also has longtime administrators who could be competitive if they apply.

Van Ayres, chief of strategic planning and partnerships, has had a strong reputation since his successful run as principal of Jefferson High School and worked closely with Davis and his predecessor, Jeff Eakins.

Chris Farkas, chief of operations and a onetime superintendent candidate, distinguished himself before and after the district sought a sales surtax for pressing capital needs, including its ailing air conditioners.

Shaylia McRae, chief of the districts Transformation Network, moved the needle in the districts struggling urban schools after decades of poor results.

Michael McAuley, chief of staff, worked closely with Davis in Clay and Hillsborough counties and has assumed multiple high-level responsibilities as others have left.

As a large, high-profile school district, Hillsborough has the potential to draw candidates from across the country, as it did in previous searches. Often, however, Florida school boards favor prospects with experience inside the state.

Where Davis is headed

Davis is leaving without a job, so its difficult to know where he will land.

Speculation that he wanted to return to Jacksonville has been rampant since the end of 2022, when he sold his home in Apollo Beach and purchased a new one in the Clay County community of Fleming Island.

In conversations, Davis has not ruled out the possibility that he will fill the superintendent vacancy that exists now in Duval County. But the school board there is also conducting a national search, which could turn up a stronger candidate.

Unfinished business

Davis will leave behind a lot of it.

Hillsborough public schools are at a disadvantage when it comes to teacher pay because they do not benefit from special property taxes that exist in Pinellas, Pasco and elsewhere. When a tax referendum was narrowly defeated in 2022, Davis vowed he would try again in 2024. Nadia Combs, the school board chairperson, said she hopes the board will direct the next superintendent to pursue that objective.

Davis is also days away from seeing possible board approval of a plan to redraw school attendance boundaries across the district. One school, Tampas Just Elementary, already closed as part of this plan. Five more schools are expected to close in 2024.

Its not yet clear what will become of the buildings, and the next superintendent will need to take charge of that endeavor as well.

Times Staff Writer Jeffrey S. Solochek contributed to this report.

  

Sign up for the Gradebook newsletter!

Every Thursday, get the latest updates on whats happening in Tampa Bay area schools from Times education reporter Jeffrey S. Solochek. Click here to sign up.
These 640 acres in Dona Ana County to become a solar field that can power 20,500 homes

Solar panels under blue sky on sunset.

LAS CRUCES  Six hundred forty acres of land in Dona Ana County owned by the state of New Mexico have been designated as a future solar array field.

New Mexico State Land Office (SLO) auctioned the land on June 14 to Revolve Afton Solar LLC. The SLO said Revolve Afton Solar was the highest bidder for the project, which is to be constructed about 10 miles west of La Mesa.

Joey Keefe, assistant commission of communications at the SLO, said the Revolve Afton Solar LLC was one of two bidders, though the second bidder did not meet the minimum bid and was disqualified.

Revolve Afton Solar LLC paid $100,000 for the parcel.

The Colorado-based company will construct the array, which is expected to produce 125 megawatts of solar power, according to the bid package. It will also, under the bid agreement, manage and operate the facility.

More: BLM authorizes renewable energy transmission line in Dona Ana County

The New Mexico State Land Office said in a news release that the facility could power about 20,500 homes and generate upwards of $28 million for the state's public school system.

"Our efforts to diversify revenue streams for New Mexico's schools and other institutions are showing real results. We have now quadrupled the amount of renewable energy under lease with the State Land Office in just four years," said Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard.

"It's my job to earn as much money as possible for New Mexico's school kids and expanding the renewable energy footprint on state lands is a great way to provide a new, steady and sustainable source of revenue from a rapidly growing industry."

Revolve Afton Solar LLC could not be reached for comment.

While the initial bid announcement called for a first year rent of $7 per acre (that's $4,480 for the first year of the lease), once the facility is running the state would receive $3,000 per megawatt produced. There are also additional fees the state said would amount to about $206,000.

The initial phase of the project is five years, Keefe said, with an option to extend for two years. The company needs only to break ground on the project in that time period to keep the lease.

Before the project begins, Revolve Afton Solar LLC is required to submit plans to the State Land Office at least six months in advance for review and approval.

Keefe said this is the fifth renewable energy project in Dona Ana County on state land.

More: Legislators request more than $76M in capital outlay funding for Dona Ana County communities

New Mexico pursues energy transition

Garcia Richard said the solar array was just one example of how the state is dedicated to "both large- and small-scale renewable energy projects," an effort underway since the 2019 signing of the Energy Transition Act by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

The act seeks to bring New Mexico to 50% zero-carbon renewable energy by 2030. By 2045, the state is hopeful it will reach 100% zero-carbon renewable energy.

New Mexico is uniquely positioned for that transition according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), which ranked New Mexico third in the U.S. for its solar power potential  behind only Nevada and Arizona  even as the state reported record-breaking revenue gains from its booming fossil fuel industry.

"We know that oil and gas are finite resources and we need to use all the tools available to us to fund our schools and other beneficiaries well into the future," Garcia Richard said in the statement. "Renewable energy development is one option that presents incredible potential for growth in the coming decades."

Who is Revolve Afton Solar LLC?

According to its website, Revolve Afton has a portfolio of 2,350 megawats of development assets across the U.S and Mexico, with six projects in the U.S.

Those projects include a 200 MW solar and battery storage project in Dona Ana County and a 225 MW solar and battery storage project in Hidalgo County.

On May 30, 2023 the company released its Quarter 3 financial results showing total revenues of $1,012,524 for the current fiscal year.

The company said its net income was just over $500,000 for the same period with $1.4 million in cash on hand.

Jessica Onsurez can be reached at jonsurez@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @jussGREAT.

Others are reading:

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Colorado company to construct solar field in Dona Ana County
7 free and cheap things to do in the Charlotte area: Juneteenth events, Fathers Day

This list is curated by Charlotte on the Cheap, where youll find even more free and cheap things to do every day.

Friday, June 16

Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas

Location: House of Africa, 1215 Thomas Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28205

Time: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Cost: Free

Kick off Juneteenth weekend with a drum circle on Friday evening. Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas, which is in its 26th year, will continue all weekend with a Juneteenth parade, childrens village, performances, storytelling, food and a fashion show on Saturday, and a gospel concert on Sunday.

[Juneteenth 2023: Where to celebrate the holiday around Charlotte]

Saturday, June 17

Juneteenth Jam

Location: Levine Avenue of the Arts, Charlotte, NC 28202

Time: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Cost: Free

Juneteenth Jam is a partnership between Blumenthal Performing Arts, the Harvey B. Gantt Center, The Mint Museum, Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and NAACP. There will be a block party at Levine Avenue of the Arts, featuring DJs, musical acts, dancing, food trucks and vendors. In addition, the Gantt Center will be hosting hands-on art activities and workshops, The Mint Museum Uptown will host a Juneteenth history talk with NAACP, and The Bechtler will be the spot for a video game truck, air brush t-shirts and face art.

Sunday, June 18

Free Admission for Dads at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Location: 6500 South New Hope Road, Belmont, NC 28012

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost: Free for dads; regular admission for other members of the family. $14.95 for adults, $7.95 for children ages 2-12, $12.95 for seniors ages 60+, and free for children under 2.

Dads get free admission for Fathers Day and will also receive a free Game Day Koozie, while supplies last. Enjoy live music, yard games and lunch from a food truck.

Monday, June 19

Juneteenth at the Gantt

Location: 551 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

Time: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Cost: Free

The Gantt Center is offering free admission for Juneteenth. In addition to exploring the exhibits, the celebration will feature film screening, an archiving workshop, a chance to make your own Juneteenth windsock and freedom prints, and a history conversation.

Tuesday, June 20

Blue Blaze Trail Talk

Location: Blue Blaze Brewing, 528 South Turner Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28208

Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Cost: Free

Every Tuesday, Blue Blaze Brewing hosts Trail Talk, a conversation about hiking, backpacking and the outdoors. Meet other people in the Charlotte community interested in the outdoors. Its a chance to learn about different hikes, trade tips about gear and even make plans for hikes.

Wednesday, June 21

Movies on the Wall

Location: Tommys Pub, 3124 Eastway Drive #710, Charlotte, NC 28205

Time: 8:45 p.m.

Cost: Free

Once a month from June to October, Tommys Pub, VisArt Video and Independent Picture House are presenting Movies on the Wall. The movies will be projected on the outside wall of Tommys Pub. Snacks and refreshments will be available for purchase. All ages are welcome, but some movies might not be suitable for a young audience. The movie tonight is Jaws.

Thursday, June 22

Sundown Sounds

Location: Pearl Street Park, 1200 Baxter Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

Time: 7 p.m. to 9 pm.

Cost: Free

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreations summer concert series pops up at Pearl Street Park with renowned saxophonist Adrian Crutchfield.

Visit Charlotte on the Cheap for an expanded list of things to do in Charlotte every day. Youll find festivals, kids activities, date night ideas, art, trivia and much more. You can sign up for a daily email that will keep you in the loop.
73-year-old was thrilled with $2 Oregon lottery win  then she won much more

A 73-year-old woman in Oregon was more than satisfied with her $2 lottery win, lottery officials said.

She had no clue a much bigger sum was in her very near future.

Ruth Salvatore played the Win for Life draw game in Salem for the first time, according to a June 13 news release by the Oregon Lottery. Little did she know shed win the jackpot and be awarded a $52,000 annual prize.

Salvatore bought five tickets and was already thrilled she had won something, officials said. The Grants Pass woman didnt know she had won the jackpot until scanning her last ticket on the Oregon Lottery app, officials said.

Look at that, she said while seeing the news on her phone, according to the release. Look at that.

Salvatore and her husband, Ed, plan to use the money to make some renovations to their home and take a trip to Cancun, officials said.

Salem is about 50 miles southwest of Portland.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

Lottery player had gut feeling about NC ticket  then his win had him hollering

Date night turns lucky when woman buys NC lottery ticket. The prize left her in tears

Lottery player hits the jackpot in second-chance NC drawing. Still in dream land
Adams sentenced to 14 months in prison for involvement in U.S. Capitol riot

Thomas B. Adams Jr., who was one of three Springfield area men accused in the Jan. 6, breach of the U.S. Capitol grounds and was convicted in federal court Monday, stands with his dog Spotlyt where Adams lives on Ridge Ave. in Springfield Wednesday Feb. 1, 2023.

A Springfield man found guilty at a stipulated bench trial in January for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, including entering the floor of the Senate chamber, was sentenced to 14 months in prison Friday.

Thomas B. Adams Jr., 41, of the 2800 block of Ridge Avenue appeared Friday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. Federal Judge Amit P. Mehta pronounced the sentence, also sentencing Adams to 36 months supervised releasing and ordering him to pay a $2,000 restitution fine.

Adams was found guilty and convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting entering, both felonies, and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, a misdemeanor, on Jan. 31.

More: 'I wouldn't change anything I did:' Springfield man convicted in breach of U.S. Capitol

He faced a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison on the obstruction charge, plus financial penalties up to $250,000.

The initial complaint on the case showed that on Jan. 6, 2021, Adams passed through a security perimeter on the west side of the Capitol Building where he joined other rioters.

He entered the Capitol Building through the Parliamentarian Door, which is a fire door, telling the FBI in February 2021 he walked over broken glass, and that one of the doors through which he entered had a broken window.

After entering, Adams ignored and walked past a line of U.S. Capitol Police who were attempting to stop the rioters. Once Adams made his way past the officers, he made his way to the Senate chamber and entered through a door on the second floor.

Adams stipulated to walking into the Senate well, where he and multiple other rioters walked among the Senators desks. While on the Senate floor, Adams took pictures with his cellphone. Adams was photographed there holding a President Donald Trump flag.

Law enforcement officers escorted Adams out of the Capitol Building via the Senate Carriage Door.

Under a stipulated trial, the two parties come to a stipulation of the facts in the case. The court determines, based up on that stipulation, whether the facts agreed to prove the offenses beyond a reasonable doubt. A stipulated trial is not a plea, so Adams has not forfeited his rights to appeal.

Adams was represented by Edward Smock and Diane Shrewsbury, federal public defenders.

In an in-person interview with The State Journal-Register after his arrival back to Springfield on Feb. 1, Adams said the stipulated trial was tantamount to "knowingly and willingly admit[ting] fault for being there. I literally had to plead guilty to the same charge they gave the Proud Boys."

The Proud Boys were steadfast supporters of Trump who marched several times in Washington after the 2020 election. More than 100 members of the far-right group joined the Capitol riot.

Although Adams admitted to being in the Capitol, he contested that he didn't "refuse to leave because no one ever told me specifically to get out...until a group of officers came on the Senate floor and told everybody in there it was time to go."

Adams said he traveled to Washington with Franklin in 2021 because "I was laid off (from work), bored, voted for Trump and (according to) everything I saw, it was supposed to be an Occupy Movement, like Occupy Wall Street.

"We went to (Trump's 'Save America Rally') just to be there, just to have our sheer numbers heard. My purpose and my understanding was to let (the government) know that America doesn't agree with their decision, we don't agree with how the (2020 presidential vote won by President Joe Biden) went. There's a lot of us still to this day who don't believe there was 100% legitimacy with the vote."

Adams also admitted that he went to Capitol Hill after Trump's talk "because that's where everybody else was going. I followed the crowd. When I got there, the perimeter fence was already knocked down. I didn't knock anything down. I didn't damage anything. I climbed up the back stairs just like everybody else and stood up there videotaping. I noticed the door was open and said 'Hey guys, the door is open, the crowd's going in. I think it's time for us to go in.'"

Adams said he had no malicious intent and didn't take any weapons other than pocketknives he carries daily.

Until he returned to Springfield and watched news broadcasts, Adams had "no clue of the level of escalated violence that was going on."

The identities of Adams and Franklin first came to light when they were interviewed by Abigail Higgins of the news site Insider shortly after exiting the Capitol.

The Insider article quoted Adams as saying the event was "a really fun time."

"I think everything was great until it went from peaceful to everyone acting like a bunch of 12-year-olds destroying things," Adams told the publication.

Despite the conviction in the stipulated trial, Adams remained defiant in the aftermath, saying he would go to Washington again.

"I wouldn't change anything I did," Adams insisted. "I didn't do anything. I still to this day, even though I had to admit guilt (in the stipulation), don't feel like I did what the charge is."

Adams' comments led Mehta to draft a "minute order" asking why the court should not vacate his convictions. The judge later confined Adams to his home for 30 days. Adams has been out on his own recognizance.

Thomas B. Adams Jr. of Springfield, right, holds a Trump flag inside the Senate chamber during the Jan. 6, 2021, siege of the U.S. Capitol. According to federal court documents, Adams confirmed he is shown in this photograph holding the flag.

More: Federal judge confines Springfield man to home for comments made after his Jan. 6 conviction

Adams is the first person from the area to be sentenced for disrupting a joint session of Congress, which convened on Jan. 6, 2021, to count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

Roy Nelson Franklin, who traveled to Washington from Springfield with Adams, has a pending case.

Another area man, Shane Jason Woods (Shane Castleman) of Auburn, pleaded guilty in federal court last September to assaulting a law enforcement officer among other charges during the breach. Woods was charged with first-degree murder on Nov. 16 for his part in a fatal wrong-way collision on Interstate 55 near Springfield on Nov. 8. He has not been sentenced in the federal case.

Following Adams' sentencing, the office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia credited the work done by both the Springfield and Washington Field Offices of the FBI for investigating the case, with assistance being provided by the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington D.C. and U.S. Capitol Police.

The U.S. Attorney's Office also thanked their counterparts in the Central District of Illinois  based out of Springfield  for providing assistance in their prosecution of Adams.

More than 1,000 people from all 50 states have been charged with federal crimes related to the Jan. 6. breach.

State Journal-Register reporter Steven Spearie contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Springfield man sentenced to 14 months in prison for role in Jan. 6 riot
If you cant get to one of these European islands this year, then make that a must for 2024. Mainland Europe offers plenty to do, but if youre able to set aside a few days to visit some of the islands, you wont regret it.

Flying is always the fastest way; however, in some cases, only a ferry or other watercraft can take you where you want to go. You can fly to mainland Europe, get your bearings for a few days, then hop on another flight to your island paradise.

You can expect sun, sand and great food during your visit. The isle of Europe are chock full of great backdrops for Instagram photos. Once you post them, youll get more views and comments than you can imagine.

Pack your bags and jet to these European islands.

Corsica  France

Photo Credit: Vidar Nordli-Mathisen

This French island is the fourth largest in the Mediterranean, and its known for its sandy beaches and mountainous terrain.

Aside from swimming in the sea, explore the trails which run parallel to the coastline. Horse riding and biking are possible, but theres a clear benefit to navigating on foot at your own pace.

The cuisine that is full of flavor and French and Italian influences. It also has year-round sunshine and the Parc Naturel Regional de Corse.

Sardinia  Italy

Photo Credit: Ivan Ragozin

The capital city of Cagliari is picturesque with historic streets, restaurants and boutiques.

As far as natural features go, La Pelosa Beach is probably the most beautiful on the island, has fine white sand and calm waters.

Sardinia is serviced by three airports: Cagliari, Olbia and Alghero. Ferry options also are available.

The Balearic Islands  Spain

Photo Credit: Annegret Kammer

The four largest isles here are Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca and Formentera. It almost doesnt matter when you go. The weather will be pleasant.

If youre coming from Miami, New York or Los Angeles, you can fly directly into Barcelona or Madrid. Spend a few days in either city, then hop on a smaller plane to Ibiza, Menorca and Mallorca. Formentera doesnt have an airport, so you will have to talk a ferry.

Of the four sisters, Ibiza is the party animal. If partying is your vibe, shell make sure to entertain you.

Corfu  Greece

Photo Credit: Calin Stan

Corfu, along with Mykonos and Santorini, are frequently visited.

Corfu town is frozen in time, and some of the structures recall Venice. There are different kinds of eateries here from beach side tavernas to five-star dining establishments.

Skye  Scotland

Photo Credit: Martin Bennie

This island can hardly be called tropical, but the scenery is epic. It measures 50 miles, and its connected to the northwest coast of Scotland by bridge.

A frequently photographed site is The Old Man of Storr, which isnt far from Portree, the capital. It truly resembles a scene ripped out of Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones.

Dunvegan Castle has a long history and attracts quite a few tourists. Also, its the the only Highland fortress to have been continuously occupied by the same family for 800 years, according to the site.
An African delegation on a peace mission to Ukraine headed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was greeted with explosions and forced to shelter in bunkers amid air strikes on the capital Kyiv.

Ukrainian officials said the attack was repelled by air defenses as the leaders prepared to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Friday, as part of an effort to negotiate an end to Russias war on the country.

The African leaders are expected to travel to Russia Saturday to hold talks with President Vladimir Putin.

Russias missile attack took place just as African leaders arrived in the capital, Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said Friday.

Putin wants to demonstrate that he is ready to disregard the security of foreign leaders, he doesnt really care, because he feels complete impunity. And anyone can be in the place of African leaders.

We remember that missiles were also flying when US President Joe Biden and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Ukraine, Yermak added in a Telegram post, calling on the world to take the toughest possible position against Russia.

Ramaphosa arrived in the country by train on Friday morning with other heads of state including President Macky Sall of Senegal, President Hichilema of Zambia, President Azali Assoumani of Comoros and representatives of Egypt, Congo and Uganda.

Ramaphosas office described the peace initiative as the first time that Africa is united behind the resolution of a conflict outside of our continent, and where you have a group of African heads of state and government traveling together in an attempt to find a path to peace to this conflict.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Ukraine's Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin visit a site of a mass grave, in the town of Bucha, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, outside of Kyiv, Ukraine June 16, 2023. - Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

Meanwhile, a standoff between Polish authorities and a group of South African journalists and security team accompanying Ramaphosa threatened to overshadow the visit.

The group were not allowed to disembark until more than 24 hours after they arrived in Polands capital Warsaw, where the South African president had paid a courtesy visit to President Andrzej Duda. Poland shares a border with Ukraine and Russia.

The Polish Border Guard said Friday that members of the South African delegation did not have the necessary import permissions for weapons they had brought onboard the government-chartered aircraft.

High-level South African officials however insisted that they obtained all the necessary permits, with Ramaphosas head of security, Major General

Many African countries have been criticized by Western nations for not condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine and conspicuously stayed away from votes denouncing the invasion at the United Nations General Assembly.

However, South Africas Ramaphosa has been clear that he will not take sides in a contest between global powers. and that he is pushing for a negotiated end to the conflict.

He has also come under fire after the US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, said South Africa supplied arms to Russia in December last year.

Economic impact

African countries have felt significant economic impact from the conflict, particularly when it comes to grain and fertilizer prices.

As you all know, Africa has been severely impacted by this conflict in terms of food insecurity, the price of grain, the price of fertilizer, but equally, this mission says to seek a road to peace that will alleviate the suffering that is being experienced by people in Ukraine, South Africas presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.

Putin had earlier in the week said he would consider giving grain free of charge to the worlds poorest countries, after announcing that Russia may pull out of the Black sea grain deal, which was brokered to allow vital grain exports from key Ukrainian Black Sea ports in the aftermath of Russias invasion in February 2022.

He said that Moscow entered the Black Sea grain deal to help friendly countries in Africa and Latin America and maintain good relationships.

We are not doing this for Ukraine, we are doing this for our friendly countries in Africa and Latin America. Because grain should go first to the poorest countries in the world, Putin said.

He added that the future of this agreement would be discussed at his meeting with the African leaders on Saturday.

CNNs Uliana Pavlova and Stephanie Busari contributed to this report

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
From right, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Union of Comoros Azali Assoumani, Senegal's President Macky Sall, and Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema, bottom, attend a commemoration ceremony at a site of a mass grave in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, June 16, 2023. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Ukraine on Friday as part of a delegation of African leaders and senior officials seeking ways to end Kyiv's 15-month war with Russia. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to a group of African leaders to ask his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to free political prisoners from Crimea and beyond  saying it would be an important step in their trip to Russia on Saturday.

Seven African leaders  presidents of Comoros, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia, as well as Egypts prime minister and top envoys from the Republic of Congo and Uganda  visited Ukraine on Friday as part of a self-styled peace mission to both Ukraine and Russia to try to help end their nearly 16-month-old war.

The African leaders were traveling to meet with Putin on Saturday in the Russian city of St. Petersburg.

The mission to Ukraine, the first of its kind by African leaders, comes in the wake of other peace initiatives such as one by China, and it carried extra importance for the African countries: They rely in varying degrees on food and fertilizer deliveries from Russia and Ukraine, whose war has jeopardized and impeded exports from one of the world's most important breadbaskets.

This conflict is affecting Africa negatively, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said at a news conference alongside Zelenskyy and the four other African heads of state or government, after the leaders met for closed-door talks on Friday afternoon.

Ramaphosa and others acknowledged the intensity of the fight and the deep-seated ill-feeling between Russia and Ukraine, and insisted that all wars must come to an end  and they want to help expedite it.

I do believe that Ukrainians feel that they must fight and not give up. The road to peace is very hard," he added. Today, we even told President Zelenskyy that we not only recognize their (Ukrainians') viewpoint, but we also respect how they feel about the war thats going on. But we also said there is a need to bring this conflict to an end sooner rather than later.

The members of the delegation, including Senegal's President Macky Sall and Presidents Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, represent a cross-section of African views about the war.

South Africa, Senegal and Uganda have avoided censuring Moscow for the conflict, while Egypt, Zambia and Comoros voted against Russia last year in a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning Russias invasion. Many African nations have long had close ties with Moscow, dating back to the Cold War when the Soviet Union supported their anti-colonial struggles.

The tenor of the press conference soured when Comoros President Azali Assoumani floated the idea of a road map to peace, prompting questions from Zelenskyy who sought a clarification and insisted he didn't want any surprises from their visit with Putin.

Zelenskyy then urged them to help free political prisoners from Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

Would you please ask Russia to liberate the political prisoners?" Zelenskyy said. "Maybe this will be an important result of your mission, of your road map.

His expressed thinly veiled frustration about their trip, saying they would have "conversations with the terrorists on Saturday.

Ramaphosa, who laid out 10 priorities to help pave the way to ending the war, said he planned to have a bilateral meeting with Putin in part to discuss conditions around the Russian leader's possible attendance at a planned August summit, hosted by South Africa, of the so-called BRICS countries, which also include Brazil, China and India.

The International Criminal Court in March issued an international arrest warrant against Putin over Russian abductions of Ukrainian children, which could complicate any trip by Putin to South Africa. Ramaphosa said he alone would make a decision whether to extend an invitation to the Russian leader, and the issue was still under consideration.

Before meeting with Zelenskyy, the African leaders went to Bucha, a Kyiv suburb where bodies of civilians lay scattered in the streets last year after Russian troops abandoned a campaign to seize the capital and withdrew from the area.

The delegations stop in Bucha was symbolically significant, as the town has come to stand for the brutality of Moscows February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Russian occupation of Bucha left hundreds of civilians dead in the streets and in mass graves. Some showed signs of torture.

While in Bucha, the visitors placed commemorative candles at a small memorial outside St. Andrews Church, near one of the locations where a mass grave was unearthed.

On their way back to the capital, air raid sirens went off in Kyiv  prompting them to briefly take shelter as they returned to their hotel as a precautionary measure, said Vincent Magwenya, a spokesman for Ramaphosa.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted: Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace,

The Ukrainian air force said it shot down six Russian Kalibr cruise missiles, six Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles and two reconnaissance drones. It gave no details on where they were shot down.

Germany will deliver another 64 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Friday, to help shield it against Russias relentless aerial attacks.

Officials who helped lay the groundwork for the delegation's talks said the African leaders not only aimed to initiate a peace process but also to assess how Russia, which is under heavy international sanctions, can be paid for fertilizer exports that Africa desperately needs.

They are also set to discuss the related issue of ensuring more grain shipments out of Ukraine amid the war and the possibility of more prisoner swaps.

Life is universal, and we must protect lives  Ukrainian lives, Russian lives, global lives, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema told The Associated Press. Instability anywhere is instability everywhere.

The African peace overture comes as Ukraine launches a counteroffensive to dislodge the Kremlin's forces from occupied areas, using Western-supplied advanced weapons in attacks along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line. Western analysts and military officials have cautioned that the campaign could last a long time.

China presented its own peace proposal at the end of February but it appeared to have few chances of success. Ukraine and its allies largely dismissed the plan, and the warring sides look no closer to a cease-fire.

Ukrainian troops recorded successes along three stretches of the front line in the south and east, Andriy Kovalev, a spokesman for the General Staff of Ukraines armed forces said in a statement Friday.

According to Kovalev, Ukrainian forces moved forward south of the town of Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia province, in the direction of the village of Robotyne, as well as around Levadne and Staromaiorske, on the boundary between Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk province further east.

Kovalev said Ukraine's troops also advanced in some areas around Vuhledar, a mining town in Donetsk that was the site of one of the main tank battles in the war so far.

It wasn't possible to independently verify the claims.

Russian shelling on Thursday and overnight killed two civilians and wounded two others in southern Ukraine's flood-hit Kherson region, where a major dam was destroyed last week, according to the region's governor, Oleksandr Prokudin.

Russian forces over the previous day launched 54 strikes across the province, using mortars, artillery, multiple rocket launchers, drones, missiles and aircraft, Prokudin said.

Floodwaters in the Kherson region have continued to recede, with the average level in flood-hit areas standing at 1.67 meters (about 5 feet). That is down from 5 meters (16 feet) immediately following the breach of the Kakhovka dam last Tuesday, according to the Ukrainian presidential office.

___

AP writer Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
The Chicago Police Board on Thursday voted to fire a police sergeant for his role in the botched 2019 raid at the home of social worker Anjanette Young.

During its monthly meeting at Chicago Police Department headquarters, the board voted 5-3 to fire Sgt. Alex Wolinski.

Advertisement

Acting on bad information, 13 CPD tactical officers used a no-knock warrant to enter Youngs Near West Side home on Feb. 21, 2019, in search of a man believed to have an illegal gun. Police body-camera footage of the raid showed officers handcuffed Young, who was naked when police arrived, as she repeatedly told them that they were in the wrong place.

Shortly after entering her home, one of the officers draped her with a blanket.

Advertisement

I have no words right now!! https://t.co/NwCV2NA9Ab  Anjanette Young~Social Worker~MSW~LCSW~Activist (@AnjanetteYoung0) June 16, 2023

The video footage was first reported by CBS-2, and former Mayor Lori Lightfoots administration tried in vain to stop the footage from being broadcast. Young filed a lawsuit against the city that was later settled for $2.9 million, but a proposed city ordinance that would ban CPDs use of no-knock warrants has stalled.

Afternoon Briefing Weekdays Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

Then-police Superintendent David Brown brought administrative charges against Wolinski in November 2021, recommending that he be fired. Wolinski, who joined the department in 2002, was accused of violating eight departmental rules, including inattention to duty, disobedience of an order and disrespect to or maltreatment of any person.

The citys Office of Inspector General compiled its own 163-page report on the raid, though its never been released publicly. A summary of the report, released in January 2022, said that Lightfoot and others in her office made a troubling series of unfounded statements about the raid.

Chicago Police Board Vice President Paula Wolff leads a disciplinary hearing vote on police Sgt. Alex Wolinski during a board meeting at police headquarters on June 15, 2023. In a 5-3 decision, the board voted to fire Wolinski, as a result of his involvement in a raid on the home of resident Anjanette Young in 2019. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability also called for Wolinskis firing. Meanwhile, COPA said several other officers present during the raid should face suspensions  including Officer Ella French, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in West Englewood in August 2021  but to date, no other officers have faced Police Board charges for the raid.

The source of the information that led to the raid, according to police records and sources, was Kenneth Miles  a man who was arrested in February 2022 after police allegedly saw him throw heroin from a car owned by Yolanda Talley, the CPDs chief of internal affairs. Miles was found guilty last year of possession of a controlled substance and sentenced to two years in prison, court records show.

Federal court records show that Wolinski filed a libel suit against Newsweek earlier this year. That suit, which is still pending, stems from an article published in January 2022 that stated Young was handcuffed naked for about 17 minutes during the raid.

In a separate case, the board also voted 8-0 to suspend two officers  David Taylor and Larry Lanier  for their roles in the fatal shooting of Terrell Eason on July 3, 2018, in the 4700 block of West Fulton Street. Easons family later brought a federal lawsuit against the city, but a judge granted the citys motion for summary judgment in 2021, court records show.
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the second-largest teachers union in the country, endorsed President Biden and Vice President Harris for reelection Friday in another show of organized labor strength for the president.

The AFT offered its endorsement of Biden on the same day the AFL-CIO, the countrys largest federation of unions in the country, did the same, reflecting a broader strategy to show support for Biden among organized labor.

AFTs resolution cited attacks on freedoms through book bans, efforts to restrict collective bargaining, support for lax gun laws despite school shootings and state-level laws like the one in Florida that bar discussion of gender and sexual identity in grade school.

The resolution argues that because of these attacks, now, more than ever, we need elected leaders who share our values, and that Biden and Harris have a profound understanding of the issues facing working families and have demonstrated an impassioned commitment to addressing those issues and using government to help make peoples lives better.

AFT reached out to hundreds of thousands of its 1.7 million members to seek input on whether to endorse Biden and Harris as part of a unified effort among organized labor, and the group said 92 percent of Democratic members supported a move to endorse Biden in the Democratic primary.

Biden is not facing a serious challenge within the party, but author Marianne Williamson has entered the race, and environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also announced a challenge. Kennedy Jr. is polling in double digits in multiple surveys, thanks in large part to strong name identification, while Williamson is polling in single digits.

Support for Biden and Harris from a major teachers union is not entirely surprising, given first lady Jill Biden is a teacher and a member of the National Education Association.

The Hill Elections 2024 coverage

Biden has touted himself as the most pro-union president in history, speaking frequently at union halls about his policies and advocating for collective bargaining. He has already racked up endorsements for 2024 from the AFL-CIO and a major construction union.

But the AFT endorsement is sure to rile up some Republicans, who have turned the group and its leader, Randi Weingarten, into a political foil over the restrictions on in-person learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last year described Weingarten as the most dangerous person in the world, and claimed teachers unions are a threat to the country because of the filth theyre teaching our kids.

Education is also emerging as a central issue in the Republican presidential primary. Multiple candidates have voiced opposition to policies that support transgender students who are receiving gender-affirming care, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and others have been at the center of debates about book bans, and persistent mass shootings at schools have led to GOP candidates calling for enhanced security without pushing for tougher gun laws.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
BEIJING (Reuters) - The China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) said it would cooperate with a Canadian government probe triggered by a senior employee's resignation in protest over what he alleged was Chinese Communist Party influence.

Bob Pickard, a Canadian national and former global communications chief for the AIIB, announced his resignation in a scathing social media post on Wednesday. Hours later, Ottawa said it was freezing ties with the bank while it probed the allegations.

In response, the bank said it "welcomes" Ottawa's review into what it called "baseless" allegations by Pickard, and would be conducting its own internal review into the circumstances surrounding Pickard's resignation, led by the bank's General Counsel Alberto Ninio.

"We welcome this review and will be cooperating fully," vice president Ludger Schuknecht was quoted as saying in a press release published on the bank's website on Thursday. "Transparency is essential to the trust of our 106 Members, our multilateral peers, our development partners, our community of civil society organizations, and the citizens we serve."

China's foreign ministry on Thursday said the AIIB adhered to "principles of openness, meritocracy and transparency" when recruiting and managing staff, while China's embassy in Canada called Pickard's statements "lies".

Pickard told Reuters he was advised to flee the country for his safety soon after resigning on Monday, without elaborating on who gave him this advice.

When asked by Reuters about Pickard's remarks, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada said: "The safety and security of Canadians remains a priority for the Government of Canada."

Established by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2016 as a Chinese alternative to the World Bank and other Western-led multilateral lending institutions, AIIB has 106 members worldwide, including Canada, and says it is an "apolitical" lender.

(Reporting by Laurie Chen; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
Al Pacino, 83, and Noor Alfallah, 29, welcome baby boy Roman Pacino to the world

Acting icon Al Pacino, at age 83, and girlfriend Noor Alfallah, 29, welcomed his fourth child, a son, to the world, his camp said Thursday.

A representative for Pacino issued a brief statement about the birth but did not include any other details, such as the newborn's length and weight or where the boy was born.

"I am confirming that Al Pacino and Noor Alfallah have welcomed a son, named Roman Pacino," Pacino's spokesman said. "No other statement or comments will be provided."

Pacino, the star of "The Godfather" and Scent of a Woman, already had three other children: daughter Julie Marie, 33, and 22-year-old twins Anton and Olivia.

Doctors and medical ethicists had raised concerns about Pacino's fathering children at such an advanced age.

CORRECTION (June 15, 2023, 11:55 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misspelled the mothers last name. She is Noor Alfallah, not Alfalla.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Al Pacino is officially a father of four.

A rep for the 83-year-old actor confirmed to NBC News June 15 that he and his girlfriend, Noor Alfallah, welcomed a son, whom they named Roman Pacino.

The news comes about two weeks after Pacino's rep confirmed that the couple was expecting their first child together. At the time, Alfallah, 29, was eight months pregnant.

This is the "Scarface" star's fourth child, and his first with Alfallah. He is also father to 33-year-old daughter Julie Marie, whom he shares with ex-girlfriend Jan Tarrant. He also shares 22-year-old twins Anton and Olivia with ex Beverly DAngelo.

The Hollywood star and Alfallah were first spotted together in April 2022 after being spotted leaving Felix Restaurant in Venice, California.

Alfallah shared a photo of the two visiting a friends art exhibit in New York earlier this year in April.

As for being a father, Pacino previously expressed how he always "wanted to be there" for his children after his own father left his family when he was a toddler.

I'm responsible for them. Im a part of their life. When Im not, its upsetting to me and to them, he told The New Yorker. So thats part of the gestalt. And I get a lot from it. It takes you out of yourself.

While appearing on TODAY June 1, Pacinos longtime friend and former co-star Robert De Niro said he was very happy for the actor.

De Niro, 79, who recently welcomed his seventh child, said he had just heard that Pacino was expecting a baby.

Hes a few years older than me. God bless him. Very happy for him, he said, before sharing some insight on welcoming a child later in life.

I have certain awareness, De Niro said. When youre older, you have awareness of certain things in life, dynamics. Everything, family dynamics. You cant avoid learning certain things and then how you can deal with those, manage them and this and that.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Troops in Alaska can now fly home once a year, and the military will pick up the tab.

The Army's 11th Airborne Division is pioneering a new policy aimed at helping soldiers get home to see family at least once annually. The policy, which compensates soldiers for the price of a ticket home, applies to all Department of Defense service members posted to Alaska who have family in the continental U.S.

The 11th Airborne is the first active-duty unit in Alaska to fully fund the initiative, which affects all of its soldiers. The announcement on its social media account was to inform its soldiers, but was not intended to imply that any other units were excluded.

Read Next: A New Armored Vehicle Is Coming to the Army. It Could Be a Game Changer for Light Units, Vets Say.

"The policy applies to all DoD service members," said Capt. Molly Treece, spokesperson for the 11th Airborne Division. "If they're in a different unit, not the 11th, that other unit will have to fund the ticket. But by policy, every service member in Alaska is entitled to it."

The policy says that soldiers and DoD employees who qualify -- those stationed in Alaska -- can receive the benefit only to fly to their home of record. That means it's important they make sure their home of record is updated within the military's system.

"The intent was that this policy be in place for this whole year. It wasn't implemented until recently, but it's backdated to December of last year. So if people already visited family in 2023, they can be reimbursed for those tickets," Treece said.

Only an officer with the paygrade of O-5 or higher can sign off on the leave. The bureaucratic space it occupies is precise: It is a special allowance, or a special type of leave, and only officers of sufficient rank can authorize that.

Leaders hope that soldiers serving in Alaska -- a remote and physically and mentally challenging environment -- will take advantage of the opportunity to see family with a benefit that is similar to those offered to troops deployed to combat.

The Army has been struggling with a spike in suicides over the past two years in Alaska. In 2021, the service had 11 soldiers die by suicide there, raising alarm bells.

Upgrades to barracks and gyms, as well as early release for soldiers on Fridays, have all been part of the effort to reduce the deaths in an area that can be challenging for those not used to the environment and distance from the continental U.S.

-- Adrian Bonenberger, an Army veteran and graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, reports for military.com. He can be reached at adrian.bonenberger@monster.com.

Related: Given the Choice, Many New Soldiers Are Picking 'Tough' Alaska as Their 1st Duty Station
Alex Chisholm

The senior civil servant involved in handing over Boris Johnsons coronavirus diaries to the police has been knighted in the Kings Birthday Honours.

Alex Chisholm, the permanent secretary in the Cabinet Office and chief operating officer of the civil service, has been rewarded for his contribution to public service.

The top mandarin, who is expected to feature prominently in the Covid Inquiry, faced a fierce backlash from Mr Johnsons allies last month when his department passed extracts from the former prime ministers diaries to the police, prompting accusations of a political stitch-up and a smear.

Cabinet Office sources said that officials were obliged by the civil service code to hand the information to the authorities as they were concerned the entries detailed potential breaches of coronavirus rules. They were uncovered by lawyers working on Mr Johnsons formal submission to the Covid inquiry.

The Metropolitan Police and Thames Valley Police confirmed they were looking at gatherings Mr Johnson attended  including receiving visitors  in Downing Street and Chequers while he was in the top job.

A spokesman for Mr Johnson said the allegations were totally untrue and suggested that the claims had been made for a political purpose.

Discrimination claim

Mr Chisholm, who has been made Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, also made headlines when he was named along with the Cabinet Office and other senior officials in a discrimination claim brought by a former Treasury civil servant.

Employment tribunal papers published in April revealed that he had asked for his name to be removed from the case on the basis he had been wrongly included.

But this was denied by the tribunal judge, despite an acknowledgement that the part he allegedly played in the claim was relatively minor.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: We are defending these claims and cannot comment further on an ongoing employment tribunal.

Mr Chisholm is among the most senior officials in the civil service, having spent the best part of a decade in top Whitehall roles across the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy  which has since split into two new divisions  and the Cabinet Office.

He is responsible for driving civil service reform as well as leading his departments 8,000 staff.

He previously headed up the Competition and Markets Authority, a taxpayer-funded watchdog that seeks to help people, businesses and the UK economy by tackling unfair behaviour.

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.
SANFORD  Amanda Doyle has been named the next principal of Sanford High School, effective July 1.

Doyle has served as assistant principal at Sanford High School and was nominated for School Committee approval at the June 12 meeting. Doyle will take over for Principal Matt Petermann, who is taking over as the director of Sanford Regional Technical Center.

Im extremely pleased to have Amanda as the new principal of Sanford High School, said Superintendent Matt Nelson. Amandas background as a teacher and administrator in Sanford and her administrative experience at Thornton Academy will serve her well in this new leadership role. Amanda and Matt will continue to work closely in their new positions for the benefit of students and staff at both Sanford High School and Sanford Regional Technical Center, as well as the greater Sanford community.

Amanda Doyle, left, takes over as principal of Sanford High School from Matt Petermann, who is the new director of Sanford Regional Technical Center.

As a teacher and as Assistant Principal at SHS, I have felt incredibly fortunate to have so much support from parents, our Central Office staff, our School Committee, and our school community, Doyle said. I am honored to be a part of the administrative team at the high school  I see this new role as my way to give back to the many people who have helped me become the educator I am today.

Doyle started her career at SHS in 2009, teaching English for most of her four years in Sanford before spending the next eight at Thornton Academy. Doyle took on several different roles at Thornton Academy, including serving as the director of instruction for three years and was the assistant head for faculty and academic affairs for one. Doyle received her Doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of New England in 2019. She returned to Sanford High School in 2021 as assistant principal.

York County election 2023: Ogunquit OK's $12M town campus, Wells caps dispensaries

Petermann to oversee Sanford Regional Technical Center

Petermann is replacing director Kathy Sargent.

I am very excited for the opportunity to take over as director of Sanford Regional Technical Center, Petermann said. I love working with my hands, and I know we have a skilled labor shortage right now that we must address. Our students have an excellent opportunity to walk out the door with a job after attending SRTC.

Petermann started his career at Sanford in 2003 as an English teacher. Before starting his career, Petermann served in the U.S. Army from 1993 to 2000, when he joined the U.S. Army National Guard, serving until 2003. He completed his student teaching at Noble High School in North Berwick.

Petermann was the assistant director and assistant principal for SRTC for three years starting in 2014. He worked on Sanfords Career Pathways plan and was a liaison to help bring the two schools together in their new facility. Petermann became the principal of Sanford High School in July 2017.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Amanda Doyle named new principal at Sanford High School
An Amazon truck driver is dead after being shot on Interstate 5 freeway and crashing into a building in Lathrop Thursday.

Christy Patterson, a spokesperson for the San Joaquin County Medical Examiner, confirmed the driver's death Friday afternoon. Patterson identified the driver as Ilkhom Shodiev, 37, a resident of North Carolina.

Traffic on I-5 was backed up for miles on Thursday night as law enforcement officials continued to investigate the shooting that occurred hours before.

At about 12:48 p.m., Shodiev was driving an Amazon big rig on I-5 between Highway 120 and East Louise Avenue in Lathrop when he veered off the freeway and struck a building, said Ruben Jones, a spokesman for California Highway Patrol.

Shortly after, CHP dispatch began receiving calls that gunshots had been fired prior to the crash. Authorities confirmed that Shodiev was shot at multiple times while driving.

He was rushed to an area hospital, where he died from his injuries.

"We're very sorry to hear about his passing and our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time," Alisa Carroll, an Amazon spokesperson, said. "We're continuing to cooperate with law enforcement as they investigate this incident."

Northbound I-5 was closed Thursday at the Highway 120/Manteca Bypass due to police activity, according to Caltrans. The westbound Highway 120 to northbound I-5 connector ramp was also closed. Drivers were able to pass through the area later in the evening, but traffic continued to backup.

There is no information on who fired the gunshots or a motive for the shooting, Jones said. It's unclear how the Amazon driver was involved or if he was a bystander.

The CHP Valley Division Investigative Services Unit (ISU) has taken over the investigation and is now seeking help from the public to solve the case.

"If you've got any dashcam footage, ISU wants to see that," Jones said. "Whether you think you see something or not, ISU may have a lead on a particular car so any footage, any tip, however small, can be helpful in moving this investigation forward."

Those who were driving northbound on I-5 between Highway 120 and East Louise Avenue around 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday can call ISU at (916) 731-6580 or CHP Stockton at (209) 938-4800 and ask for Jones.

Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Amazon big rig driver shot on Interstate 5, CHP searches for witnesses
Former Vice President Mike Pence encouraged the American people, while announcing his presidential candidacy, that prayer was needed for our nation. What is he praying for, and would it be the same prayer for all of us?

Clearly, he was referring to the current legal issues surrounding our former president. I pray that God gives us all the courage to pray, each in our way, for deliverance from what is likely to be a divisive legal and political process.

Extremist social media outlets say the time has arrived for civil war or that the children of our U.S. attorney general are fair game in this battle. They claim that this court case for President Trump proves we are no longer represented anymore.

Are we not used to extremism on all sides of the spectrum in our nations politics? Yet, folks have shared with me their concern by saying, Rabbi, this matter is different.

Is it? We have seen so many events that have traumatized our nation over the last 23 years: 9/11, wars in the Middle East, impeachment trials and an attempted takeover of our nations transition of political authority. Yes, we have been through a great deal, and it has definitely taken its toll on the American people. The question is: What are we prepared to do inside the soul of this nation?

Many of us who attend houses of worship are as concerned as everyone else in our nation. We call upon our sacred texts and our core values about how best to react to this newest trauma in our nations political landscape. We refer to Leviticus 19:18, Love thy neighbor as thyself. In the Talmud, we read, Whatever is hateful to you do not do to another.

We could read the words of Martin Luther King Jr. about nonviolence. Or read President Abraham Lincolns venerable words when he said, A house divided against itself cannot stand. There are many other great leaders who warned us about the need to pray, especially for restraint and temperance with our emotions.

The Jewish people in the pages of the Talmud said Rome was, in part, able to destroy the Jewish state in the year 70 CE not just because of their superior army but also because the Jewish people in land of Judea were divided against themselves. Because of baseless hatred against each other, they were more vulnerable to Roman conquest.

The prophet Ezekiel warned his people that, in traumatic times, it is important to stay righteous and avoid sinful behavior lest we face divine wrath. Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul (Ezekiel 3:21).

The prophet Amos said,

Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD!

For what good is the day of the LORD to you?

It will be darkness, and not light.

It will be as though a man fled from a lion,

And a bear met him!

Or as though he went into the house,

Leaned his hand on the wall,

And a serpent bit him!

Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light?

Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it? (5:18-20)

We have a choice in these challenging times. Shall we choose darkness or light? Just like ancient Israel, will America choose the darkness or the light?

I am praying that, inside our houses of worship and from the pulpits of our blessed clergy, there will be a call for peace and restraint from baseless hatred and corrosive speech between our fellow citizens. My prayer is that, if there were a divine court on high, it would order a cease and desist decree to us all to not indulge the instinct to demonize people who hold an opposing viewpoint than we may have on this court case.

I pray that that same court would issue another order for us to withdraw our fears of each other. Behind the hate lies fear of one another. We could be speaking about racism, antisemitism or any -ism that makes people feel who they are rather than what they do determines their value in society.

The political spectacle and the publics verbal jousting cheering politicians on is a virulent virus that threatens the stability of our nation. My final prayer is that our nations presidential candidates speak the truth of what is in the nations best interest for peace rather than seeking advantage for an upcoming election. I concede that kind of prayer may be beyond hope of hopes, but Ill still hold onto it.
The family of Abby Lutz, one of two Americans found dead in Mexico on Tuesday, said Thursday they believe she and her boyfriend died of carbon monoxide poisoning while on vacation.

The pair were found in a hotel room in the community of El Pescadero on Mexico's Baja California peninsula, according to the state attorney in Baja.

The man has not been publicly identified.

Initial forensic examination indicated that the couple died of intoxication by a substance, which authorities are still working to identify.

Lutz's family said in their GoFundMe campaign for funeral costs that authorities informed them the couple may have died of carbon monoxide poisoning due to improper ventilation.

Abby Lutz. (Courtesy The Lutz Family)

Lutz's stepsister, Gabrielle Slate, said the couple had felt terribly sick over the weekend and went to the hospital, where they were given intravenous fluids.

"Saturday she got really sick, and they thought it was food poisoning," Slate said. "She wasn't getting any better, so they took her to the ER, and she got some help there and went back to the hotel feeling good."

Her family believed the couple were improving and enjoying the rest of their vacation until they got a call from the U.S. State Department, stepmother Racquel Lutz said.

"They just thought it was food poisoning," she said. "They had no idea. None of us thought about that. You know, because you can't smell carbon monoxide."

Henar Gil, the general manager of Rancho Pescadero, offered condolences to the family in a statement Thursday.

"The safety and security of our guests and colleagues is always a top priority," Gil said. "Local authorities confirmed there was no evidence of violence related to this isolated incident, and there is no threat to guests safety or wellbeing at this time."

Gil, who said the hotel would refrain from speculation on the cause of death, referred further inquiries to local authorities.

Abby Lutz. (Courtesy The Lutz Family)

Slate said that her stepsister was a frequent traveler and that the couple was very familiar with Mexico. The family knew that both Abby Lutz, 28, and her boyfriend were smart travelers and that they frequented only areas that they believed were safe.

"I think that's the hardest part is going to a resort that you think you're going to be taken care of at," Slate said.

Racquel Lutz said, "It was just so senseless, and it could have been prevented."

Carbon monoxide was responsible for two incidents last year in which Americans died of the noxious gas during vacations.

In May last year, three tourists  Michael Phillips, 68; Robbie Phillips, 65; and Vincent Chiarella, 64  died of carbon monoxide poisoning at a Sandals resort in the Bahamas.

Months later, in November, a group of Americans staying at an Airbnb rental in Mexico City died the same way. Their families said at the time that they were shocked the rental company didn't require hosts to have working carbon monoxide detectors.

Abby Lutz's father, Tony Lutz, is devastated, the family said Thursday. She had just made travel plans to visit him for Father's Day this weekend.

Her stepmother described her as an animal lover who was always excited to give out gifts on Christmas, making "knick-knacks" for everyone at her pottery class.

"I'd always wanted more children, and I got Abby when Tony and I got married," she said. "And that was one of the most wonderful parts to have another daughter to be able to share life with."

Slate said she'll remember her sister for her sweetness and her love for her nieces and nephews.

"I don't think I've ever heard her say a bad word about anyone," Slate said. "She's the happiest, positive person. She loved everyone around her."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The Circuit Court of Cook County is committed to the administration of justice for all citizens. In all criminal cases, the court is committed to providing fairness for defendants and victims, while at the same time protecting the public.

Critics correctly note that our state and federal constitutions provide each defendant the right to a speedy trial and that, with certain limited exceptions, Illinois law requires that defendants in custody be given a trial within 120 days of being taken into custody and defendants not in custody receive a trial within 160 days of demanding one. Some critics also imply that the criminal justice system, including the court, uses continuances that are too long or too numerous and that violate the letter and spirit of the right to a speedy trial.

Advertisement

In 1895, the U.S. Supreme Court noted, The principle that there is a presumption of innocence in favor of the accused is the undoubted law, axiomatic and elementary, and its enforcement lies at the foundation of the administration of our criminal law. The Supreme Court traced this principle from biblical and ancient times to the English common law and Sir William Blackstone, a renowned judge and politician, who famously wrote in 1765, The law holds that it is better that 10 guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer. Therefore, judges take the time necessary to assure that procedures are scrupulously followed to assure a trial that is not only speedy but also fair.

Judges must always balance speed and efficiency with respecting a defendants right to a fair trial and the rights and needs of victims, witnesses and other participants. It is important to understand that some cases, particularly complex ones such as murder cases, require more time than others. Typically, this is due to witness and attorney scheduling conflicts, multiple cases involving the same defendant, laboratory analysis of evidence and substitution of attorneys. If cases are forced to trial prematurely, injustice may result for the defendant or victim, and additional time and taxpayer money may be needed for an appeal or a new trial.

Advertisement

[ Sheriff: Cook Countys stalled justice system perpetuates violence in Chicago ]

While media attention may be focused on delays in the most complex cases, judges are focused on determining when cases should be continued in the interests of justice. The Illinois Supreme Court has directed judges to consider the unique circumstances of each case, rather than robotically apply state laws on continuances. When deciding whether to continue a case, judges use their discretion to consider, among other factors, the diligence of the prosecution or defense in requesting a continuance, the history and complexity of the case, the seriousness of the charges, witness scheduling, and the defendants rights to a speedy, fair and impartial trial.

Of the 18 defendants referenced by the Tribune in recent articles on the disposition times for murder cases, only four of the defendants demanded trial. In each case, the judge promptly ensured the defendants case went to trial as soon as possible. Three of the four have already been resolved; the other was reassigned to a different judge and has been continued by agreement of the parties.

Cook County courts, especially, must exercise due care in processing criminal cases because of the history and extent of wrongful convictions in our jurisdiction. According to a May report by the National Registry of Exonerations, 126 people in Cook County were exonerated last year after having been convicted. This number represents more than half of exonerations nationally during that year and almost all of the exonerations in Illinois. In addition, all but two of the Chicago exonerations were related to police misconduct. The city of Chicago paid out at least $98 million last year in incidents of police misconduct, according to a May 16 WTTW-Ch. 11 report.

The court continues to work with the Illinois Supreme Court and other stakeholders to improve case disposition time. The courts Criminal Division, which adjudicates all felony cases, is now fully staffed with 42 judges, all of whom are expected to use the differentiated case management system established in January 2022. Further, the Criminal Division is refining its court performance tools to provide judges with information to effectively monitor their caseload to support compliance with the July 1, 2022, Illinois Supreme Court Time Standards for Case Closure while ensuring justice is served.

As of June 3, more than 60% of felony cases filed in January 2022 had been disposed. Based on these case disposition rates, the court is trending to dispose approximately 70% of felony cases within 18 months. This demonstrates that processing of felony cases in Cook County is indeed improving and is already in substantial compliance with newly enacted Supreme Court standards.

Timothy Evans is chief judge of Cook County Circuit Court.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
An American couple were found dead at a luxury hotel in Mexico. Family fear they were poisoned

(AFP/Getty/Family photo/GoFundMe)

Two Americans who were on vacation in Mexico were found dead in their hotel room on Tuesday, 13 June after apparently being poisoned by an unknown substance.

The couple, identified as 28-year-old Abby Lutz and 41-year-old John Heathco were staying at the luxury hotel Rancho Pescadero in Baja California Sur.

Paramedics were called to the couples hotel room after receiving a report that they were unconscious, according to ABC News.

However, once paramedics checked they determined Lutz and Heathco were unresponsive and did not have vital signs.

Now, Lutzs family is speaking out, believing the two suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Heres everything we know so far.

What happened?

Lutz and Heathco were on vacation together in Baja California Sur, according to a statement in a GoFundMe started by one of Lutzs family members.

The two were staying at the Rancho Pescadero, a luxury hotel and Hyatt property located in El Pescader, approximately 40 miles north of Cabo San Lucas.

Lutz and Heathco began to experience symptoms they thought were consistent with food poisoning and went to the hospital for treatment during the trip, according to Lutzs GoFundMe.

The couple started feeling much better several days later. However, their families received a phone call later saying Lutz and her boyfriend had passed away peacefully in their hotel room in their sleep.

Paramedics in the area responded to a report of two unconscious people in the hotel and arrived around 9pm on Tuesday 13 June.

The Baja California Sur attorney generals office said in a statement that the two died of poisoning by an unknown substance and had no signs of physical violence. They said the two had been dead between 10 and 11 hours by the time they arrived.

Lutzs family said they were told the deaths were due to improper venting of the resort and could be carbon monoxide poisoning.

Henar Gil, the general manager of Rancho Pescadero said in a statement provided to The Independent: We are truly heartbroken by this terrible tragedy. Our hearts are with the impacted families and loved ones during this unimaginable loss.

Local authorities are still actively investigating the situation, and the safety and security of our guests and colleagues remains a top priority, as always. We can confirm there was no evidence of violence related to this situation, and we are not aware of any threat to guests safety or wellbeing, Ms Gil said.

She added We are working to care for those who have been impacted and we are working closely with authorities as they conduct their investigation to understand the cause of death. Further inquiries should be directed to local authorities.

Who are the victims?

The victims are Abby Lutz and John Heathco.

According to the GoFundMe description, they were dating at the time of their deaths.

Lutz, 28, was from Newport Beach, California but grew up in Idaho, her aunt, Karen Lutz, told The Daily Beast.

Abby Lutz (GoFundMe)

According to Karen, Lutz loved travelling and had previously visited Europe, Asia and Mexico.

Abby was supposed to meet up with her dad this week for Fathers Day, the GoFundMe description for Lutz says. Abby was the most beautiful soul and we will miss her so much.

Her family is asking for assistance in bringing her home so they give her a funeral.

Heathco owned a health supplement company in Newport Beach, according to his LinkedIn profile. It is unclear where he is from originally.
(Bloomberg) -- A rush by top members of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors government to resign from their posts has marked the beginning of the ruling Morena partys three-month campaign to pick a successor for the charismatic Mexican leader known as AMLO.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Lopez Obrador, who has retained nearly 60% voter approval, has said he wont hand-pick his successor for the 2024 presidential election. Instead, Morena is supposed to choose its candidate in September after running a series of polls. Those competing until then stepped down from their jobs this week: Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, Senate Majority Leader Ricardo Monreal, and Interior Minister Adan Augusto Lopez.

None of them has the same clout as AMLO, who ran for president twice before winning in 2018, but they are among the deal-makers who have been key to his government.

Theyre resigning because theyre the best leaders of our movement and those that can bring this boat, which already has a direction, to port, AMLO said during a news conference on Friday.

In total, six politicians from Morena and its allies are expected to compete in the informal campaign period starting now. So much does it resemble the actual campaign season that opposition members have already complained to election authorities that the ruling party has an unfair advantage.

The president, who brought Morena to national prominence, will be a hard act to follow. His platform focused on rooting out corruption, helping working-class Mexicans, and critiquing the nations political elite has resonated with voters, and his travels across the country have made him a familiar face in distant towns, even if he has faced criticism for his austerity measures, response to social movements, and his heavy-handed attacks against everyone from top justices to electoral arbiters.

The most attractive the candidate is, the greater the sweep  thats why theyre looking to see who would be the most competitive, said Jorge Buendia, the head of the Buendia & Marquez polling company. The possibility of retaining the presidency is high independent of who the candidate is, but there are important differences.

Morena decided that it, along with independent polling firms, will tabulate the preferences of voters from multiple parties by Sept. 6. Since its not technically campaign season, the winner will be named a national coordinator, but will be widely understood to be heading up Morenas ticket in June 2024.

The candidates are also expected to finance their own unofficial campaigns instead of receiving funds from the party, said Morenas national leader Mario Delgado.

Dedazo No More

For years, Mexican presidents are said to have picked successors from within their own party in an act commonly known as the dedazo, which refers to the kind of finger-pointing that has catapulted people to the countrys top position. The PRI, which governed Mexico uninterrupted for much of the 20th century, was famous for using this tactic to name successors from the presidents circle to maintain control within the hegemonic party for decades.

Lopez Obrador has maintained that the polling system is more democratic, but hes not expected to shy away from making his opinions known.

All of them are competing along the lines of being the most loyal or efficient leader to give continuity to Lopez Obradors project, said John Ackerman, a law professor and former adviser to AMLO. The president is the one whos going to decide but the way hes going to decide is not through the dedazo, but through influencing public opinion.

Polls have been used to select Morenas gubernatorial candidates in recent races, including Delfina Gomez earlier this month. Her win in Mexico State, which has more registered voters than any other, suggested that Morena continues to have wide support, even if there are areas where voters feel the party has been a disappointment.

The devils in the details of course: who gets to do the polls and how the polls are designed, Ackerman said. Only occasionally are the polls actually made public. The results are made public, but the internal methodology, the databases, the questions are not.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
By Tim Kelly, Sakura Murakami and Yukiko Toyoda

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan is preparing military aid for the Philippines to help secure sea approaches and safeguard Taiwan's western flank, officials say, deepening security ties that could bring Japanese forces back there for the first time since World War Two.

As it steps back from decades of pacifism, Tokyo worries that the Philippines is a weak link in an island chain stretching from the Japanese archipelago to Indonesia through which ships must pass going to or from the Pacific Ocean.

Chief among the Japanese military's concerns is a Chinese attack on neighbouring Taiwan that could spark a wider conflict, with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida warning that Ukraine today could be East Asia tomorrow. To help address that, Tokyo in April said it would offer like-minded countries military aid, including radars, that the officials said would help the Philippines plug defensive gaps.

"It is very useful giving radars to the Philippines because it means we could share information about the Bashi Channel," said retired admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, referring to the waterway separating the Philippines and Taiwan. It is considered a choke point for vessels moving between the western Pacific and the contested South China Sea.

Three Japanese government officials involved in national security strategy planning told Reuters that Washington was advising Japan on what to supply because it had a close military relationship with the Philippines. One, however, said the aid effort was a Japanese initiative and not anything the United States had pressed for.

The officials declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

"We are in the process of selecting equipment that can be used for maritime monitoring and security. We don't know yet what exactly that will be," a spokesperson at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs said it was not immediately able to comment on security aid from Japan or hosting Japanese troops.

U.S. President Joe Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, on Friday met with his counterparts from Japan and the Philippines, Takeo Akiba and Eduardo Ano in Tokyo, for the first in a series of regular meetings to discuss security cooperation.

The three "discussed a wide range of regional security challenges, including with respect to the South China Sea and the East China Sea, as well as North Korea", a joint news release said. "In addition, they reiterated the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."

Sullivan speaking after the meeting said they had "zeroed in on the turbulent security environment."

LOOSENING THE RULES

The scope of Japanese military aid is limited by a self-imposed ban on lethal equipment exports.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in December promised to review that restriction when he unveiled an unprecedented five-year military build-up that will double defence spending within five years.

Looser export rules are expected in coming months, but as pressure grows on industrial economies to help Ukraine, Tokyo has begun testing those restrictions.

After Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited Japan last month for the Group of Seven leaders' summit, Kishida donated military trucks and other vehicles. Tokyo has also told the United States it can buy industrial explosives in Japan for artillery shells destined for Ukraine.

Japan's military aid to the Philippines "will expand step by step and my hope is that it will change to include lethal weapons" such as anti-ship missiles, said Kawano, who served as chief of the Japanese Self-Defence Forces' (SDF) Joint Staff for five years until 2019.

Kawano and the government officials who spoke to Reuters predicted Manila could give Japan access to its military bases, as it does with the United States, allowing Japanese SDF aircraft to patrol the South China Sea. Japan can monitor waters east of Taiwan from Yonaguni island, about 100 kilometres away.

In February the Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Kishida agreed in Tokyo that their militaries would cooperate in disaster relief.

That meeting, in which Kishida also promised Marcos 600 billion yen ($4.3 billion) in development aid and private investment, was preceded in December by the first-ever visit to the Philippines by Japanese fighter jets and a series of high-level military meetings. Japan in March observed U.S.-Philippine military drills, and this month their coast guards trained together for the first time.

All of this, experts say, could be a precursor to a reciprocal access agreement (RAA) that would allow both countries to deploy their forces on each other's soil. If Manila accepts such an agreement - Tokyo has RAAs with Britain and Australia - a pact could be concluded within a year, another of the three Japanese government officials said.

"Since the change in administration, the Philippines has been giving very positive signals, and that could mean a quick agreement," said Yusuke Ishihara, a senior fellow at Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies. But he said Japan and the United States are treading carefully in trilateral talks with the Philippines.

"It's sensitive about its relations with China. The trick will be to put the Philippines at ease by discussing economics issues or economic security rather than just defence," he said.

(Reporting by Tim Kelly, Sakura Murakami and Yukiko Toyoda in Tokyo; additional reporting by Neil Jerome Morales in Manila. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
Ant-eating creature lurking below airport turns out to be ultra-slender new species

Scientists surveying the southeastern Asian country of Timor-Leste followed several intriguing reports to an airport. Searching the area, they picked up a rock and found a surprising creature wildly flailing around underneath.

Looking closer, they discovered it was a new species.

Researchers spent six years surveying reptiles and amphibians across Timor-Leste, according to a study published June 8 in the Canadian Journal of Zoology. Two days before the end of the project, they arrived at the Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in the capital city of Dili.

The research team set out to investigate reports of several snakes around the airports fuel depot, the study said.

One researcher, Hinrich Kaiser, turned over several rocks and found an ant colony. When he picked up the bottom rock, an ultra-slender snake underneath began flailing around amid the aggressive ants, the researchers said.

Despite the challenging situation, Kaiser captured the snake.

Immediately, researchers were surprised by how long and skinny the snake was. Its body appeared completely out of proportion to them, the study said. Looking closer, they identified it as a new species of blindsnake: Indotyphlops laca or Lacas wormsnake.

Blindsnakes, also known as wormsnakes, are a type of snake known for their primarily subterranean lifestyles and poor vision, the study said. Blindsnakes commonly eat ants, earning them the nickname of the reptilian anteater.

Lacas wormsnake is relatively small, reaching only about 4.6 inches in length, with a slender body, researchers said. The snake was so thin it easily disappeared into the holes of a piece of coconut bark. Photos show the snake slithering in and out of the bark.

The new species of blindsnake has a reddish or pinkish brown color, the study said. It had dark eyespots but lacked a discernible pupil and iris.

Lacas wormsnake, or Indotyphlops laca, slithering through coconut bark.

The new species was identified as distinct based on its body shape and habitat, the study said.

It was entirely unexpected that a specimen collected in such a heavily impacted area should be such a strikingly different new species, the researchers said.

Lacas wormsnake was named after one of the Timorese members of the research team: Agivedo Laca Varela Ribeiro, whom the study described as an exceptional field worker and environmentalist.

Researchers hypothesized that Lacas wormsnake might live in underground ant colonies as a deep-dwelling species rarely encountered on the surface.

Still, they noted that additional exploration will be necessary to obtain a more complete record of blindsnake diversity and the role these interesting but rarely seen animals play in their respective, secret ecosystems.

The study co-authors included Mark OShea, Van Wallach, Emma Hsiao and Hinrich Kaiser. The fieldwork research team also included Agivedo Laca Varela Ribeiro, Luis Lemos de Araujo, Zito Afranio Soares and Venancio Benny Carvalho.

OShea said in a blog post that the six-year survey of Timor-Leste is believed to have turned up more than just one new species.

Since we initiated this survey we have documented almost 60 species of reptiles and amphibians, possibly 20% of which are new to science, he said.

The research team poses with flags. From left to right, the photo shows an unnamed boatman and Agivedo Laca Varela Ribeiro holding a Timor-Leste flag, Mirco Wolfelschneider, Sven Mecke, Hinrich Kaiser, Laura Fuchs, Mark OShea, Lukas Hartmann, and Max Kieckbusch.

Timor-Leste is on the eastern half of Timor island, an island north of Australia. The country shares the island with Indonesia.

Territorial creature found near swampy water is discovered as new species in Amazon

Secretive creature found slithering in mountains at night is undiscovered species

Unique creature covered in polka dots found off Florida. Check out the new species
'Like an ant farm': At any moment, thousands are watching the I-95 construction livestream

Some people watch plants grow. Some, presumably, actually do watch paint dry. Others like to listen while people eat.

On a totally unrelated note: Thousands of you, at any given moment, are apparently watching the livestream of I-95 repair in Northeast Philadelphia, a process that will likely take weeks or months.

A section of the interstate collapsed Sunday, after a tanker truck caught fire underneath, killing the truck's driver and crippling one of the East Coasts major arteries.

On Thursday morning, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation began a 24/7 livestream of the interstate repair: a first for the agency, a spokesperson said.

The feed of the bridge repair has become, perhaps improbably, quite popular.

When I say you are watching, I also mean me. I cant stop tuning in.

Right now, as I type these words, a tab on my computer is tuned to grainy footage of three guys in raincoats walking toward an aerial work platform.

At one point Thursday afternoon, more people watched a group of PennDOT construction workers stand near a big digger than were tuned in to a YouTube livestream of the Denver Nuggets victory parade.

The next afternoon, footage of a rained-out freeway construction site handily bested the number of viewers for CBS News YouTube Live feed of a Texas tornado.

I-95 bridge collapse: What you need to know about the disaster in Philadelphia

More: Watch the I-95 livestream as crews make repairs to collapsed highway in Philadelphia

Initially, many were skeptical anyone would want to watch a slow-moving interstate construction project.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced the construction feed at an onsite media conference Wednesday, saying that the 24/7 live feed of road construction would chart our progress and give everyone a sense of timing as we move forward.

The notion of a live construction feed quickly became an object of both bemused fascination and open mockery. Who would ever watch?

Getting the girls together for drinks and a watch party, laughed one Twitter user.

getting the girls together for drinks and a watch party  https://t.co/bQeSD9XyoL  Jess  eras tour 5/13 (@Mymakeupvanity) June 14, 2023

Another commenter sarcastically mused that the gripping footage of men in hardhats talking to other men in hardhats would make for a good date night.

asking my crush to come over and watch the I-95 rebuild live feed https://t.co/nVDKOqeChc  Frances Patano (@FrancesPatano) June 14, 2023

The Pennsylvania governor, for his part, remained steadfast in his belief that the people of the Delaware Valley would love to watch concrete harden.

Turn it on in the background. You wont regret it, he wrote on Twitter.

And, well: The governor has been proven correct. We watched. So far, few have expressed regrets.

Since a few hours after going live, at least 2,000 people have been watching the construction livestream each time weve checked in during business hours. The highest simultaneous viewership has been a little more than 3,300, not counting the tens of thousands of views on YouTube feeds hosted by local and national news sites.

These are hardly Super Bowl numbers, but they are, at least, Denver Nuggets victory parade livestream numbers. Theyre enough to count as a shared experience.

The I-95 rebuild video has become a font for meditation, a clock by which to follow the city and the weather.

A colleague in our Delaware newsroom, after a rainstorm hit Wilmington, turned on the I-95 construction feed to see whether the rain had yet hit Philadelphia.

Others have taken to using it as a constant background, like a screen showing a roaring fireplace or the waves of the ocean.

The I-95 stream is very relaxing to have on at work. All the little construction workers are in my second monitor like its an aquarium or maybe an ant farm, wrote Twitter user @dew_doer on Friday. He then realized it was an experience he wanted to share with others, in real time.

Im sure Im not the first person to suggest it, he wrote. But the stream needs a chat."

The I-95 stream is very relaxing to have on at work. All the little construction workers are in my second monitor like its an aquarium or maybe an ant farm  aaron (@dew_doer) June 16, 2023

Some parents, especially, quickly found a use for the footage when the livecam launched: babysitting device.

Attention for everybody with a toddler: Pennsylvania has bought you a few hours of peace by installing a webcam, wrote a Twitter user named. Col. Boozy Badger.

Attention for everybody with a toddler: Pennsylvania has bought you a few hours of peace by installing a webcam. https://t.co/OkvmJKhNNB  Col. Boozy Badger (@boozybadger@meow.social) (@BoozyBadger) June 15, 2023

Philadelphia sports megabar Xfinity Live!, meanwhile, is hosting an I-95 construction livestream watch party with 95-cent wings, this Saturday and Sunday.

The feed is live! Come down for $.95 wings and $2.95 Bud Lights & Ultras all day beginning tomorrow through Sunday. Jeff, we owe you a beer.  https://t.co/kqObWSjwjJ pic.twitter.com/gWz1V56vfb  Xfinity Live! (@XfinityLive) June 16, 2023

And, of course, the highlight videos are already rolling in after the first day.

A sped-up video from user I-95 Muse, purporting to be sponsored by Four Seasons Total Landscaping, offers the biggest digging from the big diggers, the fastest trucks, the best hypothetical Phillies commentary from onsite construction workers. (Note: A couple NSFW words, here.)

Anyway, the I-95 livestream is still playing on my laptop as I type. The rain has now stopped, and a long piece of fabric is fluttering in the breeze, hanging from the rim of the ruined Interstate. A mobile worker platform is at rest.

Eight or 10 men in yellow keep walking back and forth between various big machines, for reasons that remain mysterious. Theres some kind of gunk on the camera lens. And I-95 remains broken, closed between the Castor and Cottman Avenue exits.

But something is happening. Collectively, we can see it. More than 3,000 of us are watching it together.

And we know that someday, someday maybe soon, we will all have the chance to be angry at I-95 traffic again, at the bend in the freeway where the traffic jams never stop.

Matthew Korfhage is a Philadelphia-based reporter for USA Today Network. Feel free to tell him why youre watching the I-95 rebuild video at mkorfhage@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Livestream of I-95 bridge collapse in Philadelphia: Thousands watching
Anti-feminist YouTuber Pearl says she thinks divorce should be illegal and women shouldn't have the right to vote

Pearl Davis debating H3's Ethan Klein. H3 Podcast Highlights/YouTube

On the H3 Podcast this week, Pearl Davis doubled down on many of her most controversial views.

She said she thinks divorce should be illegal and women shouldn't have the right to vote.

Davis champions an increasingly significant online community which thinks women have too many rights.

Anti-feminist creator Pearl Davis doubled down on many of her most controversial views on the H3 podcast this week.

She told the host, YouTuber Ethan Klein, that she thinks divorce should be illegal and women shouldn't have the right to vote.

As Insider has reported, Pearl has become a high-profile voice over the past year, and represents a large and significant group who believe women have too many rights and men must be more assertive.

During her introduction, Davis said she believed women are happier as stay-at-home mothers, and that she thought feminism "overall is a bad thing."

"I think we should have policies that push family," she said. "I think women are happier when we have family and kids over a career in the long run." Davis, who is 26, doesn't have children of her own.

Davis, better known as just "Pearl," has 1.5 million subscribers on her YouTube channel. She experienced a surge in popularity when misogynist Andrew Tate was locked up in Romanian jail, filling the gap with her own brand of anti-feminist content, though that growth has slowed recently.

Davis sat down for a debate with Klein for two hours on Thursday. Klein is a veteran YouTuber with moderate views who often invites controversial guests to discuss their opinions with him.

In the episode, Davis said she stood for more traditional roles for men and women in the household, and believed modern feminism was damaging.

She claimed children from single-mother households were at a disadvantage, and suggested that making divorce illegal would help.

"I think we should ban divorce, I think that should be banned, yes," Davis said. "I just think that if you want to leave, you just shouldn't get married. That's just my opinion."

Klein, in response, told her that some marriages end because of physical abuse.

Davis said she accepted there were exceptions, such as relationships that were "one-sided physically abusive."

"I just think that the goal should be to keep families together, and the goal should be to work through it," she said.

Klein asked how physical abuse could be proven to allow this exception, and Davis said the abuser should be prosecuted in criminal court.

"So only if your significant other is tried criminally are you allowed to leave the relationship? Tried and found guilty criminally?" Klein asked, to which Davis responded, "Yes."

"I just say, stay out of marriage," she said. "Marriage is supposed to be for better for worse, in sickness and in health, and for richer or for poorer. It's not supposed to be, you know, when I feel like leaving."

She added "the majority" of divorce occurs when "the girl just feels like leaving." According to Forbes, 75% of divorcing couples in the US in 2023 cited lack of commitment as the reason, 60% cited unfaithfulness, and domestic abuse was given as a reason in 25% of cases.

Later in the interview, Davis also said she didn't think women should have the right to vote, because men can be conscripted to fight in the US military and women cannot.

"If feminists want the right to vote, right, then it should come with the draft. Where are the feminists fighting for equality in this situation?"

(Davis is right that US law allows men to be drafted to fight, though it hasn't happened since the Vietnam War ended in the 1970s.)

Klein told Davis feminists generally want the draft abolished, and for there to be no conscription for anybody.

"That is also equality isn't it?" Klein said.

"I've never heard them talk about that, but OK," Davis responded.

Davis previously told Insider she didn't consider herself a misogynist, saying, "I don't hate women." Rather, she said, she advocated for men.

Davis started gaining traction around May 2022, surging from a modest 25,000 subscribers to over half a million in six months. The boom was driven by increasingly edgy content, and a lean towards right-wing beliefs since teaming up with her manager Coby DeVito, a former colleague of Ben Shapiro at The Daily Wire.

Experts and critics of Davis told Insider she was reaping the rewards of perpetuating harmful gender dynamics, much like other prominent figures in the space like Tate and the makers of the podcast "Fresh & Fit."

Experts have suggested that Davis may not be sincere in her belief, noting that extreme views tend to attract more attention. Many audience comments on Davis' content also doubt whether she believes what she says.

Davis told Insider that she doesn't exaggerate for attention.

"I will say a lot of clips can be taken out of context in a 3-hour podcast, so many don't get the context of the discussion," she said. "But all in all, no, I stand on what I say."

Read the original article on Insider
the three apollo 11 astronauts in a quarantine facility speaking to president richard nixon after returning to the moon in 1969

In a small desert town, dozens of unsuspecting people suddenly drop dead from a mysterious plague. The infectious agent has come from outer space; it has no known cure, and the U.S. government must scramble to contain it before it destroys the world.

This is the plot of "The Andromeda Strain," a 1969 novel by author Michael Crichton. The book was published just two months before humans first set foot on the moon, and it sparked widespread panic about what the Apollo 11 astronauts might bring back. Luckily, NASA had a quarantine protocol in place for the mission. But those measures might have been largely for show, according to new research published in the science history journal Isis.

When astronauts first returned from the moon in 1969, NASA officials were concerned that they might carry some weird space microbes back to Earth with them. At the time, neither the U.S. nor the U.S.S.R. had successfully returned a probe from the moon  let alone one with soil samples and actual humans aboard. As a result, nobody knew for sure whether or not the moon harbored microscopic life.

Related: Apollo 11 astronauts spent 3 weeks in quarantine, just in case of moon plague

NASA set up a quarantine facility in Houston known as the Lunar Receiving Laboratory in order to counteract the possibility of any hitchhiking alien germs escaping onto Earth. When the Apollo 11 crew returned from their mission, they were immediately ushered into this state-of-the-art, multimillion dollar facility, where they spent three weeks. Twenty-four NASA employees who were exposed to lunar material as they helped the astronauts disembark were quarantined as well, the New York Times reported.

On its face, the quarantine protocol looked sensible. But the new research suggests that despite the money and resources invested in it, NASA's "planetary protection" efforts were largely for show. "The quarantine protocol looked like a success only because it was not needed," study author Dagomar Degroot, a historian at Georgetown University, wrote in the new paper.

What's more, Degroot's work shows that NASA knew that its quarantine protocol was probably inadequate. For example, the Apollo spacecraft hadn't been designed to prevent potential lunar contaminants from being exposed to Earth's environment; once it splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, the capsule's cabin had to be fully opened in order to let astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins out. The air inside the module was also vented into Earth's atmosphere as the craft reentered, ensuring that the crew wouldn't suffer carbon dioxide poisoning.

But NASA also knew that the risk of the Apollo 11 astronauts bringing home a space plague was extremely low. They played up their ability to contain a microbial threat so as not to panic the public. In a statement at the time, the agency reassured concerned citizens that their efforts "have resulted in a laboratory with capabilities which have never previously existed."

RELATED STORIES:

 Apollo 11 at 50: A complete guide to the historic moon landing

 Will NASA's Artemis astronauts look for life on the moon?

 NASA's 17 Apollo moon missions in pictures

If Apollo 11 had brought back lunar microbes, it's difficult to say whether or not they would have posed any risk to humans. The vast majority of microbial life on Earth is completely harmless to people, and some species are even vital to our health. And since any hypothetical moon germs would have evolved separately from life on Earth for a very long time, they might not even have the ability to interact with our cells.

Ultimately, the probable failure of Apollo 11's quarantine protocol could be a valuable lesson for future missions, which aim to return samples (and humans) from Mars and beyond. Given its atmosphere and geochemistry, Mars is far more likely to harbor microbial life than the moon.

In 2020, NASA issued an updated procedure for containing alien microbes, though the document hasn't been used yet. But even with these standards in place, it may prove impossible to fully contain a runaway space microorganism. We'll just have to hope that they come in peace  or are vulnerable to Lysol.
In the annals of Florida politics, its often been the unwritten role of the attorney general to be the adult in the room, stepping back from the politics and propaganda to offer coolly composed reflections  often issued as official opinions, or requests to the Florida Supreme Court to weigh in on the legality behind a controversy.

Ashley Moody has apparently forgotten that history and mislaid her copy of the Florida Constitution. Shes increasingly likely to be seen on conservative TV channels spouting conspiracy theories and far-right talking points, including endorsements of efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and a long-running, wrongheade investigation of a campaign to restore civil rights to former felons that is now part of the Florida Constitution.

Last week, however, Moody went further than ever before. In a rapidly babbled assertion made to Fox News personality Maria Bartiromo, she actually accused the Biden administration of conspiracy to allow deadly drugs like fentanyl to cross the southern border.

I believe at this point the Biden administration is coordinating with the cartels, she said breathlessly. Cartels are running things at the border. She described witnessing Border Patrol officials taking down fences and allowing people in, people Moody could apparently identify on sight as minions of murderous drug lords.

Thats a handy superpower, but not one Moody has previously claimed to possess.

Dimming her own light

The Fox News appearance was just one more disappointing performance from someone who first campaigned in 2018 as a sane, dispassionate political alternative to radicals on the far right. Her temperament is measured and her reflexes arent knee-jerk, wrote our sister paper, the South Florida Sun Sentinel. In its endorsement for the Republican primary that year, the paper praised her track record of standing up for people, tackling tough issues and showing some decorum.

That decorum is long gone. Increasingly, Moody has served as one of DeSantis loyal conduits of propaganda, embroidering his wild speculations with threads of pseudo-legal authority and adding her own unique twists.

Shes rarely rewarded or even acknowledged for this: Earlier this year, she tried to argue that Gov. Ron DeSantis wasnt personally responsible for an unprecedented attack on Floridas largest private employer  weeks after DeSantis released his book, featuring a chapter in which the governor described the campaign to yank away control of a special district that served the Walt Disney Companys fabled resort complex. With the governors own words standing against her, why did Moody even attempt to apply lipstick to that hog?

Its not the first time Moody has tried to trample reality underfoot. The worst move we saw was her willingness to lend the states legal firepower to an attempt to undo the results of the 2020 election, but a close second would be her attack on groups that campaigned to restore voting rights to former felons. The specific allegation: the Orlando-based Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, led by activist Desmond Meade, used secretive donations from Michael Bloomberg and others to pay off fines, restitution and other legal expenses in exchange for voting for Biden in 2020. That resulted in a 700-hour investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement finding the allegations to be  in the words of our Scott Maxwell  a steaming pile of bunk.

Or, in the drier words of the FDLEs conclusion: No evidence was developed to indicate that the FRRC directed any individual to vote for a specific political party as a condition of paying outstanding fees.

How much further will Moody go? Is she prepared to accuse Biden of beaming pornography directly into the brains of 11-year-olds, or injecting gender-altering drugs into the drinking-water supply?

There is so much more important work to be done, and in her increasingly short spare time, Moody still pays attention to it. Shes outspoken in her defense of victims of human trafficking. Shes helped extract billions from pharmaceutical megacorps who bear a real and significant responsibility for the fentanyl crisis and other deadly opiates. Shes providing Floridians with better defenses against consumer fraud.

But then she goes off again on Fox News. And all that work is overshadowed.

Floridians who chose Moody as the states top legal official deserve better. Moody is certainly capable of better. Floridians need her to be better. AG Moody, please take a look back at the person you presented to Florida voters in 2018. And then get back to being that person  full-time.

The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. Contact us at insight@orlandosentinel.com
Bank of America eyes expansion to several new markets as it continues to cut branch count

Bank of America Corp. is looking to expand to seven new markets across the U.S. despite its ongoing branch consolidation strategy.

The Charlotte-based bank is considering growth in Milwaukee; New Orleans; Birmingham, Alabama; Madison, Wisconsin; and Boise, Idaho, said Aron Levine, president of preferred banking at BofA, during a Morgan Stanley conference this week.

READ MORE: Bank of America takes back title as Charlottes top Fortune 500 company

He did not disclose the other two markets BofA is eyeing, but Levine noted the bank will continue to shutter branches while adding more locations.

BofAs branch count, along with its banking peers, has slimmed significantly over the years as Covid-19 forced banks to reassess their branch networks and focus more on digital offerings.

Read the full story here.

WATCH: Bank of America naming rights for Panthers stadium agreement ending soon
Good quality furniture that doesnt break the bank is hard to come by, but for the eagle-eyed thrifter, sometimes a discount will emerge that is so astronomical its impossible to walk away without a purchase.

For example, this bookcase, posted into the r/thriftstorehauls subreddit, originally cost a hefty $1,500 from Room & Board according to the original poster.

But by the time a frugal Redditor stumbled on it in a Salvation Army, it had been deducted to a mere $45.

Thrifted an over 7ft long bookcase, they wrote in a caption. Its in excellent shape!

Photo Credit: u/damestillmen / Reddit

This bookcase is both sizable and elegant. The Redditor commented that it is made out of maple wood with a charcoal stain, with the wood grain still visible.

Unlike cheaper models from other brands, theres no MDF or artificial wood to be seen. This is all solid wood with wood veneers  which makes the low price all the more impressive.

Its also an extremely sustainable find, and not just because buying second hand will have kept this bookcase out of landfill.

Room & Boards Rollins bookcases are made in the U.S., which means that transporting the materials and finished products within the country creates less polluting gases than other companies like IKEA, which source most of its products from China, Poland, Italy, Germany, and Sweden.

The company has also pledged to use 100% sustainably sourced wood by 2025 in an effort to reduce the harmful effects of uncontrolled deforestation. At the moment, the furniture industry is the third-largest user of forest food in the world.

It looks very high-end. Nice job, OP! wrote one Redditor.

Room & Board is one of my favorite brands and Ive bought many of their things secondhand, another commented. I have alerts set up on my local Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace for the furniture because its made really well and it is usually real wood and lasts forever.

Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more, waste less, and help yourself while helping the planet.
Hankou historical area in Wuhan sees significant changes through urban renewal projects

Xinhua) 08:13, June 16, 2023

This stitched aerial photo taken on June 6, 2023 shows a corner of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Tourists visit a building in Hankou historical area of Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 6, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Tourists walk on Jianghan Road, a signature pedestrian street of Hankou historical area, in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 15, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Tourists take photos in front of Bagong's House, a century-old historical building, in Hankou historical area of Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 6, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

A tourist visits Jiqing Street of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 6, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Tourists visit Lihuangpi Street of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 6, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

This aerial stitched photo taken on June 6, 2023 shows the Hankow Customs House in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Tourists visit Lihuangpi Street of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 6, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Tourists visit Lihuangpi Street of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 6, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Tourists visit Jiqing Street of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 6, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

This stitched aerial photo taken on June 6, 2023 shows a view of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

A tourist visits Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 6, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

This aerial photo taken on June 6, 2023 shows the Hankow Customs House in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

This aerial photo taken on June 6, 2023 shows a corner of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

This aerial photo taken on June 6, 2023 shows a corner of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Tourists visit Qingdao Street of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 6, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

This photo taken on June 6, 2023 shows a railway station of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Uganda's queer activist Papa De raises her fist outside the Uganda High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, during a picket against the country's anti-homosexuality bill on April 04, 2023. (Phill Magakoe/AFP Getty)

This June, as many people around the world celebrate Pride Month to commemorate those who fought to secure rights for the LGBTQ community, these rights still remain under threat in many countries. The United States should be doing more to press its partners to protect them.

Ground zero for the LGBTQ fight today is Uganda, where President Yoweri Museveni recently signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which punishes homosexuality with life imprisonment and aggravated homosexuality with death.

Advertisement

The law drew headlines because of its harsh punishment, as well as the role played by American evangelical groups in promoting its passage. Uganda is also a close counterterrorism and security partner of the U.S. and a major recipient of U.S. assistance, receiving nearly $1 billion a year. This raised expectations that Washington has leverage to wield in pressing Kampala to change course.

In 2014, when an earlier version of the law passed, the United States did just that, imposing sanctions, freezing some aid and canceling a joint military exercise. Ugandas Constitutional Court soon annulled the law on a technicality. Some credited American pressure for the laws demise, though it proved only a temporary reprieve. The U.S. today faces the same question it did then: How should it react when a close partner obstructs human rights?

Advertisement

President Joe Biden released a statement condemning the law and said the U.S. would evaluate its implications on all aspects of U.S. engagement with Uganda as a result. This offered some comfort to the LGBTQ community in Uganda, but it raised questions too.

Why does this law merit White House attention when similarly draconian laws against homosexuality in other countries garner little attention at all? Many of the countries with the harshest laws against LGBTQ communities are some of Americas close friends.

Homosexuality remains criminalized in much of the world. About 70 countries outlaw gay acts, and laws in 12 countries apply the death penalty in some cases, though several thankfully dont enforce it. In other countries, the LGBTQ community is protected under the law, but harassment by law enforcement is common, and violence and discrimination go unaddressed.

Where laws are changing, the trend has generally been toward more acceptance rather than less. Botswana, Gabon, Angola, Barbados and Singapore have all rolled back laws criminalizing gay sex or discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in recent years.

But there are no signs of improvement in much of the world, even among Americas close partners.

Saudi Arabian law extends the death penalty to homosexuality, with other possible punishments including 100 lashes or temporary banishment. Of course, Saudi Arabia has one of the worlds worst human rights records across the board, with women treated as second-class citizens and near-total repression of civil society and political opposition. None of this has led the United States to reconsider its close security relationship and billions of dollars in arms sales.

While Egyptian law doesnt specifically criminalize homosexuality, authorities use several vague laws to target LGBTQ communities, with a significant uptick in harassment since President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi took power in 2014. Arbitrary arrest and detention, entrapment through dating apps and torture are commonly employed against LGBTQ individuals. This is even documented in the State Departments annual human rights report.

Still, the American government wont take a harder look at $1.4 billion in annual bilateral assistance to Egypt, most of which comes in the form of U.S. military aid. Congress has recently secured a freeze on a fraction of Egypts military support to press for progress on democracy and human rights, with a focus on political prisoners and elections. But Egypts record on LGBTQ rights hardly made the top 10 list of Washingtons concerns with Cairos abuses.

Advertisement

Chicago Tribune Opinion Weekdays Read the latest editorials and commentary curated by the Tribune Opinion team. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

Nigeria is another important U.S. partner with a troubling record. National law imposes up to 14 years in prison for simply being gay, while some Nigerian states impose the death penalty under local versions of Shariah law. Since the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act was passed a decade ago, violence against the LGBTQ community has increased.

The U.S. government publicly condemned the legislation but didnt reconsider U.S. engagement, though U.S. security assistance to the country is often under scrutiny due to government violence against civilians and the use of child soldiers.

Not all of Americas partners embrace American values. That doesnt mean we should cut off relations, but we should continue speaking up in defense of these values and considering what they mean in the grand scheme of our partnerships. After all, regimes that abuse the LGBTQ community typically obstruct other human rights too. This not only harms individuals but also drives instability and conflict in the long run.

The U.S. government should use Ugandas law as an opportunity not just to reconsider its relationship with the Ugandan government but also to be a louder voice for these rights across the globe.

As we celebrate the LGBTQ community here at home, lets not forget the fight to protect them elsewhere continues.

Elizabeth Shackelford is a senior fellow on U.S. foreign policy with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. She was previously a U.S. diplomat and is the author of The Dissent Channel: American Diplomacy in a Dishonest Age.

Advertisement

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
Basing electric bills on personal income may lead to ratepayer revolt in California | Opinion

As Californians, we put up with a lot.

High taxes. Exorbitant housing. $6 lattes.

Those are the prices we pay for living in the Golden State, right?

But raise our utility bills, and we go berserk, which is exactly what happened back in February when natural gas prices went through the roof.

Now the state Legislature is messing with our electric bills.

Last year, it quietly passed Assembly Bill 205, which requires investor-owned utilities like PG&E to adopt a new billing structure that will be based not just on how much juice you use, but also on how much money you earn.

The formal name is income-based utility pricing. To put it in real-world terms, its a 21st-century version of Robin Hood, except based on the programs proposed tiers, it would steal from the middle class  not the rich.

California is, of course, the first state in the nation to try it. (A piece in the conservative American Spectator calls it the most California plan ever.)

But is it too progressive, even for California?

Judging by early reactions, it just might be.

Theres already been talk of lawsuits and a ballot measure to overturn AB 205.

Outraged Californians have used a variety of descriptors for the new billing formula: nuts, insane, un-American, fascist, socialist, commie, communist-socialist, Marxist, discriminatory, outrageous, robbery, slap-in-the-face, garbage idea, illegal, a breach of government protocol, and so on and so forth.

Comments like those  more than 300 to date  have been pouring into the California Public Utilities Commission, which will ultimately decide how much utility companies like PG&E can charge.

How much will fixed charges be?

The large utility companies  PG&E, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric  have submitted their proposals to the CPUC.

Heres PG&Es suggested schedule for the fixed rate portion of the bill. (Customers will also be charged for the electricity they use.)

 Less than $28,000 per year: $15 fixed charge per month.

 Between $28,0000 and $69,000 per year: $30 fixed charge per month.

 Between $69,000 and $180,000 per year: $51 fixed charge per month.

 More than $180,000: $92 fixed charge per month.

PG&E says low-income households will see their bills decrease, since the rate per kilowatt hour of electricity will drop by about one-third to offset the cost of the new fixed fee.

Critics of the plan say that will actually discourage conservation  a valid point.

Another objection: Given the high cost of living in California, some also legitimately take issue with the assumption that $180,000 is a high household income.

When you consider that PG&E CEO Patricia Poppe earned more than $50 million in total compensation in 2021  most of it in stock  $180,000 seems downright spartan.

Customers who invested in solar panels feel duped

Much of the criticism is from fed-up homeowners who spent  or borrowed  tens of thousands of dollars for solar panels, under the impression that their savings on utility bills would help pay off the debt.

Now they face higher electric bills, in addition to paying off their debt on solar panels.

(Full disclosure: I am one of those homeowners.)

Some, like Mike Stallone of San Marcos, are threatening to cancel their orders for solar panels.

I was about to finance a new solar system, which would cost me $200/month for 20 years and offset my current $200/month electricity bill. But now, if I go solar, Ill have to pay $200/month for solar and $128/month for delivery? Whats the point of going solar?! This idiotic proposal needs to be scrapped, Stallone wrote to the CPUC.

Others said they will install batteries and disconnect from the grid entirely.

Whats on the table now is too big an ask

So why do this at all?

There are two main reasons.

One is to provide a stable revenue stream to upgrade the grid as the state transitions away from natural gas, as well as to pay for fire prevention and energy efficiency projects.

The other is to ensure that low-income customers  who can ill afford hefty rate increases  are protected.

Both are worthy goals, but whats on the table now is not going to fly.

Its one thing to eat the rich, but making tasty morsels of the middle class  even the upper middle class  is quite another.

Charging $92 a month is too big an ask. Even worse is the $128 per month that San Diego Gas & Electric is proposing for top-income earners.

There may be a way to compromise, perhaps by starting with much lower fixed fees and gradually raising them as the need arises. Or adjusting the tiers to better reflect the cost of living in California and what it truly means to be high income here.

Its hard to say what might be palatable to Californians  perhaps nothing.

It may be the system itself that people cant stomach. And it doesnt help that this passed as a budget trailer bill, which meant it got little discussion in the Legislature.

For those reasons, dont be surprised if voters strike back in the courtroom or at the ballot box.

Then again, after a few months of grumbling, maybe well adjust. Along with unaffordable real estate and $6 lattes, well chalk it up as just another price we pay for living the California dream.
 Read the full article on Motorious

Keep your head on a swivel

The scammers seem to never sleep, and thats especially true when it comes to buying vehicles on the internet. Since a car is the second most expensive purchase most people will ever make, for those looking to separate you from a bunch of money quickly, its an area where many dishonest people work hard at swindling. The Better Business Bureau in Minnesota and North Dakota recently raised the alarm about some disturbing scams.

Learn more about the difference between a good deal and a scam here.

One involved a person who was going to pay $41,300 for a 1963 Chevy Impala from a dealer called Easy Classic Cars. According to the BBB, it was a bogus classic car dealer with an address in Minnesota. It advised the shopper to not send any money and instead look for a car through a legitimate dealer.

The BBB also created a business profile for Easy Classic Cars and put a warning on it for all to see. This is why we recommend checking a dealers BBB page before proceeding with a transaction. And the same goes for car transport services as well as auto shops.

Too often people believe any listing on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist, etc. While those platforms might do some work to weed out scammers, you need to look at everything with a skeptical eye. Thats especially true if you find an unbelievable deal, something scammers do to get you excited and not thinking.

A clear red flag for a vehicle scam is when youre told to pay a supposed independent third party, often called an escrow service, says the BBB. The problem is this is a way to get your money while the car is never sent.

As the BBB points out, a lot of scammers are creating websites for these escrow companies by using the name and address of real businesses. This is a way to lower your suspicion of a scam.

While sob stories about military deployment, death in the family, and other tragedies to explain the low price of a car is one red flag, the BBB points out others. A big one is the insistence you use an escrow and pay using a wire transfer instead of something more easily traced like a credit card or cashiers check.

Ultimately, the more information you can find out about anyone selling you a vehicle online the better before you hand over any money.

Image via Facebook

Sign up for the Motorious Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
BBC releases first look as Two Doors Down brings back Toast of London's Doon Mackichan

Jeff Spicer - Getty Images

Two Doors Down series seven has officially started filming - and it will see Doon Mackichan return as Cathy.

The character was absent from series six of the sitcom after she fled Glasgow for a new life in Egypt, leaving her husband Colin devastated. The neighbours rallied round to support Colin at his lowest, but now they face the prospect of welcoming Cathy back into the community.

In a new still from the upcoming series, which will air on BBC One later this year, a nonchalant looking Cathy is back home with, of course, her vape and a glass of wine in hand.

BBC

Related: BBC's The Tourist to bring back Jamie Dornan and more for series 2

"I have missed the Two Doors Down family very much, so it's a genuine delight to see Cathy bring her unique brand of community spirit back to Latimer Crescent. Beth: get a bottle open," Mackichan said of her return.

Co-creators Gregor Sharp and Simon Carlyle added: "Doon is one of the UK's very best comic actors, so we're thrilled to bits that she's returned to pick up Cathy's vape and rejoin the rest of our brilliant cast."

Steven Canny, executive producer for BBC Studios, said: "It's a total pleasure to welcome Doon back to the family. We've been making Two Doors Down for a decade and couldn't be happier that Cathy has come home again."

Jeff Spicer - Getty Images

Related: Britains Got Talent star Jordan Banjos show is axed by BBC

The rest of the sitcom's regular cast will also return for series seven, including Jonathan Watson as Colin, Arabella Weir as Beth, Alex Norton as Eric, Elaine C Smith as Christine, Jamie Quinn as Ian, Kieran Hodgson as Gordon, Joy McAvoy as Michelle, and Graeme Stevely as Alan.

Two Doors Down series seven will air on BBC One later this year. All previous series of Two Doors Down are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.





You Might Also Like
Bear fatally attacks man drinking coffee in yard and drags him 75 feet, Arizona cops say

A black bear fatally attacked a 66-year-old man enjoying his coffee and dragged him 75 feet down an embankment, authorities in Arizona said.

Authorities responded to the mauling at about 7:50 a.m. Friday, June 16, in the Groom Creek area near Prescott, the Yavapai County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post.

Before the attack, Steven Jackson had been drinking coffee outside on the property where he was building a home, deputies said.

Then a bear attacked Jackson by surprise and dragged him 75 feet down an embankment, authorities said.

Neighbors heard him screaming and tried to scare off the bear by shouting and blaring their car horns, deputies said. But the animal wouldnt let go of Jackson.

One neighbor shot the animal dead with their rifle, deputies said. Jackson had already died from his injuries.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department investigated the attack and said it was predatory in nature and highly uncommon and unusual.

At first glance there did not appear to be anything on the site that would have precipitated an attack by the bear, such as food, a cooking site or access to water, deputies said in the post.

The bear has been put down, authorities said.

The attack happened in a heavily wooded area but not near any camping sites. Officials warned people to take camping precautions, such as locking food in vehicles.

Deputies will investigate Jacksons death and wildlife officials will look further into what caused the attack, the post said.

Our sincere sympathies go out to Mr. Jacksons family, Sheriff David Rhodes said. I cannot express how deeply sad this situation is and can only say our prayers are with you.

Prescott is about 100 miles north of Phoenix.

What to do if you see a bear

Bear attacks in the U.S. are rare, according to the National Park Service. In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.

There are steps people can take to help prevent a bear encounter from becoming a bear attack.

Identify yourself: Talk calmly and slowly wave your arms. This can help the bear realize youre a human and nonthreatening.

Stay calm: Bears usually dont want to attack; they want to be left alone. Talk slowly and with a low voice to the bear.

Dont scream: Screaming could trigger an attack.

Pick up small children: Dont let kids run away from the bear. It could think theyre small prey.

Hike in groups: A group is noisier and smellier, the National Park Service said. Bears like to keep their distance from groups of people.

Make yourself look big: Move to higher ground and stand tall. Dont make any sudden movements.

Dont drop your bag: A bag on your back can keep a bear from accessing food, and it can provide protection.

Walk away slowly: Move sideways so you appear less threatening to the bear. This also lets you keep an eye out.

Again, dont run: Bears will chase you, just like a dog would.

Dont climb trees: Grizzlies and black bears can also climb.

Hunter realizes he killed federally protected bear after it was too late, officials say

Man hunting rabbits shoots and kills attacking bear, Alaska troopers say

Hunter opens fire and kills grizzly bear charging toward him, Montana officials say
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko claims that Russian tactical nukes will arrive in Belarus within days, noting he wont hesitate to use them should Belarus face an aggression.

Belarus doesnt have the launch codes.

A draft bill awaiting Lukashenkos approval proposes expanding the reasons for which martial law could be introduced in Belarus. It calls for martial law to apply to cases where a state sends or allows its territory to be used to attack Belarus.

The U.S. and the U.K. impose more sanctions against Minsk for its continued repression of Belarusian citizens and support for Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Belarus Weekly

Join us

Meanwhile, an investigation finds that Belarus transferred over 131,500 tons of ammunition to Russia within the first year of Russias full-scale war, further confirming Belarus role as a co-belligerent.

Belarusian human rights activist Nasta Loikas trial begins in Minsk. If convicted, she faces up to 12 years in prison.

Belarus labels Rada of the Belarusian Democratic Republic, the oldest existing government in exile, a so-called extremist group.

Russian nukes likely to arrive in Belarus within days, says Lukashenko

Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko claimed on June 13 that Russian tactical nuclear weapons will arrive in Belarus within days.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Lukashenko during their meeting in Sochi on June 9 that the non-strategic nuclear weapons, promised in a bilateral agreement on May 25, will arrive on July 7-8 once the necessary storage facilities are ready.

This is not about Russia It was my request. Russia did not impose it on me. Why? Because, as you all say, nobody in the world ever fought against a nuclear power, and I do not want anyone to fight against us, Lukashenko said, adding there would be no hesitation if we face an aggression.

Lukashenko told reporters on May 25 that the weapons transfer is already underway.

He later claimed that Russia will give nuclear weapons to any state that joins the Union State of Russia and Belarus, saying there will be nuclear weapons for all.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said control over the nukes, as well as decisions regarding their use, remain with the Kremlin, adding that Russia may take additional measures going forward to ensure the protection of the Union State and respond to the military-political situation.

Russia tries to conceal its dwindling nuclear stockpile The main rule of Russias power diplomacy says: If something goes wrong with their war effort in Ukraine, reach for the nuclear intimidation card. Thats what the Kremlin did two months ago, when Vladimir Putin announced Russia would suspend its participation in the New START, the only remaining The Kyiv IndependentIllia Ponomarenko

Meanwhile, Lukashenko said in an interview with Russian state-controlled media that he would have to coordinate with Putin prior to using the weapons.

NATO, the EU, and the U.S. have condemned the decision to transfer nuclear weapons to Belarus.

However, the White House said on May 26 that it had not changed its nuclear threat assessment following Russia and Belarus nuclear agreement, as it had not observed any indications Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons in Belarus.

Draft bill proposes introducing martial law in cases of armed group incursions

A draft bill published by Belarus Council of Ministers on June 8 proposed expanding the reasons for which martial law could be introduced in Belarus.

The draft bill suggested expanding martial law to apply to cases where another state sends or allows its territory to be used by a third state, extremist group, or organization to attack Belarus.

It also proposed expanding the reasons for introducing a state of emergency, namely cases where there is an attempt to forcibly change the constitutional order, seize or appropriate state power, armed rebellion, and other riots.

Currently, state of emergency can only be declared for environmental and man-made disasters and riots.

The All-Peoples Assembly of Belarus will also be given the ability to declare martial law or a state of emergency in Lukashenkos stead should he be unable to do so.

Composed of officials selected through obscure means by Lukashenkos regime, the assembly is considered a means through which Lukashenko might retain control of the country after he steps down and legitimize the regimes decisions.

The bill has already passed through the Belarusian parliaments upper and lower houses, now requiring only Lukashenkos signature.

Lukashenko has made repeated unsubstantiated claims that the West wishes to take forcible control of Belarus, accusing them of harboring so-called extremist groups intent on seizing power in Belarus.

Belgorod incursion: Meet the anti-Kremlin militia behind the attack inside Russia Editors Note: The Kyiv Independent, together with a number of journalists, was taken to a location in northern Ukraine to interview the members of the units that took part in the military operation inside Russia. Not revealing the exact location was the only precondition for the interview. Norther The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

US, UK slap more sanctions against Belarus

The U.S. and the U.K. imposed additional sanctions against Belarus this week for its continued repression of Belarusian citizens and support for Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The U.K. Foreign Office announced on June 8 that the new measures address exports from Belarus, propaganda by Belarusian organizations in the U.K., and Russian attempts to circumvent sanctions via Belarus.

London is banning the import of gold, cement, wood, and rubber from Belarus, reportedly key sources of revenue for Lukashenkos regime.

The restrictions build on those from July 2022, which banned the import and export of 60 million pounds ($75.9 million) worth of goods from Belarus.

Exports to Belarus from the U.K. of banknotes and machinery, as well as goods, technologies, and materials that could be used to make chemical and biological weapons are also banned.

Social media platforms and internet service providers will be required to restrict access to sanctioned Belarusian media organizations, as is the case for their Russian counterparts.

The new sanctions legislation also targets close family members of those who prop up Lukashenkos regime, and applies measures to Belarus that already exist for Russia to close loopholes and address sanctions circumvention.

Our support for Ukraine will remain resolute for as long as it takes, and the U.K. will not hesitate to introduce further measures against those who prop up Putins war, U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden announced on June 12 that the White House is extending sanctions against Belarus for an additional year over the Belarusian governments continued repressions of Belarusians and support for Russias full-scale war against Ukraine.

The actions and policies of certain members of the Government of Belarus and other persons, and the Belarusian regimes harmful activities and long-standing abuses, continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, Biden said.

Even after sanctions, Russian economy can pay for war The Russian economy has faced unprecedented sanctions since the Kremlin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. The latest events  the Wests embargo on seaborn oil and price cap on Russian oil sales worldwide  are seen as a blow to the Russian economy, whose backbone is the energ The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

Investigation: Belarus transferred over 130,000 metric tons of munitions to Russia in 2022

Belarus transferred 131,535 metric tons of ammunition to Russia between January 2022 and January 2023, the non-government Community of Railway Workers of Belarus reported.

According to the investigation, the largest transfer from Belarus to Russia took place in April 2022  over 29,700 tons. On average, Belarus transferred around 10,000 tons per month.

Belarus 43rd arsenal of rockets and ammunition reportedly provided the largest share, followed by the 46th arsenal and the 1405th artillery base.

According to the report, munitions were transferred to both Russia and Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine, including Crimea.

The Community of Railway Workers of Belarus, an independent initiative spearheaded by Belarusian railroad workers, emerged amid the protests that followed the fraudulent 2020 Belarusian elections. It has extensively covered Russian troops movements on Belarusian territory since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion.

Belarus is a co-belligerent in Russias war against Ukraine, and giving Russian forces access to Belarusian territory and railways has been one of the central ways through which Minsk has supported Moscow. Russia relies on Belarus railway system to transport troops and equipment to and from the front line, as well as to Russia.

Belarusian human rights activist Nasta Loika goes on trial in Minsk

The trial of Belarusian human rights activist Nasta Loika began in Minsk on June 13.

Loika reportedly spent the past seven years monitoring Belarusian authorities abuse of anti-extremism legislation, a tool that Lukashenkos regime uses to justify targeting those who oppose his regime. She has now been accused of so-called extremism and inciting enmity or discord.

I have already placed a painful cross on my life, Loika wrote from behind bars in a farewell letter to her beloved dog. As a trained lawyer, she anticipates spending the next seven to eight years in prison  this means she would not see her dog again.

Loika has been working in human rights since the late 2000s, when she worked with human rights watchdog Viasna and founded Human Constanta, a human rights startup dedicated to educating Belarusians, including vulnerable groups, on how to defend themselves from Lukashenkos regime.

Belarusian People's Republic  world's oldest government in exile

The Spotlight segment provides readers with the historical context of contemporary events in Belarus.

On June 2, Alexander Lukashenkos Belarus declared Rada (the Council) of the Belarusian Peoples Republic, the worlds oldest government in exile, an extremist formation.

The Belarusian Peoples Republic was a short-lived partly-recognized state that proclaimed independence in 1918.

Current legislation, adopted in Belarus after the protests in 2020, suggests that membership in an extremist formation leads to up to six years of imprisonment, whereas establishing one is punishable by up to seven years in jail.

Rada of the Belarusian Peoples Republic is a Belarusian government in exile that traces its history back to 1918.

It emerged amid the turbulence of World War I and the Polish-Soviet war (1919-1921), both resulting in the division of Belarus territory between different states.

In February-March 1918, the Rada adopted three statutes proclaiming Belarus independence and announcing itself as a new governing body of Belarus.

Pahonia was adopted as the coat of arms, and the white-red-white flag became official.

These symbols have been native to Belarus since the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and its successor, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, of which Belarus was an integral part.

The Belarusian language was declared official.

A newly established government started forming its army and governmental structures but was forced into exile. By some accounts, between 1919 and 1923, nearly 11,000 volunteers have been fighting against the occupation of Belarusian territories.

The final defeat of the armed insurgent formations occurred after the suppression of the Slutsk uprising in 1920.

The Rada continued to work in exile.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, similarly exiled Polish, Ukrainian, and Estonian governments handed their mandates over to the democratically elected authorities of the new countries.

The Belarusian government in exile didnt pass its authority, as the Supreme Soviet of the Belarusian Socialist Republic, established in 1990, could not be regarded as a democratically elected party of independent Belarus.

Subsequent elections in Belarus under Lukashenko were deemed undemocratic, thus, the Rada remained the sole government in exile.

The Belarusian Democratic Republic remains the worlds oldest government in exile, refusing to cooperate with modern Belarus, run by dictator Alexander Lukashenko.

Since 1997, the Rada has been headed by Ivonka Survilla. Rada unites 80 members representing Belarusian organizations from 15 countries.

With the government in exile run by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarus now has two governments in exile with history repeating itself.
Roman Protasevich

"We have a lot of questions about him, Radina said.

In fact, there are a lot of questions about how he appeared in the Belarusian opposition, how he went to Poland, and how he headed NEXTA Telegram channel. We don't have time on the air to go through all deetails, but the Nasha Niva newspaper published a very good investigation into who Roman Protasevich is. And there are serious suspicions that he is an agent of the special services. That's all. That explains his behaviour in Belarus.

Protasevich was abducted from a Ryanair plane that was hijacked by the regime of Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko while it was en route from Greece to Lithuania in May 2021.

The passenger jet was forced landing in Minsk by a Belarusian military aircraft. Later, Protasevich was sentenced to eight years in prison for organizing mass riots, inciting enmity, creating an extremist formation, conspiring to seize power, and publicly insulting (Belarusian) dictator Alexander Lukashenko.

However, he was pardoned by the dictator on May 22, the Belarusian news agency BelTA reported.

His colleagues  Nexta founder Stepan Putilo and former channel editor Yan Rudyk  were sentenced in absentia to 20 and 19 years in prison, respectively.

The West considers that the Ryanair flight was hijacked by the Lukashenko regime in order to detain an opposition representative.

Protasevich's girlfriend, Sofia Sapega, who was taken out of the flight alongside him, was sentenced to six years in prison for "inciting social discord" in May 2022. In April 2023, she agreed to be extradited to Russia.

She was also pardoned by Lukashenko on June 7.

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
MILAN and STUTTGART, Germany  The Belgian government has hinted it is open to joining a multinational European sixth-generation fighter program, despite its previous commitment to the U.S.-led F-35 program.

Over the last few months, the Belgian defense industry has called for the government to decide which sixth-generation combat aircraft program it intends on joining and in what capacity.

Belgium has been in talks with stakeholders of the Future Combat Air System program regarding an observer status for the time being, rather than fully acceding to the program, a German aerospace industry source told Defense News.

The FCAS program is led by France, Germany and Spain, and heavily involves the defense companies Dassault Aviation, Airbus and Indra.

The CEO of Dassault Aviation, Eric Trappier, has made it known hes against expanding FCAS to include other countries involved in the F-35 program, even if they are European. However, he has not ruled out the possibility of governments joining as observer nations.

I hear about the Belgians [interest in FCAS]. Thats all very well, Trappier said at a hearing session on Frances 2024-2030 Military Programming Law held last month. I dont really see the point in putting more F-35 countries into the program. Why would I make room in my factory, in my design office, for people who have chosen the F-35?

People say we could give jobs to Belgian companies straight away, he added. No. If its imposed on me, Ill fight [it]. I dont see why I would give jobs to Belgians today.

Then-German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, left, and then-French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly, center, listen as Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier speaks at the 2018 Berlin Air Show. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

In response to Trappiers comments, Belgian Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder told Defense News that she was not surprised by such remarks.

I heard in his words the frustration that the past may have left behind. But the stakes are much higher than the comments of a company boss, she said. The fighter of the future, whether it is the FCAS or the [U.K.-Italy-Japan Global Combat Air Program], will be a structuring program for our defense. It is therefore important that our companies are integrated into the one that will be chosen.

Choosing a fighter

An observer status for Belgium should not worry Trappier, nor other FCAS industry partners, as it wouldnt immediately involve industrial participation, the German industry source explained, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal discussions.

Moreover, Belgium opted to purchase the F-35A five years ago, and thus has no need for a new or further fighter aircraft system in the next 30-plus years, the individual said.

Belgium placed an order for 34 F-35A aircraft in 2018 to replace its fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons. The first two aircraft are scheduled for delivery this year; two additional aircraft scheduled for 2023 were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The country is expected to receive the full order by 2030.

Alain De Neve, a researcher at the Belgium-based Royal Higher Institute for Defense think tank, agrees it is highly unlikely the participation of a European country in an American-led fighter program could justify its definitive exclusion from any European defense project like FCAS.

The full-scale model of the Future Combat Air System is presented during the 2019 Paris Air Show. (Eric Piermont/AFP via Getty Images)

He noted that both Germany and Spain  two FCAS members with equal shares  have either already opted for the F-35 or have been strongly considering it as a fighter replacement. Yet, this has not generated similar protests from Dassault.

Although there has been no official word from Belgium that it is joining the FCAS program, there is at least one big player that has already signaled support for such as move. The CEO of Safran, Olivier Andries, expressed his desire for Belgium to join FCAS, rather than the Global Combat Air Program, during an interview this week with French media.

There are little to no details known at this time on what an observer status would entail for partner countries. But there is motivation to join FCAS, according to De Neve.

The main purpose of a countrys participation in a research program like FCAS is to offer its national industry the opportunity to contribute to the development of the envisioned system, primarily through providing niche technological solutions, like in Belgiums case, he said.

However, a states observer status may preclude it from having access to information deemed sensitive, such as proprietary data, which could hinder such goals.

It remains to be seen, should the program expand to other countries, whether further delays would ensue from new rounds of negotiations. The FCAS project was in a holding pattern for some time due to industrial infighting over workshare agreements.

Dassault did not respond to several requests for comment. Defense News has reached out to Indra for comment.

A spokesperson for Airbus declined to comment on the possibility of Belgium joining the program, stating that the addition of new members remained a political decision between the three partner nations of France, Germany and Spain.
Heres what Bellingham residents must earn to afford housing, according to a new report

Renters in Bellingham must earn nearly $27 an hour to afford a two-bedroom house or apartment at a fair market rent of just under $1,400 monthly, according to an annual study that shows many Americans are paying more for housing.

Across Washington state as a whole, renters must make $36.33 an hour, or work 92 hours a week at a job or jobs that pay the minimum wage of $15.74 per hour, according to the 2023 Out of Reach report released this week by the National Low-Income Housing Coalition.

Washington is the fifth most-expensive U.S. state for renters, behind No. 1 California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and New York, according to the report.

Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, urged Congress and the Biden administration to expand affordable housing and enact new renter protections.

Too many low-income renters are facing worsening housing instability as housing costs rise and pandemic-era safety net programs expire. Evictions are increasing, and homelessness is rising, just as House Republicans work to slash funding for key affordable housing solutions, Yentel said in a statement released with the report.

Looking at Whatcom County as a whole, the report shows that renters must earn nearly $26 an hour to afford a two-bedroom house or apartment, with fair market rent calculated at $1,355 a month.

Thats up from $24 an hour and a fair market rent of $1,250 in 2022.

But renters earn only about $19 an hour on average in Whatcom County, and can only afford a monthly rent of $963, according to the report.

That means that the average Whatcom County renter must have 1.4 jobs at $19 an hour to afford the median=priced house or apartment.

Whatcom County had more than 38,000 rental households, and 38% of residents are renters, according to the 2023 report. According to recent city of Bellingham figures, about 55% of the citys residents are renters.

Renters in Whatcom County must earn at least $54,200 a year to afford a moderately priced house or apartment, according to the report.

The median household income for Whatcom County in 2021 was $70,011, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Berberine is being called 'nature's Ozempic'  here's what the supplement actually does to your body

The plant compound berberine is found in many plants, including phellodendron, pictured here. Some influencers are calling it "nature's Ozempic." Getty Images

Berberine is a supplement found in the roots, leaves, and stems of some plants.

It's been used for thousands of years to treat infections and heal wounds.

Recently, people on social media have been calling it "nature's Ozempic," but experts disagree.

Berberine, a bitter, yellow chemical found in the roots, leaves, and stems of several plants, has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. It's often used to help with wound healing or treating infections, and there's some preliminary evidence that it may be effective for those issues.

But this year, the old compound has suddenly become a hot new internet sensation for weight loss, with many TikTok influencers calling it "nature's Ozempic," and posting about how it's helped them shed pounds and improve hormonal imbalances.

The supplement's use has become such a prominent online fad that even the National Institutes of Health stepped in with a cautionary note on its website this month, warning about the potential dangers of taking berberine.

But the reality is that berberine isn't comparable to the new class of GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic. Small studies have shown that any potential weight loss benefits of the supplement are extremely mild, and experts told Insider that there are other well-regulated, cheap medications that are more effective for weight loss and metabolism issues.

"Berberine is not that potent," Dr. Amy Rothberg, a metabolism, nutrition, and diabetes expert at the University of Michigan, told Insider. "If it results in weight loss, it would be pretty modest."

Here are the basics of what we know about berberine.

Berberine is a far cry from Ozempic when it comes to weight loss

Many supplements, including berberine, are largely unregulated. Bruce Gifford, Getty Images

If berberine does prompt any weight loss, it is very modest compared to the dramatic results people have been seeing with pricey prescription GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. In clinical trials, these once-weekly injectables can lead to upwards of 15% weight loss, when taken for over a year.

On the contrary, a small study of fewer than 10 obese patients who took berberine three times a day for three months found their average weight loss with berberine was just around 5 pounds.

Rothberg said it's possible the supplement is actually doing nothing at all to help people lose weight.

"It could be placebo effect, which is very powerful in and of itself," she said.

Berberine might be more comparable to metformin, a cheap diabetes drug

While there isn't yet much compelling data on berberine for weight loss, there is slightly more evidence available suggesting the compound may be mildly helpful for controlling blood sugar, cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

Dr. Michael Weintraub, an obesity medicine specialist at NYU Langone, told Insider that this makes the cheap, generic diabetes drug metformin a more apt comparison for berberine. The beneficial effects of berberine on blood sugar "may be comparable to a moderate dose of metformin," he said.

Metformin is also "the most common medication prescribed off-label for weight loss," Weintraub said, though most people who take it will only lose a modest amount of weight, perhaps around 5 to 10 pounds.

Metformin has also become a very common treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, which is one of the metabolic conditions TikTokers have been saying berberine helps treat.

Still, Weintraub isn't convinced that berberine will be replacing metformin any time soon.

"I certainly would want to see more well-designed, large clinical trials conducted, and then maybe we could see if there is a place for it," he said.

Berberine might have more similar uses to metformin, a cheap diabetes drug also used for weight loss. Corbis News via Getty Images

Like many supplements, berberine is largely unregulated

The idea that berberine is somehow cleaner, better, or more pure than licensed, prescription drugs like Ozempic is one experts do not endorse.

"Like with any supplements sold over the counter  you don't even know what's in there, frankly," Rothberg said. "It could tout that it's berberine, it could actually be ephedra," she said, referencing the supplement that's banned in the US today because of its history prompting serious health issues including heart attacks and sudden deaths.

Rothberg said she once saw a patient taking an over-the-counter supplement with "some very abnormal blood," and when the patient's supplement was tested in the lab, the doctor discovered "all sorts of chemicals" inside, including the hormone testosterone, the stimulant amphetamine, and other substances that were never listed anywhere on the label.

"There's no true supervision of these over the counter supplements," she said.

For some people, berberine can be dangerous

Both medical experts Insider spoke with for this story agreed that pure berberine is a relatively safe, well-tolerated compound.

Some of the most common side effects for berberine, like metformin, include constipation, diarrhea, and an upset stomach. But providers said there are at least three groups of people who should definitely steer clear of berberine.

Those include:

Pregnant people , who can pass on a kind of irreversible brain damage to their children, called kernicterus, if they're on berberine

Breastfeeding mothers, because berberine can negatively impact child development

Anyone who's on other drugs should exercise caution, because berberine can impact a key enzyme which influences the way our body metabolizes many other drugs. If you are on other medications, you should check with your doctor first to make sure berberine won't result in any harmful interactions, like making your other medicine less effective.

The supplement also comes with an increased risk of bleeding and bruising, due to its anti-platelet effect.

"Natural doesn't mean it is better, more efficacious," Rothberg said. "In fact, it's often just the opposite."

Read the original article on Insider
Former President Donald Trump waves as he leaves the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse after his arraignment in Miami, June 13, 2023. Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential front-runner whose efforts to cling to power after his defeat shook American democracy, was booked on federal criminal charges that he illegally retained defense secrets and obstructed the governments efforts to reclaim the classified documents. (Saul Martinez/The New York Times)

The last time U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled on a case involving Donald Trump and his alleged hoarding of classified documents, the dressing-down from appellate judges above her was stern and blunt.

Last year, Cannon, a Trump appointee, approved Trumps demand for an outside arbiter to examine documents that federal agents had seized from the former presidents Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. Trumps bid clearly was a stall tactic aimed at slowing the Justice Departments investigation, and Cannon facilitated it. The Justice Department appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and won.

Advertisement

In reversing Cannons ruling, a three-judge appellate panel criticized the special treatment Cannon was giving the former president, stating, To create a special exception here would defy our Nations foundational principle that our law applies to all, without regard to numbers, wealth or rank.

Cannon now finds herself once again at the center of Trumps documents debacle, this time with yet more import. She is assigned as the presiding judge over Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smiths 37-count indictment that accuses the former president of illegally retaining national defense information after leaving office and willfully defying federal agents attempts to retrieve the classified documents.

Advertisement

America awaits the moment when Cannon holds her first pretrial hearing in the case. But Americans should never see that moment, because Cannon should put the sanctity of rule of law above everything else and recuse herself from the case.

In this image from video provided by the Senate Judiciary Committee, Aileen Cannon testifies virtually during her nomination hearing to the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington, on July 29, 2020. (Senate Judiciary Committee)

Judicial recusals typically occur under a set of circumstances in which a judges impartiality might reasonably be questioned. Otherwise, it should be assumed that a judge will apply the utmost fairness to both the prosecution and defense, from discovery to verdict.

Judges hold enormous power in courtrooms. They hand down critical pretrial rulings on requests by either side  rulings that create boundaries for the proceedings. Those decisions shape the course of trial, guiding what evidence and witness testimony appears before the jury. Judges also decide the fate of juror challenges by either side and play a crucial role in the crafting of instructions for the jury ahead of deliberations.

And critically, judges set the schedule of proceedings. They can keep a case humming along through pretrial motions, or if theyre poor stewards of the courtroom, allow it to get bogged down in needless, time-wasting delays. Its not unreasonable to assume that the Trump team wants nothing more than a plodding, snaillike pace that lessens any chance of the trial upending the former presidents quest for a second term.

Questions have been raised about Cannons skill set, more specifically, her meager track record for presiding over criminal trials. According to the New York Times, of the 224 criminal cases that have been sent Cannons way, only four went to trial: a tax fraud case, an assault on a prosecutor, a charge of gun possession by a felon and an undocumented migrants smuggling case. Those are relatively elementary cases compared with the complexities of trying a former president for allegedly mishandling classified documents and trying to obstruct the federal governments attempts to retrieve those documents.

Nevertheless, thats not a sound basis for recusal. We give the 42-year-old judge from the University of Michigan Law School the benefit of the doubt that she would carry out the necessary research to preside over subject matter that may, as of now, be foreign to her. She is equipped with law clerks to help her get up to speed, and during the proceedings, lawyers on both sides could, if needed, provide more legal context for their motions, objections and requests than they would for a judge with more experience in criminal trials.

But the scale of whats at stake in this case factors heavily into whether Cannon should stay on.

Chicago Tribune Opinion Weekdays Read the latest editorials and commentary curated by the Tribune Opinion team. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

Trump is the first former president to ever face federal indictment. The charges are gravely serious. The documents Trump allegedly refused to hand over include highly sensitive documents about Americas nuclear programs, its homeland vulnerabilities to foreign attacks and its plans for retaliatory strikes against foreign enemies.

Advertisement

And, prosecutors allege that Trump not only illegally retained those documents, he overtly tried to prevent federal agents from getting them back. Given the gravity of the charges, judicial impartiality shouldnt just be an aspiration  it should be a non-negotiable baseline.

Its worth repeating a touchstone phrase that the appellate panel used in its overturning of Cannons outside arbiter ruling last year: ... our law applies to all, without regard to numbers, wealth or rank.

Thats at the core of this latest case against Trump. On too many occasions he has behaved as if he were above the law. Cannon, as the appellate panel ruled, created without any legal justification an exception for Trump to the rule of law.

The nation cannot afford to have Cannon make the same mistake in the pending criminal case against the former president. She should recuse herself.

Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
The best hidden food gems in the Myrtle Beach area. Did your favorite make the cut?

Myrtle Beach is jam-packed with popular restaurants, but locals praise the quality of some potentially overlooked spots in the area.

Were revisiting The Sun News (non-scientific) reader poll from a year ago that asked for the best hidden food gems in Horry County  and our readers delivered great picks, from pizza joints to cafes.

Sun News journalists also shared some of their favorite secret spots. Scroll down to take a look.

Have a recommendation? Email it to online@thesunnews.com.

Best hidden food gems near Myrtle Beach, according to readers

Athens Pizza, 5419 Dick Pond Road in Myrtle Beach

Athens Pizza offers Italian and Greek food in the Socastee area of Horry County. Myrtle Beach has its fair share of pizza restaurants, but Athens Pizza gets my vote for best crust, wrote reader Holly Roesing.

Sams Southern Eatery, 2635 US-701 in Conway

Sams Southern Eatery is a staple in Conway, but people near the beach may have overlooked it in the past. The restaurant is a classic Southern spot, serving traditional favorites such as fried green tomatoes and po boy sandwiches. Reader Carol Cleaver-Hesser recommended the shrimp dinner. Not only (does) it taste good, it is plentiful and (at a) good price, she wrote.

A dish at Sun City Cafe in downtown Myrtle Beach.

Sun City Cafe, 801 Main St. in Myrtle Beach

Located in the heart of Myrtle Beach, the Sun City Cafe is something of a local hangout. The appetizer menu is complete with a variety of dips while entrees include tacos, burritos, and vegetarian options. One Sun News reader complimented the business fun atmosphere and great service.

Best hidden food gems near Myrtle Beach, according to Sun News staff

Taste of Explosion at The Grumpy Monk at Broadway at the Beach.

Grumpy Monk, multiple locations

Breaking news editor Terri Richardson said everything shes eaten at Grumpy Monk has been delicious. She comes with an appetite when she orders the big kid chicken fingers, which, despite the name, are as big as her hand. Others in her party like the Uncle Jesse burrito and the mac and cheese grilled cheese. The restaurant, popular with locals, has locations in Carolina Forest, North Myrtle Beach and Broadway at the Beach.

A Coffee Movement food truck, for location check @acoffeemovement on Instagram

Service journalism reporter Eleanor Nash travels to farmers markets and festivals around the Grand Strand for this moving coffee truck. She loves their iced mocha latte, with tiny chunks of chocolate at the bottom. A Coffee Movements rotating selection of syrups, with flavors such as blueberry, lavender and orange cardamom, are made in-house.

Dagwoods Deli, 400 11th Ave. North in Myrtle Beach

Senior Editor Chris Segal recommends Dagwoods Deli. Known for their sandwiches stuffed with deli meats, Segal says its a go-to for work lunches. Though they have two locations (one in Myrtle Beach, the other in Surfside Beach), the original location in downtown Myrtle Beach is where you may run into Sun News staff.

Milk and Honey Coffee Cafe, 351 Highway 17 Business, Surfside Beach

Coffee from Milk and Honey powers reporter Caroline Williamsons breaking news coverage. The bee sting latte, full of honey and cinnamon, is her favorite. Other Sun News staff recommend trying a Nutella cruffin (croissant in the shape of a muffin) or a morning bun along with your coffee.

Socastee Station, 4504 Socastee Blvd. Unit A. in Myrtle Beach

Its the famous beer-battered chicken bog balls that make this spot a true local favorite. Whether you come for lunch or dinner, Socastee Station is a low-key place to enjoy a beer with dishes that take inventive risks on classic South Carolina dishes.

1229 Shine, an oyster bar, officially opened in the Market Common on March 7 after a soft launch more than a month earlier.

Shine 1229, 1229 Shine Ave. in Myrtle Beach

Upscale yet casual, this Market Commons restaurant serves up flavorful seafood dishes and refreshing craft cocktails. The menu features iconic Myrtle Beach dishes but with international influences. Viet Cajun seafood boil anyone?

A pot of chicken bog cooked by Conway, S.C. chef Larry Dickerson is removed from the oven of Donzelles restaurant. January 25, 2022.

Donzelles, 1703 N. Main St. in Conway

For a heaping helping of homestyle breakfast, the Sun News staff recommends Donzelles in Conway. Though theyre open for lunch, locals love ordering their classic eggs, bacon, grits and buttered biscuits.

Local chef Larry Dickerson reveals his secrets to cooking the perfect chicken bog

The wait notwithstanding, when the food came out, it was fresh and so very delicious.

Mr. Fish, 6307 N. Kings Hwy. in Myrtle Beach

The Sun News staff recommends this spot for seafood lovers. Operating as a restaurant and a seafood market, Mr. Fish offers local, fresh seafood. The menu features favorites, like their popular steamed or fried shrimp and oysters, as well as specialty sushi rolls.

Conway Meat Market, 1701 4th Ave in Conway

As a bonus, the staff recommends Conway Meat Market to anyone looking for high-quality cuts of meat. Its not a restaurant, but it is a great spot to pick up restaurant quality beef, pork, chicken and more.

A version of this story was originally published in May 2022.

  

Explore Myrtle Beach with us: Sign up for our new newsletter in the form below.
Scouted/The Daily Beast/Retailers.

Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission.

New Kids on the Block helps you navigate all the new and exciting launches from our favorite brands, all in one place. From electrolyte-infused skincare to personalized teeth whiteners, June has offered no shortage of exciting new product launches that Im already waxing poetic about. Scroll through below to check out some of my favorite new product discoveries from June so far.

HUM Nutrition Celery Juice Fiber Gummies (20-Day Supply)Down from $20

Ive been trying to get on the morning celery juice kick for a couple of years nowIll commit to a daily glass for two weeks, but I inevitably fall off the wagon. Its inconvenient to juice every morning (and expensive to buy it juiced), and it doesnt taste great. Drinking celery juice offers a slew of impressive health benefits, though, from detoxifying the liver to improving gut health and boosting energy sans caffeine. Fortunately, now you can reap the benefits of a daily celery juice regimen without having to actually drink it, thanks to Hum Nutritions new Celery Juice Fiber Gummies. I have not personally tried the gummies just yet, so I cant speak to their taste, but I can almost guarantee theyll be way more palatable than chugging a glass of unsweetened celery juice.

Buy HUM Nutrition Celery Juice Fiber Gummies (20-Day Supply) at HUM Nutrition, $14

Kopari Marine Clean Purifying Gel Cleanser

Formulated to reduce the number of steps in your daily skincare routine, Koparis new Marine Clean Purifying Gel Cleanser does double duty to remove makeup, deep clean your pores, and nourish the skin barrier. The dual-action cleanser is infused with marine algae, firming amino acids, and vitamin B5 to help lock in moisture. The formula transforms from a gel to a foam, allowing it to deeply penetrate the pores and sweep away impurities without over-drying.

Buy Kopari Marine Clean Purifying Gel Cleanser at Kopari , $29

Lululemon Blissfeel Trail Running Shoe

Lululemons growing shoe collection is arguably the brands most underrated category. Everyone knows that the activewear brands Align leggings, Define Jacket, and even the viral belt bags are second-to-none, but Lululemons under-the-radar footwear offerings deserve your full attention. The latest drop is the Blissfeel Trail Running Shoe, which requires zero break-in time, delivers next-level support without feeling heavy, has a firm grip for navigating uneven terrain (and slippery treadmills!), and, yes, theyre actually cute. The shoes are designed for outdoor running, but I also love to wear them on walks, hikes, and running errands.

Buy Lululemon Blissfeel Trail Running Shoe at Lululemon, $158

Neon Hippie Cosmic Concentrate

Neon Hippie may have launched back in February, but the luxe, shroom-infused skincare line is brand new to me. Beauty industry veteran Nicole Ostoya launched Neon Hippie earlier this year to fill an existing gap in the skincare market and harness the skin-enhancing magical powers of functional mushrooms and botanical ingredients. The exuberant packaging was enough to bring its products from my cart to my beauty shelf stat, but its Neon Hippies natural yet effective formulas that will keep them front and center in your daily skincare lineup. Not sure where to start? You really cant go wrong with any of its products, but we suggest opting for the Cosmic Concentrate.

Buy Neon Hippie Cosmic Concentrate at Neon Hippie, $85

Buy Neon Hippie Cosmic Concentrate at Neiman Marcus, $85

CVS Health Custom Whitening System

CVS Healths custom teeth-whitening system claims to be equally as effective as in-office treatmentsand, at this point, Im convinced this is the case. The kit includes personalized trays that mold to your teeths unique shape, allowing for an extra secure fit and better absorption of the whitening solution. After opening the kit, you simply make your teeth impressions in the upper and lower trays provided at home and mail them back to the lab. In three weeks, theyll send you your own bespoke teeth whitening kit. Say goodbye to the slippery whitening strips and invest in this personalized system instead.

Buy CVS Health Custom Whitening System at CVS, $130

AD BY BEAUTY PIE: Shinkai Electrolyte Drench Gel

You may reach for electrolytes when your body needs extra hydration, but what about when your skin is dehydrated? Beauty Pie just dropped an innovative new 3-in-1 formula that quells dehydration while plumping up fine lines and repairing the skin barrier. The Shinkai Electrolyte Drench Gel is basically a green juice for the skin. The whipped gel-cream formula is chock full of moisture-retaining ingredients, including electrolytes, peptides, and super greens, along with firming Kombucha to help boost laxity, enhance your faces natural contour, and of course, help your skin retain its own naturally-occurring hyaluronic acid. Wear it under your favorite sunscreen as a moisturizer for an instant lit-from-within glow or use it as a night mask before bed and wake up to dewy, radiant, and plump skin.

Buy AD BY BEAUTY PIE: Shinkai Electrolyte Drench Gel at Beauty Pie, $100

Proactiv Zits Happen Hydrocolloid PatchesDown from $12

Pimple patches are nothing new at this point, but leave it to the acne experts at Proactiv to disrupt the category with its latest drop. Just in time for Acne Awareness Month, Proactiv dropped its new Zits Happen Hydrocolloid Patches, which offer so many more benefits than your average pimple patch. Aside from hydrocolloid (which helps bring the blemish down in size by drawing up fluid and bacteria to the surface), these innovative skincare patches are also infused with salicylic acid to purify pores, niacinamide to help prevent scarring and pigmentation, centella asiatica to brighten the area and reduce discoloration, and hyaluronic acid to offset over-drying and accelerate healing. Even if you dont have an active pimple, I also love to use these multipurpose skincare patches as a spot treatment for fading acne scars, sun spots, and post-inflammatory redness.

Buy Proactiv Zits Happen Hydrocolloid Patches at Proactiv, $10

Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Volumizer Mascara

Thrive Causemetics hero product is undoubtedly its unparalleled Liquid Lash Extension Mascara, which has garnered ample acclaim as the best tubing mascara on the market. The OG formula extends the lashes like nothing Ive ever used before without clumping, transforming, or creating a spiderweb effect (iykyk!). In response to customer requests, the ethical cosmetics brand launched a sister mascara to its best-selling formula: Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Volumizer Mascara, which focuses more on amping up the volume as opposed to just addressing length. Frankly, its the mascara of my dreams because my lashes are fairly long naturally, but theyre straight and fine. All you need is a few coats of this thickening formula for voluminous, clump-free lashes that last all day long.

Buy Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Volumizer Mascara at Thrive Causemetics, $25

Health-ade Guava Dragon Fruit Kombucha

My new favorite gut-friendly Kombucha brand has a new limited-edition flavor that I can only hope will make it into its permanent collection because I dont think Ill be able to get enough. The new Guava Dragon Fruit flavor tastes like a tropical summer vacation in a bottle, except unlike trips abroad, the fizzy, probiotic-rich kombucha nourishes your gut, promoting regularity, enhanced immunity, and glowing skin. Drink it up alone for a caffeine-free pick-me-up, or mix it with your favorite spirit for a healthier cocktail!

Buy Health-ade Guava Dragon Fruit Kombucha at Health-ade, $null

Laneige Pink Lemonade Sleeping Lip Mask

This cult-favorite (and celebrity-loved) Korean beauty lip mask just got a sweet makeover for summer. The newly-launched Pink Lemonade Swirl Sleeping Lip Mask is the ultimate treat for dry, sun-kissed lips... and the tangy scent is pure nostalgia. This highly-anticipated drop is somehow still in stock, but if I had to bet, it wont be for long. Ive been told by industry insiders that loyal fans of the beloved lip mask collect the limited-edition drops, so if you want to grab one for yourself, dont wait!

Buy Laneige Pink Lemonade Sleeping Lip Mask at Sephora, $25

Shiseido x World Surf League Limited Edition Collection

Shiseido makes some of the best sunscreen products on the market, and its latest drop in collaboration with the WSL (World Surf League) is no exception. In 2019, Shiseido launched its Blue Project, a global effort to promote the protection of the oceans with clean and reef-friendly SPF products that are safe and effective for our skin and Mother Nature. This years drop with WSL includes new, professional-level (and surfer-approved) SPF products fortified with Shiseidos dual SynchroShield technology. SynchroShield combines WetForce Technology, which allows the formula to sense elevated perspiration adding more protection without adding a white cast as more moisture is detected, and HeatForce Technology, an essence that forms a stronger barrier on the skin when activated by external heat.

Buy Shiseido x World Surf League Limited Edition Collection at Shiseido, $null

Catrice Summer Obsession Palette

Ive been a huge fan of the French drugstore makeup brand Catrice for years. Its affordable yet luxury-like HD Liquid Coverage Foundation is one of my favorite formulas of all time, and it only costs around $10. So, it comes as no surprise that Ive fallen for the brands new blush, bronzer, and highlight palette. The brand was kind enough to send me a sample of the Summer Obsession palette right before my recent vacation to Spain, and, aside from mascara and tinted moisturizer, it was the only makeup I used the entire week.

Buy Catrice Summer Obsession Palette at Amazon, $12

The Beachwaver Co. Multi Barrel Beachwaver B1 Curling Iron

Beachwavers automatic curling irons are the own hair tools Ive used since, like, 2017. Why would I curl my own hair when their styling tools basically do it for me? Naturally, I was excited when I saw that Beachwaver dropped a new multi-barrel tool, which allows you to switch between three different size barrels to achieve your look with one tool. The revolutionized rendition of the brands cult-favorite hot tool features the same features we love about the original models, including automatic curling functionality, auto-shut-off, and a tapered top for longer-lasting waves, but with more versatility.

Buy The Beachwaver Co. Multi Barrel Beachwaver B1 Curling Iron at Beachwaver, $250

Dont forget to check out our coupon site to find more beauty deals, including Sephora coupons, Ulta coupons, Nordstrom coupons, and Macys coupons.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Joe Biden

Axios referred to two sources familiar with the discussions.

Read also: NATO countries want Biden to accelerate Ukraines NATO membership  NYT

At the White House on June 13, Stoltenberg raised a proposal whereby the alliance would state that Ukraine has made progress toward membership and wont need to complete the step-by-step MAP process other Eastern European members went through before joining, the two sources say.

The MAP was launched in April 1999 at the alliances Washington Summit to help countries aspiring to NATO membership in their preparations. These cover political, economic, defense, resource, security, and legal aspects.

The upcoming NATO Summit scheduled for July 11-12 in Vilnius holds significant importance for Ukraine, as it anticipates receiving a clear and resolute signal affirming the Alliances preparedness to welcome it as a member.

Read also: US Congress resolution urges Biden to provide ATACMS missiles to Ukraine

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has reiterated his commitment to conveying this signal.

Earlier in June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that it would be pointless for Ukraine to participate in the NATO summit in Vilnius without receiving a clear signal regarding its future membership of the defensive alliance.

An article published on June 8 by U.S. news website Politico highlighted the lack of a unified position among Western allies on the security guarantees sought by Ukraine, just five weeks before the summit.

A debate has also erupted among NATO member countries, which are pressuring U.S. President Joe Biden to support a faster and more reliable plan to put Ukraine on the path to NATO membership, U.S. newspaper the New York Times reported on June 14.

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
President Joe Bidens announcement on Friday that Mandy Cohen will lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is stoking the Covid wars once again.

If Biden had hopes that Cohen would quell passions on Capitol Hill about how the U.S. government responded to the coronavirus, they were dashed earlier this week when 28 Republican lawmakers wrote him to disparage her for, among other things, sporting a Dr. Fauci-themed cloth mask while she served as secretary of North Carolinas Department of Health and Human Services.

Cohens charge is, officially, to restore trust in an agency that its outgoing director, Rochelle Walensky, has acknowledged did not reliably meet expectations after Covid arrived. And Biden said Cohen was "recognized by leaders from both parties for her ability find common ground and put complex policy into action." At the same time, in picking a proven communicator, Biden has also selected an ally better equipped to spar with the GOP. That suggests the Biden administration understands it will be impossible in the short term to reestablish the CDCs mostly collegial, pre-Covid relationship with Congress.

"She's more of an operator and also politically sophisticated," Andy Slavitt, who worked closely with Cohen in the Obama administration, told POLITICO. "She's going to come in with a little bit less of a pure academic perspective."

The CDC became a lightning rod during the pandemic, as many Republican leaders rejected its guidance around social distancing, masks and vaccinations, and accused it of bowing to the fears of teachers unions in setting school reopening guidance. Democrats are far more supportive, but have found fault, too, with the agencys shifting recommendations and inability to quickly process data.

Walensky, an infectious-disease specialist who joined the CDC in January 2021, departs June 30. She cited the end of the Covid public health emergency last month when she announced her decision to leave.

As North Carolinas top public health official, Cohen spoke for the administration of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper in the face of a GOP-controlled state House and Senate. Before that, she held high-level roles in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services during former President Barack Obama's administration.



In their letter, Cohens GOP detractors, including two North Carolinians, Sen. Ted Budd and Rep. Dan Bishop, and five other senators, Ted Cruz of Texas, Mike Lee of Utah, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, J.D. Vance of Ohio and Mike Braun of Indiana, told Biden they werent ready to let Covid go, or give Cohen a pass.

Dr. Cohen is unfit for the position, they wrote. Throughout her career, Dr. Cohen has politicized science, disregarded civil liberties, and spread misinformation about the efficacy and necessity of COVID vaccinations and the necessity of masks, they wrote.

Her congressional critics have no hope of blocking her appointment; Cohen doesnt need Senate confirmation.

But the Republicans opposition, especially if its more widely shared in their caucus, could make it harder for Cohen to complete Walenskys agency reorganization, which aims to communicate faster during disease outbreaks, be more transparent with the public and prepare for the next pandemic.

Walenskys plans rely on Congress; she has asked lawmakers to help the CDC respond better to the next pandemic by requiring states to share more data with the agency.

The question of trust dogged Walensky and made it difficult to get congressional buy-in for her plan. Lawmakers focused little attention on it during her last congressional appearance earlier this month.

Cohen did not respond to an interview request. But in a recent commencement speech at Guilford College, she described her own tenure in North Carolina as productive.

It was those states and communities that were able to build and maintain trust that saw the best long-term results, and I can say with certainty trust was built here in North Carolina, she said.

And some prominent critics of the CDCs Covid response, such as Stanford University Health Policy Professor Jay Bhattacharya, have credited her with pushing to reopen schools earlier than others.

But the Republican lawmakers position indicates theres no going back to the agencys pre-Covid relationship with Congress. With the pandemic years now under the House GOPs oversight microscope, the CDC director cannot stay out of the political fray. "We all want to see that job removed from politics," Slavitt said. "But for it to be removed from politics, you actually have to understand politics."

A boatload of common sense

Cohen, 44, followed her mom, an emergency room nurse practitioner, into medicine, but often had one foot in Washington, even interning for Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) before going to medical school.

She got a degree in public health at Harvard and another in medicine from Yale, then trained in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, where her interest in policy was evident.

Along with now-Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, an internist at nearby Brigham and Womens Hospital at the time, Cohen worked on Doctors for Obama, a physician group that campaigned for the future president, and later rebranded as Doctors for America to work on health care reform.

"From when she was a medical student to her time as secretary of health in North Carolina, Dr. Cohen has always been guided by an enduring desire to help improve the lives of people and communities," Murthy told POLITICO in a statement.

Cohen would go on to work at the Department of Veterans Affairs and at CMS, where she was instrumental in implementing the Affordable Care Act, according to those who worked with her.



During the "eight weeks from hell" in 2013 when the health care website HealthCare.gov failed to launch, Cohen was part of the SWAT team that made sure it got up and running, said Kathleen Sebelius, who was Health and Human Services secretary when Cohen was at CMS and calls her "a terrific talent."

Cooper named Cohen to head the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services after his 2016 election win, which also returned a Republican Legislature.

In an interview, Cooper described Cohen as clear-eyed and transparent about that challenge, "with a boatload of common sense," and credited her with laying groundwork that resulted in bipartisan legislation expanding Medicaid.

"She had excellent relationships with both Democratic and Republican leaders in the Legislature. They respected her intellect and also appreciated the way she could get things done," Cooper said.

Mark McClellan, who led the Food and Drug Administration and later CMS under former President George W. Bush, worked closely with Cohen in North Carolina during the pandemic from his current perch at Duke University.

He described Cohen holding virtual meetings with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle throughout the pandemic, as well as small group discussions, where she thrived.

Cohen has a "proven ability to actually do stuff in government," said McClellan, now the director of Dukes Margolis Center for Health Policy. He described Cohen's effort to bring together people with different viewpoints to solve pandemic problems, including health care workers, community and business leaders.

In some arenas, the fruits of her efforts seemed to pay off. A 2021 POLITICO analysis of how each state fared during the pandemic gave North Carolina above average marks for health and the economy. (The state scored below average for well-being and education.)

Cooper dismissed the GOP lawmakers' letter to Biden. "I think that's to be expected from anti-science election deniers," he said. "Dr. Cohen inspired confidence in the vast majority of North Carolinians, despite those who constantly politicize the pandemic for partisan gain."

While it might be politically advantageous to deride Cohen now, Cooper noted that Republican state senators commended her work when she stepped down in 2021. State Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, for example, praised her leadership during turbulent times and called her instrumental in the state's successful Medicaid transformation.

Another Republican, former state Sen. Tommy Tucker, told North Carolina Health News that he'd gotten along better with Cohen than any previous health secretaries. "Secretary Cohen and I had major policy differences. But it was always a civil debate," Tucker said.

For her part, Cohen says she was always honest with the public.

"I think folks misconstrue trust being the same thing as perfection," she told POLITICO's Ben Leonard in September, when asked about her Covid-era messaging.

Cohen has estimated she held roughly 150 Covid press conferences, sometimes up to three a week.

"We tried really hard in North Carolina to just tell folks what we knew in the moment we knew it, and tell folks what we didn't know and what we were working toward trying to understand and find out," she told Leonard. "I think that builds credibility and builds trust."

Still, the GOP reaction on Capitol Hill in advance of her appointment shows Cohen's return to polarized Washington politics will be more fraught than her time in North Carolina.

While North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis did not sign the letter opposing Cohen's appointment, he told POLITICO in a statement that he thinks Cohen has her work cut out for her in restoring faith in the CDC.

"While Dr. Cohen has a wealth of medical experience, there are legitimate questions being raised about her role in recommending school shutdowns and enforcing the states emergency declaration for far longer than was necessary," Tillis said.

Been there before

Cohen's official work at CDC will revolve around the agency overhaul that Walensky started  either completing it or revising it  while restoring workforce morale and public trust.

But shell also be the Biden administrations advocate on public health policy on Capitol Hill, and will be asked by Republicans to defend CDC Covid guidance she had no role in formulating.

Its a tough job, but shes been there before. In 2014, for example, Cohen garnered media attention for cooly fielding questions from Republicans on Obamacares maternity coverage requirement during a congressional hearing  while eight months pregnant herself.

"She's someone who doesn't run away from tough stuff," Slavitt said. He described Cohen's instinct to be the one to deliver bad news, a quality she honed as a doctor, when delivering it sometimes meant telling patients they were going to die.

"She's someone who brings humanity and compassion when people are inclined to kind of close up and be very robotic and buttoned up," he said.

Walensky is leaving Cohen with a plan of action for the CDC, which Sebelius sees as a benefit.

She'll enter the agency with a roadmap for improvements from someone who has done on-the-ground interviews about where the agency is falling short. "She doesn't have to make this up, and she also doesn't have to start all over again," Sebelius said.

Like the CDC, North Carolina's health department was beaten down and suffering from low morale when Cohen came on, according to Cooper, who said she injected hope and vision into the agency and gave it a plan of action.

She's also never lost sight of the reason for the work, he said, which is keeping Americans healthy.

"She keeps that as a polar star for her even during times when politics tries to thrust itself into the public health arena," Cooper said. "She understands that that's a reality. She's battle-tested.

Ben Leonard contributed to this report.
President Joe Biden is facing criticism for slipping up when outlining a new railroad project, mistakenly saying it would be built across the Indian Ocean.

Mr Biden was speaking to the League of Conservation Voters in Washington DC on Wednesday night, saying, We have plans to build a railroad from the Pacific all the way across the Indian Ocean.

We have plans to build in Angola one of the largest solar plants in the world, Mr Biden added. I can go on, but Im not. Im going off-script. Im going to get in trouble.

Theres no proposal to build a railroad covering the third largest ocean on the planet, and conservatives were quick to capitalise on the slip-up, with the Twitter account RNC Research sharing the clip on Wednesday night.

Last week, during a visit from UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Mr Biden made a similar mistake, before correcting himself, saying that Were talking about building  and I had my team putting together with other countries as well  to build a railroad from the Pacific Ocean  from the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the Indian Ocean.

BIDEN: "We have plans to build a railroad from the Pacific all the way across the Indian Ocean" pic.twitter.com/p3yvuaupsF  RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 15, 2023

Africa is surrounded by the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, and the Arabian Sea, but not the Pacific.

Before fumbling his words, Mr Biden spoke about how the US is planning on helping developing countries combat the climate crisis.

Weve mobilised the worlds leading emitters to help poorer countries deal with the impacts of climate change. They called it, at the G7, the Build Back Biden  Build Back Better. And we realized that got confusing, the president said to laughter in the room.

Heres the bottom line  Were the ones that caused the problem, the United States. We cleared all our land. We did all the things that make things more easy for us to make money. Not a bad thing at the time. No one really fully understood, he added. But we, the major emitters in the world, have an obligation to help those countries.

Soon, Africa will have one billion people. China has their Belt and Road Initiative. It turned out to be their debt and destruction initiative. No, Im serious. Not a joke. Well, were going to win, and were going to help, Mr Biden said, seemingly arguing that the US will take on China in their soft power push to help poorer nations with infrastructure projects, which critics have claimed are exploitative, with some calling it a debt trap.

Mr Biden was mocked by Twitter users for his railroad slip, with conservative columnist Ian Haworth tweeting: Whos going to run that train, SpongeBob?

The jokes write themselves daily :



Joe Biden said he plans to "build a railway from the Pacific Ocean across the entire Indian Ocean." pic.twitter.com/pYDyPgsi5K  Dagny Taggart (@DagnyTaggart963) June 15, 2023

Former Utah Republican Representative Jason Chaffetz tweeted: Bold initiative, Mr. President.

The communications director for Republican Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, Abigail Marone, wrote: Put grandpa to bed.

The DeSantis War Room simply tweeted: Ambitious.

Right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro made a dig about Mr Bidens age, writing, He does remember Pangea so.

I for one am booking a seat on the first ever rail trip to the Indian Ocean. You laugh but the beverage car is gonna be sick, Philadelphia talk radio host Rich Zeoli wrote.

Mr Bidens reelection effort was endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund, NextGen PAC, and the Sierra Club on Wednesday evening, the New York Post noted.
President Joe Biden could soon face a politically charged decision about whether to release billions of dollars in funds to Iran to secure the release of Americans imprisoned by the regime.

The U.S. and Iran have renewed negotiations on a possible prisoner exchange and the indirect talks are showing signs of progress, said two Western officials and three sources with knowledge of the discussions.

The possible formula for the deal would include the release of prisoners in each country and freeing up to $7 billion from South Korean banks that is currently blocked by U.S. sanctions, the sources said. NBC News first reported on the prisoner exchange negotiations in February.

The two governments are also exploring a possible informal agreement designed to avert a crisis over Irans accelerating nuclear program, but it remains unclear if each side is willing to make the concessions necessary, including whether Washington would be willing to ease economic sanctions on Tehran. Reports of a possible informal understanding on nuclear issues first appeared in the Israeli and Iranian press.

U.S. and Iranian officials have traveled to Oman several times this year for indirect talks, with Omani officials relaying messages back and forth, according to a U.S. official and two Western officials who were not authorized to speak on the record due to the sensitive nature of the discussions.

The officials confirm that the discussions involved imprisoned U.S. citizens and Irans nuclear program. Earlier discussions were held between U.S. and Iranian officials in New York, where Iran has a U.N. mission.

The indirect talks on a possible informal understanding on Irans nuclear activities could potentially include a commitment from Tehran to fully cooperate with inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency and to refrain from enriching uranium beyond 60% purity. Iran has steadily expanded its uranium enrichment work and has enough fissile material for more than one nuclear weapon if it chose to enrich the material to 90% purity, experts say.

In return, the U.S. could possibly ease sanctions or the enforcement of some sanctions, though its unclear how far the Biden administration would be willing to go to relax the financial pressure on Iran caused by an array of U.S. economic restrictions.

If the negotiations on the possible prisoner exchange or nuclear issues continue to make progress, Biden would have to decide if he is willing to face domestic political criticism for giving Iran access to blocked funds or easing sanctions in the run-up to next falls presidential election. Former President Barack Obama came under fire from Republican lawmakers in 2015 when his administration gave Iran access to cash that had been blocked by sanctions just as Tehran released a group of imprisoned Americans.

But if there is no agreement on prisoners or on nuclear issues, Biden could face an international crisis if Iran opts to produce weapons-grade uranium enriched to 90%, a threshold that could prompt Israel to launch a strike on Irans nuclear facilities.

The State Department has denied the U.S. and Iran have reached any agreement related to Tehrans nuclear program.

Rumors about a nuclear deal interim or otherwise are false and misleading, State Department spokesperson Matt Miller told reporters this week, later adding, We have at all times believed that diplomacy is the best path forward.

Western officials said if the two sides could reach an agreement on prisoners, it would improve the chances for an informal deal on a wider set of issues related to Irans nuclear program. Iran has denied it is planning to develop nuclear weapons and says the program is for purely civilian purposes.

Biden came into office promising to revive the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers known as the JCPOA that imposed limits on Irans nuclear activities in return for lifting U.S. and international sanctions. Former President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the agreement in 2018, reimposed sanctions and introduced additional ones.

Negotiations aimed at restoring the 2015 nuclear accord collapsed last year.

Iran has struck an optimistic tone on the potential prisoner swap, though the U.S. has previously accused the regime of providing misleading statements that raised false hopes for the families of imprisoned Americans.

Nasser Kanaani, spokesperson for Irans foreign minister, said this week that Negotiations for the exchange of prisoners between Iran and America are ongoing, and if the other side is as serious as we are, this event can happen in the near future.

The U.S. government says there are three American citizens held in Iran  Siamak Namazi, Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz  as well as an unknown number of permanent U.S. legal residents, including Shahab Dalili.

Siamak Namazi and Baquer Namazi (Courtesy Babak Namazi)

One of the Americans, Namazi, has been behind bars in Tehran for more than seven years, longer than any other American in history.

Iranian authorities sentenced Namazi to 10 years on charges of collaboration with a hostile foreign government. The United Nations, human rights organizations and the U.S. government say that the charges are baseless and that his detention is an arbitrary violation of international law.

Families of the imprisoned Americans have had their hopes raised previously about a possible breakthrough only to face crushing disappointment when no agreement was reached.

The families have repeatedly asked for a face-to-face meeting with Biden but so far the White House has not met their request.

Namazi has accused successive U.S. administrations of failing to secure the release of detained Americans. In January, he went on a weeklong hunger strike, appealing directly to Biden to meet with the families of imprisoned Americans.

In the past I implored you to reach for your moral compass and find the resolve to bring the U.S. hostages in Iran home. To no avail, Namazi said in a letter written in his prison cell, addressing Biden. Not only do we remain Irans prisoners, but you have not so much as granted our families a meeting.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The Biden administration has delayed punitive economic measures against China and played down Beijings intensifying intelligence-gathering to avoid jeopardizing its efforts to revive diplomatic talks between the two governments, according to former U.S. officials, congressional aides, Western diplomats and regional experts.

From planned restrictions on investment in China to declassifying intelligence about the origins of the coronavirus, the administration has been slow walking certain decisions in recent months as officials have sought to mend relations with Beijing, the sources said. The extensive diplomatic effort culminates this weekend with Secretary of State Antony Blinkens rescheduled visit to Beijing.

They want to calm the waters with China, said a former U.S. official with knowledge of the administrations deliberations.

Since the U.S. shot down a Chinese balloon in February, the White House has prioritized ensuring that Blinkens visit goes ahead, as well as other potential trips to Beijing by Cabinet members, including the commerce and treasury secretaries, former officials and congressional aides said.

Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi shakes hands with Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a meeting on the Indonesian resort island of Bali in July 2022. (Stefani Reynolds / AP file)

The administration has also appeared to sidestep questions about Chinas surveillance efforts targeting the U.S. to keep the door open for high-level talks between Cabinet officials and their Chinese counterparts.

Biden administration officials denied delaying actions against China and that they have continued to impose sanctions on Chinese organizations in recent months as well as operate military aircraft and naval ships in the region.

In just the last few months, weve taken actions against PRC (Peoples Republic of China) entities involved in human rights abuses, forced labor, nonproliferation, and supporting Russias war in Ukraine, said Adam Hodge, acting spokesperson for the White House National Security Council.

Weve continued to uphold freedom of navigation in the region by flying, sailing, and operating wherever international law allows. Well continue to take additional steps in the period ahead in economics, technology, security, and other arenas to advance our interests and values.

But Administration officials have provided no public update since a Chinese surveillance balloon traversed the U.S. before being downed by an American fighter jet in February. The balloon's flight prompted the administration to call off a planned trip by Blinken to China in February.

A recently completed investigation of the balloons debris found that Beijings capabilities are far more sophisticated than the U.S. had believed, said a current senior U.S. official and a former senior U.S. official briefed on the findings. Their capabilities are significant, one of the officials said, better than we thought they were.

The analysis, led by the FBI, entailed reconstructing the balloon, which Biden recently described as carrying two freight cars worth of spying equipment as it hovered over the U.S. for nearly a week before it was downed on Feb. 4. The administration has also not released additional details about previous Chinese balloon flights.

Asked why the administration has not released more information about the balloon, the administration official said: I would not anticipate the release of sensitive information regarding the analysis of the balloon debris.

On Thursday, 19 Republican senators wrote to Biden denouncing what they called the administrations lack of transparency over the balloon episode.

While four months have passed since a Chinese surveillance balloon was allowed to fly across the United States, your administration has yet to provide the American people a full accounting of how this spy platform was allowed to traverse across sovereign U.S. territory, what the balloon carried, and what it collected during its mission, said the senators, who included Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the ranking member on the House Armed Services Committee, and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Image: (AP file)

China has said the airship was a civilian balloon used for meteorological research.

The White House last week initially portrayed a Wall Street Journal report about a Chinese electronic surveillance post in Cuba as inaccurate, but a few days later it said that Beijing has had an eavesdropping facility in Cuba since 2019 and that China was seeking to expand its intelligence-collection efforts in the region. The administration has declined to elaborate further on the allegations, which Chinese and Cuban officials deny.

The administration is also poised to miss a congressional deadline that expires Sunday to declassify documents related to the origins of Covid-19. Republican lawmakers have accused the White House of dragging its feet on the issue.

They say that the administrations approach is misguided and that China is not holding back on retaliatory measures against the U.S., including imposing sanctions on the U.S. tech firm Micron Technology.

The United States can no longer afford to keep chasing Chinese leaders for meetings and should not delay competitive actions in order to do so, said Sen. James Risch of Idaho, the ranking Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee. For their part, the Chinese are not pausing any tough measures directed at the U.S., he said.

Blinken is due to arrive in Beijing on Sunday, when the deadline to declassify the COVID-19 documents expires. Chinas response to the outbreak of the virus is a topic both governments would prefer to avoid at public events during Blinkens visit.

U.S. intelligence agencies are divided over whether the coronavirus emerged due to natural causes or from an accidental leak from a lab in Wuhan. China dismisses suggestions of a lab leak as a conspiracy theory.

An administration official said the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is currently carrying out a careful declassification process and that getting to the bottom of the origins of Covid-19 remains a priority for the President and the United States. They did not say when the administration will declassify the documents.

When Biden met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bali in November, his first meeting with Xi since he was elected president, the two agreed that Blinken would pay a visit to China this year. But the Chinese balloon flight upended those plans, with Blinken canceling just days before his scheduled departure. Since then, the White House has been working to get the relationship back on track.

Before Biden met Xi, his administration rattled Beijing in October when it imposed unprecedented export controls designed to block Chinas access to sophisticated chipmaking tools that Washington said could be used by the Chinese military. Japan and the Netherlands say they are adopting similar restrictions.

The administration was expected to follow up with more restrictions on U.S.-made semiconductor technology, as well as a new executive order on any American investment linked to Chinas defense industry. But it has yet to move ahead.

Weve been expecting outbound investment regulations for over a year now and a number of other measures as it relates to technology or export controls, and we havent seen them yet, said David Sacks, a research fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations think tank. So the question is why?

The administration official said, This is not a diplomatic decision, as it stands there are policy components yet to be worked through on both these actions. 

Sacks said the administration appears to be putting off some measures and toning down its rhetoric to keep the door open to diplomacy, but it may be sending the wrong signal to China. Chinese officials may see the prospect of dialogue as a tool to extract concessions, making meetings contingent on Washington not angering Beijing, he said.

If China assesses that the Biden administration is willing to entertain tradeoffs here, that basically it will pursue dialogue and put these on the shelf while dialogue is ongoing, then its happy to manipulate that in its favor and keep stringing the United States along and make dialogue conditional, Sacks said.

Emily Benson, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said that the initial export restrictions last year caused some consternation in private industry. Plans to expand those restrictions have been the subject of internal debate in the administration and protracted discussions with allied governments. The administration also is mindful of Blinkens coming visit, she said.

Announcing new restrictive measures in the lead-up to a meeting could derail the meeting completely, Benson said.

She said the administration, as a result, has faced a complicated mix of domestic political pressures and foreign diplomatic considerations as it tries to find the ideal time to unveil the new measures, she said.

The administration is clearly delaying the release of the executive order on investment restrictions to avoid friction with China before Blinken arrives, as well as a likely trip by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, possibly over the summer, according to a person briefed regularly by the administration and a former official.

Supporters of the administration argue that delaying some actions is a useful tactic to achieve a more important objective  lowering the temperature between two superpowers to avert a potential conflict.

The U.S. really wants to restart the dialogue and not let things slide any further, a former congressional official said.

The measures the White House has postponed do not represent major concessions, the former congressional official said, and the overall U.S. policy to China has not changed, including viewing Beijing as a competitor that must be countered and deterred.

It is not realistic to fight over every disagreement, this person added. When every issue is a problem, you have to pick and choose.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Biden Isnt Giving Up on Gun Safety, Even as Much of Washington Is For Now

US-POLITICS-BIDEN

President Joe Biden speaks during the League of Conservation Voters Annual Capital Dinner, at The Anthem on June 14, 2023 in in Washington, DC. Credit - Andrew Caballero-ReynoldsAFP /Getty Images

This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIMEs politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox.

Since Joe Biden raised his right hand and took his oath of office in January of 2021, there have been more than 1,600 mass shootings in this country. That was a relatively short 877 days ago.

So, as the President joins fellow lawmakers, leaders, and wonks on Friday in Connecticut for an anti-gun-violence summit, a lot of Washington will be expecting Biden to offer more passionate rhetoric that will inevitably sprint headlong into an intractable wall of opposition from the gun lobby. Given the history here, optimism is in less supply than bullets.

Unless, of course, youre Biden.

That there are so many mass shootings coming at such a rapid pace is a fact that has haunted Biden, and it goes back decades. In the Senate, Biden pushed tougher laws to boost safety, most notably a ban on assault weapons and a crime bill, both in 1994. The assault weapons ban lapsed in 2004 and lawmakers have lacked the votes for the last decade to bring back the measure that statistically saved hundreds of lives. As Vice President, Biden led the Obama Administrations review of gun laws and restrictions, proposing technical fixes where he could to tighten up access to the deadly weapons. And as President, against stiff headwinds and long odds, he wrestled a once-in-a-generation package of gun limits into law and still wants to bring back the assault weapons ban despite almost impossible opposition.

Yet, when he talks about big wishes with his team, guns remain near the top of his to-do list. That unfinished idea is one that strikes at Bidens always-raw emotion, and he has plausibly spent more time than any of his predecessors obsessing over what more the government can do to protect its citizens from gun violence. Almost certainly he has spent more time with gun violence victims than anyone who has reached the Oval Office. As a father who has buried two children, he has an instant and durable connection with the parents who have seen their children killed in school shootings.

Without a cooperative Congress, however, theres really only so much Biden can do. He got Congress to budge on limited efforts, but his executive actions and orders have not been as sweeping as he had sought.

Anti-gun violence groups have long held Biden as an ally, but one who doesnt warrant unlimited patience. Pressure has been building on the White House to take more concrete steps beyond their initial round of technical tweaks. Some of Bidens most dogged advocates will be afoot, too, and listening closely to see whatif anyconcrete steps the White House is teeing up.

On the other side, the gun lobby and its Republican allies in Congress have a tried-and-true playbook all but perfected: run out the clock after every one of these mass shootings and the intensity fades. With perhaps the lone exception of last years shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the violences urgency simply peters out, gun sales spike for fear of backlash, and lawmakers dust off talking points that have been useful for both sides since the Clinton years.

If it feels like a perpetual loop of calls to action alternating with calls for measured restraint, its because it is. Even as Bidens aides on Thursday were finalizing his speech text, jurors in Pittsburgh were considering the case they had just heard about the 2018 mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue. Since then, there have been 2,949 mass shootings in the United States. Absent action in Washington, that number is almost certainly already outdated.

Make sense of what matters in Washington. Sign up for the D.C. Brief newsletter.
Biden pushes for 'Dreamers' to get US citizenship at 'Flamin' Hot' film showing

FILE PHOTO: Biden pushes for 'Dreamers' to get US citizenship at 'Flamin' Hot' film showing

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Joe Biden on Thursday urged Congress to pass a law that would provide a pathway to U.S. citizenship for young people brought to the country illegally as children, using a White House movie night to underscore his support for Latinos.

Biden and his wife, Jill, hosted a showing of "Flamin' Hot," a film directed by actress Eva Longoria, on the South Lawn of the White House for a crowd that included the film's cast, Latino leaders, and "Dreamers," who were not born in the U.S. but came to the country as children and know it as their home.

"We have to provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers," Biden said. "I'm going to continue to call on Congress to pass this bill that does just that."

There has not been sufficient support in Congress to advance immigration reform.

The film screening is the second social event on the South Lawn that the White House has put on this week to highlight its support for minority communities.

On Tuesday, Biden hosted an outdoor concert to celebrate Juneteenth during which he denounced racism as a "still too powerful force" in the country.

Black and Latino voters are important constituencies for Biden, who is running for re-election 2024.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Sonali Paul)
Community members gather at Alivio Medical Center to urge the passing of the Healthy Illinois For All bill on May 16, 2023, in the Lower West Side neighborhood. (Shanna Madison/Chicago Tribune)

Gov. J.B. Pritzkers administration will close enrollment for a state-funded health insurance program for immigrants under 65 who are in the country without legal permission, and cap enrollment for those 65 and older, after ballooning costs forced last-minute compromises on the state budget.

The move drew a swift rebuke from Latino legislators and an immigrant health care advocacy group that blasted it as immoral and fiscally short-sighted.

Advertisement

The budget proposal Pritzker introduced in February included $220 million for the program, but by early May projections had swelled to $1.1 billion for the coming year as enrollment continued to outstrip expectations.

To close the deal on the states $50.4 billion budget, Pritzker struck a deal with the Democratic-controlled General Assembly that allocated $550 million for the program and gave his administration tools to control its cost. The second-term Democratic governor essentially agreed to assume the political liability for restricting access to the program after declaring a year ago that everyone, regardless of documentation status, deserves access to holistic health care coverage.

Advertisement

The changes, which take effect with the start of the states new budget year July 1, also include copays for emergency room and inpatient services when the state cant receive matching funds from the federal government.

Those already enrolled in the program will continue to receive coverage, the administration said.

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, which administers the program, announced the changes Friday after Pritzker earlier in the day signed into law a measure that granted the agency the authority to make changes to the program to rein in costs.

Healthcare and Family Services referred to the action taken Friday as a pause in new enrollments and said it hopes to resume new enrollments as soon as fiscally possible.

State Rep. Edgar Gonzalez of Chicago, who represents the Little Village neighborhood and serves as Latino Caucus whip for the House Democrats, said he was extremely disappointed in this course of action.

It doesnt just affect Latinos  it affects all of Illinois, Gonzalez, who voted in favor of the measure that gave the Pritzker administration the power to make changes to the program, said in a text message. You would think after years in a global pandemic that the state would understand firsthand what lack of health care does to vulnerable populations.

The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus issued a statement Friday urging those who are currently eligible for the program to sign up before the rolls are closed next month.

Created in 2020, the program originally provided Medicaid-style coverage to immigrants 65 and older who are in the country without legal permission or who have green cards but havent completed a five-year waiting period and are therefore ineligible for the traditional health insurance program for the poor, which is jointly funded by the federal government.

Advertisement

Since then, the program has been expanded twice, and it now covers those 42 and older.

Advocates and some Democratic lawmakers pushed during the spring legislative session to further expand the program to cover those 19 and older, though legislators put that effort on hold as it became clear that there were concerns about whether the state could afford to fund the existing program at its current level.

A statewide coalition that pushed for the program and its expansion denounced the changes in a statement Friday, saying the governor is turning his back on the communities he claims Illinois welcomes and aligning himself with anti-immigrant Republicans around the country.

Because of Gov. Pritzkers decision, there are people who will be forced to forgo cancer treatment, diabetes care, mental health care, and countless other kinds of necessary medical treatment, Healthy Illinois said in a statement. Todays move is immoral and fiscally short-sighted.

The group pointed to remarks Pritzker made after signing the state budget earlier this month in which he said, We save money when we invest in health care for undocumented immigrants.

The Latino Caucus on Friday made clear that its members have not given up on further expansion.

Advertisement

We were proud to fight to make Illinois the first state in the nation to offer Medicaid-like benefits to these communities, the groups statement said. However, this backslide is disappointing.

We will continue to fight for health care for all Illinoisans. Latino Caucus members have not given up  and will pursue closing the gap in coverage until we achieve health care for all residents.

Pritzkers office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the criticism.

As of June 7, there were 63,255 people enrolled in the program, including 14,594 people 65 or older, according to Healthcare and Family Services. There were 32,612 participants ages 42 to 54, the group that just became eligible last July 1.

Under the rules introduced Friday, sign-ups will be closed for those 65 and older if enrollment for the age group reaches 16,500.

People enrolled in the program will be on the hook for copays of $250 for inpatient hospitalizations and $100 for emergency room visits if the services they receive arent eligible for reimbursements from the federal government. There also will be a 10% coinsurance charge for outpatient services at hospitals or ambulatory surgery centers.

Advertisement

Among other changes, the new rules will require the Cook County Health and Hospital System, which has been paid through the program at higher rates than other providers, to reimburse the state for the difference in a method and amount as determined by the department.

From its launch in 2020 until June 7 of this year, the state spent a total of $726 million on the program, with more than $328 million, or about 45% of the total cost, going to the county health system, according to the state agency.

Cook County Health did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

Chicago Tribunes A.D. Quig contributed.

dpetrella@chicagotribune.com
Biden rails against GOP for not acting on gun violence in speech to young activists

President Biden on Friday railed against Republicans in Congress for not acting on gun violence, while rallying young gun safety activists ahead of the 2024 election.

Congress needs to act, Biden said during remarks at the National Safer Communities Summit at the University of Hartford in Connecticut. Let me be clear about something: if this Congress refuses to act, we need a new Congress.

Biden renewed his calls for Congress to ban AR-15s and high-capacity magazines, end immunity for gun manufacturers and pass universal background checks that require safe storage for firearms.

He noted that AR-15s are not only a weapon of war, theyre the single biggest driver of profits for the gun industry. Thats why theyre selling them.

The president also took a stab at Republicans over their rhetoric on crime, which was a major talking point in last years midterm elections and is expected to be in 2024, as well. Republicans have largely blamed Democratic policies for the uptick in crime in liberal cities, such as Chicago and San Francisco.

For those who say theyre concerned about crime, you cant deal with crime without dealing with gun violence, Biden said.

His remarks were to a roomful of young activists at the summit, which was hosted by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and a coalition of gun violence prevention groups  including Everytown, Moms Demand Action and Giffords.

I know many people here who have been impacted by gun violence, lost someone they love, fought so hard for so many years. A lot of you are tired. Youre tired, I get it, Biden said, making a joke about his age. Try being 110 and doing it again.

All kidding aside, a lot of people are frustrated, he argued.

Biden referenced his age once again, which is a topic that is expected to follow him to Election Day as voters question whether he has the stamina to finish the job. He will be 86 years old at the end of a second term.

Ive been doing this a long time, Biden said. I know I dont look that old. Im a little under 103.

The event on Friday marked nearly one year since Biden signed the bipartisan gun safety bill into law. He acknowledged in his remarks that he doesnt see that legislation as enough, also noting that gun violence prevention advocates dont think it went far enough.

The legislation enhanced background checks for gun purchasers between the ages of 18 and 21, made obtaining firearms through straw purchases or trafficking a federal offense and clarified the definition of a federally licensed firearm dealer.

It also allocated $750 million to help states administer red flag laws and aimed to close the so-called boyfriend loophole.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
President Biden on Friday said he has selected Mandy Cohen to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after Rochelle Walensky leaves this month.

Cohen, who comes from the private sector after serving five years as the North Carolina health secretary, will inherit the role of CDC director as the agency finds itself under intense scrutiny for its public faltering in responding to COVID-19, especially for how it conveyed new information to the public.

Dr. Cohen is one of the nations top physicians and health leaders with experience leading large and complex organizations, and a proven track-record protecting Americans health and safety, Biden said in a statement Friday.

The CDC director wont be a Senate-confirmed position until January 2025, so Cohen will be able to start immediately once Walensky departs June 30.

More health coverage from The Hill

During her time in North Carolina, Cohen helped the state pass Medicaid expansion and led it through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Cohen has been recognized by leaders from both parties for her ability find common ground and put complex policy into action, Biden said. I look forward to working with Dr. Cohen as she leads our nations finest scientists and public health experts with integrity and transparency.

While Walensky was an infectious disease doctor without much government experience, Cohen has years of government experience without an infectious disease background  something many outside health experts said they were hoping to see in the next CDC director.

Concerns around COVID-19 have largely faded into the background for many Americans, and experts have said government experience should take priority.

Cohen also served in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services during the Obama administration, helping to set up ObamaCares insurance exchanges and fix the disastrous rollout of Healthcare.gov, where she worked closely with current White House chief of staff Jeff Zients.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A reporter who asked President Joe Biden a question related to the various conspiracies and theories surrounding his sons business dealings received a short dismissal in response on Thursday.

Mr Biden was hosting an event at the White House with the CEOs of companies committed to ending so-called junk fees, or hidden costs in the transactions of various products and services that leave Americans paying more than the advertised price.

As he took questions from pool reporters, the president was asked a question by an unidentified journalist, who said: Why did the Ukraine FBI informant file refer to you as the big guy?

The president shot back, "Why'd you ask such a dumb question?" as reporters were ushered out of the room.

The question referred to an FBI human intelligence form generated in July 2020, the contents of which have been described by various unnamed sources to Fox News and other conservative news outlets. It supposedly details an allegation communicated to the FBI regarding a $5m payment supposedly made to Joe Biden by a Ukrainian company while he was serving as vice president.

The allegation came from an FBI source who described multiple conversations with an executive at Burisma, the company in question, where Mr Bidens son Hunter served as a board member. But theres no hard evidence of a payment being made, and Mr Biden has denied ever speaking to his son about his business dealings in Ukraine.

Republicans have latched on to the story and insisted that there is already smoking-gun evidence that Mr Biden received the payment, and was in fact the big guy referred to in the file and a separate email taken from a laptop formerly belonging to Hunter Biden. The younger Biden has denied any wrongdoing in his foreign business affairs.

Complicating the issue is the fact that US intelligence agencies apparently warned social media outfits in 2020 that the storys origins resembled a possible Russian disinformation effort, which turned out to not be the case. Initial reports about the laptop (many of which veered into the territory of unverified conspiracies) were voluntarily suppressed by administrators of some social media platforms. Those involved with the storys suppression have since said that the hyper-sensitive atmosphere created by Russian interference in 2016 contributed to their decision.

Mr Biden and his son have not been accused or charged with any crimes by US law enforcement authorities, though Hunter remains under investigation for possible tax law violations as well as for possibly lying on an application to purchase a firearm.

Republicans continue to investigate the issue with the powers of the House Oversight Committee, though as of yet have failed to uncover any incriminating evidence.
WASHINGTON  The White House is continuing to use the term "MAGA" to label Republican opposition despite a federal watchdog agency's warning that the language is a violation of the Hatch Act.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre blasted Republicans' fiscal blueprint as a "hardcore MAGA budget" on Wednesday.

Andrew Bates, deputy White House press secretary, called Republicans' top economic priority "MAGA tax welfare for the richest Americans and giant corporations" in a memo the same day.

And a memo from Bates Thursday slammed House Republicans' budget proposal as "an extreme MAGA plan that guts crucial Medicare benefits American families pay to earn."

Each statement came after the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, in a June 7 letter, said Jean-Pierre's use of "MAGA Republicans" during press briefings in the lead-up to the 2022 midterm elections violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits federal employees from using their title to engage in political activity to interfere with the results of an election.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre speaks during the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, June 14, 2023.

Biden started using the phrase "ultra MAGA Republicans" last year to paint Republicans as increasingly extreme and beholden to former President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement he spawned.

Although Jean-Pierre "never expressly instructed viewers" to vote for or against Republican candidates, wrote Ana Galindo-Marrone, who heads the Hatch Act Unit of the Office of Special Counsel, "the timing, frequency, and content of Ms. JeanPierres references to 'MAGA Republicans'" proved the references were to generate opposition to Republicans."

The Office of Special Counsel opted against disciplinary action. But Galindo-Marrone said the agency advised Jean-Pierre that "should she again engage in prohibited political activity, OSC would consider it a knowing and willful violation of the law that could result in OSC pursuing disciplinary action."

Jean-Pierre, when asked about the violation Tuesday, pointed to nearly 2,000 uses of "Make America Great Again" on the archived White House web site from the Trump years and said congressional Republicans have frequently used "MAGA" in official policy "for years now."

At the time, I was given the sign-off to use that terminology," Jean-Pierre said, adding that White House attorneys will have a "routine conversation" with the Special Counsel's office about the Hatch Act allegations.

The Special Counsel's judgement was prompted by a Hatch Act complaint from Protect the Public's Trust, a conservative watchdog group. The organization on Thursday filed a new complaint targeting the continued use of "MAGA" by Jean-Pierre and Bates.

"These statements appear to be nothing less than a deliberate thumb in the eye to OSC and a clear indication that White House Press Office personnel dont believe the rules apply to them," said Michael Chamberlain, director of Protect the Public's Trust. Chamberlain previously worked as a former Education Department official in the Trump administration and on Trump's 2016 campaign.

Bates questioned the credentials of the complainant in a written statement, noting the group's leader worked in an administration "that incurred a historic number of Hatch Act violations."

He also pushed back at the Office of Special Counsel's opinion.

"We take the Hatch Act seriously," Bates said, "and note that this exact phrase has been used countless times by Republicans in elective office to refer to official policy proposals, agendas, and related values. We have only ever used it in the same way. In fact, the Office of Special Counsel approved the term MAGAnomics during the previous administration.

The Special Counsel declined to comment on the new complaint.

Ironically, Jean-Pierre regularly cites the Hatch Act as a reason not to engage on reporters' questions involving Trump, who is running for president in 2024.

Trump and other members of his administration famously violated the Hatch Act frequently, including using the White House ground for Trump's 2020 Republican National Convention speech.

More than a dozen high-level Trump administration officials improperly used their official government powers in violation of the Hatch Act to try to influence the 2020 election, the Special Counsels office concluded in a report in November 2021.

Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden White House pushes 'MAGA' attacks on Trump, GOP despite warning
Kansas has been doing so much wrong for so long in higher education that it would probably take forever to straighten it all out.

But the Kansas Board of Regents took a step in the right direction this week, when members approved a policy proposed by Pittsburg State to allow state universities to grant associate degrees to students who have the credit hours for an AA but dont make it all the way to their bachelors.

Thats a good change.

Honestly, the way Kansas set up its higher education system never made sense to me.

I was astonished when I found out that Kansas doesnt allow a community college to be based in the same county that has a state university  why not? Where I come from, they went hand in glove.

Community colleges and universities need to be partners, not competitors. From my own experience, I know we can do better.

When I started college in California, I was what they called concurrently enrolled. I attended Glendale Community College on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to take general education courses, and Tuesdays and Thursdays at Cal State Northridge, to take classes in my major.

Side note: TV writer/producer Dan Harmon is a fellow Glendale College alumnus and based the show Community on his experiences there, and Northridge was cast as Starfleet Academy in the 2009 reboot of Star Trek. So if you see me walking around in a Greendale College or Starfleet Academy T-shirt, its not academic fraud, I went there.

Anyway, all my credits transferred seamlessly, and my counselors at both schools communicated regularly to make sure I stayed on track to graduate on schedule.

But it depends on cooperation, which, from what Ive seen, is sorely lacking here. The system is incredibly siloed and based on the premise that where you start is where you finish.

I actually once started quite a brouhaha at a Wichita State parent-student meeting, when my sons were exploring their college options.

I asked about the possibility of them doing the first two years at a community college and then transferring over, as many of my friends did, or concurrently enrolling, like I did.

The recruiter leading the meeting was dismissive of that idea. She said my boys could do it, but its not recommended, because the coursework at the community colleges isnt as rigorous and theyd be way behind other juniors when they got to WSU.

There was a woman in the audience who worked at Dodge City Community College. She stood up, threw her folders down on her chair and started yelling at the recruiter that their classes are every bit as good as WSUs, maybe better.

I honestly think if there hadnt been a stage in the way, it might have come to blows. Ms. Dodge City was really worked up and Ms. WSU wasnt giving an inch.

It was a minor incident, but a telling one.

The primary issue here is that life has a way of intervening in college plans. Some students run out of money, some start families (intentionally or otherwise) and have to go to work to support them, some encounter health problems, some have to leave to care for aging or ailing parents.

Graduation rates vary by institution and program, but Pittsburg State President Dan Shipp said at Wednesdays board meeting that a general rule of thumb is one out of two students get to the finish line.

The ones who dont make it exit with nothing to show for it but owing significant dollars from student loans, Shipp said. Studies show that a worker with an AA degree makes about $4,200 more a year than a student with some college but no degree.

The Pittsburg plan would automatically grant an associates degree in general studies to students when they amass the course credits for one. Students are already earning this and paying for it, he said. What we want to do is confer it.

About 600 students who left the university between 2019 and 2022 are eligible for an AA, Shipp said. Pittsburgs a small university and these numbers are really staggering when you start looking across the system, he said.

Hes right. Kudos to Pittsburg for coming up with the proposal to fix that, and to the regents for passing a policy that could let all state universities follow Pittsburgs lead.

Lets keep it up.

Dion Lefler: 316-268-6527, @DionKansas
Hot on the heels of Elon Musk's visit to China earlier this month, the country welcomed another American tech billionaire. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, met President Xi Jinping on Friday in Beijing, China's state media reported.

Like Musk, this is Gates' first trip to China since the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted his frequent visits to the country where Microsoft has had a presence for two decades.

The goal of the meeting hasn't been announced publicly, but official media reports will likely follow. A reporter from China's English state tabloid Global Times tweeted what seemed to be quotes from the meeting, giving us an early glimpse into the mood of the conversation.

Gates previously said he'd be meeting partners working on global health and development challenges. These are the few remaining areas where China and the West find common ground amid rising geopolitical tensions.

"You are the first American friend I've met in Beijing this year," President Xi told Gates on Friday. "As the world is emerging from Covid, people should move around more, communicate more, and enhance their understanding of each other."

President Xi also told Gates that China is willing to engage in "extensive technological innovation cooperation with countries around the world" and "actively participate in and promote the response to global challenges, such as climate change and public health," according to the reporter.

Gates is visiting China at a curious time. Last week, the Financial Times reported that Beijing-based Microsoft Research Asia (MSRA), the tech giant's largest R&D outfit outside the U.S., is moving some of its top AI talents from China to Vancouver to mitigate the impact of the increasingly strained relationship between China and the U.S.

The Biden Administration is weighing restrictions on investments from the U.S. into Chinese cutting-edge technologies, including AI, semiconductors and quantum computing.

MSRA, which started in 1998, has played a pivotal role in training China's AI talent, many of whom have gone on to found their own ventures. That includes autonomous driving upstart Momenta, which has attracted funding from Bosch, General Motors and Toyota.

It won't be a surprise if Gates is eschewing the touchy topic of the U.S.-China tech war and focuses on philanthropic endeavors on the trip.

A day before meeting President Xi, he announced a renewed collaboration with the Beijing Municipal Government and Tsinghua University on innovative therapies for infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries. As part of the partnership, the Gates Foundation pledged a donation of $50 million to the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute, a nonprofit institution established in 2016 as "China's first public-private partnership on innovative research between the Beijing Municipal Government, Tsinghua University, and the Gates Foundation," according to the institute's website.
Bill seeks to rename street in front of Chinese Embassy in DC after Tiananmen Square victims

[Source]

A bill that would rename the street in front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., to honor victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre was introduced at the Capitol this week.

What it says: Through the legislation, the street, currently named 3505 International Place Northwest, would be called 1 Tiananmen Square Memorial Boulevard. The area lies between the intersections of International Drive, Northwest and Van Ness Street, Northwest and International Drive, Northwest and International Place, Northwest.

Whos behind it: Rep. Andy Ogles (R, TN-5) introduced the bill, which has 17 co-sponsors, on Thursday.

The bigger picture: Activists and supporters of Chinese democracy commemorated the 34th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre on June 4. On that day in 1989, an estimated 10,000 pro-democracy protesters were killed by the communist military.

More from NextShark: ER Doctor Fighting COVID-19 in NYC Reveals What's REALLY Happening

In a statement, Ogles accused the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) of genocide:

China is being run by the immoral, genocidal Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Earlier this month marked 34 years since the Tiananmen Square Massacre, where the Chinese government weaponized the nations military against its own people, mowing them down in the streets and murdering up to 10,000 people. As the CCP regime continues its reign of terror, it is important for America to unequivocally condemn the CCPs human rights abuses.

More from NextShark: Elderly Asian man allegedly punched in face and his dog almost lit on fire in SF attack

Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark!

Panda Express Worker Suspended for Mocking Chinese Accent While Speaking to Customer

Kung Fu Master Ip Mans Son, Ip Ching, Passes Away at 83
The host of the new series Extraordinary Birder shares how to embrace birdwatching and help conserve bird populations and their habitats.

(Left to right) Christina Greer and Christian Cooper in New Yorks Central Park shared a birding excursion. Coopers new show, Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper, premieres June 17, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Christina Greer)

I recently went birding with famed birder and educator Christian Cooper. We walked through Central Park in New York City to discuss his new show, Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper (premiering June 17 on Nat Geo Wild and June 21 on Disney+), as well as his new book, Better Living Through Birding.

Cooper also joined me on theGrios Black Podcast Network as a guest on The Blackest Questions. During the episode, which will air June 27, we talked about Karens and racist bird names. But during our time outdoors, we focused on habitats for birds and threats to their population.

This Harvard University alum has a background in science, once worked for Marvel Comics, and has a long history of LGBTQ+ activism and criminal justice reform. With binoculars strapped around our necks, we meandered through the park, strolling past other early morning birders, dog walkers, bikers, and joggers while he pointed out chimney swifts, aka flying cigars, as they ate bugs in midair just above us.

Most people were first introduced to Cooper in 2020 when he was accosted by a white woman while birding in the Ramble in Central Park. (This is the same park where the now Exonerated Five were accused of rape just a few decades ago.) As the woman threatened to call the police and asserted she would tell the police that an African American man is threatening my life simply because he asked her to leash her dog, she sparked a national and international conversation about race, gender, nature, diversity within the birding community, safe spaces, Karens, and the politics of respectability. Cooper chose not to press charges against his accuser, instead focusing on educating the larger public about birding, highlighting the various groups and organizations working on conservation, increasing the Black birding community, and introducing young people to the joys of nature.

As a pandemic birder, someone who is relatively new to birding and discovered it during the 2020 lockdown, I had so many questions for Cooper. I am now a devout bird nerd and am trying to learn as much as I can about birds, their environments, and what we can do to conserve the bird populations and their habitats. I also wanted to get Coopers thoughts on a particular bird we often see in our daily lives just passing us by. For those of us who dwell in urban environments, I had to get his opinion on pigeons. I am not a fan and see them as dirty sky rats. However, after hearing Cooper explain the immense diversity within the pigeon population, their intellect, and the reasons why they are perceived as dirty birds (answer: its because of the human population), I now have a new respect for these flocks.

Cooper argues that pigeons are good ambassadors in that they are often the first bird so many city folks know. If you look closely, they come in a multitude of different colors and are actually descendants of caged birds that got loose. As an educator, he wants to meet people where they are and get them comfortable and interested in the outdoors. As Black people, he argues, we should have the right to go anywhere we choose. Cooper is firm in his belief that we belong in nature if we choose to do so and we should feel safe doing so. He states that public spaces are as much ours as they are anyone elses. Sadly, we are well aware of the history of this country and the many vestiges of racism that still persist. However, in Coopers new book Better Living Through Birding, he details a myriad of ways Black people (and all people) can be in their natural environments in safe and fulfilling ways.

I couldnt resist asking Cooper about another bird I see every day on my way to work or running errands: the European starling, a small black bird with iridescent colors and a yellow beak. Cooper explained that this species was brought to New York for a Shakespearean play that has one line about the starling and the producers wanted the actual bird. Well fast-forward several decades and this invasive European species can be found everywhere. Its presence was so pervasive it almost drove the Eastern bluebird, the New York State bird, into extinction by taking over its habitat. The migration and multiplying numbers of this bird made me think of the invasions of European peoples on American soil and the irrevocable changes that have occurred because of their presence.

I asked Cooper about his Holy Grail bird. Every birder has a bird that is on their ultimate wish list to see. My Holy Grail bird is the shoebill stork, found primarily in central tropical Africa, from southern Sudan and South Sudan through parts of eastern Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, western Tanzania and northern Zambia, according to Animalia.bio. Sadly, when I was in that region I was not yet a birder and did not go out of my way to find the massive bird, which stands at almost 5 feet and can have a wingspan of over 7 feet. It is a prehistoric-looking bird that makes my heart skip a beat. Coopers Holy Grail bird is the resplendent kestrel, which he finally saw in Costa Rica after taking three trips there.

Ones Holy Grail bird is not to be confused with ones favorite bird. My favorite bird is the bluejay because it reminds me of my late grandfather for some reason. This aggressive bird Cooper calls the alarm system in nature, alerting other birds of larger predators in the area. His favorite bird is the Blackburnian warbler. To hear Cooper talk about warblers is pure joy. He calls warblers the glory of spring migration in the East, which is why he is in the park at 5:30 each morning during migration to see sometimes 30 types of warblers with different colors and diverse songs making their way north or south.

I asked Cooper what we could do to curtail the rapid bird loss occurring around us. The educator and conservationist reminded me that weve already lost roughly 1/3 of all of our birds in North America. We must let politicians know we care. We can also choose green energy supply companies that care about conservation and the natural environment. By choosing electric companies that care about climate change, decreasing fossil fuels, and using solar and wind energy, we can do our part to help save bird diversity. Cooper also reminded me that even if we live in urban environments we can plant native plants in our yard or fire escape to attract pollinators.

For those who are birding curious, it really is easy to start. First, you can tune in to Coopers new show, Extraordinary Birder, where he gives tips and explains the bird diversity around us as he travels throughout the United States. We can also go outside and start looking and listening. Hopefully, you can get a pair of binoculars. Cooper is a firm believer that hand-me-downs work quite well. We can load birding apps on our phones (like the Merlin Bird ID app) and talk to people we see looking up admiring birds and nests.

Christian Cooper was introduced to many under circumstances that many Black people know far too well. However, joy always comes in the morningand that is where you will find Cooper, scoping out Baltimore oriole nests, red-winged blackbirds, barn swallows, or my favorite morning bird, the Carolina wren.

Be sure to tune in and enjoy the beauty of birding with Coopers Extraordinary Birder and check out his new book Better Living Through Birding: Notes From a Black Man in the Natural World.

Christina Greer Headshot thegrio.com

Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an Associate professor at Fordham University, the author of Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream, and the host of The Blackest Questions podcast at TheGrio.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Christian Cooper talks about his new birding show, avian threats and dirty sky rats appeared first on TheGrio.
A Black English teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina, has filed a lawsuit against his former charter school, accusing the institution of firing him due to complaints from white parents about his lesson on Dear Martin.

The 2017 book follows 17-year-old Justyce McAllister, an Ivy League-bound high school senior whose life is turned upside down after an incident of police brutality.

According to NC Newsline, the teacher  Markayle Gray  planned to teach Dear Martin to his 7th-grade honors class for Black History Month. According to the suit, school administrators approved the lesson and it was recommended by Principal Keisha Rock, who is also Black. As are a significant amount of students at Charlotte Secondary School  more than 80% of the schools student body is Black, Hispanic or biracial. The school had 23 white students during the 2022-2023 school year. Gray was fired by the school in February.

Gray claims in the lawsuit that his dismissal was racially discriminatory, and that Rock all but admitted that their decision to let him go was due to his Dear Martin lesson.

The suit states that white parents started to complain to school leadership about the lesson in January, saying the novel is divisive and injected what they regarded as unwelcome political views on systemic racial inequality into their childrens classroom. But Gray felt the lesson was important; he claims in the suit that white teachers at the school are not well-versed in teaching lessons that cover politically charged topics like race, gender and sexual orientation.

Charlotte Secondary has filed complaints about multiple white teachers from black parents without taking any disciplinary or corrective steps, much less termination, the lawsuit reads. The schools approach to dealing with such complaints from Black families has consistently been to resign the offended student to another teacher, even when one complaint involved a white arts teacher who made a racially insensitive comment about color complexion of a Black student.

The lawsuit alleges that, contrary to school policy, Gray was not given a performance improvement plan. It also claims that school leadership neglected their conflict resolution process to de-escalate the situation.

Grays lead attorney, Artur Davis, attributes Grays firing to a hostile political climate that pushed the Republican-driven North Carolina General Assembly to champion legislation that restricts how teachers approach discussing race in the classroom. According to the North Carolina General Assembly, House Bill 187 stops teachings that the government is inherently racist or was created to oppress people of another race or sex.

Principal Rock and the Charlotte Secondary Board of Directors seem to care more about bowing to political pressure than they do about following their own procedures and policies, Davis said, according to NC Newsline. All Markayle Gray did was teach a novel his supervisors had already approved and they fired him for it.

Dear Martin has already been banned from other North Carolina schools. In January, Haywood County Schools banned the novel after a parent complained about its explicit language and sexual innuendos.

Rodney Pierce, a social studies teacher in Nash County, has spoken out against House Bill 187 and the government for its stance on how teachers teach certain topics in the classroom. He was shocked to learn about Grays firing. According to NC Newsline, he asked, You mean to tell me, a Black man who graduated from an HBCU [historically Black college and university] cant teach a majority Black student population about issues of racial injustice, from a book written by a Black woman who graduated from an HBCU, during the month designated by our country to recognize and learn about the history of Black Americans, because white families complained?

Grays lawsuit comes amid widespread book bans, as parents try to ban books they find inappropriate from school libraries and classrooms. Last week, Moms for Liberty, a nonprofit organization that aims to stop curriculums that explore LGBTQIA+ rights, race, critical race theory and discrimination, filed close to 200 challenges to remove 20 books they believe are inappropriate for Wake County school libraries, Raleigh News & Observer reported.
Dozens of vehicles line up before the start of the Juneteenth Food Distribution event on Friday at Phillips Park in Aurora. (David Sharos/The Beacon-News)

Rofino Gallegos got to Phillips Park in Aurora bright and early Friday morning for the third annual Juneteenth Food Distribution event, which began at 9 a.m.

We got up at 3:30 in the morning and weve been here since 4 a.m., Rofino of Aurora said as his children shuffled around in the back seat as they waited in a line of vehicles for the opening of the drive-thru event. My kids have a table back there and they brought milk and things and were certainly happy the wait is almost over. Ive come to all of these food drives. Last year, I was here at 4 oclock and there were two cars before me.

Advertisement

The city of Aurora, in partnership with Northern Illinois Food Bank, organized the food donation event, in collaboration with the Aurora Divine 9 Alliance, a collective of suburban members of the nine historically Black fraternities and sororities.

More than 150 members of the Black fraternities and sororities volunteered to work at the event, which provided meals for 1,000 families.

Advertisement

Those helping out at the Juneteenth Food Distribution on Friday gather at Phillips Park in Aurora before the opening of the event. Stan Rayford of Aurora, left, a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., said the fraternity was involved because "service is what we do." More than 150 members of Black fraternities and sororities volunteered to work at the event. (David Sharos/The Beacon-News)

Stan Rayford of Aurora, a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., said he has been working the event all three years and that he and others were happy to help out since service is what we do.

Together with a lot of other organizations, we provide service to the community. We love doing it, he said. We know people have been here waiting five hours to feed their family and have made sacrifices. They need it and its our job to help them out, and we smile when we give the food to them. When we give the food to them, they smile at us. Thats the reward.

Clayton Muhammad, chief communications and equity officer for the city of Aurora, said the event is a way to honor Juneteenth as well as meet an ongoing local need.

Carmella Lopez of Aurora said she arrived at 5 a.m for Friday's Juneteenth Food Distribution event at Phillips Park, which began at 9 a.m. (David Sharos/The Beacon-News)

With more than 150 volunteers putting meals in cars this becomes a party with a purpose  making people smile, he said. We dont know what every person goes through and times are still difficult post-COVID. This is a way the community comes together. This is a way to put more food on the table for the three-day weekend. There are meat boxes, theres produce boxes, theres dairy. People will get more than a couple of days meals out of these boxes.

Muhammad said that despite opening at 9 a.m. cars are here as early as 4 a.m.

If people didnt need it you dont sit in your car over four hours before an event for a box of meat, he said. People say we dont want to risk not getting it because we know the lines are long so the best thing is to pack the kids up and sit here bright and early and make sure we get this meal for ourselves.

The number of families helped at the event has stayed at 1,000 each year, Muhammad said, noting that this is something that the food bank budgets for.

Volunteers in Phillips Park in Aurora wait for vehicles to begin coming through Friday morning during the drive-thru Juneteenth Food Distribution event. (David Sharos/The Beacon-News)

Tiffany Rios of Aurora Township said she was among the earliest to arrive and was accompanied by two huge dogs that had to be walked.

Advertisement

The dogs did have to go out and weve tried to just manage as best we can, she said before the start of the event. Ive come to the food drive before and always this early at 4:45. Im glad the wait is about over.

Carmella Lopez of Aurora said she arrived at 5 a.m. and has come to all three food donation events.

My husband had a stroke seven years ago and things have been hard, she said. This food is going to help.

David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
A Black man is facing charges in a deadly subway stabbing. His lawyer is comparing his treatment to Daniel Pennys

On 13 June, Jordan Williams, 20, and his girlfriend of eight months were traveling between their houses on a J train in New York City when another man on the train allegedly began harassing other passengers.

The man, Devictor Ouedraogo, 36, was allegedly moving throughout the car harassing and provoking other passengers, according to witnesses.

He eventually worked his way to Mr Williams, where his alleged harassment escalated into violence, and ended with Mr Williams fatally stabbing the 36-year-old.

Mr Williams was taken into custody and has since been charged with manslaughter.

Here's everything we know about the stabbing death of Devictor Ouedraogo on a New York City subway train.

The stabbing

Mr Williams and his girlfriend were out for the evening on 13 June and were travelling on the J train toward Marcy Avenue and Broadway. Ouedraogo was also on the train, allegedly shirtless and seemingly intoxicated, according to witnesses. Toxicology reports are forthcoming to confirm or deny his intoxication.

He allegedly worked his way through the train harassing other riders, even gyrating in the face of one rider who refused to acknowledge him, according to the New York Daily News.

When he reached Mr Williams, who is Black, and his girlfriend, he allegedly began shouting about "white power" and asked Mr Williams' girlfriend  who has remained unnamed  if she wanted to have sex with him.

The details of the escalation are currently unclear, but what is known is that at some point Ouedraogo punched Mr Williams' girlfriend. The confrontation ended when Mr Williams produced a folding knife and stabbed Ouedraogo in the chest.

Jordan Williams, 20, a New York man charged with manslaughter after he fatally stabbed a rider who was harassing others and who had punched his girlfriend, speaking with his attorney (screengrab/ABC7)

A video taken by a witness and reviewed by the Daily News shows Ouedraogo stumbling shirtless from the train car bleeding from his chest. First responders transported him to the nearby Brooklyn Methodist Hospital where he later was pronounced dead.

A witness reportedly told investigators that Mr Williams said I just stabbed that n*****, according to the Daily News. You see him leaking?

Mr Williams and his girlfriend were arrested a few stops down the line after the stabbing.

Manslaughter charges filed

Mr Williams has been charged with manslaughter and criminal weapon possession in connection to the stabbing. His girlfriend was released by authorities without charges.

The 20-year-old had no prior criminal complaints on his record.

Ouedraogo previously served a three-year prison sentence in 2009 for an attempted robbery in Queens, according to court records.

Mr Williams' attorney, Jason Goldman, said his client acted in self-defence the night of the stabbing.

"We understand that this was a packed subway car during rush hour with dozens of witnesses. We have spoken with some who have already confirmed that the victim was physically violent with others prior to and during this incident," he said.

Mr Goldman expressed frustration that his client was not receiving the same treatment that Daniel Penny, who allegedly killed Jordan Neely after the latter reportedly had been harassing passengers. Mr Penny was questioned and then released for the duration of the police investigation into Mr Neely's death. Mr Penny was ultimately indicted by a grand jury.

Mr Williams was initially kept in custody.

"Is Mr. Williams not getting the same treatment that Mr. Penny received  released, voluntary surrender, and low bail  because his skin color is different and he comes from a particular neighborhood?" Mr Goldman asked. "Instead, those very factors will likely result in Mr. Williams, a young boy, fighting this case of clear self-defense from a cage at Rikers," he said, referring to the city's largest jail.

On Thursday, a judge ruled that Mr Williams could be released without bond so long as he remained under supervision.

A family member hugs Jordan Williams, 20, following his released without bail after he fatally stabbed Devictor Ouedraogo, 36, who punched Mr Williams girlfriend and harassed riders on a New York City subway. (screengrab/ Fox5 NY)

Mr Williams' family wept inside the courtroom upon learning he would be released without bail, with Mr Goldman noting that the $100,000 bond sought by the prosecution "might as well be $1m to this family."

Mr Williams' aunt, Amanda Trammell, described the incident as a "very sad situation."

Jordan is a very quiet, respectful child," she said. "This is obviously an intoxicated or mentally ill person. He did assault Jordan. Put yourself in his shoes.

An online fundraiser was established to help Mr Williams pay for his legal defence. The fundraiser collected just over $68,000 of its $100,000 goal as of 16 June.

We are blessed that a Judge has allowed my son to fight his case alongside his lawyer from the outside but there is still a way to go in having these charges completely dismissed, the family said in a post on the fundraising page.

Comparisons to Daniel Penny

The stabbing is the second subway altercation to end in a death in recent months; in May, ex-US Marine Daniel Penny put Jordan Neely, a Black busker experiencing homelessness who allegedly had been harassing other subway riders, in a chokehold. Mr Neely eventually died due to the chokehold.

The encounter was captured on witness video and sparked a national debate over whether or not Mr Penny was in the wrong for stopping a man who had been allegedly harassing other riders.

Many conservatives decried his eventual arrest and manslaughter charges, claiming he was acting in the defence of other passengers from an individual they argued was possibly unstable and dangerous.

Jordan Neely (left) and Daniel Penny surrendering (right) (Getty)

Mr Neely's family has argued that Mr Penny had no regard for Mr Neely's life and felt "entitled" to take it as a result.

A witness on the train the night Ouedraogo was stabbed told ABC7 that Mr Williams was not the aggressor, but also said he went too far in stabbing the man.

"It's certainly something he didn't start or would have probably been involved in if it weren't for, you know, the guy who was killed being the aggressor," the witness said. "But you can't kill someone just because, you know, they started a fight with you."

Those sentiments were similar to the complaints made against Mr Penny following Mr Neely's death, including those made by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who advocated on behalf of Mr Neelys family.

Mr Williams' family said that the similarities between Mr Penny's case and Mr Williams' are only similar because they occurred on a train.

The only comparison is that they both happened on the train, April Williams, Jordan's mother, said. I dont know what else to say. I know my Jordan [acted in] self-defense.
Richard Doyle, a court-appointed lawyer, for years made numerous racist comments on Facebook, leading to the recent vacating of Anthony Dews sentence.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently vacated the conviction of a Black Muslim man on the basis of racist comments made by his lawyer.

In 2016, Anthony Dew was sentenced to 10 years in prison for human trafficking, WBUR reported, but the highest court in the state learned that his now-late lawyer, Richard Doyle, posted racist remarks on social media and expressed racial bias in his treatment of Dew.

Dew was indicted in 2015 on 19 charges, including five trafficking counts and one of rape. Doyle was a court-appointed lawyer who, from 2014 to 2017, made numerous racist comments on his Facebook page.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently vacated the conviction of Anthony Dew, a Black Muslim man, after discovering racist comments made by his now-late lawyer. (Photo: Adobe Stock)

Indigent and facing multiple felony charges, the defendant was appointed counsel who openly posted, on his social media account, his vitriolic hatred of and bigotry against persons of the Muslim faith, Massachusetts Supreme Court Justice Dalila Argaez Wendlandt wrote in the courts unanimous decision. His unabashed anti-Muslim rants were matched only by his equal scorn for and racism against Black persons.

During one of their first meetings, Dew wore a kufi, which is a Muslim prayer cap, and Doyle told him to take it off, according to the Associated Press.

Dont come in this room like that ever, Doyle reportedly said to his client.

Doyle passed away in 2021, WBUR noted, and that year, Dew found the derogatory Facebook posts his attorney had made about Muslims. He made a request for a new trial in 2022, but a lower court rejected it. When Dews motion went to the higher court, justices there decided that there were enough grounds to throw away his sentence.

He was released on parole on Thursday. The office of the Suffolk County district attorney is deciding whether or not to pursue a new trial.

The anti-Muslim and racist sentiments expressed by this defense attorney are reprehensible, said James Borghesani, Suffolk County district attorney spokesperson. While we vigorously pursue convictions in every prosecution we bring forward, we recognize the societal imperative of effective and unbiased representation for all defendants.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Black mans sentence tossed because of a racist lawyer appeared first on TheGrio.
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks to members of the media in the Treaty Room of the State Department in Washington

By Humeyra Pamuk, Simon Lewis and David Brunnstrom

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken goes to Beijing this weekend with expectations low that he will make headway on the long list of disputes between the United States and China. But he and his Chinese counterparts can achieve at least one thing, say analysts - show that the world's most important bilateral relationship is not about to fall off the rails.

Blinken will hold meetings in China on June 18-19 and may meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, sources said. He will be the highest-ranking U.S. government official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, and the first secretary of state in five years.

In a pre-trip briefing on Wednesday, U.S. officials said they have no expectation the trip will yield a breakthrough in how the U.S. and China deal with each other. That followed a tense Tuesday evening phone call in which Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang told Blinken the U.S. should stop meddling in China's affairs.

Blinken told a news conference on Friday the U.S. side would speak candidly in China about "very real concerns" on a range of issues and said the trip was aimed at establishing "open and empowered" communications.

He said he would be looking for areas for cooperation with Beijing, while also raising the issue of U.S. citizens detained in China on charges Washington sees as politically motivated.

"Intense competition requires sustained diplomacy to ensure that competition does not veer into confrontation or conflict," he said, adding that his visit followed an agreement to step up communications reached between Biden and Xi at a November meeting in Bali.

Blinken said his trip was "an important, but in a sense insufficient step, because there's a lot of work to be done."

On Friday, China's foreign ministry followed up its readout of the tense phone call this week, warning that "vicious competition ... cannot be engaged in" and that Washington "should not fantasize that it is dealing with China from a position of strength."

"This is not so-called responsible competition, but extremely irresponsible hegemonic behavior which will only push China and the U.S. towards confrontation," its spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.

U.S. officials expect Blinken's visit will pave the way for more bilateral meetings in coming months, including possible trips by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. It could also set the stage for meetings between Xi and Biden at multilateral summits later in the year.

"Both sides want to show the rest of the world that they are managing the relationship responsibly," said Andrew Small, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Funds Asia program.

"For China, the most important audience is the global south. For the U.S., it's partners and allies. So even going through the motions has some utility for both Washington and Beijing."

Speaking at the same news conference after a meeting with Blinken, Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan called the latter's China trip "a very important and critical moment."

"Not just the United States and China, but indeed the rest of the world will be watching. So we hope and believe that you will be able to manage the differences, but more important, establish open channels of communication, build mutual trust, and understanding."

U.S.-China ties have deteriorated across the board, raising concerns that their rivalry could veer into conflict over Taiwan, which China claims as its own. China has been staging regular military drills near the island, including on Sunday.

The United States and China are also at odds over issues ranging from trade and microchips to human rights.

Particularly worrisome for China's neighbors has been its reluctance to engage in regular military-to-military talks with Washington, despite repeated U.S. attempts. The U.S. officials said on Wednesday that setting up crisis communication channels to reduce risk was a top priority.

In Brussels on Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed optimism that he would eventually hold talks with his Chinese counterpart after being snubbed by Beijing during an event in Singapore earlier this month.

On Wednesday, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric stressed the importance of easing tensions.

"Anything that would lead to greater cooperation, greater dialogue and a lessening of tensions between Beijing and Washington is to be welcomed," he told reporters.

While Blinken's main goal will be "candid, direct and constructive" discussions, the U.S. officials said, breakthroughs are not likely on any major issues, including the flow of fentanyl precursors and Americans detained in China.

EYEING BIDEN-XI MEETING

Biden and Xi's Bali meeting briefly eased fears of a new Cold War, but following the flight of an alleged Chinese spy balloon over the United States in February that led Blinken to postpone a Beijing visit planned for that month, high-level communication has been rare.

Beijing, frustrated by what it sees as the Biden administration's weaponization of economic policies, has sought to expand ties with countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Xi has recently received several European leaders including French President Emanuel Macron and made a diplomatic push to court others, including U.S. ally Saudi Arabia.

"Beijing agreed to the (Blinken) visit because it seems to be the one thing that is blocking many other things, such as working-level dialogues and the visits by other cabinet members," said Yun Sun, director of the China Program at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington.

Those meetings could lead to Biden-Xi meetings at a September G20 meeting in India and the November Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco.

"Xi does want to come to San Francisco," said Sun. "(Aside from) APEC, he also wants a bilateral with Biden. That means the groundwork must be paved starting from now."

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom, Phil Stewart, Simon Lewis, Daphne Psaledakis and Kanishka Singh in Washington, and Laurie Chen, Martin Pollard in Beijing, Michelle Nichols in New York and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Don Durfee and Daniel Wallis)
Blinken says there are no indications that Russia preparing to use nuclear weapons

Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers remarks on the Trafficking in Persons Report in Washington

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - There are no indications that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons and the United States sees no reason to adjust its own nuclear posture, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters on Friday.

His comments came after Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia could "theoretically" use nuclear weapons if there was a threat to its territorial integrity or existence, but that it did not need to.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis and Kanishka Singh in Washington)
By Simon Lewis

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - There has been no sign of improvement in the political situation in Myanmar since the 2021 coup, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said following a meeting in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who said he shared his counterpart's pessimism.

Singapore is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which barred Myanmar's junta from its high-level meetings after the putsch plunged the country into violence, with the military battling on multiple fronts to try to crush an armed pro-democracy resistance movement.

Balakrishnan told a press conference a lack of progress meant it was not the time to re-engage at a high-level with Myanmar's junta, but said current ASEAN chair Indonesia was engaging with "a wide spectrum of stakeholders" on Myanmar, a reference to talks involving opponents of the coup.

"You do need everyone ultimately to sit down and negotiate. I dont know how long it will take. The last time it took 25 years for some form of democratic transition to occur in Myanmar. I hope it wont take that long," he said, adding that he remained "pessimistic."

Blinken said he agreed with his Singaporean counterpart and that Washington supports ASEAN's efforts on Myanmar.

"It's very important that we continue - all of us - to sustain the appropriate pressure on the junta and look for ways, of course, to engage the opposition," he said.

The United States has issued sanctions against Myanmar's military and its companies, and urged other countries to stop weapons sales to the junta.

A UN expert in May identified $254 million of supplies shipped from entities in Singapore to the Myanmar military.

Asked about the report, Balakrishnan said Singapore's policy was to "do our best" to prevent arms or so-called dual-use items that can be used in warfare getting to Myanmar and said the city-state would act on the UN expert's findings.

(Reporting by Simon Lewis, David Brunnstrom, Kanishka Singh and Daphne Psaledakis; Editing by Alistair Bell)
Blinken: US has no reason to adjust nuclear posture over Russias weapons transfer to Belarus

Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said the Biden administration is closely monitoring Russias claims that its stored a tactical nuclear weapon in Belarus, but Washington has no reason to adjust its own nuclear posture.

Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier in the day said Moscow sent the first of several nuclear weapons to its ally Belarus, with the rest to be delivered by the end of summer. Putin, who in March first announced the plan to deploy nuclear bombs in the country bordering Ukraine, said the move is meant as a deterrence measure.

Blinken said he has seen Putins recent comments, and the United States will continue to monitor the situation very closely and very carefully.

We have no reason to adjust our own nuclear posture, Blinken said at a State Department press conference with Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. We dont see any indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon.

He added Washington is still committed to defending every inch of NATO territory.

As for Belarus itself, this is just another example of [Belarus President Alexander] Lukashenko making irresponsible, provocative choices to cede control of Belaruss sovereignty against the will of the Belarusian people, he said.

Ukraines Ambassador to the United Kingdom Vadym Prystaiko, however, said Putins remarks should be taken very, very seriously, CNN reported.

I believe that [Putin] was blackmailing all of us: Ukrainians, first of all, but then Europeans and Americans and all our partners around the globe, Prystaiko said.

Moscow is transferring short-range tactical nuclear weapons, which are not as damaging as the nuclear warheads attached to ballistic missiles but are capable of immense destruction, into Belarus.

Russia moving the nuclear weapons back into Belarus is the first such transfer for the Kremlin since the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. At the time, Belarus was one of four former Soviet Union members, including Ukraine, that transferred nuclear weapons over to Russia.

Putin, who has repeatedly threatened the use of nuclear weapons in its war with Ukraine, also on Friday denigrated NATO and warned there is a serious danger of further drawing the alliance into the war by providing Ukraine weapons.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
William Edwards, of Dolton, came to the Juneteenth Family & Friends Celebration in Blue Island to learn more about health resources and to collect some clothing items he needed.

Edwards, 52, is an electrician, but during the COVID-19 pandemic he lost his job after contracting the virus. Edwards, who recently received a kidney transplant, said he enjoys events held throughout the community because they have supported him as he recovers.

They have a lot of nice stuff they give us, Edwards said.

The Juneteenth Family & Friends Celebration was a resource and health fair Friday at the John D. Rita Recreation Center in Blue Island. The event was put together by Sisters Working It Out, which aims to eliminate breast cancer disparities in the Chicago area, said executive program manager Lolita Coleman.

The centers gym was lined with tables offering resources for residents, including health to financial literacy and veteran services, Coleman said.

You cant just focus on one thing, Coleman said. Theres something for everyone.

The Sisters Working It Out table provided literature about breast cancer awareness and taught women how to do self examinations, Coleman said.

Near their table, the Blue Island-Robbins Neighborhood Network representatives met with community members and help them connect with other resources in those communities, said program manager Ken Benson.

The network focuses on financial literacy, healthy eating and active living and social and emotional health, Benson said.

We want people to know that the resources are here, Benson said.

Tiana Jackson, research coordinator for the All of Us research program through the National Institutes of Health, said her team came to let the community know about the research program.

Participants share information about their medical history and social and economic standings, Jackson said. With enough participants, the goal is to break health care down to an individual level instead of an umbrella encompassing a group of people.

The project also aims to address disparities in minority communities, Jackson said. For example, Black residents cant take certain high blood pressure medications because it causes allergic reactions. That wasnt previously known, she said, because Black people werent included in the clinical trials.

Its not only going to help the current generation but future generations as well, Jackson said.

Edwards said he appreciated talking with representatives at the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois booth because of his recent transplant.

According to the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois, uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure are the leading causes of kidney disease, and Black Americans are twice as likely to have diabetes than white people while almost half of all Black Americans have high blood pressure.

Adriel Cardoso said he liked the event because it connects the community to important resources.

I think its something that brings us together, Cardoso said.

Black Americans are four times more likely to develop kidney disease than white Americans, according to the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois, while 35% of all American adults with kidney failure are Black.

Edwards uncle, Victor Banks, said he enjoyed the event.

Its nice. Its cool, Banks said. You get to meet a lot of people and learn a lot.
Graphic: Gizmodo

Twitter is in freefallad revenue is down more than half since last year, owner Elon Musk is mucking around and firing people left and right, and users (including me) have noticed a steep decline in the quality of their feeds. Bluesky, a near-clone of Twitter built on a decentralized protocol with the support of Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, is ascending as its forebear declines, filling the gap as users search for an alternative to the blue bird.

The company is gaining users, but not too manya new user can only join the social network with an invite code from an existing user. Its also innovating where Twitter failed, building in bulwarks against toxicity from the start.

Read more

To get a better understanding of how Bluesky is approaching this unique moment in internet history, Gizmodo spoke to Paul Frazee, a product developer and protocol engineer at the small company. Frazee has hosted livestreams of his coding as he builds what could be Blueskys differentiating featurecustom algorithms that could allow users to command their feeds with a higher degree of control than on other social networks.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Gizmodo: Where did the idea for custom algorithms come from? They seem to be a realization of Blueskys decentralized ethosis that right?

Paul Frazee: It is right that its a major realization of Blueskys decentralized ethos. The team knew pretty early on in the development of the protocol that we wanted to have custom algorithms. Decentralization through federating and hosting is interesting, but often its not actually meaningful to users, so really early on we started poking at what we could substantively do that would change the experience of social media and actually decentralize the parts that matter to people.



Algorithmic choice isnt a new idea, but we aimed for it early on. Its an example of why decentralization is better in practice too  because it can do stuff like this.

G: How do the custom feeds/algorithms work? I know an early version has debuted on the social network, how is that test going?

PF: The test is going really well. The way they work now is fundamentally how theyre going to work in the long run. Itll get more sophisticated over time but the concepts are all there and working how they should.

We have a motto that third-party is first-party, so there could be these third-party services that feel like theyre natural and just a part of the application. A majority of the custom feeds on the app now are completely off of our servers and theyre on someone elses infrastructure. We just talk to their server and then we show the feed in the user interface. Thats a pattern that we hope to repeat in a lot of different use cases, and algorithms are just the first.



How are you envisioning Blueskys custom algos as being different from Twitters?

The biggest difference is that most social media companies right now try to intuit what users prefer based on their behavior, and were instead offering an open marketplace of options. You have more of a direct hand in what youre getting as an end user, as opposed to having to figure out how to train the algorithm. There are pros and cons, because sometimes the algorithms that intuit what people want can be really great at it. But other times, you sit there thinking how long you can look at something before you mistrain the algorithm. Like, you might be like, Oh no Ive watched this video for too long and now it thinks that Im into building sand castles, when no, that was just one video you wanted to watch, and now you have algorithm anxiety.



We think that not only is the opportunity for choice interesting, but having a completely open marketplace just makes it possible for people to come up with entirely new ideas for how algorithms can be done over time.



How is Bluesky making these feeds less toxic than those of other social media companies?

Id like to think that custom algorithms would fundamentally push things to be less toxic but I also dont really think that necessarily follows. It could, but I just dont know  thats an untested theory. I think that the opportunity for less toxicity will probably come more from the way that we apply open moderation where people can opt-in to filters on top of the algorithms. That will give users more control over what vibe theyre tuned into at the moment.



What opportunities for innovation do you see in Twitters continued decline? Seems like the current state of the industry is akin to when a big tree falls in the jungle.

The opportunity for innovation was there even if Twitter stayed the exact same as before. Im pleased that there is more interest in an alternative than before, but we always, from the beginning, never assumed that would be the case. We sat down and said, How do we make a better experience than what Twitter did? And the real opportunity is in creating something thats a fundamentally more positive experience. You get more of what you want, less of what you dont want, and its less emotionally chaotic. That more pleasant experience is the most interesting thing to me.

Its weird that we have this love/hate relationship with social media. Sometimes we love it, and sometimes were like, Hey, maybe this really sucks. That suggests that theres something fundamentally unhealthy with the structure. So to me, all of the innovations that are possible all need to be pointed at making something that makes people happier and more connected with people and harmonious experiences. And that just needs to be the goal.

Where does Bluesky see opportunities for innovation outside of the custom algos feature? Opportunities for growth outside of Twitters defecting user base?

There seems to be an opportunity for technology that is able to handle a wider variety of social use cases, but we dont know for sure because its an untested theory. For example, it seems feasible that this could run the gamut of the FB or Instagram use case. Certainly getting podcasting or direct messaging in there is all possible. Its a strongly compelling idea to have this all exist in one shared system where things like identity and reputation can easily transfer over to another social experience. Theres some interesting opportunity to do really the exact opposite of what all the other platforms are doing  this is actually an open space for lots of things to happen.

Twitter has never been for everybody. People who love Twitter dont love it for its toxicity, so I want to make it better for people who love the product. And then for the people who always bounced on it, I would like to find what was missing for them and make it something they enjoy. It may just be that the public performative experience of microblogging is not for everybody. For them, it might be more in the DMs or private groups, but theres no reason why the plurality of these social experiences cant be brought together.

And one last question, a bit more fun than serious, that were asking everyone in the series: Are the following five things overhyped, under-hyped, or appropriately hyped, and why?

AI chatbots

Appropriately hyped. Clearly theyre doing things that didnt seem possible not that long ago and theyre showing at least some use cases for people right away. I feel like its a good bet that theyll continue to find interesting things they can do with it, so I think the hype is exactly right.



Cryptocurrencies

If you asked me two years ago, Id say overhyped, now Id say appropriately hyped. The problem with cryptocurrencies is they dont scale, theyve never been able to function as a payments mechanism because the transaction fees were too high and the settlement time on some of the networks was too long. If those werent problems, then the UX would have been an issue. If the tech is not able to find a price point thats competitive with other payment systems, then its a useless technology.



Drones

I dont have a strong vibe on drones.



Portugal (as destination for digital nomads working remotely, though the honeymoon does seem to be ending)

I wasnt super tuned into the Lisbon thing. It seemed to be pretty tied to crypto. I dont really know.



Embracing failure

The problem with embracing failure is that it almost poses failure like a goal. The point is to learn from it. I do post-mortems on projects and I publish what I learn. Im very focused on making sure I come away from a failure having learned multiple things and not repeating those mistakes. In the same way that we should be open to receiving criticism, we should be open to learning lessons from failure. But if youre not engaging with a project with the goal of a win condition, then youre wasting your time and everyone elses time. You should embrace failure to be more effective as a person and as a force in the world.

More from Gizmodo

Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Plans to laud Moms for America appalling

As president of the Illinois National Organization for Women and a resident of Will County, I am appalled some members of the Will County Board had plans to recognize Moms for America, a group that is part of the nationwide assault on Americas LGBTQ community, Black Americans and children.

Thanks to a large outcry, a plan to officially laud the group at this past weeks county board meeting was removed from the agenda. More heinous, however, is that the planned recognition of Pride Month and Juneteenth at the same meeting also were removed from the same agenda.

Advertisement

Moms and Awake groups are responsible for book bans, hate speech at school board meetings and attacks on our public libraries and schools. They believe they alone are the arbiters of morality. They often align with white supremacist groups such as Patriot Front and Proud Boys, groups seen at Pride events and racist rallies, where they are known to scream Jews will not replace us. In fact, their use of the term Marxist is highly antisemitic.

They fight the teaching of racism and complain that white children will be harmed, telling Black children that their history is irrelevant. They call supporters of LGBTQ youth groomers and pedophiles.

Advertisement

Young people at Pride events fear their parents will kick them out of their homes if they are LGBTQ. These young people often end up in cities where they become victims of drug dealers and sex traffickers. Many often self-harm or commit suicide, according to LGBTQ support organizations.

Neither Moms for America, or any similar group, should be celebrated. I am disgusted some Will County Board members would want to laud a group that harms many in our community while refusing to celebrate those that provide support.

Laura Welch, Naperville

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

president, Illinois NOW

Slowik deserves award for township coverage

Ted Slowik deserves an investigative journalism award for continuing to shine a spotlight on the spectacle that is Doltons Mayor Tiffany Henyard, who also is Thornton Township supervisor. Her disdain for accountability to the Dolton Village Board is becoming legendary.

Because of a legal technicality, a June 2022 recall removing her from the mayors office was later overturned. Most recently, Slowik reported state Rep Thaddeus Jones criticized Henyard for wasting township taxpayer funds on billboards that promoted herself and contained spelling errors.

Even with the support of Village Board member Andrew Holmes, one wonders how far this particular south suburban mayor can veer off course without facing push back from her constituents.

Christine Craven, Evergreen Park

Advertisement

Share your views

Submit letters to the editor via email to suburbanletters@tribpub.com. Please include your name and town of residence for publication. Please include phone number and email address for confirmation. Letters should be no more than 250 to 300 words.
Workers in the U.S., Australia, the U.K., India, Vietnam, Japan, Colombia and Brazil weighed in on the business buzzwords they found most confusing.

Workers in the U.S., Australia, the U.K., India, Vietnam, Japan, Colombia and Brazil weighed in on the business buzzwords they found most confusing.

Do you have any idea what boiling the ocean means? If youre confused, youre not alone. In a new survey of 8,000 professionals across eight different countries, many workers around the world did not know what it meant either.

Boiling the ocean was the most confusing office jargon for U.S. and Australian workers polled by Duolingo and LinkedIn in May, according to findings they released this week.

Hope Wilson, a senior learning and language curriculum expert at Duolingo who was involved in the surveys development, said the phrase provides an example of the complex meanings that business language can have, depending on where you work.

The most common definition of the phrase boiling the ocean is taking on a task thats far too large or ambitious to be reasonable. Its generally something to be avoided, she said.

However, a friend of mine whos a lawyer told me that at her firm, they identify particular arguments for the cases theyre working on as being worth boiling the ocean for  meaning they exhaustively research case law to provide thorough support. So for them, its actually a good thing!

In other words, just because you know how to wield a term at one company doesnt mean it will translate to another.

Even if you learn a piece of jargon in one place, you might still be out of luck if you change jobs, Wilson said.

Whether you hate them or love them, business buzzwords are here to stay. See which ones are the most likely to secretly baffle your colleagues, according to the new survey:

The Top 3 Most Confusing Business Terms Around The World

U.S.

1. Boiling the ocean.

2. Herding cats.

3. Ducks in a row.

U.K.

1. Blue sky thinking.

2. COP/EOP/EOD.

3. Low-hanging fruit.

India

1. Keep me in the loop.

2. Take offline.

3. Win-win situation.

Australia

1. Boiling the ocean.

2. Noodling.

3. Low-hanging fruit.

Brazil

1. Feedback.

2. Networking.

3. ASAP.

Colombia

1. By EOD.

2. ASAP.

3. KPI.

Japan

1.  (budget).

2. ASAP.

3.  (agenda).

Vietnam



1. FYI.

2. KPI.

3. Low-hanging fruit.

In the survey, English-language buzzwords were some of the top ones listed, even in countries where English is not the dominant language. Thats not surprising to language researchers.

English is a global lingua franca, meaning that its used for communication in situations where two people do not share their primary language, Wilson explained. So, lets say a Japanese speaker meets a Spanish speaker at an international conference  theyll typically use English to get acquainted and talk about their respective companies.

It also helps to understand why professionals use jargon in the first place: Its not about intentionally confusing your co-workers, but more about fitting in.

Jargon is commonly used to show off in professional contexts, especially for nonnative English speakers, said Zachariah Brown, an assistant professor who researches jargon at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Its a de facto status signal. And its well-documented in qualitative studies that speaking better English in international companies gets a person higher respect, status, opportunities, better appraisals of their competence.

Brown also said that acronyms may be frequently named as confusing culprits because they are the least forgiving form of jargon for those who dont know the terms.

Not only are they foreign words, they are abbreviations of foreign words that also embody concepts, Brown said. So there are three levels: EOD, end of day, and the concept of by the conclusion of your working hours on this specific date. So this is much more cognition required than a word in their local language.

But should the goal be to get rid of jargon completely? Not necessarily. Consider boiling the ocean as an example. Brown said that as he understands it, the phrase is used frequently in the northeastern U.S. for referencing a consulting projects aim to judiciously focus on a few important issues.

How could you express this concept with more clarity? Well, if youre talking to a consultant in New York City, then you cant! Brown said. Those three words are the most efficient way to express the concept with maximum fluency and minimum time, because that term is commonly used for them.

This speaks to both the fun and frustration with business buzzwords. It can be efficient to have a quick shorthand when you know the jargon, and it can be isolating and alienating when you do not.

So dont assume that your colleague automatically knows what boiling the ocean means. They may be nodding their head, but inside they might be totally bewildered by what you just said.

Related...
Danny Rollins holds newborn Braylen Rollins in their Compton home. A new study finds that fathers play a key role in determining whether their baby is successfully breastfed and put to sleep safely. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Danny Rollins of Compton became a dad just one month ago, when his son Braylen was born. "I cant take my eyes off of him. I love being around him and holding him," he said. "Its really a beautiful thing right now."

Rollins, 32, is taking two months off from his job as a barber to be with his new family, but he's still hard at work. "Im security, chef, taxi driver. I clean. I've been mainly the one doing the cooking."

But one of his most important roles is being part of his infant's breastfeeding team. When his wife is nursing, he brings her snacks and water, gets the breast pump ready for her after she nurses, and then stores the milk. "Breastfeeding is hard work and its tiring," he said. "I knew I would have to step up and make sure she had everything she needs."

Christiana Layne, 26, left, and Danny Rollins, 32, are focused on their newborn, Braylen Rollins, at their home. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

A supportive dad like Rollins can make a big difference in whether a baby is successfully breastfed, according to a recent study about new fathers published Friday in Pediatrics, a journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The study also found that dads are key to making sure babies are put to bed in a safe sleep environment.

Among the two-thirds of fathers who reported that they wanted their infant's mother to breastfeed, 95% of their babies started breastfeeding, and 78% were still nursing by eight weeks. That was significantly more than for fathers who said they didn't want their infants to breastfeed or had no opinion  69% of those babies started out breastfeeding, and just 33% were still breastfeeding by eight weeks.

I absolutely have heard dads not be supportive of breastfeeding," said Asaiah Harville, an international board certified lactation consultant who works with families in Southern California. Theres a sense of breasts being only there for sexual pleasure and the baby is just getting in the way of what the dad thinks his needs are.

Harville said the best way to change that perception is to involve the fathers in breastfeeding from the beginning. If Im teaching a prenatal breastfeeding class, I highly encourage dads to show up."

A worrisome revelation in the study was that few fathers were putting their babies to sleep safely  an issue drawing concern in Los Angeles County, where the number of infant suffocation deaths has risen in recent years.

While almost all of the fathers who responded to the survey said they put their babies to sleep, just 16% said that they usually followed three of the safe sleep guidelines recommended by pediatricians to prevent sudden unexplained infant death (SUID). The guidelines call for placing the baby to sleep on their back, using an approved sleep surface such as a crib or bassinet, and avoiding all soft bedding, including blankets, pillows and crib bumpers. Only 32% of fathers said they used an approved sleep surface.

Danny Rollins holds his newborn, Braylen Rollins, in their home in Compton. (Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times)

Each year, there are about 3,400 sudden unexpected infant deaths in the U.S., including babies who die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and accidental suffocation in bed.

In Los Angeles County alone, a baby suffocates nearly every week while sleeping, according to the infant safe sleep campaign from the Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect.

The Pediatrics study, which was led by scientists at Northwestern University and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago, surveyed 250 fathers in Georgia two to six months after their baby was born. The questionnaire is meant to be a companion to a long-running and widely respected survey used to collect data about new mothers.

Read more: Child-care providers by day, Amazon drivers by night. Workers fight for living wages

It surprised me how low [safe sleep compliance] was, especially as a provider talking to patients all the time," said lead study author Dr. John James Parker, an instructor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. When he explains the principles of safe sleep, he said, "most of them nod their heads and say thats what theyre doing. But in reality they must be nodding but theres a blanket in the crib or the baby is spending some of their time sleeping on a mattress with the parents."

And it isn't just fathers; surveys given to new mothers have found that their compliance with the safe sleep guidelines is similarly low.

Of the fathers who responded to the survey, nearly a third said they had not received information about at least one of the safe sleep guidelines. Fathers who did receive appropriate information about safe sleep, however, did not appear more likely to follow the guidelines.

Still, Parker said the recent survey of fathers indicates that they are an important target of information about safe infant care, especially Black fathers, who reported they were less likely to use the back sleep position and more likely to use soft bedding than white fathers. Nationally, the rate of sudden unexpected infant death of Black infants is more than twice that of white infants.

Over the last 50 years, fathers have tripled the amount of time they spend caring for their children. A growing body of research finds that the children of more involved dads are healthier. But Parker said that healthcare providers often are not doing enough to engage fathers in the hospital or at the baby's well visits.

Read more: Human milk is essential, yet scientists know little about it. UCSD plans to change that

"Fathers are often packing up the babies and leaving to get the car and trying to be helpful, but providers need to make sure they have the eye contact and theyre paying attention," he said. "I want fathers to think of themselves as equal parents and know that their role is extremely important in the growth and development of their family."

The first safe sleep campaigns began in the mid-1990s, with public service announcements on TV and "Back to Sleep" messages printed on rice cereal boxes. The American Academy of Pediatrics updates recommendations every few years, and messaging is still prolific today. "Back is Best" is sometimes embroidered on infant sleep sacks to remind parents of the importance of putting their babies to sleep in a safe position.

In Los Angeles County, the inter-agency council's safe sleep campaign distributes posters and brochures for hospitals to give to new parents, said Deanne Tilton Durfee, the agency's executive director. Most of the messaging has focused on mothers as the target audience.

Danny Rollins holds his son, Braylen Rollins. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Its last major safe sleep push from 2012 to 2014 successfully brought the number of infant suffocation deaths from a high of 70 per year in 2011 down to 34 by 2014. But the number is creeping up again, she said, to 44 deaths in 2022. This year, Durfee said, the number is on track to be even higher.

"We need to get back out there with the messaging more intensively. Families with new babies are exhausted, theyre challenged, theyre just not thinking. And maybe we need to revitalize the messaging."

New dad Danny Rollins gained much of his knowledge about fatherhood, including safe sleep and breastfeeding support, from the Expecting Fathers Group, part of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health's African American Infant and Maternal Mortality Initiative.

Davion Mauldin, the initiative's fatherhood coordinator, meets weekly with groups of fathers-to-be, teaching them how to advocate for their partners and about basic infant care. He emphasizes the value of breastfeeding and encourages them to be active participants in conversations with lactation specialists. He even offers techniques for how to position the infant, help massage the milk down and give comfort if the mother is experiencing pain, such as applying ice.

Mauldin says he wasn't surprised to learn that many fathers surveyed weren't following the safe sleep guidelines, because often the information isn't reaching them. "We dont know what we dont know."

The promotion across the board needs to be better. Theres a lot of information out there and a lot of programs. What we need improvement on is to make sure were getting the information in the right spaces and to the people who need it," he said.

This article is part of The Times early childhood education initiative, focusing on the learning and development of California children, from birth to age 5. For more information about the initiative and its philanthropic funders, go to latimes.com/earlyed.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
1498119992

The Government is set to argue that Brexit helped the UK prepare for the Covid-19 pandemic, contradicting the claims of the inquirys lead lawyer.

In a draft briefing note for the first part of the inquiry  which is investigating how prepared the country was for a pandemic  government officials have said that work done as part of the countrys exit from the European Union meant that crisis response teams were already in place when the virus reached UK shores.

Documents seen by the Telegraph reveal that the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will argue that preparations for Brexit led to the creation of the departments operational response centre which put in place crisis and incident management structures in the department, which proved useful during the initial response to Covid-19.

This view is contrary to what the lead counsel to the inquiry said on Friday when he described how planning for a possible no-deal exit from the EU crowded out and prevented the work that was needed to improve pandemic preparedness.

The documents also reveal that Matt Hancock, the former health secretary, also apparently felt that Brexit aided, rather than distracted from, the early response to Covid-19. In a comment added to the briefing note a senior DHSC official points out: Also worth adding  Matt Hancock said off-handedly to me when he came into the office that Brexit helped DHSC be better prepared for Covid.

The same official suggested including the Governments introduction of screenings for Ebola at ports as another example of the countrys readiness to tackle a deadly virus, but he questioned the effectiveness of this policy. He said: To add about Ebola  this is effectively where we first introduced port health screenings  (although the policy view is that these are rubbish).

Officials are set to point out to the inquiry that in 2018  the year when cabinet ministers were thrashing out a collective agreement on the UKs future relationship with the EU  health officials stopped work on updating the 2011 flu pandemic strategy but continued work on the Pandemic Influenza Bill. This was used as the basis for the Coronavirus Act, which became the key legislation throughout the pandemic.

Elsewhere in the briefing note officials give other examples of pandemic planning, including lessons learnt from the Swine Flu outbreak eleven years earlier, which caused 457 deaths in the UK, and various pandemic simulation exercises between 2007 and 2018.

Speaking at the Inquiry hearing on Friday Hugo Keith KC, the lead counsel, said: The pandemic struck the United Kingdom just as it was leaving the European Union. That departure required an enormous amount of planning and preparation, particularly to address what were likely to be the severe consequences of a no-deal exit on food and medicine supplies, travel and transport, business borders and so on.

It is clear that such planning, from 2018 onwards, crowded out and prevented some or perhaps a majority of the improvements that central government itself understood were required to be made to resilience planning and preparedness.

A DHSC spokesman said: Throughout the pandemic the Government acted to save lives and livelihoods, prevent the NHS being overwhelmed and deliver a world-leading vaccine rollout which protected millions of lives across the nation.

We have always said there are lessons to be learnt from the pandemic and we are committed to learning from the Covid-19 Inquirys findings which will play a key role in informing the Governments planning and preparations for the future.

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.
BRICK - A fire at a home on 19th Avenue started Thursday morning when a dog in the house is believed to have knocked over a candle, according to police.

A neighbor who spotted flames coming out of the windows of the ranch-style, single-family house reported the blaze at about 11:15 a.m., triggering a major response from first responders. Two dogs in the residence  which was engulfed in flames when police arrived  were rescued and are safe, according to the Brick Police Department.

More Brick news: Local temple at center of boys school controversy sold to new owner

No injuries were reported. The Laurelton, Herbertsville, Breton Woods and Pioneer Hose fire companies all responded and the fire was under control about two hours later. Brick EMS, officials from the township fire bureau and the Firefighter Assist and Search Team from neighboring Point Pleasant also went to the scene to assist, police said.

Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at elarsen@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Brick NJ cops believe dog started house fire on 19th Avenue
The budget for the coming fiscal year adopted by the California Legislature Thursday will likely not survive the weekend, and for good reason. The approved spending plan was not a viable one. The purpose of an unserious budget seems clear: By meeting a constitutional deadline on June 15, Sacramento politicians will continue to get paid even though they have not done their jobs.

The heavy lifting has yet to happen, and negotiations with Gov. Gavin Newsom will continue.

Opinion

The Democrat-controlled Legislature started with a pretty rosy proposal from Newsom on how much money Sacramento can expect to spend starting July 1. Their solution was to make things even rosier. They magically grew general fund revenues by $2 billion, and spending grew by $3 billion.

Artificially growing the budget was officially in the name of protecting the progress of recent years and continuing the states responsible budgeting practices, according to a self-serving state senate analysis. In truth, the Legislature achieved precisely the opposite.

As The Bees Editorial Board said at the beginning of this process, a successful budget has to be far more effective at cutting duplicative spending and taking advantage of revenue opportunities in order to truly be in balance. The Legislature did neither.

It was laudable that the Legislature has sought to earmark more funds to prevent public transit agencies struggling in the post-Covid era from financial crises. The same goes for the impulse to invest more in education, child care and health care for low-income Californians as well as climate change, as the Legislature did.

It only becomes real when the actual numbers on both sides of the ledger are real.

One note of caution as talks in Sacramento hopefully get more serious: Newsom, while he may be not-so-subtly laying the groundwork to someday seek the office, is not yet president. President Joe Biden and Congress can solve their budget problems by essentially printing more money. Newsom cannot.

The Legislative Analysts Office has issued a strong warning to be cautious about how much revenue Sacramento will be receiving, particularly from income taxes in this unpredictable economy. Of course California should be optimistic about its future, but Sacramento needs to be realistic about the next state budget.
California radiologist accused of driving family off cliff in Tesla barred from medical practice

[Source]

A California radiologist accused of intentionally driving a Tesla off a cliff to kill his family has been barred from medical practice.

"Alarming danger": Citing public safety concerns, the Medical Board of California moved to prevent Dharmesh Patel from practicing medicine while his criminal case remains pending.

In its court filings this week, the medical board argued that Patel represented an alarming danger to the public amid an impairment of cognitive abilities needed to safely practice medicine.

San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Rachel Holt approved the motion during a hearing on Monday.

More from NextShark: Korean Mukbang YouTuber Accused of 'Torturing' Animals Before Eating Them on Camera

What investigators say: Patel is being held without bail in the San Mateo County jail for allegedly driving his wife Neha, 41, their 7-year-old daughter and their 4-year-old son off a cliff near Devil's Slide along Highway 1 on Jan. 2 , causing the car to plunge 250 feet onto a beach.

All four passengers survived the crash, and both children were released from the hospital within a month.

Patel, who is a radiologist at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, sustained injuries to his leg and foot while Patels wife and their 7-year-old daughter suffered more serious injuries. The 4-year-old son sustained bruises during the ordeal.

More from NextShark: Zhang Zhizhen becomes first male Chinese tennis player to reach ATP Top 100

What Patel claims: In Patels not guilty plea, he attributed the crash to tire issues that the car purportedly experienced, noting that its tire-pressure sensor light turned on that day. He claimed that he even stopped at gas stations three times to fill the left-rear tire with air.

Witnesses, however, reported that the car did not appear to brake prior to the crash, a claim supported by video evidence from the Tom Lantos Tunnels.

Investigators have also ruled out Tesla's self-driving features as contributing factors in the crash.

More from NextShark: McDonald's Awards $500,000 in Scholarships to 55 AAPI Students

What Patels wife said: Hes depressed, Patels wife told emergency workers after the accident. Hes a doctor. He said he was going to drive off the cliff. He purposely drove off.

She also urged authorities to perform a psychiatric evaluation on her husband. In response to officers' questions, Patel denied being suicidal but mentioned he was feeling down due to global issues such as war and drugs.

More from NextShark: TikTok's Bella Poarch Debuts Pop Career With Hit Song 'Build a B*tch'
Calista Flockhart rewore her golden skirt from the 1999 Emmys to support her husband Harrison Ford at the latest 'Indiana Jones' premiere

Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart at the "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" premiere. Michael Tran/Getty Images

Calista Flockhart attended the latest "Indiana Jones" premiere in a golden Ralph Lauren skirt.

The actor previously wore the shining garment at the 1999 Emmy Awards.

Her stylist Elizabeth Stewart said on Instagram that she dressed Flockhart in the skirt both times.

Calista Flockhart isn't afraid of repeating an outfit.

The 58-year-old actor attended the "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" premiere in Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday in support of her husband, 80-year-old Harrison Ford.

She was photographed on the red carpet in a simple outfit consisting of a black, off-the-shoulder top tucked into a golden Ralph Lauren skirt with a drawstring waistband and floor-length design.

If the latter piece looks familiar, that's because Flockhart has worn it before  more than two decades ago at the 1999 Emmys.

Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart at the "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" premiere. Michael Tran/Getty Images

When Flockhart first wore the satin garment 24 years ago, she paired it with a white, button-up blouse that had three-quarter-length sleeves and a tied knot at the waist.

She also carried a yellow beaded purse and wore a thin diamond necklace with the look.

Calista Flockhart attends the 1999 Emmy Awards. Steve Granitz/Getty Images

So who's to thank for this fashion moment that's stood the test of time? Look no further than Flockhart's longtime stylist, Elizabeth Stewart.

"Cherish and re-wear your clothes people!  (and yes we've worked together that long!)," Stewart wrote on Instagram alongside a video of Flockhart in the skirt.

Representatives for Elizabeth Stewart did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Insider
A Russian military officer near an Antonov An-124 at an airport in France in July 2018. ALAIN JOCARD/AFP via Getty Images

In early June, Canada seized a Russian plane that had been stuck in Toronto since February 2022.

The aircraft was an Antonov An-124, one of the biggest transport aircraft in the world.

It was one of the few heavy-lift transport aircraft that Russia's military still has in operation.

Cargo planes have become indispensable enablers for modern warfare. There never seems to be enough of them to meet demand for hauling weapons, supplies, and personnel.

So Canada's seizure of a Russian cargo aircraft is bad news for a Russian air-transport fleet that is now a shadow of what it was in its Soviet glory days.

This month, Canada confiscated an Antonov An-124, one of the biggest transport aircraft in the world. It arrived at Pearson Airport in Toronto to deliver Covid-19 tests in February 2022. Soon afterward, Canada closed its airspace to Russian aircraft in response to Moscow's attack on Ukraine on February 24.

A Volga Dnepr Airlines Antonov An-124 grounded at Canada's Pearson International Airport in May 2022. Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images

The plane has been sitting at the airport since then. To add insult to injury, it has accrued more than $330,000 in parking fees, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The aircraft is the first physical asset seized under Canada's Special Economic Measures Act, which was amended in June 2022 to allow confiscation of assets belonging to entities deemed responsible for a major breach of international peace, corruption, or human-rights violations.

The AN-124 "is believed to be owned by a subsidiary of Volga-Dnepr Airlines LLC and Volga-Dnepr Group, two entities against which Canada recently imposed sanctions due to their complicity in President Putin's war of choice," the Canadian government said in a press release.

"Should the asset ultimately be forfeited to the Crown, Canada will work with the Government of Ukraine on options to redistribute this asset to compensate victims of human rights abuses, restore international peace and security, or rebuild Ukraine," the government said. Ukraine's prime minister said earlier this year that Kyiv planned "to confiscate" the plane.

A damaged Antonov An-124 at Antonov Airport near Hostomel in Ukraine in August 2022. Ruslan Kaniuka/ Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Losing a single plane aircraft will hardly dent Russia's military or civilian air-transport capacity, but it does highlight how far Moscow's aerial cargo fleet has fallen since its Soviet heyday.

The Soviet Union had more than 1,100 military transports by the time it collapsed, according to a study by the Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank. Today, Russia has just 446 such aircraft, according to the 2023 edition of The Military Balance, published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Then and now, the crown jewel of the fleet was the An-124, a four-engine giant that was Russia's equivalent of the US military's C-5 Galaxy. The An-124 can haul about 132 tons of cargo. (The latest C-5 variant, the C-5M, can haul roughly 140 tons.) A total of 54 were built between 1985 and 2004, with 26 going to the Russian Air Force and the remainder to private carriers.

The An-124 became a fixture of heavy air transport, capable of carrying troops and their gear, main battle tanks, and even NASA and SpaceX rockets. Ironically, An-124s were chartered by NATO nations to haul cargo to alliance forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

A German military helicopter is unloaded from an An-124 during redeployment from Afghanistan in May 2021. Jan Woitas/picture alliance via Getty Images

The Russian military today is estimated to have about a dozen An-124s, while Antonov  now a Ukrainian aviation company  had six, though one was destroyed by Russian bombardment during the invasion.

There were plans in the early 2000s to build replacement aircraft as part of a joint Russian-Ukrainian production program. (The Soviets had built one of the An-124's production lines in Ukraine). But this cooperation ran into a snag: The An-124's D-18 engines were made in Ukraine.

After Russia's annexation of Crimea and Ukraine's ban on military-related exports to Russia, "it became impossible to acquire Ukrainian-built engines for aircraft, which raised the issue of keeping An-124s flying as their engines could not be replaced or spares purchased for their maintenance," the RUSI report noted.

Russia seems to have learned how to maintain the AN-124's engines without Ukrainian help, though it remains to be seen if the Western embargo on aircraft components for Russia will have any effect on the aircraft's serviceability.

Whether from crashes or confiscations, Russia can't afford to lose many of these giant transports.

Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds a master's in political science. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Daily Southtown columnist Ted Slowik takes a selfie March 23, 2021, after receiving the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a Walgreens pharmacy, 15940 Kedzie Ave., Markham. (Ted Slowik / Daily Southtown)

This is my final column for the Daily Southtown after seven and a half years and more than 1,400 columns.

I greatly appreciate the opportunity to join the newspaper staff in early 2016. Columnist Phil Kadner had left the paper after 37 years. I knew I couldnt fill his shoes but I did my best to promote transparency and hold government officials accountable.

Advertisement

I followed the money as best I could. This meant tracking how municipalities, school districts and other taxing bodies in the south and southwest suburbs spent funds collected from property taxes. But it also meant much more.

In recent years, the governments of Cook County and the state of Illinois have considerably increased spending on infrastructure and other initiatives throughout the region after decades of disinvestment.

Advertisement

Then the pandemic disrupted our lives and federal dollars flowed into the Southland through the American Rescue Plan Act and other legislation. The regions spending side of the ledger involves hundreds of taxing districts in more than 50 communities that are home to about a million people.

On the revenue side, the big story remains inequity in Cook Countys property tax system. Taxing bodies within the countys 130 municipalities billed more than $16.7 billion in taxes for 2021.

The city of Chicagos overall property tax rate was 6.7%. Tax rates were 9.6% in Elk Grove Village, 10.1% in Park Ridge and 11.1% in Rolling Meadows, and they were 21% in Chicago Heights, 25.8% in Calumet City and 41.5% in Park Forest.

Those inequities pose the greatest challenges to attract and retain businesses to ease the tax burden on homeowners. If Southland residents want to understand why its so difficult to attract businesses that create jobs, I suggest they start by asking a basic question about the system.

Why is the assessed value equal to 10% of the fair market value for residential properties, but 25% of the fair market value for commercial properties?

Most of Cook Countys 5.17 million residents benefit from inequities in the property tax system, which means there is insufficient political incentive to fix the broken system. People in the Southland, however, suffer the most.

Following the money also meant tracking campaign donations for elected officials. Every three months I checked quarterly campaign finance reports filed by many lawmakers, mayors and other public officials. I believed that sharing public information about sources of financial support might help taxpayers understand the motivation and actions of some of their elected representatives.

Of course, there was never enough time to do everything. Someone who writes four columns per week for a daily newspaper must choose four topics from a seemingly infinite number of possibilities. Also, a daily column must be reported, written and illustrated within the span of a few hours.

Advertisement

In the old days, metro columnists had leg men to help with research. I did all my own reporting, but I didnt have the luxury of waiting a few days for someone to get back to me. The availability of information was a major consideration in choosing which topics to pursue.

The columnist role differs from that of, say, an investigative reporter, who may spend weeks collecting information and interviewing people for a single story. I agonized over choices every day. There was so much that needed to be covered, but only so much I was able to do.

I did my best to keep the topics fresh, like bread baked daily. The overwhelming majority of columns were focused on people and issues affecting the Southland. Some days, plans fell through and I had to call an audible. These columns were often among the most read and fun to write.

Many readers agreed with my opinion that Groundhog Day was the best movie ever made. I struck up a pen pal friendship with screenwriter Danny Rubin and finally got to meet him this year at a festival in Woodstock.

My curiosity about driver behavior when the number of lanes is reduced resulted in a column about zipper merging. Increased attention led to official endorsement of the practice in Illinois to promote traffic safety and potentially save lives.

A column about gradually reducing the amount of yard space devoted to grass lawns and promoting the benefits of native plants prompted reaction from all over the world.

Advertisement

Of course, my tenure here coincided with Donald Trumps two presidential campaigns, two impeachments, two criminal indictments (so far) and his impact on American politics, which has affected us all. I felt a duty to point out threats to democracy and the growing influence of authoritarianism.

I never imagined that in my lifetime extremists would take over one of Americas two major political parties, assault reality and use cultural wedge issues to divide us so wealthy elites could deprive working poor of a fair shot at improving their lives, but here we are.

I did my best to be fair. I sought to praise public officials who acted with integrity and criticize those who seemed more concerned with using public resources for personal gain.

I preferred topics that affected the entire region, as opposed to issues that pertained to a particular individual, neighborhood or community. Its no secret that the business model for newspapers has evolved and that there are fewer resources devoted to local journalism than in the past.

I applaud the efforts of citizens, especially in Dolton and Thornton Township, and I think they set an example for how people can hold their representatives accountable and strengthen their communities.

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

Anyone can request documents through the Freedom of Information Act. If you suspect your town is using red-light cameras to generate revenue instead of promote safety, ask for data on how many tickets are issued per year and how much motorists are charged in fines.

Advertisement

A single person can make a significant difference merely by asking questions about how a community is using funds collected through tax increment financing districts. Budgets, levies, assessments and other parts of the tax system can seem confusing and overwhelming at first, but those who spend time trying to figure it out help themselves and their neighbors.

I think the strength of communities will depend on the ability and willingness of citizens to ask questions, share information and pursue transparency and accountability.

Im not ready to publicly share information about my next employment opportunity. There will be a short gap before I begin my new position. Ill use the time to pause and reflect on all life has to offer.

Thanks for reading.

Ted Slowik was a columnist for the Daily Southtown from January 2016 to June 2023.

tslowik@tribpub.com
 Read the full article on Motorious

Are they being serious?

Canada sure has some weird laws, but were shocked to learn a guy who was just cruising around in his Ford Deuce hot rod picked up a ticket for it being unsafe, according to CKPG Today. The issue wasnt that the vehicle is too powerful, has an archaic overall design, or is lowered.

Check out the infamous jet car jump stunt here.

Instead, police took issue with it not having fenders or mudflaps. Have these cops ever seen a hot rod in their life? Maybe they have, but theyre following the BC Motor Vehicle Act Regulations. And they have zero sense for fun.

We might have seen a 32 Ford hot rod with mudflaps and fenders in the past, but we honestly dont recall such a thing. What we want to know is if these guys would cite anyone driving other classics which from the factory dont come with such features?

And we get it: rock throws from other vehicles can cause damage to windshields and body panels, or your head if youre in a convertible. But this seems like a rather aggressive way to enforce the law. Next well hear of a small town in British Columbia thats outlawed dancing because kids got together and had a raucous dance that burned down the old Finley barn.

Thankfully, the owner of this hot rod isnt just going to pay the fine, then add some fenders and mudflaps to make his Deuce look weird. He claims it was inspected not too long before the citation, but the Mounties (or Royal Canadian Mounted Police as they like to be called) did a roadside inspection and determined the vehicle was out of line.

The argument of the hot rod owner is that his vehicle is modified and period-correct, which looking at it wed certainly agree. Go to just about any large car gathering in North America as well as many other parts of the world and youll see a 32 Ford just like it, if not multiples.

Just what is going on in Canada?

Image via CKPG Today

Sign up for the Motorious Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Carrie Fisher fans havent seen the last of the Star Wars icon, whose last film Wonderwell is heading to theaters nearly a decade after her sudden death.

Vlad Marsavins fantasy flick, which the late Postcards from the Edge author finished filming just weeks before her 2016 death, will hit theaters in North America, the United Kingdom and Ireland next week, Deadline reports.

The journey we have taken as filmmakers with this movie, has been as perilous as that of the movie itself, Marsavin told the outlet Wednesday. From filming to screen it has taken us seven years.

The film, which co-stars Rita Ora, was not just plagued by the huge shock of Fishers very emotional passing, but the budget-busting visual effects and the coronavirus pandemic.

Now is the perfect time to share [Fishers] magical on screen moments as Hazel, said Marsavin, who confirmed the project will be dedicated to the beloved late multi-hyphenate.

Carrie was full of energy during filming and even celebrated her 60th birthday with us in Italy where we shot the movie, recalled Marsavin.

Best known for starring as Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy, Fisher died at age 60 in December 2016, following a heart attack suffered on a flight.

The limited theatrical release will kick off in stateside AMC theaters on June 23 before the film becomes available on digital platforms.

Fisher, whose parents were stars Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, is survived by only daughter Billie Lourd. The Booksmart actress has given birth to two children since her mothers death.
Cashier defended herself against man robbing store, then was fired, Colorado suit says

A 72-year-old cashier was fired from Circle K after she defended herself against a man who was armed with a knife and robbing the store, according to a lawsuit filed in Colorado.

The company wrongfully terminated her after she exercised her right to self-defense, according to the lawsuit.

Circle K, a convenience store and gas station chain, did not respond to a request for comment.

Mary Ann Moreno was working alone at the Circle K Sheridan in Westminster, Colorado, on the night of Oct. 4, 2020, according to the lawsuit.

A man walked in carrying two large hunting knives at around 7 p.m., according to the lawsuit. He demanded a pack of cigarettes, and when she tried to ring them up, he told her to give them to him for free, the lawsuit says.

She said that she couldnt give him the cigarettes for free, and he became visibly upset, the lawsuit says. He then walked to the area behind the counter where Moreno was standing and approached a display case of tobacco products, according to the lawsuit.

He reached out for a pack of cigarettes and Moreno instinctively put her hands up to protect herself and prevent the man from coming closer toward her and the merchandise, the lawsuit says.

Surveillance video from the store shows her touch the mans arm with both hands as she says, Dont come back here.

A records clerk at the Westminster Police Department confirmed that the man was accused of having a knife that night. He was arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including aggravated robbery and menacing with a deadly weapon, the lawsuit says.

After the man left the store and police arrived, Moreno was incredibly distraught while talking to officers, the lawsuit says.

A supervisor who arrived at the store later that evening became upset with Moreno and said that she would need to be investigated for pushing the man away, the lawsuit says.

Two days later, the supervisor terminated her employment, the lawsuit says.

Iris Halpern, who is representing Moreno, told McClatchy News that Moreno feared for her safety during the robbery and shouldnt have been penalized for her reaction.

Companies should value the lives of their employees more and understand that in a physically dangerous situation, an employee has the right to defend themselves if theyre afraid of being attacked, she said.

Losing her job at Circle K has negatively impacted Morenos life, according to the lawsuit.

Moreno worked at the store for around 16 years, and it was more than just a job to her, Halpern said. Moreno was not available for an interview.

The thing that has bothers her most is losing her job, she said. She was extremely loyal and loved her customers.

Morenos husband died years ago, and for her, working has been a social outlet, Halpern said.

It was her way of interacting and socializing with the world, she said.

Though she has since found another job as a cashier, she still fears for her job security, panics while working, and worries she might be terminated at any time, the lawsuit says. Shes also earning less and has fewer benefits in her new role than she did at Circle K, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit seeks damages for Morenos emotional pain and suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life, according to the lawsuit. It also seeks economic damages and attorneys fees in an amount to be determined.

Halpern said she hopes that this lawsuit will encourage companies to change their policies around how employees should handle potentially dangerous situations on the job.

I think there has to be more nuance in these policies across the industry that penalize employees for engaging with their would-be assailants, she said. Employees have the right to self-defense. They have victims rights. That doesnt change when theyre in the workplace.

Westminster is about 10 miles north of Denver.

Aspiring state trooper is denied dream job because of his HIV status, Alaska suit says

Arbys manager froze to death in restaurant freezer, and son found her body, suit says

Whataburger fired nursing mom who needed to pump breast milk in Texas, feds say
Chad Doerman, the 32-year-old Clermont County father charged with executing his three young sons, previously faced a domestic violence charge for allegedly choking his father in 2010, according to court records.

The case ultimately was dismissed, apparently after the alleged victim  identified as Keith Doerman, Chad Doerman's father  failed to appear as a prosecution witness.

The elder Doerman was 46 at the time the charges were filed in July 2010. Chad Doerman pleaded not guilty to domestic violence on July 26, 2010, docket filings show. The case was dismissed Aug. 26 of that year.

Ohio man Chad Doerman charged in Clermont County triple murder

Clermont County prosecutors have charged Chad Doerman with three counts of aggravated murder after they say he lined his children up to shoot them each with his rifle. One of the boys had tried to run away, fleeing toward a field near the family's Monroe Township home. David Gast, who heads the Clermont County Prosecutors Office criminal division, said during a Friday arraignment that Doerman "hunted" down the fleeing boy and brought him back to the house, where he was fatally shot.

Court records indicate that Chad Doerman otherwise had about a dozen entries in the Clermont County court system. Most were for traffic violations, such as driving without a seatbelt or operating a vehicle unsafely, the most recent such charge being in 2022.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio man charged in triple murder had earlier domestic violence arrest
Car dealership employee steals estimated $27K from customers in metro Atlanta, authorities say

A Cherokee County man is in custody after officials say he stole thousands from car dealership customers.

Authorities told Channel 2 Action News that 40-year-old Louis McClinton was an employee of Shottenkirk Chrysler Jeep Ram at the time of the incident.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

According to Canton police, McClinton stole an estimated $27,000 from dealership customers.

Police did not say how long McClinton was doing this and how many victims there were.

Cherokee County sheriff records indicate that McClinton was arrested on June 9 and charged with theft by taking.

TRENDING STORIES:

McClinton has bonded out of jail, according to inmate records.

The investigation remains ongoing.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
Chicago Bears release training camp schedule  and 9 practices are open to the public. Heres how to get free tickets.

The Chicago Bears released their 2023 training camp schedule, and nine practices will be open to the public.

Fans will need a free ticket to watch the action at Halas Hall. Tickets will be available at chicagobears.com/camp at 10 a.m. July 6 with a limit of four per date.

As in previous years, fans are not allowed to park at Halas Hall and instead can take the free shuttle bus from nearby Hawthorn Mall with a valid training camp ticket. For more information about parking lot opening times and bus schedules, click here.

Two joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts also will be open to the public. They will take place Aug. 16 and 17 at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, Ind., about 15 miles north of Indianapolis, ahead of the teams preseason game Aug. 19 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Free tickets to the 5 p.m. CT practices can be obtained at colts.com/camp.

2023 Bears training camp schedule
CHICAGO  The Chicago Police Board on Thursday voted to fire a police sergeant for his role in the botched 2019 raid at the home of social worker Anjanette Young.

During its monthly meeting at Chicago Police Department headquarters, the board voted 5-3 to fire Sgt. Alex Wolinski.

Acting on bad information, 13 CPD tactical officers used a no-knock warrant to enter Youngs Near West Side home on Feb. 21, 2019, in search of a man believed to have an illegal gun. Police body-camera footage of the raid showed officers handcuffed Young, who was naked when police arrived, as she repeatedly told them that they were in the wrong place.

Shortly after entering her home, one of the officers draped her with a blanket.

The video footage was first reported by CBS-2, and former Mayor Lori Lightfoots administration tried in vain to stop the footage from being broadcast. Young filed a lawsuit against the city that was later settled for $2.9 million, but a proposed city ordinance that would ban CPDs use of no-knock warrants has stalled.

Then-police Superintendent David Brown brought administrative charges against Wolinski in November 2021, recommending that he be fired. Wolinski, who joined the department in 2002, was accused of violating eight departmental rules, including inattention to duty, disobedience of an order and disrespect to or maltreatment of any person.

The citys Office of Inspector General compiled its own 163-page report on the raid, though its never been released publicly. A summary of the report, released in January 2022, said that Lightfoot and others in her office made a troubling series of unfounded statements about the raid.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability also called for Wolinskis firing. Meanwhile, COPA said several other officers present during the raid should face suspensions  including Officer Ella French, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in West Englewood in August 2021  but to date, no other officers have faced Police Board charges for the raid.

The source of the information that led to the raid, according to police records and sources, was Kenneth Miles  a man who was arrested in February 2022 after police allegedly saw him throw heroin from a car owned by Yolanda Talley, the CPDs chief of internal affairs. Miles was found guilty last year of possession of a controlled substance and sentenced to two years in prison, court records show.

Federal court records show that Wolinski filed a libel suit against Newsweek earlier this year. That suit, which is still pending, stems from an article published in January 2022 that stated Young was handcuffed naked for about 17 minutes during the raid.

In a separate case, the board also voted 8-0 to suspend two officers  David Taylor and Larry Lanier  for their roles in the fatal shooting of Terrell Eason on July 3, 2018, in the 4700 block of West Fulton Street. Easons family later brought a federal lawsuit against the city, but a judge granted the citys motion for summary judgment in 2021, court records show.

____
Chiefs red carpet: This player carried the best accessory of the night  a $3,000 purse

The Kansas City Chiefs walked a red carpet at Union Station Thursday before getting their shiny new Super Bowl rings. And in that fashion parade, one player shined brightest.

Defensive end Carlos Dunlap, now a free agent, carried a bright ochre calfskin purse from the Spanish fashion house Loewe, part of the LVMH family that also owns Louis Vuitton, and a current favorite of fashion-forward celebrities.

Running back Isiah Pacheco carried a bag, too, a Louis Vuitton unisex street style leather crossbody. His $1,800 Christian Louboutin black suede and velvet high-tops with spiked toes, though, upstaged the bag.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco carried a Louis Vuitton unisex street style leather crossbody.

Isiah Pacheco wore $1,800 Christian Louboutin black suede and velvet high-tops with spiked toes.

Former Chiefs safety Juan Thornhills footwear scored big accessory points too  turquoise-colored patent sneakers by Louboutin.

Dunlaps Puzzle bag retails for $2,400 to $3,250, depending on the size. Judging from the purse in Dunlaps hands, we venture it was the more expensive small tote big enough to fit a large wallet, cell phone, shades  and Super Bowl bling.

A $4,100 mens version comes in more muted (less fun?) colors of toffee, black, khaki green and gray.

The Loewe website describes the purse as the debut bag by Loewes creative director Jonathan Anderson. A cuboid shape and precise cutting technique create Puzzles distinctive geometric lines, it says.

The diagonal lines of Dunlaps black sleeveless tuxedo jacket mirrored the asymmetry of the purse.

Wearing Loewe on the red carpet means making a statement, British Vogue declared last year. The Spanish brand, best known for its craft-centric and artistic approach to fashion, deals in deconstructed dresses that are more objets than #OOTDs.

They make industry insiders hearts soar, and the average persons nose scrunch up in confusion. But the best type of fashion  true fashion  is always divisive, right?
The News

The news that China has been operating a spy base in Cuba since 2019 grabbed much of Washingtons attention last week, evoking instant comparisons to the height of the Cold War. But the listening facility is just one piece of what U.S. officials have described as a much broader effort by Beijing to build potential military footholds across Latin America that could help it challenge U.S. dominance in the region.

The Pentagons Southern Command estimates that Chinese state-owned companies are developing deep-water ports in 17 Latin American and Caribbean countries, specifically positioned at maritime choke points that could deny the U.S. military freedom to operate.

U.S. officials are particularly focused on Beijings efforts to build dual use ports in the region that could be activated for military operations in the event of a conflict, including in the Panama Canal and at Ushuaia on Argentinas southern tip. The latter sits astride the Strait of Magellan and could control access to the Arctic.

In any potential global conflict, the PRC could leverage strategic regional ports to restrict U.S. naval and commercial ship access, General Laura Richardson, commander of the Southern Command, testified in March before Congress.

Richardson said the Pentagon is also monitoring Beijings role in developing facilities in five Western hemisphere countries that could provide the Peoples Liberation Army with tracking and surveillance capabilities in outer space.

Know More

China isnt the only U.S. rival attempting to make Latin American inroads.

Leaders of Russia and Iran have been touring South America and the Caribbean in recent weeks to shore up alliances with traditional U.S. foes, such as Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited all three countries this week. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov traveled to Havana, Caracas, Managua, and Brazil at the end of April. During their trips, both stressed the need to create an alternative currency to the U.S. dollar in order to evade pervasive American sanctions.

The Pentagon and American intelligence services are concerned about how Moscow and Tehran can use their Latin American alliances to threaten U.S. interests, particularly in a time of conflict.

Russia maintains deep defense relationships with Cuba and Venezuela, in particular. Meanwhile, U.S. intelligence that Iran has developed terrorist and espionage networks in Latin America, both through its elite Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah proxy..

An American intelligence official told Semafor Tehran could use these networks to make Washington think twice about striking Irans nuclear infrastructure, or responding if it does. The U.S. Justice Department has indicted a string of Revolutionary Guard figures in recent years for allegedly attempting to assassinate American and allied officials inside the U.S.

Jay's view

Chinas, Russias, and Irans recent activities may pose an unprecedented challenge to the 200-year-old Monroe Doctrine, which holds that intervention in the Americas by foreign powers is a direct and hostile act against the U.S. (To be sure, every other major power has had foreign powers or their proxies on their doorstep; the Monroe Doctrine is the U.S. expression of its unease with that.)

Of course, the Soviet Union jockeyed for influence in Latin America during the Cold War, leading to confrontations like the Cuban Missile crisis. But China may pose an even greater threat to U.S. sway in the region, in part, thanks to the sheer size of its economy, and willingness to work together with the Kremlin.

Chinas current trade in Latin America and the Caribbean stands at $450 billion, up from just $18 billion in 2002. This two-way commerce is predicted to reach $700 billion by 2035, on par with the U.S.s trade in the region. The Soviet Union simply never had the economic might to influence wills in the Western Hemisphere as China can now.

The View From Washington

The Biden administration has said in recent days that it has warned Cuba and other countries in the region against hosting Chinese surveillance and military installations. Senior administration officials say they believe their intensified efforts are generating results against Beijing.

Weve engaged governments that are considering hosting PRC bases at high levels and exchanged information with them, an administration official told Semafor. Our experts assess that our diplomatic efforts have slowed the PRC down.

Still, U.S. officials acknowledge that this regional competition against China and its allies is much more about winning the battle over political systems and economies than narrow security issues. China, Russia and Iran are seizing on rising anti-Western sentiment in South America to make gains, said these officials. Countries like Brazil, Argentina and Mexico are seen as particularly critical to setting the regions future trend.

Room for Disagreement

China continues to deny that its operating a spy base in Cuba. The Cold War was at its height during US President Joe Biden's formative years, the editorial board of the government-controlled People's Daily, wrote this week. That perhaps explains why he is so eager to turn back the clock to the days of his childhood, and recreate a threat from the reds that must have thrilled him as a kid.

Notable
BEIJING (Reuters) -Chinese President Xi Jinping called Bill Gates "an old friend" and said he hoped they could cooperate in a way that would benefit both China and the United States, in Xi's first meeting with a foreign entrepreneur in years.

In a meeting at Beijing's Diaoyutai state guest house, where China's leaders have traditionally received senior foreign visitors, Xi said he was very happy to see the Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist after three years, and that Gates was the first American friend he had met this year.

"I often say the foundation of U.S.-China relations lies with its people. I place my hopes on the American people," a video published by state broadcaster CCTV showed Xi as saying.

"With the current global situation, we can carry out various activities beneficial to our two countries and people, activities that benefit humanity as a whole," he said.

Gates, who arrived in Beijing on Wednesday, said he was "honoured" to have the chance to meet. "We've always had great conversations and we'll have lot of important topics to discuss today ... it's very exciting to be back."

In a post on his personal blog, Gates said he and Xi had discussed global health and development challenges such as health inequity and climate change.

Xi stopped travelling abroad for nearly three years as China shut its borders during the coronavirus pandemic and his international meetings since the reopening have mostly been with other state leaders.

A number of CEOs have visited China since it reopened early this year, but most have met with government ministers.

Gates stepped down from Microsoft's board in 2020 to focus on philanthropy in the fields of global health, education and climate change.

The last reported meeting between Xi and Gates was in 2015, when they met on the sidelines of the Boao forum in Hainan province. In early 2020, Xi wrote to Gates thanking him and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for pledging assistance to China, including $5 million for its fight against COVID-19.

Xi also discussed the global rise of artificial intelligence (AI) with Bill Gates and said he welcomed U.S. firms including Microsoft bringing their AI tech to China, two sources familiar with the talks said.

One of the sources said they also discussed Microsoft's business development in China.

NOT PURSUING HEGEMONY

The mood of the foreign business community towards China has turned more cautious as Sino-U.S. tensions intensify and Xi increases China's focus on national security.

Gates' visit comes ahead of a long-delayed trip to China by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken aimed at stabilizing relations between the world's two largest economies and strategic rivals.

Blinken had a tense call with China's foreign minister Qin Gang on Wednesday, during which Qin urged the United States to stop meddling in its affairs and harming its security.

During his meeting with Gates, Xi said China would not follow the old path of a "strong country seeking hegemony" but would work with other countries to achieve common development, according to the People's Daily newspaper. China often accuses the United States of pursuing hegemony.

Apart from meeting Xi, Gates gave a speech at the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute about the need to use technology to solve global health challenges during his visit.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Beijing municipal government, which founded the institute with Tsinghua University, also pledged to each provide $50 million to bolster the institute's drug discovery capacity.

(Reporting by Beijing and Hong Kong Newsrooms and Brenda Goh; Editing by Christopher Cushing, Edwina Gibbs, Philippa Fletcher)
East Dundee's first Motor Mondays cruise night of the summer will be held downtown Monday night. A similar event is being held Tuesday at Panton Mill Park in South Elgin. (MiRPA / HANDOUT)

Unite U-46 update session set for Tuesday night

The next Unite U-46 update session is scheduled for 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, from the U-46 Welcome Center, 1019 E. Chicago St., Elgin.

According to the U-46 website, the session will provide a review on where things stand related to the districts facilities master plan, which calls for extensive building, remodeling and maintenance work.

Advertisement

Registration is not required, but is requested to help in planning. A recording of the presentation will be available online following the event.

To register or for more information, go to www.u-46.org/uniteu46.

Advertisement

The Stingrays to perform at Elgins Wing Park Band Shell

The city of Elgin is hosting a free concert by The Stingrays, which perform rock oldies, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, at the Wing Park Band Shell, 1010 Wing St.

Guests are reminded to bring bug spray, lawn chairs and blankets for the outdoor music event.

For more information, call 847-931-6123.

The Illinois Law Enforcement Medals of Honor have been awarded to Carpentersville Deputy Police Chief Kevin Stankowitz and detective Ian Abrahamsen for their handling of a 2019 situation involving an armed gang member in a crowded neighborhood. (Village of Carpentersville/HANDOUT)

Two Carpentersville cops receive state Medals of Honor

Two Carpentersville police officers were recently awarded the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly.

The award is given to officers who have displayed exceptional bravery or heroism while performing their duties as law enforcement officers.

On June 18, 2019, then-Sgt. Kevin Stankowitz and then-Officer Ian Abrahamsen responded to a call about a gang member with a gun in a crowded neighborhood, according to a news release. A suspect opened fire on the officers vehicle, prompting Abrahamsen to return fire.

Abrahamsen shot the suspect twice, and both officers took him into custody when he fled on foot, the release said. The handgun used in the incident was recovered.

Stankowitz is now Carpentersvilles deputy police chief and Abrahamsen is a detective.

Advertisement

East Dundee, South Elgin holding cruise nights this week

The Depot in downtown East Dundee will be hosting its first Motor Monday Cruise Night from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday, June 19, and the village of South Elgin will be doing the same from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, in Panton Mill Park, 10 N. Water St.

Both family-friendly events are free and open to all makes and models of cars and trucks.

East Dundees gathering is hosted in conjunction with the nonprofit Midwest Racing Preservation Association, which promotes and preserves the history of Carpentersvilles Meadowdale International Raceway and all midwest motorsports.

It will be held along North River Street, with the entrance for participating vehicles at Barrington Avenue. To volunteer to help and for more information, call 224-293-7113 or email kdiehl@eastdundee.net.

South Elgins event is open without registration to all vehicle owners and attendees. Concessions will be available.

For more information, call 847-622-0003.

Advertisement

Author Scott Turow will be the guest speaker at St. Charles Public Library Foundations Books and Brunch fundraising event, which is scheduled for Oct. 1. (Victor Hilitski / Chicago Tribune)

Author Scott Turow to speak at St. Charles library event

The St. Charles Public Library Foundation has announced that author Scott Turow will be the guest speaker at this years Books and Brunch fundraising event from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1.

Turow is the author of many bestselling works of fiction, including Presumed Innocent, Testimony and The Burden of Proof.

The event will be held at the St. Charles Country Club at 1250 Country Club Road in St. Charles, and includes a lecture, autograph signing, book giveaways, basket raffles and food.

Tickets go on sale June 26 for $65 per person and must be purchased in advance by calling the librarys administration office at 630-584-0076, Ext. 230, or in person at the library at 1 S. Sixth Ave. in St. Charles.

The St. Charles Public Library Foundation is a nonprofit corporation established in 1993 to provide funds to enhance and enrich library programs and services.
PERRYTON, Texas (AP)  As Sabrina Devers watched what would turn out to be a deadly storm approach her ranch just north of the Texas Panhandle town Perryton, she first spotted golf ball-sized and then softball-sized hail.

Then, Devers said, across the high plains toward Perryton, the system spawned a tornado.

Once the twister had moved through, Devers drove into into the town to find a path of wreckage local officials estimated was a quarter of a mile (400 meters) wide, and 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) long. The Thursday afternoon storm would be blamed for three deaths and more than 100 injuries as it destroyed hundreds of homes, tossed vehicles into buildings and knocked out power and cellphone service in Perryton, a town of 8,000 about 115 miles (185 kilometers) northeast of Amarillo, just south of the Oklahoma line.

The devastation was unbelievable," Devers told Fox Weather. It took a tanker truck and threw it into a pasture.

Cleanup efforts were underway Friday in Texas as the same system that slapped Perryton continued to wreak havoc as it marched across the Deep South, dumping rain in the Florida Panhandle and sending howling winds into Mississippi. In total, the storms were blamed for five deaths: three in Texas, and one each in Florida and Mississippi.

Ochiltree General Hospital in Perryton treated 115 patients suffering minor to major injuries, including head trauma, collapsed lungs, lacerations and broken bones, the medical center said on Facebook.

We kind of expected to see more last night and we didnt, the hospital's interim CEO, Kelly Judice, said. We just want people in our community to know that were here. Were open. We have clinics open. Were ready for business to take care of the people that need to be treated.

People with routine medical checkups planned were asked to reschedule.

The hospital was operating on a generator and some patients were being treated in a sunlit conference room since exam rooms in one clinic dont have windows, Judice said.

Among those helping out at the hospital on Thursday was Dr. Mark Garnett, the medical director of Majestic Laser on Main Street who hitched a ride to there after the tornado hit.

People were coming out the woodwork to help and volunteer, he said. The response from the area was tremendous.

Earlier Thursday, he and the staff at the clinic on Main Street had been listening to the rain come down and watching the lights flicker. They thought the tornado might be passing north of Perryton instead of right above them.

We could hear the rain intensity getting a little louder and then we started hearing some hail and thats when everyones phones went off with a tornado warning, Garnett said.

He went to the door and realized that he was in the middle of a tornado. He could see trees and debris flying in the air. Garnett and the staff sheltered in the back of the clinic as the glass in the front door shattered.

As he heard the tornado pass, Garnett stepped out onto Main Street and was stunned by the level of debris and destruction.

We were all just wondering what had happened and how we were still alive, he said.

Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher estimated that 150 to 200 homes in the community had been destroyed and said that in the downtown area, many storefronts were totally wiped off and buildings had collapsed or partially collapsed.

It is such a tragedy, Dutcher said on NBCs Today show. All the stuff behind me, it can all be rebuilt, but those lives that weve lost is really the tragedy of everything."

Tornadic activity is not typical for this time of year, according to meteorologist Matt Mosier at the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.

You expect thunderstorms this time of year, Mosier said. Its definitely not rare, but tornadoes are not on a lot of peoples minds because theyve just kind of moved away from the season that theyre typically focused on (tornadoes).

This week has been very warm with moist, unstable conditions that combined with strong wind shear, which is abnormal for this time of year, Mosier said.

In the Florida Panhandle, a person died Thursday night when at least one confirmed tornado cut through Escambia County, toppling a tree onto a home, county spokesperson Andie Gibson told the Pensacola News Journal.

Flash flooding also was reported in Pensacola where between 12 and 16 inches (30 and 40 centimeters) of rain has fallen since Thursday evening, said Caitlin Baldwin, a meteorologist with the National Weather Services Mobile in Pensacola.

In West Pensacola, flash floodwaters surrounded an apartment complex that was evacuated of all its 146 residents. Boats were used to remove some and take them to a local community center, said Davis Wood, public information officer for Escambia County Public Safety. No injuries were reported.

In Mississippi a man died after a tree fell on him during stormy weather early Friday. Canton Police Chief Otha Brown told WLBT-TV the man was killed after high winds toppled a tree onto his carport as he was entering his car.

The storm system also brought hail and possible tornados to northwestern Ohio.

More than 536,000 customers were without electricity in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida on Friday afternoon, according to the poweroutage.us website.

The National Weather Service in Amarillo was surveying damage Friday to determine the tornado rating in the Perryton area, meteorologist Brett Muscha said.

More thunderstorms were possible in the far northern Texas Panhandle and the Oklahoma Panhandle Friday afternoon and night, Muscha said. The greatest chance of strong and severe storms were on the Oklahoma side with golf ball-size hail and 60 mph (100 kph) wind gusts.

Also in Texas and Southern states including Louisiana, heat advisories were in effect Friday and were forecast into the Juneteenth holiday weekend with temperatures reaching toward 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). It was expected to feel as hot as 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius).

Earlier this week, damaging winds toppled trees, damaged buildings and blew cars off a highway as powerful storms crossed the South from Texas to Georgia.

___

Brumfield reported from Washington, D.C. and Dupuy from New York. Associated Press journalists Ken Miller reported from Oklahoma City; Rick Callahan in Indianapolis; Robert Jablon in Los Angeles; Michael Goldberg in Jackson, Mississippi; Juan Lozano in Houston and Adam Kealoha Causey in Dallas contributed to this report.
Clovis Unified approves its first-ever union contract. What it means for staff, students

Clovis Unified School District psychologists and mental health service providers will receive higher pay and better benefits, following the school boards unanimous approval of a contract with the Association of Clovis Educators Wednesday night.

The agreement is the first-ever certificated contract in the districts history, ACE said in a statement. After more than 30 bargaining sessions, all articles of the approved contract will take effect when the 2023-2024 academic year begins in August.

The contract will now provide the resources for addressing staffing ratios and workload, providing Mental Health Professionals with a stronger voice and position for advocating for the needs of their students, the union said in a statement.

Bargaining unit members will also receive a 13.75% pay increase retroactive to July 1, 2022. ACE union organizers compared salary averages across nine school districts close in distance and size to Clovis Unified and determined the salary increase boosts the districts mental health workers from being the lowest-paid to ranking sixth.

Also, in the second year of the now-effective contract, psychologists and MHSPs will receive a guaranteed 3.5% pay increase. The contract also says that if the district reaches a separate agreement with other staff groups for a pay increase larger than 3.5%, it will boost the salary increase for the psychologists and MHSPs to match the larger raise.

The unions contract also includes:

stipends for additional roles and time worked outside contract hours

a new bilingual stipend and increases to existing longevity and doctoral stipends

funds to access professional development and purchase job-related resources and/or maintain credentials

protections for part-time positions and guidelines for changes in part-time status

contract language guaranteeing leave time

We are pleased to have reached an agreement with ACE over a contract that we believe meets the needs of our students, Clovis Unified stated. We did not leave this process feeling we needed to immediately renegotiate any articles of the contract.

Melissa Saunders is an MHSP at the Reagan Educational Center (formed by Reyburn Intermediate and Clovis East High schools) and a member of the unions bargaining team.

Saunders said it felt very surreal to have witnessed the school board approve the contract with the union.

It is an amazing feeling after all the work we put in on all of the articles, the writing and editing, she said, we spent well over a year working on this on behalf of our colleagues.

More mental health support for elementary school students

Along with gaining new and improved benefits through the contract, psychologists and MHSP staff will also get more time to spend with elementary school students. That should result in better assessments, more support groups and more individual counseling, according to the union.

Saunders said all school sites have a base time, which is the time psychologists and MHSPs spend with students. At the elementary level, thats two days per week.

After COVID-19 changed teaching methods and challenged students mental health, Saunders said it was evident that elementary students were struggling immensely compared to middle and high school students, who have more and better access to MHSPs.

The newly approved contract includes funding to hire more staff, which will increase the base time for psychologists at elementary schools, Saunders said.

In the long run students, sites and staff will benefit greatly from the contract, she said.

Teresa Daddato, a third grade teacher who has taught at Tarpey Elementary for 35 years, expressed her support for the union during the public comment segment of the board meeting.

Psychologists and MHSPs provide a vital role and support for teachers in the classroom, she told The Bee.

Were seeing more and more issues with students, Daddato said, particularly after COVID-19 and them not having a lot of socialization opportunities.

Will Clovis teachers form a union?

Daddato, who is not a member of ACEs psychologists and MHSPs union, also voiced her support for other staff unions.

The process that psychologists and MHSPs went through to get their contract was really important and paved the way for the teachers to also take that path, she told The Bee.

Clovis Unified teachers have attempted to unionize through ACE since 2020, but failed to receive enough support to move forward with the process. The district continues to rank as Californias largest district without a teachers union.

Were hoping  and were hopeful  that that (unionizing) will come soon, Daddato said. Well see how things go as our minds become more open to the possibility (of unionizing) here.

The Education Lab is a local journalism initiative that highlights education issues critical to the advancement of the San Joaquin Valley. It is funded by donors. Learn about The Bees Education Lab at its website.
Eight years after he filed a libel and defamation lawsuit related to a leaflet critical of his personal behavior, Colleyille Mayor Bobby Lindamood has been ordered to pay about $200,000 in fees to attorneys who represent the plaintiffs.

The lawsuit, filed in May 2015 on the day before an election, alleged Lindamoods former stepmother, former stepsister and others conspired with his incumbent opponent, Mike Taylor, and allies to produce and distribute literature known as an alert. It contained what the lawsuit asserted was an altered Lindamood deposition in a probate matter involving Lindamood fathers estate. Notations on the political document suggested Lindamood had engaged in misconduct and improper behavior.

The suit was dismissed in 348th District Court in Tarrant County in an order underpinned by the Texas Citizens Participation Act. The anti-SLAPP statute protects people who discuss matters of public concern from retaliation. Elements of the lawsuit were also considered by the Second Court of Appeals.

The lawsuits final judgment was filed on May 25. Lindamood was not immediately available for comment on Friday.

The document was mailed to voters and could be expected to damage Lindamood and his business, JRs Demolition & Excavation Inc., according to a lawsuit claim.

The conclusions were false and a smear, Lindamood argued.

Dirty politics is alive and well in Colleyville, Texas, Lindamoods attorneys, Bruce James, Patrick Rose and Thomas Harkins, wrote in the lawsuit.

Taylor has said neither he nor his campaign team was involved in the literatures release.

Beyond Taylor, the defendants were Kayla Lindamood, Maranda Collins, Jan Mogged, James Fletcher and the Protect Colleyville political action committee.

Whether the city should make Glade Road wider was a central issue about which Lindamood and Taylor disagreed in the campaign that occurred during the lawsuits filing. Lindamood lost the 2015 election and defeated incumbent Chuck Mogged in 2016. He was elected mayor in 2022.
If you are pregnant or a new mother and you are in crisis, the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides free, confidential support 24/7 in English and Spanish. Call or text the hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.

A Colorado woman is facing murder and child abuse charges after she allegedly strangled her 2-month-old son while dealing with postpartum mental health struggles, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by NBC News.

Anna Louise Englunds son was pronounced dead at Boulder Community Hospital Saturday night, just after 10:45 p.m. local time. About six hours earlier, Boulder police had responded to a request for a welfare check on Englund, 29, who had left home with her infant in the car and was possibly having a mental health crisis, according to the police department.

Englunds car was located at around 10:20 p.m., police said. Officers found the mother and son in the hospital parking lot and rushed the baby to the emergency room, where he could not be revived.

Englund allegedly told police she killed her son after weeks of sleep deprivation that had changed her ability to function, the arrest affidavit said.

She did not believe she would survive with the sleep problem and didnt want him to suffer in life like I have, it read.

Anna Englund. (Anna Englund / via Facebook)

Englund was booked into the Boulder County Jail Sunday morning on two counts of murder and one count of child abuse resulting in death. She is currently being held without bond, according to online jail records.

The two murder counts she faces are for murder in the first degree after deliberation and first-degree murder for a death of a child by someone in a position of trust, the affidavit states.

A status conference for Englunds case was held Thursday morning in court, where a preliminary hearing was set for Sept. 8.

Englunds defense attorney did not respond to a phone call and email from NBC News, and multiple family members declined to comment on the case.

The arrest affidavit details multiple ways in which Englund said she allegedly tried to strangle her son. It also says that she had a small laceration on herself that she told police was from a suicide attempt.

The coroners office will determine the babys cause of death, police said. A spokesperson for the office could not immediately be reached.

I didnt want him to suffer

The affidavit alleges that Englund told police that she had sought treatment for postpartum mental health issues and that the babys father had taken steps to attempt to protect the child.

Englund told an officer that the babys father locked her in a room to separate her from him and the baby while they slept because he was worried she would do something to them, the affidavit says. It also said she told officers she had been hospitalized twice in the past two weeks because of suicidal ideation and that she had made appointments to see a therapist but didnt go to them because of sleep deprivation.

The affidavit goes on to say that Englund told police she had been prescribed a medication when she was in the hospital about a week earlier, but only took it once because she felt suicidal afterward. Englund said the only other medication she had taken recently was an over-the-counter sleep aid to help her sleep the night before she allegedly killed her son.

The babys father told NBC affiliate KUSA of Denver that Englund stayed overnight during both of her hospital visits and that she left when doctors released her. The local station did not name the babys father, and NBC News could not confirm his identity.

Celanie Pinnell, director of marketing and public relations for Boulder Community Health, said she could not disclose any information about Englunds visits, citing patient privacy laws, and declined to share information about how the hospital treats postpartum psychosis.

While we know there is public interest in this story, we will not be providing any additional comment and will cooperate with local authorities if requested, Pinnell said over email.

According to the affidavit, Englund told police that she had been anxious earlier Saturday as she thought about her son.

I didnt want to be a murderer, but I didnt want him to suffer, she allegedly said. She told police she feared for her son because the world was crazy and said she was worried he would get really sick and it would be my fault because I brought him here and then I left him cuz I killed myself.

The affidavit says Englund told police she regretted hurting the babys father by killing their son, and acknowledged that what she did was wrong, adding that she never showed emotion and noted that she was unsure why she was stoic as she recounted what happened.

A spotlight on postpartum mood disorders

Englunds case comes nearly six months after a Massachusetts woman, Lindsay Clancy, 32, was accused of strangling her three young children to death in what her attorney has argued was caused by inadequate treatment for postpartum depression and possibly postpartum psychosis. (Prosecutors have said Lindsay Clancy was told she didnt have postpartum depression or any symptoms when she was evaluated last year, and that she was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder.)

Clancys case made national headlines and prompted a spike in phone calls to the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration previously told NBC News.

Postpartum depression affects about 1 in 8 mothers, and is characterized by persistent sadness, numbness or feeling disconnected from your baby. It can also include worrying that you will hurt the infant and doubting your ability to care for them, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Postpartum psychosis is a far more rare and severe condition that occurs in an estimated 1 or 2 out of every 1,000 deliveries, according to the advocacy group Postpartum Support International. The condition, a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment, can involve hallucinations that alter peoples sense of reality after childbirth, sometimes driving them to harm themselves or their children.

Among mothers suffering from postpartum psychosis, about 5% will attempt suicide and 4% will commit infanticide, according to Postpartum Support International.

This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Chris and Jess Young enter the ticketing area at John Glenn Columbus International Airport in this December 2022 file photo.

Columbus two airports are anticipating a record summer for air travel, and you can be part of it by flying directly to The Big Apple, The Big Easy, The Windy City or Sin City.

You can also now visit  without a layover  what has been called the "Live Music Capital of the World" (Austin, Texas) and the "Smithsonian of the South" (Raleigh, North Carolina).

John Glenn Columbus International Airport and Rickenbacker International Airport have expanded their nonstop flight offerings in the last two years, and have hit a milestone of 50 nonstop destinations across North America.

Here are the recently added nonstop flight offerings (all leave from John Glenn):

Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina via Breeze Airways

Orange County, California via Breeze Airways (seasonal)

Providence, Rhode Island via Breeze Airways

Austin, Texas via Southwest

The Columbus Regional Airport Authority, which operates the John Glenn and Rickenbacker airports, is anticipating summer air travel volumes this year to fully rebound from pandemic levels and surpass the record-breaking season in 2019.

The authority is projecting around 1 million scheduled departing airline seats between June 1 and July 31. Thats compared to 996,000 seats during the same time period in 2019.

Weve seen nearly all our routes return that were lost during the pandemic, said Betsy Taylor, manager of passenger airline business development for the airport authority. This summer is expected to be busy, with airlines flying larger aircraft into our region.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, about half of the passengers flying out of Columbus were traveling for leisure, according to the authority.

At the beginning of 2022, Taylor said that leisure travelers had become the clear majority, and the authority responded by adding more flights to popular vacation spots  like nonstop flights to Miami or Cancun, Mexico.

Leisure travel is still strong, but business travel has been returning, Taylor told The Dispatch earlier this month. Work travel is looking a bit different these days, with some passengers purposefully looking to extend their business travel into a leisure trip. The industry has been referring to this as bleisure travel.

Here are some sunny destinations you can fly to directly from Columbus airports this summer (some are seasonal, but all are offered in July 2023):

Atlanta via Delta or Southwest

Cancun via American, Southwest or Vacation Express

Charleston, South Carolina via Allegiant or Breeze

Charlotte, North Carolina via American

Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas via American or Southwest

Fort Lauderdale, Florida via Allegiant, Southwest or Spirit

Houston via Southwest or United

Jacksonville, Florida via Breeze

Las Vegas via Southwest or Spirit

Los Angeles via Spirit

Miami via American

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina via Allegiant or Southwest

Nashville via Southwest

New Orleans via Breeze or Spirit

Orlando, Florida via Allegiant, Frontier, Southwest or Spirit

Phoenix via American or Southwest

San Francisco via United

Tampa, Florida via Allegiant or Southwest

The airport authority keeps an updated list of nonstop flights.

If youre willing to drive to Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport (the cheapest parking lot is $9 per day), that airport boasts more than 50 nonstop destinations, including some Columbus isn't connected to directly.

A few of those destinations with warm weather include Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Los Cabos, Mexico; Savannah, Georgia; and some Florida destinations like Fort Myers and Key West. You can also reach London directly from Cincinnati via British Airways.

More: Traveling this summer is going to be expensive, but Ohioans still plan to do a lot of it

jlaird@dispatch.com

@LairdWrites

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Warm vacation spots you can fly nonstop to from Columbus this summer
Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, visited the positions of Ukrainian defenders on the Bakhmut front and planned further actions with the brigade commanders.

Source: Syrskyi on Telegram

Quote: "Bakhmut front. The defence forces continue to go forward and liberate the Ukrainian land.

[I] visited our soldiers on the frontline. Together with the commanders of brigades and tactical groups we identified the main tasks and planned further actions.

The enemy continues to transfer its military units near Bakhmut, concentrating large forces on this front. But we have a clear task  de-occupation of our territories.

Our advantage is in quality, accuracy and motivation.

[I] expressed my gratitude to our defenders for their quality work and progress. In particular, I commended the units of the 3rd Brigade, 5th Brigade, 54th Brigade, 57th Brigade and 80th Brigade."

Details: Syrskyi said that the mercenaries of the Wagner Private Military Group left their positions on the Bakhmut front, and those Russian invaders who took their place are weaker than the militants of Yevgeny Prigozhin [owner of Wagner Group  ed.].

According to the colonel general, important work lies ahead and the Russians will be defeated.

        pic.twitter.com/QFiDpqfpsh     (@ukrpravda_news) June 16, 2023

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
The mobile Internet will be turned off before the arrival of Russian President Vladimir Putin at the St. Petersburg forum  allegedly for "engineering works", but in fact, to secure the forum venue from a possible attack.

Source: Meduza, the Russian Latvia-based media outlet; Kremlin-aligned media TASS; Russian journalists on Telegram

Quote from journalist Farida Rustamova: "On Friday, Putin will address the St. Petersburg forum  he will come there after all, although there were doubts about this. But so that drones do not attack the forum site during the plenary session of the traditional Putin event, mobile Internet services will not be available."

Details: Reportedly, the Internet will be turned off locally  only on the territory of the Expoforum congress and exhibition centre, where the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is held.

The press service of the Russian Congress, which arranges the forum, said that interruptions with the mobile Internet are possibly allegedly "due to engineering works."

Anton Kobyakov, Russian presidential advisor and executive secretary of the organising committee for the preparation of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), said that participants and guests of the forum will be able to use the SPIEF2023 projects Wi-Fi network.

Meduza recalled that from 7 to 9 June, access to the Internet was limited in the cities of Sochi and Adler due to Vladimir Putin attending the Eurasian Congress.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
In April 2018, former Wichitan Pedro Lerma was the keynote speaker at the Zavala Hispanic Leadership Banquet in Wichita Falls.

Pedro Lerma

In his speech, he told the crowd that he regretted dropping out of college before earning his degree.

A few days later, he received a LinkedIn invitation from Midwestern State Universitys former vice president for university advancement, Tony Vidmar, who had attended the event.

Vidmar suggested that it wasnt too late. Lerma could still complete his degree. Vidmar offered to help get the process started if Lerma was interested.

Lerma followed up, thinking that getting a diploma would be a box he could check off in his head. A task completed. Move on to the next one.

He already owned a highly successful advertising agency in Dallas, LERMA/. A degree was not something he needed at this point in his life.

But when Lerma received his bachelor of applied arts and sciences degree from MSU Texas in December 2022, it turned out to be much more personal and emotional than he thought it would be.

What he realized upon receiving his diploma was that it was a box he could check off in his heart.

Lerma moved to Wichita Falls when he was 10 and considers it his hometown.

Its where I was shaped, he said.

He attended Notre Dame High School and graduated from Rider High School in 1988. He enrolled at Midwestern State and pledged Kappa Sigma, which played a big role in keeping me in school as long as I was, he said.

He got a job selling ads for radio station KNIN. While selling radio spots, he met Craig Draper of the DesignWorks ad agency.

He and I got along well, and one day he asked me, Why dont you come to work for me? Lerma said. I liked the agency, the environment and the work they did, so I agreed.

In 1998 Lerma moved to Dallas and began working in the digital marketing division of The Richards Group, which was at one time one of the largest agencies in the country.

I was eventually put in charge of that division, and we grew to become the largest of the specialized divisions in The Richards Groups family of companies, Lerma said.

In late 2008, Stan Richards, the Richards Group founder, and Lerma had a conversation about launching a Hispanic marketing agency, Lerma said. In early 2009, they launched Richards/Lerma.

He was 51% owner in that company, which achieved early success working with brands like The Home Depot; Metro by T-Mobile; Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and RAM trucks; and Dr Pepper.

After 10 years as Richards/Lerma, the agency rebranded to simply LERMA/ and in 2021 it became an independent agency with Lerma as the sole owner.

Over those years, we have evolved beyond just the Hispanic market, Lerma said.

Today we work across audience segments. We talk about ourselves as a cross-cultural agency built on the foundation of multiculturalism. And with brands increasingly needing to connect with a more multicultural America, we see ourselves as uniquely equipped to help brands navigate the future," he said.

This is Pedro Lermas Kappa Sigma photo from the 1989 Midwestern State University Wai-Kun yearbook.

Lermas agency continues to grow and get attention. Theyre doubling office space, opening new offices in downtown Dallas last year. Also last year, Ad Age recognized LERMA/ as Small Agency of the Year.

High profile accounts include Avocados From Mexico, The Home Depot, Jim Beam, Makers Mark, Instacart and the Salvation Army.

In Super Bowl LVII, which aired in February, the agency had three spots, one for Avocados From Mexico and two for He Gets Us. None of LERMA/s ads have been more talked about than the He Gets Us campaign, which aims to reintroduce people to Jesus.

Lerma said his agency gave the account a good amount of consideration before accepting the challenge. They took it on because they realized there was a need for rebranding how Christians are perceived.

Christianity has been weaponized, Lerma said. We wanted to create an ad that would unify a population as diverse as weve become.

Lerma said that while there were detractors from both ends of the cultural spectrum, most embraced the concept that the ads intend to get across.

Another high point for Lerma will be June 29 when he will be presented with the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter of the American Marketing Association.

The honor is given to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the marketing industry over the course of their career.

Pedro Lerma is a marketing and advertising veteran who is reshaping the advertising landscape in the DFW region and who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation throughout his career, the AMA DFW website states.

His work has had a profound impact on the marketing industry and continues to make waves that are felt way beyond the boundaries of our market, the website states.

LERMA/s new office building has a place in the skyline of downtown Dallas.

Lerma would not take sole credit for earning the tribute.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities Ive been given and the people Ive had the opportunity to work alongside. This accolade is one I share with a lot of people, he said.

With these honors, what difference did a college diploma make? Lerma wonders if not having his degree may have held him back psychologically with buried insecurity.

Thats no longer a hindrance. Maybe I do have more confidence now that Ive accomplished earning a degree, he said.

As for any differences in Lermas business world now that he has a degree, he says that as he looks for candidates for his company, he appreciates their accomplishments now that he knows what earning a degree takes.

But he still recognizes other attributes even if they havent completed a degree. Although Lerma said he wouldnt change any of his past experience, he cautions anyone against following his example of earning a degree later in life.

Dont look at this as a model. I might have been more successful if I had finished the first time around, he said.

Earlier this year, Lerma took the time to do something uncommon.

He emailed MSU Texas administration to tell them how much he appreciated the support he received from Vidmar, Delores Jackson, former coordinator of the bachelor of applied arts and sciences program, and Interim President Keith Lamb.

I felt indebted to them. Delores was so helpful and encouraging. The requirements were complex for me, and she was super helpful, he said.

That outreach and the subsequent support from each of you meant a lot to me, Lerma wrote.

Jackson has since retired.

He told them that he didnt realize how meaningful earning a degree would be until he had his diploma.

"I have an enormous sense of pride and accomplishment  that I didnt really expect," he wrote.

"As educators, I have to imagine you know that you impact lives positively every day," Lerma wrote. "But Im also sure that you dont hear about it nearly enough. So here you go. Consider my life impacted in the best way possible by your kindness and support.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Completing degree at MSU high point for Lerma
WASHINGTON  One influential lawmaker is encouraging the U.S. military to accept more risk in pursuing unmanned systems, with the hope these drones can fill capability gaps left behind when old systems retire.

Federal spending caps for fiscal 2024 and fiscal 2025 forced the House Armed Services Committee to agree to retire aging ships and aircraft they may have otherwise fought to keep a little while longer, Rep Rob Wittman told Defense News.

But, he warned, theres probably going to be some gap between when old platforms like the Air Forces A-10s and the Navys cruisers retire, and when the services can fully rebuild their inventory.

I think it really calls to the forefront the issue of using other smaller, less expensive, attritable platforms as the gap-filler, Wittman, R-Va., said in a June 14 interview in his Capitol Hill office.

Those things can be very, very capable, and these are platforms that are already out there that could go to production tomorrow. So unmanned surface vessels, unmanned underwater vessels  the Navy really has to push the gas pedal on this and say: OK, how do we get these platforms integrated?  added Wittman, who chairs the committees tactical air and land forces panel and also sits on its sea power and projection forces subcommittee.

Though Congress has questioned some of the Navys experimentation and acquisition efforts following expensive mistakes with the Littoral Combat Ship program, among others, Wittman said now is an appropriate time to take more risk in pursuing unmanned surface and subsurface vessels at a quicker pace.

The Navy has largely eyed programs of record based on the size of the platform: its aiming to award a contract for the Large Unmanned Surface Vessels design and construction in FY25, and a Medium USV would likely follow a few years behind. The Orca Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle program is running several years behind in the construction and testing of five prototype vehicles, but the Navy expects to see a version operating overseas by FY26.

A graphic illustration shows the Orca, an extra-large unmanned undersea vehicle. (U.S. Navy)

Wittman said the Navy could potentially move faster if it focused on mission rather than size, which is more in line with the experimentation happening in the Middle East under Task Force 59.

They need to go out there and say, Listen, we believe this platform will do a great job as an addition to a carrier strike group, or as an addition to an [amphibious ready group], or destroyer squadron, or Virginia-class [attack submarine], or Ohio-class [ballistic missile submarine], and then buy a relative number that you can test very vigorously for 12-18 months, and then either modify them or move into serial production, he said.

The good news is, these things are at a price point where you can afford to take some risks. You can afford to have platforms that you look at and go: Gosh, looked like it was going to work out, but it just didnt,  he added.

Hed also prefer the Navy have unmanned surface vehicles that can only perform surveillance missions, others solely meant for electronic warfare and more that only shoot weapons, he said, versus spent too much money and too much time trying to pursue a platform that can do it all.

I just want the Navy to look at those things, and I think they can do that speed of relevance. Thats going to be the gap-filler because our exquisite platforms  aircraft carriers, our surface ships, our submarines  all great platforms, but it takes years and years and years to get them in the inventory. So even with the best of intentions, were not going to have that capability in time for when China might attack Taiwan.

What about the Air Force?

The Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee included language in its section of the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act setting cost limits for collaborative combat aircraft plans, which would see a drone serve as a wingman for crewed jets, such as the future Next Generation Air Dominance fighter.

Wittman said this is a preemptive measure, and not because he has concerns about collaborative combat aircraft. In fact, he explained, he is very comfortable with what hes seen, including several vendors with many options that come in at a good cost point.

He also said hes optimistic about the way the competition is looking at this early stage, but wants to avoid requirements and therefore cost ballooning.

Weve seen that too many times with programs where were chasing requirements, were chasing technology, and you never catch it. And then all of the sudden we see platforms that started out as [an] X-million-dollar platform [that] are now three or four times the cost, he noted.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall wants the collaborative combat aircraft, or CCA, to be cheap enough that, in some cases, the service can afford to lose some in combat. A drone wingman that could be sacrificed might not need as many protective subsystems, which could help keep down costs, Kendall said at the September 2022 Defense News conference.

Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., speaks May 17, 2023, at the National Press Club in Washington. (Colin Demarest/Staff)

The service considers CCAs a way to deliver combat capability at a lower price point and to move away from recent spiraling costs of fighters and bombers.

For his part, Wittman considers these drones important in light of the retirements of legacy Air Force planes and a dip in inventory in the short term. He connected CCA efforts to another program, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, for which the NDAA proposes creating a formal major subprogram to focus on the continuous development and delivery of new F-35 capabilities, and designating six aircraft as permanent test assets for this work.

Wittman said the focus of these efforts is to address ongoing software issues as well as engine power and cooling challenges today, and prepare to quickly address challenges in the coming decades.

Along with partners, theres going to be 3,300 of these aircraft out there. What we dont want is all of a sudden for somebody to come back in 10 years and go: Oh, sorry, the whole fleets antiquated,  he said. So lets do some rigorous testing and evaluation, figure out how do we make sure this platform gets maximum utility. And I think there are a lot of ways that they can do that  and especially if you combine this platform with combat collaborative aircraft, and you combine it with E-7s, which has to happen  all of a sudden this aircraft is a pretty significant gap-filler until you get to endgame.

But you dont have its full potential unless you rigorously test what the challenges are with the aircraft. And thats on every element of the platform, from the avionics to the software to the engine systems to the power and cooling, he added, noting the designation of the major subprogram would signal the seriousness of this effort to the Pentagon and congressional appropriators.

Even with budget caps in place, Wittman said the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee is trying to make these adjustments.

We are making smart investments in the FY24 NDAA by reprioritizing and reallocating funding requested for Air Force and Navy NGAD programs, he said, noting his subcommittee is making investments in CCA refueling technology maturation and risk reduction within the Air Forces research and development budget, in the Adaptive Engine Transition Program that would replace the current F-35 engine, and in F-15 procurement and E-7 advance procurement.
WASHINGTON  Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch is a dyed-in-the-wool conservative appointed by Republican former President Donald Trump, but in a series of recent cases, he has spoken up about historical injustice in a way that seems at odds with Republican attacks on "woke" history's being taught in schools.

That included his opinion Thursday when the court rejected a challenge to the Indian Child Welfare Act, a law intended to keep Native American families and communities together when children are in the adoption or foster care process.

Gorsuch's concurring opinion was part history lesson and part explanation of his full-throated support for Native Americans.

He wrote about how Native American families were torn apart by federal and state officials' attempts to assimilate them into Anglo-centric American society by eliminating their cultural ties to their tribes.

"In all of its many forms, the dissolution of the Indian family has had devastating effects on children and parents alike," he wrote.

"It has also presented an existential threat to the continued vitality of tribes  something many federal state officials over the years saw as a feature, not as a flaw," he added. His opinion was joined by two of his liberal colleagues: Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Chuck Hoskin, principal chief of Cherokee Nation, one of the tribes that defended the adoption law at the Supreme Court, said Gorsuch is going to loom large over Indian Country cases for a long time" in part because he understands the complexities of Indian law.

"While he may possess a great range of views on a lot of legal issues, he seems to have the most solid understanding of federal Indian law of any justice of the modern era," Hoskin added.

In other cases, Gorsuch has lambasted the Supreme Courts own rulings that treat people living in Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories as second-class citizens and called out the torture of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He has repeatedly voted in favor of Native American tribes in a series of different legal questions.

Those isolated writings, in which he is often joined by liberal justices, are in stark contrast to the bulk of his votes, in which he is closely aligned with the Supreme Court's conservative majority. Last year he voted to overturn the landmark abortion rights ruling Roe v. Wade and to expand gun rights. He has also joined the majority in curbing federal agencies power to enforce environmental laws, among other cases in which the conservative majority prevailed.

Last week, Gorsuch dissented when the court on a 5-4 vote upheld a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, a law enacted to protect the rights of minority voters.

Smita Ghosh, a lawyer at the liberal Constitutional Accountability Center, said Gorsuch's opinion Thursday showed a "robust, historically grounded explanation" for why the law was enacted.

It is unfortunate, she added, that Gorsuch "has not shown the same careful consideration of historical evidence" on other issues, including the power of federal agencies.

'Hell of a drug'

Mike Davis, a conservative legal activist who served as a law clerk under Gorsuch, said it is easy to square his former boss disparate actions.

He angers both sides from time to time, but he doesnt care. His job is to figure out what the law is and apply it, he said.

On Native American issues in particular, Gorsuchs tenure as a federal appeals court judge in Colorado, where he handled cases involving tribes, most likely informed his approach, Davis added.

Ilya Shapiro, a legal expert at the conservative Manhattan Institute, attributed Gorsuch's approach in part to his love of history and his commitment to the conservative legal theory known as originalism, which involves looking at the original meanings of laws as understood at the time they were written.

"He calls them as he sees them. A lifetime appointment is a hell of a drug," Shapiro said.

Gorsuch has developed something of a reputation for a high-handed approach to judging, which has also seeped into some of his actions outside of court cases. He sparked controversy when, during the Covid-19 pandemic, he was the only justice not to wear a mask on the bench when everyone else in the courtroom was required to wear one and all the other justices did.

In February 2022 Gorsuch was again the center of attention when he barred the media from covering an event he appeared at in Florida hosted by the Federalist Society, a conservative legal group. Other prominent people appearing at the event included Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican now running for president.

It is for those reasons that his votes with the liberal justices in which he makes statements that echo liberal criticism of the U.S. governments historic misdeeds stand out.

In the 2022 Guantanamo case involving detainee Abu Zubaydah, Gorsuch wrote a dissenting opinion in which he called out the federal government's insistence on maintaining secrecy about the treatment of prisoners even though it is widely known they were tortured.

There comes a point where we should not be ignorant as judges of what we know to be true as citizens, Gorsuch wrote. He then outlined in considerable detail how Zubaydah was tortured.

"This courts duty is to the rule of law and the search for truth. We should not let shame obscure our vision," he added.

In another 2022 dissenting opinion that touched upon the legal status of people living in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, Gorsuch called on the court to overturn a series of rulings called the Insular Cases, which embraced the idea that people in territories could receive different treatment from people living on the mainland.

Gorsuch wrote that the rulings rest on racial stereotypes and deserve no place in our law.

His attempts to draw attention to dark episodes in U.S. history also potentially put him in some tension with efforts by some Republican politicians, including DeSantis, to place new limits on how history is taught in public schools. Conservatives have frequently attacked the teaching of "critical race theory," an academic concept based on the idea that U.S. institutions  particularly the justice system  and laws are permeated by racial bias.

Critics of the laws like the one enacted in Florida have said such measures could stymie the teaching of key events in U.S. history, like slavery and the civil rights movement.

But Davis, the former law clerk, insisted Gorsuch's approach to history was consistent with the approach Republicans favor.

"It should be taught in schools," he said of Gorsuch's writings.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Robert E. Crimo Jr., center, and attorney Elanna Myerson, right, listen to attorney George Gomez during an appearance before Judge George D. Strickland at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan on June 16, 2023. Crimo Jr., the father of Robert Crimo III, charged with fatally shooting seven people at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, entered a not guilty plea to charges that he helped his son obtain a gun license. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)

A judge said Friday that he wants to hold the trial for the father of accused Highland Park gunman in October or November.

Im somewhat bound and determined that were gonna go to trial in October or early November, Lake County Judge George Strickland said at a hearing for Robert Crimo Jr. Im gonna move you along, fair warning.

Advertisement

Crimo Jr. is charged with seven counts of reckless conduct for allowing his son to obtain a license to buy firearms. His son, Robert Crimo III, was charged with using those guns to kill seven people and wounded dozens of other victims in a mass shooting of spectators at a Fourth of July parade in 2022.

Prosecutors said Crimo Jr. helped his son get a firearm owners identification card, though his son had attempted suicide with a machete and had threatened in 2019 to kill everybody, according to police reports of the incidents.

Advertisement

About 95% of the prosecutors evidence in the case, including from Crimo Jr.s cellphone, has been handed over to defense attorney George Gomez, as required by law, Assistant States Attorney Jeffrey Fecklam told the judge. Two relatively brief interviews with Crimo Jr. and his sons mother will be handed over next week, and prosecutors will seek a court order for unspecified school records, Fecklam said.

Gomez had requested a December trial date, but the judge said he will be busy with a trial in McHenry County of two state workers charged with endangering the life of a child in the case of A.J. Freund, a 5-year-old boy who died of abuse in Crystal Lake in 2019.

Gomez said he expects to file requests to dismiss the charges against Crimo Jr. or to limit evidence in the case. He said he should know whether hell ask for a trial by judge or jury by July 14.

The judge set a court hearing for that date to decide any such motions. Crimo Jr. and Crimo III both have pleaded not guilty.

Judge Strickland also said he has not yet decided whether to allow reporters to make audio or video recordings of the trial, but told attorneys to tell potential witnesses that they may object to such recordings.

rmccoppin@chicagotribune.com
Construction on a shared use path in Laketown Township will be delayed after bids for the project came in too high.

LAKETOWN TWP.  Construction on a shared use path in Laketown Township will be delayed after bids for the project came in too high.

Construction of the multi-use path on Blue Star Highway has been delayed until 2024, according to a news release. Bids came in 30 percent above what was expected.

Laketown Township Manager Al Meshkin informed the municipalitys board of trustees at its workshop Wednesday, June 7. He added the process to receive bids started about a month late.

The delays are what hurt us," Meshkin said. "Everybody is booked and too darn busy."

The project is less than a mile long on the south side of Blue Star Highway from the Shangrai-La Mobile Home Community, 6180 Blue Star Highway, to the Michigan Department of Transportations Park and Ride at Exit 41 of I-196.

The project estimate was $918,313, according to the release. The lowest of the two bids received was roughly $1.2 million from Brenner Excavating Inc.

Laketown Township plans to re-bid the project in the fall. If the township accepts a bid, the project could be completed by September 2024. Much of the project funding comes from grants. Meshkin said the money will be available in 2024.

The shared use path will give residents easier access to transportation. The long-term plan for the path is to link to the Blue Star Trail.

Upon completion, the Blue Star Trail will connect South Haven to Holland via non-motorized pathway, after meeting with the existing Beeline Trail in Laketown Township and the Kal-Haven Trail in South Haven.

More: The Friends of the Blue Star Trail are planning their annual 'toast'  and there's plenty to celebrate

The Friends of the Blue Star Trail is planning an annual fundraiser, A Toast to the Blue Star Trail, on Monday, June 26, at Inisfree Estate in Pullman. The event will celebrate significant progress on the trail over the past year. Reservations can be made online at fotbst.org, though space is limited.

 Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@sentinel-standard.com. Follow him on Twitter @SalsaEvan.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Laketown Township delays work on shared use path after high bids
Convicted felon with gun arrested in Seattle after traffic stop

Seattle police arrested a convicted felon Monday, who was in possession of a firearm at the time, according to the Seattle Police Department.

At about 6 p.m. Monday, officers stopped a speeding car near 68th Avenue South and Rainier Avenue South.

While officers were speaking to the man, they noticed he had an empty firearm holster on his waistband.

Officers asked the man to get out of the car, where they noticed two loaded magazines inside a pocket of his shorts.

The man then told the officers he had a gun under the drivers seat.

Officers then discovered the man was a convicted felon.

The 36-year-old man was arrested on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm.

He was booked into the King County Jail.
Heres what to do if a copperhead bites you in SC and you dont have cell phone service

Being bitten by a venomous copperhead would be a terrifying experience for most. Not having cell phone service either would likely be traumatizing.

But it doesnt have to be if you keep your wits about you and follow certain guidelines.

While it will be crucial to seek professional medical care as soon as possible if bitten by a copperhead, doing so might prove more difficult if youre out enjoying the outdoors of South Carolina where cell phone service can be sparse to nonexistent.

Below are steps to take to increase your chances of survival and minimize discomfort after a venomous snake bite, some experts say.

Copperheads & other venomous SC snakes

Before taking steps after a copperhead bite, it would probably be helpful to know if you were bitten by one in the first place.

The copperhead is the most common venomous snake in South Carolina. The other types of venomous snakes in the state include the cottonmouth, the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, the pigmy rattlesnake, the coral snake and the timber rattlesnake, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

The copperhead gets its name from the coppery-tan color on its head and on parts of its body, Clemson Cooperative Extension states. Copperheads have triangular-shaped heads, similar to an arrowhead and can grow up to 4 feet long.

Copperheads also feature an hourglass-shaped pattern on their bodies  from the head down to the tail. When curled up, this camouflage can make them look like a pile of leaves. And like most other venomous snakes in South Carolina, copperheads have yellow eyes with black vertical and elliptical pupils.

Stay calm after venomous snake bite

Remaining calm and composed can be vital after a snakebite. Panicking can elevate your heart rate and accelerate the spread of venom throughout your body. However, it may be easier to keep calm with knowledge that deaths from snakebites in South Carolina are uncommon.

Its pretty rare, said Dr. Jill Michels, managing director of the Palmetto Poison Center. Ive been here 20 years and theres been only one death I know of.

Remove constrictive items

Michels said you should remove any jewelry or restrictive clothing from around the snake bite. She said swelling from the bite will likely occur and any restrictive items could impede circulation and worsen the situation.

Keep the snake bite high

Do your best to keep the snake bite high or at a neutral level to help reduce swelling, Michels said. Also, limit the movement of the affected limb and avoid any unnecessary physical activity.

Clean the wound

Clean the bite wound with water or with soap if possible. While it wont neutralize the venom, cleaning could help minimize the risk of infection.

Get to a hospital

You need to go to a hospital for care. Facilities will have anti-venom to treat you, regardless of which kind of venomous South Carolina snake has bitten you.

There is no home treatment for a snake bite, Michels said.

What not to do

There are several things that snake bite victims should not attempt.

You dont want to do what you see in the movies, Michels said.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) told vaccine manufacturers on Friday their fall COVID-19 update should target the XBB.1.5 strain of omicron.

That variant is currently responsible for about 40 percent of all infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Vaccine companies have been working on XBB-specific vaccines, so they will be ready by the end of the summer. Company representatives told an FDA advisory panel on Thursday they will be able to provide XBB.1.5 vaccines earlier than other potential strains.

That panel voted unanimously in favor of solely targeting an XBB strain during its meeting on Thursday.

More health coverage from The Hill

FDAs directive on Friday means the COVID-19 vaccine will undergo just its second update, after the initial version targeted the original strain of the virus and the most current one targets both the original virus and earlier omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5..

But the protection against severe disease offered by those vaccines fades over time  protection against mild illness was low to begin with  and ancestral strains and those omicron strains are no longer in circulation.

Targeting the XBB.1.5 strain comes with a bit of a risk, as the virus mutates so often to evade immunity that it may not be the most dominant strain in the autumn and winter.

Its a similar strategy to how scientists develop the annual flu shot, though the different strains of XBB are similar enough to each other that even if the shot isnt an exact match, it will be close enough to provide cross-protection from severe disease and keep people out of the hospital.

The challenge ahead for the FDA and CDC is to decide when they need to tell health providers to stop administering the current version of the vaccine.

Sign up for the latest from The Hill here

Health officials will also need to convince the public to get the new shot. Just 17 percent of Americans have received a bivalent booster dose since they were rolled out last year.

Data presented at the meeting on Thursday showed that protection against hospitalization drops considerably four to six months after a bivalent booster. Older adults are most vulnerable.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A day after the Chicago Police Board fired the sergeant who oversaw the botched raid on her home, Anjanette Young said the boards decision was only a small piece of the Justice for which I have been waiting.

At its monthly meeting Thursday night, the board voted 5-3 to fire Sgt. Alex Wolinski, the highest-ranking officer on scene during the Feb. 21, 2019, raid at Youngs Near West Side home.

In a statement released Friday afternoon, Young expressed disappointment that the vote was not unanimous.

While my heart goes out to his family because they now suffer the consequences of his abhorrent misconduct, I wish all eight members of the Chicago Police Board would have recognized the need and urgency for Sergeant Wolinskis removal, Young said.

Although this event does not atone for the traumatic injustice I faced, knowing that members of the Chicago Police Board are starting to see how carelessly some Officers engage with the community gives me a little bit of peace, she added.

The three Police Board members who voted against Wolinskis firing were Steven Block, Nanette Doorley and Andreas Safakas.

Wolinski now has 60 days to appeal the boards decision in Cook County Circuit Court, a process that typically takes several months, if not years, to resolve. Representatives for the CPD sergeants union did not respond to requests for comment Friday, and an attorney for Wolinski could not be reached.

Acting on bad information, 13 CPD tactical officers used a no-knock warrant to enter Youngs home in search of a man believed to have an illegal gun. Police body-camera footage of the raid showed officers handcuffed Young, who was naked when police arrived, as she repeatedly told them that they were in the wrong place. Shortly after entering her home, one of the officers draped her with a blanket.

Video footage of the raid, first reported by CBS-2, prompted swift and harsh criticism of the CPDs search warrant policy. However, a proposed city ordinance that would ban the Police Departments use of no-knock warrants has stalled. Young also filed a lawsuit against the city that was settled last year for $2.9 million.

Then-police Superintendent David Brown brought administrative charges against Wolinski in November 2021, recommending that he be fired. Wolinski, who joined the department in 2002, was accused of violating eight departmental rules, including inattention to duty, disobedience of an order and disrespect to or maltreatment of any person.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability also called for Wolinskis firing.

Meanwhile, COPA said several other officers present during the raid should face suspensions, but to date, no other officers have faced Police Board charges for the raid.

Officers present at the raid also included Officer Ella French, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in West Englewood in August 2021.
More and more countries recognize the Holodomor as a genocide against the Ukrainian people

The government supports the initiative put forward in the Croatian parliament, the countrys Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said at a government meeting.

Since 2008, our parliament has been periodically dealing with this topic, but the shadow of cowardice and political reservations prevents us from calling this horror what it is, said Marko Litre, a member of the Croatian Sovereignists party.

We cannot call the Holodomor a mass crime against humanity, because it was genocide.

Over 20 countries have already recognized the Holodomor as a genocide against the Ukrainian people, HRT reported.

2022 marks 90 years since 1932, when the Soviet regime deliberately began to confiscate grain and other foodstuffs from the residents of Ukraine, which led to the Holodomor famine  one of the greatest tragedies in Ukrainian history.

Both in Ukraine and in many other countries, the Holodomor of 1932-1933was subsequently recognized as a genocide against Ukrainians by Stalins regime.

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
Tom Holland fans are pointing out a confusing discrepancy regarding his new series The Crowded Room.

The British actor, best known for playing Spider-Man in the Marvel; Cinematic Universe (MCU), leads the new series, which is an adaptation of Daniel Keyes 1981 novel The Minds of Billy Milligan.

Holland, who stars in the series alongside Amanda Seyfried, Emmy Rossum and Sasha Lane, plays Danny Sullivan, a man who is arrested for his involvement in a shooting in 1979.

Through a series of interviewers with his interrogator (Seyfried), Danny is forced to come to terms with a mystery surrounding his life.

The show, from Oscar-winning writer Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind), started streaming Apple TV+ earlier this month, dropping its first three episodes.

Viewers praised the series, with many believing Holland to be showcasing his acting skills more effectively than ever. It has an audience Rotten Tomatoes score of 90 per cent.

However, many noticed that there is a big difference between the audience and critic score, which, at the time of writing, sits at a paltry 33 per cent. (The Independents two-star review contributed to this.)

This has led to confusion, with many accusing reviewers of being overly harsh on the series.

However, its worth noting that critics were given access to all 10 episodes, and agreed that the show would have been much better had it contained fewer instalments.

The Crowded Rooms Rotten Tomatoes score is confusing Tom Holland fans (Roteen Tomatoes)

New episodes will be released weekly until 28 July.

Holland found shooting The Crowded Room so tense that he has since announced a break from acting.
House lawmakers this week introduced major military policy and funding changes they hope to see in defense spending bills later this year, previewing efforts to combat China and to address contentious culture war issues.

Over the course of seven subcommittee gatherings Tuesday and Wednesday, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) passed an initial round of markups for the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with plans to finalize the proposal in front of the full panel next week.

While HASC Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) praised the bipartisan work of the seven subcommittees, the months ahead have plenty of political land mines, from a fight over Space Command headquarters to abortion policies in the military.

Rogers said the bill puts our national security first by boosting innovation, providing for our warfighters and focusing on our defense industrial base.

Culture war clash

The GOP-controlled House Appropriations Committee in closed session Thursday began to mark up its spending bill for the Pentagon that would fund the policies, weapons and equipment within the NDAA.

That legislation includes about $826 billion for new discretionary defense spending, about $285 million more than Bidens request.

But Democrats are uniting against the draft bill, calling out a $1.1 billion cut to the salaries of civilian personnel, a $714 million reduction to climate change programs and a roughly $100 million cut to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

Other provisions would ban funding for critical race theory, diversity efforts, gender-affirming care and for drag queen events tied to story hours for children on military bases or to support military recruiting.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member on the Appropriations Committee, blasted the legislation for inserting partisan riders that have nothing to do with national security.

Republicans are seeking to reverse bipartisan policies to have equality for women and to make it uncomfortable for LGBTQ+ Americans to serve in the military, DeLauro said.

Fostering an environment where every American who would willingly put their lives on the line to protect and serve this nation feels they are welcomed and supported should not be controversial, she said in a statement. This bill is a nonstarter that fails to meet the agreement signed into law.

And Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), the ranking member of the Appropriations defense subcommittee, called it regrettable that the Republican majority has produced a Defense Appropriations bill that would undermine our militarys readiness and leave us less secure in the world, not more.

These riders make it almost impossible to gain bipartisan support, she said in a statement.

Democrats on the panel are also upset about a provision that would bar the Pentagon from continuing a policy providing paid leave and reimbursing travel costs for service members who travel to get an abortion. That policy has attracted the ire of Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who is holding up some 200 Pentagon nominees in protest.

Space Command struggle

In another contentious move, House Republicans inserted a provision in the markup to freeze spending to build the U.S. Space Command (Spacecom) headquarters until a final location is announced and justified in a report.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, who oversees Spacecom, would also see his travel budget slashed until a report on the location of the permanent headquarters is given to Congress.

Similarly, the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday added language into its 2024 military construction funding bill that would prevent funds for building out the commands headquarters until the final Air Force plan.

The Hill previously reported on the inclusion of the language in the appropriations bill. Republicans are concerned that if construction and leases continue in Colorado, Spacecom may never be relocated.

In 2019, the Trump administration revived Spacecom after its 2002 discontinuation, establishing a temporary location at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado with a plan for a permanent location in Alabamas Huntsville, known as Rocket City.

Since coming into office, President Biden has authorized reviews of Trumps decision to relocate Spacecom; none of the reviews found anything improper in the decision, though one found the Air Force did not follow best practices.

Alabama Republicans, including Rogers, are frustrated with the delay over relocating Spacecom and grew incensed last month after it was reported the new headquarters might be scrapped entirely due to Alabamas near-total abortion ban.

An aide for the HASC Republicans said during a Monday background briefing that Rogers is of the mind that Huntsville won fairly.

I think the chairmans view is, Why should you be using taxpayer dollars to build up all this infrastructure, when the Air Force made a decision that has been reviewed by two different reviewers and found that Huntsville, Alabama, won and won fairly? the aide said.

Rogers is also investigating the delayed decision to relocate Spacecom.

Combating China

Lawmakers shaped the bulk of the defense bill around deterring Chinese aggression, including support for a more than $9 billion investment in the Indo-Pacific region, where the U.S. is concerned about Chinas growing influence.

But that focus means casting off six older or troubled Navy ships, including the decommissioning of two littoral combat ships.

Youll see that throughout our bill  especially with the Pacific Deterrence Initiative  divesting from some of these old legacy platforms that are not survivable in the Indo-Pacific region against a very capable adversary, the aide told reporters. Were really taking a hard look and making some tough choices on things we dont think we need anymore as were confronting a 21st-century military.

One NDAA provision requires the review and congressional notification of Russia-China cooperation on nuclear development. Additional efforts to counter Beijing include improving shipbuilding capacity, with an aim for the procurement of nine battle force ships, as well as boosting hypersonic missile training and supporting the development of next-generation aircraft.

Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.), the chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces subcommittee, said a key part of the bill is retooling the Army to operate more efficiently in the Indo-Pacific.

The Army needs a new strategy that looks beyond a potential European conflict and focuses instead on fully providing the capabilities required to meet the Indo-Pacifics challenges of distance and depth, he said at a Tuesday hearing.

House appropriators also said their bill includes funding to counter China through security cooperation programs with Taiwan and prioritizing delivering weapons to the independent island that China claims as its over sovereign territory.

Aiding Ukraine

For Ukraine, at least $300 million is proposed to support the nation in its fight against Russia, including at least $80 million to be used to supply Kyiv with the Army Tactical Missile System, a long-range artillery weapon.

The billions of dollars in aid for Ukraine that was approved last year is likely run out by the fall. Lawmakers are expected to pass a supplemental package along with the NDAA to support Kyiv.

The Biden administration has so far resisted sending long-range missiles to Ukraine, largely over fears of Kyiv striking into Russian territory. The U.K. last month became the first country to provide Ukraine with long-range artillery in the war against Russia.

And keeping in mind the billions of dollars in weapons the United States has pulled from its own stockpiles to send to Ukraine since Russia first attacked the country in February 2022, the NDAA looks to bolster industry by keeping production lines running smoothly through more multiyear procurements.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine really showed [lawmakers] the state of our defense industrial base. Starting last year, members really started to figure out we cant just turn the dial and create a bunch of Javelins and Stingers and torpedoes quickly, the aide said.

Other standouts

Also included in the House NDAA bill is a significant 5.2 percent pay raise for service members next year and the establishment of a Space National Guard.

The bill addresses mental health and suicide prevention, bolsters retention and recruiting efforts for military branches and moves to abolish the Pentagons Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation program.

The HASC and its Senate counterpart are expected to send their versions of the NDAA to the full chambers for votes later this summer.

The congressional armed services committees were originally scheduled to take up the NDAA last month, but the debt limit fight caused a delay. Part of the negotiated deal in that battle is a plan to spend $886 billion on defense in 2024.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Daniel Ellsberg, a former military analyst and anti-war activist whose disclosure of the so-called Pentagon Papers revealed systemic US government deception about the Vietnam War, has died, his family announced in a statement. He was 92.

The cause was pancreatic cancer, his family said. Ellsberg announced his diagnosis in March, saying at the time that doctors had given him three to six months to live and that he had decided not to undergo chemotherapy.

He died on Friday at his home in Kensington, California, according to his family.

Considered the patron saint of whistleblowers for revealing to The New York Times in 1971 that the US knew the Vietnam war was unwinnable, Ellsberg spent his life focused on peace and transparency, later co-founding the Freedom of the Press Foundation.

Daniel was a seeker of truth and a patriotic truth-teller, an antiwar activist, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, a dear friend to many, and an inspiration to countless more, his family said. He will be dearly missed by all of us.

Daniel Ellsberg and Patricia Marx, his wife, center, at the Watergate hearings in Washington in 1973. - Mike Lien/The New York Times/Redux

In the late 1960s, Ellsberg was working as a defense analyst for the RAND Corporation when he became disillusioned with US involvement in Vietnam. As part of his work with RAND, Ellsberg had access to classified documents that demonstrated how the US government had systemically lied to the public about the war, and Ellsberg felt compelled to reveal the information.

He first approached several US senators in hopes that they could enter the papers into public record, but when that wasnt successful, he leaked all 7,000 pages to The New York Times, which published them in 1971.

The documents revealed damning information against the Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson administrations. While officials spoke optimistically about the war to the public and continued to send troops to Vietnam, they privately knew that the US was losing, with then-Defense Secretary Robert McNamara advising President Lyndon B. Johnson as early as 1967 that American escalation would not win the war and, by some accounts, advocating for withdrawal.

Among other revelations, the report showed that President John F. Kennedy had approved the overthrowing of Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem  whom he and other administrations had previously supported  in 1963, according to The New York Times.

In an unprecedented move, the Nixon administration barred the Times from continuing to publish pages of the report after the first few stories. Ellsberg then leaked the document to The Washington Post, which was also sued by the government. The Supreme Court eventually ruled in favor of the two publications, concluding that the government had not made the case for censorship, and full publication of the Pentagon Papers resumed.

Ellsberg admitted to being the whistleblower and faced 115 years in prison after being charged as a spy under the Espionage Act. He was eventually freed after it was revealed that the Nixon administration wiretapped his conversations, resulting in a mistrial.

Daniel Ellsberg and wife walk from court after a federal judge has just dismissed the Pentagon Papers case against Ellsberg on May 11, 1973. - Bettman/Getty Images

In a letter to his friends that he shared on social media in March, Ellsberg reflected on his decision to leak the Pentagon Papers.

When I copied the Pentagon Papers in 1969, I had every reason to think I would be spending the rest of my life behind bars, he wrote. It was a fate I would gladly have accepted if it meant hastening the end of the Vietnam War, unlikely as that seemed (and was). Yet in the end, that actionin ways I could not have foreseen, due to Nixons illegal responsesdid have an impact on shortening the war.

The documents also had an impact in other ways. Along with further stoking the anti-war movement, the disclosures also contributed to a growing distrust of the federal government, a sentiment that would be further encouraged in the 1970s with the Watergate scandal and revelations of abuse by the national security state, such as those captured in the Church Committee report.

Sitting down with CNNs Christiane Amanpour in late March, he expressed, among other things, joy at spending his final days with his family and eating whatever he wanted. Its been a wonderful party, its time to go home and go to bed, he said at the time.

A hawk turned dove

Born on April 7, 1931, in Chicago, the Great Depression forced Ellsbergs family to move to Detroit when he was 6 years old, according to the University of Massachusetts Amherst. A gifted student, he received scholarships to an elite preparatory school and, later, Harvard University.

Following a year of graduate studies in the United Kingdom, he returned to the US to enlist in the Marine Corps to support the US Cold War policy, according to Amherst. Following his service, Ellsberg returned to Harvard to work on his dissertation in games theory, which led him to join the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit think tank, in 1959 to work on nuclear war strategy.

In 1964, he joined the staff of the assistant secretary of defense for International Security Affairs, according to The New York Times, and worked directly on Vietnam policy.

He turned from hawk to dove, the Times wrote, in 1967 when he was in Vietnam as part of the State Department and came to the conclusion that no change in tactics or reallocation of American resources could turn the tide of the war.

Ellsberg returned from Vietnam and rejoined the RAND Corporation after contracting hepatitis, The New York Times reported, but until 1969, he continued to serve as a consultant to the government on the war, during which he had access to the classified documents.

In the over 50 years since the leak, he was a staunch critic of American intervention and nuclear war, conducting lectures, making media appearances and frequently protesting, which have led to arrests.

Ellsberg was among over 100 anti-war demonstrators arrested in front of the White House in 2010 and again in 2011 for rallying in support of Chelsea Manning, a whistleblower who leaked information about the Iraq War to WikiLeaks.

Some of the papers from the archive of Daniel Ellsberg are pictured at UMass Amherst in Amherst, MA on September 19, 2019. - Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

He also openly supported the leak of the Supreme Court draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade last year.

No organization really wants to show how the sausage is made or legislation is made, and they prefer to be the only voice on policy to the public, Ellsberg told NPR. The Supreme Court wants to get all the authority it can from hiding the nature of dissension; the details of arguments that people have made one way or the other.

Its a very good thing that it got out. It was important to be out, he added, calling such leaks the lifeline of a republic.

Ellsberg is survived by his wife, Patricia, his children Robert, Mary and Michael, five grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

A public memorial, his family said, will be planned in the coming months.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNNs Kevin Liptak and Cheri Mossburg contributed to this story.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A resident at the Community Resource Fair learns about opportunities for women, minorities, veterans and those with special needs. (Steve Sadin/Lake County News-Sun)

Cheers erupted during a Community Resource Fair designed to bring services closer to residents and make them simpler, when a man learned he was more than $5,000 richer because the state of Illinois was holding money he did not know he had.

While sitting at a table staffed by Bogie Kwasny, a community affairs specialist in the office of Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, the man, who declined to give his name, learned the states ICash office had more than $5,000 of his money he can now claim.

Advertisement

The ICash representative was one of 11 government entities or private organizations participating in a Community Resource Fair Thursday at the North Chicago Public Library designed to bring resources to residents and simplifying their receipt of them.

Before the man learned of his newfound money, state Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, was looking for a Waukegan woman to let her know she is a millionaire with $1.4 million sitting in an ICash account waiting for the woman to claim it.

Advertisement

She has more than $1 million in unclaimed funds, Mayfield, who sponsored the event with state Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove, said, Weve been trying to reach her or family members. Id love to hand her that check.

State Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove, talks to one of the exhibitors at a Community Resource Fair she sponsored with state Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan. (Steve Sadin/Lake County News-Sun)

Johnson said the purpose of community resource fairs is bringing services people may need to them where they can talk to an individual, free from dealing with websites and telephone answering systems.

Were meeting people where they are, Johnson said.

Learning about the Waukegan woman with $1.4 million due her and listening to the cheers in the room when the man learned of his over $5,000 of unclaimed money, Johnson said it shows the benefits of localizing access to resources.

This is life-changing, Johnson said of the Waukegan woman.

In addition to the treasurers office, the fair featured representatives of the Illinois Secretary of States Office, Waukegan Township, the Illinois Department of Human Services, the states commission on equality and inclusion, Mano a Mano, United Healthcare, the Illinois Psychiatric Association, the Rosalind Franklin University Mobile Clinic and the legislators offices

Safeguarding more than $3.5 billion of unclaimed funds, Greg Rivara, the treasurers press secretary, said there is nearly $263 million belonging to Lake County residents with 34,546 individuals entitled to claims more than $1,000.

Bogie Kwasny tells a resident at a Community Resource Fair about Illinois ICash program. (Steve Sadin/Lake County News-Sun)

Though Rivara said he cannot disclose the name of Waukegans unknown millionaire for security reasons, he has some advice. She, like the individual with his more than $5,000 and anyone else can logon to IllinoisTreasurer.gov and click on ICash.

Advertisement

You put in your name and your town, Rivara said. You should check the name of your spouse, a maiden name and places of worship.

Johnson said some of the money held by the treasurers office is from life insurance companies who cannot find the beneficiary of a policy.

People who want to renew their drivers license, state identification card, get their current vehicle sticker for the car, receive a Real ID or register to vote were able to accomplish those tasks at the secretary of states table.

Irma Toro Elliott of United Healthcare Insurance said she was there to help seniors on Medicare learn about a variety of supplemental plans.

A group of 11 exhibitors participated in a Community Resource Fair in North Chicago. (Steve Sadin/Lake County News-Sun)

Jacob Perez, the deputy director of the states Business Enterprise Program, said his job Thursday was reaching out to business owners who are minorities, women, veterans or have a disability, to make sure they know benefits available to them.

This group is entitled to receive 30% of state contracts, Perez said.

Advertisement

Both Dr. Paul Hung of Rosalind Franklin University and Dr. Steve Weinstein, a past president of the Illinois Psychiatric Society, said they wanted to make sure people were aware of mental health services.

If you have high blood pressure, you know what to do, Weinstein said. It is the same for mental health.
Daniel Ellsberg, the whistleblower who exposed the U.S. government's lies about the Vietnam War by leaking the Pentagon Papers to some of the nation's top newspapers, has died, his family said in a statement on Friday.

He was 92.

Ellsberg's demise came about four months after he announced on Twitter that he had been diagnosed with "inoperable pancreatic cancer."

"I'm sorry to report to you that my doctors have given me three to six months to live," he wrote on March 2.

Dr. Daniel Ellsberg smiles during a news conference in Cambridge on Thursday, July 2, 1971. Ellsberg, who says he leaked the secret Pentagon papers to the New York Times, told newsmen that he withheld sections of the Pentagon papers from the press because they might jeopardize future private negotiations to end the war in Vietnam. He also said that he did turn over the sensitive sections of the Pentagon study to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. (AP file)

Ellsberg's family said in the statement that "he was not in pain, and was surrounded by loving family." And his sense of humor, they said, stayed with him until the very end.

"In his final days, surrounded by so much love from so many people, Daniel joked, 'If I had known dying would be like this, I would have done it sooner'," the statement said.

Ellsberg was working as an analyst for the RAND Corporation in 1969 when he and a colleague named Anthony Russo secretly photocopied a 7,000-page study privately commissioned by the Defense Department which revealed the U.S. government knew early on the Vietnam War could not be won.

American researcher Tony Russo (1936-2008) and American economist and political activist Daniel Ellsberg address the media during a recess in their trial at the Federal Courtroom in Los Angeles, California, 10th May 1973. Russo and Ellsberg stand accused of illegally copying and distributing the Pentagon papers relating to the Vietnam war; it emerged during the trial that the FBI put a wiretap on Ellsberg's telephone conversations in 1969 and 1970. (Bettmann Archive / Getty Images file)

Initially, Ellsberg and Russo offered the study to several members of Congress and government officials before deciding to leak it to the newspapers.

Then-President Richard Nixon branded them traitors and tried to stop the publication of the Pentagon Papers, first in The New York Times and then in The Washington Post. But the U.S. Supreme Court in June 1971 sided with the newspapers with a landmark decision barring prior restraint of free expression.

Two days before that momentous decision was handed down, Ellsberg surrendered to the U.S. Attorney's office in Boston.

I felt that as an American citizen, as a responsible citizen, I could no longer cooperate in concealing this information from the American public," he said. "I did this clearly at my own jeopardy and I am prepared to answer to all the consequences of this decision.

Ellsberg and Russo were subsequently charged with espionage, theft and conspiracy for the leak. They went on trial in Los Angeles, where the papers had been copied, and Ellsberg faced a maximum of 115 years in prison if convicted.

But a federal judge dismissed the case in 1973, ruling that the government was guilty of misconduct, including an attempt by the White House to find ammunition to discredit Ellsberg by breaking into the office of his Beverly Hills psychiatrist.

Born April 7, 1931, in Chicago, Ellsberg was raised in Detroit and was the son of non-religious Jews who became devout Christian Scientists. He had his first brush with tragedy in 1946 when his mother and sister died in a car crash that happened after his father fell asleep at the wheel. He too had been in the car.

Daniel Ellsberg, Former US military analyst and the man behind a leak of US Pentagon documents to whistelbowing website Wikileaks, speaks on October 23, 2010 during a press conference at the Park Plaza hotel in central London. WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange said today that hundreds of thousands of classified US military documents leaked by the website showed the 'truth' on the Iraq war.

Ellsberg earned an economics degree from Harvard in 1952 and enlisted in the Marines two years later. He returned to Harvard in 1957 after he was discharged as a first lieutenant.

Then, after his first stint at RAND and after earning a Ph.D. in economics at Harvard, Ellsberg in 1964 went to work at the Pentagon under then-Defense Secretary Robert McNamara.

For two years, Ellsberg was stationed in Vietnam where he worked for the State Department and when he returned to RAND in 1967 he began contributing to a top-secret history of the war that had been commissioned by McNamara.

Completed in 1968, it came to be called The Pentagon Papers.

By then, Ellsberg was already growing disenchanted with a war he once supported.

Ellsberg was dubbed "The Most Dangerous Man in America" after his role in releasing The Pentagon Papers was revealed.

In the years that followed, Ellsberg continued to oppose American wars in places like Iraq and Afghanistan and defended other whistleblowers like Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning. And while he condemned Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, he also warned it could lead to all-out war with Russia.

"The Russian invasion of Ukraine has made the world far more dangerous, not only in the short run, but in ways that may be irreversible," Ellsberg said in a June 2022 interview. "It is a tragic and criminal attack. We are seeing humanity at its almost worst, but not quite the worst  so far, since 1945 we havent seen nuclear war."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The DeKalb County government said it plans to increase property taxes by almost 9% this year.

According to county officials, their intention is to have property taxes for 2023 go up 8.56% over the rollback millage rate.

The county has six separate tax levies that are used to calculate the rollback, according to officials.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The increased property tax rate and millage rates are part of the county budgeting process.

According to officials, citizens will have three opportunities to weigh in on the proposed tax increase.

The first two will be held in June and a third in July.

TRENDING STORIES:

As far as the six tax levies are concerned, the DeKalb County Governing Authority laid out how funds are calculated and used as follows.

Two of those levies (the general and hospital funds) are used in the required calculation for the rollback rate. The other tax levies (police, fire, designated, and the special tax district bond fund), when combined with the general and hospital levies, produce the same benchmark millage rate of 20.810 mills from last year, officials said in a statement.

The announcement went further, saying the combined millage rate for the general and hospital funds would actually be higher than the rollback millage rate, but the calculation did not account for offsets or credits given by the equalized homestead option sales tax that started in 2018.

All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearings on this tax increase to be held at the Manuel J. Maloof Auditorium. 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA 30030 on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at 10 a.m., the county announced.

Georgia law requires three hearings be held to allow public comment.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

OTHER NEWS:
A delegation of the leaders of African countries used the bomb shelter during the Russian attack on Kyiv Oblast on the afternoon of 16 June.

Source: Reuters

Details: Agency journalists heard explosions and saw a smoke trail from two missiles in the air.

The Reuters team also saw how African leaders arrived in Kyiv in a convoy of cars and entered the hotel to use its bomb shelter.

Background:

The leaders of South Africa, Egypt, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia and the Republic of Congo are in Kyiv on a peacekeeping mission aimed at establishing peace after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Among the measures they may propose are the withdrawal of Russian troops, the withdrawal of tactical nuclear weapons from Belarus, the suspension of the ICC arrest warrant for Putin, and the easing of anti-Russian sanctions. They are also seeking an "unconditional agreement on grain and fertilisers", in which Africa is very interested.

During the African leaders' visit, Russia attacked Ukraine, including Kyiv, with Kinzhal and Kalibr missiles and drones.

Preliminary information indicates that Ukraine's air defence destroyed 12 missiles during the attack. Serhii Popko, the Head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said that these targets were shot down in the airspace around Kyiv.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






How the Democrat Who Lost to Lauren Boebert by 546 Votes Plans to Oust Her in 2024

Overdue Oversight of the Capital City: Part II

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., attends a House oversight hearing on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. Credit - Tom WilliamsCQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Last year, Democrat Adam Frisch launched what most thought was a longshot bid for Congress against one of the nations most famous conservative firebrands: Rep. Lauren Boebert. It ended up becoming the closest House race in the country, with the Republican incumbent squeaking through by 546 votes.

Now Frisch is running again as less of a longshot and more of a certified contender, arguing the proof of concept he delivered last time will mean swing voters will be even more open to backing him in 2024.

People want to vote for a winner, Frisch tells TIME, noting that thats especially true for those thinking about crossing partisan lines for the first time.

The rematch could be one of the most intense House races of 2024. Boebert first won office in 2020 and quickly drew outsized attention for an approach to the job that ignited her far-right base, including heckling President Joe Biden during the State of the Union and promoting conspiracy theories about the deep state and the 2020 presidential election.

I dont say this with pride, but its going to be probably one of the more expensive, one of the more nationally-focused races, Frisch says.

The rural district Boebert represents, Colorados Third, is larger, by area, than Pennsylvania. It encompasses most of the states Western Slope, including Aspen, and stretches to Pueblo, near the southeast corner of the state. Its Republican-leaning, but has pockets of Democratic support and a libertarian streak.

Frisch, a former Aspen City Council member, argues Boebert is the only brand-name, nationally-known Republican representative who stands a real chance of losing reelection next year.

Before losing a nail-biter of a general election, Frisch made it through an even closer contest, winning the Democratic primary by fewer than 300 votes out of more than 60,000. He gives credit for the close margins to his pragmatic approach to being a Democrat, even as Boebert had become a favorite target of national progressives.

I fully appreciate the last thing people are looking for is a fairly wealthy, straight, middle-aged white guy from a mountain town, let alone Aspen, he says of the Democratic base. I knew that going in there.

When the general election came around, though, it paid off. Almost no one had thought the race would become one of the closest in the country, but Frischs moderate brand brought him within 600 votes of winning.

Now that hes proven hes a real contender, he may have the tools that he was missing last time. In the first month and a half since he launched his campaign on Valentines Day, Frisch raised $1.7 million from about 45,000 donors.

Its hard when FiveThirtyEight says youre supposed to lose by 45,000 votes, he says of his last bid. Its hard for fundraising. Its hard for media.

Frisch filed paperwork to enter the 2024 race less than ten days after the election. Some of the decision had to do with the wave of support he receivedThere were a lot of people calling from the district and Denver and D.C. asking for us to give serious thought to getting back in, he saysbut he stresses that he was listening more closely to farmers and ranchers around the district.

Some people under their breath sheepishly told me they voted for me, he recalls them saying. Theyve never voted for a non-Republican before.

Boebert told the Associated Press in January that her close call last year made her more focused on delivering the policies I ran on than owning the left. But, she added, Im still going to be me.

That balance is illustrated by the accomplishments shes touting on her congressional website this week; a flurry of press releases detail her recent push to impeach Joe Biden over the situation at the Southern border, as well as amendments she filed on House bills that passed with bipartisan support, and efforts to protect Colorados water infrastructure and its veterans.

Adams cowboy boots and the actors he hires as ranchers for his TV ads arent fooling anyone, Boebert wrote in a statement to TIME. Nobody fights harder for the people of rural Colorado than me. She touted achievements in Congress including protecting the San Luis Valleys water from a Denver water grab and co-leading the bipartisan Dolores River bill with the states Democratic Senators, Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper.

If Boebert is getting serious, so is the Democratic Party. Colorados Third District is among those that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is targeting, meaning Frisch is all but guaranteed to have the party more squarely behind him than he did last time.

Well get some support, because last time, we got 0.0 dollars from the Colorado Democratic Party, and we got 0.0 dollars from the national Democratic Party, he says. Without a doubt, both parties are watching this race.

But he admits some ambivalence about no longer being viewed as an underdog, particularly given how all of the outside attention means less control over the messages being used to sway voters to back him.

Theres a lot ofI dont know what you call it, soft side PACs, super PACsall those organizations are out there, he says. I would rather them just kind of stay away. Some of them are good, but some of them are not really focused on the job. Theyre coming up hereyou know, calling her a fascist and going after her personal family and everything else like that, to me, is counterproductive for our country.

We would love to just control our own message, he adds, but we cant get involved legally whatsoever with that.

What he can do is emphasize, again and again, that hes not looking out for Democratic Party interests; hes interested in the concerns of ranchers, farmers, veterans and ordinary families. His focus is on water infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and jobs. He repeatedly signals that he would take a collaborative approach with Republicans in Congress, telling TIME that hes a fan of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus. He namechecks one of its members, Rep. Dean Phillips, a Minnesota Democrat who he says he grew up with.

Frischs message to Republicans who consider voting for him, even if theyre backing Republicans for the rest of their ballots: Im not asking you to change party, Im not asking you to do anything else except think about your family, your business, and your community.

If he talks like voters in the district live in a cooler-headed, less-polarized age of American politics, his approach to retail campaigning is similarly nostalgic. Frisch is all about traveling around the state in a red pick-up truck and meeting voters where they are. Last week, he attended an energy conference in the town of Craig where he says others there noticed that he stayed for the whole thing, whereas the congresswoman stopped by only briefly for a photo op. (Congresswoman Boebert attended the energy conference for about two hours, and she connected with all the attendees and heard their concerns, a Boebert spokesperson wrote in a statement to TIME. She has a large district, and she has a full schedule traveling  Congresswoman Boeberts team attended the entire Craig energy conference. It is easy for an unemployed politician to spend two days promoting himself at a conference.)

But Frischs strategy of talking to all kinds of voters all across the state seemed to benefit him last time when few took him seriously. The extra investment he may see in 2024 will be important, he says, but its not what matters the most.

The real work is in the dirt, on the gravel roads, going to barbecue joints, and breweries and bakeries; I put on 20 pounds last time, he says. I got most of it off, whatever. Just getting out there and doing that.
On Thursday 15 June, Troels Lund Poulsen, Acting Minister of Defense of Denmark, proposed to organise training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters on its territory.

Source: Poulsen said this in an interview with TV2 on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting of NATO countries in Brussels, writes European Pravda.

Details: According to the Danish Minister of Defence, the plan developed jointly with the Netherlands provides for the training of Ukrainians on the F-16 at the Danish Air Force Base Skrydstrup, which is in Southern Jutland, where the Danish fighters of this class are stationed.

He added that he hopes for the support of other countries so that Denmark and the Netherlands could present a more concrete plan at the NATO summit in July in Vilnius. It is expected that the training of Ukrainian pilots will begin immediately after the summer holidays.

The plan does not mean that Denmark has already decided to transfer its F-16 fighters to Ukraine.

Quote: "We are still very far from having these aircraft potentially entering the arsenal of the Ukrainian Air Force. According to my estimates, training will take at least six months," said Poulsen, adding that they will return to the issue of transferring fighters after training.

Earlier, after a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Brussels, Reznikov said that he had received promises from the allies to start exercises for Ukrainian pilots on Western fighters.

Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said the preparation of a training plan for Ukrainian pilots has made progress, although it will still take some time.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Deputy accused of sexual misconduct in an interview room at detention center, Ga. sheriff says

A Richmond County Deputy Jailer was arrested after officials say he engaged in sexual misconduct.

Authorities said on June 14, the Richmond County Sheriffs Office Criminal Investigation Division received reports of possible misconduct at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

According to their investigation, Joseph Clarke, a deputy jailer at the detention center, was involved in sexual misconduct in an interview room with a woman who was an employee of the Public Defenders Office.

Clarke was charged with criminal attempt aggravated sodomy, false imprisonment, sexual battery and violation of oath by a public officer. He was arrested on Wednesday and booked into the same detention center he was a deputy.

TRENDING STORIES:

Clarke has been a deputy with RCSO since October 31, 2020. He was terminated on Wednesday.

The investigation remains ongoing.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
Nearly $800 million for water quality programs. Close to $700 million for Everglades restoration. A $100 million Indian River Lagoon Protection program.

These are all environmental projects Gov. Ron DeSantis proudly approved funding for at a press conference Thursday in Fort Pierce where he signed the largest state budget in history.

But many Florida environmentalists feel one critical action was missing  a line-item veto to a measure that would suspend creation of new city and county fertilizer bans past July 1 and fund a $250,000 study at the University of Florida to evaluate their effectiveness.

The legislature tacked the item onto the budget, which it approved in May. Its approval wont affect existing fertilizer bans, like the one through October in Miami-Dade County. Rather, itll prevent cities and towns from creating new ordinances or extending existing ones.

Pushing a policy change through the budget rather than allowing it to go through the legislative process with public input was a mistake, said Eve Samples, executive director of environmental group Friends of the Everglades.

It was really a sneak attack, she said. Theres a disconnect between what were seeing out of Tallahassee and the dire water quality issues were facing in Florida.

Throughout Florida, there are more than 100 municipalities that restrict fertilizer use during the rainy season in order to prevent excess phosphorus and nitrogen pollution. This includes several in South Florida, including Ft. Lauderdale, Key Biscayne and Miami Beach.

High levels of these nutrients have been tied to persistent issues like diminishing sea grass, algal blooms and fish kills. For years, municipal fertilizer bans during rainier months have been heralded as one of local governments most effective tools to regulate water quality.

Friends of the Everglades joined more than 50 organizations throughout the state, including the Alachua County Commission, in writing DeSantis a letter, urging him to veto the line item.

Though the budget designates the most money in Florida history to the environment  almost $7.3 billion of a $116.5 billion total  the decision made about fertilizer is telling, Samples said.

It doesnt tell the full story, she said. We could allocate all of the money in the world for earthmoving projects. But if at the same time, were watering down our environmental protections in Florida, were not going to make meaningful progress.

Jeremy Redfern, a DeSantis spokesperson, clarified the intent behind the approval in an email. Its an effort to help control the study, he said.

The purpose of the hold on new implementations ensures that fewer variables are introduced during the study period, Redfern said.

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins, who championed the countys fertilizer ban three years ago after a Biscayne Bay fish kill was brought on by nutrient pollution and extreme heat, said shes glad the decision doesnt affect existing bans.

Higgins will keep an eye on the results of the study, she said. In the meantime, Miami-Dade County residents still need to comply with the ordinance  and should do so beyond its expiration.

No matter what the Florida Legislature says, I would recommend that every single person in the state of Florida who has a yard and has a lawn, not fertilize it, Higgins said. Take matters into your own hands. Do the right thing to save our water system. Dont fertilize. Period.

Haley Busch, outreach director for environmental lobbying group 1000 Friends of Florida, said shes wary of how the taxpayer-funded studys results will be portrayed, especially considering the growing influence of the fertilizer industry on public research.

The positive impacts of fertilizer bans have already been well-studied, she said.

UFs Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, which will be at the helm of the research, declined to comment on the governors decision to approve funding for the study.

We have to ask ourselves about any action the state takes: Are we moving toward additional water quality protections or are we moving backwards? Busch said. By reopening study on this topic and tying the hands of our local government leaders, that doesnt strengthen water quality protections.
I suspect Mike Pence and Ron DeSantis, two men trying to dethrone Donald Trump as the Republican Partys standard bearer, dont want a rerun of the 1898 Wilmington Massacre, when a mob of white supremacists violently overthrew a democratically-elected government. But boy are they OK evoking that legacy if it might help them secure the GOPs 2024 presidential nomination.

That mob of white supremacists murdered at least 60 people in that coastal North Carolina city for the sin of having a thriving African-American community, integrated government, and an outspoken black journalist, Alex Manly, who dared write that lynching was wrong. Long before Jan. 6, 2021, when thousands of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol Building trying to overturn the results of an election they didnt like, Confederacy-longing white supremacists had pulled off the only coup detat in U.S. history.

Pence and DeSantis didnt come to North Carolina to celebrate 1898. But in an effort to win votes, they harkened back to one of the countrys darkest eras, when a group of white supremacists took up arms against the U.S. in an effort to establish a new country built on the idea that black people forever be enslaved by white people  the idea that motivated white supremacists in Wilmington in 1898.

Pence and DeSantis each came to North Carolina and said they would re-honor Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg, a man who enslaved at least 110 black people. They would turn Fort Liberty back into Fort Bragg, the name one of the most important military installations in the country had since President Woodrow Wilson decided to honor dishonorable men like Bragg.

We will end the political correctness in the hallways of the Pentagon and North Carolina will once again be home to Fort Bragg, Pence thundered before a crowd of Republicans.

According to Pence and DeSantis, it was political correctness that convinced American military and political leaders to stop honoring a literal traitor to the U.S. Bragg was a slaveowner who took up arms against the U.S. to ensure black people were forever slaves, and yet two of the top contenders to replace Trump atop the GOP thought the best way to win the white Republican vote in 21st century America was to honor a man like that.

They may as well have argued for the re-flying of the Confederate flag at the South Carolina Statehouse, which was only removed because white supremacist Dylann Roof massacred nine black people in a Charleston church. Heck, they may as well have said there should be one flying in Raleigh and that theyd raise a Confederate flag over the White House if they became president.

When Pence and DeSantis suggested re-honoring Bragg, participants at the North Carolina GOP convention didnt boo them off stage, didnt tell them to stick that racist crap where the sun doesnt shine. Instead, they cheered. And that was the real revelation.

Some are more ethical and principled than others, but politicians of every stripe pander out of necessity. They speak about and make promises on issues they are convinced will increase support for their campaigns and avoid those that wont. Thats why Republicans are quick to talk up tax cuts and slow to propose major reforms to Medicare and Social Security. And Pence and DeSantis thought their best bet was to weaponize white fear. That says something devastating about them, but even more profoundly about their targeted audience.

Just as Trump accurately predicted he could do anything he liked, including shooting someone on Fifth Avenue, and not lose any support, Pence and DeSantis are counting on white Republicans, especially in states such as the Carolinas, to be just as amoral.

Top GOP candidates have surmised that white Southern Republicans are looking for someone to help them lift up, salute and honor a white supremacist traitor to the U.S. Those white Southern Republicans have yet to show a sign that they are ashamed that their own leaders think so little of them.

Issac Bailey is McClatchy Opinion writer based in Myrtle Beach. He teaches at Davidson College.
Gov. Ron DeSantis took his veto pen to the state budget on Thursday, scratching off millions of dollars in programs to address gun violence and Black history  and millions more in a district where a key Republican senator endorsed his presidential primary opponent, Donald Trump.

DeSantis vetoed about $30 million in projects, including $20 million for a University of South Florida nursing campus, in the Sarasota area represented by Sen. Joe Gruters, the former chairperson of the Republican Party of Florida.

Gruters late Thursday lashed out at DeSantis, who is running for president, saying in a text message that the governor is clearly upset I endorsed Donald Trump for president, and so he took it out on the people of Sarasota County.

Gruters said it was a sign of the difference between DeSantis and the former president, who understands that people come first.

The governor clearly sees politics differently, Gruters said. Its mean-spirited acts like this that are defining him here and across the country.

Overall, DeSantis was sparing with his veto pen, issuing line-item vetoes on about $510 million in projects across the state out of a $117 billion budget that was unanimously approved by the Legislature in May.

Last year, he cut a record $3.3 billion from a $110 billion budget  including many of the priorities of Republican leaders, stunning observers.

This year, DeSantis cut numerous diversity and social programs while preserving billions of dollars to carry out his conservative political agenda.

During a Thursday news conference at a Fort Pierce yacht club, DeSantis didnt mention the vetoes, which his office released several hours later.

He justified the size of the state budget by blasting spending in other states and the federal government.

Were good fiscal stewards, he said. We want to be a good place to be a citizen ... not only by taxing lightly but also by spending reasonably.

Cuts to Black history, gun violence prevention

Although this years touch was lighter, he still cut millions in programs throughout the state.

As GOP lawmakers pushed forward a law allowing gun owners to carry concealed weapons without a permit, Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, worked to secure $5 million to fund groups working to end community gun violence.

DeSantis vetoed it. Rouson said he was disappointed, saying that the state could see more gun violence with the permitless carry bill taking effect July 1.

It makes sense to expand programs that are actually doing the work to prevent more gun violence, Rouson said.

DeSantis also vetoed funding for projects that promote aspects of Black history, an action that is consistent with the governors yearslong push to restrict how racism and other aspects of history can be taught in schools and workplaces.

The governor eliminated $160,000 in funding for a Black History Month celebration in Orlando called the 1619 Fest, whose theme this year was to bring awareness to the health disparities Black people face in America. DeSantis also cut $200,000 in funding for Floridas Black Music Legacy, a project designed to highlight the states contributions to Black music.

Last year, DeSantis vetoed $1 million for Valencia College to create a feature film about the 1920 Ocoee Election Day Massacre, in which a white mob attacked and killed dozens of Black voters in the nations worst instance of Election Day violence.

Numerous other programs were also cut, including:

 More than $3.6 million for opioid treatment and research programs;

 17 drainage improvement projects across the state;

 $6.4 million to repair or renovate 21 public broadcasting stations across the state.

DeSantis spokespeople did not respond to questions about why the programs were cut.

But Democrats, who voted unanimously for the state budget, blasted the governor for cutting millions in social programs.

Budgets arent just numbers on spreadsheets, theyre a reflection of our values and priorities, House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, said in a statement. Ron DeSantis and his veto pen made Florida worse off today.

Record spending plan

Fiscally, DeSantis didnt have to cut anything. Booming tax revenues and billions of dollars in federal aid have allowed lawmakers and DeSantis to spend freely while assigning a record $15.3 billion to reserves.

The 2023-24 fiscal budget for the state is a record $116.5 billion, 28% more than DeSantis first state budget in 2019-20.

Florida TaxWatch, the business-backed budget watchdog organization based in Tallahassee, urged the governor to veto 38 projects that were inserted into the budget during negotiations by House and Senate leaders. The money is handed down by leaders on sprinkle lists, and the projects are often used as leverage for late-session votes and deal making.

TaxWatch said in a statement that these lists diminish confidence in the budget process and should be discontinued.

In a nod to House and Senate leaders, the governor left 29 of the late insertions in the budget, while targeting only nine worth about $11.5 million, including:

 $400,000 for the Herzing University nursing lab and training center Simulation Training Center;

 $111,006 for the City of Hallandale Beach  Austin Hepburn Senior Mini Center;

 $2.5 million for Tampa Bay Water Morris Bridge Wellfield improvements;

 $500,000 for the 1st Avenue North and 25th Street Pedestrian Safety project in St. Petersburg;

 $5 million for a road at the Moffitt Cancer Center Life Sciences Campus.

DeSantis, as with most governors, has always used the budget as a political tool, but this year he took it to a new level as he runs for president.

NBC News reported, and the governors office confirmed, that DeSantis chief of staff, James Uthmeier, as well as other staff members, were actively involved in making fundraising calls to benefit his presidential campaign by soliciting donations from Tallahassee lobbyists  some with clients who were waiting to see if projects they supported got vetoed.

Billions in DeSantis priorities

The budget this year put a premium on expanding state spending in areas that previous GOP administrations had failed to fund.

Lawmakers expanded school vouchers, reserving $2.2 billion to offer every K-12 school-age child in Florida a voucher or education saving account, regardless of family income. Social programs that long had been shaved thin by decades of Republican policies received millions in new money.

And Democrats praised the inclusion of $20 million to expand the health insurance program for low-income children, as well as adding nearly $80 million to serve several hundred people waiting for Medicaid services, $7.7 million to study food insecurity in Florida, more than $2 million to boost the call center to apply for state assistance, and a record $711 million for affordable-housing projects.

But the budget also injects millions into shoring up conservative ideology in Floridas colleges and universities  and millions more for DeSantis priorities as he runs for president.

There is $30 million for the new Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education, a conservative think tank affiliated with the University of Florida. The budget includes more than $34 million to remake New College of Florida into a bastion of conservative ideals, similar to Hillsdale College, a private Christian school in Michigan.

Lawmakers also assigned $12 million  on top of the nearly $8 million left over from last year  to fly migrants around the country. Another $109 million is going to equip DeSantis fledgling Florida State Guard with planes, boats and police powers.

More than $10 million is also allocated to various agencies to defend the administration from the inevitable lawsuits that will challenge the constitutionality of his policies.
The Lake County Forest Preserves District hopes to remove these barriers and allow the public to once again use the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve later in the summer. (Steve Sadin/Lake County News-Sun)

Closed for more than two years, the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve may reopen this summer as the Lake County Forest Preserves District prepares to take ownership of the 77-acre preserve along the shores of Lake Michigan in Highland Park.

The Forest Preserves District Board of Commissioners unanimously approved accepting the property as a gift from Openlands during a meeting Wednesday at the districts general offices in Libertyville, setting the mechanism for reopening in motion.

Advertisement

With board approval, Executive Director Ty Kovach said the district has 60 days for due diligence, including an environmental assessment, before closing the deal. Concerns about military explosives found at the former base in 2021 which caused the closing remain.

The Forest Preserves plans to conduct its own safety analysis and hopes to open the 77-acre parcel later this summer, Kovach said in an email after the meeting. The forest preserves does not own the property until the closing.

Advertisement

Residents of military housing on the former Fort Sheridan get this view of the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve and Lake Michigan from their front porch. (Steve Sadin/Lake County News-Sun)

Gerald Adelmann, the Openlands president and CEO, said in an email he does not believe the land is set for public access just yet. His organization continues to work with the U.S. Navy to prepare the property.

Openlands continues to assist the Navy and its contractor with implementation of the series of recommendations, Adelmann said in the email. An additional site inspection and installation of public signage are examples of work yet to be completed.

John Sheppard, the public information officer for Naval Station Great Lakes, said the Navy is in the process of doing its part to get the preserve open. It is making signs and a video telling people what to do if unexploded ordinance is found.

It will not take long. Im not worried, Sheppard said. It looked like a training grenade, he added, referring to the ordnance found two years ago. I look forward to walking on the trails again.

Though the district plans to do its own analysis, Kovach is optimistic about the condition of the property. Though a review will be conducted, he is not questioning the Navys assessment.

We have seen the Navy report, everything is a green light, a go on that, Kovach said during the meeting.

Homes for military personnel lie between the fenced-off portion of the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve, left, and the portion along Lake Michigan which is also fenced to keep people out. (Steve Sadin/Lake County News-Sun)

After the unexploded ordnances were found in April, 2021, Openlands closed the preserve and began a thorough inspection working with the Navy and the city of Highland Park. Though no additional devices were found, Adelmann said the effort was extensive.

Openlands and the Forest Preserves District issued a news release June 5 announcing the gift of the land at the southeast corner of the former Fort Sheridan. Adelmann said in the release the organization acquires, critical parcels transferring them at the appropriate time to qualified landowners.

Advertisement

Though readying land for eventual owners was long Openlands mission, the preserve in Highland Park became an exception. Adelmann said in the email when the organization was unable to find an eventual owner, it began a fundraising effort to keep it long-term.

Openlands agreed to make an exception to its protocol to ensure the protection of the land, Adelmann said in the email. We then launched a fundraising campaign to help with the sites restoration and operation as a public nature preserve.

When the Lake County Forest Preserves District indicated an interest, Adelmann said the time was ripe to transfer the property. Kovach said Openlands will also transfer approximately $1 million to the districts charitable arm.

Board member Paul Frank, D-Highland Park, whose district contains the preserve, said he is continually questioned by constituents about when the preserve will reopen. He is glad to be about to let them know it will happen relatively soon.

I think the users of the Openlands Preserve at Fort Sheridan are going to be very excited about the prospect that in the near future we intend to open the preserve and restore public access to what Openlands has created there, and to the lakefront, Frank said.

While board member Ann Maine, R-Lincolnshire, voted to acquire the property, she said it will add to some of the problems the district already has with a smaller parcel it owns and operates at the north end of the Former Fort Sheridan.

Advertisement

Now were going to have this big one, and were going to have to open it up because there have been a lot of complaints anyway, she said. There are webpages devoted to it, that it is not open, and now we are going to have a mile of shoreline.

We are going to be putting a lot of money into that just to police it ... and field all those (calls), Maine said at the meeting. I can only imagine what were going to hear about as we move forward.
Devastating tornado rips through Texas leaving at least three dead, two missing and dozens more injured

A devastating tornado has ripped through Texas leaving at least three dead, two missing and dozens more injured.

The Lone Star States Panhandle town of Perryton was pummeled by a severe storms on Thursday, destroying trailer homes and downing communications towers.

As thousands of homes  and a major hospital  were left without power and residents were feared missing in the rubble, Governor Greg Abbott directed state emergency response resources to assist the hard-hit town.

Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher told reporters that three people had so far been confirmed dead from the storm.

One of the victims was killed when the mobile home park they lived in took a direct hit from a tornado, he said.

As rescue teams search for survivors in the rubble, at least 30 trailers were said to be damaged or destroyed.

Around 100 people are believed to have been injured in the storm, with injuries ranging from minor to severe with many being transferred to trauma centers, the police chief said.

The National Weather Service in Amarillo confirmed that a tornado hit the area Thursday afternoon but there was no immediate word on its size or wind speeds.

First responders from surrounding areas and from Oklahoma descended on the town, which is home to more than 8,000 people and about 115 miles (185 kilometres) northeast of Amarillo, just south of the Oklahoma line.

Storm chaser Brian Emfinger told Fox Weather that he watched the twister move through a mobile home park, mangling trailers and uprooting trees.

Severe Weather Texas (AP)

I had seen the tornado do some pretty serious destruction to the industrial part of town, he said.

Unfortunately, just west of there, there is just mobile home, after mobile home, after mobile home that is completely destroyed. There is significant damage.

More than 224,000 customers were without power in Texas as of around 3.30am CT local time on Friday morning, according to the poweroutage.us website.

In Ochiltree County  home to Perryton  a staggering 91 percent (8,910 of 9,775) of customers were without power.

Xcel Energy told ABC News late on Thursday night that there was no power at all to Perryton.

Our crews are arriving on site and are assisting in removing lines from cars and across the roads. We are patrolling the transmission feeds into the city and also assessing possible damage at the main substation in town, Xcel Energy said in a statement.

One of the three main transmission feeds into the city was apparently undamaged, but we deenergized it for safety reasons.

Additional reporting from The Associated Press
Disoriented hiker gets lost in fog for hours on extreme terrain, Wyoming rescuers say

A hiker who had become lost and disoriented on top of a steep cliff in Wyoming was rescued just as darkness set in, officials said.

Hours before her rescue, she had gotten lost in thick fog that clouded the mountain peak in Teton County, officials said in a June 15 news release on Facebook. Cold, wet and disoriented, the hiker followed the ridgeline until deadfall  a tangled group of fallen trees and branches  and extreme terrain stopped her.

She had been following the wrong ridgeline, officials said. Not only was the hiker exhausted, now she was totally lost.

Realizing she had no chance of finding her way out before dark, she called for help.

First responders from Star Valley Search and Rescue rode motorized dirt bikes up the mountain and then hiked several miles to her location, officials said. Because it would take hours to help her down the mountain and daylight was quickly fading, the volunteers requested help from Teton County Search and Rescue.

Volunteers with that agency sent backup ground teams and a helicopter team to short-haul them out of the backcountry  by hoisting them with a rope attached to the helicopters belly. The helicopter team got her to the valley floor just outside Afton right before 9 p.m., officials said.

The hiker did not need medical care and wished to express her gratitude to all responders, officials said.

The helicopter team flew back to Jackson, about 70 miles northeast of Afton, and landed just five minutes before dark.

What to do if you get lost while hiking

If you think youre getting lost, experts say its best to stop where you are and not panic. You should go over how you got to that point and if youre able to see any landmarks around.

Do not move at all until you have a specific reason to take a step, officials with the U.S. Forest Service said.

You should come up with a plan but stay put unless you are very, very confident in the route.

There are steps hikers can take to avoid getting lost and be better prepared for the unexpected:

Have more than enough food and water with you.

Take a compass that you know how to use, or have a GPS device on hand.

Dont rely solely on your cellphone. It probably wont work because of a lack of signal or a depleted battery.

Study the terrain and your route, and you should know how youll return.

Have the right clothing. Sturdy hiking boots and layers can help you be prepared for rapidly changing weather.

Pack a blanket, flashlight and matches.

Check with a local ranger for special warnings. They can tell you about fires in the area, bear sightings, flooding, trail or road closures.

Teen plunges up to 30 feet while exploring rocky terrain. Parents call for help

Tough 10-year-old found after vanishing for 24 hours in remote Washington mountains

Climber dies in 300-foot plunge off rope as partner shouts warning, Utah rescuers say
Some doctors are using AI chatbots to help deliver bad news to patients, report says

iStock / Getty Images Plus

From synthetic embryos, to a more inclusive BMI policy, to the possible benefits of vaginal fluids  here are some of the best health stories this week from Yahoo News partners.

Some doctors are using AI chatbots to help deliver bad news to patients, report says

According the New York Times, some doctors are using AI chatbots like ChatGPT to communicate with patients  even helping doctors deliver bad medical news in a more empathetic way or write scripts to speak to patients more compassionately.

"I know physicians are using this," one expert at Stanford Health Care told the New York Times about chatbots. "Ive heard of residents using it to guide clinical decision making. I dont think its appropriate."

Microsoft Corporate Vice President Peter Lee said he had anticipated that many doctors would use the new technology to help eliminate some of the mundane tasks that can consume physicians time, such as writing appeals to insurance companies or summarizing patient visits. But Futurism, which reported on the New York Times story, said that Lee was skeptical about ChatGPT being used to deliver bad news.

"As a patient, Id personally feel a little weird about it," he told the New York Times.

Still, other experts claimed that ChatGPT could offer real benefits to doctors interactions with patients by helping them simplify medical jargon and break down more complex concepts when speaking with patients.

Doctors organization adopts new policy on BMI, acknowledging racist exclusion and historical harm

iStock / Getty Images Plus

The American Medical Association (AMA) has adopted a new policy advising doctors to focus less on body mass index (BMI)  a frequently used ratio of weight to height  to determine if a patient is at a healthy weight, acknowledging the problematic history with BMI and that it doesnt account for differences across racial and ethnic groups, gender and age groups, Reuters reported.

Under the newly adopted policy, the AMA recognizes issues with using BMI as a measurement due to its historical harm, its use for racist exclusion, and because BMI is based primarily on data collected from previous generations of non-Hispanic white populations, the AMA said in a statement on Wednesday.

Instead of making diagnoses and recommendations based solely on BMI, the AMA advised doctors to factor in other measures of risk, such as measurements of visceral fat, body adiposity index, body composition, relative fat mass, waist circumference and genetic/metabolic factors.

Researchers say that applying vaginal fluid to C-section babies could help restore healthy bacteria

iStock / Getty Images Plus

A study published on Thursday, June 15, in the journal Cell Host & Microbe found that exposing babies delivered via C-section to their mother's vaginal fluids shortly after birth may help restore some of the good bacteria acquired by babies delivered vaginally, aiding in better gut health and possible neurodevelopment benefits, AFP reported.

In the small study of 68 infants, researchers at the Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China, used a method called vaginal seeding  swabbing each babys mouth and body with either a gauze soaked in the baby's mothers vaginal fluid or a control substance. Six weeks later, after studying the babies fecal microbes, researchers found that babies exposed to their mothers vaginal fluid had more mature gut bacteria closer to that of vaginally delivered babies. Based on questions about developmental milestones, the parents of babies exposed to vaginal fluids also reported that their babies had slightly more advanced communication and motor skills at 3 months old and 6 months old than the control group.

However, experts stress that the sample size is too small to draw any firm conclusions about the purported benefits of vaginal seeding, and that parents should avoid attempting vaginal seeding outside of a clinical setting due to the risk of possibly passing on infections to the infant.

Scientists say theyve created worlds first human synthetic model embryos

Zernicka-Goetz lab / CalTech

Researchers from the United States and United Kingdom announced on Wednesday that they had created the worlds first synthetic human embryo-like structures from stem cells, without using human eggs or sperm, CNN reported.

The research hasnt been published yet but was presented at the International Society for Stem Cell Researchs annual meeting in Boston by Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, a professor of biology and biological engineering at CalTech and the University of Cambridge. Zernicka-Goetz emphasized that the embryo-like structures her team created are not human embryos. But these models, which mimic some of the features of a natural human embryo at the earliest stages of development before a heartbeat is present, could prove to be invaluable to understanding genetic diseases or the cause of miscarriages early in pregnancy.

Zernicka-Goetz told CNN that the goal of her research is to prevent the loss of human life, not create it. But it still raises legal and ethical questions for countries, including the U.S., that don't have laws governing the creation or treatment of synthetic embryos, CNN reported.
How does $41,666 a month sound? Here are 10 Texas state job openings that pay the most

The median salary for a Texas state government employee is about $50,000, but that doesnt mean you cant make a whole lot more money if you have the chops.

Here are some of the highest-paying jobs currently being advertised by Texas state agencies, according to postings on the state Workforce Solutions Office website. Each job differs in required experience, education and certifications. And the jobs are based all over the state, so you wouldnt necessarily have to move to Austin.

You can search all state jobs at workintexas.com.

Assistant vice president clinical facilities and design integration: $41,666 a month

Agency: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

Location: Dallas

This position leads the assessment, development, coordination, implementation and transition of clinical facilities at UT Southwestern. Other duties include providing directing and expertise for staff, along with serving as a project manager for planning and assessment initiatives. The job listing closes on Sept. 10, 2023.

Psychiatrist III: $20,971 a month

Agency: Health and Human Services

Location: El Paso

This position performs advanced psychiatric assessment work and reports directly to the state hospital medical director. Other duties include diagnosing, treating and monitoring state hospital patients. This job listing closes on Dec. 5, 2023.

Chief of State Epidemiologist: $15,000-$20,971 a month

Agency: Department of State Health Services

Location: Austin

This position assists the executive leadership of the Department of State Health Services in measuring the health status of the state. Duties include analyzing data, reviewing health indicators, developing reports, attending meetings and advising all things related to epidemiology. The job listing closes July 10, 2023.

Director of Transportation Ops: $15,750 a month

Agency: Texas Department of Transportation

Location: Abilene

The position oversees the transportation operations role for district highways and facilities in line with department standards. Along with reporting to the district engineer, the position manages a group of employees in a transportation operations. Other duties include acting as a liaison on traffic and safety projects, coordinating with district on schematics and reviewing traffic control plans. This job listing closes on June 12, 2024.

Chief for the Office of the Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Division: $12,916-$15,416 a month

Agency: Office of the Attorney General

Location: Austin

The consumer protection division works to protects people from fraudulent businesses, deceptive advertising and filing civil lawsuits against said companies. The position directs and develops production goals, implements policies and ensures the divisions objectives are met. The job listing closes on May 26, 2024.

Texas Historical Commission executive director: $13,054-$14,022 a month

Agency: Texas Historical Commission

Location: Austin

This position performs administrative and consultative work under the oversight of the Texas Historical Commission. Duties include the management of historic sites, an understanding of the economic impact of preservation and coordinating with the preservation community such as in museums and county offices. The job listing closes on June 2, 2024.

Newborn screening medical director: $11,272-$15,168 a month





Agency: Department of State Health Services

Location: Austin

The position serves as the medical director to the newborn screening program. Duties include policy and protocol development, advising staff of unusual or difficult medical care and coordinating research projects. The job listing on June 30, 2023.

Deputy District Engineer: $10,166-$17,250 a month

Agency: Texas Department of Transportation

Location: Tyler

This position assists in management and engineering oversight of all activities related to the Tyler district. Duties include transportation planning, operations, construction, inspection, engineering design and maintenance of bridges and highways. The job listing closes Feb. 24, 2024.

Auxiliary IT Director: $7,416-$12,583 a month

Agency: Texas Tech University

Location: Lubbock

This position directs, plans, coordinates and supervises the operations and activities of a small specialized department. Duties include developing and implementing policies, administering the budget, organizing tasks and serve as a liaison with university personal. The job listing closes June 30, 2023.

Network engineer IV: $9,583 a month

Agency: University of Texas at Dallas

Location: Richardson

This position operates as a senior network engineer and team lead for developing and maintaining an enterprise network to support both academics and advanced research activities. The employee directly engages with the universitys systems and must have the ability to provide hands-on assistance, develop or modify software and have good communication skills. This job listing closes on July 6, 2023.
The Department of Justice asked a Florida court to stop former President Donald Trump from releasing classified documents given to his legal team in its defense of his alleged mishandling of sensitive records.

Prosecutors claim some of that information is part of an ongoing investigation involving the 45th presidents alleged activities, according to The Hill. Information could pertain to people who havent yet been charged.

The protective order requests that discovery material in Trumps case shall not be disclosed to the public or the news media, or disseminated on any news or social media platform without approval from the court.

However, The Hill claims the DOJs filing indicates Trump would still have access to records he kept at his Mar-a-Lago estate, which was searched by federal agents in August. If the order is granted, the 31 documents being used in the case would be available to the 77-year-old defendant when hes accompanied by attorneys.

Defendants may take notes regarding Discovery Materials, but such notes shall be stored securely by Defense Counsel, the DOJ wrote.

Trump was arraigned in a south Florida court Tuesday on a 37-count indictment that includes violating the 1917 Espionage Act. The former president  whos also the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican party nomination  pleaded not guilty.

The outspoken former leader has used social media and cable TV appearances to claim hes the victim of a witch hunt while trying to turn the focus to his political rivals.

Fridays request from the DOJ will be reviewed by Judge Bruce Reinhart, who approved the initial search of Mar-a-Lago.

---------
Top Justice Department officials on Friday are expected to announce the findings of a two-year long investigation of the policing practices of the Minneapolis Police Department in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, people briefed on the matter said.

The pattern or practice review followed the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in Floyds murder.

Attorney General Merrick Garland and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, along with US Attorney for the District of Minnesota Andrew Luger, will hold a news conference at the federal courthouse in Minneapolis.

The Justice Department declined to comment to CNN .

DOJ is not revealing details of the 11 a.m. ET news conference on what the department calls a civil rights matter, but top officials with the departments civil rights division will be there along with the mayor and police chief of Minneapolis, as well as prosecutors with the US attorneys office.

DOJs civil rights division launched an investigation into policing practices in Minneapolis in 2021, a year after Floyd was killed by Chauvin.

Floyds killing sparked national protests and calls for dramatic police reform. Chauvin  who kneeled on the neck and back of Floyd after he was handcuffed and lying on the ground  was convicted in 2021 of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter and sentenced to more than 22 years.

The Justice Department said it would examine the police departments policies, supervision and training as well as systems in place for accountability, including complaint intake, review and discipline. To do this, the department said it would not only look at the police department but also ask members of the public and community groups about their experiences with the police.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Washington  The Minneapolis Police Department disproportionately targets Black and Native American people in law enforcement activity and is using unjustified force in many instances across the city, according to a yearslong federal review of the department stemming from the killing of George Floyd.

Read the report here: Justice Department investigation of the City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Police Department

"The City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of their rights under the Constitution and federal law," the Justice Department's report found in its investigation into the city's law enforcement.

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the findings Friday in Minneapolis, accompanied by Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Brian O'Hara.

"As I told George Floyd's family this morning, his death has had an irrevocable impact on the Minneapolis community, on our country, and the world," Garland said.

The Justice Department's civil investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department's practices began in April 2021, after former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder in Floyd's death.

The sweeping review was undertaken to determine whether the Minneapolis Police Department engages in a "pattern or practice" of unconstitutional or unlawful policing. The civil investigation was separate from the federal criminal probe into Floyd's death, which resulted in convictions of three Minneapolis police officers who were found to have failed to step in to stop Chauvin's use of unreasonable force against Floyd, thereby depriving Floyd of his constitutional right to be free of such force. Chauvin pleaded guilty to federal charges of depriving Floyd of his civil rights.

The federal probe  which comprised police ride-alongs, discussions with over two thousand community members, and dozens of interviews with officers  focused on the entirety of Minneapolis' police force and the resulting report recognized the city has already worked to change some practices. The police department now prohibits neck restraints and "no-knock" warrants, restricts certain crowd-control measures and has created a behavioral health response program, according to the report.

Still, federal investigators recommended nearly 30 remedial measures and improvements the city should implement to combat the racial disparities and excessive use of force in the department, like enhanced training and accountability measures and improved data collection of police activity.

According to the Justice Department's findings, the Minneapolis Police Department disproportionately stops and uses force against Black and Native American individuals and patrols differently "based on the racial composition of the neighborhood."

Federal investigators said the department conducts traffic and pedestrian stops against Black people 6.5 times more frequently than White people in the city, a rate only surpassed by enforcement activities against Native Americans, who are stopped at a rate of 7.9 times more than White people, when adjusted for their share of the population.

And throughout the period during which the study was conducted, the department used force against Black people at 9 times the rate and against Native American people at 13.9 times the rate that it used force against White people, the investigation found.

In all, according to the report, when compared to White people behaving in a similar manner in comparable circumstances, Black people in Minneapolis experience 24% more uses of force, 22% more searches, and 37% more vehicle searches.

"Though MPD has long been on notice about racial disparities and officers' failure to document data on race during stops, and was made aware of expressions of racial bias by some MPD officers and supervisors, MPD has insufficiently addressed these issues," the report alleged.

The Justice Department's review also criticizes the excessive and unlawful use of force by police throughout the city, even in situations when race appeared not to be a factor.

"For years, MPD used dangerous techniques and weapons against people who committed at most a petty offense and sometimes no offense at all. MPD used force to punish people who made officers angry or criticized the police," the report said.

Approximately 75% of the Minneapolis Police Department's reported uses of force "did not involve an associated violent offense or a weapons offense," according to the Justice Department. One example highlighted in the report involved an unarmed White woman who was shot and killed by an officer in 2017 after she approached his vehicle and "spooked" him.

Justine Damond was killed by a Minneapolis police officer after she called 911 to report a possible sexual assault in the alley behind her home. One of the police officers who responded later told investigators he heard a voice and a thump on the back of the squad car, and glimpsed a person's head and shoulders outside his window. The officer in the passenger's seat fired through an open driver's side window and struck Damond in the abdomen with a single bullet. That officer was convicted of manslaughter and the city paid the woman's family $20 million.

Unreasonable use of tasers and chemical irritants, and using force unnecessarily against individuals already restrained  including against young adolescents in the city  are also areas of concern emphasized in the investigation.

The Justice Department opened the investigation after a jury convicted Chauvin of unintentional second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for Floyd's death in May 2020.

Consent decrees were used in federal investigations of police departments during the Obama administration as part of a renewed commitment to civil rights issues and accountability in law enforcement. During the Trump administration, a 2018 memo restricted their use. Garland rolled back the memo when he opened the investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department.

On Friday, Minneapolis and the Justice Department entered an agreement in principle to reach court-authorized consent decree that formalizes the federal findings and recommendations and appoints an independent monitor of the department.

"An enormous and important task lies ahead and we want this community to hear us clearly," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. "We stand with you at every stage of the process that lies ahead."

The report also underscored the need for improvement in the Minneapolis Police Department's cultural and training environment after finding "poor" de-escalation tactics and scant accountability measures were put into practice.

"This is truly about trying to change culture around policing...so we have a culture that our officers intentionally try to earn people's trust in every interaction," O'Hara said.

Since 2016, according to the Justice Department, the only officers who were punished for failing to intervene in a situation where another officer was acting inappropriately were those who failed to stop Chauvin from putting his knee on George Floyd's neck.

"No other officer was disciplined for standing by while their colleagues violated someone's constitutional rights" between 2016 and the present, the investigation found. And a review of the department's conduct review process found more than a quarter (26.1%) of cases of reported officer misconduct went unresolved after two years.

The Justice Department also alleges Minneapolis police unlawfully retaliated against members of the press and protesters and did not appropriately respond to individuals in mental health crises.

"Your profession is essentialYou are asked to keep your community safe, to uphold the rule of law, and to ensure equal justice under law," Garland said Friday, addressing members of the Minneapolis police force. "This agreement is an important step forward to providing you with the support and resources you need to do your job effectively and lawfully."

Clare Hymes contributed to this report.

How to take an eco-friendly summer vacation

New documentary examines legacy of Black baseball players

Where U.S. and China stand ahead of Blinken's Beijing trip
Dominican Republic, Canada disagree over Haitian police aid office FILE PHOTO: Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly at a news conference in Ottawa

By Harold Isaac

PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) -As Haiti's police struggle to contain powerful armed gangs, a disagreement between the Dominican Republic and Canada spilled out into the public on Friday, further complicating an international plan to boost Haiti's outgunned police force.

A day after Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced plans to set up a Canadian office to coordinate support for Haiti's national police this summer in the neighboring Dominican Republic, her Dominican counterpart denied any deal authorizing an office on Dominican territory.

In a post on social media, Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez said no deal been struck, adding that the Dominican government has not even discussed such a plan.

In a subsequent statement to Reuters, Canada's foreign ministry said it continues to work with 20 countries and international organizations to strengthen the Haitian police and boost security, pointing to ongoing talks "to finalize a location that will support the group's work in geographical proximity to Haiti."

The statement did not say whether the location would be in the Dominican Republic, which shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with Haiti.

Haitian-Dominican relations have long been strained. Since gang violence escalated last year in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Santo Domingo has stepped up border security and deported tens of thousands fleeing the crisis back to Haiti.

On Thursday, Joly announced plans to coordinate a police support operation from a base in the Dominican Republic and thanked Alvarez for providing it, according to a transcript from a Canadian government official.

Since last year, Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry has called for an international force to rein in the gangs. The groups now control large parts of the country, which has fueled a humanitarian crisis that has displaced tens of thousands of Haitians.

The United States has pushed Canada to take a leading role, but to date no country has offered to lead an international force.

(Reporting by Harold Isaac; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Sandra Maler and William Mallard)
Dont Use That Bottle Of Sunscreen Without Checking This First

You reach into the back of your cabinet or rummage through your beach bag and find a bottle of sunscreen from last summer  or was it two summers ago?

But before you start applying it, theres one thing you need to get in the habit of checking: the products expiration date. Yes, that date really does matter.

The biggest problem with using expired sunscreen is that it wont provide the stated SPF, or sun protection factor, which can lead to sunburns and increase your risk for sun damage and skin cancer, dermatologist Dr. Joyce Park  founder of Skin Refinery and content creator @teawithmd  told HuffPost. So its better to be safe than sorry and toss any expired product.

Sunscreen ingredients break down over time, so after the expiration date, we really dont know how effective that sunscreen is at protecting your skin from UV rays, she said. This renders the sunscreen essentially useless.

This is true of both chemical sunscreens and mineral ones (heres an explainer on the differences between the two if youre curious). The filters used in chemical sunscreens (like avobenzone and octinoxate) tend to oxidize and lose efficacy over time, dermatologist Dr. Shasa Hu, associate professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, told HuffPost.

While the filters in mineral sunscreens  such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide  dont have the same issue, other ingredients in these formulas still go bad, reducing the products ability to properly protect your skin.

For those with very sensitive skin, using expired sunscreen could lead to skin allergies or irritant dermatitis, Hu noted.

That said, in a pinch, using expired sunscreen is better than not using any at all.

If youre stuck in a situation where you have no other option other than using an expired bottle, then please go ahead and choose that over having no protection at all, Hu said. Most people will not react adversely to expired sunscreen. To compensate for lowered efficacy, apply more and reapply more frequently.

Consider writing the month and year of purchase in permanent marker on the sunscreen container when you buy it.

Consider writing the month and year of purchase in permanent marker on the sunscreen container when you buy it.

How To Check If Sunscreen Is Expired

Most sunscreens have a shelf life of about three years. The expiration date can typically be found on the top edge of a tube, the bottom of a bottle or aerosol can, or somewhere on the label.

But not every sunscreen will have an expiration date printed on it. If theres no date, it should be considered expired three years after purchase, per the Food and Drug Administration.

Consider writing the month and year of purchase in permanent marker on the sunscreen container when you buy it. That way, you dont need to rely on your memory to know when it expires. This also comes in handy if the expiration date on the label gets smudged and hard to read over time.

Other signs a sunscreen has gone bad include a funky smell (which may be a sign of bacterial contamination), clumping, separation or significant pilling when applied on the skin, Hu said. If you notice any of these changes, its time to throw it away.

Opening the sunscreen should not speed up the expiration process, according to Consumer Reports testing. As long as its been stored at room temperature, it will maintain its level of protection if it is still in that three-year window, Susan Booth  the project leader for sunscreen testing at Consumer Reports  told the publication. We have retested sunscreen samples from previous years testing after storing them in our lab and found no differences in performance.

That said, even if the SPF remains intact, handling of the sunscreen container with dirty hands, or frequent opening and closing can expose the sunscreen to bacteria, dermatologist Erin Gilbert told Allure.

Sunscreen thats been exposed to heat or sunlight will likely lead to faster product degradation, Hu said. So if its been sitting in your car, for example, you will probably need to toss it sooner.

If youre headed outdoors, remember to keep sunscreen in the shade, inside a bag or wrapped in a towel. In your home, the best place to store sunscreen is an area thats cool, dry and dark. So a humid bathroom probably isnt the ideal spot  but your bedroom or a closet might be.

Related...
Donald Trump Just Got Dumped by His Lawyer Again

Reuters/Amr Alfiky

Donald Trump is bleeding lawyers as quickly as he needs them, with Jim Trustyonce representing the former president in both his criminal documents case and a defamation lawsuitmotioning to end his relationship with Trump altogether on Friday.

Trusty wrote in a motion that he was dropping Trump as a client in his defamation suit against CNN because of irreconcilable differences that made it impossible for him to effectively and properly represent him.

The defamation lawsuit against CNN is entering a new phase, as more irrefutable facts are revealed, a spokesperson for Trump told Politico. We thank Mr. Trusty for his work on this case and wish him all the best.

Trump is seeking $475 million in damages from CNN, claiming the network conducted a campaign of dissuasion in the form of libel and slander.

CNN has asked the judge for the case to be dismissed with prejudice.

The motion to withdraw from Trusty came after hed already removed himself as counsel to Trump, as did the attorney John Rowley, in the federal documents case brought by special counsel Jack Smith. That criminal case relates to sensitive government documents that Trump allegedly kept after his time in the White House and his alleged obstruction of the federal investigation.

Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges in Florida on Tuesday.

Trump is reportedly still looking to hire more lawyers to beef up his defense, but has been struggling to find someone willing and qualified to take the gig.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Quad cannot prevent China's rise

08:20, June 16, 2023 By Fu Xiaoqiang ( China Daily

JIN DING/CHINA DAILY

At their third in-person Quadrilateral Security Dialogue on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 20, the United States, Japan, India and Australia reaffirmed their commitment to a "free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific" region. But no matter how they package it, the "Quad" is nothing more than a typical example of Washington's "clique diplomacy" to contain China and maintain its global hegemony.

The US revived the Quad in 2017 to serve its global strategy, especially its "Indo-Pacific" strategy. In fact, the US launched the "Indo-Pacific" strategy in 2017 with the core objective of containing China by strengthening cooperation with partner countries, shaping a favorable "Indo-Pacific" order, and maintaining its hegemony. In recent years, the Quad's efforts to contain China have become increasingly pronounced.

After the Joe Biden administration took office, the Quad was elevated from the ministerial level to the summit level, and its first (online) Quad Leaders' Summit was held in March 2021.The scope of cooperation within the Quad has expanded from military security to include fields such as the economy, science and technology, and biosecurity.

While its joint statement this year did not directly mention China by name, it was subtly targeted at China. It opposed any attempts to change the region's status quo by force, undermine its stability, or engage in unilateral actions in the Asia-Pacific region. Expressing "serious concern" over the militarization of disputed islets, the dangerous use of coast guard vessels, and actions that could disrupt other countries' maritime resource development activities, the Quad vowed to intensify its countermeasures against China's infrastructure development in the region.

Despite repeated denials from the four countries, the Quad still exhibits a strong "Cold War" undertone. As the leader of the Quad, the US' main goal is to rally allies and partner countries in the anti-China camp, and seek regional advantages through alliances and partnerships.

Similar to the Cold War, military and technology are the two important areas where the US uses the Quad to contain China. Since the revival of the Quad, military and security cooperation among the four countries has been steadily strengthening. For instance, the Malabar naval exercise has evolved from a bilateral military drill between the US and India to a trilateral exercise among the US, India and Japan and a quadrilateral naval exercise with the inclusion of Australia in 2020.

And in 2022, the Quad launched a new maritime security initiative called the "Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness", which currently is in pilot phase.

In the field of technology, the Quad has intensified its efforts to check China's technological advancement, by establishing a "Critical and Emerging Technology Working Group" and launching the "Semiconductor Supply Chain Initiative".The joint statement of the Quad also mentions critical and emerging technologies, meaning the grouping intends to become the leader in innovations and strengthen "supply chain resilience".

Apart from causing disruptions in the "Indo-Pacific" region, the Quad engages with countries outside the grouping in an attempt to lure them into its fold to contain China, thereby creating divisions in the region. The joint statement specifically mentions ASEAN, the South Pacific and the countries around the Indian Ocean, emphasizing the importance of the regional leadership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and pledging to further consolidate the Quad's relationship with ASEAN and expand cooperation.

The statement also promises to expand cooperation with Pacific island countries and the Indian Ocean Rim Association, as well as to increase investment and infrastructure construction, particularly laying submarine cables, in the Asia-Pacific region. Besides, it has announced initiatives such as the Quad Infrastructure Fellowships Program and Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience.

Recent years have also seen the US and Australia repeatedly undermine and disrupt underwater cable cooperation between China and other countries, while the Quad has said it will take measures to counter the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and pressure regional countries into making a "binary choice".

The Quad has been trying to create divisions and raise tensions in the region, posing a serious challenge to the regional order and security. Particularly concerning is the potential escalation of maritime tensions and increased risks of naval clashes due to the US' aggressive military activities in the region. In recent years, Quad member states have conducted frequent military drills and other activities in the South China Sea, with the US carrying out illegal air and naval reconnaissance and patrols.

The Quad has also conducted military activities with some ASEAN members and non-regional countries such as the United Kingdom and France in the South China Sea. These activities are likely to boost the military confidence of the countries that have disputes with China in the South China Sea, increasing the risk of maritime confrontations and undermining the relatively stable security environment in the region.

The establishment of the Quad Infrastructure Fellowships Program and the Quad's intensified efforts to disrupt supply chains and infrastructure projects targeting China make it even more difficult to develop a free, open and prosperous Asia-Pacific region.

And yet the US says it wants to improve relations with China and has no intention of challenging China. This is nothing but an effort to create a smokescreen which it believes will allow it to continue its anti-China activities without being noticed. The US is wrong, because even the dumbest person knows that it is not possible for the US to improve its relations with China while it strengthens its military presence in the region to counter China.

The Quad cannot prevent China's rise. While the four countries share the common goal of containing China, their specific interests and preferences vary greatly. In particular, India lacks the strong motivation needed to contain China and its position is different from the other three countries' on issues such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict. So it is unlikely that the Quad will turn into a solid US-led alliance.

Moreover, the majority of countries in the region are unwilling to take sides between China and the US. While Washington may have grand ambitions of containing China by using the Quad, it is likely to fall short of its objectives.

Therefore, the Joe Biden administration should seize the opportunity of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to China on Sunday and Monday to change its short-sighted China policy, and commit to concrete actions that match the US president's statements that the US desires to cooperate with China for global good.

The author is vice-president of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
A Naperville man was arrested on charges he failed to turn in two firearms following the revocation of his Firearm Owner ID card and concealed carry license by the Illinois State Police, officials said.

Naperville police confiscated the handguns Thursday from Gerald Foxx Jr., 42, of the 400 block of Brad Court, and charged him with two counts of felony possession of a firearm, a police department news release said.

Advertisement

State police notified Naperville police in late May that Foxxs FOID card and concealed carry license had been revoked earlier in the month but Foxx failed to surrender the card, license or weapons, the release said. State law requires the items be turned in within 48 hours of notification.

In addition to the gun possession charge, Foxx also was charged with two counts of failure to surrender a FOID Card and/or failure to complete a firearm disposition record and one count of possession of ammunition without a valid FOID card, all of which are class A misdemenaors.

Advertisement

No information was provided as to why Foxxs FOID card and concealed carry license were revoked.

All too often in this country, weve seen cases where people who should not have been in possession of firearms have committed acts of violence, Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres said in the release.

I cant commend our Strategic Response Unit enough for their proactive work going after these individuals and taking firearms out of the hands of those who shouldnt have them.
As school ends, summer begins and the dangerous outdoors beckon, a quick tip: If you are a child and plan to break an arm or hand, or schedule surgery on an arm or hand, try and do this before Felicity Fishman goes on vacation.

She is a pediatric surgeon at Shriners Childrens Chicago hospital in the Montclare neighborhood, and by all standards, esteemed and valued for her medical dexterity and intellectual gravitas.

Shes also an associate professor of orthopedics and rehabilitation at Loyola Medicine. She came to Chicago in 2017 after serving at the Yale University School of Medicine. Shes been an attending surgeon at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Connecticut, a peer reviewer for the Journal of Hand Surgery, and, to be frank, not so much the kind of doctor who treats emergency room accidents, but rather, the kind of doctor renowned for creating brand-new thumbs.

Now forget all of that.

If you need a surgeon, and youre a kid, chances are, afterward, youll need a cast. Your friends and family will doodle their well-wishes, goofy faces and smiling suns on it.

But Dr. Felicity Fishman will send you home from the hospital with a little art.

On a recent Friday morning, moments before Fishman performed a tendon transfer on 8-year-old Beck Novak, a nurse turned to her in the brightly lit surgical unit and asked:

Doing a drawing?

Yes, Fishman said.

Of?

Of an elephant.

Got it, the nurse nodded.

Among the heart and oxygen monitors and tubes and craning overhead lights that fill the room, there is a rolling metal cart showcasing the kind of instruments you might imagine during a surgery: long, shiny, pointy scalpels and clamps lined up impeccably, like the spoons in a fancy restaurant. But across the room, on another cart, are the instruments Fishman wields after surgery: tight rows of water-resistant color markers.

For the past three years, Fishman has been popular among parents and kids for a single, cheerful post-op flourish. After she meets with a patient and prepares them for what is often a scary-sounding procedure, she asks a question: What would they like her to draw on their casts? She calls up pictures on her phone of past works, to give them some ideas. But she will draw whatever they want. Shes drawn about 150. In three years, shes created dozens and dozens. Pokemon. Superheroes. Supervillains. Disney princesses. Snowmen. Unicorns. A choo-choo that ran the length of an arm. A roller-skating chicken. Japanese anime characters. Minnie Mouse. Super Mario. Sharks. Sharks eating minnows. Spider-Man is evergreen, and dinosaurs are always popular.

Beck, who is from Valparaiso and has cerebral palsy and needed surgery to give him control over his left hand, wanted an elephant. Fishman showed him cartoon elephants and one photo-realistic African elephant. The cartoon elephants would have been easy.

Beck wanted the realistic one.

Because, of course, Fishman says, smiling ironically.

She leaves to scrub for surgery. Beck lies on the operating table, asleep, sedated. Fishman returns with a light fixed to her forehead, like a spelunker. The bleeps from monitors and scruffs of rubber soles mark the silence. Fishman walks over to a small speaker, fiddles with an old iPod Mini, then with a look, she clears the room of visitors.

A couple of hours later, Beck was still asleep, but the surgery was done and all that showed of him was a left arm hanging out from beneath a sheet, wrapped in a blue cast. Fishman sat at his side, surrounded by assistants, sizing up her canvas. Earlier in the day, Deborah Novak, Becks mother, had warned her son: Art-wise, Beck, there is only so much that a surgeon can do for you. But Dr. Fishman was going to try anyway.

That meant a lot, Deborah said. The elephant is his animal. Its strong and resilient.

Fishman is quick to note that while a surgeon adding more than a doodle to a patients cast sounds unusual, she is not the only one in the country who does it  there are doctors at the University of Southern California and Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta, for starters, known for their aesthetic touch.

The pediatric world is small, she said, and like-minded in terms of wanting to find ways to make a visit a nicer experience. When youre a kid, parents are making decisions. You are minimally part of the actual process. But allowing a kid a way to participate and include something meaningful to them  it can help a child who is anxious about a surgery to have some autonomy. Theres been medical research that shows just allowing a child to pick the color of their cast can help.

Felicity Fishman is not an artist. She is a New Englander, 5-foot-2, direct, efficient and shares the same wary smile as Frances McDormand. I would never say she thinks of herself as holding any artistic pretensions, said Kelsey Moon, a Shriners physician assistant. We were all surprised, to be honest, she drew as well as she does. I remember we had a drawing competition among staff. She said anyone could do it. That is false. And art is not the first thing I think of with her. Shes an athlete. Indeed, she was captain of the national champion lacrosse team at Middlebury College in Vermont.

Years ago, at first, Fishman just added glitter, then she cut shapes into fiberglass casts, then she wrapped the mold in colored tape and created abstractions. Then someone said: Why not just draw something? As it became a standard step with many of her operations, colleagues would ask her occasionally if it takes a lot of time  the patient is under anesthesia after all. But it only adds about 10 minutes to standard recovery time. I do not think of this truly as artistry, she said, though it does dovetail with some basic surgical skills. The precision of the lines. The understanding of how anatomy is shaped.

As Beck was out, she worked fast.

She called up the elephant on her phone and left the image open for reference. A nurse slid her a tray of markers. Fishman considered the colors. This the only gray? she asked. She outlined a pachyderm in black marker, moving a hand steadily. As she worked, a nurse read facts. African elephants are bigger than Asian elephants and have larger ears, she said. Some male Asian elephants form tusks. All African elephants form them.

Oh, yeah, Fishman said, head down.

Fun facts, the nurse said.

Fishman raised her head: He doing OK? She nodded at Beck. Everything is perfect, another nurse said. Fishman colored in the ears with pinks and added wrinkles to the legs. A second nurse filled in the gray. The eyes on the elephant came out a little shy.

Anyone see anything missing? Fishman asked.

A nurse glanced over. Shut up, she said. That looks really good!

But my toes are imprecise, Fishman said.

A while later Beck Novak woke up and glanced down at his arm wrapped in a cast.

My elephant, he said faintly.

Your elephant, his mother said.

Some patients keep the art, cutting it from the part of a cast that eventually stinks. Fishman, 43, is flattered. But being known for her drawing, it does get a little distracting: After seven years of training, turns out Im also pretty good with the medical stuff, too.

cborrelli@chicagotribune.com
This downtown Bradenton cafe has new French owners who are trained crepe masters

Sweet Deli Cafe in downtown Bradenton has new owners and a new house specialty  crepes.

Frederique Guette and her husband, Frederic Guette, took over Sweet Deli Cafe, 531 13th St. W., in March.

While they kept the existing menu, including all-day breakfasts (avocado toast, egg and cheese sandwiches, smoked salmon, waffles and more), sandwiches, paninis, soups, desserts and hot and cold drinks, they added an extensive crepe menu.

Guests can choose from a variety of savory crepes, made from buckwheat flour, or sweet crepes, made from regular wheat flour.

Among the savory crepe options are the Chefs Favorite (crispy bacon, tomatoes, onion and Swiss cheese) for $10.99, the Belle Complete (ham, egg and Swiss cheese) for $8.99, the Striking Viking (smoked salmon, dill lemon cream sauce and spinach) for $11.99, and more.

The sweet crepe options include Sweet Classique (sugar and butter) for $6, Beautiful Citron (lemon, sugar and butter) for $7, Amazing Bounty (homemade chocolate ganache and coconut flakes) for $8.50, and more.

Laurie Calderon prepares a take-out meal at Sweet Deli Cafe in Downtown Bradenton. Frederique and Frederic Guette are the new owners of the cafe, and the menu now includes a variety of crepes, savory and sweet.

Frederique is originally from Paris, but came to the United States as an exchange student, attending high school in Kansas City.

Its where I fell in love with the United States, she said.

Frederic is originally from Brittany in northwest France.

The Guettes previously had a food truck in Kansas City, specializing in crepes.

Frederique and Frederic Guette are the new owners of downtown Bradentons Sweet Deli Cafe. Now the menu includes a variety of crepes, savory and sweet.

Fred and Fred, as the couple refer to themselves, are both culinary trained crepe masters.

Brittany is credited by numerous sources as the place where crepes originated in the 1300s.

This is all about our roots in Brittany and the love of sharing the food from there, Frederic said of crepes.

Frederique and Frederic Guette are the new owners of downtown Bradentons Sweet Deli Cafe. Now the menu includes a variety of crepes, savory and sweet.

The couple says that their crepes will not only satisfy your taste buds but give you a taste of the authentic Celtic area that is Brittany.

Many of Sweet Deli Cafes customers come from the downtown Bradenton area for the sandwiches and hot or cold drinks, but as word of the new crepe offerings spreads, Fred and Fred say they are seeing more and more new faces.

Among the most popular sandwich choices are the Prime Turkey Bacon, the Reuben and the paninis, Frederique said.

Frederique and Frederic Guette are the new owners of downtown Bradentons Sweet Deli Cafe. Now the menu includes a variety of crepes, savory and sweet.

Laurie Calderon is a valued staff member who worked for the previous owners.

Laurie knows everything and can run the whole place. Shes the best ever, Frederique said.

Sweet Deli Cafe is open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and offers indoor and outdoor seating.

We do a lot of catering. Thats an important part of our business, Frederique said.

People find us on EZ Cater and on our website, she said.

For more information about Sweet Deli Cafe, visit sweetdelicafe.com or call 941-330-6509.
Dread going to a Charlotte DMV? You can now check how long the visit will take

If youre planning a trip to the DMV in Charlotte soon, you can now know how long the wait time is.

The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles website now has wait times listed for each of its 115 drivers license offices across the state.

The wait time is defined as the current average length of time from check-in until the customer is called to the workstation for service, NCDMV says. This tool will be most useful in the afternoon when drivers license offices are serving walk-ins only.

To check the wait time for your location, just hover over the icon marking each drivers license office, and a box will pop up with the current walk-in time.

DMV appointments can be scheduled up to 90 days in advance at skiptheline.ncdot.gov.

Most services NCDMV offers, such as drivers license renewals and record requests, can be completed online.

However, some services require an in-person visit, like getting a state license or ID for the first time, obtaining a Real ID, or making a name change, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Driver killed after hitting a curb on busy Fulton County parkway, GSP says

A major Fulton County road has been reopened after a deadly crash investigation.

Georgia State Patrol told Channel 2 Action News at 4:40 a.m. Friday, troopers received reports of a single-vehicle crash on Langford Parkway Westbound near Stanton Road.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

According to the investigation, the driver of a 2003 Monte Carlo was speeding and lost control of his vehicle before hitting a curb.

After hitting the curb, the vehicle overturned, struck a utility light pole and an embankment.

TRENDING STORIES:

Troopers confirmed that the driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

The identity of the driver has not been released.

The investigation remains ongoing.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
A forest fire rages south of Alvesta, Sweden, on June 6, 2023. A lack of rain and rising temperatures have led to dangerously dry conditions across the Nordic and Baltic countries. (Fredrik Sandberg/TT News Agency via AP)

HELSINKI (AP)  Summer is wildfire season in southern Europe, but this year the continent's north is also at risk, with forest fire warnings in effect from Scotland to the Nordic and Baltic countries.

A lack of rain and rising temperatures have led to dangerously dry conditions in the region, leading to worries of a repeat of the summer of 2018 when major wildfires swept across Sweden in particular.

Small wildfires are already burning in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Scotland and experts worry it could get much worse unless there's significant rainfall in coming weeks.

Unlike the sun-soaked Mediterranean countries, which have to deal with wildfires every summer, the phenomenon is rare in the countries of northern Europe, where summers are normally cool and wet by comparison.

These countries are relatively new to drought problems, said Niclas Hjerdt, head of hydrological forecasting at Swedens weather agency SMHI. We usually have an excess of water up here in northern Europe and Scandinavia. So there isnt this historic knowledge of how to deal with drought situations that you could find in countries further south in Europe.

SMHI says southern Sweden received very little rain in May and not a single drop so far in June, leaving the soil exceptionally dry. The agency says the risk of wildfires is now extremely high in the southern half of the country, including the Stockholm region, and even though theres some rain in the forecast this weekend, its unlikely enough to have a significant impact, Hjerdt said.

In neighboring Finland, the Finnish Meteorological Institute this week warned of dry terrain and a high risk of forest fires in most of the country, with a very high risk in southwestern Finland and the Aaland islands in the Baltic Sea. Both Sweden and Finland are mostly covered by forests.

Similar warnings have been issued in Norway, Denmark and the Baltic countries while Scotland has put in place its fourth wildfire warning in three weeks. Campfires are banned or discouraged in affected areas.

Experts say the drought could be related to the transition of La Nina to El Nino climatic conditions in the Pacific, which shifts weather patterns across the world, and often leads to dry summers in northern Europe.

Hjerdt said it's too early to draw any link to climate change but added that in general, a warming climate is making the Nordic region more vulnerable to forest fires by making summers longer and winters shorter, prolonging the vegetative season when most precipitation evaporates or transpires rather than sinking deeper into the ground.

Temperatures are heating up in the region and are expected to hit 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) in coming days in Finland  rare for a country straddling the Arctic Circle.

The heat wave can stay on the surface for next week as well and spread all the way to Lapland, said the Finnish institutes meteorologist Tuomo Bergman, referring to Finlands northernmost area. No substantial rain was expected in Finland until around Midsummer, June 24, he said, when traditional bonfires will be banned.

Denmarks farming minister, Jacob Jensen, said that the drought has already had a major impact on our agriculture in the past few weeks, and with the prospect of a summer without rain, we will have to have a clear plan for how we can help agriculture in the best possible way.

The Federation of Swedish Farmers said the drought had already affected grassland crops and could have an impact on cereals.

If there is no rain soon, future harvests will suffer, the industry group said in a statement. It noted that due to the hot and dry summer of 2018, the industry lost almost the entire grain harvest at a cost of approximately 10 billion Swedish kronor ($1.2 billion).

Globally, the month of May was a joint-second warmest May on record, according to the European Commissions Copernicus Climate Change Service, with temperatures in Canada and the northern United States particularly warm. Canada saw major wildfires that sent hazardous haze deep into the U.S.

In Europe, May was drier than average in southern Scandinavia, the Baltic countries and western Russia, Copernicus said. Meanwhile, most of Southern Europe except Spain and Portugal saw wetter than average conditions, with severe floods in northern Italy.

Parts of the Balkans are now experiencing heavy floods caused by strong and persistent rain. Highways and roads have been closed in Serbia and Montenegro due to landslides, some bridges have collapsed and hundreds of people have been rescued from flooded homes and cars.

The southwestern part of Europe has been much drier. This spring in Spain was the hottest  and the second-driest  on record for the country. That has created conditions for wildfires breaking out early this year and the need for restrictions on water for agriculture, industry and filling private swimming pools in the hardest-hit areas.

In mainland France, the water resources are still feeling the effects of a drought last summer, with two-thirds of the national water tables below normal levels. Localized forest fires have broken out in parts of France including regions such as Lorraine and Vosges where extreme heat and forest fires are rare.

Sweden saw the worst forest fires in its modern history in 2018 during an unusually dry and warm summer. The wildfires also affected Denmark, Finland and Norway.

We are currently in a serious situation, it is similar to the one that prevailed before the summer of 2018, Sweden's Civil Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin said Thursday, adding airborne firefighting units were on standby.

___

Ritter reported from Stockholm. Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark; David Keyton in Stockholm, Thomas Adamson in Paris, Joseph Wilson in Barcelona, Spain; and Dusan Stojanovic in Belgrade, Serbia, contributed to this report.
Duane Owen executed in killings of babysitter, mom. What Karen Slattery's sister said

The state of Florida executed Duane Owen at Florida State Prison in Raiford on Thursday nearly four decades after his convictions for the murders of two Palm Beach County residents.

Owen, 62, was pronounced dead at 6:14 p.m. after an injection of three drugs was administered while 34 people looked on. There were no last stays.

When asked if he had any final words, Owen said, "No."

Owen was found guilty in the brutal killings of a 14-year old babysitter, Karen Slattery of Boynton Beach, and a 38-year-old executive secretary and single mother of two, Georgianna Worden, of Boca Raton.

Slattery, babysitting a 7-year-old and a 3-year-old at a house in Delray Beach, was stabbed 18 times and raped on March 24, 1984. About two months later, on May 29, Owen raped and bludgeoned Worden to death with a hammer.

Owen, convicted and sentenced to death in both murders, was granted a new trial in the Slattery killing when he claimed he was looking for hormones so he could become a woman. A second jury again convicted him and sentenced him to death.

Slattery's younger sister, who was 10 at the time of her murder, said the state of Florida took far too long to carry out Owen's sentence.

"Thirty-nine in this process is finally over," Debbi Johnson, now a deputy sheriff in Monroe County, read from a prepared statement. "March 24, 1984, Owen attempted to write the final chapter in Karen's book or so he thought. Karen lives on in her community, her friends, her family and, most importantly, her legacy. Today, June 15, 2023, at 6:14 p.m., the state of Florida actually wrote the final chapter of Karen's book. The Slattery family may now close Karen's book, put it on a shelf and move forward."

Duane Owens last hours were spent alone Thursday.

He woke up at 7 a.m. and had his last meal early, at 9:45 a.m.

It was a bacon cheeseburger without a bun, onion rings, strawberries, a vanilla milkshake and coffee. Meals can't cost more than $40.

Owen had no visits from a member of the clergy, friends or family.

A spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Corrections released a statement from Owen she said he gave them at 7:45 a.m.

It read:

Duane Owen's appeals: Was he competent to be executed?

During his trials and in numerous appeals afterward, Owen's attorneys have consistently argued that he was mentally incompetent. That argument was the basis of last-days appeals to the Florida Supreme Court, the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.

The state Supreme Court rejected that argument on June 5, and the 11th Circuit followed suit late Wednesday morning. Hours later, the U.S. Supreme Court denied his appeal Wednesday afternoon, leaving open for Owen's execution to proceed.

Owen was the 103rd person executed in Florida since the death penalty was reinstated in the United States in 1976.

Only two Palm Beach County murder cases ended in executions

Two hours before the execution of Duane Owen and with thunderstorms near, the area designated for protesters was empty.

The last person put to death in Florida for a crime committed in Palm Beach County was William Van Poyck, who was executed in 2013 for the 1987 murder of a Glades Correctional Institution guard, who was taking a fellow prisoner to a doctor in downtown West Palm Beach.

Only one other case from the county ended in an execution: Nollie Lee Martin was executed in 1992 for the 1977 murder of 19-year-old George Washington University student Patricia Greenfield, while she worked at a summer job as a Delray Beach convenience store clerk. Martin stabbed her to death at the Lantana dump where he left her body.

Duane Owen started drinking early. His mother, father died when he was very young.

Duane Owen was found guilty and sentenced to death for the murders of 14-year-old Karen Slattery of Boynton Beach and Georgianna Worden, 38, of Boca Raton.

It had been a point of legal contention whether Owen's road to Raiford began that March night when he cut through a bedroom screen, stabbed and raped Slattery or earlier, in the chaotic, drug and alcohol-marred childhood his attorneys have said he endured.

A childhood friend of Owen described his home as one marked by alcohol abuse.

"It was the only house I know to have beer delivered by a beer truck," the friend said.

Owen's mother, an alcoholic, died when Owen was 11. Two years later, his father killed himself.

By then, Owen himself had for years been using drugs and alcohol.

Duane Owen struggled with gender dysphoria

Those problems may well have stemmed from another Owen struggled with  gender dysphoria, which occurs when there is a conflict between the sex a person is assigned at birth and the sex with which that person identifies.

Many with gender dysphoria suffer anxiety, depression and often turn to drug or alcohol abuse.

Owen's attorneys have argued that, based on a 13-hour examination from a neuropsychologist, he suffers from a host of mental health problems.

In legal filings with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court, Owen's attorneys said he "lacks a rational understanding of the connection between his crime and impending execution due to his fixed psychotic delusions and dementia."

Defense attorneys frequently cite the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment to argue that the mentally ill cannot legally be put to death.

But the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly refused to lay out a clear prohibition on executions of the mentally ill, saying only those whose mental illness renders them "unaware of the punishment they are about to suffer and why they are to suffer it" should be shielded from execution.

Some states have begun to broaden bans on execution of the mentally ill.

A gurney in an execution chamber at Florida State Prison in Starke where inmates receive lethal injection.

Ohio and Kentucky have both banned the execution of those with severe mental illness, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, which tracks death penalty cases and laws throughout the country.

Florida one of 24 states still executing inmates

Florida is one of 24 states where the death penalty remains in place. Twenty-three states have abolished the death penalty, and three  Pennsylvania, California and Oregon  have governor-imposed moratoriums in place, according to a review by DPIC.

In those states where the practice remains, it often takes on aspects that are both rote  protests and counter-protests  and macabre  a celebrated "last meal," an opportunity for "last words" and the spectacle of a human being clinically being executed as observers watch behind a glass wall.

Death penalty proponents cite its value as a still-necessary deterrent and a cost-saver, spurning the notion of a convicted killer being fed, housed and provided with health care by taxpayers after committing heinous acts.

But the death penalty's deterrent value is curtailed at least somewhat by the fact that is largely shielded from public view. Journalists observing Owen's death were told in advance that they would not be permitted to bring with them a cell phone, laptop, smart watch or even their own notepad and pen. Instead, they were told they'd be given a notepad and a pair of pencils by corrections officials.

In addition to its limited deterrent value, the death penalty is also not a cost-saver.

"If you're looking for a cost savings, death penalty is not the way to go," said DPIC Executive Director Robin Maher, whose organization takes no position on the death penalty.

Death penalty cases include a built-in, lengthy and costly appeals process  one that often results in years of taxpayer-funded incarceration before the sentence is imposed.

Maher said condemned prisoners in the United States spend an average of 18 years in prison between sentencing and execution.

Owens spent far more time than that waiting to be put to death. He was sentenced to death for Slattery's murder in 1985 and for Worden's killing in 1986.

He has essentially spent 38 years in state custody waiting to die.

In that time, those who have only memories of Slattery and Worden endured a different type of trial.

What might Karen Slattery, Georgianna Worden be doing had they lived?

Karen Slattery, 14, was stabbed to death by Duane Owen in 1984 in a Delray Beach home where she was baby-sitting.

Who might Slattery be today? She was a freshman at Pope John Paul High, a diving star good enough to get a tryout with the U.S. national team. She had just had her braces removed.

And what of Worden? She had moved to Boca Raton from Syracuse, N.Y., with her husband, John, in 1971. The pair divorced in 1977, and Worden relied on a job as an executive secretary for an architectural firm to care for her two daughters.

The girls were 11 and 9 when Owen killed their mother. It was the 11-year-old who saw blood in her mother's bedroom and called a neighbor.

Owen had struck Worden in the head with a hammer five times. A medical examiner determined that, somehow, she remained alive for 30 minutes to an hour after the first blows.

Worden's murder devastated her family.

"Georgianna should not be dead," her father, Walter Sharritts told the court in a plea for Owen's execution. "Georgianna Worden had her right to live yet it was taken away by Duane Owen."

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida execution: Duane Owen executed after murder of Karen Slattery
(Bloomberg) -- European Central Bank Vice President Luis de Guindos is ruling out returning to Spain after the snap elections next month if the centre-right Popular Party wins, according to people familiar with his thinking.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The 63-year-old Spaniard is happy in the position hes currently holding and considers his ECB role key for his home country and Europe, said the people, who declined to be identified because the matter is private. His non-renewable eight-year term in Frankfurt runs through June 2026. An ECB spokesperson declined to comment.

Guindos was Spains economy minister from 2011 to 2018 and has been the subject of local media speculation as a potential candidate to run the economic team in a possible government led by the conservative PP, which is currently ahead the polls.

Other names that have been circulating are Luis Garicano, a former European lawmaker and the economic mastermind behind liberal party Ciudadanos, and the governor of the Spanish central bank, Pablo Hernandez de Cos.

Guindoss old boss in his early years, former IMF chief Rodrigo Rato, became the economic heavyweight during the government of Jose Maria Aznar. As vice president, he combined the ministries of economy and public finances, providing an example of what options Guindos might have in a future PP government.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called snap elections for July 23, following the poor results of his Socialist Party in the local and regional elections last month. Spanish voters had previously been set to vote at the end of this year.

--With assistance from Alonso Soto and Rodrigo Orihuela.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Ecuador authorities confiscate pigs, fighting cocks from prison Members of Ecuador's security forces confiscate pigs in a high security jail, in Santo Domingo

(Reuters) - Ecuadorean security forces have confiscated pigs, fighting cocks and more than two dozen bladed weapons, among other items, from a high-security wing of Bellavista prison in the city of Santo Domingo, the country's military said on Friday.

Police and operatives of the SNAI prison authority were shown wheeling out two pigs from the prison in images shared by Ecuador's military in a message posted on Twitter.

The authorities also removed 12 fighting cocks, 26 bladed weapons, 16 electrical items, and other objects, they tweeted, without saying how the animals ended up there.

Ecuador's prisons are plagued by poor conditions and violence, the latter leading to the deaths of hundreds of inmates.

(Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Richard Chang)
A gas station in San Francisco. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

California has some of the nations leading climate policies, with hard deadlines to slash greenhouse gas emissions, switch to zero-emission cars and trucks and get 100% of its electricity from carbon-free sources. But so far, its leaders have lagged behind other states, like Maine and New York, in using another important tool  the financial power of its massive public pension funds  to hasten the nation's independence from fossil fuels.

CalPERS and CalSTRS are the nations two largest public pension funds and have nearly $15 billion collectively invested in some of the worlds biggest fossil fuel companies. That includes companies owned by the Chinese government, Saudi Arabia and multinational corporations such as Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Shell that are posting record profits as the planet increasingly burns, floods and bakes from the impacts of climate change and communities suffer.

Helping to fund the destruction of our environment is insanity; profiting from it makes us complicit. We urge California lawmakers to pass SB 252, legislation by Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) requiring CalPERS and CalSTRS to shed their investments in the largest fossil fuel companies by 2031, and stop renewing or adding to existing investments starting next year.

Young people, including groups like Youth Vs. Apocalypse, are among those pushing hardest for this divestment bill. They are right to be angry that the retirement funds of state employees and teachers are investing in companies that profit from the burning of fossil fuels, and have mounted decades-long disinformation campaigns about the science of global warming and whose continued expansion poses a dire threat to future generations. How do we expect to slow the climate crisis and the industry that drives it if we continue to support it with billions of dollars?

Read more: Editorial: Climate change is making California more expensive. Home insurance is the latest bellwether

This divestment legislation is the right step, not only on moral grounds, but because its financially prudent. In a world where the effects of climate change are intensifying, the necessary and accelerating shift to renewable energy makes these investments too volatile and risky to hold onto long-term.

It's a conclusion that some of the largest institutional investors in the world have already come to, including Harvard University, the Dutch pension fund ABP, New York Citys public pension funds and the University of California. Divestment commitments of more than $40 trillion in assets have been made in recent years.

Read more: Editorial: An oil executives going to host the U.N. climate summit. It shows who's really in charge

The bill provides a reasonable offramp, giving the funds a seven-year timeline to sell off these investments when its most financially advantageous. Theres also an option to extend the deadline until 2035 if an unforeseen event like a war or disaster impacts market conditions, and the legislation does not require the boards to do anything unless they determine it is consistent with their fiduciary responsibilities.

A list provided by CalPERS shows that its holdings in more than 100 companies it believes would be subject to divestment under SB 252 add up to about $9.4 billion, or about 2% of its $441-billion portfolio. CalSTRS provided a similar list of investments in more than 150 companies totaling $5.4 billion, less than 2% of its $302-billion portfolio.

The UC system completed selling off more than $1 billion in fossil fuel investments three years ago after determining that putting funds in clean energy was more promising than gambling it on fossil fuels that pose an "unacceptable financial risk."

Dianne Klein of UC Investments, which has more than $160 billion in assets, said the switch has not hurt the funds' value. "Selling fossil fuel assets certainly didnt impede our ability to grow the portfolio over the past three years," she said.

Read more: Opinion: Why the fossil fuel divestment movement should reach hospitals

Looking at the last 10 years of returns shows that stock indices without tobacco and fossil fuels, including one the UC system uses, outperformed those with fossil fuels by about 0.5%. "When you are talking about billions of dollars, those extra percentage points make a big difference," Klein said.

When New York City divested $3 billion of its pension funds in 2021, it relied on the advice of financial management firms BlackRock and Meketa, who in separate reports found that fossil fuel divestments have resulted in neutral or positive financial performance, and generated no significant negative impacts.

Tom Sanzillo of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, who previously served as first deputy comptroller for the state of New York, which is in the process of divesting from fossil fuel companies, said that pension funds pulling out of fossil fuels is a logical and fiscally responsible response. With the exception of the energy price spikes after Russias invasion of Ukraine, the sector has become less profitable and made up less of most portfolios  constituting 4.2% of the S&P 500 stock index today, compared with 29% in 1980.

You're looking at an industry that's in trouble and doesn't have a turnaround strategy, he said.

The leaders overseeing the pension funds oppose the legislation, and say that divesting would pose too big a risk to their investment returns, hurt the diversification of their holdings and violate their fiduciary duty to make investment decisions solely in the interest of maximizing the rate of return. The funds' leaders argue that those financial responsibilities trump any other considerations. But thats just not the case, historically.

CalPERS says that its divestment in tobacco companies more than two decades ago has cost $4.2 billion in returns and that its divestment from South Africa in the late 1980s and early 90s lost $6.7 billion, but that its divestments in Iran, firearms manufacturers and thermal coal were neutral or made money.

Critics have legitimate concerns that if divestment results in losses it would drive up costs to school districts, teachers and state and local governments that will have to pay for the gap between what the funds generate and their underfunded pension liabilities.

But there's little evidence it will. Furthermore, the cost of climate change is likely to be much greater, and this legislation is the push the pension funds need to get serious and begin a necessary transition away from fossil fuels.

The funds' preferred method of achieving social or political goals is working with other like-minded investors to push companies like Exxon to be more environmentally responsible through shareholder activism. But there isn't much evidence that strategy is working when it comes to the big oil companies, which are walking back their climate pledges.

Supporters of the legislation argue that as long as fossil fuel companies remain a part of these portfolios, the pension funds are propping up the industry and must disentangle from them to curb their power and influence. Beyond that, it is clear that renewable energy is the future and that holding onto the planet-destroying and health-damaging oil, gas and coal industries is a risky bet on the technology of the past.

As the climate crisis and its impacts accelerate and the toll of investment becomes clearer with each passing wildfire season, smoke siege and heat wave, business-as-usual is simply untenable. California should stop adding to the risk by investing its money in a sustainable future.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Empowering Parents grant program has run into some choppy water.

The program was created during the pandemic, using $50 million in federal COVID relief funds to create small grants for families to purchase educational supplies. But its becoming apparent that the program  essentially a voucher system for education supplies  has had a very high rate of improper payments.

Its yet another clear demonstration that proposed school choice initiatives  a political codeword for voucher programs  should be a non-starter.

As Idaho Education News reported, Gov. Brad Little has called for a full audit by the Division of Financial Management of grants issued under the Empowering Parents grant program on June 9. After an existing review by the State Board of Education had examined 70% of purchases, about 7% were determined to be unlawful, and another 13% are in question. The improper purchases included TV sets, smart watches, clothing and household cleaning supplies, according to Ed News.

So it seems between 7% and 20% of the money paid out came from improper payments. Improper payments are what is meant when people harp about waste, fraud and abuse in welfare and other government programs.

How bad is an improper payment rate of 7% to 20%?

Its not great. For context, compare that to federal poverty relief programs. For example, in 2021, there were headlines about a distressing rise in the rate of improper payments in the SNAP (often called food stamps) program. The perceived crisis was caused by reports indicating the rate was approaching 1%.

The figure is higher with programs like Medicare, around 6%. The figures for Medicaid are currently skewed by the pandemic  a federal law disallowed disenrolling people from Medicaid as an emergency measure  but pre-pandemic, it had an improper payment rate of around 10%.

Not all improper payments, either with the federal program or with Empower Parents, are fraud. For federal programs, it often simply means the right proof of income paperwork isnt in place, for example.

And with Empowering Parents, its easy to see how many parents may have been confused about what they could buy.

For example, computers are approved expenses, but computer components  say, some additional memory to upgrade an existing computer  arent approved expenses. Tablets are approved expenses, but smartphones arent. Laptop stands are approved expenses, but laptop cases are not.

So a good bet is that a lot of this isnt intentional fraud but confusion about what is and what isnt a legitimate expense. But this much is also true: This is not a problem in Idahos public schools, where rigorous procurement laws head off problems like these.

Consider what it would mean to massively expand the Empowering Parents grant program so that it could cover private school tuition for students across the state.

The same kinds of well-meaning errors could happen under a school voucher system but with a whole lot more taxpayer dollars at stake. And there could be kickback schemes, as well: Efforts to set up fake or bare-bones schools so that the school organizers could cash in as many vouchers as possible.

This has indeed been the pattern in states that have adopted voucher systems, as we pointed out previously. In both Arizona and Arkansas, pervasive recipient abuse was found, with people using vouchers to buy TVs, beauty supplies and numerous other things that have nothing to do with education. And there have been reports of embezzlement of vouchers by those leading schools that receive lots of taxpayer dollars.

The Empowering Parents grant system has its virtues. It was an innovative way to use COVID-19 funds, and it has probably done a lot of good. Its not at all clear that the program should be ended, rather than simply shored up and reformed.

The Idaho State Board of Education was briefed about the issue at its meeting Wednesday in Pocatello, according to a news release, and it plans to follow up. And Little has asked for the entire program to have a detailed audit.

The right things are being done, and we should wait for the findings of that audit before coming to a final judgment on the Empowering Parents program.

But what this incident also makes clear is that these grant programs should stay within their current bounds, and not be expanded to include private school tuition. Taxpayers have a role to play in covering educational supplies for children, especially children with few means. But taxpayer dollars should never be diverted to private schools, where accountability vanishes and opportunities for fraud and abuse abound.

Statesman editorials are the unsigned opinion of the Idaho Statesmans editorial board. Board members are opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, editor Chadd Cripe, newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser and community member Mary Rohlfing.
Awake Americans pushing anti-diversity, inclusion agenda

Awake Americans, a national affiliate of Awake Illinois, is using Naperville as a launching pad for its views and actions that contradict and undermine our citys pledge to diversity, equity and inclusion. A public statement from Mayor Scott Werhli and the Naperville City Council is urgently needed to tell them they are not welcome here and to confirm support for and defense of communities and workplaces under attack.

Awake groups across the country are at the forefront of book bannings and untruths being spewed about the LGBTQ+ community, specifically targeting transgender people and drag queen story hours at public libraries. They use bullying tactics to shut down events and undermine public schools and teachers who educate children on the history of racism.

Advertisement

It is no accident that Naperville resident Shannon Adcock, founder of Awake Illinois, used the month of June  the month in which Juneteenth and LGBTQ+ pride celebrations are held  to host Awake Americans at Hotel Arista on June 12. The event included a panel discussion titled, Woke 101: Is Marxism in America?

Marxism, socialist ideas and left parties have led political, social and labor movements in the U.S. for centuries. Im a Marxist feminist who has distributed the Freedom Socialist newspaper for 50-plus years.

Advertisement

Because the right wing fears us and our publications for truth-telling and building unity among the working class and our allies, they raise the specter of Marxism in the U.S. to cause suspicion and fear. Remember the 1950s and 60s, when those suspected of being communists or homosexuals were forced out of jobs, and some put in prison and mental institutions?

Book bans are just the start of neo-Nazi agendas. Urgent united mass action is needed to nip them in the bud!

Mary Ann Curtis, Naperville

Plans to laud Moms for America at board meeting appalling

As president of the Illinois National Organization for Women and a resident of Will County, I am appalled some members of the Will County Board had plans to recognize Moms for America, a group that is part of the nationwide assault on Americas LGBTQ community, Black Americans and children.

Thanks to a large outcry, a plan to officially laud the group at this past weeks county board meeting was removed from the agenda. More heinous, however, is that the planned recognition of Pride Month and Juneteenth at the same meeting also were removed from the same agenda.

Moms and Awake groups are responsible for book bans, hate speech at school board meetings, and attacks on our public libraries and schools. They believe they alone are the arbiters of morality. They often align with white supremist groups such as Patriot Front and Proud Boys, groups seen at Pride events and racist rallies, where they are known to scream Jews will not replace us. In fact, their use of the term Marxist is highly antisemitic.

Naperville Sun Twice-weekly News updates from the Naperville area delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

They fight the teaching of racism and complain that white children will be harmed, telling Black children that their history is irrelevant. They call supporters of LGBTQ youth groomers and pedophiles.

Young people at Pride events fear their parents will kick them out of their homes if they are LGBTQ. These young people often end up in cities where they become victims of drug dealers and sex traffickers. Many often self-harm or commit suicide, according to LGBTQ support organizations.

Advertisement

Neither Moms for America, or any similar group, should be celebrated. I am disgusted some Will County Board members would want to laud a group that harms many in our community while refusing to celebrate those that provide support.

Laura Welch, Naperville

President, Illinois NOW

Share your views

Submit letters to the editor via email to suburbanletters@tribpub.com. Please include your name and town of residence for publication. Please include phone number and email address for confirmation. Letters should be no more than 250 to 300 words.
FILE- Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat appears in the Little Haiti neighborhood of Miami on Oct. 18, 2010. Dandicat is this year's winner of the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story, a lifetime achievement honor named for the late Bernard Malamud. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

NEW YORK (AP)  Edwidge Danticat is this year's winner of the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story, a lifetime achievement honor named for the late writer Bernard Malamud.

Danticat, a Haitian-American author who writes often about memory and identity, is known for her novel-in-stories The Dew Breaker and for such collections as Krik? Krak! and Everything Inside, which in 2020 won the Story Prize for outstanding short fiction.

Many of my short stories pay homage to the oral tradition I was steeped in as a child in Haiti and as an immigrant in the United States, Danticat, 54, said in a statement this week. "The short story has also been a unique space for me to experiment, explore, and grow as a storyteller, which makes this award even more gratifying.

Previous winners of the Malamud prize include George Saunders, Jhumpa Lahiri and Yiyun Li.
Survivors accused of migrant smuggling outside the Greek Coast Guard Office in Kalamata, Greece - Anadolu Agency/Anadolu

Nine suspected people smugglers who were among the survivors of one of the Mediterraneans most deadly migrant boat disasters have been arrested by the Greek authorities.

The men, who are all Egyptian, were detained in the port of Kalamata in southern Greece.

The large fishing vessel was believed to have been carrying up to 750 asylum seekers.

So far, 78 bodies have been recovered and 104 people found alive  meaning that nearly 600 people could have died in the tragedy, including about 100 children who were reportedly in the hold of the rusty vessel.

The arrested men, believed to include the skipper of the boat, will be charged with illegal migrant trafficking and forming a criminal organisation.

A rescue helicopter spotted the fishing vessel in the waters off the Peloponnese coast - HELLENIC COASTGUARD/AFP via Getty Images

Greek authorities continued to search the area where the boat sank, 45 miles off the coast, but hopes of finding any more survivors were dwindling.

Investigations into how the large boat capsized are underway. It is thought that it either ran out of fuel or experienced engine trouble and that the sudden shifting of migrants on board, perhaps as they panicked, led it to list and capsize.

The boat is believed to have set out from the coast of Egypt, stopped at Tobruk in Libya, and then continued on its way with the hope of reaching southern Italy.

Questions are being asked as to whether the Greek authorities could have done more to assist the boat before it capsized and sank early on Wednesday.

A Greek coast guard patrol vessel escorted the former fishing trawler for several hours and watched as it sank in just a few minutes.

A Syrian survivor reunites with his brother at the port of Kalamata, Greece - Stelios Misinas/Reuters

The Greek authorities insist that the migrants repeatedly refused assistance and said they wanted to continue on their journey to Italy.

They were likely making for the east coast of Calabria, which has become a popular arrival point for such voyages. But pro-migrant activists say they received repeated distress calls from the boat.

Migrants each paid thousands of dollars to secure a place on the former trawler. Relatives from all over Europe, including Britain, gathered in Kalamata to try to find out what happened to their loved ones.

Kassem Abu Zeed said he caught the first flight from Germany to Greece after realising that his wife and brother-in-law were aboard the trawler.

He said: The last time we spoke was eight days ago, and (my wife) told me that she was getting ready to get on the boat. She had paid $5,000 (3,900) to smugglers. And then we all know what happened.

Abu Zeed, a 34-year-old Syrian refugee living in Hamburg, said his wife Esra Aoun, 21, and her 19-year-old brother, Abdullah, risked the dangerous journey after they failed to find a legal way to join him in Germany.

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.
Ron DeSantis Allison Joyce / AFP via Getty Images

Welcome back to The Week's Election Recap. This special edition serves as an interim one-time update to satisfy you rabid politicos until the 2024 race starts in earnest.

DeSantis declares

After months and months of speculation, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) finally declared his bid for president on May 24. "American decline is not inevitable, it is a choice," DeSantis told Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who moderated the governor's announcement. "And we should choose a new direction  a path that will lead to American revitalization. I am running for president of the United States to lead our great American comeback." Long before he became a candidate, DeSantis was hailed as a potential former President Trump slayer who could appeal to the anti-MAGA swaths of the Republican party and Republican-leaning voters. But that was weeks ago. Now, he seems to have lost some of the mojo that made him so formidable in the first place. That said, Trump clearly still views the governor as a threat, or he wouldn't be name-calling and taunting his opponent so openly.

Poll power

You love 'em, you hate 'em, but you know you can't ignore 'em. It's time to check out poll numbers, particularly as they relate to our two de facto 2024 front-runners, Trump and President Joe Biden. In a Morning Consult poll conducted June 9 through 11, Trump and Biden managed to secure 42% of the vote in a hypothetical matchup. But in a separate analysis from USA Today / Suffolk University, that advantage broke slightly toward Biden, who saw backing from 34% of respondents versus Trump's 32%. A total of 23% of those surveyed said they would vote for an unspecified independent candidate. Above all, the close race indicates voters' clear dissatisfaction with what will likely be their two choices at the ballot box, reported USA Today. And while "support for independent candidates typically fades as elections near," the interest in voting beyond "the two major parties" is, at the moment, "historically high."

Document drama

So what happens now that Trump has pleaded not guilty in a federal documents probe? As a refresher, the Justice Department last week unveiled charges against the former president for hoarding classified national security documents at his private residence in Florida and allegedly obstructing attempts to get them back. The arresting development followed a bombshell report from CNN that claimed special counsel Jack Smith had obtained an incriminating audio recording of Trump, in which the former president contradicted past rationalizations for holding onto the 300-some classified documents. Now, according to The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, the charges could serve as a "destructive intervention into the 2024 election," one Democrats are all too happy to welcome, given that it thrusts the spotlight off Biden and onto Trump. Indeed, added Peter Baker at The New York Times, the question now becomes whether Trump's collection of allegations "will someday weigh him down among Republican voters who otherwise like him, especially if there's a third and maybe a fourth indictment." Among many of his critics, however, there's a sense the former president will survive this, especially since the GOP's reaction to the news has once more illustrated "a remarkably frustrating phenomenon," Politico reported: "that in his moments of profound political weakness, the very people trying to unseat [Trump] often rush to his defense."

Hanging chads:

The mystery of the Z-list candidate [link]

Julie Chavez Rodriguez: The woman behind Biden's big 2024 bid [link]

Does CNN's "meltdown" spell doom for centrist cable news? [link]

Can Ron DeSantis beat Trump? [link]

3 extraordinary ways Trump could avoid punishment in his documents debacle [link]

The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness [link]

Coming up:

Biden will head to Philadelphia on Saturday for his first 2024 campaign event, a rally with union members.

Prepare for an impending onslaught of news surrounding Trump's various legal troubles, including the aforementioned documents case, an indictment in New York and a probe into his activity in the 2020 election in Georgia.

You may also like

AI: The worst-case scenario

Will Republicans impeach Alejandro Mayorkas?

Russian hackers allegedly breach US government agencies in cyberattack
[Source]

When Elemental director Peter Sohn and producer Denise Ream first saw their seven years of hard work on the big screen, they experienced what they describe as being similar to parents feeling the prideful moment of watching their child graduate.

The filmmakers first saw the finished product at the Stag Theater at Skywalker Ranch in California, where they experienced an overwhelming wave of memories of their time spent developing the movie.

It's like were getting the child ready to go out into the world and its no longer ours, Ream tells NextShark.

Along with animators, Sohn and Ream noted Elemental to be the most challenging Pixar film they have ever tackled. Drawing inspiration from both of their personal lives and the experiences of first- and second-generation immigrants who work at Pixar, they created a multicultural fictional world where residents made of fire, water, earth and air live together.

More from NextShark: Asias richest man to enter genetic testing market with $145 kits

Elemental follows Ember Lumen (voiced by Leah Lewis), a fire-elemental woman whose parents emigrated from Fireland to Element City. She forms an unexpected friendship with a water-elemental man named Wade (voiced by Mamoudou Athie) and eventually ventures out of her comfort zone and explores her spectacular city.

Besides the difficulty of creating an entirely new animated world, Sohns parents both passed away during the films development, making the path to completion a journey of personal healing.

More from NextShark: Virginia woman allegedly stabbed to death in her hotel room by man who was recently released from jail

It was messy, meaning there was no clear-cut way to deal with the death, Sohn says. There was no clear-cut way to really understand how to put yourself into a movie. There's no template for any of it.

Sohn eventually learned how to take it piece-by-piece with the help of his family and the tight-knit community at Pixar. The Korean American director ultimately saw the film as a tribute to his parents, who had emigrated from Korea to New York City in the early 1970s.

Sohns personal story was eventually what drew voice actors Lewis and Athie to the opportunity to voice characters Ember and Wade.

More from NextShark: Thai Rescue Worker Revives Baby Elephant Hit by Motorbike Using CPR

Lewis, who had always been a fan of Pixar films, shared that being a part of the films audition process had already been a privilege beyond anything else.

Knowing that [Sohns] real life experiences were basically just kind of infused into this film, that's something that always speaks very deeply to my heart when people could be that honest and vulnerable. His story is a special one and a very important one, too, Lewis tells NextShark.

The 26-year-old actor says she relates to Embers struggles of accepting her differences and of finding the courage to authentically be herself. Lewis was adopted from Shanghai as a baby and grew up in a predominantly white town in Florida.

More from NextShark: Dont take advantage of us: Malawians protest Chinese nationals racist exploitation of kids

Athie, who starred in the 2020 film Black Box and the 2022 mystery drama Archive 81, shared similar sentiments as the child of a diplomat father who received political asylum in the U.S. The 34-year-old actor was born in Mauritania and grew up in New Carrollton, Maryland.

Athie, who shares a deep connection with Sohn, says that although Elemental includes certain parallels to the immigrant experience, it is also a universal story.

There's self-acceptance and acceptance from one's family. True love and just connecting with somebody else and really taking the plunge and going for something that you really believe in, whether that is what you feel like is your soul mate or a new career. All these things just really feel like parts of everything in a single persons life that you kind of just get it.

With Elemental now showing in theaters, the filmmakers and actors hope viewers connect with and learn from the characters.

At the end of the day, I hope that people can appreciate what their families have done for them regardless of their backgrounds, Ream says. We hope people will really just love going to the movies together with family or friends, and connecting and experiencing the movie on that kind of visceral level.
Elon Musk sat down with Italy's prime minister for a wide-ranging discussion that veered from AI risks to birth rates

Elon Musk has been visiting Europe this week. LUDOVIC MARIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Elon Musk met the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, on Thursday.

The pair discussed AI, European market rules, and birth rates.

The Tesla CEO is expected to travel to France on Friday to speak at a tech conference.

Elon Musk has been in Europe this week.

The Tesla CEO met the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, on Thursday for a wide-ranging discussion that touched on AI and birth rates. The prime minister called the meeting "fruitful" and a "moment of great cordiality" in a tweet.

She said: "We addressed some crucial issues: innovation, opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence, European market rules and birth rates."

AI has been a consistent worry of Musk's. Recently, the billionaire has been calling for more regulation and put his name to an open letter that called for a six-month pause on development. He has also expressed concerns about declining birth rates around the world, calling it one of the biggest risks to civilization.

Musk is visiting Paris on Friday, where he will speak at the Viva Tech conference and is expected to meet the French prime minister, Emmanuel Macron.

The French government is trying to woo Elon Musk and convince him to build a Tesla factory in the country, per CNBC. Jean-Noel Barrot, the nation's digital minister, told CNBC on Wednesday: "It will be great to have a Tesla factory in France, there has been a lot of effort and energy to make sure this is possible and this can happen."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Elon Musk is starting to face the consequences of not paying Twitter's bills

Not paying rent to save money.

Authorities in Boulder, Colorado, have received the go-ahead to evict Twitter from its office.



A complaint regarding three months of unpaid rent was initially filed on May 12 by Lot 2 SBO, a landlord affiliated with Chicago-based real estate firm The John Buck Company. On May 31, a judge for Boulder Countys district court gave law enforcement 49 days to evict the defaulting tenant and return the suites to the owner and landlord.

Read more

Before seeking eviction, the landlord served Twitter with a demand for compliance or possession in April, according to court documents seen by Denver Business Journal. But Twitter neither left the four suites at 3401 Bluff St.also known as the Railyards at SParknor did it pay up.

Ever since Elon Musk took over last October, the company has been skipping various payments, from real estate rents to vendor bills. It now looks like the company is starting to face the consequences of its unfulfilled obligation.

Twitters Boulder office eviction, by the digits

$968,000: Letter of credit the Chicago-based landlord that owns Twitters office at 3401 Bluff St in Boulder was provided in February 2020, according to court documents. The money ran out in March, and the company has not paid since.

10 days: How long Twitter had to top up its expired credit line for the Boulder office, which it failed to do.

300: Employees that once worked in Twitters Boulder office in the pre-Musk era



87: Employees in Boulder that were laid off the month after Musk took charge



38: Boulder staff that resigned two weeks after so many of their colleagues were fired

Twitters other pending Boulder payments

Twitter first came to Boulder when it acquired social data provider Gnip in April 2014. The Wencel Building lease, 1301 Walnut St, was the office space it rented many years before the Bluff St one.

In December, the Wencel Building landlord plastered an eviction notice on the door, accusing Twitter of owing it $179,000 in back rent.

The building landlord wasnt the only one that reported being stiffed by Twitter at this location. Avalanche Commercial Cleaning, which provided cleaning services at this office, claims Twitter has $93,504 worth of pending payments.

A non-exhaustive list of Twitters prospective bills



 Landlords in San Francisco and London are suing Twitter foryou guessed itskirting rents

 The damages six ex-Twitter workers in the US, who sued the company for failing to pay them their obligatory severance payouts, are seeking at least $1 million in damages.

 Three former executivesParag Agrawal, Vijaya Gadde, and Ned Segalsued the company for $1 million, saying the company owes them for significant expenses, including but not limited to attorneys fees and costs that they incurred in connection with several proceedings they face by virtue of their former roles.

 A trade group representing 17 music licensing firms is suing Twitter for over $250 million for copyright infringement

 Joele Frank, a former public relations firm for Twitter, sued Twitter for failing to settle outstanding invoices worth over $830,000. Twitter ended its contact with the PR firm three weeks after Musk took over and ceased communications since.

Place of interest: New York

Alongside saving money by ignoring real-estate bills, Musk is also trying to make money off existing offices. How? By subletting. In March, Twitter decided to sublease 200,000 square feet of office space in Manhattan, New York.

Related stories

 Twitter is facing a copyright infringement bill worth $250 million

 What Twitters new CEO was really saying in her memo to staff

 The brief, eventful history of Twitter under Elon Musk

More from Quartz

Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Elon Musk is taking over another industry  and its threatening the future of one of President Joe Bidens most-watched climate policies.

Surprise deals that Ford and General Motors have announced with Musk mean that two of the nations largest automakers will rely on Teslas charging technology for their electric vehicles, pushing the industry toward a de-facto standard in the United States. But just four months ago, the Biden administration endorsed a rival charging technology when setting the rules for companies seeking access to $7.5 billion in federal infrastructure funding.

The result: The still-burgeoning electric vehicle market is facing a split between two incompatible charging standards  a divide that could either slow the adoption of EVs or cause Washington to sink hundreds of millions of dollars into chargers that the cars and trucks of the future wont use.

Imagine having a fuel dispenser with a different size hole than your gas tank, said Arcady Sosinov, founder and CEO of charging company FreeWire Technologies, which plans to start installing Tesla-compatible connectors on its chargers beginning next year. It just seems ridiculous, but thats essentially whats happening in the EV charging industry.



Feuds between rival technological camps are nothing new  as seen in the 1980s struggle between VHS and Betamax, or consumers frequent confusion about which USB cable to use. But in this case, Washington put its thumb, and billions of dollars, on the scale for one of the contenders.

The agreements by Ford and GM to use Teslas North American Charging standard adds significant heft to efforts by Musks company to dominate the charging business. Altogether, the three companies accounted for 75 percent of EV sales in the U.S. during the first quarter of this year, according to data released by Cox Automotive in April.

In February, the Federal Highway Administration decided to require companies seeking EV charging grants to use the other standard, the Combined Charging System. Nearly all automakers except Tesla are producing their vehicles with CCS connectors, and even GM and Ford wont switch until 2025. Regulators in Europe have required CCS, and even Tesla uses CCS there.

The White House maintains that recipients can use the federal money to build NACS plugs alongside CCS ones. But critics say that attempt to cut both ways could stymie the United States EV adoption goals by delaying a convergence on a single charging standard.

Imagine yourself showing up to a site and you have four CCS and four NACS cables, and all the CCS are taken and the NACS is available, but your car doesnt use it, Sosinov said. Having one singular standard would ultimately be better for the consumer.

For Ford and GM, the decision to back Teslas technology puts them on board with the chargers that the industry generally sees as technologically superior in charging speed, ergonomics and reliability.

Ford sees benefits in the NACS technology in terms of consistent access to charging as well as the performance of the plug itself, Chris Smith, Fords chief government affairs officer, said during a webinar organized by Resources for the Future on Monday.

Availability of charging is going to be incredibly important for our business model, Smith said, adding that the shift marks an important step forward in order to make sure that weve got unified standards.

GM, too, believes making NACS the unified standard for North America will enable more mass adoption of EVs, CEO Mary Barra said during a Twitter Spaces conversation with Musk on Thursday.

But until last year, NACS wasnt even an option available to other automakers. Tesla kept its charging technology exclusive to its own vehicles, while other companies coalesced around CCS through a global standard-setting process pushed by an association called CharIN.

For anybody to converge on something, it needs to be an open standard, Oleg Logvinov, chair of CharINs board, said in an interview. So far, CCS is the only choice that has all of the attributes of a real open standard and the ability to be a cornerstone of the ecosystem.

As Logvinov noted, Teslas NACS technology relies on some of CCSs underlying communication protocols for the interface between the vehicle and charger.

But while Tesla built out a vast network of fast-charging Superchargers using its NACS technology over the past decade, the current CCS fast charging network is just over half the size and plagued by reliability problems. Tesla operates around 19,400 fast chargers using NACS nationwide, compared with around 10,500 CCS fast chargers operated by all other companies combined, according to the Energy Department.

For companies like Ford and GM that have bet their future on electric vehicles, that lack of CCS infrastructure poses a major issue.

Barra said partnering with Tesla would nearly double access to fast chargers for GM customers.

Kevin Schwain, senior director for electric vehicles at the energy software firm EnergyHub, said Ford and GM faced a very pragmatic decision about the fact the non-Tesla network is smaller, more error-prone.

The Tesla charging experience  the network that theyve built, is unquestionably the best there is, Schwain said.

Last fall, Tesla pounced, finally opening up its charging technology and even rechristening it the North American Charging Standard in a bid to make it the dominant American charger technology. It also struck a deal with the White House in February to open up some of its Superchargers to the public in exchange for federal incentives.



Tesla did not respond to a request for comment on this story. Musk, who has been at odds with the administration on a number of other issues, touted the benefits of adopting NACS as a national standard during the Twitter Spaces event.

We can focus on one standard  its really going to be great for consumers, Musk said. They just wont have to worry about which plug, which socket, which charging station  itll just work seamlessly.

Sosinov said major automakers had waited and waited and waited for industry or government to deploy a ubiquitous charging network under the CCS standard.

Public charging infrastructure has been so poor to date that Ford and GM were effectively forced to do what they did, Sosinov said. It is a self-preservation move, because they have now committed billions of dollars developing electrified powertrains, and if charging infrastructure doesnt exist, who buys the car?

Dan Ives, managing director for equity research at Wedbush Securities, said that from automakers perspective, Congress has disappointed again and again in delivering the funding to create a charging network using CCS.

The stalwarts of the 313 area code [in Detroit] that have been supportive of every legislation now have to bet on Tesla, on the Supercharger, because they cant rely on the government [CCS] infrastructure buildout, Ives said, calling it the biggest black eye the federal government has faced in its EV initiatives.

In response to a request for comment, the White House painted Ford and GMs decision as a step forward in its goal for every car to be able to use and have a high-quality experience at every publicly funded charger.

More drivers having access to more high-quality charging  including Tesla Superchargers  is a step forward, White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson said in a statement.

Patterson noted that the federal requirements make NACS eligible for charger funding as long as drivers can count on a minimum of CCS. That means installing connectors of both types at the same sites with the federal money.

In a statement after the publication of this story, a Federal Highway Administration spokesperson said making NACS connectors and adapters eligible for funding when provided in addition to CCS would ensure future stations can service all EV drivers, regardless of their vehicles current or future connector type.

Our technical experts are having active conversations with automakers, charger manufacturers, and standards setting bodies to ensure federal investment continues to support a reliable, convenient, and user-friendly charging experience for all drivers, the spokesperson said.

But with Tesla, Ford and GM  the United States three largest electric vehicle manufacturers  all converging on Teslas technology, it seems increasingly likely that future EVs will be built with a NACS inlet.

The charging industry already appears to be anticipating such a future. EVgo, which operates most fast-charging stations in the U.S. outside of Teslas network, is now actively evaluating a potential retrofit for NACS, Chief Commercial Officer Jonathan Levy told POLITICO in a statement on Friday. And Blink Charging announced Monday it is developing a fast charger with both CCS and NACS connectors.

Even CharIN, the association backing CCS, said Monday it would convene a task force to support submitting NACS to a standardization process to unify the charging standards market in North America.



For any technology to become a standard it must go through a due process in a standards development organization, CharIN said in a statement.

The question for the Biden administration is whether to stick with its decision to require CCS or pivot to Teslas system, if thats where the private sector is headed.

They were rightfully trying to nudge the industry along in the direction it was already going at the time, Schwain said. These announcements may change course  may have us rethinking what those minimum standards are that the federal government put in place.

Pushing for development of both standards could drive up the cost of constructing stations and make the charging experience more difficult for drivers, even with the availability of adapters, Sosinov said.

Whereas I would prefer that NACS have won the standards war, this effectively ensures that there will continue to be a standards war, Sosinov said. For the consumers, having one standard [CCS], even if it is a sub-standard standard, ultimately would have been better.

CharINs Logvinov agreed, saying there are no winners in standard wars.

All parties lose because consumers are confused, they delay the adoption, he said. If we need to continue with multiple connectors and chargers, its going to cost more to develop and deploy the infrastructure.
By Lefteris Papadimas and Karolina Tagaris

KALAMATA, Greece (Reuters) -A Syrian teenager who survived a shipwreck that killed at least 78 people off Greece was emotionally reunited with his elder brother on Friday, but there was no news for other relatives searching for loved ones.

Witness accounts suggested between 400 and 750 people had packed the 20- to 30 metre-long (65- to 100-foot) fishing boat that capsized and sank early on Wednesday morning about 50 miles (80 km) from the southern coastal town of Pylos.

In the immediate aftermath of the disaster 104 survivors and 78 people who drowned were brought to shore by Greek authorities, but nothing has been found since.

A massive search and rescue operation continued on Friday, but hopes were dwindling of finding any more survivors from the hundreds of people believed to have been on board the boat when it sank in some of the deepest waters of the Mediterranean.

Most of the people on board were from Egypt, Syria and Pakistan, government officials have said.

Early on Friday survivor Mohammad, 18, from Syria, burst into sobs as he spotted his elder brother Fadi, who had travelled from the Netherlands searching for him.

They wept and hugged through metal barricades, erected by Greek police around a warehouse in Kalamata where survivors had been sleeping for the past two days.

"Thank God for your safety," Fadi said, repeatedly kissing his younger sibling on the head.

About 25 other relatives gathered outside the Kalamata shelter, hoping for news, clasping screenshots of their loved ones on mobiles phones.

Most of the survivors, 71 people, were transferred on Friday by bus to the migrant camp of Malakasa, a gated facility with barbed wire fencing 40 km (25 miles) outside Athens. They were expected to apply for asylum.

Adil Hussain was searching for his brother, who had lived for 12-14 years in Greece undocumented and had returned to Pakistan. After two years of living in poverty there, he decided to make the journey to Italy.

"A friend of my brothers is here. I want to ask where my brother is. I spoke to him last Friday, he said were leaving Libya tonight," said Hussain who lives in Greece.

Anwar Bakri, Secretary General of the Syrian Association of Greece, was also standing outside the camp. He said he had received "hundreds of calls" from people in Germany, in Turkey and other countries, who feared their Syrian relatives were on the sunken boat.

"It's a tragedy," he said. "I have numerous photos, at least 15 photos until now, of missing people, young children, 16 year-olds, 20 year-olds, 25 year-olds, whose parents are looking for them," Bakri said.

"From what I was told, there are no women. All the women died, they sank, they drowned with their children in their arms."

MIGRANTS HAD PAID $4,500

Pope Francis, who visited Greece two years ago to draw attention to the plight of refugees, urged for measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

"I feel great pain at the death of the migrants, including many children, in the shipwreck in the Aegean Sea," he said on Twitter. "We must do everything possible so that migrants fleeing war and poverty do not meet death while seeking a future of hope."

The ageing fishing vessel was thought to have departed from Egypt, then picked up passengers in the Libyan coastal city of Tobruk on June 10. Greek authorities say survivors have told them they paid $4,500 each to go to Italy.

The exact circumstances of the vessel sinking while it was being shadowed by the Greek coastguard are still unclear.

Authorities, who were alerted by Italy on Tuesday and subsequently monitored the vessel over a period of 15 hours before it sank, say occupants on the vessel repeatedly refused Greek help, saying they wanted to go to Italy.

An advocacy group that had been in communication with the vessel said that on at least two occasions persons on board pleaded for help. The group, Alarm Phone, said it had alerted Greek authorities and aid agencies hours before the disaster unfolded.

'CURRENT APPROACH UNWORKABLE'

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nation's refugee agency, the UNHCR, said the latest tragedy in the Mediterranean was the worst in several years and urged states to address the gaps in search and rescue rules.

"It is clear, that the current approach to the Mediterranean is unworkable," IOM's Federico Soda. "Year after year, it continues to be the most dangerous migration route in the world, with the highest fatality rate."

Greek authorities denied accounts that surfaced late on Thursday that the boat flipped after the coastguard attempted to tow it.

"There was no effort to tug the boat," coastguard spokesman Nikos Alexiou told state broadcaster ERT.

Nine Egyptians, aged between 20 and 40 years, were arrested over the shipwreck on Thursday evening. Authorities said they faced charges of negligent manslaughter, exposing lives to danger, causing a shipwreck and human trafficking.

They were expected to appear before a judge and respond to the accusations in the coming days.

Under a conservative government in power until last month, Greece took a tough stance on migration, building walled camps and boosting border controls.

The country is currently governed by a caretaker administration pending an election on June 25.

(Additional reporting by Stelios Misinas in Kalamata, Renee Maltezou and Michele Kambas in Athens, Federico Maccioni in Milan, Alvise Armellini in Rome; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Conservationists sought to defend federal protections for the lesser prairie chicken amid legal challenges filed by multiple states in its protected range, since the bird was listed as endangered earlier this spring.

The bird, a rare grouse species historically known to live throughout the American West, was listed as endangered in March in its southern range in southeast New Mexico and West Texas and threatened in another area of northern Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas.

An endangered listing means a species extinction is believed imminent, and makes it illegal for land users to kill or take individuals under most circumstances, while threatened status indicates an endangered listing could soon be warranted.

More: What ranchers in eastern New Mexico are doing to save an iconic but struggling bird

The lesser prairie chickens population dwindled severely in recent years, imperiled by oil and gas, agriculture and other developments throughout the range, leading to the listing filed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

This came after decades of debate on the birds recovery, impacts from local industries and the need to save it from dying out.

Fossil and agriculture industry leaders opposed the listing as one that could stymie economic development, and the state leaders in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma filed a lawsuit in April seeking to overturn the listing in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas Midland-Odessa Division.

More: Lesser prairie chicken could lose federal protections in New Mexico if GOP has its way

The attorneys general filing the suit argued the listing should be deemed unlawful, questioning the Services use of the northern and southern distinct population segments (DPS) and its assessment of industry impacts on the species recovery.

The Service relies on its characterization of the current condition of the landscape to estimate the future condition on the landscape, making unreasonable assumptions about how current threats will develop, read the lawsuit. The Services assumptions about the future of oil and gas development are particularly haphazard.

On June 5, the Center of Biological Diversity and the Texas Campaign for the Environment filed a motion to interview in defense of the listing, arguing federal protections were needed to save a bird conservationists said was iconic to the prairies of the U.S.

More: Deadly bat fungus found in New Mexico caves. Here's what we know about white nose syndrome

The lesser prairie chicken is known for its unique mating rituals, which have drawn visitors and birdwatchers to the scrublands of eastern New Mexico and other parts of its range.

It is also considered an indicator species as to the health of the prairie, as the bird needs vast, open expanses of undisturbed land to breed, instinctively avoiding tall structures like oil wells or fences where predators could perch.

Thats why the Biodiversity Legal Foundation, later the Center for Biological Diversity, first petitioned the federal government to list the chicken in 1995.

More: Oil industry buying more public land in New Mexico. Feds hope to prioritize conservation

It was listed as threatened in 2014, but that decision was overturned a year later in response to opposition from the oil and gas industry.

Jason Rylander, legal director of the Center for Biological Diversitys Climate Law Institute said the latest lawsuit was putting industry desires ahead of environmental needs of the land.

Lesser prairie chickens are icons of the West, but they could go extinct if they lose their Endangered Species Act protections, he said. Im not surprised that these states are prioritizing oil and gas profits over these imperiled birds, but were not going to stand by and watch it happen.

More: Wright's marsh thistle native to southeast New Mexico gets federal protection after lawsuit

Opponents of the federal action argued voluntary conservation agreements by landowners were sufficient to protect the bird, seeing users of the land take on their own practices to prevent threats to the species.

In southeast New Mexico, those agreements are facilitated by the Center for Excellence (CEHMM), which reported in its latest report for the first quarter of 2023 surveyors observed 230 lesser prairie chickens in about 26 leks or breeding groups.

In its public comments submitted on the initial proposal for in 2021, fossil fuel trade group the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association contended its members participated in the practices successfully and that the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) overestimated the industrys impacts to the lesser prairie chicken (LEPC).

More: Vasquez looks to pay ranchers for cows killed by lobos

The oil and gas industrys conservation efforts, made in partnership with private landowners, work and are stabilizing and rebounding LEPC populations, read the comments.

FWS overstates impacts from oil and gas by relying on outdated assumptions regarding development and facilities planning and failing to account for technological advances in horizontal drilling which have significantly reduced impacts on LEPC and its habitat.

But Robin Schneider, executive director at the Texas Campaign for the Environment said despite these activities, the prairie chicken will go extinct without federal action.

The lesser prairie chicken is a Texas bird that needs protection, or it faces extinction, Schneider said. We are joining the fight to save all the species that call Texas home.

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Lesser prairie chicken's protections in New Mexico defended in court
Sergeant Michael Vitellaro, in suit and tie, descends a staircase in the Skokie Cook County Circuit Courthouse with family and supporters after a judge found him not guilty of three counts of aggravated battery and official misconduct for his actions toward a 14-year-old boy last summer in Park Ridge. (Caroline Kubzansky/Pioneer Press)

A Chicago Police sergeant charged with two counts of official misconduct and one count of aggravated battery for grabbing a Park Ridge 14-year-old and pinning him down on the sidewalk last summer was found not guilty on all three counts Friday by Judge Paul Pavlus in Cook County Circuit Court.

Advertisement

Asked if he had a comment on the ruling as he left the courtroom, Sgt. Michael Vitellaro, who was off-duty during the chain of events in Park Ridge last July 1 that led to the charges, shook his head no.

His attorney James McKay commented, Justice was done.

Advertisement

Sgt. Vitellaro and his family are very thankful that the judge did the right thing, he said. Now Sgt. Vitellaro and his family can enjoy some kind of normalcy in their lives.

The mother of the boy expressed disbelief at the verdict and the familys attorneys said they plan to pursue a civil lawsuit against Vitellaro.

My son gets attacked over a piece of property and somehow hes the one thats wrong here? the mother questioned.

During a three-day trial last week, prosecutors from the Cook County states attorneys office contended that Vitellaro went rogue and overreacted with rage after his sons bicycle was stolen and he saw the teen handling it outside of a Starbucks in Park Ridge. McKay argued that the charges against Vitellaro were overblown, calling the case another Kim Foxx special, in reference to the Cook County states attorney who has been criticized as an overzealous prosecutor of police officers.

Pavlus disagreed with the prosecutions description of events in his ruling.

At no time [in video footage] did I see an out-of-control, enraged individual as the state would want me to believe, he said.

Viral video footage of the events, which circulated on social media, show Vitellaro pressing his knee on the back of the 14-year-old and arguing with onlookers. Vitellaro was relieved of his police powers Aug. 17, the day before the Cook County states attorneys office approved charges against him, and has been on a leave of absence from the department.

Advertisement

As Pavlus delivered the verdict Friday, he said the crux of the case lay in whether Vitellaro had had probable cause at the time to act as he did, and said that after he reviewed the video evidence and testimony from the case he thought Vitellaro had acted reasonably based on the information he had.

Pavlus also said he doubted the veracity of the teenage witnesses testimonies.

He also said he saw the teen, who is now 15, appear confused while testifying and look out into the gallery to his father looking for what he should say at different points.

Pavlus observed that the boys friends who testified during trial all sought to distance themselves from the boy who said he took the bike, and commented he had to take into account that the teen victims parents started an online fundraiser to raise money for the family in the wake of the incident.

I cant just neglect the fact that there was a GoFundMe page with [the boys] face smacked right there in the center, he said.

Nor could he ignore the fact that the family had retained civil lawyers shortly after the incident took place, he said.

Advertisement

To the teenagers who testified in the trial, Pavlus said dont let this define you. I think you were confronted with so much outside distraction  you lost your way, he said.

Pavlus said the image of Vitellaro with his knee on the boys back was horrible and that he would have been outraged as a parent had he seen the picture.

But, he said, a picture serves 1,000 emotions but doesnt serve 1,000 words.

[The picture], in a bubble, could lead someone to think the defendant is guilty of the crimes he has been charged with, he continued. That bubble is broken in my courtroom.

Attorney Antonio Romanucci addresses media after a judge found a Chicago Police Sergeant not guilty of three charges of aggravated battery and official misconduct almost a year after the sergeant used his knee to pin a 14-year-old boy to a sidewalk in Park Ridge's business district. (Caroline Kubzansky/Pioneer Press)

Lawyers for the teen, from the firm of Romanucci & Blandin, said they will soon be contacting Vitellaro regarding a civil suit against him.

Vitellaro will have to testify in that suit, attorney Antonio Romanucci added. He will undergo cross examination and he will undergo continued questioning. Then well see what truth comes out.

Advertisement

This fight for justice is not over, attorney Javier Rodriguez said, adding that he saw the ruling as a character assassination of a straight A student.

The boys mother said that while the ruling was not what the family had hoped for, we are within our right to continue to fight in the right way... to stand strong and not be silenced about what happened to our son over a bike.

The father, in striped tie, and mother, in black blouse, of the boy at the center of a case charging a Chicago Police Sergeant with aggravated battery and official misconduct walk through the Skokie Courthouse on the day the judge delivered the verdict, June 16, 2023. (Caroline Kubzansky/Pioneer Press)

Romanucci called the ruling appalling and said the judge had made it an indictment of the family as opposed to a ruling on the aggravated battery and official misconduct charges.

Advertisement

Romanucci said Pavlus had created a narrative using the GoFundMe page and used the fact, which was discussed during testimony, that the boy had miraculously been in possession of stolen property.

The couple said they had not yet spoken to their son but that they planned to tell him that the ruling and the case as a whole would not define him.

We are going to tell him that we are still very proud of him, his father said. Regardless of the outcome that happened today... we are going to continue fighting for him.

At issue during the contentious trial June 5-7 was whether Vitellaro had probable cause to arrest the teen based on the information he had at the time and whether the boy and his friends, all rising sophomores at Maine South High School, were aware that he was a police officer when he used a maneuver to take the boy down flat on the sidewalk.

Vitellaro used two restraint techniques known as an arm bar and a wrist lock, according to police experts who testified at the trial.

Advertisement

Park Ridge police said soon after the incident occurred that the boy Vitellaro is charged with battering did not take his sons bike. Another teenage witness confirmed during the trial that he had been the one to take the bike, saying he had taken it for a joyride and leaned it against a pillar where the incident unfolded. The boy apologized and expressed regret.

Assistant States Attorneys Alyssa Janicki and Thomas Fryska argued that Vitellaro had several less confrontational options available to him when he saw his sons missing bike at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and Northwest Highway.

They also accused Vitellaro of lying or changing his story about what took place, citing the fact that Vitellaro had filled out two police reports the day after the incident took place, and did not check the box that would denote the incident as a takedown in spite of saying as much to investigating Park Ridge police the day before.

Advertisement

McKay accused the boy and his friends of colluding against Vitellaro and of changing their stories on the witness stand, and accused the teens mother of trying to make money off of the case.

During closing arguments, McKay said the boys mother had dollar signs in her eyes.

I dont get it. Her sons not injured in any way, shape or form  where are the money damages? he said.

McKay has a track record of defending police accused of wrongdoing. He recently represented Chicago Police Lt. Wilfredo Roman, who was charged with aggravated battery and official misconduct after Roman allegedly shoved a flashlight between a teenagers clothed buttocks during an arrest. In 2019, McKay defended retired Chicago Police Detective David March against allegations that he had falsified reports about the murder of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. In each case, the officers were acquitted.

All three of the charges against Vitellaro were class three felonies under Illinois law and carry a punishment ranging from probation to up to five years in prison.
The European Union commented on Russia's missile strike against Kyiv Oblast amid an African delegation's visit to the Ukrainian capital on June 16.

"I think this makes them (African leaders) realize very clearly who is the aggressor and how the aggressor behaves, what are its intentions," European Commission spokesperson Peter Stano said at a press conference.

A delegation of African countries led by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Ukraine in the morning. The group is set to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky under the African Peace Mission. Their next stop is Russia's St. Petersburg, where the leaders will meet with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

Except for Ramaphosa, the delegation includes leaders of Senegal, Egypt, the Republic of the Congo, Uganda, the Comoros, and Zambia. Several hours after their arrival, Russia launched 12 missiles at Kyiv Oblast, all of which were shot down by Ukraine's air defenses.

Update: Russian missile debris injures 4 in Kyiv Oblast As of 2 p.m. local time, four people, including a child, are known to have been injured by the debris of some of the Russian missiles launched at Ukraine on June 16, reported the regional department of the State Emergency Service. The Kyiv IndependentDinara Khalilova

According to Stano, the EU welcomes any serious and meaningful efforts to achieve peace as "no one wants peace more than the Ukrainian and the Europeans."

However, for the peace facilitation efforts to be successful, one needs to talk to the aggression's victim, "to listen, to see firsthand the positions, and the perspectives and the experiences of the victim," the official said. He endorsed the delegation's visit to Kyiv but pointed out that the African Peace Mission took place over a year after Russia's full-scale invasion.

"There could be peace immediately  when Putin stops terrorizing Ukrainian people and withdraws his murdering, torturing, and looting troops from Ukraine's territory," concluded Stano.

Reuters reported on June 15 that the African delegation would propose Ukraine and Russia "confidence-building measures," which might include withdrawing Russian forces from Ukraine, removing tactical nuclear weapons from Belarusian territory, and suspending the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against Putin.

According to the Associated Press, the delegation also plans to discuss the export of Ukrainian grain and Russian fertilizers.

Although most African countries declared neutrality in the war, Moscow has long maintained good relations with the governments of the African continent.
(Bloomberg) -- The European Commission is increasing the pressure on member-nations to stop using Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp. equipment in their most advanced mobile networks, explicitly labeling the companies for the first time as high-risk vendors.

Most Read from Bloomberg

As part of an effort to crack down on Chinese equipment in critical infrastructure, European Unions executive arm urged countries to phase out high-risk vendors from telecom networks in a new set of guidelines published Thursday, confirming an earlier Bloomberg report. The Commission is also banning Huawei and ZTE from its corporate communications systems.

EU nations are facing increasing pressure from the US to take a harder stance on China as conflicts over Taiwan and battles for dominance in technologies from artificial intelligence to chips and quantum computing escalate. The tensions have raised concerns around the world about the Asian nation using Huawei and ZTE equipment in core telecommunications networks to spy or sabotage systems.

Read More: How Huawei Landed at the Center of Global Tech Tussle: QuickTake

The EUs latest guidance also comes as countries including Germany and Spain have continued to use Chinese equipment makers in their networks at levels that the EU finds unacceptable, people familiar with the situation said, asking not to be identified because the information isnt public. European Commissioner Thierry Breton said at a press conference Thursday that only 10 of the blocs 27 member-nations have restricted or excluded high-risk vendors since the commission issued 5G guidance three years ago encouraging them to do so.

This is too slow and imposes a major security risk and exposes the union connectivity security since it creates a major dependency for the EU and serious vulnerabilities, Breton said.

Some countries have also pushed for a more aggressive EU-wide stance, expressing concerns about publicly speaking out against Chinese companies on their own, the people familiar with the matter said.

The European Commission hasnt provided evidence that Huawei, ZTE and other Chinese firms pose a security risk, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Friday at a regular press briefing in Beijing, calling this a typical presumption of guilt.

We strongly urge the EU to comply with international trade rules, steer clear of overstretching the concept of security and politicizing such concepts, and not suppress foreign companies.

Limited Authority

The EU has limited authority to force members to implement bans in the name of national security since state governments have sovereignty. Commissioners including Margrethe Vestager and Breton have previously raised concerns about the prominence of the companies in EU infrastructure.

An advisory report issued by the commission Thursday notes that certain countries have continued to rely on Chinese technology years after allied countries including the US, UK, Canada and Australia have banned Huawei from 5G networks. But it ultimately leaves policy decisions on 5G security in individual nations hands as before.

Read More: Huaweis Profit Halved as It Researches Blacklist Workarounds

The European Commissions updated advice comes ahead of the groups upcoming economic assessment report that will look at the EUs supply chains, technology, critical infrastructure and trade risks.

Breton encouraged countries at the press conference Thursday to replace high-risk vendors and urged telecom operators to get to grips with this issue. The commission itself plans to reduce its own exposure to Huawei and ZTE by no longer procuring services used by the two companies and phasing out existing ones.

The EU has been able to rapidly reduce other dependencies, Breton noted, citing how quickly Europe found other suppliers of natural gas after Russia invaded Ukraine. The situation with 5G should be no different, he said. We cannot afford to maintain critical dependencies that could become a weapon against our interests.

--With assistance from Agatha Cantrill, Alberto Nardelli and Philip Glamann.

(Updates with comment from Chinas Foreign Ministry.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
As Russia's war against Ukraine rages on, the European Union's top justice official says the EU and its partners want to bring all perpetrators of international crimes to justice.

"Not only war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, but also the crime of aggression," European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders told the Kyiv Independent, adding that he and his colleagues are still working to determine what an international trial against Russian crimes in Ukraine might look like.

While the International Criminal Court has the ability to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, it can only prosecute the crime of aggression, those committed by the highest political and military leadership of a country, for signatories of the ICC, which Russia is not.

The current count of investigations into Russian crimes opened in Ukraine, in over half of EU member states, and the International Criminal Court has mounted to 90,000 since Russia unleashed its full-scale invasion in late February last year.

Reynders and his team want to help Ukraine bring these cases to trial.

Another goal of the EU, according to Reynder, is to assess the damage caused by Russia's full-scale invasion and to find a way to make Russia pay for Ukraine's reconstruction. The cost of rebuilding Ukraine has grown to $411 billion, according to the World Bank's most recent estimates.

The EU is also working to establish the secure storage of evidence of alleged Russian crimes, ensuring that all perpetrators can be held accountable, even after decades, the official said.

In an interview with the Kyiv Independent, Commissioner Reynders talked about what an international trial into Russian crimes could look like, the challenges of organizing a special tribunal, and why it is important for Ukraine to ratify the Rome Statute.

Civilian investigators collect evidence of Russian war crimes in Ukraine SNIHURIVKA, Mykolaiv Oblast  Early on Feb. 24, as Russian missiles started falling on Ukraine, a few human rights activists started a WhatsApp chat  right as they were sitting in bomb shelters. The next day, the chat transformed into a human rights coalition aimed at protecting those affected by The Kyiv IndependentAlexander Khrebet

To prosecute Russian war criminals

When Russia unleashed its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, few in Moscow expected the international community to set up a special tribunal against the Russian leadership and military.

In the past, the trials prosecuting war crimes and crimes of aggression have happened once a war is over.

"For the first time during the war, we are discussing where to prosecute and how to organize a trial into all international crimes," Reynders said.

Despite having limited executive powers, the European Commission's justice efforts, led by Reynders, have ramped up to lead the international legal response to Russia's brutal invasion.

This includes gathering large support for a special tribunal to prosecute Russian crimes of aggression in Ukraine among the international community, especially from ICC state party members who have ratified the Rome Statute.

The EU recently agreed to establish an international center to investigate and prosecute Russian crimes of aggression, called the International Center for the Prosecution of Crimes of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA).

With this center, the EU hopes to prosecute the Russian leadership for crimes that the ICC cannot under its jurisdiction.

The best option, according to Reynders, however, would be for Ukraine to ratify the Rome Statute, calling the ICC the "gold standard" in prosecuting war crimes.

Despite civil society's campaign for ratification and President Volodymyr Zelensky's commitments to make this his priority, Ukraine is yet to become an ICC state party.

"We have asked Ukraine to ratify the Rome Statute and to take part in the International Criminal Court (ICC). The reaction I've received (from Kyiv) is that it's important to (ratify it), it is a clear commitment, but not now," Reynders said.

Reynders called establishing the special tribunal for Russian crimes of aggression the "silver standard" in order to prosecute Russia's top brass for its actions against Ukraine. According to the official, the Ukrainian government has been pushing for this option.

"We are very open to seeing if it is possible to do. We discussed that with the member states and other partners in the G7 to have broad international support for such an initiative. If it is possible, we'll organize a dedicated tribunal (which might be) the special tribunal," Reynders said.

However, the first step is to amend the Rome Statute to allow the ICC to exercise its powers over non-state parties for the crime of aggression, Reynders said. According to the official, there is still no agreement between Rome Statute countries on the amendments.

"If we have in the international order a specific tribunal for all international crimes, the best way is to go there. But for the moment, we don't have such a kind of amendment to the Rome Statute," Reynders said, adding that the Commission "is working on the amendment."

The "bronze standard," according to Reynders, is the so-called hybrid solution  Ukrainian jurisdiction with international elements.

Both a special tribunal and a hybrid one would be newly created international trials. The special tribunal could be created by a new treaty with different partners, new jurisdictions, and new judges.

The hybrid trial could consist of Ukrainian and international judges and prosecutors with an international system embedded into Ukrainian law.

In either case, Ukraine would have to amend its constitution to allow for these types of trials. Reynders says that he and his Ukrainian counterparts are "very open to working on it."

Ukraine's constitution says, however, that it "shall not be amended in martial law conditions or a state of emergency."

Martial law was imposed in Ukraine in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion and has been prolonged several times.

Reynders said that while he understands the pressure in Ukraine to have a special tribunal for Russian crimes of aggression, more partners around the world need to be convinced it's the way to go, and it's too early to tell if the consensus will coalesce around that option.

The special internationalized tribunal has to be seen as fair among the international community so that countries like China will accept its outcomes, Reynders said.

An April 26 resolution in the UN General Assembly that explicitly acknowledged Russian "aggression against Ukraine" was supported by 122 countries, including China and India.

However, both have carefully avoided condemning Moscow.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen: Winning the peace in Ukraine Russias war of aggression in Ukraine has caused unspeakable human suffering, including war crimes committed against thousands of innocent men, women, and children. The attacks on Ukraines cities and infrastructure have forced millions to flee their homes and resulted in damage estimat The Kyiv IndependentAnders Fogh Rasmussen

Ukraine's hesitation

Ukraine is delaying the ratification of the Rome Statute. Two human rights organizations the Kyiv Independent spoke with on conditions of anonymity, said one reason may be the unwillingness of Ukraines military to bind by a new treaty amid the war fearing it could become the subject of criminal investigation in the future.

Reynders said that while all war criminals should be tried, defending one's territory is not a war crime, and there is a widespread understanding among the international community that Russia is the aggressor in Ukraine.

"Defending your country is not a war crime, of course. If there are real violations of international rules, it will be possible to organize prosecution. And we know that in Ukraine, the aggression is coming from Russia, and all the international crimes are committed by Russian soldiers," Reynders said.

Reynders also said that in his conversations with Ukrainian leadership, there is a clear commitment to ratify the Rome Statute, but "it is very difficult during a war."

"And it's due to the hesitation from the military people in Ukraine. I should understand that there are some hesitations due to the intention to mobilize more people to go to the battlefield," Reynders said.

The Rome Statute of the ICC has been ratified by 123 countries, but there are major exceptions, including Russia, Ukraine, and the United States.

Ukraine has twice exercised Rome Statute's prerogatives to accept the ICC jurisdiction over alleged crimes occurring on its territory in 2014 and onwards.

The commissioner said if Ukraine asks to prosecute alleged Russian crimes before an international jurisdiction, "it's very important to agree on the fact that it must be possible to investigate exceptional crimes (if) committed by Ukrainian people" as well.

"It's a question to be fair at the international level  to take part in all the processes. It will be easier to make progress on all the discussions that we have had just before with the ratification of the Rome Statute, with the participation of Ukraine in the ICC," Reynders said.

Zakhar Tropin: Why Washingtons approach to punishing Russia wont work The U.S. State Department recently announced its support for the creation of a special tribunal to prosecute Russian crimes of aggression against Ukraine in a hybrid internationalized format. This move echoes the myopic policies of Western countries toward Ukraine and has very little legal groundi The Kyiv IndependentZakhar Tropin

Secure storage

The official said that the European Commission is planning this year to launch a new secure database at Eurojust to store evidence of alleged war crimes.

Eurojust, or the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, is an EU agency that deals with judicial cooperation in criminal matters among agencies of member states. It is seated in The Hague, the home of the ICC.

"It's very important to store that (information) in a secure way, in a new database. It was needed to change the regulation of Eurojust to do that, but that means that now it's possible to store the evidence, but also to exchange (it) with different prosecutors in different places," said Reynders, who initiated the amendment in the Eurojust regulations.

The database consists of videos, smartphone snapshots, and satellite pictures. It also secures copies.

He said it was important for Ukraine's General Prosecutor's Office to have somewhere to securely store evidence of Russia's crimes as it can be difficult in a war environment.

How a celebrated Ukrainian writer turned into a war crimes researcher Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine has galvanized Ukrainians into action, compelling them to figure out how they can contribute to their countrys victory. Oftentimes, it has called for a radical departure from the known comforts of their daily lives. Thats exactly what happened to Ukrainian The Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan

Trials during war

Reynders said it is possible to launch international trials into alleged Russian crimes against Ukraine while the war is raging on, although it depends on individual prosecutors and judges.

"There were already some prosecutions, judgments, and convictions in Ukraine before different tribunals, also investigations in member states and in the ICC. And the ICC established two arrest warrants for the deportations of children. The processes are ongoing," Reynders said.

Ukraine has already convicted Russian soldiers and officers in person and in absentia, and 16 EU member states are conducting investigations and prosecutions.

And on March 17, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian official allegedly overseeing the forced deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia.

"I'm quite confident that we're continuing that and that (we) will have the possibility to go to real trials about all the international crimes," Reynders said.

The official said his task is to give all the prosecutors and judges all the possible tools to do their job.

"We are building the process step by step. The first steps are there: investigations, collection of evidence, and the beginning of the provision of prosecution. Then we need to know what is the most evident solution for the tribunal with very broad support," Reynders said.

"We'll see when it is possible for them to come up with enough evidence to start prosecutions and trials. That's the goal that we have. We aren't waiting till the end of the war to do that," said Reynders.

Gordon Brown: How to Prosecute Putin Editors Note: The following article was published by Project Syndicate on April 10, 2023, and has been republished by the Kyiv Independent with permission. The opinions expressed in our op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. EDINBURG The Kyiv IndependentGordon Brown

Bringing children back

A large portion of the collected evidence concerns Russian crimes committed against children, who remain the most vulnerable group during wartime.

According to official data, around 500 children have been killed, with a thousand more wounded, while thousands have been kidnapped and taken to Russia.

"What is possible to do first again is to identify the children, to try to organize specific follow-up of the process and localization in Russia. Also to collect evidence about the perpetrators of such crimes of deportation," Reynders said.

The official said the European Commission has the intention to continue to work very closely with the UN as its agencies are "able to engage the discussion about the way to take back the children from a conflict zone."

Issuing arrest warrants for Putin and Lvova-Belova, the ICC said it believes they "bear individual criminal responsibility" for the crimes committed against Ukrainian children.

So far, only 371 children have been returned home from Russia out of almost 20,000 deported, according to Ukrainian officials.

"I must confess that it's a very difficult task (to bring kidnapped children back) because when you have deportation of children, it's very difficult to have a clear identification of the children and it is very difficult to know where they are," Reynders said.

Reynders says that his agency is doing all it can to help return children home. He says it might take years.

Gordon Brown: How to Prosecute Putin Editors Note: The following article was published by Project Syndicate on April 10, 2023, and has been republished by the Kyiv Independent with permission. The opinions expressed in our op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. EDINBURG The Kyiv IndependentGordon Brown

Editor's Note: The text was amanded. The earlier version said "the EU recently agreed to establish a special tribunal to prosecute Russian crimes of aggression, called the International Center for the Prosecution of Crimes of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA)." However, ICPA is officially an international investigation center, not a tribunal.

Note from the author:

Hello reader. It is Alexander Khrebet who wrote this interview for you. As the Kyiv Independent strives to bring you critical updates on bringing Russia accountable for its war crimes in Ukraine, including the possible international tribunal, your support sustains our journalism. If you enjoy our work, please consider joining our membership or supporting us with a one-time donation.
Fox News on Thursday perhaps saw the curmudgeonly charm of Bernie Sanders that many on the left see. (Watch the video below.)

The independent Vermont senator was questioned by Fox Business correspondent Hillary Vaughn about student loan forgiveness earlier that day, and she felt the Bern of his retorts.

Is it really free if youre raising taxes to pay for it? Vaughn asked him in a Capitol hallway.

Well, given the fact that we have the billionaire class paying a lower tax rate than working families, I think its appropriate that the wealthiest people in this country start paying their fair share of taxes, Sanders said.

Thanks very much, he added in a brushoff.

Vaughn pressed on, asking whether his proposal to fund student loan forgiveness by taxing Wall Street deals would hit average Americans saving for retirement.

That stopped the former presidential candidate in his tracks.

What people say that? People on Wall Street. Thank you, he said, waving her off.

Perhaps moved by Sanders curt determination to stay on message, Fox News anchor Bret Baier laughed along with Special Report panelist Juan Williams and others as they watched a clip of the exchange.

You gotta love Bernie Sanders, Baier said. You do.

Though Baier went on to criticize Sanders loan forgiveness plan for its absorb it all approach, there was no doubting his affection for the Vermonter in a rare moment on the conservative channel.

A pandemic-era waiver on student loan payments is set to expire in the coming months, forcing many borrowers to start making payments again soon. President Joe Biden is pushing a proposal that would forgive up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt for borrowers earning under $125,000 per year. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is mulling a legal challenge to his debt relief scheme, with a decision expected this summer.

Sanders has explained on his website how taxing Wall Street could generate $2.4 trillion over 10 years to eliminate student debt and make public colleges free for all.

We will impose a tax of a fraction of a percent on Wall Street speculators who nearly destroyed the economy a decade ago, the site says about his proposal. It works by placing a 0.5 percent tax on stock trades  50 cents on every $100 of stock  a 0.1 percent fee on bond trades, and a 0.005 percent fee on derivative trades.

Related...
A former corrections officer from Clovis was due to be sentenced Thursday for hiring a hit man to kill his girlfriends husband  but 34-year-old Miguel Angel Corona will now face a preliminary hearing after a Fresno County judge threw out the defendants plea agreement.

Fresno County Superior Court Judge James Kelley changed his mind about the plea agreement after reviewing the case file and hearing from the man who was the target of the hit.

Christopher Schmall said in court that he and his family have been living in fear since the fall 2021 when Clovis police uncovered a plot to have him killed.

According to court records, Corona is alleged to have hired Bradley Beau Costill, a felon with access to a ghost gun, to kill Schmall.

Corona was due to be sentenced Thursday. Costill, who also agreed to a plea deal, will be sentenced July 5.

Schmall acknowledged that his wife was having an affair with Corona, who was working as a correctional officer and she was a nurse in the prison system.

The couple filed for divorce in March 2020 and it became final in August 2022, according to court records.

Schmall said he doesnt understand why Corona would want him dead.

I dont know this person, Schmall said. Ive never even had a full conversation with him.

The judges decision to reject the plea agreement was welcomed by Schmall, who wants the maximum punishment for Corona and anyone else involved in wanting him dead.

Maybe this means I can get something closer to justice, Schmall said after the hearing.

More than a dozen friends and family of Schmall attended Thursdays court hearing. They also vowed to return for the preliminary hearing and future hearings.

Miguel Corona

Charges against ex-correctional officer, alleged accomplice

Corona was originally charged with solicitation of murder and conspiring to commit a crime. Costill was charged with several felonies, including conspiring to commit a crime and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Both men agreed to plea agreements in exchange for reduced sentences.

Corona pleaded no contest to a charge of solicitation of murder. He faced a maximum sentence of nine years. The charge of conspiring to commit a crime was dropped.

Costill pleaded guilty to being a person prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm or ammunition. Its unclear what his maximum prison sentence could be.

If Coronas case proceeds to a jury trial and he is convicted, he could be facing up to life in prison, said Miiko Anderson, senior deputy district attorney.

Coronas attorney, Linden Lindahl, said his client has made a complete confession about his role in the attempted murder plot and is sorry for what he did.

Lindahl added that Corona is a highly decorated military veteran having served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also has no prior criminal history, Lindahl said.

The preliminary hearing for Corona is set for July 17.
Assistant State Attorney Sarah Thomas holds the knife used in a March 2021 stabbing as Shane Jackson testifies Thursday during his trial on charges of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm.

A jury found an ex-Daytona Beach police officer guilty Thursday of felony battery, a much less serious offense than what he was originally charged with, for stabbing a man two years ago outside a New Smyrna Beach bar.

Shane Jackson, 52, was initially charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Felony battery is a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.

A jury of four women and two men began deliberations at about 4:10 p.m. and reached a verdict at about 5:50 p.m. Jurors declined to comment as they left the courtroom.

Circuit Judge Leah Case set sentencing for July 24 at 1:30 p.m. at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach. The judge revoked Jackson's bond and ordered that he be returned to jail to await sentencing.

Jackson gave his watch and other items to a woman in the gallery and then hugged his mother before he was handcuffed and led away.

Jackson stabbed Jarrett Stadtler on March 10, 2021, leaving him with an injury that would put him in the hospital for two weeks and then send him back to the hospital with an infection.

Stadtler declined to comment after the verdict.

Jackson was fired after the incident, which started inside Tayton OBrians at 410 Flagler Ave. in New Smyrna Beach. Jackson, who was off-duty and in street clothes, got in a confrontation with Stadtler and some of his friends, including Taylor Morgan, now 24, and Eli Johnson.

Shane Jackson, a former Daytona Beach police officer, testifies Thursday during his trial on charges of aggravated battery causing great bodily harm in a March, 2021 stabbing in New Smyrna Beach.

Morgan testified that Jackson was getting too close to her and was being a creep. Stadtler said he got between Morgan and Jackson to keep Jackson away from her. Johnson was on stage singing karaoke.

Stadtler and Jackson got into a confrontation and Johnson testified he came off the stage and punched Jackson who fell to the floor. Jackson and the group of friends were kicked out of the bar.

The tussle resumed outside in front of another bar, video footage showed, and Stadtler was stabbed by Jackson.

Ex-cop says stabbing was unintentional Ex-Daytona police officer testifies he did not intend to stab man, feared being attacked

Man said he was trying to help friend Man testifies he punched ex-Daytona Beach Police officer during bar altercation

Jackson claimed the stabbing was unintentional.

Ex-Daytona Beach Police Officer Shane Jackson hugs his mother on Thursday before he was led away to jail after a jury found him guilty of felony battery in a stabbing two years ago outside a New Smyrna Beach bar.

One of Jackson's attorneys said his client was defending himself and feared that being punched or knocked to the floor again might aggravate a previous neck injury and leave him dead or paralyzed.

Michael Panella said that Stadtlers group had mocked Jackson outside the Flagler Tavern and that Jackson had suffered a concussion when he was struck by Johnson in the bar and his head hit the floor.

Panella said Jackson was justified in using force to defend himself. Panella also said that the wound caused by the knife was only about 3 centimeters deep, according to hospital records.

Panella said it was Stadtler who initiated the contact with Jackson.

Assistant State Attorney Sarah Thomas said Jackson was not in fear and that he stabbed Stadtler in the abdomen and was going to do it again.

She said Jackson was drunk and played a recording of a jailhouse phone call with his mother in which he admitted he was intoxicated. She said that Jackson was worried that another punch might kill him or paralyze him because of his previous neck injury but yet he still put himself in that situation.

You cant create a dangerous situation and then use it to your benefit to claim self-defense, Thomas said.

Mr. Jackson was angry, she said. He wanted revenge.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Ex-Daytona Beach police officer guilty of lesser charge in stabbing
A former U.S. Marine from Ulster County was killed by his ex-wife and her husband in a "sophisticated" plot involving a dry run, a carjacking and burner phones, federal prosecutors allege.

Jamie Orsini and her husband Nicholas Orsini were charged Thursday with conspiracy and carjacking resulting in death in the April 28, 2020, disappearance of Steven Kraft after he dropped off his daughters at the Orsinis' home in Beacon following one of his regular visitations with the girls.

The body of the 34-year-old deli worker has never been found. The criminal complaint by state police Investigator Joseph Merla detailed the items the couple bought before and after the disappearance that could have been used in the dismemberment and burning of a body, including a large paint tarp, duct tape, a Tyvek suit, boots, two 31-gallon steel trash cans, an angle grinder with grinding wheel, odorless charcoal grates, an axe, a flame lighter and 16 bundles of firewood.

Surveillance footage purportedly showing Nicholas Orsini in a Newburgh gas station after he allegedly carjacked his wife's ex-husband Steven Kraft on April 28, 2020. Kraft was never seen alive again after that night.

Kraft was allegedly carjacked after dropping the girls off. According to the complaint, Nicholas Orsini then drove Kraft's 1999 Toyota Camry to Newburgh, where he left it before walking a mile to a gas station. There he bought an energy drink with a $100 bill and called a cab to return him to Beacon. The New York Jets hoodie, blue bandanna and Levi's Stadium ball cap that surveillance video showed him wearing at the gas station were later found by authorites when the Orsinis' homes - in Beacon and where they later moved to Amsterdam - were searched in August 2020.

Before the disappearance, the couple had used another car to conduct a dry run of the same route Nicholas Orsini drove the Camry on April 28, according to the complaint.

Merla also detailed the burner phones the couple used and lengthy round trips they took in the weeks after the disappearance to throw investigators off the trail. And he cited a text message Jamie Orsini sent Kraft on April 29 asking about the girls' report cards. Merla that a review of her texting patterns showed it was uncommon for her to communicate with Kraft about the girls' schoolwork.

The couple could face the death penalty or life in prison. Court information, including who is representing them, was not immediately available.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said that the case showed that no matter how hard criminals work to cover up their "heinous" acts, law enforcement will relentlessly work to uncover them.

Nicholas Orsini

A little over three years ago, Nicholas and Jamie Orsini allegedly plotted to and did kill Jamies ex-husband, Steven Kraft. Their alleged scheme was sophisticated  it involved burner phones, stealing and dumping Krafts car, and, ultimately, disposing of Krafts body," Williams said in a statement. "In doing so, the Orsinis denied Krafts family  including Krafts children with Jamie  the dignity of having a proper burial."

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Feds charge Orsinis killed Steven Kraft in sophisticated plot
California Department of Social Services has fined Sacramento County for placing new foster children in a former juvenile justice facility even after the state barred it from doing so.

The county placed two teenagers, ages 14 and 16, at the Rosemont facility on May 30  two weeks after it received the letter from the sate.

This action is in direct violation of the May 16, 2023, Notice of Application Denial which prohibited youth from being admitted to the (Warren E. Thornton Youth) Center after May 16, stated the June 5 letter from DSS to Melissa Lloyd, deputy director of the countys Department of Child Protective Services. A civil penalty of $200 per day is being assessed for the youth being admitted to an unlicensed community care facility beginning on May 30, 2023, and will continue until all youth are removed from the WET Center.

The countys accumulated penalties total $3,600 as of Friday, according to the state.

The county announced Thursday that it would remove all foster children from building Friday, and shut it down.

The Sacramento Bee twice asked the county for the letter Thursday, but the county did not provide it. The state then sent The Bee the letter Thursday evening.

The county said it planned to move the children on Friday to three single-family houses.

If we had such locations on May 30th, we would have taken the youth to the (houses), in lieu of the WETYC, Samantha Mott, a county spokeswoman, said in an email Friday. CPS was able to place the vast majority of children brought to the WETYC by law enforcement or CPS within 8-10 hours, but often times teens and siblings sets take longer to place. Youth who return to WETYC on their own after leaving a placement sometimes remained for extended periods. The county continues to work collaboratively with various teams at CDSS and contracted technical assistance teams to discuss child specific scenarios that can help us secure appropriate placements.

The county has faced backlash for housing foster children in the WET Center, including from state lawmakers, since The Bee was the first to report in April that the county was housing kids at the Branch Center Road facility without a state license. The county has applied for licenses for each of the three houses, the release stated.

The county has been housing about 12 to 16 children, mostly teens, at the facility since August, despite several letters from state officials advising against it. State officials have been sending the county letters about the facility since as early as September, when DSS Foster Care ombudsperson Larry Fluharty wrote that the environment could retraumatize youth and make them feel physically and psychologically unsafe.

As of Thursday there were eight children living in the WET Center, all of which were being moved to the houses the county is leasing for about $20,000 a month total.

The county is facing two lawsuits related to the facility.

The cells are rooms that are about 16 feet by 8 feet, which is too small, state regulators wrote in a May 16 letter. The mattresses do not have springs and are very thin, and there are no drawers or closets in violation of state law. The metal toilets in the cells have been covered with wood and shelves while bedroom windows hinder privacy in rooms, the letter stated. The facility entrances metal detector violates the right to be free from unreasonable searches of personal belongings and the right to be treated with respect, the letter stated.

Prior to the WET Center, the county housed the children in an office building nearby, which the state also deemed unsuitable.
The Stanislaus County jail and its personnel are prominently featured in a new A&E Network program about the booking process that premieres Thursday night.

The 16-episode series, called Booked: First Day In, airs weekly at 7 p.m.

We felt that this would be a great opportunity for our communities to see the excellent work that our jail staff does on a daily basis, said Sheriff Jeff Dirkse. Intake is the first step in the booking process, and many times arrestees are being brought in still under the influence or in a mental health crisis and can be difficult to work with. Our staff is highly trained to deal with these individuals in a caring and professional manner.

Jails from counties in Virginia, Florida and Mississippi also appear in the show, which follows arrested individuals through Americas booking process, offering an extraordinary look at the most unusual, bizarre and often tense bookings, according to the network.

Each episode follows the story of an arrestee, with their permission, as they move through the system and recount what ultimately led them to their time in jail. From petty offenses to serious crimes, viewers will be taken on a harrowing adventure while they watch the arrestees throughout the booking process.

In addition to educating the public about the booking process in California, how it compares to other states, and the roles of jail staff, the show is an opportunity to address misconceptions, said sheriffs Lt. Tom Letras.

In my experience, there is a common misperception that jail is this filthy, dirty dark hole and everyone is treated like they are guilty and there is no care, he said. I think people will see how empathetic and professional our staff is.

Viewers also will get to know the people who are being booked, beyond the crimes they are accused of.

Youll realize that not everyone who goes to jail is a bad person. They are people who made a mistake, Letras said. You will see a mix of repeat offenders as well as people who have never experienced the criminal justice system before.

A production crew was in the Stanislaus jail eight to 10 hours a day, five days a week for about two and a half months.

Filming for the show just wrapped up Monday. It began March 23, about a week after the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a contract with the production company Lucky 8 TV LLC.

The same company also produces 60 Days In, A&Es No. 1 show, which follows volunteer undercover inmates in county jails across the country to document life behind bars.

Letras, who worked with Lucky 8 on the contract with the county, said the production company asked the Sheriffs Office a few years ago to participate in 60 Days In but the county had concerns about violating inmates rights by filming in the housing unit.

In contrast, Booked: First Day In is filmed only in the intake unit of the jail, and everyone on camera  law enforcement, civilian jail staff or arrestee  signed waivers agreeing to appear on and be interviewed for the show, Letras said.

There still were concerns along the way, Letras said, but all of them were addressed before filming started.

These, according to Letras, were some of the terms of the agreement:
Former State Senator and Highland Clerk-Treasurer Michael Griffin headlined a tax talk Wednesday night at the Dean and Barbara White Community Center in Merrillville. (Jared Quigg/Post-Tribune)

When Merrillville officials were asked to share more information on how town government works, they asked former Indiana State Senator and Highland Clerk-Treasurer Michael Griffin, an expert in municipal taxes and public finance, to headline the towns inaugural Town Tax Talk Wednesday evening at the Dean and Barbara White Community Center

Griffin discussed property taxes, how the Merrillville town budget works and the impact municipal taxes. The presentation was followed by a Q&A session with a supporting panel made up of various experts in taxes and public finance in Merrillville.

Advertisement

The talk was designed to give Merrillville residents an opportunity to learn more about what their property taxes are used for and how the local budget works. It also gave those in attendance the chance to ask local officials general questions about taxes and the town budget.

This evening has been planned in response to many suggestions and comments about sharing more information on town government, Merrillville Town Council President Rick Bella said in his opening speech Wednesday.

Advertisement

Merrillville town councilman Richard Hardaway kicked off the event, by introducing the supporting panel of Merrillville Community Schools Chief Financial Officer Meghan Damron, Superintendent Nick Brown, and Merrillville Town Manager Pat Reardon, among others.

Griffin said he wrote his presentation with the goal of equipping residents with the vocabulary required to understand public finance and the budgeting process. He also went over Merrillville property taxes and what they pay for, such as the school corporation and the county government.

Theres a lot of misunderstanding about where the money goes, Griffin said after the event. Merrillville should get credit for their attempt to try to get this information out there.

The latter part of Griffins talk discussed the possibility of Merrillville adopting a new food and beverage tax. In April, the Indiana General Assembly authorized Merrillville to adopt a tax of up to 1% on food and drinks sold at town restaurants. The Merrillville Town Council can decide on or after July 1 if it will actually impose the tax.

Griffin explained that a food and beverage tax could raise up to $1.8 million in revenue for Merrillville if adopted at the 1% level  money which can only be used to fund things like park and recreation purposes and possible expansion of the Dean and Barbara White Community Center.

The Q&A session was quite lengthy, with the occasional hostile and combative questions directed at the panel. The panelists at times grew visibly frustrated as they tried to answer complicated questions about taxes.

All those in attendance who questioned the panel thanked them for holding the discussion and several called it very informative, but others were more critical. One speaker complained that the presentation and Q&A session were too esoteric and said future events need to be more simple.

Griffin said he would happily give another talk if Merrillville asked him and will work harder at making it accessible. Hardaway said after the event that there will likely be more tax talks in the future and that this first one was a test to see what worked and what didnt.

Advertisement

We hope this (first talk) will create a thirst for more, Griffin said.

I hope (the people in attendance) perceived that their elected officials are trying to get this information to them, he said. The more people get to see officials in public like this and ask questions the better.

Jared Quigg is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
U.S. F-22 Raptor fighter jets have deployed to the Middle East in a show of strength amid escalating tensions between U.S. and Russian forces that share the skies over Syria, U.S. Central Command said Wednesday.

Airmen from the 94th Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, are the latest to arrive in a string of recent deployments to U.S. Central Command  and the first unit to specialize in air-to-air combat  after the Air Forces top officer in the region said in April that Russian pilots had begun buzzing other American fighter jets over Syria in apparent invitations to dogfight.

Russian forces unsafe and unprofessional behavior is not what we expect from a professional air force, CENTCOM boss Army Gen. Erik Kurilla said in a release Wednesday. Their regular violation of agreed-upon airspace deconfliction measures increases the risk of escalation or miscalculation.

Speeding one of Americas most advanced fighter jets to the field aims to deter further bad behavior  and bolster U.S. firepower if needed. The military did not disclose from which base the F-22s will operate.

As the Pentagons premier fighter designed to down other aircraft, the Raptor relies on stealth technology, sophisticated maneuvers and up to eight short- and medium-range air-to-air missiles.

Their arrival signals that American military officials are increasingly alarmed by what they see as Russias attempts to intimidate American airmen and endanger U.S.-led coalition troops on the ground in Syria, flouting flight safety rules the two countries had agreed upon to avoid accidents and misunderstandings.

Russian aircraft violated longstanding deconfliction protocols 85 times from March 1-April 28, Air Forces Central told Air Force Times.

Theyre regularly flying directly overhead of our units  within about a mile, no more than a mile offset one side or the other, while weve got forces right there on the ground at the U.S. coalitions al-Tanf garrison in Syria, Grynkewich told NBC News. Its an uncomfortable situation.

The Air Force did not immediately answer how often those incidents occurred in May and June.

In April, the Air Force released two videos that appear to show Russian Su-35 fighter jets veering close to American F-16 fighters in coalition airspace over Syria, filmed from the viewpoint of the F-16.

Grynkewich said close encounters have come within 500 feet of U.S. aircraft, despite miles-wide deconfliction zones and rules designed to keep jets thousands of feet away from each other. U.S. and Russian forces also share a hotline where they can discuss potential close calls.

Those measures are in place to prevent U.S. and Russian forces from seeing an incoming aircraft as an attack on their respective positions and retaliating in kind.

Grynkewich has suggested Russians may be growing more brash as a favor to their ally Iran, which opposes the U.S. military presence in the region.

In response, the Air Force this spring dispatched A-10C Warthog attack planes that are specially modified to carry around three times their typical bomb load.

Theyre really here as a message to both assure our partners  but also as  a true capability that can work against some of the threats that we face with respect to Iran, Grynkewich told Defense One in April.

B-1B Lancer bombers, which carry conventional but not nuclear weapons, also arrived in CENTCOM for training earlier this month in a brief diversion from their current deployment to Europe.

The jets practiced shooting live precision-guided munitions and a Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, designed to hit mobile targets up to 230 miles away without triggering air defenses, the command said.

The Air Force said the mission was the first time its aircraft had fired multiple weapons at multiple simulated targets alongside coalition forces during a bomber rotation to the region.

These bomber missions represent the U.S.s commitment to our partners and showcase our ability to deliver overwhelming power at a moments notice, Grynkewich said June 8.

While they support forces on opposite sides of Syrias 12-year civil war, and are both fighting Islamic State militants, U.S. and Russian troops have not clashed directly.

Moscow backs the Assad regime in the conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands of civilians and displaced more than half of the countrys pre-war population.

About 900 U.S. personnel remain in Syria to advise and assist the patchwork of rebel forces that are fighting government troops. The Pentagon also continues to launch airstrikes and raids from elsewhere in the region in its decade-long mission to contain the Islamic State group inside Syria.
The Air Force has started teaching student pilots to fly the F-22 Raptor fighter jet at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, the service said June 14.

Its a new start for the F-22 training enterprise after Hurricane Michael destroyed the missions sole home at Floridas Tyndall Air Force Base in 2018.

We want to get them in the mindset of what its like to be in a fighter squadron, what our mission means and why its important, Capt. Spencer Bell, an instructor with the new 71st Fighter Squadron, said of students in a release. We are forging the next generation.

Hurricane Michael  a Category 5 storm  slammed Tyndall with 160 mph winds and caused irreversible water damage and mold infestations that required the Air Force to demolish much of the base. F-22 pilots and maintainers relocated to Eglin AFB, about 90 miles west across the Florida Panhandle, to continue the training mission while the Air Force considered its next steps.

The Air Force signed off on Langley, which already hosts two F-22 combat squadrons, as the permanent site of F-22 flight training in 2021.

Tyndalls fleet of Raptor jets began moving to Virginia in March. All 30 are expected to be in Virginia by September, Langley spokesperson Marcus Bullock said Friday.

There, training will be managed by the recently renamed 71st Fighter Squadron, which previously flew the T-38 Talon trainer jet as adversaries in F-22 combat training. Its sister unit, the 71st Fighter Generation Squadron, will handle maintenance on the stealth jets.

Student pilots arrive at the F-22 schoolhouse after spending time on basic maneuvers in two training aircraft at other bases. Once they graduate, they will head to their first operational units that fly the F-22 in combat.

The first cohort of six budding F-22 pilots has already spent three months in classroom lessons and simulator sorties at Tyndall. Students will continue doing that in Florida until those facilities are built at Langley. That will take at least three more years to get up and running, the Air Force said in January.

Now, the first class is working through six months of flight lessons at Langley to familiarize themselves with F-22 radars and weapons, basic fighter maneuvers, air combat tactics and more.

My first flight was mind-blowing, said F-22 student pilot Capt. Chas Ballard in the release. I could feel the immense amount of power that the machine had to give and its unlike anything Ive ever flown before.

To support the unit, the Air Force is planning several construction projects for new facilities in the coming years. Two of those  a repair facility for the F-22s stealth features, and a combined operations and maintenance hangar  are already underway.

Airmen have argued that Langley is better-equipped to welcome F-22s than Eglin, where it shared space with the F-35 enterprise. Virginias congressional delegation pushed for the relocation as well.

While Joint Base Langley-Eustis currently has two F-22 squadrons, as well as supporting maintenance units, it was built for the beddown of three squadrons, thereby underutilizing the airspace and Air Force investment in ramp, hangar and operations support facilities, the bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers said in 2019. The East Coast mid-Atlantic training ranges provide an excellent opportunity to train with other fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft in the region.

Still, its unclear what the future holds for Langleys newest flying squadron.

The Air Force is asking Congress to let it retire 32 older F-22s that arent equipped for combat, so it can funnel those funds into cutting-edge technology like its Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter jet program. If approved, the service believes the divestment would save about $2.5 billion over five years.

In the meantime, Tyndall is set to receive its own new mission  the F-35 Lightning II  starting in August.
Father of 3 brothers killed in Ohio shooting charged with aggravated murder

Several law enforcement agencies responded Thursday afternoon to a shooting on Laurel Lindale road in Monroe Township.

The father of three brothers shot to death in their yard on Thursday has been charged in their deaths.

Chad Doerman, 32, is under arrest and charged with three counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of his sons ages 3, 4 and 7.

Doerman is being held without bond at the Clermont County Jail and will be arraigned Friday morning in Clermont County Municipal Court.

Chad Doerman

Original report: The father of three brothers killed in a shooting in Clermont County has been detained for questioning, according to the sheriff's office.

Chad Doerman, 32, is cooperating with officials, according to Clermont County Chief Deputy Chris Stratton.

Deputies responded after a woman called 911 around 4:15 p.m. screaming that her "babies had been shot," officials with the sheriff's office said in a news release.

A short time later, a passerby called 911 reporting that a young girl was running down the road saying her "father was killing everyone," officials said.

The sheriff's office would not identify the girl or say how she was connected to the family. Officials did say that she is not in any danger.

Shootings on the rise in Cincinnati: Two 15-year-olds, 3 women among 8 injured in overnight shootings

Chad Doerman, 32, detained by police after shooting in Clermont County

Deputies responded to a home at the 1900 block of Laurel Lindale Road in Monroe Township and found Doerman sitting on an outside step, the release states.

Authorities detained Doerman and found three children shot and unresponsive in the yard, officials said. Those victims  later identified as brothers ages 3, 4 and 7  died of their injuries at the scene.

A 34-year-old woman, identified as the mother of the three boys, was shot in the hand and taken by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for treatment, officials said.

Doerman was taken to the Clermont County Sheriff's Office to be interviewed by detectives, officials said. The sheriff's office said there was no sign of forced entry into the home and investigators are not looking for additional suspects.

Much of the area surrounding the house remained blocked off by law enforcement officials late Thursday.

Gun violence in Cincinnati: In midst of uptick in teen gun violence, Avondale residents learn to treat gunshot wounds

New Richmond schools superintendent on Clermont County shooting: 'Our hearts are once again broken'

A statement from Tracey Miller, superintendent of the New Richmond Exempted School District said, "Our hearts are once again broken tonight as we yet again ask the community to lift up those affected by this horrific incident."

Grief counselors will be available at Monroe Elementary on Friday, Miller said.

Please see below for a statement from Superintendent Tracey Miller. pic.twitter.com/qWnQZt33OH  New Richmond EVSD (@NREVSD) June 15, 2023

A 13-year-old New Richmond middle school student was among four killed in a murder-suicide in March.

More than 29 teens shot this year: Spike in Cincinnati shootings continues

This story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Clermont County shooting: Father Chad Doerman charged; 3 boys killed
The father of a man who died in the Greenville County Detention Center last May is suing Greenville County and the South Carolina Department of Corrections on behalf of his son.

Both Allan Lindsey Zack, 36, and Randy Eugene Broome, 45, were found dead in their housing unit at the jail on May 12, 2022. An autopsy performed the following day concluded the two men died from acute fentanyl toxicity.

Kyle White, an attorney based in Anderson, filed a lawsuit Friday, June 9, on behalf of Zacks father, Ronald Zack, in Richland County where SCDC is based. The lawsuit alleges poor conditions at the Greenville facility left unchecked for years by the state corrections department contributed to Allan Zacks death.

According to the lawsuit, SCDC annual inspections of the jail dating back to 2015 found it was grossly overcrowded and understaffed. For years the conditions were so bad detainees were left unsupervised and cells exceeded capacity, the lawsuit said.

Supervision was so deficient at the facility that guards were allowed to assist detainees with illegal activities in exchange for payment, including the smuggling of contraband and illicit drugs, the complaint read.

Lawsuit by Ronald A. Zack on behalf of Allan L. Zack by Kathryn on Scribd

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division was called to investigate Broomes and Zacks deaths last May.

"Going to the detention center should not have the potential of being a death sentence. We have an obligation and responsibility to keep those people safe, not matter how angry we are at what we think or know they did," Greenville County Council member, Ennis Fant, said at the time of the incident.

According to a recent report from Incarceration Transparency, 13 deaths occurred at the facility between 2017 and 2021. Documents retrieved by The Greenville News from SCDC show five deaths occurred at the facility in 2022.

Lawsuit: Spartanburg jail failed to provide adequate care for man who died in custody

Prior in-depth reporting from The News found the Greenville Detention Center among one of the deadliest jails in the state with 27 deaths from 2008 to 2019.

Detention centers that fail to meet the minimum standards required by state law, as alleged in Zacks lawsuit, are at risk of being shut down by the state Department of Corrections.

Kathryn Casteel is an investigative reporter with The Greenville News and can be reached at KCasteel@gannett.com or on Twitter @kathryncasteel

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Father of man who died at Greenville jail sues county, SCDOC
Design flaws in the pool deck of the Surfside, Florida, apartment building where a partial collapse killed 98 people put the building at risk of failure before it was even built, federal investigators said Thursday.

Poor construction of the deck in 1981 further weakened Champlain Towers South, the investigators said. And over the next four decades, corrosion, along with renovations that placed a heavier load than the deck was designed to hold, made the building even more vulnerable, the investigators said.

The conditions that existed in the pool deck slab at that time represented a serious safety concern for the building, Glenn Bell, a lead investigator for the National Institute for Standards and Technology, said in a public meeting at the agencys Maryland headquarters.

Members of the South Florida Urban Search and Rescue team look for possible survivors in the partially collapsed Champlain Towers South condo building in Surfside, Fla. (Giorgio Viera / AFP via Getty Images)

Whether those deficiencies directly caused the June 24, 2021 collapse is not yet clear (NISTs final report on the cause isnt expected until May 2025). Champlain Towers South, built on a barrier island, suffered from faulty construction and structural damage, including corrosion beyond the pool deck, according to an engineer that assessed the building three years before the collapse. Scientists have also documented saltwater seeping into the buildings underground foundation, and that the building had slowly sunk in the 1990s.

But the preliminary analysis outlined Thursday showed that investigators consider the pool decks many defects as a leading hypothesis  among about two dozen  of what led a large section of the 12-story residential building to suddenly crumple in the middle of the night.

The pool deck plan fell well short of the applicable building code, Bell told NISTs National Construction Safety Team Advisory Committee. So from the beginning, the original structural design provided low margins of safety.

An improper placement of steel reinforcement in the pool deck slab weakened it, Bell said. Renovations loaded the pool deck with heavy materials, including planters, palm trees and sand, that the original design did not consider. Corrosion of the steel bars holding the concrete slab in place made the risk of failure higher, Bell said.

All of these factors combined to result in margins of safety and margins against failure in some areas of the pool that were critically low at the time of the collapse, Bell said.

Investigators said they are also considering that the collapse might be due in part to design and construction deficiencies in the residential tower that led to supports being overstressed. They are looking into the possible effects of climate change, including whether it played a role in the upward pressure of water on the buildings basement slab. And they are analyzing changes to the concrete and soil.

James Harris, another NIST investigator, said the quality issues that imperiled Champlain Towers South were eerily parallel to the factors that contributed to a collapse of elevated walkways at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Kansas City in 1981, around the time Champlain Towers South was built.

Martin Langesfeld, whose sister and brother-in-law were killed, attended Thursdays meeting by video and said NIST was taking too long to find answers. He cited plans to build a luxury high rise on the Champlain Towers South site, construction that could begin before NISTs final report is issued.

If the new development proceeds and the land is built upon while its deemed unsafe, and another building collapses, it will rest in the hands of NIST, the town of Surfside, the state of Florida and the federal government, Langesfeld said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The Food and Drug Administration said Friday that it was advising drugmakers to update the Covid booster shots to target XBB.1.5, the predominant coronavirus strain in the United States.

The announcement came a day after an advisory committee recommended updating the Covid vaccines to target a circulating strain of the virus.

The FDAs Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee on Thursday voted unanimously in support of tweaking the shots to target an XBB strain, as well as dropping the original coronavirus strain from the formulation. During the meeting, the committee did not make a formal recommendation about which specific XBB lineage to include, though in a discussion after the vote, members expressed a preference for XBB.1.5.

"Based on the totality of the evidence, FDA has advised manufacturers who will be updating their Covid-19 vaccines, that they should develop vaccines with a monovalent XBB 1.5 composition," the FDA wrote in a release published online Friday.

Drugmakers need enough time to produce and distribute the new shots, which are expected to be used as early as September as part of a fall booster campaign.

Covid-19 vaccine (Frederic J. Brown / AFP - Getty Images file)

Pfizer said it could distribute reformulated doses as early as the end of July, depending on the strain selected. Moderna said it expects to begin shipping updated doses, pending FDA approval, by the end of the summer. Novavax said it could have updated doses available in the fall.

Its still unclear whether the fall is the best time to offer boosters. Covids spread has often been erratic over the past three years, without the clear seasonality seen with viruses like the flu.

This season will be very telling whether Covid settles into a seasonal pattern or not, Ruth Link-Gelles, a senior epidemiologist at the CDC, said during Thursday's meeting.

XBB.1.5 accounts for about 40% of all new Covid cases as of Saturday, according to the CDC. Its followed by XBB.1.16 (also called Arcturus on social media) and XBB.1.9.1. While the CDC no longer tracks levels of Covid spreading in communities, data from the agency shows hospitalizations have been trending downward since March.

XBB.1.5, which began circulating widely last fall and winter, is a descendent of XBB, which itself is a descendant of two omicron subvariants.

Updating the vaccine with an XBB strain makes the most sense, said committee member Dr. Mark Sawyer, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. I think the data is quite clear.

The XBB strains arent too genetically different from the next, meaning an XBB.1.5 vaccine should work well against the newer strains, committee members said.

According to new data from CDC scientists, the current boosters do provide protection against XBB.1.5, although not as much protection as they do BA.4 and BA.5, two strains that are no longer in circulation in the U.S. (The current boosters were formulated to target these strains, as well as the original coronavirus strain.)

On Thursday, the drugmakers presented data from animal studies that suggest an XBB-containing vaccine would provide more protection against the current circulating strains than the current boosters.

Choosing to target an XBB strain falls in line with a recommendation from the World Health Organization in May, as well as the European Medicines Agency, which recommended using XBB-containing vaccines in June.

This will be the second time the Covid vaccines have been updated in the U.S., following the FDA authorizing the BA.4/BA.5 boosters last year.

In addition to adding an XBB strain, the committee supported dropping the original coronavirus strain from the vaccine, with several members saying they didnt see an advantage to including it. That strain has been included in the vaccines since they were first authorized back in December 2020, but has long been out of circulation globally.

Jerry Weir, director of the Division of Viral Products in the FDAs Office of Vaccines Research and Review, said an XBB-only vaccine could improve vaccine effectiveness because the immune system wont be hampered by its response to the original coronavirus strain  a phenomenon known as immunological imprinting.

I do think taking out the ancestral strain will do something to optimize the response, he told the committee.

While updating the boosters was supported by the committee, some members stressed the need for investment to find more effective and longer-lasting vaccines. The existing vaccines are highly effective, particularly against severe illness, but their effectiveness against infection generally wanes after a few months.

People are tired of the pandemic, people feel like we have vaccines, were done, said committee member Dr. Ofer Levy, the director of the Precision Vaccines Program at Boston Childrens Hospital, but I think our discussion reflects the challenge ahead and the need for further innovation.

Uptake of the booster shots has been low to date. Only 17% of the U.S. population has gotten an updated booster, according to the CDC.

The advisory committee did not make a recommendation on who should get the shots and when. The latter will likely be left up to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has its own advisory committee meeting next week.

Follow NBC HEALTH on Twitter & Facebook.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Fierce fighting ongoing on front line in Ukraine, with Russia redeploying troops to east

Ukrainian military

The Ukrainian Armed Forces have over the past day been conducting successful counter-offensive operations in the area of Novodanylivka, Robotyno, Levadne, Staromayorsk, although with extremely heavy fighting.

"These are the Berdyansk and Mariupol directions, Kovalev said on Radio Svoboda. We are also advancing in the Bakhmut sector. Just today we received information about a successful offensive and repulsion of the enemy near Vuhledar.

The Russian army is redeploying units from different areas to eastern Ukraine to strengthen its defenses there, Kovalev said.

One air assault unit of the Russian army, in particular, was relocated from the south the day before.

"It's likely that they feel there are some holes in their defence, and that they tried to redeploy their units there," Kovalev said.

Ukrainian counter-offensive: the latest news

According to the update from the Ukrainian militarys General Staff for June 16, Ukrainian forces have successfully conducted counter-offensive operations in the following directions:

Novodanylivka-Robotyne (towards Tokmak, Zaporizhzhia Oblast),

Levadne-Staromayorske (on the border between Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk oblasts),

to the east of Stupochki village in Donetsk Oblast, pushing the Russians out of their positions there,

in the area of Vuhledar.

Ukrainian troops had advanced more than 3 kilometers in the eastern area of the front over the past week-and-a-half, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said on June 15.

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

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A Sacramento judge has issued a tentative ruling that Sacramento Countys prohibition on carrying firearms along the American River Parkway is unconstitutional but stopped short of issuing a final ruling with that finding as lawyers battle over another issue.

In a tentative ruling June 8 in Sacramento Superior Court, Judge Shellyanne Chang wrote that the prohibition on firearms improperly infringes upon the rights guaranteed by the Second and Fourteenth Amendments.

But Chang held off on issuing a final ruling to give both sides a chance to argue the matter before her the next day and allow her to issue a final decision.

In a final ruling posted on the courts website Friday morning, the judge sidestepped ruling on the constitutionality of the prohibition because of an ongoing dispute over whether the case already had been settled with an earlier agreement between the two sides.

Nabil Samaan, the Sacramento attorney who filed the 2018 lawsuit challenging the countys prohibition, said he believes the tentative ruling signals that the county soon may be blocked from keeping individuals with concealed weapons permits or some other from possessing firearms along the 29-mile parkway.

This is a huge victory, Samaan said. Were on the way to more freedoms and more personal security and self-defense.

There are limits to who could carry a firearm under the tentative ruling, Samaan conceded. Law enforcement officers may carry firearms, as could holders of concealed weapons permits and licensed fishermen because of state law allowing for hunters and fishermen to carry an unloaded weapon as they go to and from their activity.

So, if youre a fisherman and youre floating down the American River with a gun in your boat, it would be legal under the tentative ruling, Samaan contended.

County spokeswoman Kim Nava declined to comment Friday on pending litigation.

At issue is a section of the county code that bans firearms and other weapons unless they are being used in a permitted section of the parkway, such as an archery range.

No person other than peace officers in the discharge of their duties shall use, maintain, possess, fire, or discharge any firearm, air gun, spring gun, bow and arrow, slingshot, or any other weapon potentially dangerous to wildlife or human safety, except in areas, at times, and under conditions designated by the director for such use, the section reads. A violation of the provisions of this section is a misdemeanor.

A final ruling on the constitutionality of the countys policy has been put off because of a dispute over whether the two sides agreed in December 2022 to settle the case.

Samaan said he offered the county the opportunity to settle the case for a payment of 99 cents with the understanding that the settlement would include an agreement that the countys policy be rescinded.

I sent them an offer of 99 cents with the understanding that the entire prayer of the complaint would be entered in judgment, he said.

Samaan said the county disagreed that the 99-cent settlement included such a finding and that it was his mistake that led to the confusion. He said he had racked up $1.5 million in attorneys fees that he agreed to waive if the county conceded it was wrong.

The case continued to wind its way through court until the judge issued her tentative ruling last week.

That ruling found that the plain text of the Second Amendment clearly covers Petitioners intended conduct, i.e., to carry a firearm through the American River Parkway for the purposes of self-defense.

Chang cited the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 Bruen decision, which struck down a New York state law that made it a crime to possess a firearm without a license.

That ruling allowed for governments to prohibit carrying firearms in sensitive areas such as schools and government buildings, and the county argued that the parkway falls into such a category.

The county argues that because the Park is property owned by the government, the court should conclude it is analogous to government buildings, which Bruen recognized are sensitive places for which regulation and prohibition of firearms is permissible, Chang wrote in the tentative ruling. The county asserts that connected to the landscape of the American River are various government buildings, buildings in association with California State University, Sacramento, historical landmarks, among others.

But, she wrote, the county did not provide specific evidence to support that argument.

It is the countys burden to demonstrate the park is a sensitive place for which a firearm prohibition is permissible, Chang wrote.

She repeated that finding in her final ruling.

Given the lack of specific evidence presented by (the county), the court could only speculate as to what activities occur in the different areas constituting the park, an area spanning more than 29 miles, Chang wrote. Such speculation is impermissible, as it is the countys burden to demonstrate the park, in its entirety, is a sensitive place for which the parkwide firearm prohibition is permissible.

Sam Paredes, executive director of Gun Owners of California, likened the countys argument to the notion that New York could declare the entire island of Manhattan as a sensitive area, which the Supreme Court rejected.

The policymakers who do not want people to carry guns at all are grossly overstepping their authority by declaring these massive areas as sensitive areas when, in fact, none of the crimes that are committed are done so by people lawfully carrying guns, not by fishermen and not by CCW holders, Paredes said.

In her tentative ruling, Chang also noted that the U.S. National Parks system permits an individual to possess an assembled or functional firearm while in the system if the individual is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm, and the possession is in compliance with the law of the applicable state.

But she agreed with the countys argument that because both sides had earlier agreed to a settlement she was obligated to enter judgment accordingly and that Samaan now must file a motion seeking to toss out that settlement.

In light of this procedural posture, the court makes no determination as to the merits of the petition and complaint at this time, Chang concluded in her final ruling.

Samaan said he plans to file such a motion.

He said that when he filed the lawsuit he was the holder of a concealed weapons permit from then-Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones and the head of a mounted patrol unit of citizens who spent time on horseback in the parkway.

I was the president of the mounted patrol for Sacramento County and was in the parkway 10 hours a week on patrol, he said. I wanted to carry my gun pursuant to my weapons permit, but Scott Jones revoked my CCW based on me challenging this law, so it was important for me as an attorney to prove that I have good moral character and I wasnt breaking the law.
an arianespace ariane 5 rocket launches into a dark sky in july 2015.

We'll have to wait a bit longer for the Ariane 5 rocket's swan song.

The Ariane 5, a veteran European heavy lifter, was scheduled to launch for the final time on Friday (June 16) from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. But that plan just changed.

"It has come to light that there is a risk to the redundancy of a critical function on the Ariane 5. Consistent with safety requirements, Arianespace has decided to postpone the rollout of the #VA261 launch vehicle. Analyses are underway to determine a new launch date," Arianespace, the France-based company that operates the Ariane 5, said via Twitter today (June 15). (VA261 is the name Arianespace gave to this mission.)

"The launcher and its satellites, Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit and Syracuse 4B, are in the final assembly building in stable and safe conditions," the company added in another tweet.

In a short briefing this afternoon, Arianespace representatives said the concerns centered on three pyrotechnical transmission lines that are associated with the Ariane 5's solid rocket boosters. Engineers will examine the issue before Arianespace announces a new target date, a milestone that's expected in late June.

Related: Ariane 5 rocket launches biggest Eutelsat satellite ever

As one of the tweets cited above noted, there are two satellites flying on the final Ariane 5 mission. The Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit is a German spacecraft designed to research and test new communications technologies and scenarios, Arianespace wrote in a mission description.

Syracuse 4B is also a communications satellite, one that will be operated by the French military. The spacecraft "will enable the French Armed Forces to remain permanently connected during deployments," Arianespace wrote.

"Syracuse 4B will be totally protected against the most extreme jamming methods," the company added. "Built to defend French sovereignty, the satellite will also be able to support operations led by NATO and the EU."

RELATED STORIES:

 Facts about the Ariane 5, Europe's heavy-lift rocket

 Powerful Ariane 5 rocket launches 3 satellites to orbit (video)

 Europe's long-awaited Ariane 6 rocket won't launch before late 2023

Arianespace operates the Ariane 5 for the European Space Agency (ESA). The heavy-lift rocket debuted in 1996 and now has more than 100 launches under its belt, including some very notable missions.

For example, the Ariane 5 launched ESA's Rosetta comet-chasing mission in 2004, the agency's JUICE Jupiter probe this past April and NASA's James Webb Space Telescope in December 2021.

Ariane 5's successor isn't quite ready to take the baton. The Ariane 6 heavy lifter, which has been in development for a decade, isn't expected to fly until late 2023 at the earliest.

Editor's note: This story was updated at 3:05 p.m. EDT on June 15 with the update from Arianespace representatives about the cause of the Ariane 5 delay.
Nusrat Choudhury was confirmed Thursday as a federal judge by the US Senate, making history as the first Muslim woman and the first Bangladeshi American to join the federal judicial bench.

The vote in the Democrat-led Senate narrowly passed along party lines.

President Joe Biden nominated the civil rights attorney in January 2022, along with seven other federal judicial nominees, who, the White House said, continue to fulfill the Presidents promise to ensure that the nations court reflects the diversity that is one of our greatest assets as a court  both in terms of personal and professional backgrounds. Zahid Quraishi, district judge for the District of New Jersey and the first Muslim American federal judge in US history, was also appointed by Biden and confirmed in 2021.

Choudhury will join the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, which has handled notable cases including the recent indictment of New York GOP Rep. George Santos related to fraud and money laundering.

Choudhury currently serves as a legal director for the Illinois chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, where she has pushed for police reform with a focus on litigating discriminatory practices. According to the ACLU, her work includes challenging the Milwaukee Police Departments stop-and-frisk policy and the New York Police Departments surveillance practices post 9/11, which have been criticized as discriminatory against Muslim Americans.

Nusrat Choudhury is a trailblazing civil rights lawyer with a remarkable record of advancing equal justice for all in our nation, Anthony Romero, ACLUs executive director, said in a statement. He added that the confirmation is an exclamation point on her long track record of protecting civil liberties and civil rights.

However, it was Choudhurys police reform work that prompted Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin to join Republicans in opposing her nomination.

Law enforcement officers in West Virginia and across the country go above and beyond the call of duty to protect our communities, and I am incredibly grateful for their service, Manchin said in a statement Wednesday. Some of Ms. Choudhurys previous statements call into question her ability to be unbiased towards the work of our brave law enforcement.

Choudhury is only the countrys second Muslim American federal judge  following Quraishis confirmation  and her historic confirmation highlights the lack of diversity among federal judges, by race and ethnicity, and gender.

A 2022 CNN review of data from the Federal Judicial Center revealed that while the bench of federal judges has steadily grown more diverse, it does not reflect the countrys makeup and the majority of judges who are currently serving are White and male, while women and non-White groups remain underrepresented.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Former President Donald Trump speaks at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., Tuesday, June 13, 2023, after pleading not guilty in a Miami courtroom earlier in the day to dozens of felony counts that he hoarded classified documents and refused government demands to give them back. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) (Mary Altaffer/AP)

For the first time in U.S. history, a former commander-in-chief has been charged under the Espionage Act with jeopardizing national security. Equally dangerous, he is working to erode the rule of law rather than bend to it.

Before the contents of the indictment were known or unsealed, Trump supporters raced to discredit it. Attacking the FBI and the DOJ for pursuing a witch hunt, they disregarded the governments year-and-a-half-long struggle to reclaim boxes with material containing highly sensitive military defense secrets, including defense and weapons capabilities, nuclear capacities, war schematics, plans for military responses in the event of attack, maps, and U.S. allied defense vulnerabilities.

Advertisement

Trumps defenders ignore the exhaustive shell game he employed to conceal the subpoenaed documents, which included directing his employees to move and scatter boxes to various rooms at Mar-a-Lago, hiding many boxes from his own attorneys, and suggesting Evan Corcoran simply lie about or destroy damning documents rather than turn them over to the FBI, saying, I dont want you looking through my boxes Wouldnt it be better if we just told them we dont have anything here?

Defending the indefensible

Trump orchestrated the political response weeks before the indictment was issued, much the way he claimed the 2020 election was rigged before the votes were in. Trump used the indictment to supercharge his fundraising, referring to his re-election apocalyptically as an imperative final battle, and vowing to devote his second term to retribution.

Advertisement

Untroubled by the risks posed to national security, House Republicans competed in their zeal to defend Trump. Jim Jordan of Ohio says Trump had the right to keep nuclear weapons secrets in a high traffic area, while Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia called the indictment a stain on our nation from a corrupt FBI and DOJ. Kevin McCarthy, indulging extremists who yet threaten his speakership, tweeted, It is unconscionable for (Biden) to indict the leading candidate opposing him. Never mind that a grand jury composed of 23 Florida residents chosen at random  not Biden  voted to indict.

Andy Biggs of Arizona now calls for dismantling the FBI, and an eye for an eye in a war phase. Meanwhile, Matt Gaetz of Florida predicted that Biden would be imprisoned, failed Arizona GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake reminded the country that Trump supporters were heavily armed, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, expert in political weaponization, tweeted without irony that the DeSantis administration will  excise political bias and end weaponization once and for all.

We have not been here before

Trumps acolytes traffic in false equivalencies, but each act of indicted conduct occurred after the subpoena was issued. It wasnt about Trump having the documents, but his refusal to return them.

Although both Joe Biden and Mike Pence discovered documents in their possession, they immediately notified the federal government, turned over the documents, and cooperated with thorough FBI searches of their homes and offices. They did not orchestrate an 18-month cat and mouse game to evade the law.

When presidents Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon faced legal jeopardy, they respected the process. They did not attack the entire legal system to defend themselves; they did not call the FBI thugs.

Bill Barr, Ty Cobb could pull the GOP back from the brink

Post-Tribune Twice-weekly News updates from Northwest Indiana delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy >

Trump has once again brought America to a perilous and unprecedented crossroad; the wrong turn is a path of existential threat. His unrelenting and searing contempt for the rule of law, echoed by extremist members of Congress, incites anarchy.

Either the GOPs better angels will pivot back to the rule of law  and soon  or a major cohort of Americans will renounce the legal system altogether, convinced by Trump that it is partisan and rigged.

Bill Barr, Trumps attorney general, sees the gravity of a moment he helped create. Discussing Trumps latest indictment on Fox News, Barr said he was shocked by both the degree of sensitivity of the national security documents and the number of them, calling the Espionage Act evidence very, very damning. Scolding House Republicans for their blind defense, Barr said, This idea of presenting Trump as a victim here, a victim of a witch hunt, is ridiculous. Hes not a victim Those documents are among the most sensitive secrets the country has There is no excuse for what he did here.

Advertisement

Ty Cobb, Trumps former lawyer, echoes the sentiment. Cobb previously said he believed Trump faced prison time under the Espionage Act. He reiterated his prediction after the recording surfaced of Trump discussing military material with witnesses and a reporter who had no security clearance, while acknowledging that the document remained classified. Cobb told CNN, I think Trump is in an enormous amount of trouble. This indictment is about as carefully structured and evidentially supported as any indictment in history.

Perhaps it was inevitable that Trump would scorn the rule of law, since the most damning evidence and arguments against him come from his own hired guns  Michael Cohen, Bill Barr, and Ty Cobb. Theyve seen Trump attack institutions of government, recklessly inviting his rage-pumped base, again, to attempt to overthrow it.

To their great and enduring credit, these fallible men have recoiled from the monster they helped create, assenting to his restraint rather than let him destroy our republic.

Sabrina Haake is a Chicago attorney and Gary resident.
Five Naval Special Warfare sailors were injured early Friday when the boat they were traveling in struck San Diegos Zuniga Point jetty, officials said.

All five were taken to local hospitals following the mishap, which occurred at about 1:50 a.m. during routine training operations, according to Naval Special Warfare Command spokesperson Cmdr. Ben Tisdale.

Tisdale described the injuries as non-life-threatening in a statement to Navy Times Friday afternoon, and added that three of the five sailors had already been released.

He said in an email that the sailors were in a rigid hull inflatable boat, or RHIB, and declined to state their unit, saying only that they belonged to a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit.

An investigation into the mishap is underway, Tisdale said.

The jetty juts south off the southwestern edge of Naval Air Station North Island outside San Diego, and Navy SEALs are based at nearby Naval Base Coronado.
'The Flash' gives a nod to a 70s salsa music hit  and to Latino fans

They say music can move you back in time, take you to different places. And one of the most famous salsa songs of all time will resonate emotionally with viewers as they watch one of DCs fastest superheroes travel back in time to save his mom.

The son's quest is the premise of the much-anticipated movie The Flash, which opens nationwide Friday.

Barry Allen, played by Ezra Miller, will use his superhuman speed to change the past. But in doing so, he will also alter the universe that he lives in, as well as the other parallel universe that he visits.

Ezra Miller and Maribel Verdu arrive for the world premiere of

Most notably, in the movie, the superheroes will be different Michael Keatons Batman, last seen in the 1992 Tim Burton "Batman Returns" film, will replace Ben Affleck. The Flash will also introduce a new superhero  Colombian American Sasha Calle, known for her role in "The Young and the Restless," who plays Supergirl.

On the day that Barry Allens mother, played by Spanish actress Maribel Verdu, gets fatally stabbed, viewers will see her singing the chorus of the 1979 hit salsa single Pedro Navaja.

The original song was written and performed by the legendary Panamanian salsero and actor Ruben Blades in collaboration with Puerto Rican salsa pioneer Willie Colon.

And while Pedro Navaja tells the story of a knife-wielding criminal's fate, Verdu foreshadows her own death by singing the song's well-known chorus, La vida te da sorpresas, Sorpresas te da la vida (Life gives you surprises, Surprises life gives you), as she dances with her young son in the kitchen.

For Verdu, this popular song acts like a connecting thread that weaves diverse people together. In this sense, the movie becomes a window or a mirror that can show alternate stories of mainstream American heroes.

Maribel Verdu arrives for the world premiere of

Cinema is about inventing other worlds, Verdu told NBC News in a video interview. So Andy [the director] says, well, this woman is blonde with blue eyes in the comics, and shes from Iowa. But now, I want her to have your eyes and your gaze. And when you see Barry and me, we truly look like mother and son.

Fans will recognize Verdu from other movies, including Alfonso Cuarons Y tu mama tambien and Guillermo del Toros Pans Labyrinth.

The Spanish actress says that at the core of The Flash is a mother-son story with Latino roots, but the film also contains many other stories that can inspire different viewers to step into the shoes of a superhero.

I think its a movie that everyone can connect with because I think its several movies in one, Verdu said. I believe that each viewer will be given what they want and what they need.

Using the multiverse to create heroes for everyone

Director Andy Muschietti, who is known for the 2017 film It and the 2019 sequel It Chapter Two, said that there is a huge DC fandom in his native Argentina and other Latin American countries. Seeing Latino talent both in front and behind the camera is connecting the story of The Flash with those Latin American fans on a personal level.

For some people, its significant that we produced and directed this movie, he told NBC News in a video interview, referring to both himself as director and his sister Barbara Muschietti as producer.

Muschietti points out that casting Calle as Supergirl and Verdu as Flash's mother creates a warm emotional thread that connects with Latinos.

But more than adapting a mainstream story for just one group or culture, The Flash can also use the multiverse  which is a hypothetical set of universes  to tell a variety of future and past stories from different backgrounds.

We explored the multiverse because we think there are so many more ideas to be told honoring the characters from the past and the characters from the future, Barbara Muschietti said in a video interview.

She hopes that in the next chapter, all of them will get their chance to play.

An Israeli actress inspires a Colombian Supergirl

Sasha Calle is the daughter of a single mom from Medellin, Colombia. She said she grew up speaking both Spanish and English at home, and watched superhero films with her brother.

But she didnt get the urge to put on superhero tights and a cape until she saw Israeli actress Gal Gadot play Wonder Woman on the big screen in 2017.

Ezra Miller as Barry Allen and Sasha Calle as Supergirl in The Flash. (Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Comics)

"I knew then and there that I wanted to do exactly what she was doing. And now, Im friends with her. Now, I get to speak with her, Calle told NBC News in a phone interview. I thank her, you know? Im a big fan of her too. I constantly tell her thank you for being that representation for me, cause I saw you and I knew that I could do it too.

While Calle can fly high above others as the Girl of Steel on the big screen, she keeps her feet grounded in real life.

That hope that Supergirl carries on her chest, and very close to her heart, I carry as well. I would say to look at me and see that if I was able, everyone is able as well, she said. Everyone is Supergirl in their own way.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Nearly four decades after murdering a mother and a teenage babysitter in Palm Beach County, Duane Owen was executed by lethal injection Thursday evening at Florida State Prison.

Owen, 62, was pronounced dead at 6:14 p.m. after declining to make a last statement. He was executed for the May 1984 murder of Georgianna Worden, who was severely beaten with a hammer and sexually assaulted in her Boca Raton home.

He also had been sentenced to death for the March 1984 murder of 14-year-old Karen Slattery, who was babysitting at a Delray Beach home. Slattery was stabbed to death.

Thirty-nine years and this process is finally over, Debbi Johnson, the teen victims sister, told reporters after the execution.

Johnson, who is now a Monroe County deputy sheriff, said she was 10 when her sister was murdered.

I was no longer a child at that point in time, she said. No kid should have to go through that.

Read more: Florida psychiatrist criticized execution vigil after evaluating condemned inmate

Johnson was among 21 witnesses, along with eight reporters and Department of Corrections officials, who watched Owen be put to death in a process that started at 6 p.m. Strapped to a gurney and covered in a white sheet, Owen could be seen breathing heavily and making twitching motions as the drugs were administered, but he did not appear to make any movements after 6:06 p.m.

The execution took place without incident, Kayla McLaughlin, communications director for the Department of Corrections, told reporters.

Wordens body found by her children

Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 9 signed a death warrant for Owen in the murder of Worden, who was last seen alive by her daughters when they came to say good night while she sat in bed reading a book.

The next morning, one of the daughters found the bedroom door locked and a kitchen window broken. After unlocking the bedroom door, the daughter saw Worden with a pillow over her head and blood in the bedroom, according to court documents. Paramedics were called to the home but determined Worden was dead.

Owen was executed a day after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a request by his attorneys for a stay. The attorneys argued Owen was not mentally competent to be put to death. The Florida Supreme Court last week also issued two rulings refusing to halt the execution.

Owen woke at 7 a.m. Thursday and had a last meal at 9:45 a.m. of a bacon cheeseburger with no bun, onion rings, strawberries, a vanilla milkshake, cherry ice cream and coffee, McLaughlin said. He had no visitors.

Owen was the fourth inmate put to death by the state in less than four months.

The state on May 3 executed Darryl Barwick in the 1986 murder of a woman in her Panama City apartment. That followed the April 12 execution of Louis Gaskin in the 1989 murders of a couple in Flagler County. The state on Feb. 23 put to death Donald David Dillbeck, who murdered a woman in 1990 during a carjacking in a Tallahassee mall parking lot.

Dillbeck was the first person executed since Gary Ray Bowles was put to death by lethal injection in August 2019 for a 1994 murder in Jacksonville.

Arguments over Owens competency

After Owens death warrant was signed, his attorneys argued to state and federal courts that he was not competent to be executed. The arguments were based on the U.S. Constitutions Eighth Amendment, which bars cruel and unusual punishment, and legal precedents that prevent executing people who are not mentally competent.

Florida has a minimal interest in finality and efficient enforcement of judgments, but Owen, whose delusions and dementia prevent him from rationally understanding the consequences of his execution, has a right in ensuring that his execution comports with the Constitution, Owens attorneys said in a document filed Monday at the U.S. Supreme Court. This right includes the ability to have meaningful judicial review of the complex constitutional claims he timely raises.

But two state circuit judges, the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the arguments.

In a filing Tuesday at the U.S. Supreme Court, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moodys office pointed to an interest of finality for the victims families and the state.

The victimization continues to occur to the families and loved ones of Owens murder victims, Moodys office argued. Additionally, the State of Florida as a sovereign, is entitled to enforce its laws and carry out this sentence. The longer it is delayed, the greater the assault is on the sovereigns legitimate interest and that of the families of Owens victims.
A Florida man was sentenced to nearly five years in prison on Friday for attacking a police officer during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

According to a release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia, 27-year-old Mason Joel Courson from Tamarac, Florida was sentenced to 57 months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty in November to assaulting, resisting or impeding a law enforcement officer with a dangerous weapon.

Court documents state that Courson was part of a mob that confronted law enforcement officials at the Archway and tunnels leading into the Capitol building from the lower west terrace during the insurrection. Hundreds of rioters gathered there by 4:20 p.m., and some of them were throwing or swinging various objects at officers.

The release states that one rioter climbed over a railing and began hitting an officer with a crutch and kicking him. He and two other rioters then grabbed the officer and dragged him down the steps into the crowd.

Courson was at the bottom of the steps and beat the officer with a police baton while other rioters hit him with other objects, according to the U.S. attorneys office. The officer received multiple injuries including bruises and abrasions.

The release states that Courson was one of nine defendants charged in the case, and four of his fellow defendants have previously pleaded guilty to charges they faced.

Courson was initially arrested in December 2021 on multiple charges.

He was also sentenced to 36 months of supervised release after completing his prison sentence and pay $2,000 in restitution.

More than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in almost all 50 states with crimes related to the insurrection, including almost 350 who have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Folsom offers residents vacation checks of empty homes. Heres where you can apply

The city of Folsom offers checks on residents homes while they are on vacation.

As summer hits, city officials took to social media to remind citizens that home visits to ensure safety can be requested from the Citizens Assisting Public Safety, public safety department volunteers. However, the city said residents should ensure that their windows and doors are closed and mail is collected.

Vacation checks do not take the place of good security measures, the Folsom website reads.

Going on vacation? Have peace of mind with a Folsom Police Department Vacation Check. This free service for residents ensures your home remains secure while you're away, ensuring doors and windows are locked and removing any packages or papers. https://t.co/GlfUjrZnnW pic.twitter.com/RGHUwW6Y1D  City of Folsom (@CityofFolsom) June 14, 2023

Vacation checks are limited to a 30 day duration, and participating residents are required to provide 72 hours advance notice before the first day of the requested check, according to the citys website. Failure to do so may result in delay of the checks start.

Residents can fill out a vacation check request on the citys website.

Questions regarding CAPS vacation checks can be directed to 916-461-6516 or Jessica Hess, the police volunteer coordinator, at jhess@folsom.ca.us.
Forecasting hurricanes is a tricky science.

Whether a storm forms, strengthens or turns in a specific direction can be decided by dozens of factors, from ocean temperatures to the direction of winds to the amount of dirt floating in the air.

But hurricane scientists are better than ever at predicting where these storms are going and what kinds of impacts theyll bring. Forecasters can now offer a two-day forecast that is as accurate as a one-day forecast was a decade ago, and a five-day forecast thats more accurate than a three-day forecast was two decades ago.

A big part of that is due to the technological upgrades from hurricane models  programs run on some of the fastest supercomputers in the world based on thousands and thousands of scraps of data.

And this season, that technology takes another leap forward with the introduction of a new, more accurate hurricane model that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spent the last three years developing.

READ MORE:

On June 27, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center will start to use the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System, or HAFS, to scan the Atlantic for possible new storms and to track them if they develop.

Early results are promising. An experimental version of HAFS run for the last three storm seasons was 10 to 15% more accurate on average at predicting the path of a storm than the current best model, the Hurricane Weather Research and Forecast System or HWRF.

An example of the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System or HAFS running for Hurricane Ian in 2022. NOAA

Dr. Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center, called the new model an exciting update for his team of forecasters.

The more models you have, the better picture you can get with the uncertainty, he said.

What are hurricane models?

HAFS is the newest model to join the fray, but it will be one of many forecasters use to track storms. Some of the best-known include the European Model (or Euro), the Global Forecast System (or GFS) and the U.K. Met Office Global Model.

These super computer-powered programs spit out projections of weather conditions in a certain region  or the entire globe  four times a day. These projections make up the infamous spaghetti models that are so prevalent when a storm is coming. Those colorful lines are the models best guesses at where storms might form and where they might go.

But theyre definitely not perfect. Every year, different models perform better than others, and no one storm model gets everything totally correct.

What those hurricane spaghetti models all over social media actually mean

Thats why the hurricane center uses them, along with their expert knowledge, to craft its own projection of where a potential hurricane might go.

Theres still a lot we dont know, Brennan said. Were always trying to piece together our best analysis with an incomplete data set.

To combat that, NOAA has been steadily rolling out new technology to better understand what goes on inside and around hurricanes, from satellites that can zoom in closer than ever to high-tech dropsondes that hurricane hunters drop from planes inside hurricanes that sample the storm as they fall, sending that data back to forecasters.

NOAA uses a variety of new technology to better gather information on the conditions in and around hurricanes and tropical storms. NOAA

NOAA is also launching uncrewed drones that soar through the air, saildrones that scoot along the rough waves near a storm and devices that glide, drift and float under the seas surface.

All that data gets fed to NHC forecasters, and in the case of the new model, HAFS, directly into the computer program that spits out storm projections.

At this stage, the observations are going to help us understand, how do I better attune the model so that it produces a more real reality? said Sundararaman Gopalakrishnan, a senior meteorologist at NOAA and leader of the modeling team that developed HAFS.

A closer look at storms

This year, HAFS will run alongside the two NOAA models developed before it  HWARF and HMON. But starting next season, it will replace them.

All three have an innovation called a moving nest. Its a lot of work for global models to display images of the entire world with a resolution high enough that scientists can see crucial details. But these models work a little differently. They show the entire world at a lower resolution, then allow researchers to zoom in on certain spots in much better detail, sort of like a mobile magnifying glass.

Its like a high-definition TV. The better the resolution is, what we found is, the better the intensity prediction is, said Gopalakrishnan.

The nests, which stretch over about 800 kilometers, show a picture that allows researchers to zoom in to about a two-kilometer resolution. Outside the nests, that resolution is 6 kilometers.

Thats better than the HWARF, Gopalakrishnan said, which offers a resolution of about 13.5 kilometers for its base.

An example of the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System or HAFS running for Hurricane Ian in 2022. NOAA

A close-up view is a big deal for spotting one of the hardest storm phenomena to predict  rapid intensification. Thats when a storm gets very strong, very quickly. Officially, a storm must increase its maximum sustained winds by at least 35 mph in a 24-hour period.

Floridians might remember when Hurricane Michael did just that. Although the hurricane center was able to correctly determine where and when Micheal would strike in 2018, the storm strengthened practically overnight from a Category 2 to a Category 5 storm, surprising some residents who prepared for a weaker storm.

And while forecasters have gotten better at predicting when a storm might intensify  capturing about 12% of rapidly intensifying storms in the 2010s and about 32% these days  its still not an exact science.

Gopalakrishnan said the main ingredients for rapid intensification are warm sea surface temperatures, which act like gasoline to the engine of a hurricane, and winds traveling in a favorable direction. When winds work with the direction a storm is swirling instead of against it, thats known as low wind shear and can lead to stronger, more organized storms.

Sundararaman Gopalakrishnan is a senior meteorologist and leader of the modeling team that developed NOAAs newest hurricane forecast model, HAFS. NOAA

Its a battle between the shear and the sea surface temperatures, he said. But for rapid intensification, one more factor that becomes important is where you trigger the condition.

Thats where the resolution comes in.

Gopalakrishnan said his team found that bursts of strong thunderstorm activity, paired with low shear and warm water, were more likely to set off a rapid intensification reaction. A closer look at the area near a storm, like HAFS offers, gives researchers a better chance to spot small triggers like that.

We are getting better and better at understanding it, he said. The more observations we have to understand it, the better we will be at predicting it in the future.

Hurricane category isnt the full picture. Scientists suggest its time for a new scale

Although this is the first year HAFS will be officially in operation, Gopalakrishnans team is already at work on the next evolution of the model. The idea is to have multiple moving nests working at the same time, so forecasters can track multiple storms at once and even see what happens when theyre near each other. It could be operational as soon as 2025.

We do know there are storm-storm interactions that arent captured as well as they could be now, said Brennan, from the hurricane center. Its certainly a promising development.

But, both meteorologists cautioned, all the best technology in the world is useless if people in the path of danger dont respond to the warnings theyre getting. The track forecast will never be perfect, and the intensity of a storm could always change as it nears land.

We dont want people to get hung up on small changes to the track and intensity, category, whether it has a name or not now, Brennan said. Its the hazards that kill people. Its not these other things.
(Bloomberg) -- Dire warnings about TikTok dominated conversations on Capitol Hill earlier this year, with both Republicans and Democrats describing the Chinese-owned app as one of the gravest national security threats to the US.

Most Read from Bloomberg

But the congressional concern has quieted down in the months since a contentious March hearing with TikTok Chief Executive Officer Shou Chew. There was the US debt limit to raise. House Republicans are busy investigating President Joe Bidens administration and family. And lawmakers have turned their attention to the potentially epic impact of artificial intelligence.

Congress has a pretty limited attention span, said Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat and chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. AI is the topic du jour on Capitol Hill.

Some of those who were leading the effort to curtail TikToks US operations say they are worried Congress missed the moment to ban the popular app or force Bytedance Ltd., its Chinese parent company, to sell.

Its more of a victim of how everything is in this place, where its like our energy and attention gets sapped by a million things every single week, said Representative Dan Crenshaw, a Texas Republican. Crenshaw said he supports banning TikTok and there are still conversations behind the scenes on the best strategy.

But how do you actually do it? Crenshaw asked. It seems like a simple answer. Its really not.

The reprieve for TikTok, which may prove temporary, is reminiscent of Congresss earlier efforts to regulate social media such as Meta Platforms Inc.s Facebook, which foundered on indecision and partisan divisions over the nature of the perceived problem and how to solve it.

In the meantime, TikTok is becoming more entrenched in the US economy and culture. It continues to grow its 150 million-strong US user base  a built-in constituency of supporters  and expand its e-commerce offerings.

Critics says TikToks reach and the devotion of its followers make it a potent tool for gathering information about Americans  and for influencing what they see and believe. US officials have been skeptical of TikToks promise to separate its US data and operations from its Beijing-based owner.

Bills to explicitly ban TikTok would face certain constitutional challenges, both for violating free speech protections and for targeting a specific company. Broader approaches to regulating foreign-owned technology have been rejected by Republicans who oppose giving the government more power.

Montana Ban

A TikTok-only ban is being put to the test this year in Montana, where the company is suing to stop a new law that would make it illegal to offer the app to residents of the state. The law may well be found unconstitutional before it takes effect in January.

The exercise has given TikTok an opportunity to try out its broader defense strategies.

In Montana, TikTok sent notifications in the app about the potential ban, encouraged users to contact their representatives and set up a phone bank to urge the governor to veto the bill.

The outcome in Montana could help inform the strategy in Congress.

Theres also the question of what the Biden administration is  or isnt  doing. Officials havent publicly discussed the review of TikToks data security proposal by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which has already taken more than a year. House Republicans have accused the administration of delaying a CFIUS decision, especially as officials including Secretary of State Antony Blinken seek to re-establish lines of communication with China.

What to Watch: Blinken Heads to China Setting Low Expectations

A Senate bill supported by the Biden administration would empower the Commerce secretary to evaluate the national security risk of any technology connected to an adversarial nation such as China or Russia. The measure sponsored by Democratic Senator Mark Warner of Virginia and Republican Senator John Thune of South Dakota has met opposition from Republicans who say it amounts to government overreach and it doesnt stand a chance in the GOP-led House. Thune said hes working on amendments to respond to concerns by narrowing the bills scope.

In the House, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the Washington state Republican who chairs the committee where Chew testified, said shes working on her own bill to ban TikTok, which she says will be very targeted.

Many of the lawmakers who oppose a TikTok ban  especially Democrats whose voters skew toward the young generation of TikTok users  say a better approach would be to restrict data collection and sharing for all social media companies.

New proposals continue to trickle out. A bipartisan group of sponsors in the Senate and House is reintroducing a bill to create export rules for user data thats more rigorous for countries deemed to be high-risk and could be waived for those considered low-risk.

Yet even Anna Eshoo, the California Democrat who is one of the original sponsors of that bill in the House, said the fervent concern over TikTok just a few months ago seems a distant memory.

Given all that I have on my plate, Eshoo said, I feel like its deeply buried.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Former Modesto gangster doesnt deserve to be deported somewhere hes never been | Opinion

He works a tough day job for which few are qualified, helping former inmates like himself find a job and a place to live.

Because without some support these guys cant hope to atone for the damage theyve done, he founded a nonprofit that provides food, clothing, education and life skills for inmates.

He also mentors at-risk young people in the hope of steering them away from crime and regret. His experiences as a stress management and intervention counselor and as a Christian minister come in handy, as does his If I can do it, so can you example of leaving behind a violent Modesto street gang for a life of meaning and purpose.

Sithy Bin, a former Modesto gang member, at the home of his fiancee in Southern California. He now helps former inmates like himself with housing, jobs and education, and mentors at-risk youth.

And at night, Sithy Bin lies awake, wondering if tomorrow might bring a 10-day notice that all this will come to an end. Hes on the shortlist for deportation to Cambodia, a place he has never been.

Opinion

The threat is real because his mother was pregnant with him in 1980 when his parents fled the Khmer Rouge, the name given to the brutal communist party that committed countless atrocities in Cambodia after the Vietnam War.

Bin, 42, was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and was a toddler when his family arrived in the United States, so hes not a U.S. citizen. And noncitizens who commit aggravated felonies must go, the law says, even if theyve done their time and paid their debt to society behind bars.

The possibility of a get-out-of-deportation card exists  in the form of a pardon from California Gov. Gavin Newsom. A formal application is on his desk, awaiting a decision.

The law allows people who know Bin to influence Newsom, so many have tried.

Recognizing the work hes doing  diverting wandering souls from prison while helping those emerging from custody  former congressman Alan Lowenthal wrote a letter advocating for Bin. So did the mayor of Long Beach, where Bin relocated from Modesto. So did some council members, who put him on that citys Reentry Advisory Council.

His state senator, Lena Gonzalez, also wrote a letter urging a pardon, which would relax deportation rules and allow Bin to stay where hes doing so much good. California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, too, wrote a letter on Bins behalf.

Keep Sithy (pronounced city) Home supporters staged a rally in Los Angeles for him. As of Thursday, 2,394 people had signed an online Change.org petition urging a pardon.

Unfortunately, the groundswell of support is not unanimous.

The one entity known to oppose Bins pardon is the same that rightly put him behind bars in the first place: the Stanislaus County District Attorneys Office.

Prosecutors were doing their job when Bin was convicted for firing shots at a rival gang members house in Modesto in 2005. A bullet struck a 39-year-old bystander who had nothing to do with either gang. She lived, but when the judge added enhancements for gang affiliation and for using a gun, Bin ended up with two sentences totaling 40 years to life.

Mighty change of heart

Bin said he didnt know he had injured someone until his lawyer told him, after his arrest. The woman is related to friends of his and is a part of his Cambodian American community, he told me.

It devastated me. It could have been my mom, my aunt, my sister. Thats when I realized, Im living a lie here  the gang gossip, the lies we tell each other, the cycle of darkness.

In prison, Bin consumed all the self-improvement programs he could find, including Harvard and Stanford business courses. In 2014, he was ordained by International Missionary Center USA. He became certified to teach English as a second language and to mentor youngsters.

Judge Scott Steffen, who died in December, had presided over both of Bins sentences in Stanislaus Superior Court, first in 2008 and then in 2019 after sentencing reform took effect. At the second, Steffen clearly was impressed, saying to Bin, I have never seen anybody who has done as much work or (has) been as successful as you. ... You didnt just sit around lamenting your fate, but you did things to improve yourself even though it looked like your release was far off.

The judge erased one of Bins two life sentences, and the time he had served satisfied the other. A parole board chairman approached Bin for a handshake and best wishes for a bright future.

But with friends and family waiting just outside  including his two now-grown daughters, raised without him while he was incarcerated  Bin was rerouted in 2020 to another cell, in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center. And there he languished, until a lawsuit aimed at relieving suffering and death for those in congregate settings during the COVID-19 pandemic paved the way for his release, and he was freed.

Relatives in Modesto mostly are Buddhist, those elsewhere are Christian, and some are atheists, Bin said. Because everyone had assumed he would die behind bars, or be an elderly parolee, my release is a whole testimony on its own, he said. Even those who dont believe in God cant deny that he set me free. Its a miracle Im home.

A program helping undocumented migrants facing deportation drew him to Los Angeles County, where Bins remarkable transformation took off.

Cant forget victim and violence, Stanislaus DA says

But nothing he has done or can do will change the view of law-and-order prosecutors more concerned with a need to appear tough on crime.

Bin has received a significant amount of clemency already since his conviction, Stanislaus District Attorney Jeff Laugero wrote in an email. Though we commend his efforts to rehabilitate, we cannot forget the victim or the violent nature of his crime and the impact violent crime, in particular, has on our community. On balance, I do not believe a pardon is warranted.

In a telephone interview, Wendell Emerson  who prosecuted Bin all those years ago, and now is Laugeros chief deputy  said, I hope he has honestly turned his life around. Now that hes a member of society again, I hope he doesnt represent a threat to public safety. We can only judge by his conduct in the past. He nearly killed an innocent lady at a barbecue who was shot because the defendant decided to spray a house.

Doesnt it make sense to consider what hes done in the years since?

Bin now is a case manager for Friends Outside and a pastors assistant at Renew Church LA. The name of the nonprofit he helped form: Made New Foundation. His constant message to those he counsels: There is always a chance to change for the better.

Because of the strides he has made, UCLA Extension gave Bin a full scholarship to its Alcohol and Drug Counseling program. So did the California Mental Health Services Authority, for its Peer Support Specialist program.

Bin wants to get married, but the threat of being deported has put that on hold. His fiancee, Rose Solorio, took photos of him for this column.

Being in limbo doesnt give him the security to make plans, to get married, all the things you would want to do, said Caitlin Bellis, a National Immigration Project attorney.

Here is someone doing everything in his power to steer the most at-risk among us away from hate and toward stability, effectively saving lives and making society safer. If Bin doesnt deserve clemency, who does?

Gov. Newsom, Sithy Bin is worth keeping

Newsom appropriately listens to law enforcement. Following protocol, his office asked the Stanislaus DA to contact the victim and ask her opinion. She has no interest in having contact or providing input to the governors office, Laugero wrote in a Feb. 23 letter to Newsom.

The bar set by Laugero is impossibly high. If no one can clear it, redemption becomes impossible. When hope is lost, desperation sets in, and lawlessness is not far behind.

Laugero should rescind his opposition.

Newsom should grant Bin a pardon.

Freed from incarceration, Bin also should be freed from the anxiety of getting that tap on the shoulder and a one-way ticket to a place hes never been.

None of us is who we were 18 years ago. Where would anyone be without second chances?

Ours is not a society built on refusing to forgive. We are better than that.

Modesto may have gotten Bins worst. Allowing Southern California to enjoy the fruits of Bins best is a gift we should have the grace to offer.
Former North Carolina health official is picked to be new CDC director

FILE - Secretary of the North Carolina Department Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy Cohen speaks during a briefing on the state's coronavirus pandemic response Tuesday, Dec.22, 2020 at the N.C. Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh, N.C. The White House announced Friday, June 16, 2023, that Cohen will be the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She succeeds Dr. Rochelle Walensky, who last month announced she was resigning effective June 30. (Travis Long/The News & Observer via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

NEW YORK (AP)  Dr. Mandy Cohen, a former North Carolina official, will be the new director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the White House announced Friday.

Unlike the last two people to serve as head of the nations top federal public health agency, Cohen has prior experience running a government agency: She was secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services from 2017 until last year. Before that, she held health-related jobs at two federal agencies.

Dr. Cohen is one of the nations top physicians and health leaders with experience leading large and complex organizations, and a proven track-record protecting Americans health and safety, President Joe Biden said in a statement.

She succeeds Dr. Rochelle Walensky, 54, who last month announced she was leaving at the end of June. Cohen's starting date has not been announced. Her appointment does not require Senate confirmation.

Walensky, a former infectious disease expert at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, took over at the CDC in 2021  about a year after the pandemic began.

Cohen, 44, will take over after some rough years at the CDC, whose 12,000-plus employees are charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats.

The Atlanta-based federal agency had long been seen as a global leader on disease control and a reliable source of health information. But polls showed the public trust eroded, partly as a result of the CDC's missteps in dealing with COVID-19 and partly due to political attacks and misinformation campaigns.

Walensky started a reorganization effort that is designed to make the agency more nimble and to improve its communications.

Cohen was raised on Long Island, New York. Her mom was a nurse practitioner. Cohen has a medical degree from Yale and a masters in public health from Harvard.

She also has been an advocate. She was a founding member and former executive director of Doctors for America, which pushes to expand health insurance coverage and address racial and ethnic disparities. Another founder was Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. surgeon general. The group formed in the midst of an effort to organize doctors into political action and support Barack Obama's candidacy for president.

Cohen started working for the federal government in 2008 at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where she served as deputy director for womens health services. She later held a series of federal jobs, many of them with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, rising to chief operating officer.

In 2017, she took the health and human services job in North Carolina. A top adviser to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, Cohen was the face of her states response to the coronavirus, explaining risks and precautions while wearing a gold chain adorned with a charm of the Hebrew word for life.

Some residents dubbed her the 3 Ws lady for her constant reminders to wear a mask, wash hands frequently, and watch the distance from other people. One man even wrote a country-rock ballad praising her with the refrain: Hang on Mandy, Mandy hang on.

In 2020, Cohen refused to support President Donald Trumps demands for a full-capacity Republican convention in Charlotte with no mask wearing. Her office later said it would accommodate the GOP by relaxing the states 10-person indoor gathering limit, but it remained adamant about masks and social distancing. Trump ultimately moved the main events from Charlotte.

Cohen resigned the state post in late 2021, saying she wanted to spend more time with her family and pursue new opportunities. She then took a leadership post at Aledade Inc., a Maryland-based consulting company.

___

Former AP writers Bryan Anderson and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar contributed to this report.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
A former Poughkeepsie priest accused of abusing minors is facing a prison sentence in Philadelphia for corruption of a minor and indecent assault.

Rev. James Garisto, 74, served at St. Peter's Church in Poughkeepsie from 1998 to 2014.

He was arrested in May 2022 based on allegations by a Pennsylvania man that Garisto sexually assaulted him between 2006 and 2010, when he was 15 years old, at the priest's home in Fishtown, a section of Philadelphia. He also alleged Garisto abused him at property he owned in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and at the church in Poughkeepsie, where Garisto occasionally brought him.

In this 2007 file photo, the Rev. James Garisto conducts mass at Our Lady of Rosary Chapel.

Garisto pleaded no contest to charges of corruption of a minor when the defendant is 18 or older, a felony under Pennsylvania law; and indecent assault, a misdemeanor.

Two other felony charges, endangering the welfare of children and unlawful contact with a minor, were dropped by prosecutors.

Decision reversed: Convicted killer Brian Britton's parole rescinded by state Parole Board

Controversial location: A Dutchess County homeless shelter could open by 2024.

Poughkeepsie swimming: Pulaski pool closed for construction this summer, city provides alternate plans

Garisto is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 7.

Garisto's attorney, Fortunato N. Perri Jr., could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Archdiocese of New York previously said that Garisto was placed on leave in 2019, when the archdiocese first received a complaint against him, and had been unable to act as a priest since then. A spokesman could not be immediately reached to confirm that is still the case.

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 Poughkeepsie Journal: Rev. James Garisto to be sentenced on corruption, assault charges
You are here: Arts

The 29th Beijing International Book Fair kicked off in Beijing on Thursday, gathering exhibitors from 56 countries and regions at the four-day event.

A total of 2,500 exhibitors showcase more than 200,000 Chinese and foreign titles at this year's book fair, which is held both online and offline.

Of the 1,500 offline participants from domestic and international publishing and related organizations at the National Convention Center, around 60 percent are from overseas.

With Algeria as the Country of Honor, the event is co-hosted by the National Press and Publication Administration, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Beijing Municipal Government, the Publishers Association of China, and the China Writers Association.

The 21st Beijing International Book Festival is held in parallel with the book fair.
Sheila Johnson has fond memories of spending time and attending Mass with the nuns at the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity during her childhood and later as an adult.

Her close relationship with the sisters began when her grandmother, Nenetta Carter and mother, Ruth Carter Stevenson, built a relationship with the Carmelite nuns. Stevenson, who died in 2013, had converted to Catholicism and donated the land in Arlington for the monastery, as the nuns outgrew a home they occupied near Summit Avenue, Johnson said.

Johnson is also the granddaughter of Amon G. Carter, the former publisher of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Johnson, who is secretary/treasurer of the Amon G. Carter Foundation, emphasized that her mother used her own money to buy the land.

Over the years, Johnson kept in close contact with the sisters, and was appalled by the accusations of illegal drug activity and that the Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach broke her chastity vows with a priest who has yet to be identified.

Johnson said she is assisting the nuns with their legal expenses in their lawsuit against the diocese and Bishop Michael Olson. The lawsuit alleges the bishop defamed them and stole information from electronic devices. A hearing is scheduled at 10 a.m. June 23 in the 67th District Court in Tarrant County.

I want people to understand that we dont hate the bishop, but we find his behavior to be deplorable, Johnson said.

Johnson said she is also calling for the bishops removal from the diocese because of his treatment of Catholics and other actions he took over the years, including decisions to close the Catholic Renewal Center and San Mateo Catholic Church.

Johnson said she believes that Olsons ultimate goal is to take the monastery property.

The nuns have lived quietly on 72 wooded acres near South Bowen Road and West Sublett Road since 1958.

The Sisters of Carmel are withdrawn from the world and spend much of their day in silent prayer. The order has existed since 1562.

The diocese said in an email: We believe that peoples views on this matter have been unfairly shaped by Attorney Bobos false narrative that has been played out in the press. As the lawsuit develops, however, the Diocese expects that its parishioners will have a complete and truthful understanding of Bishop Olsons actions.

Matthew Bobo is representing Gerlach and Sister Francis Therese in their suit against the diocese.

Johnson said she visited the monastery as recently as June 11, and said there has never been any illegal drug use.

Over the years, Johnson said she has been in the monastery on numerous occasions as she has donated money to help with plumbing, electrical work and other renovations.

I was helping with renovations. Ive been in the kitchen, the laundry room, their living room. I have a good nose. The Reverend Mother takes prescription drugs for her pain and nausea, she said.

Gerlach, 43, uses a wheelchair and a feeding tube.

Johnson said she has also been invited inside the cloister because of her closeness to the sisters.

She also questioned the Bishops dismissal of Gerlach from the Carmelite order after he was authorized by the Vatican to investigate allegations that Gerlach violated her chastity vows with a priest who has yet to be identified.

In a video message earlier this week Olson said: In accord with my obligation to investigate and to report misconduct, I spoke with the immediate superior of the priest, the bishop where he was ministering, and subsequently to his own bishop and informed each of them of this reported violation and of the ongoing investigation. When I asked the immediate superior of the priest to ask the priest to be available to speak with our safe environment officer, the superior informed me that the priest on the advice of his canonical counsel, refused to participate in the investigation and that the priest conveyed to him that he would neither confirm nor deny his involvement. The priests bishop has told me that the priest is not currently assigned and that he has restricted his faculties. I am aware of no further investigation of the priest of this matter as alleged by Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach.

Olson said that Gerlach admitted to breaking her chastity vow to him and diocese officials several times.

Johnson said she will continue to help the nuns.

I love a good fight. Im not going to look for one, but if one falls into my lap, Im not going to back away.
Juneteenth at Dryce Hotel in Texas

Juneteenth is set to be celebrated in grand fashion across North Texas this Monday. Thousands will gather for cookouts, live music performances, and enlightening history lessons that delve deep into the holidays Texan roots.

In 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, to declare the freedom of those still in bondage. In a momentous move last year, President Joe Biden signed Juneteenth into effect, officially recognizing it as a federal holiday.

Fort Worth will host one such celebration at Hotel Dryce, a boutique hotel owned by Jonathan Morris. Morris perceives this event as an opportunity to commemorate history and shed light on the remarkable contributions of Opal Lee, affectionately known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth.

Lee, a Fort Worth resident for the past 86 years, experienced the burning down of her family home by white rioters on June 19, 1939. However, she rose above the ashes and dedicated her life to teaching, community organizing, and activism. At the remarkable age of 90, she began an annual 2.5-mile march on Juneteenth. The duration of the march symbolizes the years that transpired after the Emancipation Proclamation before all enslaved individuals were finally liberated. The march, undertaken as part of her tireless campaign to promote Juneteenth beyond the borders of Texas, has garnered tremendous support and attention.

Photo Credit: Hotel Dryce

Juneteenths Legacy Ties To Fort Worth

For Morris, the significance of Juneteenth and Opal Lees lifelong fight cannot be overstated. He expresses gratitude for witnessing Lees dream come to fruition in her twilight years. Morris shares, Were able to celebrate Juneteenth in a way that is nationally recognized now. At Hotel Dryce, we want to be part of helping tell that story in a more broad way.

The hotel, situated in Fort Worths Cultural District, has been operational for almost two years. Morris and business partner, Allen Mederos, established the venture after lamenting the absence of accommodations that reflected their travel preferences. Their vision has been brought to life through the talents of local artists, creators, and artisans.

Hotel Dryce has proven to be an artistic hub since its opening. The property has hosted numerous events in its ever-evolving themed space, from vinyl nights to silent book club meet-ups. This year, the hotel will hold its inaugural Juneteenth event, highlighting Black vendors and locally-owned businesses. Morris, who himself is Black, aims to celebrate Black culture, Black culture in Fort Worth, and Black entrepreneurship.

Photo Credit: Hotel Dryce

What To Expect At Hotel Dryces Juneteenth Celebration

Hotel Dryces Juneteenth festivities will feature vendors Reggie and Cedric Robinson of Lil Boy Blue BBQ. Known for its mouthwatering grilled offerings, try the smoked brisket, pulled pork, or cracked black pepper sausage. Paying homage to their loving grandfather, Reggie and Cedric prioritize serving with love and celebrating the inclusivity of warmly welcoming all individuals with African roots.

Talented confectioner Terrell Johnson, the creative mind behind SNAP Pastries, will make his Hotel Dryce debut with a signature cupcake. The signature sweet will be infused with simple syrup and GO3 vodka, in addition to an assortment of other cupcakes, cookies, and cake pops. Johnson looks forward to the educational aspect of the event and sharing the holidays significance with his cherished community. He emphasizes the deep meaning of Juneteenth for the Black community, recognizing that the appreciation may not be fully understood by those outside of the culture.
Tucker Carlson speaks during the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) Feszt on Aug. 7, 2021, in Esztergom, Hungary. (Janos Kummer / Getty Images)

The Fox News producer responsible for an on-screen graphic that called President Biden a "wannabe dictator" has parted ways with the conservative network.

Alexander McCaskill, a longtime producer for ousted Fox News host Tucker Carlson, wrote the line, "Wannabe Dictator Speaks At the White House After Having His Political Rival Arrested," which caused a stir Tuesday when it appeared at the end of the program "Fox News Tonight."

The chyron appeared under side-by-side footage of Biden and former President Trump. Earlier in the day, Trump was arraigned in Miami on 37 counts related to mishandling of classified documents.

McCaskill appeared in an Instagram photo Thursday morning showing him with a cardboard box outside of Fox News headquarters. He had served as managing editor and senior producer of "Tucker Carlson Tonight" and remained on staff after Carlson was pulled from his prime-time slot on April 24.

"Today was my last day at FOX. It's been a wild 10 years and it was the best place I've ever worked because of the great people I met. But the time has come," McCaskill's Instagram post said. "I asked them to let me go and they finally did."

Carlson, who did not mention McCaskill by name, said in a Twitter video posted Thursday that the producer resigned and "offered to stay for the customary two weeks, but Fox told him to clear out his desk and leave immediately."

Two people familiar with the situation who were not authorized to comment publicly confirmed McCaskill's departure and that he was responsible for the Biden chyron.

A Fox News representative did not comment on the matter. The network previously said the chyron was pulled shortly after it appeared and was "addressed," but offered no further explanation.

Read more: Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo is front and center in Dominion's defamation suit

While Fox News is typically highly critical of the Biden administration, the chyron was considered shocking and was widely criticized on social media. The White House also responded the next day, with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre referencing the network's recent $787-million settlement paid to Dominion Voting Systems to end a defamation suit.

There are probably 787 million things that I can say about this that was wrong about what we saw last night, Jean-Pierre said.

Fox News paid the voting machine company to head off a trial, but not before the release of evidence that reflected poorly on the network.

Dominion alleged it was damaged by Fox News amplifying false claims made by Trump attorneys Sidney Powell and Rudolph W. Giuliani that the companys machines manipulated votes to help elect Biden president. Fox News faces a similar lawsuit from Smartmatic, a voting software firm.

McCaskill is a defendant in a lawsuit filed by former Fox News producer Abby Grossberg, who said she was subjected to a hostile work environment while working on Carlson's program.

Grossberg alleged that she faced discrimination based on gender, religion and disability.

Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Fox News producer behind controversial chyron calling President Joe Biden a wannabe dictator has parted ways with the right-wing network two days after the scandal.

Sources told The Daily Beast on Thursday that Alexander McCaskill, the former managing editor on Tucker Carlson Tonight, is no longer employed by the Rupert Murdoch empire.

Mr McCaskills name previously repeatedly cropped up in a lawsuit brought by former Tucker Carlson Tonight producer Abby Grossberg claiming a misogynistic and toxic culture on the show. Ms Grossberg claims that Mr McCaskill gaslighted her and discriminated against her because she is Jewish.

It remains unclear whose decision it was to part ways and Fox News is yet to comment on the news. The Independent has reached out to Fox News for comment.

However, Tucker Carlson  who was fired after 14 years with the network in April after it reached a $787m settlement with Dominion Voting Systems in a lawsuit over its promotion of Donald Trumps 2020 election lies  claimed in his latest Tucker on Twitter video on Thursday that the women who run the network panicked over the chyron and then scolded the producer who put the banner on the screen.

Less than 24 hours after that, he resigned. He had been at Fox for more than a decade, he claimed.

He was considered one of the most capable people in the building. He offered to stay for the customary two weeks, but Fox told him to clear out his desk and leave immediately.

Mr Carlson  who continues to defy his former employers cease-and-desist letter over his new Twitter series  then went on to try to suggest that the claim about Mr Biden was accurate.

Of course Joe Bidens not a wannabe dictator. Just because hes trying to put the other candidate in prison for the rest of his life for a crime he himself committed doesnt mean he has a totalitarian impulse. Thats absurd! he said sarcastically.

It takes a lot more than jailing your political rivals to earn the title of wannabe dictator.

Mr McCaskill is said to be the long-running producer who authored the networks chyron during Mr Trumps post-arraignment speech, branding Mr Biden a wannabe dictator who tried to have his political rival arrested.

The right-wing network was the only major cable news network to carry the former presidents speech from his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey on Tuesday night.

During its airing of Mr Trumps remarks  during which he continued to make a series of unsubstantiated claims and attacks on Mr Biden  the network shocked viewers with a caption flashing across the screen.

Over a split screen, showing Mr Biden delivering a speech from the White House on one side and Mr Trump delivering his speech from New Jersey on the other, appeared the news chyron: Wannabe dictator speaks at the White House after having his political rival arrested.

Fox News chyron calls Biden wannabe dictator while Trump plays down charges over mishandling nuclear secrets (Screen grab)

A day after the message was displayed on air, Fox News said in a statement: The chyron was taken down immediately and was addressed.

The chyron sparked uproar on social media with several viewers urging Mr Biden to sue the network while others said Fox News had proven its position as a mouthpiece for Republican propaganda.

The White House also condemned the move, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responding to a question on the matter during Wednesdays briefing.

There are probably about 787,000,000 things that I can say about this. That was wrong, she said  a reference to the $787m Dominion settlement.

The wild claim from Fox News parroted the words of Mr Trump who has falsely claimed his political rival is behind the federal charges he is now facing.

In his speech on Tuesday night, the former president pushed these claims once again, calling the case against him was the most evil and heinous abuse of power by Mr Biden.

This day will go down in infamy and Joe Biden will forever be remembered as not only the most corrupt president in the history of our country but perhaps, even more importantly, the president who together with a band of his closest thugs, misfits and Marxists tried to destroy American democracy, Mr Trump said.

Mr Biden has repeatedly denied any involvement in the investigation, which was headed by special prosecutor Jack Smith. Meanwhile, Mr Trump himself has a record of trying to overthrow democracy as he refused to accept his 2020 election loss to the Democrat.

On Tuesday afternoon, Mr Trump appeared for his arraignment in a Miami federal courthouse, becoming the first current or former US president ever charged with a federal crime.

He pleaded not guilty to all 37 federal charges over his handling of classified documents, including national defence information, after leaving the White House.

The indictment, which was unsealed on Friday (9 June), alleges that Mr Trump deliberately lied to and misled authorities so that he could hold onto documents that he knew were classified.

Tucker Carlson in the Fox News studio (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

On at least two separate occasions, Mr Trump then showed some of the classified documents to people not authorised to see them, the indictment alleges.

Stunning photos revealed that many of the documents were stored around a toilet, shower and ballroom at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

The charges include 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information and single counts of false statements and representations, and counts of conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document, concealing a document in a federal investigation and a scheme to conceal.

Mr Trumps longtime aide Walt Nauta was also charged with six obstruction- and concealment-related charges after he allegedly helped move boxes of documents from Mar-a-Lago to Mr Trumps residence and then lied to investigators about having any knowledge of the handling of the papers.

The two men appeared in court together but Mr Nauta did not enter a plea as he did not have legal counsel in Florida.
AAROK

In something of a surprise development, a new French-made drone, the Aarok, has emerged in prototype form ahead of the Paris Air Show trade exhibition next week. The Aarok uncrewed aircraft system, or UAS, is a new addition to the medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) segment and is intended to fly intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), as well as strike missions. For the latter, it is planned to carry the French-made AASM Hammer, a precision-guided weapon with an extended standoff capacity and different warhead sizes.

An artists concept showing the Aarok armed with the AASM Hammer munition as well as Hellfire anti-tank missiles. Turgis & Gaillard

The Aarok is a product of a previously little-known French defense contractor, Turgis & Gaillard, which has steadily expanded its operations in its home country, culminating in the impressive Aarok prototype. Weighing in at around 5.4 tons, in maximum takeoff configuration, the drone has attracted attention on account of its size. Its 72-foot wingspan is actually only marginally larger than the U.S.-made MQ-9A Reaper, with its wingspan of a little over 69 feet, but the fuselage is considerably more bulky in comparison.

https://twitter.com/GarethJennings3/status/1669003130858532865?s=20

Power for the Aarok comes from a 1,200-horsepower Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 turboprop driving a conventional front-mounted propeller. In the future, Turgis & Gaillard plan to install a Safran Ardiden 3 or GE Aviation Catalyst turboprop.

As well as the 5.4-ton maximum takeoff weight, published specifications of the Aarok include an empty weight of around 2.5 tons and a maximum payload of 6,000 pounds, including up to 3,300 pounds of weapons.

Turgis & Gaillard

The drone is planned to have an endurance of more than 24 hours. These parameters put the Aarok in a broadly similar category to the MQ-9A Reaper, which is already in service with the French Air Force.

The Aaroks design is intended to allow operations from rough fields, with notably robust landing gear being one of the key features of the prototype.

A head-on view of the Aarok in its hangar. Turgis & Gaillard

Turgis & Gaillard says its been developing the Aarok for three years. The companys director general, Patrick Gaillard, told The War Zone that the drone is intended to undertake ISR missions, standoff strike missions, maritime surveillance, and also multi-domain communication relay. In the last of these roles, the Aarok would be used as a kind of French BACN, Gaillard said, in reference to the U.S. Air Forces Battlefield Airborne Communications Node.

The BACN payload allows aerial platforms to act as highly specialized aerial communications nodes that can rapidly shift information to and from a wide variety of airborne platforms to other airborne platforms and forces on the ground and sea. This communications gateway system has been mounted on both crewed E-11A aircraft  modified Bombardier Global Express-series business jets  and now-retired EQ-4B Global Hawk drones.

The Turgis & Gaillard website says that the ISR package for the Aarok would include high-performance optronic and electromagnetic sensors, with IHS Janes suggesting the Wescam MX-25 or Euroflir 610 as the most likely sensor options. The size of the drone, with plenty of space under the wings and fuselage to hang different types of payloads, as well as a capacious fuselage, means that it will be able to simultaneously carry a large electro-optical sensor (camera), a multimode radar, and signals intelligence payloads, the manufacturer says.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImAYRHbWaC8

The lower fuselage of the Aarok is fitted with a sensor turret in this concept artwork. Turgis & Gaillard

Meanwhile, weapons for strike missions would include the AASM Hammer, which is available with a range of guidance options, inertial and GPS, laser, and infrared. Warheads can be of different sizes, too, with options to mate the AASM with 276-pound, 550-pound, 1,100-pound, and 2,200-pound bomb bodies.

An artists concept showing the Aarok carrying the AASM Hammer and Hellfire missiles. Turgis & Gaillard

With the Hammer, we have a range of 35 kilometers [22 miles], so were not too worried about the Pantsir, Gaillard added, referring to the Russian-made short-range air defense system. It is tempting to wonder if the reference to Pantsir might be something of a swipe at the U.S Air Force MQ-9 that was fired on by a Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense system over eastern Syria, last November. While it did not succeed in shooting the drone down, the incident does go to show the increasing range of threats faced by drones that dont necessarily have standoff capabilities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-JAbL1iepg

Interestingly, the company press release mentions the Aarok carrying out high-intensity strikes even in contested areas, suggesting that its equipment will also include some form of self-defense suite, whether using countermeasures such as chaff and flares, a jammer, or some kind of Directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM), or most likely a mix of these systems.

Turgis & Gaillard, which was set up in 2011, began life as a design office tasked with developing the Gerfaut, a system for integrating French precision-guided munitions, namely the Hammer, under the wing of C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The aim was to provide low-cost close air support and interdiction for counterinsurgency operations like those in Afghanistan and Mali. Gerfaut does not appear to have led to a production contract, but the experience gained during the integration process would surely help with weaponizing the Aarok. It is also worth noting that the U.S. Marine Corps Harvest HAWK offers a similar concept to the Gerfaut, and has seen extensive operational use.

An artists concept showing the Gerfaut launcher for the AASM Hammer munition under the wing of a C-130 Hercules. Turgis & Gaillard

In fact, Turgis & Gaillard has swiftly managed to establish itself on the French defense scene by pursuing a broad range of innovative projects, primarily in the aerospace realm. These include producing equipment for Dassault Rafale fighter jets, maintaining DHC-6 and PC-6 special operations aircraft for the French Armed Forces, and even making some ground equipment for the F-35, which is not used by France.

The Aarok is clearly the companys most ambitious program to date and its development has been self-funded so far. Turgis & Gaillard is targeting the new drone at both domestic and export customers, promising a reduced cost, both in purchase and use, according to Fanny Turgis, the companys president. In a press release, the company suggests that one mission for the drone would be maritime surveillance missions in large Exclusive Economic Zones, especially in the Indo-Pacific. The statement also reflects the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific area more broadly and could also be tied to France stepping up its efforts to be increasingly engaged in this region.

A plan view of the Aarok. Turgis & Gaillard

Otherwise, however, there has been no mention of specific target markets or export customer interest. However, according to at least one report in the French media, when it goes on display at the Paris Air Show next week, the Aarok will be displayed a few meters from [the stand] of the Ministry of the Armed Forces, suggesting that the objective is to convince French military decision-makers to choose the new product.

Traditionally, France has had some notable success in arms sales to nations in Africa and the Middle East. With a big demand for overland and overwater surveillance capacity in both those regions, the Aarok could attract interest. Furthermore, with an aggressive export policy, France may well seek to pitch the Aarok to customers otherwise not able to buy Reapers or other U.S.-made armed drones.

Turgis & Gaillard

In terms of competition, the Aarok provided it reaches production, enters a fairly crowded marketplace. While the domestic scene might offer the best opportunities, France is already flying the broadly similar MQ-9A Reaper.

France acquired six Reaper Block 1 and six Reaper Block 5 drones, before ordering a further six Block 5 vehicles. The Block 5s can be armed with GBU-12 Paveway precision-guided bombs and AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles.

French soldiers remove a laser-guided bomb from a Reaper drone after a mission at the French airbase in Niamey, in Niger, on May 14, 2023. Photo by ALAIN JOCARD/AFP via Getty Images

The French Reapers were acquired to meet an urgent operational requirement for ISR, especially as part of the French operation in Mali, including long-endurance flights over the north of the country to track down militants.

Longer term, Turgis & Gaillard may well be hoping to provide France with a homegrown successor to the Reaper, providing a drone that could also complement the forthcoming Eurodrone.

The Eurodrone is a twin-turboprop MALE drone, somewhat larger than the Aarok, with a maximum takeoff weight of around 24,000 pounds, a payload of over 5,000 pounds, and a wingspan of a little over 98 feet.

An artists impression of the Eurodrone MALE RPAS. Airbus

Under the European Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (MALE RPAS) effort, the Eurodrone is being developed by Airbus, Dassault Aviation, and Leonardo and is planned for service with France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Its first flight is expected by mid-2027 but service entry is not expected until 2030, at the earliest.

As well as the Reaper, the Aarok would also face competition from Turkeys Baykar Bayraktar Akinci, another twin-turboprop MALE drone. With an endurance of 25 hours, a payload of around 3,000 pounds, and a wingspan of just under 66 feet, the Akinci is in many ways a fairly close match to the Aarok. The Baykar drone is already in service with the Turkish Armed Forces, Pakistan, and Libya, with further orders placed by Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan.

A Bayraktar Akinci drone. Photo by Baykar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

As far as timelines are concerned, Gaillard has said that the company aims for a first flight before the end of this year. That could lead to service entry from mid-2025, depending on securing the required authorizations from the DGA, the French defense procurement and technology agency.

The war in Ukraine has shown that drones are here to stay, even in contested environments. Meanwhile, armed drones, especially, are a niche that many Western countries, including France, have been slow to develop. As a result, the French military now relies on the U.S.-made Reaper for drone strikes. That gap has meant that countries like Turkey and China have been able to dominate sales of armed drones, especially with the export of U.S. products in this sector being strictly governed.

If Turgis & Gaillard is able to bring an already weaponized MALE drone to market as quickly as it says it can, it could draw the interest not only of the French Armed Forces but also export customers. And if the Aarok also comes with a price tag that is genuinely significantly lower than rival drones, it could well do better still, with a lower-cost, mass-produced armed drone  that operators would be more willing to sacrifice on a high-threat battlefield  potentially being a very attractive proposition indeed.

Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com
Graphic: Gizmodo

Theres a widespread misconception about whether or not federal law protects your privacy. It doesnt, at least not explicitly. Congress has managed to squander a decades worth of bipartisan agreement about the internets data problems. In the absence of legislation, one group of regulators recently stepped in to fill the void. Its a ragtag group of government cowboys that calls itself the Federal Trade Commission.

Over the past year, the FTC picked up the few meager laws on the books that have anything to do with privacy and repackaged them into a way to address big datas worst offenders. Through innovative legal arguments and landmark settlements, the FTC is rewriting the rules of the internet  just in time to usher in a platform shift as AI and other technologies spark a new era of the web.

Read more

The Federal Trade Commission Act only gives the agency the authority to regulate unfair or deceptive business practices. For years, privacy experts assumed that meant consumers were out of luck: as long as companies werent telling outright lies, they were free to do as they pleased with your data. The FTC reached a $5 billion privacy sentiment with Facebook in 2018, but the case hinged on ways the company misled users  rather than allegations that the unpleasant ways Facebook used data were inherently unlawful.

But under the leadership of Lina Khan, the Biden-appointed FTC chairperson, the commission has taken up data misconduct with unprecedented vigor.

The FTC does have some rule making authority, but its a slow, arduous process. In the meantime, it is changing tech policy by stretching existing regulations to places no one believed they could go.

Photo: Anna Moneymaker (AP)

Most significant in this novel legal offensive has been a case against GoodRX, a prescription medication coupon service. Contrary to popular belief, the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) generally doesnt apply to anyone other than doctors, insurance companies, and their business associates. But based on an investigation by this reporter that found GoodRX shared users prescription data with Google, Facebook, and other companies that work in advertising, the FTC adapted a rule that requires health companies to disclose data breaches. The FTC argued GoodRX broke the Health Breach Notification Rule by failing to disclose its data sharing practices, setting a precedent that extends legal protections to medical data for the very first time.



The FTC has reached several other groundbreaking settlements in the past year, such as a case against Fortnite maker Epic Games. The Fortnite case marked the governments first major intervention in the realm of dark patterns, a term for intentionally confusing website and app designs that trick consumers. Epic Games agreed to a half-billion-dollar fine. Other recent landmark cases saw the FTC redoubling kids privacy protections and cracking the whip on Amazon for significant privacy violations with its Alexa smart speakers and Ring smart doorbells.

Ronald Reagan once said the most frightening words in the English language are, Im from the government, and Im here to help. For anyone who makes their money spying on Americans, that may be true when it comes to the FTC.

Gizmodo sat down with Samuel Levine, the Director of the FTCs Bureau of Consumer Protection, for an extended interview on how FTC envisions its groundbreaking attack on privacy problems, its plans for the future, and an effort to build a new regulatory environment that protects consumers without stifling a rapidly shifting tech landscape.

This interview has been edited for clarity and consistency.





Thomas Germain: Sam, why dont we start with a broad overview of whats changing. Since the dawn of the internet, its felt like companies could almost do whatever they want as long as they can get you to click I agree on privacy policy.



Samuel Levine: Were done preaching this fiction that the markets can self correct, or that consumers can protect themselves by reading privacy policies. For the last two decades weve had a regime where companies felt like they could put anything in their privacy agreements and get away with it if consumers say yes.



Big picture, the shift weve made as an agency is stating plainly what I think many people already knew, but hasnt really been said by anyone in government: the notice and notice and choice regime is not working. It might have made sense two decades ago, but it does not make sense today. Its unreasonable to put the burden on consumers to be reading hundreds of thousands of pages of privacy policies, let alone to understand them.

Weve worked through at least half a dozen cases that include data minimization, outright prohibitions on sharing sensitive data, and other substantive protections that people didnt think were possible two or three years ago. Were also considering market wide rules on commercial surveillance and digital security.



TG: This privacy policy, notice and choice regime has been the status quo for a long time. In the absence of more input from Congress in terms of a federal privacy law, whats the alternative? What does the FTC expect from companies?



SL: First, we want Congress to pass privacy legislation. Were doing everything we can, but nothing we do is a substitute for comprehensive federal legislation. That remains our position. However, we still expect companies to add or accurately disclose how theyre handling peoples data. And if they fail to do so, were going to hold them accountable.



That said, what weve tried to do is remind the marketplace through our enforcement actions that Deception is not our only authority. We also have authority to prohibit and take action against unfair practices which are defined in our statute as practices that cause injury, that are not reasonably avoidable by consumers, and that dont have countervailing benefits to consumers or competition. If a companys data practices harm people, were prepared to take action, even if those practices are accurately disclosed. In other words, were not just looking at whether companies are telling the truth about how theyre using peoples data, were thinking about whether companies are using peoples data in a way that is likely to harm us.



TG: What exactly does the word harm mean here? Thats an ongoing debate with privacy problems. People say, Sure, maybe youre creeped out, but youre not losing money or anything. Whats the big deal?



SL: It depends on the context, but to be clear, were not only looking only at financial injury. And our statute is not only harm but also likely to harm. Thats an important distinction. I dont want to comment on pending litigation, but for example we have practices by data brokers that can lead to stigma, discrimination, an increased risk of stalking, things of that nature. These are real risks, and weve taken the position that those harms are recognizable under the FTC Act, even if there is no monetary injury.



As a society we are long past the point where we buy into the idea that not losing money means youre not going to be harmed. Theyre all sorts of ways  and theyve been well documented by you and many other journalists, as well as in our cases  ways that people are harmed by reckless data practices in a manner that cant always be quantified in dollars and cents.



TG: If thats the definition of harm, you could apply that logic to almost the entire data broker industry. You could imagine the FTC almost wiping the data broker business off the map entirely.

SL: Thats not the goal. The goal is to curb practices that we believe are breaking the law. One of the things you see in that industry is there are companies out there that are taking no steps to filter out sensitive data, no steps to ensure that only responsible parties can purchase sensitive data, and no steps to ensure that this data isnt being used in ways that could harm people. Youre right that these problems are widespread. But for purposes of enforcement action, were looking squarely at individual companies, individual cases, and individual ways that consumers can be harmed.



TG: Ive got a hypothetical for you, which is probably a bad word for someone who works in government. Some experts Ive spoken to say were moving in a direction where AI and predictive analysis becomes so effective that we can do things like ad targeting, for example, and barely collect any data about you whatsoever. Companies are getting better at saying we know what type of person you are, so the specifics of your behavior dont matter. That could leave us in a place where this problem has nothing to do with privacy, and its just an exercise in power. All the existing laws we have are pretty much about consent, rather than banning harmful practices outright. What do regulators do if that becomes a reality?



SL: I think its an excellent observation. I guess I would make two points, one looking back and one looking forward. Looking back, we are now living through the consequences of many years of unfettered data harvesting. And its true, so much has been collected, in so many ways, by so many companies, across so many devices, and in so many forms. So much so that for many of these companies, especially the largest firms, they may no longer need to collect additional data in order to target people which, by the way, could raise some competition concerns as well. It tends to advantage incumbent firms.



The reality we find ourselves in now is directly attributable to that this has been a Wild West for so long. Looking forward, we need to be thinking about this kind of situation where companies can make assumptions about people without collecting new information about them. In fact, thats something we already talk about in our rule-making. Its uncharted, but its increasingly becoming a part of the common model for larger firms. However, I dont think it goes beyond the FTC jurisdiction.



TG: Both industry and consumer advocates have been sitting around waiting for a comprehensive privacy law for a very long time. It seems like in the absence of legislation the FTC is saying, well, if Congress isnt going to do anything, were going to take the few measly rules and laws we have and do it ourselves. Is that a fair way to describe whats going on?



SL: Well, weve been doing privacy and data security for a long time, and its not the case that weve given up on Congress passing legislation. But what we said publicly, and I feel it deep in my bones, were not just going to sit on our hands and wait for Congress. What we tried to do over the last couple of years is inventory all the tools we have, whether its the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Health Breach Notification Rule, COPPA [the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act], and, of course, section five of the FTC Act. And I think weve had a lot of successes on this, and companies are noticing. My hope is that success begets success, and just as weve taken a fresh look at our tools, companies are taking a fresh look at themselves to make sure theyre not engaging in the kind of practices that led us to bring enforcement actions.



TG: Lets talk about the existing privacy laws, both at home and abroad. In general, all the privacy rules are the kind of notice and choice privacy policy regimes we started off this conversation talking about. Is that good enough, or do we need Congress to go further?



SL: Making sure consumers know what data is being collected about them and giving them a chance to opt in or out is essential. The question is whether its sufficient, especially when were talking about services that consumers really dont have the choice about using, and areas with especially sensitive information like more health data or kids data.



Thats why in the Premom action and the BetterHelp Action, we did not require those firms to disclose to consumers that they were selling or sharing their sensitive data for advertising purposes. We required those companies to stop engaging in those practices. For other companies, I hope theyre paying attention to the signals were sending about the unfettered monetization of sensitive data. It also underscores some of the limitations of a regime that relies entirely on consumers reading lengthy privacy policies, which we know places too much burden on people.



TG: If Congress passes a federal privacy law, I assume the enforcement would come down to the FTC unless they create some new regulatory agency just for privacy, which is something that gets talked about. But If Congress didnt include any extra funding for enforcement, would the FTC be able to enforce it as thoroughly as it should?



SL: I dont need to tell you that we have a fraction of the resources of data regulators have in smaller countries. We actually have fewer staff at the FTC than we did in 1980, when the economy was a lot smaller. You know, there was a real conscious effort in the eighties to weaken this agency. Weve expanded over the last couple of years, but were still not where we were four decades ago.



Speaking for myself, if Congress passed strong federal legislation, I would certainly hope that they would pair it with the resources to enforce it. However, I cant underscore enough that If Congress passes a law and tells us to enforce it, were going to enforce it. We will find a way. But obviously, privacy isnt all we do. In order to minimize the effects on our other critical work, itll be really important for Congress to pay for our legislation with adequate resources to meet the moment and to do the job.



TG: I want to shift gears for a second, because I think these days its against the laws for me to publish an article that doesnt have the letters AI in it. What are your concerns about how AI will factor into consumer issues, whether its amplifying problems we already have or creating new ones?



SL: As an agency weve been pretty clear about our confidence that the FTC Act applies to many of the practices were seeing in the AI space. Theres a lot of fear right now around the end of humanity and things of that nature in the future. But some of the harms from, say, bad algorithmic decision making is something the FTC has been working to address for a long time. We made it clear years ago that algorithmic decision making that can result in harm to protected classes can be unfair under the FTC Act. One of the nice things about having flexible authority is that we believe that we can address a lot of concerns that people have in this arena.



Ill give you one example as a template for this in the data privacy context. We just reached an order against Ring, and one of the things we required Ring to do was actually delete models and other data products that were trained on data that we allege Ring collected illegally. It doesnt take a huge leap to think about how that might apply in the AI context. This is something the FTC already is doing and has done. We hope that the market is seeing that even though people are acting like this is the Wild West, there are laws on the books that apply to these practices and were prepared to use them.



TG: OpenAIs CEO Sam Altman just went in front of congress, and it seems like he wants lawmakers to focus on apocalyptic future that looks like RoboCop or The Matrix. As Congress considers legislation  which hopefully doesnt take as long as privacy legislation do you think they should be worrying about this SciFi future at all, or should the focus be how AI will be used in the next year?

SL: I certainly think Congress has a responsibility to think about the evolution of this technology and all the places it can go, as good or bad as that can be. But youre absolutely right. We dont want Congress taking their eyes off the ball when it comes to the harms were seeing already, and others that are quite foreseeable. Weve talked publicly about a lot of the risks with this technology. For example, the risk of fraud, fairness issues with hiring or housing decisions, biases in algorithmic decision making that can result in harm to minorities, or people who are disabled, or other protected classes. A lot of the harms from this technology are in the here and now. I certainly would not discourage Congress from thinking about long term risk from this technology, there are challenges today that I think all of us need to be confronting. I am hopeful that Congress will do so, and thats exactly what were doing at the FTC.

More from Gizmodo

Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Gas station clerk has his friend set up a robbery so he can go home early, cops say

Tired and eager to go home early, a gas station clerk messaged his friend to see if she could organize a robbery, according to police in Oklahoma.

His friend found another man to rob the popular convenience store on June 5, the Tulsa Police Department said.

Officers were called to the store after the clerk reported that someone handed him a demand note, according to a June 16 news release posted by the department on Facebook. The clerk said the note read, Give me all your money or I will shoot you.

The worker gave the man cash, police said.

Investigators arrested the robbery suspect on June 8, police said. The man told officers he robbed the store after one of his friends received a request from the store clerk.

The next day, police arrested the woman accused of setting up the robbery, they said. She had text messages from the store clerk proving he asked someone to rob the store, according to the news release.

On June 14, police arrested the store clerk. Authorities said he paid the woman after the robbery took place.

The store clerk was arrested on charges of embezzlement and conspiracy to commit a felony, police said. The woman was arrested on an outstanding warrant and could face embezzlement charges. The robbery suspect is charged with conspiracy to commit embezzlement and possession of a firearm after former conviction of a felony.

Friends in low places, police said.

Mom drives daughter to bank and passes desperate note to teller, cops say. Help me

Men tricked used car buyers by altering odometers for years in Kentucky, feds say

Man shoots his own leg while dreaming about intruder, Illinois cops say. Hes charged
Using gas-powered stoves and ovens can raise the levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene in a home, according to a new study.

The study, published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, looked at 87 stoves in California and Colorado. Researchers found that gas and propane stoves and ovens emitted significantly more benzene than electric alternatives.

Long-term exposure to benzene can cause blood cancer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gas stoves have previously been found to leak benzene and have also been linked to childhood asthma.

Whether to regulate gas-powered appliances has been a topic of debate in Washington, particularly after one regulator floated a ban earlier this year. Many Republicans have been particularly staunch advocates against bans or regulations on gas stoves, while the White House has also said that it opposes a ban.

Looking at a subset of 17 homes with 33 distinct burners or ovens, the researchers found that setting the gas or propane burners on high or the ovens to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes raised benzene levels in all kitchens.

They also found that in 29 percent of cases  judging each burner or oven as an individual case  kitchen benzene concentrations were found to be above the chemical levels found in secondhand tobacco smoke.

Thats not to say that the health impacts are the same as secondhand smoke, however, since tobacco has a different makeup. Tobacco smoke contains a number of other carcinogens such as arsenic and formaldehyde.

Nevertheless, lead author Yannai Kashtan said that the findings do suggest that there could be an elevated cancer risk.

If youre breathing in benzene youre at an elevated risk, said Kashtan, a graduate student at Stanfords Doerr School of Sustainability. The World Health Organization says that from a cancer point of view there is no totally safe level of exposure.

The study also looked at bedrooms in six of the homes. After setting ovens to 475 degrees fahrenheit for 90 minutes and measuring for several hours afterwards, the researchers found elevated concentrations also in the bedrooms.

Asked for comment, a leading gas industry group said that it is reviewing the study.

As we have with every study related to the use of natural gas and the health and safety of customers and communities, we are taking the time to evaluate this study to understand its methodology and the merits of its findings, said Karen Harbert, CEO and president of the American Gas Association, in a written statement.

Customers deserve access to transparent information and sound science to help make decisions about the health and safety of their families, and the natural gas industry continues to contribute objective, thorough and meticulous scientific analysis, Harbert added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Fanoe, a small island off Denmark's west coast, has been aflutter with over 20,000 colorful kites bobbing against the sky, signaling that the China to Fanoe Culture Week, which runs until June 16, is at full swing.

Also part of the vibrant scenery, a 20-meter-long Chinese dragon is "dancing" in the sky harmoniously with Mickey Mouse and Goofy, with swallows occasionally joining the aerial waltz.

The unique weather pattern of Fanoe, characterized by a steady, forceful wind from the North Sea, breathes life into these magnificent airborne creations.

As the gust sweeps unfettered across the island, it turns the expansive 14-kilometer stretch of beach into a paradise for over 5,000 exuberant kite fliers.

The artistry and craftsmanship of Chinese traditional kites drew appraisal from international spectators, while the aerobatic precision and control required to maneuver these kites were a source of fascination and inspiration for many fellow kite flyers.

"Few people have the chance to go to China. Now we get 25 Chinese kite masters coming here, so more people can watch them closely and see the exquisite bamboo work," said Andreas Aagren, a seasoned kite enthusiast from Sweden.

"For me it's like...look at my arms," he says, showing the goosebumps he got in anticipation of the events.

The China to Fanoe Culture Week also covers other activities that allow for a deeper appreciation of Chinese culture and cultural bonds.

"Such connections are traceable throughout our cultural heritage," Frank Jensen, the mayor of Fanoe, said at the opening ceremony of the culture week. "It's also easy to find parallels between ships and kites; they are both huge, colorful, and rely on the wind," he said.

A testimony to the high level of interest, the two workshops on the ancient craft of shaping bamboo for kites and the art of maneuvering traditional Chinese kites were massively overbooked.

As a side event, the Fanoe Art Museum is hosting an exhibition showcasing artifacts from the collection of the National Museum of Denmark, all linked to 18th- and 19th-century China.

In addition, the Zhejiang Song & Dance Theatre and the Butterfly Girls Band will entertain visitors with traditional Chinese music, dance, and acrobatics.

"A kite flying event has gradually grown into a grand cultural occasion, celebrating the intricate ties and cultural exchange between China and Fanoe," said Sofie Valbjorn, chairwoman of the board of the Association of China to Fanoe.
Recently the city's Downtown Development Authority (DDA) created a new liquor license for the owners of El Patron Grill who intend to redo the space next to Karma Taproom. They will turn it into Rafi's Hibachi & Sushi which they hope to open in the next three to four weeks.

GAYLORD  On Monday night, the Gaylord City Council adopted a spending plan for the next fiscal year, approved the creation of a new liquor license for a downtown bar/restaurant and also entered into a letter of intent for the purchase of four lots in the Gaylord Industrial Park that may lead to future job creation.

The city, which runs on a fiscal year that begins July 1 and ends on the next June 30, is currently operating under a budget of $10.4 million for 2022-23. Council approved an $11.5 million budget for 2023-24 which means that owners of a home with a market value of $100,000 that translates into a taxable value of $50,000, will pay approximately $1,070 in property taxes over the next 12 months.

That is down slightly from the $1,136 in property taxes property owners paid this year to fund operations. Taxes are falling slightly because of limitations imposed by the Headlee reduction act, increased state revenue sharing and proceeds from the marijuana tax.

Once again the police department makes up the largest part of the budget, with expenditures set for $2.4 million next year. The department currently has 12 full-time employees. The city took in $311,000 in marijuana tax revenue and used those funds to shave one mill off of the property tax levy for police and fire services next year.

Council also approved a 3.7 percent increase in sewer and water rates. Starting July 1, the basic sewer and water rate for residential users will be $29.59 a month, up from the current rate of $27.55.

Recently the city's Downtown Development Authority (DDA) created a new liquor license for the owners of El Patron Grill on 216 W. Main St. They intend to redo the space once occupied by the old Diana's and Marmalade & Co. on Main Street. They will turn it into Rafi's Hibachi & Sushi, which they hope to open in the next three to four weeks.

"The state has DDA rehabilitation type liquor licenses. (The licenses) are offered in any DDA district that has more than $250,000 worth of investment inside the district," said city manager Kim Awrey. "The business that is applying for the license must put in $75,000 of their own money into the building. These licenses are available with council approval."

Awrey said the city has previously endorsed these licenses such as when Main Street Market was in the space that now houses C.R.A.V.E.

Subscribe Check out our latest offers and read the local news that matters to you

Finally, Awrey said an Indiana company has approached the city with the possibility of developing a building on four lots in the Gaylord Industrial Park. The building may house an e-commerce distribution operation that would create an unspecified number of jobs on the site.

Council agreed to enter into a 180-day letter of intent with Ambrose, an industrial, logistics and e-commerce real estate developer for the four lots which total nearly 9 acres.

"(The company) did tell us that after 180 days they might ask for another 180 days. It will be a slow process as they have a lot of due diligence to do. But every conversation we have had with them they seem very interested in moving forward because of our location in Northern Michigan," said Awrey.

 Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Gaylord council approves budget, liquor license for new downtown restaurant
FILE - Residents vote in the New Hampshire Primary at Bishop O'Neill Youth Center, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020, in Manchester, N.H. President Joe Biden's plan to overhaul his party's 2024 presidential primary schedule remained unsettled on Friday, June 16, 2023, after a Democratic rules committee gave New Hampshire more time to comply with new rules that leaders there fiercely oppose, but opted not to immediately offer such an extension to another battleground state, Georgia. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden's plan to overhaul his party's 2024 presidential primary schedule remained unsettled Friday, after a Democratic rules committee gave New Hampshire more time to comply with new rules that leaders there fiercely oppose, but opted not to immediately offer such an extension to another battleground state, Georgia.

The Democratic National Committee rules panel voted to let New Hampshire have until Sept. 1 to continue working on its plans for the 2024 Democratic primary. But that is unlikely to quell an ongoing feud between the national party and the state's Democrats.

The same panel didn't extend more time to Georgia, which hasn't set its date for next year's primary either. Though the party could still offer Georgia an extension later this year, the state's place on Democrats' 2024 primary calendar is in limbo, at least for now.

At issue is Biden's plan to strip Iowas caucus of its traditional post leading off primary voting and replace it with South Carolina, which would vote on Feb. 3, 2024. New Hampshire has long held the nations first primary after Iowas caucus. But under the new calendar, it would vote next, together with Nevada, on Feb. 6  a change New Hampshire officials have decried.

As he seeks reelection, Biden is facing two little-known primary challengers, self-help author Marianne Williamson and anti-vaccine activist Robert Kennedy Jr. Both have campaigned in New Hampshire and could win support from Democratic voters there who are angry at Biden for pushing the new calendar.

Rules committee co-chair Minyon Moore referred Friday to the friction over New Hampshire's place in the 2024 primary order, saying, There's some space there between us and the folks in state on this.

But, as weve said all along, the president wanted New Hampshire in the early state lineup, Moore added. And this committee has long agreed that it is a critical state and should be a part of the mix.

Under the new Democratic calendar, Georgia was set to vote fourth, with its primary coming on Feb. 13, followed by Michigans two weeks later. Much of the rest of the country would subsequently vote on Super Tuesday next March.

Georgia Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger sets his states primary date and indicated that hed be willing to move it to comply with the new Democratic order, but only if the Republican National Committee pushed to change its primary to the same time.

But that has not happened. Republicans instead plan to leadoff their 2024 primary with Iowa, followed by New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

Moore said Friday that, even if Georgia can't secure its place in the Top 5 for 2024, it could be in a stronger position to move up when Democrats revisit their primary lineup ahead of the 2028 presidential election.

Republicans wouldn't budge. It does not seem to make sense to extend the waiver at this point, Moore said of giving Georgia more time. But she added that a foundation has been laid for 2028.

The Democrats primary shakeup comes after the party's 2020 Iowa caucus was marred by technical problems. Biden says the new proposed calendar better reflects his partys deeply diverse electoral base, which relies heavily on African American voters. The president also sought to reward South Carolina, after a decisive win there revived his 2020 presidential campaign following early primary losses in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

Though New Hampshire officially now has more time, its primary date could still prove a headache for national Democrats.

New Hampshire state law mandates that it hold the nations first primary  a rule Iowa was able to circumvent only because it held a caucus. Now, top New Hampshire Democrats are threatening to simply jump the other states and hold the nation's first primary again in 2024, regardless of the DNCs new calendar.
Georgia man sentenced after traveling to WNC to engage in sex act with child

The federal court house on Otis Street

Warning: This story contains descriptions of sexual crimes against a child.

ASHEVILLE  A Georgia man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after traveling to Henderson County to engage in illicit sex acts with a minor, according to a June 15 news release from Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Stephen William Wargo, 30, began communicating with a 10-year-old female minor over Discord, an instant messaging social platform, on Sept. 10, 2021, according to the news statement. During this time, Wargo participated in extensive conversations with the minor victim and at times made inappropriate romantic overtures.

Upon discovering the communications about three to four days later, the minors parents turned over their childs cell phone to the Henderson County Sheriffs Office. A Henderson County detective continued communications with Wargo via the minors Discord account, from about Sept. 24, 2021 through Oct. 16, 2021.

During this time period, Wargo's messages became increasingly sexual, including cartoon anime images of adults and children engaged in illicit sex acts and multiple pictures of Wargo's own genitals, according to court documents obtained by the Citizen-Times June 16. Wargo messaged the detective, who was posing as the minor victim, that he could travel from Georgia to North Carolina for a 13-hour visit, during which Wargo stated there would be "plenty of time for sex."

On Oct. 6, 2021, Wargo traveled from Dallas, Georgia, to Henderson County with the intent to engage in sexual acts with a child and was arrested upon arrival at the predetermined meeting location, according to court documents.

Teacher pleads guilty: Ex-Buncombe County high school teacher pleads guilty to child sexual abuse of student

Nearly a year-and-a-half later, Wargo pleaded guilty Feb. 27 to crossing state lines with intent to engage in a sexual act with a person less than 12 years of age.

There is nothing more precious than our children, Sheriff Lowell S. Griffin of the Henderson County Sheriffs Office said in the news release June 15. I am proud of the extraordinary efforts put forth by the men and women of the Sheriffs office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Attorneys Office to remove this dangerous criminal from society.

After his 30-year prison sentence, Wargo will receive a lifetime of supervised release and must register as a sex offender. Additionally, Wargo must pay $13,200 of restitution, as ordered by U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger.

More: Henderson school board member: Video of deputy striking 5th grade child 'horrific'

Alexis Solheim, assistant U.S. attorney, prosecuted the case and Fredilyn Sison, a federal public defender for the Western District of North Carolina, defended Wargo.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, which mobilizes federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, according to the news release.

Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Georgia man sentenced in Western North Carolina child sex crime case
Two masks of the indigenous community of the Kogi from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia are displayed at German President residence Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Germany, Friday, June 16, 2023. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will return the masks to Colombian President Gustavo Petro. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

BERLIN (AP)  Germany handed over to Colombia on Friday two masks made by the Indigenous Kogi people that had been in a Berlin museum's collection for more than a century, another step in the country's restitution of cultural artifacts as European nations reappraise their colonial-era past.

The wooden sun masks," which date back to the mid-15th century, were handed over at the presidential palace during a visit to Berlin by Colombian President Gustavo Petro. The decision to restitute them follows several years of contacts between Berlin's museum authority and Colombia, and an official Colombian request last year for their return.

We know that the masks are sacred to the Kogi, who live in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains of northern Colombia, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said at the ceremony. May these masks have a good journey back to where they are needed, and where they are still a bridge between people and nature today.

Petro welcomed the return of these magic masks, and said he hopes that more and more pieces can be recovered. He said at a later news conference with Germany's chancellor that the Kogi community will ultimately decide what happens with the masks. He added: "I would like a museum in Santa Marta, but that's my idea and we have to wait for their idea.

Konrad Theodor Preuss, who was the curator of the forerunner of today's Ethnological Museum in Berlin, acquired the masks in 1915, during a lengthy research trip to Colombia on which he accumulated more than 700 objects. According to the German capital's museums authority, he wasn't aware of their age or of the fact they weren't supposed to be sold.

This restitution is part of a rethink of how we deal with our colonial past, a process that has begun in many European countries, Steinmeier said. And I welcome the fact that Germany is playing a leading role in this.

Governments and museums in Europe and North America have increasingly sought to resolve ownership disputes over objects that were looted during colonial times.

Last year, Germany and Nigeria signed an agreement paving the way for the return of hundreds of artifacts known as the Benin Bronzes that were taken from Africa by a British colonial expedition more than 120 years ago. Nigerian officials hope that accord will prompt other countries that hold the artifacts, which ended up spread far and wide, to follow suit.

Hermann Parzinger, the head of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, which oversees the Ethnological Museum and others in Berlin, noted that the background is particularly complex in the case of the Kogi masks.

They weren't stolen in a violent context and Colombia was already long since an independent country, he said. Preuss bought them from the heir of a Kogi priest, who apparently wasnt entitled to sell these masks"  meaning that their acquisition wasn't quite correct.

But there is another aspect in this discussion of colonial contexts, and that is the rights of Indigenous people, Parzinger added, pointing to a 2007 U.N. resolution stating that artifacts of spiritual and cultural significance to Indigenous groups should be returned.
Germany will send additional 64 guided missiles for Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine

Patriot air defense systems

This is a very important sign of continued support for the successful efforts of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to provide air defense, especially now, in this particular phase of the war, he said during the NATO meeting in Brussels.

Read also: Denmark, Netherlands, UK, US announce joint supply of air defense systems to Ukraine

Ukraine received its first Patriot systems from the United States, the Netherlands, and Germany by April 19, with the first Patriot air defense division starting service four days later.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for the creation of a Patriot coalition.

Meanwhile, Amsterdam is negotiating the supply of additional systems.

Read also: Germany and Poland will soon agree to build repair center for Ukraines Leopard tanks  German Ambassador

The Danish, Dutch, and UK defense ministries, in conjunction with the United States Department of Defense, announced on June 15 that they were partnering together to deliver high priority air defense equipment to Ukraine.

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

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Gig workers have path to unionize after federal ruling. Heres what to know

Gig workers, such as drivers for Uber or Lyft, could now have a path toward unionizing due to a new ruling, creating a way for them to organize and even strike.

The National Labor Relations Board, an independent federal agency that safeguards the right to organize, and prevents and remedies unfair labor practices, issued a ruling on Tuesday that changes how independent contractors are classified.

Applying this clear standard will ensure that workers who seek to organize or exercise their rights under the National Labor Relations Act are not improperly excluded from its protections, Chairman Lauren McFerran said in a statement.

A quick definition: The gig economy is a labor market that relies on temporary and part-time positions filled by independent contractors and freelancers, according to Investopedia.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CthxO6duqCN/

The NLRB decision threw out a previous standard implemented during the Trump administration for classifying workers that excluded independent contractors, Reuters reported. The new ruling broadens the factors that the government looks at for determining if a worker is an independent contractor or an employee, a return to an Obama-era test, according to The Washington Post.

Now, theyll look at how much control companies have over workers, as well as the level of dependence workers have on one company.

When workers are misclassified under the National Labor Relations Act, it deprives them of the collective bargaining that we know improves job quality, wages, and racial income and wealth gaps, Brian Chen, policy director at Data & Society, a nonprofit technology research organization, told The Washington Post.

But some think the move isnt helpful.

This decision will only generate greater confusion and uncertainty, while undermining the independent work that millions of Americans have chosen, often in lieu of traditional employment, Kristin Sharp, CEO of gig economy trade association Flex, told Reuters.

#GigEconomy #Unionizing #NLRB #NationalLaborRelationsBoard #Unions #IndependentContractor  original sound - The Sum @thesum.news Applying this clear standard will ensure that workers who seek to organize or exercise their rights under the National Labor Relations Act are not improperly excluded from its protections, Chairman Lauren McFerran said in a statement. The ruling followed a union campaign by makeup artists and hairstylists for the Atlanta Opera. The National Labor Relations Board said they could hold a union election. Were also waiting for a finalized proposed rule from the Labor Department that would increase the chances of workers to fit in the employee category instead of an independent contractor. #TheSumNews

The ruling followed a union campaign by makeup artists and hairstylists for the Atlanta Opera. The National Labor Relations Board said they could hold a union election.

Also to come is a finalized proposed rule from the Labor Department that would increase the chances of workers to fit in the employee category instead of as an independent contractor.

What is The Sum?

The Sum is your friendly guide to personal finance and economic news.

Were a team of McClatchy journalists cutting through the financial jargon so you know how these issues impact your life. We verify information from diverse sources and keep the facts front-and-center, making finance and economic news add up for you.

You can follow The Sum on Instagram and TikTok.

Ready to take the first step to getting your finances under control? You can sign up for our five-week budgeting newsletter at thesum.news.
Glenda Jackson gave her two Oscars to her mother, who found another use for them

Glenda Jackson is one of just a relatively small number of actors who have won two or more Oscars.

As of 2023, 44 Hollywood stars have won multiple trophies at the ceremony, with Katharine Hepburn leading the pack with four.

Jackson, who died on Thursday (15 June) aged 87, won twice for her roles in Ken Russells Women in Love (1970), and A Touch of Class (1973), which was directed by Melvin Frank

While several other stars have the honour of being two-time Oscar winners (Bette Davis, Renee Zellweger and Cate Blanchett to name a few), Jackson is the only one who didnt collect either award.

Once she received the golden trophies, she decided to give them to her mother, who found another use for them altogether. In 2021, Jackson told The Times that her mother used them as bookends.

Jackson said: It always sounds so ungrateful, and Im not, but once youve got it, what do you do with it?

She also said that getting a good part gave her more pleasure than receiving accolades for her work.

Glenda Jackson in A Touch of Class (AVCO Embassy Pictures)

Jacksons agent confirmed that the actor died at her home in Blackheath, London after a brief illness.

The actor, who also was a Labour MP, won a Bafta for Best Actress in 2020 for her role in Elizabeth Is Missing, which followed the story of a woman suffering from dementia.

She recently completed filming The Great Escaper, in which she co-starred with Michael Caine.

The film is inspired by true events, and tells the story of a Second World War veteran who escaped his home in Hove, east Sussex, to attend a commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France.

It marked the first time Jackson had acted alongside Caine since they starred together in The Romantic Englishwoman, 48 years ago.
Gloria Estefan, the woman behind hit songs in English and Spanish, was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on Thursday.

Estefan, who was born in Havana, Cuba, is the first Hispanic woman to be included in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The induction is the latest honor in Estefans decades-long career. She is the second best-selling female Latin artist in history and was named one of the Top 100 greatest artists of all time by VH1 and Billboard.

In her hometown of Miami, though, shes best known for her iconic song catalog, which has been blasted at family cookouts, weddings and brunches for years. Her songwriting credits include Lets Get Loud, Coming Out Of The Dark and Get On Your Feet.

During her speech at the induction ceremony, Estefan said the honor fulfilled a dream that I hadnt even dared to dream.

Ive been incredibly blessed with some pretty cool honors, but i have to admit, this is a big one for me, said Estefan, who has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and a Kennedy Center Honor. To be counted among this incredible group of inductees  who I so admire and am a huge fan of each and every one  makes this honor that much more special.

And her accolades are vast.

She has won several Grammys, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and a National Artistic Achievement Award from Congress. In 2015, On Your Feet!, a jukebox musical about her life, premiered on Broadway. That same year, she and her husband were awarded the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2017, she became the first Cuban-American and fourth Latina to receive a Kennedy Center Honor. She even has her own Barbie doll.

But as a songwriter, Estefan said in a January interview with CBS Miami, being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame is the biggest honor. Her fellow inductees this year include Snoop Dogg, Sade and the band members of Blondie.

To me, its all about the songwriters. Those are the people who got me through my toughest times, she said. I would pore over their lyrics and read all the credits. They got me through some very tough moments in my life, so for my music to be able to impact people in that way is just amazing.

Though it felt wonderful to be the first Hispanic woman included in the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Estefan added that we have a long ways to go.

Im sure there have been many, many women writers through the years that are deserving of this, Estefan said. At this age, to be the first at anything is pretty great.

This story was produced with financial support from The Perez Family Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The Miami Herald maintains full editorial control of this work.
GOP presidential candidate and radio commentator Larry Elder is calling for legislation to hold Iowa county attorneys accountable for prosecuting criminal cases to the fullest extent of the law.

Elder, who sought to replace Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom in a failed 2021 recall effort, proposed in a Des Moines news conference Thursday that an ethics commission be created to oversee county attorneys across the state of Iowa. The commission  potentially comprised of retired judges  would be able to recommend their removal from office if they declined to pursue cases.

He pointed to what he said are assaults, violence against police and murders in major metropolitan areas governed by liberal leaders as the driving force behind the initiative. The Georgia state Senate earlier this year passed similar legislation creating a commission that can discipline or remove local prosecutors.

Larry Elder holds a Thursday news conference in Des Moines with new political action committee Enforce the Law.

"The number one job of the government is to protect people and property," Elder said. "The number one job of the government is not being fulfilled due to soft-on-crime, George Soros-backed DAs."

He specifically cited your soft-on-crime DA in Des Moines," an apparent reference to Polk County Attorney Kimberly Graham, a Democrat who pledged in her election campaign last fall not to undertake prosecutions for low-level marijuana possession and peaceful protests, and for violations of laws restricting abortion rights.

Graham could not be reached for comment Thursday night.

Organizing the news conference was the newly established political action committee Enforce the Law, represented at the event by Eric Branstad, son of former Republican Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad.

Larry Elder says commission would be able to recommend removal of 'soft-on-crime DAs'

Elder first announced his proposal on Fox News Digital while stating that he would not join fellow GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamys effort to get all of the Republican presidential hopefuls to sign a pledge that if elected, they would pardon former President Donald Trump. The frontrunner for the Republican nomination, Trump was indicted June 8 on charges related to his handling of hundreds of classified documents seized from his Florida estate.

Elder instead criticized the general politicization of the American criminal justice system and said the real problem is prosecutors funded by Democratic mega-donor Soros who pick and choose what laws to enforce.

Previously: GOP presidential candidates roast Biden & 'woke' left but not Trump at Iowa Roast and Ride

Soros has contributed to local district-attorney campaigns and a liberal group that endorses progressive prosecutors.

"This commission will be able to enable people to file complaints (against county attorneys), have complaints taken seriously and have this body of people look at these complaints and make recommendations to remove these soft-on-crime DAs that are imperiling the community and killing the very people that the people on the left claim to care about," Elder said.

The Republican-majority Iowa Legislature already passed a government reorganization bill in its most recent session that allows Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird to step in and open local prosecutions when county attorneys don't.

Elder only directly referenced cases involving gun violence or use of force, saying liberal-run cities are failing to take action against criminals he asserted are behind a wave of crime that includes assaults on police. When asked if the proposed legislation could be used to target county attorneys who refuse to prosecute those seeking abortions or facing low-level drug charges, Elder responded that the commission would serve as a deterrent to irresponsible behavior.

Elder says 'DA in Des Moines knows she's being watched'

According to Elder, he would first seek to pass legislation in Iowa, with intentions to establish similar commissions across the country. Enforce the Law said it would work to assist local officials in implementing the model in their respective municipalities.

The Iowa County Attorneys Association did not respond to requests for comment.

Elder added that he had spoken to Bird about the initiative and that she supports it. But Alyssa Brouillet, a spokesperson for the Attorney General's Office, on Friday denied Bird's involvement, saying she was unfamiliar with the proposal.

Elder during Thursday's news conference, asked to specify crimes in Iowa he believes are going unprosecuted, said, Your soft-on-crime DA in Des Moines knows she's being watched and, so far, she hasn't done anything egregious," Elder said.

But he went on to cite the handling of the December killing by Des Moines police of a 16-year-old who officers said turned a gun in their direction after failing to heed repeated requests to put it down.

"Your Des Moines attorney handled the police-involved shooting of that 16-year-old Black kid badly," Elder said, alleging that the prosecutor had planned to hold a forum to allow the public to determine if the shooting was justified.

It wasn't clear what he was referring to. The shooting was investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Iowa Attorney General's Office  not by Graham's office  and the shooting was ultimately ruled justified.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Larry Elder proposes commission to remove Iowa county attorneys
Amid continuous applause and bravos, the new superhero film "The Flash" premiered in China on June 11, providing audiences with a thrilling mix of multiverse escapades and emotionally charged narratives.



Supergirl, The Flash and Batman cosplayers pose for a photo in front of the cinema where the China premiere of "The Flash" is held in Beijing, on June 11, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery China]

"The Flash," directed by Andy Muschietti, stars Ezra Miller in his first solo outing as Barry Allen, a DC Comics superhero. The story follows Barry as he travels back in time with his super speed to change the past to save his family, unintentionally spawning a world where General Zod reigns supreme and Superman is absent. To save the world, Barry recruits help from an alternate version of himself, a retired Batman, and an imprisoned Supergirl, all while trying to return to his own reality.

The Flash, created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert in 1940, was the first comic book character to experiment with the multiverse concept in 1961's "Flash of Two Worlds," a then-revolutionary idea that continues to inspire stories today. The filmmakers of "The Flash" film also drew inspiration from the influential comic "Flashpoint" (2011).

Director Muschietti described the film's creation as "a beautiful nostalgic trip and a beautiful challenge," noting that there's something in the foundations of the story that is very emotional. "It's a story between a kid and his mother. Without that, there's no way to build anything on top of it. And that's what I look for in movies, that's what I appreciate, and that's the kind of movie that I want to make. This story has a beautiful, emotional core that was powerful enough to spawn an adventure with these dimensions."

The film is a cinematic spectacle, combining epic action, dazzling visual effects, unexpected humor, and heartfelt moments. Fans and critics are hailing it as one of the best superhero films in recent years. The movie also brings together iconic and beloved DC characters from various timelines, including Ben Affleck's Batman and Michael Keaton's Batman, alongside surprising and long-anticipated cameo appearances from a host of superheroes played by familiar and beloved actors.

Of course, Keaton's return as Batman, over three decades since his last performance in the role, is one of the most significant parts of the film. When he donned the suit again, producer Barbara Muschietti recalled, "It was definitely an emotional moment for him and for us as fans."

The director shared that Keaton was intrigued about playing Batman again. "When he said 'yes,' we all got incredibly excited about it. And then it was a journey of discovery of imagination with him  trying to figure out how the character would look, how the character would feel decades after we last saw him. It was a very fun challenge, and he totally gave himself over to meet that challenge."

Director Andy Muschietti, actor Ezra Miller and producer Barbara Muschietti pose for a photo at the premiere of "The Flash" held at TCL Chinese Theatres in Los Angeles, the United States, on June 12, 2023. [Photo/VCG]

Ezra Miller, the film's leading actor who is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, made their first public appearance at the Los Angeles premiere of "The Flash" at TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood on June 12, following a year marked by mental health issues and legal woes.

But Muschietti said meeting Ezra was an "incredible experience" artistically and creatively. "I think it's one of my best experiences working with an actor. Of course, Ezra conveyed the humor of Barry Allen in previous movies. But as a standalone movie, where Ezra is not only the protagonist but also plays two versions of Barry, it is incredibly challenging. When you see Ezra doing it, they make it look so easy. And it was a privilege to collaborate with them and see their incredible talent."

"The Flash" will join the summer season blockbuster race in China on June 16, 2023.




GOP allies of former President Trump are digging for dirt on President Biden and other Democrats amid the former presidents indictment, this week turning to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), who is pushing claims about an influence peddling operation, drawing fierce denials from the White House.

The unverified claims involving Biden and his son Hunter Biden are murky, but are being aired by the 89-year-old Iowa Republican, who was invited to give a presentation Wednesday to the Senate Republican Steering Committee about the claims made by an unnamed foreign national.

Grassley doesnt have much to go on, other than an FD-1023 form from the FBI stating that the unnamed foreign national claimed to have two recorded phone conversations with then-Vice President Biden and 15 recorded phone conversations with Hunter Biden, revealing what the Iowa senator described as an alleged bribery scheme.

Bidens allies say Grassley is trying to recycle the unsubstantiated and debunked claims that former President Trump made before the 2020 election accusing Biden of doing political favors as vice president to help Hunter Bidens business dealings connected to Ukraine.

Republicans are once again reminding Americans they are doing Donald Trumps political dirty work, and that tells you everything you need to know about the seriousness of these political stunts, said Ammar Moussa, a spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee.

Congressional Republicans are openly admitting theyre peddling debunked conspiracy theories in an embarrassing attempt to improve their political prospects heading into 2024, the spokesperson said.

Todays top stories from The Hill

During the 2020 presidential campaign, Trump and his supporters spread the claim that Biden pushed for the firing of Ukraines top prosecutor in order to halt an investigation of his son, who received hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation for sitting on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company.

The Associated Press at the time described the allegation as a widely discredited theory.

Grassley doesnt know if the phone recordings exist or if the FBI was able to track them down. But he says the FBI has been extremely reluctant to talk about the information contained in the document, despite it being unclassified.

Grassley, a senior member of Senate Judiciary Committee, and Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, are the only two Republicans on Capitol Hill who have read the unredacted version of the document.

Other GOP lawmakers have read a redacted version that blotted out reference to the claim by the unnamed foreign national.

They asked me to make a presentation to the caucus, Grassley said of his briefing. Ive read the unredacted version [of the FD-1023 form], so I know more than the members of the House Oversight Committee.

The only judgment were trying to make is if the FBI is doing its work, he said. They havent communicated with me.

Grassley also discussed the issue in detail during a speech on the Senate floor Monday.

As Ive repeatedly asked since going public with the existence of the 1023: What, if anything, has the Justice Department and FBI done to investigate? he said.

Sign up for the latest from The Hill here

The veteran lawmaker said hes trying to get the FBI to share the FD-1023 form, a standard document that outlines a sources allegations, more widely with the public and the media. According to the society of former special agents of the FBI, the FD-1023 is the form special agents use to record raw, unverified reporting from confidential human sources

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, this month said that the FBI and Justice Department under the leadership of then-Attorney General Bill Barr reviewed the allegations made by the unnamed foreign national and found they did not merit further investigation.

Raskin said the FD-1023 form that Grassley and Comer reviewed contained an allegation from the unnamed foreign national that relayed a conversation with another person and that the source could not corroborate the information.

Raskin dismissed the claim as secondhand hearsay and argued the confidential human source said that he had no way of knowing about the underlying veracity of the things that he was being told, according to a New York Times report.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.)

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) speaks to reporters outside the Capitol following a procedural vote regarding the Fiscal Responsibility Act on Wednesday, May 31, 2023.

NBC News, citing a senior law enforcement official, reported this month that the FBI and Scott Brady, then the U.S. attorney for Western Pennsylvania, reviewed the allegation in 2020 and found the bribery allegation wasnt substantiated.

Republican senators say if any evidence emerges that Biden was involved in improper activity benefiting Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company that paid Hunter Biden lavishly to sit on its board, it could shake up the political landscape ahead of the 2024 election.

Some GOP senators are skeptical of the FBIs and the Department of Justices handling of the allegations against the Bidens, even though it was the Trump Justice Department made the initial assessment that they did not warrant deeper investigation.

I think the FBI is the premier law enforcement agency in all of human history, but some Americans  many Americans  have a lost a lot of confidence in them, said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), who cited the controversial decision of then FBI Director James Comey to investigate both Hillary Clinton and Trump during the 2016 presidential election.

The Hill Elections 2024 coverage

Republicans in the House and Senate who are aligned with Trump have dug into the argument that the FBI and Justice Department have been weaponized for political reasons.

Kennedy called on Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee and tell us whats going on.

If they say, Weve got the 1023, were investigating, I think youll see most people back off, he said.

Sen. Thom Tillis (N.C.), another Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said GOP lawmakers want to know more about why Brady, the U.S. attorney, decided not to investigate the allegation.

Why on earth, if you really think theres no there there, wouldnt you answer the simple question about, how do you arrive at that decision? Tillis said, summarizing a discussion among fellow Republicans on the Judiciary Committee on Thursday morning.

If theres an active investigation, we stand back, let the investigation go, he said. Its not unprecedented to say, Lets just get the facts that allowed a U.S. attorney to not pursue it.

FILE - U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee business meeting on Feb. 16, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. On Saturday, June 10, 2023, Republican delegates in North Carolina voted at their annual convention to censure Tillis for supporting policies that they said violate key tenets of the GOP platform. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee business meeting on Feb. 16, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)

Tillis said Republicans are suspicious.

Maybe there is an active investigation [and] they dont want that known, he said. Why dont they resolve the issue by telling us the facts that led them to not move on.

Still, even some Republican senators are skeptical of an anonymous claim that Biden was involved in a bribery scheme.

I have known President Biden probably for 25 years. I like him, I respect him, I disagree with him more times than not, but if you ask me, Is Joe Biden the type of guy who would take a $5 million bribe, my answer is, based on my experience, no, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said at a Judiciary Committee business meeting Thursday.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) arrives to the Capitol for a procedural vote regarding a nomination on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. (Greg Nash)

Graham is the ranking member of the committee and has endorsed Trumps 2024 presidential bid.

Up until now, GOP senators have largely been content to leave the Biden investigation to Comer and other Republican members of the House Oversight and Reform Committee.

But the slow progress, combined with mounting concerns over Trumps legal problems, have spurred GOP senators look for ways to get more involved in pressing for the FBI to scrutinize Bidens business dealings before winning the 2020 election.

One Republican senator familiar with internal conversations said Republican senators have barely talked among themselves about the 37-count indictment that Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith unveiled against Trump last week.

Instead, theyre focusing on trying to level the political playing field by finding a game changer they hope will put scrutiny on Biden instead, the senator said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Republican senators called on President Biden to produce a public accounting of his administrations assessment of the Chinese spy balloon and expressed frustration with the administrations alleged failure to confront Chinas brazen threats to Americas security and sovereignty.

Send. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)  the top Republicans on the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee, respectively  penned a letter to Biden Thursday with 17 fellow Republican senators, including all who sit on their committees.

In the letter, the senators called on Biden to instruct relevant officials to release information about Chinas surveillance program and to explain how the Chinese spy balloon was able to enter U.S. territory, what it was carrying, and what information the balloon was able to gather.

The Republican officials further called on the Biden administration to take stronger action against China.

The Peoples Republic of China, under the control of the Chinese Communist Party, has only increased its brazen threats to our national security, they wrote in the letter.

In addition to deploying a spy platform into U.S. territory, the [Peoples Republic of China] PRC has conducted dangerous maneuvers against U.S. aircrafts in the South China Sea and U.S. ships navigating international waters, and continues to support Russias brutal war against Ukraine, harass American companies operating in China, commit egregious human rights violations, all while threatening a free and democratic Taiwan, the senators continued.

Their letter comes as Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to depart for his trip to China Friday. The trip was originally scheduled for February, but it was postponed after the incident involving the spy balloon.

In the letter, the senators cited a Financial Times report that alleged that China blocked Blinkens visit in the past over concerns that the FBI will release the results of an investigation into the downed suspected Chinese spy balloon.

We therefore, the senators wrote, call on you to stand up to Beijings efforts to coerce the United States into silence on the PRCs violation of U.S. sovereignty and to release the FBIs findings on the PRCs spy balloon immediately.

They asked Biden to review all options to respond to Chinas threats to national security and wrote, Beijing continues to test U.S. resolve and tarnish U.S. credibilitywe must respond with strength, or risk further aggression from Americas adversaries.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Grindr's ex-privacy chief accused top executives of shrugging off system bugs that retained 'billions' of user photos

Grindr App Thomas Trutschel/Getty Images

The ex-head of privacy at dating app Grindr filed an explosive lawsuit against his former company.

Former Chief of Privacy Ron DeJesus said top executives ignored multiple warnings about user data.

De Jesus claimed in the lawsuit that user data was stored after accounts were deleted, and shared with third parties.

The former head of privacy at LGBTQ+ dating and social networking app Grindr has accused the company of callously ignoring the app's storage and sharing of user data, including intimate photos and HIV status.

In a wrongful termination and retaliation lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday, former Chief Privacy Officer Ron De Jesus accused the company of illegally retaining data and violating global and US privacy laws.

De Jesus alleges that the company fired him in January after he raised concerns about the company prioritizing "profit over privacy," per court documents.

"In other words, deleted users' private communications, including naked photos and other highly sensitive content, such as HIV status are not only still stored in Grindr's systems, but also its vendor systems, and potentially retrievable by any employee of Grindr, or its third-party support vendor, through a backdoor to Grindr's application," De Jesus claimed in the lawsuit.

In 2021, Norway fined Grindr $7 million for illegally sharing user data, which De Jesus referenced in his lawsuit. He claimed that the company continued similar practices, violating American and European data privacy laws.

In the lawsuit, De Jesus claimed that a technical bug identified in the app allowed for user data including "billions" of nude photos to be storedeven after account deletion. De Jesus claimed that the bug would reset data consent settings, and alleged in the lawsuit that when top executives were alerted, they did not fix it at the time.

De Jesus claimed that after he shared his privacy concerns with executives, he was iced out of an executive retreat. And when he sent a strongly worded email about potential illegalities on January 5, 2023, De Jesus claimed he was fired hours later and told he was not a "good fit."

Patrick Lenihan, a Grindr Spokesperson, told Insider in a statement that De Jesus' claims in the suit are "definitively inaccurate."

"Mr. De Jesus was terminated for being ineffective and for poorly managing Grindr's privacy practices, which were his primary responsibility," Lenihan said. "Through his professional failings, Mr. De Jesus put Grindr and Grindr's users at risk."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Residents in the Deltona area will have a chance to pick up food items at no cost Friday morning.

Farm Share, a nonprofit that aims to help food-insecure residents in Florida, will hold a food giveaway.

Organizers said the distribution will be hosted in conjunction with Nitty Gritty True Talk Ministries, Inc.

READ: Here are 9 ways to celebrate Juneteenth in Central Florida

The June 16 event is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and will be held at Centro Internacional de la Familia de Deltona, located at:

2886 Elkcam Boulevard, Deltona, FL 32738

Food availability will be on a first-come, first-served basis until supplies run out.

The distribution event will be drive-thru style to minimize contact and to help ensure the safety of everyone who participates, organizers said.

Attendees should arrive in a vehicle with a trunk or cargo bed.

READ: Tropical wave near Africa could slowly develop over next several days

Farm Share also distributes food to communities throughout Florida, free of charge, through soup kitchens, food pantries, homeless shelters, churches, and senior centers.

To find a food pantry near you, click here.

See the map below for event location:

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) -- Harlan Crow, the conservative billionaire who bestowed luxurious trips and private real estate deals on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his family, is signaling a will to do what auto-industry chieftains and Wall Street titans dared not: defy a Senate subpoena.

Most Read from Bloomberg

A subpoena hasnt yet been issued, but the developing clash is setting up a test of a politically polarized Senates ability to wield one of its most powerful investigative tools. And its further evidence of the limits of Congress ability to pry loose information.

Crows emerging stance echoes the refusal of several allies of Donald Trump to provide telephone records and other information to the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol. Those subpoenas prompted more than a dozen court fights and ultimately were withdrawn in the weeks before the committees final public meeting.

Crow, a Texas commercial real estate magnate, is similarly stonewalling. He has repeatedly refused demands from Democratic chairmen of two Senate committees for detailed information about gifts and transactions benefiting the conservative high court justice, declaring the activity no business of Congress. Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, a senior member of both panels, said a subpoena is highly likely in both cases.

The responses Crows lawyers have given the committees so far amount to go pound sand, said Rob Kelner, a partner at the Washington office of Covington and Burling and co-leader of the firms congressional investigations practice.

A spokesman for Crow declined to comment. His legal team has met with one of the two committees.

The Senates authority to compel public testimony or production of documents has undergirded storied moments, from Estes Kefauvers 1950s hearings on organized crime and Abraham Ribicoffs 1960s investigation of auto safety to the grilling of Goldman Sachs then-chief executive Lloyd Blankfein and other Wall Street executives in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crash. Congress has broad power to issue subpoenas, as long as the inquiries relate to subjects on which it could act.

The possibility of subpoena also has loomed in cajoling recent public testimony from current and former CEOs of Starbucks Corp. on unfair labor practices, Norfolk Southern Corp. on the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and Silicon Valley Bank on the financial institutions failure.

The partisan cast of the controversy over Crows gifts and the increasingly common use of filibusters to thwart Senate action appears to be emboldening Crow and his advisers, Kelner said. If Crow doesnt comply with a committee subpoena, the Senate would have to vote to take Crow to court to force him to turn over information. There is no precedent for filibustering such an action.

They likely calculated that the votes wont be there to overcome a filibuster and enforce a subpoena, said Kelner, who isnt involved in Crows case but regularly represents clients on congressional probes.

Such a precedent risks weakening Senate committees ability to uncover private-sector abuses and to force unwilling business executives to answer for conduct before the public, said Ronald Weich, a former legal counsel for Senator Ted Kennedy and later then-Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid.

If subpoena enforcement became a routine partisan exercise, it would be less valuable in the future, Weich, now dean of the University of Baltimore law school, said.

Committees still have some leverage without a full Senate vote since the chairman can ask the Justice Department to prosecute someone who ignores a subpoena for contempt. But it is less expedient way to get information and the department often declines to pursue such cases.

Leaders of both the committees probing Crows gifts say theyre still weighing their options, with Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin of Illinois committee Democrats would likely unite behind the vote needed to issue a subpoena but that he wants to move in a thoughtful, orderly way. Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, said hes having productive discussions with other Democrats on his committee on next steps including by subpoena.

Earlier: Justice Clarence Thomas Gets Extension for Financial Report

Crows ties to Thomas have been under scrutiny since ProPublica published several articles detailing luxury travel that Thomas received from the GOP donor, as well as a 2014 sale of three Thomas-family-owned Georgia properties to Crow. The real estate transactions and most of the hospitality werent reported on Thomas annual financial disclosures.

The calls for subpoenas come after letters in recent weeks from Crows attorney to both committees. Wyden had requested the billionaires legal team provide documents to the committee by June 2. The senator rejected arguments by his lawyers that the panel lacks jurisdiction to acquire personal tax information and travel records to examine whether any gifts to Thomas violated US tax law.

Crow lead attorney Michael D. Bopp continued to assert in response that the panel lacks any legitimate legislative need for the information.

The Senate hasnt had to go to court to enforce a subpoena since 2016.

In that instance the Senate unanimously agreed to hold Carl Ferrer, the CEO of Backpage.com, in contempt over his refusal on First Amendment grounds to provide company documents and appear as a witness as part of a Senate inquiry into human trafficking. The Senate ultimately prevailed in court.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Matthew Lehigh, an Oregon man who committed a hate crime spree in Boise in October, pleaded guilty on Thursday. He faces 37 to 45 months in federal prison, among other sanctions.

Why did he do it?

Lehigh was clearly disturbed. His state-level charges were ultimately dismissed after he was judged incompetent to assist in his own defense at first. His YouTube channel was full of video journals where he asserted that he was possessed by demons. His plea agreement mandates that he see a psychiatrist after his release and that he take prescribed medication. So it might be tempting to write off his crimes as entirely idiomatic, just an effect of his mental health issues.

That would be a mistake. Lehighs mental illness explains some of what he did but by no means all of it.

One clear pattern in his crimes is bigotry. Lehigh assaulted a transgender woman, then tried to run over a security guard who intervened. He tried to run over two women he thought were lesbians. He set fire to a pride flag. He vandalized an LGBTQ community center.

Another pattern is that he acted on the belief that what he was doing was a religious duty. He assaulted a man in a supermarket because he thought his jacket had occult symbols on it, screaming an anti-gay slur at him before hitting him, according to the plea agreement. He vandalized a local LGBTQ-affirming church because he believes that the Bible mandates rejection and condemnation of (individuals) who pursue same-sex romantic relationships and individuals whose gender identity does not correspond with their biological sex, according to the plea.

But another element in his hate crime spree was the current political culture. No other incident demonstrates this more clearly than what he did on Oct. 8, 2022.

(W)hile at the Boise Public Library Main Branch in downtown Boise, Matthew Alan Lehigh, 31, approached a transgender library employee, called her a slur, punched her, and threatened to stab her, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release.

Only in our uniquely ridiculous time  when librarians, of all people, have become the enemies of the culture warriors on the right  would a librarian be one of the chief targets of a hate crime spree.

A significant portion of the 2022 legislative session had been spent trying to make librarians personally criminally liable for books on the shelves, and the debate surrounding that bill was replete with the repeated lie that librarians were giving porn to kids.

A few months later, Lehigh assaulted a transgender library worker while screaming slurs at her and threatening to stab her.

The influence of Christian nationalism in Idaho, efforts to target transgender kids, efforts to impose book bans and other forms of censorship have all been on the rise in recent years.

And Lehigh couldnt be charged under Idahos malicious harassment statute, as the Statesman previously reported, because it only makes it the state equivalent of a hate crime to target people on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, or national origin. Theres nothing protecting sexual orientation or gender identity  as the legislative majority knew and did nothing about this year.

Lawmakers pushing for book bans and targeting the transgender community for state persecution are not responsible for what Lehigh did, but their rhetoric is not irrelevant to what he did either.

Even deranged lone wolves act within a cultural context and take cues from it.

And our culture is deeply, deeply sick.

Bryan Clark is an opinion writer for the Idaho Statesman based in eastern Idaho.
Heather Mack, convicted in Bali of killing mom and stuffing body in suitcase, pleads guilty in US

FILE - Heather Mack of Chicago, Ill., center, is mobbed by reporters as she arrives in the courtroom for her sentencing hearing at a district court in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, April 21, 2015. The Chicago woman facing federal conspiracy charges in the 2014 killing of her mother during a luxury vacation in Bali plans to plead guilty, her attorney said Thursday, June 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

CHICAGO (AP)  An American woman accused of helping to kill her mother and stuffing her body in a suitcase during a luxury vacation to Bali nine years ago changed her plea to guilty in Chicago federal court on Friday. Her lawyer said later she hoped to avoid a sentence of life behind bars by doing so.

Heather Mack pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to kill Sheila von Wiese-Mack with her then-boyfriend to get access to a $1.5 million trust fund. Mack, then 18 and pregnant, covered her mom's mouth in a hotel room while Tommy Schaefer bludgeoned her with a fruit bowl, prosecutors say.

The change-of-plea hearing is the latest chapter in a story that has garnered international attention in part because of photographs of the suitcase, which seemed too small to hold an adult womans body.

Mack, now 27, appeared calm and confident as she stood in orange jail garb and orange slippers, occasionally brushing her hair from her eyes as she answered the judge's questions  saying she knew she was giving up her right to remain silent at the hearing.

After Mack paused before saying she understood the plea agreement hammered out with prosecutors in preceding weeks, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly noted the hesitation and asked again if she was sure she fully understood it.

Yes, your honor, she responded.

Two other charges against Mack would be dropped at the end of the sentencing process. Schaefer was convicted of murder and remains in Indonesia, where he is serving an 18-year sentence. He is charged in the same U.S. indictment.

After the hearing, relatives of Wiese-Mack issued a statement saying they were very relieved that the mastermind of Sheilas murder admitted her guilt today.

We will continue to be our sister Sheilas voice throughout the sentencing process to ensure that real justice is served, they said.

The plea agreement calls for a sentence of no more than 28 years, though Kennelly told Mack he hasn't yet decided whether to accept that sentencing cap. If he rejects it, Mack could withdraw her plea, and either hold fresh plea discussions or go to trial. The judge set a Dec. 18 sentencing date.

A key issue that wasn't decided in talks between prosecutors and the defense prior to Friday's hearing was whether the years Mack spent in prison in Indonesia for a 2015 conviction of being an accessory to Wiese-Macks murder would be subtracted from whatever U.S. sentence is imposed by Kennelly.

Mack, who lived with her mother in suburban Chicagos Oak Park, served seven years of her 10-year Indonesian sentence. She was deported in 2021 and U.S. agents arrested her immediately after her plane landed at Chicagos OHare International Airport.

Mack's lawyer, Michael Leonard, told reporters after the hearing that his client's decision to plead guilty was motivated in part by wanting to avoid a sentence of life in prison  something that would be off the table under the plea deal, if the judge formally OKs it.

In arguing for leniency at sentencing, Leonard said he would present evidence that Mack has matured and that she was a fantastic mother" to her and Schaefer's daughter, who she gave birth to in Indonesia after her arrest.

She is certainly not the person she was, Leonard said. She has grown as a human.

Her then-six-year-old daughter was with her when Mack was arrested at the Chicago airport. The girl was later placed with a relative after a custody fight.

Leonard said Mack was able to spend time with her daughter while serving her sentence in Indonesia and that her child was now her top priority.

The most important thing for her is reunification with her daughter, he said.

In successfully arguing against bond for Mack in 2021, prosecutors said she and Schaefer had planned the killing for months. They also said they had video evidence that showed both Mack and Schaefer trying to get the suitcase with Wiese-Macks body inside it into an Indonesian taxicab.

Some relatives of Wiese-Mack had complained that the Indonesian sentence was far too lenient. In filings, prosecutors said the U.S. charges dont violate constitutional prohibitions against prosecuting someone twice for the same acts, including because the U.S. charges allege conspiracy and other acts not included in the Indonesian case.
An explosive action film based on true events in 1993, depicting a cross-border crime wave committed on a Beijing-Moscow train, attracted great attention during the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF).



Cast and crew of "Operation Moscow" pose for a group photo at a promotional event during the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) in Shanghai, June 10, 2023. [Photo courtesy of MicroEnt]

"Operation Moscow," directed by Herman Yau and starring Zhang Hanyu, Huang Xuan, Janice Man, and superstar Andy Lau, recounts a cross-border manhunt after criminals from several gangs conspired and committed robbery and rape on a Moscow-bound train from Beijing. Andy Lau and veteran filmmaker Han Sanping served as executive producers.

Veteran actor Zhang Hanyu plays a police detective who disguises himself as a businessman to enter Russia and apprehend a criminal for extradition to China. Zhang described the character as a 'hardcore veteran' because, in the early 1990s, police officers relied on experience, wisdom, perseverance, and social relationships to solve cases, unlike the high-tech assistance available today.

It's the fourth time Zhang and Andy Lau have collaborated, with Lau's character remaining a tight-lipped character in the film. Lau was absent from the SIFF event due to a scheduling conflict, but Zhang joked that in the movie, Lau is like "Super Mario" because "he's always crawling through underground pipes, digging and digging."

Meanwhile, actor Huang Xuan takes on a villain role for the first time on the big screen, portraying the leader of a group of robbers. He described the character as a "criminal-artist" whose elegant disguise cannot hide his cruel and ruthless nature.

The confrontation in "Operation Moscow" is not only between the police and the robbers but also involves various other forces. As the story of "Operation Moscow" takes place in the 1990s and is based on a real case, the creative team researched massive amounts of information to ensure the authenticity of the details, taking into account factors such as the time period and cross-border elements.

Director Herman Yau recalled how sensational this case was when it happened in 1993. He extensively researched the case to prepare for making this movie, which made him almost an expert on the topic. He hopes to achieve more breakthroughs in creating this thriller and capture the social context and people's lives of that time.

Yau revealed that there are many explosive and bombastic scenes in the film and hopes that the audience enjoys them. "Many scenes in the movie were something I never thought I'd have the opportunity to shoot before. As a movie fan myself, these scenes are unprecedented in my experience, so I was very excited to have the chance to shoot them."

Executive producer Han Sanping noted that "Operation Moscow" is not an ordinary crime film but a top-tier Chinese action blockbuster that represents the highest level of industrialization in Chinese cinema.

Catherine Ying, the president of CMC Pictures and co-producer, added that the film is a "triple feast" of visuals, fashion, and humanity. She mentioned that many heart-wrenching scenes, like the underground water palace and rocket base, were reconstructed based on historical materials. The film also features a variety of intriguing stories, set in places like the underground casino and the Bolshoi Theatre, where both sides of the conflict have a rich human depth to explore, despite being divided into good and evil camps, she added.

The movie adaptation of "Operation Moscow" will be released later this year. The shocking case had previously inspired a separate and critically-acclaimed TV drama directed by Zhang Rui back in 2018.




When will I start paying a sales tax in Milwaukee and Milwaukee County? What we know.

Gov. Tony Evers' signature is all that stands between elected leaders at the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County and their ability to vote on long-sought local sales taxes.

And while some on the Common Council and County Board of Supervisors argue that voters should be the ones making the decision on new taxes, the responsibility landed squarely on the local elected leaders' shoulders when the state Legislature on Wednesday passed a sweeping bill that requires two-thirds votes of each body to put those taxes in place.

The deal struck between the Democratic governor and legislative Republicans would allow Milwaukee County to add a 0.4% sales tax to its current 0.5% sales tax, for a total county sales tax of 0.9%. The city can pursue a 2% sales tax.

The state Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates the new sales tax would generate an additional $80 million for Milwaukee County in the first year. State estimates project the sales tax could offer the city an annual revenue boost of $193.6 million.

The bill's passage came after an agreement announced last week by Republican legislative leaders and Evers to allow Milwaukee and Milwaukee County to implement sales taxes by two-thirds votes of the council and county board instead of letting voters decide via referendum.

Sending the decision to the Common Council and County Board shifts the timeline that would have been in place had the original referendum requirement remained in the bill.

Here's what you need to know about how soon a sales tax could be in place  and the steps needed to make that happen.

What happens next?

Gov. Tony Evers speaks during the Wisconsin Democratic Party Convention on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at the Radisson Hotel & Center in Green Bay, Wis.

Before anything else can happen, Evers must sign the bill.

He signaled he was pleased with the jointly negotiated legislation in a tweet Wednesday night.

Its my job as governor to always work to do the right thing when it matters most.



Were securing over $1 billion for our kids and our schools to improve reading and kids mental health while making historic investments in our communities. This is a win for Wisconsin. https://t.co/kZ2dyqjXib  Governor Tony Evers (@GovEvers) June 15, 2023

After Evers signs the bill, when will the Common Council and County Board vote?

That's not entirely clear, though the city seems to have a less ambiguous timeline.

The council could take up legislation on a sales tax as soon as next cycle, which begins after Tuesday's Common Council meeting.

The council has two scheduled meetings in July before it breaks for its August recess: July 11 and July 31. A final vote could take place either of those days.

Two-thirds of the council, or 10 of the 15 members, must vote in favor of the sales tax for it to go into effect.

Mayor Cavalier Johnson, who has been deeply involved in the state negotiations and pushed for the sales tax legislation, would then need to sign it.

At this point, it remains unclear when the County Board might take up legislation on the additional sales tax, board spokesman Eddie Cullen told the Journal Sentinel.

That includes whether the board would take a vote before its own August recess. The board has a single cycle before the August recess, with a meeting on July 27.

Cullen said some supervisors are wanting to vote quickly while others are still talking with constituents and considering how to vote.

Twelve of the board's 18 members would have to vote in favor to implement the tax.

Sept. 3 is the latest the County Board could vote to implement a sales tax for the county to start collecting the revenue Jan. 1, 2024, according to County Executive David Crowley's office.

Crowley, who was also deeply involved in pushing the state legislation forward, would then sign it.

If the sales taxes get local approval, how soon would they go into effect?

Additional steps are required before a sales tax could go into place.

A key step comes at the state level.

First, the Wisconsin Department of Revenue needs at least several months to activate and confirm the flow of money, said Jeff Fleming, Johnson's spokesman.

The bill requires a four-month lead-time before the tax goes into effect.

"A certified copy of the ordinance shall be delivered to the secretary of revenue at least 120 days prior toits effective date," the bill states.

It allows the sales taxes to go into effect on Jan. 1, April 1, July 1 or Oct 1.

Comptrollers at both the city and county would also have to certify the revenue.

The Milwaukee Common Council on April 18, 2023. L to R on the floor: Larresa Taylor (District 9), Milele Coggs (District 6), Marina Dimitrijevic (District 14), Andrea Pratt (District 1), Lamont Westmoreland (District 5), Scott Spiker (District 13), Khalif Rainey (District 7), Mark Chambers Jr. (District 2), Robert Bauman (District 4), Russell Stamper II (District 15), Michael Murphy (District 10), Mark Borkowski (District 11), JoCasta Zamarripa (District 8), Jonathan Brostoff (District 3) and back, center, Common Council President Jose G. Perez.

Does it matter when a sales tax goes into effect?

Financially  and politically  yes.

The city and county are each facing challenging 2024 budgets and fiscal "cliffs" in 2025.

For the city in 2025, that means deep cuts in services when pandemic aid runs out. For the county, it means a "transit cliff" in which the bus system would be grappling with a nearly $26 million budget deficit by that year.

Because each of the local governments adopt their annual budgets in the fall of the preceding year, that means local leaders will be wrestling with their 2024 budgets in a matter of months.

But there's another reason local sales taxes would matter next year: the 2024 Republican National Convention.

The convention will take place in Milwaukee from July 15-18, 2024, bringing an influx of visitors and spending on which Milwaukee and Milwaukee County could capitalize with sales taxes.

The RNC isn't the only political reason the timing of the sales taxes matter.

Johnson and Crowley will be up for re-election early next year.

More: State Rep. David Crowley announces run for Milwaukee County executive

More: Milwaukee's pension spike is coming fast. Here's how the mayoral candidates would deal with it.

Both men made resolving the city's and county's financial challenges cornerstones of their campaigns for their current seats. And once in office, they have invested significant time and resources from their respective administrations into reaching an agreement with the state.

The votes at the council and County Board are big hurdles they still must overcome to make good on that promise.

A spring primary, if enough candidates enter each race, will be held Feb. 20. The spring election will be April 2.

How could this timeline have played out differently with a referendum?

It would have been a much different timeline.

Fleming told the Journal Sentinel in the weeks before Wednesday's vote, when a referendum requirement remained in the legislation, that it was not clear when a referendum would be scheduled but that it would be a number of months after the governor signed off. Then there would be additional steps, including at the state Department of Revenue.

Bob Lang, director of the state Legislative Fiscal Bureau, said the earlier Assembly version of the bill did not specify when a referendum would be held.

He said local governments by statute must hold a spring primary or general election in addition to partisan primary elections and fall general elections. Municipalities are required to pay the costs of these statutorily required elections.

A referendum could also have been held at a special election but would have incurred additional costs beyond the statutorily required elections.

If the city passes an ordinance imposing the tax, the city must file a petition for referenda a minimum of 70 days prior to the election at which point the question will appear on the ballot, Lang said. If the taxes are approved by the city electors at referenda, the City must provide a certified copy of the ordinance at least 120 days prior to the effective date of the tax, and the tax could first be imposed on the start of a calendar quarter.

Patricia A. Mayers, state Department of Revenue director of communications, cited sections of Assembly bill and said a special referendum could be held at any time after bill passage, assuming proper notice is given by the city or county as provided under Wisconsin statutes.

Need more help with voting questions? The Milwaukee Resource Guide is here to help. Have something you want answered? Submit a question.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here's how Milwaukee, Milwaukee County could launch sales taxes
(Photo: ACLU)

Indian Country breathed a sigh of relief yesterday after months of anxiety over the possibility of a substantial blow to tribal sovereignty as the Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA).

ICWA was passed in 1978 and gives tribal governments exclusive jurisdiction over Native children who live on reservations and is considered a core legal tenant to tribal sovereignty.

The Court upheld ICWA as law of the land in the case Haaland v. Brackeen by a 7-2 vote. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented.

The Courts decision represents a significant victory for federal Indian law and the rights of tribes and Native children across the nation.

Heres what Native American leaders and government officials are saying about the landmark ruling and what it means for Indian Country.

Statement from President Joe Biden

I stand alongside Tribal Nations as they celebrate todays Supreme Court decision. This lawsuit sought to undermine the Indian Child Welfare Act  a vital law I was proud to support. The Indian Child Welfare Act was passed to protect the future of Tribal Nations and promote the best interests of Native children, and it does just that. The touchstone law respects tribal sovereignty and protects Native children by helping Native families stay together and, whenever possible, keeping children with their extended families or community who already know them, love them, and can help them understand who they are as Native people and citizens of their Tribal Nations. The Indian Child Welfare Act safeguards that which is most precious to us allour children. Todays decision from the Supreme Court keeps in place a vital protection for tribal sovereignty and Native children.

Our Nations painful history looms large over todays decision. In the not-so-distant past, Native children were stolen from the arms of the people who loved them. They were sent to boarding schools or to be raised by non-Indian familiesall with the aim of erasing who they are as Native people and tribal citizens. These were acts of unspeakable cruelty that affected generations of Native children and threatened the very survival of Tribal Nations. The Indian Child Welfare Act was our Nations promise: never again.

Tribal Nations fought hard to pass the Indian Child Welfare Act, and I am proud to have joined them in the ongoing efforts to defend it. Vice President Harris and I will continue to stand with Tribes to protect Native children, honor tribal sovereignty, and safeguard the essential principles of the Indian Child Welfare Act.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo)

Todays decision is a welcome affirmation across Indian Country of what presidents and congressional majorities on both sides of the aisle have recognized for the past four decades.

For nearly two centuries, federal policies promoted the forced removal of Indian children from their families and communities through boarding schools, foster care, and adoption. Those policies were a targeted attack on the existence of Tribes, and they inflicted trauma on children, families, and communities that people continue to feel today.

Congress passed the Indian Child Welfare Act in 1978 to put an end to those policies. The Act ensured that the United States new policy would be to meet its legal and moral obligation to protect Indian children and families and safeguard the future of Indian Tribes.

Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), Chickasaw and Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS), Ho-Chunk

Since 1978, the Indian Child Welfare Act has protected vulnerable children from being taken from their tribal communities and culture during custody or guardianship proceedings.

This landmark decision rightly upholds protections for Native children and reaffirms the sovereign rights of tribal governments. We applaud the Supreme Court in rejecting these challenges and standing with Native American children and their right to remain in their own cultures.

Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK), Yupik

I am overjoyed that the Supreme Court has affirmed both the sovereignty of tribal governments and the irreplaceable bonds of Indigenous family.

This decision provides certainty and security for children and families all across this country and respects the basic principles of self-governance for Native American tribes. This is an important step in continuing the process of intergenerational healing from long histories of separation and loss and a victory for tribal advocates everywhere. I look forward to strengthening ICWA and making sure that children everywhere are able to stay with their families and loved ones.

John Echohawk (Pawnee) Native American Rights Fund Executive Director

Todays decision affirming the constitutionality of ICWA is a major victory for Tribes, tribal families, and tribal children and it should put an end to the challenges to ICWA and the broader challenges to tribal sovereignty. NARF is honored to have worked alongside all who stood to defend ICWAincluding over 500 Tribes, dozens of states, current and former members of Congress, the nations leading child welfare experts, former foster youth, medical experts, and legal experts. I hope Indian Country takes time today to pause and celebrate this victory, hug our children, and give thanks to our ancestors who have walked with us during each stage of the case. No matter what ICWAs opponents might try next, Tribes will never stop working to protect and care for their children, and NARF will always show up to the fight.

Great Plains Chairmens Association Chairman and Oglala Sioux Tribal President Frank Star Comes Out

We must not forget the flawed policies that brought us to where we are today  effects of the boarding school and removal policy linger still here today.

Make no mistake; they are connected We can do a much better job working together. And we can start by sitting down and revisiting how ICWA is implemented here in this state.

National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges on Supreme Court Ruling Upholding Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA)

The Supreme Courts decision marks a significant milestone in upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), preserving tribal sovereignty, and protecting Native American children and families. It affirms the ICWAs constitutionality, emphasizing the importance of preserving cultural identity and connections. This decision aligns with our collaborative efforts to educate the judiciary in both state and tribal courts, as well as our resolution calling for full implementation of the ICWA, which recognizes the historical injustices faced by Native American communities and emphasizes the significance of tribal sovereignty in promoting the well-being of Native American children.

By prioritizing the placement of Native American children within their extended families, tribes, and Native American communities, this decision helps to rectify past wrongs and fosters a sense of identity and resilience. It underscores the obligation of state courts and child welfare agencies to actively preserve and strengthen Native American families, ensuring the best interests of Native American children are safeguarded.

California Assemblyman James Ramos (Serrano/Cahuilla)(D-San Bernardino)

Californias tribes today join other Native Americans across the United States in celebrating the reaffirmation of our sovereign right to raise our children in tribal communities where they can maintain their tribal identity, culture and traditions. He noted that the Courts majority opinion was released almost four years to the day  June 18, 2019  since Gov. Gavin Newsoms apology to Californias Indians for the states historical wrongdoings.

No one can underestimate the trauma of genocide, the forced separation of children from their parents, the creation of boarding schools, and other crimes aimed at eliminating or assimilating Native Americans in California and the nation. We have survived the attacks on our existence and our culture, and we will continue to resist attempts to deny our rightful place on this land as sovereign people.

I am proud and appreciative that California Attorney General Rob Bonta led a bipartisan coalition of 24 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the case arguing for upholding ICWA.

California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood)

The United States and California have a long, despicable history when it comes to the treatment of Native Americans. That is one reason why todays ruling by the Supreme Court is so important. With this landmark ruling, the Court honors the spirit of cultural preservation and ensures that Native American children have the opportunity to thrive within their own heritage. The Supreme Court got this one right.

Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe. ICWA Program Manager Sky Timmons

ICWA is possible and lasting because of our people opening up their homes both short and long-term to our most vulnerable population. When we are able to foster the minds of our children and connect them to our culture and traditions, theyre able to feed their identity and spirit in positive and healthy ways. We know this leads to higher levels of self-esteem, academic achievement, lower rates of suicide and depression, and just a general overall state of well-being. We fight for many reasons, but the safety of our children remains our highest and greatest priority.

National Congress of American Indians, Native American Rights Fund, National Indian Child Welfare Association, Association on American Indian Affairs

Todays decision is a massive victory for Native children, Native families, and the future of Native peoples. The Courts decision affirmed that the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) is constitutional, puts the best interests of Native kids first, and is grounded in tribal sovereignty. This ruling respects the work that Tribal Nations have done for millennia to ensure Native kids stay connected to their families, communities, and cultures whenever possible.

Not only will this ruling allow Indian Country to continue to advocate for the best interests of Native children, but it also reaffirms what we have said and known all along: Tribal Nations are sovereign nations. Similar to states or foreign countries, Tribal Nations have the inherent powers of self-government and have the right to provide for the social, economic, safety, and cultural needs of their citizens.

For too long, ICWAs opponents have used cases like Haaland v. Brackeen to try to undermine tribal sovereignty. Today, the Justices have sent a clear message that these biased, ahistorical attacks have no legal foundation and will not be tolerated. We hope this decision will lay to rest the political attacks, but let this case show that Indian Country and its many bipartisan allies are united in defense of Native children and of tribal sovereignty.

Todays ruling is a ringing endorsement of the protections that ICWA requires. The ruling reinforces that ICWA is binding federal law. The courts opinion adds momentum to collective efforts to increase ICWA compliance, enact state-based ICWA laws that build on ICWAs strong foundation, and continue to support tribal child welfare and justice systems.

Indian Country stands together in joy with the countless allies who have supported us throughout this case.

National Congress of American Indians President Fawn Sharp (Quinault Nation)

This victory now means the extraordinary vision of Tribal Leaders who fought so long and hard to pass ICWA in 1978 is now perfected and will be the law of the land for generations to come. Our children, our future, and our very existence as Native people will no doubt continue to survive and thrive just as our Creator intended and ancestors envisioned. Our prayers were answered, and today we honor every voice that joined us to make clear Tribal Nations have an inherent sovereign right to protect the interests of our children and future.

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Indian Affairs

The Supreme Court just validated what Indian Country and Tribal advocates have been saying for generations: the Indian Child Welfare Act is the gold standard of child welfare policy. I applaud todays decision, which upholds the constitutionality of this landmark law, respects Tribal sovereignty, and protects the best interests of Indian children.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs

In a victory for Native people, the Supreme Court has fully upheld the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act. I applaud the decision and am proud to have co-led the Congressional amicus brief to the Court. I also want to thank those who tirelessly fought to defend this important child welfare policy.

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)

This decision is critical for Tribal sovereignty and will help protect Native American children in Nevada and across the country, said Senator Cortez Masto. I have consistently spoken out in favor of protecting the Indian Child Welfare Act to keep Native families together. Im pleased to see this law upheld, and I will continue working to protect Native communities.

Society of Indian Psychologists President Joseph P. Gone, Ph.D.

We appreciate that the court acknowledged that the routine placement of American Indian and Alaska Native children outside our community threatens the continued viability of that community, which psychological science shows may contribute to their impaired physical, spiritual, mental and emotional health.

We expect this decision to help keep American Indian and Alaska Native families intact in their communities and to minimize state government placements of such children outside their communities.

Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Chairman Joseph Zeke Rupnick

Todays Supreme Court decision upholds the sovereignty of Native Tribes and allows us to continue to give our children, no matter their family circumstances, the opportunity to embrace their Native culture and history  so much of which is learned in our family homes due to centuries worth of attempts to erase us. The Supreme Court preserved the integrity of federal law and, by doing so, preserved our culture for generations to come.

Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren

The Indian Child Welfare Act is a vital tool for protecting Navajo families and communities, and we are grateful that the Supreme Court has recognized its importance.

Recently, I met a baby Navajo boy about the same age as my daughter. His smile lit up my office as I watched him play. He filled the office with the happiness children bring, said President Nygren. The U.S. Supreme Courts decision in the Brackeen v. Haaland case is a victory for the Navajo baby toddler and all Indigenous children and all Indigenous Nations in the United States. Thank you to the advocates, to our Navajo Nation Department of Justice, and to the U.S. Supreme Court Justices.

Speaker of the 25th Navajo Nation Council Crystalyne Curley

Our prayers have been answered with todays ICWA ruling from the Supreme Court. Its been a long, hard-fought battle on the legal end and in the hearts and minds of Indigenous children and families across the country. Our families, leaders, and advocates remained united and persevered throughout this legal challenge, said Speaker Curley. On behalf of the Navajo Nation Council, I thank the Supreme Court Justices who honored and respected the sovereignty of the first people of this country and ruled in support of our children.

Navajo Nation Council Delegate Amber Kanazbah Crotty

The United States Supreme Court upholding the Indian child welfare act as constitutional is just one small step in the right direction to protect our Navajo children. As a nation, we must do more to prevent our children from entering the child welfare system, and we must continue to fight for their futures. A future free of violence, a future with unlimited opportunities, and a future where our language and culture are integrated back into our lifeways.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr.

Today, the Supreme Court once again ruled that ICWA heralded as the gold standard in child welfare for over 40 years is constitutional. Todays decision is a major victory for Native tribes, the children, and the future of our culture and heritage. It is also a broad affirmation of the rule of law and of the basic constitutional principles surrounding relationships between Congress and tribal nations.

As chief, I dont think there is a day that goes by where I dont hear of another attack on our rights and our sovereignty, whether in court, Congress, the media, or statehouses. We hope this decision will lay to rest the political attacks aimed at diminishing tribal sovereignty and creating instability throughout Indian law that have persisted for far too long.

About the Author: "Elyse Wild is senior editor for Native News Online and Tribal Business News. "

Contact: ewild@indiancountrymedia.com
High schooler does lil shimmy on graduation stage and is denied diploma, grandma says

A high school senior was denied her diploma after she danced on stage at her graduation in Pennsylvania, according to her grandmother.

Hafsah Abdur-Rahman was graduating from the Philadelphia High School for Girls on June 9 when she did a lil shimmy across the stage, her grandmother, Renee Hadiyah Reid wrote on Facebook.

Reid posted a video that shows her granddaughter dancing on the stage as members of the audience clap and laugh.

When Abdur-Rahman reaches the opposite end of the stage and holds her hand out to receive her diploma, the principal does not give it to her. Instead, she pauses and says something to Abdur-Rahman before placing the diploma in a basket at her feet.

Reid wrote that both her granddaughter and two other students who were denied their diplomas were publicly humiliated.

My problem with this is the principal doesnt know if these girls will ever graduate again, Reid wrote. My GrandLuv is venturing off to be an entrepreneur. You robbed them of their moment!! Why did she do that to them?

A spokeswoman for the Philadelphia School District said in a statement to McClatchy News at the high schools administration chose to give a few graduates their diplomas after the ceremony instead of on stage due to the schools graduation guidelines.

The District does not condone the withholding of earned diplomas based on family members cheering for their graduates, the statement says. We apologize to all the families and graduates who were impacted and are further looking into this matter to avoid it happening in the future.

Reid wrote that when she saw her granddaughter after the ceremony she could tell that shed been crying.

... we need to uplift these girls, she wrote. We are talking about a group of good girls.

Reid did not respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News. Abdur-Rahman could not be reached for comment.

Abdur-Rahman told WHYY that the principal warned students prior to the ceremony that families werent allowed to clap or cheer for their loved ones on stage, but she felt it was unfair to be reprimanded for dancing.

She told the outlet her graduation moment was meant to honor her sister, who was killed at 14 years old.

I was so embarrassed, she told the outlet. I couldnt even enjoy the rest of the graduation.

17-year-old high school student was actually a 28-year-old woman, Louisiana cops say

Three killed after fight over parking at graduation party, cops say. Neighbor charged

High school wrestlers body recovered from lake after 17-hour search, NJ officials say
Its summer in Florida, and that means longer, hotter days, near-daily deluges and algae blooms.

They happen every year in many of the states waterways, but recent conditions in Lake Okeechobee, Floridas largest and most important lake, have some advocates worried that this season could bring more major, harmful blooms.

Anytime we have a high lake going into the wet season and we have the presence of blue-green algae, it is cause for concern, said Chris Wittman, co-founder of Captains for Clean Water. But theres so many variables that its hard to predict what were going to see.

Lake O can only hold so much water. Some of it trickles down south, where it gets sucked up by thirsty farmers and helps restore the Everglades, but the major way the lake gets drained is through releases to the east and west via the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers.

Lake Okeechobee is currently 14.09 feet high, about two feet higher than the Army Corps of Engineers, which maintains the lake, likes to see it in June. Recent heavy rains, plus leftover swell from Hurricanes Ian and Nicole last year, have left lake levels higher than usual. This time last year, the lake was about 15 inches lower.

Its also pretty dirty. The lake is chock full of nutrients from farms, leaky septic and sewage tanks and other nutrients that form the perfect food for algae. And fresh rains wash in even more fertilizers and human waste, which makes blooms all the more likely.

Unfortunately for Florida, the rainiest times of the year, when lake levels run highest and discharges are most common, is also when algal blooms form. And the algae on Lake O isnt always harmless. In high concentrations, it can be toxic to humans.

If algae-clouded water from Lake O gets sent west and east in high enough volumes, it can multiply, clogging marinas and rivers with organic matter as thick and green as guacamole. In 2016, and again in 2018, those algal explosions were devastating to the economy of coastal Florida.

A blue-green algae bloom fouled the water at the Pahokee Marine in Lake Okeechobee on June 2, 2023

Bloom on half the lake

As of Wednesday, NOAA satellites measured about 380 square miles of algae bloom, a little under half of the lakes total surface.

The latest tests from Floridas Department of Environmental Protection found moderate to high bloom potential on about 70% of the lake, and state officials found slightly more algal samples than usual for early June.

Of the 55 spots sampled last week, 38 of them contained algal blooms. Some of them also contained harmful algal blooms, and a handful contained toxic cyanobacteria at levels dangerous to human health.

A NOAA satellite image captured of Lake Okeechobee on June 14 shows algae blooms cover about half of the lake -- about 380 square miles.

The EPA considers microcystis aeruginosa, the toxic cyanobacteria also known as blue-green algae, harmful to humans at a concentration of 8 parts per billion. While most spots tested in Lake O showed levels far lower  like .43 parts per billion  several had levels over 11 ppb.

Right now, is the risk of that happening there? It is, Wittman said. The concern is there.

But unlike in 2016 or 2018, Wittman said, the Army Corps has become much more sensitive to the potential of economic and ecological consequences to large water releases.

Everybody is a lot more aware of what can happen than they were a few years ago, he said.

No planned releases for now

That was clear on a Friday press call, where Col. James Booth, the Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville district commander acknowledged concerns about algae and said the state was working on culling the blooms.

For now, the Corps is not releasing any Lake O water to either coast. That could change if water levels get higher.

Booth said at 16.5 feet of water, his concern starts to shift from the possibility of sending blooms to the coast to the structural safety of the dams and levees holding in the massive lake.

Above that level, were thinking about it, were talking about it. But just because were going over 16.5 doesnt mean theres a risk, he said. It all depends on what the timing is. Theres no particular number that triggers a decision for a release.

Looking to the future

A continued spate of rainy days, or even a particularly soggy tropical storm or hurricane, could nudge the Corps closer to a decision to release water. But with the recent renovation of the Herbert Hoover Dike, a massive wall holding water inside the lake, Booth said hes more confident in holding onto more water.

In the long term, Everglades advocates and government officials are working on plans to send more water south, both through the new lake management plan debuting later this year and the constriction of multiple new projects designed to store, treat and flush the cleaned water south.

Its the $4 billion crown jewel of Everglades restoration. But will it be enough?

The biggest and most controversial is the Everglades Agricultural Area reservoir, which began construction earlier this year and has split the normally tight-knit Everglades advocacy community over concerns it wont work, or could even worsen the problem.

Wittman, whose group is a wholehearted supporter of the project, said he believes that once its built, it would help Florida avoid situations just like this.

The more projects come online, the more capacity we have to increase those flows south, where they used to flow naturally, Wittman said. We need these projects done as quickly as possible.
'Highly likely' Russia behind Ukraine dam collapse - international experts FILE PHOTO: A view shows a flooded area after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached in Kherson

By Anthony Deutsch

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - It is "highly likely" that the collapse of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine was caused by explosives planted by Russians, a team of legal experts assisting Ukraine's prosecutors in their investigation said in preliminary findings released on Friday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of destroying the Kakhovka dam as a Western-backed tactic to escalate the conflict.

Ukraine is investigating the blast as a war crime and possible criminal environmental destruction, or "ecocide".

The vast Soviet-era Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, under Russian control since the Feb. 24 invasion, was breached in the early hours of June 6, unleashing floodwater across a swathe of the battleground in southern Ukraine, destroying farmland and cutting off water supplies to a large part of the population.

Experts with the international human rights law firm Global Rights Compliance, which is implementing Western-back efforts to support accountability for atrocities in Ukraine, visited the Kherson region from June 10-11 with Ukraine's prosecutor general and a team from the International Criminal Court.

"The evidence and analysis of the information available  which includes seismic sensors and discussions with top demolition experts  indicates that there is a high probability the destruction was caused by pre-emplaced explosives positioned at critical points within the dam's structure," a summary of preliminary findings from the law firm's team seen by Reuters said.

Senior lawyer Yousuf Syed Khan at Global Rights Compliance, who participated in the field mission to Kherson, said the finding that the dam was blown up with pre-emplaced explosives by the Russian side "is an 80% and above determination".

The finding is based "not only on seismic sensors, and one of the leading open source intelligence providers, but also based on patterns of attack and other attacks that we have documented," he said in an interview. That included previous attacks on critical water infrastructure, including installations and pipelines, he said.

They dismissed the theory that a catastrophic dam breach could have been caused by mismanagement alone.

The destruction of the dam and impact on the Kakhovka reservoir and surrounding area has created conditions which the investigators said could constitute a starvation crime by targeting "an object indispensable to the survival of the civilian population", Khan said.

The attack may form part of a broader crime against humanity, but the group has not yet made that determination.

Attacking a dam intentionally may constitute a war crime under international humanitarian law because they are presumed to be civilian in nature, unless there is a valid military objective, British Barrister Catriona Murdoch, who led the mobile justice team investigation, said in a statement.

"Even in the highly unlikely scenario the dam, or indeed the area nearby, posed a valid military objective commensurate with eviscerating the dam, it is still afforded an elevated protection under international humanitarian law," she said.

The ICC, the world's permanent war crimes tribunal, is also investigating the attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure, which may violate international law.

(Reporting by Anthony Deutsch; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
Catch an all-new episode of The Hill every Thursday on theGrio.com and theGrios social media platforms.

On this weeks edition of The Hill With April Ryan, theGrios Washington Bureau Chief and White House Correspondent, April D. Ryan discusses the latest on the federal criminal indictment of former President Donald Trump; how the possible loss of affirmative action would affect Black students seeking college admission and how a third-party candidate thinks Democrats and the GOP fail Black Americans.

Her guests include Angela Alsobrooks, a former prosecutor and current Prince Georges County, Maryland County Executive; U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona; and Cornel West, a political activist and author running for U.S. president as a third-party candidate.

Ryan solicited the opinions of Black Americans in the nations capital about federal charges Trump faces and she had a lengthier discussion about the matter with Alsobrooks, a Maryland candidate for U.S. Senate. Alsobrooks, shared her prediction for the outcome of the indictment alleging Trump mishandled classified documents.

I believe in the end the rule of law will prevail in the charges leveled against the 45th president of the United States, said Alsobrooks.

West returned to The Hill for an exclusive interview to explain how his campaign focuses on Black America in areas Democrats do not address. He blasted both parties labeling Democrats as neoliberals who are milquetoast and Republicans as neofascist gangsters. His platform addresses the needs of the underserved, he said, and is grounded in the philosophy of the Black church and specifically his, the roots of his home church, Shiloh Baptist, in Sacramento, California.

West said hes a registered candidate of the Green Party which offers the potential of his name appearing on at least 21 state ballots.

His run may present some problems for Democrats as West is focusing on their base. He could attract a sizable portion of Black voters, as well as the youth vote with his progressive message. The West message is born out of the camp of Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), who challenged former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to one of her most formidable fights for president.

And lastly, Cardona shared his concerns about the anticipated Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action and the possible effect of overturning race considerations in college admissions. I worry this would take us to a point where the doors of higher education close a bit more for Black and brown students who bring a lot to the table, he said.

Watch the full episode of The Hill with April Ryan above and catch an all-new installment every Thursday on theGrio.com and theGrios social media platforms.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post The Hill with April Ryan: Trumps federal indictment, Cornel Wests platform and affirmative action appeared first on TheGrio.
An early morning fire damaged the historic Seth Warner home, one of Chicagos earliest residences and the oldest home in the Austin neighborhood on the West Side.

Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at 631 N. Central Ave. around 1 a.m. Thursday, according to the Chicago Fire Department. A firefighter was taken to an area hospital as a precaution, but no other injuries were reported, authorities said. The cause of the fire was unknown.

The fire broke out on the top floors were it sustained fire, water and smoke damage, according to fire officials.

Hours after the fire, homeowner Cynthia Weaver told the Tribune she alerted her husband, James Bowers, after smelling smoke at the home.

The damage appeared confined to the upper floors and the owners were allowed to enter the structure in the afternoon.

While the full extent of the damage wasnt immediately clear, the homeowners and local preservationists were hopeful of a full restoration.

These landmarks  they are cornerstones of the community. Its so important that they remain and were grateful that the house remains standing and the damage was really limited to the upper portions of the attic and the roof, said Ward Miller, executive director of advocacy organization Preservation Chicago.

The Warner home is one of the rare Chicago structures that survived the Great Fire of 1871 and remains standing.

Constructed in 1869, the Italianate style homes original owner was one of Chicagos earliest residents  Seth Warner, who built the house beyond the city limits, so the fires didnt reach as far west as the home. The structure was granted landmark status in 2022.

Warner, a blacksmith, abolitionist and one of the citys first musicians, built a music center in downtown Chicago called Warners Hall, which once hosted a speech by fellow abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass during his first visit here.

Warners activities reflects Chicagos abolitionist views before the Civil War, Miller said. Now, along with the house, co-owned by civil rights attorney James Bowers, it appears the homes tradition of ties to racial justice still stands.

Not only has the house held significance in the world of historical preservation  it has also served as a hub of community building and was the Austin Academy of Fine Arts, a music conservatory, for decades.

In the close-knit community, most of the people whove been living here a while are aware that its a historical home, neighbor Janie Williams said. Williams, having lived on the block since she was 5, recalled the homes grand music room, where a previous owner allowed local children to come and play the piano.

Weaver said that when former neighborhood residents returned for visits, it is often with fond memories. I used to pick my sister up here (one would say), others were dancers here, she recalled.

Having purchased the house in the mid-1980s, Weaver and Bowers say they have nearly 38 years of memories in their home.

The avid antique collectors have worked to remodel the interior of the home to its original 1860s design, according to Weaver.

While they assume there was some loss of their collection, they are unaware of the amount of personal property damaged and the length of time repairs will take.

Miller said he was hopeful that any damages not covered by homeowners insurance, could be covered by the citys Adopt A Landmark fund.

We do have a Chicago landmark that suffered a tremendous fire today but it hasnt undermined the structure of the house and (were) hoping for a complete restoration, he said.

jsmith@chicagotribune.com
Homicide on Center Parkway marks Sacramentos 6th shooting death this week, police say

A man died following a shooting Wednesday evening in Sacramentos Valley Hi / North Laguna neighborhood, police said.

Officers responded around 8:20 p.m. Wednesday to reports of a shooting near the 8100 block of Center Parkway, where they located an adult victim with at least one gunshot wound, the Sacramento Police Department said in a news release.

The victim was taken to a hospital, where he later died, according to the news release. His identity will be released by the Sacramento County Coroners Office pending notification of family.

Homicide detectives are continuing to investigate the shooting, police said. No suspect information is available.

At least six people have been killed this week across four shooting incidents within Sacramento city limits, according to police.

Two people died after a shooting Monday afternoon in Old North Sacramento; police say it is possible the two men involved in that incident shot each other. Two others were killed in a suspected drive-by shooting Tuesday night in Del Paso Heights.

Another person was killed in a shooting early Thursday morning on San Jose Way in Sacramentos Oak Park neighborhood.

All four recent incidents remain under investigation.
Horry County could make it a lot more expensive to build even as taxes rise. Heres why.

Less than two years after setting impact fees for new construction, Horry County leaders are being asked to double them  a decision that builders say could cripple the regions real estate sector.

Since July 2021, fees have set between $738 and $1,797 for commercial construction, and between $1,031 and $1,236 for residential  a policy thats generated nearly $55 million worth of revenue to help pay for new growth: And that doesnt include additional costs for emergency management, recreation, storm water and transportation.

Taking those into account, impact fees could top $10,000 in some cases but add $200 million in fresh money to the general fund.

Next week, the County Council will open talks on whether to boost those rates.

We need to discuss it. Im not saying its going to pass, chairman Johnny Gardner said. We have to talk about something of this monumental magnitude.

The General Assembly has permitted local governments to assess impacted fees since 1976.

Madison Cooper, who heads governmental affairs at the Coastal Carolina Association of Realtors, said putting higher costs on developers looking to invest in the region likely will backfire.

Demand to move to Horry County has remained resilient as compared to the rest of the country, but an increase in impact fees will slow the growth of the tax base, she said.

Cooper pointed to a recent Partnership Grand Strand focus group held with Coastal Carolina University students. She said 80 percent of those surveyed said housing affordability and cost would play a role in whether they remain in the region after graduation.

An October 2021 presentation by the states American Planning Association chapter found them in use across 18 jurisdictions including Charleston, Georgetown County and Hilton Head Island.

Jason Repak, chairman of the Horry Georgetown Homebuilders Association board, said members werent aware of the possible price hikes until the issue showed up on a county council subcommittee agenda late last week.

People who live here and work here cannot afford to buy a home here, he said. This potential increase in impact fees that have come out of county council over the last two years that is only making the affordable housing issue in this area worse.

State population forecasts suggest Horry County will be South Carolinas second largest in a decade, with much of that growth pouring into unincorporated areas where infrastructure is scant and in some cases nonexistent.

Theres definitely a shortage of large acreage parcels in the area. There are a lot of folks out there that are seeking relatively larger acres to build a house on rather than being packed into a subdivision. I think theres opportunity for both markets to exist simultaneously, and I dont forsee there being any slowdown in the future, said Jack Izard, a vice president at Domain Timber Advisors  which manages more than 5,500 acres across the county.

A September 2022 report by Maryland-based consulting firm TischlerBise is the foundation for the suggested impact fee increases.

If approved later this summer, they would follow a tax increase built into next years budget.

For me, its making sure that money spent by the county is being spent in the most effective way possible, and I dont believe that increasing taxes on just those that are new to the area is the right path, Repak said.
Representatives of Serbian and Chinese companies sign contracts at a business forum in Belgrade, Serbia, on June 15, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Serbian and Chinese companies signed contracts worth over 510 million U.S. dollars at a business forum in Belgrade, the Serbian government said in a press release on Thursday, signaling the intensification of bilateral ties within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The signing of over ten agreements between Chinese and Serbian companies was overseen by Serbia's Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Jelena Tanaskovic, Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo, and other representatives from the two countries.

"This is an important event for the development of relations between the two countries," said Vesic.

"We expect that a free trade agreement between our countries will be signed by the end of the year, after which there will be many more such events, as well as an opportunity for Serbian companies to take their share of the Chinese market," Vesic was quoted as saying in a press release.

Last year, bilateral trade hit 6.14 billion U.S. dollars, of which Serbia's exports amounted to 1.1 billion dollars, Vesic said.

Noting that Chinese companies' engagement in many key infrastructure projects across the country, Vesic said he hoped that, in addition to infrastructure, bilateral trade cooperation will be equally successful.

According to Tanaskovic, China-Serbia trade in agricultural and food products increased from 14.2 million dollars in 2015 to 55.5 million dollars in 2022, which she said was the result of "work, effort and the signing of all previous agreements."

She recalled that agreements on the export of Serbian pet food and honey were signed during her recent visit to China and said she expected to sign another agreement soon on the export of apples.

Li Xingqian, director general of the Department of Foreign Trade of China's Ministry of Commerce, said that the two countries have a deep and strong traditional friendship, which has led to the strengthening of bilateral economic cooperation in recent years.

The Chinese market has large capacities at multiple levels with enormous potential, he emphasized. He invited Serbian companies to visit China and participate in international fairs to promote Serbian products.

Chen said that the signing of the agreements contributes to closer and better trade cooperation, which has been booming in recent years thanks to Serbia's active participation in China's BRI.

"Over the past ten years, thanks to the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, China and Serbia ... continuously expanded two-way opening and achieved significant growth in bilateral trade," said Chen, adding that bilateral trade in 2022 increased by 35 percent year-on-year.

Igor Kronja, adviser to the president of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, agreed that the BRI contributed to the intensification of cooperation because Serbia saw its chance for development in it.

A dozen Chinese enterprises in areas including agri-food, chemicals, mineral resources, wood processing, services, attended the forum.
WASHINGTON  House Republicans introduced a plan to address student debt Thursday afternoon as the Supreme Court is set to rule in the coming weeks on whether President Joe Bidens federal student loan forgiveness program can remain in effect.

The Federal Assistance to Initiate Repayment Act, led by Republicans on the House Education and Workforce Committee, would provide targeted student loan relief for borrowers who already paid back more than they originally owed taxpayers in principal and interest," streamline several existing income-driven repayment plans into one system and give borrowers in default another chance to rehabilitate their loans.

This Republican solution takes important steps to fix the broken student loan system, provide borrowers with clear guidance on repayment, and protect taxpayers from the economic fallout caused by the administrations radical free college agenda, Reps. Burgess Owens, R-Utah; Lisa McClain, R-Mich.; and Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., who chairs the committee, said in a statement.

The trio, who are the lead sponsors of the legislation, also criticized Biden's approach. With extension after extension, the Biden administration turned a short-term payment pause on student loans during the height of the pandemic into a three-year-long pause that cost American taxpayers billions to prop up, they said.

Federal student loan payments are set to resume at the end of August under an agreement in the debt ceiling law Biden signed this month. Payments have been paused since March 2020, when President Donald Trump signed the CARES Act into law; he and Biden both extended the pause.

Owens, McClain and Foxx said the extensions left schools, servicers, and students uncertain about the future, adding that borrowers need guidance. The new legislation would require the Education Department to notify student loan borrowers at least 12 times before repayments resume.

The bill would also end "time-based" student loan repayment, which allows borrowers to make the same recurring payments over time.

Meanwhile, a group of Senate Republicans led by Bill Cassidy of Louisiana introduced their own student debt-focused legislation Wednesday. The plan, separate from the House bill, is a package of five bills that would increase transparency around the cost of college and students loans, streamline repayment plan options and put "downward pressure on rising tuition costs by limiting graduate school borrowing," Cassidy said.

And unlike President Bidens plan, this actually addresses the root causes of the student debt crisis," he said.

Congress tried to stop Bidens plan to provide up to $20,000 in student debt relief for certain borrowers, but Biden vetoed the measure last week.

The Republican-led effort passed the House in May largely along party lines. The Senate approved the bill this month with a handful of moderate Democrats joining Republicans in support.

"I wont back down on helping hardworking folks. Thats why Im vetoing this bill, Biden tweeted at the time.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The News

The White House is still working on an executive order for restricting U.S. investments in China that could imperil national security. But some House Republicans are already threatening to try and stop it, warning an overly broad approach could cause chaos for investors trying to follow the law.

Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky. said the House Financial Services Committee, which he sits on, would look to block the White House executive order if it resembles legislation offered last Congress by Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas and Bob Casey, D-Pa., which would set up a screening process for U.S. investments into Chinese technology sectors. Instead, he said he and others on the panel want to take a precision approach to blocking sensitive outbound investments that sets clearer rules in advance for private sector players weighing deals.

Our default should always be that we dont counter China by becoming more like China, Barr, who said hes been in touch with leading business figures like JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, told Semafor. I think decoupling across the board is a mistake.

To be sure, the White House also isnt talking about decoupling. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said at a hearing this week decoupling from China would be disastrous. But the discussion of outbound investment is starting to generate some friction between the major players who will determine the policy.

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Patrick McHenry, R-N.C. told Semafor that he has raised concerns with the White House and that any solution needed to reflect U.S. values of open society, of rule of law, and speech rights.

Anything that goes beyond an entitys or an individuals designation, I think, is not in keeping with how weve done this over the last century, McHenry said.

He added the committee would keep all options on the table when asked about potential plans to disrupt the executive order. A letter he sent to House appropriators last month suggested not funding the outbound screening program.

Morgan's view

There is actually a fair amount of agreement in Washington on the general premise behind the White House executive order: restricting investments in China that impact U.S. national security.

The disagreement is over how policymakers accomplish that goal, and how far they go. Barr asked Yellen during the same hearing earlier this week to agree to pause work on the executive order until Congress acts (she declined to do so, saying it would be up to President Biden).

The order could come as soon as this summer, sources said, but it has faced repeat delays. Administration officials have said it would be targeted and tailored to address certain types of capital flows in technologies that present a national security risk because of their dual use in commercial and military means, like advanced semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.

I think it would need to be as narrow as possible and as clear as possible so that industry could understand exactly what is included and what is not, Grant Harris, an assistant secretary at the Commerce Department, recently said at an event hosted by the Center for a New American Security.

The White House is talking about creating a new tool to screen these transactions and has voiced support for similar bipartisan efforts in Congress. Sens. Casey and Cornyn havent reintroduced their legislation, though its expected to be rolled into a big China bill prioritized by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The House version, reintroduced last month, would apply the screening process to areas ranging from AI and quantum computing to critical minerals and pharmaceutical ingredients.

Barr, who also sits on the House select committee on China, thinks the problem can be solved by using already existing powers at the Treasury Department to impose blocking sanctions on companies tied to Chinas military and government surveillance, which he argued would give the most clarity to investors and also impact companies outside the U.S. His proposal is among a group that the House select committee on China is looking at to counter the flow of tech and capital to malign PRC entities, a committee aide said.

Room for Disagreement

Congressional gridlock might make it impossible to pass any bipartisan compromise on restricting investment in China.

McHenry, as the chair of the powerful Financial Services Committee, will be the ultimate decider of whether and what kind of legislation can pass the GOP-controlled House. He has sounded skeptical of the White Houses efforts and the idea of screening outbound investments altogether, and instead suggested relying on existing export controls and sanctions.

Were looking at legislation for the future but I dont have any announcements there, he told Semafor.

The View From Europe

Business leaders in Europe are closely watching a forthcoming blueprint on economic security that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will unveil next week on June 20. It is expected to address outbound investment screening for the member states.
The News

The signs of a split between House and Senate Republicans are growing as Capitol Hill barrels toward yet another major fight over the federal budget later this year.

Facing pressure from hard right lawmakers, House Republicans have begun writing budget bills for next year that on paper would spend almost $120 billion less than the amounts outlined in the debt ceiling deal Congress passed this month, setting the stage for another showdown with Democrats in the Senate and the White House that has already prompted speculation about a potential government shutdown in the fall.

But Republicans on the Senate appropriations committee arent showing any interest in going along with the Houses effort.

If you propose a compromise you need to tell the truth and tell people exactly what the compromise is, Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, a GOP appropriator, told Semafor. I can tell you that senators are tired of getting the compromise, voting for it or even not voting for it, and finding out later that wasn't the truth.

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the panels ranking GOP member, said last week she was surprised by the Houses move. On Thursday, Collins and Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the committees Democratic chair, announced plans to begin marking up appropriations bills at the levels contained in the debt ceiling bill.

[W]e are determined to make sure the Senates voice is heard in this process, the pair said in a joint statement.

Other members of the panel told Semafor they expected to stick to the terms laid out in the borrowing limit law.

I feel we struck an agreement that we will write to those numbers, said West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski warned that the lower chambers efforts to lowball the debt deal could trip up Congresss effort to reach an agreement on 12 separate budget bills, which lawmakers are attempting to do for the first time in 27 years. Its not going to be easy, given what we're seeing out of the House right now, she said.

Its a significant turnaround from the debt ceiling fight, where Senate Republicans lined up to support House Speaker Kevin McCarthy  a show of unity that gave Republicans more leeway in their fight with the White House.

Asked if House GOP members could expect the same backing from their upper chamber colleagues as during the debt ceiling fight, a Senate Republican aide was dismissive.

If by same amount of help you mean stay out of the way again, the answer is no, the aide said.

Joseph's view

The fact that Senate Republicans are already distancing themselves from the Houses latest effort to cut the budget is yet another sign that the next chapter of Capitol Hills spending fight could look like a rehash of the debt limit brawl that sucked up so much oxygen in Washington the first half of the year.

House Republicans started that process by drafting what amounted to a messaging bill that stood little chance in the Democratic-led Senate. McCarthy and his top lieutenants then used them as a jumping off point to negotiate relatively mild compromise legislation that passed with heavy help from Democrats.

Already, some moderate Republicans are predicting a replay.

Well produce conservative approps bills out of the House, but were in denial if we think the Senate or president wont have a say, Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska told Semafor. It wont be pretty, but well eventually find a consensus bill and that will pass.

Without backup from the Senate, Republicans in the lower chamber could find themselves with even less leverage in talks than last go-round, especially if they find themselves trying to make the public case for their position in the midst of a shutdown fight.

Room for Disagreement

House hardliners say they arent particularly worried about their upper chamber colleagues, or the possibility of a government shutdown.

I'm tired of tomorrow well cut. I'm tired of the Senate won't pass it, Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C. said earlier this week. I'm not in the Senate, and today is a real day.




A West New York police captain has been accused of stealing funds from the West New York Youth Police Academy, Inc. - a non-profit where he served as president, the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office stated.

Erwin Moreno, 49, has been charged with third-degree theft after an investigation by the prosecutor's Internal Affairs Unit. Prosecutors said Moreno used $60,000 of the youth group's funds for personal use from 2016 to 2023.

The West New York Police Department has cooperated fully in the investigation and will continue to do so, said West New York Deputy Chief Santiago Cabrera. We will continue acting to ensure that the West New York Police Department maintains the highest level of integrity and always remains committed to upholding both the law and the public trust.

Prosecutors said Moreno was released pending a first court appearance, set for June 29.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Police captain accused of stealing money from Hudson youth group
Kiba Walker in drag as Salem Moon addresses anti-drag protesters outside of Tulips on March 27, 2023. (Candice Bolden/cbolden@star-telegram.com)

Growing up in Nevada, Kiba Walker never saw anyone who was quite like him. Now, as a drag queen performing across Texas, the 28-year-old hopes to give LGBTQ+ youth an example of a queer person of color who unapologetically loves themselves.

In his persona as Salem Moon, Walker performs at shows, brunches, trivia nights and fundraisers. But recently, activists have shown up to protest the events, especially those that are open to families with children. Venues and performers now endure threats to their livelihoods and safety.

Walker and other performers worry what this means for young queer people in North Texas.

I dont understand how people can get away with telling kids who they can and cant be, Walker said. And why they think thats protecting them. Because ultimately its killing kids. Its killing their spirits and killing their souls.

Watch the video to hear more from Walker and other voices on the issue.
Hungarian government claims to not know about transfer of Ukrainian POWs from Russia

Deputy Prime Minister of Hungary Zsolt Szemien

Semjen first reported the transfer on June 9, though Kyiv was not informed. Efforts by the Ukrainian government to gain consular access to the transferred POWs have yet to be successful.

Read also: Hungarian PM voices support for China's peace plan

According to Radio Libertys sources, the transfer of these POWs was handled on Semjens personal initiative and his contacts with the Russian Orthodox Church.

These eleven soldiers were captured near Kupyansk in northeastern Ukraine, during heavy combat in that region in spring. All eleven have Hungarian names, though they dont consider themselves to be Hungarian.

Read also: Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto goes to China to discuss peace plan for Russia and Ukraine

Its still unknown how these soldiers were transferred to Hungary in the first place. Radio Libertys sources told the news service that they believe Semjen personally organized their transit through the EUs Schengen Zone. The location of these soldiers is still unclear.

Neither the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter Szijjarto, nor Gergely Gulyas, the Hungarian Minister of the Prime Ministers Office, was told about Semjens efforts, Radio Liberty reports. According to Radio Libertys sources, certain figures in the Hungarian government now fear a diplomatic rift with Ukraine, adding to already-existing tensions between Hungary and Ukraine, due to the formers often pro-Russian disposition and statements.

Read also: U.S. senator blocks arms sale to Hungary for stalling Swedens NATO bid  Washington Post

One source reportedly told Radio Liberty that it is now obvious that Russia has lever on the Hungarian government  at least on the vice-prime-minister level  leading to Budapests strategic silence on the matter, in hopes that it would be forgotten.

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
United Nations  The head of the United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency made his third trip to Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest atomic power station, this week in a bid to "prevent a nuclear accident." Ukraine accused Russia of blowing up the Kakhovka Dam, which Russian forces had occupied for months, a week and a half ago, threatening the vital cooling water supply to the sprawling nuclear plant.

The explosion at the dam sent water gushing out of the reservoir, flooding a wide region along the Dnieper River and cutting off the primary supply that fills a cooling pond at the Zaporizhzhia plant.

Russia accused Ukrainian forces of attacking the dam, but military analysts cast doubt on the claims as flooding the river valley stood to benefit Russia's forces as they try to repel a Ukrainian counteroffensive at various points along the 600-mile front line. Ukraine's president said it was "impossible" to have caused the damage done to the Russian-occupied dam with artillery, and said it was blown up "from inside."

Fighting has intensified around the Zaporizhzhia plant, which is also occupied by Russian forces, in recent months, with shelling knocking out the electricity supply to the facility seven times already, forcing it to rely on emergency diesel generators as Ukraine's infrastructure comes under increasing attack by Russian artillery.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi completed his latest visit to Zaporizhzhia Thursday and was expected to issue a full report on the safety of the facility in the coming days.

"We believe that we have gathered a good amount of information for an assessment of the situation and we will continue permanently monitoring the situation there in order to help prevent a nuclear accident," Grossi said in one of several videos he posted from the plant.

My statement from the contact point between Ukrainian and Russian forces as we return from the #Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. pic.twitter.com/E7y8HRVKAs  Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) June 15, 2023

"One of the most serious consequences of the destruction of the Kahkovka dam has been the decrease in the level of waters which are needed to cool the nuclear power plant behind me," Grossi said. "I'm here standing just at the intersection between the reservoir on my right and the river proper, and then behind me, which you can see, is the cooling pond, essential for the safety of this plant is the water that you see behind me stays at that level."

Russia's TASS news agency said Grossi was shown fragments of Ukrainian shells allegedly found on the grounds of the plant. Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of endangering the plant with artillery fire for months.

Grossi's long-standing appeal to the 15-nation U.N. Security Council to establish a safety zone around the nuclear plant has gone unheeded, and he said this week that he did not expect Moscow and Kyiv to sign a document on the site's security.

"Reaching a written agreement would be unrealistic at this stage because, as we know, there are no peace or ceasefire negotiations between the parties," he told reporters.

He recently presented a new plan of "five principles" to beef up the IAEA presence at the Russian-occupied facility, and a new team of international inspectors was rotated into the mission during his visit this week.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi visits the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and its surrounding area outside Enerhodar, southern Ukraine, June 15, 2023. / Credit: IAEA/Handout/REUTERS

"My visit to Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is the first after I established the IAEA 5 principles for protecting the plant and avoiding a nuclear accident, which reinforce the essential role of the IAEA Support and Assistance Mission at Zaporizhzhia," Grossi said.

He said the situation around the plant was "serious" but being "stabilized" after the blast at the dam.

In the days following the explosion, the head of Ukraine's nuclear energy company Energoatom, Petro Kotin, said there was no immediate threat to the Zaporizhzhia plant as there were "alternate replenishment sources" for the cooling pond.

The IAEA also voiced little immediate concern for the safety of the Zaporizhzhia facility in the wake of the dam explosion, but Grossi has consistently noted the importance of both sides in the war protecting the cooling pond at the nuclear plant.

Minneapolis PD regularly used excessive force, discriminated: DOJ investigation

Supreme Court issues 2 rulings, has not yet ruled on student loan, affirmative action cases

3 years after George Floyd death, DOJ to release Minneapolis Police investigation findings
According to an article by Block Club Chicago in March 2023, a law ending cash bail throughout Illinois is going to the states Supreme Court.

Originally, the state was going to eliminate cash bail at the start of 2023. But there was a delay. Why? Various prosecutors and sheriffs in Illinois mentioned the legal challenges.

Those in favor of bringing an end to cash bail say insist their position is justified. The crux of their argument is that cash bail policies are discriminatory. People at or below the poverty line dont have the resources to pay.

What Is The SAFE-T Act?

During the November 2022 elections, the SAFE-T Act was a point of contention on social media and elsewhere.

SAFE-T is an acronym for safety, accountability, fairness and equity- today. The governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker, signed it into law the preceding year.

According to Capitol News Illinois, a democrat, Rep. Kam Buckner, said the SAFE-T Act was a step in a good direction. To him, it was the first stab at addressing bad blood between minority communities and law enforcement, and public safety in general.

Buckner said, there is no such thing as perfect legislation. But I think all legislation can be perfected if its handled the right way,

Capitol News Illinois said Illinois Republicans took issue. Some of them blasted the act as a de facto defund the police bill, due to its added training and equipment requirements and purported effect on officer morale, even though it doesnt directly affect law enforcement funding.

Original Reporting

Illinois is passing a law that some would say will make history. Its looking to be the first state in the United States to abolish cash bail. And the consequences of passing such a law have many believing the state could mirror the horror movie The Purge. In the film, citizens were given 24 hours to commit all the crimes they wanted.

Photo Credit: Ron Lach

Non-Detainable Offenses

There are 12 non-detainable offenses where the new law would end cash bail. The law includes second-degree murder, arson, drug-induced homicide, robbery, kidnapping, aggravated battery, burglary, intimidation, aggravated driving under the influence, fleeing and eluding, drug offenses, and threatening a public official.

Im very concerned about an increase in violent crime. But again I do want to stress there is still time to fix it. And the states attorneys are working very hard as we have been for the last year and a half to fix this law. It is very fixable, where we can still eliminate cash bail but make sure the right people are in custody and everybody else whos not a danger gets out, said states attorney Robert Berlin.

The Safe-T Act would allow criminals a pre-trial release for the crimes listed above. And if prosecutors fail to show clear and convincing evidence that the alleged could be a threat to a specific individual. Unfortunately, the consequences of the Safe-T Act make an impact on how fast arrested criminals must be dealt with. Because prosecutors would only have 48 hours to decide whether the alleged criminal should be released. Investigators believe that 48 hours isnt enough time to collect valuable evidence from surveillance cameras, laboratory work, and forensic research.

Reason For SAFE-T Act

As controversial as this law could be, lets look at how this came about. For many years in the United States, many have called to abolish the cash bail system. Three out of five people that are in jail have not been convicted of any crimes. Thats about half a million people wasting away in jail cells before theres even a trial because of the lack of actually investigating and research.

The Center For American Progress believes the cash bail system in most jurisdictions across the US are criminalizing poverty. Most in detention cant afford the bail and spend weeks to even months, awaiting trial. This system mostly affects communities of color who already have the odds stacked against them across the country.

Hence, studies show that pretrial detention can actually increase a persons likelihood of rearrest upon release, perpetuating an endless cycle of arrest and incarceration, stated the institute.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny director James Mangold has explained why Shia LaBeouf will not be reprising his role as the titular archaeologists son, Mutt.

LaBeouf, 37, debuted the role in 2008s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull directed by Steven Spielberg.

Asked about LaBeoufs absence at the Dial of Destiny premiere this week, Mangold told Variety: I think the point I had was that when I came on, I wanted to capture that wonderful energy between Indy and an intrepid female character.

The franchises fifth instalment sees the new addition of Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge, 37, as Indianas goddaughter Helena who helps him on his new quest.

So that was my first goal, and theres only so many people you can edge into a picture, Mangold added.

The maligned fourth film in the Indiana Jones franchise, starring LaBeouf, was widely panned by critics.

At the end of the movie, it is heavily hinted that Mutt would be Indianas successor as the adventurers iconic hat is seen flying in the breeze and landing at Mutts feet.

Harrison Ford (left) and Shia LaBeouf in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Lucasfilm)

However, screenwriter David Koepp revealed in 2017 that LaBeouf would not be reprising his role.

LaBeouf criticized the production in a 2010 interview with the Los Angeles Times. He said that he dropped the ball on the legacy that people loved and cherished, and that Harrison Ford wasnt happy with the film either.

Ford, 80, later responded by calling his costar a f***ing idiot for making the comments.

In recent years, the Even Stevens star has been repeatedly mired in controversy.

The actor is currently fighting a legal battle over allegations of abuse made against him by his former partner, the musician known as FKA Twigs.

Though he denied each of the allegations, LaBeouf admitted to being aggressive and mentioned his alcohol addiction, stating: Im not in any position to tell anyone how my behaviour made them feel. I have no excuses for my alcoholism or aggression, only rationalisations.

You can read a full breakdown of LaBeoufs career and controversies here.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is out in theatres on 30 June.
Tribeca Film Festival

Many artists have a sole principle that guides their careers and draws them to certain projects. Legendary costume designer and self-described put-together artist Patricia Field, knows when a combination of patterns, a retro camera phone case or a $5 tutu works for a character simply when it makes her happy.

I like happy clothes because I like happy, she says in her new documentary Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival this week. [Clothes] can be different colors, they just have to be happy together.

Happy Clothes, directed by Michael Selditch, is a loosely structured look at the New York City icons indelible contributions to film and television over her decade-spanning careermost famously, her Emmy-winning, iconic work on HBOs Sex and The City.

More of a messy patchwork of career highlights than a standard, chronological overview, the film takes viewers down a rabbit hole of Fields acid-colored creations and endeavors, including her former downtown boutique that became a legendary LGBTQ hub. Along the way, audiences are treated with testimonials from celebrities, friends, and even her former partner Rebecca Weinberg, all praising her genius and refreshing generosity.

I Lived My Best Carrie Bradshaw Life at New Yorks Sex and the City Exhibit

The movie begins by swooping in on Fields present-day life, ahead of her 80th birthday. The fuchsia-haired stylist, accompanied by her younger assistants, is visiting various showrooms, collecting eccentric finds for her latest assignment, the Starz show Run The World. At the same time, shes working on her autobiography Pat In The City: My Life Of Fashion Style and Breaking All The Rules, which was released in February.

For any icon, the joint arrival of a documentary and a memoiralthough, in the doc, Field recoils at the term for sounding too finalsignals a bowing-out. At the end of the film, Field even hints that it may be time for her to retire soon. (Although, the recent news that she dressed Kim Cattrall for her solo scene inAnd Just Like That Season 2 would say otherwise.)

When The Daily Beasts Obsessed asked Field what compelled her to commemorate her life in print and on film, she said the timing of both projects was simply a coincidence.

Tribeca Film Festival

I actually don't think it really started within my consciousness, she said over Zoom. Other than [that] I'm prone to new adventures.

I remember when I was in Bergdorf Goodman one day, she said. I saw this book. And it was [New York icon]Betty Halbreich in some kind of a cocoon on the cover. And it caught my eye. And from that experience, I contacted the [books] writer Rebecca Paley, and we worked closely together.

Happy Clothes was a product of happenstance, too. Selditch interviewed Field for his 2019 CNN docu-series on American fashion, American Style, and instantly fell in love with her sense of humor and sharp intellect. Given the rich tapestry of Field's career and identity as a Greek-Armenian, queer, underground it girl, he was dying to make her his next subject.

John Lamparski/Getty Images

There are a lot of elements to Pat that are really compelling, Selditch said. From the beginning, for Pat to be in her twenties in the 60s and open up her own shop as an independent woman, a first-generation American, openly gayI mean, that takes a lot of courage and guts. And I think that going with her gut is something that I have noticed as Ive studied Pat's world.

Field is constantly alluding to her gut instinct and anarchic spirit throughout the film. Style, as opposed to fashion, can forgo any logic or rationale. But theres something especially alchemical about watching her pull what others might write off as a gaudy pair of pants or blazer from a rack and immediately knowing that it works. Although what she does, of course, requires knowledge and skill on top of her own innate taste.

Shes not held back by somebody saying something negative, Seldith said. If shes feeling it, she goes with her gut, and is never thinking about how can I do this or how can I become famous? Or how can I make this thing iconic? These things just happened because of her instincts.

When it comes to choosing projects to work on, Field cant fully articulate what it takes to make her say yes to a show or movie either. However, for Run The World, a Sex and the City-inspired comedy-drama with an all-Black cast, she had an explicit reason for why she was so thrilled to work on that series.

Tribeca Film Festival

When I received the phone call about doing the costumes for Starz, I was like, Ive never done a Black cast before, she said. I was so happy to have this opportunity to do this show and that I was asked to do it, because you would think that they would call somebody from the Black community. And I admire Black women, particularly, because they care about themselves. Theyre not just walking around [looking like] a mess.

Fields contributions on the hit Netflix series Emily in Paris was

a result of her previous collaboration with Sex and The City creator Darren Star, who also appears in the documentary. Most of the films and television series Field has worked on seem to exist in these bustling urban landscapes centered around women, whether its Ugly Betty, The Devil Wears Prada, Murphy Brown, Cashmere Mafia, or Confessions of a Shopaholic. In the film, she notes that she could never work on a war film or a vampire movie.

Thanks to Emily in Paris, the Kir Royale Will Be 2023s Hottest Drink

The documentary chronicles all of the television stars Field has collaborated with, but shines a spotlight on her longtime friendship with Kim Cattrall, who discusses the connection they formed on the set of Sex and the City. In addition to dressing for her highly anticipated AJLT cameo, she was also recruited by the Mannequin star to help with the wardrobe on her upcoming Netflix show Glamorous. While Field said she cant speak about the former, she echoes Cattralls sentiments about their bond in the doc.

Sex and The City went on and on and on, she said. And Kim and Is relationship grew. It helps me to feel that way because it helps me to put the character and the actor together. So [Cattrall] was definitely going to be in the documentary. As a matter of fact, she said shes going to pick me up and drive me [to the premiere.]

In addition to Cattrall, most, if not, all of the talking heads in Happy Clothes praise Fields collaborative spirit and her openness to receiving actors input. These anecdotes reminded me of a recent episode of the pop-culture podcast Like a Virgin, where Ugly Betty actor Mark Indelicato recalled his experiences being warmly embraced and considered by her as a nascent child actor, noting that she never looked at one character as a throwaway.

She really does listen to all the people around her, especially the young people around her, Selditch told me.

Theres no way I could be a control freak, Field said. Thats not my role.

Ultimately, Happy Clothes unveils a passion for people beneath Fields passion for style, specifically the youth. When I ask her if she still feels the same sense of optimism observing young people today with all their heavily mocked TikTok fashions and recycled looks, Field has nothing but kind words.

I'm very happy with the energy of younger people, Field said. And I learned from younger people as well, because, you know, the world is changing very rapidly. I was born way before computers.So I find it challenging. And if I didn't have young people around me, I probably would be lost. They bring another energy, another attitude.

Keep obsessing! Sign up for the Daily Beasts Obsessed newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

Read more of our And Just Like That... coverage HERE.

I Hate That Kim Cattrall and Samantha Are Coming Back to And Just Like That

I Lived My Best Carrie Bradshaw Life at New Yorks Sex and the City Exhibit

And Just Like That Season 2 Trailer: Grief Sex, Aidan, and the Inglorious Return of Che Diaz

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Premier's European tour to bolster ties, ministry says

08:20, June 16, 2023 By CAO DESHENG ( Chinadaily.com.cn

Premier Li Qiang will start a European tour on Sunday, his first overseas visit since taking office in March.

The six-day trip, which will take him to Germany and France, is considered by observers as a trip to enhance China's cooperation with the two major European countries and contribute to the healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations.

Li's visit is at the invitation of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the French government, according to the Foreign Ministry. It comes against the backdrop of complex changes in the international situation, the rising challenges of geopolitical competition, the lingering Ukraine crisis and the slow world economic recovery.

The premier's choice of Germany and France as the destinations of his first overseas visit fully demonstrates China's high regard for the development of its ties with the two countries, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Thursday.

Speaking at a regular news conference, Wang said that in addition to making an official visit to both Germany and France, Li will hold the seventh China-Germany intergovernmental consultation in Berlin and attend the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris.

During his stay in Germany, Li will also attend the 11th Sino-German Economic and Technical Cooperation Forum and have in-depth exchanges with representatives of the business communities from both countries, Wang said.

In the face of the tumultuous international situation, a weak global economic recovery and mounting common challenges facing humanity, China hopes to deepen and expand relations with Germany, Wang said.

This way, both countries will send a positive signal by strengthening dialogue and cooperation, upholding mutual benefit and win-win results, and jointly responding to global challenges, and thus contribute to world economic prosperity, peace and stability, he added.

Regarding Li's visit to France, Wang said the premier will take the opportunity to promote the continuous development of the China-France comprehensive strategic partnership and contribute to the healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations.

Wang spoke highly of the significance of the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact initiated by French President Emmanuel Macron, saying that as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and responsible major powers, China and France play an important role in upholding multilateralism and promoting international cooperation to respond to global challenges.

A recent poll by the European Council on Foreign Relations found that the prevailing view is that China is a "necessary partner". A large majority of Europeans want to remain neutral between China and the United States and are reluctant to "de-risk" from China, according to the poll results, which were released on June 7.

Many European leaders, including European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Macron and German Chancellor Scholz, have said recently that "decoupling" from China is neither viable nor desirable, and they underlined the importance of maintaining contact and cooperation with China.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
The Nishan Dialogue on Digital Civilization will take place from June 25 to 27 in Qufu, Jining, E China's Shandong province, according to the press conference held today in Beijing. The event, hosted by World Internet Conference (WIC) and organized by People's Government of Shandong Province, will focus on "building a digital world of exchanges, mutual learning and inclusiveness in the age of artificial intelligence".



The main forum will further explore how to use artificial intelligence technology to lead the development of the digital world where tradition encounters the emerging.

Topics will be discussed such as "building secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence", "artificial intelligence enabling various industries", and "the future of human civilization in the era of artificial intelligence".

To explore in what form artificial intelligence will contribute to the development of human civilization in Nishan, the birthplace of Confucius and Confucianism, is of special meaning to the world.

A series of special activities will be held, including a symposium for WIC members, a launching ceremony of the AI public welfare action plan, a digital culture performance, and light shows to showcase the creative transformation and innovative development of excellent traditional Chinese culture in the digital era.
Inspired by heroes who saved her life, Norwood teen aspires to be first responder

Inspired by the first responders who saved her life nearly eight years ago, a Norwood teen is heading to college this fall to study criminal justice and become a police officer.

In Sept. 2015, 10-year-old Alex Nicholls was walking hand-in-hand with her father Jason in the parking lot of Roche Bros. in West Roxbury when an 87-year-old driver unknowingly struck her and dragged her several feet.

An off-duty firefighter dropped his groceries and sprang into action, turning off the car that was on top of Alex and helping her dad, as well as a doctor and some other Good Samaritans, lift the vehicle off her.

Shortly after the accident, Boston 25 News met Alex while she was recovering at Childrens Hospital with a sprained ankle, a chipped tooth and road rash all over her body. She would spend about a month in a wheelchair and another few weeks on crutches.

Young Alex shared her gratitude for the off-duty firefighters and arriving EMTs who not only treated but also comforted her.

Thank you for everything, she said from her hospital room with her Barbie doll at her side. Im really grateful.

Eight years later, that gratitude hasnt waned. Boston 25 News reunited with Alex at her Norwood home where she moved with her family after the accident.

I feel like I probably shouldnt have made it, but I did, so I feel pretty lucky, Alex said. After [the accident], I kind of knew what I wanted to do. I wanted to go into the [police] force and be able to help people, like how the EMTs and fire firefighters did with me that day.

Last week, Alex, now 17 years old, graduated with honors from Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton. She will attend Dean College in the fall and plans to study criminal justice.

While Alexs father hopes she chooses a path that is safer and less stressful, he knows she will succeed at whatever she does.

The fact that the first responders were so great with her, from the firefighter to the EMTs, really changed her life, Jason Nicholls said. She looks up to them, and she wants to do it.

He also understands his daughters desire to honor the people who saved her life.

Had it not been for that off-duty firefighter, I wouldnt have a daughter today, he said. Im just so happy my daughters alive. I mean, shes scarred for life, but Im just so happy shes here. I walk by her bed every day and thank God.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
WASHINGTON  Boxes of documents former President Donald Trump allegedly warehoused at his Mar-a-Lago resort and residence in Florida included national security intelligence derived from some of the countrys most sensitive sources, a situation experts said could prove seriously damaging.

The information squirreled away at the so-called winter White House  in a bathroom and shower and bedroom, on a stage, in a storage room, and in office space  featured data from the National Reconnaissance Office and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, according to federal court records made public earlier this month.

The former develops, launches and operates spy satellites. The latter analyzes overhead imagery, maps the Earth for military purposes and handles Project Maven, launched by the Pentagon in 2017 to detect targets of interest in footage captured by uncrewed systems.

Trump faces Espionage Act charges, which covers a lot more than spying

Details were also attributed to the Energy Department, a steward of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile through its National Nuclear Security Administration, and the State Departments intelligence and research bureau, responsible for providing data to shape diplomacy.

The NRO and NGA both referred C4ISRNET inquiries to the Justice Department. A spokesperson there said the department was limited to the information contained in the indictment. The Energy Department did not respond to a request for comment.

Papers please

The files Trump is accused of mishandling and conspiring to keep contained insights concerning nuclear weapons, the military capabilities of other countries, activities in foreign lands and potential stateside vulnerabilities.

Pages were marked secret and top secret as well as with more-arcane designations such as NOFORN and ORCON, REL TO USA, FVEY, TK and FISA, according to a list in the 49-page indictment.

The markings strictly define who can see what, and indicate from where the knowledge came: no foreign distribution; no dissemination outside a certain department; available to properly credentialed officials within the Five Eyes alliance, involving Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the U.K.; sourced from satellite observation, or so-called talent keyhole; and tied to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

Definitions for top secret, secret and confidential classifications are seen here, part of the 49-page indictment against former President Donald Trump. (Screenshot/Southern District of Florida)

While it is difficult to discern exactly how precious information is based on labels alone, given the prevalence of over-classification, not every document that is classified is unnecessarily classified, Elizabeth Goitein, the senior director of the liberty and national security program at the Brennan Center for Justice, told C4ISRNET. Trump had so many of these documents  and some of them were the sort of highest levels of classification  theres certainly a very, very good chance that there was some extremely sensitive information in there.

As president, Trump had at his fingertips the most exquisite information gathered by the U.S. government and its agents. Access dries up after leaving office. However, the feds allege, Trump caused his boxes, containing hundreds of classified documents, to be transported from the White House to the Mar-a-Lago Club where in at least one instance containers tipped over, spilling their contents across the floor.

Snowden, Manning, Teixeira

Any unauthorized disclosure of such information, the indictment states, could jeopardize U.S. security, international relationships and covert sources in the field.

The exposure of classified information in and of itself can cause damage to the national security, Bradley Moss, a national security attorney, told C4ISRNET. The fact these materials not only were classified as high as top secret/SCI, but concerned issues such as war plans and details on nuclear weaponry, indicates they were incredibly sensitive and were never meant to be shared widely within the cleared community, let alone with non-cleared individuals.

The circumstance is unprecedented, Moss added, in the sense that it was done by a former president and that the individual failed to return the records when asked to do so. Leakers of classified information such as Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning exposed highly sensitive details of U.S. government operations, as did Jack Teixeira, allegedly.

Zero trust would have helped prevent Pentagon leak, CIO Sherman says

Snowden was a former American contractor who made public the existence of global surveillance dragnets. The U.S. government deemed him a traitor. He was later granted Russian citizenship. Manning, once an Army analyst, was convicted in 2013 after she fed WikiLeaks hundreds of thousands of records pertaining to Iraq and Afghanistan. Then-President Barack Obama commuted her sentence.

Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, is accused of leaking via Discord a trove of guarded reports, including some tied to the Russia-Ukraine war.

I think when people talk about leaks, theyre talking about leaks to the media, or theyre talking about leaks to a foreign adversary. Hes not accused of that, the Brennan Centers Goitein said of Trump. However, plenty of people have been charged and imprisoned for willfully retaining documents they were not entitled to retain.

Whats to come

Trump this week pleaded not guilty to 37 felony counts during an arraignment in Miami. The former president  who is running for reelection in 2024, and who has doubled down on conspiracy theories  described the charges against him as the product of a most evil and heinous abuse of power.

This is called election interference in yet another attempt to rig and steal a presidential election, Trump told supporters in New Jersey on Tuesday. More importantly, its a political persecution, like something straight out of a fascist or communist nation.

The 2020 presidential election wasnt stolen, and there is no evidence of tampering or widespread voter fraud.

Booz Allen can proceed with EverWatch acquisition, federal judge rules

Special counsel Jack Smith, who brought the charges against Trump, said he is a seeking a speedy trial and one consistent with the public interest and the rights of the accused. Speedy, though, could mean months or even years, potentially clashing with a bustling presidential campaign schedule.

Trumps likely course of action, Moss said, is to attempt to cripple, if not outright throw out the case during the upcoming pre-trial motion phase. A jury would not be allowed to view the documents in question and would have to rely on their public descriptions to determine significance.

They will raise objections regarding use of privileged testimony by Mr. Corcoran, seek to tarnish the governments case with allegations of prosecutorial misconduct, and seek to argue about selective prosecution for political motivations, Moss told C4ISRNET. Evan Corcoran joined Trumps legal team in early 2022. These arguments are not likely to succeed, but they represent his best hope of beating back this indictment.
Miriam Santanas life changed after taking her father to an appointment at Healthcare Network three years ago.

She sat in her car after dropping him off at the nonprofits Nichols Community Health Center in Golden Gate. She logged onto the organizations website.

Santana decided right then and there to apply for a job with the medical provider that predominantly serves underprivileged populations in Collier County.

She was hired in 2020 as a COVID-19 screener for the front lobby. A year later she enrolled in the organizations medical assistant training program. She recently passed a national exam and is a certified clinical medical assistant.

Facing shortages of medical workers similar to hospitals, physician practices and other health-care settings in a fast-growing state of both retirees and families, Healthcare Network has adopted a grow your own approach to filling vacancies.

More: Waiting to see a doctor? SWFL hospitals battle shortage in primary care physicians

With two classes completed so far, the nonprofit has filled seven medical assistant positions. There are 11 vacancies out of 32 positions for medical assistants combined at the organizations 15 locations, according to Valerie Sattler, director of clinical education for the organization.

The third class starts June 26 with nine enrollees who are a mix of employees as internal candidates and outside applicants accepted into the program, Sattler said.

Miriam Santana, of Naples, trained at Healthcare Network to become a medical assistant.

Medical assistants perform crucial duties of taking patient vitals, asking intake questions that include about medications; they can administer some tests and provide vaccines, Sattler said. The hourly pay range is $17.58 to $19.33.

I was in the first class, Santana, 24, said. It was a very intense class and fast paced.

How bad is need for these workers?

In a survey last year, 44% of group practices said finding medical assistants was the most challenging job to fill, according to Medical Group Management Association, an industry leader on data and trends for medical practice management.

Lizbet Vela, trained at Healthcare Network as a medical assistant

Roughly half of the groups said they resorted to hiring people without clinical backgrounds or hired certified nursing assistants, licensed practical nurses and even registered nurses.

Florida has 57,100 medical assistants currently and job growth is projected at 30% from 2020 to 2030 for 9,300 new positions, according to the Occupational Information Network sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.

The median hourly wage in Florida for medical assistants is $18.40, according to the website.

The growth in the number of medical assistants that will be needed in Florida is nearly double the 16% projected growth in the occupation nationwide.

Whats required to become a medical assistant?

The state of Florida does not spell out what training medical assistants must have, Sattler said.

In Florida you dont need formal training or education to become a medical assistant, Sattler said. You dont have to be certified.

There are advantages to formal training, such as knowledge of evidence-based medicine, she said.

Helping out: Collier leaders find grant money to keep outreach workers in Immokalee

When the medical assistant training program was launched in August 2021, it involved 16 weeks of classroom learning along with clinical work but the program has since changed, Sattler said.

Now a combined 18 weeks of classroom and hands-on clinical training is involved totaling 720 hours that complies with the guidelines of the American Medical Technologists, a nonprofit, to become a registered medical assistant, she said.

A new career direction for some

Lisbet Vela, 30, of LaBelle, lost her job at wireless company after the devastation of a death in her family.

She initially tried to get into a licensed practical nurse training program in LaBelle but the program was full.

A friend who works at Healthcare Network encouraged her to apply to the medical assistant training program.

She convinced me to try it, Vela said, adding that her husband also encouraged her. He wanted me to have a career. Im still learning a lot.

Jenni Ramirez, 23, a patient service representative at Healthcare Network in Immokalee, is enrolled in the class starting June 26.

She lives with her boyfriend, who is in landscaping, and together they are raising a son. Ramirez said she's always been interested in health care so it seems like a good a career move.

I am counting the days, she said.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Time for a job change? Florida needs 9,300 medical assistants by 2030
Iowa supreme court justices in deadlock over abortion decision: No 6-week ban (for now)

Iowa's long-blocked six-week abortion ban will remain permanently enjoined after the state Supreme Court deadlocked on whether it should be revived.

Gov. Kim Reynolds had asked the court to reinstate the law, which never took effect after it was passed in 2018, in the wake of major decisions last year limiting abortion protections under the Iowa and U.S. constitutions.

In opinions released Friday, Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen and Justices Edward Mansfield and Thomas Waterman favored affirming a district court's order blocking the law; Justices Christopher McDonald, Matthew McDermott and David May favored reversing the district court.

The 3-3 split  Justice Dana Oxley was recused from the case  means the district court's order is affirmed and that the law will remain permanently blocked.

Waterman, in the opinion joined by Christensen and Mansfield, wrote that it would be "legislating from the bench" to allow the law to go into effect.

"The State ... now asks our court to do something that has never happened in Iowa history: to simultaneously bypass the legislature and change the law... and then to dissolve an injunction to put a statute into effect for the first time in the same case in which that very enactment was declared unconstitutional years earlier," Waterman wrote.

McDonald, in the opinion joined by McDermott and May, argued that the abortion ban should be allowed to take effect, as the injunction was based upon court decisions that have since been overturned.

"When a case adjudging a statute unconstitutional is overruled, the statute becomes operative without reenactment. This has been 'well settled' law in this state for more than a century," he wrote. "There is no 'legal uncertainty' under Iowa law; there is only my colleagues refusal to apply 'well settled' Iowa law."

The court's 64 pages of opinions are biting. McDonald called Waterman, Christensen and Mansfield "a three-person super general assembly," writing that they "set aside that respect and caution" in their decision to not allow the law to take effect.

"I disagree with this results-oriented approach to deciding cases," he wrote.

Waterman emphasized that dissolving the injunction would be "unprecedented." He cited a 2021 Supreme Court decision that prohibits police officers from searching a person's trash without a warrant.

"It would be ironic and troubling for our court to become the first state supreme court in the nation to hold that trash set out in a garbage can for collection is entitled to more constitutional protection than a womans interest in autonomy and dominion over her own body," he wrote.

What led up to this Iowa Supreme Court abortion decision?

The Iowa Legislature passed the so-called fetal heartbeat law in 2018, and Reynolds signed it. It would ban nearly all abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, when the first cardiac impulses can be detected in an embryo.

Opponents quickly filed the suit that resulted in the district court's decision blocking the law from ever taking effect.

The state did not immediately appeal that decision. But the legal landscape for abortion law has shifted drastically since then. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled last summer that the state constitution does not protect a fundamental right to an abortion, and the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case, which had legalized abortion nationwide.

As a result, Reynolds asked the courts to reconsider the six-week abortion ban. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in April on whether the state should lift the 2019 injunction on the law and allow it to take effect.

Is abortion still legal in Iowa? By default, yes

Abortion is still legal in Iowa. Friday's ruling does not change Iowa's abortion laws.

Abortion is currently legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. Patients must wait at least 24 hours between their initial appointment and the procedure.

What is the legal standard for abortion in Iowa? It's still unclear

Courts in the U.S. must decide whether laws wrongfully restrict an individual's liberty or impose justifiable limits. To do this, laws are considered under a set of legal standards. If a law impacts a person's fundamental rights, it must meet the highest legal standard of "strict scrutiny."

Until reversing itself last year, the Iowa Supreme Court had considered abortion a fundamental right under the state constitution  so courts were likely to strike down any laws restricting abortion.

The U.S. Supreme Court in 1992 established an intermediate standard for abortion laws: "undue burden." That standard focuses on whether a law excessively limits a woman's ability to obtain an abortion.

But it reversed that precedent in its Dobbs decision last summer overturning Roe v. Wade, ruling that abortion laws should be subject to what is called "rational-basis review," the lowest and most permissive standard for constitutionality challenges. To pass this test, laws need only to represent a legitimate state interest and have a rational connection between their means and goals.

Iowa's Supreme Court also reversed its position on abortion last year, overturning the 2018 decision finding a fundamental right to abortion under the state constitution. But Mansfield, who authored the 2022 decision, wrote that "we do not at this time decide what constitutional standard should replace it," leaving unclear what the standard going forward would be.

Friday's outcome, with no majority, leaves that question once again unresolved.

Stephen Gruber-Miller and Michaela Ramm contributed reporting.

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register, a member of the USA TODAY Network. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or on Twitter at @DMRMorris. Katie Akin is a politics reporter for the Register. Reach her at kakin@registermedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @katie_akin.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Iowa supreme court decision on abortion in deadlock: no ban enacted
HAVANA, Cuba (AP)  Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi met with Cuban leader Miguel Diaz-Canel on Thursday, wrapping up a Latin America trip that also included visits to Iran's two other allies in the region  Venezuela and Nicaragua.

During a trade forum with local businesspeople in Havana, Raisi said Cuba and Iran would seek to work together in biotechnology, mining, electricity generation and other areas.

I hope this meeting will help facilitate integration as well as an exchange of ideas and opinions," Raisi said.

Unlike his previous stops in Nicaragua and Venezuela, Raisi refrained from making harsh comments in public against Washington or the economic sanctions imposed on his country and its three allies in the region.

After the forum, Raisi and Diaz-Canel toured biotechnology production plants in the western part of the capital, then headed to a closed-door reception at Cuba's Palace of the Revolution.

The leaders also signed several agreements on customs, justice, telecommunications and diplomatic action.

While the scope of the agreements was not yet clear, the energy sector is one of particular importance for Cuba, where fuel shortages have increased dramatically in the past weeks amid a severe economic crisis.

Raisi's tour of allied nations in Latin America comes amid rising tensions with the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden.

Asked about Raisi's Latin America tour earlier this month, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby declined to comment on the Iranian leader or his agenda. But Kirby acknowledged the administration was concerned about Irans destabilizing behavior, and said it will continue to take steps to mitigate that behavior.

The U.S. has accused Iran of providing Russia with materials to build a drone manufacturing plant east of Moscow, while the Kremlin seeks to ensure a steady supply of weapons for its invasion of Ukraine. U.S. intelligence officials believe the plant in Russia could start operations early next year, but Iran has said it supplied drones to Russia before the start of the war.
Connecting Black brands with their Black consumers is always important. Now, the Thurgood Marshall Fund is partnering with Ivy Beauty to do just that by giving scholarships to college students.

Ivy Beauty is partnering with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) to launch its Ivy Beauty scholarship program for the 2022 to 2023 academic year. The program will award 20 students who attend a TMCF member school in scholarship funds for the academic year 2023-2024.

Ivy is the parent company of brands, like i-ENVY, Red by Kiss, Kiss New York Professional, Ruby Kisses, Gold Finger and Mad Shade. Its mission is to encourage an unwavering commitment to ethics, integrity, and excellence. The company does so by offering consumers cosmetics of the highest quality, efficacy and safety. TMCF is the nations largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF scholarships are merit and need-based. They address the growing financial needs of students attending college.

We are so excited to be able to make a direct impact improving the lives on talented and deserving students offering them financial support and helping them further their education. At Ivy Beauty, we find it incredibly important to help the next generation succeed and flourish, and to support the lives of underserved communities, a representative for Ivy Beauty said in a statement.

The Scholarship Process

Applicants must be enrolled full-time at a TMCF member school during the 2023 to 2024 school year. Additionally, applicants must have a current cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher. The must demonstrate leadership abilities, establish a financial need and be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. The scholarship program is open to all majors.

Applications opened on June 5. Students can apply through the TMCF website until the scholarship applications close on July 31. TMCF will review, score and verify all applications. The team will give out the scholarships in 2024.

The post Ivy Beauty and Thurgood Marshall College Fund Announce Scholarship Program appeared first on 21Ninety.
The Scene

On Tuesday morning, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance rolled out the latest of his bipartisan bills  a team-up with Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin that would require tech developed by taxpayer dollars to be built in America.

Hours later, Vance announced that hed slow down nearly all Department of Justice confirmations to protest the prosecution of Donald Trump, who he said was merely the latest victim of an administration that cares more about politics than law enforcement.

Six months into his Senate career, Vance has surprised Democrats with his eagerness to co-sponsor legislation and sell it to his conservative base. In an interview with SemaforVance said he was working to harmonize the very justified MAGA impulse that conservatives never fight with the middle of the road impulse that this town isn't doing anything.

The first real test of the theory could come within weeks, when a railway safety bill, developed with Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown after the February derailment in East Palestine, reaches the Senate floor.

Weve managed to accomplish some things  or, at the least, begin the process of accomplishing some things  while simultaneously making voters that sent me here happy, said Vance.

David's view

Vances 2022 Senate campaign was so alienating to progressives, and so helped by Donald Trumps intervention, that Democrats were caught off guard by his eagerness to co-sponsor legislation.

We hear from the same people. Were working on this together. We have very few differences on it, almost none, said Brown, Vances co-sponsor on rail safety. His most important job, in my opinion, is to deliver 15 or so Republicans here.

That job requires him to speak MAGA in the conservative media world, where Vance has been an eager attack dog. His collaboration with Brown began even after hed taken a prominent role bashing President Bidens response to the rail disaster and complaining that the administration was talking about how we have too many white-male construction workers instead of fixing it.

The railway safety bill has gotten most of the attention; its got the best and earliest chance of passage. But Vance has also joined forces with Minnesota Sen. Amy Kobuchar on preventing catalytic converter theft; with Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren on getting guardsmen and reservists earlier access to healthcare; with Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly on speeding up manufacturing starts in rural areas; and with Warren, again, on clawing back executive compensation when banks fail.

We actually want to make change, Warren told Politico earlier this month, explaining the collaboration with Vance.

The presidential campaign so far  its race to the right, its all-absorbing debates about Trump  hasnt impacted any of this. Senators whove worked with Vance told Semafor that his pro-Trump nominee blockade wasnt an impediment to working with him.

When people go through the weekly, monthly work weve got to do here, we learn to work together, said Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa.

Negative coverage of what Vance is trying to do, from the left, wasnt impacting it either. Brown pushed back against a Lever News story that linked the American Chemistry Councils support for the bill to its lobbying to push back the timeline for requiring safer tank cars. Its a little bit like MPG standards in cars, Brown said. As much as I wanted to accelerate that, you cant do it that quickly.

But Vances long-term project is building a more populist right, led in the short term by Trump, and using the states power in ways that sometimes overlap with the progressive movement. The left wants universal healthcare; he wants free healthcare for mothers and babies.

We have to figure out a way to  for political reasons  convince people that we're pro-life not just until the moment the baby's born, and  for moral reasons  actually have to make it easier to have children and raise families in this country, Vance said. That didnt mean the back-door single-payer that progressives might want. The compromise could come through currently existing insurance: If you're required to provide contraception, you should be required to provide healthcare to the people who decide to have the kid.

Its an open question how many votes Vance can deliver from his own side for his proposals  his work on the rail bill has drawn dismissive coverage in National Review and opposition from Sen. Ted Cruz. Trump himself has never been too drilled in on policy specifics and the budget-slashing House Freedom Caucus is ascendant again (thats less of an impediment, said Vance, than the Chamber of Commerce wing of the party). Skeptics still question if Vances brand of conservatism is a passing quirk rather than a preview of whats to come.

Maybe this model doesnt work for six years, Vance said. But for six months, the model of fighting for conservative principles while working to get some things done havent been in tension. Theyve actually been in harmony.

Know More

What happens to all of this if Trump returns to the White House? Vance said hed studied why the former president couldnt bring Democrats on board with an infrastructure bill, a longtime Trump priority that Biden ended up delivering instead.

One reason was that too many Republicans, especially the Chamber of Commerce types, were actively aligned against Trump's very good populist instincts. The other was that Democrats didnt start with their own plan to get the ball rolling.

That was before Jan. 6, before Trump campaigned against Republicans whod voted to impeach him, and before he promised political and legal retribution against the people whod crossed him. What would happen to the new populist project under those conditions?

I think there's probably a period where [Democrats] flip the hell out and try to do everything  legislatively, legally, administratively  to just slow down the Trump administration, Vance said. But I think, over time, that wanes, and they actually get with the program to do their job.

Room for Disagreement

Zachary D. Carter, a left-leaning author and think tanker, said that there was plenty of good in Vances bipartisan work, but that Democrats didnt really need a MAGA alliance to make this happen.

From a progressive, left-populist perspective, its not clear what the right brings to the project, said Carter. Bidens been good on the economy. So if the coalitional calculus on the right is that youve got to side with them on immigration and authoritarianism, its not worth it.

Notable
Special Counsel Jack Smith submitted a request Friday for a protective order against the dissemination of discovery materials and the sensitive information that they contain, in relation to the Justice Departments criminal case against former President Donald Trump. The order would directly prevent Trump from disclosing evidence and materials shared with him and his legal team by the DOJ to the public.

Trump was arrested and arraigned in Miami on Tuesday on 37 criminal counts including violations of the espionage act, conspiracy to obstruct justice, corruptly concealing a record or document, and concealing a document in a federal investigation. The charges were brought by the DOJ as a result of their months-long investigation into Trumps hoarding of classified documents following his departure from office.

As the case moves into discovery, Smith is seeking to protect materials that may be provided to Trumps defense team that could potentially contain information pertaining to ongoing investigations, the disclosure of which could compromise those investigations and identify uncharged individuals.

According to the filing, the government has conferred with counsel for Defendant Donald J. Trump and Defendant Waltine Nauta, who have no objections to this motion or the protective order.

BREAKING: Jack Smith files motion to restrict disclosure of materials related to classified docs in Trump case, stating they include sensitive & confidential information & information pertaining to ongoing investigations that could compromise them & identify uncharged individuals pic.twitter.com/4V8T0MkI5b  Andrew Wortman  (@AmoneyResists) June 16, 2023

The order would require that materials provided to Trumps team remain in the custody and control of Defense Counsel, and that the former presidents attorneys must securely store the materials and make it clear that the materials are subject to the Order. The order is likely explicit given that a significant portion of the governments case against Trump revolves around the insecure storage of highly classified and sensitive information.

Furthermore, the order bars Trump, his co-defendant Walt Nauta, and his legal counsel from [disclosing] the Discovery Materials or their contents directly or indirectly to any person or entity other than persons employed to assist in the defense, persons who are interviewed as potential witnesses, counsel for potential witnesses, and other persons to whom the Court may authorize disclosure. This includes a direct prohibition against sharing materials with the public or media  including through social media platforms.

Trump will only be allowed to view materials under the direct supervision of Defense Counsel or a member of Defense Counsels staff. He may not retain any copies of whats shown to him, and his notes must be stored securely by his lawyers.

The request is extremely similar to a protective order sought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in his own criminal case against Trump. The former president was arrested in April on 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to his 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

Bragg raised similar concerns over Trumps potential abuse of evidence and discovery materials with Judge Juan Manuel Merchan in April. The order was granted in May.

Smith is also conducting a separate probe into Trumps efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. On Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trumps defense team may be seeking to block testimony given by his former Vice President Mike Pence from the grand jurys decision on whether or not to charge the former president in relation to the probe.

Smiths probe has been expansive. In April, The Washington Post reported that the DOJ had begun exploring allegations that the Trump campaign defrauded donors by touting false claims of election fraud, as well as digging into efforts to subvert election results in individual states.

But a third criminal case against Trump is still a ways away. Sources tell the Journal that some of Smiths questions to witnesses indicate the special counsel may be aiming to produce a comprehensive report rather than an indictment.

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone

Click here to read the full article.
Screenshot: Twitter

The widow of Jamal Khashoggia Saudi journalist brutally executed by intelligence agents for writing critically about the regimeis suing the NSO Group, an Israeli surveillance company allegedly responsible for creating malicious spyware surreptitiously installed on her and her late husbands devices. Hanan Elatr believes communications gleaned from her device without her knowledge for nearly a year led to her husbands detention and eventual grisly dismemberment by bone saw at the hands of Saudi assassins. Now, more than five years later, Elatr says the fundamental violation of her privacy made possible by NSOs spyware has left her life irrevocably altered.

Hanan was violated in a way few others could even fathomNSO Group laid every intimate detail of her life bare, Elatrs attorneys wrote in a civil suit filed in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Read more

Elatr claims the surveillance campaign directed against her and her late husband has fundamentally reshaped her life. Repeated harassment and unexplained detentions at the hands of United Arab Emirates officials have forced her to quit her more than 12-year career as an Emirates Airlines flight attendant, she says. She hasnt seen her family in the Middle East for several years out of fear of travelling and says she lives in a state of hyper-vigilance. The Egyptian citizen is currently living in Virginia and seeking political asylum.

June 2 2018 5 anniversary Jamal



2   2018   5



         . #     pic.twitter.com/p6DbArTsgJ  Mrs Hanan Elatr Khashoggi   (@hananelatr) June 2, 2023

The suit, which seeks unspecified damages, claims NSOs Pegasus surveillance software caused her [Elatr] immense harm, both through the tragic loss of her husband and through her own loss of safety, privacy, and autonomy. Elatrs legal team did not immediately respond to Gizmodos request for comment. NSO Group did not respond to Gizmodos request for comment but its former CEO, Shalev Hulio, has previously denied his company had any involvement with Khashoggis death.

I can tell you very clear, Hulio previously told 60 Minutes. We had nothing to do with this horrible murder.

How did NSO Group get into Khashoggis widows phone, according to her suit?

Elatr claims digital forensic investigations carried out by Citizen Lab, a research lab that has studied the NSO Group extensively, show her device may have been infected with the spyware for nearly a year leading up to Khashoggis killing. Specifically, the suit points to a period in early 2018 when Elatr, who had been recently engaged to Khashoggi, traveled to Dubai as part of her flight attendant work. She claims she was detained in the country and questioned for nearly two weeks. UAE officials, who have previously purchased NSOs spyware, may have manually installed the software on her device then, the suit claims.

Agents had reportedly tried and failed to compromise Elatrs device prior to her trip. In one case she claims she received a text with a link claiming a bouquet of flowers was ready for her. When she clicked the link it redirected her to a disabled Pegasus link. The suit claims intelligence agents chose to target Elatrs device because she, like many people close to primary surveillance targets, are less likely to have strict security measures in place.

How Hanan Elatr says she was surveilled

Elatr and investigators at the Citizen Lab believe her phone was infected with NSO Groups Pegasus spyware, which it refers to as the worlds most powerful, sophisticated, and infamous cyberweapon. Unlike other, lesser software, Pegasus has become a crown jewel of intelligence agencies worldwide due to its ability to infect devices with zero clicks. In theory, an intelligence office equipped with Pegasus only needs a targets phone number to crack into the device. In addition to being able to see and view Elatrs texts, phone calls and other communications, Pegasus also allowed intelligence agents remotely activate her camera and microphone, turning her phones into sophisticated listening and recording devices, the suit reads.

NSO Group has gained international infamy in recent years for its decision to sell its sophisticated software to authoritarian regimes. Though billed as a tool for local police to fight crime and terrorism, numerous reports have shown Pegasus and NSOs other products have been repeatedly used to track and surveil politicians, journalists, human rights defenders, and children. In 2021, the US Department of Commerce officials added NSO to its trade blacklist.

Elatrs suit claims NSO acted negligently by selling its products to countries widely known to violate human rights, and inflict harm on dissidents. The suit also claims NSO violated the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act when it surreptitiously collected communications on Elatrs device while she was in Virginia.

More from Gizmodo

Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
WASHINGTON  The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee wants the FBI to tell the public what it really thought of a mysterious bribery allegation against President Joe Biden.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) on Friday asked the FBI to make public its analysis of a tip submitted to the bureau in 2020 that a foreign national claimed to have paid Biden $5 million when he was vice president.

Publicly, the Justice Department has said nothing about the allegation  and Republicans have run with the rumor, claiming that Bidens been caught on tape in a corrupt scheme and that the FBI has protected him while going after former President Donald Trump.

Officials from the FBI privately briefed Raskin and House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) last week. The two lawmakers have offered wildly divergent accounts of what the officials said, with Comer claiming that the allegation has not been disproven and that the president remained under investigation for bribery.

It is deeply concerning that recent public statements are plainly inconsistent with statements made by the FBI in the June 5, 2023, briefing, Raskin said in his Friday letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray.

Raskin has said that the derogatory material was brought to the Justice Departments attention by former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani in 2020, and that U.S. Attorney General William Barr assigned Scott Brady, then the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, to assess the material  which Brady later determined wasnt worth investigating fully.

The FBI explained that the assessment was closed because Mr. Bradys team found insufficient evidence to warrant escalating their probe of Mr. Giulianis allegations from an assessment of the allegations to a preliminary or full investigation, Raskin said in his letter. The FBI read an excerpt from a memorandum closing down the assessment with the concurrence of both Mr. Brady and high-level officials at DOJ.

Barr has said in recent weeks that the Pittsburgh office wasnt authorized to open an investigation and that the Justice Department passed the material along to prosecutors in Delaware, who are reportedly weighing tax-evasion charges against Hunter Biden.

In his letter, Raskin asked the FBI to reiterate in writing the non-classified information that FBI officials had provided to him and Comer by the end of next week.

The letter marks something of a role reversal, since Republicans have been demanding that the FBI release the bureaus tip sheet and explain their investigative efforts. It comes after Republicans have dribbled out details from the document on a near-daily basis for the past several weeks, while occasionally admitting they dont know if any of it is true.

When Comer and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) first asked the FBI to hand over the form memorializing the tip at the beginning of May because they had somehow independently learned of the documents contents, they described it as alleging a bribery scheme with a foreign national. The following week, Comer added that the scheme involved a $5 million sum.

This week, in response to Trumps indictment on obstruction of justice and other charges, Grassley revealed that the document alleged that the foreign national who spoke to the FBI informant claimed to have multiple recordings of himself speaking to Joe and Hunter Biden.

These recordings were allegedly kept as a sort of insurance policy for the foreign national in case he got into a tight spot, Grassley said on the Senate floor. Comer and others have cautioned that they dont know if the recordings actually exist.

Giuliani, for his part, has said during several Newsmax TV appearances that he alerted the Justice Department to the allegation and that the foreign national involved is Mykola Zlochevksy, co-founder of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma.

The document theyre talking about, the $10 million bribe from Mykola Zlochevsky, it really is the tip of the iceberg, Giuliani said on Newsmax on Saturday. That document was discovered because it was at least one FBI agent that went out and tried to corroborate what I gave them.



Hunter Biden infamously served on Burismas board of directors while his father served as U.S. vice president and urged Ukraine to fire a prosecutor. Trumps first impeachment stemmed from his effort to coerce Ukraine into announcing a bogus investigation into the Bidens, despite no credible evidence of wrongdoing by the elder Biden.

Comer has insisted that Giuliani, who faces disbarment for his role in Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election, is not the reason the FBI looked into the bribery allegation.

Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), an Oversight Committee member who has seen a redacted copy of the form, suggested lawmakers were able to infer the sources identity themselves.

One of the sentences where the name was redacted in the same sentence, it referred to him and said he/Burisma, Greene told HuffPost.

Zlochevsky fled embezzlement charges in Ukraine, and his whereabouts are unknown.

In 2020, when Barr acknowledged that the Justice Department was looking at Giulianis material, he said it warranted skepticism.

There are a lot of agendas in the Ukraine, a lot of cross currents. And we cant take anything we received from Ukraine at face value.
An aerial view of a vegetable base in Qingtongxia city, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, on May 20, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

China has rolled out its first plan to develop modern protected agriculture, designating four primary tasks for the industry in the 2023-2030 period.



The strategy, jointly issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and three other government bodies, indicates that modern protected cropping should be energy-efficient and suitable for machinery operations, and animal husbandry will be based on efficient and intensive development, said the ministry Thursday.

According to the plan, the fishery industry will focus mainly on ecological aquaculture, and the modern logistics facilities will emphasize the storage, preservation, and drying of agricultural products.

The plan noted that by 2030, the mechanization rate of protected agriculture and the contribution rate of scientific and technological progress to the industry would likely reach 60 and 70 percent, respectively, and innovation bases for modern protected agriculture will be built.

The country will strengthen its policy support and guide social capital to actively invest in developing modern protected agriculture through measures including investment subsidies and special bonds.
(Bloomberg) -- Japan passed a landmark sex-crime bill on Friday, in a long fought-for bid to make a range of sexual offenses, including rape, photo voyeurism and online child-grooming, more easily punishable.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The amendments to the Penal Code change the term for the crime of forced sexual intercourse to non-consensual sexual intercourse, widening the scope of cases that can be treated as an offense.

It specifies eight scenarios in which intercourse can be deemed non-consensual, including evidence of force or intimidation, the use of alcohol or drugs, and taking advantage of economic or social status.

Problems of consent had previously been little explored by the authorities in Japan. A court in 2019 sparked outrage by acquitting a man for repeatedly raping his teenage daughter, on the grounds she could have resisted him. The verdict was overturned by a higher court and he was sentenced to a decade in prison for the offense.

In addition, Japans age of sexual consent was lifted from 13  the lowest among Group of Seven countries  to 16, following a decades-long battle by activists. The age of consent had been unchanged since 1907.

The law revision also criminalizes photo voyeurism  secretly taking sexual pictures of people  and the online grooming of children. In 2022, more than 150 children were the victims of serious crimes, including rape, initiated through social media, according to the National Police Agency.

About 7% of women and 1% of men said they had experienced forced sexual intercourse, according to a 2021 government survey of 5,000 people. Just 5.6% of victims took their cases to the police, the survey showed. In the same year, 1,330 individuals were charged with rape, resulting in only 455 convictions, according to Ministry of Justice figures.

--With assistance from Isabel Reynolds.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Bobby DiCello, the attorney representing Jayland Walker's family, holds up a copy of the $45 million lawsuit filed against the city of Akron, its police department and the eight officers who shot and killed Walker last summer during a news conference Friday at the First Congregational Church of Akron.

The family of Jayland Walker, who was shot and killed by eight Akron officers nearly a year ago, has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Akron, the officers who shot Walker and several other officers and public officials.

The Walker family is alleging excessive force and is seeking at least $45 million in damages  which the family said is $1 million for each bullet that struck Walker.

We anticipate the parties will get a fair trial here in Akron," Bobby DiCello, one of the familys Cleveland attorneys, said during a news conference Friday afternoon at First Congregational Church of Akron.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Akron and has been assigned to Judge John Adams.

DiCello, who was flanked by the Walker family and members of his legal team, said Walker's death is part of a long history of racism and violence within the Akron Police Department. He said this lawsuit will shed light on these troubling practices.

"You'll know who the real monster is  and it's not Jayland Walker," he said. "I stand against hate."

More: Complete coverage of the Jayland Walker police shooting in Akron, Ohio

Stephanie Marsh, a spokeswoman for the city, said the city was not releasing a response in reaction to the filing.

"The city of Akron does not comment on pending litigation, so we wont be sharing anything at this time," she said in an emailed response.

Clay Cozart, president of the Akron police union, also declined to comment on the suit.

Bobby DiCello, one of the attorneys representing the family of Jayland Walker, holds up documents related to a $45 million lawsuit filed against the city of Akron, it police department and the eight officers who shot and killed Walker last summer during a news conference Friday at the First Congregational Church of Akron.

Walker, 25, was shot and killed June 27, 2022, after he fled from police first in his car and then by foot. He was unarmed when he was gunned down, but had fired a shot out of his car window while fleeing.

He was shot by eight officers who said they thought Walker might still be armed. A gun was recovered in Walkers car after the shooting. Walker had at least 46 entrance wounds, an autopsy found.

A special grand jury recently decided against indicting the officers.

Mayor, chief, numerous officers and police supervisors are targeted in lawsuit

Jada Walker, sister of Jayland Walker, hangs her head as she listens to attorney Bobby DiCello speak during a newss conference Friday at the First Congregational Church of Akron,.

The lawsuit was filed by Jada Walker, Jaylands sister and the administrator of his estate, against the city, Mayor Dan Horrigan, Police Chief Steve Mylett and several police supervisors who were involved in the Walker incident.

The lawsuit is also against the eight officers who shot Walker, though they are listed under numbers, rather than names.

Out of an abundance of caution, the defendant shooters are identified using pseudonyms due to the high-profile nature of this matter, the lawsuit says.

The city has refused to publicly release the names of the officers involved in Walkers shooting. The Beacon Journal is suing over this issue, with a lawsuit pending before the Ohio Supreme Court.

Ken Abbarno, another of Walker's attorneys, said the attorneys have asked Adams for permission not to name the officers. He said it will be up to Adams to decide if the names should be released.

Abbarno said the family doesn't want to distract from the point of the lawsuit with the names issue.

"We're here for the Walker family," he said. "Jayland was a wonderful young man ... They wanted to tear him down. We're here to lift him up and show what the city really is."

The lawsuit alleges excessive force, supervisory liability and municipal liability and claims that Walkers constitutional rights were violated. It seeks compensatory and punitive damages, attorney fees and costs, and equitable relief, including, without limitation, that defendant city of Akron be made to adopt an appropriate policy to prevent future instances of the type of misconduct described in the lawsuit.

Attorney points to newsletter as example of racism

DiCello pointed as an example of racism in the Akron Police Department to the "Singal 44" underground newsletter written by an Akron officer in 1998, which drew a lot of criticism and publicity at the time, including numerous articles by the Beacon Journal.

The satirical newsletter, written by a white officer, referred to a predominantly black neighborhood in Akron as an "urban game preserve" and to the people who live there as "species."

DiCello said the officer who wrote the newsletter remained on the department until he retired in 2019. The officer, though, was suspended after the newsletter became public and issued a public apology.

DiCello said several officers who are still with the department were questioned about the newsletter as part of an internal affairs investigation and said they thought it was amusing.

DiCello called the Akron Police Department "one of the most corrupt" departments he's ever known and said it has a "culture of violence and hate."

Family wants to see changes in police policies

Asked what changes the family would like to see within the police department, DiCello said he was pleased this week to hear that Mylett said the pursuit policy will be changed.

More: Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett announces changes to pursuit policy, new co-responder program

DiCello said his legal team and the Walker family would like to be involved in crafting the new policy.

He noted that a new mayor will soon be taking over for Horrigan and said he would love to have a dialogue with him.

DiCello said police should be encouraged to write more accurate reports and every officer should be given a body-worn camera without the ability to silence the microphones.

Walker's mother becomes emotional

Asked if Pamela Walker, who hasn't spoken often publicly, wanted to discuss the lawsuit, DiCello said she was too emotional to speak.

DiCello, though, said Walker told him, "This is not about the money. This is about this never happening again."

DiCello said Sunday is Father's Day, a day Walker won't get to share with any children he might have had.

Pamela Walker began to cry.

Pamela Walker is comforted by Paige White, one of the attorneys representing the Walker family, during a new conference Friday at the First Congregational Church of Akron.

As the news conference ended, Walker turned and looked at a picture of her son enlarged on a display board.

"He was such a beautiful person," she said tearfully as she was comforted by several people.

Read the Walker family lawsuit against Akron

Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com, 330-996-3705 and on Twitter: @swarsmithabj.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jayland Walker's family suing Akron, 8 officers over fatal shooting
The soldiers of Yakima Dustoff are no strangers to challenging rescues, and Wednesday was no different.

Stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, under the 16th Combat Aviation Brigades 2-158 Assault Helicopter Battalion, the U.S. Army Air Ambulance Detachment-Yakima has consistently rated as one of the services top evacuation units. The Dustoff Association, a military aeromedical evacuation trade group, recognized the detachment for having 2022s best rescue, best pilot, best crew chief and best flight medic.

So, when the Washington State Emergency Operations Center called for assistance with an injured hiker stranded near the Lunch Counter formation on the Mount Adams volcano, the flight crew knew what to do despite being unable to land on the 30-degree slope. As twilight faded after 9 p.m., flight medic Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Trujillo was hoisted down onto the slope, where he stabilized the injured woman.

A flight medic assigned to U.S. Army Air Ambulance Detachment-Yakima trains with local search and rescue volunteers in preparation for the summer rescue season. (Capt. Kyle Abraham/Army)

Trujillo, the 2022 flight medic of the year, said the hiker had a severe leg injury, according to an Army release. He quickly stabilized the woman before hoisting her into the helicopter, which then transported her to a local hospital. The entire mission, from call to completion, took less than three hours, the detachment commander said.

Wednesdays rescue was the units second civilian rescue of 2023s summer rescue season, according to brigade public affairs officer Capt. Kyle Abraham. Although the four-helicopter detachment is on-call 24/7 for both training accidents at Yakima and civilian emergency missions, the summer months are by far the busiest.

Last year, Abraham added, Yakima Dustoff rescued 17 civilians across 12 missions, in addition to completing nine medical evacuations from the training center.

That included three life-saving rescue missions during a four-day span in July 2022.
Jeffrey Epstein paid college tuition for the kids of the former first lady of the Virgin Islands, and she asked him for his input on the wording of a sex offender law: JPMorgan

Jeffrey Epstein owned property on the Virgin islands, where Cecile de Jongh was first lady from 2007 to 2015. Rick Friedman Photography/Corbis via Getty Images; REUTERS/Marco Bello

The ex-first lady of the Virgin Islands consulted Jeffrey Epstein on a sex offender bill, JPMorgan said.

She also asked Epstein to pay college tuition for at least one of her kids, the bank said.

The filings come as JPMorgan is accused by the Virgin Islands of facilitating Epstein's alleged crimes.

Jeffrey Epstein paid college tuition for the children of the US Virgin Islands' then-first lady, the same year she consulted him on changes to a sex offender registration law, according to JPMorgan Chase.

Cecile de Jongh, wife of then-Governor John de Jongh Jr., sent an email to Epstein containing a $25,000 tuition bill for Skidmore College, a private liberal arts school in New York, per court filings from JPMorgan.

"Please approve," the email's subject line said, per the filings.

That email was sent in May 2011, according to documents filed in the Manhattan federal court on Wednesday and seen by Insider.

They were submitted as part of JPMorgan's defense in a lawsuit from the government of the Virgin Islands, which accused the bank of allowing Epstein to bankroll his alleged crimes.

As both parties went to court, JPMorgan in turn accused de Jongh, who worked as an office manager for Epstein, of acting as his "primary conduit for spreading money and influence" in the Virgin Islands.

Now, the bank has released a cache of documents that say de Jongh worked closely with Epstein, and facilitated his sex-trafficking scheme.

Days after de Jongh sent the tuition bill to Epstein, she sent him another email about updated language for a sex offender registration bill, per JPMorgan's filings.

Epstein responded with suggested changes to the language, per the filing. "We should add out of country for more than 7 days, otherwise I could not go for a day trip to Tortola, at the last minute," Epstein wrote in an email.

"I will forward this suggestion and let you know," de Jongh replied.

Epstein, who was already a registered sex offender at the time, made further suggestions for the bill to "distinguish between offenders and predators."

"These files could be also accessible by the press. If we are not careful, a list of who I stay with should violate my privacy," Epstein added, per the filing.

Later in the email thread, de Jongh responded that the issue "needs to be settled by Thursday" because a person identified as "J" would be gone for a week and the "AG" would need to submit the bill update soon.

JPMorgan's filings also said that de Jongh helped Epstein get visas for several of the financier's alleged victims, and arranged special classes for them at the University of the Virgin Islands.

"They are structuring the class around the ladies. Please let me know so that they know what to do or not to do," de Jongh told Epstein in a June 2013 email, per the bank's filings.

De Jongh was first lady of the Virgin Islands between 2007 and 2015. Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 as he was charged with sex trafficking, owned the entire island of Little St. James in the territory and had purchased property tonight.

De Jongh did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Insider outside regular business hours.

Venetia Velazquez, a spokesperson for the Virgin Islands attorney general, told The Washington Post in a statement: "JPMorgan Chase has cherry-picked and mischaracterized Epstein's interactions with U.S. Virgin Islands officials and residents in an attempt to distract and shift blame away from its role in facilitating Jeffrey Epstein's heinous crimes."

On Monday, JPMorgan settled a separate, class action lawsuit with one of Epstein's victims, an unnamed plaintiff who met Epstein while working as a ballet dancer in New York. The lawsuit accused the bank of "facilitating a sexual abuse and sex trafficking operation for many years."

Meanwhile, the firm is suing one of its former executives, Jes Staley, alleging that he knew about Epstein's sex trafficking but hid his crimes to keep him as a client.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Jeffrey Epstein's victims will be able to get up to $5 million from Deutsche Bank sex-trafficking settlement

Jeffrey Epstein at the "Batman Forever" premiere in 1995. Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

A settlement from Deutsche Bank will give up to $5 million each to Jeffrey Epstein's victims.

Deutsche agreed to pay $75 million to settle the class action lawsuit.

A judge still needs to agree to the settlement terms.

Some victims of Jeffrey Epstein will be able to get up to $5 million from a settlement between Deutsche Bank and a class-action group of the now-dead pedophile's accusers, according to new court documents.

The bank settled the lawsuit in May, agreeing to pay $75 million to satisfy claims from an Epstein accuser who alleged that Deutsche Bank enabled Epstein's sex-trafficking operation by failing to properly scrutinize his accounts.

Friday's court filings  if approved by the judge overseeing the case  outline how the funds would be distributed to certain Epstein victims. The accusers would be eligible to apply for compensation if they were abused by Epstein or his associates during the time he began banking with Deutsche Bank, in August 2013, until around the time of his death, in August 2019.

Epstein died in a federal jail while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. His vast estate, valued at $630 million, formed the basis for a compensation program that doled out $125 million to victims. In addition to the 136 victims who took money from the fund, other accusers have received settlements from separate lawsuits filed against Epstein's estate.

Attorneys for some of Epstein's accusers believed the earlier compensation program wasn't enough.

"Given that the estate at one point was valued at $634 million, this seems, in my opinion, to be a very small amount paid to victims for the harm that they suffered," Gloria Allred, who represents 20 of his accusers, previously told Insider. "It's my opinion that victims should have been compensated with a much larger share of Epstein's estate and that the amount awarded to many of them was insufficient and undervalued the sexual abuse that they suffered."

The Deutsche Bank settlement allows Epstein's victims to file claims with a new compensation program. The victims will be eligible only if Those claims will be reviewed by a group of three judges, who will decide whether to issue between $75,000 and $5 million to victims.

The anonymous "Jane Doe" who brought the class-action lawsuit against Deutsche Bank is represented by a group of attorneys including Sigrid McCawley, David Boies, and Brad Edwards, who have also collectively represented dozens of other Epstein accusers and have helped shape his estate's compensation program. Their law firms can get up to 30% of the Deutsche Bank settlement funds, according to the settlement documents.

Earlier this week, JP Morgan Chase agreed to pay $290 million to settle a separate class action lawsuit from "Jane Doe" alleging the bank facilitated Epstein's sex-trafficking operation. The full terms of that settlement aren't yet available.

"The settlements that have been reached are both life-changing and historic for the survivors," McCawley said in a statement. "Money, which for far too long flowed with impunity between Jeffrey Epstein's global sex trafficking enterprise and Wall Street's leading banks, is decisively being used for good. The settlements signal that financial institutions have an important role to play in spotting and shutting down sex trafficking."

Boies called the JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank settlements "historic" and compared himself to a character from the caper movie "The Sting."

"I feel like Johnny Hooker  it's not enough, but it's close," he said.

Yet another lawsuit against JP Morgan, brought by the attorney general of the US Virgin Islands  where Epstein owned two private islands  is still moving forward.

The Virgin Islands lawsuit alleges JP Morgan "pulled the levers" of Epstein's trafficking by turning a blind eye to red flags in his bank accounts because of the business he brought to the bank through his connections with other powerful people.

JP Morgan has denied the claims and has alleged that the US Virgin Islands government had its own problematic entanglements with Epstein. In court documents Thursday, the bank brought attention to Cecile de Jongh, the territory's former first lady, who worked for Epstein. She consulted him on changes to a sex offender registration law and helped obtain visas for some of his victims, the filings allege.

This story has been updated.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Juneteenth is almost here! What to know about the federal holiday and celebration events

Juneteenth might be a new holiday to some, but the African-American community has been celebrating the holiday for more than 150 years.

Despite Abraham Lincoln freeing slaves in 1863, the news took more than two years to reach the masses and finally put an end to slavery in the United States with the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, according to National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Celebrate Juneteenth and more: 5 things to do near Peoria this weekend

Here's what you need to know about Juneteenth:

When is Juneteenth 2023?

Juneteenth is Monday, June 19, 2023.

What is Juneteenth?

The holiday is the oldest internationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, according to www.juneteenth.com.

The holiday recognizes the Emancipation Proclamation in the U.S., under which Lincoln freed enslaved African Americans in secessionist states on Jan. 1, 1863. However, in Galveston, Texas, enslaved people would not hear of their freedom for two years.

Slave owners were responsible for telling the enslaved of their freedom, but many ignored the directive. Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger informed Galveston residents on June 19, 1865, and forced locals to comply with the proclamation.

With Texas being the last Confederate state to receive the proclamation announcement, the inaugural Juneteenth began in 1866, marking the day Galveston slaves were set free. Also known as Freedom Day, African Americans migrating away from the South would spread the holiday across the nation.

Is Juneteenth a federal holiday?

Yes. The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden on June 17, 2021.

Is mail delivered on Juneteenth?

No. Mail will not be delivered by the United States Postal Service.

Are banks open on Juneteenth?

No. Banks will be closed in observance of the holiday.

Juneteenth 2023 events in Illinois

2023 Tazewell County Juneteenth Celebration in Pekin: The event will run from 10 to 11 a.m. June 17 at Pocket Park, 411 Court St., Pekin, Ill. A dedication of a new Nance Legins-Costley and William Costley Memorial at the park entrance will highlight the event. Guest speakers include Carl Adams and Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White.

2023 Juneteenth Festival in Peoria: Head to John H. Gwynn Jr. Park at 809 W. John H. Gwynn Jr. Ave. in Peoria, Ill., from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 17. A new historical marker will be unveiled at the event. People can also enjoy a basketball alumni game, car show, community awards, elected official meet-and-greet, free youth haircuts, health and wellness fair, horseback riding, a live DJ, a tribute to hip-hop show, vendors and more.

Rockford Juneteenth Celebration: A two-day event will take place at Sinnissippi Park, 1401 N. Second St. in Rockford, Ill. Festivities will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 18 and 1 to 9 p.m. June 19. Don't miss activities such as the All-Black Graduation, community awards, community church service, a giveaway, live DJs, live music, a talent show and more.

Springfield Juneteenth Celebration: The five-day celebration began with a June 14 talent show followed by the Levitt AMP Concert at 5:30 p.m. June 15 at South Fourth Street and East Jackson Street in Springfield. The Freeish Block Party will feature art, music, vendors and more from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. June 16 just outside of the Illinois State Museum on Edwards Street. The Juneteenth Parade kicks off at 10 a.m. June 17 near Brown Street with festival activities to follow at Comer Cox Park, 301 Martin Luther King Drive in Springfield, Ill. The Juneteenth Festival will continue at 9 a.m. June 18 from Comer Cox Park. Enjoy fitness in the park, food, games, music, prizes and more.

Chris Sims is a digital producer for the Journal Star. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Juneteenth 2023: What to know, from holiday meaning to celebrations
Many Americans will gather on June 19 to commemorate Juneteenth that is now recognized by our federal government, 28 states and the District of Columbia. The celebration of Juneteenth  which commemorates June 19, 1865, as the end of slavery when General Granger read his General Orders No. 3 in Galveston, Texas  has gained popularity in recent years. But Juneteenth didnt become important because it became a national holiday, and it didnt become important in 2020 after the unfortunate murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. It has long been acknowledged by many African American families and communities.

And for me, since I had two great grand-fathers who as members of the US Colored troops were in Galveston a month before General Granger arrived and who were also at Appomattox Courthouse when General Lee surrendered on April 9, 1865, Juneteenth is deeply personal to me. These ancestors have beseeched me to tell their story which means challenging the predominant narrative and sharing a more inclusive interpretation of Juneteenth that can then provide justice for how we commemorate it.

This summer as part of my 35-day Joy and Justice Journey in June, that takes me from Kentucky to California and back, along with a trip to Chicago as a recipient of a James Beard Foundation Leadership Award, I am engaged in 20 speaking engagements in 15 cities all with the theme Juneteenth Justice. These speaking engagements include talks in Memphis, Santa Fe, Santa Cruz, most recently on June 8 at Stanford University. June 16-20 I will give eight talks in five days in the Twin cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Within these presentations, I am using a broader historical lens of how we interpret Juneteenth which has at least three components:

First of all, in May 1865 some 16,000 soldiers of the US Colored troops were sent to Texas to defeat the remaining Confederate forces. The presence of these troops in Galveston several weeks before General Grangers presence has largely been ignored in the Juneteenth story. Clearly, it was the sight of 16,000 Black troops marching down the streets of Galveston that angered white folks but also inspired our enslaved ancestors to shout Hallelujah! and jump for joy as emancipation was delivered by these troops. So, we need to alter the narrative of Juneteenth as not simply the act of General Granger but additionally the actions of these courageous Black troops that fought for their freedom and to restore the union. In early 1863, President Lincoln observed: The colored population is the available yet unavailed of force for restoring the Union. Thus, it is very clear that Juneteenth should be celebrated by all Americans as Emancipation Day and Re-unification Day.

Secondly, these African American troops were also sent to Texas to secure the border with Mexico to prevent French forces led by Maximilian from overtaking Texas and California. These troops provided covert support for the forces led by Benito Juarez along the Texas-Mexico border that led subsequently to the defeat the French army and Maximillians execution on June 19, 1867.

And thirdly, these African American troops were next woven as Buffalo Soldiers into the ongoing efforts of dispossession of land from and genocide against Native Americans. Often in the national discourse and movie portrayals of Buffalo Soldiers, Black folks are filled with pride at the bravery and dominance of these sable troops. But in this glorification of war that WEB DuBois warned us about in his seminal book Black Reconstruction, there is the danger of turning a blind eye to the complexities of our history which fails us in finding solutions to historical contradictions today.

As we commemorate this national holiday lets also use this time to reflect on what it means to include emancipation, reunification and subjugation as part of the narrative. Juneteenth then becomes a time to remember, change the narrative to envision justice for all.

Jim Embry, a 2023 James Beard Foundation Leadership Award Winner, is a life-long community activist, historian and photographer, lives on a family farm in Madison County. He can be reached at embryjim@gmail.com.
Juneteenth, Jim Crow and how the fight of one Black Texas family to make freedom real offers lessons for Texas lawmakers trying to erase history from the classroom

Joshua Houston leads a Juneteenth Parade in Huntsville, Texas, in a photo circa 1900. Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library

The news was startling.

On June 19, 1865, two months after the U.S. Civil War ended, Union Gen. Gordon Granger walked onto the balcony at Ashton Villa in Galveston, Texas, and announced to the people of the state that all slaves are free.

As local plantation owners lamented the loss of their most valuable property, Black Texans celebrated Grangers Juneteenth announcement with singing, dancing and feasting. The 182,566 enslaved African Americans in Texas had finally won their freedom.

One of them was Joshua Houston.

He had long served as the enslaved servant of Gen. Sam Houston, the most well-known military and political leader in Texas.

Joshua Houston lived about 120 miles north of Galveston when he learned of Grangers proclamation.

It was read aloud at the local Methodist Church in Huntsville, Texas, by Union Gen. Edgar M. Gregory, the assistant commissioner for the Freedmens Bureau in Texas.

If Juneteenth meant anything, it meant at least that Joshua Houston and his family were free.

Joshua Houston and his family in October 1898. Courtesy of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library, Huntsville, Texas

But there was more too.

The promise of freedom meant that more work needed to be done. Families needed to be reunited. Land needed to be secured. Children needed to be educated.

Indeed, the radical promise of Juneteenth is embodied in the community activism of Joshua Houston and the educational career of his son Samuel Walker Houston.

The violent white reaction to Black political power

Within a year of Grangers proclamation, Houston had established a blacksmith shop near the Huntsville town square and moved his family into a two-story house on the adjoining lot.

He helped found the Union Church, the first Black-owned institution in the city, as well as a freedmens school to begin educating African American children.

In 1878 and 1882, a Republican coalition of Black and white voters opposed to conservative Democratic rule elected Houston as the countys first Black county commissioner, a powerful position in local governance.

Despite this dramatic turn of events, Houstons political story was hardly unique.

In the two decades following emancipation, 52 Black men served in the state Legislature or the states constitutional conventions.

But that number had fallen to two by 1882.

Opposition to Black freedom had been a powerful force in the states political culture since emancipation.

Armstead Barrett, a former slave in Huntsville, recalled in 1937 that an enraged white man had reacted to Grangers Juneteenth order by riding past a celebrating Black woman and murdering her with his sword.

In 1871, the violence continued when the white citizens of Huntsville stormed the county courthouse and aided the escape of three men who had lynched freedman Sam Jenkins.

Later, in the 1880s, attacks on Black elected officials, their white political allies and Black voters escalated dramatically.

In the early 1900s, changes in state election laws, including the introduction of the poll tax, effectively disenfranchised most Black voters and many poor whites as well. Voter participation dropped from roughly 85% at the high tide of Texas populism in 1896 to roughly 35% when the poll tax became effective in 1904.

As a result, Robert Lloyd Smith was the last Black legislator for nearly 70 years when he finished his term in 1897.

That wall of white supremacy at the state Capitol would not crack again until 1966, when federal voting rights legislation and Supreme Court rulings nullified schemes to deny African Americans the ballot.

These changes enabled the election of Black officials such as Barbara Jordan, the first African American woman to serve in the Texas Senate.

Like father, like son

On an unknown date, a few years after Juneteenth, Joshua Houstons son Samuel Walker Houston was born free in the bright light of Reconstruction.

Although he spent his adulthood in some of the darkest years of Jim Crow, he continued his fathers work as an educator and community leader. Following a short stint at Atlanta University in Georgia and Howard University in Washington, D.C., Samuel Walker Houston returned to Huntsville and founded a school in the nearby Galilee community.

Houstons school was named for him and served as one of the first county training schools for African Americans in Texas. It enrolled students at every level, from first grade through high school, and provided a curriculum based on Booker T. Washingtons Tuskegee model of vocational training.

Young women at Houstons school received training in homemaking, sewing and cooking, while young men learned carpentry, woodworking and mathematics.

By 1922, enrollment at the school had grown to 400 students, and it was recognized by contemporaries as the leading school of East Texas. In the 1930s, Houstons school was absorbed into Huntsvilles school district, and he became the director of Black education in the county.

This 1919 photograph shows officials laying the foundation for a new building at the Samuel Walker Houston Training School. Jackson Davis Collection of African American Educational Photographs, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library

Houston encouraged a practical education for Black Texans, but he also believed that young Texans of all races needed to learn an account of history that differed from the white supremacist narrative that dominated Southern history.

Toward this end, he joined with Joseph Clark and Ramsey Woods, two white professors who pioneered race relations courses at Sam Houston State Teachers College. Together, the group led the Texas Commission on Interracial Cooperations effort to evaluate Texas public school textbooks during the 1930s.

In an analysis of racial attitudes in state-endorsed textbooks, they found that 74% of books presented a racist view of the past and of Black Americans. Most excluded the scientific, literary and civic contributions of Black people, while mentioning their economic contributions only in the period of slavery before the Civil War.

Instead, the group argued, books designed for both Black and white Texans needed to take the opportunity  to do simple justice by including Black history and the struggle for the exercise of equal civil, political and legal rights.

White Texans refused to adopt a textbook in the 1930s that taught the fundamental equality of the races, or portrayed Reconstruction, as it is now widely understood, as a missed opportunity to establish a more just and egalitarian Texas.

But Houston and his white counterparts were motivated by the conviction that progress, both for African Americans and for Texas, required a more honest and progressive account of the state and its history.

The Juneteenth Parade in Huntsville, Texas, circa 1900. Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library, Huntsville, Texas.

An ongoing battle for equality

Todays legislative efforts in Texas and elsewhere to restrict the teaching of systemic racism in public schools ignore the lessons and realities represented by Joshua and Samuel Walker Houstons lives.

The argument used for supporting such restrictions is that divisive concepts like the history of racism may make some students feel uncomfortable or guilty.

That sort of thinking echoes the same justification provided by Texas lawmakers in 1873, when many argued that the states schools must be segregated to ensure the peace, harmony and success of the schools and the good of the whole.

But the opposite is true.

In reality, the prohibition on teaching the darker chapters of our past creates a segregated history.

Instead, as Samuel Walker Houston recognized, young Texans must have a more honest account of the past and of one another to progress into a unified and egalitarian society.

Texas history is both the story of people who dedicated their lives to the work of advancing freedom and the story of powerful people and forces that stood against it.

One cannot be understood without the other.

Americans cannot appreciate the accomplishments of Joshua and Samuel Walker Houston without examining the vicious realities of Jim Crow society.

The lesson of their lives, and of the Juneteenth holiday, is that freedom is a precious thing that requires constant work to make real.

This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. Like this article? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

It was written by: Jeffrey L. Littlejohn, Sam Houston State University and Zachary Montz, Sam Houston State University.

Read more:



The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Minneapolis Police Department routinely engages in a pattern of racist and abusive behavior that deprives people of their constitutional rights, according to the findings of a Justice Department investigation prompted by the murder of George Floyd three years ago.

The 89-page report, released Friday, caps an investigation launched in April 2021. It outlined four core findings: The department uses excessive force, including unjustified deadly force; it unlawfully discriminates against Black and Native American people; it violates citizens' free speech rights; and officers discriminate against people with behavioral health disabilities when responding to calls, at times causing trauma or death.

"The patterns and practices of conduct the Justice Department observed during our investigation are deeply disturbing," U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a news conference in Minneapolis. "They erode the community's trust in law enforcement. And they made what happened to George Floyd possible."

The blistering report marks the start of a new post-Floyd chapter that will likely span years, during which the city will have to make changes while under federal court scrutiny.

The report was drawn from reviews of thousands of hours of body camera recordings and documents, analysis of data on calls for service, stops, uses of force and other officer activities from 2016 to 2022. Investigators also interviewed some 2,000 community members, including family members of those killed by police, and members of the department in all ranks.

"In Minneapolis, we reached a tipping point. A tipping point long in the making and born of a flawed system, but also irrefutable," said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Bildtsen . "And now, on this day, we are at a turning point, and there is a hope of change through justice."

The federal findings are separate from similar charges leveled in 2022 by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, which also found a pattern of discriminatory behavior by Minneapolis officers in the decade before Floyd's killing in 2020. The Minneapolis City Council approved changes this spring to settle the state's case, including limiting police use of chemical irritants and barring officers from searches based on the smell of marijuana.

Now, city leaders will negotiate a court-enforceable consent decree with the Justice Department while appointing an independent monitor to oversee the state and federal agreements.

"Our success won't be relegated to a report," Mayor Jacob Frey said. "It won't be relegated to compliance figures or a judge's signature. Our success will be defined by the people of Minneapolis feeling safe, in fact feeling safer when interacting with police in our city.".

Police Chief Brian O'Hara, who was appointed this year, said he had "been through this before" when he helped lead his former police department in Newark, N.J., through similar reforms.

"We will change the narrative around policing in this city," O'Hara said. "Out of the darkness and trauma that our residents and our police officers have experienced over the last three years, we will emerge as a beacon of light for the rest of the world."

The Justice Department's investigation of Minneapolis is one of eight federal probes into law enforcement agencies launched since President Joe Biden's 2021 inauguration. The Trump administration had abandoned such police investigations. Since the 1990s, and before Trump, such investigations were commonly used by the federal government to intervene in institutional failures within police agencies.

Unreasonable use of force, shootings

In Minneapolis, federal investigators reviewed all 19 police shootings that happened from 2016 to the summer of 2022 and found that "a significant portion of them were unconstitutional uses of deadly force." They also studied hundreds of incidents involving "less lethal force" and concluded that officers "routinely" employed excessive force, "often when no force is necessary."

Among the shootings cited was the killing of Justine Ruszczyk Damond in 2017. She was shot by officer Mohamed Noor, who was "spooked" when Damond approached his squad after he responded to a 911 call.

The report also cited an incident involving an off-duty officer who responded to a shots-fired call and then fired at a vehicle carrying six people within 3 seconds of leaving his squad car, and another when a man was shot six times after he began cutting himself with a knife when left in a Police Department interview room.

"Shooting a man who is hurting himself and has not threatened anyone else is unreasonable," the report concluded.

The report also found that officers used neck restraints in at least 198 encounters during the same time period, including 44 that did not lead to an arrest.

Neck restraints were used 52 times in 2016, the report said. By 2021, one year after such restraints were banned in the wake of Floyd's killing by officer Derek Chauvin, the tactic was used only once. Chauvin killed Floyd by pressing Floyd's neck to the ground with his knee.

Department members, however, met the ban with "considerable resistance," according to the report. Officers and supervisors told federal investigators that they thought it was an overcorrection and "politically driven." Some officers continued to see neck restraints as an "efficient and reliable tactic," the report said. "These views took hold as MPD did not train officers in alternative tactics until the year after the ban."

The report found that, in less-lethal incidents, officers frequently use "gratuitous force" on people who were already restrained, subdued and handcuffed, in what was deemed "a "completely unnecessary act of violence" in violation of the Fourth Amendment.

In one case, a handcuffed and compliant Black man was thrown to the ground face-first after the officer claimed he had "tensed up" during a search while bent over the hood of a squad car. In another, a white man in a mental health crisis was slapped and punched by an officer for spitting at the officer while handcuffed to a stretcher.

"I'm really proud of myself; I only hit him twice," the officer said on body camera. The supervisor did not refer that officer for a misconduct investigation.

As illustrated by Floyd's killing, the report also found numerous examples of officers failing to properly render medical aid or intervene when another officer used unreasonable force. Despite department policy requiring officers to intervene, the only officers disciplined for failing to do so were the three fired and charged with aiding and abetting Chauvin in Floyd's killing.

The report concluded that despite frequent unreasonable uses of force, the department fails to properly investigate, or it takes officers' word for what happened even when the evidence indicates otherwise.

Unlawful discrimination

Justice Department officials Friday described how the investigation uncovered the department's first-ever findings of police discrimination against Native American people in addition to Black residents.

Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke said the investigation found that the MPD disproportionately stops Black and Native American people compared with white people, and conduct searches more frequently during those stops. Clarke said Minneapolis police illegally discriminate by using force more often after stops of Black and Native American people, another first in a federal pattern or practice investigation.

Clarke said that immediately after Floyd's killing, Minneapolis police officers "suddenly ceased" reporting race and gender in many stops despite department policies requiring that data to be collected.

The percentage of daily stops with known race data dipped more than 35 percentage points during that period, the Justice Department estimated. Still, Clarke said, analysis of the racial data available from Floyd's death until Aug. 9, 2022, showed "significant racial disparities." She said officers used force 49% more often during stops involving Black people and 69% more often during stops involving Native American people than they did during similar stops of white people.

Federal investigators found no "legitimate nondiscriminatory reason" for the disparities in treatment.

Garland said investigators found several cases in which officers were not held accountable for racist conduct until there was public outcry. In one case singled out by the attorney general, an officer who stopped a car carrying Somali-American teens said he was proud of the 1993 U.S. military raid in Mogadishu, Somalia  depicted in the movie "Black Hawk Down"  "when we killed a bunch of your folk."

"We didn't finish the job over there  if we had you guys wouldn't be over here right now," the officer said.

First Amendment violations, failure to discipline

As has been widely documented, the report said the department "also fails to hold officers accountable for violating First Amendment rights," saying it disciplined officers for misconduct at protests only five times in a seven-year period.

The report determined that Minneapolis police retaliate against protesters and journalists by unlawfully restricting their actions during demonstrations. It also said officers penalize people who challenge or question them during stops and calls for service, while also interfering with the right to observe and record police activity.

The report included examples of officers cheering each other as they fired rubber grenades into a crowd of protesters and an officer kneeing the neck of a passive, restrained protester as he lay face down.

"These indiscriminate uses of force suggest that officers' true purpose is not to prevent criminal activity, but to retaliate against protesters for their constitutionally protected speech," the authors wrote.

The report examined a May 30, 2020, incident in which an officer pushed a journalist's head to the pavement and pepper sprayed his face before walking away  even as the journalist identified himself and held up a press credential.

Investigators found "numerous problems" with MPD's training system, saying that instructors don't have formal certifications and the department lacks criteria for selecting its instructors or evaluating their performance. The Justice Department said it knew of instances where officers served as field training officers  helping to train new hires  "even while under investigation for serious misconduct."

The report said supervisors lack training to properly review use of force and serious incidents, and that an effective early intervention system could help the department better identify signs that an officer needed help. It noted that the city received a $500,000 grant in 2021 to begin developing that system "but work was stalled until recently."

Many of the report's findings echo those of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights in its earlier investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department. The Justice Department report, for example, calls the department's accountability system "fundamentally flawed."

"It consistently fails at its core purpose: to find, address, and prevent officer misconduct," the report said. "Instead of a clear, straightforward accountability system, MPD's system is an opaque maze, with multiple dead ends where meritorious complaints are dismissed without investigation and often for no discernable reason."

The report called the department's complaint system "needlessly complex," noting that MPD used an eight-page flow chart to explain the steps in the process. Investigators found numerous instances where complaints were inappropriately closed. The report included a footnote that the Justice Department's analysis of MPD's accountability systems was conducted before changes were implemented in recent months.

Inappropriate response to behavioral health crises

The federal investigation waded into some issues that have dominated Minneapolis politics in the three years since Floyd's murder and suggested that some changes implemented by the city haven't gone far enough.

It accused the city of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act by discriminating against people with behavioral health disabilities when responding to emergencies.

"Many behavioral health-related calls for service do not require a police response, but MPD responds to the majority of those calls, and that response is often harmful and ineffective," the report said. "This deprives people with behavioral health disabilities an equal opportunity to benefit from the city's emergency response services."

The report credited Minneapolis for launching behavioral health crisis response teams staffed by civilians rather than officers. But it said the program lacks the capacity to respond as needed and that "the city itself has unanswered questions about whether the program is on track."

The report also said the city's 911 call center workers need better training to appropriately dispatch behavioral health calls. It noted that staffers specifically requested training to help handle calls in a "gray area." One dispatcher told investigators they are "trained to err on the side of caution and to oversend" police.

The report cited numerous occasions where police responded to a mental health crisis when no law enforcement response was required, or cases in which tragedy could have been avoided with de-escalation.

One incident was the 2018 killing of Travis Jordan, who was in the throes of a mental health crisis when his girlfriend called a non-emergency line asking for help. Officers were directed not to force their way into the home, but when they called him to come out, he emerged agitated and holding a knife.

"Responders could have taken more time to understand and de-escalate the situation, such as by allowing the man to stay inside the home, engaging in dialogue, attempting to gather other information from the girlfriend or other sources, and having officers on standby," the report said. "Such strategies may have avoided the use of force that ended the man's life."

Jeff Wheeler, Star Tribune Loved ones at the Say Their Names Cemetery adorned the marker for Travis Jordan, who was killed by police in November 2018.

The report suggested that officers, too, could benefit from better mental health support. While it credited the city with boosting wellness services in recent years, the reports said it remains unclear "to what extent those services are helping officers and affecting the conduct we observed during our investigation."

"Given the considerable challenges of the last several years in the Minneapolis community  from the COVID-19 pandemic to the widespread trauma and unrest following George Floyd's tragic murder  providing officers with emotional and psychological support is important to ensure that officer stress and fatigue do not contribute to constitutional violations," the report said.

The report concluded by listing 27 remedial measures that the Justice Department said could help improve the MPD. They included changes to use of force training and misconduct reporting, better collection of data of the race of those involved in police encounters, and improved accountability for First Amendment violations.

The report said city leaders "have been forthcoming about the need for reform."

"What we saw in the report is heartbreaking, and I think everybody in Minneapolis recognizes that," Garland said.
A cultural and creative industry investment promotion fair was held on June 9 in Luohu.

Themed "Greater Bay Area Hub and Empowered by Culture," the fair was co-hosted by the Luohu Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sport and Shenzhen Enterprises High-quality Development Promotion Association on the sidelines of the 19th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair.

The Luohu Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sport introduced development opportunities in Luohu district at the event, particularly the district's measures and achievements in advancing reform and opening-up, developing the industrial base, and improving the business environment.

To support the development of digital creative enterprises, Luohu has issued specific measures, providing qualified enterprises and individuals with various kinds of subsidies and awards.

As long as there are good enterprises and projects, Luohu will always be able to provide them with development space and favorable policies to help them thrive in Luohu, said Xue Jiang, director of the Luohu Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sport.

There are 13 cultural industrial parks of various kinds in Luohu, among which two are national-level industrial parks, one provincial-level, and 10 municipal-level, gathering a number of high-quality enterprises in the digital creative industry. With a complete industrial chain and a solid foundation in the digital creative sector, Luohu now has its own competitive advantages to further advance the high-quality development of the industry.




Kansas City, Kansas, man wants cop who knelt on his neck in Walmart arrest to be fired

A Kansas City, Kansas, man whose arrest at Walmart sparked social media outrage says the police officer who knelt on his neck should lose his badge.

Dayton Borisouth, 24, told The Star on Thursday that he was irritated by the official response from Kansas City, Kansas police this week as the department acknowledged one officer used techniques not approved by KCKPD.

I dont think that he should even be a cop, doing what he did, Borisouth said, adding: I did not think I was ever gonna see my baby boy when that happened. I thought I was about to die. Because he put a lot of pressure on my neck.

On June 1, Borisouth visited the Walmart Supercenter at 10824 Parallel Parkway, in the Legends Outlets mall, to help his uncle jump-start his truck. It took longer than expected, Borisouth said, so he went inside to buy dinner for his pregnant wife and 2-year-old daughter.

After going through the self-checkout, Borisouth says he saw a mean look on the face of an off-duty KCKPD officer working retail security at the Walmart. The officer asked if he had his receipt, Borisouth replied yes, and then walked away.

At the sliding-glass doors, Borisouth said he saw the reflection of the officer coming toward him very rapidly. Borisouth said he told the officer he did not have a right to detain him and kept walking toward the exit.

Thats when Borisouth says the officer pushed him up into a corner and accused him of stealing the DiGiorno pizza. Borisouth said he told the officer the receipt was in his pocket when the handcuffs came out.

Backup was called as Borisouth wound up on the ground with the off-duty officer pressing Borisouths head against the floor. Bystanders, including Borisouths uncle, recorded video as two other officers arrived.

One of those responding officers is heard on video threatening to break Borisouths nose. A short time later, the same officer is seen putting his knee on Borisouths neck as Borisouth screams. The technique has been under increased scrutiny since the May 2020 death of George Floyd, who died after Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for about eight minutes.

Borisouth, after being placed in handcuffs, was taken to a squad car. He declined a trip to the hospital  he told The Star he couldnt afford the cost of an ambulance ride  and was handed a ticket for interfering with an investigation.

#unfairtreatment #policebrutalitymuststop #walmartvideo #justicemustbeserved #kansascity #kansascitypolice  original sound - Viviana Borisouth (Vera) @viviana_borisouth This is a another video someone got of my husband being treated unlawfully by the Kansas City Kansas Police!! I want justice to be served! They are suppose to protect us but instead they threaten him and say they are going to break his nose!! This isnt right!! I want everyone on Tiktok to share this video and the other video i have to prove that this is how police treat us! No one should get tackled and put in a headlock because of a receipt!! INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY!! ALSO THEY DID NOT SAY THEIR MIRANDA RIGHTS TO HIM AT ALL!! #innocentuntilprovenguilty

In a statement Monday, KCKPD said an internal review was conducted. The department said two officers were disciplined consistent with policy and that both would receive additional training.

The department added that, while Borisouth disobeyed the off-duty officer working retail, that officer should have disengaged at that time due to the circumstances.

The interference charge brought against Borisouth was dropped at the request of the police department.

Two days after the debacle, Borisouth says he went to the emergency room for an evaluation. He said he cannot lift the same amount of weight with his right arm  especially a problem because he works in home remodeling and as a personal trainer.

Borisouth said he lodged an official complaint with the department. He said he has also hired a lawyer.

Hes also decided to stop shopping at Walmart.

Every time I go into Price Chopper for a frozen pizza I think about that, Borisouth said. And I make sure to grab my receipt.

The Stars Katie Moore contributed to this report.
A city attorney for Kansas City has been accused of throwing tantrums, cursing and making a false claim in court during a recent multi-million dollar discrimination lawsuit.

The lawsuit was filed against the city by former Kansas City Health Department employee Shahidah Hazziez, who said she faced intimidation while applying for a job with the city. She was eventually denied the job, which her attorneys believed was an act of retaliation for refusing to drop a prior workplace discrimination lawsuit.

When the lawsuit for the retaliation claim went to trial on May 22, city attorney Tara Kelly, who was one of three lawyers representing the city, was sanctioned by a judge for falsely claiming Hazziez had been convicted of a crime.

The lawsuit filed in Jackson County Circuit Court on Dec. 3, 2018 against the City of Kansas City.

Court transcripts from the trial show Kelly cursed at another attorney and stormed out of the courtroom as punitive damages for the city were being discussed. Kelly also allegedly snatched a pen away from another attorney and scratched out what they had written on a legal pad.

This is the second time in four months that an attorney for the city has been accused of lying or making false statements in connection with a workplace lawsuit.

In March, city attorney Saskia Jacobse was accused of covering up findings that indicated a paramedic was discriminated against and harassed by her supervisor before she died. The findings were part of a lawsuit against the city filed by the womans family.

Giovanna Vittori was a paramedic with the Kansas City Fire Department. She developed PTSD and said she was bullied by a supervisor about her condition. She died at age 38.

Jacobse was also one of two attorneys who represented the city in Hazziezs two-day unemployment hearing where she was denied benefits.

Attorney Sonal Bhatia, who represented Hazziez, said Kellys behavior during the trial was surprising. She had never seen a judge sanction an attorney by instructing a jury to disregard certain claims as inaccurate and improper in court, she said.

She had also never seen someone curse in front of the judge.

We were just utterly shocked because thats never ever ever happened in a courtroom to us, Bhatia said. I would characterize it as disrespectful. To everyone whos been on this very long journey, especially the judge and jury.

On May 31 punitive damages for the city were set at $1 million, which will be paid in addition to the jurys $2.4 million.

In this case itself, the jury returned two of the three counts in the favor of the City, Sherae Honeycutt, a spokeswoman for the city, said in a written statement Thursday. We respect jury decisions and, as we always do, we will leave our advocacy to the courtroom, rather than the press.

City Attorney Matt Gigliotti, the head of the citys law department, did not respond to a request for comment.

City Attorney Matt Gigliotti

Bhatia said she hopes Kansas Citians understand the importance of such trials. She said it is crucial to pay attention to how city officials are behaving and representing the taxpayers best interest.

Especially the city government should be a model for treating people in a way thats free from discrimination.

Former Kansas City employee sues

Shahidah Hazziez spent about one year working for the Kansas City Health Department before suing the city for unfair treatment.

The first lawsuit in 2017 alleged Hazziez was selected for a random drug test and fired for not being able to complete it due to a medical condition.

As the lawsuit played out in court, Hazziez applied for unemployment benefits. But she was denied because of her misconduct related discharge.

She asked her former supervisor with the health department to write a letter explaining why she was discharged, but they declined.

Then, the city refused to hire her for another position that she had interviewed and applied for.

An October 2016 letter from city attorney Brett Kassen offered Hazziez a job as a digital communication coordinator, which had responsibilities similar to her prior work. The attorney said he could prevent her from obtaining the job or he could bless the hire, as long as she dropped the lawsuit and stopped seeking compensation, according to the charge of discrimination filed with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights.

The lawsuit concluded Hazziez had suffered discriminatory treatment and awarded her $172,000 in October 2017.

A judge required Hazziez to file another lawsuit if she wanted to seek damages for being denied the communication coordinator position.

So she did, and a seven-day trial ensued.

City attorneys conduct at trial

Hazziez sued for retaliatory treatment at the hands of city government.

At trial, during a cross examination, city attorney Tara Kelly made a false statement about Hazziezs criminal record.

She falsely claimed that Hazziez had pleaded guilty to an offense, when Hazziez had not been convicted of any crime.

We brought that immediately to the judges attention, Bhatia said.

Days before the verdict, the judge instructed the jury to ignore Kellys assertion as they deliberated.

Bhatia said she had never seen that kind of sanction happen in any other trial, throughout her decade-long career with the firm.

Ultimately the jury decided in favor of Hazziez.

The city attorneys behavior continued to bother the plaintiffs lawyers on May 31, when the jury met again to determine the amount of punitive damages to be paid by the city for the retaliation.

Bhatias fellow attorney E.E Keenan, was using a large legal pad on an easel during his cross examination, when Kelly came up, grabbed our pen and made big Xs through every single thing that he had written, Bhatia said.

After the interaction Keenan told the jury: I dont think anything better illustrates how the city does business, or what you saw in this courtroom, then what the city just did here, A court transcript said.

With 56 seconds left for Keenan to make his closing arguments, Kelly accused him of personally attacking her.

The two then approached the bench. Keenan said he absolutely was referring to actions during the case, not Kelly personally.

In response, Kelly denied his statement.

F--- off, she said.

Keenan and Bhatia said they did not file a complaint against Kelly after the exchange.

Were expected to be professional and model courtesy to each other and there are rules locally that were supposed to follow, Bhatia said.

It was all very surprising... Sometimes things heat up but Ive never seen anything like this in the court room... Ive never heard anyone use any sort of language like this in front of a judge or a jury, Bhatia said.

She remembers seeing Kelly storm out of the room, slamming the door after the interaction, moments before the jury reached a decision on damages.

After she walked out there was this loud crashing sound from the hallway, Bhatia said. Im still not sure what all of that was.
Photo: Grace Cary (iStock by Getty Images)

A Kentucky mother of three was forced to travel hundreds of miles to Illinois to receive an abortion after her fetus was diagnosed with anencephaly, a serious birth defect where the skull doesnt develop, at her 20-week ultrasound appointment.



The only option I had here was to continue carrying her with the same outcome for another you know, 17, 18 weeks, Heather Maberry, 32, told ABC News. I said, I physically cant and mentally cant continue carrying her knowing that shes never gonna breathe, were never going to have a life with her. So, we came to the decision that we were going to try to get an abortion.

Read more

Two days before Christmas 2022, the substitute teacher found out she was pregnant. She had recently miscarried and was excited for this pregnancy to add to their three children. Ive always wanted another baby, she said. We were super excited, but we were also very nervous because we had just lost a baby [in an earlier miscarriage]. So, we just kept trying to take care of me the best we could.

Instead, Maberry would suffer from debilitating health conditions like hyperemesis gravidarum (a severe kind of vomiting and nausea which can lead to weight loss) during the pregnancy. And then she received terrible news: Her 20-week ultrasound showed that the fetus had anencephaly. A second hospital confirmed the diagnosis.

It felt like hell, Maberry said. It just felt like somebody was beating me down. I mean, that was just the worst feeling in the world. The worst news any parent could ever get.

Unfortunately, her journey was just beginning. Kentucky has one of the nations strictest abortion bans, which went into effect after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Abortion is only allowed to save a pregnant persons life or to prevent serious health complications. On top of that, the state is fighting to keep a separate law, which prohibits abortions after fetal cardiac activity is detected, on the books. Maberry, like nearly all Kentuckians, would have to leave the state.

The abortion was estimated to cost $3,300 for the Chicago clinic. However, when factoring in traveling hundreds of miles, the costs skyrocketed. Maberry estimated their total costs for the out-of-state procedure were $6,000 to $7,000. They were only able to pay for the procedure as well as hotels and food because abortion funds stepped in.

During the procedure in Chicago, Maberry learned that her fetus was also missing toes, in addition to the lack of skull and brain growth.

Maberry doesnt blame her doctors, whose hands were tied by the law; she lays all blame at the feet of the Kentucky legislature. I mean most of them are men, she told ABC News. They are never going to have to carry a child. Theyre never going to have to be in the position, theyre never gonna be the one that was carrying that baby and had to go through hell.

More from Jezebel

Sign up for Jezebel's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Kevin McCarthy prays for me, a mere journalist. Cool! Now, here are my questions | Opinion

Kevin McCarthy prays for me!

As I need all the prayer help I can get, I will certainly accept his well-wishes.

How do I know this? Because the speaker of the House of Representatives, one of Americas most powerful leaders, told me so.

Well, not me directly. Rather, he said it to the group of reporters who regularly cover him at the Capitol.

But I am sure he extends goodwill to me and all my colleagues at The Bee. Lets go out on a limb and believe that the House speaker prays for all of us in the Fourth Estate.

In a social media posting made Thursday afternoon, the Republican from Bakersfield wrote this atop the video of him speaking to the reporters:

I worry about the constant negativity of the media. But I keep them in my prayers, and I hope one day theyll start rooting for America to succeed!

I worry about the constant negativity of the media. But I keep them in my prayers, and I hope one day theyll start rooting for America to succeed! pic.twitter.com/eqTv5ceERf  Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) June 15, 2023

You can be sure, Mr. Speaker, that I and my colleagues in the media do root for America, despite what conservative critics  many of them your own members  think and say about us.

Most American journalists realize that having the freedom to report without fear of consequences  like being hauled to jail  is truly amazing, humbling even.

Prayer for leaders

McCarthy might be surprised to learn that I pray for him. I do  for him, President Biden, Vice President Harris, House and Senate leaders. I pray for Democrats and Republicans. I also pray for our state and local leaders.

I am not alone. Lots of Americans of many faiths offer prayers, remembrances, and goodwill toward our elected leaders.

I would like to think the prayers of people across the nation are helping keep it together despite worrying attacks on democratic norms and systems that have sustained our democracy for nearly 250 years.

Speaker and the media

Earlier this year McCarthy was not praying for me, quite the opposite. He got mad at me at the end of a news conference, accusing me of not reaching out to his office for his comments when I wrote editorials about him and his leadership. He was mistaken. I do reach out to get his view.

If McCarthy would speak to me, I would tell him that its my job to ask him hard questions about the issues of the day. A free press is one of the pillars of democracy that distinguishes our nation from Russia or Iran.

To me, his tweet showed hed like reporters to be more positive. Politicians have been wishing for that ever since reporters began covering them.

But journalism and marketing are two different things. Democracy depends on the accountability and transparency of its leaders. McCarthy and other powerful politicians already have staffs spinning public relations in his favor. Thats not my job and, truthfully, he and other politicians would be doing themselves a favor by speaking to journalists more than they do  not less.

Among the questions I have been mulling over for the last week that I would ask McCarthy if given the opportunity:

Why did you call the indictment against former President Trump a weaponizing of the government before you had even seen the charges? Is that fair to the prosecutors who believe they have a case?

Today is indeed a dark day for the United States of America.



It is unconscionable for a President to indict the leading candidate opposing him. Joe Biden kept classified documents for decades.



I, and every American who believes in the rule of law, stand with President Trump  Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) June 9, 2023

I would tell him that when he casts such doubt on our longstanding process for justice, he enables those who seemingly want an authoritarian to be in charge, not the American people or their laws.

I agree that we in the press can get negative and only focus on whats wrong. Lord knows there is no shortage of problems facing America.

I am not going to give up on you, I promise, McCarthy told the reporters. I dont give up on my members, I dont give up on you.

OK, Speaker McCarthy, I will do the same. I will keep praying that you are committed to truth and justice more than politics.

Can I get an Amen?
Khashoggi widow suing Israeli firm, says spyware caused her to constantly be looking over her shoulder

The widow of murdered Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi is suing an Israeli tech firm, claiming foreign governments used the companys spyware to track her movements and forced her into a state of constant hyper-vigilance.

Hanan Elatr is accusing the NSO Group of violating federal and Virginia hacking laws and negligence in selling its Pegasus spyware to hostile foreign actors.

Pegasus has drawn international attention due to reports of its use by the Israeli government on protesters, by authoritarian regimes on personal targets and even by the FBI.

The technology has been effectively banned in the United States since 2021.

A 2021 report found that UAE officials downloaded Pegasus onto Elatrs phone while she was in custody in 2018.

Khashoggi, a fervent critic of the Saudi government, was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. A U.S. intelligence report found that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the killing.

Following Khashoggis killing, Elatr was put under house arrest in Dubai before going into hiding in the U.S.

Elatrs suit says the spyware caused her immense harm, both through the tragic loss of her husband and through her own loss of safety, privacy, and autonomy, as well as the loss of her financial stability and career.

She lives in a state of constant hyper-vigilance, unable to safely participate in social activities, constantly looking over her shoulder, the suit states.

Cybersecurity experts discovered traces of NSO Group spyware on Elatrs cellphone in December 2021, they told The Washington Post. Time stamps of activity lined up with periods when she was detained by UAE authorities.

We found the smoking gun on her phone, cybersecurity expert Bill Marczak told The Post.

NSO Group has also been sued by Facebook owner Meta and Apple over the Pegasus softwares use on their products online.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Israeli cyber firm NSO Group is seen at one of its branches in the Arava Desert, southern Israel

By Raphael Satter

(Reuters) - The widow of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi says in a lawsuit that surveillance software built by the Israeli surveillance company NSO Group was used to spy on her messages in the months leading up to her husband's death.

In a civil suit filed Thursday in the Northern District of Virginia, Hanan Elatr Khashoggi said that NSO "intentionally targeted" her devices and "caused her immense harm, both through the tragic loss of her husband and through her own loss of safety, privacy, and autonomy."

NSO initially said it had not seen the lawsuit. When the firm was sent a copy, it did not immediately respond. The company - which markets surveillance technology to intelligence agencies and law enforcement around the world - has previously denied that its technology was used to hack Khashoggi. He was a Washington Post columnist who was murdered on the grounds of Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul in 2018.

U.S. intelligence concluded in 2021 that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved an operation to capture or kill Khashoggi. The Saudi government has denied any involvement by the crown prince and has maintained that Khashoggi's killing was a heinous crime by a rogue group.

Saudi use of the Pegasus spying tool has come up in other controversial cases. Last year, Reuters reported that an attempt by Saudi authorities to wield Pegasus against Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul backfired, allowing researchers to uncover thousands of other victims and triggering a cascade of legal and government action.

The U.S. government has imposed restrictions on doing business with NSO over human rights concerns, and the company faces a barrage of legal action over its spy services, including from Apple Inc and WhatsApp owner Meta Platforms Inc.

(Reporting by Raphael Satter; Editing by Frances Kerry)
Anything in life that costs 500% more this year than last year is unthinkable.

But for when it comes to condo insurance in Beaufort County, its a reality.

This year, Hilton Head Island Sea Side Villas owner Jared Shope is paying $4,000 in special assessments on top of the condos $4,860 yearly regime fee.

Across hundreds of condo owners, like Shope, the special assessment covers this years 499% change in the buildings master insurance policy: from $115,223 to $690,577. If that rate of increase happened with gasoline, a driver would go from paying $3.50 per gallon to $21 or nearly $400 to fill up the average car.

I was surprised by the amount, Shope said. I wasnt surprised that it increased.

Though Sea Side Villas is on the high end of master policy increases, Shopes situation isnt unique. Insurance for condos, customarily called villas on Hilton Head, is rapidly increasing and not only on the island. Condo owners across Beaufort County including land-locked developments in Bluffton and Okatie  are being hit with increases anywhere from zero to 500%, according to the property management companies responsible for finding insurance.

It impacts literally thousands, said Robert Arundell, Hilton Heads Woodlake Villas property owners association treasurer.

In the past year since May, condos accounted for more than 25 percent of property sales in the Hilton Head Area, according to the Hilton Head area Realtors market report. In that time, report says 1,396 condos were sold compared to 3,829 single-family homes.

On average Hilton Heads condos are less expensive than its homes. In May, the average price of a condo on the island was $452,500, less than half of the $1,255,000 average home price, according to Hilton Head Area Realtor market reports. For those with a smaller budget, looking to rent to make extra money or hoping to downsize, condos provide the opportunity to purchase property in a destination location. Not to mention owners arent responsible for outside maintenance. Now, increasing insurance rates are adding thousands of dollars each year to the relatively cost-conscious option.

Whats more is that condo insurance increases typically run higher than those of individual homes, even if theyre on the same stretch of beach. Beaufort County home insurance rates are increasing anywhere from 20% to 70%, according to Meg OToole, an agent with Hilton Heads Goosehead insurance.

The rise in condo insurance rates can be attributed to many of the same reasons homeowners insurance is going up: reinsurance spikes, decreased coverage availability, rebuild cost increases and reliance on Excess and Surplus Lines. However, a few key differences account for condo insurance rising at a quicker pace: a major escalation in risk assessment, higher coverage needs and an even smaller offering of agencies than homeowners insurance.

Its a tough, tough situation because everythings up in cost right now, said Craig Fenstermaker, who is the Chief Operation Officer of IMC Resort Services property management company. This is just a kick in the teeth. Its hard to sustain something like this.

The compound of Hampton Place in Palmetto Dunes as seen on Thursday, April 9, 2020, is a combination of owner occupied and vacation rentals on Hilton Head Island.

How much are they going up?

The coastal wind market is worse than it has ever been in U.S. history by far, according to Fenstermaker.

Judging by the 130 communities in Hilton Head, Bluffton, Okatie, Beaufort and Fripp Island that IMC Resort Services manages and finds insurance for, he said its much worse than 2007 and the hard market of the 1990s. The company also manages about 70 properties in the Charleston area.

Fenstermaker has been at IMC Resort Services for about 23 years and is a certified community insurance and risk management specialist. He said they shop coverage for their communities every year throughout the U.S. and abroad using a number of agents, brokers and managing general agents.

Of the condo insurance that has been renewed this year in the Hilton Head area he said he has seen the following breakdown:

0-50% increase for 3 properties

50%-100% increase for 22 properties

100%-200% increase for 45 properties

Over 200% increase for 10 properties

Insurance increases include both rate and value increases combined, meaning that since many property values increased the amount of coverage they needed also increased.

Unfortunately, it gives us a lot of sleepless nights and it gives us lots of emails from owners upset, said Mark Megliore, who purchased High Tide Associates property management over 20 years ago.

Oceanwalk Villas, photographed Jan. 20, 2016, is a condominium complex on Hilton Head Islands south end.

Mostly condos, Megliores company manages 38 communities in southern Beaufort County, which includes finding property insurance. He said they do their best to get two or three quotes for each property, but theyre pretty much the same. Of the condo insurance that has been renewed this year he said he has seen a:

0-25% increase for 6 properties

25-50% increase for 4 properties

50-100% increase for 6 properties

100-130% increase for 2 properties

He said there isnt trend for which properties increased the most.

Its kind of all over the darn map, he said. Theres really no rhyme or reason doesnt really have anything to do with how far away from the coast they are.

Instead, the rhyme or reason can be found in multiple factors.

Major escalation in risk assessment

It started about 500 miles away, two years ago in South Florida, according to Mark Friedlander.

Friedlander is the director of communications for the Insurance Information Institute, which has worked improve public understanding of insurance since 1959.

This goes back to the collapse of the high rise in Surfside Florida, he said. (It was an) older building. And since then weve seen a tightening in the market in terms of companies that want to write to them and we see an escalation in risk assessment, especially for older structures.

Champlain Towers South, a 12-story beachfront condominium in Miami suburb Surfside, Florida partially collapsed June 2021, causing the deaths of nearly 100 people. Insurance companies realized the near-worst possible outcome for a beachfront condos, and Friedlander said condo insurance rates started increasing in the year after.

Condo units at Bradley Circle on Hilton Head Island.

Fenstermaker, the property manager, has also worked in insurance and says companies calculate risk assessment with computer models by finding the most amount of money a condo would lose during a catastrophic incident called probable maximum loss.

Everything that carriers do now is computer models, Fenstermaker said, explaining that insurance companies calculate probable maximum loss, and communities with higher PMLs are having the most trouble.

He said that PML drivers include condo age, construction type, proximity to the ocean and claims history.

(The worst are) very old, built in the 70s, wood frame, oceanfront with a bunch of claims on their last few years, he said. Thats kind of the worst case scenario. Nobody wants to write that.

Its also almost everything on Hilton Head Island, according to Fenstermaker.

Higher coverage needs

When looking to cover a multi-mullion dollar condo community, oftentimes one insurance carrier isnt enough.



In previous, softer, insurance one insurance carrier would pick up, for example, $50 million insurance for a condo community.



Now youre having to layer multiple carriers on top of each other, Fenstermaker said. One carrier would cover $5 million, and the another $5 million and then another $10 million. You might have eight or nine different carriers just to cover one community.

Oceanwalk Villas, photographed Jan. 20, 2016, is a condominium complex on Hilton Head Islands south end.





He said coverage for properties insured for over $25 million normally require layering of five or more insurance companies. And with condo prices exploding in the past five years, this is becoming more common, he said.



In the Hilton Head area, median condo prices increased 70% from $150K in 2018 to $255K in 2022, according to the South Carolina Association of Realtors. In terms of an entire condo community, it means theyre worth millions of dollars more and need more coverage. Therefore, their insurance is more expensive.





Its easier to write a small single home than it is to write a large condo community because of (the insurers) capacity, Fenstermaker said, explaining that there are more carriers in the single home market than in the commercial market, and condos are considered commercial.

With less competition, what insurers are in the market are able to raise their rates.

When will it settle down?

Megliore is hopeful that in the upcoming years when he has to inform his property owners of their insurance increases, the changes will be less drastic than this year.

Both he and Fenstermaker predict rates will start going down in a two or three years, meaning owners might be in for a couple more years of skyrocketing rates.

No one has a crystal ball, Fenstermaker said. But if we can get a calm year, maybe two, I expect it to taper off because the rates are so high.

This also leads relates to increasing home insurance and reinsurance, which is the insurance that insurance companies buy to mitigate some of their risks: bad weather means more claims, and insurers have to pay out more money. As a result, insurers raise costs to make up their costs.

Eventually, additional carriers are going to start coming back to the coast because its profitable, Fenstermaker said. With the rates so high, its going to bring back competition maybe in a year or two.

He says then prices will start to go back down and the market will soften.

The best thing anybody can do is just pray that we the whole Southeast comes through a season with no major hurricanes, Megliore said. I mean, as long as we can make it through a year or two with no major hurricanes, I really think that things will settle down a little bit.

This article was reported as part of a series about Coastal Carolina home insurance. To read more about how reinsurance spikes, decreased coverage availability, rebuild cost increases and reliance on Excess and Surplus Lines impact condo and home insurance read: https://www.islandpacket.com/news/business/real-estate-news/article275464446.html
Cries pierced the air as a car full of women and children crossed into Chad from war-torn Sudan. A woman, in the late stages of pregnancy, lay in the backseat, lifeless and soaked in blood. Her children wailed at her feet.

I sat next to her in the car, said Butheina Nourin, describing her perilous escape from Sudans Darfur region alongside the dead woman. Her name was Fatima. I dont know her surname.

Fighters from the powerful Sudanese paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and their armed allies manned checkpoints along their route, Nourin said, demanding money from every passenger in exchange for safe passage.

This brutal method of extortion has become widespread in Darfur, according to dozens of witnesses who recounted similar incidents to CNN.

The vast western region of Sudan is the site of what has been widely described as the 21st centurys first genocide, with largely Arab militias systematically killing non-Arab African groups who make up the majority of the local population.

A growing body of evidence, including first-hand accounts, expert testimony and verified social media video, suggests that the RSF has revived those tactics in Darfur, and exported them to other parts of Sudan as it fights a war with the countrys military.

Sudanese girls who fled the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region, and were previously internally displaced in Sudan, look at makeshift shelters near the border between Sudan and Chad, while taking refuge in Borota, Chad on May 13, 2023. - Zohra Bensemra/Reuters

Since mid-April, Sudans army chief Abdul Fattah al-Burhan has largely waged his offensive from the sky, aerially bombarding RSF positions in residential areas and inflicting a civilian death toll.

Meanwhile, RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) has strengthened his tactical military positions by driving civilians out of their properties and employing the well-worn playbook developed in Darfur: Kill, terrorize and expel.

Fatimas story is just one example. Eyewitnesses recalled that, by the time the car carrying her arrived at the last of the RSF positions, she had run out of cash. Only a few kilometers separated her, her two children and her unborn child from the safety of Chad.

She told the fighters she had spent all her money at other checkpoints, eyewitness Nourin said. They shot her immediately.

The bullet went through one side of her head and exited the other. We all screamed.

Russias mercenaries back Hemedti

The interest, influence and material support of Russias notorious paramilitary group Wagner in the region is also exacerbating the violence, CNN has found.

According to intelligence officials, eyewitnesses at key transit points and CNNs open-source analysis, Wagner has been arming the RSF using supply routes that run through the Darfur region.

What is not in doubt is Wagners role in this, it has been supplying the RSF with arms and supplies through Darfur, one Western intelligence official told CNN.

It follows Wagners modus operandi. Create chaos and seize power, another intelligence source active in the region added.

A months-long CNN investigation uncovered an increase in Wagner supplies to the RSF that began in the run-up to Sudans conflict. Armaments appear to have been shuttled into Sudan through key transit points: Russias air and naval base in the Syrian coastal region of Latakia, Wagner bases in Libya, and Bangui airport in the Central African Republic.

The weapons were also transported into Sudan through overland routes, extending a robust relationship that predated the war, where the countrys military leadership, headed by General Burhan, granted Moscow large concessions in the countrys gold mining industry in exchange for weapons and political backing.

That quid pro quo helped finance Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine while entrenching Sudans military junta, especially Hemedti, who had a meteoric rise to power from a leader of the RSFs previous incarnation, the Janjaweed.

The Janjaweed  or devils on horseback  was later absorbed into Sudans security forces. Former dictator Omar al-Bashir gave Hemedti a nickname: Hemayti, my protector.

Before Sudans current war erupted in mid-April, Hemedti was the second most powerful person in government.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) hold a meeting in Khartoum, Sudan, on Feb. 9, 2023, two months before the conflict broke out. - Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service/AP

He allied with his now bitter enemy, Burhan, to stifle a democratic movement that helped overthrow dictator Bashir in 2019. The two generals then aligned to lead a coup against an internationally recognized transitional government in 2021, and crushed a pro-democracy protest movement. More than 100 protesters were killed in the 2021 anti-coup demonstrations.

Their rivalry flared into open warfare in mid-April, and CNNs reporting has found that Wagner has dropped its wholesale support for the military junta in order to back one side in the conflict  the RSF.

The UN says at least 860 people have been killed since the start of the current conflict, with about 6,000 injured across the country as of June 3. Around half a million people have fled Sudan, with more than 1.4 million internally displaced.

Echoes of ethnic cleansing

A near shutdown in telecommunications in Darfur means that most of the information about the violence now playing out there has trickled out through newly arrived refugees.

Reports of atrocities committed by RSF fighters and their allied militias, clearly identified by their uniforms, are consistent across dozens of testimonies. They include arbitrary killings, the wholesale destruction of vital civilian infrastructure, the looting of homes and hospitals, and even mass rapes.

I saw the aftermath of torched internally displaced people (IDP) centers and witnessed the RSF raiding residences, said Hussein Haran, a human rights activist who was in the Darfur city of el-Fasher when the fighting broke out before fleeing to Geneina, another city in the region, and then to Chad.

Even the hospitals were looted. At Geneinas research hospital, they stole the blood bank, and they spilled the blood all over the street, Haran, who works at the Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA), told CNN.

The only way I can explain this is that they didnt want to leave a drop of blood for the ethnic Africans [who claim no Arab ancestry] being treated at the hospital. This is an ethnic cleansing project, he added.

On Wednesday, the RSF abducted and executed West Darfur Governor Khamis Abbakar, according to the Sudanese military. The RSF denied responsibility for the killing, blaming outlaws without providing further detail.

Some claims are nearly impossible to verify during active fighting, but satellite imagery from the area paints a clear picture. At least three cities and 10 towns and villages in Darfur have been partially burned to the ground in the past month alone.

At least one food market in Geneina, which hosts more than 100,000 people internally displaced by violence over the last two decades, has been torched. A school-turned-IDP center was also set alight in the city, according to satellite photographs.

Many of the interviewees depict an emboldened RSF that is better armed than its previous incarnation two decades ago.

The scale of the fighting in Darfur today eclipses that of the early 2000s, said Kholood Khair, founder of the Confluence Advisory, a Khartoum-based think tank. The Janjaweed of 2003 definitely couldnt have done what the RSF of 2023 has done.

Khair added: But having enriched himself and positioned himself so well, despite the tumult of the past four years, Hemedti is in a position where hes able to do exactly that.

Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti) waves to a crowd during a rally in the Nile River State, Sudan, on July 13, 2019. - Mahmoud Hjaj/AP

More than 300,000 people were killed in the ethnic cleansing campaign by the Janjaweed and its Arab militia allies in the early 2000s. A precise death toll is almost impossible to tally, as many of those killed were dumped into mass graves. Then-President Bashir was charged by the International Criminal Court in 2010 with crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide in relation to the Darfur conflict. He still has not been handed over by Sudanese authorities to the ICC to stand trial.

Since then, the RSF has extended its reach beyond Sudans borders into Libya, and, crucially for Hemedtis international clout, into Yemen, where the group aided a devastating Saudi and Emirati military effort to crush Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

Hemedtis power reached new heights after he helped overthrow Bashir in 2019 and went on to become the military juntas deputy leader. His ties to the United Arab Emirates and Russia appeared to have consolidated his political power and helped turn him into one of Sudans wealthiest men.

Verified video of rape in broad daylight

Another characteristic of the ethnic cleansing in Darfur of the early 2000s was mass rapes, extensively documented by experts and rights groups. According to witness testimony, that brutal tactic is back in full force.

The strategy of raping women has been used extensively by the RSF, said Hala al-Karib, regional director of womens rights group SIHA. The RSF have used it in Darfur to humiliate the indigenous Darfuri population for 20 years.

The sad part is that they became very comfortable with it because they were never held accountable for it.

Dozens of incidents of sexual assault, including gang rapes and the assault of female minors, have been confirmed by non-profit groups and experts since the start of the latest conflict. Most of these occurred in Darfur. The United Nations says it has received reports of sexual assault on humanitarian workers in the region.

In late May, the Sudanese governments Combating Violence Against Women Unit recorded at least 36 cases of sexual assault in the Sudanese capital and 25 cases in Darfur, with 18 perpetrated by men in RSF uniforms.

But Sudanese activists claim that the assaults are much more widespread. In one case described by SIHA, 24 women and girls were abducted at the Daman hotel in south Darfur and repeatedly raped for three days. The oldest woman was 56 years old and the youngest was 14, according to SIHA.

Rapes are also being reported in the capital, where the RSF has repeatedly commandeered peoples homes, expelling the residents and looting their belongings, while combating air attacks by the Sudanese military.

In a video obtained and verified by CNN, one fighter is seen raping a woman in the front yard of a Khartoum home while another, wearing RSF uniform, stands outside keeping watch.

For the people that say there is no rape, this is rape, says the person surreptitiously recording the video from across the street.

And this guy stands there to make sure (the perpetrator) is protected, the person says, panning to the man wearing RSF uniform and acting as a lookout. This is happening in public, on a main street and with total audacity and insolence.

Fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) which is led by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalos (Hemedti) in Khartoum, Sudan, on June 18, 2019. - Hussein Malla/AP

In a voice recording obtained through SIHA by CNN regarding another incident, a woman in the capital said she was forced to watch as her two young daughters were raped by RSF fighters. They beat us with weapons, she said, describing the raid on her home. We told them we had no money and no gold.

They raped my two daughters and they were screaming at the top of their lungs. We were screaming as well, she said, her voice choked with emotion.

I had to hold my son back from going to his sisters. I said if you go to them, they will riddle you with bullets.

Sudanese refugees who fled the violence and crossed into Chad gather for aid distribution on April 30, 2023. - Gueipeur Denis Sassou/AFP/Getty Images

The atrocities have only intensified and proliferated over the course of the war, say activists and experts who argue that impunity has propelled Hemedtis rise to power since his time as a leader in the Janjaweed in the early 2000s.

Nobody in Sudan has more blood on their hands than Hemedti, said Sudan analyst Eric Reeves.

In a statement to CNN, the RSF vehemently denied the allegations of rape, arbitrary killings and targeting of civilian infrastructure. It accused the Sudanese army of indiscriminately bombing civilians and claimed that RSF uniforms worn by the perpetrators in witness testimony were counterfeit.

The RSF upholds international law and is dedicated to safeguarding Sudan, the statement said. Any actions inconsistent with this principle do not reflect our values, and we are committed to ensuring that those who violate the law are held accountable.

The group also denied links to Wagner.

Hemedti on the world stage

In recent years, Hemedti has been invited to capitals around the world, including Moscow, Cairo and Abu Dhabi.

He and his forces were further elevated after he cracked down on people-smuggling routes operating from Sudan to Libya, as part of an onward journey to Europe. The European Union has sent at least $200 million to Sudans government over the past decade to stem migration.

Hemedti would go on to boast about this in interviews with international media. [The EU] lose[s] millions in fighting migration, thats why [it has] to support us, he told Al Jazeera in 2017.

The international community created this monster. They are raping women because they can, womens rights activist Karib said of the RSF. They know the ramifications. They know the impact. They know how terrorizing it is. People run away.

Its a tried and tested method from Darfur thats now being used across Sudan.

In a statement to CNN, the US State Department said it had received deeply disturbing reports about an increased number of attacks, gender-based violence, including sexual violence  The majority of such acts are reportedly attributable to the RSF.

The State Department released a strongly worded statement Thursday night condemning atrocities in Darfur.

Rape, murder, targeted ethnic-based killings, the destruction of whole villages  these are the horrors that the war in Sudan has brought back to Darfur, a tweet from the State Departments Bureau of African Affairs said Friday. Credible sources place blame at the feet of RSF and allied militias. Attacks on civilians in Sudan by any party must end.

Prior to the publication of its report, CNN shared with the State Department its findings on the extent of the ethnically motivated rapes and atrocities being committed by fighters from the RSF and their armed allies.

A bigger and badder Hemedti

The fear now among the Sudanese and some in the international community is that Wagners involvement in the war has helped make Hemedti bigger and badder.

The reality is that Hemedti is incredibly useful to Wagner, the Western intelligence official told CNN. He has tribal and kinship links across Africa and there is incredible concern about the damage that a bigger, badder RSF  emboldened and supported by Wagner  could wreak not just in Sudan but in the entire region.

Wagners presence in and financial interests in Africa are well documented, but the violence in Sudan appears to have given the group a fresh opportunity.

Wagner chief Yeveny Prigozhin did not directly address CNNs request for comment on Wagners support for the RSF and its role in fueling the current atrocities.

In a sarcastically worded statement, he said Wagner had trained all the military bodies in Sudan, including the RSF, and blamed American interference for the countrys current turmoil. He claimed there had been no sexual crimes in Sudan while Bashir was in power.

The State Department also acknowledged Wagners involvement in Sudan. Engagement with the Wagner group simply brings more death, destruction and instability, the statement said.

Meanwhile, the violence continues to intensify with no sign yet that the diplomatic process between the rival factions will bring a permanent end to the conflict. The Sudanese must fend for themselves, while they face what they describe as the hallmarks of genocide.

The situation right now is much worse than it was in 2003. The Janjaweed militia was not as powerful as it is now, said SIHAs Darfur-based Hussein Haran.

The RSF is as powerful as the state. They have much more power now and more capabilities and they are committing genocide and ethnic cleansing.

This story has been updated to include comment from the US State Departments Bureau of African Affairs on the violence against civilians in Darfur.

CNNs Alex Platt, Allegra Goodwin, Celine Alkhaldi and Mostafa Salem contributed to this report.



Edited by Ed Upright and Laura Smith-Spark



Photo editing by Toby Hancock



Editors note: This report would not have been possible without the contributions of Sudanese journalists whom we are not naming for their safety.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Get to know Boises rich history through these 5 museums

Explore Boise: Sign up here for our newsletter on what to eat, drink, see and do.

Boise is a city with a rich and diverse cultural heritage  and the best way to explore it is through its museums.

So whether youre a lifelong resident of Boise or a newcomer getting to know the city, these museums offer a fascinating look into the citys past, present and future:

Boise Art Museum

Art is an exploration of who we are, where we come from and where were going, and the exhibits at the Boise Art Museum are a perfect expression of that. In addition to having a vast collection of international and national works, the Boise Art Museum also showcases local artists, including everything from historical works to more modern and contemporary works.

Dont miss: Experience the Northwest through the artistic expressions of notable artists from all across the region in Boise Art Museums permanent Northwest art exhibit.

Location: 670 S. Julia Davis Drive

Website: www.boiseartmuseum.org

Idaho State Museum

The Idaho State Museum gives visitors an immersive and interactive way to explore Idahos history and culture. The hands-on activities, artifacts and exhibitions share the stories in a fun and engaging way for adults and kids of all ages.

Dont miss: The History Explorers Gallery connects visitors to the lives of people throughout the states history through hands-on experiences and activities.

Location: 610 Julia Davis Drive

Website: history.idaho.gov/museum

Basque Museum and Cultural Center

Boise is home to one of the largest Basque populations in the United States, and the Basque Museum and Cultural Center is on a mission to preserve Basque history and culture. The museum shares the history of Basques from the Basque Country on the border of Spain and France to their lives settling in the American West.

Dont miss: Many Basque people who immigrated to Idaho worked as sheepherders and the Artzainak: A Life of Solitude & Hard Work exhibit gives visitors a glimpse into what everyday life was like for these herders. The exhibit features an authentic sheep wagon, tree carvings made by sheepherders and photographs that depict life on the ranch and in the wilderness.

Location: 611 W. Grove St.

Website: basquemuseum.eus

Idaho Black History Museum

Inside the 100-year-old St. Paul Baptist Church is the Idaho Black History Museum, the oldest African American museum in the Pacific Northwest. Through lectures, films, workshops, outreach and literacy programs and performances, this museum brings to life the stories of Black life and history in Idaho.

Dont miss: Most of the exhibits at the Idaho Black History Museum are new and rotate every few months, but one thing that is always on display is a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Location: 508 Julia Davis Drive

Website: www.ibhm.org

Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology

They dont call Idaho the Gem State for nothing! Because Idaho is home to a wide range of rare gem stones, the state has a long history of mining. The Idaho Museum of Mining and Geology is a fun way for adults and kids to learn about the states geological history and mining history, as well as earth science and how it applies to the unique landscapes of Idaho.

Dont miss: Track seismic activity around the world in real time in the Idaho Museum of Mining and Geologys seismic station.

Location: 2455 Old Penitentiary Road, next to Old Penitentiary Entrance

Website: www.idahomuseum.org




Kremlin says Putin open to any contacts on 'Ukrainian problem'

(Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is still open to any contacts to discuss a resolution of the Ukraine conflict, Russian news agencies reported.

The comments came on the eve of a visit by African leaders to present a new peace initiative to Putin, nearly 16 months after he launched Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"President Putin was and is open to any contacts to discuss possible scenarios for solving the Ukrainian problem," Interfax quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

Russia has long said it is open to negotiations, but says Ukraine must recognise the "new realities" on the ground, where its forces control some 18% of Ukrainian territory.

Moscow claimed last autumn to have annexed four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine as well as the Crimea peninsula, which it seized in 2014.

Ukraine says its own peace plan, which envisages the withdrawal of Russian troops from all Ukrainian land, must be the basis for any settlement of the war.

The African delegation was due to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday before meeting Putin in St Petersburg on Saturday.

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Gareth Jones)
Beijing recently launched the 2023 "Colorful World" International Youth Painting Invitational Exhibition, aiming to enhance the protection of the Central Axis of Beijing and world cultural heritage while promoting exchange and mutual learning among civilizations.

The event is open to participants aged 4 to 18 worldwide and will select paintings that depict world cultural heritage, natural heritage, and dual cultural and natural heritage. The deadline for submission is July 31.

Participants will be divided into three age groups: between ages 4 and 6, between ages 7 and 12, and between ages 13 and 18. Each group will include first, second, and third place winners. Awards for outstanding organizations will be given to cities, friendship organizations, overseas Chinese organizations, schools, and art institutions that have actively supported the event.

In order to promote the Central Axis, a special exhibition zone titled "Colorful Central Axis of Beijing" will be established. Additionally, the event encourages people to submit short videos promoting world cultural heritage protection. The best short videos will be displayed online, with a submission deadline of Aug. 20.

Both online and in-person exhibitions of the paintings will be held at the China National Film Museum in late October. The award-winning representatives, heads of relevant institutions, diplomats in China, experts of aesthetic education, and Chinese and foreign media professionals will be invited to the award ceremony.

The Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries held international youth painting competitions on the themes of the Beijing Winter Olympics and biodiversity in 2021 and 2022, respectively. These events attracted over 73,000 young people from more than 70 countries to participate. Art exhibitions were held in more than 10 countries such as the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Mauritius.
Russian troops launched a missile barrage on Kyiv Oblast during a visit by an African delegation aimed at facilitating peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.

"Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace," tweeted Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. He called the attack the largest on Kyiv "in weeks."

Presidential Office head Andrii Yermak also commented on the attack, saying that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin "wants to demonstrate that he is willing to disregard the safety of foreign leaders and he actually doesn't care because he feels complete impunity."

Yermak reminded that Russia had also attacked Ukraine during visits of U.S. President Joe Biden and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

"The world must understand that consolidation and the toughest possible position towards Russia are now necessary," Yermak said on Telegram. "It is crucial to show strength to the state that undermines global security and acts with terrorist methods."

As Ukraine looks West, Russia wins over Africa Since its independence, Ukraines diplomatic efforts have focused primarily on looking West. Meanwhile, Russia has set its sights all over the world. While the Euro-Atlantic world has been firm in its support of Ukraine, condemning Russias all-out war, the African continent, home to 54 countries a The Kyiv IndependentAlexander Khrebet

A delegation of African countries led by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Ukraine on the morning of June 16. The group is set to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky under the African Peace Mission.

Except for Ramaphosa, the delegation includes leaders of Senegal, Egypt, the Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Comoros, and Zambia.

The leaders arrived at the railway station in Nemishaeve, a village near Bucha in Kyiv Oblast. They visited a mass grave of civilians killed by Russian forces in Bucha, then headed to the capital.

Reuters crew saw the African leaders entering a bomb shelter upon their arrival n Kyiv. After the all-clear, the mission was renewed as planned.

Russia launched six Kinzhal ballistic missiles and six Kalibr cruise missiles on Kyiv Oblast at about 11 a.m. local time, according to the Air Force.

All the missiles were reportedly shot down by Ukraine's air defenses, but the debris fell into a settlement, resulting in casualties among civilians and damage to people's homes.

As of 2 p.m. local time, four people are known to have been injured, including a child, according to the regional department of the State Emergency Service.
Ky. woman killed her daughter, grandmother and a man in murder-suicide, police say

Four people are dead in Breathitt County after a woman shot three relatives, then shot herself, Kentucky State Police said.

Ashley Little, 34, shot her 15-year-old daughter, Chloe Little; grandmother, Missouri Gross, 78, and another relative, Luther Combs, 58, at Ashley Littles residence on Ky. 3193 in Jackson, according to Kentucky State Police Trooper Matt Gayheart.

State police were called to the scene at 10:37 a.m. Friday, after another family member went to the residence and found an unresponsive female.

The Breathitt County coroner pronounced the four people dead at the scene, according to a news release.

Gayheart said Ashley and Chloe Little lived in a mobile home on Ky. 3193, and Gross lived in an apartment over an attached garage at the same address.

He said police are still investigating what led up to the shooting.

The bodies will be autopsied by the state medical examiners office, state police said.

A suicide and crisis hotline is available 24/7 and can be reached by dialing 988. More information can be found at 988lifeline.org.
School board members have fired the Lake Worth High School teacher who put photos of students on his classroom board and labeled them with coffee terms like "dark roast" and "extra cream."

Cary Altschuler, an Advanced Placement statistics teacher, in late February posted three students' photos on the board with the titles "extra cream," "medium roast" and "dark roast" above their heads, according to two sources inside the classroom at the time and a photo provided to The Palm Beach Post. The Post does not reveal the identity of juveniles not involved in the criminal justice system without the permission of their parents.

News of the incident spread quickly around the school and to teachers via social media posts.

More: Lake Worth High teacher removed from class after 'disturbing,' 'racially charged' incident

Lake Worth High School

Principal Elena Villani apologized in a letter sent home to parents for the "racially charged" incident that she called "egregiously inappropriate."

During the school district's investigation, Altschuler was moved to a job in which he had no contact with students.

In Superintendent Mike Burke's recommendation to fire Altschuler, he said the teacher was accused of ethical misconduct, inappropriate comments and interactions with students, and failure to follow district policies. An investigation found those charges to be substantiated.

His termination was approved Wednesday with no conversation from board members.

Altschuler previously declined to comment on the investigation into his actions. He has until Aug. 24 to appeal the decision. If he does not, the firing will become effective Aug. 25.

More: Former Lake Worth Middle principal explains how racist parking lot confrontation began

Lake Worth High teacher was previously fined for inappropriate comments toward students in Broward

Altschuler has worked for the district and taught at Lake Worth High since August 2020.

But he's previously gotten in trouble for his conduct at schools.

In 2018, he was formally reprimanded, placed on two years of probation and fined $750 by the Florida Department of Education after Broward County students reported that he made inappropriate and sometimes sexual comments about female students and what they were wearing. One said he also made comments about her mother's appearance.

His school district personnel file in Palm Beach County shows he noted his prior discipline when he applied to the district for the job at Lake Worth High.

But the file does not include any details about the discipline or the complaints that led to the state's investigation.

Katherine Kokal is a journalist covering education at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at kkokal@pbpost.com. Help support our work, subscribe today!

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County teacher Cary Altschuler fired after coffee labels
The Los Angeles Police Academy in Elysian Park. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

A Los Angeles police detective was hit in the head by shrapnel Thursday night while training at the Police Academy's shooting range in Elysian Park.

The detective, who was not identified, suffered lacerations to his head and was taken to a hospital, said LAPD Capt. Kelly Muniz. According to sources familiar with the incident, the detective, though bleeding, was coherent and able to talk.

He was treated for his injury and released.

The detective was training in one lane at the shooting range about 8 p.m. when shrapnel from another lane struck him in the head, police said in a statement. No other details were immediately available about the incident.

"We will be conducting an internal investigation into to how this incident occurred," Muniz said. She noted that it is not unusual for officers to train at the shooting range at night.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Harvard University on behalf of all families affected by the alleged theft and sale of human remains from the medical schools morgue, lawyers announced Friday.

A betrayal: Several charged with trafficking body parts stolen from Harvard Medical School morgue

The lawsuit, filed in Suffolk Superior Court by Keches Law Group, comes just two days after an indictment charging a group with trafficking body parts and it seeks monetary damages for the severe emotional distress caused by the actions of the morgues former manager, Cedric Lodge, 55, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, court documents indicate.

Harvard and Lodge breached the duty of care and were negligent by failing to take responsible steps to ensure the cadavers were properly handled, Keches said in the suit.

Cedric Lodge, 55, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, a former morgue manager at Harvard Medical School, is surrounded by reporters while leaving a New Hampshire court on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 to face charges in connection with trafficking body parts stolen from the school's morgue. His wife, Denise, is also accused in the trafficking scheme, prosecutors say.

John Bozek, of Tewksbury, is taking action against the school on behalf of himself and all other similarly situated individuals whose deceased family members bodies were placed into the custody of Harvard Medical School for the furtherance of medical and scientific study, and which bodies were then unlawfully disturbed, viewed, dissected, or sold to third parties by the now former manager of the Harvard Medical School morgue Cedric Lodge, the documents showed.

Bozek, of Tewksbury, is the son of Adele Mazzone, who passed away in February 2019. Before her death, Mazzone arranged with Harvard Medical School to temporarily donate her body to further the study of science and medicine.

Upon information and belief, the body of Adele Mazzone was one of the many donated cadavers mishandled at the HMS morgue by Defendant Cedric Lodge, the lawsuit alleged.

The purported ashes of Mazzone were delivered to her next of kin and surviving family in or around April 2021.

The actions of the Harvard Medical School morgue manager in mishandling and selling the body parts of cadavers donated to the school was a reprehensible tragedy that should have never happened, the lawsuit states.

Family of those who donated remains to Harvard Medical School want answers

Harvard Morgue Class Action by Fox Boston Staff on Scribd

Earlier this week, federal prosecutors said that Lodge stole dissected portions of cadavers that were donated to the school in a grotesque scheme that stretched from 2018 to early 2023.

The body parts were taken without the schools knowledge or permission, authorities alleged.

Cedrics wife, 63-year-old Denise Lodge, and a Peabody business owner are among several people named in the indictment who are accused in the multi-state scheme, with some of the body parts sold via Facebook and PayPal and shipped through U.S. Postal Service mail.

Lodge, while managing the morgue for the Anatomical Gifts Program at Harvard Medical School, stole organs and other parts of cadavers donated for medical research and education before their scheduled cremations, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

Lodge is accused of taking the stolen cadaver parts from the university morgue to his home in Goffstown, from where his wife, Denise, then sold the remains to 44-year-old Salem native Katrina Maclean, owner of Kats Creepy Creations in Peabody, who then sold the stolen body parts at her business, court documents allege.

In a message posted on Harvards website entitled An abhorrent betrayal, deans George Daley and Edward Hundert said, We are appalled to learn that something so disturbing could happen on our campus  a community dedicated to healing and serving others, the deans wrote. The reported incidents are a betrayal of HMS and, most importantly, each of the individuals who altruistically chose to will their bodies to HMS through the Anatomical Gift Program to advance medical education and research.

Also indicted on the trafficking charges were Joshua Taylor, 46, of West Lawn, Pennsylvania, and Mathew Lampi, 52, of East Bethel, Minnesota.

Additionally, Jeremy Pauley, 41, of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, was charged by criminal information, and Candace Chapman Scott, of Little Rock, Arkansas, was previously indicted in the Eastern District of Arkansas.

Pauley was arrested last year in Pennsylvania for allegedly buying human remains on Facebook.

Paperwork details 2022 arrest of alleged Harvard Med body parts buyer Jeremy Pauley

The Lodges, Maclean, and Taylor all conspired with Pauley and others to transport the stolen body parts from Boston to New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. At times, they allegedly used the U.S. Postal Service to ship the remains.

Maclean is accused of selling the stolen remains to buyers in multiple states including Pauley in Pennsylvania, and she also stored and sold stolen remains at Kats Creepy Creations, the indictment states.

At times, Cedric Lodge allowed Maclean and Taylor to enter the morgue at Harvard Medical School and examine cadavers to choose what to purchase, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. On some occasions, Taylor transported stolen remains back to Pennsylvania. On other occasions, the Lodges shipped stolen remains to Taylor and others out of state.

Harvard is said to be cooperating with the investigation.

Norwood family donated aunts remains to Harvard, thinking that she was in the best hands possible

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
The littoral combat ship Charleston returned to San Diego Wednesday after a groundbreaking 26-month deployment, the Navy announced this week.

The Independence-class LCS left its home port back on April 7, 2021, with its blue and gold crews rotating time on the ship during the lengthy cruise in U.S. 3rd and 7th fleets, which included patrols in the South and East China seas.

Charleston became the first LCS to conduct mine countermeasures training outside of U.S. waters and was the first Navy ship to enter the port of Manila, Philippines, since 2019.

Returning from the longest littoral combat ship deployment to date is an extremely proud moment for our crew, Cmdr. Matthew Knuth, the commanding officer of Charlestons gold crew, said in a statement.

The ships gold crew spent three shifts on hull during the deployment, with the blue crew undertaking two rotations.

LCS Coronado decommissioned after less than 9 years of active service

Crews returned to San Diego for training when they were not operating the LCS, and the crew was joined by contractors to conduct maintenance in Guam, Hawaii and Singapore, according to the Navy.

Charlestons groundbreaking deployment comes as the Navy continues to try to shed itself of the ship class, which have not lived up to their initial billing.

Navy leaders say decommissioning the ships will free up money for other priorities.

In some cases, the Navy has decommissioned LCS that have less than a decade of service.

As the sea service and Congress debate the ultimate fate of the ship class, Navy brass has used the ships to show presence in the Indo-Pacific.
BEIRUT (Reuters) -The United Arab Emirates has lifted a visa ban on Lebanese nationals following a temporary suspension over security concerns, Lebanon's foreign minister said on Friday,

Lebanese citizens have been reporting in recent weeks that visas for Lebanese outside the UAE were not being granted and travel agents said they were unable to request UAE visas for Lebanese nationals through the usual online system.

A UAE official on Thursday told Reuters that temporary restrictions were in place in response to security concerns but that they would be lifted in coming days.

Lebanese foreign minister Abdallah Bou Habib told Reuters he had been informed on Thursday evening by Lebanon's ambassador to the UAE that visa access would be "reinstated" for Lebanese starting the following day.

But one travel agent said on Friday the change was not yet reflected in the online request system and that "many visa requests are still pending".

Thousands of Lebanese nationals are employed in the UAE and send remittances to their families back home, where an economic crisis has locked most depositors out of their bank accounts and pushed more than 80% of the population into poverty.

(Reporting by Maya Gebeily, Editing by William Maclean and Angus MacSwan)
Princess Tiana and Leah Chase art

Tianas Palace, revealed as the dream-come-true restaurant at the end of Disneys The Princess and the Frog, actually exists. In New Orleans, African American cuisine pioneer and community builder Leah ChaseDisneys real-life inspiration for Tianaran Dooky Chases with her family, leaving a lasting legacy that has impacted generations.

During io9's Disney Imagineering trip with Disney Parks to celebrate Tianas Bayou Adventure, we were hosted by Stella Chase, honorary Imagineer on the Princess and the Frog-themed attraction, to learn more about her mother Leahs story during a dinner at Dooky Chases. Just like Tiana, it was always my mother Chef Leah ChasesPrincess Tianasdream to have a restaurant, she said. It just so happened that her husbandbefore he was her husband, he had an orchestra, a band, he loved music. He played trumpet. But the war happened and at this time, his parents needed him to come into the restaurant. He never seemed to put that trumpet away, and thats why we have the trumpet in our bar area right on the shelf: any opportunity he had to make the music in the restaurant or the play his trumpethe did. It was that trumpet, that music that got my mother. My mother was at a function where my fathers band was playing and of course, she walked in, and she was very pretty and she caught his eye. She danced with my father, and that was the love story.

Read more

It was a wonder to get to know more about the city through the Chase familys imprint on history and fooda tale that, like Disneys Tiana and Prince Naveen, started with love. Stella Chase continued: It just so happened that his parents had a restaurant they had opened. And so she came into the restaurant business through her lovers heart and lovers family, and became part of the restaurant. And that fulfilled her dream. She worked in restaurants, but she had never been able to accomplish the dream of coming in and owning the restaurant. Her love for restaurants [came when] she was in high school; she used to walk through the French Qaurter, looking at all the restaurants, looking at all the fine dining. This gave her that opportunity to change [what had been] a po boy stand, [a] family-owned small restaurant, into what she wanted it to be: Tianas special place. And thats what we have today.

Photo: Disney Parks/Sabina Graves Gizmodo

The Chase family were also very prominent figures during the civil rights movement; all over the walls, among the art, were photos of leaders, politicians, and activist writers. Now, my family is an incredible family, just as many New Orleaneans and many of you sitting in here, you probably could tell the story of your family, Leah Chase said. But my family was here during the segregated time. My grandparents opened up the restaurant for African Americans who had no place to come. But they also worked for the civil rights movement in order that the doors could be opened for everyone. Until that happened, we had the opportunity to serve so many African American entertainers and so many families who were happy to come here to celebrate. Musicians Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Lena Hornethe list goes on. Writers such as James Baldwin; he had a corner at the bar where he would sit and he would do his writing. Were proud that we served and had the Freedom Bus drivers come here, not only to strategize, but to fuel themselves with what they called good food. And one of the Freedom Fus riders not long ago told me, You know, it was rough and sometimes we went to jail, but the good thing was getting a po boy from Dooky Chase.

Princess Tianas next chapter is greatly influenced by this real-life story. Disney Imagineering and storytellers worked closely with the Chase family over the years to imbue Tiana with Leahs love of community. Tianas Bayou Adventure explores how the story of the little girl who made gumbo with her dad to share with her neighbors continues into her adulthood, where Tiana continues her act of service through food for a Mardi Gras celebration. Stella Chase motioned around to the establishment we sat in, enjoying dinner with folks from so many different backgrounds. This was the place that they always wanted people to feel at home. And of course, as civil rights went on, integration happened. We felt good about it, we fought hard. My father went door to door getting people to register to vote. So it was a great time, a time to celebrate. But there werent that many Caucasians or people of other races that wanted to come to African American establishments to see what weve been missing, she shared. My parents knew that they had to make the community proud of them again, so they expanded the restaurant. My mother got the opportunity to not only dream about those fancy places and restaurants in the French Quarter, but to make her restaurant a place that everyone would feel comfortable coming in to. She always said We have a good product. They will come.

Another detail we were given a wonderful history lesson about is how Dooky Chase was one of the first places to curate African American art. Chase explained, African American artists were not allowed to display their art everywhere, so [my mother] said, When I open and expand, your art will come on my walls. And so hence, we have all the art, she said. She showed how that legacy continues, as the restaurant currently houses the first of the Tianas Bayou Adventure pieces Disney commissioned from artist Sharika Mahdi.

Photo: Disney Parks/Sabina Graves Gizmodo

Stella Chase honored not only her mother but her grandmother, who believed in the power of love through acts of service. We always reached out to our community. And whenever that has happened, we have really benefited from it. We did that when the banks were not too friendly to African Americans; they didnt have bank accounts and couldnt always cash their checks. So my grandmother, with a cigar box, would be there with money and a line of people with checks to cash. I often wondered, What did you do? The chip wasnt good, but they didnt want to worry about it. These were payroll checks, and African Americans needed [somewhere] to place their check. So down at that same bar where Ray Charles used to come in, James Baldwin, and many other musicians and writers, my grandmother pays the checks for the people in the community. So we just step up. The whole thing is: see what our community needs, and provide it for them.

Acting as her mothers keeper and steward of the Chase legacy when it comes to working with Disney on Tiana, Stella Chase shared how Tiana has impacted her family in turn. I think its a blessing that we get everyone coming hereeveryone, every race, from all over the world, coming here. First of all, they tell me the history brings them here, which is a good thing. And then they say, but I didnt know the food was this good. Every single day we get someone here [who] comes to see Tianas restaurant, and that is the beacon to little girls and even big men with t-shirts with Tiana on them. Weve got people from Ecuador. Weve gotten people from New Zealand. Weve got people from all over the country, all over the world.

Photo: Disney Parks/Sabina Graves Gizmodo

As a visitor I quickly felt a part of the community through comfort food and the family I was honored to hear stories about. Chase thanked everyone for visiting and holding space for Leah Chases impact on the Disneys Princess. We now have Disney magic going on. Because if we have children and grown people coming here because of Tiana, theyre not coming here just because of Tianas restaurant and the food; its the value. Its what she meant to them, its the fact that in spite of whatever she went through, she found a way to survive. And thats what we have to tell each and every one that we meet: that they are important. Dream big and you can make it happen.

It is a sort of magic that I hope gets sprinkled into all of the Tiana-themed attractions on the slateincluding the restaurant set to open in New Orleans Square at Disneyland.

Photo: Disney Parks/Sabina Graves Gizmodo

Tianas Bayou Adventure is set to open next year at Walt Disney Worlds Magic Kingdom and Disneyland.





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.

More from Gizmodo

Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Lexington man who tried to withdraw his guilty plea sentenced to prison

A Lexington man who previously tried to withdraw his guilty plea in a deadly shooting was sentenced to prison Friday afternoon.

Fayette Circuit Judge Kimberly Bunnell sentenced 21-year-old Juanyah Clay to 21 years in prison for shooting and killing 26-year-old Bryan Greene. Greenes mother and sister addressed Clay during the sentencing, and afterwards they said they felt like justice had been served.

This time, accountability took place, said Sherreta Lee, Greenes mother. All these other court cases ... killers that have been getting off easy for taking a life. This one I hope will be the example that will set the precedent for anybody that thinks about killing somebody.

Clay agreed to plead guilty in March after he was charged with shooting and killing 26-year-old Bryan Greene. Clay was originally charged with murder, trafficking fentanyl, receiving a stolen gun, identity theft, carrying a concealed weapon and trafficking marijuana.

As part of the plea deal, the murder charge was amended to first-degree manslaughter and the fentanyl trafficking charge was amended to possession of a controlled substance. The charges of carrying a concealed weapon and trafficking marijuana were dismissed, according to court records.

However, when Clay was scheduled to be sentenced in early May, he told Bunnell he didnt understand what he pleaded guilty to, and said he no longer wanted to accept the offer.

At a separate hearing roughly one month later, Bunnell made a ruling that Clays guilty plea would remain in place after hearing testimony from Clays former public defender. Clay was given 18 years for the manslaughter charge, three years for the fentanyl trafficking charge and one year each for the charges of receiving a stolen gun and identity theft.

Bunnell ruled that the manslaughter, receiving a stolen gun and identity theft charges should be served consecutively, along with one year from the fentanyl trafficking charge, giving Clay the 21-year prison sentence.

He didnt have a malicious bone in his body.

After the sentencing hearing Friday, Lee and Nyesha Lee, Greenes sister, described Greene as a caring and giving person.

Nyesha Lee said Greene gave up a dollar he intended to use for a bus ticket so that a stranger could get to an interview. She said her brother ended up walking home in the rain.

He gave somebody his dollar because he said one day that could be me, Nyesha Lee said. Thats all he had was a dollar, but he gave it to someone else and let them get to where they needed to go.

Sherreta Lee shared similar sentiments about her son and his giving personality.

He didnt have a malicious bone in his body to hurt anybody, Sherreta Lee said. If you were in trouble and he saw you were in trouble, he was going to come help you, whether he knew you or not.

Both Sherreta and Nyesha Lee said Fridays sentencing brings some closure to Greenes death, but the grief is still there.

That was my baby, Sherreta Lee said. He didnt deserve this. He didnt deserve this at all. Thats the last person on earth that deserved this.

Herald-Leader reporter Taylor Six contributed to this story.
Lexington, is your tap water tasting weird? Heres why that might be the case

Some Lexington water customers have reported that their tap water has tasted different in recent days.

A few residents have taken to the internet to complain about water that tastes earthy, metallic, or dirt-like.

Thats likely the result of seasonal changes  which should not worry users, said a representative from Kentucky American Water.

Susan Lancho, a spokesperson for the utility company that supplies water to Lexington, said the most common reason for changes in water taste around this time of year has to do with organic material that affects taste but is harmless.

Those changes often occur around this time of year, particularly in water stored at the Jacobson Park reservoir, due to spring temperature swings. That can trigger the decomposition of algae, which has caused water to taste earthier than normal elsewhere.

Transitioning from the spring to the summer, that can sometimes happen with source water. Thats a seasonal type of thing, and with the Jacobson Reservoir we sometimes experience that. The water is perfectly safe to drink, its still meeting all requirements, its just sometimes a matter of the organics in the water, Lancho said.

The reservoir at Jacobson Park, located on Richmond Road in southeast Lexington, is a major source of drinking water in the Central Kentucky area, with other Kentucky American Water sources along the Kentucky River.

Aside from seasonal changes in a reservoir setting, some customers have also noted the utilitys response to maintenance on water lines.

Lancho said that maintenance should have no effect on customers taste. If a customers water main, or any water line, were undergoing maintenance, the customer would be notified.

Lancho said the company is replacing aging water mains in the city on an ongoing basis, and a new replacement program will start in July, she said.

One large water main replacement is taking place in the Bryanwood Avenue area in north Lexington, she said.

In some cases, particularly when the company finds that a customer could be exposed to lead in their drinking water, the company will provide a water filter to a customer.

If a customer experiences issues with their water, Lancho encourages them to contact Kentucky American Water at the companys customer service line at 1-800-678-6301.
(Bloomberg) -- The Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan declined to recuse herself from an FTC case against Meta Platforms Inc., despite the advice of the agencys top ethics official, according to internal agency documents.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The FTCs ethics official recommended that Khan remove herself from the case to avoid the appearance of bias, but left it up to Khan to decide, concluding it wasnt an ethics violation if she took part.

The full scope of the advice hadnt been available before Bloomberg obtained an unredacted version of the memo.

In my opinion, there is a reasonable appearance concern with her participation in this matter, Lorielle Pankey, the FTCs designated agency ethics official, known as the DAEO, wrote in an Aug. 31 memo. I also recognize that reasonable minds may disagree.

Meta had sought to disqualify Khan from participating in the case over the companys proposed acquisition of a popular virtual reality startup. Meta argued that public statements by Khan calling for a ban on its future acquisitions showed she couldnt be impartial.

Khan determined she didnt need to distance herself after consulting the FTCs general counsels office, according to emails reviewed by Bloomberg, where a lawyer advised that there was no issue with her participation since she hadnt commented on the specific transaction.

The FTCs Democratic majority then approved Khans decision to participate over the objections of the sole Republican commissioner Christine Wilson, blacking out all mentions of the ethics advice in Wilsons dissent.

Those events led Wilson to abruptly resign, announcing her decision in a fiery op-ed accusing Khan of abuse of power. While the ethics dispute was public, many of the details  including the existence of the ethics memo and how it led to Wilsons resignation  havent previously been reported.

The FTC defended Khans involvement in the case, noting that the ethics recommendation left the decision to her.

This is nothing more than a coordinated effort between Big Tech monopolies and their allies in Washington to intimidate public servants whose job it is to protect Americans from unfair competition, said FTC spokesperson Douglas Farrar. It wont work.

Meta declined to comment Friday, pointing to its recusal petition and previous comments. The company said in February that it disagreed with the FTCs decision to allow Khan to participate given the serious issues of bias.

On Friday, the FTC published Khans own previously confidential memo, dated Nov. 18, on her decision not to step away from the case.

Meta has made multiple acquisitions since I joined the FTC that the agency did not oppose or challenge, she wrote. It is difficult to square this basic reality with Metas claim that I have predetermined that all acquisitions by Meta are unlawful and should be blocked.

The ethics memo could have broader implications for Khan, who has come under fierce scrutiny by Republican lawmakers and faces similar calls by Amazon.com Inc. to step back from FTC probes of the online retail and cloud giant.

While advice from the FTCs ethics official is non-binding, it has always been followed, said William Kovacic, a former Republican FTC chair who also served as the agencys general counsel. Kovacic said he wasnt aware of any situations where a commissioner disregarded official ethics advice.

Doing that is playing with fire, said Kovacic, now a professor at George Washington University Law School.

A 2019 review by another federal agency found no recorded instances where a presidential appointee disregarded an agency ethics officials advice except for one controversial case during the Trump administration involving the National Labor Relations Board.

The NLRB nullified a landmark decision because of the ethics controversy and later adopted new recusal guidelines that mirror those used by the FTC.

An independent ethics expert who served in the Obama and Clinton administrations called the situation extremely complicated but said many of the contested statements occurred before Khan took office.

Virginia Canter, chief ethics counsel for the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, who reviewed the documents at Bloombergs request, said she understood why the ethics official was concerned, but her views are not governing here.

Prosecutor Versus Judge

A key issue in the dispute is the dual role that FTC commissioners play. The agency can pursue cases in federal court where a judge decides the outcome or file lawsuits in-house where an administrative judge issues a decision that is reviewed by the commissioners. Those in-house proceedings have come under fire, and the Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that companies can contest whether the process adequately protects their rights.

Two judges have ruled that Khans public statements on Meta dont justify removing her from FTC cases filed in federal court. In voting to bring those cases, Khan was acting as a prosecutor, they said. But for lawsuits filed in the FTCs administrative court, where the commissioners act as judges, the situation is different, ethics experts said. Federal courts have reversed FTC decisions when a commissioners public statements show the official had prejudged a cases outcome.

Khan was appointed by President Joe Biden to lead the FTC in June 2021, becoming the youngest person ever to head the antitrust agency. Since taking the post, she has sought to reinvigorate the FTCs competition enforcement after years of criticism that the agency was too soft on acquisitions and conduct by the biggest tech platforms.

The case against Meta was one such effort, based on a novel legal theory that the deal would eliminate future competition in the emerging virtual reality market.

The FTC anticipated that Meta might seek to remove Khan as it had in a previous case. In a July 20 email to Khan and her advisers seen by Bloomberg, Elizabeth Tucci, the FTCs deputy general counsel, said she didnt believe Khans recusal was needed.

Khans prior statements arent sufficient to justify what would amount to a companywide disqualification of the Chair from participating in adjudications involving Meta, she wrote.

Meta filed a petition seeking to remove Khan from the case on July 25.

After that, Khan met with Pankey, the ethics official, who provided oral advice leaving the decision to up to the chair, according to a person familiar with the dispute who wasnt authorized to speak publicly.

Wilson also sought out Pankey, asking her to provide written guidance on Metas petition. Pankey then wrote the Aug. 31 ethics memo for Wilson, which was not provided to Khan, the person said.

Khan ultimately declined to step back from the case, sending her own memo on Sept. 26 to the other commissioners with her reasoning. That left her colleagues  Wilson and the two Democrats, Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya  to decide on Metas request.

Wilson shared Pankeys ethics memo with Slaughter and Bedoya, and the three commissioners debated the issue for several months. On Feb. 1, they voted 2-1 along party lines to allow Khans participation.

The FTCs Democrats blacked out all references to the ethics officers recommendation in Wilsons dissenting statement, saying she sought to quote from confidential materials that were prepared to facilitate the agencys deliberations.

Agencies routinely protect information used to aid in decision making and arent required to disclose it under federal public records laws. The FTC rejected Bloombergs public records request for the materials earlier this year.

Surprise Resignation

Wilson announced on Feb. 14 that she would resign in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, criticizing Khan for defiance of legal precedent and her abuse of power to achieve desired outcomes. Her resignation came as a surprise to her colleagues, who she hadnt informed ahead of time.

I have failed repeatedly to persuade Ms. Khan and her enablers to do the right thing, and I refuse to give their endeavor any further hint of legitimacy by remaining, Wilson wrote.

On Feb. 24, the FTC voted to dismiss its in-house case against Meta after a federal judge ruled against the agencys request to block the deal and allowed the acquisition to close. The FTC also declined to appeal the federal court ruling, bringing an end to its challenge of the transaction.

Wilson formally submitted her resignation on March 2, saying in an interview that she felt compelled to step down after her colleagues insisted on censoring her dissent. She departed the agency on March 31.

At a House hearing in April, Khan said she had consulted with ethics officials on questions about when she should be disqualified.

In instances where companies like Facebook or Amazon have petitioned for my recusal, I have consulted with the DAEO and have taken actions that are consistent with the legal statements that the DAEO has made, Khan told a House panel last month.

(Updates to add Meta comment in 11th paragraph, additional details below.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Take a look at the world's first 'wellbeing zone' for economy passengers on the planes that will fly nonstop for 22 hours from London to Australia

Airbus

Qantas has unveiled a "wellbeing zone" for its much-hyped Project Sunrise flights.

The airline will begin flying passengers for up to 22 hours nonstop in 2025.

The flights will carry 238 passengers on routes that connect Sydney to New York and London.

Qantas Airways has unveiled the latest feature on its much-hyped jet that can fly nonstop to nearly anywhere in the world.

The airline announced a "wellbeing zone" as a key addition to what will become the world's longest flight when it takes its maiden voyage in 2025.

As part of its Project Sunrise scheme, Qantas will ferry 238 passengers between Australia and London, as well as New York. The former trip will take up to 22 hours, overtaking Singapore Airlines' New York to Singapore route as the world's longest.

To make the mammoth trip endurable for passengers, Qantas included the area to give passengers room to stretch and spend more time out of their seats.

Virtual rendering of what the Qantas "wellbeing zone" will look like. Qantas

The "wellbeing zone" will sit between the economy and premium-economy classes. It will include sculpted wall panels and integrated stretch handles, a guided on-screen exercise program, a "hydration station," and a range of refreshments, according to Qantas.

Qantas Wellbeing Zone. Qantas

The airline also unveiled the seating layout on its jet. Premium economy will seat 40 passengers, with a further 140 in economy. The seats will have personal storage space and charging cables, as well as the opportunity for wireless charging.

The 238 passengers the plane will carry is less than the standard 300-plus of other jets to accommodate these features.

Qantas seats. Qantas.

"Fewer seats translate to more space for each customer and a dedicated 'wellbeing zone' for travelers to stretch, help themselves to a snack, and spend time out of their seat," Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said in a statement.

"We are the only airline in the world that will have a bespoke designed onboard stretch and movement space," he added.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Shes a veteran from Kathleen who served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force.

Now, you can catch her on a bottle of Evan Williams.

Yes, you read that right.

So, who is she?

Mandy Hazelton grew up learning the Air Force from her dad who served before her. She completed the ROTC program in high school and upon graduating, she decided to enlist in the Air Force.

Mandy Hazelton is featured on Evan Williams bourbon bottle and honored as an American-Made Hero.

Hazelton began as an apprentice at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, then served as a U.S. Air Force medical technician at multiple locations such as Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, Ramstein Air Base in Germany and Robins Air Force Base in Georgia.

Hazelton has served 20 years in the Air Force and is currently ranked as a superintendent in the 78th Healthcare Operations Squadron.

However, Hazeltons passion for and dedication to the military didnt stop there.

After coming back home, Hazelton wanted to give back to the community and help fellow women veterans because she saw how hard it was for them to get jobs, housing and mental health support.

So, she discovered Genesis Joy House, an organization that helps homeless female veterans. Hazelton is now a board member of Genesis Joy House and spends much of her time assisting with marketing and public relations.

The organization has helped more than 2,000 women in Georgia find support, housing assistance and develop skills for the future.

All of this and more is why Hazelton is one of six veterans who can be seen on a special edition Evan Williams Bourbon bottle.

Hazelton is 1 of 6 United States veterans to be recognized for her service and dedication to the military.

As the second-largest selling bourbon in the world, we are proud to honor the 2023 American-Made Heroes, who have served our country with courage and dedication, said Molly Vincent, Evan Williams Bourbon senior brand manager.

The special 1783 Small Batch Bourbon has each veteran featured on a hangtag that adorns more than 135,000 bottles nationwide.

Evan Williams bourbon is honoring six US veterans.

The purpose of the foundation is not only to provide a platform for sharing their inspiring stories, but also raising public awareness for causes impacting the veteran community and supporting nonprofit organizations that help veterans and their families, Vincent said.

Purchase a 750ml or 1.75L bottle of the special edition bottle to see all six honorees.
Man accused of starting Oak fire that destroyed 127 homes near Yosemite is arrested

Flames from the Oak fire consume a home on Triangle Road in California's Mariposa County last July. A 71-year-old man was arrested Friday on suspicion of arson. (Noah Berger / Associated Press)

A 71-year-old man was arrested Friday on suspicion of arson for igniting the massive Oak fire in Mariposa County last year that destroyed 127 residences and dozens of outbuildings, prosecutors and investigators announced.

Arson investigators took Edward Frederick Wackerman, a longtime Mariposa resident, into custody without incident after a nearly yearlong extensive probe into the blaze that also consumed 19,244 acres of vegetation, officials said.

Edward Frederick Wackerman was arrested Friday on suspicion of arson in the Oak fire, which raged in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Yosemite National Park. (Mariposa County Sheriff's Office)

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials announced that Wackerman was arrested on suspicion of multiple felonies, including aggravated arson, arson that caused great bodily injury and arson that caused damage to an inhabited dwelling. The "investigation is under review by our office," the Mariposa County district attorney said in statement.

Investigators said they wouldn't be offering details at this stage on how the massive fire was set.

An ancient oak tree burned by the Oak fire in Mariposa County on July 27. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

No one was killed by the devastating blaze, but Cal Fire officials reported at least three firefighters were injured and thousands of people were evacuated.

The Oak fire began in the shadow of Yosemite National Park at about 2:10 p.m. July 22 in the area of Midpines. A combination of heat, low humidity and parched vegetation bedeviled firefighters battling the inferno that spread through the Sierra Nevada foothills, prompting Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency for Mariposa County. The blaze burned until early August before being fully contained with more than 2,000 firefighters battling the flames at its height.

Local and federal investigators plan to provide more details in a news conference Tuesday outside the courthouse.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Man caught on CCTV snatching womans purse, driving away in a Mercedes in Las Vegas Chinatown

[Source]

Las Vegas police are reportedly looking for a man who broke into a womans car and stole her purse in Chinatown earlier this week.

How it happened: The incident, which was caught on security footage, occurred in the parking lot of Fukuburger in the 3000 block of South Jones Boulevard at around 5:38 p.m. on Tuesday. As seen in the video, the man appears to wait for the woman to leave her car. Seconds after she finally does, he pulls up next to the vehicle, breaks a back-seat window, grabs the purse and flees in a white Mercedes.

The aftermath: Fukuburger, a popular spot serving gourmet burgers with a Japanese twist, shared the security footage on social media and called for authorities for help. Owner Colin Fukunaga said it all happened in a matter of seconds.

He just swooped in. It was a matter of seconds but what he didnt realize was that there was a camera right there recording everything, Fukunaga told KTNV.

More from NextShark: Tourist in China captured on video taunting white tigers inside their zoo enclosure

The incident is under investigation. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555.

Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark!

Nancy Pelosi expected to visit Taiwan on Asia trip despite China's threats

Filipino fast food chain Jollibee to open flagship in Times Square with exclusive new menu
A 39-year-old man who was found dead outside a Merion Village home early Friday morning appeared to have been shot, according to Columbus police.

Officers were sent around 12:50 a.m. Friday to the home on the 1400 block of South 5th Street and found the man, identified as Rickey Williams, on the front porch. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Columbus police said they received a call earlier, around 12:35 a.m., about an assault on a 19-year-old female at the home. The female told officers that Williams had not allowed her to leave the home. The woman was taken to an area hospital for treatment of injuries.

According to Franklin County Municipal Court records, Williams lived at the South 5th Street residence. Court records indicate an eviction filing was made on Thursday against him.

It is unclear if that filing  or the reported assault  had any role in the homicide.

Detectives are continuing to work to determine what happened.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS.

bbruner@dispatch.com

@bethany_bruner

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Man found dead on Merion Village porch in city's latest homicide
A Montana man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for hate crime and firearms charges stemming from his shooting into a home with the self-described intention of "ridding a town of LGBTQ+ residents," the Department of Justice said in a statement.

John Russell Howald of Basin, Montana, was convicted by a federal jury in February of a hate crime after firing a gun at the residence of a woman who was "known within the town as lesbian" in an attempt to kill her, the Justice Department said Thursday.

"This defendant is being held accountable for his horrific attempted mass shooting against the LGBTQI+ community in a Montana town," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.

Booking photo of John Howald. / Credit: Montana Department of Corrections / AP

Armed with two assault rifles, a hunting rifle, two pistols and multiple high-capacity magazines taped together to speed up reloading, Howald walked to the unnamed victim's residence and fired multiple times into her home.

Howald then went "further into town intending to target others he perceived to be lesbian, queer, and gay," the Justice Department said.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Director Steven Dettelbach said Howald was "Motivated by hatred of the LGBTQI+ community" and that he "sought to intimidate  even terrorize  an entire community by shooting into the victim's home trying to kill her for no reason other than her sexual orientation."

He called Howald's actions "distinctly un-American" for "depriving her of her sense of safety, freedom and privacy all at once."

Local Basin residents, who happened to be leaving church at the time and knew Howald, managed to stall him until a deputy arrived, the Justice Department said. Before the deputy arrived, the residents inadvertently recorded Howald yelling and shooting again, saying he wanted to "clean" LGBTQ+ people from the town, according to the DOJ.

Howald pointed an AK-style rifle at the deputy when he arrived before fleeing into the hills. Howald was arrested the next day carrying a loaded pistol and a knife, and more weapons were recovered from his car and camper, the Justice Department said.

"The unfortunate reality is bigotry and hate exist in our communities. Still, as a diverse nation, we will not tolerate violence motivated by such bias," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Cheyvoryea Gibson of the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. "The harm and trauma experienced by the victim, her family, and the entire community may be irreparable, but rest assured, the FBI is committed to protecting the civil rights of all."

Supreme Court upholds Indian Child Welfare Act

Remembering actress Glenda Jackson

What voters want in a presidential candidate, according to CBS News polling
Manhunt underway for man wanted in Atlanta after he crashes car, runs from officers

A manhunt is underway in Twiggs County for a man wanted in Atlanta for armed robbery, aggravated assault and several other felonies.

Chief Deputy Buddy Long said that deputies attempted to make a traffic stop around 8 a.m. Friday on I-16 for a car that was speeding with four people inside.

Twiggs County is south of Macon.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The driver, identified as Lamonte Thomas, tried to speed away, but crashed. The driver ran from the car, but left his drivers license. When deputies ran the license, they found he was wanted in Atlanta for robbery, aggravated assault and making terroristic threats.

TRENDING STORIES:

Deputies, along with GSP helicopters and Georgia Department of Corrections K-9s are all searching for the man in the areas around the interstate. The suspect is described as a man who is between 22 and 23 years old and is wearing all black.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

The other three people in the car were released.

Its unclear what jurisdiction Thomas is wanted in.




A second recruit has died in as many months at the Marines East Coast boot camp in South Carolina, the Corps announced Friday morning.

Marine officials say 18-year-old Pvt. Marshall Hartman died Monday during a non-training incident at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina.

The Prescott, Michigan, native had spent less than a week on the base before his death, the Corps said in a news release.

When asked if the Marine had died on base or had been transported to a hospital, the Corps declined to elaborate.

The incident is currently under investigation, and it would be premature to speculate on the details of the investigation, Maj. Philip Kulczewski told Marine Corps Times in a Friday email.

Marine recruit dies at boot camp during physical fitness test

In April, Pfc. Noah Evans, 21, died during a physical fitness test at the training facility, Marine Corps Times previously reported. His death also was under investigation.

In June 2021, Pfc. Dalton Beals, 19, died during the cumulative boot camp event dubbed the Crucible. Prosecutors later charged his drill instructor with negligent homicide and three other offenses in connection with his death.

Hartman was assigned to Delta Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion.

The private was one of roughly 20,000 recruits who pass through the South Carolina base annually, according to its website. Recruits undergo 13 weeks of often grueling physical training at the depot.

Marine Corps Times Editor Andrea Scott contributed to this report.
Marines say farewell to women-only battalion at Parris Island. How integrated is the base?

Lisa Taylor suffered through boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island 35 years ago. She did so in the Fourth Recruit Training Battalion, which for decades only trained women. On Thursday, she was back, sitting side-by-side with her old Marine buddies, including Desiree Johnson of St. Louis, Patricia Jester-Benefield, a Union, S.C. native and Yvonne Jones of Virginia. Taylor drove 10 hours from Maryland to say goodbye to the Fourth Battalion. Thats how much the experience meant to her.

The Fourth is being sunset as a result of training integration efforts among men and women at Marine recruit depots at Parris Island and in San Diego, the only two places in the country that train Marines.

But, while the historic all-female training battalion is being mothballed for the right reason, the Marines say, that doesnt make the loss easier for the Marines like Taylor, who went through boot camp in March 1988. Its where Taylor made life-long friendships. Its where she learned discipline and attention to detail. It helped to make her into the women she is today.

Its like going back to your hometown and they knocked down your high school, said Taylor, 57.

Old friends reunited at Marine Corps Air Station Parris Island at a ceremony to say goodbye to the Fourth Recruit Training Battalion including, from left to right: Yvonne Jones of Virginia, Patricia Jester-Benefield, a Union, S.C. native, Lisa Taylor of Maryland and Desiree Johnson of Missouri. This is a big part of history, Taylor said of the end of the battalion, which for many years trained only women. It was closed as part of integration efforts in the Marine Corps.

Since 1949, Parris Island, a palm tree-covered, bug-infested island on the coast of South Carolina known for its hellish heat and humidity, was the only place in the country where women could train to become Marines. Its final iteration, which was created in 1986, was the Fourth Recruit Training Battalion.

Some 1,600 people attended a sometimes rowdy and emotional deactivation ceremony Thursday, including Taylor.

These are the giants whose shoulders we stand on, said Major Gen. Roberta Shea, pointing to several of the oldest Marines who were brought to the front to be recognized.

Thunderous applause followed.

About 13,680, or 8 percent, of the 171,000 active Marines are women.

Marines gathered for a photo at the deactivation ceremony for the Fourth Recruit Training Battalion.

The 2020 National Defense Authorization Act mandated the Marine Corps to integrate training at boot camp  by 2025 at Parris Island and 2028 in San Diego.

Today, larger groupings of Marines called companies and battalions are integrated. That means women now train alongside men  even the grueling 54-hour Crucible, the final training test for all Marines.

But the Marine Corps remains the only service that maintains forms of gender segregation in its training program, said Sidra Montgomery, who was co-author of a University of Pittsburgh gender-integrated recruit training study prepared for the U.S. Marine Corps in 2022.

And male and female recruits are still organized into gender-segregated platoons, which are small units that make up companies, and trained by same-gender drill instructor teams, Montgomery said.

At all the other services you have men and women in the same platoon and directly interacting a lot more in training events, Montgomery said. You also have mixed-gender drill instructor teams.

The study recommended mixed-gender drill instructor teams and increasing the number and types of gender-integrated training events at or below the platoon level.

That allows the Marine Corps to maintain the values and the fundamental things they hold sacred in the training process while also increasing training integration, Montgomery said.

A third option offered in the report was integrating platoons, with men and women living separately, which the law requires, and then falling in together in the mornings for basic daily routine.

Neal Pugliese, a retired Marine colonel and the former director of operations at Parris Island who chairs the Beaufort County Military Enhancement Committee, said the closing of the Fourth is symbolic of changing eras, with women no longer training separately and barred from various military specialties.

This is the culmination of the transition from what was once only females being trained at Parris Island to females being fully integrated down to the company level at Parris Island and San Diego, he said.

The Marines are the tip of the spear with a combat arms focus, Pugliese said. Training, he said, should be compared to that mission, not other military branches.

Male recruits began training within Fourth Battalion in 2019. And since 2022, all recruits at Parris Island have been training in gender-integrated companies in the bases three remaining battalions.

Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego also has begun training women recruits. As a result, the Marines say, the Fourth Recruit Training Battalion at Parris Island was no longer necessary.

The Fourth carries almost sacred meaning for those who trained under its colors, Marines say.

Its bittersweet, said Hideshi Valle of California, who was having her picture taken in front of the sign for the old mess hall. Im a police officer. I understand change.

Hideshi Valle poses for a photo in front of the mess hall at the now deactivated FOur Recruit Training Battalion. Valle went through boot camp at Parris Island in 2001. This is where I became an adult, Valle said. The Marines said goodbye to the all-female Fourth Recreuit Training Battalion on Friday.

Touring Parris Island brought back many great memories for Valle, 40, who had wanted to be a Marine ever since was in middle school. The Fourth Battalion, she said, is where she became an adult, with the three months of training giving her leadership skills and pride in serving her community and country that was life changing.

That just stays with you, Valle said.

After learning about the deactivation ceremony, Renee Caseman of Las Vegas spearheaded an effort to get the word out, creating a Facebook page. She says the event should have been bigger.

Sometimes females dont get enough recognition  and a lot of us love what we did  and I wanted to bring us together, Caseman said.

Caseman wore a T-shirt she had printed special for the occasion. It said, Im not like most women ... thats where you made your first mistake.

Were female Marines, said Caseman with a smile, explaining the message.

Renee Caseman of Las Vegas spearheaded an effort to get women to attend a deactivation ceremony Thursday for the Fourth Recruit Training Battalion at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, the last all-female training battalion at Marine Recruit Depot Parris Island. Hundreds turned out for the farewell ceremony. Theres mixed emotions, Caseman said.

By deactivating the Fourth, Caseman said, theyre showing theres unity.

The sign at Parris Island, she notes, says We Make Marines, not female or male marines. But she still has mixed emotions about the deactivation of the beloved Fourth.

Caseman went through boot camp at Parris Island in 2004. You didnt really see male Marines, she recalled. The segregation of men and women, she thought at the time, was just the way it supposed to be.

For Maggie Hickman of Beaufort, a 40-year Marine who went through boot camp at Parris Island from November 1975 to January 1976, boot camp was scary as hell, she said, but during her career she also witnessed the first female drill instructors in the Marines. Now that I look back, it was a milestone, she says.

Shes pleased to see increased integration but sad for the loss the battalion.

Its a good day for the Corps, Hickman said.

Maggie Hickman, right, of Beaufort, who went through boot camp at Parris Island in the mid-70s, talks with James Moore, former Sgt. Major for the Fourth Recruit Training Battalion, on Thursday. Women were trained at the battalion.

Taylor, the Maryland woman, wore a burgundy T-shirt displaying the flag and name of the Fourth Recruit Training Battalion on the back and so did her friends. They smiled and laughed and rose to their feet with the rest of the crowd, which roared with approval at references by Marine leaders about the Parris Island experience and the importance of the Fourth.

The Fourth Recruit Training Battalion is a big chapter in Marine history, Taylor said, and her own.

I said, If i could make it through boot camp, I could survive anything, Taylor said.

Thats why she couldnt miss the chance to return to Parris Island.

Today, her daughter is an active-duty Marine.
A Marine recruit from Michigan died Monday just a few days after arriving at U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Parris Island in what the Marines described as a non-training incident.

Additional details were not released by the Marines, who said the cause of death is under investigation.

Hartman, a native of Prescott, Mich., was assigned to Delta Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment and was in his sixth day of training.

It was the second recruit death at the base in three months.

Noah Evans, a 21-year-old from Decatur, Georgia, died April 18 during a physical fitness test. Evans was assigned to Mike Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment.

In June 2021, Pfc. Dalton Beals, 19, of Pennsville, New Jersey, died during the last leg of the Crucible, the final training event before recruits become Marines. Staff Sgt. Steven Smiley has been charged with negligent homicide for Beals death. His trial is scheduled to begin in July.

In September 2021, 21-year-old Pvt. Anthony Munoz, of Lawrence, Mass., died after falling from a balcony in an apparent suicide, MCRD Parris Island officials previously told the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette.
Mary-Louise Parker reacts to ex Billy Crudups new marriage years after controversial break-up

Mary-Louise Parker has reacted to her ex Billy Crudups new marriage to Naomi Watts.

The actor, whose credits include Angels in America and Weeds, dated Crudup for seven years, beginning in 1996.

However, their relationship came to an end after Crudup left her for Claire Danes.

Parker, who was pregnant at the time, had nothing but nice words about Crudups new marriage. Crudup and Watts tied the knot earlier this month.

I honestly, of course, wish them every happiness because thats my sons father, Parker told The Guardian in an interview published on Wednesday (14 June).

The outlet noted that Parker was stunned to be asked about the subject.

She continued: Im happy for them  Im happy they found each other.

Parker previously discussed the break-up scandal in her memoir Dear Mr You, which was published in 2015.

She said of the scandal: I realise now that whatever I was walking through was part of my life, one piece of a bigger story that is mostly beautiful.

Also in 2015, Homeland star Danes reflected on the affair with Crudup  and the ensuing backlash  during an interview with Howard Stern.

Billy Crudup married Naomi Watts earlier this month (Getty Images for WarnerMedia)

I was just in love with him and needed to explore that, and I was 24, she said, adding: I didnt quite know what those consequences would be.

[The backlash] was a scary thing. That was really hard. I didnt know how to not do that. Its OK. I went through it.

Danes, who broke up wuth Crudup in 2006 before marrying Hugh Dancy, said they are still friends.

Crudups marriage to Watts comes after she split with Liev Schreiber. Their relationship started in 2017.

Crudups credits include Almost Famous, Big Fish and The Morning Show, for which he won an Emmy in 2020.

Parker is currently promoting the audiobook Murder in Suburbia, which she narrates. It is available to download now.
Mary-Louise Parker wishes ex Billy Crudup well in marriage to Naomi Watts: Im happy they found each other

Mary-Louise Parker, who shares a son with recently re-wed Billy Crudup, wants nothing but the best for her ex his new nuptial adventure with Naomi Watts.

Watts and Crudup revealed over the weekend they had tied the knot after dating for nearly six years. Watts had previously been in a relationship with actor Liev Schreiber from 2005 to 2016. Crudup dated Parker for seven years before notoriously leaving her for Claire Danes in 2003, when Parker was seven months pregnant.

Parker and Crudups son, William, is now 19. Parker also has a daughter who she adopted from Ethiopia in 2007.

I wish them well, Parker told The Guardian in an interview published Thursday. I honestly of course wish them every happiness because thats my sons father. So Im happy for them. Im happy they found each other.

Her comment came at the end of a wide-ranging discussion in which Parker, 58, talked Brooklyn, Botox, Broadway and the potential for a Weeds reunion.

Parker has not been publicly forthcoming about her relationship with Crudup, but did allude to it in her 2015 memoir, Dear Mr. You, a series of essays to unnamed men in her life. The essay Dear Mr. Cabdriver indirectly plunges us into the turmoil of being jilted while pregnant, as the narrator relives a screaming fight with a taxi driver while in emotional distress.
New Delhi  Cyclone Biparjoy, a powerful tropical storm, brought widespread devastation to India's western state of Gujarat after it made landfall Thursday, delivering heavy downpours and strong winds there and along the southwest coast of neighboring Pakistan, but mass evacuations and elaborate preparations in both the countries appeared on Friday to have saved lives.

Two people died and 22 were injured in India, with the deaths occurring before the storm actually hit land, and in Pakistan, not a single death was reported. The low death toll from the cyclone, compared to similar storms that hit the region previously, was seen as a vindication of the mass evacuations. The two countries evacuated more than 180,000 people from their low-lying coastal areas to higher ground before the cyclone arrived.

A drone view of a flooded village in Mokhada, in the western state of Gujarat, India, after Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall, June 16, 2023. / Credit: FRANCIS MASCARENHAS/REUTERS

"Early identification of areas that were likely to be impacted by the cyclone and timely evacuation of people living within 10 km of the coasts are the biggest reasons [for the low number of casualties]," Kamal Dayani, a senior government official in Gujarat, told the Reuters news agency. "Our focus from the beginning was on preventing loss of lives, not just human lives but even animals."

India alone moved more than 100,000 people to safety, while 82,000 people were evacuated in Pakistan. Both countries shut down businesses and transport in coastal areas that fell in the predicted path of the cyclone. Police and paramilitary forces were deployed to keep people indoors.

Biparjoy, which means "disaster" in the Bengali language, made landfall Thursday evening in India's port city of Jakhau as the equivalent of a Category-3 hurricane. While the toll in human lives was relatively low for a major storm, the cyclone still carved a path of destruction as churned inland over the course of the night, dropping a huge amount of rain and packing winds that gusted up to 86 miles per hour.

A screengrab from video taken on June 16, 2023 shows a family taking shelter in an abandoned shop in the coastal town of Mandvi, in the Kutch district of India's Gujarat state, as cyclone Biparjoy makes landfall. / Credit: SHUBHAM KOUL/AFPTV/AFP/AFP/Getty

The cyclonic winds knocked down more than 5,000 electricity poles, cutting power to more than 4,600 villages across Gujarat. But power was restored to about 3,500 of those villages by Friday afternoon.

More than 500 houses were damaged and about 800 trees were uprooted, many of which blocked traffic on at least two state highways for hours Friday morning. Dozens of disaster response teams and hundreds of teams of road and power company personnel were working Friday to reopen roads and restore electricity to about 1,000 households. The full extent of the damage remained unclear.

The cyclone largely spared Karachi, Pakistan's port city of over 20 million people, which was in the forecast path of the storm. But heavy rain and strong winds damaged thatched houses and inundated a few regions along the country's southern coast. Authorities said more heavy rains could be expected in some coastal areas until Saturday.

Residents watch as a car is submerged in the coastal town of Mandvi, Gujarat state, India, as Cyclone Biparjoy makes landfall, June 16, 2023. / Credit: AFP/Getty

The storm weakened Friday as it moved further inland over India but was still bringing rain and wind to northern Gujarat and the neighboring state of Rajasthan, along with parts of capital New Delhi.

Biparjoy has become the longest-lasting cyclone ever to form over the Arabian Sea  more than 10 days  overtaking Cyclone Kyarr of 2019, which lasted nine days.

Cyclones, which are known as hurricanes when they form over the North Atlantic and typhoons in the northwest Pacific, are common in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. Scientists say rising ocean surface temperatures, due to climate change, have made cyclones more frequent and more intense.

Pittsburgh synagogue gunman convicted; penalty phase to begin soon

Minneapolis PD regularly used excessive force, discriminated: DOJ investigation

Supreme Court issues 2 rulings, has not yet ruled on student loan, affirmative action cases
Meridian police say two fentanyl-related deaths avoided with use of Narcan

Meridian police used Narcan to help save two people suspected of overdosing on fentanyl on Thursday, according to a news release.

The overdoses occurred about six hours apart at separate addresses, the Meridian Police Department said. Fentanyl, a powerful opioid used to treat pain, is highly addictive and can be deadly if abused.

In both cases the subjects survived with the help of Narcan, police said in the news release on Friday.

Narcan is the brand name of the drug naloxone, which counteracts the fatal effects of an opioid overdose.

Republican lawmakers pushed through legislation in March that restricts eligible recipients of federal grant funds for naloxone, according to previous reporting by the Idaho Statesman. Beginning in July, only first responders will receive free naloxone kits from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, which oversees the grant program.

Police said in the release that three people were arrested on various drug charges after a search warrant was executed at the address where one of the overdoses took place.

This is just another example of why our Legislature needs to take the needed action against those willing to traffic fentanyl and other harmful drugs to our state, Meridian Police Chief Tracy Basterrechea said in the release.

In April, a Caldwell police officer was hospitalized after an accidental exposure to fentanyl, according to a news release at the time. The department said the officer cheated death after taking possession of the drug, in both pill and powder form, during a search of a suspect. He administered naloxone to himself.

Meridian police officer who punched man 6 times violated no policy, chief says

Man arrested on suspicion of murder after shooting at Idaho hot springs

Boise police officer has made over 3,500 DUI arrests. He was cited for driving drunk
Workers protest outside Rancho Pescadero, the luxury beachfront hotel in Baja California Sur where two Californians died of carbon monoxide poisoning Tuesday. (Meghan Dhaliwal / For The Times)

Current and former employees at a luxury hotel in Mexico where two Americans were found dead this week said managers of the resort ignored repeated signs of a possible gas leak and disabled carbon monoxide detectors to stop their alarms from disturbing guests.

Ricardo Carbajal, a former night manager at Rancho Pescadero, a $600-a-night beachfront boutique hotel owned by Hyatt, said carbon monoxide detectors sounded frequently over a period of about three months late last year, possibly in connection to a series of outdoor firepits.

In January, Carbajal said, after repeated complaints from guests about the loud alarms, hotel managers disabled the detectors.

They knew there were problems with gas leaks, said Carbajal, who stopped working at the resort in March after a dispute over pay. Everyone was aware of the alarms and that the detectors were off.

Three current employees who spoke on condition of anonymity also said the detectors were disabled. One of them said they believed it was only the sound of the detectors that was deactivated and that hotel security guards continued to receive alerts when the devices detected gas.

Those current employees and another, who all spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared for their jobs, said hotel managers for months ignored complaints about the strong smell of gas from both guests and employees.

"Housekeepers reported gas leaks, security reported gas leaks, maintenance workers reported gas leaks," said one of the employees. The employee said that a few days before the guests were found dead, a housekeeper cleaning their room fell ill because of suspected gas poisoning.

The bodies of John Heathco and Abby Lutz, both of California, were discovered Tuesday night inside their room at Rancho Pescadero, which reopened after extensive renovations about a year ago in the beach community of El Pescadero, an hour north of Cabo San Lucas.

Read more: Two Americans found dead in luxury hotel room in Mexico's Baja California Sur

Autopsies suggest the two died of intoxication by an undetermined substance, prosecutors in Mexicos Baja California Sur state told the Associated Press.

Local police initially reported that gas inhalation was suspected as the cause of death.

Hyatt officials previously said they do not believe the deaths were related to problems with the hotel infrastructure or a gas leak.

A statement released by Hyatt late Friday said the company is "deeply troubled by the recent allegations and speculation about the tragic isolated incident at Rancho Pescadero."

Authorities have not yet released the cause of this incident, and the hotel continues to cooperate on their investigation to understand a cause," the statement said. "We understand authorities immediately tested the air quality in the room after responding to the situation, and at the time, did not report any findings of gas or carbon monoxide and advised that the hotel was cleared to continue normal operations. The hotel continues to monitor air quality."

The building where the incident occurred was closed as investigations proceeded, the statement said. Additional questions were directed to Mexican authorities.

Union leader Arturo Miranda leads chants as employees protest outside the Rancho Pescadero resort. (Meghan Dhaliwal / For The Times)

New accounts from two paramedics who responded to the deaths lend credence to the theory that gas poisoning was likely to blame.

Fernando Valencia Sotelo and Grisel Valencia Sotelo, firefighters who are also siblings, arrived at the hotel late Tuesday after staff discovered the bodies of Heathco and Lutz.

The two firefighters immediately fell ill upon entering the couple's hotel room, according to a GoFundMe account established to raise money for their medical care. They were being treated at a hospital Friday and undergoing studies to see whether they suffered neurological damage.

Read more: They were on vacation in Mexico City. Then all three died of carbon monoxide poisoning in an Airbnb

In an interview with "Good Morning America," Lutz's stepmother, Racquel Lutz, said the young woman had told her family Monday evening that she and Heathco had spent the previous night in the hospital because they felt sick and thought they had food poisoning. Lutz said they had been given fluids intravenously and were feeling better.

"She texted [her father] Monday night to say goodnight, love you, and then we hadn't heard from her again," Racquel Lutz said.

Chad Richeson, Abby Lutz's uncle  who is acting as a spokesperson for the family  said that Lutz and Heathco spent time at the pool Monday but it was not clear how much time they spent in their room.

The Lutz family was traveling to Mexico on Friday to "to bring Abby home" and was not available for further comment, Richeson said.

Abby Lutz did not mention any unusual or powerful smells to her family, Richeson said. Neither the hotel nor Hyatt has reached out to the Lutzes, he said.

In a statement, her family described Lutz, who lived in Newport Beach, as "a light to everyone around her" who was known for her smile and laugh and for "making everyone feel special."

"It is our hope that more information will come to light to explain what happened to Abby, and why," the statement said. "This information will help us gain closure, and may prevent this type of incident from happening in the future. We dont wish for anyone else to go through this tragedy."

Read more: 2 killed, 18 injured in gas explosion at Playa del Carmen resort in Mexico

Outside the hotel Friday, several dozen employees gathered for a protest. They detailed a history of complaints to hotel managers over what they described as wage theft as well as safety conditions for employees, including fears over gas leaks.

One of the employees who spoke on condition of anonymity said workers were worried about a possible explosion given the frequent odor of gas. "We are indignant that we reported this, and this tragedy still happened," the employee said.

Guests also explained about the overpowering smell of gas.

Alexander Coughlin, a real estate agent from San Francisco, stayed at Rancho Pescadero from Friday through Monday. He ate at the hotel's restaurant, Kahal, on Friday night and was originally seated near a fire feature, which he said ran the length of the restaurant. There were about 30 other people in the restaurant that night, he said, including many of whom sat near the fire.

Within about five minutes of his seating, Coughlin said he was overwhelmed by a strong smell of gas and asked twice to be moved. A waiter agreed with him that the odor was powerful, Coughlin told The Times.

He said the property's food and beverage director reached out to him by email about his survey rating his stay at the hotel, which included grading his dining experience. He told the director about the smell.

"That was the first thing I mentioned in my email," Coughlin said. He sent the email Wednesday afternoon but said he hasn't heard anything more from the resort.

Rancho Pescadero, a luxury beachfront hotel owned by Hyatt, in the town of Pescadero in Baja California Sur, Mexico. (Meghan Dhaliwal / For The Times)

Gas leaks from faulty lines are common across Mexico and have been linked to multiple tourist deaths in recent years.

Last year, three Americans were found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning at their Airbnb in Mexico City.

Linthicum reported from Mexico City, Petri from New York.

Sign up for Essential California, your daily guide to news, views and life in the Golden State.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Mexico to extend deadline for cargo flight move after Buttigieg visit

By Kylie Madry

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexico will extend the deadline for cargo airlines to move operations from the capital's main airport to a farther-away one following U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg's visit to the country, Mexico's transportation ministry said Friday.

Earlier Friday, local outlet El Financiero had reported the deadline was moved to September, citing an interview with the director of the Mexico City International Airport.

A ministry spokesperson could not confirm when the new deadline would be, but told Reuters an updated decree would be published in coming weeks, ahead of the original deadline.

Buttigieg had asked Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for more time to make the switch to the Felipe Angeles airport on behalf of worried U.S. airlines as the July deadline loomed, airport director Carlos Velazquez told El Financiero.

However, a number of foreign carriers, some from the U.S. and others not, will fall under the extension, the ministry spokesperson said.

"The switch requires international permits and certifications," the spokesperson said, explaining why some carriers had been unable to make the move in the original timeframe.

Buttigieg's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Lopez Obrador had pushed for the move to Felipe Angeles - an airport opened in 2022 at his behest - to relieve overcrowding at the Mexico City International Airport.

Flight data shows cargo flights represent a small percentage of trips at the main airport.

Lopez Obrador said earlier this month the flight move was a sticking point between Mexico and the U.S., though he hinted an extension could be possible.

He added "differences" of opinion remained on Mexico's recovery of a U.S.-given air safety rating.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) downgraded Mexico to the Category 2 air safety rating more than two years ago, citing safety concerns, which restricted Mexican airlines' ability to open new routes to the U.S.

A result from what Mexican officials have called the FAA's "last" audit of the country is expected in coming weeks.

(Reporting by Kylie Madry; Additional reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Cassandra Garrison and Jonathan Oatis)
Mexico interior minister steps down to vie for presidential bid

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexican Interior Minister Adan Augusto Lopez has resigned from his post to compete for the ruling party's candidacy in next year's presidential elections, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Friday.

Lopez Obrador said during a regular press conference that the interior minister had resigned the day before. Lopez later confirmed his resignation, sharing a letter to the president on social media.

The president did not immediately name a replacement, but said that Alejandro Encinas, who has led human rights issues for the ministry, would act as interior minister in the interim.

Lopez's resignation follows that of former Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who stepped down earlier this week, and Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, whose last day in office is Friday.

The move creates an increasingly competitive field for the leftist National Regeneration Movement's (MORENA) candidacy.

Opinion polls so far have tended to give Sheinbaum, who would be Mexico's first female president if she won, a slight edge.

MORENA, which will announce its candidate in September after a party poll, is heavily favored to win the 2024 election.

(Reporting by Raul Cortes; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Sarah Morland, Cassandra Garrison and Bill Berkrot)
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, the newest Republican to enter the 2024 presidential race, said he would support a 15-week federal abortion ban with rare exceptions, but stopped short of backing a six-week abortion ban.

Look, I think that the country is not there yet, Suarez said in an interview with The Associated Press, when asked about a six-week federal abortion ban.

In his own state of Florida, GOP presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a six-week ban with rare exceptions.

We are in a situation where 70 percent of the country agrees with a limitation of 15 weeks where there is an exception for the life of the mother and an exception for rape and incest, and I think that is a position that will save a tremendous amount of babies, Suarez told the AP. If there was that kind of federal law, thats one that I would support as president.

Abortion has been a key issue among primary candidates.

DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence have indicated support for a six-week ban. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said he supports a 15-week federal abortion ban.

Former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley said she supports a federal ban but has not specified the number of weeks.

Former President Trump has criticized Floridas six-week ban, telling The Messenger in an interview that many people within the pro-life movement feel that that was too harsh. But, the former president has not made clear what he specifically supports on the issue.

DeSantis said in an interview slated to air on the 700 Club on Friday that he was surprised by Trumps response.

I thought he would compliment the fact that we were able to do the heartbeat bill, which pro-lifers have wanted for a long time, DeSantis said. He never complimented, never said anything about it then he was asked about it and he said it was harsh.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
LANSING  Matt DePerno, the 2022 Republican candidate for Michigan attorney general, is facing potential discipline under a complaint filed this month by the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission.

Attorney Matt DePerno, who unsuccessfully ran for Michigan attorney general in November 2022.

The 23-page complaint alleges multiple allegations involving violations of the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys, including filing a frivolous lawsuit, engaging in deceitful conduct, and knowingly making false statements.

DePerno could not immediately be reached for comment.

If upheld by another body, the Michigan Attorney Discipline Board, the complaint could result in penalties such as a license suspension or disbarment for the Kalamazoo-area attorney.

More: Michigan special prosecutor: 'Additional investigation' needed on DePerno election case

More: Judge orders Karamo and others to pay for last-minute election lawsuit targeting Detroit

The allegations in the June 6 complaint relate to various failed legal actions DePerno initiated involving The Detroit News, one of its reporters, a law firm, and a judge in relation to DePerno's representation of former state Rep. Todd Courser, of Lapeer, who was involved in a sex scandal with a colleague.

DePerno rose to prominence in Republican politics through a lawsuit he filed in Antrim County after the 2020 presidential election. The legal challenge relied on a human error by the local clerk to amplify sweeping, unfounded conspiracy theories about election fraud.

DePerno, who was endorsed in the 2022 election by former President Donald Trump, is also the subject of a criminal investigation.

Last August, the Office of the Michigan Attorney General and Michigan State Police revealed details of an inquiry into whether DePerno and others violated multiple laws by accessing and tampering with election equipment. Muskegon County Prosecutor DJ Hilson was appointed as a special prosecutor. His investigation is ongoing.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Attorney Grievance Commission files complaint against Matt DePerno
A Detroit-area community banned flying LGBTQ+ pride flags on public property on Wednesday.

The city council of Hamtramck, Michigan, a diverse 27,000-person enclave near Detroit, voted unanimously that the town would only fly the state flag, US flag, and flags representing the home nations of immigrants to the community, which has a large population of people born in Yemen and Bangladesh.

You guys are welcome, council member Nayeem Choudhury said during a council meeting ahead of the vote, according to the Associated Press. (But) why do you have to have the flag shown on government property to be represented? Youre already represented. We already know who you are.

Some on the council, all of whose members are Muslim, said the Pride flag clashes with beliefs of some of their constituents.

Councilman Mohammed Hassan, who authored the flag resolution, said he was working for the people, what the majority of the people like.

Some local officials criticised the decision.

The City of Detroit proudly raises our Pride Flag at the start of every Pride Month and allows it to fly throughout the year to show our unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ community and the diversity within, Detroit mayor Mike Duggan wrote on Twitter. Its the role of city officials to ensure everyone feels welcome in their community, and everyone is welcome here in Detroit !!!!

Hayley Cain told the council during the vote she chose to live in the small community because it was known for its diversity.

Im questioning whether it is. ... The pride flag represents making space for all humans on all the spectrums, and this is where were going as a human species, Ms Cain said, according to the AP. You cant stop that.

Other places including the California cities like Orange County, Huntington Beach, Redlands, and Delano have banned Pride flags on public property, according to Forbes.

Last year, Cold Spring, New York, decided it would only fly the state, US, and the prisoner of war flags on public property, after receiving requests to hoist Pride flags as well as the Ukrainian flag.

Schools districts as well as private companies like Exxon have also limited the flying of Pride flags.

A wave of flag related disputes and votes came following a 2022 US Supreme Court decision, which faulted Boston for denying to fly a religious flag on public property despite lacking clear policies about which flags it allowed.
UPDATE: He has been found safe.

Millvale police are searching for a missing 86-year-old man.

According to police, Thomas Craig Succop was last seen at 1 p.m. Friday in the Grant Avenue area of Millvale.

Succop has gray hair and brown eyes. He is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 190 lbs.

He was last seen wearing a black button-down jacket with khaki pants.

Police said Succop drives a forest green Mini Cooper with Pennsylvania plate DRA 0587.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call 412-821-3410.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

TRENDING NOW:

LIVE UPDATES: Robert Bowers found guilty on all 63 counts in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial Antonio Browns arena football team bounced from league Old prison site in Pittsburgh up for sale VIDEO: Fire destroys bus in Uptown Pittsburgh neighborhood DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
An elderly woman injured in the Kyiv Oblast

At around 10.50 a.m., air alerts started to sound in Mykolaiv, Kirovohrad, Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Cherkasy oblasts.

"Launches of Kalibr cruise missiles from the Black Sea have been recorded," the Ukrainian Air Force reported later on Telegram.

At 11.05 a.m. the air raid sirens started to sound the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

11.31 a.m. The Kyiv Military Administration reported explosions in Kyiv and the threat of ballistic missile launches from Bryansk Oblast in Russia, to the north of the Ukrainian capital.

Air raid alerts subsequently spread to all regions. The Air Force issued a statement, confirming that multiple missiles were currently airborne, moving in a northern trajectory. Meanwhile, the Kyiv City Military Administration reassured the public by affirming that air defense systems are fully operational on the outskirts of the capital.

11.38 a.m. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported an explosion in the Podilsky District of the capital, stand warned that missiles were still flying towards Kyiv.

11.50 a.m. The Air Force announced it would now provide updates on potential missile strikes and drone attacks directly to the Ukrainian public through their Telegram channel. This new communication initiative aims to keep citizens informed and prepared for any threats.

12.02 p.m. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, in a tweet, characterized Russian missile attack on Kyiv as a troubling "message to Africa." The attack coincided with a visit to Kyiv by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and an African "peacekeeping mission," including representatives from Zambia, Comoros Islands, the Republic of Congo, Egypt, Senegal, and Uganda.

12.15 p.m. The Air Force warned of the potential for missile launches from Novorossiysk in southern Russia, on the eastern Black Sea coast.

12.17 p.m. The all-clear sounded in Kyiv following the missile attack.

12.25 p.m. Reports came in that six Kinzhal and six Kalibr missiles were successfully intercepted and downed over Kyiv. The Air Force's preliminary data indicated that the following were destroyed: six aeroballistic Kinzhal missiles, and six Kalibr cruise missiles, as well as two reconnaissance drones.

12.35 p.m. There was no information on the number of casualties or extent of damage within Kyiv itself. However, the Kyiv Military Administration warned of the possibility of further attacks, underscoring the ongoing threat faced by the city.

12.38 p.m. It was reported that private houses were destroyed and there were casualties in Kyiv Oblast as a result of falling missile debris, and that a fire had broken out.

12.41 p.m. According to the latest information from the Air Force, there were no confirmed reports of additional missile launches from Novorossiysk.

The aftermath and consequences of this attack will be closely monitored by NV.

During the night of June 16, Russia unleashed Iranian Shahed kamikaze drones targeting Ukraine. Two unmanned aerial vehicles were successfully neutralized in the southern direction, specifically in Mykolaiv Oblast.

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
Missile strike on 16 June: air defence shot down 6 Kinzhals and 6 Kalibr missiles

According to preliminary information, Ukraine's air defence destroyed 12 missiles during the Russian attack in Ukraine on 16 June.

Source: Air Force Telegram channel

Quote: "According to preliminary data, the following targets were destroyed:

- 6 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles;

- 6 Kalibr cruise missiles;

- 2 reconnaissance UAVs.

Details: Serhii Popko, Head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, adds that these targets were shot down in the airspace around Kyiv.

He further notes that there have been no reports of casualties or damage. The operational data is being collected and updated.

Quote: "Stay tuned for more reports. There is a high chance of another missile attack shortly. So, do not ignore the air raid warnings!"

Background:

The Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that the Russian occupiers had fired Kalibr missiles from ships in the Black Sea. An air-raid warning was issued in Ukraine. The authorities reported that air defence systems were operating in Kyiv Oblast and the capital.

The Ukrainian Air Force also issued a warning of ballistic missile threats to three regions of Ukraine.

Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reported that an explosion had occurred in the city's Podilsky district.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
MJ sells the Hornets + Charlotte is sprawl capital of the world

Hey, everyone! Zach here. Im sorry to report that my offer to buy the Charlotte Hornets wasnt accepted. Thank you for your help during this trying time.

Even though he didnt select my offer, Michael Jordan still sold his majority share of the NBA franchise on Friday, finalizing a deal with a group that includes Hornets minority owner Gabe Plotkin and Atlanta Hawks minority owner Rick Schnall (not to mention J. Cole and Eric Church). Roderick Boone wrote about the news while Scott Fowler opines that maybe Jordan not being the majority owner of the team actually wouldnt be a bad thing.

On top of all that, Genna Contino reports on changes coming to the Spectrum Center as the Hornets shift into new ownership.

Now on to the days news:

A screenshot from Ray Delahantys YouTube video where he talks about his recent visit to Charlotte and the citys growth and development. Photo courtesy of CityNerd YouTube page

Charlotte, one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country, has earned some of the ridicule, Delahanty explained in a 16-minute video posted earlier this month to his YouTube page. It historically has balanced quick-pace growth with the impact new development can have on existing neighborhoods.

Using Google Earth images, Delahanty described the city as possibly the sprawl capital of planet earth.

Gordon Rago writes about how he didnt totally hate the Queen City though.

Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, reacts as she receives the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccination on Friday, March 5, 2021 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. Robert Willett/rwillett@newsobserver.com

Former North Carolina health secretary Mandy Cohen will be the CDCs next director. Shell be tasked with leading federal efforts to track and manage health problems and diseases.

Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan break down the decision.

Tom Smith, former head of Food Lion, died June 2. Catawba College

Tom Smith, former CEO of Food Lion, died June 2. He is remembered as a business man, philanthropist and a person who loved Salisbury and Rowan County. I think he became a household name in many ways, said Margaret Kluttz, who met Smith decades ago. If they had the internet then, he would have gone viral.

Gavin Off remembers the grocery store leader.

Stoners Pizza Joint has 32 locations across the Southeast and Colorado, and it is opening three more in Charlotte in the next two years. Photo courtesy of Stoner's Pizza Joint

A Florida-based pizza chain is establishing its first location in North Carolina in uptowns Queen City Quarter.

Stoners Pizza Joint is an herb-themed pizza chain headquartered in Fort Lauderdale that has 32 locations across the Southeast and Colorado. It will enter the North Carolina market with an agreement to open three locations in Charlotte. The first opens this fall in Queen City Quarter.

Audrey Elsberry previews the upcoming addition to the food scene.

5. Some more stories to read

---

Thats it for now. Thanks for reading! If you dont already, subscribe to the Charlotte Observer here. If youre already a subscriber (thanks!), download our iOS or Android app to stay connected.

Find more updates at charlotteobserver.com, and follow along on Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok to see more from us. Enjoy your day!

Did someone forward this newsletter to you? You can sign up here.
Modesto celebrates its reborn 1915 depot, a hub for expanded passenger rail in the future

Local leaders gathered Thursday at the newly renovated Modesto Transit Center, a hub for bus service now and for rail in a few years.

At its heart is a 1915 depot built by Southern Pacific Railroad, which had passenger service until 1971. The building, at Ninth and J streets, could be a stop on the Altamont Corridor Express by late 2026.

ACE now runs four weekday round trips between Stockton and San Jose, timed for commuters to the Bay Area. It has about $1.8 billion in state and federal grants to expand into Stanislaus, Merced and Sacramento counties. Future funding could bring much more frequent service in all directions.

Modesto Mayor Sue Zwahlen noted how the rail plans mesh with efforts to create vibrant districts around the stations.

A bus leaves the station at the newly renovated transit center in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, June 15, 2023. At its heart is a 1915 depot built by Southern Pacific Railroad, which had passenger service until 1971.

I can imagine mixed-use developments that provide affordable housing for working and commuting professionals, she said. ... Free of the stress of gridlocked traffic, these professionals would be able to walk to their favorite downtown restaurant or catch a concert in the plaza to unwind from a hard days work.

The dedication took place just outside the old depot, with buses passing not far behind the podium. The remodeling was done by Simile Construction Services of Modesto on a $5.23 million contract with the city.

Simile had to protect the Mission Revival architecture as it carried out the job. It removed an interior wall to increase lobby space. It installed new restrooms, heating and air conditioning. Workers refurbished the tile floor and painted the walls white. The roof and exterior stucco were patched.

Bus bays get upgrade

The bus bays at the Transit Center date to 1993. They got new lighting, landscaping, security cameras and paint. The service is run by the Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority.

The old depot will not have trains for now, but bus passengers can use its ticket booth, waiting room and restrooms.

This new system will make it feel safer, be more comfortable, said Adam Barth, chief executive officer for SRTA. ... It even provides more plugs for people to charge their phones.

Adam Barth, chief executive officer for the Stanislaus Regional Transit Authority speaks during the grand re-opening ceremony of the historic train depot at the Modesto Transit Center in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, June 15, 2023.

ACE now has stations in Stockton, at the Manteca/Lathrop border and in Tracy, Livermore, Pleasanton, Fremont, Santa Clara and San Jose.

Planners had hoped to have much of the southern branch ready by now, with double tracking where needed to avoid conflict with freight trains. The Union Pacific Railroad operates on this track and must sign off on each detailed set of plans.

The branch will have stations in north Lathrop, downtown Manteca, Ripon, Modesto, Ceres, Turlock, Livingston and Merced. It will connect with Californias first segment of high-speed rail, down to Bakersfield, if this controversial project survives.

The northern branch will have stations west of Lodi, in northwest Elk Grove and at Sacramento City College, Midtown, Old North Sacramento and Natomas.

Amtrak will expand, too

Modesto long has had an Amtrak station, but it is on the east side of town rather than the core. This line has five daily round trips between Bakersfield and Oakland and a sixth branching to Sacramento.

The $1.8 billion in grants includes money for adding two Amtrak trips to Sacramento, sharing stations with ACEs northern branch.

The expansion is overseen by the San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission. Its vice chair is Tracy Mayor Nancy Young, who joined in Modestos celebration.

It restores the station back to its rightful glory as the birthplace of Modesto, she said. The city was founded in 1870 by the Central Pacific Railroad, using a depot that predated the current building.

ACE emerged in 1998 as an option for people who drive to Bay Area jobs from the Northern San Joaquin Valley.

That does not have to be a one-way flow, said Channce Condit, chairman of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors.

We also hope to attract those commuting here for employment, he said, and that is only going to increase connectivity for transportation throughout our region.

The Southern Pacific train depot has been renovated at the Modesto Transit Center in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, June 15, 2023. The depot built by Southern Pacific Railroad had passenger service until 1971.

A bus leaves the Modesto Transit Center in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, June 15, 2023.

Historical pictures of the Southern Pacific train depot built in 1915. The transit center hosted a re-opening ceremony after a

A bus enters the station at the newly renovated Modesto Transit Center in Modesto, Calif., Thursday, June 15, 2023. At its heart is a 1915 depot built by Southern Pacific Railroad, which had passenger service until 1971.
MOHAVE COUNTY  The Mohave County Elections Department is formulating a plan to see what it would take to conduct a hand count of the county's general election ballots after the Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 in support of the move.

"We want to restore the faith the voter has in the election process," District 5 Supervisor Ron Gould told The Arizona Republic.

"Because people are feeling disenfranchised, whether it's legitimate or illegitimate, and when people feel disenfranchised they don't want to participate," Gould said.

A day after the vote, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes sent a letter to the supervisors warning that the institution of a full hand count could violate state law.

"I am concerned that any plan to initiate a full hand count of ballots for a future election would put these officials in serious legal jeopardy, including possible criminal liability, for violations of state law," Fontes wrote. "I urge any county official to consider the negative consequences to election systems, voters and taxpayers that would result from the introduction of election procedures that will increase the risk of error and have no legal basis or proof of concept.

Aside from questions of legality, Mohave County Elections Director Allen Tempert was blunt about the logistical challenges that a possible hand count could bring, including the sheer manpower that would be required to verify each individual ballot.

"It takes seven people to do a ballot correctly," Tempert said.

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes.

"I can't get enough people to work the voting polls for me, let alone get enough volunteers to help me with other things," he said.

Tempert said while he used to get around 400 to 450 volunteers a year, that number is now closer to 300. To oversee the verification process, there also needs to be equal representation of Democrats and Republicans to ensure votes are counted correctly.

In a county heavily dominated by Republican voters, Tempert said they already have trouble getting enough representation from Democrats to oversee ballot counting as it is.

Nearly half of all registered voters in the county are Republicans, 74,871, compared with just 19,183 registered Democrats, according to the Secretary of State's office.

"I'm going to have an awfully hard time to get a workforce that will do this and dedicate themselves to be able to do this and do it correctly," Tempert said.

Sen. Sonny Borrelli speaks on the floor of the Arizona Senate at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix on April 25, 2023.

Sen. Sonny Borrelli, who represents parts of the county, and Sen. Wendy Rogers both spoke before the vote and stressed why they think Mohave County needs to switch to hand-counting ballots.

They argued that electronic voting machines are vulnerable to hacking and the government has no jurisdiction over them.

"This is a national security issue," Borrelli told the board. "If we cannot have free and fair elections, we are in trouble."

Jean Bishop is a member of the Mohave County Board of Supervisors.

District 4 Supervisor Jean Bishop was the lone "no" vote against putting together this report and intends to maintain that perspective when the decision about a hand count is brought back to the board, she said.

"We can't do it," Bishop said. "So why spend the money and the time and the staff to do a study that we already know the answer to?"

Bishop is most concerned with ensuring the ballot count is legal. Depending on how long the hand count takes, it could stretch beyond the window of time allotted to tabulate results and deliver them to the Secretary of State's Office under state statute.

Further, bringing in hundreds of unvetted volunteers raises significant confidentiality and security questions. Relying on so many individuals also creates ample opportunity for human error, which could further delay and complicate the process, she argued.

And while District 3 Supervisor Buster Johnson supported the move to at least see what it would take for a hand count, he isn't yet confident that it would be the best move for the county.

"Logistically, it's just going to be a huge thing to do," Johnson said.

In addition to the cost and manpower, Johnson raised concerns about potentially requiring background checks for volunteers to help bolster security. Officials are unsure what the cost of a hand count would be.

Johnson also took note of Borrelli's mention of a potential lawsuit similar to the one in Cochise County. If they already lost in court, why should Mohave County follow down the same path, Johnson wondered.

Moreover, the county's voting record is solid, further begging the question of why a change is needed at all.

As Tempert pointed out during the June 5 meeting, Mohave County has never had any election discrepancies in the more than two decades he's worked here.

"You're fixing a problem in Mohave County where there is no problem," Johnson said.

Reach the reporter at LLatch@gannett.com.

The Republics coverage of northern Arizona is funded, in part, with grants from Vitalyst Health Foundation and Report from 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: Mohave County considering hand count of ballots for 2024 election
More than half of US employers ready to try four-day workweek

More than half of American employers offer a four-day workweek, or plan to, according to a survey released Tuesday.

A poll of 976 business leaders by ResumeBuilder.com, the job-seekers website, found that 20 percent of employers already have a four-day workweek. Another 41 percent said they plan to implement a four-day week, at least on a trial basis.

American employers have experimented with a four-day workweek over the decades, typically in times of recession. But the idea has gained traction in recent years.

If a four-day week ever becomes standard, it would mark the biggest change to the national work schedule since the five-day workweek, adopted by automaker Henry Ford in 1926.

We cant say, however, that the four-day workweek would rank as the most profound change to the American workplace, not even in the last three years. That distinction probably goes to remote work, a movement that exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic and shows no signs of abating.

Proponents of the four-day week contend that companies can trim a full day from the week without a loss of productivity.

A trial of the four-day workweek in Iceland in the 2010s yielded phenomenal results, like less stress, lower work-family conflicts, more energy levels, said Juliet Schor, a Boston College researcher, in a well-circulated TED podcast. Productivity stays the same or gets better. Doesnt cost anything.

Another trial of the four-day week, last year in the United Kingdom, found increased job satisfaction and work-life balance, superior products, better customer service and reduced stress, sick days and absences, by one account.

History suggests, though, that it may not be so simple to compress five days work into four.

Volkswagen adopted a four-day workweek in 1993, with shorter hours and less pay, amid a downturn in the auto industry. For many workers, the four-day week didnt feel much shorter.

They started to take work home with them, said Iwan Barankay, an associate professor of management at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. They were still under pressure to get work done, and they were doing it on their own time.

With as much as half of Americas white-collar work now happening at home, Barankay believes a four-day week might increase pressure on workers to toil on their own time.

People still, in the end, will be evaluated for performance, he said. And if they feel they cant get the work done in four days, some of it will bleed into Fridays.

In the U.K. pilot, shortening the workweek forced employers to take a close look at how workers actually spent their time. Employees frittered away parts of the day checking Facebook, scanning headlines and planning vacations. But slack time, as it turns out, was not the biggest drag on productivity.

The top time-suck was meetings. To make workers more productive in a four-day week, researchers say, employers need to hold fewer of them.

Meetings are the No. 1 thing that the companies get control over in order to make this work, Schor said, in her TED interview. How many meetings are there? How long do they last? How many people go to them? How much time do you have to prepare for them?

Most workers love the idea of a four-day workweek. A Washington Post-Ipsos poll this spring found that 75 percent of us would rather work four 10-hour days than five eight-hour days.

But advocates are pushing for eight-hour days, citing evidence that employees will do the same amount of work in fewer hours. By the same argument, proponents say workers should earn the same pay for a four-day week as for a five-day week.

Pay matters. In the WaPo-Ipsos poll, 73 percent of respondents said they would rather work five days with more pay than four days with less.

Most U.S. companies still favor the five-day week. Advocates are pushing for a large-scale pilot of the four-day workweek in America, with employers agreeing to eight fewer hours of weekly work at the same weekly pay.

The new ResumeBuilder survey suggests corporate America is warming to the idea. Roughly three in 10 U.S. employers will offer a four-day workweek by years end, the survey found.

Among the companies that already offer four-day workweeks, most said the four-day week has helped them compete for top talent. A majority also said the four-day schedule has boosted profitability.

Some firms said they expect employees to work the same hours in a four-day week as in five days, a proposition that has met with objections from labor leaders concerned about long hours. A few employers said they had reduced paid leave for workers with a shorter week.

The typical firm with a four-day week offers the reduced schedule to most employees, but not all, depending on work location, level of responsibility, performance and other factors.

Lawmakers in several U.S. states have proposed four-day or 32-hour workweeks or pilot programs.

But change comes slowly to the American workforce. The last real revision to the workweek arrived with the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, which set the standard workweek at 44 hours, a figure adjusted downward to 40 hours in a 1940 amendment.

The question here is whether this can be rolled out to larger companies, Barankay said of the four-day week. What does it mean if you need your workforce to do more work?

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
As the 2023 Tribeca Festival winds down its in-person screenings and events in New York City on Sunday, the festival will continue with presentations of many festival programs via streaming platforms from June 19 through July 2.

With a hefty roster this year  109 feature films, along with programs of short films and TV  this 22nd edition of the festival will be capped with a musical performance by Carlos Santana on June 17, following the world premiere of the documentary "Carlos."

See below for reviews of some recent debuts. To read additional reviews, check out part one of our festival coverage.

A scene from

"Maestra" (World Premiere)

The podium of an orchestra conductor has been a predominantly male realm. Even today, the community of female conductors is small, fiercely trying to make a living in a notoriously sexist profession. Winning La Maestra conducting competition in Paris, which is confined to female candidates, is, therefore, an achievement beyond excellence  it's a statement of valuation.

Director Maggie Contreras' intimate documentary closely follows five women competing at the 2022 La Maestra: Melisse, a French-born music teacher in Iowa, whose return to Paris, where she was once sexually abused, stirs feelings of PTSD; Zoe, a Greek conductor once fired for being pregnant, and whose far-flung travels for conducting gigs separate her from her small children; Tamara, an Atlanta native who fears starting a family might block her career; Ustina, a Ukrainian torn about being away from her homeland and family during the start of the Russian invasion; and Anna, a Polish conductor following in her conductor-father's footsteps.

While absorbing and filled with exquisite musicianship, Contreras' film presents the competition itself almost as a sidebar to her real purpose: exposing the ambitions, talents, personal struggles and very real sense of sisterhood felt among the women. It is invigorating, and at times disheartening, as even a competition that professes to honor women isn't immune from sexism (one woman eliminated is told by a judge that she should have smiled more). Produced by David Letterman's Worldwide Pants. 88 mins. In English and Greek with English subtitles. Screens in-person June 15.

"Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field" (World Premiere)

Patricia Field isn't comfortable with the appellation "costume designer." The woman who helped define fashion in New York's club scene in the 1970s and '80s, and who later conjured the looks of "Sex and the City," "The Devil Wears Prada," "Ugly Betty" and "Emily in Paris," sees herself more as a stylist  a finder of colors and patterns, to be paired with characters, that evoke drama, personality and emotion.

Michael Selditch's affectionate portrait is a happy hour-and-a-half spent with the fashion trailblazer and her friends, colleagues and devoted fans, who remember the drama at Field's New York boutiques; the public's fascination with Carrie Bradshaw's attire; and the ever-changing demands of fashion  and one woman's stalwart predilection to go beyond cutting edge. 100 mins. Screens in-person June 15, 17, 18.

"Rule of Two Walls" (World Premiere)

Defiance in the face of extreme violence is not just a coping mechanism. In some respects, the response of Ukrainian artists to Russia's brutal and inhumane invasion of their homeland is to pay witness and homage to a people and culture that the Kremlin seeks to eviscerate. They do so by erecting art exhibits, singing protest songs and pasting posters onto walls, spreading messages of a nation that will not acquiesce.

Director David Gutnik and his colleagues also turn the camera and microphone onto themselves, as they describe wielding the tools of cinema in defensive measures. A valuable addition to the pool of documentary films telling the horrific truths of the war for Ukraine's survival. Executive producer: Liev Schreiber. In English, Ukrainian and Russian with English subtitles. 76 mins. Screens in-person June 16, 18.

Watch a trailer for "Rule of Two Walls" below:

"Afire" (New York Premiere)

Reminiscent of the ruminatively passionate works of Eric Rohmer, this latest film by German director Christian Petzold centers on Leon, a writer struggling to finish a manuscript who journeys to a friend's country house near the Baltic Sea, where the glow from distant wildfires presents a palpable threat. But perhaps a more ominous threat in Leon's mind is Nadja, a woman unexpectedly staying in the same house, whose mere presence (not to mention her noisy nocturnal assignations) drives Leon to distraction.

In his films "Barbara," "Phoenix" and "Transit," Petzold has been a remarkable storyteller of characters seeking escape from stifling or dangerous political environments, sometimes at the cost of their own identities. In "Afire," Leon's struggle is to justify his identity as a writer  one who learns that his own imagination may be less compelling than the raw materials of life surrounding him.

There are fine performances all around, including Thomas Schubert as Leon, Paula Beer as Nadja, and Matthias Brandt as Leon's editor, who tells the young man what he fears most: his book is awful. Indeed, an "X" scrawled across a manuscript page might be the most potent comic-horror image on screens this year. Winner of the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival. In German with English subtitles. 102 mins. Screens in-person June 17, 18, with a theatrical release July 14.

"Between the Rains" (World Premiere)

In this documentary that makes personal the damaging effects of climate change, a drought has created turmoil for pastoral communities in Kenya dependent upon grazing livestock. The drought has also stirred ethnic fighting between tribes over scarce resources, with a police force inadequate at keeping the peace between them. Kole, a young orphan tasked as a shepherd, questions his purpose as neighboring tribes steal goats from one another, leading to bloodshed.

The stunning cinematography captures not only the fragile beauty of Kenyan landscapes, but also the harsh reality of life among the Turkana-Ngaremara people, as village elders read a goat's entrails to ascertain when rain might return, or when blood must be spilled.

Producers Samuel Ekomol (a cousin of Kole) and Naomi Kambura and co-director Moses Thuranira were each raised in the region, and have experienced firsthand the violence of tribal conflict. Co-director Andrew H. Brown was editor of the National Geographic/Disney+ documentary "Path of the Panther." Together they forge a powerful personal statement on maintaining tradition, and peace, in a world teetering off-balance. In Swahili and other, with English subtitles. 82 mins. Screens in-person June 17. Streaming available June 19-July 2.

Attendees at the Tribeca Festival's installation of immersive media. / Credit: David Morgan/CBS News

Immersive

Virtual and augmented reality art installations and games are being presented through June 17 at the Tribeca Festival headquarters at Spring Studios. The best of these demonstrate intriguing new uses of technology in storytelling.

360-degree recordings, in which a VR-equipped viewer is "surrounded" by the camera's subjects, are especially beneficial to dance performances and performance art, such as "Over the Rainbow," from Taiwan. At the same time that dancers circle the viewer, the confined physical sets through which director Craig Quintero transports us present an intriguing commentary on physical space and the separation between performer and audience. At the same time, the limitations of VR (a seated viewer can't necessarily see around objects or a partially-open doorway) shows that, when it comes to storytelling in motion, there is no more freeing instrument than a moving camera.

The Iranian-born artist Shirin Neshat's intriguing "The Fury" uses two formats to tell its story about the emotional scars of sexual exploitation on a woman in an Iranian prison. In one part, a 360-degree color recording, a bruised and bloodied woman performs a dance encircled by intimidating military officers. In the second part, a black-and-white video installation shown on two monitors, the woman reprises her dance in prison and escapes, only to find herself on a New York City street, where a crowd who witnesses her begins to express themselves empathetically in dance. The companion pieces' differing formats prompt differing emotional responses by the viewer to the states of confinement and freedom.

"In Search of Time," a meditation on memory, uses AI to enhance and accentuate its cinematography, creating a look that is similar to rotoscope animation. Chapter 1 of "Maya," an interactive VR presentation, tells a fable about a South Asian girl growing up in London who evolves into a female superhero after experiencing her first period. The animation is vibrant as the viewer is transported through a cultural odyssey of shame, isolation, and empowerment.

For more information about films, immersive exhibits, special events and ticketing, visit the Tribeca Festival website.

What happens to Minneapolis Police Department after DOJ report, consent decree agreement?

Pittsburgh synagogue gunman convicted; penalty phase to begin soon

Deadly tornado demolishes homes in Texas town
Mother who abandoned dead infant inside kimchi container for 3 years sentenced to 7.5 years in jail

[Source]

A Korean mother arrested late last year for abandoning the dead body of her infant daughter inside a plastic kimchi container was sentenced to prison on Thursday.

Key details: The 35-year-old mother, identified only by her surname Seo, was handed her sentence of seven years and six months in prison at the Uijeongbu District Court in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, on Thursday.

A presiding judge who handed the sentence reportedly said in court that Seo doesn't appear to feel sincere remorse for the "heinous" crime she committed by leaving the corpse of her 15-month-old daughter inside the container.

About the charges: Seo was charged following her December 2022 arrest with abandoning and concealing the body of her daughter as well as violating the child welfare law by having left her daughter alone inside their home in Pyeongtaek, another city in Gyeonggi Province, on around 70 occasions from August 2019 to early 2020.

More from NextShark: S. Korean swimmer Hwang Sun-woo named Asian Male Swimmer of the Year

Seo and her ex-husband Choi, who was also arrested, were also charged with illegally accepting child support given by the government after the death of their child. They reportedly stated that the infant was living with a relative in the city of Pocheon.

How the infant was found: In October 2022, authorities discovered the child's corpse after the city government of Pocheon began looking into the living conditions, health and safety of children aged 3 and younger.

Seo and Choi's child was eventually found inside a kimchi container hidden inside a suitcase on the rooftop of Choi's parents' apartment building in Seodaemun District, Seoul.

More from NextShark: Father who was beaten and left for dead near Chicago Chinatown wakes up from coma

Authorities learned that the infant died due to negligence in January 2020. Choi was accused of placing the infants body inside the container.

More from NextShark: YouTube Showcases Anna Akana, Steve Aoki, More API Creators Across Platforms for Heritage Month

Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark!

Bay Area Doctor Cannot Eat or Drink Because of the Lack of Masks
Mother of infamous Kyiv judge Vovk blocked access to Odesa beach with hotel construction

Construction of Hotel in Odessa by Natalya Hladka

Building equipment was seen at the beach back in April 2023, the investigative journalists wrote.

Read also: Odesa teen sings Russian songs and swears at MP in Lviv

Allegedly, the project foresees the reconstruction of a former cafe into a four-storey hotel, with the end of construction work to have been in 2021, according to the official papers.

Hladka reportedly presented Vovk with real estate in Odesa in 2014. However, he told journalists that he was not engaged in any commercial activities and did not commit any illegal actions, saying his mother should be contacted with regard to any hotel construction issues.

Read also: Odesa mayor arrested in corruption case

Hladka, in turn, told journalists that Serhiy Vovk isn't his son and said that construction work on the Odesa Oblast beach won't be stopped.

The judge was accused of illegally depriving a Kyiv resident from her apartment in 2014, but was acquitted.

In 2012, Vovk sentenced former Interior Minister of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko to four years in jail, which European authorities recognized as a politically motivated prosecution.

Besides, Vovk unblocked the accounts of former Agrarian Policy and Food Minister of Ukraine Mykola Prysiazhniuk, suspected of the embezzlement of UAH 540 million ($14.7 million) of the Agrarian Funds.

Read also: Russian intelligence asset in Odesa sentenced to 15 years in prison

The judge also ruled to withdraw a case against the Presidential Office Deputy Head, Oleh Tatarov, from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and transfer it to the State Bureau of Investigation.

Tatarov was suspected of bribery for falsifying an expert examination in a case of the misappropriation of National Guard funds.

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
How much do minimum wage workers earn in Pennsylvania, other states? A bill could boost it

A bill that would see Pennsylvania's minimum wage more than double over the next few years has passed one hurdle in the state legislature.

But there's still a lot of hurdles before minimum wage workers collect more than $7.25 an hour.

The Democrat-backed bill, which would see minimum wage go to $11 an hour starting Jan. 1, recently passed the House Labor & Industry Committee on a 12-9 vote along party lines.

The bill, if approved, would send the minimum wage to $13 an hour in 2025 and than to $15 an hour the year after. Further bumps would be tied to cost of living increases.

Tipped workers would collect 60 percent of the minimum wage under the bill.

The proposal next goes to the Democrat-controlled House for a vote and then on to the Senate, where it faces bleak prospects against a Republican majority.

Tax rates: Which Pa. schools have the highest and lowest tax rates? And why that's cause for debate.

I-95 bridge collapse: What you need to know about the disaster in Philadelphia

What is minimum wage in PA?

The Keystone State's minimum wage is currently $7.25 an hour  matching the federal minimum wage  where it's been since 2006. Tipped workers have a minimum wage of $2.83, just 70 cents over the federal minimum.

Fewer than two-dozen states have minimum wages at $7.25 or less per hour.

What are other states paying minimum wage workers?

New Jersey's minimum wage is $14.13 per hour as of Jan. 1 and will jump to $15 in the new year. Tipped employees there are paid at least $5.26 per hour.

New York's tipped employees must be compensated to at least $14.20 an hour with a minimum rate of $4.75. Non-tipped employees are paid at least $14.20 an hour by their employer.

In Delaware, the minimum wage is $11.75 per hour, with tipped employees collecting at least $2.23 per hour.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: What is minimum wage in PA? A bill in the statehouse could boost it
How much money will Texas property tax cut plans actually save you? We did the math

Lawmakers in Austin are promising property tax relief, but the savings when you see your bill may be less than you hoped.

A Star-Telegram analysis of House and Senate proposals to cut school property taxes found that increasing home appraisals could dampen tax bill savings, if city, county and other property tax rates are not significantly dropped.

The two chambers are in a standoff over the best way to deliver property tax relief. The House favors using more than $17 billion to fund public schools so they can reduce their property tax rates. School taxes are typically the largest portion of a property tax bill.

The Senate proposes cutting the school tax rate and increasing the homestead exemption on school property taxes from $40,000 to $100,000.

Either way, without changes in local taxes and if home appraisals increase, bills could be higher than taxpayers would expect.

Both chambers have passed their versions of the bill, but the House has adjourned for the special session and proposals must pass both chambers before going to Abbotts desk to be signed into law.

The governor on Monday said hes had conversations with both Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan.

The most important thing is that they work together and hammer out their differences and get a bill to my desk as quick as possible, Abbott said.

Calculating your tax bill

Take a $350,000 home in the Fort Worth school district, where the homeowner is claiming the $40,000 homestead exemption.

Assume the home is in the tax districts for the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County, the Tarrant Regional Water District, JPS Health Network and Tarrant County College and the rates for those districts dont change in the coming tax cycle. Property tax rates, including for schools, are set locally.

If that homes appraisal were to go up 10%, the homeowner would save $78 on their annual tax bill compared to the year prior under the House plan and save $507 under the Senates.

Tarrant County has approved a 10% homestead exemption for county residents, which means an extra $78. Commissioners also approved a a maximum 10% exemption to the hospital district, another extra $78. That is, unless appraisals are up by 10%, then youd save about $86.

As the Legislature focuses on school property taxes, each city and county must do their part to provide actual tax relief, County Judge Tim OHare said in a June 6 Twitter post.

Will the House and Senate reach an agreement?

Patrick has said his plan would be more beneficial to homeowners because it allocates money specifically for a homestead exemption.

If you take $17.6 billion and give it to everyone, then the homeowners tax cut is diluted, he said of the House plan.

Abbott has expressed support for the Houses bill and eventually eliminating school Maintenance and Operation property taxes. In his call for a special session, the governor was specific that property tax rate cuts should be delivered solely by reducing the school district maximum compressed tax.

Phelan has previously advocated for lowering the states cap on home appraisal increases and expanding that cap to all property types. An appraisal cap was not part of the Houses latest bill.

His special session call gave us clear-cut direction to buy down property taxes using tax compression, and the passage of todays legislation fulfills that call, Phelan said in a May 30 statement.

The majority of House Republican freshmen in a Monday letter said dropping the appraisal cap could be a negotiation point for the two chambers, if the Senate insists on a larger homestead exemption and compromise is needed. The exemption is an excellent tool in moderation, but overreliance shifts the tax burden to renters and small business owners, the letter reads.

Theyd support a combination of rate cuts, a homestead exemption and a cap on appraised values.

We may never have this historic surplus again, and we must use this opportunity to provide significant relief into perpetuity, the letter reads.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is apparently planning to pardon Eric DeValkenaere, who shot and killed Cameron Lamb. It is a critical mistake for a former police officer. A pardon in this case is not standing with the rule of law. We have seen this before when Parson pardoned the Mark and Patricia McCloskey after they waved guns at peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters simply walking in their neighborhood. Now, Parson wants to pardon DeValkenaere on the eve of Juneteenth.

DeValkenaere callously shot Lamb (unarmed Black man) in Lambs driveway. During his trial, prosecutors alleged that members of the Kansas City Police Department colluded to plant evidence and prevented access to medical care for Lamb after he was shot  and none of those involved are facing charges for that potential conspiracy. It is a sad state of affairs in Missouri when a law enforcement official plants a gun and shoots a person, gets convicted and past sheriff Parson pardons the killer officer. This is Parsons Juneteenth message.

Parson continues to disregard calls for justice, including the pleas of innocent individuals like Marcellus Williams, who remains on death row for a crime he did not commit, while the families of Black victims like Tory Sanders, Justin King and Deronte Martin will never see a person charged with their murder, let alone convicted by fair-minded prosecutors such as Jackson Countys Jean Peters Baker. Our governor is striking a wedge between the Black community and state government. Missouri is killing fairness.

The Missouri NAACPs travel advisory  the first one issued in the U.S. by the NAACP, in response to the states legalization of discrimination in 2017  continues to be renewed. If you are Black and in Missouri, you are at risk  from a justice system that does not protect Black lives, from a governor who pardons the killers of Black people, from a medical system that provides developing nation-level medical care or refuses care to Black patients in hospital emergency rooms.

If you are white, you have a much greater chance of receiving a pardon or finding justice within Missouris flawed, inequitable justice system.

If white police officers are not held accountable for intentionally killing Black Missourians, and if they can manipulate evidence to fabricate crimes or falsely claim self-defense, then it is open season on Black people. Be advised: If youre in Missouri and Black, you are on your own..

The NAACP is asking that the U.S. Department of Justice not only to investigate the Kansas City Police Departments involvement in this incident, but also to examine Parsons involvement in the pardon process. We need to know how white criminals in Missouri repeatedly receive pardons when their murder victims are Black. This systemic injustice disproportionately burdens Black communities, exacerbating the plight of Black victims families statewide. It is imperative that have a clear and public record on this safety issue.

I implore you to join me in contacting the governor and demanding that there be no pardon for Eric DeValkenaere. Call him at 573-751-3222 and tell him. Tell him that you want the rule of law to prevail, and you are afraid of a pardon causing disturbances of the peace, economic disruptions and other harm. I am afraid of that, too, if such a pardon is granted  that there will be no peace, and we have seen that before too.

The NAACP of Missouri calls for no pardon and preservation of the peace even if Mike Parson wont fix our states Jim Crow justice system.

Nimrod Chapel Jr. is president of the Missouri NAACP.
NASA has announced Space Act agreements with seven private space companies in the hopes of spurring tech developments the government may invest in down the line, from space stations to human transport and robotics.

While no money is changing hands, these partnerships are official collaborations, with NASA providing expertise and resources to aid and guide companies as they attempt to "meet future commercial and government needs" in specific avenues of R&D.

"It is great to see companies invest their own capital toward innovative commercial space capabilities, and weve seen how these types of partnerships benefit both the private sector and NASA. The companies can leverage NASAs vast knowledge and experience, and the agency can be a customer for the capabilities included in the agreements in the future," said NASA's director of commercial spaceflight, Phil McAlister, in a news release.

All the research is aimed at advancing the low Earth orbit (LEO) economy, which despite our lunar ambitions in Artemis, is a much more immediately relevant area for commerce and science. With the ISS on its way out and launch costs dropping quickly, it's clear that LEO will be a competitive space across countless domains.

Here's what each of the seven companies will be working on over the next few years pursuant to these agreements:

Blue Origin : Commercial space transportation for high-frequency U.S. access to orbit

Northrop Grumman : A "persistent platform" for autonomous and robotic research and manufacturing on orbit

Sierra Space : Space transport, infrastructure, and expandable and tailorable space facilities

SpaceX : Adapting Starship as both transportation and as a "destination element" in space (i.e. a space station)

Special Aerospace Services : Orbital servicing and mobility for assembly and inspection of in-space systems

ThinkOrbital : Self-assembling, single-launch orbital platforms for research and habitation

Vast: The Haven-1 "commercial destination," a microgravity environment for research and private crewed operations

Don't expect any huge announcements on these things any time soon  the last time NASA made a pack of these deals was in 2014 and those haven't all shown up yet. It's more of a "sounds cool, call if you need a hand" kind of thing. But it's still nice to hear.
NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission crew teaser with four astronauts in spacesuits.

SLS model rocket kit

Estes NASA SLS Model Rocket

You can launch a Space Launch System of your own with this Estes NASA SLS model rocket for a 1:200 scale version of NASA's moon megarocket. Read more about it.

NASA's Artemis 2 lunar mission in 2024 will send the first astronauts around the moon in nearly 50 years. The mission will launch four astronauts around the moon on a lunar flyby aboard an Orion spacecraft using a Space Launch System rocket.

Artemis 2 is an eight day mission that will send three NASA astronauts and one Canadian Space Agency astronaut around the moon on a free-return trajectory. It is the last test flight before the Artemis 3 crewed moon landing mission in 2025.

See our complete coverage of the Artemis 1 mission below.

Meet the Artemis 2 crew | Artemis 2 explained | Latest news

NASA to announce Artemis 2 crew today

NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission crew teaser with four astronauts in spacesuits.

At long last, we're going to learn which astronauts will fly NASA's first crewed mission to the moon of the Artemis generation.

Today, April 3, NASA and the Canadian Space Agency will announce the four astronauts who will fly on the Artemis 2 mission around the moon in 2024. That crew is expected to include one Canadian astronaut and three NASA astronauts, but exactly who is yet to be revealed.

NASA will announce the crew in an event at Ellington Field near the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT). Space.com staff writer Elizabeth Howell is on scene at the event alongside contributor Robert Pearlman of collectSPACE.com.

You'll be able to watch it live on Space.com, as well as at the top of this page at start time.

While we wait, here's a nifty trailer from NASA for today's Artemis 2 crew reveal.

NASA Artemis 2 moon crew announcement underway

NASA's Artemis 2 moon astronaut crew reveal is underway live on NASA TV.

Speaking before a huge crowd at the Ellington Field in Houston, NASA's chief astronaut Joe Acaba began by inviting the entire astronaut corps to the stage.

"Your Artemis 2 astronauts are in the room with you ... I am not one of them," he said.

Canada's Prime Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne hailed the 60 year partnership of NASA + CSA and Canada's contribution of the CanadArm3 for the Gateway station around the moon: "We're going to the moon!" he cheered.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson is now preparing to introduce the crew.

Artemis 2 Moon Astronauts Revealed!

NASA's Artemis 2 moon crew are unveiled to the world, standing on a stage at Ellington Field near Johnson Space Center in Houston on April 3, 2023.

NASA chief Bill Nelson has unveiled the first astronaut crew to visit the moon in more than 50 years. They Artemis 2 crew are:

Commander Reid Wiseman, NASA

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman at a 2015 public appearance in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, speaks in front of a photograph of the moon. As NASA's new Chief of the Astronaut Office, Wiseman may select the next crews to orbit and possibly land on the moon.

Reid Wiseman, 47, spent 165 days in Earth orbit on his first mission, a 2014 flight to the ISS. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, and former fighter pilot for the U.S. Navy, he was selected for NASA's 20th astronaut class in 2009. Wiseman recently served as chief of NASA's astronaut office from 2020 to 2022.

Pilot Victor Glover, NASA

Astronaut Victor Glover Headshot_NASA

Victor Glover, 46, became a NASA astronaut in 2013. He flew as pilot of SpaceX's first operational crewed spaceflight (Crew-1) and logged 167 days on the ISS in 2021. Born in Pomona, California, he is an engineer and captain in the U.S. Navy. Glover was the first Black astronaut to serve on a space station crew.

Mission Specialist Christina Koch, NASA

August, 2019: Expedition 60 Flight Engineer Christina Koch of NASA conducts science operations for the BioFabrication Facility experiment researching the effectiveness of using 3D biological printers to produce usable human organs in microgravity.

Christina Koch, 44, was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and raised in Jacksonville, North Carolina. A member of NASA's 21st astronaut class selected in 2013, Koch set a record aboard the International Space Station for the single longest mission by a woman at 328 days. During that 2019 stay, she was also one-half of the first-ever all-female spacewalk. Koch is an engineer and former U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) station chief.

Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Canadian Space Agency

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen participates in extravehicular activity training at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory near NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Jeremy Hansen, 47, was chosen to join Canada's astronaut corps in 2009. A colonel in the Royal Canadian Air Force, he was born in London, Ontario. Though Artemis 2 will be his first time in space, Hansen served as an aquanaut aboard the Aquarius underwater lab in 2014 and took a turn as a "cavenaut" as part of the European Space Agency's CAVES astronaut training course the year prior.

Artemis 2 astronauts thrilled for moon mission

The four astronauts of NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission turn their heads while wearing spacesuits.

The four astronauts of NASA's Artemis 2 mission are thrilled, to say the least, to be on the crew that will send the first humans to the moon in more than 50 years. You can read our full story here.

Set to launch on a Space Launch System megarocket in 2024, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency will fly around the moon, much like Apollo 8, on their Orion spacecraft.

Here's what they had to say of the mission today:

Commander Reid Wiseman: "This is a global effort, Artemis 2, and it's only going to get larger with Artemis 3 and beyond as we get private spaceflight involved. SpaceX is building our lander for Artemis 3. So to the NASA workforce, to our program managers, our center directors that are here, the amazing political support that we feel right now to bring our country together to bring our entire world together to go explore to get to Mars and beyond, we say a huge thank you."

Pilot Victor Glover: "We need to celebrate this moment in human history. Because Artemis two is more than a mission to the moon and it's more than a mission that has to happen before we send people to the surface of the moon. It is the next step on the journey that gets humanity to Mars.



"Human spaceflight is like a relay race, and that baton has been passed generation to generation and from crew member to crew member from the Gemini, Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Apollo Soyuz, Skylab Mir, the shuttle, International Space Station, commercial crew and and now the Artemis missions. We understand our role in that. And when we have the privilege of having that baton. We're going to do our best to run a good race to make you proud. I pray that God will bless this mission. But I also pray that we can continue to serve as a source of inspiration for cooperation and peace, not just between nations, but in our own nation."

Mission specialist Christina Koch: "When I think about this mission, that's a relay race with international partners, it's all so awesome in and of itself.

"We are going to launch for Kennedy Space Center to the work of the exploration Ground Systems team. We're going to hear the words go for launch on top of the most powerful rocket NASA's ever made the Space Launch System, and we're gonna ride that rocket for eight minutes into Earth orbit. We're not going to go to the moon right away. We're gonna stay in an amazing high orbit, reaching a peak of tens of thousands of miles while we test out all the systems on Orion and see how it maneuvers in space. And then if everything was good, we're heading to the moon.

"It will be a four day journey, going a quarter of a million miles, continuing to test out every bit of Orion going around the far side of the moon, heading home going through the Earth's atmosphere at over 25,000 miles per hour and splashing down in the Pacific. So am I excited? Absolutely. But my real question is Are you excited? I asked that because the one thing I'm most excited about is that we are going to carry your excitement, your aspirations, your dreams with us on this mission. Artemis to your mission."

Mission specialist Jeremy Hansen: "Our scientists or engineers, the Canadian Space Agency, the Canadian Armed Forces across government, all of our leadership working together under a vision to take step by step and all of those have added up to this moment where a Canadian is going to the moon with our international partnership and it is glorious."

Artemis 2 mission benefits from Canadian winter experience

Cold weather is helping to boost the fortunes of Canada in space, including its contributions to Artemis 2.

Astronaut Jeremy Hansen will the first non-American to leave low Earth orbit, alongside three NASA crewmates, no earlier than 2024. Canadian leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau argues that Canada's winter experience is one big reason for its success in space.

Trudeau emphasized that working in Canada's north helped with numerous kinds of technology, including the Canadarm robotic arm series that has provided Canadian astronaut seats for nearly 40 years.

The Arctic in particular represents "some of the harshest environments" available to humans, and Trudeau joked that when asked about why Canada does so well in space, he responds: "Obvious. Winter."

Read more: Winter is coming: Artemis 2 moon mission gets boost from Canadian cold

Artemis 2 astronaut completes vision quest

totem pole in the foreground of a picture with cloudy sky in behind. far in the back is a lodge and cars, with a road leading to it. trees surround the scene

Artemis 2 astronaut Jeremy Hansen took this picture of a totem pole during a vision quest with the Turtle Lodge. The lodge is situated on the Indigenous lands of Sagkeeng First Nation (also known as Fort Alexander), Manitoba, Canada, on the southern tip of Lake Winnipeg. (Image credit: Jeremy Hansen/Canadian Space Agency/Twitter)

An Artemis 2 astronaut recently finished a vision quest to help prepare for his upcoming trip around the moon.

Jeremy Hansen recently participated in the four-day Indigenous rite of passage as part of Artemis 2 mission training, the Canadian Space Agency astronaut tweeted.

"I would like to express my gratitude to Anishinaabe Elder David Courchene III 'Sabe' for the gracious invitation," Hansen said of the ceremony, which took place at Turtle Lodge in Manitoba on the lands of the Sagkeeng First Nation (also known as Fort Alexander).

On Tuesday (June 13), Hansen added he has completed the ceremony and "I have a renewed appreciation for all that Mother Earth provides, especially water."

Read more: Artemis 2 astronaut goes on vision quest to prepare for moon mission

Artemis 2 astronaut plays cowboy at Calgary Stampede

artemis 2 astronaut jeremy hansen on board a horse in a flight suit. a ring is behind him

Canadian Artemis 2 moon astronaut Jeremy Hansen, partnering with his borrowed horse Cisco, pretended to be a cowboy at Canada's Calgary Stampede fair last week in the western province of Alberta.

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, who flew on the space shuttle Columbia in 1986 while a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, also visited the event. The two appeared in flight suits and cowboy hats as part of the celebration of cowboy culture, which annually draws a million participants.

Read more: Yeehaw! NASA chief and Artemis 2 moon astronaut play cowboy for a day (photo)

3 Orion spacecraft line up for their moon missions

three cone-shaped spacecraft beside each other in a big white hanger. the american flag and the logo for lockheed martin are on the wall

From left to right: The Orion spacecraft for Artemis 2, 3 and 4 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center bound for the moon. (Image credit: NASA/Marie Reed)

Three crew-carrying spacecraft are getting ready for their big moon missions.

The Orion capsules for the Artemis 2, Artemis 3 and Artemis 4 moon missions are coming together at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida under stewardship of contractor Lockheed Martin.

"The future of @NASA_Orion is looking pretty good," Lockheed officials wrote on Twitter Friday (July 14) of the three spacecraft, each of which is expected to ferry astronauts to the moon starting in late 2024 or so.

Read more: These 3 Orion spacecraft will carry Artemis astronauts to the moon (photo)
Nathan Carmans death not suspicious, being investigated as possible suicide

The Vermont man charged with killing his mother at sea during a fishing trip off New England died alone in his jail cell Thursday while awaiting his murder trial, authorities said.

The circumstances surrounding Nathan Carmans sudden death, on the eve of what was shaping up to be a blockbuster federal murder trial, officially remain murky.

Boston 25 News learned on Friday that Carmans death is being investigated as a possible suicide.

The 29-year-olds body was found unresponsive in his cell during routine rounds by the Cheshire County Jails correctional staff. Carman was alone in his cell.

The New Hampshire Attorney Generals office issued a brief statement saying, An autopsy has been performed, and the death is not considered suspicious.

Carmans attorney says hes been told Nathan left behind a note.

All of this suggests Carman took his own life, but officially that has not been determined.

Murder, mystery and money: The accusations swirling around Nathan Carman

Still, in light of Carmans death, the US Attorney in Vermont dismissed the explosive charges filed against him.

The United States received information from the U.S. Marshal that Carman died on or about June 15, 2023. Dismissal of the charges against Carman is thus appropriate, the U.S. Attorneys Office of Vermont stated in a notice informing the dismissal of an indictment charging him in the death of his mother, Linda Carman.

In the court of law, it might be a case closed for Nathan Carman. But in the court of public opinion, its a much different story. So, what happens now? Did Nathan Carman really take his secrets to the grave?

Carmans case, which attracted worldwide attention, was slated to go to trial in October.

Carman allegedly arranged a fishing trip with his mother in September 2016, during which prosecutors say he planned to kill her and report that his boat sank and his mother disappeared in the accident.

He was found floating in an inflatable raft eight days after leaving a Rhode Island marina with his mother, who was never found.

Prosecutors alleged that the killing was an elaborate scheme set up by Carman to inherit millions of dollars.

The indictment also alleged that Carman fatally shot his wealthy grandfather, John Chakalos, at his home in Windsor, Connecticut, in 2013. He was never charged in his death.

Carman's boat

Nathan and his mother Linda Carman

John Chakalos, Nathan's grandfather

Now, there will be no trial.

Boston attorney Phil Tracy says the collected evidence against Nathan Carman will likely not remain hidden forever.

There is no mechanism, no legal mechanism, to release this information now, Boston 25 Bob Ward asked Tracy.

Freedom of information act is the only mechanism I know of, Tracy said.

Also, still to be determined, is what impact Nathan Carmans likely jailhouse suicide will have on his familys fortune.

At the time of his death, Nathan Carmans aunts were legally challenging Nathans inheritance claims.

That matter remains unresolved.

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
By Sabine Siebold and Andrew Gray

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO allies may be ready to remove some hurdles from Ukraine's path to the military alliance, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Friday, a few weeks before a NATO summit that aims to bridge differences over Kyiv's accession.

"There are increasing signs that everyone will be able to agree on this," Pistorius told reporters in Brussels when asked about reports that the U.S. is open to permitting Kyiv to forgo a formal candidacy process required of some other nations in the past.

"I would be open for this," said Pistorius, speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with his NATO counterparts at the alliance's headquarters.

The Washington Post reported on Thursday that the United States is giving tentative backing to a plan that would remove barriers to Ukraine's entry into NATO without setting a timeline for its admission.

It quoted a senior U.S. official as saying Washington is "comfortable" with a proposal from NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg that would allow Kyiv to circumvent the alliance's so-called Membership Action Plan (MAP).

Since 1999, most countries aiming to join NATO have participated in this programme, which is designed to help candidates meet certain political, economic and military criteria.

By shortening the process, the U.S. hopes to bridge divisions among member nations over Kyiv's path to joining the transatlantic military alliance, the Washington Post reported.

"This is a potential landing zone in this debate," it quoted one official as saying.

However, the proposal would still require Ukraine to carry out reforms and, contrary to the wishes of Eastern European allies, it would not attach a time frame for Ukraine's accession, according to the paper.

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 that would lay out a timetable for bringing Kyiv into the alliance, something Eastern allies and Ukraine itself are pushing for.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Andrew Gray)
Abortion providers in North Carolina filed a federal lawsuit Friday that challenges several provisions of a state law banning most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy in the dwindling days before the new restrictions take effect.

Planned Parenthood South Atlantic and Dr. Beverly Gray, an OB-GYN at Duke Health, are asking a federal judge to block numerous provisions they argue are unclear and unconstitutional, or to place an injunction on the law to prevent it from being enforced.

The lawsuit in U.S. District Court comes one month after the Republican supermajority in the states General Assembly fast-tracked the law through both chambers and overrode a veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who called it an egregious, unacceptable attack on the women of our state.

He and other abortion-rights supporters have raised concerns about several provisions addressed in the complaint, including one that the plaintiffs argue could prevent providers from performing a medication abortion after 10 weeks of pregnancy, despite another provision stating its lawful through 12 weeks.

PREVIOUS STORIES

That is one example of the contradictory and confusing nature of the law, said lead attorney Brigitte Amiri, the deputy director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project.

The new restrictions are set to take effect July 1.

Republicans had pitched the 47-page proposal as a middle-ground change to an existing state law banning nearly all abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, without exceptions for rape or incest. The new law adds those exceptions, extending the limit through 20 weeks for rape and incest and through 24 weeks for life-limiting fetal anomalies, including certain physical or genetic disorders that can be diagnosed prenatally.

Channel 9 has previously reported on the new abortion law. Democrat-turned-Republican Rep. Tricia Cotham of Mecklenburg County cast one of the deciding votes in support of the bill. She previously had said she would protect womens rights to choose.

Channel 9s Genevieve Curtis asked Gov. Roy Cooper what he would do after the legislature overrode his veto.

There were a lot of arguments being made that the legislation was less restrictive than we had warned, so we are going to work very hard to make sure those arguments come true, Cooper said to Curtis.

(WATCH: Judge halts South Carolinas new stricter abortion law until state Supreme Court review)
Nearly 30 people arrested after guns, drugs found at pool party, Georgia deputies say

According to the Bibb County Sheriffs Office, apartments in Bibb County have been experiencing an issue with unauthorized pool parties and acts of vandalism, illegal drug use, and more.

Because of the reoccurring issue, the sheriffs office created Operation Safe Harbor, ran by the special response team.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

On June 14, special response team members were made aware of a large group of people at Bowman Station Apartments, at 5235 Bowman Road. It was reported that the large group was trespassing and having an unauthorized pool party.

When deputies arrived, multiple people started to run from the scene and others attempted to leave by car. Deputies were able to detain some people and discovered alcohol and drugs were being used on the property.

A total of 28 people were taken into custody and charged with criminal trespass. Two juveniles, ages 15 and 16, were detained and later released to their parents.

TRENDING STORIES:

In addition to the arrests, 15 guns were recovered. One of those guns had been reported stolen.

Deputies also impounded 16 cars and found marijuana, packaging materials, and digital scales on the scene.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
After receiving multiple reports of a bear in town, Needham police are asking residents to be on alert.

If spotted, residents should leave the bear alone and not follow it, Needham police say.

All food resources such as trash cans, dumpsters and bird feeders should also be secured.

Needhams reported bear is just one of many that have cropped up in the bay state in recent weeks. In Kingston, a homeowner came face-to-face with a bear that was lounging in his yard and eyeballing his strawberry plants. In Athol, only a pane of glass separated a hungry black bear from the inside of a home as it feasted on seeds in a hanging bird feeder.

To report sightings or to ask questions, residents call MassWildlife at 978-772-2145.

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
People who prefer to go to bed and get up later  a sleep chronotype known as being a night owl  may die early from bad habits they develop when they stay up late, according to a new study.

The increased risk of mortality associated with being a clearly evening person appears to be mainly accounted for by a larger consumption of tobacco and alcohol. This is compared to those who are clearly morning persons, said study first author Christer Hublin, a researcher from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in Helsinki, in a statement.

The study, published Friday in the journal Chronobiology International, was a follow-up to the 2002 Finnish Twin Cohort study. The new study followed nearly 24,000 twins from 1981 to 2018 in an effort to tease out the causes of health-related behaviors and disease.

When the study originally began, each twin was asked to pick one answer from the following questions: I am clearly a morning person; I am to some extent a morning person; I am clearly an evening person; or I am to some extent an evening person.

Only about 10% of the twins described themselves as definite evening people, while 33% said they somewhat preferred staying up late. Over 29% were clearly morning people, while another 27.7% described themselves as somewhat inclined to prefer mornings.

For the new study, researchers looked at death records of a subset (8,728 participants) of the original study. After adjusting the data to account for educational level, use of alcohol, smoking, the level of body mass, and sleep duration, the study found that being a night owl increased the risk of an early death by about 9% compared with morning types, who are often called early birds.

We have known for a long time that those who have an evening type preference are more likely to be heavier drinkers, have alcohol use disorder and are also more likely to use other substances including tobacco, said Dr. Bhanu Prakash Kolla, a sleep medicine specialist in the Center for Sleep Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, who was not involved in the study.

However, a 9% increased risk of early death is significant, he added, leaving room for other ways being an evening type could increase the risk of mortality.

Other possible causes that come to mind include those who are evening types will likely need to wake up early for work/school therefore end up getting less sleep and the sleep deprivation can increase risk, Kolla said in an email.

Your sleep chronotype

Everyone has an internal 24-hour body clock, or circadian rhythm, that regulates the release of the hormone melatonin to promote sleep.

Staying up later can go hand and hand with alcohol and other vices that can affect both sleep and health, experts say. - DaniloAndjus/E+/Getty Images

Your personal sleep chronotype, which is thought to be inherited, may determine when that process occurs. If youre an innate early bird, your circadian rhythm releases melatonin much earlier than the norm, energizing you to become most active in the morning.

Early birds tend to perform better in school and are more active throughout the day, which may partly explain why studies have found they have less risk of cardiovascular disease, experts say.

In night owls, however, the internal body clock secretes melatonin much later, making early mornings sluggish and pushing peak activity and alertness later into the afternoon and evening.

The jurys still out on risk

Night owls may be at higher risk for chronic disease, prior research has shown. A 2022 study found night owls were more sedentary, had lower aerobic fitness levels, and burned less fat at rest and while active than early birds.

Night owls were also more likely to be insulin-resistant, meaning their muscles required more insulin to be able to get the energy they need, the study showed.

Studies have revealed night owls may take more risks and are more likely to skip breakfast and eat more later in the day. Night owls also have higher levels of visceral body fat in the abdominal region, a key risk factor for type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Dr. Phyllis Zee, director of the Center for Circadian and Sleep Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, who reviewed the 2022 study for CNN, said at the time there is good evidence that being a late sleeper has been linked to a higher risk for metabolic and cardiovascular disease.

Several mechanisms have been proposed: sleep loss, circadian misalignment, eating later in the day and being exposed to less morning light and more evening light, which have all been shown to affect insulin sensitivity, said Zee, who is also a professor of neurology at Northwestern.

Can you alter your chronotype?

If being a night owl worries you, there are things you can do to flip the switch from night to day  at least a bit, Zee told CNN previously: Its like if you have a gene for diabetes, right? You can modify that with your lifestyle, but it doesnt change it.

First, start with light  lots of it, just as soon as the alarm goes off. Use natural sunlight if possible, or turn on artificial lights, especially those in the blue spectrum, which tells the body to wake up.

The strongest reset for the circadian system is bright light, Zee said. Light in the morning changes the oscillation of your circadian clock genes at both a cellular and molecular level. You are also training all your rhythms, whether its sleep, blood pressure, heart rate or your cortisol rhythm to be earlier.

You want to change things at night as well, Zee said, by removing bright sources of light much earlier to help your body begin to produce melatonin. That means no television, laptop or smart screens unless you use a filter that turns the blue light into the amber or reddish orange range, which doesnt suppress melatonin.

Another tip: Eat much earlier in the evening than you might prefer, Zee said: My rule: Stop eating within three hours of bedtime. Move your exercise routine to the morning or early afternoon, and avoid heavy exercise in the evening, as well.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
 Flash

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Beijing, capital of China, June 15, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]



Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Beijing on Thursday.

Calling China and Palestine good friends and partners, Li said the announcement by the two countries' leaders to establish a strategic partnership fully demonstrates China's staunch support for developing China-Palestine ties and the cause of justice for Palestinian people.

China is ready to take the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Palestine as an opportunity to work for tangible outcomes of their strategic partnership to better benefit the two peoples, Li said.

Noting cooperation in various fields between China and Palestine has witnessed steady progress, Li urged efforts by the two sides to continue firmly supporting each other, continuously promote pragmatic cooperation, speed up the negotiation of a free trade agreement, work for closer people-to-people exchanges, and constantly carry forward their traditional friendship.

China will continue to champion justice and make sustained efforts for a comprehensive, just and durable solution for the Palestinian question, Li added.

Noting Palestine sees China as a close friend, Abbas said the country appreciates China's strong support for its people's cause of justice. Palestine firmly supports China's undertaking of national reunification, and the greater role it plays in international and regional affairs.

Palestine is willing to enhance cooperation with China to jointly work for the resolution of the Palestinian question at an early date, he added.
Nine arrested over capsized migrant boat, as Greek authorities criticized for failure to respond

Nine crew members have been arrested for people smuggling after a packed vessel sank in the Mediterranean on Wednesday, killing dozens of people, as human rights campaigners accused Greek authorities of neglecting those on board.

The Greek coastguard said nine Egyptian nationals aged between 20 and 40 were also arrested on suspicion of setting up a criminal organization, manslaughter by negligence, exposure to danger, and causing a shipwreck.

The boat was traveling from the coastal city of Tobruk in Libya to Italy when it capsized off the coast of Greece. At least 78 people have died and some reports said up to 750 were on board.

Migrants rest in a temporary shelter in Kalamata on Wednesday, following a large-scale rescue operation. - Stelios Misinas/Reuters

Kassem Abozeed tried to find his wife and brother-in-law in Kalamata, revealing the human cost of the tragedy. - Elinda Labropoulou/CNN

Coastguard officials told CNN the arrests were made after two days of interrogations at the southern Greek port city of Kalamata, where 104 shipwreck survivors were temporarily being sheltered. Of those survivors, 71 arrived at a registration facility outside Athens on Friday.

Authorities said they cross-referenced survivors testimonies to determine the exact role of the nine arrested. They are expected to appear before a local magistrate on Monday.

Horrible and systematic pushback campaign

Scenes of relatives descending on Kalamata in their desperate search for loved ones reignited the heated debate on Europes migrant crisis, a political lightning rod that NGOs say is exacerbated by the lack of safe and legal routes available for refugees.

The NGO Alarm Phone denounced the Greek response to the tragedy, alleging that authorities failed to acknowledge an earlier alert that the vessel was in danger. It characterized the horrible and systematic pushback practices carried out by Greek authorities, accusing them of violently deterring people on the move.

Pushbacks are state measures aimed at forcing refugees and migrants out of their territory, while impeding access to legal and procedural frameworks, according to the Berlin-based European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR).

A CNN investigation in 2020 revealed allegations of an illegal pushback campaign by Athens against migrants and asylum seekers reaching Greek shores. The Greek Migration Ministry denied the claims.

Alarm Phone has released emails showing it contacted Greek authorities on Tuesday late afternoon local time regarding the boat in distress.

The email appears to have been sent directly to Greek authorities, including the Hellenic Coast Guard, Hellenic Police Headquarters and Greeces Ministry of Civil Protection.

The email also appears to have been sent to the United Nations Refugees Agency (UNHCR), NATO, the office of the Greek Ombudsman and the European border patrol agency Frontex, as well as the UNHCR country offices in both Greece and Turkey.

A UNHCR spokesperson confirmed to CNN that it received the email from Alarm Phone on Tuesday evening and said that the UN agency asked Greek authorities to take action.

A separate email, which Alarm Phone shared with CNN, appears to show Frontex confirming receipt of Alarm Phones SOS email on Tuesday afternoon.

The Greek coast guard said in a press release it repeatedly asked the boat if it needed assistance and that the agency was told it did not.

Greek authorities also said they could not intervene with the boat without being asked for assistance, as the boat was in international waters.

A huge search-and-rescue operation continued on Friday but no survivors have been found since its initial phase early on Wednesday.

Greek coastguard spokesperson Nikos Alexiou told CNN the chances of retrieving the sunken vessel are next to non-existent because the area of international waters where the incident took place is one of the deepest in the Mediterranean.

The people rescued include Egyptians, Syrians, Pakistanis and Palestinians. Eight are minors.

None of the survivors were women but witness accounts say there were many women and children on board, traveling in the ships hold.

Workers transfer body bags carrying migrants who died after their boat capsized off Greece, on June 15. - Stelios Misinas/Reuters

Impossible life-threatening choices

Questions are now being asked as to whether the tragic incident could have been avoided, with many international bodies saying the international community should collaborate on more safe pathways for migrants.

The Mediterranean region near Greece is a key route for migrants and refugees trying to escape political strife in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

The number of undocumented people emerging on European shores has spiraled this year due to conflict, global inequality and the climate crisis.

The Central Mediterranean remains the main migratory route into the European Union, with the highest number of irregular border crossings recorded since 2017, according to recent figures from Frontex.

Irregular entries refer to the process of traveling across borders without adhering to the necessary requirements for legal entry, according to the European Commission.

In the first five months of this year, detections of irregular border crossings along the route more than doubled compared to the same period in 2022, Frontex said. National authorities reported more than 50,300 detections from January to May, accounting for nearly half of all irregular entries into the EU in 2023.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UNs refugee agency stressed that search and rescue at sea is a legal and humanitarian imperative and welcomed an investigation ordered in Greece into what happened.

Both agencies called Wednesdays boat disaster the worst in several years.

We need more safe pathways for people forced to flee, the UNHCR office in Greece tweeted on Wednesday. They should not be left with impossible life-threatening choices.

Kalamata residents, pictured on Thursday, take to the streets to protest government polices against migration. - Byron Smith/Getty Images

On Thursday evening, groups pledging solidarity with migrants marched outside the port of Kalamata and in Greeces two major cities, Athens and Thessaloniki.

The countrys caretaker government has called three days of national mourning and political leaders have temporarily suspended electoral campaigns, before fresh elections are held on June 25. A national vote in May was inconclusive.

Greeces former center-right government has faced international criticism over its hardline stance on migration. In a May interview with CNNs Christiane Amanpour, former Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis described his migration policy as tough but fair.

Mitsotakis party won a resounding victory in the May election with 40% of the vote but did not secure a big enough majority to govern alone.

His main opponent, Alexis Tsipras, whose center-left party Syriza is trailing heavily in the polls, visited Kalamata Thursday criticizing the former government and EU migration policy. Its a policy that has turned the Mediterranean into a watery grave, he said.

CNNs Elinda Labropoulou reported from Kalamata, Greece. CNNs Sana Noor Haq wrote from London. CNNs Sharon Braithwaite contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
No new questioning of JPMorgan CEO Dimon in Epstein case -US judge

By Jonathan Stempel

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Jamie Dimon, the chief executive of JPMorgan Chase, will not have to sit for a second deposition in the U.S. Virgin Islands' lawsuit over the bank's work for Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and sex offender.

U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan on Friday denied "in its entirety" the U.S. Virgin Islands' request to again have Dimon and another JPMorgan employee testify under oath.

The territory, where Epstein owned two neighboring islands, is seeking damages from JPMorgan for allegedly ignoring Epstein's sexual abuses and letting him set up a sex trafficking operation there.

Epstein was a JPMorgan client from 1998 until the bank terminated him in 2013. He died of an apparent suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019, one month after being arrested on sex trafficking charges.

JPMorgan declined to comment.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Virgin Islands said the territory is confident it has "more than sufficient" evidence to show JPMorgan "facilitated and concealed Jeffrey Epsteins heinous crimes in violation of the law."

The bank has said Dimon was "crystal clear" in his May 26 deposition that he knew nothing about Epstein's sexual abuse of young women and teenage girls while Epstein was a client.

Dimon said he did not recall discussing Epstein's accounts at the time, and had barely heard of Epstein until his July 2019 arrest.

On June 12, JPMorgan agreed in principle to pay $290 million to settle a class-action lawsuit by dozens of women who said Epstein sexually abused them.

The bank is suing former executive Jes Staley, a onetime Epstein friend and later Barclays' chief executive, to cover losses in both lawsuits for allegedly concealing what he knew about Epstein's crimes.

Staley has denied wrongdoing. An Oct. 23 trial is scheduled.

The case is U.S. Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank NA, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 22-10904.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
FILE - Democratic North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper speaks to The Associated Press in a year-end interview at the Executive Mansion in Raleigh, N.C., Dec. 14, 2022. On Friday, June 16, 2023, Cooper vetoed GOP legislation that would ban the promotion of certain beliefs that some lawmakers have likened to critical race theory in state government workplaces. (AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed GOP legislation on Friday that would ban the promotion of certain beliefs that some lawmakers have likened to critical race theory in state government workplaces.

The move sets up a likely veto override showdown with the General Assembly's Republican supermajority, which initially passed the measure by veto-proof margins in both chambers. While Cooper has used his bully pulpit to rally voters against the most controversial GOP bills passed this session, he has been unable to successfully block any this year.

Starting Dec. 1, anyone entering a state government workplace, such as a private contractor or a diversity trainer, would be prohibited by the bill from compelling employees to believe they should feel guilty or responsible for past actions committed by people of the same race or sex.

Cooper denounced the bill Friday as an attempt to suppress productive workplace discussions related to diversity, equity and inclusion. He criticized the Republican caucus for pretending that bias and racism dont exist when two of their members recently lost leadership positions over comments directed at Black colleagues.

In North Carolina, the diversity of our people is a strength, Cooper said in a statement. This legislation attempts to eliminate training that can help us understand the unconscious bias we all bring to our work and our communities.

The bill would also prohibit hiring managers for state agencies, community colleges and the University of North Carolina system from compelling a job applicant to opine about their personal or political beliefs as a condition of employment.

Emails seeking comment were sent Friday to the offices of Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore.

Critical race theory is an academic framework dating to the 1970s that centers on the idea that racism is systemic in the nations institutions and that those institutions maintain the dominance of white people.

The theory is a way of analyzing American history through the lens of racism but has become a catch-all political buzzword for some conservatives who take issue with how schools and other public institutions have addressed diversity and inclusion.
Number of victims in Kyiv Oblast rises to 6: elderly woman injured, teenager saved himself in basement

As a result of the Russian missile and drone attack in Kyiv Oblast on 16 June, six people were injured, including a child and an elderly woman.

Source: Ruslan Kravchenko, Head of Kyiv Oblast Military Administration, and Andrii Niebytov, Head of the National Police in Kyiv Oblast; photos and videos by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine

Quote: "This time the enemy attacked the oblast with missiles and UAVs. Thanks to the professional work of our defenders, all targets were shot down!

Unfortunately, as a result of falling debris in one of the settlements of the oblast, six people were injured, including one child.

One of the victims is a driver who was injured while delivering bread. Everyone is provided with the necessary medical care."

Details: One of the victims in the Vyshhorod district, as previously reported, is an 82-year-old woman who was hit by a shock wave.

Niebytov said that during the Russian aerial attack, Roma, a 13-year-old boy, immediately went into the basement and survived, while the debris of a missile destroyed the roof, damaged the walls and broke the windows in his house.

According to Kravchenko, three private houses were destroyed in the oblast; 13 houses need major repairs; another 15 houses and two outbuildings have minor damage.

The head of the Oblast Military Administration promised to help all the affected homeowners.

As a result of falling debris, a fire broke out in a forest and grass bedding. All fires have been promptly contained.

Emergency services continue to work on the ground. Information on the damage caused is being specified. People are provided with the necessary help.

Background: People were injured and private homes were damaged in Kyiv Oblast as a result of a Russian missile strike on 16 June.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Hundreds of nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin plan to strike June 27 over claims of a prolonged staffing crisis and dismissive conduct by hospital administrators during monthslong contract negotiations

Hundreds of nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin plan to strike June 27 over claims of a prolonged staffing crisis and dismissive conduct by hospital administrators during monthslong contract negotiations.

The nurses union, National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United, announced the strike Thursday, weeks after members of the union voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike. The union has said it will be the largest nurses strike in Texas history.

The American-Statesman reported this month that the strike is expected to last one day and bring awareness to what nurses at the hospital have said are unsafe working conditions. Matthew Clark, a nurse at Ascension Seton, told the Statesman in early June that every department at the hospital was experiencing severe staffing issues, which forced nurses to work long hours and jeopardized patient care.

Hundreds of nurses at Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin plan to strike June 27 over claims of a prolonged staffing crisis and dismissive conduct by hospital administrators during months long contract negotiations

Nurses union: Austin hospital employees planning largest nurses strike in Texas history

"The staffing issues within the hospital are pretty rampant. I quite frankly don't know of a single unit that isn't impacted by short staffing conditions," Clark said this month. "We know our patients deserve better, and we know Ascension has the resources necessary to be able to provide better care for our patients."

Ascension, which owns Seton Medical Center Austin, is a nonprofit Catholic health system. It is one of the largest hospital systems in the country, operating more than 2,600 care facilities, including 139 hospitals in 19 states.

It's unclear how patients will be cared for during the strike. Clark said that nurses leaving their post for a day is not an act of negligence in patient care but is necessary to improve care long term.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin nurses planning June 27 strike over staffing, safety concerns
[Source]

Civil rights lawyer Nusrat Choudhury made history on Thursday when the U.S. Senate appointed her as a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Making history: Choudhury, a legal director with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Illinois, became the first Bangladeshi American and first female Muslim federal judge in the United States when she narrowly won the seat with 50-49 votes.

Choudhury is the second Muslim American to serve as a federal judge in U.S. history following Zahid Quraishi, a U.S. District Judge for the District of New Jersey.

Judicial nominees: Choudhury was among the eight extraordinarily qualified and experienced individuals President Joe Biden nominated in January 2022.

More from NextShark: Thai Buddhist monk to charitably donate $500,000-plus fortune he won from a lottery

She is replacing Judge Joseph Bianco, whom George W. Bush appointed on Jan. 3, 2006, and was later moved to the Second Circuit by the Trump administration in 2019.

About the federal judge: A 1998 graduate of Columbia University, Choudhury obtained her Master of Public Administration from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs in 2006 and her Juris Doctorate degree from Yale Law School that same year.

Past work: A former deputy director of the ACLU in New York's Racial Justice Program from 2018 to 2020, Choudhury served as the nonprofit organizations legal director in Illinois before her nomination.

More from NextShark: Japanese Swimmer, Cancer Survivor Qualifies for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

ACLU response: Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the ACLU, congratulated Choudhury in a statement published on Thursday, noting that her recent achievement is an exclamation point on her long track record of protecting civil liberties and civil rights and referring to her as a trailblazing civil rights lawyer with a remarkable record of advancing equal justice for all in our nation.

Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark!

S. Korean prosecutors confirm team traveled to Serbia in hunt for crypto fugitive Do Kwon

Korean Beauty Store Employee Attacked for Asking Customer to Wear a Face Mask
Jordan Williams, 20, a New York man charged with manslaughter after he fatally stabbed a rider who was harassing others and who had punched his girlfriend, speaking with his attorney (screengrab/ABC7)

A man accused of fatally stabbing a New York City subway rider who had been reportedly harassing passengers has now been charged with manslaughter.

The incident occurred Tuesday evening on a northbound J train prior to its arrival at Marcy Avenue and Broadway, according to the NYPD.

Devictor Ouedraogo, 36, had reportedly been harassing people, acting belligerent, erratic, getting into people's faces. A video reported by the New York Daily News taken by an individual on the train shows a shirtless Ouedraogo acting drunk and even gyrating in a man's face when the passenger refuses to acknowledge him.

Eventually Ouedraogo turned his focus toward Jordan Williams, 20, of Queens.

Ouedraogo was reportedly talking about white power and asked Mr Williams girlfriend  who has thus far remained unnamed  if she wanted to have sex with him.

It's unclear how events escalated, but a source speaking with NBC News New York said that Ouedraogo eventually punched Mr Williams' girlfriend.

At some point the situation escalated further and Mr Williams allegedly stabbed Mr Ouedraogo in the chest.

Police transported the man to New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital to treat the stab wound. He was ultimately pronounced dead at the hospital, according to police.

Mr Williams was arrested and charged with manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon on Wednesday, according to the NYPD.

A witness claims Mr Williams said I just stabbed that n*****. You see him leaking? according to the Daily News.

The attorney representing Mr Williams said his client was acting in self-defence, and called it "upsetting" that he was charged without a thorough investigation.

"We understand that this was a packed subway car during rush hour with dozens of witnesses. We have spoken with some who have already confirmed that the victim was physically violent with others prior to and during this incident," Jason Goldman, Mr Williams' attorney, said.

Mr Goldman expressed frustration that his client was not receiving the same treatment that Daniel Penny, who allegedly killed Jordan Neely after the latter reportedly had been harassing passengers. Mr Penny was questioned and then released for the duration of the police investigation into Neely's death. Mr Williams, who is Black, was kept in custody.

"Is Mr. Williams not getting the same treatment that Mr. Penny received  released, voluntary surrender, and low bail  because his skin color is different and he comes from a particular neighborhood?" Mr Goldman asked. "Instead, those very factors will likely result in Mr. Williams, a young boy, fighting this case of clear self-defense from a cage at Rikers," he said, referring to the city's largest jail.

On Thursday morning Mr Williams was released from custody without bond but on the condition that he remains supervised by authorities.
FILE - This image released by the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol shows Kellye SoRelle, general counsel for the antigovernment group Oath Keepers, during a deposition displayed at a hearing by the committee on July 12, 2022, on Capitol Hill in Washington. SoRelle's trial will be delayed so she can get treatment she needs to be mentally competent to stand trial, a judge decided Friday, June 16, 2023. SoRelle is charged with conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol, but experts for the prosecution and defense found she is not competent for a trial that had been set for July. (House Select Committee via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

WASHINGTON (AP)  The trial of a lawyer for the far-right Oath Keepers extremist group will be delayed so she can get treatment she needs to be mentally competent to stand trial, a judge decided Friday.

Kellye SoRelle is charged with conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the U.S. Capitol, but experts for the prosecution and defense found she is not competent for a trial that had been set for July. Those evaluations predicted that three to four months of treatment can restore her to competency, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said.

She has pleaded not guilty and been free pending trial in Texas. Defense attorney Horatio Aldredge agreed an in-patient treatment program will be required once a spot becomes available. Attorneys did not disclose details of her condition, and Aldredge's office declined additional comment on her behalf.

SoRelle, who served as general counsel for the antigovernment group, was photographed with leader Stewart Rhodes outside the Capitol on Jan. 6 and was present at an underground garage meeting the night before.

Rhodes has been convicted of seditious conspiracy and other charges and was sentenced last month to 18 years in prison, the longest term yet in the riot. The garage meeting included Rhodes and Enrique Tarrio, the former chairman of the Proud Boys, who was also recently convicted of seditious conspiracy.

SoRelle is also charged with obstruction of an official proceeding, obstruction of justice for tampering with documents and a misdemeanor charge for entering Capitol grounds.
Photograph: Quinn Glabicki/Reuters

Barack Obama has criticized two Republican presidential hopefuls, the South Carolina senator Tim Scott and the former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, over their stances on race relations in America.

In a podcast interview, Obama, who became the first Black US president when he was elected in 2008, said that while presenting a hopeful message on race relations was important, that has to be undergirded with an honest accounting of our past and our present.

Related: The exact opposite of Donald Trump: Republican senator Tim Scotts vision for America

Scott is the only Black candidate in the 2024 Republican presidential primary race and Haley is Indian American.

Asked about Scotts messaging, Obama said there was sometimes a tendency among Republican candidates to gloss over the effects of racism, arguing that candidates need to address racial disparities to be taken seriously on the subject of American unity.

Theres a long history of African American or other minority candidates within the Republican party who will validate America and say, Everythings great, and we can make it, Obama told the Democratic strategist David Axelrod on the CNN-hosted Axe Files. He added that he thought Nikki Haley has a similar approach.

Obama said that approach does not include a plan for how do we address crippling generational poverty that is a consequence of hundreds of years of racism in this society, and we need to do something about that.

If that candidate is not willing to acknowledge that, again and again, weve seen discrimination in everything from  getting a job to buying a house to how the criminal justice system operates, he added.

That prompted a pushback from Scott, a former insurance agent, who has said Racism is real. It is alive, but argues that his success as a Black man is not exceptional but representative of progress.

Scott responded to Obamas comments, telling the conservative radio host Mark Levin that the president had missed a softball moving at slow speed with a big bat.

In a Twitter post later on Thursday, Scott said: Let us not forget we are a land of opportunity, not a land of oppression. Democrats deny our progress to protect their power, he wrote. The left wants you to believe faith in America is a fraud and progress in our nation is a myth.

The truth of MY life disproves the lies of the radical left, Scott continued. We live in a country where little Black and brown boys and girls can be president of the United States. The truth is  weve had one and the good news is  we will have another, he added.

Separately, Nikki Haley took issue with Obamas position.

Barack Obama set minorities back by singling them out as victims instead of empowering them, Haley told the New York Post. In America, hard work and personal responsibility matter. My parents didnt raise me to think that I would forever be a victim. They raised me to know that I was responsible for my success.
Dampened expectations hover over Blinken's visit

08:21, June 16, 2023 By ZHAO HUANXIN in Washington ( Chinadaily.com.cn

Relations: 'Constructive diplomacy' is paramount, expert says

The playing down of expectations by the United States of any breakthrough from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's upcoming visit to Beijing reflects its domestic politics and the tensions between the two nations, which need to be eased, according to China observers.

"This is not a visit in which I would anticipate a long list of deliverables coming out of it," Daniel Kritenbrink, the US State Department's top diplomat for East Asia, told reporters on Wednesday, a few days before Blinken's visit to China, which is scheduled to start on Sunday.

"This is a really critical series of engagements that we'll have in Beijing at a crucial time in the relationship that we again hope will, at a minimum, reduce the risk of miscalculation so that we do not veer into potential conflict," he said.

Blinken will be the first US secretary of state to travel to China since a brief visit in October 2018 by his Republican predecessor Mike Pompeo.

The top US diplomat's trip is the first high-level follow-up to the in-person meeting between President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden in Bali, Indonesia, in November, when they agreed to revive communications, ramp up practical cooperation and put relations on the right course.

Gary Hufbauer, a senior fellow and trade expert at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, said that sooner is better for the rescheduled trip, as "otherwise, China hawks, such as Congressman Mike Gallagher (who chairs a new US congressional committee on China), completely dominate the news cycle with respect to US-China relations".

White House Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell said that Washington has pursued an approach to Beijing that is competitive without veering into confrontation or conflict, and "intense competition requires intense diplomacy if we're going to manage tensions".

Beijing has said it does not shy away from competition, but opposes featuring competition predominantly in bilateral relations, or defining the relations as a competition.

Ahead of Blinken's planned trip, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang said in a phone call with him on Wednesday that the US should "stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and stop harming China's sovereignty, security and development interests in the name of competition".

Hufbauer, the Peterson Institute trade expert, added: "Bilateral competition is inevitable, but it's not inevitable for the US to stress competition in every announcement. Instead, official declarations should stress areas where cooperation is possible."

Blinken's visit to Beijing appears to reflect nothing more than a reaffirmation of a principle that the US has sought to put "a floor" on the relationship  hopefully limiting further damage to the deeply troubled relations, according to Stephen Roach, a senior fellow at the Paul Tsai China Center of Yale Law School.

While doing the minimum is better than nothing at all, it falls well short of the more ambitious agenda that would be required for meaningful and sustained conflict resolution, said the former Morgan Stanley Asia chairman.

"In light of a new round of sanctions and looming restrictions on US investment in Chinese technologies, it is hard to be optimistic that Blinken's long-awaited visit is much of a breakthrough," Roach, author of the book Accidental Conflict: America, China, and the Clash of False Narratives, told China Daily on Wednesday.

"But it certainly beats the alternative of an increasingly worrisome conflict," he added.

In an earlier interview, Roach said he did not expect "any meaningful progress" to arise out of the Blinken trip, as "too much damage has been done in recent weeks and months on the technology front to merit much optimism".

For Roach, the fixation on wordsmanship  that is, splitting hairs between competition and frictions, or between de-risking and decoupling  is only the latest example of the classic "diplomatic doublespeak" that has failed repeatedly to prevent an escalation in US-China tensions.

"We can and must do better than that," he said.

At a time when bilateral relations have reached their lowest point since they were formally established in 1979, the first step in stabilizing relations is "getting back to Bali", according to Graham Allison, the Douglas Dillon professor of government at Harvard University.

This means reviving the high-level dialogue established by the two presidents, who have made a list of actions the two sides could jointly take  in areas such as climate change, public health, agriculture and food security  to reverse this downward trend, Allison wrote in an opinion piece on Wednesday.

Michael Swaine, a senior East Asia Fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said that Blinken's travel is "the latest, welcome effort by Washington to inject stability into a dangerously fraught US-China relationship".

"If Washington and Beijing truly seek to avoid a disastrous conflict, constructive diplomacy designed to stabilize their bilateral relationship is paramount," Swaine wrote in a commentary titled "Stabilize US-China relations  before a 'near miss' turns into a crisis", which was published on Wednesday.

Blinken first visited China in 1996, when he was a member of the National Security Council staff in the administration of then US president Bill Clinton.

He also traveled to Beijing in 2015 as deputy secretary of state under then US president Barack Obama.

Since becoming Biden's top diplomat in January 2021, Blinken has pushed for a threefold China strategy of "invest, align, compete", branding the world's second-largest economy as "the most serious long-term challenge", a categorization that Beijing says is derived from grave misperceptions.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
 Flash

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang meets with Antigua and Barbuda's Foreign Minister Chet Greene, who came to Beijing to attend the Forum on Global Human Rights Governance and to pay a visit to China, in Beijing, capital of China, June 15, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Thursday met with Antigua and Barbuda's Foreign Minister Chet Greene in Beijing.

"Antigua and Barbuda is China's reliable friend and partner in the Caribbean," Qin said. He noted that the two sides have always shared understanding and supported each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns, setting a good example of countries of different sizes treating each other with mutual respect, and pursuing equity, mutual benefits and common development.

The Chinese side welcomes Antigua and Barbuda to participate in the Global Security Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, which were proposed by China, Qin added.

Greene, who came to Beijing to attend the Forum on Global Human Rights Governance and to pay a visit to China, said Antigua and Barbuda attaches great importance to developing relations with China and firmly upholds the one-China principle. He also expressed willingness to strengthen practical cooperation with China in the fields of infrastructure, economy and trade, agriculture, environmental protection and water resources.

The two sides expressed concern over Japan's pushing through of the disposal of its nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean.
The Russian occupiers set up a torture chamber on the territory of the school in the village of Velyki Kopani, Kherson Oblast, where the pro-Ukrainian population is kept in inhumane conditions.

Source: General Staff

Quote: "On the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, there are cases of violent kidnapping of the pro-Ukrainian population, as well as construction of new torture camps for their detention.

In particular, Russian terrorists set up one of these torture chambers on the grounds of a secondary school in the village of Velyki Kopani, Kherson Oblast."

Details: It is reported that units of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation are conducting interrogations in the school gym.

The occupiers keep the detained people in harsh, inhumane conditions, and torture them.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Occupiers deploy troops from second defence line in south  Armed Forces of Ukraine

The Russian occupiers in the first defence line are deploying their troops from the second defence line in some areas.

Source: United Press Centre of the Defence Forces on the Tavriia front, referring to Valerii Shershen, spokesperson for the Defence Forces on the Tavriia front

Quote: "The Russians have created engineering defence fencing, and every metre of liberated territory is difficult to gain.

The Russian occupying troops in the south are fighting back fiercely and are deploying the reserves from the second defence line to the first defence line.

Details: He added that the Defence Forces of Ukraine continue to conduct offensive actions and strengthen their positions on gained lines, mainly on the Melitopol, Berdiansk and Mariupol fronts: "Here our counterattacks and actions on the flanks of counterattacks are being conducted in the separate areas of the front."

Shershen added that the Defence Forces have advanced from 200 metres to a kilometre on the Tavriia front.

In the last 24 hours, more than four companies of the Russian occupying forces were killed and injured.

Background:

In April, UK intelligence reported that Russian forces had built three defence lines along a 120-km stretch in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

According to the UK Defence Ministry, since the summer of 2022, Russia has built one of the largest systems of military defence seen in many decades. These defences are located not only near the current frontline but also deep inside the territories currently controlled by Russia.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Ohio man charged with murder after 3 young sons found shot, surviving daughter screaming her father was 'killing everyone'

Ohio man charged with murder after 3 young sons found shot, surviving daughter screaming her father was 'killing everyone'

An Ohio man has been charged with murder after his three young sons were shot and a young girl was seen running in the street screaming her father was killing everyone, authorities say.

Chad Doerman, 32, has been charged with three counts of aggravated murder after deputies found him at the scene of the triple homicide Thursday, the Clermont County Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

He allegedly lined up his three young sons, aged 3, 4 and 7, and "executed" them with a rifle in a planned attack, a prosecutor said at his bond hearing Friday.

Chad Doerman is charged with aggravated murder. (WLWT)

Dispatch had received two alarming calls Thursday just after 4 p.m.: One from a woman yelling her babies had been shot and another from a person driving who reported seeing a girl running down the road stating that her father was killing everyone, the release said.

When deputies responded to a home in the 1900 block of Laurel Lindale Road in Monroe Township, about 25 miles southwest of Cincinnati, they found Doerman sitting on a step outside the home.

The three young brothers were found shot and unresponsive in the homes yard, authorities said.

Paramedics performed life saving measures, but the boys died at the scene.

The mother of the boys, 34, was shot in the hand. She was found outside of the home and was transported to University Hospital in Cincinnati for the non-life-threatening injury.

Clermont County Sheriff Robert Leahy broke the news of her sons' deaths to her at the hospital, the release said.

Doerman was detained at the home without incident and was interviewed by detectives. He was transported to Clermont County Jail and is being held without bond.

Authorities said there were no signs of forced entry in the home and the sheriffs office wasnt searching for another suspects.

It's not clear what precipitated the shooting and the investigation is ongoing.

Doerman appeared visibly emotional during his Friday arraignment, where he wore a green bullet proof vest and cried as prosecutors described the horror that unfolded Thursday.

David Gast, with the Clermont County Prosecutors Office, said Doerman planned out the events.

In an act of just incomprehensible cruelty the father that stands before you lined up his three young boys and he executed them in his own home with a rifle, Gast said.

Gast said that the mother of the boys grabbed the gun at one point in an effort to protect the children.

We know that one of the boys was able to flee into a field near the home and again we know from his admission, (the) father hunted that boy down, drug him back to the property, and executed him in front of witnesses, Gast added.

Court documents viewed by NBC affiliate WLWT of Cincinnati said Doerman confessed to planning and carrying out the deaths of the victims for several months.

His bond was set at $20 million, which prosecutors said was the highest theyve ever asked for.

A preliminary hearing has been set for June 26. It's not immediately clear if he has a lawyer.

The New Richmond School District Superintendent shared a statement on social media Thursday writing: Our hearts are once again broken tonight as we yet again ask the community to life up those affected by this horrific incident.

The district said grief counselors would be available at Monroe Elementary School.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Olena Zelenska receives international award for her contribution to protection of mental health of Ukrainians

Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine, received the award for Leadership in the field of health and human rights.

In particular, she was commended for the fact that more than 60,000 specialists have undergone specialised training, according to the International organisation HealthRight International.

"Mrs Zelenska is making an effort to overcome mental health stigma, advocating for policy change and funding to reduce mental health barriers, and playing a key role in the creation and development of the National Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Programme," HealthRight noted.

The organisation adds that during 2022 over 60,000 specialists underwent various forms of training within the framework of the Olena Zelenska programme.

"Among them are the preparation of trainers in the Self-help Plus course on stress management from the World Health Organisation and the training course for first psychological aid to participants in the educational process during and after the end of hostilities," the international organisation says.

Halyna Skipalska, Director of the HealthRight Representative Office in Ukraine, notes that thanks to this, the mental health care system throughout Ukraine forms a new, high-quality level of mental health services and expands the opportunities for every Ukrainian to access them.

Peter Navario, CEO of HealthRight, passed the award to the First Lady through the Consul General of Ukraine in New York, Oleksii Kolobov.

Peter Navario awards the prize to the First Lady through the Consul General of Ukraine in New York, Oleksii Kolobov

Among the winners in 2023 were:

Deloitte, which provided free consulting services during 2022-2023.

The Gordon Derner School of Psychology at Adelphi University, which has joined the training of young psychologists to provide the necessary services to asylum seekers in three states in the United States.

Every year, HealthRight International recognizes individuals and organisations for their outstanding contribution to global public health by increasing the access of vulnerable populations to quality health services.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
No daughter or son really knows their Korean father. The father nourishes his child by working and providing for the family. This is how it was with me and my appa until one conversation about donuts changed everything I knew about this man who was so stoic and distant.

My dad used gesturing hand motions and overly expressive facial cues to communicate without words. He said English just didnt want to come out of his mouth no matter how hard he tried. I know my parents worked hard to make a living for me and my sister. But what I never thought about in those years was how lonely they must have felt. There was a reason for his distance from his own family: He had to find a way to be distant with himself. How do you get close to someone when you arent even comfortable in your own skin?

My appa worked in a factory in Michigan starting in 1988, after we immigrated to the U.S. from South Korea when he was 37 years old. The factory was a kind of windowless prison, closed to the outside world. There, his body became trained to perform monotonous tasks, with each movement further and further removed from being human. Within those dark, cold walls came forced laughter and chitchat to get through each long day.

It wasnt until recently that Appa would speak of those times in snapshots, often out of nowhere. One of these occasions was Thanksgiving dinner in 2021, when Appa told a story that changed me.

I know my parents worked hard to make a living for me and my sister. But what I never thought about in those years was how lonely they must have felt.

Appa had been working at the factory for about seven years, and over time he and some co-workers became friends. One day a friend brought in a box of donuts  an American staple. The donuts, a mixture of frosted, glazed and sprinkled, were placed on a steel table in the middle of a common workspace. Without hesitation, Appa grabbed one and offered it to the co-worker next to him, and then grabbed one for himself. The room went silent; suddenly, all eyes were on Appa. He quickly learned that the donuts were not for the community, but only for a select group who had already paid for them.

Another employee bluntly told Appa that the donut was not his to take, but after noticing how genuinely confused Appa was, he said to just have it anyway. Because my dad couldnt speak English, he couldnt explain himself. With eyes cast down and red cheeks, Appa bowed and reached into his pocket for some loose change, insistent on paying for the food that was not rightfully his. He choked down his donut and worked in silence for the rest of the day. He could hear whispers from others. What bothered him the most was being seen as a moocher or being accused of stealing.

I held back tears as I listened to Appa share this story. I knew exactly why he took the donuts without a second thought.

Appa was proud to be Korean. In Korean culture, when people bring something to the workplace (usually food), it is intended for everyone. Koreans belong to each other as much as you belong to yourself. This interconnected mindset was something he truly believed in. It can feel like a burden at times, and it can be the thing that saves you. Appa had offered a donut to a co-worker because thats in his Korean nature  to share. And he had taken one for himself to enjoy the gifts from others together.

My appa was the kind of man who would go out of his way to help a neighbor he didnt even know; hed never go to a friends house empty-handed, because this is the Korean way. Appa would have been the one to bring in donuts for everyone next time. But that next time never came.

My appa was the kind of man who would go out of his way to help a neighbor he didn't even know; hed never go to a friends house empty-handed, because this is the Korean way.

As I listened to his story come to a close, Appa asserted that what hed done was not wrong, and how his co-worker had responded wasnt wrong either. Appas calm conviction told me that hed made peace with the situation and many other incidents I may never know. He came to understand that no matter how long he was in America, he would always be Korean first.

What I also noticed on that Thanksgiving Day is how my mother, my umma, responded to this story, which she had heard before. She didnt flinch one bit. She, too, had made peace with what was unsolvable and undeniable.

That evening, with full bellies from a very American holiday dinner, we had cut fruit for dessert in silence. It was not a cold silence, but one that wrapped us up in warmth for each other and all the untold stories of separation and reconciliation that needed a place to go.

For more than 30 years, my appas distant nature was a mystery to me. Yes, I am sure personality had something to do with it. I also believe immigration had a lot to do with how much he held back. That trauma never left his body.

Ive never liked donuts  theyre too sweet for my taste buds  but the American lesson my appa learned in that moment at the factory leaves a bitterness in my heart that no sweetness could melt away.

My appa had loved me, loved us, all along but I never knew. He had protected me from his stories all those years. I am not sure what it meant for him to share this memory with his family. What I hope is that he felt a sense of release, for his voice to be heard, for his story to be told without misunderstanding.

Sometimes, love is about protection  long enduring pain that you dont want your children to see. Love is protecting them from the world that misunderstands, a world that wants to erase you. And you want to love and to protect as long as you are able.

Related...
Opinion: Democrats and Republicans met to subvert a third party option. So much for caring about what voters want

Donald Trump and Joe Biden participate in the first 2020 presidential debate in Cleveland. (Win McNamee / Getty Images)

This week, it was reported that a group of leading Democratic strategists and former officials  including President Bidens former chief of staff  met recently with anti-Trump Republicans to hatch a plan to subvert a third option for the 2024 presidential race from the group No Labels, which I lead.

To be clear, this was not a meeting about how to beat No Labels on the merits (which we would welcome). Rather, it was a meeting about how to find and exploit legal technicalities, silence supporters interested in our approach and raise money for a campaign against us.

This collusion between leading members of the two parties is, in truth, not all that surprising. It proves what many of us have been saying for years: that instead of working together to solve actual problems, these leaders and operatives are aligned only when it comes to protecting their duopoly in a bitterly polarized country.

Read more: Calmes: If the GOP candidates won't take on Trump, why run at all?

But Americans want to see more choices. A record number of voters are now abandoning the two parties in search of a better option. The percentage who identify as independent is now equal to the percentage of Republicans and Democrats combined. So why arent independents already gaining power? Because no independent candidate has proved capable of organizing and building the infrastructure required to mount a successful national movement. This is a problem No Labels is attempting to solve.

We are working to get on the ballot in all 50 states to create the opening for a potential independent unity ticket in 2024, which would feature a Democrat and a Republican as running mates. We will only utilize our ballot line if the two parties continue to abandon the common sense majority. If most Americans are satisfied with one or the other major party nominee, we will stand down. We would also back down if the polling indicates we would be a spoiler for either party.

So far, the two parties appear likely to deliver a rematch between Trump and Biden in 2024, which two-thirds of voters do not want. Record numbers of voters say they would support a third-party candidate for president if given the chance. Democrats and anti-Trump Republicans are working to deny them that chance, which is particularly ironic for Democrats who talk about defending democracy and voters rights.

The private meeting could have been purposed around coming up with ideas to improve the two parties and make No Labels unnecessary. This would have accomplished the same goal. Instead of embracing competition, those strategists and think tank leaders dedicated their attention to devising ways to block us and limit voters choices.

Read more: Column: If voters don't want Biden or Trump, the system is broken

This reaction of How dare they challenge us? is common among incumbent powers in the private sector too. When a powerful industry is threatened by an innovative start-up, the established companies often seek to block the start-up with lawsuits rather than simply improving their product offerings. Think of the taxi companies suing to stop Uber, or cable companies fighting streaming platforms, or the hotel industry trying to block Airbnb. We know how these disputes ended.

Were confident that the will of voters will prove just as hard to suppress as the will of customers. No Labels has already proved in Congress that our strategy of common sense solutions can lead to results. We helped establish a bipartisan group of lawmakers called the Problem Solvers Caucus in the House, which has helped achieve numerous victories such as the infrastructure bill in 2021.

Today, the two-party status quo is a stale system that is not working for the people it is designed to serve. The best way to refresh a stale system is through competition, by forcing complacent incumbents to improve their ideas to survive. Voters are calling for this in their desire for a third option in the 2024 presidential race and No Labels is preparing to offer that choice.

The two parties, sadly, would rather seek to quash our effort than compete against it. They dont seem to realize that by trying to suppress our movement they are showing the country exactly why were needed.

Nancy Jacobson is co-founder and CEO of No Labels.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The beginning of the much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russia seems not to have been a resounding success for Kyiv. On Friday, Russia shared footage of an engagement days earlier in which it apparently disabled 16 new US-provided Bradley fighting vehicles in Ukraines 47th Brigade and several German Leopard 2 tanks from the 33rd. To add insult to injury, Russias defense ministry released a video showing its troops picking over abandoned vehicles they claimed as trophies.

Sebastien Roblin - Courtesy Sebastien Roblin

The losses sting and are by no means trivial, as Ukraine only received 109 Bradleys and 85 Leopard 2s total so far. Its a sharp reminder that the superior capabilities of Western weapons cannot by themselves roll back Russias occupation quickly or easily.

But they dont mean that all is lost for Ukraine  or even that Ukraine is now losing. The counteroffensives ambitious objectives to liberate large parts of Ukraine always meant it would likely face a tough, long, casualty-filled slog. The defeat does show, however, that for all of Russias shortcomings last year, it still presents a serious threat with some capacity to adapt from past mistakes.

Though we are only seeing glimpses carefully selected from both sides of a much larger conflict taking place, we do know that Russia is making better and more extensive use of drones for artillery spotting and kamikaze strikes than before. It has also implemented a variety of tactics, including jamming satellite navigation signals, to reduce the effectiveness of Ukrainian drones and weapons the US has supplied, like HIMARS rockets, glide bombs and Javelin anti-tank missiles.

Most importantly, Russias military has built up a multi-layered line of fortifications across southeastern Ukraine including trenches, concrete tank obstacles and minefields. Each fortified line runs many miles deep, intended to at first delay and ultimately defeat Ukrainian attacks.

On the other hand, Russias forces are beginning the battle in worse shape than the new brigades trained by Kyiv over the winter. During those months, numerous newly mobilized Russian troops were wastefully exhausted in grinding assaults with few gains, with some treated as cannon-fodder. Russias artillery ammunition, missile stockpiles and most-modern ground combat vehicles were gravely depleted, so 60-year-old tanks have been withdrawn from storage. Putin himself admitted the loss of 54 Russian tanks the same week the Bradleys were knocked out.

Having failed at offense during the winter, the Kremlin seems to be counting on the tried-and-true strategy of defense via the miles-deep fortified positions, most famously used by the Red Army in the Battle of Kursk in World War II. It was while attempting to breach a path through one such fortified minefield that the 47th Brigades vehicles bogged down last week.

Nonetheless, Ukraine has already claimed some advances. Ukraines military leaders are correctly attempting to draw out and wear down Russian reserves and artillery until a weak spot emerges for launching an all-out effort. Notably, a parallel drive toward Mariupol at the same time as the 47ths failed attack last week has made fast gains, compelling Russian forces to withdraw from several settlements.

Ukraine has until now been holding back the majority of its armored brigades, and both sides will undoubtedly commit more forces in the coming weeks. Ukraine may also open additional fronts to further confound Russian planning.

Ukrainian forces, however, cannot avoid a brutal melee as they attempt to drill through the Russian fortifications while repulsing counterattacks from Russian reserves  a process that could take weeks or months, as Ukrainian forces have yet to penetrate Russias main line of resistance.

Recall that Ukraine began its Kherson counteroffensive late in August but only forced Russia to retreat in November. This campaign is likely to last roughly that long. And the current, even more difficult and costly attempted breach of Russian fortifications, requires superb coordination of armor, infantry, air defense, artillery and engineers to pull off.

The best comparison is the battles of World War II, which showed that offensives against well-prepared defending forces often start out messily with heavy losses even when ultimately successful.

After the bloody D-Day landings in Normandy, for example, Allied forces spent several weeks advancing slowly at great cost. Finally, the British attempted a massive tank assault to punch through German defenses only to lose hundreds of tanks in rapid succession. But a week later, American forces succeeded wildly, as the Germans had used most of their reserves containing the British.

If Ukraine does prevail in this counteroffensive, it has a chance to liberate economically vital coastal ports like Mariupol and Berdyansk that Russia occupied last year, as well as cut off the land bridge between mainland Russia and the strategically significant Russian air and naval bases in Crimea. Crimea itself would also fall within range of many Ukrainian weapons.

Thats why the Biden administration has been right to move ahead with its latest aid package worth $325 million to help Ukraine sustain the ambitious campaign it has spent many months preparing for  including delivering 15 more Bradleys to replace those lost.

Though the 47th Brigade had a very bad day, its experience still demonstrated the importance of Western-donated equipment. The superior vehicles did help because video footage appears to show that most of the soldiers in the vehicles survived  a less likely outcome had Ukrainians used their more lightly protected Soviet infantry vehicles.

The video footage reveals another advantage the Ukrainians possess over Russia: strong morale and professionalism. The Ukrainian troops at the forefront of the fiasco fell back in good order, supporting each other with covering fire and smoke grenades rather than panicking.

While Russias troops are exhausted, the new Ukrainian brigades are inexperienced but fresh and have received better training than Russian conscripts  particularly the 12 brigades trained by NATO prior to the battle. Ukraines other strengths include the production and more effective use of small drones in greater quantities than Russia, and its arsenal of Western-supplied precision-strike artillery and missiles that can threaten Russian units deep behind the front lines.

For now, its far too early to tell whether Ukraines offensive will achieve that breakthrough. As NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg noted, It is still early days and we do not know if this will be a turning point of the war, but we see that the Ukrainians are making advances and liberating more land.

Putins current bet is that the longer he drags the war on, the more Western willingness to aid Ukraine will diminish, eventually leaving it vulnerable. The best way to convince him hes wrong is to give him persuasive evidence that doubling down on his invasion will actually make his position worse. That means not only supporting Ukraines current counteroffensive but continuing to adapt to Russias own adaptations and planning ahead for long-term assistance that makes clear to Putin his optimism is ill-founded.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Opinion: This is bigger than just the US and China

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Beijing after a canceled visit in February due to the deployment of an alleged Chinese spy balloon over the United States. The world is carefully watching for any signs of warming in the increasingly frosty bilateral relationship.

Michael Bociurkiw - Chrystia Chudczak

US officials have kept expectations for the Blinken trip to China decidedly low, emphasizing that a key aim is to reduce the risk of miscalculation so that we do not veer into potential conflict.

That should come as welcome news here on the European continent, where the sentiment among many government officials appears to be for a warming of relations with China  lest progress on key issues such as climate change and the war in Ukraine get set back without buy-in from Beijing.

Other key discussion points for Blinkens visit, according to US officials, are Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine (which Beijing has refused to condemn), the re-establishment of communication channels and the prevention of any miscalculation.

The possibility of miscalculation has increased in recent months as China has triggered some close encounters with US ships on the high seas.

NATO allies are right to harbor concerns that they, too, could be ensnared in the increasing hostilities and deteriorating relations between Washington and Beijing, especially over Taiwan  as Canada has recently.

Contact between high-level American and Chinese officials is paramount both for possible (though improbable) real negotiations, and for public consumption in both countries, former CIA operations officer Laura Ballman told me.

Contact is the best way to tamp down the war-drum, which is beating fairly steadily in Washington right now, she added.

As Blinken tries to smooth over Washingtons relationship with Beijing, I see a China which will deploy its trademark pragmatism and prioritize its relationship with the European trading bloc  which is becoming increasingly important to its own economic health. (In 2020, China overtook the US as Europes biggest trading partner for goods.)

Recently, in what appears to be partially an effort to reduce tensions in Europe, Beijing sent a senior diplomat, Li Hui, to the continent for what it says was an effort to help broker peace between Russia and Ukraine.

Chinas foreign ministry was also quick to suspend, at least temporarily, its wolf warrior diplomacy and walk back explosive remarks by its envoy in Paris, Lu Shaye, after he suggested former Soviet states cant be considered sovereign.

A shuffling of chairs on the deck of Chinas foreign ministry also appears to be an attempt to soften its approach towards Europe and strengthen relations with the bloc.

Meanwhile, here in Europe, leaders still seem to be figuring out whether to prioritize economic relations and treat Beijing with velvet gloves  or with the charm of an angry school headmaster, taking into account its appalling human rights record and seeming reluctance to use its clout to help bring an end to the war in Ukraine.

The confusion in Europe over how to treat China was on full display earlier this year when French President Emmanuel Macron and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen made their disastrous joint visit to China.

Two conflicting narratives appeared to have been delivered: a tough one on human rights from the European Commission chief and a warm, fuzzy conciliatory one from Frances president that even suggested a decoupling of foreign policy from Washington.

Since the baton of European leadership passed from former German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Macron, cohesiveness on issues ranging from the Covid-19 pandemic response to China has been largely absent.

French political analyst Philippe Moreau Chevrolet puts the blame for this at the feet of Macron. He likes to appear to be on many sides at the same time. At one point pro-Ukrainian, at another pro-Russian  and then also being pro-US and pro-China, he told me.

Its a strategy thats very individualistic, which suits him, but doesnt suit the European partners. And it doesnt suit of course our American partners, he added.

Unlike Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is comfortably in place until at least 2027, leaders in western capitals need to face a restless electorate  meaning they could be forced to hold their noses and deal with the worlds dictators.

For example, farmers in European countries such as Poland have forced the hand of the government to harden policy on the importation of Ukrainian grain and other food products. And across Europe, eased access for Ukrainian asylum seekers is being put to the test as leaders try to balance compassion with public sentiment and the availability of resources.

Let there be no mistake. China is more than eager to exploit any hint of bloc disunity or the absence of US leadership, as it did recently in the Middle East by facilitating one of the biggest diplomatic breakthroughs in years  the restoration of bilateral ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Blinkens visit to Beijing is being marketed as a bilateral meeting with a shot at achieving detente. But dont expect many kumbaya moments, as the two sides share few core values and an intense distrust of each other.

That said, the stakes for the world are huge. Because when it comes to achieving any amount of progress on enormous issues  from slowing climate change to ending the war in Ukraine to preventing or managing the next major pandemic  not having a cooperative China at the table holds back progress everywhere.

This report has been updated.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Artists concept of Sierra Spaces crewed Dream Chaser spaceplane docking to the companys LIFE habitat.



An illustration of Sierra Spaces (one of the 7 companies selected) crewed Dream Chaser spaceplane docking to the LIFE habitat.

A new Blue Origin crewed spacecraft is in the works as part of a NASA collaboration designed to advance the orbital economy, with the space agency lending its expertise to seven different commercial partners.

NASA selected seven U.S. companies as part of its Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities-2 initiative (CCSC-2), whereby the space agency will oversee the development of their proposed ideas for low Earth orbit. The companies included in the second round of the commercial collaboration are Blue Origin, SpaceX, Sierra Space, ThinkOrbital, Vast Space, Space Exploration Technologies, and Northrop Grumman. None of these companies will get any money from NASA under these unfunded Space Act Agreements, but they can tap into the space agencys expertise.

Read more

As part of the new initiative, Blue Origin will develop an affordable commercial space transportation capability to carry crew to low Earth orbit at high frequencies. The company, founded by Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos, was previously awarded a funded agreement by NASA to develop a spacecraft for the agencys commercial crew program. In 2012, Blue Origin began testing the design of its next generation Space Vehicle, but the sleek-looking spacecraft never saw the light of day.

Its not clear whether the company will resurrect its Space Vehicle for NASAs latest collaboration or design a new spacecraft from scratch. Blue Origin did not immediately respond to Gizmodos request for comment.

Elon Musks SpaceX is another company involved in NASAs new commercial initiative to develop an integrated low Earth orbit architecture that will use the Starship rocket for transportation and the crewed Dragon capsule for anin-space low-Earth orbit destination element, NASAs statement read.

SpaceX is under a $2.89 billion contract to use a lunar lander version of its Starship rocket in landing humans on the Moon by late 2025 as part of NASAs Artemis 3 mission, and then again for Artemis 4 in 2028, under a separate $1.15 billion contract signed last year. Blue Origin was recently awarded a $3.4 billion contract to build a second human landing system for Artemis 5 and subsequent missions after that. Bezos was bitter about SpaceX landing that first contract, unsuccessfully suing NASA for its decision.

Other companies joining NASAs latest list of commercial partners include Colorado-based Sierra Space, which will collaborate with the space agency in the development of a commercial low Earth orbit ecosystem that includes space transportation, in-space infrastructure, and expandable and tailorable space facilities, to promote a human presence in low Earth orbit, according to NASA.

ThinkOrbital is receiving NASAs expertise to better develop its orbital platforms (known as ThinkPlatforms); Vast is collaborating with NASA on its microgravity and artificial gravity stations; and Special Aerospace Services is developing an in-space servicing technology called the Autonomous Maneuvering Unit. Northrop Grumman plans to work on its autonomous spacecraft called Persistent Platform.

It is great to see companies invest their own capital toward innovative commercial space capabilities, and weve seen how these types of partnerships benefit both the private sector and NASA, Phil McAlister, director of commercial spaceflight at NASA Headquarters, said in the statement.

One company that is missing from the list is Boeing, which is yet to deliver on its Starliner Program aimed to transport NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. SpaceX, on the other hand, recently launched its sixth crew to the orbiting space station.

NASA has become increasingly reliant on its commercial partners in an effort to create a robust space industry, while also saving the space agency some time and money.

For more spaceflight in your life, follow us on Twitter and bookmark Gizmodos dedicated Spaceflight page.

More from Gizmodo

Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
 Flash

The fourth volume of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" has been published in French, Russian, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Japanese and traditional Chinese. [Photo courtesy of the Foreign Languages Press]

The fourth volume of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" has lately been published in French, Russian, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Japanese and traditional Chinese. Distributed both domestically and internationally, the work has aroused enthusiastic response among readers worldwide.

Overseas scholars and observers commend the publication of the multilingual editions for helping the international community comprehend the latest developments in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and enhance their understanding of the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s governance concepts and practices. They also say the volume provides inspiration and reference for other countries to achieve development and growth.

China's answer

Xi's fourth volume is a confident statement for the mission and prospects of the Chinese nation, Martin Albrow, a fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences, told Xinhua.



The Chinese and English editions of the fourth volume of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China," published and released in July 2022, have been enthusiastically received by overseas readers ever since.

Albrow, who has visited China multiple times since the 1980s, has been deeply impressed by many chapters, sections, and sentences in the volume.

He said one of the greatest strengths in Xi's thought is how he combines the wisdom and depth of experience of China that dates back millennia, with the Marxist ideas that developed in the West under the impact of modernity, which is a dynamic view of the relation of ideas to reality, schooled in an understanding of the past.

It is directed to the people of China but such is their historic experience and recent achievements that the rest of the world should regard as an example of what is possible, said Albrow, describing it as an inspiration for the common effort to secure a shared future on this earth.

Xi's book provides other countries with important inspiration on state governance, said Alexey Avdonin, an analyst at the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies. The volume showcases the extraordinary journey that China has made with its own strength, bringing hope to people who aspire to a just society.

Allowing the world to see China's answers to the critical issues of the moment, the book is an authoritative work that fully and systematically reflects the new horizon opened up and latest development achieved by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, providing inspiration for countries to realize development centered on people's interests and build a just society, he said.

It is important to read this book to understand China's position on how to shape the world's future, on global harmony and prosperity for all, said Fernanda Ilheu, president of the New Silk Road Friends Association, a Lisbon-based non-profit think tank, adding that this book allows people to know more about the Chinese president's philosophy on how to contribute to the world's development and peace.

Inspiration for development

The book has provided an invaluable window for the rest of the world to understand and appreciate the Chinese society and its role in global development and transformation, Cavince Adhere, a Kenya-based international relations scholar, told Xinhua.



The fourth volume is particularly important for developing countries whose collective desire is to lift their populations out of poverty and achieve sustainable development, said Adhere, noting that in reading the series of the books, leaders from emerging economies, mostly in Africa, can learn how to advance national development that is people-centered, inclusive, just, equitable and global in vision.

The publication of the fourth volume makes the world aware of and knowledgeable about the great development of China, especially over the past decade, said Diaa Helmy, an Egyptian expert in Chinese affairs, secretary-general of Cairo-based Egyptian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

The volume elucidates how China has dealt with the problems and challenges it confronted, which are similar to those facing many countries, whether developing or developed, he said, adding that these countries can benefit from these experiences.

The concepts Xi elaborated on can inspire Africa and even the whole world to achieve development and growth, because through this book, African countries will understand and draw inspiration from various policies implemented by China to meet the needs of its people and society, said Amadou Diop, a Senegalese expert on China and former correspondent for the Senegal national daily Le Soleil in China.

For the international community, including Africa, this book is of extraordinary significance for understanding Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and its development, said Diop.

Ibrahim Alluhayb, a professor at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia, believes the timely publication of the Arabic edition provides the possibility and convenience for Arab countries and people to understand the latest development of the CPC's thoughts on state governance and learn from China's experience.

With remarkable progress in Arab-China relations over the past years, more and more Arab countries have begun to "look east," he said, noting that the Arabic edition will play an important role in deepening the Arab world's understanding of China's development achievements and promoting their exchanges and mutual learning.

New perspective on China

Chea Munyrith, president of the Cambodian Chinese Evolution Researcher Association, who led the translation team for the Cambodian edition, has unique and profound insights into this book.



Munyrith said that the publication of the multilingual edition has opened up a new perspective for the world to better understand China, as it contains a series of Xi's important discourses, provides theoretical guidance for a Chinese path to modernization, and showcases the country's governance capabilities.

Kiyomi Seno, chairman of the Japan-China Society, who has a strong interest in China's trajectory, governance, and philosophy, said that the multilingual edition enables more people in the world to have a deep understanding of a real China, see what kind of development path China has chosen under complex situations and appreciate the Chinese wisdom in it.

Gennady Zyuganov, chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, deemed the multilingual edition a window into China's thinking, as this book contains new ideas, new thoughts and new strategies of Xi's governance. Zyuganov believes that for everyone who wants to strengthen friendship and cooperation with China, the series of books by Xi should become their desk book.

Anyone who wants to understand China today needs to pore over the work of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China," said Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, head of the Center for Brazil-China Studies of the Getulio Vargas Foundation School of Law in Brazil.

Xi often cited Chinese philosophers and quotes to express the wisdom of the Chinese people, thereby revealing much of the fine tradition of Chinese culture, said the expert.
Whale of a Tale

For weeks now, the internet has been enraptured by orcas attacking ships and even pleasure yachts  and the ferocious cetaceans show no sign of letting up.

In a new interview with PBS, a man who runs a website that tracks orca sightings and encounters off the coast of the Iberian Peninsula, where in recent months orcas have increasingly attacked and sunken boats, said the angry whales are keeping busy.

"We are having one incident every day, on average, OK?" Rui Alves, the creator of orcas.pt, told the public broadcaster. "There are days we have two or three."

Alves' map for June, it's worth pointing out, shows only 12 attacks so far this month  all of which took place in the Strait of Gibraltar, the area between Spain and Morocco  which falls mildly short of one attack per day, but point taken: they're still at it.

Gladis Games

In his brief interview, the site creator said he made orcas.pt to help captains know what might await them when they set sail.

"If you spread the word about something that happens in an area, people will avoid that area," Alves told PBS. "Maybe they will keep the boat and say, 'I don't sail today because there are many orcas at that point. I will sail tomorrow, or maybe I will go in another direction.'"

As PBS notes, these Iberian orcas were already unique before these attacks began happening because they're both a genetically distinct subpopulation, and because they're critically endangered.

While nobody knows why the orcas in the Strait of Gibraltar keep attacking boats, one prevailing theory suggests that a female in the pod known as White Gladis may be exacting revenge for an injury gleaned from a boat rudder.

As one might guess, some captains and crews have, as Newsweek reported earlier in the week, begun arming themselves against the pod  though one captain whose vessels have twice been attacked by White Gladis' gang said that that's not the way to handle the situation.

"Bottom line," Kriz said, "is we are in their territory."

It seems, per the orcas.pt maps, at least, that White Gladis would agree.

More on animal attacks: Hawaii Menaced by Furious Wild Chickens
Beefy King will celebrate 55 years of service this weekend on Saturday, June 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

The sandwich shop, known for its steamed beef sandwiches, will have new merchandise and freshly printed tie-dye Beefy King 55th anniversary t-shirts.

Sneak peak of the #beefyturns55 tshirt!!! Getting ready for our 55th anniversary celebration on Saturday June 17th 11am-3pm! pic.twitter.com/2LVSowOr61  Beefy king (@beefy_king) June 11, 2023

The Orlando staple has been open since 1968 when Freeman and Margaret Smith opened the store on Bumby Avenue.

Three generations have run the sandwich shop in its 55 years.

Read: Affidavit: Man admits to setting Beefy King on fire, says he hopes business wasnt destroyed

In November 2019, the restaurant was set on fire one evening.

Orlando police charged John Huff, 36, with arson, and he was found guilty in 2021.

Beefy Kings was able to reopen a week later after the damage was repaired.

Read: The king is back: Beefy King to reopen Wednesday after damage by fire.

Beefy King, a staple serving up sandwiches in the city beautiful for 50 years, caught fire around 1 a.m. Tuesday.

Beefy King, a staple serving up sandwiches in the city beautiful for 50 years, caught fire around 1 a.m. Tuesday.

Beefy King, a staple serving up sandwiches in the city beautiful for 50 years, caught fire around 1 a.m. Tuesday.

Beefy King, a staple serving up sandwiches in the city beautiful for 50 years, caught fire around 1 a.m. Tuesday.





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.
As city officials cut the ribbon on Orlandos latest revamped park on Friday, they said Prince Hall Park would serve not only as a gathering space for the children of Richmond Heights but as a place where residents can receive power and Wi-Fi for their devices during events like hurricanes.

Its definitely a pleasure for us to finally bring a functional park  but not just a functional park. I would call it a resiliency park because of the Tables of Connection, City Commissioner Bakari Burns said. So were looking for them to enjoy some leisure time. But also in times of natural disasters, hurricanes, they can come charge their phones, get Wi-Fi, so we can stay connected as a community.

The 1.75-acre park features two new playgrounds with slides, swings, climbing bars and sensory spaces for kids to enjoy; a bike rack and repair station; outdoor fitness stations; two picnic shelters with canopies; new benches and multiple shade structures.

The park includes new ADA amenities for those with mobility limitations. The park is also home to the citys Tables of Connection, which provide residents with free internet access through a Wi-Fi hotspot and charging stations at high-tech picnic tables, a project made possible thanks to the citys Livable Orlando Age-Friendly Action Plan.

The city estimates the project costs approximately $600,000.

The park has existed as a green space in the Richmond Heights neighborhood since the community was first built. Residents have been advocating for upgrades to the park for the past 15-20 years, according to Burns, who represents District 6, which includes Richmond Heights, on the City Council.

Some of the residents actually bought their homes because of the promise of a fully developed and functional park here, Burns said.

Originally supposed to be complete in 2022, the project began in mid-2020 and was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting nationwide supply chain issues by about a year.

Burns said the park is very important to the residents of the community.

We all need spaces that we can come together, gather with each other, enjoy each others company, Burns said. But also whats important about this park, its kind of an intergenerational park where you have things for the smaller kids, older kids, and then theres equipment for the seniors to utilize as well.

So were really excited that this will be a gathering place for the community, for us to learn more about our neighbors, for us to share, but also a place again for the increase of the resiliency of this community, Burns said. And just everyones excited that its just I love to hear the kids laughing and playing and we hope that continues.

Richmond Heights resident Martha Ingram, who sits on the board for the neighborhood homeowners association, said some residents have waited for the new park for over 50 years.

We keep asking commissioners who are in charge, we kept asking about the park, Ingram said. They would say we would have to do this, we have to do that. The park never did come. Bakari, when he came on, that was one of the things we said that we wanted. He did exactly what he said he was gonna do.

Ingram says shes happy to be able to hear the neighborhoods children cheer and play in the park.

Oh its really nice, its really nice, Ingram said. I hope they enjoy it and take care of it. The city has done a beautiful job creating it.

The reopening ceremony comes two weeks after the opening of Orlandos newest park, The Grove, in the Packing District. At Fridays event, Mayor Buddy Dyer reiterated his vision for all residents of Orlando to live within ten minutes of a park.

We continue to try to improve our parks for all of our residents, Dyer said. One of our goals is to have a park within a 10 minute walk of all of our residents, but not just a green space, things that have activities. So many of the parks have different amenities around the city, so you can enjoy lots of different parts of the city.
The City of Seattle announced this week that it would be halting its enforcement of property crimes related to graffiti in the wake of a ruling from a district court judge. But what does that mean for other cities with similarly worded laws?

The injunction issued Wednesday by U.S. District Court Judge Marsha Pechman asserts that Seattles property damage laws surrounding graffiti pose a real threat to censorship. Thats part of a larger lawsuit stemming from the arrest of four people who were arrested for writing BLM and anti-police slogans in chalk on concrete barriers outside SPDs East Precinct.

In the lawsuit, comparisons are made to instances where pro-police slogans were freely written in sidewalk chalk outside City Hall during a 2020 rally. Judge Pechmans concerns center around how Seattles existing laws give police discretion to make arrests based on the messaging of the chalk or graffiti itself. Those laws are also modeled exactly off of Washingtons state property crime laws.

That carries a few implications -- first, what does this mean for enforcing more traditional illegal graffiti?

Deborah Ahrens is a Vice Dean and law professor at Seattle University. She argues that this ruling wont turn Seattle into a taggers paradise.

Its not open season for taggers, she told KIRO 7. I do not think that this is going to be license for people to go out and create thousands of dollars in property destruction.

Even so, this Seattle-centric decision has potential to cause ripple effects across the state. Seattle isnt the only city to have modeled their laws off of the states. That list also includes other nearby cities like Tacoma, Kent and Auburn.

If I were a city prosecutor in another city or jurisdiction where I was trying to enforce a very similarly written ordinance, I would have to be at least somewhat nervous, said Ahrens.

We reached out to Tacoma, who confirmed that they are at least considering changes to their laws after this ruling.

While the state law is the template in Kent, the citation for graffiti is malicious mischief. Their city council is also in the process of passing an ordinance to make it illegal for anyone under the age of 19 to buy spray paint -- that will go in front of the full council in September. Thats in response to the citys own recent issues with graffiti. Since 2008, Kent Police have taken 700 complaints involving graffiti, but were only able to arrest 14 people, half of whom were juveniles.

Auburns laws also mirror Washington states, but with a recently implemented twist. Property owners now have less time to remove graffiti from their property after being notified by the city. Under the previous code, property owners had 15 days to remove graffiti after being notified by the city. The new ordinance reduces the time period to three days.

Auburns citys code compliance manager said these changes are intended to prevent graffiti from reoccurring by removing it quickly, sending a message to graffiti vandals that its not tolerated.

The code does allow for extensions due to severe weather conditions that would prevent a property owner from removing the graffiti.

Under the city code, the owners of a property vandalized with graffiti are responsible for removing the graffiti.

If a property owner doesnt remove the graffiti, the city will hire a contractor to remove the graffiti and bill the property owner. If the property owner doesnt pay, a lien is placed on their property, according to the city code.

If the city of Seattle wants to make its own current ordinance constitutional, its city council will also need to amend it.
MANDVI, India  Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall on Thursday evening as a vast swath of western India and neighboring southern Pakistan braced for flash floods, heavy rain and high winds.

Rain pelted the shores and skies darkened along the Arabian Sea, while dust storms hampered evacuation and rescue work on land. Authorities expect conditions to worsen for two or three days as Biparjoy was expected to reach wind speeds gusting up to 140kmph (86mph) before slowing down in Indias Gujarat province.

In Indias Kutch district, near Jakhau port where the cyclone made landfall, authorities were expecting significant inundations of the area. In Pakistan, Keti Bandar in the countrys flood-ravaged southern Sindh province, also lies in Biparjoys path.

In Pakistan, authorities say the cyclone would reach the countrys southern coastal areas by midnight.

The bazaars and beaches in Mandvi, India, usually a bustling coastal town known for its wooden boat-makers, were deserted Thursday under government shutdown orders. Heavy winds and rains uprooted some trees in the area. Local media reported that a pregnant woman was brought from Shiyalbet island to shore and admitted to a hospital.

Amid dust storms and rain, displaced families were visibly shocked at relief camps in southern Pakistan. One of the evacuees, 82-year-old Bachai Bibi from Badin district in Sindh province, said I dont know what will happen to my home.

Mohammad Ashraf, 35, said local officials helped him, his wife and three children escape from the Pakistani village of Sheikh in the storm zone.

Aid groups assisting locals in Pakistan and India displaced by cyclone

The World Health Organization said it was supporting Pakistans efforts to deal with the impact of the cyclone. Pakistans government and local aid groups delivered free food and clean drinking water to displaced people.

Thousands of people in India were evacuated, bringing the total number of people brought to relief camps there to 100,000. In Pakistan, Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik, head of the National Disaster Management Authority, said 73,000 people have been evacuated to safer places so far, and authorities were providing them with shelter and food.

The agency said Thursday the cyclone was packing winds of up to 120 kph (about 75 mph) as it barreled toward Pakistans Sindh province, the site of one of historic deadly floods last summer. At least 1,739 people were killed and 33 million were displaced when flooding, partly induced by climate change, inundated the country, causing $30 billion in damage.

On Thursday morning, authorities said the storm had lost some of its intensity and was expected to have a maximum sustained wind speed of between 115 kph and 125 kph (71 mph to 78 mph), gusting up to 140 kph (87 mph), a slight decrease in predictions from a day earlier.

Gujarat in India was also experiencing heavy rainfall and strong winds. Indian authorities warned that the cyclone, classified as a very severe cyclonic storm, has the potential to inflict heavy damage.

A storm surge of two-to-three meters (two-to-three yards) above the astronomical tide is likely to inundate low-lying areas in the storms path. The tides could rise as high as six meters (more than six yards) in some places, the Indias Meteorological Department has said.

Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel told the Press Trust of India news agency that detailed preparations have been made for post-cyclone work like restoration of electricity infrastructure, mobile networks and other infrastructure.

The government said major religious sites in coastal Gujarat such as the Dwarkadhish temple in Devbhoomi Dwarka and Somnath temple in Gir Somnath district will remain closed Thursday. Indian railways said 76 trains have been canceled on account of the cyclone.

Because mobile networks would be among the first to be affected once a cyclone hits land, the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority engaged six ham radio teams across the coastal districts to keep communications going.

Ham radios dont require any mobile towers, electricity or internet to make calls and we can communicate emergency requirements using the radios. They are really useful during disaster such as this, Kausal Jani, a ham radio operator told PTI news agency.

During 2021s Cyclone Tauktae, ham radios proved invaluable as large sections of coastal Gujarat was without electricity for six days.

Climate change could increase number of cyclones in Arabian Sea region

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, tweeted on Wednesday that his government had taken all possible measures to ensure the safety of those at risk in southern Sindh province.

Preparations have been made to handle any kind of emergency as a result of rains and strong winds in Karachi, while the evacuation of fishermen from the sea and the population on the coastal areas is going on rapidly, he said.

Pakistani Climate Minister Sherry Rehman advised against panic and said Karachi, the countrys largest city with 20 million people, was safe and would not be where the cyclone makes landfall, as was feared earlier.

Pakistan has so far not asked for assistance from the United Nations, which said it was monitoring the situation. Local charities and aid agencies in both India and Pakistan were also helping.

Noala Skinner, UNICEFs regional director for South Asia, said late Thursday that more than 625,000 children were at immediate risk in Pakistan and India, where the cyclone made landfall.

In Pakistan, Cyclone Biparjoy threatens a new crisis for children and families in Sindh, the province worst affected by last years devastating floods, she said.

Experts say climate change is leading to an increase in cyclones in the Arabian Sea region, making preparations for natural disasters all the more urgent. Pakistan is among the top 10 countries most affected by climate change, although the countrys contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions is less than 1%.

A 2021 study found that the frequency, duration and intensity of cyclones in the Arabian Sea had increased significantly between 1982 and 2019.

In 1998, a cyclone that hit Gujarat state claimed more than 1,000 lives and caused excessive damage. A cyclone that hit Sindh province and the city of Karachi in 1965 killed more than 10,000 people.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cyclone Biparjoy to impact over a hundred thousand people in Pakistan and India
OVI checkpoint to be held tonight in Butler County

The Butler County OVI Task Force announced an OVI checkpoint will be held tonight in Butler County.

>>RELATED: OVI checkpoint to be held in Butler County Friday

The checkpoint will be held in the City of Monroe, according to a Butler County OVI Task Force spokesperson.

It will be held on Northbound State Route Four, in the 6200 block of Hamilton-Middletown Road near the Monroe Fire Department.

The locations of the checkpoints are announced in advance in accordance with state law.

The Butler County OVI Task Force is funded by the United States Department of Transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
From parades to pageants, here's how America has celebrated Juneteenth over the decades

Juneteenth has been celebrated since 1866. Bastiaan Slabbers/Getty

Celebrations for Juneteenth began in 1866 as a way to commemorate the end of slavery.

Over the years, more and more US states have recognized Juneteenth; in 2021, it became a federal holiday.

Photographs capture how Americans have celebrated the holiday over decades.

Juneteenth has long been a celebration of Black emancipation, community, and joy.

On June 19, 1865, a Union Army general declared that the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, were free by executive decree. Most enslaved people in Texas were unaware that they had been freed two years prior with President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

The first celebrations for Juneteenth  a portmanteau of "June" and "nineteenth"  took place one year later in 1866 in Texas, ranging from parades and parties to concerts and cookouts. Juneteenth first became a state holiday in Texas in 1980, and other states began to follow suit soon after. On June 2021, it became a federal holiday.

Juneteenth celebrations have evolved and expanded over the decades, including an all-Black rodeo and a 51-mile bike ride along the Emancipation Trail from Galveston to Houston.

Long-held traditions and throughlines also persist, from the centrality of music and dance, to re-enactments that commemorate Black history.

Photographs of Juneteenth celebrations over the past century capture a visual history of its roots and breadth:

Decorated carriages have long been a staple of Juneteenth parades.

A group of people ride a decorated carriage in a Juneteenth parade in Corpus Christi, TX, 1913. George McCuistion/DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University

Nowadays, cars and other vehicles are decked out in tribute.

Wardell Walters drives his vehicle "Star 1", a tribute to the city during the annual Juneteenth Parade as it rolls through the Fillmore District neighborhood of San Francisco, CA in 2014. Michael Macor/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty

Music has always been a key part of Juneteenth celebrations.

A group of musicians play their instruments at a Juneteenth celebration in Texas, 1900. Grace Murray Stephenson/Austin History Center

The legacy of music across the Black diaspora continues to this day.

A group of women from the Afro-Caribbean community with traditional instruments in Philadelphia in 2018. Bastiaan Slabbers/Getty

Re-enactments of history, like when Union generals entered Galveston to proclaim the end of slavery, are also part of Juneteenth celebrations.

A group of men dress up in Civil War uniforms in 1900, likely for a re-enactment of the Union's entry into Galveston the day before emancipation was declared. Grace Murray Stephenson/Austin Public Library

The Buffalo Soldiers were comprised of former slaves, freemen, and Black Civil War soldiers.

In 2010, Jonas Felix leads the Buffalo Soldiers of the American West during the Juneteenth Parade, in the historic Five Points neighborhood, in Denver, CO. Craig F. Walker/Getty

Dressing up as other renowned figures is a way to commemorate Black history.

In 1996, two girls dressed up as Phyllis Wheatley and Nefertiti at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis. Jerry Holt/Star Tribune via Getty

Dancing comes hand-in-hand with musical celebrations on Juneteenth.

The North Minneapolis Oak Park Drill Team in 1995. Marlin Levison/Star Tribune via Getty

The forms of dancing have diversified over the years.

The Denver Dancing Diamonds perform at Five Points, Denver, CO on June 20, 2015. Joe Amon/The Denver Post via Getty

Miss Juneteenth pageants began as a way to celebrate Black beauty and achievement, especially since preexisting pageants were predominantly white.

Miss Juneteenth in 1989 in the historic Black neighborhood of Five Points in Denver, Colorado. Denver Public Library Special Collections

In 2020, the first-ever National Miss Juneteenth Pageant was held in Memphis, Tennessee.

Miss Juneteenth 2015, Sean-Maree Swinger-Otey, 17, at a Juneteenth parade in Denver, Colorado. Joe Amon/Getty

An iconic all-Black rodeo celebrates Juneteenth.

The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo is an all-Black rodeo event that often hosts events to celebrate Juneteenth. Jason Armond/LA Times via Getty

Juneteenth celebrations in 2020 took on a renewed political spark after the murder of George Floyd.

A group of protestors march in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement on Juneteenth. John Minchillo/AP

Juneteenth became a federal holiday in June 2021.

A parade celebrating Juneteenth on June 19, 2021 in Annapolis, Maryland. Alex Wong/Getty

As of 2023, 25 states and Washington, D.C. had declared Juneteenth a paid holiday.

Juneteenth Atlanta Black History parade on June 18, 2022. Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images

Source: Congressional Research Service

Read the original article on Insider
Paramedic who found US couple dead in Mexico hotel says he felt dizzy upon entering room

Abby Lutz and John Heathco were found dead with no signs of physical trauma (AFP/Getty/Family photo/GoFundMe)

Paramedics in Baja California Sur who responded to the report of an American couple deceased in their hotel room said they felt symptoms consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning when they entered the room.

Fernando Valencia and his partner were called to the Hotel Rancho Pescadero in El Pescadero around 9pm on Tuesday (13 June) after receiving reports that two Americans were unconscious.

Upon arriving, Mr Valencia said he and his partner felt dizzy when they entered the room where they found 28-year-old Abby Lutz and 41-year-old John Heathco dead.

We went out of the room as soon as possible  I was afraid for my partner because my first thought in my mind was are we going to die? Mr Valencia told Good Morning America.

Lutz and Heathco were on a vacation in Mexico when they began to experience what Lutzs family said are symptoms consistent with food poisoning. The two went to the hospital to seek treatment and by Monday (12 June) were feeling better.

Between the time that Lutz texted her father on Monday and Tuesday evening, the couple died of intoxication by an unknown substance, according to the Baja California Sur attorney generals office.

Lutzs family said they were told the couples deaths were due to improper venting of the resort with the possibility that it could be carbon monoxide poisoning.

Mr Valencia called walking into the room one of the worst experiences of his life. He was especially worried for his and his partners health because he was working with his sister.

John Heathco was found dead in a Mexico hotel room with Abby Lutz (LinkedIn)

The Baja California Sur attorney generals office said in a statement that Lutz and Heathco had been dead between 10 and 11 hours by the time paramedics arrived. There were no signs of physical violence.

In a statement provided to The Independent, Henar Gil, the general manager of Rancho Pescadero  a Hyatt property  said: We are truly heartbroken by this terrible tragedy. Our hearts are with the impacted families and loved ones during this unimaginable loss.

Abby Lutz was found dead in a hotel room in Mexico with her partner John Heathco (Family handout)

Local authorities are still actively investigating the situation, and the safety and security of our guests and colleagues remains a top priority, as always. We can confirm there was no evidence of violence related to this situation, and we are not aware of any threat to guests safety or wellbeing, Ms Gil said.

She added We are working to care for those who have been impacted and we are working closely with authorities as they conduct their investigation to understand the cause of death. Further inquiries should be directed to local authorities.

US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said they are closely monitoring the investigation into Lutz and Heathcos deaths in a news conference on Thursday (15 June).

We stand ready to provide any consular  any appropriate consular assistance, Mr Miller added.
Parler Is Dead, but Trump Is Still Using Its Newsletter to Raise Cash and Own the Libs

Photo: mikeledray / Shutterstock.com (Shutterstock)

Former users of Parler, the defunct right-wing social media app, got an email from Donald Trump on Tuesday.



Reports state that I could receive a maximum sentence of 400 YEARS IN PRISON despite being a totally and completely innocent man, the email reads, referencing the former presidents indictment over allegations that he stole classified documents. It sounds like something Stalin or Mao did to eliminate their opposition. But instead, its happening here in America. Communism has finally come to our shores.

Read more

The email goes on to ask readers to make a contribution to peacefully stand with me and SAVE the greatest country in history, with a series of links for suggested campaign donations ranging from $24 to $250. How is he messaging users of an app whose users cant even use it? Via the data Parler has retained. Trump is paying for access to Parlers list of user emails.

For years, Parlers treated its email subscribers to the kind of trashy advertising you see in the gutters of news websites, including miracle cures for belly fat and CryptoTrump NFTs. Truth Socials meager advertising is much the same. Initially, Parlers newsletter often featured actual misinformation-filled news, but the non-advertising content has slowed to a trickle. The only recent news in the newsletter that isnt marketing material comes from American Wire News, a conservative outlet owned by Parlers new parent company Starboard.



Starboard is run by CEO Ryan Coyne, Parlers current head honcho. Reached for comment about the political emails, Coyne said, All [presidential] candidates rent every list on the market all day long, but didnt answer questions about plans for Parler or its email list. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

When Twitter banned Donald Trump over his calls for the January 6th insurrection, Republicans coalesced around the idea that they needed their own social media network free from Silicon Valleys agenda. Parler led this so-called Alt-Tech movement for a time, but fell by the wayside after a series of controversies. Now, the movement is all but finished, in part thanks to Elon Musks newly right-wing Twitter, in part thanks to general disinterest. Starboard bought Parler in April and indefinitely shuttered the platform for a strategic reassessment. As a social media platform, Parler is dead, but its ghost lives on in an email newsletter.

Today, Parler doesnt even have a functioning website. What it does have is a list of emails collected when people registered their accounts. A cohort of like-minded internet users is a valuable marketing asset, and the messages former Parler users received over the last few months are almost entirely marketing content.

Parlers emails feature ads for a variety of exciting products and services.

Trump isnt the only one trying to make a buck off his indictment. This Wednesday, Parler email subscribers were treated to an ad for a free kids gift that tells the Truth about Trump. The email comes from a company run by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. Here, a smiling and bearded Huckabee stands next to a crudely-drawn cartoon of Trump, taking the oath of office on an enormous Bible held by George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. This free* Kids Trump Guide actually costs $1 in shipping and handling  and comes with two automatically renewing subscriptions totaling $31.85 a month. Dont worry, you can cancel anytime.



The Parler newsletter features a whos who of right-wing darlings asking for charity and making sketchy pitches aimed at senior citizens. Actor and outspoken Republican Chuck Norris hucks a FREE 2023 IRS Loophole Kit. James OKeefe, the founder of the far-right propaganda machine Project Veritas, who is being sued by his own organization, begs you to support his legal defense fund. Nixon speech writer turned actor Ben Stein has a guide for sale that could save your retirement!

Ron DeSantis, Florida Governor, candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination, and former Guantanamo Bay Detention Center employee, makes an appearance in the Parler emails as well. A May 31st message celebrates DeSantis for turning Florida into a citadel of freedom against the lefts insanity, and asks for donations to his campaign.

There are plenty of products for sale as well. Recent Parler emails include an ad for a Trumpinator bobble head doll, gambling ads for DraftKings, and a promotion for a weight-loss supplement called Superfood Tabs. There are also ads for Garnuu, a menstrual product brand promising to serve women who hate woke period brands that pay transgender men to promote feminine products. Unlike the emails for the Parler crowd, Garnuus actual website makes no direct mention of the transgender community.

Trump isnt the only one shilling in Parler emails. Other pitches come from the likes of Mike Huckabee, and Ron DeSantis.

Starboard, which changed its name from Olympic Media the day it announced the Parler sale, owns a number of other businesses aimed at the political right. That includes the news sites BizPac Review and the aforementioned American Wire News, as well as We the People, a wine brand that billed as the Wine for Conservatives.



Coyne, Starboards CEO, is no stranger to the political scene. Coynes Instagram account features the entrepreneur meeting with Trump in 2022 and posing with former Vice President Mike Pence. The BLEXIT Foundation  an organization run by extremist provocateur Candace Owens that advocates for Black Americans to abandon the Democratic party  paid Olympic Media $1.8 million for fundraising and media in 2020, according to IRS filings.

Despite the overtly partisan bent of his businesses, Coyne told Gizmodo in an exclusive interview in April that he isnt interested in running a politically motivated advocacy organization. Parler was funded by billionaire heiress and Republican megadonor Rebekah Mercer, who originally tried to keep her involvement a secret. Neither Parler nor Truth Social managed to turn their operations into functioning businesses. Running a social network is hard, and there may not be enough conservatives who want to own the libs on platforms that dont have any libs on them.

Parler, in particular, has had a rough ride. Once championed by conservatives, Parler showed early promise by attracting big names in the American Right, including Sen. Ted Cruz, conspiracy leader Alex Jones, and notable extremist groups such as the Proud Boys and the Atomwaffen Division, a neo-Nazi domestic terrorist network.



Chuck Norris has a hot tip for aging former users of Parler.

But the sites promise dwindled after the January 6th attack on the Capital. App data, which included GPS tags, showed Parlers members breaching the Capitol Building. The company wasnt thrilled about any of this, and Parler reported insurrection organizing activity to the FBI more than 50 times leading up to the riot. That wasnt enough to shield the app from post-insurrection fallout. Parler ran into legal trouble and was temporarily banned from the Apple and Google app stores for failing to moderate its platform.

Parler never recovered from the steam it lost during that chapter. In 2022, Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) said he would buy the beleaguered platform, but Parler called off the deal the same day Ye declared his love for Hitler in an interview. In January 2023, Parler laid off nearly all of its employees. Most recently, the second man convicted of crimes related to the January 6th riots sued Parler from jail. The man used the social media site to make interstate threats, which earned him jail time and a ban from Parler. This, he says, violated a controversial Texas state law, which prohibits social media companies from censoring people for their political views.

Trump, a man who posted his way to the White House, has always loved Twitter. After Elon Musk unbanned him from his favorite platform, which prompted an unbanning from Facebook, reports in January said Trump is eager to return to tweeting. The only thing holding him back is a reported exclusivity contract with Truth Social, which apparently ends this month. Sources who spoke to Rolling Stone said the former president is already workshopping his first tweet. When that tweet inevitably comes, it may close the book on Alt-Tech, a movement many observers said was doomed from the start. Its likely that the only thing left will be disappointed internet users who bought into a dream, and grifters poking around in the ashes for one last score.

More from Gizmodo

Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Pass Christian man guilty of manslaughter in 2021 killing at Bay St. Louis bar

A jury on Thursday found Joseph Alonzo Haynes of Pass Christian guilty of manslaughter in the 2021 shooting of Jermaine Red Watts at a bar in Bay St. Louis.

The jury deliberated for one hour. Haynes faces up to 20 years in prison.

In a news release, District Attorney Crosby Parker said the case was difficult but that the victims family had achieved justice.

Jermaine Watts should not have died that night in Bay St. Louis, Parker said. We are pleased that the jury agreed with this conclusion.

Trial testimony showed police responded about 3:30 a.m. to the Third Base Lounge on May 9, 2021. There, the news release says, they found Watts unresponsive on the side of Highway 90.

It all started over an argument over a vehicle, the news release said. Haynes walked up to Watts and fired, hitting him four times, according to testimony from witnesses and a medical examiner. The release said Watts was unarmed.

Haynes admitted to shooting Watts with a 9 mm handgun during an argument during cross-examination, the DAs release says, but insisted it was in self-defense.

The fatal wound hit Watts in the back, Assistant District Attorney Chris Daniel said.

Haynes has not yet been sentenced.
 Flash

Nine Egyptian nationals suspected of human trafficking were arrested on Thursday by the Hellenic Coast Guard in connection with a deadly shipwreck happening off the Greek shores a day earlier, leaving at least 78 passengers dead, the Greek national news agency AMNA reported.

All nine were among the survivors of the tragedy.

The latest press release issued by the Hellenic Coast Guard puts the number of survivors at 104. It is yet unclear how many people were on board the fishing boat that sank in the early hours of Wednesday in international waters about 47 nautical miles off the town of Pylos in southwestern Greece.

Greek authorities have not confirmed estimates reported in the media that up to 750 people may have been on board.

Survivors said that they had departed from Libya and were heading to Italy, according to Greek national broadcaster ERT.

The Hellenic Coast Guard was alerted by the Italian authorities and located an overloaded boat which rejected any aid, Nikolaos Alexiou, spokesperson of the Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Ministry, told local SKAI television on Thursday.

Greek authorities did not try to intervene by force to lead the boat to a Greek port, fearing that could cause capsizing, he said.

A sudden shift in weight as crammed passengers moved around may have caused the capsizing and sinking of the boat a few hours later, he added.

A three-day national morning for the victims of the tragedy began in Greece on Wednesday evening.

Greece and other Mediterranean countries have been at the forefront of the influx of refugees and migrants since 2015. The often deadly trips across the Mediterranean have so far claimed the lives of thousands, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/A24

In the opening scene of Past Lives, two patrons at a bar gossip off-screen about a trio of strangers they see sitting across the room. One woman sits, smiley and chipper, as she chats with a man, who is equally enthused about the conversation. Next to them is a dour-looking man, whos left out of the chat. The people watchers guess that the two chatty folks are perhaps brother and sister, seeing as theyre both Korean, and the other (white) man is her husband. Perhaps they are all friends, and none of them is dating one other. Maybe the white man is the American tour guide of the two Korean tourists.

Either way, the onlookers fixate on the woman. Shes at the center, after all, which thrusts us viewers to also hypothesize about her relationship to these men. Then, as the two unseen narrators quiet down, she looks right at usthe audience. She stares into the camera. That woman is Nora, played by Greta Lee. That moment, in which Nora peers into our souls and invites us into her life-affecting story, is otherworldly yet uncomplicated, loud yet quiet. But Lee says it was harder to film than it looks.

The Beautiful Past Lives Was Predestined for Greatness

The guys had to put up with me kicking and screaming underneath the bar, just freaking out, because I felt like I wasnt getting it in the way that I wanted, Lee says over Zoom, the perfect medium to chat about a movie that spends a quarter of its time on characters Skype calls. The emotion that director Celine Song suggested her look convey wasnt helpful. Celine was like, Its a cosmic joke! Tell a cosmic joke with your eyes. Like, gahhh! I dont know how to do that.

How hard can telling a cosmic joke only through eye contact really be? The cosmic part of it is keyan entire lifetime of moments has led her to what shes feeling now. Lee had to build Nora up to this moment by falling in love several times with the two men in this shot. First, at age 12, she had a crush on Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), a friend she met in South Korea before her family immigrated to America. Then, at age 24, Nora caught feelings for Hae Sung again, after reconnecting with him via several Skype calls across the globe. Now, at 36, Nora is married to Arthur (John Magaro), the nice fellow she met at a dreamy summer writing residency, somewhere in the pillowy forest landscape of Montauk.

Just as telling a joke with your eyes isnt as easy as just staring into a camera for a few seconds, falling in love on camera isnt as simple as showing up to set, hearing the word action, and acting out the yearning. Lee compares this challenge to playing a character thats dying: Your body doesnt know. Your brain knows whats happening, and whats fake, and whats not. Sometimes, the act of engineering certain feelings, Lee says, is physical.

Jon Pack/Twenty Years Rights/A24 Films

Love is one of those visceral feelings, and it rears its nasty, soul-crushing, yet beautiful head over and over again in Past Livesnot just as a love for other people, but as a sense of longing for the past versions of ourselves.

Lee chatted with The Daily Beasts Obsessed about the no touching rule implemented on set to increase chemistry between the actors, diving into Songs mind to portray her past, and whether Nora and Hae Sung ever see each other again after Past Lives credits roll.

The film opens with a scene at a bar, where a pair of characters gossip about Nora and the men shes with. We return to the bar later in the movie, to hear Noras conversation. Was that first sequence filmed separately from the rest of those moments in the bar?

If memory serves, we shot everything that takes place in the speakeasy bar over two days. I do remember how hard that opening was. I was really humbled by the experience of filming that scene. Just that look [toward the camera]I put a lot of pressure on myself, in terms of understanding everything we wanted from that look. That look is the invitation to the audience to come join us on this ride. You have no idea who we are, but youd like to know, so let me tell you.

It was so fully loaded and, technically, it was a long-lenswithout getting incredibly boring about it, [filming] it felt like ballistics. I had to throw this look and aim it at a camera that was far, but have it feel intimate and knowing and specific. The timing of it, the facial expressionit was really hard.

On that same technical note, was it hard to shoot those conversations with Hae Sung over Skype?

Going into it, we had some doubts. Its so hard to engineer connection over the distance of screens. The mechanics of what that was going to be, how we were going to shoot itthey made it intentionally and authentically shitty. It was true to what Skype was back then [in the early 2010s, when the scene was set]. Then, [we had to] create the challenge of establishing the two of them falling in love over Skype. Which happens! Its real. People have that experience in long-distance relationships. That was intensely challenging, but ultimately, gratifying to do.

Now youre used to it, so we can meet over Zoom with no issues.

Now Im a pro! I feel instantly connected to you over Zoom.

Pixar Takes on Immigration With Lukewarm Elemental

Your character has to fall in love so, so many times in this movie. Falling in love is often embarrassing! Its soul-crushing! Your acting is so real and rawwas filming Noras emotional journey a vulnerable experience?

Actually falling in love is hyper-humiliating and cringey. Falling in love, like really falling in loveits a full-body experience, no matter who you are. We were all taking that to task, taking really seriously how to convey that.

Celine asked Teo and I not to make physical contact [during filming] before we hug in the movie. Initially, I thought that was so silly. I was like, Who cares? But it was an interesting exercise, and Im so glad, because it created this pressure and it created this attention to: How do you physicalize longing and connection? Celine was amazing in terms of thinking about that, the mechanics of how to engineer pretend love.

How did that no touching rule affect your performance?

Understanding that there is a certain physicalitylike, certain people bring out certain things. The whole movie is about, on some level, how certain people in your life can serve as a hologram to certain parts of you. We were really specific in terms of what body language is like, making them distinct between Nora and Arthur, Nora and Hae Sung, and also over time. Theres a youthfulness that happens, [as opposed to] a guarded, protected [adulthood]. All of that was taken into account.

Twenty Years Rights/A24 Films

I love every scene in this film, but one that has stuck with me is the sequence where Nora meets Arthur at the playwrights residency. The place theyre staying feels like summer camp. How did you capture that tone, which is so different from the essence of Nora and Hae Sungs relationship?

I was using my imagination to think aboutI feel like this is relatablewhen youre not looking for love, often thats when things happen. She closes a door and proceeds. She moves on with her life and is barrelling forth, in terms of what she wants. In that moment, she meets Arthur. It [involved] imagining times in my life where the primary love was not a person, [but rather] an experience or a craft, like summers spent at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, in the outdoors, getting swept up for art. [I had to use] my imagination to see what that could be for Nora at that point in her life, in this surprise encounter with Arthur, who becomes her husband kind of unexpectedly.

This movie is somewhat autobiographical for Celine, who went through a similar experience to Nora. What was it like to dig into her mind and, to a certain extent, play her?

It was a joy, honestly. She was incredible. Ive never met anyone like her. I was looking to her to channel Noras own assuredness and steadiness and knowingness. These are essential qualities of Celine, our brilliant writer-director. Its a huge responsibility to portray a real personthat person being the writer-director! She gave so much ownership and made it clear that its autobiographical, but at a certain point, its also not. [She handed] over the character. Im so grateful that she did that in that way, and it didnt feel like I was trying to replicate her experience, because it was a totally new story that we were telling.

The Endless Parade of Cameos in The Flash Doesnt Save the Movie

How do you read Noras final cry, at the end of the film? Is Nora feeling overwhelmed by her past coming back to her, or is it a farewell to her younger years?

Shes saying goodbye to her childhood self and the life that couldve been. Shes saying goodbye to that part of her identity. That goes beyond a racial identity. [Its] that piece of her soul. From the beginning, Celine was really betting on using restraint, to have this specific emotional arc that pays off at the end. No pressure or anything! [Laughs] But thats what I mean by the trust and that ownershipshe gave me full license.

It sounds weird, but I dont think I knew what was going to come out. Its scripted: She cries. But I didnt know how that was going to happen or what it was going to look like or feel like. I remember the first take we did, John was visibly shocked, in a way that made me scared. I was like, Oh, I made the wrong choice. Is it too much? He was taken aback. Not in some sort of judgey way, but it did feel like something bigger than me, what was coming out. It was the full expression of what a moment like that could be for someone, to have to say that kind of goodbye.

Do you think Nora and Hae Sung ever see each other again?

I dont think so. I understand the impulse and the desire of Team Hae Sung and Team Arthur, like, Who is she going to choose? Weve made jokes of, Lets make it a series! Lets follow up with them later. But the truth is that it is final. This is goodbye. It has to be that way. Thats what makes it so devastating. Its the end, for them.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Pastors find a role ministering to young men swept up in El Salvador's crackdown on gangs

American Pastor Kenton Moody, left, walks arm in arm with a young man who was in prison for belonging to a gang, during a break on the grounds of the Vida Libre or free life, rehabilitation center, in Santa Ana, El Salvador, Saturday, April 29, 2023. The gang rehabilitation program was founded in El Salvador in 2021 by Moody. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP)  The smell of pineapple bread fills the kitchen of Vida Libre, or free life, a gang rehabilitation program founded in El Salvador by American pastor Kenton Moody in 2021.

The trust that Moody puts in former gang members is not widely shared. Thousands of lives have been destroyed in this Central American country after decades of gang violence.

Over the past year, President Nayib Bukeles security forces have cracked down harshly on gangs, arresting more than 68,000 people suspected of criminal involvement, though human rights groups say innocent people are also being detained.

Ministries like Moodys are caught in the middle. Dozens of men who were part of evangelical rehabilitation ministries were also arrested and taken back to prison. Of the 38 members of Vida Libre, ten have been detained by the government.

Inside the Vida Libre complex, in the impoverished city of Santa Ana, Moody frequently hugs the young men under his care and assigns them chores.

On a recent day, Angel and Kevin sprinkled sugar over pastries in the bakery. Salvador replaced light bulbs in the barnyard. Moody asked that they be identified by their first names for their safety.

Andy, who crafts wooden key chains to sell, said a gang recruited him when he was 12. The 29-year-old joined Moodys program two years ago after almost a decade in prison.

Maybe humanity sees me as someone bad, but I hope that with my attitudes changing day by day, I can prove that Im different, he said.

___

The first of the big gangs were born far from El Salvador.

To flee the countrys civil war, half a million Salvadorans migrated to the United States in the 1980s. The majority settled in Los Angeles and there, after joining Mexican criminal groups, the Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) and Barrio 18 gangs were formed.

In the 1990s, the U.S. deported 4,000 gang members to El Salvador. The government estimates the current number of gang members is as high as 76,000.

After arriving in El Salvador, MS-13 took control of over roughly half the territory and Barrio 18 most of the rest. A few spots were considered neutral.

Many Salvadorans were forced to internalize unwritten rules, such as avoiding enemy neighborhoods, dressing according to gang standards and paying extortion demands to survive.

Last year, after a surge in gang violence, Bukele issued an emergency decree that suspended certain civil liberties, including access to a lawyer and the right to be informed of the reason for an arrest.

About 5,000 people were released after the government failed to link them to criminal groups, according to official records.

___

Moody founded Vida Libre after visiting a juvenile prison where gang members from a nearby community were incarcerated for burying a woman alive.

Fearing that they might return to gang life upon their release, he wondered: How can I truly help?

A church is the basis for supporting people to get ahead, he said.

His evangelical church, La Puerta Abierta, which means open door, is a cornerstone for social projects funded mostly by U.S. donors.

Vida Libre, one of the churchs programs, takes in minors who are nearing the end of their prison sentence. Its goal is to provide an adequate transition to society, said Allan Espinoza, who leads the project.

The stigma of prison makes it difficult for ex-convicts to resume their studies or find employment. Vida Libre offers workshops in agriculture, carpentry, automotive painting and baking.

Participants arise at 5 a.m. to attend a morning service, and they read the Bible daily. Breaking the rules leads to expulsion and rehabilitation takes time, Espinoza said. Some tell him they want to leave, but he asks them to be patient.

Others knock on his door to talk and, once in his office, they just cry.

___

Not all evangelical churches in El Salvador open their doors to gang members, but in most marginalized communities there are pastors willing to take the risk.

Within the evangelical tradition, the worst sinner provides the Holy Spirit with the biggest opportunity to demonstrate the power of the Gospel and Jesus to transform people, said Robert Brenneman, professor of criminal justice and sociology at Goshen College in Indiana.

He spent years in Central America studying gang youth who wanted a stable, nonviolent lifestyle.

Evangelical-Pentecostal congregations offer resources for transformation  and expect converts to stay away from crime, alcohol and drugs.

These organizations address what they believe to be the root causes of gang affiliation and participation: poverty, weak schools and unemployment, Brenneman said.

In the last two decades, three Salvadoran presidents have imposed strict measures to fight gangs. The two prior to Bukele failed in the long term.

Brenneman said, The crisis is larger than the gangs  Salvadoran leaders have been able to scapegoat the gangs and direct attention away from the inequality that drives so much of the violence.

___

While walking through an empty room behind Eben-Ezer Church in San Salvador, the Rev. Nelson Moz speaks with sadness about a man named Raul, an ex-gang member who came under Mozs wing in 2012.

Raul and more than 40 men from Mozs ministry are now back in jail.

According to the pastor, Raul converted to Christianity in prison. The pastor placed a mattress in his office and offered temporary refuge for Raul after his initial release. They shared lunch and long conversations there.

Thats how I got to understand, Moz said. Imprisonment might be necessary to take out of circulation a person who is causing harm to society, but theres a background to it.

Gang members understood this. To those in need, they offered food, clothing and protection. For thousands of Salvadorans who lacked homes, the gang became their family.

___

The beds are still made in the empty rooms of Eben-Ezer Church.

Some new mattresses are wrapped in plastic. Before the detention of Raul and other ex-gang members in his program, Moz was planning to expand. True change can happen, he said.

Moz and Moody do what they can to support families whose members have been recently imprisoned by the government. Moody builds wooden homes for single mothers and provides free school for children. Moz looks for people willing to take in orphans.

Young people can change the course of the family, help the countrys poverty if they have education and work, Moody said.

Rooting out gangs will take years, he thinks. The weeds have been cut, but as long as the roots remain hidden, the breeding ground  the marginalization  will also subsist.

__

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Under a red sun, seagulls calls and the scent of burning sage wafted past foamy waves breaking on the warm sand just after dawn Friday on Buckroe Beach.

Occasionally echoed by music from a hapi drum, a native flute or an agogo bell, Ayo Handy-Kendi spoke, prayed and sang as she led an African libations ceremony, calling upon the enslaved Africans who arrived in Hampton over four centuries ago.

We are here to acknowledge the ancestral connection from Africa, here with our ancestors who came here first, said Audri Scott Williams, an international human rights activist and the event organizer.

Williams, Handy-Kendi and eight other peace activists gathered Friday for the second of three rituals to be held this year as the group charts the course for Redemption Voyage 2026, a journey to reverse the course of the last slave ship to arrive in the United States.

Offerings of Florida water  a lemon and floral-scented cologne that became a ritual of some enslaved in the early 19th century  and pistachio and apple accompanied the ceremony. Corn kernels were shared, held by those present, and then cast, mingled, into a small pot.

Every little seed that we are able to share is a way of reclaiming the traditions that were stolen from us, Handy-Kendi said, but, of course, were never truly gone.

The ceremony reflected traditions from several African cultures, including the Igbo and Yoruba, and is now used for various occasions, she said. Now 71, she has been leading these rituals for nearly 50 years.

Concluding the ritual, several of the participants waded into the water.

Theres a traditional way that you go to the ocean in many of the African cultures, Williams said. As we go into the water we give thanks for the presence of our ancestors and call on them for support.

The first ritual was held in April at Africatown, Alabama, where the Clotildas journey ended in 1860. The third will take place in September on St. Helena Island, South Carolina.

Redemption Voyage 2026 will gather around 20 graduate students of African descent from historically Black colleges and universities to sail from Africatown to the West Coast of Africa. Williams said the project will begin recruiting those students later this year.

The project is intended to create digital griots  griots are oral historians  who will document their journey through various disciplines from marine science to art, Williams said.

Upon their return in 2026, 250 years after the United States was formed, their experiences and materials are intended to become a traveling exhibit, educational curricula and group-based dialogue.

Those students are like the corn kernels used in the ceremony, Handy-Kendi said: The seeds planted into the next generation.

But before they can be chosen, as the logistics and fundraising are worked out, Williams is embracing the importance of gathering the elders who will organize the journey and starting it with intention.

I was taught the first thing you do when youre starting out on a new venture is to make sure the ancestors are with you, she said. When we do our ceremony with the ancestors we are thanking them for their support, and for lifting us up as we go. Its like protection, but its also honoring the past, to bring it forward into the future.

Katrina Dix, 757-222-5155, katrina.dix@virginiamedia.com
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed optimism on Friday that he would eventually hold talks with his Chinese counterpart after being snubbed by Beijing during an event in Singapore earlier this month.

"I'm confident that, over time, that's going to happen. We're going to meet at some point in time. But we're not there yet," Austin told a press conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Austin's comments came ahead of a high-profile trip by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China on June 18 and 19, the first by a high-ranking U.S. official since Biden took office in January 2021.

One of Blinken's objectives will be to manage escalation to ensure that the world's two biggest military powers do not "veer in to conflict," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in Tokyo.

Relations between the United States and China are increasingly acrimonious, with friction over issues from Taiwan and China's military activity in the South China Sea to U.S. efforts to hold back China's semiconductor industry.

The U.S. military has responded by pushing for open lines of communication with their Chinese counterparts - both at senior and working levels - to mitigate the risk of potential flare-ups, something it has long advocated.

China's leaders, by contrast, have been slow to establish military contacts and quick to shut them down during periods of diplomatic tension.

Chinese officials have blamed the United States for a breakdown in dialogue by ramping up sanctions on Chinese officials and they bristle at the U.S. military presence in region, especially naval transits through the sensitive Taiwan Strait.

Austin said he has not reached out since China declined to hold formal talks with him at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's top security summit, in Singapore.

"I've not reached out since (Singapore). But again, the door is open and my phone line is open. And so they can pick up the phone and call at any time. And we will continue to work to make sure that we have open lines of communication," Austin said.

(Reporting by Andrew Gray, Sabine Siebold and Phil Stewart; Editing by Alistair Bell)
Daniel Ellsberg, who became one of the most important anti-war whistleblowers in U.S. history when he leaked the Pentagon Papers to the media in 1971, died Friday, according to a statement from his family.

The 92-year-old revealed in March that hed been diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer and had about three to six months left to live.

As I look back on the last sixty years of my life, I think there is no greater cause to which I could have dedicated my efforts, Ellsberg wrote of his anti-war activism in a letter he shared to Twitter announcing his diagnosis.

When I copied the Pentagon Papers in 1969, I had every reason to think I would be spending the rest of my life behind bars, he wrote. It was a fate I would have gladly accepted if it meant hastening the end of the Vietnam War, unlikely as that seemed (and was).

Daniel Ellsberg, co-defendant in the Pentagon Papers case, talks to reporters in Los Angeles on April 28, 1973, after the judge in the case released a government memorandum saying G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt, convicted Watergate conspirators, had burglarized the office of Ellsberg's psychiatrist.

Daniel Ellsberg, co-defendant in the Pentagon Papers case, talks to reporters in Los Angeles on April 28, 1973, after the judge in the case released a government memorandum saying G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt, convicted Watergate conspirators, had burglarized the office of Ellsberg's psychiatrist.

The Pentagon Papers  a highly classified study on U.S. conduct in Vietnam that Ellsberg helped work on  revealed that multiple U.S. presidents had lied to both Congress and the American people about circumstances regarding the Vietnam War. The documents Ellsberg leaked showed that U.S. authorities had long known American forces had no chance of winning in Vietnam.

Ellsberg, whod been a staunch supporter of military action in Vietnam until he began mingling with anti-war activists in the late 1960s, was charged under the Espionage Act and faced a potential 115 years behind bars for his actions. But due to governmental misconduct and illegal evidence-gathering in his case, he evaded punishment.

Thanks to [former President Richard] Nixons crimes, I was spared the imprisonment I expected, and I was able to spend the last fifty years with Patricia [Ellsbergs wife] and my family, and with you, my friends, he wrote in March.

Over the course of 15 days in 1971, The New York Times published excerpts from the Pentagon Papers it received from Ellsberg. Forty years later, the government declassified them and released them to the public.

Ellsberg went on to be active in many more anti-war movements, speaking out against U.S. military intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan. At 74 years old in 2005, he was among those arrested for protesting the Iraq War at then-President George W. Bushs Texas ranch.

He also voiced his support for government whistleblowers Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden.

All the young activists rising up give me hope as I leave my life, Ellsberg tweeted in March. As the movement against the Vietnam War showed, young people can save lives when they make their care known in action. Keep going. The world is in your hands.

Ellsberg speaks during an interview in Los Angeles on Sept. 23, 2009. A former Pentagon analyst, Ellsberg was indicted for leaking classified government information about the Vietnam War in 1971 to The New York Times and other newspapers.

Ellsberg speaks during an interview in Los Angeles on Sept. 23, 2009. A former Pentagon analyst, Ellsberg was indicted for leaking classified government information about the Vietnam War in 1971 to The New York Times and other newspapers.

Related...
Arno Burgi/Getty Images

Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked a plethora of top-secret documents that exposed the United States shortcomings in the Vietnam War, died on Friday, his family announced. He was 92.

Ellsberg announced he had pancreatic cancer in March and said he would forego chemotherapytelling supporters in an email hed spend his remaining time alive with a clear head as he spoke about Russias invasion of Ukraine, the perils of nuclear war, and free speech protections.

A family statement said Ellsberg was not in pain, and was surrounded by loving family when he passed. His sense of humor, they said, stayed with him until the very end.

Ellsberg, who was born in Chicago but raised in Detroit, became famous for leaking what became known as the Pentagon Papers to The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other newspapers in 1971a daring act that was dramatized in the film The Post in 2018.

The leak, which exposed the lies and self-deceit that drew America into the war and kept U.S. soldiers there despite no clear path to victory, sent shockwaves through the country. It inspired hundreds of thousands to anti-war protests, while President Richard Nixon and other government officials fumed.

Ellsbergs actions, along with the governments efforts to silence him and news outlets, led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling that ultimately strengthened the freedom of the press against government censorship.

Daniel Ellsberg appears on the Dick Cavett Show in 1972, one year after he leaked the Pentagon Papers. ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images

Unlike others who leaked classified U.S. documents, Ellsberg never went to jail. A federal judge declared his case a mistrial in 1973 after the Nixon administration illegally tried to discredit Ellsberg, sending agents to break into his psychiatrists office in search of dirt on him.

The mistrial was a pleasant surprise to Ellsberg, then 40, who faced up to 115 years behind bars. He conceded to NPR in 2o11 that he expected to go to prison for the rest of his life, but he felt the risk was worth it to possibly end the Vietnam War early.

Looking back, the chance that I would get out of 12 felony counts from Richard Nixon was close to zero, he told Politico this year. It was a miracle.

While plenty of good came from Ellsbergs leak, he acknowledges the Pentagon Papers did little to end the war early. Fighting in Vietnam raged for four years after the first news story of the leak ran on the cover of The New York Times on June 13, 1971.

The leak may have played some part in ending the war, however. Nixons outrage at Ellsberg led him to create The Plumbers, the clandestine group of agents that Nixon used to break into Ellsbergs psychiatrists office. That same group was used to break into the Watergate complexsetting off a national scandal of its own that led to Nixons downfall.

Many, including Ellsberg, believed the Pentagon Papers were the beginning of Nixons fall from grace that eventually ended the Vietnam War less than a year after his resignation in 1974.

In short, the criminal actions that the White House took against me were extraordinarily revealed in ways that led to this absolutely unforeseeable downfall of a president, which made the war endable, Ellsberg told the New Yorker in 2021.

Daniel Ellsberg Tells Court U.S. Is Out for Revenge Against Julian Assange

Ellsberg was always clear he never regretted the leakeven before he knew hed escape without a jail sentence.

I felt that as an American citizen, as a responsible citizen, I could no longer cooperate in concealing this information from the American public, he told reporters at the time. I did this clearly at my own jeopardy and I am prepared to answer to all the consequences of this decision.

The leak made Ellsberg a household name in America, and he didnt shy away from the spotlight. He was outspoken against the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and other conflicts worldwide. He was regularly featured in interviews, documentaries, and news segments, even into his 90s.

In his later days, those close to Ellsberg feared he had a tendency to lean hard into certain conspiracy theoriesa possible symptom of being on the outside after being in covert operations for so many years.

Ellsberg repeatedly declared that the United States had been operating an empire since World War II, which he found to be impropercriticizing both Republicans and Democrats for taking part in it.

Daniel Ellsberg and his wife Patricia Marx Ellsberg together in 2019. Getty Images

Ellsberg is survived by his wife of 53 years, Patricia, as well as his three kids and many grandchildren. His family said he died at his home in Kensington, California, seemingly as happy as hed ever beenjoking to loved ones, If I had known dying would be like this, I would have done it sooner.

In a letter, his loved ones wrote, Daniel was a seeker of truth and a patriotic truth-teller, an anti-war activist, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, a dear friend to many, and an inspiration to countless more. He will be dearly missed by all of us.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Vicente Lopezs first Fathers Day without a dad was pretty much a blur.

Lopez lost his dad in October 2018, just after hed turned 30. His dad had been in the intensive care unit at a hospital in Los Angeles, where the family lives, for about a week, but Lopez had stayed away because he was sick.

I didnt realize that every person telling me, You should go see your dad was trying to silently say something that I couldnt hear, he told HuffPost.

When Fathers Day rolled around eight months later, Lopez didnt just have his dad to mourn; hed just gone through a bad breakup and lost his job, too.

I dont remember what the first Fathers Day without my dad was like, probably because trauma and depression brain tends to keep memories from forming for me, he said. It was OK not to be ready to mark it. To just get through it to the other end was enough of a trial.

Since then, Fathers Day has gotten better. Lopez likes to joke that hes part of the Sad, No Dad Club, and it helps to remind himself that hes not the only member, especially come June 18.

I usually check in with my other friends and family whove lost their dads on Fathers Day, he said. We commiserate, share sweet memories and make a toast to the men no longer with us.

If you, too, are a new member of the Sad, No Dad Club, here is some advice on how to deal with your first Fathers Day sans dad from others whove been there. (Ive been a member of this downer club since 2006, and I can tell you, it gets better.)

Dont pressure yourself to do or feel any particular thing.

Grief doesnt need to look any specific way, especially on a day as emotionally loaded as Fathers Day, said Carly Midgley, a writer who lost her dad in 2017 when she was 22.

The loss might hit you like a ton of bricks, or you might feel very little and wonder if youre doing something wrong, she said. Know that how you feel today and what you do with this time says nothing about your grief, your character or your love for your dad.

Grief is a daily battle, one that doesnt operate on a human calendar, and you might simply be due for a rest. Its OK to feel OK, just as it is to feel crushed, said the Toronto-based writer.

Six years out, Midgley finds it comforting to hold space for her dad in some way each year.

Whether thats talking with family, engaging with something he loved  hockey, Neil Young, walks in nature  or just taking a quiet moment to tell him I miss him, it helps to make the day a little more his, she said.

Carly Midgley lost her dad in 2017, when she was 22.

Carly Midgley lost her dad in 2017, when she was 22.

It might help to be surrounded by those who loved him as much as you did.

If you have them, definitely lean into your siblings, said Molly Wadzeck Kraus, a writer who lives in upstate New York.

When my sister and I lived together in New York City, she and I would go out for Mexican food as a way to honor him, share stories and safeguard the memories we have left, said Wadzeck Kraus, who lost her dad in 2006 when she was 19.

Having grown up in Waco, Texas, indulging in endless chips, guac and tacos always felt like a fitting tribute.

Nowadays, my sister and I connect through text on Fathers Day, usually sharing dark-humored memes about dead fathers or grief or trauma, she said. Our dad was incredibly funny, and I think hed appreciate the coping mechanism and be happy we are still laughing together.

Roger Miller of Nova Scotia, Canada, was 18 when he lost his dad. Hes 60 now and says its only in recent years that hes fully grasped the significance of the loss.

That year of firsts  the first Fathers Day without dad, the first Christmas  Miller and his family made a point to be together: We missed him as a family.

Two decades later, he still finds solace in gathering together as a family on Fathers Day. Since his grown kids never got to meet his dad, Miller said he tries to pepper the day with memories of what the man was like so they understand how important he was to where we are today.

They know theyre free to ask questions about my dad; I always enjoy talking about him, he said. I was once in a pub and wound up speaking to a total stranger who happened to know my dad, and that was 30+ years after his passing.

Molly Wadzeck Kraus and her dad during a dual Fathers Day/birthday celebration.

Molly Wadzeck Kraus and her dad during a dual Fathers Day/birthday celebration.

That said, its OK if you want to be alone.

If you have a feeling that June 18 is going to be rough, try to give your family members a heads-up, said Doug Nolan, a Chicagoan who was 29 when his dad died in 2019.

The year after my dad died, I thought I was good because it was almost a year later but I was just angry at the world, Nolan told HuffPost. I was snippy and just ended up sitting by myself inside at a family party, far away from everyone.

The next year, Nolan told his wife that he needed space. If he disappeared for a bit, he let her know, it would be because his grief felt unwieldy and he needed alone time.

When he became a father, he was again open about what his preferences for the day were: If it would make me sad or angry, I would not do it, he said.

For instance, last year, his mom wanted him and his family to come over for lunch, but Nolan knew it would make the day busy and hectic and [the] opposite of what I wanted to do, so his family opted out.

Ive learned its OK to be selfish that day and to give yourself the space and grace you need to grieve or be sad or laugh, he said. Ultimately, figure out what is best for you to cope, and do it.

Doug Nolan and his dad, who died in 2019.

Doug Nolan and his dad, who died in 2019.

Youll probably want to rapid delete Fathers Day promotion emails and change the channel when a dad-centric ad comes up.

All those commercials for Fathers Day sales  the ones featuring telegenic fake families barbecuing in plaid  can feel cloying when youre fresh off a dad loss.

The month before my first Fathers Day without my dad, I would watch those Fathers Day commercials and actually be jealous of the people on TV, said Delanie Stephenson, a writer from central Virginia who lost her dad in 2018 when she was 36.

Emails about Fathers Day sales can be a little upsetting, too  though a growing number of retailers now ask customers if they want to opt out of emails about Fathers Day or Mothers Day.

Five years after her dads death, Stephenson now brushes off the ads and spends Fathers Day looking through old photos that help conjure up memories of him.

I thought Id always want the day to hurry up and pass me by, but I actually started to enjoy going down a mental memory lane with my dad, she said.

I miss not having a father to hug, but I love looking at all the old pictures of me growing up with him, she added. Im grateful that I had a loving dad who gave me a childhood of memories I can look back on and cherish. Not everyone is so lucky.

Delanie Stephenson, who lost her dad in 2018, spends Father's Day looking at old childhood photos:

Delanie Stephenson, who lost her dad in 2018, spends Father's Day looking at old childhood photos: "Im grateful that I had a loving dad who gave me a childhood of memories I can look back on and cherish," she said.

Its all right to treat it like just another day.

Nobody will say it out loud, but one of the perks of not having a dad around for Fathers Day is that youre allowed not to care about the holiday, said Emily Garside, a journalist and theater critic who lives in Cardiff, Wales, and lost her dad in 2004 when she was 20.

Maybe you prefer to celebrate your dad on his birthday, or another holiday altogether, she said.

I think about my dad at (Canadian) Thanksgiving, which is weird, admittedly, but its also when he died, so thats more poignant to me, she said. Pumpkin pie and October [make] me think of my dead dad, and Ill be honest, 20 years on I usually forget Fathers Day exists until social media guilts me into thinking I should be making a fuss.

Its also not weird or wrong to think, Thats one less gift I have to buy or BBQ I need to go to, said Sonia Sells, who lost her dad in 2014 when she was 25.

It could easily end up feeling like just another day, said Sells, who lives in New Jersey. At the same time, if you spend the day absolutely devastated, dont hold it back or in just because youre afraid of how it might make others feel. Working through grief isnt linear, and no one should expect that from you including yourself.

"If you spend the day absolutely devastated, dont hold it back or in just because youre afraid of how it might make others feel," said Sonia Sells, who lost her dad in 2014.

Choose what feels best for you when it comes to social media.

If youre feeling emotional, it may be best to avoid Instagram for the day; your feed will be a veritable minefield of dad pics, and scrolling might be painful.

That said, the older you get, the tributes to dead dads start to achieve an equilibrium with the tributes to living ones, so it might be nice to know youre not alone.

If you do post, it might feel good to read the comments from people who want to share their own memories of your dad, or just let you know that he sounded cool.

Wajeeha Abbasi, a graphic designer and illustrator who lives in Toronto, has posted photos of her dad every year on Instagram since he died in 2016.

My first Fathers Day without him was spent in tears and anger  anger because I was still mad at God for taking him away, she told HuffPost. But even then, I posted a photo of him on Instagram. It sounds small, but it got family and friends to also share their favorite memories of my Abba, and that brought some comfort.

I post about my life on Instagram, so it is also fitting that I dont just post the shiny parts about it, too, including the intense feeling of loss I feel on holidays, she explained. Its a good way to acknowledge the heaviness and send a little prayer or love his way.

Wajeeha Abbasi was 25 when she lost her dad. She posts about him every year on Instagram on Father's Day and on the anniversary of his death:

Wajeeha Abbasi was 25 when she lost her dad. She posts about him every year on Instagram on Father's Day and on the anniversary of his death: "It got family and friends to also share their favorite memories of my Abba, and that brought some comfort.

Consider doing something that honors your dad or continues his legacy.

Abbasi also tries to keep her fathers memory alive through good deeds on Fathers Day.

To honor his memory, I like to donate some money to a charity that works to promote education in underprivileged communities, something my dad was passionate about, she said.

Lopez, the man who mentioned the Sad, No Dad Club, tries to channel his dad through acts of kindness: My dad was a kind-hearted man who was very passionate about helping and protecting the people that he loved, he said.

On Fathers Day, Lopez checks in on people who lost their dads, too, to see how theyre doing. Throughout the year, though, hes quick to celebrate the wins and accomplishments of friends and family since its something he knows his dad would do if he were alive.

Im lucky enough to have clear and vivid memories of my dad telling me he was proud of me, that he loved me, that I filled his heart so much that it would overwhelm him to tears, he said. I know that its all true because I feel the same way about the people I love. And now that hes not here, the echoes are strong and loud enough that I can still hear them long after hes left.

Related...
A group of starlings fly in the dark cloudy sky over the city in the direction of a rainbow in Frankfurt, Germany, on Nov. 5, 2019. | Frank Rumpenhorst, Associated Press

In America right now, unlike so much of prior human history, minority groups receive compassionate attention and support. There is good that has come from this heightened encouragement by scholars, journalists, corporations, church ministry and social media influencers.

Amid this months celebration of a proliferating variety of sexual minorities (from gender fluid to nonbinary, to gay, lesbian or queer), one group has received remarkably little attention: those who experience same-sex attraction or identify as LGBTQ+ and are also deeply committed to following a traditional Christian sexual ethic.

This group remains profoundly misunderstood and, in some ways, ostracized, from both those in religious and the LGBTQ+ communities.

Fortunately, there are numerous national organizations among major Christian denominations who represent and minister to these individuals. Among others, they include Courage for conservative Catholics, Revoice and Restored Hope Network for Evangelicals and North Star International (meeting this weekend in Salt Lake City) for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Like the individuals themselves, these groups are too often misunderstood and judged harshly by secular and progressive observers. Some of the most common misunderstandings are that these organizations promote shame and self-hatred, encourage aversive conversion therapy and prevent self-acceptance and inner harmony.

Misunderstandings also arise from traditional believing Christians who misperceive a threat to their faith communities. For instance, some might assume anyone who experiences same-sex attraction rejects traditional religious teaching about gender and sexuality. Others assume it is dangerous to get all these people together with offensive comments like Would you have an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting at a bar?

With misunderstanding coming from many directions, it can be difficult for these individuals to find a fuller sense of belonging in faith communities. This explains some of the reluctance of LGBTQ+ folks who embrace a traditional marriage ethic to speak up in popular discourse. Latter-day Saint Blake Fisher has written about patronizing pushback that sometimes comes from other LGBTQ+ folks no longer practicing their faith, which goes something like this:

Oh, I remember when I was back in that [religion]. I was motivated by fear, shame, internalized homophobia/transphobia and external expectations  I imagine these people are, too. If theyre actually honest with themselves and educate themselves with some unbiased research materials, theyll inevitably come to the same conclusions I did. Life is so much better when you live authentically (the way I am). Im mad at the church for forcing them to live that way.

These are the kinds of attitudes believing Christians affected by these issues sometimes encounter, and why gatherings of these faithful and devoted individuals are especially uplifting and strengthening. Formal associations of faithful and believing LGBTQ+ folks have been found among just about all Christian groups and beyond, such as the Strong Support Muslim peer-support organization and the Israeli Family Institute for Orthodox Jews who are navigating analogous experiences in their respective faiths.

North Star International is not a formal organization associated with The Church of Jesus Christ, but rather independently seeks to be a faith-affirming resource for those who specifically desire to live in harmony with the teachings of Jesus Christ and the doctrines and values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As the organization says, We look to our Savior Jesus Christ for guidance, hope and spiritual healing.

For evangelical believers, Revoice has a similar mission: to support and encourage gay, lesbian, bisexual, and other same-sex attracted Christians  as well as those who love them with an ultimate aspiration of working so that all in the Church might be empowered to live in gospel unity while observing the historic Christian doctrine of marriage and sexuality.

Each of these groups is firmly rooted in the Judeo-Christian commitment to marriage between a man and a woman.

Each of these initiatives has ongoing ministries and different kinds of smaller support gatherings, as well as extensive resource sharing to help individuals and families navigate challenges. North Stars website, for example, features many short testimonies and longer stories of men and women who experience joy and peace in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

While encouraging faith, reconciliation and belonging, each of these groups avoids trying to become an alternative to church fellowship itself, instead hoping to prepare individuals to better receive the fruits and blessings of their own worship, while taking what they learn at their gatherings and direct their energy and unique gifts to build up their local congregations.

Nate Collins, the Evangelical author of All But Invisible: Exploring Identity Questions at the Intersection of Faith, Gender, and Sexuality, calls for greater, ongoing attention to helping the church be a place where gay and lesbian men and women can discover the abundant life that the gospel promises them.

The relief of finding support that doesnt somehow subtly undermine or more overtly lead away from faith is palpable. And together, these groups push back on the dominant narrative that portrays this pathway of reconciliation between sexuality and faith as harmful and limiting at best, and impossible at worst.

God hasnt called me to an impassable path, as one Christian believer has remarked. There is life and joy in submitting to Christ and following him.

Jeff Bennion is a co-founder of North Star International and a marriage and family therapist who also writes about marriage, sexuality and gender. He lives in Salt Lake City with his wife and teenage son.
FILE PHOTO: A health worker sprays fumigation vapour to stem the spread of dengue virus in Lima

Peru's health minister steps down as dengue death toll jumps FILE PHOTO: A health worker sprays fumigation vapour to stem the spread of dengue virus in Lima

LIMA (Reuters) - Peru's embattled health minister announced her resignation late on Thursday during a speech in Congress, in the midst of a dengue outbreak already responsible for record-breaking deaths and infections.

Lawmakers had summoned Health Minister Rosa Gutierrez to face a motion to remove her from her post before she said she would resign.

President Dina Boluarte accepted the resignation and vowed to "redouble" efforts to improve public health in a post on Twitter.

The death toll from the viral outbreak has risen to 248, while reported cases have surpassed 146,000, according to official data.

Over the past week, deaths are up 24%, as cases jumped by more than 12%.

The outbreak is likely to worsen as torrential rains from El Nino climate phenomenon lead to surging populations of mosquitoes, which transmit dengue.

Last week, Boluarte declared a two-month state of emergency in most regions of the country, while most of the fatalities so far have occurred in northern Peru.

Dengue symptoms include fever, muscle and joint pain, nausea and fatigue.

(Reporting by Marco Aquino; Writing by Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
Pete Davidson was charged with reckless driving after a March incident where he clipped the corner of a Beverly Hills house

Pete Davidson attends the premiere of Hulu's "Big Time Adolescence" at Metrograph on March 5, 2020 ANGELA WEISS/Getty Images

Actor and comedian Pete Davidson was charged with reckless driving by the LA DA's office on Friday.

According to CNN, the misdemeanor charge stems from a March 4 crash where Davidson clipped a house.

No one in Davidson's car, or in the Beverly Hills house he struck, were injured in the crash.

Actor Pete Davidson was charged with reckless driving on Friday, months after he crashed into the corner of a Beverly Hills house.

The actor and comedian crashed into a home and fire hydrant in Beverly Hills during a late-night drive on March 4, where no one was injured. On Friday, the Los Angeles District Attorney's office charged Davidson with reckless driving for the crash, which is a misdemeanor, according to CNN.

The DA's office did not immediately return Insider's request for comment.

"We believe that Mr. Davidson engaged in reckless driving, which ultimately resulted in his involvement in a serious collision into a home," the DA's office told CNN in a statement. "Luckily, no one was seriously injured as a result of this collision. We know that reckless driving can have devastating consequences."

According to KTLA, Davidson was driving with his girlfriend, the actress Chase Sui Wonders, in his Mercedes Benz on the night of the crash.

Davidson reportedly lost control of the vehicle while driving fast, and jumped a curb, hitting a fire hydrant and the corner of a house, per KTLA.

Davidson's rep did not immediately return Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Insider
You are here: World

 Flash

Norway and Denmark have agreed to donate an additional 9,000 rounds of artillery to Ukraine after a similar donation earlier this year, Norway's Ministry of Defense said on Thursday.

In a press release, the ministry explained that Norway would provide the artillery shells, while Denmark would contribute fuzes and propellant charges.

The ministry said that Norway has also donated an additional 7,000 artillery rounds from its own stocks. These have already been sent to Ukraine.

With the donations now announced, Norway has donated a total of 27,000 artillery rounds alone, and 17,000 together with Denmark to Ukraine.
Early in the morning of June 6, the massive Kakhovka dam on the Dnipro River, under the control of Russian occupying forces, was destroyed in the largest attack on vital civilian water infrastructure since World War II.

The dam and the reservoir behind it were built in the mid-1950s to provide water for growing Ukrainian cities, irrigation for Ukraines rich farmland, and hydroelectricity. It was one of the largest dams in Europe, and the reservoir held over 18 cubic kilometers of water  more than the entire average annual flow of the Colorado River in the U.S. In recent years, the reservoir also provided critical cooling water for the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and fed water in the North Crimean Canal.

The cause of the destruction has not yet been proven definitively, but growing circumstantial evidence points directly at Russia.

Russian forces seized the dam in February 2022 and have controlled it since. There is no evidence of the level of external bombardment that would have been needed to destroy the dam, which failed simultaneously in multiple locations, and some hydraulic engineers argue the dam could only be destroyed by internal explosives.

Stephen Zhao: Tepid response to Kakhovka dam explosion paves way for nuclear disaster On the morning of June 6 at around 2:50 a.m., an explosion erupts at the center of the Kakhovka dam, leading to its destruction and the flooding of much of Kherson Oblast. Having been mined by Russia over the course of last year and timed exactly to disrupt The Kyiv IndependentStephen Zhao

Norwegian seismographs recorded a massive signal at the time of the dam collapse, consistent with a major explosion, and President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously cited intelligence reports claiming Russian forces had mined the dam.

Oleh Ustenko, one of Zelenskys economic advisors, said that the Russian government signed legislation a week before the dams collapse prohibiting any investigations until 2028 into accidents at hydro plants that occur as a result of military operations, sabotage, or so-called terrorist activities in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.

Russia also stood to gain the most from the flooding by slowing down the expected Ukrainian counteroffensive and forcing Ukraine to divert emergency personnel, equipment, and resources to deal with the effects of the flooding.

An abandoned boat lies near the empty Oskil reservoir on Oct. 27, 2022, in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine. Oskil reservoir. At the height of Russian attacks in the spring of 2022, the dam on the Oskil was partially blown up. (Photo by Mariia Solodovnyk/Suspilne Ukraine/JSC "UA:PBC"/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Russia has attacked other dams in Ukraine over the past year:

In April 2022, retreating Russian forces destroyed the dam forming the Oskil Reservoir in Kharkiv Oblast; In September 2022, a dam near the city of Kryvyi Rih was struck by Russian missiles; Missile attacks occurred in October 2022 on hydroelectric dams at Kremenchuk and on the Dniester River; the Dnipro Hydroelectric Station near Zaporizhzhia was attacked in December 2022 and again in February 2023; In May 2023, Russia destroyed the Karlivskyi dam in Donetsk Oblast; After the Kakhovka dam destruction, another dam was reportedly destroyed by Russian forces on the Mokri Yaly River in Donbas.

The impacts of the destruction of the Kakhovka dam are still unfolding, and the full consequences will not be known for some time, but thousands of people, on both banks of the Dnipro River, have been evacuated or trapped by the release of the reservoir, and injuries and deaths have been reported.

Large areas of land have been inundated, destroying property, crops, and livestock. Millions of fish have been killed as the waters in the reservoir drained off and swept downstream toward the Black Sea. Tons of oils and other contaminants have been swept into the river. The hydropower at the dam has been lost, as has reliable cooling water at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, though backup cooling systems remain available there for now. And water levels in the reservoir have now fallen so low that water deliveries to the North Crimean Canal are no longer possible.

Kakhovka dam destruction disrupts water, power supply but offers sustainable reset In the early morning of June 6, Russia blew up a major dam in the occupied part of southern Ukraine, causing a humanitarian and ecological crisis. The Kakhovka dam, located on the Dnipro River, is a major waterway running through southeastern Ukraine and the last of a series of six The Kyiv IndependentAgatha Gorski

In the longer term, the water supplies for hundreds of thousands of people are now at risk if water cannot be drawn from the reservoir. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Agriculture, tens of thousands of hectares of agricultural land have been lost to flooding below the dam, and upstream as much as 580,000 hectares may no longer be irrigable in the future, threatening even greater losses to Ukrainian harvests that have occurred over the past year.

Finally, legal experts say the intentional destruction of civilian water systems is a war crime, explicitly prohibited by several rules of international humanitarian and criminal law, including the Geneva Convention of 1949 and specifically the 1977 Protocols that prohibit attacks on infrastructure containing dangerous forces, including explicitly dams and dykes, if such attacks may cause the release of dangerous forces and consequent severe losses among the civilian population.

Beyond the human, environmental, and economic consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, this attack on critical civilian water infrastructure is a massive escalation in the war, and it should be loudly and unreservedly condemned by the international community.

Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent.

Submit an Opinion
[Source]

PewDiePie, whose real name is Felix Kjellberg, expressed his frustrations with Japan's health restrictions in a recent vlog.

Mixed feelings: In the video uploaded to his YouTube channel on June 15 titled "Reviewing Japan," the often-controversial YouTube star discusses his feelings toward the strict rules and regulations in the country.

While he acknowledges the benefits of Japan's structured society, he also voices his annoyance with certain rules that he feels are unnecessary.

Japan has so many rules, and its a bit conflicting for me to complain about because a lot of the best stuff about Japan, a lot of the reasons why Japan works so well, is because of the rules. But sometimes, there are rules that just dont make any sense. I have no problem following rules as long as I understand the reason for it, you know a lot of it is just, "Be thoughtful of other people, its not just about you." More from NextShark: South Korea may launch public survey to decide on BTS mandatory military service

Why he's frustrated: According to the Swedish influencer, such restrictions will limit the amount of time he can spend with his newborn baby in the hospital.

Im not allowed to be in the delivery room for our baby for more than two hours, Kjellberg adds. Thats because of the global health problem rules. It just doesnt make sense to me its really frustrating.

No love lost: The 33-year-old YouTuber, who lived in Brighton, England, for nearly a decade, moved to Japan in 2022 and has expressed his love for the country in many of his videos.

More from NextShark: Canadian TikToker Megha Thakur dies suddenly at age 21, her parents announce

In the recent video, he described his life in Japan as a "dream" and stated that he and his wife feel comfortable and happy there. He gave Japan an "S+" rating and encouraged his viewers to visit.

More from NextShark: How a samurai-born man became the father of an alternative therapy used by millions worldwide

Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark!

Pizza Hut Indonesia releases dim sum pizza  no, its not an April Fools joke
Police investigate as turkeys are found shot with darts in California retirement community

A Northern California police department says it is working with state wildlife authorities to investigate multiple reports of turkeys being shot by arrows or darts.

Rio Vista Police Department dispatchers have received at least six calls this year regarding the shooting of turkeys in the area of Trilogy, which is a retirement community on the northwest portion of the city on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the department said in a Friday morning social media post.

At least one of the calls turned out to be reported based on information seen on social media, the department wrote, with officers unable to locate a firsthand witness.

Authorities are investigating the alleged turkey shootings as felony animal cruelty, according to the post.

Police said the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is the lead investigating agency and that law enforcement officials cannot provide additional details without hindering the investigation. Fish and wildlife officials also declined to comment on the matter.

Emergency authorities have reported at least two turkey-related issues in the past month, both in the Trilogy area.

The Rio Vista Fire Department on May 19 said a vehicle swerved to avoid a turkey in the roadway, resulting in the vehicle crashing into a fire hydrant and prompting a temporary shutdown of water service in the area. The driver was uninjured.

Rio Vista police in a June 7 Facebook post said a state game warden responded to Trilogy to trap one or more injured turkeys. Police did not specify at that time whether the turkey or turkeys had been shot.

Authorities are advising anyone in the Rio Vista area who spots a turkey that has been struck by arrows or darts to contact police dispatch at 707-374-2300.

The Solano County Sheriffs Office is also assisting in the investigation, Rio Vista police said.
Police are investigating after someone opened fire outside of a busy strip of restaurants during the lunch hour Friday afternoon in College Park.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Channel 2s Richard Elliot was on Virginia Avenue in South Fulton County, where there were dozens of shell casings scattered outside a KFC.

Elliot spoke to a witness, who said the shooting started out as an argument between two men.

The two people left, but then one opened fire on a car in the parking lot.

One just ran off, witness James Lincium said. Im not sure which direction, because I just took cover in a booth. Theres nowhere much to go when things start happening.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Crime scene tape was strung up outside of the KFC and a Mexican restaurant next door. Some of the cars in the Mexican restaurants parking lot had bullet holes in their windows.

College Park police have not said if theyve been able to identify the shooter or shooters.

IN OTHER NEWS:
Independent Office for Police Conduct

The former head of a British police watchdog was charged Friday with indecent assault and raping a girl under the age of 16.

Michael Lockwood, who resigned from his role as Director General of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in December citing personal reasons, now faces nine sexual offenses. They include six counts of indecent assault and three of rape against the girl, with the offenses allegedly taking place in the mid-1980s, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said in a statement.

After carefully considering all of the evidence provided to us by Humberside Police, we have [authorized] charges against Michael Lockwood, 64, for nine [offenses] under the Sexual Offences Act 1956, said Rosemary Ainslie, the head of the CPS Special Crime Division. The division handles some of the most serious offenses in England and Wales, including criminal allegations against police officers.

At the time of his resignation in December, Lockwood said he was standing down for personal and domestic reasons. British Home Secretary Suella Braverman said she had taken immediate action upon being made aware that Lockwood was the subject of a criminal investigation and instructed my officials to ask him to resign or face immediate suspension from his role.

The IOPC is responsible for handling complaints made against police forces in England and Wales. We investigate the most serious matters, including deaths following police contact, and set the standards by which the police should handle complaints, the IOPC says on its website. We use learning from our work to influence changes in policing. We are independent, and make our decisions entirely independently of the police and government.

Lockwood was the first person to be appointed to head up the IOPC since its formation in 2018 to replace the Independent Police Complaints Commission. Before his tenure as the watchdogs chief, Lockwood served as the chief executive of a London council and led the recovery and remediation work for families affected by the 2017 Grenfell Tower firethe London apartment building disaster which left 72 people dead.

He is set to appear in court on June 28.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
The house-museum of the artist Polina Raiko in the town of Oleshky (Kherson Oblast), which was flooded due to the blowing up of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant by the Russian occupiers, has been almost completely destroyed.

Photos and videos of the destroyed museum were shared on Facebook by Semen Khramtsov, a representative of the Polina Raiko Kherson Oblast Charitable Foundation and an artist.

According to Khramtsov, about a third of Raiko's works have been preserved in the house, and the interior walls have collapsed. "This is mourning! I have been sent a video from Polina Raiko's house... More interior walls have collapsed, now it's a terrible open space... About 30-40% of the frescoes (with the ceilings) have been preserved, but the wall with the sisters has been completely lost. And along the way, the fisherman husband, the nurse... everything below... The cats are half gone, and the road to paradise too... I don't know how much longer it will stand," Khramtsov wrote.

In a conversation with Ukrainska Pravda.Kultura, Khramtsov said that while Oleshky is occupied, no one will be engaged in the professional preservation of Raiko's works. Therefore, the task in the near future is to dry the house, which has been flooded.

"Women will do what they do with their houses  pump out water and dry it out. But to preserve it 'scientifically', in a museum-like way, of course not," he said.

Polina Raiko's house-museum was destroyed. Photo: Khramtsov Simon / Facebook

Polina Raiko's house-museum was destroyed. Photo: Khramtsov Simon / Facebook

The museum was flooded on 7 June. Photo: Khramtsov Simon / Facebook

The museum was flooded on 7 June. Photo: Khramtsov Simon / Facebook

The artist explained that after the liberation, a group of specialists would have to be formed to go and rescue everything that was left there.

"The order is as follows: do not touch anything, remove excess garbage and dry it. That's all," Khramtsov emphasised.

lk

The museum was flooded on 7 June. Photo: Khramtsov Simon / Facebook

gg

Photo: Khramtsov Simon / Facebook

It became known that the house-museum of artist Polina Raiko in Oleshky was under threat of flooding on the day the occupiers blew up the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam on 6 June.

The very next day, on 7 June, the house with the frescoes was under water and had been flooded all this time.

Polina Raiko is a self-taught Ukrainian artist in the genre of naive art. She is a native of the town of Oleshky. She started painting at the age of 69 without any artistic education. Her first work was an image of a white dove on a gate, and in a few years she painted her own house, summer kitchen, gates, fences and garage doors, as well as the graves of relatives in the cemetery.

Raiko died on 15 January 2004. After her death, a couple of art lovers from Canada bought the house in Oleshky. Subsequently, a Raiko Charitable Foundation was established to raise funds to promote her work. In 2013, the Ivan Honchar Museum organised an expedition to Polina Raiko's house in Kherson Oblast and declared its readiness to take it under its care.

Polina Raiko's house is protected by the Law of Ukraine on Protection of Cultural Heritage. And the work of the folk artist is put on a par with the art of Mariia Prymachenko and Kateryna Bilokur.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Destruction in the house-museum of Polina Raiko due to flooding

A representative of the foundation that preserved Raykos works, Simon Khramtsov, posted photos and a video of the damage on Facebook on June 16.

Read also: Russian declared paintings he stole from museum in Kherson

The water has almost subsided and the terrible aftermath of the flooding has become obvious. Only 30% to 40% of the artists unique frescoes have survived  mostly those that are closer to the ceiling and weren't reached by water.

Read also: Russians looting of museums in Ukraine may be biggest art heist since World War II, writes NYT

The inner walls of the house have also partially collapsed.

"It's a sorrow, Khramtsov wrote. I received a video from Polina Reyko's house... Most of the inner walls collapsed and it (house) turned into an awful open space... Only about 30-40% of frescoes (including ceiling) have survived, but we completely lost the "wall with sisters."

It seems we lost Husband-fisher, ... everything that was lower... Half of Cats, and Road to heaven, Khramtsov wrote, referring to some of the mural works.

... I can't say how long (the house) will remain (standing) ... The caretakers want to dry the house, but I think they need some instructions from experts about what they should do next. But what could they do in their current conditions?"

A humanitarian disaster in Russian-occupied Oleshky is still ongoing, Khramtsov noted, and added a list of necessities the locals are lacking. Aid can be also provided in the form of money via a specified bank account.

Read also: See dead people through the windows  Many dead and missing in Russian occupied area after Kakhovka dam breach

After the Kakhovka dam was destroyed by invading Russian troops, Raykos house was completely flooded and the women caretekers fled to a safer place, Khramtsov reported earlier.

Read also: Greenpeace reports flooding of 32 sites containing chemicals, oil, and gasoline, following Kakhovka Dam explosion

Rayko was a Ukrainian nave-style painter who started painted at the age of 69 without any previous background. Her house became her canvases as eventually she fully covered it with pictures that matched other Ukrainian famous folk artists such as Kateryna Bilokur and Maria Prymachenko. It took her only six years to turn her property into a national treasure.

The Polina Rayko Kherson Regional Charitable Foundation was founded after the artists death in 2014. It cared for the house, which became a local tourist attraction, and organized frequent festivals, artist residences, and film-making.

Viacheslav Mashnytskyi, a Ukrainian artist and the chief curator of the project, went missing after the area came under Russian occupation.

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
Stones fly towards Polish patrols almost every day

The incident, which occurred several days ago, was revealed by the head of the border service during a briefing with members of the Sejm, the Polish parliament.

The identity of the assailants and the type of weaponry used in the shooting remain unknown at this time. However, evidence confirms that the border patrol vehicle was hit, with two side windows completely penetrated.

Read also:

Colonel Arkadiusz Tywoniuk, a border service officer, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, Two officers were inside the vehicle, and their lives and well-being were put at risk.

Read also: Russia prepares provocations on Ukraine-Belarus border, intercept shows

Tywoniuk also revealed that Polish patrols are frequently targeted with stones, on an almost daily basis.

Since the start of the year, a staggering 12,300 attempts by migrants to illegally cross the Polish border have been recorded by Polish border guards.

An electronic system has been place along the 200-kilometer stretch of Polands border with Belarus to detect and deter such infiltration attempts.

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
WARSAW (Reuters) - The Polish parliament passed a watered down version of a law on undue Russian influence on Friday, backpedaling on a bill the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party approved last month.

The bill passed by a 235-5 margin, with nine abstentions as opposition did not take part in the vote.

After the law drew criticism from lawyers, the United States and the European Commission for effectively banning individuals from holding public office without judicial review, President Andrzej Duda proposed amendments to quell the concerns.

His proposals, which were passed by parliament on Friday, included provisions banning members of parliament from becoming members of the commission and removing the provisions which would allow people to be banned from office.

But according to the opposition and some experts even the watered down version of the document breaches the Polish constitution as it bundles executive, legislative and prosecuting powers in the hands of one institution.

The bill still needs the approval of the Senate, where the opposition holds a majority, before it can be signed into law by the President.

Under the initial version of the bill, a panel with investigative powers would have the power to ban people found to have acted under Russian influence from holding security clearance or working in roles where they are responsible for public funds for 10 years, effectively disqualifying them from public office.

According to PiS, the main purpose of the law was to show the truth about the influence of Russian agents in Poland, while the opposition said the ruling party wanted to mount a witch-hunt against its political opponents in an election year.

(Reporting by Marek Strzelecki; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Pope Francis leaves the Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic in Rome, Friday, June 16, 2023, nine days after undergoing abdominal surgery. The 86-year-old pope was admitted to Gemelli hospital on June 7 for surgery to repair a hernia in his abdominal wall and remove intestinal scar tissue that had caused intestinal blockages. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

ROME (AP)  Pope Francis on Friday was discharged from the Rome hospital where he had abdominal surgery nine days earlier to repair a hernia and remove painful scarring, with his surgeon saying the pontiff is now better than before the hospitalization.

Francis, 86, left through Gemelli Polyclinic's main exit in a wheelchair, smiling and waving and saying thanks to a crowd of well-wishers, then stood up so he could get into the small Vatican car awaiting him. In the brief distance before he could reach the white Fiat 500, reporters thrust microphones practically at his face, and the pontiff seemed to bat them away, good-naturedly.

"Still alive,'' the pope quipped when a reporter asked how he was.

"The pope is well. He's better than before,'' Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the surgeon who did the three-hour operation on June 7 told reporters after he said goodbye to Francis as the pontiff got into the car.

Following the surgery, Francis will be a "strong pope,'' said Alfieri, who was outside along with the surging crowd as the pontiff exited.

Right after the pontiff returned home, the Vatican press office announced that Francis would make his traditional Sunday noon appearance at an Apostolic window overlooking St. Peter's Square to greet the public, an appointment that lasts about 10 minutes.

But his customary Wednesday general audience with thousands of faithful in the square "has been canceled to safeguard the post-surgical recovery of the Holy Father,'' the announcement said. The general audience lasts about an hour and includes a speech by the pontiff.

When asked by a reporter outside the hospital for a comment about the migrant disaster off Greece that has claimed dozens of lives and left hundreds missing, Francis replied: So much sorrow.

Instead of going straight back to the Vatican, Francis stopped to pray for 10 minutes before an icon of the Virgin Mary at the famous St. Mary Major Basilica, where he often stops by after trips abroad to give thanks. Francis stayed in his wheelchair as he prayed. He also went there after his discharge from the same hospital following treatment for bronchitis.

Tourists in the basilica excitedly snapped photos of the pontiff in the basilica, and several people in the crowd outside wept as he left and headed for the Holy See hotel, where he lives on Vatican City grounds.

But before he arrived back home, Francis made two more stops  first at a convent adjacent to the Vatican to greet nuns, and then outside one of the walled city's gates to get out of his car so he could shake hands with and thank police officers who provided a motorcycle escort.

Hours after the surgery, Alfieri said that the scarring, which had resulted from previous abdominal surgeries, had been increasingly causing the pope pain. There was also risk of an intestinal blockage, if adhesions, or scar tissue, werent removed, according to the doctors.

No complications occurred during the surgery or while the pope was convalescing in Gemellis 10th-floor apartment reserved exclusively for hospitalization of pontiffs, according to the popes medical staff.

Alfieri has said that the pontiff, in choosing to have the surgery in June, made his calculations that he would bounce back in time for the August trip to Portugal. He has confirmed all his trips, the surgeon said.

Actually, hell be able to tackle them better than before, because now he wont have the discomfort he had, Alfieri said, referring to the scarring known medically as adhesions. The surgeon had said that if the pope hadnt had the surgery, there would have been a risk of an intestinal blockage.

Hell be a stronger pope, the surgeon added.

Right after the surgery, the Vatican said all of the popes audiences would be canceled through June 18. Among the high-profile appointments Francis is expected to have next week at the Vatican are audiences with the presidents of Cuba and Brazil, although the meetings haven't been officially announced yet by the Vatican.

Commitments that have officially been announced include pilgrimages to Portugal in early August for a Catholic youth jamboree and a trip to Mongolia beginning on Aug. 31, a first-ever visit by a pontiff to that Asian country.

In just under two years, Francis had been hospitalized three times at Gemelli Polyclinic. In July 2021, he underwent surgery to remove a 33-centimeter (13-inch) section of his bowel removed because of narrowing of his intestinal. That, as well as abdominal surgeries years back in his native Argentina before he became pontiff, had contributed to the painful scarring, according to Alfieri. Then in early spring of this year, Francis was back in the hospital to receive intravenous antibiotic treatment for bronchitis, an illness Francis later said caused him pain and fever.

As a young man in his native Argentina, Francis had a portion of one lung removed following infection.

The latest hospitalization came just as Francis seemed to be walking better, with the aid of a cane, following months of often using a wheelchair because of a painful knee problem. He also has suffered from sciatica, a painful inflammation of a nerve that runs down from back to leg.

Alfieri has said that the pontiff, in choosing to have the surgery in June, made his calculations that he would bounce back in time for the August trip to Portugal.

On Friday, the surgeon expressed confidence that the pontiff will pace himself as he resumes his appointment-packed days at the Vatican.

He'll listen a little more to us, because he has important commitments that he has confirmed, including the trips," Alfieri said.
EDITORS NOTE: This story has been updated to more fully describe AR3 operators worldwide.

MILAN  Portuguese drone manufacturer Tekever has told Defense News it will provide some of its long-endurance systems to Kyiv to support land and maritime operations, a move bankrolled by the United Kingdoms International Fund for Ukraine.

Earlier this month, the British Defence Ministry shared a video on social media showcasing military equipment being provided by the IFU account to Ukrainian troops. Launched last summer, the first IFU deliveries  funded by Denmark, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and the U.K.  will begin to arrive in July.

The International Fund for Ukraine is supplying critical capabilities for Ukraine, with deliveries from the first procurement round due next month.



Yesterday we announced a 92m air defence package, to be provided through the second procurement round: https://t.co/wipYETa8Ur pic.twitter.com/XOvX1yJ1qa  Ministry of Defence  (@DefenceHQ) June 14, 2023

Open-source intelligence analysts were quick to identify what appears to be Malloy T150 quadcopters manufactured by the British company Malloy Aeronautics, the DeltaQuad Pro VTOL drone produced by Dutch firm DeltaQuad, and the Astero ISR system from Denmarks Nordic Wing. Two other unspecified drone models can be seen in the footage, with one shown taking off vertically and launched via catapult.

The British Defence Ministry declined to comment on specific platforms in the video.

Defense News can, however, confirm that one of the two unidentified drones is the Tekever AR3 Vertical Takeoff and Landing system, manufactured by the Lisbon-based firm Tekever.

Yes, our Tekever AR3 system is depicted in the video produced by the UK MoD, a company representative told Defense News. It includes images of the drone being deployed with support of a catapult  which we can use for extended endurance operations up to 16 hours  and in an optional VTOL configuration. Each operator can easily choose which variant it wants to use for a specific mission.

Tekevers CEO and founder, Ricardo Mendes, added that the company is very proud to support Ukraine and thankful to the UK MoD and IFU for allowing us to contribute to one of the most important causes of our lifetime.

The AR3 is a small, long-endurance drone designed to provide wide-area surveillance for both land and maritime missions. It has a maximum payload capacity of 4 kilograms (9 pounds), can fly at a cruise speed of 75-90 kph (47-56 mph) and can also be recovered via parachute.

Some of the military operators of the AR3 include Portugal, the UK, and Nigeria. Hence, its label in the footage, NAF 167 (an acronym used for the Nigerian Air Force), raised the question as to where the drones were purchased from.

I can confirm that Nigeria purchased a number of the Tekever AR3 platforms from Tekever Ltd. of Portugal. However, all the drones acquired are currently operating in Nigeria  none have been donated in any way or form to Ukraine or any other country, Maj. MS Muhammad, deputy defense adviser to the Nigeria High Commission in the U.K., told Defense News.

He added that the drone shown in the video with the NAF 167 label, which does indeed stand for Nigerian Air Force, must have been provided by the manufacturer, or the clip used in the said tweet might have come from the companys promotional videos, as the model with that particular number is presently in use in Nigeria.

It is important to note that the individual platforms showcased in the video are not necessarily the final ones that Ukraine will receive, but rather were provided by industry partners to display some capabilities provided as part of the first $212 million defense package announced in February.

The second IFU procurement, referred to as Urgent Bidding Round 2, launched on April 11. The first capability package resulting from that second round was announced earlier this week and will include a $188 million air defense package. Capabilities requested include sensors to detect and track cruise missiles, low-flying drones and/or ballistic missiles, air burst rounds for cannon-based air defense systems, and sensor-guided air defense cannons to defeat low-flying drones and cruise missiles.

Johan Hjelmstrand, a press officer for Swedens defense minister, noted much of the IFU account is unspent, and that some companies either do not go public with related contracts or that not all contracts are yet signed, but that more packages are on the way.

In terms of how the fund operates, Martynas Bendikas, a strategic adviser with the Lithuanian Defence Ministrys public affairs team, explained that defense ministries contribute only with financial resources. Following this, an international public tender is organized for specific military equipment, and all seven countries companies can participate.

However, so far, Lithuanian drones are being sent to Ukraine in other formats, she said.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron, Friday, June 16, 2023 at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets Emmanuel Macron as part of an official visit, during which he will also participate in a global financing summit aimed at fighting poverty and climate change. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

PARIS (AP)  Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Friday with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris as part of an official visit, during which he will also participate in a global financing summit aimed at fighting poverty and climate change.

Macron and the prince sat down for a one-to-one working lunch at the Elysee presidential palace.

The French presidency said the talks would focus on bilateral relations between the two countries and on regional stability issues, especially after long-time rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran restored diplomatic ties earlier this year.

France is a major weapons and defense supplier to Gulf nations.

The leaders also are preparing for a global summit next week aimed at bringing together private and public funding to fight poverty, support climate transition and protect biodiversity, the French presidency said. The event is expected to gather over 50 heads of states and governments as well as many NGOs and prominent climate activists.

During his stay in Paris, Prince Mohammed is also expected to push for Riyadh to host the 2030 World Fairs Expo.

His visit to France comes as the prince has sought to rehabilitate his image abroad following the 2018 killing and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. While Saudi Arabia denies the princes involvement, U.S. intelligence agencies have assessed he likely ordered Khashoggis killing as part of a wider crackdown on any challenge to his rule.

In the time since, Prince Mohammed has sought to portray Saudi Arabia as a possible mediator amid Russias war on Ukraine and has used its position as the dominant member of the OPEC+ oil cartel to try and boost global energy prices. The prince also seeks to build megaprojects across the kingdom to create new jobs for Saudi Arabia's youthful population.

However, challenges and international suspicions remain. Saudi Arabia remains mired in its yearslong war with Yemen. Executions in Saudi Arabia, one of the worlds top executioners, have spiked after the coronavirus pandemic.

A top French official, speaking anonymously in accordance with the presidencys customary practices, said France wants to convince Saudi Arabia to engage with Russia on a plan to end the war while preserving Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Macron also planned to discuss human rights as France firmly opposes the death penalty, the official said.

___

Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Krakow, Poland, contributed to this report.
Councilmember Curren Price, as president pro tempore, presiding over Tuesday's City Council meeting. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Four years ago, Los Angeles City Councilmember Curren Price was facing questions about the votes he had cast at City Hall  and whether they could financially benefit his spouse.

The Times had found that Price had repeatedly voted on matters that affected firms listed as clients of Del Richardson & Associates, the consulting firm owned by his wife. The company has had a host of clients, some of which would end up with matters before the City Council, including housing developers seeking to build new units for homeless people.

At the time, his spokesperson said Price had never cast a vote thinking of his financial interest and had, in fact, stepped away from votes that could have affected the consulting business run by Del Richardson.

Five months later, he cast a vote that would lead to one of the criminal charges now jeopardizing his political future.

The council member and his colleagues voted to green light issuing up to nearly $4.7 million in revenue bonds for a housing project tied to Thomas Safran & Associates  one of the Richardson clients that had been mentioned in The Times report months earlier.

Earlier that year, the Richardson consulting firm had gotten more than $35,000 from a company incorporated by Thomas Safran & Associates, according to a criminal complaint filed by the district attorneys office. Price now faces felony charges for having a financial interest in that and other decisions he voted on at City Hall, according to the complaint.

His spokesperson, Angelina Valencia-Dumarot, said Tuesday that Price looked forward to defending himself and was a "long-standing public servant who has given his life to the city of Los Angeles," but did not comment further Thursday. An attorney representing Thomas Safran & Associates said the company was "never aware of any conflict involving Del Richardson and the votes.

Read more: With Price facing felony charges, L.A. Council looks at suspending a colleague yet again

Richardson had worked with the firm for more then three decades, well before marrying Price, and "was one of very few experts in her field," said James W. Spertus, attorney for Thomas Safran & Associates.

"Any implication that there was payment for votes is entirely false, he added, calling their company "a witness in this case."

The criminal charges have derailed the third and final term of a politician who had emerged unscathed from earlier scandals at City Hall.

After FBI agents raided City Hall and hauled boxes of material away from the office of then-Councilman Jose Huizar five years ago, Price's name turned up in a federal search warrant, but he was never charged in the sweeping corruption case that led to the indictment of Huizar and other City Hall figures.

Price told one acquaintance that the U.S. attorney's office had told him he was not a target of the federal probe, telling the individual, who declined to be named to preserve his relationship with Price, "I have been cleared." The U.S. attorney's office declined to comment.

When a leaked recording loaded with racist and incendiary remarks toppled then-Council President Nury Martinez, Price was a key figure in the conversation as Martinez talked about the redistricting process and helping him win reelection. Another participant  Councilman Kevin de Leon  claimed Price was supposed to be in that meeting, which he denied.

Price denounced the remarks and came out of the City Hall shakeup with a bigger title  president pro tempore. He gave up that title Tuesday, along with his roles on key council committees overseeing economic development and the Olympics.

While I navigate through the judicial system to defend my name against unwarranted charges filed against me, the last thing I want to do is be a distraction to the people's business, he said in a letter to Council President Paul Krekorian.

Krekorian put forward a proposal Wednesday to suspend Price, which would strip him of his remaining duties, but did not seek an immediate vote, saying he wanted the councilmember to have an opportunity to respond to the charges.

For residents of the district, which hugs the 110 Freeway south of downtown and includes some of the poorest neighborhoods in the city, the latest scandal was deflating.

Azusena Favela, a lifelong 9th District resident who works in philanthropy, called the charges against Price heartbreaking." For a district and a city that has just gone through such turmoil with our council, this is really a big blow."

Long before the criminal charges, Richardson told a city employee that the L.A. City Attorney's Office seemed unsure about how to handle possible conflicts arising from her being a "working spouse" of a council member. In a 2015 email obtained by The Times, she recounted that at one point I was told anyone I spoke to, worked with etc. that did or wanted to do any business with the city of L.A. while my husband was in office would be conflicted as long as he held office.

Then I was told that if I had a contract or relationship prior to him taking office I was OK. Then it was if I had an eight year history I was OK."

Prosecutors did not spell out in their criminal complaint whether there is evidence that Price knew his votes could financially benefit him. When Price voted on bond funding for its housing project, Thomas Safran & Associates was not named in the item on the meeting agenda, but a staff report about the decision mentioned the development firm.

Even mistakes, whether big or small, could have big ramifications in the public perception of our government, said Rudy Espinoza, executive director of the nonprofit Inclusive Action. His group has advocated for sidewalk vendors, a cause Price has also championed.

If leaders are careless about these things, it leaves it up to us to decide: Was Curren voting yes on those projects because of his wife, or because he really wanted them to pass and it would be good for the district? Espinoza said.

Price has faced sharp disagreements over other development decisions: He had supported plans for the Reef, a $1.2-billion skyscraper complex that critics argued would fuel gentrification, and backed digital billboards on that site over the objections of city planning commissioners. Companies tied to the developer spent money to support his re-election.

Unlike the public uproar over the Reef, the fateful votes that led to felony charges for Price happened with little fanfare. Neither of the projects involved was in his council district. Among them was a decision to reduce the price of a city property on Crenshaw Boulevard by $589,000. Failing to do so could put the housing developer at risk of losing more than $16.5 million in tax credits, city officials wrote.

The housing developer that bought the Crenshaw Boulevard property had paid the Richardson firm more than $46,000 in 2020, but Price failed to list the company on his disclosures that year, according to the district attorney's complaint. In May 2020, Price voted with the rest of the council to sell the property to the company, and the following summer, he joined the unanimous vote to slash the sales price.

Im just really trying to understand  how do you make some of these mistakes or these decisions? Favela said, referring to the allegations in the criminal complaint. When the votes came up, why not recuse yourself? It wasnt like a vote that would tip one way or the other.

Price was also charged with perjury for failing to list four Del Richardson & Associates clients on his financial disclosures. And half of the 10 criminal counts were for embezzlement, for allegedly getting the city to pay for nearly $34,000 in medical premiums for Richardson between 2013 and 2017.

The problem, prosecutors said, was that she was not legally his wife at that time. Although the councilman listed her as his wife on the city forms, he was not married to Richardson during that period because he had never divorced another woman, prosecutors allege  an imbroglio that had already spurred embarrassing headlines for Price.

Price married Lynn Suzette Green in Annandale, Va. in 1981, according to Virginia Department of Health records. The couple at one point lived in the Morningside Park neighborhood of Inglewood and ran a print shop, according to Times coverage in 1997.

Price, who had served on the Inglewood City Council, also ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Inglewood that year. One year later, the couple jointly filed for bankruptcy protection, and the marriage eventually faltered: The two separated in May 2002, according to court documents, and Price filed papers to initiate divorce proceedings in Los Angeles Superior Court in 2006  the same year he joined the California State Assembly. He refiled the action in 2011, after he had become a state senator.

In financial disclosures filed after Price was elected to the City Council a decade ago, he referred to Del Richardson & Associates as belonging to his spouse. When he ran for reelection in 2017, his campaign materials said he was married to Richardson.

"His marriage to Del seemed to make all the difference in his life and provided him with energy," said Daniel Tabor, a former Inglewood mayor and councilman who has known Price since high school. He declined to comment on the charges, but defended Price as "a person of integrity."

In Inglewood, Richardson established a reputation decades ago as a number cruncher who was hired by government agencies for consulting services and to help people facing eminent domain so they could be compensated for their property, political consultants familiar with her work told The Times. Richardson previously told The Times that her firm long predated her relationship with the councilman.

By the time Price had begun serving on the L.A. City Council, her clients included housing developers, construction and engineering firms and government agencies such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the L.A. City public works department, according to official disclosures. Her work has involved relocating tenants who are being displaced by development projects.

After questions were raised about his marriages, representatives for Price said that he was operating under the assumption that his divorce had been finalized. Court records show the divorce was not yet finalized until early 2018.

When The Times asked when and where he married Richardson, Price declined to provide those details, saying that his spouse was a recent victim of identity theft and had been advised not to reveal such information. Later that year, the district attorneys office confirmed it was reviewing a complaint about Price and his two marriages.

Price and Richardson were not legally married until May 2018 in Idaho, according to the criminal complaint. Neither Suzette Price nor Del Richardson responded to requests for comment about the charges against the councilman.

There could have been confusion over divorce dates, but "knowing Curren, I don't believe there was any intent to defraud," said Harvey Englander, a public affairs consultant who counted Price as a client when he served on the Inglewood City Council.

But the broader allegations have left others skeptical that misunderstanding alone could explain them. Price had already been questioned about possible problems with voting on matters affecting Richardson clients, and should have "erred on the side of caution," said Sean McMorris, program manager for transparency, ethics and accountability at California Common Cause.

"He didn't do that," McMorris said. "I typically will give politicians the benefit of the doubt on complicated laws like these. But when it happens over and over again, and publications are bringing it to their attention? It's simply beyond the pale."

Sign up for Essential California, your daily guide to news, views and life in the Golden State.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
In what is becoming a yearly occurrence, the colorful Boise Pride flags that line Harrison Boulevard throughout June have been stolen for the third year in a row.

The Boise Police Department is investigating two reports of stolen Pride flags in Boises North End neighborhood, spokesperson Haley Williams told the Idaho Statesman by email. Williams said a total of 23 flags were stolen, and two were torn up and left on the ground.

Police said that the first incident was on Thursday, in which 12 flags were stolen and two were damaged. Then early Friday 11 flags were stolen.

In addition to working to find the people responsible and hold them accountable, the Boise Police Department will also be working with the city, neighbors, and the Pride Foundation to identify ways to prevent further vandalism and theft in the area, Boise Police Capt. Mike Ruffalo, who leads the departments Community Outreach Division, said in a statement provided to the Statesman.

The flags, which are owned by the Pride Foundation, are placed on Harrison Boulevard in coordination with the North End Neighborhood Association every June to celebrate Pride Month, a celebration and remembrance to honor those who fought for LGBTQ+ rights during the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City.

Williams said that as a part of the investigation, neighbors with surveillance cameras are being asked to review footage. Anyone with additional footage or information is asked to call the Ada County Dispatch at 208-377-6790.

Last year, 35 flags were missing or damaged less than 10 days into Pride Month, Boise police said in a news release at the time. But the flags were quickly replaced after an anonymous donor covered the costs of new flags and volunteers helped decorate the street again.

Our officers will not tolerate any crime that targets or makes someone feel targeted because of who they are or who they choose to love, Boise Police Deputy Chief Tammany Brooks said in last years release.

In 2021, over 20 flags were stolen from Harrison Boulevard, and an 18-year-old was arrested and sentenced to 10 days in jail, the Statesman previously reported.

This years theft comes within days of Oregon resident Matthew Lehigh entering a plea deal at Boises federal courthouse and admitting to several hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community, including two vehicle assaults within days of each other in October, according to prior Statesman reporting.

Lehigh also admitted to setting a Pride flag on fire, breaking windows at an LGBTQ+ community center and punching a man in the face while calling him a slur. He cant be convicted of those crimes because federal prosecutors charged him only the two vehicular assaults. Ada County prosecutors dropped the initial local charges against him.
a space station in orbit above Earth

Axiom Space has big plans for low Earth orbit.

The Houston-based company, founded in 2016, was the first to ferry a flight of all private citizens to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Ax-1 mission, which launched in April 2021. The company's second flight (Ax-2) to the ISS wrapped up an eight-day mission in late May with the splashdown and safe return of the contracted SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule and a privately funded crew of four. A third flight, Ax-3, is currently scheduled for this November. Each mission has included a host of science experiments for its crews to conduct, and Axiom is using some of those investigations to inform the design and use of the company's own space station.

In January 2020, Axiom won NASA's contract to construct the first commercially manufactured module for the ISS. "Our first module is going to be in 2026," David Zuniga, senior director of in-space solutions at Axiom, told Space.com. This is an update to the company's previously stated target of 2024.

Related: Axiom Space: Building the off-Earth economy

Axiom's first station component will attach to the forward port of the ISS' Harmony module and serve as the springboard for the remaining pieces of the company's planned space station architecture. Axiom is planning to attach a second module in 2027 and a third module a year later. Finally, a thermal power module, scheduled for sometime before 2030, will allow Axiom's space station to detach from the ISS and become a free-flying, commercially run low Earth orbit (LEO) destination.

In the meantime, Axiom is using data provided by its crewed missions to the ISS to guide the form and function of the space station modules the company is building. "Each of these precursor missions for us is a learning opportunity on how we become a better human spaceflight company," said Tejpaul Bhatia, Axiom's chief revenue officer.

These first missions are also helping to lay the foundations for Axiom's training programs going forward. "We are using these first missions as a way to understand how to train astronauts, train crew, and really have the operational expertise that we need as an entire company, but also to kind of fine-tune the things that we want to fly from a low-Earth-orbit economy perspective," Zuniga told Space.com.

a space station in orbit above the Earth

One research project included on Ax-2 was the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH) Essential Measures investigation, which involved a checklist of tests for the Ax-2 crewmembers to perform on themselves upon reaching orbit. Physical evaluations, biological sampling and wearable devices were used to evaluate the crew's reaction and adaptation to microgravity.

Most Axiom crewmembers lack the multiple years of extensive training that NASA astronauts receive in preparation for their time in space. (Notable exceptions include former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson , who commanded Ax-2 and has spent more hours in space than any other American or woman, and former NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria, who commanded Ax-1 and holds the record for the most spacewalks ever performed.) The TRISH investigation is one way Axiom is learning how to acclimate crews to their new microgravity environment and creating strategies to mitigate the time it takes them to adapt.

Axiom wants its space station to provide maximum value to its passengers, and one main goal of these initial crewed missions to the ISS is to determine where that value will be.

an infographic explaining different space station modules

"It's more about making sure that we understand the needs of our future crews so that we're tailoring our space station to do those things," Zuniga said. "Is it going to be the microgravity research? Or is it going to be in space manufacturing, etc.? Those are the primary goals for flying these precursor missions.

"In doing that, it gets all our people exposed to how we actually operate and build a station that will be operable in the future," he added. "Thinking about the amount of crew activity that goes on, thinking about the amount of operational space that a crewmember has to apply to a space station so that they can keep it up and flying and maintaining it  all those things are really important in understanding how we design our future space station."

Axiom is also taking notes directly from NASA on how to build space stations. "Our team is well versed in human spaceflight," Zuniga said. "We've just been able to kind of pull the talent that we needed from folks who have built and designed space stations."

In doing so, the company has kept an eye toward the future. "We're working with NASA to make sure that we follow all the requirements that the ISS has today, so that we can build our models for the future to those requirements," Zuniga said. "All of that is also giving us exposure to make sure that we design our space station so that it's compatible to today's standards, but also has a vision to the future and how we want to use space stations for people that will fly privately."

RELATED STORIES:

 Axiom Space targeting November 2023 for 3rd private astronaut mission to space station

 Axiom Space developing in-house spacesuits to prepare for future stations

 Building a private space station: Q&A with Axiom Space CTO Matt Ondler

Axiom isn't the only company interested in the LEO economy. Nearly two years after NASA selected Axiom to dock its space station module to the ISS, the space agency awarded development contracts to three more companies  Blue Origin, Nanoracks and Northrop Grumman  to support the creation of additional commercial LEO destinations.
Former president Donald Trump's appearance in Miami courtroom this week didn't spark the sort of violence and chaos from extremist supporters that had been feared. Instead, the far-right remains fixated on anti-LGBTQ hate, as evidenced by a rash of hate crimes against pride flags across the country. An Army private pleads guilty to terrorist charges for attempting to assist ISIS in attacking US troops.

But first: In a development in a case that has been a touchstone for extremist issues, the suspect in the deadly Colorado Springs LGBTQ nightclub attack speaks.

It's the week in extremism.

June 12, 2023: Former US President Donald Trump disembarks "Trump Force One" at Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida. Trump is expected to appear in court in Miami on June 13 for an arraignment regarding 37 federal charges, including violations of the Espionage Act, making false statements, and conspiracy regarding his mishandling of classified material after leaving office.

Shooting suspect speaks in Colorado Springs nightclub attack

New this week: Anderson Aldrich, accused of killing five people and injuring 17 in a mass shooting at a Colorado Springs LGBTQ nightclub last year, is expected to accept a plea deal that would guarantee a life sentence.

Prosecutors have argued Aldrich targeted the club and shared social media posts associated with Aldrich that suggest a hateful background.

Aldrich told the Associated Press it was "totally off base" to suggest hate motivated the killings.

The Club Q shooting, which targeted a known club for the gay community during a drag show, appeared to many extremism researchers to be the fulfillment of an age-old pattern: Rhetoric marginalizes a community until someone gets attacked.

More: Survivors of Colorado Springs mass shooting at Club Q say suspect likely to take plea deal

Despite fears, extremists don't disrupt Trump arraignment

A man wearing a prison uniform gets arrested by City of Miami police officers after jumping in front of the motorcade carrying former president Donald Trump outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse.

More: Will Trump draw violent protesters to Miami? Experts monitor chance ahead of arraignment

The news this week was dominated by the unprecedented federal criminal indictment of Trump. Amid much speculation about whether extremists would show up in numbers at his court hearing in Miami on Tuesday, in the end the day was fairly quiet, with perhaps a couple hundred protesters who were largely outnumbered my the media present.

Experts had previously told USA TODAY they didn't expect much in the way of protests and violence, for a number of factors laid out in this story. The primary threat from extremists remains an attack by a lone actor or small cell angry at the prosecution of the former President  a risk that is likely to remain as Trump's legal woes escalate.

The days preceding Trump's Miami court appearance saw several articles pinpointing anonymous online threats on pro-Trump message boards warning of coming violence, protests and even civil war. These turned out to be hyperbole.

While it's too soon to say Trump has lost the support of the extremist far-right, the apparent apathy from his most ardent supporters at both his recent indictments suggests the former President doesn't have the sway he once did with extremist groups across the country.

But as we outline in this story, those groups are also still reeling from more that 1,000 prosecutions related to the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Authorities are investigating a possible hate crime after pride flags were ripped down and burned.

The far-right remains obsessed with LGBTQ issues

More: Gay Pride flag attacks mount amid online challenges by extremist groups

While it was largely ignoring Trump's legal woes and calls for protests, the extremist far-right continued its campaign against the LGBTQ community. As USA TODAY reported late last week, a rash of attacks against pride flags has been reported across the country.

In just one week in early June, Pride flags were stolen, slashed or burned in at least five states, including California, Utah, Arizona, Nebraska and Pennsylvania. Thats on top of similar incidents in California and New York in May, including a man that defecated on a pride flag in Manhattan.

We do know that this is a trend and we know a lot of this stuff is being driven by different campaigns online  in both extremists forums like Telegram and also on mainstream social media forums like Twitter, Sarah Moore, an anti-LGBTQ+ extremism analyst for the Anti-Defamation League and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation told USA TODAY.

An analysis this week by VICE news reporter Tess Owen summed up the current ethos of one extremist group, the Proud Boys: "Ever since the latest batch of criminal charges against the former president dropped, this time under the Espionage Act in a federal court in Florida, the public response from the Proud Boys has so far been a resounding 'meh.'" Instead, the extremist gang has remained obsessed with LGBTQ issues, as evidenced by public postings from Proud Boys chapters, Owen reports.

Army private pleads guilty to terrorism charges

In the latest in a rash of extremism-related prosecutions of members of the military, Cole Bridges, a 22-year-old U.S. Army private pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and attempting to murder U.S. military service members.

Bridges joined the army in 2019 and began researching and consuming pro-jihadist propaganda online the same year, according to prosecutors. He began communicating with an undercover FBI agent.

Bridges "provided training and guidance to purported ISIS fighters who were planning attacks, including advice about potential targets in New York City," according to federal prosecutors. He also provided the undercover agent with "portions of a U.S. Army training manual and guidance about military combat tactics, for use by ISIS."

Extremist groups of all stripes have long targeted current and former members of the U.S. armed forces. As USA TODAY reported in 2021, many investigations into extremist activity among the troops lead to quiet dismissal from the military rather than criminal prosecution.

In a similar case, in 2022 Army Private Ethan Melzer pleaded guilty to sending sensitive information, including the location of his battalion in Turkey, to the Order of Nine Angles, a white supremacist Satanist organization. Melzer was sentenced to 45 years in prison in March.

Statistic of the week: 300-plus

That's how many different hate symbols are included in a first-of-its-kind online database of global hate symbols launched this week by the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism.

The directory includes symbols representing far-right and bigoted ideologies, including but not limited to neo-Nazi, white nationalist, anti-LGBTQ+, anti-immigrant, male supremacist, anti-Muslim, antisemitic, and others. Symbols are tagged by all ideologies that apply.

This tool will help to identify where far-right actors are active, the narratives they are pushing, and will help show  from chatrooms to violent extremism  how hate and extremist groups and individuals inspire and connect each other across borders, said Global Project Against Hate and Extremism co-founder Wendy Via.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Despite fears, extremists don't disrupt Trump arraignment
Propagandist from Medvedchuks television network sentenced to 10 years in prison  SBU

Propagandist Mykhailo Shpir

Shpir glorified the aggressive policies of Russias military and political leadership and called for the dismantling of Ukraine, justifying its occupation, the SBU said in its report.

Read also: SBI hands over 17 seized cars of Medvedchuk, Kozak families to Ukrainian Army

It is reported that the propagandist also called for physical violence against Ukrainian soldiers and disparaged one of the religious denominations in Ukraine.

The SBU notes that in 2020, Shpir moved to Moscow, and after the start of the full-scale invasion, he was one of the first among Kremlin propagandists to support the actions of the Russian occupiers.

Read also: Ukraine arrests two land plots in Lviv Oblast belonging to Medvedchuk wife Oksana Marchenko

He was found guilty under three articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

Article 110 (encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine);

Article 161 (violation of equality of citizens based on their racial, national affiliation, religious beliefs, disability, and other characteristics);

Article 436-1 (production, dissemination of communist, Nazi symbols, and propaganda of communist and national-socialist (Nazi) totalitarian regimes).

It is reported that the sentence will be served starting from the moment of Shpirs arrest.

Read also: Anti-corruption prosecutor launches investigation into former Supreme Court judge over leak of confidential documents

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
Prosecutors in Mar-a-Lago case want to keep evidence secret so it won't compromise other 'ongoing investigations'

Former U.S. President Donald Trump visits the Versailles restaurant in the Little Havana neighborhood after being arraigned at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse in Miami. Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

Prosecutors in Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago case asked the judge to keep evidence secret.

They said disclosing discovery material could compromise "ongoing investigations" or identify "uncharged individuals."

Trump's lawyers didn't object.

The prosecutors who brought an indictment against former President Donald Trump want to keep evidence in the case a secret because it might reveal information about additional "ongoing investigations," they said in a court filing Friday.

In the filing, the team of prosecutors asked US District Judge Aileen Cannon, who's overseeing the case, to issue a protective order that would keep discovery material secret. During the discovery process, prosecutors share evidence with lawyers on the other side, letting them prepare a defense in the case.

Asking for a protective order  which keeps the material confidential  is a routine part of criminal cases. It can help maintain the privacy of third parties, such as FBI agents, potential witnesses, and grand jurors.

The request for the protective order in the Justice Department's case against Trump and his personal assistant Waltine Nauta revealed that the discovery material was sensitive for other reasons, as Lawfare's Anna Bower pointed out.

"The materials also include information pertaining to ongoing investigations, the disclosure of which could compromise those investigations and identify uncharged individuals," Friday's motion says.

Trump and Nauta were arraigned Tuesday on a 38-count indictment brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith. The Justice Department prosecutors allege Trump withheld sensitive classified records from the government after leaving the office of the presidency and, with Nauta, attempted to obstruct their return.

Lawyers for Trump and Nauta "have no objections" to the proposed protective order, according to prosecutors.

Smith is separately overseeing an investigation into efforts to send fake electors to Congress on January 6, 2021, to declare Trump the winner of the 2020 election even though now-President Joe Biden actually won.

Cannon must juggle the trial schedule with an array of other civil and criminal trials Trump is dealing with, as well as his candidacy in the 2024 election.

On Thursday, a federal judge in Manhattan set a January 15, 2024 trial date for another civil lawsuit brought by the writer E. Jean Carroll, who alleged Trump sexually abused her and lied about it in the 1990s. Carroll won a trial over some of the same claims earlier this year.

Trump also has a criminal trial in Manhattan state court, over allegedly falsifying business records in the Stormy Daniels scandal, scheduled for March.

In October, he's set for a civil trial from the New York Attorney General's office regarding the Trump Organization's finances. He has yet another civil case set to begin on January 29, from a class-action group that alleges he illegally promoted a pyramid scheme.

Friday's motion for a protective order doesn't cover classified information. Trump and Nauta are each still building their legal teams, and not all of their current attorneys have the security clearance to see classified information. This week, Cannon ordered the Justice Department to expedite the clearance process so that the lawsuit can move forward.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Putin: I can destroy any building in Kyiv city centre, but I won't. Why? I will not say

Russian President Vladimir Putin assures that he can "destroy any building in the centre of Kyiv" without nuclear weapons, but does not do this "for a number of reasons"; yet, the Russian dictator refused to reveal those reasons.

Source: Putin at the St Petersburg Economic Forum on 16 June

Quote: "If we destroyed five Patriot systems near Kyiv, what would stop us from destroying any building or structure in the centre of Kyiv? There are no such restrictions. We don't do that for a number of reasons."

Details: Responding to a question on why wont the Russians do it, Putin replied: "There are many of them [reasons  ed.]. I'll tell you later."

Quote: "But we can do that. Everyone understands this. Everyone is just waiting for us to start pressing the buttons [to use nuclear weapons  ed.], but there is no such need. This is the first reason  there is no such need, because the enemy has no successes on the frontline."

According to Putin, the attacks on Russian territory are intended to provoke Russia to retaliate, so that others can "point fingers at us and say: look how evil they are, and to point this out to all our partners."

Reference: The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed the alleged destruction of a Patriot anti-aircraft missile system in Kyiv by a Kinzhal hypersonic missile system. The Ukrainian Air Force denied this statement.

The White House said it could not confirm reports of the destruction of the Patriot system in Ukraine. At the same time, the United States admitted that the system could be damaged.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Russian President Putin meets with Italian Member of the European Parliament Berlusconi in Rome

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday asked the audience at an economic forum in St Petersburg to hold a minute's silence in honour of former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi who died on Monday aged 86.

Putin, who said in a message of condolence earlier this week that he regarded Berlusconi as a dear friend and an outstanding politician, told the audience:

"Just recently the former prime minister of Italy Mr Berlusconi passed away. He did a lot to build normal long-term relations between Russia and NATO countries. He was a very good man, very active and energetic."

He added: "I consider him without any exaggeration to be a personality of a global scale. I apologise to the audience. I would ask for a moment of silence in his memory."

Like former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Berlusconi cultivated close relations with Moscow during Putin's first years in the Kremlin from 2000 onwards.

Both Berlusconi and Schroeder became personal friends of the Russian leader and were criticised in the West for standing by him long after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
Putin says Russia has sent first nuclear weapons to Belarus

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speak during their meeting at the Bocharov Ruchei residence in the resort city of Sochi, Russia, Friday, June 9, 2023. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said Russia has sent the first nuclear weapons to Belarus as part of a plan to deploy tactical nuclear bombs in the country bordering Ukraine.

Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin said the rest of the nuclear weapons would be delivered by the end of the summer.

This is a deterrence measure [against] all those who think about Russia and its strategic defeat, he said in response to a question about the use of nuclear weapons in war.

The Russian leaders comments follow claims from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko this week that his nation received the first part of the bombs and missiles from Russia.

God forbid I have to make a decision to use those weapons today, but there would be no hesitation if we face an aggression, Lukashenko said in a statement.

The move was first announced by the two allied leaders back in March, part of a strategy from Putin to keep the threat of nuclear weapons in the minds of Western leaders who are heavily backing Ukraine in its fight against Russia.

After the Soviet Union collapsed in the early 1990s, Belarus was one of four former Soviet Union members, including Ukraine, that transferred nuclear weapons over to Russia.

Moving the nuclear weapons back into Belarus marks the first nuclear weapon transfer for Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The weapons Moscow is transferring are short-range tactical nuclear weapons, which have a shorter range and lower yield than nuclear warheads fitted to ballistic missiles  but are still capable of immense damage far exceeding the bombs dropped over Hiroshima, Japan, in World War II.

The U.S. also deploys tactical nuclear weapons abroad, including about 100 nuclear gravity bombs stationed in Europe.

On Friday, Putin, who has repeatedly threatened the use of nuclear weapons during the Ukraine war, castigated the U.S. as the only country to drop nuclear weapons on another country and deflected questions about his own nuclear weapons strategy.

When pressed about the transfer decision, Putin on Friday said he didnt want to frighten the whole world and maintained the nuclear weapons would only be used in self-defense.

These measures can be used only if theres a threat to Russian statehood, he said. All the means in our hands will be used against it.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, said that "his Jewish friends" call President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "a disgrace to the Jewish people."

Source: Putin at a plenary meeting during the St Petersburg Economic Forum (SPIEF), quoted by the Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti

Quote: "I have had many Jewish friends since childhood. They all say: Zelenskyy is not a Jew, he is a disgrace to the Jewish people."

Details: At the plenary meeting of the SPIEF, the Russians also showed a video about the alleged "atrocities committed by Banderites during the Great Patriotic War". [Binderite is a colloquial term for members and supporters of the faction of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists led by Stepan Bandera, who Russia claims to be targeting in Ukraine  ed.]

"These are the [people  ed.] considered heroes of Ukraine today. These are the [people] whom today's Ukrainian authorities protect as individuals and their ideology. How can you not fight this? We must fight this," the Russian president commented on the footage of Russian propaganda.

After that, the Russian dictator said that "Russia has every right to consider the denazification of Ukraine one of the main goals".

In February 2022, the Russian Federation declared "denazification and demilitarisation" of Ukraine as the main goals that justify its illegal invasion of Ukraine. Amongst all the narratives, Russian propaganda uses the fight against the mythical "Banderites" in Ukraine most actively. After that, the alleged "goals of the special military operation" to justify the war with Ukraine changed repeatedly in the rhetoric of the invaders. In June 2023, Putin made a controversial statement about the goals of Russia's attack on Ukraine: they are both changing and not changing at the same time.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






In this handout photo provided by Photo host Agency RIA Novosti, Russian President Vladimir Putin leaves a podium after addressing a plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, June 16, 2023. (Alexei Danichev/Photo host Agency RIA Novosti via AP)

TALLINN, Estonia (AP)  President Vladimir Putin on Friday touted Russia's prospects at the country's main international economic forum despite heavy international sanctions imposed because of the war in Ukraine.

Western officials and investors steered clear of the years St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which began Wednesday and continues through Saturday. For decades, the gathering has been Russias premier event for attracting foreign capital, sometimes likened to the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland.

The Kremlin banned journalists from unfriendly countries from covering the proceedings. Moscow gave that designation on scores of countries that sanctioned Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, including the United States, Canada, European Union members and Australia.

Officials did not provide a list of the foreign businesses attending, but the program for the more than 100 panel discussions showed a marked majority of the speakers hailing from Russia.

We havent turned onto the self-isolation path. Quite the opposite, Putin said at the forums plenary session. "We have widened contacts with reliable and responsible partners in the countries and regions that serve as the engine, the drivers of the worlds economy today. Id like to reiterate: These are the markets of the future; everyone clearly understands it.

While one of the sessions listed in the program touted Russia as a global tech hub, descriptions of other panels tacitly acknowledged Moscows economic exclusion since its troops moved into Ukraine nearly 16 months ago.

Putin also vehemently defended Russia's actions in Ukraine and repeated his claim that the Ukrainian government is a neo-Nazi regime, despite President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Jewish roots.

My Jewish friends say that Zelenskyy is not a Jew, but a shame to the Jewish people, Putin said, although some Jewish organizations have praised Zelenskyy.

Putin confirmed that Russia has deployed its first tranche of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, a plan that was announced earlier, but he gave an ambiguous assessment of Russia's willingness to use them.

Nuclear weapons are created to ensure our security in the broadest sense of the word and the existence of the Russian state. But we, firstly, do not have such a need," Putin said.

But he added: Extreme means may be used if there is a threat to Russias statehood. In this case, we will certainly use all the forces and means that the Russian state has at its disposal.

Putin also rejected the possibility of reducing Russia's nuclear arsenal, chuckling mildly as he used a vulgarity: We have more such weapons than the NATO countries. They know about it, and all the time we are being persuaded to start negotiations on reductions. The hell with them, you know, as our people say.

___

Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
A Royal Air Force C-130J Hercules - Cpl Lee Matthews RAF

Today there were farewell flypasts by the Hercules transport plane across the UK, as the workhorse aircraft leaves RAF service. From the end of this month, we will be heavily reliant on the A400M Atlas: and this is not a happy prospect.

The American-made Hercules has a long and glorious history with the RAF. The A400Ms history, by contrast, is long and inglorious. Like most of Britains defence procurement disasters, it is a European collaboration in which the manufacturing is distributed across France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Turkey and the UK. The Ministry of Defence issued its requirement for new transport planes just 30 years ago in 1993: with the usual sort of speed one expects from a Euro-collaborative defence project, the first plane arrived with the RAF more than two decades later in 2014. Our last one, the 22nd, was finally delivered last month.

We wont be getting any more. The National Audit Office described the A400M as unaffordable last year, and this does seem reasonable. The MoD claims that the procurement cost of the ones we have was 120m per plane; the reality is probably considerably worse as the development of the aircraft was catastrophically bungled. At one point the prime contractor, Airbus, said it was so badly overbudget that it would have to be cancelled unless the purchasing nations stumped up more money, and secret multinational negotiations took place which involved various extra payments and loans.

It seems likely that a good deal of extra money beyond 120m per plane was paid by the UK taxpayer but recorded under other headings. Some years ago France said that the unit cost of its A400Ms would be around 150m; it doesnt seem plausible that the French would agree to pay more than us.

This is distressing, as you can buy a brand new, much-upgraded Super Hercules with a full spares and support package for 145m at the moment. Support costs for aircraft are several times procurement costs, so this equates to procurement cost of 50m at most.

Yes, the A400M can carry more than a Hercules: but you can buy three Hercules delivering even more lift for the same money we spent on each of our Atlases. And if you had three Hercules all of them would probably be working: if you had an A400M it would probably not.

The A400M is spectacularly unreliable. In 2015, when the plane had been in production for four years, a new aircraft crashed on its first flight due to a software problem and killed four of the six people on board. In 2017, a visit to Lithuania by German defence minister Ursula von der Leyen was derailed embarrassingly when her A400M broke down.

As of 2019, Parliament was told that just two of the RAFs then 20-strong A400M fleet were typically available to fly. Maintenance staff described the aircraft as a dog. In 2021 an A400M carrying Covid vaccines to Ascension Island broke down twice, almost causing the vaccines to go out of date.

More recently it was reported that three of the four A400Ms used in the Sudan evacuation operation developed faults, and that two-thirds of our current fleet remained unavailable to fly as of early May. Just last month, flight tracking websites showed an A400M on a routine flight over Gloucestershire suddenly losing altitude before changing its transponder squawk code to 7700  indicating a serious emergency  before landing minutes later at RAF Brize Norton.

The advantages of the A400M over the Hercules  its heaver payload, bigger cargo bay and greater speed  are primarily of use for longer-haul air bridge flights, as between the UK and a far-flung theatre of war. But these long flights are not suited to turboprop aircraft like the A400M: theyre better done using heavyweight jet transports like the C-17 Globemaster. Uniquely among European nations, the UK has a few of these: we bought them for 200m each including support, in other words for equivalent procurement cost equivalent to 70m  less than half what it costs us to buy an A400M. And a C-17 is much, much bigger and faster still.

It couldnt be clearer that the A400M is abysmal value for money and not very good either for long-haul air bridge work or shorter tactical trips within theatre  as from Kabul to Camp Bastion in recent times  a task for which the Hercules was ideal. We should have fleets of proper US-made C-17s and new Hercules, rather than being stuck with A400Ms which cost more even than hugely bigger C-17s and arent much good for any job even on the rare days when they are working.

US-made C-17s and Hercules would also be better because you can easily get parts and support for them all over the world: this is clearly not going to be the case with the A400M. And just to round things off, the new head of the RAF has admitted that various special-forces missions which the Hercules could carry out  such as air delivery of boats or vehicles  cannot be done by the A400M. Sorting this out will take years.

Why did we ever buy this horrifyingly expensive, unreliable monstrosity? Why didnt we bail out when we could?

As usual, the answer is porkbarrel politics. The wings for the A400M are made in Britain, and the jobs of those workers have been deemed more important than having working aeroplanes.

Its worth noting here that FOI responses have established that the MoD believes that around 18 per cent of A400M procurement money has been spent in the UK, equating to say 23m per plane. We could have spent that money on something British-made which is actually useful  Accuracy International sniper rifles, Supacat Jackal offroad gun trucks, military engineering vehicles from JCB, we make lots of good kit in the UK. We could then have bought two new Hercules for every A400M. Overall, wed still have saved more than 600m compared to buying the A400Ms, got the same amount of lift in twice as many planes which actually work  and spent just as much in Britain.

And indeed we would, buying American Hercules, spend still more in Britain. One of the UKs genuine aerospace success stories is the firm Marshalls of Cambridge, which maintains the RAFs Hercules and improves our balance of payments by looking after those of other nations. An expanded Hercules fleet would have been good news for Cambridge. As it is, job losses are expected at Marshalls, and the nice export work probably cant survive without the core RAF business.

Were getting job losses anyway, despite having bought the dreadful A400M specifically to preserve jobs: we cant even manage porkbarrel politics properly.

Back in 2010, when it was decided that the A400M nations would bail out the disastrous project rather than abandoning it, then French defence minister Herve Morin argued that Giving it up would have meant Europe saying it wanted to be dependent on the United States in military transport.

Theres just one problem with that idea: the A400M has plenty of US parts in it. The programme was opened to US suppliers early on, as one would expect, because a modern high-tech aircraft without US parts in it is no more likely than a computer without some US software in it. Like almost every other modern Western military system the A400M is subject to Washingtons International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and cannot even be sold to anyone without US consent.

So regardless of M Morins thoughts, Europe remains dependent on the USA in military transport: particularly as it has no C-17s.

There really is absolutely nothing to be said for the A400M or our purchase of it. In 2010, Labour peer John Gilbert, a former defence procurement minister, described the A400M in the House of Lords as a Euro-w**king makework project.

How right he was. And how sad and stupid it is that we are letting the trusty Hercules go.

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.
Channel 2 Action News has learned that rapper Boosie Badazz, a.k.a. Lil Boosie, whose real name is Torrence Hatch Jr., is in federal custody after a court date in San Diego, California on June 14.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

According to court documents, Boosie made his first appearance on June 15 and no bail was set.

Earlier this week TMZ reported Boosie, who currently lives in metro Atlanta, was arrested moments after his gun case in San Diego County was dismissed.

Hours later, Boosie took to his Twitter apologizing to his children.

I WANNA TAKE THIS TIME TO APOLOGIZE TO MY KIDS , IM SORRY AND I LOVE YALL FOREVER   Boosie BadAzz (@BOOSIEOFFICIAL) June 14, 2023

Channel 2 Action News reached out to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Los Angeles Field Division who confirmed Boosie was arrested on a federal violation.

It is unclear what exactly that violation was, court documents show a motion was recently filed to keep the complaint and arrest warrant sealed at this time.

Disclosure in the public record at this time likely would cause the targets to flee to avoid prosecution, destroy, or discard evidence, and otherwise seriously jeopardize the investigation, the motion, filed by the Feds, stated.

Boosies next court date is set for June 29.

TRENDING STORIES:

In 2021, the rapper was charged in Atlanta with 2nd-degree criminal damage to property, inciting a riot, disorderly conduct property, and criminal trespass.

The charges stem from an incident that happened after the Legendz of the Streetz show at the State Farm Arena in October. The show featured artists such as 2Chainz, Rick Ross, Jeezy and Gucci Mane.

Officers said they were called to the arena around 12:40 a.m. to a report of vandalism at the facility. The person who called the police told them a man, identified as Hatch, and several of his associates ran onto the stage during the show and damaged several items.

The caller also told officers that after being escorted from the stage, they began destroying arena property. Police said nobody was injured during the melee.

Hatch was booked into the Fulton County Jail late Monday and left Tuesday on a signature bond.

This isnt the first time the rapper has been arrested and jailed in metro Atlanta.

In 2019, a sergeant pulled over Hatch and a man named Antonio Allen in a Chick-fil-A restaurant parking lot on Bullsboro Drive in Newnan.

The Coweta County deputy noticed their car being driven erratically.

The deputy said the rappers bodyguard kept moving, reaching for something and the deputy later discovered a gun in the car.

Authorities said marijuana, a gun and more than $20,000 were all found in the car. Hatch and Allen were both arrested and charged with drug and gun charges.

Just a misunderstanding, Hatch told Channel 2 after his release from jail. Aint nothing serious.

In 2020, the rapper was wounded in the leg and treated at a Dallas hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after a shooting.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
Once sacrosanct, the military has increasingly become a political punching bag in Washington, D.C., but the country's largest service has lately started taking some swings of its own.

"We are a ready Army, not a 'woke' Army," Army Secretary Christine Wormuth told reporters Tuesday. "What I'm trying to talk about now is how that drip, drip, drip of criticism about a woke military is having some counterproductive effects on recruiting."

The services have come under near constant attacks on Capitol Hill over the past year, with Republican lawmakers claiming the military is getting soft due to its embrace of racial minorities, women and LGBTQ+ troops. The criticism comes at a particularly sensitive time for the Army, which had its worst recruiting year in decades in 2022.

Read Next: In the Wake of High-Profile Suicides, the Army and Navy Are Trying to Adapt

Lawmakers blamed the "woke" policies of the Biden administration. In reality, the recruiting slump has largely been attributable to a relatively healthy civilian job market and difficulty in finding young Americans who meet the academic and body fat standards to join.

The criticisms became mainstream when Joe Biden became president, though there have been no substantial changes to diversity or equality training in the services since the Trump administration.

The added burden of political attacks amid tough recruiting times has caused frustration among Army leadership.

"This was the kind of politicization in which you're not using the military social esteem to make yourself look better, you're trying to batter it and use it as a wedge point," Risa Brooks, a professor of political science at Marquette University, told Military.com.

Wormuth made similar comments in recents weeks during interviews on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" and "The Brian Lehrer Show" on New York City public radio.

In a response to questioning from Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., on whether the military is being politicized during a congressional hearing in March, Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston told him that his comments were contributing to that politicization.

"I think even by your comments, 'Are we politicizing the military,' it almost feels like we're politicizing the military," said Grinston, the Army's top enlisted leader. "We support and defend the nation and the Constitution [for] everybody. ... That's what good soldiers do."

A soldier in basic training receives only an hour of instruction related to equal opportunity -- a briefing that centers around treating service members of all backgrounds the same, according to service data.

Meanwhile, new recruits receive about 92 hours of weapons training, and that significant volume of instruction is even longer for combat-arms trainees such as infantrymen.

The Army has had to walk a tightrope on countering the woke narrative, which has roots in the election of 2016 and the presidency of Donald Trump. The military has always, ideally, considered itself as apolitical and often struggles to stay out of political debates.

But lawmakers on both sides of the aisle also used to steer clear of sustained political broadsides on military culture. In 2015, that began to change amid Trump's ongoing feud with the late Arizona Sen. John McCain, a Vietnam veteran and former prisoner of war.

"He's not a war hero," Trump said at the time. "He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured."

The latest accusations of wokeness seldom come with specifics, but have bled out of committee rooms on Capitol Hill to the campaign trail for the 2024 presidential race.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has made the military a key component of his campaign criticisms, vowed that if elected he will revert base names, such as Fort Liberty, North Carolina, back to namesakes honoring Confederates who waged war against the U.S.

"I think the military that I see is different from the military I served in," DeSantis told Fox News in May. "I see a lot of emphasis now on political ideologies, things like gender pronouns. I see a lot about things like DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion programs], and I think that that's caused recruiting to plummet."

But some in the Army see that as a brazen attack on soldiers as the service has become more welcoming to minorities and historically marginalized groups. However, that wider acceptance is less attributed to policy and generally associated with a more tolerant, younger generation.

"It's damned if you do, damned if you don't," one service official told Military.com on the condition of anonymity. "The fear is if that line is actually crossed, it gets us in a political fight."

Also, service officials including Wormuth say they believe the woke criticism has an impact on recruiting.

The prime demographic for recruiting, Gen Z, is more socially inclusive. But officials worry the woke narrative appeals to older people who are in the orbit of potential applicants, such as pastors, parents and school officials, who may have an outsized influence on decisions to enlist or not.

Wormuth, along with Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, penned an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal in October that was a call to arms highlighting that people with diverse backgrounds are welcome to serve.

But there was also a more subtle intent to publish the piece in a news outlet known to have an older audience -- those who may influence the younger pool of potential recruits, not the young Americans themselves.

DeSantis, who bashed the scrubbing of Confederate names from bases, went on to claim that troops currently serving are leaving.

However, the Army has met its retention goals for the past four years, holding onto 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers whose contracts were expiring. It hit its goal this year in May.

-- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon.

Related: Michael Grinston's Quiet War to Help Make the Army More Lethal, Wokeness Hysterics Be Damned
Los Angeles, California-Sept. 22, 2022-Christian Flagg, age 33, of LA, speaks during the California Reparations Task Force meeting to hear public input on reparations at the California Science Center in Los Angeles on Sept. 22, 2022.

The fight for reparations for formerly enslaved people in the United States has been brewing for centuries. But in recent years, the push to provide reparations to Black Americans has been heating up. In California, lawmakers are moving ahead with the most comprehensive reparations plan yet. And on Capitol Hill, lawmakers like Representative Cori Bush are pushing for massive national reparations plans.



But just how realistic are these efforts, and where should people who want reparations focus their energy? The Root sat down with experts to try to find out.

Read more

Folks who are deeply into the fight for reparations may already know this name. Dr. William Darity, an Economist, and Duke University Professor, penned From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century, a book making the case for reparations. And Dr. Darity has a lot to say about the plans for reparations popping up across the country.

I think that the only effective plan for reparations must be conducted by the federal government, he says. piecemeal efforts at the state, local, or individual or private organization level are actually distractions and detours from the central task of getting Congress to pass comprehensive reparations.

In his book, which he co-wrote with author Kirsten Mullen, they argued that in order to close the wealth gap, Black Americans descended from enslaved people in the United States would need $350,000 per person in reparations. Their plan estimates that it would cost the United States government $14 trillion to accomplish that goal. The difficulty is that both the state and local governments, as well as private donors, dont really have the capacity to meet the bill, explains Darity. If the minimum bill is $14 trillion, its noteworthy that the total budget combined for all state and local governments in the United States is less than $5 trillion.

Jo Von McCalester, a Political Science Lecturer at Howard University, says she understands Dr. Daritys concerns that the push for reparations could distract from the larger goal of a national plan. However, she remains more optimistic about the movement in the states. In California, lawmakers are set to vote later this Summer on a comprehensive reparations plan, which includes cash payments to descendants of enslaved African Americans. Its major, says McCalester. The nation should be paying attention.

California is the petri-dish of the nation. That starting place, to spark others in the country to follow, explains McCalester, referencing policies like same-sex marriage that caught steam after becoming law in California. I can go down the list of things that have been introduced and gone through an entire process in California and informed the rest of the nation.

Whether we ever achieve the ambitious goals outlined by folks like Dr. Darity, McCalester says its important to remember that the United States has paid reparations to other groups before, such as after World War II following the forced internment of Japanese Americans. She also referenced the fact that Haitians were forced to pay billions of dollars to France for the crime of winning their freedom from their enslavers.

This isnt outlandish, she says. Its only outlandish because historically speaking, things have been repeatedly done to people of African descent, to Black people in the United States, and repayment for that behavior has been seen as something that is too much. Even getting an apology for slavery didnt happen until the 90s.

How Far Have We Come on Reparations?

Ohio State History Professor Hasan Kwame Jeffries says that progress in places like California has been swift. Back in 2020, the farthest you were going to get was creating a panel, says Jeffries. Now, there are several comprehensive proposals. And in Evanston, Illinois, some residents have begun to receive reparations on a small scale.

But Jeffries says on a larger scale, were much more likely to see plans that look different from how weve traditionally conceived of reparations.

We have a higher likelihood of getting programs that are called reparations, says Jeffries. As opposed to this kind of direct payments, which is how I think weve typically thought about reparations.

Getting a consensus on what reparations is for and why its necessary is massively important, says Jeffries. Its been framed on the political right as just a giveaway, he says. And so until that changes, until the idea of what reparations changes, then there wont be a what will it look like [conversation] because you wont even get that far.

Education is a key component of this fight, says Jeffries. The case for reparations isnt made simply on the basis of the horror of slavery, which is absolutely in on and of itself could be made, he says. But the issue with the institution of slavery is not just what occurred while slavery was legal, but its the legacy of the institution of slavery...the question of discrimination, institutional, legal sanction, discrimination continues for another 100 years in both formal and informal ways.

Despite some of his concerns about reparations plans on the state level being a distraction, Dr. Darity says that overall, hes hopeful about the future.

If you asked me this 30 years ago when I first started working on this, I would have said, well, the odds are pretty slim. If you asked me five years ago, I would have said, yeah, thats really not likely...but we should put a plan in place, he says. Now, if you ask me today, I would say yes, the odds are still long, but the situation looks more optimistic than it ever has in my lifetime.

More from The Root

Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
If the City Council votes to create it, the task force would be responsible for determining the citys involvement in slavery and making recommendations for restitution to descendants of enslaved Africans.

Philadelphias City Council votes next week on a resolution to form a task force to assess if the city can pay reparations to its residents who are descendants of enslaved Africans.

The task force would be responsible for evaluating data to determine the citys involvement in slavery and making recommendations for restitution that could include monetary payments, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Last year the newspaper wrote a series of articles outlining Philadelphias role in creating practices and policies that engendered policies and practices that harm Black people. The series began with the declaration, American democracy was enshrined in Philadelphia. So was systemic racism. It included an evaluation of the citys prison system that became the prototype for Americas approach to incarceration that disproportionately affects Black people.

In Philadelphia, shown here in January, the City Council is set to vote on a resolution that would form a task force to consider reparations for residents descended from enslaved people. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images )

It is crystal clear that many of the crises plaguing our city have their roots in American slavery, said City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, one of the people who introduced the proposal Thursday to study reparations. Reparations are not a handout, theyre what the descendants of enslaved Africans are owed and need.

She also deemed the concentration of lethal crimes in Black communities a vestige of racist decisions. You can trace a direct line from the decades of racially motivated disinvestment to Black neighborhoods to gun violence, Gauthier said. Until these communities receive the investments required to rectify these problems, gun violence will continue to plague this city.

The resolution to form a group to study reparations is a result of a rally in January in which the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America, or NCOBRA, convened outside City Hall and asked lawmakers to form such a group, the newspaper reported.

For more than 35 years, that national coalition has advanced the idea of reparations policies, and it has listed five areas that slavery continues to impede and that reparations should address. They include poverty, education, personhood, criminal justice and health, the Inquirer reported. Reparations, the group says, could include providing economic development opportunities, giving land or making direct payments to descendants of enslaved Africans.

One member of NCOBRA warned that Philadelphians should calibrate expectations for financial restitution and remain aware that all reparations require city, state and federal support.

Capital and recompense to Black descendants of enslaved Africans is not something the public should expect from this task force, said Rashaun Williams, NCOBRA Philadelphia co-chair, the Inquirer reported.

The first thing is honesty. Were asking for focused activity and positive reparations, Williams said in January, according to the newspaper.

For example, the group wants all businesses and banks that do business with the city to disclose their connections to slavery as a 2005 law requires. Additionally, those businesses should propose programs that would benefit the citys Black residents. Investigating whether the city enforces that mandate would be one of the responsibilities of the task force.

Should City Council members approve the task force, Philadelphia would join a number of cities and states that have done the same in recent years including: Evanston, Illinois; Asheville, North Carolina; New York state; California; San Francisco and Boston.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Reparations task force proposed in Philadelphia appeared first on TheGrio.
WASHINGTON  House Republicans are trying to give U.S. Southern Command authority over military relations with Mexico, which currently lies within the jurisdiction of U.S. Northern Command.

The $826 billion Pentagon funding bill, which the House defense spending panel advanced along party lines on Thursday, contains a provision that would give SOUTHCOM authority over all military activities related to Mexico within six months after the bill becomes law. Republicans hope that doing so will enable the Defense Department to play a more active role in cracking down on fentanyl trafficking.

No threat in the world today is claiming more American lives than the fentanyl crisis, House defense appropriations Chairman Ken Calvert, R-Calif., told Defense News in a statement. To prioritize combatting the trafficking of fentanyl by Mexican drug cartels, we are transferring Mexico from the jurisdiction of NORTHCOM to SOUTHCOM, which has a long history of successful international and interagency counter drug operations.

Fentanyl is the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Nearly 71,000 Americans died from fentanyl and opioid-related overdoses in 2021  comprising about 67% of all overdoses  according to data compiled by the National Institutes of Health.

A January 2020 report by the Drug Enforcement Agency identified Mexico and China as primary sources for fentanyl trafficked into the United States, and said India is emerging as a source for related chemicals.

Within the whole of government approach to this epidemic, this bill advances the Defense Departments role in a historic way, Calvert said. The subcommittee is providing record-high investments in Defense Department drug interdiction and counter-drug activities.

A Republican summary accompanying the Pentagon spending bill touts $1.2 billion in funding for drug interdictions and counter-drug activities. The summary also touts an unspecified funding increase for the National Guards counter-drug program as well as train and equip programs to help Latin American countries crack down on cartels, particularly the Sinaloa and Jalisco drug cartels.

The Pentagon last moved a country to a different combatant command in 2021, when it transferred Israel from U.S. European Command to U.S. Central Command to more effectively coordinate against Iran with Arab security partners.

Still, its unclear whether transferring Mexico to SOUTHCOM will get buy-in from Democrats when the full Appropriations Committee takes up the defense spending bill before a full House floor vote and final negotiations with the Senate.

Thats not the kind of thing the Appropriations Committee is supposed to be doing, Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, told Defense News. They dont know what theyre doing ... and they shouldnt be doing it.

Smith said there had been no discussion on moving Mexico to SOUTHCOM, even with the House Armed Services Committee preparing to mark up the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act next week. Policy issues are usually debated in that authorization bill, while appropriations bills typically remain more focused on spending levels and funding specifics.

The draft FY24 defense spending bill also contains several contentious partisan policy riders that Democrats strongly oppose, including an end to the Pentagons abortion leave policy, an end to transgender medical care for troops, and a ban on diversity and extremism training.

But on fentanyl, some lawmakers have sought to come to a bipartisan consensus regarding the militarys role in counter-drug operations in Mexico and elsewhere.

Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Tim Kaine, D-Va., have teamed up to introduce legislation that would require the Pentagon to deepen security cooperation with the Mexican military to combat fentanyl trafficking. Reps. Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., and Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., have introduced the same bill in the House.

They introduced the legislation in May after a growing chorus of Republican lawmakers and presidential candidates called for Congress to pass military authorization for the president to strike drug cartels in Mexico.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, introduced the bill that would authorize military force in Mexico in January. It currently has 20 Republican co-sponsors, including two who lead panels on the House Armed Services Committee: Reps. Mike Waltz of Florida and Jack Bergman of Michigan.

All the leading Republican presidential candidates have advocated using military force in Mexico against drug cartels, including former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Gov. Nikki Haley and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.
Alejandro Mayorkas, border wall Illustrated / Getty Images

Will House Republicans impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas? There's certainly movement in that direction  but also obstacles. The Hill reported that the GOP has "inched closer" to action, officially launching an investigation into Mayorkas over criticisms that the Biden administration has thrown open the nation's southern border to uncontrolled immigration.

"His policies have resulted in a humanitarian crisis this country has never seen," said Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee. But it's not clear that enough Republicans are on board for impeachment, CNN reported. "We don't have the votes," said Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.). One of the opponents is Rep. Tom McClintock, a California Republican. "Show me treason, bribery or other high crimes or misdemeanors. And I'm all ears," he said. "But at the moment I have not heard it or seen it."

Some GOP centrists aren't sold on the idea that impeaching Mayorkas "is a winning political message," Politico reported. "It's going to be a lot of effort and does that not take us off other priorities?" asked Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.). And critics say Republicans don't have any evidence of a "high crime or misdemeanor," the constitutional standard for impeaching public officials.

What are the commentators saying?

Republicans want to impeach Mayorkas "because of policy differences, which aren't impeachable offenses," Greg Sargent wrote at The Washington Post. Without that evidence the effort will backfire politically, GOP pollster Whit Ayres told Sargent, creating an "image of the Republican Party that is very much at odds with the kind of party that can win elections in swing states." But recent right-wing anger over the recent debt ceiling deal may force GOP leaders to offer impeachment as a "consolation prize." If Republicans really want better policy, they can reform immigration law.

Any GOP hesitation to impeach Mayorkas is misguided, Jason Richwine wrote at National Review. "The porous southern border is a catastrophe for the rule of law." Mayorkas has "flouted" federal laws by "welcoming millions of migrants without visas." While the secretary isn't accused of "bribery, or theft, or some other unquestionably illegal behavior," Congress should also have the right of impeachment if officials refuse "to execute the laws it has written." Any impeachment effort would falter in the Senate, but that doesn't matter: The process "would force a detailed discussion of the administration's failures at the border."

The impeachment drive is "a gift to Democrats," Timothy Noah wrote at the New Republic. A "show trial" would treat the nation to "the spectacle of Republicans trying to come up with a plausible-sounding justification to remove Mayorkas from power." That would put "GOP derangement" on full display. Instead of spurring Americans to anger over immigration, the effort would probably endanger the standing of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy by demonstrating "how thoroughly captive the GOP remains to its nutbar flank."

What's next?

The investigation. Bloomberg reported that the Homeland Security Committee will conduct a five-phase inquiry into Mayorkas. After that, investigators will turn the findings over to the House Judiciary Committee, which has authority over impeachment efforts. But the effort "threatens to deepen divisions" in the House GOP that were on display during McCarthy's extended fight to become House Speaker, and more recently when conservatives shut down Congressional votes in their anger over the final debt ceiling deal.

The impeachment effort comes at an odd moment in the immigration debate: Despite concerns that the end of Title 42 immigration restrictions in May would result in a flood of new migrants, border crossings have actually dropped, CBS News reported. Politico reported that Homeland Security officials said that's the result of a new approach that bans migrants from applying for asylum "if they cross the border illegally or fail to first apply for safe harbor while crossing through another country" while headed to the U.S. And deportations remain a tool: In the latter half of May, the U.S. sent nearly 40,000 migrants back to 80 countries.

Green, who is leading the inquiry, said he has never used the word "impeachment," USA Today reported. But he said President Biden should pay close attention to the investigation. "He can't possibly know of all of these failures of Mayorkas," Green said, "and have not fired him already."

You may also like

Why Republicans are trying to make Trump's trial about Hillary Clinton

Researchers say they created first synthetic human embryo model

Southern Baptists expel Saddleback, 2nd church over female pastors, approve further clampdown
Republicans want to use gas stoves as an election issue. Heres why

No one from the federal government is going to come into your home and take away your gas stove.

But Republicans and Democrats are making the fate of gas stoves the latest front in the raging political culture wars. It is a preview of the kind of rhetoric likely to persist throughout the 2023-24 campaign season..

Why gas stoves? Because theyre an appliance used every day in millions of kitchens. The GOP saw its opening in January, when Consumer Product Safety Commissioner Richard Trumka Jr. told Bloomberg News that a gas stove ban was on the table. Trumka explained that only new gas stoves would be banned. But the Washington firestorm was ignited.

So to Republicans, the threat of losing the appliances, however remote, shows that the Biden administration wants to control your kitchen. To Democrats, putting curbs on natural gas is crucial to their efforts to halt climate change and promote energy efficiency.

For two days this week in the House, and coming soon to the Senate, the war was on.

Republicans stand with the American people, who overwhelmingly agree that banning gas stoves altogether is an egregious overreach and government-knows-best ideology at its worst, said Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Florida, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

And, GOP leaders warned, a gas stove ban would be another example of an arrogant Democratic Party eager to deny people freedom of choice.

This government control is out of control, said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. It is about time we push back.

This isnt about control, countered Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-Long Beach. Let the government find new ways to make energy more efficient, she said, adding new efficiency standards for stoves are long overdue.

Look at the bigger picture, Barragan urged. Democrats are focused on the climate crisis. When household appliances use less energy, they will cause less pollution, she said. We will not be distracted.

Congress takes action

The House passed two bills aimed at halting any federal government efforts to do away with gas stoves. All Republicans voting voted yes, and were joined on both bills by 29 Democrats, including Reps. Ami Bera, D-Sacramento, and Josh Harder, D-Tracy.

Bera explained that While I support creating incentives and market forces moving consumers towards more environmentally-friendly appliances, Americans must know that the government is not out to take their stoves.

Harder said he voted for the measures because, Im incredibly concerned about the high energy prices San Joaquin County families are facing and Ill take any opportunity to reduce costs and make energy more affordable.

Congress interest follows actions in California and New York aimed at quickening conversion away from fossil fuels to cleaner energy.

Four years ago, Berkeley became the first city in the United States to ban natural gas in new homes and buildings. Earlier this year, a federal appeals court agreed with the California Restaurant Association, which challenged the measure, ruling that it was up to the federal government to set energy efficiency standards for appliances.

Dozens of other jurisdictions adopted similar restrictions, and last year the California Air Resources Board voted to end sales of new gas furnaces and water heaters effective in 2030.

Last month, New York became the first state to ban gas stoves in most new buildings starting in 2026.

CPSC Chairman Alexander Hoehn-Saric quickly made it clear after Trumkas comments that the commission has no intention to ban gas stoves.

Research indicates that emissions from gas stoves can be hazardous, and the CPSC is looking for ways to reduce related indoor air quality hazards, he said.  But to be clear, I am not looking to ban gas stoves and the CPSC has no proceeding to do so.

No one in the federal government has taken or plans to take any serious action to ban the use or sale of gas stoves.

When I first heard of the Save Our Stoves Act, I thought it was a joke, said Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Los Angeles. We should be talking about the pressing issues of the day. China is not coming after us because of our stoves.

Republican outrage

Republicans have seized on Trumkas comment and wont let go.

This week they pressed their views with some classic GOP arguments about big government, in one case featuring Palo Alto.

Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, described how the progressive city of Palo Alto banned natural gas in all new buildings and renovations, but exempted Chef Jose Andres facilities.

Andres is opening a new restaurant, Zaytinya, in the citys Stanford Shopping Center.

Natural gas is crucial because of traditional cooking methods that require gas appliances to achieve its signature, complex flavors, wrote Anna Shimko, an attorney for SPG Group, LLC, the malls operator, according to Palo Alto Online.

Without a gas connection and appliances, Zaytinya would be forced to alter its signature five-star menu, which it is unwilling to do, Shimko said.

Johnson was outraged.

This celebrity chef and his wealthy, powerful national Democratic friends, who arent giving up their gas stoves, their fossil fuel fired stoves, are the same exact people lecturing my constituents about climate change, Johnson said during the House debate.

Thats irrelevant, countered Rep. Frank Pallone, D-New Jersey. If a town in California or a state wants to prohibit it, they are still free to do so, he said.

Republicans wouldnt budge. This movement against natural gas is just another step in big governments campaign to control everyones life, they said.

Give it a couple months, warned Rep. Brian Mast, R-Florida, and they are going to be coming after everybodys backyard grills.
Residents of an island in Washington are facing an unprecedented invasion of millions of caterpillars

Western Tent Caterpillars invade Guemes Island on a roughly nine-year cycle, according to the Washington Department of Natural Resources. Brytten Steed/USDA Forest Service

The population of Western Tent Caterpillars spikes every nine years in the Pacific Northwest.

But experts say this spike is exceptionally high due to a warmer drought season and other factors.

"They go up your neck and in your pants and everything else," one resident told a local news station.

Residents of a small community off the Washington coast are facing a challenge of unprecedented scale this summer: Millions of caterpillars are taking over their island.

"You can see them writhing in the grass, and you can see them on the walls of my house," resident Randy Rinehart told King5, a local news station based in nearby Seattle. "They go up your neck and in your pants and everything else."

Western Tent Caterpillars tend to peak on Guemes Island and elsewhere in the region about every nine years, according to the Washington Department of Natural Resources, meaning long-time residents are no strangers to the creepy crawlers making themselves comfortable.

But experts say the sheer volume of caterpillars this cycle is unprecedented.

"I have never seen anything like this in Washington," Glenn Kohler, a forest entomologist at the Washington Department of Natural Resources, told King5. "And I've been with DNR for 15 years."

Residents report having to sweep the creatures off their porches and sidewalks daily.

"Oh my God!" King5 reporter Mimi Jung exclaimed after stepping out of a car on Guemes Island, finding the ground covered by caterpillars. "They're all over the place."

The huge number of caterpillars this year is likely due to three ecological factors, Kohler told King5: a lack of predators, a lack of viruses, and a warmer drought season.

To top it all off, Guemes Island residents can't look forward to a boom in beautiful, vibrant butterflies later this summer either. According to the Washington Department of Natural Resources, they will see an onslaught of brown moths instead.

Read the original article on Insider
In response to Highland Park mass shooting, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs bill allowing police to use drones at parades and other public events

On Friday, a few weeks short of one year since the mass shooting in Highland Park, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law a bill giving law enforcement greater leeway to use surveillance drones at events such as races, concerts and parades.

Illinois Sen. Julie Morrison, who was walking in the Highland Park July Fourth parade when gunfire rained down from a rooftop, killing seven, and injuring dozens of others, said it an emailed statement that Its simple: drones will save lives.

As we enter parade and festival season, its more pertinent than ever that law enforcement are equipped with the most modern tools and training to keep communities safe, said Morrison, a Deerfield Democrat.

Illinois law previously limited drone use by law enforcement to instances that included where it was needed to counter a high risk of a terrorist attack, if a specific probable cause warrant was issued, or to assist in disaster response.

The allowed uses by law enforcement will be expanded to include planned special events such as parades and races, non-crime related search and rescue operations and to conduct infrastructure inspections if requested to do so by another public agency.

Many restrictions still apply. Drones cannot be weaponized, can only be operated by a law enforcement agency and cannot be used at political events. In addition, the public would have to be notified when they were in use at public events.

This is not going to be just a drone that can be in anyones community for whatever reason, Democratic Rep. Barbara Hernandez of Aurora and the bills chief sponsor in the House said during floor debate. This is a specific purpose.

The bill passed in the House by a 84-7 vote after an earlier 56-1 vote in the Senate.

Democratic state Sen. Rachel Ventura of Joliet, the chambers lone no vote, said in an interview that she fears that when we pass legislation that allows law enforcement to potentially overstep privacy, I get a little wary about the slippery slope of what that could look like.

My heart goes out to everyone who was out at the Highland (Park) parade that day and I cant imagine the terror and trauma it is, she said. But at the same point, we have to find that balance on the spectrum between freedom and safety.

Democratic Rep. Curtis Tarver of Chicago expressed frustration that this bill was not proposed after a mass shooting in one of Chicagos Black neighborhoods.

Democratic Sen. Linda Holmes of Aurora, the bills chief sponsor in the Senate, said the measure gives police and other first responders critical information in a chaotic situation where lives are at stake.

This could spare another community the suffering and trauma we experienced here  it has the potential to prevent more chaos and death, she said.

The new law includes extensive language regulating the facial recognition capabilities of law enforcement drones, allowing it only in cases where there is a identifiable high risk of a terrorist attack or to prevent imminent harm to life.

Morrison said the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois was concerned that facial recognition could be used to track immigrants who are in the country without legal permission and have them turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Also under the measure, drone footage must be erased after 24 hours except in specific cases, such as if the footage contains evidence of a crime. A report must also be made by a law enforcement agency as to why, where and when a drone was used.

This may be one of the most important bills Ive worked on in my Senate career because it can make a difference in how law enforcement and first responders can gather information and take lifesaving actions swiftly, Holmes said.

hsanders@chicagotribune.com
A retired Corning City School District music teacher has been charged with providing indecent material to a minor.

Painted Post-based New York State Police said Thomas S. Killian, 58, of Corning was arrested June 10 on felony charges of second-degree disseminating indecent material to a minor and tampering with physical evidence, and a misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child.

Officials said the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation initiated an inquiry on March 22, 2023 into a report of a 13-year-old receiving indecent material from Killian.

Troopers said Killian was providing private music lessons to the child.

Corning: This project will bring an urgent care center, Starbucks to Riverside: What to know

Killian was released on an appearance ticket. He's scheduled to appear in Corning City Court on June 20.

According to the Corning City School District Board of Education records, Killian is a former music teacher at Erwin Valley Elementary School who retiring after 26 years of service on June 30, 2022.

Sports: Competitive playing days behind him, but Joey Sindelar will be visible at Dick's Open

Follow Neal Simon on Twitter @HornellTribNeal. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on The Leader: Police charge Corning man with providing indecent material to child
(Getty Images)

Martin Amis has been given the unprecedented honour of receiving a posthumous knighthood, The Independent can reveal.

Literary insiders have been told that the novelist will be given a KBE backdated to before his death from oesophageal cancer aged 73 on May 19.

The Birthday Honours list will be published on Friday evening but literary insiders have revealed that he will be the first person who is no longer living ever to be featured on the list.

He was approached by telephone by senior civil servants several weeks before his death as he fought cancer from his home in Florida and he accepted the honour, mirroring the knighthood which his father, Kingsley Amis had received 43 years earlier for his achievement as a comic novelist.

Martin Amis, who died last month, is to be awarded a knighthood in the Kings honours list (PA)

That the bad boy of English writing was going to join the establishment by becoming Sir Martin has been a closely guarded secret for weeks. Major figures in the literary world had written in support of Amis who defined a generation with his acrobatic wit and chiselled prose.

He could hardly speak when approached about the honour as the cancer had taken a grip on his vocal chords, but friends of the family said he was tremendously moved and grateful for what turned out to be a deathbed tribute to his giant contribution to English literature.

The last time an urgent intervention was made to honour a great author who was at risk of an early death was an OM, Order of Merit, given on the recommendation of the monarch to poet laureate Ted Hughes, which was granted days before his death in 1998.

Amis stirred envy and adulation for his novels which included Money and The Rachel Papers. His later years saw him preoccupied with losses and parting and deaths. He received several prizes and was named by the Times in 2008 as one of the 50 greatest post war novelists.

It is expected his widow Isabel Fonseca will accept the knighthood at Buckingham Palace on his behalf at a later date.

There was a rush to get the knighthood to him when it became apparent that he was dying and Britains top novelists added their voice to a last minute campaign to get him a top honour.

It is expected that Amiss widow Isabel Fonseca will accept the knighthood at Buckingham Palace on his behalf at a later date

He had to go through the usual government checks and passed every requirement but this lengthy process meant that sadly he died before he could see his knighthood announced.

One of his supporters for the honour said: Martin loved Britain and was one of its great chroniclers and he was so grateful to be given an honour that marked his desire to make writing alter how we see the world and how we live.

He was a writer who reinvented story-telling as his unique prose could be a charged weapon as well as a means of moving and entertaining people with observations that reinvented the zeitgeist.
After a two-year pandemic/post-pandemic pause, City Theatres signature Summer Shorts festival came back blazing last June, belatedly celebrating its 25th anniversary with a collection of mini-musicals, short dramas, and concise comedies.

This year, the company has put together an eight-play festival that feels familiar yet different. Summer Shorts: Homegrown Edition, running through Sunday, June 25 in the Carnival Studio Theater at Miamis Arsht Center, showcases the talent of emerging BIPOC/Latinx playwrights, new-to-the-festival directors, plus new and seasoned acting talent

Like earlier festivals, Homegrown follows a tried-and-true structure as it delivers plenty of delight. The eight writers have been honing their work with master playwright Vanessa Garcia, whose #Graced had its world premiere in the same Arsht Center space last month. Though the subjects of the short plays differ widely, as a whole, Summer Shorts: Homegrown Edition is a love letter to Miami talent.

Act One features four comedies, plays that get the audience crazy with laughter, practically guaranteeing they wont skip out during the intermission. Act Two offers three plays with more serious themes (though two also have plenty of laughs) before wrapping up with an out-of-this-world farce set in outer space.

Shaina Joseph as Hansline, Toddra Brunson as Nubia and Brette-Raia Curah as Kayla debate a vow renewal in 7 by Lolita Stewart-White.

I Found This on the Web by Ivan R. Lopez kicks things off with an insightful, imaginative look at how devices can become an omnipresent third wheel when an online date becomes a fraught real-world experience.

Marcos (Raul Ramirez) is jittery as he waits for Jake (Samuel Krogh) in a nice restaurant. The waiter (Graham Oberlink) is friendly and attentive, but once Jake walks through the door and starts talking, you think: Uh oh. Mismatch.

As it happens, Siri (Evelyn Perez), speaking from Marcoss phone and watch, is of the same opinion. So she chimes in even when Marcos orders her to zip it (AI doomsday believers, beware). The play gets crazier  see for yourself  but know that the script, performances and excellent direction by Alex Alvarez (an acting veteran of numerous City Theatre festivals) are moment-to-moment hilarious.

Alvarez was also at the helm of 7 by poet-turned-playwright Lolita Stewart-White. Set in the dressing room of a chapel in South Miamis Richmond Heights neighborhood, the play imagines that married couples have to follow a federal law requiring them to renew their vows every seven years; if they dont, the marriage is null and void.

Kayla (Brette-Raia Curah), a beautiful and decidedly nervous woman, is decked out like a bride but not at all certain about her next move. Her elder sister Nubia (Toddra Brunson) and younger sister Hansline (Shaina Joseph) urge her to renew her vows with husband Curtis  Nubia is especially (and riotously) vociferous about it. But Kayla has just run into her bad-boy ex Troy, and shes starting to feel like a runaway bride. So, Nubia goes nuclear as she reveals exactly why Kayla should stick with the good man she has.

Stewart-White spins a relatable tale out of her unusual premise, and Alvarez helps the cast deliver every laugh in the script. Brunson, reminiscent of the actor-comedian Leslie Jones in this piece, steals the show.

Roderick Randle as Tyrone gets a piece of customer Chabely Ponces mind in Sefanja Richard Galons Banana Bread.

Sefanja Richard Galons Banana Bread, adroitly staged for maximum comedic effect by Joshua Jean-Baptiste, should speak to anyone who has ever had a going-nowhere fast food job. Tyrone (Roderick Randle) and Sebastian (Ramirez) are coworkers under the thumb of high-octane manager Tony (Krogh), who starts their day at 7 a.m. by making them recite the corporate motto.

Their working styles reveal plenty about their values and motivations. Sebastian is coasting, going out for a pre-shift smoke break involving weed, taking his sweet time to do anything. Tyrone is hustling hard, going by the book, trying to be sure the customers leave happy.

That last part isnt easy: The first customer (Chabely Ponce) is hilariously intolerable without her heart-starting first dose of caffeine, and the second (Lauren Cristina Lopez) is a sleek corporate type whose demands extend to the minutiae of her order. Well-written, well-directed and well-acted, Banana Bread is a scrumptious little comedy.

Plastic Flowers by Luis Roberto Herrera is polished, achingly funny and comes with the perfect comedic twist at the end. Directed by Maha McCain, the play involves a pair of estranged coworkers, Thaylee (Brunson) and Raia (Perez), who unfortunately pick the same moment to visit a comatose coworker (Daniella Valdivieso) in the hospital. Raia has brought a bouquet of plastic flowers for the patient  tacky, as far as Thaylee is concerned  and soon its off to the races with insults and f-bombs as the women resume insulting each other.

Coworkers Raia (Evelyn Perez, left) and Thaylee (Toddra Brunson) take their long-running argument into a hospital room in Plastic Flowers by Luis Roberto Herrera.

Turns out, guilt is driving a lot of Thaylees behavior, particularly the last thing she said to the patient before her coworker landed in the hospital. Perez and Brunson are seasoned actors who volley Herreras well-crafted dialogue so well that you wish Plastic Flowers were a little longer.

McCain is also the director of the most intense and sobering play in the Homegrown collection, And Other Dreams We Had by Phanesia Pharel. The video that precedes the dialogue shows a disintegrating world filled with pollution, a ruined environment, flooding, the latter emphasized by the occasional sound of sloshing water. Jules (Curah) and Mason (Randle) are a couple in crisis, trapped in an attic with a baby on the way  if they decide to go through with the pregnancy.

Worry and fear are omnipresent as they subsist on canned food and wonder (as so many parents do) how they could bring a child into a despoiled world. But their love is still alive in that attic, allowing them a brief escape into a reverie of beauty and hope. Pharels powerful, poetic voice marks her as a playwright to watch.

Ariel Cipollas The Vultures is a sly, layered piece that manages to combine the behavior of actual vultures (though the explanation of most of that is in the scripts stage directions) with the actions of three teen girls who have just finished middle school. Those years werent a happy time for Jade (Ponce), Hazel (Lopez) and Riley (Curah), and Jade is determined theyll reinvent themselves with fresh social media personas that will make them bully-proof.

Director Melissa Almaguer gets truthful teen behavior from her young adult actors, and she flawlessly guides them through the characters constantly shifting emotions. Pushy, controlling Jade turns out to be the alpha vulture, wielding social media as a weapon, though Hazels no saint either. Part of the pleasure of Cipollas short play is that its full of surprise and emotional depth.

Almaguer has also staged Joel Castillos Balloo(n), a piece full of conflicting elements, including love, anger, comedy and condescension. Miami honeymooners Olivia (Lopez) and Jason (Krogh) have gone to Havana, she to explore her familys history, gringo Jason to be supportive and have an adventure. Outside the dolphin show at the Acuario Nacional, a smiling globera (Perez as the balloon seller) tries to get them to buy one of her red, blue or green balloons. Jason gives the older woman the brushoff, barely looking at her, but this globera stands her ground nearby  which proves to be a great thing.

Honeymooners Olivia (Lauren Cristina Lopez) and Jason (Samuel Krogh) decline a balloon offered by a globera (Evelyn Perez) outside Havanas national aquarium in Joel Castillos Balloo(n).

Perez emerges as the star of Balloo(n), a Cuban woman who has lived nearby with her English husband for most of her life. When Jasons comments about the run-down condition of the country and its pushy people cause Olivia to go nuclear, the globera offers her wise, funny counsel about men, husbands and more in a mix of Spanish and enough English so that everyone in the audience gets her drift. Perezs timing and delivery are perfeccion.

In 2201: Xibalba, playwright Chris Anthony Ferrer has dreamed up a tongue-in-cheek space farce. Staged by Jean-Baptiste, who brings the quirkiness of the characters to the forefront, the play is set aboard the massive Space Station Xibalba, standing guard just outside a wormhole to prevent universe-destroying aliens from taking over our solar system.

Diverse personalities and multiple crises collide as the Xibalba crew prepares to celebrate New Years Eve with plenty of booze and raunchy language.

Bombastic Commander Dax Lobo (Brunson) is justifiably nervous about turning over the controls to shaking cadet Cicero Lipschitz (Ramirez), who tries to convey a confidence way beyond his capabilities  but hey, Lobos got a party to attend. Major Gronkzalez (Randle) appears on the Jetsons-style control deck as a hologram, just long enough to threaten Lipschitz with the deadly consequences of dereliction of duty. Sarai (Ponce, memorable again), an effervescent golden android, demonstrates that turning off her comedy function makes her an unhappy, aggressive, not-so-shiny girl. Fireworks  the traditional kind and the firepower of an approaching alien armada  close out a New Years Eve to remember (if anyone survives the celebration).

Chabely Ponce as the joke-loving android Sarai fails to amuse Toddra Brunson as Commander Dax Lobo in Chris Anthony Ferrers 2201: Xibalba.

Summer Shorts: Homegrown Edition may seem like a fairly compact endeavor, with eight actors performing eight plays. It isnt, of course: More than 40 people are involved. They include City Theatre artistic director Margaret M. Ledford and executive director Gladys Ramirez, intimacy choreographer Nicole Perry, fight choreographer David Hyland, stage manager Randall Swinton, production manager Preston Bircher, and five interns.

Special kudos go to the designers: Marina Pareja, who has underscored the personalities from so many worlds with her costumes; lighting designer Eric Nelson, who summons night, day and so many moods; scenic and prop designer Jodi Dellaventura; scenic and projection designer Natalie Taveras; sound designer Ernesto K. Gonzalez; projection specialist Steven Covey; videographer Christian Vandepas.

Video and projections are a major component of Summer Shorts: Homegrown Edition. Before and between plays, the audience goes along on a high-speed driving tour of Miami-Dades cities and neighborhoods, with the camera lingering just long enough on signs for theatergoers to experience that little flash of local relatability. Props to City Theatre, too, for celebrating the theater community with shots of such companies as GableStage, Actors Playhouse and the much-missed Coconut Grove Playhouse.

Overall, Summer Shorts: Homegrown Edition proves the companys premise  that there is depth and breadth of undiscovered and emerging theatrical talent here, and that the stories BIPOC and Latinx playwrights have to tell are both culturally specific and more broadly resonant. And these writers know how to make you laugh.

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: Summer Shorts: Homegrown Edition by Joel Castillo, Ariel Cipolla, Chris Anthony Ferrer, Sefanja Richard Galon, Luis Roberto Herrera, Ivan R. Lopez, Phanesia Pharel, Lolita Stewart-White

WHERE: Carnival Studio Theater in the Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, through June 25

COST: $50-$75 (student tickets $15 with ID)

INFORMATION: 305-949-6722 or arshtcenter.org

ArtburstMiami.com is a nonprofit source of dance, visual arts, music, and performing arts news. Sign up for their newsletter and never miss a story.
Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told podcast host Joe Rogan hes aware the CIA may kill him and lives accordingly.

Kennedy, the 69-year-old son of slain presidential candidate Bobby Kennedy and nephew of assassinated President John F. Kennedy, has been linked to numerous conspiracy theories over the years, including suspicions over the deaths of his famous family members.

During a Thursday appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Kennedy  who announced his entry into the 2024 presidential race in April  said he is conscious of the possibility that he could be shot by U.S. government operatives.

The Harvard-educated environmental lawyer insists he doesnt live in fear of being assassinated at all, but says it does affect how he conducts himself.

I gotta be careful, he said. Im not stupid about it and I take precautions.

Despite his familys formidable standing in Democratic Party politics, Kennedy Jr.s candidacy is struggling to gain traction coming out of the gate. A Quinnipiac University Poll published Wednesday shows him trailing party frontrunner and sitting President Joe Biden by more than 50 points.

In November 2021, conspiracy nuts threw Kennedys late cousin John F. Kennedy Jr.s name into the mix for the 2024 presidential race with a rally in Dallas where QAnon supporters believed he would show up with former President Donald Trump to announce a joint candidacy.

Neither Trump nor JFK Jr., who died in a 1999 plane crash, appeared at that event.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), left, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), right.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), left, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), right.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R ) took another swipe at California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) as the two governors continue to skewer each other in public.

He has a real serious fixation on the state of Florida, DeSantis said about Newsom during a press conference on Thursday.

I mean, I think its just bizarre that he does that. What I would tell him is, you know what  stop pussyfooting around, DeSantis said before referencing President Joe Biden. Are you going to throw your hat in the ring and challenge Joe? Are you going to get in and do it? Or are you just going to sit on the sidelines?

Last July, Newsom aired a political ad in Florida telling viewers that Freedom is under attack in the state and encouraged residents to move to California. (President George W. Bushs former adviser Karl Rove called the move totally brilliant, especially if Newsom does decide to announce a 2024 presidential bid.)

Newsom has also called DeSantis a small, pathetic man and suggested that kidnapping charges may be imminent after the Florida governor transported more than a dozen migrants to Sacramento in a political stunt.

Continuing the feud, DeSantis campaign posted a link on Twitter to a shirt with the term Stop pussyfooting around on Thursday after the press conference. If youre chirping from the sidelines ... this ones for you, the tweet said.

Newsom, who has previously said he will not run for president, ignored DeSantis remark about a presidential bid. He reiterated a challenge he made during an interview with Sean Hannity for the two of them to debate on air.

So  debate challenge accepted? Or do you need your notes for that, too? Newsom tweeted on Thursday in response to DeSantis remarks.

DeSantis, who announced his 2024 presidential candidacy on a glitched-out Twitter stream last month, has also made insulting remarks about California.

During a trip there in March, he called California a biomedical security state, and claimed that Californians were flocking to Florida for freedom.

I know you guys have a lot of problems out here, but your governor is very concerned about what were doing in Florida, so I figured Id have to come by, DeSantis said during a speech at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

Related...
New rule would allow for conservation leases on public land, but some western politicians, including Cox, are skeptical

Cows graze along a section of the Missouri River that includes the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument near Fort Benton, Mont., in this Sept. 19, 2011, file photo. | Matthew Brown, Associated Press

A new rule from the Bureau of Land Management that would allow for conservation leases on public land is seeing pushback from some western Republicans, including Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and Rep. John Curtis.

The rule  Conservation and Landscape Health  would add conservation to the list of land uses, which includes things like livestock grazing, energy projects, mineral extraction and recreation.

Proponents say its a needed tool for stewardship, and will put conservation on par with other uses. Opponents claim its a threat to the idea of multiple use and could harm industries that rely on leasing public land.

Related

Cox was one of six governors to recently sign a letter opposing the rule, claiming it would fundamentally alter the future management of certain public lands. During a U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources hearing Thursday, Curtis said the bureau did not hold enough public meetings when deciding the rule, and that there are already successful conservation efforts in Utah.

Curtis recently introduced a bill, HR3397, that would direct the bureau to withdraw the rule. Utah Reps. Chris Stewart, Burgess Owens and Blake Moore have signed on as co-sponsors, though its still unclear when lawmakers will vote on the bill.

Curtis on Thursday said his constituents dont feel heard.

We feel like were doing a very good job of conservation ourselves and I really would challenge you to point out anything where your involvement would have provided better conservation than what we have done, Curtis said to Nada Wolff Culver, the bureaus deputy director of policy and programs.

Wolff Culver responded by saying the rule is a framework that would make it easier to work with local communities to propose projects and to implement those projects directly with the community.

That message was echoed by editorial boards from newspapers around the West and several environmental groups including the Center for Western Priorities. In a statement, the centers deputy director Aaron Weiss said the pearl-clutching opposition to a draft proposal is perplexing.

The proposed rule would give the Bureau of Land Management the tools it needs for responsible stewardship of Americas public lands in the 21st century, Weiss said. By elevating the best available science and giving land managers on the ground more flexibility, the rule would ensure Americas public lands remain healthy for years to come.

Governors say rule could fundamentally alter land management

In a letter addressed to U.S. Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Cox and six other Republican governors from western states urged the department to start over, withdraw its proposal, and instead focus its efforts on working closely with states, local governments, and stakeholders on rulemaking that will truly enhance active management and actual conservation.

The Bureau of Land Management is charged with managing lands for multiple use and sustained-yield, which means those lands can be managed for recreation, livestock grazing, timber, minerals, wildlife and fish, and more. The new rule endangers that idea of multiple use, Cox said on Twitter.

The governors opposition is in part due to the rule being excluded from the National Environmental Policy Act, the rigorous review process for projects and land management. And, the letter claims, the rule is a solution in search of a problem when so much BLM land in the western United States is already under strict Federal protection.

The governors also take issue with the rule excluding state or local governments from the conservation leases.

Allowing environmental organizations, businesses, or members of the public to lease public lands for the exclusion of other uses runs completely contrary to the principles of multiple use and sustained yield. Public lands are intended to be just that  open to the public, not available for environmental organizations to rent to the exclusion of others, the letter reads.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem all signed the letter. Both Noem and Gordon also testified during the committee hearing Thursday.
Rising bills from heat pump costs

Rural households could see their heating bills increase by more than two thirds if they switch to using heat pumps in line with the Governments net zero targets, according to figures from an industry trade body.

Data calculated by the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA) showed that the cost of running a heat pump for rural homes is more than 70 per cent higher per year than a conventional oil boiler.

For roughly 9,894 kWhs of heat, the total amount of energy required to heat a rural property for one year, the running cost of a heat pump would be 1060.20, while an oil boiler would cost just 617.81, a difference of 71.5 per cent.

The Government wants to install 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028 and ban all new oil boilers by 2026, as well as put eight million electric vehicles (EVs) on UK roads by 2030 as part of the push to meet Net Zero targets.

The proposals have prompted fears in rural communities, where millions of people are not connected to the gas grid and so rely on oil heating, that antiquated local infrastructure will not be able to cope with the sudden demand on electricity.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Sir Bill Wiggin, MP for North Herefordshire, said: Rural areas tend to have limited infrastructure, meaning that it is impractical and uneconomical to deploy heat pump installations in every home.

Many rural homes, particularly older or listed buildings, are not designed to accommodate these systems.

The costs associated with upgrading are also significantly higher than staying with conventional boilers. While a replacement oil boiler typically costs 2,500, heat pumps retail in the region of 13,000, according to the EUA.

In an attempt to soften the blow of switching to alternative heating, the Government offers grants of between 5,000 and 6,000 for households to purchase and install a heat pump and advocates argue that this price will reduce as the industry grows.

But fewer than 10,000 heat pumps were installed during the first year of the roll-out programme, falling far short of the target of 30,000.

Some 90 million of unspent subsidies are set to be handed back to the Treasury due to the lacklustre uptake.

Mike Foster, chief executive of the EUA, said: The government has promised that from 2026 people living in homes off the gas grid  that is typically in rural areas of Britain  would not be able to replace a broken boiler with a new one. By law they would be forced to have a heat pump.

That is not something that most rational people would do as a choice and if they are forced to do it then the political backlash would be immense.

Charlotte Lee, chief executive of the Heat Pump Association, said work was being done to reduce the cost of heat pumps and that it was possible to get one for as little as 3,000 under Ofgems Boiler Upgrade Scheme.

We encourage homeowners interested in installing a heat pump to shop around, she said.

Heat pump running costs will fall drastically as wholesale electricity prices fall and as environmental and social obligations on gas and electricity bills are re-balanced.

She said that rebalancing the policy costs between electricity and gas bills could improve heat pump running costs by 246 relative to gas boilers.

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.
Russia accuses Australia of 'Russophobic hysteria' for blocking second embassy on security grounds

THIS CORRECTS THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S NAME TO MCGUIRK - The Australian flag flies on Parliament House, seen behind an unoccupied building on the grounds of a proposed new Russian embassy near the Australian Parliament in Canberra, Feb. 28, 2023. Australia's House of Representatives passed legislation Thursday, June 15, 2023, to prevent Russia from building a new embassy near Parliament House on security grounds. (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk)

CANBERRA, Australia (AP)  Russia accused Australia of Russophobic hysteria for canceling the lease on the land where Moscow wanted to build its new embassy, which the Australian government judged to be a security risk because it was too close to Parliament House.

Parliament passed emergency legislation blocking the lease Thursday after Russia won a Federal Court appeal last month against local Canberra authorities decision to do the same.

The Russian Embassy responded on Friday by posting on social media a Russian news agency TASS report of Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskovs condemnation of Australias actions.

Australia, having canceled the lease agreement for the site for the construction of the new Russian Embassy building, diligently continues to move forward in the main stream of the authors of the Russophobic hysteria and tries to distinguish itself on this path, Peskov is quoted as saying.

Another unfriendly display from Australia. We will take this into account and if there are issues on the agenda that require the principle of reciprocity, we will act accordingly, Preskov said.

The Russian Embassy is quoted as describing the lease termination as another step by (Prime Minister) Anthony Albanese towards a deliberate and systematic destruction of relations with Moscow.

The law ending the lease took effect late Thursday when it was rubber-stamped by Governor-General David Hurley, representing Australias head of state, King Charles III.

Albanese explained the urgency as a need to prevent the site becoming a "formal diplomatic presence.

Lawmakers cited threats of espionage and political interference if Russias second embassy was built in the Yarralumla diplomatic precinct so close to Parliament House.

Russia currently occupies the former USSR embassy in the suburb of Griffith, farther from Parliament House than the new site. The Yarralumla site would have provided Russia with a second cluster of diplomatic buildings in the national capital Canberra.

Australian intelligence agencies now rate espionage and foreign interference as the nation's greatest security challenges.

In February, a newspaper reported that Australia had quietly expelled a large Russian spy ring whose members were posing as diplomats.

The spy ring comprised purported embassy and consular staff as well as other operatives using deep-cover identities, The Sydney Morning Herald reported, citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the operation.

The Australian Security Intelligence Organization, the nations main domestic spy agency, revealed days earlier it had detected and disrupted a major spy network. ASIO has not named the country responsible.

___

Find more of APs Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific
Russia is charging foreign business execs over $25,000 to attend its version of Davos  but nobody really wants to be seen there in the first place

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is held in Russian President Vladimir Putin's hometown. MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/RIA NOVOSTI/AFP via Getty Images

Russia's version of the Davos forum is having problems attracting participants amid sanctions and boycotts.

But it was still charging foreign participants over $25,000 to attend  baffling even its organizers.

Most attendees hail from the ex-Soviet states, Africa, Cuba, and the UAE, per the Moscow Times.

Russia's flagship economic event, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, has been having problems attracting participants since sweeping sanctions and boycotts hit over its invasion of Ukraine.

But it's still charging foreign participants over $25,000 to attend, which appears to baffle even the forum's own organizers.

Seen as Russia's version of the World Economic Forum, which is held every year in the Swiss resort town of Davos, the forum in St. Petersburg once attracted the likes of French President Emmanuel Macron and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

However, since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year triggered sweeping sanctions and boycotts, the West's political and corporate elite have been giving it a wide berth. The situation isn't any better this year.

"The main problem for the 2023 organizers is to scrape together participants," a forum organizer told The Moscow Times on Thursday. The four-day event started on Wednesday.

Even so, the forum is charging participants top dollar.

While Russian participants are billed 1.27 million rubles, or $15,200, foreign participants are charged at least $25,440 to attend, according to the event's website. State delegations can attend for free, per The Moscow Times.

But even the forum's organizers are complaining about the high fees given the poor turnout.

"It's a nightmare. Paying the price of a car for attendance is excessive since no one is really going to this year's forum," a member of the organizing committee told The Moscow Times. "It would be more effective to make it free for everyone. And to also give everyone a boat trip."

"Many of our traditional partners just dropped out," an employee at a major Russian state-owned company added to the media outlet.

This year, most attendees for the four-day event hail from the ex-Soviet states, Africa, Cuba, and the United Arab Emirates, The Moscow Times reported, citing the organizer. There are no representatives from the US or Europe.

Despite the poor showing, it's unlikely the event held in President Vladimir Putin's hometown of St. Petersburg will be dropped from Russia's calendar.

"Although it serves no real purpose, this forum will never be abandoned," a manager at another major Russian state-owned company told The Moscow Times. "It has become a symbolic representation of everything being fine, a demonstration that we are well-liked and attract visitors."

Organizers of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russia fires Kalibr cruise missiles from Black Sea: Air-raid warning was issued in Ukraine with air defence activated

The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has reported that the Russians launched Kalibr missiles from their naval vessels in the Black Sea, and an air-raid warning was issued in several oblasts.

Source: Air Force; alarm map; Kyiv City Military Administration on Telegram

Quote from the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: "Attention! Kalibr cruise missile launches from the Black Sea have been observed!".

Details: The Ukrainian authorities have issued an air-raid warning in Mykolaiv, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Cherkasy and Vinnytsia Oblasts.

The sound of sirens indicates the threat of missile strikes and air strikes. At this point, it is strongly recommended that civilians go to a shelter.

At 11:06 (Kyiv time), air-raid warnings also were issued in Poltava, Odesa, and Kyiv oblasts.

Air-raid warnings began to be issued in Khmelnytskyi, Zhytomyr and Chernivtsi oblasts at 11:19.

Explosions were reported in the capital of Ukraine at 11:34.

The Kyiv City Military Administration reported that air defence forces were activated in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast.

Ukrainians are urged to stay in shelters until the all-clear is given.

The all-clear was given at 12:17. Preliminary reports indicate that the Ukrainian air defence forces destroyed 12 missiles during the Russian attack on 16 June.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Russia notices portrayal of its invaders changed since beginning of war

The Russian media have analysed the available data on those killed at the front lines in Ukraine and concluded that the average Russian soldier's portrayal has changed in less than 16 months of the war in Ukraine.

Source: Russian service of BBC News

Details: The BBC, together with Mediaphone (a media agency declared a foreign agent in Russia) and a team of volunteers, have managed to confirm the names of over 25,000 Russians who have been killed since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine.

This list is incomplete and is only based on open sources of information (reports of Russian officials; media publications; posts by close relatives of the Russian military on social media; data from gravestones, and information from some cemeteries).

Having confirmed over 25,000 burials of Russian soldiers killed since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, the BBC has drawn up a portrait of the "average Russian soldier at the front".

Whereas in the first three months of the war, a typical casualty was a professional contract soldier in his twenties, a regular Russian trooper killed in Ukraine in recent months has been a 34-year-old convict sent to the front from a penal colony.

The BBC cites two examples: Sergeant Nikita Loburets, 21, a Russian special forces unit commander, was killed near Kharkiv on 20 May 2022, and Alexander Zubkov, 34, who was sentenced to 9 years for attempted drug trafficking, joined the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) and was killed near the city of Bakhmut in 2023.

While Loburets was a relatively promising contract soldier, Zubkov was convicted twice. The latter went to Ukraine in November 2022, hoping to be released and receive a salary of RUB 100,000 [roughly US$1,190] a month but was killed five months later near Bakhmut. Zubkov was buried on 28 April in Severodvinsk, Russia.

Losses by categories:

Officers: 792

Total casualties since the beginning of the war

Private and non-commissioned officers (contract servicemen): 2279

Military volunteers: 280

Wagnerites: 22

Conscripts: 0

Convicts: 0

Russia lost lots of professional military personnel in the first three months of the war

Losses by categories:

Officers: 148

Total casualties since the beginning of the war

Private and non-commissioned officers (contract servicemen): 398

Military volunteers: 484

Wagnerites: 752

Conscripts: 780

Convicts: 1,236

However, a growing number of unprofessional combatants have been killed in the last three months.

Categories for the thousands of others who have been killed are unknown. Analysis by BBC and MediaZone data

In general, Russia lost more professional military personnel at the beginning of the war, with more non-professional ones killed in recent months.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Russia's embassy in Israel will open offices in Jerusalem to serve its consular section as part of an agreement with the city, the embassy and Israel's foreign ministry said on Friday.

The Russian embassy in Israel said in a statement that a deal over a West Jerusalem land plot, which Russia purchased in 1885, was signed with the municipality on May 18, following a years-long process. As part of the agreement, the property will be used to construct buildings to be used by the consular section of the embassy, the statement said.

Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen welcomed the agreement, which the ministry said was a diplomatic achievement in line with its efforts to increase the number of foreign missions in Jerusalem.

Russia plans to build the complex within five to 10 years, said ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov, who added that the deal "takes into account the interests of both our states".

The status of Jerusalem - home to sites holy to Christians, Jews and Muslims - is one the biggest obstacles to reaching a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

Israel, which occupied East Jerusalem in a 1967 Middle East war and later annexed it, considers the city its eternal and indivisible capital. The Palestinians want the eastern part of the city as the capital of their own future state.

The international community does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over the entire city, believing Jerusalem's status should be resolved in negotiations.

While most foreign embassies are located in Tel Aviv, four opened in Jerusalem after the United States recognised the city as Israel's capital in 2017.

The move, which reversed decades of U.S. policy, has delighted Israel and infuriated Palestinians, who say it violates international law and could destroy the prospects of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.

At the time of former U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed serious concern and said "such steps can cancel out prospects for a Middle East peace process".

But the Russian embassy's statement on Friday said the opening of a branch office in Jerusalem "goes in line with our country's unchanging course towards a fair Middle East settlement".

(Reporting by Henriette Chacar; Editing by William Maclean)
U.S. Transportation Command via Reuters

The Russian Defense Ministry on Friday said soldiers who destroyed American armored vehicles being used by Ukraine will be rewarded with cash bonuses in its latest efforts to repel Kyivs counteroffensive.

The payments are part of a broader reward scheme introduced since the invasion began in February 2022 which has seen over 10,000 Russian troops given individual bonuses, Moscow said. The Russian Defense Ministry cited reports from its field commanders in announcing that payments are currently being made to servicemen of the Russian Federation Armed Forces who in the course of military operations destroyed Leopard tanks, as well as armored fighting vehicles made in the USA and other NATO countries.

Miracle Boats Secretly Snatch Families Putin Left to Drown

It comes after Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defense minister, honored soldiers with the Hero of Russia gold star medal after they allegedly destroyed U.S.-made Bradley fighting vehicles and German-built Leopard tanks on the battlefield.

Armored vehicle kills are rewarded with a bonus worth around $600 and the destruction of enemy tanks merits a $1,200 prize. Pilots who take out U.S.-supplied Himars rocket systems can expect bonuses of around $3,600, with the same level of reward on offer for every Ukrainian helicopter or plane destroyed.

The reward scheme has reportedly been open to corruption in which soldiers deceive their superiors in order to rake in more money for themselves. Dmitry Mishov, a Russian military pilot who fled his post and is seeking sanctuary in Europe, told the BBC earlier this month how the deception works. Lets say there is a damaged tank, Mishov said. And several helicopters fire at it several times, and the gunner confirms each time for a small amount that a new piece of equipment has been destroyed. And everyone is paid for one tank.

The Pentagon on Tuesday announced a new $325 million package of support to Kyiv that will include 15 more Bradleys and 10 Stryker armored personnel carriers. It also includes Himars rounds and other munitions. The announcement of new support for Kyivs counteroffensive came on the same day the Kremlin released footage of captured Bradleys and Leopard tanks, saying of the hardware: These are our trophies.

Things look not bad, Ukrainian Zelensky Volodymyr Zelensky said of the counteroffensive in an NBC News interview that aired on Thursday night. I would say its generally positive, but its difficult. He said Ukrainian forces on the frontline are facing very tough resistance Because for Russia, to lose this campaign to Ukraine, I would say actually means losing the war.

On Friday, a British intelligence update said a senior Russian general was almost certainly killed in a Ukrainian missile strike in the Zaporizhzhia region earlier this week. It added that General-Major Sergei Goryachev is the first Russian general confirmed killed in Ukraine since the start of 2023.

The presidents of South Africa, Senegal, Zambia and Comoros arrived in Kyiv on Friday. The African leaders are aiming to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, and the delegation is expected to travel to Moscow after talks in Kyiv.

Shortly after their arrival on Friday morning, air raid sirens sounded and explosions were heard around the city. The Kyiv City Military Administration reported a massive combined air attack on the city involving six Kinzhal hypsersonic missiles, six cruise missiles, and two reconnoissance drones.

No casualties were immediately reported.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
MOSCOW (Reuters) -President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have agreed that the Russian leader will visit Turkey "soon", Interfax cited a Kremlin aide as saying on Friday.

The visit would be Putin's first to a NATO country since he ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Putin has only rarely travelled outside Russia since the beginning of full-scale hostilities.

"There is an invitation from the president of Turkey. Putin and Erdogan agreed that the visit will be in the near future, but we have not yet talked about a specific day, specific dates," Interfax cited Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov as saying.

Erdogan, re-elected last month for another five-year term, has sought to maintain strong ties with both Moscow and Kyiv since the start of the conflict in Ukraine.

Turkey has refused to join its Western allies in imposing economic sanctions on Russia, but has also supplied arms to Ukraine and called for its sovereignty to be respected.

Ankara has also helped to broker prisoner exchanges and, along with the United Nations, negotiated a deal in July 2022 to allow for the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports via the Black Sea.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later hailed what he called the "unprecedented cooperation" between Moscow and Ankara, praising Erdogan's "balanced position" on the Ukraine conflict.

"And so we must do everything to ensure that Turkey is a good neighbour for us," he added, in comments reported by the TASS news agency.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, meaning he may run the risk of being arrested if he travels abroad. However, Ankara is not a party to the Rome Statute, which created the ICC, and so Putin would run no such risk by visiting Turkey.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Gareth Jones and Jonathan Oatis)
A Russian far-right party made an AI chatbot of its dead leader which makes predictions about the Ukraine war

Former head of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) Vladimir Zhirinovsky delivers a speech in Moscow, Russia, September 22, 2016. Reuters

A Russian ultranationalist party has made an AI chatbot of deceased leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

The chatbot answers questions about the Ukraine war.

Zhirinovsky died in 2022, and was known for his rants and clownish antics.

Russia's far-right Liberal Democrat party (LDPR) unveiled an AI chatbot of its dead leader, ultranationalist demagogue Vladimir Zhirinovsky, at an event in St. Petersburg, reports say.

The neural network based on the image and pronouncements of the late firebrand, who died of COVID-19 last year, was displayed at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Thursday, outlets including the Moscow Times reported.

Video of the chatbot by Financial Times journalist Max Seddon shows it declaring Ukraine to be a "swamp of Russophobes and traitors," replicating the hardline rhetoric of the politician.

Alexander Dupin, a spokesman for the LDPR (which confusingly is neither liberal nor democratic), told Lenta.ru in April that the "political algorithm" named "Zhirinovsky" uses 18,000 hours of the late politician's speeches and other public pronouncements.

Dupin told the outlet the chatbot was created with the help of experts at the University of World Civilizations in Moscow, and that "the task of this neural network is exclusively educational  to acquaint people with Zhirinovsky's legacy."

According to The Moscow Times, people can ask the chatbot questions, and it makes "predictions" about key world events. At Thursday's event, the outlet said, the chatbot predicted that the war in Ukraine would continue until "peace and the Russian people's safety are fully restored."

Zhirinovsky was one of Russia's most notorious political figures before his death last year, and well known for his boorish antics and ultranationalist rants in Russia's lower house of parliament, the Duma.

Though long considered a fringe figure, his views began to find an echo in Russian President Vladimir Putin's increasingly hardline stance on seizing back territory that used to be part of the USSR.

Zhirinovsky had called for Russia to attack Ukraine, and in one of his last speeches in the Duma, predicted that "at 4 am on February 22, you'll feel our new policy"  with the projection out by only two days.

Putin paid tribute to Zhirinovsky after his death, and made a rare public appearance to attend his funeral last April.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A husband and wife were killed in the village of Novoberyslav in Kherson Oblast in a Russian attack in the early morning of 16 June.

Source: Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote from Prokudin: "The Russian army bombarded Novoberyslav with rocket and tube artillery at night. The enemy targeted residential buildings. A couple died in a hit on one of the houses."

Details: The official noted that the woman was killed on the spot, and medical staff tried to save the man, but he died of his injuries on the way to hospital.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
People were injured and private homes were damaged in Kyiv Oblast as a result of a Russian missile strike on 16 June.

Source: Andrii Niebytov, Head of the Main Department of the National Police of Kyiv Oblast; Kyiv City Military Administration

Quote from Niebytov: "Private houses have been damaged as a result of a Russian missile strike in one of the districts of Kyiv Oblast. A fire has broken out. There are casualties."

Details: The police, doctors, and the State Emergency Service staff are working at the scene.

Air defence forces were activated in Kyiv Oblast when the air-raid warning was in force on the morning of Friday, 16 June.

Kyiv City Administration has reported that 6 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, 6 Kalibr cruise missiles and two reconnaissance UAVs were successfully destroyed in the airspace around Kyiv during a massive combined air attack on the capital.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Ryanair fired its chief pilot after an investigation found he harassed junior female pilots and altered flight schedules to fly alongside them, reports say

A Ryanair plane. BearFotos/Shutterstock

Ryanair fired its chief pilot after an investigation found he'd harassed junior female pilots.

That included asking for pictures of their bodies and changing flight rosters to sit with the women.

The chief pilot called the investigation a "witch hunt," The Times reported.

Ryanair fired its chief pilot after an investigation found "a pattern of repeated inappropriate and unacceptable behavior towards a number of female junior pilots," multiple news organizations reported.

The two-week inquiry found that Aidan Murray, 58, had harassed and groomed nine junior pilots ages 21 to 32, according to The Times of London.

Per The Times, Murray was said to have begun by sending inappropriate texts offering them career support before commenting on their bodies, asking about their sexual activity, and  in at least two cases  asking for pictures.

Ryanair declined to comment when contacted by Insider. Murray didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

As the Irish airline's chief pilot, Murray was responsible for flight crew training and safety, flight coordination, and managing personnel. Because of his position, he was able to change flight rosters  unnamed sources told The Telegraph that did so to fly alongside the women.

The Times reported that the investigation began following an anonymous complaint late last month in which Murray was accused of grooming four junior female pilots.

The Times reported that he didn't cooperate with investigators, calling it a "witch hunt," and that when shown proof he'd sent the text messages he said he'd been drunk at the time.

Ryanair's chief people officer was said to have told the company's staff about the firing in a Wednesday email.

"This decision follows an investigation over recent days which identified a pattern of repeated inappropriate and unacceptable behavior towards a number of female junior pilots, which was in breach of our anti-harassment policy," it said, per The Times. "We are determined to ensure that all our people can come to work in a safe and secure environment."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Beloved Chinese restaurant Hong Kong Islander survived the pandemic thanks to the determination of its founding family only to face another setback from a fire that is suspected to have been started by an arsonist.

The restaurant at 5675 Freeport Blvd. in Hollywood Parks Courtyard Shopping Center has been closed since April 14 after fire destroyed half the building and damaged the rest.

Right now, I feel very bad. The memories  everything is gone. Its a very sad feeling for me, said co-owner Kandy Lau, who, with her husband Conrad, founded the restaurant 11 years ago.

This catastrophic fire was the second blaze Hong Kong Islander has dealt with in the past year. Surveillance video captured someone lighting flames outside the front of the restaurant in October, which left a burn scar on an outer wall but didnt penetrate the building. Security video footage from the night of the April 14 fire also showed someone in a black hooded sweatshirt, pants, shoes and backpack setting down materials in a blue container behind the building.

Hong Kong Islander sits across Freeport Boulevard from the Sacramento Police Departments headquarters, and the owners submitted their surveillance video when filing a police report, co-owner Jordan Pei said. But this is an issue for the Sacramento Fire Department, a police spokesman said.

The Sacramento Fire Department told The Sacramento Bee in mid-May that its investigation was closed with the fires cause listed as undetermined.

The reporter emailed the department in June to ask why the cause was undetermined when surveillance video shows a person setting the fire, the response showed the status of the investigation had changed. The department said in a mid-June email that investigators had reviewed video evidence and determined that someone had intentionally set the blaze.

A spokesperson said the fire department needed to meet with our Investigators ... to confirm and see what we are willing to release when The Bee asked if fire officials were aware that the video existed prior to the news organizations initial inquiry.

Investigators are now searching for a suspect, though they arent releasing more information at this time, fire spokesman Capt. Justin Sylvia said. A previous fire department investigation led to the May 8 arrest of a suspected serial arsonist less than two miles from Hong Kong Islander.

Arson and aftermath

Pei was in one of Hong Kong Islanders three walk-in freezers, closing down the restaurant, just after midnight on April 14 when the power cut out. He walked outside, saw smoke and evacuated the rest of the employees.

The person spotted in the Hong Kong Islanders security video footage appears to drop a match as smoke begins billowing from the blue container, then pushes it toward the building and gathers more debris from the ground to add to the growing blaze.

I saw the guy keep adding things to make a bigger fire, but I dont know if hes crazy or (whether it was) intentional or if he was just playing with fire or what, Lau said. Looking at the video, it looks like hes intentional.

The immediate pain was severe. Hong Kong Islander had to throw away $60,000 worth of food from its three walk-in freezers after the fire caused the building to lose power, Pei said. Long-term implications are worse. The 10,000-square-foot restaurant will be closed for the next year or two while extensive repairs are made.

In the meantime, Hong Kong Islander misses not only revenue from daily service but catering operations, such as a 400-person wedding it was supposed to feed at Grand Pavilion Banquet Hall. Half the down payment had been paid; Hong Kong Islander had to return that.

Hong Kong Islanders owners arent yet sure how much money theyll receive from Nationwide Insurance. Insurance policies dont typically cover arson because its a criminal act, said Loretta Worters, the Insurance Information Institutes vice president of media relations.

Yet even if Hong Kong Islander can break even financially, it wouldnt replace all that was lost. Hong Kong Islanders role in the community took a while to develop. Its team of employees, Lau said, have landed jobs at other restaurants.

I think if you paid me back the money, its not what we want. I want my 10 years of effort over there, Lau said. We (had) a lot of good customers that became close friends. Our team that was together, theyre kind of totally lost right now. Thats the main loss to me.

A familys resilience

Lau immigrated to the United States from China in 1975, followed by her husband a year later. They both attended college in the U.S. before she worked in various state agencies for nearly 25 years, while he opened Mansion Travel, a now-defunct travel agency in Hollywood Park.

The Laus opened New Canton, a dim sum-focused restaurant at Broadway and 26th Street, in 2005, and ran it for five years before selling. Then they opened Hong Kong Islander in 2012, which quickly became one of Sacramentos largest and most beloved Chinese restaurants, particularly within members of that community.

The 390-seat main dining room filled to near capacity on most weekend mornings as servers wheeled around carts of dumplings, turnip cakes and egg tarts. A 200-seat private dining room hosted wedding receptions and parties.

But eight years after its founding, Hong Kong Islanders expansive dining rooms sat empty.

Few restaurant concepts were as hurt by COVID-19 as dim sum banquet halls. The emporiums relied on high dine-in volume to pay their sizable rents, and that audience vanished as social distancing took effect.

Large banquets were canceled, cart service was impossible without indoor dining and anti-Asian xenophobia kept some people away as well  or, in the worst cases, led to vandalism and violence.

Longstanding institutions closed in Chinatowns across the U.S., and Hong Kong Islander was making about 15-20% of its typical total gross income during the worst of the pandemic, Lau said.

The Laus were ready to shutter Hong Kong Islander last year before Kandys cousin Teresa Lei and her husband Pei asked to buy them out on one condition: that the founders stay on. All four began working together last July, along with about 25 staff members.

Business had picked back up, Lau said, as more catering gigs and weddings led to large orders.

Allison Joe had planned to host her grandmothers 100th birthday party at Hong Kong Islander. It met the Chinese American guest of honors standards while still pleasing the palates of guests from all backgrounds, Joe said.

Its accessible. Its a really good entry point for newbies who want to know more about dim sum, Joe said. Ive taken many non-Chinese people there who wanted to learn more about dim sum. Thats the first place we go.

Then came the April fire. Plans had to change. Today, chandelier bulbs line the ruined floor, creating a glass minefield. Electrical wires hang exposed from the holey ceiling. In a cruel twist of irony, a metal decoration of a dragon sits across from a phoenix on the banquet halls most prominent blackened wall.

Its very said that we can survive ... the pandemic but cant (survive) this fire by some crazy person, Lau wrote in a text message.

Will Hong Kong Islander be able to reopen after a year or two with no business? The Laus arent sure, but theyre committed to giving it a shot.
Earlier this year, the small Clark County Public Library had a bit of a kerfuffle.

Someone complained about a book that in these challenging days has been frequently challenged: Gender Queer, an award-winning young adult graphic novel by Maia Kobabe about coming out as non-binary. Its now the most banned book in the country, according to National Public Radio.

At a contentious meeting In December, the librarys Board of Trustees voted to put the book in the restricted section, which means anyone under the age of 18 would have to have their parents permission to check it out.

But far more upsetting to Winchester residents like Chuck Witt is that the board also took the American Library Associations Freedom to Read policy statement out of their bylaws. It says in part: It is in the public interest for publishers and librarians to make available the widest diversity of views and expressions, including those that are unorthodox, unpopular, or considered dangerous by the majority.

The American Library Association Freedom to Read position typifies what public libraries should aspire to, Witt told me. Library boards, composed of typically small numbers of people, should not take it upon themselves to restrict reading materials without due process and by creating false narratives about the material. Book bans are expanding geometrically across the country to the detriment of everyone and smacks of literary McCarthyism.

In Kentucky there has been an increase in banned books and in attempts by the General Assembly to put politicians in charge of our libraries.

Doug Christopher is president of the library board, and said the library had an existing policy that required any movie with an R rating to also be restricted to anyone under 18 without parental permission.

Based on the sexually explicit images in that particular book, we chose to put the same restriction on the book, Christopher said.

Then, as they did an annual reviews of policies, the trustees noticed that one of the ALA Freedom to Read statements said there should be no age restriction on any resource in the library.

In our review of the policy, I thought we were not in agreement with that particular position because we were restricting R rated movies, Christopher said. I thought if were not going to abide by their guidelines, it didnt appear appropriate to have their guidelines in our collection policy. That was it in a nutshell.

Thats a logical and not altogether unreasonable position, because lots of parents dont want their young children opening a book to see depictions of oral sex or a first trip to the gynecologist, even in a coming of age story. But it opens the door to book banning  a disconcertingly frequent practice these days  and can quickly descend into irrationality, particularly given what kids can find on their ubiquitous cell phones.

Ironic history

The whole situation is ironic because the Clark County Library is the repository of history about one of the most important moments in LGBTQ history. (As I frequently note, Kentucky contains multitudes.)

In 1972, Winchester native and psychiatrist John Fryer spoke at the annual American Psychiatric Association. He wore a rubber mask because he was scared that what he was about to ask would ruin his career.

I am a homosexual, Fryer said. I am a psychiatrist.

Psychiatrist John Fryer addressed the American Psychiatric Association in 1972, asking it to remove homosexuality from a list of mental disorders. (Faulkner Morgan Archive)

In his speech, he begged the APA to take homosexuality off the list of mental illnesses. By remaining closeted, he told his fellow gay psychiatrists, we are taking an even bigger risk  in not living fully our humanity, with all of the lessons it has to teach all the other humans around us.

They agreed in 1973 and, thanks to Fryer, changed history for millions of people.

This undated photo provided by the Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists shows John Fryer. The psychiatrist, considered a trailblazer in the gay rights movement for appearing in a mask before his colleagues at a 1972 convention to announce his homosexuality, is being honored in Philadelphia with a historical marker to be unveiled Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. (Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists via AP)

Fryer had attended Transylvania as an undergraduate but spent his childhood in Winchester. The Clark County Library is where researcher Jon Coleman found Fryers yearbook photos and his family in local genealogy collections.

He has been celebrated nationally because hes an extraordinarily important advocate for humanizing and destigmatizing LGBTQ people, said Coleman, who is co-founder and executive director of the Faulkner Morgan archive, a grassroots archive of Kentuckys LGBTQ history.

Coleman has been following the Clark County book debate closely.

Its pretty clear that this is nothing about protecting kids, its simply the homophobia that John Fryer was protesting 50 years ago, Coleman said.

Bigger issues

If, like me, you thought wed made more progress on LGBTQ issues, the last couple of years have proved us wrong. Book bans are one way, along with others, weve seen that intolerance writ large.

Book bans about sexual content are often about far larger issues.

A Missouri school board is set to ban the Pulitzer-Prize winning Maus, a graphic novel about the Holocaust, because of a law banning explicitly sexual material. The material in Maus? A naked dead body in a bathtub after a suicide. Nor is it the first time the book has been flagged under those grounds.

In the Washington Post, Maus author Art Spiegelman noted that the sexual material call is a ruse because people are uncomfortable with genocide. The repeated targeting of Maus over alleged sexual content, Spiegelman lamented, is a mere pretext. It was the other things making them uncomfortable, like genocide, he said. I just tried to make them clean and understandable, which is the purpose of storytelling with pictures.

Its clear that what such bans are really about is the desire to control our access to much bigger ideas, like LGBTQ issues or race. In South Carolina, there was a horrifying instance of an AP English teacher whose class was shut down after students complained about videos connected to a Ta-Nehisi Coates book, Between the World and Me about growing up poor and Black in Baltimore.

I was incredibly uncomfortable throughout both videos, and was in shock that she would do something illegal like that, the student wrote, adding parenthetically I am pretty sure a teacher talking about systemic racism is illegal in South Carolina.

Laugh until you cry, folks.

It remains to be seen if the Clark Library restriction is a one-off or part of a larger attempt to silence controversial topics that shouldnt even be controversial. As Ive written before, book bans are a way to try to control narratives some people dont like, and sadly, even after the valiant work of people like Clark Countian John Fryer, LGBTQ rights seem to be among them.
How safe is the water at SLO County beaches? Heres the latest Heal the Bay report

How safe is the water at your favorite beach spot?

According to environmental nonprofit organization Heal the Bay, most beaches along the San Luis Obispo County coast generally had great water quality from April 2022 through March 2023.

Ocean water at those spots became polluted from storm runoff during rainy weather, the report found.

Each year, Heal the Bay gathers beach water quality testing data from more than 700 beaches from Washington state to Tijuana, Mexico. The Los Angeles-based group presents its findings in a school report card format to show which beaches generally have good water quality  and which do not.

The grades in the latest beach report card are based on concentrations of three types of fecal indicator bacteria at beaches: total coliform, enterococcus and fecal coliform, also known as E. coli. While these bacteria are not harmful, such concentrations indicate whether there is a presence of pathogen-containing fecal matter.

One exposure to fecal matter in water can make someone sick.

Heal the Bay separated the data into three categories: summer dry weather grades, winter dry weather grades and wet weather grades.

Due to the powerful winter rain storms that pummeled California, Heal the Bay was unable to score any of the winter dry weather grades properly, the organization said.

This years report card focuses only on the summer dry weather and wet weather grades, Heal the Bay said.

Driftwood piles up on the beach in Cayucos at the pier after a series of winter storms March 10, 2023.

According to the beach report card, summer grades were typically high in San Luis Obispo County beaches because there was little to no storm water runoff flowing into the Pacific Ocean.

Wet weather grades were usually the worst grades because stormwater often causes sewage spills and harmful bacteria to flow into the ocean.

All San Luis Obispo County beaches scored well during the summer months in 2022, according to the Heal the Bay report.

Only one coastal spot Avila Beach near the pier  scored less than an A during the summer months on Heal the Bays report card. The B grade it received means indicator bacteria was detected in some of the samples collected there.

During wet weather from December 2022 through March, most beaches scored well in San Luis Obispo County, Heal the Bay said.

However, Avila Beach near the pier and Morro Bay City Beach at Morro Creek scored the lowest with F grades, according to the beach report card.

Morro Bay City Beach at Atascadero Road scored a C grade, while Olde Port Beach and Morro Strand State Beach at Beachcomber Drive scored B grades, the report card said.

These lower grades indicate that, during rainy weather, these beaches likely had lots of stormwater runoff bringing harmful pollution into the ocean.

A total of 558,826 gallons of sewage spilled into San Luis Obispo County waterways in 20222023, according to the Heal the Bay report.

As climate change continues to bring weather whiplash, our water woes will swing from scarcity to pollution. This year, record precipitation produced major impacts on water quality across Coastal California, Tracy Quinn, president and CEO of Heal the Bay,said in a written statement. Now more than ever, we must prioritize multi-benefit projects to manage stormwater as both a water quality and supply solution, all while ensuring that the public is kept informed of risks to public health.

Tips to stay safe at ocean and freshwater areas

Heading to the beach? Heres how to stay safe while recreating at the ocean or a freshwater body of water.

View the San Luis Obispo County Environmental Health Services beach water quality monitoring website for the latest water quality info.

Avoid shallow, enclosed beaches with poor water circulation.

Swim at least 100 yards away from flowing storm drains, creeks and piers.

Stay out of the water for at least 72 hours after a rain event.

Check in with the lifeguard or ranger on duty for more information about the best places to swim.
Duke is a trained therapy cat (Twitter/@flySFO)

A cat has been hired as the newest employee of a US airport to help calm nervous flyers.

Duke Ellington Morris, known as Duke, is the latest member of San Francisco International Airports Wag Brigade.

The appointment of the 14-year-old black and white cat was announced by the airports Twitter account, with the caption: Purrlease welcome our newest Wag Brigade member, Duke Ellington Morris!

Underneath, a professional snap of Duke wearing a tiny pilots hat and shirt collar was also shared.

The Wag Brigade programme was first launched by the California airport in 2013, with the aim of using animals to help sooth anxious travellers.

Purrlease welcome our newest Wag Brigade member, Duke Ellington Morris!  pic.twitter.com/FDSw1a55Ef  San Francisco International Airport (SFO)  (@flySFO) June 8, 2023

Initially the scheme was limited to dogs, but over time it has been expanded to include other specially trained animals including cats, rabbits, and even the worlds first therapy pig, LilLou.

Animals are selected for their temperament and behaviour, and must be certified by San Franciscos SPCA and have completed its Animal Assisted Therapy (ATT) programme.

Before getting the call up to wear the special Pet Me vest at San Francisco airport, Duke was initially rescued by the SPCA from a feral cat colony in 2010 while he was still a kitten.

He was adopted by a five-year-old girl and her mother, who had him certified as a therapy animal.

On his Instagram account, run by his owners, Dukes latest appointment was announced with a post reading: Happy is not the word elated!

Its not the first time animals have been introduced at airports to improve passengers moods.

In 2017, Cincinnati/Northern Ohio Airport introduced therapy miniature horses in a bid to calm down stressed travellers passing through its doors.

Twice a month, the check-in area gets a visit from two out of a 34-strong team of therapy horses provided by Seven Oaks Farm in Ohio.

The horses undergo special training to deal with the stresses and strains of the airport.

Airport worker Wendi Orlando told NPR at th time: Its just to ease anxiety levels, put smiles on faces. Clearly thats working.
Deserted offices, empty streets and rampant crime could put the city in a "doom loop."

A city view showing the San Francisco Bay Bridge on June 6. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Last weeks disclosure by a major hotel group that it was abandoning two flagship properties in downtown San Francisco was the latest blow to a city that has been battered like no other by the coronavirus pandemic.

Another blow came days later, when the mall operator Westfield said it was fleeing its huge downtown property.

Some residents worry that San Francisco is entering a doom loop in which commercial real estate will collapse, municipal tax revenues will vanish and city services will be drastically cut back.

Other cities have faced similar struggles, but none have been quite like San Franciscos.

Read more: San Francisco homeless, 'mentally ill and fentanyl' makes it 'worse than the Third World,' reporter tells CNN

Remote work leads to empty offices

Office vacancies are at a record high in San Francisco. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

In the years before the pandemic, the technology sector clustered in the Santa Clara (i.e., Silicon) Valley began to move into the city itself. Neighborhoods filled up with moneyed young techies. Salesforce built a gleaming new skyscraper in the South of Market neighborhood, while Twitter moved into an Art Deco fortress on Market Street, the citys main thoroughfare.

Then came COVID-19. It should not be surprising that the city that gave birth to the co-working platform Slack was quick to embrace remote work.

Given the option to leave San Francisco, many workers did just that. In recent years, the city had become among the least affordable in the United States: an average one-bedroom there cost $3,000 a month to rent. In the first year of the pandemic, San Francisco lost 6.3% of its residents, the largest drop of any American city.

Civic leaders including Mayor London Breed and Marc Benioff, founder of Salesforce, have pushed for a return to office work, but those efforts have produced lackluster results  and mounting anxiety.

It's not employers' responsibility to fix San Francisco, Connie Loizos of TechCrunch wrote in 2022. At the same time, there might not be much left to come back to if they wait too long.

Read more from our partners: Why remote work is becoming a blue-state privilege

'Melting down fast'

A pedestrian walks along an empty street in San Francisco on Feb. 13, with a poster on a building on the left of a different time. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)

Commercial real estate is melting down fast, Elon Musk of Tesla and Twitter recently warned. He wasn't exaggerating: Non-residential landlords across the country owe a staggering $1.5 trillion by the end of 2025.

Office landlords are struggling to find new tenants, since few companies are actively looking for space. Their properties are losing value quickly, but those landlords still have to pay back loans they took out before the pandemic.

Failure to repay those loans could trigger a banking crisis not unlike the one that devastated the housing market in 2007 and 2008.

The situation is especially dire in San Francisco, where 18 million square feet  one-third of all the citys office space  remains vacant. While some cities have tried office-to-apartment conversions, the process for doing so is complex and not nearly the cure-all some want it to be.

There are downstream effects, too. Small businesses  lunch counters, florists, newsstands  close. Janitors and other service workers have to find new work.

The decision by Park Hotels & Resorts to give up on its Parc 55 and Hilton hotels was a painful vote of no-confidence in the citys future. "Now more than ever, we believe San Francisco's path to recovery remains clouded and elongated by major challenges," the companys chief executive said.

The speed with which Westfield followed suit strongly suggests the feeling is widely shared.

Read more from Yahoo Finance: The commercial real estate market is wobbling, and 2 of the largest players are feeling the pain of higher rates and tighter credit

The doom loop

A cluster of the apparently homeless on the street in San Francisco on May 16. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Property taxes help stock municipal coffers. An empty office tower loses value, which means there are fewer taxes to collect. And value is plummeting. In San Francisco, a tower at 350 California St. that had been valued at $300 million before the pandemic is now worth an estimated $60 million.

According to an estimate by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, San Francisco could lose as much as 9% of its revenue because of the devastation in its commercial real estate market. The citys budget deficit is already $780 million, leaving City Hall with little room to operate.

Its not a good story, its not a pleasant story, but its the reality we have to live with, city Supervisor Aaron Peskin recently told the local outlet KGO. Peskin warned of profound financial impacts to San Francisco governments tax base.

The reluctance of tourists and conventions to return adds another source of fiscal pain, which shows no signs of abating.

Watch more from our partners: Businesses bailing out of San Francisco, experts explain what needs to change

A crisis on San Franciscos streets

A shoeless person huddles on the street in San Francisco on May 16. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Crime, drug use and homeless encampments were all challenges before the coronavirus hit San Francisco.

The pandemic turned them into a crisis.

Breed, the mayor, has vowed to restore order. But the easy availability of fentanyl, lack of mental health services and a shortage of police officers have frustrated her plans. Police recently seized enough fentanyl in the city to kill 2.1 million people, almost three times its current population of around 800,000. And Breed can no longer blame Chesa Boudin, the widely disliked district attorney, since voters ousted the divisive progressive in June a year ago in a recall vote.

San Francisco leaders brush off the bad news and say the city will recover, one San Francisco resident, Anastasia Edel, recently wrote in the Los Angeles Times. Yet nobody seems to know what that looks like, or what is the path forward.

Read more: Protest, thrown brick disrupt San Francisco mayor's hearing on drug crisis response
Satellite images of result of strikes on Russian bases near Henichesk published

The journalists of Skhemy project (Radio Liberty's investigative reporting project) have published a photo from the Planet Labs satellite, which recorded the results of strikes by the defence forces of Ukraine on the bases of the occupiers near Henichesk, Kherson Oblast.

Source: Skhemy project on Facebook

Details: Satellite images from 15 June, which journalists have, show the aftermath of strikes on the Express recreation centre and the Chalet Termal hotel in the occupied village of Shchaslyvtseve, located near Henichesk.

The images from 15 June show damage to the building of the recreation centre and traces of fires, while the pictures from 26 May show no corresponding destruction.

Background:

On 9 June, explosions rang out near occupied Henichesk, Kherson Oblast. According to Telegram channel Henichesk.ua and the Crimean information agency Centre for Journalist Investigations, missiles hit the Express recreation centre, where servicemen of the Russian Guard were stationed.

On 10 June, a missile attack was carried out on the Chalet Termal hotel on the Arabat Spit, where representatives of the occupation administration could be staying at the time.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Avelo Airlines is less than a week away from beginning its expanded service from the Wilmington Airport (ILG) near New Castle.

The budget airline is adding eight destinations. They will fly to each destination two or three times per week. The first of the new flights will take off Thursday.

Charleston, South Carolina (CHS): Mondays and Fridays

Daytona Beach, Florida (DAB): Mondays and Fridays

Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina (GSP): Thursdays and Sundays

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (MYR): Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays

Nashville, Tennessee (BNA): Thursdays and Sundays

Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina (RDU): Thursdays and Sundays

Savannah, Georgia/Hilton Head, South Carolina (SAV): Wednesdays and Saturdays

Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM): Thursdays and Sundays

Avelo Airline's Boeing 737-700 is being prepared for its first flight to Orlando, Fla., out of New Castle Airport near New Castle on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. Avelo's inaugural flight marks the return of commercial flight services to Delaware and will offer non-stop trips to five Florida locations.

When Avelo announced the new destinations in April, it also included twice-weekly flights to the Melbourne/Cocoa Beach Airport. Those flights have since been dropped. Avelo did not respond to a request for comment.

Avelo will also continue flying to the five Florida airports it launched service with in February: Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Tampa and West Palm Beach.

PREVIOUS REPORTING: We took the first flight on Avelo from New Castle Airport. Here's what it was like.

Avelo has had a successful start restoring commercial airline service to the Wilmington Airport following Frontier Airlines' exit last year. Bolstered by a strong marketing push, Avelo starting next week will have more destination options than Frontier ever had in its two stints of service at the airport.

Numbers provided by Avelo  the company in a press release said it flew more than 50,000 customers on more than 400 flights in its first 120 days of service from Delaware  put it on pace to serve more customers this year than Frontier did in any single year.

On a cold day, passengers walk the tarmac to board Avelo Airline's Boeing 737-700 first flight to Orlando, Fla., out of New Castle Airport near Wilmington, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. Avelo's inaugural flight marks the return of commercial flight services to Delaware and will offer nonstop trips to five Florida locations.

Bureau of Transportation Statistics data are available only through March. Avelo flights from Delaware were 88% full in the airline's first two months of service. That was one indicator Delaware was ready for more flights, Avelo officials said in April.

The Wilmington Airport is one of Avelo's four home bases. (Its other home bases are in Burbank, California; New Haven, Connecticut; and Orlando.) To support the new flights, Avelo is adding a second Boeing 737 at ILG.

Contact Brandon Holveck at bholveck@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @holveck_brandon.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Avelo Airlines expands in Delaware; new flight routes starting soon
A university receiving a Defense Department grant to research hypersonic weapons has ended its relationship with a Chinese Communist Party-linked organization on its campus, the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party announced Thursday.

Alfred University, located in upstate New York, sent a letter to the committee, stating it had closed its Confucius Institute.

Im glad to see Alfred University finally doing the right thing and shutting down its Confucius Institute, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisc.), who chairs the select committee, said in the statement. But the Confucius Institute is only one tool in the CCPs toolbox.

Were going to continue to dig into the facts to make sure that no American taxpayer dollars are supporting research partnerships that the CCP can exploit for its own purposes, he added.

Confucius Institutes are a part of the Chinese governments efforts to engage other countries in cultural events, academic seminars and business conferences, according to the Congressional Research Service. The first Confucius Institute opened in the United States in 2005 at the University of Maryland, which closed in 2020.

In May 2022, Alfred University was awarded a $13.5 million contract to support a project with the U.S. Army to conduct advanced manufacturing and characterization research of high temperature materials, according to an announcement from Alfred University. That research was meant to help materials withstand the extreme temperatures that occur when cruise missiles travel at hypersonic speeds.

This weeks announcement comes after the committee said it would investigate Alfred University over hosting its institute. Gallagher sent a letter on May 31 to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, where he requested information about the Pentagons efforts to protect the United States military research.

The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act prohibited the Pentagon from providing funds to colleges and universities that host a Confucius Institute. The 2021 NDAA gave universities a deadline of October 1, 2023, to end their relationships with the Chinese government-linked groups.

To date, three universities continue to conduct sensitive military research while hosting a Confucius Institute on its campus, according to the statement. The University of Toledo and University of Utah continue to host the institutes on their campuses. St. Cloud State University has paused its institutes operations while the university conducts a review, according to the National Association of Scholars.

Alfred University did not respond to request for comment. More than 100 universities and colleges have closed  or are in the process of closing  their Confucius Institutes.
Are school speed zones enforced during summer in South Florida? Depends where you are

Do drivers in South Florida have to pay attention to school zone speed limits during the summer?

It depends on where youre driving.

Heres what to know in Broward and Miami-Dade counties as summer school gets started:

Broward County

Days: From June 20 to July 25, the yellow flashing school zone lights will be activated at campuses with summer school programs. Not every school in Broward offers summer school. Of the 330 public schools in the county, 51 will host summer school. Summer school runs from Monday to Thursday, four hours a day.

Hours: The schedules are different for elementary, secondary (middle and high school) and programs for students with disabilities. The elementary day runs from 8 a.m. to noon. and secondary from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The disability programs mostly run from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., but a few have different start and end times such as Atlantic Technical College in Coconut Creek, which runs from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Speed limit and citations: Keep in mind that school zones are active 30 minutes before a schools start and end times. The speed limit is 15 mph. If youre fined for speeding in a school zone, itll be double that of a regular speeding ticket. Going over 1-9 mph can land you a $50 fine, and 15 to 19 mph over is a $300 fine.

Tip: If youre approaching a school zone sign without a light, but arent sure if youll be met with an active flashing light ahead closer to the campus, you may want to slow down until you reach the light.

Miami-Dade County

Flashing light requests by school: School zone lights wont be flashing during the summer unless a school in the district requests activation from the Department of Transportation and Public Works, which is in charge of maintaining and operating the lights. So far, the department said no schools have made the request.

Summer programs: Miami-Dade began the first school program for the summer on June 12 and the last one will finish on July 25.

Caution: Even though school zones wont be in effect in Miami-Dade during summer, school officials recommend drivers to be cautious as they pass campuses.
A team of scientists has created synthetic human embryos from stem cells, without the need for either an egg or sperm  a remarkable breakthrough that raises plenty of thorny ethical questions.

While these embryos only resemble ones in their earliest stages of development  they are still far from forming a brain or beating heart  the researchers are hoping to study how genetic disorders affect this process as well as the causes of recurrent miscarriages.

Still, the research has some serious ethical and legal implications, The Guardian reports, and it's currently illegal to implant synthetic embryos into a patient's womb.

The researchers aren't planning to grow these embryos beyond the internationally agreed-upon limit of 14 days, and it's still unclear if they'd even be able to mature beyond that stage anyway.

Team lead Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, a biological engineering professor at the University of Cambridge told CNN the research has already been accepted into a reputable scientific journal.

But it hasn't been published just yet, meaning that many experts are waiting before they comment.

The cells were grown from human embryonic stem cells and were manipulated to develop cells that typically lead to the formation of a yolk sac, placenta, and the embryo itself.

"Our human model is the first three-lineage human embryo model that specifies amnion and germ cells, precursor cells of egg and sperm," Zernicka-Goetz told The Guardian. "Its beautiful and created entirely from embryonic stem cells."

Given the extremely sensitive nature of the research, Zernicka-Goetz was measured in her statements to the media, but still stressed the importance of her work.

"I just wish to stress that they are not human embryos," she told CNN. "They are embryo models, but they are very exciting because they are very looking similar to human embryos and very important path towards discovery of why so many pregnancies fail, as the majority of the pregnancies fail around the time of the development at which we build these embryo-like structures."

Zernicka-Goetz and her team have previously shown that stem cells from mice could be coaxed into assembling themselves into early embryo-like structures, including the beginnings of a brain and beating heart.

At the time, experts called it a "new technological revolution," likening the research to "the birth of Dolly the sheep."

And her team's latest efforts are only the beginning of translating this concept into human models. Many challenges remain and even in the case of mice, these synthetic embryos have yet to be successfully grown into live animals inside the womb.

Even synthetic monkey embryos that were implanted into female monkeys in China didn't make it past a couple of days of pregnancy.

And then there's the question of regulating human-embryo research. Some experts argue these synthetic embryo models shouldn't be governed by the same laws as actual human embryos, but finding a consensus on the topic could take a while.

"These findings suggest that we would soon develop the technology to grow these cells beyond the 14-day limit, with potentially more insights to gain into human development," Ildem Akerman, a gene regulation researcher from the University of Birmingham, told the BBC.

"Nevertheless, the ability to do something does not justify doing it," she added.

More on embryos: Scientists Create Synthetic Mouse Embryos Without Sperm or Eggs
Scientists identify new dinosaur species in 'exciting' discovery off the coast of England

Scientists identified a new species of dinosaur discovered on the Isle of Wight. They named it Vectipelta barretti, after professor Paul Barrett of the Natural History Museum in London.

Scientists have identified a new species of dinosaur on the so-called "dinosaur island" off the coast of England, known for discoveries of fossilized dinosaurs and other remains.

The new species is the first armored dinosaur to be discovered on the Isle of Wight in 142 years. It's been named the Vectipelta barretti, after professor Paul Barrett of the Natural History Museum in London, a renowned dinosaur expert, the museum said Friday.

Its discovery potentially broadens scientists' understanding of the diversity of species living in what is now the UK over a hundred million years ago, the museum said.

The dinosaur's discovery was published in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. The authors of the journal article said it was named for Barrett "in recognition of his major and ongoing contributions to dinosaurian vertebrate palaeontology."

What did the dinosaur look like?

The Vectipelta barretti is part of the ankylosaur family, dinosaurs that ate plants and had short legs and a broad body with "an extensive covering of dermal armour on the head, body and tail," scientists said in their article.

It dates back to about 125 million years ago, when Europe would have been a series of scattered islands rather than a large land mass, the museum said. The island would have been home to humid forests.

The only other armored species found there to date was the Polacanthus, and the new dinosaur differs from it in some key ways that make researchers sure it's a distinct species.

"It has features on its neck and back vertebrae that differ, while it also has more blade-like and recurved spikes which we don't see in the Polacanthus material that we have," researcher and co-author of the journal article Susie Maidment said.

Barrett said he was "flattered and absolutely delighted" for the recognition.

"I'm sure that any physical resemblance is purely accidental," he said.

How was it discovered?

Partial remains of the new dinosaur were excavated from the Isle of Wight in the 1990s, and brought to the Dinosaur Isle Museum where scientists began working on it, said Stu Pond, of the Natural History Museum in London, a lead author of the journal article.

"It has been quite exciting," Pond said.

When it was found, "the skeleton lay with its anterior facing out to sea, and the dorsal vertebrae were scattered" in the area, researchers said. "The pelvis was upside down, indicating that the specimen was probably lying with its dorsal surface downwards."

'DINOSAUR MUMMY': Researchers believe they found one of the best preserved dinosaurs ever

Scientists said Vectipelta barretti doesn't seem to be closely related to other armored dinosaurs in the UK, but has closer ties to two Chinese ankylosaurs, "suggesting a complex pattern of dispersal to and from Europe, North America and Asia during the Early Cretaceous."

"This is perhaps surprising, given the minimum 16-million-year stratigraphical, and significant geographical, separation between" the species, they said in their report.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New dinosaur discovered on Isle of Wight, named after professor
A federal judge on Thursday set E. Jean Carroll's second defamation trial against former President Donald Trump for early next year.

In a brief scheduling order, U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan said the civil trial will commence on Jan. 15.

Kaplan had granted Carrolls motion to file an amended complaint Tuesday in the still-pending case against Trump seeking new damages of at least $10 million, based in part on comments he made at a CNN town hall last month.

Lawyers for Carroll, a writer, highlighted a string of comments Trump made at the CNN event, among them that he had never met or seen Carroll and that her allegations were fabricated.

I never met this woman. I never saw this woman, Trump, who launched his 2024 presidential bid in November, said in the CNN appearance, while also referring to Carroll's claims as fake and made up, her lawyers said.

Carrolls attorneys wrote in the motion seeking the amended complaint that Trump doubled down on his prior defamatory statements at the town hall.

Trump's team had sought to block the delayed defamation suit.

Trump attorney Alina Habba said Tuesday her team didn't think Carroll should have been allowed to amend the defamation complaint: We maintain that she should not be permitted to retroactively change her legal theory, at the eleventh hour, to avoid the consequences of an adverse finding against her."

The pending defamation case dates to 2019, when Carroll publicly accused Trump, then the president, of having raped her in the dressing room of a Bergdorf Goodman department store near his Fifth Avenue home in New York City in 1995 or 1996.

She had sued Trump on allegations that he defamed her when he was president by calling her claims a hoax and a con job."

A jury in New York found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll and for defamation last month in a separate case she filed against him. But that jury did not find that the evidence showed Trump raped her.

The defamation case is one in a series of coming trials involving Trump.

The New York attorney general's $250 million lawsuit accusing Trump of attempting to inflate his personal net worth to attract favorable loan agreements is scheduled to go to trial in October. Trump has called the investigation a "witch hunt."

In March, the Manhattan district attorneys hush money case, which charges that Trump falsified business records related to his alleged role in making hush-money payments to two women before the 2016 election, is scheduled to go to trial in March. Trump has pleaded not guilty.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
See the B on your Table Rock hike? Heres how it came to be, Boise

Just below the giant cross overlooking the city from Table Rock is another prominent Boise icon.

The Boise B  fashioned out of rocks  was created in 1931 by Boisean Ward Rolfe and a group of his friends from Boise High School. The teenagers drove a Model T Ford up the hill the year they graduated and formed a giant letter out of the rocks on Table Rocks southern slope.

We decided Boise needed a B. So we went up there and put it up there, Rolfe told the Idaho Statesman in a 2006 interview.

While the B is traditionally painted white, rival schools on occasion will repaint the rocks. It was even turned into a peace sign in the 1970s, the Idaho State Historical Societys Anthony Parry told the Idaho Statesman in a 2016 interview.

The rocks have since been cemented down to prevent any more movement.

With permission from the historical society, a state agency that owns Table Rock and the surrounding land, the rocks also have been painted colors such as purple in support of Alzheimers awareness.

But the rocks get repainted once or twice a year, usually by community volunteers, to restore the clean, white look.
SEE: Truck falls into sinkhole in Titusville

The Titusville Fire Department said a person has survived after a car fell into a sinkhole Friday morning.

Firefighters arrived at the corner of Cleveland and Abbot Avenue around 6 a.m. and found the truck inside a sinkhole.

Read: 2 dead after Orange County wrong-way crash at SR-417

The fire department said the person inside the vehicle had gotten out before crews arrived.

There were no reported injuries.

Fire officials said a water main break was involved, and repairs are underway.

Read: Its all gone: Masonic lodge in Leesburg destroyed by fire

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.
Dozens of letters with white powder sent to Kobach and other Kansas public officials

More than 30 letters containing a suspicious white powder have been sent to Kansas lawmakers and public officials, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said Friday. The recipients include Kansas Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach.

Tom Day, the director of Legislative Administrative Services, in an email to lawmakers on Friday said the Kansas Highway Patrol had alerted him to the situation around 1:30 p.m. that day. At that point, he said, KHP had obtained letters or packages from three or four lawmakers, in addition to Kobachs office.

Kobachs office confirmed to The Star it had received a suspicious letter and referred other questions to the KBI.

Just after 4 p.m., KBI spokeswoman Michelle Underwood released a statement saying so far 30 letters had been reported across the state. In addition to the KBI and the KHP, the FBI, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Office of the State Fire Marshal and local police and fire departments have been involved in the response to the letters.

Law enforcement is working to safely collect the letters and investigate the incidents. Currently, no injuries have been reported, but we ask everyone to remain vigilant in handling mail, the KBI statement said.

Day told legislators the letters had return addresses in Topeka and Kansas City and were turned over to the KBI and FBI.

A spokeswoman for House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said several of our members have received envelopes. She declined to comment further citing the ongoing investigation.

Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, sent a separate email to Kansas senators about the packages, warning them to be alert and use caution while opening mail.

If you have something that looks odd, please contact the KBI prior to opening OR if you find a white substance, please call the KBI prior to handling, Masterson said.

Mastersons spokesman Mike Pirner said that, as of Friday afternoon, the office was not aware of any letters sent directly to Masterson. But he said the situation was still developing.

Gov. Laura Kellys spokeswoman Brianna Johnson said she was not aware of any packages received by the Democratic governor at this time.
Guangzhou holds dragon boat race to celebrate upcoming Dragon Boat Festival

Xinhua) 08:52, June 16, 2023

People take part in a dragon boat racing in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, June 15, 2023.

Since the eighth day of the fourth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, Guangzhou has started a series of events for the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival, including a traditional dragon boat racing participated by 12 dragon boats from Chebei Village on Thursday.

The village, which is located in urban Guangzhou, has a history of over 1,000 years. The culture of dragon boat inherited here is very representative, and the "Chebei dragon boat scene" was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage.

Nowadays, there are 12 active dragon boat organizations in Chebei subdistrict, and over 50 traditional dragon boats are preserved in the village. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

This aerial photo shows a view of a dragon boat racing in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, June 15, 2023.

Since the eighth day of the fourth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, Guangzhou has started a series of events for the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival, including a traditional dragon boat racing participated by 12 dragon boats from Chebei Village on Thursday.

The village, which is located in urban Guangzhou, has a history of over 1,000 years. The culture of dragon boat inherited here is very representative, and the "Chebei dragon boat scene" was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage.

Nowadays, there are 12 active dragon boat organizations in Chebei subdistrict, and over 50 traditional dragon boats are preserved in the village. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

People take part in a dragon boat racing in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, June 15, 2023.

Since the eighth day of the fourth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, Guangzhou has started a series of events for the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival, including a traditional dragon boat racing participated by 12 dragon boats from Chebei Village on Thursday.

The village, which is located in urban Guangzhou, has a history of over 1,000 years. The culture of dragon boat inherited here is very representative, and the "Chebei dragon boat scene" was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage.

Nowadays, there are 12 active dragon boat organizations in Chebei subdistrict, and over 50 traditional dragon boats are preserved in the village. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

People take part in a dragon boat racing in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, June 15, 2023.

Since the eighth day of the fourth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, Guangzhou has started a series of events for the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival, including a traditional dragon boat racing participated by 12 dragon boats from Chebei Village on Thursday.

The village, which is located in urban Guangzhou, has a history of over 1,000 years. The culture of dragon boat inherited here is very representative, and the "Chebei dragon boat scene" was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage.

Nowadays, there are 12 active dragon boat organizations in Chebei subdistrict, and over 50 traditional dragon boats are preserved in the village. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

People take part in a dragon boat racing in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, June 15, 2023.

Since the eighth day of the fourth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, Guangzhou has started a series of events for the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival, including a traditional dragon boat racing participated by 12 dragon boats from Chebei Village on Thursday.

The village, which is located in urban Guangzhou, has a history of over 1,000 years. The culture of dragon boat inherited here is very representative, and the "Chebei dragon boat scene" was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage.

Nowadays, there are 12 active dragon boat organizations in Chebei subdistrict, and over 50 traditional dragon boats are preserved in the village. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

This aerial photo shows people taking part in a dragon boat racing in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, June 15, 2023.

Since the eighth day of the fourth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, Guangzhou has started a series of events for the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival, including a traditional dragon boat racing participated by 12 dragon boats from Chebei Village on Thursday.

The village, which is located in urban Guangzhou, has a history of over 1,000 years. The culture of dragon boat inherited here is very representative, and the "Chebei dragon boat scene" was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage.

Nowadays, there are 12 active dragon boat organizations in Chebei subdistrict, and over 50 traditional dragon boats are preserved in the village. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

People take part in a dragon boat racing in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, June 15, 2023.

Since the eighth day of the fourth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, Guangzhou has started a series of events for the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival, including a traditional dragon boat racing participated by 12 dragon boats from Chebei Village on Thursday.

The village, which is located in urban Guangzhou, has a history of over 1,000 years. The culture of dragon boat inherited here is very representative, and the "Chebei dragon boat scene" was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage.

Nowadays, there are 12 active dragon boat organizations in Chebei subdistrict, and over 50 traditional dragon boats are preserved in the village. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

People watch a dragon boat racing in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, June 15, 2023.

Since the eighth day of the fourth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, Guangzhou has started a series of events for the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival, including a traditional dragon boat racing participated by 12 dragon boats from Chebei Village on Thursday.

The village, which is located in urban Guangzhou, has a history of over 1,000 years. The culture of dragon boat inherited here is very representative, and the "Chebei dragon boat scene" was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage.

Nowadays, there are 12 active dragon boat organizations in Chebei subdistrict, and over 50 traditional dragon boats are preserved in the village. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun)
Severe thunderstorms and hail possible on the Mississippi Coast. Heres the forecast.

A severe thunderstorm watch for Harrison and Jackson counties has been lifted, according to the National Weather Service.

The service issued a watch until 10 a.m. Friday and warned of strong storms that rolled across the Mississippi Coast through 9:30 a.m.

Cities under that watch included Gautier, Gulfport, Moss Point, Ocean Springs, Pascagoula and St. Martin.

The storms were part of a system that caused deeper damage further north. One person died in Madison County, just north of Jackson, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said in a news release. Downed trees blocked Highway 28 in Jones County and crews rushed to clean debris on roads near Jackson, where images on Twitter showed trees fallen onto homes and strong winds that damaged power lines.

Hail, heavy rains and winds of over 40 mph were also expected Friday morning in cities across Southern Mississippi, the Weather Service said, but it was not immediately clear if the storms caused damage in Harrison or Jackson counties. The Weather Service also warned of downed tree limbs and risk of damage to unsecured outdoor objects.

The only warning currently in place across Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties is a heat advisory that extends until 7 p.m. Heat index values could reach 110, the Weather Service said.

Showers and thunderstorms are also likely Friday night.
Severe weather update: Straight-line winds of up to 80 mph, tornado possible for Hinds Co.

A risk of severe weather was in place for Central Mississippi including a tornado warning for Hinds County.

After a wave of severe weather passed through Central Mississippi that caused trees and debris to fall, A 67-year-old Canton man died after a tree fell on his home as a result of the inclement weather.

The tree fell after severe storms and 80 mph gust winds moved through the area on Friday, June 16.

Canton Police Chief Otha Brown told WJTV, "The incident happened at a home in the 400 block of Douglas Street. His department received a call about the fallen tree around 6:40 a.m."

Brown identified the victim as 67-year-old Wilbert Fleming. He said Fleming was trapped under the tree after it fell on his carport.

Jacksons 911 System is back up and running

"Due to early morning storms, the City of Jacksons 911 system was temporarily not in operation after a power outage," the city announced in a press release. "However, the system is now back up and running. 911 operators are once again accepting emergency calls for service. We apologize for the inconvenience."

Power outages across Central Mississippi

More than 1,700 people in the Belhaven area were reported to be without power in the early morning Friday, according to the Entergy outage map.

Severe thunderstorm watch until 10 a.m.

Heavy rains and destructive winds of up to mph were possible for the Jackson metro area until 6:15 a.m. as the storm moved toward Rankin County.

A thunderstorm watch was in place until 10 a.m.

Heavy lightning was recorded throughout the Jackson area.

Tornado warning lifted for Hinds County

A tornado warning for Hinds County was lifted at 5:15 a.m. by the National Weather Service but the risk for severe thunderstorms including high winds was present for much of Central Mississippi.

Thousands were without power across Central Mississippi.

Jackson Public Schools

Due to citywide power outages and several impassable roads with debris caused by overnight storms, all JPS summer school programming has been canceled for Friday, June 16.

Residents are advised to use the 311 hotline for emergency calls

Due to early morning storms, the City of Jacksons 911 system is currently not in operation after a power outage.

AT&T is working now to restore the service.

In the meantime, residents are asked to use the Citys 311 lines or 601-960-1111 as an alternative. 911 personnel will be manning the phone lines.

This is a developing story. Come back to the Clarion Ledger for more updates.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Severe weather, high winds, tornadoes possible for Central Mississippi
WASHINGTON, D.C.  A South Jersey farmer has admitted his role in the U.S. Capitol riot.

Ezekiel Zeke Stecher, 48, of Mantua, who was accused of pushing against a line of police officers at a Capitol entrance, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of civil disorder, a court record shows.

The U.S. Justice Department will request dismissal of five misdemeanor charges under a plea agreement.

An attorney for Stecher could not be reached for immediate comment.

At the time of his arrest, the Justice Department said video showed Stecher repeatedly pushing forward as rioters confronted a police line inside a tunnel at a Capitol entrance.

More: Sentencing ahead for Stedman Jury returns verdict in case of Patrick Stedman, Capitol riot suspect from Haddonfield

One video showed Stecher advancing until he was inside the first set of doors off the Lower West Terrace during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.

Video showed Zeke Stecher at Capitol riot

Stecher was recorded pushing against the line of  officers who are blocking the second set of metal-and-glass double doors," according to a March 2021 criminal complaint.

According to a statement filed with the plea agreement, Stecher acknowledged he got "caught up in it" with other rioters when pushing toward officers in the tunnel.

Stecher was repeatedly sprayed with chemical irritants during his time on the Lower West Terrace, the affidavit says.

The FBI was alerted to Stecher's presence at the riot when a video was uploaded to a tip line on Jan. 18, 2021.

"On the video, the man is asked by someone, 'What is your name? Where are you from?" says an affidavit filed with a March 2021 criminal complaint.

The man, wearing a hat with the name of a farm-supply business, answered, "Zeke Stecher from New Jersey," the affidavit continues.

The FBI then questioned another South Jersey farmer, who identified Stecher from an image taken from the riot.

Riot suspect from South Jersey farm family

Stecher initially was confined to his house after his arrest in March 2021. That restriction was lifted after Stecher noted he was unable to work in the fields of his 150-acre fruit-and-vegetable farm.

Stechers family has owned the farm between Bridgeton Pike and Breakneck Road since 1905, according to the website of Jersey Fresh, the state Department of Agricultures marketing arm.

Stecher had faced additional charges of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds.

He also was accused of disorderly conduct and committing acts of physical violence in a Capitol grounds or buildings.

The plea deal recommends a sentencing guideline of incarceration for zero to six months for Stecher, who has no prior criminal record.

The agreement also proposes a fine from $2,000 to $20,000.

Stecher is also expected to pay $2,000 in restitution for damage caused by the rioters.

U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss scheduled sentencing for Sept. 7 in Washington, D.C., federal court.

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. Email him at jwalsh@cpsj.com.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Sewell farmer Zeke Stecher pleads to felony charge for Capitol riot
She fell in love with this Oklahoma mini donut shop, decided to open one in west Wichita

A colorful and sweet new business is about to open on the west side of Wichita.

Sugar Llamas is a mini-doughnut business at 841 N. Tyler that also will serve ice cream and a full line of coffee drinks. Itll also have a drive-through.

Its scheduled to open sometime in July, perhaps as early as July 10, owner Kim Mallon said.

The shop will be Mallons first foray into the food business. She also co-owns Elite Properties of Wichita, a property rental business.

She said that her son and daughter-in-law, who live in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, took her to a Sugar Llamas store while she was visiting, and she loved the doughnuts  which are sold in packs of six, 12, 25, 36 and 100.

It was kind of like a wow moment, and I thought, Oh my gosh, these are amazing, she said. When I tried them, immediately I was hooked.

Sugar Llamas will serve mini doughnuts, coffee and Red Bull drinks and ice cream by the scoop.

She said her daughter suggested she open a store in Wichita, and after she and her husband ran the numbers, they decided it would work. They found the space on the south end of a strip center near Central and Tyler. It sits next to the Allpak Battery store, and its previous tenant, Shapen It Up Nutrition, is moving a few doors down.

The Sugar Llamas chain was founded by Dallas and Robyn Jones, who founded the self-serve frozen yogurt chain CherryBerry in 2010. (Wichita had a CherryBerry at 737 N. Maize Road from 2011 until it closed in 2015.)

The couple sold the company, which had expanded to five countries and 28 states, saying they planned to retire. But in 2021, they opened their first Sugar Llamas in Tulsa. They now have six stores operating in Oklahoma and several more coming in Arkansas, Texas, Nebraska, and Arizona.

Sugar Llamas mini-doughnuts come coated in cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar or cocoa powdered sugar and are topped with drizzles in flavors like peanut butter, coconut, cotton candy, lemon, banana and more. The shop has several of its own creations, and Mallon said one of her favorites is the Chocolate Chip Pancake doughnut, which is coated in powdered sugar and topped with maple drizzle and chocolate chips.

Sugar Llamas will open next month in this space at 841 N. Tyler, and it will have a drive-through.

The shops hard ice cream comes in several flavors and can be made into an affogato, which is a drink that features a scoop of ice cream topped with a shot of espresso. The coffee menu has all the regular espresso drinks plus frappes and Red Bull drinks. See the full menu at sugarllamas.com/menu

The shop  which will get its signage installed soon  will have seating inside for about 20 as well as window bench seating. Itll also have outdoor picnic benches covered with umbrellas. Customers will be able to order from Sugar Llamas via DoorDash.

Once open, the shops hours will be 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Stay tuned for information about Sugar Llamas opening date.
The matter of President Biden's age is something he will "have to deal with" on the campaign trail, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island, said on "The Takeout" this week.

Whitehouse, in an interview with CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett, said he has "very little" doubt that Mr. Biden will be the Democratic nominee in 2024. "There's not even a real alternative on the horizon for him," Whitehouse said. But Garrett pressed him on why he thinks consistent polling data shows at least 40% of Democrats don't want him to run again.

"Well, I think we'd certainly  I think everybody would certainly like a younger Joe Biden," Whitehouse said. "I think the people are concerned about an 80-year-old president. And I think that's an issue that President Biden is going to have to deal with on the campaign ... can't go away."

"And I think so far, he's done a good job of dealing with it by saying, you know, being able to do 50 pushups is not necessarily what makes you a good president," Whitehouse continued. "Having the wisdom and judgment and the patience and prudence and the knowledge of how the system works to deliver for the American people, to produce the infrastructure bill, to produce the exit from COVID, to put the first major piece of climate legislation forward, to watch construction  manufacturing construction, factory building, going through the roof in America right now, that's a pretty good story to tell, that he's a actually wise and able person to lead us."

Hunter Biden investigation probably "fairly serious"

There's another matter Republicans are sure to continue to bring up during Mr. Biden's 2024 reelection bid  that of his son, Hunter Biden. The Trump-appointed Delaware U.S. attorney, David Weiss, has been overseeing a federal investigation into the president's son since at least 2019, examining possible crimes related to Hunter Biden's taxes and to making a false statement when purchasing a gun, sources familiar with the investigation previously told CBS News. Republicans on Capitol Hill have also been trying to probe Hunter Biden's business dealings.

"I think it probably is fairly serious, which doesn't mean that he doesn't emerge from it, you know, without charges at the end of the day, but it's not a frivolous thing," Whitehouse, a former U.S. attorney, said of the federal investigation into Hunter Biden.

Garrett asked Whitehouse if he thinks the investigation into Hunter Biden is politically damaging to Democrats.

"I don't," Whitehouse said. "I think Joe Biden has established himself in the public mind in a very solid way over many, many, many, many years of service. A family member with an acknowledged drug and drinking problem who went off the rails during episodes of that problem is a very familiar situation for many, many American families. And I don't think that whatever the problems are that Hunter Biden has ultimately proved to have had, will do much to disturb the reputation and the brand of Joe Biden. At worst, he's the guy who loves a troubled son who has been through a bad patch and has now recovered."

Whitehouse also commented on Republicans' pursuit of an FBI document that they say details an alleged bribery scheme involving then-Vice President Joe Biden and a foreign national. Sen. Chuck Grassley, Whitehouse's Republican colleague, delivered a speech on the Senate floor about the document this week. Whitehouse said he hasn't viewed the document in question.

"If you look at the pattern of Republican behavior towards Democratic presidents, it is always to throw accusations of misconduct and criminality at them that over time evaporate," Whitehouse said. "But it becomes the theme of the day and it allows them to rally their base. And at this point, there is literally zero public evidence to back up any of that."

"Wait for real evidence," Whitehouse said he would tell voters. "Eventually, these decisions, particularly if they have any criminal aspect to them, need to be made on the basis of real evidence, not third-party surmise based on a statement from somebody else that may or may not be true, by somebody who may or may not be credible, that's now been reported in a form that has never been subject to scrutiny and is now being used by partisan political figures."

"Very tough" indictment for Trump to weather

But of course, it's another federal investigation that has dominated the headlines lately  the indictment and arraignment of former President Donald Trump, in the first-ever criminal prosecution of a former president. Special counsel Jack Smith is overseeing the prosecution's case, which alleges willful retention of classified documents and obstruction of justice, among other charges.

Whitehouse said he thinks it will be a "very, very tough indictment to weather" for the former president because it's "so full of factual information that is backed up by photographic proof, that is backed up by surveillance camera footage, that is backed up notes of Trump's own lawyers from the room."

"Jack Smith obviously has chosen to go the speaking indictment route and tell a story," Whitehouse said. "My guess is that if he's a smart prosecutor, which he is, he's got a lot more good evidence in his holster that he's ready to deploy."

Dianne Feinstein's "physical condition is not good. And yet, she soldiers up..."

Back on Capitol Hill, Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California continues to face questions about whether she is able to execute her role as senator, after her return from a months-long absence over health concerns. Whitehouse said the entire thing is "really difficult."

"You know, she's a perfectionist about herself," Whitehouse said. "She's one of the most talented women ever to serve, one of the most talented people ever to serve, and her physical condition is not good. And yet, she soldiers up and she does the one thing that protects our Senate Judiciary majority so that we can continue doing our work, and that is to show up to not resign, to be present, to vote, and to do her job. I admire that."

Executive producer: Arden Farhi

Producers: Jamie Benson, Jacob Rosen, Sara Cook and Eleanor Watson

CBSN Production: Eric Soussanin

Show email: TakeoutPodcast@cbsnews.com

Twitter: @TakeoutPodcast

Instagram: @TakeoutPodcast

Facebook: Facebook.com/TakeoutPodcast

The Age of Artificial Intelligence

Roads buckled, homes and businesses damaged after major flooding in Vermont

"Center store" products like cookies, crackers and dish soap getting more expensive
New documentary Take Care of Maya, debuting on Netflix on 19 June, chronicles the plight of the Kowalski family of Venice, Florida (Netflix)

The footage is desperate, heartbreaking and the stuff of every parents worst nightmares. Beata Kowalski sits in a doctors office  the latest in a long line of medical rooms  alongside her daughter, not yet 10 years old, whose formerly vivacious energy has been slipping away before her familys eyes. Beata and her husband, retired firefighter Jack, have watched as Maya began suffering headaches, pain and lesions, her feet turning inwards as the use of her legs deteriorated.

The doctor mentions anxiety as a possible cause, and both Beata and Maya, turning to each other when he briefly steps outside, seem sad and exasperated.

Its not anxiety, says Maya, her voice small as she sits in her tiny wheelchair.

I know, baby, I know, her mother replies. Hes just trying to figure it out. You just stay as calm as you can.

The encounter was recorded by Beata, a trained and exacting nurse, as she and Jack fought to get a diagnosis and treatment for Maya after she began experiencing mysterious symptoms in 2015. The uncertainty, coupled with Mayas worsening pain, seemed bad enough.

But the Kowalskis medical journey would plunge the family into heretofore unimagined depths of hell. Doctors would accuse Beata of deliberately making her daughter sick. Maya would be taken from the familys custody. And her mother, shockingly and tragically, would take her own life.

The horrifying story is chronicled in new Netflix documentary Take Care of Maya, streaming 19 June, featuring interviews with Maya, now a teenager, as well as Jack and the familys younger child, Kyle. Through tears and anger, they chronicle how their family fell apart after entering the medical, legal and child welfare vortex.

They say theyre sharing their painful story for Beata  and for the countless other families touched by medical abuse allegations, many of whom also come forward in the jaw-dropping film.

I want people to see that I wasnt lying, and that other families who are going through similar situations, theyre not lying either, Maya, now more than halfway through her teens, says in the documentary. I have CRPS. My mom was not making me sick. I just wish people would believe me.

Not even a decade ago, the family had been living the true American dream in Florida. Beata had emigrated from Poland as a teenager and thrown herself into her studies and American life, excelling at nursing school and in her career; her bond with Jack is evident as he reminisces about their meeting and romance, wistfully describing his wife as magic.

Maya was born in 2005 and her brother shortly thereafter. Beata doted on the children, working as an infusion nurse and reveling in the comfortable family life she and Jack had built in their sparkling Venice suburb.

Beata, a nurse, doted upon Maya, her first born and longed-for daughter with her firefighter husband, Jack (Netflix)

When Maya began suffering an array of worrying symptoms in the spring of 2015, Beata applied her nursing knowledge and meticulous nature to the familys search for answers. Eventually, she sought out Dr Anthony Kirkpatrick, an anesthesiologist and expert in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS.)

According to the Mayo Clinic, CRPS is a form of chronic pain that usually affects an arm or a leg and typically develops after an injury, a surgery, a stroke or a heart attack.

The pain is out of proportion to the severity of the initial injury, the Mayo Clinic site continues. CRPS is uncommon, and its cause isnt clearly understood. Treatment is most effective when started early. In such cases, improvement and even remission are possible.

To explain the rare condition, Dr Kirkpatrick says in Take Care of Maya, the best way to think about it is the way it evolves.

Lets say you have an injury; you know that, probably in a week or two, the pain is going to go down, the swelling is going to go down, the redness and all that is going to go down, he says. But what happens in these patients with CRPS is that it actually intensifies over that period of time ... The patients describe it primarily as a burning sensation, that their skin becomes exquisitely sensitive to light touch.

Following his initial evaluation for Maya  and portions of his intake video are included in the film  it was clear to me that, because of the magnitude of her symptoms (the lesions, this burning sensation in her legs, in the pain throughout her entire body, that Maya had advanced CRPS that we had to right away get aggressive with it, get under control, he says.

Beata, a nurse, doted upon Maya, her first born and longed-for daughter with her firefighter husband, Jack (Netflix)

Weve treated over 3000 patients with complex regional pain syndrome, Dr Kirkpatrick says. And we know what the best therapy is for. Its called ketamine.

Treatments were extreme and required tough choices. Given the severity of Mayas symptoms, the Kowalskis decided to take her to Mexico for an induced ketamine coma that, while unapproved by the FDA, offered some possibility of relief. It seemed to have a positive effect, and, when the family returned from Mexico, they couldnt afford to keep up with Dr Kirkpatricks treatments, so he recommended his colleague, Dr [Ashraf] Hanna, who took our insurance and prescribed low dosages of ketamine for Maya, Jack says in the documentary.

She was getting stronger, he says. The dystonia [bent legs] was straightened out. She was unable to use her legs, but she was using her arms, and she was doing very very well ... She went back to school, to laughing and playing. We were just blessed that we were finally seeing something working. And for a year, it did.

Then  as Hurricane Matthew barreled through Florida in October 2016  Mayas symptoms came roaring back with a vengeance. Jack took her to the emergency room at Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital.

Maya relapsed; it came back, and it was very severe, he says in the documentary. She started complaining of pain in her tummy, and it got to the point where she was screaming and crying and begging for help.

Jack contacted Beata, who was at work, and she arrived at All Childrens about an hour after hed entered triage with their daughter. The medical care team had already been asking questions about Mayas rare syndrome and even rarer ketamine treatment. When Beata turned up, the situation deteriorated.

Hugely concerned for her daughter, intimately acquainted with her treatment and authoritatively explaining it, Beata never could have guessed that her demands for her daughters health would quickly spiral into a maelstrom that would dismantle her family, her health and drive her to take her own life.

Maya, now 17, shares her memories, feelings, pain and tears in the new documentary (Netflix)

Beata insisted that Maya needed far higher doses of ketamine to manage her pain  with one healthcare worker calling Beata belligerent in a deposition  and the demanding mother raised more eyebrows in the process.

We were told, if we plan on trying to leave, that security would be called, Jack Kowalski says in the documentary, and it wasnt long before child welfare services were contacted by medical staff. When child abuse investigator Sally Smith  a doctor with the Suncoast Center, a company contracted by Pinellas County for its privatised child welfare system  walked into Mayas room, her father had no idea who the woman was.

She came in and she acted like a regular doctor that worked for the hospital, and she started to ask questions, Jack says in the film. She asked whats wrong with Maya, where is she being treated, about medications, how could I let somebody give such high dosages, and I told her, Thats what the doctors prescribed.

She did a ten-minute interview at most  and, shortly after she walks out, the nurse walks back in that was helping me. She told me I had to leave  that my daughter is under state custody, he says, choking up. I remember looking at my daughters eyes, and shes looking at me. Im wondering if I would ever see her again.

They accused her of over-medicating Maya, he says of Beata. And they thought Maya was faking this syndrome. At that time, I said we need to get a hold of a lawyer.

They hired attorney Debra Salisbury, who also becomes emotional during interviews for the documentary. Describing Beata as perhaps a little too direct sometimes, Ms Salisbury says she believes maybe some of the doctors took that offensively. I believe somebody at all Childrens Hospital was offended  and a conflict started.

Whatever the root cause, the consequences of the conflict escalated quickly, exponentially and, upon review years later, almost inexplicably.

Beata Kowalski was just 43 when she took her own life in January 2017 after being separated from her daughter for months by the courts following accusations of Munchausen by proxy (Netflix)

As soon as I was made aware that Sally Smith was investigating, I called her immediately, Dr Kirkpatrick says in the film. And I explained to her, This is what the diagnosis is. If you want to see the objective evidence, Ive got it for you. I told her that on the phone.

She writes a report two days later, the doctor says. Does she include that in the report? No ... I told her that if she goes forward with this, it would not only be a catastrophic outcome for the child, it would be a permanent injury to the whole family.

Dr Smiths report, and the testimony of other healthcare workers, led to the courts refusal to return Maya to her parents custody or even see Beata  who continued to try to manage her daughters care and check on her from afar, causing tensions with her husband and the system. In recordings featured in the film, he pleads with her to stop any antagonisation, guessing  correctly  that it will only make things worse. Beata cant seem to understand why her rights as a mother dont trump everything else.

Maya, in pain and confused, remained at the hospital as child welfare advocates insisted she was being abused, her mother making her sick through Munchausen by proxy. It is described by the American Psychological Association as a psychological disorder in which caregivers fabricate or intentionally cause symptoms in those they are caring for in order to seek and obtain medical investigation or treatment (i.e., to assume the sick role by proxy).

Typically, the caregiver is the mother, who behaves as if distressed about her childs illness and denies knowing what caused it, APA continues in its definition. She is believed to be motivated by the hope that she will be seen as an exceptionally attentive parent, and her behavior may be an attempt to arouse sympathy.

While advocates were suggesting Beata could be facilitating  or Maya could be faking  CRPS, the hospital was billing the insurance company for treatment of the exact same disease being questioned, the Kowalskis lawyers claim in Take Care of Maya.

The hospital declined comment to The Independent about this specific allegation, citing strict patient privacy laws precluding further information sharing without the Kowalskis release of Mayas medical records.

A hearing was held in December 2016, shortly before Christmas; Maya had written a letter to the judge, begging to see her family for the holiday and outlining how she felt worse and worse. During proceedings, a lawyer for the child asked the judge whether there was any way ... she could just see her mom, just to like hug her mother?

The Kowalskis continue to live in Florida, where 17-year-old Mayas CRPS symptoms have become less severe (Netflix`)

The judge said no  and, the following month, Beata took her own life in the garage of the familys home.

I know its because he turned her down, Jack sobbed on the phone after the family discovered her body; the audio is included in the documentary. That killed her. All the way home, thats all she talked about. I dont know how Im gonna tell Maya later, because I cant go there and tell her and then leave.

Hed been on the phone to Ms Salisbury, who says in the film: It never made any sense to me why she was denied giving her child that hug  and I can tell you, as we left the courthouse that day, that Beata was devastated. Devastated.

And the one thing that I know, to this day, is: None of us can get that hug back now. That hug is gone.

Jack, Maya, Kyle and their wider family were left equally devastated.

Its very difficult to understand what went through Beatas mind, thinking that was the only way to get her daughter out, Jack says in Take Care of Maya. I miss her dearly. But I have anger here and there. It is so difficult to try to play both roles. In as much as you try, you cannot replace their mother.

Something good has to come from all this pain.

What has come from the pain is the familys realisation that they are not alone in their anger  and that their story of what they say are false abuse allegations is anything but an anomaly. Families from Pinellas County and all over the country began coming forward, some appearing on film in Take Care of Maya to detail how their own children were ripped from them.

What has also come from the tragedy is a court case  an ongoing legal battle by the Kowalski family against Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital.

We want Beatas voice to be heard, Jack says in the documentary. We want Mayas voice to be heard.

Maya, Jack and Kyle Kowalski are pursuing a legal battle against Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital in Florida; a trial date is scheduled for September 2023 (Netflix)

And it was Beatas voice  her recordings, her studious notes  along with her vigilance that enabled legal action in the first place, according to one of the familys lawyers.

If she hadnt taken such an aggressive approach, we couldnt have sued, attorney Gregory Anderson says int he film. So were going after the hospital, Dr. Sally Smith and Suncoast based on whats known as infliction of emotional distress, meaning that they knew what they were doing, pushing her towards some form of harm. So they should pay punitive damages, which are designed to punish them for their wrongdoing.

Dr Smith and the Suncoast Center settled their portion of the lawsuit with the Kowalskis in December 2021, according to the documentary, and a trial date has been set for the Kowalskis to pursue punitive damages for September 2023  2,530 days after Maya first entered the hospital.

Dr Smith declined to be interviewed by filmmakers, and the Suncoast Center did not respond to request for comment from The Independent.

While referring to the constraints of patient privacy laws, a lawyer for Johns Hopkins All Childrens, in a statement to The Independent, pointed to allegations of medical child abuse within the family that had predated their time at the hospital.

If DCF, two circuit judges, and a Sheriffs Deputy found probable cause to suspect abuse, the conclusion is inescapable that JHACH providers had reasonable cause to suspect and report it, reads the hospitals motion to obtain statutory immunity for the phone call made to child services.

There are hundreds of additional publicly available court documents that completely contradict the Netflix narrative; a narrative that has been unfortunately echoed by media outlets with scrutiny, attorney Ethen Shapiro told The Independent, pointing, among other documents, to a police interview in which Jack Kowalski admitted he would support Beatas move from the house if Maya were returned home.

A police investigator confirmed under oath that the police investigation  separate and apart from the input at my clients hospital  was heading towards criminal charges of Beata Kowalski prior to her suicide, he continued.

But other families who felt victimised by the system are looking to the Kowalskis and their case as a beacon of vindication.

This young girl, Maya, represents hope for all of us, one mother tells the filmmakers in Take Care of Maya.

And Maya herself outlines the familys determination in a heart wrenching letter to her mother read aloud near the end of the compelling film.

As soon as we step foot into our home, we brought back to reality, she tells Beata. We miss you. I miss you. For five years, we have been promised a trial. Yet it seems that the closer we get to a set date, the further it gets pushed. Even though we are discouraged, we will not settle.

We will fight for you, and we will fight for the thousands of other families who find themselves in the same unfortunate circumstances, the teenager says. The day will come.
Zaporizhzhya NPP

Rafael Grossi, the general director of the UN organization the International Atomic Energy Agency or IAEA, gave his assessment of the situation after visiting the plant on June 15.

"On the one hand, we can see that the situation is serious, the consequences (of the dam's destruction) are there, and they are real, Grossi was quoted as saying by French daily newspaper Le Figaro.

At the same time, there are measures that are being taken to stabilise the situation," he said.

The amount of cooling water available at the plant is still sufficient, Grossi added.

I was able to see the cooling pond ... the irrigation gates, the canals which constitute the system essential to the cooling of the power station. It was very important that I could make my own assessment of the situation with my experts.

Read also: Russia uses Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant as a military and logistics hub  HUR

One of the main aims of Grossi's visit to the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant was to assess whether its reactors are at risk due to the destruction of the dam at the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, which lead to the draining of the reservoir.

The reservoirs water level has fallen from over 16 meters to under 7 meters since an explosion breached the dam in the early hours of June 6. Much of the bottom of the reservoir has now been left exposed.

The IAEA chief arrived in Ukraine on June 13. He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv and presented an assistance program in the wake of the "catastrophic flooding" in Ukraine after the dam was destroyed by the Russian invasion forces, who had it under their control.

However, Grossi had to postpone his visit to the ZNPP due to safety considerations and was able to get there only on June 15.

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
Six killed, including kids, in murder-suicide amid house fire in Tennessee, cops say

Three adults and three children were killed in a murder-suicide in a Tennessee home as the house went up in flames, the county sheriff said.

About 9 p.m on June 15, Marion County deputies responded to a home in Sequatchie for reports of a shooting, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation told McClatchy News in an email.

Deputies arrived to find the house on fire, the TBI said, and the fire department was called to the home.

Once firefighters extinguished the flames, authorities found the remains of three adults and three children inside the home, the TBI said. Authorities also found a seventh individual, an adult, who sustained gunshot wounds in the incident and remains hospitalized in Chattanooga at this time.

In an interview with WRCB, Marion County Sheriff Bo Burnett said the seventh individual had been shot three times.

His current condition has not been released.

Burnett said the shooting was a murder-suicide where a man, whom the TBI has not identified, showed up to the home with a handgun and began shooting the people inside.

I heard gunshots and breaking glass, a neighbor told WTVC.

Burnett told WTVC authorities were unsure how many of the six had been shot, but at least two individuals died from smoke inhalation after the house was set on fire.

The names of the deceased have not been released, but Burnett said the mother of the children and their grandmother were among the dead. The suspect is also deceased.

Burnett said the home belonged to the suspects estranged wife who had a protective order against him. He said deputies had been called to the home multiple times in the past month or so for domestic disputes.

Burnett also said he believed the mother of the children was there visiting the grandmother with her three children and did not live at the residence.

This is one of the worst things Ive seen. You hear about these things but this is one of the worst Ive been involved in all my career as a law enforcement officer, Burnett told WTVC.

The TBI and Burnett did not release a possible motive for the murder-suicide.

The TBI told McClatchy News the six bodies have been taken to Nashville for autopsies, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Sequatchie is about 30 miles west of Chattanooga.

Murder-suicide

Up to 600 murder-suicides happen each year, according to the FBI. They account for about 1,000 deaths a year.

Although uncommon, such incidents vary widely in terms of the persons involved, how they are related, and where the crimes take place, the FBI reported. Usually, law enforcement personnel deal with murder-suicides involving two people in domestic settings or relationships.

About 65% of murder-suicides involve intimate partners, officials said, and 81% happen in the home.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800 273-8255 or text the Crisis Text Line at 741741.

911 caller screams her babies had been shot after dad kills his 3 sons, cops say

Mom drives daughter to bank and passes desperate note to teller, cops say. Help me

Missing 4-year-old likely found dead in Tennessee, cops say. Mom and boyfriend charged

Mother of 2 found strangled, stabbed and burnt in bedroom, Detroit cops say
Photo: Frank Rumpenhorst (AP)

Researchers have shown that returning foragers of bu-tailed bumblebees use their own passively laid out scent marks, as well as visual information from landmarks, to find their way back to the nest entrance. These results highlight the importance of both vision and odor for guiding the navigation of bumblebees.



Put yourself in the exoskeleton of a bumblebee for a moment: your world would be a riot of colors and scents, both essential to guide your search for pollen and nectar. Bumblebees have excellent vision: they have a pair of compound eyes that can distinguish UV and most colors except red, plus three additional simple eyes specialized in detecting polarized light. Their sense of smell dwarfs ours: approximately 100 times more sensitive, and capable of sniffing out illegal drugs or explosives at airports, confirming pregnancy in women, or detecting cancers and diabetes in early-stage patients.

Read more

Now, researchers have shown that bumblebees can also use their sense of smell to locate their nest. This is especially important when the landscape suddenly changes, for example when familiar visual landmarks are blown away by wind. The results are published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience.

Here we show that bumblebees rely on their own scent marks, which they deposit at their nest entrance while leaving for a foraging trip, to find back home when the visual cues are not sufficiently reliable, said first author Sonja Eckel, a PhD student at the Department of Neurobiology of Bielefeld University in Germany.

Visual landmarks

Eckel and colleagues studied the homing behavior of the bu-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris in the laboratory. In nature, these bumblebees nest in abandoned mouseholes, hidden under grass or leaves. Here, the foragers had learned to locate their nest entrance by visually orienting themselves against two sets of landmarks within a round enclosed flight arena, 150 centimeters (59 inches) across and 85 cm (33.5 inches) high. The first set consisted of three black vertical stripeseach 12 cm (4.7 inches) wide and 85 cm longagainst the white background of the arena walls. The second, of three cylinders, each 2.5 cm (1 inch) wide and 15 cm (5.9 inches) high, arranged in a triangle around the entrance hole.

The arena floor provided no visual information, being covered with a random red-and-white patternpresenting as black and white for bumblebees. After some practice, workers flew straight back to the entrance when returning from a visit to the outer foraging chamber, where they were provided with pollen and nectar.

Bumblebees possess multiple scent glands, which distribute chemicals all over their body. Previous research has shown that whenever they touch any surface, for example that of their nest entrance, they passively leave scent marks. The researchers captured these scent marks by placing a glass ring around the entrance, which foragers tended to walk across when exiting or returning to the nest.

Tricking the bumblebees

Eckel et al. then tricked the bumblebees by abruptly changing the location of both sets of visual landmarks, independently of each other. Now, these gave conflicting information about the entrances location, neither marking the correct spot. The true entrance was closed off and concealedwith success, as none of the returning foragers subsequently found it.

The researchers measured how long, and at which distance, returning foragers hovered around either false location for the entrance, based on the conflicting landmarks. They assumed that the longer a forager hovered around any spot, and the smaller her average flight distance to it, the more focused she was on that spot as the best candidate for the entrances location.

Typically, foragers seemed equally focused on either false location, implying that they used both sets of visual landmarks to unsuccessfully try and relocate their nest. But a dramatic change occurred whenever the researchers placed the glass ringcarrying bumblebee scent marksaround either location. Now, foragers overwhelmingly focused on the false location suggested by the scent marks.

The researchers concluded that foragers use their sense of smell as well as vision to find their way home, in particular when visual information is conflicting.

Bouquet of scents

While visual information is perceived over larger distances and leads a bumblebee towards the approximate location of the nest, scent marks are used to pinpoint the exact location of the nest entrance in the near range. Most likely, physical contact is necessary to identify the scent, said Eckel.

Our chemical analysis showed that this scent is a bouquet of hydrocarbons, fatty acids, and other substances, such as esters and alcohols. Many of these substances are known to be used by bumblebees in other behavioral contexts, also by other insect species.

In our follow-up research, we want to investigate how different sensory cues are learnt and combined by bumblebees to allow them to discriminate different behaviorally relevant goals, such as the nest hole and food sources.

More from Gizmodo

Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
An Idea judge has denied cult mom Lori Vallow a new trial after she was convicted of murdering her two youngest children and conspiring to murder her new husband Chad Daybells first wife.

The 49-year-old mother-of-three was last month found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft over the deaths of her daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, and son Joshua JJ Vallow, 7, in Ada County Court in Boise, Idaho.

She was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit the murder of Tammy Daybell, the then-wife of Vallows husband Mr Daybell.

Her lawyers returned to court on Thursday to argue that she deserved a fresh trial, claiming the jury was confused by misleading instructions, reported KIFI.

Her defence team argued that the court should overturn her previous trial and that she be re-tried along with Mr Daybell, who will face a jury next year.

They also argued that one juror, who later appeared in media interviews, knew about evidence not presented at trial.

Vallow was smiling as she arrived in court wearing an orange and white prison jumpsuit, with her feet shackled together, reported KIFI.

District Judge Steven Boyce rejected the claims and she is scheduled to be sentenced on 31 July at the Fremont County Courthouse. Chad Daybells trial is scheduled for 1 April, 2024.

JJ and Tylee vanished without a trace back in September 2019, with their mother refusing to reveal their whereabouts to both authorities and the childrens desperate family members.

One month later, Tammy  an otherwise healthy 49-year-old  also died suddenly. Her death was initially ruled natural causes.

Lori Vallow talks with lawyers at trial as a jury convicted her (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

This bizarre spate of disappearances and death came just months after Vallows fourth husband Charles Vallow was shot dead by Vallows brother Alex Cox in Arizona in July 2019.

With Vallows children and both of their spouses then out of the way, she and Mr Daybell embarked on a new life together  flying to Hawaii to get married in a fairytale wedding on the beach.

But, with months passing since the last signs of life of Vallows children, concerns continued to grow, prompting authorities to exhume Tammys body. A subsequent autopsy revealed that she had died by asphyxiation.

In June 2020  nine months after they were last seen alive  Tylee and JJs remains were found buried on the grounds of Mr Daybells property in Rexburg, Idaho.

JJ, who had autism, had been smothered with a plastic bag taped over his face, his little body still dressed in a pair of red pyjamas. Tylees cause of death meanwhile has been impossible to establish as the teenagers dismembered, charred bones and body parts were found scattered in the ground on Mr Daybells pet cemetery.

Jurors in Ada County Court in Boise, Idaho, took almost seven hours to find Vallow guilty on all charges over the three murders after a gruelling six-week trial where the panel heard harrowing details about the doomsday moms path of deadly destruction and were shown graphic images of the murdered childrens remains.
The couple has been at odds with the royal family ever since they stepped back from their working duties in 2020.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will not attend King Charles birthday party on Saturday, as they were not invited to celebrate with the family, People reports.

The royal couple did not receive an official invitation to the annual Trooping the Colour event, which is the public celebration of the British monarchs birthday. As People reports, the event dates back to the 1600s. Hundreds of British troops will participate in the parade. The Royal Air Force will also stage a special flypast, according to People.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit the newly unveiled UK war memorial and Pukeahu National War Memorial Park on Oct. 28, 2018, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Dominic Lipinski  Pool /Getty Images)

Harry isnt about to show up just so he can be humiliated one more time, Christopher Andersen, author of The King, told Fox News Digital.

Prince Harry, 38, and Meghan, 41, have been at odds with the royal family and shunned ever since stepping back from their working duties in 2020. The New York Times reported that Harry and Meghan signed a $100 million deal with Netflix after moving to America. They currently reside in Montecito, California, with their children Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibet, 2.

The fact that Sussexes are not invited to one of the most important royal events of the year shows that Prince Charles is not particularly eager to mend fences with his younger son, Anderson said, Fox News reports.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended Trooping the Colour together in 2018. Harry recalls an icy moment from the event in his new memoir Spare, when Meghan made a joke about the festivities to Kate Middleton.

Kate asked Meg what she thought of her first Trooping the Colour. And Meg joked: Colourful, Harry wrote, according to The Independent. And a yawning silence threatened to swallow us all whole.

In related news, Meghans Archetypes podcast is not expected to return for a second season on Spotify, Business Insider reports. Harry and Meghans production company Archewell Audio confirmed they mutually parted ways.

The podcast will no longer be produced at Spotify as we are mutually parting ways, a spokesperson for Archewell Audio told Insider.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Harry and Meghan will not receive the full $20 million payout from Spotify as part of the deal they inked in 2000.

Meghans Archetypes podcast debuted in August 2022 and the 12-episode series featured a slew of celebrity guests, including Serena Williams and Mariah Carey.

Meanwhile, Meghan is expected to relaunch her popular lifestyle blog The Tig, according to Glamour.

The former actress last posted on the site in 2017 before it was permanently shut down. At the time, she signed off with  Keep finding those Tig moments of discovery, keep laughing and taking risks, and keep being the change you wish to see in the world.

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!

The post Snubbed! Meghan, Harry not invited to King Charles birthday appeared first on TheGrio.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa named 10 main "components" of the African Union's position on the Ukrainian-Russian war.

Source: Ramaphosa at a press conference in Kyiv after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reports Interfax-Ukraine

Quote: "The main component that we brought here is that this war must be resolved, peace must be negotiated through diplomatic means."

Details: The next component, according to the president, is the need to de-escalate the conflict. "Today, during our visit, we heard missile strikes. Such activity does not work well for peace. Therefore, we are talking about the need for de-escalation on both sides so that peace finds a way to come through and resolve the situation," he said.

Ramaphosa went on to say that the sovereignty of states and peoples must be respected in accordance with the UN Charter.

Another component, he said, is the need for security guarantees for all countries.

The sixth component is that both countries must ensure the export of grain and fertilisers. The leader of South Africa noted that "one of the reasons for coming here was that Africa is also experiencing the negative consequences of this war. Our grain prices have increased, we also have a shortage of fertilisers, and their prices have increased."

The seventh main element is humanitarian issues  humanitarian support for those who are victims of war, who suffer. "We support this humanitarian aid," he said.

The eighth major component, the African leaders believe, is the mandatory exchange of prisoners, including the return of children.

The ninth component is the post-war reconstruction and assistance to victims of the war, the president stated.

Ramaphosa adds that the tenth component is "that during our discussions, President Zelenskyy said that we must go further, better interact with African countries".

Background:

On 16 June, a delegation from Africa including the leaders of South Africa, Egypt, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia and the Republic of Congo, arrived in Ukraine.

They want to act as peacemakers between Russia and Ukraine, and to agree on increasing the supply of grain and fertilisers from these two countries to Africa.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasised that peace negotiations with Russia are possible only after the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied territories.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Spain to transfer to Ukraine 20 APCs and four repaired Leopard 2 tanks

Leopard 2 tank

The APCs will arrive in Poland as soon as on June 19, Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said.T

his batch follows a previous one of 40 APCs.

Four Leopard 2A4 tanks have been already repaired and will also travel to Ukraine, she added.

Role 2 plus, one of the most effective field hospitals, will be also supplied to Ukraine after Ukrainian personnel are trained in Spain to deploy the hospital and provide medical support.

Role 2 medical treatment facilities provide immediate healthcare at larger unit level, usually at brigade or larger size, that includes body injuries treatment, emergency surgy, and short-term hospital treatment, as well as intensive care.

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: Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez appears after he casts his vote at a polling station in Madrid

Spanish Socialists ahead but lead narrows before election -state pollster FILE PHOTO: Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez appears after he casts his vote at a polling station in Madrid

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's ruling Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) is set to win the most votes in next month's general election but its lead over the conservative People's Party (PP) has narrowed since the vote was called, a state-owned pollster said on Friday.

While most recent surveys put the PP in front, a poll by the state-owned Centre for Sociological Studies (CIS) between May 31 and June 7 showed PSOE gathering 31.2% of the vote ahead of the PP on 30.7%.

That represents a narrowing of PSOE's lead to 0.5 points from 1.9 points in the last CIS poll published on May 17.

Both parties increased their share compared to the previous poll by CIS, which has been criticised by opposition figures for being state-owned and headed by a socialist.

Prime Minister on Pedro Sanchez on May 29 called a surprise snap election after his party and its junior coalition partner Podemos were routed in regional and municipal ballots.

The July 23 election is shaping into a binary choice between those opposed to a government that includes the far-right Vox and those who oppose the current coalition with far-left Podemos.

Sumar, a newly-formed alliance of progressive parties led by Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz and including Podemos, would gather 14.3% of the vote. Vox would gather 10.6%, the CIS poll said.

A GAD3 poll for the conservative ABC newspaper on Sunday predicted that PP would win the election with 36.6% of the vote and if supported by far-right Vox, both parties could form a ruling coalition with an absolute majority.

(Reporting by Emma Pinedo; Editing by Aislinn Laing and Conor Humphries)
SPD Chief Diaz announces new task force aimed at reducing violence in Seattle

In a press conference Friday, Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz announced the formation of a new task force aimed to reduce violence within the city of Seattle.

Diaz said he has been working with Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell to ensure the Seattle Police Department makes the city safe.

And like everyone in our city, Diaz said, Im deeply concerned about the recent increase in gun violence.

Friday morning four people were shot in two different shootings around Seattle, and a pregnant woman was shot and killed in Belltown in the middle of the day on Tuesday.

Diaz said he understands that people that live and work in Seattle fear for their safety.

And it is unacceptable that innocent lives are lost due to senseless acts of violence, Diaz said.

As a result of these recent violent acts, Diaz announced the formation of the Community Violence Task Force.

I want the people to know we are committed to taking action, Diaz said.

Diaz said that he was speaking across his department, including regional and federal partners because violence isnt in just Seattle, but events outside of Seattle can and do affect us.

The task force will help stem the tide of gun violence which tends to increase over the Summer months, Diaz said.

Officers and detectives throughout the department will be a part of this new task force and specialty units will be rerouted to four problem areas of the city: Aurora, Central District, South End, and Downtown.

The task force will work to identify individuals who are harming our community, Diaz said.

Diaz said Seattle police will be increasing their visibility in areas where violence has been widespread.

Men or women, if you are selling drugs and are committing crimes with a gun, Seattle police are coming for you, Diaz said. We will arrest you and hold your accountable.

The task force will consist of 50 to 60 officers, but will be difficult due to staffing, Diaz added.

Diaz hopes to have the task force up and running by next weekend, which would be the beginning of July.
















Speaking Your Mind in Ron DeSantis Free State of Florida Could Get You Fired

Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty/Wikimedia Commons

Ron DeSantis and Christopher Rufo have built their political brands on combating cancel culture and censorial wokeness. They claim to oppose the authoritarian repression of free speech and open debate.

Tell that to the New College professor now out of a job after speaking his mind about the havoc they have wrought at the public honors college in Sarasota.

In January, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a regime change at the New College of Florida. The governor appointed six new trusteesmost controversially, Christopher Rufo, an architect of the critical race theory (CRT) moral panicto the board, which soon after fired the president and installed Republican politician Richard Corcoran as interim president.

Two Words Marco Rubio Doesnt Use in His Book: Ron DeSantis

Rufo and another DeSantis appointee held their first public meeting on campus in late January. It was a tense early episode in the conservative overhaul of the historically progressive school, which left a poor first impression on many in attendance. Among the displeased were visiting history professor Erik Wallenberg and visiting English professor Debarati Biswas, who thought the board members had demeaned the students in attendance who challenged them.

In a March op-ed in Teen Vogue, Wallenberg and Biswas expressed their growing concerns about the schools new leadership, namely the trustees behavior at the initial meeting and subsequent social media posts and interviews that suggested they are here to rule rather than help us thrive in our existing environment, where all fields of study are open to debate and discussion.

Christopher Rufo, a conservative activist and New College of Florida trustee, walks through protestors on his way out of a bill signing event featuring Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who signed three education bills on the campus of New College of Florida in Sarasota, Fla. on May 15, 2023. Thomas Simonetti for The Washington Post via Getty Images

Responding on Twitter the next day, Rufo called the authors pure left-wing Mad Libs and ridiculed their article for being published in Teen Vogue, before drawing attention to his critics shared status as contingent faculty members in adding, Luckily, both are visiting professors.

Rufos thinly-veiled threat was soon realized. This May, New College chose not to renew Wallenbergs contract. The only discernible explanation is the history professors public opposition to the schools new leadership.

A Florida College Cited Bullshit Reasons to Dump an Allegedly Woke Professor

Notably, the nonrenewal appears to have contradicted the wishes and efforts of Wallenbergs academic department. As the professor told The Daily Beast, toward the end of the year, the head of the division asked if I would be interested in coming back, since they needed someone for next year to continue. (Wallenberg had been New Colleges sole U.S. history instructor).

But after six weeks, during which his division head tried very hard to get my contract through, he received the unfortunate news. On the last day of classes, the interim president said he declined to sign the contract but didnt say why.

Rufo was quick to relish Corcorans decision on Twitter. In a quote tweet of his previous post deriding the two professors op-ed, the trustee announced that New College had let the contract for visiting professor Erik Wallenberg expire.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signs three education bills on the campus of New College of Florida in Sarasota, Fla. on May 15, 2023. Thomas Simonetti for The Washington Post via Getty Images

I wish Professor Wallenberg well and hope his work on radical theatre and environmental movements finds a more suitable home, Rufo wrote (scorning research on Depression-Era federal theater for which the history professor was recently granted a PhD). In another post, Rufo celebrated the decision as evidence that the school will no longer be a jobs program for middling, left-wing intellectuals.

The trustees gloatingnot the first instance of Rufo mocking a laid-off critic of his administrationfalls flat, though, as Wallenbergs departments six-week-long, dashed effort to renew him reveals that he was apparently quite a valued faculty member at New College. While his contract was in limbo, Wallenberg mentioned, academic division meetings took place in which people were outraged that this was being held up. After Corcorans decision, he recalled, students who caught wind of the news were upset to not have me coming back.

Beaux Delaune, a New College student who took a U.S. history survey and environmental history course with Wallenberg, attests to this latter point. To be quite honest, Im devastated about Wallenbergs dismissal, Delaune wrote in an email to The Daily Beast. He invited conversation in class that I almost never had the chance to engage in anywhere else.

The Palestinian Exception to College Campus Free Speech

Biswas said there was no academic reason for which Professor Erik Wallenberg wouldnt be renewed, particularly in light of positive peer and student evaluations (as well as, Wallenberg noted, a forthcoming publication in a top journal and his recent PhD making him all the more employable).

Rufos tweets have led Wallenberg to reasonable conclusions about his dismissal. I mean, he makes it very clear that this was a political hit job on his part and the boards part, and, for whatever role the president has in this, we dont know, he told The Daily Beast. But its clear the president refused to sign the contract, and certainly Christopher Rufo makes it seem from his tweets that it was about what he thinks our politics are.

Biswas regards the decision to ax Professor Wallenberg as purely vindictive.

How a Texas College Banned a Drag Show and Burned the First Amendment

As for her own employment status, the English professor believes she was spared Wallenbergs fate because her renewal offer was signed before his, by the pre-Corcoran administration. Once Corcoran took over, she told The Daily Beast, he held all new visiting assistant professor contracts, including those that were yet to be signedlike Wallenbergshostage. Biswas suspects this was primarily [because Corcoran] wanted to get both of us out, but, since she was already renewed, he was only half successful.

In an email to The Daily Beast, New Colleges communications office did not comment on claims of political retaliation against Wallenberg, stating only that he was a Visiting Professor of History at New College whose contract ended in May. Neither Rufo nor a staff member of interim President Corcorans office responded to requests for comment.

The affair sheds light on issues caused by the standardization of non-tenure-track jobs in academia. The problem this poses for faculty speech is plain: Those employed on a contingent basis, from adjunct instructors to assistant visiting professors, are easily disposable and thus face great risk of retaliation for their speech.

Signs are seen on the campus of New College of Florida in Sarasota, Fla. on Jan. 25, 2023. Thomas Simonetti for The Washington Post via Getty Images

As such precarious arrangements have become an academic commonplace, so, too, have contract nonrenewals as a simple way for administrators to do away with troublesome and vocal faculty members.

Wallenbergs dismissal represents, at worst, a blatant and perhaps illegal instance of such retaliation.

On June 8, a nonpartisan free speech advocacy organization, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), published a letter to New College to this effect, imploring the school to immediately reverse course and publicly reaffirm its commitment to protecting faculty expression and academic freedom rights. PEN America has condemned the move as an authoritarian decision and an affront to the principle of academic freedom.

We Need an Honest Conversation About Teaching Social Justice in Public Schools

The affairsure to chill dissent on campusmarks the latest hardship the New College community has endured as collateral damage in DeSantis fatuous war on woke. Wallenberg describes the students and faculty as feeling embattled since the announcement of the new board members, and Biswas notes that fear and extreme uncertainty have taken hold on campus.

The current goal of education is to really nurture the potential of every student to be producers of knowledge, Biswas said. [The new administration is] absolutely destroying that potential and that promise, and therefore creating a culture of fear. Delaune, a rising second-year student, said the takeover has felt like a horrible nightmare, and described DeSantis and his appointees as playing with my school with zero respect for us as people or for professors they dont agree with.

At the January meeting that initially compelled Biswas and Wallenberg to speak out, Rufo insisted that his goal was not to replace the left-wing orthodoxy with the right-wing orthodoxy, but to expand the bounds of public debate.

The nonrenewal of a professor who was in good standing with all at New Collegeexcept of course, with its political activist conservative stewardssuggest otherwise: That the bounds of permissible speech at the school have never been narrowerand criticism of its new administrators falls outside of them.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
The occupiers drowned after the Russians blew up the hydroelectric power station

Following the explosion of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, Ukrainian defenders discovered that the Russian command displayed a lack of concern for the safety of their own personnel. As a result, numerous occupiers found themselves stranded in submerged positions in Kherson Oblast.

The SSO soldiers swiftly responded to the dire situation. Upon receiving information about the opportunity to capture the enemy, they embarked towards the submerged positions.

One of these positions was rapidly sinking, endangering the lives of several Russians, (who were) on the verge of drowning, the statement explained.

Boats were deployed to rescue the imperiled individuals. However, despite the presence of Russian personnel on board, the enemy launched attacks from other positions, displaying a blatant disregard for the safety of their own compatriots. Fortunately, all the captives were safely transported to the shore, with no harm befalling the SSO soldiers during the daring mission.

The Kakhovka Dam: what is known about the explosion

Russias troops invaded Nova Kakhovka more than a year ago. On the night of June 6, the dam was blown from the inside. The water flow from the reservoir, which was close to its highest recorded water level, endangered over 80 towns and settlements, including the regional capital of Kherson, downstream on the Dnipro River.

The left (eastern) bank of the Dnipro River, which is under Russian occupation, was affected the most.

Read also: Trash washes ashore following Kakhovka dam destruction, Ukrainian military warns it may be dangerous

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ordered an evacuation from the endangered areas and supply of safe drinking water to people who were supplied with water from the Kakhovka Reservoir, which has largely drained away because of the destruction of the dam.

Evacuations from the right bank of Kherson Oblast continues, while a catastrophe unfolds on the occupied left bank, which has suffered significantly more from the flooding.

The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant was completely destroyed and cannot be repaired, state hydroelectric company Ukrhydroenergo said soon after the dam break. The dam wasnt destroyed completely, but significantly damaged, the Ukrainian militarys South Operational Command said.

Around 16,000 people on the right (western) bank of the Dnipro River in Kherson Oblast are in a critical zone at risk of flooding, according to the oblasts governor, Oleksandr Prokudin.

The Prosecutor Generals Office opened an investigation on the incident under article of the Criminal Code on ecocide.

President Zelenskyy has called Russias attack on the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant the largest man-made environmental disaster in Europe in decades.

Ukraines Defense Intelligence has said that the Russian demolition of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant increases the threat of a nuclear disaster at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, as its cooling ponds were fed by water from the reservoir.

Read also: Greenpeace reports flooding of 32 sites containing chemicals, oil, and gasoline, following Kakhovka Dam explosion

According to the State Emergency Service, as of 8:00 PM on June 8, a total of 2,339 individuals have been evacuated from the flooded areas in Kherson Oblast. Preliminary reports indicate that 32 settlements and 3,625 houses on the right bank of the Dnipro River have been affected by the flooding.

Dozens of settlements have been flooded, and ten people have died on the right bank of the Dnipro River. The exact number of casualties on the left bank of Kherson Oblast is unknown. Ukrainian military and volunteers are also successfully carrying out evacuations from the left bank. The Russians are attacking boats with civilians.

Deputy Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs of the United Nations, Martin Griffiths, stated that due to the sabotage by Russian invaders of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, approximately 700,000 people in Ukraine are at risk of not having access to drinking water.

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
I spent 5 nights on a cruise with entire decks designed for solo travelers, and it was one of the best sailing experiences I'd ever had

On my recent sailing, I stayed in a 100-square-foot studio aboard the Norwegian Getaway. Lauren Mack

I stayed in a 100-square-foot studio during my six-day solo cruise aboard the Norwegian Getaway.

I was surrounded by fellow solo travelers and had no trouble meeting others on the ship.

The cruise line planned everything long before I boarded, removing the solo-travel stress.

I booked a 100-square-foot studio aboard the Norwegian Getaway for my six-day solo trip.

I'd sailed with Norwegian Cruise Line before but had never stayed in one of its studios. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Earlier this year, I had time to take a vacation but didn't want to spend a ton of money or have to fly. So I searched online for cruises departing from New York City and landed on a six-day voyage aboard the Norwegian Getaway.

I didn't have anyone to travel with since the trip was so last minute, but I didn't let that get in my way. Four days before departure, I booked a 100-square-foot studio cabin that Norwegian Cruise Line designed and built for solo travelers ages 21 and older.

Here's what the experience was like.

Passengers traveling in the cruise's studios don't have to worry about paying a single-traveler supplement.

My studio had a full-size bed, which offered plenty of storage beneath it. Lauren Mack

I booked the Getaway's last available studio, 11505 on deck 11, directly through the cruise line for $700, paying an additional $283 in taxes and service charges.

The rate for the studio included WiFi, an unlimited drink package, one specialty dining meal, and a $50 voucher to put toward a port excursion.

But if I were traveling with another person, it would've made more sense to book an inside stateroom. The price likely would've been lower per person, and the room itself would've been larger.

But Norwegian, like so many other cruise lines, bases its stateroom rates on double occupancy and charges solo travelers a single supplement to stay in them alone.

Because I didn't want to pay an extra fee and didn't have anyone with whom I could split the stateroom cost, I went ahead with the smaller studio.

All the studios are in the same area, and guests need a key card to access this section of the ship.

The studios are spread out between decks 10 and 11. Lauren Mack

The Getaway's 59 studios are toward the front of the ship and divided between decks 10 and 11.

To get to my accommodation, I had to use my key card to access the area where all the studios are. This extra line of security made me feel safe and secure staying by myself.

From the moment I entered the studio area, I knew I was in for something special. The hallways feature blue, green, yellow, and red lights.

Because these studios are tucked away and somewhat secluded from busy parts of the ship, both my room and the area outside it were extremely quiet. The only noise I heard was the cabin steward vacuuming in the adjacent studio and hallway.

I think the Getaway's studios are more stylish than its staterooms, though I do wish my cabin had exterior views.

The LED lights in the room gave the space an ultramodern feel. Lauren Mack

Unlike the Getaway's inside staterooms, which have similar decor to its ocean-view and balcony staterooms, the studios are sleek, stylish, and futuristic inside. For example, the panels along two sides of the full-size bed are covered in white cushions and backlit by LED strip lights.

My studio had a round window with a one-way view of the corridor, but I wish I had an exterior window or a small balcony. Fortunately, I don't suffer from seasickness, but passengers who do may benefit from having a view of the outside scenery.

My studio had various places where I could store my belongings.

Despite the room's size, I didn't have trouble storing all my belongings. Lauren Mack

The tiny cabin featured two wardrobes with handles that doubled as towel racks, a pullout trash can, and a bedside ottoman that I could use as a desk chair.

The small bathroom was right by the studio's entrance.

I went to the ship's spa to shower instead of washing up in my room. Lauren Mack

It had a sink, an all-glass shower with tesserae tiles, and a toilet.

I haven't seen any cruise line besides Norwegian build lounges exclusively for solo travelers. I loved it but wish the bar stayed open later.

The lounge had a bar, a vending machine with wine, and snacks. Lauren Mack

Open 24/7, the Getaway's two-story studio lounge features an ultramodern design with color-changing LED lights on the ceiling and an oval-shaped mezzanine with cozy banquettes.

The first floor has a speakeasy bar, a vending machine that serves wine, and a self-service refreshment station with coffee, juice, and water. When I was there, the lounge also had a lot of snacks like Danishes, croissants, chicken sandwiches, tuna sandwiches, pound cakes, and cookies.

The bar in the studio lounge was open daily between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., but I wish its hours spanned a bit longer. I rarely saw any other travelers there, even though the studios were sold out. It would've been great to have at least one event in that space at the beginning of the cruise to meet fellow solo travelers.

On disembarkation day, I would've loved to grab breakfast in the lounge. But I noticed that there were no refreshments available.

Because Norwegian planned the entire itinerary, I didn't have to worry about any trip logistics.

The Norwegian Getaway has pools, waterslides, and more. Lauren Mack

Cruising is a convenient, cost-effective way to ease into solo travel.

Norwegian took care of all the logistics  including meals, onboard events, and exciting excursions  before I even boarded the ship. All I had to do was show up.

Dining alone is a common concern, but most cruise lines seat solo passengers together or put them at tables with extra space, which makes it easy to meet people.

I was fine eating by myself. Initially, I thought it would be awkward, but it wasn't.

While waiting for my food to arrive, I wrote in my journal, organized photos and videos on my phone, posted on social media, and struck up conversations with the crew and neighboring diners.

The ship had so many onboard activities and offerings that I didn't even feel like I was traveling alone.

Guests 18 and older can access Vibe Beach Club on the Getaway. Lauren Mack

Each evening, I got a copy of the Freestyle Daily, the cruise line's printed newsletter. It was filled with information about the ship's activities, including a daily gathering for solo travelers in a casual setting.

During the cruise, there were also meetups for veterans, LGBTQ people, and people between 18 and 25 years old. I also spent a large amount of time enjoying the adults-only areas, such as the Thermal Suite, Vibe Beach Club, and the casino.

After this trip, I won't hesitate to sail alone with Norwegian and other cruise lines.

On my recent sailing, I stayed in a 100-square-foot studio aboard the Norwegian Getaway. Lauren Mack

Sure, I would've loved more activity at the studio-lounge bar and a window with an ocean view, but all in all, my first stay in a Norwegian studio was superb.

This trip gave me time to relax and prioritize myself without worrying about anyone else.

I found it liberating to set my own schedule, explore ports at my own pace, and indulge in self-care. I dined whenever I wanted, didn't have to coordinate schedules with anyone, and never worried about saving seats at onboard performances.

I didn't feel sad or lonely traveling by myself. After all, I was surrounded by thousands of people on the ship and had an easy time staying busy.

Read the original article on Insider
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Banned in UAE, Probably Because of a Poster

a close up of gwen



Gwen Stacy may have gotten SPider-Verse banned from the UAE.

One of the many, many things that rule about Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is how diverse and inclusive it is. People of every size, shape, color, gender, and more fill every frame of the film, and while most people would see that as a positive thing, at least one place does not.



Reuters reports that Across the Spider-Verse was set for release June 22 in the United Arab Emirates but, recently, that was changed. It will no longer be released. The countrys media council didnt address this film in particular but seemingly subtweeted that any content contradicting the UAE values and principles, and media content standards encouraged within the UAE, will not be allowed for circulation or publication

Read more

So what the heck does that mean? Well, Reuters and others speculate its probably the fact that Gwen Stacy has a poster in her room that says Protect Trans Kids. That poster is one of several things that have raised a discussion online about whether or not Gwen herself is trans and, well, it seems that even the suggestion or possibility of that is too much for UAE audiences to handle.

gwen with the poster over her door



Gwens poster.

When reached for comment, Sony echoed the Deadline story suggesting the company didnt expect the film to be released there anyway because of the over-the-top censorship. So, basically, this sucks but was expected. Especially since this kind of thing has happened over and over. Just last year, Disneys Lightyear was banned in the region because two women kiss each other...for like .5 seconds. Scandalous!



In other parts of the world, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse remains in theaters and you should 100% see it and cheer when the movie briefly passes by Gwens awesome poster.

This post has been updated with additional context about Sonys position on the matter.





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.

More from Gizmodo

Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Springfield police said they have arrested an 18-year-old Springfield man who is a suspect in a Thursday evening homicide on South Virginia Avenue.

The department said homicide detectives identified Peyton Lafferty, 18, as a suspect and arrested him Friday. He was later charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action and was being held in the Greene County Jail with no bond.

Officers responded to a call of shots fired at 3417 S. Virginia Ave. before 11:30 p.m. on Thursday and found Jason Walker, 22, with gunshot wounds. Walker was transported to the hospital where he later died from his injuries. Walkers family has been notified.

Detectives continue to investigate and are asking anyone with information about this incident to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477) or online at p3tips.com.

This is Springfields eighth homicide investigation in 2023.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield Police search for suspect in Thursday evening homicide
See how this St. Petersburg mural is being reimagined for Juneteenth

ST. PETERSBURG  A Black Lives Matter mural painted on the street in front of The Woodson African American Museum of Florida is being reimagined, and the new mural will be unveiled Monday.

The original mural was completed in 2020 and unveiled on Juneteenth, the holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. In the midst of the pandemic and the protests after George Floyds murder that year, it was a powerful message that attracted many visitors.

Now, the museum has partnered with the city of St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg Arts Alliance to repaint the mural with a new message: Black History Matters. It will be unveiled during the museums Juneteenth celebration, 11 a.m. Monday at 2240 Ninth Ave. S.

Local artists the Vitale Bros. outlined the letters of the new mural. Like the first mural, local artists were assigned a letter to fill in with their signature style and painted all day on Saturday.

Many of the same artists returned, including Cam Parker, Jason Harvin and Catherine Weaver, while Raheem Fitzgerald and Reid Jenkins are new this year.

Elected officials, including Mayor Ken Welch and Sen. Darryl Rouson, will be in attendance during the mural presentation. The Rev. Clarence Williams of Greater Mount Zion AME Church will offer the invocation. The event will also include spoken word, poetry and dance.

The Woodson Museum is in the moment  diversity, equity, inclusion, and history are here to stay, said Terri Lipsey Scott, executive director of the Woodson Museum, in a news release. Ive said it before and Ill say it again, our museum will continue to work to educate others about Black history and ensure that it is preserved, presented, celebrated, and commemorated!

Ninth Avenue South between 22nd and 23rd streets will be closed to traffic until July 10.
The Stars readers voted this Brookside ice cream shop as their favorite in Kansas City

The votes have been cast, and after hundreds of readers weighed in, High Hopes Ice Cream has won The Stars title of Kansas Citys favorite ice cream spot of 2023.

The beloved walk-up window on Troost Avenue in Brookside was among five reader-nominated finalists, also including French Custard in Brookside, Pops Sweet Shop in Lenexa and Spring Hill, Betty Raes in Waldo and the River Market and Sylas & Maddys in Olathe.

The Star informed each finalist of our poll on Monday, and voting closed Wednesday night.

High Hopes is known for its creative flavors, homemade toppings and super-creamy texture that keeps our readers coming back for more.

More than half of the flavors at any one time are my favorite! raved reader Sarah of the West Plaza. Ask to try all the flavors  I havent found one I dont like.

Flavors our readers recommended include cinnamon honey, strawberry birthday cake, french silk pie, Mother Earth (blue spirulina with matcha-soaked ladyfinger crumbles), bourbon butter pecan, black sesame, the bacon-infused Local Breakfast and smores.

Recently added flavors include mixed berry lemon sorbet, mango chamoy frozen yogurt and the charcuterie-inspired Adult Lunchable.

Reader Mike Jeffries of Brookside also gave a shoutout to their homemade toppings, including puff pastry, strawberry shortcake crumble and an Oreo smores mix he called legitimately addictive.

But the tasty treats High Hopes offers are just part of what makes this spot a reader favorite. Others raved about the friendly staff, including owners Jamie Howard and Jonathon Tex Bush.

Everything is made using as many local products as possible and the owners are the best! reader Tiffany of Kansas City told the Star.

The owners are incredible! So friendly and just hard working. Love their little spot! added reader Alicia of Waldo.

We really appreciate all the support from friends, family and the community, Howard wrote in an email to The Star. There are so many great places to get good ice cream in Kansas City, and were very honored to be their favorite.

You can view all 20 local ice cream shops nominated by our readers here.

Do you have more questions about Kansas Citys favorite local businesses? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
State health officials are warning about West Nile virus after virus-positive mosquitos were found in four counties, including Cook County.

No human cases have been reported this year, but the Illinois Department of Public Health is using National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, which starts Sunday, to raise awareness after 10 batches of mosquitoes tested positive for the virus in Cook, LaSalle, Morgan and St. Clair counties. The first batch of mosquitos to test positive for the virus was reported late last month in Evanston, authorities said.

Diseases such as West Nile virus pose a serious health threat, especially to our seniors or individuals who have weakened immune systems, public health Director Sameer Vohra said in a news release.

Vohra said the finding of positive batches of mosquitoes underscores why it is important for Illinois residents to protect themselves this summer by using insect repellent while outside and not keeping any standing water around where mosquitoes can breed easily.

The public health department said it has poured $2.5 million in funding to nearly 100 local health departments across the state for mosquito control efforts. Local health departments collect and test mosquitoes as well as sick or dead birds for the virus.

There were 34 positive reports of West Nile virus in humans and eight deaths attributed to the virus last year, the most since 2018, when 17 deaths were reported, according to the public health officials. The youngest person with a positive case of the virus in Illinois was 26, and the median age was 64.

Updates on cases reported and where can be found online, as well as more information about the virus itself.
State Police recover the body of 24-year-old Lynn man who vanished after leaving party in Lyft ride

Law enforcement officials recovered the body of a missing Lynn man who never returned home from a party he attended in Chelsea on Sunday.

Massachusetts State Police divers made the recovery of 24-year-old Dickson Joel De Los Reyes around 8:30 p.m. on Friday night after an aerial search observed his body in the Rumney Marsh Reservation along Route 107 in Revere.

Detectives assigned to the Suffolk District Attorneys Office are investigating the now death of De Los Reyes, who vanished after leaving a party on the morning of June 11, Massachusetts State Police announced Friday.

Evidence indicates that De Los Reyes got into a Lyft rideshare vehicle in front of 168 Shurtleff St. around 3:42 a.m. State police said the ride was terminated minutes later at 3:56 a.m.

After termination, De Los Reyes phone dialed 911 and connected to the Revere Police Department, but it then disconnected and several attempts to call the number back by officers were unsuccessful, according to state police.

A subsequent investigation revealed that the call was made from the area of American Legion Highway in Revere. De Los Reyes has not been seen or heard from since.

Additional attempts by state police to determine the phones location had negative results, suggesting the phone is off, investigators added.

De Los Reyes is described as Hispanic, about 5 feet, 3 inches tall, 150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen on a Chelsea-monitored surveillance camera wearing black pants, a black vest, a white long-sleeve shirt, and white sneakers.

An investigation remains ongoing.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has taken custody of De Los Reyes and will conduct a post-mortem examination.

Boston 25 received the following statement from Lyft:

Our thoughts are with Mr. De Los Reyes family and loved ones during this difficult time. We are in touch with law enforcement and assisting with their investigation.

According to Lyft, the ride ended at the intended location set by De Los Reyes.

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
A stolen vehicle wanted in connection with a carjacking in another community was spotted in the midst of a funeral procession, according to Braintree police. Five people inside the car were arrested after a brief post-funeral chase resulted in the car going airborne and crashing.

Braintree police officers noticed the stolen vehicle in a funeral procession around 1:00 p.m. Friday. Rather than stop the vehicle in the middle of the service, more officers were called to the scene and a plan was put into place after the services at Blue Hill Cemetry, Braintree Police said.

When officers attempted to stop the vehicle inside the cemetery, the driver hit the gas. Noticing that police were posted at the exits, authorities say the driver attempted to drive over the lawn, landscaping and bushes to escape.

However, the car collided with a boulder behind a bush, launching the vehicle airborne before it plummeted onto West Street.

The five occupants inside the stolen car fled the crash but were all taken into custody after being chased or tracked down. Braintree High School was put into a shelter-in-place order while officers searched for the people that were inside the stolen car.

The driver of the car, a juvenile, was arrested and is being charged with receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle, unlicensed operation, failure to stop for police, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and malicious damage over $1200.

Melanie Lopes, 21, of Brockton, was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Avonte Taylor, 21, of Dorchester, was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle.

Giovannie Cordova, 20, of Boston, was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle.

The final passenger, a juvenile, was also charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle.

No other vehicles were involved and there were no injuries.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
After a week-long strike, researchers and post-doctoral workers have reached a tentative agreement with the University of Washington (UW).

The new contract is set to increase worker pay and improve the working conditions of the 2,400 union members at the institution. Postdoc Scholars will see their pay increased by 28% by Jan. 1, 2024, and their compensation will be re-negotiated before the next increase by Jan. 1, 2025. Researchers will see a pay increase of 33%, along with future wage increases that keep up with the costs of living.

The University tried every trick in the book to avoid paying Postdocs and Research Scientists/Engineers fairly, but ultimately, Postdocs and RSEs walking off the job showed how essential they are and how much of an impact the loss of their labor had on University operations. Through the power they displayed and support of their allies, Postdocs and RSEs forced the University to meet their demands and won strong contracts which will make science and research at UW more inclusive and sustainable, said Mike Miller, Director of UAW Region 6.

We did this together, y'all! The wins in our tentative agreement are a direct outcome of collective power and community solidarity.  #FairContractsUW #UWPostdocsRSEs #UWworksBCweDo pic.twitter.com/v7CFihD0BZ  UW Researchers United ON STRIKE (@uwrunited) June 16, 2023

The contract ratification vote will begin on Friday.

This story was originally published by MyNorthwest.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez (R), who declared his candidacy for president on Thursday, hinted that he may be willing to pardon former President Trump for the federal charges he is facing.

Suarez said in an interview on MSNBC on Friday that one of the possible reasons for the president to use the pardon power is to heal the country, and he would look into using it for that aim if elected president.

Certainly if I became president, one thing I would look at as president is using the pardon power to heal the country, he said. And that by the way doesnt go for one party, it goes for both parties.

Suarez said he believes the country is bewildered by the situation with Trump, who has become the first former president to be federally indicted. Trump is facing 37 charges in connection to the classified and sensitive documents he kept at Mar-a-Lago following his presidency.

Trump pleaded not guilty to all charges on Tuesday and has insisted that he has not committed any wrongdoing. He has alleged that the Justice Department (DOJ) is acting on political motivation in targeting him.

Special counsel Jack Smith, who is overseeing the investigation, defended the DOJ and FBI against accusations of partisanship after the indictment was unsealed last week and emphasized the scope and the gravity of the charges against Trump.

Reaction to the indictment among Trumps 2024 competitors for the GOP nomination has been mixed, but some have weighed in on possibly pardoning Trump for the charges against him.

Conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy promised to promptly pardon Trump if elected and called on other candidates in the race to pledge to do so as well. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who has consistently placed in second to Trump in polling among Republican candidates, said last month that he would consider pardoning all defendants from the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, including Trump.

Former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Tuesday she is inclined in favor of pardoning Trump for the countrys interest. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum dodged a question about whether he would pardon Trump on Friday, saying President Biden should be asked because he currently has the power to do so.

Suarez said Trump is innocent until proven guilty, and the judicial process needs to happen before a discussion of a possible pardon comes.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Johannes P. Christo/Reuters

After eight years and a stint in an Indonesian jail, Heather Mack on Friday pleaded guilty to conspiring to fatally bludgeon her socialite mother and then stuffing her body in a suitcase in Bali.

Mack, 27, pleaded guilty in Illinois Federal Court to conspiracy to kill a national of the United States. The change of plea came about a month before Mack was set to stand trial for the August 2014 murder of her 62-year-old mother, Sheila von Weise-Mack. The sentencing will be on December 18.

Prosecutors alleged that then-18 and pregnant Mack murdered von Weise-Mack with the metal handle of a fruit stand inside a five-star hotel room in Bali with the help of her boyfriend. To cover up a crime driven by a desire to tap into Macks $1.5 million inheritance, the couple, who referred to themselves as Bonnie and Clyde, stuffed von Weise-Macks body in a suitcase and left the luggage in the trunk of a taxi outside of the luxury hotel.

Mack, the daughter of acclaimed jazz composer James Mack, who died in 2006, already served a seven-year prison sentence in Indonesia after she was convicted in that country of murder in 2014. While in Kerobokan Female Prison, Mack gave birth to her daughter, Estelle Stella Schaefer.

Mack and Schaefer pictured attending court with their baby in 2015. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

After being sprung from her prison sentence early, Mack was extradited to the U.S. in November 2021 on charges of conspiracy to murder. Schaefer, who authorities say admitted to the killing, is still serving his 18-year sentence in a squalid prison in Indonesia, and still faces conspiracy charges in the United States.

In an interview with the New York Post this week, Mack said that when she initially arrived in the U.S. she was gung-ho about going to trial to avoid another prison sentence. But two years later, she said, she decided to admit to her crimes at home.

Im going to be a felon in America, and that is fine. I understand from [the governments] perspective that if I dont plead guilty and they didnt indict me, I wouldnt be a felon, Mack said last week. Macks lawyers declined to comment prior to Fridays hearing.

Prosecutors allege that Mack and her mother, who lived in Oak Park in Chicago, had a rocky relationship after 2006. But in the summer of 2014, von Weise-Mack decided to take her daughter on a luxury vacation.

Days later, prosecutors say, Mack used her moms credit card to buy a business-class ticket for Schaefer to join them. The day after Schaefer boarded the flight at OHare International Airport, prosecutors allege, he exchanged messages with his cousin, Robert Ryan Bibbs, regarding different ways to kill von Weise-Mack. (Prosecutors say that Bibbs, who pleaded guilty to murder conspiracy in 2016, acted as a consultant for the murder in exchange for $50,000. In addition to being aware of the planned plot, Bibbs told prosecutors he also counseled Schaeffer on how to get away with it, prosecutors said.)

Mack and Schaefer also allegedly texted about ways to kill von Weise-Mack. In the messages, which prosecutors revealed in court documents earlier this year, the couple compared themselves to the murderous duo Bonnie and Clyde and boasted about how rich they would be after Mack inherited her moms wealth.

I cant wait to be rich Its crazy af Like Money Nothing rules the world, Schaefer allegedly texted Mack the morning she and her mother set off to Bali. Mack also sent several chilling texts, including that she had been watching her witch mother, and urged Schaefer not to underestimate her.

After their arrest in Indonesia, Schaefer and Mack changed their story about the slaying several times, including initially saying that von Weise-Mack was killed by burglars. Eventually, Schaefer confessed to the murder, saying at trial that he killed von Weise-Mack because she attacked him and had previously hurt her daughter.

In February, a judge ruled that the couples daughter, Stella, will live with Macks maternal cousin in Colorado.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Sununu not leaning toward another term; will make firm decision in summer

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) said in a Friday interview hes not leaning toward another term as governor, but he will make a firm decision this summer.

Sununu, who is in his fourth term, said I dont think Im going to run again during an interview on The Greg Hill Show.

Ill make a firm decision this summer, not leaning towards it, Sununu elaborated later. We just  were crushing it in New Hampshire, and I just believe that this isnt a career, its public service.

Could I win again? Of course, but its service and someone else needs to kind of take the mantle.  I got kids to put through college and all that sort of thing, he continued.

Sununus comments come more than a week after he announced he would not run for the White House amid rising speculation he could jump into the race.

Sununu won his fourth term as governor last November with 57 percent of the vote, and a Morning Consult poll released earlier this year showed the governor with a 59 percent approval rating.

The Hill has reached out to a Sununu spokesperson for further comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Supreme Court decision could have devastating impact on our air, water quality [There are] significant repercussions

On May 25, the Supreme Court significantly limited the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) ability to protect U.S. water with its decision in Sackett v. EPA, reported The Washington Post.

The ruling reduces the scope of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and shifts the responsibility of maintaining the health of certain bodies of water away from the EPA and onto individual states.

This is the second Supreme Court decision in less than a year to narrow the EPAs power to protect our air and water from pollution.

What happened?

The case, brought by landowners Michael and Chantell Sackett, concerns the couples rights to develop their property, which lies on wetlands in Idaho.

The EPA halted construction when the couple did not obtain a permit to disturb the wetlands. Although all nine Supreme Court justices agreed the homeowners should not be subject to EPA oversight, the court was split on how to determine which wetlands qualify for protection.

In the majority opinion, conservative Justice Samuel Alito took issue with the CWAs vague language, arguing that waters under EPA regulation include only those with a continuous surface connection to bodies of water that are indistinguishable from streams, oceans, rivers, and lakes, leaving hundreds of acres of wetlands vulnerable.

Justice Brett Kavanagh, also conservative, joined the three liberal justices in sounding the alarm that this decision will have significant repercussions for water quality and flood control throughout our country.

Why is this ruling concerning?

Wetlands, including marshes, bogs, and swamps, are a critical part of our global water cycle. Their sponge-like ability to absorb water slows flooding and coastal storm surges, and their sprawling root systems hold soil in place, minimizing erosion while filtering pollutants and improving water quality.

These ecosystems provide critical habitats for diverse plants and animals while also drawing significant amounts of excessive, planet-overheating pollution from our atmosphere.

Healthy wetlands can reduce property damage from flooding and storms while naturally improving water quality for drinking, fishing, and swimming. Leaving wetland conservation to the states could result in unequal guardianship across the country, impacting the health and well-being of local communities.

What can I do to help protect the wetlands?

While the justices call upon Congress to clearly define the EPAs role in protecting Americas waterways, much of the power now lies at the state level to safeguard our nations waters. In addition to contacting your local policymakers to support protections for these important water systems, there are many ways we can help preserve local wetlands.

We can protect wetlands from absorbing harmful chemicals by choosing nontoxic and plastic-free products for household cleaning and lawn care.

Growing native plants and properly disposing of pet waste, fertilizers, motor oil, and other dangerous materials help support essential ecosystems. We can also exercise respect when visiting these valuable environments to help them thrive.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
Native American tribal leaders and legal experts celebrated a "resounding victory" Thursday after the Supreme Court left intact the federal law that gives preference to Native families in foster care and adoption cases involving Native children.

But some warned that the high court's 7-2 decision to uphold the landmark Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 also leaves the door open to future challenges  and could threaten tribal sovereignty  because it does not address whether the law violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution. Ratified after the Civil War in 1868, the clause generally prohibits discrimination based on race, gender and other attributes.

"Reading the decision, there are still some vulnerabilities to not only a future challenge to ICWA but to other statutes and legal principles that really establish a foundation of the government-to-government relationship with the United States and Indian tribes. And so, we've got to stay vigilant," said Chuck Hoskin Jr., the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, one of the nation's largest Native American tribes.

"But I think, for now, we're very satisfied that this was a really solid win for an important law," he said.

Demonstrators stand outside of the U.S. Supreme Court, as the court hears arguments over the Indian Child Welfare Act (Mariam Zuhaib / AP file )

Supporters say the Indian Child Welfare Act remains critical to ensuring Native children are bound to their traditions and customs while reversing decades of federal and state governments' forced removal of them from their homes to assimilate them into an English-speaking, Anglo-centric society.

Mary Kathryn Nagle, a Cherokee attorney for the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center who filed a brief in support of the law, lauded the decision as a "resounding victory for Indian Country, for tribes and for Native children."

"It's a huge victory  I'd put it right up there with the victory in McGirt," Nagle said of the narrow Supreme Court ruling in 2020 that affirmed Native American rights in Oklahoma. "What the Supreme Court is signaling here is 'we're not rewriting the Constitution.' Instead, the court is standing on the side of hundreds of years of precedent and a clear message that the attacks on tribal sovereignty are bogus."

The challenge against the act before the Supreme Court was led by Chad and Jennifer Brackeen, a white evangelical Christian couple from Fort Worth, Texas, who began caring for a 10-month-old Native child in 2016. They moved to adopt him after his placement with a Navajo Nation family fell through. The couple then sought to adopt his half-sister, whose birth mother is Navajo, but were opposed by the tribe, prompting a legal battle.

The states of Texas, Indiana and Louisiana joined in the litigation against the federal government, which was defended by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American to serve as a Cabinet secretary.

Conservative legal groups have argued that the law is unconstitutional and illegal federal policy, because, they say, it allows for custody based on race. In addition, they say, the law gives the federal government too much control over states, which typically oversee adoption and foster cases.

Tribes assert that their rights to have precedence in such cases under the law are based on their protected political status, not because of racial identities, and that the decision upholds the U.S. governments responsibility to continue engaging with tribes on a nation-to-nation basis.

Demonstrators stand outside of the U.S. Supreme Court, as the court hears arguments over the Indian Child Welfare Act (Mariam Zuhaib / AP file )

"Sometimes outside organizations will always think they know what's best for you," Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren said. "But I think this is a day where ICWA stands and the Supreme Court says, 'You know what, Native people are more than capable of making their own decisions.'"

He added that by siding with the Indian Child Welfare Act, seven of the justices made "sure that we can control our own destiny and all tribal communities to make sure that we can take care of our own kids. Give us the first right to protect our kids, to raise them, to make sure that they're culturally still connected to our tribe."

Two of the six conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, dissented from the majority.

Writing for the majority, Justice Amy Coney Barrett said the challengers did not have legal standing to contest whether the preference for Native families to adopt Native children violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in a concurring opinion that the racial preference issue remains a "serious" question that the court should decide in a subsequent case.

"Those scenarios raise significant questions under bedrock equal protection principles and this Court's precedents," he wrote. "Courts, including ultimately this Court, will be able to address the equal protection issue when it is properly raised."

Matthew McGill, a lawyer representing the Brackeens, said he plans to pursue the race discrimination claim in the adoption proceedings in state court.

"Our main concern is what today's decision means for the little girl, Y.R.J.  now 5 years old  who has been part of the Brackeen family for nearly her whole life," McGill said in a statement. "The Court did not address our core claim that ICWA impermissibly discriminates against Native American children and families that wish to adopt them, saying it must be brought in state court."

The issue of Native children displaced from families and overrepresented in the foster care system also remains a larger concern, advocates say.

Most Native children who are in state foster care systems are placed with non-Native families, according to government data analyzed by Frank Edwards, an assistant professor and sociologist at Rutgers University-Newark in New Jersey who has written about the issue.

Sarah Kastelic, the executive director of the nonprofit National Indian Child Welfare Association, said that while adoption and foster care cases can be emotionally fraught for all involved, the Indian Child Welfare Act has been an invaluable tool for Native rights.

"We need to think about what's going to equip this child who is going to have to deal with different forms of adversity in many ways and what kinds of teachings and values will help to raise a healthy Native child," Kastelic said. "Is that going to happen in a non-Native home?"

Brad KillsCrow, the chief of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, which won its own child welfare dispute in the West Virginia Supreme Court this week, said the decision Thursday is a relief for him and other tribal groups, because the federal government is willing to "hold its end of the stick."

"We hold our culture very, very dearly to us," KillsCrow said, adding, "Our children are our future, and for us to be a tribe, to exist in the future, we've got to protect our children, and we've got to protect them at all costs."

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Swimmers at risk of getting sick after bacteria found in water at Buck Creek reservoir

People enjoying a beach day at a Clark County lake packed up and left after News Center 7 told them there were high levels of E. Coli in the water.

>>PHOTOS: Sky 7 images of C.J. Brown Reservoir at Buck Creek State Park

News Center 7s Kayla McDermott reports there is a high level of bacteria in the water at C.J. Brown Reservoir Buck Creek State Park.

There was only one sign they would find at the beach telling people there to swim at their own risk and most people who were enjoying themselves did not see it.

Get out of the water, people said. Get out.

Swimmers were having fun until she told them they were at risk of getting sick due to bacteria in the water.

Theres high E Coli in the water right now. Did you know that? McDermott asked a bunch of swimmers.

No, ew. they answered.

>>RELATED: High bacteria levels reported at Buck Creek reservoir

The Ohio Department of Healths beach water quality board has the reservoir currently listed under a contamination advisory for E. Coli.

Were going to get sick, one person said.

McDermott spoke with Doctor Roberto Colon, Chief Medical Officer for Premier Health. He said swallowing the water is how the bacteria can get into your system and could develop abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or E Coli can become even more serious.

Some cases could actually be associated with blood - the vomit can be much more profuse, and people can become severely dehydrated, he said.

>>RELATED: Buck Creek Marina closed as crews clean up unidentified substance in water; Ohio EPA responding

Colon said the bacteria can also infect the bloodstream.

Even more severely life-threatening condition, he explained.

It sounds like its going to make you sick really bad, said Patrick Goold.

His group gathered their things and left.

Maybe they shouldnt let anyone over here near the beach, he told McDermott.

That is Doctor Colons advice.

Anytime that we are looking that potentially contaminated water, stay away from it, he said.

>>3 boys dead, father charged with murder following Clermont County shooting

Some beachgoers did stay away from the water but hardly anyone on the beach saw the warning sign.

I did not see a sign, no, said Gould.

We passed it, we didnt see it, Jan Wedell told McDermott.

Just one group of teenagers did, and they chose not to go down to the beach at all.

I just dont want to risk my health right now, said Delaney Moore.

>>Mother of Kettering woman killed in shooting speaking out

McDermott says testing will happen once every two weeks on the water to check on the bacteria levels, according to this website.

The people she spoke with Thursday said they would like more signs than just one posted at the entrance and on the way down to the beach.

Photo from: Eric Higgenbotham/Staff

Photo from: Eric Higgenbotham/Staff

Photo from: Eric Higgenbotham/Staff

Photo from: Eric Higgenbotham/Staff

Photo from: Eric Higgenbotham/Staff

Photo from: Eric Higgenbotham/Staff

Photo from: Eric Higgenbotham/Staff

Photo from: Eric Higgenbotham/Staff

Photo from: Eric Higgenbotham/Staff
Swiss cyclist Gino Mader dies after falling down a ravine in the Tour de Suisse

Gino Mader waits for the start of the 7th stage of the Giro d'Italia, Tour of Italy cycling race, in Notaresco, Italy, on May 14, 2021. Swiss cyclist Gino Mader has died Friday, June 16, 2023 one day after suffering injuries when he crashed off the road down a ravine during a descent at the Tour de Suisse. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

GENEVA (AP)  Swiss cyclist Gino Mader died Friday, one day after crashing and falling down a ravine during a descent at the Tour de Suisse.

The 26-year-old Mader crashed after a left-hand turn on a fast downhill road approaching the end of the mountainous fifth stage into La Punt. His fall of about 30 meters was stopped by a stream.

Gino lost his battle to recover from the severe injuries he sustained, his Bahrain-Victorious team said in a statement. Despite the best efforts of the phenomenal staff at Chur hospital, Gino couldnt make it through this, his final and biggest challenge, and at 11:30 a.m. we said goodbye to one of the shining lights of our team."

Medical staff who reached Mader found him motionless in the water, race organizers said Thursday. CPR was performed on him before he was airlifted to the hospital.

Our entire team is devastated by this tragic accident, and our thoughts and prayers are with Ginos family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time, Bahrain-Victorious said.

Police in the Swiss canton of Graubunden said a joint investigation with prosecutors wanted to hear from witnesses who might have seen and filmed the incident.

The Tour de Suisse is a preparation race for next month's Tour de France.

Mader's death was announced about 30 minutes before the scheduled start of the sixth stage in the eight-day race. The start was delayed and riders gathered in a silent tribute before the stage was canceled.

The peloton rode together in tribute to Mader for the final 30 kilometers (18 miles) of Friday's scheduled route. The race should resume Saturday.

Devastated by the news," said world champion Remco Evenepoel, who is in fourth place in the race standings. "My heart and strength is with Ginos family, friends, teammates.

Evenepoel earlier criticized Thursday's stage after finishing the day in 10th place.

While a summit finish would have been perfectly possible, it wasnt a good decision to let us finish down this dangerous descent, Evenepoel wrote on his Twitter account. As riders, we should also think about the risks we take going down a mountain.

A second rider also crashed at the same spot. Magnus Sheffield of the United States sustained a concussion and bruises and was treated at a local hospital.

In previous incidents, Belgian rider Wouter Weylandt was killed in a crash on a descent at the Giro d'Italia in May 2011. Another Belgian rider, Antoine Demoitie, died after crashing at the one-day Gent-Wevelgem race in March 2016.

Mader was one of Switzerland's best young riders. He won a stage at the 2021 Giro and placed fifth overall in the Spanish Vuelta that year. He also was fifth in the Paris-Nice stage race in March.

We are heartbroken," Tour de Suisse organizers said in a statement. "Gino, youve been an excellent rider but even more a wonderful person. Always smiling and making people happy around you.

Mader was asked on Sunday by a reporter at the race finish what would make him happy at the end of the week-long race. If Im still healthy and I enjoy my home race, maybe have some success with the team, Mader had said.

Team manager Milan Erzen praised the rider, saying his talent, dedication, and enthusiasm were an inspiration to us all.

Not only was he an extremely talented cyclist, Erzen said, "but a great person off the bike.

___

More AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Whether its a small birthday get-together at a park or a trip with your folks out of town for a long weekend, every family is dysfunctional to a certain degree, experts say.

Licensed therapists spoke with McClatchy News to discuss ways that may help manage the stress of going away with dysfunctional family members, especially when youre feeling cornered.

Knowing your family

Maggie Holland, a licensed therapist and mental health counselor based in Washington, said although the answer isnt black and white, ... you have to really listen to yourself and hone in on what feels realistic to you.

If you have a parent that doesnt show a lot of potential for growth or doesnt like to be confronted with hard truths about themselves, acceptance is probably the best route, Holland said in a phone interview with McClatchy News. Setting boundaries within that acceptance is probably the best route.

Holland said she has her clients set realistic expectations for themselves and for their family members.

See it for what it is and prepare

Holland said if youre going on vacation with your dysfunctional family or family members, really take stock of the situation.

What are the dysfunctions? What are the patterns that usually play out? Holland said. What are the roles youre expected to play for different family members and in different interactions?

Holland advises people to ask themselves questions ahead of the trip, like What exactly is it about this dysfunction that is hard for you? Does it bring up anger? Does it bring up sadness and grief? Holland said. What does this dysfunction mean to you and how does it impact you?

Julie Stein, a licensed therapist, told McClatchy News the first step is knowing in advance that problems could happen.

Everyone has different needs and everyone changes, she said in a phone interview. We revert to our default setting as our role in the family.

Stein said if you tend to get overwhelmed or tend to shut down, coming up with ideas to help manage in advance may be helpful  even if its sneaking away to the bathroom to practice deep breathing for five minutes.

Even if its just a before trip acknowledgment that things will not be perfect, Stein said.

Ways to help manage

Stein said people going on trips with their family and their partner should keep their partner in the loop.

If youre going there with your partner, talking with your partner about a code word beforehand can be helpful if youre getting overwhelmed, she said. Or just saying to your partner can you come into the other room with me for a few minutes so we can check in?

With the preparation of knowing the situation youre about to enter, youll more easily be able to pause before you react to someones ridiculous political comment or someones ridiculous food need, she said. Look at it as your second draft reply, not your first draft reply.

Stein said although in situations like these you might have to compromise, you can do so with integrity.

If youre having someone spout off ridiculous political beliefs, youre not going to change that, Stein said. You can say something like I dont feel comfortable with this conversation or you can say I cant talk about this on my vacation so Im going to step out until you guys are done with the topic.

People are consistent, and you need to take care of yourself with boundaries being key, she said.

Boundaries of our yes and our no

Sofiya Kostareva, a licensed therapist who focuses on women and people who identify as LGBTQ, invites people to know for yourself the boundaries of what youre happy to do and what youre not interested in doing or talking about.

Prior to entering a situation where you know theres bound to be tension, just kinda reflecting for yourself what are hard nos? and what feel like yeses? she said in a phone interview.

Kostareva said when we offer a strict no to someone, it might incite conflict, but when we know what a yes is and offer an alternative, things can go over a bit smoother.

If the first practice is knowing your yes and no, knowing your limits of what youre willing to do and what youre not willing to do, the secondary part of that could be what are the clues to know youre about to approach your limit, she said.

Kostareva said the boundaries of our yes and our no can vary from person to person. For some, their yes might be Im happy to do one group tour together for a topic thats not interesting to me, and the boundaries of their no could be Im not interested in talking about politics.

When expressing your no, you can offer a yes right after, she said.

You can say something like Im not willing to engage in this conversation right now but Id love to spend time together later on this tour were doing, Kostareva said.

Take a moment to notice what can tell you that youre hitting your max, she said. An example being getting headaches, or getting into a cycle of thoughts where you have self doubt, or maybe you get really snappy and judgmental.

She goes on to say that although it totally makes sense that we deserve to get the things we need and we deserve to be treated with respect, when it comes to family who we dont often times choose, theres this reality type of practice where we dont set ourselves up to think maybe itll be different this time.

Suffering often happens in the distance between our expectations and what is actually happening, she said.

The stress is in our suffering, she said. With this mindset of acceptance, the outcome might be different than before.

Each expert was in agreement that boundaries, a bit of preparation and shifting your mindset to thinking in a more accepting way of family members reactions and behaviors can make for a less tense vacation.

Feeling helpless is one of the more difficult aspects when dealing with family members that we cant change and that we have dysfunctional relationships with, but theres almost always an opportunity to make a decision, Kostareva said. Get curious about wheres the decision point that you can make for yourself that can help you feel respected, safe and that doesnt compromise your authentic self to live in this dynamic.

What to know about seasonal affective disorder: Experts share advice on coping with it

Screen time increases chances of OCD in preteens, study finds. Every hour ups the risk
By Charlotte Greenfield

(Reuters) -The Taliban's acting governor of the Afghan central bank met China's ambassador this week to discuss banking relations and business, the bank's spokesperson told Reuters on Friday.

Afghanistan's banking system has been severely hampered by U.S.-led sanctions, a drop in liquidity from frozen central bank assets and a cut in development spending. Regulatory risk concerns of international banks have also largely cut off the country's formal banking sector from the global financial system.

China does not have formal diplomatic ties with Afghanistan but has continued to maintain an embassy in Kabul since the Taliban took over the country in 2021. Beijing has recently signalled economic interest in its neighbour, and although some Chinese business executives have raised security concerns, they have said they are looking into investment opportunities, especially in mining.

"In this meeting, economy, banking relations, business and some related topics were discussed," the bank's spokesperson Hassibullah Noori told Reuters, adding the meeting took place on Thursday in Kabul between Ambassador Wang Yu and acting governor Mullah Hidayatullah Badri.

The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson's office said in a statement to Reuters that the ambassador had met Badri and other heads of "relevant departments" in recent days.

"Both sides exchanged opinions on strengthening China-Afghanistan cooperation in areas such as the economy and trade," the statement said, adding financial sanctions on Afghanistan were hampering the country's development.

"China has always supported the peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan, provides sincere help to Afghanistan, and welcomes Afghanistan to join the Belt and Road Initiative," it said.

Badri is a senior Taliban figure who became acting head of the central bank in March after stepping down as acting finance minister. He was head of the economic commission of the Islamic Emirate, as the Taliban refer to their government, as they conducted a 20-year insurgency against the former Western-backed government of Afghanistan, according to Taliban officials, and he ran most of the Taliban's fundraising operations at the time.

(Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield in Islamabad; Additional reporting by Laurie Chen in BeijingEditing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Frances Kerry)
Tampa woman left her mansion and an inheritance to 7 cats

TAMPA  After her son died, Nancy Sauers two great loves became shopping and her cats.

Shopping was her problem, friend Yana Alban said with a laugh. She couldnt buy just one. Shed buy 20 or 30 of something she liked.

That was on display Friday during an estate sale at the Occident Street home of Sauer, who died on Nov. 26 at 84.

There were more than 50 Dale Tiffany floor and table lamps, around 5,000 pieces of jewelry and over 200 Austin Productions statues and figurines, according to the estate sale listing.

The estate sale was scheduled to run through Sunday or until everything in the house was gone. On Friday morning, people lined up two hours before the sale began, according to neighbors, with cars parked as far as a mile away.

But what about her seven Persian cats?

Word around the neighborhood was that Sauers will stipulated that her cats must remain at the home, and that they receive an inheritance.

The deal is that the house was not to be sold until the last cat passed, Alban said, because Sauer was worried it would be difficult on her pets if they were separated or placed in a new home.

Thats true, said Sherry Silk, executive director of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, and, for nearly six months, the cats remained in the 4,000-square-foot South Tampa home that the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser website says has a market value of $2.5 million.

Someone stopped by a few times a day to check on them, but a Hillsborough County probate judge decided that it was best if the cats found new homes, said Silk, whose organization has had the felines for a month. Cats shouldnt be left by themselves in a big house. I am going to personally make sure that we can keep as many together as we can and that they go to the perfect house.

Each comes with an inheritance, too. The exact amount is still being worked out by an attorney, Silk said, but it will be substantial  enough to cover the cats food, medical and grooming bills forever. Theyre young. Theyre only 5 years old. Persians can be expensive and persnickety.

The cats will be available for adoption late this week.

It didnt shock Alban that Sauer would go to such lengths to care for the cats.

She loved them so much, Alban said. And she was unique. Shed buy cases of lipstick, cases of fingernail polish, and paint her nails black and wear all kinds of jewelry and walk the neighborhood in the evening.

Her license plate featured a Playboy bunny, which left some neighbors wondering if Sauer once posed for the magazine.

Not at all, said neighbor Leslie Mueller, but she could understand why people would think that. She was beautiful and fashionable, especially when she was younger.

But Sauer became reclusive in recent years, neighbor Susan Csida said. Shed lost her husband and son. She didnt have other family.

Her husband, Ralph Sauer Jr., died in 1986, according to county records.

They owned a lot of properties, Alban said.

Sauer and her son, Ralph Sauer III, continued to work in real estate and development.

The sons 1999 obituary said that they developed the Market Square Shopping Plaza in Fort Myers plus a Target, Barnes & Noble and Longhorn Steakhouse, all in Lee County.

The obituary does not state his age, but Csida said that he was young and that Sauer absolutely worshipped him.

A University of Tampa spokesman said that Sauer III went to the school for a short time and that, in his honor, Sauer did leave a bequest to UT in her estate, which is being worked out with estate attorneys.

She also left a donation to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, but Silk said that they do not yet know the amount.

Sauer celebrated her birthday on Nov. 23 with an intimate party of nine guests: Alban and her nurse, plus Cleopatra, Goldfinger, Leo, Midnight, Napoleon, Snowball and Squeaky  the cats.

Three days later, she died.

Csida said the obituary was just a sentence, mentioning only Sauers date of birth and death.

But friends and neighbors said there was plenty more that could have been added  proud mother, businesswoman, fashionista.

Probably the main thing, Alban said, is as a cat lover.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) tried to hit President Joe Biden with his best shot on Thursday, but got his critics all fired up instead.

Cruz attempted to explain why Biden is so invincible in the Senate, saying its because of loyalty from Democratic lawmakers.

But his explanation somehow involved devil costumes, the full moon, child murder and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Pat Benatar:

Ted Cruz: I dont think Senate Democrats, if you had video of Joe Biden murdering children dressed as the devil under a full moon while singing Pat Benatar, they still wouldnt vote to convict. pic.twitter.com/0a83AxV5RD  Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) June 15, 2023

Cruz may have been referring to Benatars 1980 track Hell Is For Children, which caused the songs title to trend on Twitter.

But the lyrics arent about the devil claiming children, as Cruz seemed to think. Its a song against child abuse.

Twitter turned into a battlefield for Cruz:

Ted Cruz has accepted over $180,000.00 from the NRA...so he actively advocates for the murder of children.



He doesn't bother to dress as the devil, he doesn't wait for a full moon and he has probably never actually listened to Pat Benatar or her music.



He just takes NRA money. pic.twitter.com/bZHc23spn4  Marc Michales (@MarcMichales) June 15, 2023

What did Pat Benatar do to deserve this calumny https://t.co/aRfiULjkxv  Rebecca Fachner (@rebecca_fachner) June 15, 2023

The fact that Pat Benatar was the most satanic musician he could come up with is so funny. https://t.co/I9DjTD6rPb  Dan King (@Kinger_DC) June 15, 2023

Uhh Pat Benatar? I dont think Hell Is for Children was meant to be taken literally. Its a song condemning child abuse. https://t.co/QY36Rtwoiw  Laura  (@hildymac) June 15, 2023

Heres hoping @RepColinAllred channels some Pat Benatar



And hits Ted Cruz with his best shot



Sending him scurrying all the way back to Cancun-permanently https://t.co/E2xs0G3lVO  Adam Cohen Lawyers for Good Government #DemCast (@axidentaliberal) June 15, 2023

what the heck did Pat Benatar do to deserve getting dragged into this?! https://t.co/3gr91815hS  Sarah Rumpf (@rumpfshaker) June 15, 2023

I like Ted Cruz more than most of my other colleagues like Ted Cruz. And I hate Ted Cruz.

 Al Franken  Ken Aguado  (@kaguado) June 16, 2023

hey @tedcruz keep Pat Benatar's name out of your fucking mouth. https://t.co/m31nSKRehs  Michelle says Be cool, be kind (@RageMichelle) June 15, 2023

If he's talking about "Hell is for Children," it's the completely the opposite of what his lying Republican ass said.https://t.co/HzKx279b0H  sylvaner (@Sylvaners) June 15, 2023

Rafael Edward Cruz

Keep Pat Benatar's name

OUT

OF

YOUR

FOUL

MOUTH!

Your ever so SNIDE remark is a reference to

"Hell is for Children"

A song that happened to bring more awareness to child abuse and SA than any other.

AWARNESS that you utterly lack.#DemVoice1#ProudBluehttps://t.co/KdlhOdtjWf  Thought First (Shane) (@FirstShane) June 15, 2023

80s queen PAT BENATAR was the most "demonic" music he could think of  https://t.co/XqyoVvFpqm  Meerkats R Singing the Songs of Angry Mammals (@MeerkatsRMammal) June 15, 2023
Teen plunges up to 30 feet while exploring rocky terrain. Parents call for help

A teenager slipped from a rock and tumbled up to 30 feet while on a family outing in Tennessee, officials said.

The group was out exploring nature trails and rocky terrain near Signal Mountain when the 13-year-old girl fell. The teens parents called 911 to seek help, the Hamilton County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security wrote in a Facebook post.

First responders from several agencies rushed in after receiving the call at about 6:30 p.m. June 12. They reported to an area in Hixson, near Falling Water Falls and roughly 15 miles northeast of downtown Chattanooga.

This evening, a family was exploring the nature trails and rocky terrain at the foot Signal Mountain. At 6:40 pm, a 911 call was made reporting their 13 year old daughter had slipped off a rock and fallen 25-30 feet. Details: https://t.co/zn8vZ1nuP7 pic.twitter.com/HaCdTcnLnb  HamCoTNES (@HamCoTNES) June 13, 2023

First responders hiked into the rocky woods to the patient where they assessed her injuries and secured the patient in a Stokes basket, a stretcher used to carry patients, officials wrote.

A photo and video posted online show rescuers gathered at the scene. Crews can be seen hoisting a stretcher-like device in a wooded area.

The teen, believed to have fallen 25 to 30 feet, was carried to an ambulance and taken to a hospital. The girl had a serious head injury but should be OK, according to WRCB.

How to be prepared while hiking

If youre planning to hike, the National Park Service says there are 10 essentials you should take:

Navigation: Pack a map, compass and a GPS system. Make sure you study your route beforehand and understand how to use the tools.

Sun protection: Sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat can help protect your skin and eyes from UV rays.

Insulation: A jacket, hat, gloves, raincoat and thermal underwear can help you be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions.

Illumination: A flashlight, lantern and headlamp can create light if you get stuck in the dark  and dont forget to pack extra batteries.

First-aid supplies: Its a good idea to have a first-aid kit on hand while hiking. Check the expiration date on items before you pack them.

Fire: Matches and a lighter can help start fire to act as an emergency signal in times of need.

Repair kit and tools: Duct tape, a knife, screwdriver and scissors can be helpful if items break during your hike or you need assistance.

Nutrition: You should pack an extra days worth of food in case something goes wrong. Park officials recommend having salty and easy to digest snacks.

Hydration: You should drink water often and before you feel thirsty if youre hiking in hot weather. Keeping your body hydrated is of utmost importance, park officials said.

Emergency shelter: Packing a tent, space blanket, tarp and bivy can help you be prepared if severe weather breaks out or your plan takes a turn.

Dog chasing opossum gets trapped in Tennessee storm drain. See the intense rescue

Tiny bear with broken leg was starving before rescue in Smoky Mountains, photos show
Tennessee Democrats expelled over protests win primaries for their old seats

The two Democratic state representatives in Tennessee who were expelled by Republicans over gun violence protests won their primary races for their old seats Thursday night.

Justin Jones won in Nashville, and Justin J. Pearson won in Memphis.

Pearson had faced a Democratic challenger, David Page, while Jones ran unopposed. Unofficial results showed that Pearson and Jones won overwhelmingly. Local government officials reinstated both to their seats days after they were expelled in April, but they still had to run to be re-elected to their old seats.

Their victories send a message to Republicans in the state House that the two men continue to enjoy robust support in their districts and could provide a punch of momentum for advocates of gun legislation ahead of a special session scheduled this summer that Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, called specifically to address gun measures.

Jones and Pearson's primary wins Thursday night mark the latest development in an ongoing and chaotic saga within the state government.

After a mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville in March  in which six people, including three 9-year-olds were killed  Jones, Pearson and another House legislator led supporters in a protest on the chamber floor calling for stricter gun safety measures.

Republican House legislators then took the exceptionally rare step of voting to expel Jones and Pearson, who are Black, over their roles in the protests. But the vote to expel the third Democrat  Rep. Gloria Johnson, who is white  fell short, leading to accusations of racism.

Former Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, Rep. Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville, and former Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, raises their hands outside the House chamber after Jones and Pearson were expelled from the legislature Thursday, April 6, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. (George Walker IV / AP)

The situation drew national attention to racial dynamics in the Tennessee Legislature, as Democrats in Washington rallied around them.

Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Nashville shortly after the expulsions to meet with the Tennessee Three, praising them for channeling their constituents voices in speaking out against gun violence. President Joe Biden also called them and invited them to visit the White House. He had called their expulsions shocking, undemocratic, and without precedent in a statement.

Local government officials, however, quickly reinstated both men to their seats, leaving Republicans with nothing to show aside from the bad publicity surrounding their views on guns and their heavy-handed approach toward their Black colleagues.

The Nashville Metropolitan Council voted to return Jones to the Legislature, and members of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved reinstating Pearson at a special meeting in Memphis.

Under state law, however, both were required to run for their old seats in primary and general elections.

The special general elections for both seats are scheduled for Aug. 3.

Pearson faces an independent challenger, Jeff Johnston, while Jones will run against Laura Nelson, a Republican. Both districts are heavily Democratic, and Pearson and Jones are widely expected to prevail.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
FILE This image provided by the Memphis Police Department shows Officer Preston Hemphill. A state commission that enforces standards for police voted Friday, June 16, 2023, to temporarily suspend former Memphis Police officer Preston Hemphill,from serving in law enforcement in Tennessee while a federal investigation proceeds into the death of Tyre Nichols. (Memphis Police Department via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  A state commission that enforces standards for police voted Friday to temporarily suspend a former officer from serving in law enforcement in Tennessee while a federal investigation proceeds into the death of Tyre Nichols.

The vote in Preston Hemphill's case in front of the Tennessee Police Officer Standards and Training Commission delays the final decision over whether the fired Memphis officer will face a permanent ban on working in law enforcement in the state.

The district attorney decided not to charge Hemphill with a crime for his interactions with Nichols in January. Hemphill hit Nichols with a stun gun at an initial traffic stop. But he did not run after the fleeing man to a second scene where other officers brutally beat Nichols.

During a hearing Thursday, officials with the state board and Memphis police said they don't know whether Hemphill is a target of the federal investigation.

Five other former officers face charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault and other offenses in Nichols death. They have pleaded not guilty and their cases are being handled in Shelby County Criminal Court.

Hemphill attended a brief hearing Thursday in his decertification case in front of the commission, but spoke only to introduce himself.

Nichols was pulled out of his car during a Jan. 7 traffic stop and tried to run away from officers before he was punched, kicked and hit with a baton just feet from his Memphis home, according to police video released by the city. The officers said Nichols was stopped for reckless driving, but no proof of that accusation has emerged in video or police documents.

Nichols, 29, died three days later in a hospital. An autopsy report showed he died from blows to the head.

Nichols was Black. All five officers charged also are Black. They have been fired by the Memphis Police Department. Hemphill is white.

The department asked the state commission to bar six other officers from working as police in the state  including the five officers facing charges. The commission already has decertified Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin and Justin Smith and approved the decision by Desmond Mills to surrender his certification. Haley, Martin and Smith have appealed, said Kevin Walters, a spokesperson for the commission. Tadarrius Bean's decertification was put on a suspended status while the criminal cases play out.

One other former Memphis officer is awaiting action from the commission over whether he should be barred from from working in Tennessee law enforcement  Dewayne Smith, the supervising lieutenant who arrived on scene after the beating, who retired instead of being fired. Smith has not been charged with a crime.

A seventh police employee who was fired has not been publicly named.

Attorneys for Nichols family have said that they are supportive of the decision not to pursue charges because of Hemphills cooperation. Shelby County District Attorney Steven Mulroy has said Hemphill has cooperated fully with the investigation into Nichols death.

Hemphill was not present for the initial traffic stop nor when other officers forcibly removed Nichols, 29, from his vehicle and put him on the ground, Mulroy has said.

Hemphills body camera showed that from the very beginning of the traffic stop he and two other officers approached Nichols with force that was disproportionate for the alleged offense of reckless driving, according to a statement from the disciplinary hearing that took place before he was fired.

Along with breaking rules regarding the use of a stun gun, Hemphill was also fired for violations of personal conduct and truthfulness, police have said. The truthfulness violation was regarding conflicting statements he made about whether or not Nichols had tried to grab another officer's gun, police documents show.
Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill Wednesday that bans diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices at public colleges and universities across the state, his spokesperson confirmed to CNN.

The state legislature passed the bill last month largely along party lines with supporters arguing that DEI efforts promote racial profiling and slashing funds for such programs will save taxpayers millions of dollars. The bills critics, however, argued that it promotes discrimination and would impact colleges from attracting diverse students.

With the signing, Texas joins more than a dozen, largely GOP-led state legislatures that have introduced or passed bills reining in DEI programs in colleges and universities.

SB 17 prohibits higher education institutions from establishing or maintaining a DEI office and bans mandatory diversity training for students and employees. The legislation adds that institutions cant endorse an ideology that promotes the differential treatment of an individual or group of individuals based on race, color, or ethnicity or require students and employees to disclose their race, color, ethnicity, or national origin unless necessary for demographic information.

However, the bill makes it clear that it does not restrict academic instruction related to race and diversity and makes an exception for equity measures required by a court order or federal law.

The law will take effect January 1.

The office of bill sponsor state Sen. Brandon Creighton described the law as the most significant ban on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in higher education in the nation.

With this bold, forward-thinking legislation to eliminate DEI programs, Texas is leading the nation, and ensuring our campuses return to focusing on the strength of diversity and promoting a merit-based approach where individuals are judged on their qualifications, skills, and contributions, Creighton added Wednesday in a statement celebrating Abbotts signature.

Meanwhile, opponents of the bill slammed the move, arguing that it perpetuates the cycle of ignorance and discrimination.

SB 17, which bans DEI, sends a distressing message that Texas, a state which has the largest population of African Americans, is unwilling to confront systemic inequalities and provide an inclusive learning environment for all students, said state Rep. Ron Reynolds, the chairman of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, in a statement.

Scrutiny of DEI initiatives in colleges and universities has increased in recent months, largely from conservative lawmakers.

Last month, Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill to defund DEI programs at public colleges, and in April, North Dakota GOP Gov. Doug Burgum signed into law a ban on mandatory training for students and employees on divisive concepts, including race.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A jury convicted three men Wednesday on charges related to a brutal attack on a fellow detainee in the Essex County Correctional Facility, which served as a flashpoint for calls to reform the allegedly troubled jail and accusations that corrections officers failed to stop the near-fatal beating.

Byad Lockett and Darryl Watson were found guilty of attempted murder, second-degree aggravated assault, and weapons offenses in an attack on fellow inmate Jayshawn Boyd, 22, of Elizabeth, who was in the jail awaiting trial on a simple assault charge, according to the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and prior reports.

A third detainee, Isaad Jackson, was convicted on weapons charges, but jurors could not agree on pending attempted murder and assault charges in his ruling.

But Jackson, Lockett and Watson were just three of seven men seen kicking, punching and stomping on Boyd for two-minutes, all of which was captured on the facility's surveillance cameras, and reached its climax when Boyd's assailants dropped a microwave on his head, NorthJersey.com reported one month after the attack.

While Boyd survived the attack, he spent months in a coma and sustained brain damage, according to both prosecutors and an attorney for his family, Brooke Barnett, who filed a lawsuit against the county; its corrections commissioner; County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, his chief of staff; the jail's director; its warden; mental health director; and a slew of corrections officers and health workers employed at the facility.

Story continues after gallery

"I've never seen anything that horrific. The Essex County jail is failing the people they pledged to protect, and failing to protect people's family members," Barnett previously said after viewing video of the September 2021 attempt on Boyd's life.

In an amended complaint filed in April 2022, Barnett claims her client, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, was arrested on two separate occasions in 2020, as a result of violent altercations with his family during psychotic episodes.

However, she was not available for comment on the convictions and her client's condition as of Friday. But the complaint alleges that Boyd was partially paralyzed, having permanently lost the use of his lower extremities. Additionally, it alleges that Boyd suffered traumatic brain injuries and has been deemed incapable of managing his own affairs, saying "the likelihood that he will ever return to ordinary functioning is virtually non-existent."

In the release announcing the convictions, Deputy Chief Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab said Boyd is permanently impaired as a result of the attack.

North Jersey news Four injured in Clifton restaurant shooting as investigation continues

"This attack was utterly senseless," Edwab said in a statement. "The victim was unconscious after sustaining serious head shots during the seven-on-one assault."

After Boyd's second arrest, a Union County judge ordered he be detained on a slew of charges  including aggravated assault  but ordered a psychological evaluation to determine whether he was fit to stand trial.

Psychiatrists at a state mental health facility in Trenton cleared him for trial, at which point Boyd was once again released pending his trial, until he was remanded to the Essex County jail in September 2021 for failing to appear at his sentencing after taking a plea deal for time served, a copy of the lawsuit states.

Exactly two weeks later, he would be pulled from the floor of the jail's "C-Pod" unit, which Barnett claims housed inmates known to be violent. His limp body was bloodied and beaten with a mop, a drink dispenser, a water jug and the microwave, long after he'd lost consciousness, as seen on the surveillance footage.

In their announcement of the convictions released Wednesday, Essex County prosecutors state the only corrections officer assigned to the C-Pod saw the attack, and left the unit for his safety and called for backup.

Prosecutors said they will seek sentences that run consecutively to the terms that Watson, Lockett, and Jackson are already serving or facing. Watson was previously convicted of murder and is facing sentencing, while Jackson is facing a separate homicide charge. Lockett is currently serving a 12-year sentence after being convicted on conspiracy to commit murder.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Essex County NJ jail inmates convicted in brutal attack
Three fires burned 7,000 acres in Benton County. What is happening now?

The three wildfires that burned nearly 7,000 acres in Benton County are nearly contained after days of work by teams of firefighters.

The Southeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team started to wrap up its work on the Benton County Complex on Friday. Teams from across the state were expected to start returning home on Friday.

This came after days of finding smoldering spots and fighting small flare ups.

The three fires started Tuesday afternoon and were pushed through dry grass and sagebrush by about 20 mph winds, while the area was under a Red Flag warning.

After their initial spread, they have largely been under control. It hasnt all been quiet. High winds on Wednesday threatened to push the fire into new areas, and firefighters have been putting out occasional flare ups.

A total of 43 engines, five water tenders and 226 firefighters have been working on the fires.

The number of acres burned has been adjusted down slightly after the initial estimates.

The Hansen Road Fire, south of Benton City, has burned 6,290 acres, including one outbuilding. Fire officials said it is 70% contained. Firefighters were spending Friday patrolling around structures on the perimeter and making sure there isnt any threat.

The Hover Fire burned 530 acres south of Finley, and has seen damage to the railroad ties through the area. Firefighters put out a small fire started by smoldering ties on Thursday. It has been 90% contained.

The Ruppert Road Fire has been entirely contained after blackening 157 acres. The fire has been turned back over to local firefighters.

Fire officials have warned that the risk for significant wildfires is predicted to be above normal because of early heat drying out the vegetation.

Kennewick Fire Chief Chad Michael previously told the Herald that they were seeing conditions that are normal for July as early as May this year.
Ticketmaster, SeatGeek, Live Nation and other companies have agreed to disclose ticket prices upfront, putting an end to the extra fees that consumers cant see until the end of the billing process.

President Joe Biden held a meeting on Thursday to announce the good news. Biden said that the solution to what he calls junk fees is all-in pricing. Thats where companies fully disclose their fees upfront when you start shopping, so youre not surprised at the end when you check out, Biden explained.

Junk fees are not a matter for the wealthy very much, but theyre a matter for working folks, like the homes I grew up in, he added. And they can add hundreds of dollars a month and make it harder for families to pay their bills. I think its just wrong.

The move comes on the heels of Ticketmaster receiving backlash from senators in January after many fans were unable to purchase tickets to Taylor Swift's tour due to technical issues. Plus, the company has been criticized for years for its unreasonable high service charges and fees.

Starting this September, Ticketmaster will commit to displaying the full price of tickets. Live Nation  which owns Ticketmaster  said it would roll out the same feature at the over 200 venues it controls. SeatGeek, which allows customers to resell tickets, is also set to launch a tool that reveals all-in costs. The companies were already forced to have upfront pricing in New York, which was the first state to ban hidden costs for live events in 2022.

Biden also acknowledged platforms that have always been forthright in their pricing process, including TickPick and Dice.

Biden has repeatedly spoken of his plan to crack down on junk fees across multiple industries. Last year, his administration said, in addition to ticketing platforms, it was also taking a closer look at cable companies, hotels and airlines.

For instance, in May, Biden proposed a rule that requires airlines to provide funds or additional compensation like travel vouchers if a flight is canceled. In addition, the Department of Transportation proposed new regulations last year that would require airlines and online booking services to show accurate prices that include baggage and other fees.

Separately, Airbnb has given customers the option of seeing all-in prices since last year. The online marketplace launched a new toggle that shows customers the total price of their stay, including service and cleaning fees.
TikToker shares outrageously helpful trick for storing food without using Tupperware: Im gonna start using [it] more

A TikToker is showing the world how to properly freeze food in a glass container  a convenient method for those who want to avoid plastic when storing their leftovers.

The scoop

The TikTok video from user @sustainablehaus briefly demonstrates how to store different foods by way of freezing.

First, take out a clean jar. For soups, sauces, and hummus, freeze it in a straight jar that doesnt have any curvature in the neck. Fill it two inches below the top, always keeping everything clean. Be sure to add the lid after freezing the food.

For foods that are individual pieces, such as berries, place the items inside a glass container without a lid, place it in the freezer until frozen, then remove the frozen items and place them into a clean and dry glass jar before adding the lid.

Sustinablehaus concludes by saying, Be sure to label everything. Follow for more tips and advice.

How its helping

Every year, nearly 420 million tons of plastic are produced. This process requires the extraction of oil from our Earth and releases toxic pollutants into the air we breathe.

But theres another issue with plastic production, as much of it ends up in our natural environment and our oceans.

Plastic is not organic and may not break down for decades or more. Marine wildlife, such as fish, dolphins, sea turtles, and birds, often get entangled or choke on plastic bags that end up in the ocean.

But how can sea animals be affected by containers like Tupperware that are too big for them to choke on?

Plastic eventually breaks down into smaller, nearly invisible pieces called microplastics, which fish end up eating. Sharks, dolphins, and seagulls end up ingesting the same microplastics when they eat those fish.

Just last year, microplastics were found in human blood for the first time, with the obvious potential for adverse health effects as scientists worry these elements can damage human cells, although more studies are needed.

Whats everyone saying?

There was no shortage of questions and comments.

One user wrote, Freeze first, then add the lid? to which the originally poster answered, Yes, it ensures any expansion wont cause breakage.

As one happy commenter expressed: So helpful! Im gonna start using more glass and stop using plastic containers that leech.

Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more, waste less, and help yourself while helping the planet.
A TikToker from South Carolina says she flies to work in New Jersey instead of renting, and saves thousands of dollars doing that

A passenger waits near a Delta Air lines terminal in the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

A South Carolina woman has a life hack for saving on rent: She flies to her workplace in New Jersey.

Sophia Celentano is an intern at Ogilvy Health, where she goes into the office once a week.

Celentano said on Linkedin that her flights are cheaper than "paying $3400+ a month for rent."

A TikToker from South Carolina went viral after she revealed that she saves on rent by catching flights to her workplace in New Jersey.

Sophia Celentano, a media studies major at the University of Virginia, is interning with Ogilvy Health this summer, and commuting to the office by plane. Celentano helps manage the company's social media accounts, per her LinkedIn profile.

"Because I only have to be in the office one day a week, obviously it is cheaper for me to stay at home in Charleston for this summer with my parents, and just pay for plane tickets one day a week than to live, like, in New York full time," said Celentano in a TikTok video posted on June 6.

Celentano said in her TikTok video that on the days she has to commute, she wakes up at 3 a.m. to fly in to Newark Airport. She then has an hour to get ready to leave at 4 a.m. for her flight.

According to Celentano, she usually goes to work only on Wednesdays, and manages to touch down at Newark at around 8 a.m., ahead of her 9 a.m. call time at the office.

Celentano elaborated on her commute in a Thursday LinkedIn post, breaking down the comparative cost of flying versus renting in New Jersey. Instead of forking out "$3400+ a month for rent (the new average for leases in Manhattan)", she now only spends $100 a week on flights for the one day she works on-site.

That means Celentano spends around $400 a month for flight expenses  amounting to savings of thousands of dollars, per her summary of her travel expenses.

Celentano's video has, at press time, been viewed more than 582,000 times. And some social media users have commended Celentano for thinking of this life hack.

"$400 vs $3400? There's a no-brainer there," said a user named Samah K. on LinkedIn.

According to a report by the listing portal Rent, Jersey City was one of the most expensive cities to rent an apartment from in the US last year, coming in second after New York.

Celentano and a representative for Ogilvy Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Tom Holland says he regrets the way he handled Spider-Man takeover from Andrew Garfield

Tom Holland has opened up about taking over the Spider-Man franchise in 2015 from Andrew Garfield.

Garfield, 39, was released from the role after his second turn as high schooler-turned-superhero Peter Parker in 2014s The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Garfields run, which followed Tobey Maguires spell in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy (2002-2007), was cut short following poor critical reviews and a lacklustre box office return.

In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter to promote his new Apple TV+ show, The Crowded Room, Holland, 27, expressed his regret over failing to call Garfield after being named as his successor.

Thats because of my naivete as a kid, he said. I was 19 when I got cast. I was so caught up in getting the role that I never took any time to think about what it must have been like for him.

If Id made my second movie and it didnt necessarily deliver in the way it should have done and they recast me, I would really struggle to bounce back. Andrew bounced back in the most unbelievable way. I just wish Id called him and just said, You know I cant turn down this opportunity.

Garfield has gone on to earn two Oscar nominations since his departure from the Spider-Man franchise  first for his role as Desmond Doss in Mel Gibsons 2016 war film Hacksaw Ridge and secondly for his part as Jonathan Larson in Lin-Manuel Mirandas biographical musical Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021).

Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire recreate the cartoon Spider-Man meme (Instagram / Marvel / Spiderman)

Holland had the opportunity to talk things out with Garfield when he and Maguire, 47, reprised their roles in Hollands third Spider-Man movie, No Way Home (2021).

It was wonderful, Holland told THR. Myself, Andrew, Tobey  we have this amazing bond as three people who have been through something that is so unique that we really are like brothers. We have a great group chat and we catch up every now and then. Its called the Spider-Boys.

In an Actors-on-Actors interview with Zendaya (who plays MJ in Hollands Spider-Man trilogy and is also dating the star in real life) last year, Garfield said his Spider-Man experience left him heartbroken.

When I did my first Spider-Man film, I was your age  25, 26. And I wasnt ready, man. I was like, I need to back off, because I dont know who I am yet. And my prefrontal cortex is still forming, he told her.

Garfield has previously suggested that he was too young when he was cast as Spider-Man, saying in 2016: Theres something about being that young in that kind of machinery that I think is really dangerous. I was still young enough to struggle with the value system, I suppose, of corporate America... I found that really, really tricky.

Elaborating, he continued: I signed up to serve the story and to serve this incredible character that Ive been dressing as since I was three, and then it gets compromised and it breaks your heart. I got heartbroken a little bit.
Transgender activist Rose Montoya apologized in a video posted to Twitter on Friday for filming herself topless at a White House event last weekend celebrating Pride month.

The initial video drew fierce public backlash, mostly from conservatives. The White House was asked about the video and described Montoyas behavior as simply unacceptable, inappropriate and disrespectful.

Today, I need to apologize. Earlier this month, I was invited by the White House to attend a pride celebration with both President Biden and Dr. Biden. I, alongside other powerful voices in the queer and trans communities, were invited to be represented, seen and heard in unique and a very special way, she said in her apology video.

In the initial video last week, Montoya was seen next to President Biden at one point, saying, Trans rights are human rights, into the camera. At another point, Montoya was seen covering her breasts with her hands, with her dress pulled down.

In her apology, she addressed the latter moment from the initial video, without explicitly describing the behavior.

In a quick moment of fleeting and overwhelming trans joy, I decided to do something unbecoming of a guest of the president at the White House lawn celebration, Montoya said Friday. More so than ever before, I have learned how powerful and just how impactful, my actions are and how impactful it is when we share our stories and experiences and how we do so with the world. I want to take this moment to apologize for the impact of my actions.

In the video Friday, Montoya made clear she and her family and friends have experienced immense harassment since the issue surfaced. She lamented the rise in violence against the queer community and the prevalence of state laws that have limited access to resources for trans people.

She apologized to the president and the nation, as well as to the 2SLGBTQPIA+ community and her family and friends, saying, It was also never my intention to create a situation that would lead to harassment and harm of myself and others, nor for  my little moment of trans joy to be weaponized by vile people of the opposition.

Moving forward, I am committing to using this moment as a catalyst for creating positive change, both within myself and within the broader community and the world at large. It is my sincere intention to actively promote empathy, equity, inclusion and understanding through my words and my actions and my advocacy efforts. I also feel energized to educate and articulate to others the importance and power of trans joy in a more effective way, she said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Robert Bowers was convicted Friday for shooting and killing 11 worshippers in a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018 and could now be sentenced to death.

Bowers own lawyers said during court proceedings that he planned and carried out the attack at the Tree of Life synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018.

The jury is now tasked with deciding whether he should be sentenced to life in prison without parole or to death.

Court will reconvene on June 26 for the next phase of the trial. WPXI legal Analyst Phil Dilucente said the penalty phase is much more critical for the defense than the last 12 days and that it will likely be a longer period of time because there are so many experts expected to testify.

PITTSBURGH SYNAGOGUE SHOOTING TRIAL: FULL COVERAGE 

Bowers, who lived in Baldwin and worked as a truck driver, was found guilty of all 63 criminal counts, including hate crimes resulting in death. The defense had offered a guilty plea in return for a life sentence, but prosecutors refused.

Reactions to the verdict began pouring in as soon as they were read aloud in court. They can be found below and will be updated as they continue to come in:

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life Congregation:

Myers, who survived the attack, praised God and thanked law enforcement and the U.S. attorneys who led the prosecution: I am grateful to God for getting us to this day. And I am thankful for the law enforcement who ran into danger to rescue me, and the U.S. Attorney who stood up in court to defend my right to pray. Today Im focused on being with my congregation and praying, singing and clapping in praise of God as we do each Shabbat. In the face of the horror of our community has experienced, I can think of no better response than practicing my Jewish faith and leading worship.

Carole Zawatsky, CEO of Tree of Life:

Zawatsky offered words of support for survivors and the families of the victims: While the verdict will not bring back your loved ones who were so violently killed, my hope is that today provides some level of comfort and helps to ease the pain, even if ever so slightly. May their memories always be for a blessing. Let us, this day, reaffirm our resolve to bring light into our world and keep the memory of each of the victims in our hearts as we do the work of Tikkun HaOlam, repairing our broken world.

Alan Hausman, president of the Tree of Life Congregation:

Echoing the late Fred Rogers, Hausman said: I am thankful for everyone who got us to this day. Every day for the past four and a half years, Ive tried to look for the helpers: the public safety department and law enforcement officers, the attorneys, our fellow Pittsburgers who have continued to offer their care and support day in and day out. The way our community and people of all faiths came together after October 27, 2018, has helped me and continues to inspire me and give me strength as we move forward.

Michael Bernstein, chair of the Tree of Life Interim Governance Committee:

Bernstein characterized today as the start of a new, hopeful chapter for the community: Our community has been waiting a long time for this day. We are grateful to the Justice Department and the jury for their work to get us to a verdict. Today is a reminder that we live in a nation where vulnerable communities can be confident that those who engage in hate-fueled violence will be held accountable. It also marks the start of a new chapter for our community as we continue to heal and move forward as work to build a world in which hate no longer impacts any community. As the legal process continues, our energies will lie in building a better future for all as a part of the collaborative movement across communities and generations to uproot antisemitism and identity-based hate in all its forms.

Jonathan Greenblatt, Anti-Defamation League CEO:

We welcome the jurys verdict today and believe that justice has been served, said Greenblatt. This attack was the deadliest act of antisemitic violence in American history  but the hate and conspiratorial thinking that fueled this violence has not gone away. We thank the jurors for their service, and we hope this brings closure to those who lost loved ones five years ago. We will continue to support the community during the sentencing phase of the trial, which is expected to begin in the near future. ADL vows to continue our work to stop hate and protect Jewish communities.

Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh:

The Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh continues to stand with the families, witnesses, and first responder community most directly impacted by the deadly synagogue shooting over 4  years ago  many of whom provided direct testimony over the past several weeks. We thank the staff from the U.S. Attorneys Office for their rigorous prosecution and the members of the jury who are fulfilling their civic duty. We acknowledge that todays verdict is just the first phase of this lengthy trial, as we now begin the penalty phase that will continue through the summer. We also recognize that the impact of this shooting extends far beyond those most directly impacted within American society and the Jewish people. We especially thank the citizenry of the greater Pittsburgh region for standing with the Jewish community since October 27, 2018, and supporting our communal efforts towards healing and resiliency. We are mindful that while the impact of this event has far reaching implications on a national and global stage, it will forever remain a deeply personal and lasting experience in our neighborhood. May the memories of the 11 individuals taken from us that day forever be for a blessing.

Pennsylvania State Sen. Jay Costa:

Todays guilty verdict marks the beginning of delivering justice for this terrible tragedy, but not the end. Our Jewish friends and neighbors will spend decades to come healing from this attack and mourning the loss of the community members whose lives were lost. While we now have a guilty verdict, we must also continue fighting to end the hatred and secure safe, welcoming spaces for all of us, no matter how we pray or worship.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro:

Todays verdict was a step toward justice in Pittsburgh, but the horror and pain of October 27, 2018, will never go away. My heart remains with the families of the 11 victims who were massacred as they worshipped at Tree of Life that day. May their memories be a blessing.

Today's verdict was a step toward justice in Pittsburgh, but the horror and pain of October 27, 2018 will never go away.



My heart remains with the families of the 11 victims who were massacred as they worshipped at Tree of Life that day. May their memories be a blessing.  Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) June 16, 2023

Amb. Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress:

The Pittsburgh jurys conviction of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooter on all 63 charges against him, including 11 counts of hate crimes resulting in death, is a vindication of the American system of justice. It is also an unmistakable reminder of Jew hatred and racial bigotry left unchecked. Society cannot remain complacent and only care about the lives of Jews after an atrocity has been committed. We call on all federal, state, and municipal law enforcement agencies to take all necessary measures to protect synagogues and other Jewish institutions across the United States from any similar tragedy. In the memory of those lives lost, may a dark day never be repeated.

Pittsburgh Public Safety Director, Lee Schmidt:

October 27, 2018 will forever be remembered as one of the darkest days in the City of Pittsburgh.

Eleven lives were taken in a horrific act of hate in a place that should have been a sanctuary of peace for members of the three congregations worshipping inside the Tree of Life synagogue. Today, the jury of seven women and five men found the defendant, Robert Bowers, guilty on all 63 federal charges against him. City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety personnel who responded to the tragedy have been indelibly marked by what they experienced that day. The trial has inevitably ripped open wounds that may never truly heal. It is the Department of Public Safetys fervent hope that the verdict brings the victims families, and our personnel involved, a measure of justice for those whose lives were lost.

State Rep. Dan Frankel:

Let us remember that the survivors reopened these wounds for us, for humanity. Because there has to be a record. The work to hold back hateful ideologies and violence stands on history. I thank our brave survivors for sharing their suffering so that we can protect against more suffering. And I promise to hold up my end of that deal, fighting those flames of hatred in Harrisburg and at home in Pittsburgh.

10.27 Healing Partnership:

Todays verdict acknowledges the horror of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting and is one step in a long journey we need to take in this country and this world to stand up against antisemitism. While many acts of antisemitism and white supremacy have never gotten their day in court, todays verdict was a validation by our country, community, and legal system of the utmost importance of protecting individuals from being attacked on the basis of their identity in their house of worship. During the phase of the trial, we have seen the beautiful and simple ways many people choose to hold the sabbath. While the sabbath was broken by violence on Oct. 27th, that sacredness continues on in these people and this community. Throughout this trial, we have had to reckon with pervasive antisemitism, both online and in the real world. As we move into the next stages of this trial, we must continue to stand by one another and learn, educate, and act against antisemitism and white supremacy. Solidarity means both to take care and take comfort from one another and to continue to act against oppression and violence in all its forms. Our neighbors were worshipping alongside their fellow congregants on Oct. 27th, 2018 as they would every week. The police officers showed up for work on that Saturday morning as they would any other day. These people bravely told their stories over the course of this trial, deeply touching all of us with their testimony and we have been in awe of their humanity and courage. As always, the 10.27 Healing Partnership is here for this community. No verdict can remove the harm that has been done of bring back the lives that have been taken. Continued pain, grief, and trauma deserves continued care, and we stand ready to provide that for all, both for those directly impacted and the larger community. Connecting with others and pushing back against isolation is key for all of us during this experience and we hope to connect with you. Please do not hesitate to reach out. Justice, justice, shall you pursue.

Sen. Bob Casey:

Todays verdict holds accountable the person responsible for the deadliest act of violence against the Jewish community in American history. This resounding convictionguilty on all 63 counts, including hate crimesis a clear rebuke of the hate and antisemitism that motivated the defendant to target worshippers observing Shabbat morning services across three congregations: Tree of Life, Dor Hadash, and New Light.

In order to achieve a full measure of justice for the 11 worshippers who lost their lives and six more people injured, we must continue working to root out the antisemitism that plagues our Nation and our world to this day. Antisemitic incidents in the United States reached a new high in 2022, four years after this attack. We owe it to those who lost their lives, the members of these congregations, and the Jewish community in Pittsburgh and beyond to ensure this never happens again.

I am praying for the families and loved ones of Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, David Rosenthal, Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax, and Irving Younger. May their memories be for a blessing.

Bishop David Zubik of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh:

In the 7th chapter of the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, Moses delivers the powerful message: The Lord has set His heart on you because the Lord loved you. Those words were spoken to the beloved Jewish people. At this delicate time for the Pittsburgh Jewish Community and beyond, we all need to embrace not only Gods words but especially at this time set our hearts on our Jewish sisters and brothers as God does.

Rep. Summer Lee:

Todays conviction is a step towards justice for the 11 Jewish worshippers killed by a white supremacist gunman in 2018.

May the memories of those taken from us be forever a blessing. And May the strength and resilience shown by the survivors, the victims family members, and the entire Jewish community throughout this heartbreaking trial forever be an inspiration to us all.

They inspire me to work even harder to confront the root causes of hatred, racism, and bigotry so that no community has to live in fear of such senseless violence ever again.

Sen. John Fetterman:

Pennsylvania U.S. Senator John Fetterman on Friday released the following statement after a Pittsburgh jury found the perpetrator of the Tree of Life shooting guilty on all counts:

Gisele and I are remembering the victims whose lives were taken during the horrific Tree of Life massacre in Pittsburgh over four years ago.

Today, a jury found the shooter guilty of all charges. This is a step towards justice for such a hateful, disgusting, and antisemitic attack.

We all must continue to stand in solidarity with Pennsylvanias Jewish community against the evil of antisemitism.

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey:

Five years ago, our city was shaken when 11 lives were taken in an act of antisemitic hate. Today, we remember the lives of Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Melvin Wax, Daniel Stein, Irving Younger, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Joyce Feinberg, Richard Gottfried, Cecil Rosenthal, and David Rosenthal. May their memories be a blessing.

Pittsburgh, please join me in praying for the family and friends of those we lost and those who survived this horrific tragedy. I hope that today helps our Jewish brothers and sisters, and our entire city, begin their journey towards healing.

As we continue to eliminate hate from our beloved city, remember: Pittsburgh is stronger than hate.

Five years ago, our city was shaken when 11 lives were taken in an act of antisemitic hate.



(1/4) pic.twitter.com/lcjH3jPQyx  Mayor Ed Gainey (@MayorEdGainey) June 16, 2023

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

TRENDING NOW:

Teens responsible for fire that caused massive damage at Canon-McMillan stadium, investigators say Antonio Browns arena football team bounced from league Former Butler school board member charged with sexual assault accused of violating bond VIDEO: Jury begins deliberations in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
The Colorado River cuts through Lees Ferry on the border of the Navajo Nation en route to the Grand Canyon. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

As the federal government starts negotiations on long-term plans for the overtapped Colorado River, leaders of tribes are pushing for more involvement in the talks, saying they want to be at the table in high-level discussions among the seven states that rely on the river.

The 30 tribes in the Colorado River Basin have rights to use roughly one-fourth of the rivers average supply. But over the past century, leaders of tribal nations were largely excluded from regional talks about river management, and only in recent years have they begun to play a larger role.

Leaders of several tribes say they continue to be left out of key talks between state and federal officials, and they are demanding inclusion as the Biden administration begins the process of developing new rules for dealing with shortages after 2026, when the current rules are set to expire.

They've met, they've discussed, they've made decisions that we only find out afterwards, said Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis, leader of the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona. And the 30 tribes  and I've heard this from my fellow tribal leaders  they are very frustrated by that, especially as we look at a post-2026 process moving forward.

Kayakers float down the Colorado River through Fort Mojave. Fort Mojave Indian Reservation owns land along the Colorado River, which is essential to their heritage and survival. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

The Interior Department on June 15 initiated the process of developing new long-term rules for operating reservoirs and apportioning water cuts during shortages. New rules will need to be in place by the end of 2026, when the current 2007 guidelines expire.

The federal governments action sets the stage for difficult negotiations over how cities, farming regions and tribes across seven states can address chronic overuse and adapt as global warming continues to diminish the rivers flows.

The pivot to negotiating the post-2026 rules was announced three weeks after representatives of the states agreed on a proposal to cut water use over the next three years, a stopgap measure intended to temporarily prevent reservoirs from dropping to critically low levels.

During the upcoming talks, Lewis said he and other Native leaders want to see the federal government include representatives of the 30 tribes whenever they convene a meeting with all seven states. He said this approach wouldnt stop state representatives from meeting among themselves.

Lewis raised the concern at a conference in Boulder, Colo., this month, saying that as work begins on a post-2026 plan, its no longer acceptable for the U.S. to meet with seven basin states separately, and then come to basin tribes, after the fact.

He said when leaders of the tribes met with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland last year, she made a commitment that we would be at the table when these highest-level decisions were being made.

Read more: A living spirit: Native people push for changes to protect the Colorado River

The Gila River Indian Community holds a large water entitlement in Arizona and has agreed to leave a portion of its water in Lake Mead over the next three years while receiving $150 million from the federal government. The community, which uses Colorado River water to irrigate farmland on their reservation, will also receive $83 million to expand water reuse with a reclaimed water pipeline project, and is working with the federal government on a project to cover some of its canals with solar panels.

When tribes are at the table, tribes can bring solutions, can bring innovation. And it benefits the whole region, Lewis said in an interview with The Times.

The Interior Department said the process of developing new rules to replace the 2007 guidelines will involve robust collaboration between the seven states, tribes, other stakeholders and Mexico.

The department formally initiated the process by publishing a notice in the Federal Register laying out its plan to conduct a review and release a document called an environmental impact statement. The notice says the aim is to develop new guidelines and strategies that are robust and adaptive and can withstand a broad range of future conditions, including preparing for continued drought, reduced runoff and low reservoir conditions.

For the next two months, until Aug. 15, the Interior Department and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will accept comments from the public on how the existing rules should be changed to provide greater stability to water users and the public throughout the Colorado River Basin.

Deputy Interior Secretary Tommy Beaudreau said the Biden administration has held strong to its commitment to work with states, Tribes and communities throughout the West to find consensus solutions in the face of climate change and sustained drought.

The effort needs to start now to allow for a thorough, inclusive and science-based decision-making process, said Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton.

Read more: As Western states pledge to take less water from Colorado River, tribes seek a bigger role

The rivers largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, have declined to their lowest recorded levels during 23 years of drought worsened by climate change. As rising temperatures have intensified the drying of the watershed, the rivers flow has declined about 20% below the average prior to 2000.

Storms this winter left the Rocky Mountains with one of the largest snowpacks in years, and the runoff is starting to boost reservoir levels.

Speaking this month at the conference at the University of Colorado School of Law, Touton said the runoff this year is projected to be more than the flows in the last three years combined. However, she said, there are no guarantees that this is more than a one-off amidst a larger context of continuing drought and aridification.

The rivers depleted reservoirs are now at 42% capacity. Touton said addressing the water deficit and coming up with long-term solutions will present difficult challenges.

The next step will be the hardest thing in the history of our organization, and that the basin has experienced, Touton said. We must continue to work together through these difficult decisions.

Read more: Colorado River in Crisis: A Times series on the Southwests shrinking water lifeline

The history of Indigenous peoples exclusion from decisions about the river goes back to the signing of a 1922 compact that divided the water among the states.

A century ago, we weren't at the table. We weren't even U.S. citizens at the time. But now we are, said Jordan Joaquin, president of Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation.

Tribes should be at the table, Joaquin said. We will be at the table for post-2026. It's meaningful to us. It's the right thing to do.

Joaquin was recently appointed as a member of Californias Colorado River Board by Gov. Gavin Newsom, becoming the first representative of a Native tribe to serve in the role.

The Quechan Tribe, whose reservation lies along the river in Californias southeast corner, has been participating in a program in which some farmlands are left dry and unplanted for part of the year in exchange for payments, helping to boost the levels of Lake Mead.

Nora McDowell has spent her life along the Colorado River in Fort Mojave, where her father fought for water rights for the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Many Indigenous leaders have stressed that their perspectives can play a vital role in rethinking the regions relationship to the river.

Nora McDowell, a leader of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, made an impassioned plea for the involvement of tribes and protecting the river during a speech at the conference.

We continue to not have a voice and not have a seat, and not have a chance to help think about these things, and to take into consideration the cultural, the spiritual, and the health and the environment of that river," said McDowell, a former tribal chairperson.

The Mojave people, whose lands straddle the river in Nevada, Arizona and California, feel a deep spiritual connection to the Colorado River and the ecosystem that depends on it, but that the dams and heavy water diversions have exacted a major toll, she said.

If that river could speak today, what would it say? 'You guys pretty much screwed up, McDowell said.

We have to be here to speak for it. And I know it would say, 'Respect me. Take care of me. Let me heal, she said. Don't let me die.'

Read more: Breakthrough Colorado River deal reached, outlining big water cuts for three years

McDowell said protecting the river will require changing how its managed. We have to think about sustainability in different ways, she said. We all have a place and a voice that needs to be heard, that needs to be taken into consideration, that needs to be a part of the solution.

Even as tribes seek greater involvement, many are struggling to secure water rights and basic infrastructure to supply their citizens. Of the 30 federally recognized tribes in the Colorado River Basin, 11 tribes still have unresolved water rights claims.

In the Navajo Nation, an estimated 30% or more of people live in homes without running water. In Hopi communities, many people have tap water contaminated with toxic arsenic.

Environmental advocates have also emphasized that tribes must have seats at the table.

Jon Goldin-Dubois, president of Western Resource Advocates, said many of the tribes water rights, infrastructure and values have long been denied and now must be included in the decision-making process and have equitable access to clean drinking water.

The water savings that will be needed to address the long-term gap between supply and demand on the river are expected to require substantial reductions in water use in agriculture, which consumes the largest share of the water, as well as new measures to boost conservation and efficiency in cities from Phoenix to Los Angeles.

Goldin-Dubois said cities, farms and other businesses throughout the region should take steps to cut water use by at least 25% immediately, and with the exception of tribes, new development that would require more water from the river should be taken off the table until a sustainable path has been identified.

The upcoming negotiations will also involve questions about how the current system of managing dams and apportioning water can be revamped to adapt to climate change. Scientists have projected the rivers average flow could decrease as much as 30% to 40% by mid-century as temperatures continue to rise.

Brad Udall, a water and climate scientist at Colorado State University, said he hopes the upcoming process will clearly lay out the flow declines the region must prepare for. Udall said the crisis also underlines the urgent need to eliminate carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels.

Weve got to get these emissions down as fast as we humanly can, Udall said.

Kathryn Sorenson, director of research at Arizona State Universitys Kyl Center for Water Policy, said tribes have shown great willingness to work on solutions, and she expects they will play a positive role.

We know the flows of the river are going to diminish. And we know the river is overallocated, and all those issues come due post-2026, Sorenson said.

As tribes have a stronger voice in the discussions, that will benefit the process by bringing diverse perspectives, Sorenson said.

Old ways of thinking are not going to solve new problems, she said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Hes a true hero: Georgia firefighter dies while trying to save swimmers caught in rip current

A community is mourning the loss of a firefighter who risked his trying to save those in need.

Bank County Fire & EMS officials said Thursday they received a report that Richie Alford, a firefighter with the department, had been killed in Panama City Beach.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

According to authorities, Alford jumped into action when he saw two distressed swimmers caught in a rip current. When he tried to rescue them, he could not return to shore.

Richie died doing what he loved, which was helping others in their time of need. He is a true hero, officials wrote in a statement.

TRENDING STORIES:

Authorities have not said if the two swimmers survived the incident.

Alfords son, Michael Alford, is an investigator for the Banks County Sheriffs Office.

Funeral arrangements for Alford have not been announced.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:
A federal judge in Indiana has partially blocked a ban on affirming healthcare for trangender youth, continuing a streak of victories in legal challenges against state laws targeting gender-affirming care.

The ruling on 16 June from US District Judge James Patrick Hanlon, who was appointed by Donald Trump, issues a preliminary injunction against a recently enacted law that

His ruling is the fourth recent courtroom victory for trans youth and LGBT+ advocates who have challenged similar laws across the US, including a recent federal court ruling in Florida that eviscerated the states anti-trans policies and condemned the bigotry that fuelled such legislation.

Indianas law, which was set to go into effect on 1 July, prohibits healthcare providers from allowing trans youth under age 18 to access hormone therapies, puberty blockers and affirming surgeries, which are not even provided to minors in the state.

The judges order allows the state to continue to ban affirming surgeries and also blocks a part of the law that would prohibit Indiana doctors from communicating with doctors in other states about affirming care for their trans patients under 18.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Indiana filed a lawsuit to block the law on behalf of four transgender youth and their families and Mosaic Health.

We warned lawmakers that if they passed laws attacking trans people that they would see us in court, Chase Strangio, deputy director for transgender justice with the ACLUs LGBTQ & HIV Project, said in a statement.

This victory belongs to the families who have bravely participated in this case, as well as other trans youth in Indiana who spoke up about the harms created by this law. Our work in Indiana and around the country is far from over  including with this law, he added.

Indianas ban, which was signed by Republican Governor Eric Holcomb in April, would forcibly detransition trans youth who are currently receiving such treatment and outright ban trans youth from being prescribed any care under widely used guidelines by all major medical organisations.

Judge Hanlon, who was appointed to the federal judiciary by Mr Trump in 2018, stated in his ruling that medical harms, including to mental health, can constitute irreparable harm, including harm from being denied treatment for gender dysphoria.

And again theres evidence that puberty blockers and cross-sex hormone therapy reduces distress for some minors diagnosed with gender dysphoria, he added. The risk of irreparable harm therefore supports a preliminary injunction.

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.
Former President Donald Trumps attorney Jim Trusty, who withdrew from representing Trump in a pair of federal criminal probes last week, pulled out of yet another Trump legal matter Friday, citing irreconcilable differences with the former president.

In a filing with the U.S. District Court of Southern Florida, Trusty indicated his intention to withdraw from Trumps pending defamation lawsuit against CNN. The longshot lawsuit, which Trump filed last October, accuses the network of maligning him as a racist, Russian lackey, insurrectionist, and ultimately Hitler.

Mr. Trustys withdrawal is based upon irreconcilable differences between Counsel and Plaintiff and Counsel can no longer effectively and properly represent Plaintiff, Trusty wrote in the filing , which he signed.

The move follows Trustys decision, along with Trump attorney John Rowley, to resign from Trumps legal team shortly after he was indicted by a Florida grand jury for stashing military secrets at his Mar-a-Lago estate. The two lawyers issued a joint statement that made no mention of irreconcilable differences.



Now that the case has been filed in Miami, this is a logical moment for us to step aside and let others carry the cases through to completion, they wrote last week. We have no plans to hold media appearances that address our withdrawals or any other confidential communications weve had with the President or his legal team.

Trusty did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

A Trump campaign spokesperson said: "The defamation lawsuit against CNN is entering a new phase, as more irrefutable facts are revealed. We thank Mr. Trusty for his work on this case and wish him all the best.

The filing, however, arrives at a sensitive moment in Trumps legal battles. Hes seeking additional representation to defend him against the 37-count indictment for willful retention of national security records at his home, as well as allegedly obstructing efforts by the government to reclaim those records.

Trump appeared at his arraignment Tuesday with attorneys Todd Blanche and Christopher Kise, but hes expected to add an additional firm as the proceedings get underway.
In the days since Donald Trump was indicted, his allies have had a unified demand of his GOP primary rivals: Promise to pardon the Donald  or else.

Its not an accident: In the days leading up to his arraignment, the former president worked the phones to vent about the case to his allies and discuss the way forward. According to a person familiar with the matter and another source briefed on it, Trump had one repeated request for his supporters: Go on TV and social media and trash Ron DeSantis for refusing to commit to pardoning Trump.

Trumps demand advances two goals: The first is to protect himself from legal consequences if he loses both the GOP primary and his federal court case. But given that Trump is telling allies hell trounce DeSantis and all other primary challengers, the demand for a pardon pledge appears to be more of a political move. The question itself offers a trap for any Republican who tries to engage with it: Either side with Trump and use the occasion to keep him in the campaign spotlight, or share some uncomfortable real estate on the side of Joe Biden and the Justice Department.

If youre Ron, you find yourself really in a really tough situation, because if you blast the DOJ and you blast Jack Smith and Biden, youre essentially defending Trump and admitting Trump was right, one MAGA-aligned Republican strategist tells Rolling Stone. If you condemn him, theres no lane for you running on that. And then silence is an equally bad option because folks notice you not saying anything.

The DeSantis campaign did not respond to Rolling Stones questions about the governors position on a potential pardon.

Reached for comment, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung sent a lengthy statement accusing DeSantis of hiding in a hole during Trumps Tuesday indictment and of running a campaign driven by consultants.

So far, DeSantis has tried to mix condemnation of the Justice Department with silence on the subject of a pardon. On the day news of the indictment broke, he blasted the Justice Department and pledged that a DeSantis administration would bring accountability to the DOJ, excise political bias, and end weaponization once and for all.

Special counsel Jack Smith charged Trump with 37 counts of retaining classified information and obstruction of justice in keeping at least 31 classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence and attempting to hide them from federal law enforcement. The indictment includes damning evidence, including the transcript of what appears to be a confession from Trump that he took war plans he could have declassified as president but didnt.

That hasnt stopped Trumps allies from demanding he be pardoned. On Fox News, former George W. Bush spokesman turned Trumpist Ari Fleischer pressed the talking point, arguing that Every wise Republican should make a pledge they would pardon Donald Trump. Pro-Trump legal scholar Jonathan Turley also suggested Trump could run on pardoning himself and that If any of these Republicans [running for president] were elected, they could pardon Trump.

So far, however, Trump-friendly GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has been the loudest voice in the media pressing both DeSantis and the rest of the Republican field on legal absolution for the former president. On Tuesday, the former biotech and finance executive, who Trump has privately praised and joked about hiring in a second administration, held an impromptu press conference demanding every 2024 presidential candidate commit to pardoning Trump if elected.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Ramaswamy says hes not focused on DeSantis and has broadly called on candidates in both parties, regardless of our political interests, to either stand against what I see as a politicized prosecution and say so and commit to a pardon or else explain why.

But he said he found DeSantiss attempts to hedge on Trumps legal fate distasteful.

I dont think its good when politicians try to hide, try to talk out of both sides of their mouth, Ramaswamy said. Its possible hell come out adopting my position later. I think thats a trend weve seen throughout this campaign. If the last six months are any indication, my prediction is hell come around to my position.

The pardon issue also put other Republican candidates who have flirted with criticism of Trump in an awkward position as they try to navigate a middle course.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley initially hedged on the issue of Trumps guilt. In a Fox News appearance, she said that the Justice Department has lost all credibility but also that if the allegations were true, Trump would have been incredibly reckless with our national security. In the days since, Haley has shifted further, saying that she would be inclined in favor of a pardon.

Former Vice President Mike Pence tried to walk a similarly narrow path during an appearance on the conservative Clay Travis & Buck Sexton show. Pence said Trump faces serious charges and that he cant defend whats been alleged but wouldnt allow himself to be pinned down on the subject of pardons. I just think its premature to have any conversations about that right now, Pence said.

But those kinds of answers arent sitting well with Republicans, as the response from Travis to Pences hedging showed: If you know that these are political charges, and you do, this is not a difficult decision.

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone

Click here to read the full article.
Road to '24 (ABC News Photo Illustration / Alex Gilbeaux)

The Republican National Committee had some level of involvement in a plan to implement a change to the nomination process that critics argue benefits former President Donald Trump, Michigans Republican Party chair tells ABC News.

Michigan Republican Party officials voted behind closed doors Saturday evening to pass a "resolution of intent" that would dole out just 16 of Michigans 55 delegates on primary election night, with the remaining 39 delegates chosen through caucuses four days later, according to a draft of the proposal reviewed by ABC News -- a process that could benefit Trump by limiting selection of the lions share of delegates to an especially involved group of caucus-goers that is expected to be friendly to the former president.

State party Chair Kristina Karamo, who secured Trumps backing in her unsuccessful run for secretary of state in 2022, said national party leaders played a role proposing the split track in Michigans presidential nomination contest.

"We worked with the entire RNC team, RNC legal, so this was not some cockamamie plan that we just came up with on our own," Karamo said.

"We talked to the RNC, you know, leadership team to make sure that this was a proper well-thought-out process," she added.

Pressed on whether she spoke about the proposal specifically with RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel, who was Michigan party chair during Trumps rise in 2016, Karamo said, "I did talk to her. Yes, of course."

When reached for comment, the RNC directed ABC News to its delegate selection plan guidelines.

"Every state has until October 1st to let the RNC know what their plan is for electing, selecting, allocating, and binding delegates. We look forward to reviewing each state and territorys plans," said Emma Vaughn, a committee spokesperson.

But until that date, the proposal is just a wishlist -- and an RNC official, who was granted anonymity to discuss the process freely, emphasized to ABC News that nothing is finalized until the broader committee reviews and approves each states invidious delegate selection plan by the coming December.

The RNC official also said that its conversations with the Michigan GOP focused on guidance regarding rules and process rather than substance and language of Karamos specific plan -- the sort of guidance the national party offers each state party as it begins to formulate its path forward for delegate selection.

PHOTO: Republican National Committee chairman Ronna McDaniel speaks during a Get Out To Vote rally, Oct. 18, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (Chris O'meara/AP, FILES)

Critics warn that the retooled delegate selection plan may be tipping the scales toward Trump.

"It only limits participation to previously elected precinct delegates," Michael Schostak, a former vice chair of the state party, told ABC News. "The precinct delegates are overwhelmingly Trump supporters."

PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump speaks during a Save America rally in Warren, Michigan, Oct. 1, 2022. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images)

A source familiar with Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson tells ABC News his campaign has not been contacted by the Michigan Republican Party, despite multiple failed attempts by the campaign to discuss the proposed change.

Karamo's ties to Trump may hurt her ability to convince some Republican candidates and voters that the change was made impartially.

"I think it does have that potential," Jonathan Hanson, a lecturer at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, said. "It adds to the suspicion that the deck is being stacked a little bit."

Businessman and 2024 Republican candidate for president Steve Laffey says the Michigan state partys decision "defies logic" and is "rigged."

"To select 70% of delegates at caucus meetings, instead of based on a primary vote, defies logic," Laffey told ABC News. "It's no secret that Donald Trump is extremely popular among local party officials in Michigan. This is just another blatant move to try and prevent the will of the people."

Still, Laffey says he has no intention of reaching out to Michigan party officials to voice his concerns, opting instead to focus efforts on a "fair and open primary process."

In the closed-door meeting where the plan was proposed, state party members were sold the new process as something that the RNC had already blessed, according to Schostak, who was not in the room but was briefed afterward.

Those who objected to the plan did so because the resolution was reportedly "sprung on the state committee members just a few days before their meeting, Schostak said.

"There were some people thinking, 'Well, why are we rushing to do this? Let's keep talking about this and try to, you know, find a better compromise,'" he added.

"Part of the concern is that the delegates are in the tank for Trump. And so any of the other candidates are gonna say, Well, we're not going to waste our time and money coming to Michigan to campaign," he said.

The pro-Trump faction has defeated the anti-Trump side in "pretty bitter fights" over local Republican party leadership roles, Hanson said.

"There's good reason to believe that yes, indeed, having delegates be sent to these regional caucuses from county party organizations would be quite favorable towards Trump," he said.

Dennis Lennox, a Michigan Republican strategist, finds the decision, and Karamo herself, troubling.

"Kristina Karamo is the last person that any credible or serious Republican should listen to," said Lennox.

PHOTO: Kristina Karamo addresses the crowd after the final votes were tallied at the Michigan Republican Convention, Feb. 18, 2023, in Lansing, Michigan. (Sarah Rice for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

He further argues that if the plan passes, it would disenfranchise the million or so Michigan voters who vote in the primary, since their preferences may not be reflected by the far smaller group able to participate in the caucus.

"Its a little bit ironic for a political party, with so many of its members obsessed with what they believe to have been a stolen or rigged election to be passing a proposal that would create the ultimate rigged or stolen election," said Lennox.

Lennox, who worked on several presidential campaigns, says consequences will reverberate down-ballot. He believes there will be a lawsuit from "interested parties" as well as inevitable intra-party disputes at the nominating convention in Milwaukee next year if the RNC gives the state party's plan their blessing.

He's less sold, however, that the plan sets up an easily glide path for Trump.

"I think the people who are doing it think it will, but I would caution people who say that. ... Historically, the most entrenched party person benefits, and I think if you look at this year, I do think we have the makings for this race to go all the way to the convention," said Lennox.

The party said it pursued this change because the Democratic-led legislature, at the recommendation of President Joe Biden, passed a bill earlier this year that moved the state's primary up in the calendar. The Feb. 27 date the legislature approved conflicted with RNC rules that bar state parties from holding a nominating contest prior to March 1, except for Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

"It prevented Michigan from receiving a penalty and I would be derelict in my duty if I didn't do everything in my power to protect the voice of Michigan Republicans," Karamo said.

PHOTO: Kristina Karamo, a candidate for the Michigan Republican Party's state party chair, speaks to delegates ahead of their vote on the key party leadership position, in Lansing, Michigan, Feb. 18, 2023. (Nathan Layne/Reuters, FILES)

Coordination among campaigns and state and national party officials can prove critical. RNC rules require state parties' nomination proposals to be submitted by Oct. 1 for a seal of approval, something Karamo said she's confident she'll get after working in tandem with the national party.

"This is something the RNC worked with us on, so it wouldn't make sense for them to work with us to create this process and turn around and reject the process they worked on," Karamo said.

A Trump campaign spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.

ABCs Libby Cathey, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim and Soo Rin Kim contributed to this report.

Trump-friendly nomination proposal was bolstered by RNC: Michigan GOP official originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Trump lawyer who dropped out of classified papers case has now withdrawn from CNN lawsuit

The attorney who recently withdrew from former president Donald Trumps case regarding his alleged mishandling of classified documents has now also withdrawn from Mr Trumps lawsuit against CNN.

James Trusty sent a motion to withdraw as an attorney to the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Friday, asking to pull out of the case.

Mr Trustys withdrawal is based on irreconcilable differences between Counsel and Plaintiff and Counsel can no longer effectively and properly represent plaintiff, the motion read. The motion said that Mr Trustys withdrawal did not adversely affect Mr Trump as oral arguments on CNNs motion to dismiss had not been scheduled, discovery had not yet begun and no deadlines are pending.

The motion also said that Lindsey Halligan continued to serve Mr Trump.

Based upon these facts, Counsel requests to be withdrawn as attorney of record for Donald J Trump, the motion reads.

Mr Trump filed a lawsuit against the cable news channel last year alleging that CNN defamed the former president and his Make America Great Again movement by comparing it to the rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. Mr Trumps lawsuit seeks $475m in punitive damages. The lawsuit alleges that CNN fears him running for president again.

The withdrawal comes as Mr Trump faces multiple ongoing legal headaches. Last week, a federal grand jury under the supervision of Special Counsel Jack Smith indicted him for his mishandling of documents related to national security.

Mr Trump pleaded not guilty to the 37 charges he faces when he appeared for his arraignment in a federal court in Miami on Tuesday.

But shortly after the announcement, Mr Trump said that Mr Trusty and fellow attorney John Rowley withdrew from defending him.

I want to thank Jim Trusty and John Rowley for their work, but they were up against a very dishonest, corrupt, evil, and sick group of people, the likes of which has not been seen before, he said. We will be announcing additional lawyers in the coming days.

Mr Trump also faces criminal charges in New York over hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. He also faces investigations into the January 6 riot at the US Capitol, and a probe into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.
Earlier this week, former President Donald Trump, speaking to supporters hours after his arraignment, outlined potential legal arguments as he defends himself against his second indictment.

Trump took the stage at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club just hours after his appearance in a Miami courtroom, where he pleaded not guilty to 37 felony counts in relation to his alleged mishandling of classified documents.

"This day will go down in infamy," he said.

MORE: Following arraignment, Trump narrowing list of potential attorneys to join his legal team: Sources

Trump unloaded on the charges and in the process mischaracterized aspects of the Presidential Records Act and the Espionage Act, experts told ABC News.

Here's a more in-depth look at the former president's claims.

He cites the Presidential Records Act

"Under the Presidential Records Act, which is civil not criminal, I had every right to have these documents," Trump said.

The 1978 law, not mentioned in the indictment, states just the opposite, as it requires records created by presidents and vice presidents be turned over to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) at the end of their administrations.

"On the contrary, the former President had absolutely no right to have taken any presidential records with him to Mar A Lago," Jason R. Baron, former director of litigation at NARA, told ABC News in an email.

"Under the Presidential Records Act, the Archivist of the United States assumed legal custody of all Trump White House official records immediately upon President Biden's swearing in as President," Baron said. "Every piece of paper constituting an official document, whether it was classified or unclassified, should have been turned over to NARA. Moreover, when NARA staff asked for the return of the records improperly taken, the former President should have immediately given NARA every official document in his possession."

PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump delivers remarks at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in Bedminster, N. J., on June 13, 2023. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images)

MORE: Explainer: DOJ probes draw attention to the Presidential Records Act

Among the documents found at his Florida estate, according to prosecutors, were ones marked "top secret" and some about the country's nuclear programs.

"I think it is misleading because the Presidential Records Act just isn't the statute at issue," Margaret Kwoka, a law professor at Ohio State University, told ABC News of Trump's remarks.

"There's no reason to think that the Presidential Records Act somehow overrides the Espionage Act," Kwoka added. "And so this is not, in my view, going to provide a very strong sort of basis for defense against the charges in the indictment."

He alludes to a judge's decision in a case involving former President Bill Clinton

"Judge Amy Berman Jackson's decision states under the statutory scheme established by the Presidential Records Act, the decision to segregate personal materials from presidential records is made by the president during the president's term and in the president's sole discretion," Trump said.

Trump has repeatedly pointed to a case involving former President Bill Clinton in the wake of the indictment.

In 2010, the conservative group Judicial Watch sued the National Archives and Records Administration, arguing audio tapes kept by Clinton for interviews he did with historian Taylor Branch during his years in office -- and which he afterward allegedly kept in a sock drawer -- were "presidential records" and should be made available to the public.

U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson dismissed the case, and Trump and his allies have taken to quoting different parts of her opinion in their defense.

MORE: No, Donald Trump's classified documents case is not like Joe Biden or Hillary Clinton cases

The Presidential Records Act does contain an exception for personal records, according to Baron, including items such as "diaries, journals, and other personal notes that were never used in the transaction of government business."

"President Trump had the right to keep those types of records. But the argument being made by some that he had some kind of absolute authority while president to declare classified records or other official records about government business as his personal records is absurd in its face," he said. "It is also contrary to law. The decision by Judge Jackson cited prior precedent from the D.C. Circuit that stands for the opposite proposition."

That citation included in Jackson's opinion reads, in part, that the Presidential Records Act "does not bestow on the president the power to assert sweeping authority over whatever materials he chooses to designate as presidential records without any possibility of judicial review."

"Judge Jackson went on to speculate about the level of deference to be afforded a president making a categorical decision about whether records of his were personal, but she never ruled on that issue," Baron said. "Instead, the case was dismissed on the grounds that plaintiff had no standing to compel the Archivist to seize materials not in the governments possession."

There are also significant differences between the materials in question in the two cases.

"In that case, the records were very different and really did seem arguably personal," Kwoka said of the Clinton matter. "We're just sort of nowhere near the situation that we're discussing today with the records that President Trump kept."

PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump delivers remarks at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in Bedminster, N. J., on June 13, 2023. (Ed Jones/AFP via Getty Images)

He claims he was still negotiating with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

"I was supposed to negotiate with NARA, which is exactly what I was doing until Mar-a-Lago was raided," Trump said.

Trump continued to make an argument he and his team have been for months, asserting he's allowed to negotiate with NARA over which documents are personal and what's presidential after leaving office.

NARA, in a June 9 statement, said the law requires a president to separate personal and presidential documents "before leaving office."

MORE: Trump federal indictment: How serious are obstruction charges?

"There is no history, practice, or provision in law for presidents to take official records with them when they leave office to sort through, such as for a two-year period as described in some reports," NARA said.

He says he's being treated like a spy

"The Espionage Act has been used to go after traitors and spies. It has nothing to do with a former president legally keeping his own documents," he said.

Trump has been charged under 18 U.S.C.  793(e) of the Espionage Act, which prohibits unauthorized retention and disclosure of national defense information, and does not require that information be classified or disseminated to a foreign government.

Neither did the indictment charge him with disseminating information with the intent to harm the U.S.

Still, Trump and his allies have repeatedly claimed he's accused of being a spy.

"This is not an uncommon argument for defendants to make," David Aaron, a senior counsel at Perkins Coie and former federal prosecutor with the Justice Department's national security division, told ABC News. "The title Espionage Act is kind of a misnomer because it includes much more than espionage."

"Espionage is a different section entirely of Title 18. He's charged simply with willfully retaining national defense information," Aaron said. "He's not charged with disclosing classified information to foreign governments or to anyone else, although there are references in the current indictment to his alleged disclosure to unauthorized people.

Trump makes legal claims about classified documents, experts push back: Fact check originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Nevada Republicans have showered Donald Trump with love for years. Since the former president won the 2016 caucuses decisively, he has gained unwavering loyalty from the state GOP, whose chair is so aligned with Trump that he served as a so-called fake elector in 2020.

But general elections in the battleground state werent kind to Trump; he lost Nevada in two consecutive presidential campaigns. And as of now, the GOP primary is changing its electoral format for 2024, moving away from the caucuses that benefited him.

As Nevada, an early primary state, starts getting more attention  beginning with a major political event this weekend  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis team is holding up all of those facts as evidence that Republicans need to move beyond Trump if the state is to have a chance at defeating a Democrat in 2024.

Trump hasnt won Nevada the last two go-arounds, said former state Attorney General Adam Laxalt, a 2022 Senate candidate who is heading a super PAC backing DeSantis. I was a two-time Trump chair. I dont see a path for him to win Nevada in a general election. Those voters are not coming back.

Laxalt made the comments in an interview in advance of DeSantis visit to the state this weekend, the centerpiece of which is his speech at the annual Basque Fry, a popular event that draws thousands of conservatives from around the state.

The annual festival is steeped in history, modeled after an annual fry held by Laxalts grandfather Paul Laxalt, the legendary former Nevada governor and U.S. senator. The political event, centered on the stewing and frying of lamb testicles, has become a draw for conservatives, and it has hosted the likes of Ted Cruz, Scott Walker and Mike Pence. Hundreds of pounds of the so-called lamb fries are expected to be consumed.

A strategist for the front-running Trump, fresh from an arraignment this week in federal court, punched down on DeSantis and rejected the suggestion that he could encroach on Trumps turf.

Not surprised Ron DeSantis is looking for a set of balls, said Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to Trumps campaign.

So Adam Laxalt, who lost the governors race in 18 and lost the Senate race in 22, is lecturing President Trump? LaCivita added. Thats the pot calling the kettle black.

Erin Perrine, the communications director for Never Back Down, the pro-DeSantis super PAC, shot back at LaCivita: The Trump teams obsession with mens genitalia is more perverted than a woke grooming book.

Laxalt lost by less than 8,000 votes to Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto in November, a loss that he said taught him some lessons about how Republicans handled voting in the state.

We need to compete on the turf the Democrats are competing in, Laxalt said, referring to ballot harvesting and ballot drop-off boxes. Theyre here for the 2024 election. I know Gov. DeSantis said this on the record, and I share the same sentiment: Were going to have to compete in ballot harvesting and these methods  and everything could count.

But Laxalt also pointed to DeSantis re-election as governor as evidence that he could rule with a conservative fist and still attract female voters and independents, which he held up as a selling point to Republicans interested in moving away from Trump.

Asked how DeSantis signing of a six-week abortion ban in Florida might sit with general election voters, given abortions sizable role in Democratic victories last fall and the states more moderate stance on the issue, Laxalt demurred, saying voters were looking for a change from President Joe Biden and his policies.

Taylor Budowich, the CEO of MAGA Inc., the leading pro-Trump super PAC, laughed when he was told about DeSantis allies confidence in Nevada.

Theres no sign that he can win in any state, Budowich said in an interview. Its evident in their kind of ham-handed approach. Theyre just largely spinning their wheels without articulating a path to winning a single state.

The 2024 Nevada primary is set to shift to a traditional, state-run primary instead of the caucus contest Trump won in the past. The state Republican Party is challenging that legally, asking that it be allowed to operate its own party-run caucus.

Conventional wisdom dictates a caucus would be advantageous to Trump, given that the party running the process has so loyally lined up behind him. The state party chair, Michael McDonald, testified before a federal grand jury this week in a Jan. 6-related investigation. McDonald, a close ally of Trumps, had his cellphone seized as part of the investigation, and he visited Trumps Mar-a-Lago in Florida this year with a contingent of other Nevada Republicans.

DeSantis lands Friday in Reno, where he will visit a Veterans of Foreign Wars hall, as well as attend a rodeo. He headlines the Basque Fry on Saturday.

This weekends travel marks DeSantis first foray into Nevada as an officially declared candidate; he spoke in Las Vegas in March as he was promoting his recently published book. It is the last of the four early states he has visited. Trump hasnt campaigned in the state this year. Senior Trump aides, including LaCivita, addressed more than 400 members of the Clark County GOP last month and spoke about how the activists could help Trump win there, according to the campaign.

Collectively, though, GOP presidential hopefuls have placed higher emphasis on the other early states: Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

DeSantis-aligned observers say his campaign and the supporting super PAC are already laying the groundwork in the state, including deploying door-to-door canvassers, hiring staff members, sending out targeted mailers and reaching out to volunteers. Headlining the Basque Fry shouldnt be underestimated, they say.

Its huge, said Jeff Stone, a Republican state senator who is volunteering on DeSantis campaign. Youre going to have between 5,000 and 6,000 people coalescing in Gardnerville to see what I think to be the front-runner next to President Trumps come into the space. And I think when people hear his agenda, I think when people see his authenticity and his communicative skills at the microphone and his passion for this country, I think hes going to win people over.

Zachary Moyle, a former state GOP executive director who worked in Nevada for John Kasich in 2016 and Rich Santorum in 2012, said the DeSantis team is already extensively targeting active party members. He cited family members who have already received a half-dozen mailers and two requests to attend a town hall.

Hes been very visible, at least within the GOP community, said Moyle, who is unaffiliated with any 2024 campaign as of yet. I dont think a lot of Republicans would say, Whos Ron DeSantis?

Never Back Down, the super PAC supporting DeSantis, is the only candidate-affiliated GOP group that has spent money on ads in Nevada so far, with its most recent spot highlighting the Basque Fry, according to AdImpact, an advertising analytics firm.

MAGA Inc. called attention to the spot in an email blast this week. Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt characterized it as a desperate attempt just to get people to show up for DeSantis events.

Worse yet, added Leavitt, noting that paid admission is required to enter the Basque Fry, you have to PAY to see him.

The Basque Fry is a fundraiser to advance conservative causes and candidates in the state. Laxalt's Morning in Nevada PAC has sponsored the event in recent years. This year, Never Back Down is joining as a co-host.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Two years ago, Waltine Nauta was working in the White House cafeteria helping to serve meals to then-President Donald Trump and others, according to Navy records.

Now, he's become the latest Trump associate to be entangled in the former president's latest scandal and possibly faces serious prison time if convicted on federal charges.

PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump's valet Walt Nauta visits Versailles restaurant with Trump, June 13, 2023, in Miami. (Alex Brandon/AP)

Little is publicly known about Nauta prior to his time working as Trump's "body man."

The 40-year-old Guam native enlisted in the Navy in 2001, and by 2021 was promoted to the rank of Senior Chief Culinary Specialist, according to Navy records. Nauta was working in the White House cafeteria during that time and Trump later promoted him to be his valet, according to federal investigators.

MORE: Sweeping 37-count indictment alleges Trump hoarded national secrets, orchestrated obstruction of investigation

Presidential valets, who are sometimes known as a "body man," have served several administrations as close assistants, and can be tasked with a wide variety of duties, such as providing the commander-in-chief with food, making sure their clothes look proper and other tasks.

After Trump left the White House and moved to Florida, Nauta left the Navy and continued to work for the former president. In August 2021, Nauta became Trump's executive assistant, serving as his personal aide where he "reported to Trump, worked closely with Trump and traveled with Trump," according to the federal indictment.

It was this loyalty that federal prosecutors allege led Nauta to be involved with the former president's alleged mishandling of classified government documents after he left office.

PHOTO: A courtroom sketch depicts former President Donald Trump appearing in federal court, June 13, 2023, in Miami, for an arraignment regarding 37 federal charges regarding his mishandling of classified material after leaving office. (William J. Hennessy Jr.)

Trump allegedly ordered Nauta to move boxes of documents and conceal them from Trump's attorneys, the FBI and the grand jury, according to the indictment.

Federal prosecutors said surveillance footage and text messages show Nauta move the boxes at Mar-a-Lago, and message other staffers about the documents. Nauta allegedly texted a Trump employee photos of documents that spilled out of a box inside a storage room at the Florida estate, according to the indictment.

MORE: Sweeping 37-count indictment alleges Trump hoarded national secrets, orchestrated obstruction of investigation

Nauta also allegedly lied to federal prosecutors when asked about the documents, according to the indictment.

Nauta was charged with six counts, including obstruction, as part of the indictment and if convicted faces a maximum of 90 years in prison.

PHOTO: FILE - Walt Nauta, personal aide to former U.S. President Donald Trump who faces charges of being Trump's co-conspirator in the alleged mishandling of classified documents, fixes Trump's collar before a LIV Golf Pro-Am golf tournament (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters, FILE)

Nauta, who has been seen with Trump at campaign events and at Tuesday's court appearance, hasn't publicly commented on the charges, and hasn't yet entered a plea.

Trump, who has entered a not-guilty plea for his indictment, has defended Nauta in social media posts claiming the Department of Justice was "trying to destroy his life."

Who is Trump's 'body man,' co-defendant Walt Nauta? originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Tucker Carlson goes against former employer Fox News over wannabe dictator chyron (Twitter)

Tucker Carlson ridiculed his former employer Fox News and Democrats over the broadcasters chyron that briefly described Joe Biden as a wannabe dictator.

Releasing the fourth episode of his Twitter show Tucker on Twitter on Thursday, Carlson questioned the apology tendered by Fox News following the gaffe.

He likened Mr Bidens personality to that of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, North Koreas Kim Il-sung and Romanias tyrannical communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

But why were they angry? If the banner on Fox was false? Why the hysteria? asked Carlson in his show that was launched as a counter to his Fox primetime slot after being forced to resign.

On Tuesday night, Fox News broadcasted a chyron  a caption superimposed over the lower part of a video image  beneath split-screen videos that showed Donald Trump addressing supporters live in New Jersey and Mr Biden speaking at the White House earlier in the day.

Wannabe dictator speaks at the White House after having his political rival arrested, read the chyron.

Fox News said the chyron was taken down immediately and was addressed. Carlson claimed the Fox News producer responsible for the chyron resigned.

Those words were up for less than 30 seconds, but the effect was immediate. Inside Fox, the women who run the network panicked, he said in his long rant.

He said the channel scolded the producer who put the banner on the screen and claimed the producer later resigned.

He questioned why Democrats reacted to the chyron with anger.

But why were they angry? If the banner on Fox was false? Why the hysteria? Lies dont seem to bother anyone anymore. If some cable news producer had called Joe Biden a genius or accused him of being secretly Sudanese, would anyone be yelling about it? Carlson said.

Would Fox News have apologized for it? Probably not. But calling Joe Biden a wannabe dictator, that stung.

In a mocking tone, Carlson proceeded to enumerate the various ways in which Mr Biden could never be considered a dictator. He sarcastically referred to government surveillance of phones and bank accounts, as well as a purported suppression of peaceful protests such as the events that unfolded during the Jan 6 riot.

The comments come as Daily Beast reported that Fox News producer Alexander McCaskill had parted ways with the network.

Fox News has sent Carlson a cease and desist letter ordering him to stop releasing shows on Twitter.

Foxs attorneys wrote to Carlson demanding he stop posting Tucker on Twitter videos, the first two episodes of which attracted a combined 169 million views.

The right-wing network has been locked in a bitter contractual dispute with its former primetime anchor since he left in the aftermath of the $787m Dominion Voting Systems pay out in April.
Tucker Carlson. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Tucker Carlson took a dig at his former employer Fox News after it backpedaled on its "wannabe dictator" chyron.

This week, Fox News labeled President Joe Biden a "wannabe dictator" in chyron text.

"Inside Fox, the women who run the network panicked," Carlson said on his Twitter show.

Ousted Fox News host Tucker Carlson took a shot at his former employer in a new episode of his Twitter show over the conservative cable news giant's reaction its own chyron text that labeled President Joe Biden a "wannabe dictator."

"Those words were up for less than 30 seconds, but the effect was immediate," Carlson said of the controversial Fox News chyron on his Twitter show on Thursday night.

Carlson claimed, "Inside Fox, the women who run the network panicked. First, they scolded the producer who put the banner on the screen. Less than 24 hours after that, he resigned."

Hours after former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to 37 federal charges related to his handling of classified documents, Fox News aired side-by-side footage of Trump and Biden with the onscreen text that read: "Wannabe dictator speaks at the White House after having his political rival arrested."

Fox News did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Insider on Friday, but said in a previous statement that "the chyron was taken down immediately and was addressed."

The "wannabe dictator" message was on-screen for 27 seconds, the website Mediaite reported.

The Daily Beast, citing two anonymous sources, reported that the person who authored the chyron was former "Tucker Carlson Tonight" managing editor Alexander McCaskill and that McCaskill parted ways with the network in the aftermath.

"He'd been at Fox for more than a decade. He was considered one of the most capable people in the building. He offered to stay for the customary two weeks, but Fox told him to clear out his desk and leave immediately. Then the company issued a public apology for the 27-second-long 'wannabe dictator' line," Carlson said on his Twitter show.

Carlson said that Fox News' statement on the matter "was not enough to save Fox News from the ensuing scandal."

A screengrab of Fox News on Tuesday night. Fox News

When asked about the chyron this week, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called it "wrong." Carlson referenced her comments on his Twitter show before suggesting in a sarcastic rant that Biden is actually a "wannabe dictator."

Meanwhile, Fox News recently sent Carlson a cease-and-desist letter over his new Twitter show called "Tucker on Twitter," Axios has reported.

Carlson was ousted from Fox News in late April, days after the network reached a $787 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems in the voting machine company's defamation lawsuit.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Bloomberg) -- Expectations of a sizable hike in Turkeys benchmark rate in this months policy meeting are gaining traction, fueled by the appointment of investor-friendly names in President Recep Tayyip Erdogans new economy team.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The central banks Monetary Policy Committee will raise the one-week repo rate to 17% from 8.5% on June 22, according to the median estimate in the central banks monthly survey published on Friday. Thats lower than the median estimate of 20% in a Bloomberg survey of 10 economists.

Under pressure from Erdogan, the central bank has refrained from raising rates since March 2021. But after elections last month, in which the president got reelected, investors raised bets of a return to gradual orthodoxy with recent appointments of the Wall Street duo Mehmet Simsek and Hafize Gaye Erkan as finance minister and central bank governor, respectively.

Erdogan Backs New Economic Team But Wont Change Rates View

President Erdogan signaled he would accept flexibility in monetary policy earlier this week, saying he has accepted measures proposed by Simsek and Erkan.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
North Carolina state Sen. Rachel Hunt (D) says her ad for her campaign for lieutenant governor was rejected from Twitter for its abortion advocacy.

Since purchasing Twitter last year and pillaging two-thirds of its value, Elon Musk has prided himself on making the social platform a free speech havenat least for transphobes, white nationalists, and terminally unfunny fans of his. But among the many predictable problems and double standards regarding the platforms treatment of marginalized people and progressive causes, HuffPost reported on yet another on Thursday: Twitter is blocking political ads for merely [mentioning] abortion advocacy, as one employee put it in an email to a Democrat in North Carolina.



State Sen. Rachel Hunt (D) is running for lieutenant governor of North Carolina, and a large part of her campaign is pushing back on the states recently passed 12-week abortion ban. This week, Hunt told HuffPost she realized a new video ad in which she highlights her support for abortion rights and addresses the 12-week ban had been rejected by Twitter, which is refusing to promote the ad.

Read more

In an emailed explanation for this decision, an employee told Hunts campaign: Ah yes, the mention of abortion advocacy is the issue here. (Nothing says Elon Musks Twitter more than responding to a business matter with the diction equivalent of a fedora, ah yes.) The employee implied that there may soon be some change to the policy, telling Hunts campaign that Twitter might have some good news to share on that front in the next weeks. But the employee concluded, For now, though, you still wont be able to message around that topic. (That change would certainly be in Twitters best interests, as its horrific content moderation standards have resulted in advertisers fleeing the site en masse.)

Twitter didnt immediately respond to a request for comment from Jezebel (other than a poop emoji, which is its pitifully cringe automatic reply to press inquiries).

Hunts own tweet of the video that she wanted to promote in paid advertising form has remained up (see below)and as have the ads for erectile dysfunction products, the promoted tweets of Twitter Blue-subscribed grifters, crypto scams, and promo for Tucker Carlsons new Twitter show, which my feed is littered with. I would welcome an ad from a politician substantively engaging with a life-or-death issue.

Im running for Lt. Governor because the Republican plan isnt this years 12 week abortion ban; its next years total abortion ban. I'm North Carolina Senator Rachel Hunt. Let me explain... #ncpol pic.twitter.com/Yb8JFUv0ID  Rachel Hunt (@HuntforNC) June 12, 2023

In the ad in question, Hunt praises the life-changing power of abortion rights: When Roe v. Wade came to rural America, women woke up to a different world. A world with a bit more time. The important decisions didnt get easier, but they were hers. She continued, Im running for lieutenant governor because the Republican plan isnt this years 12-week abortion banits next years total abortion ban.

I find it deeply concerning that Twitter considers the topic of protecting our fundamental freedoms as prohibited content, Hunt told HuffPost. Regardless, I will continue to focus on sharing my message with voters in every community in every part of the state.

The rejection of Hunts ad comes as abortion is an especially hot-button issue this election cycle, a year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe. On the campaign trail last year, Democratic candidates trying to message about abortion in their ads faced similar challenges: One candidate in New York told Jezebel his ads were being rejected by Hulu for invoking sensitive issues like abortion and gun safety. A campaign source said that Hulu told them his ad could run if it swapped out its opening wordsfrom abortion rights to gun laws to climate changefor permissible ones such as taxes, infrastructure, and democracy.

At an increasingly perilous time for our rights, advertising around abortion is being subjected to ridiculous scrutiny, not even just on the campaign trail. Last year, shortly after Roe was overturned, activists raised alarm around ads for abortion pills being rejected from companies like Spotify. Meanwhile, some watchdogs report Meta is allowing medically inaccurate ads for abortion reversal, and Google recently raked in $10 million in ad dollars to promote anti-abortion clinics that endanger and spy on abortion seekers.

Theres greater urgency than ever for people to know which candidates will protect their rights (and how to safely access abortion-related resources). And companies like Twitter are willfully standing in the way of this.

More from Jezebel

Sign up for Jezebel's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
A federal jury has convicted two people of playing a role in what prosecutors called expansive online fraud schemes that included romance scams and coronavirus pandemic unemployment assistance fraud.

Osakpamwan Henry Omoruyi, 37, and Osaretin Godspower Omoruyi, 36, were convicted in U.S. District Court this week after an eight-day trial of bank fraud, bank fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, according to the U.S. attorneys office.

The men, Nigerian citizens who lived in the Boston suburb of Canton, opened multiple bank accounts in the names of fake people using fraudulent foreign passports, prosecutors said. Their accomplices then sent the proceeds from romance scams, pandemic relief fraud and other illegal online schemes to those bank accounts, authorities said.

The defendants took in more than $1.7 million in fraudulently obtained money from 2019 until 2021 and transferred most of it overseas, prosecutors said.

Both men are being held pending sentencing scheduled for Sept. 22. The charges of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank carry a sentence of up to 30 years in prison. The charge of money laundering conspiracy carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Two Irish brothers grab their truck from Somerset impound and pay the price

SOMERSET  When one brother entered Herring Motor Co.'s impoundment on June 2 and drove away in a white 2017 Dodge Ram truck stored there he was followed closely by his brother, driving another pickup.

The brothers didn't know they would end up in jail for a week. They didn't know they would have to dish out more than $4,500 in restitution and $536 in court costs and fines. They didn't know that they would leave the jail in handcuffs.

The Somerset Magisterial Office Judy D.J. Ellich/Daily American

Initially, Tommy Doran, 21, and Michael Doran, 19, from Ireland, were charged with theft, a third-degree felony. The charges were downgraded to non-traffic summaries, criminal trespassing and theft of services. The brothers pleaded guilty to those charges at their preliminary hearing before District Judge Ken Johnson Wednesday. Their bond was increased, however, from $50,000 to $100,000 secured, by Johnson.

Who: Somerset District Judge Ken Johnson discusses his role in the justice system

The following day, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents came and took them, according to Somerset County Jail officials.

How did it happen

"We had the door open because we were working in there," said Patrick Herring of Herring Motor Co., along Neilan Road in Somerset.

Next thing the workers knew the truck was gone.

Brandon Moore, a wrecker driver for Herring, saw it happen.

"I was working in the shop and all of a sudden I looked out and I saw these two pickups flying through our back parking lot (the impoundment lot) and through our front lot and then turning up on (Route) 31," he said.

He recognized the impounded truck as one of the two pickups, he said. State police were notified.

Someone had been talking to the Herring dispatcher a few days before the incident about coming for the truck and paying for its storage. But, no one had stopped up at the office to pay the bill, which was $4,500, he said.

"It was sort of like they were watching," Moore said. The gates to the impound are normally kept closed. It just so happened that they were working in there that day, he said.

Upcoming: Hooversville man dies of multiple gunshot wounds, Johnstown man charged with homicide

The truck, which had a temporary California license plate, was initially impounded after state police stopped the vehicle on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Michael Doran, who was driving, did not have proof of ownership or insurance. Herring was called to tow the vehicle to its impound lot until the paperwork was provided.

"It was the last day of January," Moore remembered. And the truck sat in the impound until driven off by Tommy Doran on June 2. Michael Doran was charged with fare evasion on Jan. 31.

According to the police report, it was more than four months later that Tommy said that his brother had dropped him off at Herring to retrieve the truck. He saw the keys left in the ignition, so he drove away "without paying for storage or speaking with anyone in person at the business," according to state police.

Other: Plea agreement reached in drug case involving a Somerset County man's overdose death

The brothers were picked up on the Turnpike by state police and placed in the jail on a $50,000 secured bond set by Johnson at their arraignment while awaiting their preliminary hearing.

District Judge Ken Johnson of Somerset Magisterial Office holds court. Judy D.J. Ellich/Daily American

According to the criminal complaint, the truck was worth $5,000.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Police: Two Irish brothers stole truck from Somerset impound
Brussels  The U.S. and other nations that have contributed billions of dollars already to support Ukraine as it tries to fend off Russia's nearly-16-month, full-scale invasion, are shifting toward helping to sustain Ukraine's counteroffensive. Top U.S. defense officials warned this week that they expect the fight to be long and come "at a high cost."

"We've given Ukraine's forces important training and impressive capabilities, but war is fluid, dynamic and unpredictable," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday after a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a collection of nations that have backed Kyiv. "Ukraine's fight is not some easy sprint to the finish line."

(From L) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff US General Mark A Milley, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Ukraine's Minister of Defence Oleksiy Reznikov attend a meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, on June 15, 2023 during a two-day meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) at the level of Defence Ministers on 15-16 June 2023. / Credit: SIMON WOHLFAHRT/AFP/Getty

Austin attended the contact group meeting in Brussels with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, who said Ukraine's plodding counteroffensive would "likely take a considerable amount of time and at high cost."

Both of the senior U.S. officials expressed optimism about Ukraine's chances in the long-run, but made it clear the country's success would demand continued commitments from, and unity of the international coalition.

"We're moving from a crisis mode to a campaign mode," a Western official involved with coordinating international aid to Ukraine told reporters this week.

The U.S. and its partners have spent more than a year providing a variety of equipment and weapons to Ukraine as the country's vastly outnumbered forces resisted the Russian invasion, but now, as the counteroffensive gets underway, those countries are turning toward helping Kyiv sustain its fight back.

The official said the Ukrainians are already operating about 600 different types of weapons systems on the battlefield, and while many are their own, the international community has added about 120 different systems to Ukraine's arsenal.

A senior U.S. defense official told reporters this week that the Ukraine Defense Contact Group was beginning to have conversations about how to focus its support going forward on the systems that have made the biggest difference in the fight and are manageable for Ukrainians to maintain. That could mean reducing the variety of weapons and other equipment sent to the country and focusing on what has been working, the official indicated.

One example of the shift is the layout of the U.K.-led international donor coordination cell, located since August 2022 at the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden in Germany. The coordination cell was established near the start of Russia's February 2022 full-scale invasion to coordinate donations and get the equipment into Ukraine. So far, the cell has coordinated around 150,000 tons of equipment for Ukraine.

The cell is now located in what used to be a basketball gym. Personnel from 21 countries sit at desks and office chairs organized on the floor, which has been carpeted, and along the wide bleacher rows.

Initially, the desks were organized more by country, according to the Western official, but recently, the roughly 100 people working on the floor have been sectioned out to different specialties. For instance, one area has personnel focused on maintenance and sustainment and another area has personnel more focused on movement and operations. The Western official said that lately, the maintenance and sustainment team has been particularly busy on the phones.

In the opening days of Ukraine's counteroffensive, Russian media outlets repeatedly showed images of damaged, U.S.-donated armored vehicles, holding it up as purported evidence of what the Kremlin has painted as a failed counterattack.

"I think the Russians have shown us that same five vehicles about 1,000 times from 10 different angles," Austin said in Brussels. "But quite frankly, the Ukrainians still have a lot of combat capability, combat power."

U.S. officials have already said future assistance packages could include more of these armored vehicles, and the most recent package, announced this week, did. But the U.S. and its allies have also focused the past few months on training Ukrainian forces on how to repair the vehicles they've already received.

The vehicles will reenter the fight faster if the U.S. and other Ukrainian partners source spare parts for the Ukrainians, enabling them to repair the vehicles themselves, according to U.S. officials.

"Regarding the battlefield losses of vehicles and equipment, this is a war," Austin said Thursday. "So we know that there will be battle damage on both sides, and what's important is that the Ukrainians have the ability to recover equipment that's been damaged, repair it where possible and get that equipment back into the fight."

The U.S. and its allies trained 12 brigades of Ukrainian forces over the past few months in preparation for the counteroffensive. In total, the U.S. has trained 11,400 Ukrainians since February 2022 and, when combined with the efforts of its partners, that number rises to 57,000 Ukrainian troops.

Currently, the U.S. is training about three battalions of Ukrainians, including a tank battalion training on the M1A1 Abrams, the U.S. military's main heavy battle tank. Ukraine has been promised 31 of the tanks, which are expected to arrive around early fall. Ukraine has already taken delivery of European-made tanks.

A U.S. Army M1 Abrams tank fires during a NATO exercise in Latvia on March 26, 2021. / Credit: INTS KALNINS/REUTERS

A U.S. military official told reporters this week that the U.S. has projected out specific training plans for Ukrainians until the end of summer, but is ready to extend that timeframe.

A senior Canadian official involved with the international effort to train Ukrainians said some countries have already planned for specific training until December. Currently, there are about 6,000 Ukrainians taking part in 65 training courses at 40 sites on three different continents.

The U.S. and its allies are still working on the plan to train Ukraine's fighter pilots on fourth-generation aircraft, including U.S. F-16s. Denmark and the Netherlands have offered to lead that training and, at some point, the U.S. will need to approve the transfer of F-16s to Ukraine and the training of its pilots on the fighter jets. U.S. officials have said it could take a considerable length of time for the Ukrainians to build up a capable air force.

Ukraine says it's retaken 8th village from Russian occupation

Ron DeSantis campaigns in California for first time since migrant flights landed in Sacramento

West Bank seeing fiercest fighting in years, 5 Palestinians killed in overnight gunfight
U.S. senators stand up for dissident killed in Cuba. House lawmakers should do the same | Opinion

For opponents of the Cuban government, the death  we call it the murder  of respected activist Oswaldo Paya always seemed suspicious, not to mention convenient for those he opposed. He died in a horrific car accident on the island in 2012.

The Cuban government has long dealt harshly, even criminally, with those they consider traitors to Fidel Castros revolution. Unexplained disappearances and mysterious deaths have been the norm.

But who could prove a sinister government did it? That has often been the frustrating dilemma.

This week, in a 26-page report, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IAHRC), the top-human rights group in the Western Hemisphere, did the impossible. It issued a verdict ultimately blaming the Cuban dictatorship for the death of Paya and a fellow activist in that accident.

We have always suspected the hand of the Cuban government in my fathers death, Payas daughter Rosa Maria Paya told reporters this week. She has continued her fathers work to end government repression in Cuba.

The Commission concluded that Cuban state security agents likely were involved in a car crash that killed Paya and Harold Cepero and that the Cuban government bears responsibility for his death, the Miami Herald reported.

The revelations again train a harsh spotlight on the Cuban governments cruelty. And thats where it should be.

We dare those Latin American leaders who, of late, defend and idolize Cubas government, to read the report and learn how this repressive regime silences its critics, then explain their continued and unbridled support for this regime.

Attempts on their lives

The probe, which began in 2013 by the group that is part of the Organization of American States, says the July 2012 deaths of Paya and Cepero were politically motivated in a context marked by state violence against human-rights defenders in Cuba.

Both were subjected to various acts of violence, harassment, threats, attempts on their lives, and finally, a vehicular crash that caused their death, the Commission wrote, the Miami Herald reported.

At the time of his death, Paya, 60, was one of the most visible leaders of the Cuban opposition after he founded the Christian Liberation Movement and collected signatures to present a referendum petition to the National Assembly  as Cubas Constitution allowed. If approved, the petition would have let Cubans vote to oust the regime.

Socialism forever

Known as the Varela Project, the proposal was fiercely opposed by Fidel Castro, who amended the Constitution to make socialism irrevocable and, in 2003, ordered the arrest of 75 dissidents, many of them involved in promoting the Varela initiative.

Cuba has pointed the finger at others in the tragedy. Back in 2012, a Spanish political activist, Angel Carromero, was convicted in Cuba of Paya and Ceperos deaths and sentenced to four years in prison.

Carromero, 26, who was visiting Cuba and driving Paya and others near the eastern city of Bayamo, lost control of his small rental car and ran into a tree. Carromero and Swedish activist, Jens Aron Modig, survived. Paya and Cepero died in the back seat.

Back in 2014, after his release, Carromero met with the Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald opinion editors. He told us what occurred had not been a car accident, but an attempted assassination on Paya and everyone else in the vehicle. He insisted his rental car had been run off the road.

Run off the road

Last year, David Hoffman, a Washington Post contributing editor and Pulitzer Prize winner, published the biography Give Me Liberty: The True Story of Oswaldo Paya and his Daring Quest for a Free Cuba, (Simon & Schuster) a deep dive into Payas life and work that should be Hollywood bound. Hoffman had heard accusations of the regimes involvement, he told the Miami Herald Editorial Board.

I report in Give Me Liberty the text messages sent from the hospital on the day of the car wreck. . . . A passenger who survived texted that the driver, Carromero, said Someone tried to run us off the road. Now the IAHRC has reached a similar conclusion.

This cannot be the end of the story. Who was in the car that rammed Oswaldos on that July day? A full investigation is warranted.

On Wednesday, in a remarkable display of bipartisan support, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Oswaldo Paya Way bill, legislation that renames the street outside of the Cuban embassy in Washington, D.C. Oswaldo Paya Way.

Love the poke in the eye.

The same measure now is in the U.S. House, and it should follow suit, unanimously.

The Commissions finding has even sparked local bipartisanship.

Floridas Democratic Party issued a statement on Wednesday praising the Commissions finding  its an olive branch move by the party toward the Cuban-American community, whose vote they are courting for the 2024 presidential election.

We welcome the conclusion of the investigation by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights into the death of pro-democracy activist Oswaldo Paya and human rights defender Harold Cepero, which is further proof of the cruelty of a regime that persecutes those who stand against it, said state Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried.

All proof that, even now, Paya continues to work against the Cuban governments repression.
DUBAI (Reuters) - The president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has not joined Western sanctions against Moscow, told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday that his nation wished to strengthen ties.

"I am pleased to be here today with you, your Excellency, and we wish to build on this relationship and we put our trust in you to do so," Sheikh Mohammed told Putin on the sidelines of a forum in St. Petersburg on Friday.

The Middle East economic powerhouse has sought to maintain what it says is a neutral position on the Ukraine war.

"The UAE continues to support all efforts aimed at reaching a political solution through dialogue & diplomacy - towards global peace & stability," Sheikh Mohammed tweeted after the meeting.

Putin had earlier thanked the president for his efforts on freeing prisoners of war in Ukraine.

(This story has been corrected to fix the day to Friday, not Wednesday in paragraph 1)

(Reporting by Nayera Abdallah and Nadine Awadalla; Editing by Alex Richardson and Andrew Cawthorne)
FILE - United Auto Workers members walk in the Labor Day parade in Detroit, Sept. 2, 2019. The new president of the United Auto Workers gave his strongest warning yet Friday, June 16, 2023, that the union is preparing for strikes against Detroits three automakers. In a Facebook Live appearance, Shawn Fain said the union is in a strong position to make major gains in talks with Stellantis, Ford and General Motors. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

DETROIT (AP)  The new president of the United Auto Workers gave his strongest warning yet Friday that the union is preparing for strikes against Detroit's three automakers when contracts expire in September.

In a Facebook Live appearance to address members, Shawn Fain said the union is in a strong position to make major gains in talks with Stellantis, Ford and General Motors, but only if our members get organized and are ready to strike.

Fain repeated the union's goals of winning back cost-of-living pay raises and pensions lost as the industry faced financial peril in 2009. They also want general pay raises and elimination of tiers of workers who are paid different wage rates, many for doing the same jobs. The union also wants to represent workers at joint-venture electric vehicle battery plants and get them top wages.

Whether there are strikes depends on how the companies react, Fain said, repeating that the automakers have made billions in the past 10 years but haven't rewarded workers. We have to be able to do whatever we have to do if you want to have these gains. The companies arent going to freely give it, he said.

GM and Ford declined comment on the statements, and a message was left seeking comment from Stellantis, formerly Fiat Chrysler.

Fain campaigned on a platform of taking on the companies to restore concessions made in the past. He narrowly unseated incumbent Ray Curry in the first direct election of officers in the union's history. The election was part of reforms enacted after a wide-ranging bribery and embezzlement scandal.

Contracts with the three automakers, which together employ about 150,000 auto workers, expire on Sept. 14. Negotiations are to start sometime in mid-July but no specific dates have been released.

Fain's statements come as unions try to make wage and organizing gains at a time of low unemployment and even worker shortages in some areas, and they've shown more of a willingness to strike. He spoke the same day as unionized UPS workers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike, setting the stage for a potential work stoppage when a Teamsters contract expires next month.

Even before Fain was elected, UAW members walked picket lines against several companies, in some cases rejecting contract deals reached by their leaders.
UK intelligence reports on first Russian general killed in Ukraine since beginning of year

UK Defence Intelligence has reported that Russian Major General Sergey Goryachev was almost undoubtedly killed in an attack on a command post on or about 12 June in southern Ukraine.

Source: Defence Intelligence review from the UK Ministry of Defence, published on 16 June on Twitter, as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to UK Defence Intelligence, Goryachev served as the chief of staff of the 35th Combined Arms Army of the Russian Armed Forces.

Quote: "With 35 Combined Arms Armys nominated commander, General-Lieutenant Alexandr Sanchik, reported to be filling a gap in a higher HQ, there is a realistic possibility that Goryachev was the acting army commander at the time of his death," the report said.

As UK intelligence emphasised, Goryachev is the first Russian general whose death in Ukraine has been confirmed since the beginning of 2023.

UK intelligence recalled that servicemen from the 35th Combined Arms Army of the Russian Armed Forces were in Bucha, Kyiv Oblast, during the large-scale killings of civilians, and this formation was significantly and almost completely destroyed near the city of Izium, Kharkiv Oblast, in June 2022.

Background: Information regarding the killing of the Russian Major-General Sergey Goryachev was published on 13 June. It was reported that a missile attack caused his death.

Russian propagandists claim that this happened on 12 June on the Zaporizhzhia front, where intense fighting is ongoing.

The Russian Defence Ministry has not commented on the death of its general.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Ukraine is making steady progress in the counteroffensive it launched this month and has reclaimed several towns in the southeast, but its troops are taking heavy losses as they try to plow through entrenched Russian lines.

Even with the losses, the incremental progress is defying expectations, given that Russia has had months to fortify its defenses across the 600-mile front.

The success so far, even in the early stages of what is likely a long campaign, is a good sign for Ukraine. Kyiv is facing pressure to retake swaths of territory in order to keep up support from western allies and chasten Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told NBC News this week the ongoing operation is difficult but generally positive, while also underscoring the immense stakes of the campaign.

For Russia, to lose this campaign to Ukraine, I would say actually means losing the war, Zelensky said.

More Ukraine coverage from The Hill

Putin offered a contrasting view this week, claiming that Ukrainains were suffering a catastrophic defeat.

The adversary was not successful in any sectors, Putin said at a meeting with war correspondents, according to state-run media transcriptions. They have huge losses.

Putin also claimed that at least 25 percent of the combat vehicles provided to Ukraine for the offensive were destroyed, including 160 battle tanks and more than 300 combat vehicles, while Russia suffered the loss of only 54 tanks.

Pro-Russian social media accounts have frequently shared videos of the destroyed armor online to champion what they are saying is a failed offensive.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with Russian war correspondents who cover a special military operation at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, June 13, 2023. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting with Russian war correspondents who cover a special military operation at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, June 13, 2023. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that there will be battle damage on both sides in the war but was skeptical of the Russian accounts of massive destruction of western armor.

I think the Russians have shown us that same five vehicles about 1,000 times from 10 different angles, Austin said at a press conference in Brussels, Belgium. But quite frankly, the Ukrainians still have a lot of combat capability.

The U.S. projects the offensive will press on for many months and has stressed western allies will continue to back Ukraine regardless of the outcome.

But western officials and war experts are watching these early days closely for signs of whats to come.

Jim Townsend, an adjunct senior fellow in the Center for a New American Securitys Transatlantic Security Program, said Ukraine is moving through entrenched defenses and minefields and is probing for weaknesses in the initial phase of the counteroffensive.

Townsend said that means Ukraine is going to pay a price in terms of vehicle loss in the first wave of the operation, as it tries to pick through Russias defenses.

The momentum really hasnt started yet, Townsend said. What we have to keep in mind is they have had some great support and supplies so far  but that melts away in the opening few weeks of an offensive and we have to keep it going.

The U.S. announced another $300 million package for Ukraine this week, which includes more Bradley and Stryker infantry fighting vehicles. On Thursday, defense leaders of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group announced billions of more dollars for Kyiv from western allies.

Ukraine is slowly poking through Russian lines in southern Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia in what appears to be a wider effort to break through to the Sea of Azov by seizing the cities of Berdyansk and Melitopol. If either city is taken, Ukraine would cut off a land bridge from Russia to Crimea and endanger critical Russian supply lines.

Sign up for the latest from The Hill here

So far, Ukrainian forces are only breaking through the edges of Russian-occupied territory, but analysts say this is a wide probing of defenses and a much stronger punch will come in the months ahead, once soft spots are found.

Ukrainian leaders said this week that troops liberated seven villages largely on the outskirts of the regions: Lobkove, Levadne, Novodarivka, Neskuchne, Storozheve, Makarivka and Blahodatne.

Ukraine is also conducting a slow advance through the embattled city of Bakhmut further north in the Donetsk region.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said in her latest update that troops advanced up to a quarter mile in Bakhmut and a similar distance in the Zaporizhzhia region, with fighting ongoing in the towns of Makarivka, Novodanylivka and Novopokrovsk.

The Institute for the Study of War assessed limited gains for Ukraine but said Makarivka in southern Donetsk is largely under Ukrainian control.

Russian military bloggers, however, say the Ukrainian advance is struggling to overcome defenses.

Alexander Kots wrote on Telegram that Ukrainains are taking big hits  including the loss of five western-supplied vehicles in one hour  and have failed to advance toward Tokmak, a crucial point between Ukrainian territory and Melitopol.

The Russian side managed to predict the main directions of the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Zaporozhye direction and prepare well, Kots wrote. The further the Ukrainian offensive develops, the more difficult it will be for the Ukrainian army.

Russian blogger Rybar said Ukraine has suffered 7,000 casualties and that fierce fighting is taking place around Makarivka and other towns in the southern Donetsk region without any major success for Ukrainians.

Independent analysis of the southern advances for Ukraine was confirmed and reported by Reuters. Reporters found Ukrainians had successfully moved into the towns of Storozheve and Neskuchne in the southeast.

Nico Lange, a senior fellow at the Munich Security Conference, said Ukrainians were setting the stage for a wider strike. But he cautioned against expecting a sweeping victory anytime soon, such as Ukrainians retaking Melitopol or Berdyansk.

A first, more modest goal is to bring the railroads into range of Ukraines precision fire, cutting off supplies and using [missiles] to really hit hard on logistics and command and control, Lange said.

As Ukraine advances, Russia is struggling with low morale and disunity within the military, including a feud with private military company Wagner Group, which played a key role in taking Bakhmut last month.

Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has repeatedly aired his criticisms of the Russian Defense Ministry, said he might leave Ukraine after his soldiers engaged in a shootout with Russian troops in late May near Bakhmut.

Prigozhin alleged Russian soldiers mined an escape route for Wagner and fired at them when they moved to disable the explosives.

Prigozhin is also resisting a decree from the Kremlin to force Russian-allied armies to sign a contract that would bring them under tighter control. The deadline for the contract signing is July 1, which the British Defense Ministry says will be a key way-point in the feud.

More broadly, Russia is struggling to fend off attacks in regions bordering Ukraine, with anti-Putin militants marching into Russian towns and Ukrainian strikes frequently bombarding the area, placing more wartime stress on Russia at home.

Putin this week said Russian forces might have to seize more territory to prevent the attacks, but he also floated the idea of peace if western security aid to Ukraine stops.

Townsend, from the Center for a New American Security, said the feuding with Prigozhin has damaged Russian operations. He also said Ukraine is likely to take advantage of Russian weaknesses: low troop morale and bad leadership.

Theres a lot of problems the Russians have, Townsend said, and theyre going up against a very motivated Ukraine force that has a lot of Western equipment.

Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the fighting was intense and it was too early to see how the operation was going to unfold. But Americas highest ranking military officer said the morale of soldiers is a vital part of war and that Russian leadership is not necessarily coherent.

Their troops morale is not high, Milley said Thursday at a press conference in Belgium. So many of them dont even know why theyre there.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Oleksii Reznikov took part in the 13th Ramstein meeting in Germany

During a press briefing following the meeting, the minister told journalists that he heard very important news about the so-called bird coalition, or fighter jet coalition.

Ukraines allies have promised that they will start training Ukrainian pilots and will together build a consortium of fighter jets, he noted.

It (the consortium) will start with F-16s (fighter jets) with the Netherlands and Denmark, with other countries joining, Reznikov said.

And we also heard good news from our Swedish partners that well be able to test, just test their capabilities.

The official added that he is absolutely sure that the fighter jet coalition will work in the same way as the coalition of tanks, air defense, artillery, and multiple launch rocket systems.

Brussels hosted the 13th Ramstein Defense Contact Group meeting on June 15, which involved more than 50 partner countries of Ukraine.

Read also: Denmark, Netherlands, UK, US announce joint supply of air defense systems to Ukraine

At least eight European countries joined the fighter jet coalition for Ukraine, led by the Netherlands and Denmark.

The United States said that allies would work in the coming months to determine when, who and how many planes would be transferred to Ukraine.

At the same time, the fighter jets will be supplied on the condition that Ukraine will not use them to strike the territory of Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier said that he could not state when and how many fighter jets would be handed over to Ukraine, noting that he would try to speed up their delivery.

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
Until the return of our defenders to the territory of Ukraine, they will continue to be registered as missing persons

Thanks to the coordinated work of the commissioners team, it was established that 11 Ukrainian defenders who were held by the aggressor country as POWs are currently on the territory of Hungary, Kotenko said.

Ukraine has established the names of the Ukrainian defenders and the route of their movement from Russia to Hungary, and has informed their relatives and relevant law enforcement agencies, Kotenko said.

At the same time, until now, there was no information at all about seven out of 11 Ukrainian citizens, whose place of detention was established, the commissioner added.

Until the return of our defenders to the territory of Ukraine, they will continue to be registered as missing under special circumstances in the Unified Register of Persons Gone Missing under Special Circumstances, reads the report.

Transfer of Ukrainian POWs from Russia to Hungary: what is known

The Russian Orthodox Church announced on June 8 that it had handed over a group of Ukrainian POWs to Hungary, without specifying their exact number.

Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister Zsolt Semjen confirmed the information on June 9. However, he did not disclose other details, referring to the interests of the case and people.

At the same time, he claimed the transfer was a gesture of the Russian Orthodox Church towards Hungary, to which these people owe their freedom.

The Hungarian mass media reported that the prisoners of war were Hungarians from Ukraines Zakarpattia Oblast.

The relevant decision has not been agreed with Ukraine, the RBC-Ukraine news agency reported.

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 Ukrainian authorities have established the whereabouts of 11 Ukrainian defenders held in Hungary after being captured by the Russian troops.

Source: Oleh Kotenko, Ukrainian Commissioner for Missing Persons, on Telegram

Details: Kotenko reported that thanks to the coordinated work of his team, 11 defenders of Ukraine, who had been held as prisoners of war by the aggressor country and then released, appeared to be in Hungary.

Quote: "The names of our heroes and their route to Hungary have been established, and their relatives and the relevant law enforcement agencies have been notified.

It should be noted that until now, there was no information at all about 7 out of 11 of our citizens whose place of detention had been found out."

Details: The Ukrainian defenders remain on the list of missing persons under special circumstances in the Unified Register of Persons Missing under Special Circumstances until they come back to the territory of Ukraine.

Kotenko stressed that collecting and analysing information on missing persons during hostilities is one of the priorities of the Commissioner for Missing Persons.

Background:

The Russian Orthodox Church reported that on 8 June, "within the framework of inter-church cooperation" and at the request of the Hungarian side, a group of Ukrainian prisoners of war of Transcarpathian origin who had taken part in hostilities on the side of Ukraine were transferred to Hungary.

Later, Zsolt Semjen, Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister, who oversaw the agreements with the Russians, confirmed this information.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that the Ukrainian government had not been informed of the negotiations between the Hungarian and Russian sides. The ministry invited Hungary's charge d'affaires to explain. At the same time, the Foreign Ministry stressed that releasing Ukrainian prisoners of war is "always good news".

The media found out that the release of the 11 Ukrainian prisoners of war and their transfer to Hungary could have been a personal initiative of Zsolt Semjen, Deputy Prime Minister, which no one else in the government knew about.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
At least two explosions rocked Kyiv and air raid sirens blared on Friday as African leaders visited Ukraine, sending them running to bomb shelters.

The African leaders, including South African president Cyril Ramaphosa and Senegal president Macky Sall, were on a peace mission to Kyiv when mayor Vitali Klitschko reported explosions in the central Podil district and warned that more missiles were headed towards the capital.

Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian foreign affairs minister, said the Russian missiles were a message to Africa.

Russia wants more war, not peace, he said.The African leaders had begun their visit with a trip to a mass grave in Bucha, near Kyiv,

before meeting Volodymr Zelensky.The Ukrainian air force later claimed six hypersonic Russian missiles were shot down over Kyiv.

The Kinzhal missiles were accompanied by six Kalibr cruise missiles and two drones, which the air force said had also been downed.

Kinzhal translates to dagger in Russian. One of the latest weapons utilised by Moscow, the Russian military claims that the air-launched ballistic missile has a range of up to 2,000km (approximately 1,250 miles).

Key Points

Explosions heard in Kyiv as African delegation visits Ukraine

Six hypersonic Russian missiles downed over Kyiv on Friday, Ukrainian air force claims

Ukrainian troops face desperate resistance from Russians

Putins forces accused of abducting 150 Ukrainian children from Luhansk

First Russian general confirmed killed in Ukraine war this year, says UK MoD

Dead Russian soldiers line road into liberated Ukrainian village

Six hypersonic Russian missiles downed over Kyiv on Friday, Ukrainian air force claims

Friday 16 June 2023 21:03 , Eleanor Noyce

Six hypersonic Russian missiles were shot down over Kyiv on Friday, the Ukrainian air force has claimed.

The Kinzhal missiles were accompanied by a further six Kalibr cruise missiles and two drones, which the air force further stated had also been downed.

Kinzhal translates to dagger in Russian. One of the latest weapons utilised by Moscow, the Russian military claims that the air-launched ballistic missile has a range of up to 2,000 kilometres (approximately 1,250 miles).

Flying at 10 times the speed of sound, they are hard to intercept, with Russian president Vladimir Putin previously labelling them undefeatable.

A combination of hypersonic speed and a heavy warhead allows the Kinzhal to destroy heavily fortified targets, like underground bunkers or mountain tunnels.

Ukrainian troops face desperate resistance from Russians

Friday 16 June 2023 14:50 , Jane Dalton

Advancing Ukrainian troops are facing desperate resistance from Russian forces around the eastern city of Bakhmut, a senior Ukrainian commander says.

Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who is in charge of Ukrainian ground forces, said the situation in the east was tense and Russia was bringing its best divisions into the Bakhmut sector with backup from artillery and aircraft.

We continue to conduct offensive actions in separate directions, occupying dominant heights, and strips of forest with the aim of forcing the enemy gradually out of the outskirts of Bakhmut. Realising this, the enemy units put up desperate resistance, Syrskyi said on the Telegram messaging app.

The Ukrainian military said last week it had started to push Russian forces back in and around Bakhmut.

Putin calls Zelenskyy a 'disgrace' to Jews

06:01 , Stuti Mishra

In his speech on Friday, Vladimir Putin vehemently defended Russia's move to send troops into Ukraine and repeated his claims that the Ukrainian government is a neo-Nazi regime, despite president Volodymyr Zelensky's Jewish roots.

My Jewish friends say that Zelensky is not a Jew, but a shame to the Jewish people, Mr Putin said.

Here are key takeaways his speech on Friday:

Putin touts Russian economy, says Ukraine's president is 'shame to Jewish people'

Ukraines defence minister thanks Nato after Brussels meet

05:22 , Stuti Mishra

Ukraines defense minister Oleksii Reznikov thanked Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg and US secretary of defence Lloyd Austin on Twitter following a meeting at Nato headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

Secretary Austin, thank you for your leadership in coordinating this exceptional meeting of heads of defence. Secretary General Stoltenberg, thank you for your hospitality at Nato headquarters and for your dedication to making the world safer, Mr Reznikov wrote on Twitter.

Dear @SecDef and @jensstoltenberg, thank you for a full and productive day in Brussels.



Secretary Austin, thank you for your leadership in coordinating this exceptional meeting of heads of defense.



Secretary General Stoltenberg, thank you for your hospitality at NATO pic.twitter.com/zXA7W0HAjd  Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) June 16, 2023

The Nato defence ministers discussed additional support for Ukraine as well as the upcoming summit in Lithuania next month.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky applied for Nato membership in September.

Ukraine advancing in the south, says military chiefs

04:40 , Stuti Mishra

Ukrainian forces are advancing in southern sectors of their counteroffensive against the Russian occupation, Ukrainian military officials said.

Deputy Ukrainian defence minister Hanna Maliar said on the Telegram messaging app that troops were "engaged in active moves to advance in several directions at once.

"Practically in all sectors where our units are attacking in the south, they have registered tactical successes," Ms Maliar said.

"They are gradually moving forward. At the moment, the advance is up to 2 km (1.3 miles) in each direction."

In Ukraine's east, Ms Maliar said Russia forces were trying to dislodge Ukrainian forces from established positions.

Wagner chiefs furious rants risk making an enemy of Putin in feud with Russias defence ministry

04:00 , Eleanor Noyce

It has been claimed by those familiar with the game of thrones in the Kremlin that Yevgeny Prigozhins vitriolic aggression towards the Russian military high command could not have taken place without the sanction of Vladimir Putin.

Even if Putin had just tolerated, rather than encouraged, the Wagner mercenary boss in the feud, then that indulgence seems to be over for the time being. Russias president has backed defence minister Sergei Shoigus directive that Prigozhins mercenaries must sign contracts with the army.

Kim Sengupta writes:

Wagner chief risks making an enemy of Putin in feud with Russias Defence Ministry

Petty squabbles and strategic differences threaten to undermine Natos united front over Ukraine

03:00 , Eleanor Noyce

At a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels, Natos secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, said that it is a critical time for the war in Ukraine as Kyiv begins its counteroffensive. The same could be said of the alliance itself as it seeks eastward expansion and plots its global role.

The Western military alliance that has been strengthened by the united front put in support of Ukraines fight against Russian invasion  but now finds itself facing a series of challenges sparked by a war that could fray that unity.

Turkey is holding out over giving Sweden membership, while any pathway for Kyiv to join the alliance is still to be mapped out, writes Borzou Daragahi:

Analysis: Petty squabbles threaten to undermine Natos united front over Ukraine

ICYMI: On Ukraine-Russia trip, South African leaders delegation stuck at Polish airport over arms permits

01:45 , Eleanor Noyce

A delegation of security officials, diplomats and journalists accompanying the South African president to Ukraine and Russia was stranded on a separately chartered plane at Warsaws airport for more than 24 hours. Polish authorities said on Friday that the problem was over permissions for firearms.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is among a group of African leaders visiting Kyiv and Moscow on a mission to encourage a resolution to Russias war on Ukraine.

According to the Poland Border Guard agency, Ramaphosas security detail did not have permission for the weapons they were carrying, which resulted in a standoff. The presidents office described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply regrettable but said his security was not compromised.

Members of the delegation had weapons which they did not have permission to bring, but they could leave the plane themselves, the Polish agency tweeted Friday.

Mogomotsi Magome reports:

On Ukraine-Russia trip, South African leader's delegation stuck at Polish airport over arms permits

Analysis: Ukraines D-Day offensive is going to need all the help it can get

Saturday 17 June 2023 00:45 , Eleanor Noyce

Ukraines much-anticipated counteroffensive has had so much hype, it even has its own cinematic promotional trailer. Against the backdrop of video game music, Ukrainian soldiers shout I am going to destroy the enemies of our homeland!

Our decisive offensive! they add, as tanks roar across the screen. And that phrase is a carefully chosen one.

The operation, full details of which remain a closely guarded secret, has been nicknamed Ukraines D-Day (in reference to the Second World War operation that, coincidentally, also took place in the month of June).

Both Kyiv and Moscow have reported fierce fighting at points across the vast frontline, writes Bel Trew. But given Russia has had 12 months to fortify its defensive positions, Ukraine needs support to deliver its decisive offensive:

Ukraines D-Day offensive is going to need all the help it can get | Bel Trew

Why did Russia invade Ukraine?

Friday 16 June 2023 23:45 , Eleanor Noyce

Russias special military operation in Ukraine has been raging for one year now as the conflict continues to record devastating casualties and force the mass displacement of millions of blameless Ukrainians.

Vladimir Putin began the war by claiming Russias neighbour needed to be demilitarised and de-Nazified, a baseless pretext on which to launch a landgrab against an independent state that happens to have a Jewish president in Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine has fought back courageously against Mr Putins warped bid to restore territory lost to Moscow with the collapse of the Soviet Union and has continued to defy the odds by defending itself against Russian onslaughts with the help of Western military aid.

Read more:

Heres why Putin really invaded Ukraine

Ukraines Zelensky: every recaptured metre of land of utmost importance

Friday 16 June 2023 22:45 , Eleanor Noyce

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that every metre of Ukrainian territory recaptured from Russian occupying forces was of the utmost importance in Ukraines current counter-offensive against Russian forces.

Our movement forward is the most critical thing, Zelensky said in his nightly video address after meeting top military commanders.

Every soldier, every new step we take, every metre of Ukrainian land freed from the enemy is of utmost importance.

How was a 21-year-old gamer able to leak a mountain of major Pentagon secrets?

Friday 16 June 2023 21:45 , Eleanor Noyce

Handcuffed and with his legs in shackles, Jack Douglas Teixeira glanced nervously around a crowded Boston courtroom during his first court appearance in April.

The 21-year-old Massachusetts National Guard airman whispered yes when informed of his rights as a criminal defendant, according to CNN, showing no hint of the swagger of his online persona OG.

As the hearing concluded, a man in the public gallery shouted: Love you, Jack. Without looking back, Teixeira replied: You too, Dad.

Barely three years into his military career, Jack Teixeira allegedly exposed his countrys most sensitive intelligence gathering operations. Now the Pentagon is being forced into a reckoning on who should have access to Americas secrets. Bevan Hurley reports:

How was 21-year-old gamer Jack Teixeira able to leak a mountain of Pentagon secrets?

Why Ukraine should be encouraged by Putins bluster over its counteroffensive

Friday 16 June 2023 21:15 , Eleanor Noyce

For years there has been a joke-cum-truism, well-articulated by the Twitter parodist Darth Putin, that you should never believe anything unless the Kremlin officially denies it. Its a tried and tested rule of thumb. There is even an inversely proportional relationship between the speed of the Kremlin denial and the refutations distance from the truth. Immediate repudiation multiplied by Kremlins anger level equals lie.

So when President Vladimir Putin claimed to his propagandists (sometimes erroneously called Russian war correspondents) at a meeting this week that Ukraine was suffering ten times the losses of Russia in the formers counteroffensive, this was surely a sign that things were not going well for the Kremlin.

The president and his military chiefs have sought to claim extreme Ukrainian troop losses, writes James Nixey  a sure sign that things were not going well for the Kremlin:

Analysis: Why Ukraine should be encouraged by Putins bluster over its offensive

US Energy Dept got two ransom requests from Cl0p in data breach

Friday 16 June 2023 21:10 , Eleanor Noyce

The U.S. Department of Energy got ransom requests from the Russia-linked extortion group Cl0p at both its nuclear waste facility and the scientific education facilities that were recently hit in a global hacking campaign, a spokesperson said on Friday.

The DOE contractor Oak Ridge Associated Universities and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, the New Mexico-based facility for disposal of defense-related radioactive nuclear waste, were hit in the attack, which was first reported on Thursday.

Why Russias attempts to get round oil sanctions risk ecological disaster

Friday 16 June 2023 20:45 , Eleanor Noyce

The last time Russia was involved in a major oil spill in the Arctic it triggered one of the worst man-made environmental disasters in recent history. When a storage tank collapsed due to melting permafrost near Norilsk, it spilled some 21,000 tonnes of oil into the vulnerable Arctic ecosystem, contaminating a 350 sq km area and turning the bright turquoise waters of Siberias Ambarnaya river into red sludge.

Three years later, the waters of the Ambarnaya are still red and the impacts of the incident are expected to last for decades. State investigators have accused the company involved of negligence and mismanagement, and Vladimir Putin was said to be personally angered by alleged delays in informing the authorities about the spill.

Shweta Sharma reports:

Why Russias attempts to get round oil sanctions risk ecological disaster

Putin touts Russian economy, says Ukraine's president is 'shame to Jewish people'

Friday 16 June 2023 20:15 , Eleanor Noyce

President Vladimir Putin on Friday touted Russias prospects at the countrys main international economic forum despite heavy international sanctions imposed because of the war in Ukraine.

Western officials and investors steered clear of this years St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that for decades has been Russias premier event for attracting foreign capital and is sometimes likened to the Davos World Economic Forum.

The Kremlin earlier also banned journalists from countries that Russia regards as unfriendly from covering the proceedings that began Wednesday and continue through Saturday. Moscow has imposed that designation on scores of countries including the United States, Canada, European Union members and Australia in connection with sanctions imposed over the fighting in Ukraine.

Read more:

Putin touts Russian economy, says Ukraine's president is 'shame to Jewish people'

NATO chief appears likely to stay on as allies struggle to find a replacement for him

Friday 16 June 2023 19:45 , Eleanor Noyce

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg seems increasingly likely to have his term at the helm of the worlds biggest security organization extended yet again, as members struggle to agree on another candidate to replace him.

Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, has been NATOs top civilian official since 2014. His term was due to expire last year but was extended for a second time to keep a steady hand at the helm after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts are due to choose a successor when they meet for a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11-12. No candidate has been proposed publicly, and leaders usually decide by consensus on who should be appointed.

Read more:

NATO chief appears likely to stay on as allies struggle to find a replacement for him

Wagner chiefs furious rants risk making an enemy of Putin in feud with Russias defence ministry

Friday 16 June 2023 19:15 , Eleanor Noyce

It has been claimed by those familiar with the game of thrones in the Kremlin that Yevgeny Prigozhins vitriolic aggression towards the Russian military high command could not have taken place without the sanction of Vladimir Putin.

Even if Putin had just tolerated, rather than encouraged, the Wagner mercenary boss in the feud, then that indulgence seems to be over for the time being. Russias president has backed defence minister Sergei Shoigus directive that Prigozhins mercenaries must sign contracts with the army.

Yevgeny Prigozhins mercenaries have played a key role in the fight for control of the city of Bakhmut  a symbolic battle for both Ukraine and Russia. But, writes Kim Sengupta, Putins indulgence of his tirades may be over as the president backs his defence ministers call for Wagner fighters to sign contracts with the army:

Wagner chief risks making an enemy of Putin in feud with Russias Defence Ministry

Unclear if reservoir water from breached dam can still be pumped to Zaporizhzhia - IAEA

Friday 16 June 2023 19:00 , Eleanor Noyce

It is unclear whether water from the huge reservoir of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine that burst last week can still be pumped to the nearby Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) for cooling, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Friday.

While the reservoir was a main source of water for cooling the six reactors and spent fuel ponds at Europes biggest nuclear power plant, the plant can fall back on other sources including a large cooling pond which the International Atomic Energy Agency says has enough water to last for months.

The bursting of the dam has, however, further complicated an already difficult situation in terms of ensuring Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia operates safely, the IAEA says. Shelling has repeatedly downed external power lines that are also vital to ensuring the cooling necessary to prevent a nuclear meltdown.

There are...indications that some water resources from the reservoir itself currently remain available in areas near the ZNPP, the IAEA said in a statement.

But it is unclear if the level is high enough to pump it up for use at the plant. The pumps were last in operation about a week ago.

An IAEA team including the agencys Director General Rafael Grossi visited the plant on Thursday, crossing the front line to get there. A small team of IAEA experts based at the plant was also rotated out and replaced.

The plant informed the Director General that additional cooling water can be pumped from an underground water system and on-site wells. But ... it is not yet known whether these wells can reliably provide all the required water, the IAEA said.

New pumps that can potentially continue to access water at lower reservoir levels may also be installed, it added.

White House denounces nuclear rhetoric from Putin

Friday 16 June 2023 18:50 , Eleanor Noyce

The White House on Friday denounced comments from Russian president Vladimir Putin on the possible use of nuclear weapons, but said the United States had made no adjustments to its nuclear posture in response to the rhetoric.

The White House comments came after Putin said earlier on Friday that Russia could theoretically use nuclear weapons if there was a threat to its territorial integrity or existence, but that it did not need to.

Responding to questions aboard Air Force One, White House deputy press secretary Olivia Dalton also reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to NATOs principle of collective defense.

Rheinmetall to boost propellant powder production by up to 600 tons per year - CEO

Friday 16 June 2023 18:45 , Eleanor Noyce

Rheinmetall will ramp up production of propellant powder for ammunition at its plant in the Bavarian town of Aschau by 500 to 600 metric tons per year, adding some 10% to its current global capacity of more than 6,000 tons, its CEO Armin Papperger said.

Rheinmetall has already kicked off an investment programme with this goal, Papperger told Reuters in an interview late on Thursday.

While this does not mean that earlier plans for a completely new powder plant were off the table, the construction of a new plant with a planned capacity of some 1,500 tons per year would only be commercially viable with state aid or a very large contract, he said.

You can only do it if you have a very, very large order of, for example, 800,000 artillery shells, Papperger said. This is not a situation we find ourselves in, which means we are finding other ways such as expanding our powder plant in Bavaria.

In January, Papperger told Reuters that Rheinmetall was considering building a new powder plant, possibly in the eastern German state of Saxony, but that the investment of 700-800 million euros would have to be footed by the government in Berlin.

He argued the plant was needed as shortages in the production of special powders could turn out to be a bottleneck, hampering efforts to boost the output of tank and artillery shells.

Global demand for ammunition has soared since Russias invasion of Ukraine in Feb. 2022, with Rheinmetall benefiting from it as one of the biggest global producers of artillery and tank shells.

Zelensky says he wants to hold Ukraine-Africa summit

Friday 16 June 2023 18:35 , Eleanor Noyce

Ukrainian president Volodymyr President Zelensky said during a visit of African leaders to Kyiv on Friday that he wanted to hold a Ukraine-Africa summit, and for Kyiv to step up its relations with the continent.

Kyiv has been courting the Global South and trying to challenge Russias influence in the region. Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, plans to hold its second Russia-Africa summit this summer.

Zelensky gestures as he addresses media after talks with African Presidents in Kyiv (AFP via Getty Images)

Ramaphosa: we are here to share the African perspective on finding peace in Ukraine

Friday 16 June 2023 18:25 , Eleanor Noyce

South Africas president Cyril Ramaphosa added that African leaders were here to share the African perspective on finding peace in Ukraine.

South Africas Ramaphosa: important to listen carefully to Russia and Ukraine

Friday 16 June 2023 18:20 , Eleanor Noyce

South Africas president Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday that international investigations on alleged abuses in the Ukrainian city of Bucha should be allowed to go on, and that it was important to listen to what both Russia and Ukraine had to say.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said he did not understand the logic of the decision by African leaders to visit Russia following talks in Kyiv.

...This is their decision, how logical it is, I dont really understand, he told reporters at a joint news conference with the African leaders.

Ukraine invites African leaders to attend global peace summit - Zelensky

Friday 16 June 2023 18:15 , Eleanor Noyce

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday he had invited African leaders to take part in a global peace summit and rejected the idea of peace talks with Moscow now, which he said would simply freeze the war in Ukraine.

Speaking at a news conference with visiting African leaders, Zelensky said Ukraine needed a real peace with the withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied territory.

African countries are prepared to participate further in a peace pact, South Africas president Cyril Ramaphosa said after the meeting, during which he called for a free flow of grain.

He added that there must be a de-escalation on both sides of the war in Ukraine, and peace should be achieved through negotiations and diplomatic means.

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa called on Ukraine and Russia to de-escalate their conflict, as he arrived in the war-torn country on a mission to broker peace (AFP via Getty Images)

Blinken says there are no indications that Russia preparing to use nuclear weapons

Friday 16 June 2023 17:49 , Eleanor Noyce

There are no indications that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons and the United States sees no reason to adjust its own nuclear posture, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters on Friday.

His comments came after Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia could theoretically use nuclear weapons if there was a threat to its territorial integrity or existence, but that it did not need to.

U.N. nuclear chief Grossi to visit Moscow next week: Interfax

Friday 16 June 2023 17:45 , Eleanor Noyce

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, is expected to visit Moscow next week, the Interfax news agency reported on Friday, citing the head of Russias nuclear state company Rosatom.

Grossi visited the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine on Thursday to assess its condition following last weeks breach in a massive Soviet-era dam downstream whose reservoir has fed the facilitys cooling pond.

Russia, Turkey agree on Putin visit to Turkey soon - Ifax cites Kremlin aide

Friday 16 June 2023 17:30 , Eleanor Noyce

Russian president Vladimir Putin and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan have agreed that the Russian leader will visit Turkey soon, Interfax cited a Kremlin aide as saying on Friday.

The visit would be Putins first to a NATO country since he ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Putin has only rarely travelled outside Russia since the beginning of full-scale hostilities.

There is an invitation from the president of Turkey. Putin and Erdogan agreed that the visit will be in the near future, but we have not yet talked about a specific day, specific dates, Interfax cited Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov as saying.

Erdogan, re-elected last month for another five-year term, has sought to maintain strong ties with both Moscow and Kyiv since the start of the conflict in Ukraine.

Turkey has refused to join its Western allies in imposing economic sanctions on Russia, but has also supplied arms to Ukraine and called for its sovereignty to be respected.

Ankara has also helped to broker prisoner exchanges and, along with the United Nations, negotiated a deal in July 2022 to allow for the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports via the Black Sea.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later hailed what he called the unprecedented cooperation between Moscow and Ankara, praising Erdogans balanced position on the Ukraine conflict.

And so we must do everything to ensure that Turkey is a good neighbour for us, he added, in comments reported by the TASS news agency.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, meaning he may run the risk of being arrested if he travels abroad. However, Ankara is not a party to the Rome Statute, which created the ICC, and so Putin would run no such risk by visiting Turkey.

Ukraines D-Day offensive is going to need all the help it can get

Friday 16 June 2023 17:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Both Kyiv and Moscow have reported fierce fighting at points across the vast frontline, writes Bel Trew.

But given Russia has had 12 months to fortify its defensive positions, Ukraine needs support to deliver its decisive offensive.

Ukraines much-anticipated counteroffensive has had so much hype, it even has its own cinematic promotional trailer. Against the backdrop of video game music, Ukrainian soldiers shout I am going to destroy the enemies of our homeland!

Our decisive offensive! they add, as tanks roar across the screen. And that phrase is a carefully chosen one.

The operation, full details of which remain a closely guarded secret, has been nicknamed Ukraines D-Day (in reference to the Second World War operation that, coincidentally, also took place in the month of June).

Ukraines D-Day offensive is going to need all the help it can get | Bel Trew

Zelensky says peace talks possible only after Russian troops leave

Friday 16 June 2023 17:08 , Eleanor Noyce

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said after meeting African leaders in Kyiv on Friday that peace talks with Russia would be possible only after Moscow withdraws its forces from occupied territory, the Interfax Ukraine news agency reported.

A delegation of African leaders began a peace mission in Kyiv on Friday, undeterred by what Ukraine said was a volley of Russian missiles intended to greet them in the capital.

Russian officials say Black Sea grain deal can't be extended

Friday 16 June 2023 16:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Senior Russian officials said on Friday the Black Sea grain deal could not be extended under current circumstances but that Moscow was working to ensure that poorer countries would not suffer food shortages when it ends.

The deal, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July 2022, allowed Ukraine to resume sea-borne grain exports to help tackle a global food crisis the U.N. said had been exacerbated by Europes deadliest conflict since World War Two.

Last month Moscow reluctantly agreed to extend the deal, known by diplomats as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, until July 17 on condition that it also received help with its own food and fertiliser exports. Russia says this help has not materialised.

It is impossible to update this deal, and under these conditions, I believe, it is also impossible to extend it because the limit of our patience and desire to implement it has been exhausted, Interfax news agency cited the speaker of the upper house of parliament, Valentina Matviyenko, as saying.

Matviyenko, speaking on the sidelines of an economic forum in St Petersburg, said Russia would seek other formats to ensure that poorer countries did not suffer from the collapse of the grain deal.

We are open to all reasonable proposals and to any dialogue but not to the detriment of our countrys interests, she said.

Separately, top Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov said on Friday that Russia was unlikely to quit the grain deal before it comes up for renewal on July 17, state media reported.

Putin says Russia could use nuclear weapons but has 'no need to'

Friday 16 June 2023 16:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia could theoretically use nuclear weapons if there was a threat to its territorial integrity or existence, but that it did not need to.

He was speaking at the plenary session of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Nuclear weapons have been made to ensure our security in the broadest sense of the word and the existence of the Russian state, but we... have no such need (to use them), Putin said.

Putin: There is danger NATO is pulled into Ukraine conflict

Friday 16 June 2023 15:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday there was a serious danger that the NATO military alliance could be pulled further into the Ukraine conflict.

Putin was speaking at the plenary session of Russias flagship St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Putin says Ukraine will soon run out of its own military equipment

Friday 16 June 2023 15:29 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Ukraine would soon run out of its own military equipment, making it totally reliant on hardware supplied by the West.

Putin told an economic forum in St Petersburg that Ukraine had failed to make progress in its counter-offensive and said its army had no chance against Russias.

(AP)

Putin thanks UAE leader for Ukraine help, hails growing economic ties

Friday 16 June 2023 14:45 , Jane Dalton

Russian President Vladimir Putin has thanked the president of the United Arab Emirates for his efforts in freeing prisoners of war in Ukraine and hailed what he said were expanding economic ties between Moscow and Abu Dhabi.

Putin made the comments during talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan on the sidelines of Russias annual economic forum in St Petersburg, where UAE companies are prominent unlike many Western counterparts who have stayed away because of the Ukraine conflict.

The UAE, like Saudi Arabia, is a member of the OPEC+ oil alliance that includes Russia and it has maintained good ties with Moscow despite Western pressure to help isolate and punish it for sending tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

The UAE has not joined Western sanctions against Moscow, while Dubai, long popular with Russian tourists, has become a magnet for Russian business people over the past 16 months, with busy direct flights to Moscow and expanding economic ties.

I know that the Emirates economy and the social sphere are developing really actively under your leadership and, in this sense, for us of course the Emirates is a very good and comfortable partner, Putin told the UAE president.

Relations between Russia and the Emirates are developing really successfully, he added.

(SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

UAE president tells Russias Putin: We wish to strengthen relationship

Friday 16 June 2023 14:40 , Jane Dalton

The president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has not joined Western sanctions against Moscow, told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that his nation wished to strengthen ties.

I am pleased to be here today with you, your Excellency, and we wish to build on this relationship and we put our trust in you to do so, Sheikh Mohammed told Putin on the sidelines of a forum in St. Petersburg on Friday.

The Middle East economic powerhouse has sought to maintain what it says is a neutral position on the Ukraine war.

The UAE continues to support all efforts aimed at reaching a political solution through dialogue & diplomacy - towards global peace & stability, Sheikh Mohammed tweeted after the meeting.

Putin had earlier thanked the president for his efforts on freeing prisoners of war in Ukraine.

(EPA)

Well let foreign firms return, Putin says

Friday 16 June 2023 14:00 , Jane Dalton

On foreign businesses leaving Russia, Mr Putin told an audience at the economic forum: If foreign manufacturers want to return again, come to our market, and we hear such conversations more and more often, we are not closing the doors to anyone.

Of course, no one is afraid of competition, and, as you know, it is the engine of progress and trade. We will also create the necessary conditions for them to work in Russia.

You know very well that we have never driven anyone from our market or our economy. On the contrary, we suggested that (foreign businesses) weigh all the pros and cons, think carefully about their Russian partners and the possible consequences of such a step.

If at first our entrepreneurs were very worried about the departure of Western companies, now they are occupying vacated production facilities and sites in shopping centres.

We must protect our sovereignty, claims Putin

Friday 16 June 2023 13:44 , Jane Dalton

On Russian defence spending, President Putin said: Today, our public finances are generally balanced. There is a small current federal budget deficit... Naturally, additional funds were needed to strengthen defence and security, to purchase weapons.

We are obliged to do this to protect the sovereignty of our country.

Putin boasts of growing economy and low unemployment

Friday 16 June 2023 13:38 , Jane Dalton

On the Russian economy, the president said this year, gross domestic product grew by 3.3% in annual terms, and by the end of the year it will add more than a percent.

He added: We have maintained a responsible, balanced budgetary and monetary policy. Their effective combination made it possible to reach the minimum levels of unemployment, as well as inflation, which is now lower in Russia than in many Western countries, both in the eurozone and in other regions, (and) is close to a historical minimum of 2.9%. Unemployment 3.3%. It has never been so low in our history.

(AP)

Russia will help ensure food security'

Friday 16 June 2023 13:32 , Jane Dalton

Russia will play an active part in ensuring world food security, Vladimir Putin has claimed at an economic forum in St Petersburg..

Trade export reached record highs last year, the Russian president insisted.

Supplies of our agro-industrial sector have reached new highs, he told the audience, saying Russia was the worlds biggest wheat exporter.

He pledged to invest 11 billion roubles into expanding hotels, and claimed Russia had increased trade with responsible Eurasian partners.

Well expand infrastructure, vows Putin

Friday 16 June 2023 13:25 , Jane Dalton

Russia will expand its infrastructure, including tripling exports, Vladimir Putin has vowed, as he addressed his countrys flagship economic forum in St Petersburg.

The Russian president vaunted ambitious plans to an audience of businesspeople.

Infrastructure was needed for entertainment and an expansion of tourism, he said.

The forum was originally designed to attract foreign direct investment, discuss economic policy and project a global image that Russia was open for business after the end of the Soviet Union. It has often been described as the Russian Davos.

Wagner chiefs furious rants risk making an enemy of Putin in feud with Russias Defence Ministry

Friday 16 June 2023 13:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Yevgeny Prigozhin's mercenaries have played a key role in the fight for control of the city of Bakhmut  a symbolic battle for both Ukraine and Russia.

But, writes Kim Sengupta, Putins indulgence of his tirades may be over as the president backs his defence ministers call for Wagner fighters to sign contracts with the army.

Wagner chief risks making an enemy of Putin in feud with Russias Defence Ministry

Russia accuses Australia of 'Russophobic hysteria

Friday 16 June 2023 12:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia accused Australia of Russophobic hysteria for canceling the lease on the land where Moscow wanted to build its new embassy, which the Australian government judged to be a security risk because it was too close to Parliament House.

Parliament passed emergency legislation blocking the lease Thursday after Russia won a Federal Court appeal last month against local Canberra authorities decision to do the same.

The Russian Embassy responded on Friday by posting on social media a Russian news agency TASS report of Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskovs condemnation of Australias actions.

Australia, having canceled the lease agreement for the site for the construction of the new Russian Embassy building, diligently continues to move forward in the main stream of the authors of the Russophobic hysteria and tries to distinguish itself on this path, Peskov is quoted as saying.

Another unfriendly display from Australia. We will take this into account and if there are issues on the agenda that require the principle of reciprocity, we will act accordingly, Preskov said.

The Russian Embassy is quoted as describing the lease termination as another step by (Prime Minister) Anthony Albanese towards a deliberate and systematic destruction of relations with Moscow.

The law ending the lease took effect late Thursday when it was rubber-stamped by Governor-General David Hurley, representing Australias head of state, King Charles III.

Albanese explained the urgency as a need to prevent the site becoming a formal diplomatic presence.

Lawmakers cited threats of espionage and political interference if Russias second embassy was built in the Yarralumla diplomatic precinct so close to Parliament House.

Russia currently occupies the former USSR embassy in the suburb of Griffith, farther from Parliament House than the new site.

The Yarralumla site would have provided Russia with a second cluster of diplomatic buildings in the national capital Canberra.

Australian intelligence agencies now rate espionage and foreign interference as the nations greatest security challenges.

Why did Russia invade Ukraine?

Friday 16 June 2023 12:32 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russias special military operation in Ukraine has been raging for one year now as the conflict continues to record devastating casualties and force the mass displacement of millions of blameless Ukrainians.

Vladimir Putin began the war by claiming Russias neighbour needed to be demilitarised and de-Nazified, a baseless pretext on which to launch a landgrab against an independent state that happens to have a Jewish president in Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine has fought back courageously against Mr Putins warped bid to restore territory lost to Moscow with the collapse of the Soviet Union and has continued to defy the odds by defending itself against Russian onslaughts with the help of Western military aid.

Heres why Putin really invaded Ukraine

'Impossible' to extend grain deal under current conditions - speaker of Russia's upper house

Friday 16 June 2023 11:47 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

It is impossible to extend the Black Sea grain deal under current circumstances, the speaker of Russias upper house of parliament, Valentina Matviyenko, said on Friday, according to Interfax news agency.

Matiyenko, speaking on the sidelines of an economic forum in St Petersburg, said the limits of our patience... have been exhausted, echoing comments made earlier this week by President Vladimir Putin and other senior Russian officials.

However she also said it would be important to avoid exacerbating a food crisis for poorer countries. The Black Sea deal allows for the safe export of grain and other products from Ukraines ports.

(Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

How significant is the reported recapture of the first Ukrainian villages from Russia?

Friday 16 June 2023 10:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Ukraine has celebrated the first territorial gains of its long-trailed counteroffensive against the invading Russian forces.

Unverified photographs and video appearing on Sunday and on Monday morning showed Ukrainian soldiers holding their countrys blue and yellow flag aloft in triumph in the eastern villages of Storozheve, Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka in Donetsk, suggesting they had been recaptured from occupying enemy troops.

Ukraines deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar posted one of the photos from Storozheve and thanked the 35th Separate Brigade of Marines for liberating it.

She has since said that Ukraine has won back three more villages in Zaporizhzhia  Lobkove, Levadne and Novodarivk  and advanced 250 metres near Bakhmut, 200 metres on the Toretsk front in east Ukraine and at least 500 metres closer to the port city of Berdyansk.

How significant is the reported recapture of the first Ukrainian villages?

Putins forces accused of abducting 150 Ukrainian children from Luhansk

Friday 16 June 2023 10:27 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russia has been accused of abducting 150 children from the occupied Luhansk region.

The National Resistance Centre of Ukraine said the children were taken from the Luhansks Starobilsk district on 8 June to two centres in the Prikuban district of Russias Karachay-Cherkess republic.

According to a Ukrainian national database, over 19,000 children have been illegally taken to Russia from occupied territories.

Explosions heard in Kyiv as African delegation visits Ukraine

Friday 16 June 2023 10:02 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Explosions were heard in central Kyiv on Friday as an African delegation visited Ukraine on a peace mission, Reuters witnesses and the Kyiv mayor reported.

Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema, Senegal's President Macky Sall, President of the Union of Comoros Azali Assoumani, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Egypt's Prime Minister Mustafa Madbuly visited a site of a mass grave, in the town of Bucha.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported explosions in the central Podil district and warned that more missiles were headed towards the capital. Another Reuters correspondent in Kyiv saw the smoke trail of two missiles in the air.

It was not clear if those missiles were fired by Russia or by Ukrainian air defences.

(REUTERS)

Kremlin says Putin open to any contacts on 'Ukrainian problem'

Friday 16 June 2023 09:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Kremlin said on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is still open to any contacts to discuss a resolution of the Ukraine conflict, Russian news agencies reported.

The comments came on the eve of a visit by African leaders to present a new peace initiative to Putin, nearly 16 months after he launched Russias invasion of Ukraine.

President Putin was and is open to any contacts to discuss possible scenarios for solving the Ukrainian problem, Interfax quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

Russia has long said it is open to negotiations, but says Ukraine must recognise the new realities on the ground, where its forces control some 18% of Ukrainian territory.

Moscow claimed last autumn to have annexed four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine as well as the Crimea peninsula, which it seized in 2014.

Ukraine says its own peace plan, which envisages the withdrawal of Russian troops from all Ukrainian land, must be the basis for any settlement of the war.

The African delegation was due to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday before meeting Putin in St Petersburg on Saturday.

(Sputnik)

Air alert issued in Kyiv as African leaders visit Ukraine on peace mission

Friday 16 June 2023 09:22 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

An air raid alert was issued in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and the Kyiv region on Friday as African leaders visited on a peace mission.

Kyiv authorities issued the alert after the Ukrainian air force said several Russian Kalibr missiles had been launched from the Black Sea and were heading north towards Kyiv.

The African delegation was expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv later on Friday.

Kremlin says Putin open to any contacts on Ukraine conflict resolution - RIA

Friday 16 June 2023 08:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Kremlin on Friday said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is still open to any contacts to discuss the resolution of the Ukraine conflict, Russian state news agency RIA reported.

(AP)

U.S. lawmakers hope Ukraine can fight Russia with Russian assets

Friday 16 June 2023 08:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Republican and Democratic members of the U.S. Congress introduced legislation on Thursday that would make it easier for Ukraine to fund its fight against Russian invaders by using seized and frozen Russian assets.

The U.S. Congress has approved more than $100 billion in military, humanitarian and economic aid for Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.

While leaders of both parties insist U.S. support for the Kyiv government remains strong, some members of Congress have questioned how long that level of aid can continue amid calls to clamp down on government spending.

The bills sponsors said their intention is to ensure Moscow pays for damage caused by the invasion, not U.S. taxpayers.

Over a year into Russias full-scale war against Ukraine, more than $300 billion in Russian sovereign assets remain frozen globally, said Senator Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a sponsor of the bill.

Given Russias brutality and continued war crimes against the Ukrainian people, it is only right that Russian government funds in the United States be seized and repurposed to help Ukraine rebuild its country, he said.

Among other things, the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity (REPO) for Ukrainians Act introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives would give the U.S. president the authority to confiscate Russian assets frozen in the United States and transfer them to help Ukraine.

It also would bar the release of funds to sanctioned Russian entities until Russia withdraws from Ukraine and agrees to provide compensation for harm caused by the war.

The bills other Republican sponsors include Representative Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Representatives Joe Wilson, Thomas Kean and Brian Fitzpatrick.

Democratic sponsors include Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Representative Marcy Kaptur, a co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, as well as Representatives Steve Cohen and Mike Quigley.

South African president arrives in Ukraine on peace mission

Friday 16 June 2023 08:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Ukraine on Friday as part of an African peace mission, the South African presidency said on Twitter.

Ramaphosa is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday and then travel to Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Saturday.

(AP)

Russian troops to get bonuses for destroying western tanks

Friday 16 June 2023 07:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Russian troops who have destroyed German-made Leopard tanks and U.S.-supplied armoured vehicles being used by Ukraine will receive bonus payments, the Defence Ministry said on Friday.

The ministry said this was part of a wider reward scheme under which more than 10,000 Russian servicemen had received individual bonuses since the start of the war nearly 16 months ago.

On the basis of reports from Russian field commanders, payments are currently being made to servicemen of the Russian Federation Armed Forces who in the course of military operations destroyed Leopard tanks, as well as armoured fighting vehicles made in the USA and other NATO countries, the ministry said.

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Sunday awarded the Hero of Russia gold star medal to soldiers who Moscow said had destroyed Leopard tanks and U.S.-made Bradley fighting vehicles being used by Ukraine, which has launched a long-anticipated counteroffensive.

The ministry said that up to May 31, a total of 10,257 servicemen had been rewarded for destroying 16,001 items of Ukrainian and Western military equipment.

An enemy armoured vehicle was worth 50,000 roubles ($596) and a tank 100,000 roubles, it said.

Military pilots and air defence operators received 300,000 roubles for every destroyed Ukrainian plane or helicopter. Hits on Tochka-U and U.S.-supplied HIMARS rocket launch systems were rewarded by the same amount.

(Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Live: Nato defence ministers meet in Brussels for first time since latest Ukrainian counteroffensive

Friday 16 June 2023 07:36 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Watch live as Nato defence ministers meet in Brussels for the first time since latest Ukrainian counteroffensive got under way.

Live: Nato defence ministers meet in Brussels for first time since latest Ukrainian counteroffensive

First Russian general confirmed killed in Ukraine war this year, says UK MoD

Friday 16 June 2023 06:55 , Arpan Rai

The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said that Russian general-major Sergei Goryachev was almost certainly killed in a strike on a command post on or around 12 June 2023, in southern Ukraine.

The top Russian general Goryachev was the chief of staff of 35th Combined Arms Army (35 CAA).

With 35 CAAs nominated commander, General-Lieutenant Alexandr Sanchik, reported to be filling a gap in a higher HQ, there is a realistic possibility that Goryachev was the acting army commander at the time of his death, the ministry said today.

Goryachev is the first Russian general confirmed killed in Ukraine since the start of 2023, the MoD said.

It continues a war record which has been both difficult and controversial for 35th CAA: in March 2022 elements of the army were present during the massacre of civilians in Bucha, and in June 2022 the force was largely wiped out near Izium, the ministry added.

UN atomic watchdog chief visits Ukraine nuclear plant threatened by war with Russia

Friday 16 June 2023 06:00 , Joe Middleton

The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog visited Europes largest atomic power plant Thursday in southern Ukraine, where a recent dam burst and the start of a counteroffensive in the war by Kyivs forces have heightened safety risks.

The visit was announced by Ukraines national nuclear energy company, Energoatom, in a Telegram post.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, the International Atomic Energy Agency chief, met Tuesday in Kyiv with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss concerns about the Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

UN atomic watchdog chief visits Ukraine nuclear plant threatened by war with Russia

Russia bringing reserve troops for heavy fighting in east from other directions, says minister

Friday 16 June 2023 05:42 , Arpan Rai

Russia is bringing in reserves to eastern sector of heavy fighting in the war from other parts of Ukraine, said Ukrainian deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar said.

As of now, offensive and defensive operations are ongoing in various directions. In the east, the enemy continues to concentrate a significant amount of forces and resources and pulls up reserves from other directions, she said on Telegram in the early hours today.

She added that the enemy is trying with all his might to stop the advance of our troops.

Spain to send four Leopard tanks to Ukraine

Friday 16 June 2023 05:08 , Arpan Rai

Spain is set to aid Ukraine in the continuing war by giving four Leopard 2A4 tanks, the countrys defence minister Margarita Robles has announced.

The European nation will also send 20 armoured personal carriers.

Ukraines D-Day offensive is going to need all the help it can get

Friday 16 June 2023 05:00 , Joe Middleton

Both Kyiv and Moscow have reported fierce fighting at points across the vast frontline, writes Bel Trew. But given Russia has had 12 months to fortify its defensive positions, Ukraine needs support to deliver its decisive offensive

Ukraines D-Day offensive is going to need all the help it can get | Bel Trew

Chechen fighters sent to Russian border with Ukraine, leader Kadyrov says

Friday 16 June 2023 04:10 , Arpan Rai

Chechen fighters have been deployed in Russias Belgorod region bordering Ukraine to prevent attacks from Ukrainian sabotage groups, Chechnya ruler Ramzan Kadyrov has said.

Residents of the territories adjacent to the border with Ukraine can rest easy ... Whoever encroaches on our borders will receive a lightning response, Kadyrov said in a post on Telegram.

Kadyrov, a Putin ally who leads the Russian region of Chechnya, said that fighters from the Zapad-Akhmat battalion had been deployed near the border village of Nekhoteevka and a checkpoint in Graivoron district, the site of a cross-border attack in May.

Belgorod region has in the past month reported a series of cross-border incursions from pro-Ukraine Russian partisan groups calling themselves opponents of President Vladimir Putin.

Ukraine denies involvement in the cross-border attacks, casting them as a direct consequence of Russias February 2022 invasion.

Support mounts for Stoltenberg to stay on in NATO's top job

Friday 16 June 2023 04:00 , Joe Middleton

Support mounted on Thursday for NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to have his mandate at the head of the worlds biggest security organization extended yet again as Denmarks prime minister ruled herself out of the running.

Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, has been NATOs top civilian official since 2014. His term was due to expire last year but was extended to keep a steady hand at the helm after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

U.S. President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts are due to choose a successor when they meet for a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11-12. No candidate has been proposed publicly, and leaders usually decide by consensus on who should be appointed.

Support mounts for Stoltenberg to stay on in NATO's top job

Visually impaired people in Ukraine struggle to cope during Russian missile attacks

Friday 16 June 2023 03:00 , Joe Middleton

Sunlight filters through shattered windows, casting a glow upon the dusty furniture and fragments of glass strewn across the floor of the office belonging to Oleksandr Vinkovskyi, director of a Kyiv business where visually impaired people worked.

Vinkovskyi is blind, and cant see the scale of damage caused by debris from one of many Russian-fired drones on the Ukrainian capital last month. But he knows that 80 people, including 54 with a disability who used to work there manufacturing circuit breakers, sockets and hangers, are now out of work.

Most of the windows have been shattered, the doors broken, equipment ruined, and a gaping hole marks the wall on the third floor. Vinkovskyi has halted the operation for now, deeming it too dangerous for his employees.

Visually impaired people in Ukraine struggle to cope during Russian missile attacks

Mapped: The damage caused by Ukraines devastated dam

Friday 16 June 2023 02:00 , Joe Middleton

War-torn Ukraine is reeling from the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, which saw its reservoir burst causing chaos for miles around.

The catastrophe on Tuesday 6 June forced thousands of residents of nearby towns and villages to evacuate their homes as the floodwater barrelled towards them and left some climbing onto rooftops or into trees to escape the raging torrents.

Hundreds of thousands more have been left without access to clean drinking water in the region as a result of the eco-disaster on the Dnipro River, prompting relief workers to rush fresh supplies to the area as they struggle with the problems of mass resettlement.

Mapped: The damage caused by Ukraines devastated dam

NATO debates ways to boost ties with Ukraine as war against Russian invasion drags on

Friday 16 June 2023 01:00 , Joe Middleton

NATO defense ministers gathered Thursday to discuss future relations with Ukraine as Russias war on the country thwarts its hopes of joining the worlds biggest security alliance soon.

The ministers were also due to take part in a separate meeting at NATO headquarters of the U.S.-led Ukraine Contact Group  the forum Ukraines supporters routinely join to try to drum up weapons and ammunition to help Kyiv fight the Russian invasion.

The NATO meeting comes just under a month before U.S. President Joe Biden and his counterparts gather for a summit in Lithuania in a symbolic show of support for Ukraine. They are expected to underscore their determination to act should Russian President Vladimir Putin try to expand the war westward.

NATO debates ways to boost ties with Ukraine as war against Russian invasion drags on

UN atomic watchdog chief visits Ukraine nuclear plant threatened by war with Russia

Thursday 15 June 2023 23:59 , Joe Middleton

The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog visited Europes largest atomic power plant Thursday in southern Ukraine, where a recent dam burst and the start of a counteroffensive in the war by Kyivs forces have heightened safety risks.

The visit was announced by Ukraines national nuclear energy company, Energoatom, in a Telegram post.

Rafael Mariano Grossi, the International Atomic Energy Agency chief, met Tuesday in Kyiv with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss concerns about the Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

UN atomic watchdog chief visits Ukraine nuclear plant threatened by war with Russia

How significant is the reported recapture of the first Ukrainian villages from Russia?

Thursday 15 June 2023 23:00 , Joe Middleton

Ukraine has celebrated the first territorial gains of its long-trailed counteroffensive against the invading Russian forces.

Unverified photographs and video appearing on Sunday and on Monday morning showed Ukrainian soldiers holding their countrys blue and yellow flag aloft in triumph in the eastern villages of Storozheve, Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka in Donetsk, suggesting they had been recaptured from occupying enemy troops.

Ukraines deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar posted one of the photos from Storozheve and thanked the 35th Separate Brigade of Marines for liberating it.

How significant is the reported recapture of the first Ukrainian villages?

Petty squabbles and strategic differences threaten to undermine Natos united front over Ukraine

Thursday 15 June 2023 22:00 , Joe Middleton

Turkey is holding out over giving Sweden membership, while any pathway for Kyiv to join the alliance is still to be mapped out, writes Borzou Daragahi. And the issue of what to do about China  another major player in the Ukraine crisis  is a long-term concern

Analysis: Petty squabbles threaten to undermine Natos united front over Ukraine

Ukraines D-Day offensive is going to need all the help it can get

Thursday 15 June 2023 21:00 , Joe Middleton

Both Kyiv and Moscow have reported fierce fighting at points across the vast frontline, writes Bel Trew. But given Russia has had 12 months to fortify its defensive positions, Ukraine needs support to deliver its decisive offensive

Ukraines D-Day offensive is going to need all the help it can get | Bel Trew

Drone footage shows scale of destruction in Odesa after Russian strike

Thursday 15 June 2023 20:12 , Joe Middleton

Long Reads | Petty squabbles and strategic differences threaten to undermine Natos united front over Ukraine

Thursday 15 June 2023 18:25 , Andy Gregory

At a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels, the Nato secretary-gneral, Jems Stoltenberg, said that it is a critical time for the war in Ukraine as Kyiv begins its counteroffensive. The same could be said of alliance itself as it seeks eastward expansion and plots its global role.

The western military alliance that has been strengthened by the united front put in in suport of Ukraines fight against Russian invasion  but now finds itself facing a series of challenges sparked by that war that could fray that unity.

Our international correspondent Borzou Daragahi has more in this long read:

Analysis: Petty squabbles threaten to undermine Natos united front over Ukraine

Bel Trew | Ukraines D-Day offensive is going to need all the help it can get

Thursday 15 June 2023 17:56 , Andy Gregory

Our international correspondent Bel Trew has this analysis as Ukraines counteroffensive gets underway:

Ukraines much-anticipated counteroffensive has had so much hype, it even has its own cinematic promotional trailer. The operation, full details of which remain a closely guarded secret, has been nicknamed Ukraines D-Day (in reference to the Second World War operation that, coincidentally, also took place in the month of June).

The Ukrainians have used the plan to successfully convince Western allies to go outside their comfort zone and send increasingly sophisticated weaponry  including the long-awaited German Leopard tanks and American Bradleys.

The Ukrainian military has, for its part, been busy, reportedly creating a dozen new armoured brigades (of around 3,500 soldiers each) for the operation. Nine of them have been trained by the West, Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said back in April. The Ukrainian interior ministry has also confirmed the formation of eight new storm brigades, comprising some 40,000 soldiers in total, following an aggressive recruitment campaign.

And this is because timing  along with results  is critical. Kyiv knows that the only way to counter the inevitability of world fatigue, particularly after a gruelling winter of deadlock, is to make lightning gains, or mount a successful decisive offensive, to use its own phrase.

In November, in the southern region of Kherson, after Russian forces dramatically withdrew from the regions capital and across the Dnipro River, I saw that unfurl in real time. But this time, repetition is going to be hard.

Ukraines D-Day offensive is going to need all the help it can get | Bel Trew

Pictured: UN nuclear chief inspects Zaporizhzhia plant

Thursday 15 June 2023 17:28 , Andy Gregory

The UNs nuclear energy chief has visited the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia plant  and warned it was unrealistic to expect Moscow and Kyiv to sign a document on the sites security while fighting raged nearby.

Rafael Grossi, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was inspecting the state of the plant following last weeks devastating breach in the Kakhovka dam downstream on the Dnipro River.

The plant uses a cooling pond to keep its six reactors from potentially disastrous overheating. While the Kakhovka reservoir was normally used to refill the pond but cannot do so now because of its falling water level following the breach, officials say. Instead, the pond, which is separated from the reservoir, can be replenished using deep underground wells, they say.

Mr Grossi, who was delayed by a day over safety fears and had to pass through a Russian checkpoint to reach the plant, which is located near the military frontline, was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying the situation at the site was serious but that the level of cooling water was sufficient.

He also said that IAEA inspectors would remain at the site.

We have a political agreement which was formulated at the [UN] Security Council. Reaching a written agreement would be unrealistic at this stage because, as we know, there are no peace or ceasefire negotiations between the parties, TASS news agency quoted him as saying.

Rafael Grossi (pictured) visited the Zaporizhzhia plant and its surrounding area (International Atomic Energy Agency/Handout via REUTERS)

(via REUTERS)

Russian anti-war activist dies in detention centre, lawyer says

Thursday 15 June 2023 17:02 , Andy Gregory

A Russian anti-war activist has died in a detention centre after he alleged being tortured with beatings and electric shocks there, his lawyer said.

Irina Gak, a lawyer for 40-year-old Anatoly Berezikov, said the dead body of her client, who had been due to be released from the facility in Rostov-on-Don on Thursday, had been taken to a morgue the previous day.

In a video, filmed on Wednesday and showing Ms Gak standing outside the detention centre where Berezikov had been held as an ambulance that she said was there to collect his body drove in, she said that Berezikov had complained of beatings and of being given electric shocks and had told her he feared for his life.

OVD-Info, a human rights monitoring group, cited an unnamed official in the detention centre as telling it that Berezikov had killed himself in his cell.

According to Gak, Berezikov was arrested after he posted leaflets around the city advertising a Ukrainian government project called I Want to Live, which helps Russian soldiers voluntarily surrender.

Very difficult counteroffensive will inflict high cost on Ukraine, warns top US general

Thursday 15 June 2023 16:31 , Andy Gregory

Ukraine is making steady progress in the early day of its counteroffensive against Vladimir Putins forces, but the cost is likely to be high in what is proving to be a difficult, bloody battle, Washingtons top general has warned.

Ukraine has begun their attack and they are making steady progress. This is a very difficult fight. Its a very violent fight, and it will likely take a considerable amount of time at a high cost, General Mark Milley, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters at Natos Brussels headquarters.

Mr Milley praised the leadership, skill and morale of Ukrainian forces, and contrasted that with Russia, saying: Their leadership is not necessarily coherent, their troops morale is not high, and theyre sitting in defensive positions and many of them dont even know why theyre there.

(Simon Wohlfahrt/AFP via Getty Images)

Relations are on the verge of being severed: Moscow hits out at Canada over plane seizure

Thursday 15 June 2023 16:17 , Andy Gregory

Moscow has warned that Russian-Canadian relations are on the verge of being severed, as its foreign ministry summoned a Canadian diplomat in protest over the confiscation of an Antonov plane in Toronto.

Last weekend, as premier Justin Trudeau visited Kyiv and announced a huge new military aid package for Ukraine, Canada ordered the seizure of the Russian-registered cargo plane at Torontos airport, its first such asset seizure aimed at putting pressure on Moscow over the Ukraine invasion.

Russia told the deputy head of Canadas embassy in Moscow that it viewed the plane seizure as cynical theft, according to a foreign ministry statement.

The statement went on to claim that Ottawas Russophobic policy will entail the most serious repercussions for Russian-Canadian relations, which are on the verge of being severed through the fault of the Trudeau administration.

Canadas foreign ministry did not immediately comment.

Zelensky urges Swiss parliament to allow re-export of weapons to Ukraine

Thursday 15 June 2023 15:25 , Andy Gregory

In a historic address to Switzerlands parliament, Volodymyr Zelensky has once again urged the nation to allow the re-export of weapons to Ukraine  insisting that the move would be vital in defeating Russias invasion.

Neutral Switzerland has a long-standing policy of barring any country that buys its arms from re-exporting them to parties in a conflict, and imposed an embargo on Swiss munitions being sent to either Russia or Ukraine last November.

I know there is a discussion in Switzerland about the exportation of war materiel to protect and defend Ukraine. That would be vital, the Ukrainian president said in a video address to both houses of the Swiss parliament. We need weapons so we can restore peace in Ukraine.

Wearing a plain black T-shirt with the word Ukraine printed across his chest, Mr Zelensky thanked Switzerland for adopting EU sanctions over the invasion, but warned that they must go further.

It is very important to show solidarity because these sanctions will help us to end aggression, he said, adding: We have to strengthen the sanctions.

(EPA/Peter Klaunzer)

Ukraine to get 14 more Leopard 2 tanks, report claims

Thursday 15 June 2023 14:55 , Andy Gregory

Ukraine will get a further 14 Leopard-2 battle tanks worth a total of more than 100m from Western partners, financed by Denmark and the Netherlands, German media has reported, citing Nato sources.

The vehicles will be supplied and refurbished by the Rheinmetall group, according the business daily Handelsblatt.

Contracts for the new delivery have already been signed and the German government was involved as it has to agree to the export of vehicles, it added.

Delivery of the battle tanks is to take place by the end of January, it reported.

(AP)

Nato chief says Russias nuclear rhetoric is reckless and dangerous'

Thursday 15 June 2023 14:41 , Andy Gregory

Nato sees no sign that Russia has changed its nuclear posture, the head of the military alliance has said, after Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko claimed his country had already received tactical nuclear weapons from Moscow.

We are, of course, closely monitoring what Russia is doing. So far, we havent seen any changes in the nuclear posture that requires any changes in our posture, Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg told reporters ahead of a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels.

Natos secretive nuclear defence planning group is set to meet on Friday. The meeting has long been planned and is not a reaction to recent developments, but the alliance is concerned about Vladimir Putins threats and his decisions to pull Russia out of important arms limitation treaties.

Russias nuclear rhetoric and messaging is reckless and dangerous, Mr Stoltenberg said. Russia must know that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.

He noted that Russia has invested heavily in new modern nuclear capabilities and also deployed more nuclear capabilities, including close to Nato borders, for instance, in the high north.

Ukraine has recaptured 100 sq km in counteroffensive, general claims

Thursday 15 June 2023 14:12 , Andy Gregory

Ukraine has retaken more than 100 square kilometres (38 square miles) of territory in its counteroffensive against Russia, a senior Ukrainian military commander has claimed.

We are ready to continue fighting to liberate our territory even with our bare hands, Brigadier-General Oleksii Hromov told reporters.

He confirmed that in the early stages of the offensive, which Ukraine said had begun last week, seven settlements had been liberated in the eastern region of Donetsk and in the southern region of Zaporizhzhia.

The army has advanced by 1.8 miles near the village of Mala Tokmachka in the Zaporizhzhia region and by up to 4.3 miles near a village south of Velyka Novosilka in the Donetsk region, military officials claimed.

The village of Storozheve is among several liberated in the past week (REUTERS/Oleksandr Ratushniak)

Russia claims to hit drone production facilities in Ukraine

Thursday 15 June 2023 13:44 , Andy Gregory

Russian forces hit drone production facilities in Ukraine using high-precision, long-range weapons, Russia's defence ministry has claimed.

The ministry also claimed that Russian air defences had intercepted five Himars-launched missiles  built in the US and shot down 25 drones, the Tass news agency reported.

The claims could not be immediately verified.

Russia sets dates for regional elections in four Ukrainian regions

Thursday 15 June 2023 13:12 , Andy Gregory

As Ukraines counteroffensive to regain its territory from Russia gathers steam, Moscows central electoral commission has set a date for regional elections in four Ukrainian provinces it claims to have annexed, according to state media.

Despite not fully controlling the regions as things stand, the commission has set elections in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson for 10 September, coinciding with votes in other Russian regions, state news agency RIA reported.

TASS, another state news agency, cited election chief Ella Pamfilova as saying that Russias defence ministry and Federal Security Service (FSB) considered it possible to hold the votes in September.

UN nuclear chief arrives at Zaporzhzia plant after delay

Thursday 15 June 2023 12:41 , Andy Gregory

UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi has arrived at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, according to Reuters reporters in the area.

Mr Grossi is expected to inspect the plant after last weeks breach of the massive Kakhovka Dam, but his arrival was delayed by a day over concerns for his safety, with the plant located close to areas where Ukraines counteroffensive is taking place.

Drone footage shows scale of destruction in Odesa after Russian strike

Thursday 15 June 2023 12:07 , Andy Gregory

Russia intends to press UN for international probe into Nord Stream blasts

Thursday 15 June 2023 11:43 , Andy Gregory

Russia has said it intends to press the UN Security Council once again for an international investigation into the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines last September.

We will now bring the UN Security Council back to an examination of this issue, foreign ministry spokespeson Maria Zakharova told reporters during a regular briefing on Thursday.

Ms Zakharova accused the three Western permanent members of the Security Council  the United States, UK and France  of having previously blocked Russias efforts to secure a transparent investigation of what happened to the pipelines. Russia and China are also permanent members of the council.

Russia believes it can hold elections in four Ukrainian regions in September, electoral chief claims

Thursday 15 June 2023 11:21 , Andy Gregory

Russias defence ministry and Federal Security Service (FSB) consider it possible to hold elections in September in the four Ukrainian regions that Russia claimes to have annexed, state news agency Tass reports the head of Russias electoral commission as saying.

Russia does not fully control the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, and fighting is ongoing in all four regions  but according to Moscows plans they regions are scheduled to elect local governors in September.

Russia declared the regions part of its own territory after hastily conducting what it called referendums in occupied areas of Ukraine last September that Kyiv and the West denounced as illegal and coercive.

Russia accuses Bryansk resident of gathering data on security forces near Ukraine

Thursday 15 June 2023 10:44 , Andy Gregory

Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained a resident of the southern Bryansk region who it claimed had been gathering data on security forces in areas bordering Ukraine, state news outlets report.

Separately, the same news agency Tass also reported that the FSB had detained two men in the southern Stavropol region on suspicion of planning to blow up the interior ministry headquarters in the city of Pyatigorsk.

The two men were believed to be Isis supporters, the RIA news agency claimed.

How significant is the reported recapture of the first Ukrainian villages from Russia?

Thursday 15 June 2023 09:59 , Andy Gregory

Ukraine has celebrated the first territorial gains of its long-trailed counteroffensive against the invading Russian forces.

Unverified photographs and video appearing on Sunday and on Monday morning showed Ukrainian soldiers holding their countrys blue and yellow flag aloft in triumph in the eastern villages of Storozheve, Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka in Donetsk, suggesting they had been recaptured from occupying enemy troops.

My colleague Joe Sommerlad looks at the significance of this development:

How significant is the reported recapture of the first Ukrainian villages?

Belarus shoots down Ukrainian drone'

Thursday 15 June 2023 09:36 , Andy Gregory

Belarusian border guards have shot down a Ukrainian drone, Russian state news has claimed.

The object was brought down over the Gomel region, which borders Ukraine, the Tass news agency reported.

Nato ministers meet to discuss future relations with Ukraine

Thursday 15 June 2023 08:59 , Andy Gregory

Nato defence ministers have gathered today to discuss future relations with Ukraine, which has intensified its push to join the military alliance since Russias invasion.

The ministers were also due to take part in a separate meeting at Natos headquarters of the US-led Ukraine Contact Group  the forum Ukraines supporters routinely join to try to drum up weapons and ammunition to help Kyiv fight the Russian invasion.

The alliance agreed in 2008 that Ukraine would join one day, but did not set a date for it to start membership talks. After Vladimir Putins invasion sparked further talk of Kyivs membership, Ukraine applied for accelerated accession to the mililtary bloc last September.

However, Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg has said there is no consensus for the country to join while it is at war with Russia.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, he said: We agree that the most urgent task now is to ensure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign independent nation because unless Ukraine prevails and can continue as a democratic state in Europe, there is no membership issue to be discussed at all.

Stoltenberg said that he expects the 31-nation alliance to agree [to] a multi-year program where we help to move Ukraine to transition from old standards, equipment, procedures, doctrines to Nato standards and become fully interoperable with Nato.

Ukraines defence minister Oleksii Reznikov arrives for the Nato meeting in Brussels (EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS)

Too soon to assess agriculture losses from Ukraine dam breach in Russian-controlled areas - Russian deputy PM

Thursday 15 June 2023 08:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A senior Russian official said on Thursday it was too soon to assess agricultural losses in Russian-controlled areas from the breaching of Ukraines Kakhovka dam, state news agency TASS said.

The dam burst flooded huge areas of Kherson region, one of four that Russia claimed last year as its own territory after launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Unfortunately, we cannot yet estimate the total amount of losses for agriculture. We need all the water to drain. And then we will be able to understand which farmers have suffered this damage and to what extent, TASS quoted Deputy Prime Minister Victoria Abramchenko as saying.

Russian forces control about 18% of the territory of Ukraine, one of the worlds leading grain producers. A majority of countries at the United Nations General Assembly have rejected the annexations as illegal.

TASS quoted Abramchenko as saying the flood would not affect Russias crop forecasts overall.

Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of blowing up the dam in the early hours of June 6.

Houses are seen underwater and polluted by oil in a flooded neighbourhood in Kherson after the destrucion of the Kakhovka dam (Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Kakhovka dam breach will not affect Russian crop forecasts -TASS

Thursday 15 June 2023 07:46 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The breach of the Kakhovka dam will not affect Russias crop forecasts, state-owned news agency TASS cited Russian Deputy Prime Minister Viktoria Abramchenko as saying on Thursday.

Belarus receives nuclear bombs three times size of Hiroshima bomb from Russia

Thursday 15 June 2023 07:39 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Belarus has started taking the delivery of Russian tactical nuclear weapons, president Alexander Lukashenko announced, claiming that some of these were three times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

Mr Lukashenko said that the bombs are three times more powerful than those (dropped on) Hiroshima and Nagasaki, adding to his previous statement that he didnt simply ask Mr Putin for the weapons, but demanded them.

The Vladimir Putin ally was speaking to the Russian state TV channel Rossiya-1 on a road in a forest clearing with military vehicles and a storage facility visible in the background seen around him.

Belarus receives nuclear bombs three times size of Hiroshima bomb from Russia

Norway, Denmark to donate 9,000 rounds of artillery to Ukraine

Thursday 15 June 2023 07:15 , Arpan Rai

Norway and Denmark have agreed to donate an additional 9,000 rounds of artillery to Ukraine, the Norwegian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a statement today.

Norway will provide the shells, while Denmark will donate fuses and propellant charges, the Norwegian ministry said.

Wagner chiefs rhetoric amid contract feud evolving into defiance

Thursday 15 June 2023 07:07 , Arpan Rai

The Russian mercenary Wagner group chiefs rhetoric is evolving into defiance as he continues to lock horns with the Kremlin over the contract signing controversy, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

Earlier this month, the Russian defence ministry demanded that members of volunteers formations such as Wagner Group sign contracts directly with the MoD. The move was explicitly endorsed by president Vladimir Putin on television on Tuesday this week.

For several months, Wagner owner Yevgeny Prigozhin has been aiming vitriolic criticism at the MoD hierarchy but deferred to Putins authority, the British ministry said in its intelligence update today.

It added that despite Putins comments, a day later Prigozhin said that, none of Wagners fighters are ready to go down the path of shame again. Thats why they will not sign the contracts.

Prigozhins rhetoric is evolving into defiance of broader sections of the Russian establishment. 01 July 2023, the deadline for the volunteers to sign contracts, is likely to be a key way-point in the feud, the British MoD said.

Japan in talks to provide artillery shells to help Ukraine via US  report

Thursday 15 June 2023 06:37 , Arpan Rai

Japan is in talks to provide artillery shells to the United States to bolster stocks for Ukraines counteroffensive against Russia, the Wall Street Journal reported today.

It added that the Asian ally is considering supplying 155-mm artillery shells under a 2016 agreement to share ammunition as part of its long-standing security alliance with the US, the paper added, citing people familiar with the matter.

Dead Russian soldiers line road into liberated Ukrainian village

Thursday 15 June 2023 05:50 , Arpan Rai

The road into the liberated Ukrainian village of Storozheve, recaptured from Russian forces last week, is lined with the corpses of Russian soldiers and burnt-out armoured vehicles, reported Reuters.

Some corpses of the dead Russian soldiers remain on the dusty ground beside the husks of their vehicles when Reuters journalists reached the village yesterday. Others were found dumped crumpled in the grass and fields nearby where they died.

Three days ago we liberated the village of Storozheve. You can see for yourselves how it was achieved. You can see the destroyed hardware. Glory to Ukraine, a Ukrainian soldier who gave his name only as Artem told Reuters in Storozheve.

The grim landscape bears witness to the ferocity of fighting as Ukrainian troops recaptured Storozheve  which had been held by Russia since March last year  and several other villages in the past few days as part of a counteroffensive in southern and eastern Ukraine.

Mapped: The damage caused by Ukraines devastated dam

Thursday 15 June 2023 05:03 , Arpan Rai

War-torn Ukraine is reeling from the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka hydroelectric dam, which saw its reservoir burst causing chaos for miles around.

The catastrophe on Tuesday 6 June forced thousands of residents of nearby towns and villages to evacuate their homes as the floodwater barrelled towards them and left some climbing onto rooftops or into trees to escape the raging torrents.

The water in the reservoir feeds a wide area of southern Ukrainian farmland, including the annexed peninsula of Crimea, as well as providing all-important cooling water to the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, lying nearby as indicated on the map below.

Mapped: The damage caused by Ukraines devastated dam

Russia losing nine times more troops in Bakhmut, says Ukraine

Thursday 15 June 2023 04:42 , Arpan Rai

Russian forces are losing almost nine times more soldiers than Ukraine, the war-hit countrys deputy defence minister said on Telegram, adding that during the offensive, the Ukrainian army has suffered many times less losses compared to the invaders.

In Khortytsia, the Bakhmut direction, the enemy has 8.73 times more dead, almost nine times five times, she said on Telegram last night, sharing the data for the past week.

On the other heavy fighting axis in the war along "Tavriya" towards Zaporizhia and Berdyansk directions, Russias casualties were 5.3 times more than ours, the deputy defence minister said.

I want to remind you that during a war, neither side publishes accurate data on their losses, because this can be used by the enemy to predict the enemys future actions on the battlefield, Ms Malyar said.

Chechen leader says top commander Adam Delimkhanov alive and well

Thursday 15 June 2023 03:56 , Arpan Rai

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov denied reports of the killing of one of his senior commanders in fighting in Ukraine, who he said was found alive and well.

Delimkhanov was alive and well and not even wounded, Kadyrov said on Telegram. He has led Chechnya since 2007 and is a close ally of Vladimir Putin.

Initial reports by Russias Zvezda television channel cited the parliamentary press service as saying Delimkhanov had been wounded in Ukraine. It followed rumours on Ukrainian social media channels that the Chechen commander had been killed in an artillery strike in southern Ukraine.

The commander, Adam Delimkhanov, heads the Chechen division of the Russian national guard and is also a member of Russias parliament. He is widely seen as the Caucasian regions second most senior official after Kadyrov himself.

Kadyrov added that he had known Delimkhanov was uninjured from the start of what he called a fake information attack, but had remained silent in order to embarrass Ukrainian media outlets that reported on the commanders alleged injury.

In a later posting on Telegram, Kadyrov mocked the Ukrainian media reports about Delimkhanov for brazen lies about his elimination.

Kadyrov said he had been temporarily unable to communicate with Delimkhanov while he was in Ukraine.Delimkhanov, who has an active social media presence with over half a million followers on Telegram, has not commented so far.

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website
Key developments on June 16:

Zelensky says no peace talks with Putin until Russian troops withdraw from Ukraine

Russia launches missiles at Kyiv during African leaders visit

Russian attack on Kherson injures 23, including 3 children

Ukrainian forces advance south as counteroffensive continues

Sweden to train Ukrainian pilots on JAS 39 Gripen jets

Following his meeting with African leaders on June 16 in Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that peace talks with Russia will only be possible after the withdrawal of the Russian forces from the occupied territories.

I made it clear multiple times during our meeting today: to allow talks with Russia now, while the occupier remains on our land, would mean freezing the war, freezing the pain, and suffering, Zelensky said at a joint press conference with the African delegation.

The delegation led by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Ukraine on the morning of June 16. Aside from Ramaphosa, the delegation included the leaders of Senegal, Egypt, the Republic of the Congo, Uganda, the Comoro Islands, and Zambia.

The group was set to meet Zelensky under the African Peace Mission. After visiting Ukraine, the groups next stop is Russia's St. Petersburg, where the leaders are supposed to meet with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

Hours after their arrival, Russia launched 12 missiles and two drones at Kyiv.

Ukraines Air Force reported on June 16 that air defense downed all six Kinzhal ballistic missiles, also known as Kh-47M2, six Kalibr cruise missiles, and two reconnaissance drones.

Today's missile attack indicates that either Russian leadership, President Putin, has absolutely no control over their armed forces, including the Wagner mercenaries as they launch missiles at the other states leaders who have decided to visit the country after us or this person is inadequate, Zelensky said at the press conference.

It seems to me that this person (Putin) is inadequate because he is not ready for peace. He wants to completely erase the state of Ukraine. And if a person has such intentions, then I have many questions  what kind of communication, what kind of dialogue (is possible) with this person? said Zelensky.

However, Ramaphosa said that the Russian missile attack on Kyiv made calls for de-escalation even more important.

The launch of guided missiles today does not deter us. It does not stop us from continuing to call for de-escalation, Ramaphosa said at the press conference. We want this conflict to be resolved, which will be in the interest of the African people and the entire world, said Ramaphosa.

As Ukraine looks West, Russia wins over Africa Since its independence, Ukraines diplomatic efforts have focused primarily on looking West. Meanwhile, Russia has set its sights all over the world. While the Euro-Atlantic world has been firm in its support of Ukraine, condemning Russias all-out war, the African continent, home to 54 countries a The Kyiv IndependentAlexander Khrebet

The Russian June 16 missile attack injured four people, including a child, in Kyiv Oblast, the regional emergency service reported. They have reportedly been injured by the missile debris.

The debris fell in one of the Kyiv Oblast districts, destroying three houses and damaging 15 more buildings, according to the report.

By welcoming African leaders in Kyiv with a missile attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin has demonstrated his true intentions regarding pursuing peace, said Peter Stano, spokesperson for the European Commission on Foreign Affairs.

I think this makes them (African leaders) realize very clearly who is the aggressor and how the aggressor behaves, what are its intentions, Stano said at a press conference in Brussels.

Stano also said that the EU welcomes any serious and meaningful efforts to achieve peace, as no one wants peace more than the Ukrainians and the Europeans.

There could be peace immediately  when Putin stops terrorizing Ukrainian people and withdraws his murdering, torturing, and looting troops from Ukraine's territory, said Stano.

Reuters reported on June 15 that the African leaders would offer Kyiv and Moscow confidence-building measures. These reportedly include withdrawing Russian troops from Ukraine, redeploying tactical nuclear weapons from Belarus, and suspending the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against Putin for the illegal deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia.

Counteroffensive

Ukraines troops have advanced up to one kilometer in the southern direction as the summer counteroffensive is continuing on June 16.

Valeriy Shershen, the spokesperson for Ukraines Tavria military sector, reported on June 16 that Ukrainian forces made slight progress, advancing from 200 meters to one kilometer and fortifying their positions toward Melitopol, Berdiansk, and Mariupol.

Every meter of the reclaimed territory is hard-won, as Russian forces in southern Ukraine fiercely resist the Ukrainian advance, according to the report.

Meanwhile, the British Defense Ministry reported on June 16 that Russian Major General Sergei Goryachev, the 35th Combined Arms Armys chief of staff, was almost certainly killed in a strike on a command post in Ukraine's south on or around June 12.

In the east, Ukrainian forces continue to defend the front-line town of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast as Russian troops are trying to assault their positions, Shershen said.

The military reported that Ukrainian forces also repelled Russian attacks near Marinka, Krasnohorivka, and Novomykhailivka.

This Week in Ukraine Ep. 12  Ukraines counteroffensive finally began. Whats next? Episode #12 of our weekly video podcast This Week in Ukraine is dedicated to the beginning of Ukraines much-awaited counteroffensive, its early results, and what to expect in the weeks to come. Host Anastasiia Lapatina is joined by the Kyiv Independent reporter Francis Farrell. Listen to the au The Kyiv IndependentAnastasiia Lapatina

Meanwhile, Russia keeps redeploying its troops to the Bakhmut area in Donetsk Oblast, Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine's Land Forces, reported.

Colonel General Syrskyi, who joined the Ukrainian forces at the front line on June 16, said that Ukrainian forces have the advantage in the Bakhmut area.

The important work is ahead. The enemy will be defeated, Syrskyi said in a Telegram post.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think-tank, reported that Ukraine continues counteroffensive operations in at least three directions.

Since Ukraine launched the much-anticipated counteroffensive on June 8, its forces liberated a total of seven settlements in Donetsk and Zaporoizhzhia oblasts, reclaiming more than 100 square kilometers, the military said on June 15.

Russian attack on Kherson injures 23 people, including children

Russian shelling of Kherson in southern Ukraine on June 16 injured 23 people, including three children, Presidents Office head Andrii Yermak reported.

All the injured have been hospitalized, according to the official.

The attack on Kherson downtown and two other neighborhoods has damaged a medical facility, kindergarten, grocery store, houses, cars, and power lines, Yermak said.

Since the liberation by Ukrainian forces in November 2022, the city of Kherson and other settlements on the west bank of the Dnipro River have faced relentless Russian shelling.

The Russian troops, who were pushed to the east bank, persistently shell the liberated territories, causing civilian casualties.

Saving lives from Russias flood: Inside inundated, shelled Kherson Since Russias full-scale war began, first came eight months of terror under occupation, then came seven months of intense shelling across the river, then came the river itself to Kherson. Over 24 hours after Russian forces destroyed the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and its massive The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell

Sweden to train Ukrainian pilots on Gripen fighter jets

The Swedish government announced on June 16 the decision to train Ukrainian pilots on the Swedish-made JAS 39 Gripen light multirole fighter aircraft.

The country, however, will not be supplying Ukraine with the jets, Swedish Defense Minister said earlier on May 25.

Sweden announced its 12th military aid package for Ukraine worth $21.6 million on June 15, including fighter jets training and munitions.

Zelensky said on June 6 that Ukraine would receive a significant number of F-16 fighter jets, based on discussions with European partners.

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. So far, the initiative includes eight European countries and the U.S.
Ukraine's Air Force issues warning of ballistic missiles threat to three regions, explosions in Kyiv reported

The Air Force has issued a warning of the potential use of ballistic missiles by Russia. Explosions are rocking Kyiv, with air defence forces deployed.

Source: Ukrainian Air Force on Telegram

Quote: "Threat of ballistic missile use [for the following areas]: Centre, East, West. Everyone, take cover".

Details: Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reports that an explosion has occurred in the capital's Podilskyi district. Missiles are still heading towards Kyiv.

Update: As of 12:17, the air raid alert was still in force in most of Ukraine, except for Kyiv, where an all-clear was given. Ukraine's Air Force warned the citizens there still was a chance of cruise missiles being launched from Novorossiysk; however, later they said the threat was not confirmed.

Background:

The Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that the Russian occupiers had fired Kalibr missiles from ships in the Black Sea. An air-raid warning was issued in Ukraine. The authorities reported that air defence systems were operating in Kyiv Oblast and the capital.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!






Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Minister talks to newly appointed Bulgarian counterpart for the first time

Dmytro Kuleba, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, had the first telephone conversation with Maria Gabriel, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and former EU commissioner, on Thursday, 15 June.

Source: European Pravda with reference to Twitter of both ministers

Kuleba congratulated Gabriel on her new appointment. The ministers discussed ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation.

"I have thanked Bulgaria for supporting Ukraine on the way to the EU and NATO membership. I have also invited Bulgaria to join the key group of the special tribunal [concerning the Russian aggression  ed.]," he added.

During our first call, I congratulated @GabrielMariya with her appointment. We discussed ways to boost bilateral cooperation. I thank Bulgaria for supporting Ukraine on our path toward EU and NATO membership. I also invited Bulgaria to join the Core Group on the Special Tribunal.  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) June 15, 2023

Gabriel, in turn, expressed her readiness for cooperation for the sake of the future of Ukraine-Bulgaria relations.

"We are expressing our solidarity with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people," she stated.

Good first phone call with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine @DmytroKuleba. I look forward to working together for the future of our  relations.



We express our solidarity with #Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.

#StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/pyTf4yhw2Z  Mariya Gabriel (@GabrielMariya) June 15, 2023

Background:

On 6 June, the Bulgarian Parliament approved the government headed by Nikolai Denkov, the Prime Minister of Bulgaria and academician. It will operate during the next nine months upon agreement of the two largest parliament blocks of Bulgaria, GERB-SDS and We Continue the Change  Democratic Bulgaria".

Among the first steps Gabriel took as the new Foreign Minister was accusing Eleonora Mitrofanova, the ambassador of Russia in Bulgaria, of spreading disinformation, when the latter claimed that sending Bulgarian soldiers to Ukraine would negatively affect the dialogue between Moscow and Sofia.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Ukraine's Foreign Minister on recent Russian attack: These are Putin's "greetings" to African delegation

Russia has sent its "greetings" to the African delegation which arrived on a state visit to Kyiv with a massive attack on 16 June.

Source: Dmytro Kuleba, Foreign Minister on Twitter

Quote from Kuleba: "Putin builds confidence by launching the largest missile attack on Kyiv in weeks, exactly amid the visit of African leaders to our capital."

Details: The Foreign Minister believes that Russian missiles are a message to Africa that " Russia wants more war, not peace."

Putin builds confidence by launching the largest missile attack on Kyiv in weeks, exactly amid the visit of African leaders to our capital. Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace.  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) June 16, 2023

Previously: Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, arrived in Ukraine on his way to Russia to offer peace with Russia if the International Criminal Court suspended the arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin and eased sanctions against the Russian Federation.

Background:

The Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that the Russian occupiers had fired Kalibr missiles from ships in the Black Sea. An air-raid warning was issued in Ukraine. The authorities reported that air defence systems were operating in Kyiv Oblast and the capital.

The Ukrainian Air Force also issued a warning of ballistic missile threats to three regions of Ukraine.

Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reported that an explosion occurred in the city's Podilsky district.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Five Russian occupiers, rescued by soldiers of the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces in Kherson Oblast, have replenished the exchange fund of prisoners of war to be swapped for Ukrainian captives in Russia.

Source: Press service of the Special Operations Forces

Details: The Russian command left their own fighters for dead after the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP). Dozens of Russian soldiers were cut off from land in flooded positions in Kherson Oblast after the water spilled.

One of these positions was sinking underwater, and several Russians were about to drown. Having received information about the possibility of capturing some Russian soldiers, the Special Operations Forces moved out to get them.

Five Russian fighters were loaded onto boats. At this time, the Russians hit the boats from other positions, despite the fact that their "comrades" were also aboard.

Under the cover of machine gun fire, the Special Operations Forces fighters managed to bring all the prisoners to the coast alive. No Ukrainians were wounded during the mission.

Having reached the shore, during a conversation with the captives, Special Operations Forces found out that the occupiers belonged to the Storm Z unit, a military formation recruited from among Russian convicts.

The Russian Defence Ministry staffs these units according to the same principle as the Wagner formation: both units are made up of convicted Russians serving their sentences in prisons. Before recruitment, they are promised amnesty in return for their participation in the war against Ukraine.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Ukrainian air defence forces shot down both Shahed drones that attacked the territory of Ukraine on the night of 15-16 June.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 16 June; Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram

Quote: "The Russian Federation conducted another air strike on Ukraine at night; it used two Iranian-made Shahed attack drones.

All drones were destroyed by air defence forces."

Details: The Air Force specified that two Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 attack drones were destroyed on the southern front, specifically in Mykolaiv Oblast.

Earlier, the Air Force reported that Russian drones attacked Odesa and Mykolaiv oblasts.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Ukrainian Air Force downs six Kinzhal and six Kalibr missiles over Kyiv and oblast during Russian attack

Kyiv

The Air Defense Forces also successfully intercepted and destroyed six Kalibr cruise missiles and two reconnaissance drones.

Read also: U.S. Patriot air defense only to deprive Russia of its ability to intimidate tens of millions of people

The Kyiv City Military Administration said that all these targets were eliminated within the airspace surrounding Kyiv.

On the morning of June 16, in response to the missile threat, an air alarm was activated across all regions of Ukraine. The air defense systems were promptly deployed in Kyiv, and Mayor Vitali Klitschko soon after reported there had been an explosion in Podilsky District of Kyiv.

This is the first confirmed Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital with Kinzhal missiles for a month.

Read also: Russia ups production of Kinzhal, Iskander missiles despite Western sanctions, Ukraines air force says

On the night of May 16, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine employing a variety of missiles, including six Kinzhal missiles, all of which were effectively intercepted and neutralized by the Ukrainian air defense forces.

Earlier, on May 6, Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported the successful downing of a Russian aeroballistic Kinzhal missile near Kyiv during the night of May 4, attributing the achievement to the Patriot air defense system.

Government representatives expressed satisfaction, noting that Ukraines military allies were pleasantly impressed, by the downing of the Russian missile.

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
Ukrainian counter-offensive is only just starting, military expert tells NV

Ukrainian serviceman at a position in the Bakhmut direction

At the moment, everything happening is artillery preparation, Narozhnyi said.

Read also: Ukrainian MoD shares pictures of damaged Bradley IFV, says crew is safe and sound

Artillery units are demolishing targets that require destruction. We can witness a considerable amount of equipment damage through the utilization of Javelins, field artillery, and other methods.

This evidence is apparent in the impressive videos shared by our military and, more importantly, in the reports from the General Staff. Therefore, this is just the beginning.

He added the Ukrainian military offensive may last for several months.

Read also: Details of the storming and successful liberation of Neskuchne - an interview with a soldier

It wont be just one day or one week. It will be a summer operation or perhaps a summer-autumn operation.

Therefore, the duration of the offensive, ranging from three to five months, will depend on weather conditions. Various resources, including personnel, weapons, ammunition, and other factors, will also contribute to the operations length.

Currently, we have witnessed the commencement of these offensive actions, and even in this initial stage, we can already observe successes achieved by our military, Narozhnyi said.

Ukraines advance: the latest updates

The Ukrainian militarys General Staff announced on June 16 that Ukrainian units have successfully conducted offensive operations in the following areas:

Novodanilivka-Robotyne (towards Tokmak, Zaporizhzhya Oblast)

Levadne-Staromayorske (on the border of Zaporizhzhya and Donetsk Oblasts)

East of the settlement of Stupochky in Donetsk Oblast, displacing Russians from their occupied positions

In the Vuhledar area, the Ukrainian Armed Forces achieved success in certain areas.

Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Malyar stated that over the past week-and-a-half, Ukrainian forces have advanced more than three kilometers in the eastern direction.

She also reported that during the first week of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, Ukraines losses were significantly lower than those of the Russian forces.

Read also: The road is strewn with the bodies of Russian soldiers  Photo report from recently liberated village in Donetsk Oblast

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukraines ongoing successful counter-offensive on the front lines may ultimately lead to a decisive defeat for Russia.

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
Ukrainian defenders destroy 24 Russian drones and 19 artillery systems in one day

Russia has lost 218,500 soldiers, 3,965 tanks, 7,683 armoured combat vehicles and 3,812 artillery systems in its war against Ukraine.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook

Details: Total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 16 June 2023 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses  ed.]:

approximately 218,500 (+590) military personnel,

3,965 (+10) tanks,

7,683 (+16) armoured combat vehicles,

3,812 (+19) artillery systems,

606 (+2) multiple-launch rocket systems,

364 (+0) air defence systems,

314 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft,

301 (+0) helicopters,

3,357 (+24) operational-tactical UAVs,

1,199 (+0) cruise missiles,

18 (+0) ships/boats,

6,519 (+13) vehicles and tankers,

519 (+0) special vehicles and other equipment.

The information is being confirmed.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
According to Roman Bezsmertnyi, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin plays a leading role in the union of Russia, Belarus, China and Iran

Its evident on the surface. Iran feigns non-involvement in supplying Shahed missiles to Russia, while China pretends not to provide military equipment or components for missile weapons, Bezsmertnyi said.

Its all a facade they present. Moscows interests extend beyond mere rhetoric; they seek to tangibly secure Beijings allegiance through reinforced concrete ties.

However, Bezsmertnyi also expressed doubts about Chinas ability to address food security issues without investments from Europe and the United States.

Read also: Beijing has chosen a triumphant moment: How China takes advantage of Russia's war  opinion

We must acknowledge the formation of the Minsk-Moscow-Tehran-Beijing axis, although it may be difficult for the world to accept it. We must prepare ourselves to counter this alliance, he warned.

Irans increasing military strength in the Middle East and Chinas growing threats against Taiwan are clear indications of the conceptual, global threats stemming from Moscows aggression against Ukraine. This four-headed serpent embodies those threats.

Bezsmertnyi also said that Russia holds a leading role in this quartet, debunking the notion that it is a junior partner to China. He believes Russia will maintain its prominence until China acquiesces on nuclear weapons.

Xi Jinping and his entourage, representing the dogmatic red dictatorship, share the same ideological idols as those in the Kremlin, Bezsmertnyi said.

Fear is a central driving force for them, with Beijing yielding to Moscow in terms of fear. Consequently, the pivotal role in this alliance, whether we like it or not, is played by the Moscow leader. It is crucial to recognize that these are totalitarian regimes with distinct value systems, priorities, and implementation methodologies.

Read also: Ukrainian victory prevents Chinas global domination  Ambassador Herbst

Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy implied that Russias announcement that it was deploying nuclear weapons in Belarus was a response to an unsuccessful visit by President Xi Jinping, where Moscow failed to secure any guarantees of military aid from China.

Additionally, Deputy Head of the Ukrainian Presidents Office, Ihor Zhovkva, said that two-thirds of Russias hopes for Xi Jinpings visit to Moscow were unfulfilled.

Xi visited Moscow from March 20-22, becoming the first world leader to meet with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Kremlin leader. During the visit, Xi and Putin issued a series of joint statements and signed two agreements focusing on economic cooperation and deepening their countries partnership.

However, no public statements were made regarding the provision of weapons and ammunition by Beijing to Russias invasion forces for the Kremlins war against Ukraine.

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

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Ukrainian pilots and other personnel to train on Swedish Gripen fighter jets.

The Swedish government has now formally announced plans to provide training to pilots and ground personnel from Ukraine on the operation and maintenance of JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets. This is in response to a Ukrainian desire for an "operational evaluation" of the type, which could imply interest in acquiring these aircraft.

The Swedish Regeringskansliet, or Government Office, the country's top executive authority, detailed the Gripen training plans in a broader press release about new military aid for Ukraine earlier today. Authorities in Ukraine have been very outspoken in their desire to get fleets of more modern Western combat jets. Those efforts to date have focused primarily on securing U.S.-made F-16 Viper fighters, but other types are being actively considered.

A pair of Swedish Gripen C fighter jets at the RIAT 2016 air show in the United Kingdom. Airwolfhound via Wikimedia

"The armed forces are tasked with orientation training for Ukrainian pilots and associated aeronautical personnel on the JAS-39 [Gripen]," a machine translation of the release says. "The Ukrainian armed forces have expressed requests to be able to operationally evaluate the JAS-39 as one of the most urgent measures is to strengthen the Ukrainian air defense with a modern combat aircraft system."

The government of Sweden has also now pledged to contribute millions of dollars to the British fund International Fund for Ukraine and the NATO Ukraine Comprehensive Assistance Package Trust Fund to help finance to purchase of additional weapon systems and other materiel.

In addition, the Swedish Armed Forces will help establish a logistics network to support systems the country has already sent to Ukraine with nodes in Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. Specific mention was made of this network being used to help Ukrainian forces sustain RBS 70 man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), Combat Vehicle 90 infantry fighting vehicles (CV90; known as the Stridsfordon 90 in Sweden), Leopard 2 tanks (known in Sweden as the Stridsvagn 122), and Archer self-propelled 155mm howitzers. The first picture reportedly showing a Swedish CV90 in Ukraine just emerged yesterday.

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1669425579202957317

Still, the Gripen plans are by far the most significant part of this announcement. Last year, The War Zone highlighted how even current-generation Gripen C/D variants could be a good option for Ukraine:

"Another option, and possibly the best of all, would be Sweden's surplus JAS-39C/D Gripen multi-role fighters. These light-to-medium weight fighters are built with great efficiency and reliability in mind. They were designed to be turned around in the bush by tiny teams of mainly conscripted groundcrew and flown from roadways and rough fields during wartime. Distributed operations under very harsh sustained wartime conditions, especially in the cold, are literally what the design is all about."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyD0liioY8E

"Their single F404-derivative engine (license-built by Volvo) drinks comparatively small amounts of fuel compared to the other options and the type has a wide array of available armory from multiple nations. It has all-around good performance, modern radar and avionics, and is small in size, making it hard to spot visually."

"The Gripen really is well suited for the current combat doctrine Ukraine is using in Ukraine today, although the fact that it is a Swedish design makes it a bit harder for the U.S. and NATO to supply and support it. Still, other NATO members operate the type. There is also the question of how many Sweden will be able to give up at this time."

Gripen also has the ability to fire modern Western beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles like the U.S. AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) and the European Meteor, something Ukrainian forces are known to be particularly interested in. A Ukrainian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter pilot who publicly goes by his call sign Juice has told The War Zone in past interviews that a key benefit of acquiring newer Western combat jets would be the ability to effectively employ active radar-guided air-to-air weapons like the AIM-120.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsxIgXb5Sto

All this being said, it remains unclear exactly how substantial the Swedish-provide training, at least initially, will be. Last month, Sweden's Defense Minister Pal Jonsson revealed that discussions were ongoing about the possibility of training Ukrainian pilots to fly Gripen. However, he was very vague about what the end goal of such a program might be and there was no indication one way or the other about whether that might lead to actual deliveries of these fighter jets to Ukraine.

That could, for example, mean test flights, using simulators, learning more about the extensive ground system that is part of the Gripen system, Jonsson had said in an interview with Swedish television network TV4 on May 25, adding that there were no plans at that time to transfer any of the jets to Ukraine.

We need them [our Gripens] for the defense of our territory right now, but we are opening up for letting the Ukrainians test the Gripen, the Swedish defense minister said. That is in line with what other countries are doing."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vada6xan1I

In May, a number of NATO members announced plans to train Ukrainian pilots to fly the F-16 as part of a multi-national coalition. There remains no publicly announced plans or timeline for when Ukraine might actually begin to receive Vipers. A number of ex-Dutch Air Force F-16AM/BMs have just become available after a sale to a private U.S. contractor, Draken, was significantly scaled back.

The Swedish Air Force has around 94 Gripen C/D variants in service today. That service is working to replace those jets with newer E/F versions, but doesn't presently expect that to happen until sometime in the 2030s.

A number of other countries operate Gripens, but generally have relatively small fleets. The Czech and Hungarian Air Forces notably only lease their jets from the manufacturer Saab, as well. The Empire Test Pilots' School in the United Kingdom also flies leased Gripens.

A leased Gripen D in Czech service. Milan Nykodym via Wikimedia

Of course, none of this would necessarily preclude any existing Gripen operator from deciding to transfer some of their jets, especially if that came along with separate security guarantees from other countries. There have been instances of the United States and other members of NATO taking steps to backfill defense capacity in certain countries to help facilitate their delivery of higher-end weapon systems to Ukraine, or at least looking into doing so. In this context, its worth noting that Sweden is actively pushing to join NATO and is already part of a Nordic air defense alliance that was unveiled earlier this year.

A Swedish Gripen C, at left, flies together with a Norwegian F-16 Viper, at bottom right, and a Finnish F/A-18 Hornet, at top right. Finnish Air Force

Saab also routinely pitches leasing options as part of efforts to secure new Gripen deals and that might be another potential path to getting these jets to Ukraine. Any sale or lease of Gripens for Ukraine could be financed in whole or in part by one or more of Ukraine's foreign partners to help speed the process along, too.

The Ukrainian government is certainly exploring options for acquiring more modern Western fighter jets beyond F-16. The War Zone was the first to get official confirmation this week that authorities in Ukraine are actively engaged with their counterparts in Australia to look into whether dozens of ex-Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18 Hornets might meet their needs.

There is, of course, still the distinct possibility that the idea of a fleet of Ukraine Gripens will turn out to be, at best, aspirational, at least in the near term. Even very rudimentary training could still be useful for determining how quickly Ukrainian pilots and ground crews might be able to get a fleet of Gripens into actual service, too. Earlier this year, the U.S. military conducted just such a baseline evaluation of two Ukrainian pilots' general aptitude for flying the F-16.

All told, with it looking like there are no Gripens to be had in the near term, unless Sweden were to draw down its own fleet, the training program for Ukraine does appear to be heavily geared toward laying the groundwork for possible future sales. This represents the reality that Ukraine will very likely be a Western fighter operator in the future and that could be a lucrative proposition, especially in the long run, for companies like Saab. Working to establish ties now makes good sense.

Whatever the case, the Swedish government has now officially announced that it will move ahead with this initial Gripen training program for Ukrainian personnel.

Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com
Ukrainians demand for electric cars from China is growing

Volkswagen ID.4

Of this total:

603 cars were new, representing an 18% increase from April.

261 cars were used, reflecting a 3% decrease.

Read also: Key drivers behind Russias ability to fight despite sanctions

Both new and used cars imported from China were predominantly electric vehicles, accounting for 43% and 97% of registrations, respectively.

The top five most popular new Chinese-made cars in May were:

Volkswagen ID.4

Dongfeng/Honda M-NV

Chery Tiggo 4

Chery Tiggo 2

MG HS

Read also: UK defense giant BAE Systems to open office in Ukraine  Zelenskyy

The top five imported used cars from China in May included:

Volkswagen ID.4

Dongfeng/Honda M-NV

Volkswagen ID.6

Tesla Model Y

Honda E

Overall, over 4,000 passenger cars (new and used) manufactured in China have been sold in Ukraine since the beginning of the year.

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
This is a locator map for Sudan with its capital, Khartoum. (AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

CAIRO (AP)  The conflict in Sudan has killed over 330 children and left 13 million more in dire need of humanitarian assistance, UNICEF said Friday, calling on the country's warring factions to better protect vulnerable young people.

For two months, Sudan's military, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamden Dagalo, have been locked in a deadly power struggle. The fighting has killed more than 958 civilians, according to Sudans Doctors Syndicate, which only tracks civilian casualties. The true death toll is likely much higher.

Children are trapped in an unrelenting nightmare, bearing the heaviest burden of a violent crisis they had no hand in creating - caught in the crossfire, injured, abused, displaced and subjected to disease and malnutrition," said Mandeep OBrien, UNICEF's Representative in Sudan, in a report issued Friday.

According to the United Nations latest figures, the eight weeks of fighting have displaced more than 2 million people across the country, with lawlessness and ethnic violence intensifying across the Darfur region.

It wasnt immediately clear how UNICEF accounted for the 13 million children. There are roughly 21 million children in Sudan, which had a population of over 45 million before the conflict broke out.

Last week, the International Committee of the Red Cross rescued 297 children from an orphanage in Khartoum. The operation came after 71 children had died from hunger and illness in the facility since mid-April.

In West Darfur province, at least 14,836 children under five are expected to be severely malnourished, UNICEF said. For weeks, the restive province has been under a near-complete communications blackout.

Khamis Abdalla Abkar, the governor of West Darfur, was abducted and killed on Wednesday hours after he accused the RSF and allied Arab militias of attacking local communities across the province's capital, Genena. Abkar made the accusation during a telephone interview with the Saudi-owned television station, Al-Hadath.

Later Wednesday, video footage circulating on social media showed a group of armed men, some wearing RSF uniforms, detaining Abkar. Shortly after, new footage  too graphic to broadcast  purportedly showed Abkar laying on the ground motionless with wounds in his neck and face.

On Thursday, Sudan's Military and United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission, or UNITAMS, blamed the RSF and affiliated Arab militias for the killing.

Compelling eyewitness accounts attribute this act to Arab militias and the Rapid Support Forces, UNITAMS said in a short statement.

The RSF denied any involvement in the murder, instead blaming outlaws for killing Abkar. The paramilitary accused the military and its intelligence service of fueling tribal conflict, in a post on its social media page on Thursday.

In the early 2000s, African tribes in Darfur that had long complained of discrimination rebelled against Khartoum's Islamist government, which responded with a military campaign that the International Criminal Court later said amounted to genocide. The state-backed Arab militias, known as the Janjaweed, were accused of widespread killings, rapes and other atrocities. The Janjaweed later folded into the RSF.

UNICEF said it needed $838 million to address the crisis.
A UPS truck makes deliveries in Northbrook, Ill., Wednesday, May 10, 2023. Unionized UPS workers voted overwhelmingly on Friday, June 16, to authorize a strike, setting the stage for a potential work stoppage if the package delivery company and Teamsters cant come to an agreement before their contract expires next month.(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

NEW YORK (AP)  Unionized UPS workers voted overwhelmingly on Friday to authorize a strike, setting the stage for a potential work stoppage if the package delivery company and Teamsters cant come to an agreement before their contract expires next month.

The Teamsters said 97% of unionized workers voted for the authorization, which the union urged for in order to have more leverage during negotiations with the company. But a yes vote does not mean a strike is imminent.

If this multibillion-dollar corporation fails to deliver on the contract that our hardworking members deserve, UPS will be striking itself," Teamsters General President Sean OBrien said in a prepared statement. "The strongest leverage our members have is their labor and they are prepared to withhold it to ensure UPS acts accordingly.

The Teamsters represent about 340,000 UPS employees, more than half of the companys workforce in the largest private-sector contract in North America. If a strike occurs, it would be the first since a 15-day walkout by 185,000 workers crippled the company a quarter century ago.

UPS has grown vastly since then and become even more engrained in the U.S. economy. The company says it delivers the equivalent of about 6% of nations gross domestic product. That means a strike would carry with it potentially far-reaching implications for the economy.

UPS said in a prepared statement the strike vote does not impact the company's current business operations.

Authorization votes and approvals are normal steps in labor union negotiations, the company said. We continue to make progress on key issues and remain confident that we will reach an agreement that provides wins for our employees, the Teamsters, our company and our customers.

UPS workers are still seething about the current contract, which they feel was forced on them by prior union leadership in 2018 based on a technicality. The contract created two hierarchies of workers with different pay scales, hours and benefits. The union wants it eliminated.

In addition to addressing part-time pay and what workers say is excessive overtime, the union wants improvements to driver safety, particularly the lack of air conditioning in delivery trucks, which has been blamed for the death of a driver and hospitalizations of others.

On Tuesday, the union and the company announced they reached a tentative agreement to equip more trucks with air conditioning equipment. Under the agreement, UPS said it would add air conditioning to U.S. small delivery vehicles purchased after January 1, 2024.

But those changes arent extending to vehicles already in operation - at least not yet. Instead, the union says two fans would be installed in all vehicles when a new contract is ratified. It also said the company agreed to add heat shield to some vehicles, and put air vents in all cars within 18 months of a new contract. Under the agreement, UPS says roughly 95% of its existing U.S. package delivery fleet will be enhanced.

Teamsters spokesperson Kara Deniz said there have been two dozen tentative agreements reached with UPS since the negotiations began in April. The current contract expires on July 31.

UPS delivers around 25 million packages a day, representing about a quarter of all U.S. parcel volume, according to the global shipping and logistics firm Pitney Bowes. Thats about 10 million parcels more than it delivered each day in the years leading up to the pandemic.

UPS profits have soared since the pandemic began in 2020 as millions of Americans grew to rely on the delivery to their doorstops.

Annual profits at UPS in the past two years are close to three times what they were pre-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 that profit growth is largely due to the hard work of UPS drivers and warehouse workers who carry everything from 50-pound bags of dog food and cases of wine to prescriptions.

The acrimony over the current contract was the impetus for workers rejecting a candidate to lead the Teamsters favored by longtime union head James Hoffa. Union members instead chose OBrien, who has dug in on the Teamsters contract demands of UPS.

A win at UPS could also have implications for the organized labor outside the company.

There have been prominent labor organization campaigns at Apple, Starbucks, Trader Joes, even strippers at a dance club in Los Angeles. Teamsters are also attempting to organize workers at Amazon. On Friday, the new president of the United Auto Workers gave his strongest warning yet that the union is preparing for strikes against Detroits three automakers when contracts expire in September.

_____ AP Auto Writer Tom Krisher contributed to this report from Detroit
FILE - Central American migrants walk in the late afternoon as they leave Mexicali, Mexico, Nov. 20, 2018, on their way to Tijuana. The U.S. Treasury on June 16, 2023 announced sanctions on the Mexico-based migrant-trafficking gang known as the Hernandez Salas organization, based in Mexicali, that supplied asylum seekers with false papers to game the process since at least 2018, according to the Treasury Department. The gang then smuggled the migrants into the U.S. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

MEXICO CITY (AP)  The United States Treasury on Friday announced sanctions on a Mexico-based migrant-trafficking gang that supplied asylum seekers with false papers to game the process.

Known as the Hernandez Salas organization, the gang is based in the border city of Mexicali, across the border from Calexico, California.

Since at least 2018, the gang organized travel by migrants from countries posing national security concerns, the Treasury statement said, though it did not specify what countries those were.

However, the department did say the gang smuggled migrants into the United States from Russia, Eritrea, Yemen and Iran, among others.

The Treasury said in a statement that the criminal scheme hurts those who really need asylum protection.

The practice of human smuggling and the facilitation of fraudulent documentation undermines the U.S. asylum system, the statement said, damaging public confidence in the vetting process and jeopardizing access to protection for vulnerable persons fleeing conflict, famine, and persecution.

The gang is allegedly run by a woman, Ofelia Hernandez Salas, with links to the Sinaloa drug cartel. The sanctions also applied to four associates and two hotels used to house migrants. Hernandez Salas is under arrest in Mexico and is awaiting extradition to face U.S. charges.

The department said the gang charged migrants between $10,000 and $70,000 for package deals of travel to Mexico, fake documents and smuggling fees to enter the United States.

The sanctions imposed by Treasurys Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) freeze assets of the companies and people in the United States. They also prohibit U.S. citizens and businesses from any transactions with the targeted entities.
Chinese premier congratulates Denkov on assuming office as Bulgarian PM

Xinhua) 08:57, June 16, 2023

BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday sent a congratulatory message to Nikolai Denkov on his assuming office as Bulgarian prime minister.

In the message, Li said the China-Bulgaria strategic partnership has been developing continuously in recent years.

Prime Minister Denkov, as a member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, attaches great importance to science, education, and international exchanges and cooperation, and has made positive contributions to pushing for countries' focus on scientific and technological innovation and green development, Li said.

China is deeply implementing the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education, and upholding the central role of innovation in the overall modernization drive, Li said.

China and Bulgaria share many similarities in their development concepts, and have great potential for cooperation, Li said, adding that China is ready to work with Bulgaria to continuously deepen practical cooperation in various fields, and push forward the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun)
US Congress tables bill to help Ukraine fight against Russia with seized Russian assets

The United States introduced a law that would allow confiscating Russian assets to be used to help Ukraine

The bills sponsors said their intention is to ensure Moscow pays for damage caused by its invasion of Ukraine, not U.S. taxpayers.

Read also: Why Russias offensive failed, Russia hoping for a draw, problems seizing Russian assets

Among other things, the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity (REPO) for Ukrainians Act introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives would give the U.S. president the authority to confiscate Russian assets frozen in the United States and transfer them to help Ukraine, the report says.

It also would bar the release of funds to sanctioned Russian entities until Russia withdraws from Ukraine and agrees to provide compensation for harm caused by the war.

Read also: US and allies freeze over $58 billion worth of sanctioned Russian assets

Over a year into Russias full-scale war against Ukraine, more than $300 billion in Russian sovereign assets remain frozen globally, said Senator Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a sponsor of the bill.

Read also: EU unable to simply seize frozen assets of Russias central bank, report says

Given Russias brutality and continued war crimes against the Ukrainian people, it is only right that the Russian government funds in the United States be seized and repurposed to help Ukraine rebuild its country.

European Union member states have been told the bloc has the legal authority to temporarily leverage at least EUR 33.8 billion ($36.8 billion) of Russian central bank assets to help pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine, the Bloomberg news agency reported on Jan. 26.

Since Feb. 24, 2022, Ukraines state budget has received UAH 28.3 billion ($773.8 million) as a result of the arrests and various mechanisms of confiscation of the assets of Russians and collaborators in Ukraine.

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

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Friday threatened to use congressional appropriations to block funding for a U.S. visa waiver program for Chile, blaming rising criminal activity in the United States on the program.

At a news conference in Santa Ana, California, McCarthy called on U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to suspend the program, a step that would allow law enforcement officials to run criminal background checks on those who have entered the country.

McCarthy, a California Republican said the appropriations will not allow Mayorkas "to use money when it comes to Chile for the visa waiver program until this issue is solved."

"If he will not act, we will take that action in the next two weeks inside our appropriations."

McCarthy said people entering the United States through the program have joined organized crime organizations that he said have carried out raids on homes and businesses in California and elsewhere.

He accused Mayorkas of failing to take action to address the problem.

Both Republicans and Democrats have recently raised concerns about the program and its impact on crime.

Representative Lou Correa, a Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, called on Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to take steps to prevent the program from fueling criminal activity.

"I am concerned that some citizens of Chile are abusing the visa waiver program to commit burglaries throughout the United States, including in my district in Orange County," Correa said in a statement on Thursday.

(Reporting by David Morgan; additional reporting by Ted Hesson; Editing by Leslie Adler)
By Jonathan Allen

(Reuters) - Police in Minneapolis routinely use excessive force and discriminate against Black and Native American people, the U.S. Justice Department said on Friday after a two-year investigation prompted by the police killing of George Floyd.

The city has agreed to what will likely be years of federal oversight as it works to reform the Minneapolis Police Department, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in announcing the findings.

The scathing 89-page report vindicated long-standing community complaints of rampant abuse by the police force that predated Floyd's murder by white former police officer Derek Chauvin, who kneeled on his neck for more than nine minutes.

"We found that the Minneapolis Police Department routinely uses excessive force, often when no force is necessary, including unjust deadly force and unreasonable use of Tasers," Garland said at a press conference at the city's federal courthouse.

The report found that officers frequently violated residents' constitutional rights. They used potentially deadly neck restraints, since banned by the city, and shot at people in situations where there was no immediate threat.

Other findings included officers frequently failing to intervene when they saw colleagues using excessive force, discriminating against people with behavioral health disabilities and unconstitutionally retaliating against protesters and journalists.

"We observed many MPD officers who did their difficult work with professionalism, courage and respect, but the patterns and practices we observed made what happened to George Floyd possible," Garland said at the press conference with Mayor Jacob Frey and other city officials.

Frey and other Minneapolis officials will negotiate an agreement with the Justice Department known as a consent decree in which a federal judge will oversee the city's progress in reforming the police department.

The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division launched its investigation in April 2021 after Chauvin was convicted of murdering Floyd, a Black man, by kneeling on the handcuffed man's neck as he begged for his life before going limp.

Floyd's murder in May 2020, captured in a bystander's cellphone video, sparked nationwide protests decrying police brutality and racism in the criminal justice system. In Minneapolis, protesters damaged property, including a police precinct house that was set ablaze.

Many in Minneapolis complained Chauvin's excessive use of force against Floyd was not an exceptional case, but rather a commonplace practice of the city's police officers abusing the rights of Black residents.

Garland said the investigation found that there were several incidents in which city police officers "were not held accountable for racist conduct" until there was a public outcry.

Marcia Howard, a Minneapolis teacher and prominent civil rights activist, said the report was being cautiously welcomed by community members who have occupied the intersection where Floyd was killed, in what is now a years-long protest seeking an overhaul of the police.

"It emphasizes what Black and Indigenous people have been saying for years, that we have lived under the yoke of a racist regime in the Minneapolis Police and they have gone unchecked with their egregious uses of force," Howard said.

Mayor Frey said he welcomed the Justice Department's help in reforming the police department.

"Our success will be defined by the people of Minneapolis feeling safe when interacting with police in our city," he said.

President Joe Biden, a Democrat, released a statement calling the report's findings disturbing. He repeated his call for Congress to pass reforms "that increase public trust, combat racial discrimination and thereby strengthen public safety."

Negotiating the consent decree with the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division is expected to take several months, officials said. The department has negotiated similar federal oversight agreements in other cities, including Ferguson in Missouri, Baltimore and Cleveland.

Chauvin, the former officer convicted on state charges for Floyd's murder, later pleaded guilty to federal charges that he violated Floyd's civil rights, and is serving a 21-year sentence in federal prison. Three other police officers involved in the arrest were also convicted on state and federal charges.

(This story has been refiled to correct the spelling of Marcia Howard in paragraph 13)

(Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York, editing by Deepa Babington and Jonathan Oatis)
The U.S. Navy and its NATO allies and partners wrapped up their annual maritime-focused exercise in the Baltic region Friday.

Baltic Operations 2023, or BALTOPS, concludes a week after American and European pilots flew their final sorties for the High Norths premier aerial warfare drill, Arctic Challenge 2023. The concurrent exercises, which included U.S. Air Force and Navy personnel, aimed to bolster Euro-American defense cooperation.

BALTOPS, which featured a cohort of 50 ships and 45 aircraft led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and U.S. 6th Fleet, kicked-off in Estonia June 4. Over the following two weeks, the navies of 20 countries  four more than last year  simulated maritime and amphibious combat scenarios in and around the Baltic Sea.

More than 6,000 personnel, including about 1,500 U.S. sailors, Marines and airmen, took part in the exercise, more than twice as many as in 2020.

The destroyer Paul Ignatius and command ship Mount Whitney headlined the U.S. Navy contingent. American forces flaunted a number of new capabilities during the exercise. Unmanned surface vessels rehearsed personnel rescues and medical transfers. A Danish frigate leveraged U.S. logistical capabilities to reload a dummy missile. Participating countries also wargamed enemy attacks on NATO-member satellites and GPS systems.

BALTOPS 23 represents a tangible indication of commitment to collective defense capability across the NATO Alliance, Vice Adm. Thomas Ishee, commander of Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO and U.S. 6th Fleet, said in a June 4 press release. We continue to meet the security challenges of today, and prepare for tomorrow, through interoperability and seamless integration in real world operations.

Italian Navy ship ITS San Marco, Polish Navy ship ORP Torun, Royal Navy ship HMS Albion, and U.S. Navy command ship Mount Whitney sail the Baltic Sea during BALTOPS 23. (Courtesy photo)

U.S. Air Force and Navy pilots finished their drills for Arctic Challenge, a Nordic-run aerial warfare exercise featuring 10 other NATO members, on June 9.

The Air Force press office described this years Arctic Challenge Exercise, hosted in Finland, as a symbol of the strength and capability of the Alliance throughout the Nordic region.

Lucky and observant onlookers might have spotted an F-35A Lightning II, F-15E Strike Eagle or KC-135R Stratotanker streaking across the Arctic sky. The 48th Fighter Wing out of RAF Lakenheath in England teamed up with Mildenhalls 100th Air Refueling Wing and the Maine Air National Guards 101st Air Refueling Wing to coordinate U.S. Air Force flight contributions to Arctic Challenge. Personnel from Nellis Air Force Bases 414th Combat Training Squadron, which conducts Red Flag exercises in Nevada, helped U.S. and partner pilots simulate combat scenarios.

A sailor signals to an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter on the flight deck of the destroyer Paul Ignatius on June 6 during BALTOPS 23. (MC1 Zac Shea/Navy)

Though BALTOPS and Arctic Challenge were not directly connected, some units participated in both. Navy pilots with Carrier Air Wing 8, assigned to the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, flew their aircraft in mock missions for both exercises, according to U.S. 6th Fleet spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Karl Schonberg.

Participating in BALTOPS 23 and Arctic Challenge allows us to conduct integrated training and high-intensity activities with our Allies and partners to enhance collective defense capability across the NATO Alliance, Capt. Dan Catlin, commander of Carrier Air Wing 8, told Military Times.

Russias invasion of Ukraine has breathed new life into NATO.

Chided as an antiquated and restrictive partnership during the Trump administration, the alliance has regained its status as a bulwark against future Russian aggression in the eyes of analysts and policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic. Finland made its BALTOPS debut as a full-fledged NATO member after joining the alliance in April, ditching decades of overt strategic neutrality. Swedens bid for entry, stonewalled by Turkey, awaits confirmation.

An F/A-18F Super Hornet takes off from aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford's flight deck on June 5 as part of the Arctic Challenge exercise. (MCSN Maxwell Orlosky/Navy)

The Nordic exercises come on the heels of several other high-profile Euro-American military initiatives. The Ford, the worlds largest warship, made a port call in Oslo in late May before sailing to the Arctic Circle to partake in Arctic Challenge. The U.S. and its NATO allies showcased their collaborative air and missile defense systems during the biannual Formidable Shield exercise in May.

Defender 23, a two-month joint operation encompassing several land-based drills across the continent, kicked off in late April. Defenders aerial corollary, Air Defender 2023NATOs largest ever multinational air warfare exercisebegan on Monday and concludes June 23.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Terrance Middleton, 494th Fighter Generation Squadron electrical systems journeyman, prepares an F-15E Strike Eagle for takeoff during Arctic Challenge Exercise 2023 at Pirkkala, Finland, June 7. (Staff Sgt. Gaspar Cortez/Air Force)

Russia has followed the U.S.-NATO exercise spree with agitation. The Kremlin fumed when it caught wind of the Fords arrival in Norway. Once a willing participant in BALTOPS, the Russian military launched a Baltic exercise of its own on June 5, deploying roughly 3,500 soldiers, 40 ships, and 25 aircraft in response to what it has described as a provocative NATO maneuver.

Russia has mirrored NATOs Baltic wargames in the past. In 2020, Russian fighter jets strafed practice maritime targets as alliance ships drilled in the waves below. The following year, Russian warships sailed around Stockholm one day after allied vessels set off for BALTOPS exercises. There have been no reports of collisions or near-misses between Russian and NATO forces deployed to the region.
SEOUL, South Korea  The United States deployed the cruise missile submarine Michigan, capable of carrying about 150 Tomahawk missiles, to South Korea on Friday, a day after North Korea resumed missile tests in protest of the U.S.-South Korean live-fire drills.

The Ohio-class submarines arrival in South Korea, the first of its kind in six years, is part of a recent bilateral agreement to enhance regular visibility of U.S. strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula in response to North Koreas advancing nuclear program, according to South Korean officials.

The Michigan arrived at the southeastern port city of Busan, they said, but didnt comment on how long it would stay in South Korean waters.

The Tomahawk missiles have a range of about 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles) and the boat is capable of launching special forces missions, according to the South Korean statement.

With the arrival of the Michigan, the U.S. and South Korean navies are to conduct drills to boost their special operation capabilities and joint ability to cope with growing North Korean nuclear threats, the South Korean Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The South Korean and U.S. militaries have been expanding their exercises in reaction to North Koreas provocative run of missile tests since last year. North Korea has argued it was forced to ramp up testing activities to deal with its rivals expanded military drills that it views as an invasion rehearsal, but experts say the North ultimately aims to modernize its arsenal and increase its leverage in eventual diplomacy.

In April, after their meeting in Washington, President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol agreed the United States would enhance the regular visibility of strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula. Biden also stated that any North Korean nuclear attack on the U.S. or its allies would result in the end of whatever regime took such action.

The two leaders also announced other steps to reinforce joint deterrence capabilities such as the docking of a U.S. ballistic missile submarine in South Korea periodically; bolstering joint training exercises; and the establishment of a new nuclear consultative group. A boomer has not yet arrived in South Korea.

The USS Michigan docks at a naval base in Busan, South Korea, June 16. (Gang Duck-chul/Yonhap via AP)

Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, slammed the Biden-Yoon summit agreements, saying they revealed the two countries most hostile and aggressive will of action against the North. She threatened to further bolster her countrys nuclear forces.

On Thursday, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast, shortly after it vowed responses to the just-ended South Korea-U.S. firing drills near the Koreas heavily armed border.

They were the Norths first weapons launches since it tried to put its first spy satellite into orbit in late May. The launch failed as the rocket carrying the spy satellite crashed into the waters off the Korean Peninsulas west coast.

South Koreas Defense Ministry said Friday that military search crews have salvaged what it believes is part of the crashed North Korean rocket. The ministry released photos of the white, metal cylinder, which some experts said would have been the rockets fuel tank.
US nuclear-powered submarine that ran into an underwater mountain in the South China Sea is going to be stuck in repairs for years

The Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Connecticut (SSN 22) departing Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for sea trials following a maintenance availability. US Navy photo by Thiep Van Nguyen II/released

A US Navy nuclear-powered submarine ran into an underwater mountain in 2021.

The USS Connecticut faces repairs set to cost about $80 million and wrap up in 2026 at the earliest.

Bloomberg reported that the drawn-out maintenance highlighted Navy shipyard backlogs.

A US Navy nuclear-powered submarine that ran into an underwater mountain while transiting the South China Sea in 2021 will be sidelined from service for at least a few more years as it waits to be repaired.

The USS Connecticut, a highly revered fast-attack submarine, is stuck at a shipyard in Washington state waiting for maintenance to begin, Bloomberg reported this week. Repairs to the vessel's bow and lower rudder are set to cost about $80 million and keep the Seawolf-class submarine sidelined until 2026 at the earliest.

The drawn-out repairs for the Connecticut highlight the repair backlogs and capacity issues with regard to fixing damaged vessels the Navy is facing. This has long been a serious problem  one that officials at the Government Accountability Office, a watchdog agency, have said is negatively affecting readiness, according to the report. Bloomberg reported, citing Navy records, that 18 of 49 attack subs were unavailable for service because of maintenance.

"It will have taken AT LEAST 5 YEARS of repairs for the USS Connecticut  one of our most formidable submarines  to return to the fleet," Sen. Roger Wicker, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, tweeted in response to the Bloomberg report. "This delay is a reminder of the kinds of monumental investments we need to make in maritime infrastructure."

The Bloomberg report cited a Navy statement saying submarine repair delays were caused by "planning, material availability, and shipyard execution." A Navy official told Insider that the upcoming repairs also included routine maintenance that had been scheduled even before the 2021 incident.

Built at the end of the Cold War to hunt Soviet vessels, the Connecticut, one of three Seawolf-class submarines, is considered to be among the Navy's most capable submarines. These vessels are armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles and torpedoes.

An HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopter from the Chargers of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 14 flying over the Connecticut. US Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class John Hageman

Based out of Washington's Naval Base Kitsap, the submarine was transiting international waters in the South China Sea in early October 2021 when it collided with an undersea mountain, damaging the submarine and injuring several of the Navy sailors onboard. The accident was initially met with skepticism and accusations from China, which had accused the US of being cagey and trying to cover up the accident.

Shortly after the incident the Navy sacked the vessel's command leadership over a loss of confidence before ultimately ordering a safety stand-down for its entire submarine force. An April 2022 declassified Navy report found that the accident was the result of several failings and was entirely preventable.

"A grounding at this speed and depth had the potential for more serious injuries, fatalities, and even loss of the ship," the report said, adding that it "resulted from an accumulation of errors and omissions in navigation planning, watchteam execution, and risk management that fell far below U.S. Navy standards."

"Prudent decision-making and adherence to required procedures in any of these three areas could have prevented the grounding," said the report, which also revealed that this wasn't the first time the $3 billion Connecticut had collided with an object. The vessel struck a pier in San Diego a few months before the South China Sea accident.

Now the Connecticut must wait a few years before it can return to the open ocean as shipyards remain backed up, posing a problem for the Navy as tensions continue to rise with China and as the prospect of a conflict over Taiwan looms. Beijing boasts a numerically larger naval force than the US, according to Pentagon data, though experts have suggested that Washington still enjoys a considerable advantage due to the quality of its force and the advanced capabilities of its submarine inventory.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Bloomberg) -- The US sent a nuclear-powered, guided-missile submarine to South Korea for the first time in six years in a show of force meant to deter North Korea from military strikes.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The USS Michigan docked at a naval base in the southern city of Busan, South Koreas Defense Ministry said Friday. It is there for joint training between the allies meant to respond to the advancing North Korean threat, it said in a statement.

The visit comes after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol won assurances during a summit with President Joe Biden in April to strengthen extended deterrence measures, including more regular deployments of nuclear-armed submarines.

The displays of US military might are meant to serve as a reminder of a warning Biden issued to leader Kim Jong Un during a meeting with the South Korean president that a nuclear strike by North Korea would be suicidal.

The North Korean leader has been defiant, firing off two short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday night as his regime protested massive live fire-exercises between the US and South Korea that ended this week just south of the border that divides the two Koreas.

The USS Michigan, launched in 1980, is built to carry Trident submarine-launched ballistic missiles, the US Navy said. South Korea said it is one of the largest submarines in the world and can be armed with over 150 Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The US sent the submarine to South Korea in 2017 is a show of force when tensions were on the rise with North Korea.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- The top US liaison to Taiwan asked the oppositions presidential candidate about how he would navigate relations with Beijing if he wins next years election, according to people familiar with the meeting, as polls show a tight race between the key parties.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Laura Rosenberger, the new chair of the American Institute in Taiwan, which serves as the de facto US embassy, sat with New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih for dinner on June 7  part of a series of meetings she had last week with key candidates in the January 2024 race.

The meeting with Hou  relatively unknown in US policy circles  was his first with Rosenberger since she took the chairmanship of AIT in March.

Hous bid with the Kuomintang, a party that backs closer ties with China, raises the stakes for US engagement and could put the Biden administrations pledge of neutrality to a test. Beijing makes no such promise: it harshly criticizes and has slapped sanctions on key figures in the current Taiwan government, led by President Tsai Ing-wen, for its pro-independence views.

Read More: Taiwan Political Upstart Threatens to Eclipse KMT as No. 2 Party

The latest poll shows the election could be tight. While Tsais DPP has the most support at 24.6%, it is closely followed by the upstart Taiwan Peoples Party at 22.2% and the KMT at 20.4%. The June 12-13 survey by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation marks the first time three parties have garnered over 20%.

Whoever wins will likely help set the tone for US-China relations for years to come. Rosenberger stuck with the US promise of neutrality in her meetings, even joking about it with Hou at dinner when she was asked whether she preferred to order pork or beef. Rosenberger responded by saying she wanted both, indicating that the US wouldnt take sides, according to people familiar with the gathering.

A US official said the goal of Rosenbergers trip was to meet all three declared presidential candidates and discuss with how the US could strengthen its unofficial relationship with Taiwan. The person reiterated that the US wont take sides in the vote and opposes interference by external forces in the election.

Why Taiwans 2024 Election Matters From China to US: QuickTake

Addressing cross-strait relations, Hou said he would resume some Taiwan-China exchanges that have been stalled on issues such as education cooperation and joint crime-fighting, according to the people. He also stressed his commitment to the US partnership to jointly promote regional peace, as well as the importance of having defense capabilities for the purpose of deterrence, the people said.

That kind of agenda could help calm turbulent US-China ties if Hou wins, said Liao Yu-shih, assistant professor at Tamkang Universitys diplomacy and international relations department. But, she added, Washington will want to be assured that Hou has a clear stance on China and international policy, because now there are question marks.

That nervousness can already be seen in Washington. In a potential rehash of the Who Lost China? debate in the US in the 1950s, some Republicans have already signaled that a KMT victory would essentially be a defeat for the US.

Read More: Blinken Heads to China Setting Low Expectations: What to Watch

In an interview with Japans Nikkei last month, Michael McCaul  the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee  said that if a preferred candidate of China wins, he or she essentially will be their installed puppet candidate. McCaul  who was sanctioned by Beijing after visiting Taiwan this year  didnt mention Hou directly in the interview. He added that a victory by a candidate Beijing doesnt like will probably lead to a more aggressive response by China.

McCauls office declined to comment.

Besides Hou, the top candidates in the presidential race include Tsais vice president, Lai Ching-te, and former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, the candidate for Taiwan Peoples Party. Rosenberger met with both of them.

Lai reiterated his goal of maintaining a peaceful and stable status-quo across the Taiwan Strait and said his administration would continue Tsais policies, according to Kolas Yotaka, a spokeswoman for Taiwans Presidential Office. Lai and Rosenberger also discussed economic ties, with Lai saying he hoped for some sort of trade agreement between the two sides, according to Kolas.

During the four-hour visit in Tainan City, Lai took Rosenberger to a museum and they watched a violin performance before visiting a local temple. Since this was the second time Rosenberger met with Lai since she took office, the trip was more about strengthening their personal relationship and deepening mutual trust, Kolas said.

Blinken Ties

Over a two-hour dinner, the TPPs Ko and Rosenberger talked about the impact of a trade agreement signed under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade, and Kos impressions from his recent visit to Japan, according to a statement from the Taiwan Peoples Party.

A former member of Bidens National Security Council with close ties to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Rosenbergers leadership of AIT is a sign of how vital the US views relations with Taipei. Under the One China policy dating back to 1972, Washington doesnt have official diplomatic relations or exchange ambassadors with Taiwan. But it does have an active unofficial relationship and the head of the AIT serves as the main interlocutor between Washington and Taipei.

Instead of naming a career diplomat with less political experience to the AIT post, Rosenbergers recent background as a top Biden foreign policy aide makes her stand out, said Kharis Templeman, a researcher specializing in Taiwan at the Hoover Institution in California.

Its a signal, both publicly and within the US government, that the White House is deeply invested in the US-Taiwan relationship and actively working to shape its direction over the next few months, he said.

(Adds comment from AIT in seventh paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
The United States has quietly resumed indirect talks with Iran in an effort to constrain Tehrans nuclear program, multiple sources told CNN.

The talks resumed late last year, months after an effort to revive the Iran nuclear deal collapsed. The Trump administration withdrew from the landmark agreement in 2018 and Iran has increasingly grown its nuclear program in violation of the deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Although sources say there have been some indications of progress, one source said were just not there yet on an agreement, and both the US and Iran have denied that an interim deal has been reached.

Stakes are high for the renewed efforts, which come ahead of the 2024 US presidential election and will face scrutiny from lawmakers and a key US ally in the Middle East: Israel.

The US is also engaged in trying to secure the release of multiple Americans who have been detained in Iran  something the administration has called a top priority. There are three Americans who have been designated as wrongfully detained who are imprisoned in Iran: Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharghi, and Morad Tahbaz. An American resident, Shahab Dalili, is also detained.

Biden administration officials have for months said that Irans breakout time  how long it would need to produce enough weapons-grade material for one nuclear bomb  had dwindled to a matter of weeks, with one Defense Department official saying in February that it could be as short as 12 days. The breakout time does not mean that Iran could produce an actual bomb in that period.

For months following the failure of the JCPOA revival attempt and amid nationwide protests in Iran, the Biden administration said publicly that the nuclear deal was not on the agenda, but said that they were committed to using diplomacy to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

However, talks quietly resumed late last year, with countries including Oman serving as intermediaries. A top administration official, Brett McGurk, has traveled multiple times to the Gulf nation for the indirect discussions with Iranian government representatives.

US approved $2.7 billion bank

And in what could be seen as a confidence building measure, the US approved a waiver allowing the transfer of $2.7 billion from Iraq to Iranian banks, in a move State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller called consistent with transactions that have taken place over  going back a number of years.

Number one, Iran can only access its funds held in accounts for Iraq for humanitarian and other non-sanctionable transactions, he said Tuesday. Number two, that these are actions that have taken place for several years, dating back to the previous administration, where the United States has approved similar transactions on an ongoing basis, consistent with US law and in full coordination with the Government of Iraq.

Irans foreign ministry spokesperson said Monday that Tehran exchanged messages with the United States through Oman a few weeks ago.

The basis of the negotiations to lift sanctions is the JCPOA. We do not have a new framework. We do not endorse any negotiations for an interim agreement or new arrangements to replace the JCPOA, Nasser Kanaani said in a briefing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested this week that his government would remain opposed to a deal with Tehran, reportedly saying, Our position is clear: Israel will not be bound by any deal with Iran and will continue to defend itself.

On Thursday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with his Israeli counterpart in Brussels, where both leaders agreed to continue working together to address the wide range of threats posed by Iran, including its nuclear program, destabilizing regional activities, and proliferation of uncrewed aerial systems and other lethal assistance throughout the Middle East and to Russia, according to a Pentagon readout.

Earlier this week, Iranian negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani met with officials from the so-called E-3 countries  France, Germany, and the United Kingdom  in Abu Dhabi, UK Foreign Office political director Christian Turner said on Twitter.

Plan C

If an agreement on the nuclear issues was reached, it is unlikely it would restore the limits of the JCPOA, but would rather be an effort to put a box around Irans growing nuclear program.

Theyve moved on to what you would call Plan C, which is try to constrain Iran and try to limit worst case outcomes, but without trying to reach an actual agreement for the next year plus given the political constraints that the administration faces and not wanting to draw attention or resources away from China and Russia, said Henry Rome, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute.

A US official told CNN that the administrations diplomatic engagements were focused on constraining its destabilizing behavior and ensuring it does not acquire a nuclear weapon. They said they want to see Tehran curb its nuclear program, stop supporting proxy groups carrying out attacks in the region, and stop supporting Russia in its war in Ukraine.

We continue to use our diplomatic engagements to pursue all of these goals, in full coordination with our partners and allies, the official said.

We believe diplomacy is the best path forward, as we have said since the outset of this Administration. But, as always, we have other options available to us if Iran chooses not to act, they said, adding that their diplomacy is matched and backed by deterrence.

Our actions earlier this year, for example, sent a clear message to Iran, which have resulted in a significant reduction of attacks against US personnel, the official said.

On the issue of the detainees, Omans foreign minister told al-Monitor that the two sides are close.

This is probably a question of technicalities, he told the publication.

In the past, one aspect of a prospective deal for the detainees has involved the unfreezing of billions of dollars of frozen Iranian assets from South Korea.

CNNs Mostafa Salem contributed reporting

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
US State Department on Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus: Lukashenko giving Kremlin more and more control

The US Department of State is continuing to monitor the situation with the transfer of Russian tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus.

Source: Matthew Miller, Spokesperson for the US Department of State, during a briefing

Details: He has noted that the US sees no reason to adjust the positions of its own nuclear forces, or any signs that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons as for now.

At the same time, Miller emphasised that the agreement on the placement of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus shows that self-proclaimed president Alexander Lukashenko is giving the Kremlin more and more control over the country.

Quote: "With respect to Belarus, its yet another example of Lukashenko making irresponsible and provocative choices to cede more control over Belarus to the Kremlin against the will of the Belarusian people. And for Russia, its yet another irresponsible move by the Kremlin," the spokesperson for the US Department of State said.

Background: On 14 June, Lukashenko said that his country had begun receiving Russian tactical nuclear weapons. He noted that this was his demand to the Russian Federation.

On 25 May, the defence ministers of Russia and Belarus signed documents on the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. On the same day, Lukashenko said that Russian nuclear weapons were on their way to Belarus.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
VA Police Officers Are Getting Body and Dashboard Cameras After Death of George Floyd

The Veterans Affairs Police Service will begin equipping its officers with body and dashboard cameras this month, part of a White House effort to hold federal law enforcement agencies accountable and ensure transparency in conducting their duties.

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Friday that the entire 4,670-member VA force will be equipped by the end of the year -- a move officials say will help it to protect veterans, families, visitors and employees while in VA facilities.

"Thousands of VA police officers bravely protect and serve anyone who sets foot on a VA facility," Veterans Health Administration Senior Security Officer Troy Brown said in a press release. "By outfitting every VA police officer with a body-worn camera, we're enhancing transparency and ensuring safety and accountability in policing."

Read Next: In the Wake of High-Profile Suicides, the Army and Navy Are Trying to Adapt

According to the VA, the cameras will automatically record video and audio if an officer draws their issued firearm or when emergency lights are activated in police vehicles.

Officers also are expected to manually turn on their cameras when conducting investigations and during encounters such as responses to calls, enforcement encounters, traffic stops and transporting suspects.

President Joe Biden signed an executive order on May 25, 2022 -- the second anniversary of the murder of a Minneapolis man, George Floyd, by a police officer -- that required a number of changes to federal law enforcement agency policies, such as the creation of a database of officer misconduct, de-escalation training and camera use.

While Floyd's death and subsequent protests against police conduct led to reforms of police departments at the local level, fewer changes had been made at the federal level. The executive order, "Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety," sought to change this.

"Our great police officers keep veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors safe at VA facilities every day," VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in the statement Friday. "Using dash cams and body cams will make our facilities even safer, building trust in our great police force while increasing transparency and promoting de-escalation."

The VA's Desert Pacific Healthcare Network will be the first to get the cameras, beginning next week.

Officials said that the VA has taken steps to ensure that the use of cameras does not infringe on the privacy of VA patients, visitors or employees and that the cameras will be used only for police investigations, court proceedings or "for limited other purposes as allowed under federal law."

"Unless there is a clear and compelling need for a recording, no video will be recorded in locations where a reasonable expectation of personal privacy exists," VA officials wrote in the release.

Most, if not all, VA facilities have static security cameras in place, but the department historically has struggled to maintain them. Earlier this year, a VA Office of Inspector General investigation found that more than 20% of cameras at 24 inspected facilities were inoperable. At one facility in a large, unidentified northeastern city, only half of the static cameras were operational.

Lawmakers called for security improvements with security and cameras at VA medical facilities following several high-profile incidents that weren't recorded, including the assault of a Navy veteran and congressional staffer at the VA Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and the murders of seven veterans at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, West Virginia, at the hands of a nurse.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime

Related: VA Stepping Up Security as It Begins Providing Abortions
(Bloomberg) -- Venezuelas main opposition groups said they will organize their own presidential primaries independently of the electoral authority when they select a candidate to try to defeat President Nicolas Maduro next year.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The decision to sideline the electoral body means the opposition will have to fund the process itself, and secure access to hundreds of polling centers across the country by October. They will also have to rely on paper ballots rather than on voting machines in the selection of their candidate.

Some leading opposition contenders, such as Maria Corina Machado, had expressed concern about the opposition allowing the government to participate, for fears that it interfere in the process, or abuse its access to voters identities. Machado has called for paper ballots to guarantee the secrecy of the vote.

Weve taken an important, historic step, Machado said to hundreds of supporters following the announcement while campaigning in Lara state.

Candidates have until June 23 to register to take part in the primary. The opposition is hoping to end more than two decades of socialist rule in the Caribbean nation.

The great challenge will be how to generate interest so that people express themselves through the ballot box in a context of mistrust in the institutions, political apathy, and with the obstacles that the government will surely try to impose, said Tamara Taraciuk, Rule of Law Program director at the Inter-American Dialogue.

Top opposition contender and twice presidential candidate, Henrique Capriles, said he backed the committees decision and planned to participate in the vote.

The decision came after the head of Venezuelas electoral council and several of its senior officials linked to the ruling party resigned on Thursday. The opposition feared this could delay the process of getting its vote organized as Maduros government begins the process of selecting replacements.

Read more: Top Venezuelan Electoral Officials Step Down Ahead of Vote

The resignation of several directors and the CNE renewal, as outlined, complicates things, opposition primary committee head Jesus Casal said from a press conference in Caracas. We will move on with the organization of a self-managed primary.

The opposition is designing strategies to collect funds to carry out the vote, including through raffles and donations from Venezuelans abroad, Casal said.

(Updates with comment from Machado, Taraciuk starting on the 4th paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Vermont man accused of killing mother at sea dies before trial. What we know.

A Vermont man accused of murdering his mother during a fishing expedition off the coast of New England in a scheme to secure a multimillion dollar inheritance has died while awaiting trial, federal authorities said Thursday.

Nathan Carman, 29, was facing fraud and first-degree murder charges in connection to the death of his mother Linda Carmen. He was scheduled to go on trial in October.

Federal prosecutors on Thursday filed a motion to dismiss the murder-on-the-high-seas case against Carman, of Vernon, Vermont, noting the government had received information from the U.S. Marshal that Carman died on or about June 15, 2023.

Carman was discovered at 2:33 a.m. at the Cheshire County Jail in Keene, New Hampshire, where he was being held in federal custody, according to Doug Iosue, superintendent of the Cheshire County Department of Corrections. Iosue said Carman was the only occupant of the cell.

He didn't provide a cause of Carman's "unexpected and untimely" death, but said it is under investigation by the Keene Police Department and that the cause of death would be determined by the medical examiner.

A spokesperson for the Keene police declined comment.

Nathan Carman, rescued from a life raft after the death of his mother and the sinking of his fishing boat off the coast of Rhode Island, arrives at the U.S. Coast Guard station in Boston on Sept. 27, 2016.

Nathan Carman accused of killing mother, grandfather

Prosecutors accused Carmen of planning to kill his 54-year-old mother on a fishing trip off the Rhode Island coast in 2016. While his mother was never seen again and is presumed dead, Carman was found in a life raft days later by the crew of a passing freighter ship.

Carman had been long suspected by his family and others of killing his mother and shooting to death his grandfather, wealthy real estate developer John Chakalos, in 2013.

Police said Carman was the last person to see his grandfather alive and owned a semi-automatic rifle similar to the one used to kill Chakalos. But the rifle had disappeared.

After Chakalos' death, Carman received $550,000 as a beneficiary of bank accounts his grandfather had set up. Carman was unemployed and low on funds when he planned the fishing trip with his mother in 2016, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors alleged the deaths were part of a scheme to inherit an estimated $7 million of the $42 million Chakalos left to his four daughters.

A federal grand jury last May indicted Carman on eight charges accusing him in his mothers death as part of an effort to defraud insurance companies. The indictment accused Carman shooting his grandfather at his home in Windsor, Connecticut, but did not charge him with murder in his death.

The inheritance remains in probate court, where Carman's three aunts sued to block Carman from receiving any money from his grandfathers estate.

'I went under': Passengers recall terrifying moments when tour boat capsized in Lockport, NY

Family, attorneys saddened by news of death

Carman's family said they were stunned by news of his death.

"We were deeply saddened to hear of Nathans death this morning. While we process this shocking news and its impact on the tragic events surrounding the last several years we ask for your understanding and respect relative to our privacy," the family said through lawyer William Michael, Jr.

One of his lawyers, Martin Minnella, told the Associated Press that Carman appeared to be in good spirits when he last spoke to his defense team on the phone Wednesday.

We were meeting with some experts today over Zoom at 12 oclock. We were prepared to start picking a jury on Oct. 10 and we were confident we were going to win, Minnella said. Im just heartbroken because I wanted him to have his day in court.

The 32-foot fishing boat "Chicken Pox," owned by Nathan Carman, tied up in South Kingstown before its fateful trip to sea in September 2016. Carman modified the boat in ways that his insurance company said  and a judge agreed  rendered the craft unseaworthy.

Carman was found on a life raft a week after his boat sank with his mother on board

Carman's case has proven captivating since his dramatic rescue by a freighter crew a week after his 31-foot boat Chicken Pox vanished in September 2016.

That ill-fated journey was dissected at a trial before U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. in 2019.

In testimony, Carman described discovering water in the bilge, turning the engine off, and asking his mother to pull in the fishing lines. He said the boat went under after he readied a life raft and grabbed survival gear. He did not place a distress call or alert his mother that they were in peril, he added.

But you didnt shout out to your mother to be prepared? McConnell asked at trial.

I didnt know the boat was going down until I was in the water, Carman answered.

I treated my mother like a passenger, Carman said. She was more of a problem than a solution.

Carman said he got into the life raft, which was equipped with 30 days of food, and called out for his mother but got no response. He was rescued, still aboard the raft, a week after he said his boat went down.

Carman filed an insurance claim weeks after the boat vanished. The insurers denied his claim after reviewing the case and Carman sued to recoup the boat's losses.

McConnell ruled in favor of the insurers in finding that it was Carmans own faulty modifications  including removing a bulkhead and trim tabs by drilling four half-dollar-size holes in the back of the vessel  that likely led to the boat's sinking. Carman denied that allegation.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Vermont man accused of killing mother in inheritance scheme dies in jail
Veterans Affairs (VA) police officers next week will begin to wear body cameras and use dashboard cameras on their vehicles, with all of the roughly 4,670 officers required to do so by the end of 2023, the VA Department announced Friday.

The requirement will first go into effect June 20 for those who serve at department medical and veteran centers in the VAs Desert Pacific Healthcare Network, which includes facilities in Southern California, New Mexico and Arizona.

VA leaders said the initiative is meant to provide transparency in their officers interactions with the public.

Using dashcams and bodycams make our facilities even safer  building trust in our great police force while increasing transparency and promoting de-escalation, VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in a statement.

Lawmakers late last year aimed to increase scrutiny and oversight at the VA by passing the initiative, which stipulates body cameras be worn by department officers. President Biden in May 2022 also gave an executive order that all federal officers and agents wear the cameras.

VA officers, who protect the departments medical facilities, campuses, centers, offices and cemeteries, in recent years have been involved in several violent incidents.

In January 2020, officers shot and killed a veteran seeking psychiatric treatment while armed with a knife. In Milwaukee at few months later, a man attempted to enter a VA hospital with a shotgun but was shot and killed by police.

The VA said its officers cameras will automatically record video and audio when an officer draws their firearm or activates the emergency lights in a police vehicle. Police will also manually turn on their body cameras for traffic stops, responding to calls for service, transporting those in custody, investigations and during enforcement encounters.

Department officials also said the VA has taken steps to ensure that the new policies do not infringe upon the privacy of those we serve or VA employees, and that footage from cameras will only be used for police investigations and court proceedings, or for other limited purposes allowed under federal law.

Unless there is a clear and compelling need for a recording, no video will be recorded in locations where a reasonable expectation of personal privacy exists, according to the VA statement.

The VA added that all its police and privacy officers are undergoing extensive training to prepare for the policy.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
He was with the victims, but did he shoot them? YNW Melly murder trial wraps up first week

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  The first week of the murder trial of YNW Melly wrapped up on Thursday without conclusive evidence that he held the gun that fired the bullets that killed Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas.

But theres a lot of trial to go.

Prosecutors say Jamell Demons, 24, was seated in the back seat of a Jeep driven by Cortland Henry early on Oct. 26, 2018, after a recording session in Fort Lauderdale. A short time later, when Henry was driving along Miramar Parkway near Interstate 75, prosecutors say Demons opened fire and killed his two friends.

Henry is charged as an accomplice in the case but will be tried separately.

So far the trial has focused on the physical evidence establishing that the casings bullet casings found inside the car likely came from the same weapon as the casings found at the scene where prosecutors claim Henry and Demons staged a drive-by shooting.

YNW Melly is Demons stage name.

Thursdays testimony ended with defense lawyers requesting a mistrial over the testimony of Felicia Holmes, mother of Demons ex-girlfriend. Defense lawyers accused the prosecution of calling Holmes solely to discredit her own testimony about a conversation Demons had with her daughter.

Broward Circuit Judge John Murphy said he would consider the defense request, but for now, the trial is scheduled to resume Tuesday morning.
Photo of Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity space plane, with the curve of Earth and the blackness of space in the background.

Virgin Galactic's first-ever commercial spaceflight will launch this month, if all goes according to plan.

The company, part of billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Group, announced Thursday (June 15) that it has set a launch window of June 27 to June 30 for its debut operational flight, which it calls Galactic 01.

"Galactic 01, a scientific research mission, will carry three crew members from the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy to conduct microgravity research," Virgin Galactic representatives said in a statement released Thursday afternoon.

"With scientific payloads on board, the spaceflight will showcase the value and power of the unique suborbital science lab that Virgin Galactic offers," they added.

Photos: Virgin Galactic's 1st fully crewed spaceflight with billionaire Richard Branson

Virgin Galactic's suborbital spaceflight system consists of two elements: a carrier plane known as VMS Eve and a six-passenger, two-pilot SpaceShipTwo space plane called VSS Unity.

Eve lifts off from a runway with Unity under its wings, then drops the spaceliner at an altitude of about 50,000 feet (15,000 meters). Unity then fires up its onboard rocket motor, powering itself to suborbital space.

Passengers aboard the space plane are treated to a few minutes of weightlessness and get to see our planet against the blackness of space. Unity then glides its way back to Earth for an unpowered runway landing.

Unity has flown five test missions to suborbital space, most recently on May 25. That latest flight was Virgin Galactic's first space jaunt since July 2021; the company grounded Unity and Eve for a while to perform maintenance and upgrade work that prepared both vehicles for the increased flight rate of commercial service.

RELATED STORIES:

 Photos: Virgin Galactic's 1st fully crewed spaceflight with Richard Branson

 Virgin Galactic trio, including the 1st woman, receives their commercial astronaut wings

 The first space tourists (photos)

And Unity and Eve are indeed scheduled to fly again shortly after the commercial debut: The second operational flight, Galactic 02, is "planned for early August, with monthly commercial flights thereafter," Virgin Galactic wrote in Thursday's update.

These missions will launch from Spaceport America in New Mexico, Virgin Galactic's commercial hub. If you're interested in booking a seat, you'll need deep pockets: a ticket aboard VSS Unity currently costs $450,000.

There will be many more chances to fly in the not-too-distant future, for Virgin Galactic is building a fleet of new "Delta-class" space planes that the company says will be capable of launching once per week. These new spaceliners should start coming fully online in 2026, Virgin Galactic has said.

Virgin Galactic isn't the only company that takes paying customers to suborbital space; Blue Origin, Jeff Bezos' spaceflight company, does so as well with its New Shepard vehicle. New Shepard hasn't launched since September 2022, when it suffered an anomaly during an uncrewed research flight.
The dawn of space tourism may be fast approaching as billionaire Richard Branson's company Virgin Galactic is preparing to make its first commercial flight to the final frontier by the end of June.

With a four-day launch window beginning June 27, the space tourism company will take a crew of three specialists with the Italian Air Force and the National Research Centre of Italy to conduct microgravity research on the edges of space. Commercial space flights for ticket holders will then begin in August and continue monthly, the company announced Thursday.

"This next exciting chapter for Virgin Galactic has been driven by innovation, determination and a commitment to delivering an unparalleled and truly transformative customer experience," Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier said in a statement.

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson in 2021.

Asteroid tracker: NASA said asteroid the size of the Brooklyn Bridge passed near Earth on Thursday

Virgin Galactic completed its final test flight last month

It's been a long road for the company to reach a point where it says it's able to now take paying customers on brief trips to space.

In 2021, the Federal Aviation Administration grounded Virgin Galactic to investigate a July 11 space flight amid concerns that it deviated off-course with Branson on board.

Two years later, Virgin Galactic completed its final test flight, known as the Unity 25 mission May 25, landing at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico after a short flight to space that included a few minutes of weightlessness. In a mission that lasted a little more than an hour, the mother ship carried the spaceplane to an altitude of 44,500 feet, where it reached an altitude of 54.2 miles before gliding back down to the runway, according to the company.

A Virgin Galactic craft sits at the entrance of Spaceport America in 2021.

Space exploration: NASA's Psyche mission on track for fall launch to metallic asteroid after yearlong delay

Virgin Galactic flight prices aren't cheap

Reserving your seat with Virgin Galactic for a 90-minute ride to space isn't cheap. Tickets went on sale to about 1,000 customers last February at a whopping $450,000 a pop, USA TODAY previously reported.

But not to fear: For the many people confined to Earth's gravitational pull, the company will offer livestreams of both its initial missions on its website, virgingalactic.com

Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin are in a space race

Virgin Galactic's announcement comes about a month after billionaire Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin was selected as the second provider for lunar lander services for NASA's Artemis program and was awarded a $3.4 billion contract.

The company, owned and personally funded by Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has been in a heated space race for years with Branson's company. It's New Shepard rocket developed for space tourism was expected to return to flight by the end of 2023 after the vehicle suffered a mid-flight failure in September.

Launch failure: Blue Origin's New Shepard crashes in Texas

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @EricLagatta.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Virgin Galactic commercial flights to space set to begin this summer
Virgin Galactic Is Ready to Kick Off Its Commercial Trips to the Edge of Space

Virgin Galactics spaceplane pulled off a suborbital test flight on May 25, 2023.

Virgin Galactic is officially open for suborbital business. The private space venture is set to launch its first commercial flight in late June, the first in a series of trips to the edge of space.

On Thursday, the company announced the start of its commercial spaceflight service with the first mission, Galactic 01, scheduled for launch sometime between June 27 and 30. The follow-up mission, Galactic 02, is set to launch in early August, after which the company is planning to send a commercial crew to the edge of space every month, according to Virgin Galactic.

Read more

Galactic 01 is a scientific research mission involving a three-person crew from the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy, who will carry out microgravity research on board Virgin Galactics VSS Unity spaceplane.

The company, founded by billionaire Richard Branson, completed a suborbital test flight in May. Virgin Galactic launched its Unity 25 mission from Spaceport America in New Mexico, with six crew members on board the spaceplane. The test flight saw the VMS Eve carrier aircraft take off while carrying the VSS Unity spaceplane beneath its wings before releasing it at an altitude of 44,500 feet (13,500 meters) above the ground. Once it was released, the spaceplane fired up its rocket engines, lifting off to a maximum altitude of 54.2 miles (87 kilometers), which is a few miles shy of the internationally recognized boundary of space known as the Karman Line.

Following the success of the test mission, Virgin Galactic declared that it was ready to launch its commercial service for space tourists. This next exciting chapter for Virgin Galactic has been driven by innovation, determination and a commitment to delivering an unparalleled and truly transformative customer experience, Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic, said in an emailed statement.

The launch of its commercial spaceflight service gave the company a boost, with Virgin Galactic shares spiking more than 40% in extended trading Thursday, CNBC reported.

Its been a bumpy ride for the company in trying to make space tourism viable. Mays test flight was the first time Virgin Galactics spaceplane reached suborbital heights in nearly two years. In July 2021, six passengers, including Branson himself, hopped on the suborbital ride that was meant to usher in the companys commercial missions. Instead, the short trip led to an investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration as reports suggested that the spaceplane veered off course during its ascent.

Mays suborbital flight was crucial in launching its commercial services for private astronauts wanting to reach the edge of space.

For more spaceflight in your life, follow us on Twitter and bookmark Gizmodos dedicated Spaceflight page.

More from Gizmodo

Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
This article was originally published in Virginia Mercury.

The kids are not all right, and they arent afraid to tell you that.

On college campuses in Virginia and nationwide, students are increasingly reporting struggles with mental health. Study after study has shown rising cases of anxiety, depression and other forms of psychological distress among students aged 18 to 25  trends that predate but were exacerbated by the isolation and disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The complexity of the mental health challenges that students are facing and when they come for the first time in the clinic are growing, said Kevin Hughes, vice president of student affairs and dean of students at Christopher Newport University in Newport News. Its not just the volume, but its how complex the issue is that theyre dealing with.

Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter

Another thing the kids arent afraid to do? Ask for help.

None of us have it together by the time were 25, said Courtney Hairston, a counselor-in-residence at Christopher Newports Office of Counseling Services. But today, she said, the stigma, I think, is gone.

This generation is like, Hey, we need help. Help us, she said.

Compared to a decade ago, the number of students seeking mental health services on college campuses has skyrocketed. An annual report from Penn State Universitys Center for Collegiate Mental Health found that during the 2021-22 school year, almost 191,000 students at roughly 180 higher education institutions in the U.S. sought mental health treatment at campus counseling centers. In 2011-12, by comparison, that figure was just over 97,000.

The same trend can be seen on Virginia campuses, say numerous people working in education and health in the state.

At Radford University, roughly 45 minutes southwest of Roanoke, enrollment is dropping. But despite that, were seeing an uptick in the percentage of students were seeing in the counseling center, said Brian Lusk, the schools director of student counseling services.

The younger generation of students are coming in more in tune with their mental health needs and more willing to seek out treatment, said Lusk. And while he said its encouraging to see students being proactive about their needs, it really puts a strain on our counseling centers.

Most of our counseling centers are staffed reasonably well, but theyre not staffed well enough to handle the kind of need were seeing now, he said.

Now, Virginia is trying to harness campuses soaring demand for mental health services to meet another goal: get more young professionals in the pipeline to provide them. In 2022, lawmakers added $1 million to the states two-year budget for a pilot program that would pay salaries and benefits for counseling and social work graduates pursuing state licensure to work at campus student health and counseling centers.

A May 30 report from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV), as well as interviews with participating universities and other people involved in the effort, indicate that nearly a year after the General Assembly signed off on the initiative, its showing promising results.

Most of our counseling centers are staffed reasonably well, but theyre not staffed well enough to handle the kind of need were seeing now.

Most of our counseling centers are staffed reasonably well, but theyre not staffed well enough to handle the kind of need were seeing now. Brian Lusk, Radford University director of student counseling services

Participating institutions are already seeing tangible impacts, SCHEV wrote in the May report. Among the takeaways: Five residents employed through the program have provided over 740 hours of direct clinical services to 220 students on Virginia campuses while racking up over 1,000 hours of supervised practice needed for their licensure.

Adding this professional colleague has bolstered morale and bandwidth and prevented burnout and turnover of clinicians, wrote one supervisor in anonymous comments on the pilot included in the report. In sum, this hire has stabilized the counseling center and our services to the university.

At Christopher Newport, they have hit the ground running, said Bill Ritchey, executive director of counseling and health services. My most pressing question is: How do we keep it going?

Rising demand, looming provider shortages

Among nearly all age groups, theres a rising demand for mental health services nationwide. In Virginia, policy discussions have mainly centered on the states troubled behavioral health system, the network of community services boards and state-run facilities that provide treatment to people who are in crisis or experiencing the most severe mental health challenges.

But while the overburdened public system deserves attention, said Deborah Oswalt, executive director of the Virginia Health Care Foundation (VHCF), the majority of Virginians who seek mental health treatment are in search of more basic services. Those include treatment for conditions such as depression, anxiety and panic disorder, as well as help dealing with difficult circumstances like a death or traumas linked to situations like abuse.

Theres really not been much of a state focus on that end of the continuum, said Oswalt.

Even as demand has risen, the number of professionals available to meet that demand has fallen in Virginia, with data showing it could shrink ever further as a wave of behavioral health providers prepare to retire.

The need and demand for behavioral health services far exceeds the available capacity to meet them, found a 2022 report from the Virginia Health Care Foundation. [Behavioral health] professionals throughout the Commonwealth are overwhelmed and Virginians are waiting months for help.

VHCFs data paint a stark portrait. Of Virginias 133 localities, the organization found, 93 are considered by federal standards to have a shortage of mental health professionals. At the time the report was issued, two localities  Craig County near the West Virginia border and Surry County just west of Newport News  had no licensed behavioral health professionals of any kind. Forty-eight localities had one or fewer full-time clinical psychologists, while 11 had one or fewer full-time social workers and 16 had one or fewer licensed professional counselors.

The workforce was also nearing what the VHCF called a provider cliff: Among psychiatrists, 61% of providers were aged 55 and older, as were 36% of licensed clinical psychologists, 37% of licensed clinical social workers and 32% of licensed professional counselors. Furthermore, the majority of providers were white, even as Virginia becomes more diverse.

As more people get comfortable with seeking out mental health treatment theres not going to be enough providers, said Lusk. In reality, pretty much all of us could use someone to talk to at some point in our lives.

Life is full of challenges, he continued. And trying to suck it up and rub some dirt on it or whatever you want to say, those southern sayings, and push through it, it doesnt work well for everyone.

A long road to licensure

Despite the aging workforce, getting new professionals into the field has been difficult because of the steep requirements many graduates face to achieve licensure in Virginia.

The largest sectors of Virginias behavioral health professions are clinical social workers and professional counselors, who in 2021 made up almost three-quarters of the workforce, according to VHCF data. While roughly 4,000 of the 12,000 current professionals in those fields are nearing retirement age, colleges and universities in the commonwealth are only producing approximately 400 graduates per year  not enough to offset the exits.

More crucially, those graduates still lack licensure. While both professional counseling and clinical social work require graduate-level degrees, licensure requires graduates to undergo thousands of hours of clinical and supervised practice. Professional counselors must undergo 3,400 hours of clinical work experience, of which 2,000 must be direct client contact and 200 must be supervised. For clinical social workers, the requirement is 3,000 hours of experience, including 1,380 clinical hours and 100 supervised hours.

Thats one of the big hurdles a lot of [licensed professional counselors] have, said Ritchey. I think theres a lot of people who want to be in higher education who are LPCs that the doors need to be opened to.

Supervised hours are particularly tricky for graduates, as most are forced to pay experienced practitioners an average rate of $100 per hour for the supervision.

Thats a lot of money, said Lusk. If someones charging you $100, $150 an hour, that adds up fast.

Hairston, the counselor-in-residence at Christopher Newport, said supervision posed a barrier for many of her fellow students.

You have some private practice members who are willing to work with you, some who are not, she said.

The states steep licensure requirements, in the absence of other mechanisms to offset the burdens, may also be weeding out candidates with graduate degrees in their field but without the resources to navigate a prolonged and expensive process.

Given the low salaries available to these pre-licensees ($42,000  $47,000/year) and the high student debt load they carry, many cannot run the financial gauntlet of paying for the required supervision hours, the VHCF report found.

Virginia has some of the strictest and highest standards to get licensure, said Lusk. We have to be gatekeepers of our profession, right? But sometimes we have such high standards in Virginia, it really puts a barrier up.

Exactly what weve been trying to do for such a long time

Over the past few years, Virginia has become increasingly interested in putting state support toward licensure of counseling and clinical social work graduates. VHCFs Boost 200 program, which aims to speed up the licensure of 200 behavioral health professionals by paying for their required supervision hours, has received funding from the General Assembly and Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

Then, in 2022, conversations between the foundation and SCHEV led to a new idea: Why not marry the need for licensure with growing college campus needs for mental health services?

Obviously the pandemic really brought to light a lot of issues related to student mental health, said Emily Salmon, a senior associate with the state council.

Colleges and universities were immediately enthusiastic. With the General Assembly allocating $500,000 in each of the fiscal years 2023 and 2024 to the pilot, the schools scrambled to apply.

This is literally something Ive been looking for for honestly almost my whole career, said Ritchey. This is exactly what weve been trying to do for such a long time.

Of the 10 colleges and universities that applied for funding, six were chosen. Their awards ranged from $66,810 for Longwood to $100,000 for Christopher Newport, which chose to cover resident benefits with university funds in order to add two graduates to its counseling center.

The interest and submission of proposals exceeded the amount of funding that was available, said Salmon.

For Oswalt, the rush of interest from schools made it clear the pilot was filling an urgent need.

This isnt a problem that somebody made up or something, she said. Universities can be pretty slow sometimes in the way they do things, but I think its telling that a good chunk of grantees really made an effort to advertise and get someone on board quickly so they could get the whole thing started.

Five months in, Lusk at Radford and Ritchey and Hughes, the dean of students, at Christopher Newport said the benefits of the initiative were already clear  not just among the residents offering care, but among the students receiving it.

Its a real critical juncture in life, said Ritchey. Its the first time in life when a person is out of the parents home but theyre not set so much that they have the encumbrances that a lot of us adults have, so its a real prime time for some heavy lifting in terms of self-exploration and personal development.

My hope is that we lose the word pilot, and then it just becomes a program, said Hughes.

Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sarah Vogelsong for questions: info@virginiamercury.com. Follow Virginia Mercury on Facebook and Twitter.
Visiting South African leader taken to hotel bomb shelter as Russian missiles rain on Kyiv

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Bucha

Shortly after the air raid sirens began to wail in Kyiv, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba took to Twitter to express his concerns, saying Russia was indicating its inclination towards war rather than peace.

Putin is strengthening trust by launching the largest missile attack on Kyiv in recent weeks, precisely during the visit of African leaders to our capital, said Kuleba.

Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace.

Read also: Zelenskyy talks with South Africa's president over alleged weapon supplies to Russia

As air sirens blared across Kyiv Oblast and other regions, warning of the imminent threat from incoming Russian cruise and ballistic missiles, the South African presidents office confirmed he had been in Bucha. Alongside other African leaders, President Ramaphosa visited the Church of Saint Andrew the Apostle  the site of a mass grave where 458 civilians, murdered by the Russian army, had been buried.

Despite reports of explosions in the background, a spokesperson for President Ramaphosa stated that the mission of the African leaders in Kyiv was progressing smoothly and according to plan. Negotiations with President Volodymyr Zelenskyyare set to begin soon, during which the African Peace Plan will be presented.

A Reuters film crew subsequently witnessed the arrival of the African leaders in Kyiv and their entry into a hotel, seeking refuge in its bomb shelter during the missile attack on the capital.

Read also: South African president wants to visit Ukraine with peace initiative

Ramaphosa, along with leaders from other African countries including Macky Sall of Senegal, Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, and Azali Assoumani of the Union of the Comoros, arrived in Kyiv earlier that morning by train.

Reuters reported on June 15, based on a draft document of the peace plan, that African leaders intend to propose that Russia withdraw a portion of its troops from Ukraine in exchange for suspending the arrest order against Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and easing sanctions.

Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court in the Hague in connection with suspected war crimes committed in Ukraine.

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

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
VP Harris to discuss abortion rights in Charlotte

Vice President Kamala Harris will be in Charlotte on June 24th to discuss abortion rights, the White House confirmed Thursday.

ALSO READ: North Carolina GOP overrides veto of 12-week abortion limit, allowing it to become law

Its been one year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

In the meantime, North Carolina recently passed more restrictive abortion legislation banning most abortions after 12 weeks.

That law takes effect on July 1.

VIDEO: NC Gov. Cooper on 12-week abortion ban: I will never ever give up fighting
In a warning to the West, Putin says Russian tactical nukes are being put in Belarus to stop a 'strategic defeat'

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko shake hands during their meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence, outside Moscow, Russia, Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 Vladimir Astapkovich, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

Putin made a fresh set of nuclear threats this week after confirming Russian warheads were moved to Belarus.

The Russian president said the escalatory step was meant to serve as a warning to the West.

US and Western intelligence officials, however, were quick to brush off Putin's most recent threats.

Vladimir Putin issued a weighty warning to the West this week as he announced a first tranche of Russian tactical nuclear weapons has been stationed in neighboring Belarus as a stop-gap against a possible "strategic defeat" in Ukraine.

At an economic forum in St. Petersburg on Friday, Putin said the warheads would only be used if Russia's territory was threatened, echoing the same empty threats the Russian president has frequently espoused since the war began in February 2022.

US and Western officials quickly brushed off Putin's most recent batch of nuclear threats. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday there are no indications that Russia is preparing to actually use a nuclear weapon and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that while the organization has seen "some preparations" from Russia, there have been no noted changes in "Russia's nuclear posture."

"This is part of nuclear messaging and nuclear rhetoric that we have seen over some time, a part of a pattern we have seen over several years," Stoltenberg said in Friday comments, "where Russia has modernized nuclear weapons, deployed more nuclear weapons  also up in the High North  but now also for the first time permanently deploying weapons to Belarus."

Putin first said in March that Russia planned to move tactical weapons to Belarus, which served as a launching pad for the country's Ukraine invasion more than a year ago.

The Russian president compared the move to the deployment of US nuclear weapons in various European countries over the years. This is the first time Moscow has moved such weapons outside its own country since the Soviet Union fell.

At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, Putin said the escalatory move was meant to prioritize "containment" and send a message to any country "thinking of inflicting a strategic defeat on us," according to BBC News and Reuters, explicitly invoking the US, which continues to support and supply Ukraine with weapons and equipment.

"Why should we threaten the whole world?" Putin responded when asked about the likelihood of using the weapons. "I have already said that the use of extreme measures is possible in case there is a danger to Russian statehood."

Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said on Tuesday that Belarus had begun accepting delivery of the Russian warheads, some of which are more than three times as powerful as the atomic bombs the US dropped in Japan in 1945, according to Reuters.

Putin said this week that the transfer of the weapons to Belarus would be done by the end of summer.

The Russian president has threatened or hinted at the possibility of using nuclear weapons so many times since the war in Ukraine began that experts and civilians alike are increasingly ignoring him. An expert on Russia and Ukraine told Insider last year that the president's threats are most likely meant to manipulate global society by sowing confusion and fear.

Read the original article on Business Insider
[Source]

Ke Huy Quan and Harrison Ford recently reunited again at the Los Angeles premiere of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, possibly the last installment of the film franchise that first introduced them to each other over 40 years ago.

Another reunion: The 51-year-old Oscar winner surprised his 80-year-old Temple of Doom co-star as he was being interviewed by "Extra TV" on the red carpet during the premiere at the Dolby Theater on Wednesday.

The actors reunited for the first time in 38 years at Disneys D23 Expo in September last year.

More from NextShark: Resident Evil star Adeline Rudolph joins cast of 'Hellboy: The Crooked Man'

Ke Huy Quan surprises Harrison Ford at the #IndianaJones and the Dial of Destiny U.S. Premiere  pic.twitter.com/UAfORSHb77  Indiana Jones (@IndianaJones) June 15, 2023

More from NextShark: Video: Japanese 'fartist' blows away 'Britain's Got Talent' judges

What they said: During the interview, Ford told "Extra TV" he has nothing but great love and admiration for Quan.

Meanwhile, the Everything Everywhere All at Once star said that he fell in love with acting because of Ford, noting that he had such a wonderful, wonderful experience on 'Temple of Doom because of him.

I'm so happy for him, I can't tell you. He's a wonderful person and an incredibly talented actor, Ford told Extra TV after Quan left.

More from NextShark: Hellbound co-creator Yeon Sang-ho reveals new character explorations for possible second season

What social media is saying: Several Twitter users found the interaction heartwarming and wholesome, with one user writing, Brilliant you can really see the love between them.

The way he says youre all grown up, another user commented. "Aghh love their love interaction! Cant wait to see Dial of Destiny soon!"

A reunion of sorts: Besides Ford and Quan, other notable attendees included Steven Spielberg, the director of the first four Indiana Jones movies; George Lucas, the creator of "Indiana Jones"; and John Williams, the film franchise's composer.

More from NextShark: Influencer overjoyed after followers help her fulfill her dream of meeting Stephen Chow

Next projects: After appearing in Everything Everywhere All at Once, Quan was tapped for a recurring role in the Disney+ series American Born Chinese. He is also set to appear alongside Tom Hiddleston and Owen Wilson in Marvels Loki Season 2.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is set to hit theaters on June 30.
[Source]

Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed improving U.S.-China relations with his old friend Bill Gates in Beijing on Friday.

The meeting: Xi gave Gates a warm welcome and called on the co-founder of Microsoft to help promote both countries relations.

I am very happy to see you. We havent seen each other for more than three years  and you are an old friend of ours, Xi said, adding that Gates is the first American friend [hes] seen this year.

The meeting, which is known to be Xis first meeting with a Western entrepreneur in years, took place at Beijing's Diaoyutai state guest house, where the two discussed global health, development challenges and the global rise of artificial intelligence.

More from NextShark: After 2-year fight, City College of San Francisco to launch new Cantonese programs

I often say the foundation of the U.S.-China relations lies with its people. I place my hopes on the American people, Xi was quoted saying. With the current global situation, we can carry out various activities beneficial to our two countries and people, activities that benefit humanity as a whole.

$50 million pledge: The meeting comes after Gates family foundation, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, pledged $50 million to support medical research in China for drug discovery and treatments of infectious diseases.

More from NextShark: Ex-NYPD hate crimes chief sues Mayor Adams for destroying her reputation over alleged mishandling

According to Gates, his foundation is committed to joint action with China in innovation, global poverty reduction, public health and pharmaceutical research. Xi also noted China will not follow the path of a strong country seeking hegemony, but will work with other countries to achieve common development.

Stabilizing relations: Gates visit also comes two days ahead of a long-delayed trip to China by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken amid bilateral tensions. Blinken, who previously postponed his trip due to the Chinese spy balloon saga, is set to be the first cabinet-level official in the Biden administration to travel to the East Asian country.

The meeting is aimed to stabilize relations after China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang told the U.S. to stop interfering in its affairs.

More from NextShark: Teens Who Set House on Fire Killing Immigrant Family of 5 To Be Tried as Adults

Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark!

Body of missing Virginia woman found, $40,000 reward offered for most wanted ex-boyfriend
'They were our babies': Family mourns loss of 2 pups after found shot in Cottonwood

A family's two missing mini-Schnauzers, Olivia and Popeye, were found shot dead in Cottonwood.

'They were our babies': Family mourns loss of 2 pups after found shot in Cottonwood A family's two missing mini-Schnauzers, Olivia and Popeye, were found shot dead in Cottonwood.

A Verde Village family is demanding justice after their two miniature schnauzers were found shot dead this week near Thousand Trails RV Park in Cottonwood.

The family realized Monday that their two beloved dogs, Olivia and Popeye, had gone missing. Immediately, they began searching the area, printing out missing dog posters and calling all the nearest animal shelters.

Both were going to celebrate their 4th birthdays in August.

However, come Thursday, Alex Sanchez, the owner of the two dogs, told The Arizona Republic that the search ended when he received a heartbreaking phone call about his dogs that he never expected.

According to Sanchez, the man who called him said he came across the two dead dogs on Tuesday while out hiking near Thousand Trails in Cottonwood  just a day after the Sanchez family realized the dogs were missing. However, the man told Sanchez it wasn't until Thursday that he saw the missing dog posters and made the connection, which led him to call and alert the family.

Sanchez said he called animal control and the Yavapai County Sheriffs Office, which took over the investigation.

The Sheriff's Office said Friday that their deputies picked up the remains on Thursday, but said no suspects were identified yet, or a cause as to why the dogs had been shot.

"They were our babies," Sanchez said. "It's hard to understand how somebody can do that."

Sanchez said his wife and two children are devastated and now are on a search for answers.

Friday morning, his wife and son went around the neighborhood assessing neighbors' and businesses' video footage for any evidence of someone taking the dogs, Sanchez said.

"We're just trying to get information because nobody saw anything, nobody heard anything yet that we know of," Sanchez said.

Sanchez and his wife, Maria Castillo, are hoping to find answers about who did this and get justice for their dogs.

No suspects or leads have been announced by the Yavapai County Sheriffs Office. Anyone with information can contact the Sheriff's Office at 928-771-3260.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sanchez family's 2 dogs found shot dead in Cottonwood
Reuters/Amr Alfiky

On Thursday, the tiniest and least consequential of all the criminal investigations into former President Donald Trump quietly came to a close.

Westchester District Attorney Mimi Rocahs small office just north of New York City was looking into Trumps forested estate, which has been accused of dodging taxes by faking paperwork.

Her effort was a little-examined parallel investigation of a much more intensive law enforcement operation now underway by the states attorney general, Letitia James. Last year, the AG sued the Trump family for bank and insurance fraud in a lawsuit that documented the way their business empire has inflated real estate values to score bank loansand in the case of his wooded estate, maximize a tax write-off on donated land.

Rocahs office refused to answer any questions about the investigation in recent months, but issued a simple statement Thursday afternoon.

The Westchester County District Attorneys Office conducted an investigation regarding certain properties owned by Donald J. Trump and/or the Trump Organization located in Westchester County, New York. Our investigation is now closed. We approached this investigation as we do all of our investigations, objectively, and independent of politics, party affiliation and personal or political beliefs, announced public information officer Anna Young.

But a bitter Trump demanded more than that, posting a statement in all caps on his Truth Social network.

This was the honorable thing to do in that I did nothing wrong, but where and when do I get my reputation back? When will the other fake cases against me be dropped? Election interference!!! he wrote.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
Western countries launch a raft of plans to keep up with Ukraines weapons needs

NATO defense ministers wrapped up two days of meetings in Brussels Friday where they pledged billions more in military aid for Ukraine as Kyiv enters the second week of its long-awaited counteroffensive against Russia.

At the same time, officials in the U.S. and Europe intensified plans to build more weapons for Ukraine over the long-term while also working to restock their own shelves at home.

The question now is: Can the defense industry keep up?

The issue became center stage over the past week as images of destroyed equipment  including U.S.-made Bradley fighting vehicles and German-made Leopard tanks  began surfacing on social media.

The need to supply and sustain Ukraine will remain for years, especially if Ukraine joins NATO. At the same time, individual governments are scrambling to increase funding for their own defense industries to ramp up production and work through supply chain bottlenecks that remain from decades of neglect, and COVID-era disruptions.

U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth told reporters at the Pentagon this week that service leaders continue to be concerned that the defense industry is struggling to meet the demand of the conflict.

A lesson learned I think for our country from the Ukraine conflict is that our industrial base is not as robust as we need it to be, and its been a wakeup call, Wormuth said.

She also called on Congress to approve additional funding to support Kyiv above the spending caps agreed to under the recent debt-limit deal. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy recently pushed back on any attempt to exceed the caps in the agreement with a Ukraine-focused supplemental.

Over the years of post-Cold War defense spending cuts, we lost visibility on our defense supply chain, said a senior U.S. Defense Department official, who was granted anonymity to discuss internal matters. Its been a tough climb to get back to where they need to be not only for Ukraine, but also support U.S. priorities in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

The needs on the battlefield have evolved considerably since the initial invasion when Ukraine needed small anti-armor weapons such as Javelins. Now, Ukrainian pilots are preparing to learn how to fly F-16s, drive main battle tanks and operate state-of-the-art long-range munitions and air defenses.

We've crossed the boundaries of every warfighting domain that we do here in the department, and we've touched just about every segment of the defense industrial base, probably more so than we did in Afghanistan and Iraq, a second DOD official said. I suspect we'll touch more of them as it continues to evolve through the counteroffensive in the fall.

In Europe, NATO leaders are expected to sign off on a new Defense Production Action Plan when they meet in Vilnius, Lithuania, next month. At the Brussels meetings this week, dozens of defense contractors gathered on the sidelines to begin planning their recommendations for that plan, according to three people with knowledge of the meetings.

NATOs leadership has recognized the industry problem, and for much of the past year has tried to come up with a plan to better integrate U.S. and European firms.

The relationship between governments and industry has never been more important, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday, acknowledging that of course, it is national governments that sign the vast majority of contracts, though NATO plays a critical role for industry as well.

Speaking of the new action plan, Stoltenberg said it will connect alliance defense industrial capacity more effectively to our defense planning and also facilitate more joint procurement, help meeting NATOs capability targets and support allies in implementing NATO standards.

A number of ministers welcomed the initiative.

I'm very much in favor of having these kinds of meetings with industry, which makes it easier to understand what we have to do, what the problem is, what we can do to solve these issues, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren told reporters following the industry session.

There is a lot of room to improve joint procurement, to have more standardization, to use user groups, so different countries who want the same capability, she added.

Ive spent a lot of time dealing with the Europeans, and I've never seen this level of seriousness about defense investments, the first Pentagon official said. The reaction to Ukraine is unprecedented in my mind.

On Thursday, Germany and Poland made commitments to sustain the Leopard tanks rushed to Ukraine this spring, while the U.S., U.K., Denmark, The Netherlands and Canada pledged new shipments of air defense missiles. Norway and Germany also announced multiyear security assistance packages, and Denmark pledged nearly $2.6 billion in military assistance for Ukraine through 2024.

Those pledges come on top of the $325 million assistance package promised by the Biden administration this week, which will be drawn directly from existing U.S. stockpiles. The package will rush 15 more Bradley fighting vehicles to replace the ones Ukraine has lost in recent days, along with 10 Stryker infantry carriers.

While the U.S. Army can pull that small number of vehicles from its stockpiles without damaging its own readiness, European allies that have rushed significant portions of their own capabilities into the war are feeling the pinch more and more.

The Pentagon recently wrapped up work on an effort to speed up sales to allies, while trying to build new bridges with the defense industry to better understand what they can deliver, and when.

We have seen in Ukraine, and more generally, that the constraint and the limiting factor for producing key platforms is the industrial base in the United States, Radha Iyengar Plumb, DODs deputy undersecretary for acquisition, told reporters this week in rolling out the new initiative. So what we're working on is to accelerate production.

That is a tall order, but there have been significant signs of movement  and some potential roadblocks  in Washington. The Pentagon has received multi-year procurement authorities from Congress for some munitions in the last two defense budgets, allowing companies to hire more workers and expand production lines for orders that are guaranteed.

But there is new pressure from a group of House Republicans to slash government spending, and in some cases rescind those authorities.

In their version of the 2024 defense spending bill, House Appropriations Committee Republicans slashed $1.9 billion for the administrations multi-year procurement request.

The bill will still need to wind its way through multiple committees on Capitol Hill, where the fight for the multi-year money will likely be intense.

The thinking behind the multi-year strategy is that those investments will have positive knock-on effects for foreign military sales, allowing allies to place more orders for equipment they need, with assurances that bottlenecks will be reduced and they will receive their orders faster.

We're looking to more effectively invest in the industrial base to expand capacity and to include that capacity in our partners demands, Sasha Baker, the Pentagons No. 2 policy official, told reporters.

While the deliberations over rushing equipment to the front continue in Washington and Brussels and across Europe, there is one view that many allies have coalesced around: the fight, and the threat of Russian aggression, isnt going away any time soon.

We are, of course, thinking that this is going to be a long-term confrontation between Russia and the Western countries, one European diplomat said. And therefore we need as an alliance to be prepared to defend ourselves.

Paul McLeary and Lara Seligman reported from Washington. Lili Bayer reported from Brussels.
Parts of the U.S. are likely to see a resurgence of the wildfire smoke that blanketed the East Coast last week, with New York projected to see further haze Friday and parts of the upper Midwest already having major issues with air quality.

New York is not expected to see a full resurgence of the sepia-toned cloud of smoke that rendered it barely visible last week; the National Weather Service says the smoke is likely to remain far above the ground. Meteorologists say a smoky smell may be noticeable as well.

Minneapolis, however, saw air quality levels Thursday morning deemed very unhealthy by air quality company Plume Labs.

As of Friday morning, levels in the city have returned to excellent. Around the same time, Chicago saw an Air Quality Index of 137, which is unhealthy for some vulnerable populations, and eastern Iowa issued an air quality alert effective through 10 p.m. Friday.

Experts say the recurring danger is partially due to both the intensity and the early onset of Canadas wildfire season.

Overall weve seen a historic wildfire season in Canada right now, said Vijay Limaye, a climate and health scientist in the Natural Resources Defense Councils Science Office. Were talking about 13 million acres burned at this point, which is far above the average we would expect to see at this point in June.

There are now 446 fires burning across Canada, including two that started Friday. Just under half of the fires are classified as out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center.

The nations national fire preparedness level sits at 5, indicating the country has committed all available national resources against the blaze. The plurality of active fires  127 of them  are located in Quebec, the source of last weeks smoke.

As to the rapid shifts back and forth in air quality south of the border, Limaye said, were sort of at the mercy of the winds  the fires continue to burn and I wouldnt be surprised if we see intense smoke exposures return to the East Coast over the summer.

Future episodes of wildfire smoke reaching the U.S. may not all be as visually dramatic as last weeks clouds, but in terms of these fine particles and the other air pollutants involved in wildfire smoke, theres really no safe exposure level, he noted.

FireSmoke Canada, which maps forecasted smoke coverage across the U.S.-Canada border, indicated as of Friday morning that smoke from Canadian fires was detectable over a broad swath of the U.S. at certain times Friday, affecting states including Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.

Some of the fires are dying down, smokes clearing, [but] there are still going to be increased particles in the air that are residual, said Afif El-Hasan, a spokesperson and physician volunteer for the American Lung Association. Wildfire areas, even when the fire is gone, still have a lot of soot, a lot of ash and other chemicals that are lingering and  can still cause issues.

Going forward, he added, it would be really important for people to still monitor government websites, air quality websites to see what the air quality is outside.

El-Hasan noted that people with respiratory conditions like asthma in particular should remain vigilant and consider wearing high-quality masks outdoors if those sources indicate a higher risk.

Even if you think its clearing, people could still be in danger, it could still hurt peoples health, and they need to be mindful of it, he said.

While last week was many on the East Coasts first experience with air pollution from fires on this level, it should function as a bit of a wake-up call for the region, Limaye said.

In terms of the distribution of wildfire smoke-related health impacts, a lot of the smoke tends to come from the western U.S., but a study from 2021 indicates about a third occurs outside of the west, he said, citing the far greater population density on the other side of the country.

This is something now becoming an international public health crisis, he said. All the science is pointing toward intensifying health hazards.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
This new wildlife sanctuary will be unlike any other part of the U.S.  and its 6 times the size of Yosemite National Park

A 156-mile stretch of coastline in central California is on the verge of being turned into a national marine sanctuary, co-managed by the Chumash people, other local tribal groups, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Guardian reported.

It will be the first tribally-nominated, tribally-led sanctuary on the U.S. mainland if approved.

It will also be physically huge  encompassing 156 miles of coastline and 7,670 square miles of ocean, the sanctuary would protect an area six times the size of Yosemite, all of which is under severe threat of the effects of climate change and pollution.

The water off the California coastline is acidifying at double the rate of the rest of the ocean, and the area has already dealt with oil spills from pipelines and petrol tanks, urban stormwater and agricultural runoffs, and offshore oil drilling, which is still legal in California.

Stephen Palumbi, a Stanford marine sciences professor, explained to The Guardian the role that the sanctuary would play in helping to protect the regions marine life.

[Sanctuaries] do three major things, he said. [T]heyre a great nexus for combining interests by different parties  such as fishing, local landowners, and state fish and wildlife departments. Theyre also a structure within the federal government, which means they have access to budget and research resources. And they can take local knowledge and graft it with administration abilities, which is a powerful combination.

Most importantly, the sanctuary would put a stop to any offshore oil drilling, as it is one of the activities officially banned in sanctuaries  along with discharging waste material, altering the seabed, and disturbing cultural resources.

The sanctuary has been in the works since the Chumash formally submitted a proposal in 2015 and could be designated as soon as early 2024.

As Palumbi told the Guardian, all the elements are there. So far, 15 senators and members of Congress have written a letter urging its approval.

Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet.
YouTube provocateur Alex Stein harassed star WNBA player Brittney Griner in Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Saturday.

Stein approached the Phoenix Mercury star player, a Texas native who was detained in Russia for nearly 10 months, and pushed a security guard, according to a police report obtained by ESPN.

He asked Griner if she had sex with Russian President Vladamir Putin to secure her release in December.

The Russian government detained Griner in February 2022 after she was found with a gram of medically prescribed hash oil. Griners detainment was politicized due to her previous protest of the national anthem over the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

Griner was released in a prisoner exchange for Viktor Bout, known colloquially as the Merchant of Death.

Stein later posted a 90-second clip to YouTube which showed him asking several questions to Griner while a member of Phoenix Mercury security stood in between them.

Stein rose to fame by rapping about COVID-19 in scrubs during a Dallas City Council meeting and appearances on right-wing shows like The Alex Jones Show and Tucker Carlson Tonight.

Seen during this mornings Dallas City Council meeting: a rap during open mic about getting vaccinated. Heres part of it. I missed the part where he squirted hand sanitizer on himself. pic.twitter.com/68iaTFXMas  Everton Bailey Jr. (@EvertonBailey) January 12, 2022

The security personnel member that Stein allegedly pushed declined to press charges.

The incident reignited conversations about how WNBA teams travel commercially. New York Liberty forward player Breanna Stewart among others has previously stated their desire for the WNBA to charter flights for players due to player safety and health concerns.

I would love to be part of a deal that helps subsidize charter travel for the entire WNBA.



I would contribute my NIL, posts + production hrs to ensure we all travel in a way that prioritizes player health + safety, which ultimately results in a better product.



Whos with me?  Breanna Stewart (@breannastewart) January 22, 2023

WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert was on ESPNs Outside the Lines and addressed the incident, saying the league had a hybrid commercial/charter system in place for the Mercury in acknowledgment of the polarization that surrounds Griner.
A woman was arrested in a deadly hit-and-run in Hollywood. Cops say it was intentional

A woman was arrested this week, accused of purposely striking a man with the SUV she was driving and then taking off, Hollywood police said Friday.

Police announced the arrest of Nadeline Massenat, 24, three months after the man died, and charged her with one count of first-degree murder.

Luis Ortiz, 36, was found unconscious on the ground in the 5800 block of Thomas Street the early morning of March 14. Hollywood paramedics took him to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, where he died.

Police say an investigation found that Ortiz and Massenat knew each other. They had been in contact the night before and Ortiz asked Massenat to pick him up from the Seminole Hard Rock, according to police.

A surveillance camera captured Massenat slowly driving next to Ortiz and the audio indicates the two argued about money. Police say the footage shows Massenat hitting Ortiz with the SUV, an older Honda CRV model, and dragging him 500 feet.

She lives with her mother in Miramar, according to police, but was arrested at a Fletcher Street house in Hollywood on Wednesday, June 14.

Massenat is being held without bond in the Paul Rein Detention Facility in Pompano Beach.
A woman is demanding the return of her mothers remains after learning that her fathers body was stolen as part of an alleged gruesome theft ring at the Harvard Medical School morgue.

According to The Boston Globe, Paula Peltonovichs father, Nicholas Pichowicz, died in 2019 and had his body donated to Harvard Medical School. His wife, Joan Pichowicz, died in March, and her remains were also donated to the school.

Harvard Medical School accepts such donations through its Anatomical Gift Program. The bodies are used for education and research purposes  a common practice in medical schools across the country. After the bodies are used, Harvard cremates the remains and either returns them to the families or sends them to a cemetery.

This is what they chose to do years ago, Peltonovich told the Globe on Thursday. They gave back to science.

But Peltonovich now believes her fathers body encountered a more grisly fate.

Between 2018 and 2022, Harvards former morgue manager Cedric Lodge and his wife, Denise, allegedly stole and cut up donor cadavers from the medical school and sold parts of them  including brains, heads and skin  to buyers in Massachusetts and other states.

The body parts were allegedly bought by Katrina Maclean, Joshua Taylor and Mathew Lampi. Maclean allegedly purchased body parts from Lodge  including two dissected faces  to resell to buyers or in her Massachusetts shop, which largely sells macabre dolls and other oddities. Maclean also allegedly sent skin to suspect Jeremy Pauley to have it tanned to create leather. It is illegal to buy or sell human organs in the United States.

On Wednesday, Cedric and Denise Lodge, along with Taylor, Lampi, Maclean and Pauley, were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to the alleged trafficking scheme.

After learning about the alleged theft ring on Wednesday, Peltonovich reached out to Harvard and was told that her fathers remains were among those stolen. The status of her mothers body is unclear. But Peltonovich said she and her family want it back, if the institution still has it, so she can bury her mother.

Its just unthinkable. Theres no words, she told the Globe. We were just disgusted. Sick, like we were going to throw up.

According to a Department of Justice press release, Lampi and Pauley allegedly sold and bought body parts from each other over a long period of time, exchanging over $100,000 in online payments. The federal indictment also alleged that Taylor sent 39 PayPal payments to Lodge for body parts between 2018 and 2021, totaling $37,355.56. The payments allegedly included a $1,000 transaction that read head number 7, and another with the note braiiiiiins, Vice reported.

The defendants violated the trust of the deceased and their families all in the name of greed, FBI agent Jacqueline Maguire said in the press release on Wednesday. While todays charges cannot undo the unfathomable pain this heinous crime has caused, the FBI will continue to work tirelessly to see that justice is served.

Harvard released a statement following the indictment with the subject line An abhorrent betrayal.

We are appalled to learn that something so disturbing could happen on our campus  a community dedicated to healing and serving others, the statement read. The reported incidents are a betrayal of HMS and, most importantly, each of the individuals who altruistically chose to will their bodies to HMS through the Anatomical Gift Program to advance medical education and research.

The school sent out letters on Wednesday to the next of kin of the donors who were found to have been affected, and vowed to examine its records and work with the U.S. Attorneys office to continue identifying the victims.

Related...
Worker was killed in music shop in 1996, Arizona cops say. A suspect just was arrested

A man was arrested 26 years after an employee at a music shop in Arizona was found stabbed to death, police said.

Jody Hemphill was found dead at Mountain Edge Tapes & CDs store on Nov. 6, 1996, in Lakeside, the Pinetop-Lakeside Police Department said in a June 14 news release.

Police couldnt find any leads to a suspect at the time, so the case went cold.

The department then announced it was reopening the case in a June 1 Facebook post.

Two weeks later, police said they arrested a 45-year-old man.

Police said they collected and analyzed new evidence that led to the mans arrest.

Police also said they think there is an additional suspect in the case.

Anyone with information can contact Detective Ricky Bunch at 928-368-8800 or the WeTip anonymous hotline at 1-800-782-7463.

Pinetop-Lakeside is about 185 miles northeast of Phoenix.

5-year-old Summer Wells vanished 2 years ago. New photos released as search continues

Body found in 1986 identified as man who left home to travel 4 years earlier, cops say

Body found in Washington railroad tunnel has been identified 43 years later, cops say
The World Bank has spent $37 billion since 2020 on "climate mitigation" projects. Most have little to do with climate

A woman walks farm animals in the fertile crescent

Climate change is arguably the most pressing issue of our time, so it is probably good practice to look at how some of the most important things in life relate to it. How will health, education, or food change because of climate issues, or how should they change to make things better?

But treating everything as a climate issue may prove counterproductive, as it can crowd out targeted study and solutions aimed squarely at the problem.

Read more

Somebody tell the World Bank.



According to an analysis by the Breakthrough Institute and the Center for Global Development, the majority of climate projects funded

by the World Bank between 2020 and 2022 turned out to have little to do with climate at all.

A not so climate portfolio

The World Banks climate portfolio comprises almost $119 billion dollars in various types of funding that it will spend over the course of 23 years. Of that, it has already invested $37 billion between 2020 and 2022 to fund 2,554 climate projects from low- and middle-income countries, including 1,179 described as being focused on climate mitigation activities.

The researchers, who analyzed every project in the portfolio, found that a large number of the ones tagged as climate had little to nothing to do with it, and included instead administrative and bureaucratic projects: payment automation for salaries in Afghanistan, municipal transparency in Gaza, fiscal management in Benin.

Even projects that were more specifically related to climate failed to provide accurate estimates of the greenhouse gas emission reductions the projects would deliver. This makes it hard to evaluate not only the efficacy of each project, but also the overall ability of the World Bank to deliver against its goal to reduce emissions by 194 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year.

Part of the issue is one of transparency and data collection: Since its hard to access detailed information about the projects, its also difficult to measure their results. But this can lead to overstating of climate investment. In the case of the World Bank, a separate analysis by Oxfam estimated that the institution is effectively putting 40% less funding in climate change than it believes it is.

Quartz reached out to the World Bank for a comment; it has not replied.

More from Quartz

Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
A New York hospital is suing another because it used a 'confusingly similar' shade of purple

An example of "confusingly similar advertising" between NYU and Northwell, according to a lawsuit filed by NYU in New York Thursday. NYU LANGONE HEALTH SYSTEM and NYU LANGONE HOSPITALS v. NORTHWELL HEALTH, INC.

NYU Langone is suing Northwell Health, alleging it created "confusingly similar advertisements."

NYU Langone alleges Northwell copied its signature purple advertising in recent years.

"This case is about deceptive business practices," lawyers for NYU Langone wrote in the lawsuit.

NYU Langone filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging that neighboring New York hospital system and known competitor, Northwell Health, copied its signature purple-colored advertisements to create "confusingly similar advertisements" in the New York area.

The suit, filed in New York's Southern District Court, alleged that Northwell created "actual confusion and a likelihood of confusion as to Northwell's association or affiliation with, or sponsorship or endorsement by, NYU Langone" by enlisting "the predominant use of the same or a very similar color purple," as well a similar accent colors, font types and styles, and layouts and formats of the ads.

"This case is about deceptive business practices," lawyers for NYU Langone wrote in the lawsuit.

NYU Langone alleges that Northwell "has engaged, and continues to engage, in an apparent scheme to trade off the good will and reputation of NYU Langone."

NYU Langone alleges in the suit that Northwell copied its branding because it was named the top hospital in New York and third best hospital in the United States this year by the US News & World Report's 2022-2023 "Best Hospitals Honor Roll"  something "Northwell has not achieved," the suit said.

"This is a clear violation of NYU Langone's branding and marketing, which even a casual observer would see as an attempt to copy our campaign," Steve Ritea, the senior director of media relations at NYU Langone said in a statement shared with Insider.

"Northwell is intentionally trying to confuse the public and trade on NYU Langone's quality and safety reputation. It's a shameless effort reflecting poorly on their imagination and industry," Ritea added.

In a response to the suit, Northwell Health called NYU's claims "preposterous."

"NYU Langone's claim that it owns the color purple for health care services is nothing short of preposterous. And it's an insult that part of the complaint includes a hospital's week-long COVID-19 memorial for health care workers," Ramon Soto, SVP and chief marketing and communications officer for Northwell, said in a statement to Insider.

"Northwell Health is proud of its distinct branding, which uses a wide variety of colors, and how it leverages research, education and clinical excellence to differentiate from others in the market. Northwell is much more than just a color in our ads," the statement continued.

NYU Langone is seeking damages and injunctive relief "for unfair competition, trade dress infringement, false advertising, and deceptive trade practices based on Northwell's pattern and practice of copying NYU Langone's distinctive advertising and marketing campaigns, across various media, including, but not limited to, outdoor, digital, print, billboards, social, as well as email and fundraising communications," according to the suit.

It also asks to permanently bar Northwell from using the color purple to create "confusingly similar advertising."

Read the original article on Business Insider
YouTube Music and Cognizant workers strike outside Google's office in Austin, Texas. SUZANNE CORDEIRO/ Getty Images

Three workers for Cognizant filed an NLRB complaint against the firm and Google on Friday.

They allege they were let go as a union movement among Google contractors began to make inroads.

Google's contractors have been putting pressure on the company to provide better working conditions.

The Alphabet Workers Union has filed a new complaint on Friday with the National Labor Relations Board against Google and its contractor Cognizant on behalf of three contractors who lost their roles working on YouTube TV and now must find new jobs internally or risk being terminated.

The AWU alleges in the complaint that Google and Cognizant ended a YouTube TV project in order to squash unionization efforts among the contractors, who worked in the same Austin, Texas office as Cognizant contractors for another Google-owned unit, YouTube Music, that voted in favor of forming a union on April 26.

The day before on April 25, Cognizant workers were informed that Google had ended its YouTube TV contract and all 15 workers at the Austin office were notified they'd be let go unless they were able to find a different role at the company. One worker who spoke with Insider on the condition of anonymity says that the timing of the layoff notice just before the union vote was not coincidental.

But Google told Insider that it had ended its contracts with Cognizant before April 25, and it had been Cognizant's decision to notify workers the day before the union vote. Google also emphasized that because these were the employees of Cognizant, it's not a matter for the search giant.

"For well over a year, we've been managing our spend more effectively across dozens of our suppliers and vendors for Alphabet in the US and abroad, and any suggestion that contract changes are due to reasons beyond increasing our efficiency and cost savings is untrue," Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini said in a statement.

Mencini also said the company has "had many contracts with unionized suppliers and have no objection to Cognizant workers organizing or joining a union."

Cognizant did not respond to a request for comment.

The NLRB ruled in March that Google could be considered a joint employer with Cognizant of certain contractors, which would require the search giant to negotiate with unionized contractors. Google and Cognizant are appealing that ruling.

In the complaint, the AWU alleges as the YouTube Music contractors' efforts to unionize gained momentum, Cognizant worked to prevent employees at other units from organizing. The complaint says that TV screens in the Austin office cycled through slideshows with anti-union talking points. Insider also previously reported that the AWU claims that Cognizant held meetings with YouTube TV contractors where they repeated anti-union talking points.

Cognizant previously described these meetings to Insider as regular staff meetings where employees were able to ask questions about the process. "Cognizant's view is that its employees should ask questions and should receive timely answers. They should have all of the facts," a Cognizant spokesperson said in April.

The AWU also alleges in this complaint that Cognizant's YouTube TV workers at other offices were offered opportunities to continue working with Google after the company ended the contract, whereas the Austin employees were granted seven-week severance, but not other work.

The worker who spoke to Insider said they decided to file Friday's unfair labor practices complaint because they "felt Cognizant was treating us unfairly since the beginning" including through perceived union-busting behavior, unclear return to office expectations, and the sudden dissolvement of their team.

Cognizant has previously disputed that its behavior was untoward, and said it was always clear with workers they would have to return to an office following the pandemic.

A Cognizant spokesperson previously confirmed that Google was winding down some projects with the firm, but that it would attempt to place workers in other positions internally. On the issue of return-to-office, Cognizant previously told Insider that employees had been given notice of its return-to-office intentions well in advance and that they could apply for other internal jobs that wouldn't require working in Austin.

Often called "shadow workers" because they are not always afforded the pay and benefits of the full-time direct employees, contract workers who support Google's vast array of services have become louder this year, holding rallies and, in certain places, working on organizing unions.

Read the original article on Business Insider
David Annis wants to make it a little easier for folks to show their support for transgender kids  like his 12-year-old son.

"Most people stay in the middle where it's safe, maybe especially in Minnesota, like, 'I don't want to make any waves here, everything's fine,' " Annis said. "But I believe that in the middle, there's more people that support this cause."

So the Minnetonka dad is making public support for trans kids more visible, one clever punk-rock T-shirt at a time. A couple months ago, he reached out to Minnesota artists  friends and former colleagues  to create apparel carrying messages and metaphors that express solidarity with trans and nonbinary people. Bearing slogans like "Straight But Not Narrow" and "Fear Less," the shirts sold on Annis' new Trans Action Apparel website look like the kind of merch you'd shell out $30 to proudly proclaim your favorite band.

Annis launched the site a few weeks ago, coincidentally not long after Target pulled some of its trans-friendly products following customer backlash. All proceeds from Trans Action Apparel will go to the LGBTQ advocacy group OutFront Minnesota.

The idea springs from one dad's desire to show his kid that there is more kindness than bigotry in this universe. That he is loved. That he is perfect the way he is. That he is not alone.

"The fact that he has any reservation about being proud of who he is, it hurts. It's painful," Annis said. "There's nothing wrong with him. He's a beautiful, talented and wonderful person."

At Annis' request, I'm not naming his son in this column because middle school can be tough and internet trolls are cruel. Annis' son admitted that even he feels comfortable in the middle, "in the herd," where he feels safe. When kids at school ask him what he thinks of LGBTQ issues, he sometimes isn't sure how to answer. He says he's not the type of kid who would don a Pride flag across his chest.

"I don't want to be too obvious," he said.

But he will wear the new creations, including a simple black T-shirt that simply says "Protect Trans Kids" in a heavy metal font, designed by artist Cory Tobin. Annis' son says it's one of his favorites in the collection.

"I'm into metal and punk. I'm super-duper cool," he said, with a self-deprecating grin. "I have no friends because of it, but it's fine."

Joking aside, he and his father understand why a trans kid might not want to stand out today. Twenty states have passed laws or policies banning minors from receiving medical care  which may include puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery  that affirms the gender with which they identify.

Minnesota lawmakers defied the wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation this session when they established a safe haven for trans people seeking such treatment. Our new laws will protect families and children traveling here for gender-affirming care from repercussions and extradition orders from other states.

David Annis says maybe he lives in a bubble, but most people in his circles believe transgender people deserve acceptance and respect. Annis grew up in a conservative family, and has three brothers who served in the military. He recalls being anxious about calling his parents to break the news about his son's new name and pronouns. "Their reaction was like, 'OK. When do we start?' " Annis recalled. "The reaction has been supportive in every aspect of my life."

These interactions shifted Annis' perspective and helped him see what's missing from news coverage about trans kids. They're often used as political wedges, and depicted by some conservatives as something to fear. Journalists are trained to focus on the conflict. But in doing so, sometimes we gloss over the more human elements of connection and kindness.

Not that it was initially easy for Annis to come to terms with his son's truth. He remembers it finally sinking in when his child was around 3. The toddler was seated on the kitchen counter, sobbing, trying to articulate some very big emotions.

"It's not that I want to be a boy," the child cried. "It's that I feel it in my heart that I am."

By kindergarten, he got a short haircut. By first grade, he started going by his new name. By second grade, he introduced himself to his entire class with his new pronouns.

Looking back, Annis realizes his son has known who he was out of the gate. "It took us a while to catch up, and I've been incredibly proud of him for that," Annis said, adding that his wife, Jodi, has assumed most of the responsibility for finding doctors, endocrinologists and support groups.

Through his career in the Minneapolis advertising and marketing scene, Annis had built friendships with various local artists. When he approached them about the apparel project, their collective response was: Heck, yeah. And they weren't surprised by the ask.

"Dave has always been such a dedicated, loving, involved and active dad," said artist and children's book author Joseph Kuefler. "There are times when you have to go to bat for your kid. You have to step out in front of them, or stand behind them, and do something to show them through your actions that you love them. It's just so courageous, so loving, to do that for your child."

Kuefler treated Annis' son as a client, setting up a Zoom meeting to gather his feedback on early designs. The final product is a white T-shirt featuring a dandelion  a metaphor for the hidden beauty and resilience of someone who simply wants to change.

Annis' son says being transgender is hard enough without the discrimination. It can feel like everyone is against him. His dad, the optimist, reminds him of the countless people in their corner.

"Maybe I'm naive, but I believe there is more good in the world than bad," Annis said. "So let's try to show more of that."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasised that peace negotiations with Russia are possible only after the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied territories.

Source: Zelenskyy at a press conference in Kyiv after talks with a delegation of leaders of the African Union, reports Interfax-Ukraine.

Quote: "Today I clearly stated once again at our meeting  to allow any negotiations with Russia now, when the occupier is on our land, means to freeze the war, freeze the pain and the suffering...

Russia has long tried to deceive everyone with Minsk [agreements  ed.]. Obviously, Russia is now trying to return to its old primitive tactics of deception. But Russia will no longer be able to deceive the world. It is definitely impossible to deceive Ukraine. I emphasise once again: real peace is needed, and that entails real withdrawal of Russian troops from all our independent land."

Zelenskyy said that he also "presented to the participants of the meeting the results of our efforts within the framework of two export initiatives  the Black Sea Grain and Humanitarian Initiative Grain from Ukraine. We really help the world and many peoples of Africa, Asia, Europe to maintain social stability and price predictability in the food market thanks to our exports. Together with partners we are working on grain hubs in Africa."

Quote: "The supply of food must be reliably guaranteed and the right of everyone to nutrition must be ensured by stopping states such as Russia from any attempts to use the threat of hunger and social instability to blackmail the people. I addressed the participants of the meeting with a proposal to provide our vision of how we can do even more for food security and creation of grain hubs together."

Zelenskyy also noted that "Ukraine is ready to significantly expand educational programmes for students, in particular in the countries of the African continent. But, of course, first of all, we must restore the full force of the UN Charter. Principles of the UN Charter. And stop this cruel Russian aggression and liberate our land, our people from Russian evil."

Background:

On 16 June, a delegation from Africa including the leaders of South Africa, Egypt, Senegal, Uganda, Zambia and the Republic of Congo, arrived in Ukraine.

They want to act as peacemakers between Russia and Ukraine, and to agree on increasing the supply of grain and fertilisers from these two countries to Africa.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!
Vitali Klitschko

Read also: Concrete ground shelters to be built in Kyiv: Klitschko reveals first details

After an incident with a Kyiv-based shelter when people were killed because of the locked shelter, the Presidents Office was considering Minister for Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin as a possible replacement as Kyiv City State Administration head, sources told the media outlet.

"Kamyshin is getting ready for this move  he has been visiting (Oleksii) Kuleba's office for several weeks (Kuleba is responsible for regional policy at the Presidents Office)," said a high-ranking source at the Presidents Office.

When asked about possible dismissal of Klitschko as City State Administration head, sources in the Kyiv mayors team answered: We have not been informed yet.

Read also: Zelenskyy criticizes international community for timidity after Kakhovka Dam explosion

At the same time, members from Zelenskyy's team explain that the final decision on the reshuffle has not yet been made.

Ukrainska Pravda journalists tried to reach Oleksii Kuleba, the deputy head at the Presidents Office in charge of regional policy, but he did not respond to messages, though they were marked as read.

Read also: Zelenskyy vows accountability after calling state of Ukraines bomb shelters disappointing

According to the media outlet ZN.ua, the President's Office is also mulling over the removal of the incumbent head of Kyiv City Military Administration, Serhiy Popko. The ex-head of Luhansk Oblasts Military Administration, Serhiy Hayday, is said to be tapped to replace Popko.

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

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A zoo, Black History event and university funding: Ron DeSantis under fire after vetoing local funding because lawmakers didnt endorse him

A pair of Florida elected officials are livid after Governor Ron DeSantis used his budget veto power to retaliate against them for not supporting his bid to become the GOPs nominee in next years general election.

Mr DeSantis, who under Florida law can use a line-item veto to slash individual projects from the Sunshine States annual budget, cut more than half a billion dollars from the budget passed by the Florida legislature earlier this month, including $160,000 appropriated for a Black History Month celebration in Orlando and millions in funds for Florida Polytechnic University.

But the cuts in the budget ordered by the governor appeared to specifically target ex-Florida GOP Chair Joe Gruters, a state senator who saw millions of dollars cut from projects in his district, which includes the city of Sarasota.

Mr Gruters is just one of 14 state legislators who failed to endorse Mr DeSantis before his official entry into the Republican primary last month.

In a text message to Politico, the state senator said Mr DeSantis was clearly upset because hed endorsed Donald Trump for president.

So he took it out on the people of Sarasota County  simply because I support his political opponent, the governor chose to punish ordinary Floridians who want better water quality, less traffic congestion and increased for resources for disabled children to grateful employment, he said.

Its mean-spirited acts like this that are defining him here and across the country, he added.

The Florida governor also took his veto pen to line items favoured by Wilton Sampson, the states Republican agriculture commissioner.

Specifically, Mr DeSantis cut from the budget a $100 million line-item used to compensate farmers who choose not to sell their land to developers, as well as $30 million from what Politico described as energy programs under Mr Sampsons purview.

The commissioner said there was no conceivable reason for Mr DeSantis to target his programs when the state has billions of dollars in budget reserves.

He added: Agriculture was harmed today and so was the state of Florida.

In addition, the governor heeded a request to dock a $2m appropriation for the Brevard Zoo from a Republican in the Florida House of Representatives, Randy Fine, who has expressed ire over the zoos management considering an end to allowing political campaigns to rent space for events there.

According to Florida Today, Mr Fine explained his opposition to the funding by claiming the facilitys consideration of a ban on campaign fundraisers was woke.

Why would we give taxpayer money to an organisation thats so successful that they turn away business? In the state of Florida, if you go woke, you go broke, he said.

Mr DeSantis budgetary decisions are consistent with the way he has routinely used the power of his office to reward friends and harm enemies, real or percieved.

The most prominent example of this pattern is the governors ongoing feud with Disney, which touched off after the companys previous CEO criticised his decision to sign into law the so-called Dont Say Gay bill, which banned any classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity for young elementary school grades, though Mr DeSantis later signed a separate bill to expand the ban to all grades in all Florida public schools.

A spokesman for Mr DeSantis, Jeremy Redfern, said the governor had vetoed the agricultural preservation programme because there is $240m currently available in unspent funds for it.

He also accused Mr Gruters of turning conservative governance and fiscal responsibility into a political statement.
With the terms of three Lynchburg City School Board members set to expire on June 30, Lynchburg City Council finalized this week the schedule for its 17 candidates seeking appointment across three school districts in the Hill City.

Beginning Tuesday, June 20, council will conduct 30-minute interviews with each of the candidates seeking appointment to the city school board. The interviews are scheduled over two afternoons, with the second batch coming on Wednesday, June 21.

The interview schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, June 20:1 p.m.: Dr. Bob Brennan, District 1

1:30 p.m.: Michael Brosmer, District 1

2 p.m.: Jack Schewel, District 1

2:30 p.m.: Deborah Trefzger, District 1

3 p.m.: Rebekah Turner, District 1

3:30 p.m.: Break

4 p.m.: Michael Barron, District 2

4:30 p.m.: Greg Barry, District 2

5 p.m.: Letitia Lowery, District 2

Wednesday, June 211 p.m.: Joan Pense, District 2

1:30 p.m.: Kimberly Sinha, District 2

2 p.m.: Beth White, District 2

2:30 p.m.: Break

3 p.m.: Tecora Davis, District 3

3:30 p.m.: Cheryl Giggetts, District 3

4 p.m.: Andrew Glover, District 3

4:30 p.m.: Farid Jalil, District 3

5 p.m.: David Ream, District 3

In addition to the announced candidates, council is expected to add another interviewee to the field of candidates following a brief public hearing prior to Tuesdays meeting.

Christian DePaul, who seeks appointment in District 1, was given support to be interviewed by Mayor Stephanie Reed during councils meeting on Tuesday. Clerk of Council Alicia Finney said his application was misplaced prior to the initial public hearing.

DePaul will likely be added to Tuesdays slate of interviewees, Finney said.

Additionally, one previously announced candidate who was selected to be interviewed was removed from consideration due to their employment, Finney said.

Because council agreed on consensus to conduct the school board appointment process in open session this year, the interviews for all candidates will be open to the public.

The interviews will take place in Council Chambers inside City Hall, 900 Church St. in Lynchburg next week.
Marianne Knotek, founder of the Micah House in Council Bluffs, died at age 85 on June 8.

Marrianne and her husband, Larry, founded the Micah House in 1986 to help the community. Larry cited their Christian faith as a key reason for their decision to create the shelter.

It just came to us at a time when it looked like it was needed, he said. We just decided to do it.

Marianne, who was previously a legal secretary, served as the Micah Houses executive director until 1996. Larry said that Marianne ran the shelter, including managing all the fundraising.

The Micah House continues to pursue her vision today. Current Micah House Executive Director Ashley Flater said she was grateful for the Knoteks work.

Im so grateful they recognized the need in the community and were willing to step up and do something about it, Falter said. If it werent for their leadership, we wouldnt be where we are today.

The Micah House was originally housed within a convent before moving to their current campus, which has expanded to include a family shelter, where families are able to stay together, and a womens shelter.

The clients we serve now are going through so much and they saw an opportunity to help those people out and I think were all grateful for everything (the Knoteks) have done, Falter said.

According to Larry, Mariannes caring nature was a main reason for the founding of the shelter.

She was a very positive, happy person, he said. She pretty much liked people and was concerned about the homeless.

Mariannes Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 17, at Corpus Christi-Queen of Apostles in Council Bluffs.
DES MOINES  More than a quarter of Iowa Medicaid patients had their personal data compromised in a data breach affecting one of Iowas two Dental Wellness Plan managed care organizations.

The personal information of approximately 233,000 Iowa Medicaid members was included in a data breach of MCNA Dental earlier this year, according to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. It is among the largest medical data breaches in Iowa to date, according to federal data, and the largest involving Iowa Medicaid.

MCNA Dental, one of the largest dental insurers for government-sponsored Medicaid and CHIP programs, suffered a ransomware attack during February or March that led to unauthorized access to personal health data of nearly 9 million people, according to a filing with the Maine Attorney General.

MCNA Dental managed dental coverage under Medicaid for more than 295,000 Iowans as of the end of last year, according to a report from Iowa HHS. Delta Dental is the other managed care organization in Iowas dental program. It managed 486,000 Dental Wellness Plans.

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.

What information was taken?

The hackers potentially obtained a trove of data from the managed care organization, including full names, addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, drivers license numbers, health insurance plan information, bills and insurance claims, according to a notice provided to affected patients.

The attack happened between Feb. 26 and March 7 of this year, and MCNA Dental sent notices to patients and states impacted on May 26.

The Russia-linked ransomware organization LockBit took credit for the attack, and has claimed on its dark web site to have published 700 GB of patient data from MCNA, according to TechCrunch.

Who is affected?

More than 233,000 Iowans whose Medicaid dental coverage was managed by MCNA were affected. Those impacted received a notification in the mail. Names of parents, guardians or guarantors may also have been taken.

MCNA is offering free credit monitoring and identity protection services to affected individuals.

In an emailed statement, MCNA Dental said it is committed to protecting patients information and maintaining the integrity of its systems.

As soon as we discovered recent unauthorized activity affecting our network, we took steps to mitigate the risk and reported the matter to law enforcement and customers, the company said. We are notifying those whose information may have been involved in this incident, and we continue to fortify our systems, as appropriate, to minimize the risk of a similar incident in the future."

Event follows other cyber incidents

The security breach is among three reported this year by Iowa HHS affecting Medicaid members. On April 10, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services reported more than 20,000 Iowans had their data breached in an attack on an Iowa Medicaid subcontractor, Independent Living Systems.

In May, Iowa HHS reported Amerigroup accidentally disclosed personal health information for 833 Iowa Medicaid members to providers in explanation of payment notices.

Also in May, the Clarke County Hospital reported it had been the victim of a ransomware attack that led to the potential exposure of thousands of patients, including their names, Social Security numbers and drivers license numbers.
Are your pastures better off or worse than they were this time last year? How about the year before that? And before that? As humans, long-term memory has never been a strong suit.
HAMPTON, Ga. (AP)  Officers on Sunday shot and killed a man wanted in four weekend killings near Atlanta during an exchange of gunfire, with a sheriff's deputy and two police officers wounded while trying to take the suspect into custody, authorities said.
We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription.
Morocco and Germany have agreed on a pilot project expected to create 9,500 jobs in optic fiber engineering, which is becoming very important in todays modern telecommunication.

The project was discussed during a meeting held Thursday in Geneva between Moroccan minister of Employment and Skills Younes Sekkouri and German Minister of Labor Hubertus Heil on the sidelines of the 111th International Labor Conference.

Fiber optic engineering is the process of designing, installing, and maintaining the fiber optic cables that support phone and internet communication. Fiber optic cables transmit information much faster than traditional options. This rapid change increases demand for engineers who can design, install, and maintain fiber optic systems.

The Moroccan and German ministers stressed the need for the two countries to conclude a new generation win-win agreements benefiting from international mobility opportunities. They also discussed cooperation prospects in training, employment, and economic inclusion.

To address shortage of skilled labor and overcome the obstacle of its aging population, Germany has relaxed its immigration laws in a bid to attract skilled workers to its jobs market.

Germany has the biggest economy in Europe but experts say it needs an extra 400,000 immigrant workers a year. The country suffers from an ageing workforce and a lack of workers in construction, health and IT.

Labor Minister Hubertus Heil said seven million skilled workers would be needed by 2035.

This comes on the eve of Germanys involvement in a major reform of the legislative framework related to immigration, the status of workers and the access of foreigners to jobs in the country, while many reports indicate Germanys need for a workforce of about 850,000 people in the coming years.

Employment Minister Younes Sekkouri is leading a large Moroccan delegation participating in the work of the 111th session of the International Labor Conference (5-16 June). The delegation includes representatives of the government sector, employers, and most representative trade union bodies.

Delegates of Governments, employers and workers from the ILOs 187 Member States are taking part in the 111th session of the International Labor Conference which is addressing a wide range of issues, including: a just transition towards sustainable and inclusive economies, quality apprenticeships, and protection of workers.

A World Labor Summit was held Wednesday and Thursday in Geneva, as part of the 111th session of the International Labor Conference.

This high-level conclave, under the theme Social Justice for All, examined the need to strengthen collaboration in favor of social justice and discussed the proposal to create a Global Coalition for Social Justice, a multilateral initiative that was welcomed by the Governing Body of the International Labor Office of the ILO at its 347th session in March 2023.
Morocco looks forward to expanding and diversifying its aquaculture activities in coastal villages with a view to give a new momentum to its blue economy.

To achieve this goal, the North African Kingdom wants to benefit from Japans advanced experience in aquafarming and scientific research in this industry.

The two countries have agreed on a three-year cooperation program starting 2023 during the 37th annual consultation meeting, provided for in the fisheries agreement signed between Morocco and Japan in September 1985.

The two parties also agreed on several technical and financial provisions, as well as on the fishing modalities for Japanese vessels operating in the tuna longline fishery in Moroccan waters, during the 2023 fiscal year.

The two parties took stock of cooperation projects currently underway in Morocco, notably the Souiria Kdima new-generation fishing village project, the aquaculture development project for blue growth in Morocco, and the assignment of a long-term Japanese expert.

They likewise stressed the importance of partnership between private operators from both countries, and convened to promote and encourage this partnership in the field of maritime fisheries and related activities.

The Moroccan side insisted on the need to resume tripartite Moroccan-Japanese-African cooperation in the fisheries sector, which benefits all partners.

Moroccan-Japanese cooperation in maritime fisheries dates back to over 40 years, focusing on aquaculture research, training, fishing villages

Aquaculture in Morocco dates back to 1950 with the launch of Oyster farming Oualidia lagoon. Intensive farms were then developed in 1985 on the Mediterranean coast in Nador and Mdiq. Production was essentially focused on European sea-bass, Gilt-headed bream, and oysters.

Ten years later, shrimp farming was introduced at Moulouya river, while shellfish farming (bivalve shells) was launched in 2000 at Dakhla Bay. The sector gained momentum thanks to the Halieutis plan deployed to bolster performance and production of fisheries and aquaculture.
The U.S. State Department has described Moroccos efforts in the fight against human trafficking as significant and underlined, in this connection, the adoption by the Kingdom of a 2023-2030 anti-trafficking strategy and an accompanying 2023-2026 implementation plan.

The Government of Morocco is making significant efforts to eliminate human trafficking, says the State Department in the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report, which was presented Thursday in Washington by US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.

The report stresses the Kingdoms increasing efforts in improving law enforcement data collection efforts and disaggregating trafficking from smuggling cases in the data.

Morocco increased overall efforts to protect trafficking victims, the document notes, adding that foreign trafficking victims could benefit from various services, including reintegration assistance, education, vocational training, social services, and legal aid.

The government increased efforts to prevent human trafficking, the report underscores, stressing that the national inter-ministerial anti-trafficking committee, which was administered by the ministry of Justice and included two representatives from civil society, coordinated the governments efforts to combat trafficking.

The U.S. State Department underlines that the 2023-2030 national strategy and the accompanying 2023-2026 implementation plan were drafted in coordination with international organizations, and that the government fully approved the new strategy and implementation plan in March 2023.

In an introductory message of the report, the Secretary of State deplored that every year millions of people are exploited within and across borders. They are forced to work in factories for little or no pay; harvest crops; toil in terrible conditions in mines, construction sites, and fishing boats; or work in private homes. Many victims are exploited for commercial sex, adults and children alike.

Antony Blinken who underlined the US administrations commitment to combat human trafficking, pointed out that the report is an immediate call to action, and that tackling a global problem like trafficking requires a global coalition, one that cuts across government, business, and civil society.

Although progress has been made in the fight against human trafficking, there is more work to be done, he pointed out, vowing to continue to improve and adapt efforts to combat this crime, and build stronger partnerships with governments, businesses, survivor leaders, and NGOs. We will ensure survivors of trafficking have access to the services they need to rebuild their lives. Together, we can make human trafficking a relic of the past, the Secretary of State wrote in his message.
South Africa has never really been affected by terrorism attacks. Its democracy is solid, its economy stable. However, it is considered a stronghold for the financing of the Islamic State (IS) group and other Islamist organizations, South African counter-terrorism expert Jasmine Opperman told AFP.

Islamist financiers gather money in the country and transfer it into the hands of terrorism, the expert said, adding it was internationally recognized that we are now a hub.

Red flags were first raised in 2022 when the US government levied sanctions on several South African companies and nationals it accused of belonging to an Islamic State cell.

Vigilance was not enough for 20 years because South Africa was not affected at all by terrorism, Hans-Jakob Schindler, director of the Counter-Extremism Project think tank, (CEP), told AFP.

One of the clearest signs something was amiss came in March this year when the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global illicit cash flow watchdog that aims to tackle money laundering and terrorist financing, placed South Africa on its grey list over gaps in monitoring and stemming illegal financial activities.

It is now internationally accepted that we are a hub, regrets South African counter-terrorism expert Jasmine Opperman. South Africa is hunting ground for remittances () in the hands of terrorism, she believes, also referring to the role of activists favorable to Al-Qaeda, Palestinian Hamas or Irans close ally Hezbollah.

But South Africas role in international terrorism dates back more than a decade, according to Ryan Cummings, analyst with the Cape Town based Signal Risk security advisory firm.

It has been a perceived financial hub for extremist groups for quite a while, he said citing intelligence evidence that suggested Somalias Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabab used South Africa to move funds after the 2013 attack on the Westgate mall in Kenyas capital.

He recalls information from intelligence services that Somali al-Shabab sent funds there after the attacks on the Westgate shopping center in Nairobi in 2013.

Money circulates via a multitude of transfers of sums too small to attract attention. The equivalent of more than 315 million euros of remittances thus left South Africa for Kenya, Somalia, Nigeria and Bangladesh, via some 57,000 unregistered Sim cards, between 2020 and 2021, according to a survey by the South African weekly Sunday Times.

The Hawala system, an informal method of payment based on trust that is far more difficult to trace than bank transfers, is also used to siphon money away.

Experts believe they are awash with cash, likely making more money than they need, Schindler said.

Terror groups internal documents reviewed by experts show that of the money raised on the continent, the IS in Somalia keeps 50 percent while 25 percent is split between cells in Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the balance going to IS central.

One of the South African suspects singled out by Washington is Farhad Hoomer, 47, based in Durban. In 2022, he was subject to US Treasury sanctions for an increasingly central role in facilitating the transfer of funds from top hierarchy to subsidiaries across Africa.

Arrested in 2018, he was accused of preparing to plant incendiary devices near mosques and shops before all charges were dropped by South African authorities.
The Tunisian army Thursday announced the recovery of the remains of the fourth member of the crew of the helicopter that crashed last week during a night assignment, at Serrat Cape, near Bizerte.

The military institution also indicated that it discovered the wreckage.

The aircraft, with four people onboard, disappeared from the radar Wednesday last week. The army indicated that it crashed into the sea. The army, in a separate communique issued on Thursday following the incident, said that it had found and recovered the bodies of two members of the crew and pieces of the wreckage. The search continues for the other two remaining crew members, the army informed.
The West African Development Bank  BOAD- will invest around $50 million in road infrastructures in Niger, the President of the Togo-based financial institution, Serge Ekue, announced Thursday.

We have just been received by the President of the Republic and, as usual, we made an important point in the context of our activities, Serge Ekue told the media.

In the presence of the Minister of Planning, we took stock of all the projects at the heart of the countrys economic and social development plan. We have just signed a 30-billion road infrastructure project with the Republic of Niger, and we have others in the pipeline for infrastructure, energy, health and education, he added.

Ekue said that BOAD has a pile of projects ongoing in the West African country. In 2021, the bank and Niger signed two loan agreements relating to the 1,300 ha hydro-agricultural development project as part of the action plan for the resettlement of communities affected by the impoundment of the Kandadji dam, the Diffa airport rehabilitation and extension project in Niger.

The first project was estimated in the neighborhood of $25 million while the rehabilitation project was valued at around $42 billion.
A helicopter belonging to the UN peacekeeping Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) capsized Thursday owing to winds and injured 11 on board.

One of our helicopters was blown over today after landing in Gao, northern Mali, the Mission said on Twitter.

This was not a crash. Crew and passengers are all accounted for with 2 seriously injured. They have safely exited the aircraft and are receiving medical attention. No fire reported, it also said in a first count.

After our helicopter was overturned by strong winds on the tarmac of #Gao airport, confirmed number of injured is now 11, including 2 critical & 9 lightly injured. Our hospital is providing them with medical care. We extend our heartfelt wishes for their swift recovery, the mission said in an update.

There were 14 people including four members of the crew onboard. The incident took place after touchdown while the aircraft was rolling on the neighboring landing track.

The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was established by Security Council resolution 2100 of 25 April 2013.

The Mission has around 12,000 boots on ground.
Its been a bumpy path back to post-pandemic normalcy for Nebraskaland Days Frontier Revue, a charter event of Nebraskas official celebration that missed its 2020 and 2022 editions.

But its musical celebration of all things Nebraska and Western is returning for its 57th presentation, offering four free performances Sunday through Tuesday at the historic Fox Theatre, 301 E. Fifth St.

It opens with a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee before 7:30 p.m. shows all three nights, once again featuring the original music and lyrics written by the late Dr. James E. Thayer of Sidney for Ogallalas Front Street Crystal Palace Revue and then the annual North Platte show.

There is a lot of new talent that has come to the party this year, said director and 15-year accompanist Jennifer Winder, quoting the first words of Thayers signature Frontier Revue number, The Old Glory Blowout.

Our show is very interactive with the crowd, so being where we are now post-pandemic is a blessing. We are thrilled to bring the show back to what it has been traditionally.

The Frontier Revue debuted in Lincoln with Nebraskaland Days in 1965, beginning with a talent-show format that carried over to the celebrations first North Platte edition in 1968.

Local Nebraskaland Days leaders then invited Thayer, then still writing songs for Front Street, to turn the annual event into a stage show. He wrote or recycled much of his personal 300-song catalog for the Frontier Revue every year but two between 1969 and 2010. Thayer died in February 2011.

COVID-19 struck the winter after the Frontier Revue in 2019 marked the 50th anniversary of Thayers first production. Canceled in 2020 along with most of the rest of Nebraskaland Days, the show returned for the 2021 celebration but was canceled again last year.

Winder, who wasnt available to direct last June due to summer college classes, said the 2023 Frontier Revue will feature some new solos we havent had in several years in the show.

Showgoers can look forward to the return of a very animated and well-spoken Medicine Man, she said. The popular Front Street and Frontier Revue number originated in Thayers Sidney-produced 1962 musical West Wing, based on his own medical career.

Other revived Thayer songs include Ive Been Around, which debuted at Front Street during Nebraskas centennial year of 1967; Wranglers Three, a perennial North Platte favorite; and Echoes of a Buglers Song, inspired by Thayers World War II service in the U.S. Third Armys 395th Infantry Combat Scouts in the European Theater in 1944 and 1945.

Frontier Revue fans also can count on frequently performed all-cast songs like Love America, written for the 1976 U.S. bicentennial; Plow Me a Furrow, a Crystal Palace Revue original; and Nebraskaland, the anthem of both Thayers Ogallala and North Platte shows, written in 1965.

We develop a family-type bond as the faithful cast members return each year, Winder said. Its like a family reunion where we come together to continue to share and carry out the legacy of Doc Thayers unique music.

Free-will offerings will be taken in the Foxs front lobby to defray the shows expenses. North Platte Community Playhouse members will staff the theaters playhouse.

Editors note: The writer, a past piano player in both the Crystal Palace Revue and the Frontier Revue, is the author of the 2013 multimedia collection All-Night Theater: The Music and Life of J.E. Thayer.
Three first-year members of the Nebraskaland Days board were handed the chance Thursday to brag about the lengthy experience they brought to Thursdays annual Cake Bake decorating contest.

Dared to tell a Western tall tale, they, uh, failed.

We bring a lot of years here decorating cakes, claimed Craig Trofholz, controller at North Plattes Snell Services Inc. We might have a whole (combined) 30 minutes between us, I think. Combined.

I think weve got a very little experience baking cakes, added lawyer Brock Wurl, who filled out the team along with Stone Creek Landscaping and Design owner Troy Erickson.

Give the Nebraskaland Days Rookies points for coming up with a top-of-the-cake depiction of the Buffalo Bill Rodeo and the Wild West Arena grandstand that kind of looked like the real thing.

Other than that, I think we are very impressed with ourselves today, Trofholz said.

Eighteen teams assembled their cakes at the downtown Platte Bar in two shifts Thursday, said Amy Minshull, who chairs the annual contest for the Chamber Hostesses group.

Their Western-themed creations will be auctioned off at the bar during Lunch With the Wild Bunch at 1 p.m. Friday, along with two decorated door hangers by contestants who chose the crafts division established in 2021.

North Plattes Walmart Distribution Center provided two cakes apiece for teams to combine and decorate, Minshull said. The Hostesses provided frosting and a cache of decorative items, though team members could bring their own props.

As Trofholz, Wurl and Erickson carried their cake to the display table, Farm Credit Services of America staff members Renae Brandt and Heidi Harenza were putting the finishing touches on their FCSAmerica Saloon.

Ive done my kids birthday cakes, said Brandt, an account specialist. Theyre probably simpler than this.

Using their provided cakes as the base, the pair built their two-story saloon out of graham crackers and used pretzel sticks for the saloons swinging doors, front sidewalk and hitching posts.

They used roll-out fondant icing, painted with food coloring, to complete the saloons external look, Brandt said.

But no Western saloon would be complete without Wanted signs. Brandts and Harenzas establishment offered rewards for Jesse James, Calamity Jane Canary  and Dave Leggott, FCS financial officer.

Its for a million dollars, Brandt pointed out. For Jesse James, they only offered $500.
Riders reenacting the original Pony Express arrived Thursday afternoon at Osgood School on East State Farm Road.

They had started out in Paxton earlier Thursday. Riders heading to the next main stop, south of Brady, took over from there. Each would ride about 2.6 miles, carrying about 1,100 letters on their portion of the journey between Sacramento, California, and St. Joseph, Missouri.

The letters were tucked inside a mail pouch fastened to a mochila, a leather spread that goes over the horses hindquarters and around the saddle.

While waiting for their turn to mount up and ride, Tyrel Grasz of Palisade administered the oath of employment to two new riders: Lacie Benell of Brady and Matt Weideman of North Platte.

All the riders take the oath, Grasz said, as if they were part of the original Pony Express. They promise to avoid using profane language, drinking intoxicating liquors or quarreling with other riders. They agree to be honest and faithful in their duties and conduct themselves in such a way as to earn the confidence of their employers  Russell, Majors and Waddell.

Its a part of history, said Grasz, something that he enjoys being involved in. It is also a family tradition. Thursdays ride included his grandfather Victor Grasz, of North Platte; father, Terry Grasz, of Brady, who is the Brady groups trail captain; brother Tad Grasz, of Brady; and uncle Troy Grasz, of Crete.

Tyrel joined the Pony Express Re-Ride as soon as he was old enough. Riders are eligible in the year they turn 14. He turns 30 this year and this is his 17th ride.

The first riders departed Sacramento on June 7. The last of the more than 750 riders in the Pony Express re-enactment expect to arrive in St. Joseph Saturday evening. People can follow their progress by going online to nationalponyexpress.org/re-ride/follow-the-ride .

For more information about the annual Re-Ride, becoming a rider or including a letter in next years Re-Ride mail pouch, go to nationalponyexpress.org.
Last week, Florida governor Ron DeSantis promised to rename Fort Liberty after Confederate general Braxton Bragg, a slave owner who fought against the United States whose name previously adorned the base.

On Thursday, DeSantis vetoed spending for a Black History Month celebration in Orlando and cut $200,000 for a festival celebrating Floridas Black Music Legacy. Last year, DeSantis vetoed a $1 million appropriation for Valencia College to create a film about the 1920 Ocoee Election Day massacre, in which a white mob murdered dozens of Black Floridians.

There does seem to be a pattern here.

DeSantis likes to feature these issues. The message he prefers to emphasize is his fight with the radical left over critical race theory and other abstruse left-wing academic concepts. We believe in teaching kids facts and how to think, but we dont believe they should have an agenda imposed on them, he said earlier this year. When you try to use Black history to shoehorn in queer theory, you are clearly trying to use that for political purposes.

His supporters like to pretend this is the whole of DeSantiss agenda on racism and American history. This fight isnt about blocking history or erasing the countrys sins but drawing a line between hifalutin political advocacy and thorough, truthful instruction in the American past, insisted National Review editor-in-chief Rich Lowry earlier this year.

Fighting left-wing academic fads is certainly a part of DeSantiss agenda. But it is not the whole of it. The operational end of DeSantiss approach to racism has always contained large doses of old-fashioned blunt-force attacks on Black political power. He signed a poll tax to disenfranchise ex-felons, whose voting rights had been restored by a state referendum. He pushed through a redistricting plan that reduced Black representation, in the face of opposition from not only all the states Democrats but even many Republicans, who deemed it far too aggressive.

DeSantis is assembling a coalition that contains all the right-wing elements that were drawn to Donald Trump. That means merely fighting the far left isnt enough. He needs to court voters who believe in honoring the Confederacy and get offended by recognition for important milestones in Black history. The rise of the new left has given him a convenient foil, but beneath the surface, his racial agenda is an old-fashioned nostalgia for a time when open racism prevailed.
Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photo: Getty Images

Although 2024 might be getting the bulk of the attention with its big national races, New York City has several crucial municipal seats on the primary ballot this month. All 51 City Council seats will be up for grabs as a result of last years redistricting process, and two boroughs will have competitive races for district attorney. Also, depending on where you live, you might also have civil court judges or district leaders on your ballot as well.

With early voting running from Saturday, June 17 to Sunday, June 25 and Election Day arriving soon after, on Tuesday, June 27 (polling site information and sample ballots are available at the Board of Elections website), heres what you need to know.

Ranked-choice voting is back

Voters will once again get to utilize ranked-choice voting when they cast their ballots for primary races featuring multiple candidates. First implemented in 2021, ranked-choice voting allows a voter to rank up to five candidates in their order of preference. Per the citys Board of Elections, if no candidate wins 50 percent of the vote in the first round of voting tabulation, the counting will proceed to additional rounds until there is a winner. The candidate with the lowest number of votes in each round will be eliminated and the next-highest-ranked name on those candidates ballots will be counted.

Ranked-choice voting is only used in primary and special elections for municipal seats such as the mayor, City Councilmembers, borough president, public advocate, and comptroller. District attorney races, which are seen as statewide races, will not use ranked-choice voting.

Elections for every single City Council seat

After the state underwent its tumultuous redistricting process in 2022, the city also redrew its council districts as a result of the 2020 Census results. The City Charter requires new elections following redistricting, so all 51 City Council seats are on the ballot. Although many of the councils incumbents are expected to win their races fairly easily, there are several interesting races to keep an eye on.

In Manhattans First District, Christopher Marte, the first-term Democratic incumbent, is facing three challengers: Ursila Jung, an education advocate who serves on her local community education council; Susan Lee, a nonprofit grant writer; and Pooi Stewart, a substitute teacher.

Harlems Ninth District primary is a wide-open race after Councilmember Kristin Richardson Jordan suspended her reelection campaign last month. Running for her now-open seat are Assemblymember Inez Dickens, who previously represented the district in the City Council; Assemblymember Al Taylor, who represents Upper Manhattan; and Yusef Salaam, a member of the Exonerated Five who were implicated and later cleared of involvement in the Central Park jogger case. Dickens has a fair amount of institutional support, receiving the backing of Mayor Eric Adams, Congressman Adriano Espaillat, and former congressman Charles Rangel. Taylor and Salaam recently announced an alliance, endorsing each other and encouraging voters to rank them in their top two in the ranked-choice primary.

In Bronxs 13th District, three Democratic candidates will face off against City Council member Marjorie Velazquez: Bernadette Ferrara, Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance president and chair of the Bronx Community Board 11; Irene Estrada, former Democratic district leader; and John Perez, an Army veteran. On the Republican side are Kristy Marmorato, a health-care worker; George Havranek, president of the Spencer Estate Civic Association; and Hasime Samantha Zherka, a former State Senate candidate.

Councilmember Julie Won, who represents the 26th District in Queens, is being challenged by Hailie Kim, a community organizer and former educator.

Redistricting created a new Asian-majority district in southern Brooklyns 43rd District that covers Bensonhurst and parts of Sunset Park and Dyker Heights. Justin Brannan, who previously represented the district, was drawn into 47th District, leaving an open seat. The seat has three Democratic challengers: Wai Yee Chan, executive director of a local nonprofit; Susan Zhuang, the chief of staff for Assemblymember William Colton; and Stanley Ng, a retired computer programmer and community activist. On the Republican side is Vito LaBella, who is a former NYPD officer, and Ying Tan, a community activist.

Two competitive district attorney races

The Bronx and Queens will be casting votes for their district attorneys this year. Michael McMahon, Staten Islands top prosecutor, is running unopposed in the primary and currently has no slated general-election opponents despite being a Democrat in the citys reddest borough.

Queens district attorney Melinda Katz, a Democrat, is facing two challengers: Devian Daniels, a public defender, and George Grasso, former first deputy police commissioner and retired Queens Supreme Court judge.

In the Bronx, Darcel Clark, the Democratic incumbent, is being opposed by Tess Cohen, an attorney who has worked both in criminal defense and as a prosecutor in the citys Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor.
Photo: Courtesy of the subjects

For our latest installment of In Situ (wherein we ask people with great taste to take a self portrait next to, sitting on, or wearing an item they own and love), we decided to go deep on Noguchi lamps. We chose this topic mostly because the Noguchi website is very spare and its hard to figure out from perusing it whether the Akari 120A would feel enormous in your living room or the 35N would be right for above the dining-room table.

We asked senior editor Simone Kitchens and writers Erin Schwartz and Lauren Ro to discuss how the story came together. This conversation first appeared in our newsletter  sign up for even more insights into how The Strategist sausage gets made here.



Simone Kitchens: We have a Noguchi lamp in the Strategist 100. We covered the Noguchi lamp-cord shortage in 2022. I feel like that put the Noguchi in the news a little bit, but theyve been hot since 1950. And the reporting we did shows that a lot of people have bought them in the past three years, during the pandemic, for various reasons. So we had kind of noticed a boom.

Erin Schwartz: My theory with the Noguchi three-year boom is that people spent so much time indoors during the pandemic. The detail that people are bringing to how they want the lighting to look in their home is higher than it was pre-pandemic  and that bears out in the reporting I did on the best LED bulbs too.

Lauren Ro: I talked to a design publicist who is Japanese, and he was visiting his family in Japan a couple of months ago. And he went to  I guess  the area where the lamps are made, and he said the Noguchi lamps arent actually very popular in Japan. Perhaps because theyre used to seeing paper lanterns all the time. But he was saying when he was there, he learned that they cant keep anything in stock, and its mostly international buyers.

SK: I had one on my desk when I was working in the office. And then we got a few for our house, which is an old house. A nice thing about them is they can go in any house  they transcend any genre.

ES: Im kind of obsessed with it. My most put-together design friends keep buying Noguchi. I have one friend whos my kind of North Star for what normal-but-fancy people are buying  people who dont wanna go nuts but want something good and consistent  and theyre a big Noguchi-lamp person.

LR: When it came to finding people to feature in the In Situ, at first I started just looking for people I know. And then I began researching beyond our immediate circle, or the people we encounter every day on our feeds. You know, people who appreciate design, and you think, They might have one.

ES: For example, I had a friend who had a really cute story about his parents giving him a Noguchi lamp. So I messaged him asking, Do you still have it?

SK: We looked at where the Noguchi Museum was tagged and tracked people down that way.

ES: By the way, the people at the Noguchi Museum are wonderful stewards of his legacy, and the most intense fact check Ive ever received has been from them (it had to do with misattribution in a story from 2019).

SK: There were a few people who we werent able to get for whatever reason. For example, Glenn Ligon, the artist. I was scrolling deep on his Instagram and there was a Noguchi. So we tracked down his studio managers email and tried to get him in the story. But, you know, he wasnt available.

LR: The people I think are the most interesting ones are the devoted Noguchi heads.

SK: But backing up really quickly, I just wanted to add that the Noguchi site is just a catalogue. There are just hundreds of lamps, and theyre all pretty contextless. Its multiple variations of a round globe  youre like, I dont know what that would look like in my dining room. This feature was an opportunity to take this thing that people admire, this lamp, and put it in peoples spaces. So we can all see, What does this actually look like? Would this look good in a busy corner of a bookshelf, or would it be better in a spare corner of your living room?

LR: And to bookend that story, Simone and I are working on a piece about what could possibly be the next Noguchi.

SK: You know, its a natural Strategist reflex to be like, Whats next?

LR: The answer seems to be that nothing is as appealing as a Noguchi! But my moneys on a woven lamp.

get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
A pair of Auburn parents were arrested and charged after authorities found 6-year-old Sulivan Watford dead at an Auburn home on Core Drive.

Kelly West Watford faces one count of felony murder charge and Mark Edward Watford faces one count of aggravated child abuse. The mother is being held in the Lee County Jail without bond, while the father has a $30,000 bond.

The Auburn Police Department, Auburn Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service personnel were called to the 2200 block of Core Drive in reference to Sulivan being in medical distress. They found the boy unresponsive on the scene and tried to revive him.

Sulivan was transported to the East Alabama Health, where he was pronounced dead. His body was transported to the Medical Examiners Office in Montgomery for a post-mortem exam.

The cause and manner of his death remain under investigation, but police said evidence indicates that he sustained prolonged willful abuse and maltreatment.

Evidence consistent with a drowning was discovered during both medical treatment and post-mortem examination, according to a police report. In addition, APD investigators learned the child appeared to be extremely malnourished to the extent the six-year-old child weighed approximately 21 pounds.
I had wanted to go visit there since the days of my youth. I never imagined or believed it would ever happen. Now, when the days of my youth are a dim dot in my rear-view mirror, I have made it there twice.

When I was a kid, I dreamed of visiting far-away lands and exciting places  places like Fort Payne, Scottsboro, or Albertville! Fort Payne was only nine miles from my native town of Rainsville, so I made that trip many timesat least a dozen!

That trip always excited me as a boy. As I write this column this morning, Im sitting on a screened-in back porch, on the island of Kauai, in Hawaii. As I look up from my laptop, I cast another amazed gaze across the Pacific Ocean, and I hear one of the numerous feral roosters crowing, Good morning in Alabamian, or Aloha in Hawaiian.

Jean and I made our first trip to these islands 25 years ago. That trip was a combination vacation-and-mission trip. We spent half of our time during that first trip working with First Baptist Church of Waimea, on the Big Island. The pastor, Ted Goslin and his wife Leah, were gracious hosts. Sadly, we lost Ted to cancer this past year. We spent the other half of our time like vacationers, touring the Big Island and Oahu. Of course, we visited Pearl Harbor, where we stood on top of the U.S.S. Arizona and wept. We vowed that one day we would return to visit other islands. That day came last week, 25 years after we made that promise.

This time we visited our third of the eight-major islands of the archipelago. I guess that means we have to go back at least five more times! This time, we spent our entire time, nine days to be exact, on the Island of Kauai. This time we were simply vacationers, and we played the tourist thing to the hilt.

We have discovered that Kauai and Alabama have at least one thing in commonchickens. My Grandpa Wood was a full-time chicken farmer, as were numerous residents of Alabama, especially on Sand Mountain.

Grandpa had five large chicken houses. On the island of Kauai, I didnt see any chicken houses, but we did see plenty of chickens. They were everywhere, except in a house or pen. These chickens dont actually belong to anyone. They are not kept up, and for the most part, they are feral. The Hawaiians ancestors brought them to the island.

One legend says a hurricane blew across the island and destroyed all the chicken houses and the owners could not gather their chickens back up, so they became feral. Now, they really are free-range chickens. They are all along the sides of the roads, in bushes, in business parking lots, and in the yards of people. Through tracking and estimating, there are as many as 450,000 running amok on that one island. They are a site to see.

There are also at least five Alabamians running loose on this island this week too! God sure has done an amazing job on the beauty of this place. Ill share more later.
Priscilla Presley says details of agreement with Riley could subject her to 'significant danger' https://t.co/31zyEAO7Ix  Daily Mail Australia (@DailyMailAU) June 15, 2023

This week, Priscilla Presley filed a motion asking LA Probate Judge Lynn Scaduto to seal the financial particulars of the Lisa Marie Presley estate settlement ( further details at the link). The settlement gave Priscilla a settlement of $1 million, a special Advisor position with salary for a decade or her death (whichever came first), granddaughter Riley Keough paying her legal fees and her son Navarone getting 1/9th of the Graceland inheritance."The settlement agreement contains private details regarding my daughter's Trust that is to benefit my two minor granddaughters (14 year-old Harper and Finley)," she wrote in her motion. "If this information were to become public, it could put me and my family's safety at risk. This should subject me to significant danger, emotional distress and negatively affect my physical and mental health."She continued, "It would also subject my son (musician Navarone Garibaldi, 36) and minor granddaughters to harassment and bullying. We have all been through enough."Riley Keough also agreed with sealing the private financial arrangement she has made with her grandmother in the interests of herself and her sisters, according to documentation.Priscilla also denied public reports of a feud between herself and granddaughter Riley and blames the law firm for all of the drama. Riley had no comment on that.I filed the petition to resolve all potential uncertainty surrounding the interpretation of the Promenade Trust.My daughter's passing was both devastating and heartbreaking. We have learned that the fans realize that we are 'Just A Family'. Elvis would be proud and his and Lisa's wishes are what are most important to all of us.My grand-daughter, through her own counsel, along with my team, worked diligently and tirelessly to resolve all misunderstandings as a family."Riley's lawyer wrote, "There is an overriding privacy interest that justifies sealing the supporting documents and the statements regarding terms of the money being given to Priscilla. The supporting documents and petition contain financial and personal information regarding payments provided to Priscilla to eliminate her role as a fiduciary for Riley, Harper and Finley.."
In its new medium-term report on oil that came out last week, the International Energy Agency predicted that oil demand will peak by 2028.

This is not the first time the IEA is predicting peak oil and the reason is also the same as the reason for previous predictions to this tune: a surge in EV adoption that would displace demand for fuels.

Yet the new IEA report also mentioned something else that would probably make politicians in Europe and North America who want to ban internal combustion engines quite happy.

What the report mentioned was that China is on its way to becoming the country with the greatest oil refining capacity in the world. And this would make it the single biggest supplier of things like gasoline and diesel to the world. With the power to dictate prices.

This is what Reuters columnist Clyde Russell noted this in a column dedicated to this part of the IEA report. China's refined product exports are subject to quotas granted by Beijing, which acts more in what it deems the interests of the domestic economy and markets, rather than what the global markets may be signalling, Russell wrote.

The IEA itself also recognised Chinas growing role as fuel supplier to the world by pointing out that Crucially, our forecast for product balances is heavily dependent on higher Chinese product exports, especially for diesel. Related: Mexican State Firm Was The Top Net Buyer Of U.S. Natural Gas In 2022

China overtook the United States to become the worlds largest refiner last year, the IEA also noted in its report, but it is not stopping there. Instead, refiners in China are building even more capacity, with the total set to reach 19.7 million barrels daily by 2028. Of this, more than 3 million barrels daily will be spare capacity, the IEA said.

The presence of this spare capacity suggests that China may be planning to really become the worlds fuel supplier after European and U.S. refiners shut down their facilities under the weight of ICE phase-out mandates or convert them to biofuel production plants. Because China knows that you cant ban ICE cars and switch entirely to EVs.

China is not only the worlds biggest refiner of oil. The country is also the biggest market for electric vehicles in the world. The IEA forecast that by 2028, there will be more than 155 million EVs sold in total globally. More than half of these cars, the report added, will be sold in China.

Already, China accounts for more than half of global EV sales. Yet at the same time it is building more oil refining capacity. On the face of it, this may look odd and possibly even irrational. It could indeed be a miscalculation and China could end up with several million barrels in unused and unusable oil refining capacity as demand for fuels slumps.

On the other hand, it might be the same thing that China is doing with wind, solar, and coal. One of the other things that the country is the biggest in is wind and solar generation capacity. At the same time, it is also the most active builder of new coal plants, too. Because, as stated by government officials, China is all in on all energy and is not picking favourites.

China is going to become the worlds refiner. The size of its exports will depend on what the ruling party decides should be exported. And this means that China will have its hand on the global fuel price lever the way OPEC has its hand on the crude oil price lever.

ADVERTISEMENT

Those ICE bans in the EU, Britain, and California might end up being a necessity rather than a transition-happy whim. And even then, there will be no escape from dependence on China: the biggest producer and processor of battery minerals in the world.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Russia has enough gasoline to meet its domestic demand, Energy Minister Nikolai Shulginov said on Friday, downplaying the possibility that Moscow could limit gasoline exports.

Last month, Russia was considering restricting some gasoline exports after a sharp rise in wholesale gasoline prices.

We discussed export restrictions in relation to rising prices on the wholesale market, Shulginov was quoted as telling Russia-24 television channel in an interview on Friday.

Otherwise, our market is provided with production, our oil refining is growing as well as the production of motor fuels, the Russian energy minister said.

Despite the Western sanctions, Russian oil companies boosted their gasoline exports by 37% between January and May compared to the same period in 2022, Russian daily Kommersant reported last week, citing sources familiar with the data.

The Russian Energy Ministry last month asked oil companies to reduce their exports and raise supply on the domestic market, according to Kommersants sources.

After a sharp rise in wholesale gasoline prices in May and recommendations from the Energy Ministry to oil firms to curb exports, Russia's daily gasoline exports in the first six days of June were four times lower than the levels at the end of May, Kommersant reported.

Russia has redirected both crude oil and petroleum product exports after the EU embargoes on imports of seaborne Russian oil. The EU banned crude imports in early December 2022 and embargoed fuel imports from Russia as of February 5, 2023.

Russian gasoline exports surged in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2022, as Moscow placed growing volumes of fuels with African customers after the EU embargo on seaborne imports of Russias fuels. Russian gasoline exports were estimated at 1.9 million tons in the first quarter of 2023, up compared to 1.3 million tons exported in the same period of 2022, per Refinitiv data cited by Reuters.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

ADVERTISEMENT

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
In what is perhaps Ukraines most significant counteroffensive since the war began, Ukrainian forces began a series of attacks on the Russian frontline last week, claiming earlier this week to have retaken some half a dozen villages. Russia denies these claims, with pro-Russian military bloggers posting pictures of what they say are Ukraines destroyed Leopard-2 tanks. Neither Russian nor Ukrainian reporting from the front line is reliable, and the battlefield situation remains extremely dynamic. Earlier this week, in retaliation against Ukraines counteroffensive, Russia launched a missile strike on Zelenskys hometown in central Ukraine, killing 11 people. This week we also heard a rare concession by Putin vis-a-vis the unpreparedness of Russia for the numerous incursions in the Belgorod border region with Ukraine. Meanwhile, the rivalry between the Russian Defense Ministry and Prigozhins Wagner mercenaries continued to intensify, with Putin decreeing that Wagner would have to sign a contract with the Defense Ministry, essentially to place itself under the militarys control. Wagner refused, and the contract in question instead went to Wagners other rival, Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrovs new mercenary group (Akhmat). The contract largely suggested that Wagner has no legal status without it. Wagner said on Tuesday that it was not sure whether its mercenaries would continue to fight

Politics, Geopolitics & Conflict

In what is perhaps Ukraines most significant counteroffensive since the war began, Ukrainian forces began a series of attacks on the Russian frontline last week, claiming earlier this week to have retaken some half a dozen villages. Russia denies these claims, with pro-Russian military bloggers posting pictures of what they say are Ukraines destroyed Leopard-2 tanks. Neither Russian nor Ukrainian reporting from the front line is reliable, and the battlefield situation remains extremely dynamic. Earlier this week, in retaliation against Ukraines counteroffensive, Russia launched a missile strike on Zelenskys hometown in central Ukraine, killing 11 people. This week we also heard a rare concession by Putin vis-a-vis the unpreparedness of Russia for the numerous incursions in the Belgorod border region with Ukraine. Meanwhile, the rivalry between the Russian Defense Ministry and Prigozhins Wagner mercenaries continued to intensify, with Putin decreeing that Wagner would have to sign a contract with the Defense Ministry, essentially to place itself under the militarys control. Wagner refused, and the contract in question instead went to Wagners other rival, Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrovs new mercenary group (Akhmat). The contract largely suggested that Wagner has no legal status without it. Wagner said on Tuesday that it was not sure whether its mercenaries would continue to fight in Ukraine amid the showdown with the Defense Ministry.

We will not spend much time on the antics of Belarus Lukashenka, as the Russian-controlled dictator takes to the podium loudly to let the West know that his country has started to receive Russias tactical nukes. Lukashenka has lost a significant amount of credibility since the invasion of Ukraine, and diplomats globally are refraining from taking his nuclear threats and comments seriously.

Washingtons expectations that Turkeys newly re-elected president, Erdogan, would now ratify Swedens bid for NATO once his rule was secured have been tampered with, with Erdogan on Wednesday resisting pressure to do so ahead of NATOs July meeting. Negotiations are still ongoing, but Erodgan is holding out for more, in the form of security guarantees.

Discovery & Development

Aker BP has announced a discovery upon completion of drilling at the longest exploration well ever on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The Ost Frigg Beta/Epsilon well is in the Yggdrasil area. The updated discovery size estimate is 53-90 million boe. (Earlier estimates were slightly lower). The Yggdrasil development is slated to begin production in 2027.

Romanian OMV Petrom (majority owned by Austrias OMV) announced a discovery of crude oil and natural gas that would represent the largest find the company has made in decades, estimating the area under exploration holds over 30 million boe of recoverable resources. on barrels of oil equivalent (boe) of recoverable resources.

Deals, Mergers & Acquisitions

Duke Energy Corp will sell its Commercial Renewables business to Brookfield Renewable in a ~$2.8-billion deal. The deal will net Brookfield more than 3,400 megawatts of utility-scale solar, wind, and battery storage, among other new developments in the pipeline.

Spanish energy giant Iberdrola has finalized a $6-billion deal to sell a large piece of its Mexico-based power generation portfolio, giving Mexico state control over power plant assets that produce some 10% of the countrys electricity. Iberdrola has suffered from AMLO's nationalization policies and the sale is meant to reduce exposure.

French TotalEnergies will acquire a 17.5% stake in US LNG developer NextDecade in a deal that will help the smaller companys Rio Grande LNG export project in Texas move forward. They are now expecting an FDI on Rio Grande by the end of this month.
Russia has so far been able to maintain its relationship with the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and certain other oil and gas powers, mainly in the East. However, over a year into the conflict, Putin appears to be gradually fracturing his relations with Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members. Over the last year, Russia has been developing energy relations with powers that are open to its cheap oil and gas, after having strict sanctions imposed on its energy sector by the U.S. and Europe. It has succeeded in attracting the huge Indian and Chinese markets, becoming Chinas main crude exporter earlier this year. But now Russia may be harming OPEC, the very organisation that has bolstered its oil and gas industry all these years.

OPEC expanded to include Russia in 2016, in OPEC+, under a deal led by Saudi Arabia. As Russia lost out on oil sales to the West, OPEC+ appeared to support Putin in his aims to profit from high oil prices, agreeing to production cuts across its member states to support high oil prices. However, at the OPEC+ meeting earlier this month, it was reported that Saudi officials were unhappy with Russias behaviour. The organisation agreed to reduce its oil output by 500,000 bpd at a meeting in April, and yet Russia was continuing to supply large amounts of discounted oil to the market to support its faltering economy and help its efforts in the conflict against Ukraine. This is happening even though the G7 group of nations has imposed a $60 per barrel cap on Russias oil exports.

It now appears that Putin wanted to gain OPECs support to benefit from high energy prices to the detriment of the groups other member states. OPECs repeated output cuts have pushed prices higher and higher in the past, which has allowed Russia to undercut OPECs prices to attract buyers and continue to sell crude. India, China, and several other countries have so far ignored Western sanctions, using this moment as an opportunity to stockpile cheap oil. This has led OPEC member states to lose their market share. For example, in the first two months of the year, Russia overtook Saudi Arabia as Chinas biggest oil exporter, shipping around 1.94 million bpd to the Asian giant, an increase of 23.8 percent from the same period in 2022.

But now OPEC is taking notice, meaning that Putin may not be able to continue this tactic for long. OPECs member states are rapidly losing confidence in Russia, with Saudi Arabias energy minister reportedly saying that he was fed up with OPEC members not meeting oil output goals and was seeking more oil output transparency from Russia. To date, member states looking to increase their production levels, such as the UAE, have been patient. But if Russia continues to undercut OPEC prices and ignore its quotas, it could lead to chaos in the so-far stable energy alliance. In addition, due to Russias strong oil exports, despite OPEC output cuts, the price of oil has been falling. This suggests that Russia may eventually need to sell its crude at a loss to maintain export levels, to the detriment of its economy and war effort.

Meanwhile, it appears that OPEC cannot agree on its quotas. The group and its allies met earlier this month to discuss a new deal, with the possibility of adjusting member state quotas. Additional production cuts of up to 1 million bpd were considered at the meeting to drive oil prices up. But the idea was dismissed due to concerns about global economic growth and the rising energy demand. It is believed that the OPEC+ chair needs to have the Brent crude benchmark reach above $80 a barrel to pay for its government spending and import bill.

The price of oil has been highly volatile in recent years owing to the Covid pandemic and, last year, to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Brent benchmark rose to over $130 a barrel following the start of the conflict in 2022 and has since fallen to lows of under $70 a barrel in March this year. David Fyfe, from Argus Media, stated: We are seeing a sharp slowdown in economic growth in developed countries, almost to the point of them going into recession And we don't think the demand for oil in China will increase a great deal in the next few months. So the market will not be that tight in the second half of the year.

The price of oil has fallen dramatically since the start of the war, thankfully for consumers facing economic hardship after the extremely high energy bills of 2022. This is largely due to the fact Russia used OPECs production cuts  meant to drive crude prices up  to undercut the organisation by supplying cheap oil to two of the worlds biggest consumers  India and China. If Russia continues to play this game, it is unlikely to keep the backing of OPEC+, which has so far not condemned or punished Russias actions.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

ADVERTISEMENT

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Via the Jamestown Foundation

On June 5, Georgia announced plans to build a second civilian airport near Tbilisi. During a recent government meeting, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili reiterated this decision and justified it with the governments intentions to turn the country into an international air transport hub (Facebook.com/GaribashviliOfficial, June 5). In 2005, management of Tbilisi International Airport, on the initiative of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, was transferred to Turkish company TAV Georgia (TAV) (Tbilisiairport.com, accessed June 12). At the time, by signing the agreement, Georgia agreed not to build a new airport within a 200-kilometer radius of the existing facility until 2027 (Bm.ge, May 6).However, based on the presented plans, the new airport will be built in the village of Vaziani, which is situated just 15 kilometers from the Tbilisi airfield. Thus, to accomplish this goal, the Georgian authorities will have to start negotiations with Turkish TAV on the revision of the agreement to remove restrictions on the construction of another airport in this vicinity.

Of particular interest here is the selected location for the new facility. This area was formerly the location of the Soviet Unions military airfield, where Soviet fighters were based for many years as well as several large groupings of the Soviet Ground Forces. Later, in the post-Soviet period, a squadron of Russian MiG-29 fighters was stationed there. Until 2001, a Russian motorized rifle regiment was also based near the airfield. Then, in 2001, as a result of the historic agreement(Osce.org, January 2000) (within the framework of an adapted treaty on the reduction of conventional armed forces in Europe) signed at the Istanbul Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Summit in 1999, this military base, including the airfield, was withdrawn from Georgian territory (Lenta.ru, June 29, 2001). The area was then transferred to the Georgian Armed Forces, and today, it remains under the purview of the Georgian Ministry of Defense. At one time, Georgias allies put significant resources into restoring the base. When the Russians left, as seems customary, they destroyed almost all the infrastructure in the area. Even so, already by 2002, with the financial assistance of Turkey, the base was restored (Civil.ge, June 6, 2002).

The Vaziani air base was fully functional until the 2008 invasion, when Russian aircraft bombed the area (Matsne.gov.ge, August 9, 2008). Since then, this airfield has been inactive, though it is still considered part of Georgias military infrastructure. Near the airfield is the main headquarters of the Georgian military, where several large formations of the Georgian army are located. The personnel stationed there are mainly those who were trained under various US military programs. Moreover, the only military training ground in eastern Georgia is also located near the airfield, and military exercises are regularly held there not only for the Georgian army but also for joint North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or Georgian-American military exercises, such as the annual Nobel Partner drills (Europeafrica.army.mil, accessed June 12).

A country that aspires to become a member of NATO, in addition to having an army of the appropriate standard, must also possess suitable infrastructure, including military airfields, regardless of whether it has an air force or not. After the Russo-Georgian War of 2008, the Georgian Air Forces potential was reset to zero. By the decision of the countrys military-political leadership at the time, the air force was completely abolished and incorporated into the Georgian Land Forces.

A few years ago, the current government suddenly decided to restore some Soviet-style air equipment, including Su-25 military attack aircraft, Mi-24 attack helicopters and Mi-8 military transport helicopters, using the Tbilisi Aviation Plant. This was presented to society as a fait accompli of the restoration of the Georgian Air Force. To demonstrate this, on May 26, during Independence Day celebrations, five Su-25 attack fighters performed a flyover of Tbilisi(Facebook.com/MinistryofDefenceofGeorgia, May 26).

While Georgia has other airfields where military equipment could be placed, the presence of such infrastructure, including an airfield near Tbilisi, which represents the geographical center of the South Caucasus, could be of interest to NATO. Based on its suitable location, and the presence of a military base where thousands of military personnel could be located,this territory has, at times, been considered as a potential location for a NATO or US military base.

In 2018, active discussions began on the possibility of the joint development of the Vaziani air base by the United States and Georgia. In 2018, US General Steve Lyons, a commander of the United States Transportation Command, engaged in negotiations on the issue with thenGeorgian Minister of Defense Levan Izoria and thenPrime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze (Agenda.ge, November 12, 2018).

And now, at the same location, the Georgian Dream authorities want to build a civilian airport. The desire to strengthen the countrys capabilities in international transport seems legitimate, though the existing international airport has room for expansion.

New expansive economic projects, of course, can help stimulate the economy and create new jobs. But the alleged concern for the domestic economy at the expense of national security has already become a kind of hallmark for the current government in Georgia. Previously, during former President Eduard Shevardnadzes time in office, discussions began on expanding the existing civilian Black Sea seaport at the expense of the nearby naval base in the city of Poti. At the time, the implementation of this project had also been justified by domestic economic interests and profitability. However, the authorities eventually dropped the issue, instead giving priority to national security over economic interests.

For some reason, the current Georgian government has decided to take this valuable military infrastructure and undermine its strategic value by giving it a purely civilian economic purpose. Could this represent an attempt to begin voluntarily demilitarizing Georgia in the name of economic development? And could it be a preventive measure in favor of Russia and contrary to the implementation of future NATO or US infrastructure plans? In truth, if a civilian airport is established in Vaziani, as the infrastructure is being developed for economic activity, the likelihood of active military training in the area will be at risk. Thus, if the Georgian Dream authorities continue to actively harm national security in the name of economic considerations, then, at least on paper, the country may indeed bolster its domestic economy but will become more defenseless against future Russian aggression.

ADVERTISEMENT

By Beka Chedia

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
via the Jamestown Foundation

Tensions in the Balkans are escalating again as Serbian security forces have allegedly kidnapped three Kosovo police officers inside the territory of Kosovo. Prime Minister Albin Kurti called the entry of Serbian forces into Kosovo territory an aggression aimed at destabilization (Koha.net, June 14). The reported kidnapping follows the arrest of three Serbs, who were charged with participating in violent clashes with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) peacekeepers in northern Kosovo in May 2023. One of these suspects was also recorded attacking and beating Albanian youth in North Mitrovica last December (The Geopost, June 14).

The kidnapping took place as Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani was addressing the European Parliament and announced to journalists that Pristina is almost ready with a proposal to de-escalate the situation in the north (Europarl.europa.eu, June 14). Meanwhile, Serbian President Aleksandar Vu?i? was celebrating Russia Day at the Russian embassy in Belgrade, emphasizing his countrys strong connections with Moscow despite its war of aggression against Ukraine (Twitter.com/theGeopost, June 14).

In the past few weeks, Vu?i? has managed to incite disagreement between Kosovo and its Western supporters, fortify his countrys central position in the Wests policy for the Balkans and stir up an intra-Albanian conflict between Pristina and Tiranaall with the purpose of avoiding domestic challenges to his grip on power.

Following two mass shootings, a wave of protests against gun violence started in Belgrade on May 3, threatening to overturn the government. The sixth such protest since the beginning of May took place in central Belgrade on June 9, with the opposition demanding the prosecution of government officials, including Vu?i? and Prime Minister Ana Brnabi? (RTV.rs, June 9).

Vu?i?, who failed to suppress the protest movement with counter-demonstrations, needed an external distraction. And he promptly found one in northern Kosovo. When Pristina decided to allow three newly elected Albanian mayors and one Bosnian to take their municipal offices in northern Kosovo, organized Serb groups, supported by Belgrade, resorted to violence against the Kosovo police and NATO peacekeepers there. In the aftermath of the clashes, 30 peacekeeping troops from NATOs Kosovo Force were injured on May 29 (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, May 29). Reportedly, 52 civilians were also wounded.

The 15,000 Serbs residing near the border with Serbia refuse to recognize Kosovo as an independent state and boycotted the municipal elections organized by Pristina in April 2023. As a result, ethnic Albanian and Bosnian candidates were elected, while turnout was very low. Vu?i? congratulated the Kosovo Serbs for carrying out a peaceful political uprising and refusing to accept imposed solutions (YouTube, April 25). Nevertheless, the United States Department of State recognized the elections as consistent with Kosovos constitutional and legal requirements while expressing regret that not all parties made use of their democratic right to participate (Xk.usembassy.gov, April 23).

However, on May 18, a joint statement by the Quint statesthe United States, France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdomdeclared that following the boycott by a significant portion of the Serb community, the results are not a long-term political solution for these municipalities (State.gov, May 18). The statement, in effect, banned the newly elected mayors from being inaugurated in the municipal buildings, thus caving to Belgrades political games.

Pristinas failure to obey these demands was ultimately condemned by the West as a bigger sin than the outbreak of violence that injured NATO soldiers as perpetuated by Serbian gangs. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Pristinas actions will have consequences for US-Kosovo bilateral relations. The US ambassador to Pristina, Jeffrey Hovenier, stated that Washington will apply sanctions against Kosovo following the unrestthe first being the cancellation of Kosovos participation in the US-led Defender Europe 2023 military exercise.

Surprisingly, Ambassador Hovenier also asserted that the US will cease all efforts to assist Kosovo in gaining recognition from states that have not recognized Kosovo and in the process of integration into international organizations (Balkan Insight, June 7). If this happens, it clearly benefits not only Belgrade but also Moscows divisive efforts in the Balkans.

The government of Kosovo is facing a decision whether to accept Washingtons and Brussels demands for de-escalating the tense situation in the north by holding new local elections and withdrawing Kosovo police units from the area. On June 2, Osmani and Kurti stated that they are open to calling new local elections in four majority Serb northern municipalitiesin line with requests from Western officials (Balkan Insight, June 2).

Kosovo Foreign Minister Donika Gervalla-Schwarz said in Prague that certain conditions must be met before Pristina could consider new polls: the first is an end to the violence, and the second would be a commitment from Serbia that it will no longer threaten Serbian citizens of Kosovo not to participate in the election (Radio Prague International, June 6).

The sticking point in these discussions is the establishment of an autonomous Association of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo with sweeping self-governing powers, including receiving development funds from Belgrade. Although agreed to in 2013 by Belgrade and Pristina, the Kosovo Constitutional Court has ruled that certain provisions in the proposed statute contradict the countrys constitution. In fact, the agreement, as proposed, may become a step toward the partition of Kosovo, as it would practically eliminate state control over a significant part of the country.

To make things more complicated, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama instigated an intra-Albanian conflict by sending a proposal to Paris and Berlin regarding the Association of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo, without consulting Pristina (Balkan Insight, June 8). The proposal did not go over well in Kosovo, where it was perceived as serving Serbian interests (Euractiv, June 9). Kurti argued that Rama should propose a draft-statute about Albanians in [Serbias] Presheva Valley to Vu?i? during the next Open Balkan meeting, instead of sending proposals about Kosovo Serbs to Paris and Berlin. After all, article 8 of the Albanian Constitution obliges him to protect the rights of Albanians (Twitter.com/admirim, June 13).

ADVERTISEMENT

Evidently, Western policy in the Balkans is failing, and a new approach is needed. The appeasement of Vu?i? resembles the policy of appeasement toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, which failed to foresee and prevent the current brutal war against the Ukrainian people. Similar to the Moscow-centered Western policy in Eurasia, the US and European Union have put in place a Balkan policy that is centered on Belgrade, regardless of Serbias nationalist leadership, which poses increased danger to several Balkan states, including Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

By Margarita Assenova

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The stocks of oil drilling companies are in decline, falling alongside oil prices in a signal that some traders believe prices have further to fall yet.

Since the start of the year, the stocks of the four largest onshore drilling companies have shed an average of 32%, the Wall Street Journal reported today.

Thats a lot more than the decline of the energy sector of the S&P 500, which amounted to 8.2%, not to mention the broader index, which has gained 15%.

The rig count in the United States has also, unsurprisingly, been falling, reflecting the decline in oil prices. Since the start of the year, the number of active drilling rigs for oil and gas has declined by 11% to 695, per Baker Hughes data.

Some investors are viewing this as the early stages of a down cycle, Evercore ISI analyst James West told the Wall Street Journal.

Earlier this year, Reuters market columnist John Kemp wrote that oil production in the U.S. was set for a slump later in the year, noting the decline in drilling rigs, which had fallen from 627 in December 2022 to 591 in late April.

Kemp also noted at the time that there is a lag of up to a year between the start of a price rally and the increase in production that it prompted. The same delayed pattern was evident with price declines and production falls.

Some of the drilling companies themselves, however, disagree that their share price changes reflect the state of the industry as a whole. Some, the WSJ reports, believe their stock is being undervalued, since most of the rig decline since the start of the year has come from natural gas rather than oil.

ADVERTISEMENT

Theres a disconnect between whats happening with stock prices versus whats happening in the field, Andy Hendricks, chief executive of Patterson-UTI, told the WSJ. Weve only gone down from 132 rigs to 126 rigs this year, but our stock has sold off like weve gone down to 70.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The U.S. Department of Energy was among several federal agencies that got targeted by hackers in a global cyberattack this week.

In a statement cited by Reuters, the DoE said that the hackers used a vulnerability in a file-sharing software program to carry out the attack. The attack used a weak spot in the MOVEIt file transfer software that its makers from Progress Software only discovered last month. This second attack was made possible by a second newly discovered vulnerability in the software.

The department also noted that the attackers got access to data from two related entities: a contractor, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, and a New Mexico facility for the disposal of nuclear waste generated by the defense industry.

Besides the Department of Energy, Reuters said that Shell was also a target of the cyber attackers, along with Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System, as well as the University System of Georgia.

Earlier this month, another attack was carried out on a multitude of targets in the UK and the United States, with a Russian-linked hacker group dubbed Cl0p claiming responsibility for it.

Following the latest attack, CNN cited the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency as saying the same group was behind that attack as well. However, unlike they usually do, the attackers have not asked for a ransom, the report noted.

We have communicated with customers on the steps they need to take to further secure their environments and we have also taken MOVEit Cloud offline as we urgently work to patch the issue, Progress Software told CNN.

At this time, we are not tracking any significant impacts to the federal civilian executive branch (.gov) enterprise but are continuing to work with our partners on this issue, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said, as quoted by Reuters.

ADVERTISEMENT

Private cybersecurity experts estimate that besides the DoE, Shell, and the hospital systems, as many as several hundred entities could become targets of the hacking spree, as CNN put it.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Behlen Mfg. Co., a manufacturer of metal products headquartered in Columbus, Nebraska, announced Friday that it will close its Omaha facility as part of a strategic restructuring plan.

Assets from Behlen Technology & Manufacturing, 3838 S. 108th St., will be relocated to the companys Columbus facility, where the business will be consolidated with Behlen Custom Fabrication, according to a press release from the company. Employees of the Omaha facility are being given the option of transferring to Columbus.

The release states the decision to close the Omaha facility comes in response to external factors that have necessitated a comprehensive evaluation of their product portfolio and manufacturing operations.

This consolidation will enable Behlen to enhance efficiencies, foster innovation, and maintain its high standard of customer service, the release states.

Once the Omaha locations assets are relocated to Columbus, the Omaha facility will either be repurposed or sold, the release states.

Todays announcement increases our focus on growing the Behlen Country, Behlen Building Systems, and Behlen International & Diversified Products business units, Tom Boal, CEO and president of Behlen Mfg. Co., said in the release. This will position us to remain competitive in fluctuating economic environments.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2023
A former Nebraska State Patrol trooper was found guilty last week of sexually assaulting a child in Douglas County, marking his third conviction for child sex crimes in the past year.

Brandon Dolezal, 26, is already serving significant prison time for child sex crime convictions  including child pornography, enticement and sexual assault  out of Sarpy and Scotts Bluff Counties.

In Douglas County, Dolezal initially faced six counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child and one count of child enticement. He pleaded no contest to two of the sexual assault charges, and prosecutors dismissed the remaining counts. The charges stem from a 2022 incident in which Dolezal picked up a 15-year-old girl from Skutt Catholic High School and sexually assaulted her.

According to an affidavit, officers were called to Skutt to investigate a report of a missing student on Oct. 28, 2022. Officers were told that the 15-year-old girl had gotten into a pickup truck and left the area with a man, later identified as Dolezal.

The pickup returned to the schools parking lot, and a school administrator stopped Dolezal from leaving until police could arrive. Dolezal initially told officers that he was 18 years old and a senior at Millard West High School, according to a police report.

The girl told police that Dolezal had sexually assaulted her in the truck. She said that they had been communicating through the social media app Snapchat and that he knew she was only 15.

Dolezal had been placed on administrative leave from the State Patrol in February 2021 after officials learned of investigations into his behavior. He was fired in March, and the first criminal charges were brought against him in Scotts Bluff County in May.

At the time of the Douglas County offense, Dolezal was out on bail for the Scotts Bluff County case related to child enticement and child pornography. He was convicted late last year on two counts of attempted enticement and four counts of possessing child pornography, and was sentenced in April to 40 to 56 years in prison. Dolezal has also been convicted of first-degree sexual assault of a child for the rape of a 13-year-old girl in Sarpy County. He was sentenced in March to 20 to 40 years in prison for that offense.

Dolezal will be sentenced for the Douglas County assault in August. He faces a minimum of 20 years in prison and a maximum of life, in addition to the 60- to 96-year sentences he is already serving.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2023
A 29-year-old Omaha man currently on supervised release following a two-year term in federal prison for possessing child pornography was federally indicted again this week on the same charge  for a different case.

Thomas Janes pleaded guilty to one count of possessing child pornography involving prepubescent minors in 2019. He became involved in a Homeland Security investigation after uploading child pornography images to a website that had been taken over by law enforcement in 2015, when Janes was 20.

A subsequent search warrant revealed that he possessed over 600 videos and 1,700 images of child pornography. He was indicted in 2018, and, in 2019, he was sentenced to two years in federal prison and five years of supervised release following the prison sentence.

Janes was released from prison in August 2021. As part of his supervised release conditions, he was barred from possessing any device with internet access capabilities unless approved and monitored by the probation office.

But when probation officers saw Janes on March 9 of this year, they noted that he had a tablet, two laptops, three hand-held gaming devices and a smartphone  none of which were approved by the probation office, and all of which were connected to the internet. His supervised release was revoked in April, and he has remained in custody since then.

On Wednesday, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Janes with one count of possessing child pornography involving prepubescent minors. The indictment alleges that he possessed the material on and before March 9, indicating that the material was on the devices located by probation officers.

If convicted, Janes could face additional prison time. While there is no mandatory minimum prison sentence for a first-time child pornography possession conviction, there is a 10-year mandatory minimum for repeat offenders.

Janes was also a licensed teacher, according to a 2019 document from the Nebraska Commissioner of Education. He was licensed to teach science in middle and high schools, and voluntarily surrendered his license after his conviction. Its unclear if he was ever employed at any area schools.

He will appear in federal court next week for an initial appearance.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2023
Major John Thorn Croft, even now, would vie for the title of the most interesting man in Omaha.

Bold. A veteran of the Mexican and Civil Wars.

Cultured. A leader of Omahas musical community.

Well-connected. A person intimately acquainted with three U.S. presidents. He knew Queen Victoria when the two were children.

Dichotomous?

The organist at Trinity Cathedral was the proprietor of a roadhouse, the first, and yes, notorious, on the wagon path to the Omaha Barracks (Fort Omaha).

Beat that, Dos Equis Most Interesting Man!

A lifetime already packed into his first 42 years, Croft came to Omaha in 1857.

He was born off the New England coast. His grandfather was Commodore John Thorn Croft, who was with Admiral Horatio Nelson in the battle of Trafalgar. An uncle captained a trans-Atlantic ship, and much of the majors boyhood was spent at sea and in Great Britain.

King George IV once patted the boy on the head and asked him, Little boy, what do people in America do in the evening? Young Croft piped up and told the king that, back home, there were just as many amusements as in England.

Croft attended McGill College in Montreal and studied music. He taught at the Boston Academy of Music under New England composer Lowell Mason for eight years in the 1840s. He was the first to sing the version of Nearer My God, To Thee, the purported swan song of the Titanic orchestra, to the commonly used tune written by Mason. He organized musical societies and his circle of friends included the Swedish Nightingale, Jennie Lind.

He met future President Franklin Pierce while teaching in Concord, New Hampshire. During the Mexican War, he and Fletcher Webster, son of statesman Daniel Webster, organized a cavalry regiment.

Crofts route to the west went through Philadelphia and Harrisburg in Pennsylvania, where he operated music houses and became a close friend of future President James Buchanan; Chicago, where he and his new bride spent only a few months; and Rock Island, Illinois, where he opened a music house  and a saloon.

He drove across Iowa, family in tow, with 18 horses to reach Omaha. He platted a 122-lot subdivision near boom-and-bust Saratoga, an area now between 16th and 24th Streets along Ames Avenue. Seven houses went up. He was the first organist at Trinity Cathedral and was co-leader of the choir.

Then Croft had to start over. The land he bought had a defective title. He lost almost everything. He recovered, regaining his land, by selling livestock to the Mormons  he became friends with Brigham Young  who were in the second large migration west. At one time, there were 1,200 oxen, 480 horses, 200 mules and scores of wagons standing on his property.

I bought that 100 acres three times before I finally owned it, he said in 1906.

In the Civil War, Croft rose to the rank of major while with the Curtis Horse unit that became part of the Fifth Iowa cavalry. He met his third future President  Ulysses S. Grant  after reporting to him at Fort Henry. Croft was wounded near Clarksville, Tennessee, and came home on a furlough.

Freighting on the frontier was his next adventure. He worked for Western Telegraph. Then for Butterfield Freighting, he cleaned up all the freight  valued at $1.5 million  of several wagon trains that had been captured on Smoky Hill by members of the Cheyenne, Arapahoe and Kiowa Tribes. He brought the goods to Denver and contracted to take them to Salt Lake City.

He sold the contents for $122,000. Claimed he never saw a cent.

I had a wonderful faculty for making money, he told the Omaha Daily Bee when he was 94, but I also had a wonderful faculty for losing it.

In 1868 and back in Omaha, he was in charge of the piano department at the Omaha Music Depot on Douglas Street. There on Tuesday nights, he was the music director for the new Omaha Choral Union.

Life changed for Croft when his wife, Eliza, died suddenly in 1871 in downtown while walking the block from the music store that he now owned to their home at 15th and Howard Streets. He was a widower with two daughters and a toddler son.

Croft left the music business and moved his children to his Saratoga farm, where he opened his roadhouse in 1874. The Omaha Bee called it a welcome development: Last evening over 20 teams stopped there, while the occupants indulged in liquid refreshments or a fragrant smoke.

Two weeks before Christmas 1874, the major and his oldest daughters suitor  11 years her elder  took their feud to the streets of downtown. Despite the younger man throwing white pepper in his face, Croft chased him down and caned him until the cane broke.

The couple eloped.

A few years later, Croft needed to extract himself from performing a sham wedding ceremony at the roadhouse, now known as the Park House. The groom was from out of state, the intoxicated or drugged victim of a confidence man. The bride was a theater performer from Chicago who had been in town only a short time and was with a new friend who likely was a lady of the evening.

A hack driver took the man and two women from a downtown saloon to Crofts place, where more bottles of wine were consumed before the sham ceremony. The next day, when police sorted out the matter, the major was charged with performing the marriage rite without due authority and released on $500 bail. The other three, under charges of grand larceny, spent the night in jail.

Croft claimed it had had been all a joke, that all the parties had given consent. He went to trial  newspapers did not record the outcome  but the others had their cases dismissed.

An accidental shooting, leaving a 16-year-old reputed prostitute from Valentine dead in January 1884, ended Crofts days of managing the roadhouse  now being called the Club House. Or, as the Omaha Bee referred to it, a notorious dive.

Under new management, and a name change to Cottonwood Villa, the roadhouse stayed open until it was converted into a boarding house in 1890.

In his later years, Croft lived as a recluse, giving violin lessons in a bungalow at 1920 Ames. His daughters died in 1876 and 1895; his son was in Chicago as an officer with Woodmen of the World.

If the roadhouse blues had tarnished his good name, music restored it. He was regarded and revered as Omahas oldest living pioneer.

Death came to the major at 95 on April 10, 1910. Two years before, the Omaha Bee gave him a living epitaph:

He possesses the qualities both of the lion and the lamb, the threshing machine and the watch. He has moved in the thick of raging battles; he has dealt with the lawless breed of man who rubbed the first roughness from the wild western plains; he has fought the Indians; he has hunted the fierce wild animals of the mountains.

These activities show the qualities of the lion. But he has also devoted fourscore years to those gentle symphonies of the great life which is not seen, the life of music. He is a true Bohemian in his present style of living and has been so always.
DES MOINES  Abortion will remain legal in Iowa until roughly 20 weeks of pregnancy  for now  after the Iowa Supreme Court split in an opinion delivered Friday.

The court considered Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds request that the courts reinstate a law blocked immediately after it passed in 2018 that would ban abortions once a fetuss heartbeat can be detected.

In Fridays opinion, three Iowa Supreme Court justices voted to let stand the District Court ruling that said Iowas so-called fetal heartbeat law remains unconstitutional. And three justices voted to reverse the District Court ruling.

Justices Susan Christensen, Thomas Waterman and Edward Mansfield voted to uphold the District Courts ruling. Justices Christopher McDonald, Matthew McDermott and David May voted to overturn the District Court ruling.

A seventh justice, Dana Oxley, recused herself from the case.

The 3-3 decision means a 2019 ruling by a Polk County District Court judge against the law remains in effect, meaning abortion in Iowa remains legal until the 20th week of pregnancy.

To say that todays lack of action by the Iowa Supreme Court is a disappointment is an understatement, Reynolds said in a statement. Not only does it disregard Iowa voters who elected representatives willing to stand up for the rights of unborn children, but it has sided with a single judge in a single county who struck down Iowas legislation based on principles that now have been flat-out rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court.

There is no fundamental right to abortion and any law restricting it should be reviewed on a rational basis standard  a fact acknowledged today by three of the justices, the Republican governor added. Still, without an affirmative decision, there is no justice for the unborn.

Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, a Republican from Grimes, and Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, issued statements alongside Reynolds, also expressing their disappointment in the split opinion.

Iowa Statehouse Republicans, who have agenda-setting majorities, now must decide whether to write new abortion restrictions into law. The 2023 session of the Iowa Legislature concluded its regular work for the year in early May. They are not scheduled to return to the Iowa Capitol until January.

However, Republican leaders could call for a special session in order to enact abortion-related legislation, if they choose.

In her statement, Reynolds said statehouse Republican leaders are reviewing our options in preparation for continuing the fight.

However, Planned Parenthood, which argued against the blocked law, was overjoyed by the courts ruling.

Todays order is an enormous win, and it means that Iowans will be able to control their bodies and their futures, said a statement from Ruth Richardson, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood North Central States. Your ZIP code shouldnt determine who controls your uterus. Each person deserves control of their body, and Iowans have that right, based on todays court decision.

A statement from Rita Bettis Austen, Iowa legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said: This law was dangerous, cruel, and unconstitutional when the district court blocked it four years ago, and its still dangerous, cruel, and unconstitutional today. Many Iowans were depending on the outcome of the case today, and we are celebrating the preservation of our freedom, health, and safety. 

In 2018, the Republican-majority Iowa Legislature passed and Reynolds signed into law a bill that would ban abortions once a fetuss heartbeat can be detected.

Supporters of so-called fetal heartbeat laws say they ban abortions roughly around the sixth week of pregnancy, which often is before a woman is aware she is pregnant. Abortion rights advocates say such a prohibition would end 98 percent of the now-legal abortions in Iowa.

However, some major medical organizations, like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, note that what is detected at six weeks is not a heartbeat, but instead electrical impulses, and that an actual heartbeat does not occur until roughly 17 to 20 weeks of pregnancy.

That law was immediately challenged in the state courts by Planned Parenthood, which provides womens reproductive health care and abortion services.

In 2019, a Polk County District Court Judge ruled the fetal heartbeat bill unconstitutional, saying it violates the due process and equal protection provisions of the Iowa Constitution.

Reynolds did not appeal the ruling at that time because, she said, of recent precedent. In June 2018, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that another Republican-proposed abortion restriction  a three-day waiting period before a woman could have an abortion  was unconstitutional. Then-Chief Justice Mark Cadys opinion described the constitutional right of women to terminate a pregnancy.

Just one week apart in June of 2022, the Iowa Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court handed down separate rulings that effectively eliminated guarantees to a womans right to an abortion at both the federal level and in Iowa.

The Iowa Supreme Courts decision overruled that 2018 opinion that said Iowa women have a state constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy. And the U.S. Supreme Court turned the issue back to states to decide, overturning the Roe v. Wade decision of five decades ago.

In the wake of those rulings, Reynolds asked the Iowa courts to lift the injunction and allow the 2018 fetal heartbeat bill to become Iowa law. In December of 2022, a district court judge rejected Reynolds request, a ruling appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court.
LINCOLN  Brad Anderson still remembers the night his wife forgot hail.

He was sitting on the front porch of their Lincoln home as a storm rolled in. It was around 9 p.m. LuAnne had gone to bed earlier. Brad wanted to watch the rain.

It starts hailing and next thing I know I hear LuAnne running down the stairs hollering theres something hitting the house!

She poked her head out the front door.

I said its hailing, and she looked at me like What?

Brad grabbed a stone and showed it to his wife.

Its rain thats frozen hard, he explained.

She said, Thats amazing. Ive never seen that before. Whats it called again?

Thats where the recollection ends.

You dont think about that, Brad says. The world changes for these people. They dont understand whats happening.

The world changed for Brad, too, in the years following LuAnnes dementia diagnosis in 2010, just before her 55th birthday. He became her caregiver, and like many of the estimated 38 million family members caring for a loved one in the U.S., he struggled with guilt and stress.

He suffered from loneliness, helplessness and despair  feelings that Americans have become increasingly familiar with, so much so that the U.S. surgeon general recently warned of an epidemic of loneliness and isolation.

Brad, now 67, believes his ability to diagnose and wrestle with his loneliness is owed to the very thing that LuAnne gradually lost her grasp of: words.

I just started writing (poetry) out of need   he said. I had a need to express some things that I didnt know how else to express, and you know it was really a survival tactic.

Brad and leaders in the medical and writing communities caution that his story isnt a blanket prescription. But it does, they say, reinforce things weve long known: Creative expression can help in more ways than we might realize. A creative outlet like poetry can heal.

Self-expression in other words, its really important, said Dr. Steven Wengel, professor of psychiatry and director of the geriatric psychiatry division at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Its really good for the soul and good for the brain, as it turns out.

***

A funeral.

The first sign something was off came at a funeral service for one of LuAnnes aunts in March 2009.

At the service, LuAnne crossed paths with a cousin she had known since childhood. Who are you? she asked him.

Brad was unsettled but didnt dwell on it.

I just kind of put it away and said, OK, one of those hiccups or something.

It was easy to put it away in the moment. LuAnne and Brad had been together since getting married in 1975 when they were both 19 years old. Thirty-four years, three states and two children later, everything else seemed perfectly normal that day at the funeral.

But other oddities gradually emerged in LuAnnes behavior: failures of memory, bouts of depression.

They thought it might be menopause.

LuAnne was still active in the dance community. She formed the nonprofit the Lincoln Irish Dancers in 1997 after teaching a class through the city. Dancing became such a central part of her life that Brad joined in.

I realized if I didnt start dancing, I wasnt going to see her, he said.

LuAnne also continued to excel at her job as the business manager for the University of Nebraska-Lincolns Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.

But the work grew harder, more confusing. LuAnne couldnt read emails. She printed them and traced the words with her fingers. She struggled to recognize co-workers. At first, they put photos of themselves on her desk to help. She grew increasingly incapable of connecting the people in the photos with the faces in front of her. She tired easily and had a hard time understanding what people were saying to her, though her own speech was perfectly coherent.

LuAnnes co-workers reached out to Brad in fall 2009. Something was wrong.

There is no single test to diagnose dementia, an illness affecting an estimated 10% of Americans 65 and older. It requires a process  interviews, lab tests, examination of medical history and sometimes a brain scan. LuAnnes diagnosis came in May 2010: semantic dementia.

Brad was, he says, pretty ignorant at the time. He imagined LuAnne forgetting her car keys  routine lapses we all experience  with greater frequency.

Well, its a lot more than that, and you learn pretty quickly, he said. Then you start thinking, Well, whats next?

***

Its March 1 and Brad is set to record a poetry reading for 30 Poets in 30 Days, a celebration of national poetry month in April organized by the Lincoln-based nonprofit Larksong Writers Place. The roster of readers includes poets from Nebraska and across the country.

Brad is reading a poem written as a letter to his daughter, Hannah Kahler. It is titled Daughter.

He reads from the iPad where he writes all his poems. His delivery is calm, quietly comfortable.

Brads poem sparked more phone calls and conversations than all the other readings, including the ones from nationally known poets, said Karen Shoemaker, a Lincoln-based author and founder of Larksong.

Its just such a beautiful poem, she said.

For most of his life, Brad never wrote poetry. He didnt really read it, either.

But around 2013, Karen Noel, then president of a local Alzheimers support group, asked Brad if he would speak during a fundraising event organized by United Way and CHAD Nebraska. Brads story might resonate because LuAnne was particularly young when she was diagnosed.

Brad said yes. He wrote down thoughts and memories to fold into his remarks, which were so well received that he continued speaking in the following years.

Brad kept writing out memories and observations  thought bites, he called them. His goal: Convey what its like to care for someone with dementia. Soon he saw how his thought bites fit together.

Poetry is often viewed as abstract, an art form studied in school, said Matt Mason, Nebraska state poet. Really, poetry is about expression.

Its a complicated thing, and its very basic, Mason said. Its about telling stories but its also  so useful for transmitting emotional elements that are otherwise hard to express.

As Brad continued the fundraising talks, he decided to end with a poem, The Devil Calls the Dance. The sniffling started in the audience by the second stanza.

It kind of jolted me.  I almost stuttered because I wasnt thinking about what it sounded like to somebody else. I was too busy processing and putting my thoughts out there and not thinking about how it was received. Obviously it had an emotional impact.

Mason said the poem reflects a man struggling to make sense of trying circumstances. Its a vulnerability Mason said he is familiar with, having turned to poetry to decipher difficult chapters in his own life.

You can see (Brad) figuring things out as the poem goes on, he said.

***

For a few years LuAnne was largely self-sufficient. She could drive, having passed required annual driving screenings. She was still leading local dances. Initially, she was excited about the idea of being retired.

I said OK, Ill take that as a win, Brad remembered.

Wins became fewer.

LuAnne lost her drivers license after failing her third annual screening.

Brad hired caregivers to come to their home for a few hours each day while he worked. He set up cameras so he could monitor her in the morning before they arrived.

Social activities stopped. Friends drifted away. It became Brad, LuAnne and a few immediate family members who helped when they could.

You try and be positive and make the most of each day that you can, he said. You know youre losing that person, and you have to remember that every single day might be the best day that person will ever have.

By 2014, life was unraveling. One day Brad noticed LuAnne got out of bed earlier than normal. She left the house and headed across the street.

Not good, Brad thought.

He rushed home from work.

LuAnne had boarded a city bus headed downtown to, as Brad later learned, go to the bank to get money to buy a car. She wanted her independence back. She brought her iPad, which allowed Brad to track and intercept her.

Less than a week later, LuAnne fell into a manic state. She was throwing furniture in their home, yelling.

They got her to a mental health holding facility at Bryan Medical Center. That same day, LuAnne referenced running in front of a moving vehicle to end her life. She couldnt be left alone. After 30 days of trying to recalibrate her medications in the hospital, it became clear: LuAnne wouldnt be coming home.

The decision in summer 2014 to place LuAnne in a care center weighed heavily on Brad, who was already racked with guilt. He consulted his daughter Hannah and LuAnnes brother Tim Shaw, an attorney and disability rights advocate.

They picked Douglas County Health Center in Omaha, which specialized in caring for people with memory loss.

Shortly after she was placed in September 2014, Brad became incredibly ill. He realized he hadnt been sick in years  as if his body hadnt allowed it while he cared for LuAnne.

I didnt realize how much stress I was under until after we finally did have her placed and I realized that she was cared for, he said.

***

Debilitating stress and loneliness have emerged as public health concerns in recent years.

A 2022 survey conducted for the American Physiological Association found that 27% of adults said that most days they were so stressed that they couldnt function.

Surveys have found that between one-third and half of U.S. adults have experienced loneliness.

In May U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released an advisory titled Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation. The report cited research that found loneliness and social isolation increase the risk for premature death by 26% and 29%.

Writing initially was an outlet for Brad  a way to wrestle with festering feelings.

UNMCs Wengel said research shows that when we engage with our emotions through artistic expression, it forces us to use a different part of the brain. This can unlock a deeper understanding of emotions that may otherwise rattle around in our heads.

So when you put a name on feelings, it helps you, he said. It doesnt make them go away, but it helps you deal with it.

For Brad, writing also opened the door to a community.

He started attending open mics and got involved with multiple writing groups, including Larksong, which Shoemaker formed in 2020. Brad was there from the beginning.

Theres a myth about writers  often theyre alone, churning out best sellers, Shoemaker said. I think thats a huge myth. I think people need one another.

***

LuAnne died on Jan. 20, 2017. She was 61.

He struggles to admit it, but Brad felt relieved when she passed. Her last year had been one of decline  death in slow motion. She was in a wheelchair and could muster only four words: oh gosh and then again.

She had forgotten Brads name some time earlier, though she would still smile and laugh when he entered the room. Brad believes their love endured.

I dont know what part of her was there and what part wasnt, but there was enough that I think the emotional connection was there.

About a month after her death, family and friends held a memorial service. LuAnne always said she wanted a wake, Brad recalled. The family had no idea what that entailed, so they improvised. There was music. Dancing.

At a certain point, Brad took a break from writing. It felt too painful.

He eventually picked it back up, after realizing he could write about more than dementia and the accompanying feelings, though he hasnt shut the door on those topics.

If you loved that person, how could you not have that grief and have those feelings? I earned those and thats fine, he said. I wouldnt want them to go away. I think that would be worse.

Brad is retired now, and spends his time with grandchildren and writing. He hopes that sharing his story might help someone else.

You have to find your way through it, he said. Writing, I felt, was a very helpful way to do that.

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter.

Poems by Brad Anderson "The Devil Calls the Dance" Too many dance this devil Too many know the steps Too many loved ones suffer While the Devil calls the dance My love is spared the knowledge Of her dances final steps I must suffer the knowing And the Devil calls the dance Wandering, confused, lost, Her world suddenly unknown I reach out and take her hand And the Devil calls the dance Day is night, night is day Her mind, can never rest I move to match her cadence And the Devil calls the dance Following where she leads To a world I cannot know Hand in hand, I go with her And the Devil calls the dance Her eyes see without knowing What once she knew is lost Lovers, now are strangers And the Devil calls the dance Her hand, in my hand My arm around her waist I am my lover's partner While the Devil... calls the dance "When the Bleeding Hearts Bloom" The bleeding hearts are blooming again. She planted them years ago, one by the garage and one by the house. They seem to like where she planted them and come back every year, one of the first plants to bloom each spring. These with their pink heart shaped flowers are called old-fashioned bleeding hearts, but Im not sure how a plant can be old-fashioned. Their gently curving rows of hearts, hang from stems bending towards the ground, each with a seeming drop of precious blood. Memories seem to drip from them, from hearts to full to hold them. I know what a bleeding heart feels like. In the spring, when the bleeding hearts bloom, I pause to hold my own, and think of her.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2023
LINCOLN  A new campaign has emerged centered on Legislative Bill 753, this one to oppose the petition intent on repealing it.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area, along with other state lawmakers and community members, formed a group called Keep Kids First, which announced the launch of a "decline to sign" campaign Friday. The campaign aims to discourage people from signing a petition that launched about two weeks ago that seeks to put the repeal of LB 753 on the 2024 ballot.

LB 753, introduced by Linehan, 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, $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.

The petition, organized by the group Support Our Schools Nebraska, is backed by public school educators and other public school supporters. Those who oppose LB 753 often argue that the bill will deplete funding for public education and will primarily benefit Nebraskas wealthiest residents.

Linehan and other LB 753 supporters have adamantly refuted these claims, arguing that the bill is necessary to allow families  particularly those of lower income  to have a range of educational opportunities to best suit their children's needs.

This is not an anti-public school bill. This is a pro-parent bill," Sen. Justin Wayne said in an email statement. "Parents need more options when the only existing option has been failing kids for generations, which is the case too often in my community."

According to a Keep Kids First press release, their campaign aims to educate the public about LB 753 and "correct the endless misinformation" shared by the opposing petition.

In response, Support Our Schools Nebraska issued a statement challenging the campaign, questioning why LB 753 supporters are opposed to putting the issue on the ballot.

The response to signing the Support Our Schools Nebraska petition has been overwhelming, Jenni Benson, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, said in the statement. Thousands of Nebraskans have already signed the petition to give Nebraskans the opportunity to vote on this issue."

In order to make in on the 2024 ballot, Support Our Schools Nebraska must gather roughly 60,000 authorized signatures of registered Nebraska voters within 90 days of LB 753 taking effect. That gives them a deadline of early September.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of June 2023
The identity of the Nigerian sex worker who was killed in Italy over sex performance, has been revealed as Blessing Benedicta Daniels but popularly known as Anita.

KanyiDaily reported yesterday that an Italian man identified as Leopoldo Scalici killed a 40-year-old Nigerian sex worker over poor performance and dumped her body by the roadside.

According to Italian website, Modena Today, Scalici approached Benedicta on the streets of Modena Nord for sex over the weekend. He loaded her on board the van on which he was travelling to reach a secluded place where they were believed to have had sex.

Benedicta was reportedly killed after the duo had had sexual intercourse and an argument had broken out, which led to Scalici hitting the Nigerian prostitute with a heavy object on the face and head.

It was however speculated that Scalici killed Benedicta by hitting her with a bench vise because he wasnt satisfied sexually.

The deceaseds naked body was discovered by the roadside on Sunday evening and Scalici is now in prison on charges of voluntary murder.

An autopsy has been scheduled.
Ilasa Ekiti community in Ekiti State has been thrown into turmoil following the beheading of a teenage Fulani girl by a herdsman to whom she had reportedly been betrothed.

The herder, whose identity is yet to be made public, allegedly ambushed the girl at a stream where she had gone to fetch water with her younger sister in the community on Tuesday

The assailant was said to have ambushed the lady, grabbed her from behind, while she bent down to collect some water from the stream, held her by the head and chopped it off.

The suspect reportedly fled the scene of the crime as soon as he carried out the act, but he was later arrested through the information provided by the younger sister of the deceased who was at the scene of the incident.

The police in Ekiti State on Wednesday confirmed the incident, saying the suspect had been arrested following information provided by the deceaseds younger sister who witnessed the murder.

The victim had reportedly been betrothed to the young man according to Fulani custom, but her family reneged on the promise of fully handing over the girl to him as his wife, a community leader said.

Trouble reportedly erupted when the suspect requested her would-be wife spend the last Eld-el-Fitr with him, but was turned down.

The traditional ruler of the community, Ajayi Omolagba, who gave details of the incident, said the failure of the family of the young lady to release her before, during and after the celebration angered the suspect who assumed the contract had been breached by the family.

Residents of the community reported that the victim, after growing up, observed that the supposed husband was a drunkard and drug addict, which had made her to start avoiding him, thwarting further plans for marriage arrangements.

Mr Omolagba said the community has been in shock since the incident occurred.

We summoned the families of all parties involved and their landlords to a meeting where resolutions were reached on how to forestall future occurrence, he said.

The community would also make the necessary appeasement to the gods as such an incident was strange, and it is a taboo in the land.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti command, Caleb Ikechukwu, said investigation had been launched into the matter.

See the graphic photos below:
By Izunna Okafor, Awka

The family members of the detained Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, have disengaged his lead Counsel, Mike Ozekhome, SAN; and Ifeanyi Ejiofor, telling them that their services are no longer required.

The disengagement was announced in a statement issued by Kanus younger brother, Kanunta Kanu and made available to newsmen.

Titled Notice of Dismissal, the statement which was also tweeted on Thursday, highlighted some of the reasons behind the sack.

The family, in the statement, also cited Ozekhomes alleged refusal to allow Kanus personal physicians access to him for the urgent ear surgery as part of reasons for the disengagement.

The statement read: I hereby formally notify @MikeozekhomeSAN and @lfeanyiEjiofor that their services are no longer required in #MaziNnamdiKanu case pending before the Supreme court of Nigeria and all concerning him.

After Mazi Nnamdi kanus case on 11th May 2023 Prof Mike Ozekhome SAN has refused to see his client in DSS headquarters Abuja even after several messages from #MNK to see him.

Secondly, for stopping the medical doctors who were to examine #MNK on 5th June even when he and Bar. lfeanyi Ejiofor were duly informed on 2nd of June and #MNK told them to inform his family to arrange that. For this obvious reasons and many more, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and Barr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor are hereby SACKED as Mazi Nnamdi Kanus counsels.

The Kanus family do appreciate your time and efforts so far, please handover the legal documents asap.

Related
Advertisement

I Was touched by the show of brotherly love and friendship shown by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu, to his predecessor in office, former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, when he visited him at his private residence on Thursday this week to share in the celebration of the former Governors 60th birthday.

Lagos has been progressively blessed with good governors. Perhaps it is one of the great strengths of the former Governor of Lagos state, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Commander -in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His ability to chose and empower men to take over the mantle of leadership of Lagos state, Nigerias gateway state.

From the administrations of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode to that of Babajide Sanwoolu, evidence abound of great improvements in governance, law and order, and infrastructural development.

Watching Governors Sanwoolu and Ambode exchange pleasantries and showering each other with words of encouragement really touched me. This is because of the bitter politics both men were engulfed in during the 2019 gubernatorial elections which saw incumbent Governor Ambode losing out to Sanwoolu after just one tenure. It was as if Ambode was disgraced out of office. Words, very unpleasant ones were said from both camps then.

Fast forward to 2023, with the Godfather and Kingmaker now busy with federal government duties in faraway Abuja, it appears that Governor Sanwoolu is coming to his own and the peace move to Ambodes house is a welcome development. Hopefully, this will bear good fruits and just like Governor Ambode remarked, it would lead to more support for the programmes of Governor Sanwoolu to enable him leave a good legacy.

There are lessons to learn by South East governors here, past and present. There is need to close ranks among former Governors and the incumbents. Enough of the bickering and personal wars. What should matter is the continued development of the various states so that the people will enjoy more dividends of democracy.

Since we are in the spirit of national reconciliation and unity, may I plead with Governor Babajide Sanwoolu to extend the olive branches to settlers and non-Lagosians living in Lagos. The elections have been won and lost and to the Glory of God, the governor of Lagos state is Governor Babajide Sanwoolu. Yes, there may have been perceptions of non-Lagosians swinging with Labour Party during the last election but all that is in the past now. As Ndigbo will say, let all that bit us last night be regarded as mosquitoes.

Lagos is on the move and settlers living in Lagos who have journeyed from all over Nigeria wish to be part of this movement. They want to be carried along. The rhetoric that Lagos is no mans land which gained currency during the last election is false. It was only promoted by people bent on destroying the cordial settler-indigene relationship that has remained the hallmark of living in Lagos state over the years.

It is this falsehood that may have given rise to the reported plans by the Lagos state House of Assembly to pass laws that will protect indigenes and their rights regarding lands, properties etc. The said laws are set to disenfranchise settlers and rob them of their rights with regards to ownership of properties they bought in Lagos.

History will continue to be kind to Governor Babajide Sanwoolu if he is able to help settlers avert this impending economic disaster. As the father of the state, the Governor should spread his umbrella arms to shield settlers. His government should integrate settlers through giving them political appointments, attend their events and make accommodating statements. After all, the strength of Lagos has always been its unique diversity, men and women drawn to the city of lights working hard, paying taxes and contributing their own quota towards the continuing development of Lagos state.

Nworah, a Media and Communications Consultant writes from Lekki.

Related

Advertisement
Advertisement

From Mba Nnenna- Abakaliki.

The Ebonyi State Chapter, Nigerian Union of Journalists NUJ, Correspondents Chapel have commended Governor Nwifuru over its members appointment/youths into his administration.

This was disclosed in a Communique signed by the Chairman Correspondents Chapel NUJ, Comrade Samson Nwafor, and made available Thursday, in Abakaliki.

Comrade Nwafor while congratulating the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru on his victory and subsequent swearing in, assured the governor of the chapels co- operation and partnership in disseminating his administrations policies and programmes.

The Communique further states; The Chapel commends His Excellency, the Governor of Ebonyi State, on the pedigree of individuals he has appointed to help him drive the policies and programmes of his administration, especially for giving 80% of his appointments so far to the youths.

The Chapel particularly lauds the Governor for appointing Dr Monday Uzor and Dr Boniface Nwankwo who are members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists into his government as Chief Press Secretary and Special Assistant (SA) on Documentation, respectively. The Chapel notes that their appointments are well deserved, and charges them and other new appointees to justify the confidence reposed in them.

Related

Advertisement
Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani has reacted after a court dismissed the defamation suit against him by the immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.

The suit which was filed in 2018, was dismissed on Thursday by Justice H.A.L Balogun of the Kaduna State High Court.

As earlier reported by Naija News, the former Governor had sought N2 billion in damages over comments credited to the former lawmaker which he said are totally false and injurious to his person in the eyes of the public.

El-Rufai alleged that Sani defamed him by referring to him as a drunk, loose cannon and an embarrassment to President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, Justice H.A.L Balogun in his ruling on Thursday, dismissed the suit by El-Rufai, describing it as an abuse of court processes.

This is after Sanis lawyer, Kimi Livingstone Appah drew the attention of the court to the fact that the former governor filed the same case in four different courts in Kaduna and dismissed the case.

Reacting to the development, Senator Sani appeared satisfied with the way the suit ended. Sharing a publication of the news story via his Twitter account, he simply wrote: To Allah be the glory.




By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom

Mr Mike Akpara, the Special Adviser to the Governor of Abia on Finance, has described the claim by former Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of leaving N24 bilion in the state government coffers as false.

Akpara made this known on Thursday during a press conference at the Government House, Umuahia.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that one Ikechukwu Iroha, a former aide of Ikpeazu, had made a Facebook post that several billions of naira were allegedly left behind for the Gov. Alex Otti led-administration by the former governor.

The special adviser said that neither Ikpeazu nor his spokespersons had refuted the false and offensive claims contained in the Facebook post.

He said allies and former aides of Ikpeazu had resorted to circulating the fake news with the intent to misrepresent facts and deceive the public, especially workers and pensioners.

Akpara called on the people of Abia to disregard the false claims made by the previous administration, adding that state governments records show that as at May 28 the state had a huge financial liability of N191 billion.

He said that the Okezie Ikpeazu-led government did not leave any N24 billion in the account of Abia Government as they falsely claimed.

The 200 million U.S dollar and 50 million US dollars they claimed they left for the new administration are loans they were pursuing which are yet to crystalise.

Poor internal generation of revenue, with the little they generated frittered away in payment to consultants for no added value and they pay as much as 20% which is highly unethical.

The members of the Ikpeazu-led administration were busy picking money from everywhere towards the end of their tenure as the N2.8 billion from SURE-P that came in through the Union Bank few days to Inauguration was taken by them.

We made efforts to stop them from taking the money but we lost out, however, we succeeded in stopping them from taking the N3 billion from JAAC, as we went as far as writing EFCC to stop them.

Akpara said that the previous administration left humongous physical liabilities in all the key institutions which resulted in loss of Abia State University Teaching Hospital and Abia State Polytechnic accreditation for the first time in history.

According to him, the regulatory authorities said that the basis for withdrawing the accreditation of the institutions was non-payment of salaries, lack of equipment and lack of infrastructure.

He said that the failure of Ikpeazu to pay April and May salaries before leaving office was another indication that there was no money in the state governments coffers.

Akpara said that if Ikpeazu is trying to preempt anti-corruption agencies by making such provocative false claims, he should know that they work with facts and figures.

Even if he runs into the APC to seek refuge as he is planning to do, these anti-corruption agencies would pursue and bring him to justice from there.

Already EFCC is on their trail and as we speak some of their bankers are being invited for questioning by the agency.

He said that the payment of salaries and pension remain sarcrosant, adding that the government had evolved payment strategies that would ensure that arrears and gratuities are completely paid before December and that workers would be paid on 28th of every month.(NAN)
Alex Enumah in Abuja

Prof. Eric Ofoedu, a Mathematics Professor and witness of the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the last election, Mr Peter Obi, yesterday, told the Presidential Election Petition Court (PREPEC), that over 18,088 result sheets uploaded unto the Independent National Electoral Commission (INECs) Result Viewing (IReV) portal were blurred.

Ofoedu, a Professor of Mathematics at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, and fourth witness to testify in the petition of Obi and LP against the election of President Bola Tinubu, said he discovered the above fact at the end of his investigation and analysis of the February 25 presidential results uploaded on the IReV portal.

Amongst the states he claimed his investigation and analysis were centred on were Rivers and Benue.

However, as it has been since the beginning of the hearing, all respondents objected to the witness as well as the exhibits tendered through him.

Shortly after he was led by Obis lawyer, Chief Onyechi Ikpeazu, to adopt his witness statement on oath as his evidence in the petition, INECs lawyer, Mr Abubakar Mahmoud, told the court that he was served the statement in court and he is therefore handicapped on how to go about the proceedings.

Mahmoud, subsequently urged the petitioners to step down the witness so as to afford the respondents time to prepare for the cross-examination of the witness.

This same position was taken by Chief Wole Olanipekun, representing Tinubu and Shetimma; and Lateef Fagbemi, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The respondents also added that reasons for their objections to the witness and his exhibits would be provided in their final address.

Responding, the five-member panel while permitting the witness to give his testimony and also admitting his documents as exhibits, stated that its ruling on the respondents objection would be delivered alongside with the final judgement.

Amongst the documents admitted as exhibits were: report of data analysis of the election, INEC Results Viewing scores investigation, separate data analysis of results in Rivers and Benue states.

Besides the reports which were admitted and marked by the court as exhibits PCG1  PVG3 respectively, the court also admitted in evidence blurred polling units results from IReV in 18,088 polling units across the country.

Following agreement that the witness be cross examined on Friday, the petitioners then called in their 5th witness, a subpoenaed staff of Arise News Television, who tendered in evidence a copy of a flash drive containing a video clip of INECs chairman, Yakubu Mahmoods speech at Chathams House, in London on January 17.

The witness, Lumnie Edevbie, was led in evidence by counsel to the petitioners, Patrick Ikweato.

The INEC boss in the reviewed broadcast was seen and heard making a case for the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the IRev as the commissions biggest archive and repository of the results of the election.

Although, the respondents objected to the admissibility of the evidence, the court however admitted it and marked it as one of the exhibits in the petition, adding that ruling would be delivered alongside the final judgement.

Hearing continues tomorrow with the cross examination of Ofoedu by the respondents and other issues on the schedule of the court.
Sanusi, who is also a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) arrived the villa at some minutes past 5:00 pm and had a meeting with the president.

It was the first time both men met since Tinubu was inaugurated as Nigerias president on May 29.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Sanusi said part of the reasons he was in the villa was to make an appeal regarding the case of the 37 herdsmen allegedly bombed by the Nigerian airforce in Nasarawa in January of this year.

I came to appeal to President Bola Tinubu on the case of the 37 Herdsmen who were bombed by the Nigerian Airforce in Nasarawa a few months ago.

Its a case we do not want to forget and he (Tinubu) promised to look into the matter, Sanusi said.

Recall that the pastoralists were killed after a bomb exploded at the border linking Benue and Nasarawa states at the Doma local government area of Nasarawa State.

The Police spokesman in the state, DSP Rahman Nansel, had said that the police were working with other security agencies and the state government to probe the circumstances surrounding the incident and arrest the perpetrators.

However, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule said it was difficult to say for certain exactly how many persons were killed by the airstrike, but said they had buried a total of 37 persons.

In other news, Kanyi Daily reported that the Lagos State Police command has announced that it is looking for family and friends of a missing but found girl.

The command in a short statement by its Spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin on Thursday, said the girl was found wandering in Idimu.

Related
The Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) has reacted to the tragic death of Nollywood actor, Don Brymo Uchegbu.

KanyiDaily recalls that Don Brymo Uchegbu died on Thursday, June 15, 2023, after he reportedly collapsed while shooting a film in Ahoada, Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

In a statement on Thursday night, AGN National President, Ejezie Emeka Rollas refuted claims that the late actor collapsed on a movie set, noting that preliminary investigations have commenced from the hospital where he was rushed to after he slumped.

Emeka Rollas extended condolences to the family of the deceased and expressed deep sorrow over the tragic death, which has left the entire Guild in mourning.

Emphasizing the importance of prioritizing health, Rollas highlighted that Brymos passing further underscores the Guilds persistent call for members to enroll in the AGN health management (HMO) plans, ensuring regular check-ups and well-being.

The statement reads, Actors Guild of Nigeria was thrown into another state of grief following the sudden demise of Don Brymo who was reported to have slumped on a film set in Rivers State and later passed on.

This tragic death came as a rude shock and has thrown the entire Guild into another grieving moment as we mourn his death. I have taken reports from all the actors on the set with him and found out that he didnt collapse on set as widely speculated.

While I commiserate with his immediate family, we have commenced preliminary investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death especially from the hospital where he was rushed to.

This has also proven further credence to our incessant clarion calls on members to sign up for the AGN health management (HMO) plans to help put their health in check constantly.

I and the entire members of the Guild are saddened by this tragic development of a death that could have been possibly avoided if the urgent intervention was provided.

May Don Brymos soul rest in peace and may God comfort all of us left behind to mourn him. We shall keep members abreast with latest information and updates from the family.

KanyiDaily recalls that Nollywood actor, Harry B Anyanwu had recently slammed a lady who made an unpleasant comment about him and Don Brymo Uchegbu.

Related
Hollywood actor, Al Pacino, 82, and his 29-year-old girlfriend, Noor Alfallah, have welcomed a baby boy named Roman Pacino.

The news of Al Pacino and Noor Alfallah expecting a child together broke out on May 30 after his representatives told TMZ that the actors partner was eight months pregnant.

In a statement on Thursday night, June 5, a representative for the couple said that I am confirming that Al Pacino and Noor Alfallah have welcomed a son, named Roman Pacino.

The delightful news came to light while the couple enjoyed a dinner date in West Hollywood recently, where they were seen together for the first time since the surprise announcement of their baby.

During their outing, the father of four and his girlfriend looked relaxed as they drove to Sunset Tower with a baby seat placed in the back of their car.

While this marks Noors first child, Al Pacino has previously fathered three children with two different women. He has 22-year-old twins, Olivia and Anton, with his former partner Beverly DAngelo, and he also has a 33-year-old daughter with his ex, Jan Tarrant.

KanyiDaily recalls that Al Pacino had demanded a paternity test from Noor Alfallah when she announced her pregnancy because he doubted his ability to father a child at the age of 83.

Related
The Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Thursday refused to allow the testimony of a witness, Erastus Ofoma, subpoenaed by the candidate of the Labour Party, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour in the March 18 election held in the state.

The Chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice Arum Ashom, who read the ruling, held that the witness statement on oath was uploaded out of time and outside the 21 days stipulated under the Electoral Act.

Other members of the tribunal are Justice Mikail Abdullahi and Justice Igho Braimoh.

Lead counsel to the petitioner, Dr. Olumide Ayeni, SAN, had informed the tribunal of his intention to call the subpoenaed witness, Ofoma.

He said the witness had deposed to his statement on oath and same had been served to the respondents.

While counsel representing INEC, Eric Obigor, confirmed service, counsel to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Bode Olanipekun, SAN and counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Norrison Quakers, SAN, raised objections to calling the witness.

They said Erastus Ofoma was not one of the witnesses on the list that accompanied the petition.

Olanipekun specifically said that there was no indication on the list that any witness was going to be subpoenaed to appear before the tribunal.

He also pointed out that the tribunal had found itself in a similar situation to the Court of Appeal in the case of Ararume vs INEC. He argued that in the case, an objection was taken to evidence being deposed outside 21 days as provided for in the presentation of petitions.

He said all the justices of the appellate court were unanimous in their decision that the subpoenaed witness whose statement was not front-loaded could not give evidence.

Quakers, who aligned with Olanipekuns submission, further stated that during the pre-action protocol of the tribunal on June 5, the list of witnesses presented did not suggest that a subpoenaed witness was going to be presented.

READ ALSO: Tribunal: LP Presents Over 18,000 Blurred PU Result Sheets, INEC Alleges Ambush

Citing the provisions of the Electoral Act, 1st Schedule, Paragraph 4, he said, It is a mandatory provision to comply with, that election petitions shall be accompanied with the list of witnesses to be called and their statements on oath.

The petitioner cannot ambush respondents and the tribunal. At pre-hearing protocol, all applications have been closed.

I urge the tribunal to discountenance the witness purportedly being subpoenaed in the person of Ofoma. It is a violation of the Electoral Act.

After listening to the arguments and counter-arguments, the tribunal upheld the submissions of the respondents counsel.

Following the ruling, the petitioners counsel then applied that the same witness be allowed to testify orally and without a witness statement. This led to another round of objections and the tribunal adjourned its ruling till Friday, June 16.

The tribunal however listened to the testimony of two more witnesses of the petitioner. One of them, Oluwaseun Okanlawon, who was called before the subpoenaed witness, told the tribunal that he was testifying as an INEC-appointed ward coordinator and collation officer.

He said, INEC appointed me to coordinate the ward, although I did not report what happened to them. I was appointed as a collation officer and the entire polling unit agents report to me.

He also stated that the events on the election day, March 18, was pre-planned.

When asked how he knew the events were pre-planned, he said, On the eve of the election, I saw people gathered in clusters in different parts of my ward in Surulere, so it was obvious that the event had been pre-planned.

Olanipekun referred the witness to paragraph eight of his statement on oath, where he said voters were intimidated and threatened and asked if the voters were still alive, to which Okanlawon answered that they were still alive.

Olanipekun also asked the witness how he knew the number of registered voters were outnumbered and how many non-accredited voters were allowed to vote in the 52 polling units in his ward.

Okanlawon responded that he did not know.

Okanlawon kept mute when questioned by Quakers on the veracity of the claims he made in paragraphs six, eight and 26 of his statement on oath, where he wrote that the first and second respondents, the governor and his deputy sponsored thugs who were armed to the teeth, and who conspired to attack voters who did not intend to cast votes in their favour.
Spread the love

Justice Sale Musa Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Kaduna on Thursday, convicted a former member of the House of Representatives, Mansur Ali Mashi on eight counts of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretenses.

Mashi, who represented Mashi Dutsi federal constituency, was convicted alongside three bank Sterling Bank officials: Abdulmumini Mustapha, Shehu Aliyu and Muazu Abdu in a trial that lasted 12 years.

Mashi was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for using fictitious companies to fraudulently obtain a loan facility to the tune of N212.4 million from Sterling Bank, which he diverted for personal use.

Upon arraignment, the defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them and the case proceeded to trial. In the course of trial, the matter suffered several setbacks due to elevation or retirement of the trial judges. But the prosecution called six witnesses and tendered several exhibits to prove the case against the defendants.

At the last adjourned date, counsel to the parties adopted their final written addresses and the matter was subsequently adjourned till June 15 and 16, 2023 for judgment.

READ ALSO: Court dismisses el-Rufai defamation suit against Shehu Sani

However, when the matter was called on Thursday, June 15, the 1st defendant was absent in court. But the court in a well-considered judgment, pronounced him guilty on counts 1 to 8 and was convicted accordingly.

The 4th defendant was also absent but the court found him guilty on all counts and convicted him.

The court however reserved sentencing for the two absentee defendants until they are arrested and brought before the court.

The 2nd defendant Abdulmumin Mustapha who is the former branch manager of Sterling Bank was convicted on counts 1 to 15 and sentenced to five years imprisonment on each count without option of fine. The court further ordered the 2nd defendant to restitute Sterling Bank in the sum of N40 million.

Advertisement



The 3rd defendant who was the former Head of Operation of the bank, was discharged on count 1-8 but convicted on counts 9 to 15 and sentenced to five years imprisonment on each count without option of fine.

The 1st defendant, Mansur Ali Mashi, is also awaiting judgment in a case of contempt of court before the same court. The judgment is slated for today, June 16, 2023.

In this particular case, Mashi is alleged to have sold the properties that were confiscated from him by the Court through an interim forfeiture order.
Spread the love

Immediate past Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, on Thursday, said the allegations of borrowing N150bn and diverting state government monies to fund Atiku Abubakars presidential campaign were spurious and unfounded.

Okowa was responding to allegations raised by elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark during an interview on ARISE Television on Wednesday, where Clark had alleged that Okowa funded Atikus campaign with state funds and betrayed Southern Nigeria by accepting a Northerner, Atikus nomination as running mate, amongst others.

Okowa, who was running mate to Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, noted that all financial records during his tenure as Delta governor were transparent and accountable.

READ ALSO: Okowa is a traitor, betrayer, Edwin Clark insists

The PDP former Vice Presidential candidate also denied owning a bank, maintaining that he is known to be a medical doctor and politician and not a banker or business man, let alone is any member of his family having any link with the bank.

The former Delta governor, who spoke through his Media Adviser, Mr. Olisa Ifeajika at a news conference in Asaba, said all funds that accrued to the state were deployed to develop the state with numerous projects and human capital development across the state.

You are all aware of the N150bn loan as they called it and we have for the umpteenth time said that money is not a loan but a bridging finance and it remained so.

It took the ingenuity of Commissioners for Finance in Oil producing states in the Niger Delta led by our own former Commissioner for Finance, Chief Fidelis Tilije to unearth the discrepancies.

What was owed Delta was N240bn which the Federal Government agreed to pay on four quarterly installments for 5years.

We are aware that some states including Rivers, discounted and collected all their monies and started spending but because Okowa believes in rule of law, due process and diligence, he went to the House of Assembly to get approval to use part of the funds for some critical projects from the quarterly instalmental refunds.

At a media briefing shortly before he left office, Okowa told the press that only N91bn was accessed from the N100bn bridging finance request. It is therefore, erroneous to assume that Okowa collected N150bn loan, Ifeajika said.

On the allegations of owning a bank, Ifeajika said Okowa is known to be a medical doctor and politician and not a banker or business man, adding that no member of his family have any link with the bank.

READ ALSO: Okowa betrayed people of Southern Nigeria  Edwin Clark

Advertisement



Okowa had earlier told the world that he has no personal business with the bank and no member of his family has any link with the bank.

That a certain Okowa is a staff member of the Bank is his right to work in any bank and not because the bank is owned by Okowas family. The man started his banking career years ago in some other banks before going to Zenith Bank and now Premium Trust Bank.

We would have thought that for a father that Pa E.K. Clark is, his role should be to build, to support those in authority at all times to build and do well, that should be the role of elder statesman.

READ ALSO: Presidency 2023: Edwin Clark joins Obasanjo, Adebanjo, endorses Obi

He should not wait at the end of their tenures because it has now become a norm that all the previous governors that ruled the state, while they will be in office they will be friends but when they leave our father will begin to pull them down and begin to say things that are not too right about his children that he saw into office.

For us, it is unsavoury and not salutary. Okowa has been acknowledged roundly as having performed superlatively, Okowa braved the odds, broke the jinx and developed the oil producing creeks and communities in the state and the projects are there speaking for themselves.

It is on record that Okowa empowered no fewer than 30,000 youths and took them off the street to become entrepreneurs and job creators.

Delta State Government led the pack in youth empowerment and Delta under Okowa was number one in youth development; instead of lampooning and taking swipe at Okowa, he should be commended for taking Delta to greater heights, he added
The hope of Manchester United takeover has left many fans of the Old Trafford club in excitement as most of them have been eager to see the back of the Glazer family.

And while majority of the Red Devils faithfuls have wished for Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani to emerge successful as his reign will finally put an end to the presence of the Glazer family around Old Trafford, the claims reaching National Daily reveals that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly flown to New York to hold face-to-face talks with Manchester United representatives over the past month in an effort to win the takeover race.

After seven months the United takeover saga has entered what it hoped to be the final phase, with the Glazer family close to deciding between INEOS chief Ratcliffe and Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani. Qatari reports earlier in the week suggested Sheikh Jassim had been successful with his bid for 100 per cent of the club, only for the claims to be rowed back from.

National Daily understands that excitement was at its peak again on Thursday when a company called Nine Two Holdings Limited was registered with Companies House in Sheikh Jassims name. The speculation caused a major spike in the share price of Manchester United on the New York Stock Exchange, with trading temporarily suspended amid claims the Qatari group were in talks over gaining exclusivity.

It has since emerged that both parties are still in the running, with the Glazers and Raine Group  the US merchant banker in charge of the prolonged process  still pondering the bids. It is understood that, when a decision is finally forthcoming, a long period of exclusive talks wont be necessary because all parties have completed their due diligence.

Despite the increasing noise surrounding the process, Ratcliffe and his INEOS group are still quietly confident of succeeding with The Telegraph reporting that Ratcliffe is known to have flown to New York for talks within the past month in an effort to try and increase his chances.

His presence at such talks comes in stark contrast to Sheikh Jassim, who sent representatives to Manchester to meet executives, tour facilities and conduct due diligence earlier in the year rather than attend himself.

And with the takeover saga having lasted for about 206 days since the Glazers announced their intentions to explore strategic alternatives for United on November 22, patience is beginning to wear thin for many of the parties involved. That was evident last week when Sheikh Jassim declared he would not participate in the process beyond his fifth and final offer.

The Red Devils fans around the globe can only wish for the best namely, swift takeover process to facilitate successful transfer business this summer.
The United Nations childrens agency, UNICEF, has lamented that over one million children, including 270,000 in the Darfur region, have been displaced since fighting broke out in Sudan between the Sudanese Army, led by Army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), in April. The global agency cautioned that many more were at grave risk.

UNICEF, in a statement, decried that beside the more than one million displaced, at least 330 children have been killed and more than 1,900 others wounded.

UNICEF representative in Sudan, Mandeep OBrien, had stated: The future of Sudan is at stake, and we cannot accept the continued loss and suffering of its children.

Children are trapped in an unrelenting nightmare, bearing the heaviest burden of a violent crisis they had no hand in creating  caught in the crossfire, injured, abused, displaced and subjected to disease and malnutrition.

UNICEF said an estimated 13 million children were in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

The global agency indicated that it is ready to assist the children but called for safe, unrestricted access and guaranteed security to all areas where children are in desperate need.

UNICEF noted that the situation in the western region of Darfur, where 270,000 children are said to have been displaced by the fighting, was especially concerning. According to UNICEF, The situation in West and Central Darfur, in particular, is characterised by active fighting, severe insecurity and looting of humanitarian supplies and facilities.

The lack of safe water has left hundreds of thousands of children at risk of dehydration, diarrhea, and malnutrition. .

Doctors Union in Sudan had raised alarm that three quarters of hospitals in the war zones have been out of service and cannot treat injured citizens.

The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project had earlier reported that the war in Sudan has claimed over 2,000 lives.

The International Organization for Migration also reported that the war in Sudan has driven 2.2 million people from their homes, including 528,000 who have fled to neighbouring countries.

Several Nationals were evacuation to their home countries by their various governments at the beginning of the conflict.
Pro-democracy campaigners have acknowledged the leadership role played by Lagos State in the citizen-led democratic struggles, describing the State as a reference point for demonstrations against historic injustice.

At a two-day summit held to mark the 30th anniversary of the historic June 12 election, a coalition of 121 pan-Yoruba groups, under the aegis of Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements (AYDM), said Lagos provided sanctuary for pro-democracy activists from across the country during the struggle for the actualisation of June 12 mandate, an election generally believed to have been won by the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola.

The summit with the theme: 30 Years After June 12: Tactics and Strategy for Sustainable Democracy in the Future, was held in the main hall of St. Leo Catholic Church in Ikeja.

Lagos, AYDM said, has shouldered the liberation struggles against all forms of slavery, colonialism and oppression in the last 500 years, noting that it was no coincidence that the State remained the most traumatised, molested, tormented and most intimidated city in the course of the June 12 struggle.

Adewale Adeoye, a pro-democracy activist and media practitioner, said in spite of the accommodating nature of Lagos, the State had become a dart board constantly being insulted and its history being subjected to distortions.

Adeoye, a CNN Multichoice African Journalist of the Year prize winner, said Yoruba people had lived in all human settlements within the territorial boundaries of the entity known today as Lagos centuries before colonial expedition.

He said the antiquity of Lagos must not be reduced to post-colonial encounters, warning that any attempt to put the ownership of Lagos to an ignorant review would translate to provocative attempt by those bent on reducing the status of the State as no mans land.

He said: Lagos has always provided leadership and should continue to do so. We commend the role Lagos has played in the struggle for justice in Nigeria. As we mark 30 years after June 12, we should be conscious of certain developments. Today, there is the debate about the status of Lagos. Its history and civilisation are being contested.

Due to its accommodating nature, Lagos is being constantly abused and insulted. Its history is being subjected to distortion. It is important to always educate ourselves and our children about history. Some of the positions we have read are attempts to consciously politicise the history of Lagos. We cannot allow these tissues of fabricated lies to stand. The history of Lagos predated the name itself.

Ogunfunminire, the first known leader of the indigenous Lagos, had established dominion in the city centuries before the coming of the Portuguese. Todays Lagos comprises of more than 40 traditional rulers whose evidence of protectorate is tied to land, water resources and spirituality. So, the question of who owns Lagos should not arise. It is an unnecessary and provocative debate that diminishes the status and knowledge of those who blindly argue that Lagos is no mans land.

Adeoye said only chronic ignorance would make anyone to proclaim that any land has no indigenous inhabitants, stressing that there was no piece of land in Lagos left ungoverned before the advent of colonialism.

The pro-democracy campaigner lent his voice for what he called a new thinking to preserve the heritage of indigenous people of Lagos, dismissing the notion that the move would diminish the cosmopolitan nature of the State. Opposing the move to protect the States tradition, Adeoye said, would amount to denying Lagos indigenous citizens their democratic rights to their land.

He said: The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted by the General Assembly on 13 September 2007, described as triumph for justice and human dignity following more than two decades of negotiations between governments and indigenous peoples. There is also the Convention on Biological Diversity which Nigeria signed in 1992 and ratified in 1994.The Convention also protects indigenous peoples.

We affirm our solidarity with the LASG and congratulate the indigenous people of Lagos for the bold and decisive step of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Lagos needs to protect historical buildings, art and culture of inestimable values, artifacts, spiritual groves, sacred forests and streams that are tied to its ancestral past and its civilisation. People criticising the Lagos State Government on this move are ignorant, and their aim is to undermine the democratic rights of indigenous Lagosians.

AYDM, in its recommendation, said Lagos needed to create its own Museum of History where people would learn about the history of Lagos. The coalition also recommended that a booklet detailing the history of Lagos should be produced and made compulsory for students to learn.
Advertisement

By Izunna Okafor, Awka

The association of Yoruba indigenes living in Awka, Anambra State has denied having any clashes or hostility between their members and the Igbo natives, over the outcome of the 2023 general election held in the state, which produced Ahmed Bola Tinubu as Nigerias President.

It would be recalled that reports started trending on some sections of the media, alleging that Yorubas indigenes residing in Anambra State were attacked during the presidential election; while some other publications allege that they were accused of not voting for Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 election, despite residing in his home state.

Debunking the reports as rumour, the President General of the Yoruba community in Awka, Alhaji Ademola Okeleye, who addressed in newsmen in Awka, the State capital, urged the people to disregard the rumors peddled around by those who want to create unnecessary pressure and destroy the peace they are enjoying in the State.

While stating emphatically that there is no such hostility between them and their host, Alhaji Okeleye described the originators and peddlers of such divisive information as individuals with limited intellectual capacity who have nothing to contribute to their immediate families, communities, or the state and country as a whole.

He issued a warning to individuals or groups fueling tribal or ethnic tensions in Anambra State and Nigeria, cautioning them to desist from such activities or face legal consequences.

Alhaji Okeleye further stressed that there was no business or political conflict between the Yorubas and Igbos in Anambra State. The Yoruba community has been peacefully coexisting with the Igbos, and its members have not experienced any form of intimidation or harassment.

I have resided in Anambra State for the past 20 years since relocating from Lagos, and I have never witnessed or experienced an Igbo man fighting a Yoruba man out of hatred, he stated.

Even during the election, Yoruba people were free to vote for the candidate of their choice. The Yoruba community received support and reassurance from Chief Uzu Okagbue, former Chief of Protocol to the immediate past governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano. Mr Okagbue visited the Yoruba community and ensured their safety during the high tensions surrounding the presidential election, he added.

Alhaji Okeleye clarified that if anyone is spreading rumours in Anambra State about a crisis between Yorubas and Igbos, it is false.

He also revealed that there were approximately 500,000 Yoruba people living in Anambra State, including civil servants and lecturers at Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Federal Polytechnic Oko, who coexist peacefully with the local population.

He further revealed that the Yoruba community planned to construct a hall and multipurpose centre in Awka, adding that they would soon initiate a bio-data exercise to register all their members residing in the state, for documentation and other purposes.

Related

Advertisement
Advertisement

By Izunna Okafor, Nnewi

The Management and the Staff of the UKP Studios, a leading multimedia firm based in Anambra State, have felicitated with the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Zara Stores and Anambra Rice Mills Ltd, Chief Akai Egwuonwu, on his 2023 birthday.

The MD/CEO of UKP Studios, Mazi Chidi Orjika gave the felicitation in a statement issued to newsmen on Friday on behalf of the firm, in which he also described the celebrant, Chief Egwuonwu, as a quintessential entrepreneur and man of many achievements.

According to Mazi Orjika, the Amichi Nnewi South-born agro industrialist and business mogul, Chief Egwuonwu, has not only cut his niche in the industry with his entrepreneurial skills, dedication, and hard-work, but has also set standard of business excellence, which many emulate today.

He further noted that the celebrant, popularly known as Ume Ebubeagu of Amichi, is a visionary leader and great philanthropist who has transformed the lives of many and contributed immensely in the development of his community, Amichi, his local government, his state, and the nation at large.

The statement read: Chief Akai Egwuonwu (Ume Ebubeagu of Amichi) is not just another name but a symbol of excellence, philanthropy, and vision.

He is a man of many achievements, an Agro industrialist, and a serial investor who has cut his niche in the industry with his entrepreneurial skills, dedication, and hard work.

As the CEO of Anambra Rice Mills Ltd, Zara Stores, and other business interests in oil and gas, he has set the standard of business excellence for many to follow.

Under his leadership, these companies have become household names in the State and beyond; and have created job opportunities for hundreds of people.

Furthermore, Chief Akai Egwuonwus contribution to the development of Amichi and the larger Anambra economy has been immense. With an unwavering passion for industrialization, Chief Egwuonwu has made significant contributions to the Nigerian economy which earned him both local and national awards.

Apart from being a respected businessman, Chief Akai Egwuonwu is also a philanthropist, a respected community chief, a community development enthusiast, and a political strategist. His remarkable leadership skills, ethical values, and dedication to serving society have earned him the respect of many. His philanthropic activities have transformed the lives of numerous young people in Amichi and other parts of the state.

Thus, as we celebrate the birthday of Chief Akai Egwuonwu, Ozo Ume Ebubeagu Amichi, and the Convener of Nnewi South Political Stakeholders, it is important to take a moment to reflect on his remarkable journey and the positive footprints he is leaving along the paths he has traveled.

This tribute is a tribute to a great man, who has impacted many lives, a true icon of excellence, and a role model for young people and beyond. May your days be blessed. All of us at Ukp Studios wish you a happy birthday.

Related

Advertisement
Suspected Boko Haram insurgents have slaughtered at least 15 people in coordinated attacks on two communities in Jere Local Government Area of Borno state.

It was gathered that the insurgents stormed Kofa village at midnight and started shooting, which lasted about an hour into the early hours of Friday.

It was learnt that they equally attacked Molai Kura and Molai Gana where they slaughtered some people. Many residents reportedly fled their homes to take cover in the nearby bush.

A top member of a vigilante group, Bukar Ali Musty, said farmers while working on farmland in Jere local government area of Borno State, sources said.



According to him, the farmers were working on their farmland near Molai, on the outskirts of Maiduguri on Thursday when insurgents attacked and beheaded them.

At least 15 bodies were evacuated this morning, the attacks took place yesterday (Thursday).

Seven farmers were beheaded while working on their farmland and the attackers also slit the throats of eight other harmless civilians in their homes, he said.

Another civilian JTF who was part of the evacuation team, raised concerns over the attacks, saying all stakeholders must wake up to ensure it doesnt continue.

It was a sad development considering the progress that we have made in the months without any attacks on communities.

I was there this morning. I cant imagine seeing my fellow human being slaughtered like a ram. All those bodies that we recovered were found in the pool of blood and I think we all need to rise to tame this enemy of peace, the source said.
Senior CPC official visits Lao president in Kunming

Xinhua) 09:00, June 16, 2023

Entrusted by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, visits and meets with Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

KUNMING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Entrusted by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Li Xi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee, visited Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee and Lao president, in Kunming on Thursday.

Li, also secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, conveyed the cordial greetings from General Secretary Xi Jinping and his wife Professor Peng Liyuan to Thongloun and his wife Naly Sisoulith.

In recent years, under the strategic guidance and promotion of the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, China-Laos relations have maintained a high level of development, Li said when meeting with Thongloun.

He said China is willing to work with Laos to implement the important consensus reached by Xi and Thongloun, deepen exchanges and mutual learning on governance, strengthen exchanges and cooperation on anti-corruption, and promote new development of the two parties and two countries.

Thongloun asked Li to convey his best wishes to General Secretary Xi Jinping and Professor Peng Liyuan, and expressed readiness to work with China to firmly promote the building of a Laos-China community with a shared future.

He wished the Chinese people greater achievements under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun)
Former Niger militant leader Asari Dokubo has promised to work with the Nigerian government to stop oil theft in the Niger Delta.

Dokubo said this on Friday after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

My visit to the State House is just to come and say hello to my father, Dokubo told newsmen, referring to Tinubu as his father.

I congratulated him before this time but I also came to give him a word of support for what he has achieved and what he has done so far.

I know that Nigeria has changed for the better under President Tinubu, the country has turned 360 degrees in the positive direction.

When I am speaking about the President, I am speaking from a personal point of view. I can do everything to make my father succeed.

That is a promise I have given to myself and also a promise which I have given to him.

Oil theft will be stopped, I promise that there will be zero oil theft in the Niger Delta, Dokubo said in the video posted on the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (ABAT) Media Centre.

Dokubo has also allegedly volunteered to use his connection to assist and do the necessary to halt oil theft.

He stated that the president has promised to investigate allegations of huge oil bunkering by notorious naval commanders that are kingpins, and promised to take decisive action to halt the shameful act.

The former militant leader argued that ordinary Niger Delta citizens who are often blamed for oil theft are not responsible, as they do not have the wherewithal to perform such sophisticated acts.

According to him, the manner in which the oil thieves have gone about their criminal activities has stripped the people of the Niger Delta of their livelihood.

Tinubu had last week reiterated his promise to halt crude oil theft in the country.

In his recent meeting with security chiefs in the country, the president said he wont tolerate oil theft.

Charging leaders of all security agencies, Tinubu who said he is going to embark on a lot of reforms in terms of our security architecture, also noted that he would be looking closely into Nigerias misfortunes in the maritime domain, focusing particularly on the issues of oil theft.

Tinubu also emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to combat terrorism, insurgency, banditry, oil theft, sea robbery, piracy, and other security issues that threaten the nations peace.
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has ordered the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi, to grant the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, access to his lawyers and family.

Emefiele was arrested by the DSS on Saturday, hours after his suspension by President Bola Tinubu.

Justice Hamza Muazu of the FCT high court made the order on Friday even as he emphasised that access is a constitutional right of Emefiele.

The enrolled order dated June 16, 2023, reads: The lawyers of the applicant shall have access to the applicant immediately. And regularly at a reasonable time, pending the determination of the application.

In his submission

The court order followed an application filed by Emefieles counsel, J.B. Saudi SAN, who told the court that the DSS had failed to respond to previous letters requesting access to his client.

Related News

Counsel to the second and third respondents, I. Awo Esq asserted that the DSS has not been known to reject such requests in the past and that the denial of access was inappropriate.

However, Awo was certain that the security service would abide by the court order and allow the listed lawyers and family members to visit Emefiele.

The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation did not oppose the application.

Meanwhile, both the counsels to the DSS and the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation requested an extension of time to file their responses to the Originating Motion.

The court granted the request and further adjourned the suit to Tuesday, June 19, 2023, for a hearing in the substantive suit.
President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has approved the addition of firefighting truck to his convoy.

This was disclosed on Thursday, June 15, by Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji, when the new Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade paid a maiden visit to the Services headquarters.

Jaji also revealed that theyve also procured 15 rapid firefighting mini trucks to navigate crowded terrains which were hitherto inaccessible to the larger firefighting appliances.

He said;

We recently completed and commissioned the first Fire House props in West Africa located inside the National Fire Academy Sheda. Procurement of 15 Ford Built Rapid Intervention Vehicles, already delivered to the Service awaiting commissioning and deployment.

Approval of Mr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to include the Service Rapid Intervention Vehicle in his motorcade. This is the first in the history of Nigeria. Other firsts include celebration of the International Firefighters day.

Approval of a large expanse of land for the building of the Service National Headquarters in Sauka, Abuja, FCT

Jaji also noted that the agency is confronted with the challenges of inadequate manpower, attack on fire fighters, housing needs for personnel, firefighting infrastructural gap and budgetary constraint, among others.
Elder brother to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 22, 2018 governorship poll in Osun State, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, Dr. Deji Adeleke has accused the party of betraying the family.

Dr. Adeleke who is the founder and Pro-Chancellor, Adeleke University, Ede, said many promises made by the PDP before the family accepted the partys governorship ticket were not kept.

In a statement in Osogbo, Adeleke declared that his younger brother had no intention to contest the governorship election in the first place, but was prevailed upon by the PDP leadership and elders before the family accepted most reluctantly after receiving assurances and promises that were never kept.

He, therefore, rejected the reported nomination of his brother for another try for the governorship seat of Osun in 2022 by PDP leaders in the state, saying the party should give Senator Adeleke break to take a rest for now.

He expressed gratitude to those who were concerned about what he called huge resources committed to execute his younger brothers participation in the PDP primary and general elections and the payment to lawyers during the litigation period.

As for the Adeleke family, of which I am one, we will like to remind all the PDP members that Senator Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke had no intention to contest the governorship election in the first place, but was invited and prevailed upon by the party leadership and party elders to contest the governorship election, which he and his family accepted most reluctantly after receiving assurances and promises that were never kept.

Everything that followed after this, is now history. Senator Adeleke should, therefore, be given a break, to take his well-deserved rest and decide what he will do/not do when the time comes, he added.

Recall that Dr. Babalola, a chieftain of the party in Osun state had said in appreciation in appreciation of the support of the Adelekes to the PDP in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke should be represented in 2022 governorship election in the state.
Some APC members from Rivers State have called on the national secretariat of the party and the partys national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, to expel Senator Magnus Abe from the party.

The protesters said that they could no longer continue to ignore the divide and rule going on in the Rivers State chapter of the APC.

According to them, they would only rescind their call on the partys National Working Committee (NWC) to expel the former Rivers East Senator, if he withdraws the lawsuits he filed against the APC in the state.

The group coordinator, Emmanuel Orgwu, said, Presently, Senator Magnus Abe is in court, the NWC set up a caretaker committee to conduct a congress and Magnus Abe with the names of dead people went to court in connivance with Governor Nyesom Wike and some national leaders of the APC who are enemies of the party to go to court.

He said we have come to ask the National Working Committee to prevail on Senator Magnus Abe to withdraw the case from court so that we can have a peaceful congress and prepare for 2023 elections and be part of every activity of the party at state and national level.

If he (Abe) fails to withdraw the case from court, that Senator Magnus Abe should be expelled forthwith for peace to reign in Rivers APC. If the NWC fails to do any of these the youths in Rivers state will believe that the NWC is in connivance with Magnus Abe to distabilise APC in Rivers State.

The group described Senator Magnus Abe as a severely aching tooth with the APC and we are left with one of two alternatives: Either we choose to spend hard earned money for treatments and bear the inconvenience of severe pains at intervals or bear the pain of pulling out the tooth once and for all and get a permanent reprieve.

Abe and Transport Minister Chibuke Amaechi have been fighting using their respective loyalists.

PV: 0
There was panic at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Port Harcourt GRA, Phase 2, on Tuesday, as fire engulfed some rooms on the first floor. It was gathered that the fire, which started in one of the rooms, forced occupants of other rooms to rush out of the premises, while other guests, who parked their vehicles on the premises, hurriedly drove them out.

Sources said the inferno was extinguished by workers in the hotel, who battled for about 10 minutes before the arrival of operatives of the Rivers State Fire Service.

There was, however, no human casualty, but property worth millions of naira was destroyed by the inferno.

The Human Resources Consultant to the hotel, Paul Odousoro, told The Punc that the cause of the fire was still unknown, adding that the occupant of the room where it started was not around when the inferno began.

He said, One of the hotels housekeepers in the corridor of the first floor noticed heavy smoke coming out of that particular room that got burnt. The room was occupied by a customer, but the customer had gone to work when the fire started.

The housekeeper, who first noticed it, raised the alarm and immediately the fire alarm was activated and all guests were taken to the muster point. When everyone was safely at the muster point, the process of extinguishing out the fire began.

Invest & Get 20% In Just 90 Days

Click HERE >>



To Buy Cheap MTN & GLO Data

Click HERE >>

A Quick Loan Without Collateral

Click HERE >>
The operatives of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamus Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in Ogun State, have arrested a 37-year-old herbalist, Libaq Alabade, for allegedly using human parts to do money rituals.

Some of the human parts recovered from the suspect include a severed human leg, which the IRT detectives preserved in kerosene in a plastic container, to prevent decay.

Following a tip off by an undisclosed source, that a certain herbalist in Ajuwon community in Ifo, Ogun State, was allegedly using human parts for herbal medicine, including money rituals, the leader of the IRT team in Abuja, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari, ordered the Ogun State IRT coordinator, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Babalola Adekunle, to fish him out.

Adekunle subsequently led a team of detectives to arrest the herbalist in the house he built for his late wife in Ajunwon, Ifo, on February 15.

During the mission, the team recovered human parts, including the severed leg of a female and male said to have been used for money rituals.

Further findings revealed that Alabade owns many houses in the community, some of which are littered with shallow graves, from where he allegedly exhumes corpses to extract preferred human parts for ritual purposes.

Reacting to his arrest, the suspect, however, maintained that he was innocent. He said: This is a total set up by my known enemy, a fellow herbalist, named Segun. He had once told me that he would deal with me for exposing him to the police.

I was doing security work as an OPC member. I used to help police to identify some of these dangerous elements in our society. Even in our association meetings, I used to emphasise these problems.

Segun told me that he would show me for helping the police to arrest him. Yes, I used to inform the police of their atrocities because I cherish a decent society and I have value for human lives. He just set me up.

I was arrested for killing people for rituals. I have not killed anybody. We have two graves in my compound. I have seven wives. Three died. I have five children.

My work is simple; I have medicine for manpower, that can make a man strong for 30 minutes of sex. One goes for N2,000  N2,500.

Let me advise the police. To reduce using human parts for rituals in Ogun State, they(police) should kill any suspect found with human parts after investigation had proved that the suspect really committed the offence or has the intention to commit.

It is true that people are wickedly murdered for money rituals but I do not do it. I was set up by my follow herbalist because I reported him to the police.

Sources within the police revealed that the suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed.
BLOOMINGTON  Country music lovers and festivalgoers have been lining up in Bloomington for a weekend filled with award-winning and emerging artists.

The Tailgate N' Tallboys music festival is playing its second year in McLean County with over 20 artists ranging from country to rock 'n' roll. The event moved from Peoria to the Interstate Center at the McLean County Fairgrounds in 2022.

Wayne Klein, president of USA Concerts & Events, said it's a perfect venue for the festival, with plenty of space for stages, parking, and spots for attendees camping over the weekend.

"I love this location. I mean, if I could sign a 99-year lease I would," said Klein, who is from Washington. "The support we get from the community and all of our sponsors is amazing."

USA Concerts & Events, based out of West Peoria, produces and organizes the event alongside others with the same name in Clinton, Iowa, Auburn, Michigan, Rockingham, North Carolina, and Taylorville.

Klein said they are an independent promoter with a team of about eight people managing the shows and hundreds of others working as volunteers, emergency personnel and security throughout the festival.

"It gets a little hard sometimes with waves of people coming up here, but overall it's fun," said volunteer Peyton Dearing, from Morton. "Everyone's just excited to be here."

Dearing said volunteers are helping in different locations throughout the fairgrounds with parking, tickets and other jobs, but at the end of the night, some do get a chance to listen to a headlining act or attend after-parties.

Bloomington Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe said events like Tailgate N' Tallboys bring economic benefits when visitors stay in local hotels, eat in local restaurants and enjoy what Bloomington-Normal has to offer.

Preliminary estimates indicate the event could generate about $2 million that will impact the local economy and help the community, Mwilambwe said.

"We definitely would like to get more people to come and live in Bloomington and recruit them for our various employers, and the best way for people to sample the community is experience it," Mwilambwe said. "When people come here for a festival or any other event, they get an opportunity to see what the city has to offer and visualize themselves living in the community."

Mwilambwe said he would like to see more festivals and events like this that could expand music genres and draw crowds from across the state.

Around 60,000 people attended last year's Tailgate N' Tallboys in Bloomington, and this year organizers are projecting about 50,000 people over the weekend, though more people will likely buy tickets the day or night of the shows, Klein said.

"The weather's gorgeous, so there can always be those last-minute ticket buyers," Klein added.

Matthew Whitehead said he drove all the way up from Abilene, Texas, with a couple of friends and an RV trailer to listen to Texas country music and see some of the modified trucks on display for the Ultimate Truck Show Experience.

"We go to a lot of truck meets and that's really the reason why we came here, because they added the truck meet to the music festival," Whitehead said. "We actually have another buddy who's driving up today after he saw videos from last night, so it's gonna be a fun weekend."

Jacob Baker and Adam Bonnet, from Indianola, Iowa, said they are both spending the weekend relaxing with their wives, and plan to catch artists like Jelly Roll and Nickelback perform this weekend.

"Seven years ago my wife was pregnant with twins and we were going to go to a Nickelback concert, but we didn't go, (and since) then we lost one of our kids," Bonnet said. "This is the closest event ... so it's a bit special for us to see him perform."

Rachel Wickman, along with her friends Kendra Haynes and Melissa Anderson from the Chicago area, said it was their first time at the music festival. They decided to set up a tent for the weekend and be around other people who were camping out.

"We came across it online on Facebook and we just decided to go, and here we are now," Wickman said. "I go camping a lot, and I think it's fun to meet new people over drinks and music."

They also planned to see Jelly Roll and Nickelback, and hoped to get good spots for Lainey Wilson's performance Thursday night, Wickman said.

"Everyone's here for the same reason, to have a good time and make new friends," Wickman added.

Klein said they will be announcing one of their headliners for next year's festival this weekend, and are already talking about possibilities for 2025.

"As long as we can pay our staff, make a little bit of money and put on an amazing show for people, that's what we're all about," Klein said. "Being a second-year festival, we're here to stay."

Klein said he recommends that people drink plenty of water before they arrive on the fairgrounds. Free water will be handed out during peak high temperatures throughout the day, he added.

For more information about Tailgate N' Tallboys, visit www.tailgatentallboys.com/bloomington.

Close Visitors walk through a corridor of quilt during the third annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Cathy Hiser of Charleston, Chrissy Leitch of Mattoon, Evelyn Webb of Decatur, and Beth Covington of Mattoon look over a display of small quilts during the annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday morning at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Bloomington/Normal Modern Quilt Guild Membership Chair Noemi Bowers, at center, talks to Jan Booker of Charleston and Norma Himes of Mattoon about the guilds display of miniature quilts during the annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday morning at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Bloomington/Normal Modern Quilt Guild President Lisa Baermann, seated, takes viewers' choice nominations and raffle tickets from Debby Schoonover of Mattoon and Louise Duncan of Trowbridge during the annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday morning at Lytle Park in Mattoon. The raffle was for the guild's 64-by-82-inch "Into the Light" quilt, seen behind them. Jan Booker of Charleston talks about the adjacent student-made quilt during the annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday morning at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Her son, Jason Booker, and his classmates at Mattoon's Columbian Elementary made this quilt for retiring teacher Jane Edgar in the early 1980s. 2023 Outdoor Quilt Show at Lytle Park The Mattoon-based Prairie Stitchers and the Bloomington/Normal Modern Quilt Guild held their annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Visitors walk through a corridor of quilt during the third annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Cathy Hiser of Charleston, Chrissy Leitch of Mattoon, Evelyn Webb of Decatur, and Beth Covington of Mattoon look over a display of small quilts during the annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday morning at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Bloomington/Normal Modern Quilt Guild Membership Chair Noemi Bowers, at center, talks to Jan Booker of Charleston and Norma Himes of Mattoon about the guilds display of miniature quilts during the annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday morning at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Bloomington/Normal Modern Quilt Guild President Lisa Baermann, seated, takes viewers' choice nominations and raffle tickets from Debby Schoonover of Mattoon and Louise Duncan of Trowbridge during the annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday morning at Lytle Park in Mattoon. The raffle was for the guild's 64-by-82-inch "Into the Light" quilt, seen behind them. Jan Booker of Charleston talks about the adjacent student-made quilt during the annual Outdoor Quilt Show on Saturday morning at Lytle Park in Mattoon. Her son, Jason Booker, and his classmates at Mattoon's Columbian Elementary made this quilt for retiring teacher Jane Edgar in the early 1980s.
METAMORA  A Metamora man was found guilty in federal court on Thursday of one count of attempted sex trafficking of a minor.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, 49-year-old Dana Curtin was believed to have spoken to an individual he believed to be an adult offering sex with a minor between March and May of last year. He then traveled to meet the adult and child.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 18 at the U.S. Courthouse in Peoria. Curtin faces penalties of 15 years to life in prison, which would be followed by five years to life of supervised release.

He also must register as a sex offender.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Springfield Field Office and the Illinois State Police. The case was brought forward as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice-led initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.

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 Wayne M. Damron Terrance L. Ford Stanley M. Miller Darryl R. Vinson Jarvis K. Heads Wesley M. Noonan Brad Carter Brian K. Burnett Kenneth D. Downey Kenyon J. Bones
NORMAL  The Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Press Foundation announced Thursday they will award grants to 19 school journalism programs throughout the state.

Among the schools is Normal West High School, which will receive $1,500 to purchase a camera with two lenses and to pay for printing costs for the student newspaper.

Normal West's journalism course was discontinued at the end of the 2021-22 school year because of "dropping numbers and interest," according to the school's grant application. However, in the 2023-24 school year, Normal West is "revamping the course and bringing it back."

Normal West also hopes to bring back the school's printed student newspaper, which has existed solely online for about a decade, according to the grant application.

Eighteen of the 19 schools are high schools and the other an elementary school. The awards are part of the Illinois High School Journalism Grants Program and financially sponsored by IFB for the third year.

More than $25,000 in grants will be given to the schools this fall to help pay for a variety of items, including laptops, cameras, broadcasting equipment, printing costs, website hosting fees and more.

The grant recipients were approved by the Illinois Press Foundation Board of Directors' Education Committee.

Photos: 3A Girls Sectional Track and Field at Bloomington
This and every month of June is set aside to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride, a tradition that arose in part from the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, when brave LGBTQ+ folks at the Stonewall Inn in New York City rebelled against corrupt and oppressive police officers in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969.

LGBTQ+ people, in particular members of the transgender and nonbinary communities who were often singled out by police, fought back that night and laid the groundwork for what we know as the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.

It was a revolutionary and inspiring action, and it is only appropriate that we spend a month to commemorate, celebrate, and honor it as well as the nascent movement that hatched from it, a movement that in 54 years has realized numerous victories that enable many (but not all) of us to live in an environment where we feel safe, included, seen, and equal.

So why have I struggled to write this column? I am composing this, the third draft of what on the surface should be an exhilarating, easy piece. Marriage equality. Inclusive hate crimes laws. Civil rights protections in many states. Same-sex couples raising families. Increasing acceptance and support from religious and spiritual denominations. Long-term survivors of HIV/AIDS. All of these are to be celebrated.

On the political landscape, specifically in the Midwest, Illinois stands out for protecting and championing the rights of LGBTQ+ people. The recent session of the General Assembly produced victories that strengthen the environment for the LGBTQ+ community including bills that fight wrong-headed efforts to ban books and strengthen access to gender-affirming healthcare.

Locally, we enjoy unprecedented political influence including openly-LGBTQ+ elected officials representing us on city councils, county boards, and school boards. Back in 1995, we worked to introduce human rights ordinances that added sexual orientation as a protected class. Part of that effort included meeting with individual Bloomington and Normal city council members; not one was a member of the LGBTQ+ community. It is a joy today to see people from our community stepping up, speaking out, and representing us as elected officials. We owe them a deep debt of gratitude for their leadership and for setting an example for future generations.

Outward signs of support are evident in Bloomington/Normal. Many businesses, organizations, houses of worship, educational institutions, and healthcare providers proudly display and demonstrate their support, not just during June but throughout the year.

As someone who has lived in Bloomington/Normal for more than 40 years, its hard not to get a lump in my throat when I drive past the many businesses in downtown Bloomington that proudly express their support with pride flags and other supportive displays and events. I am especially moved by the McLean County Museum of History, awash during the month of June in lights representing the rich colors of our pride flag.

I am especially thinking this month about the local librarians and educators and the support they offer our community. In the face of harassment and recrimination, including threats to their employment, they continue their important work of making their classrooms and libraries places of learning where we are represented, seen, and remembered. This past year has especially been stressful for them as a small but vocal mob has attempted to scare, silence, intimidate, marginalize, and make invisible our very existence.

And I am especially thankful for the board members of the Prairie Pride Coalition, who offer their talents, compassion, and diverse thoughts that enable us as a organization to make this community a more welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment. You all are blessings and have left an indelible mark on Bloomington/Normal.

So, returning to my original question: Why have I struggled to write this column? Maybe its that, despite all the positives, I am concerned that the modern LGBTQ+ movement is leaving some folks behind.

HIV rates continue to climb for younger, minority LGBTQ+ populations. Suicide among LGBTQ+ youth continues to be a primary concern. We still are targets of both individual and mass gun violence. States like Florida and Texas have wiped away any evidence of the LGBTQ+ community to be found in public schools and libraries. Clearly, more work needs to be done.

Most disconcerting, I continue to hear about members of our LGBTQ+ community who feel no compassion or need to support trans and nonbinary peoples struggle for equity and social justice. That is shameful, as their struggle for authenticity, acceptance, autonomy, and agency perfectly aligns with what so many of us sought for ourselves in the early years of the movement.

Look, Im a cisgender, white gay male who has achieved a level of comfort and yes, privilege. As a retired person with a good pension, I have much less to fear than many others in our LGBTQ+ community who are in more vulnerable situations. It is incumbent that I and others do more than celebrate pride; we need to provide the shoulders to help raise those in our community who still experience discrimination, marginalization, and hatred. To do less is to betray what the people at the Stonewall fought for.

As Emma Lazarus said, until we all are free, we are none of us free.
Stephen Koomson had always had the ambition of being a lawyer, however, for two years, this dream seemed bleak due to financial constraints.



Despite recording an impressive 5As and 3Bs in various subjects in the 2021 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), the brilliant 21-year-olds education was truncated by the lack of financial support.



In his quest to make some money to continue his education, Koomson resorted to palm wine tapping and illegal mining popularly known as galmasey.



The trajectory of his life changed, when his story went viral on social media. The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), upon hearing it have offered him a full educational scholarship to pursue Law at the University of Ghana in the next Academic year.



In an interaction, the Executive Director of the GNPC, Dr Dominic Eduah praised the important role the media plays in highlighting important societal issues like that of this young man which has seen him get an opportunity to dram again.



His story coming to light is testament to the power of the media in highlighting important social issues such as this.



Social media for good is an agenda we all must aspire to grow and I commend Ameyaw Debrah for shedding light on young Koomsons plight thats seen his educational fortunes now spun on its head, Dr Dominic Eduah stated.



Dr Eduah reaffirmed the commitment of the GNPC Foundation to continue supporting the development of the human capital of the country.



As a Foundation, we will continue to support the development of Ghanaian capacities through education and training, he assured.













Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The Minority Caucus of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Parliament has taken on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo over his comments against former President John Mahama on dumsor.



President Akufo-Addo on Tuesday when speaking at the commissioning of the Accra Central Bulk Supply Point, said Ghanaians under his stewardship, would not experience the dark days of the power crisis.



According to the President, I want to reassure all of you that my government will continue to work to always keep the lights on despite the global dynamics of the energy pricing because the alternative is not an option because we are not going back to dumsor and we leave that to President Mahama.



Im convinced and confident that our nation is on the right path despite our challenges. And with God on our side, I have the firm belief that we will succeed in this enterprise, President Akufo-Addo said.



The Accra Central BSP was constructed by the Millennium Development Authority and is a major component of the Ghana Power Compact. The project is aimed at enhancing the reliability and stability of electricity supply to the central business district of Accra and its surrounding areas.



The project involved the construction of a new 161kV substation, the installation of new power transformers, and the upgrading of existing distribution networks.



The Accra Central BSP is expected to improve the quality of electricity supply to over 600,000 customers in the region.



However, the NDC Minority Ranking Member on Mines and Energy Committee, John Abdulai Jinapor in a statement said the Minority has noted with serious concern the decision by President Akufo-Addo to attack the person of former President Mahama during the commissioning of the 161kv Bulk Supply Point at Accra Central, which President Mahama initiated.



According to him, For the record, the Mahama-led government in 2014 requested for grant aid from Japan to construct the 161kv Bulk Supply Point to be located in the Central Business District of Accra, to adequately and reliably meet the high electricity demand in the area, which was growing at a rate higher than the system average of 10% per annum.



He lamented that We wish to emphasize that all the necessary, regulatory, financial and technical approvals were secured under President Mahama, with actual construction works commencing in 2016 before he handed over power to the current administration. This can be verified from the 2017 and 2018 GRIDCo Annual Reports as well as the 2015 Preparatory Survey Report on The Project for Power Supply To Accra Central In The Republic Of Ghana published on the JICA website.



He claimed that It is therefore surprising that rather than commending his predecessor for initiating the New Bulk Supply Point, described as a gamechanger by the current GRIDCo Board Chair), President Akufo-Addo rather chose the occasion to make a baseless, inaccurate and unfounded allegation against former President Mahama.



He added that If President Akufo-Addo truly wants to know who ended dumsor, he may want to consult his own Vice-President, Dr. Mahamoud Bawumiah who is on record to have stated that Mahama ended dumsor .



If President Akufo-Addo cannot recognise the enormous contribution of President Mahama in the energy sector, the least he could do was to refrain from such unwarranted attacks, particularly at a programme to commission a project which is the brainchild of President Mahama, as the saying goes you do not bite the hand that fed you.



The Minority wishes to caution in the strongest terms possible that it will no longer tolerate such unwarranted and pedestrian attacks on President Mahama by this non-performing government in a desperate attempt to tarnish his image the statement added.

It is an incontrovertible fact that President John Mahama laid a solid foundation in the Power Sector, with a clear vision of exporting Power as evidenced by the completion of the 330kv Kumasi  Bolgatanga Transmission Project, which has enabled Ghana to export power to neighboring Burkina-Faso.



On the contrary, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia-led government, having added no value to the sector, will go down in history as the worst Government as far as the Power sub-sector is concerned the Minority claimed.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has given letters of accreditation to five new envoys at a brief ceremony at the Jubilee House in Accra on Wednesday, 14th June, 2023.



Appointed in accordance with Article 74 (1) of the constitution, all six persons, according to the President are Career Diplomats, who have reached the apex of their careers and have been chosen to become the countrys High Commissioner and Ambassadors designate.



They are H.E. Mr. Samuel Yao Kumah, High Commissioner to Australia, H.E. Ms Doris Adzo Denyo Brese, Ambassador to the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr Mohammed Habib Idris, Ambassador to Kuwait, H.E. Mr Kingsford Amoako, Ambassador to Liberia, H.E. Mr Mark Michael Entsie, Ambassador to Libya and H.E. Mr Alex Owiredu Adu, Ambassador to Niger.



These envoys, the President stated, have distinguished themselves in the public service of our country and are eminently fit, to represent Ghana in their respective places of accreditation.



I must perforce, single out for special mention, the High Commissioner designate to the Commonwealth Dominion of Australia. Mr Samuel Yao Kumah. As someone you know, he has until today, been the Director of State Protocol at the Presidency. He has been at my side, since he assumed this role some three years ago. During which time, he has served with commitment, competence, diligence, honesty, humility and integrity, he acknowledged.



Additionally, his decades of service at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he once served as the Chief of Protocol, has today been rewarded to the highest position available at the Ministry.



Touching on the necessity of their appointments at this time, President Akufo-Addo said, government in 2021, launched the Ghana Cares Obaatanpa program, which sets us on a roadmap towards revitalisation of the Ghanaian economy.



He continued that, the main elements of this program are supporting commercial farms and attracting educative youth into commercial farming, building the country's light manufacturing sector, developing and engineering machine tools, and ICT digital economy industries, fast tracking digitalisation, developing Ghana's housing and construction industry and establishing Ghana as a regional hub.



He added that, reviewing and optimizing the implementation of government flagship and e-programs, creating jobs for young people and expanding opportunities to the vulnerable in society including physically challenged persons are also part of the key areas.



With these at the core of his second term, he charged them to familiarise themselves with the objectives above as they represent one of the surest ways out of the crisis confronting the nation, and will help the country on the path of rapid progress and prosperity, buoyed on by the continued transformation of the restructure of the Ghanaian economy. Each one of you must help in contributing to the success of this program, by facilitating amongst other things, as much foreign investment into the country as you can.



With regards to their work at the multi-lateral level, the President urged the new envoys to work with their accredited Governments, towards assisting in the prosecution of the countrys common agenda in the fight against the scourge of armed conflicts, terrorism, and violent extremists, the threats of climate change, and the illicit outflow of funds from Africa and simultaneously promote the image of Ghana, whose reputation amongst the Committee of Nations continues to be high.



You represent a country that as a result of commendable conduct of the Ghanaian people is regarded as one of the most stable on the African Continent. It has a functioning democracy, governed by respect of the rule of law, individual liberties and human rights, and the principles of democratic accountability anchored on the separation of powers. We are considered a beacon of democracy in Africa. You are the most visible symbol of our country out there, and in all your actions, you must guard jealously our country's image. I am confident this is a charge you will keep, he advised.



Concluding, President Akufo-Addo said, Ghana is in very good terms with all the countries to which you have been posted, our bilateral simulation stands several decades, and our ties of corporation remains strong. Your role is to deepen these even further, as well as explore new areas of effective corporations, which will inure to the mutual benefit of our respective populations.

Source: Presidency.gov.gh









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
Members of the Volta Region Resource Group (VRG) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have thrown their weight behind the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in his bid to become the flag bearer of the party.



The Secretary of VRG, King David Akpabli, said at a press conference in Ho last Monday that Dr Bawumias experience as Vice-President over the years, humility, loyalty to the party, and leadership skills made him the best man to lead the NPP to break the 8.



Further, as a former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana and current head of the Economic Management Team of the government, Dr Bawumia has the best ability to understand, analyse and manage Ghanas economy when he becomes President, said the VRG Secretary.



Choice

Mr Akpabli credited Dr Bawumia with the digitalisation of various sectors of the economy and said his knowledge of the protocols and challenges at the Presidency add to his sterling credentials for the role of the President of the republic.



Mr Akpabli maintained that the choice of Dr Bawumia as flag bearer would readily testify to the fact that the NPP was not an Akan party but rather a party for all Ghanaians.



Dr Bawumias election will also attract more people from the northern part of the country as well as members of the Zongo communities into the party for victory in 2024.



He will also help to bridge the north and south divide as well as the Christian-Muslim gap, since Dr Bawumia is accepted in all circles, Mr Akpabli said.



He insisted that Dr Bawumia was the most marketable material for the job of President and that was evident in his performance as Ghanas best Vice-President.



The VRG Secretary appealed to other flagbearer hopefuls in the party to step down for Dr Bawumia to ensure a smooth victory for the NPP in the 2024 general election.

News & Information you can trust.



Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Offinso North, Collins Augustine Ntim has appealed to the delegates of his party to vote massively for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to emerge victor in their upcoming presidential elections.



The election aimed at choosing a flagbearer to lead the NPP into the 2024 general elections is being contested by eleven aspirants as at now which include the Vice President, former Trade Minister, Alan Kyerematen, Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong among others.



Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show Friday morning, Hon. Augustine Ntim touted Dr. Bawumia as the best man to lead the party into victory, come 2024.



He reminded the delegates of the immense support and contributions of Dr. Bawumia to the Akufo-Addo administration and the numerous digital policies that have been introduced by him and called on them to make the right choice.



Dr. Bawumia, he stated, "is the person that I strongly believe deserves the crown and is backed by God . . . he is the one that Ghanaians will accept and due to his humility and the knowledge he has, it won't be difficult for us to market him to Ghanaians".





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, Andy Appiah Kubi together with Andy Owusu, a special aide to Chairman Wontumi were the first to show up at Dr. Bawumias residence today to accompany him file his nomination.



Many Members of Parliament, members and sympathizers of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) had throng the private residence of the Vice President, as he prepared to way his way to the National Headquarters of the party to file his nomination.



Andy Appiah Kubi and Andy Owusu who just couldnt keep calm to throw their weight behind the Vice President, had to make their way to the VEEPs house early in the morning. Theyve both publicly declared their support for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to lead as the flagbearer for the NPP.



Meanwhile, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has disclosed the toil, struggle and anguish he went through to reach where hes gotten to in life.



Speaking during the filing of his nomination to contest for the NPP Presidential race, the Digital man noted that he never got to where hes now by chance. He had to go through the thick and thin of life which included working as a cleaner at dormitories when he had travelled to Canada to seek for greener pastures.



This is evident of how hes championed pro-poor policies geared towards eliminating the plight of the vulnerable in society.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says his humbling life experience has taught him not to take things for granted in life.



Addressing thousands of NPP members who stormed the headquarters of the NPP to support him for the filing and submission of nomination forms to contest the NPP flagbearership on Friday, Dr. Bawumia spoke of his life experiences as a child growing up in Sakasaka in Tamale, through to his academic and professional journey abroad and how these experiences have helped him to respect and care for people.



"My life experience tells me never to take anything for granted and always to have respect for people no matter their stature in life ; no matter how big or how small they are," Dr. Bawumia said.



"The cleaner or driver you meet today can be a Vice President or President tomorrow. I care about the poor, I care about the vulnerable and the excluded. I care about the Lepers, I care about the sick, the sickle cell sufferers and cancer patients, I care about the disabled, I care about the Kayayei, I care about street children, and I care about the unemployed amongst others. This is the true essence of life; to address the problems of the weakest among us and to help them lift themselves up."



Highlighting what will be his own vision as President, Dr. Bawumia also spoke about his belief in the virtues of honesty and hardwork and how he has been honest and worked hard to assist President Akufo-Addo towards achieving his vision for Ghana.



"I am not afraid of hard work. In fact, I enjoy hard work," said the Vice President.



"My experience in life tells me that honesty and hard work pays. I worked hard for H.E. President Kufuor as Deputy Governor at the Bank of Ghana and I have worked hard as Vice President in assisting the President, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, achieve his vision."



"Together, we started the process of transforming Ghana into a country ready for the fourth Industrial Revolution. I brought honesty, hard work, dedication and discipline to my role as Vice President."



He continued: "I also have my own vision for Ghana. I believe that it is time to move Ghana to the next level by building on the foundations we have put in place so far."



Dr. Bawumia then shared a summary of his vision for Ghana and promised to elaborate on the vision in his Manifesto for the 2024 elections; indicating his confidence to emerge flagbearer of the NPP.



The Vice President also shared with the ecstatic audience many other policies he intends to implement when elected President of Ghana.



"Together with you, I want to see a Ghana where we leverage technology, data and systems for inclusive economic growth. I want to make Ghana the digital hub of Africa. I want us to bridge the digital divide and apply digital technology and artificial intelligence for the transformation of healthcare, education, and public service delivery amongst others."



"Together with you, I want to see a Ghana where we cater and care for the the poor, vulnerable, excluded and sick people", he stated.







Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
There was pandemonium at the NPP Headquarters in Accra as Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia filed and submitted his nomination forms today to contest the NPP Flagbearership for the 2024 elections.



Tens of thousands of NPP supporters and Bawumia enthusiasts trooped into the Headquarters early in the morning with many lining up the streets in Asylum Down where the NPP Headquarters is situated amidst singing, chanting and dancing as they awaited the arrival of the Vice President for the historic moment.



As Dr. Bawumia arrived and his wife, Samira, arrived in a bus with a powerful entourage including about 120 NPP Members of Parliament, the entourage had a difficult time walking through the milling crowd to get inside the party office for the filing.



The ecstatic crowd consisting the young and old and, clad in NPP paraphernalia, made it virtually impossible for the Vice President to walk through to file his nomination to contest the flagbearer race.



It took his security detail and other security personnel present to help, although not without struggle, to get the charged crowd to pave way for Dr. Bawumia and his wife.



He was cheered on with songs of endorsement and appreciation of his work for the party and government as he walked slowly into the party Headquarters.



As the Vice President arrived at the headquarters, he had another hard time before he could meet the party officials for the filing and submission of his nomination form and as he was successfully going through the process, the party supporters continued to sing songs in support of him.



After submitting his form, Dr. Bawumia mounted a podium to address the mammoth crowd and announced his vision for the country when he becomes President of Ghana.



Before outlining his policies, he took the crowd through his life journey, telling them his humbling experience as a school boy in Moshie Zongo in Tamale, as a cleaner in school and a cab driver abroad.



He also told the crowd how he has been honest, dedicated and worked very hard for the NPP and government, listing a number of policy initiatives he has helped to implement as Vice President.





The Bawumia vision

Dr. Bawumia shifted his attention to what he called his own policies to take Ghana to the next level.



"I have my own vision for Ghana. I believe that it is time to move Ghana to the next level by building on the foundations we have put in place so far," he said amidst huge cheers from the gathering.



He continued; "Together with you, I want to see a Ghana where we leverage technology, data and systems for inclusive economic growth. I want to make Ghana the digital hub of Africa. I want us to bridge the digital divide and apply digital technology and artificial intelligence for the transformation of healthcare, education, and public service delivery amongst others."



"Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with an education system tilted towards STEM, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, digital and vocational skills to cope with the demands of fourth Industrial Revolution."



"Together with you, I want to see a Ghana where we cater and care for the the poor, vulnerable, excluded and sick people."



"Together with you, I want to see a Ghana where we attain food security in the shortest possible time through the application of science, data, Artificial Intelligence, Satellite, Internet of Things (IOT) and irrigation to commercial farming. We will also complete the ongoing digitalization of data on all farms across the 16 Regions."



The Vice President added; "Together with you, I want to see a Ghana where we maximize the benefits from our natural resources like gold and lithium through policies like, value addition, setting up an LBMA certified gold refinery, enhancing the gold for oil policy, and dedication of specific gold concessions to the Bank of Ghana to enhance their accumulation of gold reserves."



"Together with you, I want to see Ghana as an industrialized nation. I want to entrench and enhance the current strategy of industrialization that we have embarked on and introduce new technology like digital manufacturing for the manufacturing of spare parts, syringes, and other equipment."



"Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with robust fiscal discipline in the management of our public finances to sustainably and significantly reduce bank lending rates."



He further stated that "together with you, I want to see a Ghana with an empowered local business sector, especially startups and SMEs to drive investment and growth. We will transform the SME landscape by providing unique identifiers and using technology to help them access new financing and markets. I also want to provide incentives to the private sector to replace government in the provision of a significant amount of infrastructure and many other services".



"Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with a developed and efficient credit system through credit scoring by credit reference agencies by leveraging on integrated databases across banks, DVLA, NIA, Digital Address systems etc. to enable workers buy furniture, cars, TVs, fridges and homes (mortgages) on credit at lower cost."



"Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with energy self-sufficiency at reduced cost through solar and other renewables with the application of market efficiency to the energy market."



"Together with you, I want to see a Ghana with an enhanced focus on private and public investment in tourism, creative arts and sports."



"This is not an exhaustive list and in due course we will have a chance to lay out a comprehensive Manifesto for Ghanaians", Dr. Bawumia assured the gathering of an elaborate vision for the country.



After stating his vision, Dr. Bawumia called for massive support for his candidacy and vision, reiterating his unparalleled dedication to the NPP in the past two decades.



"In the last 22 years, I have worked hard with you for the NPP and for Ghana from during the Kufuor era as Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, through our years in opposition and now in government. During this period, I have sacrificed for the party, I have defended the party in good times and in challenging times, I have never wavered nor slacked. Never! and I have built a solid track record of performance as Vice President and unflinching loyalty to our party and government through rain or shine", he said.



The crowd that greeted Dr. Bawumia today is an emphatic signal, without a shred of doubt, that he is the best man to come up tops in the NPP flagbearership race.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
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.
Organizers of annual Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs) have disclosed that they didnt play any role in the supposed crowning of Kuami Eugene as Highlife King by Amakye Dede.



The Head of Public Events and Communication, Robert Klah, is therefore asking that Amakye Dede should be forced to mention the names of those behind the act since Charterhouse is innocent.



In response to claims by Amakye Dede that he was forced to do the coronation against his will, Robert Klah told Asaase Radio that they had no hand in it.



We did not orchestrate any crowning session so I am a bit lost when it comes to the assertion that event organisers are responsible. We work with a team so you give them the opportunity, they create what they want to do.



The only thing is that you want to ensure that whatever they are going to present is not distasteful, so they get there and perform their act and you move on, he added.



He revealed that he was forced to crown Kuami Eugene Highlife King at the 2019 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs).



According to Amakye Dede, who made the disclosure on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (June 14), he did that under compulsion from the events organisers.



He didnt only spark huge debate but equally faced public backlash from various players in the music industry, including record producer Zapp Mallet.



Interestingly, the veteran Highlife artiste has disclosed that Kiki Banson was behind the act in an interview with Abeiku Santana on Okay FM earlier today.



I can tell you on authority that it was Kiki Banson who forced me to do this. You can call him to find out from him. Why do they have to put me through this? he said.

Source: graphic.com.gh









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
After dominating the musical streets with his recent "High" song, Kweku Flick is set to unleash another mind-blowing single titled Rastaman" on Friday, June 23, 2023.



Fresh off the back of a successful King of Melodies EP, Kweku Flick has a new message for the street in his first single of the year.



The upcoming release has kept social media buzzing, with some netizens highly anticipating the song by Kweku Flick, who always drops astounding tunes.



The "Rastaman" single connotes a tale of pure lyrical masterpiece from the music gem who is known for his mind-blowing vocal prowess.



Kweku Flick's upcoming single addresses societal prejudice against dreadlocks or anyone associated with the "rasta culture," as well as his personal experiences as a rastaman himself.



Produced by Ghanaian Stallion, the song unlocks the real life happening on the streets and has been expertly crafted to create a soothing and uplifting vibe for the soul and mind.



Kweku Flick has in the past few years thrilled Ghanaians with some music masterpieces, including "Money," "No Sleeping," "Ewiase," and "Black Stars," among others, which have

received accolades.



The song will be released on all digital streaming platforms on Friday, June 23, 2023, but can be pre-saved on this link: http://tieme-music.lnk.to/Rastamanhttp://tieme-music.lnk.to/Rastaman

Source: Peacefmonline









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
"Critical race theory is a movement in legal thought," says David Miguel Gray, assistant professor of philosophy at the Institute for Intelligent Systems at the University of Memphis. It's an academic framework that legal scholars use to critically examine the legal history of the United States, including everything from the U.S. Constitution to the Mayflower Compact, as well as legislation from the Supreme Court or lower courts, through a lens of racism.

CRT was developed during the mid-1970s by a handful of legal scholars after they determined that, despite the gains of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, progress toward racial equality had been slow or in some cases was being rolled back. These scholars, in particular the late Derrick Bell and the late Alan Freeman, realized that a new conceptual framework was needed to better understand the complex relationship between race, racism and the U.S. legal system.

Advertisement

In 1989, more than 20 like-minded scholars "who were interested in defining and elaborating on the lived reality of race, and who were open to the aspiration of developing theory" created the first CRT workshop in Madison, Wisconsin. The original purpose of CRT was to think about how the law contributed to racial inequality in the United States  both in the past and present.

The theory they developed, which is that racism is systemic in the institutions of the United States and that these institutions function to preserve the dominance of white people in society, has continued in academic inquiry through today.

For instance, in the legal field and other disciplines, critical race theorists "address the role of racism in the law and the work to eliminate it and other configurations of subordination," Janel George wrote for the American Bar Association (ABA). As a theory, CRT provides scholars with a framework from which to review past and existing legal decisions.

Before diving deeper into the principles of CRT, it is important to understand the purpose of academic theories like critical race theory.

" " The late Derrick Bell was the first tenured African American professor of Law at Harvard University, and is largely credited as the originator of critical race theory. Neville Elder/Corbis via Getty Images
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

In two new reports, researchers from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), with support from colleagues at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), examined the feasibility and fairness of emissions targets and considerations for the European Climate Law. Keywan Riahi, a member of the 15-strong EU Advisory Board and IIASA Energy, Climate, and Environment Program Director, took the lead in conducting the analyses.

The European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change is an independent board entrusted with the crucial responsibility of providing transparent and scientific guidance to the EU on setting a new emissions reduction target to be achieved by 2040, as well as budgets for greenhouse gas emissions within the EU from 2030 to 2050. This guidance should align with other global commitments, including the Paris Agreement.

"The Advisory Board has recommended that the EU should reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90-95% by 2040 relative to 1990 levels, having identified pathways that are fair, feasible, and consistent with the EU's climate commitments. The feasibility and fairness of the Advisory Board's advice have been substantially informed by two IIASA reports published this week and builds on a long history of hosting climate, emissions, and energy data for the research community, and transparently supporting scientific assessments and policy advice such as the latest IPCC report," states Riahi, who is also the lead author of various IPCC reports.

"From a total of 63 scenarios that were compatible with the target of 1.5C and the European Climate Law, 27 scenarios were identified with high feasibility concerns. This left us with 36 scenarios that were recommended for further analysis by the Advisory Board," says author Elina Brutschin, a researcher in the Transformative Institutional and Social Solutions Research Group in the IIASA Energy, Climate, and Environment Program.

The database and evaluation of different scenarios form a solid and transparent foundation for the Advisory Board's recommendations to the EU on reducing emissions. These recommendations are expected to become a part of EU law late 2023. IIASA researchers have additionally released a report examining the fairness and equity considerations to the EU's mitigation challenge.

"There are long-standing debates surrounding countries' historical responsibility for global warming, as well as vulnerability to impacts and the ability to pay for mitigation. The analysis supports a discussion of Europe's 'fair share' and responsibility, that will help determine the EU's climate ambition both within the EU as well as in international climate negotiations in alignment with the normative principles to which the European Union ascribes," says Setu Pelz, a researcher in the same group at IIASA.

"The findings presented in these reports underscore the importance of ambitious emissions reductions and climate leadership by the EU in responsibly mitigating emissions and limiting the impacts of climate change. This will bring significant and transformative changes to how people live, the economy, and the environment in the EU," concludes author Edward Byers, a researcher in the Integrated Assessment and Climate Change Research Group.

More information: Byers, E., Brutschin, E., Sferra, F., Luderer, G., Huppmann, D., Kikstra, J., Pietzcker, R., Rodrigues, R., & Riahi, K., 2023. Scenarios processing, vetting and feasibility assessment for the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change. International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg. pure.iiasa.ac.at/18828 Pelz, S., Rogelj, J., Riahi, K., 2023. Evaluating equity in European climate change mitigation pathways for the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change. International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Laxenburg. pure.iiasa.ac.at/18830
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:

Temperatures in Beijing hit a record for mid-June of 39.4 degrees Celsius (103 Fahrenheit) on Friday, China's meteorological authority said, warning the public to stay indoors.

"At around 2:30 pm on June 16, the temperature at Beijing's Nanjiao observatory hit 39.4 degrees Celsius, breaking the record high for mid-June," the China Meteorological Administration (CMA) wrote in a social media post.

The CMA said the coming days would see temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius in Beijing, adding that "the public should reduce the duration of outdoor activity and beware of heatstroke".

Beijing is under an orange alert for high temperaturesthe second-highest warning level.

Eight provincial capitals across the country recorded their highest temperatures of the year on Thursday, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

Scientists say global warming is exacerbating adverse weather, with many countries experiencing deadly heatwaves and temperatures hitting records across Asia in recent weeks.

Red alert

Multiple locations in Hebei province were under red alertthe highestfor temperatures over 40 degrees on Friday.

In the capital, road surface temperatures exceeded 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit), "which can easily cause road damage, vehicle tyre blowout, spontaneous combustion and other traffic accidents", city meteorologist Lei Lei told Xinhua.

Beijing's previous record temperature for mid-June was 39.1 degrees on June 13, 2000, according to the CMA.

The Communist Party-run Beijing Daily advised readers on Friday to stay hydrated, suggesting the traditional sweet drink of mung bean soup or drinks containing electrolytes.

"Personnel working in high-temperature environments should shorten their periods of continuous work," the newspaper added.

More than two million square kilometers (772,000 square miles) across China have been hit by temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius this week, Xinhua said.

The eastern metropolis of Shanghai last month recorded its hottest May day in more than 100 years.

The same month, the United Nations warned it is near-certain that 2023-2027 will be the warmest five-year period ever recorded, as greenhouse gasses and the El Nino climate phenomenon combine to send temperatures soaring.

A recent report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that "every increment of global warming will intensify multiple and concurrent hazards".

There is a two-thirds chance that at least one of the next five years will see the increase in global temperatures exceeding the more ambitious target set out in the Paris accords on limiting climate change, the UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said.

The 2015 Paris Agreement saw countries agree to cap global warming at "well below" two degrees Celsius above average levels measured between 1850 and 1900and 1.5C if possible.

The global mean temperature in 2022 was 1.15C above the 1850-1900 average.

 2023 AFP
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Graphical abstract. Credit: Journal of the American Chemical Society (2023). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c01623

Only one year after introducing a new concept to membrane carriers, Werner Nau, Professor of Chemistry, and fellow researchers from Constructor University in Bremen, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela and the Czech Academy of Sciences celebrate yet another breakthrough in chemical cell biology. The results have been published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society in June 2023.

Efficient transport of peptides into the cell interior is emerging as a key technology in modern medicine. However, the membrane acts as a selective barrier that hinders the passage of hydrophilic molecules such as peptides and other interesting bioactive compounds. Different synthetic vehicles for those cargos are constantly being sought to complex and protect peptides throughout their journey, preventing their degradation and achieving their efficient release at the desired location.

Researchers from Constructor University in Bremen, in collaboration with researchers at the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (Spain) and the Czech Academy of Sciences have now reported a new class of membrane carriers.

Known as cobalt bisdicarbollides or COSANs ("CObalt SANdwich complexes"), the new carriers behave as efficient and selective molecular transporters for water-soluble cationic peptides, both in artificial membrane models and living cells.

"We present their use as transporters of peptides, which would otherwise be impermeable, across artificial and cellular membranes without causing membrane leakage," said Andrea Barba-Bon, postdoctoral researcher at Constructor University. "Although they have already been employed in many different fields related to biology and medicine, this is the first time COSAN sandwich clusters have been confirmed to act as selective membrane transporters for cationic peptide cargos."

The new carriers owe their membrane carrier activity due to their so-called "superchaotropic" property, which means that the clusters are both highly hydrophilic (water-soluble), but at the same time also highly lipophilic, that is, soluble in lipids and also lipid membranes. "When dissolving in the membranes, they can carry other molecules such as peptide drugs with them," said Nau, whose team collaborated with the group of Klaudia Brix, Professor of Cell Biology, and that of Mathias Winterhalter, Professor of Biophysics at Constructor University.

In presenting this new discovery, the German-Spanish team is following up on their new concept to membrane carriers introduced only one year ago. The new family of boron clusters opens new research directions and reinforces the international interdisciplinary collaboration. The new cluster carriers excel in regard to their high activity and have additional advantages compared to previously known membrane carriers.

"Compared to other clusters, COSANs appear to be more selective, primarily transporting cationic peptides," said Javier Montenegro from the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. These new boron-based compounds could have a future impact in the field of drug delivery, offering a new strategy to overcome membrane natural barriers and improve the effectiveness of peptide-based therapies.

More information: Yao Chen et al, Metallacarborane Cluster Anions of the Cobalt Bisdicarbollide-Type as Chaotropic Carriers for Transmembrane and Intracellular Delivery of Cationic Peptides, Journal of the American Chemical Society (2023). DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c01623 Journal information: Journal of the American Chemical Society

Provided by Constructor University
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Three perspectives of the so-called Fermi surface of the studied material, i.e., the surface on which the electrons move. On the left, the experimental result, in the center and on the right the theoretical modeling. The red and blue colors represent a measure of the speed of the electrons. Both theory and experiment reflect the symmetries of crystal, present in the Japanese weave "kagome" used to make traditional baskets. Credit: Di Sante et al

Kagome metals are a class of quantum materials with interesting properties that are characterized by a unique lattice structure resembling Japanese woven bamboo patterns of the same name (i.e., Kagome). Over the past decade, physicists have been using these materials to study various electronic phenomena resulting from their unique structure.

Researchers at University of Bologna, University of Venice, CNR-IOM of Trieste, University of Wurzburg, and other institutes in Europe and the U.S. recently carried out a study investigating the spin and electronic structure of XV 6 Sn 6 , materials, a family of Kagome metals that is partly composed of a rare-earth element. Their paper, published in Nature Physics, maps the behavior of electrons residing in a curved space within the materials, which is known as spin Berry curvature.

"Kagome metals belong to a class of new quantum materials that is revolutionizing the way material scientists look at complex collective phenomena, such as magnetism and superconductivity," Domenico Di Sante, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told Phys.org. "We have been working on Kagome metals for several years, and this paper came out as a natural continuation of our previous works. The primary objective was to detect the curvature of the space where some of the electrons in Kagome metals live."

Di Sante and his colleagues set out to explore the spin Berry curvature in the XV 6 Sn 6 Kagome family using both theoretical and experimental methods. They first simulated the materials using advanced computing software and then used a technique called angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to examine samples of the Kagome metal ScV 6 Sn 6 .

"From the theoretical viewpoint we used modern and very powerful supercomputers to model, via sophisticated software, the behavior of electrons inside the Kagome metals," Di Sante said. "From the experimental side, we needed to use the light that can be generated only at large-scale facilities such as synchrotrons to detect the energy and velocity of the electrons, simultaneously to their spin."

The simulations and experiments conducted by the researchers led to some interesting observations. Specifically, they gathered evidence of a finite spin Berry curvature at the center of the Brillouin zone, At this curvature, the materials' nearly flat band was found to detach from the so-called Dirac band, due to a physical phenomenon known as spin-orbit coupling. When they examined a sample of ScV 6 Sn 6 , the team found that in this material the spin Berry curvature was robust against the onset of an ordered phase driven by changes in temperature.

"The most notable contribution of our work is the application of a well-defined protocol, i.e., the use of light, circular dichroism and spin resolution, to map out the curved space where the electrons live," Di Sante said. "In a similar way the space-time of our universe is curved by matter, stars, galaxies, black holes etc, the space where the electrons move can be curved. Our work detected one of these curvatures in Kagome metals."

The recent work by this team of researchers gathered new valuable insight about the electronic structure and spectroscopic fingerprint of Kagome metals in the XV 6 Sn 6 family. In the future, their observations could pave the way for new studies assessing the unique qualities of these materials and their possible technological applications.

"In our next works, we plan to continue investigating this class of materials," Di Sante added. "There are other families of Kagome metals that promise to enrich our understanding of collective phenomena and their link to the field of topology (curved spaces are intimately link to the concept of topology)."

More information: Domenico Di Sante et al, Flat band separation and robust spin Berry curvature in bilayer kagome metals, Nature Physics (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-023-02053-z Journal information: Nature Physics

 2023 Science X Network
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Queensland Museum

Queensland Museum Network Sessile Marine Invertebrate Researcher, Dr. Merrick Ekins has described three new species of carnivorous sponges collected two kilometers below the surface on the Great Barrier Reef. The study is published in the journal Zootaxa.

"It was surreal to be sitting at my desk at the museum during 2020 and directing remote operated vehicle pilots to collect specimens, which appeared to be new species," Dr. Ekins said.

The sponges were collected as part of the Schmidt Ocean Institute's research vessel Falkor in September 2020, which sent a ROV 1,820 meters below the surface to explore the deep reefs of the Great Barrier Reef.

"The Schmidt Ocean Institute voyage 'Seamounts, Canyons & Reefs of the Coral Sea Cruise' was in 2020 and there was a lot of uncertainty with regards to traveling during the COVID pandemic," Dr. Ekins said. "It was thrilling to still be part of this expedition remotely."

Dr. Ekins scientifically described one of the species Abyssocladia falkor in honor of the research vessel and a second Abyssocladia jeanvaceleti in honor of the scientist who first described carnivorous sponges.

For the third he had a bit of fun and named it Axoniderma wanda in honor of the alien wanderer/wanda that parasitizes the host Melanie Stryder in the movie and novel "The Host" by Stephenie Meyer.

Queensland Museum Network CEO Dr. Jim Thompson said more is known about the surface of Mars than the deep oceans. "There is still much to learn about our deep oceans and being part of global research projects only enhances our knowledge," he said. "The ability for our scientists to be involved in research projects such as this is testament to the depth and breadth of expertise of the Queensland Museum Network team.

"Our collaborative approach to research for the benefit of the scientific community."

The 2020 dives were livestreamed and are available to view here.

More information: Merrick Ekins et al, New carnivorous sponges from the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia collected by ROV from the RV FALKOR, Zootaxa (2023). DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5293.3.2 Journal information: Zootaxa

Provided by Queensland Museum
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:

Resident wade through water as Cyclone Biparjoy impacts Pakistan's Sindh province.

Cyclone Biparjoy slammed into the Indian coast with powerful winds, sowing fear and prompting evacuations, but began weakening in the early hours of Friday as it moved north.

Indian forecasters had warned that Biparjoy, whose name means "disaster" in Bengali, was likely to devastate homes and tear down power lines as it barrels through the western state of Gujarat.

The "very severe cyclonic storm" crossed the coastline near Jakhau Port Thursday evening, but started losing force several hours later and at 2:30 am (2230 GMT) on Friday was packing 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour winds with gusts up to 110 km/h, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said in the latest bulletin.

"It would move northeastwards and weaken into a cyclonic storm by early morning of the 16th (of) June," the bulletin read.

Earlier, weather officials had said that the cyclone was expected to move overnight into Pakistan's Sindh province, home to the port megacity of Karachi.

Jayantha Bhai, a 35-year-old shopkeeper in the Gujarat beach town of Mandvi, told AFP before the storm hit that he was afraid for his family's safety.

"This is the first time I've experienced a cyclone," said Bhai, a father of three boys aged between eight and 15, who planned to wait out the cyclone in his small concrete home behind the shop.

"This is nature, we can't fight with it," he said, as driving rain lashed his home.

Map showing the track and forecast for a cyclone that is heading towards India and Pakistan.

'Widespread damage'

Low-lying roads started to flood on Thursday afternoon after hours of rain.

Gusting winds blew sheets of water that reduced visibility with a dull gray mist.

Almost all stores were closed, and shoppers had crowded the few that remained open to buy last-minute food and water supplies.

India's meteorologists warned of the potential for "widespread damage", including the destruction of crops, "bending or uprooting of power and communication poles" and disruption of railways and roads.

The Gujarat state government said 94,000 people had relocated from coastal and low-lying areas to shelter.

Pakistan's climate change minister Sherry Rehman said around 82,000 people had been moved from southeastern coastal areas in the face of "a cyclone the likes of which Pakistan has never experienced."

A worker fumigates against mosquitoes outside a temporary shelter for cyclone evacuees set at a school in Badin district of Pakistan's Sindh province.

Many of the areas affected are the same inundated in last year's catastrophic monsoon floods, which put a third of Pakistan under water, damaging two million homes and killing more than 1,700 people.

"These are all results of climate change," Rehman told reporters.

Storm surges were expected to reach four meters (13 feet), with flooding possible in Karachihome to about 20 million people.

In the largely abandoned fishing town of Zero Pointso-called because of its proximity to the Indian border20-year-old Jaffer Ali said residents "are afraid of what is coming."

The shanty settlement of hundreds of thatched homes was populated mainly by stray cats and wild dogs, with at least a hundred idle fishing boats tethered to a long pier running out to the ocean.

"Our worst fears are that it will come in the evening or later tonight," Ali told AFP.

Cyclone evacuees collect water from a tanker outside a temporary shelter set at a school in Badin district of Pakistan's Sindh province.

'Terrified'

About 200 people huddled together in a single-story health center in Kutch district, a short distance from India's Jakhau port, late on Wednesday.

Many were worried about their farm animals, which they had left behind.

Dhal Jetheeben Ladhaji, 40, a pharmacist at the health center, said 10 men had stayed behind to look after hundreds of cattle crucial to their village's livelihood.

"We are terrified, we don't know what will happen next," Ladhaji said.

Cyclonesthe equivalent of hurricanes in the North Atlantic or typhoons in the Northwest Pacificare a regular and deadly menace on the coast of the northern Indian Ocean, where tens of millions of people live.

Scientists have warned that storms are becoming more powerful as the world gets warmer with climate change.

 2023 AFP
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

In an article published June 15 in Science, leading researchers from the University of Waterloo, University of Toronto, Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania look at how AI (large language models or LLMs in particular) could change the nature of their work.

"What we wanted to explore in this article is how social science research practices can be adapted, even reinvented, to harness the power of AI," said Igor Grossmann, professor of psychology at Waterloo.

Grossmann and colleagues note that large language models trained on vast amounts of text data are increasingly capable of simulating human-like responses and behaviors. This offers novel opportunities for testing theories and hypotheses about human behavior at great scale and speed.

Traditionally, social sciences rely on a range of methods, including questionnaires, behavioral tests, observational studies, and experiments. A common goal in social science research is to obtain a generalized representation of characteristics of individuals, groups, cultures, and their dynamics. With the advent of advanced AI systems, the landscape of data collection in social sciences may shift.

"AI models can represent a vast array of human experiences and perspectives, possibly giving them a higher degree of freedom to generate diverse responses than conventional human participant methods, which can help to reduce generalizability concerns in research," said Grossmann.

"LLMs might supplant human participants for data collection," said UPenn psychology professor Philip Tetlock. "In fact, LLMs have already demonstrated their ability to generate realistic survey responses concerning consumer behavior. Large language models will revolutionize human-based forecasting in the next three years. It won't make sense for humans unassisted by AIs to venture probabilistic judgments in serious policy debates. I put an 90% chance on that. Of course, how humans react to all of that is another matter."

While opinions on the feasibility of this application of advanced AI systems vary, studies using simulated participants could be used to generate novel hypotheses that could then be confirmed in human populations.

But the researchers warn of some of the possible pitfalls in this approachincluding the fact that LLMs are often trained to exclude socio-cultural biases that exist for real-life humans. This means that sociologists using AI in this way couldn't study those biases.

Professor Dawn Parker, a co-author on the article from the University of Waterloo, notes that researchers will need to establish guidelines for the governance of LLMs in research.

"Pragmatic concerns with data quality, fairness, and equity of access to the powerful AI systems will be substantial," Parker said. "So, we must ensure that social science LLMs, like all scientific models, are open-source, meaning that their algorithms and ideally data are available to all to scrutinize, test, and modify. Only by maintaining transparency and replicability can we ensure that AI-assisted social science research truly contributes to our understanding of human experience."

More information: Igor Grossmann et al, AI and the transformation of social science research, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adi1778 Journal information: Science
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Supply chain expense by expense category. Credit: Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management (2022). DOI: 10.1108/JHLSCM-03-2022-0039

When it comes to delivering humanitarian aid, 75 percent of the costs involved stem from supply chain management. Consequently, if focused savings measures were implemented throughout the supply chain, more of the money donated, and therefore more urgently needed help, could make its way to areas hit by catastrophes.

These are the key findings of a new study that Prof. Dr. Maria Besiou, Professor of Humanitarian Logistics at Kuhne Logistics University (KLU) and two co-authors conducted. Their analysis was based on data from 14 disaster response operations implemented around the globe by five international aid organizations between 2005 and 2018.

Geopolitical crises involving military conflicts; global pandemics and supply bottlenecks; and natural catastrophes: Around the globe, humanitarian aid organizations have their hands full. As such, the finding that, for every euro donated to humanitarian aid, on average 75 cents go to supply chain management (SCM), becomes all the more important. Within SCM, the three major sources of costs are procurement, transport and human resources.

These are the conclusions reached by Prof. Dr. Maria Besiou, Professor of Humanitarian Logistics and Director of the Center of Humanitarian Logistics and Regional Development (CHORD) at KLU, in a study launched on the heels of the first World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul (2016).

Together with Dr. Jonas Stumpf (HELP Logistics, Kuhne Foundation) and Prof. Tina Wakolbinger, Ph.D. (Vienna University of Economics and Business), Besiou embarked on a mission to get to the bottom of the often-cited but never verified claim that 60 to 80 percent of the costs of humanitarian disaster response operations stem from SCM. Further goals were to identify areas and approaches for saving costs, and to shed light on the general role of logistics in connection with aid organizations.

Wars and pandemics: Logistics are especially costly

Five aid organizations shared their data on 20 disaster response operations in 14 countries between 2005 and 2018. On this basis, Besiou made her first calculations in 2021, while also engaging in talks with experts. The "60 to 80 percent" thesis stood up to analysis: Approximately 203 million of the 276 million euros that the five organizations spent on the 20 operations went to SCMthat's 75 percent on average.

Where military conflicts and epidemics were involved, the logistics costs were especially high. In the researchers' view, these findings are clear evidence of the crucial part played by supply chain decision-makers in delivering efficient and therefore successful relief operations.

Cost-saving approaches: Local, preventive and collaborative

In addition, Besiou and her co-authors developed new approaches intended to reduce logistics costs for aid organizations. Here, preparation is the key. According to Besiou: "For example, providing training for local staff in advance is a sound investment. Then, when a catastrophe occurs, there's no need to bring in external staff, which can cost 5 to 15 times as much." Moreover, locals are more familiar with the prevailing market structures and security aspects.

Long-term agreements with suppliers also pay off, as do special money-and-voucher programs, which allow people struck by catastrophes to choose for themselves what they need most, or to trade among themselves. After all, this avoids transport and storage costsand means that local markets, assuming they're still working, aren't brought to a standstill by external aid products.

Further, collaborations between aid organizations in the form of capacity sharing or joint procurement strategies can reduce SCM costs, according to the studynot to mention detailed planning in the preparation phase, which should address the corresponding codetermination rights and responsibilities of SCM staff.

Make supply chain managers part of the coordinating team

Whereas the study in question focused on major international aid organizations with traditional structures and based in Europe, the next step will require evaluating supply-chain costs at the local level, so as to identify further cost-saving potentials.

"For the public, supply chains always become a topic when something doesn't worklike the bottlenecks for medical masks early in the COVID-19 pandemic, or when a container ship blocked the Suez Canal for several days," Besiou summarizes. The public often underestimates the vital role of supply chains; as a result, too little attention, time and money are invested in logistics. This also means that decision-makers for supply chain management are often underrepresented on the Executive Boards of aid organizations.

"As our study shows: In order to ensure that donated funds are optimally used to provide aid on-site, logistics specialists with considerable practical experience have to be involved as early as possibleideally, during the planning phaseso that disaster response operations can be carried out efficiently and effectively."

The findings are published in the Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

More information: Jonas Stumpf et al, Assessing the value of supply chain management in the humanitarian contextAn evidence-based research approach, Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management (2022). DOI: 10.1108/JHLSCM-03-2022-0039

Provided by Kuhne Logistics University
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

The final launch of Europe's Ariane 5 rocket has been postponed due to a technical problem, French firm Arianespace said on Thursday, in the latest blow to European space efforts.

After 27 years of launches, the Ariane 5's 117th and last mission had been scheduled to blast off between 2126-1001 GMT on Friday from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

But "it has come to light that there is a risk to the redundancy of a critical function on the Ariane 5," tweeted Arianespace, which operates the rocket.

"Consistent with safety requirements, Arianespace has decided to postpone the roll-out of the #VA261 launch vehicle," it added.

"Analyses are underway to determine a new launch date."

The rocket and its payload of one French and one German communication satellite "are in the final assembly building in stable and safe conditions," Arianespace added.

The postponement comes as Europe struggles to find a way to independently blast heavy-load missions into space due to repeated delays for the next-generation Ariane 6and Russia withdrawing its Soyuz rockets because of sanctions over its war in Ukraine.

European space efforts were dealt another blow in December last year, when the first commercial flight of the next-generation Vega C light launcher failed.

Lacking other options, the European Space Agency was forced to turn to rival SpaceX to launch its Euclid space telescope mission the following month.

It remains unclear if the Ariane 6which was first scheduled to launch in 2020will meet its deadline of getting a first launch off the ground by the end of this year.

 2023 AFP
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Moving European Service Module-2. Credit: NASA

Yesterday, ESA formally gave possession of the second European Service Module to NASA for the Artemis II mission that will see four astronauts circle our moon and return to Earth.

In the presence of one of the four Artemis astronauts that will rely on the European Service Module-2 for water, air, electricity, propulsion and temperature control on their two-week voyage around our moon, ESA's European Service Module production manager Anthony Thirkettle and NASA's Orion program manager Howard Hu signed the papers for the handover of the hardware at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, U.S. Artemis II  European Service Module perspective. Credit: European Space Agency

The European Service Module-2 will power the Orion spacecraft on the Artemis II mission that will see NASA astronauts commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen complete flyby of the moon and return to Earth.

The crew will fly Orion to 8889 km beyond the moon before completing a lunar flyby and returning to Earth. The mission will take a minimum of eight days and will collect valuable flight test data, in the first time for over 50 years that humans have voyaged to our natural satellite.

The European Service Module has 33 thrusters, 11 km of electrical wiring, four propellant and two pressure tanks that all work together to supply propulsion and everything needed to keep the astronauts alive far from Earththere is no room for error.

Orion is NASAs next spacecraft to send humans into space and part of the Artemis programme. It is designed to send astronauts farther into space than ever before, beyond the Moon and to the lunar Gateway. Credit: European Space Agency

"The handover is a formality, but it is an important milestone for the program. It could not have been achieved without the tremendous effort of all the teams involved," said Anthony, "ESA will continue to work closely with our NASA and industry colleagues on getting the Orion spacecraft ready for launch and throughout the Artemis II mission."

The European Service Module-2 will go through further tests before being connected to the Orion crew capsule later this year. The full spacecraft will then be put on track for the launchpad with fueling and integration with NASA's mega moon rocket SLS for a launch next year.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

The shipping industry transports around 90 percent of traded goods worldwide, accounting for some three percent of carbon emissions.

France said Friday it would throw its weight behind an emissions tax on the heavily polluting shipping industry, adding momentum to a campaign long championed by Pacific island nations and environmental campaigners.

French President Emmanuel Macron will push the issue at an international conference next week to discuss revamping the global development aid system where Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as well as a host of African heads of state are expected.

The shipping industry transports around 90 percent of traded goods worldwide and accounts for around three percent of global carbon emissions, which are currently unregulated.

Two Pacific nations exposed to the risk of rising sea levels, the Marshall and Solomon islands, have been pushing over the last decade for a $100-per-tonne tax on maritime industry emissions which would create incentives for operators to cut their pollution.

"We hope that we will give a real political boost" to the proposal at the summit, an aide to said on condition of anonymity on Friday.

Macron will host dozens of foreign leaders at the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris from June 22-23 and a pledge from participating countries such as China, Saudi Arabia or Brazil would represent a concrete achievement from the talks.

French officials believe it would add pressure on shipping groups and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency, which is set to host a summit in two weeks' time where the carbon tax is expected to be discussed.

The Marshall and Solomon Islands proposals would add tax of around $300-400 to the price of a tonne of heavy oil used by container ships, raising approximately $60-80 billion (55-73 billion euros) of tax receipts per year, according to the World Bank.

These funds could then be used by emerging countries to help finance their transition to a low-carbon economy and adapt to climate change.

Macron will promote the issue at a conference next week attended by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and others.

The shipping industry, which operates across multiple jurisdictions and often in international waters, is "currently completely exempt from tax either on their sales or their emissions," the French presidential aide said.

"We need new resources" to fight climate change and poverty as the "needs are so huge", the official said.

'Slow progress'

The United Nations warned in November last year that carbon emissions from shipping were growing and it called on the vast industry to scrap old, polluting vessels and upgrade infrastructure to speed up its green transition.

While the world is becoming increasingly aware of the need to slash greenhouse gas emissions to avert catastrophic climate change, the global maritime fleet saw emissions rise by 4.7 percent between 2020 and 2021 alone, the UN's trade and development agency UNCTAD.

It also raised concerns about the average age of ships sailing the seas, which currently stands at nearly 22 years, meaning they rely on older, more polluting engines.

The IMO has set a target for shipping to halve its annual emissions between 2008 and 2050, which is less ambitious than other industries targeting net-zero over the same period.

The European Commission says on its website that there has been "relatively slow progress in the IMO" to spur efficiency measures in the estimated 90,000 commercial vessels plying the world's seas.

Some companies are investing in new technologies, however, including engines that can run on hydrogen or liquefied natural gas, or be powered by the age-old technology of sails.

The French push follows previous unsuccessful efforts by Britain to nudge the shipping industry into taking greater action. London urged the sector to adopt net-zero targets for 2050 at the time of the COP26 climate summit in 2021.

 2023 AFP
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

HotHog is a new smartphone app that producers can now use to predict heat stress in swine. Credit: Jay Johnson

HotHog, a new smartphone application (app) that predicts heat stress in pigs, is now available for download and use, a team of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and university scientists announced today.

Available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, HotHog taps into local weather data to predict the relative comfort or heat stress levels of pigs on an hourly, daily or weekly basis. Swine producers can then use this information to take pre-emptive measures, like ensuring plenty of drinking water, cooling the pigs with fans or mists, and limiting transport to early morning hours.

Annually, heat stress in pigs costs the U.S. swine industry an estimated $481 million in revenue losses. Ensuring the positive welfare and productivity of pigs (a top source of animal protein worldwide) will be even more critical in the face of global climate changeparticularly during the summer months and in tropical regions, noted Jay S. Johnson, an animal scientist who leads the ARS's Livestock Behavior Research Unit in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Pigs are especially vulnerable to heat stress because they cannot sweat. In modern production settings, pigs cope with heat through panting, while the caregivers adjust ventilation rates, utilize sprinklers, and ensure free access to abundant, cool water for the animals to drink. Without such measures, pigs may start to eat less, grow slower, produce less lean muscle, produce less milk and experience other health, productivity or fertility problems.

Gestating sows are among a swine herd's most vulnerable members, and when heat-stressed, they may give birth to fewer and smaller piglets. Heat-stressed gestating sows may also give birth to in utero heat-stressed piglets that have a greater risk of health and other complications in their postnatal life.

According to its developers, HotHog is the first decision-support tool of its kind to predict thermal stress based on behavioral and physiological data collected from heat-load studies of swineand more precisely, from non-pregnant breeding females and mid- and late-gestation sows. This is what differentiates the app from other decision-support tools that are now available to swine producers.

"Additionally, many thermal indices currently in use were originally developed for use in non-swine species and may not accurately predict thermal comfort and stress in pigs," added Johnson. The HotHog app was developed, tested and released with collaborators from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC); Purdue University (Purdue) in West Lafayette, Indiana; and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Compatible with iPhone and Android smartphones, the app offers several features, including:

Settings for geographic user locationsfrom Shiloh, Illinois, to Brisbane, Australia, for example

Current local time and weather, including temperature forecasts color-coded to one of six thermal states (or categories) in swinenamely, cool, comfortable, warm, mild heat stress, moderate heat stress and severe heat stress

Four graphic icons for additional user options located at the bottom of the app's display screen.

Clicking on the pig icon, for example, describes physiological and behavioral signs associated with the thermal state predicted to affect the herd's sows. Clicking on a fan icon displays a page titled "Management Observations and Mitigation Options," which provides recommendations for ensuring the sows' comfort based on the thermal state that the app has predicted.

Another icon resembles a gear. "It takes the user to a settings page where they can edit their individual profile and set specific preferences, such as switching between dark and light mode or specifying whether temperatures are presented in Fahrenheit or Celsius," Johnson explained. "Users can also find information there on how the app was developed, considerations for use of HotHog, and options to report problems with HotHog or ask specific questions."

Johnson's HotHog collaborators are Betty McConn (ORISE), Allan Schinckel, Lindsey Robbins and Brianna N. Gaskillall of Purdue University, Angela GreenMiller (UIUC) and Donald Lay Jr. (ARS). They have published several papers reporting their findings, including the December 2022 online issue of the Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology.

Future updates to HotHog will include Spanish translation, push notifications and thermal predictions for boars, nursery pigs and growing-finishing pigs, among other groups. The app will apply these updates through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store updates, Johnson said.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Graphical abstract. Credit: Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering (2022). DOI: 10.1007/s11783-023-1660-x

Biological treatment processes are critical for sewage purification, wherein microbial interactions are tightly associated with treatment performance. Previous studies have focused on assessing how environmental factors (such as salinity) affect the diversity and composition of the microbial community but ignore the connections among microorganisms. To fill this gap, an international team of researchers conducted an in-depth analysis of microbial interactions at elevated salinity in activated sludge systems.

Biological treatment processes are widely used in the removal of pollutants on account of their low cost and high efficiency. But high salinity could cause poor treatment performance of biological wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), since high osmotic pressure is lethal to microbes and can inhibit the enzyme activity. Therefore, wastewater salinity is a noteworthy problem in biological treatment processes all over the world.

Activated sludge system is a complex micro-ecosystem, in which various bacterial taxa interact with each other through energy transfer and exchange of substances and information to form a large and complex ecological network to efficiently remove organic matter and nutrients. Previous studies have shown that salinity reduced the diversity of bacterial community, altered the composition of nitrifiers and denitrifiers, and further inhibited the activity of nitrifying bacteria.

The activated sludge microbial community has been investigated extensively, but seldom focuses on the interactions among microbial taxa during system operation.

It is expected that some physicochemical changes (e.g., influent salinity) might disturb the microbial interactions among various functional populations (e.g., heterotrophic bacteria, nitrifiers, denitrifiers, polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAO), etc.), and accordingly impact the performance efficiency in activated sludge systems. However, information regarding microbial interactions and how they respond to elevated salinity has been rarely reported.

To fill these gaps, researchers from Beijing University of Chemical Technology and Beijing Technology and Business University described the microbial interactions in response to elevated salinity in an activated sludge system by performing an association network analysis. Their study reveals that higher salinity resulted in low microbial diversity, and small, complex, more competitive overall networks, leading to poor performance of the treatment process.

This study entitled "Responses of microbial interactions to elevated salinity in activated sludge microbial community" is published in Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering.

In this study, by examining the dynamic variation of molecular ecological networks (MENs), the research team explored the following questions: 1) How does the overall network structure respond to elevated salinity? 2) How does the subnetwork structure of different phylogenetic taxa respond to elevated salinity? 3) How do the functional bacteria and keystone species respond to elevated salinity? This study will provide a novel insight into the dynamic changes of microbial interaction under physicochemical changes.

In their study, the researchers found that 3% salinity inhibited TN removal and reduced the diversity of microbial communities. Network analysis revealed that overall networks under higher salinity conditions (2% and 3%) exhibited more complex, tighter networks, and more competitive bacterial interactions.

Subnetworks of bacteria with same function (such as AOB, NOB, and denitrifiers) differed substantially when exposed to elevated salinity. The connection between Nitrospira (NOB) and other species was seriously inhibited under 1%3% salinity resulting in the elevation of NAR over 99.72%. In addition, the team noted that keystone species (hubs and connectors) were dynamics when exposed to different salinity and played crucial roles in maintaining system stability, despite the low abundances in microbial community.

This study successfully evaluated the effects of elevated salinity on the ecological networks of activated sludge system by performing a novel RMT-based network analysis. This work improves our understanding of the relationship between system performance and microbial interaction dynamics of activated sludge microbial communities in response to elevated salinity.

More information: Tao Ya et al, Responses of microbial interactions to elevated salinity in activated sludge microbial community, Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering (2022). DOI: 10.1007/s11783-023-1660-x

Provided by Higher Education Press
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:

Comparison between the classical model of rotation of Mars and the one proposed in this study. Temporal evolution of the 30-months solutions for the FCN period (a), the core amplification factor (b), and the precession rate (c), with the classical spin model (orange) and with the model with corrections on the rotation rate for the post-dust-storm period (blue). Shaded envelopes are 1 uncertainty bounds. Credit: Nature (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06150-0

A team of planetary scientists from Belgium, the U.S., France and Germany has found evidence from the InSight lander that suggests Mars has an all-liquid core and internal mass anomalies. In their paper published in the journal Nature, the group describes their analysis of data sent back to Earth from the lander.

As the research team notes, determining the interior characteristics of the solar system's planets is hindered by their inaccessibility. In this instance, they were referring to work by research teams attempting to determine the inner makeup of Mars. To date, no one has been able to show whether its core is solid or liquid, for examplea characteristic that could impact work exploring whether the planet ever harbored life.

In this new effort, the researchers focused their efforts on data from the InSight lander, which landed on Mars in 2018. It sent data from the day it landed until December 2022, when dust covered its solar panels, preventing it from recharging. The researchers note that InSight had two main sensors, one that used a seismometer to measure marsquakes and other, called RISE, that sent radio signals from the lander back to Earth. Because they were able to site the lander so precisely, RISES's signals could be used to monitor the rotation of the red planet and its wobbles, both of which offered clues about the planet's interior.

The researchers found evidence in RISE DATA of what they describe as "mass anomalies" beneath the surface of the planet. The anomalies were found to stretch from the top of the mantel to the bottom. They further note that Mars' gravity field and likely its overall shape is mainly determined by the rotation rate of the planet. But they suggest that the anomalies may have an impact, as well. More importantly, by studying data related to the core and characterizing it separately from data related to the mantle, the team found what they believe to be evidence showing that Mars' core is molten liquidand they also found a slight increase in the planet's spin.

More information: Sebastien Le Maistre et al, Spin state and deep interior structure of Mars from InSight radio tracking, Nature (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06150-0 Journal information: Nature

 2023 Science X Network
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

General view of the village of Brienz-Brinzauls below the rockfall "Brienzer Rutsch", in Switzerland, Friday, June 16, 2023. On Friday night, a large part of the rock masses fell towards the village. The rock masses just missed the village and left behind a meter-high deposit on the main road near the school building. No one was injured since the village was evacuated on May 12. Credit: Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP

A large mass of rock slid down a mountainside above a Swiss village that was evacuated last month, stopping just short of the settlement, authorities said Friday.

Brienz, in the southeastern Graubuenden region of Switzerland, was evacuated on May 12 after geology experts warned that the Alpine rock looming over the village could break loose. In recent days, local officials said rock movements on the slope were accelerating.

Much of the rock mass tumbled toward Brienz between 11 p.m. and midnight on Thursday night, the local council said. It added that there was no evidence of damage to the village and the rockslide stopped just short of it, leaving a "meters-high deposit" in front of the school building.

It wasn't immediately clear how much of the 1.9 million cubic meters (67 million cubic feet) of rock that had been at risk of breaking away actually came loose, but the local council said it appeared to be a large part of the material.

Authorities stepped the alert level up another notch after the rockslide as a precaution, closing some local roads and a railway line and evacuating two houses in the neighboring village of Surava.

The rockslide came a bit over a week after residents of Brienz were allowed to make their first visits back to the village since the evacuation to retrieve essential items from their houses. Only two people per household were allowed in for 90-minute visits.

Officials said at the time of the evacuation that residents would be able to return from time to time, depending on the risk level, but not stay overnight.

General view of the village of Brienz-Brinzauls below the rockfall "Brienzer Rutsch", in Switzerland, Friday, June 16, 2023. On Friday night, a large part of the rock masses fell towards the village. The rock masses just missed the village and left behind a meter-high deposit on the main road near the school building. No one was injured since the village was evacuated on May 12. Credit: Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP

General view of the village of Brienz-Brinzauls below the rockfall "Brienzer Rutsch", in Switzerland, Friday, June 16, 2023. On Thursday night, a large part of the rock masses fell towards the village. The rock masses just missed the village and left behind a meter-high deposit on the main road near the school building. No one was injured since the village was evacuated on May 12. Credit: Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP

A view shows parts of the rockfall "Brienzer Rutsch" above the village Brienz-Brinzauls in Switzerland, Friday, June 16, 2023. On Friday night, a large part of the rock masses fell towards the village. The rock masses just missed the village and left behind a meter-high deposit on the main road near the school building. No one was injured since the village was evacuated on May 12. Credit: Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.

0108263 License for publishing multimedia online



Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349
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:

First fossil record of the species Carychium floridanum. Credit: Estee Bochud

Researchers from the U.S. and Switzerland, including Senckenberg scientist and first author Dr. Adrienne Jochum, have described the first fossil Carychium land snails from Florida. The rock layer containing the snail fossils, which are only a few millimeters in size, was accidentally uncovered during construction work and dates from the Pleistocene period between 2.58 million and 11,700 years ago. In their study, published in ZooKeys, the scientists also describe a previously unknown carychiid fossil species.

The tiny snails of the genus Carychium with a maximum height of 2.5 millimeters and a width of 1.5 millimeters are known mostly east of the Mississippi River in the U.S. and from eastern Canada, Mexico and Jamaica as well as in sheltered humid habitats in Central America to Panama.

"However, unlike the extant species, fossilized thorn snails are rarely found east of the Mississippi River. In our recent field work we have now provided the first fossil record of the genus in the southeastern United States, as well as the first fossil record ever for the species Carychium floridanum," explains Dr. Adrienne Jochum of the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum in Frankfurt and the Natural History Museum in Bern.

During the construction of a track bed for the Brightline railroad, which will connect Port Canaveral with Orlando International Airport, civil engineers accidentally came across a one-meter-thick layer of fossilized non-marine gastropods between two marine shell beds.

"This 'rock sandwich' was formed during the Pleistocene, a geologic era characterized by repeated glaciations, climate changes, and fluctuations in water level that greatly influenced and shaped the region around present-day Florida. The shell layer is sandwiched between rock layers from the Lower Pleistocene, 2.58 to 0.77 million years ago, and the Upper Pleistocene, 140,000 to 120,000 years ago, and contains 14 freshwater and 28 terrestrial snail species."

Among them is the snail Carychium floridanum, whose current representatives still live in humid, forested, and undisturbed habitats in central and northern Florida. The researchers also described a new species, Carychium nashuaense, which is less than 1.6 millimeters long and was previously unknown to science.

"To dislodge the fossil miniature snails from the rock layers, we first washed them through a graduated series of sieves. Next, 32 Carychium shells were culled under a microscope from a mixture of other mollusks and rock debris. A high-resolution X-ray tomograph helped us examine the spindle structure inside the fragile fossil shells and compare them with 3D reconstructions of the inner shell of still-living thorn snail species from the southeastern U.S., Mexico, Central America, and Jamaica," explains Jochum.

While the design of the inner shell structure of Carychium floridanum has changed little from the Pleistocene to the present, the shell structure of Carychium nashuaense suggests a relationship with Central American Carychium relatives. "We suspect that the spread of the snails occurred via birds, mammals, and reptiles, who transported the small snails in their guts, fur, or feathers to the wetlands from which the alluvial sediments in the rock layer we studied originated. The subsequent mixing with other members of the genus led to the emergence of new species," adds Jochum.

More information: Adrienne Jochum et al, Fossil Carychiidae (Eupulmonata, Ellobioidea) from the Lower Pleistocene Nashua Formation of Florida, with the description of a new species, ZooKeys (2023). DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1167.102840 Journal information: ZooKeys
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Bureau of Reclamation, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Sheldon SmilingCoyote locked his eyes on the push and pull of the waves in front of him, suddenly slashing the tip of his handheld hook through the water, pulling out a slimy prehistoric fish.

Lassoing the lamprey over his head to keep it from squirming off the hook, he ran to a hole he'd dug in the sand and released the fish on a pile of its relatives. SmilingCoyote tallied two dozen in his catch on a late February day.

These nutrient-rich fish, a wintertime staple for the Yurok people, lost 400 miles of their historical spawning habitat to four dams that transformed the churning upper reaches of the Klamath River into slack water, threatening the lamprey and other native species. But that's set to change.

This year, Yurok and Karuk tribal members began pressing the roots of native plants like Oregon ash and Klamath plum into the fluffy volcanic soil surrounding the Iron Gate Reservoir, some 200 miles east of the free-flowing water at the river's mouth. It's the first in a series of three pools that will be reverted to those lush flows when the dams are destroyed in what may be the nation's largest planned dam removal project, already underway.

The Yurok and Karuk tribes have been connected to the Klamath River for thousands of years, but that relationship was disrupted by the construction of dams more than 100 years ago. Following the largest fish die-off in U.S. history, the tribes launched a decadeslong fight to remove the dams, a nearly complete effort that is poised to restore the lower Klamath River back to "the creator's country." Watch the short documentary below.

The Seattle Times traveled from the Klamath's mouth, among the towering redwood forests of Northern California, through the ancestral lands of the Yurok, Karuk and Hupa, to the concrete dams set to come down and to the farmland and ranches the basin supports. The stories told along the way not only paint a picture of a decadeslong fight to restore a river's flow and a way of life but also the distinct challenges of finding enough water to go around amid a changing climate. The dam's removal won't resolve a growing water crisis. Yet what happens on the Klamath has implications for dammed rivers across the American West.

The Indigenous people of the Klamath have worked from a blueprint drawn by the Northwest's Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, which successfully fought for the removal of two dams on the Elwha River of the Olympic Peninsula. They seek to heal the damage done over the last 150 years of colonization. Restoring balance in the river could mean the return of food sovereignty and a repaired relationship with the land for a Salmon People.

It could serve as an example for the Salmon People of the Columbia Basin, who have been fighting for a similar future for the Snake River that once teemed with Chinook. But one bigger barrier stands in their waythe support of Congress.

In the West, a region plagued by drought, it's a massive undertaking to bring back rivers' historical flows. These freshwater highways are being sucked dry to support government-subsidized farms, cattle ranches and everything that remade the identity of these places.

While Indigenous people were promised the right to continue their subsistence life in exchange for their vast homelands, the federal government also promised settlers water to begin a new tradition: draining and filling wetlands to plant foreign crops, taming the rivers and valleys.

Now, a political tug-of-war is playing out in an attempt to mend broken promises.

In the coastal town of Klamath, at the westernmost edge of the Yurok Reservation, there are no grocery stores. Instead, there's a gas station minimart that smells of evergreen-tree-shaped car air fresheners. Behind refrigerator doors are few meal optionsHot Pockets, frozen burritos and some TV dinners.

Here, the lamprey are known as "salvation fish." After adult salmon have spawned and died off in the fall, the Yurok people rely on the long, ugly fish for sustenance in the winter months. SmilingCoyote learned to hook them when he was 5 and started making his way to the mouth of the river on his own as a 12-year-old.

"It's just as important as anything else that swims in the river," SmilingCoyote said. "Everything is valuable here. Even if it's not edible, it's sustainable to the earth. If this river was to ever dry up and go away, we wouldn't be the people that we are. The river is everything."

A century of strife

The Yurok creation story, in short, says the creator made the land, the water, the creatures and last, the Yurok people. If the people took care of the land, water and creatures, and never took more than they needed, they would always have enough.

Susan Masten's grandmother lived in a redwood plank house overlooking the mouth of the Klamath, its boards now in a pile on the family's property. She gathered roots and berries, fish and mussels.

Before colonizers trampled the Klamath watershed during the gold rush, the Yurok people had lived in this same area for tens of thousands of years and upheld their end of the creation-story bargain. But for years, "the only people bearing the burden of conservation were the Indian people on the river," said Masten, former chair of the Yurok Tribe.

It was here in 1969 that California game wardens arrested her uncle, Raymond Mattz, and confiscated his and his friends' gillnets. So began the fishing wars.

In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court recognized the rights of Yurok people to fish on the reservation. A few years later, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife closed tribal fishing on the Klamath under the auspices of conservation while the sport and commercial fisheries carried on.

Intense clashes between protesters and federal officials ensued. Law enforcement agents wore bulletproof vests and helmets, Masten recalled. They rammed Yurok boats and ripped up nets. One officer told Masten they were there to "protect the salmon."

The only thing that landed in the newspapers was the "Indians taking all the fish," she recalled.

Bill Bowers, a Yurok elder and tribal court judge, learned to fish these waters when he was 5, just as SmilingCoyote did. In late February, he sat in The Historic Requa Inn, looking out as fat raindrops filled the teal, fast-moving Klamath just beyond the window pane. He wished he could instead tell his story from a boat.

Each year, the Bowers family heads to Brooks Riffle, a fishing hole named after their family.

Bowers recalled the fishing trips of his youth on the river, often riddled with misadventures: his tent catching fire, frightening encounters with bears and going to extreme lengthsfishing in the dark without flashlightsto avoid getting caught by law enforcement.

"The salmon that come in here ... have been feeding the Yurok people's genetics for thousands of years," Bowers said. Their DNA is intrinsically linked, he said. That relationship, he added, should trump all other claimed rights to what the river provides; it's something he raised his children to understand.

The dust began to settle on the fishing wars in the early '80s when Bowers started a family.

"My introduction to Yurok country and my spirit coming here to this world was I just saw this great, beautiful fishery on this beautiful, fun river," said his daughter, Amy Cordalis. "We were exploring the beach below my grandma's house. There were ceremonies down there too. It was gorgeous and beautiful and felt safe and special."

"There still was all that trauma there," she said, of the fight over fishing rights. "But of course, as a kiddo, I didn't really see that."

When Cordalis came back to the reservation for a college internship with the tribe's fisheries department in 2002, the river was teeming with Chinook.

Then, the Bush administration authorized a diversion of Klamath Lake water to irrigate farms in the basin, rather than feed the river. The administration reacting to a bucket-brigade protest led by farmers who were denied their usual water allocation a year earlier.

As Cordalis made her way down the river in an aluminum fisheries boat that year, she sawand smelledthousands of dead fish.

Fishers and environmental groups went to federal court in Oakland, Calif., saying the Bush administration gave too much water to farmers and ranchers at the risk of thousands of Chinook and coho, both threatened with extinction.

Several years later, a scientific report affirmed the salmon would have survived if managers had kept water in the river. It is still considered to be the biggest fish kill in U.S. history.

"I just remember being in a tribal fisheries boat and thinking: My great-grandmother is rolling over in her grave right now," Cordalis said, "and I've got to do something about it. And I instantly thought, I'm going to go to law school and devote my life's work, my life force to try to prevent this kind of thing from ever happening again. And so that's what I did."

Cordalis had just begun practicing law as the negotiations on the Klamath intensified.

Yurok, Karuk, Hupa and Klamath people traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2004 to tell Scottish Power shareholders what their hydroelectric dams were doing to California rivers and their fish. For many of the more than two dozen people in attendance, it was their first time on a plane.

When PacifiCorp, the company operating the Klamath dams, was sold to Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, people from the Yurok, Karuk, Hoopa and Klamath nations descended on the headquarters in Omaha, Neb. They came back year after year.

In 2006, PacifiCorp's licenses to operate the dams were set to expire, and company officials knew either costly fish passage would be needed or the dams would come down.

In the Klamath Basin, the aging structures could power fewer than 100,000 homes on a good day. They were never used for watering crops or drinking, so it made economic sense to remove the dams.

Cordalis, as the Yurok Tribe's general counsel, in 2016 helped shepherd a landmark settlement agreement to remove the dams after a decade of negotiations among PacifiCorp, the states of California and Oregon, local and tribal governments, conservation groups and commercial and recreational fishing organizations.

The utility's cost was capped at $200 million, with an additional $250 million from a California voter-approved water bond.

Signatories navigated the regulatory process from there, and in November 2022, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the removal of the four dams making up the Klamath Hydroelectric Project. Dam removal is underway and will conclude in 2024, reopening 400 miles of habitatmuch of which has been inaccessible for over a century.

When the dams fall

On an early March day, pickups blazed down crumbling county roads atop the sticky volcanic muck leading to two dams on the Klamath: Copco 1 and Copco 2. Trucks towed side-dump trailers around the winding bends dozens of feet above the glassy surface of the Iron Gate Reservoir.

Crews contracted by the dam removal nonprofit, a coalition of signatories of the amended Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement, were piecing together temporary housing and offices.

Steep rapids once carved through the canyon here. Now, power lines hum nearby. Copco 2 diverts the river through tunnels to a powerhouse about a mile and a half away. Copco 1, built in 1918, is the oldest dam on the Klamath and cut the river in half when it was built.

Upstream, the river hits the J.C. Boyle Dam, a roughly 60-foot diversion dam that dried up more than 4 miles of the river after it came online in 1958.

Below the Copco dams is Iron Gate, the lowest of the four dams set to come down. It stands 173 feet tall and is made of an iron-rich chalky rock that blends with nearby cliff sides. Below, the river returns to swirling flows, reminiscent of its formerly freed state.

In May, construction crews replaced 3,300 feet of drinking water line for the city of Yreka. Other pre-removal work includes installing a massive culvert at Fall Creek, placing a bridge over the river at Daggett Road, and drilling and blasting a 90-foot-long tunnel at the base of Copco 1.

By the end of September, Copco 2 will be gone.

J.C. Boyle, Copco 1 and Iron Gate will be removed simultaneously, and all of the dams' bits and pieces will be trucked out or buried in the ground by the end of 2024. With a combined height of more than 400 feet, the Klamath dam removal would be the largest in the U.S.

The three reservoirs need to be drawn down simultaneously to limit the effects on salmon, according to planning documents. The four Klamath dams hold back about 15 million cubic yards of sediment. While the river will naturally flush much of that, crews will also dredge to make way for the sediment flows.

Observations from the late 1800s to early 1900s suggest an estimated 650,000 to 1 million adult salmon used to make the sprint from the mouth of the river to Upper Klamath Lake and beyond to spawn.

The river used to see more than 100,000 spring-run Chinook return each year, but in the past decade, fewer than 2,000 adults have made the annual trek back. Meanwhile, poor water quality as a result of low flows and warming water kills an estimated three-quarters of out-migrating young salmon on their way to the ocean.

The Yurok Tribe has not seen a profitable commercial fishery in more than a decade.

Removing the dams is only the first step in the restoration effort.

The next five years will be a delicate balance of human intervention and allowing the river to take its course, said Gwen Santos, lead ecologist on the Klamath River renewal project for Resource Environmental Solutions, the company tasked with the restoration and monitoring after the dams are gone.

While the focus of the project is fish passage in the river, Santos said, crews have been working since 2019 to create restoration plans. The Yurok Tribe hired Josh Chenoweth, the director of the revegetation effort for the Elwha dams, to clear the land of invasive plants.

Chenoweth and his crews have sown the rich soils with native grasses and flowers. Now, they're reintroducing native buckbrush, serviceberry, Oregon ash and Klamath plum to the landscape.

More than 15 billion seeds are being cultivated in nurseries like BFI Native Seeds, a Moses Lake farm irrigated by the Columbia River.

The goal is to disperse nearly 17 billion native plants from more than 90 species across the 2,200 acres of newly exposed ground at the reservoirs. Crews from Resource Environmental Solutions and the tribes will restore some 22 miles of tributaries and river habitat.

They'll take water quality samples, monitor stream velocity and mitigate as needed.

The downstream habitat is already falling into place as the Yurok Tribe has invested millions in recovering rearing habitat for young salmon. Each project has helped inform the recovery work around dam removal.

At the site of a former mill in the redwoods, a channeled creek has been restored to its historical meandering path, and a flood plain has been freed from asphalt and fill. Native trees and shrubs anchor the banks, and otters dive under logs as they twist and play in the stream's churning waters.

Dams diverting rivers for hydropower, drinking water or to water crops were built before modern environmental laws and before tribal consultation was a consideration, so water allocations from these rivers are largely based on century-old compacts drawn up by white settlers. Now the effects of climate change have rendered many obsolete.

"We can't manage water in the 21st century like we did in the 20th because there's simply not as much water," said Craig Tucker, environmental policy advocate for the Karuk Tribe.

Above the Klamath dams set for removal are irrigated lands that face an uncertain future, where choices over water use could determine the success of the Lower Klamath's unprecedented restoration.

A future with less water

About a 20-mile drive down the highway from the J.C. Boyle Reservoir, a black heifer lying on her side in the dusty brown earth heaved a tiny head sticky with amniotic fluid from her birth canal.

She stood up, and a calf clumsily fell from her body onto the earth. She licked it clean.

It was calving season for Tim O'Connor, a third-generation rancher in the Klamath Basin. He separated the first-time mamas into one pasture and kept an eye on them as they went into labor for up to 10 hours. His only goal was ensuring they survive.

O'Connor's grandfather left Ireland for the U.S. more than a century ago, and his family has been raising cattle since. But it's getting increasingly hard to make a living, he said.

The hydropower dams are just one piece of the machine that settlers built from the Klamath. Upstream, two other dams were built and miles of irrigation canals were dug to feed thousands of acres of farmland.

Crops in the Klamath Basin were valued at about $200 million in 2019; that's roughly 7% of the output of Washington's Columbia Basin farms.

In the heat of the summer, a cow or bull needs about 1 gallon of water a day per 100 pounds of body weight. On average, that translates to 20 gallons per cow or 730,000 gallons of water to raise 100 cows for one year, not factoring in the water it takes to grow their food.

After an uncharacteristically wet winter, the federal Bureau of Reclamation allocated 260,000 acre-feet, or over 8 million gallons of water, from Upper Klamath Lake to be used for farms and ranches in the area this year.

Water allocations to farmers over the past year caused river flows to drop below requirements set by the Endangered Species Act for the first time since the 2002 fish kill, which left hundreds of salmon eggs exposed without water.

This spring's allocation announcement is a little more than half of the historical demand from the Klamath Water Users Association, an agricultural lobbying group representing about 175 million acres of crops in the basin. Last year's allocation was less than one-fourth of this year's.

In April, officials voted unanimously to shut down California's commercial and recreational salmon season. The decision was largely informed by alarmingly low salmon runs as a result of heavily dammed, diked and channeled streams struggling to maintain healthy flows in the face of droughts and warming summers.

"Our water challenges and shortages in the West are not driven by the Endangered Species Act or radical environmentalists or the deep state," said U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., at a subcommittee meeting on water resources earlier this year. "In fact, the principal driving force is climate change. That's, of course, the case with a historic drought in the West and other threats to our water supply."

The Klamath has evolved to be a prime example of this.

Tracey Liskey's family laid claim to 1,000 acres in the Klamath Basin in the early 1900s. Back then, it was a vast wetland.

When the Bureau of Reclamation dammed the river at Klamath Falls, it diverted some of the wetlands' flow downriver, and the railroad tracks cut off the rest of the marshy basin. Around the 1920s, the valley was drained, and the Liskeys began building out their feedlot where they'd eventually grow hay for the hundreds of cattle roaming their acreage

On an early March day, Liskey's boots kicked up dust as he led a tour of his property.

The land was dry.

The river was flowing at about 870 cubic feet per second below Iron Gate Dam, slightly lower than a year prior, despite the heavy rains and snow the region saw this winter.

In 2001, the Bureau of Reclamation shut off the water to the farms and ranches in the basin for the first time. For Liskey, it was a life-changing moment.

"My son had just graduated ... and decided he better go find a job he could afford or that maybe could support him and the family," he said. "We have nobody else to take over the ranch."

Now, he rents pieces of his land to other young farmers and ranchers. If you came to Liskey's, or any other Klamath Basin farm 20, 30, or 40 years ago, the people would probably look the same. But today, Liskey's property is divided into small subplots.

Liskey, clad in a flannel shirt and Wrangler jeans, led a tour of his farm in a pickup, swinging in and out of the cab while holding a handle above the door.

Steam spilled out as he opened the door to one of the many greenhouses on his property. Inside, pink, orange and tan fish, each no bigger than a slice of bread, gasped at the surface of their burbling tanks filled with water from a natural geothermal hot spring under Liskey's land.

These tilapia will soon be scooped out and shipped off to grocery stores. Nearby, tomatoes, onions and herbs grow in soil enriched with the tilapias' waste.

Liskey's land is a hodgepodge of geothermal energy production, greenhouses full of exotic plants, vegetables and fish, and some traditional feedlots and cattle pastures.

As farmers are forced to sell off bits of their less-profitable lands, the agriculture in the basin might look a bit more like this.

Water will certainly be harder to come by, but it still links the basin and the lamprey fishing grounds hundreds of miles away and nourishes the futures of animals and humans alike.

2023 The Seattle Times.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

A Grey reef shark swins in an aquarium at the National Center of the Sea in Boulogne-sur-Mer, northern France.

Overfishing is driving coral reef sharks towards extinction, according to a global study out Thursday that signals far greater peril to the marine predators than previously thought.

That matters to humans because the species act as managers of their marine ecosystems, maintaining delicately balanced food webs on which hundreds of millions of people rely.

The research, published in the journal Science, is the result of the Global FinPrint project, which collected more than 22,000 hours of video footage from reefs across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australasia and the Americas.

A team of more than 100 scientists found that five of the most common coral reef shark speciesgray reef, nurse, Caribbean reef, blacktip reef and whitetip reefdeclined by 70 to 60 percent.

The depletion data was derived from a computer model that estimated what shark numbers would have looked like without human pressures.

Sharks were entirely absent in 14 percent of reefs where they had been previously documented.

Lead author Colin Simpfendorfer of the James Cook University and the University of Tasmania told AFP that prior to the study, coral reef sharksunlike their bigger cousins that dwell in deep oceanswere not thought to be doing badly.

"But when you sat down and looked at the overall results, it was quite stunning," he said.

Ripple effects

The findings should help update the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, with more species qualifying for "endangered" status, an important step towards conservation action.

Simpfendorfer added that the overwhelming factor in the decline was overfishing, both targeting sharks for their fins and meat, and unintentionally killing them as bycatch.

A Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) is seen at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve coral reef in the outskirts of San Pedro village, in Ambergris Cay, Belize,.

In terms of impacts, the loss of sharks causes ripple effects down the food chain.

The prey they eat increases in number, but the next level down decreases, and so oncreating unpredictable disruptions that risk human food security.

Reef sharks also keep herbivores in check, said Simphendorfer. When herbivores become more common, they eat more algae, which trap carbon for use in photosynthesis.

"Carbon sequestration on coral reefs without sharks is much lower than it is on reefs with sharks," he said, meaning there is an impact on global warming.

'Hope spots'

Funding for the project came from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, which was responsible for the Great Elephant Census, a pan-African aerial survey of Earth's largest land animals.

In the shark study, scientists used baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS)cameras with a small amount of oily fish hung placed on armto draw out and observe sharks in deployments that lasted an hour.

In total, they surveyed 391 coral reefs in 67 nations and territories using 22,756 camerasgenerating three-years-worth of raw video.

Reefs with healthier populations tended to be in high-income countries with stronger regulations and greater levels of democratic participation, while lower-income countries generally had worse outcomes.

But the team also uncovered certain "hope spots" in developing countries, such as Sipadan Island in Malaysia and Lighthouse Reef in Belize.

"In and around them, things are fairly depletedbut in those areas where you have strong MPAs (marine protected areas) and really good ways to enforce them, you have robust shark populations," co-author Michael Heithaus of Florida International University told AFP.

This, he said, offered hope that heavily depleted areas can be repopulated so long as a source population is intact and careful management programs are followed.

More information: Colin A. Simpfendorfer et al, Widespread diversity deficits of coral reef sharks and rays, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.ade4884 David S. Shiffman, Potential for recovery of declining reef sharks, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adi5759 Journal information: Science

 2023 AFP
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Vivek Prakash is an assistant professor of physics at the University of Miami. Credit: Joshua Prezant/University of Miami

It's a place most of us have to visit daily. Sometimes eagerly. Sometimes begrudgingly. But the kitchen also can be a place of scientific discovery.

Many scientists, engineers, and researchers have uncovered critical concepts while cooking that have helped improve transportation, manufacturing, and the food industry. Chief among these are phenomena that have helped expand the field of fluid mechanics, a subset of physics that studies the flow of liquids or gases.

Fluid mechanics research explains why airplanes lift into the air, how some cars speed along the road more efficiently, how engines utilize power, and how to create carbonated drinks.

So during the COVID-19 pandemic, when University of Miami physics assistant professor Vivek Prakash and three other fluid mechanics experts were working from home, the four decided to explore the many advances in their field that can be found in the kitchen. And this week, the teamwhich includes Arnold Mathijssen of the University of Pennsylvania, Maciej Lisicki at the University of Warsaw, and Endre Joachim Mossige at the University of Oslopublished an article in the Reviews of Modern Physics journal about all the wonders of flow in the kitchen, organized like a menu.

"At every stage of preparing a meal, we point out the fluid dynamics conceptsincluding those found in the kitchen sink, mixing drinks and cocktails, boiling pasta, making desserts like chocolate mousse, and making coffee and tea," said Prakash. "These are things being studied by scientists in great detail; and once we understand the phenomena better, we can use this knowledge to create other applications."

Within the article, the four authors describe how recent innovations in the field of fluid dynamics have affected food science and how these culinary marvels have led to new inventions in many other fields, including manufacturing, biomedicine, and nanotechnology. In fact, the entire field of surface science was established from the kitchen sink, Lisicki noted.

"Historically, advances in fluid mechanics have led to better food, and innovations in cooking have inspired studies in fundamental science," Prakash said. "Since the kitchen is so accessible, it can also bring people from different backgrounds together and make science more diverse and inclusive," Mathijssen added.

In the following Q&A, Prakash, who joined the College of Arts and Sciences in 2020, shares input on everything that flows in the kitchen. He earned his doctorate studying the behavior of bubbles and turbulence at the Physics of Fluids group at the University of Twente in the Netherlands, which is one of the foremost fluid mechanics groups in the world.

What's the purpose of bubbles in wine?

One special aspect of sparkling wine or champagne is the presence of rising bubbles. It is a pleasing and beautiful sight, and the bubbles also determine the flavor and aroma of the drink.

What fluid dynamics concept does this represent?

Bubbling, effervescence, or fizzy process, which is the continuous release of dissolved carbon dioxide gas in the form of bubbles. In addition to producing alcohol, the fermentation process for wine and champagne also produces excess carbon dioxide, which gets dissolved in the wine.

What are other applications of this concept?

The bubbling process has important industrial applications in bubble reactors that are used to manufacture chemicals and steel.

How can we take advantage of this to make food or drinks taste better?

A fundamental knowledge of the bubbling process can help design very specific glass shapes and their surfaces to bring out the best characteristics of the different sparkling wine and champagnes. Some glass manufacturing companies are already doing exactly this, bringing together physicists, engineers, and wine connoisseurs.

So is that why we use tall narrow champagne flutes?

Champagne bubbles are light, so they go up in one swarm, reach the surface, expel gas and pop, while some bubbles go to the side in a vortex-like shape. You should have a constant supply of bubbles to mix the champagne, which makes it taste better. And as the bubbles keep spreading, they also release odor molecules, which is why champagne or sparkling wine has a bouquet. French physics professor Gerard Liger-Belair published several papers on this concept of effervescence, so there are many details to understand. But the shape of a champagne glass is optimized for the best taste.

What's the purpose of foam in beer?

They enhance the visual appeal and give rise to an enjoyable mouthfeel experience by providing a creamy texture.

What fluid dynamics concept does this represent?

Bubbles and foams. When beer is first poured in a glass, the bubble production rate exceeds their bursting rate. So, the bubbles accumulate on the surface and create layers of bubbles called "foam."

What are other common applications of this concept?

Foams are widely used in the food and beverage industry to make fizzy drinks, coffee drinks, like a cappuccino, and several desserts such as ice creams and cakes. Beyond the food industry, since foams also have properties that are both solid-like (stiffness) and liquid-like (ability to flow), they are also used in cosmetics, surface treatment, firefighting, and building materials.

How can we take advantage of this to make food or drinks taste better in our own cooking?

Foams can often provide a creamy texture. So, depending on the food item you are preparing, they could be a complementary addition, like if you add a layer of whipped cream to a cake.

That circle you see in the bottom of the sink when you turn on the tap. What fluid dynamics concept does this represent?

The kitchen tap is a source of several interesting fluid dynamics phenomena. When the water jet hits the sink surface, the water spreads outward and forms a thin disk. The edge of this disk is visible as a circle. Just beyond the disk, there is a jump in the water level, this is called the hydraulic jump. Leonardo da Vinci first studied this phenomenon, but this is still not completely understood theoretically and remains an active research topic.

What are other common applications of this concept?

This concept has applications to any industrial/commercial setting where a water jet is used to clean a dirty surface, such as a car wash or in a dishwasher.

Those worm-like lines that you see in a cup or pot when you boil water. What fluid dynamics concept does this represent?

The subtle squiggly structures that you see near the surface of a heated pan of water are plume structures, which indicate that what's happening is heat transfer by convection, or Rayleigh-Benard convection. In the video, you can observe plume structures at the bottom of the cup. These plumes are essentially hot (and light) parcels of fluid that rise to the top and transport heat.

What are other common applications of this concept?

In addition to cooking, heat transfer by convection is important in many applications. In nature, it is important in astrophysics and geophysicsplumes transport heat in the earth's mantle. In engineering applications, it is important in metallurgy, chemical engineering, and nuclear engineering.

How can we take advantage of this to make food or drinks taste better in our own cooking?

Plumes play a role in all convective heat transport. So, heat transfer engineers, who work to create and refine kitchen appliances, apply these concepts to design more efficient devices that can cook food faster, save electricity, and make the food taste better.

More information: Arnold J. T. M. Mathijssen et al, Culinary fluid mechanics and other currents in food science, Reviews of Modern Physics (2023). DOI: 10.1103/RevModPhys.95.025004 Journal information: Reviews of Modern Physics
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Meghan S. Miller, John Townend and Voon Hui Lai, CC BY-ND

Aotearoa New Zealand experiences frequent earthquakes, including destructive ones such as those that struck Christchurch in 2010 and 2011, and near Kaikoura in 2018.

In the South Island, the largest seismic hazard is the 600km Alpine Fault, which runs the length of the Southern Alps and defines the boundary between the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates.

Painstaking geological research has revealed it produces very large (magnitude 7-8) earthquakes about every 300 yearswith the most recent one in 1717. Scientists estimate there's a 75% chance of a large Alpine Fault earthquake in the next 50 years. The odds of that earthquake being larger than magnitude 8 are 82%.

Despite the unparalleled quality of the paleo-seismic record of past Alpine Fault earthquakes, the next big earthquake will come without warning.

In anticipation of that event, geoscientists are working hard to understand how the Alpine Fault is being loaded prior to rupture and how characteristics of the fault may affect the rupture's propagation and the resulting ground shaking.

One component of this work is to determine the geometry and internal structure of the Alpine Fault at scales much finer than can be studied using conventional seismometers spaced tens of kilometers apart.

A fibre-optic communications hut in Haast near the Alpine Fault. Credit: Meghan Miller, CC BY-ND

The Haast DAS experiment

A new experiment in Haast, a small, remote community near the coast in South Westland, is using technology called Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS). DAS is a rapidly emerging sensing technique that converts telecommunication fiber-optic cables into thousands of densely-spaced ground-motion sensors.

The Haast DAS experiment is a trans-Tasman collaboration between geophysicists from the Australian National University and Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga Waka. It is the first of its kind across a major, active plate boundary fault, providing an unprecedented opportunity to study the internal structure of the Alpine Fault ahead of an anticipated large earthquake.

Between late February and early May this year, we made seismological measurements across the Alpine Fault using a computer-controlled laser system known as an interrogator attached to an unused ("dark") fiber within a telecommunications cable installed by Chorus to provide broadband connectivity across the South Island. The telecommunications cable crosses the Alpine Fault just east of Haast.

Fiber-optic seismology

DAS recording of a magnitude 4.5 earthquake, 145km away from Haast. Credit: Meghan S. Miller, John Townend and Voon Hui Lai, CC BY-ND

Pulses of light emitted by the interrogator are scattered as they travel along the fiber and interact with atomic-scale imperfections in the glass. Some of this scattered light travels backward along the fiber to the interrogator.

Vibrations of the fiber caused by passing seismic waves modulate this scattering and can be detected by recording the scattered light pulses.

The interrogator we have been using makes a thousand measurements per second at each of 7250 locations, spaced four meters apart along the Haast Pass Highway. This produces a staggering volume of data: about 1Gb of new data every minute, or 1Tb of data every day.

The vibrations recorded at Haast include signals produced by nearby earthquakes (most of which are too small to be perceptible to humans) and other, larger earthquakes occurring throughout New Zealand and further afield. In mid-May, for example, we recorded several large earthquakes near New Caledonia, the largest of which prompted a Pacific tsunami warning.

The density of DAS measurements across the Alpine Fault provides an entirely new way of studying the fault's internal structure. Seismic waves arriving in Haast from different directions and vibrating the fiber have interacted with the Alpine Fault in ways that affect the waves themselves.

The DAS recording below shows two small earthquakes (magnitude 2 and 3), occurring south of Haast about 30 seconds apart.

Big data provides detailed information

By vastly increasing the effective number of sensors, DAS provides a new lens with which to study processes as diverse as the structure of glaciers, the expansion and contraction of volcanoes in response to magma movements, the interaction of ocean waves with the deep seafloor and the effects of groundwater extraction on land subsidence.

A new challenge for the geophysical community is learning how best to store, share, process and analyze large volumes of DAS data. High-performance computing and artificial intelligence techniques (AI) are being developed and adapted to these data to enable researchers to recognize and distinguish signals of different origins.

At Haast, for example, the records of earthquakes of most interest to seismologists are interspersed with noise produced by highway traffic. Being able to separate out these two types of information is a task well suited to AI. In the future, it is likely AI will help tease apart DAS data to detect otherwise unrecognized signals produced by atmospheric and subterranean processes.

DAS recording of a M7 earthquake some 2000km from Haast in the Kermadecs, partially obscured by local traffic signals (diagonal lines). Credit: Meghan S. Miller, John Townend and Voon Hui Lai, CC BY-ND.

DAS holds enormous promise for acquiring real-time, high-resolution measurements of processes using existing telecommunications infrastructure and rapid developments in AI and signal processing.

At Haast, it is providing fundamental new insights into the Alpine Fault ahead of the next big earthquake, informing the scientific analysis that underpins community preparedness and resilience.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Yale University

With a dramatic boost in computing capability, a team of researchers has solved a decades-long mystery about whether optical waves can be trapped in three-dimensional randomly packed micro- or nanoparticles. It's a discovery that could open new possibilities for lasers and photocatalysts among other applications.

Electrons inside a material can either move freely to conduct current or get trapped and act as insulators. This depends on the amount of randomly distributed defects that the material has. When this concept, known as Anderson localization, was proposed in 1958 by Philip W. Anderson, it proved to be a game changer in contemporary condensed physics. The theory extended to both quantum and classical realms, including electrons, acoustic waves, water, and gravity.

However, exactly how this principle plays out in the trapping, or localization, of electromagnetic waves in three dimensions has been uncleardespite 40 years of extensive studies. Led by Prof. Hui Cao, researchers have finally provided a definite answer as to whether light can be localized in three dimensions. It's a discovery that could open a wide range of avenues in both fundamental research and practical applications using 3D localized light. The results are published in Nature Physics.

The quest for 3D Anderson localization of the electromagnetic waves has spanned several decades with numerous attempts and failures. There were multiple experimental reports of 3D light localization, but they were all questioned due to experimental artifacts, or the observed phenomena were attributed to physical effects other than localization.

These failures led to an intense debate on whether Anderson localization of electromagnetic waves even exists in 3D random systems. Since it is extremely difficult to eliminate all experimental artifacts to get conclusive results, Cao and her coworkers resorted to the "indignity of numerical simulation," as Philip W. Anderson put it in his 1977 Nobel Prize lecture. However, running computer simulations of Anderson localization in three-dimensions has long proved challenging.

"We could not simulate large, three-dimensional systems because we don't have enough computing power and memory," said Cao, the John C. Malone Professor of Applied Physics and Professor of Electrical Engineering and of Physics. "And people have been trying various numerical methods. But it was not possible to simulate such a large system to really show whether there is localization or not."

But then Cao's team recently teamed up with Flexcompute, a company that had a recent breakthrough in accelerating numerical solutions by orders of magnitude with their FDTD Software Tidy3D.

"It's amazing how fast the Flexcompute numerical solver runs," she said. "Some simulations that we expect would take months are done in just 30 minutes. This allows us to simulate many different random configurations, different system sizes, and different structural parameters to see whether we can get three-dimensional localization of light."

Cao assembled an international team that included her longtime collaborator Prof. Alexey Yamilov at Missouri University of Science and Technology and Dr. Sergey Skipetrov from University of Grenoble Alpes in France. They worked closely with Prof. Zongfu Yu at University of Wisconsin, Dr. Tyler Hughes, and Dr. Momchil Minkov at Flexcompute.

Free of all artifacts that have previously marred experimental data, their study closes the long debate about the possibility of light localization in three dimensions with accurate numerical results. First, they showed that it is impossible to localize light in three-dimensional random aggregates of particles made of dielectric materials such as glass or silicon, which explained the failures of the intense experimental efforts in the past several decades. Secondly, they presented the unambiguous evidence of Anderson localization of electromagnetic waves in random packings of metallic spheres.

"When we saw Anderson localization in the numerical simulation, we were thrilled," Cao said. "It was incredible, considering that there has been such a long pursuit by the scientific community."

Metallic systems have long been ignored due to their absorption of light. But even considering the loss of common metals such as aluminum, silver and copper, Anderson localization persists.

"Surprisingly, even though the loss was not small, we can still see the evidence of Anderson localization. That means this is a very robust and strong effect."

Besides resolving some long-standing questions, the research opens new possibilities for lasers and photocatalysts.

"Three-dimensional confinement of light in porous metals can enhance optical nonlinearities, light-matter interactions, and control random lasing as well as targeted energy deposition," Cao said. "So we expect there could be a lot of applications."

More information: Alexey Yamilov et al, Anderson localization of electromagnetic waves in three dimensions, Nature Physics (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-023-02091-7 Journal information: Nature Physics
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:

Future environmental policies should increase those areas with food resources from extensive livestock farming, as well as recovering sheep that are in great regression in a way that allows the abandonment of livestock carcasses in nature. Credit: UB Conservation Biology Group

If urban landfills disappear under the new European regulation, some endangered birds such as the Egyptian vulture will need alternatives to their feeding patterns in order to survive in the future.

This is one of the main conclusions of a study published in the journal Movement Ecology, led by Professor Joan Real, director of the UB Conservation Biology Group (EBC-UB) of the Faculty of Biology and the Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio) of the University of Barcelona. The study includes the collaboration of teams from the Center for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC) and the University of Seville.

The Egyptian vulture, an endangered species

The Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) is one of the smallest vultures and a threatened bird of prey worldwide, which is included in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List as an Endangered Species. In the Iberian Peninsula, this species has been in regression for years, with the exception of some areas such as Catalonia, where there has been a progressive increase in its populations.

This Trans-Saharan migratory species spends the winter in Mali, Senegal and Mauritania and returns to the Iberian Peninsula during spring and summer to breed. It usually feeds on small carrion and dead animals found in the countryside, especially extensive livestock dead animals as well as wildlife. Therefore, it is an indicator species of the environmental status and it helps to eliminate organic remains from our ecosystems.

The team evaluated the potential consequences of landfill closure on the feeding patterns of the Egyptian vulture and how the changes in resource availability may affect the behavior of free-ranging birds.

"With the decline of extensive livestock farmingapart from the livestock and agricultural intensificationthe Egyptian vulture began to use landfills as an alternative place to obtain food. This strategy had its benefits, such as having abundant and predictable food, but it also had risks, such as the intake of potential toxins and the scarce acquisition of natural vitamins," notes Professor Joan Real, principal researcher of the project and member of the UB Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences.

"Therefore, gradually, and depending on the area, this species depends on urban organic waste. However, within the framework of the European Landfill Waste Directive and the Circular Economy Action Plan, which seek the removal of landfills and the drastic reduction of organic matter to avoid negative effects on human health, it is unknown how these measures can affect endangered species and, in particular, the Egyptian vulture," warns Joan Real.

The European directive expects a decrease in organic matter in landfills, which are the main source of food for some endangered species, such as the Egyptian vulture. Credit: Jordi Baucells

GPS and spatial network models

The team applied new technologies such as GPS transmitters, and they tracked sixteen birds for three years to understand how they used space and food resources. Innovative analytical techniques were also applied, through the use of spatial network-based models to assess the animals' connectivity between key food sources, calculated from the movement patterns of the tagged birds.

"The conclusions reveal differences in food strategies between non-breeding and breeding individuals. Specifically, breeding individuals were restricted to specific areas around their nests, although they could make long journeys and exploit extensive livestock and landfill resources. In contrast, non-breeders moved to large areas but their main food source was limited to landfill areas," says researcher Catuxa Cerecedo-Iglesias (UB-IRBio), first author of the study.

"Among the most highlighted aspects, we found that breeding and non-breeding individuals' food networks were vulnerable to the elimination of the main feeding areas in landfills, which are highly predictable resources," notes researcher Catuza Cerecedo-Iglesias.

"In a context marked by the future disappearance of landfills, the study reveals that Egyptian vultures would use the carcasses of extensive livestock farming as their main trophic resource. In a scenario in which extensive sheep farming is expected to decline significantly, we cannot know about the effect this measure may have on Egyptian vulture populations," adds the researcher.

Protection of Egyptian vultures in the framework of the circular economy

The study indicates that future environmental policies should increase those areas with food resources from extensive livestock farming, as well as recovering sheep that are in great regression in a way that allows the abandonment of livestock carcasses in nature. "This strategy will not only mitigate the lack of food caused by the closing of landfills, but will also contribute to the conservation of endangered species and it would be a way to conserve sheep farming and pastoral culture," the authors note.

However, in Catalonia, these measures are only allowed in some regions and from a 1,400-meter altitude, "a situation that leaves the vast majority of areas where Egyptian vultures are distributed devoid of food, so it is key to increase the surface of these areas at lower altitudes and other regions," the authors warn.

More information: Catuxa Cerecedo-Iglesias et al, Resource predictability modulates spatial-use networks in an endangered scavenger species, Movement Ecology (2023). DOI: 10.1186/s40462-023-00383-4
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

As the federal government starts negotiations on long-term plans for the overtapped Colorado River, leaders of tribes are pushing for more involvement in the talks, saying they want to be at the table in high-level discussions among the seven states that rely on the river.

The 30 tribes in the Colorado River Basin have rights to use roughly one-fourth of the river's average supply. But over the past century, leaders of tribal nations were largely excluded from regional talks about river management, and only in recent years have they begun to play a larger role.

Leaders of several tribes say they continue to be left out of key talks between state and federal officials, and they are demanding inclusion as the Biden administration begins the process of developing new rules for dealing with shortages after 2026, when the current rules are set to expire.

"They've met, they've discussed, they've made decisions that we only find out afterwards," said Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis, leader of the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona. "And the 30 tribesand I've heard this from my fellow tribal leadersthey are very frustrated by that, especially as we look at a post-2026 process moving forward."

The Interior Department on Thursday initiated the process of developing new long-term rules for operating reservoirs and apportioning water cuts during shortages. New rules will need to be in place by the end of 2026, when the current 2007 guidelines expire.

The federal government's action sets the stage for difficult negotiations over how cities, farming regions and tribes across seven states can address chronic overuse and adapt as global warming continues to diminish the river's flows.

The pivot to negotiating the post-2026 rules was announced three weeks after representatives of the states agreed on a proposal to cut water use over the next three years, a stopgap measure intended to temporarily prevent reservoirs from dropping to critically low levels.

During the upcoming talks, Lewis said he and other Native leaders want to see the federal government include representatives of the 30 tribes whenever they convene a meeting with all seven states. He said this approach wouldn't stop state representatives from meeting among themselves.

Lewis raised the concern at a conference in Boulder, Colo., last week, saying that as work begins on a post-2026 plan, "it's no longer acceptable for the U.S. to meet with seven basin states separately, and then come to basin tribes, after the fact."

He said when leaders of the tribes met with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland last year, she made a commitment "that we would be at the table when these highest-level decisions were being made."

The Gila River Indian Community holds a large water entitlement in Arizona and has agreed to leave a portion of its water in Lake Mead over the next three years while receiving $150 million from the federal government. The community, which uses Colorado River water to irrigate farmland on their reservation, will also receive $83 million to expand water reuse with a reclaimed water pipeline project, and is working with the federal government on a project to cover some of its canals with solar panels.

"When tribes are at the table, tribes can bring solutions, can bring innovation. And it benefits the whole region," Lewis said in an interview with The Times.

The Interior Department said the process of developing new rules to replace the 2007 guidelines will involve "robust collaboration" between the seven states, tribes, other stakeholders and Mexico.

The department formally initiated the process by publishing a notice in the Federal Register laying out its plan to conduct a review and release a document called an environmental impact statement. The notice says the aim is to develop new guidelines and strategies that are "robust and adaptive and can withstand a broad range of future conditions," including preparing for continued drought, reduced runoff and low reservoir conditions.

For the next two months, until Aug. 15, the Interior Department and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will accept comments from the public on how the existing rules should be changed to "provide greater stability to water users and the public throughout the Colorado River Basin."

Deputy Interior Secretary Tommy Beaudreau said the Biden administration has "held strong to its commitment to work with states, Tribes and communities throughout the West to find consensus solutions in the face of climate change and sustained drought."

The effort needs to start now "to allow for a thorough, inclusive and science-based decision-making process," said Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton.

The river's largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, have declined to their lowest recorded levels during 23 years of drought worsened by climate change. As rising temperatures have intensified the drying of the watershed, the river's flow has declined about 20% below the average prior to 2000.

Storms this winter left the Rocky Mountains with one of the largest snowpacks in years, and the runoff is starting to boost reservoir levels.

Speaking last week at the conference at the University of Colorado School of Law, Touton said the runoff this year is projected to be more than the flows in the last three years combined. However, she said, "there are no guarantees that this is more than a one-off amidst a larger context of continuing drought and aridification."

The river's depleted reservoirs are now at 42% capacity. Touton said addressing the water deficit and coming up with long-term solutions will present difficult challenges.

"The next step will be the hardest thing in the history of our organization, and that the basin has experienced," Touton said. "We must continue to work together through these difficult decisions."

The history of Indigenous peoples' exclusion from decisions about the river goes back to the signing of a 1922 compact that divided the water among the states.

A century ago, "we weren't at the table. We weren't even U.S. citizens at the time. But now we are," said Jordan Joaquin, president of Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation.

"Tribes should be at the table," Joaquin said. "We will be at the table for post-2026. It's meaningful to us. It's the right thing to do."

Joaquin was recently appointed as a member of California's Colorado River Board by Gov. Gavin Newsom, becoming the first representative of a Native tribe to serve in the role.

The Quechan Tribe, whose reservation lies along the river in California's southeast corner, has been participating in a program in which some farmlands are left dry and unplanted for part of the year in exchange for payments, helping to boost the levels of Lake Mead.

Many Indigenous leaders have stressed that their perspectives can play a vital role in rethinking the region's relationship to the river.

Nora McDowell, a leader of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, made an impassioned plea for the involvement of tribes and protecting the river during a speech at the conference.

"We continue to not have a voice and not have a seat, and not have a chance to help think about these things, and to take into consideration the cultural, the spiritual, and the health and the environment of that river," said McDowell, a former tribal chairperson.

The Mojave people, whose lands straddle the river in Nevada, Arizona and California, feel a deep spiritual connection to the Colorado River and the ecosystem that depends on it, but that the dams and heavy water diversions have exacted a major toll, she said.

"If that river could speak today, what would it say? 'You guys pretty much screwed up,'" McDowell said.

"We have to be here to speak for it. And I know it would say, 'Respect me. Take care of me. Let me heal,'" she said. "'Don't let me die.'"

McDowell said protecting the river will require changing how it's managed. "We have to think about sustainability in different ways," she said. "We all have a place and a voice that needs to be heard, that needs to be taken into consideration, that needs to be a part of the solution."

Even as tribes seek greater involvement, many are struggling to secure water rights and basic infrastructure to supply their citizens. Of the 30 federally recognized tribes in the Colorado River Basin, 11 tribes still have unresolved water rights claims.

In the Navajo Nation, an estimated 30% or more of people live in homes without running water. In Hopi communities, many people have tap water contaminated with toxic arsenic.

Environmental advocates have also emphasized that tribes must have seats at the table.

Jon Goldin-Dubois, president of Western Resource Advocates, said many of the tribes' water rights, infrastructure and values have long been denied and now "must be included in the decision-making process and have equitable access to clean drinking water."

The water savings that will be needed to address the long-term gap between supply and demand on the river are expected to require substantial reductions in water use in agriculture, which consumes the largest share of the water, as well as new measures to boost conservation and efficiency in cities from Phoenix to Los Angeles.

Goldin-Dubois said cities, farms and other businesses throughout the region should take steps to cut water use by at least 25% immediately, and with the exception of tribes, new development that would require more water from the river should be taken "off the table until a sustainable path has been identified."

The upcoming negotiations will also involve questions about how the current system of managing dams and apportioning water can be revamped to adapt to climate change. Scientists have projected the river's average flow could decrease as much as 30% to 40% by mid-century as temperatures continue to rise.

Brad Udall, a water and climate scientist at Colorado State University, said he hopes the upcoming process will clearly lay out the flow declines the region must prepare for. Udall said the crisis also underlines the urgent need to eliminate carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels.

"We've got to get these emissions down as fast as we humanly can," Udall said.

Kathryn Sorenson, director of research at Arizona State University's Kyl Center for Water Policy, said tribes have shown great willingness to work on solutions, and she expects they will play a positive role.

"We know the flows of the river are going to diminish. And we know the river is overallocated, and all those issues come due post-2026," Sorenson said.

As tribes have a stronger voice in the discussions, that will benefit the process by bringing diverse perspectives, Sorenson said.

"Old ways of thinking are not going to solve new problems," she said.

2023 Los Angeles Times.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Prometheus Books

Can the language someone uses be as unique as their fingerprints?

As I describe in my forthcoming book, "Linguistic Fingerprints: How Language Creates and Reveals Identity," that was true in the case of Theodore Kaczynski.

Kaczynski, who was known as the Unabomber, died in a North Carolina prison on June 10, 2023, reportedly by suicide.

Kaczynski had been a math prodigy and a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, before he withdrew from society and declared war on the modern world.

From a remote cabin in Montana, he sent a number of explosive devices through the mail. In other cases, he planted them. Between 1978 and 1995, 16 of his bombs killed three people and seriously injured nearly two dozen more.

Kaczynski's crimes triggered the longest and most expensive criminal investigation in U.S. history. Law enforcement had little to go on other than a few letters that the terrorist had sent to the media, as well as fragments of notes that had survived his device's detonations.

Spellings and word choices offer clues

In 1995, there was a breakthrough. That's when the Unabomber offered to pause his attacks if a newspaper published his manifesto about the evils of modern society. Controversially, The Washington Post did so. The FBI supported the paper's decision, hoping that someone would recognize the terrorist based on the writing style of the 35,000-word essay.

FBI forensic linguist James Fitzgerald and sociolinguist Roger Shuy were able to uncover several clues about the terrorist's identity based on the manifesto and his other writings.

For example, the Unabomber used strange misspellings for some words, such as "wilfully" for "willfully," and "clew" for "clue." Shuy recognized these as spelling reforms that had been championed by The Chicago Tribune during the 1940s and 1950s, although they were never widely adopted.

Their use by the bomber suggested he might have spent his formative years in or near Chicago.

Fitzgerald noted the use of terms like "broad," "chick" and "negro" in the manifesto was consistent with the vocabulary a middle-aged person from that era.

The Unabomber also referred to "rearing children" as opposed to "raising children." The former term is characteristic of the northern U.S. dialect and would be consistent with someone who grew up in or near the Windy City.

The manifesto also contains such fairly esoteric terms as "anomic" and "chimerical," suggesting that its author was highly educated.

A brother's suspicions

But the move to publish the manifesto ended up being the decisive factor.

It was read in Schenectady, New York, by Linda Patrik, who showed it to her husband, David Kaczynski. She asked if he thought it sounded like something his brother Ted could have written.

David was initially skeptical. Then he noticed that the essay contained unusual expressions, like "cool-headed logicians," that he remembered his estranged sibling making use of. He approached the FBI with his suspicions, and it was noted that David's brother had been born in Chicago in 1942.

A search of Kaczynski's cabin turned up explosive devices, as well as the original copy of the manifesto. Kaczynski pleaded guilty in 1998 and was incarcerated until his death at age 81.

Fingerprinting authors

The Unabomber investigation has been justifiably hailed as a triumph of forensic linguistics. But sleuths of prose and punctuation have had other notable victories.

Even something as seemingly trivial as unusual punctuation can provide clues to a suspect's identitywhich is what happened in 2018, when a forensic linguist was able to pin a murder on a British man because of his unusual use of commas and spacing when sending text messages.

Similar techniques have been used by language experts to identify authors. In 1996, "Primary Colors," a novel based on Bill Clinton's presidential campaign, was published by "anonymous." English professor Donald Foster was able to finger Newsweek columnist Joe Klein as the author of the work, noting similarities between the text of "Primary Colors" and Klein's other published work, which included the use of unusual adverbs ("goofily"), states described as modes ("crisis mode") and drawn-out interjections ("naww").

And in 2013, "The Cuckoo's Calling," a novel authored with the pen name Robert Galbraith, was exposed as having been written by J.K. Rowling. Patrick Juola, a computer scientist, and Peter Millican, a philosopher, independently identified the author of the Harry Potter series as the crime novel's true author. Both men used computer programs to analyze such factors as the distribution of word lengths and common word usage in books written by several suspected authors. They then compared the results to "The Cuckoo's Calling" and identified Rowling as the closest match.

An infallible method?

These techniques seem almost magical when they work. But they're not foolproof.

In 2018, The New York Times published an op-ed written by an anonymous "resister" inside the Trump administration. However, the editorial was too short for linguistic analysis.

Even after the resister published a full-length book, titled "A Warning," it wasn't possible to identify the author. He eventually outed himself as Miles Taylor. He had served as the chief of staff in the Department of Homeland Security. But because he had never published anything else, there was no text to which "A Warning" could be compared.

And scholars are still debating the identity of Elena Ferrante, the pseudonym used by a bestselling Italian novelist. Ferrante has published a dozen books, including "My Brilliant Friend," but the author's true identity remains controversial.

Either way, technological advances have made it increasingly difficult for people who leave a paper trail to hide their identitiesand the old adage to "not put anything in writing" is as true as it's ever been.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity departs Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, Calif., for the final time as Virgin Galactic shifts its SpaceFlight operations to New Mexico, Feb. 13, 2020. Virgin Galactic announced Wednesday, June 14, 2023, that monthly commercial flights to the edge of space will begin for ticket-holders in August, following a research flight planned for the end of June. Credit: Matt Hartman via AP, File

Virgin Galactic announced Thursday that monthly commercial flights to the edge of space will begin for ticket-holders in August, following a research flight planned for the end of June.

The space tourism company will be taking up a team of specialists with the Italian Air Force and the National Research Centre of Italy to conduct microgravity research. The window for that research flight will begin June 27 and span the next three days, with timing depending on the weather.

After that, those who have been waiting more than a decade for their ride aboard Virgin Galactic's rocket-powered space plane are expected to get their chance. The company said the first of those flights will begin in early August, with monthly flights following that.

"This next exciting chapter for Virgin Galactic has been driven by innovation, determination and a commitment to delivering an unparalleled and truly transformative customer experience," CEO Michael Colglazier said in a statement.

Virgin Galactic has been working for years to send paying passengers on short space trips and in 2021 finally won the federal government's approval. The company completed its final test fight in May.

After reaching an altitude of nearly 50,000 feet (15,000 meters), Virgin Galactic's space plane is released from a carrier aircraft and drops for a moment before igniting its rocket motor. The plane shuts off once it reaches space, providing passengers with silence, weightlessness and an aerial view of Earth. The rocket ship then glides back to the runway at Spaceport America in the New Mexico desert.

Virgin Galactic has sold about 800 tickets over the past decade, with the initial batch going for $200,000 each. Tickets now cost $450,000 per person.

The company said early fliers have already received their seat assignments.

The highest profile test flight came in July 2021 when Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson beat fellow billionaire and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and rocket company Blue Origin into space. Bezos ended up flying nine days later from West Texas, and Blue Origin has since launched several passenger trips.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The Fort William Henry Resort celebrated the opening of its renovated Carriage House with an invite-only, live music, free-food soiree and fireworks show for about 500 people Thursday evening.

The Carriage House is a monument to the past with a sparkle, an extraordinary opportunity, for the future, said Kathy Flacke-Muncil, the CEO of the resort and daughter of founder Robert Flacke Jr.

We love this building, she said, adding later, We want this local treasure to be a gathering place.

The renovated building, situated on the bluff overlooking the south end of Lake George, had a brown exterior that made it blend in with the surroundings, said Sam Luciano, the president of the resort.

Its such a historical landmark of the area  putting it back in place, back in service in the area was important, he said.

Its been many things, since 1984 when Luciano first started work, he said. The list includes a drama theater, a storage room, a gym, a gym and storage room, a meeting-and-banquet space, a wedding space, and the home to the Lake George Music Festival.

But this space, along with renovated rooms in the hotel on the property, is aimed now at weddings, which have gotten larger, since the pandemic ended, Luciano said.

The space we had at the White Lion [restaurant at the resort], does 150. We were constantly getting requests for 225, 300 even 400, he said.

The Carriage House can host up to 400 depending on the set up of tables and the size of the dance floor.

The demographics have been changing, and youre seeing more and more Southern Asians out of our top demographic areas, he said.

Indians out of New York City in particular are using the resort. A traditional Indian wedding can last a week, and the invite list can grow large, so a booking for one is great to have, he said.

And theyre coming up here to have the wedding because they have this, Luciano said, indicating the resort generally.

Mitch Amado, the chair of the Warren County Economic Development Corporation, said a venue such as the Carriage House avoids the zero-sum game.

That is, the space will draw people and their money from outside the area. Unlike a restaurant or similar opening, the draw is not from a local population choosing one venue and ignoring the other, but bringing money into the community that was not there before, he said.

The resorts address is 48 Canada St. in Lake George Village.
QUEENSBURY  Six people, including three children, were left homeless with the clothes on their backs after their New Pine Street house in Queensbury burned for two hours on Tuesday night.

The call was received at about 8:20 p.m. Fire companies from South Queensbury, West Glens Falls, Queensbury Central, Bay Ridge and Kingsbury were among those called to the site at 21 New Pine St.

The homeowners daughter Makenzie Rouse posted on her Facebook: Its a very strange and sad feeling to watch your childhood home go up in flames and has since created a GoFundMe page for her mother.

My mother and her (boyfriend) lost everything in a house fire last night and I am looking to raise money to help get them back on their feet  housing, food, clothes, essentials and eventually furniture when they are established in an apartment. If interested in making non monetary donations, please reach out to me privately, the fundraisers description reads.

As of 5 p.m. on Thursday, $1,010 of the $5,000 goal had been raised.

Rouse is also looking for clothes for the victims of the fire, but she told The Post-Star on Thursday there wasnt really an update.

A news release from the American Red Cross stated three adults and three children, ages 1, 4, and 6, were helped after the fire and provided food, shelter and clothing. Rouse did not confirm these additional details.

The mother of the three children, Kaitlyn Semyone, said they have received many clothing donations and her focus now is to find housing for herself and children.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to the Fires Around the Falls: Tri-County Fire History Facebook page, but the South Queensbury Fire Department could not be reached on Thursday. Kingsbury and West Glens Falls partook in an interior attack, while firefighters from Bay Ridge and Queensbury Central began ventilation procedures. The fire was knocked down after a two hour fire attack. Crews finished overhaul operations and returned to service, a post about the fire reads. The Red Cross also provided assistance to two adults and five children at a different fire on Vanare Road in Lake Luzerne. Information about that fire was not available.
CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE  The Cape May County Board of Commissioners this week approved hiring two additional law firms to help fight plans for offshore wind farms.

Ocean Wind 1 plans to construct close to 100 turbines off the coast of Cape May County.

It is the furthest along in the state and federal regulatory process, but more are on the way. The wind energy development company is owned by Denmark-based rsted.

Right now, rsted has made Cape May County part of a mass experiment and they have no idea how bad the results will be and, frankly, they dont seem to care, Len Desiderio, director of the Board of Commissioners, said in a statement released Friday. Our serious legal team will be looking for avenues to stop these projects from damaging our environment and our economy.

In a Tuesday vote, the county hired the Washington, D.C.-based Marzulla Law Firm, which specializes in challenging federal regulatory decisions.

The county has also engaged the services of attorney Anthony Bocchi of the law firm of Cullen-Dykman, with offices in New York, New Jersey and Washington, to review and challenge the permits issued to rsted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

The law offices of Blaney, Donohue & Weinberg, based in Avalon, are already litigating on behalf of the county in the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court over approvals issued to rsted by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

Little information was released Friday about how much efforts will cost. A county spokesperson said the county will be billed as needed, but the hourly rate for each firm was not immediately released, although it is part of public contracts.

Attorney Michael J. Donohue has been leading the countys efforts connected to offshore wind since 2020. Hes a former Superior Court judge and the leader of the countys Republican organization. The county also hired Cultural Heritage Partners, a law firm based in Virginia, to defend historic resources in the county.

County officials have resolved to utilize all reasonable resources to fight the offshore wind power plans. First up, they said, will be to demand a hearing on permits recently issued by New Jerseys Department of Environmental Protection. The county also plans to have the team review federal permits as they are issued, and will likely challenge those as well.

We had hoped that both state and federal regulatory agencies would actually do their jobs and subject rsteds Ocean Wind project to the same type of scrutiny that they subject our homeowners and small businesses to when it comes to environmental permitting, Donohue said. Anyone who has ever attempted to undertake a waterfront construction project in Cape May County knows how these regulatory agencies make us jump through hoops and over rising hurdles, sometimes for years. But on the rsted project, it looks like these environmental regulatory agencies have fast tracked their approvals and skipped important steps that are in place to protect the environment, including marine mammals. With the addition of these expert law firms, the countys legal team is prepared to fight on every available front to challenge the state and federal approvals being issued to rsted.

Residents call for Upper Township to take a stand on wind power UPPER TOWNSHIP  Its time for the township to take a stand on wind power, residents and adv

Offshore wind plans face other challenges as well. Ocean City and Ocean Wind 1 are fighting over permits to bring power lines from wind turbines across that community at 35th Street, and other organizations are also seeking to hold off the work.

On Friday, the anti-wind power groups Save LBI, Defend Brigantine Beach and Protect Our Coast NJ announced they filed with the state Appellate Division challenging a DEP certification of the Ocean Wind 1 project.

In April, the DEP found the project proposal was consistent with the states Coastal Zone Management Act.

The court filing seeks to overturn that decision, and members of the groups said this is only the beginning of the legal challenges to be filed.

"We hope the offshore wind industry begins to understand that it will face fierce and growing legal battles if it continues in this destructive mission," said Bruce Afran, attorney for the three groups.

He said the DEP has acknowledged the wind farms will damage habitat, harm groups of marine mammals, reduce commercial fishing stocks and damage the tourism economy.

"Yet, the state persists in the bizarre belief that this massive engineering project will not injure our state's coastal zone, one of the most important marine communities on the East Coast and the core of New Jersey's $47 billion tourist industry," Afran said.

The Biden administration and Gov. Phil Murphy support offshore wind energy, seeing a means of reducing carbon emissions believed to contribute to climate change. Both have also cited the potential for new jobs in a clean-energy sector.

BPU president calls out wind power companies over delays While officials in some shore communities work to slow the planned development of offshore w

Liz Thomas, a spokesperson for the Ocean Wind 1 project, cited the extensive process the wind energy proposal has undergone already, and a review completed by the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

Ocean Wind 1 remains steadfast in its efforts to educate the public, elected officials and stakeholders throughout the permitting process, construction, and operations phases of the project. It is important to note that BOEM recently issued a robust 2,300 page Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on Ocean Wind 1, which is the product of review by nine federal agencies, three state agencies, and over one hundred consulting parties, including local municipalities, tribes, and community organizations," she said in a statement Friday. "As noted in the FEIS, the regulatory review of the project and lease area began in 2011.The regulatory process has been lengthy, thorough, and transparent.

At a recent meeting of the BPU, board President Joseph Fiordaliso took issue with the speed of the projects, but not because things were moving too quickly. He accused the wind power companies of dragging their feet and said progress must be made, and soon.

Climate change doesnt delay itself. Climate change continues to progress at a rate that is dangerous, Fiordaliso said. We cannot afford any more delays.

Cape May County hopes to slow things down as much as possible.

The Marzulla firm will review the multiple federal permits being sought by rsted, to recommend any potential legal challenges in that process. Bocchi will review and challenge the DEP permits.

Desiderio cited the deaths of whales over the winter in the countys opposition to the wind power projects. Federal experts say there is no evidence that offshore work undertaken in advance of the wind farm projects had anything to do with the whale deaths, but many along the shore remain firmly convinced of a connection.

We still believe that the state and federal governments have failed to address the continuing deaths of whales and dolphins and other marine mammals, Desiderio said. If rsteds surveying equipment is leading to the deaths of the whales and dolphins, one can only imagine how many more will die if offshore construction of hundreds of windmills takes place. The plan to create a superhighway of windmills off of our beaches should be halted until studies can be completed to answer the questions about the whales and other serious negative environmental and economic impacts that are likely to occur.
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP  A Philadelphia man was arrested Thursday after he allegedly broke a car mirror and later tried biting and spitting on police officers and hospital staff.

Hakim Coles, 25, was charged with criminal mischief, obstruction, aggravated assault on police with bodily fluids and resisting arrest.

Coles was walking along Somers Point-Mays Landing Road near Scullville Fire Station No. 2 at 4:24 p.m. Thursday when he punched a passing car's passenger-side mirror, police said Friday in a news release.

The driver was trying to avoid Coles, who was walking in and out of the road, police said.

Coles refused to obey officers' commands several times. At one point, Coles took a "fighting stance" stance toward the officers, causing them to forcefully remove him from the road after de-escalation procedures failed, police said.

Coles was taken to Shore Medical Center in Somers Point for an evaluation, where he became aggressive toward the officers and staff, attempting to bite and spit on them and making terroristic threats, police said. One officer suffered minor injuries.

Coles had been approached by police three times earlier that day but was let go each time with verbal warnings before the mirror-punching incident, police said.
PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account.
Village Super Market is again asking the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority to select its plan to build a full-service grocery store in Atlantic City, only months after the two sides walked away from a deal that would have sent nearly $19 million in tax dollars to the company for construction.

The Springfield, Union County-based company was among four firms to respond to CRDAs latest request for proposals for the development and operation of a grocery store in the resort.

In 2021, CRDA had agreed to provide $18.7 million to Village Super Market for the construction of a 44,000-square-foot ShopRite in a parking lot at Baltic and Indiana avenues. The authority had planned to retain ownership of the site, leasing it to Village Super Market for $1 per year.

But in late 2022, more than three years after the two sides began negotiations, CRDA decided to end its talks and seek new proposals.

At the time, state officials said Village Super Market would be able to enter a new proposal if it chose to do so.

Company representatives did not return a request for comment.

The three other bidders that are now vying to build Atlantic Citys first full-service grocery store in nearly two decades are JAS Group Enterprise, Save Philly Stores and Bailing International Firm, according to CRDA, which listed the respondents to its RFP during a meeting June 8.

Michael Sawyer, president and CEO of Princeton-based JAS Group Enterprise, said it pitched, in partnership with The NRP Group, of Ohio, a mixed-used development that includes a roughly 35,000-square-foot grocery store, additional retail space and 120 apartments.

CROPS gets CRDA support for urban farming proposal ATLANTIC CITY  A vision of urban farms and island-grown produce took a step closer to reali

We think Atlantic City deserves better than a supermarket, he said.

Acknowledging that this proposal went beyond the scope of CRDAs RFP, Sawyer said JAS Groups vision is flexible.

Save Philly Stores, of Broomall, Pennsylvania, owns and operates the Save-A-Lot in Atlantic Citys Renaissance Plaza and another dozen stories around Greater Philadelphia.

When CRDA last solicited grocery developers and operators in 2019, Save Philly Stores was the only other respondent besides Village Super Market.

As a company, we are a lot more advanced than we were in 2019, Shawn Rinnier, president of Save Philly Stores, said in a phone call.

He declined to provide specifics on the 2023 proposal, except to say its Save-A-Lot in Camden is an example of what he hopes to accomplish in Atlantic City.

We have the team to give Atlantic City residents the supermarket they deserve, Rinnier said.

A representative of Atlantic City-based Bailing International declined to comment on its proposal.

Atlantic City awarded 2 food security grants from state ATLANTIC CITY  The city has been awarded two Food Security Planning Grants by the state Eco

CRDA did not immediately respond to questions on when to expect its staff to recommend one of the bids to its board, but Karen Martin, the authoritys acting communications director, previously said the process typically takes about 12 weeks from the proposal to an in-house review process before being brought to the board for a vote.

In October 2021, the authority approved $18.7 million in funding for Village Super Market to build a full-service grocery store adjacent to the Atlantic City Convention Center.

A month later, Gov. Phil Murphy, Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver and more state and local officials gathered at the site for a ceremonial groundbreaking, where leaders hailed the future ShopRite as an end to Atlantic Citys status as a food desert.

Getting the supermarket built is something that I take great pride in, because its going to mean so much to this community, Murphy said in November 2021.

Yet over the next 12 months, there was little movement at the site, and CRDA and Village Super Market declined to provide updates. Sources told The Press of Atlantic City that the developer-operator had requested additional funds, including a $500,000 annual subsidy to offset expected losses at the site. Then, in December 2022, CRDA said it was suspending negotiations.

The termination of this arrangement with Village Super Market was a difficult but responsible decision informed by careful consideration of economic obstacles and our acute understanding of the urgency of food insecurity in Atlantic City, Murphy said in a statement in December. In light of this, we were forced to pivot and honestly reassess the best path forward to deliver affordable and nutritious food for the citys residents.

Meanwhile, leaders of the food security advocacy nonprofit Communities Revolutionizing Open Public Spaces, or C.R.O.P.S., have urged state officials to consider other solutions to Atlantic Citys food desert status besides a large retail supermarket. C.R.O.P.S. in October 2022 opened its own produce store at Tanger Outlets The Walk, and last month, CRDA set aside up to $308,000 for the organizations urban farming proposal.
The Davenport school board is seeking to fill a vacancy, as former Director Karen Gordon is resigning.

Gordon made the announcement in a Facebook post, noting her last day of board service will be Friday, June 23.

"This was not a decision I made lightly," the post states. "I have thoroughly enjoyed serving you all and working for the best interests of the children and staff of our district.

"Several factors played into my decision. Ultimately, I am no longer able to bring my best self to the board table, and that isnt fair to all of you. Thank you for placing your trust in me these last 18 months. I value each and every one of you."

Gordon was first elected in 2021, and her term was to expire in 2025.

To fill her seat, the Davenport school board is accepting letters of interest from community members. Letters must be received by board secretary Brenda Thie no later than 4 p.m. Thursday, June 22.

Those submitting letters of interest will be interviewed at the next regular school board meeting, on Monday, June 26, and the board will then vote on an individual to fill the vacancy.

Since there are fewer than 180 days until the next school board election (Nov. 7, 2023), the appointed board member will serve until the general election but may choose to run for the remainder of Gordons unexpired term or step down.

The individual selected at the June 26 meeting will be sworn in and begin serving in the position at the regular board meeting on July 10.

Letters of interest may be dropped off between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays to Thie in Room 219 of the district's Achievement Service Center, 1702 N. Main St., in Davenport. Letters may also be emailed to thiebren@davenportschools.org.

For additional questions or more information, contact Thie via email or by phone at 563-336-7431.

Sights from Washington Elementary School's "building hug" and bell dedication
An Eldridge man who appealed his 10-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to a charge of lascivious acts with a child reported to the Scott County Jail on Thursday after the Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed his sentence.

Cory Glenn Carter, 56, will be transported to the Iowa Department of Corrections to begin his sentence.

In March 2021, Carter was charged with one count of second-degree sexual abuse after he kissed an 11-year-old victim on the lips and touched the child inappropriately. The child had been sleeping in Carter's guest bedroom. The charge is a Class B felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 25 years.

A second charge of lascivious acts with a child, a Class C felony that carries a 10-year prison sentence, was later added.

On March 31, 2022, Carter pleaded guilty to the charge of lascivious acts with a child.

On June 9, 2022, during a hearing in Scott County District Court, District Judge Joel Barrows sentenced Carter to 10 years in prison after hearing victim impact statements and listening to the 911 call.

The prison sentence was handed down despite the fact that a presentence investigation report prepared by the Iowa Department of Correctional Services recommended supervised probation.

Carter appealed his sentence arguing that the district court did not state the reason for handing down the prison sentence and rejecting probation.

He also argued that the victim impact statements and the playing of the 911 call made by the victim at sentencing without prior notice or the opportunity to object violated his constitutional due process.

The justices found that the district court did state the reason for the prison sentence when it said, The reasons for the sentence are due to the nature of the offense and protection of the community.

As to the victim impact statements and the playing of the 911 call, the justices said that victim impact statements are not adversarial proceedings that a defendant can rebut. The justices noted that the legislature has directed that a victim shall not be placed under oath and subjected to cross-examination at the sentencing hearing.

The appeals court then affirmed Carters sentence.
A Davenport sex offender, who in the early 1990s was sentenced to 75 years in prison for sexually abusing three girls, was arrested Thursday for allegedly having indecent contact with two children, Davenport Police said.

Gregory Mark Hintze, 67, who lives in a room at the Relax Inn, 6310 Brady St., is charged with two counts of lascivious acts with a child-solicitation and one count of indecent contact with a child.

Lascivious acts with a child is a Class D felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of five years, while indecent contact with a child is an aggravated misdemeanor that carries a prison sentence of two years.

According to the arrest affidavits filed by Davenport Police Detective Richard Niesen, at 3 p.m. on May 30, Hintze had contact with two children under the age of 13 at the Relax Inn.

Hintze asked the children several times to come to his room. He told the children that he would give them food if they came into his room.

Hintze then asked the children if they would have sex with him, which they refused. He then asked them for hugs which they agreed to. However, when the older of the children gave him a hug, Hintze put his hand down the victims shirt.

When Hintze asked the children for kisses they refused and left.

A little while later, one of the children went back to ask Hintze for more food. Hintze agreed to give the child more food and, according to the affidavit, told the victim, Its too bad for you. Id like to get you.

While getting food from his room, Hintze asked to touch the child, which the child refused.

During a first appearance Friday in Scott County District Court, District Associate Judge Cheryl Traum scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for June 26.

Traum also raised Hintze's bond to $100,000, cash only.

Hintze continued to be held Friday night in the Scott County Jail.

In 1990 and 1991, Hintze, who then was of Long Grove, Iowa, was convicted in three separate cases of second-degree sexual abuse. Hintze was found guilty in three trials of sexually abusing a 7-year-old girl, a 10-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl.

Hintze was sentenced to three consecutive prison terms of 25 years each. According to Iowa Department of Corrections electronic records, he was released from prison on July 19, 2013.

In 2017, Hintze was charged with two counts of first-degree harassment and one count of extortion. He had demanded money from a woman he had photographed and told her he would spread the photos around if she didnt pay him money.

Hintze pleaded guilty extortion, a Class D felony, and was sentence to five years in the Iowa Department of Corrections. The harassment charges were dropped. Hintze was released from prison on Nov. 21, 2022.
Conversation over a four-hour-long dinner convinced a Bettendorf state senator to throw his support behind biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy for the Republican nomination for president.

The long dinner at Los Amigos in Bettendorf was supposed to last only an hour, Sen. Scott Webster, R-Bettendorf, said. But he was swayed enough to switch from supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

"I talked with him more and more and found that a lot of his beliefs in streamlining government is something I think would be good at a national level," Webster said. "And I think that he is the guy that can get it done."

Webster said his switch was more about Ramaswamy pulling him in than DeSantis pushing him away but did say that he thought DeSantis' fight with Disney was "weird" and that sometimes picking corporate fights over politics can backfire.

Webster supported Iowa's recent reorganization of state government, which brought the number cabinet-level state agencies from 37 to 16 and eliminated hundreds of vacant state government positions. He wanted to see similar efficiencies at a national level.

The extended dinner is an example of the retail politicking Ramaswamy hopes will propel his long-shot bid to the White House. He had a chance for face-to-face time with a larger group of Quad-City conservatives on Thursday, as he made stops in the Iowa side in a tour bus emblazoned with his name.

The 37-year-old Ohioan says he's the first millennial to run for the GOP nomination.

To a group of business leaders, lawmakers and city council members at the downtown Davenport offices of Estes Construction on Thursday, Ramaswamy pitched himself as unafraid to reduce the size of government and his vision for encouraging civic engagement.

He proposed eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and handing its duties to the states, a move that would impact distribution of federal financial aid and enforcement of anti-discrimination laws in education.

He also wants to put in place a requirement for young Americans ages 18-25 to pass a civics test or serve as a first responder or in the military before they can vote.

On the economy, Ramaswamy said he wouldn't forgive student loan debt; would encourage more U.S. energy production, including of fossil fuels; reform the federal reserve; and "dismantle the regulatory state" that he called "the wet blanket on the U.S. economy."

Ruhl and Ruhl Realtors owner Caroline Ruhl said she was looking for a candidate to unite the GOP. She liked what Ramaswamy had to say about reducing spending and ramping up energy resources.

In national polling, Ramaswamy hangs in the single digits and is now in a crowded field, competing with former President Donald Trump, DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, U.S. Senator from South Carolina Tim Scott, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and others.

One attendee, state Rep. Gary Mohr, R-Bettendorf, told Ramaswamy, "Many of us here want a Republican winner in 2024.

"My question is, with 12 or 13 announced candidates, how do you break out of that pack and win a nomination and win the election?"

Ramaswamy responded by saying that his path was similar to Trump's in 2015 and telling attendees that as a longer-shot candidate he's able to do retail politicking with Iowans to get his message out and gain momentum, something he said he didn't think would be possible in larger states.

He called himself the "outsider" of the 2024 race who was setting a conservative agenda and announcing policies early.

"I think we go further when we do it based on first principals and moral authority, rather than on vengeance and grievance," Ramaswamy said. "I take it seriously to reach that next generation of Americans."

Vivek Ramaswamy visits Davenport to speak with business owners on his campaign
Iowas largest zoo has been cited by federal regulators for contributing to the death of a snow monkey last year.

According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors report and officials at Des Moines Blank Park Zoo, an 8-year-old Japanese snow monkey named Nico underwent a lengthy dental procedure at the zoo on Aug. 17, 2022.

During the procedure, the monkey was under anesthesia and lay on its back for approximately three hours with an electric heating pad under its back. The amount of heat thats applied in such circumstances is usually monitored by veterinary staff, a USDA inspector reported.

The inspector alleged that in the investigation into this case, the zoos attending veterinarian and leadership staff concluded that proper monitoring was not done, resulting in the severe burn to the monkeys back.

That burn resulted in a large, gangrenous wound, and on Aug. 30  which was 13 days after the dental procedure  the snow monkey was euthanized due to its poor prognosis for recovery, the USDA alleges.

The USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service cited the zoo for a critical violation related to its attending veterinarian and the provision of veterinary care. That specific regulation requires animal exhibitors to establish and maintain programs of adequate veterinary care that include appropriate methods to prevent and treat diseases.

According to the inspectors report, all Blank Park Zoo veterinary staff were retrained on use and monitoring of the heating pad.

The violation was the only infraction cited by the USDA during its April 2023 visit. At the time, the zoo had roughly 2,800 animals  including, according to the inspectors report, 10 snow monkeys.

When contacted by the Iowa Capital Dispatch, Blank Park Zoo CEO Anne Shimerdla noted that the zoo, as required, immediately reported the incident with Nico to the USDA.

This is a very difficult situation and a very unfortunate incident, Shimerdla said, but noted that the federal inspector found no other issues or violations during the April visit. So it really leads me to believe this is an isolated incident.

Theres no public record of the incident in the disciplinary files of the Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine, which is administered by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. Over the past five-and-a-half years, the board has issued public orders of discipline against three of Iowas 2,800 active, licensed veterinarians.

The snow monkey, also known as the Japanese macaque, is a species native to Japan. In 2019, the Blank Park Zoo stated that it had on hand three males and seven females ranging in age from two to 28 years old.

The zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, a national organization that conducts what it calls intense, multiple-day, on-site inspections. The organization has what it describes as a verifiable track record of enforcing its standards, but notes that it does not share the specific results of accreditation inspections with the public. Shimerdla said the zoo does not make public those inspection reports, either.

The zoo is funded and operated by the Blank Park Zoo Foundation, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. The foundations tax returns indicate that in the fiscal year that ended in March 2022, the zoo collected $8.7 million in revenue and spent $7.6 million. It ended the year with $23 million in net assets.

In 2021-22, the foundation staged two major fundraising events that resulted in a combined, net loss of $19,000 after event-sponsor revenue was deducted, according to the tax returns.

Counties with the most farmland in Iowa Counties with the most farmland in Iowa #25. O'Brien #24. Lyon #23. Calhoun #22. Pocahontas #21. Buena Vista #20. Wright #19. Greene #18. Grundy #17. Monona #16. Carroll #15. Ringgold #14. Shelby #13. Winneshiek #12. Clinton #11. Harrison #10. Jasper #9. Fayette #8. Tama #7. Webster #6. Benton #5. Crawford #4. Sioux #3. Woodbury #2. Plymouth #1. Kossuth
Patricia Osburn of Rapid City was proud of her nursing career, and when she died in 2022, her funeral included a heartfelt tribute from the West River Nurse Honor Guard.

The honor guard is a nonprofit, all-volunteer group that will, upon request, attend nurses funerals to celebrate nurses lives and their dedication to their caregiving careers. Working, semi-retired and retired nurses are welcome to join the honor guard.

One of the reasons I wanted to do this is to honor those nurses who have worked so hard. The older nurses I do funerals for, theyre from that real traditional [background]. Nursing was their life. It was who they were. They took it so seriously and they loved it, said Heather Solon, founder and president of the West River Nurse Honor Guard.

You have to love what you do when youre a nurse, said Solon, who is a registered nurse and certified childbirth educator. Nurses are the cog in the wheel that keeps the whole place running. They spend the most amount of time with the patients, and after COVID-19, its so important right now to give tribute and honor to that.

USA Today reported in May that the United States nursing shortage worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. About three in 10 registered nurses say they are likely to leave their careers due to the pandemic, according to the 2023 Survey of Registered Nurses by AMN Healthcare, a staffing company.

Another report by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing found about 100,000 registered nurses left the profession since 2020. More than 600,000 intend to leave by 2027 because of stress, burnout and retirement.

They are quitting and theyre overworked and underpaid and they dont feel like they get respect, Solon said.

The West River Nurse Honor Guard exists to show respect and recognize nurses hard work.

I really do love doing these [ceremonies at funerals]. Its so moving for me to be able to honor these nurses. I end up crying as Im trying to speak, said Solon, who has been a nurse since 1996. Its fulfilling. Its a passion for me. Its a labor of love.

Solon, who lives in Kadoka, established the West River Nurse Honor Guard in 2020 and is continually looking for more nurses across western South Dakota who want to join. The West River Nurse Honor Guard is a local chapter of the National Nurses Honor Guard Coalition, which has about 150 chapters across the United States. South Dakota has a second honor guard chapter based in Watertown.

Solon said shed like to get enough volunteers to be able to send the honor guard to funerals throughout western South Dakota. Shed also like to have enough volunteers to be able to provide living tributes for retiring nurses and for events such as National Nurses Week in May, which the West River Nurse Honor Guard participated in this year.

Tribute ceremonies

The West River Nurse Honor Guards main focus is serving at funerals. Solon is in the process of notifying funeral homes in western South Dakota about the honor guard and what they do. The service is free of charge for families; donations to defray costs are welcome but not required.

"We honor the professional service that a nurse performs. We service the area of West River [in] South Dakota. Our honor guard ceremony is customized to what the family wishes, Solon said. Its a ministry for a lot of people.

When a funeral home contacts Solon and tells her a nurse has died and the nurses family would like a tribute ceremony, the ceremony can take place at the funeral or memorial service, at the gravesite, in a funeral home, church or synagogue, or in a familys home.

A lot of times the family doesnt know anything about us. Theyre just happy to have us there to honor their loved one, Solon said.

The honor guard dresses in white nurses caps and uniforms, along with blue and red capes. The capes honor Florence Nightingale, who wore a similar cape to let soldiers know she was a medic, Solon said.

If the family wants, we stand guard at the casket when people are walking in. A lot of times, we stand up near the urn or casket during the service. It really resembles a military funeral in some aspects, Solon said.

The honor guard ceremony includes a nurses prayer, a Florence Nightingale tribute personalized with the name of the nurse being honored, a poem and the Nightingale Pledge.

Back when nursing schools were run by Catholic nuns, once they got inducted into the nursing field they had to recite a pledge to pledge themselves to practice good faith and take care of their patients. Thats very traditional for nursing, Solon said.

We give a white rose in honor of [the nurses] service. We put the rose on the casket or urn, she said. We have a nursing lamp like Florence Nightingale used to carry. Thats the traditional nursing lamp we light. We have that burning during the ceremony and at the end, we do a final call to duty. If there are any nurses or family members that are nurses, we invite them to stand. We say the nurses name and ring a triangle, then we say, We officially release you from your nursing duties.

The lamp, along with the honor guards condolences, are given to the nurses family.

Ill walk out before the casket and our nurses will lead the casket. Then we stand by the hearse when they load the casket and we can go graveside and we stand around the casket (during the) graveside service, Solon said.

A nurses legacy

When Nikki Bonenberger saw the West River Nurse Honor Guards ceremony at her great-aunt Patricia Osburns funeral, Bonenberger was so inspired she volunteered for the honor guard. Bonenberger is a clinic nurse at Philip Health Services.

My aunt was at my pinning ceremony and she made a big deal of my nursing degree, Bonenberger said of Osburn. She was a nurse and she took a lot of interest in me when I became a nurse. She was my mentor even though she was retired when I started working.

At Osburns funeral, Bonenberger was invited to stand by her aunts casket with the West River Nurse Honor Guard. Bonenberger was impressed by the honor guards professionalism and their tribute to Osburns years of service in nursing.

As an honor guard member and a nurse, Bonenberger said paying tribute to other nurses is significant.

Its more like an honor than a duty. Its something they deserve, she said. I feel like nurses give a lot of hours outside of [work]. People know youre a nurse so they reach out.

The guard was emotional for me and my brother. That was the best part of the whole thing. They did a really good job and it was touching, said Carter Francis, one of Osburns two sons. Im sure my mom would have really liked that. Its something I hope they continue. Nurses are the first line of defense and oftentimes they get a lot of blowback from families and stuff, but really theyre the ones that are there taking care of people. Its nice to see them be able to get some recognition because its certainly deserved.

Osburn graduated from Mercy Hospital Nursing School in Denver in 1956, and for at least 60 years she enjoyed class reunions with her nursing school classmates, Francis said. In 1980, Osburn earned her bachelor's degree in nursing from Loretto Heights College in Denver and spent the last years of her career as a medical claims advisor for Lincoln National Life.

She spent much of her nursing career in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, during the years her two sons were growing up. Francis said his mother worked as a nurse for about 16 years.

She was a good problem solver and she was a very compassionate person and back then, the doctors werent around all that much. Its the nurses that do all the heavy lifting, Francis said. It was a small little community regional hospital in Steamboat Springs. She helped deliver a lot of babies.

Osburns career was often an adventurous one. Steamboat Springs didnt have an airport at the time so whenever a skier or someone else was badly injured, Osburn and the pilot of a single engine Cessna would fly the injured person to Denver for medical treatment, Francis said.

This is a town that got over 300 inches of snow annuallyThey flew in some bad, bad weather and she did that a lot. It was really dangerous. She told me a lot of stories later in life, Francis said. There wasnt any helicopters or fancy planes.

Whenever anybody got hurt, she was the nurse on the flight, he said.

The West River Nurse Honor Guards presence at Osburns funeral was meaningful, Francis said, because being a nurse was a guiding characteristic of his mother's life.

She loved it. She loved the fact that she was a nurse and she was a good one, he said.

To volunteer for the honor guard or for more information, contact Solon at 605-837-2992 or WestRivrNrseHnrGrd@gmail.com or follow facebook.com/westrivernursehonorguard.
SYDNEY, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Police in the Australian state of Victoria said on Friday that a serial thief has been arrested after breaking into more than 50 cars in the capital city Melbourne.

According to the statement by Victoria Police, the 42-year-old man broke into 52 cars between March and May this year in Brighton, Carnegie, Murrumbeena, St Kilda, and Toorak, and stole various items from the vehicles.

On Friday morning, detectives executed a warrant in Oakleigh East, a suburb in Melbourne's southeast, during which they uncovered power tools, identity cards, and various stolen property.

The suspect has been charged with then counts of theft from motor vehicles as well as obtaining property by deception, dealing in the proceeds of crime and disqualified driving.

Victoria Police added that he has been remanded to appear at a local court on Friday. 
Kathmandu, Nepal, June 16, 2023. Parliamentary Hearing Committee unanimously approved the name of Harikrishna Karki as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.





Following the question answer session, Karki's name was approved by the Parliamentary Hearing Committee on Friday. Karki had submitted his action plan on Thursday.





After the approval of the name by the parliamentary hearing committee, the name will be recommended for appointment to the President.




KavaClub, Richmonds first kava bar, was set to open in May. Then the Richmond City Health Department denied its permit.

KavaClub still is not open.

Kava is an herbal drink that has been consumed for centuries in the South Pacific. The root of the plant is used to produce a drink with sedative effects. Kava drinkers typically feel blissful and relaxed, but still aware.

But kava as a drink is mostly unknown in Richmond. And KavaClub would be the first kava bar in the city.

For the past 14 months, Fred Bryant Jr. has been busy preparing KavaClub at 1529 W. Main St. in the former Canon & Draw Brewing Co. spot. Bryant, DJ Lee, Bram Crow-Getty and Keri Gray co-founded KavaClub. Almost one million dollars have been invested in the project, with plans to launch four more locations.

But in late March, KavaClub received notice that its permit was denied by the Richmond and Henrico County Health Districts.

The main issue in question appears to be: Is kava a food, or an additive?

Kava is legal in Virginia and not regulated in any state in the U.S.

KavaClub will be adhering to the traditional preparation method for kava, in which the root is ground and mixed with cold water and then served cold.

KavaClub is not adding an extract, oil or essence to existing beverages, KavaClub said in a presentation to the Virginia Department of Health. The kava is a natural cold tea. It is not an additive in any common sense use of the word, KavaClub said.

But RHHD disagreed. It said, Water is a food pursuant to 12 VAC5-421-10 of the Regulations. The addition of kava and kratom to the food, affecting the characteristics of the food, water in this case, would make kava and kratom food additives pursuant to 112 VAC5-421-10 and 2l U.S.C.  321(s).

Were very disappointed, obviously, Bryant said. Were preparing to file litigation about this. Weve lost faith in the Health Department and its process.

The Board of Health is charged with the protection of the health and welfare of the citizens of Virginia through the supervision of restaurant operation.

According to the RHHD, kava and kratom are not Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), nor approved food additives by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As such, they could not approve menu items containing kava or kratom on KavaClubs menu.

Kratom, a companion drink to kava that will be served at KavaClub, is more controversial. Kratom can have mild upper or downer effects based on the type and the amount ingested.

It is banned in six states, and regulated in a few others. Until this years General Assembly session, Virginia had no laws concerning kratom. The Virginia legislature passed a bill this spring that put some very light restrictions on the product, and Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed it into law.

RHHD has denied the application for permit for KavaClub, and the applicant has filed an appeal in Circuit Court. RHHD takes our restaurant permitting responsibilities very seriously  it is our duty, as the local public health agency, to protect the health of our residents and ensure food safety, Dr. Elaine Perry, health director, Richmond and Henrico Health, wrote via email.

We feel confident that a judge will overturn this, Bryant said. But the question is, how long will it take? It could be another year (before this is resolved).

Bryant and his lawyer, Justin Earley, also said that they will be approaching the governors office to try to find a practical solution.

While he is waiting, Bryant is already planning to take the KavaClub concept to other states. His goal is to expand to 50 units in the next five to seven years.

Over 280 kava bars have popped up across the country, according to Google reviews, with more on the way. Food & Wine magazine recently ran a story that said, For a booze-free buzz, Americans are heading to kava bars. The article noted exciting non-alcoholic kava bars arriving in cities like Austin, Brooklyn and more.

Virginia has been inhospitable, to say the least, Bryant said. Were not going to let a bureaucratic hurdle stop us. There are plenty of other states that would be happy to have us.

PHOTOS: KavaClub
From childrens books to memoirs, one persons story is anothers plight.

When people begin banning books and poetry, theyre doing so out of fear, said Yasmin Angoe, a mystery and thriller author whose work has earned accolades, including a spot on the Amazon Best Books lists and honors from the Eleanor Taylor Bland Award for Emerging Writers of Color. Her trilogy follows the Ghanaian Nena Knight and has earned critical acclaim.

Angoe was among Virginias most popular and prolific authors interviewed by the Richmond Times-Dispatch after the Hanover School Board earlier this month moved to ban 19 books from school libraries, as book banning has been debated nationally for the past couple of years.

Angoe, a Virginia native and author and a finalist in the Library of Virginias 20th Annual Peoples Choice Awards, believes schools and libraries should not be allowed to ban books.

As a lifelong writer and reader and having always attended schools and libraries, she said there have not been many books and characters who looked or lived as she did.

Now that there is an influx of diverse literature that speaks directly to and for marginalized communities, to silence those voices is a travesty and a direct attack on ones personal right to knowledge, Angoe stated.

Richmond resident Meg Medina, a New York Times best-selling author of picture books as well as middle grade and young adult fiction, believes it is a mistake to put obstacles between kids and books.

Parents are entitled to be in conversations with their kids, but its different to make decisions for everyones families, said Medina, a national ambassador for young peoples literature and a Newbery Medal winner, adding that books offer a powerful space for conversations, thinking and sharing ideas.

Shauna Robinson is another Library of Virginias Peoples Choice Awards finalist and Virginia resident. She writes contemporary fiction featured in multiple must read lists. She believes book banning is incredibly harmful, adding that the practice limits the diversity of perspectives readers can access and from which they can learn.

Banning these books sends the damaging and untrue message that these marginalized voices dont matter, Robinson stated. Diverse voices and stories shape our world, and schools and libraries need to carry books that reflect that.

Author and Richmond resident Rachel Beanland wrote 2023s The House Is On Fire, which follows the lives of four characters impacted by the Richmond Theater fire of 1811. The book was selected as an Indie Next pick by the American Booksellers Association and deemed most anticipated by a number of outlets, including The Washington Post, Good Morning America, E! News and more. Beanland believes that books can bring the country together, and is against the practice of books banning.

Reading books builds empathy, Beanland said.

Some titles banned by the Hanover board earlier this month include Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye, one of the most banned in the country; This Book is Gay, a guidebook for young people discovering their identity; and John Greens young adult novel Looking for Alaska, which explores themes of grief, hope and relationships.

Close Jim's parking lot on Grace between 3rd and 4th streets. This November 1926 images shows the view down Grace Street, the Fifth Avenue of Richmond, near Third Street downtown. Merchants in the district were anticipating a number of large buildings, including a new Loews Theatre, for the thriving thoroughfare. This July 1961 photo shows the corner of Second and Grace streets in downtown Richmond. At the time, the local parking board recommended the corner for a parking garage to help expand capacity in the area. This August 1964 image shows Southern Bank & Trusts main office at Second and Grace streets in downtown Richmond. A Wells Fargo bank branch occupies the site today. In January 1950, the Bank of Virginia branch at Fourth and Grace streets in downtown Richmond was just days away from its opening ceremonies. In January 2017, the building became home to Champion Brewing Co. In September 1977, the former Flair Inc. womens clothing store at Fifth and Grace streets in downtown Richmond was closing. The building would soon house Worths, another womens clothier. In 2016, Secret Sandwich Society opened in the space. This May 1957 image shows a stretch of businesses along Third Street between Broad and Grace streets in downtown Richmond. Among them were a locksmith, optician and beauty salon. Cafeteria plans August opening - The new cafeteria of Hot Shops, Inc., a corner shop in the Grace Street Parking, Inc., garage at Seventh and Grace Streets, probably will be ready for occupancy in August or September, Edwin Hyde, president of the parking facility disclosed yesterday. Hyde said that Doyle & Russell, the contractors are rushing the finishing work on the cafeteria. It will seat approximately 300 persons and will contain the latest in cafeteria equipment, Hyde said. June 10, 1951 12-11-1965 (cutline): Surge of Christmas shoppers heads for Richmond stores today. This view is near the corner of Fifth and Grace Streets. 02-12-1957: Grace Street 07-24-1949 (cutline): Grace Street between Fourth and Fifth was deserted on a usually busy Saturday afternoon while Richmonders sought cooler spots. 12-22-1962 (cutline): City streets became crowded yesterday as some offices closed early. Traffic was slow moving on slush-covered Grace Street after 4 p.m. 05-05-1963 (cutline): The same view today found one child-toting woman coatless in warm but wet and windy weather...The temperature was in the 60s. 08-18-1953 (cutline): Trees planted a year ago on Grace Street appear to be flourishing. 11-28-1959: Grace Street 08-19-1966: Grace Street 12-01-1962: Grace Street 01-15-1953: Grace and Fourth Streets 02-12-1957: Grace Street 09-23-1958 (cutline): Parking garage, other business were built in 1950. May Co. and Hot Shoppes Cafeteria occupied first floor space. 12-13-1954: Grace Street 09-03-1954: Grace Street 11-28-1959: Grace Street 08-18-1953 (cutline): A year ago last week, the city trimmed some of the trees in the 700 block of West Gracee Street. The cutting provoked sharp woods of complaint from some of Richmond's tree lovers. The city said the trimming was all for the best. Grace Street. Year unknown. From the Archives: Scenes from Grace Street A look back at Grace Street in downtown Richmond. Jim's parking lot on Grace between 3rd and 4th streets. This November 1926 images shows the view down Grace Street, the Fifth Avenue of Richmond, near Third Street downtown. Merchants in the district were anticipating a number of large buildings, including a new Loews Theatre, for the thriving thoroughfare. This July 1961 photo shows the corner of Second and Grace streets in downtown Richmond. At the time, the local parking board recommended the corner for a parking garage to help expand capacity in the area. This August 1964 image shows Southern Bank & Trusts main office at Second and Grace streets in downtown Richmond. A Wells Fargo bank branch occupies the site today. In January 1950, the Bank of Virginia branch at Fourth and Grace streets in downtown Richmond was just days away from its opening ceremonies. In January 2017, the building became home to Champion Brewing Co. In September 1977, the former Flair Inc. womens clothing store at Fifth and Grace streets in downtown Richmond was closing. The building would soon house Worths, another womens clothier. In 2016, Secret Sandwich Society opened in the space. This May 1957 image shows a stretch of businesses along Third Street between Broad and Grace streets in downtown Richmond. Among them were a locksmith, optician and beauty salon. Cafeteria plans August opening - The new cafeteria of Hot Shops, Inc., a corner shop in the Grace Street Parking, Inc., garage at Seventh and Grace Streets, probably will be ready for occupancy in August or September, Edwin Hyde, president of the parking facility disclosed yesterday. Hyde said that Doyle & Russell, the contractors are rushing the finishing work on the cafeteria. It will seat approximately 300 persons and will contain the latest in cafeteria equipment, Hyde said. June 10, 1951 12-11-1965 (cutline): Surge of Christmas shoppers heads for Richmond stores today. This view is near the corner of Fifth and Grace Streets. 02-12-1957: Grace Street 07-24-1949 (cutline): Grace Street between Fourth and Fifth was deserted on a usually busy Saturday afternoon while Richmonders sought cooler spots. 12-22-1962 (cutline): City streets became crowded yesterday as some offices closed early. Traffic was slow moving on slush-covered Grace Street after 4 p.m. 05-05-1963 (cutline): The same view today found one child-toting woman coatless in warm but wet and windy weather...The temperature was in the 60s. 08-18-1953 (cutline): Trees planted a year ago on Grace Street appear to be flourishing. 11-28-1959: Grace Street 08-19-1966: Grace Street 12-01-1962: Grace Street 01-15-1953: Grace and Fourth Streets 02-12-1957: Grace Street 09-23-1958 (cutline): Parking garage, other business were built in 1950. May Co. and Hot Shoppes Cafeteria occupied first floor space. 12-13-1954: Grace Street 09-03-1954: Grace Street 11-28-1959: Grace Street 08-18-1953 (cutline): A year ago last week, the city trimmed some of the trees in the 700 block of West Gracee Street. The cutting provoked sharp woods of complaint from some of Richmond's tree lovers. The city said the trimming was all for the best. Grace Street. Year unknown.
Leigh Sewells career began at Circuit City, the once-giant electronics retailer. She started as a college intern working in the accounting department.

After graduation, the company brought her on full time.

But when her daughter suffered a brain injury at birth, Sewell pivoted to health care and went back to college. She eventually rose to the position of hospital CEO.

Now, at age 47, Sewell is ready for what shes calling Chapter 3 of her working life: owning and operating a Carytown boutique.

Sewell, who stepped down from her position as CEO of Memorial Regional Medical Center in Hanover County last month, will open Monkees of Richmond later this summer. Its the latest moment in her life in which shes shown a broad range of talents and a willingness to try something bold and new.

She stayed at Circuit City for nine years. Then in 2001, she gave birth to twins, Taylor and Sydney, who arrived three months premature. Taylor suffered a brain injury at birth that resulted in cerebral palsy. The doctor told Sewell she needed to become her daughters biggest advocate.

I didnt really know what she meant at the time, Sewell said.

But she quickly realized how daunting it can be to navigate the world of health care, even if your daughter doesnt have special needs. She knew she wanted to work toward the greater good.

Her career aspirations took a paradigm shift, she said.

At first, she thought it meant going to medical school and becoming a doctor. It would have been an arduous journey, given her familys needs.

Instead, she decided to take a job at Bon Secours as a supply chain director, stocking hospital units with the medicines, devices and latex gloves to keep the hospital running. Later she went back to school, to Virginia Commonwealth University, where she earned a masters in health administration.

She ascended the ladder and in 2018  the same day Bon Secours merged with Ohio health system Mercy Health  became CEO of Memorial Regional Medical Center in Hanover County and Richmond Community Hospital in Church Hill. Later, she took the reins of Rappahannock General Hospital and handed off Community to another executive.

Sewell stayed at Bon Secours for 17 years until last month, when she gave her notice. Something else was lingering inside her. Shes always loved fashion, and shes always been intrigued at the idea of owning her own business.

While visiting her daughter Sydney at the University of Tennessee, she had stumbled into a womens boutique called Monkees. She started finding the chains locations in other cities across the mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Eventually, she took the plunge, called the corporate team and asked about franchising.

It felt like the right time to make a move. Memorial Regional was nearing completion on an expansion, and the cardiovascular program had grown, just as she had envisioned.

I felt like I was ready for Chapter 3, Sewell said. So I just pulled the trigger.

Monkees is based in North Carolina and will soon have 45 stores selling womens clothing, shoes and accessories, all in what Sewell calls a fun and inviting environment.

Monkees describes itself as upscale, girlie and always in style.

Sewells goal is to sell a range of products wide enough to appeal to three generations: her own, her mothers and her childrens  she has two sets of twins, one identical and one fraternal.

Located at 3504 West Cary St., Monkees of Richmond will open in Carytown Exchange, the neighborhoods most recently developed block, near the Publix grocery store. Alongside her 1,800-square-foot store are Torchys Tacos and Jenis Splendid Ice Cream.

Sewell became fond of the block after regularly visiting the nearby Starbucks on her way to work. Construction will finish on her parcel in mid-July, and the store will open its doors Aug. 11.

With one full-time employee and a handful of managers, Sewell will run the day-to-day operations.

After 17 years in hospitals, Sewell wasnt going to completely abandon health care. She has an idea for the store called Shop with a doc, in which customers can visit the store for an evening and hear a brief presentation from a female doctor about a health issue. Then the women can stay, mingle and chat with the doctor.

The idea came from a similar concept at Bon Secours, in which members of the public visited parks or gyms and talked with doctors one on one. Its a way to make sure Chapter 2 transitions smoothly into Chapter 3.

Im definitely always looking for ways to get more involved with the community, Sewell said.

The best beach towns in Virginia The best beach towns in Virginia
Two years ago, a couple hopped on their sailboat, passed under the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge and turned left.

Since April 2021, Scott Racette, a native Virginian, and Ashley Gremel have made their way down the West Coast, all the way to Mexico, through the Panama Canal, north along the Eastern seaboard, stopping in the Florida Keys and other ports, before sailing up toward the Chesapeake Bay earlier this month. They will reach Richmond on Monday.

Throughout the trip theyve seen a blue whale under the boat, dolphins, seabirds, monkeys, made new friendships in new countries and improved their Spanish.

In all, they estimate their journey from San Francisco to Chesapeake will cover more than 8,000 nautical miles, allowing for weather and detours.

Racette, born and raised in Chesterfield, grew up sailing. He went to sailing summer camps as a child and was part of a sailing club in college. He is now a creative director for a sailing magazine.

Gremel, originally from Michigan, works in renewable energy. The couple met in 2015 when they found themselves in San Francisco.

In a struck of luck, Gremel met Racette after a friend invited her to a friends boat.

I assumed that it would be some old guy who was going to take us out for the day; I had no idea that people were living on sailboats or going on adventures, but then Scott hopped up onto the boat and said, Welcome aboard, Gremel said. I was hooked.

The couple started living on the sailboat in the Bay Area in 2016 and dreamt of an adventure.

The pandemic happened and their life got smaller with quarantine and remote work. The constantly postponed voyage started to take shape, along with the money saved from not having to pay rent.

The pieces just came together, Racette said, adding that they made two decisions: to move to Richmond to be closer to family, and that it was both possible and doable to sail back to his home state.

They started by heading to San Diego, where they found a new addition to the crew: Cypress the cat.

Racette and Gremel steered their 1979 36-foot sailboat  named Azimuth for a celestial navigation term  southward to join 200 boats in the Baja Ha-Ha annual sailing event in November 2021. It rallies the boats 1,000 miles down the Baja Peninsula over the course of two weeks.

Its really fun to be out in the open ocean, but see other boats on the radar and be talking to people on the radio and making friends, Gremel said, adding that they explored the Sea of Cortez between Baja and mainland Mexico.

Acapulco, Honduras and Costa Rica marked the trip toward Panama. Racette grew up hearing stories about his grandfathers time in the U.S. section of the canals, as his dad was in the Army as a civil engineer working on the canal project.

In one long day, 15 or 16 hours, we went from being Pacific Ocean sailors to Atlantic and Caribbean sailors, Racette said, adding the wonders of Panamas modernity but also functionality, as ships go through it every day.

The hurricane season quickly swept in, so the couple anchored the boat in Panama and took over a friends Airbnb jungle property for the summer.

It was fun for us to get to stay in one place for a couple of months and make friends there, Gremel said. But also to use those resilience skills that weve learned of fixing stuff when it breaks even if you dont have quite the right supplies to get the job done.

Later on, they made their way to Cartagena, Colombia, and stayed in the city for about three months waiting for the weather to improve.

It is difficult to cross the Caribbean Sea, especially from the western part because of the way the currents run there, Gremel said.

Sailing to Colombia was the hardest moment of the trip, she said. The couple takes turns sailing for four hours while the other rests. One day, Gremel started her shift with water above the floorboards while the sea was rough. She was trying to figure out what needed to be fixed, but both of them were seasick and emergency services were hours away if something were to happen.

Nonetheless, going through Colombia gave them an easier angle to head north toward Virginia.

The longest passage of the trip was eight days and nights at sea up to the Cancun, Mexico, area. They then reached the Florida Keys, making their way to the East Coast both offshore and in the Intracoastal Waterway.

On Tuesday, Racette and Gremel sailed into Virginia waters and arrived in Hampton. When they reach Richmond on Monday, they hope to start a new chapter of their lives, including putting down roots in the area to be close to family and friends, starting a family of their own and sailing the boat on weekends and holidays.

We like to say that sometimes the lows are extremely low, but the highs are extremely high, Racette said. Taking such a slow pace to observe nature and cultures along the way has been unbelievably inspiring.

PHOTOS: Couple and their cat set sail on a two-year adventure Cypress the cat surveys the anchorage in Portobello, Panama A waterspout right behind our boat in the San Blas islands of Panama Cypress the cat stares out over the Pacific Ocean Drones-eye view of Azimuth in our summer home in Bocas del Toro, Panama Leaving an anchorage in the Sea of Cortez Scott and Ash right before they left California in April 2021 The house we lived in while staying and working in Panama during the summer of 2022 A group photo of the friends we lived with in Bocas del Toro, Panama A whale waves Hi off the Papagayo Peninsula, Costa Rica Scott and Cypress relaxing on a tropical Thanksgiving day in the San Blas islands
The sudden death of Rep. Donald McEachin, D-4th, on Nov. 28 sent a shock wave through Richmond-area politics thats still being felt almost seven months later, as Democrats prepare to choose candidates Tuesday for newly drawn Senate and House of Delegates districts on the late congressmans old political turf.

After then-Sen. Jennifer McClellan won a special election in February to succeed McEachin in the House of Representatives, then-Del. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, defeated two prominent Richmond Democrats in a firehouse primary for the nomination to succeed her. Bagby, who had stepped aside for McClellan in a party primary for the congressional seat, easily defeated his Republican opponent in the heavily Democratic district and took his seat in the Senate in early April.

That was then. This is now  and the political landscape has changed.

Bagby is trying to fight off an energetic primary challenge by progressive candidate Katie Gooch in a new 14th Senate District that lies mostly in Richmond, rather than Henrico County.

His old House seat is one of two in Virginia that will remain unfilled until January, much to the dismay of Bagbys former rival John Dantzler, a Henrico County businessman who is running against Destiny LeVere Bolling, a first-time candidate with strong Democratic Party and organized labor connections, in the newly drawn 80th House District. The winner will face independent Michael Harned in the general election.

Dantzler, who owns a child care center and a real estate company in Henrico, has a testy relationship with Bagby, who trounced him in the Democratic primary for the old 74th House District in 2021 and endorsed Bolling in the primary for the new district on June 20. Dantzlers campaign released a flier that depicts Bagby as a snake and an apple representing his opponent. The flier decries a smear campaign that he said falsely alleges he supports Republicans, including former President Donald Trump.

Dont eat fruit from the poisonous tree, the flier warns.

This is not the first rodeo for Bagby, who served on the Henrico County School Board and won three terms in the House before taking his Senate seat in early April. But he, like other senators across the state, is discovering that he has to introduce himself to a new set of voters.

These state senators, when they move (to a different district), they think people know who they are  and they dont, said Bob Holsworth, a veteran political scientist in Richmond.

Gooch has run a credible campaign, but it would be a major upset if he were defeated, Holsworth said.

In the House primary race between Bolling and Dantzler, Holsworth said, What I see there is somebody who is connected to the Democratic Party apparatus and somebody who isnt.

Senate District 14

Redistricting has opened opportunities for political newcomers such as Gooch, 40, an established community activist and pastor in Richmond who hopes a wave of retirements  and potential electoral defeats of legislative veterans  will allow progressive legislators to push for major changes in an institution that traditionally has rewarded seniority.

I think theres an enormous opportunity with all of the turnover thats happening, she said in a recent interview.

Bagby, 46, is running on his legislative experience, his stature as chairman of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus and his close ties to Democratic leaders such as McClellan and Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., a former Richmond mayor and Virginia governor who has endorsed him.

With McEachin gone, McClellan has become the dominant Democrat in Richmond-area politics. She served as vice chair of the Black Caucus with Bagby, who initially ran for McEachins seat and then withdrew to avoid a split in the Black community that could have allowed Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Petersburg, to win the congressional nomination. McClellan endorsed Bagby in the special election he won for the Senate in late March.

But Gooch also regards McClellan as a political model for her own work ethic and the public policies Gooch has advocated as a United Methodist minister and director of the Pace Center, an extension ministry of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches in Richmond.

Lets follow in the footsteps of Jen McClellan, she said.

The candidates legislative priorities reflect their personal stories. Bagby grew up in Essex Village, a federally subsidized low-income housing community in Henrico on the border of Richmond. His top priority is affordable housing, which he emphasized both in an interview and in a candidate survey from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

We desperately need to tackle the affordable housing crisis and the saturation of poverty that is impacting the Richmond community, he said in the survey.

Bagby, a former Henrico teacher who works at the Peter Paul Development Center in Church Hill, said in an interview: We have to build communities that are economically integrated, as opposed to building communities that are pockets of poverty.

He says he also talks to voters about reducing gun violence, protecting womens reproductive rights, expanding access to affordable health care and improving local transportation networks in order to ensure pedestrian safety, expand mass transit and create opportunities for electric vehicles.

As communities recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bagby said, What were really talking about is hope.

Gooch, a mother of three who campaigns door to door with her 7-month-old baby, makes the child care crisis her top priority. As chair of the board of directors at Grace Covenant Child Development Center, she called the high cost and low availability of quality child care in the Richmond area outrageous.

Affordable, high-quality child care impacts the educational system, family opportunities, and overall well-being of a community, she said in response to the survey.

Gooch focuses on many of the same issues as Bagby, such as education, affordable housing, pedestrian safety and improved transportation networks. She advocates a larger share of state transportation money for Richmond and considers the proliferation of Airbnb lodgings a threat to housing affordability that needs tighter regulation.

As a woman, she thinks she has a better understanding of womens reproductive rights, issues such as paid family sick leave and health care, and protection of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer community, which is sizable at Virginia Commonwealth University, where her ministry does much of its work.

I can tell people I have really walked with the community, she said.

Bagby and Gooch also show their personal background in their choice of topics for the first legislation they would introduce. Bagby focuses on constitutional amendments for voting rights  an issue paramount in the Black community  womens rights and same-sex marriage. Gooch emphasizes campaign finance reform, a priority for political progressives, asserting that the current system distorts our public policy and stifles true representation and progress.

I would also ban contributions made by electric monopolies regulated by the government, she said in response to the Times-Dispatch survey.

Dominion Energy, the states largest regulated utility, gave $15,000 to Bagbys campaign in March. Current and former executives contributed an additional $9,750. Gooch has received $1,500 from the Clean Virginia Fund, an anti-Dominion political action committee founded by Charlottesville hedge fund multi-millionaire Michael Bills.

Gooch also has raised concerns about Bagbys ties to the casino industry, with Richmond City Council voting to put a second public referendum on the ballot in November for a proposed $562 million casino resort in South Richmond that voters rejected narrowly in 2021. She opposes a second referendum, while Bagby supports it, as well as the proposed casino.

Bagby received more than $29,000 in contributions to his previous House of Delegates campaign from Alfred Liggins, president of Urban One, a partner in the proposed casino, but none during this election cycle. However, he received $10,000 this month from Betting on Virginia Jobs, a political action committee heavily backed by the developers of a casino in Bristol in far Southwest Virginia.

Most of Goochs contributions  $50,000  have come from her parents, Robert Anthony, identified by the Virginia Public Access Project as a member of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission in Oklahoma City, her hometown, and her mother, Nancy Anthony.

Bagby has raised almost $109,000 since April 1 and held a balance of $62,314 on June 8. Gooch has raised more than $76,000 since April 1 and held a balance of $10,875.

She doesnt seem to have much money, Holsworth said, but shes used it wisely.

80th House District

In the 80th House District, Dantzler appears to have a commanding fundraising advantage over Bolling on paper, but most of the $100,000 he reported in April came from a $60,000 loan he made to himself in 2021, when Bagby beat him with 91% of the vote in the Democratic primary for the old 74th House District. This year, he raised $53,500, including $45,000 from his company, Skyy Realty Group. He didnt report raising any money since the last report on April 1, but he spent just $5,000 and ended with a balance of $95,016.

Dantzler, 46, also ran as an independent candidate for Henrico Board of Supervisors in Fairfield District in 2015, losing to longtime Supervisor Frank Thornton.

Bolling, 28, is a political newcomer, but she has strong Democratic ties from her work as communications director at Virginia AFL-CIO. Her husband, Chris, was manager of former Gov. Terry McAuliffes unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in 2021. McAuliffe endorsed her in March.

She has raised almost $91,000 in the race, including $58,730 since April 1. Most of her contributions came from the AFL-CIO and other organized labor organizations, but she also received $10,000 from Dominion Energy.

Dominion provides union jobs, she said.

Dantzler is critical of Dominion campaign contributions, especially to Bagby, whom he called a politician for the corporations and not the people.

Bagby said in March that there is no way in the world he would endorse Dantzler in the primary with Bolling. Dantzler responded that he never sought Bagbys endorsement and wanted to reach the voters who didnt participate in the low-turnout primary in 2021.

Dantzler also is critical of the decision not to hold a special election for the old House district after Bagby moved to the Senate. As a result, he said in an interview that voters in the old district dont have representation if the General Assembly reconvenes this year to vote on a potential budget compromise.

But some Democrats question whether Dantzler is one of them.

Im the only true Democrat in the race, Bolling said in an interview.

Dantzler flatly denied reports that he voted for Trump. He called himself a common sense Democrat.

Im in the middle of the road, he said.

However, Dantzler is the only Democrat to be endorsed by the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a gun-rights organization that gave him a Pro-Gun rating in a survey that it said very few Democrats returned. I believe we have a mental health issue when it comes to gun violence, he said.

He said his top legislative priority is improving Virginias mental health system, which he saw fail a friend who was in trouble. It was an eye-opener to me, he said. We have these resources out there, but we need to be able to put people with these resources.

Dantzler, who said he has seven daughters, also responded to a question about his position on abortion. I believe the woman has a right to choose, he said.

He advocates for more investment in early childhood education, affordable housing and efforts to reduce income inequality.

Bolling said she is focused on funding for education, affordable internet access and streamlining the state process for certifying people as personal caregivers, after experiencing obstacles in caring for her grandmother, who suffered from dementia.

My favorite word is altruism, she said.
Those pursuing a teaching career in Virginia will soon be able to bypass the high cost and years-long commitment of earning an education degree from a university, and instead earn their credentials through an online program.

The Youngkin administration touts a new partnership with iteach, a for-profit company offering online teacher training, as a way to help curb Virginias sizable teacher shortage. As of Thursday, Virginia had more than 3,500 full-time equivalent vacancies, according to state data.

The state Board of Educations unanimous vote to approve the partnership with iteach on Thursday aligns with Gov. Glenn Youngkins Executive Directive No. 3 addressing the teacher shortage, according to Youngkin spokeswoman Macaulay Porter.

Governor Youngkin fully supports high-quality alternative pathways to becoming a teacher, Porter said. The State Board of Education rigorously reviewed iteach data to ensure that iteach will provide school divisions with another effective and efficient option for recruiting and preparing new teachers.

Virginia will be the 12th state to offer iteach as an alternate route to license either statewide or to specific school districts in their state.

Candidates with a bachelors degree can receive a provisional teaching license, which is valid for up to three years, upon completion of the 120 hours of iteachs online coursework. After completing the course work and teaching experience in a partnering, approved school division, teachers can convert their provisional license to a full, professional license. Iteach graduates in Virginia classrooms will work with a mentor.

In Virginia, a provisional license can be issued to those with a bachelors degree and the intent to complete the outstanding training requirements. The college route to complete those requirements is costly  both financially and time-wise. Iteach lessens the cost and time barriers, helping school divisions retain their provisionally licensed teacher workforce.

School division officials said Thursday one of the main reasons they sought a partnership with iteach was to help their provisionally licensed teachers complete the requirements to convert that license to a full, professional license.

More provisional licenses

Karen Riddick, the director of human resources at Greensville County Public Schools, said the rural school division about 75 miles south of Richmond employs about 187 teachers. Out of the 43 provisional licenses, 29 of them expire at the end of the month, and the teachers have not completed their educational requirements.

We need some help to be able to get these teachers licenses quicker so that we can keep these teachers in our small division, Riddick said.

Over the past few years, school divisions in Virginia have relied more heavily on provisionally licensed teachers, as opposed to fully licensed teachers.

The number of provisionally licensed teachers increased 24% during the 202122 academic year compared with the pre-pandemic average, according to a November report from Virginias Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, a state watchdog agency. The number of educators who are teaching out of field, meaning not fully endorsed in their content area, more than doubled over the same time period, according to the JLARC study.

Provisional licensing has become a bigger and bigger part of our teacher workforce and is going to become bigger and bigger, said Board of Education member Anne Holton, who served as Virginias Secretary of Education from 2014-16. I think that in light of the low-cost alternative that iteach is providing  which is a great thing  that this will become a bigger and bigger part of how our professional licensees get licensed, such that it will essentially overtake almost the whole (is) my prediction.

Holton said at Thursdays meeting: Its just a sufficiently major change that we ought to be making sure we get it right, which I know everybody on this board wants to do.

Deferred costs

The 120-hour online program is self-paced, and typically takes anywhere between three months to one year to complete, according to iteach President Andrew Rozell.

Iteach defers about 90% of the program costs until a candidate is hired as a teacher.

Candidates pay an initial fee of $250 to start the coursework, and then defer the remainder of program costs interest-free until they are hired as teachers. Monthly payment plans begin after a candidate is hired as a teacher. The total cost of the program is $3,050.

The traditional route to licensure, an education degree, costs about $13,000 on average at Virginia institutions for mandatory fees, and about $25,112 including boarding for in-state students, according to the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia.

In 2019, Virginias General Assembly passed legislation that allows for alternate routes to teacher licensure, to include alternatives to the regulatory requirements for teacher preparation. Because of that, iteach is an acceptable route to licensure, upon approval by the State Board of Education.

Twenty one of Virginias 131 school divisions applied for an alternate route to licensure through a partnership with iteachUS, including the states largest school division  Fairfax County, which enrolled more than 180,000 students this year.

Only divisions with an approved partnership with iteach can request a provisional teaching license on behalf of an iteach candidate.

The long term

While theres no debate over the idea that an alternatively licensed teacher is better than none at all, some worry that a less rigorous route to teacher licensure will come at a cost to students.

A study from the University of Texas at Austin, conducted over nine years, found that in every tested subject, students perform better if they have university-certified teachers, as opposed to those who were certified through an alternate route. For low-income students, having a university certified teacher can offset half or more of the disadvantages that come from living in poverty, according to the study.

The study also found that university-certified teachers have a higher retention rate. Over the nine-year period studied, 73% of university-certified teachers remained in the field over a nine-year period, while only 59% of alternatively certified teachers stayed in the profession over a nine-year period.

The study did not specifically reference iteach; it does not disclose which alternative provider or providers researchers studied.

Oftentimes in todays world, more time is spent on criticizing the solution to the problem than focusing on the problem, said iteach founder Diann Huber on Thursday.

The board approved the partnership with four conditions, recommended by Virginia State Superintendent Lisa Coons. The conditions include requiring that the petitioning divisions comply with the Virginia Literacy Act, and for partnering divisions and iteach to submit data on quality and effectiveness to the state each year.

State Board of Education President Dan Gecker, who raised questions about the program at the boards Wednesday work session, said Thursday that he supports the partnership with the added conditions.

You guys know how concerned I am about the long term ... Gecker said Thursday. We also have significant short-term needs. And certainly, this is better than unprepared folks in our classrooms.

Very seriously, this is a better approach to what were doing  If were willing to keep the quality assurances in place for a three-year trial, basically, I think this is a good thing for us to do.

Thursday was Geckers last meeting as a board member, along with board Vice President Tammy Mann and board member Pam Davis-Vaught. Mann and Davis-Vaught were appointed to the Board of Education for a four-year term in 2019 by then-Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat. Gecker was appointed to the board in 2015 by then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, and reappointed by Northam in 2019. He has served as the boards president since 2017.

The Times-Dispatch's 'Photo of the Day' Jan. 1, 2023 Jan. 2, 2023 Jan. 3, 2023 Jan. 4, 2023 Jan. 5, 2023 Jan. 6, 2023 Jan. 7, 2023 Jan. 8, 2023 Jan. 10, 2023 GET THE NEW TIMES-DISPATCH APP Jan. 11, 2023 Jan. 12, 2023 Jan. 13, 2023 Jan. 14, 2023 Jan. 15, 2023 Jan. 16, 2023 Jan. 17, 2023 Jan. 18, 2023 Jan. 19, 2023 Jan. 20, 2023 Jan. 21, 2023 Jan. 22, 2023 Jan. 23, 2023 Jan. 24, 2023 Jan. 25, 2023 Jan. 26, 2023 Jan. 27, 2023 Jan. 28, 2023 Jan. 29, 2023 Jan. 30, 2023 Jan. 31, 2023 Feb. 1, 2023 Feb. 2, 2023 Feb. 3, 2023 Feb. 4, 2023 Feb. 5, 2023 Feb. 6, 2023 Feb. 7, 2023 Feb. 8, 2023 Feb. 9, 2023 Feb. 10, 2023 Feb 11, 2023 Feb. 12, 2023 Feb. 13, 2023 Feb. 14, 2023 Feb. 15, 2023 Feb. 16, 2023 Feb. 17, 2023 Feb. 18, 2023 Feb. 19, 2023 Feb. 20, 2023 Feb. 21, 2023 Feb. 22, 2023 Feb. 23, 2023 Feb. 24, 2023 Feb. 25, 2023 Feb. 26, 2023 Feb. 27, 2023 Feb. 28, 2023 March 1, 2023 March 2, 2023 March 3, 2023 March 4, 2023 March 5, 2023 March 6, 2023 March 7, 2023 March 8, 2023 March 9, 2023 March 10, 2023 March 11, 2023 March 12, 2023 March 13, 2023 March 14, 2023 March 15, 2023 March 16, 2023 March 17, 2023 March 18, 2023 March 19, 2023 March 20, 2023 March 21, 2023 March 22, 2023 March 23, 2023 March 24, 2023 March 25, 2023 March 26, 2023 March 27, 2023 March 28, 2023 March 29, 2023 March 30, 2023 March 31, 2023 April 1, 2023 April 2, 2023 April 3, 2023 April 4, 2023 April 5, 2023 April 6, 2023 April 7, 2023 April 8, 2023 April 9, 2023 April 10, 2023 April 11, 2023 April 13, 2023 April 14, 2023 April 15, 2023 April 16, 2023 GET THE NEW TIMES-DISPATCH APP April 17, 2023 April 18, 2023 April 19, 2023 April 20, 2023 April 21, 2023 April 22, 2023 April 23, 2023 April 24, 2023 April 25, 2023 April 26, 2023 April 27, 2023 April 28, 2023 April 29, 2023 May 1, 2023 May 2, 2023 May 3, 2023 May 4, 2023 May 5, 2023 May 6, 2023 May 7, 2023 May 8, 2023 May 9, 2023 May 10, 2023 May 11, 2023 May 12, 2023 May 13, 2023 May 14, 2023 May 15, 2023 May 16, 2023 May 17, 2023 May 18, 2023 May 19, 2023 May 20, 2023 May 21, 2023 May 22, 2023 May 23, 2023 May 24, 2023 May 25, 2023 May 26, 2023 May 27, 2023 May 28, 2023 May 30, 2023 May 31, 2023 June 1, 2023 June 2, 2023 June 3, 2023 June 4, 2023 June 5, 2023 June 6, 2023 June 7, 2023 June 8, 2023 June 9, 2023 June 10, 2023 June 11, 2023 June 12, 2023 June 13, 2023 June 14, 2023 June 15, 2023 June 16, 2023 June 17, 2023 June 18, 2023 June 19, 2023 June 20, 2023 June 21, 2023 June 22, 2023 June 23, 2023 June 24, 2023 June 25, 2023 June 26, 2023 June 27, 2023 June 28, 2023 June 29, 2023 June 30, 2023 July 1, 2023 July 2, 2023 July 3, 2023 July 4, 2023 July 5, 2023 July 6, 2023 July 7, 2023 July 8, 2023 July 9, 2023 July 10, 2023 July 11, 2023 July 12, 2023 July 13, 2023 July 14, 2023 July 15, 2023 July 16, 2023 July 17, 2023 Jan. 18, 2023
(Image: The Malaysian Reserve/Hussein Shaharuddin)

Malaysia Building Society Bhd (MBSB), the parent company of MBSB Bank, has signed a conditional share purchase agreement with Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) to acquire Malaysian Industrial Development Finance (MIDF) for RM1.01 billion.

To pay for the deal, MBSB will issue 1.05 billion new MBSB shares at an issue price of RM0.9652 to PNB. Accordingly, this will give PNB a 12.78% stake in MBSB. Meanwhile, MBSBs other stakeholder, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), will see its stake diluted from the existing 65.87% to 57.45%.

Once the deal is through, MIDF will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of MBSB, resulting in the establishment of an enlarged banking group that can service a wider customer base that extends beyond MBSB Banks and MIDFs existing pool of customers.

The expanded network and complementary businesses from the enlarged group will also put it in a position to build a more diversified and sustainable businesses with profitable growth moving forward. Among other segments, MBSB will offer tailored services in consumer banking, commercial and SME banking, development finance, corporate banking, as well as investment banking and asset management.

(Image: Malay Mail)

The potential synergies between MBSB Bank and MIDF would enable the enlarged group to serve a wider group of customers through tailored financing, structuring, and advisory solutions. Our combined strength and expertise put us in a better position to support the business needs and growth of consumer and corporate clients, said the group chief executive officer of MBSB, Datuk Nor Azam bin M. Taib.

MBSB further said that it looks forward to a transformational change under the stewardship of an experienced management team. It expects to table the proposed acquisition for shareholders consideration by August 2023.

For context, MIDF had also previously been pursued by Al Rajhi Bank for a merger with the latters subsidiary, Al Rajhi Banking & Investment Corp (M) Bhd  back in 2019. However, the proposal fell through in 2020 after both parties were unable to overcome disagreements over the shariah law that should be implemented (either Malaysian or Saudi shariah law).

0 0 votes Article Rating

SHARE
Cozumel residents now get discount on Amerimed medical services

Cozumel, Q.R.  An agreement has been signed between Amerimed and the municipality of Cozumel that will allow residents access to their medical services with discounts. On Thursday, Deputy Renan Sanchez Tajonar signed the agreement with Samuel Gonzalez Cruz, Director of the Amerimed Cozumel Hospital Unit.

In their agreement, residents of Cozumel will now get a discount on medical services and support provided by Amerimed.

Physical health is a priority issue that involves the participation of different sectors of society, they said in their joint statement. Therein lies the importance of having access to medical services within everyones reach, explained Renan Sanchez.

Renan Sanchez thanked Amerimed for its willingness to come to an agreement that had become a great social demand of the people of Cozumel. He said that during his campaign tours, meetings and conversations with people, health was a recurring theme.

Health care implies a high cost because on many occasions the residents of Cozumel have to leave the island to receive specialized medical attention in Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Merida, which implies expenses in transportation, lodging and food, he explained.

The steps that we can take for better medical care are of the utmost importance for the people and the signing of the agreement with the Amerimed Hospital is part of this framework, which is to provide medical care to the people of the island, facilitate their access to specialized medical services with more affordable costs, he said.
New General Hospital announced for Felipe Carrillo Puerto

Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Q.R.  A new General Hospital has been announced for the town of Felipe Carrillo Puerto. Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa made the announcement Thursday with IMSS General Director Zoe Robledo.

Robledo, who heads the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), said the new hospital will be double the size of the one it will replace, going from 30 beds to 60. The new hospital, he says, will solve problems of saturation and backlogs in order to provide better health services to Quintana Roo residents.

Lezama said the new hospital is necessary to keep up with growth and heath care needs. The current one has been exceeded by the growth and care needs of the general population. The town of Felipe Carrillo Puerto currently has a population of around 26,000.

She said her government will move forward to promote and obtain the financing necessary for its construction.
Guests attend the opening ceremony of the 21st Straits Youth Forum in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 16, 2023. The 21st Straits Youth Forum kicked off Friday in Xiamen. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- In a singing competition held for students across the Taiwan Strait last year, Mao Chih-yuan, a Taiwan student at a university on the Chinese mainland, won the award for the best original song in the division of college students.

"It is more than just a plane ticket that connects both sides of the Strait. Riding a motorcycle on the serene mountain slope, I feel my horizons broadened with dreams in my mind," sang the postgraduate of the School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU).

Born in Taitung County of Taiwan, Mao chose to study on the mainland because he found that the mainland "is full of opportunities and challenges."

Like Mao, an increasing number of young people from Taiwan have come to the mainland to pursue education, find jobs or start businesses, embracing ample opportunities offered by the other side of the Strait with an open and enterprising mindset.

GREATER ACHIEVEMENTS ON A BETTER PLATFORM

Mao set foot on the mainland for the first time after being admitted to the SJTU in 2015. After completion of his undergraduate program, he continued his studies at the SJTU for a master's degree.

"The top-notch faculty and abundant learning resources of the SJTU have benefited me a lot," said Mao, adding that the outstanding alumni inspired him to become a doctor proficient in both clinical practice and scientific research.

In the past year, Mao has been actively engaged in conducting experiments, publishing papers, and writing popular science articles. "Aiming high and working hard, one deserves greater achievements on a better platform," he said.

At his leisure, Mao would write songs to record his life in Shanghai and express his love for the city.

Speaking of his future plans, Mao said he would stay in Shanghai for further studies after completing his master's program and "strive to become an excellent medical practitioner in the future."

SERVE AS DRIVING FORCE

The past year has witnessed the busy life of Lai Yen-chun, a young instructor at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law in central China's Hubei Province, who juggles her roles as a teacher, a lawyer, a mediator, and a volunteer of law education.

Coming from Taiwan and having lived in Wuhan, capital city of Hubei Province, for 14 years, Lai received higher education at Wuhan University, where she was elected as vice president of the student union in the School of Law, the first Taiwanese ever elected to the position.

During her master's program, she passed the national judicial examination and became the first legal practitioner from Taiwan in Hubei.

She has since dedicated herself to public interest services, providing legal consultations and law education for Taiwan compatriots on the mainland.

"When I came to Wuhan alone to pursue my studies, I felt at first confused and frustrated since I was unfamiliar with the city," she said. "Thanks to the care and encouragement from my teachers, classmates, friends, and the local Taiwan affairs office, I overcame the challenges and reach where I am today."

In 2022, Lai was awarded the Hubei Youth May Fourth Medal, the highest honor for outstanding individuals in the province.

Now, Lai often shares her experience with youth in Taiwan through the media. "I would like to serve as the driving force behind every youngster in Taiwan," she said.

SUPPORT DREAM SEEKERS

Coming to the mainland from Taiwan in 2009 as a dream chaser, Fanchiang-Feng, now general manager of the Qida Straits Youths Entrepreneurial and Incubation Center, has now become an entrepreneur helping others to chase their dreams.

Since establishing a start-up incubator in Xiamen in 2016, he and his team have assisted more than 40,000 young people from Taiwan to come to the mainland for exchanges and communication, and supported Taiwan youngsters in launching hundreds of start-up projects on the mainland.

Fanchiang's entrepreneurship experience enabled him to realize the importance of cooperation between Taiwan and the mainland in starting a business. "By working together, young entrepreneurs from across the Strait can learn from each other and achieve greater progress."

At Qida, each department is staffed with directors from both Taiwan and the mainland, and Qida's subsidiary companies are encouraged to have partners from both sides.

"They act as 'translators' to each other who can narrow the unnecessary information gap to the greatest extent and enhance efficiency in their work," Fanchiang said.

He believes that as the integrated development across the Strait deepens, more and more aspiring young people from Taiwan will come to the mainland to pursue their dreams on the fertile ground of opportunities.

"We youth from across the Strait should join hands to shoulder the missions of the times and live up to our youth," Fanchiang said. 
PDC Fifth Avenue records second shooting in less than 24 hours

Playa del Carmen, Q.R.  A second shooting in less than 24 hours has been reported along Fifth Avenue. On Thursday morning, the owner of a restaurant reported a gunman who shot up the facade of his business.

The shooting happened just as the Fifth Avenue eatery was opening around 9:00 a.m. While no one was injured, at least 10 shell casings were collected from the 14th Street location outside the front of the restaurant.

A concrete pillar was left with pock marks by bullets fired at the restaurant. Photo: June 15, 2023.

Several police arrived to speak with the business owner while others collected evidence from the scene. A concrete pillar was riddled with pock marks by bullets aimed at the eatery.

Nearly a dozen evidence markers were seen outside the front of the restaurant marking the casings that were left behind. City surveillance caught an image of an armed man running from the scene after the shooting.

Surveillance footage captures an armed man running from the scene.

Photo: June 15, 2023.

The area of this latest shooting is next to a business that was shut down last year for drug sales. In August of 2022, a two-part business, Animalandia and its attached restaurant, was closed by the State Attorney Generals Office due to drug sales.

On Wednesday night, a man was shot and killed along Fifth Avenue and 22nd Street after an alleged argument. The now-deceased man had a criminal history involving narcotics. That shooting left two tourists injured.
Quintana Roo health officials warning residents of dangerous daytime temperatures after two die

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Two people have died and three more remain hospitalized due to heat stroke. After a second week of 40C temperatures, state health officials are cautioning residents about being outside.

Flavio Carlos Rosado, the State Secretary of Health, said the two deaths happened in Playa del Carmen last week due to the extreme temperatures. Students across the state are being kept indoors as much as possible and all strenous outdoor activites have been canceled.

He reported that the most affected by the hot temperatures are young children and the elderly.

Quintana Roo students are being kept indoors due to the extreme heat. Photo: la Secretario de Educacion del Estado June 15, 2023.

We must be preventive, have clothing that protects us from the sun, avoid being exposed to the sun during the hottest hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., have good ventilation and stay hydrated, he said.

Health authorities around the state are recommending people take extreme precautions since some Riviera Maya temperatures have already exceeded 40C (104F) this year. On Friday, Rosado explained that the hot season of 2023 began March 19 and will carry thorough until the beginning of October.

People should wear protective clothing including hats while outside. Photo: Secretaria Estatal de Turismo June 2023.

Cancun Doctor Jose Daniel Sanchez Viveros explained that Heat stroke is sometimes difficult to diagnose because it does not always appear immediately. Human beings can present these symptoms days or even one or two weeks after exposure to the sun it can be very serious, it can cause neurological alterations, confusion, lethargy and even organ dysfunction.

As long as the patient remains well hydrated, the human body has the capacity to handle these heat loads because the hydration, perspiration and circulation that we have in our body. The problem is when the patients are elderly or pediatric, especially under five years of age, since they do not have the same capacity to handle it, he added.

In Puerto Morelos, doctors have reported a 20 percent increase in stomach issues. Sara Nohemi Rodriguez Torres, the General Directorate of Health of Puerto Morelos said that Fortunately we do not have a record of any patient with heat stroke, but in terms of gastrointestinal diseases, there is an increase of 20 percent in the municipality due to the rapidity in the decomposition of food.



Puerto Morelos doctors are reporting a 20 percent increase in gastrointestinal diseases.

Photo: Ayuntamiento de Puerto Morelos June 2023.

The State Secretary of Health says Quintana Roo ranks fourth in the country with heat-related illnesses with 5.5 percent of Mexicos cases.

In Quintana Roo, 23 people have entered hospitals with heat-related medical problems. Ten were for heat stroke and 13 were for extreme sunburns. Of those, 16 patients were admitted in Cancun, three in Playa del Carmen, three in Tulum and one in Bacalar.
The French Revolution of 1848, which began on February 22 in Paris, led to the fall of the July Monarchy in France, the founding of the Second Republic, a wave of democratic revolutions across Europe, a revival of European liberalism, and the spread of various forms of socialism. Once again, just as in 1789, the old order of life faced a crisis. Radical voices like anarchist Pierre-Joseph Proudhon even went so far as to proclaim, Property is theft!

Looking on with great concern from London as he preached a series of sermons on the Lords Prayer at Lincolns Inn chapel, the Anglican theologian and pastor F. D. Maurice, one of the principle founders of English Christian socialism, declared in his fifth sermon on March 12, Property is holy.

A sharper contrast with Proudhon is hard to imagine. Where did this difference come from? It came from Maurices theology of fatherhoodthe Fatherhood of God most of all. As Fathers Day approaches, even those of us Christians who support free markets today might have something to learn from this Christian socialist about the holy connection between fatherhood and property.

Maurice has perplexed his readers from his own time to the present. He in fact chose the name Christian socialism in an 1850 letter to describe the efforts of his small group of reformers to promote entrepreneurial worker cooperatives. Yet inthe same letter, addressed to his younger colleague, the lawyer J. M. Ludlow, he explicitly set Christian socialism in contrast to the unsocial Christians and the unchristian Socialists of his day. As his son F. Maurice put it, His great wish was to Christianise Socialism, not to Christian-Socialise the universe.

For Maurice, often to the chagrin of his younger colleagues, socialism was not political, and he opposed many of their proposed political and revolutionary ideas. Moreover, for Maurice socialism referred fundamentally to an ethic of cooperation rather than a social system, still less a world-historical dialectic. While he often opposed it to competition, he nevertheless was a cautious admirer of Adam Smith, even going so far as to claim that Smiths arguments in favor of free trade were an example of mutual support and cooperation between nations.

This cooperation could most perfectly and properly be found not in the economy or the state but in the Church of Jesus Christ, Gods divine family. As Maurice put it in the same sermon on the Lords Prayer, The principle implied in the words, No man said that which he had was his own [Acts 2:44], is the principle of the Church in all ages; its members stand while they confess this principle; they fall from her communion when they deny it. Unexpectedly, it is immediately after this that he says, Property is holy, distinction of ranks is holy: so speaks the Law, and the Church does not deny the assertion, but ratifies it.

How did (or ought) the Church ratify the holiness of property? Through grounding property upon the proclamation that Beneath all distinctions of property and of rank lie the obligations of a common Creation, Redemption, Humanity. As Maurice would write in his later work Social Morality, At my birth I am already in a Society. I am related, at all events, to a father and a mother. Starting with this reality, to Maurice, naturally leads one to see oneself in relation to God as well: I cannot be the centre of the circle in which I find myself, be it as small as it may. I refer myself to another. There is a root below me. There is an Author of my existence.

In his fifth sermon on the Lords Prayer, Maurice criticized the Church for failing to adequately proclaim this reality. As a result, She can scarcely make her voice heard against schemes for reducing all things to a common stock, for establishing fellowship upon a law of mutual selfishness, because she has not believed that the internal communion, the law of Love, the polity of members united in one Head, of brethren confessing a common Father, is a real one.

In particular, in this sermon Maurice expounded the verse Give us our daily bread (Matthew 6:11), claiming,

If we had understood that we were children of one Father and were asking Him to bless all the parts of His family, while we were seeking blessings for ourselves, that, in fact, we could not pray at all without praying for them, we should have found the answer in a new sense of fellowship between all classes, in the feeling that every man, in every position, has an office and ministry which it is his privilege to exercise for those over whom he is set.

He goes on to specify that this would transform our vision of masters and domestic help, landlords and their tenants, farmers and farmhands, manufacturers and factory workers, sellers and their clerks, and so on.

It may be that Maurice, far from being too radical, was actually a bit too paternalistic, both literally and figuratively. But in a time like ours, when the percentage of fatherless households, as of 2020, has doubled in the United States over the past 50 years, greater reflection on the importance of fathers, and more importantly of God as our heavenly Father, would do us all some good.

Im a dad. I have four sweet and wonderful children, who also annoy and stress me out on a regular basis. Thats normal, and I love them beyond measure anyway. But actually experiencing fatherhoodas Maurice himself did, including as a solo dad for several years after his first wife, Annie, died in 1844helps ground our perspective. I wish that whenever I asked my children to clean up or eat their food or get ready to go, they would dutifully snap to it out of their love for me. Sometimes they do, but often they dont. Loving obedience and personal responsibility are goals toward which good fathers aim to educate their children, not facts of the matter from the womb.

Yes, the authority of real fathers, far from being the basis for an idealized paternalism, rather points to each fathers own dependence on so many others. As Maurice put it in Social Morality: The union of the mothers influence with the fathers helps to distinguish authority from dominion.  The authority is not weakened by her co-operation; it is divested of its inhumanity; it is made effectual for the whole of the childs existence. Good fathers are grateful for all the help they can get.

Now, what was that about propertys holiness? Property enables the freedom of families, but that freedom is founded upon an eternal obligation of parents to children, and ultimately to all the fatherless of this world. This is the image of fatherhood Jesus used to teach his disciples about God, one who eagerly watches for and welcomes the prodigal son and says to those who remained with him, Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours (Luke 15:31).

So, too, all the world belongs to God. Roman Catholic social thought speaks of this in terms of the universal destination of goods. Reformed social thought frames this in terms of stewardship (also a biblical image). Yet I think there is something even deeper about Maurices image. Yes, there is a duty of justice to provide for the poor among us, and God does promise to reward good stewardship of his creation. But just as in our human families, God ultimately wants us to obey him through true filial love. That image goes one step further than justice or stewardship.

As St. James put it, Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world (James 1:27). In other words, if we are good sons and daughters of our Father in heaven, we will act as fathers to the fatherless among us, whether those lacking a parental figure (orphans) or those lacking a partner in parenthood (widows). We will see that property is holy because it belongs to the Holy One, who says to us his children, All that I have is yours, so that we might celebrate with those outcast, marginalized, and spiritually fatherless who find their way to Gods fatherly love rather than sulk that we didnt get a party for ourselves.

Maurice did this, too. Ludlow lost his father when he was only a boy, and he looked up to Maurice as a father his entire life. Ludlow had some radical tendencies himself, having spent time in Paris and been influenced by French socialists; but under Maurice, sometimes to Ludlows disappointment that more radical efforts could have been tried, his restless energy was channeled instead into an educational mission to proclaim Gods fatherly love for all his children in his Church, culminating in the founding of the Working Mens College in 1854.

If youre a dad like me, youve probably noticed that Mothers Day is a generally bigger deal than Fathers Day. Maybe that isnt something to complain about though. I dont need giftsI have gifts: four little people who call me Dad. And they teach me every day all sorts of virtues I need in order to truly deserve that hallowed name and, on my better days, be a father to others in need.

Not everyone has a happy Fathers Day on the horizon. Broken homes and relationships are a sad fact of our fallen world. With Maurice as our inspiration, perhaps we could all look around ourselves, rather than in the mirror, and find the fatherless in our communities who need someone to welcome them with open arms. And if our property serves that sacred vocation, we too should call it holy.
ROCKY MOUNT  Paul Reivens Jordan II murdered his girlfriend Heather Delaney Hodges 11 years ago, a Franklin County jury decided Thursday.

Jordan, 50, also was convicted of hiding Hodges body, which has never been located.

The verdict came after jurors heard evidence for three days in the countys circuit court  including repeated testimony describing Jordans physical abuse of Hodges during a relationship that began when Hodges was 12 and lasted about 10 years, until she disappeared in April 2012.

The jury deliberated for about one hour.

Judge Stacey Moreau scheduled a sentencing hearing for Aug. 22. Jordan faces up to 40 years in prison on the second-degree murder charge and up to five years on the concealment charge.

The case against Jordan was largely circumstantial. There was no body and no witness who saw Jordan fatally injure Hodges.

But a jail inmate who shared a cell with Jordan in 2018, when Jordan was incarcerated on a separate charge, testified that Jordan confessed to him.

Saying that he was putting his life in danger by testifying, the former cellmate said that Jordan told him that Hodges ran away and he chased her, blacked out, then came to his senses and realized that he had his hands around her throat, and that she would not wake up.

The inmate said that Jordan told him that he called someone to help deal with the situation. Jordan did not specify what he did next but said that Hodges aint coming out of that ditch, the inmate testified.

Blood was found throughout the Rocky Mount house the couple shared and DNA tests matched it to Hodges. Jordans thumbprint was found in Hodges blood on the underside of a doorknob to their bedroom.

The voice of her blood speaks to you, special prosecutor Bryan Haskins, the commonwealths attorney in Pittsylvania County, told jurors.

Haskins, who was assisted in the case by his wife Petra Haskins, an assistant prosecutor in Danville, told jurors that Jordan was upset because Hodges was planning to take their 2-year-old daughter and leave him  and that her leaving would cut off his access to her money.

Hodges and her sister had each inherited $175,000 from their grandmother in the years before Hodges disappearance, her sister Crystal Songer testified. Hodges had quickly spent much of the money. She leased a vehicle and made a rent-to-own arrangement for a house on Shady Lane.

And she bought lots of drugs.

Testimony included repeated accounts of Hodges drug use, along with that of Jordan and many of the people around them.

Hodges was paying $1,500 per week for pills, Jordan told Investigator Holly Willoughby of the Franklin County Sheriffs Office.

Speaking outside court after the verdict, Haskins credited the sheriffs office with never giving up on the case and with allowing Willoughby, who joined the Franklin County force in 2017, more time than investigators often are given.

And Haskins said that Songer also kept the case alive.

Crystal never gave up on being a squeaky wheel and trying to get some justice for her sister, he said.

The case had many unanswered questions.

Defense attorney Steven Milani of Rocky Mount asked jurors to keep in mind that DNA tests showed it was not just Hodges blood that soaked through the bedroom carpet. DNA from someone else also was found beneath the carpet  and tests by a state forensic scientist ruled out Jordan as the other person.

Jordan denied harming Hodges. He told Willoughby that he never hit Hodges but only restrained her to keep her from hitting him.

Milani, who represented Jordan along with Bruce Fickley of Roanoke, asked jurors also not to put too much emphasis on the testimony about domestic violence, noting that witnesses said that the couple often beat each other.

But Haskins noted that no witnesses described seeing bruises on Jordan, only on Hodges. He pointed to what he said was key physical difference  Jordan was about 9 inches taller and 60 pounds heavier than the 5-foot-1, 100-pound Hodges.

Jordan also was 17 years older.

In an interview transcript that Willoughby read in court, Jordan recounted meeting Hodges while selling cocaine to her mother.

When Jordan left, Hodges jumped in the damn car, and thats basically where she stayed for the next 10 years, Jordan told the investigator.
The Roanoke County School Board was lambasted by dozens of speakers Thursday evening for allowing a parent to call certain staff from Glen Cove Elementary groomers and sexual predators at its meeting last month.

Several of the speakerssome employed by the school systemalso spoke about the divisions handling of the removal of rainbows and other symbols at Glen Cove deemed to show support for LGBTQ+ students and employees.

Northside High School biology teacher Ashley Hendrix said she fully supports the Glen Cove employees.

As a proud member of the LGBT community, I am appalled and disgusted by the slander and remarks that have been said against our community, and I am also appalled by the silence of the school board who claims to be in support of all students and staff in Roanoke County, Hendrix said.

Damon Gettierfather of a student at the school who made the original complaint about the symbolsbroached the issue during the public comments section of the May 18 school board meeting.

Gettier said he became aware of rainbows in some classrooms in mid-April, while conversing with his son and another student.

What Im here to talk about is the child abuse, grooming, conditioning and indoctrination by sexual predators disguised as teachers and staff at Glen Cove Elementary, he said at the May 18 school board meeting.

While Gettier did not mention staff by name, he named jobs that only have one person in those roles at the school.

It became apparent that the guidance counselor, the school psychologist, the assistant principal and the music teacher were bent on indoctrinating our children on LGBTQA and not on reading, writing and arithmetic, Gettier said.

Gettier distributed to school board members four photos he said were from this years Glen Cove yearbook. Three depicted teachers wearing rainbow-style clothing, jewelry or accessories. The fourth was a rainbow-colored sign declaring EVERYONE WELCOME.

That is the yearbook that is being published, it was published and given out to children this year, Gettier said in May. Who would approve that? Who thought those pictures were appropriate?

A protest at Glen Cove Elementary in May that included more than 200 people was held to protest Gettiers comments and what some believe was the boards lack of response.

Other people who spoke at Thursdays meeting said the school board allowing Gettier to go after particular employees unfettered made the board complicit, and said their silence was akin to supporting his words.

I do believe right is right, wrong is wrong. Defaming others with vile baseless accusations is wrong. Providing that designation and allowing it to sit unchallenged is wrong, parent Jon Hutchens said Thursday night. Shunning children and treating them with cruelty to their most vulnerable moments is wrong. Showing children kindness and mercy is right.

Student Ravenne Weddle said ignoring LGBTQ+ students is not going to make them go away.

Maybe if we bothered to teach this in sexual education or at home in a safe place, it wouldnt seem so offensive and inappropriate when it comes up for the first time in your childs classroom ... I shouldnt have had to hide to be deserving of love and support. Supporting students is not indoctrination, but choosing to be ignorant and shielding children from learning about these very real topics is indoctrinating them to be normal, giving them no opportunity to be different from how you want them to be, Weddle told the board.

Others expressed similar concern for pretending LGBTQ+ students dont exist in schools, and said it can cause harm to students who are already at a higher risk for bullying and suicide.

Roanoke County resident Decca Knight said she is a mental health professional and is worried about the countys school system.

Im very concerned about the events that have transpired at Glen Cove Elementary and throughout the district over the past school year. I have recently become aware that the events that happened [at Glen Cove] are just part of a larger movement to restrict any LGBTQ plus discussions and awareness throughout the division ... The Trevor Project found that LGBTQ+ youth are four times as likely to attempt suicide as their peers. In fact, having one accepting adult can lower the risk of suicide by 40%. LGBTQ+ youth are also more likely than non LGBTQ+ youth to experience violence at school and have lower levels of school connectedness, she told the board.

School board Chairman Brent Hudson did not respond to an email last month about why he allowed Gettier to call out specific staff members or why he allowed him to call them sexual predators and groomers.

Hudson and board member David Linden did not address the audience during board comments either, though board members Tim Greenway and Mike Wray thanked those in attendance for speaking.

Wray was the only board member to speak to those in attendance after the meeting. He thanked Weddle for being brave and speaking to the board.

When Hudson was asked if he had time to answer a few questions after the meeting, he responded no, I dont.
With primary elections just a few days away, two Republicans are vying for their partys nomination in the race for Virginias newly redistricted 39th House of Delegates District.

Will Davis and Ron Jefferson have spent the past few weeks meeting with residents within the new district which consists of Franklin County and a small portion of southern Roanoke County. No Democrat announced a candidacy, so the June 20 primary winner will likely become the districts representative in Richmond.

Moneta resident Jefferson grew up just south of Franklin County in Henry County. His career with Appalachian Power required him to move to Rocky Mount and later to Lynchburg and eventually to Mechanicsville before he finally retired last August. Out of all the places, he said it was the four years he spent in Franklin County that felt the most like home. He moved back to the county shortly before he retired.

We just loved the people, Jefferson said of his time in Franklin County with his wife, Cindy.

Jefferson said, if elected, he would be able to hit the ground running due to his time as the state governmental and environmental affairs manager for Appalachian Power. He said the position helped him to get to know people in Richmond as well as how to get things done.

I can get to work from day one, Jefferson said.

Some of Jeffersons goals include the continued expansion of broadband internet throughout the county. He said service has improved, but some areas of Franklin and Roanoke counties still have little to no internet access.

Roads are another key issue for Jefferson, especially the secondary roads that are in need of maintenance. He plans to improve funding for the Virginia Department of Transportation to help in expediting necessary upkeep and repairs.

Jefferson also wants to bring more new jobs to the area. One location mentioned was the new Summit View Business Park just north of Rocky Mount.

In the Roanoke area, Jefferson said he would like to see an expansion of the Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport. More flights would bring more jobs as well as additional destinations for local travelers, he said.

Jefferson said he would also like to confront some of the growing statewide issues such as what he called the teaching of gender identity in schools. He is pro Second Amendment as well as pro-life, believing life begins at conception.

Franklin County native and lifelong resident Will Davis grew up on his grandparents farm in Glade Hill. While he admitted to hating it at the time, those early years working on the farm prepared him throughout life, he said.

I learned the meaning of hard work at an early age, Davis said.

Davis obtained his bachelors degree at Bridgewater College and attended law school at Regent University in Virginia Beach. After graduation he returned to Rocky Mount and joined his familys law firm, Davis Davis Davis & Davis. He is the fourth generation in his family to work for the firm.

While Davis said he has considered running for office in the past, he said the timing wasnt right due to raising his family. The timing is right now, he said of his reason for announcing he would be running just over a year ago.

One of Davis goals is to bring more economic development to Franklin and Roanoke counties. He said Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently proposed a $450 million program to assist in the funding of business ready sites in localities in Virginia. He said a portion of those funds needs to come to Summit View Business Park so its sites are ready for new businesses to move in.

He also wants to bring in more funding to improve critical roads in the area such as U.S. 220 and Virginia 122.

Davis said he is committed to supporting small businesses in Virginia through deregulation and the reduction of what he said are burdensome taxes and fees. He stated he will also work on behalf of Virginias farmers.

Davis also supports the Second Amendment and said he will fully support and fund law enforcement and first responders. He stated he will not support any red flag laws.

Davis is pro-life, stating he will defend the unborn and fight for their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

If elected, Davis said he would like assist in continuing the economic growth of Franklin and Roanoke counties and improving the lives of its residents. My goal is to leave it better than I found it, he said.

Polls will be open across the 39th District from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday.
People pursuing a teaching career in Virginia will soon be able to bypass the high cost and years-long commitment of earning an education degree from a university, and instead earn their credentials through an online program.

The Youngkin administration touts a new partnership with iteach, a for-profit company offering online teacher training, as a way to help curb Virginias sizable teacher shortage. As of Thursday, Virginia had more than 3,500 full-time equivalent vacancies, according to state data.

The state Board of Educations unanimous vote to approve the partnership with iteach on Thursday aligns with Gov. Glenn Youngkins Executive Directive No. 3 addressing the teacher shortage, according to Youngkin spokeswoman Macaulay Porter.

"Governor Youngkin fully supports high-quality alternative pathways to becoming a teacher, Porter said. The State Board of Education rigorously reviewed iteach data to ensure that iteach will provide school divisions with another effective and efficient option for recruiting and preparing new teachers.

Virginia will be the 12th state to offer iteach as an alternate route to license either statewide or to specific school districts in their state.

Candidates with a bachelor's degree can receive a provisional teaching license, which is valid for up to three years, upon completion of the 120 hours of iteachs online coursework. After completing the course work and teaching experience in a partnering, approved school division, teachers can convert their provisional license to a full, professional license. Iteach graduates in Virginia classrooms will work with a mentor.

In Virginia, a provisional license can be issued to those with a bachelor's degree and the intent to complete the outstanding training requirements. The college route to complete those requirements is costly  both financially and time-wise. Iteach lessens the cost and time barriers, helping school divisions retain their provisionally licensed teacher workforce.

School division officials said Thursday that one of the main reasons they sought a partnership with iteach was to help their provisionally licensed teachers complete the requirements to convert their provisional license to a full, professional license.

More provisional licenses

Karen Riddick, the director of human resources at Greensville County Public Schools, said that the rural school division about 75 miles south of Richmond employs about 187 teachers. Out of the 43 provisional licenses, 29 of them expire at the end of the month, and the teachers have not completed their educational requirements.

We need some help to be able to get these teachers licenses quicker so that we can keep these teachers in our small division, Riddick said.

Over the past few years, school divisions in Virginia have relied more heavily on provisionally licensed teachers, as opposed to fully licensed teachers.

The number of provisionally licensed teachers increased 24% during the 202122 academic year compared with the pre-pandemic average, according to a November report from Virginias Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, a state watchdog agency. The number of educators who are teaching out of field, meaning not fully endorsed in their content area, more than doubled over the same time period, according to the JLARC study.

Provisional licensing has become a bigger and bigger part of our teacher workforce and is going to become bigger and bigger, said Board of Education member Anne Holton, who served as Virginias Secretary of Education from 2014-16. I think that in light of the low-cost alternative that iteach is providing  which is a great thing  that this will become a bigger and bigger part of how our professional licensees get licensed, such that it will essentially overtake almost the whole (is) my prediction.

Holton said at Thursdays meeting: It's just a sufficiently major change that we ought to be making sure we get it right, which I know everybody on this board wants to do."

Deferred costs

The 120-hour online program is self-paced, and typically takes anywhere between three months to one year to complete, according to iteach President Andrew Rozell.

Iteach defers about 90% of the program costs until a candidate is hired as a teacher.

Candidates pay an initial fee of $250 to start the coursework, and then defer the remainder of program costs interest-free until they are hired as teachers. Monthly payment plans begin after a candidate is hired as a teacher. The total cost of the program is $3,050.

The traditional route to licensure, an education degree, costs about $13,000 on average at Virginia institutions for mandatory fees, and about $25,112 including boarding for in-state students, according to the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia.

In 2019, Virginias General Assembly passed legislation that allows for alternate routes to teacher licensure, to include alternatives to the regulatory requirements for teacher preparation. Because of that, iteach is an acceptable route to licensure, upon approval by the State Board of Education.

Twenty one of Virginias 131 school divisions applied for an alternate route to licensure through a partnership with iteachUS, including the states largest school division  Fairfax County, which enrolled more than 180,000 students this year.

Only divisions with an approved partnership with iteach can request a provisional teaching license on behalf of an iteach candidate.

The long term

While theres no debate over the idea that an alternatively licensed teacher is better than none at all, some worry that a less rigorous route to teacher licensure will come at a cost to students.

A study from the University of Texas at Austin, conducted over nine years, found that in every tested subject, students perform better if they have university-certified teachers, as opposed to those who were certified through an alternate route. For low-income students, having a university certified teacher can offset half or more of the disadvantages that come from living in poverty, according to the study.

The study also found that university-certified teachers have a higher retention rate. Over the nine-year period studied, 73% of university-certified teachers remained in the field over a nine-year period, while only 59% of alternatively certified teachers stayed in the profession over a nine-year period.

The study did not specifically reference iteach; it does not disclose which alternative provider or providers researchers studied.

Oftentimes in today's world, more time is spent on criticizing the solution to the problem than focusing on the problem, said iteach founder Diann Huber on Thursday.

The board approved the partnership with four conditions, recommended by Virginia State Superintendent Lisa Coons. The conditions include requiring that the petitioning divisions comply with the Virginia Literacy Act, and for partnering divisions and iteach to submit data on quality and effectiveness to the state each year.

State Board of Education President Dan Gecker, who raised questions about the program at the boards Wednesday work session, said Thursday that he supports the partnership with the added conditions.

You guys know how concerned I am about the long term ..." Gecker said Thursday. "We also have significant short-term needs. And certainly, this is better than unprepared folks in our classrooms.

Very seriously, this is a better approach to what we're doing  If we're willing to keep the quality assurances in place for a three-year trial, basically, I think this is a good thing for us to do.

Thursday was Geckers last meeting as a board member, along with board Vice President Tammy Mann and board member Pam Davis-Vaught. Mann and Davis-Vaught were appointed to the Board of Education for a four-year term in 2019 by then-Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat. Gecker was appointed to the board in 2015 by then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, and reappointed by Northam in 2019. He has served as the boards president since 2017.
" " We bet we know what your lucky number is. Kristin Lee/Getty Images

Name a color  the first one that pops into your head. Now, pick a number between zero and nine.

If you're like many people around the world, you picked blue and seven. In fact, in studies from around the globe, people tended to pick blue and seven so often that it has a name, the blue-seven phenomenon.

Advertisement

Maybe you're saying, "Wait a minute, I didn't pick blue or seven." Well, of course not everyone does, but proportionately more people make those two selections. For example, in the first such study to identify the phenomenon  1971 in the U.S.  40 percent of people selected blue and 30 percent selected seven. Both choices were also the favorites of people in Kenyan and Australian studies.

So, the question is, why?

Researcher and professor Miho Saito took a look at some of the existing data and proposed a few explanations in her own 2015 study on Japanese students. Here, 37 percent picked blue and 22 percent picked seven, the top choices.

" " Everyone loves the color blue. PeskyMonkey/Getty Images

It turns out blue is not considered taboo in any culture, which might help explain its universal appeal. Subjects selected favorite colors that were connected to feelings of pleasantness and described by those surveyed as beautiful, agreeable and bright. Red  another beautiful and bright color  and white were also popular choices, with white being reported as "clean, chaste, neutral and light," according to Saito's study.

When she asked people why they chose seven, she found that seven was considered a lucky number and represented happiness. She also discovered that the other top contenders for preferred numbers were odd numbers too  odds were chosen 68 percent of the time. But there were gender differences. Men selected the number one more than women, saying it represented being No. 1 or "top." Women selected five more often than men, for reasons as varied as liking the shape to it representing a birthday.

Next up, Saito plans to research whether these preferences are innate or a result of cultural conditioning.

Now Thats Interesting Marketers have long been interested in the psychology of color as they try to gain every advantage when selling their products. Take a look at the impact color has on whether you buy and youll never look at ads the same way again.
 Florida completes its fourth execution of 2023 of a man who spent nearly 40 years on death row | Main | Supreme Court unanimously limits reach of  924(c)'s consecutive sentence mandate in federal law 

June 16, 2023

Massachusetts high court rules defense attorney's racism created actual conflict of interest to establish ineffective assistance

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court yesterday issued a notable unanimous ruling concerning defense representation in Commonwealth v. Dew, No. SJC-13356 (Mass. June 15, 2023) (available here). Here is how the opinion for the Court gets started:

The defendant, Anthony J. Dew, is a Black man of the Muslim faith. Indigent and facing multiple felony charges, the defendant was appointed counsel who openly posted, on his social media account, his vitriolic hatred of and bigotry against persons of the Muslim faith; his unabashed anti-Muslim rants were matched only by his equal scorn for and racism against Black persons. Some of these postings occurred while counsel was representing the defendant. Indeed, counsel's intolerance and prejudice seeped into his representation of the defendant. At least twice, counsel chastised the defendant for wearing religious garb, demanding that the defendant not wear "that shit" again; once, he refused to speak to the defendant because the defendant was wearing a kufi prayer cap in contravention of counsel's directive. At their final meeting, counsel advised the defendant to accept a plea deal, which the defendant did. Several years later, counsel's bigotry came to the attention of the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), which suspended him for no less than one year as a result. After learning of counsel's anti-Muslim, racist postings, the defendant filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea and obtain a new trial on the ground that his court-appointed counsel had an actual conflict of interest. We conclude that the conflict of interest inherent in counsel's bigotry against persons of the defendant's faith and race, which manifested during counsel's representation of the defendant, deprived the defendant of his right to effective assistance of counsel -- a right upon which our entire system of criminal justice depends to ensure a "fair trial." See Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335, 344 (1963). See also Lavallee v. Justices in the Hampden Superior Court, 442 Mass. 228, 235 (2004), citing Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 685 (1984). No additional showing of "prejudice" is required. The motion judge's conclusion to the contrary was in error; we now vacate the defendant's convictions and remand for a new trial.

Notably, the defendant in this case had pleaded guilty, and the lower court had rejected his ineffectiveness claim due to the absence of a showing of clear prejudice. The Massachusetts SJC explained that such a showing was not needed to make out his constitutional ineffectiveness claim in this context:

Although we cannot know with certainty whether Doyle's actions or inactions during the course of the representation were "motivated by anything other than [the defendant's] best interest," Hodge, 386 Mass. at 168, on the record before us, we cannot credibly assume that Doyle's representation was not affected by his virulent anti-Muslim and racist views, see Ellis, 947 F.3d at 562 (Nguyen, J., concurring) (when defense counsel makes "discretionary decisions in disregard of the client's interests on account of counsel's racism, the cumulative effect will be to impair the defense, but there is no way to pinpoint how it does so"). Importantly, we cannot know whether an attorney who did not share the animus Doyle harbored for persons of the Muslim faith and Black persons would have negotiated a better plea agreement. Nor can we know whether Doyle's other actions in the case were unaffected by his views regarding Black, Muslim individuals. Where, as the record shows was the case here, counsel harbors a deep-seated animus for persons of the defendant's race or religion, we cannot presume zealous advocacy; nor can we ask the defendant to prove how his counsel's bigotry might have affected the plea deal or otherwise impaired the representation, especially in view of the record that Doyle's bias reared its head in connection with his treatment of the defendant. There are "many invisible ways in which counsel's bias could have affected the [proceeding]," Ellis, supra at 563 (Nguyen, J., concurring), and the defendant need not engage in "a speculative inquiry into what might have occurred in an alternate universe" had he been appointed unbiased counsel, Francis, 485 Mass. at 101, quoting Gonzalez-Lopez, 548 U.S. at 150.

June 16, 2023 at 09:12 AM | Permalink

Comments

Not knowing the exact details of the Massachusetts case, but I am not sure that I buy the conclusion. Obviously racial bias and religious bias is something significant and attorneys should consider whether they can provide a defense under these circumstances, but back in my public defender days when dinosaurs walked the earth, I had a robbery defendant who was essentially caught in the act and wanted to present a fiat money/gold standard libertarian-type defense. On the personal level, I disagreed entirely with the ideology underlying the defense, but I understood the (erroneous) concepts behind the defense enough to present that defense and felt that it was ultimately the client's call as to overall theme of the defense. So personal distaste for a defense and a defendant does not automatically equate to a conflict of interest that impairs the ability to present a defense.

Posted by: tmm | Jun 16, 2023 10:56:04 AM

tmm --

How many years did the fellow get when the court saw that he was not just a robber but a lunatic?

Posted by: Bill Otis | Jun 16, 2023 12:15:31 PM

We have jury sentencing. This was the second robbery at the bank (first one was a year before). Defendant denied being the robber from the year before but the tellers said it was the same person. So jury gave something like 30 years on each count and judge ran consecutive. Had to take a change of judge because the local judge (small town) was on the board of directors of the bank.

Posted by: tmm | Jun 16, 2023 1:14:38 PM

tmm --

Thanks. I'm glad that juries still get it that armed robbery isn't such a good thing.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Jun 16, 2023 3:06:05 PM

That was back in the 90s and was a rural jury. Not sure that juries today would give the same number as the crime rate is much lower.

Posted by: tmm | Jun 16, 2023 5:26:46 PM

Id be more impressed with the defense bar if their bigotry was against pedos and killers of grandma.

Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 16, 2023 5:34:28 PM

TarlsQtr --

Here's today's verdict against the synagogue shooter: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/16/us/pittsburgh-synagogue-shooting-verdict.html?campaign_id=57&emc=edit_ne_20230616&instance_id=95369&nl=the-eveningi_id=171086462&segment_id=135959&te=1&user_id=97e470aaaf9cc8014c5c97aebe4559c9

I'll be waiting for the abolitionist/anti-Semitic crowd to tell us why the death penalty is unjust in this specific case. I suspect we'll get the standard talking points about how society is to blame -- if we get anything at all. They tend to hunker down when their ideological baggage becomes as embarrassing as it is in this case.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Jun 16, 2023 6:18:13 PM

Agree Bill. What I don't get is the vehemence against capital punishment. I can deal with the idea that the state shouldn't have the right to take the life of one of its citizens. Maybe someone doesn't think capital punishment is worth it--after all, ordinary people are brought into taking a life. But these are not burning moral questions--unlike, say, the mutilation of the genitals of children. There's something more afoot. The moral preening, the self-righteousness. The reality is that these people did some horrible stuff, and they deserve to pay. Is there any reason why this guy should get to breathe?

And Bill, you don't go quite far enough--they are not just saying that society is to blame, but that we deserve the predations of criminals. Why do you think that evil scum Bragg is prosecuting people who have acted in self-defense/defense of others.

Posted by: federalist | Jun 16, 2023 6:26:03 PM

federalist --

"The moral preening, the self-righteousness."

DING DING DING

The majority of the American people, every American President in a non-decrepit state, the Supreme Court, long historical precedent, and all six of the world's most populous countries approve (and those countries actively use) the death penalty. But the abolitionists have their wagging fingers in the air. Modesty is not in them.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Jun 16, 2023 7:23:27 PM

As the charter members of the "Madame LaFarge Furthering Society" bombard this blog site with their unending campaign seeking to convince us all that the pursuit of vengence, satisfaction of bloodlust, and cult-like dedication to the pursuit of terminal retribution is always and forever justified as it is carried out in the name of "justice"...defined as whatever THEY say it is...I would like to voice my opposition to their cause.

As a Jew and an American...I have no problem having the hate-filled miscreant murderer (who similarly sought vengence against those whom HE perceived as 'unworthy' and 'desrving of death') spend the entirety of his remaining years locked in a cell 23 hours a day. That works just fine for me.

Neither Bill Otis nor other members of the Furthering Society speak for me, nor do they speak for 45% of the country's voting population who oppose capital punishment (approximately 75 million Americans).

Here are the latest poll #s on the death penalty:

https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/news/polls-death-penalty-support-remains-near-50-year-low-despite-record-high-perception-that-crime-has-increased

Posted by: SG | Jun 16, 2023 11:34:22 PM

Sorry for the typo...it should read "Madame DeFarge".

Posted by: SG | Jun 16, 2023 11:36:49 PM

As the charter members of the "Madame DeFarge Furthering Society" bombard this blog site with their unending campaign seeking to convince us all that the pursuit of vengence, satisfaction of bloodlust, and cult-like dedication to the pursuit of terminal retribution is always and forever justified as it is carried out in the name of "justice"...defined as whatever THEY say it is...I would like to voice my opposition to their cause.

As a Jew and an American...I have no problem having the hate-filled miscreant murderer (who similarly sought vengence against those whom HE perceived as 'unworthy' and 'desrving of death') spend the entirety of his remaining years locked in a cell 23 hours a day. That works just fine for me.

Neither Bill Otis nor other members of the Furthering Society speak for me, nor do they speak for 45% of the country's voting population who oppose capital punishment (approximately 75 million Americans).

Here are the latest poll #s on the death penalty:

https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/news/polls-death-penalty-support-remains-near-50-year-low-despite-record-high-perception-that-crime-has-increased

Posted by: SG | Jun 16, 2023 11:38:04 PM

computer problems...so sorry for the duplication...

Posted by: SG | Jun 16, 2023 11:39:16 PM

SG --

1. Your computer is working better than your brain.

2. What I said was, "The majority of the American people, every American President in a non-decrepit state, the Supreme Court, long historical precedent, and all six of the world's most populous countries approve (and those countries actively use) the death penalty." You conspicuously don't take issue with a single one of those facts, and instead put up a poll that CONFIRMS that a majority continues to support the DP. Thank you!

3. "Neither Bill Otis nor other members of the Furthering Society speak for me..."

That's for sure! I'm not a big fan of fentanyl, meth, crack, etc. either, or for beating the bushes to find excuses for people who sell them.

4. "...nor do they speak for 45% of the country's voting population who oppose capital punishment (approximately 75 million Americans)."

Trump got more than that (46.9% of the popular vote), so he must be President after all, just like he says! Far out!! To heck with this majority rule stuff.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Jun 17, 2023 12:33:16 PM

SG,

Dont worry. Only you worry about typos, even if there isnt one.

And thank you for showing you arent really the serious poster you claim to be.

And please show where anyone has said the DP is, always and forever justified.

Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 17, 2023 1:15:23 PM

I'm tempted to read the 12 hour plea for mercy made by Clarence Darrow for the sentencing of Lobe & Leopold. I remember when Leopold was released and worked in a lab in Puerto Rico for the remainder of his life. There must be a powerful argument for mercy in the plea.

Posted by: beth curtis | Jun 17, 2023 1:48:56 PM

SG,

One thing I am curious about.

Are you a supporter of compassionate release for elderly and dying inmates?

Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 17, 2023 7:06:51 PM

tmm, I disagree with you on this one. It's one thing for a lawyer to loathe a defendant in his heart; it's quite another for the lawyer to express that loathing on the record.

"Where, as the record shows was the case here, counsel harbors a deep-seated animus for persons of the defendant's race or religion, we cannot presume zealous advocacy; nor can we ask the defendant to prove how his counsel's bigotry might have affected the plea deal or otherwise impaired the representation, especially in view of the record that Doyle's bias reared its head in connection with his treatment of the defendant." Even the the defendant who has committed the most heinous of crimes is entitled to a zealous defense; indeed, the more ore heinous the crime and the more despised the defendant, the more zealous the defense is supposed to be (at least theoretically). In any event, justice must satisfy the appearance of justice. When I was the federal public defender in Hawaii, I was appointed to represent an ex-nazi concentration camp guard. I knew I could't provide zealous representation; I could hardly look at him. So I moved to be relieved and got off the case. The lawyer in this case should have done the same thing. The court got this one right.



Posted by: Michael R. Levine | Jun 17, 2023 9:47:42 PM

Tarls,

Yes.

Posted by: SG | Jun 18, 2023 10:15:19 PM

SG,

Then how can you say, l have no problem having the hate-filled miscreant murderer (who similarly sought vengence against those whom HE perceived as 'unworthy' and 'desrving of death') spend the entirety of his remaining years locked in a cell 23 hours a day?

In other words, you would not support he, spend the entirety of his remaining years locked in a cell 23 hours a day, if he became old, frail, or sick.

This is the bait and switch your ilk always pull. You just said the quiet part out loud.

Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 19, 2023 1:20:10 AM

Tarls,

Your heightened emotionality precludes your ability to think critically, evidently. If this 'person' should become terminally ill, physically incapacitated, and unable to care for himsef, then one must conclude that he presents absolutely no danger to the community. If he is then relocated to a facility equipped to handle such infirmities, I would have no problem with such an alternative. Chances are though, the miscreant will end up much the same way as the Unibomber.

You, on the other hand, would choose to spend 100,000 +/- of taxpayers dollars per year to care for this person?

Posted by: SG | Jun 19, 2023 8:25:39 PM

SG,

But that is clearly not what you said. Your claim was that you would be happy to see him in die in prison.

Then, immediately after, you went right to an exception. We both know there would be more to come.

Would you support him dying in prison if he was 16 at the time of the murders.

Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 19, 2023 11:21:08 PM

Tarls,

Are you actually advocating for a juvenile to be LWOPd?? That would be a clear violation of the 8th amendment. Cmon, Tarls. Critical thinking?

Posted by: SG | Jun 20, 2023 3:39:41 AM

It would be a clear violation of the 8th Amendment? SCOTUS doesnt agree with you.

So, we are already at two exceptions.

Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 20, 2023 1:40:53 PM

Tarls,

What happened in your life to make you so vengeful? You are not "within normal parameters" when it comes to seeking retribution. And you are seemingly joined by your fellow "Madame DeFarge Furthering Society" members in calling for the most severe and cruel sentencing schemes. "Guillotine! Guillotine" must be tatooed across your chest. Very puzzling indeed.

Posted by: SG | Jun 20, 2023 10:09:55 PM

SG,

Thats called an ad hominem and red herring (BOGO!). Want to try again? BTW, its my critical thinking that makes your games so easily recognizable.

Fact: You said you were happy with the guy spending his entire life in prison.

Fact: You then made an exception for the elderly and infirm.

Fact: You then made another exception for 16-17 year olds convicted of heinous crimes calling it, a clear violation of the 8th Amendment, even though SCOTUS disagreed with you in a not even particularly close 6-3 vote.

The topic is that your, spend the entirety of his remaining years locked in a cell 23 hours a day, comment is as dishonest and has more exceptions than an extended car warranty contract.

Lets stick to your dishonest/misleading statements.

Posted by: TarlsQtr | Jun 20, 2023 11:32:36 PM

Post a comment
MOSCOW, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Russia has called upon the UN Security Council to facilitate investigations into the sabotage of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines, a Russian diplomat said Thursday.

During a press briefing, Dmitry Polyanskiy, first deputy permanent representative of Russia to the United Nations, said, "We have drawn the attention of our colleagues in the Security Council to the fact that the so-called national investigations conducted by Sweden, Germany, and Denmark are not progressing."

He refuted claims that Russia had knowledge of the progress of these investigations, stressing that Russia would seek international investigations and the punishment of those responsible for the sabotage.

"My country will do everything possible to understand the reasons behind this incident. We will strive for an international investigation and the punishment of those behind this heinous crime," he said.

The Nord Stream pipelines, which transported natural gas from Russia to European markets via Germany, were severely damaged last September after blasts in the Baltic Sea. The Nord Stream 1 was in operation at the time of the explosion and the Nord Stream 2, though not operational, was filled with gas. 
Rummage Sale

St. Paul United Methodist Church, 2003 A St., South Sioux City, will hold a church-wide rummage sale from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 16, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 17. There will be a lunch counter and bake sale, as well as morning coffee and rolls available for purchase. The church asks community members to collect treasures to donate; donations are tax deductible. Membership in St. Paul is not required to participate. Item pickup can be arranged by contacting Rose Dudley at 712-330-9081.

Food Giveaway

Mayflower Congregational UCC, 1407 W. 18th St., will host its monthly Food Giveaway from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 17. The event is a drive-up or walk-up service in front of the church.

Overnight Experience at the Warming Shelter

St. John Lutheran Church, in partnership with the Warming Shelter, 916 Nebraska St., will host an overnight experience beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 23. Participants will experience firsthand the day-to-day struggles those who are facing homelessness experience while living in an emergency shelter. They will gain understanding through simulations that mimic real-life situations of barriers that those in the shelter are facing. The event is meant to give attendees the opportunity to take an educated stance of their own against homelessness.

Tickets can be purchased by contacting Pastor Wayne Gallipo at stjohnlutheranpastor@gmail.com or by calling 712-277-3945 between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m., or contact Shayla at 712-301-9808 during normal business hours.

Pancake Breakfast

St. John Lutheran Church, 2801 Jackson St., will host a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., on Saturday, June 24, in the southern parking lot. Menu will include pancakes, sausage, eggs, coffee, juice, milk, butter, and syrup. Free will offering for breakfast will go to the St. John Food Pantry.

Summer Worship

St. Mark Lutheran Church ELCA begins Wednesday evening worship in the summer months at 7 p.m. All are welcome for this brief service of prayer, scripture, and Holy Communion. St. Mark is in the east Morningside neighborhood at 5200 Glenn Ave.

Food pantry

St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 1200 Douglas St., will have its food pantry open from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays.
China draws regulatory bottom line on blind-box businesses

Xinhua) 09:05, June 16, 2023

BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- China's top market regulator unveiled a trial guideline on Thursday to improve the regulation of the blind-box industry.

The document, released by the State Administration for Market Regulation, banned some items from being sold in these boxes, including medicine, medical equipment, live animals, and flammable and explosive objects.

Sales of these boxes to minors under the age of eight are prohibited, said the document, urging vendors to keep minors from becoming addicted to playing with blind boxes.

Merchandisers should publicize information about the value of the blind boxes' contents, the rules for drawing these boxes, and the probabilities of the outcomes, per the document. They are also encouraged to help maintain shoppers' rationality by setting caps on monetary spending and the number of purchases.

The guideline also banned blind box contents that offend social morality and public order.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun)
HAVANA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Iran and Cuba have reaffirmed their common stance in the face of challenges and vowed to boost bilateral ties as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi concluded his official visit here Thursday.

"The conditions and circumstances Cuba and Iran are going through have many things in common," Raisi said in meetings with Cuban revolutionary leader Raul Castro as well as Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, referring to U.S. sanctions against both countries.

Iran is a friendly nation, with which Cuba feels confident to discuss the most complex global topics, President Diaz-Canel said. "Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba and Iran are countries that heroically have had to face, with a tenacious resistance, the sanctions, threats, blockades, and interferences of U.S. imperialism and its allies."

Raisi, who arrived here Wednesday, visited Cuba's Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, and attended a business forum aimed at enhancing bilateral commercial bounds as well as a ceremony for the signing of agreements in the field of foreign affairs, customs, telecommunications and law.

"His (Raisi's) official visit will continue to enhance bilateral relations, whose 44th anniversary will soon be marked, and to boost links in sectors of mutual interest," Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla tweeted.

Raisi's visit to Cuba shows the "excellent state of diplomatic relations between Iran and Cuba as well as the will of both governments to increase economic and commercial relations," said Cuba's state media outlet Cubadebate.

The two countries established diplomatic relations on August 8, 1979.

This was Raisi's first visit to Cuba and the last stop of his Latin American tour including Nicaragua and Venezuela. 
On Sunday morning, a truck carrying 8,500 gallons of gasoline lost control and crashed going north on I-95 in Philadelphia, igniting a fire that caused a nearly 100-foot elevated section of highway to collapse in its entiretyand severing one of Americas most vital arteries, a road running from Florida to Maine. The photos of the damage are stunning. The videos of cars driving over highway subsection just minutes before it crumbled are chilling.

But if the human need for speed trumps any internal instinct that says do not drive over an overpass that is actively on fire, then surely many people are wondering: When can we fix this thing? Roughly 160,000 vehicles traversed the bridge daily, and it is now unusable in both directions.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The first thing commuters should know is that collapses like this one really are exceedingly rare. It was a freak accident, Abieyuwa Aghayere, a professor of civil engineering at Drexel University, told me, laying out what he thought likely caused the collapse. The bridge was only 10 years old, Pennsylvanias secretary of transportation said this week, and was up to current standards. Aghayere suggested that a perfect cocktail of flammable gasoline, relatively lackadaisical bridge fireproofing standards, and the heating of the bridges steel supports could have done. Aghayere, who happens to teach a graduate-level course on failure analysis, explained that its not that a bridge doesnt have any fire resistanceit has some. But because people dont live on a bridge, we dont necessarily fireproof in the way we would a home, and the steel that you can see on the underside of a bridge will often lack the same fire-resistant coating that steel inside a building would have. When it heats up quickly, it can become malleable, bend, and finally collapse. Going forward, Aghayere would like to see better fireproofing on overpasses and bridges. An intumescent coating on steel girders and beams can delay the loss in strength for many more hours during a fire, he says.

Advertisement

Advertisement

While officials say a precise timeline for rebuilding the bypass is unknown, on Tuesday they did share a general plan for the process. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro issued a proclamation of disaster emergency, allowing the state to immediately draw down federal funds and move quickly to begin the repair and reconstruction process, he announced. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the recovery would receive significant federal support. At a press conference, Shapiro touted a public-private coalition of tradespeople, construction firms, and state and federal agencies, and described a plan to backfill the gap in I-95 and build a temporary six-lane roadway over the collapsed portion of the road while the full rebuilding takes place. Demolition of the collapsed site was expected to be finished Thursday, Shapiro said. There is now an official livestream of the site.

Advertisement

Advertisement

What about fixing it for good? The duration, Brookings Institution Transportation Economics Senior Fellow Cliff Winston told me, is largely dependent on the incentives for the private sector that officials provide as part of the rebuilding process. He pointed to previous projects like the rebuilding of a portion of Interstate 580 in Oakland in 2007. That was a case where crews sure enough got it done much quicker than people expected, Winston said. The entire rebuild took 26 days.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Similarly, Atlanta pulled off a quick rebuild after a devastating construction fire in 2017 caused a section of I-85 to collapse (the size of the collapse was similar to wreckage in Philadelphia, Aghayere told me). While the event caused massive strain to other infrastructure in the area by diverting commuters onto smaller roads and public transportation routes with lower capacities, the bridge was rebuilt soundly after 43 days, with the help of $3 million in bonuses for the contractors as incentives for quicker construction, federal funding authorization, and subsidized transit fares for affected commuters during the process. While the conditionslocation, weather, funding, local infrastructureof these rebuilding projects have a bearing on their success, both Winston and Aghayere suggested looking at how the undertakings were structured financially and logistically.

Advertisement

Aghayere also pointed to the early 2022 bridge collapse in Pittsburgh. That took less than a year to fix, and was able to draw on federal funds. When money is available and theres an emergency declaration, I foresee a fast-tracking of the replacement of this bridge in Philadelphia, he said. Im thinking that this should not take more than six months for them to replace it.

Advertisement

Until then, locals already seem to have adjusted to life without I-95. Traffic delays were relatively piddly this week, suggesting fewer commuters than usual even got in their carsand offering something of a natural experiment in the concept of induced demand. (Its, dare I suggest, a good thing?)

Advertisement

Advertisement

Anyway, so how does this all get done? All day and all of the night. Shapiro told reports on Tuesday that when yall are sleeping in the middle of the night, when Im sleeping in the middle of night, these guys are going to be working on this road. Perhaps you could try falling asleep to the sweet sounds of tractors and bulldozers?
R.I.P. Cormac McCarthy. I never met him, but I once had a relationship with him from rooting through his trash.

This was in the 1990s in the West Texas borderlandsin El Paso, where he lived at the time. El Paso by then was a sprawling city of hundreds of thousands, but so far off the grid of the metropolitan imagination that when Id relocated there from the East Coast for grad school, my friends warned me there wouldnt be any movie theaters. Of course there were, and when I went through McCarthys garbage I was not surprised to find hed gone to one. Probably with a date: in the bag were two ticket stubs for Il Postino.

Advertisement

I saw movies, too; Id stuck around El Paso, raised my kids there, and embraced the city. Besides border journalism I did immigrant civil rights activism. I became an assistant Girl Scout leader. I joined Planned Parenthoods board of directors and the board of the public library. Like so many public resources in poverty-stricken El Paso, the struggling library was constantly trying to drum up money. A few writer luminaries lived in the city, and whenever we asked them to give benefit readings, people like Abraham Verghese showed up. But not Cormac, as we locals called him.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

National stories about Cormac portrayed him as a Lone Ranger type, possibly a hermit, maybe residing in some cave in the desert. In El Paso, meanwhile, everyone knew he was living in the nicest part of town, attending trendy dinner parties, and dating a judge. The disconnect irritated me. He was often sighted at the vintage cafeteria Lubys, eating the bargain lunch plate. Awestruck, people would shyly approach with their dog-eared copies of Blood Meridian and ask for an autograph. He always refused.

Advertisement

Sometimes my indignation made me feel like the asshole. Id read All the Pretty Horses and some of Blood Meridian. Im from a Texan Jewish family who, by the time I was born, had quietly struggled for five generations to be fully accepted by a state that once belonged to the Confederacy. Id felt put off by the casual, Southern-WASP machismo and violence in Cormacs work. Yet I was transfixed by the deep beauty of his language. What does a writer owe to the world? I asked myself. Nothing! Nothing at all but to write.

Related from Slate Laura Miller The Grim Return of Cormac McCarthy Read More

Still, I thought, the most famous literato in America was sucking his mojohis descriptions of the landscape, the cowboy English, the Mexican Spanish, the horses!from the borderlands. Yet he contributed nothing to his borderland communitys library. He was practically a natural resource, but he was going to waste. Could we utilize him for the commonweal without making demands on his time?

Advertisement

Advertisement

My eventual answer: Yes, by going through his trash.

I lived ten minutes from his house, a dirty-white adobe shaped like an indigenous, Southwestern bread oven. Trash pickup was on a certain day every week, and I learned that once its on the curb its public property. Cormac put his out the day before. On four or five occasions I drove up at twilight and dashed to the garbage cans, furtively glancing around to see if Cormac was anywhere in sight or if the neighbors were looking (he wasnt; they werent). As I tossed the bags in my back seat then turned my key in the ignition, I felt brave and a little punky. Back home, the first time I picked through a bag I felt mean and small, looking at the balled-up Kleenexes and worn-out Dr. Scholls foot cushions.

Advertisement

Advertisement

As I write this after almost 30 years of not thinking about it, I know it may sound utterly, totally creepy. Indeed, many at the time were disgusted by what I was doing, including a lot of my friends. Others, also frustrated by Cormacs lack of civic engagement, thought it was brilliant. The controversy remained mostly local; the Internet barely existed and we hardly knew about A.J. Weberman and his earlier obsession with Bob Dylan garbology. Many of Cormacs discards seemed deliciously revealing.

Advertisement

Advertisement

I made a list of my favorite cullings and sent it to Harpers magazine. An editor loved it and prepared to run it in the Readings section. We were editing when suddenly the list was killed. My editor told me that top editors has seen the draft, had a shit fit, and denounced what Id done as immoral.

Advertisement

I just went down to my basement and found the list, after almost three decades. Here are some of the items:

One deer jawbone Two hand-drawn sketches of late-1960s Buick Rivieras (Cormac had two such vehicles in his yard) 80-capsule jar, empty, Saw Palmetto berries April and May 1996 issues of Popular Hot Rodding magazine Spotlight, the bulletin of ultra-right, anti-Semitic conspiracy theorist Texe Marrs. (I always gave Cormac the benefit of the doubt  Oh, he must be doing research!) Certified letter from Rent-A-Car, warning that hes had the car for a month and if he doesnt return it he will be charged with criminal embezzlement Another sun-bleached deer jawbone The newsletter of the Faulkner Society April 1996 Worth magazine Solicitation, Republican National Committee 1996 sustaining membership Solicitation from the Conservative Book Club, for people who are tired of liberal misinformation and propaganda Third deer jawbone Audiobook packaging for Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus on cassette Victorias Secret catalogue Deer jawbone

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

My charity scheme for the library was to auction off the trash, or just give it away as favors, during an awards gala for the annual Bad Cormac writing contesta cheeky local spin on the International Imitation Hemingway and Faux Faulkner competitions. Bad Cormac ran for two years; people paid a few bucks per 500-word entry to compete. I got dozens of submissions, from professional writers nationwide, to amateur adults across Texas, to local high school kids. Most of the entries riffed off of All the Pretty Horses, Cormacs 1992 novel and his first bestseller. One first-place winner began: In Terlingua a man walked up to John Grady Cole and said without preamble, my name is Perez, and am Commander of the Chili.

Advertisement

At the awards ceremonies I tried to distribute some trash. Most people demurred. As for the library, they didnt want the trash either, though they welcomed the contest money.

A few major publications mentioned the stunt, and then everyone, including me, forgot about it. Cormac eventually left El Paso for much more prosperous and trendy Santa Fe. Before he departed, I heard from a mutual friend that he knew Id taken his garbage and thought that was amusing. This report of a sanguine response might seem improbable. But a generation ago, spirited ankle-biting in the boondocks could seem funny to the very famous person targeted because it mostly stayed local, with no Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or 24/7 news cycle to spread it to Manhattan.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Today, taking someones stuff off their curb in semi-darkness could get you shot, especially in Texas. Plus, the library would never hold a Bad Cormac contest proposed ad hoc by a private citizen. Today Id have to go to the city council for approval. They would already have taken the shes creepy position before they voted. Or Id be told to write a grant, and if the funder learned about the trash Id get an immediate rejection. The world is different today. Even if it werent, Im older and possibly wiser. I wad my own Kleenex now. I need Dr. Scholls.

I dont have anything of Cormacs left. The deer jawbones sat for a time on my front porch, sun-bleached and horrible and Cormacian, until I couldnt stand them any longer and threw them awayagain.
When Hamtramck, Michigan, decided in a unanimous city council vote to ban Pride flags from city property on Tuesday, a familiar local voice spoke up in support.

Dont sit here and throw Pride Month, or being gay, down kids throat, my throat, or anybodys throat, Hassan Aoun declared at the hearing, evoking a time-honored anti-gay sentiment. You can be gay by yourself.

In Michigan this year, conservatives seeking to swell public anger over LGBTQ+ advocates alleged grooming of young people via books and other means have found some allies in the states large Muslim and Muslim immigrant populations. Hamtramck, an enclave of Detroit, has a population thats about half Muslim, and as of last year, it has a Muslim mayor and a city council composed entirely of Muslims. In a notably diverse, artsy city, the Pride-flag ban was a headline-generating flashpoint, particularly the notion that the flag was an affront to religious freedom. But the ban, while significant in itself, is also symbolic of the ongoing discord.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Aoun, who is 42 and known locally as Hass Cash, has emerged as a particularly vocal Muslim advocate against what he calls an attempt to indoctrinate children. He recounted in multiple conversations with me how he came to take up the issue.

Aoun is a native of nearby Dearborn, Michigan, the seat of the states large and growing Arab population. His political awakening was as swift as it was unexpected. He told me he was essentially indifferent to local politics until a turbulent school board meeting in Dearborn in October 2022. He said he arrived only as a curious and concerned resident after seeing an ad for the meeting posted by a local activist on Facebook. People planned to protest books with LGBTQ+ themes, which they called too explicit to be in schools.

Advertisement

When he showed up, Aoun told me, he rapidly grew angry. He couldnt believe anyone would defend the books. He found himself disrupting the meeting and leading furious chants of Vote them out! Police lost control of the event, the Detroit Free Press reported. The meeting was shut down over safety concerns. But Aoun and other Muslim and Arab protesters stayed and claimed they were being silenced.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Clips of an enraged Aoun shouting went viral. A photo of him as the center of the protest was everywhere as the story went national. Overnight, Aouns sweating and blushed face became emblematic of Muslim anger toward LGBTQ+ books in schools, an issue that had infected school and library board meetings across the nation.

The photo is unflattering. In the image, he is mid-shout, snarling with his teeth. But Aoun made it his Facebook and Twitter banners. He embraced it as his brand.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

He told me he surprised himself that night. Im not aggressive. Im a quiet guy, he said. I speak in an aggressive way, not to sit there and intimidate somebody. Just the anger that comes out because children are involved.

Aouns shouting has become a regular fixture in the communitys school board and city council meetings. We dont want kids to have access to these books! Aoun screamed into the mic during a school board meeting. At another meeting, when a trans teenager took her turn at the mic, Aoun could be seen standing just a few feet behind her, attempting to shout over her. Another person from the audience and a police officer both approached Aoun to hold him back.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Im gonna come every time. Im not going to stop coming until these books will be removed, he said at another board meeting. I think we all have an understanding now, do we?

In our conversations, Aoun summoned a mix of religious and conservative rhetoric in explaining his activism. The Democrat Party waves the LGBTQ flag. Lets be honest. Theyre doing it for their agenda. Theyre not doing it just for the LGBTQ. Theyre doing it for votes. And the Republican Party does not agree to this. Trump said this is uncalled for. That its a man and a woman, not a man and a man. God created female for a male and a male for a female. But he came back to protecting children again and again.

Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont have children. I got stepchildren, Aoun told me. And I need to protect my nieces and nephews at all costs. Imagine one day my niece goes into the bathroom and a guy is walking in. I cant accept that. Theres no way.

Aoun did have a son of his own. He died of a drug overdose at 18 in 2020.

The public schools failed him, he told me. His son died only a few weeks after Aoun discovered he had been shooting up heroin. When I was growing up, there was neverwe didnt even think of that. I dont know why, but these schools are very, veryextremely bad to a degree you cant even imagine.

Advertisement

I asked him if he was aware of suicide rates among LGBTQ+ youth, and the impact his brand of activism might have on them. He answered with an anecdote. The last time I went to a city council meeting, there was a guy from LGBTQ. He comes up to the podium, asks for help, says hes being harassed. I stayed there the whole time. I went up there as the last public speaker, and I said, This guy came over here and asked you guys for help. Not one of you guys said something to him!  he said. I dont know whats going on in his mind, but maybe Im not with the LGBTQ books, but I do not discriminate against LGBTQ people.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Aouns life transformed after the city council meeting. But he didnt encounter it randomly. He first heard about the book issue on the news. Then Stephanie Butler, a Michigan mother and conservative activist, brought 9-foot posters with excerpts from the book This Book is Gay printed on them into a school board meeting. That made it onto Aouns Facebook newsfeed.

Butler has been politically active in Dearborn for years. She organized a rally for Tudor Dixons ill-fated run for governor, which received some heat when she called hijabs oppressive garments. Butler is a white woman who married a Lebanese man, and she realized early that the book issue was both a winning one for Republicans and would strike a chord with her adopted Arab community.

Advertisement

This was a grassroots movement done from within this community, she told me over the phone. They did these things on their own. They went to the mosques. The sheikhs came to our rallies. They told their congregants to come. We were going to be very happy if we got 50 people at the first one. We had no idea what to expect. Well, we got 800800 people.

He calls probably 10 times a day. He gets in a lot of Facebook arguments and stuff.  Stephanie Butler

She said she was more impressed with Aoun than anyone else. I looked at him like, OK, heres a guy that is just sorely misunderstood,  Butler said. He sometimes gets loud and yells and acts silly, but its all coming from a place of compassion and just wanting people to hear what he has to say. Hes fiery, but I understand his message and I understand where his compassion is coming from.

Advertisement

She sees his sons death as directly tied to the movement. He takes that very seriously, and I kind of understand and correlate that with Dannys death, she said, hesitantly.

Advertisement

Though Butler sees Aoun as a powerful champion, she told me she also worries about him sometimes. He calls probably 10 times a day. He gets in a lot of Facebook arguments and stuff, she told me. Butler has also had to defend Aoun to other Republicans who worry his abrasiveness in public sends the wrong message. When people talk to me like, Oh my God, Hassan, hes so embarrassing, just because he sometimes starts at 10 instead of working up to a 10. But I say No, you dont understand,  she said. She recently invited Hassan to the Republican convention in Lansing, where he said he became a Republican delegate for the 2024 presidential election.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

He has the white people hypnotized. And I love it. They all recognize him. They all want to talk to him. They all are just inspired by him, Butler said.

Abed Hammoud, a founding member of the Arab American Political Action Committee in Michigan 25 years ago, has eyed these developments warily. He told me hes not surprised to see the movement take hold of his Arab and Muslim neighbors like Aoun.

The Republican Party is not stupid, Hammoud said. They came to this community and said, Lets talk about books and gay issues and sex in schools and porn. Well, all these conservative families that jumped in, very good law-abiding citizens, screamed out, Oh my God! Whos converting my kids to being gay!? 

Advertisement

Related from Slate Christina Cauterucci Whats Happening at Starbucks and Target Is Much Grimmer Than It Seems Read More

Hammoud has always voted for Democrats since his family escaped a civil war in south Lebanon. He ran for mayor in 2001, and his son Mustapha was recently elected to Dearborns city council. (Mustapha notably drew ire from Aoun and others after he presented a resolution affirming Dearborn as a community that rejects discrimination, which they took as a slight.) Hammoud is concerned that Democrats have not shown more fortitude against the Republican book strategy.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Dearborn is always a good measure for the Muslim and Arab vote. They voted more Republican this time than usual because the rhetoric was: Republicans equal family values, and Democrats are going to show them porn and make them sexualized. That was the ploy, he said. This is way beyond Hass Cash. He gets the attention, he screams at people, people scream at him. He has people like you calling me from New Jersey asking about him. Thats great for him. But the bigger issue, the deeper issue thats not going anywhere, is the Republican Party trying to build what I call an unholy alliance, he said.

Advertisement

He remembers a time when most Arabs were Republicans in this community. George W. Bush started courting our community successfully. And in his debates, he started saying things about airport profiling and the community went like, Oh, my God! They were falling in love for George W. Bush, he said. I was pariah in this community. Like, Oh, youre a Democrat? Thats how it was at that time. Then Sept. 11 happened. Then the response after. The wars. Abu Ghraib. Hammoud thinks the drastic swing to Democrats could easily go the other way again. The Republicans found a new playbook, and its working for them, he said. It is going to get them a lot of support in the Muslim and Arab community. Its going to work, in my opinion. How far will it work? I dont know.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

When I spoke to Aoun, he tried to persuade me as a Muslim to vote Republican down the ticket, like he did during the midterm elections. You have to, brother, he told me in Arabic. I was a Democrat all my life. Ever since I was 18 years old, my dad told me vote Democrat, he said. But the thing is, as long as they dont mess with the children, I dont care what they do. And then this last year was the first year I flipped. Its crazy. I said, No, I cant take this no more,  he said. They have an agenda. Are they trying to sit there and make more people go gay? So theyll win the population? Why do you want to tell kids about this and the other thing to do to a guy? Its something that is very disturbing and disgusting. I cant even imagine even saying it to somebody.

Advertisement

Advertisement

You believe straight people can be turned gay? I asked him. Of course, he said. Is that even a question? Come on, man. Thats what theyre trying to do. Its disgusting.

I asked Aoun if he thought Republicans had the interests of American Muslims at heart. Werent they poised to nominate Donald Trump again, who famously said I think Islam hates us, and enacted a ban on Muslims entering the country? Aoun blamed the media, and again shared an anecdote. I drove into Indiana. My wife goes, You came all the way here, but these people probably wont like you. But they welcomed us with open arms. She thought they were prejudiced. But they really called me to come down here, three hours drive, just to show my face for like about an hour, he said. I love to do things where Im trying to get all kinds of cultures together.

Ive had Jewish people reach out to me, saying Im Jewish from New York, and the Jewish community here really appreciates you,  he told me. I was stunned. There are people who I thought would be the most racist people toward me, but theyve reached out to me. Im surprised. Maybe this can bring us together?
House Republican leaders played the debt limit fight about as well as they could. They reached an agreement with the White House to keep increasing defense spending at a normal pace while cutting nondefense spending by tens of billions of dollars each over the next two years. There were absolutely debt limit scenarios in which House Republicans, unable to get their act together, would have fared far worse and been forced to swallow a clean increase from an impatient Senate. Instead, Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his negotiators made Democrats realize a fiscal cost of losing control of a chamber of Congress.

And by reaching such a deal on top-line funding levels by midyear, Republicans put themselves in a position to reach another supposed governing goal: a return to so-called regular order, in which each chamber passes a version of the 12 annual bills that fund the government, negotiates their differences, and passes the compromise version in the end. In recent practice, congressional leaders typically jam a so-called omnibus package, combining all of them into a single bill, down members throats just before Christmas.

These modest but real wins for Republicansrecognizing their narrow control of one-half of one branch of governmentwere nowhere near enough for a small band of Republican hard-liners, however. While these hard-liners, mostly members of the House Freedom Caucus, didnt try to oust McCarthy from his speakership over the deal, they did block House Republican leaders from moving their floor agenda for a week afterward.

Advertisement

Advertisement

The hard-liners ended their blockade earlier this week after days of conferring with the partys leaders. What did they get? Well, House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger on Monday evening made an announcement that read as though written under duress: House Republican appropriators would write their spending bills to lower fiscal year 2022 levels, not the levels set under the debt limit deal. That would amount to an extra $120 billion in cuts beyond the deal reached just a couple of weeks ago, and the GOP would take it entirely out of nondefense spending.*

Advertisement

It bears all the insignia of a concession to the Freedom Caucus: obvious shortsightedness that will work against its cited policy goals but will allow members to continue to complain and fundraise off of the idea that McCarthy sold them out.

Advertisement

First, forget about House Republicans ability to get some of these extra-skinny spending bills into law; its unclear if theyll be able to get them out of the House. According to the new allocations, about half of the appropriations bills would be looking at cuts of around 30 percent from their current levels. That wont fly with any Democrats, nor with a lot of Republicans either.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Even if they can pass through the lower chamber, these bills wouldnt be taken seriously in any negotiation with the Senate, which is writing spending bills to the levels set in the debt ceiling deal ofagaintwo weeks ago.

Related from Slate Jim Newell A Senator Explains Why He Is Now Using All the Powers He Has to Investigate Golf Read More

The Senate is going to mark up to the deal that was made. And so House Republicans are going to completely make themselves irrelevant [and] make their members vote on these deep, deep cuts, and it has no possibility of becoming law, Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar told reporters this week.

Advertisement

No one who has an even basic understanding of how our process works thinks this house of cards will not get blown over the second we start a conference negotiation, Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top House Democrat on Appropriations, said, similarly, to her counterparts. Not only are you wasting everyones time and increasing the likelihood of a [continuing resolution] or shutdown, but you are using decisions that hurt your own constituents.

There are a couple of dates to watch here. The first is the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. In the so-called regular orderso regular, in fact, that it hasnt happened once since the mid-1990sall appropriations bills would be signed into law by then. But the new $120 billion gap in negotiating positions between the two chambers makes it unlikely once again. So there will need to be a continuing resolution to keep the government open as negotiations inevitably need to continue. The real deadline to watch, then, is the end of the calendar year. Under the debt limit deal, if theres a continuing resolution in place on Jan. 1, an across-the-board spending cut of 1 percentto defense and nondefense spending alikewould be triggered. Neither sides leadership wants that.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Which brings us to a potential endgame thats familiar, supposedly despised by the Freedom Caucus, and more likely now because of the Freedom Caucus: an end-of-year omnibus package, or a series of a few minibus packages, at the spending levels agreed to in the debt limit deal.

Its not that the Freedom Caucus would get nothing for all this noise. It would get the chance to say that it fought the good fight and tried to hold the line, only to be betrayed by Kevin McCarthy and the Swamp once again. Members would get victimhood, and the preservation of drama. Thats the regular order they live for.
This is part of Opinionpalooza, Slates coverage of the major decisions from the Supreme Court this June. Were working to change the way the media covers the Supreme Court. Sign up for the pop-up newsletter to receive our latest updates, and support our work when you join Slate Plus.

How did an archconservative justice on an archconservative bench become the best friend Native Americans have ever had at the Supreme Court? That is the question court observers are once again asking ourselves in light of Justice Neil Gorsuchs role in Thursdays hugely consequential decision protecting Native rights. Oddly, the answer may lie in the very judicial philosophy that pushes him so far to the right in so many other cases that do not involve the rights of a group he sees himself as a benefactor for.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Gorsuch didnt write the 72 majority opinion upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act, but he penned a characteristic concurrence infused with profound empathy for Native people. Its just the latest in a long line of cases in which Gorsuch has gone to bat for Indigenous communities, bemoaning their centuries of persecution by the U.S. government. Again, the question arises: Why is he so consistently in line with progressive values on this one issue?

The standard explanation is that Gorsuch is a Westerner who spent his childhood in Colorado and his lower-court career adjudicating many Indian law cases on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. And thats surely a part of it: Most justices have little contact with Native Americans, which seems to translate into a myopic view of issues that affect them. As John E. Echohawk, executive director of the Native American Rights Fund, told the New York Times Adam Liptak: Hes the only Westerner on the court. He knows these issues. He knows these tribes.

Advertisement

There is, however, another element of Gorsuchs Indian law decisions that isnt captured by his personal biography. A persistent theme of Gorsuchs jurisprudence is a conviction that the nations ills can almost always be attributed to some deviation from the Constitutions original design and that restoring constitutional governance as envisioned by the Framers will right many wrongs of American history. Nowhere is that belief more consistentand truethan in the Indian law cases. Gorsuch is right: The Constitution does command a certain measure of sovereignty and respect for tribes and their members; Americas brutal oppression of Native Americans represented a sharp break from the Framers intent.

Advertisement

When drafting constitutional provisions governing Native affairs, the Framers were eager not to repeat the mistakes of the Articles of Confederation, which had attempted to divide authority over tribal relations between the states and the central government, ending in disaster. Under the Articles of Confederation, some states refused to respect treaties between tribal nations and the central government, preferring instead to claim Indian land as their own through violent conquest. To avoid this result, the new Constitution gave Congress (not the states) exceedingly broad power to regulate relations with Native people, including the authority to make treaties with tribes. It also implicitly recognized tribes sovereign right to govern their own internal affairs by treating them as separate nations. Predictably, land-hungry statesespecially those in the Southdisliked this new arrangement. By the 1820s, state officials were trying to exercise their jurisdiction within tribal borders, abolish tribal governments, and seize tribal lands for white settlers.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Related from Slate Mark Joseph Stern KBJ Gives Clarence Thomas a Lesson in Congress Basic Spending Power Read More

The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice John Marshall, famously rejected these encroachments in 1832s Worcester v. Georgia, establishing tribes right to self-governance and repudiating state claims to jurisdiction over Indian Country. By that point, though, President Andrew Jackson had already commenced Indian removal, marshaling the power of the federal government to forcibly relocate Native people westwardthe infamous Trail of Tears. Jacksons administration spurned the principle of tribal sovereignty, setting a precedent for the odious treatment of Native people by the U.S. government that lasted well into the 20th century. In that period, both the states and the federal government felt empowered to seize Native land, break up Native families, and suppress Native self-governance.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Gorsuch wants to change all that. And he has held that ambition from the start of his judicial career, back to his time on the 10th Circuit, when he regularly ruled in favor of tribal rightsleading many Native leaders to endorse his elevation to the Supreme Court in 2017. He soon proved that their trust was not misplaced, casting the decisive fifth vote in two cases that forced states to honor treaty obligations to tribal nations. Then, in 2020, he wrote the 54 decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, holding that more than 40 percent of modern-day Oklahoma remains Indian country under a series of 19th-century treaties with the Creek Nation.

All these decisions were joined by the four liberal justices. After Amy Coney Barrett replaced Ruth Bader Ginsburg, though, the court sharply limited McGirt, to Gorsuchs profound dismay. That retreat seemed like a bad omen for Gorsuchs campaign to restore Native rights. Yet he scored another major win on Thursday when the court issued Haaland v. Brackeen. The 72 ruling rejected challenges to the Indian Child Welfare Act, a federal law that limits states ability to remove Native children from their communities. Although Barrett wrote the majority opinion, Gorsuch took the opportunity to reiterate his belief that the Constitution, as originally understood, compels respect for Native people.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Its important to note that when reading these opinions, there can appear to be a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde quality to Gorsuchs jurisprudence. Just a few weeks ago, he described COVID restrictions as arguably the greatest intrusions on civil liberties in the peacetime history of this country, ignoring many of the abuses of Native people he so eloquently laid out in Thursdays concurrence (not to mention many other historic injustices). In that latest concurrence, though, he wrote genuinely moving tributes to the right of Indian communities to resist fading into the twilight of history. It can be difficult to square these wild swings in outlook.

But the two Gorsuches really are one and the same. A through line of the justices work is the notion that bad things happen when the country steps out of line with the Constitution, while good things happen when it steps back into compliance. He believes in the hydraulic pressures of our constitutional system, meaning that the suppression of one constitutional function has unintended consequences for the others. Gorsuch thinks the administrative state, for instance, grew out of rampant infringements of the separation of powers, leading an unaccountable bureaucracy to crush the liberties of everyday citizens. He thinks freedom of the press has been expanded so far beyond its original meaning that it is now subverting freedom of speech. He thinks Congress overbroad regulation of interstate commerce has trammeled the rights of private landowners. He stuffs his opinion with tributes to the Framers genius, treating the Constitution like a Swiss watch whose interlocking parts are thrown out of whack by the slightest deviation.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

And so it is with Native Americans: Surveying the nations sordid history of mistreating its Indigenous peoples, Gorsuch concludes that if we had only stuck with the the Constitutions original design, we could have avoided these horrors, reserv[ing] for the tribes a placean enduring placein the structure of American life. By betraying the Native rights enshrined in the Constitution, the government triggered an escalating series of injustices whose devastating impact lasts to this day. To Gorsuch, the only solution is to reach back, far back, and restore the promises of 1789. Honor the treaties. Respect Congress authority to protect Native people. Rebuff state efforts to diminish tribal sovereignty.

When Gorsuch is wrong, hes often painfully, catastrophically wrong. But when hes right, hes right. And his singular commitment to Native justice is one of the most encouraging developments at the Supreme Court so far this century.
This is part of Opinionpalooza, Slates coverage of the major decisions from the Supreme Court this June. Were working to change the way the media covers the Supreme Court. Sign up for the pop-up newsletter to receive our latest updates, and support our work when you join Slate Plus.

Between the Supreme Courts race to the finish line and Donald Trumps federal indictment, this June has kicked up a whirlwind of legal news. One decision handed down on Thursday has a clear connection to Trumps prosecution: The court grappled with the constitutional consequences of a criminal trial thats conducted in the wrong location. With the former presidents alleged crimes spanning multiple jurisdictions, including the District of Columbia and Florida, this issue lurked in the background of the federal governments investigation. Indeed, the decision by Special Counsel Jack Smith to bring charges in Florida rather than D.C. appears to have been an eleventh hour call.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

On Thursdays bonus episode of Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern discussed the implications of the courts decision for the case against Trump. Their conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Dahlia Lithwick: The Supreme Court decided a case this week, which asks: What happens when the government prosecutes a defendant in the wrong venue? Justice Alito gave us the answer in a unanimous opinion in Smith v. U.S., a case that may have affected the other Smiththat is, Special Counsel Jack Smith, whos prosecuting Donald Trump.

This case loomed large in our minds last week when we talked about venue and why Smith had filed charges in Florida and not D.C. Does this Smith decision tell us anything at all going forward?

Advertisement

Mark Joseph Stern: Lets just look at it through the lens of the Trump indictment. Imagine that Jack Smith had brought his charges against Trump in the District of Columbia instead of South Florida. Say he went through the whole trial, secured a guilty verdict and a sentence, and then had a higher court say: Actually, this was the wrong venue in which to bring the case. You should have brought it where the documents were, in South Florida, where all the action happened. You shouldnt have brought it in D.C. So venue was improper. Thats a constitutional violation.

Lithwick: Because a defendant must be tried in the state where they committed the crime.

Stern: Right. And the jury has to be drawn from that location, too. So the question is: Could Jack Smith then have brought the same charges in South Florida, where venue is proper, or would that violate another constitutional rulethe bar against double jeopardy?

Advertisement

On Thursday, the Supreme Court told us the answer: It does not violate double jeopardy for the case to be brought in the proper venue after it was first tried in an improper venue, even if the first trial ended with a conviction. This is, you know, kind of an important decision, and I only wish it had been handed down in May instead of June, or even just last week, because I do think this loomed in Jack Smiths mind when he was considering where to bring these charges. Today we know that if he had brought them in D.C., and that had ultimately been deemed the wrong venue, he could have just brought them all over again in South Florida. Instead, he went straight to Floridaand ended up drawing Aileen Cannon as his judge.

Lithwick: Yeah. It just means that, unfortunately, reading the minds of the Supreme Court is a fools errand. And yet it is what we are paid to do.
If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

Every small business owner and entrepreneur who runs a deli, a salad bar, or a food establishment understands the importance of having the right tools. And one such tool thats been a game-changer in the world of speedy meal prep is the sandwich prep table.

Understanding Sandwich Prep Tables

What is a Sandwich Prep Table?

Sandwich or salad prep tables are refrigerated units that combine a worktop for food prep, such as sandwich and salad preparation, with refrigerated storage space beneath. This commercial appliance keeps ingredients fresh while allowing for quick, efficient sandwich and salad assembly.

Why is a Sandwich Prep Table Essential for Your Business?

Whether youre in the sandwich or salad business, a sandwich prep table is an ideal piece of equipment to have. It allows for quick access to ingredients while maintaining them at the ideal temperatures to ensure food safety. Moreover, with refrigerated prep tables, businesses can stock many ingredients in one accessible spot, increasing the efficiency of their food prep process.

Sell Your Business Conduct Market Research Power Up Your Event's Success

Different Types of Sandwich Prep Tables

Sandwich prep tables vary in style and design. They range in size from small units with one door and a few ingredient bins to large units with several doors and numerous ingredient bins. Some sandwich prep tables are top style, with ingredients instantly available at arms length. Others come with cutting boards and even overhead shelves for additional storage.

Factors to Consider When Buying a Sandwich Prep Table

Size and Capacity

The size of the prep table you choose will depend on the size of your business and the volume of your orders. Small restaurants or delis might do well with a compact table, while larger establishments will benefit from a larger unit. Remember that the table size will also determine the number of doors and the storage space available for your supplies.

Material and Durability

Most sandwich prep tables are stainless steel, offering robustness and easy cleaning. Look for a unit with sturdy doors and drawers that can withstand frequent opening and closing during peak business hours.

Refrigeration and Temperature Control

Your sandwich prep table must maintain a constant temperature to keep your ingredients fresh and safe. Look for a table with high-quality refrigeration and adjustable temperature controls.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Ease of cleaning is another important consideration. A table with removable cutting boards and easily accessible drawers will save your team a lot of time.

Cost and Value for Money

Finally, consider the price and what youre getting for it. High-quality sandwich prep tables may carry a higher price tag, but they often have features that justify the cost.

Top Sandwich Prep Table Picks

Amazon has some great prep tables, and weve rounded up the ten best. Our list contains prep tables in different sizes and price ranges. Take a look through the products below and you may find the perfect sandwich/salad prep table for your business!

Arctic Air 40 Countertop Sandwich/Salad Refrigerated Prep Table Station

Top Pick: The Arctic Air countertop prep table is a compact powerhouse tailored to meet your sandwich and salad preparation needs. Its sleek, stainless steel construction makes these salad prep tables durable and corrosion-resistant, and the six included pans offer ample room to store various ingredients for sandwiches, salads, and more.

Key Features:

Dimension: 39.5W x 15.5D x 11H.

5 Star Energy rating, promoting energy efficiency.

Integrated internal thermostat

One door with manual defrost system for easy maintenance.

Compact design, making it suitable for small spaces.

Stainless steel finish, ensuring long-lasting durability and elegance.

Self-contained refrigeration system with R290 refrigerant for reliable and even cooling.

Arctic Air 40 Countertop Sandwich/Salad Refrigerated Prep Table Station

Buy on Amazon

Aceland 3-Door Mega Top Sandwich Prep Table Refrigerator

Runner Up: Acelands Mega Top Sandwich Prep Table Refrigerator is an efficient and spacious kitchen solution. Designed for speedy meal prep, this 3-door countertop model offers a generous 20 cubic feet of space, facilitating organized storage of ingredients.

Key Features:

Equipped with an Embraco compressor and Carel controller, promising superior performance.

Fan cooling system ensures consistent temperature maintenance from 33F to 41F.

Robust shelves with a loading capacity of 90 lbs each, coated for corrosion resistance.

Features an automatic defrost system for low-maintenance operation.

Eco-friendly, utilizing R290 refrigerant, an environmentally-responsible choice for businesses.

Durable, anti-fingerprint stainless steel exterior and interior facilitate easier cleaning and ensure longevity.

Pre-installed with four wheels (2 with brakes) for easy maneuverability

Digital temperature display for easy temperature and defrost frequency adjustments, with a clear LCD readout

Aceland 3-Door Mega Top Sandwich Prep Table Refrigerator

Buy on Amazon

VEVOR Refrigerated Prep Station

Best Value: VEVORs Refrigerated Prep Station is a 60-inch countertop unit designed to make food preparation more streamlined and efficient. Built with high-quality 304 stainless steel, this 16.8-quart station offers a durable solution to cater to your business needs.

Key Features:

Powered by a 146W compressor, ensuring ingredients remain at the proper temperature.

Uses energy-saving R290 refrigerant in its self-contained refrigeration system.

Accommodates 8 food pans in a 40-quart tank, providing ample space for a variety of ingredients.

Equipped with an electronic thermostat with a digital LED panel, allowing temperature control between 35.6F and 46.4F.

One-click auto-defrost function for smooth air circulation and consistent cooling.

Features a detachable tempered glass shield for clear visibility and ingredient protection.

Includes four 1/3 pans and four 1/6 pans with removable dividers, offer flexibility to customize the station to your specific needs.

VEVOR Refrigerated Prep Station

Buy on Amazon

Commercial Refrigerated Sandwich Prep Table 2-Door

Elevate your kitchens functionality and efficiency with the cooler depot Commercial Prep Table. This multifunctional refrigerated unit, measuring 36W x 29D x 42H, is built with high-grade 430 and 304 stainless steel exteriors and interiors, fortified with polyurethane insulation for optimal temperature retention.

Key Features:

Efficient Storage: Two-door refrigerated storage beneath the workspace offers an additional 8.6 cft. space, perfect for keeping deli meats, cheese, or toppings fresh at 33F to 41 F.

Durable Shelves: Epoxy-coated shelves, each capable of handling up to 90 lbs, allowing the effective organization of your supplies.

Insulated Lid: A stainless steel lid featuring a lift-up design aids in maintaining safe food temperatures.

Mobility: Includes four heavy-duty 4 casters (2 lockable), simplifying cleaning and servicing by providing mobility.

Cutting Board: 3/4 thick removable cutting board is affixed to the surface for slicing ingredients and prepping orders.

Warranty: 3-Year All-Parts warranty, a 6-Year Compressor warranty, and a 1-Month Labor warranty.

Commercial Refrigerated Sandwich Prep Table 2-Door

Buy on Amazon

Commercial Refrigerated Sandwich Prep Table 2-door

Boost your commercial kitchens efficiency with the cooler depots Commercial Prep Table. Sized at 60W x 30D x 42H, its expertly engineered for commercial usage with high-grade 430 and 304 stainless steel, complemented with foamed-in-place polyurethane insulation to ensure optimum temperature maintenance.

Features at a glance:

Spacious Refrigeration: 16.4 cubic feet of two-door storage space below the workspace, refrigerated at 33F to 41 F

Durable Shelves: Epoxy-coated shelves, each holding up to 90 lbs.

Insulated Lid: Stainless steel lid with a convenient lift-up design aids in maintaining food-safe temperatures.

Mobility Assured: Includes four 4 casters (2 lockable) for easy movement

Cutting Board: 3/4 thick removable cutting board affixed to the surface, ideal for slicing ingredients and assembling orders.

Commercial Refrigerated Sandwich Prep Table 2-door

Buy on Amazon

KITMA Salad Sandwich Prep Table

This high-capacity, energy-efficient prep table refrigerator is designed to make your restaurant kitchen more dynamic and efficient. This full-sized under counter unit, measuring 72W x 30D x 44H, brings a convenient combination of storage and workspace to your kitchen.

Key Features:

Pan Capacity: 18 pans (6.8L x 6.25W x 4D) for ingredient organization and food-safe temperatures.

Cutting Board: Includes a fixed cutting board for efficient preparation.

Refrigerated Storage: The under-counter refrigerator, perfect for storing backup ingredients, uses a 1/5 hp compressor, a Dixell digital temperature control system, and R290 refrigerant, ensuring a temperature range of 33 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit.

Durable Construction: Made from 430 and 304 stainless steel for both interior and exterior

Adjustable Shelves and Mobility: 3 reinforced adjustable shelves for custom storage; sits on casters for easy mobility.

Warranty: 5-year warranty on the compressor and 2-year warranty on additional parts, which includes on-site service within 48 hours.

KITMA Salad Sandwich Prep Table

Buy on Amazon

Kratos Refrigeration 48W Commercial, Sandwich/Salad Prep Table

The Kratos Sandwich Prep Table is an excellent addition option that enhances the efficiency of your salad and sandwich preparation. With a 48 wide space, this prep table provides ample room for two people to work together. It comes with a hinged food cover to ensure freshness and optimal temperature of the ingredients.

Key Features:

Cutting Board: It boasts a reversible, removable cutting board for easy cleaning.

Storage: Two hinged doors and two adjustable epoxy-coated shelves facilitate easy access and efficient airflow.

Material: Durable stainless steel exterior and a painted aluminum interior for longevity.

Condensate Evaporator Pan: It eliminates the need for floor drain, providing immediate plug-and-play compatibility.

Temperature Control: Comes with adjustable solid-state temperature control with a digital display.

Pan Capacity: It includes slots for industry-standard adapter bars for sixth-size pans and can hold third, half, or full-size pans up to 4H without requiring adapters.

Insulation: CFC-free urethane foam insulated walls and doors to retain coolness.

Extras: Includes two adjustable epoxy-coated steel shelves, casters, cord, and plug for convenience.

Dimensions: Measures 48-7/16W x 30-15/16D x 45-7/16H.

Kratos Refrigeration 48W Commercial, Sandwich/Salad Prep Table

Buy on Amazon

Arctic Air 48.25-Inch 2-Door Refrigerated Sandwich/Salad Prep Table

The Arctic Air refrigerated prep table is designed to bring convenience and professionalism to your culinary endeavors. With its 48.25D x 30W x 43.3H dimensions, this unit integrates easily into your existing kitchen setup.

Key Features:

Pan Capacity: Cold topping area holds twelve 1/6 size pans provided with the unit, ensuring your condiments, meats, and vegetables are within easy reach. The hinged insulated lid cover maintains the freshness of the food items when not in use.

Cutting Board: The unit comes with a full-length, heavy-duty cutting board

Magnetic Door Gaskets: The self-closing doors remain open at 90 degrees, and the magnetic door gaskets are removable and replaceable without tools. The doors have solid construction with foamed-in-place recessed handles.

Refrigerated Storage: The unit provides 12 cubic feet of refrigerated storage capacity, an adjustable coated wire shelf per door for added storage, and an interior made of bright white ABS liner with a full stainless steel floor for easy cleaning.

Durable Construction: Its heavy-duty stainless steel construction, comprising a stainless steel lid on top, guarantees longevity and freshness of the toppings.

Arctic Air 48.25-Inch 2-Door Refrigerated Sandwich/Salad Prep Table

Buy on Amazon

Atosa USA 72.70 3-Door Refrigerated Sandwich/Salad Prep Table

The Atosa USA Refrigerated Prep Table is a 3-door, counter-height unit. With dimensions of 72.7W x 30D x 44.3H, its perfect for efficient food preparation.

Key Features:

Cutting Board: 10 poly cutting board provides a dedicated area for precise and hygienic food preparation.

Pre-installed Casters: Pre-installed casters, facilitating effective space management and cleaning.

Digital Controller: The Dixell digital controller ensures precise and easy temperature control.

Storage: 18 stainless steel pans and three adjustable shelves, giving ample room for various ingredients.

Door Design: 3 solid-hinged self-closing doors with recessed handles for easy access without compromising temperature control.

Construction: Stainless steel interior & exterior and galvanized steel back

Refrigeration: Equipped with rear-mounted, self-contained refrigeration using R290 Hydrocarbon refrigerant, the unit maintains a steady temperature range of 33 to 40F. It also includes features like ventilated refrigeration, automatic evaporation, and air defrost.

Atosa USA 72.70 3 Door Refrigerated Sandwich/Salad Prep Table

Buy on Amazon

SEAGATE Refrigerated Sandwich/Salad Prep Table

The SEAGATE Refrigerated Sandwich/Salad Prep Table offers a large 15.5 cubic feet storage cabinet with a temperature range of 33F to 40F.

Key Features:

Quality Construction: The exterior is made from 430 stainless steel, known for its excellent stress corrosion cracking resistance, while the interior is made from 304 stainless steel, which is durable, corrosion-resistant, and oxidation-resistant. Both the body and doors are insulated with CFC Free refrigerant and foam insulation.

Convenient Features: Electronic thermostat and digital LED temperature display for accurate control and easy temperature readings.

Mobility: It comes with easy-to-mount 2.5 casters for mobility

Doors: Doors are self-closing but can be locked in an open position when set to a 90 angle, making it easy for cleaning, emptying, and loading of product.

Advanced Technology: Features Forced-Air cooling for rapid temperature recovery after opening/loading, and it cools food down faster than normal refrigerators. It uses R-290 Natural Refrigerant, an environmentally friendly and cost-effective option.

Storage: The unit includes one adjustable, heavy-duty epoxy-coated wire shelf per door, providing plenty of storage space.

Certification: The SSP61 is NSF and cETLus certified, ensuring it meets the highest safety and quality standards.

SEAGATE Refrigerated Sandwich/Salad Prep Table

Buy on Amazon

Commercial Refrigerated Sandwich Prep Table 2-door 36 Mega Top Model

Engineered with a robust stainless steel body, this freestanding refrigerated prep table offers sturdy construction and durability, making it ideal for heavy-duty commercial use.

Key Features:

Dimensions: 36W x 34D x 46H

8.6 cubic feet two-door storage space, refrigerated from 33F to 41F.

Insulated with foamed-in-place polyurethane

Comprises of epoxy-coated shelves, each capable of carrying up to 90 lbs.

Compressor cooling method for superior temperature control.

Stainless steel insulated lid for maintaining food-safe temperatures, and a lift-up design for swift usage

3/4 thick mounted cutting board can be removed for easy cleaning

Includes four heavy-duty 4 casters (2 locking) for easy mobility for cleaning or maintenance.

Commercial Refrigerated Sandwich Prep Table 2-door 36 Mega Top Model

Buy on Amazon

How to Properly Use and Maintain Your Sandwich Prep Table

Setting Up Your Sandwich Prep Table

When setting up your sandwich prep table, you want to ensure its placed in a location that supports your kitchen workflow. The table should be accessible, allowing for quick and efficient sandwich prep, salad assembly, and other tasks.

Ensuring Optimal Temperature Control

Your sandwich prep table is essential for keeping ingredients fresh. Regularly monitor the temperature and adjust the controls as needed to maintain optimal conditions.

Regular Cleaning and Maintenance Tips

To keep your sandwich prep table in top shape, it needs to be cleaned regularly. This includes wiping down the surface, cleaning the cutting boards, and cleaning the refrigerated storage areas. Regular maintenance checks will also ensure that the refrigeration system is working correctly.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Just like any commercial kitchen equipment, sandwich prep tables can experience issues over time. If you notice any changes in temperature, noises, or problems with the doors or drawers, it may be time to contact a professional for repair.

Leveraging the Efficiency of Sandwich Prep Tables for Your Business Success

Enhancing Workflow with a Sandwich Prep Table

A well-placed sandwich prep table can significantly improve your kitchen workflow. By keeping ingredients organized and at the correct temperature, your team can assemble sandwiches and salads more quickly, improving customer satisfaction and your bottom line.

Ensuring Food Safety with Your Sandwich Prep Table

Sandwich prep tables also play a crucial role in food safety. By maintaining the proper temperature, they prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, ensuring the freshness and safety of your sandwiches and salads.

Maximizing Your Return on Investment

Investing in a high-quality sandwich prep table can bring a considerable return on investment. It streamlines your food prep process, ensures food safety, and can even reduce food waste by keeping ingredients fresher for longer.

Running a successful food business means making smart choices about the equipment you use. A sandwich prep table can be a game-changing addition to your kitchen, enabling you to serve fresh, delicious sandwiches and salads quickly and efficiently. So choose wisely and enjoy the benefits that a well-selected sandwich prep table can bring to your business.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Qualify for discounts, special offers and more with a Business Prime account from Amazon. You can create a FREE account to get started today.
The attorneys who handled your home sale/purchase, or your parents estate, may not be a good fit for your small business needs. In other words, an attorney who represented you in a personal business matter may not be the attorney who can help you protect your business.

Small business owners represent a myriad of companies. In size, a small business may be run by a sole proprietor, be an LLC or corporation, or have several to several dozen employees.

Types of businesses run the gamut to include professional services, manufacturing, construction, retail, restaurants and more.

Conduct Market Research Power Up Your Event's Success Sell Your Business

Just as diverse are types of the businesss legal matters that require the services of an attorney or attorneys.

The Importance of Small Business Legal Services for Companies

Most small business owners can handle basic legal documents, such as obtaining a business license or registering the business with their home state, including paying the required state filing fees.

When you get deeper into business legal matters, you will begin to need legal assistance. For example  and this is one of the most important legal issues  as a business owner you need to protect your intellectual property.

Licensed lawyers can help you with other specific legal matters, from the proper wording in your company employment forms and your employment handbook, to specific areas such as legally establishing your business formation (llc? partnership? corporation?) or obtaining building/operating permits.

Understanding Legal Services

Although legal needs can vary depending on business formation, size, type and location, theres no denying that small business owners will need the services of an attorney.

At the beginning, legal needs can include registering the business name, registering an LLC, paying the required state fees (state fees vary by state) and choosing the business formation type of entity (llc, partnership, etc), and even legally dissolving an llc. The attorney can also be responsible for the annual timely payment of state fees.

If the small business is a corporation, an attorney can file articles of incorporation and also provide registered agent service. Registered agent service provided by the attorney includes being the contact person for legal documents received by certified mail.

Going forward, legal services provided can expand to include proper handling of employees issues, including hiring and firing, using recruitment services and obtaining workers compensation insurance. They may also dispel other insurance myths that could otherwise get you into legal trouble.

Legal help may also be needed to check the language of service agreements for equipment, such as machinery and computer equipment.

There are intangible benefits that a small business gains from legal assistance from licensed attorneys. You wont have to lose time running your business by getting bogged down with legal work. Your business lawyer will handle any legal issues your company may have to negotiate.

The Role of a Law Firm in Providing Business Legal Services

Each lawyer at a law firm may do general work, but also have a specialty area, such as labor law or llc/corporate law.

One of the specialties for a lawyer is intellectual property law, which includes trademark services. The intellectual properties owned by small businesses include patents, copyright, trademarks and trade secrets. Trademark mistakes are a common malady for small businesses.

The Importance of Intellectual Property Protection

A lawyer who specializes in this field may also help you write a non compete agreement, which is another layer of legal protection for the business and its customers. Non compete legal plans can include agreements designed to preclude former employees from setting up shop nearby, and operating a similar business, which could lure customers from the original employer.

Another legal matter addressed in this field is protection of trade secrets, which can include manufacturing procedures, recipes, designs and more, as well as an ironclad website privacy policy.

Choosing the Right Small Business Legal Services for Your Company

Choosing the right legal service for your small business is a critical decision. It can protect your company from legal issues and ensure you operate within the laws applicable to your business. Heres what to consider: Type of legal service required: Your business might need different legal services such as drafting contracts, reviewing leases, managing lawsuits, and more. Ensure the legal service you choose specializes in the area you need.

Your business might need different legal services such as drafting contracts, reviewing leases, managing lawsuits, and more. Ensure the legal service you choose specializes in the area you need. Reputation: A reputable legal service can provide better service and assurance. Look for reviews, testimonials, or ask for references.

A reputable legal service can provide better service and assurance. Look for reviews, testimonials, or ask for references. Cost of Services: Costs can vary significantly. Make sure you understand the fee structurewhether its a flat fee, hourly rate, or retainer.

Costs can vary significantly. Make sure you understand the fee structurewhether its a flat fee, hourly rate, or retainer. Availability: Ensure the legal service you choose is readily available to help when you need it. Quick turnaround times can be important, especially for time-sensitive matters.

Ensure the legal service you choose is readily available to help when you need it. Quick turnaround times can be important, especially for time-sensitive matters. Experience in Your Industry: Its beneficial to have a legal service provider who understands your industry and the specific legal issues you might face.

Its beneficial to have a legal service provider who understands your industry and the specific legal issues you might face. Communication: You need to feel comfortable communicating with your legal service provider. They should be able to explain complex legal matters in understandable terms.

You need to feel comfortable communicating with your legal service provider. They should be able to explain complex legal matters in understandable terms. Size of the Law Firm: Smaller firms may offer more personalized attention, while larger firms may have a wider range of expertise.

Smaller firms may offer more personalized attention, while larger firms may have a wider range of expertise. Location: If you need regular face-to-face meetings, consider choosing a local legal service. Online legal services could be a better option if the location is not a priority.

If you need regular face-to-face meetings, consider choosing a local legal service. Online legal services could be a better option if the location is not a priority. Relationship with the Attorney: The relationship between you and your attorney is vital. Choose someone you trust and feel comfortable discussing sensitive matters with.

The relationship between you and your attorney is vital. Choose someone you trust and feel comfortable discussing sensitive matters with. State Bar Association Approval: Make sure any attorney or legal service you use is approved by the state bar association. This ensures theyre allowed to practice law in your state. Remember, the right legal service for your business will depend on your specific needs. It may be helpful to interview a few different providers before making a decision. Online Legal Services: A Modern Solution for Small Businesses

If youre comfortable without face-to-face meetings with lawyers, online legal services are an option and can be very affordable.

There are many sites which offer legal advice and services, including basic documents and access to answers for common legal help, legal advice and legal questions. Theres no free legal advice, and there are a variety of fees for access to the various levels of services.

You can sign up, contract with and research through the companys website. Using the website, youll have access to specific legal advice regarding the issue or issues youre researching.

Some of the best online legal services are Rocket lawyer, UpCounsel and Legal Zoom offer access to a newwork of attorneys at an affordable cost. For example, LegalZoom offers a basic online legal service plan at $199. Filing for an LLC starts at $79 plus filing fees.

However, although a legal website may be convenient and provide the best value, should you need at attorney to assist on your behalf and represent you in court on legal issues, most likely youll have to contract with an attorney separate from the website.

Where to Find Reliable Small Business Legal Services for Your Company

Small businesses have many options to decide before signing contract documents with an attorney, or members of a law firm.

Where can small businesses find a reliable attorney or attorneys? Here are some ideas.

Your Personal Attorney

Your personal attorney may be an expert in a chosen field, however, does not have experience in business llc formation or law. However, that personal attorney may be able to network in the legal field to find the legal providers who would be the best fit for your needs.

Industry Associations

For example, you may belong to a state professional organization for accountants, plastics manufacturers, or builders. The site for your state association may provide advice on the type of legal services you need, and where to obtain them.

Online Legal Services

The best online legal services are just a click away. An online legal service site offers access to a number of legal documents that may be needed for business filing, such as state fees.

There are other business services to consider signing up for, such as an attorney client match service.

An online legal service wont represent you in court, if needed, but for affordability of basic legal assistance, online legal services are the best choice.

State Bar Association

Check the website or contact your state bar association to find attorneys in the niche youre looking for.

Legal Directories

Your state Bar Association will include a list of licensed attorneys as well as their specific areas of expertise. The listings should also include contact information for emails or phone calls.

Business Conferences

Attend conferences related to your industry to meet legal professionals or other entrepreneurs who may provide referrals.

Expos/Conventions

These are great opportunities to network with other business owners, and speak to them about similar legal needs and questions. Those business owners may have recommendations for the best attorneys to protect your business.

Chamber of Commerce

Network through your Chamber of Commerce, because its a great way to support local businesses and help create a stronger local economy.

Place to Find Small Business Legal Services Pros Cons Personal Attorney - Has a personal understanding of your needs

- Can provide a personal referral to a legal expert - May lack specific knowledge in business and LLC formation

- May lack business-specific expertise Industry Associations - Can provide tailored advice for your specific industry

- Access to a network of other professionals in your field - Advice and recommendations may be limited to members only

- Not all associations may have links to legal services Online Legal Services - Quick, convenient access to legal documents

- More affordable for basic legal assistance - Cannot represent you in court

- May lack personalization and the ability to ask specific questions State Bar Association - Reliable source of licensed attorneys

- Can find attorneys with specific expertise - May require some searching

- No personal referrals Legal Directories - Comprehensive list of licensed attorneys

- Includes contact information and areas of expertise - No personal referrals

- Quality of legal services may vary Business Conferences - Opportunity to meet legal professionals and gain referrals

- Networking opportunity with peers in the industry - Timing and location-dependent

- May require entrance fees Expos/Conventions - Large networking opportunity

- Potential to gain personal referrals - Timing and location-dependent

- May require entrance fees Chamber of Commerce - Supports local businesses

- Potential to network with local business owners and attorneys - Networking opportunities may be limited

- Not all members may have links to legal services

Frequently Asked Questions about Small Business Legal Services

What are small business legal services?

Small business legal services include labor law, corporate law, intellectual property protection and more.

What is the role of a law firm in providing legal services to businesses?

A reliable law firm should provide the needed legal services and oversight needed to protect and maintain operations of the small business.

Why is protecting intellectual property important for a business?

Without intellectual property protection, a small business could lose its trademark, patent or copyright legal status, as well as trade secrets (such as production procedures).

How do I choose the right legal services for my small business?

Each small business will have its own specific needs. Network and research to find your best fit for attorneys and other business services.

Where can I find reliable small business legal services for my company?

One of the best ways to find reliable legal services is to talk to research, as well as network with other business owners.
Slovakia has refused to back the latest proposed changes to EU asylum and migration regulations.

Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Share Twitter Facebook Whatsapp E-mail Link to the page

Most of the illegal migrants crossing Slovak borders, 94 percent, come from Syria, acting Interior Minister Ivan Simko told lawmakers on June 15 when reporting on the protection of Slovakia's state borders.

Because of the ongoing civil war in Syria, these people cannot be sent back home.

Simko noted that the problem needs to be tackled at an EU level. The minister did not support the most recent changes to EU asylum and migration laws, however. Instead, he hinted that Slovakia would call for the introduction of a return scheme that would make it possible to return Syrians to safe areas of their own country or to third countries from which they entered EU member states.

On Thursday, the BBC reported that at least 78 migrants died in the Mediterranean after a vessel sank off southern Greece.

Meanwhile, in Slovakia, the town of Malacky is opposing the Interior Ministrys plan to build a humanitarian centre in the town. Illegal migrants who do not want to apply for asylum in Slovakia could stay there temporarily.

The acting minister stressed that illegal migrants have not violated public order in Slovakia.
Older family members are more entangled in the disinformation whirlwind.

Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Share Twitter Facebook Whatsapp E-mail Link to the page

The family of Bratislava-based secondary school student Marta Kropocheva faced some unpleasant conversations after Russia invaded Ukraine in February of last year.

With family in both Kyiv and near Moscow, the Ukrainian-Russian student soon realised her family held different views on the war. As soon as disinformation and Russian propaganda about the conflict began to circulate on social media and in Russian state-owned media, it became difficult for Kropocheva and her family to have meaningful conversations about anything because the war  and lies about it  intruded into every aspect of their life.

They even lost the essence of what it means to be a family.

We either dont talk to each other, or ignore the situation we have found ourselves caught in, Kropocheva tells The Slovak Spectator. Both ways, its horrible.

More often than not, the student adds, her family confine their conversations to mundane topics like the weather or how they have been. Kropochevas family is just one example of the many families for whom the war has caused tensions. Such families can even be found in Slovakia.

Slovak university student Matej Cacik describes how his grandfather consumes disinformation and thus holds opinions opposed to his. So far, he has always ended our debates by stating, Lets agree to disagree., he said. But in his experience, family debates about disinformation can end with each side wanting to win the argument. As a result, family relations can become fraught.

Research suggests that Slovakia is more vulnerable to disinformation than most other countries in central and eastern Europe.

Slovakia inundated by Russian propaganda

In a prescient 2021 report, written before the February 2022 invasion, the Slovak police force warned for the first time about a possibility that misleading narratives concerned with the situation on the Belarus-Poland border could combine with related topic of migration and with the conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine [to] have devastating misinforming effects on the whole middle Europe region. A year later, the police were talking about hybrid warfare by Russia that puts the security of people in Slovakia and the future of democracy in danger.

For example, in March of this year, the police debunked a hoax about the transfer of nuclear weapons through the territory of Slovakia. It appeared on Facebook, a principal source of disinformation in Slovakia. The police explained that they regularly assist in the transport of radioactive material, which nuclear power plants in Slovakia use to produce electricity. Such nuclear material is not a weapon and is not explosive.

The misuse of this standard police activity to create delusions about nuclear weapons serves only the interests of Russia, the police said.

Several Slovak politicians and prominent public figures, including General Prosecutor Maros Zilinka, have contributed to the spread of pro-Russian narratives and even disinformation. Last year, Zilinka, for example, ordered an investigation into the alleged destruction of a WWI cemetery in Ladomirova, eastern Slovakia, where the remains of Russian soldiers, among those of several other nationalities, are buried. The police soon announced that this was a hoax that was being spread by the Russian Embassy in Slovakia to divert attention from the events in Ukraine.

Despite the polices categorical dismissal of the claims, the investigation by prosecutors remains technically open.

The Beacon Project, an initiative by the International Republican Institute, dubbed the Russian Embassy in Slovakia the most virulent diplomatic social media presence in Europe when it comes to undermining the Ukrainian war effort, the Euronews media outlet noted recently.

Just like the Slovak police, a civic association, Krupica, is therefore calling on people to verify information they absorb from various media.

Young people can defeat hoaxes

While the police force debunks hoaxes on its social media channels, the civic association focuses on students and teaches them to distinguish between fake and real news. Krupica, which was founded by Cacik, hopes that these students can then use the knowledge they acquire in conversations with their older relatives, who are generally more prone to believing various disinformation, including about the war in Ukraine.

Compared to neighbouring countries, Slovakia has the strongest pan-Slavic sentiment, noted Cacik. The 19th-century idea of pan-Slavism suggests that Slavic nations would be united by Russia. This sentiment is especially strong among older Slovaks who grew up and lived in communist Czechoslovakia before 1989. Cacik discovered this as soon as he tried to initiate a polite debate about politics with older Slovaks, who frequently began to repeat pro-Russian and anti-Western talking points. He contends that Slovaks are therefore more likely to accept disinformation that paints Ukraine as the aggressor.

Some of the most frequent disinformation narratives circulating within Slovakia concern military support for Ukraine, refugees from Ukraine, and the role of the West and NATO, which in the narratives are blamed for the war, the Infosecurity.sk disinformation-fighting website explains. The police listed more specific war-related disinformation examples, such as the alleged mobilisation of Slovaks, in their 2022 report.

Cacik, while aware that it is no easy thing to change the minds of people consumed by disinformation, still remains hopeful. I believe that the active citizenship of young people who lead by example will bring us success and will create a more hostile environment for hoaxes, the student says. He also relies on young people whom Krupica has helped. Cacik adds that well-informed and well-educated young people are necessary for the preservation of democracy in Slovakia. For instance, they can be of help when it comes to assisting older people to distinguish between real and fake media content.

Its a long-term and complex process that needs patience, kindness and a constant overview of the current narratives on both sides, he said.

In his opinion, the first attempt never goes well.

Embrace critical thinking

Like Cacik, Kropocheva also knows how hard it is to confront older people with facts.

We tried talking to my grandparents about war-related facts, but it has never worked. explained the student.

Her Russian grandparents often draw news from Russian state-owned media and the social media app Telegram. The app is widely popular among Russians and Ukrainians but lacks fact-checking mechanisms, the Ukraine Crisis Media Center points out. Russian propaganda is therefore strong on Telegram.

And while some may assume that disinformation is only an issue for uneducated or less-educated people, this is misleading. According to disinformation expert Tomas Krissak, even well-educated people can succumb to disinformation if they invest too much time in it. Conspiracy theories often exploit human curiosity, he told the Sme daily. He added that they target peoples moods and emotions.

So, what is the best way to resist disinformation, in Krissaks view?

Ask critical-thinking questions, he says.
Fang Shaohuang, a local intangible cultural heritage inheritor, checks a traditional dragon boat in Fangzhuang Village, Minhou County, Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province, May 23, 2023.

With the approaching of Dragon Boat Festival, craftsmen in Fangzhuang Village of Minhou County, Fuzhou City of southeast China's Fujian Province, have become increasingly busy.

The village's four large dragon boat factories are working tirelessly to fulfill their orders for the upcoming festival. Each year, over 200 dragon boats are sold from here to various parts of China and countries like Japan, Singapore and the United States.

Fangzhuang has a rich history of shipbuilding dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Later generations saw the business opportunities presented by dragon boats and began designing and manufacturing traditional Fuzhou-style dragon boats themselves. During its heyday in the 1970s, there were twelve shipyards in the village with hundreds of employees.

Making a dragon boat requires several steps including making keels, nailing bottom plates, polishing surfaces and applying paint before finally attaching an exquisitely carved dragon head.

"Our ancestors invented and created this technique for building dragon boats. Therefore, we have a responsibility to pass down this craft and promote it," said Fang Shaohuang, a local intangible cultural heritage inheritor. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Craftsmen make a dragon boat in Fangzhuang Village, Minhou County, Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 12, 2023.

With the approaching of Dragon Boat Festival, craftsmen in Fangzhuang Village of Minhou County, Fuzhou City of southeast China's Fujian Province, have become increasingly busy.

The village's four large dragon boat factories are working tirelessly to fulfill their orders for the upcoming festival. Each year, over 200 dragon boats are sold from here to various parts of China and countries like Japan, Singapore and the United States.

Fangzhuang has a rich history of shipbuilding dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Later generations saw the business opportunities presented by dragon boats and began designing and manufacturing traditional Fuzhou-style dragon boats themselves. During its heyday in the 1970s, there were twelve shipyards in the village with hundreds of employees.

Making a dragon boat requires several steps including making keels, nailing bottom plates, polishing surfaces and applying paint before finally attaching an exquisitely carved dragon head.

"Our ancestors invented and created this technique for building dragon boats. Therefore, we have a responsibility to pass down this craft and promote it," said Fang Shaohuang, a local intangible cultural heritage inheritor. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

A craftsman carries a newly-carved dragon boat head in Fangzhuang Village, Minhou County, Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 12, 2023.

With the approaching of Dragon Boat Festival, craftsmen in Fangzhuang Village of Minhou County, Fuzhou City of southeast China's Fujian Province, have become increasingly busy.

The village's four large dragon boat factories are working tirelessly to fulfill their orders for the upcoming festival. Each year, over 200 dragon boats are sold from here to various parts of China and countries like Japan, Singapore and the United States.

Fangzhuang has a rich history of shipbuilding dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Later generations saw the business opportunities presented by dragon boats and began designing and manufacturing traditional Fuzhou-style dragon boats themselves. During its heyday in the 1970s, there were twelve shipyards in the village with hundreds of employees.

Making a dragon boat requires several steps including making keels, nailing bottom plates, polishing surfaces and applying paint before finally attaching an exquisitely carved dragon head.

"Our ancestors invented and created this technique for building dragon boats. Therefore, we have a responsibility to pass down this craft and promote it," said Fang Shaohuang, a local intangible cultural heritage inheritor. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

Fang Shaohuang, a local intangible cultural heritage inheritor, checks a traditional dragon boat in Fangzhuang Village, Minhou County, Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province, May 23, 2023.

With the approaching of Dragon Boat Festival, craftsmen in Fangzhuang Village of Minhou County, Fuzhou City of southeast China's Fujian Province, have become increasingly busy.

The village's four large dragon boat factories are working tirelessly to fulfill their orders for the upcoming festival. Each year, over 200 dragon boats are sold from here to various parts of China and countries like Japan, Singapore and the United States.

Fangzhuang has a rich history of shipbuilding dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Later generations saw the business opportunities presented by dragon boats and began designing and manufacturing traditional Fuzhou-style dragon boats themselves. During its heyday in the 1970s, there were twelve shipyards in the village with hundreds of employees.

Making a dragon boat requires several steps including making keels, nailing bottom plates, polishing surfaces and applying paint before finally attaching an exquisitely carved dragon head.

"Our ancestors invented and created this technique for building dragon boats. Therefore, we have a responsibility to pass down this craft and promote it," said Fang Shaohuang, a local intangible cultural heritage inheritor. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

This aerial photo taken on June 12, 2023 shows a dragon boat being loaded onto a truck in Minhou County, Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province.

With the approaching of Dragon Boat Festival, craftsmen in Fangzhuang Village of Minhou County, Fuzhou City of southeast China's Fujian Province, have become increasingly busy.

The village's four large dragon boat factories are working tirelessly to fulfill their orders for the upcoming festival. Each year, over 200 dragon boats are sold from here to various parts of China and countries like Japan, Singapore and the United States.

Fangzhuang has a rich history of shipbuilding dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Later generations saw the business opportunities presented by dragon boats and began designing and manufacturing traditional Fuzhou-style dragon boats themselves. During its heyday in the 1970s, there were twelve shipyards in the village with hundreds of employees.

Making a dragon boat requires several steps including making keels, nailing bottom plates, polishing surfaces and applying paint before finally attaching an exquisitely carved dragon head.

"Our ancestors invented and created this technique for building dragon boats. Therefore, we have a responsibility to pass down this craft and promote it," said Fang Shaohuang, a local intangible cultural heritage inheritor. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

A craftsman paints a dragon boat in Fangzhuang Village, Minhou County, Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province, May 23, 2023.

With the approaching of Dragon Boat Festival, craftsmen in Fangzhuang Village of Minhou County, Fuzhou City of southeast China's Fujian Province, have become increasingly busy.

The village's four large dragon boat factories are working tirelessly to fulfill their orders for the upcoming festival. Each year, over 200 dragon boats are sold from here to various parts of China and countries like Japan, Singapore and the United States.

Fangzhuang has a rich history of shipbuilding dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Later generations saw the business opportunities presented by dragon boats and began designing and manufacturing traditional Fuzhou-style dragon boats themselves. During its heyday in the 1970s, there were twelve shipyards in the village with hundreds of employees.

Making a dragon boat requires several steps including making keels, nailing bottom plates, polishing surfaces and applying paint before finally attaching an exquisitely carved dragon head.

"Our ancestors invented and created this technique for building dragon boats. Therefore, we have a responsibility to pass down this craft and promote it," said Fang Shaohuang, a local intangible cultural heritage inheritor. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Craftsmen make a dragon boat in Fangzhuang Village, Minhou County, Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 12, 2023.

With the approaching of Dragon Boat Festival, craftsmen in Fangzhuang Village of Minhou County, Fuzhou City of southeast China's Fujian Province, have become increasingly busy.

The village's four large dragon boat factories are working tirelessly to fulfill their orders for the upcoming festival. Each year, over 200 dragon boats are sold from here to various parts of China and countries like Japan, Singapore and the United States.

Fangzhuang has a rich history of shipbuilding dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Later generations saw the business opportunities presented by dragon boats and began designing and manufacturing traditional Fuzhou-style dragon boats themselves. During its heyday in the 1970s, there were twelve shipyards in the village with hundreds of employees.

Making a dragon boat requires several steps including making keels, nailing bottom plates, polishing surfaces and applying paint before finally attaching an exquisitely carved dragon head.

"Our ancestors invented and created this technique for building dragon boats. Therefore, we have a responsibility to pass down this craft and promote it," said Fang Shaohuang, a local intangible cultural heritage inheritor. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

Craftsmen make a dragon boat in Fangzhuang Village, Minhou County, Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 12, 2023.

With the approaching of Dragon Boat Festival, craftsmen in Fangzhuang Village of Minhou County, Fuzhou City of southeast China's Fujian Province, have become increasingly busy.

The village's four large dragon boat factories are working tirelessly to fulfill their orders for the upcoming festival. Each year, over 200 dragon boats are sold from here to various parts of China and countries like Japan, Singapore and the United States.

Fangzhuang has a rich history of shipbuilding dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Later generations saw the business opportunities presented by dragon boats and began designing and manufacturing traditional Fuzhou-style dragon boats themselves. During its heyday in the 1970s, there were twelve shipyards in the village with hundreds of employees.

Making a dragon boat requires several steps including making keels, nailing bottom plates, polishing surfaces and applying paint before finally attaching an exquisitely carved dragon head.

"Our ancestors invented and created this technique for building dragon boats. Therefore, we have a responsibility to pass down this craft and promote it," said Fang Shaohuang, a local intangible cultural heritage inheritor. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

Craftmen repair a traditional dragon boat head in Fangzhuang Village, Minhou County, Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 12, 2023.

With the approaching of Dragon Boat Festival, craftsmen in Fangzhuang Village of Minhou County, Fuzhou City of southeast China's Fujian Province, have become increasingly busy.

The village's four large dragon boat factories are working tirelessly to fulfill their orders for the upcoming festival. Each year, over 200 dragon boats are sold from here to various parts of China and countries like Japan, Singapore and the United States.

Fangzhuang has a rich history of shipbuilding dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Later generations saw the business opportunities presented by dragon boats and began designing and manufacturing traditional Fuzhou-style dragon boats themselves. During its heyday in the 1970s, there were twelve shipyards in the village with hundreds of employees.

Making a dragon boat requires several steps including making keels, nailing bottom plates, polishing surfaces and applying paint before finally attaching an exquisitely carved dragon head.

"Our ancestors invented and created this technique for building dragon boats. Therefore, we have a responsibility to pass down this craft and promote it," said Fang Shaohuang, a local intangible cultural heritage inheritor. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

Craftsmen make a dragon boat in Fangzhuang Village, Minhou County, Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 12, 2023.

With the approaching of Dragon Boat Festival, craftsmen in Fangzhuang Village of Minhou County, Fuzhou City of southeast China's Fujian Province, have become increasingly busy.

The village's four large dragon boat factories are working tirelessly to fulfill their orders for the upcoming festival. Each year, over 200 dragon boats are sold from here to various parts of China and countries like Japan, Singapore and the United States.

Fangzhuang has a rich history of shipbuilding dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Later generations saw the business opportunities presented by dragon boats and began designing and manufacturing traditional Fuzhou-style dragon boats themselves. During its heyday in the 1970s, there were twelve shipyards in the village with hundreds of employees.

Making a dragon boat requires several steps including making keels, nailing bottom plates, polishing surfaces and applying paint before finally attaching an exquisitely carved dragon head.

"Our ancestors invented and created this technique for building dragon boats. Therefore, we have a responsibility to pass down this craft and promote it," said Fang Shaohuang, a local intangible cultural heritage inheritor. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

A craftswoman carves a part of a dragon boat in Fangzhuang Village, Minhou County, Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 12, 2023.

With the approaching of Dragon Boat Festival, craftsmen in Fangzhuang Village of Minhou County, Fuzhou City of southeast China's Fujian Province, have become increasingly busy.

The village's four large dragon boat factories are working tirelessly to fulfill their orders for the upcoming festival. Each year, over 200 dragon boats are sold from here to various parts of China and countries like Japan, Singapore and the United States.

Fangzhuang has a rich history of shipbuilding dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Later generations saw the business opportunities presented by dragon boats and began designing and manufacturing traditional Fuzhou-style dragon boats themselves. During its heyday in the 1970s, there were twelve shipyards in the village with hundreds of employees.

Making a dragon boat requires several steps including making keels, nailing bottom plates, polishing surfaces and applying paint before finally attaching an exquisitely carved dragon head.

"Our ancestors invented and created this technique for building dragon boats. Therefore, we have a responsibility to pass down this craft and promote it," said Fang Shaohuang, a local intangible cultural heritage inheritor. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

A craftsman paints a dragon boat head in Fangzhuang Village, Minhou County, Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 12, 2023.

With the approaching of Dragon Boat Festival, craftsmen in Fangzhuang Village of Minhou County, Fuzhou City of southeast China's Fujian Province, have become increasingly busy.

The village's four large dragon boat factories are working tirelessly to fulfill their orders for the upcoming festival. Each year, over 200 dragon boats are sold from here to various parts of China and countries like Japan, Singapore and the United States.

Fangzhuang has a rich history of shipbuilding dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Later generations saw the business opportunities presented by dragon boats and began designing and manufacturing traditional Fuzhou-style dragon boats themselves. During its heyday in the 1970s, there were twelve shipyards in the village with hundreds of employees.

Making a dragon boat requires several steps including making keels, nailing bottom plates, polishing surfaces and applying paint before finally attaching an exquisitely carved dragon head.

"Our ancestors invented and created this technique for building dragon boats. Therefore, we have a responsibility to pass down this craft and promote it," said Fang Shaohuang, a local intangible cultural heritage inheritor. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

A craftsman makes dragon boats in Fangzhuang Village, Minhou County, Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 12, 2023.

With the approaching of Dragon Boat Festival, craftsmen in Fangzhuang Village of Minhou County, Fuzhou City of southeast China's Fujian Province, have become increasingly busy.

The village's four large dragon boat factories are working tirelessly to fulfill their orders for the upcoming festival. Each year, over 200 dragon boats are sold from here to various parts of China and countries like Japan, Singapore and the United States.

Fangzhuang has a rich history of shipbuilding dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Later generations saw the business opportunities presented by dragon boats and began designing and manufacturing traditional Fuzhou-style dragon boats themselves. During its heyday in the 1970s, there were twelve shipyards in the village with hundreds of employees.

Making a dragon boat requires several steps including making keels, nailing bottom plates, polishing surfaces and applying paint before finally attaching an exquisitely carved dragon head.

"Our ancestors invented and created this technique for building dragon boats. Therefore, we have a responsibility to pass down this craft and promote it," said Fang Shaohuang, a local intangible cultural heritage inheritor. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)

Craftsmen make a dragon boat in Fangzhuang Village, Minhou County, Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province, May 23, 2023.

With the approaching of Dragon Boat Festival, craftsmen in Fangzhuang Village of Minhou County, Fuzhou City of southeast China's Fujian Province, have become increasingly busy.

The village's four large dragon boat factories are working tirelessly to fulfill their orders for the upcoming festival. Each year, over 200 dragon boats are sold from here to various parts of China and countries like Japan, Singapore and the United States.

Fangzhuang has a rich history of shipbuilding dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Later generations saw the business opportunities presented by dragon boats and began designing and manufacturing traditional Fuzhou-style dragon boats themselves. During its heyday in the 1970s, there were twelve shipyards in the village with hundreds of employees.

Making a dragon boat requires several steps including making keels, nailing bottom plates, polishing surfaces and applying paint before finally attaching an exquisitely carved dragon head.

"Our ancestors invented and created this technique for building dragon boats. Therefore, we have a responsibility to pass down this craft and promote it," said Fang Shaohuang, a local intangible cultural heritage inheritor. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Villagers transport a dragon boat in Fangzhuang Village, Minhou County, Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 12, 2023.

With the approaching of Dragon Boat Festival, craftsmen in Fangzhuang Village of Minhou County, Fuzhou City of southeast China's Fujian Province, have become increasingly busy.

The village's four large dragon boat factories are working tirelessly to fulfill their orders for the upcoming festival. Each year, over 200 dragon boats are sold from here to various parts of China and countries like Japan, Singapore and the United States.

Fangzhuang has a rich history of shipbuilding dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Later generations saw the business opportunities presented by dragon boats and began designing and manufacturing traditional Fuzhou-style dragon boats themselves. During its heyday in the 1970s, there were twelve shipyards in the village with hundreds of employees.

Making a dragon boat requires several steps including making keels, nailing bottom plates, polishing surfaces and applying paint before finally attaching an exquisitely carved dragon head.

"Our ancestors invented and created this technique for building dragon boats. Therefore, we have a responsibility to pass down this craft and promote it," said Fang Shaohuang, a local intangible cultural heritage inheritor. (Xinhua/Jiang Kehong)
New rules for visitors to the Tatras, Smer is losing core supporters, and Bratislava will hold the Umbrella March on Saturday.

Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Share Twitter Facebook Whatsapp E-mail Link to the page

Good evening. Here is the Friday, June 16 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

President Caputova's long-expected announcement

President Zuzana Caputova. (Source: TASR)

It has been expected for several weeks that Zuzana Caputova will announce her final decision on whether she is going to run for president again. She promised to do so in May, but she then postponed the announcement due to a political crisis.



Just this week, on Thursday, June 15, four years have passed since she became Slovakia's fifth president. In a report published by the TASR news agency earlier today, the president described the past year as one of the most difficult years. This may also be one of the reasons why the most trusted Slovak politician reportedly does not want to run for office again.

The conservative daily Standard was first to report on the president's alleged decision, followed by similar reports by other media outlets.

However, the president herself is going to make the long-expected announcement earlier next week, her spokesperson confirmed on Friday. It is not clear what her decision will be.

Slovakia will hold the next presidential election in spring 2024.

More stories from The Slovak Spectator website

Election: The latest poll by NMS Market Research found that Smer would come first in the elections, with 19.6 percent. But there are signs that support for ex-prime minister Robert Fico's party is beginning to soften.

The latest poll by NMS Market Research found that Smer would come first in the elections, with 19.6 percent. But there are signs that support for ex-prime minister Robert Fico's party is beginning to soften. Migration: More illegal migrants from Syria will cross Slovak borders, acting Interior Minister Ivan Simko has warned.

More illegal migrants from Syria will cross Slovak borders, acting Interior Minister Ivan Simko has warned. Hiking: A shelter named after Slovak literature character Jozef Mak has opened.

A shelter named after Slovak literature character Jozef Mak has opened. Nature: How the new rules in the Tatras affect dogs, climbers and tourists.

If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you.

FEATURE STORY FOR FRIDAY

Refurbishment of Komenskeho Square in Bratislava's centre in reduced version for now

The current look of Komenskeho Square in the historical centre of Bratislava significantly differs from a flagship project of the city to refurbish public places.

Last autumn a new stone paving was laid, new lighting was installed and new greenery planted. But a pergola, a water element as well as other proposed features, are missing. Read more.

EVENT FOR SATURDAY

Take your umbrella

Umbrella March 2019. (Source: Anna Fay)

On Saturday, a public event called the Umbrella March will take place in the streets of Slovakia's capital to mark World Refugee Day, which is held on June 20.

Alternatively, you can choose one of the Top 10 events in Bratislava. And for more travel and culture ideas, read The Weekend.

In other news

Up to 37 percent of Slovak people avoid news , the Reuters Institute of Journalism's report has found. As for topics, they mostly avoid news on Ukraine (49 percent), health and Covid news (40 percent), and social justice stories such as LGBT+ rights (40 percent). They also avoid news on home affairs (35 percent), the Dennik N daily writes.

, the Reuters Institute of Journalism's report has found. As for topics, they mostly avoid news on Ukraine (49 percent), health and Covid news (40 percent), and social justice stories such as LGBT+ rights (40 percent). They also avoid news on home affairs (35 percent), the Dennik N daily writes. The right to make payment for the purchase of goods and the provision of services in cash will be part of the Constitution following a bill adopted by MPs on June 15. Based on another recent change, it will be possible to refuse a cash payment only for valid reasons.

following a bill adopted by MPs on June 15. Based on another recent change, it will be possible to refuse a cash payment only for valid reasons. On Saturday, several open-air swimming pools in Bratislava will reopen - Zlate Piesky, Rosnicka, Lamac and Krasnany. Tickets can be purchased online.

High Tatras as pictured from Nova Lesna, a town near Poprad, eastern Slovakia on June 15, 2023. (Source: TASR)

WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND: Mostly clear skies, scattered showers or storms. The highest daytime temperature will rise to 27C. Fresh breeze. (SHMU)

Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us.

P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.

Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook, Instagram (@slovakspectator) and Twitter (@slovakspectator).
Zmudri's Zuzana Blazekova on the differences between generations in one family.

Zuzana Blazekova from the Zmudri initiative and Spectator College presenter James Thomson during a discussion on disinformation. (Source: Ivana Adzic)

Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Share Twitter Facebook Whatsapp E-mail Link to the page

https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1542058822&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true

Zmudri is a non-profit project that began when a group of young people decided to join forces and help fellow young people prepare for adult life.

Not only does Zmudri help young people by means of social networks, but they also cooperate with more than 1,000 teachers, sending them study materials, including videos, and organising discussions at schools to help students cope with the challenges they will face as adults.

Zmudri has won numerous awards, including a European Citizen's Prize in 2021.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230615/oldest-footprint-of-homo-sapiens-discovered-in-south-africa-1111198649.html

Oldest Footprint of Homo Sapiens Discovered in South Africa

Oldest Footprint of Homo Sapiens Discovered in South Africa

Newly discovered ancient footprints on South Africa's Cape south coast have provided valuable insights into the movement and behavior of our human ancestors.

2023-06-15T23:46+0000

2023-06-15T23:46+0000

2023-06-15T23:45+0000

beyond politics

science & tech

south africa

homo sapiens

footprint

history

ancient history

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/0f/1111199129_0:178:1777:1178_1920x0_80_0_0_de2a2f81b4c008cacaae411622cf48ed.jpg

Newly discovered ancient footprints on South Africa's Cape south coast have provided valuable insights into the movement and behavior of our human ancestors.The footprints, which range in age from 71,000 years to 153,000 years, include one of the oldest footprint ever attributed to Homo sapiens. The findings contribute to a growing number of hominin ichnosites - described as sites with tracks and other traces - in Africa, challenging the belief that such sites were ever rare.Previously, only four sites in Africa were reported, two in East Africa (Laetoli in Tanzania and Koobi Fora in Kenya) and two in South Africa (Nahoon and Langebaan). However, the recent discovery of seven newly dated hominin ichnosites on the Cape south coast has expanded the tally to 14, forming a South African cluster of nine sites.There are notable differences between the East African and South African tracksite clusters. The East African sites are much older, with tracks made by earlier species like australopithecines, Homo heidelbergensis, and Homo erectus. However,he South African sites, attributed to Homo sapiens, are younger and typically found in exposed rocks known as aeolianites, which are ancient dunes turned into cemented formations.Although the South African sites are less well-preserved due to exposure and erosion, they can be dated using optically stimulated luminescence, a method that measures the time since sediment was last exposed to sunlight.The researchers expect further discoveries of hominin ichnosites on the Cape south coast and other coastal regions, with the search expanding to older deposits ranging from 400,000 to over 2 million years old. These ongoing investigations will provide scientists with a broader understanding of our ancient ancestors and the environments they inhabited.The findings were published in the journal Ichnos.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221212/first-narrative-in-human-history-discovered-in-turkey-and-it-contains-nudity-1105369367.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230521/game-changer--huge-network-of-ancient-mayan-cities-and-highways-could-rewrite-history-1110507955.html

south africa

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Egor Shapovalov

Egor Shapovalov

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Egor Shapovalov

homo sapiens, south africa, human history, prehistoric age evidence, human footprints, south africa cape, origin of the human species
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/at-least-5-dead-after-tornadoes-devastate-southern-us-leave-thousands-without-power-1111231265.html

At Least 5 Dead After Tornadoes Devastate US South, Leave Thousands Without Power

At Least 5 Dead After Tornadoes Devastate US South, Leave Thousands Without Power

A series of severe storms and tornadoes have ravaged several states in the southern US, resulting in losses of life, widespread damage, and leaving thousands of residents without power.

2023-06-16T22:56+0000

2023-06-16T22:56+0000

2023-06-16T23:09+0000

americas

us

texas

louisiana

florida

national weather service

tornado

tornado

power outage

power outages

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/10/1111231419_0:146:2797:1719_1920x0_80_0_0_15c80d7884db5be6f0b6d746c3b0c8d5.jpg

A series of severe storms and tornadoes have ravaged several states in the southern US, resulting in losses of life, widespread damage, and thousands of residents without power. US states including Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi have been particularly affected by the latest storm cells as devastating tornadoes have left a path of chaos and destruction in their wake.One of the hardest-hit areas is the town of Perryton in the Texas Panhandle. A powerful tornado tore through the town, leaving three people dead and dozens injured. The tornado wreaked havoc on mobile home communities and inflicted extensive damage on the downtown area.A preliminary reading by officials with the National Weather Service has suggested the Thursday tornado registered as an EF-2, which carries a windspeed between 111 and 135 miles per hour.First responders from nearby towns and even neighboring Oklahoma swiftly descended upon Perryton to assist with rescue and recovery efforts. The town with a population oof ver 8,000 residents, was left reeling from the aftermath, with shattered homes and buildings scattered amidst piles of rubble."The tornado went right down our Main Street," James Myers, a teacher in Perryton, told local media. Another resident told the outlet that the scene looked as if "a bomb had gone off."Elsewhere, the destructive storms also claimed lives in Escambia County, Florida, where a person was killed when a tornado caused a tree to fall on their home. A man in Canton, Mississippi, was also killed after a tree collapsed onto his carport during the stormy weather.As communities grapple with the aftermath of the tornadoes, they must now also brace themselves for extreme heat wave conditions. The National Weather Service has issued warnings of excessive heat in southern Texas and parts of coastal Louisiana. Temperatures are expected to skyrocket, reaching as high as the 110s, presenting a 15-25 degree anomaly for this time of year.Residents are being urged to take necessary precautions:Recovery efforts in the affected areas are now in full swing. Utility crews are working tirelessly to restore power to the thousands of residents who remain without electricity. While local authorities are assessing the extent of the damage and providing support to those affected, communities are rallying together, demonstrating resilience and compassion in the face of the natural disaster.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230113/videos-at-least-six-people-dead-after-destructive-tornadoes-tear-through-us-south--1106267097.html

americas

texas

louisiana

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Egor Shapovalov

Egor Shapovalov

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Egor Shapovalov

us texas panhandle perryton, us tornadoes, texas natural disasters, civilian casualties in perryton, us south emergency state, tornado victims
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/biden-open-to-lifting-reform-requirements-for-ukraines-nato-membership--reports-1111211931.html

Biden 'Open' to Lifting Reform Requirements for Ukraine's NATO Membership  Reports

Biden 'Open' to Lifting Reform Requirements for Ukraine's NATO Membership  Reports

US President Joe Biden has backed exempting Ukraine from fulfilling a Membership Action Plan (MAP), which is a package of NATO-prescribed reforms prospective candidates are required to carry out but is not enough by itself to gain membership, Politico has reported, citing two unnamed US officials.

2023-06-16T10:23+0000

2023-06-16T10:23+0000

2023-06-16T10:23+0000

world

joe biden

jens stoltenberg

kiev

ukraine

nato

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0c/1109390334_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_6dfe15554005d0fd09a7091410c2a18c.jpg

Biden is "open" to removing the MAP requirement for Ukraine, which means member states would be able to greenlight its accession to the military alliance at any time, the officials were cited as saying. Member states can equally veto Ukraine's accession, which means that the removal of the MAP is not itself a guarantee of imminent membership, and the country would likely still need to carry out some pro-democracy changes, the newspaper noted. "We are engaging with our NATO allies on this middle ground approach to determine whether it can gain consensus. We are seeking to find common ground on language that supports NATO's commitment to Ukraine's transatlantic integration," one of the officials was quoted as saying. If the US succeeds in getting allies on board with the plan, the announcement of the MAP's removal for Ukraine might be made at NATO's July summit in Lithuania, the report said. Ukraine applied for accelerated NATO membership in September 2022. In early June, Zelenskyy said that Kiev was hoping to receive a clear invitation to the bloc at NATO's 2023 top-level summit in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius. He also said the Ukrainian military was disappointed that Kiev had not yet received a clear positive response about joining both the European Union and NATO. On June 13, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reiterated that it was impossible to give a precise date for when Ukraine might become a NATO member so long as it remains engaged in an armed conflict. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow was closely monitoring the situation with Ukraine's NATO bid, pointing out that Kiev's pivot to Euro-Atlantic integration was one of the reasons for the start of Russia's military operation in February 2022.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230615/eu-parliament-calls-on-nato-allies-to-invite-ukraine-to-join-alliance-1111194509.html

kiev

ukraine

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

ukraine's nato membership, us president joe biden, nato-prescribed reforms prospective
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/blame-it-on-dead-guy-us-seeks-to-shift-blame-for-nord-stream-attacks-on-kiev-1111227187.html

Blame It on 'Dead Guy': US Seeks to Shift Blame for Nord Stream Attacks on Kiev

Blame It on 'Dead Guy': US Seeks to Shift Blame for Nord Stream Attacks on Kiev

The Pentagon is using leaks as a narrative management tool to cover up Nord Stream sabotage and shift blame away from the US.

2023-06-16T18:30+0000

2023-06-16T18:30+0000

2023-06-16T18:30+0000

analysis

mark sleboda

valery zaluzhny

volodymyr zelensky

kiev

ukraine

germany

cia

pentagon

nato

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/1d/1101347558_0:63:1200:738_1920x0_80_0_0_92adc02f32428ca312139dddc359fd1c.jpg

Officials familiar with the situation, as reported by US media, revealed that Dutch military intelligence officials had informed the CIA prior to the bombings that a Ukrainian sabotage team loyal to General Valerii Zaluzhny was actively searching for a yacht along the Baltic coastline that would enable divers to plant explosives along the Nord Stream pipelines.The security analyst suggests considering the possibility of believing a scenario where the US and the Netherlands, specifically the Netherlands' powerful intelligence operatives, were the ones who alerted the CIA about the alleged plan of the Ukrainians.Mark Sleboda stressed that the Ukrainian government has been unable to provide accurate information regarding Zaluzhny's whereabouts or convince anyone that he was alive and not seriously injured due to a previously reported Russian missile strike.Comparing the situation to a common theme in movies, like in Schindler's List where the Nazis interrogate Jewish slave laborers and they falsely point to a recently killed man, the expert acknowledges the possibility of believing the given scenario and proposes considering it as if we were all fifth graders.If this were true, it would mean that the US knew that their proxy intended an attack on the major energy infrastructure of an allied NAITO member, did not tell them about it, and did nothing about it, except for advising Ukraine against doing it, which the later subsequently postponed upon the US's request.On the contrary, the West has not implemented NATO's Article 5 against Ukraine. It continues to support Kiev with financial aid, weapons, and intelligence. The story about Zaluzhny is intended to mask any perceived differences between the United States and Germany, Sleboda believes.The current German political elite, including Scholz, Baerbock, and others, are in favor of destroying the Nord Stream pipelines, despite not being the ones who initially supported its construction. The security analyst suggests they prioritize maintaining the NATO alliance over their country's reliance on Russian energy, regardless of potential costs to Germanys economy and industry.In September 2022, explosions targeted the Nord Stream pipelines, a crucial gas transportation system connecting Russia and Germany beneath the Baltic Sea. The operator of the pipelines, Nord Stream AG, described the resulting damage as unprecedented and indicated that it was difficult to provide an estimate for the duration of repairs.Denmark, Germany, and Norway have excluded Russia from their joint investigations into the incident, leading Moscow to initiate its own investigation, citing the charge of international terrorism.While official investigation results are still pending, Pulitzer Prize-winning US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh published a report in February 2023, alleging that the United States, with the assistance of Norway, had orchestrated the explosions. In response, Washington has vehemently denied any involvement in the attack.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230614/russia-taking-note-of-new-leaks-regarding-nord-stream-sabotage---kremlin-1111161344.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230610/poland-may-have-been-used-as-operating-base-for-nord-stream-sabotage---report-1111041736.html

kiev

ukraine

germany

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

pentagon leaks, narrative management tool, cover up nord stream sabotage, shift blame away from the us, diplomatic problems within nato, us attacked an energy pipeline of germany, nato member
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/bulgaria-wants-to-join-eu-coalition-supplying-kiev-with-ammunition-1111207314.html

Bulgaria Wants to Join EU Coalition Supplying Kiev With Ammunition

Bulgaria Wants to Join EU Coalition Supplying Kiev With Ammunition

Bulgaria is planning to join the coalition of European countries supporting Ukraine with ammunition deliveries, though the intention has not been supported by a "political decision" yet, new Bulgarian Defense Minister Todor Tagarev has said.

2023-06-16T07:25+0000

2023-06-16T07:25+0000

2023-06-16T07:25+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

european union (eu)

bulgaria

ukraine

european defense agency

ammunition

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1e/1109999076_0:72:3388:1978_1920x0_80_0_0_7bdd1939876f2b80a12d193816e20f20.jpg

"We are very clearly aiming at joining this coalition. I think we will be able to provide some of the required ammunition for Ukraine," Tagarev told American newspaper. There has been "no political decision" yet, the minister said, adding that Sofia would "certainly put the effort" and "find a way." In February, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced that half of the EU member states were ready to finance and establish the joint production of munitions for Ukraine in volumes as large as possible. The coalition consists of 17 EU member countries and Norway, which are jointly purchasing 155 mm shells through the European Defense Agency to increase their own reserves and ensure long-term ammunition supplies to Ukraine. Western countries have been providing financial, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine since the start of Russia's special military operation in February 2022. The support evolved from lighter artillery munitions and training in 2022 to heavier weapons, including tanks, later that year and in 2023. For the past months, Ukraine has been pushing to be supplied with fighter jets. The Kremlin has repeatedly warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230608/swiss-lower-house-votes-against-providing-55bln-aid-package-to-ukraine-1111006597.html

bulgaria

ukraine

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

supporting ukraine, ammunition deliveries, european countries supporting ukraine, bulgarian defense minister todor tagarev
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/chinas-xi-jinping-welcomes-old-friend-bill-gates-in-beijing-1111205913.html

China's Xi Jinping Welcomes 'Old Friend' Bill Gates in Beijing

China's Xi Jinping Welcomes 'Old Friend' Bill Gates in Beijing

US billionaire Bill Gates met with Chinas leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday.

2023-06-16T09:34+0000

2023-06-16T09:34+0000

2023-06-16T09:35+0000

us

china

xi jinping

bill gates

elon musk

world

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/10/1111210697_0:257:2730:1793_1920x0_80_0_0_bc2a0713189061bc1760b377bddfceb1.jpg

US billionaire Bill Gates met with Chinas leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday."You are the first American friend I have met in Beijing this year. We have always placed our hopes on the American people, and hoped for continued friendship between the peoples of the two countries," Xi reportedly told Gates.Gates was cited as saying he was "very honoured to have this chance to meet".The Microsoft co-founder is believed to have last met with the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 2015, on the sidelines of the Boao forum for Asia in Hainan province. In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020, Xi sent a message of gratitude to Gates after the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledged some $5 million-worth of assistance to China for the fight against the coronavirus.Gates, who is currently worth $118.6B as per Forbes, landed in Beijing for the first time since 2019 on Wednesday. He went on Twitter to say he was "excited to visit with partners who have been working on global health and development challenges with his Gates Foundation for more than 15 years."The philanthropist, who underscored that innovation was vital to address challenges related to everything from health and climate change, to food insecurity, voiced conviction that he would find such innovation in China. Bill Gates met with Beijings mayor Yin Yong to discuss a partnership with China on drug discovery, and addressed a gathering at the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI).The Gates Foundation announced a $50 million donation over the next five years into the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute on Thursday, in collaboration with Beijings municipal government, which will similarly invest $50 million to support "efforts to improve health outcomes worldwide through lifesaving therapies for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, which disproportionately affect the world's poorest", as per the the Gates Foundation statement.Gates enthused over brilliant Chinese researchers and hailed the Asian powerhouse's efforts to "reduce poverty", insisting that it can "play an even bigger role in addressing the current challenges, particularly those facing African countries. 'Win' Over MuskThe visit by Bill Gates to China comes against the backdrop of spriralling geopolitical tensions that have brought Washington-Beijing ties to one of their lowest points in decades. However, the world's second-largest economy has been making efforts to attract foreign investors to reinvigorate the economy post-lockdowns. A flurry of stopovers have been made in China by tech bosses. Apple CEO Tim Cook was in the country to attend the China Development Forum.The CEO of CEO of JPMorgan Chase, America's largest bank in terms of assets, Jamie Dimon, also recently went to China. Most recently, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk visited China, meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, and vowing that his electric carmaker would continue to expand operations in the world's largest EV market. At this point it is worth noting that the China visits feed into the rivalry between Gates and Musk. The owner of Twitter met in person with three senior government officials: China's foreign, commerce and industry ministers, and reportedly conferred with Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang." However, Bill Gates scored a major win over the South African-born American entrepreneur by wecuring a sit-down with the Chinese leader, Xi Jingping.The two tech gurus who have been vying for the role of the world's richest man (according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Elon Musk recently regained the title, surpassing LVMH's Bernard Arnault) have been recently verbally sparring on Twitter. Musk slammed the fellow billionaire for holding a short position on Tesla shares worth around $2 billion.After a series of viral exchanges, in an interview with a French YouTuber, Gates spoke of his record on climate change philanthropy and questioned the benefit of electric vehicles. In response, Musk tweeted, 'Sigh."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230614/bill-gates-arrives-in-china-to-engage-beijing-on-global-health-development-challenges-1111154068.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230531/elon-musk-meets-with-chinas-commerce-industry-ministry-chiefs-in-beijing-1110811430.html

china

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Svetlana Ekimenko

Svetlana Ekimenko

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Svetlana Ekimenko

bill gates, china visit, china's leader, xi jingping, bill and melinda gates foundation, microsoft co-founder,philanthropist gates, tesla ceo elon musk, win over musk, musk gates feud
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/france-eyes-brics-summit-africa-dropping-dollar-iran-presidential-tour-1111200630.html

France Eyes BRICS Summit; Africa Dropping Dollar; Iran Presidential Tour

France Eyes BRICS Summit; Africa Dropping Dollar; Iran Presidential Tour

BRICS members are seeking answers as France seeks permission to attend their next meeting.

2023-06-16T04:14+0000

2023-06-16T04:14+0000

2023-06-19T12:47+0000

the critical hour

radio

emmanuel macron

iran

cornel west

ukraine

donald trump

mark sleboda

france

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/10/1111200473_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_fb7067b03166d1663f69f96e74c7f6d1.png

France Eyes BRICS Summit; Africa Dropping Dollar; Iran Presidential Tour BRICS members are seeking answers as France seeks permission to attend their next meeting.

Mark Sleboda, Moscow-based international relations security analyst, joins us to discuss Russia and Ukraine. Yesterday, Germany released its first national security strategy, describing Russia as the biggest European security threat.Dr. Gerald Horne, Professor of History at the University of Houston, TX, author, historian, and researcher, joins us to discuss Cornel West and Ukraine. Cornel West switched from the People's Party to the Green Party for the 2024 Presidential run. Also, French President Emmanuel Macron requested an invitation to the upcoming BRICS summit in Pretoria from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, in a move that could signal a change in France's foreign policy amidst the Ukraine conflict.KJ Noh, peace activist, teacher, writer, joins us to discuss Asia. China Premier Li Qiang will visit Germany and France next week, and the US is pushing India to advance a deal for dozens of US-made armed drones when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Washington.Margaret Kimberley, editor and senior columnist at Black Agenda Report and author of "Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents", joins us to discuss The Black Agenda Report. Cornel West discusses his Presidential campaign and Trump's indictments subvert the legal and political system.Robert Fantina, journalist and Palestine activist, joins us to discuss the Middle East. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that Sweden should not expect Ankara's approval to join NATO at the alliances upcoming summit in July, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared with Israeli Knesset's foreign relations committee that the US and Iran have been "holding indirect talks on a mini agreement related to Iran's nuclear program."Dr. David Oualaalou, international geopolitical consultant, veteran, and author of many books, including "The Dynamics of Russia's Geopolitics: Remaking the Global Order," international security analyst, and host of the "Geopolitics in Conflict" Show on YT, joins us to discuss the New World Order. Kenyan President William Ruto urged African nations to use their own national currencies instead of the US dollar "as a means of promoting trade" on the continent and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told the press that nearly 20 countries are seeking BRICS membership.Jon Jeter, journalist, and author, joins us to discuss politics. MSNBC accuses Cornel West of sanitizing right-wing leanings while framing himself as a leftist. He also discusses last month's China/US Solidarity Network delegation's visit to China in response to an increase in US attacks on Beijing.Caleb Maupin, journalist, and political analyst, joins us to discuss the economy. Caleb talks about the Kenyan President urging African nations to use their own currencies instead of the US dollar. He also discusses that the end of The Federal Reserve's tightening is still in sight and how China's surprise rate cut may just be the beginning.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.

iran

ukraine

france

china

west

taiwan

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Garland Nixon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125302_0:0:239:239_100x100_80_0_0_d5d43c970b0740f228597fbcdb4ffd66.jpg

Garland Nixon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125302_0:0:239:239_100x100_80_0_0_d5d43c970b0740f228597fbcdb4ffd66.jpg

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Garland Nixon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125302_0:0:239:239_100x100_80_0_0_d5d43c970b0740f228597fbcdb4ffd66.jpg

the critical hour, brics summit, africa drops dollar, dedollarization, russia, ukraine, cornel west, indian-american relations, trump's indictment, sweden nato ambition, new world order, brics membership, what countries are in brics
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/gas-price-in-netherlands-nearly-doubles-in-2-weeks---reports-1111216419.html

Gas Price in Netherlands Nearly Doubles in 2 Weeks - Reports

Gas Price in Netherlands Nearly Doubles in 2 Weeks - Reports

The purchase price of gas in the Netherlands has almost doubled since early June, when it last settled at 23 euros ($25) per megawatt-hour (MWh), Dutch broadcaster NOS reported Friday.

2023-06-16T12:29+0000

2023-06-16T12:29+0000

2023-06-16T12:29+0000

energy crisis in europe

netherlands

liquefied natural gas (lng)

gas

gas prices

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/08/1f/1100213797_0:102:2515:1517_1920x0_80_0_0_c1a4be8ca9b4d27212169274b3dc4311.jpg

Gas surged to nearly 50 euros per MWh on the Dutch TTF before falling to more than 40 euros at market close on Thursday on rising demand in China and supply shortfalls from Norway, which has extended maintenance on gas facilities until mid-July. Dutch energy utilities have been adjusting price contracts for households to account for gas price fluctuations, media reported. A three-year contract that cost 299 euros a month on June 5 now costs 309 euros, and the price of shorter-term contracts is expected to rise if gas prices remain high. All the signs are that the gas market is tightening again, media suggested. The Netherlands has become increasingly dependent on liquefied natural gas supplies from the United States and Qatar after ditching Russian gas. Now that the Chinese economy has finally begun to rebound from the COVID-19 lockdowns, it is scooping up LNG contracts that were sold on to Europe in 2022.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230314/eu-imports-of-lng-pipeline-gas-up-threefold-to-over-222bln-in-2022-1108363788.html

netherlands

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

gas price, gas in the netherlands,
BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- China's "debt trap" is one of the nonsense fabricated by Western countries, as no African nation is under the burden of Chinese debts, a Zimbabwean party official has said.

"The Western countries are the ones who made Africa every 'debt trap'," Christopher Mutsvangwa, secretary for Information and Publicity for the ruling party Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF), told Xinhua on the sidelines of the Forum on Global Human Rights Governance held in Beijing on Wednesday and Thursday.

Instead of causing any "debt trap," China is offering a helping hand to address Africa's debt issue, said Mutsvangwa, also the African country's former ambassador to China.

"Before China, for Africa, if you want capital, you go to Paris, it's expensive. You try to go to New York, it's even more expensive. You try to go to London, it's through the roof," he said.

The cost of loans from China is low and the capital from China is modernizing Africa, he added.

"We want more capital from China ... Because capital from China is modernizing Africa. It is bringing Africa to the global economic stage which they (Western countries) never did before China," Mutsvangwa said.

According to research by the China-Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins University in April, China has contributed 63 percent of the debt service suspensions under the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI).

The research found that China has been active in communicating with other participating parties, and has performed its duties in effectively implementing the DSSI.

"Those who accused China of 'debt trap' are jealous. They won't succeed. They will not stop the shared development and endeavor between Africa and China."

Speaking highly of the Belt and Road Initiative, Mutsvangwa said it is giving African countries more development opportunities and bringing more African countries to the global stage.

"The country which is showing the way more than any other in the last 40 years is China, and we are very grateful to China for teaching the world that you must respect Africa," he said. 
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/germany-runs-out-of-money-for-eu-after-ukraine-spending-spree-1111211502.html

Germany Runs Out of Money for EU After Ukraine Spending Spree

Germany Runs Out of Money for EU After Ukraine Spending Spree

Billions of euros in direct military, economic and financial support for Ukraine and billions more via European Union institutions have sucked the German budget dry.

2023-06-16T10:55+0000

2023-06-16T10:55+0000

2023-06-16T10:56+0000

economy

christian lindner

boris pistorius

ukraine

berlin

germany

european union (eu)

european commission

rheinmetall

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/10/1111211345_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_38c20300d80ab0d53c701a77e1e22c7b.jpg

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner has put his foot down on the possibility of additional funding support for the EU's budget, saying the country has had to resort to penny pinching of its own.The finance minister's comments come following complaints from the European Commission that aid to Ukraine has "exhausted" the bloc's long-term 2021-2027 budget "to the maximum," and hints that Germany and other major EU economies should pitch in to make up the difference.The European Commission is expected to prevent a report on revisions to the budget next Tuesday, according to Lindner.According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Germany has pledged some 4.24 billion in military aid, 1.74 billion in economic aid, and 1.3 billion in financial aid to Ukraine between January 2022 and February 2023. The European Union's institutions  which Berlin pays into heavily, committed 3.6 billion in military aid, 1.61 billion in humanitarian support, and 30.32 billion in financial assistance over the same period.Germany is third only behind the United States and Britain in terms of overall military and economic support for Ukraine.Berlin has paid a hefty price for its position, with its industrialized economy slipping into a recession and its arms and ammunition stockpiles depleted.German heavy armor has featured heavily in recent news reports about Ukraines sputtering counteroffensive against Russia, with dozens of Leopard and Leopard 2 tanks reportedly knocked out in heavy fighting. On Monday, Kiev called on Berlin to urgently send more main battle tanks so that Ukraines army can resupply. On Thursday, German defense giant Rheinmetall announced that no more Leopard tanks would be forthcoming in 2023.German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has confirmed that Berlin would "not be able to replace every tank that is now out of action."On Wednesday, Germany unveiled its first-ever National Security Strategy, designating Russia as the "biggest threat" to peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic region.Moscow has urged Berlin and other European members of NATO not to kowtow to US policy on Ukraine, and has expressed bewilderment at European countries' readiness to push Washington's line despite the risks of recession and long-term deindustrialization of their own economies.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230613/german-industry-gravely-threatened-by-loss-of-russian-gas-pipeline-lifeline-1111120205.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/berlin-to-face-production-cuts-if-russian-gas-stops-flowing-via-ukraine---economy-minister-1111094585.html

ukraine

berlin

germany

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Ilya Tsukanov

Ilya Tsukanov

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Ilya Tsukanov

germany, ukraine, spending, european union, budget, christian lindner, how much germany spends on ukraine, ukraine aid, germany's aid to kiev, how muach does eu spend on ukraine, european aid to kiev, leopard tanks ukraine, ukrainian tanks destroyed
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/kherson-region-official-accuses-ukraine-of-attempting-to-kill-him-with-precision-missiles-1111200234.html

Kherson Region Official Accuses Ukraine of Attempting to Kill Him With Precision Missiles

Kherson Region Official Accuses Ukraine of Attempting to Kill Him With Precision Missiles

Acting Kherson Governor Vladimir Saldo said on Thursday that Kiev had tried to kill him by firing more than 10 high precision missiles.

2023-06-16T01:37+0000

2023-06-16T01:37+0000

2023-06-16T01:36+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

kherson

kiev

ukraine

nazi

shelling

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/17/1109779241_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_7dd3b13fccf72222ef1053bec2d7cf6d.jpg

"Last Friday, on June 9, on the criminal order of [the Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo] Budanov and his so-called 'leader' [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky, the puppet Kiev regime staged a real hunt for me, firing more than ten high-precision English missiles at the places of my alleged location in the Kherson Region," Saldo wrote on Telegram. Saldo said that civilians had been injured by the shelling. On June 9 and 10, Ukrainian troops attacked the Arabat Spit in the Kherson Region with Storm Shadow missiles.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230607/environment-expert-preplanned-kakhovka-dam-destruction-is-kievs-crime-against-humanity-and-nature-1110986635.html

kherson

kiev

ukraine

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

kherson, vladimir saldo, precision missiles,
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/kiev-loses-over-400-military-in-2-directions-over-past-day---russian-mod-1111208772.html

Kiev Loses Over 400 Military in 2 Directions Over Past Day - Russian MoD

Kiev Loses Over 400 Military in 2 Directions Over Past Day - Russian MoD

Ukraine has lost more than 400 military in the South Donetsk and Donetsk directions over the past day as a result of unsuccessful offensive attempts, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

2023-06-16T08:32+0000

2023-06-16T08:32+0000

2023-06-16T08:32+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

russia

ukraine

donetsk

russian defense ministry

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/0b/1111061458_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_55abda10b18806e1643519f9ba8dd3a4.jpg

"More than 200 Ukrainian military, five tanks, seven infantry fighting vehicles, five armored fighting vehicles, four vehicles, and two mortar batteries were destroyed [in the South Donetsk direction] over the past day," the ministry said. In the Donetsk direction, Russian troops repulsed five enemy attacks, the ministry said. Over the past day, Ukrainian troops continued to suffer significant losses in the course of unsuccessful attempts to conduct offensive operations in these areas, the ministry said in a statement, adding that near the Vremevka ledge, Russia repelled five attacks.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230615/ceo-confirms-rheinmetall-unable-to-supply-leopard-tanks-to-ukraine-in-2023-1111189892.html

russia

ukraine

donetsk

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

south donetsk, donetsk direction, russian defense ministry, unsuccessful offensive attempts
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/lavrov-outlines-new-world-emerging-from-wests-geopolitical-war-on-russia-1111226783.html

Lavrov Outlines New World Emerging From West's 'Geopolitical War' on Russia

Lavrov Outlines New World Emerging From West's 'Geopolitical War' on Russia

President Putin said Friday that the Russias ability to withstand Western sanctions pressure over the past year shows that the "neocolonial international system" which has driven world affairs for decades has ceased to exist"

2023-06-16T17:30+0000

2023-06-16T17:30+0000

2023-06-16T17:52+0000

world

sergey lavrov

vladimir putin

russia

west

nato

moscow

brave new world

multipolar world

multipolarity

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/10/1111226316_0:138:3151:1910_1920x0_80_0_0_0a2b5c63f6acdca479c45f43bc117dc5.jpg

The world is living in new geopolitical reality, with attempts by the United States and its allies to prop up the Wests dominant position in world affairs faltering, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said."In itself, the war unleashed against us is a geopolitical war[The West seeks to] remove competitors. This is how we view the situation," Lavrov said Friday at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in an exclusive interview with RT Arabic. "The globalization of the West  under the leadership of the United States which was imposed on everyone using instruments which Washington and its closest allies continue to control...has already ended. And now the awareness of the need for the regionalization of development processes predominates. The processes which are now developing  developing especially rapidly in the context of the Wests reaction to our special military operation, when we accepted the challenge thrown before us, these processes unequivocally indicate that self-reliance and independence from any institutions connected to the West is becoming a major trend," Lavrov said.West Lost RussiaRussia's approaches to cooperation with the West "changed a long time ago," and changed dramatically, according to the Russian top diplomat, with Moscow no longer depending on the Wests promises and agreements, which were presented to the Russian side as a chance to develop a constructive partnership.In some areas, relations between Russia and the West haven't just worsened, but been suspended entirely, Lavrov said. "And I dont know when this will all change. At the current historical stage, the West has lost Russia. I have no doubts about this. The sooner we get rid of the remaining illusions, the better for our own development," he stressed.The foreign minister recalled remarks made by Vladimir Putin this week in a meeting with Russian war correspondents, in which the Russian president recalled the years Moscow had spent after the end of the Cold War trying to enter the Western "family of so-called civilized people," and offering "everything"  from joint missile defenses to possible Russian membership in NATO, only to be rebuked.The foreign minister said Moscow now has the full understanding of the need to rely solely on ourselves, and to develop relations only with those countries which are ready for equality-based and mutually beneficial cooperation. Without leaders and followers, as we are now seeing in the West, where the Anglo-Saxons have simply lined up the rest of the collective West, to put it simply, and is using the situation they created in Ukraine  a war against the Russian Federation, to remove their competitors.Western 'Disrespect' for World NationsThe US and UK leaders of the Western bloc view Russia as a threat, just as they view China as a threat, but are simultaneously removing their allies in continental Europe as competitors, Lavrov noted pointing to the dramatic downturn being faced by countries like Germany after the shutdown of economic ties with Russia.Efforts by the West to bully the world into submission to condemn Russia are not only unsustainable, but signal tremendous "disrespect" to non-Western nations, according to Lavrov.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/growth-of-brics-could-accelerate-de-dollarization-1111210989.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/pepe-escobar-russias-new-roadmap-for-multipolar-world-1111204612.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230609/a-new-world-order-looms--but-not-how-george-bush-imagined-1111027064.html

russia

west

moscow

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Ilya Tsukanov

Ilya Tsukanov

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Ilya Tsukanov

russia, west, united states, hegemony, imperialism, new world order, globalization, sergei lavrov
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/moscow-will-return-to-investigating-nord-stream-sabotage-after-un-halt---polyanskiy-1111202351.html

Moscow Will Return to Investigating Nord Stream Sabotage After UN Halt

Moscow Will Return to Investigating Nord Stream Sabotage After UN Halt

The issue of an investigation of the sabotage on the Nord Stream pipeline is not closed, and Russia will return to it, Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Dmitriy Polyanskiy said Thursday.

2023-06-16T03:48+0000

2023-06-16T03:48+0000

2023-06-16T04:23+0000

nord stream sabotage

dmitry polyanskiy

russia

ukraine

moscow

un security council (unsc)

nord stream

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/1d/1101347558_0:63:1200:738_1920x0_80_0_0_92adc02f32428ca312139dddc359fd1c.jpg

"The matter of the investigation is not closed for us, and we will return to it in a suitable form and at a convenient time if the situation does not change," Polyansky said on Telegram. He added that the topic "predictably remains uncomfortable for Westerners," and they are clearly nervous about answering Russia's questions. Western representatives at the UN Security Council are urging Denmark, Germany and Sweden not to rush their national investigations, the officials added. "Apparently, understanding of our position is growing, which already obscenely isolates Westerners in the eyes of most UN members." Polyanskiy also noted the sabotage could only have been carried out with direct state support, adding that versions in media reports about "self-organized Ukrainians allegedly not even directly related to [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky's regime" were absurd. The US and their allies have yet to provide convincing evidence and facts of their non-involvement in the sabotage, he said.The latest remarks come as media reports detailed that several European intelligence agencies had been aware of Ukraine's intent on destroying the Nord Stream pipelines, and that the US was made equally aware of the development despite its later claims that Russia was to blame for the incident.Russia has repeatedly rejected it played any role in the Nord Stream destruction, going on to condemn the sabotage as an "act of international terrorism." Russia earlier proposed a resolution at the UN Security Council to launch an independent investigation; however, the measure was rejected by the body.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/cia-privately-attributed-nord-stream-attack-to-ukraine-while-us-blamed-russia---report-1111052666.html

russia

ukraine

moscow

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

nord stream, investigation, russia, russian first deputy permanent representative to the united nations dmitriy polyanskiy
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/nato-secretary-general-says-alliance-not-involved-in-belgorod-region-attacks-1111214142.html

NATO Secretary General Says Alliance Not Involved in Belgorod Region Attacks

NATO Secretary General Says Alliance Not Involved in Belgorod Region Attacks

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO countries had nothing to do with the attacks by Ukrainian sabotage groups in the Belgorod Region, because the alliance's assistance is aimed solely at protecting Ukraine's territory.

2023-06-16T11:55+0000

2023-06-16T11:55+0000

2023-06-16T11:55+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

ukraine

nato

ukrainian attacks on belgorod region

russia

belgorod

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/05/18/1110561315_0:80:2157:1293_1920x0_80_0_0_f75696471ea7fa8c8cfb5d9f16365836.jpg

Stoltenberg told the France 5 broadcaster that NATO countries have been supporting Ukraine and have only helped the country to defend its territory. Asked about the use of weapons by saboteurs from NATO countries such as France, Belgium and the United States, Stoltenberg noted that the countries themselves should negotiate the use of weapons with Ukraine at the stage of their delivery. At the same time, these states have repeatedly and publicly stated that the weapons deliveries are aimed at liberating the territory of Ukraine, he added. The Belgian-supplied weapons, specifically FN SCAR automatic rifles, were identified in videos of Ukrainian sabotage groups filmed during an incursion into Russia's Belgorod region in late May. Brussels has demanded an explanation from Kiev, as the weapons are sent on the condition that they are used exclusively for defense, but is yet to receive a response. 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 over a year ago. The Kremlin has consistently warned against further arms deliveries to Kiev.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230603/watch-russian-rocket-artillery-eliminate-ukrainian-terrorists-in-belgorod-region-1110874299.html

ukraine

russia

belgorod

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

nato secretary general jens stoltenberg, belgorod region, ukrainian sabotage groups
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/norwegian-military-betting-on-arctic-drones-to-maintain-sovereignty-1111204453.html

Norwegian Military Betting on Arctic Drones to Maintain Sovereignty

Norwegian Military Betting on Arctic Drones to Maintain Sovereignty

While admittedly "far behind", Norway bets on Arctic-adapted drones, with experts predicting that the era of manned combat aircraft may be approaching its end.

2023-06-16T08:56+0000

2023-06-16T08:56+0000

2023-06-16T08:56+0000

military

norway

arctic

black hornet nano

military & intelligence

drone

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105133/79/1051337980_0:0:3077:1731_1920x0_80_0_0_8ba4be4bc83520825e64215c808f18d9.jpg

The Norwegian military is in the process of developing drones adapted for harsh weather conditions in the Arctic.As of today, there are several drone projects underway in several parts of the Norwegian Armed Forces. Norway's chief of Defense, Eirik Kristoffersen, has suggested concentrating all the projects on the island of Andoya in the northern part of the country - where there is already an air base and space center - so that unmanned aircraft may better meet the military's demands and withstand the freezing Arctic conditions with strong winds and ice."We must have drones that can monitor - and, in the future, even transport - things. But also drones that can deliver weapons. Technology moves very quickly and there are drones that today are weapons in themselves," Kristoffersen told Norwegian media, calling Andoya "a good starting point".Norway's military stressed the importance of maintaining sovereignty in the north. It also cited the recent Ukraine conflict which showed that drones have become an important part of modern warfare, having been used for reconnaissance, as weapons and to search for wounded soldiers on both sides.Colonel Kenneth Orland, head of the air operational inspectorate, called it "geostrategically correct" to concentrate testing and development of drones on Andoya. He called the drones a "good resource", stressing that a drone can be in the air for up to 40 hours, and it is cheaper to train a drone pilot than a fighter pilot.Gunnar Jan Olsen, general manager of Andoya Space Defence, argued that Norway is "far behind" in developing drones both for monitoring and area control, and offensive operations.Norway doesn't have any armed drones. Furthernore, the acquisitions plan for the Norwegian Defense from 2017 to 2025 doesn't indicate the acquisition of drones in the near future. A government-appointed expert panel has also voiced ethical concerns over the use of attack drones, which were subsequently echoed by the government itself.However, Norway does produce and operate drones of various sizes, including the famed Black Hornet Nano, a minuscule hand-held drone, which has been bought by several countries including the US and the UK.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230526/norway-setting-up-new-radar-chain-dubbed-natos-eyes-in-the-north-1110597542.html

norway

arctic

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Igor Kuznetsov

Igor Kuznetsov

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Igor Kuznetsov

arctic drones, manned combat aircraft, unmanned combat aircraft, harsh arctic climate, military acquisition
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/pentagon-papers-whistleblower-daniel-ellsberg-dead-at-92-1111231761.html

Pentagon Papers Whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg Dead at 92

Pentagon Papers Whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg Dead at 92

Famed Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsberg died Friday morning from pancreatic cancer. He was 92 years old.

2023-06-16T21:58+0000

2023-06-16T21:58+0000

2023-06-16T22:12+0000

americas

daniel ellsberg

richard nixon

barack obama

pentagon papers

government

obituary

vietnam

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105492/21/1054922117_0:316:6144:3772_1920x0_80_0_0_8e0914d404718f263935aa95ff86daf3.jpg

Ellsberg, who announced that he had terminal pancreatic cancer in February, was steadfast in his dedication to government transparency, press freedoms and whistleblower protections throughout his life.The Pentagon Papers consisted of over 7,000 government documents that were painstakingly photocopied by Ellsberg using a single Xerox machine in 1971. They revealed that several US presidential administrations had misled the American people about the war in Vietnam.Ellsberg faced life in prison for choosing to reveal documents. He evaded capture by the authorities long enough to ensure publication and then turned himself in, facing 12 felony counts of violating the Espionage Act. The government sought to jail him for more than a century.After turning himself in, a reporter asked if he regretted leaking the Pentagon Papers, even then Ellsberg didnt express doubt:Before the release of the Pentagon Papers, Ellsberg was among the military elite. He had helped plan the war, had the highest of security clearances and worked for the RAND corporation, one of the Pentagons closest partners, after gaining a doctorate at Harvard.In 1964, he became an adviser to then Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara and in 1965 went to Saigon to inspect the civilian pacification program.It took some time after that for him to turn on the war completely, but it was an eye-opening experience for him. He returned to the RAND corporation in 1968, but his views had already shifted and he wrote war policy statements for Robert F Kennedys presidential campaign and attended anti-war rallies.As his views changed, he began collecting documents that showcased the governments malfeasance in Vietnam. He initially attempted to get senators to read the documents on the Senate floor since they were immune to prosecution, but they refused.It was then that Ellsberg first sent copies to The New York Times; however, after they began publishing it, a federal court prevented further publishing at the behest of the Nixon administration. Ellsberg then sent the papers to the Washington Post and five other newspapers. The government attempted to stop the Post from publishing but a different court ruled in their favor.Former US Sen. Mike Gravel (D-AK) then began to read excerpts on the Senate floor.The legal wranglings made their way to the Supreme Court and resulted in the landmark New York Times v. Sullivan case, still considered one of the most significant freedom of speech rulings in US history. It ruled the press should not be subject to pre-publication censorship absent a national emergency.The case against Ellsberg went differently. He had planned to argue that though his disclosure was illegal, it was a moral necessity to inform the American people. However, the judge ruled such arguments are not permissible in Espionage Act cases, an argument still used by the federal government in whistleblower cases today.What saved Ellsberg from a likely lifelong prison sentence was the overzealousness of the Nixon administration, which, in addition to illegally wiretapping Ellsbergs phones, ordered FBI and CIA agents to break into the office of Ellsbergs psychiatrists office in an attempt to dig up dirt on his sexual preferences.The judge threw out the case against Ellsberg on the grounds of government misconduct and illegal evidence gathering.Ellsberg continued to fight for whistleblowers throughout his life. He heavily criticized the Obama administration for its treatment of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and whistleblowers Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning.In 2018, Ellsberg was awarded the Olof Palme Prize in Sweden for his humanism and moral courage.He also dismissed the idea that former US President Barack Obama was any better when dealing with whistleblowers than former US President Richard Nixon. Im sure that President Obama would have sought a life sentence in my case, he said while discussing the Manning case.Ellsberg also testified for Assanges defense at his 2020 UK extradition hearing and in 2021 he continued his leaking, revealing a previously unknown document that showed the US was planning a first-strike nuclear attack on China in 1958. The document had never been declassified and he dared the government to arrest him under the Espionage Act.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20160212/ellsberg-covert-ops-1034618273.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230507/lula-da-silva-appeals-in-support-of-assange-1110157063.html

americas

vietnam

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Ian DeMartino

Ian DeMartino

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Ian DeMartino

pentagon papers, daniel ellsberg, obituary, wikileaks, julian assange, edward snowden, chelsea manning
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/putin-addresses-spief-2023-plenary-session-1111203695.html

Putin Takes Part in SPIEF 2023 Plenary Session

Putin Takes Part in SPIEF 2023 Plenary Session

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) is running from June 14 to 17 at the ExpoForum Convention and Exhibition Center.

2023-06-16T12:00+0000

2023-06-16T12:00+0000

2023-06-16T13:26+0000

russia

vladimir putin

kremlin

spief 2023

session

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/10/1111220937_0:0:3217:1810_1920x0_80_0_0_7fc67873ff1480fb67bbc67ff5ec0488.jpg

Sputnik comes live as Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Algerian counterpart Abdelmadjid Tebboune address the plenary session of the 26th St Petersburg International Economic Forum. In his speech, Putin will give a detailed assessment of the Russian economy and outline its main prospects. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier told reporters that the plenary session in which Putin was taking part would last about two hours.The Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and Kyrgyzstans President Sadyr Japarov will also attend the session. Check out the latest updates from SPIEF here.Follow Sputnik's live feed to find out more!

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Vladimir Putin addresses SPIEF 2023 plenary session Vladimir Putin addresses SPIEF 2023 plenary session 2023-06-16T12:00+0000 true PT174M24S

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

algerian president tebboune, st. petersburg international economic forum, russian president vladimir putin, spief
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/report-lawyers-urged-trump-to-seek-deal-in-classified-docs-case-but-he-refused-1111199381.html

Report: Lawyers Urged Trump to Seek Deal in Classified Docs Case But He Refused

Report: Lawyers Urged Trump to Seek Deal in Classified Docs Case But He Refused

Former President Donald Trump reportedly declined to listen to his lawyers' advice and seek a deal with the Department of Justice to avoid an indictment.

2023-06-16T00:33+0000

2023-06-16T00:33+0000

2023-06-16T00:32+0000

americas

donald trump

mar-a-lago

justice department

doj

miami

garland

donald trump's indictment

classified documents

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/15/1109728109_0:156:3000:1844_1920x0_80_0_0_22d9b76fe2cf26f6175a9f157211cb3f.jpg

Lawyers working for Donald Trump reportedly urged the former president to cooperate with the Justice Department and negotiate a settlement that would have enabled him to avoid the federal indictment that came late last week.Attorney Christopher Kise, according to reports in US media, wanted to approach the Justice Department in 2022 to see if US Attorney General Merrick Garland would be open to negotiating a settlement, believing at the time that he might be looking for an exit ramp that would allow him to avoid prosecuting a former president.However, Trump wasnt interested in reaching a deal and Kise never approached the Justice Department.Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung denied that the 2024 Republican frontrunner and former commander-in-chief mishandled documents, or that he refused to cooperate with the Justice Department.President Trump has consistently been in full compliance with the Presidential Records Act, which is the only law that applies to presidents and their records, Cheung said in a statement. Trump was not charged for the boxes that he returned to the DOJ but was instead charged for the documents that he did not return. Early last year, Trump returned 15 boxes containing documents to the National Archives, but the Archives complained some documents were still missing.Trump instructed his aides to release a statement that all documents had been released, even though, according to witness testimony, he was aware there were more documents in the 64 boxes that remained at his Mar-a-Lago residence.The FBI raided Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate last summer, finding thousands of more documents, including over 100 documents marked as classified.Kise is not the only Trump lawyer who apparently urged him to comply with the Department of Justice demands that he return all classified documents. According to testimony by Evan Corcoran, who Trump hired after the DOJ subpoena was issued, Corcoran and another lawyer told Trump that he should comply with the order but that Trump instead told him to stonewall the subpoena.Corcoran also said during his testimony that Trump asked him: Well, what if we, what happens if we just dont respond at all or dont play ball with them? and Wouldnt it be better if we just told them we dont have anything there?The indictment alleges Trump hid more documents from Corcoran by having his personal aide, Walt Nauta, fly some boxes out of his Mar-a-Lago estate to Bedminster, New Jersey. Nauta, who Trump is still permitted to engage with ahead of proceedings, has also been charged in the case.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230614/trump-classified-docs-indictment-most-evil-heinous-abuse-of-power-1111130667.html

americas

mar-a-lago

miami

garland

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Ian DeMartino

Ian DeMartino

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Ian DeMartino

indictment of donald trump, classified documents case, fbi, doj, mar-a-lago
KAMPONG CHAM, Cambodia, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Friday ordered authorities to beef up border security after recent fatal shootings in Vietnam's Central Highlands.

Speaking during a get-together with some 18,000 factory workers here, Hun Sen said an armed gang simultaneously attacked two commune headquarters in Cu Kuin district of Vietnam's Dak Lak province on June 11, leaving several commune officials and police dead.

"Now, this armed gang's members are on the run, and I'm concerned that they will possibly flee to Cambodia," he said.

He ordered the Cambodian armed forces in Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri and Kratie provinces to increase cooperation with the Vietnamese side to prevent the fugitives from crossing the border illegally.

Branding the armed gang members as terrorists, the prime minister added that the fugitives who fled to Cambodia would be arrested and sent back to Vietnam if discovered.

He also warned to shut down any international organizations in Cambodia if they granted refuge to those fugitives. 
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/spief-moderator-tells-sputnik-what-putin-is-prepared-to-do-to-protect-russias-interests-1111228470.html

SPIEF Moderator Tells Sputnik What Putin is Prepared to Do to Protect Russia's Interests

SPIEF Moderator Tells Sputnik What Putin is Prepared to Do to Protect Russia's Interests

The Russian president gave a plenary speech at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, touching on the state of the Russian economy, the enf of Western hegemony, and Ukraine.

2023-06-16T19:45+0000

2023-06-16T19:45+0000

2023-06-17T07:04+0000

world

vladimir putin

joe biden

ronald reagan

russia

ukraine

washington

sputnik

nato

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/10/1111227022_0:0:2948:1659_1920x0_80_0_0_1995fa9fbde31ad1f3adc30a738ca31e.jpg

Sputnik International deputy director Dimitri Simes got a unique opportunity to speak with SPIEF Plenary Session moderator Dimitri Simes Sr, his father, to get the veteran Russian-American political scientists impressions on President Putins speech, the subject matter that Putin touched on, and the global geopolitical backdrop against which his remarks were made.The moderator said Putins remarks on foreign policy once again demonstrated his qualities as a statesman, noting that he did not sabre-rattle, especially on nuclear weapons, "but...made clear that Russia has a nuclear arsenal," and is prepared to use it as a deterrent.Putins Political RealismTaking note of the fact that Putin made his comments at an economic and investment forum, the political scientist said the remarks gave a sense of Russia's striving "to have not just an element of normalcy, but really normal economic development under these most difficult circumstances." Putin offered important hints on what it takes, how it works," with a focus on Russian sovereignty, Simes senior said.Juxtaposing Putins comments on foreign policy with his emphasis on the importance of free markets and cutting regulation, Sputniks Dimitri Simes said that the comparison that immediately came to his mind as an American was Ronald Reagan.Taking note of the fact that Putin made his comments at an economic and investment forum, the political scientist said the remarks gave a sense of Russias striving to have not just an element of normalcy, but really normal economic development under these most difficult circumstances. Putin offered important hints on "what it takes, how it works, with a focus on Russian sovereignty, Simes senior said.se of responsibility and political realism."The political scientist, who served as an informal foreign policy advisor to Richard Nixon, and who knew Reagan, said he got the sense that Russias president is "quite serious" about the challenge Russia is facing from NATO, balancing efforts to make "very clear that Russia would do whatever it takes not to allow anyone to defeat it" with a calm, non-militaristic or braggadocios position on the countrys military capabilities.Hardball Questions Mine and Mine OnlySimes revealed that the tough and pointed geopolitical and military questions he asked Russias president did not undergo any form of moderation, or the requirement to consult with or take notes from anyone surrounding Putin.Putin and his aides did not actually know what specific questions Simes Senior planned to ask before he asked him, he said, reiterating that he had total latitude to ask whatever he wanted.Ukraine ImbroglioAsked for his views specifically on Putin's answers regarding the ongoing NATO-Russia proxy war in Ukraine, and the disastrous bogging down of Kievs counteroffensive, the moderator said he came away impressed by the Russian presidents grasp on the information about the conflict."First of all, if you are talking about the specifics, there was no contradiction with what you would read in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal and what President Putin had described. That there were some minimal Ukrainian advances, that these advances were not strategic, not even quite tactical, but very minimal, that the Ukrainians have suffered considerable losses, but also somewhat limited losses. President Putin mentioned the numbers, they were impressive, but not huge. He acknowledged that the Ukrainians did not used all their forces, but he also stated categorially that the Ukrainians were not able so far to penetrate even the first line of Russian defenses. And mind you I asked him about that based on what I read in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times," Simes Senior said.As far as Putins answer to questions regarding the much-talked about issue of nuclear weapons, including the transfer of Russian nukes to Belarus, Simes Senior said he felt his answers were masterful, and based on a desire to avoid being accused of warmongering, and of making headlines in Western media about him coming to the forum to threaten the world with nuclear war.Putin conveyed that he was more than aware of their existence, of their importance, and that anyone thinking about pressuring Russia had to take into account that those weapons were an important component of the Russian military arsenal, he added.Takeaways for BidenAsked what conclusions he, as a Washington insider, feels President Biden should draw from Putins remarks, Simes Senior said that first of all, the US leader should understand that his Russian counterparts optimism about the countrys economic development is real, and that Putin does not feel that he is on the ropes, or that Russia has been isolated by the Wests pressure.Having said that, Putin had warned Georgia about not touching South Ossetia. When it was disregarded, Russia has used force. Putin warned President Obama not to try to overthrow [Syrias] President Assad. This advice was disregarded and Russia used military force. After an illegal coup detat in Kiev in 2014, Putin said that Russia cannot abandon its compatriots in Crimea and other Russian-speaking areas of Ukraine. That was disregarded, and Putin used military force. I do not know what else is necessary to demonstrate to Washington, Brussels and London that Putin clearly is not a warmonger he clearly prefers peace. Its very clear that he understands the centrality of military force in one world, and he is not above using military force when necessary, the political scientist stressed.Simes Senior pointed out that Putins so-called red lines, which neoconservatives in Washington have bragged about trampling over in Ukraine, were never presented by Putin himself.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/multipolar-world-order-strengthening-this-is-an-inevitable-process---putin-1111216858.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/putin-addresses-spief-2023-plenary-session-1111203695.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/putin-on-ukraines-counteroffensive-kiev-lost-186-tanks-418-armored-vehicles-losses-mounting-1111221996.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230611/botched-start-of-ukraines-counteroffensive-probably-extremely-frustrating-for-biden-1111065390.html

russia

ukraine

washington

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Ilya Tsukanov

Ilya Tsukanov

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Interview with Dimitri Simes Jr. from Sputnik International and Dimitri Simes Sr. - host of the panel with Vladimir Putin at the #SPIEF2023 Interview with Dimitri Simes Jr. from Sputnik International and Dimitri Simes Sr. - host of the panel with Vladimir Putin at the #SPIEF2023 2023-06-16T19:45+0000 true PT19M20S

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Ilya Tsukanov

dimitri simes, vladimir putin, speech, questions, st petersburg international economic forum, ukraine, world order, economy, russian economy, dimitri simes interview, putin on nuclear weapons
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/tereshkova-was-a-pioneer-in-mans-world-during-difficult-time---virgin-galactic-astronaut-1111229109.html

Tereshkova Was a Pioneer in Man's World During Difficult Time - Virgin Galactic Astronaut

Tereshkova Was a Pioneer in Man's World During Difficult Time - Virgin Galactic Astronaut

The worlds first female cosmonaut, Valentina Tereshkova, became a pioneer in a mans world at a difficult time and helped create sister city link between Russias Star City and US Nassau Bay.

2023-06-16T19:32+0000

2023-06-16T19:32+0000

2023-06-16T19:31+0000

beyond politics

valentina tereshkova

russia

star city

nassau

virgin galactic

nasa

pioneer

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104530/16/1045301608_0:0:2766:1557_1920x0_80_0_0_2884ed69e585cd2739c0e603812efeef.jpg

June 16 marks the anniversary of Tereshkova's historic flight. "She also helped with the connection between Star City and Nassau Bay that led to them becoming Sister Cities. It was the Sister City relationship that led to the Soviet space artifacts making their first trip out of the Soviet Union and inspiring me, fresh out of university, to start a global celebration of the conjunction of Cosmonautics Day and the 1st Space Shuttle flight." Whitesides said Tereshkova was at the opening of the first Yuri's Night in Washington at the Russian Cultural Center in 1999. "So our celebrations were always under a large framed photo of her. I was never brave enough to invite her!" Whitesides, a Yuri's Night co-creator, said. June 18, in turn, marks the anniversary of the flight by Sally Ride, the first US woman to travel to space aboard the space shuttle Challenger in 1983. When Ride died from cancer in 2012, it was a great loss for all of them, Whitesides stressed, adding Ride did a lot for students even after retiring from the astronaut corps. "There were many brave, smart, and determined women who helped break a lot of barriers for my generation, and those after me, to follow and I am eternally grateful," she stated. Tereshkova flew into space in 1963 in a Vostok 6 spacecraft. She spent almost three days in space and still is the only woman to have been on a solo mission there. After her retirement, she pursued a political career, becoming a member of the Russian parliaments lower house, the State Duma.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20180306/valentina-tereshkova-amazing-facts-1062273198.html

russia

star city

nassau

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

virgin galactic future astronaut loretta whitesides, valentina tereshkova, first female cosmonaut, pioneer
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/texas-no-go-zones-troubling-reality-of-rampant-crime-and-cartel-presence-1111215000.html

Texas 'No-Go Zones': Troubling Reality of Rampant Crime and Cartel Presence

Texas 'No-Go Zones': Troubling Reality of Rampant Crime and Cartel Presence

"No-go zones", predominantly illegal immigrant communities in Texas counties, face minimal law enforcement, causing law enforcement issues, overwhelmed schools, and environmental impact.

2023-06-16T17:36+0000

2023-06-16T17:36+0000

2023-06-16T20:03+0000

texas

mexico

center for immigration studies

department of homeland security (dhs)

us immigration and customs enforcement (ice)

americas

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/04/0e/1094763986_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_846ddc70aedfa6a8ca70b9104e704a2b.jpg

Bensman's recent investigation highlights the vastness of these communities - "no-go zones" - home to an estimated population of 75,000 to 100,000 illegal immigrants. Liberty County and other counties in Texas are predominated by illegal immigrants who enjoy a sense of security due to a lack of proactive action from US law enforcement - namely, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).As a result, the criminal activities of Mexican cartels who establish operations and stash houses in the area further worsens the situation: residents live in constant fear and local communities declare states of emergency. Recent incidents, including the massacre of a Honduran family, underscore the urgency of addressing this issue.Bensman's argument revolves around "no-go zones" as safe havens for criminal activities perpetrated by illegal migrants. These areas assure undocumented aliens of safety and well-being, as law enforcement agencies rarely interfere. This allows criminal elements to indulge in violent crimes with impunity.Another perspective Bensman emphasized is the consequences of uncontrolled illegal immigration on the community, environment, and quality of life. He highlights how these "no-go zones" have led to environmental degradation, such as clear-cutting, which impacts neighboring areas. Overburdened school districts struggle to accommodate the increased influx of migrant children, resulting in educational challenges. Additionally, the shortfall of law enforcement and the unrestricted presence of illegal immigrants threaten public safety.Republican legislators have criticized President Joe Biden's approach to border control, claiming that the record-breaking arrest figures demonstrate the ineffectiveness of his strategies, even though his administration had mostly continued the Title 42 border restriction policy from the Trump era before its expiry in May.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230615/texas-gov-busses-migrants-to-la-says-biden-refuses-to-secure-border-1111169891.html

texas

mexico

americas

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

no-go zones, illegal immigrants, law enforcement, environmental impact, crime, illegal, cartals, mexican cartels, todd bensman, center for immigration studies, liberty county, texas, us law enforcement, immigration and customs enforcement, ice, dhs, department of homeland security, honduran family, undocumented aliens, uncontrolled illegal immigration, public safety, title 42
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/ukrainians-may-attempt-to-cross-reservoir-having-blown-up-kakhovka-dam-1111225526.html

Ukrainians May Attempt to Cross Reservoir, Having Blown Up Kakhovka Dam

Ukrainians May Attempt to Cross Reservoir, Having Blown Up Kakhovka Dam

The Kiev regime blew up bridges and dams and had plans to blow up more if it became necessary for the defense to stop Russian forces.

2023-06-16T15:53+0000

2023-06-16T15:53+0000

2023-06-16T15:53+0000

analysis

mark sleboda

kiev

zaporozhye

zaporozhye npp

ukraine

attack on novaya kakhovka dam

opinion

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/10/1111224717_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_8efe55f8f6b760fc78665237a5624517.jpg

On June 6, the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) was attacked by the Kiev regime and suffered extensive damage to its dam. This resulted in the destruction of the upper part of the dam and the subsequent uncontrolled release of an immense volume of water downstream into the Dnepr River, flooding communities below.Over time, however, the tidelands may dry up, which the Ukrainian military could use to launch an offensive toward the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, Mark Sleboda believes.Although the expert said that heavy Western battle tanks, 60-ton Bradleys and the like don't have a really good chance of crossing it yet.At the same time, the claims of the Western media that it was the Russians who blew up the Kakhovka dam are inconsistent with the information and tactics used by Kiev at the very beginning of the Russian special military operation.This was not the first time that Kiev has destroyed its own infrastructure in order to gain military momentum. During the defense of the capital, the Ukrainians resorted to destroying bridges and dams, with plans for further destruction if necessary.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, he cited a New York Times article from April 2022.The initial plan of the Russians was to conduct rapid military operations, called "thunder runs," into Ukrainian territory. The plan was to make a rapid show of force without engaging in major populated areas. The goal was to persuade the Ukrainians to retreat and surrender by capitalizing on their dissatisfaction with their current government.According to Sleboda, this strategy worked well in the southern regions, where the Ukrainians surrendered without much resistance. However, this approach did not work in the areas around Kiev, he said, dismissing the notion that Russian forces were trying to take the city. He stressed that such an attempt would require a much larger force.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230610/dnepr-river-to-return-to-normal-level-below-kakhovka-dam-by-june-16--regional-official-1111051329.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230608/kakhovka-dam-attack-lines-up-with-wests-scorched-earth-scenario-for-ukraine-1110988270.html

kiev

zaporozhye

ukraine

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

kakhovka reservoir, kakhovka dam, dam collapse, energodar, ukrainians may attempt to cross kakhovka reservoir, attack on zaporozhye nuclear power plant
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/us-house-2024-ndaa-requests-80mln-worth-of-atacms-for-ukraine-1111227934.html

US House 2024 NDAA Requests $80Mln Worth of ATACMS for Ukraine

US House 2024 NDAA Requests $80Mln Worth of ATACMS for Ukraine

The US House proposal for the defense spending bill for 2024 requests $80 million for Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), the legislation stated on Friday.

2023-06-16T18:34+0000

2023-06-16T18:34+0000

2023-06-16T18:34+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

ukraine

pentagon

army tactical missile system (atacms)

kiev

armed forces of ukraine

national defense authorization act (ndaa)

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101664/22/1016642244_0:845:1500:1689_1920x0_80_0_0_853e37694c5435a9bcedb48f1265e25e.jpg

The legislation requests that the Pentagon provide an update on the procurement and availability of ATACMS for Ukraine by December 31, the measure states. The United States is still considering supplying Ukraine with Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), according to President Joe Biden. The ATACMS Missiles can hit targets 190 miles away and can be fired from launchers already provided to Ukraine from the West, including the HIMARS mobile launchers and the older M270 launchers.Previously, American TV reported that Kiev has lost at least 16 US-supplied Bradley infantry armored vehicles in the first days of Ukraine's much-hyped counteroffensive - which is nearly 15% of the 109 vehicles supplied by Washington.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230614/new-us-arms-package-shows-qualitative-change-underway-for-ukrainian-army-1111153485.html

ukraine

kiev

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

us aid to ukraine, how much us spent on ukraine, what us sends to ukraine, ukrainian aid
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/us-iran-quietly-seek-to-cool-tensions-with-understanding-on-tehrans-nuke-program---report-1111203849.html

US, Iran Quietly Seek 'Understanding' on Tehran's Nuke Program - Report

US, Iran Quietly Seek 'Understanding' on Tehran's Nuke Program - Report

The administration of US President Joe Biden is in talks with the Islamic Republic of Iran, seeking a "cooling-down understanding" on Tehrans nuclear program, according to a media report.

2023-06-16T08:40+0000

2023-06-16T08:40+0000

2023-06-16T09:03+0000

world

us

iran

joint comprehensive plan of action (jcpoa)

jcpoa

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/10/1111202944_0:215:2877:1833_1920x0_80_0_0_aef9b8374effe56d20d18929e6f0f95e.jpg

The Biden administration is in talks with the Islamic Republic of Iran on Tehrans nuclear program, Reuters reported, citing anonymous sources among Western and Iranian officials. After stalled attempts to resurrect the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal, which the then Trump White House walked out on in 2018, Washington and Tehran are reportedly believed to be looking at something more along the lines of an "understanding" rather than an agreement.Since many in the US Congress would oppose any major concessions to Tehran, Washington is purportedly hoping to restore some limits on Irans nuclear program in return for benefits that would not require Congressional review."I'd call it a cooling-down understanding," a Western official was cited as saying. The same source confirmed that National Security Council Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk and Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, had met more than once in Oman for indirect US-Iran talks. US Special Envoy for Iran Rob Malley and Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, are also said to have met face to face of late.As for the benefits offered to Iran in return, these would ostensibly include "substantial transfer" of Iranian funds frozen in international accounts as part of sanctions. The cited Western official added that the US sought to deter escalation between Israel and Iran."If (the) Iranians miscalculate, the potential for a strong Israeli response is something that we want to avoid," he said.Initially, after the Biden administration came to power and signalled its desire to rekindle the JCPOA deal, Iranian negotiators had held out hope for a speedy restoration of Washington's participation in the agreement. But after rounds of indirect talks, the effort stalled, with the US refusal to lift sanctions against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) turning out to be one of the central stumbling blocks.However, rumors have circulated recently of an interim deal or mini-deal between the US and Iran. State Department spokesman Matt Miller dismissed the reports, but did state that Washington would, "continue to use diplomatic engagements to pursue its goals." The media reported that the latter included de-escalation of tensions, curbing Tehrans nuclear program, expanding cooperation with international nuclear inspectors, and a "halt of attacks on American contractors illegally operating in Syria, as well as in Iraq, by Iran's allied militias, and the release of detained US citizens.The source had added that US sanctions waivers for Iran to export oil might be in the pipeline, in return for ceasing 60% uranium enrichment and a readiness by Iran to boost cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).Amid the reports, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul sent a letter to President Joe Biden, citing concern over revelations that the administration is pursuing a new nuclear deal with Iran, calling into question the administrations intent to adhere to its legal obligations under the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230615/mohammad-marandi-new-iran-nuclear-deal-must-be-foolproof-against-violations-1111187731.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230614/netanyahu-confirms-us-iran-in-talks-over-new-nuclear-mini-deal---reports-1111145888.html

iran

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Svetlana Ekimenko

Svetlana Ekimenko

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Svetlana Ekimenko

iran, united states, talks, nuclear deal, nuclear agreement, talks, nuclear, negotiations, sanctions, jcpoa, uranium enrichment
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/us-japan-philippines-to-enhance-trilateral-defense-security-capabilities---white-house-1111220317.html

US, Japan, Philippines to Enhance Trilateral Defense, Security Capabilities - White House

US, Japan, Philippines to Enhance Trilateral Defense, Security Capabilities - White House

The United States, Japan and the Philippines have agreed to enhance their trilateral defense and security capabilities to maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific, the White House said on Friday.

2023-06-16T13:08+0000

2023-06-16T13:08+0000

2023-06-16T13:08+0000

military

sputnik

philippines

japan

indo-pacific

jake sullivan

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/0f/1100801871_0:160:3075:1890_1920x0_80_0_0_88a5a32839112c79e6569d7c4c988db0.jpg

"The three NSAs resolved to advance trilateral defense cooperation based on the recent progress between the United States and the Philippines such as the four additional locations identified pursuant to their Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and between Japan and the Philippines in discussing frameworks that will enhance and facilitate reciprocal visits of defense and military officials," the statement said. The officials also discussed opportunities to conduct combined maritime activities including multilateral joint naval exercises in Indo-Pacific waters "in support of freedom of navigation, and the broader rules-based order." They also agreed on the need to ensure a free and open maritime order as well as a free and equitable economic order, reaffirming commitment to addressing "economic coercion," the statement added. The top national security advisors also discussed security challenges related to the South and East China Seas, North Korea, as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, according to the statement.Earlier in the day, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with his Japanese and Philippine counterparts, Akiba Takeo and Eduardo Ano, in Tokyo to discuss ways to improve trilateral cooperation.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230529/philippine-coast-guard-to-hold-first-ever-joint-drills-with-us-japan-1110762277.html

philippines

japan

indo-pacific

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

united states, japan and the philippines, indo-pacific, trilateral defense and security capabilities
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/us-sends-nuclear-powered-submarine-to-south-korea-amid-tensions-1111210123.html

US Sends Nuclear-Powered Submarine to South Korea Amid Tensions

US Sends Nuclear-Powered Submarine to South Korea Amid Tensions

US nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine docks in Busan, South Korea for the first time in six years, following recent North Korean missile tests, and in line with an agreement to heighten US strategic visibility.

2023-06-16T14:05+0000

2023-06-16T14:05+0000

2023-06-16T14:05+0000

military

viral

korean peninsula

south korea

busan

newsfeed

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/04/04/1094453398_263:0:1838:886_1920x0_80_0_0_e9a6113615527da3ba3832f2bd291fe7.jpg

US nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine USS Michigan docked in Busan, South Korea for the first time in six years on Friday, following recent North Korean missile tests, and in line with an agreement reached between Washington and Seoul in April to heighten US strategic visibility on the Korean Peninsula. This comes as no surprise, given its strategic location and the delicate balancing act played by the superpowers during and after the Cold War. The region has been a hotbed of tensions, with North Korea on one side and South Korea on the other, under the protection of the United States. The US has maintained a significant military presence on the peninsula since the end of the Korean War in 1953, seen as both a deterrent and a signal of commitment to its South Korean ally.Recent developments have escalated these tensions further. In an unprecedented show of force recently, the US and South Korea have engaged in large-scale military exercises that have drawn international attention and condemnation, further straining relations on the Korean Peninsula.The live-fire drills conducted by the US and South Korea signal an assertive and possibly aggressive shift in their approach towards North Korea. The drills, led by South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol, demonstrate a renewal of the military commitment between the two allies and a definitive response to contain North Korea. This bold move, however, risks stoking the existing tensions, as it is perceived by North Korea as a provocation, escalating the volatile situation on the Korean Peninsula.In response to the show of force by the US and South Korea, North Korea launched a ballistic missile test, signaling its refusal to be intimated and its commitment to maintaining a robust defense. The missile launch indicates North Korea's intent to continue advancing its weapons capabilities, regardless of Western-backed sanctions and diplomatic pressure to isolate North Korea further and push the Korean Peninsula towards an uncertain and potentially dangerous future.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230613/trumps-north-korea-efforts-were-sabotaged-by-washingtons-unpalatable-proposals--naysaying--1111110939.html

korean peninsula

south korea

busan

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Sputnik International

nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine, us, busan, south korea, north korean missile tests, us strategic visibility, korean peninsula, superpowers, cold war, north korea, south korea, united states, korean war, large-scale military exercises, live-fire drills, south korea's president, yoon suk-yeol, ballistic missile test, western-backed sanctions
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/western-leaders-who-backed-kiev-predicted-russias-collapse-dont-know-any-history-1111228921.html

Western Leaders Who Backed Kiev, Predicted Russias Collapse Dont Know Any History

Western Leaders Who Backed Kiev, Predicted Russias Collapse Dont Know Any History

At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to the global dynamic of moving toward a multipolar order and away from one dominated by Europe and the United States.

2023-06-16T19:46+0000

2023-06-16T19:46+0000

2023-06-16T20:48+0000

analysis

vladimir putin

russia

brics

sanctions

de-nazification

spief 2023

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/10/1111220074_0:0:3150:1773_1920x0_80_0_0_6c67a8670bf12ac94d96c02c282b9028.jpg

The Russian leader noted that Western sanctions, intended to strangle Russias economy, have instead accelerated the process of decentering the West and spurred new relationships between Russia and partners in Africa and Asia. He also pointed to increased trade in rubles and yuan, although he cautioned that Russia has never intended to de-dollarize its economy.Professor Joe Siracusa, a political scientist and dean of Global Futures at Curtin University in Western Australia, told Sputnik on Friday that Putin was simply registering what is already a reality.The world has already broken up, with the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Agreement, and we got the Western groups. The world is broken up into multi-polar agencies. I thought it was a very good statement, Siracusa said. It's not like it's about to happen - it has happened - and Russia has joined the show.Siracusa noted the really well-dressed people from around the world, men and women there at SPIEF, saying it suggested to me that the American-led sanctions on Russia are a complete failure.Multipolarity is the natural condition of the world, said Paolo Raffone, a strategic analyst and director of the CIPI Foundation in Brussels, Belgium. Unilaterality can be imposed by dominion and force but cannot be endured for a long time.From 1945 to 1991, the world was locked in a bipolarity because of the post-WWII balance of power and the persistence of European colonial practices. After the end of European colonial practices and the voluntary dissolution of the USSR, the worlds natural multipolar trend regained pace, but that changed with US and UK interference with the process, he explained.Since 2001, the USA and UK have weaponized globalization, imposing the primacy of security interests on economic development. After the financial crash of 2008, the Western powers entered a distress era while others, namely China, Russia, and some large southern countries, expanded their free actions and activities based on national interest and cooperation, he said.'They Don't Know Any History'During his remarks in St. Petersburg, Putin also spoke of the special military operation in Ukraine, which is in its 16th month and where Ukraine has recently launched a new counteroffensive heavily based on Western-supplied weapons. Putin noted that Ukraine is on the verge of running out of weapons while Russian military production is continuing to ramp up, leading him to predict that Kiev has no chance of winning.Siracusa said Putins confidence stems from the fact is that Russia is bigger and has outlasted Ukraine.Siracusa said that Western leaders have chosen to ignore the neo-Nazi elements of Ukraines military, and the ethnic supremacism of todays Ukraine, and funnel weapons to them anyway because they don't know any history.They don't understand historical events. Many of them are in their 40s and 50s and have no recollection of this. And in American universities, only 5% of people study history, in terms of the Bachelor of Arts degree in history. So, there's a much lesser understanding of what these things are. And it's not helped by the ignorance in Washington," Siracusa said.Western European leaders are aware of the situation, and they have done everything to prevent the situation from derailing to a point of no return. They failed. The question should be posed to the UK and the US leaders who, for different reasons, and with different aims, turned a blind eye, Raffone said, noting that London has been meddling with Eastern European extremists, nationalists, and neo-Nazis, for many decades since WWI. Their strategy is continental, anti-German and competitive with France. The many lines of Russian fortifications along the contact line make it very difficult, or impossible, for the Ukrainian forces to penetrate in the Russian controlled territories. Incursions are possible, as we see on the ground, but with high losses in terms of human resources and weaponry. While Russia can replace  both human and hardware losses, Ukraine is short of people and depends on weapons supplies from abroad. The willingness and the economic conditions of the Ukraine supporters have reached the tipping point. In the coming months, the Ukraine support chain will progressively deflate, Raffone predicted.De-Nazification 'Lost its Significance' in the WestIndeed, Putin spoke of the neo-Nazi atrocities in Ukraine, including a video circulating that depicts those atrocities, noting that the goal of the special military operation is the de-Nazification of Ukraine.This idea of de-Nazification, which, of course, is one of the basis of the allied occupation of Germany and Austria after the second World War, has lost its significance in the West," Siracusa told Sputnik."That is, Western audiences aren't familiar with what the president is talking about. I mean, the idea of de-Nazification is a project that goes on for a 100 years, you just don't knock the DNA out of these people overnight. I understand it in its long historical terms. I think it could have been explained a little better. And I think the Western press made no effort to explain it at all.Now it is difficult to say how the Ukrainian internal balance of power will shape. [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskys leadership is under pressure from within Ukraine  extreme nationalists, oligarchs, desperate population  and from outside, as it is shown by the intensification of peace or mediation missions. The existence of strongholds of Ukrainian extremists is well known since 1991. They may become a serious security challenge for Ukraine and for Europe too. The video shown by Putin is a remarkable reminder of history, but it is also a warning on possible outcomes, he said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/western-sanctions-made-russia-safe-harbor-against-inflation-for-global-investors-1111226476.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230614/st-petersburg-economic-forum-key-to-worlds-de-dollarization-irans-envoy-to-moscow-says-1111158135.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20220523/us-omits-neo-nazi-arms-ban-from-ukraine-aid-bill-to-avoid-liability---ex-pentagon-adviser-1095723638.html

russia

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Fantine Gardinier

Fantine Gardinier

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Fantine Gardinier

russia; putin; st petersburg; sanctions; de-dollarization
https://sputnikglobe.com/20230616/when-trains-fly-joe-bidens-ocean-railroad-mocked-online-1111215395.html

When Trains Fly: Joe Biden's 'Ocean Railroad' Mocked Online

When Trains Fly: Joe Biden's 'Ocean Railroad' Mocked Online

President Joe Biden left many on the internet totally stumped after appearing to hint at US plans to build a very ambitious "ocean" railroad.

2023-06-16T16:30+0000

2023-06-16T16:30+0000

2023-06-16T16:30+0000

americas

joe biden

us

blunder

/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content

https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/06/10/1111214637_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_fe5164688dce02ffb41890dd0e149b18.jpg

President Joe Biden left many on the internet totally stumped after appearing to hint at US plans to build a very ambitious railroad. The 80-year-old POTUS did not stop at that, adding:This "going off script" is never a wise move for Biden, with his impressive track history of blunders and word salad.On this occasion, some internet users were embarrassed by Bidens comment.Others, however, seized upon an opportunity to mock the octogenarian. Former GOP congressman Jason Chaffetz tweeted to say that the train initiative seemed like a "bold" move.Missouri GOP Sen. Josh Hawley's press secretary Abigail Marone also hit Twitter to suggest that America's oldest sitting president be "sent to bed."Still others on social media erupted in a of memes and maps centered on what they called Joe Bidens ocean train.Despite his veering off-script at the above-mentioned event, Joe Biden, who will seek a second term as president of the United States in the 2024 election, is reported to have picked up four endorsements for his re-election campaign at the dinner, from the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, NextGen PAC, NRDC Action Fund and the Sierra Club.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20221225/year-in-review-joe-bidens-2022-gaffes-1105775027.html

americas

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

2023

Svetlana Ekimenko

Svetlana Ekimenko

News

en_EN

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

1920 1080 true

1920 1440 true

1920 1920 true

Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60

Svetlana Ekimenko

joe biden, oldest sitting us president, biden gaffe, biden blunder, biden railroad, did biden wanted railroad across oceac, biden railroad to india
Visual artist Jao San Pedro seems so fascinated with the sun lately, so much so that the titles of her most recent works both allude to it.

Longing for the Sun to Set Upwards is a film she made late last year using a filter that reads bodies in contrast to space, giving off an infrared-like look. Screened at the Queer East Festival in London last April, the film is described as an ode to the multiplicity, mutability, and expansion of what constitutes a body, a self, through imaging and technological mediations.

Then, theres her current solo exhibition at Tarzeer Pictures: Willing the Sun to Rise Twice. Similar to Longing for the Sun to Set Upwards and her solo exhibition last year titled Misnomer, San Pedro uses artificial intelligence to generate sound and images based on her first loves last voice message.

San Pedros process for this exhibit is best represented by a diagram because of its causal nature. Each of the work here won't exist without the previous one. It's a line, it's a map, it's a diagram because I want him to be abstracted or dissolved as it courses through the diagram while my control over the processes also dissipates, San Pedro says.

The artist first feeds the raw voice message to the machine to create the voice clone. Its transcript is then extracted to generate the semantic fingerprint for the installation Dial. This is then used to generate 100 portraits. These images then become the basis for both Portal 1: Lover through frame interpolation and Portal 2: Machine through image sonification.

An installation view of "Willing the Sun to Rise Twice." Photo courtesy of TARZEER PICTURES

Aside from the semantic fingerprint installation called Dial, there is nothing visually sunny about Willing the Sun to Rise Twice. With the amount of alterations, translations, and generations the material  a human remnant  went through, it is expected to see works that almost feel devoid of humanness. Something is lost on each stage both from the source material and from the artist herself until what is left are pixels infinitely rearranging themselves into abstractions. And yet, there is inexplicable warmth.

In Portrait of a Lover, the portraits all look human with seemingly Caucasian descent, but are somehow not human enough. Some of the faces seem ghostly. Some are blurred. Some are melting. Some are even absent. But the longer I stare, I see a glimmer of nuanced expression. The pensive boy on the column, in all his pixels, may be capable of affection.

Portal 2: Machine presents forms and fragments morphing from one abstraction to another. Then, in a split second, what I see feels like a vague memory of a room on a Sunday afternoon.

The voice clone sounds mechanical and cold. But as I listen closely to the words it recites, I hear forlorn expressions. There was something real and beautiful. Its time to let it go, the voice says. A machine laments the loss San Pedro experienced and at the same time its inability to generate feelings. I can never truly replicate love or desire, it says.

Although mere fractions, it is in these moments that I find the warmth that illuminates the whole.

Willing the Sun to Rise Twice evokes a lot of contradictions that subvert the very notion of contradictions. Warm feelings emerging from cold tools. Human vulnerability spoken by a machine. Loss being transformative and generative.

In this interview, San Pedro details her process, materials, and hopes.

"Longing for the Sun to Set Upwards" and "Willing the Sun to Rise Twice both have the word sun in their titles. What is it with the sun?

When I proposed to Tarzeer, it was meant to be a film again. We were meant to make another film titled "Willing the Sun to Rise Twice." The initial idea was to use the voice clone of an ex-lover to narrate instead of my voice clone. They were meant to be in conversation with each other. Nearing the exhibition, like two to three months before, I felt like I could do much more.

What made me think of this were clementines or kiat-kiat. There's a work by Felix Gonzalez-Torres called candy works where he creates a mound of candies in the weight equal to his lover. People are meant to take from the pile until it disappears.

When my partner and I split up, every time I peel[ed] a clementine, I felt like I was summoning him. I was toying with the idea of anything orange or anything citrus-smelling or anything remotely resembling a piece of kiat-kiat could summon him in. Im staying at La Union and [the] sunsets are orange. And I was like, what if I could reconstitute him through visions?

In a lot of ways, "Willing the Sun to Rise Twice" is like peeling something over and over until I summon something. Initially, the idea was to summon him but as I course through actually peeling metaphorically, I actually summoned myself.

That was what the film was going to be  me just peeling clementines in reference to Felix Gonzalez-Torres work. But it changed a lot.

A lot of my recent spiritual [practice] has a lot to do with the sun too, so it's been a constant imagery in my life. I pulled cards the other day and it's the sun again. It always circles back to the sun. I used to hate it until I lived here in La Union.

You moved to La Union because of Emerging Islands, right?

Partly. I technically never really moved. I just lived here for a long time.

My last show prior to "Willing the Sun to Rise Twice" was May of last year. I took a pause due to an amount of reasons, but I really needed to recuperate and reevaluate where I wanted to go with my practice. When I came here, I decided not to do anything. My motivation to be here was really to recenter.

"Longing for the Sun to Set Upwards" was actually an accident. It wasn't meant to be a thing. I was just playing around with my phone. It was December of last year and it was my birthday. I just wanted to show it to my friends. We made a mini exhibit here and people came. For some reason, it reached someone from London. They offered a space at the Barbican to screen it. It was kind of a pull to make again.

A lot more residents came here. Kristone Capistrano and Aaron Kaiser Garcia were here with me at that time. Both of them got me running again. The project we made was called Transmutation. I wanted it to be a collage of moments that aren't really visible but are represented through material.

I designed a score that only Aaron, a movement artist, will hear at that exact moment. I played it once and then he moved to the score. Kristone witnessed the moment and drew it as Aaron moved. Kristone was the only person who ever witnessed Aaron move. The drawings are artifacts of that moment. These are the datasets for other people to process.

When I came here, I really hibernated for a while before moving again. It kind of unleashed this whole thing.

How did living in La Union change your approach to art?

My approach shifted in a way that is no longer as controlled as before. Before, I would think it through. I would not start a work until it's finished in my head. But now, I make as I go and I diagram as I go. Instead of it having a finished answer already as I'm making  which I think stunted a lot of the things I was making before  now I give myself some room to experiment or to fail and see how it all constellates in the end. Instead of moving through a line, I now kind of operate in a constellation, just letting things fall into place and make sense of itself rather than having a definitive answer.

When I first met you, you were making art out of tangible things like cutouts for collages and textile. But I noticed that you've grown out of that. For example, in Carlos Quijon Jr.'s "Synthetic Condition," you worked with dancers and choreographers. Now, youre working with technology. When did you realize that you can use technology for your art?

I built that work, "A Fold in the Horizon," during my artistic residency for Art Fair Philippines. That work was seeing how different people process data. We kind of treated the bodies as machines, seeing where one could bring and transform that unit or dataset as well as finding the commonalities within that transformation as well. I worked with five different movement artists. I designed a text prompt and elements that they have to contend with while performing  music, atmosphere, costume. I treated it as a science experiment. All my collaborators had some sort of blinders on. They didn't really know what was happening. That specific work was designed for people to not be able to prepare for the moment and seeing them process it for the first time and then recording it. That was my first foray into seeing the body as machine.

"A Fold in the Horizon" was built in 2021 but it was only shown last year. My second solo exhibition was in May of last year. I then wanted to flip the script. What will happen if I feed my body to machines? I think earlier on my work has always been about the body. My collages were. When I shifted to textile, I wanted to see how a material succumbs to form. I wanted the body to be a machine that processes the material. And then, the next step was the body as the data being processed by the machine. It's all in conversation with each other. So I think it's a natural course for me to explore technologies.

I like playing around and not being stuck with one medium. I like shifting gears whenever I feel like I'm stuck.

Moving forward, I'm transforming humans into tangible material. I'm working on paintings using hair for my next solo exhibition. It's the process I'm doing now: taking from the body and then breaking it down until I can paint with it.

So, anything can be material in your practice?

What I'm exploring now is actually generating from nothing. For example, I generated a piece of a mountain for Columbia's Institute of Ideas and Imagination. I took a photo of an excavation site in La Union. From that image, I extracted a pixel. And then, I upscaled that pixel and ran it through multiple generators until I was able to make a 3D render of an object.

I have so much fascination now with either breaking down to generate or generating from absolutely nothing. It speaks to my experiences as a trans woman having to work with crumbs basically. Ultimately, I can make up for the things or the spaces that I don't have access to through creativity and imagination using those losses as a way to shape rather than a sign to give up.

In her latest exhibit, San Pedro uses artificial intelligence to generate sound and images based on her first loves last voice message. Photo by JOSEPH PASCUAL

In Willing the Sun to Rise Twice, the voice of your ex-lover is your source material. How did the idea arrive to you?

I think my practice has been about using myself as material, and I feel like now I'm venturing off to human materialization as a practice. As mentioned earlier, I'm expanding to using other people as datasets.

The idea for this exhibition came about early last year while I was working on my second solo exhibition titled "Misnomer." In that exhibition, I used myself as a dataset. That was the first time I used voice cloning as a tool to make art. At the time, I was thinking of cloning the voice of a lover. That was just the initial idea that I had. But also, I kept it in the back of my mind for a while.

The premise of the exhibition was to only use 25 seconds worth of voice messaging that amounts to four sentences. The voice cloning AI needs at least 30 minutes worth of training data for it to be able to recreate a voice. I didn't have that much, so what I did was to loop the initial 25-second clip into 30 minutes and that's what I fed to the AI to confuse it.

Initially, I wasn't going to ask for permission. But it needed a verbal contract for him to say "I am so and so, and I am giving the rights over my voice to Jao for cloning." If I feed the AI our conversation, for example, and I'm the only one who has the voice contract, it's going to filter out your voice. It only reads based on the fingerprint that is fed into it. You can't actually clone anyone else's voice without their consent, which is fair. For me, what was interesting was having to communicate that with someone who does not fully grasp what I do and also the technology in which I'm using his voice.

I started talking to him and explained to him what I was doing. I even asked him if I could use his actual voice message in the exhibition, but that's the only thing that he was kind of averse to. I ended up not having his actual voice at the exhibition, which in hindsight also fulfills the exhibition even more because he is no longer within the scope of the show.

Im curious. Did you prompt the machine to make faces?

The visual language of that generator used semantic fingerprints. The text that I fed it was basically portrait of blank  the name of my ex-lover. I ran it over and over until it generated faces.

In the beginning, I was actually failing to make a face. It only gave me a bunch of prints. I was also ready to exhibit that. But as I played with the generator, it started giving me faces. I really love how some faces fail, some faces warped, and some faces are more realistic than others.

"I think my practice has been about using myself as material, and I feel like now I'm venturing off to human materialization as a practice," says San Pedro. Photo by JOSEPH PASCUAL

Did you have a look in mind of what the tool should come up with?

To me, I just wanted the grid to be ever present. A lot of the visual languages that I used were of a grid, so everything that came out were grids also. I think that's where the control is, because I wanted it to allude to previous works. Within that regard, visually I had control because I used my own datasets for these things.

I trained these generators with datasets that come from me and then fed it back to itself. For the second stage onwards, I'm feeding the machine itself. From the initial input of the voice and then it becoming a clone and then it giving me a transcript and then feeding it to the text generators and then extracting from those text generators, I used the machine as a dataset for itself and then over and over until it's confused. I think that's why I also don't contend with those fears because I'm kind of tricking the thing. I'm stretching the ways in which it is used or is supposed to be used. Most of the work relied on the machines failing to then generate actual work that speaks what I want to say. If anything, all the things that you see are technically errors. They're not what is expected of artificial intelligence generation now. My generating is degenerating.

What was your goal when you embarked on the creation of this exhibition?

I intended to use technology as a language of loss, letting the technology [make him] disappear and then stretch him into many different forms. I was seeking a way to speak loss like no other. To me, artificial intelligence is the perfect language to speak loss. It's devoid of feeling, yet it's really entwined with our histories. I used it as a tool to speak what I feel. I don't think I can recreate this exhibition with any other medium. I wanted it to feel cold but also warm at the same time. For me, it was a perfect tool.

To me, as I went on making this show, it felt more like I was trying to make an image of myself instead of his. Funnily enough, my previous exhibition was of self-portraiture, but I feel like this one is more me.

"I was kind of desperate to see the generative potentials of loss. As a woman of trans experience, the world was built with its back against me. I'm continually losing. Within that loss, I am holding on to hope that losing can mean something generative or transformative because I'm going to forever lose."

I was kind of desperate to see the generative potentials of loss. As a woman of trans experience, the world was built with its back against me. I'm continually losing. Within that loss, I am holding on to hope that losing can mean something generative or transformative because I'm going to forever lose. And that's not a sad thing to me. I know that it's something that I will have to contend with and I'm not sad about it. It's just a fact of my life that it's something that I have to contend with, maybe not my whole life but, for a while. It's less about him but more of how losing him or just losing anyone or losing opportunities or losing access to spaces, even with legislature built against women like me, I can make worlds, I can build portals, I can build work that mirrors not only my experience but everyone else's. It's what my body of work is about  stretching myself and now lending that language or that ability to anyone who is willing to do it with me.

What have you learned while tackling loss and negotiation in your work?

A recent realization of mine is that a lot has been taken away from me, but also, I'm a portal. I don't actually lose anything. No one can touch me. I feel like that's how I move in the world now. Pain is to be expected, violence is to be expected, trauma is to be expected. But for me, it's like I worked my way into finding an immovable center  the center that is generative while also giving way to degeneration because I am constantly losing.

When I speak of losing, I am not a victim to anything. I'm never going to let myself be. If anything, my practice is my way to process my loss and turn it into something beautiful. I hope to still surface hope with all of it, because that's what I'm going to need for me to live fully  hope and constant reassurance turning the bad into something beautiful that people can see themselves in too.

We all need hope.

It's the only thing that I have.

And what are you hoping for?

As pointed as my works or as precise as they are, I still hope to create softer and softer works.

I wish to perpetually soften. I want to dissolve or dissipate but not disappear. I hope to course through my life and other people's and be one with them. I hope to never box myself into anything. I just want to revel in the possibility of transformation and softening.

A friend spoke with me about this once and it stuck with me. I forgot the name of the person she was referencing but it was somewhere along the lines of becoming love itself. That no matter the heartbreak, you have to have an immovable center and become love itself. As cheesy as that sounds, I feel like the hope is that I just course through my life as soft and as loving and as hopeful as possible. I just want to soften.

Willing the Sun to Rise Twice is on view at Tarzeer Pictures in Makati until June 22, 2023.
Woodbine Mohawk Park hosted two divisions of the $15,000 Pop Up Claiming Series on Thursday evening (June 15) and The Ideal Huntress posted the faster time of the two races.

The Ideal Huntress and Louis-Philippe Roy got away fifth, 5-1/4 lengths off the leading Baby Bonita, who led the field to the opening panel in :27.3. Roy pulled his right line in search of the lead, clearing before the half in :56.3. The Ideal Huntress continued through three-quarters in 1:24.4 before taking off to a 2-1/2 length victory in 1:52. Manhattan Night (Scott Young) was second and Baby Bonita (Tyler Jones) finished in third.

The Ideal Huntress is a four-year-old daughter of Huntsville with $95,230 in lifetime earnings to go along with nine career wins. Brett Lester trains The Ideal Huntress for Michel Letarte, Jean Allaire, Jean-Francois Reid and Maurice Houle.

In the other division, Darkrshadeofpale N (Bob McClure) sat third through the quarter in :26.4 and half in :55.3 before pulling first over before the three-quarters in 1:25. Down the stretch, the pair took the lead to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:53.

Katelyn Graham trains Darkrshadeofpale N for Steve Mihalic. The nine-year-old mare has $240,478 in career earnings to go along with 29 wins.

To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
A quartet of $12,600 contests for developing horses, three on the pace and one on the trot, headlined the Thursday afternoon action at Harrahs Philadelphia.

The Heston Blue Chip gelding Flash Move, coming off two seconds in Pennsylvania Stallion Series racing, flashed to the top by the quarter for driver Andrew McCarthy, then paced home in :55.4 in lowering his mark to 1:51.3. Trainer Robert Cleary co-owns the quick pacer, who is 5-2-2-0 this year after not racing at two, along with Royal Wire Products Inc.

There were two divisions for filly pacers. The faster went to the Lazarus N filly Lisa Lane, coming off of three cheques in New Jersey Sire Stakes competition and able to front her field throughout in a new mark of 1:52.2, with swift back fractions of :55 and :27. Patrick Ryder was in the sulky for trainer/father Chris Ryder, who along with his son is also co-owner with Nadia Tarnawa.

In the other distaff pace, the Sweet Lou sophomore Lulu Rocks looked hopelessly stuck in a blindswitch as horses swept wide on the turn, but trainer/driver Pat Lachance backed her out to the extreme outside in the lane and overhauled stretch leader Allrighty Then by a length in 1:54.1. Lachance also owns the winner with Monmouth Bay Racing LLC and Edward De Rosa.

On the trot, the International Moni three-year-old gelding Allmoni and driver David Miller roared by heavy favourite Double Dippin down the backstretch, and although that one kept up the pursuit to the line, Allmoni held a 1-1/2-length margin at the finish while equalling his mark of 1:57.1. Trainer Jason Johnson owns the winner of three of four in 2023 with Edward and Kelly Moore.

Exciting Open Handicap Paces going for $20,000 will head the final two days of Harrahs racing week. On Fridays 12:25 p.m. card, distaffs gathering for the feature include the winners of the last two Betsy Ross Paces, Max Contract and Majorca N. The 12:40 p.m. program on Sunday will feature Southwind Gendry, who set an all-age track record of 1:47.2 in his last start here, although the mark didnt last the afternoon as Ruthless Hanover lowered it to 1:46.3. Program pages for all races at Harrahs Philadelphia will be available on the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen's Association website.

(PHHA / Harrahs Philadelphia)
Brad McNinch has a long history with the North America Cup. He'll try to add to that history by finally hoisting the prestigious trophy this Saturday (June 17) at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and that opportunity has never presented itself better.

McNinch, the husband of Linda Toscano, is the assistant trainer for Fulton and Its My Show, giving Team Toscano an outstanding 1-2 punch of two 2023 Pepsi North America Cup elimination winners. But McNinch  a Canadian-born native of Toronto, Ont.  and the North America Cup go back decades to the race's predecessor.

"It would be fantastic," McNinch readily admitted to Trot Insider when asked how it would feel to win this race, one of the few major Grand Circuit events that has eluded the Toscano-McNinch tandem. "I've watched every one of these. I watched it when it was the Queen City Pace at Greenwood back in the late '60s. It's the race we all wanted to be in and we all watched. When I worked for John Burns, we had a horse in the race by the name of Shipps Scorch. He had the rail, and he was a contender, but he didn't get a cheque. And we were all gutted; we thought he had a good shot. It means a lot [to be here], it definitely means a lot."

This time around, McNinch has more than a good shot. He's part of two elimination winners  one the fastest elim winner and current top choice on the Standardbred Canada web poll in Its My Show (PP2, Scott Zeron, 3-1) and the other was the second fastest elim winner who has never missed the top three in 13 career starts, that being Fulton (PP4, Dexter Dunn, 9-2).

"The colts raced very well," noted McNinch in a serious understatement. "They were ready for it. Its My Show I thought was as impressive as any of them. Racing from the rail at Mohawk, usually it's not as advantageous a spot especially because of a slanted gate. That usually kind of stops their momentum a little bit. But he got out of there very well and just kept going. He's been a pleasant surprise this year.

"And Fulton you know, he got picked off last week [by Redwood Hanover in a Somebeachsomewhere division] and Dex was a little concerned about his bridle, so Linda changed his bridle and he was much better. They both did what they had to do."

Both colts stepped to new marks in their eliminations as well. Fulton (Heston Blue Chip - Bettor Be Steamin) was a 1:48.2 winner for Eric Cherry's Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Bottom Line Racing LLC. Two ticks better, Its My Show (Sweet Lou - Put On A Show) won in 1:48 winner for breeder - owners Richard & Joanne Young to stay perfect in five starts this year.

This year, Its My Show hasn't lost. Last year, he couldn't win. McNinch chalked up that change in form to a change in the horse's attention span after a trip to the veterinarian.

"Gelding him made all the difference in the world. After his last race in Lexington last year, Linda said 'take him out to Hunterton Farm and get him gelded right away' and that's what we did. And they did a great job recouping him, recovering from his gelding. He came back this year and we trained him down and he didn't seem any different or any better until he got into race. And he kind of realized that this is what he was meant to do. And it seems it's not a different horse to be around. He was always a nice horse, but the gelding just seemed to help his attitude."

Its My Show and Fulton will both require their best attitudes and best efforts to win the 2023 Pepsi North America Cup on Saturday. McNinch agreed  as is the consensus  that this year's edition of the race is one of the deepest in recent memory.

"I can look at that field and I don't see a horse that can't win. Usually when you have two eliminations and the top five make it, you usually got two or three in there that you can throw out completely. There's not a horse in there [on Saturday] that I don't think can win. And it's going to be a competitive race because all the winners think they can win. And all the horses that finished second all raced super, and they think they can win. And the two that drew in, Redwood [Hanover] beat us the week before and McIntosh's horse [Moment Is Here], his credentials speak for themselves. So I don't think there's a horse in there that cannot win."

Million-dollar purse aside, winning the 2023 Pepsi North America Cup would be extra special for McNinch and Toscano given that they've been right there with both colts since their first lessons and given the elusive aspect of this stake event for the stable thus far.

"Their whole lives have been with us, and it's just the fact that they got to this level...and this is as big a level as there is. This isn't just another million-dollar race. This is Canada's race. And it means a lot to me because I'm from Toronto, and it means a lot to Linda because she's never won one yet."

The full interview with McNinch from the 2023 Pepsi North America Cup post draw is available below.

To view Saturdays harness racing entries, click one of the following links: Pepsi North America Cup Night -- Saturday Entries || North America Cup Card Program Pages (courtesy TrackIT).
The opening round of the Quebec-Bred Series for older trotters takes place at Hippodrome 3R on Friday, June 16 with two $6,500 divisions.

Due to a shortage of mares entered in the first round, the mares will race against the older horses, but got to draw for the inside post positions.

The first division is the fourth race on the card and features Woodbine Mohawk Park invader Only For Justice (sired by Justice Hill), who will start from post six with driver Robert Shepherd. The seven-year-old gelding will be making his first start of the 2023 season with Linda Belanger taking over the training. Last year, he won five times -- the fastest a 1:54.1 triumph. He is owned by breeder Ecurie Gaetan Bono Inc.

One of the two mares in the field is former Quebec champion Stella Alpha (sired by Royalty For Life) from post two with driver Pascal Berube. Sylvain Tremblay trains and his Ecurie Alpha owns the four-year-old mare, who is affectionately known as the "Princess Of Trot at H3R" and was an 11-race winner last year. In her last start at 3R, Stella Alpha went first-up against older horses and hung on to win by a nose in 1:59.2.

Also in the race is last years three-year-old Quebec champion, Royalty Beer, who will start from post three for trainer/driver Kevin Maguire. The Royalty For Life gelding is shipping back to 3R after racing this season at Woodbine Mohawk Park, where he took a lifetime mark three starts back in 1:54. He is owned by breeder Ecuries Maguire Inc., and Jean-Francois Maguire.

The eighth race is the second division and has a classic match-up between four return winners, Capteur De Reve (sired by Muscle Mass), Frido PV (sired by Muscle Mass), Orlys Shadow (sired by Lindys Tru Grit) and CM Savewill GL (sired by Muscle Mass).

Capteur De Reve is a four-time Quebec champion and will go from post four with driver Stephane Brosseau. He is currently undefeated in two starts this year for trainer Maxime Velaye and owner/breeder Ecurie Provoquante.

Frido PV has won three of his four starts this year, scoring last week in 1:59 by four lengths and will be driven again by Jonathan Lachance from post five for trainer Yves St Jacques and owner/breeder Marcel Bouillard.

Orlys Shadow was winless last year making only four starts before being away for nearly a year. He has returned in form, winning his first start back last week for trainer Paulo Jutras, wiring the field in 2:01.2 with a last quarter in :29.1 for his maiden victory. Jocelyn Gendron will picked up the catch-drive from post seven aboard the trotter owned by Orlando Stables Inc.

CM Savewill GL shipped in from Flamboro Downs last week and scored in 2:01 for trainer Marc-Andre Simoneau. Pascal Berube will drive the post three starter for owners Francois Dupuis, Richard Kelly and Ronald Kelly.

Completing the field are former Quebec champion Seeyou Men (post six), Sammy Justice (post eight) and the two mares in the race, X O X O (post one) and Lune Duharas (post two).

First race post time for Fridays twilight race card is 4 p.m. On Sunday, 3R will host three divisions of the second round of the Quebec-Bred Series for older horses -- one for the mares and two for the horses.

For a free race program, visit hippodrome3r.ca.

To view Friday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Friday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.

(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)


The 2023 New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) makes its first stop at the Mighty M on Monday, June 19, when the three-year-old pacing fillies take the stage, racing for more than $172,000 in purses.

The nine-race program features three NYSS races, with each split worth $37,833, and three divisions of the Excelsior Series, with a purse of $20,000 per event.

The first Sire Stakes race is carded as Race 1 and goes to post with a scant field of five. B On The Hunt will score from post four. In recent Sire Stakes competition, the daughter of Huntsville has had a place and a show finish; she will be driven by Jordan Stratton for trainer Cory Stratton. Kissin Joe (Mark MacDonald) starts from the rail for trainer Andrew Stafford.

The next split has the top two point earners in their respective division. Leading the way is Turn The Charm. Starting from the rail, the offspring of Huntsville has been perfect thus far this season, recording Sire Stakes wins recently at Buffalo and Saratoga and has banked in excess of $68,000. She is trained by Bruce Clark and will be driven by Marcus Miller. Southwind Bella (PP3) was a winner last start in Saratoga. In this company, she recorded a stellar win at Chester when she torched the oval and earned a new speed badge of 1:50.2. Jack Pelling will drive for trainer Brett Pelling. Hunting Season (PP4) was one of the better fillies from last year, earning $114,000 during her freshman season for trainer Ray Schnittker. Mark MacDonald will drive.

The final dash of Sire Stakes is Race 8. Earthwindfire (pictured above) will start from post five and has been installed the morning line favourite. She was a winner last year at Monticello in this class. In her lone pari-mutuel start this year after a pair of qualifiers, she was victorious in her division of Sire Stakes at Saratoga in 1:53.2. The American Ideal sophomore is trained by Brett Pelling and will be driven by Jack Pelling. The co-favourite is True Blue Hanover, who will start from the rail. She finished second last start in Sire Stakes to Turn The Charm. John Blazer trains the daughter of American Ideal and she will be driven by Jason Bartlett.

The three Excelsior races are carded at Races 2, 6 and 9. The point leader is Lady Jericho by virtue of her win and place finish. She starts from post six for trainer John Berger and will be driven by Jordan Stratton in Race 6. At The Hop has been straddled with outside Post 7. She was a winner last start out at the Spa. Mark MacDonald will handle the driving chores for trainer Jim Nickerson.

First post time for the nine-race card of harness racing is 12:10 p.m.

(Monticello)
Saturdays (June 17) Cumberland card features two $14,684 divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies, and leading the way is freshman filly pacing champion Pickmepickme from the powerful Marc Tardif stable.

With eight wins in 10 starts and earnings of $89,265, the daughter of Western Maverick was a dominant force among the frosh sidesteppers last season for owner and breeder Tardif. Never worse than third in her entire career, she amassed an impressive 34-length combined margin of victory in her last seven romps.

Named after a youngster named Lauren who frequented the Tardif stable, at age five she always wanted to be picked up by Marc Tardif. As soon as she saw Tardif she would exclaim, pick me, pick me. Suffering from some serious medical issues, and somewhat smaller in size due to the condition, she loved to be picked up and carried around to visit with all the horses in the barn.

As she grew older her summers were highlighted by visits to the Tardif stable where she always had a pony, some rabbits, and any other critters that she could fuss over. Over time, everyone around the close-knit Maine harness racing community would take turns looking after Lauren while the Tardif Taskforce was busy racing. She would visit the judges booth, the photo stand, hang out on the apron, anywhere that she could see the horses and be with horse people.

She is the granddaughter of some of our close friends, noted Peggy and Marc Tardif. All she ever wants is to be at the barn with the horses, so we always welcome her any chance we get.

With her condition improved, the filly with the name that she created, Pickmepickme gives Lauren another reason to smile.

The Maine Sire Stakes events are programmed as races one and nine on the regular program. In the ninth race, the Tardif Taskforce sends out both Pickmepickme (Andy Harrington, 4-5), who scores from pylon position and Katelyns Angel (Kevin Switzer Jr., 9-5) from post four.

The first division in the opener lists the early morning line favourite as La Mambacita at 7-5. Driven by Heath Campbell and trained by Valerie Grondin, the daughter of Western Maverick comes off of a 1:56.3 second place finish at Plainridge on June 6. She was bred by Lynn-Marie Plouffe and is owned by Scott McKenzie.

There are also two entries from the Mike Graffam stable, with the second choice being South St Dottie at 2-1 from post three. Driven by Nick Graffam, the daughter of Western Maverick earned $43,376 last season with a victory at Windsor Fair. They also send out Ally Mac (6-1, PP5) who will get the services of Kevin Switzer Jr. who is just three wins away from 3,000 career victories.

First post is 3:15 p.m. at Cumberland Raceway.

Two divisions of Learn and Earn baby races will be held before Fridays card starting at 1:15 p.m. The races go for $200 each and give the youngsters a chance to get behind the gate before their freshmen Maine Sire Stakes divisions start in earnest in early July.

(Maine Sire Stakes)
With all there is to worry about in todays world, between war and global warming, political battles and gun violence, and ever-escalating prices for almost everything, heres some news that may bring a little comfort to the commonwealth.

Virginia is the best-equipped state in the nation to handle an alien invasion, according to an analysis by NJ Casino. Thanks to its strong military presence, high volume of law enforcement officials and even the number of caves and caverns (29) where people could hide, Virginians have a better chance than anyone else in the nation of fending off little green men or hive-minded extraterrestrial beings like those in the Independence Day movies.

The presence of a larger military force per capita means that Virginia is well-equipped to defend and protect its territory against extraterrestrial threats and enables a faster response time to an alien invasion, meaning the state can mobilize and deploy troops more quickly, states a press release.

Virginia has 17.97 military personnel per 1,000 people, the highest ratio in the nation, according to the analysis. That includes both active duty and reservists, for a total of 156,475 servicemembers.

Virginias rate is twice as high as Georgia, which ranked second in the list.

Having more men and women who know how to deal with an enemy, no matter their planet of origin, ensures a larger pool of trained individuals with combat skills and experience who can handle critical support functions such as intelligence gathering, communication networks, medical support, supply chains and transportation, according to NJ Casino.

If youre wondering what a website that promotes gambling has to do with unidentified flying objects, think instead about luck, odds and probability. Casino officials are experts in those fields and often research the likelihood of certain scenarios happening, said Chloe Chai, head of marketing at NJ Casino.

A key question recently was how the United States would fare in the face of an alien invasion, and the inquiry didnt just show up out of thin air. Data from well-known sources, such as the Pew Research Center, suggested it was on the minds of Americans. Recent surveys have said two of every three people in the United States believe in aliens; another one-third fears some sort of apocalyptic event in their lifetime; and searches for UFO sightings in the U.S. have risen by almost 88% this year.

With that in mind, NJ Casino created a points-based index system to determine how well states might fare if the Martians landed. They looked at metrics for each state such as population density; UFO sightings; landscape such as caves, forest and bodies of water; defense, including military and law enforcement; scientists and engineers; health care professionals; and food manufacturers.

Virginia got an alien survival score of 8.04 to top the nation. Other Mid-Atlantic states filled out the top four, including Georgia, Massachusetts and New York. Maryland ranks seventh. Nevada is last with an overall score of 4.53.

Virginia has 27 military bases and every service branch has at least one installation in the commonwealth, according to the Military Bases website. In the face of attack, the naval bases at Hampton Roads and Virginia Beach areas are well-equipped to send the aliens bones, if they have any, to Davy Joness locker, while other facilities in the Fredericksburg region would be poised to attack on other fronts.

Consider that every Marine officer, as well as many enlisted service members, get trained at Quantico Marine Corps Base in North Stafford and Prince William County. South of Fredericksburg, Fort A.P. Hill holds year-round exercises to keep every component of the armed forces in combat readiness.

But no one in the region may have an eye trained more on the sky than Naval Support Facility Dahlgren in King George County, which hosts the 19th Space Defense Squadron. Thats part of the U.S. Space Force, the newest branch of the military.

The Dahlgren squadron includes 20 military, 31 civilian and seven contractors who operate as orbital analysts, automated data processing crews, information technology support and administrators, according to the Space Force website.

In April 2022, the Space Force announced the Dahlgren squadron was being tasked to focus on deep space, according an article on the C4ISRNET website. Dahlgrenites are looking specifically at cislunar space, the area between the Earths geostationary orbit, which is more than 22,000 miles above Earth and the moons orbit.

The C4ISRNET story noted the Department of Defense has made a notable shift in its posture toward cislunar space in the last few years, from viewing potential deep-space threats as part of a far-off future to recognizing that those threats may present much sooner.

Danger may come more from entities on this Earth rather than not-of-this-world, but the Space Force will be watching for whatever risks may be out there, according to the report.

As for Fredericksburg and surrounding areas, there have been 10 UFO sightings in the last decade, according to the UFO Hunters

. The most recent was October 2022 in Spotsylvania County, where a viewer reported as many as five orbs, blinking in and out, and two glowing and slowly ascending. The person filmed the activity for about an hour.
The Transwest Ford dealership arrived in town in December after a move from Torrington. General manager Alessandro Meloni said the transition has been going smoothly, including the dealership having undergone a near complete renovation of the former Fremont Ford.

Meloni said dealership owners spent roughly $2 million on a remodel, updating the showroom and most of the dealerships service department at 1515 E. 20th St. The dealership offers 26 service bays for customers, divided between a quick-lane shop dedicated to maintenance like oil changes and a full-service area for more intensive repairs.

Meloni emphasized that most of the contractors working on the remodel were hired locally.

Transwest Ford has a lot more space to work with than at its former offices in Torrington with a larger lot and service area with 26 service bays compared to only 11 in Torrington.

Fremont Ford, the previous owners, and Transwest Ford merged in part thanks to the Ford Motor Co., which suggested that Transwest take over the dealership. Meloni said a lot of it had to do with Ford wanting to consolidate since manufacturers have pushed for dealerships to consolidate in recent years. He went on to say that while Ford originally pushed the move, we saw an opportunity to increase our market size.  So, it was a good business decision for us.

Since the move, Transwest Ford has covered a much larger area than it did in Torrington. While the dealership still serves the Torrington area, it is also responsible for much of the Panhandle and eastern Wyoming.

The dealership has changed hands a number of times. Originally opened as Cannon Brothers Ford in 1964, it was sold to Legacy Ford in 2001. In 2009, Fremont took over and owners then sold the dealership to Transwest in December.

Previous owners of the dealership have been heavily involved in the community. Cannon Brothers was involved in a number of boards and committees and Fremont Ford campaigned for Scottsbluff High School Distributive Education Clubs of America and other activities. Meloni said he intends to continue that trend and has already started.

We supported the robotics portion of the 4-H club and they went to the finals, which was awesome to see, Meloni said.

While there are no specific plans for additional involvement, Meloni said, Down the road, Ill be able to hopefully get out of the office a little bit more and go and see folks in person.

In recent years, Ford has begun to offer electric and hybrid vehicle options like the Maverick, Mustang Mach E, Escape Hybrid, F-150 Powerboost and F-150 Lightning. But because the infrastructure for electric vehicle charging is still growing in Scottsbluff, the dealership is not focusing on offering some of the newer options yet.

Electric vehicles could become an added expense for the dealership, according to Meloni.

You got to build the infrastructure of charging, he said, and its gonna be on the backs of dealers such as us.

While the Maverick, a midsize truck available with a gasoline or hybrid powertrain, has sold well, those sales have primarily been the gasoline option.

Vehicle supply has slowed sales at the dealership somewhat; however, Meloni said they are still performing well. The dealership has seen especially high sales in commercial vehicles such as the larger F-Series trucks and Transit vans.

Meloni chalked up the commercial sales to pent-up demand in fleet vehicles that has remained from shortages caused by COVID-19 and supply chain issues. There has also been high demand for personal vehicles with the Mavericks and new Ford Broncos still seeing high demand, according to Meloni.

Meloni said he is still looking to fill out the dealership staff to help cover the increased customer base from the move.

He also spoke about some new models that he was excited about, like the new Super Duty trucks, which he said look a lot cleaner, much more refined than the previous generation, and then the new power stroke with 1200 foot-pounds of torque is pretty awesome.
Festival of Hope volunteer Cindy Koch has been volunteering for the non-profit organization that helps cancer patients since it began 21 years ago. And, most of that time, shes been handling a delicate job  the caretaking of the butterflies that are used at the festival each year

The symbolism of the butterfly for the Festival of Hope has its beginnings in a Native American legend.

Vince Bjorling, one of the founders of the Festival of Hope, said, Butterflies cant speak, so the legend is, if you whisper your secret to a butterfly, it will carry it to the Great Spirit.

For the Festival of Hope organizers and volunteers, its patients and their families, the butterfly has come to be a symbol of hope.

Koch doesnt remember quite how she began being the butterly handler, just that someone else did it the first two years, and she stepped up when the job became available.

Prior to volunteering at the Festival of Hope, Koch used to participate each year in the Relay for Life, a local event that had been organized for the American Cancer Society. The Festival of Hope sprung up after the organization stepped back its local, and eventually western Nebraska, presence.

It (Festival of Hope) is just something that I really believe in, she said. And, I really like the fact that, you know, it started with people in the community and its for people here in the community.

Most of the funds raised from the Festival of Hope help persons experiencing cancer and their families with non-medical costs. Costs such as utility bills, travel and others are able to be covered through the organization. Bjorling, a retired oncologist, told the Star-Herald that some funds are also used for education and cancer research, but more than 95% of the funds are used locally. To date, the organization has distributed over $3.6 million to patients and their families. Almost $250,000 has been donated to research and education.

I am a cancer survivor, Koch said, though her involvement predated her own battle with sarcoma in 2002. Just this year, she also suffered another form of cancer, with a nueroendocrine tumor having been discovered in her stomach. Fortunately, she has been able to be treated by having the tumor removed, but she said her own cancer struggles help highlight the need for an organization such as Festival of Hope.

When she first started coordinating the arrangements for the butterflies that are used in the butterfly release  a favorite event at the Festival of Hope  she said, it was kind of trial and error to figure it out. Today, shes got it down. Now, we have a down pat system.

Every year, she orders the butterflies from a Florida company, Clearwater Butterfly around March or April. The company grows and harvests the butterflies. The butterflies are shipped by overnight mail, and interestingly, they are packaged in envelopes.

However, they are also finicky.

They like to be cool until its ready to get them going, Koch said, explaining that they come in a refrigerated package, like food would, and the first thing she does is get them into the fridge to stay cool.

Theyre almost in a cryo state, she said. You just keep them in the refrigerator. You dont open them up or do anything. you want to keep them that way until the day of the festival.

This year, because the Festival of Hope is a shorter event, occurring from about 6:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., she will get them out earlier. She tries to keep her home cool when she removes them and readies them for the cages that they are transported in and displayed at the Festival of Hope. To liven them up, she feeds them some sugar water and flowers before they are set free.

The struggle is that if you put them in the cage somewhere warm, like right there at the Festival of Hope, theyre trying to fly all over. Its easier if you put them in the cages somewhere nice and cool.

About 300 butterflies are ordered every year. There have only been a couple years when there were fewer  one year when the supplier had a shortage and during the pandemic.

Each year, the painted lady butterflies are a favorite, especially to the delight of children attending the festival and attempting to catch the butterflies or have one land on them.

It means a lot to people, Koch said. We get so many survivors, so it means something for them. Then we get people who are remembering someone, someone they are remembering or someone they recently lost. It means a lot to different people, for different reasons.

The butterfly symbolism is repeated in the Festival of Hopes Wall of Hope, where people can highlight the name of a survivor or remembered loved one. To sponsor a name on Festival of Hopes Wall of Hope, and have their name read during the naming ceremony, attendees at the Festival of Hope can sign up at the Saturday event for $10. Pre-registrations were also taken until earlier this week.

For more information about Festival of Hope, visit festivalofhope.net. A full schedule of events is also available under the event tab.
Gary Barker seemed like one of the lucky ones.

At 21, he survived a surprise attack by North Vietnamese forces that filled his back and shoulder with shrapnel. After emergency surgery in Saigon and months recovering at a Denver hospital, the decorated soldier returned to his young family and the life he left in Kimball.

But the headaches began when Gary was 26. He didnt make it past 28. An autopsy after his abrupt death revealed a tumor had formed on the brain stem, resulting from shrapnel left in his body.

Gary Barker had made it home from Vietnam. But the war took him just the same.

It seemed there would be no more milestones for his short lifeuntil earlier this year when a letter arrived from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Now nearly 50 years after his death, a group of Garys family members, including his widow Barb Barker, and sister, Janice Kirchhoff, will stand on the east knoll of the memorial in Washington, D.C., on Saturday as Garys name is read aloud along with 566 others.

The reading is part of the Memorial Funds In Memory ceremony, an event recognizing Vietnam veterans who returned home and later died as a result of their service. The names of 17 other Nebraskans also will be read during the ceremony.

Garys widow and sister expect to feel a mix of pride and emotions tamped down decades ago.

I never thought I would live long enough to see those who died after getting back to the states be recognized, said Kirchhoff, of Lincoln.

Garys family has always been proud of his service and the honors he earned, including the Purple Heart, Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Silver Star, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Marksmanship Badge with Rifle Bar. The upcoming public recognition, though, takes it to another level.

It also takes them back.

For Kirchhoff, it draws out the memories of a little brother six years her junior, a slender and blond southeast Nebraska farm kid. She and Gary bonded over horses.

His calm, compassionate nature made him good with all the animals on their family farm between Palmyra and Bennet, but especially with horses. When he and their parents, Merle and Helen, moved to Kimball, Gary competed in rodeos, and planned to become a farrier. The draft letter changed his plans.

Barb remembers the new boy who showed up at Kimball High School her junior year. He was tall, serious for his age and determined.

He wouldnt leave me alone, she recalled with the hint of a laugh. I finally went on a date with him on a dare. We were together ever since.

Barb liked Garys happy-go-lucky nature, the way he teased her. He always seemed upbeat.

They married May 1, 1966. Gary was drafted into the U.S. Army May 17. After boot camp in Texas, he went to Fort Belvoir in Virginia to train with the 20th Engineer Brigade. Barb joined him there for a few months. Their son, Jerry, was born shortly before Gary began his tour in Vietnam in January 1967.

They lived their first year of marriage through letters. She wrote every day and mailed homemade brownies or treats weekly.

Gary had 23 days left in his deployment when the Tet Offensive, a coordinated attack striking numerous targets in South Vietnam, started.

Two days later on Feb. 2, Gary was jarred awake by a surprise attack near Saigon where he was positioned. He was knocked into a foxhole, with shrapnel sprayed into his shoulder, arm and back.

Surgeons took an artery from his groin area and put it in his arm to save his life, Barb said. The deep shoulder wounds damaged nerves, leaving his left arm a lesser version than the one he arrived in Vietnam with.

He returned to the states for healing and rehabilitation at Fitzsimons General Hospital in Denver. He remained on a ward there for nearly eight months, with occasional visits from family and weekend trips home.

Barb still remembers the injured soldiers who lined a hospital hallway waiting for an open bed. It was heart wrenching, she said.

More than 58,200 U.S. service members died and 153,303 were non-fatally wounded in Vietnam, according to the Department of Defense. Of the dead, 396 were from Nebraska.

When Gary returned to Kimball for good, he had basically lost the use of his stiff left hand. He did not dwell on it or let it stop him from working, driving a maintainer and trucks for the county roads department.

He never discussed his time in Vietnam with Barb. The Fourth of July was visibly tough for him, she remembers, but even on that day he kept quiet.

She appreciates the next few years they had together, adding two more babies, daughters Kerry and Sherry, their young family growing up together on an acreage near Kimball.

Then Gary started to change. One symptom followed the next: trouble concentrating, debilitating headaches, loss of balance. Getting through a workday took every ounce of his energy, Barb said. Sometimes, he would fly off the handle over nothing, which was out of character.

He went to the Cheyenne Hospital for tests in July 1975. While taking X-rays, Garys health deteriorated quickly. He died after a brief time in the intensive care unit.

It was a total shock to me, his sister recalled, her mind going back to the phone call that delivered the news.

Dad had called the night before and said they were going to do tests in the morning. I didnt know the severity of any of it.

It would take an autopsy for the family to learn that Gary was another victim of the Vietnam War.

The lines of his obituary couldnt convey the depth of the hole his family was left to fill.

It became Barb, their 8-year-old son and two daughters, ages 5 and 2. They stayed on the acreage in Kimball. Barb was grateful for the practical things Gary taught her. Change oil. Fix a mower. Cut tree branches.

She buried their daughter, Kerry, who died in a car crash at 27.

Barb believes there was a little sign from Gary when one of their granddaughters was born on July 23, the same day Gary had died.

Barb never remarried. She never met the right man who could be a father figure in the eyes of her children.

People didnt ask as many questions then as they do now, Barb said. The recent attention regarding Garys upcoming honor has shown her that few people realized he had died from a war wound.

People have read about it and then told me I didnt know, she said.

Since the In Memory program was created in 1993, more than 6,000 veterans have been added to the programs honor roll, according to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. A plaque memorializing their service was dedicated on the memorial grounds in 2004.

The program is submission-driven, meaning family members apply to have their loved one added.

Kirchhoff read a notice about the program in the Lincoln Journal Star and wondered if her brother would qualify.

A few months later, Barb saw the same information in a local paper. She gathered the needed service details and sent off an application. The confirmation letter arrived a short time later.

I was emotional, Barb said. It just pulled at my heartstrings.

Both she and Kirchhoff appreciate what the In Memory program is providing to their family and veterans like Gary: recognition, gratitude and a better understanding of the true numbers lost to a war that perhaps raised as many questions as it answered.

It was so political  for kids like Gary, in the Midwest, so far removed from politics, they had to think What am I doing in Vietnam? What was I in this for? Kirchhoff said.

Now Garys family members are gathering in Washington. They include Barb and her children, Sherry Barker Winstrom and Jerry Barker, and daughter-in-law Christy Barker. Kirchhoff and her husband, Leroy, their son, Ryan, and her stepmother, Louise Hagstrom Barker, also will attend.

They hope to meet some of the families of the 17 other Nebraska Vietnam veterans being honored. Kirchhoff expects a rush of emotions, much like she felt when she visited the memorial years ago and saw the overwhelming list of names, lives turned to letters on black granite.

As the 2023 honorees names are read aloud, Garys family will be attuned and waiting to hear the words of affirmation: Gary Adelbert Barker.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16)  The country being granted the Tier 1 ranking in the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report improves how other nations perceive the Philippines when it comes to addressing the problem of human exploitation, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.

Its a source of comfort for those who want to reach out to us, DMW Sec. Toots Ople told CNN Philippines The Source on Friday.

The first world countries, they feel confident in dealing with us kasi alam nila (because they know) we will not tolerate any shenanigans that would lead to the exploitation of our migrant workers, she said.

For the eighth consecutive year, the Philippines maintained its spot as one of the countries that earned the Tier 1 ranking in the annual report issued by the U.S. State Department.

The State Department noted that being in the highest rank does not mean that there is no human trafficking problem in a country.

It indicates that authorities made efforts to address the issue that meet the minimum standards of the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, it noted.

We should all be extremely happy and celebrate this remarkable feat because eight years in succession, Ople said.

She also emphasized that the Philippines and Singapore are the only ASEAN countries that landed in the Tier 1 ranking.

That shows a strong commitment and consistent performance on the part of the Philippine government, civil society and all our partners, Ople also said.

One of the human trafficking tactics noted in the report was the hiring of English-proficient East African and Asian workers who are being promised employment supposedly in Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos.

Upon arrival, victims are transported to large compounds, known as scam factories, located in Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and the Philippines, where their passports are confiscated and they are subjected to physical and sexual violence," the report read.

"Traffickers force victims to defraud strangers in online cryptocurrency and romance scams and illegal gambling operations, it also read.

In the Philippines, the matter was first raised by Senator Risa Hontiveros.

Several Senate hearings were also conducted regarding the issue.
If you arent sick, you may not put going to the doctor on your list of priorities. However, regular checkups are important, even if you are feeling fine.

June is National Mens Health Month. Theres a longstanding stereotype that men avoid going to the doctor, even for preventive screenings or checkups. In fact, according to a Cleveland Clinic study, 74% of 1,174 surveyed men would rather do household chores than go to the doctor. Of the men surveyed, 82% try to stay healthy to live longer for family who rely on them, yet only 50% engage in preventive care.

Other studies show that women are far more likely to go to the doctor than men. And with that, men die an average of five years earlier than women.

These numbers are concerning, as keeping up with routine health care activities and screenings are proven to help promote long-term health and wellness. If you want to increase your chance of living longer and spending more meaningful years with your loved ones, you need to take the time and energy to visit your doctor regularly.

Preventive screening tests and checkups can help catch health problems early before theyve progressed enough to cause symptoms. Treatment in these early stages is more likely to be effective. All men should partake in routine screening tests.

The disease you need screening for, and how frequently you should be screened, varies according to your health, age, and other risk factors. Take Mens Health Month as a reminder to talk with your doctor about how often you should be examined and screened for health problems.

Below are a few preventive screening tests that are recommended for most men. This information is intended for use as a general guide. You should always talk to your doctor for details on what types of tests you need and when to get them. The following guidelines are recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm

This ultrasonography screening is a way of checking if there is a bulge or swelling in the aorta. It is recommended once between ages 65 and 75 if youve ever been a smoker.

Blood pressure

You should get blood pressure checks at least every two years or more often if your blood pressure level is high. A healthy blood pressure range is 120/80.

Lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglycerides)

The American Heart Association recommends cholesterol checks, starting at age 20, every four to six years as long as your risk remains low.

Colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer screening is recommended for men starting at age 45. You should talk to your doctor about which screening test is best for you and how often you need it.

Diabetes

Men who are overweight or obese should start getting screened at age 35. You should also get tested for diabetes if your blood pressure is higher than 135/80 or if you take medicine for high blood pressure.

Prostate cancer

If you are at average risk for prostate cancer, it is recommended that you speak with your doctor about prostate screening at 50 years old. The prostate specific antigen (PSA) test can uncover prostate cancer at an early stage. Your doctor can help you decide if this test is right for you.

HIV/AIDS

The United States Prevention Task Force recommends HIV/AIDS screening in adolescents and adults aged 15 to 65 years. You may need to get tested before age 20 if you are at high risk for being infected by HIV. You should discuss further testing with your doctor.

Lung cancer

Annual lung cancer screening is recommended in adults aged 50 to 80 years who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.

Learn more

Men older than 50 should have a yearly physical exam with their doctor. If you are looking for a primary care provider, visit IredellPhysicianNetwork.com to view a full list of providers.
The onetime chair of Bland Countys Democratic party is facing a felony charge after the former manager of Wythevilles public library accused her of taking her truck without permission.

Elizabeth Ann Umbarger, 54, of Bland was arrested on May 18 on an unauthorized use of a vehicle warrant obtained by Anita Libby.

In her criminal complaint, Libby said she allowed Umbarger to use her Toyota Tundra beginning in June 2022.

Libby said Umbarger had been staying at her home through mid-January to help her declutter and pack up, and provide physical assistance after Libbys surgery. She said she continued to let Umbarger use the truck because her vehicle wasnt operable.

Although Libby paid Umbarger weekly, she claimed Umbarger told her she owed her $30,000.

Libby said she told Umbarger that the truck needed tags and an inspection, but she wouldnt bring it back.

After she came after me for plus $30,000 I told her to give me my keys and Id drive her home, Libby wrote in the complaint. She refused and drove the truck off.

Employed as a Mary Kay consultant, Umbarger has a criminal history that includes a 2008 assault charge, according to court documents.

Given a court-appointed attorney to represent her, shes free on a $5,500 bond while awaiting her July 13 preliminary hearing in Wythe County General District Court.

Two injured in shootingPolice said no charges will be placed in a May 27 shooting that injured two people.

According to Wythe County Chief Deputy Anthony Cline, deputies went to Brower Lane at 10:46 a.m. on May 27 after getting a report that two people  Corey King and Carl Ingo  had been shot.

Cline said the two had been shooting guns earlier and were getting ready to clean a handgun. Corey King pulled the magazine out of the Sig Sauer P365 and pulled the trigger to release the slide to clean the weapon, police said. The firearm had one round in the chamber.

The round went through Corey Kings hand and then into Carl Ingos stomach. They both were treated for their injuries.
Washington deployed F-22 Raptor aircraft in the region, citing unsafe behavior of Russian aircraft, according to Baladi News.

U.S. forces recently deployed an advanced air force in the Middle East in response to what they described as unsafe behaviour by Russia, according to a statement obtained by Baladi News from the U.S. Central Command.

During the past hours, Washington deployed F-22 Raptor aircraft in the region, citing the unsafe behavior of Russian aircraft as the reason for the deployment.

The F-22 Raptor, which took off from Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, boasts advanced stealth and aerodynamic performance, making it one of the worlds leading fifth-generation fighters for mission execution.

In a press statement, General Eric Corella, the commander of the Central Command, expressed his disappointment with the unsafe and unprofessional behaviour displayed by Russian forces, stating that such conduct is unbecoming of a professional air force.

He further emphasized that the consistent violations of agreed deconfliction measures by the Russian air force elevate the risk of escalation or miscalculation.

General Corella highlighted that the swift deployment and integration of the F-22 fighter jet into coalition operations serves as a clear demonstration of the United States, its partners, and allies shared commitment to peace and stability in the region.

In recent months, tensions have escalated between Russian and American forces, primarily centred around the non-implementation of disengagement protocols in Syria. The deputy head of the Russian Reconciliation Center in Syria accused US Air Force pilots of violating non-clash protocols on May 31, claiming that they activate weapons systems when they come close to Russian air force aircraft.

Concurrently, the United States has levelled accusations against Russia in Syria, while Russian intelligence has disclosed unusual US activities in the region. There have been warnings of potential attacks that Washington may launch in densely populated areas and government institutions in Syria.

Admiral Oleg Gorynov, the deputy head of the Russian Defense Center for Reconciliation, has previously confirmed that US Air Force pilots are disregarding non-collision protocols in Syria. He specifically highlighted that American pilots activate weapons systems when approaching Russian Air Force aircraft.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Cowlitz County

The Cowlitz County Planning Commission adopted a new meeting start time of 5:30 p.m. starting Wednesday. Meetings are held in person and over Zoom on the third Wednesday of each month in the County Administration Building, 207 N. 4th Ave., Kelso.

Housing

Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington developed its Annual Public Housing Authority Plan in compliance with the Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998. A draft plan for fiscal year 2023 is available for review at the authoritys office at 820 11th Ave., Longview and at www.hoswwa.org until July 24. Requests can be submitted to cecilia.larson@hoswwa.org, or by leaving a voicemail message at 360-423-0140 ext. 11. A public hearing on the plan revision will be held at the regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners at 4 p.m., July 24. Details about the meeting location will be available on the agencys website at www.hoswwa.org. The public is invited to attend.

Kalama

The upcoming meeting of the Kalama Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee is scheduled to take place at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers located at 320 N. First St., Kalama. This meeting is open to the public.

The June meeting of the Kalama Civil Service Commission has been canceled due to lack of agenda items, and the next tentative meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. July 27.
Squarespace, the design-driven platform helping entrepreneurs build brands and businesses online, announced it has entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement with Google, whereby Squarespace will acquire the assets associated with the Google Domains business, which will be winding down following a transition period. This purchase includes approximately 10 million domains hosted on Google Domains spread across millions of customers.

Anthony Casalena, Founder & CEO of Squarespace, said, We are exceptionally proud to be chosen to serve the customers of the Google Domains business. Domains are a critical part of web infrastructure and an essential piece of every businesss online presence. We look forward to serving these new customers as we have served millions using our domain products and are committed to ensuring a seamless transition.

Matt Madrigal, Vice President and General Manager, Merchant Shopping of Google, said, In keeping with our efforts to sharpen our focus, we have entered into a definitive agreement with Squarespace for the acquisition of customer accounts of the Google Domains registrar business. Supporting a smooth transition for customers over the coming months, with the help of the Google Domains team, is our top priority. Squarespace can provide an integrated experience of purchasing and managing domains along with offering other tools that these customers may need to build their online presence.

Under the terms of the agreement, Squarespace will honor all existing Google Domains customers renewal prices for at least 12 months following the closing of the transaction, as well as provide additional incentives to encourage Google Domains customers to build a website with Squarespace and adopt other Squarespace offerings. Further, Squarespace will be leveraging Googles infrastructure powering the Google Domains product during the migration period in order to ensure the seamless transfer of domains.

Upon closing, Squarespace, a long- time reseller of Google Workspace, will become the exclusive domains provider for any customer purchasing a domain along with their Workspace subscription from Google directly for a minimum of three years. Squarespace will also provide billing and support services to Google Workspace customers that signed up for the service through Google Domains. Customers will continue to have the option to make changes to their domains account at any time.

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2023, and is subject to certain regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. While the majority of the benefits of this deal will be realized in 2024 and beyond, Squarespace believes this deal will be meaningfully accretive to its business from both a revenue and free cash flow perspective over time.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16)  The Department of Justice (DOJ) has dismissed a complaint of kidnapping and serious illegal detention in the case of Michael Bautista, a sabungero (cockfighter) last seen in April 2021.

The agency said the complainants Ma. Concepcion Bautista, the missing sabungeros wife; Ryan Bonda Bautista, his brother; and Ronald Santos Reyes failed to present proof to establish probable cause.

Ryan Bautista claimed that he identified Bautista through a video recording and alleged that one of two men in the footage detaining the handcuffed sabungero was Julie Patidongan alias "Dondon," a farm manager.

The DOJ on Friday said "none of the faces of the individuals captured in the twelve-second clip, which supposedly depicts the crime taking place, are visible."

"This lack of clear visibility hinders the process of identifying the individuals involved solely based on their appearance," it added.

However, last December, the Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) released composite sketches depicting Patidongan and one other suspect, and said they were able to identify the suspects through the video.

The department also said a critical witness who presumably had firsthand knowledge of Bautistas abduction failed to appear before the DOJ panel and affirm the statements he made in his judicial affidavit.

"This absence weakens the overall evidentiary foundation surrounding the case, making it more challenging to establish a clear and definitive understanding of the events that transpiredthe evidence is not sufficient to firmly establish the identity of the person who committed the crime" it noted.

RELATED: PNP: Tracker teams out to arrest 6 suspects linked to missing sabungeros
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

More than 55 years after Israel destroyed the Moroccan quarter of Jerusalem's Old City, it has been rebuilt in 3D with the help of a mobile phone application launched Thursday.

Once located at the foot of the Western Wall, the Moroccan, or Mughrabi, quarter was inhabited by about 1,000 people until Israeli forces captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War.

Israel demolished the neighborhood and went on to annex east Jerusalema move deemed illegal by the United Nations.

In just a few hours, Israeli bulldozers tore through more than 100 buildings, displacing residents of the neighborhood, founded in 1187 by Saladin who defeated the Crusaders in Jerusalem.

The ancient leader had established the quarter for Muslim pilgrims from North Africa. Today it serves as a plaza in front of one of Judaism's most sacred sites.

"I think 99 per cent of visitors who are in front of the Western Wall know nothing of this history," French historian Vincent Lemire told AFP.

Working with Italy's University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Lemire developed a mobile application allowing people to stroll through each alley.

The application's designers said it "allows users an immersive experience across the streets, mosques, schools, and courtyards of the Maghrebi quarter".

Lemire, who authored a book on the neighborhood in 2022, said the 3D technology makes it possible to reach a wider audience than in academic writings.

"The history of this neighborhood is inaccessible, it must be made more accessible," he said.

In a press conference to launch the application, Ashraf al-Jandoubi al-Mughrabi, a descendent of Tunisian residents of the quarter, said: "We will never forget our belonging to this district."

Lemire said the quarter was "very representative of the open history of Jerusalem that we are trying to promote, which bears little resemblance to the current Jerusalem which has turned into a very simplistic and crude battlefield between two camps".

A dichotomy which, he said, "crushes all the other plural and diverse stories of Jerusalem."

In January 2023, excavations by Israeli archaeologists unearthed remains of the neighborhood, but experts were concerned about the fate of the ruins, which were buried soon after their discovery.

The 3D modeling of the Mughrabi quarter is part of a larger project called "Open Jerusalem", which has brought together some 60 researchers who have collated and this week put online an archive of about 40,000 documents in 12 languages on the history of Jerusalem.

 2023 AFP
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

An Amazon company logo is seen on the facade of a company's building in Schoenefeld near Berlin, Germany, on March 18, 2022. British antitrust regulators have cleared Amazons purchase of robot vacuum maker iRobot. They gave the green light to the $1.7 billion deal on Friday, June 16, 2023, even as it still faces scrutiny in the United States and Europe. Credit: AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File

British antitrust regulators cleared Amazon's purchase of robot vacuum maker iRobot on Friday, but the $1.7 billion deal still faces scrutiny in the United States and Europe.

The Competition and Markets Authority said it decided not to escalate its initial investigation because it concluded that the deal would not result in a "substantial lessening of competition" within the United Kingdom.

Amazon said it was pleased with the result.

"We look forward to similar decisions from other regulators soon," the company said in a statement.

Consumer groups have voiced concerns that Amazon's purchase of Bedford, Massachusetts-based iRobot, which makes the popular Roomba robotic vacuum cleaners, would widen the e-commerce giant's dominance in the smart home market.

The acquisition is still facing a review in the U.S. by the Federal Trade Commission amid worries about Amazon's growing market power. It's also under scrutiny by the European Union's executive arm, which opened a review of the deal this month.

The U.K. watchdog said in its decision that robot vacuum cleaners and the data they collect aren't generally considered an important gateway to the emerging market for smart home devices.

It said iRobot has a modest U.K. market position, already faces "several significant rivals" and Amazon would have little incentive to give its products special treatment over rivals in its online store.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin speaks during a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, Friday, June 16, 2023. China's government on Friday rejected as "far-fetched and unprofessional" a report by a U.S. security firm that blamed Chinese-linked hackers for attacks on hundreds of public agencies, schools and other targets around the world. Credit: AP Photo/Liu Zheng

China's government on Friday rejected as "far-fetched and unprofessional" a report by a U.S. security firm that blamed Chinese-linked hackers for attacks on hundreds of public agencies, schools and other targets around the world.

A foreign ministry spokesperson repeated accusations that Washington carries out hacking attacks and complained the cybersecurity industry rarely reports on them.

Mandiant's report came ahead of a visit to Beijing by Secretary of State Antony Blinken aimed at repairing relations that have been strained by disputes over human rights, security and other irritants. Blinken's visit was planned earlier this year but was canceled after what the U.S. government said was a Chinese spy balloon flew over the United States.

The report said hackers targeted email to engage in "espionage activity in support of the People's Republic of China."

"The relevant content is far-fetched and unprofessional," said the Chinese spokesperson, Wang Wenbin.

"American cybersecurity companies continue to churn out reports on so-called cyberattacks by other countries, which have been reduced to accomplices for the U.S. government's political smear against other countries," Wang said.

The latest attacks exploited a vulnerability in a Barracuda Networks email system and targeted foreign ministries in Southeast Asia, other government agencies, trade offices and academic organizations in Taiwan and Hong Kong, according to Mandiant.

The American and Chinese flags wave at Genting Snow Park ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, in Zhangjiakou, China, on Feb. 2, 2022. Hackers linked to China were likely behind the exploitation of a software security hole in cybersecurity firm Barracuda Networks email security feature that affected public and private organizations globally, according to an investigation by security firm Mandiant. Credit: AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File

It described the attacks as the biggest cyber espionage campaign known to be conducted by a "China-nexus threat actor" since a 2021 attack on Microsoft Exchange. That affected tens of thousands of computers.

China is regarded, along with the United States and Russia, as a leader in the development of computer hacking for military use. Security consultants say its military also supports hobbyist hacking clubs that might work for outsiders.

Barracuda announced on June 6 that some of its its email security appliances had been hacked as early as October, giving the intruders a back door to compromised networks.

Mandiant said the email attacks focused on issues that are priorities for China, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. It said the hackers searched for email accounts of people working for governments of political or strategic interest to China at the time they were participating in diplomatic meetings.

Earlier this year, Microsoft said state-backed Chinese hackers have been targeting U.S. critical infrastructure and could be laying the technical groundwork for the potential disruption of critical communications between the U.S. and Asia during future crises.

 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Cyrptocurrencies like Bitcoin are struggling to gain a firmer foothold in the United States as financial regulators crack down on major firms operating in the freewheeling industry.

After years on the sidelines, financial regulators in the United States are throwing the book at the free-wheeling cryptocurrency industry, with angry entrepreneurs threatening to take their business overseas.

Earlier this month, Wall Street's regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission, pressed a raft of charges against Binance, the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange, and US-based Coinbase.

Both companies, along with the now defunct FTX, were key brands in the crypto industry, helping grow what began as a secretive playground for tech geeks into a new way to invest embraced by Wall Street.

The SEC has been slowly tightening the screws on crypto since 2020.

But the blows against Binance and Coinbase hit the industry with an accusation that stung: some crypto currencies are securities that must be traded under strict rules and not an alternative to dollars, yen or euros and outside the reach of regulators.

Defenders of digital currencies have argued that regulators are stuck in the past and applying rules unfit for the likes of bitcoin or ethereum.

"Cases lodged by regulators are likely to ramp up uncertainty and confusion about crypto as they drag through US courts," lamented Scott Freeman, co-founder and partner at JST Capital, which specializes in crypto.

"We wish to see from regulators a bit more proactive guidance and legislation rather than regulation by enforcement," said Paolo Ardoino, chief technology officer at Bitfinex, a cryptocurrency trading company that was fined by another US regulator, the CFTC, in 2021.

Crypto companies are also "caught in the middle of a turf war" between US regulatory authorities, Coinbase chief legal officer Paul Gruwal told AFP.

The industry, eager to join the financial establishment, has asked for clear regulation, but progress on that front has been thwarted by political gridlock in Washington.

"If we don't see that regulatory clarity emerge in the US we may have to consider investing more elsewhere in the world," Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong told a conference in London.

"Anything is on the table, including relocating."

'Wake up'

Nonplussed by the controversies facing crypto, political leaders in several countries are keen to capitalize on the opportunity.

Cryptocurrency exchanges in Asia, with offices such as this office in Hong Kong, often face less restrictions from regulators than their American counterparts.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday welcomed the opening of a London office by American private equity giant Andreessen Horowitz, notably to invest in crypto projects.

New regulation in Europe, while not unanimously favored, "at least gives us a list of rules" and visibility, said Bitfinex's Ardoino.

The clampdown in the US has brought a dose of self doubt to a whole ecosystem behind cryptocurrency and the blockchain idea at its core, in which transactions do away with middlemen, including governments and banks.

Spooked by Washington's push, Crypto investor Derek Boirun, who founded Realio, a company mixing real estate and blockchain, posted a "Why I'm leaving the US" piece at website Medium.

Boirun wrote of burning through money and time fruitlessly working with US regulators.

"Ultimately, it will be up to Congress to step in to establish the US as a jurisdiction open for businesses," Freeman told AFP.

"Until that happens, we expect that Europe and Asia will continue to be viewed as more receptive to those seeking to innovate."

But with Democrats and Republicans so bitterly divided in Washington, securing a law won't be easy.

"Some of the most vocal anti-crypto folks are Democrats and some of the most pro-crypto folks have been Republican," said Carol Rose Goforth, professor of law at the University of Arkansas.

"I hope we don't turn that into a bipartisan mess, but given where politics are, that could happen too."

The hostile climate for crypto also stems from the position of the White House, which in March published a paper questioning the usefulness of cryptocurrencies.

"The US government is making it very difficult for traditional financial institutions", particularly banks, "to engage in cryptocurrencies", said Goforth.

The White House set out its concerns succinctly, calling cryptocurrencies "too risky".

They are "largely speculative investment vehicles and are not an effective alternative to fiat currency," it said in the paper.

 2023 AFP
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Griffith Park brush wildfire and the Woolsey fire in California. Credit: Jorge Villalba/iStock

Wildfires have become increasingly frequent due to climate change, with record occurrences in areas not historically prone to them. In California, wildfires and regional power shutoffs have cost billions and taken lives. For some 46 million Americans living next to forestsat what scientists call the "wildland-urban interface" (WUI)the risks of wildfire can be especially acute.

Microgrids can build resilience in vulnerable communities. By using small-scale, local energy sources and disconnecting from regional grids during emergencies, they can deliver essential services to keep homes and communities safe. But conventional microgrids with diesel generators are both too expensive and too polluting to be viable at scale.

An international team led by research scientists at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has found that clean energy microgrids offer a better and cheaper solution for protecting California communities from wildfire-related outages, compared to conventional microgrids.

These systems, which primarily rely on solar and batteries, can be built at a cost well below what households typically pay for electricity and can reduce the impact of power outages (by minimizing public safety power shutdown time) by a factor of up to 30.

"This is the first detailed, state-level study that's looked at how clean energy microgrids can minimize outage impacts on vulnerable communities, and how much it would cost," said Tianzhen Hong, a co-author and senior scientist in the Building Technology & Urban Systems Division at Berkeley Lab.

The models developed for the Applied Energy study, Hong added, can help interested parties understand where these communities are located; how clean energy microgrids could be designed; and how much it would cost to reduce outages below a desired threshold.

"In certain areas of California, 'Public Safety Power Shutoffs' could remove access to electricity for up to 7% of the year," said Dasun Perera, referring to the regional outages employed to lessen wildfire risk. A former Berkeley Lab postdoc who is now a researcher at the Andlinger Center for Energy and Environment at Princeton University, Perera said clean energy microgrids can cut these impacts by more than half, at a cost ranging from 15 to 30 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Californians pay about 25 cents per kWh on average for residential electricity.

California map illustrating a selection of communities suitable for microgrid implementation. Credit: Bingyu Zhao/Vienna University of Technology

The study evaluated clean energy microgrids in seven locations with different climatic conditions across California's vast WUI, which spans the state. Novel modeling tools developed for the study helped researchers select communities based on wildfire risk and renewable energy potential, and then design microgrids to meet the specific needs of households in wildfire-prone areas, where heating and cooling account for most energy use.

The microgridswhich included conventional generators, but rarely used themenabled communities to run on at least 60% renewable energy year-round, while significantly reducing heating and cooling emissions and minimizing the burden renewables can impose on regional grids.

Importantly for Hong, clean energy microgrids can promote energy equity: equal access to clean technologies and their associated benefits. Most WUI communities are not wealthy, and they can be disadvantaged by issues relating to access, mobility, and public health.

"We're really talking about equity here," Hong said. "The technology can be really good, but at the end of the day, if people can't afford it then nothing happens." Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, extensive federal support has been directed towards the type of community energy installations the study describes.

As a next step, Hong and Perera hope to work with stakeholderscity governments, utilities, and othersto help design actual microgrids that deliver real-world benefits while furthering their research capabilities. All data from the study is freely available to the public, and with additional development its models could support public planning efforts.

More broadly, Hong and Perera continue to investigate how a warming climate might affect future wildfires and other extreme events, and what types of clean energy infrastructure can bolster community resilience cost-effectively and at scale.

Another study, also published in Applied Energy, found that a unique approach to harnessing geothermal energynamely, using underground aquifers as a type of thermal energy storagecan help communities increase their use of renewables while enabling the broader energy system to withstand climate variations far into the future.

More information: A.T.D. Perera et al, Optimal design of microgrids to improve wildfire resilience for vulnerable communities at the wildland-urban interface, Applied Energy (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.120744
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

For decades, advances in technology have changed the ways people work, and now artificial intelligence could be the next big disruptor.

Three professors from the University of Cincinnati's Carl H. Lindner College of Business discuss how artificial intelligence and automation will change the way people work, what types of jobs will be lost to artificial intelligence and the value human workers still provide.

The professors are:

Liwei Chen, Ph.D., assistant professor of operations, business analytics and information systems

Craig Froehle, Ph.D., professor of operations, business analytics and information systems

Michael Fry, Ph.D., professor of operations, business analytics and information systems and academic director of the Center for Business Analytics

How will artificial intelligence and automation affect the future of work?

Chen: In general, AI can be used in two ways. One is automation. That is, we use AI to replace some human beings for certain tasks. The other way is augmentation. We use AI to augment human beings' intelligence and ability to finish some tasks.

When we talk about augmentation, it is not to replace human beings. It is rather to complement. People and AI can collaborate together and do some tasks better. People often think these are two separate things: You can use AI either for automation or for augmentation. But in fact, when you zoom out across time and space, these two are not necessarily separated. They are actually intertwined with each other and interdependent.

Fry: What history suggests will happen is we'll find a new equilibrium where in general people are more productive. However, that doesn't mean it will be good for everyone. Because of automobiles, horse and buggy manufacturers, they had to find something different to do. There certainly will be certain people, certain job classes or industries that may be obsolete. There will be others where certain parts of their jobs will be aided by AI, so you can spend more time doing something that takes more thought whereas the routine things can be done with AI.

Froehle: Information automation, it's a continuation of the mechanical automation that has transformed nearly every business that makes anything since the 1860s. The big difference is that we are starting to see it affect white-collar jobs, jobs that process information rather than physical goods  so-called "knowledge-work."

Fry: We have a long history of disruption and automation, everything from [Johannes] Gutenberg and the printing press to the industrial revolution and the internet. What is different about this is that this does a much better job than previous attempts at generating what seems to be new content. You can ask a question that's potentially never been asked before, and it gives you an answer that seems quite reasonable.

The same with art; you can go to other places and say make a picture in this style, and it does it. I think that's what people are really caught off guard by. Now it seems like AI can create, not just automate.

When we talk about artificial intelligence being able to 'create,' how real is that?

Fry: We could talk to some philosophers about that: What does creation mean? The algorithms it's using have been around for a while in some form but there definitely have been updates to the underlying algorithms it's using. What has changed is the availability of data. It can scrape the web and get all sorts of stuff.

If you think about what it means to create, if you're an artist, there are certain brushstrokes and things that you have seen, and you put it together. That's basically what artificial intelligence is doing. Now does that make it intelligent like a human is intelligent? I don't know because it is based on an algorithm, but it can access so much data, and it can pull things from so many places that it starts to learn, "OK, when I put this together with this, people think that is good." That's what it is. It's all based on a scoring algorithm where it thinks through a lot of possible answers, and it has been trained to say that these types of answers people think are better than others.

The underlying approach of what it's doing is not brand new, but the ability to pull so much data, process so much data and some advances in the underlying algorithm lets it do some really cool stuff.

How will chatbots, like ChatGPT, affect how we work?

Froehle: The concern that tools like ChatGPT, DALL-E and other generative AI are going to eliminate jobs entirely are kind of overblown, I think. What I suspect is the primary effect is that it will augment or supplement parts of people's jobs. But a lot of information-centric jobs, they're doing value-added things that don't necessarily fit the strengths of a generative AI. I also think it will reduce the time required for certain parts of our jobs, allowing us to spend more time on other parts of our jobs.

I read a story about a realtor who said she typically spent about two to three hours writing a listing for a new house. She can copy and paste some keywords and basic information into a generative AI tool, and it would spit out a first draft in about two minutes. Then she could spend 10 minutes editing it. So two to three hours goes to 15 minutes. What that does is allow her to spend a lot more time working with clients and less time sitting in front of a computer.

Fry: We've been playing with it to write code. As long as you are quite specific on the code you want it to write on a small block, it does a decent job which seems amazing. But very few coders these days start from a blank screen. If I know I need to write something, I do a Google search, and it's out there. So that has already been partially automated for me. This automates it even further. And coders still have jobs; they just spend less time writing simple code and more time thinking about how to improve the efficiency and do fancier things. The job will change, but it doesn't mean the job will go away, and that's typically what we've seen when there's been a technology disruption in the past.

Chen: AI plays increasingly important roles instead of being passive tools waiting to be used. They can work as colleagues with human beings. To use ChatGPT as an example, it is very helpful to generate some documents like reports. I can use ChatGPT to create an initial version of the document, and then I can utilize that template and add in additional insight to make it an effective report. It saves human beings time and can free up your time to focus on more challenging pieces of work, think more strategically, think more creatively.

Chatbots have been used by companies, such as for customer service for a while, correct?

Chen: Chatbots have existed for a long time. We talked with the chatbots, and they helped to identify the problems and direct us to the human beings as needed. ChatGPT, as a generative AI, has totally different capabilities. They can do much more challenging jobs.

Fry: The algorithm is simpler. What it's been trained on is much simpler. Those are like a decision tree where it's looking for keywords. If you say, "My internet is not working," it hears certain things there and has been trained to give a verbatim response to that person. What ChatGPT can do, because it's been trained on so much more data, it has a much better chance of understanding the nuances, so it can give you a better answer based on the context.

When might we see these new artificial intelligence tools become as ubiquitous as the internet?

Froehle: Like with most technologies, the progress isn't even. You'll go awhile then you'll have a sudden big increase in quality or effective efficacy. We could see progress really, really fast, but I don't know. But given the amount of money that's being tossed into it and the amount of activity and excitement, we should see advances at least as fast as we saw advancements in the mid-'90s in terms of the internet. Probably faster than that given the amount of people, institutions and organizations and the amount of money that's being thrown at it. I don't think anyone wants to be left behind this time. I've told several people I think this is the next World Wide Web. Ignore it at your peril.

Fry: It will be interesting to see how they monetize these things. Right now ChatGPT is free. You can pay for premium access. But I assume it could go behind a paywall, which could stifle a little bit of the innovation and usefulness. But Google search is an amazing tool that I think has saved all of us an amazing amount of time, and it's still free. So it's possible these could be free, and they monetize it some other way.

We're in an interesting time right now thinking who are going to be the players in this, how open are they going to make it to people using it? Because the other interesting thing with this is they actually do get better the more they're used. At least with ChatGPT, it allows you to give some feedback, and they can use that in improving the algorithm.

How are people going to respond to their increased interactions with artificial intelligence?

Chen: The AI can also be your boss, your manager. We have this term called "algorithmic management." That means you work for an AI algorithm. You are monitored by an algorithm. For example, Uber drivers. When they drive, their tasks are assigned by the algorithms behind the platform. They are not assigned by human beings. So, essentially, they work for an algorithm as the boss. In that situation, how do you respond to a human being as your boss versus AI as your boss? Will that influence your interactions? Your work behaviors? Your interactions with your customers? Those social relationships will be changed because of this algorithm as your supervisor.

I have conducted research about this phenomenon. I looked at ATM service maintenance and how technicians work to fix the machines. This company implemented an AI to allocate tasks for those technicians. We noticed some very interesting tensions in this scenario. When the employees work with the AI, their motivations changed. Originally, either they were intrinsically motivatedthey work because they love the job, the maintenance, their clientsor they work because they have to follow their supervisor's guidance. After implementing this kind of system, we noticed a shift of their work motivation.

They are more likely just to follow the instructions of the algorithm. They receive the message on their cell phone. The AI tells them to go to a location to fix that machine with certain tools to address pre-diagnosed problems. All of this guidance is provided by AI. Technicians just follow the instructions mechanically without even thinking about what's going on, without utilizing their expertise or experiences.

Technicians also mentioned that they missed the old days when they had direct interactions with human being supervisors. They feel the warmth in the service process, and they enjoy the conversations with the customers when they work on site. In other words, the human intelligence and human touch pieces are decreasing after AI is introduced in the service process.

Froehle: Vanderbilt [University] had a situation where one of the colleges used ChatGPT to draft an email that went out to students and staff, kind of a heartfelt email about the shooting at Michigan State. And it was a pretty nice email, but then people found out that ChatGPT wrote it, and they kind of lost their minds. A majority of Americans are optimistic about the potential for AI, like the changes it's going to create are more good than bad. But the pushback and the negative reactions we've seen in certain circumstances show that there's a consistently negative reaction when it's used in empathetic roles. Transparency is going to have to be part of it. If you try to hide the fact that you're dealing with an AI from people and they find out, that's going to be worse than if you just tell them upfront.

Can artificial intelligence be empathetic?

Fry: We've probably all faked emotions in certain circumstances. If you know in a business setting you've got to be nice to someone even though you don't think you should, you can fake the emotion. Artificial intelligence can learn that. It may not be what we consider a genuine emotion, but I'm not convinced at some point artificial intelligence can't do a decent job of replicating fake emotions. And will we be able to tell they're fake? I'm not sure.

What types of tasks will people be able to do better than artificial intelligence?

Chen: Creativity and critical thinking are things people can do better. I demonstrated ChatGPT in my classroom for my undergraduate students. I let ChatGPT generate a paragraph of an essay and make critical comments about the paragraphs it just generated. We observed that the points it makes tend to be neutral, descriptive, informative, yet unoriginal, formulaic and not necessarily creative. If I ask my students to write a similar essay, their ideas might be more open-ended. I would expect more creative ideas with some really critical thoughts.

Froehle: They're not good at being spontaneous, creative, quirky, having personality and adding the richness that humans do. Now sometimes human richness is not great; it's not really what you want. But that's going to be a factor in how we deploy these things. Is the richness of human involvement worth the cost of it being so slow? Because humans are slow, at least in comparison.

The analogy I make these days is a lot of generative AI tools right now are like really fast, low-paid or unpaid interns where you have to look at the output; you just can't pass it along or stick it into a process without examining it first and adding some value for quality inspection. As we've seen, sometimes the pictures they generate aren't quite right or the facts they write aren't correct. We need someone peering over the shoulder of the AI right now to make sure that it's producing usable content. As it gets better, it may need less oversight, but it's really hard to tell how quickly it's going to get better. I suspect in some ways it's going to get pretty good really fast, but in other ways we're going to find these challenging problems continuing to plague the output. But one thing I've never lost on is betting on the progress of technology.

What types of jobs are most likely to be replaced by artificial intelligence?

Fry: I would say just like we've seen in other disruptions, automations, the things that are repetitiveand by repetitive, I mean if you can write out instructions to do itthose are things that we were pretty good at automating. I think about certain things people do in Excel spreadsheets. If I know you need to go here to get this data, click here, do this, do that, I can write a visual basic code to replace that very, very quickly. But if every day you don't know what you're going to be doing today in your job, that's harder to automate.

Froehle: The most easily and directly influenced are those that process or transform information in a way that is fairly procedural, that can be scripted without a lot of creativity. We're already seeing these generative AI tools creating content that is of fairly low quality but it just does it so quickly that it can make a difference.

What I suspect is going to happen is a lot of the fringe roles might have to change. For example, if a company can generate small pieces of artwork quickly and free, and low quality is adequate, then they might not need to hire an artist. But that doesn't necessarily mean that the artist is unemployable in general. It just means they might need to find a job in a different role or a different company.

Are there jobs that won't be affected by artificial intelligence?

Froehle: There's a small percentage of jobs that aren't going to be affected very much. A lot of manual labor jobs probably aren't going to be affected very soon. Jobs that require a lot of personal, physical manipulation of things aren't going to be affected by this as fast. But for anybody who's in an information job, they're going to see this arrive on their desktops, on their watches, on their phones, if they haven't already. Even most email clients right now have AI embedded in them to detect that, say, you received an email including some airline flight reservations, or for grammar checking.

Anytime you have a context that is purely information, the barriers to implementation, improvement and advancements are really, really low. Once you say you have to interact with the physical world, that's when things become a lot more difficult. Roombas exist, but that's about the only autonomous robot people have in their homes, and I don't think that's going to change much in the very near future.

Self-driving cars have received a lot of publicity. Will autonomous vehicles replace truck drivers?

Froehle: Given how we've been hearing promises for a decade now and we're still in the limited on-road trials phase  Again, you're interacting with the physical world. That's really hard. Machine vision is getting better, processing of environmental stimuli is getting faster, but it's a really hard nut to crack. It takes immense computing power to do it in real time with the level of reliability we expect of machines. What's interesting is that the public tends to expect robots to be safer than people. If self-driving vehicles were only as safe as people, they would be legislated out of existence.

Fry: For that particular technology, insurance is probably a bigger barrier than the technology. If there is an accident, who's at fault? Right now we say it's the driver. If there's not a driver, is it the car manufacturer, the software?

How can businesses use artificial intelligence to their benefit?

Chen: AI can help companies reduce costs. For example, companies use machines instead of human beings to reduce human resource costs. AI can also streamline the business process, to enhance the operational effectiveness and the efficiency. For example, in autonomous warehouses, robots can work faster and longer, and maintain the quality all the way through. The work processes will thus be standardized and streamlined; you don't see a lot of deviations.

If more workers are replaced by robots, will we see more companies choose to remain in the United States rather than build factories in other countries?

Fry: It does open up a few things where labor costs could be less of an issue. This type of disruption certainly is not new. Since the '80s we've talked about robots, and domestic manufacturers have reduced their labor costs by investing in robots. But at the same time, a lot of people, especially in the '80s and '90s talked about the "lights out factory." That there would be no people, so you wouldn't need any lights. It would just be all robots. There's very, very few, if any, that are truly that. What we saw was this new equilibrium where a lot of routine tasks were done by robots and freed up humans to do other tasks that were not quite the same as [doing one action] every day, a million times a day. It did reduce labor costs, did reduce the labor force but also opened up some other jobs. Now we're hiring skilled workers that actually work those computer-controlled machines. The company may need fewer of these workers because the computer-controlled machine is more efficient, but the workers may be paid more due to higher skill levels. It could potentially open up more companies to be willing to [stay] if labor is less of a cost, but we'll have to see.

Will we see a time when a large percentage of people can't get jobs because they've been replaced by artificial intelligence?

Froehle: I'm skeptical that it's going to cause massive unemployment, at least anytime soon. The early indication seems to be that the net effect on jobs will probably be positive.

Fry: History suggests that's not the most likely outcome. I would guess people have been having these same concerns, same discussions for centuries as every new technology came on. What tends to happen is efficiencies increase, new jobs are created, leisure time increases. But we do have to be careful to say that does not mean things are better for everyone. We have seen wealth inequality increase greatly. While average incomes may be up, that average income doesn't represent everyone.

Froehle: Whether or not a specific person is capable of handling the revised version of a role is really up to that individual. But typically, jobs don't go away as fast as they change. A classic example is most blacksmith jobs went away once we stopped riding horses, but a lot of the blacksmith-type jobs became auto mechanic jobs.

Chen: I believe the replacement happens at the task level. Jobs with tasks that can largely be automated will be at the high risk to be replaced by AI. Usually jobs that contain routine tasks and require a lot of repetitive work are very vulnerable to being replaced.

At this moment, I don't think the technologies are ready to take the place of many jobs. But it definitely brings in a lot of changes in the organizations and how people finish their tasks. So people need to adapt to those changes and learn how to work with those technologies. In the long term, some job titles might disappear while new titles emerge. This will require employees to acquire new skills and adapt to the changing job market.

Who is responsible for preparing individuals for the new reality of work that will be caused by artificial intelligence?

Froehle: It's everybody. Schools, universities, trade schools, companies. Anybody who's educating the workforce of tomorrow needs to be involved in establishing in students' minds the fact that this stuff is here, it's not going away and our most effective approach is to teach them how to use it, how to collaborate with it. How to do a job doesn't end with school. There's a lot of on-the-job training and experience gathering. Those have to also be invested in. Some companies are just going to leave it up to their employees; some are going to invest heavily. But a laissez-faire approach isn't going to be nearly as competitive as one where you invest actively, develop your employees as well as invest in the technology.

We all talk about lifelong learning. That's probably a minority of Americans who have that mindset. But as technology's rate of change continues to increase, a lot more people are going to have to adopt that mindset in order to be employable.

With any technology that is increasingly ubiquitous, different roles have different responsibilities. A cab driver doesn't need to know how the combustion happens in the engine. They don't have to have a degree in mechanical engineering to drive a taxi. You shouldn't need to have a computer science degree to interact with a generative AI. One of the exciting things is companies like OpenAI have put a lot of effort into making the tools accessible to the public.

How do we ensure bias isn't present in artificial intelligence?

Froehle: Ensuring that there isn't bias is likely impossible, the same way finding a human without bias is likely impossible. Bias exists not only in the data we choose to train the AI on but also in how the AI is constructed. We need to have as much transparency as possible so that those who are concerned about it can look at it effectively.

Fry: There are certain things we can do to prevent that in terms of having a diverse training set and having what's called "interpretable AI" or interpretable machine learning, so we can try to understand why it gave the output it did. It's not easy to do, but it's possible to do. But what we shouldn't forget is if it was just a person making these decisions, they have biases. It's sometimes unfair to say the AI or algorithm is less transparent than a person. I don't always know why someone is making the decisions they make. They could lie to me when I ask them. Bias is inherent in any decision making, whether it's a human or AI. But there are ways to try to make that AI potentially as transparent as a person.

Chen: We are still in the early stage of discussing AI bias. There are multiple ways we can potentially address this. In the development stage, we need to ensure transparency in AI. We can develop explainable AI, so AI not only provides the suggestions but also explains the rationale of how they came to this suggestion. Another way to address the potential bias is to include a more diverse set of people in the design group. If we could have developers from different ethnic groups, to represent different genders, to represent different minority groups, the algorithm might be designed and evaluated in a more diverse and neutral perspective. Since AI will not be perfect, we need to keep human beings in the loop when we maintain the algorithm. As we continually validate the performance of AI, we can check whether this is aligned with our core values. If there are any deviations, we will investigate the algorithms and fix the issues right away. Finally, government regulations and standards are necessary to make sure that AI is developed in an ethical manner. These regulations might include requirements of transparency and accountability, as well as guidelines for testing and validating AI systems.

Froehle: One of the things I do worry about is: We're going to be so excited about what these tools can do for us and how fast they do it that we're going to spend more time building better tools and less time understanding how the tools actually work. Legislation will have to happen. With any technology, you can't just let it govern itself because we're going to quickly arrive at an unmanageable state.
BRADENTON  "Hello, mid-June!" Florida may be heating up but don't let the summer heat keep you from enjoying the cool local music. Check out the Bradenton Times Weekend Sounds to see what bands you can catch and where.





Trevor Bystrom Band

Freckled Fin Irish Pub

Friday: 7:30-11:30 p.m.





Local artist Trevor Bystrom , of Anna Maria Island, was introduced to music at a young age having been raised in a musical family. Known for his multicultural sound which blends elements from many genres, including world, rock, reggae, Latin, and blues, Bystrom's original music contains traces of traditional music from around the globe. His song lyrics center around current and persisting social and environmental issues and act as a call for listeners to be individual ripples of positive change in the world. No cover.





About the Venue :

Freckled Fin Irish Pub is the lone Irish Pub on Anna Maria Island. They offer a full-service bar, pub grub, live music, and a family-friendly Irish Pub atmosphere. Indoor and outdoor seating, and plenty of room to dance. The "Cheers" of Anna Maria Island. 5337 Gulf Dr, Holmes Beach, Anna Maria Island.





Treedomm

Cafe in the Park

Friday: 7-9 p.m.

The Treedomm Band returns to the Cafe in the Park this Friday. Treedomm is a world music reggae fusion band performing a unique blend of various genres into a roots revival listening (and dancing) experience. Melding the roughness of street hip-hop with R&B, the sweetness of island zouk and calypso with reggae, Treedomm sets out to create an innovative sound by pulling from band members varied musical backgrounds. Band members apply heartfelt lyrics to these multiple genres. The bands performance goal is to provide audiences with positive sounds carrying positive messages that will move listeners of all ages. No cover.

About the Venue :

Located in Payne Park, downtown Sarasota, Cafe in the Park captures the spirit of a quintessential urban cafe terrace. It's the perfect place for a great coffee, a fresh sandwich, and live music. The family-friendly spot has menu selections of healthy cafe-style food, non-alcoholic beverages, beer, and wine, all served in a community park setting. Truly a great place to catch a live show. Please no outside food or drink. 2010 Adams Lane,

Sarasota.





Trey Wanvig

Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen

Friday: 7-10 p.m.

Trey Wanvig is a 20-year-old blues guitarist and vocalist from Sarasota, Florida. Performing in front of audiences since the age of 14, Wanvig has grown an impressive resume and earned a reputation as a professional performer.





Wanvigs resume includes performing at multiple blues and music festivals including the Waterfront Blues Festival (Portland, Oregon); Bradenton Blues Fest (Bradenton, Florida), Tall City Blues Fest (Texas); Dunedin Wines the Blues (Dunedin, Florida); Blues from The Top (Colorado); and Giving Hunger the Blues (Sarasota, Florida), as well as performing alongside great artists in the blues and blues rock world, including Eric Gales, Shemekia Copeland, Bob Margolin, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Annika Chambers, Janiva Magness, Toronzo Cannon, Paul DesLauriers, Shakura S'Aida, Biscuit Miller, Kenny Neal, Bryan Lee, Doug MacLeod, Ben Rice, Sarah Grace, Tas Cru, Gabe Stillman, Steve Vai and Eric Johnson.





An ambassador for the United by Music North America organization, Wanvig released his first album titled "Roadside Blues in January of 2018, most of which was written when he was just 14 years old. Cover $10.





Cant make Wanvigs Friday show? You can catch Wanvig again on Saturday, from 7-10 pm, at the Big Top Brewing Company in Sarasota.





About the Venue :

Located in Bradenton Village of the Arts, Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen has quickly become one of Bradentons more popular outdoor music venues. Known for his eclectic southern dining, Chef Dave Shiplett puts his creative spin on southern classics serving up his brand of southern soul food in this 100-year-old cottage that doubles as an art gallery. The venue offers craft beer, wine, a list of creative hard ciders, and non-alcoholic beverages. Reservations are recommended due to limited capacity. 1114 12th Street West, Bradenton.





Dead Set Florida

Birdrock Taco Shack

Saturday: 7:30-10:30 p.m.

Tampa Bays favorite Dead tribute band, Dead Set Florida , returns to the Birdrock Taco Shack in Bradentons VOTA this Saturday! Performing music of the Grateful Dead and The Jerry Garcia Band, as well as solo material from Bob Weir and Phil Lesh. The group was founded in 2017 by bassist and vocalist Christian Walker. Walker is joined by Paul Wolff (lead guitarist), Tucker Waud (keyboardist), Mike Garrie (drums and vocals), and Michael Pandiscio (rhythm guitar and vocals). Cover is $10.





About the Venue :

Located in Bradenton Florida's Village of the Arts, Birdrock Taco Shack is not your average taco joint, but a unique funky-fun taco spot and live music venue. Owner and chef David Shiplettalso the owner of popular Cottonmouth South Soul Kitchendoesnt serve up just any tacos. Dave has worked as a Chef in San Francisco, San Diego, Sarasota, and now Bradenton. Dine inside the eclectic artsy shack or outdoors on the porch and back patio. Great food, good people... and TACOS! 1213 13th Avenue West, Bradenton





Bri Rivera SRQ

Freckled Fin Irish Pub

Saturday: 7:30-11:30 p.m.





Latin Fusion band, Bri Rivera SRQ , will bring the party to Anna Maria Islands Freckled Fin Irish Pub . Originally from Puerto Rico, Bri Rivera is a performing musician and vocalist currently based in Sarasota. Rivera leads a trio formed with bass player Randy Bordon of Cuba and drummer Adam Sahhar, originally from NY. The trio performs Latin Fusion, blues, and funky-rock.





Backtrack Blues Band

Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen

Saturday: 7-10 p.m.





Backtrack Blues Band performs original, high-energy blues. This Tampa Bay band has been performing the blues since 1980 and is one of the longest-running blues bands in Florida. The group has released seven CDs, won multiple Tampa Bay music awards for Best Blues Band, and appeared in concert with some of the greatest blues legends. The band has opened shows for B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Greg Allman, Robert Cray, Koko Taylor, Delbert McClinton, and others. To catch the show, head over to Cottonmouth Southern Soul Kitchen this Saturday, cover is $5.





RJ Howson, Mike Kach & Friends

Big Top Brewing Company

Sunday: 3-6 p.m.

RJ Howson picked up his skillful guitar chops performing and sharing the stage with blues icons and fellow musicians at Buddy Guys Legends, Rosa's Lounge, Kingston Mines, BLUES on Halstead, and many other clubs in the Windy City as well as countless other venues across the Midwest.





Mike Kach , keyboardist to Dickey Betts & Great Southern, Kach's soulful vocals can be heard on Betts originals like No One Left to Run with It, Nobody Knows, and Southbound. Kach's own ballad, Get Away, appeared on the Dickey Betts & Great Southern's live CD/DVD set Rockpalast: 30 Years of Southern Rock.





Catch RJ and Kach this Sunday for Big Top Brewing Company s "Blues and Brews," no cover.





Blues to Blackstreet

Cortez Kitchen

Sunday: 3-7 p.m.

Join Blues to Blackstreet , fronted by female vocalist and guitarist June Eysel, this Sunday at the Cortez Kitchen! As their name denotes, their style is eclectic, from one end of the genre spectrum to the otherwith a little bit of everything in between. The band is known for its ever-diverse blend of jazz and soul with performances of rock, reggae, blues, and pop. The sultry vocal stylings of Eysel complement the bands broad portfolio. No cover.

About the Venue :

Located in one of the oldest fishing villages in the United States, the Cortez Kitchen is a top destination for locals and tourists alike. Named for the body of water it sits on and known by locals as "the kitchen" due to its bountiful supply of fish and seafood, visitors love the laid-back Florida feel of Cortez Kitchen as well as the live music every weekend. Offering a full bar, old-fashioned seafood, and seaside views. 4528 119th Street West, Cortez, Bradenton.




Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16)  Vice President and Education chief Sara Duterte advised young members of the LGBTQ+ that their happiness should come first.

Duterte said she gave the message during her commencement speech when she recently attended a graduation ceremony and noticed a few students who were apparently "out of the closet."

"Sabi ko sa kanila [I told them], we all want respect and acceptance. But if you are not accepted, just choose happiness," Duterte recounted in a pride month event hosted by the Office of the Vice President and advocacy group LGBT Pilipinas.

"Don't think about your gender anymore, piliin mo lang kung saan ka masaya. Nakita ko silang nag smile and I hope na tumatak 'yung message sa kanila," she added.

[Translation: Don't think about your gender anymore, choose what will make you happy. I saw them smiling and I hope the message stuck to them.]

The vice president said there is a long way to go in fighting for LGBTQ+ rights in the country and that opportunities for members of the community are limited, including in the business sector.

In celebration of pride month, the OVP, through its Magnegosyo Ta 'Day program, awarded livelihood assistance worth 150,000 to 300,000 to several LGBTQ+ and women's groups.

The groups that received the grant are Alima LGBT Federation from Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, Palauig LGBT Federation from Palauig, Zambales, Maris ti Ayat LGBT Federation from Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, and Philippine Federation of Local Councils of Women.

"Hindi ninyo hinahayaan na ang inyong mga pamilya ay magutom, marami sa inyo ay breadwinners kahit na mahirap ang buhay. Ibang klase kayong mag-sakripisyo," Duterte said.

[Translation: You don't let your families go hungry, many of you are breadwinners even if life is hard. You sacrifice so much.]

She assured the community that they have allies in the government.

"While we wait patiently for the passage of the SOGIE Bill, ang sasabihin ko nalang ay good things take time. But we have advocates in the government kasama na ako na sumusuporta sa batas ng proteksyon," Duterte said.

[Translation: While we wait patiently for the passage of the SOGIE Bill, I say to you good things take time. But we have advocates in the government, including me, who support the protection the law gives.]

RELATED: Hontiveros: 'Sheer numbness' to say SOGIESC bill not urgent

Duterte also took the opportunity to thank LGBT Pilipinas for its support. The group endorsed Duterte and running mate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the 2022 elections.
Roberta Mayor was one of 15 Bryan residents who spoke to the Bryan City Council on Tuesday night about the need for the city to establish a senior center.

Mayor discussed what her life has been like since retirement and said the need for a senior center is critical as the number of elderly people in the city continues to grow. She equated the loneliness of the COVID-19 era to what seniors go through all the time.

We need places for more seniors, we really do. We vote, we pay our taxes, we volunteer, we do everything that you all do, it just takes us longer to get it there, but we will do it, Mayor said. If you stop and think about how we felt when COVID was here. You remember how we were locked up? You remember how you couldnt have your friends over? That is how seniors feel in Bryan every day.  We are alone. We need a safe place that we can call our own. In the field of dreams, build it and we will come.

According to the Brazos Valley Council of Governments website, there are three current centers with senior programs in the area: Brazos County Senior Citizens Association in Bryan, and the Lincoln Senior Center and Southwood Community Center in College Station.

Several members of the Amigos of the Brazos Valley spoke to councilors about their need to have a facility where they can continue their operations by assisting Brazos Valley seniors.

Dorothy Hernandez, founder of the Amigos of Brazos Valley, spoke on behalf of her group and said she started the initiative 20 years ago as her father needed a place to spend with friends during his retirement.

He was a World War ll veteran, a 20-year Army veteran and he worked at Texas A&M for 42 years, she said. At the time he retired and needed to go places there was no place for me to take him, so I began this organization with other people in the community that worked here.

Our seniors keep growing in Bryan.  The need is here for people to go to one place to have one center as other cities have in the area.  We hope that the city of Bryan along with all the other cities in the area can provide a center for the citizens who deserve it, who have worked here in the community, served our country and deserve a place to call their own.

According to its Facebook page, the Amigos of the Brazos Valley is a nonprofit of concerned individuals that was created in 2009 to provide services, information and other resources to meet the needs of seniors and give them an opportunity for fellowship with others in a comfortable environment.

Our dream is to be able to have a facility near the downtown area to provide proper nutrition, educational programs and socialization events in hopes of improving the quality of life for the senior citizens of the Brazos County, the groups Facebook page states.

Dora Cruzan serves as president of Amigos of Brazos Valley and told councilors she is delighted to hear the council is considering building a senior center. She said their group has been able to provide events on a monthly basis and keeps growing.

Our difficulty is that we dont have venues, Cruzan said. We just keep wandering around looking for places; we really need a permanent dedicated space. There is so much that can be done with a permanent senior citizen center. It could address [things] such as health and mental health, recreation and education.

COVID is a good example of how we impacted the community. City leaders do the right thing and they create a hub for COVID vaccines, but they wanted it to be done online and with a computer. Many of the people that attend our events do not even have a computer; they do not have advocates for themselves.  We are not just elderly people that are sitting around, we like to do things.  We need something in Bryan.

Mayor Bobby Gutierrez told The Eagle the discussion for a senior citizen center in District 1 was requested by council members Paul Torres and Ray Arrington. He said the the council was pleased to hear community members thoughts.

We share many of their values and concerns, he said via email. Currently, we are in the very early stages of discussions to determine whether establishing a senior center is feasible for the city to undertake and sustain. Factors that we must consider are the location, and the ability to fund constructing, operating, staffing and maintaining such a facility. Additionally, if a facility is constructed or purchased, by nature, it will compete with other capital improvement projects, thereby necessitating the re-prioritization of current listed projects. While we recognize the desire for a dedicated senior center, we must also consider the broader context of our citys resources and priorities.

As elected officials, we are committed to the well-being of and quality of life for all our residents, including our seniors. The city currently provides annual funds to various senior citizen and non-profit organizations, including the Brazos County Senior Citizens Association. Through the citys funding, they offer a variety of programming and special events for free to city of Bryan residents, who are 55 or older, he said. Programs include: card games, dominos, exercise classes, quilting, sewing, community dances, garage sales, bake sales, and many more. We appreciate them generously extending a warm invitation to all of our seniors, including the Amigos, an engaged and well-represented group at Tuesdays council meeting. I want those who have advocated for a dedicated senior center to know that we hear you, and we are actively exploring options and feasibilities, while balancing many city projects and needs.

Gutierrez said the city encourages and appreciates ongoing dialogue with residents about a potential senior center.

Sandra Linton, a former board member of the Brazos County Senior Citizens Association, also spoke at the meeting.

We are pushing for a big upcoming senior center of some sort and I know the Amigos are very active and are a great group of people, she said.

For more information on the Brazos County Senior Citizens Association (1402 Bristol Street in Bryan), call 822-6873; for the College Station Lincoln Senior Center (1000 Eleanor Street in College Station), call 764-3750; and the Southwood Community Center (1520 Rock Prairie Road in College Station), call 764-6351.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed a bill aimed at dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, offices and programs in higher education, after months of debate on the Senate and House floors.

With this bold, forward-thinking legislation to eliminate DEI programs, Texas is leading the nation, and ensuring our campuses return to focusing on the strength of diversity and promoting a merit-based approach where individuals are judged on their qualifications, skills, and contributions, Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, said in a statement Wednesday. Creighton introduced the bill to the Senate in early March.

What sets SB 17 apart from other proposals is that the legislation delivers strong enforcement with mandates to return Texas colleges and universities to their core mission  educate and innovate, Creighton said.

Abbott has not released a public statement about signing the bill and his office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

The bill was challenged by Democrats every step of the way, from the Senate higher education subcommittee to the House floor. But starting in January 2024, Texas campuses, including Texas A&M University, must eliminate DEI offices, mandatory DEI statements and training.

In addition to closing down DEI offices, the new law prohibits colleges from requiring diversity statements from job applicants and conducting mandatory DEI training.

University of Texas President Jay Hartzell is one of the few college leaders to make a public statement about the bill prior to the governor signing it.

He asked for the communitys patience while his team works to understand the contours of the new legal framework and how the UT System will implement its oversight under the new legislation.

What will not change is our University leaderships commitment to attracting, supporting and retaining exceptionally talented staff, faculty and students with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and fostering and celebrating diversity across our community, Hartzell wrote.

Abbott also signed a bill that codifies tenure into state law and makes it easier for universities to revoke the designation from faculty.

Republican lawmakers, led by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, unsuccessfully tried to eliminate the designation in Texas altogether.

Tenure, which is awarded based on merit, guarantees professors academic freedom and job security. The process to obtain it usually takes six years, during which faculty undergo performance reviews.

Currently, tenure policies indicate professors can only be terminated for a justifiable cause or under extreme circumstances, such as program discontinuation or severe financial restraints.

Many professors have said such protections are essential as they teach and conduct research.

Under the new law, universities will now be able to dismiss professors for exhibiting professional incompetence or moral turpitude; neglecting duties or professional responsibilities; failing to complete post-tenure reviews; violating laws or policies of a university or institution; being convicted of a crime; or engaging in unprofessional conduct.
Shares of Klepierre (OTCMKTS:KLPEF  Get Rating) have been assigned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the six brokerages that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating on the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $21.88.

Separately, Barclays upgraded shares of Klepierre from an underweight rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 13th.

Get Klepierre alerts:

Klepierre Price Performance

KLPEF opened at $24.38 on Friday. Klepierre has a 52-week low of $16.53 and a 52-week high of $26.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 0.37 and a quick ratio of 0.37. The businesss fifty day moving average is $23.55 and its 200-day moving average is $23.97.

Klepierre Company Profile

Klepierre, the European leader in shopping centers, combines expertise in terms of development, rental management and asset management. The company's portfolio is estimated at 19.8 billion as of December 31, 2022, and includes major shopping centers in more than 10 countries in continental Europe, which welcome hundreds of millions of visitors per year.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Klepierre Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Klepierre and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16)  The presiding judge in the remaining drug case against detained former Senator Leila de Lima has voluntarily inhibited himself from the case after three co-accused individuals questioned his impartiality.

Judge Romeo Buenaventura of the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 256 made the decision in an order dated June 15 after Ronnie Dayan, Joenel Sanchez, and Franklin Bucayu filed motions for his inhibition.

The three said the judge failed to disclose that he is the brother of Atty. Emmanuel Buenaventura, who previously assisted Dayan in the execution of his affidavit which the accused later said was coerced.

The petitioners also said Atty. Emmanuel served as legal adviser of the late House justice committee chairman Rep. Reynaldo Umali, whom Dayan claimed forced him to invent stories to implicate De Lima.

In his motion, Sanchez argued that Buenaventuras failure to divulge that he is related to Atty. Emmanuel invites inquiry as to his neutrality.

However, Buenaventura maintained that the petitioners suspicions against him are "unfounded, if not contrived."

He said the fact that he is the brother of Dayans previous counsel is insufficient to prove that he acted with malice or bad faith in conducting the proceedings in the case. The judge also said he had no knowledge that his brother had professional engagements with Dayan or Umali, as he is not privy to the clients Atty. Emmanuel represents.

Buenaventura further asserted that all his court orders  including the recent denial of De Limas bail plea  were resolved in accordance with laws and after considering arguments by all parties.

Despite these, he said he decided to inhibit from the case since the claims against him "already tarnished the integrity and impartiality of the Court."

"For this reason, the undersigned Presiding Judge will exercise his discretion and will recuse himself from further hearing this case not because the allegations are true, but because it is his avowed duty as member of the Bench to promote confidence in the judicial system," he wrote.

In a press briefing on Friday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said the agency accepts Buenaventuras decision to inhibit.

He added that Buenaventura might have felt pressured after De Lima's motion for bail was denied.

"It's unfortunate because the person who hears the case should probably be the one to decide the case. But if he already inhibited at this stage, then we have to accept that," Remulla said.

De Limas defense team welcomed Buenaventuras move, although it stressed that he should have earlier disclosed his ties with Atty. Emmanuel.

"We pray that the case will be raffled to a new Presiding Judge at the soonest possible time, and that there will be a timely intervention from the Supreme Court (SC) maintaining its instruction to the new Presiding Judge to finish the case within 9 months," read the statement from De Lima's camp.

The former senator had also sought Buenaventura's inhibition, but her motion was filed only on June 16  the same day the judge's June 15 order was made public.

De Lima, who has repeatedly maintained her innocence, has been detained since 2017 for allegedly allowing the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison when she was justice secretary. She was also accused of financing her 2016 senatorial campaign using drug money from inmates.
Regen BioPharma (OTCMKTS:RGBP  Get Rating) is one of 351 public companies in the Biotechnology industry, but how does it contrast to its peers? We will compare Regen BioPharma to related companies based on the strength of its risk, institutional ownership, dividends, analyst recommendations, earnings, valuation and profitability.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

23.8% of shares of all Biotechnology companies are held by institutional investors. 26.8% of shares of all Biotechnology companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Get Regen BioPharma alerts:

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings for Regen BioPharma and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Regen BioPharma 0 0 0 0 N/A Regen BioPharma Competitors 204 1297 3502 32 2.67

Earnings and Valuation

As a group, Biotechnology companies have a potential upside of 81.47%. Given Regen BioPharmas peers higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Regen BioPharma has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

This table compares Regen BioPharma and its peers revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Regen BioPharma N/A N/A -140.41 Regen BioPharma Competitors $116.59 million -$2.96 million 52.38

Regen BioPharmas peers have higher revenue, but lower earnings than Regen BioPharma. Regen BioPharma is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Profitability

This table compares Regen BioPharma and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Regen BioPharma N/A N/A N/A Regen BioPharma Competitors -461.47% -85.94% -20.21%

Summary

Regen BioPharma peers beat Regen BioPharma on 5 of the 8 factors compared.

About Regen BioPharma

(Get Rating)

Regen BioPharma, Inc. focuses on the development of regenerative medical applications in the United States. It engages in identifying small molecules that inhibit or express NR2F6 leading to immune cell activation for oncology applications, and immune cell suppression for autoimmune disease. The company is also involved in the development of its products, and therapies, including HemaXellarate, a cellular composition of autologous stromal vascular fraction derived from adipose tissue; dCellVax, an autologous dendritic cell which is treated with an siRNA inhibitor of indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase; tCellVax which is treated with siRNA to inhibit NR2F6 and the cells re-infused to the patient; DiffronC, uses proprietary siRNA in vivo to inhibit cancer growth and activate T cells; and DuroCAR comprising of CAR-T cells which is treated with an shRNA targeting the gene NR2F6. Regen BioPharma, Inc. was incorporated in 2012 and is based in La Mesa, California.

Receive News & Ratings for Regen BioPharma Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Regen BioPharma and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Invesco Income Growth Trust Plc (LON:IVI  Get Rating)s share price passed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 278 ($3.48) and traded as low as GBX 270 ($3.38). Invesco Income Growth Trust shares last traded at GBX 278 ($3.48), with a volume of 47,441 shares trading hands.

Invesco Income Growth Trust Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of 162.22 million and a PE ratio of -5.42. The company has a quick ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 0.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.32. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 278 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 278.

Invesco Income Growth Trust Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Invesco Income Growth Trust plc is a close-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Invesco Fund Managers Limited. It is co-managed by INVESCO Asset Management Limited. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United Kingdom. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Income Growth Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Income Growth Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of John Hancock Investors Trust (NYSE:JHI  Get Rating) crossed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $12.64 and traded as low as $12.59. John Hancock Investors Trust shares last traded at $12.61, with a volume of 11,172 shares traded.

John Hancock Investors Trust Trading Down 0.3 %

The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $12.63 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $12.79.

Get John Hancock Investors Trust alerts:

John Hancock Investors Trust Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 12th will be given a dividend of $0.2152 per share. This is a boost from John Hancock Investors Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $0.19. This represents a $0.86 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 9th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

John Hancock Investors Trust Company Profile

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Ameriprise Financial Inc. boosted its position in John Hancock Investors Trust by 99.2% during the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 83,302 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,057,000 after purchasing an additional 41,484 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG boosted its position in John Hancock Investors Trust by 7.1% during the first quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 16,230 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $206,000 after purchasing an additional 1,070 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its position in John Hancock Investors Trust by 4.1% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 52,007 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $652,000 after purchasing an additional 2,043 shares during the last quarter. Shaker Financial Services LLC boosted its position in John Hancock Investors Trust by 140.1% during the first quarter. Shaker Financial Services LLC now owns 138,083 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,752,000 after purchasing an additional 80,578 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wolverine Asset Management LLC boosted its position in John Hancock Investors Trust by 74.5% during the first quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 57,811 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $734,000 after purchasing an additional 24,674 shares during the last quarter. 9.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

(Get Rating)

John Hancock Investors Trust is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC. It is co-managed by John Hancock Asset Management. It invests in the fixed income markets across the globe. The fund primarily invests in a diversified portfolio of corporate and government bonds, debt securities.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for John Hancock Investors Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for John Hancock Investors Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of NN Group (OTCMKTS:NNGRY  Get Rating) have been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the nine analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $50.92.

A number of research firms have commented on NNGRY. Royal Bank of Canada began coverage on shares of NN Group in a research report on Wednesday, June 7th. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. HSBC upgraded NN Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, May 26th. Bank of America began coverage on NN Group in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, Berenberg Bank upgraded NN Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, April 17th.

Get NN Group alerts:

NN Group Stock Performance

OTCMKTS:NNGRY opened at $17.92 on Friday. NN Group has a 12 month low of $17.13 and a 12 month high of $24.50. The companys 50-day moving average price is $18.42 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $19.82.

NN Group Increases Dividend

About NN Group

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 7th will be given a $0.7848 dividend. This represents a yield of 6.03%. This is a positive change from NN Groups previous dividend of $0.39. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, June 6th.

(Get Rating

NN Group NV engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following segments: Netherlands Life, Netherlands Non-Life, Insurance Europe, Japan Life, Banking, and Others. The Netherlands Life segment offers a range of group life and individual life insurance products. The Netherlands Non-Life segment covers non-life insurance products such as disability and accident, fire, motor, and transport.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for NN Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NN Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Procore Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:PCOR  Get Rating) insider Joy Driscoll Durling sold 3,100 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.92, for a total value of $201,252.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 131,672 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,548,146.24. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website.

Joy Driscoll Durling also recently made the following trade(s):

Get Procore Technologies alerts:

On Thursday, May 18th, Joy Driscoll Durling sold 3,489 shares of Procore Technologies stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.40, for a total value of $203,757.60.

Procore Technologies Stock Performance

Shares of PCOR stock opened at $67.95 on Friday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $57.73 and its 200 day simple moving average is $56.43. The company has a quick ratio of 1.51, a current ratio of 1.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. Procore Technologies, Inc. has a one year low of $41.80 and a one year high of $68.63.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Procore Technologies

Procore Technologies ( NYSE:PCOR Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The company reported ($0.32) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.45) by $0.13. Procore Technologies had a negative return on equity of 19.75% and a negative net margin of 36.03%. The business had revenue of $213.53 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $203.24 million. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Procore Technologies, Inc. will post -1.57 EPS for the current fiscal year.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System increased its holdings in Procore Technologies by 2.3% in the first quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 47,590 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,981,000 after purchasing an additional 1,060 shares during the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Procore Technologies in the first quarter worth about $3,865,000. Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Procore Technologies in the first quarter worth about $70,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in shares of Procore Technologies by 28.3% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 4,024,198 shares of the companys stock worth $252,035,000 after acquiring an additional 886,949 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Procore Technologies in the first quarter worth about $877,000. Institutional investors own 82.50% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

PCOR has been the subject of several research reports. Mizuho reduced their price target on Procore Technologies from $80.00 to $75.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 17th. KeyCorp reduced their target price on Procore Technologies from $86.00 to $76.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Barclays lifted their price target on Procore Technologies from $61.00 to $72.00 in a research report on Friday, February 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Procore Technologies from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $63.00 to $75.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, JMP Securities reaffirmed a market outperform rating and issued a $75.00 price target on shares of Procore Technologies in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Procore Technologies has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $72.00.

Procore Technologies Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Procore Technologies, Inc provides a cloud-based construction management platform and related software products in the United States and internationally. The company's platform enables owners, general and specialty contractors, architects, and engineers to collaborate on construction projects. It offers Preconstruction that facilitates collaboration between internal and external stakeholders during the planning, budgeting, estimating, bidding, and partner selection phase of a construction project; and Project Management, which enables real-time collaboration, information storage, design, BIM model clash detection, and regulation compliance for teams on the jobsite and in the back office.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Procore Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Procore Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente, S.A. (OTCMKTS:SEYMF  Get Rating) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 44,700 shares, an increase of 48.5% from the May 15th total of 30,100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently  days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on SEYMF shares. Societe Generale lowered Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, May 15th. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Monday.

Get Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente alerts:

Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente Price Performance

Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente stock remained flat at $17.00 during mid-day trading on Friday. 900 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,350. Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente has a 1 year low of $15.25 and a 1 year high of $21.68. The firms fifty day moving average is $17.04 and its 200 day moving average is $18.35.

Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente Company Profile

Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente, SA engages in the solar photovoltaic power generation business. The company owns, manages, and operates photovoltaic plants in Spain, Italy, Uruguay, and Greece. The company was incorporated in 2002 and is headquartered in Madrid, Spain.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Victoria Gold Corp. (OTCMKTS:VITFF  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 302,700 shares, a growth of 45.6% from the May 15th total of 207,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 68,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.4 days.

Victoria Gold Stock Performance

OTCMKTS:VITFF opened at $6.18 on Friday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $6.98 and its 200-day simple moving average is $6.59. Victoria Gold has a 12-month low of $4.77 and a 12-month high of $10.31.

Get Victoria Gold alerts:

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have commented on VITFF. CIBC increased their price objective on Victoria Gold from C$10.00 to C$10.50 in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on Victoria Gold in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Finally, HC Wainwright decreased their price objective on Victoria Gold from C$21.00 to C$20.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 8th.

Victoria Gold Company Profile

Victoria Gold Corp. engages in the acquisition, evaluation, and development of mineral properties. It project portfolio includes the Eagle Gold, Dublin Gulch, Eagle Extension, and Canalask. The company was founded on September 21, 1981 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Victoria Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Victoria Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
With June being Alzheimers and Brain Awareness Month, Leigh Prom, of Franklin County, is embracing the opportunity to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimers Association with a swim challenge she calls $21 for 21 Laps on the 21st.

At 6:45 a.m. on June 21, Prom will hit the water at the county Family YMCA to swim 21 laps. She is seeking donors of $21, or more. Reaching that goal will net $441 towards her years goal of $2,040 for the Alzheimers Associations The Longest Day program. She has already raised about $1,200, she says.

The Longest Day takes place each year on the Summer Solstice which is the day of the year with the most sunlight. For caregivers of those with dementia, their days are especially long, hence, the Alzheimers Associations mantra of The day with the most light is the day we fight!

Prom is passionate about envisioning a world without Alzheimers because she said her mother and maternal grandfather passed away from the disease. Having been a caregiver for her mother, she said she knows what long days are like.

My swim challenge is a way I can honor caregivers for the sacrifices they make to care for others with dementia, she said.

After Proms swim, she plans to visit two Rocky Mount nursing homes to present thank you cards to the Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) for their roles as caregivers. The cards will be made by children from the YMCAs Summer Camp program.

Statistics from the Alzheimers Associations 2022 Alzheimers Disease Facts and Figures, paint a grim picture of the severity of the disease.

More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimers, and over 11 million provide their unpaid care. The cost of caring for those with Alzheimers and other dementias is estimated to total $321 billion in 2022, increasing to nearly $1 trillion (in todays dollars) by mid-century, according to that data.

Those wishing to donate, may go online to: act.alz.org/goto/LeighProm or deliver their donation to the Essig Recreation Center at 295 Technology Drive, Rocky Mount, VA 24151. Checks should be made payable to the Alzheimers Association.
A proposal for a no-wake zone along a high traffic area of Merriman Run was denied by the Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commissions Navigation Committee following a public hearing last week.

The decision was the latest in an ongoing saga over the small section of Smith Mountain Lake. The applicant, CPT Buoys LLC, previously applied for a no-wakesurfing zone for the location last year that was ultimately denied by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

During CPT Buoys LLCs application process for a no-wakesurfing zone last year, the TLACs navigation committee and later the TLAC board both approved the application. It was the DWR that eventually denied the request, stating the area would be best served by a no-wake zone instead due to the wide variety of boating activities that generate wakes there.

Dawn Saunders is a homeowner along that section of Merriman Run and a member of CPT Buoys LLC. She said during last weeks public hearing her reason for applying for the no-wakesurfing zone last year and the no-wake zone now is due to the damage to her docks and the shoreline due to significant wakes generated by boats.

If we cannot count on TLAC and DWR to protect our property, the fair use of this beautiful lake for all and most importantly public safety, where should we turn? Saunders said.

Saunders was one of seven speakers who attended last weeks public hearing. An additional 12 statements were emailed and read during the meeting.

Those in favor of the no-wake zone made up a small majority of the public hearings speakers. In addition to concerns about property damage, several also emphasized how unsafe the wakes can be.

Do we need to have an accident before we finally take action? Kitty Powers said.

Other speakers encouraged the navigation committee to deny the request to allow time for TLACs newly formed Wake Education Task Force and its wake education campaign to get the messaging out. The task force was created last year following an outcry for more wake education from several members of the public as TLAC considered its first no-wakesurfing zone along Merriman Run.

One of the task forces members, Joy Manning, said allowing the no-wake zone now would be an insult to the effort. She also warned that other coves around the lake would quickly apply for a no-wake zone if one is approved.

I want to urge you strongly not to approve this application as it will set the precedent across the lake to place no-wake buoys at the mouth of every cove, Manning said.

Following the public hearing, navigation committee members took little time debating the application. They were all seemingly in agreement that it didnt meet all of TLACs necessary criteriaspecifically that TLAC criteria for no-wake zones states there purpose is to protect the public in places where the general public launches or docks boats and as additional protection to some public swim areas.

Committee Chairman Randy Stow said while he does empathize with Saunders, the current application is not for a public location. No-wake zones are generally used around public marinas which are high traffic areas.

The criteria also states no-wake zones are not to be viewed as a solution for traffic control or protection to personal property.

Committee member Gene McGuire said the TLAC criteria was clear that applications must be for a public location.

I dont see how we have any other choice, he said.

Committee member Eric Cheney said the safety issue is real along that area of the cove. He called for increased patrols of conservation officers in the area that would be able to enforce current laws to prevent those dangerous wakes.

Cheney said the committee could not break policy to approve the no-wake zone. He moved to deny the application by CPT Buoys LLC. The vote was 3-0 with both McGuire and Stow also voting in favor of denying the application.

The recommendation will now go to TLAC board which is scheduled to vote on the proposal June 21. Their recommendation will then go to DWR for a final vote.
Solar company Energix plans to try again to build a solar farm in Wirtz after withdrawing a previous proposal because of negative feedback from the community.

In an email to The Franklin News-Post, Energix stated the company plans to resubmit a modified special use permit at the same location with significant changes as a result of community feedback. The location of the proposed solar farm is on 258 acres of what was farmland along Brooks Mill and Burnt Chimney roads.

We took the input from the community seriously and are currently working on changes to ensure the project is a beneficial and a welcomed addition to the Wirtz community, Energix said in the email. Once modification to the request increases the setback distance of the solar facility from public right of ways, thereby ensuring the project is hidden from view.

Energix has considered other locations for a solar farm. A proposal for a solar farm in Westlake was considered, but ultimately scrapped by the company in 2021.

Energix said the Wirtz site is an ideal location for a solar project because it is close to the utility grid, has suitable topography, and good screening. The solar farm also will allow the landowner to keep their farmland that has been in the family for more than 100 years through the lease agreement, they said.

As a result of the community meetings and stakeholder interactions, Energix said they saw that protection of the viewsheds and distance between the solar equipment and neighboring parcels as a top priority. In response, a parcel has been added to the project that will enable Energix to increase the distance of setbacks and improve viewshed protection.

We are committed to addressing the feedback we received from neighbors and are working to amend our proposal with meaningful changes to satisfy the concerns, Energix wrote in the email.

Dominika Sink, senior director for Energix, added that that it will be virtually impossible to see the project.

Several individuals neighboring the proposed solar farm were concerned the view of the solar farm would have a negative impact on home values. Energix said they have found that studies show solar facilities have no negative impact on property value based on researchers in Virginia, North Carolina and across the United States.

Energix said characteristics that typically correlate with a downward trend in property values include noise, odor, traffic increase and viewshed impacts. Solar projects are quiet, odorless and dont increase traffic after a brief construction periodand viewsheds in this project will be protected using significant setbacks from adjacent residences and planting a dense vegetative buffer to screen the solar facility, the company said.

In addition to viewshed, another major concern was whether the solar farm would have a negative impact on the environment. Energix said there was misinformation from some members of the public at previous meetings.

Thanks to withdrawing our proposal, we will also get more time to hold more community meetings and engage with the community and share educational materials that address misinformation, Energix representatives said. Unfortunately, not all sources are equally reliable, especially those gleaned from the internet, so we truly hope to be able to share reliable third-party research and studies about many of the questions the community still has.

The solar panels the company use for their projects are from First Solar which utilize thin-film technology that is safe, reliable and American-made. Researchers around the world have testified to the technologys safety including researchers in Virginia Tech who wrote in a 2019 study the panels pose little to no risk under normal operating conditions and foreseeable accidents such as fire, breakage, and extreme weather events like tornadoes and hurricanes, according to the company.

Energix also provided information on cadmium telluride that is encapsulated between two protective sheets of glass and sealed with an industrial laminate, resulting in a strongly bonded structure. Some residents were concerned the compound could leak into the groundwater if the panels are broken.

According to a report provided by Energix, the company claims the only way for the cadmium telluride to be removed from a solar panel is to pulverize the panel and leach it in industrial grade acid. That process can only be done in a manufacturing plant, the report said.

Energix said it will also work with First Solar to decommission the project once the lease ends to recycle the solar panels and equipment. The company said First Solar has recycled more than 270,000 metric tons of panels.

As for fines by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality for their solar farms in Henry County and Wytheville, Energix said they have worked diligently to ensure significant changes were made to prevent any future problems. The company has worked with DEQ, their contractors and internal crews to prevent issues relating to erosion and sediment control.

To ensure the prevention of such violations in the future, we have established an Environmental Compliance Task Force within our company, Energix said. This task force will expand the number of dedicated staff members responsible for overseeing our external contractors and conducting internal inspections of their work.

As for the timeline for Energix reapplying to Franklin County to construct the solar farm, Sink said they expect to take some time to meeting with neighbors and the community but are likely to restart the process sometime later this year. She said the goal is to assure that the public has all the necessary information first.

Franklin County Supervisor Lorie Smith is still apprehensive of the solar farm. She represents the Gills Creek District where a majority of the solar farm will be located.

I would discourage it, quite frankly, Smith said of Energixs intention to reapply for the rezoning and special use permits necessary to construct the solar farm.

According to Smith, there is a growing hesitancy among members of the county Board of Supervisors when it comes to solar farms, especially in areas Energix is considering which she sees as a designated growth area for the county. She was doubtful any solar farm would be a benefit in the Gills Creek District due to most property being closely located to streams and tributaries that feed into Smith Mountain Lake.

Despite Smiths concerns, she will give a fair review of any new proposals or resubmittals Energix brings in the coming months. She would like to see any new efforts remedy the concerns of hers and the public.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16)  The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) on Friday said it granted the request of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) to retain the higher water allocation of 52 cubic meters per second (cms) until the end of the month.

Please be informed that NWRB approved the request of MWSS to extend the allocation of 52 cms for June 16 to June 30, said NWRB chief Sevillo David.

The board was expected to lower the allocation, drawn from Angat Dam, to 50 cms for Maynilad Water Services, Inc. and Manila Water Corporation beginning June 16 to conserve water amid a looming El Nino.

In early May, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration raised the El Nino alert, saying it expects the weather phenomenon in the coming months.

MWSS said cutting the water allocation from Angat Dam in Bulacan could lead to service interruptions for tens of thousands of people in Metro Manila.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) on Thursday unveiled charges against a Russian national for his alleged involvement in deploying LockBit ransomware to targets in the U.S., Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Ruslan Magomedovich Astamirov, 20, of Chechen Republic has been accused of perpetrating at least five attacks between August 2020 and March 2023. He was arrested in the state of Arizona last month.

"Astamirov allegedly participated in a conspiracy with other members of the LockBit ransomware campaign to commit wire fraud and to intentionally damage protected computers and make ransom demands through the use and deployment of ransomware," the DoJ said.

Astamirov, as part of his LockBit-related activities, managed various email addresses, IP addresses, and other online accounts to deploy the ransomware and communicate with the victims.

Law enforcement agencies said they were able to trace a chunk of an unnamed victim's ransom payment to a virtual currency address operated by Astamirov.

The defendant, if convicted, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the first charge and a maximum penalty of five years in prison on the second charge.

Astamirov is the third individual to be prosecuted in the U.S. in connection with LockBit after Mikhail Vasiliev, who is currently awaiting extradition to the U.S., and Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev, who was indicted last month for his participation in LockBit, Babuk, and Hive ransomware attacks. Matveev remains at large.

In a recent interview with The Record, Matveev said he was not surprised by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) decision to include his name in the Cyber Most Wanted list and that the "news about me will be forgotten very soon."

Matveev, who said he is self-taught, also admitted to his role as an affiliate for the now-defunct Hive operation, and professed his desire to "take IT in Russia to the next level."

UPCOMING WEBINAR Shield Against Insider Threats: Master SaaS Security Posture Management Worried about insider threats? We've got you covered! Join this webinar to explore practical strategies and the secrets of proactive security with SaaS Security Posture Management. Join Today

The DoJ statement also comes a day after cybersecurity authorities from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, the U.K., and the U.S. released a joint advisory warning of LockBit ransomware.

LockBit functions under the ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) model, in which the core team recruits affiliates to carry out the attacks against corporate networks on their behalf in return for a cut of the ill-gotten proceeds.

The affiliates are known to employ double extortion techniques by first encrypting victim data and then exfiltrating that data while threatening to post that stolen data on leak sites in an attempt to pressurize the targets into paying ransoms.

The group is estimated to have launched nearly 1,700 attacks since emerging on the scene in late 2019, although the exact number is believed to be higher since the dark web data leak site only reveals the names and leaked data of victims who refuse to pay ransoms.
The Grand Island City Council approved an amendment to the salary ordinance at the end of its meeting on Tuesday, June 13. The amendment revolved around three changes the administration proposed to the citys organizational structure.

The first change proposed was to add an assistant city administrator position in Grand Island. The assistant city administrator is a non-union position, with a salary range around $69-$90 hourly.

The job will help assist the city administrator in coordinating and managing programs. The assistant will also be able to act as city administrator in their absence.

The position will also function as Grand Islands chief financial officer, which involves supervising the daily management of operating and capital budgets, expanding and coordinating economic development efforts, and more.

I do think there is a need for at least one [assistant city administrator], said Council Member Bethany Guzinski. And as we continue to grow, that need will become more evident.

Later in the meeting, Councilor Mitchell Nickerson asked how the assistant city administrator CFO role would be different from the financial director. Interim City Administrator Lauren McAloon explained that the financial director monitors internal controls of the organization, making sure they spend money according to budget and have the authority to do so.

A CFO is a bigger vision, said McAloon. The CFO looks at how can we strategically use taxpayer funds in order to help the city achieve the goals that you as the City Council will set.

The second change is the renaming of the planning director to the community development director.

According to McAloon, the recent retirement of the Building Director Craig Lewis allowed for a review of the planning department and building services department. The review looked at the organization for both departments, comparing it with Census data showing the growth of Grand Island and an analysis of the structure from other cities.

Following this review, the administration recommended that the two departments be combined into a community development department. That department will be responsible for all activity related to land use and growth of the City, including zoning regulations, building regulations, project permitting and more.

The renaming to community development director is meant to reflect the oversight of the role and the expanded department.

The third change is to create a chief building official position, which will replace the building director classification. The position eliminates the need for dual directors with the consolidation into the community development department.

Reporting to the community development director, the official would be in charge of supervising building staff. The salary range for the chief building official is around $39-$57 hourly.

Prior to the meeting, McAloon attended a recent Central Nebraska Home Builders Association meeting to discuss the changes, as their members heavily utilized the planning and building department. McAloon said she received positive feedback at the meeting.

CNHBA President Darwin Barnes also confirmed their support to the City Council. Barnes had been assured that the Building Code Advisory Board would still be meeting, which was CNHBAs biggest concern with the changes.

The Central Nebraska Home Builders has had a very great, long-standing working relationship with the building department, said Barnes. We want to continue that and we are in support of the changes proposed.

Guzinski was happy to see representation from the CNHBA in support of the restructuring at the meeting, as she had some concerns based on discussions she had had with builders and developers.

Analyzing the changes, it doesnt look like things day to day are going to change too much, said Guzinski. So I hope that that continues to be a good working relationship for [the CNHBA].

The council approved the amendment to the salary ordinance, 9-0. Councilor Chuck Haase was absent and did not vote.

Grand Island is not the same city it was 10 years ago and will be a different city in 10 years. Were changing, were growing, said Councilor Doug Lanfear. Change is good sometimes and I think this is one of them.
BVBank appoints three new deputy general directors

By Trang Nguyen Fri, June 16, 2023 | 8:26 am GTM+7

Vietnam's BVBank (Viet Capital Bank) appointed three new deputy general directors on Thursday, namely Phan Viet Ha, Van Thanh Khanh Linh and Nguyen Thanh Tu.

The addition of the deputy general directors to the executive board strengthens the private lender's senior leadership team towards achieving its goal of becoming a "customer-oriented, modern and multi-function retail bank, especially for individual customers and small and medium business customers.

From left: Phan Viet Hai, Van Thanh Khanh Linh, and Nguyen Thanh Tu, newly-appointed deputy general directors of BVBank. Photos courtesy of the bank.

Phan Viet Hai, born in 1979, holds a bachelor's degree in information technology from Griffth University, Australia, and a master's degree in electrical and computer engineering, RMIT University, Australia.

Before joining BVBank, Hai held various important positions in the field of information technology at multinational companies.

Hai has worked for more than 10 years at BVBank with an important position in the field of information technology, most recently he was director of the information technology division and director of the digital banking center.

He has made great contributions to BVBank's technical infrastructure, information technology security, and digital transformation over the past five years, winning prestigious domestic and international awards.

Van Thanh Khanh Linh, born in 1979, graduated with a bachelor's degree in law, Ho Chi Minh City Law University, and a master's in business administration, University of International Trade in Geneva, Switzerland.

She is also a lawyer and member of the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association and Vietnam Bar Federation (VBF). With 17 years of experience in the banking industry, especially in the field of law and risk management, she has held important positions at prestigious credit institutions.

Linh has been with BVBank for 10 years, with nine years as head of the risk management division. She was the major contributor to building the internal document system, compliance control system, and risk management system according to Basel II standards.

Nguyen Thanh Tu, born in 1983, graduated with a bachelor's degree in commercial law from Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, and a master's degree in international finance from Leeds Beckett University, UK. He has more than 17 years of experience in commercial law and banking and finance, including 16 years at BVBank.

Tu was chief of office for BVBank's board of directors, and most recently the director of the support division, in charge of human resources, training, administration, network development. He is also a member of the HCMC Bar Association and Vietnam Bar Federation (VBF).

In June 2023, BVBank approved the resignation of Pham Anh Tu, deputy general director, due to personal reasons. The executive board of BVBank currently consists of the general director and nine members.

In the first quarter of this year, BVBank reported net interest income of VND286 billion ($12.16 million) and net profit of VND20.3 billion ($863,000), down 31.6% and 85% year-on-year, respectively.

As of March 31, 2023, the bank's total assets had stood at VND78.6 trillion ($3.34 billion), a slight increase compared to the same period in 2022.
Japans Itochu plans to plant forest, export wood pellets from central Vietnam

By Tri Duc Fri, June 16, 2023 | 7:54 am GTM+7

Itochu Corporation, a Japanese multi-sector business, is looking to plant a timber forest and build a wood pellet factory in Vietnams central province of Binh Dinh, aiming to export one million units a year.

Kenji Tanaka, CEO for Asia and Oceania at Itochu (left), and Binh Dinh People's Committee Chairman Pham Anh Tuan at a meeting in the central province on June 13, 2023. Photo courtesy of Binh Dinh newspaper.

Kenji Tanaka, CEO for Asia and Oceania at Itochu, delivered the proposal to Binh Dinh Chairman Pham Anh Tuan at a meeting on Tuesday. He said the project, in cooperation with Binh Dinh-based Phu Tai Bio-Energy Corporation, aims to serve Japans growing demand for wood pellets, which is estimated to double in three years.

Itochu currently imports 500,000 tons of wood pellets from Vietnam, including 300,000 tons from Binh Dinh. Itochu also purchases and exports tuna and fertilizers from Quy Nhon town in the south-central coastal province.

In reply, the provincial leader welcomed Itochus proposal, saying that Binh Dinh is one of four key hubs in Vietnam for wooden products. However, the sector has disadvantages in terms of capital, insurance, and long-term sustainability due to local people managing a large area of forest. He added that the province would support the firm's investment.

In Vietnam, Itochu is well known as the biggest foreign shareholder in the Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex) with a 13% stake at the end of 2022.

Binh Dinh harvested 142,653 cubic meters of planted forest in May, down 0.7% year-on-year, according to provincial data. The January-May figure was 363,862 cubic meters, up 3.2%.

Registered foreign direct investment (FDI) capital in Vietnam declined 7.3% year-on-year to nearly $10.86 billion in the first five months of the year, while disbursed capital dropped 0.8% to $7.56 billion, the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) said. Binh Dinhs registered FDI capital reached $17.89 million in the period.
UK's Coro Energy acquires 2.4 MW rooftop solar portfolio in Vietnam for $1.3 mln

By Tri Duc Fri, June 16, 2023 | 11:50 am GTM+7

Rooftop solar power projects in Vietnam have been attracting foreign investors with the UK's Coro Energy acquiring a 2.39 MW portfolio for $1.3 million the latest example.

Coro Energy's acquisition includes a $600,000 existing specialist renewable debt with a Vietnamese bank; $111,192 payable in cash, including $30,000 to meet firefighting regulations; $300,000 in installments; and others. Completion of the acquisition is expected to occur in the last quarter of 2023, the firm said in a release on Thursday.

The UK company made the acquisition from shareholders of Kimy Trading and Service JSC, a local firm. In November 2022, the portfolio featured four locations in Ho Chi Minh City with a capacity of 3.25 MW that had been operational for two years. After site visits and due diligence, one solar rooftop system was removed from the deal, taking the portfolio to 2.39 MW.

A rooftop solar power system in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo courtesy of EVN.

Kimy incurred a loss of about $195,000 in 2022, which included various cost of sales and administration expenditure, which will not be inherited by Coro Energy post-acquisition.

In late 2021, the British firm set up Coro Renewables Vietnam as an 85-15 joint venture with Vietnams Vinh Phuc Energy JSC. The partnership has a 150 MW portfolio of commercial and industrial rooftop solar projects in the country.

In September 2022, Coro Energy completed the commissioning of its Vietnam rooftop solar pilot project. The 3MW project, with more than 4,500 solar panels across four factory roofs in HCMC covering more than 16,000 square meters, now delivers electricity to Vietnamese textile company Phong Phu Corp.

Rooftop solar power projects in Vietnam have been attracting foreign investors. Last week, Singapore-headquartered TotalEnergies ENEOS signed a share purchase agreement to acquire a 3.4 MWp rooftop solar power system portfolio from Vietnam's Sao Mai Solar Company. The system is installed on the roof of the Asia Fish Oil (AFO) and International Development and Investment JSC factories in the Vam Cong Industrial Cluster, Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap.

In March, agribusinesses De Heus Vietnam and Bel Ga JSC signed agreements with Green Roof, a local rooftop solar power developer, to install rooftop solar power systems of up to 20 MWp at 30 facilities owned by the two agribusinesses in 19 cities and provinces across Vietnam.

In August 2022, French energy giant Total signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to generate solar power from rooftop systems installed in industrial properties developed by KCN Vietnam. The partnership is expected to put 280,000 square meters of solar panels on factory and warehouse roofs to generate and supply 51 GWh of electricity a year.
Vietnam central bank makes fourth rate cut to support economy

By Nguyen Long Fri, June 16, 2023 | 4:04 pm GTM+7

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) announced on Friday that it is cutting its refinance and discount rates by 50 basis points from Monday to spur the countrys growth amid prolonged global economic headwinds.

The refinance rate will be cut to 4.5%, the discount rate to 3%, and the overnight electronic interbank rate to 5%. It is the central banks fourth policy rate adjustment this year.

A cash counting machine at a bank in Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Youth newspaper.

A 25-basis point cut will be applied on Monday for a maximum rate for deposits with terms from one month to less than 6 months to 4.75% per annum.

Similarly, the maximum rate for VND deposits at people's credit funds and microfinance institutions will go down to 5.25% per annum from 5.5%.

The maximum rate for VND short-term loans from banks in a number of economic sectors will fall to 4% per annum from 4.5%. Meanwhile, rates at credit funds and microfinance institutions for similar needs will be lowered to 5% from 5.5%.
Vietnam government asks for end to power shortages in June

By Van Truong Fri, June 16, 2023 | 12:12 pm GTM+7

Vietnams Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises, Vietnam Electricity (EVN), and Petrovietnam have been requested to resolve current power shortages in June.

Standing government members, in their latest conclusion on solutions to stabilize the countrys economy, asked the ministry (MoIT) and the units to accelerate power and transmission projects, and mobilize more rooftop solar power.

The MoIT was asked to speed up the progress of the Quang Trach II power plant in the central province of Quang Binh. The MoIT and the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC) have also been assigned to supervise the implementation of a 3,500-kilovolt transmission line from the central region to the North, which is part of Vietnams newly-approved Power Plan VIII.

The government instructed the MoIT to work on a mechanism in July to encourage the use of rooftop solar power to serve residents and public offices, and another mechanism for direct power purchasing agreements.

EVN techninicians in the central city of Danang perform transmission line maintenance during the current heat waves. Photo courtesy of EVN.

Since the end of May, the northern region has been experiencing power cuts due to soaring demand in the hot season. Hydroelectricity output, one of the two main sources of electricity for the North, has fallen due to drought.

However, on Wednesday, water levels in hydroelectric reservoirs rose by 3-10 meters compared to the end of last week thanks to heavy rainfall, but some power plants are still operating at a low capacity to ensure supplies and save water.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on June 6 requested urgent measures to ensure power supplies during the upcoming dry season and beyond. In a dispatch, he emphasized that the severe heat and impacts of the El Nino phenomenon have led to a surge in power demand, coupled with drought in the country causing extremely low water levels in hydropower reservoirs, thus affecting the electricity supplies.

He requested the MoIT to take over management of the National Load Dispatch Center from EVN this June.

Director of Vietnam's National Load Dispatch Center (A0) Nguyen Duc Ninh was suspended from his position on Wednesday as authorities conduct inspections into the management of power supplies.

The center manages power generation, transmission, and distribution to ensure the safe and stable operation of the power system. A0 is also responsible for operating power plants, regulating reservoirs, and fixing problems on the 500kV national transmission system.
Vietnam on the path to growth

By Nathan Hunt Fri, June 16, 2023 | 8:39 am GTM+7

Vietnam is well-positioned for growth as it is an example of a country experiencing success in navigating multilateral trade, wrote Nathan Hunt, head of content, social media & digital marketing, S&P Global.

Geopolitical analysis has an affinity for simple narratives. Superpowers, frequently in conflict and wielding power within circles of influence, rise and fall. But the fact remains that most of humanity exists outside of these tidy narratives. Countries that forge trade agreements across geopolitical fault lines can be more economically successful due to their ability to sell into multiple markets. Vietnam is an example of a country experiencing success in navigating multilateral trade.

Like the rest of the world, Vietnams economy declined under the Covid-19 pandemic. When lockdowns were implemented in mid-2021, GDP growth in Vietnam slipped to 2.6%, following 2.9% growth in 2020, the first year of the pandemic. However, Vietnam is one of several export-dependent emerging market economies that roared back in 2022. The countrys real GDP grew 8% year over year in 2022 as domestic demand and manufacturing export production returned.

For the first quarter of 2023, Vietnams GDP growth moderated to 3.3% due to a slowdown in demand from leading export markets such as the U.S. and EU. Vietnam's exports fell 13% in the first four months of 2023 compared to the year-ago period. The manufacturing sector in Vietnam has also been plagued by repeated power outages due to a lengthy heatwave.

Despite the headwinds, Vietnam is well-positioned for growth. According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, Vietnams GDP growth is forecast to grow at about 6.5% in 2023, with sustained strong growth of about 6.7% per year from 2024 to 2026. Vietnams projected growth is driven by its status as a low-cost manufacturing hub and an alternative to China, where rising wages, supply chain concentration and geopolitical issues are creating concerns. Vietnam enjoys a large, well-educated workforce and openness to foreign direct investment.

Vietnams greatest relative strength may be its growing network of free trade agreements. Vietnam is currently party to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Free Trade Area, Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. These agreements and organizations give Vietnam a wide range of export markets without tying Vietnam to other countries geopolitical leadership.

Vietnamese rice ready for being exported at a port in the country. Photo courtesy of Vietnam's government portal.

Still, headwinds remain. Many global technology manufacturers have expressed an interest in moving out of China into Vietnam, among other countries, but shifting supply chains will be difficult and inefficient, according to S&P Global Ratings.

Some Taiwanese electronic manufacturing services companies have existing facilities in Vietnam and may be looking to expand their presence. Property developers in Vietnam have also been hit with deteriorating credit quality in the wake of the pandemic. According to S&P Global Ratings, this may impact access to funding and lead to a crisis in investor confidence.
Nothing says Father's Day quite like an afternoon fishing outing.

This Father's Day, the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge is set to kick off a weekend full of free fishing for all during its Illinois Free Fishing Days, June 16 to 19. During this period, the Refuge will not require entrance fees to fish, which means you won't need to purchase a fishing license, salmon stamp, or inland trout stamp.

"These events give thousands of Americans the opportunity to celebrate the joys of fishing," said Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Manager Neil Vincent. "We want you to discover the fun of fishing or introduce your family to the outdoor adventure of fishing during these free fishing events."

The highlight of the weekend will be the Refuge's 49th annual Kids Fishing Derby at the Prairie Creek Recreation Area on Saturday. The event is open to all anglers 12-years-old and younger, and registration will start at 8 a.m. the day of the event. The first 100 kids who register will get a free goodie bag and T-shirt. Lunch will be provided.

During the derby, there will be a fish shocking demonstration as well, where kids will be able to see fish even if they don't catch any. Fish shocking is a relatively painless and safe procedure for the fish, conducted by sending an electric current into the water which temporarily stuns or shocks the fish, allowing Fish and Wildlife personnel to handle them for sizing, surveying, and other scientific field research.

Following the Fishing Derby, there will be an awards ceremony with prizes going out to the young angler who caught the biggest fish, the most fish and to whoever caught the smallest fish.

If you want more information on the Illinois Free Fishing Days, call the Refuge at 618-998-5950 or email craborchard@fws.gov.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service exists to conserve wildlife, plants, and habitats. Through science and stewardship, the FWS ensures that natural resources like fishing spots at Crab Orchard will be available for kids and dads alike for a long time to come.
Bridges change lives of many in SW China's Guizhou

People's Daily Online) 09:21, June 16, 2023

Photo shows a bridge section of an expressway built above Zangke River in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Photo provided to People's Daily Online)

A section of an expressway is being built above the Zangke River. The expressway, connecting Nayong county of Bijie city with Qinglong county, Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Guizhou Province, spans 162.17 kilometers, while the bridge to tunnel ratio is 69.46 percent.

The expressway is of great importance to improving the expressway and road networks in Guizhou, and brings about rural revitalization by building on its success in poverty alleviation and advancing the exploitation of resources and energy in the region.

"I have seen many bridges built since I became a bridge builder 20 years ago. I feel very excited and I'm proud of our perseverance. I've met my father's expectations," said Shen Xiuqiao, a bridge builder.

His name carries the high expectations that his father has for the local transportation, Shen explained. The Chinese characters xiuqiao in Shens name mean 'building bridges' in English. Shen said that his father hoped that one day a bridge can be built to make it convenient for local villagers to travel, adding that his father's dream has now come true, and the lack of a bridge that could make life easier for local residents has become a thing of the past.

The bridge, with a total length of 1,849 meters and a main span of 1,080 meters, is located in the Wumengshan National Geographical Park. The major bridge tower at the Qinglong side of the bridge is 248.1 meters high and the major bridge tower at the Nayong side is 174.1 meters high, putting the bridge at 11th on the list of the world's 100 highest bridges, said Zhao Mingfu, who is in charge of a section of the Nayong-Qinglong expressway from Guizhou Highway Engineering Group Co., Ltd. affiliated to Guizhou Communications Construction Group Co., Ltd.

After it is completed, the Zangke River bridge is expected to slash travel time between the two places from one hour to one minute. It will do a great deal to drive the regions economic growth and inject renewed vitality into the regional economy.

Photo shows the Wumengshan bridge, a section of the Nayong-Qinglong expressway. (Photo provided to People's Daily Online)

The Wumengshan bridge, located in the Wumeng Mountains, is another important section of the Nayong-Qinglong expressway. Once completed, the bridge will become the world's first long-span steel truss and concrete arch bridge.

The Wumengshan bridge not only enriches bridge structures in China and even around the world, but also will have a far-reaching impact on bridge structure design, bridge construction, construction methods and technical standards in China.

Why are there so many bridges in Guizhou?

Located in the hinterland of China's southwestern inland, more than 92 percent of Guizhous land is covered in mountains and hills. Guizhou needs to build tunnels through mountains and bridges above rivers to break the connectivity bottleneck and boost its economy.

Credible sources indicated that by the end of 2022, Guizhou was home to nearly half of the world's 100 tallest bridges and four of the world's 10 tallest bridges. Fifteen bridges in Guizhou had won national and international awards by that time.

"We've built more than 28,000 highway bridges," said Xu Xianghua, chief engineer of the Department of Transportation of Guizhou Province. The highway bridges that have been completed and are currently under construction add up to more than 5,400 km in Guizhou, Xu added.

Behind these bridges are the efforts made by countless people, and their work has changed the lives of many.

In Guizhou, bridges have also become popular scenic areas.

Luo Chihao is head of an expressway service area called "Sky Bridge. It provides the best views of Pingtang Bridge, which has the highest concrete bridge tower in the world.

Luo's grandfather participated in the construction of a bridge section of the Chuanqian (Sichuan-Guizhou) Railway and his father took part in the construction of the bridge designed with a suspension and cable-stayed structure, which is a section of a high-grade highway linking Guiyang and Zunyi.

Since it started trial operations in December 2019, the "Sky Bridge" service area has recorded more than 55 million tourist visits, bringing in an operating revenue of 350 million yuan (about $48.99 million).

By the end of 2022, the total highway mileage in Guizhou had exceeded 8,300 km, and that figure is expected to hit 9,500 km by the end of 2025.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16)  The Philippines on Friday received urea fertilizer from China worth around 100 million yuan (around 782 million) to help farmers save on production costs, the Palace said.

Malacanang explained the urea  widely used in the country's agriculture sector as a fertilizer and animal feed additive  will be distributed first to some 160,000 rice and corn farmers in the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Bicol through a voucher system. It added the fertilizers to be received will cover 200,000 hectares at two bags per hectare.

"Isasama na lang natin 'yong supply ng fertilizer, para kapag mabigyan 'yong farmers ng kanilang voucher kasama na ito sa kanilang kukunin," President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told reporters.

[Translation: We will include the supply of fertilizers so that farmers can already receive it at the same with their vouchers.]

The turnover ceremony of the 20,000 metric tons of urea fertilizers or 400,000 bags was held on Friday at the National Food Authority warehouse in Valenzuela City. Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Ambassador of China to the Philippines Huang Xilian were also present.

Malacanang said the urea donation was "part of the grant provided in the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the two Governments on 25 April 2019."

"This donation that came from China was a product of our request from all our friends around the world during the crisis that we're still feeling now  when fertilizer prices went up because of the supply chain problem that we are experiencing with our usual partners  China did not think twice and immediately came up," Marcos said in his speech.

He also said he had a "good conversation" with Chinese President Xi Jinping when the Philippines requested the assistance and added China "immediately understood the predicament that we were in."

During Marcos' visit to Beijing in January, Malacanang said the Philippine government signed a cooperation agreement with two Chinese fertilizer manufacturing firms to "ensure sustainable supply of the much-needed fertilizers at reasonable prices."

Huang said the "deliverable" has arrived as scheduled.

"It will tremendously aid our efforts to boost agricultural production, our nation's pursuit of food security," Marcos said of the donation.

"Soon, these donated goods will find their way to our Filipino farmers," he added. "They will be able to spend savings gained from production costs on other things that matter to them and their families."

Reinforcing China-PH ties

Huang said in his speech that the donation speaks of China's "action and sincerity and demonstrates the friendship of the Chinese people for the people of the Philippines."

"Looking ahead, we truly believe that as long as the consensus between our two top leaders is implemented in real earnest, with strengthened communication and dialogue, and differences probably managed, China-Philippines relations will maintain a steady momentum of development and enjoy an even brighter future," he said.

Marcos said the agriculture cooperation between Beijing and Manila is "very promising," noting that the two nations have the same agriculture priorities and both can learn from one another.

Aside from the urea fertilizers, Marcos said Gatchalian informed him that China also provided 4 million worth of rice for relief goods for evacuees affected by Mayon Volcano's activity.

RELATED: Marcos wants 90-day plan for Mayon response

"These generous acts symbolize the value of the relationship between our two countries," he said in his speech. "We must continue to nurture, we must continue to care for that through acts of mutual assistance and constant and amicable dialogue."

"I assure the Chinese government that the Philippines will always work for the strengthening of our ties and the advancement of our mutual interest," he added.

"Since the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) has now taken effect, it's clear that the volumes should increase," he also told reporters. "I'm very optimistic that trade between China and the Philippines, not only in agriculture but in other aspects as well, I cannot see it lessening. I can only see it growing."

EXPLAINER: What is RCEP? Will PH benefit from it?
For the 12th year in a row, Santee's town budget wont mean an increase in the property tax rate, Mayor Donnie Hilliard says.

Santee Town Council gave unanimous final approval to the $8,248,480 budget on June 14 at special meeting that lasted about four minutes.

For many years, growth has generated increased revenues sufficiently to offset rising costs, Hilliard said during a public hearing on June 7. But if the growth stops, a tax increase is likelier next year, he said.

In recent months, a developer submitted multiple proposals for rezoning to build residential and/or commercial structures on acreage near the intersection of Old Number Six Highway and State Park Road. The council rejected all of the proposals, most recently by a 2-2 vote in March.

The balanced budget anticipates 2023-24 income, with an equal amount of expenses, as follows:

General Fund: $2,316,240

Water Fund: $1,114,770

Wastewater Fund: $1,818,270

Water Capital Improvement Fund: $100,300

Special Revenue (Hospitality and Accommodations Tax income): $2,550,000

Enterprise Fund (Conference Center): $348,900

During the budget public hearing, a man in the audience asked if Premium Peanuts shelling facility, when it's completed and becomes operational, would generate enough new income for the town to avoid tax rate hikes in the future.

The mayor thanked him for asking a good question and explained that Premium Peanut is outside the town limits, so the company wont pay town taxes.

But the town-owned wastewater systems service area extends beyond the town limits, and the peanut plant will be one of its customers, Hilliard added.

The pumping station that will serve the Premium Peanut property is 42 years old and could not accommodate the new industrys needs, he said.

So, on June 7, the council voted to accept the bid of $236,172 by Spicer-On-Call Services LLC to replace the pumping station. A state grant will reimburse the town for half of the cost.

In another wastewater-related matter, Hilliard said the people in charge of the wastewater system decades ago didnt document where they installed all of the pipes, and that omission has present-day ramifications.

For example, town officials initially told Dollar General that theyd have to pay $50,000 to bore a sewer line under a road to serve their new store site. Then a usable pipe was discovered, already installed under the road. Hilliard said.

Another example of unintended consequences involves the mayors year-long campaign to make Santee more pleasant by placing litter barrels throughout the town.

Hilliard said a few individuals have been using the litter barrels to dispose of their household garbage. He said bags of garbage will be checked for identifying names and addresses, and citations will be issued to the offenders.

The Town of Santee does not offer garbage pickup service. Id rather see the private sector do it, Hilliard said.

He said five companies are on record with the town as willing to pick up household garbage in Santee: Capital Waste Service of Columbia, Disposal Solutions of Eutawville, SC Waste of Orangeburg, Republic Services of North Charleston, and Waste Management of Orangeburg. Another option is to use a free county convenience site.

The mayor also announced that applications are being accepted for the newly created position of town administrator in addition to a wastewater system operator and an accounting clerk.

Police Chief Joseph Serrano announced that the Santee Police Department is fully staffed for the first time in years.

He introduced Lt. Kevin Borghi, Sgt. Christopher Williams, Cpl. David Martin, Ptl. Devon Dotter, Ptl. Michael Stutts, and Ptl. Tyquonez Shaw.

Hilliard thanked them for their service. Hilliard also noted the shortage of law enforcement and corrections officers generally across South Carolina and much of the nation.

Serrano, who has been with the department for 17 years, said Santee is a great place to pursue a law enforcement career.

In other business, the council:

Tabled, for further discussion, a proposed set of policies and regulations for mobile vendors and concession operators, such as food trucks. At present the town has no such policies.

Appointed Melvin Seabrooks to the town Architectural Review Board.

Appointed Hilliard and Herman Keller as the towns voting delegates at the S.C. Rural Water Associations annual conference.

Discussed in executive session a contractual matter involving the wastewater upgrade and a personnel matter involving the administration department. Hilliard said no votes on those matters would be taken that evening.

The councils next regular monthly meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 12.
East Caribbean Feeds has partnered with Courts Ready Cash to bring farmers another information packed Agri-Business Seminar. This event is scheduled to be held on Wednesday June 21st from 8:00am  2:00pm at the Methodist Church Hall.





This is the fifth in a series of Agri-Business Seminars and Town Hall meetings held locally and regionally, specially geared towards enhancing the growth of Animal Farming Businesses and Industry.





Initially held in St. Vincent in 2022, the Agri-Business Seminar has been held in St. Lucia, Barbados and recently in Antigua in May 2023, where East Caribbean Feeds first partnered with Courts Ready Cash to provide livestock farmers with the full package of skills from farming best practices to financial growth guidance for their livestock businesses.





This package of skillsets will be replicated in the June 21 seminar, and participants can also look forward to be educated on getting Maximum Nutrition through use of East Caribbean Feeds.





In addition to the knowledge spread that the seminar offers, it is also a great networking opportunity and would be complemented with information about Courts Ready Cash offer of micro financing to agricultural farmers, from their EC$20,000,000 fund.





There will be presentations from Dr. Tahomma Richards, Technical Product Manager and host of "Tips with Dr. T social media series of East Caribbean Feeds. Courts Ready Cash personnel will also address the financial expertise needed for farm management and how their Agricultural Micro Business loan can help.





An open invitation is extended to persons interested in farming and those looking to further grow their business.

Farmers interested in attending can register by:

* Calling 457-1918 or 493-3840 or 456-1325

* In store at Courts Ready Cash

* ECGC cash desk or Feeds Warehouse

* Facebook: East Caribbean Feeds and Courts Ready Cash. (Source: ECGC)




Two decades ago, on Friday, June 13, 2003, eight young men took the oath of office to join the ranks of the Royal St. Vincent and Grenadines Police Force. Twenty years later, five remain steadfast in their sworn duties to serve the citizens of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.





Sergeants Samuel Hoyte and Chris John, Corporals Selwyn McBarnette and Dalton Michael, and Constable Cornel Williams will mark the occasion on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. To mark the occasion, the officers will participate in several social activities.





While reminiscing on their accomplishments, the officers noted that, notwithstanding their challenges, they remained resilient and persistent with the hope of serving the Government, People, and visitors to St. Vincent and the Grenadines for many, many more years to come.




Joel Nappy John became the first homicide victim for June, following five in May.

Joel "Nappy John, a 32-year-old mechanic of La Croix., is this countries latest homicide.





The police, in a news release, said that John was shot multiple times as he was working on a truck in his yard.





He was apparently shot early in the evening of June 9 and was pronounced dead at the scene.





His death brings the total homicides committed by civilians on civilians to 18. There are an additional three recorded shooting deaths attributed to police actions.





And the police had not yet wrapped up their perusal of this crime scene when they were called to another shooting this time in Sayers, Mesopotamia.





Romano Bynoe of Mesopotamia was the victim.





He was transported to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital and by Monday where he MCMH for medical treatment, where he is said to be in stable condition.
Viola Sister Jacobs, the mother of the boy who was left paralyzed from his chest down, following a shooting incident at Canouan three years and four months ago, has expressed dissatisfaction with the penalty handed down to the perpetrator.





Bequia resident, Shammai Hazell, 27, began a 22-year prison sentence on Friday 9th June for robbing and wounding Judson Jacobs of Arnos Vale with intent on November 23, 2019.





Before Justice Brian Cottle delivered his sentencing remarks, he gave Hazell, who was unrepresented, an opportunity to say something.





Hazell expressed extreme remorse and apologized to the Court and the victims family for his actions.





He also promised to continue to keep the victim and his family in his prayers. He admitted that what he did was wrong, and asked the Court for leniency.





But Jacobs mother told THE VINCENTIAN on Monday, "What I dont get is that all along he was denying that he committed these acts, and now because he was found guilty, he is apologizing and praying. We dont need his prayers. His prayers are blood prayers. He needs prayers more than us. Let him keep his prayers.

Mrs. Jacobs said that though her son is not dead, he is paralyzed from his chest down.





"I am just not satisfied with the sentence. He is confined to a bed and wheelchair. Its a young aspiring life gone there. He was always on the go, and now it is very depressing, and when he gets depressed and starts reacting, it affects me greatly. He aint trouble anybody, he was working honestly for his little dollar, and you put him down, and now you saying you sorry.





She added, "It is not an easy thing to cope with at my age I have health issues too, and he has a 10-year-old girl to look after. I know that no sentence could bring him back, but I think the sentence could have been more.





Judson, now 30, is the last of three children for his mother, and the second boy.

A nine-member Jury had found Hazell guilty of both charges on May 5, 2023, following a full trial, but sentencing was adjourned.





The facts showed that Judson, then 26, was based in Canouan working for his uncle Mark Jacobs as a sales clerk. He was responsible for purchasing conchs and lobsters in large quantities from the Fisheries in Canouan.





At about 11 a.m. on November 23, 2019, Judson left his home in Canouan to purchase conchs at the Fisheries.





He had on him EC$10,000 in cash and a digital scale in a black one strap messenger bag. As he walked towards the Fisheries, he noticed, through the corner of his eye, someone walking behind him. When he turned around to see who it was, he saw a masked man pointing a gun at him. The mask revealed the mans eyes, and he observed a tear-drop tattoo under his left eye and recognized him to be someone he would often see at the Fisheries. The bandit demanded that the victim hand over the bag.





Judson turned and started running towards the Fisheries and the bandit chased him. He fired a shot at Judson who kept running, but his feet gave out and he fell flat in the dirt. The bandit then ran towards him, took the bag with the money, and ran off.





Persons who witnessed the ordeal ran to Judsons assistance. He was transported to the Canouan Clinic, then to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital, via Coast Guard.





Later that day police apprehended Hazell. A search was carried out at his home; nothing illegal was found. He was later charged with robbery and wounding with intent.





Both robbery and wounding with intent carry maximum penalties of life imprisonment equated to 30 years.

Justice Cottle placed both offences in the highest category. He noted that Judson was paralysed from his chest down, leaving him unable to work and earn a living, and to assist in the upbringing of his 10-year-old daughter. He highlighted the use of a weapon and that the incident occurred in broad daylight in a public road. He also noted that Hazell concealed his identity.





Hazell has previous convictions for theft and assault causing bodily harm.





Applying the sentencing guidelines, the Judge started at 22 years and six months on each charge. He found no mitigating factors in relation to the offence and the offender and concluded that the aggravating factors outweigh the mitigating for both offences. As a result, Cottle increased the sentences by two years and six months, moving it to 25 years.





Hazell did not benefit from a guilty plea, as the matter went through a full trial, following which he was found guilty. However, the one year, ten months and 23 days spent on remand were deducted, bringing the sentence down to 23 years, but one year was subtracted from this for Hazells remarks of apology and remorse, prior to his sentencing, resulting in the final sentence of 22 years on each charge, to run concurrently.




One boy somehow found himself among the frolic that was meant for the girls.

Passersby close to the premises of the Salvation Army Preschool and Day Care, on the morning of last Friday, June 9, would have been quite enthused by a very heartening sight.





In the vacant area on the ground floor between the two separate areas of the institution, a number of overawed, excited girls dressed in swimwear was occupying a plastic pool, and were splashing water with glee as they waved and greeted those who had stopped to look on.





Right nearby was another pool, this time filled with boys who were equally engaged. It was an irresistible sight, as persons on the outside held on to the wrought iron gate, calling and waving to the children.





The Preschool and Daycare Centre of the Salvation Army cater to children between six months to four years old. Supervisor of both sections, Fenella Woodley, explained the childrens treat to THE VINCENTIAN. "We knew the summer heat was on and we just thought we should give the children a little cool-down pool day.





She said that by that time in the morning, the Babies had already had their pool fun and had been taken upstairs to eat then take a nap. "Our preschoolers are now in the water enjoying themselves.





As for the ease or difficulty it took to pull the activity off, the Supervisor recalled, "We are always looking for different things to encourage the children and excite them. Some children dont like to come to school so we always do new things. For this activity we set a date and informed the parents asking them to bring the swimsuits, the towels and so on. She admitted that while being inflated, one pool malfunctioned that very morning and a replacement had to be sought immediately.





Even as Supervisor Woodley spoke with THE VINCENTIAN, the other personnel took shifts making sure there were no mishaps. These were: Activity Supervisor Vanessa Harry; Preschool teachers, Val Stapleton and Mikeisha Prescott; Daycare teachers, Ellica Caine and Marcia Thomas; and Secretary, John Gachelin.





Kudos must be given to the Supervisor, Preschool teachers and Daycare personnel for finding creative ways to work with and/or circumvent challenging situations that present themselves from time to time.
The Rotary Club of St. Vincent hosted yet another successful annual George Phillips Excellence Awards Ceremony, during which 27 fourth formers representing each Secondary School in St. Vincent and the Grenadines were recognized for their outstanding performance.





The students were selected based on the following criteria:

1. Outstanding academic performance,

2. Team leadership,

3. Commitment to discipline, and

4. Achievement in approved extra-curricular activities.





Over 50 parents and teachers were present to support their students who were awarded at a luncheon ceremony held at the Methodist Church Hall on Wednesday, June 7th, 2023.





The George Phillips Excellence Awards, named after the Charter President of the Rotary Club of St. Vincent, is a signature project of the Club for over 20 years, and has been instrumental in recognizing and stimulating a culture of excellence throughout our local Secondary Schools. From its inception, this project has been executed in partnership with the Ministry of Education and National Reconciliation. The Ministry was represented at the event by Dr. Godwin James, Senior Education Officer, who brought brief remarks on behalf of the Ministry and commended the students on their achievements as recipients of the award.





This years featured address to the students was delivered by Mrs. LaTeisha Sandy-Marks, Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and member of the Rotary Club of St. Vincent. Sandy-Marks exhortation to the students was focused on the theme "On the other side of the unimaginable which aligned well with Rotary Internationals theme for 2022-2023 "Imagine Rotary, leaving students with timely reminders to remain resilient in times of adversity, gentle with themselves in the face of uncertainty, and courageous as they move into new phases of their development.





Major sponsors of this project included the Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, gifting each awardee with the opening of new savings accounts with a starting balance of EC$150.00 among other tokens; and FLOW, who sponsored each awardee with free broadband internet access for the next two years.





The Rotary Club of St. Vincent is also indebted to Island Sipz Water, ECGC, Jaden Inc., St. Vincent Brewery Limited, Coreas Distribution Limited, Coreas Hazells Inc., Grenadine Airways, Fanfare Events, BDO, and Dental Arts Clinic for their generous contributions to the project thereby ensuring its continued success.





The Rotary Club of St. Vincent remains committed to continuing this partnership with the Ministry of Education and corporate SVG which has impacted and continues to impact so many lives. One of Rotary Internationals areas of focus is Basic Education and Literacy, and the Rotary Club of St. Vincent intends to leverage its partnerships with stakeholders through mentorship and provision of opportunities for growth to secure the development of our nations youths and subsequently our future. (Source: Rotary Club of St. Vincent)




Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16)  The Senate Committee on Tourism is set to conduct an investigation on June 21 regarding complaints raised by passengers against low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific.

Under Senate Resolution No. 575 filed by Senator Nancy Binay, chairman of the committee, the inquiry will look into the issues on alleged overbooking, offloading, and booking glitches.

It also aims to call the attention of the Department of Tourism and the Civil Aeronautics Board to address these concerns and come up with measures on proper compensation, she added.

Affected travelers and customers complained that Cebu Pacific has not provided immediate assistance or support regarding their concerns despite seeking help from the airlines customer service hotlines and in person help desks, the resolution read.

Binay said there were also cases about travelers getting offloaded due to the airlines overbooking.

Overbooking is a deliberate industry-wide business practice where airlines are allowed to sell 10% more tickets than the number of seats available for a particular flight," Binay ponted out.

"From the industry standard of 10%, the Civil Aeronautics Board has set a 5% allowable overbooking to optimize utility, and avoid empty seats," she added.

She noted that being offloaded without being offered an alternative flight or compensation not only disrupts the passengers travel plans, but also shows how the airline treats its customers.

Aside from this issue, some customers also complained about being charged multiple times due to Cebu Pacific Super Pass glitches, the senator said.

With the sheer number of passenger complaints, traveling in the Philippines has become incredibly frustrating, she said. It is no longer a pleasant experience.
(TBTCO) - Sau qua trinh chuan bi khan truong, quyet liet, nhat la sau 3 ot kiem thu a cho thay he thong ang ky, luu ky va thanh toan giao dich trai phieu doanh nghiep phat hanh rieng le (TPDNRL) tai Trung tam Luu ky Chung khoan Viet Nam (VSD) hoan thanh ve mat chuc nang va tich hop thong suot voi he thong cua cac ben lien quan. Theo o, en nay he thong ang ky, luu ky va thanh toan giao dich a san sang hoat ong theo ung ke hoach van hanh chinh thuc thi truong giao dich thu cap TPDNRL ma co quan quan ly giao nhiem vu
Leah Juarez, mayor of Mills, is sitting at a conference table with city council members Sara McCarthy and Cherie Butcher.

The three electeds seem to be discussing some pretty serious stuff. There are notebooks, binders and big tumblers lined up neatly in front of them. In one image, Juarez appears to be taking notes while Butcher and McCarthy leaf through an official-looking document. You can just make out the words annual budget on a blue packet tucked under McCarthys elbow.

I once believed I could do as many as 6 impossible things before breakfast, the accompanying caption reads. With these two councilwomen by my side anything is possible.

The photos, which Juarez posted to her Instagram and Facebook accounts on April 22, made some uneasy because they werent taken during an official city council meeting or work session.

In general, when more than half of a governing bodys members intentionally convene to talk about public business, state law considers the gathering an open meeting. Not only is the public allowed to be there, the governing body also needs to take proper measures to notify the public that the meetings happening.

In the Instagram photos, Juarez, McCarthy and Butcher  who represent a majority of the five-member council  certainly look like theyre discussing public business. Could this be evidence, some wondered, that the councilors had violated the state public meetings law?

But heres the thing: the photos are staged. They were taken as part of an April 8 photoshoot organized by Juarez, said photographer Krystal Brewer.

She hired me to take what I call brand photography, said Brewer. It wasnt an actual meeting, and they didnt have any discussions of anything.

Brewer said a Mills police officer was in the room the entire time to ensure the council members didnt talk about any official city business.

Its an unusual situation, no doubt. Staged photoshoots arent exactly something government leaders do often, at least in Wyoming. Brewer said this was her first time doing brand photography for an elected official.

Brand is one of Juarezs specialties, though. Shes long used social media to document her journey in local politics and to educate people about civics. But her posts also have an unusual level of polish and flair to them  the pretend meeting photos just being one example.

Her social media savvy seems to have paid off; Juarezs TikTok account, @americasmayor, has over 19,000 followers.

Juarez said she also sees her social media presence as an important representation of women in leadership positions. The purpose of the photoshoot was to convey that we want more women to see themselves in these roles, she said.

(A separate photo of the three councilors Juarez posted to her Instagram April 8 was also taken during the photoshoot, Juarez said.)

So was this non-meeting breaking the law in any way? Mills City Attorney Pat Holscher doesnt think so.

What I am certain of is that there hasnt been any public business thats been decided that way, he said.

But the impact the photos had on public trust are an entirely different conversation.

The April 8 gathering may not have been illegal, but it still could have disenfranchised constituents if they got the impression that their leaders were gathering to do work under-the-radar, Holscher said.

I think the implications of it are that it raised concern, he said.

And the city hasnt taken measures to make sure the public knows the photos are staged. To be fair, its unclear if many Mills residents are actually worried about the posts, if theyre even aware they exist.

While Holscher suggested the photos may have rubbed some members of the public the wrong way, Juarez and McCarthy said none of their constituents had approached them with any misgivings about the images.

There is evidence the photoshoot may have ruffled some feathers within the city, though; officials indicated the images were later discussed during a city council executive session on April 25. That said, no one was able to clarify why.

I cant discuss the contents of anything that happens in an executive session because those are confidential by law, said Holscher.

The city of Mills denied the Star-Tribunes request for a copy of the executive sessions meeting minutes.

Juarez has been a somewhat divisive figure in Mills.

Before taking office in January, she had been an outspoken critic of Mills city government for years. In 2018, she led a movement to stop budget cuts to the citys fire department. She ousted incumbent Seth Coleman in the 2022 Mills mayoral election.

Some see Juarez as a breath of fresh air. But her approach hasnt been popular with everyone in the city.

Shes said openly that her image as an outsider bent on shaking things up within Mills has caused some conflict on the council and within the citys ranks.
They start fast. A blur of golden and brown hair. A burst of power and strength.

From the stands at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper the flash looks like two athletes, Jayci Byler and TaDa, lunging forward, a tangle of bulging muscles, leather and denim. But look closer.

You see one athlete. One person. A single organism twisting around the blue Cinch barrels at impossible angles, hurtling from right to left, rounding the final drum and hitting the home stretch at an adrenaline-inducing, energy-zapping pace.

14.68 seconds.

Blink and you missed it. Blink and you missed them.

***

Its a July day in Sunset, Texas, a 4.5-hour drive from Bellville, Bylers hometown. Shes there to visit a horse trainer and family friend.

Byler recognizes the mare immediately. TaDa looks so much like her mother, My Fame Us Lady, the familys longtime barrel racing horse. This is crazy, Byler, a freshman at Sam Houston State, thinks.

Months later, the call comes. TaDa is ready. They start with rides at home, exercising and working their way through the barrel pattern. Then out at youth rodeos.

Theres a hesitation on the part of both horse and rider, cautious as they feel one another out. As they learn from one another. TaDa has many of the same characteristics as her mom  the white blaze, the deep brown coat. The horse is headstrong. But she has a fervid energy and a faster run, requiring more calm and control.

She was just this young mare still learning about the traveling road, not knowing what shes going to do or where shes going to compete, Byler says.

Byler, too, was just learning the traveling road.

In August, they move to Huntsville, Texas together, to college and away from home. They practice every day at Sam Houstons pen, running after classes and in between rodeos. They spend time together. Not seconds, or minutes, or hours, but days together.

Bylers friend quip: Jaycis always with TaDa and the horses.

***

Its a little after 5 p.m. on Wednesday at the Central Wyoming Fairgrounds.

Byler, wearing a camo T-shirt, blue jeans and gray Nikes, strokes TaDas neck as the horse buries her head in a rubber bucket of grain pellets. Kimmi, Bylers mother, rubs CBD oil into TaDas joints back to front.

Byler pulls out two syringes, one small like the kind you would see in a doctors office, the other thick and filled with a red liquid. Byler calms TaDa, Kimmi holding the animals head as one of the needles buries into her neck and conveys a mixture of electrolytes and vitamin B12 into her muscles. TaDa laps at a third syringe with a probiotic and electrolyte paste, and a salty banana taste.

At their trailer, TaDa continues to ease through her feed while Byler picks her hooves and unravels a black blanket with electrode pads.

You know shes a slow eater, Byler tells her mother, aligning the blanket with the horses shoulders and hips. She ties TaDas tail in a knot, wrapping her legs with protective wraps.

Byler disappears inside the trailer, to her own spread  meat, cheese and electrolytes.

At the Ford Wyoming Center, Byler, now in rodeo attire, saddles My Fame Us Lady for the grand entrance. They take off toward the arena, the bright afternoon light just beginning to fade to gold. TaDa watches, forgetting the rope she was chewing on.

As they walk away, she paws the ground.

***

Forty minutes later, Byler and TaDa walk laps alone.

One, two, three, four, five, six. Dozens. Right and left. Left and right. Byler scrolls through funny videos, social media, trying to distract herself, trying to calm rider and horse.

There was no plan to be here. Sure, there were dreams, but no plans. The intent was always to build a budding partnership, a friendship. To enjoy their first college season together.

It really just happened, Byler says.

There was that look in October in Uvalde, Texas. When she knew. When they knew. When their eyes met and they found a mutual understanding.

Were connected.

In the arena, the lights are bright and the music thumps.

Byler and TaDa squeeze between the green fences in the alleyway of the Ford Wyoming Center.

Theyre nervous. The crowd is amped. The energy is bubbling.

Soon, theyll enter the arena and do their circles, three to the left, two to the right. Then theyll break for the first barrel.

But for now, they talk.

Solid run, Byler says to her horse. Solid run, girlfriend.
AN aviation company plans to run commercial flights using an electric engine that creates no carbon emissions by 2025.

ZeroAvia has flown nine test flights with its hydrogen-electric engine at Cotswold Airport, near Cirencester.

The only emission created by the engine is water.
Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!

Your notification has been saved.

There was a problem saving your notification.

{{description}}

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
(CNN)  Indias two aircraft carriers led their battle groups in a combined operation in the Arabian Sea earlier this week, showcasing what the service calls its formidable maritime capabilities and ability to project power around the Indian Ocean and beyond.

Analysts say its a big accomplishment and one that only the United States Navy has pulled off in recent memory.

This is not a small achievement and underlines that the Indian Navy is one of very few in the world that operates more than one aircraft carrier, said Nick Childs, senior fellow for naval forces and maritime security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

The two aircraft carriers, INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, led the exercise with more than 35 aircraft and an array of surface ships and submarines, according to a press release from the Indian Navy.

The successful demonstration of two-carrier battle group operations serves as a powerful testament to the pivotal role of sea-based air power in maintaining maritime superiority, the release said.

India became capable of dual-carrier operations when the $3 billion Vikrant, Indias first domestically built carrier, was commissioned last September, joining Vikramaditya, which was bought from Russia and went into service in 2013.

Upon Vikrants commissioning last year, India joined only the United Kingdom and China in commissioning a domestically built aircraft carrier in the previous three years.

But while both China and the UK have more than one aircraft carrier in their modern fleets, neither has yet to perform dual-carrier operations with them, analysts said.

Collin Koh, research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said Indias naval history may put it ahead of China, whose Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy is the worlds largest, in the current operating environment for aircraft carriers.

The Indian Navy has had decades-long experience and expertise in aircraft carrier ops and this is probably the key advantage it possesses over the PLA Navy, its key rival in this field, despite the latters relative advance in its indigenous aircraft carrier program, Koh said.

China has two aircraft carriers in service, the Soviet-built Liaoning and the domestically built Shandong, while a third carrier, the Fujian, has been launched but not commissioned.

Hawaii-based analyst Carl Schuster, a former US Navy captain, said Indias dual-carrier operations this week show the rejuvenation of the Indian Navy.

India commissioned its first aircraft carrier in 1961 and added a second in 1987. It has operated two aircraft carriers on two previous occasions, between 1987 and 1997, and between 2013 and 2017.

It should be remembered that the Indian Navy has always been a highly trained, tightly disciplined and very proficient force, Schuster said.

The Indian Navy press release called the carriers floating sovereign airfields, adding that they provide our friends with an assurance that the Indian Navy is capable and ready to support our collective security needs in the region.

New Delhis forces have been stepping up cooperation with other navies in the Indo-Pacific, including those in the informal Quad partnership  the United States, Japan and Australia  in the annual Malabar naval exercises.

Indias partnerships and collaborative exercises with other navies have broadened the navys operational knowledge and open ocean experiences, Schuster said.

What the Indian Navy can learn about dual-carrier operations from the United States could be substantial. The US Navy operates the worlds largest carrier fleet  11 warships  and just last week had two of those, the USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan, operating together in the Philippine Sea.

The US Navy sees China as a pacing threat in the Indo-Pacific, and Indias naval operations look toward China too, Schuster said.

Chinas aggression along the (shared Himalayan) border and expanding operations and presence in the Indian Ocean have become Indias most serious security concern. The naval expansion and modernization is intended to address that concern, Schuster said.

But even with the advancements demonstrated by the dual-carrier operation, Indias carrier program still has question marks, said Childs from IISS.

While an impressive-looking display, there may be some question over what this really amounts to as yet in terms of actual operational capability, he said, noting that images from the Indian operation showed relatively few fighter aircraft on the decks of the Vikramaditya and Vikrant.

This may indicate limited aircraft availability, or that the ships capacities are somewhat constrained at the moment. It would certainly suggest that the Indian Navy could do with more carrier aircraft, Childs said.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "India demonstrates naval strength with dual aircraft carrier exercise, a feat China has yet to accomplish"
The water crisis in which 250,000 people were without water one week ago would have lasted for months if the Government had not bypassed the procurement procedure outlined in the procurement act.
Public procurement law is one of the most vitally important pieces of legislation enacted since our Independence.

Our civil society groups worked long and hard in the vineyard calling for the introduction of public procurement law, in the hope that this would be the catalyst to reverse the corruption and squandermania in government spending which threatens to ruin our country.
(CNN)  A team of researchers in the United States and United Kingdom say they have created the worlds first synthetic human embryo-like structures from stem cells, bypassing the need for eggs and sperm.

These embryo-like structures are at the very earliest stages of human development: They dont have a beating heart or a brain, for example. But scientists say they could one day help advance the understanding of genetic diseases or the causes of miscarriages.

The research raises critical legal and ethical questions, and many countries, including the US, dont have laws governing the creation or treatment of synthetic embryos.

The pace of discoveries in this field and the growing sophistication of these models have alarmed bioethics experts as they push ever closer to the edge of life.

Unlike human embryos arising from in vitro fertilization (IVF), where there is an established legal framework, there are currently no clear regulations governing stem cell derived models of human embryos. There is an urgent need for regulations to provide a framework for the creation and use of stem cell derived models of human embryos, James Briscoe, associate research director at the Francis Crick Institute, said in a statement.

Dr. Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz described the work in a presentation Wednesday to the International Society for Stem Cell Researchs annual meeting in Boston. Zernicka-Goetz, a professor of biology and biological engineering at CalTech and the University of Cambridge, said the research has been accepted at a well-regarded scientific journal but has not been published. The research was first reported by The Guardian.

Zernicka-Goetz and her team, along with a rival team in Israel, had previously described creating model embryo-like structures from mouse stem cells. Those embryoids showed the beginnings of a brain, heart and intestinal tract after about eight days of development.

The embryo-like structures that Zernicka-Goetz says her lab has created were grown from single human embryonic stem cells that were coaxed to develop into three distinct tissue layers, she said. They include cells that would typically go on to develop a yolk sac, a placenta and the embryo itself.

She told CNN that the embryo-like structures her lab has created are also the first to have germ cells that would go on to develop into egg and sperm.

I just wish to stress that they are not human embryos, Zernicka-Goetz said. They are embryo models, but they are very exciting because they are very looking similar to human embryos and very important path towards discovery of why so many pregnancies fail, as the majority of the pregnancies fail around the time of the development at which we build these embryo-like structures.

She said that to her knowledge, it was the first time a human model embryo had been created with three tissue layers. But she stressed that while it mimics some of the features of a natural embryo, it doesnt have all of them.

Researchers hope these model embryos will shed light on the black box of human development, the period following 14 days after fertilization, which is the agreed limit for scientists to grow and study embryos in a lab.

Right now, the synthetic model human embryos are confined to test tubes. It would be illegal to implant one in a womb, and animal research with stem cells from mice and monkeys has shown that even when scientists have attempted to implant them, they dont survive  probably because researchers havent figured out how to fully replicate the conditions of pregnancy.

Zernicka-Goetz said that the aim of her research wasnt to create life but to prevent its loss, understanding why embryos sometime fail to develop after fertilization and implantation.

We know remarkably little about this step in human development, but it is a time where many pregnancies are lost, especially in an IVF setting, Roger Sturmey, senior research fellow in maternal and fetal health at the University of Manchester in the UK, said in a statement.

Currently, we can say that these synthetic embryos share a number of features with blastocysts, but it is important to recognise that the way that synthetic embryos are formed is different to what happens when a normal embryo forms a blastocyst, he said. There is much work to be done to determine the similarities and differences between synthetic embryos and embryos that form from the union of an egg and a sperm.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Scientists report creation of first human synthetic model embryos"
Nearly three years after it first acquired the assets of a troubled for-profit online school, the University of Arizonas absorption of UA Global Campus is expected to take effect at the end of the month.

The Arizona Board of Regents approved the integration Thursday, which means the online school with roughly 25,000 students will soon be part of the University of Arizona.

The board did that right after it approved the UAs $2.7 billion annual budget, which includes the budget for UA Global Campus. The budget for UA Global Campus is roughly $249.4 million and includes about $153 million for salaries and benefits.

Under this arrangement, the UA intends to acquire substantially all of UAGCs assets, assume substantially all of UAGCs liabilities, and employ substantially all of UAGCs faculty, staff, and administrators. In addition, the UA will acquire two properties UA Global Campus already has leases on in Chandler.

Unlike the UAs diverse revenue strategy, which includes tuition, grants and state funding, UA Global Campus sole revenue base at this time is tuition.

Within the fiscal year 2024 budget plan the UA presented to the board, the university expects to net $766.3 million in tuition and fees from students at the UA. It expects to net an additional $231.1 million from its UA Global Campus students, which adds up to $997.4 million in total revenues from students paying for an education.

Critiques

In August 2020, when the UA announced it was acquiring the assets of the for-profit Ashford University (thats what UA Global Campus was previously known as) and rebranding it as the nonprofit UA Global Campus, it faced both internal and external criticisms.

Many of those critiques focused on both student welfare  Ashford attracted high numbers of veterans, low-income students and students from historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups  and the UA entangling its upstanding reputation with a school that has faced multiple lawsuits for misleading students about the cost and value of an Ashford degree.

The UA isnt the only major public university to affiliate with a for-profit college in recent years. Purdue University in Indiana acquired Kaplan University in 2018 and has since rebranded it Purdue University Global. Last month, the University of Idaho acquired the University of Phoenix shortly after the University of Arkansas system trustees rejected the deal.

At the time of the Ashford acquisition, the UA said it planned to keep the two entities separate. But by early 2022, the UA announced its new plans  and the regents approved it  to absorb the school and its assets.

Since then, leaders of the UA and UA Global Campus have been working on details of that plan, which would substantially grow the UAs presence in the online higher education space that schools like Arizona State University have dominated for years.

Those discussions, however, faced continued criticisms from the UA Faculty Senate, whose members have repeatedly accused the administration of lacking transparency and shared governance in developing its strategy.

'I'm personally very excited'

Nonetheless, since the Board of Regents gave its final approval of that plan on Thursday, integration of UA Global Campus into the UA will be complete by June 30. That completion is contingent on the online school's accreditor, the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission, accepting a substantive change application the UA submitted in conjunction with UA Global Campus earlier this year. WSCUC is expected to make a final decision at its meeting scheduled for June 28-30.

Were in the position now of being able to achieve the ultimate objective of bringing UAGC into the University of Arizona, UA President Robert C. Robbins told the board Thursday before it unanimously approved the request for the asset acquisition transaction.

Im personally very excited about this, given that there are 40 million Americans that have some college experience but no degree. Its part of our offerings to serve these students and were looking forward to having these students be Wildcats for life," Robbins said.

Leila Hudson, chair of the UA faculty, told the Arizona Daily Star Friday that Robbins' idealistic vision for UA Global Campus will involve more, not less, transparency about UAGC finances and educational practices to ensure that the tuition revenue generated from underserved populations of non-traditional and international students truly breaks with UAGC's problematic past, delivers value and excellence worthy of our name, and does not compromise our institutional operations or reputation.

Hudson added that its a tall order, but shes hopeful that recent and continuing changes at the University of Arizona will make us healthy enough to sustain President Robbins' vision.

UA will grant the degrees

Once the integration is complete, UA Global Campus will operate as a separate business unit within the UA, and Robbins will be held accountable to the regents for its academic, financial and operational performance.

Paul Pastorek, who is president of UA Global Campus, will now become the UAs senior vice president for UAGC and report directly to Robbins. UA Global's senior leaders will at first report directly to Pastorek, but also to their corresponding senior leaders at the UA.

The following are key elements of this new structure for UA Global Campus:

UA will be the degree-granting institution;

A graduate of UAGC will receive a UA degree with a UAGC designation;

UA Global Campus will maintain its current admission standards, which are different than UAs admission standards;

UA Global Campus will maintain its current tuition and fees, which are different than UAs tuition and fees;

UA Global Campus will retain its current faculty, separate from UAs faculty;

UA Global Campus will retain its current student body, separate from UAs student body;

UA Global Campus will have separate faculty-shared governance;

UA Global Campus will continue to enroll and register its students separately from UA;

UA will provide UA Global Campus annual budget to the Board of Regents for review and will periodically report UA Global Campus financial performance to the regents; provided, however, that UA Global Campus budget will be included in UAs overall annual budget, which is reviewed and approved by the regents;

UA Global Campus will have separate and distinct accounts within UAs finance and treasury organization; and

UA Global Campus will retain its own academic programs (as approved by the regents), faculty council, recruitment and enrollment services, and financial aid support.

Hudson said this new structure, which she said elected faculty representatives did not see before the vote, seems designed to keep a firewall between the University of Arizona faculty and the students, programs, graduation requirements, and faculty of UAGC. That structure, she added, makes her worry that it could produce its own costs, inefficiencies, and frictions.
If only she had time, the executive director at Make Way for Books might ponder the whereabouts of those first children touched by the program in 1998.

Are any of them teachers now? Parents? Do they read to their kids as their teachers and parents once read to them?

Since those first, early days at Pio Decimo Preschool on the citys south side, tens of thousands of Tucson children received their first books through Make Way programs.

A single-file, keep-your-hands-to-yourself line of graduates would extend from here to  well, Yissel Salafsky wishes she knew, but right now there are just too many meetings, too many Zoom calls, too many people to talk to.

SO many people to talk to, Salafsky laughed, but Make Way has a great story to tell, and she wants to tell everyone.

Salafsky moved into the directors office in January, just before Make Way for Books began celebrating its 25th anniversary year. On the face of it, the mission looked like childs play. No, really. Since its inception, Make Way has provided more than 750,000 books to Pima County preschools and preschoolers.

Scratch the surface, though, and we learn Make Way for Books will soon be widening its lens to the entire state of Arizona. That is why the days just arent long enough for the new executive director.

It started with a grant request to the Pima County Office of Education two or three years ago, Salafsky explained. They suggested we talk to the statewide office, too. The state was placing new emphasis on early childhood education. Not a lot of organizations do what we do, and they wondered if we might be able to expand.

Already, Make Way for Books has opened satellite locations in Chandler and Avondale. An office in Phoenix is scheduled to open later this year. New initiatives are also being explored in Flagstaff and Chinle.

Its an exciting time, Salafsky said. Our mission is to help every child read and succeed. If we can help more kids, thats great, but we need to do it in a thoughtful way.

One priority: tailoring each local program to the specific needs of that community.

We cant just assume that the program weve developed here in Pima County will be whats needed in Maricopa County or the Navajo nation north of Flagstaff. We want to craft every program to fit for those areas. So right now, were spending a lot of time getting to know those communities, trying to learn just what they need and how we can help.

Here in Tucson, Make Way for Books offers two bedrock programs, both sufficiently nuanced to help children whose families speak languages other than English at home.

The Story Project provides books and teacher assistance to certified preschools and daycare centers.

The other Make Way program, called Story School, supports home care and child care providers, even if theyre grandparents or friends.

Weve known for a long time that our preschools touch less than half the kids in Pima County, Salafsky said. A majority of our 3- and 4-year-olds stay at home with their parents, with friends or with relatives. We want to help those kids, too.

Both programs were buoyed during the pandemic by a newly developed app, and it proved to be a winning combination. The Library of Congress named Make Way for Books the winner of its 2022 American Prize for significant and measurable contributions to increasing literacy levels in the United States.

Much to be done

Make Way for Books was launched in 1998 by Mary Jan and Paul Bancroft from his law office, the name a loving nod to the classic picture book, Make Way for Ducklings.

Their first project was the establishment of a library and reading program at Pio Decimo Preschool.

In the 25 years since, Make Way has helped dozens of preschools, thousands of families and a generation of young readers discover the joy of reading.

It has matured into an organization with 32 staff members and an operating budget of $2.5 million, but expanding statewide will be a major undertaking.

Salafsky, a first-in-family college graduate who attended all three of Arizonas public universities, brings a unique skillset to the challenge. She holds degrees in communications, public administration and nonprofit management.

A young mom herself, Salafsky came to Make Way from the University of Arizona, where she helped develop the schools online degree program.

She is hoping the combination of these experiences will serve her well as her organization expands.

When people ask what we will need to expand, the easy answer is everything. she said, Well need more people, more grants, more donors ... First, though, we need to put systems in place that will help us grow. Those are the kind of things were thinking about and working on this summer. We have a lot to do.

FOOTNOTES

If you are interested in becoming a Make Way for Books volunteer or would like to learn more about the program, visitors are welcome to tour the main office on the last Friday of each month. Tours are offered on the hour each morning. To schedule a visit, call 520-398-6451.

As if she doesnt have enough on her plate, Salafsky is pondering the viability of a new program for teachers of children in kindergarten through second grade. Kids are coming into grade school now who lost a year or both years of preschool because of the pandemic. We know there wont be a big increase in funding from the state. Could we help?

The UA Poetry Center, 1508 E. Helen Street, will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays until students return for the fall semester in August.
PHOENIX  Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed four bills Friday designed to target drag shows and performers.

Intolerance has no place in Arizona despite the Legislatures frequent attempts to pass legislation that says otherwise, the Democratic governor said in a single veto message on all four.

She said the four bills are attempts to criminalize free expression and ostracize the LGBTQIA+ community both implicitly and explicitly, creating statutory language that could be weaponized by those who choose hate over acceptance.

I have made it abundantly clear that I am committed to building an Arizona for everyone and will not support any legislation that attempts to marginalize our fellow Arizonans, Hobbs said.

Only one of the measures specifically mentions drag shows. Senate Bill 1026, sponsored by Sen. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, would have barred the use of public money or state-funded institutions for a drag show targeting minors.

It defined that as any adult performers dressing in clothing and makeup of the opposite sex to exaggerate gender signifiers and roles and engage in singing, dancing or a monologue or skit to entertain a target audience under 18.

Its breadth bothered Sen. Priya Sundareshan, a Tucson Democrat.

This could include all sorts of beloved childhood movies and productions like Mulan and Mrs. Doubtfire, any other popular show that includes people dressing in clothing of the opposite gender, she said.

Senate Minority Leader Mitzi Epstein, D-Tempe, said it would preclude her from dressing up as Thomas Jefferson to read the Bill of Rights to a group of children at a school or municipal event.

Three other measures took different approaches in what proponents said where efforts to protect children from sexually explicit performances.

Sen. Anthony Kern, R-Glendale, sponsor of two of the measures, insisted he was not trying to limit what is available to adults. He stripped the words drag shows from his bills in an effort to show he was not targeting transgender individuals.

But there already are laws keeping children out of adult-oriented businesses. And supporters made it clear that, with or without those words, the measures were aimed at those performing in drag.

We all know what were talking about here, said Senate President Warren Petersen, a Gilbert Republican. Were talking about men wearing bikinis, dancing weird, sexually, strangely in front of children. I imagine everyones seen the videos.

Some videos available on social media show performances by men in drag with children in the audience.

Folks, if youve seen it, you know this stuff is gross, its disgusting, its perverse, Petersen said. And thats what were talking about here.

Sen. Anna Hernandez, a Phoenix Democrat, argued against expanding existing laws that already govern not just who can view an adult-oriented performance but also protect minors from exposure to nudity and sex acts. These bills included an expanded definition that could make criminals out of people performing activities that are now legal, even with children present, she said.

She said it would have been one thing had the proponents sought to regulate obscene performances and access by minors. That would be a better and clearer test, Hernandez said, because courts have defined that to be materials that are not only patently offensive but that, when taken as a whole, lack any serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.

The worry is that the language of this bill will be perverted in order to continue to be applied to drag shows because drag shows often focus on over-the-top humor, sometimes sexual in nature, and it may be offensive to some individuals that hear it, she said.

Tucson Republican Sen. Justine Wadsack, author of one of the bills and a supporter of all four, had a different take.

We have absolute evidence that these drag performers are targeting to perform in front of children, Wadsack said during debate on the measures. What they are doing itself is evidence of that targeting, she said.

Why, why do grown men want to dress up as women and read to young children? she asked. Why not just dress in jeans and a T-shirt and read to the children?

What it is all about, Wadsack said, is sexually grooming our children.

One of the measures sponsored by Kern had nothing to do with children. SB 1030 would have required counties to adopt specific zoning ordinances for businesses that conduct sexually explicit performances.

My intent of this bill is to regulate sexually explicit drag shows, but other drag shows could remain, he said.

As we all know, drag shows have been around as long as human beings have been around, Kern said during debate. Although Ive never been to one, I have watched the movie Tootsie and Mrs. Doubtfire. And Ive enjoyed them.

He said he wants to protect children from what his bill would define as sexually explicit drag shows.

Why a parent would even want to bring a child to one of these shows is beyond me, he said.

Only thing is, his SB 1030 makes no mention of minors.

Instead, its provisions would regulate the location of any sexually explicit performances, specifically including anything with an intention to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires or appeal to the prurient interest.

Sundareshan called that particularly vague, saying what can arouse varies from person to person.

Kerns SB 1028 took a different approach, seeking to bar sexually explicit performances on public property or anywhere the person knows or has reason to know it could be viewed by a minor. It used the same definition of that phrase as the other measure about intent to arouse.

SB 1698, sponsored by Wadsack, also focused on minors. It sought to create a new felony of unlawful exposure to an adult oriented performance.

As originally written, the measure specifically included drag shows. But Wadsack agreed to remove that wording, instead making it a crime to bring a child into an adult-oriented business.

Sen. Christine Marsh, D-Phoenix, said that made the bill much better. But she said what remained still had some pretty serious implications.

A felony violation would apply to a parent or anyone else who brigs a minor to any adult-oriented business, Marsh said. The same penalty would apply to the performer, who would have to figure out if there was someone under 18 in the audience.

Sen. Juan Mendez, D-Tempe, said he sees a bigger problem in the legislation, whether any of the bills use the words drag shows or not. The intent is clear, he said.

These attacks on drag performances and the trans community are a slippery slope toward authoritarian rule, he said. It should concern everyone when anyone becomes the punching bag of an ideology.
(CNN)  Several US federal government agencies have been hit in a global cyberattack that exploits a vulnerability in widely used software, according to a top US cybersecurity agency.

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is providing support to several federal agencies that have experienced intrusions affecting their MOVEit applications, Eric Goldstein, the agencys executive assistant director for cybersecurity, said in a statement on Thursday to CNN, referring to the software impacted. We are working urgently to understand impacts and ensure timely remediation.

It was not immediately clear if the hackers responsible for breaching the federal agencies were a Russian-speaking ransomware group that has claimed credit for numerous other victims in the hacking campaign.

A CISA spokesperson had no comment when CNN asked who carried out the hack of federal agencies and how many have been affected.

Agencies were much quicker Thursday to deny theyd been affected by the hacking than to confirm they were. The Transportation Security Administration and the State Department said they were not victims of the hack.

CISA Director Jen Easterly told MSNBC on Thursday that she was confident that there will not be significant impacts to federal agencies from the hacks because of the governments defensive improvements.

But the news adds to a growing tally of victims of a sprawling hacking campaign that began two weeks ago and has hit major US universities and state governments. The hacking spree mounts pressure on federal officials who have pledged to put a dent in the scourge of ransomware attacks that have hobbled schools, hospitals and local governments across the US.

Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and the universitys renowned health system said in a statement this week that sensitive personal and financial information, including health billing records may have been stolen in the hack.

Meanwhile, Georgias state-wide university system  which spans the 40,000-student University of Georgia along with over a dozen other state colleges and universities  confirmed it was investigating the scope and severity of the hack.

A Russian-speaking hacking group known as CLOP last week claimed credit for some of the hacks, which have also affected employees of the BBC, British Airways, oil giant Shell, and state governments in Minnesota and Illinois, among others.

The Russian hackers were the first to exploit the vulnerability, but experts say other groups may now have access to software code needed to conduct attacks.

The ransomware group had given victims until Wednesday to contact them about paying a ransom, after which they began listing more alleged victims from the hack on their extortion site on the dark web. As of Thursday morning, the dark website did not list any US federal agencies. Instead, the hackers wrote in all caps, If you are a government, city or police service do not worry, we erased all your data. You do not need to contact us. We have no interest to expose such information.

The CLOP ransomware group is one of numerous gangs in Eastern Europe and Russia that are almost exclusively focused on wringing their victims for as much money as possible.

The activity were seeing at the moment, adding company names to their leak site, is a tactic to scare victims, both listed and unlisted, into paying, Rafe Pilling, director of threat research at Dell-owned Secureworks, told CNN.

The new hacking campaign shows the widespread impact that a single software flaw can have if exploited by skilled criminals.

The hackers  a well-known group whose favored malware emerged in 2019  in late May began exploiting a new flaw in a widely used file-transfer software known as MOVEit, appearing to target as many exposed organizations as they could. The opportunistic nature of the hack left a broad swath of organizations vulnerable to extortion.

Progress, the US firm that owns the MOVEit software, has also urged victims to update their software packages and has issued security advice.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Exclusive: US government agencies hit in global cyberattack"
MUNICH  Matthias Weniger put on a pair of white cloth gloves and carefully lifted a tarnished silver candleholder, looking for a yellowed sticker on the bottom of it.

The candlestick is one of 111 silver objects at the Bavarian National Museum that the Nazis stole from Jewish families during the Third Reich in 1939. That's when they ordered all German Jews to take their personal silver objects to pawn shops across the Reich  one of many laws created to humiliate, punish and exclude Jews.

What started with anti-Jewish discrimination and persecution in 1933, after the Nazis were voted to power in Germany, led to the murder of 6 million European Jews and others in the Holocaust before World War II ended with Germany's surrender in 1945.

Weniger, who is a curator at the Munich museum and oversees its restitution efforts, has made it his mission to return as many of the silver objects as possible to the descendants of the original owners.

"These silver objects handed in at the pawn shops are often the only material things that remain from an existence wiped out in the Holocaust," Weniger said from the museum's workshop, where he displayed some silver items that have yet to be restituted.

"Therefore it's really important to try to find the families and give back the objects to them," he added.

Thousands of the pieces taken from Jewish families were melted into around 135 tons of silver, and used to help Germany's war efforts. But several museums ended up with hundreds of silver pieces such as candlesticks used to light candles on the eve of Shabbat, Kiddush cups to bless the wine, silver spoons and cake servers.

Some of the items were returned to Holocaust survivors in the 1950s and 1960s, if they came forward and actively tried to retrieve their stolen possessions. But many owners were murdered in the Holocaust or, if they succeeded to flee from the Nazis, ended up in far-flung corners of the globe.

"Two thirds of the last owners did not survive the Shoah," Weniger said.

Despite these odds, and with a combination of thorough detective work, dedication and deep knowledge of history, Weniger has so far managed to return about 50 objects to the family members and relatives of the original owners.

He's convinced that he may be able to return almost all remaining objects by the end of this year.

First, he searches for the identity of the original owners. The little yellowed paper stickers on some of the pieces often help his efforts. They were put on the objects by the pawn shops  a testament to Germans' obsessive bureaucracy even in times of dictatorship and war.

The numbers on the stickers are also listed on more than 80-year-old documents naming the people who had to give away their silver  sometimes beloved heirlooms that had been passed down in families for many generations.

Once Weniger discovers the names of the original owners, he starts looking up Jewish obituary and genealogy databases, in hopes that direct descendants or more distant relatives may have posted their names online.

"And so you get from one generation to the next generation and you end up with telephone books  with LinkedIn, with Facebook, with Instagram or email addresses that correspond to a member of the younger generation of that family," the researcher explained.

In most of the cases, Weniger says he gets lucky and is able to track down the right relatives.

The majority of descendants live in the United States and Israel, but the museum has already or is in the process of also returning silver pieces to France, the United Kingdom, Australia and Mexico.

Weniger makes a point of personally delivering the pieces to the families. He traveled to the U.S. earlier this year, and last week, he returned 19 pieces to families in Israel.

There, Weniger met with Hila Gutmann, 53, and her father Benjamin Gutmann, 86, at his home in Kfar Shmaryahu north of Tel Aviv, and gave them a small silver cup.

Weniger had managed to track down the family with the help of the tracing service of Magen David Adom  Israel's version of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The cup was likely used for Kiddush to bless the wine on the eve of Shabbat  but nobody knows for sure because the original owners, Bavarian cattle dealer Salomon Gutmann and his wife, Karolina, who were the grandparents of Benjamin, were murdered by the Nazis in the Treblinka extermination camp.

"It was a mixed feeling for us to get back the cup," Hila Gutmann said. "Because you understand it's the only thing that's left of them."

While the grandparents of Benjamin Gutmann were murdered in the Holocaust, their son Max  Benjamin's father  survived because he fled from the Nazis to the British-mandated territory of Palestine, in what is now Israel.

Despite the pain triggered by the loss and return of the silver cup, the Gutmanns say they're happy to have it back and plan to use it in a ceremony with all their other relatives on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, in September.

As for Weniger, the Gutmanns have nothing but praise for him and his work.

"He's really dedicated to it," Hila Gutmann said. "He treats these little objects with so much care  like they are holy."
Producers of the latest Transformers are apparently so eager to reboot the series they use part of their time to detail the car/robots and what theyre designed to do.

For a newcomer, thats particularly helpful. For the rest of us, its reason why this Rise of the Beasts goes 30 minutes longer than it should.

This time out, Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback, as Brooklyn residents, get pulled into the Transformer-verse after he steals a Porsche, and she tries to decode its tribal markings.

Together, they go on a journey to Peru where, supposedly, the other part of a key is hidden.

On their trail: Unicron (voiced by Colman Domingo) and Scourge (voiced by Peter Dinklage) who want to destroy Earth.

Once in Peru, the two have to make their way through Indiana Jones-level ruins and find the missing link.

Just in case you dont follow the dots, Rise of the Beasts also has a mechanical ape who looks suspiciously like a former New Yorker. Director Steven Caple Jr. spells out plenty (we know who the good and the bad are before we start wondering why Pete Davidson is here) and has plenty on the precipice to suggest this could be Hasbros Endgame.

Like Melanie Griffith in Working Girl, Fishback covers for her boss (shes a museum intern, no less) and does the heavy lifting for Optimus Prime and his ilk. (Optimus Primal, in case you didnt pay attention, is the mechanical gorilla).

She bonds with Ramos, whos so likable you forgive his thievery. When the car turns into a robot, you can see a 10-year-olds wonder wash across his face.

Because its simple (and doesnt have some of the convoluted subplotting of earlier installments), Rise of the Beasts has a chance to take this in another direction  particularly since the bad guys vow revenge and theres enough left in the human relationships to keep it percolating.

While Transformers is nothing more than a way to extend the shelf-life of toy cars that twisted into robots, it does have the accessories young movie goers have come to love: car chases, battling bots and humans in peril. That weve seen this dozens of times over doesnt matter. Characters  like Fishbacks and Ramos  act like theyve never heard of transformers, even though theyve been destroying things for decades. That naivete serves the old story well and avoids some of the otherworldly stuff previous installments embraced.

As summer movies go, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is harmless enough you could bring a kid and see the excitement through his eyes.

If youve been down the path several times before, youll realize they never really did figure out the Transformers purpose.

Sometimes a cool toy is just that.
Clark Crew BBQ, an Oklahoma City-based restaurant owned by Jack Daniels Invitational winner Travis Clark, will open a Tulsa location later this year at the old Fuddruckers location, 10825 E. 71st St.

The menu will be similar to that of the original Oklahoma City location, which offers barbecued beef, pork and chicken dishes, as well as wood-fire pizzas, burgers and house-made desserts.

Tulsa was always my choice for our second location, said Clark in a statement. I like the area. My wife is from there, and we both knew it would be a great fit. When the opportunity came up, we knew this was the right time and place for us. Plus, its close enough that we can bounce back and forth between OKC and Tulsa.

Clark Crew BBQ is currently hiring for the Tulsa restaurant and is looking to fill some 100 positions this fall. The brand offers a wide variety of employee benefits ranging from health care insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, competitive compensation and paid leave. Interested candidates can apply through the restaurants website, clarkcrewbbq.com.

Stutts House of Barbecue, 2021 E. Apache St., will be serving a special quail and steak dinner for Fathers Day, Sunday, June 18.

The meal includes quail and steak along with all the fixings, for $21.99. Stutts House of Barbecue will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fathers Day.

<&rule>
A sharp-dressed man tells a bank teller he wants to withdraw all the money from his account.

The sharp-dressed mans name: John Dillinger. He doesnt have an account, but he has a gun.

Youre being robbed by the John Dillinger gang. Thats the best there is. These few dollars you will lose here today, they are going to buy you stories to tell your children and your great-grandchildren. This could be one of the big moments in your life. Dont make it your last.

Thats not a quote from the real Dillinger.

The words came from actor Warren Oates in the opening scene of Dillinger, a shot-in-Oklahoma film released 50 years ago  June 19, 1973.

I think it was one of the better films that was shot in Oklahoma, just depending on what your personal preferences are, Teresa Wilkerson Lane said.

Lane, a former Tulsan, had a minor role in Dillinger. Asked why she ranks Dillinger among the better shot-in-Oklahoma films, she cited the cast and the performances.

Anything with Ben Johnson, I am going to watch several times, Lane said.

Plus, I love Warren Oates. I think it is one of Warren Oates better movies. He did a lot of kind of avant garde and different genres, but I think this is one of his best performances, as far as I am concerned. And I thought Michelle Phillips was great in it, too.

Phillips pivoted to acting after being in the music group The Mamas & The Papas. She received a Golden Globe Award nomination for most promising newcomer after appearing in Dillinger.

The Dillinger cast also included Richard Dreyfuss, Cloris Leachman, Harry Dean Stanton, Geoffrey Lewis and Steve Kanaly.

It was a cast with bling.

Five months before filming began, Leachman and Johnson snared Academy Awards for their work in The Last Picture Show. Dreyfuss (Baby Face Nelson in Dillinger) was five years away from earning an Oscar for The Goodbye Girl.

Dillinger was written and directed by John Milius, a revered screenwriter before making his directorial debut on Oklahoma soil. Among films Milius later directed were The Wind and the Lion, Conan the Barbarian and Red Dawn, which reunited three cast members from the shot-in-Tulsa Francis Ford Coppola film The Outsiders. Milius and Coppola earned Oscar nominations for best adapted screenplay on 1979s Apocalypse Now.

Okies were employed in front of and behind the camera because Dillinger was shot in places like Enid, Ardmore, Dougherty, Nash, Jefferson and Oklahoma City.

Darrell Todd said the whole town  relatives included  showed up to be outfitted as extras when shooting (and shooting) took place in Nash. He was an eighth-grader at the time.

I always tell people my grandmother and sister were killed by Baby Face Nelson, he said.

Enid postal worker Curt McCoy landed a role as a warden taken hostage by Dillinger. Another local postal worker, Calvin Bergdall, played a reporter who fired questions at Dillinger during a perp walk. Cecil Stephens, a bellman at the Youngblood Hotel, joined McCoy as a hostage.

Because Dillinger was set in the 1930s, the production company needed era-appropriate automobiles. Steve Davis responded to a cars-needed advertisement in The Oklahoman and, in addition to providing vehicles for the film, he wound up in multiple scenes as an extra (although he was more than an extra).

Said Davis: "We repainted many of the cars that were used in Enid, at night, with all the spray paint we could buy from TG&Y ... so the same cars could be used in different scenes. They looked like heck up close but, to the camera, they were just fine."

Perks included Davis transporting Johnson to Oklahoma City to catch a flight (they had a nice chat) and attempting to teach Dreyfuss how to drive a Model A Ford.

We wound up pulling his car in a scene with a tow bar attached to the back of a 1966 El Camino, Davis said.

Lane, a 1969 Nathan Hale High School graduate, learned from one of her Oklahoma State University professors that Dillinger was shooting in the area  and perhaps she could get a part?

Lane joined a line of people with similar intentions. She read for legendary casting directors Fred Roos (American Graffiti, The Outsiders) and Mike Fenton (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Back to the Future, E.T.: the Extra-Terrestrial) and was rewarded with a speaking role.

Lane played flirty girl Pearl in an outdoor scene where Enid doubles for Tucson, Arizona. She approaches Dillinger and tells him he looks like Dillinger. A celebrity gangster trying to lay low, Dillinger responds by saying people tell him he looks like Douglas Fairbanks.

I like Dillinger better, Pearl said.

Pearls male companion in the scene is Homer Van Meter, a member of Dillingers gang played by Stanton.

When the movie got released, I was in L.A. and I was doing some modeling and that kind of stuff, and one of the guys that was helping me out (with my career) was Bill Robinson, Lane said. He was the agent for Carol Burnett. He called me and said Hey, Dillinger is coming out today. Do you want to go see it? And I said Sure. So we went to a little cinema there in L.A., and Harry Dean Stanton was there with his friend and they were a couple of rows ahead of us. It was 12 oclock or something like that, so there werent very many people there. Anyway, we kind of waved and talked with each other after the film.

Lane is complimentary of her cast interactions. Lane said Phillips was super nice. While at an Enid hotel that housed the actors, Phillips asked Lane if she wanted to get high, according to Lane. (It was the make-love-not-war 1970s, explained Lane.)

After shooting the Tucson scene, Lane and the Dillinger folks went to a honky tonk to unwind. Lane was mortified when she spilled a bloody mary on the table. Maybe the months-later arrival of a $325 Dillinger paycheck had a healing effect?

After finishing course work at OSU in 73, Lane loaded up her Dodge Dart (and her Old English sheepdog) to chase the Hollywood dream. Roos volunteered to help Lane if she ever made it to California, and he was true to his word: He would take me to parties with George Lucas, and Cindy Williams would be there, and she and I would be competing with each other for a ton of parts, which obviously she got and I didnt.

Lane eventually chose other pursuits, but she accepted an invite from Roos to help with extras when The Outsiders was shot in her hometown in 1982. Lane and her daughter were extras in the burning church scene. Now shes a yoga teacher in Idaho, where her daughter also resides.

I still get texts all the time from people saying I just watched Dillinger. Lane said this week. Its one of those late-night things, I guess, that they show over and over.

Dillinger (93% Rotten Tomatoes score) opened with two full-house crowds at Enids Chief Theater in 73. The audience applauded when the Enid Convention Hall appeared on the big screen, according to the Enid News & Eagle.

Said Todd: It was kind of hard to watch it as a film because you are watching it as Hey, there is Uncle Larry or Hey, there is Uncle Clyde.

Todd, talking about Oates, said they couldnt have picked anyone who looked more like Dillinger. Oates consented to an interview with the Enid News & Eagle on the fourth day of shooting in October of 1972.

Im really enjoying this film, he told the newspaper. I like being out in the fresh air and sunshine while shooting.

A wire service story that same month quoted Johnson as saying he is so mean in Dillinger that he sometimes even scares himself. Because The Last Picture Show was still fresh on minds, Johnson said the profanity in the script caused him to turn down a part in the the film and he had to be talked into accepting. I would have rather won the Academy Award for another picture, he said.

The characters played by Oates and Johnson are on a bullets-and-blood collision course in Dillinger, which received an R rating. The film was released six years after another gangster flick (Bonnie and Clyde) caught flak for an excess of graphic violence.

In writing about Dillinger post-release, the Enid News & Eagle clarified a stance. The newspaper did not publicize R-rated films, but this, we feel, is a legitimate exception.

At the time Dillinger was being made, Todd assumed it was just going to be a Godfather knockoff. Plus, Dillinger was from American International Pictures, which was known for drive-in theater fare.

As I go back and watch it now, I can watch it and go, damn, that wasnt that bad of a movie, Todd said. It was pretty good. Then you start thinking of the different actors who were in it. It was full of people who were either stars then or becoming stars. ... Looking back on it, I think it holds up pretty good.



The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today.
The Cherokee Nation and its film office are celebrating the world premiere of The Origin of Strawberries, the first project of its kind to be designed, animated and produced at Cherokee Film Studios.

The groundbreaking production used the latest motion capture innovations to depict an ancient story about reconciliation. The Cherokee language short film was created utilizing the tribes state-of-the-art soundstage technology, including motion and performance capture systems, real-time graphics in a game engine and powerful content creation software, according to a news release.

Cherokee Nation is combining the incredible efforts of our first-language speakers with the use of emerging technology and unique content creation tools to help preserve and share our language, Jennifer Loren, senior director of Cherokee Film, said in the release.

This proof-of-concept project is an excellent example of how state-of-the-art technology combined with a revolutionary workflow creates limitless opportunities for us to share our own stories in new and exciting ways.

The Origin of Strawberries debuted at the 2023 deadCenter Film Festival in Oklahoma City. The film was featured during the festivals Future of Film, a showcase of films and experiences that were created using innovative technology.

Throughout the creation of this short film, we wanted to push the boundaries of creative freedom and the ability to experiment and try new things, Michael Lister, virtual production manager for the Cherokee Nation Film Office, said in the release.

We accomplished this through innovations in our ability to work with motion and performance capture technologies and the use of virtual cameras in Unreal Engine. This allowed us to visualize and edit our content live, giving us a near final cut of our scenes before talent leaves the set.

CNFO also partnered with deadCenter Film to host the film festivals inaugural Celebrating Indigenous Cinema reception highlighting Indigenous films and filmmakers.

Fancy Dance, a Native project and Cherokee Nation Film Incentive recipient, received accolades for the Best Feature Film and Best Indigenous Film, while the films director, Erica Tremblay, was honored as a 2023 Film Icon.

The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today.
More than 30 Oklahoma Army National Guard engineers arrived at Pohakuloa Training Area in Hilo, Hawaii, on June 11.

Sgt. Carson Smallwood and Staff Sgt. Travis Lambert, both of Owasso, are among those soldiers assigned to the 3120th Engineer Company, 120th Engineer Battalion, 90th Troop Command, who are renovating the Girl Scouts of Hawaiis Camp Kilohana over the next few weeks. Smallwood, a carpentry and masonry specialist, and Lambert, a medic, are helping to renovate cabins, outbuildings and a main lodge alongside their fellow Oklahoma National Guard members.

Were here supporting the Innovative Readiness Training (program), and our community partner is the Girl Scouts of Hawaii. Its an austere area in need of remodel, Capt. Ryne Webster, commander of the 3120th and an Oklahoma City resident, said in a news release.

This is one of the rare things were able to do thats not on a military post. (Our community partners) pay for the materials, and my engineers get the specialty training we cant find anywhere else.

The Innovative Readiness Training program is an initiative that fosters collaboration between military units and local communities to generate value and cost savings for all participants.

Under this program, community partners provide necessary materials and basic services, such as facilities, while military units contribute highly trained personnel and essential training resources. By partnering with the Girl Scouts of Hawaii, these citizen-soldiers efforts will focus on enhancing the camps infrastructure, improving recreational areas, and creating a safe and enjoyable environment for the campers.
While experiencing the roller coasters last week at Six Flags, Logan Vaughn wasnt thinking too much about the science behind them.

He was happy to just enjoy the ride.

But after this week in Tulsa, hell never look at coasters in quite the same way.

I obviously knew they were very abstract constructions, but I didnt realize how much preparation went into the velocity of them, Vaughn said. To know all of the gs and everything else that goes into it before you actually run the roller coaster is really cool.

Vaughn, his little bit of summer downtime at Six Flags Over Texas now over, has been back in full learning mode this week at Tulsa Community Colleges Northeast Campus.

The junior from Kansas, Oklahoma, is one of 28 high school students from across the state participating in a weeklong TCC STEM Academy, where they are learning about roller coasters and the science, technology, engineering and math required to make them go.

With Hot Wheels cars and tracks doubling as roller coasters, the students design and build loops and other coaster features, then put them to the test, gauging speeds and safety elements.

Teams are also formed to compete for best designs.

We are doing science and making it fun, said Sheila Youngblood, dean of TCCs School of Mathematics and Engineering.

She said this is the first time for TCC to host an Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education summer residential STEM academy.

TCC lacks the needed campus housing but was able to partner with the University of Tulsa to house visiting students in a TU dormitory for the week.

Weve done commuter academies before just for students from the area, Youngblood said.

Going forward, though, TCC plans to have a residential academy every summer, she said.

While it costs about $50,000 to put on a weeklong camp, thanks to grant funding from the state theres no cost to students, Youngblood said.

Its pretty exciting, actually, she said. This isnt a situation where only the students who can afford it come to the camp.

The only likely expense for students and their families is the cost of getting them to and from Tulsa, she said.

Atriya Nourbakhsh, who will be a senior this fall at the Academy of Seminole, accepted an invitation to serve as a counselor this year, having participated in her first academy last summer building robots.

Shes enjoyed the new role, which allows her to mentor students while still getting in on the fun.

Im an adrenaline junkie, so roller coasters are right up my alley, Nourbakhsh said.

Students designed three different roller coaster features, including a straight section, a curve and a loop.

They used toy cars to measure gravitational forces, velocity and acceleration.

Ive always been interested in engineering, and I just thought this was a cool kind of field of it, Vaughn said of attending the academy in Tulsa.

He eventually hopes to go into the aerospace industry, possibly as an aircraft designer, he said.

With the plan to host an annual residential academy, the subject will change from year to year, Youngblood said.

In the past, weve done things like drones; weve done windmills to charge a cellphone; weve done water quality, she said. So looking at the different fields of engineering, well just select different content.

The fundamentals of the experience, though, wont be changing.

Theyre going to build something, because thats the idea, Youngblood said. We want them to have some sort of a competition build where they get to go through the engineering design process and think through all of those things.



The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today.
Overall child well-being has taken a dip this year in Oklahoma, which ranked 46th in the nation in a national report that also ranked the state second to last in education.

After ranking 40th in the country last year, Oklahoma ranked in the bottom 10 for two major categories and in the bottom 20 for all four categories in the 2023 report. Only one category improved its ranking from last year.

The 2023 Kids Count Data Book, published annually by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, reviews recent household data from every state to look at how children and families are doing and determines rankings in four major categories: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community.

Oklahoma ranked 38th in economic well-being, 37th in health, 43rd in family and community, and 49th in the country for education, ahead of only New Mexico.

In 2022, the state ranked 45th in education.

The 2023 report found that 58%  up from 56%  of Oklahoma children 3 to 4 years old were not in school and that 19%  up from 15%  of high schoolers did not graduate on time. The report also found that 76% of Oklahoma fourth-graders were not proficient in reading.

Oklahoma eighth-graders lack of proficiency in math rose 10 percentage points this year to 84% of students not proficient.

Carly Putnam, policy director of the Oklahoma Policy Institute, the states host agency for Kids Count, said the report is discouraging for Oklahomans, especially looking back on the states 2023 legislative session.

Its disheartening to take these numbers and then think back to the prior legislative session and think in the face of this much help that Oklahomans really need, lawmakers chose to prioritize tax credit vouchers, Putnam said.

School vouchers, strongly pushed by Gov. Kevin Stitt and Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, would allow parents to use their childs state education dollars to pursue educational options other than public school, such as private or home schooling.

An alternative was included in the Oklahoma Legislatures 2023 education package, with tax credits intended for the families of students who attend private school or are home schooled.

Putnam said Oklahomas rankings will not improve if Oklahoma lawmakers continue to legislate solutions in the search of a problem.

Health, which rose to 37th from 41st last year, improved in the states rate of children who are overweight or obese and the rate of children without health insurance. The states rate of low birth weights and child and teen deaths per 100,000 both worsened.

Out of the 16 metrics used for the survey, Oklahoma ranked in the top half of states for one: the percentage of children living in households that spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Oklahoma ranked 20th, whereas it ranked 19th in 2022.

According to the Oklahoma Policy Institute, the state still sees one in four Oklahoma families affected by this issue.

This years report focused on child care in America, finding that much of the country lacks access to affordable child care and that Oklahoma parents frequently miss work or quit jobs due to child care issues.

The report found that women in the U.S. are five to eight times more likely to experience negative consequences at work related to child care than men.

Putnam said the majority of single-parent households are single-women households, and she said the child care struggles across the nation and in Oklahoma will lead to more unemployment for single women with children.

We want them to be working; we want them to be getting ahead and prioritizing their children, Putnam said. But if we cant help set them up in this most basic way going forward, then a lot of it sort of seems to come out in the wash.

Putnam explained that if Oklahoma wants to present itself as a business-friendly state, then it needs to look beyond basic necessities for employees and families. She said businesses and their employees wont want to invest in Oklahoma if the state doesnt prioritize child care and child well-being.

The report found that 12% of Oklahoma children ages birth to 5 had a family member who quit, changed or refused work due to problems with child care. The national average was 13%.

The states typical cost of center-based child care for a toddler was $8,399, 9% of the median income for a married couple and almost 30% of a single parents income.

Going forward, Putnam said she doesnt know whether the states ranking will continue to go down, but she said she believes child well-being will not improve until policy makers decide to focus on making changes to education and child care.

Theres two ways of looking at this (report), Putnam said. We can see it as, Oh, heres another gloomy report and were just gonna stick our heads in the sand and not do anything. Or theres a way to really use it as a focal point to see clearly where opportunities for change are.



The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today.
EAST COAST | INTERSTATE COLLAPSE

PHILADELPHIA  The driver of a tractor-trailer hauling gasoline lost control on an off-ramp and flipped the tanker truck on its side in a wreck that set it afire and destroyed a section of the East Coast's main north-south highway, Pennsylvania's top transportation official said Monday.

In the first official accounting of a wreck that threw hundreds of thousands of morning commutes into chaos and disrupted untold numbers of businesses, state Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll said the driver was northbound "trying to navigate the curve, lost control of the vehicle, which landed on its side and ruptured the tank."

The driver was feared dead, and a relative of a New Jersey truck driver who has not been heard from since Sunday told The Philadelphia Inquirer that investigators had contacted the family in an effort to identify human remains recovered from the wreckage.

Interstate 95 will be closed in both directions for weeks as the summer travel season kicks into high gear. The elevated southbound portion of I-95 will have to be demolished, as well as the northbound side, Carroll said.

The crash also disrupted the automotive route from Canada to Florida through the Boston, New York and Washington metropolitan areas, increasing Americans' dependence on air travel and on the interstate rail network.

Videos shared on social media showed a number of close calls around the crash, with people driving through the area as flames licked upward from the fire below. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a team to investigate the crash.

Carroll said the damaged I-95 segment carries about 160,000 vehicles daily. State police don't know if the driver was speeding and no other vehicle has been found. Officials said they were in contact with the trucking company, but they did not identify it.

Carroll said the highway span was 10 to 12 years old and had appeared sound, and they blamed the damage on the heat of the fire, which took about an hour to control.

High heat from the fire or the impact of an explosion could have weakened the steel beams supporting the overpass, according to Drexel University structural engineering Professor Abi Aghayere. Bridges like the one that collapsed don't typically have fire protection, like concrete casing, he added.
Howling gales and crashing waves pounded the coastline of India and Pakistan on Thursday hours before a powerful cyclone was due to make landfall, with those unable to flee seeking shelter where they could.

Nearly 150,000 people have fled the predicted path of Cyclone Biparjoy, whose name means "disaster" in Bengali, with meteorologists warning it could devastate homes and tear down power lines when it lands late Thursday.

Powerful winds and storm surges were forecast to hammer a 325-kilometre (200-mile) stretch of coast between Mandvi in India's Gujarat state and Karachi in Pakistan.

Jayantha Bhai, a 35-year-old shopkeeper in India's beach town of Mandvi, told AFP soon after dawn on Thursday that he was afraid for his family's safety.

"This is the first time I've experienced a cyclone," Bhai said, a father of three boys aged between eight and 15, who planned to wait out the cyclone in his small concrete home behind the shop.

"This is nature, we can't fight with it," he said as driving rain lashed his home.

India's Meteorological Department predicted the "very severe" storm would hit near the Indian port of Jakhau on Thursday evening, warning of "total destruction" of traditional mud and straw thatched homes.

At sea, winds were gusting at up to 180 kilometres per hour (112 miles per hour), with speeds predicted to reach 115-125 kph and gusts of up to 140 kph by the time it makes landfall.

India's meteorologists warned of the potential for "widespread damage", including the destruction of crops, "bending or uprooting of power and communication poles" and disruption of railways and roads.

Schools turned shelters

In India, the Gujarat state government said 75,000 people had relocated from coastal and low-lying areas to shelter.

Pakistan's climate change minister Sherry Rehman said on Wednesday 73,000 people had been moved from southeastern coastal areas and housed in 75 relief camps.

"It is a cyclone the likes of which Pakistan has never experienced," she told reporters.

Many of the areas affected are the same inundated in last year's catastrophic monsoon floods, which put a third of Pakistan under water, damaging two million homes and killing more than 1,700 people.

"These are all results of climate change," she said.

Storm surges were expected to reach 3.5 metres (11.5 feet), with flooding possible in the megacity of Karachi, home to about 20 million people.

"Our concern is when the cyclone is over, how will we feed our children?" said 80-year-old Wilayat Bibi, in a relief camp in the city of Badin.

"If our boats are gone. If our huts are also gone. We will be languishing with no resources."

'Terrified'

Late on Wednesday, a short distance from India's Jakhau port, about 200 people from the Kutch district huddled together in a single-storey health centre.

Many were worried about their farm animals, which they had left behind.

Dhal Jetheeben Ladhaji, 40, a pharmacist at the health centre, said 10 men had stayed behind to look after hundreds of cattle crucial to their village's livelihood.

"We are terrified, we don't know what will happen next," Ladhaji said.

"We are praying to God that the cyclone does not come, and that these people who are staying in the shelter can go back to their homes with smiles on their faces."

Cyclones -- the equivalent of hurricanes in the North Atlantic or typhoons in the Northwest Pacific -- are a regular and deadly menace on the coast of the northern Indian Ocean, where tens of millions of people live.

Scientists have warned that storms are becoming more powerful as the world gets warmer with climate change.

Roxy Mathew Koll, a climate researcher at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, said cyclones derive their energy from warm waters, and that surface temperatures in the Arabian Sea were 1.2 to 1.4 degrees Celsius warmer than four decades ago.
(CNN)  The United States has quietly resumed indirect talks with Iran in an effort to constrain Tehrans nuclear program, multiple sources told CNN.

The talks resumed late last year, months after an effort to revive the Iran nuclear deal collapsed. The Trump administration withdrew from the landmark agreement in 2018 and Iran has increasingly grown its nuclear program in violation of the deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Although sources say there have been some indications of progress, one source said were just not there yet on an agreement, and both the US and Iran have denied that an interim deal has been reached.

Stakes are high for the renewed efforts, which come ahead of the 2024 US presidential election and will face scrutiny from lawmakers and a key US ally in the Middle East: Israel.

The US is also engaged in trying to secure the release of multiple Americans who have been detained in Iran  something the administration has called a top priority. There are three Americans who have been designated as wrongfully detained who are imprisoned in Iran: Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharghi, and Morad Tahbaz. An American resident, Shahab Dalili, is also detained.

Biden administration officials have for months said that Irans breakout time  how long it would need to produce enough weapons-grade material for one nuclear bomb  had dwindled to a matter of weeks, with one Defense Department official saying in February that it could be as short as 12 days. The breakout time does not mean that Iran could produce an actual bomb in that period.

For months following the failure of the JCPOA revival attempt and amid nationwide protests in Iran, the Biden administration said publicly that the nuclear deal was not on the agenda, but said that they were committed to using diplomacy to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

However, talks quietly resumed late last year, with countries including Oman serving as intermediaries. A top administration official, Brett McGurk, has traveled multiple times to the Gulf nation for the indirect discussions with Iranian government representatives.

US approved $2.7 billion bank

And in what could be seen as a confidence building measure, the US approved a waiver allowing the transfer of $2.7 billion from Iraq to Iranian banks, in a move State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller called consistent with transactions that have taken place over  going back a number of years.

Number one, Iran can only access its funds held in accounts for Iraq for humanitarian and other non-sanctionable transactions, he said Tuesday. Number two, that these are actions that have taken place for several years, dating back to the previous administration, where the United States has approved similar transactions on an ongoing basis, consistent with US law and in full coordination with the Government of Iraq.

Irans foreign ministry spokesperson said Monday that Tehran exchanged messages with the United States through Oman a few weeks ago.

The basis of the negotiations to lift sanctions is the JCPOA. We do not have a new framework. We do not endorse any negotiations for an interim agreement or new arrangements to replace the JCPOA, Nasser Kanaani said in a briefing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested this week that his government would remain opposed to a deal with Tehran, reportedly saying, Our position is clear: Israel will not be bound by any deal with Iran and will continue to defend itself.

On Thursday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with his Israeli counterpart in Brussels, where both leaders agreed to continue working together to address the wide range of threats posed by Iran, including its nuclear program, destabilizing regional activities, and proliferation of uncrewed aerial systems and other lethal assistance throughout the Middle East and to Russia, according to a Pentagon readout.

Earlier this week, Iranian negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani met with officials from the so-called E-3 countries  France, Germany, and the United Kingdom  in Abu Dhabi, UK Foreign Office political director Christian Turner said on Twitter.

Plan C

If an agreement on the nuclear issues was reached, it is unlikely it would restore the limits of the JCPOA, but would rather be an effort to put a box around Irans growing nuclear program.

Theyve moved on to what you would call Plan C, which is try to constrain Iran and try to limit worst case outcomes, but without trying to reach an actual agreement for the next year plus given the political constraints that the administration faces and not wanting to draw attention or resources away from China and Russia, said Henry Rome, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute.

A US official told CNN that the administrations diplomatic engagements were focused on constraining its destabilizing behavior and ensuring it does not acquire a nuclear weapon. They said they want to see Tehran curb its nuclear program, stop supporting proxy groups carrying out attacks in the region, and stop supporting Russia in its war in Ukraine.

We continue to use our diplomatic engagements to pursue all of these goals, in full coordination with our partners and allies, the official said.

We believe diplomacy is the best path forward, as we have said since the outset of this Administration. But, as always, we have other options available to us if Iran chooses not to act, they said, adding that their diplomacy is matched and backed by deterrence.

Our actions earlier this year, for example, sent a clear message to Iran, which have resulted in a significant reduction of attacks against US personnel, the official said.

On the issue of the detainees, Omans foreign minister told al-Monitor that the two sides are close.

This is probably a question of technicalities, he told the publication.

In the past, one aspect of a prospective deal for the detainees has involved the unfreezing of billions of dollars of frozen Iranian assets from South Korea.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "US has resumed indirect talks with Iran in effort to constrain nuclear program"
Overfishing is driving coral reef sharks towards extinction, according to a global study out Thursday that signals far greater peril to the marine predators than previously thought.

That matters to humans because the species act as managers of their marine ecosystems, maintaining delicately balanced food webs on which hundreds of millions of people rely.

The research, published in the journal Science, is the result of the Global FinPrint project, which collected more than 22,000 hours of video footage from reefs across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australasia and the Americas.

A team of more than 100 scientists found that five of the most common coral reef shark species -- grey reef, nurse, Caribbean reef, blacktip reef and whitetip reef -- declined by 70 to 60 percent.

The depletion data was derived from a computer model that estimated what shark numbers would have looked like without human pressures.

Sharks were entirely absent in 14 percent of reefs where they had been previously documented.

Lead author Colin Simpfendorfer of the James Cook University and the University of Tasmania told AFP that prior to the study, coral reef sharks -- unlike their bigger cousins that dwell in deep oceans -- were not thought to be doing badly.

"But when you sat down and looked at the overall results, it was quite stunning," he said.

Ripple effects

The findings should help update the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, with more species qualifying for "endangered" status, an important step towards conservation action.

Simpfendorfer added that the overwhelming factor in the decline was overfishing, both targeting sharks for their fins and meat, and unintentionally killing them as bycatch.

In terms of impacts, the loss of sharks causes ripple effects down the food chain.

The prey they eat increases in number, but the next level down decreases, and so on -- creating unpredictable disruptions that risk human food security.

Reef sharks also keep herbivores in check, said Simphendorfer. When herbivores become more common, they eat more algae, which trap carbon for use in photosynthesis.

"Carbon sequestration on coral reefs without sharks is much lower than it is on reefs with sharks," he said, meaning there is an impact on global warming.

'Hope spots'

Funding for the project came from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, which was responsible for the Great Elephant Census, a pan-African aerial survey of Earth's largest land animals.

In the shark study, scientists used baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS) -- cameras with a small amount of oily fish hung placed on arm -- to draw out and observe sharks in deployments that lasted an hour.

In total, they surveyed 391 coral reefs in 67 nations and territories using 22,756 cameras -- generating three-years-worth of raw video.

Reefs with healthier populations tended to be in high-income countries with stronger regulations and greater levels of democratic participation, while lower-income countries generally had worse outcomes.

But the team also uncovered certain "hope spots" in developing countries, such as Sipadan Island in Malaysia and Lighthouse Reef in Belize.

"In and around them, things are fairly depleted -- but in those areas where you have strong MPAs (marine protected areas) and really good ways to enforce them, you have robust shark populations," co-author Michael Heithaus of Florida International University told AFP.

This, he said, offered hope that heavily depleted areas can be repopulated so long as a source population is intact and careful management programs are followed.
Average global temperatures at the start of June were the warmest the European Union's climate monitoring unit has ever recorded for the period, trouncing previous records by a "substantial margin", it said on Thursday.

The news comes as the El Nino climate phenomenon has officially arrived, raising fears of extreme weather and more temperature records.

"The world has just experienced its warmest early June on record, following a month of May that was less than 0.1 degrees Celsius cooler than the warmest May on record," said Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).

"Global-mean surface air temperatures for the first days of June 2023 were the highest in the ERA5 data record for early June by a substantial margin", Copernicus said. Some of the unit's data goes back as far as 1950.

Copernicus recently announced that global oceans were warmer last month than in any other May on record.

The unit also said that at the beginning of June, global temperatures exceeded pre-industrial levels by more than 1.5C (34.7 degrees Fahrenheit), which is the most ambitious cap for global warming in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

According to the data, the daily global average temperature was at or above the 1.5C threshold between June 7-11, reaching a maximum of 1.69C above it on June 9.

While it is the first time the cap has been breached in June, this limit has been exceeded several times in winter and spring in recent years.

"Every single fraction of a degree matters to avoid even more severe consequences of the climate crisis", Burgess said.

El Nino, meaning "Little Boy" in Spanish, is marked by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator.

The weather pattern last occurred in 2018-19 and takes place every 2-7 years on average.

Most of the warmest years on record have come during El Ninos, and scientists are concerned that this summer and next could see record temperatures on land and in the sea.

"As the current El Nino continues to develop there is good reason to expect periods in the coming twelve months during which the global-mean air temperature again exceeds pre-industrial levels by more than 1.5C", Copernicus said.

The monitoring unit is based in the Germany city Bonn, where UN-led climate talks are taking place ahead of the COP28 climate summit set to be held in Dubai at the end of the year.
As many as 10 metric tons of offal, pork breast, and beef of unknown origin have been detected in two shipping containers in Thu Duc City, under the jurisdiction of Ho Chi Minh City, confirmed a local police official.

The municipal police on environmental crime prevention and fight on Tuesday night raided a shipping container maintenance facility in Thu Ducs Linh Xuan Ward, where these two containers were located.

Police officers seized the given volume of innards and meats with neither labels nor information about their origin and expiration date, said a representative of the municipal Public Security Department on Thursday.

They are working to track down and punish those individuals associated with the two shipping containers, the representative added.

Bags of offal and meats of unknown origin in one of the two shipping containers. Photo: Supplied

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A hotel in Ha Long City, the capital of Quang Ninh Province in northern Vietnam, has denied claims that it charged customers a backup power supply fee of VND300,000 (US$12.7) per night.

On Wednesday, several news outlets reported that Ha Longs Tung Luxury Hotel asked a tourist from north-central Thanh Hoa Province to pay VND300,000 per night for backup power when he was checking in to the facility on June 5.

The tourist, named N.N.H., claimed the receptionist told him the fee was to cover the cost of running a generator as Ha Long had lost electricity.

H. said he wound up leaving the facility and searching for a different hotel.

The manager of Tung Hotel claimed they had never met the tourist but did admit to charging customers additional fees of VND150,000 ($6.3) per night in order to make up for hits the hotel has taken from blackouts that have affected the region for a while given a lack of electricity.

Bich Tran, a resident of Hanoi, experienced Ha Longs blackouts for herself during a recent vacation.

She and her family booked a villa in Ha Long for three days and two nights from June 2 to 4 but they faced power cuts between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm on these days.

Due to the outages, my family and I had almost no time to relax. Instead, we sought ways to escape the hot weather. We tried to visit the Quang Ninh Museum, but it had its power cut as well," Bich Tran recounted.

The power was also cut on the morning of June 4, so we decided to return to Hanoi earlier than planned.

If our hotel had collected a backup power fee, our family would have been willing to pay. Wandering outside all day made us tired and the expenses were much higher."

She advised tourists visiting the northern region during the summer holiday to research whether their destinations are subject to a power cut plan and what their hotels solutions are for the situation.

Rotational and repeated power cuts have discouraged travelers from spending long stays in Ha Long, said Nguyen Thi Nga, head of human resources at Long Dai Thien Co. Ltd., which operates the Dragon Legend Hotel in Bai Chay Ward, Ha Long City.

Some travel firms have canceled tours to the city and shifted to other localities, Nga added.

Her hotel has had to continuously run power generators at three times the cost of regular electricity.

Quang Ninh Power Company has publicized power cut plans in the province to minimize the impact on production and business activities.

Key tourist sites in Ha Long City have been prioritized in order to aid the tourism industry, according to the company.

The firm has plans to increase the specificity of the power cut schedule and shorten outage duration.

In particular, it will suspend the power supply for five hours per day on average on each transmission line and will not cut the power in Bai Chay, Hung Thang, and Tuan Chau Wards as well as the area from Tran Quoc Nghien coastal road to the Quang Ninh Museum on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons.

Quang Ninh Power Company has reported to the municipal Peoples Committee, the Department of Industry and Trade, and the Quang Ninh Economic Zone Authority a power saving plan to ensure socio-economic stability and minimize losses triggered by power cuts, said Pham Dinh Chan, deputy director of the company.

The company calculated that if its large customers, including enterprises in industrial parks and coal companies, reduce their power consumption volumes by adjusting their production and business plans and suspending production lines in trial operation, they can save 100-150 megawatts of electricity per day.

This will help reduce enterprises costs and ease pressure on the power supply.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
The Peoples Committee of Ninh Thuan Province in south-central Vietnam held a ceremony on Thursday night to launch the Grape  Wine Festival 2023 in a bid to honor the provinces grape growers.

The opening ceremony of the fest was attended by Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, as well as several other high-ranking officials.

Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong attends the launch ceremony of the Grape Wine Festival in Ninh Thuan Province, June 15, 2023. Photo: Duy Ngoc / Tuoi Tre

Speaking at the event, Deputy PM Ha said that Ninh Thuan farmers diligence and non-stop efforts to grow several varieties of grapes have contributed to the province fast becoming a must-visit tourist destination.

Products made from grapes such as wine and syrup help diversify tourism products in the province.

"The Grape Wine Festival offers a chance to honor significant contributions by grape farmers, entrepreneurs, and scientists," Ha stated.

"It also opens up great networking opportunities.

"The festival seeks to popularize Ninh Thuans grape and wine brand in both the domestic and global markets."

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha delivers a speech at the launch ceremony of the Grape  Wine Festival in Ninh Thuan Province. Photo: Duy Ngoc / Tuoi Tre

Tran Quoc Nam, chairman of the Ninh Thuan Province Peoples Committee, said that the fest is meant not only to honor grape growers and the value of vines and grape-based products, but also to build a grape and wine brand capable of luring tourists to the province.

The festival has been held biennially since 2014.

The fest plays a key role in boosting the provinces potential for agricultural, sea-based economic, cultural, and tourism development, Nam underscored.

The launch ceremony of the Grape  Wine Festival in Ninh Thuan Province attracted throngs of locals and tourists. Photo: Duy Ngoc / Tuoi Tre

Various programs are being organized within the framework of this years fest, which is set to wrap up on Sunday, including a ceremony to receive UNESCO recognition for the pottery art of Vietnams Cham ethnic group as intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection.

With skillfulness and pottery-making tools, Vietnams Cham ethnic artisans have produced numerous items to serve daily activities, according to Deputy PM Ha.

These pottery items both show the creativity and skills of the Cham ethnic people and reflect their culture and daily life.

We are delighted and proud of the pottery art of the Cham ethnic group as this is the first Vietnamese traditional craft to be honored on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding, and the 15th intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam to be included in such a list, Ha said.

State President Thuong and a working delegation on Thursday afternoon visited the Bau Truc pottery village in Phuoc Dan Town under Ninh Phuoc District.

State President Vo Van Thuong (R) presents a gift to the Bau Truc heritage village in Ninh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: N.P. / Tuoi Tre

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Nine has bumped Parental Guidance to an 8pm(ish) start this Sunday, as it moves 60 Minutes into the 7pm slot.

Monday and Tuesday slots for Parental Guidance remain 7:30pm.

In Chinas Sights

Its well known that China wont stand for any criticism. There, opponents of the communist regime are simply not tolerated. But it seems Beijing now thinks it also has the right to ignore international borders and silence dissent anywhere it sees fit. Around the world its setting up illegal outposts called Chinese Overseas Police Service Stations, and as the name implies, the objective of these offices is clear. Our law enforcement agencies deny there are any of these stations in Australia, even though Chinese authorities openly publicise their existence. But as Tara Brown reports in a special 60 Minutes investigation, thats not the end of the intimidation. China is also using disgraceful new tactics to target Australians who dare to speak out.

Reporter: Tara Brown

Producer: Laura Sparkes

The Sting

Volunteering to help further the cause of science is a noble endeavour, but as Tom Steinfort discovers, being a human guinea pig can also hurt like hell. He has just experienced a spectacular but rather painful adventure around Australia with a group of researchers on an extraordinary mission. While most people would instinctively run from the dangerous creepy crawlies of the outback, these brave scientists deliberately seek out spiders, scorpions and centipedes, and then invite them to attack. Their aim is to get bitten to understand the pain of the stings. They then use the information, as well as the venom they collect, to develop much-needed medicines and painkillers. Its amazing work thats already saving lives.

Reporter: Tom Steinfort

Producer: Serge Negus

7pm Sunday on Nine.
ABC MEs Kangaroo Beach, The PMs Daughter, and NITVs Little J & Big Cuz and Barrumbi Kids converged on Parliament House this week at the Australian Childrens Television Foundation Showcase -the first since 2018.

Minister for the Arts Tony Burke hosted the event attended by kids, cast members, politicians and screen industry professionals.

Joining them were preschoolers, newborns and Senators posing for selfies alongside lifeguard cadets Neville and Pounce from Kangaroo Beach.

Fans of The PMs Daughter met Cassandra Helmot, who plays the lead role of Cat while actor Aaron FaAoso, who voices Old Dog in Little J & Big Cuz, was also a popular guest.

Minister for the Arts Tony Burke said: Learning about our stories, our emotions, our places, doesnt start when you reach adult drama  we want people to be relating to those stories from the beginning of their lives in this country. We want to make sure that those stories reflect the full representation of modern Australia.

There are First Nations stories that need to be available not only for First Nations children, because its essential that they see themselves on screen, but its also essential and wonderful and beautiful that the rest of the nation gets to share in that as well. Its also the magnificent web of immigration stories that we have we want to make sure that what we see on screen looks like modern Australia. Thats what we mean when we talk about a place for every story.

ACTF Chair Helen Silver said: Australians produce exceptional childrens content, including both animation and live action childrens drama, as a direct result of the Government policies and funding which underpin our industry. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the breadth and diversity of our screen industrys offering to children, and the shows weve been supporting over the last few years. Quality childrens content entertains, engages and inspires young audiences, and we know that it has many supporters in Parliament House. But there is nothing like bringing the shows, and children to watch the shows, into the building itself to demonstrate the value of investing in quality Australian childrens content.
Activist Ruahdan O Criodain, looking at the camera, with a deep red background. Hazel Coonagh

As we celebrate Pride Month across this island, we must confront the harsh reality that our community faces a rising tide of disinformation, scapegoating and hate. Its time again for us to channel our collective pain and anger into action for social justice. As part of the #StrongerTogether initiative in collaboration with the Rowan Trust and the Hope and Courage collective, GCN interviewed Ruadhan O Criodain, the Executive Director of LGBTQ+ organisation ShoutOut, who spoke about the importance of education amid the rise of the far-right.

As anti-LGBTQ rhetoric worms its way into school systems around the world, the necessity for positive, comprehensive LGBTQ+ education is at the centre of our communitys current struggles. With LGBTQ+ books being removed from libraries, schools banning discussion on queer lives and far-right attempts to frame their attacks as some sort of saving the children movement, Ruadhan O Criodain, the Executive Director of ShoutOut, shared why education is always key.

In addition to his work with ShoutOut, O Criodain has been an outspoken advocate for the expansion of the Irish Relationship Sexuality Education (RSE) curriculum to include topics that are vital to LGBTQ+ students.

In an article describing the necessity for a more comprehensive sex education curriculum, the Irish Independent quoted post-primary students as saying that the current RSE curriculum they received was too little, too late, and too biological. Unfortunately, the push for curriculum changes has been met with backlash from those who would rather their children not be taught about topics like LGBTQ+ issues and sexual health.

Unfortunately, O Criodain shared in a recent statement, speaking of far-right protestors, what those loud voices are doing when it comes to the topic of LGBTQ+ education is drowning out the most important people in this discussion: young LGBTQ+ people themselves. Those young people have asked, time and time again, to learn about the realities of the world they live in. In particular, theyve begged for an RSE curriculum which prepares them for adulthood and relationships, regardless of how they identify.

When asked how he became interested and involved in reforming Irelands RSE curriculum, O Criodain explained, Ive been involved with ShoutOut for about ten years, since the organisation started, and not long after I left school myself. ShoutOut arose from a lack of positive LGBTQ+ representation in schools, in RSE or otherwise. LGBTQ+ identities were rarely spoken about in the curriculum, but homophobic and transphobic bullying was, and unfortunately still is, widespread.

O Criodain continued, I started with ShoutOut as a volunteer in 2013, visiting schools to tell my story of growing up LGBTQ+ and to offer students an accurate, human understanding of LGBTQ+ identities which was missing from their education.

At that point, lesbian and gay identities were a brief mention in SPHE (Social, Personal, and Health Education), but students didnt get to learn about them in any detail, or to ask questions which might help them figure out their own journeys. Trans, bi, intersex, asexual, or other identities simply werent considered, he added.

O Criodain went on to discuss his experiences visiting schools around Ireland in hopes to offer students supplemental education that was not included in the RSE curriculum.

The first school I visited as a ShoutOut volunteer was actually my old school! I left it at the end of third year and moved because I had a tough time, and didnt feel able to come out while I was there, but it has changed a lot since. I would have been grateful to have a ShoutOut volunteer come to my class and give me some hope for growing up LGBTQ+.

O Criodain commented that during his visit to his alma mater school, he noticed that the RSE curriculum was still sorely lacking in areas such as STIs, consent, and staying safe online.

There were lots of risky situations young people should have had guidance on  I remember a friend sneaking into a pub bathroom to buy condoms from a machine because he was worried a pharmacy would turn him away, and other friends starting to use the likes of Gaydar to date because there were so few options to meet other queer people.

We didnt have smartphones really, he added, remembering his own schooldays. But porn was becoming pretty ubiquitous online and we were too young to understand its impact on our psychology or sexuality. Funnily enough, I probably got a lot of my safe sex info as a teenager from the back pages of GCN, especially on HIV and condom use  though a lot of the content was for gbMSM.

While O Criodain hopes that the proposed changes to broaden the RSE curriculum will give students a chance to discuss and understand vital topics like consent, online safety, and sexual health, he insists that it is vital that these curriculum changes address these topics for all relationships and all gender identities.

When discussing the role that ShoutOut is taking in an effort to advocate for a more inclusive Relationships and Sexuality Education curriculum and to combat the false narratives spread by the far-right, O Criodain reported that the organisation has been engaging with the NCCA on the development of the RSE curriculum for junior and senior cycle, emphasising the importance of teaching about a full range of LGBTQ+ identities, and the importance of young people understanding these aspects of identity as existing on spectra.

Weve also flagged the importance of intersex identities in a curriculum which usually looks at biology in a very binary way. We train teachers across the country  in their schools, but also as theyre working towards teaching degrees  to embed LGBTQ+ inclusion in the classroom. And well be there, with our community of volunteers, to support schools as this curriculum is rolled out, taught, and as these conversations develop and grow in the classroom. Young people will still have questions, and well be there to answer them and to tell our stories, to ensure LGBTQ+ young people know they have a gorgeous future ahead of them.

This story originally appeared in GCNs Pride issue 378, as part of an ongoing feature on solidarity that was created in cooperation with the Rowan Trust and the Hope and Courage Collective. Read the full issue here.

Want to be featured in this special campaign? Share a message of solidarity using #StrongerTogether, tagging GCN or email info@gcn.ie.

The post Activist Ruadhan O Criodain speaks about the crucial role of education amid the rise of the far-right appeared first on GCN.
(CNN)  The US State Department identified a rapidly growing and troubling trend of forced labor as a result of cyber scam operations, as it launched its annual human trafficking report, US Ambassador at Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Cindy Dyer said Thursday.

Traffickers have leveraged pandemic-related economic hardships, increased global youth unemployment, and international travel restrictions to exploit thousands of adults and children in a multi-billion dollar industry over the last two years in these schemes, she said at a State Department briefing.

Dyer said that many people have responded to job offers for what they think are legitimate work in it in casinos, or other seemingly legitimate businesses.

Often these individuals are forced to participate in cyber-scams under impossible quota arrangements that make them increasingly indebted to traffickers. Traffickers use this debt to exploit victims in forced labor and sex trafficking, including in special economic zones, primarily throughout Southeast Asia, but ensnaring nationals from at least 35 countries or territories, she said.

The 2023 report also highlights the fact that men and boys can be victims in trafficking, but may not always be recognized as such and may not get access to the same services.

The 2023 report, which covers the period of April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023, identified which governments around the world are meeting the minimum standards to eliminate human trafficking under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, which have improved or deteriorated, and which have failed in their efforts to combat human trafficking and are not making an effort to do so.

Many of the countries in the Tier 3 category for failing to meet the minimum standards to combat human trafficking and not making significant efforts to do so, were in that category last year as well. This years list has 24 countries in Tier 3, including Russia, China, Afghanistan, Syria, and North Korea.

Afghanistan, Burma, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Russia, South Sudan, Syria, and Turkmenistan were listed as having a government policy or pattern of human trafficking, human trafficking in government-funded programs, forced labor in government-affiliated medical services or other sectors, sexual slavery in government camps, or the employment or recruitment of child soldiers.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "US State Department identifies rapidly growing and troubling trend of forced labor linked to cyber scams"
KYIV (Reuters) -Ukrainian forces are advancing in southern sectors of their counter-offensive against Russian occupation troops, Ukrainian military officials said on Friday.

The latest report on the counter-offensive, as well as an account of "desperate resistance" by Russian troops in the east, was issued as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said movement in the counter-offensive was "the most important thing".

"Every soldier, every new step we take, every metre of Ukrainian land freed from the enemy is of utmost importance," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video message.

Reuters could not verify the battlefield situation. Russia has not officially acknowledged Ukrainian advances in the early stages of a counteroffensive, and said it had inflicted heavy losses on Kyiv's forces in the previous 24 hours.

Deputy Ukrainian Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on the Telegram messaging app that troops were "engaged in active moves to advance in several directions at once.

"Practically in all sectors where our units are attacking in the south, they have registered tactical successes," Maliar said. "They are gradually moving forward. At the moment, the advance is up to 2 km (1.3 miles) in each direction."

In Ukraine's east, Maliar said Russia forces were trying to dislodge Ukrainian forces from established positions.

Ukrainian forces around the devastated city of Bakhmut, captured by Russia last month, were trying to push Russian forces out from the outskirts of the town.

Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who is in charge of Ukrainian ground forces, had earlier described the situation in the east as tense, with Russia bringing its best divisions into the Bakhmut sector with backup from artillery and aircraft.

"We continue to conduct offensive actions in separate directions, occupying dominant heights, and strips of forest with the aim of forcing the enemy gradually out of the outskirts of Bakhmut. Realizing this, the enemy units put up desperate resistance," Syrskyi said on Telegram.

Bakhmut has seen some of the fiercest fighting since Russia's February 2022 invasion. The Ukrainian military said last week it had begun pushing back Russian forces near Bakhmut.

Kyiv said on Thursday it had regained control of about 100 square km (38 square miles) of territory in just over a week of its counteroffensive.

Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of Ukrainian troops in the southern Tavriia sector, said there had been 36 combat engagements and 578 attacks in the past 24 hours in the sector.

"The enemy's losses in killed and wounded amounted to more than four companies," he wrote on Telegram. A company typically consists of 100250 soldiers.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash, Editing by Timothy Heritage, Ron Popeski and Daniel Wallis)
HA NOI  The Vietnamese stock market has become a reliable destination for many investors worldwide in recent years, especially those in the Asia-Pacific, said Chairwoman of the State Securities Commission Vu Thi Chan Phuong.

Addressing the 48th Annual Meeting of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) held in Bangkok, Thailand, from June 13-15, Phuong said the Vietnamese stock market had witnessed impressive developments in recent years, maintaining a vibrant performance and good liquidity, and increasingly asserting itself as an important long-term capital mobilisation channel for the economy and businesses.

It has also become an attractive investment channel for the public, attracting a growing number of domestic and foreign investors.

Not only enjoying more favourable conditions in capital mobilisation, Vietnamese firms have also made significant progress in governance, transparency and sustainable development, she said.

In order to develop the stock market towards quality and sustainability, Viet Nam is striving to upgrade its market classification from frontier to emerging, persistently pursuing market restructuring based on four main pillars of commodity base, market organisation, investor base, and securities business organisation.

The 48th Annual Meeting of IOSCO comprises a series of annual meetings of the Asia-Pacific Regional Committee (APRC), the Africa-Middle East Regional Committee, the Inter-American Regional Committee, the European Regional Committee, the Growth and Emerging Markets Committee (GEMC), the Presidents' Committee (PC), and the General Assembly.

During the meeting, the Vietnamese delegation attended the meetings of the APRC, the GEMC and the PC, as well as the expanded sessions of IOSCO.

This year, IOSCO also collaborated with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand to organise four major workshops on the frontier markets and the trend of moving towards emerging markets, reshaping the future of finance and digital assets, capital markets for a more sustainable and green world, and raising awareness and investment in a digitalised world.

IOSCO was established in 1983. Its member organisations oversee more than 95 per cent of the global securities market in over 130 economies. The GEMC represents 75 per cent of the full and official members of IOSCO. Each market can only have one full and official member participating in IOSCO, while the remaining agencies can become affiliate members.

The State Securities Commission of Viet Nam was officially recognised as a full and official member of IOSCO at the 26th Annual Meeting held in Stockholm, Sweden on June 26, 2001.  VNS
HA NOI  The Vietnam National Coal - Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) will supply about 18.7 million tonnes of coal to thermal power plants in the second half of this year, the companys general director ang Thanh Hai said amid the recent power shortages.

Hai said that along with 20.98 million tonnes of coal that Vinacomin supplied to the plants in the first six months of this year, Vinacomin would provide a total of 39.7 million tonnes of coal for electricity generation this year, rising 15 per cent over 2022.

The firm is working hard to implement the directions from the Government, the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC) to strengthen coal supply for power generation in the dry season from May to July.

In May, Vinacomin shipped an additional 300,000 tonnes of coal to thermal power plants run by Vietnam Electricity (EVN).

Hai said that following the request of EVN, Vinacomin will provide additional 10,000 tonnes of coal to each plant of EVN per month apart from the amount stated in their signed contracts.

In June, Vinacomin will provide 30,000 tonnes of coal for the Thai Binh 1 thermal power plant and 20,000 tonnes for the Hai Phong thermal power plant.

In addition, it will deliver 300,000 tonnes of coal to the Thai Binh 2 thermal power plant, higher than the contracted amount of 140,000 tonnes.

Vinacomin said that the coal demand for power generation will surge through the end of July and drop in the rainy season before increasing again from November.

According to EVN, its thermal power plants would need 6.03 million tonnes of coal in June and July to generate 12.33 billion kWh.

In early June, EVN worked with Vinacomin and ong Bac Corporation to supply an additional 1 million tonnes of coal besides the signed contracts to ensure sufficient coal supply for electricity generation in the peak months of June and July.  VNS
HCM CITY  The 19th International Precision Engineering and Manufacturing Reinvented Exhibition & Conference (MTA Vietnam 2023) will take place from July 4 to 7 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in HCM City.

It has attracted 320 exhibitors from 13 countries and territories, a majority from the US, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.

There will be 10 international pavilions showcasing newly launched products.

A leading international trade event for precision engineering and manufacturing, MTA Vietnam will display items including automation, cutting tools and tooling systems, factory equipment, ancillary and supporting equipment, material handling and storage, measurement and testing technology, and metal cutting machines.

It will feature an event dedicated to industrial automation and robotic technologies with exhibitors from around the world displaying warehouse, mobile and articulated robots and other intelligent automation products.

A number of seminars on practical and up-to-date knowledge related to the machinery industry will be held within the framework of the expo.

BT Tee, general director of Informa Markets Vietnam, the expo organiser, said: "In order to meet the requirements of better quality processes, MTA Vietnam strives to fulfil two tasks. The first is to create a space for businesses to access the most advanced precision mechanics products. The second is to help them get up to date with the latest trends in this industry and build smart factories.

The event is expected to attract more than 12,000 visitors. VNS
HCM CITY  HCM City housing is among the least affordable in the Asia Pacific region with a median home price representing 32.5 times the median annual household income, said a report by Urban Land Institute (ULI).

According to the 2023 Asia Pacific Home Attainability Index, HCM City is the second least affordable in the region with the highest median home price in Viet Nam at $296,000 (compared with $214,000 in a Nang and $182,000 in Ha Noi).

a Nang housing is the fourth least affordable with a median home price at 26.7 times the median annual household income.

Although HCM City has a slightly larger population than Ha Noi, about 35 per cent less new housing has been completed in the city since 2010 than in Ha Noi, the report said.

In addition to the relatively limited new supply of housing, the larger unit size in HCM City contributes to its higher median home price. It has a median home size of 83 sqm versus 65 sqm for Ha Noi, it said.

These two factors explain the significantly higher ratio of median home price to median annual household income of 32.5 for HCM City compared with 18.3 for Ha Noi, it added.

Many home buyers in HCM City are speculative investors who own multiple units, further pushing up prices, according to the report.

Shenzhen in mainland China is the lowest in terms of home attainability with the highest median home prices at 35 times median household income, it noted.

Homeownership is considered unaffordable when the ratio of the median home price to median annual household income exceeds five, according to the report.

By this standard, only Singapores Housing Development Board (HDB) units and apartment units in Australias Melbourne and Brisbane are considered affordable.

According to the report, homeownership is severely challenged in HCM City and a Nang (Viet Nam); Shenzhen (mainland China); Hong Kong (China); Manila and Cebu (the Philippines) with median home prices at around 20 to 35 times the median household income.

No longer the most expensive in Asia Pacific, Hong Kongs home price ranks second, behind Singapore whose median price is $1.2 million.

However, Singapore housing is deemed most attainable with the median price of units at 4.7 times the median household income, the report said.

Singapore also has the highest homeownership rate at nearly 90 per cent, thanks to the governments consistent affordable housing policy.

Compared to home ownership, home rentals are deemed more attainable with monthly rent for most cities at below 30 per cent of median household income with cities in Japan and South Korea having the lowest ratio of monthly rent to income.

The report surveyed a total of 45 cities in nine countries in the Asia Pacific region with a combined population of 3.5 billion or 45 per cent of the worlds population.

The key findings are based on analysis of data, relevant publications and interviews conducted with housing experts in the region, among others.  VNS
HA NOI  The stock market diversed on Thursday with the VN-Index falling further, as investors traded in a cautious sentiment while foreign investors continued to inject capital into both main bourses.

On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), the VN-Index dropped 0.45 point, or 0.04 per cent, to close at 1,116.97 points. It had lost more than 5 points on Wednesday after rising for three consecutive days.

The index recovered earlier thanks to large-cap stocks but it lost stream and finished the morning traded lower by 1 point.

Cautious sentiment was attributed to the bearish trend.

In the mid- and long-terms, the market is expected to remain optimistic, said Saigon - Hanoi Securities JSC (SHS).

"The VN-Index is accumulating in a wide range of 1,000 - 1,150 points. And if macro factors are favourable and cash flows run in, it can open an uptrend", SHS added.

Decliners continued to dominate the southern bourse, while liqudity fell both in value and volume.

Particularly, the trading value volume decreased by 22.4 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively, over the previous session to VN13.3 trillion (US$563.5 million) and 716.9 million shares.

The HoSE's large-cap tracker VN30-Index also edged lower at 1,108.57 points, down 2.03 points, or 0.18 per cent. Fifteen of the 30 biggest stocks dipped, while 11 stocks gained points and four ended unchanged.

Data compiled by a financial website vietstock.vn showed that realty and manufacturing industries were the market's leaders.

Vinhomes (VHM) was the major factor dragging down the market, as it contributed the biggest loss in the market capitalisaition. VHM shares fell 0.88 per cent.

Other pillar stocks posting great losses on Thursday were Sabeco (SAB) down 1.85 per cent, Vinamilk (VNM) down 1.19 per cent, Masan Group (MSN) dropped 1.15 per cent, and Vingroup (VIC) down 0.56 per cent.

Meanwhile, some large-cap stocks, led by the banking sector, performed well but the force was not strong enough to lift the market. Specifically, Vietcombank (VCB) was the biggest gainer, up 0.88 per cent in market cap.

Securities companies also traded positively with VNDirect Securities Corporation (VND) up 2.14 per cent and SSI Securities Corporation (SSI) up 1.18 per cent.

Appealing ticker symbols like PV Gas (GAS), Vietnam Rubber Group (GVR), and PetroVietnam Drilling & Well Services Corporation (PVD) also helped cushion the downtrend.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX), the HNX-Index rebounded from the previous loss. It gained 0.62 point, or 0.27 per cent, to 229.53 points.

Investors poured more than VN1.6 trillion into the northern exchange, equivalent to a trading volume of 91.3 million shares.

Foreign capital continued to flow into the market as foreign investors net bought more than VN410 billion on the two main exchanges. Of which, they net bought nearly VN398 billion on HoSE and VN12.84 billion on HNX.  VNS
MOSCOW  A roundtable discussing prospects for trade cooperation between Viet Nam and Russia's Far East region was held by the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) in Vladivostok on June 15.

Participants heard that Viet Nam recorded a strong economic rebound after the COVID-19 pandemic, and experienced a growth of 8.02 per cent in 2022. The Southeast Asian nation welcomed 3.7 million foreign tourists in the year.

The workshop also highlighted the significant cooperation between the two countries in the oil and gas sector, exemplified by the two joint ventures, VietsovPetro in Viet Nam and RusVietPetro in Russia.

In his speech, the Vietnamese Consulate General in Vladivostok Nguyen ang Hien stressed that Viet Nam's efforts to maintain macroeconomic stability and improve the investment environment have helped the country become a reliable destination for foreign investors.

There remained huge potential for the two countries to expand trade and tourism cooperation, he said, noting that it was necessary to resume direct flights between Viet Nam and Russia and set up tourism promotion offices in each country.

The Russian government might also consider visa exemptions for Vietnamese tourists for 15 days to stimulate tourism demand, he added.

Meanwhile, the chief of the Vietnam trade mission in the Far East Nguyen Hong Thanh said the region played an important role in the Russian government's "pivot to the East" policy.

According to Thanh, the most prominent event in the economic and trade relations between the Far East region and Viet Nam is the resumption of a container shipping route by FESCO to deliver goods from Hai Phong and HCM City of Viet Nam to Russia, and vice versa.

FESCO is planning to build a transshipment point at HCM City port to forward Russian goods to further markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and India and vice versa.

Besides FESCO, other operators such as OOO Transit and AO Transinergi have also started operating maritime routes from the Far East to Viet Nam.

Thanh said that the Far East would be a good investment destination for Vietnamese businesses if there is a channel to provide sufficient information for the Vietnamese business community.

Vietnamese enterprises could consider cooperating with partners in the Far East region in potential fields such as civil and industrial construction, furniture production, coal and mineral mining, high-tech development, and food processing.  VNS
HA NOI  The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Viet Nam Office has signed a Record of Discussion with the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) and other concerned authorities to provide a non-refundable ODA fund of around JPY250 million (roughly VN45 billion) for the Project on Establishing Sustainable Water Supply System Resilient to the Contamination of Drinking Water Sources.

The project, under the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS)1 Programme, focuses on research and development of new water treatment technology using advanced nanofiltration membranes.

The developed technology is expected to consume less energy and chemicals, require no pre-treatment, and significantly reduce initial investment and operation as well as management costs. In addition, an online water quality monitoring system will be deployed to improve the reliability of the water treatment system.

It is planned to be implemented over five years, from July 2023 to June 2028, with the Ha Noi University of Civil Engineering and the Hai Phong Water JSC as main executing agencies in Viet Nam.

The project is expected to address the challenges posed by contaminants discharged by domestic and industrial wastewater, ensure safe and sustainable water supply, implement the National Strategy and Master Plan related to clean water supply and environmental sanitation, and ensure the security of national water resources to meet the Sustainable Development Goals that the Government of Viet Nam has committed to implement.

Population growth, urbanisation and high growth rates in provinces and cities have increased pressure on natural resource exploitation, especially water exploitation.

The increase of water pollution and climate change has created many challenges for ensuring safe water supply, environmental protection, and sustainable development.

Accordingly, the establishment of sustainable water treatment technology and a digital monitoring and management system is important and expected to contribute to building a pilot model for replication in the future.  VNS
NINH THUAN  Grape has always been a key strength of Ninh Thuan Province, and its vineyards have become a hot tourism destination.

Nguyen Thu Trang of HCM City, a tourist visiting the Thai An Grape Vineyard in Ninh Hai District, her first trip to a grape farm, was impressed by the beautiful sights of the plump, colourful bundles of grapes and lush green grape vines.

My family and I had a great time taking photos to post on social media, handpicking fresh and tasty grapes, and generally being surrounded by beautiful greenery, she told the Viet Nam News.

My kid too liked seeing the bright colourful grapes in various shapes.

Thai An is one of numerous vineyards in Ninh Thuan Province that have opened up to visitors, offering them delicious freshly picked grapes and generally a wonderful travel experience.

The south-central province of Ninh Thuan has around 1,060ha under grapes across several districts and its capital city of Phan Rang  Thap Cham.

Though vineyards only account of 3.5 per cent of the provinces agricultural area, grapes account for 20 per cent of the value, making it arguably the most important crop.

According to local farmers, a very wet climate is not suitable for growing grapes, and Ninh Thuans weather is thus ideal since it is relatively light on rain, which usually falls only for a few months, and mostly dry and sunny.

For Ninh Thuan, grape is much more than just a high-value agricultural product; it is also a way to attract tourists from all over Viet Nam.

Nguyen Khac Phong, director of the Thai An General Agriculture Service Cooperative and owner of the Thai An Grape Vineyard, told Viet Nam News that some vineyards are able to take in tourists and make sure they have a good time.

Not all vineyards can do this, but those that can see their incomes increase by 20 per cent. This also creates more jobs for locals.

Many tourists also enjoy tasting and buying products made from grapes at the vineyeards, such as wines, raisin and syrups.

Ninh Thuans grape wines especially make for great souvenirs, with its light sweet and sour flavour.

A festive opportunity

Ninh Thuans ongoing 2023 Grape and Wine Festival from June 13 to 18 is a great opportunity for the province to further promote one of its biggest tourism advantages.

The annual festival features a culinary event, vineyard tours, a fair for products from provinces across southern and central Viet Nam, and its first ever grape trellis competition to promote outstanding grape vineyards.

Phong said: When people think of grape, many think of Ninh Thuan. And this Grape and Wine Festival is a great chance to raise the profile of Ninh Thuans grapes and other tourism advantages.

Local farmers are excited about the festival, especially the competition, and have spent the past few weeks meticulously caring for their wide variety of grapes and touching up their vineyards sceneries, all to welcome tourists.

The Thai An General Agriculture Service Cooperative is helping local farming households make high-quality, certified grape products, and adopt clean, organic farming practices to improve their grapes, which in turn makes for a better tourism experience.

Ninh Thuan has much more to offer than just tasty grapes; it is also well-known for its long beautiful beaches and places like Bau Truc Pottery Village in Ninh Phuoc District, where visitors can experience the beauty and intricacy of pottery made by the Cham people.

But the fruit is unquestionably one of its defining characteristics, and so tourists looking for a great time should definitely pay a visit to one of its beautiful vineyards. VNS
HA NOI  The Central Public Security Party Committee yesterday held a conference in Ha Noi to review work in the first six months of 2023.

The conference was chaired by General To Lam, a Politburo member, Secretary of the Central Public Security Party Committee, and Minister of Public Security.

The delegates unanimously assessed that since the 13th Party Congress, the world and regional situations have undergone rapid and complex changes, accompanied by unprecedented challenges that make forecasting and policy-making difficult. In such a context, the Central Public Security Party Committee has focused on leading and directing the People's Public Security force to take initiative and fulfil its responsibility of advising the Party, State, National Assembly, and Government. They have maintained strategic initiative and balance, promptly and comprehensively deployed police work, ensured social order and safety, and actively contributed to the protection of territorial sovereignty and national interests.

Since the beginning of this term, the Party Committee of the Central Public Security has successfully achieved and exceeded the goals and tasks set in all aspects of their work, following the roadmap outlined in the resolution of the 13th Party Congress. Notably, national security and the maintenance of social order and safety have achieved significant accomplishments.

The implementation process has been thorough, effective, and innovative, resulting in notable changes and setting a clear example of leadership aligned with the goals and requirements established in the resolution of the 13th Party Congress. The Central Public Security Party Committee has directed and implemented the three key tasks with "breakthrough" significance outlined in the Resolution of the 7th Central Public Security Party Congress for the 2020-2025 term, which has yielded positive outcomes and served as prominent achievements.

Speaking at the conference, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong acknowledged and congratulated the accomplishments and contributions made by the Central Party Committee of Public Security and the Ministry of Public Security in the first half of the term.

He highly appreciated the innovative spirit, willingness to think, act, and take responsibility shown by the Central Public Security Party Committee and the Ministry of Public Security in leading and implementing their political duties. The committee has taken on additional tasks that go beyond their regular scope, showcasing higher political stature, influence, and impact compared to previous years.

The General Secretary particularly commended the Central Party Committee of Public Security and the Ministry of Public Security for their exemplary and leading role within the political system. They have effectively translated the resolutions of the 13th Party Congress into practical action, pioneered the renovation and reorganisation of their apparatus, restructured their cadre contingent to align with the requirements and tasks of security and order protection.

They have also set an example by actively participating in national digital transformation, administrative reform to better serve the people, and applying scientific and technological advancements in carrying out security and order protection tasks. These efforts have contributed to the establishment of e-government, digital government, digital economy, and digital society, thereby achieving a "breakthrough" in transforming the state's operations in security and order management.

Moreover, the Ministry of Public Security has deployed officers to participate in United Nations peacekeeping missions and dispatched working delegations to provide rescue, assistance, and humanitarian aid, aiding the Turkish people in overcoming the aftermath of an earthquake disaster.

At the same time, the Central Party Committee of Public Security and the Ministry of Public Security have demonstrated exemplary leadership and played a pivotal role in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic. They have also been resolute and persistent in combating corruption and economic crimes, adhering to the principle of "no forbidden zones, no exceptions."

Additionally, the Central Public Security Party Committee and the Ministry of Public Security had actively mobilised and engaged the community in the effective implementation of socio-economic development policies, ensuring social security, people's safety, human security, and improving the material and spiritual well-being of the people.

General Secretary Trong emphasised the urgency for the Central Public Security Party Committee to focus on leading and guiding the People's Public Security force to exert greater efforts and determination in the second half of the term. VNS
HA NOI  Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha hosted a reception in Ha Noi on Thursday for visiting Belarussian Minister of Education Andrei I. Ivanets, during which the host affirmed that Viet Nam pays great attention to the special traditional friendship with the European country, and bilateral partnership in education and training.

Ha noted that Belarus has helped Viet Nam train many officials and experts serving the countrys national construction and development, especially in the fields of science and technology.

Underlining that the two sides have yet to optimise their cooperation potential, the Deputy PM said that the upcoming visit by the Belarusian PM is expected to help beef up bilateral ties in a more comprehensive and deeper manner, especially in economy, culture, environment, climate change, security and defence. Particularly, education will still be one of the priorities in bilateral cooperation.

A new education cooperation agreement will be signed between Viet Nam and Belarus, which is hoped to bring practical benefits to people of both sides and motivate the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in the time to come, he said.

Ha expressed his hope that Viet Nam's Ministry of Education and Training and Belarus Ministry of Education will promptly finalise cooperation programmes and frameworks between the two countries with diverse forms such as delegation exchanges and experience sharing in general, tertiary and post-graduate education, along with the formation of joint science research groups and the exchange of students.

For his part, Ivanets affirmed that there is plenty of room for the two countries to further promote their education-training cooperation.

To date, 40 cooperation agreements have been signed among universities of Viet Nam and Belarus, he said, expressing his belief that a new education cooperation deal to be signed between the two Governments will contribute to further promote bilateral collaboration in the field.  VNS
HA NOI  Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang said on Thursday that Viet Nam and the EU have effectively cooperated in defence, in line with the Viet Nam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Framework Agreement (PCA), the agreement between Viet Nam and the EU on the establishment of a framework for Viet Nams participation in crisis management activities of the EU (FPA).

The minister made the remarks during his reception for Ambassador Giorgio Aliberti, head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Viet Nam who came to say goodbye before ending his working term in Viet Nam.

Congratulated Giorgio Aliberti on his successful working term in Viet Nam, Giang highly appreciated the impressive results of defence cooperation between the two sides, particularly the dialogue on defence and security, training, UN peacekeeping, and assistance in overcoming the consequences of war.

For his part, Ambassador Aliberti highly appreciated the close cooperation between Viet Nam and the EU, affirming that their relationship has developed very strongly, and there is more potential for further development.

He cited as example the EU's cooperation with Viet Nam in COVID-19 prevention and control, and support of Viet Nams participation in UN peacekeeping activities.

Minister Giang believes that in his new position, the Ambassador will continue to achieve many successes, contributing to promoting the cooperative relationship between the EU and Viet Nam, for peace, stability, cooperation, and common development of the region and the world.  VNS
NEW YORK  Viet Nam has made great progress in strengthening the legal framework, and ensuring everyone's equality before the law and in line with international standards on human rights, a Vietnamese representative told the UN General Assembly (UNGA)s high-level debate in New York on June 15 (local time).

Addressing the session themed Equal access to justice for all: advancing reforms for peaceful, just and inclusive societies, Minister Counsellor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the UN, said that equal access to justice played an important role in ensuring justice and equity, contributing to the achievement of the overarching goal of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

According to her, in Viet Nam, free or affordable legal aid services are available to ensure equal opportunities for all people. Many programmes have been implemented to raise public awareness, eliminate discrimination, and support women, children, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities.

In order to ensure transparency, accountability and fairness in the administration of justice, the judicial system has been continuously strengthened. Viet Nam has also improved the capacity of its legal staff and applied technology to modernise court processes and facilitate online proceedings so that justice can be easily accessed by all citizens.

The Vietnamese representative also shared lessons learned in addressing the root causes of injustice, such as poverty and inequality, ensuring inclusive economic growth, and improving social welfare and equal opportunities so that everyone can participate in the development process.

On this occasion, she emphasised the need to intensify international cooperation, and share experiences, knowledge and resources to promote a global environment where justice is accessible to all.

The UNGA debate was chaired by Ambassador ang Hoang Giang, Viet Nams Permanent Representative to the UN, who is Vice President of the 77th UNGA session.  VNS
HA NOI  The Kazakhstan government has approved a visa waiver agreement between Kazakhstan and Viet Nam.

The decision is included in a decree issued on June 13 and took effect immediately. The agreement states that Kazakhstani citizens and Vietnamese citizens holding passports that are valid for at least six months will be exempt from visa requirements to enter, exit, transit and temporary stay in Viet Nam and Kazakhstan for a maximum of 30 days from the date of entry.

The duration of their stay should not exceed 90 days for a three-month period. They will have to apply for a visa if they want to stay longer.

The signing of the agreement is expected to help strengthen relations between Viet Nam and the Central Asian country, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Murat Abugaliuly Nurtleu.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has postponed his official visit to Vietnam set for June 11-13 due to a major wildfire in Kazakhstans Abay province.

President Tokayev wished to make the visit at another proper time, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam.  VNS
HA NOI  Vietnamese Minister of Justice Le Thanh Long and his Cuban counterpart Oscar Manuel Silvera Martinez shared experience in law building, perfection, and enforcement during their talks in Ha Noi on Friday.

The host official said that to the Vietnamese people, solidarity and friendship with Cuba is an order from their hearts and minds. Viet Nam always treasures the Cuban Party, State, and peoples extremely valuable solidarity and support for its national liberation and revolutionary path.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Justice is ready to share experience in law building, perfection, and enforcement with its Cuban peer, he noted.

At the event, the two sides agreed on concrete cooperation activities in different areas, including drafting and verifying legal documents, applying information technology to the ministries activities, judicial support, and personnel training.

Both ministers agreed to order their ministries relevant units to promote the implementation of the letter of intent on a technical assistance project for the Cuban Justice Ministry, signed during Longs visit to Cuba in December 2022, so that the project will contribute to legal and judicial reform in each country.

During his working visit from June 9 to 19, apart from the meetings with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Khac inh, the Cuban minister has and will engage in sessions with leaders of the Supreme Peoples Court, the Supreme Peoples Procuracy, the Viet Nam Bar Federation, and the Peoples Committee of Hai Phong City.

This is his second trip to Viet Nam, following the first in 2019. It takes place on the occasions of the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Committee for Solidarity with South Viet Nam (September 25, 1963) and 50 years since then Cuban leader Fidel Castro visited Viet Nam and the liberated zone in South Viet Nam (September 15, 1973).  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Public Security on Friday provided a briefing on the violent gun attacks on local administration's headquarters building in the Central Highlands province of ak Lak last Sunday that claimed the lives of nine people and injured two others.

Major General ang Hong uc, Chief of Office of the public security ministry, stated that at around 0:35am on June 11, two armed groups (from different localities in ak Lak) broke into and attacked the people's committees buildings of the two communes Ea Ktur and Ea Tieu (Cu Kuin District), using knives, guns, petrol bombs and hand grenades.

The buildings suffered serious damage with documents and papers burnt.

The two police stations housed inside the buildings were also attacked, resulting in the death of four police officers.

Police revealed the gangs killed a total of five other people as they withdrew from the two commune offices, including the two commune leaders who were murdered while on the way to the headquarters after they heard reports of the disturbance incident.

In total, four police officers, two commune officials, along with three civilians were killed in the attacks, uc noted, adding that two police officers were hurt and their injuries are being treated, while three ethnic minority persons were held as hostages but later released.

The Ministry of Public Security has also said the group planned to infiltrate a military camp in Krong Pac District to steal weapons but didn't follow through as there were people awake at the camp's gates at the time.

On the night of the incident, the Ministry of Public Security swiftly reinforced the task forces, deployed blockade measures and sealed off incident areas, put government offices under strong protection, ensured security and safety for the people, and hunted down the suspects involved in the attacks, uc said.

The ministry has also provided timely support and sent representatives to visit the families of the fallen and injured comrades, as well as of the officials and civilians.

To date, over 50 suspects have been detained, including all the ringleaders, with many weapons seized.

The perpetrators are mostly young people, fuelled by the hatred and divisions sowed online with regard to ethnic tensions between the Kinh people (the majority of the population in Viet Nam) and minority ethnic groups, according to uc.

According to the initial assessment, the cause of the incident was prompted by the conspiracy of hostile forces. Some members of the in-exile FULRO organisation - an illegal, secessionist union - have incited other ethnic minority groups to drive a wedge between the Kinh and ethnic minority peoples, causing disorder and attracting attention from abroad.

But police forces are currently investigating and clarifying this issue, the public security ministry official stressed.

Major General uc said the police will continue to pursue all remaining suspects, seize all weapons and explosives, and guarantee absolute safety for the people and the enforcement forces involved in the pursuit.

They will also carry out investigations and promptly handle cases in accordance with regulations.

Initial confessions from the arrested suspects said the ringleaders promised them a prosperous future as long as they follow their orders and shoot and kill everyone they run into at the commune offices.

They will review and ensure absolute security plans for all critical areas, targets, and sectors, closely monitor the situation and advise the Party committees and authorities on enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of state management, eliminating potential complex factors that may arise from early on.

The Ministry of Public Security proposes that the provincial party committees and authorities of ak Lak Province, as well as other Central Highlands localities and surrounding areas, pay special attention to carrying out effective mass mobilisation, maintenance of close ties with the people, timely detection of internal conflicts and grievances within the people to resolve them early on, and improving the vigilance of the people against the schemes of counter-revolutionary hostile forces that seek to divide the great national unity bloc.

This will bolster the nationwide movement to protect the security of the homeland.

The public security official also thanked the support of the people in ak Lak, saying that the police would not be able to capture all the suspects and masterminds of the incident in such a short time without their crucial help.

By now, life in Cu Kuin District and especially in the two communes affected by the attacks "has returned to normal, and peace has been restored," uc said.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Friday meet with visiting Cuban Minister of Justice Oscar Manuel Silvera Martinez, during which he affirmed that Viet Nam is willing to share experiences of its oi moi (Renewal) process, including the building and improvement of the legal system, and judicial reform, with the Cuban side.

Viet Nam would do its best to support Cuba in its capacity, and willingly share experiences it has gained, both on issues that have been done well or not, Chinh stressed.

Lauding the outcomes of the talks between the two justice ministers, PM Chinh welcomed the Vietnamese sides proposal of building a project of technical assistance to the Cuban Ministry of Justice in law making, in order to meet its needs in implementating the 2019 Constitution.

The Vietnamese Government always creates favourable conditions for ministries and sectors, including the Ministry of Justice, to tighten bilateral relations with the Cuban Ministry of Justice in order to help each other in legal and judicial works, according to the Prime Minister.

The Vietnamese Government leader suggested the two sides continue supporting each other at international organisations and multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement. He proposed Cuba create favourable conditions in terms of mechanisms and policies for Vietnamese legal entities and individuals in Cuba to stabilise their lives, production and business, and pay attention to solving difficulties for Vietnamese enterprises investing in the country.

For his part, Minister Oscar Manuel Slivera Martinez said that Cuba always attached importance to its special and traditional relations, and multifaceted cooperation with Viet Nam; and thanked the country for its assistance, especially in judicial affairs and law-making.

Agreeing with PM Chinh's ideas, he expressed his hope that Viet Nam would maintain support for, and encourage its ministries and sectors to strengthen cooperation with Cuba in these fields, especially in the application of information technology, digital transformation and human resources training.  VNS
HA NOI  National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong inh Hue hosted separate receptions in Ha Noi on Friday for Ambassador Giorgio Aliberti, Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Viet Nam, and Ambassador of Switzerland to Viet Nam Thomas Gass.

At the meeting with Aliberti, Hue spoke highly of the ambassador's efforts in enhancing the relations between the EU and Viet Nam in general and the Vietnamese legislature and the European Parliament (EP) in particular.

Viet Nam attached great importance to and wants to strengthen its relations with the EU, a leading important partner in the Southeast Asian nations foreign policy, the top legislator stressed.

For his part, Aliberti pledged that he, in any position, would work harder to further consolidate and foster the EU-Viet Nam relationship.

The ambassador also lauded Hues role in promoting the EU-Viet Nam relations, especially the relationship between the EP and the Vietnamese NA, which has been enhanced significantly over the past time.

Regarding the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), he said the EVFTA was an important channel and the two sides should fully tap its benefits to boost bilateral cooperation.

Sharing Alibertis view, Hue said the EVFTA had proven effective, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and post pandemic periods, and amid global supply chain disruptions.

According to the NA leader, Viet Nam is working to soon ratify the Convention on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention of the International Labour Organisation (ILO Convention 87).

The EU will also urge its remaining members to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

Viet Nam would seriously fulfil commitments in the EVFTA for the countrys rapid, sustainable development, the NA leader affirmed.

Hue also shared Alibertis view that parliamentary cooperation is an important channel which should be promoted to contribute to the EU-Viet Nam cooperation, and suggested the two sides increase all-level delegation and people-to-people exchanges to enhance their mutual understanding.

Highlighting the significance of the JETP to the EU-Vietnam relations, Aliberti noted that Viet Nam was the third nation, after South Africa and Indonesia, to have signed the agreement with international partners, saying this reflected the EUs confidence in Viet Nam and its wish to make long-term, sustainable presence in the country.

Hue used this occasion to thank the EU and its member countries, particularly Aliberti, for their support during the COVID-19 pandemic combat, and hailed the EU for its strategies and initiatives to enhance cooperation with Asia-Pacific.

The EUs cooperation priorities match Viet Nams sustainable development orientations, the leader said, emphasising that Viet Nam stands ready to help the EU promote its presence in the region, connect with the ASEAN market, and accelerate negotiations on a free trade agreement with the ten-member group, and to coordinate in materialising the ASEAN-EU Plan of Action for 2023-2027.

Hue suggested the European Commission (EC) soon remove its yellow card warning on Vietnamese seafood basing on positive assessments of the country's practical efforts in the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

On this occasion, the top legislator asked the ambassador to convey his invitations to EU and EP leaders to pay official visits to Viet Nam.

Receiving the Swiss Ambassador, Hue highly valued the upcoming visit to Viet Nam by the President of the Swiss National Council to mark the 52nd founding anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties.

Switzerland had always been an important, reliable partner of Viet Nam, he said, informing the ambassador that the two countries legislative leaders were scheduled to hold talks, during which they would exchange views on speeding up negotiations on a free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Hue expressed his hope that the two sides will seek solutions to raise their bilateral trade and investment in the context that the two economies are reciprocal and investments by Swiss enterprises in Viet Nam remain modest.

For his part, Gass noted his belief that the visit by the President of the Swiss National Council will be a success, helping push ahead with the FTA between Viet Nam and the EFTA.

Recalling his working trips to Vietnamese localities, the ambassador said Swiss firms had consolidated their presence there, demonstrating the close economic ties between the two countries.  VNS
CA MAU  The Mekong Delta Province of Ca Mau reported no fishing boats violating foreign waters in the first five months of 2023.

This is attributed to the local authorities' application of various measures against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, in a joint effort to remove the European Commission (EC)'s 'yellow card' warning against Vietnamese seafood exports.

However, there still remains a risk of illegal fishing activities in foreign waters as many local boats have been been removing and concealing their vessel monitoring systems (VMS).

Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee Huynh Quoc Viet has ordered departments, sectors and localities to effectively perform the fight against IUU fishing, focusing on promoting information and communication campaigns to popularise relevant legal regulations and strictly handle illegal fishing cases in foreign waters.

Colonel Phung uc Hung, Commander of the provincial Border Guard Command, said the force continues to maintain and enhance the effectiveness of the communication system, update fishing vessel data in the National Fisheries Database (VNFishbase), and monitor fishing vessels entering and exiting sea border stations.

They have collaborated with other law enforcement forces at sea and local authorities to strictly monitor and control offshore fishing vessels, and strengthen patrol activities, he said.

Ca Mau has more than 4,100 fishing boats, including 1,500 with a length of 15 metres and above. Over the last 180-day peak period, units of the provincial Border Guard inspected more than 40,000 fishing boats entering and leaving seaports in the locality.

Nearly 4,000 local fishermen were provided with legal knowledge, and some 2,000 ship owners and captains urged to sign commitments to strictly adhere to the regulations regarding the fight against IUU fishing.

Meanwhile, the central province of Quang Tri is also concentrating on enhancing control of vessels that enter/leave fishing ports, as part of the efforts to wipe out illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The province has nearly 2,300 fishing boats, including 460 with a length of six metres and above. As of June 13,441 vessels have been licenced for fishing.

As many as 442 ships have been marked following legal regulations, while 184 vessels were connected to the vessel monitoring system (VMS).

All the fishing vessels with a length of 15 metres or more are required to dock at the Cua Viet and Cua Tung  which are the designated fishing ports in Quang Tri, for implementing procedures related to the fight against IUU fishing. A total of 594 vessels traversing via the ports have been strictly examined.

In addition, 100 per cent of the fishing vessels entering and exiting creeks at sea border stations have been also inspected.

The locality has also implemented an information and communication campaign to ensure transparency in IUU fishing combat efforts. It has provided diverse forms of popularisation and training for fishermen and related organisations on anti-IUU regulations.

According to the provincial steering committee for IUU fishing prevention, authorised units will strengthen supervision via the VMS to prevent fishing vessels from engaging in violations in offshore areas, especially in foreign waters.  VNS
HA NOI Ho Lieu Huong, from the central province of Binh Thuan, could have given up the opportunity for a heart transplant if it hadn't been for the support of social workers at Cho Ray Hospital, one of whose main tasks is to call for donations for patients in need.

The woman said she only had VN3 million in her pocket when she was admitted to Cho Ray Hospital for a heart transplant.

Staff at the hospital's Social Work Department offered to support her and, after a week of efforts, the donations amounted to VN400 million, which was enough for Huong to cover the cost of a heart transplant and post-transplant treatment.

Nguyen Quoc Dung, her husband, said: "At that time, my family had no money and we almost had to refuse the precious opportunity of a heart transplant."

The doctors encouraged his wife to undergo the transplant first and worry about the money later.

It was Le Minh Hien, head of the Social Work Department, and his colleagues who helped mobilise the money.

This is only one among many cases that Hien has successfully assisted with.

Hien and the doctors here are benefactors of my family. Its like my wife were born for a second time, thanks to them," he said.

After fifteen years of engaging in social work activities at Cho Ray Hospital, for Le Minh Hien, the greatest joy is seeing patients overcome their hardships and return home with a smile on their faces.

"If I had to choose again, I would still select Cho Ray Hospital and opt to do social work. Here, all medical staff and patients are family members. I still want to do more for the poor and disadvantaged patients," Hien said.

In the same 15 years, the thing that makes him proudest is earning the trust of hospital leaders, benefactors, and patients and their relatives.

Hien has mobilised billions of ong each year, all for the patients in need. He has initiated many meaningful programmes to support patients coming to the hospital for examination and treatment over the past 15 years.

In 1996, Le Minh Hien started working at Cho Ray Hospital as a laboratory technician in the Department of Haematology. He participated in many volunteer medical visits organised by the hospital.

From these trips, thoughts about how to better support the sick and impoverished people when they come to the hospital kept rekindling in his heart.

In 2008, the Board of Directors of Cho Ray Hospital decided to establish a Social Medicine Unit. Hien volunteered to participate and became one of the first three members of the Unit.

The three-member unit has now become the Social Work Department with dozens of employees. They have implemented dozens of programmes led by Hien as Head of the Department.

He recounted that at first, the Social Work Department's activities simply involved mobilising money to support hospital fees for patients. On average, he could raise from VN10 billion to 20 billion each year for patients.

All money was spent to support patients in a transparent and clear manner. His nickname "Zero ong Billionaire" was born from this.

With more experience and interaction with patients, Hien became more aware of their needs. He led the Social Work Department to run 25 activities, many of which bring profound meaning to patients.

These activities range from hospital fee support, medical examination and treatment guidance, first aid instruction, to patient rights protection, health insurance consultation and assistance, free heart surgery for children, as well as providing food and company to patients undergoing dialysis or treatment for cancer.

"When coming to the hospital, almost everyone has worries and concerns, from not knowing where to register for a check-up, and where to pay, to facing many difficulties and obstacles when admitted to the hospital. Our mission is to help the patients become more familiar with the procedures, to create a feeling of closeness and friendliness like at home for peace of mind during treatment," Hien said.

During the period when HCM City was fighting against COVID-19, Hien became a bridge to support both medical staff as well as patients.

He provided daily essentials for his colleagues. He did the same to the patients with items such as diapers, wet tissues, dry tissues, and bathtubs.

He also deployed a channel to find information and provide updates on the status of people with COVID-19 being treated at Cho Ray Hospital and COVID-19 Resuscitation Hospital.

During the period of social distancing, 300 trips organised by Hien and his colleagues at Cho Ray Hospital brought more than 1,100 people with COVID-19, who had been treated, back to health and reunited them with their families.

With each difficult situation he encountered, Hien devoted all his efforts to finding ways to support the patient. Many times, he went back and forth to find the best way to assist the sick.

"I just put myself in the position of the relatives, the patient's family, imagining how they would worry and panic when their loved ones, unfortunately, fall into a difficult situation. And more than ever, how much it means to reach out a hand to them at this time," Hien said.

In the recent case of two siblings who suffered from Botulinum poisoning, after learning about the difficult situation (in which the younger brother did not have health insurance), Hien contacted the Social Insurance Agency of Hau Giang Province and arranged for the younger brother to have health insurance in May. Although applying for health insurance had some difficulties, Hien did not give up, remaining determined to solve it to the end. He also mobilised VN130 million to support them in paying their hospital fees.

Hien and the Social Work Department of Cho Ray Hospital have become a reliable source of support, a beacon of faith and hope for impoverished patients.  VNS
HA NOI - Higher wages are needed to attract and retain employees working for the public sector in Viet Nam who are lagging way behind their peers in many Southeast Asian countries in terms of income, the online newspaper Vietnamnet reported.

Statistics showed that the average income of a public employee in Viet Nam is VN10 million, compared to VN56.7 million, VN29 million and VN17 million in Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia, respectively.

Noting that a fresh graduate working for the public sector earns just a little more than VN3.4 million a month, Vu Thi Luu Mai, deputy chairwoman of the National Assembly's Finance and Budget Committee, said more attention is needed to the wage policy.

Income for employees should be considered an investment in human resources.

"(Our) country does not lack talented people. We do not lack enthusiastic people who want to contribute, but we need better policies to create motivation for employees," Mai said.

This issue has been raised for decades without any efficient solutions, Vietnamnet online newspaper reported.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, in 2019, the number of people entitled to salaries and allowances from the state budget, including social protection beneficiaries, was about 11 million. Among them, about 2.8 million are civil servants and public employees receiving salaries and allowances from the state budget. If retirees and other people receiving salaries and subsidies are included, this number can be up to 7.5 million, accounting for 8.3 per cent of the country's population.

There have been many efforts to streamline payrolls at state agencies. By 2021, the payroll was reduced to nearly 2.77 million, and by the end of 2022, it was nearly 2 million (about 255,000 civil servants, more than 1.74 million public employees).

The number in 2022 was cut down by 770,000 compared to 2021 and 800,000 compared to 2018.

It will be difficult to achieve the desired result if the downsizing of employees is only focused on civil servants and officials at management agencies and units. It may only burden the workload for those who are retained.

Meanwhile, the number of people receiving salaries from unions and professional associations takes up a large proportion.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed to spend an additional VN60 trillion to increase salaries and social security payments, with the base salary to increase from VN1.49 million to 1.8 million a month, starting from July 1, 2023.

The total state budget expenditure in 2023 is estimated at VN2,076.2 trillion, up 16.3 per cent compared to 2022. Among them, expenditure on development investment is VN726.7 trillion, and VN102.9 trillion will be spent on debt and interest, recurrent spending including salary payments is up to VN1,172.3 trillion, up 5.4 per cent compared to 2022s estimate.

According to the 2023 state budget expenditure estimate, the expenses for public management agencies and mass organisations can get up to VN46.9 trillion.

The expenses are significant, however the salary public employees receive is still low due to the excessive number of people receiving allowances from the state budget, the newspaper reported.

Despite efforts from the Government, the wage rise is almost nothing compared to the normal living standard. Prices skyrocket before salary is raised.

A certain number of people use low salaries to justify working multiple jobs. In a certain number of cases, they may dwell in illegal activities and push their responsibility on others. Meanwhile, low income is a reason for competent employees to leave the public sector.  VNS
NINH THUAN  President Vo Van Thuong attended the inaugural ceremony of the radio station of the south-central region in Thuan Nam District, Ninh Thuan Province, on Friday.

The State-invested station is built, managed and operated by Radio The Voice of Vietnam (VOV), with its construction starting in 2020, covering an area of more than 16 hectares in Son Hai village, Phuoc inh Commune, Thuan Nam District.

The VN327 billion (US$13.89 million ) facility has been equipped with cutting-edge technologies. Once operational, it will cover VOV programmes providing political, economic, cultural and social information for the south-central region and Truong Sa (Spratlys).

In his remarks, Thuong stressed that the event was of significance as it would help promote the coverage of VOV  the voice of the Party and the State  in coastal and island areas in the southeastern region as well as remote areas in the south-central region.

He asked VOV to invest more in improving news quality, thus better meeting information demand of people, especially fishermen, officials and soldiers on islands and platforms, and other forces performing their tasks at sea.

VOV General Director o Tien Sy noted that the station would contribute to ensuring political security, and social order and safety, and affirming national sovereignty in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea).  VNS
However, the guidance could be clearer, so many wind power projects under survey must be stopped. The quieter market has made international investors hesitate to consider when investing in Vietnam.

Transformation in the energy industry

On the morning of June 14, in Hanoi, thematic sessions took place within the framework of the High-Level Forum on Industry 4.0 (Vietnam Industry 4.0) 2023, organized by the Central Economic Commission.





Vietnam Industry 4.0 Conference 2023 is an annual event hosted by the Central Economic Commission, collaborating with central ministries, branches and IEC corporations.





The event plays an important role in connecting the parties to promote the transformation of the national argument and develop the innovation ecosystem in Vietnam for many years.





This year, to implement Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW on accelerating the country's industrialization and modernization to 2030, with a vision to 2045, the workshop will revolve around the theme "Promoting transformation digitalization, fast and sustainable green transformation to create breakthroughs, shorten the process of industrialization and modernization of the country by 2030, with a vision to 2045".

In the symposium, the delegates discussed "Technological trends and solutions to develop Vietnam's energy industry in the Strategy of Industrialization and Modernization to 2030, with a Vision to the year 2045" at thematic session 3.

Speaking at the discussion session, Mr Nguyen Duc Hien, Deputy Head of the Central Economic Commission, said that Power Planning VIII aims to supply enough electricity demand in the country, meeting socio-economic development goals with an average GDP growth rate is approximately 7%/year from 2021 to 2030, about 6.5 - 7.5%/year in the period 2031 - 2050.





Power Planning VIII focuses on strongly developing renewable energy sources for electricity production, reaching the rate of about 30.9 - 39.2% by 2030, towards the target of renewable energy accounting for 47%. Oriented to 2050, the proportion of renewable energy in electricity production will account for 67.5-71.5%.









However, Vietnam's energy industry faces many challenges, such as the rapidly growing energy demand, the domestic supply needing more to meet the requirements, many power projects behind schedule, and the annual decline in coal, crude oil and gas production reserves and output.

This has led Vietnam to increase energy imports, reduce energy self-sufficiency, and increase dependence on other economies.





Over time, the world energy industry has shifted with changes in policies, structures and technologies: from the production and consumption of traditional fossil fuel sources (coal, oil, natural gas) to sustainable renewable energy sources (wind, solar, biomass...).

Many wind power enterprises hesitate when Vietnam.

Talking about participating in the renewable energy supply chain, specifically wind power, Mr Le Manh Cuong - General Director of PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation (PTSC), said that the organization's International assessment shows that Vietnam has the largest wind power potential in Southeast Asia, far ahead of other countries.





The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) estimates that Vietnam has about 600 GWh of untapped wind power, including 300 GWh of offshore wind and 300 GWh of onshore wind power.





According to PTSC leaders, international investors have set up offices in Vietnam right after Vietnam has a preliminary policy on attracting investment in wind power.





However, in the past, the guidance could be clearer, so many projects being surveyed have to be stopped. In the past few years, the market has been quieter when Power Plan VIII has not been issued and problems with renewable energy projects. Therefore, international investors have begun to hesitate to consider when investing in Vietnam.





A week ago, Orsted Group, Denmark's largest energy group, announced reducing their ambitious target from 30 GWh to 28 GWh by 2030 and withdrawing from the Vietnamese market.





Accordingly, Orsted believes the Vietnamese market needs to be more attractive than other markets. However, this group still believes that Vietnam is still a potential country to become the centre of Southeast Asia in terms of production and supply chain.





Previously, in May 2023, Orsted signed a contract with PTSC to manufacture 33 turbine foundation structures for the Greater Changhua 2b&4 offshore wind farm with a total capacity of 920 MW in Taiwan (China). The contract worth more than 300 million USD is expected to use 70,000 tons of steel and bring thousands of jobs at PTSC and contractors in the supply chain.









In his speech, the General Director of PTSC also mentioned the participation of Vietnamese enterprises in the renewable energy supply chain, in which PTSC is one of the units with potential advantages.





For his part, Dr Nguyen Duc Hien believes Vietnamese enterprises like PTSC can fully participate in the supply chain, such as the production of stands, installation, etc. However, even if there is orientation, with a specific mechanism, it is easier for businesses to participate.




Haiphong maintained its position as a leading destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country during the first five months of 2023, with more than $500 million, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

According to Haiphong Economic Zones Management Authority, in 2022, Haiphong ranked fourth nationwide in attracting FDI, reaching approximately $2.5 billion. The northern port city has firmly positioned itself as the top investment destination in the countrys industrial manufacturing sector.

Haiphong has long been a home for many giant FDI investors. Those that have established bases in the city include LG Group in Korea, Pegatron Group in Taiwan, Bridgestone Group in Japan, and Regina Miracle Group in Hong Kong.

The expansion of FDI giants in Haiphong is among the factors driving the influx of vendors, suppliers and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into the port city.

Unlike the groups who typically make substantial investments in their own facilities, these businesses opt to lease ready-built factories and warehouses.

This leasing option is particularly suitable for SMEs and new market entrants since it allows them to save time and optimise various costs, such as investment and management fees, maintenance expenses, and expenditure on construction.

According to Nguyen Phuong Thao, leasing and asset management director at Gaw NP Capital, the demand for ready-built factories and warehouses is projected to keep rising.

The end of 2023 will likely witness an upsurge in the supply of such facilities. This will put pressure on rents and occupancy rates, leading to a probable stabilisation of rental prices, said Thao.

Located in Haiphong, GNP Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Center provides premium ready-built factories and warehouses

Thao stated that the GNP Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Center project invested in by Gaw NP Capital has been successful in attracting numerous inquiries from companies looking to lease ready-built factories and warehouses.

"There is a growing demand for factory and warehouse rentals, especially from SMEs, but they are cautious about factors such as price, project location, supply chain capabilities, and sustainability factors," Thao said.

Distinctive advantages in investing in Haiphong

Situated on the strategic economic corridor along the northeastern coast, Haiphong serves as the primary import and export gateway for the northern region. Thanks to its proximity to the Chinese border, which is merely 180km away, the city has been acknowledged as a potential China+1 manufacturing hub.

It is currently the only city in the North that boasts all five major modes of transport, including roads, waterways, railways, inland waterways, and airports.

National highways No.5 and No.10, Hanoi-Haiphong Expressway, Haiphong-Quang Ninh Expressway, Hanoi-Haiphong Railway, Cat Bi International Airport, and Lach Huyen Deepwater Sea Port are evolving into primary access points to the sea for the northern regions and linking international maritime transportation routes.

Additionally, the city also places emphasis on developing industrial infrastructure. At present, there are 14 operational industrial zones (IZs), and 15 more are planned that will cover a total area of over 6,200 hectares by 2025. Among them, Dinh Vu-Cat Hai Economic Zone encompasses the majority of the key IZs in Haiphong. This zone has received substantial infrastructure investment and utilises sustainable development models.

Haiphong shows off an outstanding business and investment climate, ranking third out of the 63 cities and provinces on the Provincial Competitiveness Index in 2022. In addition, the city secured second place in the Public Administration Reform Index with a score of 91.09 per cent in 2022.

Opt for ready-built factories and warehouses for lease in GNP Nam Dinh Vu

GNP Nam Dinh Vu is a distinguished ready-built factory and warehouse project located in Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park, one of the largest IZs in Haiphong. Developed and invested in by Gaw NP Capital, the project consists of a total net leasable area of 107,000 square metres. Thanks to its flexible rental space and complete infrastructure, GNP Nam Dinh Vu is well-suited for a diverse range of industries. The project is now ready for handover.

Construction progress at GNP Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Center as of June 2023 with more than 76 per cent built

GNP Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Center provides outstanding benefits that include a column-free design to maximise production space, spacious internal roads, EDGE energy-reduction standards, advanced fire protection systems, and round-the-clock security. It is ideal for both export processing enterprises (EPEs) and non-EPEs.

GNP is committed to offering legal and policy assistance to any foreign companies that are shifting their operations to Vietnam. The team will aid in guiding businesses through the company setup process, obtaining essential business licences, and producing any other required documentation.

GNP Nam Dinh Vu is empowered by Gaw NP Capital, a $200 million platform backed by Gaw Capital Partners, which is a global real estate private equity firm that is well-known for developing and operating almost 1 million sq.m of industrial space, along with NP Capital Partners, a reputable real estate firm with a strong network and development capability in Vietnam.

Along with GNP Nam Dinh Vu, GNP is also developing many other projects, such as the GNP Dong Van 3 Industrial Center, an integrated factory and warehouse in Ha Nam province, and the GNP Yen Binh 1 and 2 ready-built factories for lease in Thai Nguyen province.

vir
Experts anticipate real estate investment activity to increase in the second half of 2023. To accomplish this, developers and investors need to grasp the current real estate trends in the world, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria are one of the most significant.

Le Khanh Lam - Chairman, RSM

ESG investment is quickly becoming a key distinction in the real estate sector. The concept establishes clear environmental standards in the real estate market by using indicators that are tied to the success of businesses.

Environmental elements encompass an organisations influence on the environment, such as the amount of energy consumed, the level of carbon emissions, waste management, climate impact, and resources. Social factors concentrate on labour rights, workplace, health and safety of employees, and impacts on the community, while governance factors affect matters such as board structure and composition, executive compensation, business ethics, and shareholder rights.

ESG initiatives improve risk identification and assessment across investment decision-making and strategy development. Asset managers and investors are giving this criterion more and more weight. It is anticipated that ESG would continue to be promoted in tandem with market growth in the coming time, particularly in the investment strategies of tenants in office and industrial zones.

Why focus on ESG?

The adoption of ESG as a method of managing potential risks is on the rise. For some additional upfront expenditures, it allows for substantial operational savings throughout the lifetime of an investment. For instance, an investment in energy efficiency might be a viable solution. A third of all worldwide greenhouse gas emissions and as much as 40 per cent of global energy use come from commercial and residential properties.

Hence, smart property investors may enhance their capability to mitigate the risks related to climate change by implementing well-developed ESG initiatives.

In this highly competitive market, investing preferences are going to be crucial. Millennials are expected to become the dominant generation over the next several years, and they have placed a greater emphasis on concerns of social responsibility and climate change than previous generations. In order to attract that capital, real estate enterprises must have ESG policies and processes in place.

The good karma generated by a proactive strategy is another advantage, although one that may be less obvious. Being able to engage with the community and prove the positive influences of business policy may be beneficial in the long run and in a sustainable way.

Real estate companies need to focus on understanding the factors of the ESG that are material to them and that are likely to impact the financial condition or operating performance of the company, as well as what matters to their investors. The majority of real estate businesses still primarily focus on the environmental factor of ESG. Nevertheless, when seen from the perspective of the social pillar, businesses also need to consider health and safety, as well as working conditions.

Property firms can establish community-impacting initiatives in their projects, such as green spaces, parks, libraries, and childcare facilities for staff. In addition, from a governance standpoint, ethics and risk management are viewed with a critical eye. The fundamental principles of management and corporate ethics must be upheld.

As reducing the carbon footprints is becoming more and more of a priority, evaluating the materials being used will play a significant role in the development and construction process. For instance, the economy is looking at how to make more efficient use of energy, focusing less on carbon fuels and more on electricity.

There are various solutions out there, and businesses should find the appropriate one to apply, depending on the specific market, location and what they are doing with the property.

ESG enabling real estate businesses to attain funds, illustration photo/ Source: Shutterstock

Growth and challenges

In terms of ESG legislation, standards, and investor preferences, most would agree that Europe is the frontrunner in the world. For instance, Great Portland Estates, a real estate investment trust established in the United Kingdom, has recently published an ESG credit policy.

While the ecological urban concept originally arose in Europe, Japan is also one of the pioneering nations in Asia for the development of ecological urban models. One great example of this is the Fujisawa Urban Area. Also, China has Dongtan eco-city in Shanghai, while Singapore has Tianjin Sino eco-city.

In the Vietnamese real estate market, in addition to Green Mark, there are other green building certification systems such as LOTUS and LEED for evaluating the performance of buildings in terms of energy usage, emissions, design, safety, and working environment.

In Ho Chi Minh City, a number of office buildings have been evaluated for LEED certification, all located in District 1. The Landcaster Luminaire, Techcombank Tower, and Capital Place are three prominent examples of such buildings in Hanoi.

According to the Vietnam Real Estate Association, assets in smart eco-urban zones are two times more liquid than ordinary projects. In addition, projects with meticulous planning that include a thriving urban area tend to be highly competitive and have exceedingly high pricing.

Meanwhile, the segment that requires significant work towards the green goal is the commercial real estate sector. In recent years, the manufacturing, e-commerce, third-party logistics, and retail sectors have significantly boosted their demand for industrial property assets such as land, factories, and warehouses.

As a sector with a significant influence on the environment, industrial investors must pay greater attention to the development of industrial parks in order to limit emissions, maintain a healthy working environment for workers and preserve the living environment for nearby communities. The green development of industries will also contribute to the upgrading and standardisation of value chains, consequently enhancing resilience and preventing supply chain disruptions.

Many business owners have a firm grasp of the concept of ESG and the various criteria that they will need to assess their own organisations, but there is still a great deal of uncertainty over standard reporting. In order to get the ball rolling on an ESG initiative, businesses should think about developing a mission or vision statement that explains the programmes goals and the value it will provide to the company as well as its investors. It is necessary to give some consideration to the applicable measures, as well as how to report them in the most effective way, and the effects that these measurements have.

Achieving the standards established by the ESG grading scale is, in theory, not difficult since the cost differential between the construction of green buildings and traditional constructions is not significant. In fact, the most challenging obstacle is still the time to establish an ESG standard design from the beginning and the efforts that the business must pursue to build the project to the proper standards.

Long-term, however, green buildings may be seen as an investment for the future, as real estate developers and operators recognise the savings in energy, resources, and maintenance costs.

Despite restricting investment decision-making time and defensive sentiment, the ESG factor in real estate will become increasingly important in 2023. In the past, investors were frequently deterred from ESG projects due to their poor rate of return.

In light of the fact that most businesses are preparing to confront global economic problems in the coming years, every penny must be well considered in the long term. The lower operational costs of ESG projects are becoming a significant advantage, allowing both tenants and investors to save costs and enhance efficiency.
Accordingly, a consortium comprising Asia Petroleum Energy Corporation, Tokyo Gas Group, and Shizen Energy Group is set to invest over VND300 trillion ($12.5 billion) in this joint venture.

The project encompasses an expansive offshore area of 325 hectares, complemented by an estimated 8-hectare onshore site within the city's Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park.

Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation (EVNHCMC), firmly supports the integration of this initiative into PDP8, urging immediate registration from the relevant authorities to include the 6,000MW of wind power capacity into the mobilisation scenarios.

The assessment must also account for power surge implications on the operational grids in the broader southern region, which are presently undergoing the final stages of approval by the Prime Minister's Office.

Furthermore, EVNHCMC recommends a meticulous reassessment of turbine technology selection. Given the substantial marine territory utilised by the project, the evaluating entities must carefully consider its environmental impact on the globally recognised Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, acknowledged as a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO.

Additionally, the project's proposed offshore location within Can Gio district necessitates attention from specialised agencies responsible for national defence and security, ensuring the proper maintenance of public order.

Despite the city's lack of legal provisions to endorse the inclusion of the project in PDP8, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade has formally issued a recommendation, advising the consortium to liaise directly with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for comprehensive guidance on the surveying procedures and proposed integration within PDP8.

EuroCham proposes solutions to ongoing power shortages The European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) wrote a letter to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to propose a series of short- and long-term measures designed to alleviate the effects of the ongoing power shortages.

Amkor's $1.6 billion plant in Bac Ninh on track for October Amkor Technology's $1.6 billion semiconductor plant in the northern province of Bac Ninh, Amkor's largest facility worldwide, is scheduled for trial production by late October 2023.
Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL), a prominent real estate conglomerate, played a key role in advising and facilitating the sale of this unique hotel portfolio, marking the first hotel transaction in Southeast Asia this year.

Everland Opportunities IX Limited, a real estate development firm based in Hong Kong, acquired these three properties from Strategic Hospitality Holdings Ltd., a subsidiary of the Thai conglomerate Strategic Hospitality Extendable Freehold and Leasehold Real Estate Investment Trust (SHREIT), for a total investment of $106.1 million.

The portfolio includes the 3-star Ibis Saigon South Hotel and the 4-star Capri by Frasers Hotel, both situated in District 7 of Ho Chi Minh City, and the 5-star Pullman Jakarta Central Park Hotel located in Indonesia.

The transaction involved the sale of the Pullman Jakarta Central Park and Ibis Saigon South hotels, along with their management rights held by Accor for the Pullman and Ibis brands. However, the sale of Capri by Frasers Hotel did not include ownership rights.

Julien Naouri, senior vice president of Business and Investment for Asia-Pacific at JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group remarked, "This distinctive sale of the hotel investment portfolio not only signifies the resurgence of transactional activities in Southeast Asia but also confirms the sustained recovery of cash flows for hotels in the region."

In early 2020, LT Rubicon, a UK-based company, expressed interest in acquiring the aforementioned three hotels for $118 million. However, the proposed transaction failed to secure shareholder approval during SHREIT's extraordinary general meeting held in June.

Subsequently, in October 2020, SHREIT's subsidiary listed the three hotels for sale again, this time with an asking price of nearly $133 million. The valuation included $14.7 million for the 140-room Ibis Saigon South Hotel, $23.7 million for the 175-room Capri by Frasers Hotel, and $94.3 million for the Pullman Hotel in Jakarta.

During that period, SHREIT's leadership acknowledged the financial challenges faced by the hotels, as they operated at a loss and struggled with significant costs and debts. Operating at limited capacity, the properties faced difficulties in securing additional short-term funding.

The ongoing impact of the pandemic on revenue, the current financial conditions, and a lack of cash flow exacerbated the challenges faced by the group, with no clear indication of a swift recovery. Moreover, SHREIT encountered multiple breaches of contractual agreements and potential litigation risks from both partners and lenders.

Given these circumstances, the Board of Directors decided to divest the hotels in Vietnam and Indonesia, despite the lower purchase price offered by potential buyers.

Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers celebrates 20th anniversary Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers celebrated its 20th year of exemplary service and renowned reputation on May 7, marking two decades of the finest hospitality in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.

'Love is all' exhibition at Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon From June 6-20, Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon elevates guests' experience by celebrating arts in all its forms in collaboration with local artist Tran Quang Dai in the exclusive exhibition Love is all.
IFC investment of approximately $20 million in CVS JSC, a subsidiary of Son Kim Retail Corporation (SonKim Retail), will contribute to the expansion of GS25 Vietnam's retail network. GS25 Vietnam is a prominent convenience store operator in the country.

Furthermore, IFC is collaborating with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), a top Japanese financial conglomerate, to facilitate a $40 million commodity-backed warehouse finance facility for Thanh Thanh Cong - Bien Hoa JSC (TTC AgriS), a significant local agricultural enterprise.

By enhancing access to modern retail, this funding will enable GS25 Vietnam to establish over 500 new convenience stores nationwide by 2025. The expansion of the network is anticipated to generate up to 6,000 direct jobs (with more than 60 per cent held by women) and create thousands of indirect employment opportunities. Additionally, the company will increase its supply of locally produced food.

James Michael Kershek, CEO of SonKim Retail, expressed enthusiasm about collaborating with IFC to provide the people of Vietnam with enhanced shopping options delivered conveniently and in a fair, fresh, and friendly manner.

SonKim Retail is strongly committed to championing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) best practices through its diverse and rapidly growing workforce, safe and sustainable food offerings, and management decision-making processes. These shared values and objectives position SonKim Retail favourably within Vietnam's rapidly expanding retail sector.

GS25 Vietnam, based in Ho Chi Minh City, aims to cater to the evolving preferences of an urban clientele seeking safe and dependable ready-to-cook meals. The convenience store operator plans to diversify its product range, with a particular focus on providing high-quality fresh food offerings. IFC will provide guidance to GS25 Vietnam in improving its in-store food safety practices and reducing food loss and waste, thereby supporting its efforts.

For TTC AgriS, this collaboration represents its initial receipt of a commodity-backed warehouse finance loan from IFC and SMBC. The facility, processed under IFC's Global Warehouse Finance Programme (GWFP), will specifically contribute to the growth of the nascent warehouse financing market in Vietnam. This funding will also encourage local banks to participate in the agribusiness value chain, optimising agricultural financing opportunities in this sector with immense potential.

Dang Huynh Uc My, vice chairwoman of TTC AgriS, emphasised that the facility will allow the company to obtain loans using raw materials as collateral. This increased working capital will enhance TTC AgriS' flexibility in procuring, storing, and distributing materials and goods, leading to a more efficient system.

TTC AgriS considers cooperation with IFC and SMBC as vital to its circular economy development strategy, aligned with its goal of transforming into an integrated economic business model. This transformation will solidify its position as a comprehensive agriculture solutions provider in Vietnam and the region, My said.

The GWFP aims to expand working capital financing available to agricultural producers or traders by leveraging their commodities stored in warehouses. To date, the GWFP has supported global trade worth over $10 billion.

Thomas Jacobs, IFC country manager for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Lao PDR, explained that agribusiness is a priority for IFC due to its potential for significant development impacts and its crucial role in poverty reduction.

With Vietnam experiencing robust economic growth, an emerging middle class, and increasing demand for improved hygiene and food safety, both investments will contribute to providing consumers with a wider range of superior products and services. These investments will also support local producers, facilitate commodity trade flows, and enhance the resilience of Vietnam's agribusiness value chain, thereby generating much-needed employment opportunities and improving livelihoods.

IFC partners with SHB to boost lending for SMEs Saigon-Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB) is the latest Vietnamese bank to join IFC in expanding access to finance for small- and medium-sized enterprises, especially women-owned businesses.

OCB secures $100 million loan from IFC to empower SMEs Vietnam's Orient Commercial Joint Stock Bank (OCB) has just secured a substantial loan of $100 million from the prestigious International Finance Corporation (IFC).
What is the spillover impact of the relocation wave in Vietnam?

Ryohei Oda, managing director of ABeam Consulting Vietnam

The wave of relocating for many foreign corporations operations into Vietnam has become an upcoming trend, mainly due to the political tension between China and the United States. This has greatly benefited Vietnams economy, which has become the fastest growing economy in Southeast Asia. This has led Vietnam into high positive demand and created spillover impacts in many ways for the need for digital transformation and smart manufacturing.

Accordingly, there is an increase in demand for better digital infrastructure to support all the operation efficient needs in these companies. This will spur the growth of the countrys digital ecosystem, especially around digital technology platform and high-speed internet connectivity.

In addition, the wave will also push for a higher adoption of advanced technologies, especially in AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data for companies to optimise their processes, ensure effective cost management, and improve product quality.

Furthermore, this trend will indirectly accelerate the local technology companies to grow to meet the sudden surge in the digital transformation arena. As a result, it will simulate the local economy growth by creating more job opportunities and offers more innovative solutions to foreign companies.

To stay competitive in the digital technology space, companies will also increase investment in research and development, and seek more innovation to be the leaders in digital technology. This will make Vietnam more visible to the world in charting the digital transformation roadmap.

What are the requirements for foreign manufacturers to build a smart factory in Vietnam?

There are many requirements that need to be fulfilled. Firstly, manufacturers need to ensure compliance with local regulatory requirements by securing the right permits and licences, environmental regulation, and labour law. Secondly, they need to make initial investment in technology and infrastructure such as high-speed internet, automation technologies, and tools. Third is to hire and train a highly skilled workforce to support the smart factory vision.

Despite the challenges, the Vietnamese government has been very supportive in driving the country into smart factory by encouraging more foreign corporations to invest. Vietnams efforts can be seen by its commitment to drive digital transformation by 2025 as part of promoting more opportunities.

How does ABeam Consulting help foreign manufacturers resolve their pain points?

We offer digital transformation consulting service to foreign manufacturers so that they can smoothly kick-start their projects in Vietnam.

One of our solutions is implementing a paperless project by analysing current paperwork and suggesting digitalisation as well as automating the approval process, using digital signatures, and taking on document management.

Another area is using a digital twin solution to design the best factory and warehouse layout. We also offer a smart factory assessment service, in which we analyse the current state of the factory, define the future factory, and create a roadmap to close those gaps.

Other solutions include building data platforms and suggesting IoT sensors to increase the quality and productivity of a smart factory.

ABeam Consulting is well known as one of the largest SAP partners. How can SAP solutions resolve issues for Vietnamese companies?

ABeam Consulting is Asias leading SAP partner and we are the first Regional Strategic Services Partner (RSSP) globally.

ABeam Consulting has been a long-time partner to SAP, consistently delivering corporate transformation, quality services with high added value, and cutting-edge initiatives to customers.

With the RSSP initiative, ABeam Consulting will benefit from SAPs strategic support. This may include coordinated industry-aligned solutions, joint go-to-market strategy, and access to regional and market unit industry expertise. ABeam works very closely with SAP to deliver the latest technology and updates to our customers.

Our biggest asset is our people. ABeam Consulting is committed to investing in our employees so that they keep up with the latest developments in the SAP Learning and Certification Hub.

Can you share upcoming plans that ABeam Consulting will launch in Vietnam?

We will launch a green transformation initiative. ABeam works together with our partners to help our clients to visualise greenhouse gas information by identifying the amount of reduced carbon to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Our consulting team also assists clients in developing a roadmap to achieve carbon neutrality by mid-century.

We also venture into the area of personal data protection. The Vietnamese government plans to release a new personal data protection law soon. According to the draft, most Vietnamese companies will need to modify existing company procedures and system settings. ABeam Consulting has worked with companies in Japan and Thailand to help them comply with personal data protection laws.
Responding to climate change, does Vietnams agricultural sector appear to be trailing behind other agriculturally developed nations when it comes to fostering corporate transformation to a sustainable food system?

Chris Hogg, Vice president and head of Sustainability and Communications, Nestle Zone AOA

I dont think this is a race or a competition. The reality is that were facing a climate emergency, so every single country can always do more and move faster.

The challenge for everybody is that this is expensive and complicated. The event on clustering industry towards sustainable food systems transformation in Vietnam is trying to encourage people to find ways to work together. Working together, as I said on the panel, is very difficult.

Were trying to transition, so the important thing is that the Vietnamese government is very much engaged in attempting to make Vietnam a hub for innovation in food system transformation.

And I know that we as a private company appreciate very much the support and partnership that we get from the government because if were going to fix these very difficult problems, we need to work together.

What should Vietnam do to speed up the agricultural sector in transitioning to a sustainable food system and becoming a regional food innovation hub?

All this is really about making sure that farming is a good profession to join. If you inherit your family farm, it makes sense for you and your family to stay on the land. So the more that we can help with improving the productivity of farms in a regenerative way, meaning a way that is good for the soil, good for the planet, then youre going to have a double benefit. You will benefit that farmer because you will have a more productive enterprise and a more productive farm.

But most importantly, these are efforts that will be good for the planet. Were facing a climate emergency, and its significant. That we play our role as the worlds biggest food company in helping agriculture change, transform itself, and become stronger so that we can make a difference and deal with the climate emergency.

What are Nestles expectations from the key message of Vietnam in the transformation to a sustainable food system?

Nestle has committed to being net-zero by 2050, meaning that we want to reduce our carbon footprint. One way to do this is to encourage farmers to take the best of the old way of doing things, conventional agriculture, but combine it with regenerative agriculture techniques. We really encourage farmers to work with us to develop regenerative agriculture techniques that will be good for them, good for us, and good for the planet.

Because the structure and dynamics of agricultural production have been thoroughly exploited, in what direction will Nestles solutions for Vietnams transition to a sustainable food system move?

One thing thats changing is science. In the old days, theres one message for farmers, which was that if you use this amount of fertiliser and this amount of pesticide, this is the result youll get: your farm will be more productive.

The truth is that today we know much more, and because we have this new science, we can take a much more tailored approach and understand soil health much better.

The key thing is that we have better science than weve ever had before to help the farmer. If we can harness that science to help that farmer to make more money, to have a better living for them and their family, and actually enhance the impact on the environment, then thats a very exciting journey to go on.

The economic efficacy of Nestles products is determined by calculating their revenue and profit margin per unit of land. How has this affected Nestles transition to a sustainable agricultural system in Vietnam?

Of course, were a private company and we have a responsibility to our shareholders. But ever since we started 150 years ago, weve been all about creating shared value. This means creating value for your shareholders while at the same time creating value for the communities where you operate.

In Vietnam, the work that we carry out in the Central Highlands with coffee farmers is about helping them turn from farmers into agri-preneurs because we need to have a reliable supply of good-quality coffee. Cost always comes into it, but we prefer to see it as an investment.

Its an investment to transform our business into a low-carbon business to strengthen our business, and over the long term, this will be good for Nestle shareholders as well as the communities that we buy our coffee from.

What is Nestle doing to facilitate Vietnams transition to a sustainable agricultural system?

The important point is that if you want to build a sustainable food system, it has to make sense for all of the actors.

Through the Nescafe Plan 2030, we are investing to strengthen farming communities. At the same time, were also investing in our other facilities, such as our factories. Were very proud that this area in the Central Highlands is becoming a lighthouse for the whole company, and its an area that we now see as being best practice, so that other coffee-growing parts of the world can learn from what we do there.

And then, of course, the better quality coffee that we can get as a result of this goes to our factories, and now were very proud of the fact that our factories export to other parts of the world.

Those two things are interconnected. The more that you have a better-functioning agricultural system, the more that you have farmers who have better yields because the soil health is better, and then you have a more reliable supply of coffee. You need a reliable supply of coffee to make your factories run in the most efficient way.

What challenges and opportunities does Nestle face when implementing regenerative agriculture in Vietnam?

One of the most enduring challenges with asking farmers to change their ideas, change the practices that theyve heard from their grandfathers and from their fathers, and to do something different  perhaps to use less fertiliser, instead, to use compost fertilisers made by agricultural residues and coffee husk.

Additionally, we also help farmers to change their habit to pick ripe cherries. Via these changes in farming, we help them save 20 per cent of fertilisers and increase 20 per cent of production. Youre asking them to trust you that really what you are telling them or encouraging them to do will be beneficial to them.

So we try as much as possible to create pilot farms so that we can show them how there is a benefit. We get groups of 50-100 farmers, and they elect a farmer leader, and then we train that leader so that they are helping us to make sure that the messages make sense.

When Ive been to the Central Highlands, we have an army of agronomists who are really the heroes who are helping to work with these farmers. Often, these agronomists come from farming families themselves. They are really all about making sure that we work with farmers and farmworkers so that all of this makes sense.

Last but not least, we also have very strong cooperation with the Western Highlands Agriculture and Forestry Science Institute for high quality, drought resistant planlet production and distribution to all farmers to rejuvenate their ageing coffee plantation. Since 2011, the Nescafe Plan in Vietnam has distributed more 63 million plantlets for rejuvenating more than 63,000ha of ageing coffee farms.

*Interview held at an event on clustering industry towards sustainable food systems transformation in Vietnam, as part of the fourth global conference of the Sustainable Food Systems Program, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in April.

Nestle Vietnam focusses on digital transformation throughout its supply chain Nestle Group is pioneering in the application of digital transformation throughout its logistics activities in the Vietnamese market.

Nestle Vietnam supports staff in disadvantaged circumstances In response to Workers' Month 2023, Nestle Vietnam has granted thousands of gifts to disadvantaged employees in some provinces and cities across the country.
The Bellmead City Council this week deadlocked for the second time on whom to appoint as mayor and mayor pro tem.

The Tuesday meeting was the second failed attempt since the May 6 election to choose leadership on the council, and the council split along the same lines as in the prior vote on May 16. The inaction leaves Council Member Travis Gibson as mayor and Council Member James Cleveland as mayor pro tem for now.

As in the prior council meeting, Gibson moved to appoint Council Member Jasmine Neal as mayor and Council Member Bryan Winget as mayor pro tem. Council Member Karen Coleman seconded the motion and joined Gibson and Neal in voting for it.

Winget joined council members Cleveland and Gary Moore in opposing the motion, resulting in a 3-3 tie.

Moore then moved to elect Cleveland as mayor and Coleman as mayor pro tem, with a second from Winget. That motion also failed 3-3 along the same lines.

Moore attempted to make another motion to elect Winget as mayor and Coleman as mayor pro tem, but Gibson said he would not entertain another motion. Coleman cut in, saying the council looks like a bunch of idiots with each time they deadlock over the same issue.

Coleman said she does not want to be mayor or mayor pro tem.

Can we please just stop doing this? This is so frustrating to come up here every month  we look like a bunch of idiots, Coleman said. Stop doing this. I mean it. I dont want to be a part of this. Im on this council to work and to serve these citizens, not to be up here in a circle with yall. I dont want to do this any more. Lets get to work.

Coleman excused herself for a minute and came back to apologize to the citizens.

I just want to apologize to the citizens, but I get so embarrassed coming up here every month doing this. I get so embarrassed, Coleman said. Im not apologizing to yall (the council), Im not apologizing up here. Yall are out of line.

The council continued and decided to keep Coleman, Gibson and Winget to serve another term on the Bellmead Economic Development Corporation Board. The board works to stimulate and expand business in Bellmead.
LINCOLN  The Lower Platte River Consortium is encouraging the public to be proactive in conserving water. Moderate to exceptional drought is present in the Lower Platte Basin. According to the Climate Prediction Centers Seasonal Drought Outlook, drought is expected to improve somewhat; but it is expected to persist over the summer months.

The Platte River is a vital water source for the state of Nebraska. Most of the states population, including the communities of Omaha, Lincoln, and Fremont, rely on groundwater wells replenished by the Platte River. The Platte River also recharges wells for agricultural irrigation in the Platte River valley, provides habitat for fish and wildlife, and opportunities for recreation.

Weather significantly impacts flows in the Platte River. Other contributing factors include snowpack in Colorado and Wyoming and runoff from rainfall throughout the Platte River area. Nebraska experienced the fourth driest year on record in 2022, with most of the state receiving less than 70% of normal precipitation according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and still faces a precipitation deficit. Although recent precipitation has occurred, soil moisture levels are below average limiting the amount of runoff into the Platte River.

The Platte River experienced significantly below average flows during the summer of 2022, and similar conditions have persisted this spring and are expected to continue throughout the summer months. As summer approaches, with already low stream flows, further decreases can limit the amount of water available in wellfields along the Platte River used by major cities in Nebraska.

The Lower Platte River Consortium asks for the publics assistance in conserving water to prepare for possible persistent drought conditions. The Consortium will communicate with the public regarding additional conservation assistance if the Lower Platte River basin continues to experience below average precipitation.

Water is a resource that affects us all and the LPSNRD and the consortium will continue to monitor and provide updates throughout these drought conditions, said Paul Zillig, Lower Platte South Natural Resources District general manager, Simple steps like rolling back the watering of lawns can be impactful to water conservation in our communities.

The Nebraska Department of Natural Resources maintains an online dashboard available to the public that displays current drought conditions and outlooks. https://gis.ne.gov/portal/apps/experiencebuilder/experience/?id= c0b751c512a24b83a6ad1c3214941ea8.

Further information about drought can be heard on the NeDNR podcast, Around the Water Cooler, in the episode released May 31, featuring interviews with several Consortium representatives.

The Lower Platte River Consortium will continue to monitor the conditions and work with individuals and communities to conserve water as necessary.
South Africa: President Ramaphosa pays visit to Polish counterpart

By Dikeledi Molobela

Warsaw, Poland: President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday paid a courtesy visit to Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw, ahead of the African Peace Initiative Mission.

This as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has affected Poland, which shares borders with the two nations.

The African Peace Mission brings an African perspective and an appeal for a peace process to deliberations underway in various parts of the world and within different nations on how to address the conflict in Ukraine and Russia, the President said.

Having arrived in Poland on Thursday afternoon, the President is participating in the initiative aimed at a peaceful resolution of the conflict between the two European states.

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, and the Presidents Special Envoy, Dr Bejani Chauke, accompanied the President.

While the Presidents of Congo Brazzaville, Egypt and Uganda have sent their representatives, President Ramaphosa, along with the Presidents of Zambia, Senegal and the Comoros are proceeding to the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv by train for deliberations on Friday with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The mission is made up of leaders from South Africa, Zambia, the Comoros, Congo Brazzaville, Egypt, Senegal and Uganda.

The African countries are representatives of a continent that has felt the adverse economic impact of the conflict.

On the eve of the mission, President Ramaphosa described the tension arising from the conflict between Ukraine and Russia as a "grave situation" that affects everyone in an interconnected world.

In recent weeks, President Ramaphosa has had a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Zelensky, Chinese President Xi Jinping, BRICS leaders and the Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) regarding efforts to broker peace in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, in line with South Africas standing as a non-aligned state.

Later tomorrow, South Africa's First Citizen will leave Kyiv for St Petersburg, Russia, where the African delegation will engage with President Putin on Saturday, 17 June.

We are pleased and encouraged by the openness with which the two Presidents have undertaken to engage with African leaders on this matter.

From our own experience, it is at times of escalated conflict that a search for peace must be equally accelerated. This peace initiative should be seen as complementing other peace initiatives that other parties have put forward. The strength of this mission is that African leaders will be engaging with both parties, the President said.

President Ramaphosa is scheduled to return to South Africa on Sunday.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-06-15. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
U.S. "Asian NATO" plan doomed to failure: Iranian paper

Xinhua) 09:29, June 16, 2023

TEHRAN, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Iran's English language newspaper Tehran Times has slammed the U.S. idea of expanding the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to the Asia-Pacific region, saying it is doomed to failure as it lacks regional backing.

The paper on Wednesday published an article entitled "Asian NATO: U.S. paranoia and fragility," highlighting a widely reported plan by the U.S.-led military alliance NATO to expand to the Asia-Pacific region.

Quoting a Japanese newspaper report, the article said that NATO seeks to establish a liaison office in the Japanese capital of Tokyo in 2024 to use it as a center to cooperate with Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, all of which are geographically close to China.

Intimidated by China's emergence as a superpower, the U.S. aims to contain China based on the "paranoiac" assumption that Beijing seeks to "compete with or challenge" it on a global scale although China doesn't have such an intention, it said.

However, the U.S. plan to create a replica of the NATO in the Asia-Pacific region is doomed to failure, as "it has consequences and at the same time lacks backing from many regional Asian countries" and even NATO allies, such as France, the article added.

In the past, the article said, the U.S. attempt to create a replica of NATO in the Middle East had failed because the regional countries soon realized that it would bring instability to the region and decided to ensure their security by working together.

It warned that, as the U.S. hegemony diminishes, Washington "is playing dangerous games around the world" through seeking to provoke conflicts elsewhere instead of pursuing diplomatic paths.

The article concluded that no one will benefit from a NATO-like military alliance in Asia apart from the U.S., which is accustomed to reaping economic dividends from crises in different parts of the world.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun)
CEDAR FALLS  The city of Cedar Falls has been denied federal money to help pay for the removal of the railroad tracks through town, Cedar Falls Utilities General Manager Steve Bernard told the board of trustees on Wednesday.

CFU had partnered with the city and Iowa Northern Railway Company on the grant application to the Federal Railroad Administrations new Railroad Crossing Elimination Program, created by the bipartisan infrastructure law.

The city sought up to $9.76 million, and would have been required cover $1.22 million of the projects estimated $12.2 million cost. The railroad company also would have paid $1.22 million.

Its not clear if that means the project will be scrapped by the railroad company, which owns the tracks. The entities may apply again. The program has federal funding available through fiscal year 2026.

Approximately 11,642 linear feet of track runs near the intersection of Iowa and West First streets, next to the First Street McDonalds, through the downtown area, and several hundred feet past Cedar Falls Utilities to an area near Pfeiffer Springs Park off Grand Boulevard.

The track has not been used for its primary purpose since 2010  the delivery of coal to the municipal utility  and had been minimally used for the storage of railroad cars.

Officials said removal of the tracks would make the streets safer for vehicle and bike traffic, and the funds would help pay for related street and sidewalk reconstruction, a flood wall closure, and trail connection.

The City Council voted 5-1 in September to apply for the grant, with Councilmember Dave Sires dissenting and Councilmember Susan deBuhr absent.

The council initially declined to pursue the funds in a 4-3 vote, largely due to the $1.22 million cost to the city.

28 celebrities you may not know are nonbinary 25 celebrities you may not know are nonbinary Janelle Monae Sam Smith John Cameron Mitchell Cara Delevingne Justin Vivian Bond Miley Cyrus Lachlan Watson King Princess Elliot Page Bex Taylor-Klaus Emma Corrin Jonathan Van Ness Miss Fame Sara Ramirez Angel Haze Ruby Rose Asia Kate Dillon Halsey Amandla Stenberg Rebecca Ray Sugar Grimes Indya Moore Nico Tortorella Emma D'Arcy Liv Hewson Bella Ramsey Alex Newell J. Harrison Ghee
By the end of the year, in Russia they plan to launch a secure Internet, which will be available only to citizens of the country using a personal identifier.

Only safe, proven services will be available in this network, the owners of which comply with all the requirements of the current legislation,  Andrey Svintsov, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy.

WtR
NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg ruled out Ukraines entry into the Alliance during the conflict. And he stressed that the doors there for Kyiv remain open.

What does this mean in practical terms? We do not need Ukraine in NATO. In any case, as long as at least a stump of this state is preserved in its current form.

Consequently, for Nazi Ukraine, the conflict will be permanent . And the new political regime in Kyiv (if it exists at all) will definitely not be asked for in NATO.

Medvedev

WtR
Though the school year is over, there is still homework yet to do.

The Baraboo School District is asking for community input about the coming years. An input session was held at the high school on Wednesday, June 14. Another input session will take place on June 27 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Baraboo principal caps career with final graduation speech to Class of 2023 The 2023 Baraboo graduating class of (number) students was the last one under the guidance of 10-year principal Glenn Bildsten.

Attendees will learn about the 2023-26 Strategic Plan and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and will have the opportunity to share thoughts on how the district should go about achieving them.

For those who cannot attend, electronic feedback options, with details about the plan, are available at the district website.

Local high school grads glow brighter with Madison College medallions High school is hard work for students. It's harder still doing college course work in the midst of it. Madison College recognizes this. So muc

The district recently received a two-star score (meets few expectations) for the 2021-22 school year in a report card released by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

With an overall score of 56.4, the district received lower marks than surrounding school districts, including Portage (67), Reedsburg (66.3), Sauk Prairie (64.5), and Wisconsin Dells (68.3).

At the time the report card was released, Dr. Rainey L. Briggs, Baraboo School District Superintendent, said, Our scores have decreased from the 2020-21 report cards. He continued, I want to share these results with you because they help illuminate some of the successes and help pinpoint areas of focus in our district.

Since the release of the results, the Baraboo School District had an election to fill three empty Baraboo School Board seats. In Aprils general election, the three seats were filled by Amy DeLong, and incumbents Tim Heilman and Gwynne Peterson. The school districts report card results were a topic of discussion during the campaigns of those who entered the school board race.

The Baraboo School District will take into account the input of the public during the input sessions, and comments made online, into their final strategic plan for the coming years.

GALLERY: Record crowd comes to Baraboo school annual meeting
Baraboo officials are looking to put together the 2024 budget and received public feedback last Wednesday.

City mayor Rob Nelson hosted a budget listening session in a lecture room at Umhoefer Hall on the UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County campus that included the citys common council and department heads. Nine residents spoke at the session about topics such as the citys pool, police staffing and adding a mental health specialist to the Baraboo Police Department, and environmental sustainability.

Paul Kujak, a former Baraboo School District board member and president of the citys Police and Fire Commission, discussed the difficulty of the citys budget situation following the significant 2023 budget cuts due to excess debt levying involving tax increment financing districts dating back to 2009.

Baraboo anticipates 2023 budget reductions over $800,000 Baraboo will need to cut over $800,000 from its 2023 budget because of excess debt levying as it relates to TIDs. The city was claiming TID debt in its general obligation debt levies that TIDs were paying themselves. The excess funds were being used for general obligations.

Youve been dealt a tough hand, said Kujak to board members and department heads. A hand that you didnt deserve to be dealt.

He went on to commend how city leaders have kept Baraboo stable despite the financial difficulties. BPD staffing is down two officers and an administrative assistant, according to Kujak, who also said that on occasion, only two officers patrol the city during night hours.

When it comes to public safety and the safety of the officers, I believe its extremely important to not only get back to the level we were at, but also, to look at being able to increase because of call volumes and so forth, said Kujak.

City resident Jim Bohl shared Kujaks sentiments and implored BPD chief Rob Sinden to expand the department to reflect the growth of the city. Bohl said that the city has expanded on the east and west sides, and his concern was how were going to serve that growth. He also was concerned with the need for federal grant funding for BPD expansion, most notably the addition of a mental health specialist.

I cant emphasize enough that, as you do this growth, as you do the planning to grow, grow, grow more assessed value, youve got to be thinking of how youre going to serve that growth, said Bohl, who added that the staffing reductions do not reflect well in that regard.

I was very pleased to hear from our community members present at the public budget forum, that public safety is absolutely a concern and they want those vacated law enforcement officer positions replaced as soon as budgetarily possibleand I agree wholeheartedly with them, said Sinden in an email.

Jeff Spencer, a city resident and business agent for the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, expressed similar sentiments regarding police staffing and public safety. He also questioned how revenues from the citys annual wheel tax of $20 per vehicle is spent, which Bradley said is used for city road maintenance budgeting.

Angela Witczak, a city Parks and Recreation board member, emphasized the need for the prospective BPD mental health specialist, saying that the Baraboo area desperately needs emphasis on mental health. She also discussed how the added park facilities in the city, such as a mountain biking trail and upcoming splash pad and Riverfront Park, need discussion on future maintenance plans.

We have less employees and we have more parks to maintain, said Witczak. Something to think about is we are going to need people to maintain those parks.

Witczak, Kujak, and city resident Jerry Jackson all discussed the future of the citys swimming pool, located at Campbell Park. Jackson said that he hopes budgeting for repairs or replacement of the pool does not eventually result in the city not having one.

The pool is in dire straits, said city administrator Casey Bradley in response to Jackson, adding that the pool is roughly 85 years old.

Bradley added that the citys common council and finance committee is still working on a replacement plan for the pool. He said earlier in the meeting that the citys growth has not maintained consistency with the increased costs of living and maintenance of services and facilities.

The 2023 budget forced the city to cut the officers as well as all part-time Carnegie-Schadde Memorial Library positions and other city staff. Energy costs in the city could increase roughly 20%, according to Bradley.

Weve got a lot of unknowns coming, said Bradley. Fortunately, for the first time in a long time, we have real growth. We have about a 27% increase in our housing stock.

John Kessenich, an 18-year city resident and owner of The Grainery food store downtown, expressed appreciation for city support of his business and optimism for the citys potential economic growth. He said that the city could look into creative measures for gaining revenue, particularly parking fees. As a grocery store owner, he said an increase in healthy food purchasing options could also help with the citys mental health problems.

Im an optimistic guy, said Kessenich. I see nothing but a bright future for Baraboo. I want to be part of it.

UW-Platteville Baraboo Sauk County campus director Steven Swallen said that he wants to maintain the universitys status as an educational hub for the region and a community focal point. He added that Boo-U is looking to expand its degree programs, particularly four-year degrees, as the campus has been mostly a two-year school.

Swallen lauded the schools parent campus, UW-Platteville, for its engineering program and is hoping to expand the four-year programs in the field offered in Platteville to the Baraboo campus.

Marianne Cotter, co-president of environmental nonprofit Powered Up Baraboo, expressed her desire for the city to continue to seek clean energy sources. She said that maintaining the viability of Baraboos natural area is paramount, citing the citys proximity to Devils Lake and Mirror Lake State Parks, as well as the Baraboo River and bluffs.

I would hope that you would keep that goal in mind, as it is a win for all of us, as well as for the natural world, said Cotter, imploring city officials to keep environmental considerations in mind when making decisions.

She also discussed the city funding a public taxicab service would not only serve people without vehicles, but would reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The increase in green spaces such as parks and other natural areas is also a positive, according to Cotter.

The upcoming Baraboo Fire and EMS District facilities are also being planned with environmental considerations in mind. She added that she hopes BPD looks into having an electric vehicle fleet.
Military veterans in Baraboo and surrounding communities will have a considerably larger facility for their healthcare needs in the not too distant future.

The Madison branch of Veterans Affairs held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday afternoon for the new Community-Based Outpatient ClinicBaraboo, which will open in 2024 alongside Wisconsin Highway 136 on the west side of the city.

It is planned to be 10,000 square feet in size and will replace and more than double the size of the current VA clinic on South Boulevard, which opened in December of 2012.

Representatives from the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital and Clinicsthe VA facilities in Madisonand area representatives, construction workers, and residents all gathered at the future site of the facility.

The expansion and location were selected based on a strategic analysis of the community veteran population and sized to enhance access to health care for area veterans, said VA Public Affairs Chief Jim Bove in a release, adding that construction is slated to be done during the summer next year.

Roughly 30 VA employees will be staffed at the upcoming Baraboo clinic, which will be able to serve up to 5,000 veterans. Primary care, physical and occupational therapy, nutrition, physical and mental health, telehealth and video conferencing, social work, podiatry, and blood drawing are services that will be provided at the new facility.

Christine Kleckner, the Associate Director of the Middleton Hospital and Clinics, said that planning for the future Baraboo facility has been going on for several years. She added that the new clinic will allow the VA to expand services and clientele among veterans.

We are truly excited to continue this project that will benefit so many of our veterans in the area, said Kleckner at the ceremony. As VA continues to promote enhancements to services veterans, including the recently-passed PACT Act, the focus is on expanding benefits to veterans with toxic exposures.

Abe Rabinowitz, the assistant director of the Middleton Hospital and Clinics, said that the project has been in the works for the past three to four years. He added that strategic planning includes considerations of veteran populations near new clinics and their needs.

Around this time next year, we hope to be welcoming everybody back for a formal activation party, where we can show off the new clinic and the new space and kick off services to veterans, said Rabinowitz.

The PACT Act, which was signed into law by U.S. President Joe Biden on Aug. 10, 2022, expands and extends eligibility for VA care for veterans with toxic exposures and who fought in the Vietnam, Persian Gulf, and post-9/11 wars. It also adds over 20 presumptive health conditions as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals such as Agent Orange.

Casey Bradley, the Baraboo city administrator who is also a U.S. Air Force veteran with family military history, said that the upcoming facility is a big step for Sauk County and the region. He discussed how having a larger clinic seriously benefits area veterans from a travel perspective.

We have a lot of veterans who live in Baraboo and the Sauk County area, said Bradley. For me and my family, this is significant. My father gets his care from the VA and being able to come to Baraboo as opposed to going to Madison or Tomah, its significant.

Coharbor Russel Group LLC, an Iowa-based contractor, was awarded the contract to build the future Baraboo VA clinic in September of 2022 and the buildout commenced in April of this year.
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!

Go to form
Youre not going to walk away rich, but you may be eligible to receive funds from Google as part of a $23 million settlement of consolidated class-action privacy lawsuits dating back a decade.



If you were among the people who clicked on a link while using Google Search from Oct. 25, 2006 to Sept. 30, 2013, you may be owed a piece of the settlement.

Each eligible claimant would receive approximately $7.70, according to a website established by the settlement administrators, though the sum could change depending on how many people file a claim.

The lawsuit accused Google of storing and intentionally, systematically and repeatedly divulging its users search queries and histories to third parties, a practice that adversely impacts billions of searches conducted by millions of consumers. Google, which is owned by Alphabet Inc., admitted no wrongdoing as part of the settlement.

Under the terms, Google will revise its FAQs (frequently asked questions) and Key Terms web pages to spell out how and when search queries may be disclosed to third parties.

How do I submit a claim?

Visit RefererHeaderSettlement.com for claim forms and other documents.

At the site, the first step is to receive a class member ID by supplying your name, address, phone number and email address. That ID will be emailed to you.

Upon receiving it, enter the number into the online claim form field where requested, and check off the Im not a robot Captcha box. Next, fill in your name, address and other information marked by an asterisk, and check off the box attesting that you submitted a search query and clicked on a link during the class period. You can choose how you would like to be paid: via prepaid Mastercard, PayPal, Venmo, direct deposit or Zelle. You will have to electronically sign the document.

When is the deadline?

An online claim must be filed no later than July 31, 2023. You can also mail in the form by that date to:

In re Google Referrer Header Privacy Settlement

ATTN: Claim Form

c/o Kroll Settlement Administration

P.O. Box 225391

New York, NY 10150-5391
Youve surely received one (if not dozens) of these texts, noting that your U.S. Postal Service, UPS or FedEx delivery has been kept on hold because of an issue with your address, insufficient postage, or nobody was home to receive it. Just visit [a link will usually be included here] to provide more information, pay for extra postage or reschedule delivery.



The link might take you to a legit-looking website, often with the logo of the delivery service and an actual tracking number, where you are asked to verify your address, and perhaps pay a small redelivery fee.

Watchdog Alerts

Sign up for biweekly updates on the latest scams. Get Alerts

One caller to AARPs Fraud Watch Network Helpline paid with her credit card  in her case the charge was 99 cents  and discovered later that she'd been charged $400.

Thats just one example from the endless stream of fake delivery-service texts Americans have been receiving from scammers, who are smishing (the term for scam attempts made via text, or SMS) for personal info and money. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Americans reported $330 million in losses to text scams last year, more than double the reported losses from 2021. And delivery scams  with most messages purportedly from the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx and UPS  were the third most commonly reported type (behind fake bank texts and promises of free gifts or prizes).

These smishing attempts can be extremely effective, says Amy Nofziger, director of victim support for the AARP Fraud Watch Network. We may be hit with a delivery-related smishing attempt when we have just mailed or are expecting a package  something thats likely these days, with so much online ordering. The criminals are playing off peoples emotions, and peoples need for whats coming in the mail, to get them to click on the link, she says.

Like all phishing, theyre trying to create the idea that theres something you need to deal with right away, says Steve Weisman, a professor of white-collar crime at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts, and an expert in scams, identity theft and cybersecurity.

Its not always clear what the criminals do with the personal information they collect through smishing, Weisman says, but they may sell it to other bad actors, or plan to use it in the service of future scams. You are more likely to trust future communications from them if they can provide personal details about you, he notes.

Warning signs of smishing

You receive notice about a problem with the delivery of your USPS package when you havent made a tracking request (or havent even mailed one). Unless you explicitly sign up for status alerts on a package, you wont receive a text from USPS, says Donna Harris, public information representative with the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). Thats not how the Postal Service connects with the customer, she says. And if you never signed up for a USPS tracking request for a specific package, a text message citing one is certainly a fake.

The message has misspellings or awkward grammar. These are classic signs of a scam attempt (UPS also cites excessive use of exclamation points). But note that with artificial intelligence and other advanced technology, scammers are growing more sophisticated in their replication of legitimate communications.
Instagram Celebrity

The ill-fated incident took place while the 'Tik Tok' hitmaker and the comedian were on the red carpet of a National Night of Laughter and Song in Washington, D.C. in 2017.

Jun 16, 2023

AceShowbiz - Kesha, previously known as Ke$ha, seemingly will never forget the moment when Jerry Seinfeld refused to hug her. While she initially laughed off the snub, which took place at a 2017 event, the "Tik Tok" hitmaker admitted that it was actually "depressing" for her.

The 36-year-old recalled the incident when appearing on "The Best Show with Tom Scharpling". For the record, it occurred while she and the comedian were on the red carpet of a National Night of Laughter and Song in Washington, D.C.

In the chat, Kesha told Tom that the event was hosted by the David Lynch Foundation. "So, [Lynch] was like, 'Could you do an event that's a charity event? I was in the middle of tour. I was exhausted, but I really love David Lynch, and I heard that Jerry Seinfeld's gonna to be there," she recounted.

Kesha was a fan of "Seinfeld" and she even carried its DVDs "around the world internationally" while on tour. "When it got bumpy on planes, I'd pop in Seinfeld and I'd be like, 'Everything's OK in the world' and watch my buddy," she shared.

"Then, I get to the f**king charity event, and I got really excited because he brings me peace and love and all things good in the universe, and then he didn't hug me in front of cameras," the musician reflected. "It was the most depressing and hilarious, but also so sad - it was, like, the saddest moment of my life."

Jerry, for his part, has previously revealed why he didn't hug Kesha. "I dont hug a total stranger. I have to meet someone, say hello. I gotta start somewhere," the actor told Extra.

You can share this post!
Instagram Celebrity

The 'Beverly Hills, 90210' actress looks back at the moment when she was 'trying to be brave' amid fear before undergoing an operation to remove tumor from her head.

Jun 16, 2023

AceShowbiz - Shannen Doherty was terrified before she underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from her head. The "Beverly Hills, 90210" actress, 52, who is battling her stage 4 breast cancer battle, has posted a throwback video showing her being prepared for the operation in January, and told fans it shows the reality of what the illness "can look like."

"January 16, 2023. Surgery. I had a tumour in my head they wanted to remove and also biopsy. I am clearly trying to be brave but I am petrified. The fear was overwhelming to me," she posted alongside the clip.

"Scared of all possible bad outcomes, worried about leaving my mom and how that would impact her. Worried that I would come out of surgery not me anymore. This is what cancer can look like."

Shannen posted the video days after she shared an update on Instagram on her condition, telling her fans her the cancer has spread to her brain. She said last week, "January 12, the first round of radiation took place. My fear is obvious. I am extremely claustrophobic, and there was a lot going on in my life."

A CT scan had shown the "Charmed" star had brain metastases, which occurs when cancer cells spread from their original site to the brain. Shannen added, "I am fortunate as I have great doctors like Dr Amin Mirahdi and the amazing techs at Cedar Sinai. But that fear. The turmoil.. the timing of it all. This is what cancer can look like."

Shannen - who filed for divorce from her third husband, photographer Kurt Iswarienko, 48, in April - was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time in March 2015, and told in February 2020 how she was battling stage 4 breast cancer.

In 2021, she said on "Good Morning America" about how she was "fighting to stay alive" and was resisting making a "bucket list" as it would mean she was living as if she was approaching death. She added, "I never want to operate (like I am dying. I just want to operate as I don't have things to check off because I'm going to keep fighting to stay alive."

You can share this post!
YouTube/CBC Movie

The 'A Star Is Born' actor is expected to serve as a director, producer, and cast member for his upcoming big-screen project which will feature the 'Jonah Hex' star as well.

Jun 16, 2023

AceShowbiz - Bradley Cooper and Will Arnett will team up in "Is This Thing On?". The 48-year-old star will also serve as a director for the forthcoming film, and he will produce the Searchlight motion picture through his Lea Pictures banner.

The movie is in early development and Arnett has written a draft script with Mark Chappell before the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike began, according to Deadline.

Cooper is also expected to join forces with Arnett and Chappell on the next version of the script, but that won't be until the strike ends. Plot details for the movie are being kept under wraps.

One of Cooper's upcoming roles will see him star as acclaimed conductor Leonard Bernstein in biopic "Maestro". Cooper recently described it as the "most terrifying" film of his career.

In a Focus Features roundtable with "Tar" star Cate Blanchett and director Todd Field, Cooper said, "Having worked on a project in the same world (as 'Tar'), the level of respect that I have for that world and that podium, it is the most terrifying thing I've ever experienced."

"And it's so odd because so many people - I don't know if you've come across this - but people that I have met in the last five years have said, 'Well, what is it that conductors even do? Aren't you up there sort of doing like this?' "

Cooper - who is also directing the Bernstein biopic - added, "And my answer is, 'It's the absolute hardest thing you could ever want to do. It is impossible.' "

The "A Star Is Born" actor had high praise for Blanchett and Field for making conducting look easy in "Tar". He said, "Not only did you make the conducting look easy, but the rehearsal. The rhythm of the rehearsal and the way you wrote and filmed it was just so appetising on every level as a viewer. It was truly mind-blowing... There's no one else who could ever play that role (of Lydia Tar)."

You can share this post!
YouTube/Cover Images/Marion Curtis/StarPix Celebrity

Mary-Louise who shares a 19-year-old son with Billy has nothing but good words for the 'Watchmen' actor after he tied the knot with his girlfriend Naomi.

Jun 16, 2023

AceShowbiz - Mary-Louise Parker has sent well wishes to her ex Billy Crudup after his wedding to Naomi Watts. The "Weeds" actress, 58, dated "Watchmen" star Billy, 54, for eight years before he left her for Claire Danes, 44, in 2003, while she was seven-months pregnant with their son William Atticus Parker, now 19.

"I wish them well," she told The Guardian about her feelings on Billy's recent nuptials with actress Naomi, 54. "I honestly of course wish them every happiness because that's my son's father. So I'm happy for them. I'm happy they found each other," the star added.

Mary-Louise started dating actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan, 57, in 2006 after they met on the set of "Weeds", and the pair announced their engagement on February 12, 2008, before they broke up that April.

In September 2007, the actress adopted a baby girl called Caroline Aberash Parker from Ethiopia, and she now lives in New York with her two children. Billy married long-term girlfriend Naomi on Friday, June 9, with the actress posting a photo of herself and her new husband posing on the steps of seemed to a courthouse in Manhattan, captioned, "Hitched."

After the ceremony, Naomi also shared a photo of the newlyweds celebrating with actor Mark Ruffalo, 55, and his 50-year-old wife Sunrise Coigney.

Famously secretive Billy and Naomi sparked marriage rumours after they were spotted in wedding clothes on Friday while Naomi prompted talk she and Billy had gotten engaged earlier this year when she was seen wearing a huge diamond ring.

The pair met on the set of her 2017 Netflix series "Gypsy" and started a relationship later that year - around 12 months after Naomi had broken up with her partner of 11 years, actor Liev Schreiber, 55, with whom she has sons Sasha, 15, and 14-year-old Kai.

You can share this post!
Instagram Celebrity

The 'Uncut Gems' star turns heads while opting for a racy, devilish look that she pairs with a jelly-like face piece for British Vogue and LuisaViaRoma's Runway Icons event in Florence.

Jun 17, 2023

AceShowbiz - Leave it to Julia Fox when it comes to daring looks. The "Uncut Gems" star turned heads while opting for a racy, devilish look for British Vogue and LuisaViaRoma's Runway Icons event in Florence on Wednesday night, June 14.

For the bash, the 33-year-old beauty graced the red carpet in a blood-red sequined style by Samuel Lewis. The ensemble consisted of a sculptural corset and matching skirt with a heart-shaped cutout in the back that allowed her to flash her bum.

The mom of one paired her avant-garde outfit with a pink smokey eye and glossy burgundy lip. She also sported a unique facial accessory, which was a jelly-like face piece by Olia Svetlanova. She completed her look with a mini hand bag in matching color.

Julia was seemingly proud of her fashion as she took to her Instagram account to share some snaps from the event. "Grazie @luisaviaroma @britishvogue @edward_enninful @shopwithgoogle for the INSANELY BEAUTIFUL evening it was truly the most iconic show I've ever been to and I don't say that lightly!!! Super duper slay!!!!" the former girlfriend of Kanye West wrote in the caption.

The runway show saw supermodels such as Natalia Vodianova, Eva Herzigova and Ashley Graham strutting their stuff in creations from Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, Tom Ford and many more. Also in attendance at the event were Tobey Maguire, Winnie Harlow and Liam Payne.

Julia is no stranger to rocking wild outfits to fashion events. She previously stepped out in a sheer silicone rubber minidress in Paris, donned a plastic-like Nicolas Jebran creation at the Cannes Film Festival and turned heads in a condom-covered tube top and boots in Los Angeles.

Of her one of a kind style, the actress/model told PEOPLE last year, "Sometimes the paparazzi get me, and I look like s**t, you know? If they're gonna get me, I might as well make the best of it. I feel like I'm doing a service. I'm providing a service."

You can share this post!
Cover Images/Instagram/Lisvett Serrant Celebrity

The 'Flashing Lights' rapper can be seen flashing a peace sign to his devotees while riding in a yellow car with his architectural designer wife along Rodeo Drive.

Jun 16, 2023

AceShowbiz - Kanye West has treated his fans who were on a Hollywood Bus Tour to a sweet gesture. While out and about with his wife Bianca Censori, the "Flashing Lights" rapper showed his friendly side by greeting the tourists with a peace sign.

On Wednesday, June 14, the 46-year-old was driving his car in Rodeo Drive, California when he encountered the bus tour. He then took a moment to roll down his car's window to greet those on the bus. When one of them exclaimed, "Kanye, big fan appreciate it, you're the best," he let out a smile and gestured a peace sign.

The rare moment was documented in a video published by Hollywood Bus Tour on its Instagram account. Accompanying the footage was its caption that read, "We spotted Kanye West and his wife Bianca Censori cruising down The Sunset Strip in an Isuzu VehiCROSS on our Celebrity Homes Tour! #yeezy #kanyewest #kanye #bianca #mtv #music #drake #celebrity #isuzu."

Many Instagram users were not convinced that the man making the peace sign was Kanye. In the comments section of the post, one wrote, "They cloned him that." Another chimed in, "Don't look like him dawg." A third stated, "Bro that ain't kanye. That is def a clone." A fourth pointed out, "You guys can't be serious. This looks nothing like Kanye. Open your eyes!!" Meanwhile, a fifth joked, "That's Kanye East."

Other Instagram users focused on Kanye's bright yellow car instead. One joked, "Even his car looks like it's wearing his boots." Another quipped, "He is driving an Isuzu VehiCROSS." A third asked, "What you think rap for? To push a Fuckin RAV4?" A fifth wondered, "Kanye driving a VehCross???..Where the hell he found tht?"

Kanye's sweet moment came one day after he and his wife were revealed to be doing great together. A source previously told US Weekly, "Things couldn't be better for Kanye and Bianca and they're doing amazing. Kanye feels like he finally met someone who truly gets him and loves him for the person he is."

"Bianca complements Kanye on so many levels and he loves that they can work and collaborate together on projects. He appreciates and respects her opinions, even if they don't always agree. She really keeps him grounded and he's feeling better than ever," the source added.

You can share this post!
ET Celebrity

During a reunion to celebrate the show's 45th anniversary, the 'Dallas' stars recall their late castmate refusing to speak and whistling instead as a means of communication.

Jun 16, 2023

AceShowbiz - Larry Hagman wouldn't talk on Sundays and would communicate via whistling instead. The "Dallas" star - who passed away in 2012 aged 81 - was remembered by co-stars including Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray, and Joan Van Ark when they reunited in Palm Springs, California this week ahead of the show's 45th anniversary and the called Larry's "silent Sundays" which left many of them utterly baffled.

"The silent Sundays where he wouldn't talk. Oh boy," Van Ark, 79, told PEOPLE, and Duffy added, "He wouldn't talk to anybody on Sundays." Gray explained how Larry would communicate during his vow of silence, adding, "He would whistle! To get your attention, he would whistle."

She often went on holiday with Larry and his wife Maj - and says silent Sundays continued even while they were enjoying a vacation. Gray went on, "We would travel to Europe and every Sunday he wouldn't speak. He would whistle. Whistle. His wife would show the menu and point and all that. And he would whistle what he wanted."

When asked if Larry was using silent Sundays as "vocal rest," she dismissed the idea saying, "No, it's bulls***. Bulls***! He did this for years and years. He was like a little boy. But it was also control. We'd be like, 'Can we order this for you?' And one day, we were in Germany, I said, 'I'm done. I'm not not playing this anymore.' And he was like a four year old. He was just like, 'Oh, somebody caught me.' "

Audrey Landers - who played Larry's onscreen love interest in "Dallas" - also saw the actor's eccentric side when they filmed their first scene together and he tipped ice down her back. She told the publication, "So we're under the covers."

"There's a Champagne bucket next to the bed. I had never met anyone, even Larry. The director says, 'Action!' Larry reached over, grabbed a handful of ice from the bucket, and puts it down my back. The camera is rolling. And I'm there."

"I was taught never to stop until the director says, 'cut' and never break concentration ... I'm trying not to scream. And there's like, this ice dripping down. And then, of course, everybody was in on the joke. So the whole crew starts laughing and the director says, 'Cut.' And then Larry says, 'See, that's how we break the ice in Dallas.' "

You can share this post!
The Indian fashion e-commerce platform Myntra unveiled House of Pataudi in October 2018 with Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan. The brand collections are inspired by Saif Ali Khan's distinctive personality statement, which considers his Pataudi heritage and contemporary fashion.

In a recent ad film, the renowned brand, House of Pataudi, highlighted Indian traditions and ethnic clothing. The film focused on the brother-sister banter during which they discovered unexpected twinning on a festive day. Soha opens her surprise gift and finds a gorgeous House of Pataudi outfit. She discovers unexpectedly that her outfit matches that of her brother & they looked terrific when twinning!

On the day of the shoot, Saif and Soha were seen enjoying this unique concept and were often caught in an exchange of laughter. Along with creating the commercial, TVA Productions also executed the whole campaign photoshoot for the brand.

Myntra is an integral part of the Flipkart Group and one of the top e-commerce platforms in India for fashion brands. In an interview with Harish Ramaswamy, Deputy Director, Marketing for Myntras House of Brands portfolio, expressed their thoughts about the brand and working together with The Voice Authority (TVA); he said, "Working with TVA Productions with such a talented cast was incredible. It is one of the best brand shoots we have ever done. Special thanks to TVA for making this happen on such short notice. Despite many challenges and tight timelines, they remained available at 7 a.m. or 11 p.m. Throughout the process, the team ensured a smooth execution and timely delivery. This couldn't have been done with anyone else, so big thanks to TVA.

After the pack-up, fans gathered outside and couldn't stop gushing over the brother-sister duo when they were spotted leaving the sets of TVA Production. This end-to-end production project, from the ad film concept to the actor's script, the shoot, and the final product, was delivered by TVA.

Tarika Gulabani, the co-founder of TVA Group, was confident when shooting for the renowned brand House of Patuadi and a top e-commerce platform Myntra, ensuring everything went smoothly. She stated, "We are delighted to be able to work with such a wonderful team at Myntra, who trusted us with this project. It was an interesting concept for us to crack. At TVA, we prioritize quality over everything else. Working with the House of Pataudi and Myntra team was fantastic and great fun
Recognizing the pivotal role of a strong digital footprint in serving clients effectively, SBI Securities, Indias largest and most trusted banking conglomerate, has partnered with 1702 Digital, an esteemed digital marketing agency.

As part of the engagement, 1702 Digital will provide App Store Optimization (ASO) and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) services to SBI Securities. This partnership aims to bolster SBI Securities' online presence, amplify visibility for their mobile application, optimize their website's search, and provide an enhanced user experience for SBI Securities' mobile app users.

SBI Securities is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SBI Capital Markets Ltd and a part of Indias largest and most trusted banking conglomerate, the State Bank Group. Backed by the proud SBI lineage, today, SBI Securities stand synonymous with trust and reliability when offering investment solutions to investors across categories. With 1702 Digital's expertise in digital marketing, the partnership will help SBI Securities leverage digital channels for client acquisition, making the onboarding process more streamlined and efficient.

As a leading digital marketing agency, 1702 Digital specializes in helping businesses navigate the complex digital landscape with cutting-edge strategies and innovative solutions. With a team of experienced digital marketers, content creators, and developers, 1702 Digital offers a range of services. They bring a wealth of expertise in ASO and SEO, having successfully assisted numerous organizations in improving their online visibility and driving organic traffic. The agency is committed to delivering customized solutions that meet its client's unique needs and helping them achieve their online goals.

Moreover, 1702 Digital has also collaborated with SBI Securities to revamp their website, ensuring it aligns seamlessly with their brand identity and offers an enhanced user experience. The redesigned website incorporates cutting-edge technologies, intuitive navigation, and compelling content to engage and empower users throughout their digital journey.

1702 Digital is equally enthusiastic about the partnership and the opportunity to collaborate with SBI Securities. "We are thrilled to be working with SBI Securities, a prominent name in the financial sector," said Amit Panhale, CBO of 1702 Digital. "Our team is committed to leveraging our ASO and SEO expertise to help SBI Securities achieve their digital marketing goals. We look forward to delivering exceptional results and contributing to their continued success."

With a proven track record of helping businesses across various industries achieve their digital marketing objectives, 1702 Digital is a trusted partner for businesses looking to succeed in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Mumbai, 13 June 2023  In today's dynamic and evolving society, women continue to face formidable obstacles in their quest to prove their worth in leadership positions. The enduring belief that only men possess the inherent qualities to excel in such roles has significantly restricted opportunities for women to demonstrate their capabilities. To shed light on the current reality of gender disparity in India, Sony SAB has recently launched a digital campaign #HameshaKaHiKyun for their new show Vanshaj.

The campaign highlights the fact that only 15% of board members in Indian family businesses are women, and the percentage of women holding Senior VP roles has decreased from 18% to 13%. This unique campaign aims to challenge gender stereotypes and advocate for inclusivity in leadership roles.

Read More:Aggregation of measurement systems of TV and digital is much needed: Vaishali Sharma

Read More:Sony SAB enters a new phase as the brand undergoes a metamorphosis

Since its launch, the campaign has gained considerable traction by showcasing the lack of female representation in corporate leadership roles through a series of impactful videos. The success of the campaign reflects the growing desire for change and the urgent need to amplify the voices of women leaders.

Sony SAB's new family drama, Vanshaj takes centre stage to delve into the complex dynamics of a legacy business empire, challenging conventional patriarchal narratives. By debunking the notion that women cannot rightfully inherit family businesses, Vanshaj aims to shatter the glass ceiling and emphasize that leadership and entrepreneurship should be determined by one's abilities rather than their gender. The show airs on Sony SAB, Monday to Saturday at 10 PM.

Commenting on the success of the campaign and launch of the show, Vaishali Sharma, Head of Marketing - Sony SAB, said, Sony SAB as a brand believes in real stories & real emotions, exploring new and more relevant themes that resonate with the lives of our viewers more closely. Vanshaj is one more forward-looking show from the channel which explores the challenges regarding inheritance even in todays world. Using a sharp consumer insight helped us come up with a strong consumer campaign both for mass media and digital, riding on the understanding that most family owned business often choose a male heir to take over the reins. Exploring this very theme of capability vs inheritance, we came up with our campaign thought #HameshaKaHiKyun."
The European network of 22 creative clubs (ADCE) will be The One Club for Creativitys gateway to Europe.

The One Club will add another creative organization under their worldwide structure, following successful past mergers with the Art Directors Club (ADC) Global and Type Directors Club.

ADCE Award winners will be integrated into The One Clubs Global Creative Rankings.

Both non-profit organizations will maintain teams and pool resources to promote creativity to a new combined creative community of 9,100 individual and corporate members in 74 countries around the world.

The ADC Europe (ADCE) has reached an agreement with The One Club for Creativity (TOCC) to merge and become part of its structure, and thus be able to grow and promote European creativity beyond the continent.

The merger also enables The One Club to make its programs accessible to the old continent thanks to the ADCE network that unites 22 clubs and associations from 20 countries, with more than 6,000 top leading creatives from the graphic design and the visual communication sector.

The 22 ADCE member advertising and graphic design clubs and associations are based in Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Georgia, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, and United Kingdom.

Based in Barcelona at the Design Hub (DHUB), the citys center of creativity, design and innovation, ADCE will become The One Club branch in Europe, and boost The One Club programs such as the Executive Creative Summit, the groundbreaking ONE School free portfolio program for Black creatives, and expansion of Portfolio Night in Europe.

At the same time, ADCE will expand the reach of some of its successful programs, such as Creative Express and Agency Exchange, by taking them to the US, Asia Pacific, and other regions.

Participation in The One Club Global Creative Rankings

One of the first benefits for ADCE will be the incorporation of ADCE Award winners into The One Club Global Creative Rankings, making it the industrys foremost global ranking of agencies, brands, work, and creative professionals.

The Global Creative Rankings will now combine points from The One Show, global ADC Annual Awards, ADCE Awards, One Asia Creative Awards, The One Club US chapter awards, and Type Directors Club TDC competitions.

Points accrued by ADCE Awards winners will gain them visibility and prestige around the world, and also now count towards global totals for network and holding company rankings

This partnership drives a more vibrant, diverse, and impactful global creative community, said Glenn Cole, The One Club Chairman, and Founder, Creative Chairman, 72andSunny. For ADCE and The One Club members, it offers new opportunities, audiences, and perspectives. For the world, it expands access to creative careers through programs like Creative Boot Camps, One Creator Lab, and ONE School. Unexpected collisions are at the heart of creativity. I can't wait to see what we create together.

As a strong believer in the power of togetherness and diversity - which is embedded in the DNA of Europe - I am more than excited about giving European creativity an even more prominent global stage through this amazing new partnership with The One Club, said Alexander Schill, ADCE president, and Global CCO, Serviceplan Group. It has never been more important to consolidate our creative forces in order to drive change and celebrate our differences.

Membership and Programs

The membership structure and programs of the two organizations will remain as they are, and new benefits will be incorporated as new programs are jointly developed.

The agreement represents an expansion of resources for the two organizations as the two structures  ADCEs team in Europe and The One Club teams based in New York and Shanghai  will work together, each providing regional know-how and expertise in different areas.

The two non-profit clubs are uniting efforts to promote the value of creativity, move the industry forward, and increase the reach and impact of their multiple programs sustained by revenue from their awards competitions.

Common goals, one community

ADCE and The One Club are both non-profit organizations with the same goal, and this integration will increase their impact and better achieve their objectives.

The One Club for Creativity, producer of The One Show, ADC Annual Awards, ONE Asia Creative Awards, Type Directors Club competition, Young Ones Student Awards, Young Guns, One Screen Short Film Festival, Creative Week and more, is one of the world's foremost organizations whose mission is to support the global creative community. Revenue from those awards shows is put back into the industry to fund programs under four pillars: Education, Inclusion & Diversity, Gender Equality, and Creative Development.

The ADCE is the club of clubs, the only one in Europe that unites 22 local professional clubs in 20 countries under one single organization. ADCE works to celebrate and promote creativity as a multi-solution approach and raises the quality of European creative communication by pushing the potential of its community at all career levels.

ADCE does it through the annual ADCE Awards and Festival, and the Educational Programs for both young talents and senior creatives.

ADCE, a network of 22 national clubs

Founded in 1990, the Art Directors Club of Europe (ADCE) is a non-profit association headquartered in Barcelona that comprises 22 professional clubs and associations of graphic design and advertising from 20 European countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Georgia, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, and United Kingdom.

The ADCE strives to foster excellence in graphic design and advertising creativity at a European scale. The association represents more than 6,000 professionals from the field and gives visibility to the best works accomplished locally.

The One Club for Creativity

Established in 1979, The One Club for Creativity is a non-profit organization that exists to support and celebrate the success of the global creative community, serving a diverse community of thinkers and doers who believe creativity is the most powerful element to business success, and celebrate world-changing ideas.

Revenue generated from its prestigious global awards shows  The One Show, ADC Annual Awards, Type Directors Club (TDC) competitions, Young Ones Student Awards, and others  is directed back into the industry to fund programming under its four pillars: Education, Inclusion & Diversity, Gender Equality, and Creative Development. Programming is designed to nurture a more vibrant, inspired, and successful global creative community.
ZEE5, Indias largest home-grown video streaming platform and multilingual storyteller, announced the Digital Premiere of Gadar: Ek Prem Katha in 4K with Dolby Atmos. Produced by Zee Studios, the film's re-release in cinemas has received a stupendous response. Helmed by Anil Sharma, the epic tale of love, patriotism, courage and hardships starring Sunny Deol, Ameesha Patel, Utkarsh Sharma and late actor  Amrish Puri will now stream in 4K resolution. Streaming starting June 16, the film promises its viewers a larger-than-life binge-watching experience in their homes.

Set against the backdrop of partition in 1947, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha chronicles the journey of Tara Singh [Sunny Deol] a Sikh truck driver who falls in love with a Muslim girl - Sakeena [Ameesha Patel] belonging to an aristocratic family. The two eventually get married and have a son but their happiness is short-lived. Sakeena's father enters their life and hatches a plan to separate the two. He forces her to stay in Pakistan and separates her from her family. Sakeena moves to Pakistan while Tara struggles to reunite with his love.

Critically acclaimed for its emotionally rich storytelling, powerful chemistry of actors and stunning cinematography, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha was re-released in cinemas and today is releasing in ultra high-definition format once again on ZEE5. Offering consumers, a wide variety of content, the platform will serve a multiplex experience using state-of-the-art technology.

Basking in the glory of the prequel, the much-awaited teaser of Gadar 2: The Katha Continues has already piqued curiosity amongst viewers.

Manish Kalra, Chief Business Officer, ZEE5 India said, As a consumer first brand, we are always looking at enhancing the audience experience. After streaming several blockbusters for film enthusiasts, we are delighted to bring forth the iconic movie - Gadar: Ek Prem Katha once again. To celebrate this legendary tale and characters, we are delighted to premiere the movie in 4K with Dolby atmos. Gadar: Ek Prem Katha will delight our viewers with an extraordinary experience.

Shariq Patel, CBO, Zee Studios added, "'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha' has been an iconic film in the history of Indian cinema. With its restored version, the film shall enhance the viewing experience for the audiences. The thundering response to the re-release of the film proved that some stories are timeless. With its OTT release, we hope that the audiences can relive Tara and Sakina's love saga, once again."

Director Anil Sharma said, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha will be an immersive, seamless and top-quality viewing experience once again for its viewers on ZEE5. The platform has been investing at lot to provide good content for its viewers. It will be super to see Sunny Deol set the screen ablaze with enhanced audio-visual fare. The film will once again touch the emotional chord of the audiences.
Sunil Raut, an MLA from the Shiv Sena UBT, ran into trouble after his friend and a NCP leader were arrested for threatening his brother and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut. The conspiracy to increase Rauts security is thought to have been hatched by NCP activist Mayur Shinde, who has a history of criminal activity, according to the police. Since the BJP-Shinde government has come to power, police security cover for the MP has been reduced. The BJP and MNS have criticized Raut and demanded that the police look into his involvement in the conspiracy in the wake of the arrests.

In the past week, Sharad Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party, and Raut both reported receiving threats on the same day. The complaint claims that Raut received a threat to be shot from an unknown caller if he did not personally answer his calls. The caller further threatened Raut with being sprayed with bullets if he did not stop his morning loudspeakers (i.e., press conferences) within a month.

According to an investigation, the two people who called the Raut brothers did so while intoxicated. Using technical assistance, Kanjurmarg police were able to link the calls to two individuals: Rizwan Ansari (26), an auto driver, and Shahid Ansari, an interior designer. Along with them, two other suspects were detained: Munna Mohammed Mustaq Shaikh, a Dharavi resident, and Akash Patel, another auto driver. They identified an NCP activist named Mayur Shinde during questioning who allegedly knew Rauts brother and gave them the order to place these calls.

Shiv Sena UBT Vinayak Raut MP said, It is not a call or drama; if it had been fake, then there wouldnt be any complaint registered against threat calls.

Gopal Shetty, a BJP MP, stated, They are only trying to gain political mileage as it showcases fake drama by the Maha Vikas Aghadi as they are opposed to the current government of the state.

It is a complete foul play created by Maha Vikas Aghadi to gain sympathy in front of the people and gain police protection on purpose, BJP spokesperson Bhalchandra Shirsat said.

The accused should be punished in accordance with the law, regardless of the political party, according to Sachin Sawant, a spokesperson for the Congress, and if someone has broken the law, they will be punished.

A UBT Shiv Sena member told Afternoon Voice, This can be another conspiracy to attack the Raut brothers. This government has already harassed Sanjay Raut and lambasted the investigating authorities. Suni Raut is a politician, and any Maha Vikas Aghadi leader can be seen with each other in a photograph. By using photo evidence, some people are creating narratives that suit their agenda. But soon the truth will come out.

An investigating police officer said, We came to know that NCPs Mayur Shinde, who has a few criminal cases, allegedly asked auto drivers in his area to issue threats to Raut. We have arrested five people, but the question is whether the threat complaint lodged by Raut is honest, said an officer. We are probing this matter further and will soon reach a conclusion.

BJP MLA Nitesh Rane condemned Raut for supposedly using deceitful means to get more police security. Who is Mayur Shinde? He is a supporter of Sunil Raut (Sanjay Rauts brother). A complaint under Section 420 should be filed against Sanjay Raut. Sanjay Raut and his brother Sunil Raut are so dubious; they orchestrated threats by their own workers. By telling lies like this, they walk around with police protection, Rane said.

BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the complaint of a threat was a deliberate attempt to defame the home department and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who handles it. BJP MLC Prasad Lad said Raut must be arrested for misleading the people, government, and police. The manner in which Mayur Shinde was arrested, the alleged threats to Raut, and Shindes links to the underworld all must be investigated, and criminal charges must be filed against Raut, he said.

Afternoon Voice attempted to reach MLA Sunil Raut for comment on the matter, but he refused to respond to our questions.
This story has been updated with an additional comment from Birmingham-Southern College.

Gov. Kay Ivey has one day left to approve a new program that could save Birmingham-Southern College and other struggling Alabama schools.

The legislature approved a final version of a bill to create a loan program, including an amendment from the governor, on June 6. The program would allow public and private colleges at risk of closure to apply for funding through 2027.

According to the Legislative Services Agency, Ivey has until June 16 to sign the bill, or else it will be pocket vetoed. In March, Ivey said she didnt intend to support state funds for the college, but legislators still moved forward with a bailout plan.

On Thursday, Birmingham-Southern said it still hopes and believes Ivey will sign the bill into law.

Lawmakers designated up to $30 million for the program  enough to get Birmingham-Southern College back on its feet.

Since the college made its financial struggles public in the winter, campus leaders, alumni and local officials have waged a battle to find funding. In April, the school said it had fundraised enough money to stay open. The college has said that funding from the state should help the school stay open and continue serving students.

Read more: Birmingham-Southern College will remain open, moving forward to next school year

I am delighted to convey sincere thanks on behalf of the BSC community to everyone who became an advocate for the College, including many in legislative leadership who understood the contributions BSC makes to the economic and educational health of the state and its citizens, President Daniel Coleman said when the House and Senate approved the bill.

We are especially grateful to Sen. Jabo Waggoner 60, Sen. Rodger Smitherman, and Rep. Juandalynn Givan, Coleman said, in a news release. Their leadership and commitment to ensuring that BSC be given an opportunity to endure made a significant difference in this effort.

Officials say the college has secured nearly $46 million of its $200 million goal, and has sought additional bridge funding from public sources to allow time to finish that campaign. Their next step, the college said Tuesday, is to work with the state treasurer on a loan agreement, and continue to work with city and county officials to secure local funding.

Judson College President Daphne Robinson told AL.com the private womens college in Marion, which halted classes in 2021, is also considering its options.

In order to apply for the loan, colleges must meet the following criteria:

The college must have been in operation for more than 50 years in Alabama

Have a significant impact on the local community

Be at risk of closure due to financial hardship

Must maintain operations and have a plan to fundraise as it receives the loan

Have assets that it can pledge as collateral if it is unable to pay back the loan

Iveys amendment also requires applicants to submit a written financial plan documenting their ability to repay the loan. Recipients will also be required to pay interest on loans, and will not receive funds if they cant prove that they have taken steps toward financial soundness.

I have previously said that taxpayers public funds should not be used to bail out a private college, and I remained concerned about the wisdom and propriety of this program, Ivey said in a June 1 letter outlining the changes. However, if Senate Bill 278 is to become law, adoption of the above-proposed executive amendment will enhance the integrity of the loan program in the name of protecting taxpayer funds.

The loan program will sunset after the current term of the state treasurer ends, unless lawmakers vote to extend the program.
They were looking forward to enjoying rest and relaxation with their families in the Bahamas when tragedy struck two people who are from the same Alabama city but do not know each other.

Now, family and friends are helping Gadsden residents Anna Moore and Trey Thompson by raising tens of thousands of dollars for their recoveries from brain bleeds.

Moore, 38, was swimming in a pool with her children, her sister-in-law and her sister-in-laws children at the beach house they rented in Exuma when she saw something floating in the ocean and ran down to the beach.

When she got back up to the pool area, she goes over to the couches outside to lay down and said she didnt feel good, Spenser Templeton Moore, Anna Moores sister-in-law, told AL.com over email. I initially thought that maybe she had just gotten overheated, so I stayed in the pool and continued to play with the kids.

Templeton Moore, who set up a GoFundMe for her sister-in-law, then said she heard Annas husband, Dane Moore, say Anna was not breathing.

I immediately rushed the kids inside so they would not see what was going on and went back up to help Anna. When I get back up to the pool, I see Dane and my husband Ryan performing CPR, Templeton Moore said. I immediately take over CPR from my husband and Dane and I continue to do so for almost an hour before the ambulance arrived.

Templeton Moore described the next 20 hours of her sister-in-laws ordeal as some of the worst hours of our lives.

She said it was almost impossible to get Anna Moore flown back to the United States for medical treatment because the family was in a foreign country.

Calls were made to Anna Moores insurance company and elected officials back in Alabama.

There were offers of private planes, but we were faced with roadblocks at every end, Templeton Moore said.

Anna Moore, her sister-in-law said, received almost zero treatment for her brain bleed at hospitals in Exuma and Nassau.

To make matters worse, according to Templeton Moore, the people who took Dane Moore and his wife from Exuma to Nassau refused to give back their passports unless they coughed up $700 and would not fly Anna Moore to an American hospital unless the family paid them $50,000 on the spot.

Clearly, it was a huge money-making scheme for the locals and no one truly was concerned about Annas care, Templeton Moore said.

But Templeton Moore said God was on the familys side.

He made a path that allowed a hospital in Florida be able to fly to Nassau, pick up her and Dane, and fly her back to the states, she said.

The plan was for Anna Moore to be transferred to a large Fort Lauderdale, Florida, hospital, she had to be taken to a smaller one in the city because she stopped breathing during the flight.

This was truly Gods plan as Anna received incredible care from the doctors and nurses at that hospital, Templeton Moore said.

Doctors determined Anna Moore suffered an arteriovenous fistula (AVF), or an abnormal connection between arteries in the brain, that caused a severe brain bleed.

An angiogram was performed to reroute the AVF, and Anna Moore has since been transferred to University of Miami Hospital.

While we continue to get good news every day that Anna is making strides, the strides she is making are minimal, Templeton Moore said.

Anna Moore has not regained use of her left side and is facing months of rehabilitation in Miami, her sister-in-law said.

The family has already spent $20,000 alone for medical flights and Dane Moore has not been working to be at his wifes side in Miami. Templeton Moore and her husband are taking care of Dane and Anna Moores children in Birmingham.

Initially, Templeton Moores GoFundMe had a goal of $15,000, which had been shattered just days after it went live on June 6.

Since then, more than $48,000 has been raised for Anna Moores care.

The generosity from everyone who had supported our family through the GoFundMe, and through other ways, is truly a testament to how Anna and Dane lived their lives and how loved they are, Templeton Moore said. Anna and Dane both are some of the most giving human beings who would donate and give any chance they got. So it is truly a God blessing that they are able to feel the love back.

Another Gadsden resident, Trey Thompson, never made it to the Bahamas when he suffered a brain bleed during his familys cruise vacation.

Efforts by AL.com to reach Thompsons family were not successful.

With Thompson in critical condition, the ship was rerouted to Port Canaveral, Florida, since he was not stable enough to be transported to a hospital via helicopter, according to Rachel White, who organized the GoFundMe on Thompsons behalf.

He was then taken to a hospital in Melbourne, Florida, for treatment.

Treys life is a miracle, and while he is still in the midst of testing, surgeries and planning for his care, its clear that his road to recovery will require the support of his family and friends, White wrote.

Thompsons family is expected to have significant costs just from multiple emergency transports, let alone money needed to help provide Trey and his family the ability to focus on recovery and health without worry of finance, White continued.

She said Thompson and his family are some of the most generous, faith-filled, servant-hearted people in their community.

Lets believe together for his complete healing, recovery and abundant life! she wrote.

Thompsons GoFundMe has raised nearly $16,000, including from at least one person aboard their cruise ship.

The fundraisers goal is to raise $25,000.
Worries about splintering Mobile and Baldwin counties for the first time in over 40 years are building in coastal Alabama following the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling last week that a state congressional map likely violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

The high courts 5-4 ruling will likely cause the state to create a second majority Black congressional district, and the potential looms large for at least portions of Mobile and Baldwin counties to be split for the first time since the 1970s, despite close economic ties between the states only two coastal counties.

Associate Justice Clarence Thomas joins other members of the Supreme Court as they pose for a new group portrait, at the Supreme Court building in Washington, Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. Justice Thomas was nominated by President George H. W. Bush to succeed Justice Thurgood Marshall and has served since 1991. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)AP

In fact, the possibility of splitting the two counties factored heavily into the Supreme Courts written opinions, as Chief Justice John Roberts dismissed the concerns and Justice Clarence Thomas said they should be taken seriously.

It is indisputable that the Gulf Coast region is the sort of community of interest that the Alabama Legislature might reasonably think a congressional district should be built around, wrote Thomas in his dissent.

But Roberts, writing for the Court, found that some region has to be split up so others can be united. Even if the Gulf Coast did constitute a community of interest, moreover, Roberts wrote, the District Court found that plaintiffs maps would still be reasonably configured because they joined together a different community of interest called the Black Belt.

Related content:

A similar divide can be found along partisan lines in Alabama. Republicans are voicing worry about dividing the two and limiting the ability to coordinate concerns along Alabamas coast. But Democratic politicians and activists are not as concerned, saying that Mobile and Baldwin counties do not share similar political interests.

I am worried, said Bradley Byrne, president & CEO with the Mobile Chamber who served as the representative for the 1st congressional district from 2014-2021. You could have a (congressional district) from Tuscaloosa to Mobile or Mobile to Dothan. Imagine someone from Tuscaloosa covering that whole area and understanding Mobile as well?

Everything is possible, said Alabama Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, a member of the state commission charged with drawing the map. Mobile is in play (for changes). Possibly Birmingham to the north is in play.

What you have to do is pick up substantial Black voters from those two areas to come up with the 500,000 people who need to go into a district and meet all the other criteria of the courts.

Communities of interest

Three congressmen gather on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, at the Battle House Renaissance Hotel & Spa in downtown Mobile, Ala. Pictured from left to right are former Alabama 1st congressional district Reps. Jo Bonner (the current president at the University of South Alabama) and Bradley Byrne (president and CEO with the Mobile Chamber) and current U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

Spanish Fort Mayor Mike McMillan recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with current 1st Congressional District U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, to discuss the potential of bringing back a post office to his fast-growing Baldwin County city.

The meeting with U.S. Post Office officials, McMillan admits, might not have happened if the congressional district representative lived in the Wiregrass  hundreds of miles away and closer to the Florida Gulf Coast than Alabamas coast.

That is no comforting feeling for me as mayor, McMillan said. (Wiregrass politicians) dont recognize the issues we fight for every day. And it goes both ways. Jerry Carl might not recognize the fights in the Wiregrass.

Sprawling Baldwin County, over the past 52 years since the 1970 Census, has grown by over 314 percent, but remains an overwhelming white county. The 2020 Census shows only 8.6% of the countys population as Black. The more urban Mobile County, home to Mobile City and the states port, by contrast, is 37% Black.

Officials closest to the redistricting process including state Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile, say its too early to fret. But others, like the two most recent former congressmen of Alabamas 1st district, are sounding alarms.

Their comments echo those of Justice Thomas who, in his dissent, wrote that moving Black Mobilians who reside in the heart of District 1 into a newly-formed Congressional District 2 will upend a long-standing community of interest in the Gulf Coast region.

Alabamas 1st congressional district currently includes Mobile, Baldwin, Washington, and Monroe counties as well as parts of Escambia County. The voting age population is 67% white and 25% Black, but most of those Black residents live in Mobile County.

Truck traffic along Interstate 10 near the U.S. 98 exit in Daphne, Ala., on Thursday, March 25, 2021. A $2.9 billion overhaul to the I-10 Bayway between Mobile and Baldwin counties and the construction of a new bridge in Mobile is considered the largest transportation project in Alabama history. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

Jo Bonner, president of the University of South Alabama who was the districts congressman from 2003-2013, said lumping a congressional district that includes Tillmans Corner near the Alabama-Mississippi state line to the Dothan region will complicate major economic policy initiatives like the Interstate 10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project that connects downtown Mobile to Baldwin County.

The Bridge is $3 billion, Bonner said. Is that a priority for someone if they live in Enterprise? It is hard for to think that it will be a top priority. Or will four-laning the Ross Clark Circle (in Dothan) be a top priority for someone in Mobile?

Democrats: Differences exist

A "Black Voters Matter" rally took place on Friday, October 16, 2020, next to Mardi Gras Park in downtown Mobile, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).

Democratic lawmakers and officials near the coast view things differently and are joining voting rights activists in applauding this months Supreme Court ruling.

They do not view Mobile and Baldwin counties having similarities aside from geography and proximity. The biggest split, they note, is that Baldwin County consists entirely of Republican politicians while Mobile County is more varied. The City of Mobile and Prichard, which are majority Black, are represented almost entirely by Democratic lawmakers in the Alabama Statehouse.

There are significant differences we see at election time, and there are significant differences between the City of Mobile and Baldwin County in terms of interests that show up in voting patterns, said Ben Harris, chairman of the Mobile County Democratic Party. I think there is a compelling interest in putting Mobile into those (majority-minority congressional) districts. It gives opportunities for voices that have traditionally been suppressed to be heard and we look forward to that opportunity if we get it.

Sen. Vivian Davis Figures (D-Mobile) speaks to a colleague during the first meeting of the Alabama Senate for the 2023 legislative session in Montgomery, Alabama. AL.com/Sarah Swetlik

State Sen. Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, said while its too early to tell how the districts will be drawn, she is pleased with the courts ruling and the potential for more minority representation for Mobile which has become more majority Black over the past 20 years.

We need more minority representation, she said. We live in a state where there are no Democratic or African American nor minority, period, elected to any constitutional office in the State of Alabama. All of our State Supreme Court, Appeals Court, all of them are Republican and while males and white females.

She added, That is not the makeup of this state. Even in a county like Mobile with all of the minority population we have here, and we dont have one minority nor Democratic judge on the District or Circuit level.

Justice Roberts put it rather plainly: Alabama argues that the Gulf Coast region in the southwest of the State is such a community of interest, and that plaintiffs maps erred by separating it into two different districts. We do not find the States argument persuasive.

Robert Clopton, president of the Mobile County chapter of the NAACP, agreed, saying he doesnt believe Baldwin County needs to be adjoined to Mobile County. He said he believes Baldwin County, now the states fourth-largest county and adding an average of 19 residents per day, has its own autonomy.

Said Clopton, Are they similar? They are on the coast. They work together and do a lot together. That is important. But there are so many differences between Baldwin and Mobile. I will be curious to see how these line will be drawn.

Obnoxious split

The concerns from Bryne and Bonner, both Republicans, are shared by other GOP officials and conservatives in the region who believe Mobile and Baldwin counties should be left together if redistricting occurs anew.

It is constitutionally, statutorily and morally repugnant for the Court to say that a Black voter in Mobile has less in common with a white voter two blocks away than he does with a voter of either race 200 miles away at the Georgia state line, said Quin Hillyer, a Mobile resident and a conservative columnist for The Washington Examiner.

Thomas got it right, he added. He put it very plainly that its patently obvious the two coastal counties form a community of interest and its a very strong one because of geography, being on the coast, and because of the (Alabama State) Port, the beaches and the rivers. Anyone who lives in Alabama knows that the coastal counties are thought of as one entity. To split them is obnoxious.

Patrick McWilliams, vice-chairman of the Baldwin County GOP, said splitting the two counties will be detrimental to economic development.

From the manufacturing and business standpoint, said McWilliams, it should all come under one congressional district on what we are doing here whether its aerospace, tourism or agriculture.
A presentation given by a group that researches the history of LGBTQ life in the South and sponsored by a state agency was part of a lecture series that is about neither indoctrination nor politicization, the agencys director said Friday.

Steve Murray, director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, was responding to criticism from two Republican state lawmakers of the Indivisible History Projects presentation as part of the agencys Food for Thought lecture series.

As its name suggests, the Food for Thought program is intended to connect specialists in a wide array of topics with members of the general public who are interested in learning about Alabamas history. Not every program will be of interest to every Alabamian, but we strive to ensure that Alabamians will find somewhere in our offerings some historical content that is meaningful to them. Our aim is neither indoctrination nor politicization, Murray said in a statement Friday to AL.com.

See also: 6 stories from Alabamas intentionally erased LGBTQ+ history

Alabama House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle told 1819 News the lecture promotes a liberal political LGBTQ agenda, while state Rep. Jamie Kiel, R-Russellville, told the outlet the talk was an example ofwoke liberal agenda ... invading our culture.

1819 News is a website that was once owned by the Alabama Policy Institute.

Maigen Sullivan, co-founder of the Birmingham-based Indivisible Histories Project who gave the Thursday lecture, told AL.com on Thursday the talk was devoid of politics.

Members of Auburn University's Gay Lesbian Association marching in the 1993 LGB March on Washington. (Invisible Histories Project)

I really just went over things that are quite black and white, she said. Its just a record of history, and so I find it mind-boggling that anyone would interpret facts as a political agenda.

It included detailing the first Pride march in Alabama and how the president of Auburn University at the time stood up for the universitys Gay-Lesbian Alliance amid efforts to shutter the student organization in the early 1990s.

Dr. Sullivans talk was an examination of primary sources on her topic and a discussion of what can and cannot be concluded about the lives of people in the past based on available evidence, Murray said. Those are basic concepts of historical inquiry, explored in this case through the story of Alabamas LGBTQ+ community.
A nonprofit dedicated to chronicling the history of the LGBTQ movement in the Deep South said it was appalling that two Republican state lawmakers criticized the groups presentation Thursday hosted by the Alabama Department of Archives and History as promoting the liberal political LGBTQ agenda.

I dont think they know what politicize means, said Maigen Sullivan, cofounder of the Birmingham-based Invisible Histories Project, who gave the ADAH-hosted lecture titled Invisible No More: Alabamas LGBTQ+ History on Thursday in Montgomery.

1819 News, a website that was once owned by the Alabama Policy Institute, posted a preview of the event on Wednesday.

The preview was followed by a story quoting Alabama House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle, and state Rep. Jamie Kiel, R-Russellville.

The fact that state money, buildings and resources are being used to promote a liberal political LGBTQ agenda flies in the face of our states values. If this is what they are doing with the taxpayer money that is sent to them, perhaps we should re-reevaluate [the ADAHs] allocation in the next budget, Statdthagen said, according to 1819 News.

Kiel said the event was an example of the woke liberal agenda ... invading our culture.

I do not support spending Alabamians tax dollars for something the vast majority of the State does not support, he said, according to 1819 News. This also brings to light the need to expose state spending on other DEI programs that may exist. Its sad that state resources are being used to politicize the lefts out-of-touch views.

See also: 6 stories from Alabamas intentionally erased LGBTQ+ history

ADAH Director Steve Murray said Friday the lecture was part of a series that is about neither indoctrination nor politicization.

Sullivan said the presentation, which touched on the first Pride march in Alabama, the struggles of student LGBTQ organizations at Auburn University and the University of Alabama and the first LGBTQ center in the state, was not political.

I really just went over things that are quite black and white, she said. Its just a record of history, and so I find it mind-boggling that anyone would interpret facts as a political agenda.

The Alabama office of the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBTQ rights group, said the Republican lawmakers remarks were no surprise but equally concerning.

Alabama has a long history of attempting to erase the histories of marginalized individuals, so the latest statements by certain lawmakers is no surprise but equally concerning. As the nations oldest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, we stand firmly with the ADAH in their commitment to preserve the history of ALL Alabamians, the organization said in a statement sent to AL.com on Thursday night. Weve already lost countless historical accounts and stories through past attempts to erase history. Events like these are what preserving history truly looks like.

Sullivan said she finds it appalling as an individual taxpayer that our legislature is trying to deny the full and honest looking at our own histories, to eradicate history in that way it just seems counterintuitive to what we say we are as a country.

Stadthagens and Kiehls remarks, Sullivan said, sound like rhetoric theyre making up to politicize their own agenda.

I believe this is the dying breath of bigotry because they wanted a culture war and theyre losing, she said.

The event was also not paid for with state money, Sullivan said.

This wasnt tax-funded, this came from a grant program from the Alabama Humanities Alliance, she said, referring to ADAHs Food for Thought series of lectures and presentations.

Sullivan pointed out that in the early 1990s, when there were attempts to shutter the Auburn Gay Lesbian Alliance, the universitys president at the time said the constitutional right to assemble was granted to all organizations and not just those that the majority agreed with.

As Americans, we have rights to assemble, we have rights to free speech, she said. And to come attack this [event] is a violation of free speech and peoples ability to gather and learn about things.

Quite frankly, its an eradication of open knowledge and conversation, and those things lead to fascism, she continued.

She said the organization appreciated ADAH for being open to their conversation.

Its important right now for these institutions to be defenders of honest and accurate truth telling, Sullivan said.
The Alabama Legislature could be headed toward a July special session to draw a new congressional district map.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has asked a three-judge federal court to give the Legislature a chance to draw a new congressional district map by July 21. Marshall filed the request with the court Thursday.

Lawyers representing Black voters and the organizations who filed lawsuits challenging the map filed a separate motion Thursday also asking the court to give the Legislature until July 21 to draw a new map.

The court held a status conference with the lawyers Friday morning and agreed with the proposed schedule. The court also agreed that if the plaintiffs challenge a new plan passed by the Legislature that it would hold a hearing on August 14.

The court has experts in place to draw a map if the Legislature fails to approve a map by July 21. In that case, the court-drawn map would be used in the 2024 election.

For a plan to be approved by July 21, Gov. Kay Ivey would have to call a special session of the Legislature to start no later than July 17. It takes a minimum of five days to approve a new plan.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 8 that Alabamas congressional map, with six majority white districts and one majority Black, most likely violates the Voting Rights Act because it dilutes the Black vote. Blacks make up 27% of the states population. The justices said the Black population is geographically compact enough for a second majority-Black or near majority-Black district that is reasonably configured.

The Supreme Court decision returned the case to the three-judge court, which had ruled last year the map likely violated the Voting Rights Act. The three-judge court had issued a preliminary injunction to block the state from using the district map in the 2022 elections. The Supreme Court put a hold on that injunction and allowed the map to be used last year. But the June 8 ruling means that the preliminary injunction is back in place, and the state must come up with a new map before the 2024 election.

The three-judge court ruled last year that a new map must have a second majority Black district or an additional district where Black voters have an opportunity to elect a representative of their choice to meet the requirements of the Voting Rights Act.

The three judges, Circuit Judge Stanley Marcus, District Judge Anna M. Manasco, and District Judge Terry F. Moorer, are holding a status conference with the lawyers on Friday morning.

The litigation involves three similar lawsuits known by the names of the lead plaintiffs, the Milligan case, the Caster case, and the Singleton case.
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission held an emergency meeting Friday and put a hold on the licenses it issued on Monday, saying it had found potential inconsistencies in how applicants for licenses were scored.

Dr. Steven Stokes, chairman of the AMCC, read the proposal to stay all proceedings on the issuing of licenses. The commission then voted to approve it.

The resolution said:

This is a vote to stay all proceedings relating to the current offering of medical cannabis business licenses. The stay is recommended due to the AMCC discovery of potential inconsistencies in the tabulation of scoring data.

During this pause in proceedings, the commission will seek an independent review of all scoring data. This stay impacts the following procedural requirements of the program.

First, applicants who were awarded a license on June 12th are not required to pay the license fee by June the 26th. Applicants who were denied award of a license on June the 12th are not required to submit a request for an investigative hearing by June the 26th.

Licenses that were awarded on June the 12th will not issue on July the 10th.

This stay will remain in effect until lifted by the commission. Once the stay is lifted, the commission will reconsider awarding of licenses and provide an updated timeline.

After the AMCC approved the resolution, Stokes said it was good that the AMCC staff discovered the problem.

I just want to commend the staff for catching this inconsistency, Stokes said. I know were all concerned about it. But it would have been just a catastrophe if the applicants went through their numbers and found an error. Weve got to own it up and just say were trying to be honest and fair with everyone and weve just got to move forward and correct any problems we find and keep going like were doing. Every state thats started a medical marijuana program has had problems. And were no different. Were just going to have to work through them.

AMCC Director John McMillan, said in a news release Friday, The Commission will work expeditiously to investigate and identify inconsistencies in the score data. Out of an abundance of caution, we are suspending all current procedural timelines until those matters are resolved.

At its last meeting on Monday, the AMCC awarded 21 licenses to companies to cultivate, process, transport, test, and dispense medical marijuana products. Ninety companies applied for licenses.

The AMCC was scheduled to issue the licenses on July 10, but Fridays move puts that on hold, as well as the requirement for the companies awarded licenses to pay their licensing fees. Companies that were not awarded a license had until June 26 to ask for an investigative hearing, but that is on hold, too.

AMCC officials have said they expect medical cannabis products to be available by late this year or early next year. They have also said lawsuits could delay that.

The AMCCs next meeting is June 29.

AL.com asked the AMCC for more information about the problem, including what the potential inconsistency was, how many applications were affected, and who would do the independent review. Brittany Peters, communications director for the AMCC, said it could not provide any more information at this time.

Antoine Mordican Sr., CEO of Native Black Cultivation, which applied for but did not receive a cultivators license, said he was encouraged by the Fridays news.

Im actually excited and proud that they would make that decision and actually take ownership of a potential problem and actually move forward with a correction, Mordican said. Bringing in a third party for the evaluations I think will be good to be able to give those applicants that were denied a second look and get a credible evaluation.

Native Black Cultivation has grown hemp at its Jefferson County facility since 2020. Asked how confident he was that the evaluation would be handled correctly, Mordican said, As the commissions been moving so far, I think theyll do their best efforts and use the best tools at their disposal to make sure its fair and equitable, to make sure we dont have any kind of biases or anything like that.
A highly anticipated bill that could save Birmingham-Southern College, as well as other struggling Alabama universities, was signed into law Friday.

The law creates a new loan program for struggling public and private universities through 2027. Colleges could apply for temporary public funds through the state treasurer, so long as they submitted a plan to repay the money. The program is initially funded with $30 million, which is expected to go to the small liberal arts college in Birmingham.

The legislature has offered some support to private colleges, but the unique effort would allow any Alabama college to apply for financial assistance. Birmingham-Southern was on the brink of closure six months ago, but may now be able to get back on its feet.

The school currently is recruiting an incoming class of freshmen for another school year in August, which they project to be about 15% lower than usual. BSC officials said they heard Friday morning that the bill had been signed, and now expect enrollment to grow.

We thought she would sign and were very grateful she did, BSC President Daniel Coleman told AL.com Friday. We look forward to working with Treasurer Boozer to make sure this package has the maximum impact for us and protects the taxpayers of Alabama.

Friday was the last day that the governor could sign the bill, or else it would have been pocket vetoed. In March, Gov. Kay Ivey said she didnt intend to support state funds for the college, but she has since worked with legislators to add more guardrails to the loan program.

Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, who represents the Bush Hills neighborhood where the college is located, worked on the bipartisan legislation with Jefferson County lawmakers Rep. Jabo Waggoner, R-Trussville and Rep. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham.

Givan, the laws co-sponsor, said she was told by the governors office Friday that the bill had been signed. It would have been rare, she said, for the governor to veto legislation that she had already reviewed and tweaked.

Im very proud of my work on this effort, Givan told AL.com. I kept my promise to the Bush Hills Community and to District 60, not to allow under my watch an institution of higher learning close. The distressed institution bill is one that could prove to be quite beneficial in the future if there is ever a need for assistance from any of our fine colleges or universities.

Coleman said the college will meet with the city of Birmingham soon, as well as the county, to discuss other local funding options. Leaders say they have already been able to raise about $46 million toward their $200 million endowment goal.

In the meantime, the school is still working to grow enrollment and adjusting to the loss of faculty, some of whom left out of concern that the school would close. But leaders say the school will still be able to maintain small class sizes, and give students a quality experience this fall.

We had near-record applications before all of this, Coleman said. And we do think Birmingham-Southern is the type of college that a lot of young people would like to go to, so were optimistic we can turn this.

In order to apply for the loan, colleges must meet the following criteria:

The college must have been in operation for more than 50 years in Alabama

Have a significant impact on the local community

Be at risk of closure due to financial hardship

Must maintain operations and have a plan to fundraise as it receives the loan

Have assets that it can pledge as collateral if it is unable to pay back the loan

An amendment from the governor also requires applicants to submit a written financial plan documenting their ability to repay the loan. Recipients will also be required to pay interest on loans, and will not receive funds if they cant prove that they have taken steps toward financial soundness.

The loan program will sunset after the current term of the state treasurer ends, unless lawmakers vote to extend the program.
Two Americans were found dead in their hotel room at a luxury resort in Baja California Sur, Mexico, according to news reports.

Paramedics responded to a report of unconscious hotel guests and found the two dead of suspected gas inhalation, the Associated Press reported.

The victims were found around 9 p.m. Tuesday at Hyatts Rancho Pescadero in El Pescadero, a coastal community between Todos Santos and Los Cabos, according to ABC News.

They were identified by the Baja California Sur attorney generals office as John Heathco, 41, and Abby Lutz, 22, ABC News reported, adding that Lutz is from Newport Beach.

The attorneys general office said in a statement to ABC News that the cause of death was intoxication by substance to be determined.

Authorities have not confirmed the cause of death with Rancho Pescadero, hotel general manager Henar Gil said in a statement, calling the situation a terrible tragedy.

The safety and security of our guests and colleagues is always a top priority, Gil said. We can confirm there was no evidence of violence related to this situation, and we are not aware of any threat to guests safety or well-being.

The U.S. State Department did not immediately return requests for comment.

The attorneys general office said the victims had been dead for about 10 or 11 hours when they were found, ABC reported. There were no signs of foul play on the victims bodies, the attorney generals office said.

Deaths stemming from gas leaks from appliances and faulty lines are common across Mexico and have been linked to tourist deaths in the past.

In October, three Americans were found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning at their Airbnb while on vacation in Mexico City.

In March 2022, an explosion sparked by a gas leak killed two people and injured 18 in the tourist town of Playa del Carmen. In 2018, a family of four from Iowa was killed by gas poisoning in a condominium in a resort town an hour from Cancun.

2023 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Members of the Democratic National Committee Friday sharply criticized the Alabama Democratic Partys decision last month to dump diversity caucuses.

Minyon Moore, a co-chair of the DNCs Rules and Bylaws Committee, said at the meeting Friday that if the partys State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC) does not take action to address a recent complaint over the decision, the DNC would take it up as a continuation of our work with the SDEC in 2019.

Were equally alarmed by the bylaws and the operational allegations which seem to prevent the full participation of members, if true, Moore said.

More from Alabama Reflector

While state parties have much latitude in developing their governing documents, their rules must be consistent with the DNCs charter, the bylaws, Roberts Rules of Order, and resolutions or other actions of the national convention and DNC.

Alabama Democratic Party Chair Randy Kelley Friday declined to comment on the DNC discussion, but repeated an assertion that the new bylaws did not cut representation.

They didnt lose any representation, none of the committees, he said.

The discussion was part of a long-running battle over the leadership and direction of the Alabama Democratic Party that has already drawn in the DNC once before.

Following complaints about the conduct of party leadership elections in 2018, the DNC in early 2019 ordered the state party to adopt new bylaws that, among other measures, created caucuses for groups like Hispanics, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, Native Americans, Asian and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), and youth.

A months-long standoff ensued between the DNC and then-chairwoman Nancy Worley, loyal to Vice Chair of Minority Affairs Joe Reed. Later that year, the DNC recognized a new leadership group aligned with then-U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, which implemented the new bylaws.

The Reed faction argued that the bylaws diluted the power of Black voters, who form the greater part of Alabamas Democratic electorate. The Reed faction won control of the party last August and installed Kelley as chair.

At a May 6 meeting, the SDEC voted to abolish the youth, LGBTQ+ and disabled caucuses, while reducing the power of other minority caucuses. The meeting was tumultuous, and members of the affected caucuses, some of whom are Black, sharply criticized the moves, saying they stripped key groups of representation.

Kelley, who has called the critics losers, said that the changes did not cost anyone representation and better reflect the Democratic electorate. On Friday, Kelley said that the new bylaws would increase youth representation.

Vice Chair Tabitha Isner and 42 other Democrats filed a complaint earlier this month with the state party. Members of the DNCs Rules and Bylaws Committee, which warned the state party about the changes last month, appeared sympathetic to the complaint on Friday.

Yvette Lewis, one of the representatives of the DNC during the fight over the 2019 bylaws, said Friday she sensed excitement from groups that got their own caucuses, particularly youth.

We did not dilute anybodys vote by increasing participation in our party, she said. If anything, we made people feel like they wanted to be a part of the party. And guess what? Blacks are LGBTQ+, Blacks are youth  we didnt dilute anything.

Alluding to the U.S. Supreme Courts recent decision in Allen v. Milligan, where the high court upheld a lower court ruling calling for Alabama to draw a second congressional district with a significant Black population, Lewis said Democrats had an opportunity, one that would rely on the turnout of young voters.

There are people down there that so share our values, that so much want to be a part of the Democratic Party, she said. We owe it to them.

Moore said DNC Chair Jamie Harrison had asked the committee to monitor Alabama, and that he planned to discuss a course of action on Saturday should further actions need to be taken.
Several bills seeking to make Juneteenth a permanent paid holiday did not pass the Alabama legislature this year.

The U.S. declared June 19 a federal holiday in 2021, celebrating the day in 1865 that the last enslaved African Americans were set free in Galveston, Texas. That came two years after President Abraham Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation, and months after Congress passed the 13th Amendment.

Read more: Juneteenth celebrations planned across Alabama ahead of Monday holiday

Gov. Kay Ivey first authorized Juneteenth as a state holiday in 2021, and again in 2022 and 2023. But the legislature has yet to make June 19th a permanent state holiday.

Lawmakers introduced several bills this year to add Juneteenth to the official list of state holidays, as well as end recognition of certain Confederate holidays, but none made it to the governors desk.

The governor has previously voiced support for making Juneteenth a permanent state holiday, but said she wants the legislature to approve it first.

Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, and Rep. Jeremy Gray, D-Opelika, both introduced legislation seeking to make Juneteenth a permanent state holiday this year, but neither made it out of committee.

Its a sad commentary that we still live in a day and time in the state of Alabama where my colleagues still choose to attempt to erase real history, Black history, African American Black history, here in the state of Alabama, Givan told AL.com Friday. And that is evident by what we see with the Juneteenth holiday.

I would consider it an honor, and I would have thought they would have considered it an honor to make this a holiday, she added. This would have shown how far we have come in the state of Alabama.

Of the nine bills regarding state holidays, only one  to designate the first Friday in May as Alabama Peace Officers Memorial Day  was signed into law. The new holiday will take place on the first Friday in May.

One bill would have removed Jefferson Davis birthday and replaced it with State Employee Appreciation Day as a state holiday. Other bills sought to remove Confederate Memorial Day as a state holiday, and to shift or remove a state holiday in remembrance of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, which currently falls on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

None made it to the full House or Senate for a vote.

Another bill, brought by Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville, sought to recognize all federal holidays as state holidays. Juneteenth is the only federal holiday not recognized by the state of Alabama.

More than half of states across the U.S. now recognize Juneteenth as a permanent state holiday in 2023, according to the Pew Research Center.

Alabama and West Virginia are the only states that have temporarily declared Juneteenth a state holiday. Others observe the holiday, but dont necessarily count it as a day off.

Below is a full list of 2023 Alabama state holidays:

Sunday, Jan. 1: New Years Day

Monday, Jan. 16: Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert E. Lees Birthday

Monday, Feb. 20: George Washington and Thomas Jeffersons Birthday

Tuesday, Feb. 21: Mardi Gras (Observed only in Baldwin and Mobile Counties)

Monday, April 24: Confederate Memorial Day

Monday, May 29: National Memorial Day

Monday, June 5: Jefferson Davis Birthday

Monday, June 19: Juneteenth (Upon designation by the governor)

Tuesday, July 4: Independence Day

Monday, Sep. 4: Labor Day

Monday, Oct. 9: Columbus Day and Fraternal Day and American Indian Heritage Day

Saturday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day

Thursday and Friday, November 23-24: Thanksgiving (Upon designation by the governor)

Friday, Dec. 1: Mrs. Rosa L. Parks Day (Commemoration only)

Monday, Dec. 25: Christmas Day
A Mississippi man died after a tree fell on him during stormy weather early Friday.

Canton Police Chief Otha Brown told WLBT-TV the man was killed after high winds toppled over a tree onto his carport as he was entering his car.

Storms on Thursday left four other people dead -- three in Texas and one in Florida.

Perryton, Texas Fire Chief Paul Dutcher said three people were killed, including at least one person who died in a mobile home park that took a direct hit from a tornado.

Dutcher said at least 30 trailers were damaged or destroyed.

One person was killed and homes were damaged in the Pensacola Beach area after two tornadoes were reported in the area Thursday night.

Another resident was rushed to the hospital after being struck by lightning.
None of the nine companies awarded a license to sell medical cannabis products has attempted to locate one in Huntsville, city communications director Kelly Schrimsher said.

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission on Monday awarded licenses to nine companies that will be able to operate up to 37 dispensaries. Products are expected to be available late this year or early next year.

Huntsville is one of about 55 cities that have adopted ordinances or resolutions to allow medical cannabis dispensaries.

But for now, none are planned in the states most populous city. Schrimsher said the citys zoning process required interested parties to apply to the city. None of the companies that did so were awarded licenses by the AMCC, Schrimsher said. A total of 56 companies applied for either a dispensary license or an integrated license that would have allowed them to operate dispensaries.

Three of the nine companies chosen by the AMCC showed their proposed dispensary sites on their applications. The other six had the sites redacted.

The applications not redacted show two Birmingham sites, as well as dispensaries in Mobile, Montgomery, Dothan, Gadsden, Loxley, Foley, Demopolis, Monroeville, and Owens Cross Roads, which is about 15 miles south of Huntsville.

Birmingham and Mobile officials also said they havent had any apply for licenses yet, but its probably too early for that.

The companies wont get their licenses from the AMCC until July 10.
Limestone County authorities say a man is facing multiple charges in connection with a robbery Tuesday afternoon.

Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin said the incident happened in the 15000 block of Cannon Road in Elkmont at about 1:50 p.m.

According to authorities, a victim was unloading groceries and was approached by a man pointing a gun.

The man forced the victim into the home and began to choke them while pointing a pistol at them. The offender fired several rounds in the house before taking the victims keys. He then broke into the victims car, taking money.

McLaughlin said the victim ran to a neighbors home, but the man gave chase, firing more rounds before fleeing after witnesses appeared.

Investigators later located the suspect vehicle on Lydia Corey Road. A man, Tervarius Eugene Horton, 35, fled from the scene but was taken into custody after a short pursuit.

Horton has been charged with first degree robbery and auto burglary. He is being held in the Limestone County Detention Facility without bond.

I continue to be proud of our Deputies and Investigators for the work that they are doing. Because of their actions, we could quickly locate and arrest the alleged offender in this extremely violent crime, McLaughlin said.
Search and rescue efforts are underway for a crewman off a tugboat which went down in the Alabama River Friday near Mount Vernon.

Anna Peoples with Alabama Law Enforcement Agency initially confirmed that search and rescue operations were underway with ALEA Marine Patrol assisting the U.S. Coast Guard.

Coast Guard officials later confirmed one crewman was spotted in the water, but then disappeared. The Coast Guard spokesperson said ALEA has since taken the lead on the operation and investigation.
People who searched online using Google and clicked on those results between October 2006 and September 2013  in other words, pretty much everyone  may be entitled to part of a $23 million settlement.

The settlement comes as part of a class action lawsuit claiming Google improperly shared search queries with third-party websites and companies during the 2006-2013 timeframe. Google denies any wrongdoing but said it agreed to the settlement to avoid the costs and risks of a trial.

The amount each claimant will receive will be based on how many file. Based on current estimates, people with approved claims are expected to receive around $7.70 per person.

Settlement class members have a July 31 deadline to decide to participate. The final hearing is set for Oct. 12 and payments will likely follow.

You can opt in or get more information here.

You can go here to register for a class member ID. The class member ID is necessary to file a claim.

Once you have a claim number you can go here to submit contact information, attest you meet the settlement requirements, and pick your choice of payment, such as PayPal, Venmo or a prepaid card.
Summer Wells remains the subject of an ongoing AMBER Alert. Thanks to forensic artists with @missingkids, we have an age progression image that shows what Summer may look like today. 2/3 pic.twitter.com/HgsKcS9i7e  Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (@TBInvestigation) June 14, 2023

Two years after 5-year-old Summer Wells disappeared from her home, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released new images that show what Summer would look like today.

We wont stop searching for Summer until we have answers, the bureau said June 14 on Twitter.

The case of the missing girl, who would now be 7 years old, has stumped officials and true crime aficionados since she mysteriously disappeared from her home in Hawkins County on June 15, 2021.

Summers father, Donald Wells, told The Kingsport Times-News she was out planting flowers just feet from the family home with her mom and grandmother when she abruptly told her mother she wanted to go inside, McClatchy News previously reported.

Her brothers said she told them she was going to play with her toys in the basement, McClatchy News previously reported. But when her mom went into the house shortly after, Summer was gone.

Summer hasnt been seen since.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) issued an endangered child alert the next day, later upgrading it to an Amber Alert, citing growing concern about the well-being of Summer Wells, in a tweet.

The 3-foot tall, 40-pound girl with blond hair and blue eyes was wearing gray pants and a pink shirt when she was last seen by her family, the bureau said.

What began next was a weeks-long manhunt and scouring of the rugged terrain of East Tennessee, with officials searching more than 2,400 acres in the first six days after Summers disappearance, McClatchy News previously reported.

A week after the search began, the TBI had received hundreds of tips pointing out places where a small child could be hiding, and local agencies set up roadblocks to ask drivers if they had seen anything unusual on the day she went missing, according to new releases.

The agency later said a truck was seen in the area of Summers house around the time of her disappearance. It was described as a 1998-2000 maroon or red Toyota Tacoma with a full-bed ladder rack and white buckets in the truck bed, according to news releases.

I feel in my heart that somebody has came up here and took her  has lured her away from her, Summers mother, Candus Bly, said in a June 28 interview with WJHL.

Its really strange that Ive never seen this truck. And Ive never heard of it until just recently, but I wish they would come forward and explain themselves. If youre not a suspect, at least come forward and say what youve seen.

The search for Summer slowed in the ensuing months, but the TBI warned against a wave of social media rumors that was clouding the investigation in September, McClatchy News reported.

To date, weve received approximately 1,500 tips, the bureau said. While we do not discuss specifics about evidence gathered in an ongoing investigation, we are doing everything within our power to find summer.

In the months and years that followed, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, in collaboration with local agencies, conducted regular searches of the areas around Summers home. In March, the bureau shared photos of some of the difficult terrain it continued to search and said it was returning to previously identified areas of interest, according to news releases.

On the first anniversary of Summers disappearance, the bureau said, We know that this case has attracted the attention of many across the country who genuinely care about Summer and want nothing more than to help find answers, and we appreciate the interest. However, we are also aware that some individuals are using this case for their own personal gain by spreading false information on social media posed as facts.

Now, on the second anniversary, Summer remains missing, and no more is known publicly about the circumstances of her disappearance.

The age-adjusted photo offers a glimpse of hope that Summer may still be out there, but the investigation continues.

Hawkins County is about 70 miles northeast of Knoxville.

2023 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
First responders to a shooting in an east Tennessee area instead discovered a house fire with six people dead inside from an apparent murder suicide.

Another person, an adult male, was carried from the scene with a gunshot wound, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

News Channel 9 said the incident happened in Sequatchie, an unincorporated area in Marion County about 20 miles northwest of Chattanooga.

It all developed about 9 p.m. Marion County Sheriff Bo Burnett said the incident erupted from a domestic situation, evidently that has been ongoing for a pretty good while.

This is one of the worst things Ive seen, Burnett said. You hear about these things but this is one of the worst Ive been involved in all my career as a law enforcement officer.

At least two of the victims died from smoke inhalation.

The names and ages of the victims have not yet been released, but the childrens mother and grandmother, along with the person responsible for the incident, are among the dead, authorities say.
As Austal USAs final Littoral Combat Ship takes shape, a top company executive says the shipyard is on the verge of a huge growth surge that will add 2,000 new workers to its labor force and a third giant assembly building to the Mobile waterfront.

A keel-laying ceremony was to be held Friday, June 16, for LCS-38, the future USS Pierre. Like a christening or a commissioning, a keel-laying is a symbolic milestone on a ships creation and entry into service. The keel for LCS-2, the future USS Independence, was laid in January 2006, and since then it and other such events have become almost commonplace.

But the last such event in the long run of the LCS program is hardly just another mile marker. Its an event that finds Austal stepping into a promising future that didnt exist just a couple of years ago. The company had carved out a niche in aluminum shipbuilding, and two big Navy programs had fueled its rapid growth, with a workforce that peaked at over 4,000 and stabilized at around 3,300.

But with the end of the LCS program approaching, and the smaller Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) program kept alive by a trickle of new orders, that emphasis on aluminum had made it hard for Austal to compete for more big Navy contracts. It had begun to look like lean days were ahead. Larry Ryder, Austal USAs vice president for business development and external affairs, said in the summer of 2021 that the company was aggressively chasing new opportunities, but the prospect of a workforce reduction was ahead.

During the pandemic, Austal USA invested in production facilities to manufacture steel ships, and it began winning significant jobs: Several Navajo class T-ATS towing, salvage and rescue ships, two of which are under construction now. A new Navy dry dock, which the shipyard began building just this week. Offshore patrol cutters for the Coast Guard. A deal to build Navy TAGOS-25 surveillance ships that could be worth over $3 billion. Work building modules that will go into Virginia- and Columbia-class nuclear submarines. Expeditionary Medical Ships, a small hospital ship similar to the EPFs. There also are other, smaller projects, such as sail-powered drone ships and aluminum elevator decks that will move fighters on new aircraft carriers.

Austal has moved from one customer to six, Austal USA President Rusty Murdaugh said in January, as the company announcing a job fair and hiring surge. Weve moved from building two types of ships to 13.

At the time, Murdaugh said the goal was to add 1,200 people to a workforce that had dropped to about 2,800. Ryder said this week that the company had moved the bar higher.

Between the surface ships and the submarine work thats going to ramp up over the next couple of years were looking to add 2,000 jobs within two years, he said, putting Austals current employment at 3,000.

Larry Ryder, Austal USAs vice president for business development and external affairs, speaks at the christening of a Littoral Combat Ship in December.Courtesy of Austal USA

I think we topped out at about 4,600 or so, previously, he said. This will put us over 5,000 on the current plans we have now, the current backlog.

They wont be cramming all those folks into the same facilities. Austal has purchased two new plots of land, Ryder said. One is adjacent to Austals Vessel Completion Yard, waterfront property south of Austals main facility, where LCSs and EPFs sit parked after leaving the two giant assembly bays on the Mobile River across from downtown. At that site, a third assembly hall will soon rise. Ryder said itll be somewhat bigger than either of the first two.

Farther south, to the south of Alabama Shipyard, Austal will build a production facility that will be used mainly for the submarine work, Ryder said.

Its not that long ago, Ryder acknowledged, that We were trying find out how we can prevent laying 1,000-plus people off.

It is kind of gratifying as a company that we were able to really turn things around and add the steel panel line and win work, he said. The workforce has transitioned over from a workforce focused on two constant, routine programs, to some extent, to a lot more uncertainty, a lot more change. Theyve really adapted well. Its a good feeling, that the company has some solid legs and we dont have to lay people off.

The growth brings issues of its own, though.

If you take a minute to step back and look its kind of neat, Ryder said. With that said, weve got to make sure were still charging so we dont get in that position again. You take your foot off the gas and a couple of years down the road youve got a valley that you didnt see coming.

Weve got a pretty good backlog now. Its created some challenges on the scheduling side, said Ryder.

Weve got a bit of a challenge on infrastructure with the I-10 bridge, were going to lose a plot of land we were intending to put a building on, he said. Were working with ALDOT and the state to try to resolve that.

Thats a concern, he said. Were hoping we can get to a resolution with the state in the near term.

Itll be challenge just getting that many people in and out of the yard on a shift change, he said. But thats a good challenge to have.

One slightly poignant aspect of all this is that aluminum shipbuilding work, once Austal USAs bread and butter, has uncertain prospects at the moment. There are two more LCSs to deliver, and the remaining EPFs and the Expeditionary Medical Ships will be aluminum. But the majority of the new work is in steel.

But in a world where the possibility of conflict with China is a concern, the reality is that there probably wont be another aluminum warship akin to the LCS.

The world as it stands today, the Navy I dont think would look at another big aluminum program past the EMS, said Ryder. Were certainly looking at, at what point do we convert over to another steel line.

Ryder said he thinks Austal will never give up its aluminum capability entirely. For example, the Offshore Patrol Cutters are steel ships with an aluminum superstructure, and other future programs may use a similar approach.

For now, its all about the possibilities.

Weve got some neat things ahead of us, he said.

Related:

Were in the future: Austal USA gets started on its first steel ship

Hiring surge represents hard-earned payoff for Austal USA

Austal USA wins Coast Guard cutter contract potentially worth billions










English News China builds strong ecological barrier with science-based desertification control

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 15 Juin 2023



Apart from strengthening desertification control at home, China is also enhancing its cooperation with other countries and has achieved remarkable accomplishments in basic research and applied research. Chinese scientists have developed over 100 desertification control technologies with Chinese characteristics, which are widely promoted and applied in some 40 countries and regions in Asia and Africa.

By Dong Siyu, People's Daily China has implemented multiple measures to combat desertification over the recent years, achieving fruitful results. The areas of land desertification and soil desertification were both reduced, and hazards of sandstorms and soil erosion were effectively curbed.



As of the end of 2022, the country had completed desertification prevention and control missions on 305 million mu (20.33 million hectares) of land, sealed off 27.08 million mu of desertificated land for protection, and established 41 national comprehensive demonstration zones for desertification control and 99 national desert parks, forging a science-based green ecological barrier with trees, shrubs and grass along the regions in north China prone to sandstorms.



Water shortage has become an increasingly prominent issue in the farming-pastoral areas in China's semi-arid regions over the past decades. Frequent droughts, descending underground water level and flow cutoffs of rivers and lakes are posing new challenges to maintaining sand-fixing vegetation.



Thanks to technologies developed by the Naiman Desertification Research Station of Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), water loss from soil during artificial afforestation has been significantly reduced, which effectively improves the survival of seedlings and ensures efficient utilization of water resources in the desert of semi-arid regions.



Besides, Chinese eco-company Elion Group also developed an innovative planting method, which saves more than 50 percent of water consumption and lifts survival rate to 85 percent.



The spatial and temporal distribution of water resources as well as the water holding capacity of soil should be taken into consideration in artificial afforestation, and local rainfed tree and grass varieties that can stay vital on dry, lean and saline-alkaline soil shall be prioritized for water conservation, said Lu Qi, chief scientist of the Chinese Academy of Forestry, and researcher with the academy's Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute.



Technologies should also be applied to strengthen the utilization of water resources, Lu added.



Lei Jiaqiang, researcher with the CAS Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, told People's Daily that building a germplasm bank of adversity-resistant desert plants is the foundation for developing water-conserving forests and grasslands.



Plants should be irrigated according to their actual demand in a targeted manner and based on the law of water consumption, and technologies should be applied to curb water loss in soil, Lei said.



"Besides, it is also important to strengthen the construction of water-conservation facilities for desertification control, place more attention on building ecological channels for combating desertification, and enhance the efforts to protect ecological dams and other infrastructure facilities," the researcher added.



China follows a "close-to-nature" approach in desertification prevention and control. Local plant species and science-based artificial management measures shall be used to restore degraded ecosystems to the state before they were disturbed by human activities, so as to ensure that desert ecosystems are bio-diverse and have complete, stable and sustainable structures and functions, Lei noted.



From adopting measures according to the degree of damage to developing relevant industries to combat desertification, how to fully and properly utilize the natural resources in deserts has always been an important topic of the studies on desertification control.



China has established a batch of characteristic industrial bases that leverage local resources to develop fodder manufacturing, commercial fruit planting and desert tourism. According to statistics, 48 million tons of dried and fresh fruits are produced in China's desert areas each year, accounting for about a quarter of China's total production with a total annual output value of 120 billion yuan ($16.81 billion). In key areas, over half of farmers' net income is from the fruit business.



China takes desertification prevention and control, rural vitalization, ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin, and other major national strategies as an organic whole.



While developing crop farming, animal husbandry, green food, sand-based materials and desert tourism, the country is also vigorously investing in high-input industries that yield high output and high profits. It has launched a number of photovoltaic generation, wind power generation, agricultural factory and artificial photosynthesis projects in desert areas.



Apart from strengthening desertification control at home, China is also enhancing its cooperation with other countries and has achieved remarkable accomplishments in basic research and applied research. Chinese scientists have developed over 100 desertification control technologies with Chinese characteristics, which are widely promoted and applied in some 40 countries and regions in Asia and Africa.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > Small zippers come with big time technologies NATO in Cold War dream undermines global peace, stability Full text of Xi's address at SCO summit Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)










English News Stable power supply brings better life to residents in Datong township, Xinjiang

Alwihda Info | Par peoplesdaily - 15 Juin 2023



Local residents can finally have complete physical checkups here and don't have to send blood samples to the county hospital anymore, Fezari Jami said, adding that examination reports are now generated by computers, which is more efficient and convenient.

By Li Yanan, People's Daily Located in the hinterland of the Pamir Plateau and surrounded by mountains, Datong township in Taxkorgan Tajik autonomous county, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region once had no stable supply of electricity. Its source of power included only a small hydropower plant and some solar panels.



Three years ago, the township was connected to the power grid. The stable supply of electricity has brought drastic changes to the township, making residents' life more convenient, industrial development more efficient and public services more developed.



"Welcome to my home. Please come in," said Sayifnazir Kurban, who runs an agritainment facility in Datong township, while guiding Zhang Hang and other five tourists from Beijing into her house.

From a freezer in the house, she took a pot of homemade yogurt and invited the tourists to have a taste of it.



After enjoying the yogurt, Zhang and his friends unpacked and took a hot shower, which significantly eased their travel fatigue.



"Before I came here, my friends who visited the township a couple of years ago told me to find a hotel in the county seat. They said the accommodation was poor in the township because the power supply was poor, though it has beautiful sceneries. I didn't expect that so many changes have taken place here in the recent years," Zhang told People's Daily.



The agritainment facility of Sayifnazir Kurban was transformed from the woman's resettlement house in 2019. However, the business was gloomy due to the power shortage.



"It was totally impossible to make iced yogurt. Freshly made yogurt would go bad the next morning. There was no way for us to have fresh meat, too. Most of the dishes on our menu were made of air-dried beef. We literally had to have 'candlelit dinners' at night," the woman recalled.



Today, with stable power supply, Sayifnazir Kurban can finally keep fresh food in her refrigerator and freezer, which has lengthened her menu.



In the evening, she made pilaf and braised mutton for Zhang and his friends, and they enjoyed the meal over a joyful conversation under the light.



After the guests went to sleep, Sayifnazir Kurban started editing the video clips she filmed in the daytime and posted them on short video platforms to advertise her hometown and agritainment facility.



"Many people asked me about the accommodation after watching my videos, and some called me to book rooms," she said.



According to the woman, she received 20 guests at most a day. As of the start of April, she had already gained about 20,000 yuan ($2,796) from the agritainment facility.



The stable supply of electricity is powering the development of the township. Today, Datong is home to 68 agritainment facilities, as well as many convenient shops and restaurants. Several jade processing workshops also started operation in the township. Compared with the sales of raw jade, jade processing is more profitable.



According to mayor of Datong township Alimjan Shirin, the per capita annual income of residents in Datong increased from 8,264 yuan in 2020 to 11,910 yuan last year. "Residents' sense of fulfillment and happiness has been constantly improved," he said.



In a classroom of the central primary school of Datong township, principal and Chinese teacher Li Yuan was teaching a class to students, highlighting important parts of the text on a big screen.



"The classroom was upgraded in the second half of last year. Electric heaters have been installed in classrooms, dormitories and faculty apartments. Now the students can study and rest in warm and safe rooms. It's much better than using coal furnaces," Li told People's Daily.



The days were hard for Li when she just came to the primary school from north China's Shanxi province in 2019.



"Teachers cooked with electric stoves, which always triggered blackouts or short circuits in peak hours. We had to take turns to cook and boil water for students, especially in winter," Li said.

The most difficult part, according to the woman, was communication, because the mobile phone signal was poor around the school and to make a phone call she had to get close to the township government office.



Li is quite satisfied with the township's connection to the power grid. "Now an expansion program of the school is underway, and the school is also better facilitated. I'm looking forward to the school's future development," she told People's Daily.



After the sun went down, lights were turned on in the offices on the first floor of the township clinic, where doctors were collating the results of physical checkups completed in the daytime.



Fezari Jami, head of the clinic, noted that the clinic is now able to do a number of physical examinations including comprehensive metabolic panel, complete blood count, B-scan ultrasonography of abdomen and mammary gland, electrocardiography and X-ray scan.



Local residents can finally have complete physical checkups here and don't have to send blood samples to the county hospital anymore, Fezari Jami said, adding that examination reports are now generated by computers, which is more efficient and convenient.



Dans la meme rubrique : < > Small zippers come with big time technologies NATO in Cold War dream undermines global peace, stability Full text of Xi's address at SCO summit Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena)
In the time since the United States was founded in the 18th century, Russia has been invaded by Europeans five times. In 1812, Napoleon Bonaparte occupied Moscow but badly misjudged the will of the Russian people to resist. The cause of the Crimean War in 1856 still baffles us today, but Britain and France won after laying siege to the Russian port at Sevastopol. Germany invaded during the First World War, followed by Britain and France again in 1918, thinking they could strangle Russias Communist Revolution before it could walk. That episode was not really a war, but with some 70 thousand foreign troops on Russian soil (of which 11 thousand were American), it can be counted as an invasion. Germany invaded again in 1941, and cut a swath of destruction as long as the distance between New York and Kansas.

On two occasions during this time, Russia joined the West to defeat an aspiring hegemon. The France of Napoleon Bonaparte and Hitlers Germany both made bids to dominate Europe, and both were stopped by opposing coalitions, in which Russia played a decisive role. If Russia played the role of liberator in those conflicts, that is not the Russia Western elites see today. They see a Russia starting a war in Ukraine as the first step in reconstructing the old Soviet bloc, a Russia that has reverted to form and is out to subjugate its smaller neighbors and to bully them into a security zone of vassal states. Such fears are widespread in the West and are the source of its support for Ukraine. However, seen another way, they are a text book example of something called the security dilemma, a situation in which one partys defensive moves are seen by another as aggressive and threatening. Western elites fear Russias intentions in Ukraine, while Russia says its special military operation there is defensive; at the same time, Westerners insist that the NATO alliance is defensive in nature and that Russia had no real cause for fear if Ukraine joined it. The trouble is, Russia fears it. The sword of suspicion cuts both ways.

In 2022 Russia went to war in Ukraine for reasons its leaders have said it did: to block the expansion of NATO into Ukraine and to remove a potential military threat there that Moscow found unacceptable. The various events leading up to that war are complex and there is not space here to summarize them, but in general Russia-friendly pundits hold that there is sufficient material in the gathering storm to justify a preventive war of self-defense. The critics will have none of this. They say Russia launched an unprovoked war of aggression, it has violated Ukraines sovereignty, and it must be held to account.

The two camps differ not only on the cause of war, they have completely different world views as to how a system of sovereign states works. Russian war policy is the epitome of a broader realist approach to international affairs: states have interests, not friends, and they must rely on self-help to do what is necessary to protect themselves. Accordingly, Russia went to war not to conquer, but from a no-nonsense threat assessment. By contrast, the United States entered the fray with an ideologically charged missionary spirit. The U.S. has long seen itself as the savior of the world, the indispensable nation, Its diplomatic discourse often lapses into moralizing rhetoric. It believes that a world filled with more democracies would be a safer and better place than it is today. It is disdainful of traditional balance of power politics and favors a rules based world order. The Russian view of power politics is bottom up and conservative. It insists that a states historical and geographic circumstances must be taken into account. It grapples with the question, What is there? The American view of the world is top-down and revolutionary. It is less concerned with historical contexts than with hypothetical theorizing about how people and states ought to behave. It grapples with the question, What should be there?

It has often been said that the United States could have defused the Ukraine crisis before it spilled into war by coming to terms with Russia on the status of Ukraines NATO membership. However, a psychological barrier blocked the way. The West fears that meeting the Russian ask on Ukraine would have been the first step on a slippery slope. Russia would have then made other security demands elsewhere in Eastern Europe, and pretty soon the U.S. would have, willingly or not, become a party to a sphere of influence arrangement. Such an outcome is abhorrent to the United States.

The days of empire and spheres of influence are over, President Obama proclaimed in a speech in Warsaw in 2014. Bigger nations must not be allowed to bully the small or impose their will at the barrel of a gun. Never mind Obamas gloss over the Monroe Doctrine, the point here is that denunciations of spheres of influence can be found in American pronouncements on foreign policy going far back into history. In the context of Ukraine, they have been made by the last four American administrations, two of them Democrat and two Republican. This outlook is bipartisan, and it is the thing that has pulled the U.S. into a proxy war with Russia.

Several weeks before the Russian invasion, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Beijing for the Winter Olympics. There he met with Chinas leader Xi Jinping, and although we do not have the minutes of that meeting, it is a good bet that Putin told Xi that he had no choice but to go in with force. The two sides issued a joint statement, saying: Russia and China stand against attempts by external forces to undermine security and stability in their common adjacent regions. Thus, on the eve of battle, Russia and China, for their own national interests, made a last call for respecting spheres of influence. America does not talk that language.

One side is saying that world peace is served when the great powers exercise self-restraint and are respectful of other powers security. The other side is saying that maintaining a sphere of influence is implicitly an aggressive act. One side is saying that tension between the great powers is not the result of the particular character of their regimes, but rather is built into the international system whenever a great power veers out of its lane. The other side is saying that a regimes character is exactly the point, because different characters affect the relations among the states in different ways. One side emphasizes historical and geographic circumstances as a constant in world affairs. The other side de-emphasizes these in favor of an overlay of law and ethical precepts.

Many Russians believe that U.S. talk about spheres of influence, and respect for Ukraines sovereignty, and the need for a rules-based international order is only a moralizing cover for what the United States really wants  which is regime change in Moscow. Russia has suspected this all along. Ironically, it sees the United States pretty much as the United States sees itself: as a messianic power spreading the good news of democracy around the world. Russia knows that if it had acquiesced to Ukraines joining NATO, if it had been passive in allowing an opposing military alliance to push itself right up against its fence, then Russia would permanently lose its freedom of action and any claim to great power status. It would have to fit pliantly into an American-designed world order. It would have to go along with the U.S., rather than to present itself as an alternative to it. Going back to Napoleon, Russia has a history of opposing hegemonic power bidders. If it had gone along with NATO-on-the-Dneiper it would have prostrated itself to one. It would become like Europe, another American appendage.

The Russian people get this. They sense that the battle in Ukraine is not just about Ukraine. It in an existential fight, a struggle of life or death, between them and the West. To them a challenge originating in the West has once again reared up to put Russia under overwhelming pressure. They believe that losing this fight would not amount to just a setback from which Russia could later recover; it would be tantamount to Russias losing its historical identity, not merely as a country but as a civilization, for Russia is a civilization culturally distinct from that of the West, and not, as many Westerners mistakenly believe, an un-democratized expanse on Europes eastern edge.

In recent days, groups of armed insurgents have infiltrated onto Russian territory, and districts along the border with Ukraine have come under shell fire. These events have more the character of terrorism than of a conventional military operation, but they nonetheless raise the possibility that the war could spin out of control. If it does, then it could become the sixth episode in the past two centuries in which the Russian people have had to fend off Western intruders. It would be wrong to misjudge their will to resist.

James Soriano is a retired Foreign Service Officer. He has previously written for American Thinker on the Ukraine war here and here.

Photo credit: DEZALB Pixabay license

Corrections: Russia has been invaded five times, not 6, in paragraph one. It was the the sixth not the seventh time Russians have fended off invcaers, in the final paragraph.
Since Jack Smith and his prosecutors dropped a multicount federal indictment against President Trump, multiple grounds have surfaced warranting dismissal of the embarrassing prosecutorial sideshow in South Florida.

Already, Smiths indictment faces multiple legal challenges.

The Presidential Records Act, the big red elephant in the room ignored by Smith, at 44 USC 2205 (3), gives a former president unrestrained access to the presidential records which he declares to be his and gives his designated agents also access to such records. Yes, the National Archives can take control of those records, after consultation with the former President, and any disagreement on the designation of a record is to be resolved by a United States District Court in a civil proceeding, not a criminal prosecution.

But the Presidential Records Act simply does not create an exception prohibiting the former Presidents access to records marked as secret, classified, or confidential. Under the Presidential Records Act, Trump, even as a former president, has all the access he wants to all his presidential records, even those which may have been classified, and may give such access to his designated agents . End of story.

The Espionage Act, even if it controlled over the Presidential Records Act, which it does not, does not apply to records that have been declassified by a president, who has an absolute right to declassify any document he wants. This is Trump's secondary argument against the Espionage Act charges, that he in fact declassified all documents in his possession before leaving Washington. But Trump doesnt even need that argument, because the Presidential Records Act (PRA) trumps the Espionage Act on the topic of classified materials. Trump can take and designate what he wants, classified or not -- and give designated agents access to records - classified or not. Plus, the notion of Trump spying for a foreign power -- the original heart of the purpose of the Espionage Act -- is beyond ludicrous.

The grand jury illegally convened in the Republican-hating District of Columbia, indicting for acts that allegedly happened in Florida, lacks legal authority under the Constitution. First, the Sixth Amendment, which guarantees the President a right to trial by jury of his peers in the district where the crime was allegedly committed. The D.C. Grand Jury also violates federal law, which provides that all proceedings (including the grand jury) must be in district and division in which offense committed. The jury also violates the DoJs own guidelines, which provide that A case should not be presented to a grand jury in a district unless venue for the offense lies in that district. This entire action should be dismissed based on the illegal constitution of the Grand Jury being set in the District of Columbia.

The execution of the overly-broad search warrant, authorizing a vague search for any government and/or Presidential Records created between January 20, 2017, and January 20, 2021" violates the specificity provision of the 4th Amendment, that a warrant must particularly describe the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized. There is nothing particular about the phrase government records, which could very well include non-classified records, a state birth certificate, a driver's license, or just about anything imaginable. The overly-broad warrant in this case was a license for a witch-hunt, demanding the suppression of all evidence.

Then theres ineffective assistance of counsel. Squealing like pigs headed to the slaughterhouse and doing their best Michael Cohen imitation, three Trump lawyers threw the time-honored, sacrosanct American protection of the attorney-client privilege in the trashcan and immediately turned state's evidence. All this violated the Presidents Sixth Amendment rights to effective assistance of counsel and warrants yet another ground for immediate dismissal.

But all that aside, in their efforts to stop Trump, Prosecutor Jack Smith, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and their federal minions have violated federal law, and specifically the Hatch Act. Let's explore that in a bit more detail.

Specifically, 5 U.S. Code  7323 -provides:

(a)Subject to the provisions of subsection (b), an employee may take an active part in political management or in political campaigns, except an employee may not -- (1)use his official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election;

This provision of the United States Code prohibits a United States government agent or employee -- a category applying to Jack Smith and his ostensible supervisor Garland -- from using their official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election.

In this case, only the blind could not see that these trumped-up charges against Trump, who has already declared his intention to seek re-election and is campaigning, with the charges brought on the eve of the primary season and in the year before the election, are anything other than an effort to influence or interfere with next years presidential election.

Even if the underlying charges against Trump were legitimate, which they are not, the Hatch Act makes no exception for legitimate charges and still prohibits federal employees from using their offices to influence, interfere with, or affect the results of an election. In other words, electoral integrity trumps the whims of a prosecutor, even if the prosecutor had a legitimate case.

Smith and Garland are federal employees, and their prosecution, dropped like a dirty bomb in the middle of election season, not only after Trump declared for re-election, but after Biden, Haley, DeSantis, Hutchinson, Scott, Ramaswamy, Christie, Pence, Burgum, and Bobby Kennedy all declared their candidacies, is designed to disrupt and affect the 2024 presidential race, in a way to injure President Trump.

A day after the indictment, 81% of Republicans in a Reuters poll believed that Smiths charges are politically motivated and an ABC poll showed that 47% of all Americans believe the charges are politically motivated, outnumbering by 10% those who do not believe the charges to be politically motivated, at 37%.

Those numbers are significant. When 81% of Republicans and nearly half of all Americans believe charges are political, and even when Democrats and independents are factored in, more Americans believe these charges are political than not. The nation has a serious crisis-of-confidence problem in our criminal justice system, and Smiths indictment has thrown gasoline on a fire of public distrust of the system.

Smiths clear political motivation underscores a key element in this provision of the Hatch Act, that this prosecution is to influence an election. The mans wife donated to Biden and produced a film on Michelle Obama.

Nothing to see here? To quote the Big Guy himself, Come on, man.

The Hatch Act doesnt have enough teeth to punish offenders like Smith, in that penalties for violating it could mean a five-year suspension or debarment from the federal government and a $1000 fine, but no prison. But still, the law is the law, and Smith and Garland have violated the law with this prosecution.

It is not a stretch to argue that A.G. Garland and Prosecutor Smith have, through this weeks indictment, used their official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election.

They have violated the law and should be debarred from the government, and the indictment against President Trump should be immediately dismissed.

Don Brown, a former U.S. Navy JAG officer, is the author of the book Travesty of Justice: The Shocking Prosecution of Lieutenant Clint Lorance and CALL SIGN EXTORTION 17: The Shootdown of SEAL Team Six, and the author of 15 books on the United States Military, including three national bestsellers. He is one of four former JAG officers serving on the Lorance legal team. Lorance was pardoned by President Trump in November 2019. Brown is also a former military prosecutor, and a former Special Assistant United States Attorney. He can be reached at donbrownbooks@gmail.com and on Twitter @donbrownbooks.

Image: United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

UPDATE: This essay has been updated to correct a typo regarding 44 USC 2205 (3)
Fox News reports that twenty Republicans in the House of Representatives sided with most Democrats in voting against a resolution that would have censured Rep. Adam Schiff, (D-Calif.), for repeatedly peddling the hoax that former President Donald Trump colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election.

The reprehensible Schiff was one of the foremost proponents of the Trump-Russia collusion hoax. He repeated the falsehood in every forum possible. With every appearance, the lies became more ridiculous. He even claimed that Trump was an asset to the Kremlin. This wasn't a mistake on Schiff's part. Schiff knew these were fabrications, but he said it anyway. His actions were purposeful and malicious. The Democrats had assigned him the task of running their biggest disinformation campaign, and he did it without caring about the effects it would have on the nation.

Such was his desperation that Schiff fell prey to a prank by Russian radio hosts who told him that they were in possession of compromising images of President Trump.

The Trump-Russia collusion hoax caused instability in D.C. and, indeed, all over the U.S. It retarded the speed of Trump implementing the MAGA agenda. It probably cost the GOP the House during the mid-terms of 2018. Once the Democrats had control of the House it was a barrage of hoaxes.

But beyond all that, it was an attempt to undo the public mandate. It was part of a coup to unseat President Trump after he was elected by the citizens of America.

For a foul and vile fiend such as Adam Schiff, a censure is a light punishment. In fact, considering the damage he did, even banning him from politics is not sufficient punishment.

Any Republican should have voted to censure Schiff without even thinking.

But alas, the swamp runs deep.

The 225-196 vote killed the resolution introduced by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, (R-Fla.), and included two other Republican lawmakers voting "present" along with five Democrats.

It is essential to note the names of the 20 Republicans who voted against censuring Schiff.

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky.

Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D.

Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore.

Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz.

Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla.

Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.

Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas

Rep. Garret Graves, R-La.

Rep. Thomas Kean, R-N.J.

Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif.

Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif.

Rep. Michael Lawler, R-N.Y.

Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif.

Rep. Marcus Molinaro, R-N.Y.

Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif.

Rep. Michael Simpson, R-Idaho

Rep. Michael Turner, R-Ohio

Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif.

Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark.

Why is this unforgivable?

Due to the fact that the Democrats are no longer a political party that just has disagreements on ideology with the GOP. This is an extremist faction that wants to outlaw political opposition.

They targeted Trump as President in an attempt to unseat him and now are not only trying to prevent him from running again but send him to jail for the rest of his life. They are targeting conservatives and calling them domestic terrorists, merely for engaging in protests.

Their every move is directed at curbing citizens' freedoms and rights.

During the pandemic, they instituted prolonged lockdowns that denied citizens movement and the right to earn a living. The forced vaccine mandates resulted in people losing their jobs or ruining their health.

They support pointless foreign wars due to their ties with the nefarious military-industrial complex.

They frequently talk about confiscating guns, which are the only affordable means of self-defense in crime-infested Democrat precincts.

They rig elections. If the rigging fails and they lose, they propagate hoaxes against the winning Republican.

They want to give voting rights to illegal aliens to have a permanent hold on power. They successfully implemented this in New York and California, and now they are hoping to do it nationally.

When they not targeting their opponents and engaging in other skullduggery, their focus is on the enrichment of themselves and their cronies.

They have no regard for the law.

There is no uniformity in the application of the law. MAGA Republicans will be convicted for missing their due date in a city library, while Democrats can do as they please with impunity.

This is the Democrat Washington establishment.

They are the enemy of the people.

Due to the vicious partisan bickering and the extreme polarization, citizens have a tendency to focus solely on opponents only. The result is that the treachery and the incompetence of one's own side are overlooked.

In current times many Republicans are either bystanders or allies of the Democrats. A helpless or treacherous ally is much worse than a sworn enemy.

The adversary is doing what is expected; he is against your interests, and he wants to destroy you. You are aware of it and, therefore, you are cautious. But when those you think of as allies become indifferent or sides with your adversary, it is an ugly and hurtful betrayal.

These betrayers are adept at deception. They promise to drain the swamp on the campaign trail. They have angry exchanges with Democrats during public hearings on the Hill. They explode on TV while talking about Democrats.

But all this is merely an act to trick voters.

When they are most needed, they vote against the interests of their constituents and servilely return to the feet of their masters from the Democrat Washington establishment. They wag their tails when a biscuit is tossed in their direction.

As voters, it is time to judge Republicans solely by their actions and not by their empty words.

When President Trump wins reelection in 2024, he needs allies on Capitol Hill.

Alas, it appears that irrespective of who controls the House and the Senate, power will always reside with the Washington Democrat establishment.

If this isnt a crisis, what is?
Discredited FBI director James Comey has suddenly come out of retirement, touring liberal talk shows and promoting a new book that desperately rewrites history and gaslights the American people.

The worst problem for Comey, however, is his track record of corruption  one so vast and well documented that no promotional book tour can fix it.

Most Americans will never forget the congressional hearings regarding the terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Members of Congress wanted answers, questioning whether or not thensecretary of state Hillary Clinton had failed to provide appropriate security for assassinated ambassador John Christopher Stevens and the consulate staff. As part of the congressional investigation, it came to light that Secretary Clinton had illegally been utilizing a private email account and an unsecured server, by which classified documents were sent.

The resulting political and legal firestorm rocked the nation and resulted in a year-long FBI investigation. In the end, Comey came before the American people with apparently cut-and-dried evidence that Clinton  the Democrat running for president at the time  had committed multiple federal crimes. In his highly anticipated public statement, Comey claimed that over 100 Clinton emails contained information that should have been deemed classified at the time they were sent, including 65 emails deemed "Secret" and 22 deemed "Top Secret." An additional 2,093 emails were retroactively designated confidential by the State Department.

Yet, despite overwhelming evidence, Comey made one of the most partisan decisions in the FBI's history. He concluded his dramatic presentation by stating that "although there is evidence of potential violations of the statutes regarding the handling of classified information, our judgment is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case."

Comey's reputation and fidelity to the rule of law could never be trusted again. But that didn't matter to him. Comey had done his job  to protect Clinton at all costs.

Although the Democrat avoided any legal repercussions, the political fallout was devastating. Clinton's campaign desperately needed to change the narrative  and fast. Enter the infamous "Steele dossier." Campaign staffers, attorneys, and Hillary herself devised a plan to accuse Donald Trump and his campaign of working with the Russian government to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. The Clinton campaign paid British spy Christopher Steele, who interviewed Russian sources, to produce a fraudulent document that they could provide to the mainstream media to spin their devious tale.

Unclassified documents now show that CIA director John Brennan met with both President Obama and Vice President Biden early in July 2016, informing them that the Clinton campaign had conspired to develop the Steele dossier, which falsely maligned Donald Trump's campaign. On July 31st, 2016, Comey opened an investigation into the Clinton allegation, mere weeks after being briefed by Christopher Steele himself.

As is clearly outlined in the recently published Durham Report, there was absolutely no predicate by which the FBI should have opened any investigation into the unfounded accusation. Not only did Comey open a sham investigation, but FBI assistant general counsel Kevin Clinesmith (who has since pleaded guilty) lied to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court about altering evidence in an effort to secure an otherwise unlawful warrant to spy on Trump campaign staffer and CIA informant Carter Page.

Mounting evidence of Comey's corruption and seditious behavior only gets worse. On January 5, 2017, following Trump's election, Obama, national security adviser Susan Rice, Comey, and others met to discuss how to manage the "Russia collusion" myth. Shortly thereafter, Comey met with President-Elect Trump and told him about the Steele dossier's existence. As part of their conversation, Comey assured Trump that he was "not the subject of any investigation." Trump also happened to mention that he hoped the FBI would go easy on soon-to-be national security adviser Michael Flynn.

So much for that. After President Trump's inauguration, Comey ordered two FBI agents to violate longstanding agency policy and casually schedule a meeting with the unsuspecting Flynn. It was a set-up from the start: Flynn had previously been Obama's appointed director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency. In this high-security position, he worked closely with Obama and the FBI.

Now, in his new role as Trump's top security adviser, Flynn had no reason to suspect that the FBI's casual request for a meeting was untoward. But he had previously made powerful enemies. While working in the Obama administration, Flynn often opposed the former president's foreign policy agenda, eventually resulting in his dismissal. Flynn's ultimate sin, however, came when (as a private citizen) he publicly, aggressively, and unapologetically supported Trump early in the 2016 election. And so, Comey sent two of his agents with clear marching orders: "Get him to lie so we can prosecute him or get him fired."

Over the next few months, Comey reiterated to Trump on two additional occasions that he was not the subject of any investigation. Yet, on March 20, 2017, despite full knowledge that the Steele dossier was a Clinton campaign tactic, Comey publicly confirmed the FBI was investigating alleged coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia during the election.

Finally, after months of attacks from within his own government, Trump fought back. On May 9, 2017, he fired Comey. In his words: "While I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation, I nevertheless concur with the judgment of the Department of Justice that you are not able to lead the Bureau."

Ironically, the FBI director who had dedicated his career to an agency whose motto is "Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity" destroyed that same career pursuing a vengeance-filled path of sedition. Like a Shakespearean tragedy, Comey became obsessed with bringing down the president of the United States of America. Lest we forget Shakespeare's own words: "Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand, blood and revenge are hammering in my head."

Freshly fired, Comey soon reached out to a friend, asking him to leak to the press one of his handwritten memos. The memo described the January 2017 meeting that Comey had with then-president-elect Trump. Playing the role of a well trained FBI agent, Comey memorialized Trump's comment: "I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go."

Similar to the two FBI agents who were directed by Comey to target Flynn, Comey's meeting with Trump was also an ambush. During a congressional hearing regarding his memo, Comey testified that he leaked the information to a friend to "prompt the appointment of a special counsel."

On May 16, 2017, the left-wing New York Times dutifully reported on Comey's memo. And, two days later, Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed a special counsel. What commenced was a well orchestrated two-year obstruction of justice by America's Intelligence Community to bring down a sitting president. According to Attorney General Bill Barr, Special Counsel Robert Mueller "employed 19 lawyers, 40 FBI agents, intelligence analysts, forensic accountants, and other professional staff" to do the job.

Yet, in the end, the attempted coup resulted in Mueller declaring a nothing-burger. There was no evidence of so-called "Russian collusion"  there actually never was, as there is none today.

What's clear now, made all the clearer by Comey's grand illusion book tour, is that the former FBI director posed an existential threat to American democracy. Our government derives its powers from the consent of the governed, and anything short of this ideal is antithetical to the Constitution. Comey falls way short, and he has done nothing but betray his country.

Ted Harvey serves as chairman of the Committee to Defeat the President.

Image: James Comey. Credit: MSNBC via YouTube, CC BY 3.0 (cropped).
With the thirty-fourth anniversary of China's Tiananmen Square Massacre having just passed, it is worth pointing out how that atrocity set the stage for increasing government tyranny across the globe today. The Chinese slaughter of innocents should always be seen as the other side of the coin to the fall of the Berlin Wall and collapse of the Iron Curtain.

In Europe, where dedicated freedom fighters spent decades creating a "parallel polis" providing both an escape from and organized resistance to totalitarian regimes, the fall of communism naturally followed the rise of public movements for liberty. In China, where cries for freedom were crushed with tanks and despair for the lost, the one-party communist State's power grew. When the United States and other Western countries chose to ignore China's crimes against humanity in a Faustian exchange for Western companies' lucrative opportunity to replace their own domestic workforces with Chinese slave labor under the communists' control, the West proved that it was more than willing to sell out both moral conviction and political principle for a quick buck.

The Chinese communists learned that Western governments are ultimately corrupt "paper tigers" that pretend to stand for human freedom but instead prostitute their ideals for material greed. Aspiring tyrants around the world learned that it is better to crush popular opposition movements with gruesome violence than to permit calls for individual liberty and free speech to grow into outright rebellions powerful enough to redirect the course of history.

Western politicians celebrate the fall of the Soviet Union and occasionally grumble about Chinese human rights abuses, but make no mistake: the collapse of the Iron Curtain and the Tiananmen Square Massacre remain cautionary tales to those enamored of power. In their minds, they hear only Machiavelli's warning that, if one must choose, it is far "safer to be feared than loved." The COVID police state that still lingers, the "climate change" police state lying up ahead, the abandonment of free speech protections as collateral damage in an imaginary war against "hate," the World Health Organization's push for global government through permanent "emergency"  none of these totalitarian monstrosities would exist today had the West stood courageously for human freedom against State-engineered barbarity.

That it did not and instead spent the next three decades empowering China economically, militarily, and reputationally will always be a stain on Western history. And because Western governments have largely ignored China's decades of genocide, torture, and enslavement, Western citizens must now live under governments dangerously indifferent to the preservation of human freedom here at home.

Imagine if the United States had acted more resolutely against the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Imagine if the dead bodies of students strewn across an area paradoxically named for "heavenly peace" had become an enduring international symbol of the personal sacrifice humans will make to be free and an enduring indictment against State tyranny. Imagine if the words "Remember Tiananmen Square" had become a common condemnation of all government overreach. What would the world look like today?

Would Chinese aggression against Tibetan separatists have been so effective? Would the Chinese Communist Party still be waging campaigns of persecution, enslavement, and murder against Christians, Confucianists, Buddhists, Falun Gong practitioners, and Uyghur Muslims? Would the once vibrant and relatively free territory of Hong Kong now be under the communists' merciless thumb? Would the people of Taiwan today be under constant threat from Chinese invasion? Would Japan still find it necessary to refortify its island nation, strengthen its military deterrence, and re-engage nuclear China on the open seas?

Would Western companies still be using Chinese slave labor to produce the world's consumer goods? Would Western citizens still be sending their wealth to a ruthless one-party State that embraces imperialism, communism, and slavery? Would corporate news media today report on the Chinese government's forced organ transplants, forced abortions, drug- and sex-trafficking, regimen of torture, and recurring genocides? Would Hollywood still be censoring its own movies so as not to offend an oppressive regime that regularly does evil things? Would the federal government have dared to demonize public school parents, persecute Trump-supporters, and imprison J6 election protesters for their beliefs?

Would freedom-minded Chinese be living fruitful lives today instead of suffering summary executions? Would mourning families at least be permitted to collect murdered loved ones for funerary rites, instead of further suffering from the knowledge that the bodies of their sons, daughters, parents, and spouses have been picked over by organ-harvesters and crudely disposed of? Would life and freedom have greater worth to the Chinese people today had the West stood for life and freedom when the world was watching?

If only the U.S. were as committed to real popular uprisings demanding freedom abroad as it is to staged "color revolutions" meant to disrupt and divide geopolitical foes. If respect for individual liberty and unwavering defense of human rights were known as America's indisputable calling card, then its reputation would command respect beyond its military reach. Perhaps so many nations from the Global South would not be working to fashion alliances with Russia, China, and Iran today had U.S. commitment to its stated principles not been found wanting. What good is a nation's word, after all, if that word can be compromised with coin?

Western indifference to Tiananmen Square has metastasized into indifference to freedom at home. National governments that have ignored why Chinese protesters lost their lives have essentially joined forces with the Chinese Communist Party in covering up history. They have done so out of a base economic interest in using Chinese slave labor for the manufacturing of finished products that can then be sold back to their own citizens for healthy corporate profits. Yet they have also ignored the Tiananmen Square Massacre because it stands as a testament to the human resolve to be free.

When there is a Cold War adversary such as the Soviet Union to be fought, Western politicians wax poetic about freedom because it provides a rallying cry that will convince common people to sacrifice their blood. Without a foreign enemy to despise, however, freedom becomes an ideal that keeps the power of domestic governments in check. Western governments do not want checks on their power, so they do not want citizens relishing their freedom. They do not want ordinary Westerners reminded that freedom is worth any sacrifice. They do not want to honor those who have been willing to pay that price.

If Western governments spoke of Chinese tyranny, then they would have to acknowledge its similarity to COVID tyranny. If Western governments spoke of Chinese censorship, then they would have to acknowledge their own expansive campaigns to regulate freedom of thought. If Western governments spoke of China's persecution of religious minorities, then they would have to acknowledge their own anti-Jewish and anti-Christian woke orthodoxies. If Western governments spoke of China's coercive surveillance State, then they would have to acknowledge their own. If Western governments spoke of heroic Chinese students who desperately sought individual liberty, then they would have to acknowledge that human freedom is worth any cost.

Western governments do not speak vigorously about China's slaughter thirty-four years ago because to do so undermines their own authority. If government were rightly understood as an inherent threat to popular sovereignty, then the reemergence of totalitarianism in the West today would not survive.

Ultimately, what we have now is a "ruling class" that quietly embraces China's Tiananmen Square mentality and a growing popular movement invigorated with the same revolutionary spirit that brought down the Berlin Wall. We have a "ruling class" eager to replicate the Chinese system and a Western middle class eager to bring the West's technocratic prison walls down before they are entirely constructed. Two visions clash for control of history.

Image via Pxfuel.
Canada is our chief trading partner and without fail their leading import in 2023 will be that smokey haze that descended upon a chunk of the nation like a three-day fog thanks to colossal forest fires. It was a perspective event underscoring that despite all our technological advancements, Mother Nature rules.

A number of firsts occurred especially in New York City. The subway sported the citys best air quality as the smoke overcame the prodigious aroma of marijuana that would choke Cheech and Chong with envy. Flights were grounded at LaGuardia airport and the Yankees struck out cancelling their game with the White Sox.

The climate change mob will never allow a crisis to go to waste. They just cant help themselves; it must be in their DNA. Once again, we masked up, cancelled, and submitted. One emergency goes, another arrives born of the lefts favorite religious denomination: environmentalism even though reported evidence points to the fires origin as arson.

The lefts ideology is so focused they cannot see the forest for the trees, let alone all the smoke that clouds their reasoning beyond reproach. The lefts holy book of Climate Revelation, environmentalism is communism by another name with organizations like the Sierra Club supplying the hammer and sickle.

To question whether shoddy government forest mismanagement is to blame is unacceptable. Rather, lay the blame on all those plastic bags, straws, gas stoves and, of course, systemic racism. Smokey the Bears contract has gone up in smoke and why not? Smokey roams in flyover country.

Environmentalists own this and will not tolerate dissent. What they fail to realize is timber, like any crop, needs to be cultivated and managed. Their decades-long fight against timbering and clearing underbrush only creates a steady buildup of combustibles enabling and sustaining ruinous fires that kill, destroy property, and devastate critical infrastructure.

Intervention allows for a more sensible policy affording a natural equilibrium with brush clearing, and controlled burns that will minimize the potential size and severity of any would-be forest fire. California still fails to adopt such sensible practices resulting in a burn, baby, burn mentality that only adds more carbon and pollution into the atmosphere. Adding to their misery are the uncontrollable variables: wind, temperature, and undocumented, illegal dumping.

Plenty of studies underscore how controlled burns actually reduce overall carbon emissions more than a fleet of offshore windmills or legions of electric cars ever could, while avoiding a catastrophe. Moreover, the harvesting of timber would turn a profit rather than acting as the major fuel source for an even bigger fire.

Unlike climate change activism, there is no money to be made for managing something as resourceful as forests. When it comes to firefighting, however; your Uncle Sam has an open checkbook. On the prevention side of the house that is not the case and only adds to the tragedy.

If an overgrown forest is not cleared, nature will not miss the opportunity and has been at it since time immemorial.

Over a century ago, the Forest Service commenced a vigorous management program to combat the forest and wildfires throughout the American northwest. Brush and the trees that needed to be harvested were and the monies earned from this venture were recycled back into forest management. Fast forward a half century when environmentalists pushed for and got policies that resulted in overgrown forests that triggered the catastrophic Yellowstone fires of 1988.

As Paul Harvey used to say, now you know the rest of the story.

Incredible headway has been made in cleaning up our environment but the bureaucratic class of the unelected dismiss and ignore practical and common-sense approaches to forest management. And no environmental crisis will be countered by wall-to-wall solar panels delivered by a fleet of electric trucks.

Believing humans can control nature is a level of conceit not seen since the days of the Babylonians Tower of Babel, which if you can recall ended quite unfavorably.

The new normal is to remain in a constant state of fear.

There will be no end to the nonstop counterfeit choruses of Kumbayas until the demand for authentic changes are heard, acted upon, and realized.

Until then, expect more of the same.

Image via Raw Pixel.
Is China positioning its soldiers on U.S. soil in preparation for a conflict with the U.S.?

That's what one congressman has warned.

According to JustTheNews:

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., on Wednesday said China is likely sending military personnel into the United States across the southern border. At a press conference announcing an investigation into Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Green said there are "Chinese Nationals, many of whom are military-aged men" with ties to the Chinese Communist Party who have crossed the southern border and been released into the United States. "We have no idea who these people are and it's very likely, using Russia's template of sending military personnel into Ukraine, China is doing the same in the United States," Green also said. The revelation came from a Border Patrol sector chief, Green said, adding that he expects a classified briefing on the matter in the near future.

It sounds fantastical, the figment of a fevered mind seeing Chinese conspiracies all over the place.

But there's reason to think it's not. The information is correlated with a striking rise in Chinese illegal border-crossers into the U.S. through our southern border  some 10,000 from October 2022, the beginning of the federal fiscal year, through April 2023, a sharp rise compared to about 2,000 who arrived from the same period last year.

Virtually all of them are military-aged young men. Might that just be the plan? Green's point, that this was how Russia began its offensive against Ukraine, is likely important  this is the new style of warfare for nations that mean to win, at least, and the Chinese are famous for copycatting.

Getting out of China, an openly communist country, is not an easy matter, even for those with high social credit scores. You can bet that those who have actually challenged the regime do not have high social credit scores to be permitted to so much as buy a plane ticket out of the country and would very likely be denied passports or exit routes. So all who didn't have trouble getting out of China in order to turn up at the U.S.'s open border need extra scrutiny, which they are not getting.

There's additional evidence that the Chinese military is getting itself into the U.S., too.

Journalist Michael Yon reported two weeks ago that Chinese migrants heading into the U.S. from Panama's Darien Gap were seen conducting a chicken blooddrinking ritual, which is something China's special forces do as a rite of passage.

Chinese Group Drinks Shots of Raw Chicken Blood after successfully trekking Darien Gap, Panama.



Separately, Globalists/UN drink human bloodespecially that of babies. Darkness is upon Panama and the world.@Oscarelblue is sick again this morning. pic.twitter.com/GLCxtbEHeP  Michael Yon Jungle (@Michael_Yon) June 2, 2023

China is invading the United States.@Michael_Yon Tweeted:

"Chinese Group Drinks Shots of Raw Chicken Blood after successfully trekking Darien Gap, Panama."https://t.co/zMhxUuNgCP

The below video indicates, it is a People's Liberation Army ritual. https://t.co/fy5W2la4JT  Dr. Lawrence Sellin (@LawrenceSellin) June 3, 2023

Chinese special forces, as well as Chinese spies, as Yon noted in his interview with Emerald Robinson, were getting into the U.S. because the U.S. was letting them in.

Chinese nationals are drinking raw chicken blood as they travel through South America and enter illegally into the United States.@Michael_Yon joined @EmeraldRobinson to detail this disturbing report.



WATCH: pic.twitter.com/2ePfxbAGxo  The Absolute Truth with @EmeraldRobinson (@AbsoluteWithE) June 5, 2023

Please study the linked videos connecting the CCP PLA "Jungle Tigers" special forces custom of drinking fresh chicken blood on graduation, and Chinese "migrants" doing so upon crossing the Darien Gap on their way to the USA.@Michael_Yon https://t.co/uj2nDtnctV pic.twitter.com/vwXSgC1DrE  Matt Bracken (@Matt_Bracken48) June 3, 2023

Meanwhile, it's worth noting what China has already done suggests its invasion intentions.

They've brazenly surveilled the U.S. using what they claimed was a weather balloon blown off course last February, taking that weather balloon all over the U.S. heartland until the Biden administration was pressured by the public into shooting it down. Might that knowledge be of use to an army now sitting in place, awaiting its orders from Beijing?

They've also brazenly set up police stations on U.S. soil, making themselves a sovereign state within somebody else's sovereign state, and using it to threaten dissidents, among other things. The FBI shut down a few of these stations  and the rest, so far as is known, are still operating with impunity.

Something is going on with this activity. On a historic basis, China knows all about the importance of walls for keeping foreign invaders out. The flip-side is that it would also know all about how foolish those are who don't understand this lesson from Chinese history. They would know how to take advantage.

That's just the baseline, for starters.

What use might paramilitary Chinese forces in place in the U.S. be?

Well, if China means to take Taiwan by force, which they have shown all intentions of doing, disrupting U.S. support for Taiwan, would likely be paramount. Chinese paramilitaries could blow up supply lines, target ammo factories, disrupt electricity, water, and gas lines, and black out the internet as war aims while they engaged in their operation against Taiwan. They could even blow up food factories or set agricultural production centers on fire. We see a lot of that already, with no explanations forthcoming.

Usually, the Russians, who have plenty of motivation, given the U.S. support for Ukraine, are suspected, but the Chinese are Russia's ally now, and they are similarly motivated. Might that be happening?

Perhaps we will find out through Congress because we sure as heck aren't going to be finding out much from China-compromised Joe Biden.

What it suggests is that a war with China may be far closer than thought, as well as right here on U.S. soil, which hasn't happened in any major way since the Civil War.

That's a major shift, and it's critical that Congressman Green and all other patriots in the House follow up on this matter as expeditiously as possible.

Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Radio personality and Outkick.com founder Clay Travis has proposed that all GOP presidential candidates say that if elected, they will pardon President Donald Trump. Some GOP candidates like Vivek Ramaswamy signed on completely. Some GOP candidates like Nikki Haley signed on more tepidly. Some Republican candidates like Chris Christie have rejected the idea. Democrat candidates like Robert Kennedy, Jr. have not been asked this question yet. Most recently, former Trump V.P. Mike Pence went on the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton radio show and obfuscated on this question.

The way the Travis-Pence scenario went down on the radio, according to the New York Post, was like this:

Clay Travis: "[W]ould you pardon him [Trump] from these charges?"

Mike Pence: "These are serious charges. I can't defend what's been alleged, but the president does deserve to make his defense."

When Travis pressed him on the issue, citing the political nature of the charges, Pence further responded that he doesn't like to engage in hypotheticals and repeated that Trump is entitled to make his defense. As the interviewers said post-interview, Pence should have known that this question was coming and should have been prepared for it.

Obfuscation just won't do in such a situation. Now that this question is getting lots of publicity, look for all sorts of candidates to get it put to them  several times, depending on their answer.

There is an easy answer for any candidate, Democrat or Republican, to give on this issue regardless of what their actual view is.

Questioner: Candidate X, if elected, will you pardon President Trump from these political charges?

Candidate X: The X administration will focus on having a Department of Justice dedicated to justice, fairness, and equal treatment under the law for everyone. As such, if I find that any person, President Trump or any other person, has been politically prosecuted on federal charges in this country, I will of course pardon them, regardless of political views or party, regardless of social standing, regardless of race or religion, and regardless of whether I personally like him or not.

That answer works if X is Ramaswamy or Christie or Kennedy administration. This answer works because the vast majority of Americans want a Department of Justice that seeks justice, is fair, and does not engage in political prosecutions. This is the type of assurance voters want from presidential candidates. Some might want to go farther and say that at this point in time, they know that these charges are political, as they obviously are, but the answer to the first question alone is much better than what Mike Pence came up with.

Whether they go farther or not, there will be a follow-up question of whether or not the candidate sees the charges against Trump as political. The various candidates can answer that question with varying degrees of certitude depending on their tastes. They can say of course, as we might expect Ramaswamy to say. They can say they are suspicious but need to look into it. They can even say no, as Christie or any Democrat cowed by his base might. Pence's refusal to answer this part or saying he would need to know more about the process leading to the charges would not reflect as poorly on him as his original obfuscation.

I guess perhaps this answer works less well if you are Joe Biden and X is the Biden administration. Biden could of course pardon Trump right now, and politically, it might help him.

Finally, that Mike Pence did not have such an answer formulated is concerning for his candidacy. As his questioners said, he really should have been better prepared.

James L. Swofford is a professor of economics in the Department of Economics, Finance, and Real Estate at the University of South Alabama.

Image via Pickpik.
Let's start with the magic of creating a human:

You start with a tiny sperm and egg which hook up to start the development of a child, not a blob.

The sperm resides in a male's testicles.

The eggs reside in a female's ovaries.

In a few short months, this tiny sperm and egg develop into 300 bones for a baby at birth.

We inherit a set of 23 chromosomes from our mothers and another set of 23 from our fathers.

One of those pairs are the chromosomes that determine the biological sex of a child  girls have an XX pair and boys have an XY pair.

By eight weeks, almost all organs in a baby have developed of which there are 79 known organs.

According to Healthline:

An organ is a group of tissues that has a unique purpose. They perform vital life-supporting functions, like pumping blood or eliminating toxins. Many resources state that there are 79 known organs in the human body. Together, these structures keep us alive and make us who we are.

Every baby has unique DNA, except for identical twins which have the nearly the same DNA, save for minor mutations.

No matter how many billions of babies are born, they each have unique fingerprints, including even identical twins.

An organ that women have, but men don't have, is the uterus where the baby is protected and develops.

The uterus is a female reproductive organ that is responsible for many functions in the processes of implantation, gestation, menstruation, and labor.

The placenta is an amazing organ that develops in a womans uterus during pregnancy and provides many functions to protect the mother and the baby and to allow safe development for the baby.

The placenta is an organ that develops in the uterus during pregnancy. This structure provides oxygen and nutrients to a growing baby. It also removes waste products from the baby's blood. The placenta attaches to the wall of the uterus, and the baby's umbilical cord arises from it.

Mammary glands are also amazing, and women are the ones that have the glands capable of breastfeeding a newborn baby.

As the baby grows, the amount of milk increases, and the nutrients change automatically. No one opens the womans breasts to insert different nutrients.

Antibodies are also created to protect the baby from a new virus or bacteria.

Both your milk and the process of breastfeeding change as your baby grows and develops. The nutrients in your milk adapt to your growing baby's needs, as does the amount of milk you produce. The anti-infective properties in breast milk also increase if you or your baby is exposed to a new bacteria or virus.

I would challenge any developer of artificial intelligence to try to replicate the development of a baby from conception to and after birth. I do not believe it can be done.

It is hard to believe that so many journalists and other Democrats have so much trouble defining what a woman is when there are clearly so many distinctive biological differences. Their unwillingness to define the difference couldnt be political, could it? Especially since Democrats claim they are the party of science.

Puberty is a natural cycle that is very important for children to go through.

The goal of puberty is to prepare the body to reproduce. Traditionally, it is the gateway to adolescence, a period of psychological, intellectual, and social growth that readies children for the social roles and independence of adulthood.

Puberty blockers have not been approved for children who are claimed transgender and there are some potential dangers but that doesnt seem to stop the people pushing young children to make adult decisions to change their gender.

Puberty blockers have not received FDA approval for use on children who are transgender.



But there is emerging evidence of potential harm from using blockers, according to reviews of scientific papers and interviews with more than 50 doctors and academic experts around the world.

The human brain is a magnificent example of intelligent design. It is not fully developed until children become adults. Why would anyone with a brain think that young children would be capable of deciding to alter their entire life and have a dangerous operation to cut off certain body parts and change their gender.

The brain finishes developing and maturing in the mid-to-late 20s. The part of the brain behind the forehead, called the prefrontal cortex, is one of the last parts to mature. This area is responsible for skills like planning, prioritizing, and making good decisions.

People say that driverless cars will be safer than humans driving. I tell people I will be dead before I trust a car that is programmed by humans, that is designed by humans, and where the cameras and computers are designed by humans more than having myself or another human drive the car.

The computing capacity of a mouse brain is estimated as 100,000 million operations per second (10 cps), and that of the human brain is roughly 10 cps (100 billion).

The older I get the more I am amazed with all of nature and how we have been blessed with so many natural resources and elements that allow us to thrive.

Just look at all the plants and animals and look at how they produce and rely on instincts to thrive and survive.

I also trust the natural cycle of everything much more than I would ever believe that Kerry, Gore, Biden, AOC, Gates, and others when they say they can control the climate. That is certifiably nuts.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
New York City's Democrat mayor Eric Adams recently backtracked on his vow to house migrants in Gracie Mansion, saying that the "symbolism" of his offer spoke volumes. Earlier this month, Adams stated that he'd welcome migrants into the governor's mansion if city lawyers approved it but took back the offer in a June 15 press conference with reporters.



Cropped screen shot from New York City Mayor's Office Twitter account via The Daily Caller.

"Leading the challenge of the migrant problem is both substantive and symbolic and as I always said, 'Good generals lead from the front,'" Adams said, according to the New York Post. "They don't send their troops into battle and ask, 'How was the war?' They lead them into battle. The symbolism of saying, 'I'm willing to put a homeless family in Gracie' is that symbolism."

Huh? Reneging on your promise to share your enormous abode with migrants is "leading from the front," and/or "leading them into battle?"

Adams noted that he could not allow migrants to stay at his mansion due to "legal issues." According to the New York Post, Adams said: "We are never going to break the law. And so, we'd be able to know what we can't do and what we can't do as a symbolism of saying, 'I'm willing to open up the people's house to the people of the city.'"

Huh?!

"We are never going to break the law?" New York broke federal law by declaring itself a sanctuary city for illegal aliens. Crime has skyrocketed in the city specifically because the Rotten Apple's D.A. refuses to prosecute criminals. The city is all about crime.

Gotham City has sued more than 30 counties across New York State for issuing emergency executive orders that prohibit local hotels from hosting migrants. Migrants Adams bussed out of New York and into those counties. The suits ask courts to declare all the executive orders "null and void." Talk about chutzpah!

Adams's statement is an open  and near perfect  example of symbolism over substance.

And a pretty good definition of today's Democrat party.
On this day in 1858, U.S. Senate candidate Abraham Lincoln addressed the Illinois Republican Convention in Springfield. He lost that race, but his words left their mark.

As you remember from your U.S. history class, the country was bitterly divided, and there was talk of secession and threats of a war between the states. The primary issue was slavery, but it was more complex than that.

Lincoln looked at the audience and said this: "A house divided against itself cannot stand."

It became one of his most profound messages and speeches. Two years later, he was elected president, and the war between the states followed.

What can we learn from that today? Are you listening, Mr. Attorney General? At times of great division and uncertainty, it's often better to pause and look at the big picture, such as do we really want to indict the man of the other party currently leading your guy in the polls? Do we want to indict him over documents when the one known as "the Big Guy" has a little problem of his own? Do we want the whole country talking about a double-standard when Mrs. Clinton was given a pass on her document problem?

It's hard to be optimistic when the people running the country seem more interested in hanging Trump like Mussolini than resolving legitimate questions about documents.

PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

Image: Library of Congress.
The American College of Pediatricians (ACP) is a small, stalwart group standing up against the leftist behemoth that is the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Its a classic David versus Goliath situation, and the Washington Post strongly supports Goliath. The WaPos problem is that, as in ancient times, David is the righteous one.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, founded in 1930, boasts 67,000 members. It is Americas largest and most prominent pediatric association. According to the approving Wikipedia article, while it does have sensible stances (i.e., kids should be in the classroom and marijuana is bad for them), it also sides with Democrats on the most contentious public policy issues:

Image: Pediatrician by DC Studio.

Abortion: Supports it for adolescents.

Masks: Not practical for children under 11 unless they can be made not to touch their faces.

Guns: Says guns are used in teen homicides (i.e., legal adults, 18 and 19, in gangs), and wants background checks, assault weapons bans, and a pediatrician discussing gun safety with parents and children. As an aside, a long time ago, a pediatrician seeing my children tried to shame me about guns. He failed.

Gender-based body mutilation (aka gender-affirming care): The AAP is enthusiastically for it. I have written extensively about its 2018 policy statement (starting about halfway down the linked page, in Section III). In that same post, I noted that, at least as of January 15, 2023, I could not find a single publication on the AAP site that offers scientific proof for the validity of its recommended practice approach. Rep. Dan Crenshaw just made the same point:

This is a radical new movement that is performing permanent physiological changes to children with no evidence of any benefits. pic.twitter.com/BV9at1G7At  Rep. Dan Crenshaw (@RepDanCrenshaw) June 14, 2023

Everything is bootstrapping on the assumption that so-called transgenderism is real and must be encouraged in children.

And what about the American College of Pediatricians (ACP), which has fewer than 1,000 members? Well, according to the Washington Post, because the ACP refuses to get with the AAPs program, its got nothing medically beneficial to offer but exists only because it gained outside political influence in recent years, primarily by using conservative media as a megaphone in its quest to position the group as a reputable source of information. (You can practically hear the snide its disreputable hiding behind that convoluted, judgmental sentence.)

So, what are this groups sins according to the WaPo? It opposes mutilating children and aborting babies:

The organization has successfully lobbied since 2021 for laws in more than a half-dozen states that ban gender-affirming care for transgender youths, with its representatives testifying before state legislatures against the guidelines recommended by mainstream medical groups, according to its records. It gained further national prominence this year as one of the plaintiffs in the federal lawsuit to limit access to mifepristone, a key abortion drug.

Youll be shocked to learn that the pediatric medical establishment, which is all-in on gender mutilation and abortion, views the ACP with skepticism. Thats because

...the group has presented statistics and talking points to state legislators, public school officials and the American public as settled science while internal documents emphasize how religion and morality influence its positions.

Think about that sentence for a moment. First, there is no such thing as settled science. The news daily reminds us that we dont know bubkis about most things, whether it's COVID treatments, hot flashes, healthy foods, or anything else. We have good guesses. We dont have certainty. Second, and more disturbing, is the disdain for morality in medicine.

I dont want to go around calling anyone a Nazi, but its worth noting that the eugenics movement that started amongst American progressives in the early 20th century and culminated in Dr. Mengeles laboratory at Auschwitz was predicated on pure science minus such weak concepts as moral decency. Moreover, religion is the fount of morality. Without religion, you simply have paganism, which was (and, given Climate Change doctrine, is) an endlessly shifting system of rules, all intended to placate irrational gods, an effort that, not coincidentally, always further empowers the ruling class.

The WaPo is also outraged that the ACP promotes conversion therapy, which the WaPo says is a discredited practice intended to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of LGBTQ people. As a wit noted on Twitter, the entire gender identity shtick is one giant conversion therapy. You may be born that way if youre gay, but youve got to work for your gender identity.

The WaPo article is long (and boring). The gist is that the AAP is right, and anyone who uses scientific evidence and morality to talk about whats good for children in a way that counters the AAP is a radical right-wing wacko trying to destroy abortion and LGBTQ++ rights.

Remember when your mother, trying to ween you away from stupidly following trends, asked sarcastically, If everyone jumped off a cliff, would you do that too? Well, the WaPos answer is yes.

As an antidote, here is Dr. Miriam Grossman with some common sense:
Nicholas Kristof was certainly insightful when he wrote in The New York Times, August 2016, that America has become "meaner" with the emergence of presidential candidate Donald J. Trump.

But seven years ago, Kristof misdirected the source of political hate speech. That Kristof was incapable of focusing on the nature of the problem is indicated by a Times column he wrote in December 2016, following the election of Mr. Trump to the presidency.

In this column, Kristof hid behind CIA disinformation to call the president-elect "The Russian Poodle" and, alternatively, Putin's "lap dog."

To read the Times print editions of June 14 and June 15 is to realize that the Times has descended to an abyss of lies, invective, and utter hate speech. Kristof, who left the paper for a politic career in Oregon, is back, salivating  with his fellow miscreants at this hate-mongering paper  at the wish that the former president will be convicted and sentenced to prison for the rest of his days. See his invective-infused June 15 column, "A President Governing From Behind Bars?!"

The online title of this vicious example of anti-Trump hate speech is "I Think Trump Is Going Down, and yet I Keep Having the Same Nightmare." I understand the title actually to offer this thought: Kristof hopes Mr. Trump will spend the rest of his days in prison but fears that Biden will be blamed for policies that will drag down America.

The Hate Trump Columns Only section of the Times, June 14, carried a despicable essay by Thomas L. Friedman, "Trump Thrives in a Broken System. He'll Get Us There Soon," and a truly unhinged diatribe from Bret Stephens, "Lock Him Up." How soon until the political hate speech from Times columnists leads them to call, literally, for the "self-destruction" of our 45th president?

Given the unfathomable hostility Stephens harbors for Mr. Trump, this writer wonders that the title of this column of political hate did not end with these five words: "and throw away the key."

It is not surprising that the unhinged Times columns will not pause to consider the impact on Mr. Trump's future of the Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012. There is not the slightest doubt in this writer's mind that protection for an incarcerated former president is hardly a factor for these swamp denizens.

Alas, there is far more to come from the unhinged media in the months ahead. Let them salivate away in their bitter juices. Of more concern is this front-page Times story, June 15: "Judge's Record in Trump Case Raises Concern."

The jurist randomly assigned to the case against Mr. Trump is Judge Aileen M. Cannon. House Judiciary Committee chairman Jim Jordan should be alert to a move by the media, led by the Times, to intimidate Judge Cannon, and even to spur protests outside her residence. Don't take it from this writer. The Wall Street Journal, June 15, carried an editorial pointing. out: "The anti-Trump partisans are now shouting that she must disqualify herself"  as a Trump appointee. See this editorial: "The Recuseniks Come For the Trump Judge."

What, after all, is a writer for The New York Times, if not an "anti-Trump partisan"?

Image: Adam Jones via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 (cropped).
After a slight delay, the long-awaited June update for the Galaxy S23 series is here. Samsung released the promised big update for its latest flagships in some markets today. It brings major camera improvements and a few other changes. A wider rollout should follow in the coming days.

As of this writing, the latest update for the Galaxy S23 series appears to be only available in select Asian countries. We have confirmation of the rollout in Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines. Users in these markets are getting the firmware build number S91*BXXU2AWF1. It should just be a matter of time before Samsung pushes the update in other markets.

As usual, the build number may vary in some regions such as the US, but the changelog will mostly remain the same. This update contains plenty of goodies, which you can tell from the OTA (over the air) size of around 2.2GB. A user who has already installed the new release confirmed that Samsung has added the rumored 2x zoom option for Portrait Mode in the Galaxy S23s stock camera app. Until now, you could only capture 1x and 3x portrait shots.

The Galaxy S23 series is also reportedly getting improvements for Night mode processing. This update fixes the camera autofocus problem as well. Additionally, Samsung has improved the haptics and the One UI experience. The devices should feel a lot smoother to use following the big June update. The company has probably worked on system animations and transitions, which havent been the best on One UI lately.

Advertisement

The Galaxy S23 series may be getting more with the June update

These may not be the only changes brought by the June update to the Galaxy S23, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S3 Ultra. We expect Samsung to fix the long-existing HDR problem that causes a weird halo effect on photos, particularly on low-light shots. The company is also expected to improve low-light videos.

Unfortunately, Samsungs official changelog doesnt specify all of the changes. There have been rumors that the Galaxy S23 series may get multiple updates in June. So if some of the expected changes are missing here, we may get a new update soon. If not in June, certainly in July.

Meanwhile, watch out for notification about this update in the coming days. Along with all the goodies, it also brings the latest security patch to the Galaxy S23 series. Samsungs June security release contains patches for more than 60 vulnerabilities. We will keep you posted with new Galaxy S23 updates as and when they come.
A judge has ordered Twitter to leave its Colorado office due to unpaid rent. Twitter has been involved in a legal dispute with its landlord, who asserts that the firm owes more than $75,000 in rent.

The dispute between Twitter and its landlord began this year when the company fell three months behind on its rent payments. The landlord filed a lawsuit against Twitter, seeking payment for the unpaid rent.

Back in 2020, Twitter was awarded a letter of credit worth $968,000. The letter was used to pay the companys rent. But the credit ran out a few months ago, and the company now owes $75,000 to its landlord.

The judge in the case ultimately sided with the landlord, ordering Twitter to vacate the office by the end of July and pay the rent. It remains to be seen whether the landlord seeks damages for breach of contract. The Colorado office now hosts 150 Twitter employees.

Twitter must vacate its Colorado office by the end of July over unpaid rent

This is not the first time that Twitter has entered a legal battle with its landlord over unpaid rent. The company had a similar case in San Francisco where the landlord claimed Twitter hadnt paid its $136,260 rent.

It is still unclear why Twitter is not paying its office rent on time. However, Business Insider already reported that Elon Musk has told an advisor that he would only pay rent over his dead body. Twitter landlords in London and New York City sued the company for not paying rent on time.

Besides the Colorado landlord, a local cleaning company has also notified Twitter of its $100,000 bill that was not paid. Additionally, the companys former employees who Musk laid off have filed a lawsuit over their unpaid severance payments.

The decision is a serious setback for Twitter. Which has been battling to keep its financial stability after being taken over by Elon Musk. Whether Twitter intends to appeal the decision or try to reach a settlement with its litigants has not yet been made public.
Android 14 is slowly materializing, and folks using Galaxy devices are waiting on Samsungs take on the platform. While the company is dealing with delays with One UI Watch 5, it seems that Samsung is going to launch One UI 6 a bit early. According to Sam Mobile, the One UI 6 beta may launch in the third week of July.

Samsung is usually one of the first companies to implement the latest software on its devices. This is in stark contrast to how it was only several years ago. We expected the Korean brand to start testing its own take on Android 14 a bit later in the year; however, it seems we were wrong.

Samsung could start testing One UI 6 in Late July

Now, this is still a rumor, so youll want to take this with a grain of salt. Sam Mobile caught wind of when Samsung may possibly launch the beta. As stated before, we expected Samsung to launch the beta later on in the year.

However, Google started beta testing Android 14 earlier in the year than we expected it to. So, that probably gave Samsung free rein to start testing early as well.

It looks like people will be waiting just over a month to test the beta. More specifically, the source specified that it will launch the third week of July. If thats the case, then its possible that Samsung may pull a Google.

Sometimes, Google releases the official beta for Android during Google I/O. Well, if the sources are true, then Samsung is going to hold its next Unpacked event in late July. It seems rather coincidental that the company, allegedly, plans on releasing the beta and announcing its latest devices in the same time frame (the Galaxy Tab S9 and the Galaxy Z Fold 5/Flip 5).

At this point, we are not entirely sure. We will have to wait over the next coming weeks for more information to come to the surface.
Last week during the Summer Games Fest event, Porsche and Microsoft announced a collaboration to create some unique, limited edition Xbox Series X consoles. The two companies were creating these special consoles to celebrate Porsches 75th anniversary.

As noted in the original announcement, there are six unique designs, and each design will only be available on a single console. You can enter to win one of these if you love both brands. And because each of the six designs is limited to one unit, that means whoever wins one will have the only Xbox of its kind. Thats a pretty cool flex.

In last weeks announcement you did get a brief glimpse at all the designs. But only one was highly visible. Today Microsoft has shown these off in much better detail. You can see each of the designs individually with their matching consoles. Microsoft says it will unveil these six Porsche Xbox consoles in partnership with Porsche at auto and gaming events across the globe starting this Summer. Where attendees will get to see them in person.

Each of the six Xbox consoles is designed after a specific Porsche look

Over the years Porsche has created some iconic designs for its race cars. And thats where these Xbox designs get their style. Each of the six is themed after one of those six iconic designs.

Theres the 75th anniversary look, which is the one that was most visible during the announcement. But theres also a design themed after Porsches Salzburg and Hippie looks from 1970. As well as the Pink Pig from 1971, the Porsche Racing Edition from 1978, and the 911 GT1 from 1998.

If you like any of the six designs and havent yet entered, you have some time. Microsoft confirms that fans can enter the contest over the next four months. That being said, theres no reason to wait long. You might as well do it once you have some time to spare.
The Reddit community is continuing to protest over the companys recent API policy changes. Thousands of subreddits are still dark or private, long beyond the originally planned 48-hour blackout that ended Tuesday. The social network has refused to back down from the planned changes.

This mass protest began on Monday after Reddit announced plans to charge for access to its APIs. The company claims that the new fees will help make the platform profitable and also monetize its data, which many companies are using to train their LLMs (Large Language Models) for generative AI tools.

However, this policy also applies to indie developers who rely on Reddit APIs for their third-party apps. More importantly, the money that the company is asking for is a lot more than what these apps make. Unable to bear the operating cost, several third-party Reddit apps are shutting down at the end of this month.

This angered the Reddit community. The effects of the proposed API policy changes on moderator tools made the matter worse. Reddit CEO Steve Huffman publicly lashing out at some developers further fueled the anger. On Monday, more than 8,000 subreddits went private in protest, blocking access for people who arent already subscribed. These include some of the most popular communities with tens of millions of subscribers.

Many of those subreddits are dark long beyond the original plan

The plan was to remain private for 48 hours, though a few hundred of them pledged to continue the protest indefinitely. Turns out they motivated others as well. As of this writing, more than 4,000 subreddits are still private, while many others are restricted. Among them are some big names such as r/funny, r/videos, r/music, r/aww, and r/science. Restricted subreddits dont allow users to submit new content but existing content is accessible for all.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Redding has announced that the decision is final. It wont back down from the proposed API policy changes. Were not planning any changes to the API updates weve previously announced, a company spokesperson told The Guardian. Expansive access to data has impact and costs involved; we spend multimillions of dollars on hosting fees and Reddit needs to be fairly paid to continue supporting high-usage third-party apps.

This came after Huffman encouraged employees to stick to the plan in an internal memo earlier this week, saying that the protest hasnt affected the companys revenue and things will be normal soon. Theres a lot of noise with this one [ongoing protest]. Among the noisiest weve seen and like all blowups on Reddit, this one will pass as well, Huffman said. We absolutely must ship what we said we would.
As many of you already know, the very first official Galaxy Z Fold 5 image surfaced earlier today. That seemingly-official promo image did give us a look at the Galaxy Z Fold 5, but a tipster claims that it has been beautified by Samsung.

Well-known tipster claims Samsung beautified Galaxy Z Fold 5 promo image that surfaced

This information comes from Ice Universe, one of the most prominent tipsters in the business. He went to Twitter to call out Samsung. He says that he has seen the real Fold 5, and claims it is not so thin.

The tipster also added that the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is 6.1mm thick, while the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is 6.3mm thick. That is a very small difference, while the tipster says that the phone looks considerably thinner in the provided image.

Ice Universe also added that the Type-C socket in the picture is squashed, while adding that the trust should be placed in the data, not the rendering. If hes right, the real Galaxy Z Fold 5 will look thicker than the one shown in the promo image.

Truth be said, this promo image was not shared by Samsung. It was shared by MySmartPrice, and even though the source claims its official, that is not necessarily true, of course, even though it seems to be.

The phone will launch next month, and the event will be hosted in Samsungs homeland

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 will become official next month, and its global launch event will be hosted in Seoul, Korea. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 will launch alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 5, while the Galaxy Watch 6 will also join the party.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5, based on everything weve seen thus far, wont be a major change (design-wise) compared to its predecessor. It will fold flat, though, it seems, but the crease control still wont be great, based on rumors.

The overall look will also be quite similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 4. If youd like to get more info about the device, feel free to check out our Galaxy Z Fold 5 preview.
WhatsApp is bringing its screen sharing feature to the desktop app. The latest version of WhatsApp beta for Windows gives users access to the new feature, which is still in the testing stage. The Meta-owned platform may roll it out publicly a few weeks later.

WhatsApp first added a screen sharing feature to its Android app (beta) a couple of weeks back. It lets users share their screen with the other party during video calls. The app gets a dedicated button for the feature in the bottom bar of the call screen. Youre always in control over sharing your screen, so you can stop it anytime you want. You dont need permission from the other person on the call.

The same feature is now available in the desktop version of WhatsApp. According to WABetaInfo, which first reported this update, the PC app lets you choose to share a specific window or the entire content of your screen. Whatever you select, everyone in the video call will see it. Thats irrespective of whether they have joined via mobile or PC. Like on mobile, you have full control over sharing your screen.

Screen sharing is currently available to users with version 2.2322.1.0 of WhatsApp beta for Windows (beta version 2.23.11.19 or newer of the Android app). A few Windows users have reportedly confirmed receiving the feature in the stable version as well. However, it appears to be a pre-mature release. As of this writing, a wider rollout is only available in the beta channel.

Advertisement

WhatsApp expands its business-focused features with screen sharing

Screen sharing features are usually found in business communication services like Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams. They facilitate more inclusive remote collaboration. WhatsApp adding a similar feature suggests the company is going this route too. It has already expanded the participant limit in group video calls to 32 people and added proper support for multiple devices. Its also working on the ability to use multiple accounts on the same app.

Perhaps WhatsApp bringing screen sharing to its desktop app so quickly is an indication of its plans to offer more useful tools to businesses. As said before, this feature is currently in the beta stage. Android users can enroll in the beta program here, and then proceed to download the latest beta version of the app from the Google Play Store. Windows users can grab the new beta update for WhatsApp from the Microsoft Store here.
Leading figures from the arts world in Scotland have been recognised in the Kings Birthday Honours list.

Christopher Hampson, chief executive and artistic director of Scottish Ballet, becomes a CBE for services to dance.

Peter Lawson, chairman of Scottish Opera, is also made a CBE for services to the arts in Scotland.

Mr Hampson trained at the Royal Ballet School, where he began his choreographic work which continued while he danced with English National Ballet.

Christopher Hampson, centre right, with Charles and Camilla at the Scottish Ballet headquarters in Glasgow in 2014 (Danny Lawson/PA)

He joined Scottish Ballet as artistic director in 2012, and was appointed chief executive/artistic director in 2015.

Commenting on his royal honour, he told the PA news agency: I do feel very honoured and I think its wonderful to share the recognition with my family, friends and colleagues, and for me the real honour is the opportunity to share all the amazing work we do at Scottish Ballet, so thats really wonderful too, it helps me shine a light on all the creativity and work we do to make sure the dance world is a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.

I think coming out of lockdown and getting back into theatres and reconnecting with all of our audiences and the wider community in Scotland, thats just been amazing and thats really what keeps me going and what keeps the company going, so I feel like this particular recognition really helps me to shine a light on all that were doing around Scotland and internationally.

It does give us that opportunity to just really celebrate what were doing at Scottish Ballet.

Im in my 50th year this year so its been a lovely year to receive it as well.

Mr Hampson, who lives in Glasgow, is renowned for championing female choreographers, driving diversity in the ballet world, and commissioning ground-breaking films and digital dance forms, reaching huge international audiences during lockdown and beyond.

As well as his own works, such as The Snow Queen and Cinderella, Scottish Ballets repertoire includes new versions of classics such as The Crucible and Coppelia, as well as new commissions by emerging choreographers.

One of Mr Hampsons key focuses is developing in-house talent through choreographic initiatives.

Scottish Ballet recently won the award for outstanding company at the Critics Circle National Dance Awards in London.

Peter Lawson has been made a CBE (Julie Howden/PA)

Mr Lawson is a lawyer and has been involved in a number of arts organisations and trusts, both as legal adviser and as a board member, over several decades.

He is a past chairman of both the Tron Theatre Company and Glasgow Unesco City of Music, and a former committee member of Bafta Scotland.

Mr Lawson, who lives in Glasgow, said: I am honoured and delighted to accept the CBE in the 2023 Birthday Honours list.

I have been very fortunate to have been able to contribute to the cultural scene over the past 40 years, particularly with my chairmanships of the Tron Theatre and currently with Scottish Opera.

I consider the honour as a recognition of the importance of culture in bettering everyones day-to-day life, and also honouring the wonderfully dedicated and talented people with whom I have worked in the arts in Scotland.
Energy bill support took too long to reach those most in need and the Government must clarify how it will protect consumers from future price rises as a matter of urgency, MPs have said.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said about 1.7 million people were left waiting months for help due to the Governments lack of bandwidth to ensure all groups  including those who were vulnerable  received support at the same time.

The cross-party group said it had serious concerns about the Department for Energy Security and Net Zeros (DESNZ) lack of urgency in addressing the energy market failures that are leading to high energy bills for consumers.

In February 2023, DESNZ estimated that support for households and businesses would cost 69 billion, of which 16 billion was paid between October and December 2022.

MPs said energy bill support took too long to reach vulnerable consumers (PA)

Around 900,000 households without a direct relationship to a domestic energy supplier, such as those in park homes or living on boats, only became eligible for the domestic consumers Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding on February 27, almost five months after consumers began receiving discounts on the main scheme.

Some 830,000 households in Northern Ireland only began receiving support with their energy bills in January 2023, three months later than in Great Britain.

Conversely, the universal nature of the largest schemes resulted in the department providing support to some homes and businesses that did not necessarily need it.

As of February, a quarter of vouchers issued for the Energy Bills Support Scheme for two million households on traditional prepayment meters had still not yet been redeemed.

The committee highlighted unacceptable practices of suppliers forcing entry into vulnerable customers homes to install prepayment meters  a practice which has been banned by Ofgem for British Gas but only suspended in voluntary arrangements with other energy suppliers.

When the committee heard evidence in February, household energy bills were expected to increase by another 775 over 2023 and into 2024.

The MPs urged Government to clarify how it will protect consumers from future energy price rises as a matter of urgency (PA)

The PAC said it expected an update on plans to ensure energy affordability for next winter, including how it will fix the problems for those most in need.

It has asked DESNZ to provide an update within six months on its plans to ensure energy affordability over the coming winter and its progress with future plans for the domestic scheme, such as capping support to those that use very large volumes of energy and introducing discounts on bills for households on benefits.

PAC chairwoman Meg Hillier said: The surge in energy prices has caused serious difficulties and hardship for households across the UK.

It is of course welcome to see Government moving quickly to put in place support for both households and businesses to keep the lights on. But many of those who most needed help were kept waiting longest for it. For some households, every day left without support presented impossible choices.

We need to see better understanding from Government on vulnerable customers circumstances so that help can be prioritised for those who need it most, and to deliver value for money in these extremely expensive schemes.

Almost halfway through the year we have not yet seen plans to ensure energy affordability for the coming winter. As a matter of urgency Government must show its clear not just on how households and businesses will be protected in any future price rises, but how to ensure resilience in the sector as a whole.

A DESNZ spokesman said: Todays report fails to recognise the complexities of delivering support to households without a direct relationship with a supplier  and its right we made sure there was a robust system to help protect people against fraud before rolling it out.

Were proud to have delivered nearly 40 billion in support, including through the Energy Price Guarantee, getting help to millions in a matter of weeks  with 83% of energy bill support vouchers now redeemed  and including to the people of Northern Ireland who have been receiving help with their energy bills since November.

National Energy Action chief executive Adam Scorer said: Even though bills are due to fall by a few hundred pounds per year, energy prices will remain hugely inflated and continue to hit households on the lowest incomes. While the Government response has grown to meet this challenge since October 2022, many people who need help the most are falling through the cracks.

As a minimum, Government should be reinvesting any resources that have been committed but havent yet been spent. That should support more than 2.5 million low-income and vulnerable households who are no longer receiving any government support.

Without more targeted support this autumn and winter these households will be exposed to the worst of this ongoing crisis with all the dreadful consequences for health and wellbeing that we have seen day in and day out in recent times.
The former chief of Ofsted has called for an overhaul of the inspectorates grading system after changing his mind on one-word judgments in the wake of the death of headteacher Ruth Perry.

Sir Michael Wilshaw, former chief inspector of schools, told Tes magazine that one-word judgments should be replaced with a more nuanced report and he now supports the Labour Partys plan to replace headline inspection grades with a report card.

It comes after MPs launched an inquiry on Tuesday into Ofsteds school inspections and whether they can be improved.

The watchdog has faced pressure to reform after Ms Perry, the headteacher of Caversham Primary School in Reading, Berkshire, took her own life in January after her school was downgraded to the lowest Ofsted rating.

Sir Michael confirmed to Tes magazine that he was calling for an overhaul of the entire grading system  possibly by replacing one-word judgments with narrative reports.

Referencing Ms Perrys death, he said: Ive thought about it since this whole tragic episode took place.

This is a woman who had the confidence of parents, raised achievement  educational provision was good  who fell down on one judgment.

He told the publication that a narrative report would have been much better than calling somebody inadequate'.

He added: I think this made everyone think, and its made me think. And its made me change my mind.

Sir Michael also said he changed his mind about Labours proposals and supported the replacement of headline grades with report cards as long as it is piloted first and ensures inspection is as challenging as its always been, Tes magazine reported.

Sir Michael Wilshaw has called for an end to Ofsted's one-word headline grades. He's endorsing Labour's plan to move to a system of school report cards. We need better than a system that's high stakes for staff, but low information for parents.https://t.co/mBXLzt9nJ4  Bridget Phillipson (@bphillipsonMP) June 16, 2023

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson tweeted: Sir Michael Wilshaw has called for an end to Ofsteds one-word headline grades.

Hes endorsing Labours plan to move to a system of school report cards.

We need better than a system thats high stakes for staff, but low information for parents.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders union the NAHT, said: As long as the Government continues to insist on consigning schools to simplistic single word judgements, the inspections system will remain fundamentally flawed and put unnecessary pressure on school leaders.

The inquiry into school inspections by Ofsted  by MPs on the Commons Education Select Committee  will look into concerns that the one-word ratings that Ofsted gives to schools may not be conducive to helping schools improve.

MPs will consider the impact of Ofsted inspections on the workload and wellbeing of teachers, school leaders and pupils as part of the inquiry.

An Ofsted report found Ms Perrys school to be good in every category apart from leadership and management, where it was rated as inadequate.

Since Ms Perrys death there have been calls for one-word ratings to be abolished.

The inquiry will not examine the events that preceded her death as an inquest is due to commence later this year.

On Monday, Ofsted announced a series of changes, including launching a consultation on reforms to the complaints system and giving schools more information around the timing of their inspections.

Schools graded inadequate overall due only to ineffective safeguarding  but where all other judgments were good or better  will be revisited by inspectors within three months of a report being published as part of the reforms.

But Amanda Spielman, Ofsteds chief inspector, said on Monday that scrapping one-word judgments would not solve the underlying discomfort among headteachers if the consequences of the inspection remain the same.

Addressing the Commons Education Select Committee on Tuesday, Ms Spielman welcomed the launch of the inquiry.

She said Ofsted was focused on how it can contribute to reducing the pressure that is undoubtedly felt by school leaders around inspection.

I think it is fair to say that a great deal of that pressure does relate to the perceived consequences of inspection  its not just about the process itself, Ms Spielman added.

But she told MPs that the consequences of school inspection  such as intervention or support  sit with Government rather than Ofsted.

Professor Julia Waters, sister of Ms Perry, said: I am pleased to see that MPs will be looking into ways that Ofsted inspections can be improved.

Since Ruths death, our family has been overwhelmed with the outpouring of anger and distrust of Ofsted from teachers and headteachers.

It is clear that a rigorous and independent review of the system is necessary, and I am glad that this inquiry will look into a wide range of important issues.

The Department for Education said one-word inspections succinctly summarise independent evaluations on the quality of education, safeguarding, and leadership which parents greatly rely on to give them confidence in choosing the right school for their child and which the Government uses to highlight success, identify schools that need support and to trigger intervention where necessary.
Fleur East has been announced as the new co-host of Strictly Come Dancing spin-off show It Takes Two.

The singer and former Strictly contestant said she was so excited to officially join the family after the news was announced on The One Show on Friday.

East will join Janette Manrara as the new co-host for the show later this year, following the departure of Rylan Clark.

She said: Im so excited to officially join the Strictly family. I had such an amazing time on the show last year and so cannot wait to be talking to the celebs each week on It Takes Two.

Fleur East will be joining @JManrara as the new co-host for @BBCStrictly #ItTakesTwo  Were so excited to welcome her to the Strictly family!  Catch up on @BBCiPlayer to see @FleurEast's big reveal on #TheOneShow now  https://t.co/ED8no8ZGOi pic.twitter.com/e3tD3bnIk6  BBC The One Show (@BBCTheOneShow) June 16, 2023

Being a Strictly fan, Im excited to get all the behind-the-scenes exclusives on the show. I know exactly what the next lot of celebs will be going through.

Its an incredibly fun experience, but its tough. Hopefully, I can offer them a bit of support and a friendly face along the way.

Im so grateful for this opportunity and cant wait to get started.

The announcement was previously teased on BBC social media, with a short clip of Easts feet performing a couple of steps.

Speaking on The One Show, she said she felt a lot of relief having kept the secret for a long time, adding: the stress (was) real.

Fleur East (PA)

It comes after the previous show co-host Clark stepped down in April.

The 34-year old TV personality announced his decision, later saying he wanted to pass on the baton to someone else and explore what else life has for me.

Clark had hosted the show since 2019 with Zoe Ball, and later with professional dancer Manrara, who joined in 2021.

In a statement posted to Instagram at the time, he wrote: Ive had the best time hosting the show alongside Janette and Zoe, and I cant thank the amazing team enough for always putting on a great show.

Ive been welcomed into the Strictly family and will firmly hold that title dear to me. The time has come for me to pass on the baton to someone else and explore what else life has for me.

Thank you Strictly, you will always have my heart  and dancing feet.

Rylan Clark stepped down as host of It Takes Two in April (Ian West/PA)

Eve Winstanley, executive producer for BBC Studios and Strictly It Takes Two, said: Fleur is a brilliant addition to the Strictly It Takes Two family.

She has been in the contestants shoes, so can offer the best advice, tips and insight on what to expect.

We cant wait for audiences to see Janette and Fleur together, theyre a dynamic duo.

Audiences will be able to tune into the new series of Strictly: It Takes Two in September from 6.30pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.
Efforts to clear the asylum backlog need to significantly increase to meet Rishi Sunaks target of dealing with older cases by the end of the year, a spending watchdog said.

The National Audit Office (NAO) questioned whether the plans were sustainable, saying it would take 2,200 decisions on cases a week to clear the backlog by the end of the year  but during April just 1,130 weekly decisions were made.

The NAO estimated that 3.6 billion was spent on asylum support in 2022-23, almost double the amount in the previous year.

In December, the Prime Minister pledged to clear the backlog of around 92,601 legacy cases which had been in the system as of the end of June 2022.

The NAO said: The Home Office is starting to reduce the backlog of legacy claims, from more than 100,000 at the beginning of July 2022 to about 77,000 by the end of April 2023.

However, to achieve this it has decided to abandon its ambition to make decisions on newer claims within six months, meaning the backlog of newer claims is growing.

The Home Office estimates the number of newer claims awaiting a decision will increase from almost 61,000 in April 2023 to around 84,000 by the end of December 2023.

In total, some 173,000 people relating to 134,000 claims were waiting for an initial asylum decision at the end of March.

The NAO added that some senior Home Office staff described how pressure to deliver on short-term political priorities made it hard to focus on the longer-term strategy.

The watchdog said the business case for the Home Offices asylum and protection transformation programme package of reforms was based on a range of highly uncertain assumptions.

NAO chief Gareth Davies said: Despite recent progress, the asylum and protection transformation programme is a long way from meeting governments ambitions to reduce the cost and improve the quality of the service.

The Home Office has nearly doubled the number of decisions made each week, although it is unclear whether it will be enough to remove the backlog of older asylum decisions by the end of 2023. To date, the programme is not on track to achieve the expected benefits.

The changes the Home Office plans to implement through the programme are necessary, but not on their own sufficient, to address the pressures in the asylum system.

To achieve value for money, the Home Office needs to better co-ordinate and manage the impacts of these changes, otherwise the department risks moving backlogs and cost pressures to other parts of the system  including local authorities  rather than resolving them.

Dame Meg Hillier, Labour chairwoman of the Commons Public Accounts Committee, said: The backlog of 173, 000 people waiting for an asylum claim decision costs taxpayers billions every year.

The asylum and protection transformation programme was supposed to make asylum decisions quicker and sort out accommodation costs, but Government still has a very long way to go to deliver on its promises to abolish the backlog of initial decisions.

Unless the Home Office better understands and manages how the asylum system works on the ground, the programme will shunt issues to other areas by increasing the number of appeals and removals, and further breach the trust of asylum seekers and the public.

The Home Office insisted it was on track to clear the legacy backlog by the end of the year.

The Government is working non-stop to reduce the asylum backlog and deliver cheaper, more orderly alternatives to hotel accommodation, a Home Office spokesman said.

As the NAO acknowledges, we have already doubled the number of caseworkers and cut the legacy backlog by 20%, but we know more must be done to bring the asylum system back into balance.

The Illegal Migration Bill will stop the boats by detaining those who come to the UK illegally, and swiftly returning them to their home country or a safe third country.

Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock said: The Conservatives have lost control of the asylum backlog, which has risen from 19,000 in 2010 to an astonishing 172,000 today at an astronomical cost to the taxpayer.

Todays NAO report shows that the cost of the asylum system last year was even greater than previously reported  almost doubling to an astonishing 3.6 billion.

The NAO is right to highlight how the Prime Ministers focus on the legacy claims is in essence a red herring, and that the actual backlog is likely to see an influx of another 23,000 claims by December.
A hotel concierge who has been welcoming royals, presidents and rock stars to Belfast for 40 years has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM).

Martin Mulholland, the head concierge of the Europa Hotel in Belfast, has been awarded the honour as part of the Kings Birthday Honours list.

I got a letter at home and my wife rang me and said there was a very official looking letter so I rushed home and there it was, it was a surprise, a big big surprise, he said.

Mr Mulholland said he had met King Charles on several occasions prior to his coronation, as well as an array of senior political figures.

Martin Mulholland has been looking after dignitaries for 40 years (Liam McBurney/PA Wire)

(Ive met the then) Prince Charles on quite a few occasions and various members of the royal family, and also the presidents of the United States are regular visitors as well. So, yes, were quite used to that, he said.

He added: He (The King) actually came to officially open our new hotel, the Grand Central Hotel. So thats the last time we met and he always has a minute for everyone.

Hes very good, very good people person.

Mr Mulholland said the BEM was a recognition of his 40 years of service to world dignitaries visiting Belfast.

Im in my 40th year here at the Europa, so its nice to be recognised for what you do, he said.

I love doing what I do, its not really a job as such, but dont tell anyone that.

Martin Mulholland has met the King several times (Liam McBurney/PA Wire)

Music stars such as Radiohead, U2, Rod Stewart and Bob Dylan have all stayed at the Europa with Mr Mulholland also famously having to call an ambulance for the Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain who was staying in the hotel after the bands show at The Kings Hall.

The visit that Mr Mulholland said was a highlight of his 40 years was president Bill Clintons three-day trip to Belfast in 1995.

Of course, it has to be the Clinton visit in 95 when he was here as president of the United States, that was massive.

A massive time for Belfast and Northern Ireland, but a massive time for the Europa as well. So fond memories of that.

And then, of course, we were able to revisit our photograph just a few weeks back again, when president Clinton was back in the hotel, so we did the photograph, again, with a 28-year gap between it, so it was a nice moment.
Kaleb Cooper, the breakout star of Jeremy Clarksons popular farming documentary, has announced his first ever live theatre tour.

The World According To Kaleb will see the young farmer leave his home of Chipping Norton for a 33-day national tour next year.

Cooper shot to fame in the Prime Video series Clarksons Farm, which saw him give direct and no-nonsense advice to the former Top Gear presenter.

He became a fan favourite during his often-frustrating quest to teach Clarkson about farming, as well as his amusing comments on life, the universe and everything in between.

Cooper told the PA news agency that ever since the launch of the first series in 2021 he had been more and more in demand outside his home town.

Im a firm believer, if I want to go out there and learn something, youve got to go out then and go full, head down, go for it, he said.

Yes, its a fear, or you know, a nervousness thing, but I think Im a firm believer of going towards it and facing your fear with brave shoulders.

He said he was excited to take his show on the road, and interact with fellow farmers around the country.

Hopefully some of the farmers will come out and have a good enjoyable day watching the show, he told PA.

And I can have a chat to them after and see what their soil types are, what type of crops they grow in, are they struggling with the rain, what type of cattle they have.

He added: I think I think of the world very differently from, for example, someone living in the city who just literally works nine to five job.

I dont work, I dont have a job. I dont believe that I have a job. What I do for a living, its a way of life.

Cooper was recently invited to a meeting on farming at Downing Street, and met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which he described as a remarkable experience.

I must admit when I got the invite, I was like wow, I dont think I can really turn this down, he said.

Just to go and be a face of the farming industry. I got my points across to the PM, which we said in private and, you know, I believe that hes listening to farmers.

He added that he hoped that Mr Sunak would come along to one of his tour shows, but that he would not be offering him a discount.

Kaleb Cooper (Plank PR/PA)

Im gonna send him the ticket link, he said.

At the shows, Cooper will give audiences the chance to participate in some interesting rural pastimes, as well as highlighting some of the many challenges that British farmers face today and sharing thoughts on how to make a difference and support them.

Fans can expect Cooper to rattle off his famously strong views on many things  including sheep, goats, New York City, personal style, and Clarkson.

Cooper told PA that his co-star still doesnt listen to anyone, but acknowledged that he knew a thing or two about farming.

In every industry, you learn everything. He knows television  thats his industry, thats where hes been working for so long, he told PA.

When you go into another industry, its another thing to learn and of course hes been doing it for four years now.

So if I said he hadnt learned anything, Id be wrong.

He added: Ill give him a ticket for the tour and then he can come and learn a bit more.

The World According To Kaleb tour kicks off at Cheltenhams Everyman Theatre on 25-27 January 2024 and continues through March.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased via: www.kaleblive.com
A gunman who shot dead a police custody sergeant in a holding cell was thinking ahead and does not have a defence of diminished responsibility, a consultant forensic psychiatrist has told a murder trial.

Dr Nigel Blackwood told jurors trying Louis De Zoysa that the 25-year-old had demonstrated a clear ability to control his actions when he shot Met Police officer Matt Ratana.

Sgt Ratana, aged 54, died of a chest wound after being hit by two bullets at Croydons Windmill Road custody block in South London.

Police Sergeant Matt Ratana (Metropolitan Police/PA)

De Zoysa, from Banstead, Surrey, denies committing murder while he was handcuffed in a holding room, after being found with bullets in south London in the early hours of September 25 2020.

After being called by the Crown as an expert witness at Northampton Crown Court on Friday, Dr Blackwood was asked for his opinion of defence suggestions that De Zoysa had suffered an autistic meltdown.

Dr Blackwood told the court he did not believe De Zoysa was hyperventilating on footage showing him inside a police van for around eight minutes.

The expert witness said: He takes a physically deep breath on a couple of occasions.

He clearly requests an appropriate adult, mentioning his vulnerability, and he asks for the duty solicitor.

This is clearly somebody that is thinking ahead to the police station. He is not in a hyper-aroused state unable to think clearly  he is thinking very clearly and logically in that moment.

To my mind any deficits he has do not impact his understanding of what is happening.

He answers police questions appropriately  there is nothing in that series of interactions (with police officers) that, because of his autism, he is struggling to understand.

Answering questions from prosecutor Duncan Penny KC, Dr Blackwood said he had interviewed De Zoysa four times in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and been provided with background details of his school, medical and employment history.

A court artist sketch of Louis De Zoysa (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

De Zoysa was highly intelligent, Dr Blackwood said, adding that he did not think there was any relationship between the defendants autism and his decision not to tell officers he was carrying a hidden and loaded revolver.

The court has heard that De Zoysa was caught on in-cell CCTV as he fired the antique gun four times, having discharged an initial three shots within three seconds, inflicting a fatal chest wound on Sgt Ratana.

Mr Penny asked Dr Blackwood for his view of defence suggestions that the use of the weapon by De Zoysa, who had been smoking cannabis, was uncontrolled and impulsive.

Dr Blackwood answered: I dont think that emerges from the evidence that we have.

He demonstrated a clear ability to control his actions. He retrieves the gun, has it in his hand, has time to consider what he is going to do with it, and then discharges it.

As well as saying that, in his opinion, a partial defence to murder of diminished responsibility did not apply in the case, Dr Blackwood told the jury he did not accept that De Zoysa experienced an autistic meltdown at the police station, which he had been taken to before after a dispute with his father.

During cross-examination, defence KC Imran Khan questioned Dr Blackwood about comments made by De Zoysa which are said to show the trigger for the alleged meltdown may have been a need for personal space.

Mr Khan asked Dr Blackwood if it had surprised him that an autistic meltdown had been put forward by a consultant forensic psychiatrist called by the defence.

Dr Blackwood responded: When you look at all the evidence in the round, yes it did.

Earlier in the trial, Mr Khan told the jury that De Zoysa says he did not mean to or want to kill Sgt Ratana, or to cause him really serious harm.

Louis De Zoysa says that he is not guilty of murder, Mr Khan said.

The reason Louis De Zoysa says he is not guilty of murder is because at the time he was suffering from an abnormality of mental function.

The trial has been adjourned until Wednesday next week.
Senior politicians have reflected on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement at the British-Irish Council summit in Jersey.

The 39th summit brought together leaders from the UK Government, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Island nations of Jersey and Guernsey, and the Isle of Man.

No representatives from Northern Ireland were present due to the collapse of the power-sharing institutions at Stormont.

Levelling Up Minister Michael Gove represented the Westminster Government in the absence of the Prime Minister.

Chief Minister of Guernsey Peter Ferbrache, First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Chief Minister of Jersey Kristina Moore, UK Cabinet minister Michael Gove, First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf and Chief Minister of the Isle of Man Alfred Cannon at the British-Irish Council summit meeting at the LHorizon Hotel in St Brelades Bay, Jersey. (Andy Matthews/PA)

Mr Gove spoke of the regret that no representatives from Northern Ireland could attend the summit.

I think everyone has expressed their regret both formally when the council are deliberating, but also conversations, that our friends in Northern Ireland, the elected representatives, havent been here.

He added efforts by the Westminster Government were ongoing to try to persuade all parties in Northern Ireland about the need for movement to restore Stormont.

The summit included a visit to the Limes, an example of housing construction in Jersey as the members focused on decarbonisation and sustainable building.

Kristina Moore, chief minister of the Jersey administration, told the press conference: It has been a great honour for us to host the summit for the fifth time here in Jersey.

And of course, its a really important opportunity for us all to reflect on 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement.

She said shared challenges were discussed between the representatives.

Mr Gove added: I know there is a commitment on the whole Jersey Government to making sure that both the affordability challenges that the island faces can be properly addressed but also that its done so in a way which is environmentally sustainable.

It was a common thread in all of the contributions that we made that we all appreciate the pressure on supply and affordability in all of our jurisdictions.

Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf attended his first British-Irish Council summit since taking up his post, where he met Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
As Father's Day approaches, one woman talks about being estranged from her dad. Fi Da Silva-Adams, 53, owns a performing arts school for children with her husband Paul, 56, a professional musician. She has two children Zavier, 20 and Angel 17 and lives in Wiltshire. Here she shares her powerful story...

Fi Da Silva-Adams was terrified of rejection when she re-met her real father but her reaction then surprised her. (Supplied)

Standing outside a pretty Devonshire cottage Id never been to before, my throat was a little dry. Butterflies flitted in my stomach. As I knocked on the door, I really had no idea how I would be greeted by the person on the other side.

Within seconds an older man opened the door, smiled warmly and said hello. Strangely, although I didnt know him, I recognised his friendly face straight away  pale skin, blonde curly hair, light blue eyes. My dad looked just like me.

Reunited with my father

His name was Jack and Id been in touch with his wife (called Nan)  via a friend  who seemed lovely. I was thrilled when she invited me to meet them. She told me that she and my father had been together for 30 years, he had gone on to have more children and that he had worked as a printer and she was sure hed love to meet me.

"Come in, have a cup of tea!" said Jack and he opened his arms to wrap me in hug. Leading me into his house to meet Nan, we settled down in the kitchen and very quickly found ourselves chatting like old friends.

It was as if a missing part of my personal jigsaw had finally been placed

Jack asked me all about my life and about the fact I was about to start university to train to dance. He recalled his old memories of dancing when was younger at Hammersmith Palais. I thought it was funny that we both shared the same passion.

After an hour and a half, I had to catch my train. We said a fond farewell and wished each other the best. There was no mention of staying in touch but I was perfectly happy about that.

As I walked down the path away from his home, for the first time in my life I felt complete. It was as if a missing part of my personal jigsaw had finally been placed. Thats all I needed, I thought to myself.

And it really was. Because that was in 1996, nearly 30 years ago, and I never saw my father again.

I had been estranged from my dad all my life although I hadnt even realised it until I was about six years old. It was while on holiday in the countryside when I discovered that the man who my mother was divorcing  due to his abusive, alcoholic behaviour  was not actually my father.

Fi Da Silva-Adams was around six when her mum told her that the man she thought was her dad wasn't in fact her real father. (Supplied)

Discovering the truth

I remember how it happened. Walking down a country lane looking at foxgloves with my mum and older brother and brother and sister, we were chatting when I said something along the lines of, "I like the nickname Feebles that Dad calls me" and mum simply said: "Hes not your dad."

It was a complete shock. I was so young that I couldnt really understand what she was telling me but I remember the feeling that my world didnt seem the same anymore.

It was a complete shock to find out the person I thought was my dad wasn't... I was so young that I couldnt really understand what Mum was telling me

Despite his behaviour towards Mum, he was still the only man I knew as 'my father' and I couldnt understand how he suddenly couldnt be my dad.

I dont recall much about what happened next although within a year I knew I wanted to meet him. And by the age of seven, I was taken back to the cottage where I was born on the sofa and where, it transpired, my father still lived.

The cottage in Devonshire where Fi Da Silva-Adams was born and her biological father still lived. (Supplied)

Breaking up

I had discovered that mum had left him when I was only 10 weeks old. She never disclosed the reasons why but he was over 25 years older than her and for her to leave a marriage with three young children in the 70s must have been difficult. She must have had very good reasons.

Although I remember walking up some cobbles to a very low-thatched cottage, I dont remember anything at all about meeting with the man himself.

But as I grew up, I was very aware of my fathers absence. I look nothing like the rest of my family  who are all olive-skinned with dark hair and eyes. Until I found out about my real fathers existence, Id even thought I might be adopted.

Even now on Fathers Day, I say to my mum that she is the most wonderful mother and 'father'.

There was no contact between my mother and my father but my mum worked so hard to keep my older siblings and I well cared for and keep a roof over our head. She did so many jobs  including scraping up chicken poo  to earn money and I will always love her for that.

On Fathers Day I would always bring mum breakfast in bed and celebrate that with her because she was the one bringing us up on her own. I would make her sausages and tell her how much I loved her and even now on Fathers Day, I say to her that she is the most wonderful mother and father.

Identity issues

But I missed having a father figure. Even though Mum went on to marry a further three times, all of these marriages were troubled.

I wanted a normal family life and didnt understand what the role of a father actually was. In fact, when I had children of my own, I developed bad postnatal depression because I had no idea what my husband Pauls role was in bringing up children and felt I needed to do it all myself.

I felt a real sense of having to protect my children, even though Paul is the most wonderful, adoring father and husband. As I watched him play with our children or give them presents or treats, I actually felt a little envious that I had nothing like that in my past.

I was terrified of rejection and also of upsetting my mum. So I kept it secret from my entire family

It was just before I met Paul that I met my real father for that afternoon chat at his new home, not the cottage I was born in. Perhaps I was having some kind of identity crisis before I left for university but I felt a real need to meet him, to see his face and to talk to him.

Of course, I was terrified of rejection and also of upsetting my mum. So I kept it secret from my entire family.

But when I turned up on his doorstep that day in 1996, I really had no idea what to expect. I was delighted that he welcomed me to his home and we shared that lovely afternoon. But afterwards, I felt no yearning at all to see him again. He had not been a part of my life for 20-plus years and if I did reconcile with him, I know it would upset the rest of my family. So we left it there. It was enough.

Fi Da Silva-Adams is now married with a family of her own. (Supplied)

Finding happiness

Today, 30 years on from that meeting I rarely think about him. Im happily married with two children and own my own business  Revolution Performing Arts  with Paul. Im still very close to my mother, who is now 80, and she only ever speaks about my father when we watch Strictly Come Dancing together. She reminisces about her times when they danced together and she was so tiny that when he held her in his arms, her toes would dangle on his.

It was during the last series of Strictly that he popped into my thoughts again. And I realised that  with the age gap  my father must be dead by now. I didnt feel particularly sad. It was like a feeling when you find out that a celebrity has died, a curiosity and a sadness for their own family, but not for yourself.

As Fathers Day comes around again, Ill always have that memory of our warm, cosy chat in the kitchen. But it will be my 80-year-old hardworking and loving mum who I will be celebrating.
Martin Amis, the British literary giant whose work was respected by contemporaries across the creative sphere and who died last month, has been knighted.

After publishing his first novel at the age of 24, he went on to write 13 more  as well as a memoir, two collections of stories and eight collections of non-fiction works.

The author was given a knighthood before his death from cancer at the age of 73 in May.

Amis was awarded the honour for services to literature and it is dated May 18, the day before his death, as honours cannot be given posthumously.

Martin Amis (Ian West/PA)

His best-known works included the novels Money and London Fields, and he was longlisted twice for the Booker Prize.

Born in Oxford in 1949, Amis was the son of the late Booker Prize-winning writer Sir Kingsley Amis, who also died aged 73 in 1995, and Hilary Ann Bardwell.

He was educated at schools in the UK, Spain and the US before later graduating from Exeter College at Oxford University where he read English.

In 1973, he published his first novel aged 24, The Rachel Papers, while working as an editorial assistant at the Times Literary Supplement.

He joined the New Statesman as their literary editor at age 27 and was appointed as a professor of creative writing at the University of Manchester in 2007, before stepping down in 2011.

In his work he explored current events and the contemporary world as well as key periods in history, notably the Holocaust, which he wrote about in novels such as Times Arrow and The Zone Of Interest.

Times Arrow was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, while his 2003 novel Yellow Dog was also longlisted.

He was also awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his memoir Experience.

Amis death in late May 2023 prompted tributes from fellow authors, as well as other high profile figures including Rev Richard Coles, professor Brian Cox and former prime minister Boris Johnson.

His publisher Vintage Books described him as stylist supreme and said it had been a profound privilege and pleasure to have worked with him.

Amis is survived by his wife, writer Isabel Fonseca, and his children Louis, Jacob, Fernanda, Clio and Delilah.
The new leader of Plaid Cymru is to be officially announced at a press conference on Friday.

Rhun ap Iorwerth, who represents Ynys Mon (Anglesey) in the Senedd, is expected to be named as successor.

It follows the resignation of Adam Price last month after a report found a culture of sexual harassment, bullying and misogyny and made 82 recommendations to detoxify the party.

Llyr Gruffydd, who was unanimously voted in my members to be interim leader, said he would use his short time in office to begin introducing the recommendations of the review.

Mr ap Iorwerth, a former BBC journalist who was deputy leader under Mr Price, announced his candidacy in a video on Twitter saying the party finds itself at a crossroads and faces serious challenges but that Wales was on a journey to independence.

He added: Now is the time to unite Plaid Cymru so we can lead the work of building a new future for Wales.

Born in South Wales, Mr ap Iorwerth grew up on Anglesey and was educated at Ysgol David Hughes and later Cardiff University, where he graduated in Politics and Welsh.

He is a fluent Welsh speaker and is married with three children.

Nominations for leader are due to close on Friday morning before a meeting is held at St Davids Hotel in Cardiff Bay where the new head of the party is expected to deliver a speech.

Mr Prices predecessor, Leanne Wood, has publicly said she believes the next leader should be a woman, claiming they would be better placed to deal with issues of misogyny.

However, early in the race two of Mr ap Iorwerths potential competitors, Sioned Williams and Sian Gwenllian, announced they would not be standing.
A Qatari national convicted over the death of young British woman Raffy Tsakanika in a hit-and-run crash did serve his two-month prison sentence, officials from the Gulf state have claimed.

The Foreign Office (FCDO) said in an email to the spokesperson for Ms Tsakanikas family that it hoped this written confirmation from Qatar offered some reassurance that the sentence has been served.

An FCDO official said they were aware the family regard the sentence as completely inadequate.

Ms Tsakanikas parents do not believe a word of the Qatari authorities claim that the Qatari national served his sentence, her familys spokesperson said.

The FCDO said it has relayed a request from the family for any available CCTV footage from the crash to Qatar but has yet to get a response.

At a UK inquest last year, a coroner criticised Qatari authorities for the lack of information provided.

West End make-up artist Rafaelle Tsakanika was killed by teacher Mubarak Al Hajri in a high speed hit-and-run crash near Doha on March 30 2019 (Family handout/PA)

Ms Tsakanika, 21, from Cambridge, died after the car she was a passenger in was hit from behind by a second vehicle near Doha in March 2019.

The second vehicle, which was speeding, caused the first to lose control and overturn on the four-lane carriageway and did not stop at the scene.

The driver of the second vehicle, Qatari national Mubarak Al Hajri, was sentenced in his home country to two months in prison and ordered to pay compensation to Ms Tsakanikas family.

Last years inquest was told speed cameras caught Al Hajris car apparently undamaged shortly before the crash and damaged shortly afterwards, but these images were not provided to the UK coroner by Qatari authorities.

The FCDO said it received confirmation in writing from the Qatari authorities that Al Hajri served his sentence.

The statement from the Qatari authorities reads: In reference to the British Embassys request for a written confirmation that Mr Mubarak Rashid Saad Al Khayareen Al Hajri has served his prison sentence.

Kindly be informed that the competent authorities stated that the aforementioned executed the sentence issued against him (imprisonment for a period of two months and a fine of thirty thousand riyals (6,400)) by detaining him from the date of June 17 2021 until the date of August 12 2021.

Radd Seiger, spokesperson for Ms Tsakanikas family, urged the FCDO to use their diplomatic muscle to extract the information the coroner needs.

He said: At Raffys inquest, the coroner was scathing in his condemnation of the Qataris for failing to hand key documents and CCTV footage to him for his inquiry.

One would have thought ministers at the FCDO would have taken note of that and stepped in to insist that their counterparts in Doha stepped up to the plate.

Raffys parents have waited patiently for that to happen for months, only to be told now that the junior department at the FCDO, the consular division, are themselves now trying to seek the documents from the Qataris, who have consistently ignored all previous requests from the consular division.

We have accordingly once again asked for a meeting with senior officials at the FCDO so that they can look their own citizens in the eye and explain to them now that at long last they are going to use their diplomatic muscle to extract the information the coroner needs and to give the answers the family need in order to help them move forward following this desperately sad tragedy, which between them the Qatari and British authorities have compounded.

He said there must also be a full inquiry into this case as to what has gone so badly wrong and what is going to be done to ensure there is no repeat.

The FCDO has been approached for comment.
Tension escalates in N. Syria as Russia speaks about roadmap to normalize Syria-Turkiye ties

Xinhua) 09:41, June 16, 2023

DAMASCUS, June 15 (Xinhua)-- Tension has been escalating in northern Syria between Turkish forces and Kurdish militants as Russia speaks about a roadmap to restore Syria-Turkiye ties.

Tension has been brewing over the last three weeks in areas east of the Euphrates, which are largely controlled by the Kurdish militia. Turkish drones intensified attacks on fighters of the Kurdish People's Protection Units, which are the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Both are regarded as terrorist groups by Turkiye.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Thursday that the Turkish drone attacks on the Kurdish military sites in the countryside of the northern province of Aleppo intensified on Wednesday, with seven rounds of attacks targeting four SDF sites.

The war monitor said Russian and Turkish military units met early Thursday and decided to cancel a joint patrol near Kurdish-controlled areas in Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah due to the current escalation of tension.

In tandem with the situation on the ground, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov told reporters on Wednesday in Moscow that the draft roadmap for normalizing relations between Ankara and Damascus, proposed by Moscow, is now ready, according to Russian News Agency TASS.

"Our next task is to discuss it with our partners and progress further in this work. Hopefully, the Astana meeting will enable us to make major progress," said Bogdanov, referring to the meeting in the Kazakh capital of Astana on June 21, which will be attended by deputy foreign ministers of Russia, Syria, Turkiye, and Iran.

On May 10, foreign ministers of the four countries met in Moscow and agreed to prepare a roadmap for streamlining relations between Damascus and Ankara.

In an interview with Syria's pro-government al-Watan newspaper earlier this week, Alexander Efimov, the Russian ambassador to Syria, lauded the progress made in restoring Syrian-Turkish relations.

"The results achieved so far are positive. The road, regardless of its length, always begins with the first step, and this step is often the most difficult and most important (one)," he said, pointing out "the transition of Syria and Turkiye to direct public contacts after more than 10 years of frozen bilateral relations is in itself a great success."

Before Russia announced the readiness of the roadmap, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Monday during a meeting with a visiting Iranian official that Syria's main goals in the upcoming Syria-Turkiye normalization talks are Turkish withdrawal from Syrian territory and the fight against terrorism, Syria's state news agency SANA reported.

Both Iran and Russia have been mediating talks to normalize relations between Syria and Turkiye recently, arranging several meetings on the level of defense ministers and foreign ministers.

Since late last year when Russia and Iran were paving the way for the Syria-Turkiye negotiations, the Syrian government has prioritized the withdrawal of the Turkish forces from Syria as a prerequisite for normalization of its ties with Turkiye.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun)
A 93-year-old school crossing patrol officer in Northern Ireland who has been awarded the British Empire Medal has said she has no intention of retiring.

Veronica Hammersley said she was so shocked when she received the letter informing her of the honour that she originally thought it was a scam.

Mrs Hammersley, who has been helping children cross the road at Glengormley Integrated Primary School for 32 years, is recognised for her services to the community.

She said she continues to do the job because she loves the children and they love me.

Veronica Hammersley said she loves the children she works with (Liam McBurney/PA)

She told the PA news agency: I love my job, I really do enjoy it.

Ive never really regretted getting up in the morning to come to work.

You get the feeling that you are not wasting your day or your time. Each day when the children say thank you for helping them across the road, you appreciate that.

When you get a little three-year-old boy bringing you a paper bag with a bun in it for my tea, when you go home you really feel that they love you.

Children are sensitive and they do understand a lot more than you think. They would say if they like you or they didnt like you, but all my little ones, I love them and they love me.

Mrs Hammersley retired early from her first career in the civil service when her husband was diagnosed with cancer. After he died, she decided to look for a new job.

She said: I had worked in an office and I didnt want to be in an office anymore. I wanted out in the fresh air. When you are out here you are more or less your own boss.

I looked in the papers to see what jobs there were. I wanted something out in the open and something which didnt require a lot of paperwork.

Asked if she had ever considered retiring from her present role, Mrs Hammersley said: No I havent, I really havent.

I do get great pleasure out of it. Look at the people you meet every day.

I am very particular when they (cars) come flying up here. I step out onto the middle of the road, I dont care whether they like it or not, and I put my hand up and my stick and I see the children across. I am there for the children, not to entertain cars.

My job is to ensure they get home safely to their mammies and daddies, that is my job.

On receiving the BEM she said: It is a great honour. I never thought of getting an award.

I didnt even believe the letter when I saw it, I thought it was one of those scams you see on TV.

It is an honour, they just dont hand them out to anyone.

Veronica Hammersley said she has never considered retiring (Liam McBurney/PA)

Nigel Arnold, principal of Glengormley Integrated PS, nominated Mrs Hammersley for the honour, along with a local councillor and a parent.

He said: She has been a wonderful member of our staff in the school here for 32 years now.

She was here long before I started.

I see her every morning, she is out there rain, hail or shine at the junction crossing children and families, both from our school and other schools.

She is a warm, caring lady and a real pillar of society in our community at the heart of Glengormley.
Serial killer Levi Bellfield is to be allowed to marry after prison officials accepted there is no way to stop him under current laws.

Bellfield, 55, who is serving two whole life orders for killing 13-year-old Milly Dowler, Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange, as well as the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy, applied to marry his girlfriend and made a bid for legal aid to challenge a decision to block his marriage.

The Sun reports he has won a bid to be granted up to 30,000 in legal aid after his lawyers cited the European Convention on Human Rights and the 1983 Marriage Act.

It comes after Bellfield threatened legal action to get married after proposing during one of her visits.

Bellfield also claimed to have been the victim of discrimination after officers banned him from wearing an engagement ring, the paper reports.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: Under current laws there are no legal routes to block this marriage and we recognise the pain and anger this outcome will bring to his victims families.

It is what has driven our plans to stop prisoners on whole life orders from marrying in prison through our new Victims and Prisoners Bill  ensuring this never happens again.

The government has been trying to block the release of dangerous prisoners and ban criminals serving whole life orders from marrying behind bars under plans to overhaul the parole system.

Plans, unveiled in March, included the prospect of prisoners serving whole life orders  where the offender spends the rest of their life behind bars apart from in exceptional circumstances  being barred from marrying or forming a civil partnership in jail.

The then-Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said: There is a history of vulnerable women who have become pen pals with serial killers or particularly nasty offenders who get into relationships and then there is an issue around marriage.

Were doing this as a safeguarding issue but also as a public confidence in the justice system issue.

Amelie Delagrange, left, and Amanda (known as Milly) Dowler, centre, and Marsha McDonnell, right (Family handouts/PA)

Mr Raab told MPs that public protection would be the exclusive focus of the Parole Board decision-making process under new reforms.

Upon receiving Bellfields application for marriage in 2022, Mr Raab said: What I can tell you is it is inconceivable that the prison or the Ministry of Justice would authorise that marriage unless the very significant concerns about the safeguarding were addressed.

Bellfield received a whole life sentence for the murder of Marsha McDonnell, 19, in 2003, Amelie Delagrange, 22, and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy, 18, in 2004.

He was already serving his sentence when he went on trial for killing schoolgirl Milly, who was snatched from the street walking home from school in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in March 2002.

He was found guilty of abducting and killing the 13-year-old following a trial at the Old Bailey in 2011.

More than 60 criminals are believed to be currently serving whole life orders.
Sir Ben Okri says to be honoured means helping the human race to be better and more civilised after being made a Knight Bachelor.

The renowned Nigerian-born writer and cultural activist, considered to be one of the foremost African authors in the post-modern and post-colonial traditions, said he was delighted by the honour.

His best-known work includes The Famished Road novel trilogy, the first of which  The Famished Road  won the Booker Prize in 1991.

Sir Ben has been made Knight Bachelor in the Kings Birthday honours for services to literature, having previously been made OBE in 2001.

Sir Ben Okri (Jeff Spicer/PA)

Im delighted to be given this honour. I think of the illustrious writers who have preceded me and the gifted writers to come, he said, in a statement shared with the PA news agency.

The writer does not write for honours but for truth, the mysterious truth of the human condition.

For me the main value of this honour at this moment is necessity to remind my fellow human beings that we are living on the cusp of a world wide environmental crisis.

If we dont do something radical about it now, within ten years nothing will be the same.

Art is a reminder that the human destiny has to go upwards. This is the moment to reverse our backward thinking and create a new future.

If being honoured means anything it means helping the human race to be better, more civilised, more beautiful.

Sir Ben was born in Nigeria and came to England as a child, growing up in London, but later returned to his home country with his parents on the eve of the Nigerian civil war  which had a defining impact on his life.

Originally set for a career as a scientist, he found his true vocation in writing and began producing poetry and articles about the living conditions in the slums of Lagos.

He then turned his hand to short stories and eventually what was to become his first novel, Flowers And Shadows in 1980, two years after he returned to London.

Over the next decade, despite a period of homelessness, he wrote a second novel and two collections of short stories.

His most well-known and successful novel, The Famished Road, was published in 1991 and was awarded the prestigious Booker Prize.

The book was the first Booker Prize winner to go straight to number one in the paperback bestseller lists and has been highly influential in the decades since its release.

The Famished Road is the first book in The Famished Road Trilogy, which also includes Songs of Enchantment and Infinite Riches.

Despite his success as a novelist, Sir Ben thinks of himself primarily as a poet having produced multiple collections.

In 2009 he invented a new form called a Stoku, a cross between a short story and Haiku, which first displayed in his book Tales of Freedom, now re-titled The Comic Destiny.

Sir Ben was made a CBE in 2001 (Astley Galloway/PA)

Sir Ben is also an influential essayist and has written multiple film scripts and plays.

He was a Fellow Commoner in creative arts at Trinity College, Cambridge from 2001 to 2003 and is an honorary Fellow at Mansfield College, Oxford.

In 2019, Sir Bens novel Astonishing the Gods, first published in 1995, was selected as one of the BBCs 100 novels that shaped our world.

Other writers to be recognised on the Kings birthday honours list include William Dalrymple and Sally Magnusson.

Historian, author and art curator Dalrymple was made CBE for services to literature and the arts.

Broadcaster and author Magnusson was made an MBE for services to people with dementia and their carers.
The SNP has urged Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross to grow a backbone and whip MPs to vote in favour of sanctions against Boris Johnson.

The former prime minister was found by the Privileges Committee to have knowingly misled Parliament in his denials of partygate, with the panel recommending a 90-day suspension, had he not already stepped down as an MP.

Mr Johnson, the committee said, should also not receive a pass for the Parliamentary estate, as is the usual custom for ex-MPs.

Mhairi Black urged Douglas Ross to whip Scottish Tory MPs to vote in favour of Boris Johnsons punishment (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA)

Mr Ross, who sits as an MP as well as an MSP, has been criticised for his stance on Mr Johnson, after being one of the first senior party members to call for his resignation over parties held during the pandemic.

He subsequently rescinded those calls after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but eventually voted against the then prime minister in a confidence vote which precipitated his departure.

The SNPs deputy Westminster leader Mhairi Black sought to use the sanctions to attack Mr Ross, calling on him to whip Scottish Tory MPs to vote in favour of the punishment.

It is not clear what power, if any, Mr Ross has to instruct Scottish MPs on their vote in the Commons and it has been reported that all Tory members have been allowed a single line whip by the party, meaning they do not have to vote.

Ms Black said: Douglas Ross must finally grow a backbone and whip his MPs to vote for tough sanctions against his disgraced former leader Boris Johnson.

Its well known that Mr Ross lacks authority with Scottish Tory MSPs and MPs, who are discontent with his poor leadership.

He might be desperate to avoid a leadership challenge but failing to whip his MPs will only make him look even weaker.

Mr Ross cant hide from the fact that he and his Tory colleagues put a serial liar into Number 10  and repeatedly backed Johnson, despite all the damage he inflicted on Scotland.

The SNP MP went further, calling on Mr Ross to back the scrapping of Mr Johnsons resignation honours list, the cancelling of his allowance offered to former prime ministers, and the recouping of legal fees incurred.

Johnson might have left Parliament but the toxic legacy of Westminster continues  with yet another out of touch Tory prime minister imposing Brexit, cuts and attacks on Scottish devolution, she added.

A spokesman for the Scottish Tories said: Douglas has made his views clear and will vote in favour of the committees findings. As its a free vote, its up to other MPs how they choose to vote.

SNP MPs should look to their own party in Holyrood, where MSPs are being forced to back Nicola Sturgeon.
Sunak agonises over whether to condemn Johnson over partygate lies report

Rishi Sunak is still agonising over the investigation that found Boris Johnson lied to MPs with his partygate denials as the former prime ministers allies attacked the damning report.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister will study the report closely but Downing Street was refusing to say whether he will vote to approve it in the Commons on Monday.

The Privileges Committee report recommended that Mr Johnson should have faced a 90-day suspension had he not already resigned in advance of its judgment.

Though he cannot now serve that, the cross-party group of MPs also recommended that he should be banned from holding a pass to access Parliament for a series of offences.

Tory MPs will be given a free vote, but allies of Mr Johnson warned they could face battles with their local parties to remain as candidates at the next election if they back the motion.

However, Mr Johnson was privately urging his supporters not to oppose it, arguing the sanctions has no practical effect. He was aware that he would get his pass back if re-elected as an MP.

Mr Sunak will be wary of angering his predecessors remaining fanbase in the Tory party, but will also want to avoid allegations that he is too weak to stand up to Mr Johnson.

Senior Conservative MP Damian Green told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that deliberately abstaining is not really rising to the importance of the occasion.

The former de facto deputy prime minister said he intends to vote to approve the report with a heavy heart.

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former Cabinet minister who is a staunch ally of Mr Johnson, told LBC he believes Mr Sunak will abstain on the basis that it is a parliamentary matter.

He described the 90-day recommendation for Mr Johnson as vindictive and suggested the severity may have helped his return, rather than hindered it.

Liz Truss, who spent 49 days in No 10 after succeeding Mr Johnson as Tory leader, told GB News that preventing him holding a parliamentary pass would be a very harsh decision.

But she is not expected to vote on the report, with a source close to the MP pointing to her speaking at an event in Dublin on Monday morning.

Sir Jake Berry, a former Tory party chairman who is a close ally of Mr Johnson, conceded he was almost certain that Parliament will vote in favour of the report.

But he told ITVs Good Morning Britain he will certainly be one of those in the no lobby opposing this report, because I think both the conclusions and, to some extent, the way the committee was made up in terms of this report are wrong.

A welcome distraction between meetings First day of an Ashes series is always a bit special. Exciting first session  good luck to @benstokes38 and the team for this afternoon  pic.twitter.com/R47vOUsYbe  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) June 16, 2023

Despite the Privilege Committees report being published early on Thursday, Downing Street said Mr Sunak hasnt fully had time to consider the report.

The Prime Minister takes these processes very seriously, which is why he intends to take the time to study the report closely, a spokesman added.

The sanctions proposed by the Tory-majority committee are expected to pass, with only a relatively small group of Johnson loyalists set to oppose the reports findings.

Mr Sunak will be hosting a foreign leader in No 10 on Monday, which could give him an excuse not to take part.

After an erudite new columnist who will be required reading in Westminster was billed to begin in the Daily Mail on Saturday, the PA news agency was told it will be Mr Johnson, as widely anticipated.

Mail unveils Boris Johnson as our new columnist https://t.co/BV0kXCgFNx pic.twitter.com/0Cy9kiDcrF  Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) June 16, 2023

The role will give Mr Johnson, who used to receive a 275,000 salary to write for the Telegraph, a powerful platform to take shots at the Prime Minister with whom he has been publicly clashing.

But Mr Johnson could again find himself under scrutiny, if confirmed, after the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) said he had not applied for clearance.

Former ministers who have left the Government in the last two years must apply to the anti-corruption watchdog before taking up a new appointment or role.

Chairman Lord Eric Pickles, a Tory peer, will be writing to Mr Johnson to seek clarification on whether he is taking the job.

An Acoba spokeswoman told PA: We havent had an application and we will be writing to Mr Johnson.

A source close to Mr Johnson insisted he had written to the committee, but would not say when the letter was sent.

Mr Johnsons exit from Parliament has also left Mr Sunak facing a tricky by-election in Uxbridge and South Ruislip on July 20, with Labour hopeful of gaining the west London seat.

Another by-election on the same date, triggered by Tory Nigel Adams who was denied a peerage in Mr Johnsons resignation honours list, will take place in Selby and Ainsty.

Nadine Dorries, who had also announced she was going to resign, is staying on while she seeks to investigate how she was denied a seat in the Lords (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/PA)

Former Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries, who had also announced she was going to resign, is staying on while she seeks to investigate how she was denied a seat in the Lords as part of the former prime ministers honours list.

She warned that any Tory MPs who endorsed the Privileges Committees report on Monday were not true Conservatives and would be held to account by members and the public.

Deselections may follow. Its serious, she said.

The committee found Mr Johnson deliberately misled the House with his partygate denials before being complicit in a campaign of abuse and intimidation against the MPs investigating him.

Branding him the first former prime minister to have ever lied to the Commons, the Privileges Committee said the offences merited a 90-day suspension which would have paved the way for a by-election if he had not preemptively resigned in protest.

Mr Johnson was furious at what he called a deranged conclusion, claiming the 14-month investigation had delivered what is intended to be the final knife-thrust in a protracted political assassination.

The committee, comprised of four Tories, two Labour MPs, and one from the SNP, found many aspects of Mr Johnsons defence were not credible, allowing them to conclude he intended to mislead MPs.
Sunak could be spared challenging vote after Johnson calls off supporters

Rishi Sunak may be spared a vote that could enflame the row in the Tory party after Boris Johnson called his supporters off from opposing the investigation that found he lied to MPs over partygate.

The Prime Minister was agonising over his response to the damning Privileges Committee report which will be debated in the Commons on Monday as he seeks to unite his fractious Conservatives.

The report recommended that Mr Johnson should have faced a 90-day suspension had he not already resigned in advance of its judgment.

Though he cannot now serve that, the cross-party group of MPs also recommended that he should be banned from holding a pass to access Parliament for a series of offences.

Tory MPs will be given a free vote, but allies of Mr Johnson warned they could face battles with their local parties to remain as candidates at the next election if they back the motion.

However, Mr Johnson was privately urging his supporters not to oppose it, arguing the sanctions have no practical effect. He was aware that he would get his pass back if re-elected as an MP.

If the report is not opposed then it could just be nodded through the Commons, saving Mr Sunak from having to chose between further riling Mr Johnson by backing it, voting against the report and risking public anger, or avoiding the action altogether and facing allegations of being weak.

Labour and other opposition parties could try to force a vote in order to push Tory MPs into putting on record whether they support or oppose the report.

The sanctions proposed by the Tory-majority committee are expected to pass regardless, with only a relatively small group of Johnson loyalists who would oppose the reports findings.

Senior Conservative MP Damian Green told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that deliberately abstaining is not really rising to the importance of the occasion.

The former de facto deputy prime minister said he intends to vote to approve the report with a heavy heart.

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former Cabinet minister who is a staunch ally of Mr Johnson, told LBC he believes Mr Sunak will abstain on the basis that it is a parliamentary matter.

He described the 90-day recommendation for Mr Johnson as vindictive and suggested the severity may have helped his return, rather than hindered it.

Liz Truss, who spent 49 days in No 10 after succeeding Mr Johnson as Tory leader, told GB News that preventing him holding a parliamentary pass would be a very harsh decision.

A welcome distraction between meetings First day of an Ashes series is always a bit special. Exciting first session  good luck to @benstokes38 and the team for this afternoon  pic.twitter.com/R47vOUsYbe  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) June 16, 2023

But she is not expected to vote on the report, with a source close to the MP pointing to her speaking at an event in Dublin on Monday morning.

Sir Jake Berry, a former Tory party chairman who is a close ally of Mr Johnson, conceded he was almost certain that Parliament will vote in favour of the report.

But he told ITVs Good Morning Britain he will certainly be one of those in the no lobby opposing this report, because I think both the conclusions and, to some extent, the way the committee was made up in terms of this report are wrong.

Despite the Privilege Committees report being published early on Thursday, Downing Street said Mr Sunak hasnt fully had time to consider the report.

The Prime Minister takes these processes very seriously, which is why he intends to take the time to study the report closely, a spokesman added.

The sanctions proposed by the Tory-majority committee are expected to pass, with only a relatively small group of Johnson loyalists set to oppose the reports findings.

Mr Sunak will be hosting a foreign leader in No 10 on Monday, which could give him an excuse not to take part.

On Friday the Daily Mail announced that its erudite new columnist who will be required reading in Westminster will be Mr Johnson.

Mail unveils Boris Johnson as our new columnist https://t.co/BV0kXCgFNx pic.twitter.com/0Cy9kiDcrF  Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) June 16, 2023

The role will give Mr Johnson, who used to receive a 275,000 salary to write for the Telegraph, a powerful platform to take shots at the Prime Minister with whom he has been publicly clashing.

But Mr Johnson was accused of committing a clear breach of the rules by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) by only seeking advice half an hour before the announcement.

Former ministers who have left the Government in the last two years must apply to the anti-corruption watchdog for advice before taking up a new appointment or role.

An Acoba spokeswoman told the PA news agency: An application received 30 mins before an appointment is announced is a clear breach.

We have written to Mr Johnson for an explanation and will publish correspondence in due course, in line with our policy of transparency.

Mr Johnsons exit from Parliament has also left Mr Sunak facing a tricky by-election in Uxbridge and South Ruislip on July 20, with Labour hopeful of gaining the west London seat.

Another by-election on the same date, triggered by Tory Nigel Adams who was denied a peerage in Mr Johnsons resignation honours list, will take place in Selby and Ainsty.

Nadine Dorries, who had also announced she was going to resign, is staying on while she seeks to investigate how she was denied a seat in the Lords (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/PA)

Former Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries, who had also announced she was going to resign, is staying on while she seeks to investigate how she was denied a seat in the Lords as part of the former prime ministers honours list.

She warned that any Tory MPs who endorsed the Privileges Committees report were not true Conservatives and would be held to account by members and the public.

Deselections may follow. Its serious, she said.

The committee found Mr Johnson deliberately misled the House with his partygate denials before being complicit in a campaign of abuse and intimidation against the MPs investigating him.

Branding him the first former prime minister to have ever lied to the Commons, the Privileges Committee said the offences merited a 90-day suspension which would have paved the way for a by-election if he had not preemptively resigned in protest.

Mr Johnson was furious at what he called a deranged conclusion, claiming the 14-month investigation had delivered what is intended to be the final knife-thrust in a protracted political assassination.

The committee, made up of four Tories, two Labour MPs, and one from the SNP, found many aspects of Mr Johnsons defence were not credible, allowing them to conclude he intended to mislead MPs.
Fresh thunderstorm warnings have been issued across the UK as temperatures could reach 27C or 28C this weekend.

Parts of the UK could face train and bus delays and there is a slight chance some communities may be cut off by flooded roads as warmer humid air causes storms to develop, the Met Office has warned.

Some areas could be battered with up to 30mm of rainfall in an hour on Sunday and the Met Office has issued a yellow thunderstorm warning across most of England and Wales for the whole day.

(PA Graphics)

Homes and businesses could also be flooded quickly and buildings could be damaged from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds.

Met Office spokesperson Oli Claydon said: Within that warning area, we can expect thunderstorms to develop and see up to 30 millimetres of rain in an hour, potentially 60 millimetres of rain over six hours.

Mixed in with the thunderstorms, we could see frequent lightning, strong winds and potentially hail developing as well.

People enjoy the hot weather at Malham Cove, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, on Friday (Danny Lawson/PA)

As we get to Monday, those heavier thundery showers are more confined to the far north-east of the UK as they continue to move northwards overnight.

By the time we get to Monday, its more of a day of sunshine and showers for much of the UK.

But the heavy showers may be good news for hayfever sufferers.

Mr Claydon said: One of the benefits of the showers coming is that it can help to lower the pollen count, as it brings it out of the atmosphere.

If you've got outdoor plans this weekend, then make sure you know what the weather will throw at you  Here's an overview of what to expect  pic.twitter.com/tBNT9pqWqz  Met Office (@metoffice) June 16, 2023

So we do start to see the very high (pollen count) disappearing through the weekend.

There will be a trend away from hot conditions as less settled weather comes in over the weekend, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) website.

Daytime temperatures are expected to drop but it could be more humid, according to the UKHSA and nighttime temperatures could go up.
Youngest person honoured says charity can start at any age

The youngest person recognised in the Kings Birthday Honours has said his amazing gong shows charity can start at any age.

Junior Jay Frood, 18, from Merseyside, has received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to vulnerable children after campaigning against bullying, which he suffered from the age of six due to his love of dancing.

He created the #BoysCanDance anti-bullying social media campaign, backed by well-known figures including Diversitys Ashley Banjo, which led to him being invited to Downing Street to talk to MPs.

Mr Frood told the PA news agency: I feel really grateful and thankful. It shows how much my voice is being heard and Im being heard from other people, and I really appreciate it because its a big honour and Im really grateful to receive it.

Junior Jay Frood created the #BoysCanDance anti-bullying social media campaign

I was bullied from a young age, just because I was a dancer, and people didnt agree with it, but I carried on because it was my dream to be a dancer.

And I wanted to help other people who were feeling the same way as I did, and experienced the same thing I had as well, so I created #BoysCanDance.

Its been really nice to speak to people and see their experiences and connect. Ive raised money for various charities through dancing, through busking and dancing at events and stuff like that.

The student has supported musical artists such as Justin Bieber and Little Mix, and has performed at the Royal Albert Hall and on the West End stage.

Since the age of 10 Mr Frood has raised more than 300,000 for anti-bullying causes.

He added: It feels really amazing and good because it shows no matter how young you are you can receive this award.

You can start from any age helping other people and helping the community.
Humza Yousaf has dismissed claims that Scottish ministers make foreign government officials uncomfortable when discussing constitutional issues.

The First Minister said discussions are quite the opposite to what was claimed by Scottish Secretary Alister Jack earlier this week amid a row over foreign affairs.

The UK Government has instructed officials to ensure its representatives are present for talks between Scottish ministers and overseas governments, with Mr Jack telling the Scottish Affairs Committee on Monday that foreign ambassadors find it uncomfortable when issues like independence are tabled.

But speaking at the British-Irish Council summit in Jersey on Friday, the First Minister said that was not the characterisation that I would use by any stretch of the imagination, quite the opposite.

He added: Whenever Im engaged with foreign governments, ambassadors, with ministers, with heads of state, theres been a really warm approach to Scotland.

I think for me, its so important that when we are here on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, we remind ourselves of the importance of devolution, but also, frankly, the fragility of devolution.

Mr Yousaf met with the heads of states of Wales, Ireland and the Channel Island nations, as well as Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, at the summit.

His conversations with the UK Government minister, he said, were robust in relation to his concerns about the erosion of devolution.

But he added: I think its really important that we keep the engagement, the dialogue going, but Michael certainly knows my reservations and my concerns around the pattern of behaviour that we have seen recently around the erosion of devolution.

Humza Yousaf, second right, attended the talks alongside the leaders of Wales, Ireland and the Channel Islands (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Mr Gove sat beside Mr Yousaf, who was attending his first British-Irish Council summit, during a press conference following the talks.

Asked whether the pair had a chance to resolve the conflict between the two governments, Mr Gove said: We didnt touch on that issue, but we had an informal chat within ourselves and we had a chance to talk one-on-one this morning.

The First Minister brought up a number of issues, and I think its fair to say that both of us, both governments, are committed to working together in the interests of the people of Scotland.

He acknowledged there are issues of contention which Im very happy to defend issue by issue wherever possible.

Following the press conference, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford told the PA news agency that his Government has in the last four years seen continual incursions into responsibilities that lie at the devolved level.

The Welsh Labour leader added: You see the UK Government wanting to claw back powers, claw back money, take responsibility for things which they have no constitutional responsibility, and we badly need to reset that relationship.
Sarah Kim



"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



Every year, it gets more and more difficult to formulate a recommended reading list of fantastic must-read books by queer authors because these days, there are so many queer authors publishing fantastic must-read books. A champagne problem if there ever was one. But for Esquire, I have done my damndest as a Pride Month gift to you all. Youre welcome.

Below, I present twenty of my favorite LGBTQ books published this year thus far, in order of publication date. The list includes some of the usual talented suspects, some exciting debuts, and even a celebrity memoir, covering an array of genres and narrative styles, from intelligent nonfiction to supremely inventive novels to super sexy poetry (though, I might argue, all poetry is sexy). This summer is the perfect time to catch up on whichever of these titles youve yet to read, and/or recommend the ones you have to friends. Happy reading and happy Pride Month to all!

(This list will be updated in the future with more luminous queer books published in the latter half of 2023.)

I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself, by Marisa Crane

In the world of Exoskeletons, the Department of Balance attaches extra Shadows to societys wrongdoers as a mark of their crime and a signal to the rest of respectable society. Even under constant surveillance, the darkly comic narrator Krisaddressing her late wife Beau (the mail makes me crywho gave businesses permission to print your name?), who died in childbirth with their baby (a sophisticated potato)reaches for lifes quotidian pleasures born of caring for a family built by choice.

Shop Now I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself, by Marisa Crane $26.80 amazon.com

Endpapers, by Jennifer Savran Kelly

Dawna bookbinder at the Met and a nonbinary artist, dragged toward the two poles of the gender spectrum by the people in her lifefinds a love letter written in German on the back of a lesbian pulp novel. She searches for the letters writer: a woman named Gertrude, who escaped Nazi Germany and made a home in the US. Endpapers is something of a queer period piece, chronicling events in mid-20th-century America under McCarthyism as well as post-9/11 New York Cityboth eras that didnt yet have the wealth of queer language we have now.

Shop Now Endpapers, by Jennifer Savran Kelly $17.09 amazon.com

Couplets: A Love Story, by Maggie Millner

If you think you dont like poetry, then read this stunning book, written mostly in rhyming couplets, and youll realize youve loved poetry all alongyou just hadnt yet read the work of Maggie Millner. Its a classic love story: girl has boyfriend, girl meets another woman, girl rediscovers herself (but, of course, as the books speaker says, I became myself. / No, I was always myself. / Theres no such person as myself.), all told in roughly 100 pages, perfect for an afternoon. Trusted lover beside you reading their own copy of Couplets recommended, but not required.

Shop Now Couplets: A Love Story, by Maggie Millner $19.00 amazon.com

Your Driver Is Waiting, by Priya Guns

Damania Tamil immigrant and a driver for the fictional rideshare company called, well, RideShareis drawn to a woman named Jolenewhite, wealthy, and well-meaningwho climbs into her car on one fateful day. What follows challenges everything Damani knows about sex, politics, and power. Rest assured, this electric novel is fiercer and funnier than Taxi Driver, the classic Scorsese film that inspired it. Damani may be one to always pick fight over flight, but Priya Gunss debut novel is ready for a quick getawayits engine is always running.

Shop Now Your Driver Is Waiting, by Priya Guns $21.36 amazon.com

Confidence, by Rafael Frumkin

We devour scammer stories (see: Inventing Anna, The Dropout) because they bring the hubris and comeuppance that make for delicious drama, and Rafael Frumkins queer grifter novel is as delectable as they come. As a teen, tiny Ezra is busted for selling fake drugs (in reality: crushed Sudafed mixed with salt) and sent to a correctional camp where he meets charismatic Orson. Con after fantastic con, their relationship buildssexually, romantically, and otherwisein this The Talented Mr. Ripley meets Thelma and Louise of a showstopper.

Shop Now Confidence, by Rafael Frumkin $22.18 amazon.com

Flux, by Jinwoo Chong

The elevator pitch for this book, I know, sounds rather like someone threw darts at Post-Its on a wall, took whatever prompts they landed onspeculative fiction, neo-noir, time travel, themes of grief and trauma, and three Korean Americans with names beginning with B, just to name a fewgave them to the uber-talented writer Jinwoo Chong, and said, Go. And go he did. As Chongs characters intersect through time and space, both style and substance pour out of the seams of this striking debut novel.

Shop Now Flux, by Jinwoo Chong $20.40 amazon.com

The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag, by Sasha Velour

Look, Im not exaggerating when I say: this book is a work of genius. Sasha Velour, known to most as the winner of the ninth season of RuPauls Drag Race, deftly splices her insightful words and vivid illustrations (Velour holds a masters degree in cartooning) with candid memoir and academic theory to produce this engaging entry into the literary queer canon. It offers glimpses into whats behind the smokes and mirrors of her life as a drag performer, and honorswith evident love for and knowledge ofthe queer histories that have made present-day (and future) drag possible.

Shop Now The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag, by Sasha Velour $35.77 amazon.com

Is It Hot in Here (Or Am I Suffering for All Eternity for the Sins I Committed on Earth)?, by Zach Zimmerman

I have a soft spot for books of essays by queer comedians (see: the works of Isaac Oliver, Ryan OConnell, et al.) because the writing is often so unforcedjokes and hijinks-y anecdotes and stories of queer trauma are delivered so easily that youre happy to be crying one moment and guffawing the next. All that to say: Zach Zimmermans debut covers all those bases and more as they write about their evolution from conservative, Southern Baptist carnivore to gay vegetarian atheist. Look forward to the TV adaptation.

Shop Now Is It Hot in Here (Or Am I Suffering for All Eternity for the Sins I Committed on Earth)?, by Zach Zimmerman $14.73 amazon.com

Homebodies, by Tembe Denton-Hurst

This debut novels protagonist, Mickey, is a queer Black woman living the life in New York City, with a dream job in digital media and a loving steady girlfriend, but all of it is upended when she learns she is being replaced at work. When she goes home to Maryland, she reconnects with an old flame. Plotwise, it could hit too close to home for many of us as queer folks of color working in this industry, but Tembe Denton-Hursts masterful command of the narrativeclassical in its shape, contemporary in its texturesmakes this sparkling story shine all the more.

Shop Now Homebodies, by Tembe Denton-Hurst $27.00 amazon.com

Boyslut, by Zachary Zane

Its refreshing to read Zachary Zanes debut book, a memoir-cum-manifesto, in which he argues that, in much of American culture, sex-negativity is pervasive, insidious, and touches us alland not in a fun, kinky way. By taking himself for his subject and dissecting the ways that bisexuality, polyamory, and perhaps failed notions of masculinity have shaped his life, Zane (a sex columnist for magazines like Mens Health and Cosmopolitan) makes sexual candor radical again. Read an interview between the author and Esquire here.

Shop Now Boyslut, by Zachary Zane $22.68 amazon.com

The New Masculinity, by Alex Manley

Truly, masculinity is the thesis topic du jour, and for good reason. Masculinity is at what feels like a crisis point, decrees the nonbinary writer Alex Manley. As a longtime editor at the website AskMen, they have been a scholar of the unfairer sex for about a decade. In their latest book of nonfiction, they pull out all the stops. In a narrative voice at once astute and accessible, Manley blends memoir and research to offer a recalibration of what manhood can and should look like today and in the future.

Shop Now The New Masculinity, by Alex Manley $19.95 amazon.com

Dykette, by Jenny Fran Davis

Sasha and Jesse, a lesbian couple, meet Jules and Miranda, a wealthy lesbian couple. (Insert we liked your vibes joke here.) The latter invites the former to their house in the country, alongside another couple: Jesses bestie Lou and Lous lover Darcy. During the getaway, jealousies arise, confessions are made, rage is unleashed; each couples future is determined in the ten days covered by this finely paced and expertly observed novel. Its sexy and terrifying, hilarious and unrestrained. This book is a lesbian fantasia on Brooklynite themes.

Shop Now Dykette, by Jenny Fran Davis $23.18 amazon.com

Quietly Hostile, by Samantha Irby

Samantha Irbys unapologetic blend of cynicism, earnestness, and salt has, in my humble opinion, solidified her status as one of our eras most memorable humorists. In this latest book of essays, now her fourth, she never misses a comic beat, and rarely lets a line go unpunched. Yet its the slower moments in between (describing the death of her mother, chronicling quotidian life as Covid-19 descended upon the US, etc.) that offer the most clarifying honestyfiltered deliciously, as ever, through Irbys signature sardonics. Let there one day be a Sam Irby box set. Read an interview between the author and Esquire here.

Shop Now Quietly Hostile, by Samantha Irby $12.99 amazon.com

The Late Americans, by Brandon Taylor

It truly feels like I cant write one of these lists if I cant include the latest work by the legend-in-the-making Brandon Taylor. This triumph of a second novel returns the reader to a prestigious campus in the American midwest and features a rotating cast of studentspainters and dancers and musiciansall trying to make art in an age when everything is falling apart. In short: its a perfect read for our times. Read an interview between the author and Esquire here.

Shop Now The Late Americans, by Brandon Taylor $23.84 amazon.com

The Male Gazed, by Manuel Betancourt

In this memoir-in-essays, Manuel Betancourt turns the male gaze onto masculinity itself, deconstructing it through the lens of what hes watched on his screenswhether its thirst traps, telenovelas, or Antonio Banderasas a queer Colombian man and a film critic. This book is filled with incisive thinking, both academic and personal, all woven wonderfully together. If I may quote myself from the blurb I wrote for the book: Betancourt is a dream criticas in, a fabulous scholar of dreams, of the desirous imagination. Read an interview between the author and Esquire here.

Shop Now The Male Gazed, by Manuel Betancourt $23.40 amazon.com

Lesbian Love Story, by Amelia Possanza

This books subtitle is a memoir in archives, and its exhilarating to read Amelia Possanza connect her personal journey as a lesbian in 2023 with stories of lesbian love throughout history: from drag kings in Bushwick, to lesbian caretakers in the AIDS crisis, to Sappho in classical Greece. Her skillful storytelling makes the past feel present as she tells of the first women at the Olympics and Harlems Black lesbians in the early 20th century. Possanza writes that she has fallen in love thrice in her life: first, with water; then stories; then lesbians. That love, here, sings.

Shop Now Lesbian Love Story, by Amelia Possanza $23.19 amazon.com

The Celebrants, by Steven Rowley

Five friendsNaomi, Craig, Marielle, Jordan, and Jordan (Jordy to differentiate from the other)regularly reconvene to throw each others funerals, as in: to celebrate each others lives even as they live. But someones dire personal news threatens to unravel everything, not least of all their joint promise to live well and together. This novel is a newly-minted New York Times bestsellerand for good reason. Its Steven Rowleys sharpest work to date, which is saying something, as his bibliography includes modern queer favorites like The Editor and The Guncle.

Shop Now The Celebrants, by Steven Rowley $20.99 amazon.com

Horse Barbie, by Geena Rocero

Trans activist, director, model, hostthe list goes on for Geena Rocero, and with this memoir, she can add brilliant writer to her CV. Her voice rings warm with a hard-won edge as she traces her journey from the streets of Manila, where her transness was hypervisible as a pageant queen; to the music videos and magazine covers of New York City, where she went stealth to develop her modeling career; to the TED Talk stage in 2013, when she came out to the wider world as trans. This book is another milestone for Rocero, and a must-read for all.

Shop Now Horse Barbie, by Geena Rocero $23.84 amazon.com

Pageboy, by Elliot Page

As in Roceros memoir, Elliot Page chronicles the tension between hypervisibility and being fully seenin Pages life, against the context of being one of the most recognizable actors and trans people in Hollywood. Pages writing is straightforward and to-the-point, perhaps necessitated by the pace and tumult of celebrity life. Theres lots of juicy material in the book (secret kisses and showmances abound), but its this prevailing sense of assurance and confidence in Pages voice that makes one of the years most anticipated titles worth the wait.

Shop Now Pageboy, by Elliot Page $19.00 amazon.com

Leg: The Story of a Limb and the Boy Who Grew from It, by Greg Marshall

True story: one page into Leg, I was already cackling. Two pages into Leg, I was sobbing with abandon. In this heartfelt debut memoir, Greg Marshall tells his story of coming out twice: first, as a gay man; second, as a man with cerebral palsya diagnosis that his family kept from him since birth. Throughout the book, Marshall unflinchingly looks at queerness, disability, illness, and family through the lens of his own queer, disabled, ill family with great aplomb. This marvelous book will stick with me for a very long time.

Shop Now Leg: The Story of a Limb and the Boy Who Grew from It, by Greg Marshall $25.20 amazon.com

You Might Also Like
French President Emmanuel Macron said he would meet with Tesla CEO Elon Musk Friday to promote his country as a possible site for a future European factory. The meeting would be the second time both men would meet after a similar meet-up last month.

France has been courting Tesla and Chinese EV giant BYD to build factories in the country. But according to Reuters, it would be a cross-Pyrenees competition as Spain also convinced Tesla to do so.

"I'm going (into that meeting) with an agenda," Macron told reporters at the VivaTech summit in Paris. "We're going to talk about artificial intelligence, in which he is involved, social media, regulation framework...And then I'll also talk to him about cars and batteries to promote French and European attractiveness."

Musk will also visit the VivaTech Summit on Friday.

Read Also: Alleged Tesla Spain Factory Could Cost Over $4 Billion

Musk to Meet Meloni in Rome

Aside from France, Musk was also in Rome to meet with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni late Thursday. According to the Italian government, the conversation would center around the low birth rate in Italy, the issue of deregulation in the European Union, and the risks related to the use of AI.

Musk earlier met with former Italian minister Antonio Tajani for a brief talk Thursday morning on the automotive and aerospace sectors. "[We are ready] to collaborate on the challenges of our time, such as cybersecurity," he tweeted in Italian.

Related Article: Will Tesla Giga France Arrive? French President to Meet With Elon Musk
At least three people were killed and more than 50 others were injured Thursday when a tornado struck the Texas Panhandle city of Perryton, officials said.

The tornado hit Perryton, which has a population of around 8,500, around 5:10 p.m., said Trent Hoffeditz, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Amarillo.

Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher said three people have been confirmed dead. A trailer park took a direct hit, he said.

The tornado caused "a lot of damage," especially to mobile homes and businesses, Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard told NBC affiliate KAMR of Amarillo.

Perryton Texas Tornado (David Erickson / AP)

It basically came across the city of Perryton from the northwest to the southeast, he told the station.

Two people were missing, he said.

Ochiltree General Hospital, which is in Perryton, said it had over 50 patients.

Injuries ranged from cuts and bruises to those more severe, and several patients in critical condition were transported to other hospitals, hospital spokesperson Amie Marrufo said.

Bouchard said about 56 people were treated at the hospital and released.

Video from a bystander showed damage in downtown Perryton, broken-off trees and damaged and destroyed homes, as well as at least one overturned truck.

A severe weather event in Perryton, Texas, on June 15, 2023. (Courtesy Malissa Thomas)

"Please keep the Perryton community in your prayers," state Rep. Four Price, who represents the area, said on social media.

"Many structures are damaged," Price said.

Power was out in the city, but generators were keeping water service operating, Mayor Kerry Symons said.

Gov. Greg Abbott said he directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to send help, including road crews and engineers.

"We remain ready to quickly provide any additional resources needed over the course of this severe weather event," Abbott said in a statement. "I ask all Texans to join Cecilia and me in praying for our fellow Texans who have been impacted by this horrific storm. Stay safe, Texas.

Two Texas urban search and rescue groups, Texas A&M Task Force 1 and Task Force 2, were being sent to the area under the direction of the state Division of Emergency Management, Texas A&M spokesperson Merribeth Kahlich said.

Damage due to severe weather in Perryton, Texas on June 15, 2023. (Courtesy Balko Fire and Rescue)

Forecasters believe a tornado struck the city based on video and photos. Its strength wont be known until damage surveys are done, Hoffeditz said.

The National Weather Service had issued a tornado warning for Perryton, and it later said a tornado had been confirmed north of the town.

Emergency managers and other officials in Hansford County, which is adjacent to Ochiltree County, where Perryton is, were paged, and they prepared to respond to a mass casualty or recovery event, said Hansford County Judge, or chief executive, Tim Glass.

The sheriff's office in nearby Hutchinson County was among the agencies that said they were traveling to the Perryton area to assist. The sheriff's office said on Facebook it was "a devastating tornado."

It was an unusually wet May in the Texas Panhandle, and moisture instability and lift helped create conditions for a thunderstorm, Hoffeditz said. An upper-level system also played a role.

"The environment was just primed for one to occur," Hoffeditz said. "Its just unfortunate it hit a populated area like Perryton."

The tornado was reported Thursday as tornado watches covered northern and central Texas and a large part of Oklahoma because of severe weather moving through the region, according to the weather service.

By Thursday night, storms had left the Panhandle, the weather service in Amarillo said. Tornado watches remained for part of Texas that included the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Damage surveys will be conducted to determine the strength of the tornado and its rating on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, Hoffeditz said.
A date night turned lucky when a woman played the North Carolina lottery.

Klarissa Stevens was moved to tears when she discovered the ticket she bought was worth $100,000. Now, the Raleigh resident said she plans to put some of her winnings toward a new car.

We wont be a single-car household anymore, Stevens told the N.C. Education Lottery in a June 16 news release.

Stevens hit the jackpot the same night she and her boyfriend went to the movies. After the date, she reportedly went to a Sheetz convenience store to get an energy drink.

While at the Raleigh convenience store, officials said Stevens claimed some smaller prizes and also decided to try her luck on some new lottery tickets, including one for the $5,000,000 Ultimate scratch-off game.

After spending $30 to buy a ticket, Stevens checked to see how she fared. It felt like with each stroke of the scratch-off, she revealed a bigger and bigger prize, officials said.

I cried, Stevens told the N.C. Education Lottery.

Stevens kept $71,259 after taxes. In addition to getting a car, she said she plans to pay bills and save money.

Its not the first time a prize has brought a lottery player to tears. In South Carolina, a man said he cried like a baby after he won $3 million, McClatchy News reported in March.

Contractor tries his luck on NC lottery ticket. Prize left him at a loss for words

Fiance promised a dream wedding  now it can happen thanks to big NC lottery win
Tom Sandoval is clarifying what he meant by his controversial comment about ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix keeping a t-shirt on during sex.

I think people added their own context to it, the TomTom cofounder, 40, told TMZ of the remark on Wednesday, June 14, adding that hes never body-shamed Ariana ever.

Ariana Madix Epic Clapback Sandoval Dig Vanderpump Rules Cast Reacts

Read article

He continued: It had nothing to do with her body or anything. It had to do with someone being very unenthusiastic.  Like, if somebody wanted to have sex with me and I just unzipped my zipper and said, like, Oh, hurry up, I gotta meet somebody for lunch. It was more about the unenthusiasm.

Sandoval made the comment in question during part 3 of the Vanderpump Rules season 10 reunion, which aired earlier this month. When Ariana, 37, pointed out that she and her then-boyfriend had sex after hed already begun his months-long affair with Raquel Leviss, the Missouri native sarcastically shot back, She kept her T-shirt on. It was really hot.

Tommy Garcia/Bravo; Nicole Weingart/Bravo

The dig about his sex life with Ariana  whom he dated for nine years until they called it quits in March amid the cheating scandal  prompted backlash from Sandovals costars and fans of the Bravo series. James Kennedy and Ariana both called the comment disgusting while Andy Cohen visibly cringed. Tom Schwartz, for his part, lowered his head and said, Dont say that, dude. Dont say that.

Lala Kent shared her feelings on the matter during a Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen appearance that aired directly after the final part of the reunion. The t-shirt comment made me feel sick to my stomach, the Give Them Lala podcaster, 32, said.

Cohen, 55, also weighed in on the eyebrow-raising remark during an episode of his Andy Cohen Live radio show. I think there are a lot of people with body issues, the talk show host said. And by the way, Ariana herself in past seasons of Vanderpump Rules has talked about not feeling good about her body, so to weaponize that  it was so cringey.

Vanderpump Rules' Moments That Didn't Age Well Before Tom, Raquel's Affair Scandal

Read article

Ariana, for her part, hasnt let the low blow keep her down. The Florida native took to Instagram as the reunion episode was airing to drop a shirt that reads: Fk Me in This T-Shirt. The top is being sold through her and Katie Maloneys sandwich shop, Something About Her, for $34.99. (Something About Her is set to open this summer).

In addition to commenting on the T-shirt debacle, Sandoval gave TMZ his reaction to Schwartzs recent comments about permanently stepping back from the cheating scandal drama.

During the Monday, June 12, episode of Stars on Mars, Schwartz, 40, revealed how his business partners affair with Leviss, 28, negatively impacted his own life.

[Sandoval] had a torrid affair. Its horrible and I feel complicit because I didnt cover for him, but I had his back. He came to me and confided in me that he was in love with someone else, Schwartz said. Ultimately, thats his life. I did not have an affair. I am not him. And its just so strange that Ive been absolutely mired in this.

Every Cheating Accusation That Rocked Vanderpump Rules Over the Years

Read article

While many believed that the Minnesota native was implying that he wanted to take a step back from his friendship with his Schwartz & Sandys cofounder, Sandoval told TMZ on Wednesday that Schwartz wasnt insinuating that hes cutting his business partner and longtime friend out of his life. He said hes indefinitely over talking about Scandoval. Not Sandoval, Scandoval, he emphasized.

The Tom Sandoval & the Most Extras musician added that he has no idea when Leviss will be getting out of the mental health treatment facility she checked herself into in April.

Sign up for Us Weekly's free, daily newsletter and never miss breaking news or exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more!

I just dont wanna comment on anything with her. Id let her tell her own story when shes ready, he said of the former pageant queen.
I first met my wife, Victoria, at a bar in New York Citys West Village on a night out with friends. I had zero expectations of how the night would go, but my life was forever changed when I saw Vic. Within minutes of striking up a conversation, we exchanged stories about our families and relationship histories and confessed that the bar scene wasnt either of our favorites. Five days later, we were on our first date. The rest, as they say, is history. Our relationship was meant to be.

But as a gay couple, we have faced many unique challenges that have interfered with our love story. On one of our first dates, we were kicked out of an Uber because I kissed her. The driver said, No, no no, women shouldnt kiss, and then asked us to leave the car. The fact that this happened early on was an ominous sign of struggle wed face throughout our relationship.

Shortly after that, while walking down the street holding hands, a man looked us up and down, sneered, and shouted loud enough for the entire island of Manhattan to hear: Find husbands!

Since I present as femme, whenever I spoke about my relationship at work coworkers instantly assumed that I was in a relationship with a male. Whos the lucky guy? When can we meet him? Youre the only girl in the city who is actually happy with her boyfriend! When I informed them that I was in a relationship with a woman, I was often met with bumbling apologies and looks of exasperation. I then felt like it was my responsibility to make them feel better for their snap judgment of my sexuality.

Even though I know deep down this burden shouldnt fall on me, these frequent occurrences often left me wondering what I could improve upon to avoid others rapid assumptions of me. Today, I find myself searching for a moment to insert the phrase my wife or my partner, Victoria to avoid having to correct people or suffer through awkward apologies. This is also my way of normalizing same-sex marriages in conversation.

Luckily, others perceptions of us didnt do anything to take away from our personal happiness. A few years after that serendipitous night at the bar, Victoria proposed with a beautiful engagement ring, and both of our hearts were singing. (Cue this reaction, on repeat: He did a great job picking out that ring!)

Our joy was slightly tempered when we realized that getting married as a same-sex couple wasnt going to be as simple as we assumed, even in 2023. Ahead of a much-anticipated vacation in Greece, we were told not to mention our engagement while we were there. We wanted to be married in Mykonos (Victoria is Greek), but many people suggested that some might not approve of a same-sex couple overseas. This was a sad revelation for us, but luckily we found that there were venues in Greece that did not frown on our union.

Ivanka + Victoria (Melissa Khaki / Courtesy Melissa Anne Photography)

We soon discovered that the wedding industry in general remains very old-school in its values. Throughout our wedding planning process, we had to laboriously look for vendors and venues that would support LGBTQ+ couples. Victoria and I emailed photographers for estimates and in each query we would add a line to be sure they would be comfortable photographing a gay wedding. Vendors go as far as to distinguish themselves as LGBTQ+ friendly on websites like The Knot so that couples dont get disappointed being turned away if that isnt the case. This burden adds an extra hurdle to an already long planning process that most straight couples dont have to endure.

After jumping through hoops to make arrangements for a beautiful wedding in Greece in 2020, we had to cancel our nuptials due to the pandemic. We decided to say our vows at Town Hall in New York City instead, and rescheduled a ceremony in Santa Barbara, California, in June 2023, Pride Month.

However, wedding planning in Santa Barbara still had some hiccups. One of our first assignments from our DJ was to fill out music selections, including for the first dance and father-daughter dance. The document was labeled for the groom and bride. Of course, with two brides, this caused confusion! A week before the wedding, we realized that because the document was gendered, the father-daughter dance songs had been mixed up. This could have been avoided had we received a more inclusive document. Instead of bride and groom, perhaps spouse 1 and spouse 2, or just include our names.

Ivanka + Victoria (Melissa Khaki / Courtesy Melissa Anne Photography)

Getting married in June, during Pride, carried much significance to us both. While planning our wedding showed us that the world still has a long way to go to fully embrace the LGBTQ+ community, we were elated that we would be able to celebrate our love in front of our family and friends and honor the progress weve made, embracing how far weve come.

And so, surrounded by our families and many members of our support system, we celebrated our love on June 4 (also, my birthday!), now the happiest day of our lives. Though we had already officially tied the knot at Town Hall back in New York, our wedding ceremony in California was at the heart of the marriage. The pronouncement of us being wives and declaring our love and exchanging vows publicly and gave us a memory well cherish forever. Vic and I are also aware of how fortunate we are to have parents, siblings, extended family and friends who are supportive, loving and full of pride! Our community is incredible.

People in queer relationships possess a unique, special bond with each other: We are all fighting for acceptance and for our love to be recognized equally in the world. Finding the right person can present many challenges, but in a society that still lacks justice for marginalized people, finding that special someone can be even harder for LGBTQ couples. As a queer person, finding love often means finding a safe space that provides comfort and support. Our love is invaluable in that way.

Much has changed since Vic and I started planning our wedding in 2019, for better and for worse. But this Pride, we publicly pledged our love. To us, it was also a vow to our community to continue to fight for our rights and spread awareness for equality. We hope for an even safer and more accepting future for LGBTQ+ people and that our love for one another serves as a symbol of hope for all.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans in the U.S House of Representatives on Thursday adopted government spending targets for the next fiscal year below the level agreed by Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Democratic President Joe Biden, setting up a fight with the Democratic-led Senate that could again risk a government shutdown.

The House Appropriations Committee voted 33-27 along party lines to adopt a discretionary spending level of $1.47 trillion for fiscal year 2024, which starts on Oct. 1.

That is about $120 billion below the $1.59 trillion set out in the debt ceiling bill negotiated by Biden and McCarthy.

The targets would maintain defense spending at the $866 billion level agreed in the debt ceiling legislation. But the plan would slash spending for the environment, public assistance and foreign aid.

It would also increase spending for border security, drug enforcement and countering China.

Democrats say that the lower levels renege on the debt-ceiling agreement. Republicans counter that the deal only capped spending.

"The debt ceiling bill set a ceiling, not a floor, for fiscal year 2024 bills. The allocations before us reflect the change members on my side of the aisle want to see," said Appropriations Committee chair Kay Granger.

Congress will try to pass 12 appropriations bills before October, covering everything from law enforcement to scientific research.

On Wednesday, the panel adopted a bill that would cut spending on agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration by 30% from current levels.

Republicans on the committee unveiled another bill for energy and water development that Democrats said cuts spending on domestic programs like green energy incentives by 22%.

Democrats also objected to policies that Republicans attached to the spending bills, such as one that would prevent an abortion drug from being distributed through pharmacies.

Lower spending levels could make it harder for the House to reach agreement with the Democratic-led Senate.

Federal agencies could have to shut down if the two chambers are unable to agree to spending levels by October.

"They're moving toward a shutdown. That's what they seem to want to guarantee," Representative Rosa DeLauro, the top House Democratic appropriator, told Reuters.

Republican Representative Steve Womack also expressed concern about a shutdown. "I worry about what's going to happen on Oct. 1," he said.

(This story has been refiled to remove the duplicate words 'of Representatives' in paragraph 2)

(Reporting by David Morgan; editing by Andy Sullivan and Alistair Bell)
A former Georgia firefighter with a genuine heart died trying to save struggling swimmers off the Florida coast, officials said.

Richie Alford is being hailed as a true hero after the ill-fated rescue attempt, which left his onetime colleagues devastated and heartbroken.

Until 2021, Alford worked for Fire and Emergency Services in Banks County, Georgia. The department, based roughly 75 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta, said it lost a friend and brother not just a coworker.

Richie died doing what he loved which was helping others in their time of need, officials wrote June 15 in a Facebook post. He is a true hero.

Alford died in Panama City Beach, Florida, WANF and WAGA reported. While visiting the Gulf Coast town with his wife, the 51-year-old reportedly helped two swimmers caught in a rip current but didnt make it back to shore.

Georgia firefighters are mourning the loss of Alford, who they said kept close ties to their department even after leaving it to work for his glass business. He is remembered as a selfless person with a genuine heart.

From catching an alligator to passing out shoeboxes to the citizens of the local nursing homes, Richie cared about everyone and wanted to help anyone he possibly could, no matter what or how, his former department told McClatchy News in an email. He was such a loving, caring individual.

After Georgia firefighters shared the news of Alfords death, Panama City Beach Fire Rescue joined dozens of Facebook users in expressing their condolences online.

What is a rip current?

Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water that happen on the coasts of the U.S. and in the Great Lakes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

About 100 people are killed by rip currents each year in the U.S., NOAA reported. Lifeguards rescue thousands of people from rip currents annually.

Experts say people can take steps to stay safe from rip currents, including:

Check the local water conditions before getting in.

Talk to a lifeguard at the beach about the conditions.

Only swim at beaches where lifeguards are present.

Dont assume great weather means good swimming conditions.

Grandpa falls face first into pool  then fearless 10-year-old steps in, GA cops say

Tourist dies after vanishing in surf at popular South Carolina beach, officials say
A Sedgwick County judge on Thursday sentenced a former Wichita Public Schools middle school teacher to 5 years, 8 months in prison for sexually abusing one of her seventh-grade students in 2018 and 2019.

Christin N. Covel pleaded no contest in February to two counts of aggravated indecent solicitation of a child. Authorities have said Covel groomed and molested the then 13-year-old girl in her classroom at Mead Middle School, 2601 E. Skinner, during and after school and on at least one field trip.

She also swapped nearly 10,000 Snapchat messages with the girl, whom she viewed as her lover, according to a probable cause affidavit released by the court.

In one message, Covel appeared to guilt the girl for spending time with a boy, writing: you spending time with him. Hugging him. Kissing him. Sending him stuff. Recess. Lunch. Classes. Forgetting about me. Wanting him. Not wanting me.

I was 13. I didnt deserve that, the girl wrote in a statement read aloud in court Thursday.

Ill never be the way I used to be.

The girls parents declined to speak at Covels sentencing hearing.

Covel, 33, offered an apology for the pain that I caused and the trauma that I caused when it was her turn to address the court.

She told the judge she tried to created a safe environment for students when she was a teacher but was struggling with low confidence and self-esteem when she molested the girl.

I am very scared of going to prison, she said.

Covel was arrested last year after the girl talked about the abuse in a therapy session when she was 16, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Covel worked at Mead Middle School from 2015 until July 2020. She was teaching at Thomas Edison Preparatory Middle & High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when authorities arrested her in January 2022.

Prosecutors originally charged Covel with three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child under 14 and one count of unlawful sexual relations. An aggravated indecent liberties conviction could have landed her in prison for life.

Instead, shell serve the 68-month sentence and then be subject to lifetime post-release supervision. The prison portion of her sentence can be reduced by up to 15% for good behavior.

Judge Seth Rundle ordered Covel, who now lives in Oklahoma, to surrender to the Sedgwick County Jail by 9 a.m. Monday. She has been free on bond since shortly after her arrest.

Covels lawyer had asked Rundle to place her on probation for three years instead of imposing a prison sentence, saying she attends weekly therapy sessions, is very remorseful and has to some degree already been punished because she can no longer teach.

But the judge refused, noting that in his view the prison term was not only an appropriate punishment in this case but also acts as a general deterrent for teachers and other adults who might think of abusing a child.

The sentence Rundle handed down follows recommendations from prosecutors in Covels plea agreement.
OPINION: Black literature serves as a testament to the resilience and triumphs of a people who have endured the harshest of adversities throughout history. By banning Black books, society risks depriving future generations of opportunities to understand diverse perspectives.

Editors note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the authors own. Read more opinions on theGrio.

As we approach Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people of African descent in the United States, it is important for us to reflect upon and celebrate the profound significance of Black literacy and literature to the freedom of Black people and our society. We have all witnessed recent efforts to ban books and literary works that present the stories of African-American people and marginalized communities in America and that challenge white-American supremacy  the latest absurdity being the banning of Amanda Gormans The Hill We Climb in Florida public schools. This superficial yet harmful act of censorship not only erodes our shared heritage but also threatens the fundamental principles of freedom and diversity upon which our society is built.

As a Black poet, my career has been dedicated to sharing our stories through poetry and to preserving and promoting the works of Black writers and authors. Together, the entire poetry community shares stories about our collective history, inspiring creativity, and providing a platform for under-heard and unacknowledged voices in American culture and letters.

It is perhaps not widely known, but African-Americans were the only people in the United States ever explicitly forbidden to become literate  a consequence of the dehumanizing cruelties of slavery. Learning to read and write was a critical step for newly freed slaves as they sought to secure their freedom and build new lives. The quest for basic and greater literacy, previously denied, allowed them to communicate with each other more openly, understand their legal rights, and engage with society at large. Many former slaves recognized the importance of education and saw it as a pathway to social and economic mobility and empowerment.

Black literature serves as a testament to the resilience and triumphs of a people who have endured the harshest of adversities throughout history. From the narratives of former slaves to the voices of contemporary authors, these literary works provide invaluable insights into the experiences, struggles, and aspirations of Black individuals and communities. By banning books, particularly those by Black authors, society risks silencing these voices, depriving future generations of opportunities to understand and empathize with the diverse perspectives that have shaped our society.

Amanda Darrow, director of youth, family and education programs at the Utah Pride Center, poses with books, including The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison, that have been the subject of complaints from parents, on Dec. 16, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

Literature, as a powerful vehicle of expression, challenges societal norms, breaks down barriers, and fosters meaningful dialogue. Books by Black authors and Black literary organizations such as Cave Canem, the Furious Flower Poetry Center, the Hurston/Wright Foundation, Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora, and The Watering Hole, have historically played a crucial role in social justice movements, shedding light on issues of systemic racism, inequality, and injusticewhile remaining largely underfunded and underresourced.

These organizations have also birthed literary communities  such as Kundiman, In-Na-Po and CantoMundo  that cultivate Asian American, Indigenous Nations, and Latinx poets and writers. By suppressing these narratives, we stifle the progress that comes from confronting uncomfortable truths, hindering our collective growth as a society.

The efforts to ban books and literature by Black authors are not only detrimental to our democratic understanding of history but also undermine the creativity and freedom of expression essential to our cultural fabric. Literature is a medium that allows us to explore diverse perspectives, question our assumptions, and imagine a more inclusive world. By attempting to control or erase narratives that do not align with a particular agenda and ideology, we limit the possibilities for intellectual growth and restrict the richness of our literary landscape.

Black literature expands our understanding of humanity and fosters empathy by presenting characters and stories that reflect the complexities of our individual and collective lived experiences. It allows readers, regardless of their background, to engage with narratives, which transcend racial boundaries and connect with universal themes of love, struggle, and identity. By embracing the works of Black writers and poets as well as other minorities, we invite a broader, more inclusive literary canon that promotes diversity and encourages dialogue among different cultures and communities.

The works of our writers serve as an affirmation of identity for people of African descent, offering a sense of belonging and empowerment. It is through literature that young readers, particularly those from marginalized communities, find solace, inspiration, and hope. When we ban books, we deny these young minds the opportunity to see themselves reflected in the literary landscape, perpetuating a cycle of erasure and exclusion.

Juneteenth provides us with an occasion to celebrate emancipation from hundreds of years of enslavement and violent oppression and to reflect upon the progress we have made as a republic. However, in this years celebration, we must acknowledge even more stridently than before that Black literacy and literature play an integral role in shaping our collective memory and understanding. We must actively advocate for our literary voices to remain present and steadfast in our culture and resist any and all attempts to suppress them. By preserving, promoting, and protecting the works of Black writers, we honor their contributions to our shared cultural heritage and ensure that their voices continue to inspire and enlighten generations to come, and last but not least, strengthen our societys constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression.

Rita Dove is a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and author. In 1995, Dove became the first African American and the youngest person to be appointed Poet Laureate of the United States. During her tenure, she actively promoted poetry in American society and encouraged a new generation of poets. Her contribution to literature, particularly American poetry, has had an immeasurable impact on the landscape of contemporary literature.

TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today!

The post Juneteenth and why banning Black literature is a threat to our collective American identity appeared first on TheGrio.
(AFP/Getty/Family photo/GoFundMe)

Two Americans who were on vacation in Mexico were found dead in their hotel room on Tuesday, 13 June after apparently being poisoned by an unknown substance.

The couple, identified as 28-year-old Abby Lutz and 41-year-old John Heathco were staying at the luxury hotel Rancho Pescadero in Baja California Sur.

Paramedics were called to the couples hotel room after receiving a report that they were unconscious, according to ABC News.

However, once paramedics checked they determined Lutz and Heathco were unresponsive and did not have vital signs.

Now, Lutzs family is speaking out, believing the two suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Heres everything we know so far.

What happened?

Lutz and Heathco were on vacation together in Baja California Sur, according to a statement in a GoFundMe started by one of Lutzs family members.

The two were staying at the Rancho Pescadero, a luxury hotel and Hyatt property located in El Pescader, approximately 40 miles north of Cabo San Lucas.

Lutz and Heathco began to experience symptoms they thought were consistent with food poisoning and went to the hospital for treatment during the trip, according to Lutzs GoFundMe.

The couple started feeling much better several days later. However, their families received a phone call later saying Lutz and her boyfriend had passed away peacefully in their hotel room in their sleep.

Paramedics in the area responded to a report of two unconscious people in the hotel and arrived around 9pm on Tuesday 13 June.

The Baja California Sur attorney generals office said in a statement that the two died of poisoning by an unknown substance and had no signs of physical violence. They said the two had been dead between 10 and 11 hours by the time they arrived.

Lutzs family said they were told the deaths were due to improper venting of the resort and could be carbon monoxide poisoning.

Henar Gil, the general manager of Rancho Pescadero said in a statement provided to The Independent: We are truly heartbroken by this terrible tragedy. Our hearts are with the impacted families and loved ones during this unimaginable loss.

Local authorities are still actively investigating the situation, and the safety and security of our guests and colleagues remains a top priority, as always. We can confirm there was no evidence of violence related to this situation, and we are not aware of any threat to guests safety or wellbeing, Ms Gil said.

She added We are working to care for those who have been impacted and we are working closely with authorities as they conduct their investigation to understand the cause of death. Further inquiries should be directed to local authorities.

Who are the victims?

The victims are Abby Lutz and John Heathco.

According to the GoFundMe description, they were dating at the time of their deaths.

Lutz, 28, was from Newport Beach, California but grew up in Idaho, her aunt, Karen Lutz, told The Daily Beast.

Abby Lutz (GoFundMe)

According to Karen, Lutz loved travelling and had previously visited Europe, Asia and Mexico.

Abby was supposed to meet up with her dad this week for Fathers Day, the GoFundMe description for Lutz says. Abby was the most beautiful soul and we will miss her so much.

Her family is asking for assistance in bringing her home so they give her a funeral.

Heathco owned a health supplement company in Newport Beach, according to his LinkedIn profile. It is unclear where he is from originally.
At least ten people die after a serious collision between a semi-trailer truck and a Handi-Transit vehicle near Carberry in southwestern Manitoba. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the crash happened on the Trans-Canada Highway 160 km west of Winnipeg. The crash involved multiple casualties, and the responding units included 14 critical care medical crew, two helicopters, and two planes from the STARS air ambulance service. STARS spokesperson Blake Robert said the crash response was one of the service's biggest ever. "This is sort of in line with the similar large incidents that we responded to in the past, such as the tragedy with Humboldt Broncos, the incident in James Smith Cree Nation," he said. Read Also: 2 Americans Found Dead in Mexican Hotel Room

A witness told the Canadian broadcaster CBC that he saw both vehicles burning due to the collision. "I have never seen an accident that big," said John Proven. "It's a little bit shocking."

Manitoba provincial health officials said patients would have to be split into multiple hospitals depending on the severity of individual injuries.

My heart breaks hearing the news of the tragic accident near Carberry. My most sincere condolences go out to all those involved.  Heather Stefanson (@HStefansonMB) June 15, 2023

Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson offered her condolences to the crash victims on Twitter. "My heart breaks hearing the news of the tragic accident near Carberry," she said.

Meanwhile, the RCMP said an investigation into how the collision happened is underway.

This is a developing story. Please check back on HNGN for updates.

Related Article: Australia's Worst Bus Accident Kills 10, Injured 25 in Wedding Party

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Reuters) - A judge in Argentina sent arrest warrants to Interpol for four Lebanese men suspected of involvement in the 1994 truck bomb attack on a Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people, local and international media reported on Thursday.

Federal Judge Daniel Rafecas issued the warrants for the four suspects, three of whom he said were believed to be living in neighbouring Paraguay or Brazil, according to a CNN report.

Refecas, who last October requested the arrest of a senior Iranian official accused of playing a central role in the attack, told the network he suspects the four men worked with the armed wing of Hezbollah, which the U.S. government lists as a terrorist group.

The four suspects are accused of playing a "secondary" logistical role in the bombing, allegedly helping attackers enter the country months earlier, the Clarin newspaper reported.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm the warrants, and neither the government or Interpol immediately responded to requests for comment.

Argentine courts have blamed the attack on Iran. But no one has been brought to trial in either that case or a deadly 1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires. Iran denies playing a role in either attack.

(Reporting by Carolina Pulice; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
WASHINGTON (AP)  Just a year ago, President Joe Biden signed the first significant piece of federal gun safety legislation in nearly three decades.

It was a good start, Biden has said, but it didn't go far enough.

On Friday, the Democratic president will speak at a summit in Connecticut highlighting how the sweeping law has been implemented so far. He'll also use it as a moment to push for universal background checks and the banning of so-called assault weapons. Those are part of a 2024 political platform that was unthinkable to Democrats as recently as Barack Obamas term.

The gathering is being led by U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and major gun safety groups hoping to build on recent progress.

We actually had it wrong for a long time. We left an opportunity on the table for decades, Murphy said of the push for gun safety legislation.

Even before the Sandy Hook massacre in Murphy's state in 2012 spurred him to action, there was a mythology around Democratic election losses that dogged the party following passage of a crime bill in the 1990s  that voters weren't interested in gun safety and it was a losing issue politically. That was just a lie," Murphy said. "But it was a lie the gun lobby did a great job of selling, with some help from Democrats.

Last year's law, signed just weeks after a mass shooting that killed 19 elementary school children and two teachers in Uvalde, toughened background checks for the youngest gun buyers, sought to keep firearms from domestic violence offenders and aimed to help states put in place red flag laws that make it easier for authorities to take weapons away from people adjudged to be dangerous.

There's been success: Stepped-up FBI background checks have blocked more than 200 transactions of attempted purchasers under the age of 21. Prosecutions have increased for unlicensed gun sellers, and new gun trafficking penalties have been charged in more than 100 cases around the country. Prosecutions for those who sell firearms without a license doubled.

Millions of new dollars have flowed into mental health services for children and schools. On Friday, the departments of Health and Human Services and Education sent a joint letter to governors highlighting resources available to them to help support mental health  in particular if a student has been impacted by gun violence.

I think theres no question about it, the passage was a watershed moment, said John Feinblatt, head of Everytown for Gun Safety. The law clearly broke a log jam.

What were really going to do is continue to build on the moment both at the federal and the state level," he said.

Yet since that bill signing last summer, the tally of mass shootings in the United States has only grown. As of Friday, there have been at least 26 mass killings in the U.S. so far in 2023, leaving at least 131 people dead, not including perpetrators who died, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

That puts the country on a faster pace for mass killings than in any other year since 2006, according to the database, which defines a mass killing as one in which four or more people are killed, not including the perpetrator, within a 24-hour period.

Firearms are the No. 1 killer of children in the U.S., and so far this year 85 children younger than 11 have died by guns and 491 between the ages of 12 and 17 have died. As of 2020, the firearm mortality rate for those under age 19 is 5.6 per 100,000. The next comparable is Canada, with 0.08 deaths per 100,000.

Too many schools, too many everyday places have become killing fields in communities across America. And in each place, we hear the same message: Do something. For Gods sake, just do something, Biden said on the anniversary of the Uvalde shooting. We did something afterwards, but not nearly enough.

The president has said he'd like to ban so-called assault weapons, a political term to describe guns most often used in mass shootings with the capacity to kill a lot of people quickly. Still, the idea of further action  or unilateral action by the White House  makes some Republicans who voted for the 2022 gun legislation uneasy.

Im a little apprehensive, said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. I dont want them writing a rule that basically deviates from what weve negotiated or voted on.

After his speech in West Hartford, Biden will head to a fundraiser in tony Greenwich. In the coming days, he will accelerate his campaign travel, making stops in New York, California, Illinois and Maryland before the end of the month.

___

Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday tapped former North Carolina health secretary Mandy Cohen to lead the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an agency that was in the forefront of the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cohen will replace Rochelle Walensky, who is stepping down on June 30 as head of the public health agency, which critics have said was slow to respond to the pandemic.

"Dr. Cohen is one of the nations top physicians and health leaders with experience leading large and complex organizations, and a proven track-record protecting Americans health and safety," Biden said in a statement.

An internal medicine physician, Cohen led the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services from 2017 to 2021.

She is currently executive vice president at Aledade and CEO of Aledade Care Solution, a network of independent primary-care practices.

Cohen previously served as chief operating officer and chief of staff of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. While at CMMS, she served as acting director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight.

Walensky led the CDC for two years while the pandemic was at its height and oversaw a revamp of its structure to enable a nimble response to future pandemics.

She proposed plans to modernize the agency, including giving the CDC the authority to require states to report data, which would require authorization from Congress.

Under her leadership, the agency came under scrutiny by Republicans in Congress as well as public criticism regarding its pandemic response, including late and confusing public health guidance.

(Reporting by Paul Grant; editing by Tim Ahmann)
By Humeyra Pamuk

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken goes to Beijing this weekend with expectations low that he will make headway on the long list of disputes between the United States and China. But he and his Chinese counterparts can achieve at least one thing, say analysts - show that the world's most important bilateral relationship is not about to fall off the rails.

Blinken will hold meetings in China on June 18-19 and may meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, sources said. He will be the highest-ranking U.S. government official to visit China since Biden took office in January 2021.

In a pre-trip briefing on Wednesday, U.S. officials said they have no expectation the trip will yield a breakthrough in how the U.S. and China deal with each other. That followed a tense evening phone call with Blinken on Tuesday during which Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang told the U.S. to stop meddling in China's affairs.

China's foreign ministry followed up on Friday, warning that "vicious competition ... cannot be engaged in" and that the United States "should not fantasise that it is dealing with China from a position of strength."

"This is not so-called responsible competition, but extremely irresponsible hegemonic behaviour which will only push China and the U.S. towards confrontation," foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters.

The visit, which could set the stage for a flurry of other diplomatic engagements including a meeting between Xi and U.S. President Joe Biden later in the year, would show that the two rivals have not given up on diplomacy.

"Both sides want to show the rest of the world that they are managing the relationship responsibly," said Andrew Small, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Funds Asia program.

"For China, the most important audience is the global south. For the U.S., it's partners and allies. So even going through the motions has some utility for both Washington and Beijing."

Bilateral ties have deteriorated across the board, raising concerns that their rivalry could veer into conflict over Taiwan, which China claims as its own. China has been staging regular military drills near the island, including on Sunday.

"Facing the situation in the Taiwan Strait, I have repeatedly stressed that we will not escalate conflicts let alone provoke disputes, but we will firmly defend national sovereignty," Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen told senior naval officers on Friday.

The United States and China are also at odds over issues ranging from trade and microchips to human rights.

Particularly worrisome for China's neighbors has been its reluctance to allow regular military-to-military talks between Beijing and Washington, despite repeated U.S. attempts. U.S. officials said on Wednesday that setting up crisis communication channels to reduce risk was a top priority.

"Anything that would lead to greater cooperation, greater dialogue and a lessening of tensions between Beijing and Washington is to be welcomed," U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Wednesday.

While Blinken's main goal will be "candid, direct and constructive" discussions, the U.S. officials said, breakthroughs are not likely on any major issues, including the flow of fentanyl precursors and Americans detained in China.

EYEING BIDEN-XI MEETING

A meeting on the sidelines of a G20 summit last November in Bali briefly eased fears of a new Cold War, but following the dispute over an alleged Chinese spy balloon in February, high-level communication between the countries has been rare.

Beijing, frustrated by what it sees as the Biden administration's weaponization of economic policies, has sought to expand ties with countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Xi has recently received several European leaders including French President Emanuel Macron and made a diplomatic push to court others, including U.S. ally Saudi Arabia.

U.S. officials expect Blinken's visit will pave the way for more bilateral meetings in the coming months, including possible trips by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

"Beijing agreed to the visit because it seems to be the one thing that is blocking many other things, such as working-level dialogues and the visits by other cabinet members," said Yun Sun, director of the China Program at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington.

Those meetings could lead to one between the countries' leaders when they attend a September G20 meeting in India and the November Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco.

"Xi does want to come to San Francisco," said Sun. "(Aside from) APEC, he also wants a bilateral with Biden. That means the groundwork must be paved starting from now."

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom in Washington and Laurie Chen, Martin Pollard in Beijing, Michelle Nichols in New York and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Don Durfee and Daniel Wallis)
By Steve Scherer

OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canada will bolster its force in Latvia with the deployment of 15 Leopard 2A4M tanks as part of NATO efforts to build a combat-capable brigade in a country that borders with Russia, the defence minister said on Friday.

The Army tank squadron will be fully deployed by the fall, Defence Minister Anita Anand said, speaking to reporters from Brussels.

"This will significantly boost the capabilities of the Canada-led NATO battle group in Latvia, ensuring its continued ability to protect the eastern flank of our alliance," Anand said.

Canada is in the process of increasing its presence in Latvia, where it has 800 members of its armed forces in its largest foreign military deployment. The battle group in Latvia is made up from contributions from 11 nations.

In 2016, NATO decided to increase its military presence in the eastern part of the alliance as a "deterrence and defence posture", citing an "aggressive" Russia. A year ago, Canada, Latvia and their NATO partners agreed to bolster the force to a brigade.

Canada is also working alongside Latvia to train Ukrainian junior officers on intelligence reconnaissance and battle planning.

Canada, which has one of the world's largest Ukrainian diasporas, has been a vocal supporter of Ukraine in its war with Russia, and has supplied military and financial assistance to Kyiv since the invasion in February 2022.

It is also a founding member of NATO. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has visited war-time Kyiv twice, including last week, when he pledged an additional C$500 million ($378.5 million) in new military aid.

"Let me be clear. Canada and all NATO allies will always defend every inch of NATO territory, and we are deploying the necessary capabilities and personnel to make good on that promise," Anand said.

Anand spoke virtually with reporters in Ottawa amid meetings of the alliance's defence ministers in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.

Asked who Canada supported as the new NATO chief, Anand declined to give a name, but she did express confidence in its current leader, Jens Stoltenberg.

Stoltenberg's term has already been prolonged three times, and he is due to step down in September after nine years as secretary-general of the military alliance, which has assumed even greater importance since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"I have full confidence in Secretary General Stoltenberg's leadership," Anand said. "He has been a very steady hand during a time of intensity in Europe and in the global strategic environment."

($1 = 1.3209 Canadian dollars)

(Reporting by Steve Scherer; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
BEIJING (Reuters) -China's President Xi Jinping will meet with Bill Gates in Beijing on Friday, Chinese state media CCTV reported.

The meeting will be Xi's first with a foreign entrepreneur in recent years. He had stopped travelling abroad for nearly three years as China shut its borders during the pandemic. Plans for the meeting were first reported by Reuters.

Since arriving in Beijing for the first time since 2019 on Wednesday, the Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist has given a speech at the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute about the need to use technology to solve global health challenges.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Beijing municipal government, which founded the institute with Tsinghua University, also pledged to each provide $50 million to bolster the institute's drug discovery capacity.

Gates stepped down from Microsoft's board in 2020 to focus on philanthropic works related to global health, education and climate change.

The last reported meeting between Xi and Gates was in 2015, when they met on the sidelines of the Boao forum in Hainan province. In early 2020, Xi wrote a letter to Gates thanking him and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for pledging assistance to China including $5 million for the country's fight against COVID-19.

A number of foreign CEOs have visited China since it reopened early this year but most have mainly met with government ministers.

(Reporting by Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Edwina Gibbs)
Qualin Campbell and wife TaliJa Campbell. (TaliJa Campbell)

A Colorado Springs woman believes her husband may still be alive if police had responded to her call for help.

Qualin Campbell, 31, was found dead in his car this month in Colorado Springs, about an hour after his wife, TaliJa Campbell, said she called police and told them she feared that her husband was in trouble. But she claims they did nothing.

Now, in between planning for a funeral on Saturday and caring for her two young children, Campbell says shes also been forced to fight for answers about what happened and push for accountability for her husband  whose death, she says, could have been prevented.

We dont get to mourn in peace, unfortunately, because of how it happened, Campbell told Yahoo News. Theres nights that Im crying and feeling overwhelmed and sad, but with the process of us trying to get justice for my husband, due to the negligence of the police, I have not been able to really just let it sink in.

What happened?

Campbell said she knew her husband was in danger when she received a text from him just after noon on June 2 with a picture of a man that shed never seen before inside of his car. Two more messages quickly followed from her husband that read 911 and Send please! Qualin Campbell also shared his location.

A desperate text message exchange between the Campbells in Colorado Springs, Colo., on June 2. (TaliJa Campbell via AP)

TaliJa Campbell says she immediately feared her husband could have been kidnapped and called 911 to ask for help, but because she was outside the Colorado Springs city limits, she first received a dispatch person in El Paso County. Realizing the location of the incident, she says, the dispatcher soon patched her through to the Colorado Springs Police Department, which gave her assurance that it was responding to the call.

However, feeling a lack of urgency on the other end of the line, Campbell says she contacted her uncle and drove to Qualin Campbells location, which was 45 minutes away. Upon arrival, she says, she discovered her husband along with the man from the photo.

Both had been shot dead. Qualin Campbell, she said, was slumped over the drivers seat of the car with no pulse.

TaliJa Campbell says officers never responded to her initial call despite the car being less than a mile from police headquarters. About an hour had passed since she placed the 911 call.

We thought we could depend on them when we needed help, she said. Its a basic human right that were able to utilize the emergency services. And we were not granted that that day. They didnt respond to my call whatsoever.

Qualin and TaliJa Campbell. (TaliJa Campbell)

At a press conference last week, Campbell said she attempted to perform CPR to save her husband.

I fell to my knees, and I started screaming, she said. I shouldnt have been the one to have to do that.

On its online blotter, the police department said it found two dead adult males shortly after 2 p.m. June 2 on South Nevada Avenue. But Campbell says this was only after she placed a second call to police, which came after she discovered the bodies.

A spokesman for the Colorado Springs Police Department called Qualin Campbells death a tragedy in a statement to Yahoo News, adding that there is an open and active investigation into what happened.

While we recognize that many members of the community are eager for immediate information, it is our duty to provide the victims family with support and share the details of what we have learned with them before making any public announcement, the statement read in part.

Qualin Campbells death is being investigated as a homicide, according to police. The death of the other man, identified as David Karels, 44, of Colorado Springs, is being investigated as a suicide.

We are seeking transparency

Campbells attorney, Harry Daniels, questions why police did not act sooner.

The question that we posed to them is, What could have possibly taken priority over this response? Daniels told Yahoo News. Especially considering you get 911 calls all day every day in a city like Colorado Springs, which is the second-largest city in the state of Colorado.

Regarding reports that suggest Qualin Campbell was giving the other man a ride and let him in his car willingly, Daniels says, there is no proof of that.

Our goal is to get answers of what was broken down, Daniels said. We are seeking transparency in this matter and accountability as to what happened.

Qualin Campbell and his daughters. (TaliJa Campbell)

TaliJa Campbell, who moved to Colorado Springs with her family less than a year ago, said the most difficult part of the entire ordeal may be how the couples two young daughters, ages 14 and 4, have reacted to the fact that their father is never coming home.

My oldest is old enough to have a phone and shes seen the disturbing images of my husband. So shes been having nightmares, she said. My youngest doesnt fully understand what has occurred, but she does understand that she hasnt seen her dad.

We are just trying to keep him alive for her through his pictures and just tell her that Daddy is a guardian angel watching over us. Its just been very heartbreaking.
The massive federal effort to expand internet access to every home in the U.S. took a major step forward on Friday with the announcement of $930 million in grants to shore up connections in remote parts of Alaska, rural Texas and dozens of other places where significant gaps in connectivity persist.

The so-called middle mile grants, announced by the Department of Commerce, are meant to create large-scale networks that will enable retail broadband providers to link subscribers to the internet. Department officials likened the role of the middle mile  the midsection of the infrastructure necessary to enable internet access, composed of high-capacity fiber lines carrying huge amounts of data at very high speeds  to how the interstate highway system forged connections between communities.

These networks are the workhorses carrying large amounts of data over very long distances, said Mitch Landrieu, the White Houses infrastructure coordinator, in a media Zoom call. Theyre the ones that are bridging the gap between the larger networks and the last mile connections, from tribal lands to underserved rural and remote areas to essential institutions like hospitals, schools, libraries and major businesses.

The grants were awarded to a cross-section of state government agencies, tribal governments and telephone and electric cooperatives. They are intended to trigger the laying of 12,000 miles (19,300 kilometers) of new fiber through 35 states and Puerto Rico.

The largest grant, of nearly $89 million, was awarded to an Alaska-based telecommunications company that hopes to build a fiber network through a remote section of the state where an estimated 55% of people lack access to basic internet.

The expansion is one of several initiatives pushed through Congress by President Joe Biden's administration to expand high-speed internet connectivity to the entire country.

The Middle Mile program is a force multiplier in our efforts to connect everyone in America, Commerce Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson said. These grants will help build the foundation of networks that will in turn connect every home in the country to affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet service.

The grants were set in motion by the $65 billion allocated by Congress for broadband as part of the $1 trillion infrastructure measure Biden, a Democrat, signed into law in 2021. Most of that money, $42.5 billion, will be distributed to states as part of the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment, or BEAD, program partly based on new federal maps identifying areas that arent connected.

States allotments from BEAD are expected to be announced at the end of this month. States will then run their own programs to identify recipients that would then build out last mile networks to unserved communities.

Winners of the middle mile grants announced Friday will have up to five years to complete their projects once they receive those funds, though a one-year extension may be requested under certain conditions.

___

Harjai reported from Los Angeles.
MANDVI, India (AP)  Cyclone Biparjoy knocked out power and threw shipping containers into the sea in western India on Friday before weakening as it headed toward Pakistan, officials said.

More than 180,000 people took shelter in the two countries, but some of Pakistan's evacuees prepared to return home as the storm weakened. Indian officials said electricity had been restored in some villages, while many others were still without power.

The storm's toll was felt especially where it made landfall in India. A man and his son died when they tried to save their livestock in Gujarat state.

The storm had windspeeds of 85 kph (53 mph) and gusting up to 105 kph (65 mph) through the coastal regions of western Gujarat.

The full extent of the damage in western India wasn't immediately known. In addition to the two deaths, 23 people were injured in various areas, officials said. About 100,000 people who were evacuated in western India have been temporarily relocated to relief camps, authorities said.

The storm did other damage upon landfall, including uprooting trees and electricity poles. Officials in the coastal town of Mandvi said heavy winds threw some shipping containers into the sea at the Mundra port, one of India's largest.

Pakistanis were especially on alert after deadly flooding last year. Wind-driven rain pelted southern coastal towns in Pakistan for a second day Friday. The cyclone was expected to cause flash floods in the country's south.

People in that region lined up to receive food donated by charities, aid agencies and local authorities.

Pakistan will decide on Saturday whether displaced people can be allowed to go back.

The storm is expected to weaken first to a cyclonic storm and then to a depression by this evening, a government statement said.

Shakir Din, a fisherman in the coastal town of Badin, said his family and neighbors may soon return home.

The Indian Meteorological Department said Cyclone Biporjoy set a record for the longest lifespan over the Arabian Sea, more than 10 days. Cyclone Kyarr in 2019 had a life of nine days, it said.

The Gujarat government said it deployed 184 rapid action squads to rescue wild animals and clear fallen trees in Gir National Park, home to nearly 700 Asiatic lions.

Pakistans Sindh province experienced one of the country's deadliest floods last summer, partly induced by climate change. At least 1,739 people were killed and 33 million were displaced.

The World Health Organization said Thursday that it was supporting Pakistans efforts to deal with the impact of the cyclone. Pakistans government and local aid groups delivered free food and drinking water to displaced people. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said his government was protecting those in the storm's path.

On Thursday, UNICEF warned that more than 625,000 children were at immediate risk in Pakistan and India.

In Pakistan, Cyclone Biparjoy threatens a new crisis for children and families in Sindh, the province worst affected by last years devastating floods, said Noala Skinner, UNICEFs regional director for South Asia.

A 2021 study found that the frequency, duration and intensity of cyclones in the Arabian Sea increased significantly between 1982 and 2019, and experts say the increase will continue, making preparations for natural disasters more urgent.

___

Munir Ahmed reported from Islamabad. Arasu reported from Bengaluru, India. Associated Press writer Muhammad Farooq contributed to this story from Badin, Pakistan.

___

Follow APs climate change coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment

___

Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
(Photo : Scott Eisen/Getty Images)

A federal grand jury has indicted the Pentagon leak suspect, 21-year-old Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira from Massachusetts of releasing high classified documents.

A federal grand jury indicts Jack Teixeira, the suspect in the leak of Pentagon's highly classified documents

Officials arrested the 21-year-old Air National Guardsman on April 13

The sensitive materials were allegedly shared in a chat room on Discord, a social media platform

A federal grand jury has indicted Pentagon leak suspect Jack Teixeira over his alleged release of highly classified military documents that risks national security.

The 21-year-old Air National Guardsman from Massachusetts faces six counts in the indictment of willful retention and transmission of national defense information. Authorities arrested the suspect on April 13 for sharing highly classified military documents.

Pentagon Leak Suspect Indicted

The materials were about Russia's war in Ukraine and other top national security issues that were supposedly shared in a chat room on Discord, a social media platform. On May 19, 2023, US District Court Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy granted the government's motion for detention, as per Fox News.

In a statement, FBI Director Christopher Wray said that individuals granted security clearances are entrusted with protecting classified information and safeguarding the country's secrets. He added that the allegations against Teixeira have revealed a serious violation of that trust.

Wray noted that the FBI and the agency's partners continue to be firm in their commitment to hold accountable the ones responsible for endangering national security and the security of the United States' allies globally.

The leak exposed secret assessments of Russia's war in Ukraine as well as the capabilities and geopolitical interests of other countries and other national security issues. The order last month to keep Teixeira in official custody was made due to his release potentially posing a risk that he would attempt to flee the country or obstruct justice.

On the other hand, Teixeira's family has expressed its support for the suspect, and the Air National Guardsman's lawyer pressed the judge in the case to release him to his father, noting he has no criminal history.

Read Also: MOVEIt Security Breach: CISA Investigates Hacked US Agencies!

Endangering National Security

Acting US Attorney Joshua S. Levy for the District of Massachusetts released a Thursday statement saying that the unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified information has jeopardized the United States' security, according to NBC News.

The indictment claims that Teixeira held a top-secret security clearance starting from July 2021 and was subsequently trained on the definition, classification levels, and proper handling of classified materials. It added that the suspect had improperly "retained and transmitted" classified National Defense Information.

In a statement, Attorney-General Merrick Garland said that the classified documents that Teixeira was tasked to safeguard could cause grave damage to national security if shared with the wrong people.

The official added that the defendant is charged with sharing information with users on Discord that he knew were not entitled to receive the sensitive materials. Garland said that in doing so, Teixeira violated United States law and endangered national security.

The chat where the suspect shared the classified documents included 20 to 30 young men and teenagers who frequently posted about guns, games, and racist memes. The defendant was charged with two separate counts under the Espionage Act in April, said The Guardian.

Related Article: Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Native American Tribes in Adoption Dispute

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The disguise used by a woman who sexually assaulted a short-sighted teenager after pretending to be a man has been revealed.

Georgia Bilham, 21, was found guilty of sexual assault by kissing but cleared of 16 other sex offences at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday.

In CCTV footage released by Cheshire Police, Bilham is seen dressed in her disguise of a navy blue hoodie over her head while paying for something at a petrol station.

Georgia Bilham, 21, was cleared by a jury of all but one of the alleged offences after about three hours of deliberations following an eight-day trial (PA Wire)

Her trial was told she created an online persona in the name of George Parry to trick the 19-year-old complainant into thinking she was a man.

George always wore a hood over his head, even in bed, while with the teenager, who, the court was told. George claimed to be paranoid because of his involvement with Albanian gangsters.

Bilham said after the first time they met in person the complainant messaged her to say, Theres something weird about you, and blocked her on Snapchat.

But there continued to be an online love-hate relationship, which became toxic at times, the court heard.

Bilham said she believed her cover was blown after crashing her mothers car into a hedge while out for a drive with the teenager on May 11 2021.

Jurors convicted her of sexually assaulting the girl by kissing her that evening.

The disguise Bilham used to pose as a man to prey on a severely short-sighted teenage girl has been revealed in footage released by police (Cheshire Police)

Bilham told jurors she believes a police officer called to the scene revealed her true identity to the complainant after checking her driving licence.

She said: I think they told her I was female. It was not George, it was Georgia.

The defendant said from that point she believes the teenager knew she was really a woman.

Giving evidence, the complainants mother said her daughter told her about seeing someone called George, who she said had social anxiety so kept his hood up.

Bilham admitted being caught up in a web of lies but denied getting a buzz out of deceiving the teenager, maintaining throughout that she thought the woman she had sex with believed she was a woman.

The court was told Bilham always wore a hood over her head while with the 19-year-old, even in bed, to trick the teenager into thinking she was a man (Cheshire Police)

Asked why she set up the fake Snapchat account pretending to be a boy, Bilham replied: I just was not happy in myself. I just it was just more like an escape. I dont know.

I was not confident in myself. It was a stupid thing to do. It was a way of not being me.

Bilham, of Bunbury Road, had denied nine sexual assaults and eight counts of assault by penetration, all between May to August 2021. She will have to sign the sex offenders register and will be sentenced on July 19.

In a statement after the verdict, the Crown Prosectution Service said that the sexual activity that took place was based on a false pretence  and so did not involve true consent.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Mairead Neeson, a specially trained prosecutor with CPS Mersey Cheshires Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) unit, said: Sexual offences can be committed in different ways.

The Crown Prosecution Services case here was based upon deceit, manipulation and the lack of genuine consent. We said that the victim didnt give her true consent to sexual activity with Georgia Bilham, that when the victim agreed to have sexual activity with George Parry it was on the basis that George was male and not female and that she had been deceived.

We said that Bilhams actions in pretending to be male, deprived the victim of her freedom to choose whether or not to engage in sexual activity.

This is because a person consents to sexual activity only if they agree by choice and have the freedom and capacity to make that choice.
By Lefteris Papadimas

KALAMATA, Greece (Reuters) -A Syrian teenager who survived a shipwreck that killed at least 78 people was emotionally reunited with his elder brother on Friday, but there was no news for other relatives gathering in the southern Greek city of Kalamata to search for loved ones.

Witness accounts suggested between 400 and 750 people had packed the 20- to 30 metre-long (65- to 100-foot) fishing boat that capsized and sank early on Wednesday morning about 50 miles (80 km) from the southern coastal town of Pylos.

In the immediate aftermath of the disaster 104 survivors and 78 people who drowned were brought to shore by Greek authorities, but nothing has been found since.

A massive search and rescue operation continued on Friday, but hopes were dwindling of finding any more survivors from the hundreds of people believed to have been on board the boat when it sank in some of the deepest waters of the Mediterranean.

Early Friday survivor Mohammad, 18, from Syria, burst into sobs as he spotted his elder brother Fadi, who travelled from the Netherlands searching for him.

They wept and hugged through metal barricades, erected by Greek police around a warehouse in Kalamata where survivors had been sleeping for the past two days.

"Thank God for your safety," Fadi said, repeatedly kissing his younger sibling on the head.

About 25 other relatives gathered outside hoping for news, clasping screenshots of their loved ones on mobiles phones.

Most of the survivors were later transferred by bus to a migrant camp in Malakasa, near Athens, on Friday. Others remained in hospital in Kalamata.

MIGRANTS HAD PAID $4,500

Pope Francis, who visited Greece two years ago to draw attention to the plight of refugees, urged for measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

"I feel great pain at the death of the migrants, including many children, in the shipwreck in the Aegean Sea," he said on Twitter. "We must do everything possible so that migrants fleeing war and poverty do not meet death while seeking a future of hope."

The ageing fishing vessel was thought to have departed from Egypt, then picked up passengers in the Libyan coastal city of Tobruk on June 10. Greek authorities say survivors have told them they paid $4,500 each to go to Italy.

The exact circumstances of the vessel sinking while it was being shadowed by the Greek coastguard are still unclear.

Authorities, who were alerted by Italy on Tuesday and subsequently monitored the vessel over a period of 15 hours before it sank, say occupants on the vessel repeatedly refused Greek help, saying they wanted to go to Italy.

An advocacy group that had been in communication with the vessel said that on at least two occasions persons on board pleaded for help. The group, Alarm Phone, said it had alerted Greek authorities and aid agencies hours before the disaster unfolded.

'CURRENT APPROACH UNWORKABLE'

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nation's refugee agency, the UNHCR, said the latest tragedy in the Mediterranean was the worst in several years and urged states to address the gaps in search and rescue rules.

"It is clear, that the current approach to the Mediterranean is unworkable," IOM's Federico Soda. "Year after year, it continues to be the most dangerous migration route in the world, with the highest fatality rate."

Greek authorities denied accounts that surfaced late on Thursday that the boat flipped after the coastguard attempted to tow it.

"There was no effort to tug the boat," coastguard spokesman Nikos Alexiou told state broadcaster ERT.

Nine Egyptians, aged between 20 and 40 years, were arrested over the shipwreck on Thursday evening. Authorities said they faced charges of negligent manslaughter, exposing lives to danger, causing a shipwreck and human trafficking.

They were expected to appear before a judge and respond to the accusations in the coming days.

Under a conservative government in power until last month, Greece took a tough stance on migration, building walled camps and boosting border controls.

The country is currently governed by a caretaker administration pending an election on June 25.

(Additional reporting by Stelios Misinas in Kalamata, Renee Maltezou and Michele Kambas in Athens, Federico Maccioni in Milan, Alvise Armellini in Rome; Editing by Alex Richardson)
The Department of Energy and several other federal agencies were compromised in a Russian cyber-extortion gang's global hack of a file-transfer program popular with corporations and governments, but the impact was not expected to be great, Homeland Security officials said Thursday.

But for others among what could be hundreds of victims from industry to higher education  including patrons of at least two state motor vehicle agencies  the hack was beginning to show some serious impacts.

Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, told reporters that unlike the meticulous, stealthy SolarWinds hacking campaign attributed to state-backed Russian intelligence agents that was months in the making, this campaign was short, relatively superficial and caught quickly.

Based on discussions we have had with industry partners ... these intrusions are not being leveraged to gain broader access, to gain persistence into targeted systems, or to steal specific high value information in sum, as we understand it, this attack is largely an opportunistic one, Easterly said.

Although we are very concerned about this campaign and working on it with urgency, this is not a campaign like SolarWinds that presents a systemic risk to our national security or our nations networks, she added.

A senior CISA official said neither the U.S. military nor intelligence community was affected. Energy Department spokesperson Chad Smith said two agency entities were compromised but did not provide more detail.

Known victims to date include Louisianas Office of Motor Vehicles, Oregon's Department of Transportation, the Nova Scotia provincial government, British Airways, the British Broadcasting Company and the U.K. drugstore chain Boots. The exploited program, MOVEit, is widely used by businesses to securely share files. Security experts say that can include sensitive financial and insurance data.

Louisiana officials said Thursday that people with a driver's license or vehicle registration in the state likely had their personal information exposed. That included their name, address, Social Security number and birthdate. They encouraged Louisiana residents to freeze their credit to guard against identity theft.

The Oregon Department of Transportation confirmed Thursday that the attackers accessed personal information, some sensitive, for about 3.5 million people to whom the state issued identity cards or drivers licenses.

The Cl0p ransomware syndicate behind the hack announced last week on its dark web site that its victims, who it suggested numbered in the hundreds, had until Wednesday to get in touch to negotiate a ransom or risk having sensitive stolen data dumped online.

The gang, among the worlds most prolific cybercrime syndicates, also claimed it would delete any data stolen from governments, cities and police departments.

The senior CISA official told reporters a small number of federal agencies were hit  declining to name them  and said this is not a widespread campaign affecting a large number of federal agencies. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the breach, said no federal agencies had received extortion demands and no data from an affected federal agency had been leaked online by Cl0p.

U.S. officials have no evidence to suggest coordination between Cl0p and the Russian government," the official said.

The parent company of MOVIEit's U.S. maker, Progress Software, alerted customers to the breach on May 31 and issued a patch. But cybersecurity researchers say scores if not hundreds of companies could by then have had sensitive data quietly exfiltrated.

"At this point, we are seeing industry estimates of several hundred of victims across the country, the senior CISA official said. Federal officials encouraged victims to come forward, but they often don't. The U.S. lacks a federal data breach law, and disclosure of hacks varies by state. Publicly traded corporations, health care providers and some critical infrastructure purveyors do have regulatory obligations.

The cybersecurity firm SecurityScorecard says it detected 2,500 vulnerable MOVEit servers across 790 organizations, including 200 government agencies. It said it was not able to break down those agencies by country.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in the Treasury Department uses MOVEit, according to federal contracting data. Spokeswoman Stephanie Collins said the agency was aware of the hack and has been monitoring the situation closely. She said it was conducting detailed forensic analysis of system activity and has not found any indications of a breach of sensitive information. She would not say how the agency uses the file-transfer program.

The hackers were actively scanning for targets, penetrating them and stealing data at least as far back as March 29, said SecurityScorecard threat analyst Jared Smith.

This is far from the first time Cl0p has breached a file-transfer program to gain access to data it could then use to extort companies. Other instances include GoAnywhere servers in early 2023 and Accellion File Transfer Application devices in 2020 and 2021.

The Associated Press emailed Cl0p on Thursday asking what government agencies it had hacked. It did not receive a response, but the gang posted a new message on its dark web leak site saying: We got a lot of emails about government data, we don't have it we have completely deleted this information we are only interested in business."

Cybersecurity experts say the Cl0p criminals are not to be trusted to keep their word. Allan Liska of the firm Recorded Future has said he is aware of at least three cases in which data stolen by ransomware crooks appeared on the dark web six to 10 months after victims paid ransoms.



AP reporters Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Eugene Johnson in Seattle and Nomaan Merchant and Rebecca Santana in Washington contributed to this report.
NEW YORK (AP)  Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was ordered Thursday to pay $475,000 by a city ethics board that found he misused public funds on a police security detail during his failed presidential bid.

The hefty fine is the largest ever handed out by New Yorks Conflicts of Interest Board, capping off a yearslong investigation into the two-term mayors use of taxpayer dollars to cover the travel costs of NYPD officers who accompanied him on cross-country campaign stops.

Under the ruling, which he has vowed to appeal, de Blasio, a Democrat, will be forced to reimburse the city for $320,000 spent on the officers flights, hotels, meals and rental cars during the four-month campaign. He will also have to pay a fine of $25,000 for each of the security details 31 out-of-state trips, amounting to $155,000.

The order was handed down by the Conflicts of Interest Board Chair, Milton Williams, who found that de Blasio plainly violated the citys prohibition on using public resources to advance a political campaign. De Blasio was advised of this rule prior to his campaign, but disregarded the Boards advice, Williams wrote in his ruling.

In a statement, an attorney for de Blasio, Andrew G. Celli Jr., described the ruling as reckless and arbitrary, arguing that recent acts of political violence underscored the security needs of public servants.

In the wake of the January 6th insurrection, the shootings of Congressmembers Giffords and Scalise, and almost daily threats directed at local leaders around the country, the COIB's (Conflicts of Interest Board's) action  which seeks to saddle elected officials with security costs that the City has properly borne for decades  is dangerous, beyond the scope of their powers, and illegal, he wrote.

De Blasio has faced previous allegations of misusing his security detail. Months before he left office in 2021, a report by the citys Department of Investigation found he treated the officers as a concierge service, using them to move his daughter into an apartment and shuttle his son to college.

De Blasio did consult with the Conflicts of Interest Board about the costs of his security prior to announcing his presidential campaign in May 2019. He was told the salaries for NYPD officers would be covered, but that all other costs associated with their travel would not, the board said.

During interviews with investigators, de Blasio said he did not have a 100% clear understanding of the guidance, and suggested that it was an issue for others to resolve, according to Kevin Casey, an administrative law judge that recommended the fine imposed by the Conflicts of Interest Board.

Casey accused de Blasio of showing a deliberate indifference to the citys ethics board, then blaming his own employees for the error.

It is troubling that during his DOI (Department of Investigation) interview respondent repeatedly attempted to shift blame to his lawyers and campaign staff, while failing to recognize his personal responsibility for following the law, Casey wrote.

In an interview with New York Magazine published earlier this week, de Blasio described his White House bid as a mistake.

I think my values were the right values, and I think I had something to offer, but it was not right on a variety of levels, he said. I think I got into a place of just extreme stubbornness and tunnel vision.
HONG KONG (Reuters) -Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the global rise of artificial intelligence with Bill Gates on Friday and said he welcomed U.S. firms including Microsoft bringing their AI tech to China, two sources familiar with the talks said.

Xi also discussed Microsoft's business development in China during their meeting in Beijing, one of the sources said.

Gates, who co-founded Microsoft, stepped down from the company's board in 2020 to focus on philanthropic works related to global health, education and climate change.

The comments on AI made at the meeting between Xi and Gates were not disclosed in reports of the meeting published by Chinese state media or in a Friday post by Gates reflecting on his China trip.

When asked for comment, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation directed Reuters to the post.

China's State Council Information Office, which handles media queries on behalf of the Chinese government, and Microsoft did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Xi has previously said China needs to seize opportunities to use AI to drive economic development, but has also cautioned about its risks, with the country weighing up a new law on the technology as well as rules for generative AI.

His meeting with Gates comes as U.S.-China relations are at their lowest point in decades, with AI a key flashpoint.

The U.S. has enacted a series of export controls aimed at restricting China's AI development, while China has unnerved the foreign business community with a crackdown on consultancies and a ban on some sales in China by U.S. chipmaker Micron.

Microsoft is a backer of OpenAI, whose chatbot ChatGPT ignited a global AI buzz last year that has spread to China.

OpenAI and ChatGPT itself are not blocked by Chinese authorities, but OpenAI does not allow users in some countries, including mainland China and Hong Kong, to sign on.

Microsoft has been in China for more than 30 years and has a large research centre there. Its Bing portal is the only foreign search engine accessible from within China's so-called Great Firewall, although its search results on sensitive topics are censored.

The U.S. tech giant has faced problems in China in recent years as the country tightened its control over the internet sector.

In 2021 it pulled the plug on LinkedIn China, replacing the social networking app with a stripped-down version focused only on jobs.

It announced in May that it would also shut that app in China, citing fierce competition and macroeconomic challenges, but said it would retain a presence in the country.

(Reporting by Hong Kong and Beijing Newsrooms; Editing by Jason Neely and Jan Harvey)
After learning that her father's body parts were allegedly stolen in a grisly theft ring at the Harvard Medical School morgue in Boston where cadavers were chopped up and illegally sold  a woman is demanding that her mothers remains be returned to their family.

Paula Peltonovich told NBC Boston that her parents, Nicholas and Joan Pichowicz, donated their remains to the school. She said Harvard confirmed that her father was a victim of the ring following Wednesday indictments that charged morgue manager Cedric Lodge, his wife and several others with trafficking stolen human remains.

"My concern is getting my mom back. I don't want them to touch my mom. I mean, can you blame me?" Peltonovich said, getting emotional. "Seriously. It's just  the whole thing's wrong."

Nicholas Pichowicz's body was donated after his death in 2019, according to The Boston Globe. His wife's remains were donated following her death in March.

Nicholas and Joan Pichowicz.

Peltonovich told the newspaper that both of her parents worked in law enforcement and loved "helping people."

"This is what they chose to do years ago," she said. "They gave back to science."

Lodge allegedly stole organs and other body parts before their scheduled cremations and, at times, transported them from the morgue to his home in Goffstown, New Hampshire, federal prosecutors said in a statement. Lodge and his wife, Denise Lodge, allegedly sold the remains to Katrina Maclean, Joshua Taylor, and others, the statement said.

Denise Lodge, Maclean, Taylor and another man named Mathew Lampi were included in the federal grand jury indictment on charges of conspiracy and interstate transport of stolen goods. A sixth person, Jeremy Pauley, was charged by criminal information, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Another woman, Candace Chapman Scott, was previously indicted in Arkansas.

At times, Cedric Lodge would allow Maclean and Taylor to come to the morgue and "examine cadavers to choose what to purchase," prosecutors said. The Lodges were also accused of shipping remains to Taylor and others out of state.

Taylor allegedly took some of the stolen remains back to Pennsylvania, where he lives. Prosecutors alleged that he and Maclean resold the stolen remains for profit. Pauley allegedly purchased remains from Taylor, Maclean and Scott, who is accused of stealing remains from an Arkansas mortuary and crematorium where she worked.

Prosecutors also accused Pauley of reselling remains he purchased to Lampi and others.

The 15-page indictment doesnt go into extended detail about what the body parts were purchased for, but it does mention that Maclean allegedly shipped human skin to a man in Pennsylvania "and engaged in his services to tan the skin to create leather."

Peltonovich told The Boston Globe that the whole ordeal has been a nightmare.

"Its just unthinkable. Theres no words," she said. "We were just disgusted. Sick, like we were going to throw up."

Jack Porter said he has also been affected, telling The Boston Globe that he received a letter from Harvard stating that his wife's remains "may have been impacted." He said his wife's cremated remains were given back to him in 2019, according to the news outlet.

An attorney for Taylor declined to comment on the allegations. Attorneys for the other defendants could not be reached on Friday.

Harvard Medical School said it was "appalled to learn that something so disturbing could happen on our campus  a community dedicated to healing and serving others."

"The reported incidents are a betrayal of HMS and, most importantly, each of the individuals who altruistically chose to will their bodies to HMS through the Anatomical Gift Program to advance medical education and research," the school said in a statement.
A union organizer who was fired by Amazon was reinstated by the company after she filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, according to the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.

The union had said earlier this month that Jennifer Bates, who also testified before a Senate committee at a hearing on income inequality, was terminated while tending to injuries she received while working at an Amazon facility in Bessemer, Alabama. The labor group had also said Amazon refused to make workplace adjustments for Bates, who was outspoken about workplace safety issues at the company.

If theres a lesson to be learned its that today Amazon workers everywhere now know that when youre under attack, you have to stand up and fight back, because when we fight, clearly, we win! Bates said in a prepared statement released by the union.

Meanwhile, Stuart Appelbaum, the unions president, accused the e-commerce giant of attempting to stifle one of the most outspoken leaders of the contemporary labor movement.

Jennifer made it clear that despite the companys extraordinary power and resources, she would not be silenced  nor will we," he said.

An Amazon spokesperson said during the appeals review, the company determined Bates had failed to be responsive to multiple requests for information regarding her leave. But the spokesperson said there were things the company could have done better to ensure Bates had clarity around what was needed  which is why she's being reinstated. The company said it also encouraged her to file an appeal.

After a full review of her case, the decision was made to reinstate her," said Amazon spokesperson Mary Kate Paradis. "Were pleased that our appeal process continues to work as designed.

The RWDSU has long been a foe of Amazon, which is attempting to fend off organized labor from its vast network of warehouses. The company and the union are still contesting the results of a union election held last year in Bessemer, Alabama, which remains too close to call with 416 challenged ballots still waiting for adjudication.

Amazon said Bates will get reinstated with backpay, as would be the case for any employee in a similar situation.
Florida State Prison and, inset, Duane Owen. (AP)

STARKE, Fla. (AP)  A Florida man was executed Thursday for killing a 14-year-old babysitter and a 38-year-old mother of two in separate attacks months apart in 1984 while children were sleeping in the homes he targeted.

Duane Owen was pronounced dead at 6:14 p.m. after a lethal injection at Florida State Prison, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis office. One of Floridas longest-held death row inmates, Owen was 23 at the time of the attacks and 62 when he was executed.

Owen declined to make a final statement. The procedure began at 6:01 p.m., with Owen's arms twitching and his breathing becoming heavier as the sedative took effect. The warden made sure Owen was unconscious before before lethal drugs were administered.

Owen was sentenced to death for the March 24, 1984, rape and fatal stabbing of Karen Slattery, 14, and for the rape and deadly hammer attack two months later on Georgianna Worden, 38. Both killings occurred in Palm Beach County.

Authorities said Owen attacked two other women in Palm Beach County who survived. All four attacks occurred just before and after Owens 23rd birthday. Of the more than 290 people on Floridas death row, Owen was one of the longest held there.

Besides his death sentences, he also had received six life sentences.

Debbi Johnson, whose older sister was raped and fatally stabbed in 1984, speaks to reporters after the execution of the sisters killer. (Brendan Farrington/AP)

Several family members of the victims witnessed the execution. No one in the witness room spoke, but after the execution, Slattery's younger sister, Debbi Johnson, who sat in the front row, called Owen a coward.

He didnt open his eyes, Johnson said. "I know because I looked at them.

Johnson, who works as a deputy in the Florida Keys, was 10 years old when her sister died.

With this rain today, I was really hoping I was going to see a rainbow," Johnson said. "Because thats what my mom always said, Whenever you see a rainbow, thats Karen smiling down on us. Theres no rainbow, but the rain will stop, and shell come through in her own way.

Johnson said closure is a myth, but justice is real.

The state of Florida said he was supposed to die by lethal injection, and that is exactly what happened today," Johnson said. "He served his sentence. The end.

The state of Florida said he was supposed to die by lethal injection, and that is exactly what happened today. He served his sentence. The end.Debbi Johnson

It was Floridas fourth execution this year after a hiatus in which there were none since 2019. Gov. DeSantis, a Republican, signed each of the death warrants in the months before announcing he was running for president.

Slattery was repeatedly stabbed and raped in a home in Delray Beach while two children in her care were sleeping. The children weren't harmed during the attack.

Two months later, in May 1984, Worden was sleeping in her Boca Raton home when Owen struck her several times with a hammer and raped her, according to court records. One of Worden's children found her body the next morning while getting ready for school, according to the record.

Delray Beach and Boca Raton are both about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Miami, in Palm Beach County.

Owen's lawyers had argued that he shouldn't be executed on grounds of insanity. The state Supreme Court rejected his latest appeal last week and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected it Wednesday.

Owen's lawyers had also argued that he was schizophrenic and suffered from delusions.

Prosecutors had argued that while Owen had mental health issues, nothing would preclude his being executed because he was aware it was punishment for his crimes. Psychiatrists for the state testified that Owen's schizophrenia was an act that he discussed when being evaluated, but he otherwise showed no signs of the illness.

And while the defense had argued Owen had dementia and gender dysphoria, psychiatrists for the state said Owen had a good memory, didn't appear to present himself as female and that gender dysphoria doesn't make people more aggressive or cause delusional thinking. They said instead that Owen was sexually sadistic, according to court records.
NEW YORK (AP)  A longtime producer for Tucker Carlson is out at Fox News after he was deemed responsible for the on-air headline that referred to President Joe Biden as a wannabe dictator" because of the indictment of former President Donald Trump.

The producer, Alex McCaskill, confirmed his exit in an Instagram post. Fox News did not comment on Friday.

He had remained at Fox after Carlson, the network's most popular personality, was fired on April 24. The reason for Carlson's sudden ouster, less than a week after Fox agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787 million to end a defamation case, has never been publicly explained.

It was during the last minutes of Carlson's former time slot on Tuesday when the message appeared under separate onscreen boxes that showed Biden and Trump talking. It read: Wannabe dictator speaks at the White House after having his political rival arrested.

Carlson, in a Twitter monologue posted Thursday, said the women who run the network panicked about the post and scolded the person responsible. Carlson didn't name the producer, but said he was considered one of the most capable persons in the building.

The producer offered to resign with two weeks' notice, but was told to clean out his desk and leave immediately, he said.

Fox, in a statement on Wednesday, said the chyron had been taken down and the issue addressed, without further explanation.

In an Instagram message posted on Twitter by Justin Baragona of The Daily Beast, McCaskill is pictured outside of Fox's Manhattan office holding a box.

Today was my last day at Fox, read the message under his picture. It's been a wild 10 years and it was the best place I've ever worked because of the great people I met. But the time has come. I asked them to let me go, and they finally did. To all my friends there: I will miss you forever.

A call and text message to a phone listed as McCaskill's was not immediately returned.

Plenty of Biden critics have suggested politics was behind Trump's indictment by special prosecutor Jack Smith on charges of hoarding classified documents and resisting government attempts to retrieve them. Biden has not commented on the case.

McCaskill was named this spring in a lawsuit filed by a former Fox producer, Abby Grossberg, who also worked on Carlson's staff. Her lawsuit said McCaskill habitually belittled female employees at Fox. He said that a room at Fox set aside for employees to pump breast milk was a waste of space and should be replaced with a room for men to tan their testicles, according to the lawsuit.

Fox has denied allegations in Grossberg's lawsuit.

___

Associated Press correspondent Beatrice Dupuy and researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report.
COVID-19 vaccine boosters must be updated this fall to target the latest omicron strain, advisers to the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommend.

The FDA panel is now pushing for a new version of the vaccine booster, which drops the original COVID strain from its formulation.

COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters Should Be Updated, FDA Advisors Say

According to the Associated Press, the scientific advisers of the FDA discussed the new round of COVID shots in the US, which focus on protecting the population from the new iterations of the virus. It is worth noting that a new variant is now dominating various parts of the world, the XBB omicron variant.

And as such, the FDA advisors are pushing for a recipe change that would update the formulation of booster shots based on the evolution of the virus. The current version still includes the original COVID strain, which various mutations have taken over time.

FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks warns that the coronavirus is likely to be a serious concern come wintertime even as the infections these days have significantly dwindled. He stresses, "[We are] concerned that we may have another wave of COVID-19 when the virus has further evolved, immunity of the population has waned further, and we move indoors for wintertime."

As NBC News reports, the FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee unanimously supported the formulation update for the booster shots amidst the domination of the XBB strain. As the virus rapidly evolves, the vaccine also needs to keep up.

Read Also: FDA Withdraws Authorization for Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 Vaccine; What Happened?

FDA to Make the Final Decision

While the committee recommended the update in the COVID-19 vaccine boosters, the final say is still up to the FDA. The advisors only pointed out that the formula needs to target the new XBB strain and drop the original version of the virus.

However, they failed to recommend which specific XBB mutation needs targeting formally. On top of that, the panel also did not include any recommendation for who should get the jabs or the timeline for it. NBC News notes that these details are likely up to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention or the CDC in time for their upcoming advisory committee meeting.

As per US News, a recent CDC study shows that adults who skipped getting an updated COVID booster shot are more vulnerable to hospitalization than those who did. The research shows that those who have not updated their booster jabs have "relatively little remaining protection" against COVID hospitalization versus unvaccinated folks.

Related Article: Alzheimer's Drug Obtains FDA Panel's Endorsement; Final Ruling on Approval Set for July 6

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to both federal and state charges in Florida and New York, but Georgia could be the next to bring an indictment.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is expected to announce this summer whether she will bring charges against the former president for allegedly meddling with the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

This is one of the most high-profile cases that Georgia may see, said Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat.

In a sit-down interview with Scripps News, Labat said metro Atlanta has been the backdrop for a number of high-profile cases, and his department is prepared to handle potential reaction from this case, as well.

We have a real opportunity here to get it right, said Labat.

SEE MORE: Trump and Biden had classified docs. Why is only Trump being charged?

In the Georgia probe, a January 2021 phone call Trump made to Georgias secretary of state asking him to find 11,780 more votes is a key piece of evidence.

The Washington Post reports Willis may try to pin RICO charges on Trump, suggesting his efforts to overturn Georgias election results may have expanded across state lines.

At his arraignment in the classified documents case Tuesday in Miami, the former president was met by a sea of supporters and some counter-protesters.

Sheriff Labat said two of his commanders were in the crowd as well.

From that perspective, they were able to look through a different lens and see how we can either engage at a higher level or do some things differently," he said.

Crowds in Miami were smaller than expected and authorities reported few problems.

In Manhattan when Trump appeared for court proceedings in the hush-money case, metal barricades separated his supporters from anti-Trump protesters. NYPD officers stepped in to break up a few small confrontations.

SEE MORE: How is Donald Trump expected to fight his indictment?

As for when to expect an announcement in the Georgia probe, Willis strongly suggested any indictments would come in August.

Ultimately, she was very specific in her letter, and we will acquiesce and make sure we are prepared, said Labat.

In her letter to the Fulton County Sheriffs Office, Willis advised law enforcement to prepare for heightened security, adding, the announcement of decisions may provoke a significant public reaction."

Labat said its not just protesters theyre worried about.

In many instances, there were more media in New York than protesters, he said. And conversely in Miami, we noticed how quickly the media showed up after the announcement.

In a separate letter to the County Superior Court last month, Willis said she plans to have most of her staff work from home during the first three weeks of August.

She also asked that judges not schedule any trials or in-person hearings during that time.
BERLIN (AP)  Germany handed over to Colombia on Friday two masks made by the Indigenous Kogi people that had been in a Berlin museum's collection for more than a century, another step in the country's restitution of cultural artifacts as European nations reappraise their colonial-era past.

The wooden sun masks," which date back to the mid-15th century, were handed over at the presidential palace during a visit to Berlin by Colombian President Gustavo Petro. The decision to restitute them follows several years of contacts between Berlin's museum authority and Colombia, and an official Colombian request last year for their return.

We know that the masks are sacred to the Kogi, who live in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains of northern Colombia, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said at the ceremony. May these masks have a good journey back to where they are needed, and where they are still a bridge between people and nature today.

Petro welcomed the return of these magic masks, and said he hopes that more and more pieces can be recovered. He said at a later news conference with Germany's chancellor that the Kogi community will ultimately decide what happens with the masks. He added: "I would like a museum in Santa Marta, but that's my idea and we have to wait for their idea.

Konrad Theodor Preuss, who was the curator of the forerunner of today's Ethnological Museum in Berlin, acquired the masks in 1915, during a lengthy research trip to Colombia on which he accumulated more than 700 objects. According to the German capital's museums authority, he wasn't aware of their age or of the fact they weren't supposed to be sold.

This restitution is part of a rethink of how we deal with our colonial past, a process that has begun in many European countries, Steinmeier said. And I welcome the fact that Germany is playing a leading role in this.

Governments and museums in Europe and North America have increasingly sought to resolve ownership disputes over objects that were looted during colonial times.

Last year, Germany and Nigeria signed an agreement paving the way for the return of hundreds of artifacts known as the Benin Bronzes that were taken from Africa by a British colonial expedition more than 120 years ago. Nigerian officials hope that accord will prompt other countries that hold the artifacts, which ended up spread far and wide, to follow suit.

Hermann Parzinger, the head of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation, which oversees the Ethnological Museum and others in Berlin, noted that the background is particularly complex in the case of the Kogi masks.

They weren't stolen in a violent context and Colombia was already long since an independent country, he said. Preuss bought them from the heir of a Kogi priest, who apparently wasnt entitled to sell these masks"  meaning that their acquisition wasn't quite correct.

But there is another aspect in this discussion of colonial contexts, and that is the rights of Indigenous people, Parzinger added, pointing to a 2007 U.N. resolution stating that artifacts of spiritual and cultural significance to Indigenous groups should be returned.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Massachusetts Air National Guardsman accused of leaking highly classified military documents has been indicted on federal felony charges, the Justice Department said Thursday.

Jack Teixeira faces six counts in the indictment of willful retention and transmission of national defense information.

He was arrested in April on charges of sharing highly classified military documents about Russias war in Ukraine and other top national security issues in a chat room on Discord, a social media platform that started as a hangout for gamers. The stunning breach exposed to the world unvarnished secret assessments of Russias war in Ukraine, the capabilities and geopolitical interests of other nations and other national security issues.

As laid out in the indictment, Jack Teixeira was entrusted by the United States government with access to classified national defense information  including information that reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to national security if shared, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement announcing the indictment.

Each count in the indictment is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

A judge last month ordered him to remain jailed as he awaits trial, saying that releasing Teixeira would pose a risk that he would attempt to flee the country or obstruct justice.

His family has expressed support for him, and his lawyers had pressed the judge to release him to his father, saying he has no criminal history.
CHICAGO (AP)  An American woman accused of helping to kill her mother and stuffing her body in a suitcase during a luxury vacation to Bali nine years ago changed her plea to guilty in Chicago federal court on Friday. Her lawyer said later she hoped to avoid a sentence of life behind bars by doing so.

Heather Mack pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to kill Sheila von Wiese-Mack with her then-boyfriend to get access to a $1.5 million trust fund. Mack, then 18 and pregnant, covered her mom's mouth in a hotel room while Tommy Schaefer bludgeoned her with a fruit bowl, prosecutors say.

The change-of-plea hearing is the latest chapter in a story that has garnered international attention in part because of photographs of the suitcase, which seemed too small to hold an adult womans body.

Mack, now 27, appeared calm and confident as she stood in orange jail garb and orange slippers, occasionally brushing her hair from her eyes as she answered the judge's questions  saying she knew she was giving up her right to remain silent at the hearing.

After Mack paused before saying she understood the plea agreement hammered out with prosecutors in preceding weeks, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly noted the hesitation and asked again if she was sure she fully understood it.

Yes, your honor, she responded.

Two other charges against Mack would be dropped at the end of the sentencing process. Schaefer was convicted of murder and remains in Indonesia, where he is serving an 18-year sentence. He is charged in the same U.S. indictment.

After the hearing, relatives of Wiese-Mack issued a statement saying they were very relieved that the mastermind of Sheilas murder admitted her guilt today.

We will continue to be our sister Sheilas voice throughout the sentencing process to ensure that real justice is served, they said.

The plea agreement calls for a sentence of no more than 28 years, though Kennelly told Mack he hasn't yet decided whether to accept that sentencing cap. If he rejects it, Mack could withdraw her plea, and either hold fresh plea discussions or go to trial. The judge set a Dec. 18 sentencing date.

A key issue that wasn't decided in talks between prosecutors and the defense prior to Friday's hearing was whether the years Mack spent in prison in Indonesia for a 2015 conviction of being an accessory to Wiese-Macks murder would be subtracted from whatever U.S. sentence is imposed by Kennelly.

Mack, who lived with her mother in suburban Chicagos Oak Park, served seven years of her 10-year Indonesian sentence. She was deported in 2021 and U.S. agents arrested her immediately after her plane landed at Chicagos OHare International Airport.

Mack's lawyer, Michael Leonard, told reporters after the hearing that his client's decision to plead guilty was motivated in part by wanting to avoid a sentence of life in prison  something that would be off the table under the plea deal, if the judge formally OKs it.

In arguing for leniency at sentencing, Leonard said he would present evidence that Mack has matured and that she was a fantastic mother" to her and Schaefer's daughter, who she gave birth to in Indonesia after her arrest.

She is certainly not the person she was, Leonard said. She has grown as a human.

Her then-six-year-old daughter was with her when Mack was arrested at the Chicago airport. The girl was later placed with a relative after a custody fight.

Leonard said Mack was able to spend time with her daughter while serving her sentence in Indonesia and that her child was now her top priority.

The most important thing for her is reunification with her daughter, he said.

In successfully arguing against bond for Mack in 2021, prosecutors said she and Schaefer had planned the killing for months. They also said they had video evidence that showed both Mack and Schaefer trying to get the suitcase with Wiese-Macks body inside it into an Indonesian taxicab.

Some relatives of Wiese-Mack had complained that the Indonesian sentence was far too lenient. In filings, prosecutors said the U.S. charges dont violate constitutional prohibitions against prosecuting someone twice for the same acts, including because the U.S. charges allege conspiracy and other acts not included in the Indonesian case.
Nampa schools could soon ban teachers and district staff from discussing gender identity and expression.

A proposed policy on its way to implementation in the school district restricts staff from discussing gender identity, expression, sexual orientation and transgender identity at school. It also says teachers cannot be forced to call students by their preferred pronouns if they dont align with the genders on their birth certificates. The school board is slated to discuss the policy Monday.

(The policy) clearly covers the definitions in the district so that we understand what gender identity is, what sexual orientation is, etc., said Gregg Russell, Nampa School District superintendent. And it clearly states in those definitions that those are something that we wouldnt teach in school. Those are things that would be for discussions in the home with parents and their families.

The policy falls in line with an Idaho law passed last legislative session. Lawmakers passed a bill that would allow students to sue their school if they encounter students using a bathroom that doesnt align with their sex at birth, and would require schools to have separate bathrooms for transgender students.

Similar laws have passed in other states. Amy Dundon, legislative strategist of the ACLU of Idaho, said Idahos law and Nampas proposed policy reflects trends sweeping the country.

What we see going on in Arkansas and Tennessee, in Florida, the kinds of discourse that were hearing, its targeting the LGBTQ community broadly, but specifically trans youth, Dundon told the Idaho Statesman by phone. It is part of a much larger, coordinated attack.

Schools in Iowa and Florida have similar state laws and school district policies.

Policy stems from criticism of psychology class

In a school board meeting last month, Russell said the policy suggestion came from school administrators after they heard concerns from Nampa residents about a psychology class that discussed gender identity.

A copy of a test given to students in the psychology class circulated on social media this spring, spurring complaints about the gender identity curriculum. Attendees took issue with a question that asked how many genders there are, with the answer, A currently indeterminate amount. Idaho Education News reported the test and gender identity curriculum was part of high school curricula established by the American Psychological Association.

At a school board meeting last month, Nampa residents spoke in support of banning curricula that discussed gender identity, transgender identity and gender expression. One Nampa resident, Larry Mcclintock, called transgender identity a dangerous topic.

Why would a school district support such harmful teaching? he said.

Jaci Johnson told the school board in its April meeting that prohibiting teaching about gender identity would isolate students.

Rejecting these topics serves only one purpose: to prevent open discussion and isolate our kids from different viewpoints, Johnson said. Withholding specific information from students with the purpose of isolating them from different ideas is the very definition of indoctrination.

Staff cant be forced to use students preferred pronouns

The policy would also not force teachers or students to use pronouns that do not correspond to an individuals biological sex.

It is not the intent of the district or its employees to be intentionally disparaging regarding the use of specific pronouns, the policy said.

Dundon said the policies, both from school districts and the state, are unconstitutional and argued that they violate free speech by limiting teachers rights to freely express themselves, which is a violation of free speech. She also said the policies are discriminatory because they target specific members of a community.

She said the policy doesnt limit speech about sexuality in general. It would not ban heterosexual teachers from speaking about their husbands or wives.

Because this dont say gay policy is applying only to the queer community, its unlawfully discriminatory, Dundon said.

Aside from the legal implications, Dundon said policies like Nampas create a revisionists history of who we are as Americans that is harmful to LGBTQ+ students.

The implication here is that not only do these kids not belong in Idaho, but theyve never been a part of the United States, Dundon said. We know that thats not true.

It is important that students in the LGBTQ+ community have the same basic human rights in school as every other student, Dundon said.

Theres nothing wrong or shameful about being queer, being of LGBTQ community or being trans, she said. Just like every other kid, these kids deserve and have a fundamental right to feeling safe at school.

The Nampa policy would require that the district work with students and their parents to create reasonable accommodations for any student unwilling or unable to use a school facility that corresponds with the persons biological sex.

During district-sponsored overnight trips, students would sleep in accommodations that align with their biological sex. Other accommodations could be made if a student is unable or unwilling to do that.

After the board discusses the policy Monday, trustees can then make additional edits to the policy and bring it back at a later date, or vote to accept the policy, district spokesperson Kathleen Tuck said in an email.

This law specifically targets us: Idaho families sue to block trans health care ban

Idaho will soon ban gender-affirming care. Here are the consequences for trans kids
An international pizza chain has announced plans to open a second location in Bellingham.

MOD Pizza is adding a location at Sehome Village, joining Bellinghams first MOD Pizza restaurant in Barkley Village, according to the companys website.

MOD Pizza has set up over 500 national restaurant locations and has even spread into Canada since starting in Seattle in 2008, according to a press release from the company. The restaurants menu includes customizable pizzas, and salads, along with seasonal specials such as a cinnamons sugar pizza, handheld pizzas or chocolate peppermint cakes.

In Washington state alone, MOD Pizza has 78 locations currently open or in the process of opening.

Bellinghams newest MOD Pizza does not have an opening date yet, but will be located at 330 36th St., near REI, Ace Hardware and Dollar Tree.
PITTSBURGH (AP)  A truck driver who spewed hatred of Jews was convicted Friday of barging into a Pittsburgh synagogue and shooting everyone he could find, killing 11 congregants in an act of antisemitic terror for which he could be sentenced to die.

The guilty verdict was a foregone conclusion after Robert Bowers own lawyers conceded at the trials outset that he attacked and killed worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue on Oct. 27, 2018, in the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. Jurors must now decide whether the 50-year-old should be sent to death row or sentenced to life in prison without parole as the federal trial shifts to a penalty phase expected to last several weeks.

Bowers was convicted of all 63 criminal counts he faced, including hate crimes resulting in death and obstruction of the free exercise of religion resulting in death. His attorneys had offered a guilty plea in return for a life sentence, but prosecutors refused, opting instead to take the case to trial and pursue the death penalty. Most of the victims families expressed support for the decision.

I am grateful to God for getting us to this day," Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Tree of Life Congregation, who survived the attack, said in a written statement. And I am thankful for the law enforcement who ran into danger to rescue me, and the U.S. Attorney who stood up in court to defend my right to pray.

The jury deliberated about five hours over two days before reaching a verdict. Bowers, wearing a dark sweater and blue shirt, had little reaction, as has often been the case throughout the trial. Several survivors and relatives of the deceased victims were in the courtroom, bearing quiet witness. A few sniffles were heard in he gallery as the judge intoned guilty dozens of times.

Bowers turned a sacred house of worship into a hunting ground, targeting his victims because of their religion, a prosecutor told jurors on Thursday. Reading the names of each of the 11 victims he killed, prosecutor Mary Hahn asked the jury to hold this defendant accountable ... and hold him accountable for those who cannot testify.

Bowers, who was armed with an AR-15 rifle and other weapons, also shot and wounded seven, including five responding police officers.

Prosecutors presented evidence of his deep-seated animosity toward Jews and immigrants. Over 11 days of testimony, jurors learned that Bowers had extensively posted, shared or liked antisemitic and white supremacist content on Gab, a social media platform popular with the far right, and praised Hitler and the Holocaust. Bowers told police that all these Jews need to die, Hahn said.

Survivors testified about the terror they felt that day, including a woman who recounted how she was shot in the arm and then realized her 97-year-old-mother had been shot and killed right next to her. Andrea Wedner, the trials last witness, told jurors she touched her mothers lifeless body and cried out, Mommy, before SWAT officers led her to safety.

Carole Zawatsky, CEO of the Tree of Life Congregation, said Friday she hoped the verdict would provide survivors and victims family members with some level of comfort and helps to ease the pain, even if ever so slightly.

With Bowers guilt established, survivors and family members of the deceased victims are expected to tell the jury about the devastating impact of his crimes. The penalty phase is scheduled to start June 26.

Bowers attorneys did not mount a defense at the guilt stage of the trial, signaling they will focus their efforts on trying to save his life. They plan to introduce evidence that Bowers has schizophrenia, epilepsy and brain impairments. Defense lawyer Judy Clarke had also sought to raise questions about Bowers motive, suggesting to jurors that his rampage was not motivated by religious hatred but his delusional belief that Jews were committing genocide by helping refugees settle in the United States.

The three congregations that shared the synagogue building  Dor Hadash, New Light and Tree of Life  have spoken out against antisemitism and other forms of bigotry since the attack. The Tree of Life congregation also is working on a plan to overhaul the synagogue building  which still stands but has been closed since the shootings  by creating a complex that would house a sanctuary, museum, memorial and center for fighting antisemitism.

The trial took place three years after President Joe Biden said during his 2020 campaign that he would work to end capital punishment at the federal level and in states that still use it. His attorney general, Merrick Garland, has temporarily paused executions to review policies and procedures. But federal prosecutors continue to vigorously work to uphold already-issued death sentences and, in some cases, to pursue the death penalty at trial for crimes that are eligible, as in Bowers case.

___

Associated Press reporter Michael Rubinkam in northeastern Pennsylvania contributed to this report.

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
BEIRUT (AP)  A son of Libyas leader Moammar Gadhafi is suffering deteriorating health during the second week of a hunger strike to protest his detention in Beirut without trial, his lawyer said Friday.

Hannibal Gadhafi is only drinking small amounts of water, his lawyer Paul Romanos said, adding that his client is suffering from weakness and muscle pains.

Had it not been for his solid will, he would not have been able to continue, Romanos said about Hannibal Gadhafi. He added that a doctor is doing a daily checkups for the detainee, who has been also suffering from back pain that turned out to be an inflammation in the spine.

Romanos said earlier this month that the back pain is due to being held in a small room where he cannot move freely or exercise.

Hannibal Gadhafi 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.

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.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan visited New Delhi, India, June 13-14.

He met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and his counterpart National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.

READ NEXT: Readout of Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer's Meeting with Maldives Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid

He reviewed preparations for the upcoming official state visit of the Prime Minister, and discussed a range of strategic, regional, and bilateral issues including steps to advance the strategic technology and defense partnership between the United States and India.

The two National Security Advisors unveiled a roadmap for cooperation at a stakeholder event on the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET).

Mr. Sullivan's visit underscored the dynamism of the U.S.-India partnership in advance of Prime Minister Modi's historic official state visit next week to the United States.

READ MORE: Statement from President Biden on the Confirmation of Jared Bernstein

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
By Michelle Nichols

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Mali's interim military authorities on Friday asked for a United Nations peacekeeping force to leave "without delay", citing a "crisis of confidence" between Malian authorities and the decade-long U.N. mission known as MINUSMA.

It marks a major turning point for the West African country, which has struggled to stem an Islamist insurgency that took root following an uprising in 2012. MINUSMA was deployed by the U.N. Security Council in 2013 to support foreign and local efforts to restore stability.

Frustrations over the growing insecurity spurred two coups in 2020 and 2021 and the ruling junta has been increasingly at loggerheads with MINUSMA and other international allies including France.

"Unfortunately, MINUSMA seems to have become a part of the problem in fuelling inter-community tensions," Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop told the 15-member council.

"This situation is begetting mistrust among the Malian population and also causing a crisis of confidence between Malian authorities and MINUSMA," he said. "The Malian government asks for the withdrawal, without delay, of MINUSMA."

Security Council members must adopt a resolution to extend MINUSMA's mandate by June 30. A resolution requires at least nine votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, the United States, Britain or France to pass.

The junta has burnt bridges with traditional Western allies and turned to Russia for help boosting its military capabilities. Western governments are worried about the presence of Russian private military contractor Wagner.

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council on Friday that the peacekeeping mission could only be successful if there was "very close coordination with the host country and respect for sovereignty of Mali."

"The real issue is not the number of peacekeepers but the functions, and one of the key tasks for the government of Mali is fighting terrorism, which is not provided for in the mandate of the blue helmets," Nebenzia said.

The priority tasks of the mission - as mandated by the Security Council - are to help stabilize Mali by supporting a political transition, protect civilians under threat of physical violence, promote and protect human rights and create a secure environment for humanitarian aid deliveries.

Violence has spiralled since 2015 with attacks by groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State spreading to Malis neighbours in the Sahel region. Thousands have been killed and over six million displaced, according to the U.N.

French U.N. Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere said that a UN report to the council had stated that despite dialogue between MINUSMA and the Malian authorities, U.N. peacekeepers were still being impeded in their movements.

"Since the arrival of Wagner in Mali this restriction has only increased as have serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law," de Riviere said.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recommended this month that the Security Council extend MINUSMA's mandate for a year, maintaining the current authorized strength of some 15,000 troops and police.

When asked about Diop's remarks on Friday, the U.N. special envoy to Mali, El-Ghassim Wane, said a decision on the future of MINUSMA was up to the council.

"Clearly peacekeeping operations operate on the basis of consent from the host country and absent that consent operating in a specific country would be extremely challenging, if not impossible," he told reporters.

(Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Additional reporting by Bate Felix; Writing by Alessandra Prenticel and Michelle Nichols Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Grant McCool)
Workers on strike outside Rancho Pescadero, a luxury beachfront hotel in Pescadero in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur where two Californians died of carbon monoxide poisoning Tuesday. (Meghan Dhaliwal / For The Times)

Current and former employees at a luxury hotel in Mexico where two Americans were found dead this week said managers of the resort ignored repeated signs of a possible gas leak and disabled carbon monoxide detectors to stop their alarms from disturbing guests.

Ricardo Carbajal, a former night manager at Rancho Pescadero, a $600-a-night beachfront boutique hotel owned by Hyatt, said carbon monoxide detectors sounded frequently over a period of about three months late last year, probably because of leaks in a system that delivers gas to outdoor fire pits.

In January, Carbajal said, after repeated complaints from guests about the loud alarms, hotel managers disabled the detectors.

They knew there were problems with gas leaks, said Carbajal, who stopped working at the resort in March after a dispute over pay. Everyone was aware of the alarms and that the detectors were off.

Three current employees who spoke on condition of anonymity also said the detectors were disabled. One of them, who works in the hotel spa, said they believed it was only the sound of the detectors that was deactivated and that hotel security guards continued to receive alerts when the devices detected gas.

Those current employees and another, who all spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared for their jobs, said hotel managers for months ignored complaints about the strong smell of gas from both guests and employees.

"Housekeepers reported gas leaks, security reported gas leaks, maintenance workers reported gas leaks," said one of the employees. The employee said that a few days before the guests were found dead, a housekeeper cleaning their room fell ill because of suspected gas poisoning.

The bodies of John Heathco and Abby Lutz, both of California, were discovered Tuesday night inside their room at Rancho Pescadero, which reopened after extensive renovations about a year ago in the beach community of El Pescadero, an hour north of Cabo San Lucas.

Autopsies suggest the two died of intoxication by an undetermined substance, prosecutors in Mexicos Baja California Sur state told the Associated Press.

Local police initially reported that gas inhalation was suspected as the cause of death.

Hyatt officials previously said they do not believe the deaths were related to problems with the hotel infrastructure or a gas leak. They did not respond to requests for comment Friday regarding disabled carbon monoxide alarms at the resort.

CROC union leader Arturo Miranda chants with striking employees outside Rancho Pescadero. (Meghan Dhaliwal / For The Times)

New accounts from two paramedics who responded to the deaths lend credence to the theory that gas poisoning was likely to blame.

Fernando Valencia Sotelo and Grisel Valencia Sotelo, firefighters who are also siblings, arrived at the hotel late Tuesday after staff discovered the bodies of Heathco and Lutz.

The two firefighters immediately fell ill upon entering the couple's hotel room, according to a GoFundMe account established to raise money for their medical care. They were being treated at a hospital Friday and undergoing studies to see whether they suffered neurological damage.

In an interview with "Good Morning America," Lutz's stepmother, Racquel Lutz, said the young woman had told her family Monday evening that she and Heathco had spent the previous night in the hospital because they felt sick and thought they had food poisoning. Lutz said they had been given fluids intravenously and were feeling better.

"She texted [her father] Monday night to say goodnight, love you, and then we hadn't heard from her again," Racquel Lutz said.

Chad Richeson, Abby Lutz's uncle  who is acting as a spokesperson for the family  said that Lutz and Heathco spent time at the pool Monday but it was not clear how much time they spent in their room.

The Lutz family was traveling to Mexico on Friday to "to bring Abby home" and was not available for further comment, Richeson said.

Abby Lutz did not mention any unusual or powerful smells to her family, Richeson said. Neither the hotel nor Hyatt has reached out to the Lutzes, he said.

In a statement, her family described Lutz, who lived in Newport Beach, as "a light to everyone around her" who was known for her smile and laugh and for "making everyone feel special."

"It is our hope that more information will come to light to explain what happened to Abby, and why," the statement said. "This information will help us gain closure, and may prevent this type of incident from happening in the future. We dont wish for anyone else to go through this tragedy."

Outside the hotel Friday, several dozen employees gathered for a protest. They detailed a history of complaints to hotel managers over what they described as wage theft as well as safety conditions for employees, including fears over gas leaks.

One of the employees who spoke on condition of anonymity said workers were worried about a possible explosion given the frequent odor of gas. "We are indignant that we reported this, and this tragedy still happened," the employee said.

Guests also explained about the overpowering smell of gas.

Alexander Coughlin, a real estate agent from San Francisco, stayed at Rancho Pescadero from Friday through Monday. He ate at the hotel's restaurant, Kahal, on Friday night and was originally seated near a fire feature, which he said ran the length of the restaurant. There were about 30 other people in the restaurant that night, he said, including many of whom sat near the fire.

Within about five minutes of his seating, Coughlin said he was overwhelmed by a strong smell of gas and asked twice to be moved. A waiter agreed with him that the odor was powerful, Coughlin told The Times.

He said the property's food and beverage director reached out to him by email about his survey rating his stay at the hotel, which included grading his dining experience. He told the director about the smell.

"That was the first thing I mentioned in my email," Coughlin said. He sent the email Wednesday afternoon but said he hasn't heard anything more from the resort.

Rancho Pescadero, a luxury beachfront hotel owned by Hyatt, in the town of Pescadero in Baja California Sur, Mexico. (Meghan Dhaliwal / For The Times)

Gas leaks from faulty lines are common across Mexico and have been linked to multiple tourist deaths in recent years.

Last year, three Americans were found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning at their Airbnb in Mexico City.

Linthicum reported from Mexico City, Petri from Los Angeles.





This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Sabine Siebold and Andrew Gray

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -NATO defence ministers failed on Friday to reach agreement over new plans on how the alliance would respond to a Russian attack, and one diplomat blamed Turkey for blocking them.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the ministers reviewed the plans - the first since the end of the Cold War and given impetus by Russia's invasion of Ukraine - at a two-day meeting in Brussels and were moving closer to agreeing on them.

But one diplomat said Turkey had blocked approval over the wording of geographical locations, including with regard to Cyprus. There was still an opportunity to find a solution before the NATO summit in mid-July in Vilnius, the diplomat added.

Turkey's diplomatic mission to NATO said it would be wrong to comment on a secret NATO document, adding only that "the usual process of consultations and evaluation among allies is continuing".

The so-called regional plans comprise thousands of pages of secret military plans that will detail how the alliance would respond to a Russian attack.

The drawing up of the documents signifies a fundamental shift. NATO had seen no need for large-scale defence plans for decades as it fought smaller wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and felt certain post-Soviet Russia no longer posed an existential threat.

But with Europe's bloodiest war since 1945 raging just beyond its borders in Ukraine, the alliance is now warning that it must have all planning in place well before a conflict with a peer adversary such as Moscow might erupt.

NATO will also give nations guidance on how to upgrade their forces and logistics.

"While regional plans were not formally endorsed today, we anticipate these plans will be part of a series of deliverables for the Vilnius Summit in July," a senior U.S. official told Reuters.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Andrew Gray, Editing by Charlotte Van Campenhout and Angus MacSwan)
BOISE, Idaho (AP)  A man has pleaded guilty to hate crime charges for threatening to use his vehicle to hit an Idaho library worker who defended a transgender co-worker, as well as two women he believed were lesbians, according to court documents and the U.S. Justice Department.

Matthew Alan Lehigh, 31, of Oregon, on Thursday entered the plea to two hate crimes charges in federal court in Idaho, the department said. Lehigh had signed a plea agreement in the case last month. He faces sentencing later.

An attorney for Lehigh did not immediately return an email seeking comment sent after hours Thursday.

Lehigh acknowledged as part of the plea agreement that last October at a Boise public library he threatened and struck with a closed fist a library worker who is transgender. Another library employee tried to protect the co-worker and followed Lehigh as Lehigh fled to the parking lot. There, Lehigh got into his car and after the worker who followed him outside approached, Lehigh accelerated his car toward the person, who jumped out of the way, according to the agreement.

Days later, Lehigh was in a parking lot in his car at a Boise park and saw two women he assumed, based on their appearance and dress were lesbians, according to the document. He shouted threats and slurs at them and accelerated his car toward them. They jumped out of the way, the document states, but Lehigh's vehicle hit the car of one of the women.

The Justice Department said Lehigh, as part of the agreement, also admitted responsibility for three other incidents, including setting on fire a pride flag that was on a same-sex couple's porch.

Hate crimes such as this are an attack on a deeply personal part of someones identity, and they have a devastating impact on families and communities, said Luis Quesada, assistant director of the FBIs Criminal Investigative Division. The FBI will not tolerate violence against the LGBTQI+ community."
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he urged Turkey to allow Sweden's entry into NATO during an introductory meeting on Friday with his new Turkish counterpart Yasar Guler during a gathering of NATO defense ministers in Brussels.

"My purpose in meeting him today was an introductory meeting, just to congratulate him on being installed as minister of defence. Of course, (I) seize every opportunity to encourage him to move forward and approve the accession of Sweden," Austin told a press conference at NATO headquarters.

"But it's a very short meeting, and I don't have anything to report out from that."

Both Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year, choosing to abandon decades of military non-alignment in favour of the transatlantic alliance's collective security guarantee.

Finland became a NATO member in April this year but Ankara has yet to approve Sweden's accession, accusing Stockholm of harbouring Kurdish militants that it considers to be terrorists and complaining about anti-Turkey protests in Sweden.

Hungary is the only other NATO member yet to ratify Sweden's NATO bid, citing Swedish criticism of its record on rule of law. But NATO diplomats say they expect Hungary would move quickly to ratify if Ankara signals it is ready to do so.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying on Wednesday that Sweden should not expect a green light from Ankara at a NATO summit next month unless it prevents anti-Turkey protests in Stockholm.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday that Sweden had addressed Turkish concerns and reiterated his view that Stockholm is ready to join the alliance.

"My message has been now for many, many months that actually Sweden has delivered and that's the message from (NATO) allies," he told reporters after the defence ministers' meeting.

He said there had been "some progress" this week in talks aimed at addressing Turkey's objections to Swedish membership.

(Reporting by Andrew Gray, Sabine Siebold and Phil Stewart; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
By Philip Pullella and Cristiano Corvino

ROME (Reuters) -Pope Francis was discharged from hospital on Friday morning, nine days after surgery to repair an abdominal hernia, and his doctor said he was stronger than before.

The 86-year-old pontiff left Rome's Gemelli hospital in a wheelchair, smiling and waving to reporters and well-wishers at the main entrance as he was taken to a waiting car.

"The pope is well. He is in better shape than before," Sergio Alfieri, who operated on Francis on June 7, told reporters.

The Vatican said he would recite his noon prayer on Sunday in St. Peter's Square and resume private audiences next week but would skip the Wednesday general audience in the square "to safeguard his post-operative recovery".

Francis is due to receive Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Tuesday and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday.

As he was being taken to the car, Francis was asked about the latest migrant tragedy off the coast of Greece, where at least 79 people drowned early on Wednesday and hundreds more were missing and feared dead.

"So much pain, so much," Italian media quoted him as saying.

Before returning to the Vatican, Francis stopped to pray at an icon of the Madonna at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of his custums when he returns from a trip or a hospital stay.

When he reached a Vatican gate he briefly got out of his car, and, standing for a minute, individually thanked members of the Italian police escort.

"I am happy and I pray so much to the Lord to leave him here with us for a long time because he is everyone's pope," said Sister Anna Rita, an Italian nun who watched him return.

Alfieri said the pope was well enough to travel. Francis travels to Portugal at the start of August and Mongolia at the end of that month.

"He will be able (to carry out his duties) better than before because he no longer will have the discomfort. He will be a stronger pope," Alfieri said.

"He already has resumed working. We asked him to rest a bit and I am certain that this time he will listen to us a bit more because he has some important commitments, which he told us he would respect."

The pope traditionally takes all of July off, with the Sunday blessings his only public appearances, so he will have next month to rest before his trips.

(Additional reporting by Yesim Dikmen, Alessandro D'Angelo, Roberto Mignucci, Oriana Boselli, Fabbiano Franchitti and Jaime Lopez; editing by Gavin Jones, Kevin Liffey, William Maclean)
SEATTLE (AP)  A pregnant woman who was killed in what appears to have been a random shooting in downtown Seattle this week has been identified as the owner of a sushi restaurant near the citys famed Pike Place Market.

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said on Twitter Thursday that his condolences go out to the family of Eina Kwon. Kwon, 34, was eight months pregnant when a man shot multiple times into her car Tuesday while it was stopped at an intersection near the Aburiya Bento House restaurant she owned with her husband.

The fetus was delivered at a hospital and but died soon after, according to a probable cause statement. The womans 37-year-old husband, Sung Kwon, was shot in the arm and treated at the hospital.

Eina was a leader in our community and business owner, running Aburiya Bento House with her family. What was supposed to be a joyful time for the Kwon family has turned into an unimaginable nightmare caused by senseless gun violence, Harrell's statement said.

Harrell also said he spoke to Sung Kwon on Thursday.

He is a grieving but resilient father and husband who is grappling with unimaginable pain while recovering from his own injuries, Harrell said.

On Tuesday morning, a man approached the couple's car, fired at the drivers side with a handgun and ran away, the probable cause statement said. Video from the neighborhood showed no previous interaction with the victims.

Police said they found a 30-year-old man who matched witnesses description soon after. Approached by officers, he raised his arms and said, I did it, I did it, according to police. Police said the man told investigators he saw a firearm in the vehicle and reacted by firing.

He was taken into custody, and a judge found probable cause to hold him on investigation of homicide, assault and unlawful possession of a firearm, according to a spokesperson for prosecutors. Charges are expected this week, The Seattle Times reported.

The shooting has led to an outpouring of grief for the Kwons, who also have a toddler.

Mourners have placed flowers and other remembrances at their now-shuttered restaurant, including Eunji Seo, the consulate general for the Republic of Korea in Seattle. A crowdfunding campaign to bring Eina Kwons family from Korea to the United States for her funeral has raised nearly $50,000.

The Kwons opened Aburiya, which serves traditional and fusion sushi, in 2018. The restaurant is popular with tourists and downtown workers seeking lunch deals.
Sweeping changes to Boises cityscape could reconfigure neighborhoods and commercial districts for generations to come.

Boise could enter a new era of growth in the coming months, marked Thursday by the unanimous City Council approval of an expansive zoning law intended to spur denser, more urban development accompanied by more affordability.

The new regulations, which have been years in the making, will change what is allowed to be built on properties throughout the city. They will allow triplexes and fourplexes in residential neighborhoods, where previously only duplexes usually could be built. They will make small apartment buildings easier to build in residential areas and allow fewer required parking spaces for single-family homes and small apartment buildings. More protected bicycle parking will be required in apartment buildings, and city laws will favor more urban, pedestrian-oriented and multistory buildings with apartments along transit corridors that are now commercial districts.

The law will also tie some higher-density allowances to affordability or sustainability incentives, allowing developers to go higher and larger by requiring them to build units for renters making 80% of the area median income or less.

This will be certainly the greatest privilege I ever have to be able to vote in favor of this, Council Member Patrick Bageant said before casting his vote.

If the market follows the new regulations, that could mean more apartments in neighborhoods, some of which would have to be rented at $1,249 or less for a one-bedroom, or $1,426 for a two-bedroom, according to this years income metrics. It would also allow neighborhood cafes and markets.

The new law creates mixed-use zones along transit corridors and in high-activity areas, which city officials hope will mean surface parking lots and single-story commercial businesses along State Street and Vista Avenue get replaced with multistory retail and apartment buildings. Those corridors, along with Fairview Avenue, are where the city has focused its public transit, in the hopes that some people who live in those areas could go without a car.

Along with these changes are also efforts to streamline the application process, with the aim of making it easier for developers to get projects through the citys pipelines. That means some applications  those that are more in line with the kinds of development city officials want to see  could go forward without a public hearing, unless a neighbor pays a fee to file an appeal. The plans also change noticing requirements, and require less or different notifications for many development projects.

On Thursday, City Council members made a number of alterations to the proposed law, including decoupling the affordability and sustainability incentives and cutting back affordable deed restrictions from a 50-year requirement to a 20-year requirement. The new law is scheduled to take effect Dec. 1.

The citywide changes have come with significant controversy, with some residents arguing that the shifts will push up property values, cause too much change too quickly, or alter neighborhood character.

More than 150 people testified at two nights of public hearings, with vigorous opposition from some quarters amid largely supportive testimony.

A group opposed to the changes, called Reject Boise Upzone, organized against the code, held a rally at City Hall earlier this month and distributed neighborhood signs. Mayor Lauren McLeans leading opponent for the November election, Mike Masterson, has opposed the changes, and some City Council candidates have said they oppose the new laws.

During testimony, some members of the public asked the council to wait until after the November election, in part because two of the six-member council were appointed by McLean.

But the council decided unanimously Thursday to pass the new law in an emotional vote that two council members said had been the most important they have yet cast.

I think its as good as it gets, Planning Director Tim Keane told the Idaho Statesman of the new law as it compares to zoning reforms in other cities. Keane came to Boise last year from Atlanta, where he led the Georgia citys planning department. He said the changes should provide a set of solutions to a variety of housing affordability and development problems and incorporated many changes from public input.

The variety of approaches that are included in this is not typical, he said. And the degree to which we shaped this thing around the city physically  thats the most important thing and usually that doesnt happen.

Boise mayor wants more affordable housing, higher density, more transit. Heres the plan

The downtown Boise skyline, background, and homes just north of Federal Way. Changes to the citys zoning laws would allow denser development in Boise neighborhoods.

Why did the council pass the new law?

In emotional testimony that brought McLean and Council Member Colin Nash close to tears, Boises elected leaders described their personal backgrounds, struggles to find housing they could afford and transitions from living in rented duplexes or accessory dwelling units as they went to school, raised their families or moved to the Treasure Valley.

Council Member Luci Willits, the councils only Republican and an energetic proponent of parking, said she has issues with some of the new provisions but empathizes with people who have struggled to afford a home, noting that she grew up in a double-wide trailer and could not afford to buy a home in Boises core when she moved here.

We need lots of different types of housing, she said. I dont want urban sprawl in other parts of the valley because were too tight here in Boise.

Nash said he bought a home and flipped it to pay for graduate school just before home prices soared several years ago, and now rents in the Winstead Park neighborhood as he raises his young children.

There are a lot of people that are in my situation that maybe never even owned a home that feel like they missed a lottery ticket because they werent in the market in the last five years, he said. We need to do something about it.  Whats come out of this, pardon my language, its just pretty damn good.

Before voting, two council members  Jimmy Hallyburton and Latonia Haney Keith  disagreed with their colleagues over the reduction of the affordability incentives from 50 to 20 years.

I do look back on the housing policies that have been in place across the country since the 1930s, and think about the lack of inter-generational wealth that is plaguing many sectors of our society, Haney Keith said. And the ability to have affordable housing is not an issue that is going to go away anytime soon, even within the next 50 years.

Hallyburton and Haney Keith said they largely supported the zoning rewrite, and still cast their votes in favor of it.

Council President Holli Woodings  who pushed to drop the incentive to 20 years  said she was in favor of revisiting the code in a years time, and that if many developers are using the incentives, she said she would be in favor of the city making the time frame longer.

Readings of the new zoning ordinance are scheduled to begin later this month, after which the law is set to be adopted. City planning staff members are also expected to bring minor modifications forward in November, and to bring the new regulations back a year after they become law to evaluate their effectiveness.

Did the council make changes?

After the two nights of public hearing, Keane recommended a number of changes to the code, some of which were in response to testimony. Notably, the affordability and sustainability incentives were decoupled, meaning that developers can choose to pursue one or the other.

Previously, developers could have built extra units on standard residential lots  up to three or four units  if one of three or two of four of the units were rented affordably and met sustainability requirements like all-electric appliances, clean energy heating and other conservation measures. Now, developers will be able to pursue a single incentive after council members expressed concerns that requiring both would make it too difficult to take advantage of the incentives.

Other similar incentives applied to larger apartment buildings or condominiums in residential areas  up to 12 units  and have also been decoupled.

Other changes the council made include: changing conditional use permit language to require a public benefit clause to accompany the mitigation of negative impacts a project has on a neighborhood; increasing long-term bicycle parking requirements in apartments by tying them to the number of bedrooms; softening the transition between all neighborhood areas and mixed-use districts; providing notice to adjacent properties when the types of projects city officials prefer are approved; increasing the time neighborhood associations have to testify from five minutes to 10; requiring neighborhood improvements  like trail connections  that are tied to conditional use permits to be built within one year of occupancy; allowing developers to request to go below parking minimums; and removing parking and owner-occupancy requirements for accessory dwelling units.

What has the public said?

The more than 150 testifiers included a former county commissioner, a former mayor, representatives from utility companies, longtime Boise residents and newcomers.

Diana Lachiondo, a former Ada County commissioner, said the new zoning laws would help Boise avoid sprawl. Brent Coles, a former Boise mayor, said he was in favor of the changes but advised the council to make sure the city has the data that shows the new density will create more affordability.

Idaho Power, the regions electric utility, asked for small changes it said would help the company deliver electricity to residents. Intermountain Gas, a gas utility, tried to get the city to curtail its sustainability incentives, which require electric-only appliances and heating.

Our lives are richer for living in the diverse neighborhood the code envisions, Denise Caruzzi, a resident, said. I understand the code doesnt solve everything about housing scarcity, but it is one tool.

Lori Dicaire, a specialist at the Intermountain Fair Housing Council, expressed concerns about new criteria for conditional use permits that would allow for impacts so long as a project is in the public good.

It is usually poor people that take that sacrifice for the public good, Dicaire said, adding that she wants the city to protect existing affordable housing.

Some developers said they supported the code, arguing that Boise needs more housing supply.

This represents a really effective step in the right direction, said Reuben Teague, a housing investor. He added that upzoning can relieve pressure on housing prices.

An architect who was on the citys advisory committee for the zoning rewrite, Byron Folwell, said he has spent years watching the unaffordability crisis coming and feeling powerless to really do anything about it, because the current code had made so many of those solutions illegal.

But some dont think the incentives will work.

By requiring a developer to have one unit be affordable in a triplex and two units be affordable in a fourplex, I think youre shooting yourself in the foot, one resident who said he works in real estate said. The math doesnt work.

During his presentation Thursday, Keane, the planning director, said the new code is not a solution to everything, adding that some of the citys aims will have to be fleshed out more to be effective.

We know weve got some things to do next, he said.
Kylie Jenner's company, Kylie Cosmetics, is facing a lawsuit from model Sasha Palma, who alleges she was not paid on time.

The model claims Kylie's brand hired her for two one-day shoots in 2020.

Kylie Jenner's Firm Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Late Model Payment

As per a report by TMZ, a Kylie cosmetics representative told the news outlet that they paid the model who sued them on time. The rep notes that they have disbursed the payment within the 45 days deadline stated in her invoice for the shoots, noting that they have the documentation to prove that.

According to the lawsuit, the model, Palma, brought Kylie's firm to court, claiming that the company missed the deadline for her payment. She notes that the cosmetics brand hired her as their model in June 2020, and she was supposed to get her pay in the next month or in July 2020, to be exact.

However, Palma claims that the company failed to pay her within her set deadline, which is more than 30 days or a month.

The same lawsuit alleges Kylie Cosmetics failed to pay her on time for another shoot she did with the brand last August 2020. She says the company was supposed to pay her a $2,000 check for her one-day photo shoot. Yet, she claims the payment was made beyond her 40 days deadline.

The model is suing the cosmetics brand for $120,000 for the late payments in the two one-day shoots. Palma asserts that she is entitled to a $60,000 penalty for each disbursement delay.

Read Also: Kylie Jenner, Blac Chyna Post Selfie Together: 'We've Been Best Friends The Whole Time' [PHOTOS]

Who is Sasha Palma?

According to Opoyi, Palma, who is suing the Kylie Jenner-owned cosmetics firm, is a Los Angeles-based model. DT Model Management discloses that the model flaunts stunning brown eyes and dark brown hair and is 5 '10 inches tall.

A source close to Jenner tells TMZ that it appears that the model's agency has withheld her payment from the shoots for Kylie's brands. On top of that, the unnamed source claims that Palma has requested a recommendation letter from the cosmetics firm. However, the brand declined her wish.

The lawsuit against Kylie Cosmetics by Palma is a friendly reminder of the importance of being paid on time for your work.

The American socialite, Jenner, has yet to respond to the lawsuit. According to Clutch Points, the Kylie Cosmetics owner's estimated net is a staggering $750 million. She is widely known for her appearance on the sensational "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" reality show.

Related Article: Fact Check: Is It True That a Video of Kylie Jenner and Tyga's Private Moment Was Leaked?

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. rights groups plan protests next week against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Washington over what they call India's deteriorating human rights record, even though experts do not expect Washington to be publicly critical of New Delhi.

The Indian American Muslim Council, Peace Action, Veterans for Peace and Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition plan to gather near the White House on June 22 when Modi is due to meet President Joe Biden.

Washington hopes for closer ties with the world's largest democracy, which it sees as a counterweight to China, but rights advocates worry that geopolitics will overshadow human rights issues. The United States has said its human rights concerns related to India include the Indian government's targeting of religious minorities, dissidents and journalists.

The protesting groups prepared flyers that said "Modi Not Welcome" and "Save India from Hindu Supremacy."

Another event is planned in New York featuring a show titled "Howdy Democracy," a play on the name of the 2019 "Howdy Modi!" rally in Texas featuring the Indian prime minister and then-U.S. President Donald Trump.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have invited policy makers, journalists and analysts next week to a screening in Washington of a BBC documentary on Modi that questioned his leadership during the deadly 2002 Gujarat riots.

In a letter to Biden, Human Rights Watch's Asia Division director Elaine Pearson urged the White House to raise concerns, both publicly and privately, about human rights in India during Modi's visit.

"We strongly urge you to use your meetings with Prime Minister Modi to urge Modi to move his government and his party in a different direction," she said in the letter shared with Reuters.

All of this is unlikely to change the Biden-Modi discussions, said analysts.

"My guess is that human rights will not be much of a focus of the conversation," said Donald Camp, a former State Department official and part of Washington think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Camp said that for the Modi trip to be seen as successful on both sides, there would be a reluctance from Washington to raise human rights issues.

The U.S. State Department has said it regularly raises human rights concerns with Indian officials and respects the free speech rights of U.S. residents to demonstrate against Modi.

A spokesperson for India's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

CIVIL LIBERTY CONCERNS

Since Modi took office in 2014, India has slid from 140th in the World Press Freedom Index, to 161st this year, its lowest ever, while also topping the list for the highest number of internet shutdowns globally for five consecutive years.

Advocacy groups have also raised concerns over alleged human rights abuses under Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

They point to a 2019 citizenship law that the U.N. human rights office described as "fundamentally discriminatory" by excluding Muslim migrants; anti-conversion legislation that challenged the constitutionally protected right to freedom of belief; and the revoking of Muslim-majority Kashmir's special status in 2019.

There has also been demolition of properties owned by Muslims in the name of removing illegal construction; and a ban on wearing the hijab in classrooms in Karnataka when BJP was in power in that state.

The Indian government dismisses the criticism, saying its policies are aimed at the welfare of all communities and that it enforces the law equally. Modi remains India's most popular leader and is widely expected to remain in office after next year's elections.

The administration of then-President George W. Bush denied Modi a visa in 2005 under a 1998 U.S. law barring entry to foreigners who have committed "particularly severe violations of religious freedom." In 2002, when Modi had just become Gujarat's chief minister, at least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in sectarian riots.

Modi denied wrongdoing. An investigation ordered by India's supreme court found no evidence to prosecute him. When he became prime minister, the U.S. ban was lifted.

Under Biden, Washington has raised some muted concern, including by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and by the State Department in its 2023 reports on human rights and religious freedom.

"The China factor is certainly a prime reason why the U.S. treats rights and democracy issues in India with kid gloves, but it goes further than that," said Michael Kugelman, the director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center think tank in Washington.

"The U.S. views India as an important long-term partner."

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; additional reporting by Simon Lewis and Shilpa Jamkhandikar;Editing by Don Durfee, Heather Timmons and Alistair Bell)
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Russia's embassy in Israel will open a branch office in Jerusalem as part of an agreement with the city, the embassy and an Israeli foreign ministry official said on Friday.

The Russian embassy in Israel said in a statement that the deal over a land plot in West Jerusalem, which Russia purchased in 1885, was signed with Jerusalem's municipality on May 18, following a years-long process. The property will be used to construct a complex of buildings that will service the consular section of the embassy, the statement said.

The status of Jerusalem - home to sites holy to Christians, Jews and Muslims - is one the biggest obstacles to reaching a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.

Israel, which occupied East Jerusalem in a 1967 Middle East war and later annexed it, considers the city its eternal and indivisible capital. The Palestinians want the eastern part of the city as the capital of their own future state.

The international community does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over the entire city, believing Jerusalem's status should be resolved in negotiations.

While most foreign embassies are located in Tel Aviv, four opened in Jerusalem after the United States recognised the city as Israel's capital in 2017.

The move, which reversed decades of U.S. policy, has delighted Israel and infuriated Palestinians, who say it violates international law and could destroy the prospects of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.

At the time of former U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed serious concern and said "such steps can cancel out prospects for a Middle East peace process".

But the Russian embassy's statement on Friday said the opening of a branch office in Jerusalem "goes in line with our country's unchanging course towards a fair Middle East settlement".

(Reporting by Henriette Chacar; Editing by William Maclean)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have agreed that the Russian leader will visit Turkey "soon", Interfax cited a Kremlin aide as saying on Friday.

The visit would be Putin's first to a NATO country since he ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Putin has only rarely travelled outside Russia since the beginning of full-scale hostilities.

"There is an invitation from the President of Turkey. Putin and Erdogan agreed that the visit will be in the near future, but we have not yet talked about a specific day, specific dates," Interfax cited Kremlin foreign policy advisor Yury Ushakov as saying.

Erdogan, re-elected last month for another five-year term, has sought to maintain strong ties with both Moscow and Kyiv since the start of the conflict in Ukraine.

Turkey has refused to join its Western allies in imposing economic sanctions on Russia, but has also supplied arms to Ukraine and called for its sovereignty to be respected.

Ankara has also helped to broker prisoner exchanges and, along with the United Nations, negotiated a deal in July 2022 to allow for the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports via the Black Sea.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin in March over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, meaning he may run the risk of being arrested if he travels abroad. However, Ankara is not a party to the Rome Statute, which created the ICC, and so Putin would run no such risk by visiting Turkey.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Gareth Jones)
TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Saudi Arabias top diplomat is coming to visit Tehran, the latest step in the restoration of diplomatic ties between the two Mideast rivals, according to a statement from Iran on Friday.

The statement said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan will meet his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, on Saturday. Prince Faisal is also expected to officially inaugurate the kingdoms embassy in Tehran.

Both nations resumed the work of their diplomatic missions in the other country in recent weeks.

The Iranian foreign ministers visit comes after a visit to Saudi Arabia by the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier in June. In March, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations and reopen embassies after seven years of tensions.

It was a major diplomatic breakthrough negotiated by China, lowering the chance of further conflict between Riyadh and Tehran  both directly and in proxy conflicts around the region.

Iran has been blamed for a series of attacks in recent years following the United States' unilateral withdrawal from Tehrans nuclear deal with world powers in 2018, including one targeting the heart of Saudi Arabias oil industry in 2019, temporarily halving the kingdoms crude production.

Relations between the predominately Shiite Iran and the majority Sunni Saudi Arabia have long been tense. The kingdom broke ties with Iran in 2016 after protesters invaded Saudi diplomatic posts there. Saudi Arabia had executed a prominent Shiite cleric with 46 others days earlier, triggering the demonstrations.
By Chris Prentice

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A top U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) official on Friday rejected criticism of the regulator's cryptocurrency crackdown and slammed the sector for violating securities laws.

The regulator's heightened scrutiny of crypto firms comes in response to the industry's failure to comply with the agency's regulations, SEC enforcement director Gurbir Grewal said at a Rutgers University and Lowenstein Sandler LLP event in New York.

The agency's aggressive policing has sparked a wave of criticism from digital assets firms and advocates on Capitol Hill for what they describe as regulatory overreach.

"We have worked thoughtfully and incrementally in this space," Grewal said on Friday. "Typically you'd also see compliance but we're not seeing that in this space, so we had to change strategies."

The SEC began targeting initial coin sales as unregistered securities offerings, but has increasingly focused on crypto firms acting as unregistered exchanges and broker-dealers.

The crypto sector has said that existing U.S. regulations are inadequate and called for new rules. On Friday, Grewal questioned whether such new rules would work to tamp down misconduct.

"Even if you came up with a bespoke rule set, you have an entire industry where the ethos is built around noncompliance," he said.

The SEC last week sued Binance and Coinbase, two of the world's largest crypto exchanges, for allegedly breaking its rules. The SEC's actions were the latest in a crypto crackdown that has gathered pace under Democratic leadership.

Binance and Coinbase have both denied the allegations and have accused the SEC of walking away from the firms' efforts to cooperate and come to a resolution. Coinbase has said the agency hardened its stance and became less willing to work with crypto firms in the wake of the FTX scandal in late 2022.

(Reporting by Chris Prentice; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Suspected state-backed Chinese hackers used a security hole in a popular email security appliance to break into the networks of hundreds of public and private sector organizations globally, nearly a third of them government agencies including foreign ministries, the cybersecurity firm Mandiant said Thursday.

This is the broadest cyber espionage campaign known to be conducted by a China-nexus threat actor since the mass exploitation of Microsoft Exchange in early 2021, Charles Carmakal, Mandiant's chief technical officer, said in a emailed statement. That hack compromised tens of thousands of computers globally.

In a blog post Thursday, Google-owned Mandiant expressed high confidence that the group exploiting a software vulnerability in Barracuda Networks' Email Security Gateway was engaged in espionage activity in support of the Peoples Republic of China. It said the activivity began as early as October.

The hackers sent emails containing malicious file attachments to gain access to targeted organizations devices and data, Mandiant said. Of those organizations, 55% were from the Americas, 22% from Asia Pacific and 24% from Europe, the Middle East and Africa and they included foreign ministries in Southeast Asia, foreign trade offices and academic organizations in Taiwan and Hong Kong. the company said.

Mandiant said the majority impact in the Americas may partially reflect the geography of Barracuda's customer base.

Barracuda announced on June 6 that some of its its email security appliances had been hacked as early as October, giving the intruders a back door into compromised networks. The hack was so severe the California company recommended fully replacing the appliances.

After discovering it in mid-May, Barracuda released containment and remediation patches but the hacking group, which Mandiant identifies as UNC4841, altered their malware to try to maintain access, Mandiant said. The group then countered with high frequency operations targeting a number of victims located in at least 16 different countries.

Word of the breach arrived with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken departing for China this weekend as part of the Biden administrations push to repair deteriorating ties between Washington and Beijing.

His visit had initially been planned for early this year but was postponed indefinitely after the discovery and shootdown of what the U.S. said was a Chinese spy balloon over the United States.

Mandiant said the targeting at both the organizational and individual account levels, focused on issues that are high policy priorities for China, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. It said the hackers searched for email accounts of people working for governments of political or strategic interest to China at the time they were participating in diplomatic meetings with other countries.

In a emailed statement Thursday, Barracuda said about 5% of its active Email Security Gateway appliances worldwide showed evidence of potential compromise. It said it was providing replacement appliances to affected customers at no cost.

The U.S. government has accused Beijing of being its principal cyberespionage threat, with state-backed Chinese hackers stealing data from both the private and public sector.

In terms of raw intelligence affecting the U.S., Chinas largest electronic infiltrations have targeted OPM, Anthem, Equifax and Marriott.

Earlier this year, Microsoft said state-backed Chinese hackers have been targeting U.S. critical infrastructure and could be laying the technical groundwork for the potential disruption of critical communications between the U.S. and Asia during future crises.

China says the U.S. also engages in cyberespionage against it, hacking into computers of its universities and companies.



AP Business Writer Zen Soo contributed from Hong Kong.
By Pavel Polityuk, Olena Harmash

KYIV (Reuters) -A delegation of African leaders began a peace mission in Kyiv on Friday, undeterred by what Ukraine said was a volley of Russian missiles intended to greet them in the capital.

At least two explosions rocked the capital but mayor Vitali Klitschko said they were caused by air defences. He reported no deaths or big damage in the city but emergency services said four people, including a child, were hurt in the Kyiv region.

The peace delegation, including leaders from South Africa, Senegal, Zambia, the Comoros and Egypt, met defence ministry representatives ahead of talks planned later on Friday with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

The leaders are due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Saturday and, with Kyiv and Moscow courting the Global South, see a chance to mediate in a war that has hit African countries by disrupting grain and other food supplies.

"The mission is proceeding well and as planned," the South African presidency said on Twitter after the air strike.

The leaders are seeking agreement on a series of "confidence building measures", but Kyiv has said its own peace initiative must be the basis of any settlement and has launched a counteroffensive to push back Russian occupying forces.

The Kremlin, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022, has played down the chances of meaningful peace talks with Kyiv. It says conditions for a peace process are not in place, but that it is ready to listen and is open to outside initiatives.

The African leaders, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Senegalese President Macky Sall, began their trip by visiting the town of Bucha, outside Kyiv. Ukraine says Russian occupiers carried out executions, rapes and torture in Bucha, and international investigators are collecting evidence of war crimes. Russia denies the allegations.

LEADERS HEAD FOR AIR-RAID SHELTER

Air sirens later blared in Kyiv and Reuters saw the leaders heading into a hotel in the capital to use its air-raid shelter.

Ukraine's air force said it downed six "Kinzhal" ballistic missiles, six cruise missiles and two drones.

"Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter.

Andriy Yermak, head of the presidential staff, said: "Whenever a high-ranking foreign delegation visits Ukraine, Russia greets it with a missile attack on our peaceful cities."

Russia did not immediately comment on the events in Kyiv. It has said its air strikes are aimed against military and other infrastructure, though civilians have often been killed.

A draft framework document seen by Reuters says the objective of the African leaders' mission is to promote peace and encourage the parties to agree to a diplomacy-led process.

Those measures could include a pullback of Russian troops, removal of Russian tactical nuclear weapons from Belarus, suspension of implementation of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant targeting Putin, and relief from the Western sanctions imposed on Russia, it indicated.

An agreement on cessation of hostilities could follow, and would need to be accompanied by negotiations between Russia and the West, the document stated.

African countries have been hit hard by the fallout from the war, which has aggravated food price inflation and worsened existing hunger crises.

A Black Sea grain export deal has helped alleviate some of that pressure, though Russia has suggested it might quit the agreement. Among the measures that could be proposed by the African leaders in the first stage of their engagement was an "unconditional grain and fertiliser deal".

(Writing by Timothy Heritage; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
By Charlotte Greenfield

(Reuters) - The Taliban's acting governor of the Afghan central bank met China's ambassador this week to discuss banking relations and business, the bank's spokesperson told Reuters on Friday.

Afghanistan's banking system has been severely hampered by sanctions, a drop in liquidity from frozen central bank assets and a cut in development spending. Regulatory risk concerns of international banks have also largely cut off the country's formal banking sector from the global financial system.

China does not have formal diplomatic ties with Afghanistan but has continued to maintain an embassy in Kabul since the Taliban took over the country in 2021. Beijing has recently signalled economic interest in its neighbour, and although some Chinese business executives have raised security concerns, they have said they are looking into investment opportunities, especially in mining.

"In this meeting, economy, banking relations, business and some related topics were discussed," the bank's spokesperson Hassibullah Noori told Reuters, adding the meeting took place on Thursday in Kabul between Ambassador Wang Yu and acting governor Mullah Hidayatullah Badri.

China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Badri is a senior Taliban figure who became acting head of the central bank in March after stepping down as acting finance minister. He was head of the economic commission of the Islamic Emirate, as the Taliban refer to their government, as they conducted a 20-year insurgency against the former Western-backed government of Afghanistan, according to Taliban officials, and he ran most of the Taliban's fundraising operations at the time.

(Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield in Islamabad; Additional reporting by Laurie Chen in Beijing; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
(Reuters) - All state-funded colleges and universities in Texas will have to close their diversity, equity and inclusion offices under a measure signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

The law, which one of its sponsors in the Texas state Senate called the most significant ban on diversity offices in higher education in the country, comes as the U.S. Supreme Court later this month is widely expected to ban colleges and universities from considering race as a factor in their admissions decisions.

Under the Texas law, signed by Abbott on Wednesday, any public college or university that does not certify it is in compliance with the measure would not be able to spend state funds allocated to it.

It also mandates that state officials every two years through 2029 conduct studies to gauge the impact of the law on students broken down by race. It will look at the rates of application, acceptance, matriculations, retention and graduation, along with grade point averages. The law does not explain the reasoning for conducting these studies.

The law is the latest salvo from Texas' Republican lawmakers and Abbott, also is a Republican, and comes as critics assail diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, efforts as divisive or anti-white, while proponents say they can help people from different backgrounds learn to work together.

"Texas is leading the nation and ensuring our campuses return to focusing on the strength of diversity and promoting a merit-based approach where individuals are judged on their qualifications, skills, and contributions," state Senator Brandon Creighton, a Republican who was one of the bill's authors, said in a statement.

But Paulette Granberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, said in a statement that the bill's signature marked a "sad occasion for all students at Texas' public universities."

"By dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and offices at these institutions, Texas lawmakers have chosen to prioritize a political agenda instead of the success of these students," Russell wrote.

She said all students, regardless of race, benefit from having a diverse student body, and that her organization would not stop working for Texas universities to be increasingly accessible and inclusive.

(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas; editing by Donna Bryson and Leslie Adler)
(Photo : Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam K. Thomas/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)

The United States deployed a nuclear-powered, guided-missile submarine to South Korea as a show of force intended to deter North Korea.

On Friday, the United States deployed a nuclear-powered submarine to South Korea, a day after North Korea resumed missile tests in response to US-South Korean live-fire exercises.

According to South Korean officials, the USS Michigan's approach, the first of its kind in six years, is part of a recent bilateral agreement to enhance the "regular visibility" of US strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula in response to North Korea's nuclear advancement.

US Nuclear-Powered Submarine Arrives in South Korea

The South Korean Ministry of Defense stated in a statement that with the deployment of the USS Michigan, the US and South Korean navies will conduct exercises aimed at enhancing their special operation capabilities and joint capacity to counter growing North Korean nuclear threats.

It was reported that the US submarine had arrived in the southeastern port city of Busan, but its length of stay in South Korean waters was not specified. The USS Michigan is one of the largest submarines in the globe, as per US News.

According to a South Korean statement, the Ohio-class guided-missile submarine is capable of launching special forces missions and is armed with 150 Tomahawk missiles with a range of approximately 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles).

The Malaysian Reserve reports that the visit occurs after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol received assurances during an April summit with President Joe Biden to strengthen extended deterrence measures, including the deployment of nuclear-armed submarines on a more regular basis.

Read Also: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Sends 'First Bus' of Migrants to California in Latest Salvo From Immigration War

North Korea Launches Missile Tests

The US military exercises are intended to serve as a reminder of a warning President Biden issued to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a meeting with the president of South Korea, stating that a nuclear attack by North Korea would be suicidal.

The North Korean leader was defiant, launching two short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday night in protest of enormous live-fire exercises between the United States and South Korea that ended this week just south of the two Koreas' shared border.

The 1980-launched USS Michigan is designed to deploy Trident submarine-launched ballistic missiles, according to the US Navy. The United States sent the submarine to South Korea in 2017 as a display of force as tensions with North Korea increased.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the 18,000-ton submarine is approximately 170 meters (560 feet) in length and can be equipped with 150 Tomahawk missiles with a range of 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles).

This year, North Korea has conducted multiple launches in violation of international sanctions, including tests of its most potent intercontinental ballistic missiles and an attempt last month to launch a military surveillance satellite.

Per NDTV, Pyongyang launched two ballistic missiles on Thursday in an apparent response to ongoing military exercises between the United States and South Korea. North Korea views all of these exercises as invasion rehearsals and has referred to them as "frantic" maneuvers "simulating an all-out war against Pyongyang."

Related Article: North Korea Allegedly Fires Ballistic Missiles Into Japan's Sea; PM Kishida Calls It 'Voilent Action'

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Colorado River cuts through Lees Ferry in the Navajo Nation en route to the Grand Canyon. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

As the federal government starts negotiations on long-term plans for the overtapped Colorado River, leaders of tribes are pushing for more involvement in the talks, saying they want to be at the table in high-level discussions among the seven states that rely on the river.

The 30 tribes in the Colorado River Basin have rights to use roughly one-fourth of the rivers average supply. But over the past century, leaders of tribal nations were largely excluded from regional talks about river management, and only in recent years have they begun to play a larger role.

Leaders of several tribes say they continue to be left out of key talks between state and federal officials, and they are demanding inclusion as the Biden administration begins the process of developing new rules for dealing with shortages after 2026, when the current rules are set to expire.

They've met, they've discussed, they've made decisions that we only find out afterwards, said Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis, leader of the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona. And the 30 tribes  and I've heard this from my fellow tribal leaders  they are very frustrated by that, especially as we look at a post-2026 process moving forward.

Kayakers float down the Colorado River through Fort Mojave. Fort Mojave Indian Reservation owns land along the Colorado River, which is essential to their heritage and survival. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

The Interior Department on Thursday initiated the process of developing new long-term rules for operating reservoirs and apportioning water cuts during shortages. New rules will need to be in place by the end of 2026, when the current 2007 guidelines expire.

The federal governments action sets the stage for difficult negotiations over how cities, farming regions and tribes across seven states can address chronic overuse and adapt as global warming continues to diminish the rivers flows.

The pivot to negotiating the post-2026 rules was announced three weeks after representatives of the states agreed on a proposal to cut water use over the next three years, a stopgap measure intended to temporarily prevent reservoirs from dropping to critically low levels.

During the upcoming talks, Lewis said he and other Native leaders want to see the federal government include representatives of the 30 tribes whenever they convene a meeting with all seven states. He said this approach wouldnt stop state representatives from meeting among themselves.

Lewis raised the concern at a conference in Boulder, Colo., last week, saying that as work begins on a post-2026 plan, its no longer acceptable for the U.S. to meet with seven basin states separately, and then come to basin tribes, after the fact.

He said when leaders of the tribes met with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland last year, she made a commitment that we would be at the table when these highest-level decisions were being made.

The Gila River Indian Community holds a large water entitlement in Arizona and has agreed to leave a portion of its water in Lake Mead over the next three years while receiving $150 million from the federal government. The community, which uses Colorado River water to irrigate farmland on their reservation, will also receive $83 million to expand water reuse with a reclaimed water pipeline project, and is working with the federal government on a project to cover some of its canals with solar panels.

When tribes are at the table, tribes can bring solutions, can bring innovation. And it benefits the whole region, Lewis said in an interview with The Times.

The Interior Department said the process of developing new rules to replace the 2007 guidelines will involve robust collaboration between the seven states, tribes, other stakeholders and Mexico.

The department formally initiated the process by publishing a notice in the Federal Register laying out its plan to conduct a review and release a document called an environmental impact statement. The notice says the aim is to develop new guidelines and strategies that are robust and adaptive and can withstand a broad range of future conditions, including preparing for continued drought, reduced runoff and low reservoir conditions.

For the next two months, until Aug. 15, the Interior Department and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will accept comments from the public on how the existing rules should be changed to provide greater stability to water users and the public throughout the Colorado River Basin.

Deputy Interior Secretary Tommy Beaudreau said the Biden administration has held strong to its commitment to work with states, Tribes and communities throughout the West to find consensus solutions in the face of climate change and sustained drought.

The effort needs to start now to allow for a thorough, inclusive and science-based decision-making process, said Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton.

The rivers largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, have declined to their lowest recorded levels during 23 years of drought worsened by climate change. As rising temperatures have intensified the drying of the watershed, the rivers flow has declined about 20% below the average prior to 2000.

Storms this winter left the Rocky Mountains with one of the largest snowpacks in years, and the runoff is starting to boost reservoir levels.

Speaking last week at the conference at the University of Colorado School of Law, Touton said the runoff this year is projected to be more than the flows in the last three years combined. However, she said, there are no guarantees that this is more than a one-off amidst a larger context of continuing drought and aridification.

The rivers depleted reservoirs are now at 42% capacity. Touton said addressing the water deficit and coming up with long-term solutions will present difficult challenges.

The next step will be the hardest thing in the history of our organization, and that the basin has experienced, Touton said. We must continue to work together through these difficult decisions.

The history of Indigenous peoples exclusion from decisions about the river goes back to the signing of a 1922 compact that divided the water among the states.

A century ago, we weren't at the table. We weren't even U.S. citizens at the time. But now we are, said Jordan Joaquin, president of Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation.

Tribes should be at the table, Joaquin said. We will be at the table for post-2026. It's meaningful to us. It's the right thing to do.

Joaquin was recently appointed as a member of Californias Colorado River Board by Gov. Gavin Newsom, becoming the first representative of a Native tribe to serve in the role.

The Quechan Tribe, whose reservation lies along the river in Californias southeast corner, has been participating in a program in which some farmlands are left dry and unplanted for part of the year in exchange for payments, helping to boost the levels of Lake Mead.

Nora McDowell has spent her life along the Colorado River in Fort Mojave, where her father fought for water rights for the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Many Indigenous leaders have stressed that their perspectives can play a vital role in rethinking the regions relationship to the river.

Nora McDowell, a leader of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, made an impassioned plea for the involvement of tribes and protecting the river during a speech at the conference.

We continue to not have a voice and not have a seat, and not have a chance to help think about these things, and to take into consideration the cultural, the spiritual, and the health and the environment of that river," said McDowell, a former tribal chairperson.

The Mojave people, whose lands straddle the river in Nevada, Arizona and California, feel a deep spiritual connection to the Colorado River and the ecosystem that depends on it, but that the dams and heavy water diversions have exacted a major toll, she said.

If that river could speak today, what would it say? 'You guys pretty much screwed up, McDowell said.

We have to be here to speak for it. And I know it would say, 'Respect me. Take care of me. Let me heal, she said. Don't let me die.'

McDowell said protecting the river will require changing how its managed. We have to think about sustainability in different ways, she said. We all have a place and a voice that needs to be heard, that needs to be taken into consideration, that needs to be a part of the solution.

Even as tribes seek greater involvement, many are struggling to secure water rights and basic infrastructure to supply their citizens. Of the 30 federally recognized tribes in the Colorado River Basin, 11 tribes still have unresolved water rights claims.

In the Navajo Nation, an estimated 30% or more of people live in homes without running water. In Hopi communities, many people have tap water contaminated with toxic arsenic.

Environmental advocates have also emphasized that tribes must have seats at the table.

Jon Goldin-Dubois, president of Western Resource Advocates, said many of the tribes water rights, infrastructure and values have long been denied and now must be included in the decision-making process and have equitable access to clean drinking water.

The water savings that will be needed to address the long-term gap between supply and demand on the river are expected to require substantial reductions in water use in agriculture, which consumes the largest share of the water, as well as new measures to boost conservation and efficiency in cities from Phoenix to Los Angeles.

Goldin-Dubois said cities, farms and other businesses throughout the region should take steps to cut water use by at least 25% immediately, and with the exception of tribes, new development that would require more water from the river should be taken off the table until a sustainable path has been identified.

The upcoming negotiations will also involve questions about how the current system of managing dams and apportioning water can be revamped to adapt to climate change. Scientists have projected the rivers average flow could decrease as much as 30% to 40% by mid-century as temperatures continue to rise.

Brad Udall, a water and climate scientist at Colorado State University, said he hopes the upcoming process will clearly lay out the flow declines the region must prepare for. Udall said the crisis also underlines the urgent need to eliminate carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels.

Weve got to get these emissions down as fast as we humanly can, Udall said.

Kathryn Sorenson, director of research at Arizona State Universitys Kyl Center for Water Policy, said tribes have shown great willingness to work on solutions, and she expects they will play a positive role.

We know the flows of the river are going to diminish. And we know the river is overallocated, and all those issues come due post-2026, Sorenson said.

As tribes have a stronger voice in the discussions, that will benefit the process by bringing diverse perspectives, Sorenson said.

Old ways of thinking are not going to solve new problems, she said.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The 360 shows you diverse perspectives on the days top stories and debates.

(Photo illustration: Jack Forbes/Yahoo News; photos: Jabin Botsford/Washington Post via Getty Images, Drew Angerer/Getty Images (2), Getty Images)

Whats happening

In the days immediately following former President Donald Trumps federal indictment for mishandling classified documents and obstructing the governments repeated efforts to recover them, a clear consensus emerged even among conservative legal experts: Trump is in deep trouble.

Its a very detailed indictment, and its very, very damning, Bill Barr, Trumps own former attorney general, told Fox News Sunday. If even half of it is true, then hes toast.

Despite publicly arguing that he had declassified the documents before leaving the White House, for instance, ex-President Trump was allegedly recorded showing off U.S. battle plans while describing the material as highly confidential and secret. He also said that as president I could have declassified it, but now I cant, according to the indictment.

Likewise, the indictment cites notes from Trumps own lawyer, Evan Corcoran, that allegedly chronicle Trump encouraging Corcoran to take a folder of documents with you to your hotel room and if theres anything really bad  read: incriminating  in there, like, you know, pluck it out before returning it to investigators.

Yet in recent days, the focus has started to shift from the damning material special counsel Jack Smith compiled to the real-world practicalities of securing the first-ever criminal conviction of a former U.S. president (who also happens to be the 2024 GOP frontrunner).

And the initial harmony among experts that Trump is toast has started to splinter.

In any other circumstances, given the weight of this evidence, the case would be a slam dunk, explained Paul Rosenzweig, a former homeland security official in the George W. Bush administration and prosecutor in the independent counsel investigation of Bill Clinton. But in the current state of affairs, the case is more aptly characterized as a difficult contested shot from beyond the three-point arc.

Why theres debate

The most significant complication is the random assignment of federal Judge Aileen Cannon to the case. Trump gave Cannon her lifetime appointment in 2020; in 2022, Cannon allowed the former president to temporarily derail the classified records investigation with a civil action challenging the search of his Mar-a-Lago estate. Cannons decision immediately drew two harsh reversals by a conservative appeals court.

If Cannon doesnt recuse herself, she could influence Trumps trial in numerous ways.

And Cannon isnt the only obstacle Smith faces. The average timeline for a typical white-collar case is nine to 12 months, and Trumps case is far thornier than most. The Iowa caucuses are about six months away; Election Day is 16 months from now.

If the trial isnt over before the next president takes office, he or she would, in theory, have the power to dismiss it. Even if it is over  and Trump has been convicted  the next president could issue a pardon. And if the next president is Trump, he could try to pardon himself.

Whats next

According to the New York Times, the prosecution and defense will now begin a slow but steady rhythm of status conferences, meeting every couple of months in court as the government starts to provide evidence to the defense through ... the discovery process. Prosecutors will push for a speedy trial; Trumps lawyers will prepare motions attacking the charges against him and try to slow the case as much as possible.

Perspectives

The longer the trial takes, the more Trump has to gain

Delay always benefits a defendant, but here, if the trial were postponed until after the 2024 election, there is every reason to think that a Republican victor (whether Trump or another candidate) would order the case dismissed. ... How much more likely is delay now that a Trump-friendly judge has been named?  Paul Rosenzweig, former senior counsel in the Whitewater investigation of President Clinton, in the Atlantic

Finding impartial jurors will be hard, and Cannon could make it harder

The prospect of finding 16 or more people ... who can set aside political feelings about Trump to render an impartial verdict is already a Herculean task. Cannon will set out a process to help vet what is certain to be an enormous jury pool [That] is really a big one, because the judge makes decisions about which jurors are dismissed for cause, and if that is done in a one-sided way, it can really put the prosecution in a bind, said Joyce Vance, a former U.S. attorney from Alabama. It can force them to spend all of their strikes on prospective jurors, who really should have gone for cause.  Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein, Politico

Just one pro-Trump Floridian could lead to a hung jury

Florida is Trump country. Theres a distinct possibility that citizens who are true believers in anything the former president does could make it onto the jury. If so, in deliberations, one or more could refuse to vote to convict Trump regardless of overwhelming evidence. That would result in a hung jury.  Former federal prosecutor Dennis Aftergut, to Salon

Theres no guarantee that Cannon will allow Smith to use Corcorans notes

Corcorans notes are the pivotal evidence  But [Trumps team is] setting into motion a plan to use the Florida federal court districts auspicious assignment of a MAGA-loyal judge to essentially reverse time  by undoing the D.C. judges decision to hand over Corcorans notes. ... Sources said they will aim to have the South Florida federal judge  whom Trump himself appointed  dismiss the charge that Trump personally schemed up ways to interfere with the feds, arguing that Corcorans notes should have remained private due to attorney-client privilege.  Jose Pagliery, The Daily Beast

Even if Trumps convicted, a pardon is a very real possibility

His fellow Republicans began discussing clemency even before Trump had entered a plea in the case in Miami What we should want to avoid is a pattern of legal retribution and counter-retribution.  We arent talking about a pardon clearing the way for another White House bid, but rather as a consolation prize for someone who is vastly diminished and looking at potentially losing his freedom, too.  Rich Lowry, Politico

Trump could even try to pardon himself, daring his own Supreme Court appointees to defy him

The DOJ issued a legal opinion during the Nixon Administration that said presidents cant pardon themselves. ... That doesnt mean Trump wouldnt try to challenge that precedent, given that he insisted in 2018 he had the absolute right to pardon myself. If Trump does try to pardon himself, the issue is likely to play out in court and go to the Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority including three Trump appointees.  Alison Durkee, Forbes
GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on Friday for countries to clamp down on people smugglers and human traffickers after at least 78 migrants were killed in a shipwreck off the coast of Greece.

Witness accounts suggested between 400 and 750 people had packed a fishing boat that capsized and sank early on Wednesday morning about 50 miles (80 km) from the southern coastal town of Pylos.

"What happened on Wednesday underscores the need to investigate people smugglers and human traffickers and ensure they are brought to justice," Jeremy Laurence, U.N. Human Rights Office spokesperson, told reporters in Geneva.

"The High Commissioner reiterated his call to states to open up more regular migration channels and enhance responsibility sharing, ensure arrangements for the safe and timely disembarkation of all people rescued at sea, and the establishment of independent monitoring and oversight of migration related policies and practices."

Dimitris Chaliotis, a Hellenic Red Cross volunteer who was part of the rescue operations, said that most migrants were from Libya and Syria. In the immediate aftermath of the disaster 104 survivors and 78 people who drowned were brought to shore by Greek authorities, but nothing has been found since.

Nine people have been arrested over the shipwreck, a Greek shipping ministry official said.

Greece is one of the main routes into the European Union for refugees and migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

The United Nations has recorded more than 20,000 deaths and disappearances in the central Mediterranean since 2014, making it the most dangerous migrant crossing in the world.

Nearly 3,800 people died on migration routes within and from the Middle East and North Africa last year, the highest number recorded there since 2017, according to data published earlier this month by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Frances Kerry)
MEXICO CITY (AP)  The United States Treasury on Friday announced sanctions on a Mexico-based migrant-trafficking gang that supplied asylum seekers with false papers to game the process.

Known as the Hernandez Salas organization, the gang is based in the border city of Mexicali, across the border from Calexico, California.

Since at least 2018, the gang organized travel by migrants from countries posing national security concerns, the Treasury statement said, though it did not specify what countries those were.

However, the department did say the gang smuggled migrants into the United States from Russia, Eritrea, Yemen and Iran, among others.

The Treasury said in a statement that the criminal scheme hurts those who really need asylum protection.

The practice of human smuggling and the facilitation of fraudulent documentation undermines the U.S. asylum system, the statement said, damaging public confidence in the vetting process and jeopardizing access to protection for vulnerable persons fleeing conflict, famine, and persecution.

The gang is allegedly run by a woman, Ofelia Hernandez Salas, with links to the Sinaloa drug cartel. The sanctions also applied to four associates and two hotels used to house migrants. Hernandez Salas is under arrest in Mexico and is awaiting extradition to face U.S. charges.

The department said the gang charged migrants between $10,000 and $70,000 for package deals of travel to Mexico, fake documents and smuggling fees to enter the United States.

The sanctions imposed by Treasurys Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) freeze assets of the companies and people in the United States. They also prohibit U.S. citizens and businesses from any transactions with the targeted entities.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  The United States deployed a nuclear-powered submarine capable of carrying about 150 Tomahawk missiles to South Korea on Friday, a day after North Korea resumed missile tests in protest of the U.S.-South Korean live-fire drills.

The USS Michigans arrival in South Korea, the first of its kind in six years, is part of a recent bilateral agreement on enhancing regular visibility of U.S. strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear program, according to South Korean officials.

With the deployment of the USS Michigan, the U.S. and South Korean navies are to conduct drills on boosting their special operation capabilities and joint ability to cope with growing North Korean nuclear threats, the South Korean Defense Ministry said in a statement.

It said the U.S. submarine arrived at the southeastern port city of Busan but didnt say how long it would stay in South Korean waters.

The USS Michigan is one of the biggest submarines in the world. The Ohio-class guided-missile submarine can be armed with 150 Tomahawk missiles with a range of about 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles) and is capable of launching special forces missions, according to the South Korean statement.

The South Korean and U.S. militaries have been expanding their exercises in reaction to North Koreas provocative run of missile tests since last year. North Korea has argued it was forced to ramp up testing activities to deal with its rivals expanded military drills that it views as an invasion rehearsal, but experts say the North ultimately aims to modernize its arsenal and increase its leverage in eventual diplomacy.

In April, after their meeting in Washington, President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol agreed that the United States would enhance the regular visibility of strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula. Biden also stated that any North Korean nuclear attack on the U.S. or its allies would result in the end of whatever regime took such action.

The two leaders also announced other steps to reinforce joint deterrence capabilities such as the docking a U.S. nuclear ballistic missile submarine in South Korea periodically; bolstering joint training exercises; and the establishment of a new nuclear consultative group. The nuclear ballistic missile submarine hasn't come to South Korea.

Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, slammed the Biden-Yoon summit agreements, saying they revealed the two countries most hostile and aggressive will of action against the North. She threatened to further bolster her countrys nuclear forces.

On Thursday, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast, shortly after it vowed responses to the just-ended South Korea-U.S. firing drills near the Koreas heavily armed border.

They were the Norths first weapons launches since it tried to put its first spy satellite into orbit in late May. The launch failed as the rocket carrying the spy satellite crashed into the waters off the Korean Peninsulas west coast.

South Koreas Defense Ministry said Friday that military search crews have salvaged what it believes is part of the crashed North Korean rocket. The ministry released photos of the white, metal cylinder, which some experts said would have been the rockets fuel tank.

___

Find more of AP's Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific
By Parisa Hafezi, John Irish and Arshad Mohammed

DUBAI/PARIS (Reuters) -The United States is holding talks with Iran to sketch out steps that could limit the Iranian nuclear programme, release some detained U.S. citizens and unfreeze some Iranian assets abroad, according to Iranian and Western officials.

These steps would be cast as an "understanding" rather than an agreement requiring review by the U.S. Congress, where many lawmakers oppose giving Iran benefits because of its military aid to Russia, its domestic repression and its support for proxies that have attacked U.S. interests in the region.

Having failed to revive a 2015 Iran nuclear deal, U.S. President Joe Biden's administration hopes to restore some limits on Iran to keep it from getting a nuclear weapon that could threaten Israel and trigger a regional arms race. Iran says it has no ambition to develop a nuclear weapon.

The 2015 deal, which then-President Donald Trump abandoned in 2018, had capped Iran's uranium enrichment at 3.67% purity and its stockpile of this material at 202.8 kg (447 pounds) - limits Tehran has since far exceeded.

U.S. and European officials have been searching for ways to curb Tehran's nuclear efforts since the breakdown of indirect American-Iranian talks. The willingness to restart discussions illustrates the rising sense of urgency in Western capitals about Iran's programme.

The U.S. government has dismissed reports it is seeking an interim deal, using carefully constructed denials that leave open the possibility of a less formal "understanding" that could avoid congressional review.

State Department spokesperson Matt Miller denied there was any deal with Iran.

However, Miller said the United States wants Iran to de-escalate tensions and curb its nuclear programme, cease support for regional proxy groups that carry out attacks, halt support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine and release detained American citizens.

"We continue to use diplomatic engagements to pursue all of these goals," Miller added, without giving details.

An Iranian official said, "Call it whatever you want, whether a temporary deal, an interim deal or a mutual understanding - both sides want to prevent further escalation."

In the first instance, "that will involve prisoner exchange and unblocking part of Iran's frozen assets", the official added, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Further steps might include U.S. sanctions waivers for Iran to export oil in return for ceasing 60% uranium enrichment and greater Iranian cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the official said.

COOLING DOWN

"I'd call it a cooling-down understanding," said a Western official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

This official added that there had been more than one round of indirect talks in Oman between U.S. National Security Council official Brett McGurk and Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani.

U.S. Special Envoy for Iran Rob Malley has also met Iran's ambassador to the United Nations after months of Iran refusing direct contact.

"Our goal is to use diplomacy to understand the situation correctly and realistically and try to find solutions to prevent tension and manage the current situation," said Iran's U.N. mission in New York when asked what discussions were happening.

"The key to the success of this path is to minimize the role of the opponents of the diplomacy path," the Iranian U.N. mission told Reuters.

The Western official said the idea was to create a status quo acceptable for all, getting Iran to avoid the Western redline of enriching to 90% purity, commonly viewed as weapons grade, and possibly even to "pause" its enrichment at 60%.

In addition to the 60% pause, both sides are discussing more Iranian cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and not installing more advanced centrifuges in return for the "substantial transfer" of Iranian funds held abroad, the official added.

The official did not specify whether the pause meant Iran would commit not to enrich above 60% or whether it would stop enriching to 60% itself.

AVOIDING AN IRAN-ISRAEL CLASH

The order of the steps and how they might relate to a release of three detained U.S. citizens held by Iran was also unclear. Officials have previously said freeing them might be connected to the release of frozen funds.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said on Monday the two nations could exchange prisoners soon if the United States shows goodwill, saying there were talks through intermediaries, without giving details.

The Western official said the key U.S. objective is to keep the nuclear situation from worsening and to avoid a potential clash between Israel and Iran.

"If (the) Iranians miscalculate, the potential for a strong Israeli response is something that we want to avoid," the official said.

U.S. officials appear to avoid saying they are seeking an "agreement" because of a 2015 law under which Congress must get the text of any accord about Iran's nuclear programme, opening a window for legislators to review and potentially vote on it.

U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, a Republican, wrote to Biden, a Democrat, on Thursday, saying "any arrangement or understanding with Iran, even informal, requires submission to Congress".

(Reporting By Parisa Hafezi in Dubai, John Irish in Paris and Arshad Mohammed in Saint Paul, Minnesota; Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Ramu Ayub, Simon Lewis and Daphne Psaledakis in Washington; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Don Durfee, William Mallard and Will Dunham)
By David Shepardson

(Reuters) -Two U.S. senators on Thursday urged the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to reconsider its decision to tell automakers not to comply with a recently effective Massachusetts state "right to repair" law designed to allow customers access to vehicle data.

Massachusetts voters approved a 2020 ballot initiative to allow independent repair shops to access diagnostic data that newer cars can send directly to dealers and manufacturers to allow consumers to seek repairs outside dealerships.

NHTSA told 22 major automakers in a letter on Tuesday they must comply with a federal vehicle safety law and not with the Massachusetts law, which came into effect on June 1. It warned that a malicious actor "could utilize such open access to remotely command vehicles to operate dangerously, including attacking multiple vehicles concurrently."

Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, both Democrats of Massachusetts, said in a letter to NHTSA and the U.S. Department of Transportation that the agency's decision "to give auto manufacturers a green light to ignore state law appears to favor Big Auto."

They added the decision will "undermine the will of Massachusetts voters and the Biden Administration's competition policy, and raise questions about both the decision process and the substance of the decision by NHTSA's leadership."

They sought details on any meetings NHTSA held with auto industry lobbyists and asked if it conducted tests about the impact of the law.

Neither USDOT nor NHTSA issued an immediate comment.

NHTSA said in its letter to General Motors Co, Tesla Inc, Ford Motor Co, Toyota Motor Corp, Rivian Automotive Inc, Volkswagen AG and others that open access "allows for manipulation of systems on a vehicle, including safety-critical functions such as steering, acceleration, or braking."

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade group representing major automakers, has sued to block the law and unsuccessfully asked a federal judge to temporarily block its enforcement. The group did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler and Richard Chang)
Vice President Kamala Harris plans to visit Charlotte next week to mark the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to overturn a 1973 landmark case that federally protected abortion rights, White House officials told McClatchy on Thursday.

And they added that its not a coincidence that Harris chose to visit North Carolina just days before new abortion restrictions go into effect on July 1.

North Carolina Republican legislators overrode Gov. Roy Coopers veto of their 12-week abortion ban last month. The ban offers some exceptions for rape and incest and life-limiting fetal anomalies, The News & Observer previously reported. There are no restrictions if a mothers life is in danger.

The veto override was made possible by Rep. Tricia Cotham, a lawmaker who lives just outside Charlotte, who changed her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican earlier this year, giving Republicans a supermajority. Prior to blindsiding Democrats with a party change, Cotham was perhaps best known for a speech she made on the House floor about an abortion she had when she was younger, a claim that she is now walking back.

Protecting reproductive rights

White House officials said Harris will use her visit to Charlotte on June 24  the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs decision  to draw attention to Republicans trying to push legislation that would ban abortions. She will also use it as an opportunity to rally supporters, advocates and community leaders in North Carolina around the fight for reproductive rights.

Harris wants to put back in place law that would protect reproductive rights nationally.

In advocating for that, White House officials said, she has brought together 50 groups of leaders in 16 states on the front lines of the issue, and also convened 250 state lawmakers from 28 states with health care providers, constitutional law experts, state attorneys general, students, advocates and leaders in faith, disability rights and higher education. Shes also led cabinet secretaries from across the government to implement a response to Dobbs.

Rep. Kathy Manning, a Democrat from Greensboro, this week sponsored a bill that would federally protect a persons right to contraception.

On Tuesday, Harris will sit down with MSNBCs Joy Reid for a roundtable on the impact the Supreme Courts decision has had on Americans in a televised program that will air at 7 p.m.

Visit from Biden

North Carolina has been seeing a lot more of the Biden administration in recent weeks.

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visited Eastern North Carolina on June 9 to highlight initiatives like helping students connect with good-paying jobs and programs for military families.

Bidens reelection campaign, which includes Harris as his running mate, has made it known it plans to fully invest in North Carolina as a battleground state.

This is the administrations third visit to the state since March.
The film actor and activist shined a light on the opioid epidemic while hosting the ART HOUSE Gala honoring Nan Goldin Wednesday

Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images for Housing Works

Sharon Stone is taking a stand against drug use, over-prescribed or otherwise.

While hosting the ART HOUSE Gala honoring Nan Goldin on Wednesday, the film actor and activist focused her speech on the alleged drug pushing she has experienced with her son recovering in the hospital from a ski accident.

"I modeled in New York in the late '70s and the '80s. I spent a lot of time at Studio 54. A lot of my friends are dead. Don't f--- with me," Stone, 65, said at The Bowery while shining a light on the medical predicament.

The Casino star added, "Do not cross the line between health and healing and abuse. My brother went to Attica [Prison]  he crossed the line. Do not cross the line with me."

Earlier in her speech, Stone said how she has repeatedly had to ask medical staff to stop administering OxyContin to her son, who she didn't name.

The drug, classified as an opioid, has a high risk for addiction and dependence. The topic has become extremely controversial as the United States has faced a well-documented opioid epidemic, with deaths by overdose from the drug continuing to rise.

Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images for Housing Works

Related: Sharon Stone Says Backlash Over AIDS Activism 'Did Destroy My Career': 'I Had to Stick with It'

"Every single stop along the way for the next day and a half I had to have it re-put in his chart. 'Can you please read it back to me?' In a day and a half that it took for him to get a rod and seven pins in his leg, I got six calls. From four nurses, from an anesthesiologist, from doctors, from people completely unrelated to my son's situation, telling me why my son needed OxyContin and no other drug would do. No other drug!"

Stone continued: "Anaphylaxis? 'It's not that bad! How bad is it really? He's 17, when he will be 18, I really think he could make this decision for himself.' Until finally, at the sixth call, I said, 'I'm going on CNN tomorrow and if I get one more of these calls I'm going to say that your hospital is a drug cartel.' "

"This is not because I or Nan disagree with painkillers. We don't. We disagree with paid drug dealers," she added.

Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images for Housing Works

Nan Goldin, founder of the advocacy group Prescription Addiction Intervention Now (PAIN), has famously shed light on the opioid crisis, LGBTQ+ communities, and the HIV/AIDS crisis. Money raised at Bailey House's inaugural event and auction on Wednesday will help fight homelessness and AIDS in N.Y.C.

"I lost my whole community ... At the beginning, nobody knew what this disease was. They called it the gay cancer. ... I keep my people alive through my work," Goldin, 69, told the crowd.

Teaming up with Goldin, Stone has not shied away from raising her voice on several crises, including the AIDS epidemic, which she said "nearly destroyed" her career in the '90s when very few people were addressing it.

Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images for Housing Works

Related: Sharon Stone Says Her Near-Death Experience in 2001 Was 'Very Beautiful' and 'Very Strange'

In 2021, the women's rights champion  who continuously fights back against the double standards women face with aging and sexism  told Variety about her "extreme feminist" father and how he instilled these values in her.

"He came from wealth, from oil drilling, and when he was little, there was a huge accident. His father died three months later and all the money went to another family," Stone remembered.

She continued, "He thought it was so wrong that his mother didn't get half of it, just because she was a woman. My dad was insistent that I have this feminist attitude. So much so that I never thought of myself as a feminist. These were the rules of my household."

Aaron Rapoport/CORBIS OUTLINE/Corbis via Getty Images

Stone first became a mom in 2000 when she and her then-husband Phil Bronstein adopted their first child together, son Roan, 23. In 2005, she adopted her second son, Laird, 18, followed by her third son, Quinn, 16, a year later.

The Silver actress has been open about the several tragedies she's endured throughout her life  both before and after becoming a mother  including multiple miscarriages.

"We, as females don't have a forum to discuss the profundity of this loss. I lost nine children by miscarriage," Stone commented on a PEOPLE Instagram post in 2022. "It is no small thing, physically nor emotionally yet we are made to feel it is something to bear alone and secretly with some kind of sense of failure."

Related: Sharon Stone's 3 Children: Everything to Know

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Despite her hardships, including losing her beloved brother Patrick in February, Stone continues to see her life experiences as lessons.

"I've survived everything  sexual harassment, miscarriages, a brain bleed, divorce, a lightning strike," Stone said in an interview with AARP in April 2021. "I don't have time to fool around. I'm here to be a healthy and present parent, a good daughter, and an engaged citizen. Everything else is just a distraction."

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
(Photo : VLADIMIR ASTAPKOVICH/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

Bill Gates and Xi Jinping met, marking the Chinese leader's first meeting with a Western business figure in years.

Microsoft's co-founder Bill Gates conferred with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, as tensions between Washington and Beijing remain elevated.

According to Chinese state media, Xi Jinping told Bill Gates he was the "first American friend" he met in Beijing this year.

Bill Gates Meets Xi Jinping

Per BBC, Gates is the most prominent American businessman to visit China since the reopening of its borders. The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, will also travel to China this weekend.

Xi's first meeting with a foreign corporate figure in recent years was this. He ceased traveling abroad in 2020 when China's borders were closed due to the pandemic. Xi and Gates may have last met in 2015. Elon Musk of Tesla, Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan, and Tim Cook of Apple have all visited the country this year. While they met with senior Chinese officials, Xi was not present.

Gates is in China as co-chairman of The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, an organization he co-founded with his ex-wife. Gates resigned from Microsoft's board in 2020 to devote more time to his foundation, which focuses on global health, education, and climate change.

Twelve years ago, he left his full-time executive position at the technology behemoth. This weekend, Blinken, the first US cabinet official to visit China in 2019 or later, will appear in Beijing. However, it is unlikely that significant progress will be made on the mounting list of disputes between the United States and China.

Read Also: US Nuclear Submarine Returns to South Korea After North Korea Resumes Missile Tests

US-China Tensions at All-Time High

The billionaire's latest visit to China coincides with a tense period in US-China relations. Tensions are at an all-time high over the future of artificial intelligence and advanced semiconductors, Chinese officials' assaults on international businesses, and intensified concerns that China will attack Taiwan.

According to CNN, this is not the first time Xi has asked American corporate leaders to help enhance bilateral relations. Xi wrote to Starbucks (SBUX) former chairman and CEO Howard Schultz in 2021, requesting his assistance promoting bilateral ties.

Xi Jinping desires Starbucks and Howard Schultz to assist in mending US-China relations. According to a statement from the Gates Foundation, Gates' meeting with the leader of the world's second-largest economy occurred a day after his family's foundation pledged $50 million toward research in China for drug discovery and treatments of "infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, which disproportionately affect the world's poor."

Microsoft is one of the only Western tech titans to maintain a presence in China, as all others have been shut out. The entrepreneur is one of the most prominent foreign business executives who have succeeded in China. For decades, the company has maintained a highly influential research center in the country.

In previous years, Gates and Xi have had positive relations. Early in 2020, the Chinese leader sent him a personal letter of appreciation for providing emergency financing for the country's fight against COVID-19

However, US-China relations have recently deteriorated. Microsoft warned last month that Chinese government-backed hackers were likely pursuing capabilities that could be used to "disrupt critical communications" between the United States and the Asia Pacific in the event of a future US-China conflict.

Microsoft stated in a report that Chinese hackers have been active since the middle of 2021 and have targeted critical infrastructure organizations in Guam and elsewhere in the United States as part of an espionage and information-gathering campaign. Among the industries targeted by the hackers are maritime, transportation, communications, utility, and government.

Related Article: Kim Jong Un To Strengthen Ties with Vladimir Putin as North Korea, Russia Cooperation Deepen

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Iowa Supreme Court on Friday issued a split decision on a proposed six-week abortion ban in the state, allowing the procedures to remain legal until about the 20th week of pregnancy.

The six justices on the states high court issued a 3-3 decision, failing to reach a majority regarding whether to overturn a lower court decision that had blocked GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds' effort to reinstate a six-week abortion ban that had been passed in 2018.

The split decision leaves that lower courts decision in place.

Reproductive rights advocates have said a six-week ban essentially amounts to a total abortion ban, because at the sixth week of pregnancy, most women don't even know they are pregnant.

The ruling could have ramifications in pending decisions in courts in states across the U.S., where six-week bans enacted by conservative state legislatures remain temporarily blocked.

The decision by the Supreme Court in the state holding the first Republican caucuses for the 2024 race will also cement the role the divisive topic plays in presidential politics. GOP candidates already barnstorming the state are certain to be asked frequently for their positions on the ruling, which is likely to emerge as a vehicle to more adequately pin candidates on whether they support a six-week abortion ban.

While the ruling Friday drew upon a certain amount of precedent and legal argument, the decision was more narrowly tailored. It stated that letting the injunction stand was simply a result of the court being deadlocked, not the product of an overt legal opinion to block reinstatement of the ban. The justices did, however, write dozens of pages of nonprecedential" opinions, or legal opinions that don't break new ground in clearing up existing questions over abortion rights in the state.

"One member of the court is conflicted out from this case, so the court is deadlocked 33 and the district court ruling is affirmed by operation of law," the judges wrote, citing precedent that when the state Supreme Court is "equally divided," a "decision of district court is affirmed."

That the court even deadlocked, however, still came as surprise to many reproductive rights advocates.

All seven judges on the bench were appointed by Republican governors, including five who have been appointed by the conservative Reynolds since 2018.

One of the seven judges, Justice Dana Oxley  a Reynolds appointee  recused herself from the case because her former law firm represented an abortion clinic that was a plaintiff in the original case.

Reproductive rights advocates lauded the outcome.

Todays order is an enormous win, and it means that Iowans will be able to control their bodies and their futures, Ruth Richardson, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, said in a statement. Each person deserves control of their body, and Iowans have that right, based on todays court decision.

Rita Bettis Austen, the legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa, said in a statement. that the district court "rightly rejected the states unprecedented legal maneuvers to try to ban abortion in our state.

This law was dangerous, cruel, and unconstitutional when the district court blocked it four years ago, and its still dangerous, cruel, and unconstitutional today, Austen said.

Reynolds slammed the ruling and said her administration was reviewing our options in preparation for continuing the fight.

To say that todays lack of action by the Iowa Supreme Court is a disappointment is an understatement, she said.

Republican presidential candidates, and groups supporting them, also criticized the ruling and offered support for Reynolds' position.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who's currently running for president, called the decision "a sad reminder of how crucial it is to appoint judges on all of our nations courts that will uphold the Right to Life."

Never Back Down, the super PAC supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' presidential bid, tweeted support for Reynolds, calling her "a pro-life champion" who they "are proud to stand with."

DeSantis signed into law a six-week abortion ban earlier this year, though it remains temporarily blocked pending a ruling from the Florida Supreme Court on the constitutionality of a 15-week abortion ban DeSantis signed after the states 2022 legislative session.

Fridays ruling in Iowa stemmed from a 2018 law  a so-called heartbeat bill  that banned abortions in the state at the sixth week of pregnancy, or when, in some cases, a fetal pulse can first be heard via ultrasound.

While numerous states have enacted six-week bans in the year since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 2018 Iowa law  passed that year by the GOP-controlled Iowa Legislature and signed into law by Reynolds  was the most restrictive in the U.S. at the time.

However, an Iowa district court swiftly blocked the law from taking effect, ruling that it violated the state Constitution  specifically its due process and equal protection clauses, the same legal arguments that U.S. Supreme Court justices issued in the landmark 1973 Roe ruling that provided federal abortion protections.

That 2019 district court ruling also cited an Iowa Supreme Court ruling from the year before that struck down a proposed mandatory 72-hour waiting period before receiving abortion care and established that women in Iowa enjoy a fundamental right to abortion care.

For four years, Reynolds administration did not appeal the ruling. But last year, following the U.S. Supreme Courts overturning of Roe, the Iowa Supreme Court issued a new ruling on the 72-hour waiting period case, declaring that abortion was no longer a fundamental right.

Following that reversal, Reynolds asked the district court to reinstate the six-week abortion ban. When the district court ruled that it would not do so, Reynolds administration appealed, and the case worked its way to the state Supreme Court.
The residents of Perryton, Texas, are digging out after a deadly tornado ripped through the small town, destroying at least 200 homes.

The preliminary damage rating for the Perryton tornado is EF2, the National Weather Service said.

Devastation in Texas

Three people in Perryton were killed: Becky Randall, a woman in her 60s who was found in a print shop; Cindy Bransgrove, a woman also in her 60s who was found in a food bank; and Matthew Ramirez, an 11-year-old boy who died at a trailer park, according to Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard.

PHOTO: Debris covers a residential area in Perryton, Texas, June 15, 2023, after a tornado struck the town. (David Erickson/AP)

Becky Randall is survived by two sons and four grandchildren, who were "her world," Randall's daughter-in-law, Randi Cunningham, told ABC News.

"She loved life. She found joy in everything. There wasn't a single day that she wasn't smiling or laughing or making me feel better," Cunningham said.

PHOTO: Becky Randall is shown in this undated family photo. (Randi Cunningham)

Randall grew up in Perryton, Cunningham said.

"She loved this town, and loved the people in it. And they loved her," she said.

PHOTO: Buildings and vehicles damaged after a tornado struck Perryton, Texas, June 15, 2023. (David Erickson/AP)

Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher estimated the tornado's path through Perryton, near the state line with Oklahoma, was about 1.5 miles. Dutcher said 2 1/2 blocks of the downtown area is "completely wiped out."

Tommy Kerbl's daughter's trailer park neighborhood was among the areas hit.

PHOTO: A handout photo made available by the Booker Fire Department shows the damages of an overnight tornado that has reportedly killed at least three people and injured dozens of others in Perryton, Texas, June 16, 2023. (Booker Fire Department Handout via EPA via Shutterstock)

Kerbl helped with the search and rescue efforts for hours and said he found the body of Ramirez, who was thrown more than 150 yards from his trailer home.

"It's such a panic mode," he told ABC News. "Mom was screaming crying, there was nothing we could do but cover the kid up."

"I've never seen anything like this in my 33 years doing this," Dutcher told ABC News as he held back tears. "We know these people. They go to our church, they live and volunteer here."

PHOTO: Tornado in Perryton Kills at Least 3 (ABC NEWS)

Julio Garcia Merces told ABC News that eight people were in his daughter's trailer home when the tornado touched down.

They first huddled in a back room and hallway, he said, and then he directed everyone to hunker down in a bathroom.

MORE: Tips on how to stay safe from a tornado

As Merces ushered everyone into the small room, he said the wind threw him into the air and against the wall like a rag doll.

He said he yelled out to God to protect them.

They all survived, but the home is barely standing. They're now staying at a small hotel nearby while they figure out what's next.

PHOTO: Debris and damaged vehicles cover a street after a tornado hit Perryton, Texas, June 15, 2023. (Alex Driggars/USA Today Network/via Reuters)

PHOTO: Storm damage seen in Perryton, Texas, June 15, 2023 (Sabrina Devers/Facebook)

At least 56 people in Perryton were hurt, with injuries ranging from minor to severe, officials said.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to deploy state emergency response resources to meet urgent life-safety needs in Perryton and issued a disaster declaration to support recovery efforts from extensive damage due to the tornado.

Abbott said in a statement, "I encourage all Texans to heed the guidance of state and local officials and to take all necessary precautions to protect yourselves and your loved ones. We remain ready to quickly provide any additional resources needed over the course of this severe weather event."

PHOTO: Storm damage seen in Perryton, Texas, June 15, 2023. (Sabrina Devers/Facebook)

Fatalities in Mississippi and Florida

Perryton wasn't the only area hit; tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm watches extended across the South.

One person was killed and at least 69 homes damaged in Mississippi from the severe weather, state officials said, and a tornado struck Pensacola, Florida, killing one person after a tree fell on their home, according to Escambia County Fire Rescue.

PHOTO: A tornado forms on June 14, 2023, in Blakely, Ga. (Rand McDonald via AP)

More storms to come

More storms are still in the forecast.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for eastern Virginia for Friday night.

On Saturday, there's an enhanced severe weather threat for Oklahoma.

MORE: Extreme heat safety tips: What to know about heat stroke vs. heat exhaustion

On Sunday, tornadoes and strong winds are in the forecast for Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Jackson, Mississippi; and Birmingham, Alabama.

Meanwhile, dangerous, triple-digit heat is baking the South. Record-high temperatures are possible over the next few days in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and New Orleans.

ABC News' Izzy Alvarez, Jenny Wagnon Courts, Jessica Gorman, Marilyn Heck, Chris Looft, Mireya Villarreal and Morgan Winsor contributed to this report.

Texas town devastated by tornado, 5 dead across South from severe weather originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Not at all. It just seems like a lot of back-and-forth talk.

Yes. I'm growing very worried over what might happen.

If it keeps up, I might be a little more concerned.

I think there are much larger things to concern us as a country.

It's hard to tell; I can't take the leader of either country seriously.

Vote

View Results


remaining of

Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading.
YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. A meeting between Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov is planned to take place soon in Washington D.C., Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Friday.

As difficult as it is, our work in the direction of normalizing relations with Azerbaijan and establishing peace must be continuous, we must be consistent in this issue, PM Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting.

A meeting between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan is planned to take place soon in Washington. And I hope that the certain progress recorded during the previous Washington meeting will develop, Pashinyan added.
(Photo : Alex Wong/Getty Images)

President Joe Biden dismissed a reporter's question about why he was referred to as the "big guy" in an FBI informant file as "such a dumb question."

President Joe Biden raged when asked why he is referred to as "the big guy" in an FBI informant file accusing him of accepting a $5 million bribe from a Ukrainian businessman while he was vice president.

"Why did the Ukraine FBI informant file refer to you as the 'big guy', President Biden," The Post asked Biden.

Biden Snaps Back as Reporter Asks Him About 'Big Guy'

"Why do you ask such a dumb question?" exclaimed the 80-year-old president.

According to congressional sources who read the file, an informant told the FBI in June 2020 that an executive at Ukrainian gas company Burisma confided that he bribed Joe and Hunter Biden and dubbed the elder Biden "the big guy."

Republicans argue that the use of the moniker is significant because it was not widely known at the time. Nearly four months later, in October 2020, an email from the abandoned laptop of first son Hunter Biden stated that the "big guy" was owed 10% of a business agreement with CEFC China Energy.

Tony Bobulinski and James Gilliar, two Biden family business partners involved in the CEFC transaction, separately referred to Joe Biden as "the big guy." According to an examination of laptop documents by the Washington Post, Hunter and James Biden received $4.8 million from the CEFC partnership.

Joe and Hunter Biden were each paid $5 million to facilitate the interests of Burisma proprietor Mykola Zlochevsky. The businessman allegedly informed an "extremely credible" FBI informant that he kept 15 audio recordings of Hunter and two audio recordings of Joe Biden as "insurance."

In April 2014, Burisma appointed the then-Vice President's son to its board as Joe Biden assumed control of the Obama administration's Ukrainian policy in the wake of a coup that deposed the country's pro-Russian leaders. Despite lacking pertinent industry experience, Hunter was paid up to $1 million per year.

Meanwhile, Senator Charles Grassley accused the FBI on Monday of withholding information disclosing that the foreign national allegedly recorded conversations with Biden and his son Hunter.

On Monday, the House oversight committee met behind closed doors with the FBI to receive a briefing on the matter. Per Newsweek, Anna Paulina Luna, a member of the committee, stated shortly thereafter that the FBI is "afraid" the purported informant would be "executed if unmasked."

Read Also: Xi Jinping Meets 'Old Friend' Bill Gates as US-China Tensions Intensify

Biden's Alleged Bribery Scheme

Moreover, a group of Republican senators has demanded that Attorney General Merrick Garland appoint a special counsel to investigate 'any wrongdoing' by the first family, as details regarding an alleged $5 million "arrangement" for the exchange of money for policy decisions between then-Vice President Joe Biden and a foreign national continue to emerge.

A "highly credible" whistleblower claims that an internal FD-1023 memo created in 2020 based on information from a well-compensated FBI informant describes the alleged bribe, according to Daily Mail.

Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, JD Vance, R-Ohio, and Mike Braun, R-Indiana, write in a letter that "the outstanding allegations of potential corruption and wrongdoing on the part of numerous members of the Biden family are, to say the least, profoundly concerning."

The senators' demand comes one day after Iowa Republican Senator Charles Grassley delivered an explosive speech on the Senate floor citing information believed to be redacted from the FBI's FD-1023 file regarding the alleged payment.

Grassley also criticized the FBI for consenting to show legislators a redacted version of the FD-1023 form "on the same day" that the Department of Justice announced a 37-count indictment of former President Donald Trump for alleged mishandling of classified documents.

Related Article: Biden Criminal Bribery: FBI To Bring Doc to Capitol Hill, Accuser Is 'Highly Credible' Source

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijans actions once again confirm Armenias concerns that Azerbaijan is carrying out a policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno Karabakh, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on June 16.

The installation of an illegal checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, the disruption of power and gas supply to Nagorno Karabakh, which is ongoing for six months, have extremely escalated the humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh, and if Azerbaijan was ensuring some passage through Lachin Corridor last month for its propaganda purposes, through the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers, starting yesterday this passage was also shut down and even the supplies of essential food products to Nagorno Karabakh have been suspended. That is, Nagorno Karabakh has no food supply from the outside world. The passage of citizens requiring urgent medical treatment is also banned. These actions once again confirm our fears that Azerbaijan is carrying out a policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno Karabakh. However in this case this is no longer a fear but already the launch of actions. What is this if not ethnic cleansing? The food, gas, electricity supplies to the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh are cut off, farmers carrying out agricultural work are targeted with automatic gunfire, the possibility of movement is blocked even for critically-ill patients, Pashinyan said.

The Armenian Prime Minister said that Armenia should increase international awareness not only among governments and organizations, but also societies.

Pashinyan reiterated that dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert within the framework of international mechanisms is extremely important for ensuring the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh. We must hope that concrete steps will be taken in this direction, Pashinyan said.
Notwithstanding the eager visitors who have been drawn to the Metropolitan Museums current crowd-magnetKarl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty (to July 16), I found the show repellent, and not only because of the late designers distasteful views that have been called out by several commentators. In its installation missteps, its awkwardly written labels and, especially, in its reliance on self-interested sponsorship, the show falls short of the high standards expected of other departments at the museum, to which the Costume Institute has often appeared to be exempt.

My reservations seemed not to be shared by the throngs who have endured long lines to get in:

To help satisfy the demand, the museum has instituted special evening hours every Sunday until the exhibition closes.

But the warm accolades of the designers fans and boosters left me cold. Met trustee Anna Wintour devoted almost the entire May issue of Vogue magazine (of which she is editor) to fawning over her longtime friend, who died in 2019:

Cover of Vogues May 2023 issue, celebrating Karl Lagerfeld

Photo by Lee Rosenbaum

I was turned off by the exhibitions superficial come-ons and by its disregard of the usual standards for museum displays: The responsibility rests with Andrew Bolton, curator in charge of the Mets Costume Institute, who once again has indulged his penchant for dramatic installations that are superficially striking but frustratingly unenlightening. As with the Mets 2019 Camp: Notes on Fashion, Bolton has engaged the eye but not the mind by installing large numbers of garments so high above eye level that no one seriously interested in fashion design could adequately peruse them.

I had raised that same objection when I reviewed the Mets 2019 Camp vamp and also the 2018 Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination:

Andrew Bolton, curator in charge of the Mets Costume Institute, being interviewed (at center) during press preview for Heavenly Bodies

Photo by Lee Rosenbaum

Heres that same self-defeating installation strategy, now sabotaging visitors who may actually want to examine and understand Lagerfelds oeuvre:

Installation view in gallery titled, Canonical Line/Countercultural Line

Photo by Lee Rosenbaum

Its undeniably striking, but the only way to see the detailing on the ceiling-grazing garb is to rely on binoculars or a zoom lens:

Photo by Lee Rosenbaum

For those of us who had recently savored the Mets elegant and sophisticated Cubism and the Trompe lOeil Tradition, the Lagerfeld shows categorization of works like the one below as Trompe lOeil seemed completely wrongheaded. There are no optical illusions here. In no way is the oeil tromped, notwithstanding the Mets label text:

House of CHANEL, Dress, autumn/winter 198485

Black wool knit with trompe loeil purse pocket embroidered with red silk and gold metal thread, black sequins, & black & gold bugle beads

Metropolitan Museum, Promised Gift of Sandy Schreier

What I did like was the juxtaposition of many of the garments with videos of the Lagerfeld deftly sketching them. Heres one:

For me, the Lagerfeld shows biggest failing was putting commercial interests above the serious, disinterested scholarship that the Mets other departments are best known for. Theres a Lagerfeld-related precedent for this debaclethe Mets 2005 Chanel exhibition, which gave undue prominence to Karls designs. (As I then wrote, he was the current master of the House of Chanel.)

Heres what I said about the Chanel show in Fashion Victim, my May 2005 NY Times Op-Ed piece:

The museum originally planned to put on Chanel five years ago. But then the director, Philippe de Montebello, had a falling out with Mr. Lagerfeld and cut it from the schedule. News reports at the time indicated that the designer had tried to usurp curatorial prerogatives, and wanted contemporary artworks included to bring the display of what he termed old dresses into the present.

And heres a passage from that exhibitions Overview:

Period examples are juxtaposed with the work of Karl Lagerfeld, who joined the House of Chanel in 1983, revitalizing its spirit and identity. Through Lagerfelds interpretations and refinements, the historic importance of Chanel is both defined and asserted for the modern woman.

In Fashion Victim, I had stated this:

In general, museums treatment of fashion design as contemporary art is neither new nor wrong. But like Chanels iconic little black dress, such exhibitions must be designed with rigor, so that professional standards are not compromised by commercial interests. With Chanel, the Met fails the fragrance test. Substantially financed by the fashion house, Chanel is tainted by the same sort of self-interested sponsorship that brought notoriety to Armani at the Guggenheim Museum in 2000 and Sensation, the 1999 Brooklyn Museum showcase for Charles Saatchis collection. We expect better from the Met, an institution always admired as a guardian of professional standards. Although Met officials say they had complete control over the shows organization, the fingerprints of Mr. Lagerfeld are everywhereand not just on his own ensembles, which constitute roughly a third of those in the show.

My Chanel commentary applies even more cogently to the Mets current Lagerfeld presentation:

In the future, it [the Met] should be far stricter in drawing the line between scholarly presentation and commercial promotion. Control belongs in-house, not in the fashion house.

Notwithstanding Wintours social cachet and extensive contacts, its time to loosen her grip on the Costume Institute, putting complete control where it belongsin the hands of professional curators who have no financial interest in whats being shown. I cringed at the use of microphones that were conspicuously Vogue-branded during the livestreamed interviews with attendees at the Costume Institutes Lagerfeld gala. (That online spectacle also featured links to the Vogue website.) I cringed even more at the fatuous chatter of the celebrants, being asked inane questionsDo you have any tips for styling a pregnant belly? This had nothing to do with the Mets scholarly and educational mission and everything to do with creating buzz and flattering the egos (and bellies) of the invitees.

Below, from the Lagerfeld exhibitions website, is a rundown of the self-serving sponsorship by fashion firms for a show devoted to the designer:

Two houses for which he had formerly worked Lagerfelds eponymous firm The company that publishes Vogue:

In another current instance of the Mets delegation of organizational responsibility to non-curators, the upcoming Grounded in Clay: The Spirit of Pueblo Pottery (July 14, 2023June 4, 2024) is the first community-curated Native American exhibition at the Museum, according to the above-linked press release.

Community-curated? Ive authored several reviews of museum displays of Native American material, and I fully understand the need to incorporate Native American voices and perspectives in exhibitions of their work. Such consultation is essential. But the Met in 2020 had (belatedly) hired its first ever full-time curator in Native American Art (as described by director Max Hollein, as quoted in the Mets announcement) and Patricia Marroquin Norby (Purepecha) should be the curator for Pueblo Pottery.

According to the press release for that upcoming show (July 14, 2023June 4, 2024), members of a newly established Pueblo Pottery Collective, described as a group of more than 60 individual members of 21 tribal communities, will lead the selection of objects for Grounded in Clay, as the Mets Pueblo pottery show is titled:

Signature image for the Mets upcoming show of Pueblo Pottery

The members of this newly established tribal collective selected and wrote about artistically and culturally distinctive pots from two significant Pueblo pottery collectionsthe Indian Arts Research Center of the School for Advanced Research (SAR) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the Vilcek Foundation in New York, NY. The exhibition will also be on view at the Vilcek Foundation, beginning July 13, according to the press release.

On my vacation to the U.S. Southwest many years ago, I was a Pueblo-pottery scavenger, and bought a vessel very similar to the one at the top center of the above image.

Heres my modest acquisition:

Melon Jar

Signed: Pauline Romero, Jemez Pueblo, N.M.

I had never previously heard of the Vilcek Foundation, but I found the Mets description of it (on the exhibitions website) to be eyebrow-raising:

The Vilcek Foundation raises awareness of immigrant contributions in the United States and fosters appreciation of the arts and sciences.

Immigrant contributions? Were the immigrants, surely not the Pueblo potters! Perhaps that head-scratching credit refers to the Vilceks (Jan and Marica), who emigrated to the U.S. from the former Czechoslovakia.

But back to Lagerfeld: There may be a compelling reason why now would be the wrong time for the Met to terminate its outdated practice of letting a commercial fashion house hold sway over a nonprofit museums presentation: In his remarks at the press preview, Met director Max Hollein revealed a tantalizing prospect: He stated that in October, the Met would announce a new, substantial gift to the museum, that will hopefully inspire yet another generation of artists, fashion designers and creatives (his words, not mine).

In due course, we may learn the identity of that generous benefactor. Any guesses?
Cyclone weakened after raining in Gujarat

Strong winds and rains lash the city after the landfall of the Cyclone Biparjoy, in Porbandar, Gujarat, Friday, June 16, 2023. (PTI Photo)

Ahmedabad/Kutch/New Delhi: As cyclone Biparjoy weakened and moved towards south Rajasthan on Friday after ravaging the Kutch and Saurashtra regions, the Gujarat government is facing the immediate challenge of restoring electricity in some 1,000 villages and clearing roads of fallen trees.

While the cyclone weakened after making landfall on the Kutch coast of Gujarat on Thursday evening, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that north Gujarat should brace for heavy rainfall.

There was no loss of life on account of cyclone Biparjoy (which means calamity in Bengali) in Gujarat, the government said. Advance planning and mass evacuation of over one lakh persons helped the state achieve "zero casualties", chief minister Bhupendra Patel said in a press release.

To restore electricity, 1,127 teams are working in the districts of Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Morbi, Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Rajkot and Porbandar, said the release, adding that the forest department teams removed 581 fallen trees from the roads.

Talking to reporters in Delhi, NDRF director-general Atul Karwal said that of the 1,000 villages facing electricity disruptions in the state, 40 per cent were in Kutch district alone. He added that six teams of the NDRF have been deployed for relief and rescue operations in Kutch district.

The cyclone is now headed towards south Rajasthan and the NDRF has already positioned a team in Jalore as heavy rains may lead to flooding, the NDRF director-general said.

Commissioner of relief Alok Kumar Pandey had said earlier that not a single person died due to any incident linked to the cyclone in the state, calling it the government's "biggest achievement."

Among the 1,09,000 persons shifted from coastal areas to temporary shelters, there were 10,918 children, 5,070 senior citizens and 1,152 pregnant women, the government release said.

The cyclone made landfall along the Saurashtra-Kutch coasts near Jakhau around 6.30 pm on Thursday, bringing incessant rain and wind speeds as high as 140 kmph.

The landfall was over by 2.30 am on Friday and several parts of Kutch as well as Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Rajkot and Morbi districts in Saurashtra regions were battered with heavy rainfall of 100185 mm on Friday, accompanied by strong winds of up to 95 kmph, the state emergency operation centre (SEOC) said.

In all, 175 talukas of the state received some amount of rainfall during the day, it said.

The storm caused extensive financial loss to the state power utility Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited, with 5,120 electricity poles getting damaged, Mr Pandey said.

As many as 4,600 villages were left without power, but electricity supply was restored in 3,580 villages, he added.

At least 23 people were injured due to cyclone-related incidents and many houses were also damaged, he said.

Asked about a cattle-rearer duo of father and son dying on Thursday while trying to save their goats stuck in a flooded ravine in Bhavnagar district, Mr Pandey said that since the district was not cyclone-affected, their deaths were not counted as cyclone-related.

"Three state highways were closed as they suffered damage... A total of 581 trees were uprooted, as per reports. Nine pucca and 20 kutcha houses collapsed and two pucca and 474 kutcha houses suffered partial damage," he said.

Sixty-five thatched houses were destroyed and the government was preparing an order for immediate payment of compensation to those who have suffered losses, the official added.

Several low-lying areas of the coastal districts were inundated because of a storm surge, with tides going up to eight metres during the landfall.

On the Mandvi-Jakhau highway, fallen trees and electric poles could be seen every 100 or 200 metres. In the Kacha village near Mandvi, around 25 kutcha houses were damaged. "We have not had electricity since yesterday. But no untoward incident has taken place in the village," sarpanch of Kacha Rakesh Gaur said.

"In our shelter homes, we have housed 400 people from Salaya and other villages on the coast for the last four days," he added.

In Mandvi town, around 30 trees and 20 electric poles were uprooted. "We have not had electricity since 4 pm yesterday. The thatched roofs of our houses were blown away and the houses were inundated with water," said Mandvi resident Abdul Hussain.

Severe Cyclone Storm Biparjoy weakened into a Cyclonic Storm on Friday and was seen as gradually weakening into a deep depression, the IMD said.

With the cyclone moving further inland, authorities in the north Gujarat districts of Banaskantha and Patan were bracing for its impact by shifting people in low-lying areas to shelters.

The IMD forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall in Jamnagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Morbi and Kutch till Saturday morning.

Banaskantha and Patan districts were also likely to receive heavy to very heavy with isolated extremely heavy rainfall till Sunday morning, director of Ahmedabad centre of IMD Manorama Mohanty said.

Gujarat also experienced strong surface winds of up to 3545 kmph, gusting to 55 kmph on Friday. North Gujarat districts such as Banaskantha, Patan, Mehsana and Sabarkantha received a strong surface wind of 6575 kmph gusting to 85 kmph.

Banaskantha collector Varun Baranwal said that more than 2,500 people have been relocated to safe places and more people from low-lying areas were being evacuated.

Parts of Jamnagar, Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Rajkot, and Morbi received heavy rainfall in six hours since Friday morning, data provided by the SEOC showed.

As many as 709 pregnant women who were ferried to hospitals from affected areas amid the raging storm gave birth to babies. Two of the babies were born in the state government's '108' ambulances, officials said.
First leg of the visit to the US will commence in New York on June 21

New Delhi: India on Friday officially announced Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the United States next week, adding that he will visit Egypt too. Mr Modi will begin his two-nation visit on June 20 and culminate on June 25. The first leg of the visit to the US will commence in New York on June 21, where the PM will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations headquarters.

The Prime Minister will thereafter travel to Washington for the bilateral component of the visit, during which he will address a joint sitting of the US Congress on June 22. US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host Mr Modi at a state dinner on the same day.

Sources said both India and the US want to take their bilateral ties into new domains of strategic partnership between both nations, involving not just government-to-government cooperation but also industry from both nations. The focus would be on the technological partnership in the long-term involving the industrial ecosystem in both nations, which will involve a fair deal of technology transfer from the US to India.

There is a great "deal of American interest in linking up with the Indian economic structure", the cources said, adding that there was a strong interest in both sides to make the visit a "resounding success". They also pointed to the mobility and movement of skilled manpower between both nations as a critical component. Efforts are also being made to simplify the regulatory frameworks to strengthen the trade and technological partnership between both nations.

The defence sector is also another main area of cooperation between India and the US. Speculation is rife that an announcement is likely to be made during the visit regarding India's possible acquisition of 30 MQ-9B Predator armed drones from the US at a cost of over $3 billion. There is officially no word as yet.

The adverse impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on developing nations is also expected to be a priority conversation during the visit, sources said. The visit is expected to be "high on form and substance", with both nations discussing bilateral, regional and global issues during the visit. However, according to sources, the visit will have no impact on Indias existing deep-rooted relationship with Russia.

During the visit, Mr Modi and Mr Biden are expected to discuss developments in the Indo-Pacific region, including those of other large developing nations in the region.

In an official statement issued earlier in the day, New Delhi said that on June 23, the Prime Minister will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by US vice-president Kamala Harris and secretary of state Antony Blinken. In addition to the official engagements, the Prime Minister is scheduled to have several curated interactions with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders. He will also meet members of the Indian diaspora.

On the second leg of Mr Modi's visit, the ministry of external affairs said that the Prime Minister will subsequently travel to Cairo to pay a state visit to Egypt from June 2425. The visit is at the invitation of President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which he extended to the Prime Minister in January. This will be the Prime Ministers first visit to Egypt."

The ministry added: "Apart from his talks with Mr Sisi, the Prime Minister is likely to interact with senior dignitaries from the Egyptian government, some prominent Egyptian personalities, as well as the Indian community in Egypt. During the state visit of the Egyptian President in January, it was agreed to elevate the relationship to a strategic partnership."

Meanwhile, in response to a tweet from the President of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly Csaba Korosi that he was looking forward to participating along with Mr Modi in the International Yoga Day celebrations at the UN in New York next Wednesday, the PM also tweeted, "Looking forward to seeing you at the International Day of Yoga celebrations at the UNHQ. Your participation makes the programme even more special. Yoga brings the world together towards furthering good health and wellness. May it keep getting more popular globally."
In his words: "I am just a professional writer, which means I don't do blogs and try and get money for whatever I write."

BoJo read the graffiti on the wall and resigned his seat before the judgment and penalty were announced.

O Bachchoo are you a thousand tortured souls?

Or do you feel every emotion is walking on red-hot coals?

Why have you become indulgent in self-pity?

The last survivor in the devastated, abandoned city?

O Bachchoo realise your life itself is a gift

And set this self-indulgent egotism adrift

The day dawns, the sun is in the sky

The world is what it is, so why ask why?

From The Laments of High Mary Leigh-Leigh, Tr. by Bachchoo

Modifying Shakespeares plots may be sacrilege, but suppose, just suppose, that Brutus, having murdered Caesar, replaces him and disposes in various ways of the Mark Antonys who are Caesars advocates. End of JC Part I.

As in Shakespeares histories a second part, another play, is added. JC Part II begins with a surprise. Caesar is not dead. He was, to adopt an Americanism, playing possum. The several Mark Antonys may have been temporarily dispensed with and sent to Egypt to make love to Cleopatra, but they are now back and plotting the demise of Brutus and his replacement by the phoenix from the flames you got it!

Here endeth the allegory.

Regular readers of this column (dont get presumptuous --Ed) will have guessed that the sacrilegious rewriting of Shakespeare is a way of entering the continuing saga of BoJo  Boris Johnson -- and Hedgie -- Rishi Sunak. BoJos followers, as stubborn as the Trumpees, claim that Hedgie was ambitious and that it was a grievous fault which must be answered grievously.

The flame from which this phoenix will arise is the chaos in the Tory party, to which my reaction, gentle reader is Ha, ha, ha etc, and what does one expect from opportunistic, vicious, self-seeking, dishonest clowns? I could use other adjectives, but in the interests of stylistic excellence Oh, okay, just two more corrupt and nepotistic.

History will record that Liz Truss 49 days as PM were the most chaotic, but that was really a sideshow. The Hedgie-BoJo shenanigans are at the centre of this pathetic soap opera.

The latest incident is the quarrel over BoJos resignation honours list: Retiring Prime Ministers are entitled to award honours to people of their choice, making them Lords, Dames, Baronesses, Knights and offer them Orders of or Memberships of the British Empire.

The list of nominees then goes to a committee called the House of Lords Approval Committee (HoLAC). It does what its name says.

In the present circumstances, it rejected several of BoJos incestuous and crony nomination. Some say eight nominations were rejected, including BoJos attempt to give his father, a known wife-beater, a peerage, having already created his brother a lord. I have no evidence for it, but perhaps two of the blocked nominees were BoJos wife Carrie Antoinette and his pet dog.

This is not far-fetched speculation. BoJo also nominated for honours his specific and hopeless chamchas, including Priti Clueless Patel and the Regency-era pomposity, Jacob Rees-Mogg. Also on his list were the crooked civil servants who helped him hold illegal parties at No. 10 Downing Street when his government had banned such gatherings. The shamelessness would make Iago blush.

While this list of compromised nominees was being discussed by BoJo and Hedgie, another scenario was being enacted. An independent Parliamentary Commons Privileges Committee has been constituted to investigate BoJos statements to Parliament about his gatherings during Covid lockdowns. This committee was about to announce that BoJo had knowingly lied to parliament when he said that no rules against isolation had been transgressed at No. 10 Downing Street gatherings. This announcement would automatically suspend BoJo from Parliament for 90 days and that would entail a by-election in his constituency of Uxbridge, in west London.

BoJo read the graffiti on the wall and resigned his seat before the judgment and penalty were announced. Smart calculation?

Possibly. Together with BoJos resignation from Parliament, two of his acolytes, Nadine Dorries and Nigel Adams both announced their resignations as MPs, triggering three byelections to the House of Commons.

These coming by-elections can be seen as a BoJonic strategy. In the local elections in May, the Tories lost 1,060 seats to Labour and other Opposition parties. This result was considered disastrous for Hedgies leadership of the Tory party. The results of the three strategically-inflicted byelections will see significant erosions of the Tory vote. In the Uxbridge seat, BoJos majority of 7,200 could be easily overturned. The other two seats are in Tory strongholds, and even there, their vote will suffer. The BoJistas calculate that this will damage Hedgie and prove that only BoJo can restore voters confidence in the Tory party. They hope the dead Caesar will, as a consequence, be able to gather the support of the nervous Tory MPs and stab Brutus in the front.

Another possibility has surfaced. Lets put it as questions. Did BoJo resign his seat after his acolyte Nadine Dorries resigned hers, in order to stand in her substantial Tory-majority constituency? Was her reward for that vacancy BoJos now blocked nomination of Nadine to the House of Lords? Mad Nad now says that she will delay her resignation till she gets answers about why her House of Lords nomination was blocked -- a tactic to embarrass Hedgie on two rather than the same byelection day.

BoJo has now accused Hedgie of breaking an assurance that he would overrule HoLACs rejections. Hedgie says he gave no such promise and was asked by BoJo to do something he considered immoral, which he couldnt do. Oh, the virtue of the clowns!
by Alessandra De Poli

Indias prime minister will be in New York and Washington from 21 to 24 June, a visit described as historic by US officials. In fact, Delhi has nurtured this relationship for some time, favoured by the presence of a large Indian diaspora in the US. Its aim goes beyond containing China. Farwa Aamer, director of South Asia Initiatives at the Asia Society Policy Institute, talked to AsiaNews about it.

Milan (AsiaNews)  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in the United States from 21 to 24 June. In New York, he will lead the International Yoga Day at the United Nations, while in Washington, DC, he will hold bilateral meetings with Joe Biden, address the US Congress, and meet with the Indian diaspora.

A few days ago, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the visit "historic", while President Biden praised it as the "defining relationship" of the 21st century. It would, however, be wrong to think that the India-US relations are limited to standing up to China in the Indo-Pacific.

Washington and Delhi have nurtured the relationship for at least 25 years. Since he came to power nine years ago, Modi sees it as part of a renewed focus on expanding India's global engagement, said Farwa Aamer, director of South Asia Initiatives at the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) in New York, speaking to AsiaNews.

Since 2014, Aamer explains, we witnessed a significant transformation in terms of deepening strategic partnership and enhanced cooperation across various sectors, such as defence vis-a-vis China, and more.

For India, the US is its topmost trading partner, she adds. Bilateral trade has really expanded and grown, but the two countries are also cooperating in security matters, whether it's counterterrorism or homeland security as well as Climate change and clean energy. The latter have also given a boost to this relationship, including the recent launch of the US-India climate and clean energy 2030 partnerships.

But people-to-people exchanges have also grown and tourism has increased in general, as well, and Indias diaspora has a very important role to play.

I think we live in a world where people to people connectivity is very important, Aamer explains. The Indian and  South Asian diaspora in the United States is very instrumental to the success of the private and public sectors.

In the tech industry, many great names and leading CEOs are of Indian origin. Even the World Bank president is of Indian origin. They are really at the front and centre of how the US and India relationship is progressing through soft diplomacy.

Of course, the strategic alignment in the Indo-Pacific is important for both India and the United States. Both countries share a vision of an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region and this has led to closer coordination on regional security issues focused on regional connectivity, infrastructure development, and maritime security.

India has also joined some key cooperation frameworks with the United States and its historic partners, like the 12U2 with the UAE and Israel and the meeting between the national security advisors of the United States, Saudi Arabia and India.

Some observers have described this as "minilateral" cooperation. The I2U2 group includes India, the United States, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates (their first joint statement was made in the summer of 2022). Another example of this form of cooperation is the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (more commonly known as the Quad), which includes Japan and Australia in addition to India and the United States.

For Aamer, There's an ongoing sense of trying to work together, to cooperate as much as possible. And there's certainly more willingness to work out differences at both ends.

It is also important to understand and note that India's foreign policy is always going to be driven by its national interests and the future trajectory of India-US relations will depend on various factors, including leadership changes and domestic priorities and whatnot.

This said, the US-India partnership has shown resilience and is on an upward trajectory in recent and coming years as well.

India's general election will be held in less than a year and Prime Minister Modi continues to enjoy tremendous popularity among Indian voters.

India believes that being strategically autonomous is where it stands in its foreign policy, so as to avoid divisive politics. India wants to be strategically autonomous.

While it has its own border concerns, India will play this field very pragmatically rather than openly oppose China, unless it hurts India's own national interest. After all, while the US is Indias topmost trading partner, China is the second.

Above all, India is keen to build its own capabilities and capacities so it can reduce its own reliance on China and become the go-to country that offers a competitive alternative market.

To this end, Washington is willing to work around the relations between Delhi and Moscow, for now.

For India, the goal is also to stay in the picture and avoid the China-Russia relationship from becoming too strong, especially now that it the most populous country in the world and has a rapidly growing economy.

When it buys Russian crude at deep discounts, it can refine that same oil and then export it to the US and Europe. So the West gets to benefit from Russian oil without directly getting involved.

Overall, India has become an important link between East and West. The G-20 presidency has provided India with the leverage and platform to become the voice of the global South as well.

For Prime Minister Modi, stronger bilateral relations that India has with the best (countries), including the United States, will have positive spillovers for the rest of the global South, Aamer noted.

After the United States, France will also host Prime Minister Modi in July. When you're a rising economy like India, the world wants to work with you and benefit from you.

INDIAN MANDALA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO INDIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY FRIDAY IN YOUR E-MAIL? TO SUBSCRIBE, CLICK HERE.
Beijing municipal authorities add 16 assisted reproduction technologies like IVF and freezing semen to their health plan. The status of unmarried women is an issue. Experts warn that existing programmes might not cope with increased demand. Last year, the number of newborns fell to a record low of 6.77 per 1,000 people. A further decline is expected in 2023.

Beijing (AsiaNews)  China is rebooting its efforts to raise the countrys birth rate and reverse its demographic decline. Should the latter continue, it will have inevitably repercussions on the economy, which is already showing signs of weakness.

One of the latest (and some might say, desperate) move to boost the flagging birth rate comes from Beijing where municipal authorities have decided to include 16 types of assisted reproduction technology to the city's healthcare system.

Talking about medically assisted reproduction represents a U-turn that touches ethnically sensitive topics.

Under the new rules, basic insurance would cover in vitro fertilisation, embryo transplantation, freezing and storing semen, said Du Xin, deputy director of Beijing's Municipal Medical Insurance Bureau.

This fits in with the national governments attempt to reverse the effects of its one-child policy, and comes on the heels of the first demographic decline in 60 years. In fact, last year the number of newborns fell to a record low of 6.77 per 1,000 people and is expected to drop further this year.

In August 2022, China's National Health Commission issued guidance to provinces on how to support fertility rates. On 1 May 2023, the north-eastern province of Liaoning announced that it would provide reproductive technologies starting 1 July.

Beijing's announcement comes before a court rules in the case of Teresa Xu, a 35-year-old unmarried woman who is suing a public hospital in the capital for violating her rights by refusing to freeze her eggs because she is unmarried.

Under existing rules, fertility treatments like IVF and egg freezing are available only to married women. However, in view of the rapidly aging population, government advisors suggested in March to give single and unmarried women access to egg freezing and in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

This is already happening in some provinces, like Sichuan in the south-western China, where some private clinics now offer IVF to counteract falling births.

Doctors and other experts warn, however, that if fertility treatments are liberalised nationwide, it could spark a boom in what is already the world's biggest market, straining its limited services.

China imposed a one-child policy in 1980, often enforced in a brutal way, which it changed in 2016, when it became a two-child policy but to little success. In view of this, many demographers and economists have long been pushing the government to lift restrictions on the number of children.

In 2020, some members of the Academy of Social Sciences issued an appeal to the authorities to promote artificial insemination and help parents to boost the birth rate, especially in areas with an aging population.

Meanwhile, many couples do not want children or only want one because of potential costs.
The United Nations Children's Fund is reportedly discussing ways to hand over its educational programmes to Taliban authorities. For his part, a Taliban official recently announced that jihadi madrassas had been set up in at least five provinces.

Kabul (AsiaNews/Agencies)  The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) recently announced that it was holding talks with the Taliban over the timelines and practicalities of a possible transfer of its educational programmes to local authorities.

Since they seized power in August 2021 following US withdrawal, the Taliban have banned Afghan women from higher education and forced them to stop working with NGOs, and now want to expel international education agencies. They have also established jihadi madrassas in at least five provinces.

UNICEF says that it received reassurances from the Taliban education minister that existing classes teaching 500,000 students would continue during talks.

"As the lead agency for the education cluster in Afghanistan, UNICEF is engaged in constructive discussions with the de facto Ministry of Education and appreciates the commitment from the de facto minister to keep all ... classes continuing," said UNICEF's Afghanistan spokesperson, Samantha Mort, speaking to Reuters.

A Taliban official was recently quoted as saying that jihadi madrassas had been created in at least five provinces. In the past, such establishments trained suicide bombers and taught children how to use weapons.

The issue was raised in a meeting between Abdul Wahid Tariq, head of Talibans jihadi madrassas, and the Talibans acting chief minister Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, at the presidential palace in Kabul.

In these madrassas young people are taught nothing but extremism, suicide, shelling and killing people," former MP Abdul Sattar Hussaini told AMU TV, a US-based Afghan multimedia channel.

Establishing jihadi madrassas means the continuation of a jihadi mindset among Taliban or a paramilitary group that always believes in war, killing and violence and hate, said Wais Nasiri, a political affairs analyst.

True to their name (students), the Taliban said that almost 300 madrassas have sprung up in the northeastern province of Takhar alone in the past two years.

Some 1,200 madrassas are officially registered in Afghanistan, this according to the Taliban Ministry of Education, but this is expected to rise after the Taliban announced plans to build 10 new madrassas in each district for a combined total of 4,190 new establishments.

The actual number of jihadi madrassas is unknown.
MA Senators Want Explanation from NHTSA on Right to Repair Letter Sent to Automakers

Published June 16, 2023

U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey, who both represent Massachusetts, on June 15 sent a letter to federal officials asking for an explanation of the letter sent earlier the same week to automakers, telling them not to comply with the states recently enacted Right to Repair law.

The letter was addressed to U.S. Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg and National Highway Traffic Association (NHTSA) Deputy Administrator Sophie Schulman.

Massachsuetts' Right to Repair law requires automakers to allow access to their vehicles' data, so owners can get them fixed by independent repairers if they choose, rather than be forced to go to dealership service centers. It was first approved by Massachusetts voters in 2020, but delayed for years by a lawsuit brought by the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade group representing automakers.

Finally, in March, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced she would begin enforcing the law June 1, despite the lack of a decision in the federal lawsuit. A last-minute motion to block the enforcement by the Alliance for Automotive Innovation was denied.

In its letter dated June 13, the NHTSA told 22 automakers not to comply, citing "significant safety concerns."

The letter from the NHTSA claimed the Massachusetts law is in conflict with and is therefore preempted by the Safety Act, which requires automakers to initiate a recall of vehicles that contain a safety defect---which, according to the NHTSA, includes the open remote access to vehicle telematics required by the state law.

"Open access to vehicle manufacturers telematics offerings with the ability to remotely send commands allows for manipulation of systems on a vehicle, including safety-critical functions such as steering, acceleration or braking, as well as equipment required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards such as air bags and electronic stability control," the NHTSA said. "A malicious actor here or abroad could utilize such open access to remotely command vehicles to operate dangerously, including attacking multiple vehicles concurrently.

"Vehicle crashes, injuries or deaths are foreseeable outcomes of such a situation," the NHTSA said.

In their own letter dated June 15, Warren and Markey said NHTSAs decision to give auto manufacturers a green light to ignore state law appears to favor Big Auto, undermine the will of Massachusetts voters and the Biden Administrations competition policy, and raise questions about both the decision process and the substance of the decision by NHTSAs leadership.

We are asking NHTSA to explain its rationale for its harmful actions and respect Massachusetts state law by reversing course, the senators continued.

The letter pointed out that NHTSA had ample opportunity before the law took effect June 1 to raise preemption arguments through the judicial process, and even declined multiple requests from the judge to participate.

Instead, NHTSA sent the June 13 letter with no warning, circumventing the legal process, contradicting a judicial order, undermining Massachusetts voters, harming competition and hurting consumers, and causing unnecessary confusion by raising this novel view two weeks after enforcement of the law began, the senators wrote.

The senators said NHTSAs position goes against the Biden administrations policy to combat monopolies in repair markets.

NHTSAs letter to automakers relies on the same argument used by the automakers themselves, the senators said: an irresolvable conflict between maintaining data security and providing independent repair shops with the data they need to conduct repairs. Auto manufacturers have routinely raised safety concerns as a way to change the subject and distract consumers from the fact that vehicle repair and maintenance services from independent repair shops keeps the cost of service and repair down.

The senators said those safety concerns had already been addressed in a U.S. district court, which concluded they did not override Massachusettss right to enforce the law.
Serbian, Chinese companies ink contracts worth half bln USD

Xinhua) 09:45, June 16, 2023

Representatives of Serbian and Chinese companies sign contracts at a business forum in Belgrade, Serbia, on June 15, 2023. Serbian and Chinese companies signed contracts worth over 510 million U.S. dollars at a business forum in Belgrade, the Serbian government said in a press release on Thursday, signaling the intensification of bilateral ties within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). (Photo by Wang Wei/Xinhua)

BELGRADE, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Serbian and Chinese companies signed contracts worth over 510 million U.S. dollars at a business forum in Belgrade, the Serbian government said in a press release on Thursday, signaling the intensification of bilateral ties within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The signing of over ten agreements between Chinese and Serbian companies was overseen by Serbia's Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Jelena Tanaskovic, Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo, and other representatives from the two countries.

"This is an important event for the development of relations between the two countries," said Vesic.

"We expect that a free trade agreement between our countries will be signed by the end of the year, after which there will be many more such events, as well as an opportunity for Serbian companies to take their share of the Chinese market," Vesic was quoted as saying in a press release.

Last year, bilateral trade hit 6.14 billion U.S. dollars, of which Serbia's exports amounted to 1.1 billion dollars, Vesic said.

Noting that Chinese companies' engagement in many key infrastructure projects across the country, Vesic said he hoped that, in addition to infrastructure, bilateral trade cooperation will be equally successful.

According to Tanaskovic, China-Serbia trade in agricultural and food products increased from 14.2 million dollars in 2015 to 55.5 million dollars in 2022, which she said was the result of "work, effort and the signing of all previous agreements."

She recalled that agreements on the export of Serbian pet food and honey were signed during her recent visit to China and said she expected to sign another agreement soon on the export of apples.

Li Xingqian, director general of the Department of Foreign Trade of China's Ministry of Commerce, said that the two countries have a deep and strong traditional friendship, which has led to the strengthening of bilateral economic cooperation in recent years.

The Chinese market has large capacities at multiple levels with enormous potential, he emphasized. He invited Serbian companies to visit China and participate in international fairs to promote Serbian products.

Chen said that the signing of the agreements contributes to closer and better trade cooperation, which has been booming in recent years thanks to Serbia's active participation in China's BRI.

"Over the past ten years, thanks to the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, China and Serbia ... continuously expanded two-way opening and achieved significant growth in bilateral trade," said Chen, adding that bilateral trade in 2022 increased by 35 percent year-on-year.

Igor Kronja, adviser to the president of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, agreed that the BRI contributed to the intensification of cooperation because Serbia saw its chance for development in it.

A dozen Chinese enterprises in areas including agri-food, chemicals, mineral resources, wood processing, services, attended the forum.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun)
Rear Admiral Ma Weiming has proposed a new type of warship powered by nuclear energy, capable of firing kinetic energy projectiles at hypersonic speeds.

The variety of responsibilities that aircraft carrier groups, which are naval combat platforms, must currently complete has made things more difficult. They find it more difficult to coordinate their actions as a result efficiently. Both the construction and operation of these warships are expensive, as reported by The South China Morning Post.

The Supership

In their study, Ma and his coworkers described a novel naval combat system that combines electromagnetic weapons and a potent nuclear-powered electrical system. They claimed that China's so-called supership could perform the duties of nearly an entire carrier fleet.

The vessel is depicted in Ma's newspaper in a computer-generated image carrying numerous aircraft. However, it is not a conventional aircraft carrier.

Despite the fact that many aircraft carriers use nuclear energy, their electrical systems are usually built to run the ship's motor and other essential equipment. Instead of engaging in direct combat, their main duty is to provide air support for naval operations.

Rail guns, coilguns, rocket launchers, laser weapons, and powerful microwaves are just a few of the new electromagnetic weapons the super battleship is equipped with.

Advanced technology on board the ship "cleverly and effectively transforms the energy from the ship's power source into the electromagnetic energy needed to power high-powered weapons," according to the study.

A single battleship might be equipped with the capability to properly repel air assaults, participate in anti-submarine warfare, intercept missiles, and launch pinpoint strikes on both maritime and ashore targets.

A single battleship might be equipped with the capability to properly repel air assaults, participate in anti-submarine warfare, intercept missiles, and launch pinpoint strikes on both maritime and ashore targets.

According to Ma's team, the supership's extensive nuclear-powered electromagnetic system has the ability to transform nuclear energy into useful kinetic energy or electricity that can power high-energy weaponry.

According to the article, the electromagnetic rail guns on board, for example, had a large range and could use guided munitions to strike targets in close proximity at up to seven times the speed of sound.

Read also: China 'Strike Drill' with 71 Warplanes Prompts Taiwan To Activate Navy Vessel, Land-Based Missiles

What Others Have to Say

The proposal has been met with mixed reactions. Some experts have praised the idea, saying that it could revolutionize naval warfare. Others have expressed concerns about the cost of developing such a ship and the potential for it to be used for offensive purposes.

China's Rivals Worried?

It is unclear whether the Chinese government will approve the construction of the supership. However, the proposal has raised concerns among China's rivals, who are worried about the country's growing military power.

The development of the supership is a sign of China's ambition to become a major naval power. The country has been investing heavily in its navy in recent years, and it is now the second-largest navy in the world.

The supership would be a significant addition to China's navy and would give it the ability to project power further from its shores. This could have implications for the balance of power in the region and could lead to tensions with China's neighbors.

Related article: China Develops Stealth Submarine Technology That Mimics Water

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Italian automaker Fiat replaced the iconic 126 with the Panda. Internally referred to as Tipo 141, the first generation was penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro and Aldo Mantovani of Italdesign. A little under 4.5 million copies were manufactured between 1980 and 2003, and  believe it or not  there was even a very short-lived electric version dubbed Panda Elettra.

Giugiaro famously described the Panda as being similar to a pair of jeans, referring to practicality and simplicity. He was also inspired by  get this  military helicopters . Whatever the background may be, there's no denying that Fiat's city dweller was a commercial success. The second generation sold 2,168,491 units between 2003 and 2012, with all of them produced in Poland rather than the automaker's own market.The current Panda rolled out with much pomp and circumstance in 2011 exclusively as a five-door hatchback, just like its predecessor. All three generations feature available four-wheel drive. The original Panda 4x4 came out back in June 1983, which means that a birthday cake is on the menu.Enter the Panda 4x40 special edition, with retro steelies featuring unique hub caps. A mere 1,983 examples will be produced, with said cars going to four European markets: Italy (duh!), France, Germany, and wait for it Switzerland.The Swiss Confederation may seem like an odd choice, but do remember that mountainous terrain is where four-wheel drive makes a world of difference. Fiat also prides itself on the Panda 4x4's ELD, which is a bit of a misnomer because there is no lock control on said Electronic Locking Differential. Be that as it may, it's an efficient and robust all-wheel-drive system.Based on the Panda Cross 4x4, the special edition comes exclusively in a white that Fiat calls Ivory. This color extends to the interior, where you'll find ivory-finished inserts on the seats. The color is also present on the dashboard, whereas the steering wheel and interior door panels are black. Silhouettes of the 1983 model can be found both inside and outside, and the seats bring the point home with double red stitching.Typical of a Panda, there's no central armrest for the driver's right elbow to rest on. The list of standard equipment may also be spartan by American standards, but it's perfectly fine for Europeans in the market for a small and cutesy runabout.From 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment to manual height adjustments for the driver seat, electric and heated mirrors, automatic air conditioning, and leather on the steering wheel, plenty of stuff has been crammed into a tight package. Under the hood, you'll find a two-cylinder engine with a small turbo for good measure. This lump makes 85 metric ponies and 145 Nm at 1,900 revolutions per minute, with said torque converting to 107 pound-feet. Weighing a little over 1,100 kilograms (2,425 pounds), the Panda 4x40 comes exclusively with a good ol' manual box featuring six forward gears.
kW

Created as an ode to the cloverleaf logo that has reached its centenary, Alfa Romeo's Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio 100th Anniversary vehicles are described by the Italian marque that operates under Stellantis as "immediate collector's cars." They feature a few special touches inside and out to differentiate them from the rest of the range, and they didn't cost an arm and a leg to purchase.But more on the pricing in a few moments, as first, we have to tell you what makes them so special. They sport the historic Quadrifoglio logo, which was reinterpreted with a modern twist by the brand's designers at Centro Stile in Turin, Italy, and they come with several carbon fiber accents. The added trim made of the lightweight material can be found on the grille and side mirror caps, and they also sport gold-painted brake calipers behind the 19-inch wheels on the Giulia and 21-inch on the Stelvio.The cockpit remains highly familiar, as it gets the same amenities as the normal Giulia Quadrifoglio and Stelvio Quadrifoglio. Carbon fiber is the dominating trim here, albeit with a 3D finish for more character. Alfa Romeo gave them leather and Alcantara upholstery on the steering wheel, with black stitching and carbon fiber accents, and they have gold string on other parts of the interior. Rounding off the special nature of these two models is the celebratory logo on the dashboard in front of the passenger.Power is supplied by the same twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 engine, which now pumps out 513 hp (520 ps/382). Those keeping track know that it represents a ten hp (10 ps/7 kW) boost over the normal Quadrifoglio versions of the Giulia and Stelvio. The mill is married to an eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF. The smooth-shifting gearbox transmits the thrust to the rear axle on the Giulia Quadrifoglio and the all-wheel drive on the Stelvio Quadrifoglio. Both cars feature a mechanical limited-slip differential for optimized torque transfer sourced from the GTAm.We promised we would talk about the pricing, so here it is: $85,160 for the Giulia Quadrifoglio 100th Anniversary, and $92,675 for the Stelvio Quadrifoglio 100th Anniversary, excluding the $1,595 destination charge and dealer fees. Mind you, that's not exactly a bargain, but then again, you are looking at two high-performance models that are great daily drivers, which were built in only 200 examples split equally between them. So, are you sad you missed your chance to buy one?
SUV

The Japanese automaker and its luxury division Lexus were hard at work in North America this first half of the year with stuff like the 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid, the 2024 Grand Highlander family-oriented three-row CUV, the mighty 2024 Tacoma mid-size pickup truck superhero, or the double ensemble of 2024 Lexus TX and GX 550. No worries, they will keep at it with stuff like the next C-HR or the returning Land Cruiser that will make US fans completely happy after the forced hiatus finally ends.Anyway, there are also people who think like us  we need a fast passenger car break from all the CUV,, and truck commotion. Well, if you are willing to play along with some suspension of disbelief, then the imaginative realm of digital car content creators may have an answer for us. So, here's Shashank Das, the virtual artist better known as sdesyn on social media, who continues redirecting our attention toward a certain aftermarket company  the Brixton Forged Wheel Company. And it's all for a good cause  if you like comic book characters and Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy starring Christian Bale.In one of the installments, the Dark Knight's alter ego  the billionaire Bruce Wayne  used a then-new Lamborghini Aventador supercar as his daily 'Batmobile.' The presence was quite iconic, and people remember to this day that Lambos really do serve as great car companions for dark and gritty, edgy superheroes. Anyway, back to the present day, the successor of the Aventador  Lambo's Revuelto mid-engine plug-in hybrid hypercar with 1,001 horsepower on tap  is also brand new and just making the presentation rounds around the world and still sharpening its skills on the Nurburgring Nordschleife Thus, it was only logical for the pixel master to imagine the Lamborghini Revuelto with an unofficial Batman specification, all clad in black and carbon fiber from tip to 'toe,' with the latter being a nice set of matching dark Brixton Forged PF13 RS alloy wheels. Plus, what really makes this imagined Revuelto completely distinctive  and feasible in the real world as a custom project, is the lowered suspension setup plus the stunning SVJ wing, "which clearly enhances the stance a lot more! Way meaner," concludes the author.And you know what? We completely agree! Now, if only there were a way to convince Nolan, Bale, the legendary Michael Caine, and their team to return for a fourth installment and make The Dark Knight series a tetralogy
SUV

The novelties from Toyota have flowed without interruptions in America  the return of the S235 Crown nameplate as a crossover-style sedan, the arrival of the Prius 'Hybrid Reborn' including the 220-hp Prime plug-in hybrid, the swap from subcompact C-HR prowess to larger Corolla Cross Hybrid greatness and the upcoming Corolla Nightshade family, the first-ever Grand Highlander three-row CUV, or the 2024 Tacoma mid-size pickup truck superstar. And then there are also the other regions, of course.Over in Europe, the company is eagerly preparing for the second-generation C-HR with illuminated logos and the curtain falling on June 26 to unveil the all-electric iteration. And both the Old Continent and America got some surprisingly great news when Toyota teased the impending return of the Land Cruiser nameplate with help from a few vintage badges. Naturally, that doesn't mean the company is neglecting its home market of Japan  at least as per reports from across the rumor mill.Corroborating the information regarding the return of the Land Cruiser nameplate to America , it seems the version Toyota is teasing is not the current J300 Land Cruiser but rather the follow-up to the slightly smaller J150 Land Cruiser Prado  potentially dubbed as Land Cruiser 250 in North America. And, according to the Japanese rumor mill, we may be in for a larger treat than originally expected  as everyone was looking forward to the new LC 250 (Prado) as the counterpart to the newly released 2024 Lexus GX 550.The Halo oto channel on YouTube always provides fresh automotive info that is corroborated with their virtual designs; now there is a new CGI take on the Land Cruiser 250/Prado, and based on assumptions of Japanese media, Toyota has allegedly prepared no less than three new faces for the next generation of the legendary off-road-focused. Of course, their pixel master was quick to illustrate all three of them, one with rounded headlights that make it a direct rival to the reinvented sixth-generation Ford Bronco, one with additional ruggedness thanks to abundantly available body cladding, and the final one with as much luxury as possible without trespassing into GX 550 territory.So, the new question is simple. Would you like to see the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (250) directly take after the new 2024 Lexus GX 550 and 2024 Tacoma, as imagined by many virtual artists, or is the trio of distinct personalities a lot more enticing as far as brand separation and awareness is concerned?
It's not long now until the American military gets its hands on a brand new intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting (ISR&T) drone. Called MQ-4C Triton, the platform is scheduled to receive its initial operational capability by the end of the year, and it'll bring with it some impressive capabilities, some of which were put to the test during a massive military exercise.

The Triton has been around for a decade now, but its maker, Northrop Grumman, continues to fine-tune the tech to meet the demands of the U.S. military. During Exercise Northern Edge 2023 held in Alaska, the focus fell on something called persistent long-range targeting.That's a fancy term used to describe the drone's ability to track and keep an eye on targets. In this case, a test bed drone was used to monitor the maritime traffic in the Gulf of Alaska, and send the info back to its ground operators (the Triton is not autonomous, and needs human controllers) for them to determine the best course of action."During the exercise, the Triton FTB tracked and monitored all maritime traffic within its broad visual field. Upon receipt of the data, ground operators at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage were able to process and disseminate the Gulf of Alaska maritime common operating picture to command and control units using Triton's Minotaur mission interface," the company said in a statement.As per Northrop Grumman, the Triton was flown repeatedly over the course of a week, managing to perform all of its tasks as expected. Naturally, no actual details of what exactly happened are provided, but one can easily imagine how this flying tool can help American forces keep an eye out for everything and anything happening in an area of interest.The Triton in its current configuration is a drone capable of staying in the air for 24 hours, looking down at unsuspecting enemies. The highest altitude it can climb to is ten miles (16 km). Powered by a Rolls-Royce turbofan engine, it is capable of moving at speeds of up to 357 mph (575 kph). It can be deployed to work either alone above unfriendly skies, or in cooperation with crewed aircraft flying in the same area.When it becomes ready for active duty, the drone should enter service primarily with the U.S. Navy, but it will also be used by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), which is a cooperative partner in the Triton program. Some 70 units of the thing are planned to be made over the following years. Each of them has an estimated cost of about $180 million, making the Triton one extremely expensive piece of hardware, but clearly highly valuable in the hands of the military.
Are you currently working on an old-school Mopar project and looking to add the coolest Chrysler engine into the mix? You're in luck! An all-original, 1970 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI V8 is up for grabs in West Chicago, Illinois. But it's far from cheap.

There's no info on which car this mill was sourced from, but the seller claims it's been completely restored by a "reputable local shop." He also claims that it still feaetures the original carburetor, air-grabber setup, dual-point distributor, exhaust manifolds, and valve covers. It comes on a start-up stand and with an eye-watering sticker of $50,000 Yup, that's way more than the notably more powerful crate engines you can buy today from Mopar Performance. For reference, the supercharged, 6.2-liter Hellcrate mill costs $17,925, while the Redeye version comes in at $21,807. These powerplants generate 707 and 807 horsepower, respectively.Then there's the Hellephant , which handles up to 1,100 horsepower and costs $29,995. Needless to say, all three units make the 426 HEMI seem awfully expensive, but is the seller charging too much for the classic lump?I guess it depends on who you ask. Gearheads interested in performance, regardless of the format, would definitely go for a modern crate engine. Or they would probably upgrade an old 383- or 440-cubic-inch (6.3- or 7.2-liter) mill, which is notably cheaper. On the flip side, this 426 HEMI may not seem all that expensive to enthusiasts looking to build a period-correct muscle car.Moreover, 426 HEMI powerplants are pretty rare. Specific production numbers aren't available, but most experts agree that Chrysler built almost 9,000 from 1966 to 1971. And with many of them blown at the drag strip back in the day, the number of surviving units may be much lower than 10K. Not to mention that Dodge and Plymouth sold only about 1,600 HEMI cars for the 1970 model year.The Plymouth 'Cuda got most of them at 666 units built, while Dodge sold 356 Challengers with the same mill. The Road Runner comes third on the best-selling list at 287 examples, followed by the Dodge Charger with 112 cars. The remaining units went into the Plymouth GTX (72), Dodge Super Bee (36), and Dodge Coronet (14). Finally, 70 Charger Daytona homologation specials also got the 426 V8.Most of these cars sell for six-figure sums when in Excellent or Concours-ready condition, while a few have reached into million-dollar territory in recent years. Of course, the numbers-matching vehicles are the ones that fetch the really big bucks, but Mopars with period-correct mills are also heavy on the wallet. And that's precisely what the seller of this 426 HEMI is betting his money on. What do you think? Is this original 1970 HEMI overpriced, or is the sticker justified in the current market? Let me know in the comments section below.
EV

While no confirmation exists at the time of writing, Rivian and ABRP's parent company Iternio are expected to publish a press release announcing the deal in the coming days. Of course, the financial details haven't been disclosed just yet.The deal has been in the works for quite some time. The first time I heard about a potential ABRP from an unidentified carmaker was in April, but at that point, most details were unclear, and my sources in the software world couldnt corroborate the existing speculation.Public details leaked to the web in May when alleged sources close to the matter revealed the name of the mysterious carmaker interested in ABRP. Rivian was already in advanced takeover talks with the app's owners, so an announcement was imminent. Furthermore, company employees allegedly told Rivian customers that a major update was already in the works to integrate ABRP into the navigation UI.While Rivian purchasing ABRP makes perfect sense, especially because the company could eventually integrate the route planning system into its navigation engine, it is worth knowing that the application will continue to run independently and be available for other users.In other words, even if you don't own a Rivian, you'll be able to use ABRP just like before. The carmaker will just integrate its route planning engine into its own sat-nav system (based on the comments I've seen lately online, I must set things clear on this one: Rivian will not replace its current navigation system with ABRP but only integrate some of its features; this is the reason ABRP will also continue to exist separately).Sure enough, Rivian will also try to improve ABRP in the long term, though it'll be interesting if all the new features eventually become available for allowners, regardless of the car brand.And one more interesting tidbit. ABRP is available on the majority of platforms, including not only iPhone and Android but also Android Auto, CarPlay, and Android Automotive . Rivian has already said loud and clear that it has no intentions to bring CarPlay to its vehicles, but the carmaker's strategy is unlikely to produce any change to ABRP's future from a support platform perspective. In other words, the app will continue to be available on all platforms where it's already available today.Rivian getting the data and features from ABRP will significantly improve the route planning system in its vehicles, and the imminent release of a software update confirms the talks have been underway for quite some time. Today's report doesn't reveal when an official announcement is expected, but it should be released in just a few days.
Most of the time, a recall only tells us that a carmaker, its employees, or the suppliers haven't done their job properly. In some cases, though, recalls offer interesting details that carmakers want to keep under the radar. In the case of the Tesla Semi, an insignificant recall shows that production has stalled in 2023.

EV

The Tesla Semi starting deliveries last year was themaker's biggest achievement in a long time, considering it was the first new vehicle model since the launch of the Model Y in 2020. Tesla organized a big event on December 1, 2022, and formerly handed over the keys to the electric trucks to their launch partner, PepsiCo. The food giant received 36 Semi trucks from 100 ordered, with 15 of them assigned to its Frito-Lay plant in Modesto, California, and the rest to the PepsiCo facility in Sacramento.Since then, PepsiCo appears to have frozen the purchasing deal with Tesla because no new truck from the 100 ordered was delivered. A recall announced at the end of March showed that 35 Semi trucks were affected by a parking brake issue . More specifically, the parking brake valves supplied by Bendix could fail to engage or disengage as required. The number of trucks recalled matches the PepsiCo fleet and covered trucks produced between November 30, 2022, and February 28, 2023. This implies that no new trucks were added to the fleet.On June 13, Tesla initiated another voluntary recall to address a minor software issue concerning the door closure warning. According to the safety recall report, the door closure warning system allows the operator to dismiss the notification that the side door is unlatched. This could result in driving with an unsecured door. Tesla has already solved it with an OTA software update, which introduced a dedicated, non-dismissible warning that will be displayed in all power states when a side door is open, regardless of the parking brake state.This time, the affected trucks include those built until March 15. The total number is 36, just one more than in the previous recall. Given the nature of Tesla OTA updates, it's highly probable that this is the entire Tesla fleet in operation. This appears to indicate that only one truck was delivered since the previous recall. It doesn't sound like the production of the Tesla Semi is going according to plan.In a recent interview, Elon Musk confirmed that Tesla is facing problems with the battery cell supply. Musk said that he doesn't expect Semi production to reach larger volumes until late 2024, although he didn't explain what he meant by "larger volumes." Tesla Semi started limited production in a building near Giga Nevada. Tesla intends to build a dedicated production facility in Nevada, with a production capacity of 50,000 Semi trucks per year.
If there's something computer and mobile phone users really hate to see on their devices, it's ads. For example, every Microsoft attempt to bring ads to Windows was received with incredible criticism from the company's user base, with the software giant giving up on its plans more often than not.

Sure enough, neither Microsoft nor other companies specifically refer to these attempts as ads. The software company uses different terms, such as "suggested items" or "recommended content," but eventually, users know they are ads and still don't like them.Uber sees no reason to turn to such an approach, as the company says it loud and clear: all its apps will start showing video ads, including not only Uber , but also Uber Eats, and Drizly.The company has already been serving static ads, but this new update is specifically focused on full-length video ads that will be displayed either when you wait for your Uber or when you check out the location of your order on Uber Eats. The ads will play inside the mobile apps, regardless of the platform you use (iPhone or Android).As if getting spammed with ads wasn't already annoying enough, Uber has a more ambitious plan to make sure advertisers reach you. Uber drivers will receive tablets that will be installed in the cabin and which will be used to play video ads during your trip. So if you believed you can turn to you know what to block ads on your mobile device, you'll still see ads when your Uber trip starts.Americans will start seeing ads in all Uber's apps as soon as this week, with several other markets, including the United Kingdom, France, and Australia, to follow later this year. The video ads will be enabled automatically by the parent company, while the in-car tablets will be handed over to drivers on a city-by-city basis (no further specifics were shared on this front, but this part of the ad push will obviously take more time and also be more expensive).It's easy to see what Uber aims for with this new idea. The served ads will be perfectly targeted at each user, as the information available in Uber or Uber Eats will allow advertisers to specifically personalize their content accordingly. As it turns out , 345,000 merchants already purchased ads on Uber in the first quarter of this year, so the company sees this trend as a money-making machine that can further be expanded across its entire app lineup.Certainly, users won't be glad to get spammed with more ads, but eventually, they'll become a part of the typical Uber experience, as the company seems very committed to increasing its advertising revenue in the long term.
PHEV

SUV

Toyota is on a big roll all over the world these days. Not just in the real universe but also across the rumor mill and even in the imaginative realm of digital car content creators. As far as their palpable models are concerned, we are diligently preparing to welcome the second part of the year novelties, spearheaded by the second generation C-HR (allegedly aor even a fully electric CUV) that will prioritize a design inspired by the latest Crown, Prius, and Aygo X models over practicality, and a new Land Cruiser that will probably make do with the exact opposite agenda.But why come out with a new Toyota Land Cruiser since the J300 iteration has only been around since the 2022 model year and is still surrounded by extreme hype and huge sales interest? Well, simply because Toyota also has a smaller, nimbler Land Cruiser to speak of  the J150 Land Cruiser Prado has been on sale internationally since way back in 2009. That massive timeframe indeed calls for a new iteration, right? And rumors about its impending arrival have been fueled by the Japanese company itself, which recently threw an evocative teaser with classic Land Cruiser badges on social media in both Europe and the United States.The latter is of particular importance since it signals the eager return of the nameplate to North America after a short hiatus. And the rumor mill is busy claiming the next Land Cruiser Prado  allegedly dubbed LC 250  will be the one to carry the torch forward so as not to trespass into J310 Lexus LX territory. As for the parallel universes of car CGI, the authors were also eager to take notice of all the Toyota commotion. Their visions, for the moment, are entirely diverging based on what rumors they can find. Some think the Land Cruiser 250 (Prado) will be directly twinned with the all-new third-generation Lexus GX 550; others believe the former may gain its own distinctive personality  or even three of them Meanwhile, Kleber Silva, is also keeping a watchful eye on the matters, and soon after coming out with a vision for the upcoming mid-size 4Runner, he has also decided to have a CGI go at imagining the next LC - the Prado (250) , of course. Interestingly, out of laziness or simply because it felt natural, the pixel master kept the same 2024 Tacoma-inspired visage as on the 4 Runner and even the same dark blue color. Instead, to show a slight separation, the digital expert treated his unofficial 2025 Land Cruiser Prado (250) with the distinctive profile and rear (especially the full-width LED taillights) styling of the Lexus GX 550.So, what do you think of this 2024 Tacoma x Lexus GX 550 mixing and matching  does it have the potential to indicate the upcoming styling of the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser 250 (Prado), or is the Japanese automaker going to be a lot subtler and implement a distinctive design for the iconic off-road-focused SUV? We bet the latter if you want our two cents on the matter.
Japan's parliament passed a bill on Friday, June 16, to promote the understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Still, activists criticized the legislation as "watered-down" and said it did not go far enough.

The bill, which was passed by the upper house of parliament, requires the government to take steps to promote understanding of LGBT people and to prevent discrimination against them, as reported by CNN. However, it does not include specific measures to address discrimination, such as providing legal protections for same-sex couples.

Calls for a More Comprehensive Bill

Activists had called for the government to pass a more comprehensive bill that would legalize same-sex marriage and provide other protections for LGBT people. However, the government resisted those calls, saying that it was not yet ready to legalize same-sex marriage.

The bill's passage is seen as a small step forward for LGBT rights in Japan, which is one of the few developed countries that does not recognize same-sex marriage. However, activists say that more needs to be done to ensure that LGBT people are treated equally under the law.

(Photo : Wikimedia Commons / Niurka Barroso)

Japoneses apoyando el desfile de orgullo guy.

The passage of the bill is also seen as a sign of progress in Japan's attitude towards LGBT people. In recent years, there has been a growing movement for LGBT rights in Japan, and there is increasing public awareness of the issue.

However, there is still a long way to go before LGBT people in Japan are fully accepted by society. Many LGBT people still face workplace discrimination and other areas of their lives.

The bill's passage is a sign that Japan is moving in the right direction, but there is still much work to be done. Activists will continue to fight for full equality for LGBT people in Japan.

Read also: Target Faces Bomb Threats in Utah Stores Amid LGBTQ Pride Month Collection Backlash

LGBT Discrimination in Japan

LGBT discrimination in Japan is a complex issue with a long history. While Japan has made some progress in recent years, much work must be done to ensure that LGBT people are treated equally under the law and in society.

One of the most common forms of LGBT discrimination in Japan is employment discrimination. LGBT people are often passed over for promotions or denied jobs altogether because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. They may also be subjected to harassment or bullying in the workplace.

Housing discrimination is another form of LGBT in Japan. LGBT people may be denied housing or charged higher rents because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

LGBT people in Japan also face discrimination in other areas, such as education, healthcare, and access to public services. For example, LGBT students may be bullied or harassed at school, and LGBT people may face discrimination when seeking healthcare or accessing public services.

In 2018, the government passed a law prohibiting discrimination against LGBT people in employment and housing. However, this law does not cover all forms of discrimination and has been criticized for being weak.

Related article: Japan Facing Heightened Push To Lift Same-Sex Marriage Ban

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The refreshed Tesla Model 3 is closer than ever to its official unveiling, but we still don't know much about the updated model. Almost everything we assumed was based on a few prototype sightings and a leaked picture of its front end. A new prototype reveals a few more details about Model 3's rear.

EV

If we're to believe rumors, Project Highland is not only in series production at Giga Shanghai but on the way to US shores too. We have no idea when to expect the new model to be officially unveiled. Some say it might happen during the Q2 earnings call in July, while others expected an early appearance at the Shenzhen Auto Show, which debuted on June 16. Sales start is even more uncertain, although Tesla targets the Model 3 inventory with price cuts and other incentives. This is a sign themaker wants to trim the existing stock to make way for the refreshed model.Whether the launch is in a month or three is less important. The few things we were allowed to see on the prototypes caught testing on public roads show that the refreshed model has a nicer design. The front looks more streamlined, with striking headlights. The rear is still a mystery, although we've seen realistic renderings. A new picture shared on social media shows that these renderings were surprisingly accurate.A lucky Tesla fan snapped a white prototype of the Model 3 "Project Highland," which reveals more than Tesla may have wanted. The black cladding on the charge port was loose, supposedly after a charging session, showing more of the taillight design. Being white, this prototype reveals more at the seams of the black cladding, including the shape of the trunk lid. This differs from the renderings and is probably identical to the one in the current Model 3.Technically, we expect the refreshed Model 3 to follow the Model Y recipe. Although the best-selling model in Tesla's lineup has not been officially refreshed, it got many updates under the hood. The structural battery pack, front and rear megacastings, and updated suspension are also expected to be part of the Project Highland refresh. Tesla will introduce its new hairpin motors if it hasn't already. More far-fetched expectations would be the LMFP battery packs, which combine the price advantage of LFP cells with the higher energy density of the NMC cells.Initial rumors indicated that Tesla aims to cut costs and possibly corners to make the Model 3 as cost-effective as possible. Still, new information shows that the upcoming Model 3 has interesting features. Based on recent findings, Tesla Model 3 will come with ventilated seats and ambient lighting, which Tesla fans have requested. Interestingly, although the audio system in the Tesla EVs is considered one of the best on the market, insiders claim the EV maker will also offer an upgraded sound system with the refreshed model.
The Ford Motor Company is calling back 16,375 examples of the F-150 Lightning. As it happens, the rear lightbar hasn't been properly designed in the first place. No fewer than 291 warranty claims and 4 vehicle owner questionnaires have been filed with the American automaker, alleging flickering or inoperative reverse lights, or moisture build-up in the lightbar.

EV

NHTSA

The Critical Concern Review Group within the Ford Motor Company started investigating said reports on March 23. Parts were obtained for in-depth analysis, with engineers identifying small cracks in the outer lens of the lightbar. More than half of analyzed parts exhibited flickering/inoperative reverse lights.Why do these lightbars develop microcracks in the first place, though? Engineers determined a few reasons, beginning with the assembly process of the F-150 Lighting. During production, stress caused by static and dynamic loading may lead to said cracks. In addition, severe tailgate surface loading at extremely cold temperatures may also result in huge stress for the lightbar. How cold? Below -40 C or -40 F, that is.Only the well-equipped Lariat and range-topping Platinum trim levels are recalled because the XLT and entry-level Pro don't feature rear lightbars. Both 2022 and 2023 models are called back, namely pickups manufactured at the RougeCenter between October 14, 2021 through March 28, 2023.A quick search on Google reveals that moisture building up in the rear lightbar is a common issue for the Lariat and Platinum. There are cases of water getting into the front lightbar as well, yet Ford hasn't addressed this problem thus far. Owners have also complained about water getting into the turn signal assemblies, but Ford couldn't be bothered to investigate.Manufactured by SL America Corporation of Auburn Hills in Michigan, the rear lightbar  including its reverse lights and taillamp  is known under part number NL34-13N466-AC. Dealers have been instructed to replace it with a revised lightbar, which bears part number NL34-13N466-AE.There won't be any charge for this operation. Owners will be informed of the recall by first-class mail in the period between June 26 and June 30. Whoever doesn't know the build date of their truck, the easiest way of telling if said vehicle is recalled is by using the's VIN look-up tool.The Ford Motor Company delivered 15,617 units of the F-150 Lightning stateside last year, making it the best-selling electric truck in the United States. Last quarter, sales totaled 4,291 units. Back in March 2023, the Dearborn-based automaker issued a press release according to which the Rouge EV Center is on track to triple production . Ford expects to assemble 150,000 electric trucks at the Rouge by the end of 2023.As a brief refresher, the F-150 Lighting carries a sticker price of $59,974 for the Pro, excluding the destination freight charge and the $7,500 federal tax credit. That's a whopping $20,000 more than Ford's original MSRP of the work-oriented grade.
16 June 2023 12:30 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

When reading and hearing about the claims of Armenian history and heritage, some could think that Armenians are more like mushrooms springing up in every corner of this massive world. However, when looking at their national identity, it is hard to believe how they come a long way though the history.

In their eyes, any village, settlement, or city stepped by a single Hay immediately allegedly turns into a historic Armenian land dating back several thousands of years. If anyone attempts to live and work in such places, Armenians will immediately start to accuse him of trying to commit genocide against them.

Despite the number of Armenians throughout the world does not exceed 10 million, they make territorial claims against different countries in the world playing out from Azerbaijan to Egypt. The last such claims were made against Israel recently by Armenian media outlets.

As is known, under the flag of Israel, different nations live in peace and harmony in Jerusalem, which is considered by the members of three monotheistic religions. Armenians are one of these nations and they live in the Armenian quarter of the city. Recently, a European businessman of Jewish origin leased a piece of land in the quarter to build a hotel to boost the economy and provide workplaces for locals including Armenians. It was enough for Armenians to perform Much Ado About Nothing. They organized protest meetings, and Armenian mass media broadcast it describing the leasing agreement as a genocide against Armenians, and Armenian heritage in Jerusalem dating back 2000 years.

Some can think that it is one of the regular caprices of Armenians, but we should recall that the Garabagh war started from a single protest as if the Soviet Azerbaijani government had economically discriminated against them, later it evolved into a full-scale war. In addition, it should not be forgotten that the Palestinian and Jordan governments expressed their support for Armenians in the protests. Besides, taking into account that Armenian terror organizations in the Middle East have had a tense relationship with different Palestinian terror organizations and Iranian support for these organizations, one can conclude that some foreign forces try to destabilize Israel through Armenians.

In a comment for Azernews on the issue, Israeli journalist Rachel Avraham noted that Armenian illegal activities and deeds are well known to Israel.

"We already know that Armenia is a proxy of the regime in Iran. Besides, Armenians have been collaborating with Palestinians dating back to the days when Yasser Arafat lived in Lebonan. So, Im not very surprised that they would seek to cooperate with forces that want to destabilize Israel, especially as the Azerbaijani relations with Israel improve and get better and better," the journalist said.

As for destroying Armenian heritage in Jerusalem and expelling them from the quarter, Rachel called the accusation ridiculous.

"I don`t think Israelis have any plan to do such a thing, to expel Armenians from a quarter of Jerusalem," she said.

Talking more about Armenia's greed for usurping larger territories, she noted that Armenia and some Armenians, who have been stuck in their obsolete dreams still chase up the idea of establishing 'Greater Armenia'.

"They do not want to give up that dream and make a peace deal. Relying on Iran and Russia, they chase this dream and that is why they do not want to open Zangazur corridor and make a peace. They look for excuses not to do it and blame Azerbaijan and Turkiye for it," she noted

---

Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
16 June 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

Indeed, we are at such a stage in the history of the world that neither international laws nor international organizations that operate only for the sake of appearance defend the right and the justice. On the contrary, some superpowers deliberately ignore international law for their own interests and even openly defend those who violate it. As a result, a reason arises, be strong so that the laws are in your favor.

These views were voiced yesterday during the press statements of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev while meeting with the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Sehbaz Sharif in Baku.

We know that international law works selectively. Some United Nations Security Council resolutions are implemented, some are not. We both know that. And the guarantee for your independence or territorial integrity, security and well-being of your people is your economic, political and military capability. So, on all these issues we have full mutual understanding. Pakistan and Azerbaijan are countries, which always stand shoulder to shoulder, the head of state noted.

In fact, this word has a great meaning behind it and immediately brings to mind the Karabakh war, which took place in two stages: Azerbaijan during the First Karabakh war and Azerbaijan during the Second Karabakh war...

Nothing has changed in thirty years. Neither the invaders nor the forces supporting them - only the geopolitical and military-strategic advantage of Azerbaijan changed positively. If the laws really worked like clockwork, then there would be no need for war or the iron fist over the head of enemy. But there is always good behind all events. As the saying goes, Hard Times Reveal True Friends. The brotherhood of Turkiye and Pakistan is an inexhaustible chain strengthened by the test of difficult times.

This chain has come together over the last three years to form a strong loops of union. After the visit of the Turkish President to Azerbaijan, the visit of another brother country, Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to Azerbaijan on June 14-15, is an example of this unbreakable unity.

Speaking to the press, the leaders of Azerbaijan and Pakistan touched upon the development of relations between the two countries. As President Ilham Aliyev noted, relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan are relations which are based on mutual history, culture, traditions, religion, solidarity and mutual support. In a statement, President Ilham Aliyev also thanked to brotherly Pakistan for standing by Azerbaijan at the very difficult time. We are very grateful to Pakistan for support to Azerbaijan during the times of occupation and during the 44 days of Patriotic War of 2020. Pakistan is the country which did not establish diplomatic relations with Armenia because of occupation. And this is a really position of brothers. We are very grateful for that, the head of state noted.

Pakistan's history is both deep and turbulent. Azerbaijan and Pakistan have a lot in common. The thing that endears Pakistan to Azerbaijan and the whole Turkic world is its loyalty and reliability in friendship and brotherhood. We must regretfully emphasize that today Pakistan, like Azerbaijan, is experiencing a problem with the Indian state regarding the issue of territorial integrity of Kashmir and Jammu. In this problem, as much as Azerbaijan, Pakistan suffers from the inability of international law to perform its function sufficiently. Because no matter how strong the Pakistani state is militarily and strategically, it, like Azerbaijan, is a country that wishes to resolve all conflicts peacefully.

The meeting between the two brotherly states also resulted in the signing of many important documents. Azerbaijan and Pakistan inked memorandum of understanding on the development of mutual trade at a high level. During the meeting with the Prime Minister, the head of state also emphasized that there are great opportunities in the field of energy through projects of fossil fuel and renewable energy.

Touching upon the development of bilateral relations, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said that the peoples of Azerbaijan and Pakistan are fraternal peoples. " Our positions overlap on both bilateral and multilateral issues. Pakistan and Azerbaijan are two brotherly nations. Our relations are based on mutual support, sincerity and respect, the Premier noted. That is, we are witnessing that the leaders of both countries are making great efforts to develop relations.

Thus, the processes show that the leadership of Azerbaijan and Pakistan in their policy gives priority to the development of economic and political relations, follows the path of diplomacy in resolving emerging issues. These common features are among the factors that will positively influence the further development of relations between the two countries.

---

Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
16 June 2023 19:30 (UTC+04:00)

Rena Murshud Read more

Russia and the United States seem to be competing with each other to mediate the solution to Baku-Yerevan relations, though there is no result yet. What is interesting is what kind of interests are behind the initiative of two opposing sides.

According to political analyst Ilgar Valizadeh, the USA, which has recently been active in both Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus, is somehow trying to push Russia out of the region. "Actually, with the initiative of the parties, we bring the Turkish agreement, the negotiations regarding the Zangazur Corridor to the table. This initiative and the process itself are beneficial to the parties to a certain extent. The fact that most of the negotiations take place with the participation of the United States means that it takes the initiatives. On the other hand Russia is active in order to maintain its influence in the South Caucasus. Because it is losing its influence in many directions and particularly in the region. Russia's main desire is to open the Zangazur Corridor. This is an issue that is more beneficial to Russia than the United States and the West. By the way, the roads the commission related to its opening is carried out with the participation of Russia," Valizade said.

The expert also spoke about Armenia's position. He said that the USA and the EU show considerable interest in Azerbaijan due to its geostrategic position. Armenia is completely out of this issue.

"Azerbaijan is located in such a geographical position that its paths cross with Iran, Turkiye, and Central Asia. For this reason, America and the EU want to increase their influence in regional issues, provided they do not leave the region.

As for Armenia, its end is the policy of becoming a colony. The end of the countries that pursue such policies sooner or later becomes a colony of another country. Armenia, which has been under Russian colonial rule until now, is looking for a new patron because it cannot get what it wants from the official Kremlin. Whichever country carries out the policy desired by Armenians and fulfills their wishes, that country is considered the leading country. Armenian public figures and activists openly admit this desire.

In fact, this is dangerous. Because, this kind of situation of Armenia creates the ground for interference of foreign forces in regional politics. This is not a good situation not only against the background of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, but also for the entire region," the expert emphasized.

In addition, Ilgar Valizade also touched on the recent visit of the EU mission group to inspect the metallurgical plant of Armenia, which is dangerous for ecology. He said that the West is biased in this matter.

"This is the traditional policy of the West. The West creates dirty enterprises in Africa and many countries in Asia. It wants to damage the environment by placing its enterprises in the countries that produce raw materials. Other countries suffer considerable damage from this, and to support this issue that is on the agenda of the UN make calls.

Currently, African and some Asian countries buy garbage from the West in exchange for money. Enterprises dealing with waste processing in their own countries are unable to deliver the volume of waste, so they transport their waste to other countries for money. This is a huge global problem. Armenia is an example of this.

By the way, the Okchuchay tragedy is experiencing the same situation. Even there were some institutions affiliating to Germany but never inside the country operating in several countries. All this is a manifestation of colonial policy."

The political analyst added that Armenia is trying to realize the metallurgical plant, which it started to build illegally, only within the framework of interests.

"Currently, the Yeraskh metallurgical plant is being built without passing any environmental expertise. Armenia continues this work simply by agreeing with the interests of the West and expressing its personal wishes. The worst thing is that this plant is close to the Araz River, which is considered a transit.

I would like to note that the convention on the use of transit rivers was adopted in Helsinki, and currently this activity of Armenia is contrary to the norms of the use of transit rivers. Unlike Armenia, Azerbaijan is a member of this convention. It is precisely because of such issues that Armenians refuse to do so," Valizade said.

---

Rena Murshud is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @RenaTagiyeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
16 June 2023 14:56 (UTC+04:00)

The 52nd meeting of the Joint Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic of Iran on the use of water and energy resources of the Araz River has been held in Baku, Azernews reports.

Representatives of the Azerbaijan Amelioration and Water Management OJSC, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan, and the relevant organizations of Nakhchivan AR took part in the meeting chaired by Zakir Guliyev, deputy chairman of the Azerbaijan Amelioration and Water Management OJSC.

The meeting focused on a number of issues regarding the Araz River.

The meeting participants agreed on the mode of operation of the Araz Reservoir and the distribution of water between the two countries, prepared distribution tables for the joint use of water and energy resources in the Araz River, and signed a respective protocol.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
16 June 2023 10:49 (UTC+04:00)

On June 16 at 09:15, units of the Armenian armed forces from positions in the direction of the settlement of Arazdeyen of the Vedi region fired on the positions of the Azerbaijani army in the direction of the settlement of Heydarabad of the Sadarak region of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic from different-caliber small arms, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

The units of the Azerbaijani army are taking retaliatory measures.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
16 June 2023 13:21 (UTC+04:00)

Pakistan and Azerbaijan agreed to upgrade the ties commensurate with the excellent relationship, Azernews reports, citing a tweet by Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sherif.

The tweet reads that Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sherif had a wonderful meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev which reviewed the present state of bilateral relations between the two countries. The two have agreed to upgrade the ties commensurate with the excellent relationship between the two countries. According to the shared resolve, trade, investment & enhanced cooperation in energy, defense, tourism, & higher education sectors will form the bedrock of cooperation.

Pakistani PM also noted that the love which Azerbaijani people bear for Pakistan impressed him and his delegation.

"I thanked the President for Azerbaijan's consistent support to Pakistan on IIOJK & assured him of our steadfast support on Karabakh. The shared resolve at the leadership level has the potential to reshape our bilateral ties in line with demands of the contemporary era and together we will make it happen, IA," Pakistani PM tweeted.

I had a wonderful meeting with H.E. President Ilham Aliyev in which we reviewed the present state of bilateral relations between our two countries. We have agreed to upgrade the ties commensurate with our excellent relationship. According to our shared resolve, trade, investment pic.twitter.com/2sapiNxu5H  Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) June 15, 2023

We should note that Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sherif is paying the two-day visit to Azerbaijan on June 15-16, 2023.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
16 June 2023 16:30 (UTC+04:00)

Under the leadership of the Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, a meeting of the Board Session of the Ministry of Defense on the results of the first half of 2023 was held on June 16, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

Deputies of the Minister of Defense, Chiefs of Main Departments, Departments, and Services of the Ministry, Commanders of Army Corps and formations participated in the meeting. First, the memory of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, and Shehids (Martyrs), who sacrificed their lives for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, was honored with observing a minute of silence.

In his introductory speech, the Minister of Defense emphasized the statement of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mr. Ilham Aliyev that the development of the Azerbaijan Army according to the model of the Turkish Armed Forces is an indicator of the positive results of the reforms carried out in the field of army development. It was noted that certain achievements have already been gained in this field thanks to the work done in the first half of the current year.

The meeting analyzed the service and combat activities of all types of troops (forces) in the first half of 2023, heard detailed reports on improving the potential and capabilities of the Azerbaijan Army, operational and combat training, engineering activities, intelligence activities, recruitment of professional personnel, moral-psychological training of personnel, the development of military education, construction works carried out in military units, improvement of social and living conditions of the military personnel and measures implemented in other areas.

Then the current operational situation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian conditional border and in the Karabakh economic region was analyzed. In order to prevent the intensive fire on the Azerbaijan Armys positions by the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed detachments, as well as illegal military transportation and attempts to install long-term facilities in the territory of the Karabakh economic region, Colonel General Z. Hasanov gave instructions on taking further necessary retaliatory measures by Azerbaijan Army Units, constant surveillance of the activities of the opposing side and being always ready to decisively suppress any provocation.

Delivering a closing speech, the Defense Minister delivered to the meeting participants the tasks assigned by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief to the Azerbaijan Army for the next half of 2023, and ordered to pay special attention to the protection of the health and the safety of military personnel, further improve the professionalism and combat readiness, as well as maintain the combat capability of troops at a high level.

At the end of the meeting of Board Session, the award orders of the Minister of Defense were announced.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
16 June 2023 16:55 (UTC+04:00)

While raising the Azerbaijani flag on our sovereign territory, the Armenian side resorted to provocation and began to fire at our servicemen a Lachin BCB.

Azerbaijani serviceman Elshan Rustamov, who was injured as a result of a provocation committed by Armenia yesterday in the direction of the Lachin border checkpoint, said this, Azernews reports, citing Trend.

"At that time we were unarmed. When the enemy side resorted to provocation, we quickly began to take up position, and at that time I was wounded in the left leg," he said.

It should be noted that on June 15, 2023, at 08:45, as a result of shelling from the territory of Armenia, a serviceman of the State Border Service (SBS) of Azerbaijan, who served at the Lachin BCP, was wounded. The enemy firing point was suppressed by return fire, and the combat situation is under the control of our units.

Note that at the moment the passage of cars through the Lachin BCP has been stopped. It will not work smoothly until a full investigation of what happened is carried out, or until Armenia takes full responsibility for the provocation.

Azernews present full video interview with Elshan Rustamov:

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
(Photo : GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images)

TOPSHOT - Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the opening ceremony of the new toll section of the M-4 Don highway bypassing the town of Aksai, via a video link at the Kremlin in Moscow on June 15, 2023.



When Vladimir Putin delivers a speech in St. Petersburg today, paranoid security personnel securing the dictator will disable mobile internet coverage in the city.

They are concerned that the signals could be used to direct drones in assassination operations against the warmonger, a prevalent tactic in Ukraine and, more recently, Russia.

Russia Fears Assassination Plot Against Putin

According to sources of the Faridaily news outlet operated by journalist Farida Rustamova, the Russian Ministry of Communications issued a disabling order to all mobile operators.

The action was made "to prevent drones from assaulting the forum venue during the plenary session of Putin's annual event" - the annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum considered Russia's Davos.

The government stated that "unprecedented" safety precautions were taken at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov asserted that the measures were necessary because "the enemy is acting brazenly."

Previously, Ukraine's military or "partisan" saboteurs operating within Russia are believed to have launched dozens of drone attacks. Some have reached the Ukraine border, bringing Putin's official residence outside Moscow and his forest retreat further north within range.

The fearful dictator has installed anti-aircraft missile batteries around his residences to protect himself and his concubine from drone attacks. Ukraine has launched multiple drone strikes against Russia in retaliation for Putin's forces' ceaseless missile attacks. The May 3 attacks on the Kremlin were attributed to Ukraine by the Russians.

This was depicted as an attempt to "assassinate Putin" by Moscow. In addition, a drone attack occurred close to Putin's official residence Novo-Ogaryovo near Moscow at the end of May.

Sniffer canines were captured on camera at today's venue in Putin's hometown of St. Petersburg, amid a massive security crackdown. Putin will deliver an extensive speech, which will be followed by a discussion. The majority of Western nations are boycotting the event, which in previous years attracted prominent foreign guests.

Read Also: Biden Bribery Case: POTUS Berates Reporter for 'Dumb Question' Over 'Big Guy' Reference

Putin Allegedly Uses Body Double for Public Appearances

Putin's upcoming appearance coincides with rumors that he increasingly uses a body double for public appearances due to security concerns or illness. Both Russia and Ukraine have employed drones to conduct pinpoint assaults against hostile forces.

The tiny, mobile devices are difficult to detect and can penetrate deeply behind enemy lines, enabling their operators to remain out of harm's way.

Both parties have employed consumer quad-copters to scout enemy positions and drop grenades on soldiers concealed in foxholes or inside armored vehicles. But consumer models typically require an internet connection to function, with operators using internet-connected devices and GPS signals to position them.

Additionally, they can be used to guide other large munitions to their targets. After the May drone strike on the Kremlin, it was alleged that Putin became hesitant to travel abroad for fear of assassination.

This also occurred after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin on war crimes charges in Ukraine, requiring any member state to detain him should he enter their territory.

Wagner mercenary group warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has become increasingly critical of Russia's military and its faltering efforts on the battlefield in Ukraine, has also hinted at a potential revolt against him.

According to the independent Russian news outlet Verstka, the Russian leader's dread for his life has increased in recent months. The source claimed "behind the scenes at the Kremlin" that Putin was hesitant to travel and lacked a sense of security.

Putin did not travel to Turkey for President Recep Erdogan's inauguration, and he will not attend the July meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in India. Reports also indicate that Putin's inner circle has shrunk since the beginning of the Ukraine conflict, to the point where he refuses to hear negative battlefield reports from his generals.

Kyiv's counteroffensive is advancing steadily on at least two fronts in Ukraine, with the country's military announcing on Thursday that it had retaken control of more than 100 square kilometers of territory.

Meanwhile, Russia's progress has been stalled for months, as its military efforts have been more focused on maintaining its defensive positions. According to Iuliia Osmolovska, director of the GlobSec think firm, Putin refuses to use the internet and ignores any negative news regarding his military campaign.

Related Article: Xi Jinping Meets 'Old Friend' Bill Gates as US-China Tensions Intensify

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
16 June 2023 17:18 (UTC+04:00)

We strongly reject the absurd claims made by Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia in his speech at the meeting of government held on June 16, asserting that the establishment of the Lachin state border checkpoint caused a tense humanitarian situation, prevention of the provision of daily necessities and medical products to Armenian residents by Azerbaijan, pursuance of ethnic cleansing policy by Azerbaijan, as well as that Azerbaijan allegedly committed provocations in border areas.

We would like to remind you once again that any interference of Armenia on the issue of establishing a border checkpoint in the territory of Azerbaijan is a claim against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and such actions contradict all norms and principles of international law.

It is evident that with the establishment of this checkpoint, Armenia, which committed aggression against Azerbaijan and occupied our lands for almost 30 years, was deprived of steps that exacerbated the situation, as well as illegal activities carried out using the road, and it worries this country.

There are necessary conditions for the transparent, safe, and orderly passage of local Armenian residents of the Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan in both directions, and hundreds of residents have been using this road freely since the establishment of the checkpoint.

The purpose of the provocation committed by Armenia on June 15 against this checkpoint and our servicemen is to hinder the successful operation of the border checkpoint by Azerbaijan and prevent the safe and free use of the checkpoint.

It is unacceptable to assess the relevant measures taken by Azerbaijan in order to investigate the reasons for this provocation, as well as to ensure the security of the border checkpoint and the passage through it after the attack, which resulted in the injury of a serviceman of the State Border Service, as a blockade.

We demand Armenia to abandon provocations, responsibly and constructively approach the negotiations on the peace agreement and the opening of communications in the region, to comply with the obligations arising from the Trilateral Statement, including the complete withdrawal of its forces from the territories of Azerbaijan, and to refrain from steps against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan instead of making unfounded statements.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
16 June 2023 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

Turkiye is already a prime hub for foreign investments and will further strengthen its position in the coming years, according to Burak Daglioglu, head of the Turkish Presidencys Investment Office, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

With a strong commitment to reforms and concerted efforts to create an investor-friendly environment, Turkiye will build on its successes of the past two decades, he told Anadolu in an interview in London.

He said there is growing interest from international investors after the recent elections, placing the country in a position where it can surpass previous inflow records.

Following his reelection, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has refreshed his financial team, bringing in prominent figures such as Mehmet Simsek, the new finance minister, and Hafize Gaye Erkan, the first woman to lead the countrys Central Bank.

The government is also pursuing reforms to improve regulatory frameworks, streamline bureaucratic processes and enhance transparency.

Our current share in global investments is around 1% and our goal is to increase this to 1.5%, said Daglioglu.

Looking at data for the first four months of this year, we are talking about an investment of nearly $4 billion. Personally, I prefer a more long-term analysis, and the figure for the past 12 months has exceeded $14 billion.

He said Turkiyes geographical location as a gateway between Asia, Europe and Africa is a major advantage, along with the extensive human resource talent pool in the country.

Another key factor is Turkiyes position in the global green energy sector, according to Daglioglu.

Apart from transitioning its own energy production to renewable and green sources, Turkiye has also become a critical equipment producer in the worldwide supply chain, he explained.

Turkiye features in any discussion about green energy equipment around the world, he said.

Economic relations with UK

Regarding the UK, Daglioglu said the two countries have longstanding trade and investment ties.

The trade volume between the two nations, valued at approximately $19 billion, shows our existing economic cooperation, he said.

Since 2003, Turkiye has received over $250 billion in foreign direct investment, with around $13.5 billion coming from British investment companies. Additionally, there are approximately 3,200 UK-based companies operating in Turkiye.

Investments from the UK are spread in diverse sectors and have made a significant impact, he added.

Financial investments and venture capital flows in technology are particularly important areas, while manufacturing, with a particular focus on telecommunications and energy, also offers promising opportunities for UK-based companies in Turkiye, according to Daglioglu.

We think that the UKs strong industrial background and its status as a financial center in its region will contribute to our country. In technology entrepreneurship, we can gain significant investments and obtain important financing from the UK in terms of the supply chain, he said.

We also see that investors recognize the increasing importance of the green economy in Turkiye, and the UK stands out as one of the leading countries providing financing for these projects, he added.

Daglioglu cited recent examples, including a credit agreement for UK financing for a high-speed electric rail line between the Turkish capital Ankara and the western port of Izmir, as evidence of rising interest and support from international investors for Turkiyes sustainability efforts.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
16 June 2023 21:15 (UTC+04:00)

The BRICS group of nations currently enjoys great popularity in the world, and one could even say that the group is currently in vogue internationally, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday, Azernews reports, citing TASS.

"The BRICS is an association that currently indeed enjoys great popularity; one could even say that the BRICS group is currently in vogue internationally," he said on Russian TV.

Peskov pointed out that about 15 nations have expressed interest in joining the organization.

"And this issue will be high on the agenda of the BRICS summit, planned for later this year," he underscored.
Thank you for reading!

Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
The mindset of a drunken woman who climbed into a van  despite being told its dangerous to drive intoxicated  and then collided with anothe
The European Union (EU) has urged more countries to ban Chinese telecom giants Huawei and ZTE from their 5G networks, citing security concerns.

The EU said that there is "credible evidence" that the Chinese government could use Huawei and ZTE to spy on other countries, according to CNBC. The EU also said that the companies could be used to disrupt or disable 5G networks in times of conflict.

The EU developed a "5G cybersecurity toolbox" in January 2020 to detect the dangers associated with including particular 5G infrastructure providers in its rollout. As occurred at the same time, several nations, including the U.K., decided to forbid Huawei because of security concerns.

Only 10 EU nations have restricted or outright barred Huawei from using their 5G networks.

The Security of Chinese Companies

The EU's call for a ban on Huawei and ZTE comes as the United States and other countries have also raised concerns about the security of the Chinese companies. The United States has banned Huawei from its 5G networks, and the UK has restricted the company's access to its networks.

(Photo : Wikimedia Commons / )



Huawei and ZTE have denied that they pose a security threat. The companies have said that they are independent of the Chinese government and that their products are safe and secure.

Read also: Canadian Court Releases Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou After US Extradition Case Ends

Bans Could Meet Resistance

The EU's call for a ban on Huawei and ZTE will likely be met with resistance from some countries. China has warned that it will retaliate against any country that bans the companies.

Despite the risks, some countries may be reluctant to ban Huawei and ZTE because of the cost of replacing their equipment. Huawei and ZTE are the two leading suppliers of 5G equipment, and their products are often cheaper than those of other companies.

The ban on Huawei and ZTE is a significant development in the global debate over the security of 5G networks. How many countries will heed the EU's call and ban the Chinese companies remains to be seen.

In order to replace Huawei as the supplier of infrastructure for their mobile networks, operators have struggled. Industry insiders claim that Huawei's technology is frequently more sophisticated and less expensive than that of competitors Ericsson, Nokia, and Samsung.

The bans on Chinese telecom companies have been met with mixed reactions. Some countries have said that the bans are necessary to protect their national security, while others have said that the bans are discriminatory and that they will harm the global economy.

These will likely continue to be a source of tension between China and the West.

Related article: Chinese Tech Firm Huawei Could Spy on Nuclear Assets via Cell Phone Infrastructure

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @_ishanidesai on Twitter.
After two recesses and four hours of discourse, Kern County officials approved the new system and rates Tuesday for the countys trash collect
Governor Cooper and Emergency Management Officials Encourage North Carolinians to Prepare for Potential Coastal Flooding and Inclement Weather

Press Release:



RALEIGH: Governor Roy Cooper and Emergency Management officials are encouraging all North Carolinians to be prepared for the possibility of heavy rains, gusty winds, and coastal flooding this weekend. Heavy rain could lead to areas of flash flooding and wind gusts and saturated soils could lead to some downed trees and power outages across the state.



"While we are not expecting widespread significant impacts from this storm, there is a potential for heavy rain and flooding, so people should pay attention to weather forecasts and warnings from local officials particularly if they're traveling during the holiday weekend. Now is a good time to be sure your family emergency plan is up to date and your emergency kit is stocked and ready to go," said Governor Cooper.



"We are expecting rough surf and the possibility of dangerous rip currents and encourage anyone living or visiting North Carolina's coasts to exercise caution," said North Carolina Emergency Management Director Will Ray. "Make this Memorial Day weekend a safe one by listening to your local officials, tuning into your local news and listening for weather alerts on your phone and weather radio."



Heavy rain will begin to move into southeastern portions of North Carolina tonight and spread across the state on Saturday with some scattered showers continuing Sunday. Widespread rainfall totals of 1-3 inches are expected across the state through early Monday morning, with higher amounts of 3-5 inches possible in some mountain areas and 4-6 inches or more possible in southern coastal areas.



While there could be scattered areas of flash flooding and flooding of low-lying and poor drainage areas, flooding along mainstem rivers is not currently anticipated. Gusty northeasterly winds will increase today and peak statewide on Saturday.



Prolonged northeasterly winds will also lead to areas of coastal flooding through Sunday morning in locations adjacent to the southern Pamlico Sound and along the lower Neuse and Pamlico Rivers. The greatest threat will be along the Neuse and Bay Rivers where a Coastal Flood Warning is in effect for inundation of 3 to 4 feet in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways.



With flash flooding and coastal flooding possible, please remember to never drive through flooded roadways. Turn around, don't drown!





Contact: Sam Chan



Phone: (919) 814-2100  Email: govpress@nc.gov


Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Friday Russia had delivered its first tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, three months after the plan was initially announced. The move was used to bolster tensions with the US and its allies over the war in Ukraine.

"The first nuclear charges were delivered to the territory of Belarus," he said during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. "[B]y the end of the summer, by the end of the year, we will complete this work."

When asked about the potential use of nuclear weapons, Putin said Moscow would only do so if there was a threat to Russian statehood, and he saw no such necessity at this point.

However, the claim of the first nuclear weapons crossing over to Belarus is yet to be independently verified.

Moscow, Putin said in a statement last March, would train Belarusian pilots to deliver the warheads via Su-24 bombers and Iskander ballistic missiles, as well as build the required nuclear storage facilities, which were planned to be complete by the beginning of July when the transfer of weapons would begin.

The announcement came while Putin was hosting Lukashenko in the Black Sea coastal city of Sochi last week. "Everything is going to plan," he said.

In response, Belarusian president Alekshandr Lukashenko said the weapons deployed in his country would be "three times more powerful" than those dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the Second World War. "God forbid I have to make a decision to use those weapons today, but there would be no hesitation if we face an aggression," he added.

Read Also: North Korea Allegedly Fires Ballistic Missiles Into Japan's Sea; PM Kishida Calls It 'Violent Action'

US Response

The US State Department stated that Lukashenko has chosen to "cede more control" over his country to Russia in exchange for nuclear weapons.

"We'll continue to monitor how it unfolds and the implications," said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller responding to journalists at a Thursday briefing. "As we've said before-and it continues to be the case-we have not seen any reason to adjust our own nuclear posture nor any indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon."

Miller added Lukashenko's "irresponsible and provocative choices" to exchange Belarusian sovereignty with tactical nuclear weapons were "against the will of the Belarusian people."

US President Joe Biden expressed "extremely negative" sentiment about the move, though US and NATO officials said they had seen no sign of a change in Russian nuclear posture yet.

Belarusian Opposition: Nukes in Belarus a Bad Idea

Meanwhile, the Belarusian democratic opposition told Newsweek the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons would endanger the Belarusian people in the event of a conflict with the West and stroke further opposition to Lukashenko's dictatorial rule.

Exiled Belarusian pro-democratic leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said on Twitter the transfer of Russian nukes to Belarus "grossly contradicts the will of the Belarusian people."

In a separate interview with the BBC, she also accused Western politicians of "staying silent" about the first deployment of nukes since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

"Belarus is our country and we don't want nuclear weapons," she added. "This is like the last step to keeping our independence. And they [in the West] are staying silent about that."

Tsikhanouskaya's chief political adviser Franak Viacorka added the West should decisively respond to Putin's announcement to stir up the resistance movement at home. "It will increase the disobedience [and] discontent within Belarusian society, including partisan activities," he said.

Related Article: Vladimir Putin Assassination Plot Prompts Russian Agents To Shut Down Internet Amid Fears of Ukraine Drone Attack

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Europol statistics for 2022 on terrorism show that by far the largest group actually carrying out terrorist attacks was the far left, while the largest group arrested for plotting terrorist attacks were the Islamic jihadists The far right were bit players.

Among actual terrorist attacks carried out in Europe in 2022, the far left was responsible for 13 of them, jihadists for 2, and the far right for just one. But in terms of plotting terrorist attacks, Islamic jihandists were far in the lead with 266, compared to 78 for domestic left and right wing plots combined.

https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/europol-vast-majority-of-terrorist-crimes-motivated-by-jihadism/
Delaware has opted out of federal regulations requiring physician supervision of certified registered nurse anesthetists.

Governors of 24 states and Guam have also exercised this exemption for a full or partial opt-out, according to a June 15 news release from American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology.

"Through this action Delaware recognizes that CRNAs are qualified to make decisions regarding all aspects of anesthesia care based on their education, licensure and certification," Marshall Colbert, CRNA, president of the Delaware Association of Nurse Anesthetists, said in the release.
Ophthalmologist David Aizuss, MD, was elected as secretary of the American Medical Association board of trustees.

Dr. Aizuss is a practicing ophthalmologist in Los Angeles. He was originally elected to the board of trustees in 2020 and is a past president of the California Medical Association, according to a June 14 news release from the CMA.

In the role, he hopes to continue the advancement of health equity and Medicare reform, the release said.
Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt Health has been denied permission to build a new hospital in suburban Murfreesboro, according to a June 15 WGNS Radio report.

The seven-hospital system was denied a certificate of need to build the 48-bed facility after other medical providers voiced opposition to the plan. Those included St. Louis-based Ascension, which was planning expansion at its Saint Thomas Rutherford location at the same time, according to the report.

"We are very disappointed in the decision, and we are currently reviewing all available options," Vanderbilt spokesperson John Howser told the radio station. "VUMC continues to be committed to the Vanderbilt Rutherford Hospital project and to serving the patients of Rutherford County."

Murfreesboro is the sixth-largest city in Tennessee and about 30 miles from Nashville.
MercyOne, based in West Des Moines, Iowa, is facing a lawsuit for a May data breach in which an unauthorized party accessed its network, compromising the protected health information of 20,000 patients, Iowa Capital Dispatch reported June 15.

Tiffany Harris, who is a patient at MercyOne, filed the lawsuit alleging that the health system was negligent in protecting patients' data. Ms. Harris seeks unspecified damages and a court injunction that would "help ensure patient information is kept confidential and protected from any future hacks," according to the publication.

MercyOne posted a breach notification on May 12 stating that the unauthorized user accessed its network from March 7 to April 4.

Patient names, addresses, dates of birth, driver's license numbers, Social Security numbers, financial account information, treatment and condition information, diagnostic information, prescription-medicine information and billing information were among the information compromised.

"MercyOne Clinton Medical Group experienced a network disruption on April 4 that impacted certain systems. We began an investigation immediately with the assistance of third-party computer forensic specialists," a spokesperson for MercyOne told Becker's. "At MercyOne, we take any potential privacy and security incident seriously and follow all regulatory reporting requirements related to these types of matters. We continue to investigate the full nature and scope of this incident and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause."
Nate Couture, chief information security officer of the Burlington-based University of Vermont Health Network, said rural hospitals' compensation for cybersecurity talent is much lower than other industries, making it harder to fill roles, GovInfoSecurity reported June 14.

"When small and rural organizations can fund a full- or partial-time employee toward cyber, it will generally be at a much lower compensation rate than other industries," Mr. Couture said.

Mr. Couture also said cybersecurity talent isn't attracted to the healthcare industry because it isn't considered "being on the cutting edge of cybersecurity," as the industry isn't equipped with the latest capabilities.

"This makes it a challenge for small and rural hospitals to hire the skill set that is available on the market," Mr. Couture said.
Two health systems are among America's most trusted brands, according to a new report from business intelligence firm Morning Consult.

Memphis, Tenn.-based St. Jude Children's Research Hospital came in first on the list of the 10 most-trusted nonprofits, while Tampa, Fla.-based Shriners Children's ranked seventh.

"We are deeply grateful for the trust our dedicated supporters and partners have placed in us for more than six decades and don't take it for granted," Richard Shadyac Jr., president and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude, in a June 15 news release. "Thanks to them, we are able to ensure that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food so they can focus on helping their child live."

Morning Consult surveyed 4,403 U.S. adults in April.
Nine crew members who survived the migrant boat that sank off the coast of Pylos, Greece, this week were arrested for smuggling hundreds of people into Europe.

The Hellenic Coast Guard said the nine crewmen were Egyptian nationals aged between 20 and 40. The crew were also arrested on suspicion of setting up a criminal organization, manslaughter by negligence, exposure to danger, and causing a shipwreck after two days of interrogations.

The arrested crew would be expected to appear in court by Monday.

According to survivors, the boat traveled from the Libyan coastal city of Tobruk en route to Italy when it capsized in the Mediterranean. At least 78 people were confirmed dead, with reports saying up to 750 more were trapped on board.

Of the 100 survivors of Egyptian, Syrian, Pakistani, and Palestinian descent, 71 arrived at a registration facility in Athens Friday. All of the survivors were men, but witness accounts say many women and children were on board, most of them "isolated below deck".

Read Also: 59 Dead, Dozens Feared Missing After Fishing Boat Capsizes Off Coast of Greece

Greek Authorities Criticized for its Response

Meanwhile, human rights campaigners also accused the Greek authorities of neglecting those who drowned on board as relatives arriving in Kalamata to search for relatives who were probably on board the sunken vessel.

The NGO Alarm Phone denounced the Greek government's response to the tragedy, alleging that authorities failed to acknowledge an earlier alert of the vessel being in danger. The group said authorities carried out "horrible and systematic pushback practices" to "violently [deter] people on the move."

In addition, Alarm Phone has released emails showing it contacted Greek authorities, the UNHCR, NATO, and Frontex as early as late Tuesday afternoon regarding the boat in distress.

A representative from the UNHCR told CNN they received the email from Alarm Phone and told Greek authorities to take action. Alarm Phone also showed a reply from Frontex confirming receipt of their email.

In a statement, the Hellenic Coast Guard said it repeatedly asked the boat if it needed assistance but was turned down by its captain and crew and insisted on continuing its course toward Italy. They could also not intervene with the boat without being asked for assistance as it was still in international waters. Its spokesperson Nikos Alexiou said the chances of retrieving the sunken vessel are "next to non-existent" because the area of international waters of the Ionian Sea, where the incident took place, was one of the deepest areas of the Mediterranean.

Protests on Greek Streets

On Thursday evening, groups pledging solidarity with migrants marched outside the port of Kalamata, where most of the survivors were taken ashore. There were also protests in Athens and Thessaloniki.

The Greek government has previously called for three days of national mourning, and political leaders have temporarily suspended electoral campaigns for a new round of general elections on June 25.

This did not stop Syriza party leader Alexis Tsipras from visiting Kalamata. "This incident demonstrates in the clearest way the failure of the EU to promote a structured refugee migration policy that puts human life as the first priority," he said.

Related Article: At Least 79 Migrants Dead After Overcrowded Fishing Boat Capsized

@ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
According to people familiar with the matter, Oracle is planning to lay off hundreds in its Cerner unit, as well as rescind job offers and cut back open positions, Reuters reported June 15.

Those who are laid off will receive severance pay equal to four weeks, with one additional week for every year of service, and a payout of vacation days, according to Reuters. The publication did not disclose how many employees would be affected.

This marks the company's third layoff in the Cerner unit.

The news comes after Oracle released its financial report for fiscal year 2023 with the EHR vendor, which was acquired by Oracle on June 8, 2022, contributing $5.9 billion to the company's total revenues.

Oracle did not respond to the publication's request for comment. The news was first reported by Business Insider.

Becker's reached out to Oracle for comment.
Farmington, Maine-based Franklin Memorial Hospital is applying for the critical access hospital designation in an attempt to ensure its future financial sustainability.

If it receives the designation, the hospital will see increased federal reimbursement for the true cost of delivering care, according to a June 14 Franklin Memorial news release shared with Becker's.

As part of the transition, Franklin Memorial will apply for a new hospital license and decrease its bed count from 65 to 25, per the program's guidelines.

"The daily patient census currently hovers around 25, so the decrease in bed count will have little to no effect on day-to-day hospital operations," the release stated. "It will not limit access nor be a downgrade for the facility."

A Franklin Memorial spokesperson told Becker's Franklin Memorial is able to apply for the critical access designation because of a change in criteria that was made in November. The criteria originally included a milage compnent that stated a hospital could not be more than 35 miles from a hospital or another critical access hospital." The change added "or more than 15 miles in mountainous terrain or only secondary roads (or) certified by the state," which allowed Franklin Memorial to qualify.
Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health has hired two of the system's first patient advocates who are specifically designated for supporting patients with gender care, according to a June 14 publication from the health system. It plans to hire one advocate for each of its five regions in time.

Sutter has two gender care advocates, Izek Campion and Ghazalla Sadiq. Mr. Campion has been in his position for two years, serving as Sutters Gender Care Program official gender care advocate. He sees patients virtually. Sadiq is assigned to the Sutter Pacific Medical Foundations 45 Castro Street Care Clinic in San Francisco, which has served a robust LGBTQIA+ patient population for many years.

Their mission is to assist patients with setting up appointments to receive the care they need from medical specialists, answer questions, and work with payers to receive insurance authorizations for gender-affirming services, medications and treatments.

"It's just common, unfortunately, for trans and gender diverse people to experience a lot of discrimination in the healthcare setting," Mr. Campion told Becker's. "A lot of them have had negative experiences that prevent them from even wanting to come in for basic care. Or if they do come in, there's always a question about 'Am I going to not feel safe?' or 'Will my provider not know my needs as a trans person?' and 'Do they know how to treat me?' That's why we have this patient advocate role. It is really to support our patients to help them feel safe and supported wherever they are along their journey."

On average, Mr. Campion helps 15 to 30 transgender and gender diverse patients per day  connecting them with resources, answering questions, and providing a sounding board as a transgender individual himself.

"I love making sure our patients feel safe," he said. "Because I can meet them from a standpoint of 'Hey, I'm trans too. I get it.' And I can tell patients have this instant moment of taking their guard down."

Sutter's Gender Care Program regularly provides internal training to departments and teams to expand its reach of gender-affirming care practices and typically holds between two and four a month. The program also oversees a mandatory online gender care training for Sutter employees, under which 28,500 have already been trained.

"We call our program 'a clinic without walls,'" Kat Brooks, Sutter's Gender Care Program manager told Becker's. "There's not just one brick and mortar location at which you can receive gender care. We have care centers throughout our all of our different markets within Sutter to avoid having the patient have to jump through hoops to receive what they need."

Patients even call from out of state looking to Sutter for support if they can no longer receive care in their own state due to rapidly changing laws, they said.

Ms. Brooks said Sutter hopes to hire one to two more additional gender care patient advocates within the year and will continue to reassess according to patient demand.
Tiffany Murdock, DNP, MSN, has been named vice president and chief nursing officer for New Orleans-based Ochsner Health.

Ms. Murdock will assume the role later this summer, setting the strategy and direction for more than 9,000 nurses, according to a June 15 statement from Ochsner. Previously, she was the CEO at Singing River Health System, leading more than 3,500 employees across hospitals in Ocean Springs, Pascagoula and Gulfport, Miss. She has also served as a regional CNO at St. Joseph Health System in California and as system CNO at Medford, Ore.-based Asante Health.

Tracey Moffat, BSN, RN, outgoing CNO and system vice president of quality, will work with Ms. Murdock as she transitions into the role. Ms. Moffatt will serve as an executive advisor at Ochsner and vice president of the Louisiana State Board of Nursing board of directors.
Quentin Whitwell, CEO of Thomasville (Ala.) Regional Medical Center, is making progress toward becoming its owner.

When the hospital named Mr. Whitwell to the helm in March, it signed an agreement that would allow his law firm, Musgrove Whitwell, to acquire it by the end of his tenure. Curtis James, chair of the hospital's board of directors, said Mr. Whitwell could add specialties and services to set it up for long-term success.

That plan is moving forward, Mr. Whitwell told Becker's on June 16. The parties have signed a purchase agreement, handing control of operations to Mr. Whitwell, and are awaiting a closing date from the lender.

In addition to his role at Thomasville Regional, Mr. Whitwell serves as CEO of Progressive Health Systems  an Oxford, Miss.-based hospital management group.
Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital called the wrong family about a patient's death, NBC Bay Area reported June 15.

On the morning of June 13, Janet Brown's family was celebrating her retirement when her husband Vannest received a call from Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.

"I'm sorry to inform you that your son has been shot and has passed away," said the hospital employee.

The couple has a 30-year-old son and was prepared to head to San Francisco when they decided to call back and ask for a description. Two hours after the initial call, the hospital employee described a man four inches taller and 50 pounds heavier than their son.

The deceased man did have Mr. Brown's identification in his possession, according to the report. It is still unclear how he obtained it.

This was an isolated incident, Zuckerberg San Fransico General Hospital told Becker's in a June 16 statement. Hospital protocol dictates that staff notify emergency contacts about a patient in distress as soon as possible, which they did, according to the statement.

"When the patient passed away, it was discovered the deceased did not match the identification information in their possession. Staff verified this misidentification with the emergency contacts," the statement said. "ZSFG follows a strict protocol to ensure proper identification of patients and emergency contacts. We deeply regret the situation and apologize for the impacts to those involved."
Two terms that have struck a nerve with Becker's audience in the past year are "imposter syndrome" and the "glass cliff."

Imposter syndrome, or one's doubt of their own competency in their role, is experienced by 75 percent of female executives, according to one recent study. Meanwhile, the glass cliff describes a phenomenon in which women of color are chosen for high-level leadership positions and hidden expectations are placed upon them  they might be expected to single-handedly fix a company's culture or "clean up a mess they didn't create," as a November Fortune article put it.

Jandel Allen-Davis, MD, president and CEO of Craig Hospital in Denver, connected with Becker's to discuss these issues, which largely affect female leaders and leaders of color.

Imposter syndrome

I've absolutely faced moments of imposter syndrome in my career. I think it is a normal reaction to new opportunities and challenges, and while it can be a motivator to learn and continue to work hard, it can also hold us back if we aren't mindful. I believe women executives think that in order to be effective, they must know about or have done 90 percent-plus of the perceived requirements to lead a function or organization, which isn't actually what is essential to leading effectively.

It is imperative that we remind ourselves that the most effective leaders inspire teams, set direction and vision, and collaborate with functional leaders and departments to do their best work on behalf of the organization. We should be surrounded by team members who possess the skills and leadership capabilities that make for excellence and complement our skills and capabilities. The highest and best use of our time should be focused on keeping mission central, removing barriers to effective performance, connecting dots in service to the development of great strategy, and providing the resources to assure that our institutions thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Imposter syndrome intensifies when we forget this and can be paralyzing. Our biggest challenge in fighting imposter syndrome is to try to see ourselves how the world sees us and truly believe that the successes we've had really did have something to do with us, while also being cautious to not view ourselves through an egocentric lens that can have one constantly wondering if they are doing the job well, instead of just doing the job.

Glass cliff

I'd never heard the concept of a glass cliff. While I haven't observed that women of color are brought in during times of crisis more frequently than men, I can say that women  and women of color  are often not given the same grace and space as their white male counterparts when things are tough or are not going well. If an organization is struggling and a woman is brought in or a crisis happens on her watch, it's likely that the organization will be less tolerant if they're unable to turn it around. This kind of inequity is not much different than what I've experienced in my life's walk. As an African-American woman, I've been told since I was young that I would have to work twice as hard to get half as many opportunities. I don't feel like a victim. I just know that this is a reality we will continue to face until society moves beyond stereotyping each other based on a host of ways we are different.

How can we navigate when facing these so-called glass cliffs? I would gently recommend that you go into the tough situations open to the challenges. Trust that you were put here because you have the skills, and just know there is tremendous personal and professional growth on the other side of these situations. Pull your team together, do your homework and identify factors that have contributed to the problems as well as those factors that will enable and provide solutions. Then set about implementing an inclusive, measured and strategic plan to address issues. Be intentional and clear with your plan, communicate regularly and to all levels of the organization (and externally if necessary), and never be afraid to ask for help. I remember learning this phrase some years ago: "I have to do it myself and I can't do it alone." Make sure to use all the team resources at your disposal and act with heart and courage.

I love Theodore Roosevelts "Man in the Arena" quote. It has steeled me in some of the most difficult things I have encountered.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

That's growth! I believe that working this way actually might work in many cases, and in the cases where it doesn't, we can say we did our best.



If you are a female executive with thoughts to share on this issue, please email them to akayser@beckershealthcare.com.
Hospital and health system leaders have had to navigate various industry challenges in the last year, from financial pressures to workforce shortages. But they have also focused on making meaningful change for the future, and they are engaging employees in their efforts.

Becker's asked leaders to answer the question, "What is the smartest thing you've said to employees in the last year that led to meaningful change?"

Candi Constantine-Castillo, DNP. CEO of Harlingen (Texas) Medical Center: One of the most impactful things I've said to employees in the last year is that we don't say "no," we say "how." We see every challenge as an opportunity to find a solution that works for everyone involved. Instead of focusing on the limitations and what we can't do, we shift our focus to what we can do and how we can make it happen. This mindset has led to a culture of innovation and problem-solving, where our employees feel empowered to find creative solutions to even the most complex problems. By embracing the NO as the Next Opportunity, we have been able to achieve meaningful change and drive positive results for our patients and our health system.

Cheryl Cioffi, DNP. Senior Vice President and COO of Frederick (Md.) Health: With regards to helping our leadership team and team members navigate through the financial challenges in healthcare over the past year, Tom Kleinhanzl, our president and CEO, has always said: "As we make decisions, let's just remain focused on quality and doing what's right for our patients. The financials will sort themselves out, as they always do." This is what our team needed to hear.

Leslie Davis. President and CEO of UPMC (Pittsburgh). Be inclusive. Don't underestimate anyone because of their job title, size of their cubicle, gender, color, or race or age. Build teams where not everyone is the same. These teams will be bright and rich.

Steve Gordon, MD. CEO and President of St. Charles Health System (Bend, Ore.): It's not so much what we say, but how we say it that matters most. As the only hospital system serving a huge rural swath of Oregon, we touch countless lives every day. More often than not those lives belong to our friends, our neighbors and our own families. In every presentation we start with impact  whether that's how many humans sought care in our emergency rooms, how many meals we prepared (1.2 million last year!) or just a specific patient story  to ground ourselves in what we do and why we do it. That impact only happens because of our people, so we speak proudly of who we are and how we are at our best when we work as a team. We are transparent about financials, but we've worked intentionally to shift focus away from dollars for dollars' sake and back toward the reason why positive operating margins matter  so we can reinvest in our people, equipment and facilities to better serve our patients now and for years to come.

Alan Sickles, MD. CEO of Saint Michael's Medical Center (Newark, N.J.): I've reminded our staff that the first step in caring for our patients is to care for each other. The last three years left everyone tired and teetering on the edge of burnout. We need to support each other and create an environment that is warm, welcoming and forgiving in order to provide the very best care to our patients and community.

Mark Wallace. President and CEO of Texas Children's Hospital (Houston): The most powerful sentiment and leadership philosophy I've shared with my team over the last year is "think differently, lead differently!" At Texas Children's, we swiftly adapted to a new frame of thinking in the post-pandemic workplace. Our people are our greatest asset and no matter what an organization faces at any given time, a top priority must always be on not only recruiting but retaining the high-quality talent you already have. When healthcare organizations everywhere were facing unprecedented increases in employee burnout and turnover, we met the challenge head-on by creating a comprehensive program  Tomorrow, Together  that allowed us to recognize and reward our dedicated employees in new and innovative ways. Texas Children's has always been known for our kind, committed and compassionate culture and this program was just one of the many ways we embraced the spirit of "think differently, lead differently!"
More than 1 in 5 physicians say they receive inadequate support from leadership, according to a survey that was conducted by healthcare consultancy company Jarrard.

However, when it comes to trust in their peers, physicians were far more likely to report confidence in them and their decisions related to patients and the workplace than that of executive leaders like CEOs, chief medical officers, nurse colleagues and chief nursing officers.

"Leaders are navigating myriad hard choices to chart a path forward for their organization. The challenges of that necessary work can keep well-intentioned leaders from fully engaging physicians  and others  seeking to understand those decisions and how they affect everyone involved," Anne Hancock Toomey, president and co-founder of Jarrard said in a news release. "That lack of relationship leads to mistrust and perceptions that leaders are withholding information."

The survey looked at trends collectively as well as broken into physicians at non-profit systems, investor-owned systems and private practices.

Other notable findings from the survey include:
A recent study found 84 percent of Americans oppose allowing medical professionals to deny care to an LGBTQ person based on their religious beliefs.

The survey, conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago in partnership with the Williams Institute at the University of California Los Angeles, interviewed 1,003 people between Sept. 9-12. Participants were asked about their views of religious exemption in medical care, hiring practices and businesses serving customers.

"Recent efforts by some state legislatures to expand religious exemptions from LGBTQ-inclusive non-discrimination laws are largely out of alignment with the views of most Americans," study author Christy Mallory, legal director at the Williams Institute, said in a release shared with Becker's on June 15. "More than 3 in 4 Americans now favor civil rights laws protecting LGBTQ people against religiously motivated discrimination."

Here are four other findings:
The world can't seem to get enough of AI. A lot of products and services have started integrating the technology into their systems, and Mercedes-Benz is not passing up on the opportunity as it adds ChatGPT to its voice control.

Mercedes-Benz with a Chatbot

Mercedes-Benz already has a functioning voice control system that lets drivers access information while keeping their hands on the wheel. With ChatGPT, the company claims that users can now get more comprehensive answers as the Voice Assistant responds.

The MBUX beta has been officially released, which means the 900,000 drivers with an eligible Mercedes-Benz vehicle can use the enhanced Voice Assistant through the MBUX infotainment system. All they have to say is "Hey Mercedes, I want to join the beta programme"

Already equipped with validated data of the MBUX Voice Assistant, ChatGPT allows the user to have a more natural exchange with the virtual assistant. Instead of just asking about directions for the destination, they can also discover more information about the place.

Mercedes-Benz even pointed out that a driver can ask the AI model for a new dinner recipe or answer a complex question. Although there may not be much need for it in driving situations, drivers can learn about new dishes to cook before they get home.

Drivers won't even have to go to a service center to install the new feature. The launch will be done over the air. In terms of security, the car company will also use the "enterprise-grade security, privacy and reliability capabilities of Azure."

The data collected from the driver will remain in the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud which is anonymised before it is analyzed. The carmaker will also have complete control over other IT processes in the background even as it uses the Asure OpenAI Service.

Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Markus Schafer states that the integration of ChatGPT with Microsoft is a way for the company to make their cars the center of their customers' digital lives, which boosts the existing Hey Mercedes function.

Read Also: Adobe Firefly Lets You Apply Colors in Illustrator Through Generative AI

AI Integration in Products and Services

ChatGPT has been around since last year. After its launch, people were impressed with its capabilities, all while Microsoft's search engine Bing was already set to integrate it in its system. Bing with ChatGPT was eventually launched by February 2023.

OpenAI has since partnered with several other companies to incorporate AI tools into their products and services. After all, AI is being developed in order to help humans and make their lives exponentially easier.

For instance, Buzzfeed intends to use OpenAI's technology to generate original material and find ways to make their well-liked quizzes better. The outcomes after participating in them will be more reflective of the user, as mentioned by Tech Monitor.

Adobe Firefly has also been making good progress when it comes to using AI to improve on its products like Adobe Illustrator. A feature called Generative Color lets you genrate a color scheme through text prompts, which you can use to paint an illustration.

Related: OpenAI is Offering Grants to Anyone Who Can Help Make AI Ethical
Days after a nurse was stabbed by a patient in the emergency department at Heywood Hospital, the Gardner, Mass.-based facility said it is implementing new security measures, including patient screenings and visitor restrictions.

In a statement released June 15, Heywood Healthcare said, "Due to a growing trend of violence in our emergency departments, and emergency departments across the country, Heywood Healthcare is instituting immediate safety protocols to include full enforcement of a zero tolerance police of weapons of any kind."

New measures include screening all patients entering the ED with a security wand. Patients entering the ED treatment area will be provided a gown and their personal items will be stored in a separate area. Visitation will also be suspended in the ED for the meantime "until more permanent safety infrastructure is in place," with exceptions for caregivers and parents of minors.

On June 12, a 76-year old man was arrested and charged with attempted murder after the stabbing of a nurse, according to police. Police identified David Nichols as the suspect. During his arraignment June 13 in Gardner District Court, prosecutors said Mr. Nichols grabbed the nurse by the arm and stabbed her in the neck when she went to adjust something, according to CBS Boston. The nurse suffered a three-inch laceration. The judge ordered Mr. Nichols to be held on $100,000 bail, and he is due back in court July 14.

The nurse was transported to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester for treatment after the incident, and no further information was given on her condition.
Providence is preparing for a reduction in services ahead of planned strikes by members of the Oregon Nurses Association at Providence Portland Medical Center, Providence Seaside Hospital, and Providence Home Health and Hospice, according to a June 14 news release from the Renton, Wash.-based system.

The union represents about 1,800 nurses and clinicians at Providence Portland Medical Center, Providence Seaside Hospital, and Providence Home Health and Hospice.

Union members voted to authorize strikes in late May and early June. After a round of bargaining this month, ONA issued strike notices, and management focused on preparations for the work stoppage, the health system said.

Providence bargaining teams expect to return to the bargaining table after the strike, which is slated to last five days and begin June 19.

The health system said its strike preparations include stopping all surgeries, except for life-and-death emergency ones, at Providence Portland. Other preparations at Providence Portland include closing the neonatal intensive care unit; moving or rescheduling scheduled baby deliveries, in many cases; and evaluating and significantly reducing patient transfers from other hospitals.

At Providence Seaside, all elective surgeries have been rescheduled, and admissions of patients needing step-down care have been stopped, Providence said.

Additionally, visits to home health and hospice patients and their loved ones will continue with the help of replacement workers, and new patients will be accepted "as the team is able while still maintaining care of existing patients, with a special focus of helping patients discharging from hospitals and transitioning home," Providence said.

Nurses and clinicians began contract negotiations with management in fall 2022.

During negotiations, Providence teams offered a combined $35 million total package for the first year of the three contracts, the health system said. This includes double-digit increases on existing salaries at Providence Portland and Providence Seaside in the first year.

The union pushed back in a news release shared with Becker's, saying that Providence "continues to focus exclusively on wages when, in fact, nurses and clinicians are focused on improving patient care, addressing historic unsafe staffing levels throughout the Providence system, and addressing serious patient concerns."

The union contends Providence refuses to address short staffing and patient safety concerns in the hospitals. The ONA said it also wants Providence to address "the excessive caseload requirements placed on nurses and clinicians working in patient homes."

Additionally, the ONA has expressed concerns about paid time off and wants pay for the most experienced nurses to be comparable to Oregon Health & Science University.






From generative artificial intelligence to virtual nursing, health systems have been investing a lot of resources in digital innovation. Here are 24 projects Becker's has reported on in the past month.

 Amazon subsidiary One Medical plans to open its 11th clinic in the Washington, D.C., area, expanding its partnership with Columbia, Md.-based MedStar Health, ARLNow reported May 24.

 St. Paul, Minn.-based Gillette Children's is using AI to automate its scheduling, pre-visit registration, appointment reminders and clinical intake forms.

 Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital is looking to expand its hospital-at-home program after one year of operation in order to treat transplant patients, Fox affiliate WTVT reported May 23.

 Detroit-based Henry Ford Health tapped an AI spinoff from Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham to automate bedside medical coding.

 West Des Moines, Iowa-based UnityPoint Health and Tampa General Hospital invested in remote care platform HealthSnap as part of a $9 million funding round.

 Marietta, Ga.-based Wellstar Health System launched a $100 million venture fund that will back digital health and other innovation-focused startups.

 Peoria-based OSF HealthCare and Bradley University gave out their first Innovation for Health grants totaling nearly $200,000, the 15-hospital system said June 1.

 Physicians from Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic and data scientists from Palo Alto, Calif.-based Stanford Health Care are coming together to advance AI in healthcare.

 Ascension Ventures, part of St. Louis-based Ascension, and CVS Health Ventures participated in a $166 million funding round May 31 for Strive Health, a tech-enabled kidney care provider that focuses on value-based care.

 The venture capital arms of Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Health and Cleveland-based University Hospitals joined a $20 million series B financing round for clinical workforce intelligence company Axuall.

 Renton, Wash.-based Providence is rolling out a new virtual nursing program across eight hospitals after a successful pilot at a Texas facility.

 Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, based in Lebanon, N.H., is getting a $2 million center that will focus on precision medicine and AI.

 Mayo Clinic's new clinical spaces, part of a $1 billion expansion, will interact with data from patient wearables, the Star Tribune reported June 5.

 Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University Medical Center used ChatGPT to speed up review and improvement of computer system alerts that are used to support clinical decision-making and found that the technology could provide top-rated suggestions.

 MemorialCare Innovation Fund, the investment arm of Fountain Valley, Calif.-based MemorialCare, joined a $13 million series B investment round for AI-powered healthcare workforce company Laudio.

 Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System and UnityPoint Health invested in a $25 million series B funding round for data analytics company Carta Healthcare.

 Mayo Clinic partnered with Google Cloud on a generative AI application to improve outcomes, researchers and clinical workflows.

 Clinicians at New York City-based NYU Langone Health are using an AI algorithm that can predict the chance of a discharged patient being readmitted within a month.

 MedStar Health partnered with tech company Luna to provide in-home physical therapy to the health system's patients.

 Edison, N.J.-based Hackensack Meridian Health and its innovation accelerator program, Bear's Den, invested in software company Canary Speech, a company that assesses digital biomarkers.

 Medivis, an augmented reality medtech company, raised $20 million in a series A financing round that saw participation from Mayo Clinic and Disney CEO Bob Iger.

 Mass General Brigham is testing out generative AI for patient portal messages and clinical notes and has used the technology to create a video.

 Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health released a health data hub that community members can access for free to spot and analyze local health trends, according to the Sentinel-Tribune in Bowling Green, Ohio.

 The Permanente Medical Group, part of Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente, launched a new AI and machine learning program that will grant three to five health systems up to $750,000.
A former California first responder was sentenced to 29 years in federal prison for selling fentanyl to two of his hospital co-workers, resulting in the overdose death of one of them.

Cruz Noel Quintero, 43, of Long Beach, Calif., was found guilty of one count of distributing fentanyl resulting in death, one count of possessing machine guns, two counts of possessing unregistered firearms, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime after a trial in September, according to a June 14 Justice Department news release.

On May 19, 2019, Mr. Quintero  who was employed as an emergency medical technician at a Long Beach hospital  sold white powder to a hospital co-worker. He claimed the powder was cocaine when it was in fact fentanyl. The co-worker and her partner, a former nurse at the hospital, sampled the powder the next morning and passed out. One of them, identified only as S.F., died of an overdose.

After discovering the fatal overdose, law enforcement discovered Mr. Quintero's drug-trafficking operation along with 13 firearms. He was arrested shortly after the fatal overdose in May 2019. In June 2023, he was sentenced to 292 months for the fentanyl death, 240 months for maintaining a drug premises, 120 months for the firearms and 60 months for possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, the release said.
A former nurse practitioner in Eagle River, Alaska, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after being convicted of overprescribing millions of opioid painkillers to about 450 patients, including five who died, according to a June 15 Anchorage Daily News report.

Jessica Spayd, 52, the former owner of Eagle River Wellness, advertised her business as an addiction treatment facility where opioid abusers could get access to Suboxone, a medication that can help patients kick their drug habit.

Instead, according to the sworn affidavit written by the Drug Enforcement Administration used to secure her initial arrest, she wrote prescriptions for close to 40 different drugs  almost all narcotics  far more than she prescribed Suboxone, the report said.

Prosecutors believe the prescriptions she wrote "contributed to 20 confirmed deaths" and that her actions are "suspected to be a factor in dozens of others," the report said. Further, when she was first arrested and charged with the five deaths in 2019, authorities found a list she had been keeping of her patients who died between 2004 to 2011 and "classified five of those deaths as overdoses," Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Tansey said during the sentencing hearing.

Investigators have used the list to uncover additional overdose deaths, which Ms. Spayd had falsely attributed to causes other than overdose.

The former healthcare worker surrendered her nurse practitioner license in 2020.

Ms. Spayd "prescribed more than 4.4 million doses of opioid narcotics to roughly 450 patients between 2014 and 2019," according to the report, which noted she earned approximately $1.3 million during that time period.

Her activities caught the attention of the DEA when agents found out she was routinely writing second prescriptions for patients whose first prescription should not have run out yet. She also allowed patients to use multiple names, addresses and pharmacies when writing out the prescriptions for opioids, the report said.

"The case is the deadliest known drug offense to ever happen in Alaska," Mr. Tansey wrote in a memorandum, where he referred to Ms. Spayd as a "serial killer with a poison pen."

Mr. Tansey said she wrote prescriptions for more than 18 million pills during her 20-year career, adding "she significantly fueled the opioid epidemic" in Alaska.

Steven Wells, Ms. Spayd's defense attorney, said he believed his client prescribed the medications despite the harm they caused because she was unable to turn down patients who were in pain or struggling with addiction.

"Somebody has to be the adult in the room and say no, and Ms. Spayd had a hard time saying no," Mr. Wells said.






The Becker's Hospital Review website uses cookies to display relevant ads and to enhance your browsing experience. By continuing to use our site, you acknowledge that you have read, that you understand, and that you accept our Cookie Policy and our Privacy Policy
Investigators from the California Department of Public Health unearthed several patient safety concerns at Inglewood, Calif.-based Centinela Hospital Medical Center, the Los Angeles Times reported June 15.

The concerns identified range from quality of care to the January death of a patient who was a Black mother who was pregnant with her first child.

"State investigators found that for several patients in the labor and delivery unit, medical records did not show appropriate steps being taken to address the risk of blood clots. " the Times reported, and "faulted for nurses failing to tell a doctor when a patient in labor had concerning readings for their own vital signs or that of the fetus, as well as not following up when the patient complained of leg heaviness."

The scathing findings from public health officials come just after the hospital was given its 10th consecutive "A" safety grade designation from hospital watchdog organization The Leapfrog Group.

Becker's reached out to Centinela Hospital Medical Center for comment and received the following response: "The hospital has taken numerous steps in response to this isolated and tragic incident, including conducting an internal review and fully cooperating with all investigations such as the California Department of Public Healths (CDPH), where Centinela immediately addressed and resolved findings appropriate to the satisfaction of CDPH. In general, these investigations are not uncommon."

Its immediate jeopardy status was reportedly removed after the hospital submitted a plan of correction, the LA Times reported.

The hospital spokesperson told Becker's it was previously designated as a "Baby-friendly hospital" and is "committed to ending preventable morbidity, mortality and racial disparities in California maternity care."
David Tarantino, MD, the chief medical officer for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, has been removed from his position by Homeland Security after a federal probe into what missteps may have led to the May 17 death of 8-year-old migrant girl, Anadith Tanay Reyes Alvarez, the Washington Post reported June 15.

The girl reportedly had a history of sickle cell anemia and heart disease, and was diagnosed with flu while under the custody of the CBP. After complaining of worsening symptoms to a nurse and multiple denials of her mother's request that an ambulance be called for her daughter, the child was eventually taken by ambulance to a hospital where she died shortly after arrival, officials reported.

Following the incident, CBP officials launched an in-depth review of all vulnerable patients in their custody and a team of physicians from the U.S. Public Health Service was deployed to provide additional guidance and oversight during the investigation, according to the Post.

In addition to the removal and reassignment of Dr. Tarantino, Customs and Border Protection has also banned any provider who was connected to the May incident from its facilities, the Post reported. A medical contractor is also being recruited to review the agency's practices and address any deficiencies found.
Cardinal Health plans to build a new distribution center in Greenville, S.C., that, at 350,000 square feet, will be the biggest site dedicated to its at-Home Solutions business.

The facility is expected to be completed between late 2024 and mid-2025, the medical supply company said June 15. It has the capacity to serve all 50 states, but Cardinal Health said the site is mainly for customers in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina and Virginia.

The at-Home Solutions business currently ships about 55,000 packages per day among its 10 facilities, and with the new distribution center, that figure is predicted to increase to 63,000.
Louisville, Ky.-based Norton Healthcare is no longer requiring that workers receive the COVID-19 vaccine, a spokesperson told the Louisville Courier Journal.

The decision comes as HHS finalizes the end of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for employees of CMS-certified healthcare facilities, hospitals and health systems.

In early May, HHS announced it would drop the federal COVID-19 vaccine rule, and the Biden administration recently issued an 82-page final rule formalizing the mandate's end.

The new final rule moves to treat COVID-19, from an oversight standpoint, more like the flu. In the new final rule, the federal government notes that hospitals and health systems may still instate their own vaccination requirements for workers, consistent with other federal, state and local laws.

Maggie Roetker, Norton's director of public relations, told the Courier Journal the change at the health system is in line with these and other federal regulations.

"While COVID-19 vaccination is no longer a requirement for employees, volunteers, vendors and contractors, we do still recommend it to reduce the risk and protect each other and our patients," Ms. Roetker said, according to the newspaper.
Installation view of the immersive multimedia exhibition, "Dali: The Endless Enigma," at the Theatre des Lumieres at Grand Walkerhill Seoul  Salvador Dali, Fundacion Gala-Salvador Dali, c/o SACK 2023 / Courtesy of Tmonet



By Park Han-sol



On the towering walls inside of a former luxury cabaret at Grand Walkerhill Seoul, Salvador Dali's (1904-89) melting clocks, swarming eyeballs and elephants with spindly legs emerge from the darkness.



The floor-to-ceiling digital projection of the Surrealist icon's dreamlike art is what reanimates the hotel's underground Walkerhill Theater, which was established in 1963 as the country's first commercial performance venue before fading into history half a century later.



Reborn as the "Theatre des Lumieres" last year  as part of the global immersive art project realized by the French company Culturespaces  the once-forgotten structure now hosts its second exhibition, "Dali: The Endless Enigma."



The show follows the success of its predecessor, "Gustav Klimt, Gold in Motion," which filled the venue with the quintessential shimmering art of the prolific Austrian painter.





Installation view of "Dali: The Endless Enigma" at the Theatre des Lumieres  Salvador Dali, Fundacion Gala-Salvador Dali, c/o SACK 2023 / Courtesy of Tmonet





Installation view of "Dali: The Endless Enigma" at the Theatre des Lumieres  Salvador Dali, Fundacion Gala-Salvador Dali, c/o SACK 2023 / Courtesy of Tmonet



"The Endless Enigma"  organized in collaboration with the Gala-Salvador Dali Foundation, a cultural institution founded by Dali himself to promote his oeuvre - packs the 70-year creative evolution of the eclectic Spanish art master into a 35-minute multi-sensory retrospective.



Against the psychedelic music of the English rock band Pink Floyd, the show surrounds visitors with the monumental projections of Dali's tours de force, including "The Persistence of Memory" (1931) and "Couple with Their Heads Full of Clouds" (1936), which conjured up some of his most imaginative explorations into the subconscious.



Among the highlights are the animated paintings featuring his techniques of "the paranoiac-critical method," where he adopted optical illusions like the double image to tap into the non-rational mechanisms of the human mind.



But while such Surrealist feats during the 1920s and '30s remain the most widely recognized stages of Dali's work, the exhibition goes on to underline his continuous artistic search for different mediums, genres and subjects that made him a genius of the 20th century.



"This show on Dali is about an artist, who expressed himself via multiple mediums  paintings, sculptures, jewels  with a very grand imagination," said Bruno Monnier, CEO of Culturespaces, during a recent press preview.



Accordingly, visitors get a chance to bask in the art master's lesser-known forays into jewelry design, photography and film. Also on view are his later return to neoclassicism under the influence of Renaissance masters, as well as his efforts to combine the field of physics with religious mysticism into the distinct style called "Nuclear Mysticism."





Installation view of "Gaudi, The Architect of the Imaginary" at the Theatre des Lumieres, directed and designed by Cutback and produced by Culturespaces Digital / Courtesy of Tmonet



The exhibition then seamlessly transports the audience to the equally spectacular world of architect Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) and his striking masterworks of the Sagrada Familia basilica and Park Guell in Barcelona.



"Gaudi was a Spanish icon with boundless imagination and creativity  much like Dali," Monnier said as he described the team's decision to present the two creators side by side.



The Theatre des Lumieres is Culturespaces' second digital art center to open its doors in Korea, following the "Bunker des Lumieres" on Jeju Island.



These "Des Lumieres" art centers, located in major cities across the globe like Paris, New York and Amsterdam, all operate under the goal of breathing new life into abandoned or unused facilities with notable histories through immersive art.





Installation view of "Gaudi, The Architect of the Imaginary" at the Theatre des Lumieres, directed and designed by Cutback and produced by Culturespaces Digital / Courtesy of Tmonet
Some nurses have left Watsonville (Calif.) Community Hospital after the hospital eliminated most of its part-time roles, multiple local sources have reported.

In 2022, the Pajaro Valley Healthcare board of directors approved a decision that would require most nurses to work full time, The Pajaronian reported June 15.

On June 13, around 100 nurses protested the change, alleging the decrease in work-life balance was causing nurses to leave. Ninety percent of the nurse workforce was converted to full time, according to Lookout Santa Cruz.

Annabelle Covington, RN, who has worked in the hospital's labor and delivery department for 21 years, said that 42 nurses have left as a result of the decision; Quiche Rubalcava, RN, who has served 20 years in the emergency unit, affirmed that number.

"We are asking the employer to reconsider," Ms. Covington told The Pajaronian. "We need to retain and recruit nurses, and in order to do that we need more part-time positions."

However, Matko Vranjes, the hospital's interim CEO, said only 29 benefited nurses have left since Aug. 31, only three of whom were part-time workers who may have resigned because of the decision. He said the hospital chose to cut part-time labor because of an unsustainable overtime pay rate.

"The previous model wasn't sustainable," Mr. Vranjes told The Pajaronian. "You can't continue to pay higher-than-normal rates for staffing and be successful."

The California Nurses Association is preparing to go into contract negotiations with the hospital in July with the hope of restoring part-time positions. Becker's has reached out to the hospital and will update this story if more information becomes available.
Diners have expressed disappointment after a popular Belfast restaurant announced it is closing after 22 years in business.

Tedfords Kitchen, located beside the Waterfront Hall, announced the decision on social media.

The industry has changed so much over the past few years and with reasons too many to list we can no longer continue, it said in a Facebook post.

We are truly grateful for every customer who has passed our doors, we thank you so much.

"We thank our suppliers, our landlords and our amazing dedicated staff, both past and present.

The owners of the Lanyon Quay eatery thanked customers who have crossed its doors over the past two decades.

We have created a lifetime of great memories since 2001," the post continued.

It has been a privilege to serve you for so long.

"Belfast we will miss you.

Tedfords Kitchen is the latest venue to say that it is closing in the city.

Hundreds of social media users have expressed sadness and disappointment online.

Cant believe it, one user wrote.

"One of The spot in Belfast to get great meal from Alan and have a word with Sharon.

"Gonna miss you guys.

"Best of luck for the future.

One regular diner recalled so many good memories in the old Tedfords as they said they will miss the amazing food.

I still remember the astoundingly rich beef daube from your pre theatre menu, such a bargain," they added.

Thank you for everything and so sad you're closing.
Co Fermanagh actor Adrian Dunbar is set to return to ITV detective drama Ridley.

The actor, 64, will revisit his role as retired detective-turned-police consultant Alex Ridley in a second series, while The Fall's Bronagh Waugh will reprise the character of his former protegee, DI Carol Farman, who is now in charge of investigations.

The series is written and created by Paul Matthew Thompson, one of the lead writers of ITV detective drama Vera, and co-created by Jonathan Fisher, whose previous projects include Blood, Hollington Drive and Penance.

Dunbar said: "There can be no greater endorsement of hard work and talent than the recomission of a series and to that end, we have to thank ITV and the British public for taking to Ridley in such numbers.

"We shall certainly work just as hard to keep the standard we have set and I look forward to developing Ridley as a character over the next four episodes."

The TV star is best known as Superintendent Ted Hastings in the BBC's police corruption drama Line Of Duty, which was filmed in Belfast.

The first series of Ridley introduced viewers to the charismatic former DI, who retired from the police after years of dedicated service having lost his wife and daughter in a devastating arson attack on their family home.

In the next instalment, Ridley returns to solve more crimes in four two-hour films written by Thompson with Julia Gilbert and Michael Bhim each writing an episode.

Fisher and Thompson will also both act as executive producers alongside Ingrid Goodwin while Juliet Charlesworth returns to produce series two.

Thompson said: "Thrilled to be working with Jonathan Fisher and West Road Pictures again to bring Ridley back to our screens.

"Adrian Dunbar's brilliant portrayal struck a chord with ITV viewers, and I can't wait to share what happens next, as the singing detective settles into his new role of Copelton Police Consultant.

"Ridley's unique and idiosyncratic approach to crime-solving will once more be at the forefront of each feature-length investigation.

"His animated partnership with DI Carol Farman will be tested, as together they set out to solve some dark and unsettling crimes."

Drama commissioner Huw Kennair Jones will oversee production of the series on behalf of ITV.

Jones added: "We can't wait to welcome Adrian back to ITV as we return to the beautiful Lancashire countryside for four brand new cases for Ridley and the team to investigate.

"And we're looking forward to working with West Road Pictures and Paul Matthew Thompson on what promises to be another great series."

The new series will begin shooting across northern England in autumn 2023.
Greenpeace has teamed up with Oscar-winning director Sir Steve McQueen and actor Will Poulter to create a short film and cover of Fleetwood Macs Dont Stop (Kristian Buus/Greenpeace/PA)

Greenpeace has teamed up with Oscar-winning director Sir Steve McQueen and actor Will Poulter to create a short film and cover of Fleetwood Macs Dont Stop.

The reimagined version of the song has been produced by Fraser T Smith and rapper Avelino, with new lyrics that act as a call to action and rallying cry for climate activism.

The film will be screened on the main stage at the Glastonbury Festival, which is being held from June 21-25.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

Midsommar actor Poulter hopes the film sparks action and said it feels like a much-needed element of the conversation that is being had around climate change.

A better tomorrow, to me, looks like a world where weve actively pulled together and theres a greater sense of unionship between everybody who cares about climate change and wants to create a better future for emerging generations, he said.

12 Years A Slave director Sir Steve, who was executive producer on the project and had his protege, Samona Olanipekun, in the role of director, said the film looks at how the world is hurtling out of control.

He said: It captures the unease at seeing corporations (especially those of oil and gas) and their enablers do damage to the environment on our behalf, acting like theres no tomorrow and driving the climate crisis solely for their profit, but we have collective power to realise a different future.

Its imperative that people dont forget  tomorrow is promised to no-one.

Will Poulter said he hopes the film sparks action on climate change (Kristian Buus/Greenpeace/PA)

The short film is set in a vibrant but rowdy party which is quickly spinning out of control, a metaphor for corporations who party like theres no tomorrow.

With instrumentation from jazz talent development organisation Tomorrows Warriors and vocals from the House Gospel Choir, the reimagined version of Dont Stop looks to establish the reality of life as a young person today amid climate change.

Grammy-winning Smith, who produced the song, said: Im immensely proud to be working with Greenpeace to help bring the iconic Dont Stop back into the public awareness with such a vital message.

Working with Tomorrows Warriors and Avelino felt like the perfect collaboration for Future Utopia, in providing exactly the right energy for the track. Im excited for everyone to hear this.

Tomorrows Warriors during the filming of Dont Stop (Kristian Buus/Greenpeace/PA)

Areeba Hamid, executive director of Greenpeace UK, said the film is a message of hope and a demand to create a better tomorrow.

When you look at the state of the world that older generations have wrought  oil companies partying like theres no tomorrow, politicians watching as our house is on fire  it can feel overwhelming, but awareness and resolve to save our planet, to save lives and livelihoods, has never been stronger, she said.

People all over the world are incredibly worried about their future, but they hold enormous power.

Greenpeace campaigns globally for environmental issues, and has helped to ban plastic microbeads and make it illegal to dump toxic waste in the sea.

Branding for the Dont Stop project by Greenpeace UK will be used on site at Glastonbury with tote bags carrying the message Dont Stop Thinking About Tomorrow.
Boris Johnson has used his first Daily Mail column to detail how a weight-loss drug did not work well for him amid accusations his new journalistic role is a clear breach of ministerial rules.

In a 1,200-word article, the former prime minister discusses his unsuccessful personal experience with appetite-suppressants but reaches the conclusion that they could be used to tackle Britains obesity crisis.

The publication came shortly after the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba)  the anti-corruption watchdog  wrote to him on Friday demanding an explanation in the latest claim that he has broken the standards expected of office.

Mr Johnson landed the job a day after he became the first ever former prime minister to be found to have lied to the Commons in the publication of the damning report into his partygate denials.

Fridays Daily Mail used its front page to bill an erudite new columnist who will be required reading in Westminster.

Shortly after 1pm, the newspaper tweeted a video confirming Mr Johnsons appointment, featuring him saying: Its going to be exactly what I think.

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

Although he quipped he will only cover politics when I absolutely have to, the column gives him a powerful platform to take shots at Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with whom he has been publicly clashing.

In his first column, Mr Johnson does allude to one political betrayal  using quotes from Shakespeares Julius Caesar about the Roman Emperors relationship with Cassius.

He claims to have noticed a Cabinet colleagues weight loss during his time in government and wondering how they had achieved it.

I immediately thought of Julius Caesar, and his preference for well-fed colleagues, he writes.

Let me have men about me that are fat, said the Roman dictator, shortly before his assassination. Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look. As it turned out, Caesar was right to be worried about Cassius.

Mr Johnson claims he learned the colleague had been using a wonder drug which he tried out himself.

After 40 years of moral failure, 40 years of weakness in the face of temptation  of akrasia  I was going to acquire a new and invincible chemical willpower, he writes.

He ultimately stopped taking the drug because it made him ill and now relies on exercise and willpower of his own, but still concludes that it could be used to help others lose weight if it agrees better with them.

The ministerial code requires those who have left the Government in the last two years to apply to the independent watchdog for advice on taking up a new appointment or role.

But Acoba, chaired by Tory peer Lord Eric Pickles, was clear that Mr Johnsons last-minute declaration was a breach of the rules.

A spokeswoman said: The ministerial code states that ministers must ensure that no new appointments are announced, or taken up, before the committee has been able to provide its advice.

An application received 30 mins before an appointment is announced is a clear breach.

We have written to Mr Johnson for an explanation and will publish correspondence in due course, in line with our policy of transparency.

The Acoba rules are in place to avoid suspicion that an appointment might be a reward for past favours and to mitigate a risk a minister could exploit privileged access to Government contacts.

But the watchdog is frequently accused of being toothless because it cannot impose sanctions.

A spokesman for the former prime minister said: Boris Johnson is in touch with Acoba and the normal process is being followed.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said Mr Johnson is once again breaking the rules and taking advantage of a broken system for his own benefit.

As he makes a mockery of the toothless ethics watchdog, this disgraced former prime minister clearly thinks the rules are for the little people, she added.

On Friday, the right-leaning newspaper said it is delighted to welcome one of the wittiest and most original writers in the business.

In a video shared alongside the announcement, Mr Johnson said he is thrilled to contribute to those illustrious pages, and promised to deliver completely unexpurgated stuff.

Mr Johnsons column will appear in the paper every Saturday.

There has been speculation about whether Mr Johnson would return to his journalism roots after he dramatically quit as an MP last week ahead of a report that found he lied to Parliament with his denials of lockdown rule-breaking in No 10.

Before he became party leader, Mr Johnson received a 275,000 salary to write for the Telegraph, which will likely pale in comparison to the sum he will pocket as a former premier.

The former Tory leader joins the ranks of his staunch ally Nadine Dorries, who writes a weekly Tuesday column for the Daily Mail.

The former culture secretary, who has also announced her exit from the Commons, used her most recent piece to suggest sinister forces were behind the decision to exclude her from Mr Johnsons controversial resignation honours list.

The former long-standing Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre was also once tipped to be on the list, but was reportedly removed during the House of Lords vetting process.

On Thursday, Mr Johnson was found to have deliberately misled MPs with his partygate denials in a report by the Privileges Committee.

They said a series of offences merited a 90-day suspension from the House and recommended he should be blocked from holding the pass to Parliament that former MPs are granted.

Mr Johnson dismissed the report by the cross-party committee, which he claims is a kangaroo court, as deranged.
Steve Lee Watson (top right) and Simon Apsley Smyth (bottom right) have both entered not guilty pleas to two charges arising from Malcolm McKeown's death

Two men from Co Armagh appeared in court today where they denied the August 2019 murder of Malcolm McKeown.

Stevie Lee Watson and Simon Apsley Smyth, who are both 34 and from Lurgan, appeared in the dock of Belfast Crown Court where they entered not guilty pleas to two charges arising from Mr McKeown's death.

The 54-year-old was shot six times as he sat in his car at a service station in Waringstown, Co Down.

Watson from Princetown Avenue and Smyth from Hazelgrove Avenue were jointly charged with murdering Malcolm McKeown on August 19, 2019.

When a court clerk put the charge to the pair, Watson replied not guilty, as did Smyth.

The were also charged with possessing firearms and ammunition  namely two firearms, .32 calibre bullets and 9 x 19mm cartridges  with intent to endanger life on the same date.

When this charge was put to both men, they each entered not guilty pleas.

After the pair entered their pleas, Mr Justice O'Hara addressed their barristers and asked where do we go from here?

Greg Berry KC, representing Smyth, said the case against his client will require some expert evidence in relation to cell site analysis.

Watson's barrister Charles MacCreanor KC said he was in a similar position.

Two other men have already appeared in court where they entered not guilty pleas to the same two charges.

Last May, 28-year-old Jake O'Brien from Rectory Road in Lurgan and Andrew Thomas Kenneth Martin (27) from Bridge Street in Banbridge both denied murdering Mr McKeown on August 19, 2019 and possessing firearms and ammunition on the same date.

Barristers for both men were present during today's hearing and addressed Mr Justice O'Hara.

Gavan Duffy KC for Martin said he would also be seeking expert reports on both cell site and CCTV analysis, while O'Brien's barrister Lauren Cheshire revealed she will require defence reports regarding CCTV and DNA.

Mr Justice O'Hara said he would review the case on Friday September 22, 2023 when he will set a date for the trial.

He then released Watson and Smyth on continuing bail.
Grieving NI woman Brenda Doherty, whose mum died alone, says former PM should never hold public office again after report finds he misled MPs over Partygate denials

Boris Johnson giving evidence to the Privileges Committee at the House of Commons, London. Picture date: Wednesday March 22, 2023. PA Photo. The former prime minister is expected to be questioned for around four hours over his denials of No 10 parties during the pandemic in violation of lockdown rules. See PA story POLITICS Johnson. Photo credit should read: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire

issued by the House of Commons showing the then prime minister Boris Johnson (right) at a leaving gathering in the vestibule of the Press Office of 10 Downing Street,

Brenda Doherty, daughter of Ruth Burke, 82, who died on March 24, 2020, during the pandemic. Northern Ireland families bereaved by Covid-19 have gathered to watch a livestream from London of the third preliminary hearing of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, at the Resolution Centre in Belfast. Picture date: Tuesday April 25, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story ULSTER Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

The daughter of one of Northern Irelands first Covid-19 victims has said the findings of a report into the behaviour of former prime minister Boris Johnson in the House of Commons has shown he was never fit for purpose.

Brenda Dohertys mother Ruth Burke, from Newtownabbey, was the first woman to die as a result of the pandemic in March 2020, and the fourth person in Northern Ireland.

She said that the verdict has added to what has already been an emotional week for relatives at the start of a public enquiry into the governments handling of the pandemic.

Ms Dohertys mother (82) died alone in hospital while her family were not allowed to visit her due to stringent measures introduced to stop the spread of the virus.

She travelled to London this week for the opening stages of the inquiry.

Brenda Doherty, daughter of Ruth Burke, 82, who died on March 24, 2020, during the pandemic. Northern Ireland families bereaved by Covid-19 have gathered to watch a livestream from London of the third preliminary hearing of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, at the Resolution Centre in Belfast. Picture date: Tuesday April 25, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story ULSTER Coronavirus. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

A cross-party investigation found that Mr Johnson committed repeated contempts of Parliament by deliberately misleading MPs with his Partygate denials in the House of Common.

Branding him the first former prime minister to have ever lied to the Commons, the Privileges Committee report said the offences merited a 90-day suspension which would have paved the way for a by-election if he had not already resigned.

The committee also recommended he should not receive the pass granting access to Parliament which is normally given to former MPs.

Ms Doherty is now involved with NI Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, who are seeking answers on how the pandemic was handled in Northern Ireland.

This is another grim reminder that families like mine whose loved ones died alone have been totally failed by the prime minister, she said.

Not only did he break his own rules so he could have a party and a laugh, he then showed no remorse and lied to our faces when he told us that hed done all he could to protect our loved ones.

"He lied again when he said the rules hadnt been broken in Number 10, and hes lied ever since, hes denied it again and again.

He was never fit for purpose and should never hold public office again, she said.

Mr Johnson was furious at what he called a deranged conclusion, accusing the Tory-majority group of MPs led by Labour veteran Harriet Harman, of lying.

issued by the House of Commons showing the then prime minister Boris Johnson (right) at a leaving gathering in the vestibule of the Press Office of 10 Downing Street,

The former Conservative leader called the committee beneath contempt and claimed its 14-month investigation had delivered what is intended to be the final knife-thrust in a protracted political assassination.

But Ms Doherty said: How he failed the nation should be his legacy. Let it be a lesson to other political figures that the truth in the end will come out.

When holding such an important role you must ensure that you serve the nation and not your own ego.

This has come out in the week of the start of the public hearings of the Covid-19 Inquiry. It has been an emotional week for families whose loved ones died during the pandemic.

The more revelations that come out about the goings on in number 10 adds to the need to ensure lessons are learnt for future generations.

Boris Johnson giving evidence to the Privileges Committee at the House of Commons, London. Picture date: Wednesday March 22, 2023. PA Photo. The former prime minister is expected to be questioned for around four hours over his denials of No 10 parties during the pandemic in violation of lockdown rules. See PA story POLITICS Johnson. Photo credit should read: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire

She said she is still haunted by the fact she wasnt present during her mothers final moments, or able even to touch her coffin at the funeral.

Ive seen video footage where they are discussing the party and laughing, so they obviously think the whole thing is funny  its absolutely disgusting.

When the doctor rang to tell us my mum wasnt going to make it, I asked if any of us could be there and it was a blanket no, but we just accepted it.

We met mums coffin at the cemetery gates and only my sister and I were allowed at the graveside. I can remember going forward to touch mums coffin and one of the men there put his hand up and told me I wasnt allowed.

So, to see people laughing, to think they had a party with everything we and other families went through.

The 4th Coronavirus victim Ruth Burke (82) left. with her daughter Brenda Doherty

The committee found Mr Johnson guilty of a serious contempt for deliberately misleading MPs by insisting all rules had been followed in Downing Street despite lockdown-breaching parties.

The MPs had provisionally agreed a suspension long enough to potentially trigger a by-election in Mr Johnsons Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency before he resigned in protest at the findings.

But they said he committed further contempts by undermining the democratic processes of the Commons and being complicit in the campaign of abuse and attempted intimidation of the committee.

They found his denials were so disingenuous they were deliberate attempts to mislead MPs as they hit out at the frequency with which he closed his mind to the truth.
In this July 19, 2022 file photo, members of K-pop group BTS, in the back row, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, front row second from left, pose during a ceremony appointing the BTS members as honorary ambassadors for the World Expo 2030 at HYBE's office in Yongsan, Seoul. Korea Times file



Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Friday ordered thorough safety measures as massive crowds of people are expected to turn out for a weekend event celebrating the 10th anniversary of global superstar BTS.



The event is set to take place on Saturday night at a park near the Han River in Seoul's Yeouido and is expected to attract approximately 300,000 dedicated fans from the global fanbase known as "ARMY." The event is part of BTS' 10th Anniversary Festa, a two-week-long festival commemorating the band's decade-long journey.





Fans of BTS pose for a souvenir photo with a logo of the K-pop band BTS during an event to celebrate its 10th debut anniversary, in Seoul, Korea, June 14. AP-Yonhap



"A large number of people will gather at the same time, and the event will also include fireworks," Han said in a press release, emphasizing the importance of implementing the necessary measures to mitigate the risk of potential crowd accidents.






A Labour peer has claimed that women and girls in Great Britain are turning to Northern Ireland for abortion care because the laws are more lenient.

Baroness Thornton made the comments during a debate in the House of Lords yesterday.

She spoke out after a mother-of-three was jailed in England earlier this week for inducing an abortion outside the legal limit .

Carla Foster (44) used the Governments pill by post scheme, which allows for pregnancies up to 10 weeks to be terminated, to induce an abortion in May 2020.

A hearing at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court was told that she was between 32 and 34 weeks pregnant at the time.

She was charged under Section 58 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 for administering drugs or using instruments to procure an abortion.

When abortion was decriminalised in Northern Ireland in 2019, Sections 58 and 59 of this act were repealed, but they remain on the statute books in Great Britain.

Under Section 58, a woman is guilty of an offence if she unlawfully procures a miscarriage.

Under Section 59, anyone who supplies drugs or instruments to be unlawfully used to procure abortion is guilty of an offence.

Baroness Thornton, the shadow spokesperson for equality and womens issues in the Lords, told peers: One of the effects of the changes in Northern Ireland is that, since 2019, evidence suggests that theres been an increase of 25% in referrals.

But many of them are [made] from other parts of the United Kingdom, not Northern Ireland, [by] women and girls, particularly those in bad relationships, or young girls who are unsure of time limits and anxious about being investigated by the police and even prosecuted.

This suggests that the issue to be addressed here is ensuring a right to abortion advice and lawful treatment.

During the debate, a leading womens health advocate told peers the fear of abortion criminalisation was having a chilling effect on doctors becoming involved in that area of healthcare.

Baroness Blackstone, from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: Professionals must be able to provide abortion care without the threat of criminal sanctions which dont apply to any other healthcare professionals.

Increasing the role of qualified nurses and midwives is extremely important, [as is] removing the chilling effect caused by criminal law intervention that means many doctors fear getting involved in abortion care due to the threat of criminalisation.

The Advocate General for Scotland, Lord Stewart of Dirleton responded that the Royal College no doubt spread correct information to members about their standing in law in relation to abortion.

While abortion was decriminalised in Northern Ireland in 2019, it was not until December of last year that Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris instructed Stormonts Department of Health to formally commission abortion services.

The Government is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring women of Northern Ireland have access to safe, high-quality and local abortion services, Mr Heaton-Harris said at the time.

As Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my officials at the Northern Ireland Office and I will continue to work with the Department of Health and healthcare professionals to ensure a range of abortion services become readily available across all health and social care trusts in the coming months.
A Belfast councillor has said the government needs to take the issue of drug-related deaths more seriously by adopting a long-term plan.

In 2021 Northern Ireland recorded 212 drug-related deaths which was the second highest on record, six less than the 2020 peak of 218 deaths.

The same was true for drug-misuse deaths, decreasing from a high of 182 in 2020 to a second highest total of 174 in 2021.

Independent Councill Paul McCusker from The Peoples Kitchen in Belfast told the BBCs Good Morning Ulster (GMU) programme the numbers of people on the streets with addiction issues is increasing.

Quite often, he said, these people are crying out for help and while there are fantastic organisations, polydrug use has increased and getting access to a rehabilitation programme can take months.

In that timeframe the person can overdose, attend A&E, end up in prison, their life becomes chaotic. The people who we work with, particularly on the streets, their lives become chaotic because of living on the streets or being homeless, he told GMU.

Last July protestors demanded urgent action to support homeless and vulnerable people in Belfast.

A demonstration was held in the city centre following a spate of drugs-related deaths.

Crowds marched from a soup kitchen in north Belfast to the City Hall in response to the deaths after 15 people died from overdoses in the city in the space of two months.

Ultimately for me its about that long-term approach from government, to step up and take this seriously.

"Last year we marched on the streets because of the amount of people that died, Mr McCusker said.

Were almost a year on, what has changed? Nothing, its got a lot worse.

So, for me, its quite frustrating because I think, is there anybody listening? We see the effects of drugs, we see the damage its causing to people, we see it physically on our streets.

But, addiction and drugs doesnt only affect the homeless community, it affects communities across Northern Ireland.

So this is a major, major issue where were seeing 212 people die, deaths involving heroin, morphine and cocaine were the highest on record. And behind every person that died is a brother, its a sister, its a loved one.

And the damage and devastation its causing is frightening. But we dont see the response from government and thats frustrating and the thing that people on the ground, like myself, having been calling on for years.

Many opiate-based drugs come from the south on transport systems, he said, and that has to be tackled by the police.

Early intervention and ensuring access to health services is the second component, he added.

"The police have been told on many occasions where drugs come from and how they get into Belfast. Drugs can be bought online, drugs can be bought anywhere. Drugs are very accessible.

"From the guys we speak with, they say getting drugs in Belfast is like going to buy a pack of cigarettes in a shop. Its so easy to access drugs through social media, WhatsApp groups, online and on the street.

"Criminal gangs dealing drugs is also on the increase as well.

Mr McCusker said that in Portugal drug-related deaths have been reduced and other countries have models NI can learn from.

Difficult conversations are had about decriminalisation and Belfast City Council supported talks about a safe-injecting facility  but you never see any actions coming from them and thats the frustrating thing for me, he concluded.

The Department of Health said its 10 year Substance Use Strategy  Preventing Harm, Empowering Recovery  recognises the need to target those most at risk, including those who are homeless, people who inject drugs and those who are in contact with the justice system.

The strategy, which was agreed by the former Executive, aims to directly reduce the harm for these groups through actions that place emphasis on harm reduction support measures for people who use alcohol and other drugs.

A DoH spokesperson said: Work is well advanced in the developing of a new strategic plan and commissioning framework for substance use services, based on our new strategy, which will seek to improve the availability, accessibility and quality of the support provided across Northern Ireland.

A range ofservices are available for those who require help and support with substance use, and for their families.

"This ranges from education, prevention and awareness raising to harm reduction and inpatient treatment and support.

"In addition, the Department invested an additional 500k recurrently in the implementation of the strategy in 2022/23  this has included supporting the Complex Lives initiative in Belfast, which is targeted at the group most at risk of substance use related deaths.

The Department will continue to monitor the evidence in respect of effective interventions and develop new proposals, within the wider legislative framework, as appropriate. The Department will also continue to monitor developments in other administrations.

Area Commander for South Belfast, Chief Inspector Neil Beck told the Belfast Telegraph that the force is aware of ongoing concerns with drug misuse in Belfast city centre and that officers have a clear focus on the risk and harm resulting from the supply and demand of illicit drugs.

We conduct operational activity in direct response to the threat and harm caused, and on information received from members of the community. This is evidenced on an almost daily basis through the proactive action that is taken, by bringing offenders to justice, he added.

CI Beck said that in the last 12 months, there has been more than 8,800 drug seizure incidents, which is an increase of 271 from the previous year. During this same period, the seven policing districts showed an increase in drug-related arrests, with Belfast city showing the largest rise. CI Beck said: However, we are acutely aware that this issue needs a whole systems approach. We also work closely with a huge range of partners across all sectors, to assess for early trends, track for any changes and seek long-term sustainable solutions to prevent some of the demand and resultant harm.

"Much of this work is undertaken through the invaluable and multi-agency efforts of the Organised Crime Task force. Drugs supply and demand is a vicious cycle that we need to collectively break, as it feeds wider organised criminality, impacts on our most vulnerable and causes lasting harm and suffering for families and communities.

"None of this should be tolerated and we all have a part to play.
A car has been completely destroyed in an arson attack in the East Street area of Newtownards during the early hours of Friday morning.

At around 4am police attended the report of a car on fire in the area, along with colleagues from the NI Fire & Rescue Service.

Enquiries are continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and police would appeal to anyone with any information in relation to this incident, to contact them on 101 quoting reference number 224- 16/06/23.

Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Community has helped raise 23k so Omagh woman can tie the knot next month

A County Tyrone woman who was diagnosed with cancer last year said she is overwhelmed with the response from her community after they pulled together to help make her dream wedding a reality.

Danielle Donnelly from Omagh received confirmation she had an aggressive form of stomach cancer, adenocarcinoma, in July 2022, just one month after the birth of her baby Jamie.

The mother-of-five recalled that something didnt feel right, throughout her pregnancy, but it was initially put down to the side effects of the pregnancy.

I kept saying to doctors and midwives that I wasnt right. I was in so much pain  I was vomiting water and I had pain across my breastbone. Everyone kept saying it was the joys of pregnancy, Danielle explained.

The 35-year-old shared her story with the Belfast Telegraph and explained she has been given an estimate of 9 to 15 months to live, if treatment works.

Danielle underwent five sessions of combination chemotherapy treatment used to treat oesophageal and stomach cancer from September to November last year at Belfast City Hospital. She is currently undergoing immunotherapy chemo, which she began earlier this week.

We have a young family, Jamie, Tianna (3), Kayla (12), Shanice (14) and Edward (17). As you can only imagine, our hearts are broken into a million pieces as I will not see my children grow up. I cant explain the heartbreak we are experiencing, Danielle said.

Despite undergoing treatment, Danielle and her partner Darren have made it their mission to marry and experience their dream wedding next month.

The pair reached out on social media with the intention to find those who could provide wedding services and may have availability on their wedding date.

To the couples surprise, they were overwhelmed with the response from the community, receiving many offers of service on the date, completely free of charge.

This now means they are able to celebrate their marriage with loved ones, free from the significant financial burden of a ceremony.

Danielle said: We had only got engaged on October 31, 2021. We plan to get married on July 28, before Im not fit to enjoy any of it, as my time is limited. The aim of the post online was to find people who were available for that date, we never imagined the reaction we have received. We never expected anyone to gift us their services, its been totally overwhelming. We cannot believe the help we have received to make our dream wedding come true.

A fundraiser was set up by the local community last year for the family of seven to provide them with the opportunity to make memories together. It has since accumulated almost 23,000, exceeding its original goal. The couple expressed their gratitude to the Drumquin community for helping to keep a roof over our heads and keeping food on the table.

Danielle continued: Our community raised money for us last year to help our family make memories together, so we did not expect this sort of response for our wedding.

The money raised last year helped us with the rising cost-of-living. Darren is not working at the minute, and we have five children to support. Its been a big help to keep food on the table, a roof over our heads.

The local community have helped in every possible way, with musicians, videographers and the like all gifting their time and services to make the ceremony a reality.

The couple are now all sorted for their big day to go ahead, adding that from the bottom of our hearts we cant thank everyone enough.

Danielle added: Im still trying to return messages and calls, our phones have not stopped.

I hope everybody can understand that we hope to respond to everyone in due course.
Inspectors flag concerns over drugs, delivery of education, prison deaths and staff prejudice

A damning report following a surprise inspection of Maghaberry Prison has found a catalogue of serious issues that need urgent action.

As a result, the jail has been downgraded from good to not sufficiently good by regulators.

Five priority concerns have been identified including how prison deaths are handled, the absence of an effective strategy to address a serious drug problem in the jail, and limited access to high quality education.

The findings have been outlined in a document compiled by the chief inspector of criminal justice in Northern Ireland following an unannounced visit at Northern Irelands highest security jail.

Maghaberry has a serious drug problem and there was no effective strategy to address it, the report said.

Too many prisoners said it was easy to get drugs and had developed a problem with them in Maghaberry.

There were long delays to access the clinical substance misuse treatment service.

The decisions to reduce drug testing and stop adjudications at a time when supply and demand were known issues is at best puzzling and needed to be reviewed.

More than a quarter of inmates surveyed in the inspection said they had developed issues with drugs while locked up.

The report also noted evidence from a number of sources that a number of Catholic prisoners had experienced prejudice from some staff and a disappointing reluctance among officers to report poor behaviour by their colleagues.

Inspectors flagged concerns about the investigation of safeguarding incidents and compliance with the NI Prison Services (NIPS) internal policy.

The absence of an internal investigation to identify immediate learning following deaths in custody, pending the conduct of other formal investigations, was worrying and should be addressed urgently, they said.

The report also expressed disappointment over a fall in standards in rehabilitation and release planning caused by staffing problems.

Arrangements for release had deteriorated, leaving many prisoners to be released without adequate plans, it said.

Serious concerns about lengthy delays to access primary care services are also cited.

While there were now some psychologically informed treatment services for prisoners, these did not meet the demands of the prisons population, the report found.

We are concerned about the absence of personality disorder service provision and the impact this has on both patients and staff caring for them.

There was a need for this provision particularly for those prisoners with extreme behaviours who could spend lengthy periods segregated from the general prison population or be frequently admitted to the care and supervision unit.

Outgoing NIPS director general Ronnie Armour highlighted the impact of the pandemic on the prison system in response to the findings, despite the report stressing that Covid was a challenge for all prisons in the UK.

Leaders must now put that difficult time behind them and focus on getting prisoners off the wing and back into the sort of meaningful work, training, education, and rehabilitative support that will make them less likely to reoffend when they come out, the report concluded.

In a joint statement, Jacqui Durkin, chief inspector of Criminal Justice, and Charlie Taylor from His Majestys Chief Inspector of Prisons, said a decline in performance was found since the previous visit in 2018, resulting in a two point reduction.

Ms Durkin added that 41% of prisoners surveyed last September indicated it was easy to get illicit drugs at the site, with 28% admitting they had developed a drug problem while inside.

We found long delays in accessing clinical substance misuse treatment services, she said.

Mr Taylor said staffing difficulties at Maghaberry meant the delivery of education and training was inconsistent, with planned sessions often cancelled because prison officers were tasked to other work.

This is a disappointing inspection compared to our previous visit and staff shortages and a rising prison population will continue to hamper progress, he added.

However, Mr Armour has warned that pressures at the prison will continue as the number of inmates hits record levels.

While the findings of inspectors are disappointing, they are not surprising, he said.

For some time we have been highlighting the impact of the pandemic on the prison system and our struggle to recover in the context of a rapidly rising prison population.

When inspectors last visited Maghaberry in 2018, the population was 830.

When they returned in October 2022, that had risen to 1,050, and this week, the Maghaberry population stands at 1,230 men, of whom over half are being held on remand and therefore do not have to engage in rehabilitative work.

Ronnie Armour, director general NI Prison Service

He said X-ray body scanners have been rolled out since the inspection, with early indications signalling a huge drop in illegal drugs making their way into the prison.

But Mr Armour warned that will result in a surge in demand for prescription drugs as he promised to support colleagues in the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust to ensure that medication is not abused.

While it is important that we dont seek to make excuses for the decline in service delivery at the prison since the pandemic, no one should underestimate the pressures prison staff are currently facing, he added.

It is important to recognise the exceptional work staff undertake with some of the most complex, challenging and dangerous members of our community.

Like our hospitals, ambulance service, police and other front-line services, the current demands placed on prison officers is unprecedented.

We are not complacent about the issues inspectors have raised, indeed we are determined to address them.

However, it is important to recognise that due to the context in which we are operating in, this is likely to be the case for some time to come.

Mr Armour  who is expected to become the deputy permanent secretary at the Department of Education  admitted he is concerned about some comments relating to the treatment of Catholic prisoners and said that no stone will be left unturned in dealing with the allegations.

I have written to the chief inspector indicating that such comments must be fully investigated and assuring her that we will do so if the evidence provided to inspectors is given to us, he said.

Drawing some positives from the report, Mr Armour expressed delight that inspectors recognised that the vast majority of employees are friendly, approachable and supportive.

He insisted steps to address concerns are already being taken, including the development of new quick-time learning arrangements for deaths in custody which have been shared with the ombudsman for feedback.

A safeguarding lead has been appointed at Maghaberry since the inspection.

The inspection also involved staff from His Majestys Chief Inspector of Prisons, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority, and the Education and Training Inspectorate.
An inspection report has highlighted a serious drugs issue at Maghaberry Prison (Michael Cooper/PA)

More than a quarter of inmates surveyed in an inspection report said they had developed issues with drugs while inside Maghaberry Prison.

The report has highlighted a serious drug problem at the high security Co Antrim prison and has called for urgent action to be taken by senior leaders in the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS).

An inspection at the prison was carried out last September and October by a team from Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland (CJI), His Majestys Inspectorate of Prisons in England and Wales (HMIP), the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) and the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI).

They have also raised concerns about the delivery of education, skills and work activities.

Ronnie Armour, Director General NI Prison Service in his office at Dundonald House, Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

In response, NIPS director general Ronnie Armour highlighted the impact of the Covid pandemic on the prison system and its struggle to recover in the context of a rapidly rising prison population.

Maghaberry is the only high-security prison in Northern Ireland. It houses paramilitary prisoners and operates as a remand prison for all adult male prisoners in the region.

In a joint statement, Jacqui Durkin, chief inspector of CJI and Charlie Taylor from HMIP, said: Inspectors found a decline in performance against the healthy prison tests since the last inspection in 2018 and identified a number of concerns which included access to drugs and significant areas for improvement in the delivery of education, skills and work activities.

Ms Durkin added: Inspectors identified there was a serious drug problem at Maghaberry at the time of the inspection.

Forty-one percent of prisoners surveyed during this inspection indicated it was easy to get illicit drugs at Maghaberry and 28% said they had developed a drug problem while they were there.

We found long delays in accessing clinical substance misuse treatment services.

A decision to reduce drug testing and stop adjudications at a time when supply and demand were known issues is at best puzzling and needs to be reviewed.

We found there was no effective or co-ordinated plan in place to reduce the demand for and supply of drugs and no means of assessing the effectiveness of actions taken. This needs to be addressed as a priority.

Inspectors found there had been reduction in prisoners access to education, skills and work activities with only 15.5% of prisoners off their wing at the time of the inspection.

Chief inspector of criminal justice in Northern Ireland Jacqui Durkin has raised concerns about Maghaberry Prison (Aaron McCracken/PA)

Mr Taylor said: Staffing difficulties at Maghaberry meant the delivery of education and training was inconsistent with planned sessions often cancelled because prison officers were tasked to other work.

Access to specialist accommodation and resources available in the learning and skills centre were underutilised, restricting opportunities for prisoners to develop practical skills.

We also identified long waiting lists for important courses like essential skills in literacy, numeracy and information technology and communications, leaving many men unable to develop skills or gain qualifications in these key areas.

The inspection report said staff-prisoner relationships they observed were friendly and relaxed but raised concerns about some comments prisoners and staff made to inspectors about the treatment of Catholic prisoners.

It also said that a lack of staffing in the Prisoner Development Unit meant that many of the 1,067 men in custody at the time of the inspection did not have a sentence plan.

Concerns were also identified about aspects of safe custody and the adequacy of safeguarding investigations.

Mr Taylor said: This is a disappointing inspection compared to our previous visit and staff shortages and a rising prison population will continue to hamper progress.

We accept the Covid-19 pandemic was challenging for Maghaberry as it has been for all prisons in the United Kingdom and we acknowledge the increase in the prison population and high numbers of men held on remand, said Ms Durkin.

However, prison leaders must focus on getting prisoners off wing and into the sort of meaningful work, training, education and rehabilitative support that will make them less likely to offend on their release.

But NIPS director general Mr Armour said pressures at the prison will continue as the prisoner population hits record levels.

He said: While the findings of inspectors are, of course, disappointing, they are not surprising.

For some time we have been highlighting the impact of the pandemic on the prison system and our struggle to recover in the context of a rapidly rising prison population.

When inspectors last visited Maghaberry in 2018, the population was 830, when they returned in October 2022 that had risen to 1,050 and, this week, the Maghaberry population stands at 1,230 men, of whom over half are being held on remand and therefore do not have to engage in rehabilitative work.

The interior of Davis House at Maghaberry Prison (Michael Cooper/PA)

He added: While it is important that we dont seek to make excuses for the decline in service delivery at the prison since the pandemic, no-one should underestimate the pressures prison staff are currently facing.

It is important to recognise the exceptional work staff undertake with some of the most complex, challenging and dangerous members of our community.

Like our hospitals, ambulance service, police and other front-line services, the current demands placed on prison officers is unprecedented.

We are not complacent about the issues inspectors have raised, indeed we are determined to address them, however, it is important to recognise that due to the context in which we are operating in, this is likely to be the case for some time to come.
NI schoolgirl says theres more to come after final appearance on The Voice Kids
When the long-awaited report into Boris Johnsons lockdown lies about Partygate was published on Thursday morning, his resignation as an MP appeared a lot less shocking.

The former prime minister had seen an early copy of the report, which concluded he had lied to MPs on an unprecedented scale. Had Mr Johnson stayed on as the MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, he would have faced a 90-day suspension from Parliament - more than enough to trigger a tough by-election in the constituency.

The report also recommended Mr Johnson be stripped of a pass for former MPs, effectively barring him from the parliamentary estate.

Boris backers quickly rounded on the committee, blasting the harshness of the findings, while Mr Johnson himself blasted what he called the deranged conclusion.

But, while just one instance of misleading the house would have been enough to land Mr Johnson a sanction, the committee concluded he had done so on five separate occasions.

Below are the five lies that led to Mr Johnsons downfall.

1) Insistent PM says all guidance was followed

The former PM first misled the House of Commons on December 1. Asked at prime ministers questions (PMQs) by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer about a Christmas party in Downing Street on December 18, 2020, Mr Johnson said all guidance was followed in No10.

2) PM denies party took place in Downing Street

The second time Mr Johnson misled Parliament came a week later. Repeating his earlier claim, in response to a question from Labour MP Catherine West, Mr Johnson said the guidance was followed and the rules were followed at all times.

Ms West asked whether there was another party in Downing Street, on November 13 2020, to which the then prime minister replied, no. An investigation by Partygate investigator Sue Gray confirmed both events had taken place.

3) Johnson hits back at Starmers lying accusations

The next time Mr Johnson misled the house was on January 12 last year, when he came under fire from Sir Keir at another fiery session of PMQs.

The Labour leader said the public saw Mr Johnson as lying through his teeth about Downing Street Parties, but the then PM hit back to claim the events in question were within the guidance and were within the rules.

The privileges committee found this also to have been misleading.

4) PM corrects the record

The fourth time Mr Johnson misled Parliament was four months later, on May 25, when he sought to row back on earlier assurances that all rules and guidance had been followed in No 10.

He told MPs at the time that it was what I believed to be true, while accepting that clearly this was not the case for some gatherings.

I would like to correct the record  to take this opportunity, not in any sense to absolve myself of responsibility, which I take and have always taken, but simply to explain why I spoke as I did in this House, Mr Johnson said.

Even in rowing back on his earlier remarks the privileges committee found him to have been misleading MPs.

The report said: We think it highly unlikely on the balance of probabilities that Mr Johnson could have genuinely believed at the time of his statements to the House that the Rules or Guidance were being complied with.

5) Johnson was disingenuous with MPs

As well as the four instances above, MPs on the committee concluded Mr Johnson misled the house by failing to tell MPs about his own knowledge of rule-breaking parties in Downing Street.

The excoriating report goes on to accuse Mr Johnson of being disingenuous with the committee, making completely unacceptable statements about the inquiry and an egregious breach of confidentiality of the process.

Labour said the committees report was damning and deputy leader Angela Rayner said Mr Johnson was acting like a pound shop Donald Trump.

She said: Boris Johnson is not only a law breaker but a liar, and he is not fit for public office. Hes disgraced himself and continues to act like some pound shop Donald Trump in the way in which he tries to discredit anybody who criticises his actions.

The damning report will make any return to frontline politics even more difficult for the former PM, meaning the party may well truly be over

 London Independent
Greyfriars Bobby, considered by some as Scotlands most loyal dog, has been honoured at a special event in Edinburgh.

The dog faithfully guarded his owners grave for 14 years after his death, and on Friday tourists and locals flocked to a ceremony to commemorate the devoted canine.

The story of the faithful dog was adapted into a film by Walt Disney in 1961, starring an acting dog, also named Bobby.

A specially commissioned casket was crafted from an old cherry tree which once stood in the kirkyard, containing the ashes of the dog who portrayed Greyfriars Bobby in the movie.

The casket and remains have been donated to the City of Edinburgh Council and form part of its archaeology collections.

They have now been loaned to Greyfriars Kirk for a special exhibition commemorating the dogs legacy.

At a ceremony held at Greyfriars Kirkyard on Friday, depute lord provost of Edinburgh Lezley Marion Cameron joined David Hunter, who led the campaign to remember Bobby.

There was a small procession, led by a bagpiper, as the casket was brought into the Kirk as well as speeches about the project, while six Skye Terriers formed a guard of honour.

Mrs Marion said: Greyfriars Bobbys memorial reads Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all.

Countless visitors continue to see Bobbys grave, his statue, and the many mementos of his life displayed in our Museum of Edinburgh.

Im delighted this further part of the iconic and timeless story of a little dog who would not leave his masters grave is going to be on display for visitors to discover.

Bobbys is a story held in enormous respect and affection by people around the world, as is the famous film it inspired.

Bobby truly is a world-famous pet, holding a special place in peoples hearts and its lovely to be part of this special commemoration.

Mr Hunter said: Im extremely grateful to the City of Edinburgh Council and Greyfriars Kirk for working together with me to make this possible.

Rev Richard Frazer, minister of Greyfriars Kirk, said: We are glad to remember this Bobby who starred in Walt Disneys film.

The search for his remains is a story in itself, but Davids tenacity and persistence has paid off and now we have an additional item in our museum for people to visit, with a casket made in our Grassmarket Community Project workshop holding the ashes of the wee dog.

John Lawson, City of Edinburgh Council archaeologist, said: Its not often as an archaeologist that you work on such a unique project to preserve the remains of a 1960s film star.

It has been fantastic to work with David, the Kirk and Grassmarket Community and my colleagues in Bereavement Services on this project and to see the enthusiasm and care that everyone has shown in finding a fitting home for his remains.

The exhibition at the Greyfriars Kirk will be open Monday to Saturday 11am to 4pm.
John Giddings, promoter for the Isle of Wight Festival speaks of the event 21 years after he reinstated the event (Sarah Ping/PA)

The promoter of the Isle of Wight Festival said he is blessed to continue hosting the extraordinary music event 21 years on.

John Giddings, who reinstated the festival in 2002 during the Queens Golden Jubilee, compared the Isle of Wight to the Woodstock Festival in New York.

Im just really blessed. I never would have started a festival if it wasnt the Isle of Wight because I was here in 1970 and it was an iconic name, it was the Woodstock of Europe, Mr Giddings told the PA news agency.

If you had told me 21 years ago that I would be standing here today, I wouldnt have believed you.

With 55,000 people coming to the island, 31 degrees weather, its extraordinary.

Mr Giddings reinstated the festival after a ban was imposed to stop gatherings of more than 5,000 people overnight.

Isle of Wight Festival organiser John Giddings says he is blessed to continue the event after 21 years (Robert Middleton/PA)

The ban lasted 32 years, but to open the festival to the masses, he convinced Paul Weller to be the headline act, which saw the number of people attending the event expand ever since.

The first year was a one-day event with The Charlatans and Robert Plant with 7,500 people, so I photoshopped the picture to show it to Paul Weller for the next year so that it looked we had 15,000 people, Mr Giddings said.

Weller, along with Bryan Adams, went on to headline the festival in year two, and by the third year David Bowie and The Who were the main stage performers.

Mr Giddings said there were around 35,000 people festival-goers that year, and its gone upwards ever since.

Pulp will be one of the festivals headline acts, alongside Robbie Williams, George Ezra and the Chemical Brothers (Yui Mok/PA)

It was really interesting because the island had only seen tribute bands for 32 years, so it was only when we started building the stage that (people) realised that something real was coming, he said.

Im in the music business, so luckily I know lots of these bands, and I think they trusted me in the beginning to pay them, which is the most important thing.

The headline acts at this years Barclaycard presents Isle of Wight Festival, which Mr Giddings describes as the biggest show ever, include Robbie Williams, Blondie, George Ezra, Pulp and The Chemical Brothers.

Aside from the star-studded line-up, festival-goers can also enjoy a drone show every evening which depicts the Isle of Wight and the Needles.

Weve actually got a drone show at the end of the night each night. We sent it up last night and people said wow, he said.

With the success of this years festival, Mr Giddings urges festival goers to book your tickets early in time for next year.

He said: Buy a ticket early for next year because since weve sold out, Ive been engulfed with emails, sob stories about people who havent got tickets.
Monitors in Hana Bank's dealing room in downtown Seoul display exchange rates of foreign currencies, Friday. Newsis









By Lee Yeon-woo







An increasing number of Koreans are purchasing Japanese currency and traveling to Japan as the yen depreciates to the lowest level in eight years.







The exchange rate is falling closer to 900 won ($0.71) per 100 yen, having dropped to 904 won per 100 yen on Tuesday, which is the lowest level seen since June 2015.







Market observers are surprised at such a steep descent, considering the exchange rate was at the 1,000 won level in April. They cautiously predict that the rate may drop below 900 won soon.







The main causes behind the weakened yen are the divergent monetary policies of Japan and those of other major economies. Japan has maintained a monetary easing policy, while many other countries have followed the U.S. Federal Reserve in tightening their monetary policies.







The relative appreciation of the won, caused by the recent influx of foreign investments into Korea's financial markets, also accelerated the move.











This led a growing number of Koreans to start purchasing Japan's currency.







As of Wednesday, the balance of yen deposits in major Korean commercial banks stood at 808.2 billion yen, a 15.8 percent increase compared to the end of May. Within just 10 business days, Koreans have added 110.3 billion yen to their accounts.







Kim Ju-yeon, an office worker who purchased a substantial amount of yen earlier this month, told The Korea Times that she saw no reason not to invest in yen.







"Purchasing yen is very attractive at this moment. The average won-yen exchange rate has been around 1,000 won per 100 yen. I expect investment return in the range of 10 percent as soon as it returns to its normal level, and that is the lowest I expect," Kim said.







Even though the second quarter of this year is generally considered an off-season, the number of Koreans traveling to Japan is showing a noticeable surge. Some even say that a trip to Japan is cost-effective, even when compared to trips in Southeast Asia.







gettyimagesbank





According to aviation statistics, 89,847 people used airlines connecting Incheon and Tokyo between June 1 and 10. This is a 34.6 increase compared to the first 10 days of January, which saw 66,741 passengers.







Reservation rates of low-cost carriers heading to Japan are averaging 90 percent, prompting the aviation industry to increase the number of flights and introduce new destinations to Japan.







However, concerns are being raised that a prolonged depreciation of the yen could weaken Korea's export competitiveness. A weaker yen than the won makes Japanese products cheaper to buy than Korean products in overseas markets. With many tourists choosing Japan over Korea, the domestic service industry is likely to be negatively impacted as well.







Still, the weak yen is expected to persist for the time being. The Bank of Japan is likely to maintain a dovish policy, leading to a further depreciation of the yen. The Korean won is expected to appreciate mildly in the second half of this year, depending on the extent of an economic recovery.


Johnny Depp to donate one million dollars of US lawsuit settlement to charity (Doug Peters/PA)

Johnny Depp will donate one million dollars (780,000) of his legal settlement with his ex-wife Amber Heard to charity, the PA news agency understands.

The Hollywood star was awarded 10.3 million dollars (8 million) in damages following the high-profile defamation case in June 2022.

He had sued the Aquaman star over an article she had written in the Washington Post in 2018, which his lawyers said falsely accused him of being an abuser.

Following a six-week trial in Fairfax County, Virginia, jurors returned a verdict in Depps favour.

The Hollywood star was awarded 10.3 million dollars (8 million) in damages following the high-profile defamation case with Amber Heard last year (Doug Peters/PA)

In December, Heard said she had made the very difficult decision to reach a settlement in the case, which PA understands to be in the amount of one million dollars.

A source close to Depp confirmed to PA on Friday that the money would be split between five charities.

They include the Make-A-Film Foundation, Red Feather, The Painted Turtle, the Tetiaroa Society, and the Amazonia Fund Alliance.

After the settlement was announced, Depps lawyers said they were pleased to formally close the door on this painful chapter.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has been urged by the SNP to order his partys MPs to vote for the sanctions on Boris Johnson (PA)

The SNP has urged Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross to grow a backbone and whip MPs to vote in favour of sanctions against Boris Johnson.

The former prime minister was found by the Privileges Committee to have knowingly misled Parliament in his denials of partygate, with the panel recommending a 90-day suspension, had he not already stepped down as an MP.

Mr Johnson, the committee said, should also not receive a pass for the Parliamentary estate, as is the usual custom for ex-MPs.

Mhairi Black urged Douglas Ross to whip Scottish Tory MPs to vote in favour of Boris Johnsons punishment (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA)

Mr Ross, who sits as an MP as well as an MSP, has been criticised for his stance on Mr Johnson, after being one of the first senior party members to call for his resignation over parties held during the pandemic.

He subsequently rescinded those calls after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but eventually voted against the then prime minister in a confidence vote which precipitated his departure.

The SNPs deputy Westminster leader Mhairi Black sought to use the sanctions to attack Mr Ross, calling on him to whip Scottish Tory MPs to vote in favour of the punishment.

It is not clear what power, if any, Mr Ross has to instruct Scottish MPs on their vote in the Commons and it has been reported that all Tory members have been allowed a single line whip by the party, meaning they do not have to vote.

Ms Black said: Douglas Ross must finally grow a backbone and whip his MPs to vote for tough sanctions against his disgraced former leader Boris Johnson.

Its well known that Mr Ross lacks authority with Scottish Tory MSPs and MPs, who are discontent with his poor leadership.

He might be desperate to avoid a leadership challenge but failing to whip his MPs will only make him look even weaker.

Mr Ross cant hide from the fact that he and his Tory colleagues put a serial liar into Number 10  and repeatedly backed Johnson, despite all the damage he inflicted on Scotland.

The SNP MP went further, calling on Mr Ross to back the scrapping of Mr Johnsons resignation honours list, the cancelling of his allowance offered to former prime ministers, and the recouping of legal fees incurred.

Johnson might have left Parliament but the toxic legacy of Westminster continues  with yet another out of touch Tory prime minister imposing Brexit, cuts and attacks on Scottish devolution, she added.

A spokesman for the Scottish Tories said: Douglas has made his views clear and will vote in favour of the committees findings. As its a free vote, its up to other MPs how they choose to vote.

SNP MPs should look to their own party in Holyrood, where MSPs are being forced to back Nicola Sturgeon.
Greeces coastguard defended its actions in the deadly sinking of a ship carrying hundreds of migrants off the countrys south coast, indicating that a 72-hour rescue operation would be extended.

Patrol boats and a helicopter continued to scour the area where the fishing vessel packed with hundreds of people capsized and sank early on Wednesday.

Rescuers pulled 104 people from the water and later recovered 78 bodies, but the rescue operation has failed to locate any more since late on Wednesday.

Several hundred others are believed to have gone down with the vessel, which sank while traveling across the Mediterranean from Libya to Italy.

A Greek coastguard vessel is docked at the port in Kalamata (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The rescue operation has created political controversy as Greece heads to a general election on June 25, and triggered large protests in Athens that turned violent late on Thursday and led to 21 arrests.

Left-wing opposition leader Alexis Tsipras visited survivors and said the coastguard should have towed the ship to safety as it approached Greek waters  a concern echoed by human rights organisations.

The Greek government had specific responsibilities toward every passenger on the vessel, which was clearly in distress, Adriana Tidona of Amnesty International said.

This is a tragedy of unimaginable proportions, all the more so because it was entirely preventable.

Kassem Abo Zeed holds up a phone displaying a photo of himself with his wife, Ezra, who is missing (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Coastguard spokesperson Nikos Alexiou said the vessel was being followed by the coastguard and private vessels in international waters before it sank and denied reports citing survivors that a patrol boat had tried to tow the fishing boat.

He said repeated offers of assistance were rejected in radio communications with the vessel and well as calls made over a loudspeaker.

A judicial investigation is underway into the causes of the sinking.

Greek officials say the vessel capsized minutes after it lost power, speculating that panic among the passengers may have caused the boat to list and capsize.

The trawler may have been carrying as many as 750 passengers, according to the International Organisation for Migration, a UN agency.

Most of the survivors were being moved on Friday from a storage hangar at the southern port of Kalamata, where relatives also gathered to look for loved ones, to migrant shelters near Athens.

Nine people, all men from Egypt, ranging in age from 20 to 40, were arrested and detained on allegations of people smuggling and participating in a criminal enterprise.

Twenty-seven of the survivors remain in hospital, health officials said.

Mr Alexiou, citing survivor accounts, said passengers in the hold of the fishing boat included women and children but that the number of missing, believed to be in the hundreds, remained unclear.

Officials at a state-run morgue outside Athens photographed the faces of the victims and gathered DNA samples to start the identification process.
The Indian town of Mandvi bore the brunt as cyclone Biparjoy made landfall (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

Cyclone Biparjoy knocked out power and threw shipping containers into the sea on Friday in western India before aiming its lashing winds and rain at part of Pakistan that suffered devastating floods last year.

A man and his son died trying to save their livestock in Gujarat state, where the storm came ashore late Thursday after more than 180,000 people took shelter in the two countries.

The storm made landfall a night earlier, packing windspeeds of 53mph, gusting up to 86mph through the coastal regions of western Indias Gujarat state. Pakistani authorities were on high alert after evacuating 82,000 people.

The full extent of the damage in western India was not immediately known. In addition to the two deaths, three people were injured in nearby Devbhoomi Dwarka district, officials said.

People wait in the rain for their turn to receive free food distributed by volunteers in Sujawal, Pakistan (AP Photo/Pervez Masih)

About 100,000 people evacuated in western India have been temporarily relocated to relief camps, authorities said.

The storm did other damage upon landfall, including uprooting trees and electricity poles.

Officials in the coastal town of Mandvi told the Associated Press that heavy winds had thrown some shipping containers at Mundra port, one of Indias largest ports, into the sea.

The cyclone was expected to weaken later on Friday and move towards the neighbouring Indian state of Rajasthan on its way to Pakistan.

Heavy winds and incessant rains are seen after landfall of Cyclone Biparjoy at Mandvi, India (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

Its projected to move into southern Pakistan, which is still recovering from deadly flooding last year.

People in that region were seen lining up to receive food donated by charities, aid agencies and local authorities.

Pakistans national disaster management agency said the cyclone was 75 miles south-southwest of Keti Bandar, a port in flood-hit Sindh province.

The storm is expected to weaken first to a cyclonic storm and then to a depression by this evening, it said.

The Indian Meteorological Department said Biporjoy has set a record for the longest lifespan over the Arabian Sea with a lifespan or more than 10 days. Cyclone Kyarr of 2019 over the Arabian Sea had a life of nine days, it said.

The Gujarat government said it has deployed 184 rapid action squads to rescue wild animals and to clear fallen trees in the Gir National Park, home to nearly 700 Asiatic lions.

Wind-driven rains continued pelting southern coastal towns in Pakistan for the second day on Friday, as authorities said the cyclone had weakened in the Arabian sea and it will reach the coastal district of Keti Bandar in Sindh province on Friday evening.

The cyclone is expected to cause flash floods in southern Pakistan.

On Thursday, UNICEF warned that more than 625,000 children were at immediate risk in Pakistan and India.

In Pakistan, cyclone Biparjoy threatens a new crisis for children and families in Sindh, the province worst affected by last years devastating floods, Noala Skinner, Unicefs regional director for South Asia, said.
Pope Francis is surrounded by press, security and well-wishers as he leaves hospital (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Pope Francis has been discharged from the Rome hospital where he had abdominal surgery nine days ago to repair a hernia and remove painful scarring.

On Friday, his surgeon said the pontiff is now better than before being admitted to hospital.

Francis, 86, left through Gemelli Polyclinics main exit in a wheelchair, smiling and waving and saying thanks to a crowd of well-wishers, then stood up so he could get into the small Vatican car awaiting him.

In the brief distance before he could reach the white Fiat 500, reporters thrust microphones at him, and the pontiff seemed to bat them away, good-naturedly.

Pope Francis leaves the Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic in Rome (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

The pope is well. Hes better than before, Dr Sergio Alfieri, the surgeon who did the three-hour operation on June 7 told reporters as the pope was driven away.

Hours after the surgery, Dr Alfieri said that the scarring, which had resulted from previous abdominal surgeries, had been increasingly causing pain to the pope.

There was also risk of an intestinal blockage, if adhesions, or scar tissue, were not removed, according to the doctors.

No complications occurred during the surgery or while the pope was convalescing in Gemellis 10th-floor apartment reserved exclusively for hospitalisation of pontiffs, according to the popes medical staff.
The site of the proposed new embassy is close to the Australian parliament (AP Photo/Rod McGuirk)

Russia accused Australia of Russophobic hysteria for cancelling the lease on the land where Moscow wanted to build its new embassy, which the Australian government judged to be a security risk because it was too close to Parliament House.

Parliament passed emergency legislation blocking the lease on Thursday after Russia won a Federal Court appeal last month against local Canberra authorities decision to do the same.

The Russian embassy responded on Friday by posting on social media a Russian news agency Tass report of Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskovs condemnation of Australias actions.

Australia, having cancelled the lease agreement for the site for the construction of the new Russian embassy building, diligently continues to move forward in the main stream of the authors of the Russophobic hysteria and tries to distinguish itself on this path, Mr Peskov is quoted as saying.

Australias Parliament House sits behind Lake Burley Griffin in the capital Canberra (AP Photo/Rob Griffith, File)

Another unfriendly display from Australia. We will take this into account and if there are issues on the agenda that require the principle of reciprocity, we will act accordingly, Mr Preskov said.

The Russian Embassy is quoted as describing the lease termination as another step by (Prime Minister) Anthony Albanese towards a deliberate and systematic destruction of relations with Moscow.

The law ending the lease took effect late on Thursday when it was rubber-stamped by governor-general David Hurley, representing Australias head of state, King Charles.

Albanese explained the urgency as a need to prevent the site becoming a formal diplomatic presence.

Lawmakers cited threats of espionage and political interference if Russias second embassy was built in the Yarralumla diplomatic precinct so close to Parliament House.

Russia currently occupies the former USSR embassy in the suburb of Griffith, farther from Parliament House than the new site.

The Yarralumla site would have provided Russia with a second cluster of diplomatic buildings in the national capital, Canberra.

Australian intelligence agencies now rate espionage and foreign interference as the nations greatest security challenges.

In February, a newspaper reported that Australia had quietly expelled a Russian spy ring whose members were posing as diplomats.

The spy ring comprised purported embassy and consular staff as well as other operatives using deep-cover identities, The Sydney Morning Herald reported, citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the operation.

The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the nations main domestic spy agency, revealed days earlier it had detected and disrupted a major spy network. ASIO has not named the country responsible.
Russian president Vladimir Putin gestures while speaking at a plenary session of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (Alexei Danichev/Photo host Agency RIA Novosti via AP)

President Vladimir Putin has talked up Russias prospects at the countrys main international economic forum despite heavy international sanctions imposed because of the war in Ukraine.

Western officials and investors steered clear of this years St Petersburg International Economic Forum that for decades has been Russias premier event for attracting foreign capital and is sometimes likened to the Davos World Economic Forum.

The Kremlin also banned journalists from countries that Russia regards as unfriendly from covering the proceedings that began on Wednesday and continue until Saturday.

Vladimir Putin claimed Russia is not isolated (Photo host Agency RIA Novosti via AP)

Moscow has imposed that designation on scores of countries including the United States, Canada, European Union members and Australia in connection with sanctions imposed over the fighting in Ukraine.

Nonetheless, Mr Putin said at the forums plenary session: We havent turned on to the self-isolation path.

Quite the opposite  we have widened contacts with reliable and responsible partners in the countries and regions that serve as the engine, the drivers of the worlds economy today.

Id like to reiterate: these are the markets of the future, everyone clearly understands it.

Officials did not provide a list of foreign businesses attending but the programme for the more than 100 panel discussions showed a marked majority of speakers hailing from Russia.

While one of the sessions listed in the programme touted Russia as a global tech hub, descriptions of others tacitly admitted Moscows growing economic isolation since its troops moved into Ukraine last February.

Mr Putin also vehemently defended Russias sending troops into Ukraine and repeated his claims that the Ukrainian government is a neo-Nazi regime, despite President Volodymyr Zelenskys Jewish roots.

My Jewish friends say that Zelensky is not a Jew, but a shame to the Jewish people, Mr Putin said.

Mr Putin also confirmed that Russia has deployed its first tranche of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, a plan that was announced earlier, but he gave an ambiguous assessment of Russias willingness to use them.

Nuclear weapons are created to ensure our security in the broadest sense of the word and the existence of the Russian state. But we, firstly, do not have such a need, Mr Putin said.

But he added: Extreme means may be used if there is a threat to Russias statehood. In this case, we will certainly use all the forces and means that the Russian state has at its disposal.

Mr Putin also rejected the possibility of reducing Russias nuclear arsenal, chuckling mildly as he used a vulgarity: We have more such weapons than the Nato countries. They know about it, and all the time we are being persuaded to start negotiations on reductions. The hell with them, you know, as our people say.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed to a group of African leaders to ask Vladimir Putin to free political prisoners from Crimea and beyond, saying it would be an important step during their trip to Russia on Saturday.

Seven African leaders  presidents of Comoros, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia, as well as Egypts prime minister and top envoys from the Republic of Congo and Uganda  visited Ukraine on Friday as part of a self-styled peace mission to try to help end the nearly 16-month-old war.

The African leaders were traveling to meet Mr Putin on Saturday in the Russian city of St Petersburg.

The mission to Ukraine, the first of its kind by African leaders, comes in the wake of other peace initiatives such as one by China, and it carried extra importance for the African countries, as they rely in varying degrees on food and fertiliser deliveries from Russia and Ukraine.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky hosted African leaders (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

This conflict is affecting Africa negatively, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa said at a news conference alongside Mr Zelensky and the four other African heads of state or government, after the leaders met for closed-door talks on Friday afternoon.

Mr Ramaphosa and others acknowledged the intensity of the fight and the animosity between Russia and Ukraine, but insisted all wars must come to an end  and that the delegation wants to help expedite that.

I do believe that Ukrainians feel that they must fight and not give up. The road to peace is very hard, he said, adding that there is a need to bring this conflict to an end sooner rather than later.

The delegation, including Senegals president Macky Sall and Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, represents a cross-section of African views about the war.

South Africa, Senegal and Uganda have avoided censuring Moscow for the conflict, while Egypt, Zambia and Comoros voted against Russia last year in a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Moscows invasion.

Many African nations have long had close ties with Moscow, dating back to the Cold War when the Soviet Union supported their anti-colonial struggles.

The tenor of the press conference soured when Comoros president Azali Assoumani floated the idea of a road map to peace, prompting questions from Mr Zelensky who sought a clarification and insisted he did not want any surprises from their visit to Mr Putin.

Mr Zelensky then urged them to help free political prisoners from Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, left, and other delegates will visit Russia (South African Government Communication and Information Services via AP)

Would you please ask Russia to liberate the political prisoners? Mr Zelensky said. Maybe this will be an important result of your mission, of your road map.

Mr Zelensky expressed thinly veiled frustration about their trip, saying they would have conversations with the terrorists on Saturday.

International human rights organisations say Russia has targeted the Crimean Tatar ethnic group with arbitrary detentions and unjustified prosecutions since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Many have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

The Russian Federation misuses its legislation for political purposes, in particular to suppress the non-violent struggle of the Crimean Tatars and their protest against the occupation of Crimea, the Crimean Tatar Resource Centre said in a statement last year.

Mr Ramaphosa, who laid out 10 priorities to help pave the way to ending the war, said he planned to have a bilateral meeting with Mr Putin in part to discuss the Russian leaders possible attendance at a planned August summit, hosted by South Africa, of the so-called Brics countries, which also include Brazil, China and India.

The International Criminal Court in March issued an international arrest warrant against Mr Putin over Russian abductions of Ukrainian children, which could complicate any trip by Mr Putin to South Africa. Mr Ramaphosa said he alone would decide whether to invite the Russian leader, saying it was still under consideration.

Before meeting Mr Zelenskyy, the African leaders went to Bucha, a Kyiv suburb where bodies of civilians lay scattered in the streets last year after Russian troops abandoned a campaign to seize the capital and withdrew from the area.

African leaders, from right, Cyril Ramaphosa; president of Comoros Azali Assoumani; and Senegals president Macky Sall attend a commemoration ceremony at a site of a mass grave in Bucha (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

The delegations stop in Bucha was symbolically significant, because the town has come to stand for the brutality of Moscows February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Russian occupation of Bucha left hundreds of civilians dead, with some showing signs of torture.

While in Bucha, the visitors placed commemorative candles at a small memorial outside a church near where a mass grave was unearthed.

On their way back to the capital, air raid sirens went off in Kyiv  prompting them to briefly return to their hotel as a precautionary measure, Mr Ramaphosas spokesman Vincent Magwenya said.
Chinese FM meets Antigua and Barbuda's FM

Xinhua) 10:12, June 16, 2023

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang meets with Antigua and Barbuda's Foreign Minister Chet Greene, who came to Beijing to attend the Forum on Global Human Rights Governance and to pay a visit to China, in Beijing, capital of China, June 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Thursday met with Antigua and Barbuda's Foreign Minister Chet Greene in Beijing.

"Antigua and Barbuda is China's reliable friend and partner in the Caribbean," Qin said. He noted that the two sides have always shared understanding and supported each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns, setting a good example of countries of different sizes treating each other with mutual respect, and pursuing equity, mutual benefits and common development.

The Chinese side welcomes Antigua and Barbuda to participate in the Global Security Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, which were proposed by China, Qin added.

Greene, who came to Beijing to attend the Forum on Global Human Rights Governance and to pay a visit to China, said Antigua and Barbuda attaches great importance to developing relations with China and firmly upholds the one-China principle. He also expressed willingness to strengthen practical cooperation with China in the fields of infrastructure, economy and trade, agriculture, environmental protection and water resources.

The two sides expressed concern over Japan's pushing through of the disposal of its nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang meets with Antigua and Barbuda's Foreign Minister Chet Greene, who came to Beijing to attend the Forum on Global Human Rights Governance and to pay a visit to China, in Beijing, capital of China, June 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun)
Lee Hyo-jung, deputy spokesperson of the unification ministry handling inter-Korean affairs, speaks during a press conference at the government complex in Seoul, Jan. 16. Yonhap



South Korea's unification ministry said Friday it will cremate the body of a presumed North Korean man found near a western island last month, as Pyongyang has not responded to its offer for a return.



Last week, the Ministry of Unification offered to send the body and his belongings back via the truce village of Panmunjom on humanitarian grounds and urged the North to clarify its stance through the now-suspended inter-Korean liaison communication channel.



"As North Korea has not expressed any intent to acquire the body, we plan to handle it as a death without known kin through cooperation with the local government," Lee Hyo-jung, the ministry's deputy spokesperson, told reporters.



The body was discovered in waters off Ganghwa Island in the Yellow Sea on May 19 and the man, believed to be in his 20s or 30s, appeared to be a North Korean, given his belongings that included a North Korean train ticket.



The ministry was not able to send a related notice to the North as Pyongyang has remained unresponsive to daily routine calls with South Korea through the liaison communication channel since April.



In November last year, the government proposed to return the body of a presumed North Korean woman found near the inter-Korean border in July. But the South cremated the body as the North did not respond to the offer.



Since 2010, the ministry has sent back a total of 23 bodies of North Koreans who were found in the South, most recently in November 2019. (Yonhap)


People who have been evacuated from Afghanistan arrive at Tirana International Airport, in Albania, after Taliban insurgents entered Afghanistans capital Kabul, Aug. 27, 2021.

U.S. President Joe Biden raised the issue of the Philippines temporarily housing Afghan nationals when he and Filipino counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met in Washington in May, the Southeast Asian nations top diplomat told a Senate inquiry Friday.

The two longtime defense allies are negotiating the transfer to the Philippines of Afghans formerly employed by the United States government and their dependents who are applying for special immigrant visas (SIV) through the American Embassy here, Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said.

Philippine and U.S. officials have yet to publicly say how many Afghan nationals could be sent to the Philippines through a potential SIV agreement, while Manalos department insisted on Friday that these Afghans should not be considered refugees.

Tens of thousands of Afghans and their families were evacuated abroad during a round-the-clock airlift from Kabul in August 2021, as they fled when the last of the U.S. forces pulled out of the country and that nations capital fell to Taliban extremists.

Biden briefly raised the issue with President Marcos during his visit last May, Manalo said, adding that Washington had also formally sent the government a letter about its request.

The foreign secretary was invited to a public hearing by the Senates Foreign Relations Committee. It is headed by President Marcos sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, who initiated the investigation to shed light into the diplomatic deal, which was initially kept under wraps.

Manalo said a concept note about a proposal following the U.S. request was also transmitted to his office by President Marcos staff.

So we immediately launched consultations with relevant Philippine agencies to study the concept note and assess the request, Manalo said.

Manalo said other government agencies, such as the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, the Department of Defense, Department of Justice and the national police were informed about the plan as early as last October.

Manalo said his agency did not hold public discussions about the matter because nothing was final and we were still consulting and trying to assess the implications of this proposal.

Jose Manuel Romualdez, the Philippine ambassador to the U.S., said the Biden administration had formally requested that Afghan nationals be given temporary haven in the Southeast Asian nation while their papers were being processed.

It was also followed up with us through the State Department, whether this was possible for us to consider. And so we immediately sent this request to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Secretary, he recalled.

I spoke about it briefly, and he [Manalo] said he was going to have this studied before any action can be taken, Romualdez said.

Ma. Teresita Daza, spokeswoman for the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, described the bilateral negotiations over special immigration visas for Afghans as humanitarian in nature.

[I]t will not involve the admission or hosting of Afghan refugees, the state-run Philippine News Agency quoted her as saying.

The Afghan nationals are not refugees but Afghans who have worked with the U.S. government and their qualified family members, she said.

President Joe Biden speaks as he meets with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington, May 1, 2023. [Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo]

Sen. Marcos, who filed a resolution earlier this week to investigate the visa deal, argued that would-be migrants to the U.S. could be sheltered in other countries closer to Afghanistan.

During the past year, security and espionage threats have substantially increased because of the sharp escalation in tension between rival superpowers, Marcos said without elaborating. She scolded her brothers government for a lack of transparency on the deal.

We need to know the real nature of the agreement between the Philippines and the United States and the course of action the executive branch plans to take, Marcos said.

The senator filed a resolution directing the Senate to conduct an inquiry into the plan because government officials privy to the proposal were said to have been surprised by the U.S. request that the Philippines provide a haven to Afghan nationals. Her brothers office had also kept the deal under wraps.

On Thursday, the U.S. Embassy in Manila said it remains committed to the thousands of brave Afghans who stood side-by-side with the United States over the course of two decades. It declined comment on Friday when contacted by reporters.

President Marcos predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, in 2021 said he would allow the entry of Afghan nationals who were fleeing the Talibans return to power in their homeland.

But that plan never took off amid fears among the Filipino public that it could lead to a spillover of violence, especially in the restive southern Philippines, where violent extremists and militant groups have maintained links with foreign terrorists.

Open-door policy

Sen. Francis Tolentino, an ally of President Marcos, said the Philippines had a duty in assisting Afghan nationals fleeing violence in their country. He noted that the country was a signatory to various United Nations conventions on protecting refugees.

The Philippines has a proud history of extending humanitarian aid and hospitality to foreign nationals in dire need, he said in a statement.

In the past, he said the Philippines through its open-door policy had welcomed European Jews fleeing violence in their countries and offered them sanctuary.

Jewish refugees who were fleeing persecution in Europe found shelter in the Philippines, he said. Also, following the Vietnam War, the country provided temporary shelter and assistance to Vietnamese refugees before their resettlement to other countries.

Under President Duterte, the country also extended assistance to Rohingya refugees fleeing persecution in Myanmar, Tolentino stressed.

From 1937 to 1941, when the Philippines was a U.S. colony, President Manuel L. Quezon admitted some 1,2001,300 Jews who were fleeing from Nazi Germany, German-occupied Europe, and Shanghai in Japanese-occupied China to the Philippine Commonwealth.
A group of people, described by police as former combatants of the militant group Abu Sayyaf, swear an oath of allegiance to the Philippine government following a ceremonial surrender of their weapons in the town of Jolo, July 30, 2022.

A 13-year-old Egyptian member of the Abu Sayyaf militant group and a sub-leader of the outfit have surrendered to the military in the southern Philippines, the military said Friday.

The teenager gave himself up to troops this week in Indanan, a town in the island province of Sulu, officials said. He joined the militant group when he was 10, and blamed his mother, a suicide bomber who died in an explosion in Indanan in 2019, for his introduction into militancy, he told the military.

The boy was with the sub-leader who was identified by an alias, as Ellam, 26. The duo turned over two M-16 rifles, a magazine and 20 ammunition during their surrender.

He is the last juvenile foreign terrorist, the military said in a statement, referring to the teenager.

He joined the ASG as a juvenile 10-year-old fighter and was involved in numerous encounters in Sulu, where he incurred two injuries in his head and right forearm, the military said.

The statement added that the teenager entered the country with his stepfather, mother, and two brothers through Manilas international airport.

The family later moved to Sulu, a province in the far south where the Abu Sayyaf is known to operate. Later that same year, the family attached itself to a unit controlled by Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan, an Abu Sayyaf leader who was the acknowledged supremo of the Islamic State group in the Philippines.

Sawadjaan however is believed to have been killed in a clash with the military sometime in 2020, though his body has never been recovered.

The teenagers mother, Reda Mohammad Mahmud, blew herself up during a suicide bombing mission at a military detachment in Indanan in September 2019, according to the military. No other casualties were reported then, as soldiers were quick to react when they saw Mahmud acting suspiciously and sought cover.

The teenagers stepfather, Abdurahmil, and one of the boys brothers, Abdurahman, were killed in a clash with soldiers in Indanan in November 2019, according to the military. The boys elder brother, Yusof, died in a similar clash with soldiers in Patikul town, also in Sulu, in April 2021.

The teenager thought his family was going on a vacation in the Philippines in 2017, according to initial debriefing notes by the military. He said his late mother dragged him and his brothers into horrific situations where they must fight against the government forces and conduct atrocities, the military said.

The military said Ellam, who rose to become a sub-commander, joined the Abu Sayyaf at the age of 15.

He reportedly served in the security detail for senior Abu Sayyaf leader Radullan Sahiron who the military said reportedly died of old age in Sulu this past March. The information, however, was still subject to military verification.

He was involved in numerous armed confrontations between the ASG and government forces from 2009 to 2021, the military said of Ellam.

Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, commander of the militarys Joint Task Force Sulu, attributed the surrender of the teenager and Ellam to the militarys collaboration with local village officials, other stakeholders and peace-loving people of Indanan.

The Abu Sayyaf, or Bearers of the Sword, was founded by Afghanistan-trained militant Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani initially to fight for an independent Islamic region in the southern Philippines.

The outfit however later degenerated into a bandit group specializing in kidnappings, beheadings and bombings and was once linked to al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah.

In recent years, it affiliated with the Islamic State group, and one of its leaders, Isnilon Hapilon was named the overall leader of the IS branch here and in Southeast Asia. Hapilon led foreign and Filipino fighters in taking over the city of Marawi in 2017, hoping to make it an Islamic caliphate in the Southeast Asian region.

At least 1,200 militants, police and military troops and civilians perished in the five-month violence in Marawi, in what is the most violent urban fighting seen in the country in recent years.

Hapilon was killed in Marawi, but was quickly replaced by Sawadjaan.

Froilan Gallardo and Richel V. Umel in Iligan, southern Philippines, contributed to this report.
Restaurant operators wait to buy fish from locals at a pier in Krabi province, Thailand, May 16, 2023. [Watjanaphol Srichumpuang/BenarNews]

Fishermen in more than 20 coastal provinces of Thailand are struggling to make ends meet as the once bounteous waters around them are coming up near empty.

These communities have depended on fishing for generations, but as their daily catch has continued to dwindle for nearly a decade, the elders are urging the younger generation to look for other occupations.

Narong Muangthongdam, a fisherman in Chumphon province, compared the current situation with better days.

I have not found any mackerel, which I used to catch several kilograms of at a time in my teenage years, he told BenarNews.

Certain types of fish have completely vanished from the Gulf of Chumphon.

Prichat Vetchayan, an associate professor at Srinakharinwirot University, believes the rising temperature of seawaters due to global warming has caused marine animals to flee to cooler or deeper areas for survival.

Additionally, industrial or commercial fishing, and illegal fishing, are compounding the problem. These activities have degraded marine resources, particularly juvenile species in mangroves and along the shore.

Industrial fishing has a severe negative impact, because several hundred thousand tons of sea creatures are harvested at a very young age every year to feed the seafood industry  for fishmeal factories, animal feed and the like  explained Vichoksak Ronnarongpairee, president of the Thai Sea Watch Association.

By comparison, fishing communities use simple tools such as small nets, cages, rods, traps, or digging tools to catch shellfish or crab buried in the ground, depending on the culture of the area. And most of that is sold to generate income for survival and to feed their families.

As local fishermen, we must help ourselves as the government has never supported or prioritized us. But we refuse to give up and will continue to fight against large-scale fishing vessels, Muhammad Sukri, a community leader in Ban Tanyongpao, Pattani province, told BenarNews.

We have united to restore the sea to help increase the amount of aquatic animals and prevent fishing vessels using destructive equipment from secretly entering and fishing in the 3,000-meter area of the local fishing area.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report at the State Department, June 15. AP-Yonhap



The United States has placed South Korea on Tier 2 in its annual trafficking in persons report, the report showed Thursday, citing what it called "inadequate" efforts to prevent related crimes and protect victims.



The report, published by the Department of State, said the country is making "significant efforts" but failed to fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.



South Korea was downgraded to the second-highest level last year for the first time in two decades.



"The Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so," the report said, referring to South Korea by its official name.



"The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore the ROK remained on Tier 2," it added.



The document classifies 188 nations into four tiers  Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 2 "watchlist" and Tier 3  in terms of actions in preventing trafficking, protecting victims and prosecuting traffickers.



Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted the need to tackle trafficking in persons, insisting it "harms our societies, weakening the rule of law, corrupting supply chains, exploiting workers, fueling violence."



"Its purpose is to showcase successful efforts to prevent trafficking, to identify areas where countries are falling short and have more work to do, and ultimately, ultimately, to eliminate trafficking altogether," he told a ceremony marking the release of the 2023 report, noting the report provides a "comprehensive, objective assessment of 188 countries and territories, including the United States."



"The United States is committed to combat human trafficking because it represents an attack on human rights and freedoms, violates the universal right of every person to have autonomy over their own life and actions," he added.



The report recommended that South Korea amend the definition of trafficking under the Crimes Act to be consistent with the definition of trafficking under international treaties and protocols dealing with the issue.





Pureza Lopes Loyola, from Brazil, sits with her Trafficking in Persons Report Hero Award during an event at the State Department, June 15. AP-Yonhap
If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us

We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.
Evan Berkowitz is The Eagles page one design editor, and also covers opera. Reach him at eberkowitz@berkshireeagle.com.
This Story in History is selected from the archives by Jeannie Maschino, The Berkshire Eagle.
South Korea's National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong speaks to reporters at Tokyo's Haneda airport after arriving in the Japanese capital to hold talks with U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Japan's National Security Secretariat Secretary General Takeo Akiba for discussions on North Korea, as well as key regional and international issues, June 14. Yonhap



The top national security advisers of South Korea, Japan and the United States condemned North Korea's missile launches Thursday, calling them "clear violations" of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.



They also vowed stepped up efforts to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, according to a joint statement released by the White House.



"The United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea condemn today's DPRK missile launches," said the released statement, referring to South Korea by its official name.



"These launches are clear violations of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, and demonstrate the threat the DPRK's unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs pose to the region, international peace and security, and the global non-proliferation regime," it added.



DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name.



The joint condemnation came hours after Pyongyang fired two short-range ballistic missiles, following its failed attempt to launch what it claimed to be a military reconnaissance satellite on May 31.



The security advisers stressed the need "for all countries to fully implement DPRK-related U.N. Security Council resolutions that are intended to prohibit the DPRK from acquiring the technologies and materials needed to carry out these destabilizing launches."





U.S. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan speaks at a press briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., Dec. 12, 2022. Reuters-Yonhap
Stay up to date on Berkshires news with Berkshires in Brief, our free daily newsletter

PITTSFIELD  Educators are urging Pittsfield Public Schools to take a stricter stance on the presence of cellphones in local schools, telling district officials this week that the technology has created a power struggle between teachers and their students.

School Committee Chair William Cameron said hed be accelerating the districts review of its cellphone policy and that the item would return to the committees agenda for discussion at the next committee meeting in June 28.

Im very reluctant to go into summer when the School Committee only has a couple of meetings scheduled when an issue of this importance is out there, Cameron said. He added that he appreciated staff sharing their experiences with students who are ensorceled by their cellphones.

During Wednesdays meeting, several members of the United Educators of Pittsfield, the union representing teachers in the district, used the open microphone moment to share their experiences teaching students they say are addicted to their phones and the online world held within them.

Melissa Campbell, the UEP president and a Herberg Middle School math teacher, said that she could spend her day writing up students using their phones in class. She said she struggles to keep her classroom managed and on task while students openly use Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok and listen to music during class time.

John Slote is the Latin teacher for Herberg and Pittsfield High School. He told the committee he remembers participating in a meeting 11 years ago at PHS where school staff were voting on adopting the schools first cellphone policy. He voted to allow students to bring their phones and have staff monitor their usage.

I regret that vote deeply, Slote said.

He said he often has a front row view to the negative impacts cellphone use can have on student mental health. He said allowing students to have their phones and be online is akin to opening the doors and letting everybody in the world run through your hallways.

Unfortunately by opening the doors to the internet we are just letting the world go crashing over them and they dont have the tools to filter this stuff out, Slote said.

Educators say that cellphone use in class is putting them not only at odds with students whose focus is elsewhere, but also with their parents and guardians who see no problem with having their children on their phones.

Teachers that spoke Wednesday night advocated for options like Yondr pouches, which would require students lock up their cellphones at the start of the school day and retrieve them at the end of the day.

Teachers and staff need support from the district for whatever policy is adopted, Campbell said.
Judy Blume attends the Time100 Gala on April 25 in New York, which celebrated the 100 most influential people in the world.
After I read two or three familiar bible verses and closed my Bible during my morning devotional time, I prayed and started my day. While I enjoy starting my day in Gods Word to revitalize and encourage me, sometimes Bible reading becomes another line item to check-off on my never-ending to-do list. The hurried rhythms of my life often crowd Bible reading into a neat little corner, where I must work extremely hard to focus and listen to God speak.

As I mature and navigate various life seasons, I recognize that it is important to get creative in how I spend time with God, study His Word, and grow in Him. God is diverse and dynamic, and He invites us to worship Him and seek His Word in fresh ways!

The Bible is full of wisdom, stories, promises, and commands for the believer to help encourage us and guide us daily. Whether you are a new believer in Christ or have been walking with the Lord for several years, reading the Bible can become routine and ritualistic. Oftentimes, it is easy to lose sight of the transformative power of Gods Word for our lives and how it applies to our daily circumstances.

There is not a right way to read the Bible, and there are always opportunities to start fresh. If you are struggling to find motivation and new purpose when you open the Bible, here are five creative ways to refresh your Bible reading this summer:

1. Join a Summer Bible Study

Joining an in-person or online summer Bible study is a wonderful way for you to refresh your Bible reading with others in community. There are topical Bible studies, or studies that focus on one book of the Bible at a time.

During a 3-, 6-, or 8-week study, you have an opportunity to explore various Scriptures and stories, ask questions, share personal insights, and discuss how the Bible applies to your daily life. Another added benefit of Bible study is that a study guide or discussion questions are usually provided for participants that can be used for further personal reflection and study.

In addition to reading the Bible in community, I have found it extremely encouraging to listen to others sharing their personal joys and challenges. Hearing related stories from others reassures and reminds us that we are not alone.

Today, I invite you to join a summer Bible study at your local church, or search online for various topical bible studies. You will be glad you did!

2. Read the Bible Outdoors

Reading the Bible outdoors is another creative way to refresh your usual Bible reading routine. Getting fresh air and sunshine often boosts our mood, lifts our spirits, and helps us to hear from God in refreshing ways. God is present in nature and creation. As we navigate our busy lives, we miss the beauty of Gods creation, and the many creative ways He speaks to us.

When you are outside, I invite you to read and meditate on one or two verses that edify and encourage your soul. A change of scenery also helps to break up the monotony of your daily habits. Turn off your devices to minimize distractions, so that you can read the Bible and listen to how God is speaking to you. You can read the Bible outdoors individually or make it a wonderful bonding time with family.

Today, I invite you to ask God for fresh insight, revelation, and wisdom as you study the Bible outdoors and enjoy Gods creation.

3. Journal

As you read the Bible, journaling is a terrific way to highlight how Gods Word is speaking to you. You can write down favorite verses, key points from stories, and encouragement from Gods promises. Journaling also helps you to reflect and revisit how the Scripture applies to your life. When you need encouragement and a reminder of Gods faithfulness, you can re-read your previous journal entries for examples of Gods consistency.

Journaling is also a wonderful way to write down the numerous ways and reasons you are grateful to God. Whatever season or circumstance you may be in, the great news is that there is always a biblical characters story or struggle you can relate to. As you journal your thoughts as you read, you will find many more similarities than differences of how God moved in the lives of biblical characters, and how He moves in our lives as well.

4. Listen to a Bible App

If you are an auditory learner, listening to the Bible on an app is a fantastic way to stay engaged as an alternative to reading. Gods Word can come alive in new and refreshing ways as we listen.

In addition, listening to the Bible on an app is an exciting way to let Scripture meditate in your heart. God does not want us to limit ourselves on how we grow deeper in our relationship with Him, which also includes how we read Gods Word. When we read or listen to Gods Word in an app, it allows us to access it anywhere at any time.

Hearing Gods Word provides powerful impact and gives us life-giving strength and encouragement for our lives and the lives of others.

5. Read with a Friend

Reading the Bible with a friend is another refreshing way to stay connected with God and grow in Gods Word together. As you both read the Bible, you can support one another by praying Gods Word aloud, memorizing Scripture, and sharing how Gods Word resonates with you. During those times when you may find it difficult or not feel motivated to read your Bible, having a trusted friend to come alongside and encourage you to do so is extremely helpful.

Another benefit of reading and studying the Bible with a friend is that you both can grow together in Christ and with community. Set a weekly or bi-weekly time to read, discuss, and check in. If you miss a time, give yourself grace and reconvene at another time. Studying Gods Word together with a trusted friend re-energizes and uplifts your spirit, while keeping you connected.

Get Creative

The Bible is Gods gift to us and provides us with incredible stories of faith, hope, redemption, and examples of God moving in the lives of ordinary people. Reading the Bible should be life-giving, not draining. As we continue to grow and mature in our relationship with Him, it is important to be creative in how we read and study His Word.

Be open to innovative ways to read, learn and allow Gods Word to speak life into your spirit. When you experience static seasons of reading Gods Word, do not be discouraged and give up. Pray for fresh energy, revelation knowledge, and a desire to stay connected to Him. Join a Bible study, change your reading environment, read, or listen in a Bible app, or study with a close friend. These are just a few suggestions that I invite you to try, but add others that will reinvigorate you.

Invite Gods presence and Word into every area of your life, because God is always speaking to us if we pause long enough to listen. Try something new as you continue to grow in Gods Word and do what works best for you. Today, I invite you to read and meditate on Gods Word with a refreshed set of eyes, and allow His wisdom and guidance to transform you and your life. God does not want us to remain stuck. He always provides a new opportunity for His children to be renewed again in Him.

Photo credit: Getty Images/Kara Gebhardt

Kirstyn Mayden is a Christian blogger who writes devotionals that empower and equip believers in their everyday lives. She is a wife, Mom, and loves Jesus. She has a Master of Divinity degree from Emory University in Atlanta, GA. For the last 20 years, Kirstyn has served in several ministry capacities. She has a passion to serve with women empowering them to grow and live out their God-given purpose. Currently, she serves alongside her husband in ministry in West Virginia. She is the author of Merciful Moments: A Devotional Journal for Moving Forward with Grace Each Day. Connect with Kirstyns blog here.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
 Talking Points Memo: The failure of the Biden administration is only getting more and more obvious by the day. Heres three major agencies that are falling apart.

 President Biden snaps at reporter for asking about Hunters text messages.

 SCOTUS rules on states control over elections and agrees to hear case on wealth tax.

 Bill renews calls for investigation into Zuckerbergs efforts into the 2020 presidential election.

 Former Prosecutor Cully Stimson on his new book Rogue Prosecutors: How Radical Soros Lawyers are Destroying Americas Communities.

 Reuters releases report that says all living US Presidents descended from slaveholders  all expect Donald Trump.

 Smart Life: pickleball injuries

 This Day in History: International Body Piercing Day

 Final Thought: Leaving money to kids, charities & friends

In Case You Missed It:

 Read Bill's latest column, "They're Not Victims"

 It's the 'Summer Reading Special!' 'Killing the Killers,' Killing the Legends,' and 'Killing Crazy Horse' all for $32.95. We'll also give you a FREE 'Team Normal' hat.

 'Team Normal!' gear is 15% for a limited time. Go to BillOReilly.com now and order!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This photo, provided by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency, shows the launch of the North's new "Chollima-1" rocket, allegedly carrying a military reconnaissance satellite, "Malligyong-1," from Tongchang-ri on the North's west coast at 6:29 a.m. the previous day, June 1. Yonhap



The United States imposed sanctions on two North Korean nationals based in China on Thursday for assisting North Korea's illegal weapons development programs, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.



The move came hours after Pyongyang fired two short-range ballistic missiles, resuming its missile provocation after a brief pause.



"Today, the United States is designating two Beijing-based Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) nationals connected to the DPRK's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) procurement," Blinken said in a released statement, referring to North Korea by its official name.



"The DPRK's development of its missile programs directly threatens regional and international security, and the United States will continue to take action to curtail activities in support of those programs," he added.



North Korea has launched some 80 ballistic missiles since the start of last year in what the state department has repeatedly called "blatant violation" of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.



Pyongyang fired two short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday (Korea time), about two weeks after its botched attempt to launch what it claimed to be a military spy satellite on May 31.



Those designated Thursday include Choe Chol-min, who, according to the state department, has worked with North Korean officials and Chinese nationals to "procure materials used in the production of DPRK missiles."



"He has also supported Second Academy of Natural Sciences (SANS) representatives to facilitate the importation of over a thousand DPRK workers into the PRC to unlawfully generate income abroad for the DPRK regime," the released statement said.



The department also designated his wife, Choe Un-jung, who is officially assigned to the North Korean embassy in Beijing.



"Choe Un-jung is being designated for being a North Korean person who has engaged in commercial activity that generates revenue for the Government of North Korea or the Workers' Party of Korea," said Blinken. (Yonhap)


As U.S.-sponsored war games get underway in the skies over Germany on a scale not seen since the founding of NATO in 1949, one well-positioned analyst says U.S. government has lied to us for years about the effectiveness of the Patriot system and other weapons

The United States is taking the next couple of weeks to hold massive war games over the skies of Europe that are meant to send a message to Russia.

But does U.S. military power live up to the hype? Lets break it down and get into a side of the story you are unlikely to get from the corporate mainstream media.

This exercise has been dubbed Air Defender 23. It kicks off today, June 14, billed as the largest air-deployment exercise in NATO history. Germany will serve as the host and logistical hub. Three flight zones will be temporarily closed to civilian air traffic over Germany, and authorities are warning there will be delays to civilian flights.

From June 12 to June 23, up to 250 aircraft will be stationed across six military bases, with 25 countries taking part. The U.S. alone is sending 100 aircraft across the Atlantic.

This training exercise is so intense, that some analysts have even warned about the danger that it could actually be cover for a surprise NATO attack on Russia and the launching of World War III. We all know that if the U.S. and its allies take us down that path, such a war would likely escalate to nuclear exchanges. But even a conventional war with Russia could result in significant damage to major U.S. cities and military installations, all of which would become easy targets for non-nuclear hypersonic missiles  these are super-fast missiles that the U.S. Patriot system appears helpless to defend against.

To hear former U.S. Marine intelligence officer and UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter tell it, much of Western military power is built on perception and not on real-world war scenarios. He says Russia, on the other hand, is focused more on making sure its military hardware works and works consistently, rather than on trying to bedazzle the world with a glitzy public relations campaign.

I cant vouch for how accurate Ritters assessment is. I dont know him. But I do think its important to give him a full hearing and make up your own mind. He does have actual military experience in Iraq and has inspected the weapons he talks about up close and personal. Does he have some secret motive to lie to us? I dont know. And time will tell whether his perspective is the right one or not, but again, I think we would be foolish to write him off without even giving him a full hearing.

The Patriot anti-air defense system is one weapon that Ritter focuses on in an interview that was livestreamed today, June 14, on YouTube. If the truth about U.S. capabilities lies halfway between what Ritter tells us and what corrupt U.S. military officials like Gen. Mark Milley and Lloyd Austin tell us, which I suspect may be the case, then U.S./NATO military power is not nearly as invincible as Americans and Europeans have been led to believe.

Ritter says many of the weapons systems in the Western NATO arsenal are overhyped and dont work, at least not as advertised in the slick propaganda videos put out by NATO member states or even as seen in the skies during their vaunted military exercises. Why? He gives an intriguing answer to that question.

Because they were built by criminals, he says. He then goes on to explain how the U.S. defense industry works, with contractors putting out weapons that maximize profits rather than focusing on functionality during actual military scenarios against a fellow superpower like Russia or China.

The Russians, their stuff might not look as cool or as down-draft but their stuff works, he said.

The Patriot system, for example, is filled with glitches in its radar. It is a problematic system, at best, he said, especially when run on full-auto mode.

To run it effectively, he said it must be run on manual mode, but that requires several operators per unit to get months of training.

If running the system on full auto mode, which the Ukrainians have been trained to do, it can take up to six or seven missiles to hit one enemy missile and knock it out of the sky. That is unsustainable, said Ritter, who goes into detail about how these systems are designed and how they are not vastly superior to Russian counter-weapons, at least not in a real-world scenario of how wars are fought.
Today, in the mainstream narrative, there is much talk of a food transition. Big agribusiness and philanthropic foundations position themselves as the saviours of humanity due to their much- promoted plans to feed the world with precision farming, data-driven agriculture and sustainable production.

These are the very institutions responsible for the social, ecological and environmental degradation associated with the current food system. The same bodies responsible for spiralling rates of illness due to the toxic food they produce or promote.

In this narrative, there is no space for any mention of the type of power relations that have shaped the prevailing food system and many of the current problems.

Tony Weis from the University of Western Ontario provides useful insight:

World agriculture is marked by extreme imbalances that are among the most durable economic legacies of European imperialism. Many of the worlds poorest countries in the tropics are net food importers despite having large shares of their labor force engaged in agriculture and large amounts of their best arable land devoted to agro-export commodities.

He adds that this commodity dependence has deep roots in waves of dispossession, the establishment of plantations and the subjugation of peasantries to increasing competitive pressures at the same time as they were progressively marginalised.

In the 2018 book The Divide: A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and its Solutions, Jason Hickel describes the processes involved in Europes wealth accumulation over a 150-year period of colonialism that resulted in tens of millions of deaths.

By using other countries land, Britain effectively doubled the size of arable land in its control. This made it more practical to then reassign the rural population at home (by stripping people of their productive means) to industrial labour. This too was underpinned by massive violence (burning villages, destroying houses, razing crops).

In more recent times, neoliberalism has further reinforced the power relations that underpin the system, cementing the control of agricultural production by global corporations and facilitated by the policies of the World Trade Organization, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

CORPORATE FOOD TRANSITION

The food transition is couched in the language of climate emergency and sustainability. It envisages a particular future for farming. It is not organic and relatively few farmers have a place in it.

Post-1945, corporate agribusiness, largely backed by the US state, the Rockefeller Foundation and financial institutions, has been promoting and instituting a chemical-dependent system of industrial agriculture. Rural communities, ecological systems, the environment, human health and indigenous systems of food cultivation have been devastated in the process.

Now, the likes of Bayer, Corteva and Syngenta are working with Microsoft, Google and the big-tech giants to facilitate farmerless farms driven by cloud and AI technology. A cartel of data owners and proprietary input suppliers are reinforcing their grip on the global food system while expanding their industrial model of crop cultivation.

One way they are doing this is by driving the climate emergency narrative, a contested commentary that has been carefully promoted (see the work of investigative journalist Cory Morningstar), and net-zero ideology and tying this to carbon offsetting and carbon credits.

Many companies from various sectors are securing large areas of land in the Global South to establish tree plantations and claim carbon credits that they can sell on international carbon markets. In the meantime, by supposedly offsetting their emissions, they can carry on polluting.

In countries where industrial agriculture dominates, carbon farming involves modifying existing practices to claim that carbon is being sequestered in the soil and to then sell carbon credits.

This is explained in a recent presentation by Devlin Kuyek of the non-profit GRAIN who sets out the corporate agenda behind carbon farming.

One of the first major digital agriculture platforms is called Climate FieldView, an app owned by Bayer. It collects data from satellites and sensors in fields and on tractors and then uses algorithms to advise farmers on their farming practices: when and what to plant, how much pesticide to spray, how much fertiliser to apply, etc. FieldView is already being used on farms in the US, Canada, Brazil, Argentina and Europe.

To be part of Bayers Carbon Program, farmers have to be enrolled in Bayers FieldView digital agriculture platform. Bayer then uses the FieldView app to instruct farmers on the implementation of just two practices that are said to sequester carbon in the soils: reduced tillage or no-till farming and the planting of cover crops.

Through the app, the company monitors these two practices and estimates the amount of carbon that the participating farmers have sequestered. Farmers are then supposed to be paid according to Bayers calculations, and Bayer uses that information to claim carbon credits and sell these in carbon markets.

In August 2022, Bayer launched a new programme in the US called ForGround. Upstream companies can use the platform to advertise and offer discounts for tilling equipment, forage seeds and other inputs. But Bayers big target is the downstream food companies which can use the platform to claim emissions reductions in their supply chains.

Places like India are also laying the groundwork for these types of platforms. In April 2021, the Indian government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft, allowing its local partner CropData to leverage a master database of farmers.

Microsoft will help farmers with post-harvest management solutions by building a collaborative platform and capturing agriculture datasets such as crop yields, weather data, market demand and prices. In turn, this would create a farmer interface for smart agriculture, including post-harvest management and distribution.

CropData will be granted access to a government database of 50 million farmers and their land records. As the database is developed, it will include farmers personal details 

Profile of land held  cadastral maps, farm size, land titles, local climatic and geographical conditions. Production details  crops grown, production history, input history, quality of output, machinery in possession. Financial details  input costs, average return, credit history.

The stated aim is to use digital technology to improve financing, inputs, cultivation and supply and distribution.

However, this initiative also involves providing data on land holding deeds with the intention of implementing a land market so that investors can buy up land and amalgamate it  global equity funds regard agricultural land as a valuable asset, and global agritech/agribusiness companies prefer industrial-scale farms for rolling out highly mechanised precision agriculture.

Data-driven agriculture mines data to be exploited by the agribusiness/big tech giants who will know more about farmers than farmers know about themselves. The likes of Bayer and Microsoft will gain increasing control over farmers, dictating exactly how they farm and what inputs they use.

And as GRAIN notes, getting more farmers to use reduced tillage or no-till is of huge benefit to Bayer. The kind of reduced tillage or no-till promoted by Bayer requires dousing fields with its RoundUp (toxic glyphosate) herbicide and planting seeds of its genetically engineered (GE) Roundup resistant soybeans or hybrid maize.

Bayer also intends to profit from the promotion of cover crops. It has taken majority ownership of a seed company developing a gene-edited cover crop, called CoverCress. Seeds of CoverCress will be sold to farmers who are enrolled in ForGround and the crop will be sold as a biofuel.

GE has always been a solution in need of a problem. Along with its associated money-spinning toxic chemicals, it has failed to deliver on its promises (see GMO Myths and Truths, published by Open Earth Source) and has sometimes been disastrous when rolled out, not least for poor farmers in India.

Whereas traditional breeding and on-farm practices have little or no need for GE technologies, under the guise of climate emergency, the data and agritech giants are commodifying knowledge and making farmers dependent on their platforms and inputs. The commodification of knowledge and compelling farmers to rely on proprietary inputs overseen by algorithms will define what farming is and how it is to be carried out.

The introduction of technology into the sector can benefit farmers. But understanding who owns the technology and how it is being used is crucial for understanding underlying motivations, power dynamics and the quality of food we end up eating.

NET-ZERO PONZI SCHEME

In its article From land grab to soil grab: the new business of carbon farming, GRAIN says control rather than sequestering carbon is at the heart of the matter. More than half of the soil organic matter in the worlds agricultural soils has already been lost. Yet, the main culprits behind this soil catastrophe are now recasting themselves as soil saviours.

Under the guise of Green Revolution practices (application of chemicals, synthetic fertilisers, high water usage, hybrid seeds, intensive mono-cropping, increased mechanisation, etc), what we have seen is an exploitative form of agriculture which has depleted soil of its nutrients. It has also resulted in placing farmers on corporate seed and chemical treadmills.

Similarly, carbon farming draws farmers into the digital platforms that agribusiness corporations and big tech companies are jointly developing to influence farmers on their choice of inputs and farming practices (big tech companies, like Microsoft and IBM, are major buyers of carbon credits). The companies intend to make their digital platforms one-stop shops for carbon credits, seeds, pesticides and fertilisers and agronomic advice, all supplied by the company, which gets the added benefit of control over the data harvested from the participating farms.

Those best placed to benefit from these programmes are the equity funds and the wealthy who have been buying up large farmland areas. Financial managers can now use digital platforms to buy farms in Brazil, sign them up for carbon credits, and run their operations all from their offices on Wall Street.

As for the carbon credit and carbon trading market, this appears to be another profitable Ponzi scheme from which traders will make a financial killing.

Journalist Patrick Greenfield states that research into Verra, the worlds leading carbon standard for the rapidly growing $2bn (1.6bn) voluntary offsets market, has found that more than 90% of their rainforest offset credits  among the most commonly used by companies  are likely to be phantom credits and do not represent genuine carbon reductions.

The analysis raises questions over the credits bought by a number of internationally renowned companies  some of them have labelled their products carbon neutral or have told their consumers they can fly, buy new clothes or eat certain foods without making the climate crisis worse.

Washington-based Verra operates a number of leading environmental standards for climate action and sustainable development, including its verified carbon standard (VCS) that has issued more than a billion carbon credits. It approves three-quarters of all voluntary offsets. Its rainforest protection programme makes up 40% of the credits it approves.

Although Verra disputes the findings, only a handful of Verras rainforest projects showed evidence of deforestation reductions  94% of the credits had no benefit to the climate.

The threat to forests had been overstated by about 400% on average for Verra projects, according to analysis of a 2022 University of Cambridge study.

Barbara Haya, the director of the Berkeley Carbon Trading Project, has been researching carbon credits for 20 years, hoping to find a way to make the system function.

She says that companies are using credits to make claims of reducing emissions when most of these credits dont represent emissions reductions at all:

Rainforest protection credits are the most common type on the market at the moment. But these problems are not just limited to this credit type. These problems exist with nearly every kind of credit.

GENUINE FOOD TRANSITION

The food transition involves locking farmers further into an exploitative corporate-controlled agriculture that extracts wealth and serves the market needs of global corporations, carbon trading Ponzi schemes and private equity funds. Farmers will be reduced to corporate labourers or profit-extracting agents who bear all of the risks.

The predatory commercialisation of the countryside is symptomatic of a modern-day colonialist mindset that cynically undermines indigenous farming practices and uses flawed premises and fear mongering to legitimise the roll-out of technologies and chemicals to supposedly deliver us all from climate breakdown and Malthusian catastrophe.

A genuine food transition would involve transitioning away from the reductionist yield-output industrial paradigm to a more integrated low-input systems approach to food and agriculture that prioritises local food security, diverse cropping patterns and nutrition production per acre, water table stability, climate resilience, good soil structure and the ability to cope with evolving pests and disease pressures.

It would involve localised, democratic food systems and a concept of food sovereignty based on self-sufficiency, agroecological principles and regenerative agriculture (there are numerous concrete examples of regenerative agriculture, many of which are described on the website of Food Tank).

This would also involve facilitating the right to culturally appropriate food that is nutritionally dense and free from toxic chemicals and ensuring local (communal) ownership and stewardship of common resources, including land, water, soil and seeds.

This is the basis of genuine food security and genuine environmentalism  based on short-line supply chains that keeps wealth within local communities rather than it being siphoned off by profit-seeking entities half a world away.

Colin Todhunter specialises in development, food and agriculture and is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization in Montreal. You can read his mini e-book, Food, Dependency and Dispossession: Cultivating Resistance, here.
From left to right: Bradley Birkenfeld, Jerry Johnson, and author Garrett Ziegler at an event on May 20 promoting a new report on the Biden laptop at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel at Tysons Corner in McLean, Virginia. [Photo courtesy of Jeremy Kuzmarov]

So When Will They Be Punished? Dont Hold Your Breath

If the Pinocchio story were true, then former CIA Directors John Brennan, Leon Panetta and Michael Hayden, and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper would have such long noses that they would take up entire city blocks.

In October 2020, the four habitual liars, along with 47 other top intelligence officers, signed a public statement claiming that emails and correspondence found on an abandoned laptop belonging to Hunter Biden had all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.

Such an operation, the former spooks claimed, would be consistent with Russian objectivesto create political chaos in the U.S. to deepen political divisions here and undermine the candidacy of Vice President Biden and thereby help the candidacy of President Trump.

Garrett Ziegler at launch event for report at Ritz-Carlton Hotel in McLean, Virginia, on May 20. [Source: Photo courtesy of Jeremy Kuzmarov]

A comprehensive new study by Garrett Ziegler, a former White House staffer, published by Marco Poloa research organization dedicated to exposing government corruptioncombined with Miranda Devines book, Laptop from Hell (2021), shows that Brennan and company appear to have been deceitful.

It should be noted that Ziegler is a conservative who worked for Peter Navarro, a former Trump adviser, and some might argue that his report is biased.

However, if they read the report along with Devines book, they will see that the evidence is incontrovertible: the hard drive copy of the laptop is authentic and that Hunter Biden was a drug-addicted playboysomething Biden himself wrote about in his memoir Beautiful Thingsand should be in jail for serial drug and prostitution offenses.

Hunter further was involved in influence-peddling business arrangements that helped skew U.S. foreign policy, particularly in Ukraine, and cast a pall of corruption over the Biden White House.

Legal Trouble and a Historical Pattern

Federal prosecutors are currently considering charging Hunter Biden with three tax crimes, including tax evasion and a charge related to a gun purchase.

A separate congressional inquiry into Hunter Bidens business affairs by the House Oversight Committee, headed by James R. Comer (R-KY), has combed through bank records to substantiate claims of influence peddling, uncovering that the Biden family had set up over a dozen companies while Joe Biden was Vice President, has received over $10 million from foreign nationals and their related companies, and engaged in many intentionally complicated financial transactions to hide these payments and avoid scrutiny.

Concern was further raised about the Biden familys pattern of courting business in regions of the world in which Vice President and now President Biden has had an outsized role and influenced U.S. foreign policy.

Republican-led House Oversight Committee announcing preliminary findings of investigation into Hunter Bidens influence peddling. [Source: nytimes.com]

During a news conference in May, Comer acknowledged that Hunter Biden would have been far from the first relative of a President or Vice-President to try to make money off the family name.

Comer invoked Billy Carter, the brother of former President Jimmy Carter, who visited Libya and received a $220,000 loan; and Jared Kushner, Donald Trumps son-in-law, whose firm has received billions of dollars from Persian Gulf nations.

This has been a pattern for a long time, Comer said. Republicans and Democrats have both complained about presidents families receiving money.

Jared Kushner attending the Future Investment Initiative conference in Saudi Arabia last year. Mr. Kushners private equity firm has received investments from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. [Source: nytimes.com]

What is different about the Bidens, however, is their brazennessJoe Biden bragged at an event before the Council on Foreign Relations that he blackmailed the Ukrainian government into firing the prosecutor of an energy company, Burisma, that paid Hunter as much as $5 million after appointing him to his board of directors, and which appears to have functioned as a CIA front for financing right-wing militias fighting a proxy war for the U.S. in eastern Ukraine.

The Bidens involvement in Ukrainelike Kushners in the Gulf Arab Statesepitomizes the interconnection between capitalism and U.S. imperialism, which is leading us toward a potential world war.

Since he became Vice-President, Biden has been a super-hawk on Ukraine and pushed for escalation of the war with Russia at the same time that members of his families profited financially in Ukraine and gained access to new business opportunities.

Numerous theorists of imperialism have detailed the influence of private industries under capitalism in hijacking governments and driving imperialistic foreign policies among Western nations, including those that resulted in World War I.

Today, we see the same phenomenon combined with heightened levels of profiteering by U.S. Presidents and their families for whom control over government offers an opportunity for obscene levels of personal enrichment along with impunity from prosecution for criminal acts.

Rosetta Stone of White and Blue-Collar Crime

Over a 13-month period, Ziegler carried out a forensic examination of every email and file on the copy made of Hunter Bidens laptop hard drive. The laptop had been abandoned in a Wilmington, Delaware, repair shop in April 2019 and turned over to the FBI by its owner, John Paul Mac Isaac, who believed it contained evidence of felonies. The FBI at this time did not launch any formal criminal investigations.

The Mac Shop in Wilmington, Delaware. [Source: abcnews.go.com]

The forensic analysis was commissioned by Ziegler and produced by a former federal investigator, a retired U.S. Secret Service agent Konstantinos Gus Dimitrelos, and Maryman Associates, founded by Brad Maryman, a 29-year veteran of the FBI.

Konstantinos Gus Dimitrelos [Source: danhappel.com] Brad Maryman [Source: maryman.com]

Zieglers examination determined that there were approximately 459 violations of state and federal law on the laptop, including tax evasion, money laundering and violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), as well as drug and prostitution-related offenses.

The report is an embarrassment not only for Hunter but for the entire Biden family, as it reveals severe problems with drug and alcohol abuse and unethical business practices whereby family members individually got rich by playing off the Biden name.

Ziegler calls the laptop the Rosetta Stone of white and blue collar crime under the patina of the Delaware Way.' This way is basically a form of crony capitalism where corrupt businessmen around the world provide high-paying jobs and covertly bribe Joe Biden and members of his family in return for political favors and protection from prosecution.

In Laptop from Hell, Miranda Devine wrote that Delaware was named American Lichtenstein in the Financial Security Index, which crowned Delaware the worlds most opaque jurisdiction, attracting capital from around the world, with no questions asked, and where legislation beneficial to financial services interests is worked out with lawmakers behind closed doors.

Joe and Hunter Biden: partners in crime [Source: foxnews.com]

Back in 2001, Hunter was given a lucrative job right out of law school with MBNA Corporation, a major bank and credit card company that was his dads largest donor.

Senator Joe Biden in turn championed legislation favorable to MBNA, including a law that made it harder for consumers to declare bankruptcy and write off credit card debt, and helped block a bill that would require credit card companies to provide better warnings about the perils of making only minimum monthly payments.

The classic example of the Delaware Way applied on the global stage was Hunter Bidens appointment to the Board of Directors of Burisma as part of a scheme that was designed to protect the company from prosecution for tax evasion and to save it from paying millions of dollars in fines.

According to Ziegler, Hunter and his partner Archer Devon, who was later convicted of swindling a Native American tribe out of $60 million in bonds (a scam Hunter was deeply involved with), acted as unregistered foreign agents by intervening on behalf of Burismas titular head, Mykola Zlochevsky, at the State Department and organizing a dinner for Vadym Pozharskyi, a key adviser to Burisma, with Joe Biden at Cafe Milano in Washington, D.C.

Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) told the Senate on June 12 that the Burisma executive who allegedly paid Joe Biden and Hunter Biden kept 17 audio recordings of his conversations with them, which the FBI has been informed about.

Mykola Zlochevsky [Source: wsj.com]

In January 2018, Joe bragged in a speech before the Council on Foreign Relations about how he had pressured the Ukrainian government into firing prosecutor Viktor Shokin by threatening to withhold a $1 billion loan guarantee because Shokin was intent on prosecuting Burisma and holding them accountable for white-collar crimes.

Burisma was controlled by Ihor Kholomoisky, a billionaire oligarch and Governor of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in 2015 who financed private militias that were used to fight pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

Viktor Shokin [Source: ukrinform.net] Ihor Kholomoisky [Source: alchetron.com]

The likelihood that Burisma was a CIA proprietary corporation used to clandestinely finance the war in eastern Ukrainewhich began after the 2014 Maidan coupis enhanced by the fact that Cofer Black, the former number three man at the CIA and director of the CIAs Counterterrorism Center after 9/11, was appointed to its Board alongside Hunter.

Cofer Black [Source: wsj.com]

Besides the Burisma affair, Zieglers report on the laptop includes more evidence of war profiteering in Ukraine: Jimmy Biden, Joes younger brother, secured more than half a million dollars in private mortgage loans for a vacation home in Florida from John Hynansky, a donor to Joe, immediately after Hynansky was granted a multi-million dollar loan from the U.S. government to sell luxury cars in Ukraine.

James Biden, right, with his wife. [Source: politico.com]

John Hynansky [Source: winnerautogroup.blogspot.com]

In the summer of 2014, Hunter was given a fully loaded Porsche valued at $129,000 for his involvement in illicit back-channel communications with the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Karim Massimov, who was trying to strengthen his ties to the U.S. State Department (Hunter was trying to get an oil and gas deal for Burisma in Kazakhstan and, according to Ziegler, acted as an unregistered foreign agent for both Massimov and Kazakh banking oligarch Kenes Rakishev).

According to Ziegler, Hunter also acted as an unregistered foreign agent for Gabriel Popoviciu, a Romanian real estate tycoon charged with bribery and abuse of power involving commercial development in Bucharest.
A protestor from the environment activist group Green Korea United takes part in a rally in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, in this file photo taken June 7, to voice the group's objection to Japan's decision to discharge radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea. Yonhap



Korea's current ban on imports of seafood from Japan's Fukushima area will remain in place regardless of Japan's planned release of contaminated water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, a senior government official said Friday.



Korea has banned all seafood imports from eight Japanese prefectures near Fukushima since 2013 on concerns over their radiation levels in the wake of the meltdown in 2011.



Some worry the planned discharge of radioactive water from the plant into the sea may ultimately lead to South Korea's lifting of the ban. Japan plans to begin releasing it as early as this month.



"The main source of concern about Japan's water release is its potential negative impacts on our sea and our seafood. But the ban on seafood from Fukushima is about the safety of items being caught in the waters off Fukushima. So the planned discharge has nothing to do with the import ban," Vice Oceans Minister Song Sang-keun said during a press briefing.



Even though the released water is proven to be safe scientifically, that does not guarantee the safety of seafood from the area, Song said, pointing to some cases of seafood from the area being radioactively contaminated.



"The government will not review any lifting of the ban until the Fukushima region is proven to be safe and our people feel safe enough," he added.



The Seoul government launched a daily press briefing Thursday to keep the public updated on the planned release in response to heightened public concern as the nuclear power plant began the trial operation of its discharge facility. (Yonhap)




Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute.

Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno.

Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, left, poses with ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) Secretary General Kim Hae-yong during his visit to the AKC, which plays a pivotal role in bolstering economic and cultural ties between Korea and the ASEAN member states, in central Seoul, Thursday. The ASEAN Secretary-General visited the center to discuss sustainable and equal partnerships between ASEAN and Korea through increased cooperation between the AKC and the ASEAN Secretariat. Courtesy of ASEAN-Korea Centre




Korea's foreign minister on Friday proposed establishing a "comprehensive strategic partnership" with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year during his talks with the regional bloc's secretary general, his office said.







Foreign Minister Park Jin and ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn met in Seoul, as Korea has steadily focused on strengthening relations with the 10-member ASEAN, the country's crucial partner for diplomatic and economic cooperation.







Park made the proposal to create a new turning point for the development of bilateral ties, as next year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of a dialogue partnership between the two sides.







In response, Kao expressed expectations that cooperation between the regional bloc and Korea, its key dialogue partner, will develop further, and called for close cooperation in the process of creating the strategic partnership, according to the ministry.







The ASEAN secretary general arrived in Seoul on Thursday for a four-day visit on his first trip here since taking office in January. (Yonhap)




The Sea Guardian drones are being procured for the Indian Armed Forces as the unmanned platforms can carry out a variety of roles including maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and over-the-horizon targeting among others. (Photo: General Atomics website)

NEW DELHI (PTI): The Defence Ministry on Thursday approved procurement of 30 MQ-9B Predator armed drones from the US under a government-to-government framework and the nearly US$ 3 billion deal is expected to be announced following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden in Washington next week.



The procurement of the weaponised 'hunter-killer' drones from General Atomics was cleared at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, people familiar with the matter said.



The 'Sea Guardian' Predator drones are being procured at a cost of around US$ 3 billion to crank up the surveillance apparatus of the Indian Armed Forces, especially along the frontier with China, they said.



The approval to the long-awaited procurement following years of negotiations came around 10 days after US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin held wide-ranging talks with Singh that focused on significantly expanding overall strategic and defence engagement between the two countries.



There is a likelihood of firming up of an agreement on manufacturing of the GE-414 fighter jet engine in India during Modi's visit to Washington. India is looking at the project to power its indigenously developed combat aircraft, the people cited above said.



The MQ-9B drone is a variant of the MQ-9 "Reaper" which was used to launch a modified version of the Hellfire missile that eliminated al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in the heart of Kabul in July last year.



It is expected that the mega procurement deal worth around US$ 3 billion would be announced following talks between PM Modi and President Biden at the White House next week.



The Defence Ministry is now in the process of issuing an actionable letter of request (LoR) to the US government.



The formal contract is likely to be concluded after the US responds to the Indian communication with a letter of offer and acceptance.



It is not immediately known whether the procurement will have any aspect of technology transfer.



The people cited above said there could be an announcement on the deal in Washington next week but the final signing of the contract may take some time as the procurement will have to be cleared by India's Cabinet Committee on Security.



The Sea Guardian drones are being procured for the three services as they can carry out a variety of roles including maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and over-the-horizon targeting among others.



It is learnt that the Indian Navy is likely to get 14 drones while the Indian Air Force and Indian Army will get eight each.



The high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) drones are capable of remaining airborne for over 35 hours and can carry four Hellfire missiles and around 450 kgs of bombs.



The MQ-9B has two variants  Sky Guardian and its sibling Sea Guardian.



In 2020, the Indian Navy had taken on lease two MQ-9B Sea Guardian drones from General Atomics for a period of one year for surveillance in the Indian Ocean. The lease period has been extended subsequently.



The Indian Navy has been bolstering its surveillance mechanism to monitor growing Chinese activities including frequent forays by PLA warships in the Indian Ocean Region.



Indian armed forces have been focusing on procuring unmanned platforms including armed drones in the backdrop of the eastern Ladakh border standoff with China, and to track movements of Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean region.



The drone is the first hunter-killer unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed for long-endurance and high-altitude surveillance.



The MQ-9B has signals intelligence and communications intelligence systems integrated onboard, but it can take any number of other custom sensors as necessary.



In 2019, the US approved the sale of armed drones to India and even offered integrated air and missile defence systems.



The Indian Navy has been strongly pushing for the procurement to boost its overall surveillance over the Indian Ocean, a region that has witnessed increasing forays by Chinese ships and submarines in the last few years.



Following the eastern Ladakh standoff, India has significantly enhanced its day and night surveillance over the Line of Actual Control (LAC) using a fleet of remotely piloted aircraft. The Indo-US defence ties have been on an upswing in the last few years.



In June 2016, the US designated India a "Major Defence Partner" paving way for sharing of critical military equipment and technology.



The two countries have also 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) to further boost bilateral defence ties.



The pact provides for sharing of high-end military technology, logistics and geospatial maps between the two countries.


State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Postal Code
The President of the High Court has suspended a doctor from practising medicine until further order over breaches of undertakings he gave after concerns were raised about him prescribing controlled drugs via 'Dr Online'.

Mr Justice David Barniville said the doctor, referred to as 'Dr Z', had breached three undertakings given to the court last February, including not to treat, including not to prescribe medication to, any patient who was not a patient of the hospital where he works as a medical registrar.

Advertisement

The other undertakings were that he would only prescribe to patients in the hospital under consultant supervision and with the written consent of the Medical Council, and that he would not communicate with anyone to whom he had issued prescriptions through DrOnline.ie.

Those undertakings were given to the court following an application by the Medical Council seeking his suspension. The council had been contacted by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland over concerns from a number of pharmacists about his prescribing practices through his work as part of an online doctors service.

Advertisement

Mr Justice Barniville, having heard evidence in February, decided that the undertakings the doctor was prepared to give would satisfactorily address the situation.

However, the council returned to court in April saying he had been in breach of the undertakings on at least two occasions. Dr Z disputed that he intentionally breached any of the undertakings.

Advertisement

The judge was satisfied that on the basis of what Dr Z said himself, he had "undoubtedly breached" all three undertakings he gave.

These breaches arose because twice after he gave the February undertakings he provided two repeat prescriptions, containing painkillers, opioids and benzodiazepines - Xanax, Fentanyl, Baclofen and Gabapentin.

The patient involved had visited him at the hospital after learning he could no longer provide an online prescription. He examined the patient and told her she should register with the hospital but she was in a hurry back to Dublin to collect her children from school and did not do so.

Dr Z said the patient had a history of back surgery and complained of back pain and nerve impingement. He issued adjusted prescriptions, on hospital notepaper, for her following a physical examination of her in the hospital.

Advertisement

Breach

In a ruling suspending Dr Z, which was given from the bench in April and published online on Friday, Mr Justice Barniville found he was clearly in breach of the undertakings when he wrote prescriptions for the patient on February 17th and March 20th.

He said it may be the case that Dr Z did not, as he said in an affidavit, set out intentionally to breach or disregard the undertakings, and it may be that his failure to stand up to the patient involved.

That may be an indication of a weakness on his part or an inability properly to exercise his independence as a doctor and to resist the pressure put on him by a patient, he said.

Dr Z asked the court to allow him to reaffirm the undertakings he gave in February on February 2nd, however, the judge said he was afraid he could not take that course of action.

The judge added he was satisfied to conclude and was persuaded by the Medical Council that this is such an exceptional case in which the public interest does require that I make the order suspending him until further order.
An alley in central Seoul's Haebangchon i April 2019 / Courtesy of Rachel Stine





By Rachel Stine







I'm sure anyone who continues to suffer through this slog of a travelog  or an editorial, or whatever it is  is eager to

I alluded to in my last entry. We all love breakup drama. That's why we invented an entire YouTube genre dedicated to LA influencers crying on bedroom floors.







Well, perhaps we'll get into the breakup drama and perhaps we won't  but let's instead take a detour to provide some context about "jeong" in South Korea, and how it's faded out of Seoul life in the past decade.







I was very hesitant to publish this anecdote, because I don't want to seem like a self-aggrandizing clown. But without context, it's difficult to understand what, exactly, the Olle Trail can help us rediscover.







Since I'm writing in English, I'm going to assume that not all readers are familiar with the Korean concept of "jeong." So in the spirit of clarity, here's an explainer:







Have you ever cyberstalked the Facebook page of someone you didn't get on with in high school  only to find yourself feeling weirdly proud that they're a lawyer now?







That's jeong.







Have you ever walked through a neighborhood you used to work in, just to see if the old noodle shop is still there?







That's jeong.







Do you refuse to upgrade your 2011 Nintendo 3DS because, even though it's scratched up, it still carried you through 13 countries and five Pokemon tournaments?







That's jeong  in a particularly stubborn form.







Jeong isn't exactly nostalgia and it's not not exactly love, either. I suppose it could be loosely translated as attachment.







Back in 2012, jeong was one of the cultural qualities that drew me to South Korea. I was an exchange student at Yonsei University at the time, and I can still remember my first encounter with this distinct cultural concept on the Seoul subway.







I suppose I seemed lost on Line 2, because a middle-aged woman demanded (in that fussy "ajumma" way) that I sit next to her in the elderly seats.







As it turned out, her daughter was also studying abroad, but in Queens, New York. Did I need help settling in? Did I need a translator? How was I going to eat spicy food for three months, anyway?







That's how Sue and I became friends. She took me to get my hair cut, treated me to coffee and assisted with basic translation. Even after I returned to New York, we kept in touch.







I feel that that story epitomizes the spirit of jeong. As recently as 2012, that warmth and small village spirit was woven into every aspect of daily Korean life. I suspect it's one of the reasons my OCD got better when I moved here.







But 2012 was over a decade ago. And unfortunately, virtually any Seoul-dweller will report that community vibes have been in steep decline since then.







It's beyond my scope of expertise to pinpoint the cause, but I have suspicions that social media  and its tendency to amp up outrage  was a person of interest in the murder of jeong. But for me, there was a particular day the death occurred. This happened in Yaksu Station, around 2018.







I was on the subway platform that day, listening to a podcast. I don't remember which one. Knowing myself back then, it was probably some keto-Crypto "seize the day" YouTube schlock.







My concentration only broke when I heard someone groan: "It hurts  it hurts."







I turned around. Behind me was an 80-something Korean woman sprawled across a subway bench.







I glanced along the platform. It was rush hour, and the station was packed. Some skinny blonde lady was scrolling through her phone. Korean businessmen were typing very long (and apparently very detailed) messages into KakaoTalk.







I paused my podcast and walked over to her.







"Are you okay?" I asked in Korean, leaning down.







"It hurts," she intoned. Her eyes were closed.







"What hurts?"







For a minute or two, I tried to get a response, but she was slurring her words. Looking back on it now, I think she was having a stroke.







When she became unresponsive, I realized this was way beyond my capabilities. I scanned the subway platform looking for an emergency call button. I remember debating whether or not I should call 119, but I didn't know how to explain where, exactly, we were in cavernous Yaksu Station.







An old Korean guy must have noticed my panic, because he hurried over. "What's going on?" he whispered.







By now, the train was slowing to a stop in front of the glass doors. The woman flailed her arm in the direction of the cars, suddenly clear for the first time: "My son! I need to meet my son!"







I turned to the old guy, wide-eyed. I was just some 20-something EFL idiot; I needed to defer to the more experienced adult.







He hesitated, then nodded in the direction of the train cars. We got on either side of the lady, hoisted her up, and half-dragged her into the train. I remember turning right and laying her down in the elderly seats while the guy withdrew his phone and dialed 119.







I glanced behind us. The Korean businessmen in suits were on the train, too. They were staring.







The old woman was still delirious, but after another round of interrogation, she managed to say the name of a subway stop minutes away. We relayed the name to the emergency responders at 119. When the train doors opened at her destination, two paramedics were waiting for us on the platform (Korean efficiency strikes again!).







They sat her in a wheelchair and rushed her towards an elevator. The old guy and I watched them go.







Afterwards, we stood on the platform and talked. He asked me the usual questions  what country was I from, how old I was, how did I learn Korean  then he handed me a business card and told me to keep in touch.







Soon I was on another train, backtracking to Samgakji.







I was on my way to attend a weekly North Korean human rights meeting, where the majority of volunteers there are older, conservative Christians. (HBC's queer bars? Boomer Christian churches? Yes, I admit I run in diverse circles.)







But holding onto a subway handle, I kept replaying the situation in my head. That skinny blonde lady scrolling through her phone.







Maybe she didn't speak Korean.







But what about all those 40-something suits? They understood.







Well, maybe they thought she was drunk. Remember that 2011 blog with all the drunk office workers passed out in Hongdae? That was big back in the day.







But  she didn't look unkempt. She had clean clothes and seemed put together. And even if she had been drunk, did that make it okay to ignore her?







I got off at my destination feeling disturbed.







"That never would have happened in 2012," I blurted out to Tim Peters, the pastor who runs

weekly meetings.







He smiled grimly. "Do you remember the old nickname for Seoul?"







I suppose I didn't, because I just stared.







"The world's largest village."







Well, apparently the world's largest village had lost its jeong.







When I walked back to Haebangchon later that night, I tried to dismiss the incident as a weird consequence of city life.







Months went by. I focused on the jeong I felt chatting with regulars at Le Chien Blanc, or dropping off rent to my landlady, who always gifted me plastic bags full of fruit.







But on bad days, when some taxi ajusshi made sexually aggressive comments, or some boss threatened to get me "deported for sending food to the North Koreans," the Yaksu event would creep back into my mind.







"It hurts. It hurts."







The Korea of 2012 and the Korea of today seemed like completely different places. So on Jeju Island when the tackle shop lady from Olle Route 1 appeared, acting like someone from a decade ago, I was shocked. Maybe jeong wasn't gone after all.







Her kindness made me wonder if it might be worthwhile to hike the rest of the Olle trails. Ultimately, I would end up taking those hikes, but they would be completed alone, in the wake of a life-altering breakup.



Rachel Stine has volunteered in the North Korean human rights sphere for over a decade. Her writing has appeared in The Huffington Post, The Korea Times and other major news outlets. You can view nature photography from her journeys around the world at flickr.com/photos/rachelstinewrites.
Former Fianna Fail minister Pat Carey has received damages, believed to be about 250,000, and an apology from the Garda Commissioner and all his legal costs under a settlement of his action over two newspaper articles relating to a criminal investigation.

The Garda Commissioner has apologised before the High Court to Mr Carey for the "severe and wholly unjustified distress" the former TD suffered after information in relation to a garda investigation made its way into the public domain.

Advertisement

The legal costs in the case are believed to be substantial.

Mr Carey had claimed in High Court proceedings his privacy and confidentiality was breached in articles published in 2015 concerning a garda investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse involving an ex-government minister.

Mr Carey was not named in the reports, but claims he had to make a public statement rejecting the innuendo that surrounded him following their publication, as well as having to step down from roles he held at the time.

Advertisement

Following the conclusion of the garda investigation, the DPP informed Mr Carey, who at all times strongly rejected any allegations of wrongdoing, that no charges were to be brought against him.

Advertisement

Breach of privacy

Arising out of the articles the former Fianna Fail Minister and TD sued the Garda Commissioner, the Attorney General, Independent Newspapers Ireland Ltd and Independent News and Media Plc seeking damages for an alleged breach of privacy and confidentiality.

When the matter was mentioned before Ms Justice Siobhan Stack at the High Court on Friday Remy Farrell SC, instructed by solicitor James MacGuill said that the matter against all parties had been settled, and the matter could be struck out.

As part of the settlement Declan Doyle SC, appearing with Paul O'Neill Bl, on behalf on the Garda Commissioner read an apology to Mr Carey.

In the apology, Commissioner Drew Harris said he acknowledges that during the course of the investigation into allegations relating to Mr Carey that information in relation to that investigation found its way into the public domain.

Advertisement

The Commissioner also accepts that this should never have happened and acknowledges that this was the cause of severe and wholly unjustified distress to Mr Carey, and those close to him and damage to his reputation.

Advertisement

"The disclosure of confidential Garda information in an unauthorised and uncontrolled manner in relation to investigations is damaging to the integrity of the investigative process and damaging to public confidence in An Garda Siochana."

"The public is entitled to expect that relevant policy and procedures in place and adhered to," the statement concluded.

Ms Justice Stack welcomed the settlement and agreed to strike out the proceedings.

Advertisement

No further details of the settlement were given in open court.

Speculation

In his action Mr Carey claimed that while the subject of the investigation was not named in the media reports, he was identified as the person concerned, and consequently became the subject of speculation.

He claimed he was placed in a position of having to make a public statement dealing with allegations of which he had no knowledge and felt obliged to step aside from positions he held while any investigation was underway.

He claimed his constitutional rights to privacy and confidentiality as well as his rights under the European Convention on Human Rights were breached.

Advertisement

He further alleged that the information in the reports published by the paper was disclosed to the media unlawfully by servants or agents of the Garda Commissioner, and he had sought aggravated and exemplary damages.

Advertisement

When the matter was previously before the courts the defendants had admitted that the articles were published, but had denied all the claims made against them,

The media defendants had argued that he was not identified as a result of the articles, and it was Mr Careys own statement that identified him as being the former minister in question.

The media defendants also published Mr Careys denials of the allegations, had claimed that the articles were in the public interest.

'Good name destroyed'

In a statement outside of court Mr Carey "welcomed the end of the litigation and the apology," said that he had been subjected to the gravest allegations, adding that his character had been vilified and his "good name destroyed."

"I hope lessons have been learned from the wrongful treatment that I was subjected to and that no other citizen has their rights violated in such a fashion again." he added.

"Those who know me throughout Ireland and abroad and from every sector of society knew there was no substance to the allegations."

"However, the scale of the publicity meant that I chose to step aside from my public functions in the interest of others until I could demonstrate the allegations were false," he said.

"This has occurred, but at an enormous price to me and those close to me, who have put up with so much over the last seven and a half years. I have fully resumed my public duties," he said.

He added that he had been vindicated by the payment of "substantial damages" and his entire legal costs.

He added that "I was targeted because of my prominent position in public life," and that he did not seek special treatment.

No citizen should have their fundamental rights violated as occurred to me, he said.

He said that he had to endure an extremely difficult time but was fortunate to have the support of those close to him, and the right-thinking members of civil society who stood by him.

"I would like to thank them for being there when needed."

He also thanked his legal team for their efforts, particularly the late Frank Callanan SC who he said was of great assistance.
Ireland is failing to meet the minimum standards to combat human trafficking, according to a new report from the US Department of State.

The annual Trafficking in Persons Report, published on Thursday, ranks governments across the world on their perceived efforts to acknowledge and combat human trafficking.

Advertisement

Ireland was ranked in tier two, which consists of countries that do not fully comply with the minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance.

Ireland's recent efforts to combat human trafficking includes increasing funding for victim care and awareness raising efforts. The Government also terminated the Atypical Working Scheme for non-European Economic Area (EEA) sea fishers, which inadvertently increased worker vulnerabilities to trafficking.

However, the report states the Government did not meet the minimum standards in several areas, including a failure to convict any traffickers. There were also deficiencies in victim identification, referral, and assistance, and services for victims remained inadequate, the report states.

Disappointing

Advertisement

Brian Killoran, chief executive of the Immigrant Council, said: While not surprising, it is disappointing to see that Ireland has not made any great strides over the past year in combating human trafficking.

Advertisement

Despite the publication of a draft National Action Plan on human trafficking, and the government advancing towards draft legislation for a revised National Referral Mechanism for victims of human trafficking, we are very concerned that this progress is just too slow," he said.

In 2022, Ireland identified 39 victims of trafficking, less than the 44 identified in 2021. Of this group, 24 were survivors of sex trafficking, and 15 were trafficked for the purpose of labour exploitation. Four of those identified were children. In 2020, 38 victims were identified, 42 in 2019 and less than 64 in 2018 and 103 in 2017.

"This shows a long-term decreasing trend. Out of the identified victims, all but two were foreign nationals. Foreign trafficking victims identified in Ireland are from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America. In recent years, authorities and media have reported an increase in suspected victims from Brazil, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Romania. Since 2022, refugees from Ukraine, predominantly women and children are vulnerable to trafficking," said Mr Killoran.

"We cannot continue to neglect these vulnerable people by failing to implement the policies and systems that could protect them. Its the duty of the government to take timely action on the report recommendations, so that survivors of human trafficking have the supports and services they need to rebuild their lives."
A development company of Johnny Ronan has won its appeal against a High Court decision to quash permission for an increase in the height of two apartment blocks which form part of a larger development in the north Dublin docklands.

An Bord Pleanala had approved height rises for two blocks one from seven to 13 storeys and the other from seven to 11 floors in a 500-unit development proposed by Spencer Place Development Company (SPDC).

Advertisement

In October 2020, the High Court overturned this permission in proceedings brought against the board by Dublin City Council.

SPDC, which was a notice party in the case, was allowed to appeal the ruling on a single ground asking whether the board has jurisdiction to grant permission for developments that materially contravene a planning scheme.

Here, SPDCs development came within Dublin City Councils North Lotts/Grand Canal strategic development zone planning scheme. The council argued the North Lotts scheme, made in 2012, only permitted heights of up to 10 storeys.

Advertisement

In a ruling on Friday, the Court of Appeal concluded An Bord Pleanala was entitled to grant permission for a strategic housing development that materially contravenes the scheme.

Advertisement

Writing on behalf of the three-judge court, Mr Justice Maurice Collins said it would seem to follow that the court should allow the appeal and overturn the High Courts order quashing the permission.

If the parties agree with such an order, the court will proceed to make it, he said. If there is disagreement, he added, the court will hear from the parties before making its final orders.

An Bord Pleanala did not participate in the appeal but had opposed, along with SPDC, the councils case in the High Court. The council complained the board had no power to approve height increases that materially contravened the scheme.

Strategic housing developments

Mr Justice Collins said it was not disputed that the existence of the North Lotts scheme would have prevented the council from granting permission if a planning application was submitted to it.

Advertisement

However, SPDC elected to apply directly to An Bord Pleanala under a now-defunct provision for strategic housing developments (SHDs) provided for in the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act of 2016.

Advertisement

The SHD process was in 2021 replaced by a new statutory regime for large scale residential development, which restores the role of local councils as first-instance decision makers in planning requests.

The judge said SPDC argued in the appeal here was no rational purpose in bringing an application such as theirs under the SHD process if it provided no possibility of a different outcome than strict compliance with the North Lotts scheme.

Such a scenario would render the SHD process largely ineffectual in its ability to achieve greater delivery of housing in strategic development zone areas, it submitted.

Advertisement

The council countered that the SHD process existed simply to fast-track planning schemes.

Mr Justice Collins said the High Courts judgment did not identify any express statutory basis for believing An Bord Pleanala was required to work within the [North Lotts] scheme and not make a decision in contravention of it.

That court did not adequately address whether and to what extent the scheme was binding on the board in the first place, Mr Justice Collins said.

Considering the 2016 Act, the judge felt the board was required to have regard to the relevant scheme. In this situation, the board clearly did have regard to the North Lotts scheme, he added.

The same statutory provision under the 2016 Act that required the board to have regard to the scheme entitled it to depart from its terms in certain circumstances, Mr Justice Collins said.

Ms Justice Maire Whelan and Mr Justice Seamus Noonan agreed with the judgment.
Updated: 7.30pm

A 29-year-old man accused of stabbing another man in the neck with a broken bottle in Cork city centre has been denied bail.

Advertisement

Aaron Babbington, of Churchfield Avenue in Churchfield, Cork city, appeared before Cork District Court on Friday charged with assault causing harm to Jason Butler at Grand Parade in Cork on Wednesday evening.

Following Mr Babbington's court appearance, gardai indicated on Friday evening that Mr Butler (32) had died in hospital.

Det Garda Patrick Russell gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution, adding that Mr Babbington made no reply when the charge was put to him under caution.

Det Garda Russell objected to bail arising out of the gravity of the offence.

Advertisement

He added:I believe there is strong evidence that on June 14th, 2023, at 7.38pm, the injured party was in the company of the accused and his (Mr Babbingtons) partner and that he was approached by the accused and stabbed in the neck with a broken bottle.

Advertisement

The garda alleged the offence was witnessed by a number of members of the public, including children.

Gardai arrested Babbington near the scene shortly after the alarm was raised.

Det Garda Russell alleged the accused was identifiable on CCTV in the area, and expressed concern that Mr Babbington would make approaches to witnesses if granted bail.

Advertisement

He said Mr Butler had sustained serious injuries and added that at that point he was in a critical condition in hospital.

This is a very serious incident where the injured party received life-threatening injuries. He remains in a critical condition at Cork University Hospital.

It happened in broad daylight in an area with a large number of pedestrians present, including children.

Det Garda Russell added that Mr Babbington has a serious alcohol addiction, claiming he is a danger to himself and other members of the public.

Defence solicitor Frank Buttimer said gardai could apply for an order excluding his client from Cork city centre. However, Det Garda Russell said Mr Babbington would not comply with such conditions.

He added that Mr Babbington would be incapable of attending court if granted bail due to the severity of his alcoholism.

Describing the case as a serious matter, Judge Olann Kelleher remanded Mr Babbington in custody until his next court appearance on June 22nd.
A man has been remanded in custody after gardai charged him with the murder of his wife in her home in Dublin.

Mother of two, Anna Mooney (46) died in the early hours of Thursday after a stabbing in her house on Kilbarrack Road, Raheny.

Advertisement

Paramedics arrived, and gardai were notified.

Ms Mooney was found in the kitchen and pronounced dead a short time later.

Stephen Mooney (51), of Kilbarrack Road, Raheny, appeared before Judge Bryan Smyth at Dublin District Court on Friday morning, charged with the murder of Anna Mooney.

Detective Sergeant Basil Grimes told the court that the accused replied, "No comment," and he was handed a copy of the charge sheet.

Judge Smyth remanded the accused in custody to June 20th in Cloverhill by video link.

Defence solicitor Phelim O'Neill said his only application was for legal aid. He said he had concerns about the accused's blood pressure while in custody and asked the court to recommend that he receive appropriate medical attention.

Advertisement

Judge acceded to this request.

Mr O'Neill submitted a statement of his client's means for the application for legal aid, which was granted.

The District Court does not have the power to consider an application for bail in a murder case which requires an application before the High Court.
A man in his 30s arrested on Thursday night in connection with a dangerous driving incident which occurred in Monkstown, Co.Dublin on 9th May has now been charged.

He is due to appear before Dun Laoghaire District Court this morning.

Advertisement

At the time, gardai were on proactive patrol near the Oliver Plunkett Road when they observed a parked vehicle that had been reported stolen.

A uniformed member exited the marked Garda patrol car to approach the parked vehicle. The stolen vehicle then proceeded to mount the footpath at speed, colliding with the marked patrol car, narrowly missing pedestrians and the uniformed member.

No Garda members or civilians were injured during the incident.

Advertisement
A convicted murderer who made a threat to burn down the home of a prison officer has been given a two-year sentence.

Stephen Penrose (40) is currently serving a life sentence for murder. He also has a prior conviction for manslaughter, three convictions for assaults on prison officers and one for a threat to an officer.

Advertisement

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Penrose, who represented himself in court, admitted the words were spoken but indicated during the trial that there was no intention to carry them out.

Penrose pleaded not guilty to threatening to damage the property of a named prison officer at Cloverhill Prison on March 4th, 2018. A jury unanimously convicted Penrose of the sole count on the indictment at a trial earlier this month.

Detective Sergeant Sean Cosgrove told Katherine McGillicuddy BL, prosecuting, that on the day prior to the threat being made, there had been an interaction between Penrose and the named officer. The officer made a complaint arising from this and was absent from work the following day.

Advertisement

Penrose told other prison staff that the officer had better drop the complaint. He said he knew where the officer lived and would pour petrol through their letterbox and burn their house down. The staff reported that he was irate and aggressive.

Advertisement

Penrose told gardai during an interview that he was not happy a false allegation had been made against him. He said he was letting off steam as he was annoyed and angry. He said he had not made a direct threat to the named officer.

The officer did not wish to make a victim impact statement.

Penrose asked Judge Elva Duffy that any sentence would be backdated. He indicated he intended to appeal and asked for a transcript.

Judge Duffy noted in sentencing that when Penrose was interviewed by gardai he accepted the threat was made but said he was angry and upset and did not intend that it would be carried out.

She said this was a serious matter and said prison officers should be in a position to go about their day without threats being made.

The judge said Penrose had represented himself very ably and made a number of concessions, including that the words had been spoken, but the case for him had turned on intention.

Judge Duffy imposed a two-year sentence and ordered he be given credit for any time spent in custody solely on this charge.
A jury which convicted a man of drugging and raping his then partner's 15-year-old sister and later sexually abusing another, along with choking that victim's friend when he tried to stop the attack, were concerned they had been photographed by a man believed to have been "associated with the defence" during the trial, the Court of Appeal has heard.

Lawyers for Stephen Lynch (33), who has launched a bid to overturn his conviction, told the appeal court that gardai retrieved a suspect phone but no photos were found. The court also heard that a guard was later posted to the car park where the incident occurred.

Advertisement

Lynch, with an address at Marian Place, Tullamore, Co Offaly, was convicted by a jury following a Central Criminal Court trial in May 2021 of one count of rape at this then address of Monksfield, Bealnamulla, Athlone, Co Roscommon, between October 17th and 18th, 2015.

Advertisement

Lynch raped his then-partner's teenage sister after she came to see his newborn baby. In July 2021, the Central Criminal Court heard that around two months later, Lynch sexually assaulted another of his then-partner's younger sisters and also attacked this victim's friend.

He was further convicted by the jury on counts of sexual assault and assault causing harm at the same address between December 18th and 19th, 2015.

Lynch had pleaded not guilty to all charges. He has 11 previous convictions, including convictions for assault, threatening and abusive behaviour, intoxication in a public place and no insurance.

Advertisement

Eileen O'Leary SC, prosecuting, told the court that the victims in this case wish to waive their anonymity and want the accused man to be named.

Sergeant Paul McNally told Ms O'Leary that in October 2015, Lena Maughan (23) attended at the then address of the accused in order to see her sister's newborn baby.

Sgt McNally said Ms Maughan's sister was away from the apartment that night. Ms Maughan had a headache and Lynch gave her two tablets, after which she felt dizzy and like she was drunk.

Lynch brought a mattress into the living room and told her to lie down, also giving her two further tablets. After a few minutes he started taking off her clothes, got on top of her and raped her.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Sgt McNally said that in December 2015, Romany Maughan and her friend Cody Dunne stayed over at the same address in order to see the baby. After the baby fell asleep, Ms Maughan decided to go to bed.

Lynch came into the bedroom and began pulling at her legs. She told him to leave and he did after Mr Dunne also came in and was asked by Ms Maughan to get into the bed beside her to protect her. Lynch then tried to put his hand on her vagina and kiss her on the lips while she was telling him to stop.

After Mr Dunne prevented him from touching Ms Maughan, Lynch jumped over her, put both knees on Mr Dunne's chest and started choking the victim.

Jury

At the Court of Appeal, Michael Bowman SC, for Lynch, argued that the jury in the case should have been discharged after issues arose including an allegation that the jury had been photographed, along with testimony from Mr Dunne that he had previously heard "stories" about Lynch.

Advertisement

Counsel also submitted that the three cases should have been severed and tried separately.

Counsel said that, in his evidence, Mr Dunne said he knew about Lynch from stories he "heard about" Lynch before he was cut off by counsel at the trial.

Advertisement

Mr Dunne was answering questions as to why he said he felt "afraid" to stay in the house on the night but was assured by Romany that things "would be grand".

Mr Bowman said this should have resulted in the discharge of the jury because it "strains credulity" that they could have been positive stories.

Advertisement

Mr Bowman said it was "nothing positive or preferable", and that it "must strike to the character" of Lynch.

Separately, Mr Bowman said that there had been an issue at the trial when the jury alerted the judge to their concern that they had been photographed by a witness in the case upon arrival in the car park.

At the trial, the defence raised an issue regarding its belief the photos complained of by the jury were taken by a man associated with the defence. The defence then unsuccessfully asked the jury to be discharged.

Counsel said gardai had taken the phone off the witness and found no photos, but Mr Bowman said the Garda action was "not done when there are no concerns".

Transcripts

Counsel also said that the judge's response to a jury request to have trial transcripts read back to them was insufficient because he refused a defence application to have additional transcripts also read back for context.

Advertisement

"The jury required particular material and unless you give the additional material then you have not done what you have been asked, and who suffers? The defendant." said Mr Bowman.

Ms O'Leary SC, for the State, said Cody Dunne's remark about why he wanted to leave the house was a "passing comment" that was not referred to again in the trial and was not prejudicial enough to warrant the discharge of a jury.

Regarding the jury's belief they were being photographed, Ms O'Leary said the judge asked the jury to raise the issue if there was one and was told the matter was resolved by them moving to a different car park.

"He specifically asked if they had concerns. The matter was resolved. A guard was posted in the car park from then on. Nobody indicated anything else occurred," Ms O'Leary said.

Counsel said that, regarding the request for additional information to be included with the re-read transcripts, the defence was trying to "complete a re-run of the cross-examination" which was an "attempt to test or challenge the credibility of Lena Maughan".

"It was dealt with, all the matters, and a decision was made. The jury didn't ask for anything more," counsel said.

Advertisement

Regarding the issue of separate trials, Ms O'Leary said the two sex assaults were similar in nature, the assault on Mr Dunne could not be isolated and that both the assault and the rape of Lena had a choking element involved.

Appeal court judge Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said the court would reserve judgement in the case.

The Central Criminal court heard that Lynch joined the army for a five-year period, during which he spent seven months in Lebanon. He is the father of two children with the sister of the sexual offence victims but had no relevant previous convictions.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice David Keane said the rape offence was aggravated by the victim being 15 and the accused being a mature adult, that the offence was accomplished in part by drugging her and in part by force, and that it has caused considerable harm to the victim.

Justice Keane said there is no credit available for a plea of guilty and the accused continues to deny the offences. He said Lynch has not displayed any remorse, made any apology nor undergone any rehabilitation.

He sentenced Lynch to eight years and nine months imprisonment for the rape offence, having reduced a sentence of nine years to account for the three months the accused man spent in custody previously.

Justice Keane also sentenced Lynch to two years and nine months for both the offence of sexual assault and the offence of assault causing harm, with all sentences to run concurrent to each other.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/, or visit Rape Crisis Help.
A trade union representative has said he is prepared to go to Sweden and speak with management there about the temporary layoffs announced at Tara Mines this week.

Adrian Kane, a divisional organiser at Siptu, told RTE radios Morning Ireland, that they had met with Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney and had asked him to impress upon the company the need to engage with the trade union.

Advertisement

We did meet with the company on Wednesday and we had asked them to step back from their position and to engage with us to explore every alternative rather than what they have so far tabled in terms of the lay off of the entire workforce.

We're meeting with management and whoever their representatives are. We will deal with them and know if we have to go further and meet with the Swedish (management), we will do that. But in the first place, we're going back to re engage with local management and ask them to reflect on their position. And so we'll be in a better position to judge what our next step will be.

Advertisement

Mr Kane said that the trade unions priority was to engage with the company, to look at alternatives to what was currently proposed. Everything else was secondary.

It's hugely problematic that we haven't got a timeline on this and that you go into indefinite layoffs. What we would be trying to do, and we said to the company on Wednesday that we're prepared to sit down with them and explore what alternatives could be put in place other than this nuclear option.

Advertisement

The reality facing people at the moment, if this were to go ahead, is that their wages would drop significantly. It'd be back down to 200 per week. We have a social protection scheme that doesn't work, that is totally out of line with the rest of Europe. And I think there was some acknowledgment of that by Government with regard to putting in place the PUP payment during the pandemic.

"But we're back down to the system that doesn't work. It's not a pay related social insurance model, which was what its intent was when it was put in place back in the 1970s.

I think there are alternatives that could be explored rather than a total layoff, that's what we would be trying to effect.
An opinion poll shows voters in favour of public spending compared to tax cuts, Conor McGregor accused of sexual assault and a new housing plan in Cork is among the headlines in today's papers.

The Irish Times leads with results from their opinion poll that shows that the public are in favour of public spending over tax cuts.

Advertisement

The Irish Examiner leads with calls from a mother who is calling on parents to trust their instinct after winning a settlement against the HSE for her child with an intellectual disability.

The Echo leads with a new housing project set for the Docklands in Cork which includes 1,300 new homes.

Advertisement

The Irish Daily Mail leads with criticism from a lawyer over the Cervical Cancer cases after a woman died before her case could be settled.

Advertisement

Both the Irish Daily Mirror and the Irish Daily Star lead with accusations of sexual assault against Conor McGregor.

Advertisement

British papers

Boris Johnson and the publication of the privileges committees report saying he lied to Parliament dominates the front pages of Fridays newspapers.

All but one of the national titles lead on the fallout from the report, but they have differing takes on its findings.

The Daily Mirror is in no doubt about the former prime minister with the simple headline Liar, while The Independent brands him Boris the Liar.

Advertisement

Advertisement

That theme is repeated in the Metro, which harks back to a past headline when it asks if a proper whopper is enough to end his career, while the i says he lied and lied and lied.

Tomorrow's Paper Today 



IS PROPER WHOPPER A CAREER STOPPER?



 Partygate report bashes Boris#TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/BiKSNJsd8o  Metro (@MetroUK) June 15, 2023

And the Financial Times says his repeated lies to MP were condemned in what it calls a searing report.

Just published: front page of the Financial Times UK edition Friday June 16 https://t.co/oADFTGoAu7 pic.twitter.com/zu32afpNmG  Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) June 15, 2023

There remains support for Mr Johnson with the Daily Express saying he has been hounded from Parliament by the most spiteful stitch-up in (the) history of politics.

The Daily Telegraph  which is one of several titles to find room on its front page for a picture of Oscar-winning actor turned politician Glenda Jackson  says his allies in the Conservative Party have vowed to oust MPs who vote to accept the reports findings when it is debated on Monday.

The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:



Johnson allies vow to oust MPs who vote for his censure#TomorrowsPapersToday



Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4OoUh6 pic.twitter.com/4SLW1YN78H  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) June 15, 2023

A Tory revolt is echoed in the Daily Mail which calls the reports calls to effectively bar Mr Johnson from Parliament as spiteful and vindictive.

Advertisement

The Guardian declares the verdict on Johnson and says he misled Parliament, undermined democracy and was complicit in abuse of MPs.

Guardian front page, Friday 16 June 2023: The verdict on Johnson pic.twitter.com/e9wOf2ugAe  The Guardian (@guardian) June 15, 2023

And The Times concentrates on supporters of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and declare it the end of the road for Johnson.

The Times: End of the road for Johnson #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/IPgbWxn6t5  George Mann  (@sgfmann) June 15, 2023

The Daily Star, meanwhile, labels the former prime minister a lying wazzock.

The odd one out is The Sun which relegates Mr Johnson  and what he calls a protracted political assassination  to a small piece alongside the masthead as it concentrates on the sick news that serial killer Levi Bellfield has been given permission to marry in jail.

On tomorrow's front page: Serial killer Levi Bellfield is to be granted his wish to wed in jail - after prison bosses conceded he would win a human rights casehttps://t.co/nTndWpjF5O pic.twitter.com/kBjPb5Tmdx  The Sun (@TheSun) June 15, 2023
In this photo provided by the Joint Chiefs of Staff the next day, South Korean military officials conduct a salvage operation to retrieve a sunken part of a North Korean space rocket from the Yellow Sea, June 15. Yonhap





The South Korean military has retrieved a sunken part of an ill-fated North Korean space rocket from the Yellow Sea, officials said Friday, capping a weekslong salvage operation hamstrung by poor underwater visibility, fast currents and other obstacles.







It raised the wreckage, presumed to be part of the rocket's second stage, Thursday evening, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, amid expectations that a probe into it could shed light on the progress of the North's long-range rocket development program.







On May 31, the North fired what it claimed to be the new "Chollima-1" rocket carrying a military reconnaissance satellite, "Malligyong-1," but it crashed into the sea due to the abnormal starting of the second-stage engine, according to its state media.







On the same day, the South Korean military identified the wreckage when it splashed into the waters some 200 kilometers west of the western island of Eocheong. But it dropped to the sea floor at a depth of 75 meters due in part to its heavy weight.







The lifted wreckage was around 12 meters long  shorter than previously thought  and 2 to 3 meters in diameter. The large portion of the rocket, thought to be about 30 meters long in total, could help elucidate how far North Korea's rocket technology has come, observers said.







For the retrieval operation, the Navy deployed a group of specially trained divers and some 10 vessels, including two salvage and rescue ships, the ROKS Tongyeong and the ROKS Gwangyang, as well as the ROKS Cheonghaejin submarine rescue ship, and multiple maritime aircraft.







The painstaking operation was fraught with a set of challenges, including inclement underwater conditions, like visibility of just 50 centimeters, as the Navy prioritized the safety of divers and other personnel, according to a JCS official.







"The Yellow Sea by nature has fast currents and poor visibility," S. Cpo. Shin Gyoung-jun, a Navy deep-sea diver who took part in the salvage operations, said. "(We) virtually had to carry out operations through just the feel of our hands."



.



A sunken part of a North Korean space rocket salvaged by the South Korean military from the Yellow Sea is seen in this photo provided by the Joint Chiefs of Staff the next day, June 15. Yonhap





The military unveiled to reporters the cylindrical wreckage on the deck of the ROKS Gwangyang at the Navy's Second Fleet in Pyeongyaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul.







On its exterior, "Cheonma" was written along with a drawing of a horse. Cheonma means heavenly horse in Korean.






A delegation of leaders and senior officials from Africa, including South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, arrived in Ukraine on Friday seeking ways to end the invaded countrys near 16-month war with Russia and to ensure food and fertiliser deliveries to their continent.

An air raid in Kyiv during their trip provided a reminder of the challenges they face.

Advertisement

Mr Ramaphosas press service said that he was met by a Ukrainian special envoy and South Africas ambassador at a rail station near Bucha, the Kyiv suburb where bodies of civilians lay scattered in the streets following Russian forces withdrawal last spring.

The Bucha visit was symbolically significant, as its name has come to stand for the barbarity of Moscows military since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Advertisement

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, left, and other delegates travel on a train towards Kyiv, from Warsaw, Poland (South African Government Communication and Information Services via AP)

Advertisement

The brutal Russian occupation of Bucha left hundreds of civilians dead in the streets and in mass graves.

The African delegation also includes senior officials from Zambia, Senegal, Uganda, Egypt, the Republic of the Congo and the Comoro Islands.

Mr Ramaphosa said last month that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Russian president Vladimir Putin had agreed to separate meetings with the delegation.

The delegation was set to travel to St Petersburg later on Friday, where Russias top international economic conference is taking place, and meet with Mr Putin on Saturday.

Advertisement

African leaders, from right, Cyril Ramaphosa; president of Comoros Azali Assoumani; and Senegals president Macky Sall attend a commemoration ceremony at a site of a mass grave in Bucha (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Officials who helped prepare the talks said the African leaders not only aimed to initiate a peace process but also assess how Russia, which is under heavy international sanctions, can be paid for the fertiliser exports Africa desperately needs.

They are also set to discuss the related issue of ensuring more grain shipments out of Ukraine amid the war and the possibility of more prisoner swaps.

Advertisement

The African peace overture comes as Ukraine launches a counteroffensive to dislodge the Kremlins forces from occupied areas, using Western-supplied advanced weapons in attacks along the 600-mile front line.

Western analysts and military officials have cautioned that the campaign could last a long time.

Advertisement

China has also been working on a peace proposal, but it appears to have few chances of success as the warring sides appear no closer to a ceasefire.

Ukrainian troops recorded successes along three stretches of the front line in the countrys south and east, a spokesman for Ukraines general staff said in a statement on Friday.

Advertisement

According to Andriy Kovalev, Ukrainian forces have moved forward south of the town of Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region, in the direction of the village of Robotyne, as well as around Levadne and Staromaiorske, on the boundary between Zaporizhzhia and the Donetsk province further east.

Kovalev also said that Ukrainian troops advanced in some areas around Vuhledar, a mining town in Donetsk that was the site of one of the main tank battles in the war so far.

It was not possible to independently verify the claims.

Russian shelling on Thursday and overnight killed two civilians and wounded two others in the southern Kherson region, its governor, Oleksandr Prokudin, said.

Russian forces over the previous day launched 54 strikes across the province, using mortars, artillery, multiple rocket launchers, drones, missiles and aircraft, according to Mr Prokudin.

Ten people were wounded over that same period in the eastern Donetsk region, local governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has appealed to a group of African leaders to ask Vladimir Putin to free political prisoners from Crimea and beyond, saying it would be an important step during their trip to Russia on Saturday.

Seven African leaders  presidents of Comoros, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia, as well as Egypts prime minister and top envoys from the Republic of Congo and Uganda  visited Ukraine on Friday as part of a self-styled peace mission to try to help end the nearly 16-month-old war.

Advertisement

The African leaders were traveling to meet Mr Putin on Saturday in the Russian city of St Petersburg.

The mission to Ukraine, the first of its kind by African leaders, comes in the wake of other peace initiatives such as one by China, and it carried extra importance for the African countries, as they rely in varying degrees on food and fertiliser deliveries from Russia and Ukraine.

Advertisement

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy hosted African leaders (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Advertisement

This conflict is affecting Africa negatively, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa said at a news conference alongside Mr Zelenskiy and the four other African heads of state or government, after the leaders met for closed-door talks on Friday afternoon.

Mr Ramaphosa and others acknowledged the intensity of the fight and the animosity between Russia and Ukraine, but insisted all wars must come to an end  and that the delegation wants to help expedite that.

I do believe that Ukrainians feel that they must fight and not give up. The road to peace is very hard, he said, adding that there is a need to bring this conflict to an end sooner rather than later.

The delegation, including Senegals president Macky Sall and Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, represents a cross-section of African views about the war.

Advertisement

South Africa, Senegal and Uganda have avoided censuring Moscow for the conflict, while Egypt, Zambia and Comoros voted against Russia last year in a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Moscows invasion.

Many African nations have long had close ties with Moscow, dating back to the Cold War when the Soviet Union supported their anti-colonial struggles.

The tenor of the press conference soured when Comoros president Azali Assoumani floated the idea of a road map to peace, prompting questions from Mr Zelenskiy who sought a clarification and insisted he did not want any surprises from their visit to Mr Putin.

Advertisement

Mr Zelenskiy then urged them to help free political prisoners from Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.

Advertisement

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, left, and other delegates will visit Russia (South African Government Communication and Information Services via AP)

Would you please ask Russia to liberate the political prisoners? Mr Zelenskiy said. Maybe this will be an important result of your mission, of your road map.

Mr Zelenskiy expressed thinly veiled frustration about their trip, saying they would have conversations with the terrorists on Saturday.

Advertisement

International human rights organisations say Russia has targeted the Crimean Tatar ethnic group with arbitrary detentions and unjustified prosecutions since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Many have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

The Russian Federation misuses its legislation for political purposes, in particular to suppress the non-violent struggle of the Crimean Tatars and their protest against the occupation of Crimea, the Crimean Tatar Resource Centre said in a statement last year.

Mr Ramaphosa, who laid out 10 priorities to help pave the way to ending the war, said he planned to have a bilateral meeting with Mr Putin in part to discuss the Russian leaders possible attendance at a planned August summit, hosted by South Africa, of the so-called Brics countries, which also include Brazil, China and India.

The International Criminal Court in March issued an international arrest warrant against Mr Putin over Russian abductions of Ukrainian children, which could complicate any trip by Mr Putin to South Africa. Mr Ramaphosa said he alone would decide whether to invite the Russian leader, saying it was still under consideration.

Advertisement

Before meeting Mr Zelenskiy, the African leaders went to Bucha, a Kyiv suburb where bodies of civilians lay scattered in the streets last year after Russian troops abandoned a campaign to seize the capital and withdrew from the area.

African leaders, from right, Cyril Ramaphosa; president of Comoros Azali Assoumani; and Senegals president Macky Sall attend a commemoration ceremony at a site of a mass grave in Bucha (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

The delegations stop in Bucha was symbolically significant, because the town has come to stand for the brutality of Moscows February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Russian occupation of Bucha left hundreds of civilians dead, with some showing signs of torture.

While in Bucha, the visitors placed commemorative candles at a small memorial outside a church near where a mass grave was unearthed.

On their way back to the capital, air raid sirens went off in Kyiv  prompting them to briefly return to their hotel as a precautionary measure, Mr Ramaphosas spokesman Vincent Magwenya said.
The Recording Academy has announced a number of changes to the Grammy Awards, including a rule that only human creators can win in a decision aimed at the use of artificial intelligence in popular music.

A work that contains no human authorship is not eligible in any category, they said, under new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Protocols released on Friday.

Advertisement

The rule was set following the Academys Board of Trustees meeting last month, where it was determined that work that features elements of AI are eligible, as long as a human creator is responsible for a meaningful contribution to the music and/or lyrics.

The human authorship component of the work submitted must be meaningful, the new requirements read.

The news arrives shortly after Sir Paul McCartney announced on Tuesday that a forthcoming last Beatles record had been composed using AI by extracting John Lennons voice from an old demo.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Sir Paul McCartney said AI is kind of scary but exciting (Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)

At the time, he described AI as kind of scary but exciting, adding: We will just have to see where that leads.

In addition to the AI rule, the Recording Academy announced that there have been swift changes made to other categories: now, to win a nomination for the album of the year category, a music creator has to account for at least 20% of the work.

That includes all credited artists, featured artists, songwriters, producers, engineers, mixers and mastering engineers, and differs from a decision made in 2021, which allowed anyone who worked on the album to receive a nomination.

Advertisement

The number of those eligible in the Big Four categories  best new artists as well as album, song, and record of the year  has been decreased from 10 to eight nominees.

Previously, to be nominated for the best music film category, 50 per cent of the documentary footage had to be performance based. The Recording Academy has lifted that requirement.

The change better reflects the evolution of the music doc format, often a collection of verite and archival footage, like Apple TVs Billie Eilish: The Worlds a Little Blurry. Biopics and dramatic feature films are still ineligible.

Also eligible are music-focused and individual music videos that together create a visual album (if videos are packaged and entered together as one cohesive film).

Advertisement

Advertisement

The Recording Academy also announced that the best improvised jazz solo award has been renamed best jazz performance, and best regional Mexican music album (including Tejano) has been renamed best musica Mexicana album (including Tejano).

To qualify in the latter category, 50 per cent of the lyrics must be sung in Spanish, or the majority of the musical content must reflect a traditional style of Mexican music, like banda, norteno, corridos, gruperos, mariachi, rancheros, sierreno, jarocho, huasteco and huapango.

Those changes follow the addition of three new categories, announced on Tuesday  best pop dance recording, best African music performance, and best alternative jazz album.
Boris Johnson has used his first Daily Mail column to detail how a weight-loss drug did not work well for him amid accusations his new journalistic role is a clear breach of ministerial rules.

In a 1,200-word article, the former British prime minister discusses his unsuccessful personal experience with appetite-suppressants  but reaches the conclusion that they could be used to tackle Britains obesity crisis.

Advertisement

The publication came shortly after the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) wrote to him on Friday demanding an explanation in the latest claim that he has broken the standards expected of office.

Advertisement

Mr Johnson landed the job a day after he became the first ever former prime minister to be found to have lied to the Commons in the publication of the damning report into his partygate denials.

Advertisement

Fridays Daily Mail used its front page to bill an erudite new columnist who will be required reading in Westminster.

Shortly after 1pm, the newspaper tweeted a video confirming Mr Johnsons appointment, featuring him saying: Its going to be exactly what I think.

Advertisement

 We are delighted to announce Boris Johnson as our new columnist



Famed as one of the wittiest and most original writers in the business, Boriss column will appear in the Daily Mail every Saturday and youll be able to get a preview on MailOnline and The Mail+ on Fridays pic.twitter.com/76uETBRmnF  Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) June 16, 2023

Advertisement

Although he quipped he will only cover politics when I absolutely have to, the column gives him a powerful platform to take shots at British prime minister Rishi Sunak with whom he has been publicly clashing.

In his first column, published at around 5pm, Mr Johnson writes about noticing a Cabinet colleagues weight loss during his time in government and wondering how they had achieved it.

If an otherwise healthy middle-aged man displays sudden weight loss, I reasoned, there are only two possible explanations. Either he has fallen hopelessly in love, or else he is about to mount a Tory leadership bid, he says.

Advertisement

Mr Johnson claims he learnt the colleague had been using a wonder drug which he tried out himself.

Advertisement

After 40 years of moral failure, 40 years of weakness in the face of temptation  of akrasia  I was going to acquire a new and invincible chemical willpower, he writes.

He ultimately stopped taking the drug because it made him ill and now relies on exercise and willpower of his own, but still concludes that it could be used to help others lose weight if it agrees better with them.

The ministerial code requires those who have left the British government in the last two years to apply to the independent watchdog for advice on taking up a new appointment or role.

But Acoba, chaired by Tory peer Lord Eric Pickles, was clear that Mr Johnsons last-minute declaration was a breach of the rules.

A spokeswoman said: The ministerial code states that ministers must ensure that no new appointments are announced, or taken up, before the committee has been able to provide its advice.

An application received 30 mins before an appointment is announced is a clear breach.

We have written to Mr Johnson for an explanation and will publish correspondence in due course, in line with our policy of transparency.

Advertisement

The Acoba rules are in place to avoid suspicion that an appointment might be a reward for past favours and to mitigate a risk a minister could exploit privileged access to government contacts.

But the watchdog is frequently accused of being toothless because it cannot impose sanctions.

A spokesman for the former prime minister said: Boris Johnson is in touch with Acoba and the normal process is being followed.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner said Mr Johnson is once again breaking the rules and taking advantage of a broken system for his own benefit.

As he makes a mockery of the toothless ethics watchdog, this disgraced former prime minister clearly thinks the rules are for the little people, she added.

On Friday, the right-leaning newspaper said it is delighted to welcome one of the wittiest and most original writers in the business.

In a video shared alongside the announcement, Mr Johnson said he is thrilled to contribute to those illustrious pages, and promised to deliver completely unexpurgated stuff.

Mr Johnsons column will appear in the paper every Saturday.

There has been speculation about whether Mr Johnson would return to his journalism roots after he dramatically quit as an MP last week ahead of a report that found he lied to Parliament with his denials of lockdown rule-breaking in No 10.

Advertisement

Before he became party leader, Mr Johnson received a 275,000 salary to write for the Telegraph, which will likely pale in comparison to the sum he will pocket as a former premier.

The former Tory leader joins the ranks of his staunch ally Nadine Dorries, who writes a weekly Tuesday column for the Daily Mail.

The former culture secretary, who has also announced her exit from the Commons, used her most recent piece to suggest sinister forces were behind the decision to exclude her from Mr Johnsons controversial resignation honours list.

The former long-standing Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre was also once tipped to be on the list, but was reportedly removed during the House of Lords vetting process.

On Thursday, Mr Johnson was found to have deliberately misled MPs with his partygate denials in a report by the Privileges Committee.

They said a series of offences merited a 90-day suspension from the House and recommended he should be blocked from holding the pass to Parliament that former MPs are granted.

Mr Johnson dismissed the report by the cross-party committee, which he claims is a kangaroo court, as deranged.
A marked police car had sight of a van for less than a minute before it hit pedestrians during the Nottingham attacks in the UK.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the driver of the single-crewed vehicle immediately stopped to give first aid after two people were struck in South Sherwood Street on Tuesday morning.

Advertisement

Valdo Calocane (31) has been charged with three counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder after an alleged knife and van rampage in the city.

An IOPC spokesperson said the watchdog will be contacting the two pedestrians hurt in the van collision to tell them of their decision to investigate the incident.

Advertisement

The police car was on its way to a related incident when the driver came across the van  with dashcam footage suggesting the officer had sight of it for less than a minute.

Advertisement

In a statement, the IOPC spokesperson said: We have now assessed a referral from Nottinghamshire Police, received on Wednesday, that informed us that a marked police car had been following behind the suspects van for a short distance at the time it collided with two pedestrians in Nottingham on Tuesday morning causing injuries.

Police forces are required to refer to the IOPC incidents where police involvement may have contributed to people sustaining significant injuries.

Advertisement

We have viewed dashcam footage from the police car and can confirm the officer, in a single-crewed vehicle en route to a linked incident, had sight of the van for less than a minute before the collision in the South Sherwood Street area.

The officer immediately stopped to provide first aid.

Advertisement

We will be contacting the two people injured in the collision to wish them a speedy recovery and advise them that we have decided to investigate this specific police interaction.

Our investigation will consider whether the actions of the van driver were influenced by the police cars presence shortly before he collided with the two pedestrians.

Our thoughts remain with all those affected by Tuesdays tragic events.

Advertisement
Rishi Sunak is still agonising over the investigation that found Boris Johnson lied to MPs with his partygate denials as the former British prime ministers allies attacked the damning report.

Downing Street said the prime minister will study the report closely but Downing Street was refusing to say whether he will vote to approve it in the Commons on Monday.

Advertisement

The Privileges Committee report recommended that Mr Johnson should have faced a 90-day suspension had he not already resigned in advance of its judgment.

Advertisement

Though he cannot now serve that, the cross-party group of MPs also recommended that he should be banned from holding a pass to access Parliament for a series of offences.

Tory MPs will be given a free vote, but allies of Mr Johnson warned they could face battles with their local parties to remain as candidates at the next election if they back the motion.

Advertisement

However, Mr Johnson was privately urging his supporters not to oppose it, arguing the sanctions has no practical effect. He was aware that he would get his pass back if re-elected as an MP.

Mr Sunak will be wary of angering his predecessors remaining fanbase in the Tory party, but will also want to avoid allegations that he is too weak to stand up to Mr Johnson.

Advertisement

Senior Conservative MP Damian Green told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that deliberately abstaining is not really rising to the importance of the occasion.

The former de facto deputy prime minister said he intends to vote to approve the report with a heavy heart.

Advertisement

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former cabinet minister who is a staunch ally of Mr Johnson, told LBC he believes Mr Sunak will abstain on the basis that it is a parliamentary matter.

He described the 90-day recommendation for Mr Johnson as vindictive and suggested the severity may have helped his return, rather than hindered it.

Liz Truss, who spent 49 days in No 10 after succeeding Mr Johnson as Tory leader, told GB News that preventing him holding a parliamentary pass would be a very harsh decision.

Advertisement

But she is not expected to vote on the report, with a source close to the MP pointing to her speaking at an event in Dublin on Monday morning.

Advertisement

Sir Jake Berry, a former Tory party chairman who is a close ally of Mr Johnson, conceded he was almost certain that Parliament will vote in favour of the report.

But he told ITVs Good Morning Britain he will certainly be one of those in the no lobby opposing this report, because I think both the conclusions and, to some extent, the way the committee was made up in terms of this report are wrong.

A welcome distraction between meetings



First day of an Ashes series is always a bit special.



Exciting first session - good luck to @benstokes38 and the team for this afternoon  pic.twitter.com/R47vOUsYbe  Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) June 16, 2023

Despite the Privilege Committees report being published early on Thursday, Downing Street said Mr Sunak hasnt fully had time to consider the report.

The prime minister takes these processes very seriously, which is why he intends to take the time to study the report closely, a spokesman added.

The sanctions proposed by the Tory-majority committee are expected to pass, with only a relatively small group of Johnson loyalists set to oppose the reports findings.

Mr Sunak will be hosting a foreign leader in No 10 on Monday, which could give him an excuse not to take part.

Advertisement

After an erudite new columnist who will be required reading in Westminster was billed to begin in the Daily Mail on Saturday, the PA news agency was told it will be Mr Johnson, as widely anticipated.

Mail unveils Boris Johnson as our new columnist https://t.co/BV0kXCgFNx pic.twitter.com/0Cy9kiDcrF  Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) June 16, 2023

The role will give Mr Johnson, who used to receive a 275,000 salary to write for the Telegraph, a powerful platform to take shots at the prime minister with whom he has been publicly clashing.

But Mr Johnson could again find himself under scrutiny, if confirmed, after the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) said he had not applied for clearance.

Former ministers who have left the UK government in the last two years must apply to the anti-corruption watchdog before taking up a new appointment or role.

Chairman Lord Eric Pickles, a Tory peer, will be writing to Mr Johnson to seek clarification on whether he is taking the job.

An Acoba spokeswoman told PA: We havent had an application and we will be writing to Mr Johnson.

A source close to Mr Johnson insisted he had written to the committee, but would not say when the letter was sent.

Advertisement

Mr Johnsons exit from Parliament has also left Mr Sunak facing a tricky by-election in Uxbridge and South Ruislip on July 20th, with Labour hopeful of gaining the west London seat.

Another by-election on the same date, triggered by Tory Nigel Adams who was denied a peerage in Mr Johnsons resignation honours list, will take place in Selby and Ainsty.

Nadine Dorries, who had also announced she was going to resign, is staying on while she seeks to investigate how she was denied a seat in the Lords (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/PA)

Former cabinet minister Nadine Dorries, who had also announced she was going to resign, is staying on while she seeks to investigate how she was denied a seat in the Lords as part of the former prime ministers honours list.

She warned that any Tory MPs who endorsed the Privileges Committees report on Monday were not true Conservatives and would be held to account by members and the public.

Deselections may follow. Its serious, she said.

The committee found Mr Johnson deliberately misled the House with his partygate denials before being complicit in a campaign of abuse and intimidation against the MPs investigating him.

Branding him the first former prime minister to have ever lied to the Commons, the Privileges Committee said the offences merited a 90-day suspension which would have paved the way for a by-election if he had not preemptively resigned in protest.

Advertisement

Mr Johnson was furious at what he called a deranged conclusion, claiming the 14-month investigation had delivered what is intended to be the final knife-thrust in a protracted political assassination.

The committee, comprised of four Tories, two Labour MPs, and one from the SNP, found many aspects of Mr Johnsons defence were not credible, allowing them to conclude he intended to mislead MPs.
A tornado tore through the Texas Panhandle town of Perryton on Thursday, killing three people, injuring dozens more and causing widespread damage as another series of fierce storms carved its way through southern states.

The National Weather Service in Amarillo confirmed that a tornado hit the area shortly after 5pm on Thursday. Local officials said on Thursday night that two people were missing.

Advertisement

Perryton fire chief Paul Dutcher said three people were killed, including at least one person in a mobile home park that took a direct hit from a tornado. Dutcher said at least 30 trailers were damaged or destroyed.

First responders from surrounding towns and cities and from neighbouring Oklahoma descended on the town, which is home to more than 8,000 people and about 115 miles north-east of Amarillo, just south of the Oklahoma line.

Advertisement



Buildings and a car show the damage from the tornado in Perryton, Texas (Alex Driggars/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal via AP)

Advertisement

Mobile homes were ripped apart and pick-up trucks with shattered windshield were slammed against mounds of rubble in residential areas.

Perrytons downtown also was severely damaged. About two blocks of businesses were heavily damaged, including an office supply store, a floral shop and a hair salon along the towns Main Street. A minivan was shoved into the outer wall of a theatre.

With a few hours of daylight left after the storm passed through, broken windows were being boarded up.

The Ochiltree County sheriffs department said it would enforce a curfew from midnight to 6am on Friday because of downed power lines and other dangers that might not be visible in the dark.

Advertisement

Storm chaser Brian Emfinger told Fox Weather that he watched the twister move through a mobile home park, mangling trailers and uprooting trees.

I had seen the tornado do some pretty serious destruction to the industrial part of town, he said. Unfortunately, just west of there, there is just mobile home, after mobile home, after mobile home that is completely destroyed.

There was no immediate word on the tornados size or wind speeds, meteorologist Luigi Meccariello said.

Advertisement

Nearly 50,000 customers were without electricity in Texas and Oklahoma, according to the poweroutage.us website.

Advertisement

Ochiltree General Hospital in Perryton on Facebook said: Walking/wounded please go to the clinic. All others to the hospital ER.

We have seen somewhere between 50 and 100 patients, said Kelly Judice, the hospitals interim CEO. Those include about 10 people in critical condition who were transferred to other hospitals.

Patients had minor to major trauma, ranging from head injuries to collapsed lungs, lacerations, broken bones, she said.

Elsewhere in Texas, and other southern states stretching to Florida, heat advisories were in effect on Thursday and were forecast into the Juneteenth holiday weekend with temperatures reaching toward 38 degrees Celsius. It was expected to feel as hot as 43 degrees Celsius.

Advertisement

It was the second day in a row that powerful storms struck the US. On Wednesday, strong winds toppled trees, damaged buildings and blew cars off a highway from the eastern part of Texas to Georgia.
Kafeneions winter pop-up is the most Melbourne of Melbournes recent openings, according to chief restaurant critic Besha Rodell.

The Age Good Food Guide editors take the temperature of Victorias restaurant scene in 2023. After a lukewarm start, things are finally heating up.

Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share

The Melbourne Good Food Guide mid-year dining review See all stories .

This time last year we were celebrating our industrys pluck and innovation in the face of yet another wave of challenges: floods wiping out crops, sharp increases in the cost of goods (even basics like oil and flour), and the early signs of inflation. Chefs flexed their creative muscles, honed during the pandemic, and wrote menus without prime cuts of beef or 13 different choices for main course. It was refreshing. And we didnt mind if the kitchen had run out of heritage pork that night, or the oysters were from Tassie, not South Australia as advertised. Victorians were just happy to be back out, eating dinner at 9pm if we felt like it before tumbling into a new bar. Now things feel a little more sombre in our patch. Our northern cousins keep rolling out restaurants that dazzle, whether its yet another gold-trimmed brasserie, the mad-cap party atmosphere of Le Foote or Clam Bar, or a breezy offshoot of a big-name chefs main address. The stream of Michelin-starred restaurants jetting in for ritzy pop-ups continues apace. But here, were sitting tight. Opinion Keep your flashy restaurants Sydney, Melbournes have a casual elegance that cannot be beaten Rather than investing in new venues, some operators are watching and waiting to see how far diners might be stretched by 12 interest rate rises. Others are recouping losses from two successive years of lockdowns.

Advertisement

The mood is probably not what we had this time last year, in terms of this freewheeling post-COVID economy, says Simon Blacher of Commune Group, which operates restaurants such as Moonhouse and Firebird, along with soon-to-open Studio Amaro. He thinks people are prioritising spending on overseas holidays. Many operators see the writing on the wall and are acting fast. Lunch specials, free rounds of drinks, spectacular tableside theatrics or a simple BYO night are becoming commonplace at restaurants of all levels. Societys theatrical lunchtime dessert trolley. Supplied At sibling venues Neighbourhood Wine and Old Palm Liquor, value for money is a frequently used phrase at strategic meetings. The economic environment  stubbornly high prices, rapidly rising bills  is just too difficult to ignore. If people dont see value [at your restaurant], theyd rather wait until they can get a booking at a place where they know its going to be amazing, says chef-patron of Old Palm Liquor, Almay Jordaan. More everyday essentials, like coffee or lunch on the run, are typically not recession victims, says Jackie Middleton of Earl Canteen and Dame. She would know  sandwich-focused Earl opened during the Global Financial Crisis. People are using their city lunch breaks or coffee to socialise, she has observed. And theyre loath to cut that if its only happening once or twice a week. Victorias parade of new restaurants last year  partly a result of a pandemic bottleneck  has undoubtedly slowed, even in regional areas. But theres still some creativity from experienced (or well-funded) operators willing to bet on Melbourne.

Advertisement

Advertisement

But Blacher says despite the economy, he doesnt see doom and gloom. Melbourne is a hospitality-hungry city by default. Thats something that gives me confidence to keep doing business. These are the biggest forces shaping dining in Melbourne right now. Tonkatsu rice set at Moon Mart, a new cafe-grocer in West Melbourne modelled on convenience stores in Korea and Japan. Jun Chen The reincarnation of the cafe Melbourne has shaken off the idea that brunch has to be an elaborate affair. Todays morning diner is less inclined towards lengthy, something-for-everyone menus and fancy interior design. They seek small-scale, specialist and owner-run spots like West Melbournes Moon Mart, where ex-Moon Park chef Eun Hee An is known for her okonomiyaki-style hash brown. Carltons cosy Hareruya Pantry is all about heaving, vegetable-forward bento boxes, and at Armadales Ondo you can start your day with bibimbap or gogi-guksu, the Korean pork noodle soup. Hand-held breakfast has pull, whether its a kooky pastry from Drom Bakery or a sandwich loaded with Indonesian flavours at Warkops CBD cafe. Stone Axe Wagyu oyster blade steak served at Botswana Butchery in Melbourne. Paul Jeffers

Advertisement

Nude main courses Once the exclusive domain of steakhouses, the formula of ordering a main and choosing your sides has become commonplace in restaurants spanning many genres. At neighbourhood Italian restaurants, gourmet pubs and mod-Oz restaurants, your main is more than likely going to come to the party under-dressed. Sure, were seeing a new wave of bistros, which are fond of the practice. Granted, diners like flexibility and have more dietaries today than the guests at a wellness resort in Ubud. But could this also be, at least partly, an easy way for restaurants to improve their ever-slimmer margins? When one upscale pub in an inner-south Melbourne suburb is charging $14 for fries, or you see mustard for $6 at an already pricey steakhouse, you do start to wonder. The Caretakers Cottage Bar in Melbourne. Simon Schluter Vino meets vinyl In a world increasingly ruled by algorithms, the listening bar is a welcome escape; a sensory space designed for audio immersion first, eating and drinking second. Here tunes are hand-picked by DJs, collectors or in-the-know staff  often from an impressive in-house record collection  and played on a first-class sound system. Hobart-based Pitt & Giblin has become the go-to for integrated audio setups after its pioneering install at Brunswicks Waxflower, where the audio levels remind you that youre here more to listen than to talk. The same company is responsible for the towering speakers at new St Kilda cocktail bar Stellas, and those at Caretakers Cottage (The Age Good Food Guides 2023 Bar of the Year), where the only Daily Mix youll find will be in your glass.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Many Australians consider summer to be the prime time for seafood. Theyre wrong: sticking to fish and chips on the beach and prawns on the barbecue means missing out on a cool-weather bounty. Winter is a great time for seafood, says Sydney seafood consultant John Susman. A lot of seafoods go into their reproductive cycles in winter, so they put on a lot of fat. Pipis and clams are in their best condition at this time of year. The mussel season starts. Pacific oysters, rock oysters and scallops are all at their best. Scallops in the winter sunshine at Cirrus Dining in Barangaroo. Nikki Short Finned fish, too, are in excellent shape in winter because the water is colder, says George Kaparos, owner of Clamms seafood wholesaler in Melbourne.

Advertisement

Chef Jarrod Walsh has just opened Longshore restaurant in Sydney with a menu thats 90 per cent seafood. Walsh acknowledges that most diners lean into seafood in summer, but he hopes to turn that around with a winter launch. People think of sitting on the deck for oysters and champagne, everything fresh and light, but you can also do comfort cooking with seafood in stews and curries. Longshores seafood snacks, including the Rusty Wire oyster (bottom left). Jason Loucas Hes particularly keen to roll out a snack of Rusty Wire oysters from Moonlight Flat. Theyre a larger oyster that were steaming in the shell and dressing with a truffle and smoked soy brown butter. Winter means access to different species, too.

Advertisement

We have two major currents that move up and down the east coast of Australia, says Susman. Cooler water moves north and warmer water moves south, so we have migratory species that are dormant in summer and autumn on the move in the cooler months. He points to alfonsino  a big red fish that looks like a three-year-old drew it  and silver warehou  a delicious cousin of blue-eye  as examples. Wild barramundi from the Gulf of Carpentaria are abundant, and consumers should look out for threadfin and blue salmon, too. Joel Bickford of Shell House says theres a greater variety of seafood to work with in winter. Parker Blain At Shell House in Sydney, culinary director Joel Bickford is enjoying the variety winter brings to the seafood market. Were seeing fish like turbot and trumpeter. Theyre like golden nuggets for us. And when the water is colder, the fish put on extra weight: you have beautiful fuller fillets, and we know that fat means flavour, he says.

Advertisement

Prawns are also having a moment  theyre not only plentiful and keenly priced, but in excellent condition, too. Seafood species at their best in winter Bluefin tuna Albacore Pacific oysters Rock oysters Wild prawns Mussels Scallops Alfonsino Wild barramundi Kings, tigers, bananas  theres so much diversity. They are around half the price they were in summer, and theyre especially delicious in winter, says Susman, who says this years banana prawn catch is the biggest in 30 or 40 years. Scallops are at a keen price, too. The harvest has just started in Tasmania, says Kaparos. Theyll be very good towards the end of June until the end of September. Polly Mackarel and Aiden Stevens with a selection of seafood dishes at Cirrus Dining in Barangaroo. Nikki Short

Advertisement

Where to eat seafood in Sydney this winter Cirrus This seafood stalwart is the go-to pick for a sunny winter afternoon, when you can sit outside and enjoy the water view. Their new menu is creative and delicious, with dishes such as spice-crusted yellowfin tuna with red wine and bone marrow sauce ($58) and Murray cod fish pie with scallops, smoked eel and pickled jalapeno ($85). 23 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo, bentleyrestaurantgroup.com.au/cirrus Longshore is a new seafood-focused restaurant in the former Automata site. James Brickwood

Advertisement

Longshore The new restaurant and wine bar from former Hartsyard duo Dot Lee and Jarrod Walsh serves a 10-course seafood-focused snack menu for $80 during dinner service. Its presented in two stages, hot and cold, and features everything from coral prawn tartlets with shellfish mayo and finger lime, to glazed greenlip abalone crumpets with guanciale and sancho. 5 Kensington Street, Chippendale, longshore.com.au Fish Butchery and Charcoal Fish Saint Peter chef and restaurateur Josh Niland has pioneered the art of fish cookery in Sydney, and this winter hes turned his attention to the humble fish pie. For a limited time, you can pre-order a smoked King Ora pie from Fish Butchery or Charcoal Fish from $65. The pie comes ready to bake, with a side of salad, and the filling changes every week.

Advertisement

388 Oxford Street, Paddington, saintpeter.com.au, and 670 New South Head Road, Rose Bay, charcoalfish.com Chirashi at Kame House. Supplied. Kame House At Kame House, you can try chef Tomoyuki Matsuyas Hokkaido-style chirashi, a carefully curated selection of vibrant seafood, cubed like a colourful checkerboard and artfully layered over Japanese rice. The $145 dish is served with an appetiser, chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), miso soup and dessert. 729 Pacific Highway, Gordon, kamehouse.com.au

Advertisement

The tuna smashburger at Fish Shop in Bondi. Supplied Fish Shop, Bondi Wild-caught yellowfin tuna gets the smashburger treatment at Fish Shop, where its flattened and seared on the grill, creating a delicious golden crust. Its packaged up as the yellowfin tuna smashburger ($22), served with pickles, white onion and yellow American cheese. Its a winter special, but if you miss it, theres always the O.G. ($20). With golden crumbed fish and house-made tartare sauce, itll hit the spot. Shop 4, 17 Warners Avenue, Bondi, fishshop.com.au
Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.

Remove items from your saved list to add more.

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

Luc-San will feature food and drinks with Japanese-French twist. And its not the only new Sydney venue mixing Euro dishes with an Asian influence.

The wave of Japanese restaurants has left Sydney overflowing with omakases and ramen joints, but a new niche is emerging in the sector: venues subtly marrying Japanese with other cuisines and cultures.

Bistro Nido, a French bistro with a Japanese twist, has popped up in the CBD, while chef Luke Mangan will also put a foot in both countries with his new food-led bar opening at Potts Point in September.

Luke Mangan plans to open a bar in Potts Point in September. Danella Chalmers

Two of my favourite food spots in the world, France and Japan. Ive called it Luc-San. Luc for Luke, San for the Japanese part, Mangan says.

The Pennys Lane venue will mix Japanese whisky and sake with French wines. A peek at Luc-Sans draft menu includes potato boulangere cooked in dashi, beef with sansho pepper and a mirin hollandaise and nori-wrapped asparagus.
The Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Michigan (SSGN 727) (Gold) approaches the pier of Republic of Korea's Busan Naval Base as part of a routine port visit, in this Oct. 19, 2017 file photo. Korea Times file



A U.S. nuclear-powered guided missile submarine (SSGN) arrived in South Korea on Friday for the first time in six years, Seoul's defense ministry said, a day after North Korea's launch of two ballistic missiles.



The 18,000-ton USS Michigan SSGN docked at a key naval base in Busan, 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Thursday in apparent protest against the allies' massive live-fire drills that ended earlier in the day.



The arrival of the submarine, a key asset of the U.S. Navy, also came after the United States pledged to further enhance the "regular visibility" of strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula through the Washington Declaration issued by President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden during their summit in Washington in April.



"The U.S. SSGN's visit to South Korea is intended to substantively implement the agreement in the Washington Declaration made in April to enhance the regular visibility of strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula," ROK Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Kim Myung-soo was quoted as saying. ROK stands for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.



"(It) demonstrates the overwhelming capabilities and posture of the South Korea-U.S. alliance to realize 'peace through strength'," he added.



During the submarine's visit to the country, the South Korean and U.S. Navies plan to conduct combined special operations drills to strengthen their interoperability and capabilities in such operations as responding to advancing North Korean threats, according to the ministry.



The SSGN will also take part in various friendly exchange activities with the South Korean Navy to mark the 70th anniversary of the two countries' alliance.



Commissioned in 1982 as a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the USS Michigan was converted into an SSGN in 2007. The submarine is able to conduct strike missions using Tomahawk cruise missiles.



On Thursday, the allies ended the fifth and last round of the Combined Joint Live-Fire Exercise, the first of its kind in six years, at a training field near the inter-Korean border to mark the alliance's landmark anniversary.



The U.S. last deployed an SSGN to South Korea in October 2017. (Yonhap)


The Good Food Guide editor thought he had seen the peak of Sydneys bistro, brasserie and steakhouse boom. The past six months have proved him wrong.

Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share

The Sydney Good Food Guide mid-year dining review See all stories .

Wasnt COVID supposed to sound the death knell for restaurants? The end of fine dining? The last days of a steak-intensive business lunch, with a Rockford Basket Press and all the sides? Well. That hasnt quite happened. Ive never seen a wave of new restaurant openings in Sydney like there has been in the past six months. A pub sells for a few million, and a glamorous split-level trattoria opens in its place. A property developer builds a mixed-use tower in Circular Quay (or Chatswood, Burwood or Mascot for that matter) and hey, presto  theres two new restaurants and at least four cafes. Probably a few bakeries and a small bar too. Certainly, there have been post-pandemic casualties. We lost Ele by Federico & Karl at The Star this year, plus Cicciabella in Parramatta, and Brontes seafood-forward Moxhe. But I cant think of a bigger 2023 trend than the surging wave of new restaurants, particularly in and around the CBD, run by hospitality groups with deep pockets. I genuinely thought Sydney had reached peak brasserie/bistro/steakhouse five years ago, but boy, was I off the mark. That reminds me  I need to have another conversation with our graphic designer about how were going to fit all these new venues in the Good Food Guide, which is set to return with a new edition and all the hats later this year. Meanwhile, please enjoy Good Foods half-yearly field report, featuring the biggest dining trends and openings across Sydney. The Le Foote team outside their new bar and restaurant in The Rocks. James Brickwood Group activity

Advertisement

Advertisement

In May, Rockpool Bar & Grill launched its 4pm RP Hour in the CBD, featuring $15 chorizo hot dogs and martinis for a very competitive $12 a pop. Surry Hills two-hatted Gildas recently announced a Golden Hour with $12 wines by the glass and off-menu specials, while a few blocks over on Bourke Street, Janes Australiano Hour spruiks $2 oysters and small plates for less than $15. Add happy hours in the CBD from Monopole, The Charles and Restaurant Hubert, and theres never been a better time to drink and snack at hatted restaurants on the cheap. With so many new bars and restaurants in the inner suburbs and city, winter competition is set to be fierce. Expect to see more weeknight specials, bottomless brunches, inexpensive wine options and cut-price prawn cocktails. Whatever it takes to get punters inside and away from the bigger, shinier, newer restaurant down the street. 10 of Sydneys best fine-dining restaurant lunch deals Pizza slices at Oti. Slice of life Speaking of affordable dining specials in the CBD, Italian fine diner Restaurant Leo recently began taking bookings on Mondays, but with a completely different menu focused on puffed-up, single-serve pizzas. Oti (by Tottis) was an instant hit with office workers when it opened for Roman-style pizza slices and schiacciata sandwiches at the Ivy in May. Pizza Oltra launched a slice bar under the sandstone arches of Central Station in November (Im all in on the cotechino-topped special with buttermilk-braised leeks), while newcomer Bsperia is creating queues in Penshurst for stone-baked sourdough pizza bases loaded with the likes of pepperoni, chilli-spiked maple syrup and truffle cream. But the best new pizza-slinging spots are both at Marrickville breweries. In the Grifter Brewing corner, Pizza Bros has launched a semi-permanent pop-up with specials such as The Waterworld with house-made fermented chilli sauce, fior di latte, prawns and pancetta. A.P Bakery, meanwhile, has set up a bistro at Wildflower Brewing and can sort you out with a thick and doughy potato-topped slice also boasting mortadella and peppers. (A.Ps quail schnitzel and warrigal green pie are worth a detour to Wildflower, too.)

Advertisement

Roasted duck breast with pickled kyoho grapes at Bistro Nido. Edwina Pickles Old concepts, new tricks I genuinely thought Sydney had reached peak brasserie/bistro/steakhouse five years ago, but boy, was I off the mark. Classic renditions of the form such as The Charles and Brasserie 1930, both in the CBD, have opened to rave reviews in the past year, but more recently weve seen a few bistro and steakhouse twists. Bistro Nido tweaks French bistro favourites with Japanese flair in Regent Place (try the roast duck breast with pickled kyoho grapes); Clam Bar enhances its New York-style steakhouse carte with ingredients including nuoc cham, aguachile ceviche and koshihikari rice; and Barangaroos Soot aims to create a new style of Korean-Australian barbecue. From the best we can tell, this means a lot of grill-your-own Angus short-rib, bibimbap and natural Barossa shiraz. Salad of radicchio, sunchokes, walnuts and blue cheese at Freds in Paddington. Jennifer Soo A bit on the side Eh, so restaurants are getting pretty expensive, arent they? $23 now seems to be the going rate for a negroni; pastas are fast approaching $40; and steaks can go for anywhere between $50 and $220. Inflation and the rising cost of produce are largely responsible, and while there are more than a few price-gouging cowboys around, I believe most restaurateurs when they say theyre trying to keep prices as low as possible to attract more guests.
In a carbon-copy crime, Collins took a $150,000 contract to kill police informer Terence Hodson in his Kew home in 2004. Terrences wife Christine was at home, and he killed her - the only witness. He was almost certainly one of a two-man hit team who in 1982 killed standover man Brian Kane at Brunswicks Quarry Hotel and was also part of a team that killed a guard during a Brunswick armed robbery in 1988. Collins was usually kept in protection in prison and was bashed when he went into the mainstream population, allegedly for using another inmates toothbrush. Even in maximum security one must mind ones manners. He died in jail in 2018 of natural causes. He was 72.

Christopher Wayne Hudson A former Finks bikie who patched over to the Hells Angels, causing a minor bikie war, Hudson took delight in bashing and humiliating his girlfriend Kaera Douglas. On Monday, June 18, 2007, as city workers were walking to office, Hudson was in a strip club bashing a woman half his size. When Douglas arrived, as ordered, to drive him home, he told her: Today is the day you are going to die. She ran but was easily caught. Solicitor Brendan Keilar, 43, a father of three, and Paul de Waard, a 25-year-old Dutch backpacker, tried to protect her. Keilar was shot dead near the corner of William Street and Flinders Lane. De Waard and Douglas were shot, seriously injured and survived. Hudson ran from the scene and surrendered to police two days later with self-inflicted wounds to his wrist. He showed no remorse and was sentenced to a minimum 35 years jail.

Peter Norris Dupas Dupas was 15, in school uniform, and armed with a small knife when he attacked and slashed his next-door neighbour, who had just returned from hospital with her newborn baby. It was his first known attack. Very early on, police and psychologists feared he was on his way to becoming a stalker and murderer, with one detective warning: He is an unmitigated liar ... he is a very dangerous young person who will continue to offend where females are concerned and will possibly cause the death of one of his victims if he is not straightened out. He used a method of denial - as soon as he was questioned he would shut his eyes, then open them with a dead expression. It was if he withdrew into himself, refusing to confess and denying the undeniable. He attacked women around Victoria for 31 years, was convicted of the murders of Margaret Maher (October 1997), Mersina Halvagis (November 1997) and Nicole Patterson (November 1997), and is the suspect in three more murders - including that of 95-year-old Kathleen Downes, stabbed to death in her nursing home.

Convicted criminals deserve a chance to reform. Dupas had exhausted his long before he killed, with experts such as prison psychologist Dr Allen Bartholomew urging he should remain in jail. Despite Bartholomews warning in September 1978 that Dupas was a danger to female society, he was released a year later, going on to attack four women in 10 days. Bartholomew wrote an I told you so note in the file: The present offences are exactly what might have been predicted. Dupas is tragic proof that some serial offenders should receive indefinite sentences, requiring them to prove they are no longer a threat before they are ever considered for release.

Roger Caleb Rogerson Bent detective and murderer Roger The Dodger Rogerson. Credit: Fairfax Media The Dodger probably didnt join the NSW Police force to be a crook, but when he did turn bad, he excelled at it. Winning police awards for bravery and investigations, he green-lighted crooks, copped bribes, helped plan crimes and was up to his neck in the attempted murder of colleague, undercover cop Mick Drury, who was shot in his own home and survived. The crime that resulted in Drurys near fatal shooting? He refused a Rogerson bribe.

If Rogerson, 82, had just stuck to being a good cop he would be retired and living a comfortable life on his police pension. Instead, he murdered student Jamie Gao, allegedly after a drug deal went wrong, and was sentenced to life. And so instead of playing with his grandchildren he is playing the piano to long-term prisoners suffering dementia. Paul Charles Denyer Over seven weeks in 1993, Denyer stalked and killed three females: Elizabeth Stevens, aged 18, was murdered on June 11; Deborah Fream, aged 22, on July 8; and Natalie Russell, aged 17, on July 30. Denyer shows Detective Senior Sergeant Rod Wilson the homemade gun he used to abduct women. Credit: Victoria Police

He would later tell police he had wanted to kill women since he was 14 and had stalked hundreds since he was 17. Originally sentenced to life with no minimum, it was later reduced to a minimum of 30 years on appeal. His first application for parole earlier this year was rejected, with insiders saying he wasnt even close to reaching the release threshold. Family and friends of the victims and the state opposition are supporting a law to make sure Denyer can never be released. Julian Knight The Hoddle Street killer, who in 1987 fired 200 rounds in a rampage through Clifton Hill, killing seven people and wounding a further 19. He was sentenced to life with a minimum of 27 years, largely due to his age: He was 19 at the time that he killed.

Loading While he has largely been an obedient prisoner, the government passed a special law banning him from parole. Just the other day Knight wrote to Daniel Andrews pointing out that while the Premier was happy to throw away the key to Knights cell, he had not done the same for Denyer. He has a point, but does that mean he should be released? No. Craig Minogue

One of the Russell Street bombers who set a car bomb with 60 sticks of gelignite outside police headquarters in 1986, killing police officer Angela Taylor and injuring another 21 people. He was sentenced to a minimum of 30 years. Inside he bashed to death fellow inmate Alex Tsakmakis, yet was given a concurrent sentence. Minogue completed multiple tertiary qualifications and now likes to be called doctor. He, like Knight, one of his close prison buddies, has been subjected to a government law banning him from parole. Is that fair? No. Should he be released? Absolutely not.

Paul Steven Haigh By the age of 21 he had killed six people, including a mother and her nine-year-old boy. I asked him once why he had stabbed his girlfriend, Lisa Maude Brearley, 157 times. He said: I lost count. Inside prison, he assisted inmate Donald Hatherley to suicide, slipping the noose around his neck and pressing down on his shoulders. Haigh wanted to attend his murder trial in a Grim Reaper costume. Serving six life sentences, plus 15 years for the Hatherley murder and a further 15 for armed robberies. Another destined to die in jail.

Christopher Dale Flannery Nobody is quite sure how many professional murders Flannery committed, but he didnt get the nickname Rent-a-Kill from running a rodent disposal business. Christopher Dale Flannery (second from left) is led handcuffed into Melbournes City Watch House in October 1981 to be charged with the murder of Roger Wilson. Credit: Fairfax Archive In 1980, he was contracted to kill Melbourne businessman Roger Wilson, whose body was never found. One witness, Debra Boundy, 18, disappeared a few months later. Her body was not found. He moved to Sydney, shooting and wounding undercover policeman Mick Drury. He only accepted half his fee, having failed to complete the job.
Tosolini asks if wed like anything to drink, and Twomey opts for a sparkling water. When I request tap water for myself, he changes his mind. Oh, Im happy to go tap, he says. He rebuffs my insistence he should order whatever he likes  this masthead is paying, after all  and turns to the waiter: Ill go tap, too. There are a variety of cheeses and share plates on the menu, but Twomey says hes satisfied with the fish of the day. I tend to do the Paul Keating dont eat the bread thing. The charcuterie at Molto. Credit: Terry Cunningham He explains: A journo asked [Keating] how do you stay so thin when all you do is go to lunches and dinners? Never eat the bread. A few minutes later, Tosolini brings a charcuterie plate and some olives with compliments from the kitchen. True to his word, Twomey doesnt touch them. Observing this restraint, I ask him if he saves his brash North Queensland demeanour for political effect. Am I always going to be blunt? Yes ... Sometimes you need to be blunt to get cut through because youre not getting cut through on an issue, he says. Later, he adds: I am a pharmacist from a working-class family and a regional location. If that offends the sensitive ears of, you know, private school bureaucrats in Canberra, well, Im sorry.

The 43-year-old is the eldest of four, and grew up in a single-parent household where his mum was a pharmacy assistant. The family lived with his grandparents for a while. Twomey cut his teeth at McDonalds before getting a job at the local Terry White chemist during high school. When he left school in 1999 and had to choose a career, he stuck with pharmacy. He got involved in politics early, as chair of the welfare committee at his local high school, and then as a delegate to the National Union of Students when he studied at James Cook University. He helped establish the universitys student pharmacy union and, eventually, became president of the National Australian Pharmacy Student Association. Thats how he met his wife, Georgina. She was a Tasmanian pharmacy student [in Hobart] and we met in Perth at a student conference. She became president of the [association] a year after me, he says. Trent Twomey at 23 had a pretty clear idea of where he was headed. Credit: Robert Rough If it sounds like Twomey had it all worked out from an early age, theres evidence. Ive brought with me a 2005 article from our archives, in which a 23-year-old Twomey was profiled as one of a new breed of graduate pharmacists determined to forge a modern career path. Freshly graduated from pharmacy and in the middle of a business degree, he said he wanted to own a part-share in a conglomerate of four or five pharmacies with his business partners. (His actual trajectory is not far from this ambition: Twomey and his wife are now partners in the Alive Pharmacy Group in North Queensland, and co-own 13 chemists.) He laughs as he reads it. What 23-year-old has it all worked out? he says. I ask if he was always ambitious; Twomey says he was driven. Patience, however, is not something that comes naturally, he says.

Twomey is a Liberal National Party member (which he says hes proud of, although he doesnt volunteer that information up front) and has helped the election campaign of his local Coalition MP and close friend, Warren Entsch. But Twomey says he has no intention of entering politics proper, despite rumours to the contrary. I genuinely love being a pharmacist, he tells me when I ask about speculation he will succeed Entsch in Leichhardt or run for the Senate. Trent Twomey has butted heads with Health Minister Mark Butler in recent times. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Does this mean we will never see a Trent Twomey MP? No. For the record. 100 per cent. He has plenty of politics on his plate, anyway, heading up a powerful lobby group during what has been described as a litmus test of the Pharmacy Guilds political influence. It has long held sway in Canberra and is one of the biggest donors. Last year, it gave $577,565 to the major parties: $310,330 to Labor and $267,235 to the Coalition in the 2021-22 financial year.

Twomey brushes off questions about the guilds power (I think we are a fierce advocate for our members and our patients) and praises its membership (Many other peaks dont have that grassroots motivation that we have. I think that is the point of difference.) Nor does he have much concern around the issue of donations (Theres a difference between access and influence. Donations do not buy you influence. People [who] think that, they dont understand how the system works.) Its around this point our meals arrive: a pan-fried crispy skin bonito with pea and mint puree, sauteed capsicum and purple carrots for Twomey, and wood-fired prawns with a side of green beans for me. The wood-fired prawns at Molto. Credit: Terry Cunningham Our conversation turns to the task ahead of him: the guilds campaign against 60-day dispensing rules which, by all accounts, is a popular policy among consumers. Twomey obviously disagrees. Not with the concept of cheaper medicine, for which he says he has been calling for longer than the government, but with this mode of delivery. The reality is this. The governments own data set [says] this is an 18 per cent cut to remuneration. Now, what other sector, whether its a childcare centre, whether its a nursing home, whether its a general practice, could take an 18 per cent cut?

Critics might call pharmacies rent-seekers, or point out theyre a protected species insulated from competition with strict ownership and location rules that prevent supermarkets encroaching on their turf and keep prices high for patients. To which Twomey says: I think we need to look at the outcome. And the reality is, pharmacy is the most accessible piece of primary healthcare infrastructure. The governments own Office of Impact Analysis has said small businesses particularly in rural and remote areas will shoulder the greatest impact from the governments changes. But I suggest that the guilds campaign, which has hammered in on medicine shortages, stockpiling and risks to patients, hasnt sold its message effectively. Stuffed bonito at Molto. Credit: Terry Cunningham Twomey says it has. Its working, and its not going anywhere. Its only going to turn up. Community pharmacies are already putting posters of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in their windows or encouraging their patients to complain to the government, but Twomey is not specific about what more is in the arsenal. The chair and former chair of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee have rebuked the guilds claims about medicine shortages, saying the 60-day policy wont change the quantity of medicines dispensed in any given year and can be adequately managed by the phased nature of the policy. Twomey fobs that off, claiming the independent body is in charge of clinical safety and has no skill set in talking about medication shortages or availability.

I think were going to have a very real threat to the level of services that Australians have come to expect from their local community pharmacy. I think we will get longer GP waiting times. I think we will get more code yellows in bed ramping and hospitals and emergency departments, when they have to start picking up the slack that weve been shouldering. I tell him that sounds like scaremongering. I think Australias community pharmacists are scared, he says. Surely, his relationship with Butler is souring with this rhetoric. Oh, well, its stretched, isnt it? he says. We order coffees  a macchiato and short black  and Tosolini asks if we want sugar. Im sweet enough, Twomey says. Its widely known. The guild is treading a delicate line between taking on the government over its prescription reforms and not completely burning bridges with it. I still feel betrayed by the government because I told my membership that this government is someone that you can work with, Twomey says. I still hope that this is just a hiccup in what is going to be a good working relationship.

Its a very diplomatic rendering and certainly a far cry from the language he used in April when he said publicly that Butler and Labor didnt give a shit. The bill. But Twomey says he doesnt regret that press conference. He reveals more about that day, when he tearfully fronted up at Parliament House. We lived with my grandfather for a big chunk of my childhood. He was put on a morphine drip the night before  palliative. And I received a phone call from my CEO to say the minister is making this announcement the next day. So I left his bedside in the hospital, and I got on a plane, and I flew to Canberra. And I missed him passing by two hours for this. I didnt tell my staff that had happened because they had enough on their plate. He says his phone was lighting up with messages from pharmacy owners who feared going bankrupt and couldnt get through to their MP. So, yeah, it was a bad day. And for those who might say his tears were a performance? I have nothing to prove. I dont. All I can be is who I am, he says.
Washington: Daniel Ellsberg, the US military analyst whose change of heart on the Vietnam War led him to leak the classified Pentagon Papers, revealing US government deception about the war, died on Friday at the age of 92, his family said in a statement.

Ellsberg, who had been diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer in February, died at his home in Kensington, California, the family said.

Daniel Ellsberg, photographed in 2018. Credit: Jock McDonald for Bloomsbury

Long before Edward Snowden and WikiLeaks were revealing government secrets in the name of transparency, Ellsberg let Americans know that their government was capable of misleading and even lying to them.

In his later years, Ellsberg would become an advocate for whistleblowers and leakers and his Pentagon Papers leak was portrayed in the 2017 movie The Post.
Latest News The work from home contrast between banks and brokers How brokers have a choice that bank employees don't have

FTX Australia's AFS licence cancelled The cancellation took effect on July 14

Membership to the million-dollar club has become more exclusive, as the number of house and unit markets at the suburb level with a median value of $1 million or more has dwindled from the record number of million-dollar suburbs this time last year, CoreLogic reported.

Between April 2022 and February 2023, CoreLogics national Home Value Index plunged -9.1% in 10 months, the sharpest decline on record; while national dwelling values bounced back by 2.3% over the past three months but were still down -6.9% from the recent peak.

As of May, just 22.3% (988) of the 4,436 house and unit markets analysed by CoreLogic nationally had a median value of $1m or above  thats down from 28% (1,243) this time last year.

Kaytlin Ezzy (pictured below), CoreLogic economist, said 237 house and 19 unit markets dropped out of the million-dollar club in the past year, while Burns Beach, a coastal suburb 34 kilometres north of Perths CBD, was the lone new entrant.

Sydney saw the largest decline in suburbs falling below $1m, with 78 house and unit markets posting a drop in values to below seven figures. Sydney topping the list was unsurprising though given that the city had recorded the largest peak-to-trough decline in values of -13.8%.

While declines across Sydneys more expensive markets were some of the largest across the country, many of these markets had a relatively high starting point allowing them to retain the seven-figure price tags, Ezzy said.

The trend among the suburbs where values have fallen below $1m is in the more affordable locations on Sydneys outer mortgage belt and fringe areas. Despite recording smaller declines its these suburbs where median values have dropped [below the] million-dollar threshold.

NSW and Queensland

Over the past year, the number of million-dollar markets in the Central Coast tumbled from 33 to 17. House values in 33 suburbs across the South West (-15), Outer South West (-10), and Outer West and Blue Mountains (-8) regions also fell below the $1m mark.

An identical pattern was seen in Brisbane (-41) and across some of Regional Queenslands commutable lifestyle markets, including the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast (down -13 and -10, respectively) as well as the Regional NSW markets of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie (-12), Illawarra (-5), and the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven (-7), CoreLogic reported.

These regions benefited greatly through the COVID upswing, with flexible working arrangements, lifestyle benefits, and relative affordability, all of which made them attractive options for buyers, Ezzy said.

However, the COVID surge in values also made these markets more sensitive to the rising cost of debt, with many recently minted million-dollar suburbs falling below the seven-figure mark.

Victoria and the ACT

With dwelling values in Melbourne and Canberra dropping -9.3% and -8.8%, respectively, over the 12 months to May, the portion of million-dollar suburbs declined by roughly 30% in May, down from 35.4% and 41.5%, respectively, from the same period last year.

In regional Victoria, the markets that fell below $1m included Daylesford, near Hepburn Springs, and Portarlington on the Bellarine Peninsula.

Tasmania and SA

In Hobart, the -12.6% fall in dwelling values saw six house markets fall out of the million-dollar club, leaving just Sandy Bay ($1,243,407) and Tranmere ($1,023,062) with a median house value over $1m. Four suburbs across Adelaide saw their house values slip below seven figures, despite the city recording a mild 0.4% rise in dwelling values over the year.

WA

Across Perth, the number of million-dollar markets held steady, with houses in Burns Beach ($1,033,741), in the citys North West, being the sole new entrant to the million-dollar club, while houses in Shelley ($998,499) in the citys South East left the club.

Values across Perth were fairly resilient though the recent downswing due to its relative affordability, low listings levels, and tight labour market, which helped push values to a new high in May, Ezzy said.

With a prime beach-front location, marine park and popularity among families, house values in Burns Beach rose 4.1% over the year, to become Australias newest million-dollar market.

Million-dollar question

Despite the decline of seven-figure markets across Australia, many markets are still recording values significantly higher than at the start of the pandemic, with nearly one in four properties selling for $1m or more over the year to March. This, according to Ezzy, suggests that high-end buyers are still active in the market.

The cash rate will have an impact on the performance of million-dollar suburbs, she said. Historically, increases in the cash rate have put downward pressure on market values and many economists and banks have lifted their forecast for where rates might peak following Junes increase. Its likely this will delay the return of some house and unit markets to the million-dollar club.

Use the comment section below to tell us how you felt about this.
Air India has been a subject of its passengers' ire this week as more than half of its flights have been delayed, primarily because of an old crew rostering system. Due to the existing system, the airline has not been able to handle the disruption created by cyclone Biparjoy on Indias western coast. The sudden grounding of two planes also added to the carriers woes.

To make sure that such things dont happen again, the carriers chief executive officer (CEO) & managing director Campbell Wilson said on Friday that the airline is investing in a leading-edge software" so that flight crew can be quickly reassigned and passengers can be immediately rebooked if there is any similar disruption. This software will be completely operational by early 2024.

Air India is also upgrading its customer notification systems and processes to make them "less manual, more accurate and to utilise new channels such as WhatsApp", Wilson told employees through a message that has been reviewed by Business Standard (BS).

As cyclone "Biparjoy" went through the Arabian Sea near Mumbai on June 11, the operations at the city's airport went haywire. The newspaper talked to three Air India executives on this matter and found out that while other airlines were able to commence their operations from June 12, Air India found it difficult to do so, majorly due to issues in the crew rostering system, said the first airline executive mentioned.

Airlines daily on-time performance (OTP) was 32.3 per cent, 24.5 per cent, 41.7 per cent, 36 per cent and 65.4 per cent, respectively, between June 11-15, as per the Ministry of Civil Aviation's data. Meanwhile, the OTPs of major carriers like IndiGo and Vistara -- which too have substantial flights to and from the Mumbai airport like Air India -- had reached above 90 per cent by June 15, as per the data.





About 37 per cent of total flights of the Tata Group-run carrier go through the Mumbai airport. About 44 per cent flights of Vistara -- which is also run by the Tata Group -- go via the Mumbai airport. For IndiGo, the Mumbai's share stands at about 18 per cent, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Also Read One year since Tatas took over Air India, here's how the journey has been Taxi to Take Off: Air India says Phase 1 of its transformation complete Overcast morning in Delhi with 25.4 deg C minimum temp, air quality drops Analysts see upto 38% upside in IndiGo; suggest tracking costs, airfare cap Air India likely to post consolidated profit in current fiscal: Report L&T's InvIT closes acquisition of Rs 8,270 crore roads from Brookfield Bank of Maharashtra plans to recover 5% from written-off accounts in FY24 DMRC to operate, maintain Mumbai Metro's underground Line-3: Officials Conglomerate ITC weighs alternative structures for hospitality business Japan-based Musashi forays into Indian EV market with Rs 70-cr investment

The first executive said, "Cabin crew members have been sent from Delhi to Mumbai to normalise operations but it then led to certain shortages in Delhi."

Air India did not respond to Business Standard's queries on this matter.

Among the several Air India flights delayed in the past few days were a Mumbai-Bengaluru flight -- which was late by 18 hours -- while one to Doha left 20 hours behind schedule.

"Air India's managers scrambled to find alternate cabin crew to operate already-delayed flights as those originally assigned had exceeded their stipulated duty hours that day. In some cases, arranging separate crew members took a few hours and then pilots duty time limit issues began creeping in. Some flights departed just in the nick of time without a need for replacement but some were delayed," the second airline executive stated.

Passengers were agitated and Central Industrial Security Force personnel had to be called in to control the situation. "There were many passengers who missed connecting flights because of the delays and we had to find seats for them too on the next available flights," the third executive explained.

Air India, which has recently launched new domestic flights from Delhi and Mumbai, has been operating around 58 A320 aircraft over the past few months. Earlier this week, two A320 planes developed technical snags which impacted schedules.

Wilson, in his message on Friday, said: "While weather is not under our control, and prevention of disruption is clearly the preference, there are things we can and are doing to improve our ability to handle such events. Reducing the impact on customers is the key priority. Reducing the effect of disruption to crew members is another one. In that respect, we are upgrading our customer notification systems and processes to make them less manual, more accurate and to utilise new channels such as WhatsApp."

"We are also investing in leading-edge software to rebook passengers, and to recover aircraft and crew rotations and positioning, so that we get back to normal operations as fast as possible. There are three significant disruption management system implementations concurrently in progress to address the customer, crew and aircraft dimension of disruption, all slated to become operational early in 2024," he added.

In a tweet on Sunday, the airline had blamed inclement weather conditions and the temporary closure of Runway 09/27 at the Mumbai airport for the problem.

"In addition to other consequential factors beyond our control have resulted in delays and cancellation of some of our flights," the airline had said in its tweet.
Bank of Maharashtra (MahaBank) on Friday said it was expecting to recover more than Rs 1,200 crore from written-off accounts in the current financial year (FY23) as part of steps to enhance its asset quality profile.

The bank is looking to recover over 5 per cent from the written-off accounts pegged at Rs 20,000 crore, Asheesh Pandey, executive director of Mahabank, told the media on the sidelines of a customer interaction here.

Written-off accounts are non-performing loans, for which lenders have made a 100 per cent provision and knocked out from the loan book. However, the obligation of the borrower to repay and the lender's responsibility to recover remains intact.

Much of this recovery would be from small accounts, Pandey said. With an upturn in the economy, the cash flows are better for small businesses, increasing prospects for settlements. Social media and enhanced data is helping the bank step up monitoring and reach to those in default, he said.

The Pune-based lender had recovered Rs 943 crore from written-off accounts in FY23, up from Rs 642 crore in FY22, according to the document filed Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP).

Pandey said the bank would hold extensive consultations before finalising the board-approved policy for compromise settlement and technical write-offs. Last week, the Reserve Bank of India came out with a framework for such exercise that provides room for settlement in cases classified as fraud and wilful defaulters.

Also Read Only 8.2% of 463 million Jan Dhan accounts are zero balance: RBI report SC faults Maha governor and speaker, but won't restore Thackeray govt RBI to come up with new rules on classification of accounts as fraudulent Maharashtra govt's new financial scheme to pay Rs 6,000 to farmers annually Bank of Maharashtra Q4 net profit more than doubles to Rs 840 crore DMRC to operate, maintain Mumbai Metro's underground Line-3: Officials Conglomerate ITC weighs alternative structures for hospitality business Japan-based Musashi forays into Indian EV market with Rs 70-cr investment Isuzu may sell 44% stake in India unit as it exits low-profit businesses Leased petroleum assets under IBC to be exempt from moratorium: MCA

The banks asset quality profile improved with gross non-performing assets (NPAs) declining to 2.47 per cent of gross advances as of March 31, from 3.94 per cent by the end of March 2022. The net NPAs declined to 0.25 per cent as of March 31 from 0.97 per cent by the end of March 2022.
The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) has awarded the DMRC a 10-year contract to operate and maintain its underground Line-3 after the Delhi Metro emerged as the lowest bidder in the tendering process, officials said on Friday.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the 33.5 km-long Line-3 with 27 stations, including management of operation control centre, depot control centre, stations, running trains, maintenance of trains and all metro systems infrastructure and ensuring the safety of passengers, the Delhi Metro said in a statement here.

The Mumbai Metro Line-3, which is being constructed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA), is expected to be operationalised in parts from the end of this year onwards.

The kick-off meeting between the DMRC and the MMRCL was held at the latter's headquarters in Mumbai on Friday.

"Amit Kumar Jain, Director (Operations and Services), DMRC thanked Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director, MMRCL and assured that with the vast experience of more than 20 years of operating metro services in Delhi covering around 400 kms (of) network, DMRC, which is now the lifeline of Delhi, is committed to achieving excellence in financial capital of the country and serve people of Mumbai with safe, reliable, comfortable and high quality service," the statement said.

"MMRCL is happy to be associated with DMRC, one of the leading metro operating companies in the country, for operation and maintenance of Mumbai's first underground metro line," it said.

Also Read Signs of recovery: Delhi Metro regains 90% of pre-pandemic ridership levels DMRC to get over 100 cops in plainclothes to monitor, prosecute offenders Chennai metro passengers can buy tickets on WhatsApp: Here's how to book DMRC 'lowest bidder' to operate, maintain Mumbai Metro's Line 3: Officials Arbitration award: DMRC urges SC for curative petition in DAMEPL matter Conglomerate ITC weighs alternative structures for hospitality business Japan-based Musashi forays into Indian EV market with Rs 70-cr investment Isuzu may sell 44% stake in India unit as it exits low-profit businesses Leased petroleum assets under IBC to be exempt from moratorium: MCA Indsil Hydro Power sells 12 MW power plant in Raipur for Rs 11.40 cr
Fitch Ratings has affirmed 'BBB-' rating on Adani Green Energy Ltd Restricted Group 2's USD 362.5 million senior secured notes (bonds), implying a low risk of default.

Assigning a stable outlook, the rating agency said that credit assessment is supported by the company's 570MW solar portfolio across two Indian states and long-term fixed-price power purchase agreements (PPAs).

The Adani Green Energy Limited Restricted Group 2's (AGEL RG2) consists of 570MW of polycrystalline solar projects, a proven technology with a long operating history, a Fitch rating issued on Friday said.

"We regard the operation of these types of solar projects as straightforward and the solar modules are provided by internationally known suppliers" it said.

It stated that Fitch Ratings has affirmed the AGEL RG2's USD 362.5 million senior secured, largely amortising notes due 2039 at 'BBB-'.

The Outlook is Stable, it held.

Also Read India's green bonds show policy focus on climate mitigation: Fitch Ratings Fitch Ratings revises outlook on OYO's long-term issuer ratings to positive Fitch affirms India's sovereign rating at 'BBB-' on robust growth outlook US AAA credit rating may be downgraded by Fitch on debt-limit impasse Mitsubishi Electric to set up AC manufacturing plant in Chennai Amazon-Uber extend strategic tie-up, 5% cashback on rides for Prime members Aiming Rs 1 trillion turnover for Patanjali Group in next 5 years: Ramdev Natco gets USFDA approval for Tipiracil Hydrochloride, Trifluridine Tablets Google programme to train and support Indian local news publishers Vodafone Idea cuts ties with 25,000 retail partners to reduce costs

Explaining about rating rationale, it explained that the AGEL RG2's credit assessment is supported by its 570MW solar portfolio across two Indian states, moderately volatile generation record at portfolio level, long-term fixed-price power purchase agreements (PPAs), commercially proven technology, experienced operations and maintenance contractors, and strong credit metrics.

The restricted group's (RG) financial profile with rating-case debt-service coverage ratio (DSCR) of 1.44x is stronger than that commensurate with a 'BBB-' rating for the asset portfolio, reflecting considerable rating headroom at the current level.

The credit assessment is constrained by India's (BBB-/Stable) 'BBB-' Country Ceiling, it explained.

The RG is made up of three subsidiaries of India-based Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL).

The US dollar notes are issued in part by each of the three SPVs (special purpose vehicle) in the RG: Wardha Solar Maharashtra Private Ltd, Adani Renewable Energy (RJ) Limited and Kodangal Solar Parks Private Limited.

The notes are stapled together to mimic the structure of a restricted pool. The issuers directly own operating assets and are not merely lenders to the operating entities, unlike other rated issuance from most Indian RGs.

All covenants or triggers are on an aggregate basis.

Each SPV guarantees the note obligations of the other two SPVs, although the notes constitute each issuer's obligations only on a several basis.

About 'Group Governance Risks' it stated that governance weaknesses at the sponsor level and other group entities, including a highly concentrated shareholding structure across group entities and aggressive debt-funded investments at some entities, can expose all Adani group-related companies to higher contagion risks than previously considered, which can affect their financial flexibility.

"We believe these group-related risks to be lower for the AGEL RG2 due to legal ring-fencing as per a strict cash flow waterfall mechanism in the US dollar notes. The group is re-evaluating its investment plans, especially in non-infrastructure businesses," it stated.

The Adani family recently sold USD1.9 billion in shares across various group entities to a US-based fund, it noted.

Two of the boards at Adani group companies - Adani Transmission Ltd (BBB-/Stable) and Adani Enterprise - approved a plan to raise a total of about USD2.5 billion from the stock market.

The additional funding will support financial flexibility across Adani group entities, mitigating the risks, it held.
Chinese premier meets Palestinian president

Xinhua) 10:13, June 16, 2023

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Beijing, capital of China, June 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Beijing on Thursday.

Calling China and Palestine good friends and partners, Li said the announcement by the two countries' leaders to establish a strategic partnership fully demonstrates China's staunch support for developing China-Palestine ties and the cause of justice for Palestinian people.

China is ready to take the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Palestine as an opportunity to work for tangible outcomes of their strategic partnership to better benefit the two peoples, Li said.

Noting cooperation in various fields between China and Palestine has witnessed steady progress, Li urged efforts by the two sides to continue firmly supporting each other, continuously promote pragmatic cooperation, speed up the negotiation of a free trade agreement, work for closer people-to-people exchanges, and constantly carry forward their traditional friendship.

China will continue to champion justice and make sustained efforts for a comprehensive, just and durable solution for the Palestinian question, Li added.

Noting Palestine sees China as a close friend, Abbas said the country appreciates China's strong support for its people's cause of justice. Palestine firmly supports China's undertaking of national reunification, and the greater role it plays in international and regional affairs.

Palestine is willing to enhance cooperation with China to jointly work for the resolution of the Palestinian question at an early date, he added.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun)
USS Michigan SSGN, an 18,000-ton guided missile submarine and one of the most feared U.S. strategic assets, appears near a naval base in Busan, Friday, a day after North Korea's latest missile provocation. Newsis



USS Michigan SSGN docks in Busan, four B-52 bombers land on Guam



By Jung Min-ho



A U.S. nuclear-powered submarine capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk missiles arrived at a South Korean naval base in Busan, Friday, a day after North Korea fired two short-range missiles off its east coast in its latest provocation.



USS Michigan SSGN, an 18,000-ton guided missile submarine and one of the most feared U.S. strategic assets, docked there as a demonstration of the security guarantee promised in the Washington Declaration and a symbol of "peace through strength," South Korea's Vice Adm. Kim Myung-soo said in a statement.



It is the first time since October 2017 that a submarine classified as "SSGN" by the U.S. Navy, or a cruise-missile submarine, has stopped off in Korea, amid tensions following the North's weapons tests and the ever-intensifying Seoul-Washington military drills against the growing threat.



Speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity, a military official said the submarine will stay near the Korean Peninsula until next Thursday, during which it plans to participate in joint drills with the South Korean Navy.



The missiles fired from the North Korean capital area traveled about 780 kilometers before falling into the waters between the peninsula and Japan, which prompted the chief nuclear envoys of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo to issue a joint statement condemning the violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.



The latest launches came the day President Yoon Suk Yeol attended the South Korea-U.S. live-fire drills, for which some of the most lethal weapons systems including F-35 stealth fighters, F-16 jets and K-9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers were mobilized, and called for the sharpest state of readiness and building overwhelming capabilities.



Demonstrating the overwhelming forces was one of the goals of the submarine deployment, Vice Adm. Kim said.



"The U.S. SSGN's visit to South Korea is intended to substantively implement the agreement in the Washington Declaration signed in April to enhance the regular visibility of its strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula," Kim said. "It demonstrates the overwhelming capabilities and posture of the South Korea-U.S. alliance to realize 'peace through strength.'"



Armed with land-attack missiles  nuclear or otherwise  with a range of 2,500 kilometers as well as superior communications and stealth capabilities, the submarine is designed for clandestine missions. It had initially been built as an SSBN carrying longer-range ballistic missiles before being converted into an SSGN in 2007.





A B-52 Stratofortress / Yonhap
Google News Initiative (GNI) on Friday announced a new programme to provide Indian publishers training, technical support and funding to improve digital operations and reach more readers.

Under the Indian Languages Program, selected publishers will be diagnosed for their page speed, core web vitals performance and other parameters. The evaluation will provide guidance on quality signals essential for user experience on the web.

Publishers will receive personalised guidance and support for improvement, including solving issues related to Core Web Vitals, mobile usability, content formats, and revenue enhancement solutions.

Applications for the programme will be accepted till June 30, 2023. Small or medium-sized Indian language news organisations that produce original news and are incorporated or registered in the country are eligible for the programme. Applicants must have an operational website for at least 12 months and 50 full-time employees (FTE) at least.

Google said this is its most diverse technology programme for news publishers, supporting nine languages: English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Malayalam, Gujarati, and Marathi,

Eligible publishers can be for-profit or nonprofit traditional news organizations, digital natives, and broadcasters.

Also Read Pixel 7a review: Google's entry-level phone is mixed bag of hits and misses Google's June Feature Drop for Pixel phones: Know what is new in update Fitbit rolls out Google account sign-in: Here's everything you need to know TCL launches T6G 4K Ultra HD Smart QLED Google TV in India: Details here We'll work with Indian organisations on online safety: Julie Inman Grant Vodafone Idea cuts ties with 25,000 retail partners to reduce costs Magicpin clocks 50% monthly growth on ONDC with over 30,000 daily orders Ramkrishna Forgings-Titagarh Rail consortium bags Rs 12,227 cr order M&M launches XUV700 in Australia at AUD 36,990; no diesel variant on offer TCS, Transamerica end $2 billion contract due to macro environment

A subset of chosen publishers will be offered dedicated consultations and technical implementation support to for better user experience. This long-term engagement will involve close collaboration with publishers to create a roadmap tailored to their specific needs.

The initiative will also include a range of other activities, like scaled inspiration series and virtual workshops. These sessions will feature guest speakers, success stories from previous GNI program participants, and sessions on topics such as Core Web Vitals, website optimization, News Consumer Insights (NCI) and YouTube.
Highdell Investment, owned by US-based private equity major Warburg Pincus, on Friday divested a 6.2 per cent stake in Kalyan Jewellers India Ltd for Rs 725 crore through an open market transaction.

Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund (MF), Sundaram MF, BNP Paribas Arbitrage, Citigroup Global Markets Mauritius, and Employees Provident Fund, among others, were the buyers of the shares of Kalyan Jewellers.

Following the deal, shares of Kalyan Jewellers zoomed 17.16 per cent to close at Rs 133.80 per piece on the National Stock Exchange (NSE).

According to the block deal data available with the NSE, Highdell Investment sold a total of 6,41,02,561 shares, amounting to a 6.2 per cent stake in the jeweller chain company.

The shares were disposed of at an average price of Rs 113.10 apiece, taking the transaction size to Rs 724.99 crore, as per the data.

Post the latest transaction, Highdell's shareholding has been reduced to 17.6 per cent from 23.82 per cent stake at the end of March.

Also Read Highdell Investment sells 2.26% stake in Kalyan Jewellers for Rs 256 cr Kalyan Jewellers net profit dips 3.11% YoY in Jan-Mar to Rs 697.99 cr Warburg sells 2.3% stake in Kalyan Jewellers, mops up Rs 257 crore Kalyan Jewellers surges 6%; reports up to 13% revenue growth in Q3 Kalyan Jewellers India Q3 consolidated PAT rises 10% to Rs 148.43 crore Intel, Micron plans to spend billions on new chip plants outside US Patanjali Foods launches 14 products to push its premiumisation strategy Air India upgrading crew rostering, customer notification system: Wilson L&T's InvIT closes acquisition of Rs 8,270 crore roads from Brookfield Bank of Maharashtra plans to recover 5% from written-off accounts in FY24

In March this year, Highdell Investment pared a 2.26 per cent stake in Kalyan Jewellers for Rs 256 crore.

Kalyan Jewellers India Pvt Ltd is into manufacturing and sale of gems and jewellery.

In a separate block deal, FIH Mauritius Investments sells a 1.3 per cent stake in IIFL Finance for Rs 250 crore through an open market transaction.

FIH Mauritius Investments is a subsidiary of Canadian billionaire Prem Watsa-backed Fairfax Group.

As per the data available with the NSE, FIH Mauritius Investments sold 50 lakh shares, amounting to a 1.3 per cent stake in IIFL Finance.

The shares were sold at an average price of Rs 500 apiece, taking the deal value to Rs 250 crore.

These shares were acquired by DSP Mutual Fund.

FIH Mauritius Investments owned a 22.25 per cent stake in the company as of the March quarter, latest shareholding data showed with the bourse.

On Friday, shares of IIFL Finance rose 2.49 per cent to settle at Rs 511.15 per piece on the NSE.
IndInfravit, the infrastructure investment trust (InvIT) set up by Larsen & Toubro, on Friday said it had completed the acquisition of four operational road projects managed by Brookfield Asset Management in an all-cash transaction valued at Rs. 8,270 crore.

The agreement with Brookfield, first announced on June 10, was for the acquisition of five road assets, four of which are Simhapuri Expressway, Rayalseema Expressway, Mumbai-Nashik Expressway, and Kosi Bridge.

The acquisition of the fifth road project  Gorakhpur Infrastructure Company Private Limited  is pending the receipt of requisite regulatory approvals and fulfilment of certain other conditions set out under the definitive documents, the company told the exchanges.

Following the acquisition, the InvIT comprises projects with 7,300 lane kilometres (km) across eight states. The trust is backed by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS Infrastructure), and Allianz Capital Partners.

According to CPP Investments, the roads portfolio comprises three toll roads and two annuity roads, with approximately 2,300-lane km in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh. The roads have been operational, on an average, for approximately nine years, and have an average residual concession period of 20 years.
Cooling products maker Voltas has inaugurated its second brand store in Tiruchirappalli, the 10th such facility in Tamil Nadu, the company said on Friday.

Through its home appliances joint venture brand 'Voltas Beko', the company aims to strengthen its product portfolio in 2023 by launching a series of new products.

"We are delighted to announce the launch of the second Voltas Brand shop at Trichy, Tamil Nadu. As a market leader, we have always placed the customer at the core of all our business operations and our endeavor is to provide them with technologically advanced products to meet their everyday needs," Voltas Managing Director and CEO Pradeep Bakshi said.

"With the new brand store, we aim to further provide a holistic product experience for our consumers," he said.

The company has showcased a range of air conditioning and cooling products, along with the latest range of home appliances at the shop located on Fort Station Road, Jerome Building, Tiruchirappalli.

Keeping with the brand promise and commitment to stand by the 'Make in India' initiative, Voltas Beko has unveiled a range of home appliances with new frost-free refrigerators and top-load washing machines, the company said.

Also Read Analysts see more upside in consumer appliance stocks as temperatures soar Voltas shares decline nearly 3% after March quarter earnings announcement Voltas Tamil Nadu facility plan on track, to invest Rs 500 cr for room ACs Voltas posts net loss of Rs 110.49 cr in Q3 on overseas provisions Ahead of searing summer, analysts bet on consumer appliance stocks JBM Auto top contender for controlling stake in SML Isuzu: Report Music in a bottle: How Coke Studio Bharat is adding fizz to Coca-Cola Amazon-Uber extend strategic tie-up, 5% cashback on rides for Prime members Fitch affirms stable outlook to USD 362.5 mn debt of Adani Green Energy RG2 Aiming Rs 1 trillion turnover for Patanjali Group in next 5 years: Ramdev
By Sudhi Ranjan Sen and Sankalp Phartiyal



Micron Technology Inc. is close to an agreement to commit at least $1 billion toward setting up a semiconductor packaging factory in India, according to people with knowledge of the matter, a move to further diversify its geographic footprint at a time of US tensions with China.



An announcement could be made as soon as when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the US next week, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the details are private. The amount of money committed could go as high as $2 billion, one of the people said. The details could change as discussions are in progress, and theres no guarantee an agreement will be finalized.

The deal would mark a win for Modis ambitious Make in India plans, while offering Washington an opportunity to strengthen key supply chains outside of China. Removing barriers to technological trade between the two countries is a key part of Modis state visit, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The Indian investment would follow a Chinese ban on the use of Micron chips in what Beijing called critical infrastructure, a move that cast uncertainty over the status of US chipmakers in the worlds largest semiconductor market. On Friday, Micron pledged to invest $600 million more in its Chinese plant to create jobs and support the local market.

Indias Technology Ministry and Ministry of External Affairs didnt respond to requests for comment, while a representative for Micron declined to comment.

The US is pushing to diversify advanced chipmaking as growing Chinese tensions spur concerns about the worlds reliance on Asian manufacturing centers such as Taiwan. Micron, the largest American memory chipmaker, also secured financial support for a $3.6 billion next-generation plant it aims to establish in Japan.

Also Read India's semiconductor market to touch $64 bn by 2026: Counterpoint-IESA Micron Technology announces layoffs, cost cutting as chip demand drops Centre announces $2 bn investment in Mohali's Semiconductor Laboratory Vaishnaw to meet top tech execs to invite investments in chips, laptops Govt set to approve Micron Technology's $1-billion semiconductor plant GAIL India issues swap tender for 12 LNG cargoes in 2024, say reports Oracle lays off hundreds of employees at its health unit Cerner: Report iPhone maker Foxconn to start making electric vehicles in India: Report MEIL group company bags Rs 500 crore order from defence ministry Microblogging site Koo launches premium feature to start monetising content

Modi starts his first formal state visit June 21, with President Joe Biden hosting him for a banquet the following day. The Indian leader will also address the US Congress. Modi has pledged $10 billion to woo chipmakers to India, promising his administration will bear half the cost of setting up all semiconductor sites.
Unsubscribe to continue

This is a subscriber only feature Subscribe Now to get daily updates on WhatsApp
The Chamber of Commerce, Sustainable Development and Foreign Relations on Friday said it will be taking delegations to eight global south destinations to explore opportunities for Indian business with a view to increasing the country's exports.

Global south region includes Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia.

Chamber of Commerce, Sustainable Development and Foreign Relations or Chamber India President & CEO Abhinav Balyan said that they are focusing on increasing exports and enhancing cooperation with the Global South nations.

"We would be taking a delegation to 8 global south destinations to create more opportunities for Indian business and increase our exports," he said here at the Chamber India-Global South Meeting.

He added that the chamber will organise these meetings in the state capitals with foreign delegations to explore business opportunities for all states.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur, Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Kapil Patil, and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Parkash also addressed the meeting.

Also Read India-China trade at $135.98 bn in 2022. Trade deficit crosses $100 bn mark India's trade deficit rises to $22.12 bn in May, highest since Dec 2022 Budget 2023-24: Centre to target higher capex but lower fiscal deficit Exports dip by 6.58% in Jan; trade deficit lowest in 12-months at $17.75 bn India's current account deficit in July-Sept rises sharply to 4.4% of GDP SBI presents dividend cheque of Rs 5,740 crore to Finance Minister India, South Africa, other developing nations to challenge CBAM at WTO Mumbai airport registers 23% rise in passenger footfall in May: CSMIA UK removes countervailing tariff on steel bar, rod imports from India Amid safety concerns, railways to install Kavach on freight corridors
The government of Tamil Nadu said on Friday that it is targeting an investment of about $6 billion and creating 150,000 new employment opportunities in the electric vehicle sector over the next five years. This comes after the state attracted nearly Rs 24,000 crore in EV investments, leading to almost 48,000 jobs, during the pandemic period.

While several new-age EV firms such as Ather, Ola Electric, Ampere and Simple Energy have invested in the state, traditional global automotive giants such as Hyundai, Nissan, TVS Motors, Mahindra, and Daimler have lined up their EV plans in Tamil Nadu.
The launch of the much-touted affordable insurance product Bima Sugam is likely to be delayed beyond August timeline as regulator Irdai is working on fine-tuning the product, which will help deepen insurance penetration and simplify the claim procedures.

Bima Sugam once launched will serve as an online insurance marketplace, similar to an e-commerce platform, where insurers have the opportunity to offer and sell their products, while consumers can buy or renew their policies, raise claims, and receive all the related services at a single place.

Last month, Iradi Chairman Debasish Panda had met chief executives of some leading insurers in Mumbai to give a new thrust to the project and onboard them by August 1. The regulator is also pushing to implement another high tech project Health Claims Exchange.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Insurance Brokers Association of India (IBAI) here on Friday, Panda was evasive on the proposed launch date, saying this a very complex platform and so is the product, since it is a bundled one wherein a customer has all the choices to choose from.

"We are working to make the platform and the product as glitch free as possible," Panda said when asked about the launch date.

While a faster completion of proposed Health Claims Exchange was discussed with CEOs of general insurers, the Bima Sugam plan has been finalised with select CEOs of life and non-life players. The Health Claims Exchange is being set up by the National Health Authority.

Also Read Composite insurance licence regime may trigger M&A activity: HDFC Life CFO Irdai to introduce 'Bima Vahaks' to expand insurance force: Rakesh Joshi 2023 may see an M&A surge in insurance sector: Shriram General Insurance MD DFS secretary meets chief secretaries to boost PMJJBY, PMSBY enrolments IRDAI asks insurers to suo motu settle claims of Odisha rail mishap victims India considers rule changes to bolster $731 billion insurance sector Go Digit Life Insurance receives IRDAI's approval to start business Non-life insurance premium grew 18.1% to Rs 18,031.48 crore in May IRCTC's 0.35 paise travel insurance for accidents: All you need to know SBI Life to take over 200,000 policies of Sahara India Life Insurance

The platform will digitise and simplify the process of filing health insurance claims. The proposed process is not only quick and hassle-free but also reduces the cost per claim to the insurer, while policyholders and hospitals can track the claim status online and it also enables automatic fund transfer of the claim amount.

The exchange will also help insurers to have a unified platform for claims and policyholders' medical history, which will help reduce the number of insurance frauds.

The regulator has been working on Bima Sugam since June 2022, some of the basic features have undergone changes for the easy implementation of the project.

All insurance requirements, including those for life, health, and general insurance (including motor and travel) will be met by Bima Sugam. It will be owned 47.5 per cent each by life and general insurance companies while brokers and agent bodies will own 2.5 per cent each.

Under Bima Sugam, there will be e-Bima or E-IA account for policyholders in a demat format to facilitate more safety as there is no requirement for maintaining and safekeeping physical documents and creates ease for policyholders at the time of renewal with no paperwork.

Bima Sugam, which shall have linkages with UIDAI, NSDL and CDSL, will pave the way for startups which are adopting a sandbox approach in terms of unique offerings such as OPD covers etc.

The Irdai chairman also said the regulator is working on a draft to address the main pain points in the claim settlement process and also to make the ombudsman network faster and customer-friendly.

"Yes, I know there are many pain points in the claim process. We are working on a draft to resolve them as much as possible. Similarly, we are also working on making the ombudsman network more meaningful," Panda said.
With net non-performing asset (net NPA) ratio below 1 per cent and provisions for written off assets around 92 per cent, Sanjiv Chadha, managing director (MD) & chief executive officer (CEO), Bank of Baroda, explains why the bank is in a better position to make the transition to the expected credit loss (ECL) framework. Chadha spoke to Manojit Saha in a video interview for Business Standards The Banking Show. Edited excerpts:

Do you think lending and deposit rates have peaked with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) maintaining the status quo for the second-straig
President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a ceremony to mark the promotion of Gangwon Province to a special self-governing province at a university in Chuncheon, 75 kilometers northeast of Seoul, June 9. Yonhap



President Yoon Suk Yeol did not mean making the annual college entrance exam easier when he said the test should exclude what is not taught at schools, his office said Friday, after the remark sparked confusion about how easy or difficult the test will be.



Yoon instructed Education Minister Lee Ju-ho the previous day to exclude material not covered by public education from the College Scholastic Ability Test, or Suneung in Korean, amid criticism the test includes extremely hard questions that students without private tutoring cannot solve.



The remark led to criticism there could be confusion among students ahead of the November exam, with one newspaper running the headline "Make Suneung easier."



"President Yoon Suk Yeol was not talking about an 'easy Suneung' or a 'hard Suneung,'" senior presidential secretary for press affairs Kim Eun-hye said in a written briefing.



"A fair assessment ability is the essence of all exams, so while keeping the assessment ability, exclude areas not covered by the public education curriculum from Suneung," she quoted him as saying.






The International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), a regulatory body, has sought greater clarity from the income tax (I-T) authority on tax implications for foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) looking to re-domicile in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), said people in the know.

The I-T departments stance is critical to facilitating the migration of these funds from other overseas jurisdictions to GIFT City, they added.


India Mortgage Guarantee Corporation (IMGC) would focus on strengthening partnerships with banks and financial institutions, a top official said on Tuesday.

The company is backed by marquee investors -- Enact MI, Sagen (Brookfield Group), National Housing Bank, IFC (World Bank Group), And Asian Development Bank.

The mortgage guarantee company, since its inception in 2012 has breached Rs 20,000 crore in home loan guarantees to over one lakh customers across 400 locations.

In FY2022-23, IMGC doubled its market share in South India accounting 30 per cent of all originations in the region. The company guaranteed Rs 2,300 crore in home loans for over 18,000 families.

"IMGC's expansion plans revolve around enhancing its participation in the housing ecosystem to enable first-time homeownership and provide ongoing support to existing homeowners," IMGC CEO Mahesh Misra said.

"Strengthening partnerships with banks and financial institutions is a key focus for IMGC, ensuring that more Indians have access to affordable home loans and promote inclusive homeownership," he said.

Also Read LIC Housing Finance, HDFC: Trading strategies for housing finance companies Tata Capital to LIC Housing finance: Companies to raise funds from markets ADB, Maldives sign $41mn financing package to support SMEs, tourism Asian Paints slips 3% after Q3FY23 result misses street estimates LIC Housing Finance raises lending rates by 35 bps, cites market conditions Disinflation process is likely to be slow and protracted, says RBI Governor RBI opens sub-office at Kohima, to increase presence in north east RBI likely to tighten norms for unsecured lending portfolios of banks India set for $168 bn behemoth as HDFC merger to be completed by 20 July FLDG norms may dampen biz volume in segments with higher 5% limit: CRISIL

IMGCs expansion plans include entering new markets and increasing its guarantee portfolio to Rs 30,000 crore by FY2024, he added.












HDFC, Hindalco Industries, Zomato, HDFC Life Insurance Company, FSN E-Commerce Ventures (Nykaa), Adani Total Gas, Indus Towers, JSW Steel, Tata Elxsi and UPL are among the top-ten large cap stocks bought by mutual funds in May 2023, while Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), Kotak Mahindra Bank, Indian Oil Corporation, Hero MotoCorp, Hindustan Aeronautics, Hindustan Zinc, Torrent Pharmaceuticals, Macrotech Developers, Eicher Motors and Pidilite Industries were among the top ten large caps sold by them, according to a report by ICICI Direct.

Among mid-caps, Vedanta Fashions was the top pick while Indian Railways Finance Corporation was dumped the most.

Here is a list of top 10 buys and sells in the mid-cap space.







Also Read Active mid-cap, small-cap schemes fly high with 'benchmark-beating' returns Large-cap MFs, Index Funds to attract flows as markets pick pace: Analysts MSCI drops Adani Transmission and Adani Total Gas from India index Sensex rises for 3rd straight day, up 85pts ahead of Fed outcome; RIL leads RIL, ITC lift Sensex 418 pts, Nifty regains 18,700; MRF tops Rs 1-L mark Shell cos to fake invoice: How firms trying to evade GST are getting caught Rs 6 cr to 45 cr for a flat: NCR's Golf Course Road sees 42% price hike Loan closure to KYC norms: What RBI panel's suggestions mean for you A snapshot of term insurance plans with 2 riders offered by various firms In a first, Bajaj Housing Fin offers extended home loans: Should you opt?











Here are other key mutual fund trends observed in May 2023 In the small-cap space, Jupiter Wagons, Astra Microwave Products, HEG Ltd, Globus Spirits, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Ujjivan Financial Services were among the ten most sought after stocks, while Easy Trip Planners, Railtel Corporation of India, Nocil, Mastek, Matrimony.com were among the most sold.

Average assets under management (AAUM) of all mutual fund schemes touched a life-time high of Rs 42.95 trillion, which translates into dollar AUM of $ 521 billion.

On a year-onyear basis, the mutual fund AUM has grown 14.93%

Investments through the Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) route reached a record high of Rs 14,749 crore in May, compared to Rs 13,728 crore in April.

However, equity mutual fund inflow dipped in May 2023 after witnessing a net inflow of Rs 2,906 crore as compared to Rs 5,275 crore in April 2023, primarily due to profit booking by investors. This is the lowest since November 2022 when the equity fund inflow was Rs 2,224 crore.





Individual investors have 79% of their mutual fund assets in equity related schemes and 15% in longer period debt funds. "Individual investors have a share of just 42% in debt schemes and 13% in short term money market schemes. These are largely treasury products, so that is OK. However, individual investors have an imposing 89% share of equity fund AUM. What leaves to be desired, is that individual share of ETFs and FOFs is just 11% of AUM. Retail investors are apparently not leveraging passive products as well as corporates," said brokerage India Infoline.





The total number of accounts (or folios as per mutual fund parlance) as on May 31, 2023 stood at 14.74 crore (147.4 million), while the number of folios under Equity, Hybrid and Solution Oriented Schemes, wherein the maximum investment is from retail segment stood at about 11.76 crore (117.6 million). According to the brokerage, average ticket size of retail investors in equity funds stands almost static at Rs 0.68 lakh. The folio holding data also contradicts the general apprehension that retail investors are myopic investors in equity funds. "As per the data of May 2023, retail investors hold nearly 56.5% of their equity fund investments for a period of more than 2 years against the general equity average of 44.9%. Individual investors are not more long term than other classes of investors. They hold 75-80% of the retail assets for at least 1 year," it said. In May, the small-cap inflow registered a fund inflow of Rs 3,283 crore as against Rs 2,182 in April.






At least 22 people were injured, while electric poles and trees were uprooted as 'very severe' cyclonic storm Biparjoy made landfall in Gujarat's coastal areas on Thursday evening, officials said.

In addition to this, 23 animals have also been killed and heavy rains coupled with gusty winds brought down over 524 trees and electric poles at various places in Gujarat, snapping the supply of power to around 940 villages, they said.

As the storm's landfall process started, gusty winds at over 120 kmph and heavy rains lashed the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts of the state.

Officials said that several relief and rescue teams are on alert as tens of thousands of people were evacuated to safe locations in Gujarat.

"Around 22 people have been injured due to the storm. So far, there is no news of anyone's death. 23 animals have been killed, 524 trees have fallen, and electric poles have also fallen in some places due to which there is no electricity in 940 villages," Alok Singh, Relief Commissioner of Gujarat, said.

As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the landfall is expected to continue for a few hours as the storm's eye (which is around 50 km in diameter) will cross into the land.

Also Read Bracing for Biparjoy: Cyclones hitting India's coasts become more frequent Will Cyclone Biparjoy impact states other than Gujarat? See full list here Cyclone Biparjoy: Gujarat on yellow alert, landfall expected on Thursday Cyclone Mocha likely to hit India's eastern coast next week, details here Fishing curbed, evacuation along coast begins ahead of Biparjoy's landfall Tourist influx in J&K sees push in rural economy, employment generation PM speaks to Guj CM, takes stock of situation after Biparjoy's landfall 'Views of students, parents would be taken to implement NEP': Assam CM Cyclone Biparjoy makes landfall, intensity reduces to 'severe', says IMD Bike Taxi ban: Drivers write to Delhi L-G citing livelihood threat

IMD officials said that Cyclone Biparjoy is moving ahead of Saurashtra and Kutch region as a very severe cyclone.

"Cyclone Warning for Saurashtra & Kutch Coasts: RED MESSAGE. VSCS BIPARJOY at 2230IST near lat 23.25N and long 68.5E, close to Saurashtra & Kutch Coasts, 10km west of Jakhau Port (Gujarat), 120km NNW of Devbhumi Dwarka. LANDFALL PROCESS IS CONTINUING," IMD tweeted.

Cyclone Biparjoy, which had been brewing over the Arabian Sea for several days, has made landfall on Gujarat's coastal area and has also affected the train services. Due to this, around 99 trains running through, originating or terminating in Biparjoy-affected areas of Gujarat, will remain cancelled or short-terminated, Western Railway said.

"The landfall process of extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Biparjoy' has begun and it will continue till Thursday midnight," a senior weather scientist at India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

After cyclone Biparjoy made landfall on Gujarat's coastal area on Thursday, trees were uprooted and hoardings fell in Dwarka, as strong winds hit the district.

Earlier in the day, IMD had said that Cyclone Biparjoy is moving ahead of Saurashtra Kutch as a very severe cyclone.

"Till 11, its centre will come towards the land. The tidal waves will slowly decrease in the next 3 to 6 hours. On the 16th, heavy to very heavy rainfall activity may occur," IMD said.

Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel chaired a review meeting at the State Emergency Operation Center in Gandhinagar on Thursday morning.

Earlier on Wednesday, the IMD issued a Red alert for the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts, saying that VSCS (Very Severe Cyclonic Storm) 'Biparjoy' will cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts, between Mandvi and Karachi near Jakhau Port, by Thursday evening.

Warnings about extensive damage to temporary housing structures and falling of trees and branches due to high-speed winds, high tides and heavy rainfall have already been issued by India Meteorological Department.
A total of 2,36,464 nominations have been filed for nearly 74,000 seats in the three-tier panchayat election scheduled in West Bengal on July 8, a senior official of the State Election Commission (SEC) said.

The ruling Trinamool Congress has filed 85,817 nominations while the BJP is in the second position with 56,321 candidates, according to a report prepared on Friday afternoon.

CPI(M) nominees filed nominations in 48,646 seats followed by the Congress (17,750), Independent (16,293), Forward Bloc (1,595) and others (10,042), the official said.

Thursday was the last day for filing nominations.

Out of the total nominations, 4,932 were filed for Zilla Parishads, and 35,445 for Panchayat Samitis. A total of 1,96,087 nominations were filed for the Gram Panchayats, it stated.

Approximately 5.67 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise to choose their representatives in zilla parishads, panchayat samitis and gram panchayats.

Also Read All-party meeting over West Bengal panchayat polls scheduled for today Bengal: 34% of seats uncontested in 2018 panchayat polls, claims Suvendu BJP slams TMC's Abhishek Banerjee over his remark on Bengal Panchayat polls Bengal panchayat polls: BJP questions justification of all-party meet now Mamata Banerjee to leave for three-day tour to West Bengal districts 85 Odisha NDRF rescuers undergo assessment for PTSD, found 'okay' 10 KW Solar-wind hybrid power plant installed in Arunachal Pradesh Nehru name drop: Cong calls it 'petty', BJP hits back with 'modiabind' barb With falling inflation, stock markets about to hit 52 week high levels Ex-Tamil Nadu SDG gets three years in prison for sexually harassing junior

The Calcutta High Court has ordered deployment of central forces for the rural poll.
Heavy rains and a severe flash flood hit Sikkim, leaving an estimated 3,000 tourists stranded due to the closure of the highways. The Pegong region of North Sikkim has been particularly impacted, leading to the complete closure of National Highway No 10.

Numerous people were reported to be stranded on both sides of the national highway on Friday, according to reports.

The torrential rains have also led to landslides in parts of the state, which further exacerbated the situation. Several areas, including Lachung and Lachen, are currently cut off from the rest of the region. It is believed that 3,000 tourists are stranded in these locations.



"The flash flood has caused severe damage to infrastructure along the highway, making it unsafe for any kind of vehicular movement," officials told news agency PTI.

Meanwhile, the Sikkim government is making efforts to safely rescue those stranded.

A 90-year-old cattleman is suspected to have died in West Sikkim's Rimbi due to the Rimbi River's rising water level.

Authorities have opened an investigation into the incident, and efforts are currently underway to locate the body.

Also Read LIVE: MC, AAP boycott inauguration of new Parliament building on May 28 Govt declares Joshimath as landslide, susbsidence zone; here's why Ex-Flipkart exec-led Flash.co launches new shopping email ID to reduce spam LIVE updates: More pro-Khalistan Twitter accounts blocked in India LIVE: Firing reported outside Islamabad HC, no casualties, say police Toxic cough syrup risk 'ongoing' and more countries hit, says WHO A downer for air cargo: What accounts for stagnation of industry in FY23 Writer Arundhati Roy receives European Essay Prize for lifetime achievement Manipur violence: Supplies hit by blockades by tribals, Meitei women J'khand beneficiaries to get fruit tree to grow income, protect environment

Just a few days ago, a car full of tourists was stranded in the midst of torrential rain on the Singtam-Dikchu road. The inclement weather caused a section of the road to wash away, trapping the tourists. They were eventually rescued by the Border Roads Organisation.




A 53-year-old resident of central Mumbai who recently sold his flat for Rs 1.27 crore with the intention of investing in a new flat lost the money to cyber criminals, The Times of India reported.

The man told the police that a woman messaged him on Telegram about a part-time job on February 9. She said she would send him links to films and hotels, and in exchange, he would just have to give them ratings, like them, take a screenshot, and send a photo to her.

In the beginning, the man received Rs 7,000 for liking and rating a hotel review. However, he later lost Rs 1.27 crore, which he transferred over the course of two days to the bank accounts of the woman.





Also Read: Online Banking Frauds in Delhi : A huge rise post Covid-19 lockdown The police said that the fraudsters would initially pay small sums of money to persuade people and gain their trust. However, over time, they would make the victims invest a big amount and then disappear.

When the man further expressed his interest in the job, the woman sent him a link and asked him to give her the information for his bank account. For him to access his e-wallet, she provided a login and password. The next step was for him to make a deposit of Rs 10,000 into an account.

The man received a link from the woman to a website that specialises in providing information on the hotel business. He sent the accused a screenshot of the rating for the website's content. Soon, he got Rs 17,372 in his account.

Also Read Rising online frauds: Gurugram woman loses Rs 76 lakh in movie review scam LIVE: MC, AAP boycott inauguration of new Parliament building on May 28 Sensex slips 347 pts on profit-taking, Nifty holds 18,500; RIL, SBI dip 2% RIL, ITC lift Sensex 418 pts, Nifty regains 18,700; MRF tops Rs 1-L mark Sensex rises for 3rd straight day, up 85pts ahead of Fed outcome; RIL leads Giani Raghbir Singh replaces Giani Harpreet Singh as Akal Takht Jathedar Cyclone Biparjoy: 10 things you should know after 12 hours of landfall Reducing duty on refined oil imports won't cool prices: Edible oil firms Gopichand Hinduja takes over as chairman of $34.5 billion-worth group Help people affected by Cyclone Biparjoy: Kejriwal to AAP workers

She sent him a link to rate a movie and requested that he deposit Rs 32,000, which he did. He was asked to check his e-wallet's earnings and profit this time, in which he found Rs 55,000. He then deposited Rs 50,000 into her account. However, she said that due to some technical issue, he would have to pay again. He sent Rs 55,000 again.

On May 17, he transferred Rs 48 lakh into the woman's bank accounts and completed all of her given tasks. His profit was listed as Rs 60 lakh in the wallet.

The woman informed him that he would need to pay an extra Rs 30 lakh in order to transfer Rs 60 lakh from his wallet to his account. The man transferred Rs 76 lakh to the accounts that the woman provided on May 18 through a number of transactions.

However, when he did not get money even after completing all reviews and payments, he asked the woman about it. To which, she demanded more money.

He then went to the police and filed an FIR. The police found money was transferred to eight bank accounts in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. Further investigations are underway.
AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday asked his party workers in Assam to help the victims in flood-affected areas and provide all possible support to the local administration in rescue and relief work.

The flood situation in Assam deteriorated on Thursday with nearly 29,000 people reeling under the deluge in three districts of the state due to incessant rain, according to an official bulletin.

Taking to twitter, Kejriwal said, "Heavy rains and floods are affecting life in Assam,"



"I appeal to all the local workers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to serve the victims in the flood-affected districts and provide all possible help to the administration in rescue and relief work," he added.

According to the daily flood report of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), more than 28,800 people were hit due to floods in Dhemaji, Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur districts.

Lakhimpur is the worst hit with over 23,500 people affected, followed by Dibrugarh with more than 3,800 people and Dhemaji with almost 1,500 people affected, it added.

Also Read Word Bank approves $1.69 bn to support people in flood-affected Pakistan Operation Sheesh Mahal: Why do BJP and Congress want Delhi CM to resign? Heavy rains, floods in Philippines leave 32 dead, 24 people missing Help people affected by Cyclone Biparjoy: Kejriwal to AAP workers Atmospheric Rivers caused 70% of floods between 1985-2020, says study 53-year-old Mumbai man sells flat for Rs 1.3 cr, loses all to cyber fraud Giani Raghbir Singh replaces Giani Harpreet Singh as Akal Takht Jathedar Cyclone Biparjoy: 10 things you should know after 12 hours of landfall Reducing duty on refined oil imports won't cool prices: Edible oil firms Gopichand Hinduja takes over as chairman of $34.5 billion-worth group
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said on Thursday that the situation in Assam is still grim as nearly 29,000 people in six districts are affected by the floods.

ASDMA said that due to incessant rain in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, the water levels of many rivers are rising, and flood waters and rainwater have flooded 25 villages and other areas under 10 revenue circles in Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Cachar, Nalbari, and Kamrup (Metro) districts.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) flood report, the flood waters have submerged 215.57 hectares of cropland in the flood-affected districts.

As many as 23,516 people, including 1215 children, have been affected alone in Lakhimpur district.

ASDMA said that the district administration of flood-hit Lakhimpur district has set up three relief distribution centres, and rescue teams have been deployed to rescue the flood-affected people.

Total 6,307 animals, including poultry, are also affected by the flood.

Also Read 39 years of Operation Bluestar: What happened in Punjab and the aftermath Heavy rains, floods in Philippines leave 32 dead, 24 people missing Assam HS Result 2023: AHSEC 12th results are out at official website Operation Sheesh Mahal: Why do BJP and Congress want Delhi CM to resign? Assam CEE Result 2023 is out on official website; all you need to know Union minister RK Ranjan's house torched in Manipur as violence intensifies IIT-Madras launches electronic systems programme to boost manufacturing Cyclone Biparjoy: Heavy rains, strong winds damage electric poles in Morbi Audit institutions should be aware of AI technology, says CAG Murmu Latest LIVE: Cyclonic storm to reach Rajasthan, heavy rains expected today

The flood waters on Thursday damaged four embankments and four roads in Dhemai, Biswanath, Goalpara, and Lakhimpur districts.

ASDMA said a few landslide incidents were also reported in Cachar and Kamrup (Metro) districts due to rainfall in the last couple of days.
A section of bike taxi drivers has sought Delhi LG V K Saxena's intervention in helping them stave off a Delhi government ban which proscribed them from plying on city roads in absence of a policy.

The Delhi government had earlier in the week banned app-based taxi services such as Rapido and Uber in view of absence of a policy for plying of bike taxis on city roads.

In a memorandum they handed over to LG's office, the drivers said the Delhi government was adamant on banning their services.

"We will face difficulties in meeting household expenses, getting our children educated and getting our parents treated," read the memorandum.

The Supreme Court had on Monday stayed a Delhi High Court order that essentially allowed Rapido and Uber to operate in the national capital by asking the Delhi government not to take any coercive action against them till a new policy was formulated.

A vacation bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Rajesh Bindal at Supreme Court granted liberty to the two aggregators to request urgent hearing of their pleas by the Delhi HC.

Also Read Top headlines: Airfares high on Holi, Uber to go to court over bike taxi Delhi govt to engage with taxi industry players over bike taxi ban: IAMAI Circular economy necessary to promote livelihood security: Agri scientist Taxi, auto drivers benefitting from Delhi govt policies: Transport Minister Bombay High Court rejects Rapido's plea over plying bike-taxi in Pune US, India united through shared democratic values, says Ohio Senator Cyclone Biparjoy: Storm to reach south Rajasthan today, heavy rains likely We work closely with India on our most vital priorities: US spokesperson Coaching centre fire: Students stage protest, block road demanding justice Cyclone Biparjoy makes landfall with wind speed of over 115 kmph

Transport Commissioner Ashish Kundra said the government will write to aggregators and also appeal to them through the media to comply with the Supreme Court order or face action.

The bench, which stayed the May 26 order of the Delhi HC, also recorded the Delhi government counsel's submission that the final policy will be notified before July-end.
gettyimagesbank



Yoon's office says he was not talking about difficulty level of exam



By Jun Ji-hye



President Yoon Suk Yeol's comments regarding the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), which were construed as instructing the education ministry to make the test easier, are causing confusion among students and parents, just five months before the state-administered college entrance exam is to be held.



The remarks in question were made on Thursday, when Education Minister Lee Ju-ho said during a media briefing that he was instructed by the president to exclude what is not taught at schools from the annual exam, as part of educational reforms.



One of the top three reforms being pursued by the Yoon administration, along with labor and pensions, is overhauling Korea's education system.



Students and parents say the president has aggravated their worries by making the controversial remarks, which could exert an influence on the difficulty level of the CSAT, which is regarded as one of the most important academic events in a Korean person's life.





Education Minister Lee Ju-ho speaks during a media briefing at the presidential office in Seoul, Thursday. Joint Press Corps
The Central Railway on Friday said 13 state-of-the-art nursing pods will be set up at seven major railway stations in its Mumbai division to create a comfortable space for breastfeeding women during their travel.

The Central Railway in a release said the nursing pods will be set up at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Panvel and Lonavala stations.

The nursing pods will have comfortable cushioned seating, a dedicated diaper changing station, a fan for ventilation, a light, and a dustbin for the hygienic disposal of soiled diapers, it said.

Citing that the lack of amenities for expecting and breastfeeding mothers only exacerbates the challenges they face, the Central Railway said each nursing pod will offer a range of amenities designed to enhance the breastfeeding experience for mothers and their babies.

A licenced service provider will be responsible for maintaining the nursing pods, and advertisements will be displayed on the walls of the pods to make them "economically sustainable", the railway release stated.

A nursing pod each will be set up at CSMT, Kalyan and Panvel stations, while two each will be placed at Thane and Lonavala stations and three each at Dadar station and LTT, it stated.

Also Read Vande Bharat pelted with stones in Bengal's Malda; BJP demands NIA probe Rajasthan train derailment: 4 passenger trains cancelled, 1 diverted Rail Budget FY24: Focus on incomplete projects, big push for Make in India North Eastern Railway services to be colour coded in Lucknow division Job seekers made to count trains in New Delhi, duped of over Rs 2.5 cr NCERT's textbooks rationalisation: UGC chief slams academicians' objections 3,000 tourists stuck as flash floods hit Sikkim's Pegong, NH10 blocked Toxic cough syrup risk 'ongoing' and more countries hit, says WHO A downer for air cargo: What accounts for stagnation of industry in FY23 Writer Arundhati Roy receives European Essay Prize for lifetime achievement

The pods will be set up under the National Initiative for Feeding and Resting Infrastructure for Stations (NINFRIS) policy it said.

"This strategic distribution aims to cater to the needs of breastfeeding women across the Mumbai division, which witnesses approximately 35 lakh daily commuters, with around 20 percent being women," the release stated.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday batted for optimum utilisation of the MGNREGA scheme to give a boost to development in rural areas and provide livelihood opportunities.

He was chairing a meeting here to review the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme.

The chief minister called the scheme important as it provides enhancement of livelihood security, giving at least 100 days of guaranteed wage employment in every financial year to every household, whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.

He said the scheme has been implemented in all districts across the state since April 2008, adding that the state government will enhance the budget of this ambitious scheme up to Rs 2,000 crore.

It is heartening to learn that 11.53 lakh active job cards are there in the state, said an official release quoting Mann.

He bemoaned that the wage rate notified under the scheme for the state is Rs 303 less in comparison to the neighbouring Haryana with Rs 357, adding that the state government will raise this issue with the Union government.

Also Read 'That is how you lead,' says Aamir Khan on PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat Punjab govt won't hesitate in taking tough decisions: Kejriwal on Amritpal Centre hikes MGNREGA wages, new rates to be applicable from April 1 Punjab's law and order situation improved under AAP's Mann: Kejriwal Punjab govt has given 27,042 govt jobs to youth, says Bhagwant Mann PM Modi joins Grammy-winning singer Falu for special song on millets SC stays HC order granting bail to Unitech promoter's wife Preeti Chandra Biparjoy: No power in several villages north, Guj braces for heavy rains Madhya Pradesh govt approves cooperative policy with focus on jobs Amazon's $1.7 bn deal to buy Roomba maker iRobot gets UK approval

He also said the state government will also make concerted efforts for the inclusion of laying of underground pipeline activities in the permissible list for accelerating works relating to irrigation, water supply and sanitation.

The state government will also request the Centre to provide corpus funds under the scheme, he added.

Mann said the state government will also seek enhancement of the man-days budget given by the government of India as only 250 lakh man-days target for the state has been assigned which is too less than the previous year's achievement of 321 lakh days.

He also underscored the need to further popularise the scheme for giving benefits to the common man.

An information board should be installed at every workplace under the scheme so that awareness can be spread among the general public about the scheme and the details of the work done can reach them, he added.
Congress on Friday slammed the Centre over the deteriorating law and order in violence-hit Manipur after a mob set Minister of State for External Affairs R.K. Ranjan Singh's house on fire in Imphal.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not speaking up on the issue, the grand-old party said the PM is too busy preparing for his US visit.

In a tweet, Congress General secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Here is a Union Minister from Manipur lamenting the prevailing situation in his state. But the PM is still silent, too busy preparing for his visit to the US while Manipur continues to burn."

His remarks came after Ranjan lamented the burning of his house and said that he was shocked as to how the law and order situation has deteriorated in Manipur.

The Union Minister's house at Kongba in Imphal was torched by a mob late on Thursday night.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said, "Manipur is burning. People are getting killed but the Prime Minister is too busy to talk on the issue.

Also Read 54 dead in Manipur violence, Imphal peaceful, most shops, markets open Imphal peaceful but tense; gunfights between militants, security forces Northeastern Railway cancels all Manipur-bound trains following violence Tribal protest in Manipur turns violent; curfew imposed, internet suspended Army recovers explosives, electric detonators during patrol in Manipur Assam flood: Kejriwal asks AAP workers to help victims in affected areas 53-year-old Mumbai man sells flat for Rs 1.3 cr, loses all to cyber fraud Giani Raghbir Singh replaces Giani Harpreet Singh as Akal Takht Jathedar Cyclone Biparjoy: 10 things you should know after 12 hours of landfall Reducing duty on refined oil imports won't cool prices: Edible oil firms

"On one hand Manipur is burning but the Prime Minister is silent. We demand that the government take immediate action over the law and situation in the north eastern state. A government which cannot handle the situation has no right to remain in power," Vallabh added.

The Union Minister's house was earlier targeted on May 25 when thousands of people attempted to assemble in front of the residence, but were prevented by security forces.

Police said the mob, which was demanding an early solution to the ethnic conflict, accused all the ministers and MLAs that they were not doing enough to end the crisis.

On Wednesday, in a fresh incident of violence, assailants burnt the official residence of Manipur's Industry Minister Nemcha Kipgen in the Lamphel area in Imphal West district.

Kipgen, the lone woman minister in the state, was not at home when the attackers burnt down her official bungalow.

At least 11 people were killed and 23 others injured after suspected militants attacked the Khamelock village in Imphal East district late on Tuesday night.

Officials said the death toll is likely to increase as several of the injured are said to be critical.

--IANS

aks/shb/
Delhi Water Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on Friday wrote to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, requesting him to approve the city government's water augmentation projects such as the rejuvenation of lakes and installation of tubewells on DDA land.

Bhardwaj said Delhi continues to face a water deficit of nearly 300 million gallons per day (MGD), a problem that is expected to worsen due to the upcoming land pooling and redevelopment projects of the central government and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), along with other commercial developments.

He said Delhi, heavily dependent on neighbouring states for water supply from the Yamuna and Ganga rivers, has been actively engaging with the governments of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to secure more water.

However, these efforts have not yielded any positive outcomes so far.

Bhardwaj requested the LG's intervention in procuring additional raw water for the people of Delhi from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

The minister said the Delhi government has put into action a sustainable groundwater extraction plan, involving the installation of tube wells and large-scale groundwater recharge efforts.

Also Read More people coming forward to undergo gender affirmation surgeries: Experts Jharkhand gets Rs 5,271 cr from Budget for rail infrastructure augmentation 1,675 EWS flats in Delhi's Jailorwala Bagh to be completed by March: DDA Delhi HC pulls up DDA over demolition despite stay order in South Delhi Protest against DDA demolition continues for 3rd day in Delhi's Mehrauli Delivery boy thrashed in Bengaluru after girl cooks up kidnapping story Wrestlers want Asian Games trials in Aug, IOA approaches OCA for extension Cyclone Biparjoy adversely impacts APM Terminals Pipavav Port in Gujarat Centre forms expert committee to suggest reforms to arbitration law Philip Green appointed as Australia's next High Commissioner to India

"As a result, Delhi recharged more water than it extracted in the year 2021-22 as per Central Ground Water Board report," he said.

The government is also rejuvenating lakes and water bodies across the city, including the ones owned by the DDA, after obtaining permission, he said, adding that more than 35 water bodies and six lakes have already been successfully rejuvenated.

Bhardwaj rued that the DDA has "withdrawn" the consent given for the rejuvenation of Bhalswa Lake which would have provided 20 MGD of water.

He said despite the DJB's persistent requests and reminders since February, the DDA has granted permission for only 110 out of the 401 tube wells applied for.

Similarly, permission has been granted for only 61 out of the requested 422 lake and water body rejuvenation projects.

These obstacles hinder the DJB's efforts to augment Delhi's water supply, he said, requesting Saxena, who also serves as the chairperson of the DDA, to instruct officials to provide necessary no objection certificates (NOCs) for tube wells, lakes, and water bodies.

According to official estimates, around two crore residents of the capital need approximately 1,300 MGD of water for drinking and daily needs. But the Delhi Jal Board can supply only around 1,000 MGD, leaving many areas grappling with a shortage.

Delhi gets 612 MGD of water from Haryana through two canals and the Yamuna, and 253 MGD from Uttar Pradesh through the Upper Ganga Canal. The rest is drawn from ranney wells and tubewells installed across the city.

The DJB operates nine water treatment plants, 16 ranney wells and around 4,700 tube wells. In the water deficit areas, the DJB provides water through 1,200 tankers.
The passenger count in domestic airlines from January-May 2023 reached an impressive milestone of 636.07 lakh, reflecting a significant annual growth rate of 36.10 per cent compared to the corresponding period in the previous year (Jan-May 2022) when it stood at 467.37 lakh, said an official on Friday.

According to traffic data shared by various airlines, in May 2022, the passenger count stood at 114.67 lakh, and in May 2023, it rose to 132.41 lakh, indicating a month-on-month growth of 15.24 per cent.

Furthermore, the overall passenger number in May 2023 increased by 3.26 lakh (2.52 per cent) compared to April 2023.

"This notable surge in passenger volume demonstrates the strength and resilience of India's aviation sector, highlighting continuous efforts to enhance connectivity and provide convenient travel options for citizens," said the official, adding that the higher load factor of 636.07 lakhs passengers during January-May 2023 indicates a growing demand for air transportation, underscoring the positive trajectory of the aviation industry.

Moreover, the number of passenger complaints decreased in May 2023 compared to May 2019.

In May 2019, scheduled domestic airlines received a total of 746 passenger-related complaints, whereas in May 2023, they received 556 such complaints.

Also Read Indo Count hits 16-month high; surges 36% in four days on strong Q4 results India's airline sector on to a smooth flight despite air pocketsr One year since Tatas took over Air India, here's how the journey has been India emerging as key aviation market, air travel grows: IATA report India has right vision for aviation sector, needs caution with taxes: IATA CBI files chargesheet in Rs 250-cr pulses scam after 17 years: Official PFC Consulting takes over SPV to develop independent transmission projects Teen Murti Bhavan: Residence of Commander-in-Chief, abode of first PM Nehru Congress demands PM Modi convene all-party meeting over Manipur situation Chandrapur police design mobile toilet for women cops on bandobast duty

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said that the continuous expansion of the domestic airline industry, along with the emergence of regional airlines, contributes to the strengthening of the economy, connecting people across the nation and ensuring last-mile connectivity through the UDAN Scheme.

"The Ministry remains committed to creating a favorable environment for the aviation industry to thrive, promoting sustainable growth while upholding the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and passenger satisfaction," he said.

--IANS

ssh/vd
A Tamil Nadu Court on Friday convicted and sentenced Rajesh Das, the former Special Director-General (SDG) of the state police force, to three years in prison in a sexual harassment case filed by a junior officer in February 2021. Das was also fined Rs 10,000.

The court in Tamil Nadu's Villupuram also fined a male cop Rs 500 for attempting to prevent the complaint from being filed.

Das was also granted bail by the same court to file an appeal within 30 days.

What is the case?

The woman police officer accused Das of inappropriate behaviour while the two were on duty in the state's central districts. This was during the tenure of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader Edappadi Palaniswami as chief minister.

The state formed a six-member committee to investigate the complaint.

Also Read Tamil Nadu says won't transfer land ownership to AAI for Coimbatore airport Tamil Nadu revenue deficit down 52%, says budget hailing welfare measures 50% of Rs 2,000 notes returned to banks since announcement: RBI Guv Das How does outgoing TCS CEO Gopinathan's salary compare to other IT execs? Same-sex marriage in India: What did Supreme Court say in the case? CBI files chargesheet in Rs 250-cr pulses scam after 17 years: Official Domestic airlines witness 36.10% increase in passenger count from Jan-May PFC Consulting takes over SPV to develop independent transmission projects Teen Murti Bhavan: Residence of Commander-in-Chief, abode of first PM Nehru Congress demands PM Modi convene all-party meeting over Manipur situation

In addition, following the complaint, which became a major issue ahead of the AIADMK's loss in the 2021 Assembly election, Das was replaced by Jayanth Murali, Additional Director General in charge of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, and placed on compulsory wait, which meant he had no specific assignment.

He was eventually suspended.

What did the Madras High Court say?

Months after the complaint was filed, the Madras High Court dismissed Das's petition challenging the Villupuram court's jurisdiction.

The plea was rejected by Justice P Velmurugan, who stated that the high court found no 'perversity' in the order issued by the Villupuram court in rejecting a similar petition, and directed the lower court not to bear 'prejudice' to the petitioner.

The high court had previously also condemned the incident, calling it 'shocking' and warning of the consequences for other women police officers in Tamil Nadu.

Following the high court's comments, the state government suspended Das.

Matter in the Supreme Court

Das had also petitioned the Supreme Court for the trial to be moved out of the state, fearing that comments made by the Madras High Court would jeopardise his chances of a fair trial.

The Supreme Court refused but did remove some comments and stated that the high court was not required to monitor inquiries.

The Supreme Court also ruled that daily hearings were not required, as ordered by the Madras High Court, which wanted the case resolved in six months.
Gopichand Hinduja has taken over as chairman of the $34.5 billion-worth Hinduja Group following the death of his brother, Srichand Hinduja last month, according to media reports. Srichand Hinduja was 87 years old.

After a long period of illness, Srichand Hinduja died on May 17 at his home in London. He was remembered by over 2,500 guests at a prayer meeting held for him on Thursday in Mumbai.

Srichand Hinduja was not just a wealth creator but an employment generatorcreating 2 lakh jobs across 48 countries. The Indian government has enjoyed a very good relationship with this Group. During Prime Minister Narasimha Raos tenure, the Group extended special assistance to the country, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, said in a video message from Delhi.

Gopichand Hinduja said that his brother was the center of their universe and showed them the way to live in peace and harmony with one another, according to their family's principles and values.

Gopichand Hinduja, who was the co-chairman of the Hinduja Group, oversees a diverse global business empire that spans several sectors such as automotive, oil and specialty chemicals, infrastructure, and power.

Srichand Hinduja was the eldest son of Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja, the founder of the Hinduja group who started his journey in Sindh, in undivided India. In 1914, the founder moved his base to Mumbai and set up an international base in Iran, where the group did exceedingly well for six decades.

Also Read Hinduja group patriarch Srichand P Hinduja passes away at 87 in London Hinduja Global Solutions approves buyback of 6 mn shares at Rs 1,700 each Hinduja group chairman SP Hinduja dies at 87 in London: Family spokesperson Hinduja Housing Finance to raise Rs 800 cr via capital bond, debentures Hinduja's offer to infuse Rs 300 cr more in Reliance General Insurance Help people affected by Cyclone Biparjoy: Kejriwal to AAP workers PM Modi calls for deliberations on food security at G20 agri conference Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society renamed; Rajnath backs decision India-US relationship more critical for space exploration: Ex-Nasa official Earthquake tremors were felt in Guwahati, other parts of Northeast

The Hinduja Group's businesses range from trucks and lubricants to banking and media. The Hinduja brothers own a portfolio of valuable real estate in London, including the historic Old War Office building in Whitehall, which is currently being converted into a Raffles Hotel.

The Hinduja brothers often cited their family philosophy that "everything belongs to everyone." However, in the final years of Srichand Hinduja's life, when he was suffering from dementia, the family was involved in a dispute. A UK court filing, in June 2020, revealed that Srichand had claimed sole ownership of a Geneva-based bank, a claim which was disputed by his three younger brothers, Gopichand, Prakash, and Ashok. The younger brothers argued that Srichand's claim contradicted a 2014 letter signed by all four brothers, which confirmed that all group assets were jointly owned. Srichand Hinduja, represented by his daughter Vinoo, argued in a UK court that the 2014 letter should not be considered a legal document in inheritance matters, and that it cannot be used as a will or a power of attorney.
India is much better suited than China to play a leading role in resolving the war in Ukraine because of New Delhi's old relationship with Moscow, a top Indian American Congressman has said.

Congressman Ami Bera said he would love to see the Indian administration use its full diplomatic capacities to help end the conflict in Ukraine.

He said he was not sure if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden will discuss the conflict in Ukraine in their meeting in the Oval Office next week.

I am not sure (talks on this issue) will happen, but I certainly think India can play a leading role in helping us resolve the Russia-Ukraine crisis. India obviously has an old relationship with Russia, Bera told PTI on Thursday.

The Prime Minister can have conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin that we're not going to be able to have. I think it's in everyone's interest to see some resolution to this conflict. So, you see (Chinese President) Xi Jinping trying to negotiate some sort of ceasefire or resolution. I actually think India is much better suited for this role, because of the relationship that they have with Vladimir Putin, Bera said.

During the White House meeting next week, he said Biden and Modi will talk about economic partnerships.

Also Read Wall Street Journal reporter detained in Russia, US condemns strongly US firms prioritize others over China: American Chamber of Commerce China With $30 bn bilateral trade turnover, India, Russia plan big for 2023 Any Ukraine peace talks should focus on creating 'new world order': Lavrov War in Ukraine reaches Moscow; Russian capital hit by biggest drone attack Assam floods leave 29,000 people, 25 villages affected, rescue ops underway Union minister RK Ranjan's house torched in Manipur as violence intensifies IIT-Madras launches electronic systems programme to boost manufacturing Cyclone Biparjoy: Heavy rains, strong winds damage electric poles in Morbi Audit institutions should be aware of AI technology, says CAG Murmu

There'll be some conversations around trade relations. I think they'll talk about supply chains. India can be a critical supplier of raw ingredients. They certainly have a mature pharmaceutical sector, but also on the technology side, he said.

There will be a discussion around geopolitical security, Bera said, adding that it will involve what is happening on India's northern border with China and those border incursions.

It will also be in maritime space. I think there'll be conversations about the defence relationship, some of the opportunities for co-production, Bera said.

Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. They will host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. The visit also includes an address to the Joint Session of the Congress on June 22.

Bera said Modi's state visit to the US is a recognition of the strength of the India-US relationship.

The fact that he's invited by a Democratic President for a State Visit and by a Republican Speaker of the House for a joint session of Congress emphasises the bipartisan nature of the US-India relationship; how Congress and the administration see the importance of this relationship, he said.

Bera, who is in his sixth consecutive term, is the senior most and the longest serving Indian American Congressman in the House of Representatives.

He is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Select Committee on Intelligence.

(The address to the joint session of the Congress) gives Prime Minister Modi an opportunity to lay out how India is viewing the relationship to members of Congress; those important opportunities both in the economic space and supply chain, but also in regional security in Asia.

"I think it's a platform that the prime minister can use to emphasise the importance of the relationship from the Indian side, Bera said.

He said the US-India relationship could be the most important partnership of the 21st century.

Coming out of the pandemic, the opportunity for stronger partnerships in vaccine development in the pharmaceutical space, defence relationship has been very strong.

"I anticipate you'll see some announcements in the defence space that come out of the State Visit. So, I think President Biden has been a leader in this space and continues to be, Bera said.

The pandemic was a challenge for the US and India, he said, asserting that Modi and Biden should look at opportunities around supply chains, co-production technologies and how to work together on artificial intelligence.

Under President Biden, the Quad coalition has been elevated to the leader's level, he said.

That has placed an emphasis. Often people will say, this is about China, and certainly, China looms large in the conversation. But it's about more than that. It's about economic cooperation.

"It's about working together as leading democracies. It's about maritime security and freedom of navigation. I think you will continue to see the Quad take on more and more importance, he said.

Bera also said the diaspora is starting to play a role in moving the US-India relationship into a positive direction.
The relationship between India and the US is absolutely critical on earth and possibly even more so in space, a former top NASA official has said, describing India as a "sleeping giant" for whom the sky is no longer the limit.

Mike Gold, the former associate administrator for Space Policy and Partnerships at NASA, hoped that cooperation in the field of space would be one of the major areas of discussion between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden when they meet here at the White House next week.

The relationship between the United States and India is absolutely critical on earth, and possibly even more so in space. India will soon become the fourth country to be able to launch its citizens into space and is therefore a global leader in the field, said Gold who is currently Chief Growth Officer of Florida-based Redwire Space.

Sky is no longer the limit for India, he told PTI on Thursday.

Gold is considered an architect of the Artemis Accord, a set of agreements that lay out a framework for responsible exploration of the moon.

India is conducting missions to monitor and investigate, explore climate change on the earth through the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) programme, which is a joint project between NASA and ISRO to co-develop and launch a dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar on an earth observation satellite.

Also Read US, Japan sign pact at Nasa Headquarters for deep space exploration Nasa to invest $45mn in small biz to develop tech for future missions Indian, US space officials discuss human space exploration in Washington China to send its first civilian to space on Tuesday, says space agency China to send astronauts to Moon by 2030 as space race intensifies Earthquake tremors were felt in Guwahati, other parts of Northeast Modi to lead Yoga day celebrations at UN, address US Congress next week PM Modi to visit US, Egypt from June 20 to 25 in separate state visits: MEA Mangoes draw high prices as erratic weather affects production Biparjoy: IMD issues orange alert in Rajasthan, heavy rains predicted

India is going to the moon with a lunar rover, and India is going to the Sun. I think that's wonderful synergy and balance between both the Sun and a Moon mission that India is conducting.

"And of course, the Gaganyaan mission, the first crew mission that it's conducting. India has also been extraordinarily innovative relative to implementing these very ambitious space programmes at affordable and low costs, Gold said.

In this new world of commercial space, it is not enough to execute programmes, but if you can do so in a fashion that is affordable, robust, and still successful, that is extraordinarily important, he said.

India has been leading the way, certainly from a government perspective, in terms of enacting these bold visions and programmes in a fashion that has been very affordable, particularly relative to what occurs in the West, Gold said.

India is clear, successfully leveraging its incredible human capital, he said, adding that it is not rocket fuel that gets missions to space but people and India excels in its people.

"It's got an incredible human capital base that I believe is what's allowing India, certainly in part, to be able to execute these ambitious missions in an affordable, effective, and timely fashion, he said.

Relative to the relationship with the United States, India is becoming and really is already one of the greatest space powers, making the relationship with the US absolutely vital, he said.

India and the US working together on NISAR to gather critical climate data information about the earth is absolutely vital, Gold said.

That is an example of how India and the US together can literally save the world with information that these two space powers can bring together, he said.

As India moves forward into crew operations, that's where I hope we can build upon the foundation of collaborations like NISAR in the scientific field to build broad and deep relationships.

"In human space flight. I hope that NASA can cooperate and coordinate with ISRO as much as possible to support India's human space flight goals in the US generally, Gold said.

He hoped that the International Space Station would become the destination for Indian astronauts.

There is an incredible opportunity to partner with India because while human space flight is critical and important, wonderful for exploration, inspiration and for science, it requires a destination and a place to go to, he said.

"As we look at where the Indian and US relationship will evolve, it can begin with partnerships with NASA and what's occurring with the ISS, but in parallel to that, we should be having discussions now between private sector entities and ISRO in regards to leveraging the new wave of commercial space stations that will eventually succeed the ISS, he said.

The former top NASA official hoped that India joins the ARTEMIS accords as it journeys to the moon.

Part of the reason that it's absolutely vital for India to execute the accords is because India is already going to the moon. India is a lunar country. The purpose of the accords is to ensure that we have a peaceful and prosperous future in space, he said.

I believe that India is a sleeping giant when it comes to commercial space. You have amazing amounts of human capital, of manufacturing capacity that when applied to commercial space could be transformative, not just for India, but for the entire commercial space sector, Gold said.

Redwire Space, he said, is in discussions with an Indian company to explore partnerships of possible manufacturing in India.

I think any company that isn't engaged in dialogues to explore potential operations in India is foolish and will regret not doing so, he said.

Gold, however, said the barrier that many commercial space companies and the private sector, in general, have faced in India is bureaucracy.

There have been challenges relative to the amount of bureaucracy to access public-private partnerships or to work with Indian entities, which is why the reforms and current regulations are so welcome, he said.

The only thing holding back India is India. For India to then open up entrepreneurialism, the opportunities for global partnerships in commercial space that I think is going to be transformative.

"And I applaud what Prime Minister Modi and the leadership of ISRO have done to catapult India into the future via the new policies, reforms, and regulations for commercial space, Gold said.

It's extraordinarily exciting not only for India but for all of us in the private sector in America, he added.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is on a two-day trip to Cuba, met top officials of the Latin American country on Friday and held discussions on cooperation in various key sectors.

During his separate meetings with Cuban deputy minister of Public Health, Tania Margarita Cruz and Havana Governor, Yanet Hernndez Prez, in the capital of the Latin American country, the two sides held discussions on cooperation in Ayurveda, the public health sector, literature, and housing, among others.

A statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said Cruz expressed interest in collaborating with Kerala's health sector, and Perez sought cooperation in various sectors like science and sports.

The Governor sought Kerala's cooperation in urban affairs, housing, and agriculture, and the meeting also decided to create an opportunity to engage the literary communities in both Havana and Kerala and ensure participation in the international film and book festivals.

Discussions regarding the exchange of expertise in research and best practices to understand the public health sector in Cuba and Kerala will be conducted along with studies on tropical diseases, it said.

Vijayan said that Cuba's achievements in public health and medical research are recognised worldwide, and the cooperation with the Latin American country will boost Kerala's health sector.

Also Read The Kerala Story gets 'A' certificate from censor board, 10 scenes deleted US removes more than 300 Cuban migrants from remote Florida islands LDF Govt comes out with "Real Kerala Story" ad on 2nd anniversary day State prepared to handle Covid-19 wave, says Kerala Health Minister Manish Sisodia gave evasive replies, did not cooperate investigation: CBI Tamil Nadu sees record number of tourist arrivals till May, says govt Gujarat: Over 1,000 teams working to restore power in eight districts PM Modi's US visit to focus on defence, technology, industry cooperation 236,000 nominations filed for 74k seats for West Bengal panchayat polls 85 Odisha NDRF rescuers undergo assessment for PTSD, found 'okay'

The chief minister also said that the South Indian state will promote Ayurveda in Cuba and will train Cubans in that regard.

On Thursday, Vijayan had met Cuban President Miguel Daz-Canel and discussed the possibilities of cooperation in the fields of sports, health, and biotechnology.

Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal and State Health Minister Veena George, were part of the delegation.

Vijayan, who is on a tour to the US and Cuba, reached the Latin American nation for a two-day visit on Thursday.

He had left for Cuba on Wednesday after concluding his nearly week-long US visit.
European dealers pose at the KUMHO TCR World Tour Event at the Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi, north of Rome, Sunday. Courtesy of Kumho Tire



Company invites dealers to KUMHO TCR World Tour motorsport event



By Kim Jae-heun



Kumho Tire hosted a party of 50-plus dealers at the Vallelunga race circuit near Rome, Italy, from June 9 to 11, as part of its goal of strengthening its presence in the European market, a company official said Thursday.



The tiremaker invited dealers from across Europe to witness the fifth and sixth rounds of the KUMHO TCR World Tour held at the Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi, north of the Italian capital, and to experience the full effect of the car races via a range of additional activities including a grid walk. The company also hosted a "Kumho Night in Rome" at which it presented flagship products and its sales and marketing strategies.



The events enabled Kumho to communicate directly with dealers to help raise its brand recognition in Europe. A number of senior company officials were on hand at the events, including Kumho Tire CEO Jung Il-taik, Sales Division head Lim Seung-bin, Europe Sales head Lee Gang-seung (Tony) and Global Marketing Senior Vice President Yoon Jang-hyuk (Tony).



"I am proud to say that we have been able to turn things around over the last few years. Our sales have grown despite challenges such as the pandemic and supply chain disruptions," Jung said. "This year we are focusing on sharpening the competitive edge of our products, expanding our market influence through increased supply of tires, improving our sales and logistics service infrastructure, enhancing our brand value with the aim of achieving the largest volume of sales in our history and solidifying our position as a company capable of sustainable growth."



"Last year our sales in Europe grew 45 percent, year-on-year, and we are enjoying significant growth momentum this year as well," Lee said. "We have been recognized for our technological prowess in the European market and have strived to expand our sales network through tailored promotions for customers and a variety of other sales and marketing activities. We are also contributing to the creation of future markets."



The KUMHO TCR World Tour, which kicked off in Portugal in May, takes place in eight countries on four continents, also visiting Argentina, Australia, Belgium, China, Italy, Hungary and Uruguay. A host of world-renowned carmakers such as Audi, Honda and Hyundai participate in the events, for which their cars are fitted with Kumho's Ecsta S700 (dry) and W701 (wet) racing tires. The famous Vallelunga Circuit is named after the Italian racing hero Piero Taruffi and hosts a number of key formula and endurance races.




Sawakat Hussain, a farmer from Bengals Birbhum district, brought Miyazaki  the worlds most expensive variety of mango  to the mango festival in Siliguri last week. It fetched him Rs 30,000 a piece, or equal to the price of five grams of 24-carat gold.

Kohitoor, a speciality mango from Bengal, fetched Rs 2,500 a piece at the same event.

Even the more common varieties of mangoes are fetching higher prices this year as unfavourable climatic conditions have hurt production.

Mango traders said that production of Alphonso mangoes, which are called 'hapoos' in Maharashtra and the Konkan belt, has halved to about 2.5 million boxes (each containing six dozen mangoes) and this, in turn, has driven up their prices, according to a report in The Economic Times (ET).

The Kesar mangoes from Gujarat have also become costlier.

Lower production is also affecting exports. The UAE, Qatar, the UK, the US, Kuwait, Oman, Canada, Singapore, Bahrain and Bhutan are the top importing countries. In FY23, India had exported mangoes worth Rs 360 crores to these nations.

Also Read Mango exporters from Uttar Pradesh tap markets in Gulf and Europe Commercial LPG cylinder prices slashed by Rs 171.50; to cost Rs 1856.50 Gold declines Rs 490 to Rs 61,420 per 10 gram; silver dips by Rs 500 Maruti Suzuki Jimny: Banking on Gypsy's legacy to take on the SUV challenge Domestic LPG cylinder price hiked by Rs 50 from today; details here Cyclone Biparjoy: IMD issues orange alert in parts of Rajasthan today India records 69 fresh Covid-19 infections, active cases decline to 2,017 Biparjoy leaves trail of destruction in Gujarat before weakening into storm J-K encounter: 5 foreign terrorists killed in Kupwara, search operation on Electric cables catch fire on under-construction Metro line-4 in Thane

Sanjay Pansare, director (fruit) at the Mumbai Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), said that the early crop of Alphonso mangoes in February was huge, but the production in April and May decreased significantly, which led to increase in prices.

"Climatic conditions have impacted the production and the arrival (of mangoes) to the mandi, he said.

Alphonso mangoes that come to markets early in December-January, before the main mango season, fetch a price of Rs 5,000 per dozen or more.

Kaushal Khakhar, an exporter of fruit and vegetables, told ET that when it comes to mangoes, price is not a barrier for Indians.

Khakhar said that even overseas Indians are ready to pay a premium for top-quality Indian mangoes. Hapoos mangoes were sold for $50 per dozen in the US last year.

This year, the price is $25 to $35," he said.

The fall in price is due to lower freight rates.

The Miyazaki mangoes that Hussain sold at the Siliguri mango festival were bought by local people, underlining Indias love for the fruit.

Talking to ET, Hussain said that he bought a few saplings of the Miyazaki variety from Bangladesh and after one-and-a-half years of planting, he got 38 mangoes.

The plant needs extraordinary care, he said.

A Miyazaki mango weighs 350 grams and can go up to 900 grams. In the international market, this variety can cost around Rs 2.5 lakh per kg.
The Supreme Court on Friday deferred to June 23 the hearing of the anticipatory bail plea of Abhishek Jha, the husband of suspended Jharkhand cadre IAS officer Pooja Singhal, in a money laundering case related to the alleged MNREGA scam in the state.

Singhal, a 2000-batch IAS officer, is the main accused in the alleged scam involving embezzlement of public funds of Rs 18.07 crore when she was the deputy commissioner of Khunti district.

A vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah, which refused to grant any interim protection to Jha, said the allegations against him serious and it would be appropriate if he surrenders and seeks regular bail.

The counsel appearing for Jha said he is a businessman and is seeking anticipatory bail as his daughter is suffering from serious ailments. This court, the lawyer said, has twice granted interim bail to his wife for taking care of their daughter.

"All this you should have thought before indulging in these activities. We are not inclined to grant you anticipatory bail in a case of this nature," the court told the counsel.

The counsel said since the court is not inclined to grant anticipatory bail, it would be appropriate if a senior advocate is allowed to pursue the matter before another bench. Supreme Court benches usually don't hear arguments of senior lawyers during vacations in order to encourage juniors.

Also Read Suspended Jharkhand IAS officer gets interim bail in money laundering case Pre-arrest bail remedy to be granted in extraordinary cases: Delhi court ED seizes Rs 3.5 cr cash in MGNREGA fund scam involving IAS Pooja Singhal Jharkhand Assembly adjourned twice on ruckus over new employment policy MNREGA demand-driven, sufficient funds being provided, says Giriraj Singh Rice war intensifies in Karnataka, Cong posts letter of commitment by FCI All out efforts by Centre to bring back peace in restive Manipur: Official Felling of trees should be last resort in city gasping for breath: Delhi HC Govt sets up panel to recommend arbitration law reforms bed by Vishwanathan More than 200 teams deployed in Gir, 2 lion cubs rescued amid Biparjoy

The bench said, "Yes, we can post this matter next week. You can take your chances before the next vacation bench but we are not inclined to grant you any relief. Maybe that bench allows senior advocates to argue."



Justice Amanullah said he was part of the bench which had granted interim bail to Pooja Singhal and knew the facts of the case.

On January 3 and February 10, the top court had granted interim bail to Singhal in the money laundering case to look after her ailing daughter.

On June 12, the top court had agreed to hear the anticipatory bail plea of Jha challenging the Jharkhand High Court order denying him the relief.

The High Court had on May 18 dismissed Jha's plea and asked him to surrender before the court in four weeks.

"As held by the Supreme Court, in offences under PMLA, rigors of Section 45 will apply. Considering the magnitude of crime involving proceeds of crime to the tune of crores with evidence of it being carefully layered and laundered through investments, materials on record, risk of flight and for the plea taken on behalf of the ED, I do not find this a case fit for grant anticipatory bail," Justice Gautam Kumar Chaudhary had said while rejecting his application.

According to the prosecution, Jha's financial fortunes soared after his marriage to Singhal and cash started flowing into his bank accounts. The money was allegedly the proceeds of crime generated through corrupt practices by Singhal.

Jha has claimed the money was his legitimate income from a job in Australia.

The high-profile IAS officer was posted as the deputy commissioner of Khunti from February 16, 2009 to July 19, 2010. The two married in 2011.

"Large scale embezzlement of public funds was detected and 16 FIRs were lodged detailed in para 1.6 of the prosecution complaint in the District of Khunti where Puja Singhal was the Deputy Commissioner at the relevant time. The total amount alleged to have been embezzled as per the 16 FIRs were to the tune of Rs 18.06 Crores. In all the 16 FIRs, charge sheets were filed against Ram Binod Prasad Sinha, RK Jain and others, the HC order said.

It said the investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) unearthed proceeds of crime in various layers of money laundering, and properties worth Rs 4.28 crore, including the interest on these properties, were attached.

The order referred to the search and seizure operations at nearly 30 premises linked to Singhal and her associates in Ranchi, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Faridabad, Gurugram and Muzaffarpur during which cash totalling Rs 19.76 crore was seized, besides incriminating documents and digital devices.

The high court recorded the main case against Singhal related to the period when she was the DC of Khunti during which she allegedly connived with the engineers of the special division and the district board, and embezzled Rs 18.06 crore.

Referring to the allegations against Jha, the court cited Singhal's chartered accountant Suman Kumar, who claimed he was making investments on behalf of his wife.

Singhal has been accused of setting up Pulse Sanjeevani hospital in Ranchi with her husband to launder her ill-gotten wealth.

Jha has claimed in his statement made under Section 50 of the PMLA that the source of infusion of money in M/s Pulse Sanjeevani Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. was his savings from the job in Australia, and gifts that he received during his tilak and marriage ceremonies.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the International Yoga Day celebrations at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and later address a joint sitting of the US Congress as part of his four-day visit next week.

Modi will be on a state visit to the US on June 20-24 and he will then travel to Egypt on June 25-26, said a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday.

This will be Modi's eighth visit to the US after becoming Prime Minister and the second since US President Joe Biden took office.

Modis visit comes at the invitation of President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, and will commence in New York, the MEA said.

The UN General Assembly, in December 2014, adopted a resolution proclaiming June 21 as the International Day of Yoga. The draft resolution was proposed by India and endorsed by a record 175 UN member states.

Modi will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22, and meet President Biden to continue their high-level dialogue, the release said.

Also Read Lenovo Yoga 9i review: Premium 2-in-1 laptop powered by Intel Core i7-1360P PM Narendra Modi to visit US from June 21 to 25: What is a state visit? International Labour Day: Celebrations, history, and all you need to know India-Egypt bilateral trade to top $12 billion in next 5 years: PM Modi World TB Day: PM Modi launches initiatives to eliminate disease by 2025 PM Modi to visit US, Egypt from June 20 to 25 in separate state visits: MEA Mangoes draw high prices as erratic weather affects production Biparjoy: IMD issues orange alert in Rajasthan, heavy rains predicted India records 69 fresh Covid-19 infections, active cases decline to 2,017 Biparjoy leaves trail of destruction in Gujarat before weakening into storm

As is customary for a visiting foreign leader, the US President and First Lady will host a state dinner in honour of the Prime Minister June 22 evening.

That day, the Prime Minister will address a Joint Sitting of the US Congress at the invitation of Congressional leaders, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Speaker of the Senate Charles Schumer.

The next day, Modi will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

In addition to the official engagements, Modi is scheduled to have several curated interactions with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders. He will also meet members of the Indian Diaspora.

Egypt visit

Modi will be in Egypt on June 24 for a two-day visit for his first state visit to the North African Arab nation, said the MEA.

The visit is at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi extended in January 2023 when he was the chief guest at Indias Republic Day celebrations in Delhi.

Bilateral relations between both nations were also agreed to be elevated to a Strategic Partnership back then.

Apart from bilateral talks with the Egyptian President, Modi is likely to interact with senior dignitaries from the Egyptian Government, some prominent Egyptian personalities, as well as the Indian community in Egypt, the MEA said.

India's total trade with Egypt stood at $6.06 billion in 2022-2023, down from $7.2 billion in the previous year. Exports from India ($4.1 billion), is primarily led by refined petroleum, which has seen an uptick in FY23, alongside organic chemicals, heavy machinery, iron and steel, and cotton.
NATO launched a new centre Friday for protecting undersea pipelines and cables following the still-unsolved apparent attack on the Nord Stream pipelines and amid concern Russia is mapping vital Western infrastructure for energy and the internet in waters around Europe.

The threat is developing, Lt. Gen. Hans-Werner Wiermann, who heads a special cell focused on the challenge, said after NATO defence ministers gave the greenlight for the new centre, located in Northwood, northwest London.

Russian ships have actively mapped our critical undersea infrastructure.There are heightened concerns that Russia may target undersea cables and other critical infrastructure in an effort to disrupt Western life, he told reporters at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

NATO was spurred into action after an apparent attack on two Baltic Sea gas pipelines in September.

The suspected attacks on the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines, which were built to carry Russian natural gas to Germany, are still being investigated.

No blame has been officially attributed, but NATO has boosted its presence in the Baltic and North Seas since then, with dozens of ships, supported by maritime patrol aircraft and undersea equipment like drones.

Also Read IndianOil, Adani-Total, Shell lap up Reliance's KG-D6 gas; IOC top bidder CNG, piped gas prices to be cut but no clarity on deregulation: Analysts IndianOil top bidder for Reliance's KG gas for second auction in row Pakistan, Turkmenistan ink Joint Implementation Plan for TAPI gas pipeline In line with new govt rules, Reliance re-auctions gas from its KG-D6 block Biparjoy's remnant may help advance monsoon over east India: Meteorologists Union minister's house in Manipur set on fire; fresh clashes in Imphal Tamil Nadu sees record number of tourist arrivals till May, says govt Gujarat: Over 1,000 teams working to restore power in eight districts Kerala CM holds discussions about health, literature with Cuban authorities

About 8,000 kilometers of oil and gas pipelines crisscross the North Sea alone, and systems, networks and grids are impossible to watch 24/7.

Around 100 cable cutting incidents are reported every year around the world, and it is often hard to tell whether they are deliberate.

There's no way that we can have NATO presence along also these thousands of kilometers of undersea infrastructure, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters after chairing the meeting.

But we can be better at collecting intelligence, sharing information, connecting the dots, because also in the private sector there is a lot of information about ship movements and maritime surveillance, he added.

Rather than trying to watch it all, the new centre and NATO allies are focusing on high-risk areas. Pipelines in shallow waters that can easily be reached by divers are considerably vulnerable.

Potential damage to data cables can be mitigated more easily by simply dropping in more cables.

Whatever the target, NATO believes it's important to catch saboteurs as they prepare their attacks.

To support the centre, allies have decided to set up a critical undersea infrastructure network, bringing together NATO, allies and private sector actors. This will help to help improve information sharing about evolving risks and threats, Wiermann said.
The toll in Bahanaga Bazar train disaster rose to 290 after a 17-year-old resident of Bihar succumbed to his injuries in SCB Medical College and Hospital here on Friday, officials said.

Prakash Ram, who was travelling in the ill-fated Shalimar-Chennai Coromondel Express on June 2 when it met with the accident, was undergoing treatment at the surgery ward of the state-run hospital, he said.

He had sustained severe head and leg injuries, besides internal injuries and was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition. A portion of his left leg was amputated below the knee but his condition deteriorated during the past few days, the hospital authority said.

It informed the local police about the death and the body will be handed over to Prakash's family after post-mortem.

Hospital superintendent Sudhanshu Sekhar Mishra told PTI that the doctors had carried out a second amputation above the left knee three days ago as the patient had suffered from infection after blood transfusion. "The patient was okay till Thursday night, he was talking and taking his food. But he died suddenly on Friday morning.

"He had suffered multiple injuries involving multiple systems and multiple organs. We can't tell the exact reason now ; we are investigating the details," it said.

Also Read One more Coromandel train crash victim succumbs; death toll rises to 289 Hospitals across India hold mock drills to verify Covid readiness Odisha train tragedy: District hospitals witness huge flow of patients 98 people injured in road accidents during New Year celebrations in Lucknow No official communication to colleges yet regarding 4-year hons in UG level Pre-arrest bail remedy to be granted in extraordinary cases: Delhi court Farmers in Rajasthan to get housing loans under cooperative scheme Nearly 300,000 people to be affected after removal of pontoon bridge in UP Union minister R K Ranjan's house set on fire in Manipur by mob Have taken significant strides in combating climate change: PM Modi

Prakash is the second accident victim to have died in the hospital from Tuesday. Bijay Paswan, also from Bihar, had succumbed to his injuries on that day at the SCB Medical College and Hospital.

Meanwhile, the identities of bodies of 81 victims preserved at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, are yet to be ascertained. The claimants are waiting for DNA test reports. A total of 78 families have given DNA samples.

The Chennai-bound Coromandel Express, Howrah-bound SMVP Superfast Express from Bengaluru and a goods train were involved in one of the country's worst rail accidents near Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Odisha's Balasore district on June 2.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US next week is expected to be high on substance as both sides are looking at concrete outcomes in a range of key areas such as defence and critical technology and ways to simplify regulatory framework for deeper industrial cooperation.

People familiar with the preparation for the trip said a major aspect of Modi's state visit to Washington will be to lay a ground for forging a strong technology partnership and enhance economic engagement between India and the US.

There is a "very genuine and widespread interest" on both sides to use the visit to take the relationship to the next level, they said.

"In terms of focus areas of discussions, it would perhaps be a very forward leaning visit," said one of the people cited above.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday formally announced Modi's two-nation state visit to the US and Egypt from June 20 to 25.

Following Modi's talks with US President Joe Biden, the two sides are expected to firm up a number of arrangements and deals, including one for India's procurement of 30 armed drones.

Also Read Robust defence finance system backbone of strong military: Rajnath Singh Need to promote innovations useful for defence, civil sectors: Rajnath Launch of 'Innovation Bridge' to connect US, Indian defence startups PM Narendra Modi arrives in Ahmedabad to bid adieu to his mother PM Modi performs last rites of his mother Heeraben in Gandhinagar 236,000 nominations filed for 74k seats for West Bengal panchayat polls 85 Odisha NDRF rescuers undergo assessment for PTSD, found 'okay' 10 KW Solar-wind hybrid power plant installed in Arunachal Pradesh Nehru name drop: Cong calls it 'petty', BJP hits back with 'modiabind' barb With falling inflation, stock markets about to hit 52 week high levels

Both the leaders are also likely to deliberate on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the situation in the Indo-Pacific, China's aggressive behaviour in the region and other pressing regional and global issues of mutual interests.

Modi's visit to the US will commence in New York, where he will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the headquarters of the United Nations on June 21.

From New York, he will travel to Washington where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22, and meet President Biden to continue their high-level dialogue.

Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host a state dinner in honour of Modi the same evening.

The prime minister will address a joint sitting of the US Congress on June 22, according to the MEA. On June 23, he will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Bilnken, it said.

In addition to the official engagements, the prime minister is scheduled to have several curated interactions with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders, the MEA said.

He will also meet members of the Indian diaspora.

The people cited above said Modi's visit will be "high on substance".

"Even the symbolism would also be very highly substantive in terms of the political messaging," said one of them, adding there is a "deep, genuine, strong and widespread interest" on the visit by both sides.

In the second leg of his two-nation visit, Modi will travel to Cairo to pay a state visit to Egypt from June 24 to 25.

The visit is at the invitation of Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the President of Egypt, which he extended to Modi in January when he graced India's Republic Day celebrations as the 'Chief Guest'.

This will be Modi's first visit to Egypt as prime minister.

"Apart from his talks with President Sisi, the prime minister is likely to interact with senior dignitaries from the Egyptian government, some prominent Egyptian personalities, as well as the Indian community in Egypt," the MEA said.

"Relations between India and Egypt are based on ancient trade and economic linkages as well as cultural and deep-rooted people-to-people ties," it said.

During the state visit of Sisi to India in January, it was agreed to elevate the relationship between the two countries to a strategic partnership.
A Delhi court has denied pre-arrest bail to a man accused of involvement in organised cyber crime, saying anticipatory bail was an extraordinary remedy and is to be given only in extraordinary cases.

Vacation Judge Aparna Swami dismissed the application filed by Shivam Kumar, and directed him to join the investigation.

Anticipatory bail is an extraordinary remedy and is to be given only in extraordinary cases. The present (case) does not warrant the same and thus, in light of the above discussion, I do not find this to be a fit case for grant of anticipatory bail, the judge said in an order passed on June 12.

The court noted the case involved around 600 victims who were cheated of Rs 4.47 crore.

The court also noted cyber police of seven states had issued notices for freezing the bank account of the company of the accused.

This being an economic offence, it must be dealt with sternly in the matter of bail... For the case to be taken to its logical end, it requires detailed investigation, which in turn is dependent on sustained interrogation of the applicant/accused, the judge said.

Also Read Gauhati HC rejects Indian Youth Congress chief's anticipatory bail plea Youth Cong chief files anticipatory bail plea in sexual harassment case Pakistan's ex-PM Imran Khan gets interim bail in eight cases until June 8 Delhi excise policy case: HC seeks ED's reply in Benoy Babu's bail plea Allahabad HC grants anticipatory bail to BJP's Chinmayanand in rape case Farmers in Rajasthan to get housing loans under cooperative scheme Nearly 300,000 people to be affected after removal of pontoon bridge in UP Union minister R K Ranjan's house set on fire in Manipur by mob Have taken significant strides in combating climate change: PM Modi PM Modi to address FedEx, Mastercard, other US CEOs during US trip

The accused had sought anticipatory bail, claiming he was only a director in the company and had no role in the offence. He alleged he was falsely implicated in the case.

The prosecution opposed the application on the ground that an amount of Rs 14 lakh cheated from the victims was yet to be recovered and his custodial interrogation was needed to unearth the conspiracy.

According to the prosecution, Rs 14 lakh of the cheated amount was transferred to the bank account of the company where the applicant was one of the directors.

An FIR was lodged under various sections including 420 (cheating) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC.

The prosecution claimed the accused had not joined the investigation despite notice and also switched off his mobile phone.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday demanded that the Punjab government procure maize at the minimum support price of Rs 2,090 per quintal to ensure that farmers do not resort to distress sales.

In a statement issued here, Badal accused the government of running away from its responsibility. Due to this, the farmers are being forced to sell their produce at Rs 500 to Rs 600 per quintal to private traders, he claimed.

Demanding immediate procurement of the entire maize crop at MSP, the SAD president said, "Failing to do so will deal a severe blow to the (crop) diversification attempts of the Punjab government".

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had announced with much fanfare that maize, sunflower and pulses would be procured at MSP due to which farmers had increased the acreage under these crops, Badal said.

"Now, when the time has come to procure the produce, the AAP government has run away from its responsibility," he charged.

Besides procuring maize at MSP, he said, the government should compensate the farmers for the losses suffered by them due to selling their crops to private traders.

Also Read Scores of political dignitaries, supporters reach Badal's native village People throng SAD office to pay homage to Badal; PM pays floral tributes Nadda pays last respect to Shiromani Akali Dal patron Parkash Singh Badal Electing SAD candidate from Jalandhar will be homage to Parkash: Sukhbir Parkash Singh Badal cremated at ancestral village; leaders pay respects Odisha Triple Train Accident: Death toll increases to 290, says official Pre-arrest bail remedy to be granted in extraordinary cases: Delhi court Farmers in Rajasthan to get housing loans under cooperative scheme Nearly 300,000 people to be affected after removal of pontoon bridge in UP Union minister R K Ranjan's house set on fire in Manipur by mob

"The government should release this compensation immediately," he added.

Badal said the government should also facilitate farmers in bringing their maize crop to the market.

"Adequate dryers should be provided in the markets to help farmers dry their produce and cleaning facilities should also be provided," he said.

Badal accused Mann of cheating farmers and asked him not to make promises he had no intention of fulfilling.

Last year, farmers who believed the chief minister's promise that the state would purchase their moong crop had suffered heavy losses, he said.

"Farmers responded eagerly to the chief minister's appeal to sow moong and the area under the pulse also increased by 55 per cent. However, there were no takers for moong once it came to the market, leading to huge losses with many farmers even failing to recover their investment costs," he alleged.
War over supply of rice in Karnataka escalated on Friday with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah posting the commitment letter in the public domain as challenged by BJP National General Secretary C.T. Ravi.

The development is being seen as a setback to BJP, which had decided to take up protest from July 1 regarding the matter.

"C.T. Ravi had challenged us to show the commitment letter by the Food Corporation of India (FCI). Here it comes. The intelligent voters have defeated the BJP in the elections for their irresponsible statements, lies and false propaganda," Siddaramaiah slammed.

BJP leaders, including Ravi, should not support the central government's anti-people's stand which aims at snatching the food of the poor. They should pressure the central government to provide rice for the Anna Bhagya scheme. The scheme intends to provide 10 kilograms of free rice to all members of BPL card holders, he said.

Notably, Ravi had slammed the Congress government for accusing the Centre of not providing rice to the state despite having sufficient stocks. He had asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to produce the commitment letter in this regard by the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

Speaking to reporters, the BJP reporters had stated if he is not "lying", then he should show the letter by FCI promising rice to Karnataka state. Let them stop making false allegations and provide money to people to buy the rice. The Centre has not sent a letter that they will send the rice so that the Congress government projects it as its scheme and then distributes it to the people.

Also Read Chaman Lal, KRBL: Firm demand to keep rice shares steaming, say analysts Why is growing rice becoming a challenge with each passing year High-voltage campaigning for Karnataka elections to end today at 5 pm K'taka BJP asks Siddaramaiah for FCI's commitment letter over rice supply CBI searches 30 locations in Punjab in corruption probe against FCI All out efforts by Centre to bring back peace in restive Manipur: Official Felling of trees should be last resort in city gasping for breath: Delhi HC Govt sets up panel to recommend arbitration law reforms bed by Vishwanathan More than 200 teams deployed in Gir, 2 lion cubs rescued amid Biparjoy Hilton India tops list of India's Best Companies to Work for 2023

"You point fingers at the Centre for the task which you are unable to do. I expected Siddaramaiah to start making allegations after four or five months. But, he has begun already. You declared that the free rice scheme would be implemented from July 1 and now you blame the central government. You debit money into the accounts of BPL holders, they will buy the rice," he had reiterated.

Congress has given a call for a state-wide protest against the Centre' move of refusing rice to the state.

--IANS

mka/shb
The two-week mid-year UN climate talks held in Germany's Bonn ended on Thursday without a resolution to the dispute between developed and developing countries over finance. The developed nations emphasised the urgent need for mitigation measures, while the developing countries demanded adequate financial support to reduce emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

These mid-year talks set the stage for political discussions at the annual Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change later in the year. Due to a stalemate on the issues of finance for mitigation, the governments could agree on the meeting's agenda only on the second-to-last day (Wednesday) of the conference.

The developed countries wanted that the "Mitigation Work Programme", which calls for urgently scaling up emission reduction efforts in this crucial decade to fight climate change, be included in the agenda. The developing countries, however, strongly opposed this, saying mitigation efforts cannot be discussed without considering finance.

As the talks drew to a close, UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres expressed his disappointment, saying countries are far off-track in meeting climate promises and commitments. "I see a lack of ambition. A lack of trust. A lack of support. A lack of cooperation. And an abundance of problems around clarity and credibility. The climate agenda is being undermined," he said.

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said, "Having taken nearly two weeks to agree on an agenda, it is easy to believe we are far apart on many issues, but from what I have seen and heard, there are bridges that can be built to realize the common ground we know exists."



"World-changing agreements happen when negotiators rise to the occasion, reach out and find compromises, then manage to convince their capitals of the merit and necessity of those compromises."



At the Paris climate talks in 2015, countries agreed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius as compared to the pre-industrial levels to avoid extreme, destructive and likely irreversible effects of climate change.

Earth's global surface temperature has risen by around 1.15 degrees Celsius and the CO2 spewed into the atmosphere since the start of the industrial revolution is closely tied to it. In the business-as-usual scenario, the world is heading for a temperature rise of around 3 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

Also Read Germany enters recession: What went wrong with Europe's largest economy? Prospects of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees vey low: Report Hockey World Cup final, Germany vs Belgium: Germans out to stop Red Lions People think climate change is becoming more real, is here and now Climate change to push 30% species over tipping points: Research 3,000 pitthu wallas register for extension of services at Amarnath Yatra NATO to protect undersea pipelines, cables amid Russian sabotage threat Biparjoy's remnant may help advance monsoon over east India: Meteorologists Union minister's house in Manipur set on fire; fresh clashes in Imphal Tamil Nadu sees record number of tourist arrivals till May, says govt

Climate science says the world must halve emissions by 2030 from the 2009 levels to keep the chances of achieving the 1.5-degrees target alive.

Developing countries argue that wealthier nations should take greater responsibility for emission reductions, given their historical emissions, and provide the necessary means of implementation, finance and technology to assist developing and vulnerable nations in transitioning to clean energy and adapting to climate change.

Rich countries have already failed to fulfil their promise of providing USD 100 billion annually, pledged at the Copenhagen COP in 2009, to help developing countries combat climate change.

The sluggish progress during the Bonn conference is also attributed to the differences between the developed and developing countries on the issue of finance for mitigation and adaptation.

Vaibhav Chaturvedi, Fellow, Council on Energy, Environment and Water, said: "Climate finance has become the achilles heel of climate negotiations, it should have been resolved long back. The European negotiators got a taste of the increasing resolve of the developing world on this issue, with the agenda being withheld from adoption for a week."



"Various groupings, including LMDCs (Like-Minded Developing Countries) and the Arab Group, rejected the inclusion of the Mitigation Work Programme (MWP) in the agenda in the absence of the inclusion of climate finance in the same. The developed world has to sooner than later accept the criticality of finance for low-income nations, and walk the talk on the same," he said.

Talks on loss and damage continued until the final day of the conference.

Negotiations surrounding the Global Stocktake (GST) -- a two-year UN review to assess the collective progress towards achieving the purpose of the Paris Agreement -- faced challenges due to debates over financial matters. The hosting of the Santiago Network for loss and damage, which could be either at the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction or the Caribbean Development Bank, is yet to be decided.

The discussions on loss and damage also focused on finding innovative sources of finance, with Greenpeace advocating taxing fossil fuel company profits to fund the loss and damage caused by climate change.

Also, the host for COP29 in 2024 remains uncertain as the Eastern Group failed to agree on a recommendation due to geopolitical tensions related to Russia's war on Ukraine and the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict. The decision on the host will now be taken at COP28 in Dubai. In the event of a continued deadlock, Bonn could become the default location.

Expectations were high that recent warnings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) synthesis report (IPCC AR6) would bolster climate policy and action. However, some developing countries raised concerns about the inclusiveness and robustness of the panel's findings.

The closing plenary of the talks also saw the developed countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union (EU) nations, New Zealand and Australia, asserting that the IPCC AR6 report is the most comprehensive assessment of science to act upon.

Workshops on the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) took place during the talks. Questions regarding finance and how adaptation efforts will tie into the GST remain. A recent report revealed that only 10 of the 26 wealthy countries have met their adaptation finance targets.

Harjeet Singh, head of global political strategy, Climate Action Network, said, "The Bonn climate conference laid bare the glaring hypocrisy of wealthy nations, showcasing a remarkable indifference to the struggles of developing countries. Let us be clear: without honouring their financial pledges -- directly tied to their historical role in driving the climate crisis -- these affluent nations lack the moral authority to exert pressure on poorer countries."



"Developing nations face the monumental task of eradicating poverty, fostering green development and coping with escalating climate disasters. They deserve unwavering support, not undue pressure," he said.

Tom Evans, policy advisor on Climate Diplomacy and Geopolitics at E3G, said: "The big prize at COP28 is an ambitious political deal in response to the global stocktake to get climate action on track. The stocktake will measure our progress towards meeting the Paris Agreement. We know we are failing to limit warming to 1.5C and are unprepared for climate disasters. Yet here in Bonn, negotiators have been playing the blame game and pointing fingers at each other's insufficient action.

"Meanwhile, the UAE left governments in the dark on its plans for how it hopes to get world leaders rallying around a shared vision. There is a real risk that we will end up with the lowest common denominator outcome if champion countries do not step in to cobble a deal together before COP28.
An LG-made billboard promoting Busan's bid to host World Expo 2030 is installed near Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris, France. Courtesy of LG



By Lee Kyung-min



LG Corp. is intensifying promotional activities in Paris and France, to bolster Korea's bid to host World Expo 2030 in its southern coastal city of Busan, according to the firm, Friday. Paris is the city where Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) will hold its General Assembly over the following month. BIE is an intergovernmental organization in charge of overseeing and regulating World Expos.





The local conglomerate said it will install large advertisements near Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris for a month starting June 16 (local time) to support the Expo bid.



The international airport is a gateway to major cities in Europe averaging 4.8 million monthly users last year.



The firm said the ad campaigns will illustrate the competitiveness of Busan as a venue for the World Expo, mostly by highlighting that the city has modern and traditional characteristics as well as eco-friendly qualities.



It will install 110 large billboards near the BIE general meeting hall in Paris. The advertisement will be seen at bus stops, subway stations, parks and streets near the hall.



LG has been promoting the Expo bid in other countries. Since June of last year, it installed large electronic boards promoting Busan's Expo bid at Times Square in New York and Piccadilly Circus in London.



Digital signage boards were put up at Warsaw Chopin Airport in Poland, and near Warsaw Central Station.



In April, an eight-member delegation led by BIE Administration and Budget Committee President Patrick Specht visited Korea. The eight members visited Korea to assess the country's viability and feasibility to host the high-profile international event in Busan in 2030. They said the weeklong visit to Busan was an opportunity to feel the enthusiasm and high level of civic pride shown by Korean citizens.



The BIE will hold a vote in November to select the host city for the 2030 international event.



Korea's competitors are Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Italy's Rome and Ukraine's Odesa. Russia's Moscow was among the list of contenders but withdrew its bid.



Members of K-pop group BTS were appointed as honorary ambassadors for World Expo 2030. Korea has established an expo bid committee led by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Chey Tae-won.


The iconic Teen Murti Bhavan in the heart of the national capital was built over 90 years ago as the residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army in India, and following the country's Independence in 1947, the grand mansion became the abode of first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Nehru lived here for more than 16 years until his death on May 27, 1964, and soon after his demise, the house was converted into a memorial to perpetuate his legacy.

A Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society, an autonomous body, was set up on April 1, 1966, to run the memorial housing a museum and a rich library.

The Society housed in Teen Murti Bhavan premises has been renamed by the government as Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society, prompting sharp reactions from the Congress which termed it a "petty act".

The move to rename the Society comes nearly a year after the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya was inaugurated on the premises of the Teen Murti Bhavan, which served as the official residence of the first prime minister.

The building was constructed in 1929-30 as part of the new imperial capital of 'New Delhi', and was designed by Robert Tor Russell, who also designed the famed Connaught Place in the city.

Also Read NMML renamed Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society, Nehru dropped TN Guv skips customary govt address; CM pilots resolution to exclude speech Maha: Governor-designate Ramesh Bais to be sworn-in on Saturday Ex-Pak PM Imran reaches HC to seek bail in cases related to violence Nehru's legacy stands tall like beacon: Rahul pays tributes to 1st PM Congress demands PM Modi convene all-party meeting over Manipur situation Chandrapur police design mobile toilet for women cops on bandobast duty CM Mann bats for optimum utilisation of MGNREGA, boost to rural development PM Modi joins Grammy-winning singer Falu for special song on millets SC stays HC order granting bail to Unitech promoter's wife Preeti Chandra

Known originally as the Flagstaff House, it served as the residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army here.

"Following Independence in 1947, it was decided that the prime minister of a free India would reside in the Teen Murti Bhavan. The then Commander-in-Chief Field Marshal (Sir Claude) Auchinleck was simultaneously relocated," according to the website of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM).

Later, it was named Teen Murti Bhavan in a nod to the three bronze statues, sculpted by British sculptor Leonard Jennings, erected around a memorial obelisk, to commemorate the Jodhpur, Hyderabad, and Mysore Lancers -- part of the 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade, who fought gallantly in the siege of Haifai in 1918.

The war memorial is located in the centre of a traffic island facing the Teen Murti Bhavan on one side and the Rashtrapati Bhavan (earlier Viceroy's House) on the other side. The war memorial was built in 1922 and inaugurated on March 8, 1924, by Lord Reading, the then Viceroy of India.

The imposing Teen Murti Bhavan is built of stone and stucco and boasts a confluence of Victorian and French architecture. It is located in central Delhi amid a 30-acre lush green campus. It houses the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, the Nehru Planetarium, the 14th-century hunting lodge of Delhi Sultanate ruler Firuz Shah Tughlaq and the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya was opened to the public on April 21, 2022.

According to the NMML website, in August 1948 after the departure of the last British Commander-in-Chief, the Teen Murti House became the official residence of independent India's first prime minister.

Teen Murti House was dedicated to Nehru's memory on his 75th birthday in 1964, by the then president of India, S Radhakrishnan, for housing "a museum and a library to encourage, support, and patronise higher learning and free intellectual inquiry", the AKAM website said.

The NMML came into being with three main objectives which are complementary to each other despite their differences in scope -- establishment and maintenance of the memorial museum, the establishment of a library on modern India, and promotion of original research in modem Indian history with particular reference to the Nehruvian era, it said.

"Initially, the Museum was set up in the eastern wing of the Teen Murti House and the Library in the western wing. An exclusive library building was constructed adjacent to the Teen Murti House and inaugurated by V V Giri, then President of India in January 1974," the NMML website says.

Famed for its enriched collection of books and microfilms, Teen Murti is considered one of the premier institutions of research and draws scholars from India and abroad.

"Pt. Nehru lived here for more than 16 years until his death on May 27, 1964. This building was so familiar with Jawaharlal Nehru's name that Teen Murti House and Jawaharlal Nehru became more or less synonymous. Therefore, after his death, the government of India decided to convert this house into an appropriate memorial to perpetuate Nehru's eternal passion for enlarging the frontiers of knowledge and enriching the human mind," says the website of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
Govt set to garner record Rs 63,000 crore in dividend from listed PSUs

The government is expected to net an all-time high equity dividend of Rs 63,056 crore from 67 listed public-sector undertakings (PSUs) for FY23, based on the final dividend proposed so far by these companies for last fiscal year. The amount is 24.7 per cent higher than the dividend of Rs 50,583 crore the government netted for FY22 from listed PSUs. Read more

India seals $3 billion drone deal with US ahead of PM Modi's visit



The defence ministry has approved the procurement of US-made armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones, sources told Reuters on Thursday. India will buy 31 drones made by General Atomics worth slightly over $3 billion, one of the sources said. The ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Read more

GST Council to meet in Delhi on July 11, may resolve online gaming issue

The all-powerful Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council will meet in Delhi on July 11 and will likely take up the taxability issue of online gaming and resolve it. The tax treatment of online gaming firms has been pending for some time. The GST Council had tasked a state minister panel headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma but could not arrive at a consensus when it submitted the report in December. Read more

Also Read Public sector banks' total dividend payout 58% higher than in FY22: Report Nestle India dividend 2023: FMCG giant to consider dividend pay on April 12 Vedanta dividend: Decision on fifth payout today; check all details here GST spurts fiscal equality: tax-GSDP ratio higher in poorer states GST Council okays setting up tribunals, specific levy for pan masala firms 22 injured, 940 villages plunge into darkness as Biparjoy makes landfall Tourist influx in J&K sees push in rural economy, employment generation PM speaks to Guj CM, takes stock of situation after Biparjoy's landfall 'Views of students, parents would be taken to implement NEP': Assam CM Cyclone Biparjoy makes landfall, intensity reduces to 'severe', says IMD

Go First hopes to resume ops by month-end, restores 94% of daily flights

Go Airlines India Ltd., which filed for bankruptcy protection in May, hopes to resume operations by the end of the month and restore 94% of its daily flights, a person familiar with the matter said. In a revival plan submitted to the aviation regulator, the airline said it can operate 157 daily flights domestically, compared with the 167 it flew previously, the person said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. The carrier abruptly halted flights last month, blaming problems with the Pratt & Whitney engines that power its fleet. Read more

Cyclone Biparjoy: Storm to reach south Rajasthan today, heavy rains likely
The influx of tourists to Jammu and Kashmir villages is witnessing a push in its rural economy, as well as, employment generation in the area.

Located 100 kilometres from Srinagar in Udhampur district, 'Panchari' a snow-capped mountain surrounded by dense cedar forests, is all set to receive and captivate tourists this year with its natural magnificence and grandeur.

Many admirers of Panchari compare its scenic beauty and winter snowfall with that of the globally acclaimed "Gulmarg," the best destination.

"Panchari, a fascinating tourist destination abundantly blessed with natural scenic splendour and grandeur, started receiving a heavy tourist rush after being declared as the first Tourist Village with Homestay facilities by the J-K government under Tourist Village Development Programme (TVDP).

The construction of vintage huts and the creation of other requisite utilities in this picturesque spot has further added to its infrastructural edifice to accommodate the steeply rising tourist influx'.

Notably, the government initiated the promotion of homestay tourism in the UT by launching Panchari as the first tourist village with homestay facilities under TVDP.

Also Read Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury seeks discussion in parliament on Jammu-Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar likely to host G20 event: Govt official JK Bank records highest-ever net annual profit of Rs 1,197 crore in FY23 Unfortunate that no G20 meetings were scheduled in Jammu: Farooq Abdullah Entry of e-rickshaws in zero zone cause chaos in Rishikesh for 2nd day PM speaks to Guj CM, takes stock of situation after Biparjoy's landfall 'Views of students, parents would be taken to implement NEP': Assam CM Cyclone Biparjoy makes landfall, intensity reduces to 'severe', says IMD Bike Taxi ban: Drivers write to Delhi L-G citing livelihood threat US, India united through shared democratic values, says Ohio Senator

The ambitious programme has the potential to mobilize the diverse geographical and socio-economic landscape of the entire Jammu and Kashmir region.

In January of this year, the Anderwali hamlet of Sangerwani village in South Kashmir's Pulwama district was festively adorned. A group of tourists from Pune City in Maharashtra chose this place for a pre-wedding shoot.

Yogi, a professional event photographer from Pune, who was part of the group, said that he was astonished by the fascinating natural beauty of the place, stating that he had been there before with his family. He informed his friends, Rohit and Shilpa, about this beautiful place in Pulwama, and they decided to have their pre-wedding shoot there.

Anderwali Sangerwani has recently been designated as a tourist village by the government under the Tourist Village Development Programme to include picturesque places on the tourist map.

The ambitious programme, under the Mission Youth initiative, aims to develop 181 villages that possess distinct features such as scenic beauty, adventurous terrain, art and cultural significance, history and archaeology. It is gaining tremendous momentum with a significant influx of tourists visiting these new destinations.

The main objectives of the programme are to develop new tourism destinations that integrate social, cultural, and spiritual characteristics with economic aspects, providing the necessary infrastructure for tourists within these selected villages.

The villages included in the programme were selected based on their potential for rural tourism in consultation with the Tourism Department and an expert committee of Mission Youth.

The Tourist Tribal Village Programme (TTVP), initiated by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, is proving to be a game changer for rural and tribal areas, offering economic and social benefits. The scheme promotes rural tourism and generates employment for local youth.

For young individuals interested in establishing ventures in the tourism and hospitality service sector, financial assistance of up to Rs 10 lakh is available including Rs 8.50 lakh from a banking partner.

Mission Youth J-K provides a special upfront incentive (subsidy) of Rs 1.5 lakh or 15 per cent of the project cost (whichever is minimum), along with a special subsidy of Rs 3.5 lakh towards loan repayment.

Similarly, for the development of homestays under the programme, financial assistance of up to Rs 1 lakh is provided including 0.85 lakh from a banking partner. Mission Youth also offers a special upfront incentive of 0.15 lakh or 15 per cent of the project cost (whichever is minimum), 25 per cent of the project cost as an upfront subsidy for women applicants, and a special subsidy of 0.35 lakh towards loan repayment.

Furthermore, the beneficiary must be unemployed and registered with the concerned District Employment and Counselling Centre. This initiative aims to promote homestays across the UT, strengthen the rural economy, encourage youth entrepreneurship, and provide employment opportunities for women in the tourism sector.

The initiative also recognizes the potential of J-K for film shootings and aims to promote filming in the region by offering financial aid to villages for their sustainable development. Despite having significant tourism potential, we are still unable to garner requisite attention due to infrastructural bottlenecks.

Destinations that lag behind in the sphere of tourism infrastructure can overcome the downsides by introducing homestays as a means of accommodation facilities for tourists which do not require heavy investment.
The house of Union Minister R K Ranjan was set on fire by a mob of over 1,000 people in Imphal on Thursday night.

Ranjan, union minister of state for external affairs, and his family were not at their home when the incident occurred.

The mob had managed to reach the minister's house at Kongba despite a curfew in Imphal and threw petrol bombs from all directions at the minister's house.

Officials said that there were nine security escorts personnel, five security guards, and eight additional guards on duty at the minister's residence at the time of the incident.

L Dineshwor Singh, Escort Commander, said, "We couldn't prevent the incident as the mob was overwhelming and we couldn't control the situation. They threw petrol bombs coming in from all directions... from the bye lane behind the building and from the front entrance... so we simply couldn't control the mob."

The Escort Commander said that around 1,200 people were part of the mob. This is the second time that the minister's house has been attacked by a mob.

Also Read As Manipur reels from violence, home minister Shah to visit the state today Tribal protest in Manipur turns violent; curfew imposed, internet suspended Shielding governance failure will not resolve Manipur's problems 'Not consulted over CM's presence': Kuki members to boycott peace committee Union minister RK Ranjan's house torched in Manipur as violence intensifies Have taken significant strides in combating climate change: PM Modi PM Modi to address FedEx, Mastercard, other US CEOs during US trip 23 injured, no lives lost after Biparjoy landfall in Gujarat: NDRF DG Defence industry fulfilling security needs of friendly countries: Rajnath Law Commission seeks information from govt on age of consent: Report

Ranjan told ANI, "It is very sad to see what is happening in my home state. I will still continue to appeal for peace. Those indulging in this kind of violence are absolutely inhuman."

Clashes broke out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The violence was preceded by tension over the eviction of Kuki villagers from reserve forest land, which had led to a series of smaller agitations.

Last month, the union minister held a meeting with a group of intellectuals from Manipur's Meitei and Kuki communities to discuss how to bring peace to the violence-hit state. The minister also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "identify and condemn" local politicians who could be responsible for the trouble in Manipur.

Over 100 people have died since May 3 in clashes in ethnic violence-hit Manipur.
Amid a resurgence of violence in Manipur, the residence of Union minister RK Ranjan at Kongba was torched by a mob on Thursday night. Ranjan and his family were not at his home when the incident occurred, according to news agency ANI.

Ranjan, union minister of state for external affairs, told ANI, "I am currently in Kerala for official work. Thankfully, nobody got injured last night at my Imphal home. The miscreants came with petrol bombs, and damage has been done to the ground floor and first floor of my home."

He also appealed to people to maintain peace. "It is very sad to see what is happening in my home state. I will still continue to appeal for peace. Those indulging in this kind of violence are absolutely inhuman," he said.

Manipur has witnessed violent clashes between Meiteis and Kukis since May 3. The violence has left more than 100 people dead till now.

The Manipur High Court had asked the state government, headed by chief minister N Biren Singh, to consider including the Meitei community in the ST list. The state government has also extended the internet ban in the state until June 15 because of the prevailing situation.

On Thursday, the mob in the state torched two other abandoned houses. No casualties were reported in these houses as residents had left the place in the wake of violence.

Also Read As Manipur reels from violence, home minister Shah to visit the state today Tribal protest in Manipur turns violent; curfew imposed, internet suspended Shielding governance failure will not resolve Manipur's problems 'Not consulted over CM's presence': Kuki members to boycott peace committee Manipur violence: Long-standing issue of ST status for Meitei torches state IIT-Madras launches electronic systems programme to boost manufacturing Cyclone Biparjoy: Heavy rains, strong winds damage electric poles in Morbi Audit institutions should be aware of AI technology, says CAG Murmu Latest LIVE: Cyclonic storm to reach Rajasthan, heavy rains expected today India plays key role in ensuring free and open Indo Pacific: US official

The attacks came when the Indian Army and Assam Rifles intensified their patrolling in the area.

On the same day, Singh said the government is holding discussions at multiple levels. He assured that action would be taken against those involved in violence. On Wednesday, a fresh violence case was reported where nine people were killed and ten others injured.

"As per our commitment, we are contacting everyone, and we are discussing at various levels. The governor has also constituted a peace committee and consultation with peace committee members will start. I hope that with the support of the people of the state, we will achieve peace at the earliest," he had said at a press conference.
United States Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has hailed the strong and growing ties between India and the US and described the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi there as "a prime example of the accelerated collaboration between our two countries".

He made the remarks while presiding over the 247th anniversary celebration of US independence here on Thursday evening.

According to a release from the US Consulate here, the event highlighted US-India areas of cooperation, including in the Indo-Pacific, gender equity, innovation, space, and climate change, while also recognising robust people-to-people ties and institutional partnerships between the two countries.

Ambassador Garcetti hailed the strong and growing partnership between the US and India, particularly South India.

"The deep ties between the US and India are gaining strength in many key areas and South India has a key role in the partnership. The upcoming visit to the US by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a prime example of the accelerated collaboration between our two countries. The US-India partnership is one of our most consequential relationships," he was quoted as saying.

He said the US looked forward to continuing to work with India on shared goals in the Indo-Pacific region. "We continue to engage India to deepen our cooperation on the vital issues of peace, prosperity, the planet, and our peoples."



Tamil Nadu Industries Minister T R B Rajaa said the southern state has deep ties with the US.

Also Read Eric Garcetti: Everything you need to know about new US ambassador to India US Senate to vote on nomination of Eric Garcetti as envoy to India We see this as important nomination: White House on Eric Garcetti US President Joe Biden renominates Eric Garcetti as envoy to India 'Excited about PM Modi's US visit next month', says envoy Eric Garcetti Cyclone Biparjoy expected to downgrade over Saurashtra, Kutch today Latest LIVE: Cyclonic storm to reach Rajasthan, heavy rains expected today India, not China, better suited for resolving Ukraine war: US Congressman Assam floods leave 29,000 people, 25 villages affected, rescue ops underway Union minister RK Ranjan's house torched in Manipur as violence intensifies

"Tamil Nadu values freedom, diversity, and equality as much as the US does, and we wish to deepen our ties by collaborating on sustainable industrial growth in the spirit of these values," he said.

American Independence Day, also referred to as the Fourth of July in the United States, commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

US Consul General in Chennai Judith Ravin among others attended the event.
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the United States, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown said that the two nations are united through shared democratic values. He said that the US looks forward to finding all kinds of ways to strengthen its relationship with India.

In a video posted by Indian Embassy in the US, Sherrod Brown said, "Prime Minister Modi, welcome to the United States of America. Ohio has a strong Indian American community virtually everywhere in our state. Business owners, entrepreneurs, educators, students, doctors, workers, advocates, and leaders in the community. Indian Americans serve our nation honourably in the military. They're part of the fabric of our state."

While sharing the video on Twitter, Indian Embassy in the US wrote, "We look forward to find all kinds of ways to strengthen relations between our two countries. Enjoy your visit to the #UnitedStates, PM @NarendraModi!' Appreciate your message of welcome, Senator @SherrodBrown!!"

PM Narendra Modi is set to travel to the US for a state visit from June 21-24. During his visit, he will address the joint meeting of the US Congress for the second time. PM Modi recently said he is honoured to accept the invitation and looks forward to addressing a joint meeting of the US Congress on June 22.

In a video message, Sherrod Brown noted that Cleveland is the only city in the world with a statue of Mahatma Gandhi on a street named for Martin Luther King Jr. He called India's democracy the "largest."

"I go to work for these Ohioans every day, just as I know you do for the Indian people. Our countries are united through our shared democratic values. Ours is the oldest, yours is the largest. We look forward to looking to finding all kinds of ways to strengthen relations between our two countries. Enjoy your visit to the United States," Sherrod Brown said.

Also Read Tunisia welcomes decision as Saudi Arabia, Iran move ahead to resume ties PM Modi, New Zealand counterpart discuss full range of bilateral ties India, Bangladesh share ties; can't undermine bilateral relations: Shah PM Modi meets French President Macron to discuss trade, economic ties CEPA with UAE gave boost to Indian entrepreneurs, deepened ties: PM Modi Cyclone Biparjoy: Storm to reach south Rajasthan today, heavy rains likely We work closely with India on our most vital priorities: US spokesperson Coaching centre fire: Students stage protest, block road demanding justice Cyclone Biparjoy makes landfall with wind speed of over 115 kmph India-EU case: WTO agrees to defer adoption of panel's ruling till Sep 19

On June 22, more than 7000 Indian Americans are planning to be on the South Lawns of the White House when President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcome the PM amidst a 21-gun salute. The White House will close the registration shortly for those attending the welcome ceremony.

A group of Indian Americans are planning to go to Andrews Air Force Base when the Prime Minister's Air India One lands on June 21 afternoon from New York and over 600 community members are planning to gather at Freedom Plaza in front of the Willard Intercontinental in Washington located near the White House where the PM will be staying during his visit.

At the Freedom Plaza, the community has planned to showcase the cultural fabric of India through cultural events representing India spanning from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and from West to East, Adapa Prasad, President of Overseas Friends of BJP-USA, told ANI.

"It is India's diverse cultural show and growth story. We have roughly 25 programs representing Kashmir to Kerala and Maharashtra to the northeast with 160 artists participating," Prasad said.

"The Indian American community feels that they are part of this historic story. They're proud that this momentous occasion is happening. That too when India became the fifth largest economy and the third largest, so the community itself is very proud about their country of origin," Prasad further noted.
US partnership with India is one of the "most consequential relationships" and the two nations work closely on the most vital priorities, US Department of State official spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a press briefing on Thursday (local time). He said that India plays a crucial role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Matthew Miller however refrained from divulging details on issues likely to be taken up for discussion during PM Modi's visit to the US. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken looks forward to seeing PM Modi and other members of the Indian delegation in the US, he said.

"So I don't want to get ahead of the White House, who will be hosting Prime Minister Modi, of course. They will be making further announcements about the visit in the coming days leading up to the trip next week," Matthew Miller said.

"I will say generally our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relationships...We work closely with India on our most vital priorities. They (India) play a crucial role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific that is connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient. And I know Secretary Blinken looks forward to seeing Prime Minister Modi and other members of the Indian delegation, while they're here and working to make progress on all the issues with which we consult with India. But in terms of any specific issues, I will defer to the White House for comment on that," he added.

At the invitation of US President Joe Biden, PM Narendra Modi will be on a state visit to the United States from June 21 to June 24. Indian diaspora in the US is eagerly awaiting PM Modi's arrival. On June 22, more than 7000 Indian Americans are planning to be on the South Lawns of the White House when Biden and the First Lady Jill Biden would welcome PM Modi amidst a 21-gun salute.

At the same press briefing, Matthew Miller said that the US looks forward to PM Modi's upcoming visit. He said that there will be a state lunch hosted for PM Modi at the US State Department.

Also Read China and India promise to improve bilateral relations, says report PM Narendra Modi to visit US from June 21 to 25: What is a state visit? BCCI to sell digital, TV rights for bilateral series separately: Report Pak FM Bilawal to travel to China and Japan to boost bilateral ties India-Russia aim for bilateral trade of $50 bn in 2023: Indian Embassy Coaching centre fire: Students stage protest, block road demanding justice Cyclone Biparjoy makes landfall with wind speed of over 115 kmph India-EU case: WTO agrees to defer adoption of panel's ruling till Sep 19 GST officers unearth 461 fake entities involved in Rs 863 cr ITC fraud Police charge sheet against WFI chief govt's attempt to save him: Tikait

When asked about his message for Indian-Americans on behalf of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, Miller said, "I've heard that the new American ambassador, Ambassador Garcetti, is actually a bit of a celebrity in India, as well. Let me just say again that our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relationships."

"We really do look forward to the visit next week. In addition to hosting Prime Minister Modi at the White House, there will be a state lunch here at the State Department, and we're all very much looking forward to it," he added.

PM Narendra 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 announced in a press release. In the US, PM Modi will also address the chairman and CEOs of top US companies at John F Kennedy Centre in Washington. During his visit, PM Modi will address a joint session of the US Congress on June 22.
As safety concern about train travel looms large, the Central government has plans to install Kavach, the advanced anti-collision system, on its entire dedicated freight corridor (DFC) network, Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCC) Managing Director R K Jain has said.

Safety is the top priority for the Railways and we are cognizant about making freight corridors safe. Currently, safety issues or accidents on freight corridors are at a bare minimum  Now we have plans to install Kavach on the DFC network too, Jain told Business Standard.
Tesla Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Elon Musk advised Japanese carmaker Toyota to join the North American Charging Standard (NACS). Musk was replying to a tweet that talked about the lacklustre performance of Toyota's bZ4X charging system as reported by Business Insider (BI). The bZ4X needed three hours of charging time for a nine-hour journey, the report said.

What is the NACS?

The North American Charging Standard was previously known as a Tesla charging connector. It has been developed by Tesla Inc.

It has been used on all North American market Tesla vehicles since 2012 and was made available for other manufacturers in 2022.

The news assumes significance as two of America's largest carmakers General Motors and Ford Motor Company have announced that they intend to use the NACS Standard in their vehicles in the time to come.

Being a part of the network, manufacturers' vehicles get access to Tesla's Supercharger network of more than 12,000 charging stations across North America.

Also Read Why is Tesla so confused about Indian market? Challenges and opportunities Tesla chief Elon Musk threatens to sue Microsoft for using data 'illegally' After China, Tesla now announces price cuts on its electric vehicles in US After Centre's demand, Tesla agrees to set up vendor base in India: Report Employees plan court fight against Ford India over closed TN factory Reducing duty on refined oil imports won't cool prices: Edible oil firms Gopichand Hinduja takes over as chairman of $34.5 billion-worth group Erring firms convicted, but it's not mission accomplished for regulators Hotel chains smell business opportunity in small towns, off-beat locations Tech employees most satisfied with their jobs, least likely to switch

Musk also referred to automotive brands that recently decided to let go of the CCS1 (Combined Charging System) connector in favour of the Tesla-designed NACS plug.

Ford was the first car company to announce its intentions to join the coalition. The carmaker announced that its electric vehicles will be able to charge their batteries at Supercharger stations using an adapter beginning in 2024.

Later, in 2025, the Ford F-150 Lightning, Mustang Mach-E, and E-Transit will come fitted with the NACS charging ports doing away with the need for an adapter.

General Motors (GM) has also made a similar deal with Tesla. The company said that GM electric vehicles will also integrate their systems with the Supercharger pay system to ensure a seamless experience for GM customers.
Bill Gates reacts during a visit with Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the Imperial College University, in central London, Feb. 15. AP-Yonhap



Chinese leader Xi Jinping told his "American friend" Bill Gates on Friday that China has "always placed our hopes" in the American people, state media reported.



"You are the first American friend I have met in Beijing this year," Xi told Gates in Beijing, according to the state-run People's Daily.



"We have always placed our hopes on the American people, and hoped for continued friendship between the peoples of the two countries," Xi added.



"I am very happy to see you. We have not met in more than three years," he reportedly told Gates.



"You are someone who has done a lot of good things in your participation in China's development work, and you are our old friend."



Gates  one of the world's richest men  is among a number of Western business leaders to visit China since the country ended strict COVID controls that largely closed it off from the world for almost three years.



The visit is Gates' first to China in four years.



In his meeting with Xi, Gates "introduced his thoughts on the current situation and future of cooperation with China", state media reported.



"China has made huge achievements attracting worldwide attention in poverty alleviation and in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, setting a good example for the world," he said, according to the report. (AFP)


Hotel companies are looking at smaller cities to expand their footprint in the country, The Economic Times (ET) reports. As a result of this, many lesser-known locations like Khajjiar in Himachal Pradesh, Kevadia and Vithalapur in Gujarat are beginning to get branded star-category hospitality facilities.

President of South Asia at HVS Anarock, a hospitality consultancy, Mandeep S Lamba, told the newspaper that hotel companies are making inroads into tier-2, tier-3 and even tier-4 cities as they have now taken note of the market potential at these locations. Growing leisure and business travel presents a strong business prospect in these locations, he said.

Fortune Hotels announced the opening of its new hotel in Khajjiar this week. Its managing director, Samir MC, told ET that the hotel chain would launch new hotels in Tiruppur, Aligarh, and Hoshiarpur in the next quarter of this financial year. The report added that the group is also planning new hotels in Kevadia and Hosur.

Another industry insider, Nikhil Sharma, who is market managing director for Eurasia at Wyndham Hotel and Resorts, was cited in the ET report as saying that there is a strategic focus on tier-3 and tier-4 locations such as Ambala, Bhiwadi, Dhanbad, Gorakhpur, Khopoli, Panipat, and Viragam in Wyndham's upcoming plans.

As more and more visitors flock to small-town locations, hotel companies are working fast to take advantage of being the first mover at these locations.

Hotel chain Lemon Tree has a similar plan carved out for it as the group works towards launching new hotels in Chirang, Erode, Jabalpur, Banswara, Chandausi, Tezpur, Bharuch, Kharar and Sri Ganganagar.
A new survey has revealed that employees working in the technology sector are least likely to change their jobs in India, Outlook reported. The survey was conducted by a jobs platform, Indeed.

The survey report found that the technology sector has emerged as the most loyal, with the lowest share of outclicks (clicks on jobs outside their current sector) by jobseekers at 38 per cent, the report said. The findings of the survey suggest that technology professionals in India are happy with their current roles. This may be associated with their compensation and other benefits that the sector offers, the Outlook report said.

The survey noted variance in the degree of satisfaction technology professionals working in different domains have. For instance, top job roles in domains like Ruby on Rails Developer, iOS Developer, and Release Engineer have different outclick rates of 11.04, 12.08, and 12.19 per cent, respectively.

Besides the tech sector, some other industries also exhibit a great degree of loyalty to their career paths. The healthcare sector, particularly nursing, has an outclick rate of 40.58 per cent, which signifies a great degree of loyalty. The survey findings said that human resources, architecture, and media are some other domains where professionals have a great degree of satisfaction with their roles and are unlikely to switch jobs.

Career expert at Indeed, Saumitra Chand, was quoted in the Outlook report as saying, "The attractiveness of different occupations likely reflects varying combinations of pay, flexibility and barriers to entry. The stickiest jobs tend to be specialised ones where workers have invested considerably in gaining specific skills and experience."

On the other hand, jobs like call centre team lead, airport executive, and applicator do not have much loyalty associated with them and have more than 99 per cent share of outclicks. The report said that, more often than not, these roles don't pay well, and working conditions are tough, explaining the low employee loyalty.
Stocks to Watch on Friday, June 16, 2023: In spite of yesterdays weakness, the key benchmark indices may look to pull back this morning mirroring gains in the US market. Overnight, the US markets rallied over a per cent as investors shrugged off Fed rate hike fears and a 25-bps rate hike by ECB.

At 07:30 AM, the SGX Nifty June futures quoted at 18,805, indicating a likely gap-up of 50-odd points on the Nifty 50.

Meanwhile, here are the stocks that are likely to see some action in trades on Friday.



IKIO Lighting: The stock is likely to debut with a gain of 30-35 per cent today as per cues from the grey market. The Rs 607 crore IPO was subscribed almost 66 times, with high net individuals subscription at 63 times, and retail at 14 times.

Reliance (RIL): The company is in talks with lenders for a foreign-currency loan of up to $2 billion to fuel the ongoing expansion of its oil-to-telecoms business, according to people familiar with the matter. Lenders involved in the discussions include Bank of America, Citigroup and Standard Chartered. The company is in talks with lenders for ato fuel the ongoing expansion of its oil-to-telecoms business, according to people familiar with the matter. Lenders involved in the discussions include Bank of America, Citigroup and Standard Chartered.

Hero MotoCorp: The The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has ordered an investigation to assess the two-wheeler majors relationship with a third-party vendor in a case related to alleged diversion of funds, two government sources told Reuters on Thursday.

IndiGo, SpiceJet: IndiGo registered its highest-ever domestic market share of 61.4 per cent in May, capitalising on Go First suspending flights. Domestic airlines flew over 13.2 million passengers in May, up over 3 per cent sequentially. However, SpiceJets market share declined to 5.4 per cent from 5.8 per cent in the previous month.

Also Read Stocks to Watch on May 12: Adani Total, RIL, TaMo, ONGC, Vedanta, Mankind Hero Moto, SpiceJet, AEL, TVS Motor among top 10 stocks to watch on Friday Stocks to Watch Today: L&T. DRL, Adani Group, Asian Paints, Hero Moto Stocks to Watch on May 10: L&T, SpiceJet, SCI, Apollo Tyres, Tata Steel Stocks to Watch: Titan, Tata Chem, Adani Group, RIL, Petronet, Apollo Micro F&O Strategy for Biocon: HDFC Securities recommends a Bull Spread There two NSE indices look bullish on charts amid market volatility Stock Market Live: Asian indices higher; ECB raises rates to 22-year high State Bank of India, LIC, two other sponsors to dilute stake in UTI MF India's first micro-cap fund launched; to track Nifty Microcap 250 Index

Ramkrishna Forgings, Titagarh: A consortium between Ramkrishna Forgings and Titagarh Rail Systems has been awarded the contract to manufacture and supply 15,40,000 forged wheels over a span of 20 years, under the AatmaNirbhar Bharat Initiative by Ministry of Railways, Government of India. The contract will see the consortium delivering 40,000 forged wheels during the first year, 60,000 wheels in the second year and 80,000 wheels every subsequent year thereafter, with the total contract valued at Rs 12,226.5 crore.



UTI AMC: Sponsors of UTI Mutual Fund, including State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), have initiated the process to A consortium between Ramkrishna Forgings and Titagarh Rail Systems has been awarded the contract to manufacture and supply 15,40,000 forged wheels over a span of 20 years, under the AatmaNirbhar Bharat Initiative by Ministry of Railways, Government of India. The contract will see the consortium delivering 40,000 forged wheels during the first year, 60,000 wheels in the second year and 80,000 wheels every subsequent year thereafter, with the total contract valued at Rs 12,226.5 crore.Sponsors of UTI Mutual Fund, including State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), have initiated the process to dilute their stake in Indias oldest fund house . The three collectively hold 45.21 of the paid-up capital in UTI.

Ashok Leyland: The commercial vehicle manufacturer in association with Aidrivers, a specialist in AI-enabled autonomous solutions, will produce autonomous electric terminal trucks to address the net zero emissions needs of the port industry.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals: The drug maker has slashed the price of breast cancer drug Trastuzumab by bringing its brand Trumab at Rs 15,749 for a 440 mg vial from Rs 54,000 earlier. This price reduction will bring the per mg cost of Trumab to around Rs 35, making it the most affordable treatment option for HER2-positive breast cancer, Glenmark said in a statement.

Aurionpro Solutions: The company's board is scheduled to meet on June 20 to consider ways to raise funds va preferential issue.

McLeod Russel: Electrode paste maker Carbon Resources, owned by the Jalans, has exited McLeod Russel India, by offloading its five per cent stake in the open market. In the last nine months, however, the Electrode paste maker Carbon Resources, owned by the Jalans, has exited McLeod Russel India, by offloading its five per cent stake in the open market. In the last nine months, however, the Carbon-McLeod story has changed course more than once.

Satin Creditcare Network: A meeting of the board of directors of the company is scheduled on June 20 to consider and approve the fund raising proposal by way of issuance of listed/unlisted, secured/unsecured, non-convertible debentures on private placement basis.

Arihant Capital Markets: The company's board has approved to raise up to Rs 100 crore by way of issuance of secured unlisted Non-Convertible Debentures on a private placement basis.

Shish Industries: The company's board will meet on June 21 to consider and approve issuance of bonus shares.

Stocks in F&O ban: BHEL, Delta Corp, Indiabulls Housing Finance, Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), India Cements, L&T Housing Finance, Manappuram Finance, Tata Chemicals and Zee Entertainment are the stocks in F&O ban period on Friday.
Germany put forward an interesting proposal when the EU was debating legislation to ensure only zero-emission vehicles would be on European roads by 2035. Instead of retiring every internal combustion vehicle in the EU, Germany proposed a switch to carbon-neutral synthetic fuels for existing internal combustion vehicles.

While electric vehicles (and hydrogen-fuel cells) are zero-emission, they are certainly not zero-carbon to make. The mining and refining of lithium, other metals and rare earths, as well as producing the plastic and composite material components used, have big environmental impacts.
With half-done economic reforms not delivering the East Asian growth rates of old, and with manufacturing, merchandise exports, and employment all lagging despite government efforts, the big idea that politicians have re-discovered with a vengeance is the old one of fiscal transfers through price subsidies and cash payouts. They are encouraged in this because they have seen, over and over again, that it works at election time.

Perhaps the first electoral triumph built on this approach was by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), in what was then Madras state in 1967, when it promised rice at a rupee a
The paths to Viksit Bharat and the importance of bonds --- this is the fare for today.

Its hard to predict what the attributes of an advanced economy will be in 2047, says Ajay Chhibber . With stronger human capital and institutions, India can plan the final assault to a Viksit Bharat @ 100.

M S Sahoo & Sumit Agrawal : Bonds are a win-win for issuers and subscribers. AT1 bond has a cushion on both sides, it can be hit only after either the equity or debt is fully hit.

The first edit says bank unions fears on the Framework for Compromise Settlements and Write-offs are misplaced. The most critical aspect is lending standards. The second edit looks at slavery-like conditions prevailing in various countries, including India.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Also Read Best of BS Opinion: Fumes of failure, setting standards, and more Best of BS Opinion: Laws and order, corporate battles of 2023, and more Best of BS Opinion: Dumping ground, defending constitutional order, & more Best of BS Opinion: Unintended consequences, green growth conundrum, & more Best of BS Opinion: Tapping global trade, confirming compliance, and more Best of BS Opinion: Needless intervention, tackling waste problem, and more Best of BS Opinion: Govt in election mode, the right incentive, and more Best of BS Opinion: Facing the El Nino threat, growth driver, and more Best of BS Opinion: Unable to connect, Israel's Apartheid 2.0, and more Best of BS Opinion: A Cinderella horror movie, a hurtling mass of finality

Right now, this is a city in mourning  the whole city is shocked and devastated by this attack, which has killed three people and injured three  one of whom is in critical condition.

Nadia Whittome, British Indian MP from Nottingham
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has caused a flutter by predicting early Lok Sabha polls, on Friday asserted that the possibility arose out of the ruling BJP's fears of his opposition unity drive gaining momentum.

Talking to reporters here, Kumar also defended the ouster of former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi from the state's ruling 'Mahagathbandhan', alleging that the Hindustani Awam Morcha founder was virtually spying on opposition parties at the BJP's behest.

"I may have spoken about early polls in jest but it is also a strong possibility. Those in power at the Centre may sense that there is a lot of movement in the opposition camp", said Kumar, as part of whose efforts to forge opposition unity leaders of nearly a score of parties opposed to the BJP will converge here on June 23 for a conclave.

The JD(U) supreme leader was talking to reporters at the Raj Bhavan, after the swearing-in of party MLA Ratnesh Sada into the cabinet, which follows the resignation of Manjhi's son Santosh Suman, who was holding the SC and ST Welfare portfolio.

A cabinet notification confirming allocation of SC and ST welfare department to Ratnesh Sada came shortly after the swearing in.

Apparently miffed by Manjhi's recent statement that Kumar had helped him become the CM in 2014 to cover up the embarrassment over JD(U)'s drubbing in Lok Sabha polls, Kumar underscored that he had stepped down against the wishes of party members.

Also Read Nitish Kumar reprises role played by George Fernandes in formation of NDA RJD MLA Sudhakar Singh courts controversy statement against Nitish Kumar Nitish Kumar biggest obstacle for Tejashwi becoming Bihar CM: RJD MLA Ex-JD(U) president RCP Singh joins BJP, attacks Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Nitish Kumar working on someone else's behest: Upendra Kushwaha BJP slams Cong over conversion law, says want to turn K'taka into mini Pak Jitan Ram Manjhi was spying on Mahagathbandhan allies, alleges Nitish Kumar Congress to stage protest against Centre over rice supply issue on June 20 JP Nadda hauls up BJP MPs for not taking interest in party programmes 'Pettiness and Vengeance': Cong slams govt over renaming of Nehru Museum

"Nobody wanted me to resign. But I stood my ground. There was no consensus among party men as to who should succeed me. So I had to intervene and I chose Manjhi thinking let there be a Scheduled Castes person in the chair", said Kumar.

Kumar, who is till date criticised by his detractors for the unceremonious removal of Manjhi within less than a year of becoming the CM, said "he started making a mess of everything within two months. I was left with no choice but to step in."



Kumar insisted that despite the bad blood between Manjhi and himself, he always treated the HAM chief with respect, and ahead of the 2020 assembly polls, "When he expressed the desire to join hands, the BJP was not ready to make any adjustments with him on seats, so we parted with a few from our quota".

The chief minister also chided Manjhi for crying hoarse over his "loyalty" never being respected, pointing out that "when he decided to come to Mahagathbandhan with me, Suman's ministerial berth was protected".

Manjhi had, after the doors of the Mahagathbandhan were slammed on him, alleged that Kumar had asked him to "merge" HAM with JD(U) or leave, which the chief minister did not deny but gave his side of the story.

"Of late he had begun to hobnob with the BJP people", said Kumar, apparently referring to Manjhi's meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in April.

"I had received inputs that he was informing on Mahagathbandhan and its plans. He was very insistent on being a part of the June 23 meeting as well", said Kumar.

Notably, Manjhi has made no secret of the slight that he felt over not being invited to the meeting. His son Suman, interestingly, had said well after his resignation that HAM would like to be represented at the meeting even if it got a belated invitation.

Kumar said, "I was apprehensive that he might be thinking of leaking to the BJP whatever deliberations would be held on June 23 when so many leaders from across the country will be sitting together".

Leaders who are expected at the meeting include Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal, Sharad Pawar, M K Stalin, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav, Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.

Kumar said he tested the waters by asking Manjhi, again, to merge ahead of the meeting "but he said no. So I said then you leave. It is good riddance".

About his remark on early polls, made at an official function, Kumar said "A government at the Centre always has this option. Early polls took place in 2004 too even though the then Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee was not in favour of the same".

"What I said was in jest (aise hi kah diya tha), but the possibility cannot be ruled out. The current dispensation may feel that if our opposition unity bid gathered momentum, it would inflict on them bigger losses. So they could take recourse to early polls", asserted Kumar, who had snapped ties with BJP about a year ago.
The Congress on Friday slammed the Centre's decision to rename the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library as the Prime Ministers Museum and Society.

Taking to Twitter, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said: "Pettiness & Vengeance, thy name is Modi. For over 59 years Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML) has been a global intellectual lamdmark and treasure house of books & archives. It will henceforth be called Prime Ministers Museum & Society.

"What won't Mr. Modi do to distort, disparage and destroy the name & legacy of the architect of the Indian nation-state. A small, small man overburdened by his insecurities is the self-styled Vishwaguru."

Ramesh's remarks came a day after the decision was taken at a special meeting of the NMML Society on Thursday, which was presided over by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is the vice-president of the Society.

The Society has Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its chairman, and Union Ministers Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmendra Pradhan, G Kishan Reddy, Anurag Thakur, among its 29 members.

The museum was inaugurated at the Teen Murti complex last year in April, which served as the official residence of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru since 1948 till his death in 1964.

Also Read World's first palm-leaf manuscript museum comes up in Thiruvananthapuram Cong tucked away sacred 'Sengol' in museum, called it 'golden stick': BJP Centre planning to set up National Public Health Museum soon: Report Museums can act as mediums for global cultural exchange, says PM Modi Congress' Jairam Ramesh hints at renaming Jaipur's Albert Hall Museum K'taka BJP asks Siddaramaiah for FCI's commitment letter over rice supply BJP welcomes Calcutta HC's order on deployment of central forces in Bengal JP Nadda holds virtual meeting with BJP MPs on 'Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan' Kejriwal calls NCCSA farce; L-G office claims CM's statement misleading Infiltrators, militants causing unrest in Manipur, says CM Biren Singh

--IANS

aks/ksk/
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said the Congress will hold protests at all district centres against the BJP government at the Centre on June 20, as he accused it of ensuring that the state doesn't get the required amount of rice to implement its 'Anna Bhagya' scheme, which provides additional 5 kg of rice for BPL families.

Noting that the state government is making all efforts to procure rice from other sources and from producing states, he indicated that there may be slight delay in rolling out the scheme against the scheduled date of July one.

"I want to congratulate BJP national President J P Nadda, as they (BJP) have walked the talk", Shivakumar said sarcastically. "It was reported in the media quoting him that if BJP loses the election central schemes to the state will get affected, he has kept up his word. Even as the Prime Minister speaks about federal structure..."



Speaking to reporters here, he said, the BJP government at the Centre is indulging in "politics of hate" by ensuring that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) does not supply the required amount of rice to implement the scheme; it is their way of registering a protest against Karnataka's poor for voting in favour of Congress.

"BJP is a party that betrays the poor. Congress party and the government condemns and protests this. On on June 20 at 11 am, the Congress will stage protests at all district centres across the state against the BJP government at the Centre. The protests will be organised by local leadership of the party at district level, all MLAs and leaders from the district will take part in the protest," he added.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had recently said that the central government has stalled the sale of wheat and rice to state governments under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) (OMSSD), which prohibits the FCI from selling any additional rice to Karnataka for its Anna Bhagya scheme.

Noting that the state government is committed to provide 10 kg of free rice to the poor, the DCM said, "we are in talks with neighbouring states like Telangana, also Chhattisgarh, which are rice producing states, on the stocks available with them for procurement.

Also Read Will immerse medals in Ganga, fast unto death: Protesting wrestlers Chaman Lal, KRBL: Firm demand to keep rice shares steaming, say analysts Why is growing rice becoming a challenge with each passing year Congress high command will decide on who will be the CM: D K Shivakumar Congress victory in Karnataka is best birthday gift for me: Shivakumar JP Nadda hauls up BJP MPs for not taking interest in party programmes 'Pettiness and Vengeance': Cong slams govt over renaming of Nehru Museum Focus on work, do not let media set agenda: Fadnavis at legislators' meet Why not pass benefits to people despite negative WPI: Cong to Centre Congress derides PM's silence on Manipur unrest after house of MoS torched

He said it is not difficult for us to procure from the open market, but we want to maintain transparency.

"The Centre has rice stock of over seven lakh metric tonne, we asked for about 2,88,000 metric tonnes. Despite having stock they are not giving. As they (FCI) had initially agreed to give rice, we had announced that we will supply from July 1. We will arrange rice somehow and roll out the scheme, there may be a couple of days delay due to procurement and transportation," he added.

Shivakumar also expressed hope that MPs from the state will come forward to help Karnataka, and said, "we will write to them to put pressure on the centre in the interest of the state."



Out of 28 MPs from the state, 25 are from BJP.
After a war of words between the BJP and ally Shiv Sena over a newspaper advertisement, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis cautioned on Friday against deviating from the agenda of nation building.

Fadnavis was speaking at the inauguration of the first National Legislators Conference organised by the MIT-School of Governance and attended by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, presiding officers of assemblies and nearly 2,000 legislators from across the country.

"I have seen that often the media decides the agenda for us. We are so desperate to appear in the media that we forget our own agenda," he said amid a row over the newspaper advertisement that projected Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as a more popular leader in the state than his deputy.

Fadnavis urged the legislators attending the conference not to deviate from the agenda of law making and contributing to the progress of the nation.

He said democracy took root in India centuries ago and continues to thrive even today as a country of 140 crore people participate in free and fair elections to elect their representatives.

"Democracy is in the blood of every Indian, it reflects in our values. We can keep our small differences and work together for the common good," Fadnavis said.

Also Read After Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP wants quick decision on MLAs' disqualification Shiv Sena, BJP will contest all future elections jointly: Maharashtra CM MVA's collapse, its aftermath kept political pot boiling in Maha in 2022 Efforts to create obstacles for Sena-BJP alliance being made: Shinde' son Shiv Sena ad claims Shinde more preferred as Maharashtra CM over Fadnavis Why not pass benefits to people despite negative WPI: Cong to Centre Congress derides PM's silence on Manipur unrest after house of MoS torched Trump's prosecution threat follows years of attacking democratic traditions Union minister Shekhawat challenges Gehlot to open debate on Sanjivani scam TMC demands immediate meeting of Parliamentary panel on Manipur violence

He said democracy in India has in-built checks and balances and the legislative assemblies give voice to the last person in the queue and ensure that it reaches the executive.

Fadnavis urged the legislators to explore how the legislative assemblies and councils can work for more days in a year and desist from passing legislations without discussion.

Two days after the row over the controversial advertisement, Fadnavis and Shinde travelled together for a government function in Palghar district on Thursday.

Fadnavis said he shares a strong bond with Shinde, which is unshakeable.

"Yeh Fevicol ka jod hai, tutega nahi. No matter how hard you try," the deputy chief minister had said on Thursday, after skipping at least two functions with Shinde in two days after the controversial advertisement was released.
Residents displaced from a surge of violent attacks squat on blankets and in hastily made tents in the village of Masteri in west Darfur, Sudan, July 30, 2020. AP-Yonhap



More than 400 people were killed in South Sudan between January and March this year, with ethnic clashes accounting for much of the violence plaguing the troubled country, the United Nations said Friday.



Clashes erupted on Christmas Eve last year when armed men from Jonglei state, an eastern region beset by gun crime, attacked communities in the nearby Greater Pibor Administrative Area, with the violence later spreading to other parts of the country.



"Intercommunal violence by community-based militias and/or civil-defense groups constituted the primary source of violence affecting civilians", the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said in a press release.



"From January to March 2023, the Mission documented 920 incidents of violence against civilians (including 243 children), during which 405 civilians were killed, 235 injured, 266 abducted, and 14 were subjected to conflict-related sexual violence."



Monitors also documented 22 extra-judicial executions between January and May this year, "allegedly committed by South Sudan security apparatus personnel", the statement said.



"I condemn these incidents which occur without any due process," said Nicholas Haysom, the head of UNMISS, adding that the country's justice minister had agreed to investigate the allegations.



One of the poorest countries on the planet despite large oil reserves, South Sudan's leadership has faced fierce criticism for failing its people and stoking violence.



Meanwhile, the crisis unfolding in neighboring Sudan has forced more than 100,000 South Sudanese refugees to flee back to their homeland, raising fears of fresh ethnic clashes, the UN said, with 13 people killed at a civilian protection camp last week.



Since achieving independence from Sudan in 2011, the world's newest nation has lurched from one crisis to another, including a brutal five-year civil war between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and his deputy Riek Machar that left nearly 400,000 people dead.



A peace deal was signed in 2018 but sporadic bursts of violence between government and opposition forces continue to occur, while conflict between rival ethnic groups in lawless parts of the country exacts a terrible toll on civilians.



The UN peacekeeping mission in the country is one of the world's most expensive, with an annual budget of $1.2 billion that includes funding for some 17,000 soldiers. (AFP)


India has the "largest number of malnourished" people, despite being the second largest producer of food in the world, Delhi Minister Atishi said in London, prompting sharp reactions from the BJP which alleged that she "defamed" the country on an international platform.

Addressing the Cambridge India Conference in London on Thursday, the Delhi education minister claimed that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has brought a major shift in the politics of India by his "exemplary work" in the past eight years.

"It is for the first time in the democratic history of India that politics is being done on governance and parties across the country have education and health as their top agenda," Atishi said, adding, "It is really concerning that it took us 75 years since Independence to discuss politics that delivers these basic amenities."



"It has taken so many years for governments to prioritize education and healthcare. In the past 75 years, we have not had a single political party that claimed to transform the education system of the country and provide quality education to every child, regardless of their background," she at the event hosted by Cambridge Judge Business School.

Taking a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as well as Atishi over their statements abroad, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday said that their remarks need not be taken seriously.

"There are two youth leaders. One goes to America... there is another youth leader... She goes to England and says that there are 35 crore people hungry in India. The prime minister is giving 80 crore people free ration, where these 35 crore came from," Puri told reporters in Jammu.

Speaking on the topic "Education- Building India's Future at 100" at the conference in London, Atishi also discussed the Delhi Education Model there.

Also Read Nearly 4 mn children, women in Sudan suffering from acute malnutrition: UN Poshan Tracker shows over 1,400,000 children severely malnourished: WCD Over 125,000 children in Gujarat malnourished: Government tells Assembly Out of 56 mn kids, 4.3 mn found malnourished by Poshan Tracker in Feb: WCD Opposition defaming govt: CM Shinde refutes allegations on NIT land scam PM Modi's US visit to focus on defence, technology, industry cooperation Nehru name drop: Cong calls it 'petty', BJP hits back with 'modiabind' barb TN Governor R N Ravi re-allocates portfolios held by Senthil Balaji Youth Congress to organise convention in Bengaluru on July 10 for members We should trust our education planners, says minister Jitendra Singh

Recalling her school days, Atishi mentioned social science textbooks at that time placed India as a developing country. "The narrative at the time was that India would become a developed country by 2020. However... India still carries the tag of developing nation," she noted.

It is often highlighted that India has the largest number of growing billionaires, with the number increasing from 102 in 2020 to 166 in 2022, Atishi said.

"However, another figure during this period is the number of hungry people in the country, which grew from 19 crores to 35 crores. This is alarming considering that India is the second-largest producer of food in the world. Despite this, it has the largest number of malnourished or undernourished people," she added.

She said that although India's GDP crossed the USD 3.5 trillion mark and is the fastest-growing G20 economy, "the reality is more worrying and requires immediate attention".

"One key indicator of the country's situation is the Human Development Index, where India ranks 132 out of 191 countries. Several smaller countries or countries considered comparable to India, such as Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, have higher ranks in this index."



The country has two models, the Delhi minister told the conference. The first model, which the AAP has presented for the past eight years, aims to empower every citizen of the state by giving them access to education and enabling them to solve the country's problems.

"The second model is that of the party in power in the central government, which is resorting to various means to imprison opposition leaders through CBI and ED, engaging in the buying MLAs and introducing ordinances that undermine the power of elected governments," she claimed.

Hitting out at the AAP leader, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said her statement was "shameful" and a case of treason should be filed against her.

"The whole country wants to know from Atishi where did she get the figure of 35 crore hungry people. The leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party, who call themselves staunch patriots, have left no stone unturned to embarrass the country today," he said.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday charged Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) party founder, Jitan Ram Manjhi, of "spying on Mahagathbandhan allies" for the benefit of the BJP and claimed his exit was good riddance.

Kumar admitted that Manjhi, a former chief minister himself, wanted to be a part of the June 23 Opposition parties meet but he was apprehensive that the latter might leak details of the conclave to the BJP.

"He (Manjhi) was in constant touch with BJP leaders. He recently met several BJP leaders He wanted to be part of the June 23 meeting of opposition leaders but I had apprehensions that he might leak issues/matters that will be discussed on June 23.

"I, therefore, asked him to merge HAM (S) with the JD(U). He said he could not do so, on this, I asked him to leave the Grand alliance it is good that he has gone away", Kumar told reporters after the swearing-in of JD(U) MLA from Sonbarsa assembly seat, Ratnesh Sada, in the state cabinet.

Sada, a three-time MLA from Sonbarsa seat belongs to 'Musahar' (rat catcher) caste, was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Raj Bhavan here.

Santosh Kumar Suman, who is the son of Manjhi, recently resigned from the state cabinet, saying, "I quit the minister's post to protect the party after Nitish Kumar's JD(U) gave a proposal to merge the HAM(S) with the JD(U)".

Also Read Jitan Manjhi's son Santosh resigns from Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's cabinet Bihar ex- CM Jitan Ram Manjhi seeks 5 seats for HAM for 2024 LS polls Big fish cannot ignore political stature of Manjhi, Chirag Paswan Caste census will be beneficial for all sections of society: CM Nitish BJP blames Speaker for taking side of ruling Mahagathbandhan in Bihar Congress to stage protest against Centre over rice supply issue on June 20 JP Nadda hauls up BJP MPs for not taking interest in party programmes 'Pettiness and Vengeance': Cong slams govt over renaming of Nehru Museum Focus on work, do not let media set agenda: Fadnavis at legislators' meet Why not pass benefits to people despite negative WPI: Cong to Centre

Kumar said, "Our party has given a lot to Manjhi. His party was given a ministerial berth in the state cabinet from JD(U)'s quota. Despite all these... he was in touch with BJP leaders."



The CM further asserted that the possibility of early Lok Sabha polls could not be ruled out.

"There is a strong possibility that general elections may not necessarily take place next year. These could be held earlier. Therefore, all opposition parties must come together to defeat the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha polls. We must start preparations after June 23 meeting", said the CM.
BJP National General Secretary C.T. Ravi on Friday slammed the Congress government in Karnataka for accusing the Centre of not providing rice despite having sufficient stocks and asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to produce the commitment letter in this regard by the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

Speaking to reporters, C.T. Ravi stated if he is not "lying", then he should show the letter by FCI promising rice to Karnataka state. Let them stop making false allegations and provide money to people to buy the rice. The Centre has not sent a letter that they will send the rice so that the Congress government projects it as its scheme and then distributes it to the people.

"You point fingers at the Centre for the task which you are unable to do. I expected Siddaramaiah to start making allegations after four or five months. But, he has begun already. You declared that the free rice scheme would be implemented from July 1 and now you blame the central government. You debit money into the accounts of BPL holders, they will buy the rice," C.T. Ravi reiterated.

On the increase in the electricity fare, the BJP leader charged that the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission's (KERC) proposal to hike the price was not given consent by the BJP.

It is accorded by the Congress government. The excise duty is also increased quietly. Is the Centre responsible for all this? They have all set to hike registration and motor vehicle taxes. On the one hand the Congress government is snatching the money from the public and on the other it is pretending like it is giving.

According to CM Siddaramaiah, the FCI deputy manager had informed that there is seven lakh tonne rice stock. In spite of the stock, why is the Centre not supplying rice? BJP leaders are anti-poor. To bring a bad name to the Congress government they are resorting to all these tactics.

Also Read Chaman Lal, KRBL: Firm demand to keep rice shares steaming, say analysts Why is growing rice becoming a challenge with each passing year Come May 13, will BJP script history in 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections? FSSAI notifies first-ever regulatory standards for basmati rice Cheap, not part of K'taka politics: CM Bommai on Siddaramaiah's remarks BJP welcomes Calcutta HC's order on deployment of central forces in Bengal JP Nadda holds virtual meeting with BJP MPs on 'Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan' Kejriwal calls NCCSA farce; L-G office claims CM's statement misleading Infiltrators, militants causing unrest in Manipur, says CM Biren Singh UCC is fake issue, BJP rakes it up during elections: Cong leader Modhwadia

"We had a discussion with the FCI's deputy manager. He had assured the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies K.H. Muniyappa and us to supply rice. He had also written a letter on June 12 and promised to supply rice with the consent from the centre. After this development, the central government has taken a political decision," CM Siddaramaiah had alleged.

It was agreed to provide 2,08,425 metric tonnes of rice to Karnataka. But, they have written a letter on June 13 saying that the states can't be provided wheat and rice under the Open Market Sales Scheme (OMSS). The central government has taken a political decision deciding not to give rice for Karnataka state only to bring bad name to the Congress government, Siddaramaiah had charged.

--IANS

mka/shb/
The first meeting of the National Capital Civil Service Authority, constituted through an ordinance by the Centre, has been summoned by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on June 20 even as he called the panel a "farce".

The NCCSA, which was formed on May 19 by the Centre to bring back executive control over matters related to services to its domain, is likely to discuss disciplinary proceedings against an officer during the meeting. The Delhi CM is the chairman of the authority.

According to an official statement, Kejriwal said even before its first meeting, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena and Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar have "colluded" to turn the NCCSA into a "farce" authority.

Reacting to the allegation, an official of the LG Secretariat said it is "shocking that false and misleading statements comprising patently wrong assertions and half-truths are being issued as official statements of the Chief Minister's Office."



No immediate reaction was available from the chief secretary of Delhi.

The Delhi government statement said, "Several proposals related to services are being directly sent by the chief secretary to the LG, bypassing the CM and the NCCSA."



"Two weeks back, the CM and the NCCSA were bypassed by the CS who colluded with the LG to directly issue suspension orders for an officer in another matter," it was alleged in the statement.

However, the LG Secretariat official said contrary to the claims being made by the CM office, not a "single" file pertaining to posting or transfer has been sent to or received by the LG after the ordinance came into effect.

Also Read Operation Sheesh Mahal: Why do BJP and Congress want Delhi CM to resign? Kejriwal calls 1st NCCSA meet on June 20 to discuss action against officer BJP dubs Kejriwal 'egoistic leader' after Delhi CM's tirade against LG Amid row, L-G Saxena approves extension of power subsidy in Delhi Aim of BJP-led Centre is to defame Kejriwal, AAP leaders: Sanjay Singh Infiltrators, militants causing unrest in Manipur, says CM Biren Singh UCC is fake issue, BJP rakes it up during elections: Cong leader Modhwadia If opposition doesn't unite, there may not be an election post 2024: AAP BJP's politics of hatred burned Manipur, says Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Don't provoke DMK: Stalin warns BJP after Balaji's arrest in ED case

"As far as the matter of suspension of an official is concerned, it was duly recommended by the authority as per law and the CM, as its chairman, was fully aware of it," he claimed and questioned if Kejriwal was trying to save the "corrupt".

The Delhi government statement also said that the outcome of the authority meeting is already known with two members as officers appointed by the central government and the chief minister being in the minority.

The setting up of the NCCSA came just over a week after the Supreme Court, in its verdict, handed over executive control over services matters to the elected dispensation in Delhi.

The file for action against the officer was placed before the chief minister who had highlighted several "gaps and missing information" in it and directed the chief secretary to urgently furnish the same before the date of the NCCSA meeting can be decided upon.

"However, in a completely shocking and brazen disregard of Section 45F(1) of the Centre's Ordinance and established constitutional practices, the chief secretary overruled the directions of the chief minister. The CM and the NCCSA both were bypassed and the file was placed directly before the LG recommending suspension of the officer," it alleged.

The three-member authority headed by the chief minister also includes Delhi's chief secretary as its member and the principal secretary (Home) as its member secretary.

The fact that the CM's authority as the chairperson of NCCSA has been "completely subverted" by "collusion" of the LG and the CS even before the first meeting of the authority, highlights the "malafide intent" of the Centre to "rob" the elected government of Delhi from exercising any kind of power to govern, it alleged further.

The statement also raised questions over the composition of the NCCSA terming it to be of "dubious nature" for placing the chief minister in it with two bureaucrats and providing for a majority mandate.

The transfer and postings of Group A officers, including AGMUT cadre IAS, which were earlier decided by the services department under the jurisdiction of the Lieutenant Governor, will now be dealt with by the NCCSA, according to the ordinance.

Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs moved 10 IAS officers of Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre to Delhi whose postings are yet to be decided by the newly formed NCCSA.

It was, however, not clear whether the NCCSA will take up the matter of posting IAS officers in its first physical meeting, officials said.

The decision of the NCCSA approved by its three members is to be sent to the Delhi LG for his nod.

The LG may return the file for transfer postings to the NCCSA for reconsideration if he is not in agreement with its recommendations, or he may take his own independent decision which will be final, as per the ordinance.

Kejriwal had termed the ordinance a "direct challenge to the majesty and power of Supreme Court", and asserted to contest it in the apex court when it resumed after the summer break.
The Trinamool Congress has demanded an immediate meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs on the continued violence in Manipur.

Trinamool Congress leader in the Rajya Sabha Derek O'Brien has written a letter to the Committee's chairperson Brijlal, requesting him to convene a meeting immediately.

In the letter, O'Brien said that as a result of of ethnic violence in Manipur, the people of the state are facing a tremendous financial crisis.

"Prices of essential commodities have shot up and there are long queues in front of ATMs," he added.

According to O'Brien, holding the meeting would provide first hand insights into the prevailing situation in the violence-hit state.

The Trinamool Congress leadership h been vocal about the Manipur violence since the ethnic clashes first broke out on May 3.

Also Read As Manipur reels from violence, home minister Shah to visit the state today Tribal protest in Manipur turns violent; curfew imposed, internet suspended Shielding governance failure will not resolve Manipur's problems 'Not consulted over CM's presence': Kuki members to boycott peace committee Union minister RK Ranjan's house torched in Manipur as violence intensifies Congress slams Centre's decision to rename Nehru Memorial Museum, Library K'taka BJP asks Siddaramaiah for FCI's commitment letter over rice supply BJP welcomes Calcutta HC's order on deployment of central forces in Bengal JP Nadda holds virtual meeting with BJP MPs on 'Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan' Kejriwal calls NCCSA farce; L-G office claims CM's statement misleading

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee even compared the Manipur violence to the ongoing Kurmi movement in West Bengal in demand of Scheduled Tribe status.

She accused the BJP and the Centre of creating a Manipur-like caste violence situation in West Bengal by instigating the Kurmis against the people from other tribal communities in the state.

She also slammed Union Home Minister Amit Shah, as well as the Centre, of being reluctant to solve the Manipur crisis.

The Manipur matter has even cropped over the debate on deployment of central armed forces in West Bengal in view of the July 8 panchayat polls.

Trinamool Congress state spokesman Kunal Ghosh has questioned the inability of the forces to bring the situation in Manipur under control.

--IANS

src/ksk/
Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has challenged Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to an open debate on the allegations levelled by the latter against him on the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society scam matter.

Gehlot has repeatedly accused Shekhawat, who is an MP from Jodhpur, of being involved in the scam in which a large number of investors were duped of crores of rupees.

Shekhawat has dismissed allegations linking him to the credit society and has also filed a defamation case in a Delhi court against Gehlot



I challenge him and his lawyers to stand on any platform in India and argue in front of me, he told reporters in Jaisalmer on Thursday when asked about the allegations levelled by Gehlot.

Shekhawat said the chief minister levelled the allegations against him because of the defeat of his son Vaibhav Gehlot in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The Union minister had defeated Vaibhav Gehlot in the Jodhpur Lok Sabha seat. Jodhpur is the hometown of CM Gehlot.

The BJP leader also said that he will prove the corruption allegations levelled by BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Kirodi Lal Meena against Gehlot and his son.

Also Read India has committed over $240 bn in water sector: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Centre has sanctioned Rs 2,000 cr for Tripura under Jal Jeevan Mission: CM Union Minister Shekhawat moves defamation complaint against CM Gehlot FIR filed against Gajendra Shekhawat over Ravana remark against Gehlot Gehlot alleges Union min's involvement in Sanjivani Credit Society scam TMC demands immediate meeting of Parliamentary panel on Manipur violence Congress slams Centre's decision to rename Nehru Memorial Museum, Library K'taka BJP asks Siddaramaiah for FCI's commitment letter over rice supply BJP welcomes Calcutta HC's order on deployment of central forces in Bengal JP Nadda holds virtual meeting with BJP MPs on 'Maha Jan Sampark Abhiyan'

They do the work of converting black money worth crores of rupees into white, he charged.

No immediate reaction was available from Gehlot to the charge.

Shekhawat also said that the Centre has done remarkable work with the theme of service, good governance, and welfare of the poor.

As a result of the working of the Modi government, people today have faith in the system, he asserted.

The poor realise that the government works for them. If the right party is chosen in democracy, then the right work is done, he said.
The Indian Youth Congress will organise a programme in Bengaluru from July 10 to 12, which is likely to be attended by more than 3,000 of its office bearers from across the country, an official said on Friday.

"Today every section of the society is troubled. The list of promises made by the Modi government to the people of the country is long. However, the public is suffering. That's why Indian Youth Congress is going to start a nationwide campaign 'Behtar Bharat Ki Buniyaad ' youth convention for 2024," IYC national president Srinivas B V said while holding a press conference here.

He said the program is going to be the biggest organisational youth convention programme of the Indian Youth Congress.

National in-charge of IYC and All India Congress Committee (AICC) joint secretary Krishna Allavaru said the programme will be a conference of 'Mann Ki Baat' of the youth of the country.

"Through this conference we will listen to the youth of the country, understand and then work for the foundation of a better India. The top leadership of the Congress, youth representatives and many well-known personalities will participate in this program," Allavaru added.
The Reddit blackout that began on June 12 in opposition to the company's revised third-party app policies appears to have subsided a little.

In a blog post on its website, the company stated that as of June 15 more than 80 per cent of its top 5,000 communities were operational and were anticipated to continue functioning in a similar manner.

The number is down from the 8,000 communities that went dark when the protest first began.

However, Reddit chief executive Steve Huffman has told his employees in an internal memo they must block out the noise and that this blackout of subreddits will eventually pass, a report by The Verge said.

Theres a lot of noise with this one. Among the noisiest, weve seen. Please know that our teams are on it, and like all blowups on Reddit, this one will pass as well, the memo read.

Also Read Reddit to hand pink slips to 5% of its workforce, reduce fresh hiring Will immerse medals in Ganga, fast unto death: Protesting wrestlers Third-party app Apollo shutting down due to Reddit's new API pricing Scuffle between protesting wrestlers and Delhi cops: What we know so far Centre invites protesting wrestlers for talks on charges against WFI chief OnePlus to cover over 25 cities in 'Road Trip - Futurebound' initiative 'Hey Disney!' voice assistant now available for Echo devices in US Intel rebrands its processor chips for the first time in 15 years Instagram broadcast channels rolling out globally with a new feature India must set its own artificial intelligence regulation: Experts

It added that Huffman told his staff that the blackout had little effect on business profits.

The only long-term solution is improving our product, and in the short term we have a few upcoming critical mod tool launches we need to nail, it cited Huffman as saying. A modding tool is a software that helps you create, manage, and install mods for a specific game or engine.

Huffman came out strongly against third-party apps using Reddits API for free as they used the data to build their own business.

API, or application programming interface, is a software intermediary that allows two applications to talk to each other and is an accessible way to extract and share data within and across organisations.

I didnt know  and this is my fault  the extent that they were profiting off of our API. That these were not charities, he told The Verge.

Why the protests?

Reddit announced in April that it would change its API pricing policy in an effort to make money from businesses that use its data to create and hone artificial intelligence tools.

An API is used every time someone sends a mobile payment or makes use of a ridesharing app. Third-party apps have been using Reddit's open API to collect data or create apps.

So, Reddits decision to charge for its APIs starting July 1 meant it would cost big third-party apps such as Apollo and Rif more. Consequently, these two third-party apps have announced that they will shut down a day before the deadline.

Reddit users as well as many of its subreddits demanded a protest against the company's decision to charge for its API.

However, the memo from Huffman stated that talks with Rif and Apollo are still going on.

"While the two biggest third-party apps, Apollo and RIF, along with a couple of others, have said they plan to shut down at the end of the month, we are still in conversation with some of the others," the memo said.
Chinas capital Beijing will extend medical insurance coverage to a slew of assisted reproduction services as the country tries to avert a demographic crisis that threatens long-term consequences for the economy.



Starting July 1, services ranging from sperm optimisation to in-vitro fertilisation will be reimbursed in 16 medical facilities, CCTV reported, citing the Beijing Municipal Medical Insurance Bureau. The capital is the first major city in China to extend insurance coverage.

The move will reduce the often substantial financial burden of the services and is part of a broader plan to boost the national birth rate after China saw its population shrink for the first time in six decades.



Officials at the National Healthcare Security Administration, which oversees the $600 billion state medical insurance fund that covers over 95 per cent of Chinas 1.4 billion people, have said local governments must study whether extending

coverage will be feasible for local insurance funds, which raise money from local employee contributions.



The province of Henan said that it is not yet capable of extending coverage to such assisted services.
Russia President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia could theoretically use nuclear weapons if there was a threat to its territorial integrity or existence, but that it did not need to. He was speaking at the plenary session of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). Putin also touted Russias prospects at the countrys main international economic forum despite heavy international sanctions imposed because of the war.



Nuclear weapons have been made to ensure our security in the broadest sense of the word and the existence of the Russian state, but we... have no such need (to use them), Putin said.



He also said Russias military could destroy parts of central Kyiv but had chosen not to for various reasons.



Speaking at the forum, Putin did not specify the reasons. Attacks on Russias border territories were an attempt to distract Moscows forces from other fronts, he said.



There was a serious danger that the Nato military alliance could be pulled further into the Ukraine conflict, he added. Putin cast a public slur on Ukrainian President Zelenskyys Jewish roots , saying without evidence that some Jews considered him a disgrace to their faith.



I have many Jewish friends. They say Zelenskyy is not a Jew, he is a disgrace to the Jewish people, Putin said.
China's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sun Weidong, recently visited Sri Lanka and held a meeting with Sri Lankan President, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka-based Mawrata News reported. However, there was no mention of debt restructuring in the official announcements issued after the meeting between the two leaders.

The official statement released after the meeting only mentioned that China will give maximum support to Sri Lanka to recover from the economic crisis. China's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs invited him to China for a conference on China's belt and road initiative, as per the news report. Ranil Wickremesinghe might be trying to go to China to discuss debt restructuring.

This time, Wickremesinghe will request for the restructuring of the Chinese debt. However, China's stance of 2014 is unlikely to witness a change in 2023, Upul Joseph Fernando wrote in the Mawrata News report. China is playing a game of 'Hide and Seek' on Sri Lanka's debt restructuring, the report said further.

Sri Lankan President last travelled to China on May 14, 2019. Sri Lanka's then-President Maithripala Sirisena visited China to attend a conference and met with the Chinese President. Later, Gotabaya Rajapaksa took over as Sri Lankan President and he was also invited to China. However, Rajapaksa initially refused to visit China due to COVID-19 and later avoided China by travelling to other nations.

Chinese vice minister, who recently travelled to Sri Lanka, invited Ranil to attend a conference in China. Ranil Wickremesinghe had attended a conference in Japan before that and Beijing must have believed that participating in a conference in China would be easy for him, Mawrata News reported. However, the official statement released after the meeting did not mention debt restructuring.

In 2014, Sri Lanka's Former finance ministry secretary PB held talks on debt restructuring with China even before Sri Lanka went bankrupt, Mawrata News reported. Although the Mahinda Rajapaksa-led government in Sri Lanka at that time was a close friend of China. However, Beijing did not agree to the debt restructuring request.

Also Read Sri Lanka concludes debt restructuring talks with Japan: Wickremesinghe EAM likely to visit Lanka on Jan 19; talks on debt restructuring expected Debt restructuring talks with India, China successful, says Sri Lanka prez IMF urges crisis-hit Sri Lanka to decide on debt restructuring: Report Public service not an eight-hour job: Lanka president Ranil Wickremesinghe Donald Trump scores rare legal win as DA drops golf course tax probe US, South Korea, Japan condemn North Korea's latest missile provocation Price caps on Russia's oil cutting revenue nearly in half, says US official 15 people, mostly seniors, killed in highway crash in Canada, says official Fossil fuels 'incompatible with human survival,' says UN chief Guterres

Instead, China intended to sign agreements to further develop the Hambantota port and cover the loss, according to the news report. In 2017, Sri Lanka's then-Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe visited China and asked for loan relief. However, China declined the request.
Security researchers have said that China-backed hackers are likely behind the mass-exploitation of a recently discovered security flaw in Barracuda Networks' email security gear, allowing attackers to remotely gain access to affected devices.

As a result, Barracuda has warned customers to remove and replace all affected devices.

According to a report by cybersecurity firm Mandiant, the hackers used the flaw to compromise hundreds of organisations, most likely as part of a Chinese government-backed espionage campaign.

Almost a third of identified affected organisations were government agencies.

According to the report, the security flaw was discovered in Barracuda's Email Security Gateway (ESG) appliances last month, which sit on a company's network and filter email traffic for malicious content.

Barracuda released patches and warned that hackers had been taking advantage of the flaw since October 2022, however, the company later advised customers to remove and replace affected ESG appliances regardless of patch level, implying that the patches failed or were unable to prevent the hacker's access.

Also Read Hackers release sensitive information after ransomware attack on CommScope Bug bounty hunters rake it in as incidence of cyber attacks shoots up 53-year-old Mumbai man sells flat for Rs 1.3 cr, loses all to cyber fraud 829 mn cyber attacks blocked; 59% of targeted websites in India: Indusface Haryana sees 5,000% jump in cyber crime complaints since 2019 Japan raises age of consent to 16, criminalises voyeurism under new reforms Moody's warns 'highly uncertain' funding prospects for Pak until elections Rare five-planetary alignment: When and where to observe in India China sets record by sending 41 satellites to space by Long March 2D rocket Bank of Japan keeps low rates and dovish guidance, markets not so sure

The researchers attributed the hacks to UNC4841, an unclassified threat group that shares infrastructure and malware code with other China-backed hacking groups.

According to the researchers, the threat group used the Barracuda ESG flaws to deploy custom malware that allows the hackers to maintain access to the devices while exfiltrating data.

Moreover, the report said that the threat actor UNC4841 "searched for email accounts belonging to individuals working for a government with political or strategic interest to (China) at the same time that this victim government was participating in high-level, diplomatic meetings with other countries".

Further, the researchers stated that the large proportion of government entities among the targets supports their assessment that the threat group has an intelligence-gathering motivation, rather than conducting destructive data attacks.

--IANS

shs/svn/
At first blush, they seem so alike two pugnacious, ideologically flexible politicians who latched onto the 2016 global explosion of populism to lead their respective countries before falling from power.

But Boris Johnson and Donald Trump appear headed down different paths this week as they navigate the fallout from their conduct now that they've left higher office a reflection of the varying political cultures and systems in the nations they once led.

On Thursday, a committee of the House of Commons released a scathing report about how Johnson lied to Parliament and intimidated those investigating lockdown-flouting parties in his administration during the pandemic.

The committee said Johnson's conduct was so flagrant that it warranted a 90-day suspension from Parliament, although that recommendation was largely symbolic because he resigned from the House of Commons last week.

He was ousted as prime minister almost a year ago, partly due to the partygate scandal.

Two days earlier, Trump became the first former U.S. president to appear before a federal judge in a criminal case, pleading not guilty to 37 charges of obstruction of justice and improper retention of classified documents. He also faces charges of filing false business documents in an unrelated matter in New York, and additional legal risk in two more investigations of his attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss.

Also Read Why has Donald Trump been indicted and can he run for 2024 elections? US House congressional panel to discuss release of Trump's tax returns Appeals court rejects Donald Trump effort to block Pence testimony US House committee to release Trump's personal tax returns for 6 yrs Donald Trump can run for 2024 presidential election even if convicted Beijing to cover IVF, fertility treatments to boost China's birth rate Can use nuclear weapons but won't, says Russia President Vladimir Putin Virgin Galactic Holdings to roll out commercial service from June 27 Willing to engage in tech co-op with US, Xi Jinping tells Bill Gates Wall Street job cuts likely to surpass 11K as CEOs unwind hiring binge

THEY WANT TO COME BACK. CAN THEY?



Both men have decried efforts to punish them as undemocratic, describing the investigations into their conduct as witch hunts.

Both also want to return to power. But only Trump has a clear path he is the frontrunner for his party's 2024 presidential nomination.

If Trump wins it, he'll face President Joe Biden and stands a decent chance of winning back his old job in a country that's evenly divided between its two major political parties.

Johnson, on the other hand, has a much less direct route back, though he will still have a platform the Daily Mail, one of the U.K.'s highest-circulation tabloids, announced Friday that he'll write a full-page column that will run every Saturday.

Under Britain's parliamentary system, prime ministers are selected not by popular vote but because they are the leaders of the party that controls a majority in the House of Commons. That means Johnson would have to win back the support of luminaries in his Conservative Party before he had any chance of returning to Parliament, much less the prime minister's office.

We are a parliamentary as opposed to a presidential system. That means that actually there is probably less room for a thorough-going populist to capture both his or her or her party and, indeed, the country in the United Kingdom than there is in the United States, said Tim Bale, a political science professor at Queen Mary University of London.

That's because of the United States' two-party system, which Trump exploited in 2016 when he entered electoral politics for the first time. The parties nominate candidates in primary elections decided by their own voters, giving an edge to the most partisan or bombastic.

Trump has cemented his power by focusing on building loyalty among Republican voters, so any party member who criticizes him is vulnerable to a primary challenge.

That's effectively split the United States in two, making almost every facet of modern life from sporting events to beer choice a referendum on whether people side with Trump and his movement.

By contrast, Britain doesn't have primary elections and doesn't elect prime ministers by popular vote, making it difficult for politicians to take their message to voters without first winning the support of party leaders.

THEIR SIMILARITIES REVEAL THEIR NATIONS' DIFFERENCES



Astonishingly, both Trump and Johnson are native New Yorkers; Johnson's parents were studying in the United States when he was born. Both sport trademark locks of golden hair and penchants for sometimes farcical self-promotion. And both followed parallel tracks that illuminate the differences between the United States and the United Kingdom.

Trump, son of a wealthy developer, became known for stamping his name in gold-plated lettering on his towers. When his business faltered, Trump became a reality television star on The Apprentice, a show that portrayed him as the ideal tough-minded businessman, an image he rode into the White House in 2016.

Johnson as a child announced that he wanted to be world king and climbed the British elite educational system, from Eton to Oxford, to get there. He worked as a columnist for British newspapers losing one job for concocting quotes before winning a seat in Parliament in 2001, then becoming mayor of London in 2008.

Johnson cultivated a zany style, revelling in stunts that often went awry, like the time he got stuck on a zipline promoting the 2012 London Olympics.

Trump has maintained his populist image with man-of-the-people touches, such as his cameos in World Wrestling Federation bouts and his fondness for McDonalds, which he once served in the White House.

Johnson sprinkles his speeches with Latin quotations and his favourite Italian red wine sells for 180 pounds ($230) a bottle.

Once a proud cosmopolitan New Yorker who embraced gay and abortion rights, Trump veered to the right when he ran for president, appointing the judges who overturned the Supreme Court case that guaranteed American women the right to an abortion.

His swing was initially slammed by none other than Johnson, who as London mayor took issue with Trump's claim that radical Muslims created no-go areas in his city. Johnson said Trump demonstrated a stupefying ignorance.

The following year, though, Johnson embraced the ballot measure to leave the European Union and the anti-immigrant sentiment that Trump had tapped into. Johnson later lamented that women in burkas looked like letter boxes.

Johnson became foreign secretary in 2016, then rose to prime minister by promising he'd get Brexit done.

He kept that promise by winning an unassailable 80-seat majority in Parliament that allowed him to ram through the Brexit deal that severed virtually all ties with the EU.

But Johnson's ability to win elections by making grandiose promises and entertaining voters didn't translate into undying support from backbench lawmakers, who abandoned him after a series of scandals that included so-called partygate over the boozy celebrations in his Downing Street offices.

After Johnson attacked the committee that investigated him as a kangaroo court, the opposition quickly compared him to his counterpart across the Atlantic.

He's not fit for public office and he's disgraced himself and continues to act like a pound-shop Trump," Angela Rayner, the Labour Party's deputy leader, said Thursday.

That may make him a pariah in British politics. But among many Americans it's a compliment to be compared to Trump, even after the former president's lies about the 2020 election provoked the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Only a handful of Republicans have dared criticize Trump for his conduct. Even after charges were filed late last week against Trump, most of his primary rivals spent more time portraying him as a victim.

In contrast, no one in American politics would bother comparing a rival or an ally to Boris Johnson.
A report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cautioned that the uncertainty caused by the Israeli government-proposed judicial reform could prompt Israeli hi-tech companies to relocate abroad.

The report issued on Thursday said that if a large enough number of hi-tech firms relocate, Israel's strong economic growth potential could be jeopardized, as the capital stock and labor market productivity could be permanently damaged.

It added that without a durable and politically sustainable solution, the high levels of uncertainty could significantly increase the price of risk in the economy. Consequently, financial conditions would be tightened and consumption and investment ultimately slowed, Xinhua news agency reported.

It also noted that the investment could be affected by the relocation of hi-tech firms which conduct cross-border activities, rely on international financing, and employ skilled and internationally mobile workers.

The report expected Israel's economic growth to slow to about 2.5 per cent this year as households purchasing power moderates and firms rein in investment.

--IANS

Also Read Israel's Netanyahu appoints a Joe Biden critic as new media advisor: Report Israel PM Netanyahu delays judicial reform plan amid general strike Israel's designated PM Netanyahu says he has successfully formed new govt Israeli governance group asks court to punish PM Netanyahu over legal plan Netanyahu rejects Joe Biden's suggestion to pause judicial overhaul Unemployment in Afghanistan rose significantly in past two years: Report Change in China's stance on debt restructuring for SL in 2023 unlikely Donald Trump scores rare legal win as DA drops golf course tax probe US, South Korea, Japan condemn North Korea's latest missile provocation Price caps on Russia's oil cutting revenue nearly in half, says US official

int/sha
Japan raised its age of consent from 13 to 16 years on Friday. This was done as a part of reforms to sex crime legislation by lawmakers.

Along with raising the age of consent, the reforms also clarifies rape prosecution requirements and criminalises voyeurism, according to media reports.

Japan was one of the few countries with the lowest age of consent of just 13 years. Human rights campaigners have hailed these reforms which were passed by the upper house of the Japanese parliament in a unanimous vote.

The age of consent is the age below which the act of sex is considered rape as children/adolescents below this age are considered incapable of giving consent for sex or any sexual activity.

The age of consent in India is 18, in China its 14 and in Britain it is 16. Nigeria has the lowest age of consent at 11 years, followed by Angola at 12 years.

In Japan, the age of consent has remained at 13 years since 1907.

Also Read Develop consent-driven anti spam tech within 2 months: TRAI to telcos Sexual harassment complaints in the sporting world in single digits 'Sought sexual favours, touched inappropriately': FIRs against WFI chief Japan's birth rate falls to record low as population crisis deepens New-age stocks in focus; Paytm, Policybazaar, Zomato, Nykaa gain up to 10% Moody's warns 'highly uncertain' funding prospects for Pak until elections Rare five-planetary alignment: When and where to observe in India China sets record by sending 41 satellites to space by Long March 2D rocket Bank of Japan keeps low rates and dovish guidance, markets not so sure Bill Gates meets President Xi Jinping on China visit after 3 years

The reforms however make an exception for teen couples with no more than five years of age gap from prosecution, given that both the partners are above 13 years of age.

In 2017, Japan made a few reforms to the criminal code on sexual offenses. However, they were widely deemed insufficient by campaigners. The island nation also saw nationwide rallies in 2019 demanding stricter laws.

The bill also criminalises intimidation, seduction, or money to coerce children under 16 years of age to meet for sexual purposes. It also provided for a prison sentence of up to a year or a fine of 500,000 yen ($3,500).

The previous law was especially criticised for a contentious provision that required the prosecutors to prove victims were incapacitated due to violence or intimidation.

The new reforms passed on Friday also make provision for establishing rape on the grounds of victims under the influence of alcohol or drugs and being intimidated due to factors like the social status of the perpetrator or any other reason.

The Bill also criminalises voyeurism, which earlier had only been regulated by regional ordinances.

Under the new reforms, a penalty of up to three years in prison or a fine of up to three million yen will be imposed for secretly filming private body parts, underwear, or indecent acts without a justifiable reason.
Moody's Investors Service has warned that Pakistan's ability to secure loans from bilateral and multilateral partners will be severely constrained until a new programme is negotiated with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), local media reported.

The credit rating company, in an issuer comment report, said: "Whether Pakistan will join another IMF programme may only become clear after elections, which are due by October 2023. Negotiations for any future IMF programme would also take some time, even if they succeed."

It further warned that Pakistan is unlikely to access market financing at affordable costs, either from Eurobonds or commercial banks, in the foreseeable future, Geo News reported.

In fiscal 2023, the government issued no Eurobonds and raised only Rs521 billion ($2.8 billion) from commercial banks, far short of the Rs 1.4 trillion target set in the fiscal year 2022-23 budget.

The country's external debt repayment will remain high for the next few years, with about $25 billion of repayments (principal and interest) due in fiscal 2024, while foreign exchange reserves are very low at $3.9 billion as of June 2.

"Pakistan's external funding prospects for fiscal 2024 and later are highly uncertain," Moody's said. "It is not guaranteed that Pakistan will be able to secure $2.4 billion from the IMF as budgeted", Geo News reported.

Also Read Pakistan govt approves new tax on electricity to meet IMF conditions IMF negates cash-strapped Pakistan govt's claim of meeting loan conditions FinMin to meet Moody's on June 16, pitch for sovereign rating upgrade IMF delegation to visit Pakistan next week for talks on review: Official Indian American Ajay Banga becomes 1st person of colour to head World Bank Rare five-planetary alignment: When and where to observe in India China sets record by sending 41 satellites to space by Long March 2D rocket Bank of Japan keeps low rates and dovish guidance, markets not so sure Bill Gates meets President Xi Jinping on China visit after 3 years This is the right time for trade between India and US: TCS' Muthuswami

The IMF has been in talks with Pakistan on the ninth tranche of a $6.5 billion bailout package since last year. The programme will expire at the end of June.

Moody's said the government is considering rescheduling bilateral debts, but it does not plan to approach the Paris Club or multilateral partners to reschedule their debt.

"Under our definition, a suspension of debt service obligations only to official creditors is unlikely to have direct rating implications," the rating agency said. "Indeed, such relief would increase the government's available fiscal resources for essential health, social and infrastructure spending."

--IANS

san/snv/
As many as 16 people including the former deputy prime minister of Nepal were on Friday remanded to custody for further investigation into the Bhutanese refugee scam.

The persons in custody allegedly collected large amounts of money from Nepali nationals, promising to help them relocate overseas as Bhutanese refugees.

The Kathmandu District Court on Friday sent former deputy prime minister Top Bahadur Rayamajhi, former home minister Balkrishna Khand, government secretary (now suspended) Tek Narayan Pande, former home minister Ram Bahadur Thapa's security advisor Dr Indrajeet Rai, and Bhutanese refugee leader Teknath Rijal, who are facing charges of forgery, fraud and organised crime, to custody for further investigation into the scam, according to officials.

Rayamajhi has now been suspended as the secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) party.

The bench of Justice Prem Prasad Neupane however ordered to release two of those accused Tanka Gurung and Laxmi Maharjan on bail.

Gurung is required to deposit Rs one million and Maharjan Rs 500,000 as bail amounts, according to court sources.

Also Read Nepal ex-ministers among 30 people charged in fake Bhutanese refugee scam Over 1000 youths, students participate in anti-corruption rally in Nepal India will always be reliable: Om Birla to Bhutan National Assembly speaker Jigme Wangchuck's 3-day India visit: NSA Ajit Doval calls on Bhutan King Nepal plane crash: At least 68 dead, rescuers search for 4 missing persons How Trump, Johnson, divisive populists with similarities, took diff paths Beijing to cover IVF, fertility treatments to boost China's birth rate Can use nuclear weapons but won't, says Russia President Vladimir Putin Virgin Galactic Holdings to roll out commercial service from June 27 Willing to engage in tech co-op with US, Xi Jinping tells Bill Gates

The District Attorney's Office here on May 24 had filed a case against the 18 accused based on police reports over the scam.

Those involved have allegedly swindled around 875 Nepali nationals of millions of rupees.

Other 12 persons allegedly involved in the scam are absconding.
Nissan Motor's Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta will leave the Japanese automaker later this month to pursue other opportunities after helping to steer a turnaround plan aimed at streamlining operations, the company said on Friday.



Nissan plans to announce a new executive line-up on June 27, coinciding with his departure, it said in a statement.



The automaker said last month that the former long-time Renault SA executive would step down from the board of directors on June 27 when his term expired, casting doubt on his future as he had been seen as a frontrunner to be the next CEO.



Gupta joined the company's leadership team in late 2019, when Japan's No. 3 automaker was looking to put an end to a period of turmoil triggered by the arrest and sacking of long-time leader Carlos Ghosn.



Allies of Gupta pressed the board in 2020 to promote him to the role of co-CEO, hoping he would push forward Nissan's turnaround and boost its alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi Motors, but the promotion did not materialise.



Nissan is working to finalise the terms of a sweeping reset of its decades-old alliance with Renault.



Also Read Renault Nissan inks agreement with Kamarajar Port for car shipments Nissan rolls out Magnite SUV, marks milestone of 100,000 units at TN plant Nissan Motor India's total wholesales rise 28% to 8,991 units in Dec 2022 Hyundai to invest $2.45 bn in Tamil Nadu for EV production over next 10 yrs Renault Nissan Automotive progresses towards Carbon Neutrality vision Israel's judicial reform could prompt hi-tech cos to relocate abroad: IMF Unemployment in Afghanistan rose significantly in past two years: Report Change in China's stance on debt restructuring for SL in 2023 unlikely Donald Trump scores rare legal win as DA drops golf course tax probe US, South Korea, Japan condemn North Korea's latest missile provocation

Gupta had clashed with Nissan Chief Executive Makoto Uchida over Uchida's desire to close the negotiations with Renault quickly, with Gupta urging more caution over terms of the deal, people with knowledge of the talks have told Reuters.



The company on Friday said Gupta had taken key leadership positions and been a "driving force" in various alliance projects over several years resulting in many achievements. It did not further detail the accomplishments.



Gupta joined Renault in India in 2006 and later became vice president in charge of its global commercial vehicle business, a job he held until 2019 when he moved to junior alliance partner Mitsubishi Motors.


At least three people were killed and more than 75 others injured after a tornado ripped through a small town in the US state of Texas, leaving behind extensive damage, officials confirmed.

The tornado hit Perryton, which has a population of around 8,500, at around 5.10 p.m. on Thursday evening, NBC News quoted Trent Hoffeditz, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Amarillo, as saying.

Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher said that three people have been confirmed dead and that 75 to 100 had been seen at local hospitals.

Ochiltree General Hospital CFO Debbie Beck told CNN that between 50 to 100 injured people have been treated in a Perryton hospital.

Beck said the injuries range from "very minor" to "collapsed lungs, head injuries, and broken bones".

No fatalities have been recorded, she said, adding that medics have been treating patients at the hospital without power.

Also Read Tornadoes strike Arkansas, Illinois, leave 18 dead, dozens injured Powerful storms slam central Alabama; at least 6 killed, 12 injured As tornadoes hit Alabama, survivors hid in tubs, shipping containers Mississippi tornadoes kill 23 people, destroy buildings overnight Hospitals across India hold mock drills to verify Covid readiness Journalists covering events in Pak should be allowed to do their work: US Nissan operations chief Gupta, once seen as CEO candidate, to leave company Israel's judicial reform could prompt hi-tech cos to relocate abroad: IMF Unemployment in Afghanistan rose significantly in past two years: Report Change in China's stance on debt restructuring for SL in 2023 unlikely

Beck said the tornado struck the northeast part of Perryton and went down a portion of Main Street, causing extensive damage to homes and businesses.

The fire department and EMS were also hit and a trailer park sustained heavy damage, she added.

In response, the state of Texas as well as cities and counties surrounding Perryton have started sending aid.

Governor Greg Abbott's office and the state's Division of Emergency Management are mobilising resources, Representative Four Price said in a Facebook post.

"TDEM is moving everything that way. Search and Rescue, medical, etc.," Price said, adding that multiple structures have been damaged and "the state is engaging additional medical help to triage".

The Red Cross told CNN that it was also mobilising teams on the ground to support the people impacted in the tornado.

The tornado was reported on Thursday as tornado watches covered northern and central Texas and a large part of Oklahoma because of severe weather moving through the region, according to the National Weather Service.

Tornado watches remains for part of Texas.

--IANS

ksk/
A top Treasury Department official said Thursday that the cap on the price of Russia's oil is severely curtailing its greatest source of revenue as it wages war in Ukraine.

When the United States and other economic powers in the Group of Seven, along with the European Union and Australia, last year announced an ambitious plan to cap the price of Russian oil, U.S. officials said it would deliver a crippling blow to Russia's economy.

In just six months, the price cap has contributed to a significant decline in Russian revenue at a key juncture in the war, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said in remarks Thursday at the Center for a New American Security, pointing to a nearly 50% drop in Russian oil revenues compared with a year prior.

The price cap was rolled out to equal parts skepticism and hopefulness that the policy would stave off Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

In addition to the price cap, the allied nations have hit Russia with thousands of sanctions over the course of the nearly 16 months of war. The sanctions are aimed at bank and financial transactions, technology imports, manufacturing and Russians with government connections.

Adeyemo said most recently the Kremlin's new tax on oil companies, designed to make up for the lack of revenues, is evidence of the cap's success.

Also Read UK announces new tranche of sanctions against Russia over Ukraine war India's Russian oil imports cross 1 million barrels a day in December Fire erupts at Crimea oil depot as hit by Ukraine's drone: Russian official Crude oil at sea surges in fresh sign of Russian flows going farther UN draft resolution calls for peace to ensure Ukraine's sovereignty 15 people, mostly seniors, killed in highway crash in Canada, says official Fossil fuels 'incompatible with human survival,' says UN chief Guterres US federal govt agencies targeted in major global cyberattack: Report Senator says sexually assaulted by 'powerful men' in Aus Parliament China snips key lending rate as economy tumbles; retail sales jump

This change will constrain Russia's oil companies going forward, leaving them with fewer funds to invest in exploration and production and over time diminishing the productive capacity of Russia's oil sector," he said. There is clear evidence of its success."



Lauri Myllyvirta, a Finland-based analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, said while the price cap has made an impact on Russia's economy, the EU's import ban has had more effect in reducing Russian oil revenues.

The EU last year announced a ban on the importation of Russian oil and other products from Russian refineries. And in February, Europe imposed a ban on Russian diesel fuel.

The combination of the EU's oil import ban and the price cap did have an impact, Myllyvirta said, but the EU import ban has been the more impactful measure.

Myllyvirta also said the cap is too high for to have a more meaningful impact on Russian oil revenues. The price cap on Russian oil has remained at $60 per barrel.

In response to the punitive measures, Russia has cut its oil production, and announced this month that it would extend the cuts by 500,000 barrels per day until the end of December 2024.

This is a precautionary measure taken in coordination with the countries participating in the OPEC+ agreement, which previously announced voluntary oil cuts in April, Alexander Novak, Russia's deputy prime minister, wrote on the government's website.

The voluntary cuts may also be due in part to waning demand.

The International Energy Agency this week issued its five-year forecast on oil demand, which suggests that fossil fuels' dominance over drivers is starting to wane.

It's part of a larger trend in which countries' efforts to address climate change by moving to renewable energy sources will begin to lessen demand, which in turn could lessen the economic strength of countries like Russia.

The forecast indicates that demand for gasoline will peak in 2023, while demand for overall transport fuels would top out in 2026. The IEA specifies that this is the result of a pivot towards lower-emission sources triggered by the global energy crisis, in addition to better efficiency and the growth in sales of electric vehicles.
South Korea's current ban on imports of seafood from Japan's Fukushima area will remain in place regardless of Tokyo's planned release of contaminated water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, a senior government official said here on Friday.

South Korea has banned all seafood imports from eight Japanese prefectures near Fukushima since 2013 on concerns over their radiation levels in the wake of the meltdown in 2011, reports Yonhap News Agency.

Some worry the planned discharge of radioactive water from the plant into the sea may ultimately lead to South Korea's lifting of the ban.

Japan plans to begin releasing it as early as this month.

"The main source of concern about Japan's water release is its potential negative impacts on our sea and our seafood. But the ban on seafood from Fukushima is about the safety of items being caught in the waters off Fukushima. So the planned discharge has nothing to do with the import ban," Vice Oceans Minister Song Sang-keun said during a press briefing.

Even though the released water is proven to be safe scientifically, that does not guarantee the safety of seafood from the area, Song said, pointing to some cases of seafood from the area being radioactively contaminated.

Also Read Fukushima's nuclear wastewater can produce cancers on release: Scientists Yoon Suk Yeol, Fumio Kishida vow better Seoul-Tokyo ties following summit South Korea set to normalise military intelligence sharing with Japan IAEA says Fukushima water release into sea to follow safety standards Tokyo Olympic bribery trial opens; accused Shinichi Uneo accepts guilt Drought and rising heat bring unusual wildfire warnings in northern Europe Foreign powers want Pak to default like Sri Lanka, claims FM Ishaq Dar US nuke-powered submarine arrives in South Korea after Pyongyang's launch From Texas to Florida, nearly 35 million people brace for heat wave Turkey to continue monetary disciplines, market rules to tackle inflation

"The government will not review any lifting of the ban until the Fukushima region is proven to be safe and our people feel safe enough," he added.

The Seoul government launched a daily press briefing Thursday to keep the public updated on the planned release in response to heightened public concern as the nuclear power plant began the trial operation of its discharge facility.

--IANS

ksk/
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in a report said that the number of unemployed people in Afghanistan has significantly increased in the last two years, Taliban-based TOLO News reported.

The report said, "In addition to other humanitarian crises, unemployment has damaged the lives of millions of people in Afghanistan. People living with disabilities are among the most affected." The ICRC urged the international community and development organisations to start making investments in Afghanistan.

The report reads, "The ICRC welcomes any decision that will enable Afghan families to better cope with the dire economic condition and calls on the international community and development organizations to resume investing in Afghanistan, to prevent the situation from worsening further," TOLO News reported.

Meanwhile, Darya Khan Baheer, an economist, said that a large of this aid is needed to be used for large infrastructural and economic projects to make the employment environment favourable for people and reduce their economic problems, according to TOLO News report.

In the meantime, some people in Kabul urged the Taliban and relief organisations to provide work opportunities. Saifullah, a resident of Kabul, said that the Taliban should increase employment opportunities for poor and destitute people.

The Taliban-led Ministry of Economy called it necessary to invest in infrastructure projects. Abdul Latif Nazari, the deputy of the Taliban-led Ministry of Economy said, "As much as Afghanistan's economic infrastructure is strengthened, to that extent we will overcome poverty. Our effort is to direct the international community's aid to infrastructure and development projects," as per the TOLO News report.

Also Read Unemployment among urban youth down in Q4FY23 but still elevated at 17.3% China sees record-high youth unemployment rate at 20.4%, likely to worsen Threat of terrorism from Taliban rising in Afghanistan, region: UN report UN report urges Afghanistan's Taliban to end floggings, executions Terror strikes in Pakistan surged after Taliban takeover of Afghanistan Change in China's stance on debt restructuring for SL in 2023 unlikely Donald Trump scores rare legal win as DA drops golf course tax probe US, South Korea, Japan condemn North Korea's latest missile provocation Price caps on Russia's oil cutting revenue nearly in half, says US official 15 people, mostly seniors, killed in highway crash in Canada, says official

A report by the International Committee of the Red Cross has said that nearly 20 million people in Afghanistan, which constitute 44 per cent of Afghanistan's population do not have access to sufficient food, according to the news report. According to the ICRC report, nearly 20 million Afghans do not have enough to eat and 34 million Afghans live in poverty.

Last week, Young people in Kabul said that youth must take the path of illegal immigration as unemployment is on the rise in Afghanistan, TOLO News reported. Young people said it has become more difficult to cover the costs of living in the current situation and therefore they have to go to neighbouring countries or farther away.

Abubaker, a resident of Laghman and head of a 9-member family has decided to go to Iran illegally. "I want to go to Iran for work, I am in the 12 grade but now I will leave school," said Abubaker. Kabul's youth is fed up with poverty and called on the Taliban to provide opportunities in the work and education field.
The Biden administration has eased norms by releasing policy guidance on the eligibility criteria for those waiting for green cards to work and stay in America, days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US.

Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

They will host Modi at a state dinner on June 22.

The visit also includes an address to the Joint Session of the Congress on June 22.

The guidance issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regarding the eligibility criteria for initial and renewal applications for Employment Authorisation Document (EAD) in compelling circumstances is expected to help thousands of Indian technology professionals who are in the agonisingly long wait for a Green Card or permanent residency.

A Green Card, known officially as a Permanent Resident Card, is a document issued to immigrants to the US as evidence that the bearer has been granted the privilege of residing permanently.

Also Read PAN-Aadhaar link status: Are your cards already linked? Learn how to check NTPC, Reliance, Adani top green hydrogen plays to bet on, say analysts No proposal for one-time relaxation in JEE-Main eligibility criteria: Govt Biden falls onstage at graduation ceremony; White House says he's 'fine' Fintech Stripe debuts charge card program in US; soon to launch in UK, EU Putin touts Russian economy, says Ukraine's president is 'shame to Jews' Prince Harry, Meghan splits with Spotify in less than year of 'Archetypes' UK removes countervailing tariff on steel bar, rod imports from India $930 mn grants announced in Biden's effort to expand internet access in US PE funds moving away from China to India, Japan amid geopolitical tensions

Immigration law provides for approximately 140,000 employment-based green cards to be issued each year.

However, only seven per cent of those green cards can go to individuals from a single country annually.

The USCIS guidance outlines specific requirements that applicants must meet to be eligible for an initial EAD based on compelling circumstances.

These include being the principal beneficiary of an approved Form I-140, being in valid non-immigrant status or authorised grace period, not having filed an adjustment of status application, and meeting certain biometrics and criminal background requirements.

Further, USCIS will exercise discretion to determine whether an applicant demonstrates compelling circumstances justifying the issuance of employment authorisation.

These measures are a significant step towards supporting individuals facing challenging situations and ensuring their ability to work lawfully in the United States, said Ajay Bhutoria, a prominent community leader and advocate for immigrant rights.

He highlighted the importance of these measures for individuals and their dependents who find themselves in challenging situations such as serious illness or disability, employer disputes or retaliation, significant harm, or disruptions to employment.

Bhutoria said the non-exhaustive list of qualifying circumstances, as provided by USCIS, offers individuals an opportunity to present evidence supporting their case.

For instance, individuals with approved immigrant visa petitions in oversubscribed categories or chargeability areas may submit evidence like school or higher education enrollment records, mortgage records, or long-term lease records to demonstrate compelling circumstances, he said.

This provision can prove crucial in situations where families face the potential loss of their home, withdrawal of children from school, or the need to relocate to their home country due to job loss, Bhutoria added.

Foundation of India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), which has been advocating for laid-off H1-B workers, applauded USCIS for taking such a step that would help a large number of Indian IT professionals.

I really feel proud that a sustained advocacy for more than six months started reflecting in considerations and adjustments by USCIS, said Khanderao Kand from FIIDS.
A US nuclear-powered guided missile submarine (SSGN) arrived in South Korea on Friday for the first time in six years, amid heightened tensions after North Korea's launch of two ballistic missiles, Seoul's Defence Ministry said.

The Ohio-class SSGN, USS Michigan, entered a key naval base in Busan, 320 km southeast of Seoul, after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Thursday in apparent protest against the massive live-fire drills that ended earlier in the day, reports Yonhap News Agency.

It marks the first time the US has sent an SSGN to South Korea since October 2017.

The submarine is scheduled to remain in the country until June 21, a South Korean defence official told reportersy.

The arrival of the submarine also came after the US pledged to further enhance the "regular visibility" of strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula through the Washington Declaration issued by President Yoon Suk Yeol and his American counterpart Joe Biden during their summit in April.

"The US SSGN's visit to South Korea is intended to substantively implement the agreement in the Washington Declaration made in April to enhance the regular visibility of strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula," ROK Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Kim Myung-soo was quoted as saying. ROK stands for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.

Also Read North Korea fires ballistic missile days after US-South Korea joint drills North Korea confirms ICBM test, warns of more powerful steps against rivals North Korea fires unspecified ballistic missile into East Sea: South Korea North Korea fires one ballistic missile into the sea, says Seoul North Korea launches ballistic missile toward eastern waters: Seoul From Texas to Florida, nearly 35 million people brace for heat wave Turkey to continue monetary disciplines, market rules to tackle inflation Singapore to deploy more police robots in the absence of manpower Four major western banks cut China's 2023 GDP forecast as recovery falters India, China bought 80% of Russia's heavily discounted oil in May: IEA

"(It) demonstrates the overwhelming capabilities and posture of the South Korea-US alliance to realise 'peace through strength'."

During the submarine's visit to the country, the South Korean and US navies plan to conduct combined special operations drills to strengthen their inter-operability and capabilities in such operations as responding to advancing North Korean threats, according to the Defence Ministry.

Commissioned in 1982 as a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the USS Michigan was converted into an SSGN in 2007. The submarine is able to conduct strike missions using Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The 18,000-tonne SSGN is 170 meters long and can be armed with over 150 Tomahawk missiles, which have a range of 2,500 km,.

--IANS

ksk/
The top national security advisers of the US, South Korea, and Japan condemned North Korea's missile launches on Thursday, calling them "clear violations" of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.

They also vowed stepped up efforts to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, Yonhap news agency reported, citing a joint statement released by the White House.

"The United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea condemn today's DPRK missile launches," said the released statement, referring to South Korea by its official name.

"These launches are clear violations of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, and demonstrate the threat the DPRK's unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs pose to the region, international peace and security, and the global non-proliferation regime," it added.

DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the North's official name.

The joint condemnation came hours after Pyongyang fired two short-range ballistic missiles, following its failed attempt to launch what it claimed to be a military reconnaissance satellite on May 31.

Also Read North Korea fires missile that may have been a new type of weapon N Korea fires missile toward East Sea, Japan says taking all precautions North Korea confirms ICBM test, warns of more powerful steps against rivals North Korea fires unspecified ballistic missile into East Sea: South Korea North Korea test-fires 2 more missiles as tensions rise with South Price caps on Russia's oil cutting revenue nearly in half, says US official 15 people, mostly seniors, killed in highway crash in Canada, says official Fossil fuels 'incompatible with human survival,' says UN chief Guterres US federal govt agencies targeted in major global cyberattack: Report Senator says sexually assaulted by 'powerful men' in Aus Parliament

The security advisers stressed the need "for all countries to fully implement DPRK-related UN Security Council resolutions that are intended to prohibit the DPRK from acquiring the technologies and materials needed to carry out these destabilising launches."

"The United States reaffirms unequivocally its ironclad security commitments to both Japan and the ROK," they added.

The joint statement came as US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with his South Korean and Japanese counterparts -- Cho Tae-yong and Takeo Akiba, respectively -- in Tokyo for trilateral talks that largely focused on the threat posed by North Korea.

Pyongyang said it will try again to launch a space launch vehicle carrying its first military spy satellite.

The country is prohibited from acquiring or using any ballistic missile technology, including space launch vehicles, under UN Security Council resolutions.

The national security advisers urged North Korea to engage in diplomacy, saying trilateral cooperation between South Korea, Japan and the US will "not be shaken by provocations".

Later, a state department spokesperson echoed criticism of North Korea's latest missile provocation.

"They demonstrate the threat the DPRK's unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs pose to the region, to international peace and security and to the global nonproliferation regime," department spokesperson Matthew Miller told a daily press briefing.

In a related move, the US imposed sanctions on two China-based North Korean nationals earlier in the day for working to procure materials and funds for North Korea's illegal weapons development programmes.

--IANS

int/sha
BS Reporter

17 June



Wall Street is facing the aftermath of a pandemic-era hiring binge as job cuts at the biggest US banks are set to cross 11,000  making it the worst recruitment market since the 2008 financial crisis  the Financial Times reported.



The layoffs come as executives look to unwind a hiring spree as the economy bounces back. Banks are trying to curb their headcounts, which they otherwise increased to tackle deals and trading boom during the pandemic, the report added.



Only this week, Citigroup announced its plans to cull 5,000 jobs, mostly in investment banking and trading, by the end of the second quarter. The bank was latest to join the haul as its cuts affected thousands of bankers at Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.



When you look at metrics like the number of jobs coming up, conversion of resumes that turn into interviews and those interviews that turn into offers, those numbers are the most sluggish weve seen in a long time, Max Kemnitzer, managing director for banking and financial services at recruiter Michael Page in New York told FT.



Also Read As the race for AI domination intensifies, Apple looks for talent Meesho lays off 251 employees, CEO admits 'judgement errors in over-hiring' Business Standard CEOs poll: Capex tops India Inc's 2023 to-do list Going slow: Infosys, Wipro keep Class of 2023 waiting for campus hiring Net hiring in India's top four IT firms drops by 97% to 1,940 in Q3FY23 US eases norms on eligibility criteria for those awaiting Green Card Putin touts Russian economy, says Ukraine's president is 'shame to Jews' Prince Harry, Meghan splits with Spotify in less than year of 'Archetypes' UK removes countervailing tariff on steel bar, rod imports from India $930 mn grants announced in Biden's effort to expand internet access in US

Fear of losing out in a war for talent amid a tight labour market pushed companies to offer generous retention payments to existing staff while also recruiting aggressively, the FT report said.



According to FT, five largest banks that dominate the Street  JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, and Citi  employed a record 882,000 globally at the end of first quarter and it remained almost unchanged until the end of 2022. This was an increase of over 100,000 compared to the end of 2020.



Goldman Sachs was the only bank to report a significant reduction in the first three months of the year as its headcount fell by 6.4 per cent to 45,400, the steepest drop in years. In comparison Morgan Stanleys fell a little to 82,266, while at Citi it was flat. JPMorgan has not announced large-scale reductions, the report added.



However, executives are struggling to move the needle on overall headcount in part because employees are leaving at a slower pace amid waning demand for new appointments not just from banks but also asset managers and large technology groups, according to senior bankers.



As bankers receive their annual bonuses in February and begin looking for new openings in March, making spring the traditional recruitment season on Wall Street, with most moves wrapped up by end-June. However, this year saw the pattern being disrupted not just by lower demand but also the recent regional US banking crisis which has raised the spectre of tougher regulation, FT said.
President Xi Jinping said China is willing to work with the world on technology innovation and global challenges including pandemic prevention during a meeting with Bill Gates.



You are the first American friend Ive met in Beijing this year, Xi told the Microsoft co-founder on Friday, according to state broadcaster CCTV.



Ive always said that the foundation of China-US ties lies among the people, Xi added. We always pin our hopes on American people and hope the two peoples can continue to be friendly.



Chinese President also discussed the global rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and said he welcomed US firms including Microsoft bringing their AI tech to China, sources said. Xi also discussed Microsofts business development in China during their meeting in Beijing, one of the sources said.



Chinas top diplomat Wang Yi and Foreign Secretary Qin Gang attended the meeting.



Xis sit down with Gates raises expectations for the Chinese leader to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken who is set to visit Beijing on a two-day trip from Sunday. That rescheduled visit aims to reset ties between the worlds largest economies, after a spat over an alleged Chinese spy balloon derailed high-level exchanges.



Also Read Philanthropist Bill Gates praises India's progress in different sectors Bill Gates praises India's progress in heath, climate, technology sectors Bill Gates meets President Xi Jinping on China visit after 3 years Microsoft 365 Copilot: Microsoft is bringing AI to its productivity apps Tesla chief Elon Musk threatens to sue Microsoft for using data 'illegally' Wall Street job cuts likely to surpass 11K as CEOs unwind hiring binge US eases norms on eligibility criteria for those awaiting Green Card Putin touts Russian economy, says Ukraine's president is 'shame to Jews' Prince Harry, Meghan splits with Spotify in less than year of 'Archetypes' UK removes countervailing tariff on steel bar, rod imports from India

Earlier, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Beijing city government agreed to donate $50 million each to fight infectious

diseases such as malaria. The money will go to the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute. Gates congratulated China for eliminating malaria within its borders. He also praised Chinese scientists for working to fight the disease around the world, according to the Gates Foundation.



Gates also met Beijing Mayor Yin Yong on Thursday, according to the Beijing Daily. Yin credited the institute with achieving breakthroughs in recent years and vowed continued support.
CSC, a leading provider of business, legal, tax, and digital brand services, announced today the acquisition of Eddystone Financial Services, a provider of corporate loan agency services. The acquisition will continue to expand the companys corporate trust and agency solutions to the Australian and New Zealand markets.

Eddystone Financial Services provides facility agent, security trustee, escrow, and related financial services from Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland. The company has a strong team of experienced loan agency professionals and a reputation for exceptional customer service.

The acquisition follows an exclusive partnership between Delaware Trust Company, a wholly owned CSC subsidiary, and Eddystone Financial Services to expand corporate trust and agency solutions in the Australian and New Zealand markets. The transaction will enable CSC to further increase its range of loan agency service offerings and significantly expand its footprint in Australasia.

John Hebert, president of CSC Global Capital Markets, and president and CEO of Delaware Trust, said, "This is an exciting time for CSC as we continue to grow and strengthen our position in the global loan agency industry, and we welcome Eddystone Financial Services and its team into the fold.

The Australian loan agency market has experienced significant growth in recent years. This acquisition aligns with our strategic goals and will enable us to better serve our clients with expanded capabilities and expertise in the market, strengthening our independent, client-first approach. Were committed to providing our stakeholders with the highest level of service and look forward to the opportunities this new chapter will bring.

Barnaby Webb, managing director and founder of Eddystone Financial Services, said, Were pleased to formalize the acquisition, having worked closely with CSC and Delaware Trust for some time now. Eddystone has managed to find a company whose values align with our own and we look forward to growing together with a now truly global offering.

CSC and the Delaware Trust team have dedicated resources supporting private and public firms across the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific, and Eddystone is a natural extension of those services. CSC supports alternative asset managers across a range of fund strategies, capital markets participants in both public and private markets, and corporations and institutions requiring fiduciary and governance support across more than 140 jurisdictions globally.

About CSC

CSC is the trusted partner of choice for more than 90% of the Fortune 500, more than 90% of the 100 Best Global Brands, and more than 70% of the PEI 300. Were the worlds leading provider of global business administration and compliance solutions, specialized administration services to alternative asset managers across a range of fund strategies, transactions involving capital markets participants in both public and private markets, domain name system management and digital brand and fraud protection, and corporate tax software solutions. Founded in 1899 and headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, USA, CSC prides itself on being privately held and professionally managed for more than 120 years. CSC has office locations and capabilities in more than 140 jurisdictions across Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. Were a global company capable of doing business wherever our clients areand we accomplish that by employing experts in every business we serve. We are the business behind business. Learn more at cscglobal.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230615592918/en/
China builds strong ecological barrier with science-based desertification control

10:33, June 16, 2023 By Dong Siyu ( People's Daily

China has implemented multiple measures to combat desertification over the recent years, achieving fruitful results. The areas of land desertification and soil desertification were both reduced, and hazards of sandstorms and soil erosion were effectively curbed.

Photo shows an agri-solar power generation station built on a desert in northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region. (People's Daily Online/Yuan Hongyan)

As of the end of 2022, the country had completed desertification prevention and control missions on 305 million mu (20.33 million hectares) of land, sealed off nearly 27.08 million mu of desertificated land for protection, and established 41 national comprehensive demonstration zones for desertification control and 99 national desert parks, forging a science-based green ecological barrier with trees, shrubs and grass along the regions in north China prone to sandstorms.

Water shortage has become an increasingly prominent issue in the farming-pastoral areas in China's semi-arid regions over the past decades. Frequent droughts, descending underground water level and flow cutoffs of rivers and lakes are posing new challenges to maintaining sand-fixing vegetation.

Thanks to technologies developed by the Naiman Desertification Research Station of Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), water loss from soil during artificial afforestation has been significantly reduced, which effectively improves the survival of seedlings and ensures efficient utilization of water resources in the desert of semi-arid regions.

Besides, Chinese eco-company Elion Group also developed an innovative planting method, which saves more than 50 percent of water consumption and lifts survival rate to 85 percent.

The spatial and temporal distribution of water resources as well as the water holding capacity of soil should be taken into consideration in artificial afforestation, and local rainfed tree and grass varieties that can stay vital on dry, lean and saline-alkaline soil shall be prioritized for water conservation, said Lu Qi, chief scientist of the Chinese Academy of Forestry, and researcher with the academy's Ecology and Nature Conservation Institute.

A desert in Dali county, Weinan, northwest China's Shaanxi province has been turned into an oasis today. (People's Daily Online/Li Peihua)

Technologies should also be applied to strengthen the utilization of water resources, Lu added.

Lei Jiaqiang, researcher with the CAS Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, told People's Daily that building a germplasm bank of adversity-resistant desert plants is the foundation for developing water-conserving forests and grasslands.

Plants should be irrigated according to their actual demand in a targeted manner and based on the law of water consumption, and technologies should be applied to curb water loss in soil, Lei said.

"Besides, it is also important to strengthen the construction of water-conservation facilities for desertification control, place more attention on building ecological channels for combating desertification, and enhance the efforts to protect ecological dams and other infrastructure facilities," the researcher added.

China follows a "close-to-nature" approach in desertification prevention and control. Local plant species and science-based artificial management measures shall be used to restore degraded ecosystems to the state before they were disturbed by human activities, so as to ensure that desert ecosystems are bio-diverse and have complete, stable and sustainable structures and functions, Lei noted.

Volunteers plant trees in a national nature reserve in northwest China's Ningxia Hui autonomous region. (People's Daily Online/Yuan Hongyan)

From adopting measures according to the degree of damage to developing relevant industries to combat desertification, how to fully and properly utilize the natural resources in deserts has always been an important topic of the studies on desertification control.

China has established a batch of characteristic industrial bases that leverage local resources to develop fodder manufacturing, commercial fruit planting and desert tourism. According to statistics, 48 million tons of dried and fresh fruits are produced in China's desert areas each year, accounting for about a quarter of China's total production with a total annual output value of 120 billion yuan ($16.81 billion). In key areas, over half of farmers' net income is from the fruit business.

China takes desertification prevention and control, rural vitalization, ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin, and other major national strategies as an organic whole.

While developing crop farming, animal husbandry, green food, sand-based materials and desert tourism, the country is also vigorously investing in high-input industries that yield high output and high profits. It has launched a number of photovoltaic generation, wind power generation, agricultural factory and artificial photosynthesis projects in desert areas.

Apart from strengthening desertification control at home, China is also enhancing its cooperation with other countries and has achieved remarkable accomplishments in basic research and applied research. Chinese scientists have developed over 100 desertification control technologies with Chinese characteristics, which are widely promoted and applied in some 40 countries and regions in Asia and Africa.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Friday, June 16, 2023 at 5:07PM

Apple has acknowledged a bug that causes some internal SATA hard drives to disconnect from the 2023 Mac Pro after the computer wakes from sleep. The company will release a "future macOS update" to fix the issue.

The Mac Pro, which recently launched with Apple's M2 Ultra chip, comes with SSD storage but also has SATA ports for connecting additional hard drives. However, due to a glitch, some of these drives may disconnect when the Mac Pro resumes from sleep mode.

Apple explained in a support document that if your Mac automatically goes to sleep or if you manually put your Mac to sleep, then certain models of internal SATA drives might unexpectedly disconnect from your computer. "If you see a message that your disk was not ejected properly, you can restart your Mac to reconnect to the drive," they advised.

Until Apple releases a software update to address the problem, you can prevent your Mac Pro from automatically going to sleep by changing a setting in the System Preferences app. You need to click on Displays  Advanced, and enable the option Prevent automatic sleeping when the display is off.

The new Mac Pro has the same design as the Intel-based model from 2019 but does not support graphics cards or user-upgradeable RAM due to Apple silicon's unified architecture. If you do not need PCIe expansion, you should consider the Mac Studio instead.

Source
Friday, June 16, 2023 at 5:59AM

Samsung is ready to reveal the Galaxy Z Fold5, its latest foldable smartphone, at an Unpacked event in Seoul, Korea, in the last week of July. The phone has already been spotted in several leaks, but this is the first time we've seen an official image from its marketing campaign.

The image shows the phone's tagline: "Unfold your world." The image also confirms some of the phone's features, such as the gapless hinge, the similar design to the Fold4, the triple rear camera setup, the stereo speakers, and the power and volume buttons. The S Pen is also shown next to the phone, indicating that it will continue to support stylus input.

The Galaxy Z Fold5 will run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset, the same one that will power the Galaxy S23 series.

Source
State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
ATLANTA  An original painting by President Jimmy Carter, guitars autographed by Bonnie Raitt and Jeff Beck, and memorabilia commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Barack Obama are among more than 150 items to be auctioned on June 24 to benefit The Carter Center.

Proceeds will support the Center's work to advance peace and health in the U.S. and across the globe. Last year's auction raised $4.4 million for the Centers global mission.

The auction will be part of Carter Center Weekend, a retreat for Center supporters June 21-25 at the Loews Atlanta Hotel. Live and silent auction catalogs, as well as instructions for bidding by fax or proxy, can be found here.

Bidders will have the chance to win an Atlanta Braves experience for four where they'll attend a 2023 regular-season Braves home game and receive a valet parking pass, unlimited food and beverages, a $1,000 gift card, a stay at the Loews Atlanta Hotel, and a framed photograph of then-Governor Jimmy Carter and Braves legend Hank Aaron.

Auction-goers can also bid on guitars autographed by Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley, the Zac Brown Band, the Moody Blues, and the late Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Jeff Beck.

Additional noteworthy items include:

A striking bronze bust of President Carter.

His-and-hers bathrobes with James Carter and Rosalynn Carter embroidered on them. The lot also includes two hand towels, one with R.C. embroidered on it.

A President Carter inaugural collage, which includes a photograph of President and Mrs. Carter walking in the inaugural parade, an inaugural invitation signed by both, and a copy of the presidents oath of office that he has signed.

Fly-fishing memorabilia that includes two fly-fishing rods with Jimmy Carter printed on the handle.

An incredible hand-turned wooden bowl by Mike Snegg made from Norfolk Island pine from Kauai, Hawaii.

Vacations to Hawaii, France, San Francisco, and Marthas Vineyard.

A pencil sketch of President Carter by Ken Garot.

Photos available upon request.

Carter Center Weekend auctions support activities of The Carter Center, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Related Resources

2023 Carter Weekend Live Auction Catalog 

2023 Carter Weekend Silent Auction Catalog 

2023 Online Store 

Contact: Dianne Bryant, dianne.bryant@cartercenter.org

The Carter Center

Waging Peace.Fighting Disease. Building Hope.

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.
Another year means another exciting set of Annecys MIFA Feature Pitches from filmmakers with dreams of getting their personal, unique projects made.

This years eight pitches spanned grounded depictions of 1960s India, magical filters placed on Congolese culture, anthropomorphic watches, and almost everything in between. Diversity was not only found in the stories but in their countries of origin, with Asia, Africa, Europe, and North and South America all represented.

Each pitch displayed high potential through experimental ideas and techniques which audiences are increasingly craving. While the room seemed to be entranced by each story shown, here are five that stood out to us.

Heirloom

Country: India

Director: Upamanyu Bhattacharyya

Producer: Arya Menon

Looking for: Compositors, broadcasters, distributors, producers, and co-producers.

Based in 1960s Ahmedabad, India, Heirloom aims to take the viewer through the intricacies of the Indian textile industry. Similar to the work of those in the industry, Heirloom finds a painful, emotional story through the art of embroidery, a tale told through thread. That principle forms the basis of one of the films animation styles. Using frame-by-frame embroidery, the film recontextualizes characters who are introduced to us through 2d computer animation by literally placing them inside the fabrics with which they spend their lives.

The majority of the teaser shown during the pitch takes place outside of the fabric, where the world is dominated by sketch lines and color. Realism is sacrificed for vibrancy, creating packed frames with bold colors that reflect the loudness of India and the intensity of the storys conflict. Director Upamanyu Bhattacharyya described a marriage in which the two parties drift apart in their life goals. One seeks comfort and the other expansion, eventually causing a collapse.

The Day Ewan McGregor Introduced Me to His Parents

Country: Spain

Director: Marta Puig

Producers: David Matamoros, Angeles Hernandez

Looking for: Broadcasters, distributors, producers, and co-producers.

Marta Puig was quick to mention that The Day Ewan McGregor Introduced Me to His Parents doesnt actually feature the actor himself, but is instead directly inspired by Martas quest for motherhood and her journey through IVF. She spoke passionately about her fears of reaching 40 without achieving this goal and her fruitless quest to find a partner worthy of raising a child with (or even worthy of giving her an orgasm). Eventually, she shared the heartwarming revelation that she finally found parenthood, and is mother to a one-and-a-half-year-old girl.

While she spoke, a swirling sizzle reel of animation ran past our eyes displaying the soft pink and white color scheme. The animation is basic in a way that makes the story feel more personal and intimate, as if each frame is drawn by Marta herself. The teaser smoothly transitioned Marta through different stages of this process, every chapter feeling like a diary entry, something only achievable through an art style like this.

Mfinda

Country: Congo, United States, Japan

Directors: Gisaburo Sugii, Arthell Isom

Producers: Masao Maruyama, Christiano Terry, Shin Koyamada, Eric Beckman

Looking for: distributors, producers, co-producers & directors

The pitch for Mfinda was delivered in unfortunate circumstances as the creators of the film were unable to make it to Annecy. Instead, a more truncated presentation was delivered by producer GKIDS producer Eric Beckman and Don Hewitt, the films writer who had worked on the English-language translations of Spirited Away and Howls Moving Castle. This fact is significant, as Mfinda was described as an Afro-anime. From the mind of Congolese-American creator Patience Lekien, Mfinda follows two young Congolese girls who trek through a forest of gods, spirits, and ancestors.

Lekien was set on having this representation of African culture be viewed through the lens of anime and recruited Gisaburo Sugii (Astro Boy) and Arthell Isom (Star Wars: Visions) to direct the film with Masao Maruyama (Perfect Blue) on board to produce it. From the stills that were shown, Mfinda looks to be a gorgeous odyssey through magical realms. The frames are detailed and comforting with green leaves perpetually basking in the background.

On the Run

Country: France

Director: Julien Bisaro

Producer: Claire Paoletti

Looking for: Broadcasters, distributors, producers, and co-producers.

From Schoooms Oddysey director Julien Bisaro, the second pitch focusing on a quest for parenthood differed greatly from The Day Ewan McGregor Introduced Me to His Parents. First off, the main character of On the Run, La Petite Cavale in its native French, is a male penguin. He comes across an echidna egg and sees it as an opportunity to nurture a life in a way he has never been able to do. Cookie, the penguin, has lived his whole life domesticated in a New Zealand city. Through fatherhood, he learns to find freedom.

Producer Claire Paoletti was keen to focus on that theme of freedom. She talked about the films commentary on the relationship between humans and animals, on the morality of domestication, and what freedom can look like for animals in a human-dominant world. Standing out from the short teaser shown were not only the soft, pastel-like visuals but the lack of anthropomorphism. Cookie and the echidna are not given more human-like features, nor do they communicate through any human language. Chirps and squeals communicate all that is necessary.

Ogresse

Country: France

Directors: Cecile McLorin Salvant, Lia Bertels

Producers: Emmanuel-Alain Raynal, Pierre Baussaron, John Carlin

Looking for: Broadcasters, distributors, producers, and co-producers.

Of the eight pitches shown, Ogresse had the most unique backstory. The idea for the film manifested from Grammy-winning jazz vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant. When playing at her piano, lyrics manifested in the form of this story about a female ogre, residing in a forest and eating villagers from a nearby settlement. Animation came to her mind when thinking over the best ways to express this story, causing her to reach out to Lia Bertels.

Few images were shown, but the world of Ogresse looks simple and enchanting. The stills were overwhelmingly colorful, boasting a glistening green forest and a silky stream of water. They were matched by an effervescent McLorin Salvant. She walked the audience through the first act of the story, almost performing it like a stage play or a guided meditation. Her captivating tone communicated her passion for this story and her excitement at realizing it through animation.
Kesoram Industries banks on blended cement for future growth

16 June 2023

Indian cement producer Kesoram Industries has reported a loss of INR1160m (US$14.2m) in the year ended 31 March 2023 (FY22-23), down from INR1300m in the same period a year earlier. The company expects to be back in profit this year on the back of a steady rise in the share of blended cements in its total sales, along with lower production and distribution costs, according to The Hindu.

The cement producers CEO, Mr P Radhakrishnan, forecasts EBITDA to improve to INR1000-1200/t in the next three years, compared to the current INR600-800/t. It is planning to focus on the rural market as well as brand positioning for its blended cement, with its premium blended cement brand, Birla Shakti ConQUeret, seen as a key driver in the companys future growth.

2023 saw the companys cement production come in at 7.03Mt, down from 7.42Mt in the previous year. It currently runs a clinker capacity of around 6.2Mta and a cement capacity of 9-10Mta, the latter of which it aims to ramp up to 15Mta over the next five-year period.

Published under
This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions
Cempa Community Care announces the opening of its new dental clinic at 1042 E. 3rd St., Suite 100 in Chattanooga. The new clinic will expand Cempas community health offerings, adding dental care to an already lengthy list of services.Dental health and hygiene are such critical elements of ones overarching health and wellness, and because of that, we knew we had to find a way to bring dental services under the Cempa umbrella, said Shannon Burger, CEO at Cempa Community Care. Building out our clinic was no small feat, and Im immensely proud of the team for being up to the task.The Cempa dental clinic will deliver both pediatric and adult service offerings, including routine teeth cleanings and x-rays, fillings, minor oral surgery, treatment for gingivitis and gum health needs and more.Insurance and TennCare dental benefits will be accepted at the clinic, and costs will be adjusted on a sliding scale for those who are uninsured.As an entirely new service offering for Cempa, the dental clinic is being supported by its newest hire, Dr. Latresa Jackson, DMD. Dr. Jackson is a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Dentistry. Since earning her DMD, Dr. Jackson has worked in the community health sector, delivering services at county health departments, as well as to Tennessee Department of Corrections inmates.My goal as a dentist, first and foremost, is to improve access to care in underserved communities, said Dr. Jackson. Cempas mission aligns so thoroughly with my own personal values, and I am thrilled to be able to expand access to high-quality dental care in the Chattanooga area.The Cempa Community Care dental clinic is set to open on June 26, with a ribbon-cutting event scheduled at 1 p.m. on June 30. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 423-203-1568.
The free concert series Riverfront Nights, held at 100 Riverfront Parkway/Rosss Landing each year, will begin On July 15. Executive Director of Friends of the Festival Mickey McCamish applied for and received a permit to sell beer at the concerts that will be held on Saturday evenings from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m.

This will be the 17th year of this series of seven concerts. This year they will be held July 15, 22 and 29 and will continue on Aug. 5, 12, 19 and 26.

The lineup can be seen at the official website: www.riverfrontnights.com.

Executive Director of Soundcorps, a nonprofit organization with the goal to promote the music industry in Chattanooga, will be holding the free event Summerween, on June 24 from 6-10 p.m. at Patten Square, 818 Georgia Ave.

That night there will be trick-or-treating and a costume contest for both children and adults. In addition to live music there will be food and beverages available for purchase and vintage and eclectic vendors. Security guards will be present and licensed bartenders will be checking IDs before making a beer sale.



2023 Chattanooga Waterfront Triathlon, sponsored by the Chattanooga Track Club, will be on Sunday, June 25, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Rosss Landing, 100 Riverfront Parkway.

The downstream swim in the Tennessee River, bike course and run along the Riverwalk will be for athletes of all abilities. Melanie Krautstrunk with Hutten & Smith Brewing Co. will be in charge of beer sales that day. IDs will be checked before issuing wrist bands to those buying beer. The Chattanooga Police Department will provide security.



The Chattanooga Breakfast Rotary Club will be holding its annual fundraiser on July 8 from 3-9 p.m. The name of the event this year is Chattanooga Sip N Que. It will be held at First Horizon Pavilion, 1826 Reggie White Blvd.

There will be a Bar B Que competition and samples of beer, wine and whisky. There are multiple options for tickets that will buy various combinations of small samples of the beverages and food. There will also be food trucks available.


Kays Tavern is expanding and moving into a larger space at the same address, 4272 Bonny Oaks Dr.

The bar/restaurant previously was in Suite E, which had a fire capacity of 30. With the move into Suites B and C, the capacity will double to 65.

Hours for this bar are from 4 p.m. until 2 a.m.

Sunday will be the grand re-opening.

At the beer board meeting Thursday morning, three Family Dollar Stores in the Chattanooga area were approved for a beer license. Stores at 3800 Tennessee Ave, Unit 100, 2038 S. Willow St. Suite #10 and at 6901 Lee Highway, Unit 090 will be selling Carry-out packaged beer - no single servings.

A representative from the corporate office told the beer board that the company has stringent requirements and that beer sales from these stores will be similar to sales from a small grocery store. All associates will have to take courses in beer sales that the company conducts but they will also go through the training sanctioned by the beer board. Family Dollar also has a self-audit program to verify compliance.



Smoke Shack, 4729 Highway 58, a CBD and Hemp dispensary that also sells tobacco products, has new owners Roshina and Bharatkumar Patel. The business was approved for a permit to sell beer. Hours of operation are from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.


Members of the school board on Thursday night blasted a move from the county not to approve the school budget as submitted, but to pull out $6 million that had been slated for deferred maintenance.

Tucker McClendon of the office of County Mayor Weston Wamp said the $6 million would be used as part of an upcoming county bond issue and would generate up to $65 million to provide for school repairs. He said dealing with county school building facility needs is a major priority of the Wamp administration.

Supt. Justin Robertson said the $6 million decrease would lower the "maintenance of effort" amount that is computed each year. The County Commission cannot fund lower than that number in the next budget.

County Commission members earlier pointed out that the county schools are getting some $99 million more - most from the state based on its new funding formula. Also, county property tax collections for the schools were $5 million below projections. However, the county sales tax income was $15 million above projections - for a $10 million net plus.

Dr. Robertson said the move was a "compromise" that allowed the school system to make good on all its planned programs and five percent teacher raises. He said the schools would also be promised the $6 million that was to be given up would return to the schools for the deferred maintenance. He said the schools were getting the major state increase as well as a $14 million increase from the county - even without the $6 million.

He said, "The only apprehension is when will we see this money and how do we guarantee what it goes to."

Dr. Robertson said if the board did not go along with the "compromise" that there could be as much as $20 million withdrawn from the county school budget, he had learned in a flurry of talks over the past 24 hours. He said, "There is a great risk with us not working with the County Commission."

The County Commission is to vote on the county school budget next Wednesday.

The school board voted 8-2 to approve the "compromise" with the proviso that there be an inter-local agreement with the county specifying that $6 million would be assigned to the county schools for deferred maintenance. Many board members indicated they felt they had no choice but to approve the measure.

Voting against were Karitsa Mosley-Jones and Larry Grohn, though Mr. Grohn had urged approval during the discussion. Marco Perez was absent.

The original school budget increased the deferred maintenance item to $8 million, and the change leaves $2 million in that account (plus the promised bond proceeds from the forfeited $6 million).

Mr. McClendon said it is planned to have a bond issue before the end of the year that would include the $6 million as well as funding for other county needs.

Board member Ben Connor said, "This is not a compromise, it's a political stickup. It's a political heist. And it was done on purpose."

He said it represented "upending 32 years of precedence" in which the County Commission went along with a submitted balanced budget from the schools.

The schools will start the next year "in a $6 million hole," it was stated.

Board member Jill Black, speaking emotionally of finding "a waterfall" in one school office on the first day of school, said it might be a year before any proceeds of the bond issue are available to the schools.

She said, "We will continue to have schools falling apart because that money is not there. We've got to keep money and put it into the schools that we have. This is another way to kick the can down the road."

Ms. Mosley-Jones said, "This does not seem right to me. I'm confused why we have to go through this."

She added, "I'm so frustrated. They need to quit doing these swindles. I'm not voting for this."

Ms. Mosley-Jones said, "It's the 11 men sitting on the County Commission that give me angst. I don't trust this Commission."

Joe Wingate said, "I'm not a fan of this. I think there are other things going on. If this gets passed and they don't honor their word, I won't be quiet. It won't be a lot of fun or happy times for those on the other end."

Board Chair Tiffanie Robinson called the move "highly frustrating." She said, "I'm down on the County Commission and anybody who is behind it. It is putting us in a crappy position and it is a dangerous precedent."

County Mayor Wamp said in a statement after the meeting, I applaud the bold step taken tonight by Superintendent Dr. Robertson and the Hamilton County School Board to proactively address school facilities needs. Choosing to partner with county government to maximize the impact of taxpayer dollars will accelerate our plans to modernize school buildings across the county.
Here is the latest Hamilton County arrest report:

ACUFF, EVA LOREDA MAE

601 CHICKAMAUGA AVE ROSSVILLE, 300000000

Age at Arrest: 35 years old

Arresting Agency: East Ridge

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA

POSSESSION OF SCH II/FENTANYL

POSSESSION OF SCH II/FENTANYL



ALLEN, JONATHAN ERIK

5081 JACKSON RD APISON, 37302

Age at Arrest: 45 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

ASSAULT



ARNOLD, WILLIE CARL

3219 6TH AVE CHATTANOOGA, 374071536

Age at Arrest: 35 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

CRIMINAL TRESPASSING

DRUGS GENERAL CATEGORY FOR RESALE



BENFORD, JUSTIN CORRELLE

1226 FRANKLIN DR CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest: 33 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



BOYD, MICHAEL LEWIS

610 COWARD RD CHATTANOOGA, 37403

Age at Arrest: 45 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

THEFT OF PROPERTY

VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF



CASPER, SHELBI ELAINE

146 FLAGSTONE ROSSVILLE, 30741

Age at Arrest: 32 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

THEFT OF PROPERTY

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

CRIMINAL IMPERSONATION



CINTO, RAMIRO

2409 E 14TH STREET CHATTANOOGA, 374040000

Age at Arrest: 39 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

DRIVING WITHOUT DRIVERS LICENSE / EXPIRED LICENSE

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

STOP SIGN VIOLATION



DANIELS, CRISSY MICHELLE

246 HENDERSON RD EVANSVILLE, 37332

Age at Arrest: 49 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA



DAVIS, KIERA N

8268 DANUBE DR CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest: 33 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

HARASSMENT



DEMERRITT, RICHARD THOMAS

79 WILLIAMS PARK DRIVE FLINTSTONE, 30725

Age at Arrest: 59 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



DYE, DAVID SAMUEL

7767 LASAR LANE HARRISON, 37341

Age at Arrest: 36 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (VANDALIS/MALICIOUS MIDCHIE

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE



EVANS, ROBERT MAURICE

10430 FIELDING ROAD OOLTEWAH, 37363

Age at Arrest: 25 years old

Arresting Agency: East Ridge

FAILURE TO APPEAR



FOSTER, KALI E

200 CANTERBURY RIDGE PKWY CANTON, 301149027

Age at Arrest: 26 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

DOMESTIC ASSAULT



GAY, EUREKA DANIELLE

751 RUNYAN DR CHATTANOOGA, 374051224

Age at Arrest: 32 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

DOMESTIC ASSAULT



GOMEZ-LOPEZ, OTTO

1729 EAST 29TH STREET CHATTANOOGA, 37407

Age at Arrest: 46 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

VIOLATION OF DRIVERS LICENSE LAW

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

FAILURE TO YIELD

FAILURE TO MAINTAIN LANE



GORDON, JORLIN J

6220 SHALLOWFORD RD APT 271 CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest: 41 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

THEFT OF PROPERTY-0VER 1000

FRAUDULENT USE OF CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD



GREEN, WILLIAM JOSHUA

1040 TOMMIE LN SODDY DAISY, 37379

Age at Arrest: 40 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

THEFT OF PROPERTY (CONDUCT INVOLV.MERCHANDISE) UND



GRIBBLE, KELLY TIANE

HOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37415

Age at Arrest: 53 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

PUBLIC INTOXICATION

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA



HEWLETT, TYRIQ R

8746 MILLARD LEE LN CHATTANOOGA, 374161753

Age at Arrest: 25 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



HOLDEN, NICHOLAS AUSTIN

2338 CHIMNEY HILLS DR SODDY DAISY, 373793122

Age at Arrest: 23 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



HOUSTON, DONALD RAY

246 HENDERSON RD EVANSVILLE, 37332

Age at Arrest: 51 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

THEFT OF PROPERTY



IBRAHIM, SALWA

404 TUNNEL BOULEVARD, APARTMENT 4B CHATTANOOGA, 37411

Age at Arrest: 31 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

AGGRAVATED CHILD ABUSE



LOVELADY, THOMAS ALAN

315 WEATHERSBY ROAD SODDY DAISY, 37379

Age at Arrest: 35 years old

Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy

DOMESTIC ASSAULT



MENNE, LINDSAY WINKLER

8921 POTOMAC DR CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest: 43 years old

Arresting Agency: Collegedale

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



MORALES, SAUL ARES

3111 12TH AVE CHATTANOOGA, 37406

Age at Arrest: 30 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



PAYNE, JALEN HIKEEM

7173 HOLLAND LANE CHATTANOOGA,

Age at Arrest: 28 years old

Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy

VIOLATION OF ORDER OF PROTECTION



PEREZ, WOE SALAZAR

6908 LEE HWY CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest: 62 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

FAILURE TO APPEAR



ROBINSON, JAMYA N

4921 ANGELA DR CHATTANOOGA, 37410

Age at Arrest: 20 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

ASSAULT



ROJAS, JUAN ALEJANDRO

4713 METRO PARK LANE HIXSON, 373430000

Age at Arrest: 32 years old

Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy

DRIVING ON REVOKED, SUSPENDED OR CANCELLED LICENSE

SPEEDING



SHELBY, CRYSTAL SYLVIA

7466 GATES RD HIXSON, 37343

Age at Arrest: 40 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



SHOOK, RAYMOND CURTIS

HOMELESS CHATTANOOGA, 37407

Age at Arrest: 40 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

THEFT OF PROPERTY



STANDIFER, COREY MARSHALL

14717 DAYTON PIKE SALE CREEK, 37373

Age at Arrest: 37 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

DRIVING ON REVOKED LICENSE



TALLEY, STEVE LEBRON

3531 CHANDLER AVENUE CHATTANOOGA, 37410

Age at Arrest: 52 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

VANDALISM/MALICIOUS MISCHIEF



TEMPLE, JESSIE LYNN

9320 DALLAS HOLLOW RD SODDY DAISY, 373799006

Age at Arrest: 42 years old

Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

DRIVING ON ROADWAYS LANED FOR TRAFFIC, VIOLATION

IMPLIED CONSENT LAW - DRIVERS



THOMAS, CODY WILLIAM

11186 DAYTON PIKE SODDY DAISY, 37379

Age at Arrest: 29 years old

Arresting Agency: Soddy Daisy

PUBLIC INTOXICATION

POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA



VELASQUEZ, MARVIN RAFAEL

4035 WONDER DR EAST RIDGE, 37412

Age at Arrest: 33 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



VELEZ, HECTOR G

18 SOUTH GERMANTOWN ROAD CHATTANOOGA, 374111397

Age at Arrest: 45 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER

TAMPERING WITH OR FABRICATING EVIDENCE



WALKER, HERSHEL DEMETRIUS

1819 RANKIN ST CHATTANOOGA, 37421

Age at Arrest: 33 years old

Arresting Agency: Chatt Housing Auth

CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES IN SCHEDULE I

UNLAWFUL CARRYING OR POSSESSING WEAPON



WIMBERLY, WILSON LYNN

200 JAMES ST ROSSVILLE, 30741

Age at Arrest: 55 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

Booked for Previous Charges or Other Reason(s)



WITHINGTON, RICHARD JOHN

727 E 11TH ST CHATTANOOGA, 37403

Age at Arrest: 31 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

VIOLATION OF PROBATION (THEFT OF PROPERTY)



WOLFE, DEVIN ISAAC

727 CHEROKEE TRL ROSSVILLE, 307412103

Age at Arrest: 25 years old

Arresting Agency: Chattanooga PD

DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE

OPEN CONTAINER LAW



WOODRUFF, ANTONIO D

2006 JACKSON ST Chattanooga, 374041426

Age at Arrest: 46 years old

Arresting Agency: HC Sheriff

POSSESSING A FIREARM WITH INTENT TO GO ARMED

Here are the mug shots:
Six people died at a small frame house in Marion County - from gunshots and smoke inhalation - in a tragic murder-suicide on Thursday night.

Marion County Sheriff Bo Burnett called it one of the worst things Ive seen in my 43 years in law enforcement.

The sheriff said law enforcement responded Thursday night to a shooting on Pine Street in the Sequatchie community and found the single-family residence burning.

Sheriff Burnett said the suspect was well known to authorities and he called this a domestic shooting. Sheriff Burnett said among the dead were two children along with their mother and grandmother. The sheriff said one adult was taken to a hospital suffering from a gunshot wound and is in undetermined condition.

Sheriff Burnett said the investigation has been turned over to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and district attorney. The bodies of the victims were taken to the TBI crime lab in Nashville for autopsies.

Sheriff Burnett said everyone has been accounted for and there was no threat to the community.

A neighbor on Pine Street told of hearing gunshots and breaking glass. The house where the shots came from was found to be on fire.

The bodies of the victims were taken to Nashville for autopsies.

It was unclear how many died from gunshots and how many from the fire.
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) on Friday announced 131 grants totaling $299,228,167 from the states American Rescue Plan (ARP) fund, part of which TDEC is administering in the form of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure grants. Since August, TDEC has awarded and announced $933,632,711 in grant funds through ARP programming.

Of the 131 grants, 29 are collaborative grants and 102 are non-collaborative grants. Collaborative grants involve multiple entities (cities, counties, or water utilities) partnering on projects to work toward a shared purpose. All grants awarded represent 469 individual drinking water, wastewater, and/or stormwater infrastructure projects.

Tennessee received $3.725 billion from the ARP, and the states Financial Stimulus Accountability Group dedicated $1.35 billion of those funds to TDEC to support water projects in communities throughout Tennessee. Of the $1.35 billion, approximately $1 billion was designated for non-competitive formula-based grants offered to counties and eligible cities to address systems critical needs. Those include developing Asset Management Plans, addressing significant non-compliance, updating aging infrastructure, mitigating water loss for drinking water systems, and reducing inflow and infiltration for wastewater systems.



The grants are part of the $1 billion non-competitive grant program. The remaining funds ($269 million) will go to state-initiated projects and competitive grants.

As Tennessee continues to experience unprecedented growth, were prioritizing critical infrastructure investments that will address the needs of Tennesseans and give local communities the resources needed to thrive, Governor Bill Lee said. We look forward to the improvements these projects will bring, and we commend the communities who have gone through the application process.

More than ever, infrastructure is critically important to our local communities, said Lt. Governor Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge. This money will allow cities and towns to address deficiencies and make improvements that will pay dividends not just in the present but in the years to come as well. I greatly appreciate the work of the governor and my colleagues on the Financial Stimulus Accountability Group for their work in making sure these funds were spent appropriately and efficiently.

We continue experiencing considerable growth across the state, and many of our communities require additional resources to address their evolving needs, said Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville. These grants will play a major role in ensuring cities and towns have access to infrastructure solutions that will enable them to continue thriving so Tennessee remains a preferred destination for both businesses and families.

We are grateful to the local applicants, and we anticipate excellent results from these grants, said TDEC Commissioner David Salyers. This shows that Tennessee recognizes the need for improved water infrastructure, and we are grateful for the leadership of Governor Lee and the General Assembly in seeing that communities get this assistance.

Grants include:

Bledsoe County, $2,119,000

Bledsoe County, in collaboration with Van Buren County, the City of Dayton, the Northwest Utility District, and the Fall Creek Falls Utility District, will use ARP funds to reduce water loss in the county. Projects include the relocation of water mains in the City of Dayton, construction of a new 300,000-gallon water tank with the Northwest Utility District, and repairs to Fall Creek Falls Utility District Water Treatment Plant.

Marion County, $1,708,249

Marion County, in collaboration with the Town of Jasper, the Town of Kimball, and the City of South Pittsburg, will use ARP funds to address critical needs and replace aging infrastructure. Projects include connecting water lines across the county through the installation of a new 12-inch water transmission line. The new water line connections will reduce breaks and leaks and control water loss if a major break or incident with the existing line were to occur.

City of Athens, $2,371,902

The City of Athens will use ARP funds to maintain the city's municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit and address critical needs. Projects include the purchase of an asset management platform for the MS4 network, the completion of a stormwater master plan, and an MS4 utility feasibility study for adoption. The city will also engage in grey and green improvements to the primary MS4 drainage line in order to reduce sedimentation.

City of Collegedale, $1,403,121

The City of Collegedale will use ARP funds to modernize an aged pump station and develop a comprehensive Asset Management Plan. The pump station modernization project will consist of a thorough and complete analysis and assessment of current conditions and a recommendation and design of new system components. The Asset Management Plan will be created on a Geographic Information System (GIS) based platform, and a comprehensive system base map will be developed by digitizing existing paper maps.

City of Copperhill, $624,579

The City of Copperhill will use ARP funds to develop an Asset Management Plan and address areas of significant non-compliance. Projects include the replacement of pumps, motors, panelboards, sewage grinders, electrical, and sump pump and float controls, as well as piping and valving.

Town of Graysville, $731,440

The City of Graysville will use ARP funds to develop an Asset Management Plan and modernize aged water infrastructure. Projects include the replacement of 6-inch water lines along State Highway 303 in order to improve the citys drinking water system through reducing continual breaks, water loss, and maintenance costs.

City of Lakesite, $677,865

The City of Lakesite will use ARP funds to make improvements to the community's stormwater system. Lakesite's stormwater project includes the reconstruction of a culvert to address water quality issues and protect the water quality of a local tributary.

McMinn County, $1,313,091

McMinn County will use ARP funds to develop Asset Management Plans and address significant non-compliance. Projects include IT infrastructure upgrades, including the installation of a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, GIS system mapping, the repair and replacement of aged water lines, and inter-utility water interconnections. The county will also replace an aged water tank.

Town of Monteagle, $1,155,086



The town of Monteagle will use ARP funds to develop an Asset Management Plan and address critical wastewater system needs. Repairs will be made to the sanitary sewer system in order to mitigate excessive infiltration and inflow during wet weather events.

Polk County, $3,696,209

Polk County will use ARP funds to address critical needs, including water loss and infiltration and inflow reduction. Polk County will replace the booster station, storage tank, and zone meters in Isabella areas and replace and upsize failing and aged lines throughout the system including 11,200 linear feet of the Benton water system. Additionally, the City of Copperhill in Polk County will video inspect their entire sewer system in order to determine the infiltration and inflow locations within their sewer system.

Rhea County, $1,869,000

Rhea County will use ARP funds to develop an Asset Management Plan and modernize aged infrastructure. Projects include several water line connections and the construction of a new water tank.

City of Ridgeside, $583,803

The City of Ridgeside will use ARP funds to address significant non-compliance and issues identified in a State Consent Decree. Projects will address excessive infiltration and inflow and chronic sanitary sewer overflows and include the rehabilitation of approximately 1,200 feet of pipelines, 10 manholes, and 60 service laterals within identified priority basins.

Sequatchie County, $1,655,000

Sequatchie County will use ARP funds to address critical needs, including aging infrastructure and water loss. Sequatchie County will replace two water tanks, reducing water loss, and make improvements to low water pressure due to the elevation of the pump station on John Henry Lewis Road.
A 33-year-old Chattanooga man is facing multiple charges, including attempted first-degree murder of a police officer, after an incident in which he was shot by a deputy early Thursday morning.

Mack Lebron Russell, of 1407 E. 28th St., is also charged with evading arrest, expired registration, tinted windows violation, speeding, speeding in a work zone, leaving the scene of an accident with damage to a vehicle, a stop sign violation, running a red light, failure to signal turn, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, driving left of center, light law violation, resisting arrest, tampering with construction signs, and driving on a revoked license.

The Sheriff's Office said at 1:04 a.m. deputies attempted to stop a silver 2014 Chrysler 300. The vehicle fled and a pursuit began.

A P.I.T. Maneuver was attempted in the 6000 block of Shallowford Road. It caused the Chrysler to crash into a retaining wall of a bridge.

A deputy positioned himself behind the vehicle and gave a loud command to the driver to exit the vehicle. Instead, the vehicle sped in reverse toward the deputy, almost hitting him. The deputy then fired "multiple shots" into the rear window of the vehicle, striking the driver.

The car then lurched forward, striking a patrol vehicle that was blocking his path.

The Sheriff's Office said the driver was still refusing to get out of the vehicle. He was finally pulled out.

He was treated at the hospital for a shot to his upper left arm, then taken to jail.

District Attorney Coty Wamp asked the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to conduct the investigation into the incident.
You have permission to edit this article.

Edit Close
On Saturday, June 3, a coalition of community members raised a rainbow Pride flag in front of Cheshires First Congregational Church.

The flags collection of colors is meant to symbolize support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer people and is flown throughout the month of June in communities around the country, including in Cheshire, where the flag had been hung outside the Yellow House, a Town-owned building that offers support services for the youth population.

However, the Pride flag has become increasingly controversial in some quarters, and Town officials advised holding the ceremony elsewhere. Now it appears that the Yellow Houses symbolic display calling for tolerance will need to seek a new home.

On June 13, the Cheshire Town Council voted to adopt a resolution that would prohibit flying the Pride flag, and others, on Town properties as of July 1. The 5-2 vote came after a recommendation from the Towns Ordinance Committee, and fell along party lines. Councillors Don Walsh and Sylvia Nichols were not present for the vote.

The policy would be that no flag other than the flags of the United States of America, state of Connecticut, and Town of Cheshire may be flown on any properties owned or maintained by the Town of Cheshire, stated Councillor David Veleber, in introducing the motion.

In adopting this policy, the Cheshire Town Council declares that flagpoles owned or maintained by the Town of Cheshire are not intended to serve as a forum for free expression by the public but rather as a non-public forum for the display of the flags authorized herein as government speech, Veleber continued.

The new policy does provide for several occasional exceptions, including official Armed Services flags, unit flags, ensigns or pennants, and official departmental flags of the Towns police and fire units. Another exception is the POW/MIA flag.

Councilor Peter Talbot proposed an additional exception to the policy, providing specific language allowing for the Pride flag to be flown during the month of June at the Yellow House, but the Council declined to adopt it.

Veleber described the new flag ordinance as designed to protect the Town in light of a recent Supreme Court case, Shurtleff v. City of Boston. In that case, the Court decided unanimously that Bostons refusal to fly a Christian flag on city property violated the First Amendment.

We were supportive of that policy (allowing the Yellow House to display the Pride flag) for the last few years, said Veleber, but in light of this case, we want to try and keep this as clean as possible, so that there is no discretion and we dont have a situation where we have a carve-out for one group but not carve-outs for other groups.

Talbot recounted a meeting with Town Attorney Jeffrey Donofrio on the subject, saying, We were assured by Attorney Donofrio that this carve-out, the exact wording  which was part of the amendment, would in no way put the Town in jeopardy or make Cheshire liable, which we were told was the sole intent of this policy.

Donofrio characterized the Courts ruling in Shurtleff as saying, You cant have content-based, viewpoint-based discrimination. So if you dont have a policy and you say yes to everybody or no to everybody, youre fine. But if you dont have a policy and you say yes to this one and no to that one, then arguably youre engaging in content-based viewpoint discrimination which violates the First Amendment of the Constitution.

Amending the policy to provide for adding the rainbow pride flag in the month of June at the Yellow House is a legitimate use of the Councils discretion in creating a policy if you, as policy-makers, decide to do that, added Donofrio.

Town Council Chair Tim Slocum, however, disagreed, insisting that any flags other than those included in the original ordinance are political.

Were not here to fight those fights. We are here to govern the community that we are in. We fund organizations that help with those fights because these are social-impact types of issues that are confronted in our schools. Adequate funding is clearly made to those departments. Every one of us approves budgets based on what we understand are issues that can become crises for individuals.  There is nothing in my estimation gained from banners that change every year, Slocum added. These are very complicated issues for society and I do not want to be aligned with flags that just create tension.

Donofrio clarified that any flag that is flown on public property is government speech and therefore becomes a political issue.

Councillors John Milone and David Borowy echoed Slocums and Velebers comments, arguing for keeping the policy without the Yellow House carve-out, because it represents a cleaner approach, less likely to cause controversy.

I dont have a problem supporting a pride group, I dont have a problem supporting a right-to-life group, said Borowy, but I cant support something that we have to describe as a carve-out.

Councillor Jim Jinks, who along with Talbot opposed the new policy, opined that instituting a prohibition, after allowing the rainbow flag at the Yellow House the past two years, amounted to saying were not accepting of that community.

Accepting, belonging, community, thats what the Pride flags about, said Jinks.

Fe Lentini, of Cheshire, spoke as well, describing himself as the individual who originally started the Pride flag raising three years ago at the Yellow House.

Lentini explained to the Council that having the Pride flag displayed during June at the Yellow House was part of a compromise between Cheshire High Schools Genders and Sexuality Alliance club and Town officials.

Lentini said he emphasized in those conversations that we need to have Pride flags not only in our schools, but we should have them outside our schools to show kids coming in and people in our community that this is a safe space.

I want youth in Cheshire to know that this town and their schools are a safe space, said Lentini. The churchs Pride banner, he added, reads Its All About Love. Its trying to show acceptance and love in this town that sometimes doesnt show it as much as they say they do.

(Note: This version includes an updated headline that properly defines that the Town Council adopted a resolution not a brand new ordinance.)
This 35-year-old guy has been dating his girlfriend, who is 25, for about eight months now. And just last weekend, he decided to surprise her with a weekend trip to La Jolla, California and rented a beautiful Airbnb.

But, after he sent a screenshot of the Airbnb booking to his girlfriend, everything went sideways.

Apparently, he had no idea that his Airbnb account still had a photo of him and his ex-girlfriend set as the profile picture.

I created this Airbnb account nine years ago, and it was an innocent oversight. In my excitement, I sent this picture to her to show the booking and have her get ready for the weekend, he recalled.

But his girlfriend obviously noticed the photo of his ex, and it sparked a massive fight. She thought it was unbelievable that he would send such a picture, and she even claimed that they were done.

Eventually, though, he was able to explain the mistake. And while he didnt think his girlfriend necessarily got over the whole situation, she did gain a better understanding and forgive him.

Thats why, after everything cooled down, they still decided to head out to the Airbnb in La Jolla for a nice weekend.

Things were going great, too, until their final evening of the trip while they were at dinner with his girlfriends aunt and friend.

For context, he knew that his girlfriend had reached out to her aunt following the Airbnb profile picture incident to talk about the whole situation.

Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox.
Pixabay/wendy CORNIQUET

During a sermon of Bishop Benjamin Phiri of the Ndola Diocese, he encouraged the Catholic Community to stay calm in the middle of a conflict between the Church and the government of Zambia. The bishop also highlights the need for unity throughout their nation and asks his congregation to avoid commenting on this issue.

Catholic Church and Zambian Government's Conflict

Catholic Answers stated that the growth of political ideas that oppose the message that Christ brought about the most significant conflict between the Church and the state during the modern era. Ideologies such as socialism, nationalism, and fascism are examples of totalitarian systems that subjugate individuals to the state's authority and oppress religious communities. Moreover, in a recent conflict between the Catholic Church and the Zambian government, Aciafrica reported that it all started on Monday, May 22, when Father Anthony Salangeta denounced the government of President Hakainde Hichilema for using graphs to illustrate Zambia's economic situation. While addressing his homily during Holy Mass, Fr. Salangeta pointed out that Zambians are more interested in matters that directly touch them rather than in graphs. President Hichilema later referred to Fr. Salangeta as a clown in response to his words.

As mentioned, in order to defend the Parish Priest of Regina Pacis Chawama Catholic Church of Zambia's Archdiocese of Lusaka (ADL), the Local Ordinary, Archbishop Alick Banda, criticized the President for equating his Priest with jokers. According to Archbishop Banda, Catholic priests are stewards of God's flock who live among and are aware of the needs of the sheep they are entrusted with caring for. However, the archbishop's comments prompted a response from Batuke Imenda, the Secretary General of President Hichilema's United Party for National Development (UPND), who proceeded to refer to the Local Ordinary of Lusaka as "the Lucifer of Zambia."

As a result, Bishop Phiri warns in his memo that the current condition of affairs between the Church and state, if they are not carefully managed, can strain the friendly and collaborative relationship established between the Catholic Church and the government of Southern Africa. Additionally, the Local Ordinary of Zambia's Ndola Diocese asserted that "The Diocesan Bishops have been requested to communicate to their constituents to refrain from making any public statements on this matter until the Bishops issue further instructions after looking at the matter."

Also Read: Kentucky Government to Pay Over $270,000 for Prohibiting Mass Gathering at Maryville Baptist Church During Pandemic

Bishop Urges Calm and Unity

Lusaka Times reported that Bishop Benjamin Phiri of the Ndola Diocese had issued a call to the Catholic people to maintain their composure regardless of what are seen to be disagreements between the Catholic Church and the Zambian Government. The bishop alleviated the congregation's concerns by assuring them that the matter would be discussed at the upcoming gathering of the Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) that would take place in Lusaka. Accordingly, Bishop Phiri indicated the importance of unity during his speech at the tenth-anniversary celebration of Holy Trinity Parish in Mulenga, Kitwe. He also advised the faithful to stop commenting on the subject and allow the bishops to handle it.

On the other hand, the bishop admitted that members of the Church and certain government officials have engaged in public discourse, including derogatory comments directed toward one other. But he asserted that both organizations were working together to serve the nation and promote its development, notably in education, health care, and social services.

Related Article:Bishops, Child Care Facility Unite in Protest Against Government's Alleged Harassment of Church-Run Centers for Children in India
Pexels/MART PRODUCTION

A spokeswoman for the church claims that on June 7, unidentified gunmen in southwest Nigeria shot and killed a priest who was a Roman Catholic. The Rev. Augustine Akubeze, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Benin, issued a press release confirming that the Rev. Charles Onomhoale Igechi was killed while driving in the Ikhueniro neighborhood of Benin, Edo state. Igechi was a priest and the vice principal of St. Michael College in Ikhueniro. He had been ordained less than two years before, on August 13, 2022.

Igechi tragically suffered a shooting in his back, and his bullet-riddled body was discovered at Ikpoba Hill within the Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area in Edo state, according to what Akubeze reported. As per Akubeze's statement, unidentified gunmen were responsible for Igechi's death. His body was found only after the deadly incident.

Escalating Violence Against Christians in Nigeria: Militants Widen Their Scope

According to the article in Christian Headlines, 39 Catholic priests were killed, and 30 were abducted in Nigeria last year, according to a January report by the security firm SB Morgan Intelligence. According to the research, while initial worries pointed to the deliberate persecution of Christians, abductions now primarily involve financial considerations.

According to the 2023 World Watch List (WWL) report from Open Doors, Nigeria had 5,014 killings in 2022, making it the country with the highest number of Christians slain for their beliefs worldwide. The nation also reported the highest number of Christian abductions for about 4,726 sexual assaults or harassment, forced marriages, physical or mental torture, and attacks on houses and businesses for religiously motivated causes. Nigeria recorded the second-highest number of church attacks and internally displaced people for the second year in a row. Rev. Igechi's latest murder highlights Nigeria's worsening epidemic of violence against Christians.

According to World Watch List (WWL) research, militant organizations like the Fulani, Boko Haram, and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) are increasing their brutality against Christian communities in Nigeria. Morning Star News stated that the study describes horrific atrocities that included rapes, deaths, maimings, and kidnappings for ransom or sexual servitude.

This year's report makes a big change by noting that the violence has spread to the nation's primarily Christian south. Despite the attacks' growing sectarian bent, the Nigerian government nevertheless disputes that they amount to religious persecution. This denial has made it possible for Christians' rights to be violated in an environment where they can go unpunished.

Bishop Jude Arogundade of Ondo urged "serious reflection on how far we are ready to go to protect human life and its dignity and sanctity as a nation" a year after the vicious attack that resulted in the murder of Rev. Charles Onomhoale Igechi.

Also Read: Catholic Relief Services Staff Shot Dead While Returning From A Mission in Addis Ababa

A Year After Brutal Attack, Calls for Justice and Reflection Intensify in Nigeria

Bishop Arogundade stressed the need to commemorate the anniversary of the massacre in his address to Aid to the Church in Need in order to raise awareness of the scourge of terrorism and its long-lasting repercussions on people. According to the Catholic Herald, he rejected the notion that "time heals" and warned against moving on too quickly for fear of erasing the remembrance of the victims.

The bishop is persistent in pressing people in positions of authority to take the necessary steps to avert similar catastrophes, notwithstanding the lack of progress in apprehending the assailants. His opinions are in line with the growing international demand for justice for the Nigerian Christians who have been the victims of violence.

Related Article:Jehovahs Witness Former Member Shot Several People Inside Kingdom Hall
Pixabay/3D Animation Production Company

A Christian in Pakistan has been sentenced to hang for blasphemy after receiving a cartoon depicting the Prophet Mohammed. The case highlights the heightened anti-blasphemy laws in the country and the dire consequences faced by religious minorities.

Christian Sentenced to Death

Premier Christian News reported that Noman Masih, arrested in 2019, finally received his sentence in January, marking almost four years of legal proceedings. This unprecedented ruling represents the first instance where the newly intensified anti-blasphemy laws have led to the execution of a Christian individual. The Pakistani National Assembly unanimously passed an amendment to the Criminal Laws Bill in January, significantly increasing the penalties for insulting the Prophet Mohammed's companions, wives, and family members. The punishment for such offenses has been raised from three to ten years of imprisonment.

A report from Catholic Herald stated that the individual and his family have claimed that Bilal Ahmad, a young Muslim not apprehended by the authorities, had sent him the controversial Mohammad illustrations at the center of the dispute. Sunny Mushtaq, the Christian cousin of Masih, awaiting sentencing for blasphemy from the Bahawalpur Magistrates Court, has reportedly received the same drawings via WhatsApp, a popular social media platform. According to Aneeqa Maria Anthony, a lawyer from The Voice legal group supporting the duo, the sentencing of Asghar has left him disheartened. The lawyer stated that the prosecution of two men is another instance of misusing blasphemy laws. Anthony added that these laws had been used to prosecute numerous Christians, often based on false accusations.

Also Read: Two Pakistani Christians Facing Blasphemy Charges Have Been Granted Bail

Pakistani Christian Brothers Executed for Cyber Blasphemy

In a similar report, two Christian brothers have been sentenced to death for blasphemy. It comes just weeks after Asia Bibi was acquitted of the same crime, which had sparked an international outcry, Telegraph reported. They were identified as Qaiser and Amoon Ayub and were sentenced to death by hanging by a district judge. The verdict was delivered after the duo was found guilty of posting articles and portraits on their website that were deemed insulting to the Prophet Mohammed. After being accused of the crime in 2011, the brothers fled the country. However, they have since returned home discreetly. They were apprehended at the airport. As mentioned, Amoon was attempting to leave the country for the second time when the arrest was made. Since 2014, the duo has been incarcerated in Jhelum prison.

According to Tahir Bashir, the legal representative for the two individuals, they have been accused of posting content that is considered blasphemous on the United Christians Organisation of Pakistan website back in August of 2010. A Muslim cleric from a different district has registered a complaint, which was filed a year later. Moreover, Bashir also stated that although the men had initiated the website, they were not responsible for the offense. Accordingly, Pakistan's blasphemy laws are again in the spotlight as the sentence for a recent case was handed down just two days after the country was placed on America's religious freedom blocklist. The ruling is expected to draw further attention to the strict laws in Pakistan.

Related Article: Pakistan Christian On Death Row Over False Blasphemy Charges Acquitted After Nearly 10 Years In Jail
Pixabay/succo

Uganda recently implemented one of the world's most severe anti-LGBT laws. Anyone who reportedly advocates for or supports homosexuality might face up to two decades in prison, and same-sex acts might culminate in the death penalty. As a result, a church leader voiced his opposition to the newly enacted legislation; however, he has been accused of propagating colonialism.

Church Leader's Statement Opposing Uganda's Anti-LGBT Law

The Church of Uganda estimates that 36 percent of Uganda's population of about 45 million people are Anglicans. The Anglican Communion, which consists of millions of residents spread across 165 countries, is amid a contentious debate on the ordination of gay clergy by some churches in various Western countries and views regarding same-sex marriage.

A report from Reuters stated that Uganda had passed one of the most extreme anti-LGBTQ laws in the world. According to this law, certain acts of same-sex behavior are punishable by the death penalty, and "promoting" homosexuality can result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years. After introducing the new legislation, the Primate of Uganda, Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba, expressed his appreciation for the recently enacted law. He claimed that foreign actors posing as human rights campaigners were coercing Ugandans into practicing homosexuality, which is in direct opposition to the cultural and religious values held by Ugandans.

Moreover, the leader of the global Anglican Communion, Justin Welby, stated that he had written to Archbishop Kaziimba to convey his "grief and dismay" at the denomination's views on the issue of implementing the world's harshest anti-LGBT law. On Friday, Jun 9, Welby issued a statement indicating no basis for any region of the Anglican Communion to adopt such laws. The justification would reportedly not be found in the province's resolutions, teachings, or shared Gospel. However, in April, the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) expressed that it no longer had faith in Welby due to his comments favoring same-sex partnerships being blessed in churches. Accordingly, the Ugandan church has played a crucial role in GAFCO's leadership, also known as a conservative organization.

Also Read:Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches Expressed Deep Sadness" on the Outcome of Church of England's Vote for Same-sex Blessings

Alleged Colonialism

According to a report from Aljazeera, in 2008, Anglicans came together to form GAFCON as a reaction to what the organization considers to be the abandoning of ideas based on the Bible by Western churches. GAFCON asserts that it speaks for the majority of all Anglicans throughout the world. On Wednesday, Jun 14, the chairman of a conservative organization of Anglican church officials accused Welby of perpetuating colonialism with his condemnation of Uganda's anti-LGBTQ legislation. The leader of Rwanda's Anglican Church and chair of GAFCON, Bishop Laurent Mbanda, stated that some northern continent provinces' past of colonization and patronizing behavior toward the South, particularly Africa, has not yet come to an end.

On the other hand, AP News reported that Welby made clear in his statements that he was "deeply aware" of the long tradition of colonial control in Uganda and that he was not trying to enforce Western principles on the people of Uganda. But, he pointed out that despite their differences, Anglican leaders worldwide had concluded that homophobia should be condemned and that criminal punishments against LGBTQ+ individuals should be rejected.

Related Article: Uganda's Anti-LGBTQ Bill Passed, Allegedly Driven by Christian Fundamentalism
Pixabay/abigailjthompson

The Jubilee Church Life Centre hosted an event called "Concert for Ukraine" to raise money for orphans in Ukraine. Thus, the church was successful in raising more than $300.

Fundraising Event for Ukrainian Orphanage

Children of Heroes Charity Fund stated that children in Ukraine urgently want psychological and humanitarian aid. For people displaced or otherwise negatively impacted by the war in Ukraine, especially Ukrainian orphans, aid and care packages are supported by donations from benefactors such as various organizations. Children of Heroes was established to aid the numerous Ukrainian children who have endured life's greatest tragedy, the death of a parent or parent during the ongoing violence.

Moreover, Jubilee Church Life Centre, located on London Road, recently had a fundraising event to fund Ukrainian orphans. Based on a report from MSN on Saturday, June 10, a "Concert for Ukraine" concert occurred in Grantham. According to Karen Marlor, who was one of the people responsible for organizing the event, it was a successful evening. She said the show had performers of varying ages and skills from the United Kingdom and Ukraine. In addition, violinist Nik Vikhorev and pianist Max Artemchenko were among the performers, who each played two love songs on their respective instruments. At the same time, Anastasiia Golovko showed off her skills on the flute. As mentioned, the evening also featured a performance by the band Eddie Ate The Good Dogs, located in Sleaford. The members of the band, James Lewis and Bex Calladine, described themselves as "delighted" to perform at the occasion.

Bex, who spent nine months supporting a Ukrainian family, claimed that music is a universal language that unifies people. As a collection of musicians, they reportedly thought it would be appropriate to get together for one night in order to celebrate a world in which creativity is allowed to flourish. Furthermore, one of the event organizers noted that the youths also presented some poetry, which focused on how individuals may rally together to help one another in these trying times.

On the other hand, Grantham Journal reported that since she arrived in Grantham as a refugee, Kateryna Buchatskaya has served as the point of contact for the orphanage between the center and the institution. Accordingly, the Ukrainian orphanage has been collaborating with the Jubilee Church Life Centre, which serves as a center for Ukrainian refugees, to assist the children. The charity event raised a total of 276 or almost $350, and with the donated money, they were able to give the orphanage a microwave and a kettle for their use.

Also Read: Church, Public Officials in Elora and Fergus Gathered to Offer Prayers to Ukraine

About Jubilee Church Life Centre in Grantham

In 1996, the Jubilee Church Life Centre in Grantham was founded, and its early gatherings took place in people's homes before transferring to community centers. In 2010, the House of Worship decided to move into an old department store after purchasing the building outright. Because the remodeling work was carried out in stages, they could continue using the space even while it was renovated. As mentioned, the renovations were finally finished in 2020, creating an excellent venue where the congregation may interact with one another, worship God, and serve the community.

Related Article:Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Falmouth to Hold Soups and Stews from Around the World to Raise Funds for Programs, World Central Kitchen
Pixabay/Sang Hyun Cho

In relation to the case of sexual assault in the Archdiocese of Cologne in 1970, a regional court in Germany recently issued an order compelling the church to pay around $325,000 to a victim of abuse. One of the priests in the archdiocese has reportedly admitted his sexual misconduct to a boy before his death.

German Regional Court Order

A man who is now 62 years old, Georg Menne, was sexually assaulted more than 300 times by a priest who has since passed away. The victim has obtained a ruling from the state court in Cologne regarding a case in which he had requested 750,000 or over $800,000 in compensation from the Cologne archdiocese. As per National Catholic Reporter, the archdiocese concluded that invoking the statute of limitations in this particular circumstance would not be appropriate.

According to the judge in charge, Stephan Singbartl, the jury did not order more significant compensation because the victim's life had not been devastated by the incident. He noted that the victim had married, had children, and could still work after the sexual misconduct. Moreover, other survivors of sexual abuse have been receiving payments from the German church, which are being made voluntarily. The amounts were challenged by organizations representing victims as being insufficient. A new system that took effect at the beginning of 2021 replaced an older one in which payouts averaged roughly 5,000 or about $5,500 and provided for payments of approximately 50,000 or around $55,000 per victim.

On the other hand, Merco Press reported that although the judgment handed down on Tuesday, Jun 13, can still be appealed, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki's initial response gave the impression that the archdiocese had no intention of doing so. But Woelki expressed his happiness and appreciation, saying that he believes the court's decision to classify sexual abuse as a crime, the results of which can frequently have a detrimental impact on the lives of individuals who are impacted for the rest of their lives, has led to more clarity in this matter.

As mentioned, the court decided that the amount of 300,000 or over $325,000 that must be paid in compensation would be lowered by 25,000 or almost $80,000 because Menne had previously received this sum as part of the voluntary settlement payments that the church has been making to various victims over the past few years. Nevertheless, according to the judge, the archdiocese should also reimburse any future expenditures of care or treatment related to trauma that Menne might eventually occur due to the crimes committed against him.

Also Read: French Bishop's Conference to Provide Scannable IDs to Identify Clergy That Has Sexual Abuse Case

Sexual Abuse Cases of Church Leaders in Germany

Based on a report from AP News, an investigation commissioned by the church in 2018 concluded that clergy had abused at least 3,677 people in Germany between 1946 and 2014. When the abuse occurred, more than half of the victims were 13 or younger, and over a third of the victims were altar boys. In recent years, several dioceses, including Cologne's, have produced additional studies on the way clergy have handled abuse cases that have come to their attention. The archdiocese of Cologne reportedly has over 1.8 million Catholics, more than any other German dioceses combined, making it the historical center of Catholicism in Germany.

Related Article:Around 445 Sexual Abuse Victims of Priests and Church Officials in Spain Break Their Silence
Unsplash/Cytonn Photography

The Republican governor of Nevada, Joe Lombardo, has vetoed one transgender-related bill and authorized two others, in stark contrast to other GOP governors throughout the nation who have advocated for anti-transgender policies and language.

A law requiring Medicaid and all health insurance providers to pay for gender-affirming medical procedures was signed on Monday by former Clark County Sheriff Lombardo. This is Lombardo's third key vote in favor of a bill pertaining to the health and civic rights of transgender people.

Defying GOP Trends

According to the article in Reno Gazette-Journal, Lombardo passed another law earlier this month requiring the Nevada Department of Corrections to set mental and physical health requirements for prisoners who identify as transgender or gender non-conforming. Additionally, this legislation mandates that prison guards receive training in cultural sensitivity. These changes take place while several measures to preserve transgender healthcare, civil rights, and legal safeguards have been introduced in legislatures with a Democratic majority, such as Nevada's. States from Colorado through Oregon have taken similar legislative trajectories.

Lombardo's actions, however, are in direct opposition to those of Republican governors around the country who have pushed to restrict the rights and medical treatments available to transgender people. The gap between the Republican base and Lombardo, the only Republican to defeat a Democratic incumbent governor in the 2022 midterm elections, is widened by this action. His actions show that some Republican leaders may be changing their minds about transgender rights.

Also Read: Nebraska Lawmakers Pass Bill Limiting Abortion and Transgender Healthcare Access for Minors

Nevada Governor Lombardo Endorses Transgender Health Bills Despite Party Criticism

Governor Lombardo expressed worries that the proposed bill would limit his office's ability to ensure that all gender-affirming care for kids complies with state law and upholds public health and safety requirements in his veto statement. According to News Nation, the governor's most recent acceptance of a bill requiring health insurance providers, including Medicaid, to cover all gender-affirming operations followed the Democratic governor of Oregon's signing of a nearly identical law in May.

This signature has drawn criticism from within the party for Lombardo, the former Clark County sheriff, and the lone Republican to defeat an incumbent Democratic governor in the 2022 midterm elections. Sigal Chattah, a member of the Nevada Republican National Committee, called Lombardo a "laughingstock across the nation" in a tweet.

Lombardo responded to the criticism by urging the public to learn everything there is to know about the legislation. He recommended a careful interpretation of the legislation, highlighting its primary function in bolstering current practices. In a statement released on Tuesday, Lombardo said that the bill's reputation is being falsely depicted as being much more detrimental or unethical than it actually is.

According to ABC News, given the potential economic effects of lawsuits against state Medicaid, Democratic Senator Melanie Scheible, one of the bill's proponents, presented the act as a cost-saving move for the state. She cited a statement from the state's insurance division from 2015 that prohibited denying medically essential care based on gender identification.

Instead of waiting for judicial decisions, Scheible contended that the legislation seeks to make any uncertainties clear and offer statutory clarity. This perspective is in line with a broader change in Nevada, where more gender-affirming operations are being classified by insurance providers as "medically necessary" rather than "cosmetic," leading to increased coverage.

Related Article:Transgender Individuals Forced to Flee States with Anti-LGBTQ Laws, Calling Them 'Genocidal'
Unsplash/Nacho Arteaga

The former private secretary and a friend of the late Pope Benedict have been instructed by Pope Francis to return to his native Germany with no further tasks. Archbishop Georg Gaenswein is said to have been exiled from the Vatican.

This declaration clearly puts an end to any speculation regarding the position Gaenswein, a major Vatican figure for more than ten years, will hold inside the Church. Gaenswein, 66, was removed from his duties by Pope Francis as a result of a personal conflict.

Archbishop Georg Gaenswein Recalled to Germany by Pope Francis, Ending Speculation About Future Role

According to the shared article in Yahoo! News, Gaenswein, a relatively youthful dignitary of his rank, being allowed to return home without being assigned a specific mission is regarded as rare and creates the image of an implicit exile. Gaenswein should "for the time being" return to his diocese of Freiburg, according to Pope Francis' brief statement.

The majority of papal secretaries in the past have been promoted to important positions or given cardinalships, such as managing dioceses. Gaenswein falls short of this custom because he has nine more years before reaching the customary retirement age of 75 for bishops. Gaenswein has met with Pope Francis several times in recent months to discuss his upcoming position. He was rumored to be competing for a diplomatic position as nuncio, or ambassador, to a country, according to Catholic media outlets.

According to the story in Reuters, from 2003, even when Pope Benedict was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein served as his personal secretary. This collaboration lasted for almost 20 years, including the roughly ten years that followed Benedict's historic resignation.

Gaenswein divulges minute details of his experiences at the Vatican in his book "Nothing But The Truth - My Life Beside Benedict XVI." The book, which the publisher distributed to journalists just hours after Pope Benedict's funeral on January 5, caused a stir in the Vatican because it detailed purported tensions that occurred when two people, both dressed in white which is the traditional papal robe, resided inside the Vatican.

The relationship between Gaenswein and Pope Francis deteriorated way back in 2020, when Gaenswein found himself at the center of a dispute over Pope Benedict's involvement in a book on clerical celibacy. Many believed that Francis' authority was being directly challenged by this.

Gaenswein's recall to Germany without a new assignment, which Pope Francis announced last week, has put a stop to rumors about his involvement with the Church. His book's publication may, though, still be having an impact within Vatican circles.

Also Read: Pope Francis Opts for Healing, Cancels Traditional Public Blessing to Prioritize Recovery Following Abdominal Surgery

Ongoing Vatican Controversy Caused the Deportation

According to another source, ABC News reported that in an email response to questions about Gaenswein's future, the diocese said that he had been relieved of his duties as the prefect of the papal household and that "this remains subject to future considerations" because "no other role has been assigned to him currently."

Gaenswein is scheduled to testify this week before a Vatican tribunal prior to his departure in a case regarding the alleged theft of funds involving the previous Sistine Chapel Choir directors. Given the choir's formal connection to the papal family, Gaenswein has previously expressed concerns about some inconsistencies in its financial records.

Related Article:Pope Francis Undergoes Hernia Surgery, Expected to Remain Hospitalized for Several Days
This week on The Bulletin, hosts Mike Cosper and Nicole Martin talk with attorney Matt Martens about how we can understand the rise of populism and the American vote as we look to upcoming elections. Digging deeper into the conservative evangelical psyche, Cosper and Martin discuss the SBCs strong commitment to keep women out of the pulpit while voices argue for grace for predators. Martin poses convicting questions about the churchs future ministry to and for women. The episode ends in tribute to Juneteenth, a holiday that calls us all to hope in a freedom that is now and not yet, and to author Cormac McCarthy who died this week.

Joining us this week:

Nicole Martin serves Christianity Today as chief impact officer after serving on its board of directors. Nicole oversees three major strategic initiatives that are shaping the future of CT including The Global Initiative, the Big Tent Initiative, and the Next Gen Initiative.

Matthew T. Martens (JD, University of North Carolina School of Law; MABS, Dallas Theological Seminary) is a trial lawyer and partner at an international law firm in Washington, DC. He has spent the bulk of his twenty-seven-year legal career practicing criminal law both as a federal prosecutor and as a defense attorney. He served as a law clerk to Chief Justice William Rehnquist at the US Supreme Court and also as a political appointee in the criminal division of the US Justice Department.

Resources Referenced:

The Godless Crusade by Tobias Cremer

Commentary Podcast

Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal

Southern Baptists Reject Rick Warrens Saddleback Appeal

22 Recipes That Are Perfect for a Juneteenth Cookout

On Building Deeply Christian Racial Justice Movements

Enslaved and Enslaver  Preaching Today article

Juneteenth: Faith and Freedom with YaKe Smith

The Road

No Country for Old Men

Blood Meridian

All the Pretty Horses

Click here for a free trial membership at Christianity Today.

The Bulletin is a production of Christianity Today

Executive Producer: Erik Petrik

Hosts: Mike Cosper and Russell Moore

Producer: Matt Stevens

Associate Producer: Azurae Phelps

Editing and Mix: TJ Hester

Music: Dan Phelps

Graphic Design: Bryan Todd

Episode Design: Rick Szuecs

Social Media: Kate Lucky
Around Mike Pences 40th birthday, his wife Karen booked a trip to a ranch near the Roosevelt National Forest in Colorado. Pence was mulling over a second run for Congress after a failed bid years earlier. As the Pences sat atop a bluff in the park, they noticed two red-tailed hawks riding a hot-air current, rising higher and higher.

We should step off this cliff and make ourselves available to God, Karen Pence remembers telling her husband. And this time instead of ambition driving us, we should allow God to lift us up to wherever he wants to use us, with no flapping.

Last Wednesday, on his 64th birthday, Pence stepped off that metaphorical cliff once again when he announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination. In a speech peppered with biblical references at the Future Farmers of America Enrichment Center in Ankeny, Iowa, he vowed to fight the radical Left, defend the Constitution, and oppose abortion, among a laundry list of other conservative promises.

Iowas caucus is seen as a bellwether for the GOPs primary race. It is also a litmus test for a candidates popularity with evangelical Christians: Nearly two-thirds of caucus participants in 2016 were evangelicals, according to an entrance poll.

Pence, who will appear at the Family Leadership Summit, a gathering of conservative Christians in Des Moines next month, is hoping his evangelical credentials will garner the support of his fellow believers in the state. And if he wins the caucus, he could find himself at the top of a crowded field of Republican hopefuls led by former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

On paper Pence would seem like the ideal choice for evangelical voters: a faithfully married born-again Christian running what may be the most conservative campaign thus far. Pence ticks the box on every major issue evangelicals list as importantfrom abortion to Second Amendment rights, LGBT issues and religious freedom. Theres no questioning that the former vice president sees his faith as deeply intertwined with his political journey.

I came to faith in Jesus Christ as a man in college, and I started a lifelong love affair with the Constitution of the United States for all of my adult life, he said in Iowa.

But Pence is badly trailing Trump and DeSantis. The two lead the former vice president by double digits in national polls. As a result pollsters and political commentators have written his campaign off. Does Pence have a chance against them, especially among evangelical voters?

Ralph Reed, founder of the conservative advocacy group Faith and Freedom Coalition, thinks so.

Mike is as effective a messenger in reaching voters of faith as anyone Ive ever seen in my career. And I think hes going to get a very fair hearing, from not just evangelical voters but all primary voters, said Reed, who describes Pence as a dear friend.

Reed highlighted that Pence can claim credit for Trump administration policies popular among evangelicals, such as moving the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and appointing three conservative justices to the Supreme Court who helped overturn Roe v. Wade.

According to at least one poll evangelicals in Iowa seem inclined to give Pence a fair hearing. About 58 percent view him favorably, a similar share enjoyed by Trump, though the former running mates were both edged by DeSantis.

Mike Demastus, pastor of the Fort Des Moines Church of Christ, says evangelicals in Iowa are not yet sold on a candidate. Demastus has helped organize meetings between pastors and some of the candidates, including a recent one with Trump. In his view, the front runners are Trump and DeSantis, who is Catholic, but even then he says they cannot assume they have clinched evangelical support.

Consider Trump. In a meeting with about 50 pastors from Iowa, Demastus says Trump gave lackluster answers to questions about abortion and same-sex marriage. Trumps refusal to commit to a federal ban on abortion has invited criticism from some evangelicals.

Even though after the meeting Trump said that he has evangelical support, thats not the case from that room, Demastus said, speculating that it was unlikely a majority of the pastors gathered supported him.

Bob Vander Plaats, an evangelical leader whom media often refer to as the kingmaker for his role in organizing support for GOP nominees in Iowa, also has found Trumps stance on abortion lackluster. Last month he tweeted, The #IowaCaucuses are wide open after Trump said a six-weeks abortion ban signed by DeSantis in Florida was too harsh.

On the other hand, Pence has said he supports a federal ban on abortion and, in his speech in Iowa, criticized Trump for not committing to the same.

Sanctity of life has been our partys calling for a half a century long before Donald Trump was a part of it, but now he treats it as an inconvenience, even blaming our election losses in 2022 on overturning Roe v. Wade, Pence said.

This is another sore spot for evangelicals with Trump. After the 2022 midterm elections Trump pinned blame on lack of evangelical support, even accusing some of his former faith advisers of disloyalty for not backing his presidential campaign.

Yet that may not be enough to convince someone like Demastus to choose Pence over Trump or DeSantis. The pastor remembers when Pence was governor of nearby Indiana.

I remember when he had the power to hold the line with the strongest piece of religious freedom legislation ever put together in our nation, and as soon as he received some backlash from the corporate community, he caved, Demastus said, referring to Indianas Religious Freedom Restoration Act. While Pence signed the bill, it was later amended after critics argued the law would allow businesses to discriminate against LGBT individuals.

Terry Amann, another Iowa pastor involved with the candidate meetings, also seemed disgruntled with Trumps position on abortion, but he is not sold on Pence either.

Pence, he said, talks good evangelical language, but Amann disagrees with his refusal to pardon people who participated in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. Some of the insurrectionists called for Pences execution after he rejected Trumps unfounded calls to not certify the election results. A modest majority of evangelicals agreed with Pences decision, according to a poll from January 2021.

Among Hispanic evangelicals, Pences chances seem slimmer still. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, an association of Latino evangelicals, admires Pences faith but sees the vice president struggling to resonate with Hispanic evangelicals.

I cant deny that his faith is beautiful, and its inspiring, and the public expression of his faith is something that is admirable and something to be emulated, Rodriguez said. With that being said, Mike Pence will not be on top of the list as pertains to a viable candidate for the Hispanic community.

For Hispanic evangelicals, Rodriguez says the top choices are Trump, DeSantis, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. (Rodriguez previously served as a faith advisor for the George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Trump administrations. He prayed at Trumps inauguration.)

Perhaps Pence understands the odds he faces. In Iowa he ended his announcement with an entreaty for prayers.

I ask for your prayers, for me, for my family, and for all of the American people, Pence said. We dont know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.
Muslims help pay ransom to free 16 churchgoers kidnapped in Nigeria

Sixteen abducted church members in Nigeria's Kaduna state have been released after nearly a month in captivity, following a ransom payment funded partly by the local Muslim community.

The members of Bege Baptist Church in Madala, Chikun Local Government Area, were released on June 4, the London-based advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide reported.

About 40 congregation members were kidnapped during a Sunday service on May 7 by armed assailants of Fulani ethnicity. While most escaped, 16 remained captives for almost a month, the group said.

The Rev. John Joseph Hayab, chair of the Christian Association of Nigeria's Kaduna chapter, said local Muslims contributed to the ransom funds and purchased a motorcycle requested by the kidnappers.

"I confirm and give thanks that all 16 are now back home. We are grateful to the local Muslims who contributed towards the ransom," Hayab said.

CSW founder Mervyn Thomas applauded the contributions from the local Muslim community and hopes it "marks the beginning of a new era of reconciliation and cooperation."

This notable cooperation between the faith communities contrasts sharply with a recent viral video of Nasir el-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, addressing his successor and Muslim religious leaders, CSW noted. El-Rufai reportedly expressed satisfaction at having secured Muslim dominance in key political sectors in Kaduna State, raising concerns of religious favoritism in his tenure.

Thomas said El-Rufai's comments "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 prioritized other agendas."

Despite his claim that no one's rights were denied due to their religion during his time in office, El-Rufai's tenure witnessed an uptick in armed attacks in predominantly Christian regions of southern Kaduna.

Thousands were killed and displaced as hundreds of villages were destroyed or occupied by militia. Critics have accused El-Rufai of favoring Muslims in resource allocation for state projects and employment.

In a controversial move at the end of his tenure, El-Rufai issued a proscription order against the Atyap Community Development Association, a group effective in highlighting the plight of the Atyap community of southern Kaduna. The ACDA has described this move as "hostile" and "vindictive."

As part of a series of property demolitions ordered by El-Rufai, the Alheri Baptist Church was razed, leading to violent confrontations that claimed at least eight lives and left several others wounded, according to CSW.

Protesters defying the demolition orders were met with gunfire from the Kaduna State Vigilante Service, a group created by El-Rufai.

"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," Thomas added. "We urge the Nigerian authorities to challenge anyone who fosters religious division, to do far more to combat religion-related violence, and to prioritize the protection of vulnerable communities."

Rev. Hayab called for the exemplary cooperation shown by the Muslim community in Madala to be replicated across the state for peaceful coexistence.

"The Muslim community has shown that one does not need to be educated before doing the needful. Nigerians from all walks of life should be their brothers' keepers in order to eliminate all forms of insecurity in every part of the country," Hayab said.

In its annual international religious freedom report, the State Department noted that a spike in deadly violence in Nigeria continued in 2022, impacting both Christians and Muslims, citing data from multiple sources, including the NGO Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED).

ACLED reported 3,953 civilian deaths from violence across the country for the year, with violence targeting Christians accounting for 5% of all violence. In 2021, the group tallied 3,699 deaths.

"There continued to be frequent violent incidents, particularly in the northern part of the country, affecting both Muslims and Christians, resulting in numerous deaths," the State Department's report states. "Kidnappings and armed robbery by criminal gangs increased in the South as well as the North West, the South South, and the South East. The international Christian organization Open Doors stated that terrorist groups, militant herdsmen, and criminal gangs were responsible for large numbers of fatalities, and Christians were particularly vulnerable."

Christian activists and watchdog organizations have claimed for years that Christians are being targeted for violence by radicalized herdsmen and Islamic extremist groups, and some advocates internationally have questioned whether violence against Christians has reached the standard for a genocide declaration.
Over 300 dead after cult leader urged fasting to meet Jesus

More than 300 bodies have been found in Kenya after a cult pastor encouraged his followers to starve themselves in order to meet Jesus. The number is anticipated to rise further as authorities plan to conduct more exhumations in the coming days.

The death toll has risen to 303 after 19 additional bodies were retrieved from mass graves in the expansive forested land of Kilifi County, located on Kenyas coast, The Associated Press reported. Pastor Paul Mackenzie, who leads what is known as Good News International Church, and his followers established their residential community in the region.

Regional commissioner Rhoda Onyancha told the media that about 613 individuals with ties to the region have gone missing.

Sixty-five of the 95 parishioners rescued from the property were charged with attempted suicide after they staged a hunger strike at a shelter as an act of protest against their detention. Following these charges, they were reportedly transferred to a jail facility.

In April, local law enforcement intervened at Mackenzies property, prompted by a tip about mass starvation. Dozens of emaciated followers were discovered, treated at a local hospital in Malindi, and then transported to the shelter.

The recovered bodies were unearthed from the Shakahola forest as part of an investigation.

In March, following the starvation deaths of two children in their parents custody, Makenzie handed himself over to the police. He was initially released after posting bail of $700 (100,000 Kenyan shillings). However, he was rearrested on April 15 following the discovery of four additional bodies.

Law enforcement acted on a tip that led them to the Shakahola forest. They had been informed that ignorant citizens were starving to death under the pretext of meeting Jesus after being brainwashed by Makenzie.

The controversial televangelist has been under investigation for propagating a doctrine that encourages followers to abstain from food in order to reach Heaven faster.

Authorities say they are working to assess the full extent of this humanitarian crisis and continue their investigations.

In a similar incident last July, police in Nigeria rescued at least 77 people, including 23 children, who pastors had ordered to stay in a church basement and wait for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Pastors of the Whole Bible Believer Church in Valentino Area of Ondo town in the southwestern state of Ondo encouraged church members to stay behind and wait for the rapture or to be taken to Heaven at the Second Coming of Christ.
Pittsburgh synagogue mass shooter found guilty on all 63 federal counts

A jury has found the man charged with killing 11 people at a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, synagogue in 2018 guilty of all 63 federal charges leveled against him.

In a decision announced Friday, 50-year-old Robert Bowers was found guilty of 11 counts of obstructing the exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death, one count of willfully causing bodily injury due to actual or perceived religion resulting in death and 11 counts of using a firearm to commit murder in relation to a violent crime.

The court will reconvene on June 26 for the trial's penalty phase, with Bowers facing the possibility of being sentenced to death or life in prison.

Bowers pled not guilty to all the charges and has until Sunday to file a mental health defense.

"We welcome the jury's verdict today and believe that justice has been served," said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Jewish advocacy group Anti-Defamation League, in a statement.

"This attack was the deadliest act of antisemitic violence in American history  but the hate and conspiratorial thinking that fueled this violence has not gone away."

In October 2018, Bowers entered the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood on a Saturday morning, armed with an assault rifle and multiple pistols, and opened fire on the congregation.

Those killed during the mass shooting included Joyce Fienberg, 75; Richard Gottfried, 65; Rose Mallinger, 97; Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; Cecil Rosenthal, 59; David Rosenthal, 54; Bernice Simon, 84; Sylvan Simon, 86; Daniel Stein, 71; Irving Younger, 69 and Melvin Wax, 87.

Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers said in a statement that he is "grateful to God for getting us to this day" and is focused on spending time with his congregation on the Sabbath.

"In the face of the horror our community has experienced, I can think of no better response than practicing my Jewish faith and leading worship," Myers said in a statement.

"And I am thankful for the law enforcement who ran into danger to rescue me, and the U.S. Attorney who stood up in court to defend my right to pray."

Bowers' posts on social media showed that he held a hatred of Jews, identified as Christian, and supported QAnon but was not a supporter of then-President Donald Trump.

"Trump is a globalist, not a nationalist. There is no #MAGA as long as there is a [slur referring to Jewish people] infestation," Bowers posted.

For his part, Trump, whose daughter converted to Judaism and has Jewish grandchildren, took to his Twitter account in 2018 to denounce the mass shooting.

"All of America is in mourning over the mass murder of Jewish Americans at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. We pray for those who perished and their loved ones, and our hearts go out to the brave police officers who sustained serious injuries," tweeted Trump at the time.

"This evil Anti-Semitic attack is an assault on humanity. It will take all of us working together to extract the poison of Anti-Semitism from our world. We must unite to conquer hate."

President Joe Biden has also condemned the attack in statements commemorating anniversaries of the Tree of Life shooting.
Church of England Evangelical Council opposes Ugandan Church's support for criminalization of homosexuality

The Church of England Evangelical Council has issued a statement rejecting the criminalization of homosexual behavior.

The CEEC's statement was published this week in response to the Anglican Church of Uganda's support for strict new laws making some homosexual activity punishable by death.

The Anglican Primate of Uganda, Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba, said he was "grateful" for the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023, which received presidential assent last month.

The CEEC said that while it was "fully committed to Lambeth I.10 in its entirety" and upholding biblical teaching on marriage and sexuality, it could not condone the criminalization of homosexuality.

The Evangelical group said that such laws would "encourage victimization" of LGBT people and hamper pastoral care and discipleship.

"We oppose the criminalization of consensual homosexual behavior, especially when combined with severe penalties and requirements to report people for their behavior," the CEEC said.

"We believe such laws encourage victimization of those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or same-sex attracted and make the church's commitment to listen to, care for, and disciple all people, regardless of sexual orientation, much more difficult to live out.

"On the basis of these convictions, we are committed to further reflection on these matters and are engaging privately, through EFAC, with GAFCON and GSFA.

"We continue to pray for Christians and non-Christians whose lives such laws impact so severely and for all of us that, in our diverse cultures, we will learn from each other and bear faithful witness to Christ in word and deed."

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has asked the Ugandan Primate to reconsider his support for the new law.

In a letter to Archbishop Kaziimba, he expressed "grief and dismay" at the Ugandan Church's endorsement and said there was "no justification" for any province in the Anglican Communion to adopt such a stance.

Archbishop Kaziimba dismissed Welby's concerns in a tweet, saying, "Archbishop Justin Welby, Primate of All England, has every right to form his opinions about matters around the world that he knows little about firsthand, which he has done in his recent statement about Church of Uganda's widely held support for the Anti-Homosexuality Act 2023."

Originally published at Christian Today
Chick-fil-A is way worse than we thought

Earlier this month, social media was in an uproar with news that Chick-fil-A has officially gone over to the dark side by hiring a VP of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI). No one knows why this became an issue recently; after all, Erick McReynolds has been VP of DEI since 2021. He was not a new hire but was promoted within the company, where he has been employed since 2007. The principles of DEI for Chick-fil-A are committing to be Better at Together and to foster mutual respect, understanding, and dignity everywhere we do business.

On its face, this is not objectionable. However, DEI initiatives across hundreds of U.S. companies are simply a rouse for a highly discriminatory system that encourages racism rather than a meritocracy.

As several journalists have pointed out, this is not a new phenomenon for the company. In fact, Chick-fil-A has been pandering to the woke mob for years. In 2019, after years of pressure from LGBT groups, the company stopped funding the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In 2020, the Chick-fil-A Foundation announced their new approach to charitable giving would focus on nourishing the potential in every child and donating to a smaller number of organizations focusing on education, homelessness and hunger. Though it reframed how grants would be allocated, the foundation did not expressly mention the LGBT controversy, nor did it exclude giving to faith-based charities in the future.

Back in 2019, the Federalist ran a story on how Chick-fil-A diverted its resources to organizations like Covenant House, which hosted drag queen story hour, and the Southern Poverty Law Center, which vilifies conservatives with irrational hyperbole, accusing them of being white supremacists and racists.

As if those new programs were not evidence enough that Chick-fil-A is no longer the beacon of Christian values in Corporate America, the problem may actually be far more insidious.

In 2023, the Chick-fil-A Foundation funded a relatively small non-profit called Elevate USA. Its mission is to build long-term, life-changing relationships with urban youth, equipping them to thrive and contribute to their community. They offer tutoring, mentoring, and other standard programs that serve at-risk youth. None of this is unusual until you explore the organizations financing. Chick-fil-A has joined the murky underworld of the Silicon Valley liberal elites and their multi-billion dollar nonprofit empire targeting conservative and Christian values in every sector of American society. Let me explain.

Elevate USA receives over 75% of its $1 million+ funding from the Stand Together Foundation Inc. (notice the similarity in the language to Better at Together from the Chick-fil-A DEI page). This foundation had over $140 million in annual funding for 2021, with over $356 million in assets. A large chunk of their tax-free funding came from the National Philanthropic Trust, which had 9.4 billion dollars in revenue in 2021 and nearly 16 billion in assets. The funding ladder ultimately led to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF), which accumulated over 15 billion dollars in assets in 2021. Though this web of organizations does not seem related to the average person, it is well-known for tracking terrorist financing or organized crime, money laundering schemes are often hidden behind a complicated set of interlocking companies to mask the sinister nature of their activities.

The SVCF invests millions of dollars in the California Black Freedom Fund to intentionally provide unrestricted funds to non-profits that advocate for public policy changes that eradicate systemic and institutional racism. The California Black Freedom Fund was also generously supplied with grants from the Gates Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, and others right after the 2020 riots to build on the momentum created during that time. Yes, they believe that the rioting and destruction of millions of dollars of personal property and government buildings in the summer of 2020 was a momentum they hoped to maintain and expand.

Despite its lofty goals and air of egalitarianism, the SVCF was slammed in the news for its toxic work culture and suspicious funding mechanisms. In addition to claims of workplace sexual harassment, unfair working conditions, and failure to serve local communities, SVCF became a repository for donor-advised funds (DAF) of wealthy Silicon Valley tech giants like Mark Zuckerberg. DAF's are a legal fiction that allows donors to get a tax deduction for billions of dollars they give to a tax-exempt entity while still controlling how that money gets spent. In other words, foundations like SVCF and the NPT are how Zuckerberg, Gates, and their buddies fund the massive effort to kill unborn babies, host drag shows for kids, and advocate for legislation that lets children castrate themselves without parental consent. These tech mob bosses have created and built thousands of small charities with the specific purpose of dismantling the foundational values of our society.

The biggest charity in the US last year, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, was not the United Way or the Salvation Army but Fidelity Charitable, the not-for-profit arm of the mutual fund company, where about 150,000 donors have DAFs, second only to Gates Foundation. Fidelity gave its single largest donation of 2021, $141 million, to the Church of Latter-Day Saints, also known as the Mormons. They also provide significant contributions to Planned Parenthood and the Salvation Army.

Chick-fil-A is the latest company in the crosshairs of furious conservatives calling for a boycott of popular companies like Budweiser and Target. However, what makes their allegiance to this network of disingenuous evildoers masquerading as do-gooders is their betrayal of their loyal patrons.



Chick-fil-A is a family-owned company, so theyre not beholden to the ESG standards of publicly traded companies. They cannot pretend they were forced into this agenda. Their largest consumer base has always been the Christian community. Yet, they have been trying to appease the left for over a decade and have now caved to the pressure to fit in. It reminds me of the biblical account of Lot, who, when faced with an angry mob that wanted to rape his angelic visitors, offered his daughters instead. The fear of the angry mob can make human beings do dreadful things.

So Chick-fil-A is not only woke, they have chosen the side of evil over the Christian community on whom they built their fortune. It's much worse than we thought. They have joined the soulless tycoons who sacrifice our children to this demonic agenda, warping their sense of self-identity in exchange for a lie. It is time that Christians call them out for their hypocrisy and remind them:

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14).
3 things to know about the Biden corruption allegations

With less than a year and a half until the 2024 presidential election, where he is widely expected to be the Democratic nominee, President Joe Biden is facing allegations that he used his position as vice president to engage in influence peddling and took bribes from a foreign national.

Since Republicans took control of the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year, they have pursued aggressive oversight.

Much of their investigations have focused on the actions Biden and his family took  both during and after his vice presidency in the Obama administration, which lasted from 2009-2017.

The following pages offer three things to know about the House Republicans' investigations thus far.

1

2

3

4

Next
11 Killed in Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting; Gunman in 'Anti-Semitic' Attack Identified

A gunman who opened fire at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh early Saturday morning killing at least 11 people has been identified as 46-year-old Robert Bowers.

Bowers, who carried an assault-style rifle and multiple pistols into the synagogue, was reported to have said he "wanted to kill Jews." FBI agents and other law enforcement said at a 4 p.m. ET news conference Saturday (watch here) that they could not confirm if the gunman made that statement. And FBI agent also could not confirm Bowers age, but did confirm that he is a resident of Pittsburgh.

Law enforcement said that with Bowers in custody "the threat [to the synagogue and Jewish community around Pittsburgh] has been eliminated."

No children were among the deceased, Dr. Don Yealy, a professor of emergency medicine at UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh, added Saturday afternoon. The suspect is in custody and was transported to a hospital for treatment of multiple gunshot wounds and is in fair condition.

Four police officers and six others were injured in the attack, Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said at a news conference earlier in the day.

Yealy said the gunshot victims were transported to one of three area hospitals. The patients include a 61-year-old woman, and a 70-year-old man who is in critical condition after being shot in the torso, affecting organs in his abdomen, and is undergoing a second operation.

"It's a horrific crime scene, one of the worst I've seen," Hissrich told reporters about the aftermath he witnessed inside the synagogue that's located in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh.

President Trump described the mass shooting as an "anti-Semitic act" and "pure evil."

"You wouldn't think this would be possible in this day and age, but we just don't seem to learn from the past," Trump said at a Future Farmers of America rally in Murphysboro, Illinois, Saturday afternoon. He added that the "vile, hate-filled poison of anti-Semitism" must be rejected.

Trump noted that the shooting took place during a baby-naming ceremony and bris during Shabbat services. He added that the persecution of Jews is "one of the ugliest and darkest features of human history" and said there should not be any room for anti-Semitism or "any form of religious or racial hatred or prejudice" in the U.S.

The shooting is being investigated as a hate crime led by the FBI. Trump said federal officials would conduct a "full and thorough" investigation.

In response to the mass shooting, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has directed New York State Police to "increase patrols around Jewish centers and other houses of worship across the state."

Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter who converted to Orthodox Judaism in 2009 to marry her husband Jared Kushner, said in a message on Twitter Saturday: "America is stronger than the acts of a depraved bigot and anti-Semite. All good Americans stand with the Jewish people to oppose acts of terror & share the horror, disgust & outrage over the massacre in Pittsburgh. We must unite against hatred & evil. God bless those affected."

The Prime Minister if Israel posted a video response to the shooting, saying: "I was heartbroken and appalled by the murderous attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue today. The entire people of Israel grieve with the families of the dead. We stand together with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh; we stand together with the American people in the face of this horrendous anti-Semitic brutality."

Michael Eisenberg, the past president of the synagogue, told reporters on Saturday that the congregation has "never had any threats."

"On a day like today the door is open. It's a religious service, you can walk in-and-out. Only on the high holidays is there a police presence at the entrance," Eisenberg added in a WSJ report.

Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan A. Greenblatt said in a statement on Saturday that the shooting is the "deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States."

The FBI and law enforcement will hold their next news conference at 9 a.m. ET on Sunday.
Catholic chaplains return to Walter Reed after contract expiration sparked outrage

Franciscan priests and friars are once again ministering to patients at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center two months after the news of their contract's expiration led to an outcry among Catholic leaders and religious freedom advocates.

In a statement released Tuesday, Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, Timothy Broglio, announced that the U.S. Defense Health Agency awarded a five-year contract to the Franciscans at Holy Name College and Friary in Silver Spring, Maryland.

The priests served as chaplains at the Bethesda, Maryland-based hospital for nearly 20 years before their previous contract expired earlier this year and was awarded to another organization.

He described it as "a source of great joy that the Franciscans have returned to the medical center [to] care for patients and staff there."

"I am very grateful to the Army Chief of Chaplains, Chaplain Thomas L. Solhjem, MG, USA, for his personal intervention and interest in resolving the question of Catholic pastoral care at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center," Broglio added. "He moved quickly to assure the presence of additional Catholic priests from the Army Reserves as soon as the contract with the Franciscan Friars ended. He also made certain that the needs of Catholics were addressed in the renegotiation of the contract."

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is one of several medical centers within the Department of Defense and the DHA whose pastoral care lies within the ecclesial jurisdiction of the Archdiocese for the Military Services USA, "the only Catholic authority for endorsing and granting faculties to Catholic priests and chaplains to serve in the U.S. Military."

The archdiocese is headquartered in Washington, D.C., not far from the Walter Reed campus.

The new contract with the Franciscans, awarded on June 8, enables five friars to take turns ministering to hospitalized Catholics at Walter Reed six days a week.

The new contract comes two months after the non-renewal of the Franciscan friars' previous contract with Walter Reed in favor of a contract with a for-profit secular defense contractor made headlines.

The previous contract with the Franciscans expired on March 31, which caused the Archdiocese of Military Services great concern because Holy Week was slated to begin two days later.

While Walter Reed insisted that it was a "welcoming and healing environment that honors and supports a full range of religious, spiritual, and cultural needs" that featured an "ordained Catholic priest on staff," the archdiocese countered that the Catholic military chaplain in question was "in the process of separating from the Army."

Mack Global LLC, the secular agency awarded a contract with Walter Reed instead of the Franciscans, listed the services it provides as "chapel support, religious education coordinators, non-personal chapel support, hospice chaplains, and other religious staff."

The company employs "ordained ministers and experienced leaders as pastors, priests, musicians, teachers, trainers and volunteers who favorably pass the background check application according to the Department of Defense Instruction." Archbishop Broglio maintained that the company "cannot provide the necessary service" of Catholic ministry.

In response to the backlash from the archdiocese, the First Liberty Institute and the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty, Walter Reed told Catholic News Agency that it was "reviewing the contract and unable to provide specifics."

Tuesday's statement from the Archdiocese of Military Services indicated that the USDHA "reopened bidding in May," and the bidding process culminated last week in the form of a new contract with the Franciscans.
Hate crimes in 2019 were most in over a decade with record tally of homicides: FBI

Hate crime incidents in the United States increased during 2019, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the year seeing a record number of bias-motivated homicides.

The FBI released its annual hate crimes report on Monday, drawing from data submitted by 15,588 law enforcement agencies on criminal acts motivated by bias toward race, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender and gender identity.

In all, there were 7,103 single-bias incidents involving 8,552 victims, with 57.6% of victims targeted due to the offenders racial bias, 20.1% targeted due to the offenders religious bias and 19.4% targeted due to the offenders sexual-orientation or gender identity bias.

The FBI also found that 24.6% occurred in or near residences/homes, 18.2% occurred on roads or sidewalks, 9.6% occurred at schools, 4.7% took place at parking lots or garages and 4.4% took place in houses of worship.

The Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University San Bernardino released an analysis of the latest data, comparing it to past FBI hate crimes statistics.

The report states that the hate crime totals for 2019 hit their highest level in over a decade with an overall increase of 3%.

According to the center, the total number of hate crime homicides was 51, which is more than double the number reported in 2018 and the highest since 1992, the year the FBI began to report on the data.

The second-highest was 2018 with 24 bias-motivated homicides, followed by 1993 and 1995, which both had a reported 20 bias-motivated homicides.

The 2019 increases in hate crime were far more precipitous among the most violent offenses  homicides and assaults; those directed toward certain target groups, like Jews and Latinos; and in some of the nations largest cities, stated the center in its report.

These 2019 overall hate crime totals represent an increase of 194 incidents or 2.72% over the prior year and the most since 2008, when there were 7,783.

The report noted that one of the incidents included in the statistics for 2019 was the El Paso massacre, where 23 were killed and 23 others were injured due to a mass shooters hatred of Latinos.

The total was double 2018s most lethal event, the Tree of Life synagogue attack that October with eleven homicides, added the center.

Michael Jensen, a hate crimes researcher at the University of Maryland, told National Public Radio that hate crimes usually cluster around "big political moments," like election years.

"We saw a big spike when Obama was elected, we saw a big spike when Trump was elected. And we've seen several other big spikes in the years since Trump was elected, around some of the things that he's said and other events," explained Jensen.

"Unfortunately, if you're a betting person, you're going to bet that we're going to see another spike here in the next six weeks or so."
Jim Jordan blasts Microsoft over censorship of posts critical of China, Hunter Biden

Republican Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio has accused Microsoft of censoring posts critical of China and Hunter Biden on its search engine Bing and on LinkedIn and urging users of Microsoft Word to use "gender-neutral" language.

In a letter addressed to Microsoft President Brad Smith, Jordan said major technology companies, including Microsoft, were out to get conservatives, adding that its exertion of "editorial control over user-generated content" was "Orwellian."

He pointed to its control over the content in its platforms, including Linkedin and the search engine Bing, as examples.

Regarding Bing, Jordan said the search engine censored results about Tank Man, the famous civilian dissident from the Tiananmen Square protests.

"On behalf of the Chinese Communist Party, Microsoft has censored Bing search

engine results of Tank Man on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests  including

results for users in the United States  and has muzzled the voices of China critics on LinkedIn."

Also on Linkedin, Jordan pointed to instances in which the site censored negative news reports about President Joe Biden's son, Hunter, and a post about an "official U.S. Senate committee report" on his dealings in Ukraine, as well as posts about COVID-19's origins at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Jordan said Linkedin also "removed a post that linked to a study challenging prevailing liberal views on climate change."

The congressman also criticized House Democrats, who he argued had failed to properly examine Microsofts conduct during their investigation of competition in digital markets.

It is unclear why Microsoft has avoided significant attention from House Democrats. The Democrats investigation excluded Microsoft from significant oversight and the Democrats recently introduced bills include a definition of a covered platform that could be read to exclude Microsoft, continued Jordan.

Jordan called on Congress to, among other things, look into why Microsoft was censoring user content about Hunter Bidens alleged scandals, the possible origins of COVID-19, and other issues.

Jordan is the top-ranking Republican member of the House Judiciary Committee, with his letter coming as legislation is being considered to look into modifying antitrust laws in ways that would impact tech giants Facebook, Amazon, Google and Apple, according to CNBC.

His letter, however, is not without its critics, as the libertarian-leaning publication Reason magazine critiqued the congressman's claims, labeling them a flimsy crusade.

In a column published Tuesday, Reason's senior editor Elizabeth Nolan Brown wrote that Jordans accusations against Microsoft largely rests on a few anecdotes about Microsoft-owned LinkedIn suppressing posts about Joe Biden's son Hunter, recent executive orders, or COVID-19.

She added that while one or two posts criticizing Hunter Biden were taken down, many others were never censored, opening the possibility for other explanations for their removal.

Jordan's argument is simply that Microsoft may have made a handful of content moderation decisions he doesn't like, so federal meddling is warranted, she wrote.

Brown did agree with Jordan that it is strange that Microsoft has been so absent from today's overreaching antitrust revival.

Though Microsoft was the bete noire of antitrust zealots in the 1990s and early '00s  it has largely escaped the wrath of today's crusaders against tech companies, continued Brown.

Back then, the company had cultural cache and rising power. Today, it's still a powerhouse but it doesn't stir culture war sentiment the same way, say, Facebook and Google do.
Minnesota stops enforcing law blocking faith-based colleges from offering free enrollment program to high schoolers

Minnesota has agreed not to enforce a law restricting the ability of faith-based colleges to participate in a dual enrollment program in response to an ongoing lawsuit.

In a statement released Wednesday, Becket Law announced that the state has agreed not to enforce revisions to the Minnesota Post Secondary Enrollment Options program.

The program enables high school students to obtain no-cost college credit at an institution of their choice for college-level work completed in high school.

However, the recently approved revisions prevent colleges and universities from participating in the program if they either require students to agree to a statement of faith or specifically select students on the basis of religious preference.

The amendment to the dual enrollment program prompted parents Mark Loe, Melinda Loe and Dawn Erickson, as well as the faith-based institutions Crown College and the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, to file a lawsuit last month in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota against Minnesotas Democrat Gov. Tim Walz, Minnesota Commissioner of Education Willie Jett and the Minnesota Department of Education.

The suit contends that changes to the program violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitutions Free Exercise and Establishment Clause and the Equal Protection Clauses ban on discrimination based on religion.

U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Brasel, appointed to the bench by former President Donald Trump, issued a preliminary injunction Wednesday preventing the state from enforcing the revisions to the program while litigation moves forward.

Diana Thomson, senior counsel at Becket, concluded that the effort to walk back changes to the program proves that the state didnt do its homework before it passed this unconstitutional law.

The Loes were quoted in the Becket statement expressing gratitude that Minnesota has agreed not to punish our children and many students like them for wanting to learn at schools that reflect their values.

The parents insisted that they should be able to pursue the same great opportunities as all other students in the state without politicians in St. Paul getting in the way, adding: We hope the court will eventually strike down this law for good and protect all religious students and the schools they want to attend.

Critics of the lawsuit include the Minnesota Legislatures Secular Government Caucus, which released a statement last month in which they argued that the state was "not restricting these schools from practicing their religious beliefs in any manner."

"Most of the religiously affiliated colleges that participate in the PSEO program have not excluded PSEO students, and they are not involved in this lawsuit. They recognize that the public funding requires them to treat students equally," stated the Caucus.

"Religious freedom guarantees all people the right to believe and practice any faith or none at all, and institutions participating in this program must abide by that."
Cases of occupational diseases down 58 percent in China

Xinhua) 11:12, June 16, 2023

BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Newly reported cases of occupational diseases have dropped by 58 percent over the past decade in China, an official said on Thursday.

Newly reported cases of occupational pneumoconiosis, in particular, have declined by 67 percent, National Health Commission (NHC) official Wang Jiandong said at a press conference.

This marks notable progress in China's efforts to curb the spread of occupational diseases, the official said, though the situation remains severe given the rapid urbanization and industrialization in China.

The country's workforce aged between 16 and 59 was estimated at 880 million in China at the end of 2022, data shows.

China's occupational health surveillance has covered more than 95 percent of counties and districts in the country, said Zhang Meibian, an official of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC).

NEW FORMS OF EMPLOYMENT

With increasing new forms of employment in China, the health of those working for online car-hailing and courier platforms has come into the spotlight recently.

Efforts should be made to better disseminate knowledge of diseases linked with these occupations, encourage employers to improve workplace conditions, and push forward the revision of the law on the prevention and control of occupational diseases, Zhang said.

Workers exposed to radioactive substances are another group that requires better workplace protection, experts have said.

At the end of 2022, 75,000 medical and health institutions practiced radiological diagnosis and treatment in China. There were another 15,000 radiation units in the industrial sector.

The surveillance rate of workforce radiation doses has been raised to more than 95 percent in hospitals in China, and new cases of occupational radiation sickness have been significantly slashed, said Sun Quanfu, another China CDC official.

CATEGORIES &CATALOGUE

China is studying the feasibility of adjusting its categories and catalogue of occupational diseases, Wang said.

The current categories and catalogue of occupational diseases were released in 2013. The catalogue listed 132 occupational diseases in 10 categories.

There is now room to adjust these categories, Wang said, citing lower risks of workers developing established occupational diseases, thanks to the upgrading of industries and the progress made in the prevention and control of occupational diseases in recent years.

Efforts to draw up new standards and data measurements began in 2020, Wang said.

(Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Liang Jun)
Christian missionary sentenced to 25 years for allegedly infecting preschooler with STD

Jordan Webb, a married Christian missionary and father from Iowa convicted of sexual abuse in April after authorities presented circumstantial evidence that he likely infected a preschooler with gonorrhea, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison although he insists he is innocent.

Webb, 31, served as a missionary on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia with his wife and daughter from 2019 to February 2022 with the support of Harvest Baptist Church in Fort Dodge, according to The Messenger.

A jury convicted him in less than 2.5 hours on charges of second-degree sexual assault with persons under the age of 12, incest and child endangerment in April.

Webb will have to serve at least 17.5 years in prison before he's eligible for parole, officials said. He will also have to register as a sex offender for life after he is paroled.

When contacted about the sentencing of the former missionary Thursday, a representative of Harvest Baptist church told The Christian Post that no senior leader was immediately available to comment.

Marvin Smith IV, the current pastor at Harvest Baptist Church, praised Webb in a letter to the court last year as a "great citizen" and a "great man in the community," according to WCYB.

Smith said he didn't think Webb was a danger to the community or a flight risk. A few weeks before the pastor sent that letter, court records show Webb was researching how to get a second passport.

Webb, who revealed in an earlier interview that his father is also a pastor, was investigated and charged after his alleged victim  identified as Jane Doe in court papers was diagnosed with gonorrhea in April 2022.

"We are pleased with the outcome and that the jury provided justice in this matter," Assistant Webster County Attorney Bailey Taylor told The Messenger after his conviction.

Though the evidence against Webb is circumstantial, authorities allege that Webb committed a sex act on the victim because just days before the victim tested positive for gonorrhea, Webb was also diagnosed with the disease.

Gonorrhea infects the mucous membranes of the reproductive tract, mouth, throat, eyes and rectum, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Regina Torson, a child abuse expert, testified during the trial that even though the state didn't have any direct evidence of how Webb infected the victim, she wasn't convinced of the defense's argument that the disease could have been spread in a non-sexual manner such as sharing a bathtub.

"It's possible, but is it reasonable?" Taylor asked the jury in her closing arguments. "If this is so possible, why aren't we seeing it more?  There is absolutely nothing reasonable about getting gonorrhea from a bathtub. That's not a thing, because if it was, there'd be a lot more cases of gonorrhea. It wouldn't be a sexually transmitted disease, but it is."
Most voters say Hunter Biden's laptop story is important: Rasmussen poll

A majority of likely voters believe the story about Hunter Biden's laptop and its contents is important, according to a recent Rasmussen Reports poll that also found nearly half believe that efforts to discredit the story impacted the 2020 presidential election.

On Thursday, a Rasmussen poll found that 66% of likely U.S. voters said they believe the story about Hunter Bidens laptop was important, including 48% who said they think the story is very important.

By contrast, 31% of respondents believed the story was not important, including 15% who said they believed it was not at all important.

Additionally, Rasmussen found that nearly half of the respondents (48%) said they think that if the media had fully reported the story about Hunter Bidens laptop before the 2020 election, its unlikely Joe Biden would have been elected president.

For their report, Rasmussen drew from a poll conducted on March 21-22 of 1,000 likely U.S. voters, with a margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.

In October 2020, shortly before the 2020 presidential election, the New York Post published a story that reported Hunter Biden had his father, former Vice President Joe Biden, meet with an executive at the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma shortly before the elder Biden pressured officials in Ukraine to fire a prosecutor investigating the company.

To back up its story, the New York Post referenced emails they reviewed that came from the hard drive of Hunter Bidens laptop, which had been dropped off at a shop in Delaware and later seized by the FBI. A copy of the data was provided by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

The laptop also reportedly included embarrassing images and videos of Hunter Biden, as well as details of questionable business dealings Hunter had with communist China.

Many major media outlets gave little to no attention to the story, claiming among other things that they found the source for the emails to be suspect.

National Public Radios Kelly McBride argued in a newsletter back in 2020 that there were many, many red flags in that New York Post investigation and that the claims of the story dont amount to much.

Intelligence officials warn that Russia has been working overtime to keep the story of Hunter Biden in the spotlight. Even if Russia cant be positively connected to this information, the story of how Trump associates Steve Bannon and Rudy Giuliani came into a copy of this computer hard drive has not been verified and seems suspect, wrote McBride.

And if that story could be verified, the NY Post did no forensic work to convince consumers that the emails and photos that are the basis for their report have not been altered.

Social media giants like Twitter and Facebook censored posts about the Hunter Biden laptop story in advance of the election, with Twitter going as far as to take down the New York Posts account for 16 days, claiming that they do not allow hacked material to be tweeted.

These responses, though they came in a fast-moving and confusing situation, were heavy-handed and arguably ill-judged, acknowledged Vox in a recent report. Its also fair to be skeptical of whether social media companies would have responded so strongly if a Trump family member had been the victim of a suspected hack that October.

Groups like the conservative fact-checking website NewsBusters argued that mainstream media outlets devoted far too little time to the controversy surrounding the Hunter Biden laptop.

Although left-leaning news media largely ignored the story in 2020, more conservative outlets like Fox News devoted considerable time to the story in advance of the election.

Media Matters, a liberal fact-check website, argued at the time that Foxs focus on the Biden laptop was part of a massive smear campaign in the final weeks before Election Day.

That effort, led by the New York Post and amplified by Foxs megaphone, has sought to bury Joe Biden with a blizzard of dubious and bad-faith allegations related to his son Hunter Bidens business interests, stated Media Matters in October 2020.

Last week, the New York Times ran a piece about ongoing investigations into Hunter Bidens business dealings, saying that the emails from the laptop were likely valid.
Jack Hibbs shares signs of the End Times, coming of the Antichrist

Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in California offered his view of End Times eschatology in a recent sermon, detailing a few of the signs to look for prior to the imminent coming of the Antichrist.

Hibbs shared in an April sermon titled Signs of the Coming Antichrist" that there are prophecies about the Antichrist in both the Old and New Testaments, with the figure sometimes being called "the beast."

Hibbs cited Revelation 11:7, which mentions how two Jewish witnesses will share a testimony for three-and-a-half years until the beast kills them.

Regarding the differences between the beast and Satan, Hibbs told his congregation to "think of a glove and a hand going into a glove."

"The glove is the beast and the hand going into the glove is Satan himself. A man who will be absolutely satanically possessed by the actual personification of Satan. Satan will take on flesh in this man called the Antichrist, Hibbs explained.

Hibbs also referenced Revelation 13:1-2, which mentions the beast rising up out of the sea having seven heads and 10 horns.

Whenever there is a mention of a sea in a "prophetic setting," according to Hibbs, it refers to humanity, while the seven heads refers to seven authorities, while horn means king.

Another sign of the Antichrist's eventual arrival is when there will be seven dominant authorities out of the 10 kings, seeing it as a sign that "the world is starting to fragment up."

"There's no longer any global superpower. That's over. Wake up. It's over, Hibbs said. The United States is not the world's superpower. We are now one among many. And the Bible says that there's going to be a division of 10 nations or 10 kings, horns that will rule over the Earth in the last days."

The worship of the dragon mentioned in the Revelation passage shows another sign of the coming of the Antichrist, in this case, a rise in satanic worship.

Hibbs also noted how Revelation speaks of a "little horn," the 11th horn. This is meant to represent the beast and how he will initially be "somebody insignificant."

"He is somehow associated with the power group, but he's not well known. Something's going to happen that is going to move him up in a very quick period of time. We're talking about a timeframe that could easily commence anytime now, Hibbs warned.

Hibbs pointed to former President Barack Obama as an example of how a little horn can rapidly rise to global influence, pointing out how, in only a few years, Obama went from a community organizer to a senator to president of the United States.

This world will catapult that person forward. In fact, the Bible tells us that out of the 10, the 11th horn will arise amongst them, and he will subdue the major spokespersons of them or the leaders. He'll put down three and take over completely, Hibbs said.

Another sign of the Antichrist coming, Hibbs said, is that the world will be in a time when sin has reached its fullest, or there will be more sin in the world than ever before.

Hibbs referenced Daniel 8:23, "In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise."

Imagine a beaker," Hibbs told his congregation. "Imagine God is looking at this beaker and sin is going up. And when it reaches a certain point, God says, That's it."

Evil is shouting at you as though it's a virtue. Evil is saying, You're wrong; we're right. ... If you stand up and say, Hey, that's wrong. You shouldn't castrate a little child like that!' [Evil responds:] 'You are evil for thinking that!' They'll blame you for being a weirdo. That's how sick things have gotten.

Signs of the Antichrist coming soon have been happening for a while, Hibbs said, asserting that "right now, you're living it" and "you're seeing it in the newspaper."

Think of a knot. Think of the world in a knot. And nobody can do anything about it. In fact, at a time like this, Jesus warned that the world would see all of its problems with no way out, Hibbs said.

And then, comes this man. Notice out of the 10 nation-confederacy of leaders that are soon to take up residence in the world, this world, someone's going to have a good idea. And they're going to solve a problem. And they're going to go up a little notch; just a little horn. But he's got a fierce countenance."

Hibbs explained that "fierce countenance" meant "he has a strong, mighty, rough look. It's arrogant, brazen. It's intimidating."

"When this man comes on the scene, he's going to untie the knots of the world's problems, and the world's going to love this guy. And he's going to go up," he added.

"That little horn is getting bigger."

According to a Pew Research Center report from last November, nearly 40% of Americans believe that they are living in the End Times.

In a previous episode of the "Prophecy Pros Podcast" co-hosts Jeff Kinley and Todd Hampson addressed myths and different views Christians have about the rapture, tribulation, the Antichrist and Armageddon in an episode titled, "Prophecy Myths Busted."

During that episode, which can be watched online or listened to on the Edifi Podcast Network, Kinley stressed that Christians won't know who the Antichrist will be because they will have already been raptured.

"Unless you've been left behind, you're not going to know who the Antichrist is. And so, you don't really want to know who the Antichrist is, Kinley assured.

While the Bible mentions the Antichrist in over 100 passages, it does not tell believers to search for him or attempt to identify him. "But we are told to look for the blessed hope. ... We look for Christ, not the Antichrist," said Kinley, who co-wrote with Hampson The Illustrated Guide to Tough Questions About the End Times.

People often equate evil leaders as trying to play the pin the tail on the donkey with them as the Antichrist," Hampson added. "He's going to come on the scene as a person of peace. The first seal judgment is mimicking Christ. He's on a white horse. He doesn't have any weapons. He's going to look like a nice guy.

The Antichrist will come at a time when there will be many forms of deception unleashed on Earth, Hampson added, citing Matthew 24:24, which states: "For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect."

After the rapture, there will be a time when there are no believers on Earth. But then, Hampson said, I think a bunch of people will realize, Oh, that rapture thing was real. Those Christians weren't that crazy, after all. And they will come to Christ.
Robert Bowers, Shooter Who Killed 11 at Synagogue, Quoted the Bible, Talked About Jesus Christ

Robert Bowers, the man who killed 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, quoted from the Bible and talked about Jesus Christ online as part of this rhetoric against Jewish people.

Although the social media profiles for Bowers, 46, have been taken down following the massacre on Saturday at the Tree of Life synagogue, Heavy.com and other websites have shared archives exposing his rants against Jewish and Muslim people.

"HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in," he allegedly wrote on Gab minutes before the shooting, referring to a Hebrew immigrant group.

Last week, he wrote: "Daily Reminder: Diversity means chasing down the last white person." His profile photo caption read, "Jews are the children of Satan. (John 8:44,)" adding "the lord Jesus Christ is come in the flesh."

The Bible verse in question, which the shooter interprets refers to Jewish people, reads in full: "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

The meaning and context of the verse continues being debated in Christian circles, though a lengthy analysis in Catholic Culture offers that Jesus' words are not trying to depict all Jewish people as evil.

"The 'devil talk' of the New Testament is not meant to say that there is something uniquely wicked about Jews but to pound home the doctrine that all humans are bound by original sin, that mere ethnicity cannot save, and that baptism is the sacrament that frees us from sin," the article states.

In other comments online, Bowers revealed that he does not support Donald Trump, since the U.S. president supports Jewish people.

"Trump is a globalist, not a nationalist. There is no #MAGA as long as there is a [slur referring to Jewish people] infestation. #Qanon is here to get patriots that were against martial law in the 90's to be the ones begging for it now to drain muh swamp. But go ahead and keep saying you are #Winning," he posted.

Trump strongly condemned the attack on the synogogue in a Saturday Twitter statement.

"All of America is in mourning over the mass murder of Jewish Americans at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. We pray for those who perished and their loved ones, and our hearts go out to the brave police officers who sustained serious injuries," the president wrote.

"This evil Anti-Semitic attack is an assault on humanity. It will take all of us working together to extract the poison of Anti-Semitism from our world. We must unite to conquer hate," he added.

Christian leaders have also stood in solidarity with Jewish people, calling for prayers.

Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, declared on his website that "if you hate Jews, you hate Jesus."

"We groan anytime an innocent human life is taken. We weep every time there is a murderous terrorist attack. We should do so this time as well. But we should also make very clear that those who carry out such repulsive attacks on the Jewish people is an attack on the image of God, an attack on Jesus as a son of Adam," the ethicist wrote.

"But such attacks are, even more specifically, an attack on Jesus as a son of Abraham. When you lash out at a synagogue's rabbi, you are attacking our Rabbi as well," he added.

Reuters meanwhile reported that 2,500 people attended a memorial service on Sunday morning for the 11 victims in Pittsburgh.

"What happened yesterday will not break us. It will not ruin us. We will continue to thrive and sing and worship and learn together and continue our historic legacy in the city with the friendliest people that I know," Rabbi Jonathan Perlman said.
Is teaching patriotism bad?

There is a vital battle over education nowadays. And if we lose it, we could ultimately lose the country.

It would seem that the Left views the idea of teaching children a love of country as an undesirable goal.

In The Federalist, Joy Pullman called attention recently to a critique from the Left of classics-oriented charter schools. The Washington Post wrote the critique, and it implies that teaching patriotism is suspect.

According to The Washington Post, schools that focused on personal responsibility, love of God and country, Americas founders and the like are designed to attract Christian nationalists with specific imagery and curriculum.

The newspaper cites one example: Back to basic schools use red, white and blue school colors, patriotic logos and pictures of the Founding Fathers, and use terms such as virtue, patriotism and, sometimes, outright references to religion.

Talk positively about Americas founders, and you are sending a bad message  especially to our youth, according to the Left.

I have studied much about the settling and the founding eras of American history and the American experiment. I have written books and produced documentaries on the subject. The sacrifices of so many of those who created this great country are so amazing. We should be grateful for the freedoms they bestowed on us.

They famously wrote in the preamble to the Constitution, We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution.

George Washington led a ragtag army of farmers and merchants who were determined, with Gods help, to defend their God-given rights. And to teach the next generation of their many sacrifices on behalf of freedom should be curtailed?

During the American War for Independence, George Washington and his army had to flee from Philadelphia. They spent the winter of 1777-1778 in Valley Forge, about 25 miles away. Many of them had no shoes or boots in the freezing cold. Some of them left bloody footprints in the snow. George Washington led them and prayed for them. And his prayers were ultimately answered.

But to tell future children about these sacrifices of our nations founders is essentially, according to the Washington Post, part of a strategy by right-wing Christians to undermine secular public education?

Why do so many elites hate America?

Because of slavery at the beginning of our country? It was indeed a great evil. But it was an evil that existed virtually everywhere in the known world to that point. Whats truly astounding is not that America had slavery like everyone else, but that it got rid of it. Even now  today  there are an estimated 50 million people in slavery around the world. But in America, slavery is long gone. The founders enshrined the principles of God-given rights that ultimately overthrew slavery. And it was those principles to which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. appealed to during the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

Americas founders declared that our rights come from the Creator. In 1955, President Eisenhower said, Without God, there could be no American form of Government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first  the most basic  expression of Americanism.

Even when America doesnt live up to its creed that our Creator has endowed us with certain unalienable rights, its still a good creed. As Dr. King said in his classic speech: I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal. Surely, we have made great advances since he uttered those words in 1963.

In a different context, the great British Christian writer, C.S. Lewis, observed: In a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.

If we mock love of country, then we shouldnt be surprised to see so many young Americans basically hating America.

And yet, think of those who literally risk their lives to try and get here. Some will risk their lives to leave Cuba, going through shark-infested waters, to reach America and her freedoms.

Those who would discourage teaching patriotism to future generations are ultimately sowing bad seeds, the fruit of which we see in many burned out cities overrun by crime, homelessness, and chaos.
Southern Baptist Convention makes official statement on dangers of AI

The Southern Baptist Convention is the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, with a membership of 49,842 churches and missions and a total church membership of 13.23 million church members.

The SBC held its annual meeting this past week in New Orleans where approximately 12,800 messengers (representatives) elected by those local congregations across America came together to conduct the denominations business in the largest meeting run by Roberts Rules of Order, including approving an annual budget of $195.2 million dollars.

The national headlines focused on whether the Evangelical denomination would reinforce its conviction that pastors should be men by upholding the exclusion of several churches, including a nationally prominent one (Saddleback in California which had ordained several women as pastors). The SBC did uphold the exclusion of the churches by an approximately 88% vote.

However, the SBC made other headline-worthy news through actions taken by its Resolutions Committee. Each year, the SBC's Resolutions Committee (made up of men and women appointed by the convention to serve) is tasked with meeting together in the months preceding the convention and interacting with resolutions submitted by various individuals or groups of Southern Baptists concerning issues of importance to the denominations membership.

It was my privilege to be intimately involved with this often intense process for a quarter century (1988-2013). When resolutions are eventually approved by a vote of the convention messengers, they are not binding on the conscience of any Southern Baptist individual or entity. However, they are instructive, being a serious indicator of where Southern Baptists' consensus is on a particular issue at a particular time and place in SBC history.

During the time I was leading the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (1988-2013), we worked very closely with the Resolutions Committee every year and we kept a book of previous resolutions organized by subject matter close at hand for ready reference as we dealt with the plethora of issues the ERLC was tasked with addressing on a regular basis.

In the convention this year, the 2023 Resolutions Committee produced a very important resolution On Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies, which was approved overwhelmingly by the voting messengers in attendance.

Furthermore, it appears this resolution makes Southern Baptists the first religious denomination to make an official statement on the challenges of AI and present a theological and ethical grid for dealing with this complex issue. The Vatican is reportedly hard at work on the issue and plans to have a statement by autumn of this year.

The AI Resolution starts from the foundational premise that our intrinsic value as human beings as divine image bearers  not rooted in what we do or contribute to society  and that human dignity must be central to any ethical principles, guidelines, or regulations for any and all uses of these powerful emerging technologies.

The resolution emphasizes that Christians must proactively engage and shape these emerging technologies rather than simply respond to the challenges of AI.

The AI Resolution quite soberly acknowledges that The Fall has adversely affected every aspect of creation, including the development and use of these powerful innovations and may produce dangerous and dehumanizing outcomes if not utilized with godly wisdom and discernment.

Thus, the AI Resolution calls upon civic, industry, and government leaders to develop, maintain, regulate, and use these technologies with the utmost care and discernment, upholding the unique nature of humanity, as the crowning achievement of Gods creation.

The Southern Baptist scholars who labored and prayed over the AI Resolution have been used by the Holy Spirit to produce a most helpful plumb line to guide Christians and others as we navigate this new and unique scientific domain which is fraught with so much profound promise and so much lethal danger.

I commend the reading and study of the SBC resolution On Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies to every serious human inhabitant of the planet. These technologies will impact you and your progeny. The question is, will the impact be a curse or a blessing? That remains to be determined. We must all get in the discussion if it is to be the latter rather than the former.

Read the full text of the resolution: On artificial intelligence and emerging technology

In what is believed to be the first denominational statement on the ethics of artificial intelligence, Southern Baptists acknowledged the powerful potential of AI and other emerging technologies. They also expressed a desire to engage them from a place of eschatological hope rather than uncritical embrace or fearful rejection. The resolution also affirmed the Bibles ability to answer any ethical challenges, questions, and opportunities that may emerge from these technologies. In addition, messengers also declared human dignity to be central to any ethical principles, guidelines, or regulations for any and all uses of these technologies. Messengers called on civic, industrial, and government leaders to develop, maintain, regulate, and use these technologies with care. Confessing that God alone has the ability to create life, messengers overwhelmingly declared that technology will never be able to usurp the sovereignty and power of God. Our Resolutions Committee deserves all the appreciation we can muster for crafting this first-of-its-kind resolution for any denomination or network of churches. Artificial Intelligence has been a hot topic, both in Washington and on the international stage, said Brent Leatherwood, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission president. This resolution comes at an opportune time and proves once again that even when it comes to the leading edge of emerging technologies, the Bible, as always, gives us principles to guide us in uncharted waters, Leatherwood told Baptist Press in written comments.
Christian teacher who opposed school trans policy loses judicial review bid

A Christian teacher who was sacked for challenging a schools's affirming transgender policy has been refused a judicial review by the High Court.

The teacher, who cannot be named for legal reasons, raised safeguarding concerns about the policy with the local council and primary school where she worked.

The dispute arose after an 8-year-old pupil in her class, named only as 'Child X' for legal reasons, started to identify as transgender.

The teacher expressed opposition to advice from the lcoal council that said the school should address the child using their preferred pronouns and name, and permit them to use the toilets, dormitaries and other school facilities that match their chosen gender.

She was later sacked by the local council which alleged that she had breached confidentiality rules when she started legal proceedings against the council and the primary school.

According to the Christian Legal Centre (CLC), which is supporting the teacher in her case, the High Court refused her request for a judicial review on the grounds that she lacked "standing" to challenge alleged safeguarding failures in relation to 'Child X' because the child had later been moved to a different class and teacher.

The High Court has also ordered the teacher to pay the council's legal costs. The decision against her was upheld by the Court of Appeal last month.

The teacher remains under investigation by the Teaching Regulatory Authority and cannot work as a teacher until it reaches its verdict.

Unable to teach, she has taken up work in a sandwich shop. If found guilty of professional misconduct by the TRA, she faces a lifelong ban from teaching.

She was also referred to the Disclosure and Barring Service, and the Information Commissioner, who have both confirmed that no action will be taken.

An Employment Tribunal hearing is expected to hear her claim for unfair dismissal in August 2024.

The CLC said that the council has since written to the teacher demanding payment of the court-awarded 14,000 and suggesting that it may enforce collection of the payment.

The teacher's lawyers argue that she has been "impoverished" by her sacking and that enforcing the court order before the Employment Tribunal has ruled on her case would be unlawful.

The teacher has accused the council of "seeking to intimidate" her into dropping further legal claims.

She said that teachers are being "bullied" into accepting trans-affirming policies and that her case demonstrates the "hostility" towards anyone who dares to challenge them in schools.

"Transgender ideology is now so embedded in our schools and institutions that if you challenge the secular orthodoxy on these issues the weight of the whole system comes against you," she said.

She called the decision of the High Court not to grant a judicial review "disappointing and disturbing".

"The ruling blocks anyone from taking forward the claim who is not on board with affirming Child X through gender transition, which should concern us all," she said.
Christian teaching assistant sacked after sharing trans and sex ed concerns on Facebook wins appeal

A Christian teaching assistant who was sacked after sharing two Facebook posts raising concerns about compulsory sex education and transgenderism has won an appeal against an employment tribunal ruling that upheld her dismissal.

Kristie Higgs was investigated and subsequently sacked for gross misconduct by her school in 2019 after sharing the posts on her personal Facebook account.

The first Facebook post invited friends and family to sign a petition challenging the government's plans to introduce Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) to children in primary schools.

The second post linked to an article about the spread of trans-affirming children's books in American schools, which she captioned, "This is happening in our primary schools now."

Her sacking was upheld by the Bristol Employment Tribunal in 2020 on the grounds that her posts could be perceived by some people as homophobic or transphobic.

That ruling has now been overturned but the case has been remitted to an employment tribunal for reconsideration.

Handing down her judgment today, President of the Employment Appeal Tribunal, Mrs Justice Eady, said that the previous verdict had failed to assess whether the investigation into Mrs Higgs and her sacking "were prescribed by law and were necessary for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others, recognising the essential nature of [Mrs Higgs's] rights to freedom of belief and freedom of expression".

Mrs Justice Eady said the fresh hearing must decide whether the school's investigation and sacking of Mrs Higgs "were because of, or related to, the manifestation of the claimant's protected beliefs, or were due to a justified objection to the manner of that manifestation, in respect of which there was a clear legal basis for the claimant's rights to freedom of belief and expression to be limited to the extent necessary for the legitimate protection of the rights of others".

The school has claimed that it dismissed Mrs Higgs because of the language in her Facebook posts and not because of her Christian beliefs.

The Christian Legal Centre (CLC), which has defended Mrs Higgs for the last four years, welcomed today's ruling and said that it "sets a legal precedent" protecting employees' expression of faith. However, it expressed disappointment that she was not fully exonerated.

Welcoming the outcome, Mrs Higgs said, "From the beginning, despite the many attempts by the school to suggest otherwise, this has always been about my Christian beliefs and me being discriminated against for expressing them in my own time.

"I will never forget the moment, shaking and tearful, that I was ordered to leave the school premises after my Christian beliefs were aligned with Nazism.

"Since I lost the job I loved, there has been so many disturbing revelations about transgender ideology in schools and children being taught inappropriate sex education. I feel so justified and vindicated for sharing and expressing the concerns that I did.

"Christian parents must have the freedom to bring their children up in line with their Christian beliefs. I want young children to be protected from transgender ideology and Christians must also to be able to share their opinions and beliefs without fear of losing their jobs."
Court hears closing arguments in Brian Houston trial

Closing arguments have been heard in the trial of Hillsong founder Brian Houston who stands accused of covering up knowledge of his late father's child abuse.

Houston denies the charges and claims that he did not report the actions of his father, Frank Houston, when he became aware of them because the victim, Brett Sengstock, did not want to press charges.

Phillip Boulten, Houston's attorney, argued that his client had a "reasonable excuse" for failing to report the crime and should be acquitted.

"If it's a reasonable excuse now, it was a reasonable excuse then," Boulten said, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Just because he is ashamed of what his father did, and just because it was going to be a terrible blow to anybody who trusted him to learn about this, and because ... it was maybe convenient for it not to be prosecuted ... does not mean [Brian Houston] is without reasonable excuse."

Crown prosecutor Gareth Harrison refuted Houston's claim that Sengstock did not want to report the abuse to the authorities.

In closing arguments on Thursday, Harrison alleged that the "reverence" towards Frank Houston "enforced a culture of silence" and allowed Brian Houston to "control the narrative" in order to "protect the church and his father", The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

"It appears that no one ... when told that a very high-ranking pastor was a paedophile, none of them thought it was a matter that should be raised with the police," he said.

"On the accused's evidence, he was certain none of them said anything.

"The culture in the church, and its members, was, therefore, to protect the church from scandal."

If found guilty, Houston faces up to five years in prison.

Frank Houston founded Sydney Christian Life Centre in 1977, which eventually merged with the Hills Christian Life Centre founded by Brian Houston. Frank Houston died in 2004.

Sengstock has said he was repeatedly abused by Frank Houston in the 1970s, from the age of seven to 12.

The prosecution alleges that Brian Houston first knew about the abuse around 1999.
Your mind is your prison

There is a battle going on in the spiritual realm for supremacy over humanity. The forces of good and evil are arrayed against one another for the salvation or destruction of humankind.

On the one side we have God Almighty, Jesus Christ and the forces for good who want us to find freedom and to live with them into eternity. On the other side are the devil and his demonic forces looking for every opportunity to bring us into slavery and imprison our minds.

The battleground

This spiritual war is being fought in the hearts and minds of people everywhere. We are born into sin, imprisoned by the evils of this world, and the battleground on which this war is being fought is within our minds.

This is not a physical war, it is spiritual, and if we are to have the victory we must learn how to fight in the spirit.

God has provided us with many weapons of spiritual warfare to be able to fight and win this war. Our job is to learn what they are and how to use them if we are to break free from the prisons of our own minds.

Why is the mind a prison?

We are limited in everything we do by the constraints of our minds.

Sin in particular confines us under chains of condemnation and guilt. Many people believe that they are not good enough to be Christians, or that God could never forgive their particular sins, or they walk away from Christ because of shame. Many also suffer from the weaknesses and passions of the flesh that they cannot seem to control, causing them to fall repeatedly.

Many of these issues are in the mind. They imprison people so that they cannot see the truth of Jesus Christ and break free of the shackles of this world.

While we remain in this prison of the mind, we will never break free.

When Israel was set free

You may recall from the Bible when Moses was sent by God to Pharaoh telling him to, "Set my people free!" It has been the subject of many sermons, as well as children's Bible stories, cartoons, and films.

After many signs from God and much suffering, the Egyptian Pharaoh let Israel leave Egypt. The Israelites, even though they finally left, were still considered slaves and Pharaoh sent his armies to bring them back by force.

At the shore of the Red Sea the Israelites were cornered and without an escape route. But God, who can do anything, opened the Red Sea and the Israelites crossed as if on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to follow, they became bogged, and God closed the sea over them, drowning all the armies and closing the way behind them.

They became truly set free, no longer needing to run or hide from anyone. They entered the waters of the Red Sea as slaves, and exited as a free people on the other side when all their slave masters were killed.

This series of events is an allegory for us today.

Christ is the key

Christ came to set you free, just as God set the Israelites free.

They were enslaved to Egypt, but we are enslaved to sin and the passions of the flesh. The Israelites suffered a physical prison of slavery, but today, Christians suffer a spiritual slavery of the mind and are imprisoned by the sin and passion in our nature.

But Christ came to set us free as we are told in the scripture:

Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (John chapter 8, verses 31-32)

The freedom Jesus offers in the knowledge of the truth is not a physical freedom. It is a spiritual freedom where we put to death the passions of the flesh and where sin is taken away. Where there is no sin, there is no guilt or condemnation.

If these things are taken away, then we find the peace of Christ rest upon us. The prison doors of the mind are flung open, smashed off their hinges by the truth of Christ Jesus and we fly free in the hope of salvation that comes only through the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Spiritual warfare

As much as we would like that to be the end of this war in the spirit, it is not. The spiritual war continues to rage around us, and we must stand firm in the freedom from Jesus Christ lest we be taken captive once again.

If we let down our defences and allow the devil to convict, condemn, or cause us to doubt, then we may be lost. But when we learn to recognise his attacks and learn to use the weapons of spiritual warfare, we also learn to defend ourselves and fight back.

To learn how to fight this spiritual war, as there is too much to try and describe here, you will find more information and a free training course on my freegiftfromgod.com website.
Artist Ahmed Mater: When you go to Mecca, its as if you were inside a huge magnetic field

As his 2021 work Magnetism comes to auction in London later this month, the artist speaks to Christies about the energy of attraction and the burgeoning Saudi art scene

Ahmed Mater was born in Tabuk in the northwest of Saudi Arabia in 1979, and grew up near the city of Abha in the southwest of the country. His father was a sergeant in the army and his mother was a calligrapher and artist. After training as a doctor, Mater studied at the Al-Meftaha Arts Village, where he began using discarded X-rays from the local hospital to make art. The culmination of this practice was the powerful installation Evolution of Man (2010), in which an X-ray of a man holding a gun is transformed into a petrol pump. The artwork was made in the year in which Mater was stationed on the militarised border between Yemen and Saudi, treating injured soldiers from both sides of the conflict. I have two very separate lives, he says of his dual career as a doctor and an artist. One is very objective. The other, subjective. Magnetism (2021), which will be offered in London on 28 June 2023 in the 20th/21st Century: London Evening Sale, is a photographic triptych depicting an installation the artist made of a small square magnet surrounded by iron filings which react to the magnets pull.

Open a larger version of this image Ahmed Mater (b. 1979), Magnetism (Triptych), 2021. Photographic print in artists frame, in three parts. Overall: 53 x 125 in (136.7 x 319.3 cm). This work is number four from an edition of five plus one artists proof. Sold for 189,000 on 28 June 2023 at Christies in London

The work is inspired by the complex rituals of the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca in which worshippers circle the cube-shaped shrine known as the Kaaba in an anti-clockwise direction. Magnetism was first exhibited as an installation at the Venice Biennale in 2009, and variations of the series were subsequently shown at the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Arab American National Museum in Detroit. In 2016, Mater became the first Saudi artist to have a solo exhibition at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. Ahead of the Christies sale, the artist spoke to us about his work. Where does your need to make art come from? Ahmed Mater: I grew up in Rijal Almaa. It is a beautiful mountain village and the complete opposite of the stereotypical image people have of Saudi Arabia. It is a land of terraced fields, mountains and greenery. I grew up listening to the sound of shepherds calling to their flocks on the mountain ranges, and the sound of the wind through the trees. The agricultural environment of my childhood has had a profound influence on my artistic practice. My mother was a major influence on me. She was a painter, and it was customary for women in our village to decorate the interior walls of their homes with a traditional pattern called Al-Qatt. I was fascinated by my mothers work, and I began to experiment with different painting techniques. How has your study of medicine influenced your practice? AM: It has given me a different perspective on art. I am fascinated by the intersection between science and contemporary art. Im particularly interested in the use of physics in art, combining these two seemingly disparate disciplines. Being a doctor gave me an interest in photography. I began studying and experimenting with X-rays. I was interested in the way X-rays can reveal the hidden structures of objects and capture a different perspective of an image as a form of diagnosis. I see my photographs as diagnostic. I am not interested in creating a static or aesthetic image.

Ahmed Mater with Magnetism, 2009, an installation of iron filings and magnets. A unique work from a variation of five plus one artists proof, it sold for 100,000 on 24 November 2020 at Christies Online

How did you come to be involved with the movement Edge of Arabia? AM: Despite its youth, the Saudi art scene is a laboratory of experimental practices. It is vibrant and energetic. There has been a noticeable change in the past five years in terms of appreciation for art and support from the government. Edge of Arabia was a grassroots experimental project [established by Mater and British artist Stephen Stapleton] that aimed to take Saudi art beyond borders and connect with the international community. We were the first generation of artists in the region to be connected through technology  the first internet generation. We wanted to position ourselves as protagonists in that moment in history. We felt so much on the periphery of the main conversation at the time. Thankfully, it has been a successful movement. We have built an interactive audience online, as well as one that comes to our exhibitions and passes through our educational programmes.

Open a larger version of this image The shrine known as the Kaaba is the central focus of Muslims on the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Photo: Reza / Getty Images

Can you tell us something about the creative process behind Magnetism, and the messages you hoped to communicate? AM: Im interested in the energy of attraction. When I was a child, my parents told me that when you go to Mecca you feel like youre being pulled towards the Kaaba, as if you were inside a huge magnetic field. That image stayed with me like a small dream that I wanted to reassemble in my work. It is why I keep researching the energy of attraction and its spiritual connection to my memory.

Sign up today Christies Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe
Termeni de Referinta. Achizitionare de servicii de suport psiho-emotional de grup pentru cadrele didactice, care lucreaza cu copii refugiati care isi fac studiile in institutiile de invatamant din Balti, Causeni, Basarabeasca si UTA Gagauzia
Primeste notificari pe email Nota bene: Adresele email cu extensia .ru nu sunt acceptate.

Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele
Crisis chief executive Matt Downie is trying to get fit. He is in training for his own fundraising event , a 400-mile cycle from London to Edinburgh over seven days.

He describes the challenge as terrifying but says it could be a win-win as he aims to raise 10,000 to fund new services in the capital cities and get fit in the process.

But I can say that in theory. When I get on the bike and Ive got 400 miles to go, it might feel a bit different.

Fundraising is one of the many areas Downie has had to get to grips with over the past 18 months since he was promoted to his first CEO role, after a decade working in charity policy.

The charity gets the vast majority of its income from public donations (50.3m of 64.8m in the year to June 2022), which are becoming much harder to come by during a cost-of-living crisis that has also contributed to greater need for Crisis services than ever before.

It has been a really difficult time to do the job, Downie says, with the charity not in a position to meet the demand for its frontline services due to funding constraints. We wont give up on people, but my God is it hard to find housing and support for people.

Switching career paths

Downie grew up in southwest London, where his parents owned a pub. When the pub went bust, they moved into council housing in a village in Norfolk. Downie says he disliked living outside of London  as soon as I could, I came back down.

His first charity sector role was at fellow homelessness support organisation Shelter, opening the post in the finance team. Money was Downies primary motivation for getting the job as he was struggling to afford accommodation himself at the time. But he really liked working there, and thought itd be a very good idea to train to be an accountant.

After four years working at Shelter, where Crisis was seen as an irritating cousin by some staff, Downie became a management accountant at the National Autistic Society. It was there that Downie discovered his real passion.

I would go out to local parent groups around the country, which are basically support groups for families with people with autism. On the face of it, theyre wanting some help with their finances. But actually, what emerged immediately was they really wanted help with fighting local authority and education decisions about their own kids.

I went back to my boss at the time and said: I think what they really want is to know how to campaign. So I wrote a campaigning guide, with the help of people whose job it was to do that, and just immediately discovered that that's really what my passion was.

Downie moved to running the charitys branch network of parent groups and then became its overall campaigns manager. He credits the charity for allowing him to switch departments seamlessly.

I wonder today whether the charity sector would allow for that much lateral movement without donkeys years of experience in something, or qualifications in things. And you see now the competition to work in charity campaigning. I would never have got this far in the world, particularly in the campaign space, today.

Social change mission

Downie worked on what became the Autism Act 2009  an absolutely incredible campaign and groundbreaking piece of legislation. The charity also ran a campaign to prevent autistic computer hacker Gary McKinnon from being extradited to the US. This campaign culminated in Barack Obama, during a BBQ at Downing Street with David Cameron, announcing that he would stop the extradition request. I still pinch myself that you can get paid for doing that, says Downie about his role in the campaign.

In 2010, he moved to Action for Children, where was director of policy and external affairs for four years Downie says he worked on some incredible campaigns at the charity, including for children in care to be given access to trust funds alongside financial education.

However, frustration with the charitys limitations on its campaigning work eventually led to Downie moving on.

Its a very different organisation, runs hundreds of services under local authority contracts for local children. And the policy side of the work is completely dwarfed by that. Compared to Crisis, where there is kind of equal weight with services, at Action for Children, it was a very small part.

I was definitely looking for an organisation that was as comfortable as I was, really, in terms of seeing the purpose of charities as being as much about the social change mission as it is the day-to-day delivery of assistance to people in the here and now.

Lobbying ahead of a general election

But Downie says he enjoyed the challenge of changing public attitudes in his roles at the National Autistic Society and Crisis, where he was director of policy and external affairs for seven years before becoming CEO in January 2022.

There can be a really fantastic coming together of a lack of political activity meets absolutely immovable need for that activity. And if youve got a really solid evidence base  as Crisis does around the scale of homelessness, the impact of homelessness, but most of all, the fact that there are practical solutions  things really can be done.

I dont think this organisation or most of the charity sector is at its best when its a protest movement. I think its at its best when were ruthless about the solutions weve got, when we put most of our energy into really compelling, practical and ambitious solutions for the systemic changes we need.

Crisis was co-founded in 1967 by then-Conservative shadow chancellor Ian Macleod, who became the countrys shortest-serving chancellor in 1970 when he died suddenly after a month in office.

Macleod once said in relation to homelessness: If there is to be a rivalry on this issue, let it be a rivalry of ambition. Downie says this quote still informs the charitys approach to lobbying.

Instead of playing people off as you dont get homelessness or youre useless, what we try and do is get peoples ambition to be better than the others.

In the lead up to the next general election, Downie says his charity is speaking to all political parties, including those who may play a supporting role in a new government.

We are maintaining good relationships with the SNP, with the Conservatives and with Labour already, because all three are in power. But the power brokers around that, particularly the Greens and the Lib Dems, they need solutions too.

Confronting the instincts of government

In recent months, some in the sector have expressed concern over the government and Charity Commissions attitudes to charities campaigning activity.

Downie says Crisis have generally been able to campaign with no fear or favour while remaining politically neutral but it has had to confront the government on a couple of occasions.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the government was keen to reopen night shelters while Crisis warned that it was not safe to do so as it would be impossible to socially distance.

So, we said that and the government said some nasty things about us on Twitter, which was a really unusual thing. But it didn't swerve us in any way. We were determined and clear that we had the evidence for what we were saying.

A few years earlier, Crisis was contracted by the government to do some research into housing solutions. Downie says: In the contract for it, it said that we mustnt use the results of the research to lobby government. And I said to them: Thats precisely what were going to do.

Crisis did lobby the government using the research findings, which then led to it receiving 28m to trial the Housing First policy in England.

If wed gone with the actual contract as it was first presented, we wouldnt have done that. So, there are times when you have to confront the instincts of government to want to restrict what you do. But Ive no intention whatsoever of us backing away from our cause. And in fact, quite the opposite.

Working with smaller charities

Downie also says Crisis is determined to unleash the power of smaller charities it has worked with in the lead up to the general election.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Crisis launched an emergency fundraising appeal which included raised 2m to distribute grants to smaller homelessness charities.

Crisis is not usually a grantmaking charity but became one temporarily as some smaller charities faced existential risk.

Downie says that he learnt through the programme that smaller charities want more than just funding from their larger peers.

What it has taught me is that I think the bigger charities can do more to realise their supporting role for smaller ones and particularly on an issue like homelessness.

Every town and every city has small, wonderful, precious organisations that are performing humanitarian heroics at a local level. And they not only need things like the grant scheme from time to time, what they say to me they most want is to join our campaigns and to know that theyre not just involved in amelioration of the issue, but they're part of a bigger, broader movement for saying that homelessness is not good enough.

Staff, trustees and volunteers

Another focus for Downie is how Crisis supports its staff, volunteers and trustees.

He recently wrote for Governance & Leadership magazine about the charitys work to include people with lived experience of homelessness in its decision-making. This includes the creation of an advisory board comprising 10 people with lived experience. Crisis has also now appointed two people with lived experience as trustees.

Staff at fellow homelessness charities Shelter and St Mungos have taken part in strike action over the past year in protest at pay offers from the organisations, with workers at the former accepting a revised agreement.

Downie says he is confident that our staff feel well and is proud of our track record of working with our trade union colleagues but he says that with pressures on the charitys income and the cost-of-living crisis, this year, its going to be harder than its ever been.

It needs to continue to be a frank exchange about the options that are available to an organisation thats voluntary income funded. I dont want to see particularly people on the lower grades disproportionately hit. And I think that probably this year, its worth considering what we can do more for people who are on lower grades than those who are on higher ones. Because the cost of rent has gone up and because cost of mortgages has gone up. We all know the issues that are out there as Crisis sees every day in our services.

Downie says Crisis volunteers are precious and that the charity does very well in its recruitment of them, particularly around Christmas time.

He points to a picture in his office of Crisis services at Christmas in 1979. One man in the photograph still volunteers for the charity, more than 40 years later, now alongside his son.

We have thousands of people who are incredibly dedicated. And I think our task is to unleash more of the power of volunteering particularly outside of Christmas. But thats all potential that we can realise.

sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector,
Ben & Jerry's

Greetings reader and welcome back to another weekend of scorching sun.

Keeping cool in a country that has been built to retain heat is proving difficult for some  and Diary very much falls into this camp.

Having a cup of tea is now an Olympic sport and using any form of public transport is not dissimilar to being in an oven.

However, a tasty treat is here to cool us down  ice cream co-created with a charity.

Is this an ad for the new ice cream, you may ask? No  more like a shameless attempt at receiving free samples. Please.

Ben & Jerrys new ice cream is co-created with refugees

Ben & Jerrys teamed up with the Entrepreneurial Refugee Network (TERN) to create a brand-new ice cream flavour: Sunny Honey Home.

The ice cream has been co-created with eight entrepreneurs from refugee backgrounds.

It features lemon-flavoured ice cream, honey caramel swirls and lemon flavour cookies (Diary is a fan of all of these flavours, just by the way). The flavours were inspired by the refugees home countries of Syria, Afghanistan and Morocco.

Created by TERN graduate Edwige Seri, the tub's design was inspired by the landscape of Afghanistan with flowers from Syria and patterns from Morocco. Proceeds from each sale will go to TERN which funds refugee-led startup businesses.

The ice cream will be available from 19 June in Co-op stores across the UK, but Diary will be waiting with bated breath at Civil Society headquarters for their free sample (please).

Most people shaking a shaker bottle online

Okay, enough ice cream talk. In a turn-up for the books, there is more shaking than there probably was by Boris Johnson's fist at damning news headlines this week.

Sneak Energy, an energy drink company, is hosting a live shake-a-thon for charity this Saturday (again, Diary takes this opportunity to say they are open to free samples).

The company initially intended to host the live to break a world-record for the most people shaking a shaker bottle online. Jumping out of a plane? Scuba diving? No, nothing so drab  bottle shaking.

Specifying that its a shaker bottle suggests people have attempted to shake cups without lids on before, which sounds altogether more entertaining due to the messiness that would ensue, but apparently this is not the goal.

Instead of the record, they are doing the same task but donating 5 to Mind for every person who jumps on Zoom to shake their Sneak.

This columnist wonders if Boris will be attending, seeing as he now has more time on his hands. There is however talk that Boris will be revealed as a new Daily Mail columnist. Well, Diary pledges to remain anonymous, but promises they have never been prime minister, or been ambushed by cake (though is open to the latter).

Kitties set free

Despite what the title of this column implies, no kittens were shaken in the making of this column. Unfortunately, none were cuddled either.

However, 22 wildcats have been released into the Cairngorms National Park by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland as part of its efforts to save the species from extinction in the country.

Diary knows they are probably not for petting, the clue is in the name, but can't help thinking they look most cuddlable (please don't check if that last one is a real word).

We are THRILLED to share the @SaveOurWildcats partnership led by RZSS has reached a historic milestone 



The first wildcat releases have begun! This is an incredibly exciting moment and a crucial step towards securing a future for Scotlands wildcats  https://t.co/Xsz0P2A3Ug https://t.co/0Tjs6eJWWc  Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (@rzss) June 15, 2023
This spring, Digiday reported that media companies are still mostly hiring white people. The news was damning not only because of the facts of the matter, but also the context: just a couple of years ago, the journalism industry was said to be undergoing a reckoning over racism. High-ranking white people resigned or were dismissed; there were prominent hires of Black editors and other people of color; newsrooms issued apologies. In a 2021 piece for CJR about the press, white supremacy, and atonement, Alexandria Neason noted that to chart a new path forward, we will need much more than regret.

Per Digiday: At Conde Nast, 49 percent of new hires in 2022 self-identified as white, up from 45 percent in 2021. At Vice Media Group, new hires in the United States were 54 percent white last year, up from 47 percent. At Hearst, new hires were 59 percent white. At the New York Times, 44 percent of new hires were people of color, down a whopping 10 percentage points compared to 2021. History repeats: In 1968, members of the Kerner Commissionan advisory board formed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in response to a series of protests against racismobserved in a report that the countrys mostly white media had failed to cover the underlying causes of the demonstrations. In response, the organization now known as the American Society of News Editors set out to build a journalism workforce that reflected the racial makeup of the US population by the year 2000. As Neason wrote, that deadline came and went.

A few years ago, in an issue focused on race and the press, CJR visited ten American newsrooms where the mismatch between the makeup of the staff and the demographics of the coverage area was particularly notable. The project made clear that the conversations about diversity are the same ones that the industry has been having for decades and that little progress has been made. In the same issue, Jelani Cobb, who is now the dean of the Columbia Journalism School, described his first job at a majority-white publicationin the nineties, at the Washington City Paper, working for David Carr. In seeking out a diverse staff, Carr was explicit that his objective was not abstract. He explained in straightforward terms that he worried that there were specific stories missing from his newspaper, Cobb wrote. He wanted a better publication and believed our work would help him build one. And we did.

These are tough times for the journalism business, and that is why its crucial to face the industrys failings with clear eyes and an openness to change. While writing her piece on the medias atonement, Neason also spearheaded an effort at CJR focused on self-examination and redress. Such a project, she wrote, is not so much a reckoning as it is a beckoningto begin and, when we falter, to begin again. Those words seem worth repeating now.

You can read Neasons piece on atonement here and CJRs project Beyond Atonement here. The Media Today will be off on Monday in observance of Juneteenth. See you on Tuesday.

Betsy Morais is the managing editor of CJR.
Suspected state-backed Chinese hackers used a security hole in a popular email security appliance to break into the networks of hundreds of public and private sector organizations globally, nearly a third of them government agencies including foreign ministries, the cybersecurity firm Mandiant said Thursday.

This is the broadest cyber espionage campaign known to be conducted by a China-nexus threat actor since the mass exploitation of Microsoft Exchange in early 2021, Charles Carmakal, Mandiants chief technical officer, said in a emailed statement. That hack compromised tens of thousands of computers globally.

The hackers sent emails containing malicious file attachments to gain access to targeted organizations devices and data, Mandiant said. Of those organizations, 55% were from the Americas, 22% from Asia Pacific and 24% from Europe, the Middle East and Africa and they included foreign ministries in Southeast Asia, foreign trade offices and academic organizations in Taiwan and Hong Kong. the company said.

Mandiant said the majority impact in the Americas may partially reflect the geography of Barracudas customer base.

Barracuda announced on June 6 that some of its its email security appliances had been hacked as early as October, giving the intruders a back door into compromised networks. The hack was so severe the California company recommended fully replacing the appliances.

After discovering it in mid-May, Barracuda released containment and remediation patches but the hacking group, which Mandiant identifies as UNC4841, altered their malware to try to maintain access, Mandiant said. The group then countered with high frequency operations targeting a number of victims located in at least 16 different countries.

Mandiant said the targeting at both the organizational and individual account levels, focused on issues that are high policy priorities for China, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. It said the hackers searched for email accounts of people working for governments of political or strategic interest to China at the time they were participating in diplomatic meetings with other countries.

In a emailed statement Thursday, Barracuda said about 5% of its active Email Security Gateway appliances worldwide showed evidence of potential compromise. It said it was providing replacement appliances to affected customers at no cost.

The U.S. government has accused Beijing of being its principal cyberespionage threat, with state-backed Chinese hackers stealing data from both the private and public sector.

China says the U.S. also engages in cyberespionage against it, hacking into computers of its universities and companies.

AP Business Writer Zen Soo contributed from Hong Kong.

Top photo: Attendees walk past an electronic display showing recent cyberattacks in China at the China Internet Security Conference in Beijing, on Sept. 12, 2017. Hackers linked to China were likely behind the exploitation of a software security hole in cybersecurity firm Barracuda Networks email security feature that affected public and private organizations globally, according to an investigation by security firm Mandiant. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein,

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
KALAMATA, Greece (AP)  The Greek coast guard says nine survivors from the migrant ship that sank off the countrys coast have been arrested on suspicion of belonging to the smuggling ring that arranged the voyage.

State-run ERT TV said the suspects were all Egyptian nationals.

The arrests followed interrogations by coast guard officials at the southern port of Kalamata, where the 104 survivors from the shipwreck were taken. The sinking left at least 78 people dead.

Kassem Abu Zeed caught the first flight from Germany to Greece after realizing that his wife and brother-in-law were aboard a trawler crammed with migrants that went down in the Mediterranean Sea.

As rescue ships fanned out Thursday in search of hundreds of people missing in the tragedy, relatives of the migrants gathered in the southern port city of Kalamata to look for their loved ones.

The last time we spoke was eight days ago, and she told me that she was getting ready to get on the boat, Abu Zeed told The Associated Press Thursday. She had paid $5,000 to smugglers. And then we all know what happened.

Abu Zeed, a 34-year-old Syrian refugee living in Hamburg, said Esra Aoun, 21, and her 19-year-old brother, Abdullah, risked the dangerous crossing from Libya to Italy in a battered trawler after they failed to find a legal way to join him in Germany.

The chances that she survived the sinking, which killed at least 78, were low. A huge search-and-rescue operation involving a dozen ships and three aircraft found no survivors since its initial phase early Wednesday, when 104 people were rescued.

None of the survivors were women. Now Abu Zeed hopes Abdullah may be among the men from Syria, Egypt, Pakistan and the Palestinian territories who are temporarily housed in a Kalamata warehouse or recuperating in hospitals from hypothermia and exposure.

The chances of finding (more survivors) are minimal, retired Greek coast guard Adm. Nikos Spanos told state-run ERT television.

Authorities fear that hundreds of people, including many women and children, were trapped below deck when the overcrowded trawler capsized in the night in deep waters about 75 kilometers (45 miles) offshore.

The U.N. migration agency, known as IOM, estimated that the vessel was carrying 700 to 750 people, including at least 40 children, based on interviews with survivors. That could make the sinking one of the deadliest ever recorded in the central Mediterranean.

Erasmia Roumana, head of a United Nations refugee agency delegation, said the survivors were in shock.

They want to get in touch with their families to tell them they are OK, and they keep asking about the missing. Many have friends and relatives unaccounted for, Roumana said.

Mohamed Abdi Marwan, who spoke by phone from Kobani, a Kurdish majority town in northeastern Syria, said five of his relatives were on the boat, including a 14- year-old. Marwan said hes heard nothing about them since the vessel sank.

He believes his nephew Ali Sheikhi, 29, is alive, after family members spotted him in photos of survivors, but that has not been confirmed.

Those smugglers were supposed to only have 500 on the boat and now we hear there were 750. What is this? Are they cattle or humans? How can they do this? Marwan said. He said each of his relatives paid $6,000 for the trip.

Greece declared three days of mourning, and a Supreme Court prosecutor ordered an investigation.

Greek authorities said the vessel appeared to be sailing normally until shortly before it sank and that the ship declined repeated offers of rescue. But a network of activists said they received repeated distress calls from the vessel during the same time.

The Greek coast guard said it was notified of the boats presence late Tuesday morning and observed by helicopter that it was sailing on a steady course at 6 p.m.

A little later, Greek search-and-rescue officials reached someone on the boat by satellite phone, who repeatedly said that passengers needed food and water but wanted to continue sailing to Italy.

Merchant ships delivered supplies and observed the vessel until early Wednesday morning, when the satellite phone user reported a problem with the engine. About 40 minutes later, according to the coast guard statement, the migrant vessel suddenly began to rock violently and then sank.

Coast guard experts believe the boat may have run out of fuel or experienced engine trouble, with movement of passengers causing it to list and ultimately capsize.

Alarm Phone, a network of activists that provides a hotline for migrants in trouble, said the problems began much earlier in the day. The network said it was contacted by people on the vessel asking for help shortly after 3 p.m. They said they cannot survive the night.

Around 6:20 p.m., Alarm Phone wrote, migrants reported the vessel was not moving and that the captain had abandoned the ship on a small boat. The two accounts could not immediately be reconciled.

Experts said maritime law would have required Greek authorities to attempt a rescue if the boat was unsafe, regardless of whether passengers requested it. Search and rescue is not a two-way contract. You dont need consent, retired Italian coast guard Adm. Vittorio Alessandro said.

An aerial photograph of the vessel before it sank released by Greek authorities showed people crammed on the deck. Most were not wearing life jackets.

Overcrowding, a lack of life vests, or the absence of a captain would have all been reasons to intervene, Alessandro said.

Greeces caretaker minister in charge of civil protection, Evangelos Tournas, defended the coast guards conduct and said the migrants repeatedly refused assistance and insisted on continuing to Italy.

The coast guard cannot intervene with a vessel which doesnt accept the intervention in international waters, he said. Consider also that an intervention by the coast guard could have placed an overloaded vessel in danger, which could capsize as a result of the intervention.

Eight of the survivors have been questioned by coast guard investigators.

The bodies of the dead migrants were moved to a morgue outside Athens, where DNA samples and facial photographs will be taken to start the identification process.

The location of the sinking is close to the deepest part of the Mediterranean Sea, where depths of up to 17,000 feet (5,200 meters) could hamper any effort to locate a sunken vessel.

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, promised to strengthen cooperation between the European Union and nearby countries to try to further crack down on migrant smugglers.

But human rights groups argue that the crackdown has forced migrants and refugees to take longer, more dangerous routes to reach safe countries.

Eftychia Georgiadi, an official in Greece with the International Rescue Committee charity, said the disaster should serve as a wake-up call to the EU.

Nobody embarks on these treacherous journeys unless they feel they have no other option, she said. The EUs failure to offer more safe pathways to migration effectively slams the door on people seeking protection.

The IOM has recorded more than 21,000 deaths and disappearances in the central Mediterranean since 2014.

The Mediterraneans deadliest shipwreck in living memory occurred on April 18, 2015, when a fishing boat overcrowded with migrants collided off Libya with a freighter trying to come to its rescue. Only 28 people survived. Forensic experts concluded that there were originally 1,100 people on board.

Paphitis reported from Athens, Greece. Associated Press writers Sarah El Deeb in Beirut and Renata Brito in Barcelona, Spain, contributed to this report.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
An ambiguous coverage exclusion prevents a liability insurer from dodging the cost of defending a data broker that was sued after selling the Chicago Police Department access to a facial recognition database that reportedly contained 3 billion images extracted from social media sites.

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday affirmed a lower court decision finding that a catch-all provision in the policy that excluded coverage for any violations of statutes was too broad to bar coverage for alleged violations of the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act.

We agree with the district court that the facial breadth of the catch-all provision gives rise to an ambiguity in the policy, in that the catch-all provision appears to nullify coverage that the policy elsewhere purports to provide, the three-judge appellate panel said in its opinion.

Wynndalco Enterprises, a Mokena, Illinois company that sells data and information technology services, sought coverage under a liability policy it bought from Citizens Insurance Co. of America after it was named as a defendant in two class-action lawsuits that alleged biometric privacy violations. The company had sold access to a facial recognition database owned by Clearview AI to another data broker, which immediately sold it to the Chicago Police Department.

A lawsuit backed by the American Civil Liberties Union alleges that Clearview built the database by scraping 3 billion images from social media websites. It sells access to the images coupled with software that uses proprietary algorithms to match images loaded into its program to the photos in its database, along with personal information gleaned from social media posts.

The plaintiffs are seeking the $1,000 for each negligent violation of the Biometric Information Privacy Act plus $5,000 for each willful or reckless violation. One lawsuit states total damages will exceed $5 million.

Wynndalco sought coverage from Citizens under a business owners policy with limits of $2 million per occurrence and $4 million aggregate. Citizens filed a lawsuit in the federal Northern District of Illinois, seeking a declaration that the policy excluded coverage for the alleged violations.

US District Court Judge John Z. Lee found ruled that the insurer owed coverage because the exclusion was so broad it could be construed to bar most if not all claims that are statutory in nature, even claims that the policy purports to cover.

Citizens appealed.

The 7th Circuit panel said that an insurance policy must be read in whole for proper interpretation. A policy exclusion that appears clear in isolation may not be so easy to understand if a separate policy provision grants coverage for the same type of action or injury that is ostensibly excluded.

The panel said its plain-text reading of the policy finds the same ambiguity that the Judge Lee pointed out. The policy provides liability coverage for personal and advertising injuries but excludes them at the same time with a catch-all exclusion for statutory violations, making much of the promised coverage illusory.

A plain-text reading of that provision would swallow a substantial portion of the coverage that the policy otherwise explicitly purports to provide in defining a covered personal or advertising injury, and arguably all of the coverage for certain categories of wrongscopyright infringement, to take one example that are entirely statutory in nature, the opinion says.

The Associated Press reported that the Chicago Police Department cancelled a two-year contract to use Clearviews database in May 2020, after the lawsuits alleging privacy violations were filed. A spokeswoman for the department said it received a rebate for the time that was left on the contract.
Nationwide General Insurance has avoided payment of a dog bite claim filed by a homeowner it insured who ran a firearms business out of his garage.

A federal district court for Alabama ruled that the business exclusions in all three Nationwide policies issued to David Hope applied even though the man his dog bit was as much a friend as he was a customer and there was no money involved in the transaction taking place when the dog bit him.

Hope manufactured and brokered firearms out of his home garage. As part of that business, Hope maintained a federal firearms license that allowed him to sell firearms and legally transfer firearms bought by others from third parties. He typically charged $20 for the brokerage services, but often did not charge acquaintances or regular customers.

Cecil Keith Chapman was friends with Hope and had purchased silencers for multiple firearms from Hope. Chapman also used Hopes brokerage services for the transfer of several firearms.

This case began with Chapman using Hopes brokerage service. Chapman bought a firearm from an out of state dealer and had it shipped to Hope. But because Chapman was either a social acquaintance or regular customer or both, Hope did not charge Chapman the usual fee.

When Chapman went to pick up the firearm from Hope, Hopes dog bit him and caused injuries. Chapman sued Hope in state court for negligence and wantonness.

The Hopes had three policies through Nationwide: one for their primary residence, one for another residence, and a personal umbrella policy that provided excess personal liability coverage. Under each of those policies, coverage for personal liability and medical payments is excluded for bodily injury arising out of or in connection with a business conducted at the insured location. The Hopes did not have additional insurance for the firearms business Hope ran on the property.

Nationwide sought a declaratory judgment that it did not owe the Hopes a defense or indemnity in the state court action because the claims asserted against the Hopes were barred by the business exclusion in the insurance policies. Nationwide asserted that the dog bite arose out of, or was connected to, the business Hope ran on the Hopes property. His wife, Tammy, was later substituted as a party in the state court action after David Hopes death in March 2022.

Chapman argued that the business exclusion did not apply because he did not pay Hope for brokering the firearm that he was picking up, so Hope was not conducting business. He was simply doing a friend a favor. Chapman asked the court to deny Nationwides motion for summary judgment.

The court said the question was whether Chapmans visit to the Hope house arose out of, or was connected with, Hopes firearm business even though Chapman was not paying Hope money to broker the firearms deal.

According to Nationwide, the dog bite had to arise out of Hopes business because `but for the business, Chapman would not have been at Hopes house when the dog bit him. Even though Chapman didnt pay for the service this time, Nationwide points to evidence that Hope often waived the brokerage fee for acquaintances and regular customers. And Chapman had purchased silencers from Hope and used Hopes brokerage services, so Nationwide argued that Hope could have been anticipating future business with Chapman by waiving the fee. Plus, regardless of Chapman not paying Hope for the transfer, Hope still provided a service associated with his business as a firearms manufacturer and broker that led to the incident. Thus, Nationwide said, the injuries arose out of and were connected to Hopes business.

Chapman disagreed. He claimed there was no evidence Hopes transfer of the firearm was causally related to any prior purchase Chapman made or to any potential future business transaction. Instead, Chapman pointed to his testimony and to the Hopes testimony to establish that the transfer of the firearm arose out of the social relationship between the two, not Hopes business.

Hopes wife testified that while Chapman was both a customer and friend, her husband didnt charge him because he didnt charge friends that would have guns sent there. She added that she knew her husband didnt charge Chapman because he was friends, he usually doesnt, or repeat customers.

Chapman testified that Hope had received guns for him before, that they were friends and had known each other for more that 10 years, and that the silencers he had purchased were not the reason he went to the Hopes to pick up the firearm. He said that he had been to Hopes shop 12-15 times before, and that sometimes he would go there to hang out and shoot guns.

Both parties pointed to the Esurance Ins. Co. v. Grissett case to support their position. In this case, a father performed repair work on his daughters car, drove it to a separate location to have it painted, and was in an accident while driving it back to his shop. The father planned to charge his daughter for the repairs but decided not to after the accident.

The Grissett court held that even though no money changed hands for the repairs, no reasonable jury could conclude that the engaged in business exclusion in the insurance policy did not apply. Thus, the insurer had no duty to defend or indemnify the defendant under the insurance policy.

In Nationwides view, Grissett suggests that a business exclusion in an insurance policy will apply even when no money changes hands. Nationwide argued that the Grissett court rejected the daughters argument that the exclusion did not apply because the repair was ultimately gratuitous.

Chapman, on the other hand, argued that the business exclusion applied in Grissett only because the father originally planned to charge the daughter for the repairs and later decided not to do so after the accident. Chapman said this case is different because Hope never planned to charge him for the firearm transfer.

The court sided with Nationwide. It concluded that Chapmans presence at the Hopes house arose out of, and was connected to, Hopes firearms business. Chapman would not have been at Hopes house but for his need to pick up a gun that Hope helped brokera business service that Hope provided and paid taxes on, the court found.

True, Chapman did not pay Hope for this brokerage service, but Chapman had paid Hope before, and Hope often waived the small brokerage fee for repeat customers. This is typical, good business practice. And because the incident was connected to Hopes business, it is excluded from coverage, Justice Corey L. Maze wrote in granting Nationwides motion for summary judgment.
BEREA, Ohio  Who doesnt love a mystery? It doesnt have to be murder, theft, or a government cover-up. Sometimes its just an unanswered question or two that can rivet the publics attention.

In this case, its The Shoppe at 138 Front St. in Bereas wall sign  one of two, which were hand-crafted in the early 80s by the late Albert Selby, father of the shops original owner, Dennis Selby.

The sign, which was removed about a week ago, was mounted at the second-floor level of a historic 19th-century structure that was once a part of The Shoppe but is now home to Mikes Bar & Grille, at 130 Front St.

A work crew is there now, applying a coat of paint. So we can speculate that the sign was removed to get out of the way of painters to make way for the new coat and that it will be remounted when the job is finished.

The eye-catching sign, an iconic fixture in the local community, had been a familiar sight for years, and its sudden removal has sparked speculation and discussion of motive and fate, among Bereas residents.

The Shoppes current owner, Danielle McCrae, posted a comment in regard to the signs removal on Facebooks Berea Forum page, stating that she wished to say thank you to all who commented regarding building questions and The Shoppe in Berea. McCrae commented further that it (presumably the signs removal) was handled between landlord and tenant, and she said, the issue is over.

Additional comments by area residents regarding the signs removal that had been posted on Facebooks Berea Forum page appeared to have quickly vanished from the site.

Mikes Bar & Grille owner, Mike Gantous, who also owns the adjacent structure housing The Shoppe, as well as other nearby real estates, is the obvious landlord that McCrae has cited.

Gantous, unfortunately, has not been available for comment, which would likely have solved any lingering questions regarding the signs removal and ultimate fate.

My take is that the sign is gone for good.

And for those who continue to lament its passing, take heart, all is not lost. There is an exact, albeit smaller, replica of the For Everything Under the Sun, sign, which was also hand-crafted by Selby situated prominently above the main entrance to The Shoppe on Front Street.

New graduate: Kudos to Joseph Mastandrea of Berea, who graduated from the University of Dallas in May.

Mastandrea earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Constantin College at UDs spring 2023 Commencement Ceremony.

In addition to the basic and advanced requirements specific to the subject, a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at the University of Dallas also requires two years of fundamental coursework in the humanities, sciences, politics, mathematics and fine arts.

Constantin College students must also complete coursework in Ancient Greek, French, German, Italian, Latin, or Spanish.

BW graduates: Congratulations to the following Baldwin Wallace University graduates:

Christa Barnes of Berea, a graduate of First Baptist Christian School, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Music: Instrumental Performance.

Adam Bash of Berea, a graduate of Big Walnut High School, graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts: Acting.

Aliyah Beechuk of Berea graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts: Studio Art.

Ryan Bolin of Middleburg Heights a graduate of Berea-Midpark High School, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts: Political Science and a Bachelor of Science: Business Information Systems.

Stephanie Brashear of Brook Park graduated with a Master of Business Administration: Healthcare Management.

Madi Clymire of Berea, a graduate of Central Catholic High School, graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science: Biology.

Alex Cook of Middleburg Heights, a graduate of Berea-Midpark High School, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science.

Robert Dauria of Berea, a graduate of Amherst Central High School, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts: Music Industry.

Cannon Dees of Berea, a graduate of Berea-Midpark High School, graduated with a Master of Business Administration: Business Analytics.

Chris Duran of Berea graduated with a Master of Arts in Education: Leadership in Higher Education.

Brooke Guddy of Brook Park, a graduate of Berea-Midpark High School, graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science: Public Health.

Emily Hathcock of Middleburg Heights, a graduate of Medina Senior High School, graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science: Psychology.

Luke Helwig of Berea, a graduate of Midview High School, graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Music Education.

Claire Hollon of Berea, a graduate of Hoover High School, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts: Sustainability.

Samuel Jungman of Berea, a graduate of Manchester High School, graduated with a Bachelor of Music: Voice Performance.

Natalie Kehoe of Berea, a graduate of Padua Franciscan High School, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education: Early Childhood Education.

Ken Lear of Middleburg Heights, a graduate of Saint Ignatius High School, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts: Music.

Roger Lewis of Berea, a graduate of North Olmsted High School, graduated with a Master of Business Administration in Business Analytics.

Megan Loescher of Brook Park, a graduate of Berea-Midpark High School, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting.

Maddie Miller of Berea, a graduate of Medina Senior High School, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Allied Health/Pre-Physical Therapy.

Gloria Mireles Barrera of Berea, a graduate of Cypress Ridge High School, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Public Relations.

Fransheska Quinones Davila of Parma graduated with a Master of Business Administration in Business Analytics.

Makenzie Rivas of Berea, a graduate of Albert Einstein Academy, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Ryan Rivera of Brook Park, a graduate of Berea-Midpark High School, graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Marketing and Finance.

Sarah Strezewski of Berea, a graduate of Adlai E. Stevenson High School, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Music: in Voice Performance.

Jessica Suesse of Berea, a graduate of Berea-Midpark High School, graduated with a Master of Business Administration: in Sport Management.

Hayley Swinnerton of Berea, a graduate of Berea-Midpark High School, graduated with a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology.

Laura Tereshko of Berea graduated with a Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management.

Vivian Toplak of Berea graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership.

Chris Trella of Berea graduated with a Master of Business Administration: inHealthcare Management.

Abby Varney of Berea, a graduate of Albert Einstein Academy, graduated with a Bachelor of Artsin French and a Bachelor of Science: Biology.

The video replay of the entire Baldwin Wallace Spring Commencement 2023 ceremony is available from NPi Audio Visual Solutions on Vimeo. View additional commencement day photos on BWs flagship Instagram and Facebook pages.

Scholarship awarded: Josh Amsden, a member of the Berea-Midpark High School Class of 2023, is a The Education Foundation Scholarship recipient.

Amsden is the recipient of the Todd Richissin Memorial Scholarship, which will use while attending Cleveland State University in the fall of 2023, to major in communications.

The scholarship will help me and my family with our current financial situation and will, hopefully, lead to my parents retirement in the near future, he said.

Kiwanis grants: The Kiwanis Club of Berea has awarded four grants totaling $8,100 to local schools, including Big Creek Elementary School, Brook Park Elementary School, Middleburg Early Education Center and Berea-Midpark High School.

At Big Creek, the funds will provide Osmos, a hands-on learning and digital lab for students. At Brookpark, a Sight to Sound Showtime Panel will be purchased for the new preschool sensory room. At the Early Education Center, devices will help establish a literacy program for pre-schoolers, and BMHS will purchase an 88-key digital piano for the orchestra.

In all, 13 grant requests were received from local organizations. The primary Purpose of the grants is to provide a visible and tangible impact on children and to positively enhance the community.

SCAN Hunger Center Pantry: 39 W. Bagley Road, Williamsport Plaza. 440-260-7226. Open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the second Friday of the month and 4 to 7 p.m. on the fourth Friday.

Church Street Ministries pantry: 1480 Bagley Road, 440-239-0549. Open noon to 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Rise in Love: Free hot meal from 2 to 4 p.m. on the third Sunday of the month at St. Adalbert Catholic Church, Keller Center, 66 Adalbert St. Eat in or carry out. The next meal is on Sunday, and then on July 16th.

Free Community Meals: St. Paul Lutheran Church, 276 E. Bagley Road, served from 5 to 6 p.m. on the second and last Wednesdays of the month. Drive-up only.

Peoples Community Church pantry: 628 Wesley Drive, 440-234-0609. Open 10 a.m. to noon on the third Saturday of the month. The next open pantry is Saturday, and then on July 15th.

Second Mile Outreach Pantry: 1480 Bagley Road, 440-239-0549. Open noon to 2 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Bread Ministry: Berea United Methodist Church, 170 Seminary St. 440-234-3525. Bread and pastries only. Noon to 2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Go to the church addition north side of Church Street, off Seminary. The pantry has double brown doors.

Free meals for students: Brook Park Branch Library, 6155 Engle Road. 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, for students 18 and younger, in collaboration with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank.

Pet Food Pantry: Animal Rescue Friends, 10015 E. River Road, Columbia Station, 10 a.m. to noon every Sunday. Contact 440-234-2034 or arfpet-pantry@gmail.com for more information.

Mini pantries: There are two Little Free Pantries located near Peoples Community Church, 628 Wesley Drive, and Cuyahoga County Librarys Berea branch, at 7 Berea Commons. The Prospect Pantry is at the corner of Prospect Street and Jacqueline Drive.
China's head-of-state diplomacy: Tanzania-Zambia Railway symbolizes China-Africa friendship

People's Daily Online) 13:23, June 16, 2023

In March 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Tanzania, the first stop of his first trip to Africa as president of China.

The visit greatly excited Wang Chao, who was then an employee of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC). He had worked in Tanzania for half a year by then.

The railway station of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city. (Photo/Shen Xiaoxiao)

The predecessor of the CCECC, which was named Foreign Aid Bureau of the Ministry of Railways, had undertaken the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) project, which links Dar es Salam in Tanzania and Kapiri Mposhi in Zambia.

At the time when China was not well off itself, it provided a 988 million-yuan interest-free loan and nearly 1 million tonnes of equipment and materials, sent 56,000 personnel, and spent five years and eight months helping Tanzania and Zambia build the 1,860 kilometer-long TAZARA railway.

To this day, photos of Chinese and African workers working together at the construction site of the railway are still shown at the railway station of the TAZARA railway authority in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania's largest city.

What's particularly heartwarming was that more than 60 Chinese experts lost their lives when they were on assistance missions to Tanzania during the construction of the TAZARA railway, which is hailed as the Freedom Railway.

During Xi's state visit to Tanzania in 2013, he paid a special visit to the Chinese Experts Cemetery in Dar es Salaam.

They interpreted the great spirit of internationalism with their lives, and, just as the TAZARA, they will be remembered by both the Chinese and Tanzanians, Xi said.

During the visit to Tanzania, Xi elaborated on the principles of China's Africa policy  sincerity, real results, amity and good faith for the first time, and China and Tanzania signed 17 agreements on friendly cooperation in fields including trade, investment, infrastructure construction, agriculture, communication, and the development of export processing zones.

Over the past 10 years, Wang Chao has witnessed the construction of many China-assisted landmark projects in Tanzania, while he was promoted from professional technician to a managerial position. He is now CCECC East Africa Limited's deputy project manager in charge of the fifth bid section of the standard gauge railway (SGR) in Tanzania.

Just like Wang, batches of Chinese people have seized opportunities to work in Tanzania and contributed to infrastructure construction in the country during the past decade. As they witnessed tremendous changes in this ancient land, relations between Tanzania and China have continuously deepened, and the hearts of the two peoples have come closer.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio  Revitalization efforts continue in the Southland District in Middleburg Heights, with Osborn Engineerings technical documentation work now under way for the Smith Road streetscape design.

Architect and city planner Alex Pesta of City Architecture conveyed that message during his presentation to Middleburg Heights City Council members and other city officials during the June 5 Finance Committee meeting.

Alex Pesta of City Architecture presented a Southland revitalization update to Middleburg Heights Finance Committee members on June 5. (Beth Mlady/special to cleveland.com)

He noted the Southland Master Plan was developed in 2019, followed by the Smith Road conceptual design in 2020 and receipt in 2022 of Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agencys Transportation for Livable Communities Initiative grant.

Everything up to that point was conceptual, Pesta explained. Now all of the technical documentation has started. The team has been busy creating materials that supplement the Southland Master Plan.

This is all going to culminate in construction that starts next year.

Pesta said a series of design inspiration books will assist existing property owners or potential developers to ensure the look of the master plan is achieved through the construction and redevelopment of the properties.

Additionally, Southland District design guidelines have been developed.

These really hold true to the master plan, setting out a series of parameters that must be met in order to satisfy the plans vision, Pesta stressed. Specifically, where parking is and is not allowed, and the type of landscaping we would like to see. Also, how site development happens, and where and how new buildings would be situated along Smith Road.

A tree-planted median is just one of many featured improvements. Pesta mentioned a multipurpose trail, increased overall landscaping, new signage, pedestrian-scaled street lighting, brick crosswalks and on-street parallel parking in certain areas on both sides of the street.

Weve worked hand-in-glove with the Osborn team to make sure  all of the criteria are being met, while still holding true to the vision of the master plan by redefining what Smith Road can be  and setting the stage for the types of investments the community has shared with us they would like to see moving forward, Pesta said.

He added Middleburg Heights is unique because it is leading what Southland can be, rather than waiting for something else to happen.

Middleburg has positioned itself to lead with infrastructure investments in that space, and that doesnt happen in cities very often, Pesta said.

Read more stories from the News Sun.
SOLON, Ohio  Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band entertained a crowd of about 200 people at the citys second Juneteenth celebration Thursday (June 15) at Solon Community Park.

Ward 1 Councilman Macke Bentley, the citys first Black council member, said he was impressed with the turnout.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A former theater program manager at Magnificat High School who admitted to inappropriately touching a student in 2013 is now charged with sexually abusing a different teen years earlier.

Sean Szaller, 41, of North Olmsted is charged in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court with 12 counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in multiple incidents spanning from October 2009 to March 2011, according to an indictment unsealed last week.
AKRON, Ohio  The family of Jayland Walker sued Akron and its police department Friday, shortly before the one-year mark of eight officers shooting Walker 45 times after a high-speed chase that started because of a broken taillight.

The lawsuit, filed by Walkers sister, Jada, is seeking $45 million  $1 million for every bullet that hit her 25-year-old brother.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Nebraska man is charged with rape and human trafficking after an Arkansas woman ran out of a downtown Cleveland hotel and told police that she had been kidnapped and forced into prostitution across the Midwest.

Marcuiece Johnson, 35, of Omaha pleaded not guilty this week to rape, sexual battery, kidnapping, promoting prostitution and trafficking in persons. He is being held in the Cuyahoga County Jail on $100,000 bond.
MONROE TOWNSHIP, Ohio  A Clermont County man is charged with three counts of aggravated murder after authorities say he shot and killed his three young sons Thursday in the yard of their home in southwest Ohio.

Chad Doerman, 32, is being held in jail without bond, accused of killing his three sons, ages 7, 4 and 3 years old, according to a news release from the Clermont County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies were called to the home at around 4:15 p.m. after a woman made a 911 call and yelled at the dispatcher that her babies had been shot, the sheriffs office says. Just minutes later, a second 911 call was received from someone who said they had seen a girl running down the road yelling that her father was killing everyone.
PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio  A reportedly stolen SUV led police on a wrong-way chase Thursday afternoon that resulted in damage to multiple vehicles but ended with no serious injuries and a suspect in custody.

Police received a call at about 4 p.m. that a black SUV was driving erratically and went off the road near Valley Forge High School on Independence Boulevard. Officers spotted the SUV heading toward North Church Drive, but when they attempted to make a stop, it sped off, police say.

The SUV went toward Pearl Road, then left the street and drove through some flower beds and bushes near the intersection of York and Pearl roads, police say. The vehicle eventually ended up on Brookpark Road, where it reportedly crashed into three vehicles. Police say no drivers were injured.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Its pretty standard what is needed to get into college: good grades; some extracurricular activities; community involvement doesnt hurt.

But Ohio legislators are focusing on what they think potential students dont need to enroll.
COLUMBUS, OhioThe Ohio Supreme Court ruled Friday that Republican state lawmakers can set an Aug. 8 special election on a proposed constitutional amendment, even though the legislature banned statewide August special elections a few months earlier.

The 4-3, party-line ruling keeps in place plans to hold a statewide vote on State Issue 1, a Republican-backed proposal to raise the threshold for passing future constitutional amendments from a simple majority to 60%. It also would expand signature requirements for proposed amendments to qualify for the ballot in the first place.

In an unsigned opinion, the courts Republican majority held that regardless of the August election ban passed by lawmakers late last year, the Ohio Constitution gives state legislators the power to submit proposed amendments to voters as the General Assembly may prescribe.

That wording, the majority ruling held, leaves it up to the Ohio General Assembly to determine when an election should be held on proposed amendments.

The General Assemblys valid exercise of its constitutional power ... overrides any election statute that would otherwise prohibit the special election called for in the General Assemblys joint resolution proposing a constitutional amendment for submission to the states electors, the majority opinion stated.

The majoritys decision rejects a motion made by One Person One Vote, the main group opposing State Issue 1. The groups coalition includes the Ohio Democratic Party, several recent former Republican governors and state attorneys general, organized labor groups, voting-rights groups, and abortion-rights advocates, who are working to place an abortion-rights amendment on the November ballot.

One Person One Vote argued in their suit that the Supreme Court should stop the special election because GOP lawmakers wrongly defied their own law that they passed months before to end August elections.

Read more: Coverage of State Issue 1

In a dissent, Democratic Justice Michael Donnelly wrote that the Ohio Constitution doesnt give the Republican-dominated legislature the power to violate laws that it passed.

Rather than changing the law, the General Assembly and respondent, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, want to be told that the Ohio Constitution allows the General Assembly to break its own laws, Donnelly wrote. Rather than doing the work themselves, they want this court to fix their mess and do their work for them. Sadly, a majority of this court obliges.

Democratic Justice Jennifer Brunner, in a separate dissent, wrote that constitutional provisions are not absolute, noting that a number of laws are allowed to burden constitutional rights in some way -- including gun-control restrictions and allowing people to be arrested and imprisoned. What the General Assembly has done is ignore the law, she wrote. This, it cannot do.

In a statement after the rule, Senate President Matt Huffman, a Lima Republican who has been a leading advocate of State Issue 1, noted  as the Supreme Court majority also did  that the court made a similar ruling in 1967 that state lawmakers could set a special election date in May even though there was no state law specifically stating they could do so.

Authority provided under the Ohio Constitution takes priority over revised code, Huffman said. Our Senate attorneys did an excellent job of advising on this issue.

Need to Know: How to register, where to vote, when the polls are open

One Person One Vote spokesman Dennis Willard said in a statement that Fridays ruling was disappointing, but he vowed that State Issue 1 opponents would defeat the proposed amendment in August.

Were confident Ohio voters will see Issue 1 for the scam that it is: a corrupt power grab by special interests and politicians, Willard said.

Earlier this week, the Ohio Supreme Courts Republican majority gave One Person One Vote a narrow victory in a separate but related lawsuit, ordering the GOP-controlled Ohio Ballot Board to fix errors in a short summary of State Issue 1 that will appear on the Aug. 8 ballot. However, the court declined to order changes to other parts of the summary language that One Person One Vote claimed was biased in favor of State Issue 1 supporters.

The ballot board rewrote the language voters will see to comply with the courts decision.

Jeremy Pelzer covers state politics and policy for Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
Rotunda Rumblings

Budget build-up: After months of hearings, amendments and closed-door meetings, the legislatures budget process is nearing an end, as the Ohio Senate passed its $86 billion budget plan on Thursday. Jeremy Pelzer has a full breakdown of the main issues that the House and Senate now have to iron out in conference committee, including the size of proposed state tax cuts and major changes to K-12 and higher education policy inserted by the Senate.
Before State Issue 1 came House Bill 458, the sweeping election-law bill rushed through a lame-duck legislative session in December and signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine last January.

The Aug. 8 special election for Issue 1-- ironically, a type of election seemingly outlawed by HB 458 -- will mark the first major test of HB 458s highly restrictive voter ID requirements, its limit of one ballot drop box per county, its earlier deadline to apply for an absentee ballot, changes in early-voting hours and other provisions.

Voters who want their voices heard on State Issue 1 -- on whether the state constitution should be made more difficult for citizens to amend, with a 60% voting threshold instead of a simple majority -- need to be prepared for these changes.

Those without drivers licenses or other official government photo IDs need to pay attention now to the new ID requirements, the rules for obtaining alternative (free) IDs, as well as to the other restrictions.

Early voting starts July 11 -- less than a month away.

Voters also need to arm themselves with the facts on Issue 1 before they vote, since the ballot will mislead them, even though the state high court just ordered its most obviously inaccurate parts fixed.

Thanks to a partisan 3-2 Ohio Ballot Board majority and a partisan 4-3 Ohio Supreme Court majority, what voters will see on their State Issue 1 ballots will still be incomplete and unconstitutionally persuasive pro-Issue 1 language.

The title of the ballot issue is, Elevating the standards to qualify for an initiated constitutional amendment and to pass a constitutional amendment. That puts a positive spin on what is actually a measure to make it harder for citizens to amend the state constitution.

Voters wont know that its harder, however, since Ohioans current 111-year-old constitutional rights to pass a constitutional amendment with a majority vote and far less onerous signature-gathering rules dont even get a mention on the ballot.

Then theres the biased title -- starting with, Elevating the standards -- that voters will see summarizing Issue 1. Merriam-Webster defines elevating as lifting up or making higher; raising in rank or status; improving morally, intellectually or culturally.

Yet, not a single Republican justice, in the high courts partisan 4-3 June 12 ruling on Issue 1 ballot language, found elevating to be anything other than a basically evenhanded way to describe a ballot issue that would make amending the Ohio Constitution harder, not more elevating.

The four Republicans -- Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy and Justices Patrick Fischer, R. Patrick DeWine and Joe Deters -- saw only minute differences in connotation between raising and elevating, adding that such wordsmithing should be left to [Ohio] Secretary [of State Frank] LaRose because it is not for this court to choose between words of the same meaning.

The courts three Democrats strongly disagreed, arguing that, Elevating is plainly prejudicial and should not be part of the title.

Prior Ohio Supreme Court rulings on unconstitutionally biased ballot language, as summarized in a 2012 case, citing a 1957 precedent, have found that use of language which is in the nature of a persuasive argument in favor of or against the issue * * * " is prohibited. The 2012 case, which had to do with a redistricting amendment, was ruled on by a largely Republican Ohio Supreme Court.

Its discouraging that a mere 11 years later, the courts Republican majority is willing to engage in its own wordsmithing to avoid finding Issue 1s ballot title to be a plain attempt to tip the scales toward a yes vote.

A second legal challenge to the Aug. 8 special election is also pending, based on language in HB 458 appearing to limit the use of August special elections to political subdivisions or school districts in fiscal emergency. One question is whether the General Assembly can use Senate Joint Resolution 2 -- a resolution, rather than a law requiring the governors signature -- to override this part of HB 458. Another is whether SJR 2 as a whole, including its setting of the Aug. 8 election, can lawfully set that date before voters act to either ratify or reject its substance in said Aug. 8 election.

If voters sense a theme here, theyre right. With extreme partisanship infecting every branch of state government and now lined up behind State Issue 1, its up to voters to come prepared to stand up for their rights by voting.

About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization.

Have something to say about this topic?

* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.

* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The crazy spring walleye fishing weather on Lake Erie has been difficult to predict, as weather patterns seem to change constantly. Big winds have created waves that continually muddy the wide waters of Lake Erie, which switch constantly from day to day and even hour to hour.

This week, Lake Erie has finally been calming down, and the walleye are definitely in a feeding mood. There are schools of small to medium-sized walleye gathering along the shoreline, and no matter your favorite walleye fishing technique, they all seem to be working.

Fishermen launching in Avon Lake, Lorain and Vermillion reported that the traditional drift-and-cast walleye techniques had little trouble rounding up a daily limit of six walleye. Most people had been fishing in 12 to 15 feet of water, and some said the walleye were so high in the water column and feeding that a splash count was working. Many were back at the launch or dock in just a few hours.

Bothered by the near-shore crowds, some fishermen moved out to deeper waters and began trolling Berkley Flicker Minnow diving plugs in 20 to 30 feet of water. They reported the walleye were randomly moving around, and after catching two or three eaters  walleye in the 18- to 20-inch range  a trophy walleye would test their tackle.

Anglers east of the Huron River Thursday were drifting the 20 to 28-foot depths and casting spinner rigs and a variety of light sinkers, target the top six- to 12-feet of water. A sinker, swivel, short leader, spinner and a No. 6 long-shanked hook tipped with a half of a nightcrawler was consistently the way to catch walleye. Purple and pink spinner blades generally ruled, but gold was a good color, as well.

With fairly temperate waters in the forecast for the weekend, and schools of walleye that are hungry and seemingly not affected much by the boat traffic, look for some great catches for Fathers Day weekend.

And some lunker sheepshead, too. The freshwater drum are moving closer too shore to spawn right now, and the big ones will give anglers quite a tussle.

Time to take dad fishing: Speaking of taking dads  and moms, uncles, aunts or just neighbors and friends  out for a day of fishing, this weekend is the best time. Fish For Free Day in Ohio is on Saturday and Sunday (Fathers Day).

While folks who have seldom gone fishing, or havent wet a line in quite a while, might be reluctant to spend $25 for a resident Ohio license, this weekend theyll have no excuse. Licenses are not needed.

Its a tactic the Ohio Division of Wildlife has been using since 1993 to get people to bite on the sport of fishing.

Good timing at Wingfoot Lake: Dam repairs at Wingfoot Lake, a 444-acre reservoir adjacent to the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company blimp hangars on the east side of Akron, have kept the lake levels low and generally foiled launching a boat or angling from shore.

The dam work is finally completed, the waters are starting to rise and Division of Wildlife fisheries biologists are expecting the fishing for bluegills, crappies and largemouth bass will steadily improve. Theres a 10-horsepower limit there on boat motors, so canoes and kayaks are best for a fishing trip.

To encourage paddlers and anglers, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has installed and dedicated a state-of-the-art kayak launch at Wingfoot Lake State Park this month. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-accessible kayak launch was created through a $62,000 donation from Goodyear.
CLEVELAND, Ohio - A home in Gates Mills nabbed $2.15 million, making it the most expensive home sold in Cuyahoga County in May, according to county property records.

Two other homes in Gates Mills sold for over $1 million in May and were among the10 most expensive homes sold in the county.
A roundup of conversations we're having daily on the site. Subscribe to the Reckon Daily for stories centering marginalized communities and speaking to the under-covered issues of the moment.

Protestors of Atlantas proposed Cop City are hoping to stop its construction by implementing a referendum that could appear on the ballot in November, advocates say.

To launch the initiative, organizers have had to overcome a slew of obstacles and technicalities imposed by the city, including obtaining 70,000 petition signatures, ensuring that paperwork is submitted in accordance with city guidelines and having an Atlanta resident witness each petition signature.

On Thursday, the citys municipal clerk rejected the initial petition submitted by activists June 7, claiming that organizers missed lines in the paperwork. Activists say the city did not inform them of the error and only discovered it when they went to check on the status of the petition.

Though the paperwork was resubmitted, it kickstarted a delay that could make it difficult for activists to get the needed signatures, demonstrators said. The clerk now has seven extra days to validate the petition. Reckon reached out to the clerks office for comment.

Activists also plan to pair Atlanta residents from outside city limits with people residing within city limits to ensure compliance with petition regulations. Demonstrators said the resident witness rule was a surprise for organizers.

Organizers have asked those opposed to the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center to voice their concerns Friday at City Hall outside the clerks office at 3 p.m. EST.

The proposed facility, which is being built in Dekalb Countys South River Forest, roughly 10 miles from Downtown Atlanta, has attracted national and international scrutiny for its $90 million price tag as well as the death of 26-year-old activist Manuel Teran from gunshot wounds in January.

Teran had been inside their tent during a police raid on the morning of Jan. 18, during which officials attempted to clear the forest of protestors whod been camping near the new facilitys grounds in opposition.

As a Georgia State Patrol trooper approached the tent, a shot was fired and hit an officer. That prompted police to shoot Teran, who was inside, 57 times.

It remains unclear where the initial shot came from. In body cam footage of the incident, an officer can be heard wondering, Did they shoot their own man? There is no body camera footage of the incident itself, however.

During a news conference in March, Terans father, Joel Paez, described Teran as an upstanding individual incapable of shooting an officer.

My child is a hero, he said.

In June, Atlanta City Council voted 11-4 to approve $31 million in public funds for the project, as well as $36 million to be paid over 30 years, The Associated Press reported. The approval came after a lengthy meeting that lasted until 5:30 a.m. in which countless community members voiced their disapproval of the project.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.


 
Charlie Javice, who is charged with defrauding JPMorgan Chase & Co into buying her now-shuttered college financial aid startup Frank for $175 million in 2021, arrives at United States Court in Manhattan in New York City, June 6, 2023.

Employees of a startup purchased by JPMorgan Chase expressed disbelief when the company's founder directed them to boost their customer count ahead of the acquisition, according to internal messages released Thursday in a legal filing.

The founder, Charlie Javice, instructed employees to change "public-facing numbers" of college aid platform Frank to 4.25 million customers in January 2021, JPMorgan alleged in the filing. Frank had fewer than 300,000 real customers when JPMorgan bought it in September 2021, the bank has alleged.

"Do we really have 4.25M students?" one Frank employee asked in a January 2021 Slack thread.

"Is this real?" another asked.

"Charlie is king of finding magic numbers," wrote another employee, whose names were redacted in the filing.

The release of private staff messages is part of the latest salvo in the legal dispute between Javice and JPMorgan, which paid $175 million for the startup. JPMorgan, the biggest U.S. bank by assets and a steady acquirer of fintech startups, sued Javice in December 2022, alleging that the founder had lied about her company's scale to close the deal.

According to Thursday's filing, Javice justified the change in user stats by telling employees that website visitors counted as customers, the bank alleged.

In its original suit, JPMorgan alleged that Javice hired a data science professor to concoct fake accounts after an employee refused to do so.

Javice's problems have intensified in recent weeks. In April, the startup founder was criminally charged by the Department of Justice and sued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, both which accused her of fraud related to the company sale.

Javice has said in court filings that JPMorgan knew how many users Frank had and that the bank sought to blame her for its mistakes.

A lawyer for Javice didn't immediately respond to messages left late Thursday.
Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Here are the most important news items that investors need to start their trading day:

1. On the run

Stocks are on track for a mega week, with the Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 each coming off six-day rallies and the Dow Jones Industrial Average steaming ahead 400 points Thursday. The Nasdaq, up almost 4% on the week, and the S&P 500, up almost 3%, both reached their highest intraday levels in 14 months Thursday. The Dow, the relative laggard since the start of the week, is still up 1.6% over the period. The gains come as the Federal Reserve clouds begin to clear, after the central bank skipped a rate hike this week. Follow live market updates.

2. High-stakes visit

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pictured on June 1, 2023 in Oslo, Norway. Javad Parsa | AFP | Getty Images

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to China this weekend for the first time under the Biden administration. The trip to Beijing was delayed by more than four months and marks a rare high-level meeting between the two nations during what's been a particularly tense time. The talks are expected to help step the U.S. and China toward a potential meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year. For that reason, Blinken's visit could be an "important turning point in the relationship," according to Scott Kennedy, senior advisor and trustee chair in Chinese business and economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "If [both sides] announce the talks went well enough they can schedule additional cabinet-level meetings."

3. DOJ takes a swing

Rafael Henrique | Lightrocket | Getty Images

The Department of Justice has notified the PGA Tour it plans to review the golf organization's proposed merger with Saudi-backed LIV Golf over antitrust concerns, NBC News reports. The deal, announced last week, would see once-bitter rivals join forces and form a new for-profit company, squashing several pending lawsuits in the process. It drew near-immediate criticism from lawmakers and human rights activists. Earlier this week, Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., urged the DOJ to probe the agreement. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., opened an inquiry into the deal, and Wyden launched his own investigation.

4. Healthy appetite

The New York Stock Exchange welcomes executives and guests of Cava in celebration of its initial public offering, June 15, 2023. NYSE

Mediterranean fast-casual chain Cava soared 99% in its debut on the public markets Thursday to $43.78 per share. That closing price represents a massive upside from earlier expectations and values the company north of $4.8 billion. The offering is sure to come as welcome news for a host of other restaurant companies that have been eyeing the public markets after the IPO market all but dried up over the last 18 months. Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chao, Korean barbecue chain Gen Restaurant Group, Panera Bread and Fat Brands' Twin Peaks are all expected to go public soon.

Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota Motor Corp. Yoshikazu Tsuno | Gamma-rapho | Getty Images
Gretchen Rubin has a theory on why you can't get yourself to the gym.

Most people spend too much time testing out new behaviors and routines as a way of building habits or achieving goals, says Rubin, a happiness researcher and bestselling author of the 2017 book "The Four Tendencies."

Instead, she recommends, focus on the motivations that you know have already worked for you before.

"A lot of times when people want to make a change, they want to make or break a habit," Rubin tells CNBC Make It. "They want to do something because it worked for a good friend of theirs or they read an article about [it]. They don't pay attention to [what has made them] succeed in the past."

If colleagues have helped keep you socially accountable for group work projects in the past, finding a gym buddy could help you stick to those workouts, for example.

If you usually pore through online reviews to find the perfect bar for a nearby happy hour, you might want to take the same approach to figuring out your ideal exercise routine.

The same logic applies to just about any problem, Rubin says. If you're struggling to get a promotion, think about how you've attained success in other parts of your life  and try to translate those tactics into your workplace.

The trick, in other words, is figuring out what motivates you and applying it to a wide variety of situations. "The people who are the most successful are the ones who have figured out what they need to achieve their aims," says Rubin.

In her book, she outlines four types of people, each of whom are motivated a little differently:

Upholders, she explains, are task-oriented and driven to complete their goals  no matter who sets them. They can write in a journal that their New Years' resolution is to go to the gym four times a week, and then actually do it. Obligers, sometimes known as people-pleasers, are driven by social discipline, Rubin says. They might need to find a running group or buddy to feel motivated. Questioners use research or justifications to motivate themselves: They'll go to the gym, but only after spending hours deciding which workout will provide the best results. Rebels won't do something just because someone told them to, says Rubin. They may not even listen to themselves. Instead, they're identity-driven: If they are convinced they're a runner, they'll run.

Understanding what motivates you matters: Self-awareness correlates directly with career success, and is common among "high-performing individuals," psychology research suggests.

Self-awareness can simultaneously help protect you against stress and burnout, neuroscience and psychology experts told CNBC Make It last month.

Even better, says Rubin: If you can identify what motivates the people around you, you can understand and interact with them much more effectively.

"In the workplace, you can determine, 'This person needs outer accountability,'" she says. "Some people need deadlines and some work better without them."

DON'T MISS: Want to be smarter and more successful with your money, work & life? Sign up for our new newsletter!

Get CNBC's free Warren Buffett Guide to Investing, which distills the billionaire's No. 1 best piece of advice for regular investors, do's and don'ts, and three key investing principles into a clear and simple guidebook.
Dr. Mandy Cohen speaks at a news conference at the Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, Nov. 10, 2021.

CDC directors do not currently require Senate confirmation, though that will change in January 2025 due to recent legislation passed by Congress.

"Dr. Cohen is one of the nation's top physicians and health leaders with experience leading large and complex organizations, and a proven track-record protecting Americans' health and safety," Biden said in a statement Friday.

Cohen served as the head of North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services during the worst days of the Covid-19 pandemic. She previously helped implement Affordable Care Act programs as a senior official at the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

President Joe Biden on Friday said he will appoint Dr. Mandy Cohen to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cohen's appointment comes as federal health leadership in the U.S. is in a period of transition after the Covid-19 public health emergency came to an end last month.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the current CDC director, is stepping down at the end of this month. She led the CDC through the Covid vaccine rollout, as well as the delta and omicron waves of Covid. Walensky cited the end of the Covid emergency in her resignation letter to Biden.

Cohen will take over a CDC that's undergoing a restructuring to address criticisms that the agency acted too slowly during the pandemic and often gave health guidance that confused the public.

But the CDC isn't the only health agency that's going through changes.

Dr. Ashish Jha left the White House earlier this month after leading the Covid task force for more than a year.

Biden recently nominated Dr. Monica Bertagnolli to lead the National Institutes of Health. She is currently the head of the National Cancer Institute. The NIH has been without a Senate-confirmed leader since December 2021.

Sen. Bernie Sanders, chair of the Senate health committee, told The Washington Post earlier this week that he would oppose Bertagnolli's nomination until the president adopts a clear strategy to lower drug prices.
Bill Gates, co-chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, during the EEI 2023 event in Austin, Texas, US, on Monday, June 12, 2023.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met Microsoft 's co-founder Bill Gates on Friday and said he hopes the friendship between Chinese and Americans will continue, state media CCTV reported.

"The world is emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic, people should move more, communicate more, and enhance understanding," Xi reportedly said. "I often say that the foundation of China-U.S. relations lies in the people. We always place our hopes on the American people and hope that the friendship between the two peoples will continue."

In the meeting at Beijing's Diaoyutai state guesthouse, Xi also told Gates he is the "first American friend" that the Chinese leader has met in Beijing this year.

Top diplomat Wang Yi and Foreign Minister Qin Gang were among those who attended the meeting.

"China is willing to carry out extensive scientific and technological innovation cooperation with all countries in the world, and actively participate in and promote global challenges such as climate change, epidemic prevention and public health," said Xi.

Their meeting comes a day after the billionaire philanthropist met Beijing's mayor to discuss a drug discovery partnership with China.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation  which Gates is the co chair of  announced Thursday a $50 million donation over the next five years into the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute established by his foundation. Beijing's municipal government will match the $50 million investment.

GHDDI primarily focuses on developing new drugs for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, which significantly impact the world's poorest.
Changpeng Zhao, founder and CEO of Binance, waves as he arrives on stage for a panel session on the second day at the VivaTech Conference in Paris, June 16, 2022.

PARIS  Days before French police visited Binance's Paris office, the crypto exchange's top French executive dismissed concerns about U.S. regulatory charges affecting Binance's other operations, comparing them with the flapping of a butterfly's wings.

French prosecutors have opened a probe into "aggravated money-laundering" by the crypto exchange, Le Monde reported Friday, adding in a statement that the company was also being probed over operating an unauthorized exchange.

Just days before the raid, CNBC asked Binance France President David Princay if he was concerned about charges from the top two U.S. financial regulators against the exchange.

"I don't care what happened in the U.S.," Princay retorted, speaking at the Proof of Talk summit in Paris. "We are in Europe, with a French regulator, a European regulator."

Princay insisted Binance.US assets were separated from the international exchange, an assertion also made by the exchange's legal team. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which charged Binance last week with 13 securities charges, disagrees, arguing that Binance user funds are at "significant risk" of flight due to founder Changpeng Zhao's alleged ownership of an interlocking set of Binance-related companies.

Binance France's chief called the U.S. allegations of commingling a "car crash."

"The only concerns I have right now is that we look too much at the car crash and not drive," Princay said.

Binance's founder, Zhao, dismissed the police statement and reporting as "FUD," claiming it was a "surprise on-site" inspection that was "the norm."

"We will not comment on the specifics of law enforcement or regulatory investigations except to say that information about our users is held securely and only provided to government officials upon receipt of documented appropriate justification," the exchange said in another statement.

Princay did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the police visit.

Binance faces over a dozen charges from the SEC and a similar slate of allegations from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. A reported Department of Justice probe is also ongoing into the exchange, according to an SEC complaint.
The Binance logo is displayed on a screen in San Anselmo, California, June 6, 2023.

Cryptocurrency exchange Binance said it will leave the Netherlands after the company's application to register under the Dutch crypto authorization regime was rejected.

Referring to a virtual asset service provider, Binance on Friday said that it could no longer serve Dutch clients "as we have been unable to register as a VASP with the Dutch regulator."

The company didn't give a reason for why it was unable to receive a license from regulators.

Starting Friday, no new Binance users will be accepted onto the platform. From July 17, Binance said it will cease allowing users to buy tokens, trade, or make deposits, although its withdrawal function remains active.

Binance recommended that users withdraw their assets from their accounts.

The Dutch central bank, which is responsible for authorizing new virtual asset services providers, was not immediately available for comment.

Under the current regulatory regime, Binance can only get approval to operate in an EU country by registering under its money laundering prevention rules.

The firm has so far received such approvals in France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden and Lithuania. This is set to change once the EU approves its Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation.

MiCA aims to harmonize crypto regulation across the bloc and to prevent bad actors from harming consumers, particularly in the wake of the shock bankruptcy of FTX in November.

Once MiCA comes into force, crypto firms with registration in one EU country will be able to then use that to offer their services across other member states.

Binance said it remains "committed to working collaboratively with regulators around the world and are additionally focused on getting our business ready to be fully MiCA compliant."

"Existing Dutch resident users are being sent an email with comprehensive information about what this means for their accounts and any assets they currently have on the Binance platform, alongside any steps they will need to take," a Binance spokesperson told CNBC.

"While Binance is disappointed that this has become necessary, it will continue to engage productively and transparently with Dutch regulators."

The latest blow to the crypto giant follows a tumultuous few months for the broader cryptocurrency industry. Last week, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sued Binance and CEO Changpeng Zhao, alleging that they engaged in the unregistered offer and sale of securities and commingled investor funds with their own.

WATCH: How a $60 billion crypto collapse got regulators worried
Bank of America chief investment strategist Michael Hartnett has joined his colleagues in admitting he was too pessimistic in his outlook for stocks this year. In his weekly note to clients examining the flow of money through the market, Hartnett took a jab at himself, labeling his outlook the product of "A Bear of Very Little Brain." Further, he outlined several reasons why "bears like us have been wrong" in the first half of 2023. Essentially, he chalks up the miss to three factors: "Goldilocks" economic conditions taking hold, muted contagion from the March collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and other institutions, plus the ability of major artificial intelligence companies to carry the market to powerful gains. On the economy, "nominal GDP remained super-charged by fiscal stimulus/war, labor" while the labor market was "impervious to monetary policy in post-pandemic world," Hartnett wrote. On the banking issues, the SVB collapse "threatened [a] credit crunch but was deftly averted by Fed & US Treasury emergency liquidity program, there was no [quantitative tightening], no liquidity drain, quite the opposite." Those Federal Reserve and Treasury programs that backstopped the banks caused money to be "routed into the new secular growth theme of AI (then internet)" and then "investors [were] forced to play catch-up as hard landing risks evaporate." While Hartnett and BofA in general have admitted getting the first half wrong, they also are not overly optimistic about the second half. In a recent note, the bank's top quant strategist, Savita Subramanian, said there are pockets of opportunity in the market, but she left her full-year S & P 500 target unchanged at 4,300, which actually implies about 3% downside from the current level. Likewise, Hartnett said he sees at most, another 100 to 150 points of upside for the S & P 500 against the potential of 300 points to the downside between now and Labor Day. "We are not convinced we [are] at [the] start of [a] brand new shiny bull market," he wrote, adding that it "still feels more like [a] combo of 2000 or 2008, big rally before big collapse." He listed three conditions that can darken the outlook: whether the Fed "reintroduces fear" and projects it could raise its borrowing benchmark a full percentage point to 6%, an additional surge in Treasury yields and the U.S. unemployment rate climbing above 4% from its current 3.7% . Until then, he said, credit spreads can remain low, equities can rise and "investors are likely to chase" gains by rotating from momentum into more contrarian plays. These include deflation, emerging market stocks and "hard-landing plays" such as REITs and commercial real estate, banks, small-cap stocks, oil and China.
Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) looks on during the opening session at the UNFCCC SB58 Bonn Climate Change Conference on June 05, 2023 in Bonn, Germany.

Negotiators departed the United Nations campus in Bonn, Germany this week with a palpable sense of frustration over key decarbonization issues, such as climate finance and the pace of carbon pollution cuts.

The Bonn Climate Change Conference, which wrapped late Thursday, is designed to prepare decisions for adoption at the COP28 summit in the United Arab Emirates later this year. It is widely regarded as a mid-way check on how talks are progressing ahead of the world's biggest annual international climate conference.

For many at the two-week-long event, the lack of progress on issues such as climate finance and the pace of cuts in carbon pollution left a lot to be desired.

"Progress was underwhelming on nearly every front, with one main culprit: money," said David Waskow, international climate director at World Resources Institute, a global non-profit organization.

"Discussions on the first-ever Global Stocktake became gridlocked over how to incorporate finance and support," Waskow said. "This adds another obstacle to leveraging the Global Stocktake to mobilize transformational actions out of COP28 to curb emissions, boost resilience and deliver more finance."

The UAE, the third-largest oil-producing member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, will host the COP28 summit from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.

Viewed as one of the most significant climate conferences since the landmark Paris Agreement, the Dubai summit will see the U.N. publish a global stocktake on tackling the climate emergency  the first since the Paris accord in 2015.

In Bonn, however, low-income countries were left deeply frustrated that funds pledged to them to implement their climate plans had not yet materialized.

WRI's Waskow said that, while the thorny issue of climate finance was not on the official agenda, "it clearly cast a shadow over the negotiations."
Bristol Myers Squibb on Friday sued the Biden administration over Medicare's new powers to slash drug prices, the third such lawsuit to be filed against the program in a matter of days.

The lawsuit filed in federal district court in New Jersey argues the Medicare negotiations violate the First and Fifth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.

Bristol Myers Squibb has asked the court to declare the program unconstitutional and prevent the Health and Human Services Department from forcing the company to enter negotiations.

Bristol Myers Squibb's arguments mirror those lodged last week by Merck , the first company to sue the federal government over the drug negotiations. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has also sued HHS over the program with similar arguments.

The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022 in a narrow party-line vote, empowered Medicare to negotiate drug prices for the first time in the program's six-decade history. The law is the central pillar in the Biden administration's efforts to control rising drug prices and was a major victory for the Democratic Party.

Bristol Myers Squibb said its blood thinner Eliquis, used to treat clots and strokes, will be subject to the negotiations this year. The company generated $11.8 billion in revenue from Eliquis last year, about 25% of the company's $46 billion in total revenue for 2022.
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud (C-R) and Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Hu Chunhua attend 10th Arab-China Business Conference in Riyadh, on June 11, 2023. Fayez Nureldine | Afp | Getty Images

BEIJING  Venture capitalists in China that once relied on U.S. investors are now holding court with Middle Eastern money. A flurry of China-Middle East conferences and business visits in the last several months represent what's expected to be a growing trend in international capital flows. related investing news Wells Fargo raises its price target on Tesla. Here's what the pros are saying Many Middle East investors have discussed deals with Chinese venture capital funds in the last 12 months, according to sources at three Chinese firms with U.S. dollar-denominated funds. They requested anonymity because they are not permitted to speak publicly about the fundraising talks. Although the money isn't completely replacing U.S. investment, it's expected to account for about 20% of all U.S. dollar funding by Chinese VCs, one of the sources estimated. Middle East investors are actively looking for China opportunities, then investing at a small scale to test the waters, the source told CNBC this week, noting frontier tech, new consumer trends and biotech were popular industries of interest.

watch now

Bolstering the investment trend is a confluence of diplomatic, financial and economic developments. China's ties with the Middle East have warmed since Saudi Arabia and Iran restored diplomatic relations earlier this year  through discussions brokered by Beijing. Meanwhile, U.S.-China tensions have simmered. Those tensions and increased regulatory scrutiny in both countries prompted many U.S.-based investors to hold off on investments in Chinese venture capital funds. Those funds were typically denominated in U.S. dollars and invested startups would then go on to list on U.S. stock exchanges. Middle East capital is looking to step in, especially as countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar look to diversify from dependence on fossil fuels. However, many potential investments in Chinese funds are still in discussion, the venture capital funds said.

Trillions in assets

As of February 2022, Middle East investors' allocation to North American assets were still clearly higher than Asia-Pacific ones, according to Preqin, an alternative assets research firm. Alternative assets include venture capital, but not publicly traded stocks and bonds. That exposure is growing. Preqin data showed the share of Middle East sovereign wealth funds' investment in alternative assets worldwide roughly doubled between 2021 and the first half of 2022. In all, the eight largest Middle East sovereign wealth funds had more than $3 trillion in combined total assets as of last year, according to the latest estimates available from Preqin.

watch now

Saudi Arabia's ties with China are shifting from being based on trade to a "core investment relationship," Khalid Al-Falih, Saudi minister of investment, told CNBC's Dan Murphy this week. In addition to Saudi investment in oil refining and petrochemicals in China, Al-Falih noted investments in technology by the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, and private sector companies. PIF has about $700 billion in assets under management, according to its website. The fund did not respond to a request for comment about the share of its China investments.

Investment in car technology

Al-Falih was speaking during the Arab-China business Conference in Riyadh, the Saudi capital. At the conference, Saudi Arabia announced it signed a $5.6 billion deal with the Chinese parent of high-end electric car brand HiPhi. In late May, Aramco-backed Prosperity7 Ventures announced it invested "tens of millions" of yuan in Hyperview, a Shanghai-based assisted driving technology company.

China is a major source of technology, a major source of business. Partnering with China is one of the key drivers of implementing a successful transformation of the UAE. Massimo Falcioni Business Council of Dubai

"It was very clear that trucking in China is bigger than anywhere else. If a company is successful in creating safe, autonomous trucking, the chances of it scaling in China is higher than in other places," said Aysar Tayeb, executive managing director at Prosperity7. Prosperity7's investments in about 30 startups are split roughly evenly between U.S.-based and China-based companies, Tayeb said in a phone interview earlier this month. "We're beginning to see more activity in China for sure," he said, noting that China deal flow "was a little bit slower" in the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In May, Abu Dhabi hosted conferences targeted specifically at Chinese entrepreneurs. Local authorities claimed in May they hosted China's "top 50 unicorns"  a term referring to startups valued at more than $1 billion  and launched the "Arab China Unicorn Investment Conclave," according to a UAE state-media release.

"After the conference it will increase the participation of investors from China," said Massimo Falcioni, secretary general and vice president of the Business Council of Dubai. He said more investment fund and asset management companies were coming from China to the United Arab Emirates. "China is a major source of technology, a major source of business," he said. "Partnering with China is one of the key drivers of implementing a successful transformation of the UAE." Whether Saudi Arabia or Dubai, Middle East governments have announced plans in the last several years to spend heavily on reshaping their economies for future growth. Chinese companies have valuable infrastructure and manufacturing knowhow, said Niol Ma, a Chinese native who says he's lived in Dubai for about 20 years. Regional interest in doing business with China has grown so rapidly that Ma claims his firm, Gulf Ferry Management Consultancies, went from no clients in 2021 to meetings with more than 100 prospective customers in the last 12 months. Ma claims his firm has already helped those Chinese clients raise more than $350 million. For a number of Chinese clients, he said the goal is for them to repackage themselves as local companies in the Arab region ultimately able to list on the Nasdaq.  CNBC's Natasha Turak contributed to this report.
Bitcoin still closed the week slightly negative, for the second week in a row, by 0.21%. Ether also posted a second consecutive weekly decline. It fell 10.84%. Coin Metrics measures a week in crypto, which trades 24 hours a day, from the 4:00 p.m. ET stock market close one Friday to the next.

Even altcoins rose, with the tokens tied to Solana and Cardano gaining 4.5% and 2%, respectively. Binance Coin was 2.75% higher, litecoin gained 3% and the Uniswap token advanced 4%.

Crypto prices climbed to end the week Friday, a day after the largest asset manager in the world jumped into the race to launch the first spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund in the U.S.

Investors were weighing the latest development in the crypto industry's battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for regulatory recognition and guidance. After the bell Thursday, BlackRock  the largest asset manager in the world  filed for spot bitcoin ETF, with Coinbase as its crypto custodian.

"One of the big purposes bitcoin serves as an asset class is really diversification. It just has a different risk profile than traditional financial markets," Gustavo Schwenkler, associate professor at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University said. "If this were to get approved, then I could anticipate a lot more institutional investors adding bitcoin to their investment to their portfolios  it would institutionalize the market in a way that is not possible right now."

If allowed to move forward, the iShares Bitcoin Trust would become the first approved ETF in the U.S. to track the price of bitcoin, versus the futures contracts tied to the cryptocurrency. It's been about 10 years since the first filing for a potential spot bitcoin ETF. Since then, every application that has gone through the SEC has been rejected.

The filing comes about a week after the SEC sued its crypto custody partner, Coinbase, for violating securities laws, leaving many questioning the timing of BlackRock's application.

"That apparent commitment to Coinbase is almost as important near term as their commitment to bitcoin is in the long term," said Mark Connors, head of research at 3iQ. "It's a big deal."

CNBC's Gina Francolla contributed reporting.
This May 18, 1973, file photo shows Daniel Ellsberg, the former government consultant who in 1971 released the Pentagon Papers that exposed the deceit of American policymakers during the Vietnam War.

Daniel Ellsberg, the whistleblower who exposed the U.S. government's lies about the Vietnam War by leaking the Pentagon Papers to some of the nation's top newspapers, has died, his family said in a statement on Friday.

He was 92.

Ellsberg's demise came about four months after he announced on Twitter that he had been diagnosed with "inoperable pancreatic cancer."

"I'm sorry to report to you that my doctors have given me three to six months to live," he wrote on March 2.

Ellsberg was working as an analyst for the RAND Corporation in 1969 when he and a colleague named Anthony Russo secretly photocopied a 7,000-page study privately commissioned by the Defense Department which revealed the U.S. government knew early on the Vietnam War could not be won.



Initially, Ellsberg and Russo offered the study to several members of Congress and government officials before deciding to leak it to the newspapers.

Then-President Richard Nixon branded them traitors and tried to stop the publication of the Pentagon Papers, first in The New York Times and then in The Washington Post. But the U.S. Supreme Court in June 1971 sided with the newspapers with a landmark decision barring prior restraint of free expression.

Two days before that momentous decision was handed down, Ellsberg surrendered to the U.S. Attorney's office in Boston.

"I felt that as an American citizen, as a responsible citizen, I could no longer cooperate in concealing this information from the American public," he said. "I did this clearly at my own jeopardy and I am prepared to answer to all the consequences of this decision."

Ellsberg and Russo were subsequently charged with espionage, theft and conspiracy for the leak. They went on trial in Los Angeles, where the papers had been copied, and Ellberg faced a maximum of 115 years in prison if convicted.

But a federal judge dismissed the case in 1973, ruling that the government was guilty of misconduct, including an attempt by the White House to find ammunition to discredit Ellsberg by breaking into the office of his Beverly Hills psychiatrist.

Born April 7, 1931, in Chicago, Ellsberg was raised in Detroit and was the son of non-religious Jews who became devout Christian Scientists. He had his first brush with tragedy in 1946 when his mother and sister died in a car crash that happened after his father fell asleep at the wheel. He too had been in the car.

Ellsberg earned an economics degree from Harvard in 1952 and enlisted in the Marines two years later. He returned to Harvard in 1957 after he was discharged as a first lieutenant.

Then, after his first stint at RAND and after earning a Ph.D. in economics at Harvard, Ellsberg in 1964 went to work at the Pentagon under then-Defense Secretary Robert McNamara.

For two years, Ellsberg was stationed in Vietnam where he worked for the State Department and when he returned to RAND in 1967 he began contributing to a top-secret history of the war that had been commissioned by McNamara.

Completed in 1968, it came to be called The Pentagon Papers.

By then, Ellsberg was already growing disenchanted with a war he once supported.

Ellsberg was dubbed "The Most Dangerous Man in America" after his role in releasing The Pentagon Papers was revealed.

In the years that followed, Ellsberg continued to oppose American wars in places like Iraq and Afghanistan and defended other whistleblowers like Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning. And while he condemned Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, he also warned it could lead to all-out war with Russia.

"The Russian invasion of Ukraine has made the world far more dangerous, not only in the short run, but in ways that may be irreversible," Ellsberg said in a June 2022 interview. "It is a tragic and criminal attack. We are seeing humanity at its almost worst, but not quite the worst  so far, since 1945 we haven't seen nuclear war."




PARIS  Eutelsat is one of the biggest satellite companies in the world, but has faced declining revenue in its traditional businesses at a time when it is handling a huge acquisition and facing disruption from billionaires Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos.

Eutelsat CEO Eva Berneke is betting on that massive acquisition of a British firm called OneWeb to turn around the company's fortunes.

"OneWeb is the big bet," Berneke told CNBC in an interview this week at the VivaTech conference in Paris.

Eutelsat makes most of its money from satellites that provide connectivity to broadcast operations like TV networks. But that revenue is slowly declining. These so-called geostationary or GEO satellites is what Eutelsat specializes in.

OneWeb, a British company, specializes in so-called low Earth orbit, or LEO satellites, which are used for things like internet connectivity.

By combining Eutelsat's legacy GEO business with the LEO business of OneWeb, Berneke feels like it could be a big advantage.

"[What ]OneWeb brings is a low orbit constellation, a bit like Starlink, where we can then start combining the two networks with a GEO plus LEO network," Berneke said.

OneWeb, a direct competitor to Elon Musk's Starlink, which counted Japanese giant SoftBank among its investors, filed for bankruptcy in 2020. The U.K. government at the time invested in the company to save it. Eutelsat announced last year it would acquire OneWeb.

Starlink aims to create a constellation of satellites that provide internet connectivity on Earth.
Huawei is back in the spotlight in Europe after a report suggested Germany may ban some equipment from the Chinese telecommunications giant in its 5G network.

A top European Union official has called on more EU countries to ban Chinese telecommunications firms Huawei and ZTE from their 5G networks, ramping up tensions with Beijing.

Thierry Breton, EU commissioner for internal market, said he wants more member states to remove "high-risk" suppliers such as Huawei and ZTE from their mobile internet infrastructure upgrades, citing national security risks.

In January 2020, the EU adopted a "5G cybersecurity toolbox" aimed at identifying the risks of accepting certain providers of 5G infrastructure into its rollout. That came as several countries, including the U.K., were deciding to ban Huawei over security fears.

"We will continue to work with determination with the Member States that are lagging behind and the telecommunications operators," Breton said in a Thursday speech.

"I can only emphasize the importance of speeding up decisions to replace high-risk suppliers from their 5G networks. I have also reminded the telecoms operators concerned that it is time to get to grips with this issue."

To date, only 10 EU countries have restricted or banned Huawei from their 5G networks, Breton said.

"For our part, the Commission will implement the 5G toolbox principles to its own procurement of telecoms services, to avoid exposure to Huawei and ZTE," Breton said.

China subsequently said that it firmly opposes some EU countries' ban on Huawei, and that the Commission has no legal basis to prohibit the firm, according to Reuters, which cited a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson.

Breton's comments follow news that Germany is considering whether to ban Huawei and ZTE from its 5G network because of alleged national security risks. In response, China's embassy in Germany said it was "puzzled and strongly dissatisfied" by the reports.

"Huawei strongly opposes and disagrees with the comments made by representatives from the European Commission," a Huawei spokesperson told CNBC. "This is clearly not based on a verified, transparent, objective and technical assessment of 5G networks."

"Huawei understands the European Commission's concern to protect cybersecurity within the EU. However, restrictions or exclusions based on discriminatory judgments will pose serious economic and social risks. It would hamper innovation and distort the EU market."

A ZTE spokesperson described the Commission's proposed actions as "unfortunate" and said they "do not appear to be based on any specific articulable concerns."

"ZTE strongly agrees that the safety and security of 5G networks in EU member states is of essential importance," the ZTE spokesperson said.

"ZTE's products are secure, and comply with all technical and regulatory standards in EU member states. No evidence has been presented to date that would suggest otherwise. ZTE's only request is to be treated fairly and objectively by regulators and legislators - just like any other vendor."
Air raid sirens sounded across Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine on Friday as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and other leaders visited the Ukrainian capital as part of an African peace mission. Regional police say three people were injured and more than 30 houses were damaged following a Russian missile attack.

Ukraine's National Resistance Center said 150 children were taken on June 8 from the Russian-occupied Luhansk region of Ukraine to facilities on Russian territory, where 750 Ukrainian children were expected to arrive this month.

Kyiv says nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted by Russia, something that international organizations say constitutes a war crime. NBC has not been able to verify the situation on the ground.

Russia ramped up security its an annual St. Petersburg economic forum where President Vladimir Putin is speaking Friday. In a speech, Putin said Russia's finances were in good health and that the country must increase its defense spending.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, arrives during a funeral ceremony at the Troyekurovskoye cemetery in Moscow, Russia, Saturday, April 8, 2023. AP

Tensions have emerged this week between the Kremlin and the head of Russian private military company, the Wagner Group, as President Vladimir Putin appeared to take sides in a long-running and very public dispute between Russia's mercenaries and the defense ministry. It's well known that there's no love lost between the outspoken Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin and Russia's Ministry of Defense; Prigozhin has openly and repeatedly criticized the ministry's most senior officials, including Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, in expletive-laden rants slamming Russia's military strategy in Ukraine. He has also accused senior defense officials of treachery and deliberately withholding ammunition for the Wagner Group which has spent months fighting in Bakhmut, the epicenter of intense hostilities in Ukraine. Read more about Russia's war on Ukraine:

Rescuers are braving snipers as they ferry Ukrainians from flood zones

Ukraine says no peace talks with Russia before withdrawal

Ukraine's counteroffensive has been underwhelming so far

Putin extols Russian economic performance, defends spending Prigozhin has been very careful not to direct any public criticism toward the Kremlin and Putin, and is one of the president's long-standing associates and supporters. But now, however, tensions appear to be emerging between Prigozhin and the Russian leadership, putting him in a precarious position with the Russian president. While Wagner has had its uses in Ukraine (and arguably, has been able to boast some gains where Russia's regular army has not) Russia's defense ministry has been keen to curb the group's influence, and particularly that of Prigozhin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) speaks with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (R) and Chief of the Gen. Valery Gerasimov (L) after a meeting of the Russian Defence Ministry Board on December 21, 2022. Mikhail Klimentyev | Afp | Getty Images

The latest move to rein in the mercenary group came last Saturday when Shoigu announced that "volunteers formation" and private military companies would have to sign contracts directly with the ministry by July 1. The ministry claimed that "this will give volunteer formations the necessary legal status, create common approaches to organizing comprehensive support and fulfilment of their tasks," according to state news agency TASS. Prigozhin reacted to the announcement with characteristic defiance, stating Sunday that "Wagner will not sign any contracts with Shoigu," adding that the order did not apply to the Wagner Group. But then the move to enforce contracts with private military companies was explicitly endorsed by Putin on Tuesday, with the president saying he wanted the law changed to legalize their activities. "This is the only way to ensure social guarantees (for mercenary fighters) because there is (currently) no contract with the state and no contract with the Defence Ministry," Putin told a group of war correspondents. Remarkably, despite Putin's comments, Prigozhin again refused to sign any contract, saying Wednesday that "when we began to participate in this war, no one said that we would be obliged to conclude agreements with the Ministry of Defense," he said on Telegram according to a translation by Google. He added that "none of the Wagner PMC fighters is ready to go down the path of shame again. And so no one will sign contracts."

Precarious place for Prigozhin

Prigozhin has stated that he's confident a compromise can be found that avoids the need for a contract with the defense ministry, but analysts say the mercenary boss is on shaky ground in his apparent defiance of Putin. The U.K's defense ministry remarked on rising tensions Thursday, noting that "for several months, Wagner owner Yevgeny Prigozhin has been aiming vitriolic criticism at the MoD [Ministry of Defense] hierarchy but deferred to Putin's authority." Now, it noted, that "Prigozhin's rhetoric is evolving into defiance of broader sections of the Russian establishment." It warned that July 1 the deadline for the volunteers to sign contracts  "is likely to be a key way-point in the feud."

Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin attends the funeral of Dmitry Menshikov, a fighter of the Wagner group who died during a special operation in Ukraine, at the Beloostrovskoye cemetery outside St. Petersburg, Russia, on Dec. 24, 2022. AP
South Korea has recovered from the sea part of a rocket used in North Korea's failed attempt to launch its first military satellite last month, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Friday.

The announcement came about two weeks after North Korea unsuccessfully tried to launch its first spy satellite, with the booster and payload plunging into the sea.

The debris was salvaged on Thursday evening from the seabed about 75 meters (246 feet) below the surface off the west coast, the military said, adding that the search continued for additional objects from what the North said was a space launch vehicle.

South Korea began retrieving debris shortly after the launch, and had already recovered smaller parts. But the operation had faced difficulties partly because of a strong tide and bad visibility, prompting the military to dispatch 10 vessels and dozens of deep-sea divers.

Photographs released by the Joint Chiefs of Staff showed a large cylindrical object marked "Chonma," meaning a winged horse in Korean. North Korea had said the rocket was named "Chollima-1."

"The salvaged object will be thoroughly analysed in cooperation with the United States," it said in a statement.
Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading.

Virgin Galactic  Shares of the space company soared 16.5%. On Thursday, the firm set its first commercial space tourism flight for this month. The company, which was founded by billionaire Richard Branson, completed its final test spaceflight in May.

iRobot  The stock surged 21.2% after U.K. regulators approved Amazon's $1.7 billion acquisition of the Roomba vacuum cleaner maker. Meanwhile, Amazon inched down about 0.5%.

West Pharmaceutical Services  West Pharmaceutical Services gained 0.6% after Bank of America upgraded the life sciences stock to buy from neutral, saying it will benefit from the rise of drugs targeting weight loss.

Cava Group  Cava Group shares dropped 12.9% during trading Friday, giving back some of its gains from its massive debut Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange. At one point, shares more than doubled in value during Cava's first day of trading.

SoFi Technologies  The financial technology stock dropped nearly 10% after both Bank of America and Piper Sandler downgraded it to neutral from buy, citing SoFi's recent run higher. Bank of America said the fundamental aspects of the student loan repayment moratorium expiration is now largely priced in.

Adobe  Shares added 0.9%. On Thursday, the company beat expectations and offered positive guidance when reporting for the fiscal second quarter. Adobe posted $3.91 in adjusted earnings per share on $4.82 billion in revenue, while analysts polled by Refinitiv anticipated earnings of $3.79 per share and $4.77 billion in revenue. Adobe said current-quarter and full-year revenue should come in around where Wall Street expects, while it said adjusted earnings per share in those periods would likely be higher than anticipated.

Nvidia  The chipmaker at one point jumped more than 2% to another record high after Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore switched his top pick to Nvidia from Advanced Micro Devices. The analyst said Nvidia has more immediate upside than other artificial intelligence stock plays. It closed up 0.1%.

Micron Technology  Shares dipped 1.7% after Micron Technology said a China chip ban could hurt the company. "We now believe that approximately half of that China HQ customer revenue, which equates to a low-double-digit percentage of Micron's worldwide revenue, is now at risk of being impacted," the company said in a Friday filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Humana  Humana shares declined 3.9%. The company reaffirmed its full-year insurance segment benefit expense ratio guidance, between 86.3% and 87.3%, though it expects it will be at the top end of this outlook. The company cited higher-than-expected "non-inpatient utilization trends," including emergency room, outpatient surgeries and dental services as a driver of this forecast.

Truist Financial  Shares fell about 1% after Odeon Capital Group downgraded Truist Financial to hold from buy, according to FactSet.

 CNBC's Michelle Fox, Alex Harring and Yun Li contributed reporting.
DETROIT  Toyota Motor stock sealed its best week since 2009 on Friday, as the automaker laid out a robust plan for future all-electric vehicles and company scion Akio Toyoda became leader of the Japanese company's board.

Shares of Toyota on the New York Stock Exchange closed Friday at $164.35 per share, down 2.3% for the day but still up 10.6% on the week. That 5-day gain is the stock's best week since April 2009 when shares increased 14.5%.

Such a rally is not typical for the stock. It's only the third double-digit weekly gain in more than two decades for the relatively well-performing but mundane stock. Shares of the company are up 20% so far in 2023.

The positive uptick this year comes as recent supply chain problems ease for the automotive industry, including Toyota, and after Toyoda, grandson of the company's founder, announced plans to transition from CEO to chairman after more than 13 years leading the automaker.

Toyoda, who left his post as chief executive on April 1 and was succeeded by Koji Sato, had faced criticism from some environmental groups and investors for not going all-in on EVs and continuing production of hybrids and plug-in hybrids such as the Prius and Prius Prime.
James Trusty, attorney for Donald Trump, appears on "Meet the Press" in Washington, D.C., April 9, 2023.

An attorney who quit the team defending Donald Trump in the criminal classified documents case said Friday he would no longer represent the former president in a separate defamation lawsuit against CNN.

The lawyer, Jim Trusty, said in a court filing that his request to withdraw from the $475 million civil suit "is based upon irreconcilable differences" with Trump.

"Counsel can no longer effectively and properly represent Plaintiff," Trusty wrote in the filing in U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Neither Trusty nor lawyers for CNN immediately responded to requests for comment on Trusty's move to withdraw as Trump's counsel.

Lindsey Halligan, Trump's remaining attorney in the defamation case, referred CNBC to the former president's spokesman Steven Cheung, who said the defamation suit is "entering a new phase as more irrefutable facts are revealed."

"We thank Mr. Trusty for his work on this case and wish him all the best," Cheung said.

A week earlier, Trusty and another lawyer, John Rowley, tendered their resignations as Trump's counsel in the federal criminal case that had just resulted in his indictment on charges related to his post-presidency efforts to keep a raft of classified documents at his resort home Mar-a-Lago.

"Now that the case has been filed in Miami, this is a logical moment for us to step aside and let others carry the cases through to completion," Trusty and Rowley said in that statement.

Four days later, Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 counts including retaining national defense records, concealing documents and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

The attorneys' statement also noted they would no longer defend Trump in another ongoing federal criminal investigation into the events surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. U.S. Department of Justice special counsel Jack Smith oversaw both probes.

They bear little resemblance to Trump's civil defamation suit against CNN, which was filed in October.

Trump, who has a long track record of attacking media outlets and specific reporters over coverage he dislikes, accused CNN of running a "smear campaign" against him, including by comparing him to Adolf Hitler.

The lawsuit homed in on CNN's frequent invocation of the Big Lie, a term used to refer to a variety of false claims of election fraud Trump and his allies have peddled as they claim President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory was rigged.

"The 'Big Lie' is a direct reference to a tactic employed by Adolf Hitler and appearing in Hitler's Mein Kampf," asserted the complaint from Trump's legal team, which at the time included Trusty.

CNN in November asked the court to dismiss the case, calling Trump's claims "untenable and repugnant to a free press and open political debate."

The outlet noted Trump's lawsuit hinges on just five CNN pieces. It argued that none of them suggest he "has the character of Hitler."

Trump's complaint suggested CNN was defaming him to undermine his potential candidacy in the next presidential election. Trump launched his 2024 campaign the next month, and he has consistently led the Republican primary field in the polls.

Trump seeks $475 million in punitive damages and more than $75,000 in compensatory damages.
Ukrainian servicemen ride atop an armored personnel carrier vehicle in the Zaporizhzhia region on June 11, 2023. Anatolii Stepanov | Afp | Getty Images

When Ukraine's counteroffensive started last week there was no fanfare or official announcement, but that wasn't entirely unexpected. Kyiv had repeatedly insisted in the months up to the counteroffensive, as it pleaded for and awaited more weapons deliveries from its international allies, that it would not pre-announce the start of its actions aimed at retaking a swathe of Russian-occupied land in southern and eastern Ukraine. Still, after its almost imperceptible launch and modest progress in recent days, plus reports of "extremely heavy" fighting and counterattacks by Russian forces around the few settlements Ukraine says it has recaptured, observers could be forgiven for feeling somewhat underwhelmed so far. But military analysts say there's a reason that this latest counteroffensive is proceeding cautiously and that Kyiv has a strategy  that of probing for weaknesses along Russia's long and deep defensive lines, and that larger-scale attacks are expected to follow. Certainly anyone expecting more of a "big bang" from this counteroffensive and for Ukraine to dramatically recapture a large amount of territory in quick time  similar to earlier successful counteroffensives in the northeast Kharkiv region last September or the southern Kherson region in the fall  is likely to be disappointed, analysts said. "It is no surprise that Ukraine is being cautious," Nick Reynolds, research fellow for land warfare at the London-based defense and security think tank RUSI, told CNBC Thursday. "I would say that if this counter offensive doesn't ultimately result in a big bang, I don't think anyone should be really surprised. Perhaps they will be able to find certain weak points and take large amounts of ground or this could be a more incremental offensive," he noted, warning that Russia had re-postured its armed forces for defensive operations and that they are "much more effective on the defense."

Slow and steady ... wins the race?

Only a handful of villages have been re-captured in modest advances made over the past week and there are reports that Russia is counterattacking and contesting several settlements that Ukraine has reclaimed. Ukraine's relatively limited territorial gains so far also reaffirm previous expectations that an offensive in the south would be gradual and extremely difficult, especially without the air superiority, Andrius Tursa, Central and Eastern Europe advisor at Teneo, a political risk consultancy, told CNBC Thursday. "The Russian side has been anticipating such an offensive for months and set up multi-layered and well-equipped defensive lines in the area," he said. Defense analysts say Ukraine is carefully trying to probe the depth of Russian defenses, including miles of trenches, anti-tank ditches, dragons' teeth designed to block the path of military vehicles and other fortifications, predominantly located along the front line spanning from Zaporizhzhia in southern Ukraine to the Donbas in the east. "Now we can see the first stage of this counteroffensive," Oleksandr Musiyenko, a military expert and head of the Centre for Military and Legal Studies in Kyiv, told CNBC Tuesday. "We are trying to find the weakest places in the Russian defense line. That's the first point. Also what I can say is that Ukrainian forces had some success, liberating some villages and territory around Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk ... and the counteroffensive also continues around Bakhmut," he said.

A military vehicle moves through a road as the Ukrainian army conducts an operation to target the trenches of Russian forces through the Donetsk region, where the country's most intense clashes are taking place. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Ukrainian defense officials said earlier this week that seven settlements had been liberated in the last week of fighting in Donetsk and that the area of the territory now under control amounted to 90 square kilometers, or 35 square miles. Nonetheless, Ukraine's deputy defense minister conceded Wednesday that the fighting was "extremely fierce" and that the counteroffensive had only had "partial success" so far. CNBC contacted Ukraine's defense ministry for further comment and is awaiting a response. Musiyenko believed bigger attacks by Ukrainian forces were on the way and was optimistic that Russian defensive lines would be broken. "We will see the main punches of Ukrainian forces in the nearest future. The main goal right now is to cut and destroy the land bridge to Crimea [referring to a swathe of land in southern and eastern Ukraine connecting mainland Russia to Russian-occupied Crimea] and to then move forward. Ukraine has also some prospects to move forward in the Donbas region and to liberate Bakhmut even." "So we will see bigger attacks of Ukrainian forces in the near future, and also what's very important is that Russians have used all their reserves that they have already, but Ukraine hasn't," he added.

Great expectations

Ukraine has a lot to prove with this latest counteroffensive, having to show its international partners that the continued supply of NATO weaponry is worth it, used effectively and can be decisive in the outcome of the war. U.S. State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller said Tuesday that the White House would not comment on "twists and turns of the counteroffensive or battlefield updates on what is obviously a very active and ongoing situation. We'll leave that to the Ukrainian military to speak to." RUSI's Reynolds said that Western-donated weaponry wouldn't radically change Ukraine's performance on the battlefield, however. "I think a lot of the capabilities they've been gifted have been useful but the Ukrainian military is still working to absorb a lot of the equipment it's been given, a lot of it's been provided piecemeal," he said, noting that, as such "we certainly shouldn't have expected any radically different performance based on sort of Western equipment."

A screengrab captured from a video shows Ukrainian soldiers in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, on June 12, 2023, a major hot spot in the war between Moscow and Kyiv. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
U.S. Ambassador to Turkiye Jeffry Flake speaking in Washington D.C., United States on May 3, 2023.

The U.S. is still holding out hope that Sweden will join NATO by July in spite of Turkey's apprehensions, Ambassador to Ankara Jeffry Flake said.

"We hope Sweden can become a member of NATO soon," Flake told CNBC's Dan Murphy Friday, adding that Sweden has taken a number of measures to address Turkey's security concerns.

"We fully expect and hope that by the time Vilnius comes ... that Sweden will be a member."

Earlier this week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had on Wednesday rebuffed mounting international pressure to ratify Sweden's NATO membership bid before the defense alliance convenes for the 2023 Vilnius summit of July 11-12.

Officials from Sweden, Turkey, Finland and NATO had convened in Ankara with hopes of easing Turkey's objections.

"Sweden has expectations. It doesn't mean that we will comply with them," Erdogan said, according to Turkish state-run outlet Anadolu. Turkey, Finland and Sweden had last year inked an agreement to on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Madrid, committing to address Turkey's security demands.
A view of the practically empty swamp that supplied water to Fuente obejuna village in Cordoba, Spain on May 19, 2023.

European lawmakers issued a stark warning about the region's growing water crisis ahead of another extreme summer, saying there is a pressing need to tackle issues such as scarcity, food security and pollution.

Speaking at a European Parliament plenary session entitled "The Water Crisis in Europe" on Thursday, lawmakers called for increased action to preserve and improve water resources, already affected by several years of depleting groundwater levels as the climate crisis continues to intensify.

Record-breaking temperatures through spring and a historic winter heatwave have taken a visible toll on the region's rivers and ski slopes, while protests have broken out over water shortages in both France and Spain.

"Copernicus satellite imagery acts as a sad confirmation that many parts of the union face intense difficulty," EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson said during her opening remarks.

"Some regions are suffering from water scarcity due to the droughts, while others are suffering from floods. Most are suffering from the consequences of water pollution but none of this is new."

Simson said the EU had implemented robust laws to protect water systems stretching back to the 1970s but conceded that the legislation and the way it had been implemented could only achieve so much.

"We have reached the point where we need to take a different approach," she added. "Let us not be the continent that learns the value of water after the well has run dry."
With 50 percent of Airtel Africa's EBITDA contributed by Nigeria, the telecom player faces a setback as the Nigerian currency Naira devalues to record lows.

The Nigerian central bank has removed trading restrictions on the official market, which led to the Nigerian currency Naira dropping to a record low of 750 to the US Dollar, down from June 13th low of 477 Naira to the US Dollar. This move comes after Bola Tinubu, President of Nigeria suspended the central bank governor who oversaw much criticized multiple exchange rates.

Share Market Live NSE

This was the first time since 2016 that the Naira had recorded a big fall on the official market before the central bank introduced a managed exchange rate in 2017.

This poses a setback for Bharti Airtel as 50 percent of company's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) is contributed by Nigeria. HSBC in a report in May 2023 valued Airtels Africa operations at Rs 32 per share.

Airtel Africa had earlier guided that 1 percent devaluation in Nigerian Naira could lead to $22 million impact on revenues, $12 million impact on EBITDA and $7 million impact on finance costs. The Naira had weakened against the US Dollar across all the segments of the foreign exchange market. Naira weakened by 29 percent against the US Dollar. Several reasons why the Naira has weakened are the fall in oil prices and forex reserves along with foreign direct investment flows. Alongside, there has been a fall in remittances from Nigerians abroad and the Covid pandemic, among others.

At 11:30 am on June 16th, the stock is trading flat on the exchanges at Rs 828 per share.
The deadly virus has already spread to the UK, Pakistan and countries in Europe and Africa.

A new threat of a deadly virus has emerged after Pakistani health officials reported two deaths from the deadly Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF). The virus was earlier found to be spreading in Europe and the UK, while Namibia had declared an outbreak of the virus in May.

According to the World Health Organization, the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is caused by a tick-borne virus (nairovirus) and it has a case fatality rate of 10 to 40 percent.

Alert issued for countries

A high alert was issued in Pakistan after two deaths and 16 cases of the virus were reported in Balochistan this year. Eleven of the total cases were reported this month, according to Al Jazeera.

In the UK, the government's Science, Innovation and Technology Committee has also been informed of a highly likely spread of the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) due to climate change.

The ticks are moving up through Europe due to climate change, with longer and drier summers, said Professor Ali Mirazimi, a virologist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden in a Mirror report.

In May, Namibia declared an outbreak of CCHF after a patient died in the capital Windhoek.

The virus has been spreading in Europe too in countries like Spain where one death was reported in Madrid in April.

What is Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever?

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral fever which causes haemorrhages in the body. It is usually transmitted by ticks but it can also be contracted through contact with infected animal tissue.

The virus can lead to epidemics, and it has a high case-fatality ratio of 10-40 percent.

The disease, which is endemic in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and Asia, can cause outbreaks as it is difficult to prevent and treat.

How does it spread?

The virus is primarily spread by a type of tick that infects small animals in early stages of life and then moves to larger animals like livestock.

The infected tick can produce thousands of infected eggs and the young ticks further spread the infection.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever can also contract through contact with infected animal tissues during and after the slaughter of infected animals.

Symptoms

The incubation period of the disease is usually 13 days after a tick bite, with a maximum of 9 days. The same is usually 56 days in case of contact with infected animal tissue.

Symptoms of CCHF are sudden. These include:

Fever

Muscle ache

Dizziness

Neck pain

Backache and headache

Sore eyes and photophobia (sensitivity to light)

There could be nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain, followed by sharp mood swings and confusion. After 24 days sleepiness, depression and lassitude, may set in with detectable liver enlargement.

Other clinical signs include:

Tachycardia (fast heart rate)

Lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes)

Petechial rash (a rash caused by bleeding into the skin) on internal surfaces, such as the mouth, throat, and on the skin.

Treatment

As per the WHO, general supportive care with treatment of symptoms is the primary approach to managing the disease. Anti-viral drug Ribavirin could also be used in oral and intravenous formulations.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16)  A 13-year-old Egyptian terrorist fighter surrendered to authorities in Indanan, Sulu on Wednesday after joining the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) since 2017, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.

The AFP Western Mindanao Command said the teenage fighter with an alias - "Ibrahim" - is the "last juvenile foreign terrorist on the periodic list."

He arrived in the country six years ago along with his stepfather, mother, and two brothers, who all died in encounters with the military, the AFP added.

"Speaking in Tausug dialect, Ibrahim expressed his resentment against his mother who dragged him and his brothers into horrific situations where they must fight against the government forces and conduct atrocities," the WesMinCom said in a statement.

"He thought they were just going on a vacation trip in the Philippines, but he was forced to join the Abu Sayyaf Group," it said.

Ibrahim was joined by ASG sub-leader identified as "Ellam," 27, who has been active with the group since 2009.

The two surrendered their weapons to the 1103rd Infantry Brigade which included an M16 rifle, M16A1 rifle, one magazine, and 20 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 16)  More than 20,000 people have fled their homes as Mayon continues to spew lava, latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed.

According to the NDRRMC's situational report on Friday, the volcano's unrest has displaced 20,267 individuals from the 6-kilometer radius permanent danger zone. They are temporarily staying in 27 evacuation centers in Albay.

The disaster agency added that the government has so far provided 57.6 million worth of food and non-food relief assistance.

To date, a total of 38,391 people were affected from the eight cities in the province: Bacacay, Camalig, Ligao, Daraga, Guinobatan, Malilipot, Sto. Domingo, and Tabaco.

No death or injury has been reported at this time.

READ: The beauty is a beast: Mayon Volcano's unrest in 2023

On Friday, Albay Gov. Edcel Greco Lagman ordered the designation of disaster response desks in all evacuation centers.

The governor said this will help address internally displaced evacuees' concerns such as sanitation, ventilation, and security. He added that this will also ensure relief goods are well-distributed.

State volcanologists earlier said there is still no cause to raise Alert Level 4 over Mayon but its restiveness could take a several weeks to a few months.

With its current status, the volcano has an increased tendency towards a hazardous eruption, and potential explosive activity can occur within weeks or even days.

READ: Albay gov't eyes permanent relocation for residents within Mayon danger zone
Offer a personal message of sympathy...

By sharing a fond memory or writing a kind tribute, you will be providing a comforting keepsake to those in mourning. If you have an existing account with this site, you may log in with that below. Otherwise, you can create an account by clicking on the Log in button below, and then register to create your account.
Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday.
ArborGen Holdings Limited (NZX: ARB ) (the Company) announces Justin Birch will assume the roles of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Company and of the Companys wholly owned US based subsidiary, ArborGen Inc. (ArborGen), effective 16 June 2023 US time. He will replace Andrew Baum who steps down from the CEO role on the same day.

Please refer the Companys prior announcements  ArborGen Appoints Justin Birch as Chief Executive Officer - NZX, New Zealands Exchange and ArborGen Announces Management Transition Plan - NZX, New Zealands Exchange, for further detail.

Comments from our readers

No comments yet

Add your comment:

Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process.

Related News:

July 20th Morning Report

Argosy refinances bank facilities

Tower changes guidance, provides Q3 trading update

July 19th Morning Report

Third Age Health - Change of External Auditor

Infratil Infrastructure Bond Offer Opens

Genesis Appoints Chief Transformation & Technology Officer

Chatham Rock Phosphate Private Placement Closes

Mainfreight - Director and Legal Counsel Retirements

Chorus full year results date


US government indicts four people involved in racket selling body parts donated to Harvard Medical School

The United States government has brought federal charges against the manager of the morgue at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and three other people for allegedly selling human body parts stolen from the school and a morgue in Arkansas.

Cedric Lodge (left), former manager of the morgue for the Anatomical Gifts Program at Harvard Medical School in Boston, is one of four people indicted by federal authorities. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@MrsBarnesII

United States Attorney Gerard M Karam stated that the indictments and information allege that a nationwide network of individuals bought and sold human remains stolen from Harvard Medical School and an Arkansas mortuary.

Some crimes defy understanding, said Karam. With these charges, we are seeking to secure some measure of justice for all these victims.

Cedric Lodge, 55, formerly manager of the morgue for the Anatomical Gifts Program at Harvard Medical School in Boston, is alleged to have stolen organs and other parts of cadavers between 2018 and 2022, and with his wife, Denise Lodge, 63, to have sold the remains online.

Lodge, the government contends, stole heads, brains, skin, bones and other human remains  and removed those remains from the morgue in Massachusetts and transported them to his residence in New Hampshire.

The defendants reportedly coordinated by cellphone and social media, and sometimes even shipped remains through the United States Postal Service.

Lodge is alleged to have allowed two others named in the indictment, Katrina Maclean, 44, owner of Kats Creepy Creations, a store in Peabody, Massachusetts, and Joshua Taylor, 46, to enter the morgue and choose what to take.

Harvard medical school deans George Daley and Edward Hundert called the alleged actions morally reprehensible.

United States Attorney Gerard M Karam. Photo courtesy: WIkimedia

We are appalled to learn that something so disturbing could happen on our campus  a community dedicated to healing and serving others, the deans said.

Harvard said that after the indictment was unsealed and it became fully aware of the circumstances of the case, HMS immediately communicated with donor families and set up a webpage for them.

The US Attorneys Office has and will continue to attempt to identify victims and contact as many of the victims families affected by this case as possible, they added.

The maximum penalty under federal law for this offense is 15 years of imprisonment.
06/16/2023

Photo source: USDA J.T.M. Provisions Company of Harrison, Ohio, is recalling approximately 200 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) chili topping.

While the product is labeled as chili topping, it may actually contain beef taco filling with soy, an allergen not declared on the label.

There are no confirmed reports of adverse reactions.

The following item, which was produced March 14, 2023, comes in 5-lb. boilable plastic bags marked Gordon Choice Homestyle Chili Topping, with lot code 230732002. and establishment number 1917A inside the USDA mark of inspection, was shipped to institutional and retail locations nationwide.

What to do

Customers with an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy who purchased the recalled product should not consume it, but discard or return it to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions about the recall may contact the firm at at (513) 367-4900, Ext. 117, or by email at mmontgomery@jtmfoodgroup.com.
What do you do when your citizens come upon something new? You must ban it, obviously. New things lead to new thoughts, which lead to new actions, which lead to your downfall. New things also have direct physical effects, which can lead to the end of the world. The exact science may be uncertain, but that was no obstacle back when...

5 Syria Banned Yo-Yos, Thinking They Caused Drought In 1933, Syria was suffering from drought. Syria often suffers from droughts, actually, and even its baseline level of precipitation is a touch on the dry side, but this 1933 drought was especially bad. Looking for something to blame, the countrys holy men turned to a new toy people were playing with: yo-yos. Everyone was praying to the heavens above for rain, they reasoned, and meanwhile here were yo-yos springing to the ground below, and that surely disturbed everything. And so, they convinced the head of the new government, Taj al-Din al-Hasani, to ban yo-yos. Bibi Saint-Pol Yo-yos spell doom. Look, it has been foretold! Rain was not terribly well understood, even so many thousands of years into humanitys recorded history with it. As late as the 1890s, farmers in America believed that rain was caused by digging into the ground. The yo-yo, too, was not well understood. At the time of this ban, international reports had to explain to people just what the toy was. It was an invention commonly known as the bandalore, according to dictionaries at the time, and had been called a quiz in England. You may be tempted to laugh at the confused holy men. But shortly after the ban went into effect, the rains returned, so the holy men got the last laugh. Well, not really, since theyre all dead now, while youre still laughing today, but you know what we mean.

4 Germany Banned the Game Risk, Saying It Would Induce Feelings of Militarism When Parker Brothers tried to bring the game Risk to Germany, not all that much time had passed since World War II had ended. Some sources say this was 1981 while others put it as early as 1962. Either way, the West German government looked at the rules of Risk and said the game could inspire imperialist and militaristic tendencies in the youth. Germans, of course, had had some history with such tendencies in the recent past. seekbus/Ebay Resulting in the conflict referenced by this 1985 ad. Advertisement Parker Brothers now amended the game a bit. The version that ended up coming to Germany, called Risiko, featured some mild gameplay changes, including the number of dice you roll. It also made one change in the language of the rules. Rather than conquer your opponents territories, Risiko had you liberate them. This met with the censors approval. You see something similar today with video games. Many games in the open world genre follow a similar template  no matter what the premise of the game is, your goal is to clear the map, district by district. If it seems inappropriate to call this conquering the districts, the game may call it liberating the districts. Anyway, if those German censors thought games can inspire militaristic feelings in young people, we have to imagine that teaching them invasions fine so long as you call it liberation is a lot more harmful than letting them role-play as conquerors for fun. Advertisement Advertisement

3 The BBC Banned Desk Lamps Below is a picture of a table lamp, a device so basic that you may never have considered it a dedicated invention created by one person. This ones actually known as the Anglepoise lamp, and it was invented in 1932 by George Carwardine. It slightly predated the Luxo lamp (the one in the Pixar logo), and its adjustable arm made it a convenient lighting choice for desk workers everywhere. CATMANUM/Wiki Commons See, before screens, desks needed lighting. In fact, it was a little too convenient, according to the BBC. In 1949, the network put together a standard practices manual called the Green Book (unrelated to a different American guidebook called the Green Book), and in it, they banned all BBC writers from using these individual lamps. The writers room must have ceiling lighting, which shined on everyone, said the new rules. If each writer had lighting of their own, that would promote a dangerous level of individuality. Advertisement Writers with lamps would pen smut and innuendo, warned the book, inspired by the light into producing furtive and degenerative programs. As a result of the ban, the British Empire lasted a few years longer than it would have otherwise. We received such BBC shows as Watch with Mother and The Good Old Days, wholesome fare whose creativity is yet to be surpassed anywhere.

2 China Banned Videos of Eating Bananas Many governments of the world have tried to crack down on pornography for reasons that dont make quite as much sense as reformers think. When the porn becomes harder to find, those left high and dry turn to other imagery for stimulation. And so, last year, China discovered the trend of videos of women livestreaming themselves seductively eating bananas. The government banned these videos with the same fury with which they ban all erotic content. Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, even in the Western world, bananas were once deemed so phallic that eating them was always considered a sexual display, no matter the intention. But in the interests of covering the issue accurately, we had to seek out these Chinese videos and evaluate just how far they went. This was harder than it sounds. Many news sources reporting on the ban used the following still images, which you might consider suggestive, but which lack enough context for a proper judgment. via BBC, Japan Times Now, if she was eating a Gros Michel, that would really be X-rated. We discovered the following compilation, parts of which might be considered too seductive by the Chinese government. Rules passed at the same time as the banana ban similarly banned stockings and suspenders as too sexy. Play Advertisement Advertisement In time, we came upon further banana videos that  while not porn, by any conventional definition  were so erotic that we refuse to embed them here. This one appears to come from Vietnam but is no longer available on the original TikTok account, suggesting it ran afoul of the ban. Anyway, when you try searching for seductive Chinese banana videos now, genuine videos are crowded out by videos reporting on the ban, making this governmental move a more effective measure than it initially seemed.
Less than two months after the state of Nevada changed its statute of limitations for civil cases regarding sexual assault, nine women accused disgraced comedian Bill Cosby of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed yesterday.

The plaintiffs say that Cosby carried out the assaults in Nevada between 1979 and 1992, and all of them claim that Cosby either drugged or attempted to drug them before the attack. The allegations in the suit bear similarities to the several accusations against Cosby in California, New Jersey, and most notably, Pennsylvania, where he was convicted for sexual assault and spent three years in prison before the conviction was overturned on the grounds that prosecutors had previously promised Cosby that he would not be charged.

The comedian who announced his intention to stage a comeback tour earlier this year now faces several civil suits in multiple states as more women come forward with their stories.

Play

Advertisement

Cosbys publicist, Andrew Wyatt, told The New York Times that the latest suit against his client is motivated by an addiction to massive amounts of media attention and greed on behalf of the plaintiffs. Last year, Cosby lost a similar civil suit against Judy Huth, who claimed Cosby sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles in 1975 when she was just 16 years old. Huth was awarded $500,000 in the decision.

In 2020, the state of California extended, then lifted, the statute of limitations for sexual assault filings in civil cases, which allowed Huth and other alleged victims of Cosby to open their suits against him. Just earlier this month, Playboy model Victoria Valentino also sued Cosby for sexual assault over an alleged attack in Los Angeles back in 1969.

Now that Nevada has followed similar legislative measures, more alleged victims now have the ability to pursue legal action against the serial assaulter. Hopefully, more states will follow this example and every victims story can come to light.
China makes major contribution to global human rights progress: UN expert

People's Daily Online) 16:19, June 16, 2023

China has made a great contribution to global human rights progress, as demonstrated by the countrys achievements in protecting human rights at home and driving cooperation around the world, said Aslan Abashidze, a member of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, at a forum on human rights.

The Forum on Global Human Rights Governance, themed "Equality, Cooperation and Development: The 30th Anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and Global Human Rights Governance," was held in Beijing from June 14 to 15.

Aslan Abashidze, a member of the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights receives an interview with Peoples Daily Online during the Forum on Global Human Rights Governance held in Beijing. (Screenshot from the interview)

The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government have spared no effort in safeguarding the human rights of the Chinese people, and have eradicated extreme poverty in a country with a population that accounts for about one fifth of the world total, said Abashidze, applauding Chinas remarkable feat in meeting the poverty reduction goal of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ten years ahead of schedule.

Chinas contribution to global human rights governance also comes from its assistance to and cooperation with other countries, which brings tangible benefits to people in many regions, such as South Asia, Central Asia, Africa and Latin America, according to the expert.

The concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind proposed by China is supported by a majority of countries, he said to Peoples Daily Online.

Global human rights governance is currently confronted with challenges, as some countries wield unilateral tools, Abashidze noted.

If we have no basis of cooperation, it's impossible to manage the main goals [of the UN Charter], he said, adding that its essential to reach a common understanding on human rights, as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

As this year marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, the international community should act in unity and seek consensus on human rights, so as to move forward and secure more gains in human rights protection.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Are our water companies as incompetent as rail operators?

If theres a heavy rain these overpaid fat-cats complain theres too much rain for their antiquated systems to cope - so raw sewage gets dumped on our beaches, making swimming a health hazard.

If the sun shines for more than a week, we can expect the imposition of draconian water restrictions within a matter of days.

Hosepipes are regarded as implements of the devil and woe betide anyone who washes the patio, fills a paddling pool, or cools down by drinking more than two litres of tap water a day.

Much of Englands creaking water system is riddled with leaks, with up to a quarter of supplies dribbled away every day, and - in spite of thousands of new homes being built in the South East - suppliers havent matched increased demand with new reservoirs.

Staff from South East Water giving out bottled drinking water to customers at Headcorn aerodrome in Kent after the water company imposed a hose pipe ban today

A resident carries a pack of water from a bottled water station in Wadhurst, East Sussex, today, following the hosepipe ban

Most of us accept that the weather is changing, becoming more extreme and unpredictable.

Last summers long drought was followed by a wet winter and a very late spring. In Europe the story has been the same.

A hot spell in Spain in spring was followed by unseasonably low temperatures, heavy rain and even hail stones during my break in May!

I shivered in a cardigan in the countryside near Ronda and spent exactly two minutes on a quick dip in the pool.

Last week I hoped to find sun in Tuscany (the trip was booked a year ago), but arrived to find thunderstorms, heavy rain and hour after hour of clouds.

I wore my raincoat more than my shorts and resorted to swimming with a plastic shopping bag on my head.

Returning home in search of a tan, I discovered that (as usual) prolonged sunny weather in the UK means our water companies cant cope.

South East water have imposed a hosepipe ban - the earliest ever - on two million customers in Kent and Sussex, claiming that demand for drinking water has reached record levels during the current heatwave.

They asked customers to only use water for essential purposes.

Schools have had to close because kids cant use the toilets, bottled water is being handed out in big towns like Ashford, and homes and businesses in a huge swathe of Kent and Sussex have endured very low water pressure.

Anyone would think they lived on the edge of the Sahara, not the South Downs and the Kent Weald.

Doesnt it all sound horribly familiar? Every summer we seem to face hosepipe bans, water shortages and the threat of standpipes in the street.

Like running trains on time, supplying water seems to be an incredibly difficult task.

In 1989 the government decided to privatise Englands water providers, and since then profit, not service or guaranteed supplies has ruled their strategy.

South East water have imposed a hosepipe ban - the earliest ever - on two million customers in Kent and Sussex

The Scottish government own Scottish water and Welsh water is operated by a not-for-profit company, but English water companies are currently owned by rich foreign investors including the governments of Singapore, China, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait.

TransPennine Trains recently had their franchise removed for incompetence after customers had suffered years of cancellations, strikes and late arrivals. Why are water companies not subjected to the same scrutiny?

In 2021, Southern Water was fined 90 million for causing serious pollution in protected coastal waters by discharging sewage on 62 occasions over a five-year period.

The company had already faced a 126 million penalty for pollution in 2019. Have they improved their service? Sadly, it seems not: during the first eight days of November 2022 Southern spent over 3,700 hours dumping raw sewage on 83 of Englands loveliest beaches.

Now, the governments Information Watchdog has ruled the company must publish internal memos detailing how they deal with raw sewage, but they are stonewalling and refusing to do so.

Less than a month ago, I spent a few days in Whitstable - currently facing the new water restrictions from June 26th - and was told the beach where I regularly swim was still being regularly polluted by discharges of raw sewage every time there was a heavy storm.

Like our train operators, the overpaid bosses of UKs water companies seem to find the needs of their customers a major inconvenience.

The job of a water company is surely to provide water, deal with sewage efficiently, protect our environment and avoid pollution at all costs.

Sadly, these core objectives seem beyond their capabilities, while customers face ever increasing bills for something they cant live without.

The previous boss of Southern Water, Ian McAuley earned over 1 million, with bonuses. He retired last year and his successor - Laurence Gosden - has not revealed his pay, although he announced he was not taking a bonus in 2023.

The biggest water companies - like Thames, Severn Trent and Yorkshire - pay their chief executives well over a million pounds a year, including bonuses.

Even if some have said they are not claiming the bonus this year because of the outcry over sewage discharges, their renumeration is grossly inflated considering the service they provide.

Would the boss of a biscuit factory get a massive bonus if customers found out that his cookies were full of sawdust?

But if that person ran a failing NHS trust, train company or supplied drinking water to a beauty spot in England, they probably would.

Sadly, this now seems to be the British way, routinely over-rewarding failure and shockingly poor service dished out to customers who have no other choice.

The previous boss of Southern Water, Ian McAuley earned over 1 million, with bonuses

Recently, the MP for Eastbourne was told that the reason why the lovely beach had been downgraded from good to sufficient- an appalling result for a town which relies on holidaymakers - was because there had been a misconnection of sewage pipes. In other words poo was being dumped where children swim.

Misconnection is another of those modern words disguising the fact that water companies have under-invested in upgrading their systems for decades while steadily increasing bills and providing nothing in return.

Earlier this year the water companies issued a joint apology for the 822 tons of raw sewage they dumped every day in England in 2022, promising us they would invest 10 billion on storm overflows to prevent it happening in the future.

At present they can face fines of up to 250 million, although the ineffectual Environment Secretary, Theresa Coffey thinks the level of punishment is disproportionate.

I expect customers will be subsidising these wonderful new storm drains via their annual bills.

This weekend, experts predict the hot weather will be broken by thunder storms and record rainfall of up to 60 mm in 24 hours.

That wont mean the end of hosepipe bans, but it will mean youll probably be swimming alongside of lot of poo at the seaside.
Rachel Johnson, lunching with Lady Antonia Fraser days after Boris's resignation as an MP, reveals that two of her ladyship's family had a direct hand in her brother's downfall.

Cabinet Office Secretary Alex Chisholm, who 'handed over more lockdown kompromat to the police', is married to her niece, and Privileges Committee chairman Harriet Harman is her cousin.

Rachel describes Antonia's reaction in The Spectator: 'She smiled beatifically.'

Rachel Johnson (left centre) lunched with Lady Antonia Fraser days after Boris's (right centre) resignation as an MP, only to reveals that two of her ladyship's family had a direct hand in her brother's downfall. Pictured: Stanley Johnson (left) and Jo Johnson (right) are pictured with them at Dartmouth House, October 22, 2014

Twisting the knife into Boris, fellow former Henley MP Lord Heseltine misquotes Oliver Cromwell's famous 1653 Commons speech.

'You have sat here for too long... in God's name go,' spouts the old show pony on Sky News. Don the dunce's hat Hezza.

What Cromwell actually said, comparing MPs to 'sordid prostitutes', was: 'Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors. In the name of God, go!'

Northern Irish-born James Nesbitt blames Uma Thurman for president Bill Clinton's lack of enthusiasm when he thanked him for his role in the Belfast peace agreement.

'He was talking to Uma Thurman at the time, who was wearing a long, flowing dress,' recalls the Cold Feet star.

'I said 'Thank you from the bottom of my heart.' Clinton's reply? 'Son, you're standing on Uma's train.'

Uma Thurman attends the 'Jeanne du Barry' Screening & opening ceremony red carpet at the 76th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals on May 16, 2023

Novelist John Banville recalls being contacted by the secretive Cormac McCarthy  who died this week aged 89  who wanted to know how he could avail of Ireland's tax-free status for writers.

'Then we lost contact and I didn't know he had come here to live,' says Banville.

Maybe he had covertly reverted to his real name Charlie, changed to Cormac to avoid confusion with a popular ventriloquist dummy called Charlie McCarthy.

Satirist Tom Sharpe's new biography makes no reference to his grandfather's obsession with the prose of Thomas Hardy, camping for two weeks outside his Dorchester estate hoping for an audience.

Hardy, who saw himself primarily as a poet, eventually invited his admirer in for tea.

'What do you think of my verse?' he asked. Replied Sharpe: 'Oh, you write poetry as well?' His departing feet didn't touch the ground.

Satirist Tom Sharpe's new biography makes no reference to his grandfather's obsession with the prose of Thomas Hardy. Pictured: Tom Sharpe in pictured writing in Spain in October 1997

Circus of Horrors founder Doktor Haze, who has died aged 66, was inundated with bizarre job applications  including an enthusiast called Hannibal who was so desperate to enlist he tattooed his entire body, forked his tongue like a reptile, inserted mammoth ivory into his teeth and learned to swallow swords.

'He turned out to be a really nice guy,' remarked Haze, despite Hannibal's day job as a tax inspector.
Really, what is the point of the vast, sprawling, money-sucking Covid Inquiry?

Cant we just all agree mistakes were made, lets move on?

That the Government did their best at a time of unprecedented medical emergency, that we emerged worse than some countries but better than most? That it was a disaster on a global scale, a terrible time for all and that every death was a tragedy?

We got some things wrong, we got a lot right but, all in all, everyone did their bit.

On the issue of lockdowns, some people will support them until their own final lockdown beckons, others will argue until eternity that they caused more harm than good.

Officially proving the case either way seems an impossible task, a fatuous exercise in hindsight. And even if it were not, any judgment sympathising with the entrenched views of one side would be dismissed as a whitewash by the other.

JAN MOIR: Really, what is the point of the vast, sprawling, money-sucking Covid Inquiry? Pictured: Baroness Heather Hallett, Chair of the Covid Inquiry

Id have a little more faith if we were inquiring a little harder on what happened in Wuhan and not why Brexit is to blame. Picture: Virologists at the Wuhan Institute of Technology in 2017

So what exactly is the point of going over every pandemic cough and spit, in minute detail, in an inquiry that is going to last three years and cost millions, with some of the core costs being borne by the taxpayer?

Months before the inquiry opened, all sides had lawyered up and were preparing for battle  in some cases not to engage in the fight for Covid truth, but to save their own reputations.

The Covid-19 Bereaved Families For Justice group, the Cabinet Office, key government departments and the NHS have all hired leading law firms on multi- million-pound contracts for the duration. In addition, there will be medical experts and legal experts on retainers, plus specialist firms tasked with sifting through millions of sensitive documents and emails.

Not least of all, public relations firms have been hired to protect their clients via the usual unctuous methods; gilding damaged lilies and burnishing legacies, while silkily sliding the blame elsewhere.

It will be a miracle if truth can survive such a pestilence of pass-the-buckery.

Costs were approaching 100million even before the inquirys chair, Baroness Hallett, opened for business on Tuesday morning. What was even more surprising was that from the very start, mission creep began.

The inquirys lead counsel, Hugo Keith KC, seemed to suggest that the Governments enormous preparation and focus on Brexit had drained resources and left them without a pandemic strategy.

For the bereaved families, Pete Weatherby KC appeared to blame David Cameron and George Osbornes austerity drive in particular and Conservative cuts to NHS spending in general.

The Government did their best at a time of unprecedented medical emergency. Boris Johnson is pictured yesterday

Day one and you can already guess where this is going.

As the inquiry proceeds, the effectiveness of key government ministers will come under close scrutiny, but how many of them will still be in post and accountable when the report is finalised? Will any of them even care?

Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock is already out of politics. By the time conclusions are reached, I suspect he will have been on Strictly, supported the Arctic Monkeys at Glastonbury and done a season in Dictionary Corner on Countdown.

That is not to say an inquiry is unnecessary. The Government and Hancock certainly have questions to answer, not least of all about their policy of discharging Covid patients into care homes during the first wave in 2020.

Yet in the time it has taken for this inquiry to even start, Sweden has produced three inquiry reports and moved on, physically and emotionally. One conclusion was that their original and controversial policy of voluntary lockdowns was a mistake. Sweden initially suffered a far higher death rate than Nordic neighbours because of this, as the virus swept through retirement homes without mercy.

Cant we just all agree mistakes were made, lets move on? Pictured: Jan Moir

People in Norway and Denmark had another year to live. That is not something to be taken lightly, the report decided.

My only point  as Britain embarks upon what is expected to be the most expensive statutory public inquiry in its history  is that it did not take the Swedes three distraught, breast-beating, score-settling years and untold millions to reach their brisk, important conclusions.

Baroness Hallett has said she hopes to bring closure for the grieving families while allowing the country to learn from its mistakes.

Fair enough, but what if there is no closure? Already some of the bereaved giving testimony have talked of their distress at various things; of being unable to retrieve a dead mothers possessions from her hospital bedside, of being stopped from visiting a cemetery by men in white suits.

I can understand why they want the inquiry to bear witness to the pain of their experience and hear their impact statements. And while these instances are terrible and these families have my every sympathy, it still has to be acknowledged that the country was in the grip of a pandemic panic, with little time for niceties and the usual social mores.

We were not at war, but in a war  and while not everyone was bereaved, everyone suffered, in both big and small ways.

On Tuesday, ushers were handing out tissues in the inquiry room and no doubt more tears will be shed over the coming years.

To what end? Id have a little more faith if we were inquiring a little harder on what happened in Wuhan and not why Brexit is to blame. For everything.
Let me introduce you to a Labour councillor from Bridgwater in Somerset called Richard Morgan. Last September, he went to prison for his part in a Just Stop Oil blockade.

As soon as he emerged, he was back blocking the streets with his Just Stop Oil comrades, arrested again after stopping traffic in London.

What was Labour's response to the hours of inconvenience their councillor caused people? Did they suspend him? Even reprimand him?

No. They issued a press release celebrating him as a 'passionate fighter against climate change... arrested and jailed for his beliefs' and comparing him to Nelson Mandela. Bridgwater council's Labour leader, Councillor Brian Smedley, praised Just Stop Oil as 'part of the general uprising against the Tories'.

And in the ultimate snub to those motorists fuming in traffic, Bridgwater's Labour council appointed Richard Morgan as the councillor in charge of... transport.

What was Labour's response to the hours of inconvenience their councillor caused people? Did they suspend him? Even reprimand him? (Grant Shapps pictured on June 13)

In the ultimate snub to those motorists fuming in traffic, Bridgwater's Labour council appointed Richard Morgan (pictured) as the councillor in charge of... transport

Just one local council? But then there's Kerry McCarthy, the Labour MP for Bristol East. She is one of only ten MPs to sign a pledge by another eco-anarchist group, Extinction Rebellion, promising to put its three main demands into law.

One of those demands, net zero by 2025, would throw millions out of work and leave us shivering in the dark.

Kerry McCarthy is not just some backbencher. She is Labour's shadow minister for climate change. If Keir Starmer wins the election, this Extinction Rebellion supporter will be in charge.

Read more: Labour likened councillor jailed for joining disruptive Just Stop Oil protests to Nelson Mandela Advertisement

And now, Starmer himself has made Just Stop Oil's dreams come true. He has turned their central demand  that Britain should licence no new oil and gas projects  into Labour policy. That's described as 'stupid' and 'catastrophic' by key figures in the Labour movement itself, like Gary Smith, leader of the GMB union.

They know three things. First, it will cost at least 45,000 jobs. Second, it will allow oil dictators like Vladimir Putin to hold us hostage. And third, craziest of all, it won't even reduce carbon emissions.

For decades yet, we'll still need oil and gas. We'll just have to import them instead  and emissions from imports are estimated to be twice those from domestic sources.

We now know Starmer took 1.5million from Just Stop Oil's funder, Dale Vince. Just this week, Labour voted against new laws to stop protestors disrupting your lives. The Labour Party has become the political wing of Just Stop Oil  and other eco-extremists who use ordinary people's lives as their weapon.

Starmer and Labour try to say they've changed. That they now care about Britain's security and the livelihoods of working people.

But the mask is slipping. They haven't really changed. We will decarbonise  with the world's most powerful nuclear reactor and its largest offshore wind farm.

But we need leaders who support the safety and prosperity of the country. Energy security is in my job title.

And we need leaders who care about good working-class jobs. The Conservatives are the party of North Sea workers. Labour are the party of North London lawyers.
This weekend's Trooping the Colour will be the first birthday parade of King Charles III's reign.

But for many younger royal fans, it will also be the first time they have seen the Sovereign arrive on horseback.

The late Queen rode her trusted mare, Burmese, at the ceremony for the final time in 1986 before the animal was moved to Windsor for retirement.

With the monarch choosing to arrive by carriage from then on, a uniformed sovereign on horseback has been missing from the annual spectacle on Horse Guards Parade for more than 30 years.

As King Charles decides to revive the tradition, The Maiol's Royals section looks at other members of the family who have arrived on horseback over the years...

The late Queen Elizabeth II rode sidesaddle on her favourite steed, Burmese, for the final time at Trooping the Colour in 1986. The horse was a gift from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the monarch picked the black mare as one of her favourite horses of all time for a list for Horse & Hound magazine

The Queen is pictured giving a salute while on Burmese at Trooping the Colour in 1986, her final year on the horse before it was retired

King George V, the late Queen's grandfather, is pictured presenting new colours to the Household Cavalry on Horse Guards Parade at Trooping the Colour in 1927

King George V, left, was accompanied by the then Prince of Wales, centre, who would later become King Edward VIII, as he arrived on the Horse Guards Parade for Trooping the Colour in 1927

The late Queen's father, King George VI, acknowledges the salute outside Buckingham Palace on horseback in 1938

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are pictured returning to Buckingham Palace together on horseback after Trooping the Colour in 1965

A truly memorable photograph from 1981 in which The Queen, showing her excellent horsemanship, calms her mare Burmese as blank shots are fired from the crowd. 17-year-old Marcus Sarjeant was tackled by a soldier and the police before being arrested and charged. The Queen continued with the ceremony. Sarjeant was later jailed for five years under the 1842 Treason Act

Prince William, the then Prince Charles and the Duke of Kent attended Trooping the Colour together in 2012

Charles, Prince of Wales, is pictured leaving Buckingham Palace on horseback for Trooping the Colour in 2017. He will revive the tradition of the monarch arriving on horseback for the ceremony this year

Prince Charles, Prince William and Princess Anne appeared together on horseback for the Trooping the Colour in 2022 as the Platinum Jubilee celebrations marking her 70-year reign began last year

Princess Anne appeared in her Colonel of the Blues and Royals uniform riding a horse named Sir John for the 2022 Trooping in celebration of the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee
When it comes to topping off her looks, The Princess of Wales has got the art of hat dressing mastered, opting either for muted colours with intricate designs or statement sculptural styles by milliners such as Jane Corbett and Philip Treacy.

We can expect to see another skilful example at tomorrow's Trooping of the Colour.

While the Princess's approach has undoubtedly evolved, the key to Kate's millinery style is consistently choosing creations which perfectly complement her outfit and are an extension of her look, carefully co-ordinated in bespoke matching shades.

Where once she chose small discreet fascinators, Catherine now opts for larger saucer hats sweeping across her face for an elegant silhouette.

If her choice of headpiece has become more refined, so has her ever-glossy hair styling.

Today, it is less about her famously flawless blow-dry with flowing long locks, rather has been choosing to pull her hair back into a chignon - placing all focus on her hat.

The Princess of Wales and Camilla at the 2022 Trooping the Colour. Kate's hats have evolved over the years to become more striking

Royal Fashion expert Eliza Scarborough looks at how the Princess of Wales' hat style at Trooping the Colour has evolved since her debut in 2011

We have seen a shift in Kate's overall style choices.

Certainly, she has remained true to her favourite British fashion designers and has worn Alexander McQueen to all but two of the Trooping the Colour parades.

(This is the brand helmed by Sarah Burton and has been woven into her image since the day in 2011 she said 'I do'.)

That said, the Princess has started to go for more chic, pared-back yet striking styles that reflect her maturity and the significance of her role in the British monarchy.

The annual Trooping the Colour parade is one of the major events of the royal calendar, and over the years the Princess of Wales has given us a variety of ensembles on the balcony, each one as effortlessly stylish as the last.

The style legacy she has already left is one of pastel fascinators, colourful coat dresses and some of her most iconic hat looks.

Increasingly daring and yet more elegant too, the polished princess impeccable style has gradually matured towards more sophisticated and striking choices and a defined silhouette.

2011

Kate wore a monochrome ensemble made up of a white Alexander McQueen coat dress and a sculptural sheer black hat by Lock & Co

For her debut appearance at Trooping the Colour, Kate wore a monochrome ensemble made up of a white Alexander McQueen coat dress and a sculptural sheer black hat by Lock & Co.

2012

She wore a bespoke light blue dress by Erdem and a bow fascinator styled to the front of her face by Jane Corbett in 2012

Looking elegant in light blue, she wore a bespoke dress by Erdem with floral embroidered detailing and a bow fascinator styled to the front of her face by Jane Corbett.

2013

In 2013, Kate chose a blush pink Alexander McQueen coat with oversized pearl buttons and a bow adorned Jane Corbett hat

While pregnant with Prince George, Kate chose a blush pink Alexander McQueen coat with oversized pearl buttons and a bow adorned Jane Corbett hat that featured a delicate lace underlay.

2014

Kate chose a pearl and powder blue jacquard Alexander McQueen two-piece suit with a similarly hued Jane Taylor fascinator adorned with delicate lace flowers in 2014

This year it was a pearl and powder blue jacquard Alexander McQueen two-piece suit with a similarly hued Jane Taylor fascinator adorned with delicate lace flowers.

2015

Kate marked her return to royal duties in 2015 with a Catherine Walker floral coat and Lock & Co fascinator

After giving birth to Princess Charlotte, Kate marked her return to royal duties with a Catherine Walker floral coat and Lock & Co fascinator. Crafted from sinamay, the wide brim hat is finished with a single feather.

2016

In 2016, she opted for a fit and flare coat by Alexander mcQueen teamed with a Philip Treacy saucer blush pink hat

Returning to favourite designer Alexander McQueen, this year it was a fit and flare coat teamed with a Philip Treacy hat. The saucer blush pink hat featured silk rosettes under the brim.

2017

Kate's punchy pink look in 2017 featured a Jane Taylor hat co-ordinated with an Alexander McQueen dress

For her seventh Trooping the Colour ceremony, all eyes were on Kate's punchy pink look. Co-ordinating a Jane Taylor hat with an Alexander McQueen dress, this matchy matchy ensemble is anything but boring.

2018

Kate's complex hat in 2018 was a bold choice. Combining lace, florals and pleating, the oversized fascinator was the perfect addition to her Alexander McQueen duck egg blue dress

Although Kate usually leans towards the side of simplicity, this complex hat was a bold choice. Combining lace, florals and pleating, the oversized fascinator was the perfect addition to her Alexander McQueen duck egg blue dress.

2019

Echoing her 2016 look, Kate's lemon yellow Alexander McQueen coat was elegantly complemented with a Philip Treacy statement piece in 2019

Echoing her 2016 look, Kate's lemon yellow Alexander McQueen coat was elegantly complemented with a Philip Treacy statement piece. Curving up at the brim with an explosive bouquet of flowers it perfectly frames her face.

2022

The princess made a statement last year in Philip Treacy. The striking two-tone navy and white contrast fascinator had an old school Hollywood feel, paired with an Alexander McQueen coat

Regal in white with accents of blue, this year saw the princess make a statement in Philip Treacy. The striking two-tone navy and white contrast fascinator had an old school Hollywood feel, paired with an Alexander McQueen coat.
Ben & Jerry's has just unveiled a brand new ice cream flavour ahead of Refugee Week called Sunny Honey Home.

The tasty new creation is made with lemon flavour ice cream, sweet honey caramel swirls, and lemon flavour cookies.

However, what's really special about this particular flavour is that the ice cream giant has co-created it with eight entrepreneurs from refugee backgrounds  inspired by the flavours of Morocco, Afghanistan and Syria.

The team worked together with allies from The Entrepreneur Refugee Network (TERN) and proceeds from the new flavour will fund refugee led startup businesses.

The tubs will be available exclusively from Co Op for 5.50 per tub and will launch in stores on 19 June.

Ben & Jerry's has just unveiled a brand new ice cream flavour ahead of Refugee Week, called Sunny Honey Home

The tasty new creation is made with lemon flavour ice cream, sweet honey caramel swirls, and lemon flavour cookies

The project also gave the participants mentoring and training to improve skills in product research and development, marketing and communication.

One of the participants, Laila, told Metro: 'I have such wonderful memories with lemon from back home in Paktia, Afghanistan so I knew exactly how the Sunny Honey Home flavour would make me feel when we came up with it.

'The first time I tried the final product was emotional for me. People say when you make food with love it turns out nicer than the recipe and I think that is what happened with Sunny Honey Home.'

Meanwhile social media users went wild over the release, with one commenting: 'This sounds amazing and I love that proceeds are going to help people that need it! Can't wait to try it!'

Another wrote: 'So excited for this! Looks absolutely delicious and for a great cause.'

A third added: 'I would love to try this.'

One commented: 'When can I have this and when can I buy it?!'

'That sounds refreshing,' another wrote.

It's not the first time Ben & Jerry's has teamed up with TERN as back in 2017, the two collaborated to create an initiative called the UP Collective, which is a training programme for people from refugee backgrounds.

The ice cream company run the scheme annually, and it provides participants with support for their business ideas and entrepreneur training.

It comes after a group funded by Ben & Jerry's co-founder Ben Cohen is running a campaign calling for the U.S. to stop providing military support to Ukraine in its war with Russia.

The Eisenhower Media Network has been pitching outlets on claims that the United States is spending too much money helping Ukraine ward of Vladimir Putin.

The EMN is run by a group called the People's Power Initiative, of which Cohen is president and a major financial backer.

The longtime progressive Democrat and backer of Bernie Sanders has forked over more than $1million to the initiative via the Ben Charitable Trust, according to a report in the Daily Beast.

Cohen told the outlet that he thinks 'the US should use its power to negotiate an end to the war, not prolong the death and destruction by supplying more weapons.'

The project promotes the utilization of a group of military veterans as experts and pundits willing to speak about the ongoing war overseas.

Some have said that continued US military support for Ukraine is extending and intensifying the fighting between Russia and Ukraine and suggesting that expanding NATO was one of the causes of the war.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle really are 'in exile' after the Palace's 'significant' decision to not invite them to the King's Birthday Parade, according to the journalist behind the story, Richard Eden.

Its significant, when Harry and Meghan quit royal duties, officials were very keen to stress that they would still be invited to occasions such as Trooping the Colour, he tells Mail+'s Palace Confidential. So the fact that they havent been invited is very significant.

The Daily Mails Royal Editor Rebecca English points out that combined with the lease on his Frogmore Cottage property running out, it adds to his rootlessness and the pairs distance from the country they once called home.

It really emphasises the slightly rootless nature that he has in the UK, she says. Truthfully everyone I speak to says they cant ever see Meghan coming back here, they really cant. But Harry will need to come back here for practical reasons.

Eden believes that it really is an exile for Harry and Meghan now.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (pictured in September 2021) really are 'in exile' after the Palace's 'significant' decision to not invite them to the King's Birthday Parade, according to the journalist behind the story, Richard Eden

This year's event is particularly significant because it is the first since Charles succeeded to the throne last September. But while the British Royal Family usually turn out in force for the occasion, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not been invited, according to The Daily Mail's Richard Eden.

He wrote in his column: 'When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex quit royal duties three years ago, Queen Elizabeth said they would "always be much loved members of my family".

'And Buckingham Palace officials were keen to stress that they would continue to be invited to family events. I hear that Prince Harry and Meghan have not, however, been invited to the King's Birthday Parade next weekend.

'It will be the first time in Harry's life that he has not been welcome at the monarch's official birthday celebrations.'

'I'm afraid it's a reflection of the state of relations at the moment,' a source said.

Harry and Meghan travelled from California for last year's Trooping the Colour, which became part of the late Queen's platinum jubilee weekend.

The couple were invited by the late monarch to watch the ceremony with other members of the Royal Family from offices overlooking Horse Guards Parade.

They were not, however, asked to be on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the official flypast later in the day.

Its significant, when Harry and Meghan quit royal duties, officials were very keen to stress that they would still be invited to occasions such as Trooping the Colour, Richard Eden (pictured) tells Mail+'s Palace Confidential. So the fact that they havent been invited is very significant'

The official birthday of the monarch is marked each year by a military parade and march-past, known as Trooping the Colour. The troops participating in the parade are drawn of fully trained, operational troops from the Household Division.

Elsewhere in the latest instalment on Mail+'s Palace Confidential series, The Daily Mail's royal editor Rebecca discussed the Prince and Princess of Wales' approach to their duties.

During the episode, the expert noted how Prince William and Kate quite often appear in public without one another.

Earlier this week, the Prince of Wales attended a documentary screening with his aunt the Duchess of Edinburgh.

Explaining why Kate didn't join William on this occasion, Rebecca said: 'They're quite respectful of each other's big passions.

'And there's the kids as well. They always try to make sure that one of them is around to do the school run at some point during the day.

The Daily Mail's royal editor Rebecca English (pictured) discussed the Prince and Princess of Wales' approach to their duties in the latest installment of the Mail+'s Palace Confidential series

'They want to be hands on parents and they can't do it if both of them are there doing a job in the evening.'

Rebecca then agreed with host Jo Elvin that it was a 'perfectly normal household arrangement'.

Noting that it was 'quite unusual' for the Duchess of Edinburgh to accompany Prince William on an engagement, the Daily Mail's Diary editor Richard Eden said: 'She's quite interested in conservation as well.

'So it was quite a natural one for Sophie to attend [...] the Palace thought it would be nice for Sophie to join him because of her interest in the subject.

On Tuesday night, The Duchess of Edinburgh enjoyed a rare joint engagement with the Prince of Wales - and royal experts said it's a clear sign of just how important Sophie has become to The Royal Family.

The mother-of-two, 58, dressed in a 1,350 purple printed midi dress by Erdem, attended the screening of Rhino Man at the newly renovated Battersea Power Station in south-west London, alongside Prince William, 40.

It's a rare sight to see Prince Edward's wife on an outing with only the heir to the British throne - but royal experts have said this is a clear indication of her new and improved status within The Firm.

During the episode, the expert noted how Prince William and Kate (pictured together) quite often appear in public without one another

Speaking to FEMAIL, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the pair's engagement together was 'unusual, but it highlighted Sophie's role as one of the hardest working members of The Royal Family.'

'William and Catherine have a unique profile as the worlds most glamorous royal couple with enormous soft power reach. Sophie has clearly established herself as their indispensable support,' said the expert.

He added that the duchess' 'considerable charm' and similar style to Princess Anne - with both sharing a 'low-key approach' - has made her a great addition to The Firm.

The royal expert continued: 'There is periodic interest in what she wears, but she and her husband Edward are not in the eye of the media storm. That is the way they prefer it.'

However they are pivotal to the monarchys charitable role, which is one of its main functions. Yesterdays event put this firmly in the spotlight.

Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince Louis pose for a group picture with volunteers who are taking part in the Big Help Out, during a visit to the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, west of London on May 8, 2023, where the family helped to renovate and improve the building

'Her style is similar to Princess Anne, as she prefers a low-key approach to her duties. They have included trips to areas of conflict such as South Sudan and Sierra Leone.'

Royal author Phil Dampier, meanwhile, explained: 'Sophie is becoming a big star in The Royal Family and boy do they need her!

'With Harry and Meghan and Prince Andrew off the scene the King has got a slimmed down monarchy, but maybe its slimmed down too much.

'He and the Queen, and Princess Anne are in their seventies and others like the Duke of Kent are approaching retirement.

'Sophie is a much bigger star than her husband Edward. She has a natural warmth and is good on walkabouts. She has been quietly getting on with the job, rather like Anne, and made several visits abroad.'

'She has matured greatly and seeing her by Williams side is an indication of her new status,' the author concluded.

On Tuesday night, the Duchess of Edinburgh enjoyed a rare joint engagement with the Prince of Wales (pictured together at a private screening of Rhino Man)

Earlier this week, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK magazine how Sophie - who's previously been dubbed The Firm's 'secret weapon' by royal author Victoria Murphy - has the 'common touch' thanks to her her 'normal life' before marrying into The Royal Family.

'It is so much more evident now that Sophie is a key member of the list of working royals,' Jennie said. 'I think people have really taken her into their hearts, especially after she showed her obvious grief at losing Prince Philip and the Queen.'

The former PR girl, who's been married to Prince Edward for 24 years, was said to be a firm favourite of Queen Elizabeth's, who reportedly viewed her as The Royal Family's safest pair of hands.

Jennie added: 'Sophie is absolutely one of the new female stars of the show  elegant, engaging and empathetic'.

The senior royal is the patron of over 70 charities and organisations, including Childline, and was recently spotted out and about putting her best foot forward at the Shooting Star Children's Hospice in London.
A defiant rocker mother who took her 10-month-old baby to the UK's biggest heavy metal festival says she will do it again next year  despite fellow head bangers saying it could 'risk the tot's life'.

Lauren McAuley has been to the popular Download Festival in Donington Park, Leicestershire, four times, even attending the highly anticipated event last year while pregnant.

The 30-year-old from Coleraine, Northern Ireland has since welcomed daughter Lemmy into the world  but didn't let becoming a parent stop her from attending this year's festivities, deciding instead to take her baby with her.

While both Lauren and little Lemmy  who is named after Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister  enjoyed the four-day long festival, she was stunned by some other revellers' reactions.

The mother-of-one received backlash as many people questioned if the head-banging paradise that was hit by a number of noise complaints this year was child friendly.

Lauren McAuley, 30, from Coleraine, Northern Ireland, took her 10-month-old daughter Lemmy to rock event Download Festival sparking a social media debate about the rights and wrongs of taking a small child to a loud and crowded festival

A resolute Lauren shared a snap of Lemmy at the event online, showing the tot relaxing on the grass with the stage and crowds behind her, sporting shades and headphones.

In her post, Lauren hit out at people being 'judgey a******s' as some said it was not safe for young children due to the 'drunk and drugged up idiots', large crowds and 'intense' heat within the tents.

Despite being criticised, the stay-at-home mother says she doesn't see the issue.

She said: 'People are just really miserable. You know, you're damned if you do, you're damned if you don't.

'I personally really like spending time with my kid so I don't have a problem with taking her [to Download Festival].

'Some parents like leaving their kids and getting a break, but not everybody has that option. I could have, but I didn't want to.

'There were lots of negative comments from people saying the festival is not 'child-friendly' but Download Festival has literally created a child friendly area this year called Mini Moshers where they had baby changing facilities.

'I mean, there's still lots that Download Festival can do to make it a more child friendly place, but the picture that I put up was actually of Lemmy at a child event where they had music in a tent for the kids and a Pikkachu.

Lauren pointed out that she had done a lot of research and pre-planning before the festival to make sure that Lemmy would be comfortable throughout. She wore ear-defenders so that she wouldn't suffer as a result of the loud music

'How are they not catering to children? The amount of children I'd seen having a good time was just the best.'

Lauren admitted that people's online criticism left her 'annoyed' because during the festival itself she largely received positive comments from fellow festival-goers about having Lemmy with her.

As for whether Lemmy enjoyed the festival, the tot spent a lot of time sleeping  even through Metallica and Bring Me The Horizon's sets.

Lauren said: 'Because it was really hot, she slept through most of it to be honest. She was completely chilled out.

'She slept through the Metallica set and Bring Me The Horizon set. Bedtime wise she slept from 9:30pm up until 3 o'clock in the morning, had a feed, then went back to bed until the next morning.

'Lemmy had ear defenders on for the music and copious amounts of sunscreen. I got a really good pram fan so we had no problem at all. I honestly never had one issue.

'The only time she cried was whenever I wanted to put her down in the tent because she's a wee cling-on. But that's very normal!'

To other parents who might be considering taking the tot's to festivals in the future, Lauren advised you do lots of research and planning in advance.

Lauren said that she didn't have a single issue when she was at Download with her baby daughter. The only time that Lemmy cried was when she tried to put her down in the tent because that 10-month-old doesn't like to be apart from her mum

Lauren said: 'I had every type of clothing [for Lemmy] that you can imagine, including six or seven bottles of sun cream with me.

'I had thermal clothing, summer clothing, and I even did research on the type of fan we took. You name it, I looked into it.'

However her decision to take a 10-month-old baby to a heavy metal festival was not warmly welcomed by all, as some pointed out that a place with large crowds of 'drunk' people was not a safe environment for a small child.

One wrote: 'I had no issue with responsible parents keeping their kids shaded and with ear defenders on. I did have an issue with people taking their tiny babies into extremely dense crowds, no ear defenders, kids crying clearly uncomfortable.

'The "no under 5" rule needs to come back, it is not a safe environment for a small child.

'I wouldn't take my dog into that environment and he'd cope a helluva (sic) lot better than a baby, so I most certainly wouldn't take a baby.

'There are too many drunken/drugged up idiots around to risk a child's life.'

A second said: 'Absolutely no issue with babas and kiddies being there, but it was not nice to see so many without ear protection.

Lauren said she and Lemmy had such a good time at the festival that they will definitely go again next year - even if other people disapprove

As well as making sure Lemmy wore ear defenders, Lauren also made sure she was prepared for hot weather by packing several bottles of sunscreen and a pram fan

'Also, with the heat being so intense, babies in prams with covers over the pram, rather than shade from a parasol.

'It would have been like an oven in there, little babies can't regulate their temperature. Was speaking to a lady who's a midwife & she was really worried about it!'

A third admitted: 'Will I judge you inside? Yes. Will I wave at your baby because I'm nice? Also yes. It's not for me, but I'm sure my life isn't for some either.'

Others voiced concern for the child's welfare. One said: 'I feel like some people just didn't realise how packed and dangerous download can be, especially for young children, 99% will be fine and have an amazing time, but you just need to know your bearings first.'

And another added: 'I don't think anyone's judging in a malicious way, people are just worried about the safety of a child at a festival. Did witness some dodgy moments where the safety of a child was not upheld, but you do you girl.'

However others were more supportive and some even said they too had their children at the event.

Lauren said Lemmy slept through a lot of the festival and was completely relaxed. Despite the loud music going on late, Lemmy was able to sleep from 9:30pm up until 3am before having a feed and then going back to bed again until the morning

One wrote: 'I don't understand why there is so much judgement there was literally stuff put on for kids and they had a designated campsite which was closed off and had security!

'I wouldn't take my two for the simple fact that download is my five days away from reality and to let my hair down that's it! I loved seeing the little metal heads running around enjoying themselves.'

A second said: 'I bought my three kids and they had a blast, all under four, youngest was five weeks. they had a fantastic time and my son has spent his entire day at preschool telling everyone about it and they made some great friends.'

Lauren says she and Lemmy had such a good time they're planning to go to Download Festival again next year.
The Princess Royal is set to host members of the Royal Family ahead of this weekend's Trooping the Colour.

Princess Anne, 72, who recently received the title of Senior Colonel, will host a dinner for Household Division Colonels on the eve of the King's official birthday parade in London.

Guests will include several members of the royal family, including Queen Camilla, who was made Colonel of the Grenadier Guards last December, and the Prince of Wales, who took the role of Colonel of the Welsh Guards over from his father after King Charles's accession to the throne.

Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales, who took over Colonel of the Irish Guards from her husband, is also expected to attend, Hello! reported.

The Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke of Kent will also attend the dinner due to their respective appointments as Royal Honorary Colonel, 1st Battalion London Guards and Colonel of the Scots Guards.

Princess Anne, 72, who recently received the title of Senior Colonel, will host a dinner for Household Division Colonels tonight on the eve of the King's official birthday parade in London. Pictured with the King yesterday

It comes as the King was accompanied by his sister, Princess Anne, on a rare joint engagement at Buckingham Palace today.

The siblings were together as he presented the new Sovereign's Standard to The Blues and Royals squadron (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons) of the Household Cavalry, of which Anne is Colonel.

Charles spoke of his 'great pride' in the bond between the Blues and Royals and the monarch, as the country continues to face 'an array of threats' and 'difficult times'.

Arriving just after 2pm to a trumpet fanfare, the king, wearing the uniform of Field Marshal with Field Marshal baton, and Anne, wearing her uniform of the Blues and Royals colonel which she also wore to last month's coronation, stood on a dais as 35 soldiers and 27 horses formed up on the Quadrangle for the presentation of the new Standard.

The new standard, made of silk damask with gold embroidery which bears the Royal Arms and the regiment's battle honours, was then consecrated by the Chaplain General Padre Tom Sander and Padre Ian Rogers, before being presented by the King, who briefly touched it the Standard.

Charles then presented the Standard to Major Peter Ireland, the squadron commander of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

Charles, 74, then made a short speech from the dais, recalling the squadron's long links with the monarch, and praising its soldiers' unique dual operational and ceremonial roles.

He said: 'Ladies and gentlemen, it is a matter of great pride to be here with you today to present your New Standard which, in itself, represents that personal bond between The Blues and Royals and the Sovereign that has lasted since before the Restoration in 1661.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, who are Colonel of the Welsh Guards and Colonel of the Irish Guards respectively, will also attend the dinner. Pictured on the day of King Charles' coronation with Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis

'Your Standard, once the physical rallying point for your forebears, is the golden thread which connects you to your illustrious past.

'The battle honours displayed upon it, along with your uniforms and medals that are so visible in your ceremonial role are a further demonstration of your proven track record as battle-hardened mounted and dismounted soldiers with recent operational experience.

'Indeed, I know that some of you are currently deployed on duty with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. Such history pays homage to your dual role, and that of course is the fundamental principle which makes State Ceremonial and Public Duties so special and credible to a most grateful nation.

'In these difficult times for our country, as we continue to face an array of threats in many different forms, both domestically and internationally, it is all the more important to preserve such standards of excellence and achievement.

The Duke of Edinburgh, pictured with other members of the royal family on the day of the Coronation, will also attend

'As your Colonel-in-Chief, I know that your Colonel, The Princess Royal, joins me in thanking you all for your unlimited commitment and service, as well as your families for their tremendous and unwavering support, some of whom I am delighted to see are able to join us today.

'I commend this Standard to your safe-keeping as a source of pride and inspiration to all of you - wherever you may be - in the service of your country.'

The standard was then given to the Sovereign's Escort mounted troop, which marched past Charles and Anne to offer a second royal salute.

After the short ceremony, Charles and Anne spent several minutes meeting with some of the 75 guests who attended in the quadrangle, including past and present members of the Household Cavalry and friends and family of those on parade.

King Charles saluted as the troops passed him during the Buckingham Palace service yesterday

Princess Anne was dressed in her military uniform she and King Charles III, present the new Sovereign's Standard to the Blues and Royals

The guests also include Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles, Queen Camilla's ex-husband, a former Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry.

The service usually takes place every decade and the squadron was last presented their Standard by Queen Elizabeth II in May 2014.

The hand-crafted Blues and Royals standard has been made by the family business Wyedean in Haworth, West Yorkshire.

The newly consecrated standard will be on parade at the King's first Birthday Parade, Trooping the Colour, on Saturday.

Its managing director, Robin Wright, said: 'The true honour we feel to be creating such historic and symbolic regimental standards and colours is absolutely incredible. It really is a business high for us all.

Typically, regimental standards and colours are renewed every 10-12 years but following the passing of the late Queen, all military regalia requires updating with King Charles III's insignia and the Tudor crown.

As it takes three of our skilled people one year to create just four colours, there are thousands of hours of craftmanship from applique ornamental needlework to hand embroidery needed to complete the high standard of elaborate fabrics ready to present to the armed forces in the years ahead.'
A superyacht crew member has revealed some of the strangest requests she has received from billionaires while at sea.

Giselle, from Mexico, launched her career on superyachts a few years ago after a friend invited her to see one while they were working on board.

In her current role, the 39-year-old is fully in charge of the yacht's interior and dealing with the deep-pocketed guests.

While she loves her job, she has said some of the client demands can be a little strange at times.

Giselle, from Mexico, launched her career on superyachts a few years ago after a friend invited her to see one while they were working on board

In her current role, the 39-year-old is fully in charge of the yacht's interior and dealing with the deep-pocketed guests

The crew member has revealed some of the strangest requests she has received from billionaires while working at sea

While the requests can get weird, Giselle has revealed that saying 'no' is not an option in the yachting industry (food on board pictured)

Recounting one particularly bizarre situation, Giselle said: 'On one occasion, a multimillionaire guest made a proposal that he would pay $10,000 to a crew member who defecated on top of a glass table while he lay under it.'

On another occasion, she claimed a guest asked if one of the crew would watch him at all times while he ate his evening meals.

'And the hostess had to stand in the corner of the dining room, watching him eat dinner,' she revealed.

While the requests can get weird, Giselle has revealed that saying 'no' is not an option in the yachting industry.

She explained: 'Any request, no matter how strange, crazy or strange it may seem, [it] is our duty to do so.

'As long as it is not sexual or threatens the health or life of the crew.'

To land a job in the yachting industry, Giselle believes that being attractive helps.

The yachtie explained: 'Superyacht owners also say that the crew has to match their yacht, they have to be as pretty as their yacht.'

To land a job in the yachting industry, the superyacht worker believes that being attractive helps

The yachtie explained: 'Superyacht owners also say that the crew has to match their yacht, they have to be as pretty as their yacht'

For anyone looking to go into the industry, Giselle recommends to at least try it out, saying it makes you grow as a person and you become extremely independent

Giselle's first position was on a rented yacht. While she found it stressful to start with, she soon fell in love with life at sea

'That's why in this industry you see a lot of young people and beautiful [people], it is a requirement to be '"fit."'

Giselle's first position was on a rented yacht. While she found it stressful to start with, she soon fell in love with life at sea.

'But I think that all of us who dedicate ourselves to working on these yachts are crazy.

'You agree to live on a yacht in the middle of the ocean with strangers!'

The 39-year-old loved the surroundings and the idea of being part of the industry, so began to look at courses.

'I always liked the sea very much and traveling is my passion,' Giselle, who is now the 'head stewardess', told NeedToKnow.co.uk.

'In the family, we had a yacht in Puerto Vallarta, so I had a vague idea of boats and grew up sailing.

'I never imagined that it was a career that existed so when I discovered it, but it soon became a dream to work as a stewardess on superyachts.'

On one occasion, she claimed a guest asked if one of the crew would watch him at all times while he ate his evening meals

She said 'all the incredible places, the views, the sunsets, the friends and friends what do you do from different parts of the world, make it all worth it'

Giselle candidly admitted that 'it's a very well-paid industry and it's also a very superficial industry' (superyacht features pictured)

She said: 'I am in charge of making all the purchases for the crew, the guest preference list, decoration purchases and guest amenities.

'I love to plan the events and theme dinners!

'But I also have to supervise the laundry and housekeeping hostesses, as well as being in charge of the yacht's administration and accounts.'

For anyone looking to go into the industry, Giselle recommends to at least try it out, saying it makes you grow as a person and you become extremely independent.

She added: 'You know yourself a lot since you spend a lot of time with yourself.

'It's a very well-paid industry and it's also a very superficial industry.

'But all the incredible places, the views, the sunsets, the friends and friends what do you do from different parts of the world, make it all worth it.

'The crew become your family.'
The Princess of Wales has today hailed the 'amazing' efforts of health visitors - after her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood found that more than half of the UK understand little or nothing about the part they play.

In a slick new video released as part of her Shaping Us campaign, Kate, 41, spotlighted the vital role of the medical professionals.

Throughout the four-minute clip, viewers watch as the mother-of-three shadows health visitors - to 'gain a deeper insight into their essential' job - during engagements over the past few months.

One such outing was to Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in March, where Kate met with members of the health visiting team to discuss the scope and breadth of their work, before observing clinical appointments and undertaking a home visit with a local family.

'So much of it is behind closed doors, you know you're in people's homes which is you know, it isn't a highly visible service,' said Kate.

The clip's been launched to coincide with the release of the second in a series of reports from The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood's 2023 Public Perceptions Survey which looks at public understanding of the role of the early years sector in shaping our earliest years and, in particular, the role of health visitors.

The new data shows a lack of public understanding about what health visitors do, or the breadth of the work that they carry out.

The Public Perception Survey findings show that more than half (56%) of the UK public understand little or nothing about the role health visitors play.

Of those who know something about the role, they most strongly associate the profession with providing support with feeding and completing health reviews.

Only around 40 per cent of those people aware of the work of health visitors associated the role with supporting maternal, child and family mental health, parent-child relationships, and a childs social and emotional development  all key elements of the role and vital in supporting the long-term development of children.

Based within local communities, health visitors are specialist nurses who work with families during pregnancy and the first five years of a childs life to identify and provide tailored support for their specific health and wellbeing needs.

They support the health and development of babies and children, as well as the health and wellbeing of parents and carers to ensure that every child has the best possible start in life.

'The birth of a newborn baby, particularly the first, your first child, you are the vital link between health and hospitals, through to then the education system, it's the role you're playing, it's really critical,' Kate told health visitors.

The Princess of Wales (pictured left) has appeared in a slick new video for her Shaping Us campaign, in which she shadows health visitors to 'gain a deeper insight into their essential role'

Footage shows Kate's work with the professionals over the past few months, including a day of shadowing at Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in March

The mother-of-three (pictured centre), 41, met with members of the health visiting team to discuss the scope and breadth of their work, before observing clinical appointments and undertaking a home visit with a local family

'You're in people's homes, you're building these relationships with these families and you're seeing the real life challenges that they're all facing.'

She added: 'Families need support like we've seen today more than ever and it's so important that we recognize and celebrate this amazing role that Health visitors play up and down the country.'

Elsewhere, the film features interviews with and footage of health visitors and some of the parents they support from the South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust.

The Trust is one of two areas taking part in a 50,000 NHS project, funded by The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which is helping equip health visitors with further skills to help parents and carers understand their childs emotions.

Yesterday, Kate visited Riversley Childrens Centre in Nuneaton to meet health visitors taking part in the study.

The Princess work with health visitors forms part of the Shaping Us campaign, a long-term public awareness raising initiative spearheaded by Kate which aims to increase understanding of the vital importance of the earliest years of our lives and the part that we all have to play in transforming the issue of early childhood to one of the most strategically important topics of our time.

Elsewhere, the film features interviews with and footage of health visitors and some of the parents they support from the South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust

Yesterday, Kate visited Riversley Childrens Centre in Nuneaton to meet health visitors (pictured)

'The birth of a newborn baby, particularly the first, your first child, you are the vital link between health and hospitals, through to then the education system, it's the role you're playing, it's really critical,' Kate (pictured left) told health visitors

During early childhood, from pregnancy to the age of five, our brains develop faster than any other time of our lives, and our experiences, relationships, and surroundings at these ages shape the rest of our lives.

Professionals such as midwives, health visitors and early years practitioners, together with wider members of the community creating supportive environments, have a hugely important role to play in caring for babies and young children and supporting their parents and carers throughout this crucial stage.

By working closely with people from across the private, public and voluntary sectors, including the early years workforce, The Princess of Wales and The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood hope to create a network of shared knowledge and best practice which can be used to identify and collaborate on new solutions and inspire action to drive real, positive change on the early years.

Kate has previously dedicated time to gaining a practical understanding and working knowledge of the support that midwives provide to families across the country.

In November 2019, she visited Kingston Hospital Maternity Unit for a two-day period, during which she accompanied community midwives through their daily rounds and spent time in hospital clinics and on post-natal wards.

Kate (pictured) has previously dedicated time to gaining a practical understanding and working knowledge of the support that midwives provide to families across the country
British comedian Dane Baptiste says he was tracked by security while watching the FA Cup in a bar in Australia, in an incident he's called 'vintage racism'.

The London-born stand-up has just returned from a 15-show tour Down Under but told his 38,000 Instagram fans that he found Australia to be 'still the most racist English speaking country I've been to in my whole life'.

Baptiste, 38, claims that he was followed for two-and-a-half hours while watching Manchester United take on Manchester City on June 3rd.

Sharing an image of himself in the unnamed bar with a security team member apparently in the background, he wrote: 'Wouldn't have been a trip to Australia without 1980s vintage racism.

'This guy followed me around the pub for 2 and 1/2 hours during the FA Cup Final.'

British comedian Dane Baptiste claimed he was trailed by security while watching the FA Cup Final while on tour in Australia earlier this month

He also claimed that during the same trip, he'd been accused of 'stealing a toothbrush from a chemist'.

Many commented on the post, saying they'd had similar experiences while travelling in Australia.

In response to one, Baptiste added that he had done a gig 'in North Sydney and saw a woman clutch her handbag while I was on stage! True story.'

Stand-up Baptiste was the first Black British comedian nominated for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2014, and he's made regular appearances on television comedy shows since including Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown.

In 2020, the British funnyman received an apology from a TV production company which had confused him with fellow TV star Richard Blackwood. Baptiste was sent press photos of himself to sign by the company...only to open them and find photos of Blackwood instead

In 2020, the television production company behind Made in Chelsea was forced to apologise to Baptiste after confusing him with actor Richard Blackwood - calling the error 'deeply offensive' and 'inexcusable'.

He explained how the TV production company had sent press shots to approve ahead of a show, but was given photos of Blackwood instead.

Sharing the image, he said: 'This is the picture they sent ME of ME. I swear on my mothers soul they sent it.'

The comic was scathing of the TV company's error, saying: 'I just think in a world of Google; where if your phone eavesdrops on you, you get the right picture theres no excuse.'
A hormone specialist has lifted the lid on the four common mistakes women make in the morning that are blocking them from reaching their weight-loss goals.

Amy Kandetzke, 42, from Wisconsin, is a registered nurse and the founder of Optimal Health Solutions. She has more than 56,000 followers on TikTok, where she shares her tips for balancing hormones and losing weight.

She recently went viral after detailing the things that many women are doing wrong when they start their days, from drinking coffee and working out on an empty stomach to not getting sunlight.

'The female body is very sensitive to stress, especially after the age of 35,' she explained in the video's caption. 'We need to prioritize a lifestyle that makes us feel safe in order to keep hormones balanced and achieve effortless weight loss.'

Drinking coffee on an empty stomach

Hormone specialist Amy Kandetzke, 42, from Wisconsin, went viral on TikTok after sharing the four mistakes women make in the morning that are keeping them from losing weight

Kandetzke said the first mistake she sees women making is drinking coffee on an empty stomach in the morning. She recommended drinking coffee with a protein-packed breakfast

Kandetzke said the first mistake she sees women making all of the time is drinking coffee on an empty stomach in the morning.

'I talk to women and they say, "Oh, well, I am intermittent fasting." This can actually do a lot more harm than good, especially in the female body,' she explained.

'The female body is very sensitive to stress, and when you drink coffee on an empty stomach, it actually spikes cortisol.'

Cortisol is the primary stress hormone produced in your body; it keeps you alert and increases sugars in your bloodstream.

Kandetzke said elevated cortisol levels lead to an increase in insulin, the fat-storing hormone. Instead of having coffee by itself, she recommended drinking it with breakfast within an hour of waking up.

'This breakfast would include 20 to 30 grams of protein and good, healthy anti-inflammatory fat, at least one to two tablespoons of fat,' she noted.

'That's really how you want to start your day and set your blood sugars up for success.'

Scrolling through your smartphone

@optimalhormonesolution 5 things you are doing in the morning that arent helping your weight loss or hormones goals Drinking coffee all morning on an empty stomach-this increases cortisol and sets you up for unbalanced blood sugar the rest of the day. Eat breakfast within an hour of waking. You want 20-30 grams of protein and 1-2 tbsp of anti-Iinflammatory fat. You can drink your coffee with food. Scrolling on your phone as soon as you wake up-also spikes cortisol  Leave the phone for an hour. I promise it will be ok . Set yourself up for success with a meditation, light yoga session or journaling with your intentions for the day. Not exposing yourself to sunlight in the a.m.-this is so important for our circadian rhythm. Serotonin is a feel good chemical and one way to control its release is to expose yourself to morning sunlight. Serotonin is a precursor to melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate sleep and wake cycles. Sunlight also increases immune health and energy levels. Get outside for a walk for 20-30 minutes or sit in your backyard preferably without sunglasses. Working out on an empty stomach-This is a huge stress on the female body and can cause fat storage. Have a small snack like 1/2 a protein shake or bar or piece of GF toast with PB. The female body is very sensitive to stress, especially after the age of 35. We need to prioritize a lifestyle that makes us feel safe in order to keep hormones balanced and achieve effortless weight loss. I teach women how to do this If you would like to join my Facebook group for more fat loss and hormone balancing tips, drop a  in the comments. #fatloss #hormones #hormonebalance #fatlossover40  original sound - Optimalhormonesolution

Kandetzke explained that the next thing she sees women doing wrong is scrolling through their smartphones as soon as they wake up

'This is going to affect your circadian rhythm, and it's going to increase cortisol, but not in a good way,' the hormone specialist said

Kandetzke explained that the next thing she sees women doing wrong is scrolling through their smartphones as soon as they wake up.

According to an IDC research report, 80 percent of smartphone users check their phones within 15 minutes of waking up, but the seemingly innocent habit can trigger your stress response.

When you wake up, your brain gradually transitions from delta waves (deep sleep) to theta waves (a drowsy, meditative state) to alpha waves (wakeful rest).

However, if you interrupt that cycle by using your phone, it causes your brain t skip the crucial theta and alpha stages and go straight to being wide awake in the beta state.

'This is going to affect your circadian rhythm, and it's going to increase cortisol, but not in a good way,' the hormone specialist said.

'We want a natural increase in cortisol, but that is from getting exposure to sunlight and moving your body with gentle movement like yoga, meditation, journaling, practicing gratitude,' she added. 'You want to set your body up for success and set your intention for the day.'

Kandetzke advised 'not touching your phone for at least an hour after waking up.'

'You can do it,' she said.

Working out on an empty stomach

Kandetzke said another common mistake that women make in the morning is exercising on an empty stomach, which 'can cause a lot of stress on the female body'

The nurse suggested having half a protein bar or half a protein shake. She added that you can also eat a piece of gluten-free toast with peanut butter

Kandetzke said another common mistake that women make in the morning is exercising on an empty stomach, which 'can cause a lot of stress on the female body.'

'You've been 12 hours, sometimes 13, 14, hours without food, and now you're going into an exercise session without any fuel,' she noted. 'So I do recommend having some type of snack before exercising in the morning.'

The nurse suggested having half a protein bar or half a protein shake. She added that you can also eat a piece of gluten-free toast with peanut butter.

'After you exercise, you're going to increase your cortisol, and by not eating you're going to increase your cortisol even more,' she explained.

Kandetzke said it's best to have 'have something in your system' before working up a sweat in the morning.

Not getting sunlight

Kandetzke explained that the last blunder women often make in the morning is failing to get sunlight after they wake up

'I recommend at least between 20 and 30 minutes of sunlight if you can,' she said

Kandetzke explained that the last blunder women often make in the morning is failing to get sunlight after they wake up.

Sunlight has a powerful effect on the circadian clock, sleep, and alertness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In the morning, the circadian clock is most sensitive to light about one hour after you wake up. Seeing bright light will help you fall asleep faster at night and may help you feel more alert.

'I recommend at least between 20 and 30 minutes of sunlight if you can,' she said.

'You know, even if you can get five minutes, that's gonna help with your circadian rhythm, it's gonna help produce serotonin, which is your feel-good hormone,' she added. 'It is gonna help with your immune health and energy levels.'
Brits are begging for a 'blessed' triple Chicken Mayo Burger be introduced to the UK's McDonald's menu.

Earlier this week, Twitter user Luke Dutch, from Liverpool, went viral when he raved about some of the items on offer in a Tenerife branch of the fast food chain.

While placing his order on a tablet, the professional gamer paused to take a photo of a burger that caught his eye.

Although Chicken Mayo burgers are a staple on the UK menu, Luke was shocked to see a deluxe version of the main meal - which costs 4.45 [3.85].

The burger features three fried chicken fillets stacked on top of each other and topped with lettuce and mayonnaise.

Twitter user Luke Dutch, from Liverpool, took a photo of the items available to buy in McDonald's restaurants in Tenerife

Sharing a photo of the menu with his 37,800 followers, Luke tweeted: 'Tenerife McDonald's is a blessing.'

The post has amassed almost 10,000 'likes' - and fans were desperate to try the super-sized burger themselves.

One replied: 'Only just got back from two weeks in Spain yesterday. Reckon I doubled in body weight with the amount of them I [ate].'

Another added: 'Anywhere outside the UK, McDonald' is so much better.'

A third said: 'That's how you know somewhere is a Brit hotspot.'

Over on Instagram, the 'Archbishop of Banterbury' account wrote: 'We need this in the UK!'

'I'm loving it,' a fifth fan said.

'Oh lawd,' a sixth said. 'If that ever becomes a thing in Denmark, I'm dead.'

The post has amassed almost 10,000 'likes' - and fans were desperate to try the super-sized burger themselves.

That said, not everybody was so on board with the triple-servings of chicken fillets.

It needs mayo on every bit of chicken,' one argued. 'It looks dry.'

'The lettuce not being after each layer of chicken is doing my head in,' another said.

Meanwhile, a third critic dubbed it a 'heart attack' waiting to happen.

Earlier this month, the MailOnline revealed how ingredients and calories compare between the UK and US McDonald's menus ... and the results might shock you.
The brand is famous for having styles 'sell in seconds'

Australian trendsetters can now get their hands on exclusive threads by Cider - a brand famous for having items 'sell out in seconds'.

The US-based brand sprung up in Las Angeles in September 2020 - and became an overnight success - has now officially launched in Australia.

Co-founders and friends Fenco Lin and Yu Oppe told FEMAIL the success of their brand is linked to their sustainability model.

Each style is made in a very limited run - which means if Cider fans love it they need to buy it immediately - or miss out.

Australian trendsetters can now get their hands on exclusive threads by Cider - a brand famous for having items 'sell out in seconds'

'We never want to make excessive clothing which just doesn't sell,' they explained.

The brand also takes using 'real people' to the next level - something which appears to have been popular with fans.

'We cast community members in campaigns, names clothes after them, and invites them to test new collection,' they said.

And it works - Cider have 4.5million followers on Instagram - keenly awaiting the next product drop.

Co-founders and friends Fenco Lin and Yu Oppe told FEMAIL the success of their brand is linked to their sustainability model

The team said clothes have sold to 130 countries - but having an official launch and base in Australia 'made sense'.

'We have experienced organic growth in Australia. We believe that our variety of styles, combined with a mood-driven approach and personalized shopping experience, really resonates with the Australian market,' Fenco explained.

And Oppel agreed.

'We prioritize inclusivity and diversity by creating items that fit different body types and personal styles. By focusing on customer satisfaction and inclusivity, we believe we can create a positive impact on the fashion industry as a whole,' Yu said.

The Cider founders wanted their clothes to be as joyful and easy to wear as apple cider is to drink

Thousands of people comment and like each post from the brand and dozens more tag them in outfits every day.

The brand's 'get in or miss out' approach appears to keep them relevant, according to comments.

'I must get this today, if you know you know,' one woman wrote.

'When you don't have money but can't afford to miss out - I need to stop stalking this page,' said another.

The musicians from K-pop group Black pink love Cider clothes - Jennie and Lisa pictured

'I asked a girl about a top and was heartbroken when she said Cider because I knew it would be gone,' a third wrote.

Famous fans of the brand include the musicians from Korean group Blackpink.

They were seen wearing pieces from the brand's collection during the Sydney leg of the Born Pink World Tour.

The K-Pop group have become fast fans of the brand and post about it on their social media.
Nike has been ridiculed for selling tatty-looking trainers for a whopping 164.95.

The US sportswear brand has spawned many a viral pair of trainers since its inception in the 1960s, but this latest addition to their collection has failed to impress fans.

The brown shoes are made of fabric with a rubbery sole and cords that run from the toes to the ankle of the foot.

The ISPA MindBody trainers are made from recycled materials with sustainability in mind, however, the shoes' somewhat dishevelled design has left shoppers unimpressed.

Many said they felt the trainers, which are designed to be easily disassemble for an environment-friendly way if disposing of them, looked 'mouldy.'

US brand Nike has been ridiculed for selling sustainable grubby-looking trainers for a whopping 164.95

The shoes are made of recycled materials and come in two colours, but fans were not convinced by the way they looked

The Nike website reads: 'From first look to first step, the ISPA MindBody is the new definition of R&R.

'The inviting and pillowy foam midsole is an oasis of sensations, while its light and airy Flyknit upper provides a sanctuary you won't want to step away from.

'Guided by Nike's circular design philosophy, a key feature to this concept is designing with product end of life in mind, which resulted in shoes that can be easily disassembled.

The shoe is held together by a single cording system which also means they can easily be adjusted to their owner's needs.

The trainers are help by a cord running from the toes to the ankles, which customers can adjust to their taste

The original shoes were designed to be easily taken apart, and no glue was used to put them together

People were not big fans of the design, with some saying they look like they are covered in mould

With sustainability in mind, the brand also invited customers to return their shoes to participating Nike stores around the UK instead of taking the shoes apart of throwing them away.

But in spit of the trainers are sustainable, their grubby design left fans perplexed.

Some shoppers said the shoes' patchy moss green colour made them look like they were covered in mould.

One said said: 'Yuk, they look mouldy.'

'They look like the lungs of a pack a day smoker,' another said.

Another called Suzy added: 'Prehistoric footwear,' while one wrote that the shoes looked 'Hideous.'

Yet one customer said: 'One of the most comfortable shoes I own. Definitely would recommend.'

Shoppers said the pair was 'hideous,' with some joking they looked as patchy and dark as smokers lungs

It is unknown whether the shoes were meant to look distressed or if their patchy appearance is due to the fact they are made of recycled components.

However, other brands have gone under fire for selling shoes that looked distressed.

In April, controversial brand Balenciaga were slammed for mocking the poor by flogging grubby-looking trainers for 875.

The Men's 3XL Trainers Worn-Out in Dark Grey have just been released by the controversial French fashion house.

The white sneakers are designed with a 'worn-out' effect and are smeared with fake mud. The laces and sides appear more cream due to the dirty look.

They also have an extra pair of laces tied around the toes to make it appear as if they are holding them together, but shoppers did not find the sneakers amusing in the wake of the cost of living crisis.

It came five months after the brand faced a global backlash after children were used in ad campaigns holding bondage teddy bears.
READ MORE: Summer drought leaves 1000s of homes without water for days

The high pollen count has caused a spike in asthma and hay fever concerns

GP surgeries are texting patients to tell them to 'drink plenty of water' in the hot weather.

Doctors sent out the alerts informing the public 'it's hot' and giving advice such as 'stay out of the sun'.

The messages were put out by NHS South-West London as its hospitals struggled with record A&E attendances caused in part by the soaring temperatures.

Officials said the alerts were in response to many younger patients presenting at hospitals with issues such as heatstroke, asthma and allergies, exacerbated by the heatwave.

But the decision was branded 'nannying' and a waste of valuable resources when many patients struggle to get GP appointments.

Officials said the alerts were in response to many younger patients presenting at hospitals with issues such as heatstroke, asthma and allergies, exacerbated by the heatwave

Last night health chiefs insisted that the public wanted the advice, with its website of 'tips for coping in the heatwave' currently being accessed around 3,000 times every hour

Greg Smith, Tory MP for Buckingham, said: 'My constituents want to be able to see a GP quickly when they need one, to get rapid care if they need a hospital referral or treatment and to know the best new medical technology and drugs are being procured.

'What they don't want, don't need and will be totally bemused by is valuable resources  their taxes  being wasted on nannying text messages that state the bloody obvious.'

Last night health chiefs insisted that the public wanted the advice, with its website of 'tips for coping in the heatwave' currently being accessed around 3,000 times every hour.

A spokesman said that GP text messaging was 'an effective way of providing advice directly to local people' after many had asked what they should be doing in the heat.

The NHS has seen a rise in the number of people presenting at hospitals with issues such as heatstroke, asthma and allergies, exacerbated by the heatwave

The high pollen count and air pollution have seen a spike in the number of patients needing help with asthma and hay fever.

This surge in demand coincided with the latest round of walk-outs by health staff starting on Wednesday. Five hospitals in south London have recorded all-time high attendances at their A&E departments this week.

Among them are the three hospitals in the St George's, Epsom, and St Helier group in south London, which saw 1,250 patients on Monday. The typical attendance is around 800.

NHS leader Amanda Pritchard warned the situation posed 'a serious risk to patient safety' while some trusts urged patients to stay away unless their condition is life-threatening.

Dr John Byrne, medical director for NHS South West London, said: 'People have been suffering with high pollen, pollution levels and heat in London this week.'

He added: 'We have responded to local people's requests for health advice, which also supports our hospitals which have seen record numbers of patients in emergency departments at the same time as managing strike action.'
The UK entered the coronavirus pandemic with 'depleted' public services and widening health inequalities, the Covid inquiry has heard.

A report prepared jointly by professors Sir Michael Marmot, an expert in epidemiology and director of the University College London Institute of Health Equity, and Clare Bambra, an expert in public health from Newcastle University, said Government austerity policies impacted the health of the nation in the lead up to the pandemic.

The report was filed as part of the first week of public hearings in the Covid inquiry, which is exploring the UK's preparedness for a pandemic.

The 'expert opinion' report highlighted health inequalities in the UK, including regional differences when it comes to things such as life expectancy and the number of deaths which can be impacted by the quality of healthcare.

A report prepared jointly by professors Sir Michael Marmot (pictured), an expert in epidemiology and director of the University College London Institute of Health Equity, and Clare Bambra, an expert in public health from Newcastle University, said Government austerity policies impacted the health of the nation in the lead up to the pandemic

The room where the public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic is taking place (PA)

Kate Blackwell KC, counsel to the inquiry, read from the report, which said Government austerity policies after 2010 had 'an adverse effect on health inequalities'.

The report concluded: 'It is plausible that adverse trends in the social determinants of health since 2010 led to the worsening health picture in the decade before the onset of the pandemic.

'In short, the UK entered the pandemic with its public services depleted, health improvements stalled, health inequalities increased and health among the poorest people in a state of decline.'

Sir Michael told the inquiry that social care and public health spending had gone down before the pandemic, especially in the most deprived parts of the country.

The mind-boggling diagram, created by the Inquiry to reflect structures in 2019, links together more than 100 organisations involved in preparing the country for any future infectious threats. This includes the Cabinet Office, Department of Health and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE)  a panel of leading experts who guided ministers through the pandemic

Government data up to June 4 shows the number of Covid cases recorded since March 2020. As many as 70 witnesses will contribute to the first module on pandemic preparedness. Wednesday's session will this afternoon hear from Dr Charlotte Hammer, an epidemiologist from Cambridge University and Professor Jimmy Whitworth, an infectious diseases expert from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Government data up to May 12 shows the number of deaths of people whose death certificate mentioned Covid as one of the causes, and seven-day rolling average. Baroness Hallett told the inquiry she intends to answer three key questions: was the UK properly prepared for the pandemic, was the response appropriate, and can lessons be learned for the future?

Citing the Government's own data, he said it showed that the 'greater the deprivation, the greater the need, the greater the need, the greater the reduction in local authority spend in general  That will damage the health of people, other things equal, and will contribute to inequalities in health.'

Sir Michael later said it was his general view 'that if you look at the evidence from previous pandemics, including the current one that we're considering, that the impact of the pandemic is very much influenced by pre-existing inequalities in society, including inequalities in health.'

He said it was not just about 'whether there was a report somewhere in Government about planning for a pandemic, you've got to plan for better health and narrow health inequalities, and that will protect you in the pandemic.'

The inquiry heard how Prof Bambra had reviewed reports and material from Government and public health exercises such as Winter Willow in 2007, Alice in 2016 and Broad Street in 2018, but none of them included consideration of health inequalities or how specific groups might be at risk.
From 'Ozempic body' to 'Ozempic face,' the miracle weight-loss drug has come with some odd side effects.

But now as well as finding that old clothes don't fit patients are also reporting another impact of the medication, that their rings no longer fit.

Those who have suffered the side effect  including a 40-year-old teacher in Texas  are having to spend upwards of $100 to resize the jewelry and are being left fearing that their prized possessions could fall off.

One user on TikTok, who goes by the username genesistwilightnoir, posted a video detailing how weight loss shrunk her fingers.

'My engagement ring has not fit for two years now because I gained a lot of weight. I just lost 41 pounds and have a lot more to go,' the Oklahoma City user said.

She showed herself putting the ring on her finger and said that it didn't used to go past her knuckle.

'Now I'm wearing it.'

The ring now even appears as if it could be loose, posing the potential risk of it falling off.

Ozempic is a brand name for the medicine semaglutide, which suppresses appetite and triggers weight loss. It comes after a scientist who helped develop the drug said it made life 'miserably boring' because it took away pleasure from food.

Women on Ozempic have claimed that the drug caused their fingers to slim down, which results in their engagement and wedding rings falling off

TikTok user genesistwilightnoir said in a video that her engagement ring didn't even used to go past her knuckle. Now, after losing 41 pounds, it appears like it could be loose on her finger, posing the potential risk of it falling off

Ozempic was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for type 2 diabetes in 2017. It is yet to be approved for weight loss.

The drug binds to the GLP-1 receptor, a protein that triggers hormones in the brain that keep the stomach full and tell the body to stop eating and avoid cravings.

In 2022, more than five million prescriptions for Ozempic, Mounjaro, Rybelsus (for another Novo drug that uses semaglutide), or Wegovy were written for weight management.

This is compared with just over 230,000 in 2019  an increase of more than 2,000 percent over three years.

Already in 2023, doctors have doled out more than 832,700 prescriptions for Ozempic's sister drug Wegovy.

Jessica, 40, a part-time preschool teacher in Houston, is one of those who says she has suffered from Ozempic finger.

She lost 17 pounds within her first six weeks on the drug, she said.

But after the dramatic down-size she could not get her ring to stay on her finger.

'I never realized weight loss also happened in your hands, but my ring suddenly didn't fit,' Jessica told the New York Post.

'I noticed it was flipping and it almost fell off. I was worried I would lose it.'

Getting a ring resized can be costly. Depending on the type of ring and how much your fingers have shrunk, it can be anywhere from $20 up to $150.

In Jessica's case, it was $75.

Additionally, a DailyMail.com employee who has also used Ozempic said that she has had to shift rings on her fingers due to the weight loss.

'I also have to stack some rings behind others so that they don't fall off now,' she said.

Melanie Fitzpatrick, co-founder of LeMel, the jeweler who resized Jessica's ring, said that women are coming in droves to size down their jewelry due to weight loss.

Jewelers in areas of the country have seen an up to 150 percent increase in the number of people coming to get their rings resized compared to last year.

'Usually the summer is a very quiet time for jewelers, but this year we are seeing a huge influx of jewelry repairs due to clients losing weight,' she told New York Post.

'Customers are coming in left and right, getting their rings sized down and bracelets shortened.'

'Weight loss doesnt just happen in your stomach or butt  its your full body.'

Jessica recently refilled her Ozempic prescription and dropped right more pounds. This caused her to lose another half a ring size.

'I luckily havent had any side effects from Ozempic,' she said. 'If altering my jewelry is my only side effect, thats fine by me!'
by Vijay Prashad

A new mood of defiance in the Global South has generated bewilderment in the capitals of the Triad (the United States, Europe, and Japan), where officials are struggling to answer why governments in the Global South have not accepted the Western view of the conflict in Ukraine or universally supported the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in its efforts to weaken Russia. Governments that had long been pliant to the Triads wishes, such as the administrations of Narendra Modi in India and Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkiye (despite the toxicity of their own regimes), are no longer as reliable.





Katsura Yuki (Japan), An Ass in a Lions Skin, 1956.





Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Indias Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has been vocal in defending his governments refusal to accede to Washingtons pressure. In April 2022, at a joint press conference in Washington, DC with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Jaishankar was asked to explain Indias continued purchase of oil from Russia. His answer was blunt: I noticed you refer to oil purchases. If you are looking at energy purchases from Russia, I would suggest that your attention should be focused on Europe We do buy some energy which is necessary for our energy security. But I suspect, looking at the figures, probably our total purchases for the month would be less than what Europe does in an afternoon.





However, such comments have not deterred Washingtons efforts to win India over to its agenda. On 24 May, the US Congresss Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party released a policy statement on Taiwan which asserted that [t]he United States should strengthen the NATO Plus arrangement to include India. This policy statement was released shortly after the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, where Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the various G7 leaders, including US President Joe Biden, as well as Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.





The Indian governments response to this NATO Plus formulation echoed the sentiment of its earlier remarks about purchasing Russian oil. A lot of Americans still have that NATO treaty construct in their heads, Jaishankar said in a press conference on 9 June. It seems almost like that is the only template or viewpoint with which they look at the world That is not a template that applies to India. India, he said, is not interested in being part of NATO Plus, wishing to maintain a greater degree of geopolitical flexibility. One of the challenges of a changing world, Jaishankar said, is how do you get people to accept and adjust to those changes.





There are two significant takeaways from Jaishankars statements. First, the Indian government  which does not oppose the United States, either in terms of its programme or temperament  is uninterested in being drawn into a US-led bloc system (the NATO treaty construct, as Jaishankar put it). Second, like many governments in the Global South, it recognises that we live in changing world and that the traditional major powers  especially the United States  need to adjust to those changes.





In its Investment Outlook 2023 report, Credit Suisse pointed to the deep and persistent fractures that have opened up in the international order  another way of referring to what Jaishankar called the changing world. Credit Suisse describes these fractures accurately: The global West (Western developed countries and allies) has drifted away from the global East (China, Russia, and allies) in terms of core strategic interests, while the Global South (Brazil, Russia, India, and China and most developing countries) is reorganising to pursue its own interests. These final words bear repeating: the Global South is reorganising to pursue its own interests.





In mid-April, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs released its Diplomatic Bluebook 2023, in which it noted that we are now at the end of the post-Cold War era. After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the United States asserted its primacy over the international order and, along with its Triad vassals, established what it called the rules-based international order. This thirty-year-old US-led project is now floundering, partly due to the internal weaknesses of the Triad countries (including their weakened position in the global economy) and partly due to the rise of the locomotives of the South (led by China, but including Brazil, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and Nigeria). Our calculations, based on the IMF datamapper, show that for the first time in centuries, the Gross Domestic Product of the Global South countries surpassed that of the Global North countries this year. The rise of these developing countries  despite the great social inequality that exists within them  has produced a new attitude amongst their middle classes which is reflected in the increased confidence of their governments: they no longer accept the parochial views of the Triad countries as universal truths, and they have a greater wish to exert their own national and regional interests.





It is this re-assertion of national and regional interests within the Global South that has revived a set of regional processes, including the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) process. On 1 June, the BRICS foreign ministers met in Cape Town (South Africa) ahead of the summit between their heads of states that is set to take place this August in Johannesburg. The joint statement they issued is instructive: twice, they warned about the negative impact of unilateral economic coercive measures, such as sanctions, boycotts, embargoes, and blockades which have produced negative effects, notably in the developing world. The language in this statement represents a feeling that is shared across the entirety of the Global South. From Bolivia to Sri Lanka, these countries, which make up the majority of the world, are fed up with the IMF-driven debt-austerity cycle and the Triads bullying. They are beginning to assert their own sovereign agendas.





Interestingly, this revival of sovereign politics is not being driven by inward-looking nationalism, but by a non-aligned internationalism. The BRICS ministers statement focuses on strengthening multilateralism and upholding international law, including the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations as its indispensable cornerstone (incidentally, both China and Russia are part of the twenty-member Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter). The implicit argument being made here is that the US-led Triad states have unilaterally imposed their narrow worldview, based on the interests of their elites, on the countries of the South under the guise of the rules-based international order. Now, the states of the Global South argue, it is time to return to the source  the UN Charter  and build a genuinely democratic international order.





The word non-aligned has increasingly been used to refer to this new trend in international politics. The term has its origins in the Non-Aligned Conference held in Belgrade (Yugoslavia) in 1961, which was built upon the foundations laid at the Asian-African Conference held in Bandung (Indonesia) in 1955. In those days, non-alignment referred to countries led by movements rooted in the deeply anti-colonial Third World Project, which sought to establish the sovereignty of the new states and the dignity of their people. That moment of non-alignment was killed off by the debt crisis of the 1980s, which began with Mexicos default in 1982. What we have now is not a return of the old non-alignment, but the emergence of a new political atmosphere and a new political constellation that requires careful study. For now, we can say that this new non-alignment is being demanded by the larger states of the Global South that are uninterested in being subordinated by the Triads agenda, but which have not yet established a project of their own  a Global South Project, for instance.





As part of our efforts to understand this emerging dynamic, Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research will be joining with the No Cold War campaign, ALBA Movimientos, Pan-Africanism Today, the International Strategy Center (South Korea), and the International Peoples Assembly to host the webinar The New Non-Alignment and the New Cold War on 17 June. Speakers will include Ronnie Kasrils (former minister of intelligence, South Africa), Sevim Dagdelen (deputy party leader for Die Linke in the German Bundestag), Stephanie Weatherbee (International Peoples Assembly), and Srujana Bodapati (Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research).





In 1931, the Jamaican poet and journalist Una Marson (19051965) wrote There Will Come a Time, a poem of hopefulness for a future where love and brotherhood should have full sway. People in the colonised world, she wrote, would have to pursue a sustained battle to attain their freedom. We are nowhere near the end of that fight, yet we are not in the position of almost total subordination that we were in during the height of the Triads primacy, which ran from 1991 to now. It is worthwhile to go back to Marson, who knew with certainty that a more just world would come, even if she would not be alive to witness it:





What matter that we be as caged birds

Who beat their breasts against the iron bars

Till blood-drops fall, and in heartbreaking songs

Our souls pass out to God? These very words,

In anguish sung, will mightily prevail.

We will not be among the happy heirs

Of this grand heritage  but unto us

Will come their gratitude and praise,

And children yet unborn will reap in joy

What we have sown in tears





Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian, editor and journalist. He is a writing fellow and chief correspondent at Globetrotter. He is an editor of LeftWord Books and the director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research. He is a senior non-resident fellow at Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China. He has written more than 20 books, including The Darker Nations and The Poorer Nations. His latest books are Struggle Makes Us Human: Learning from Movements for Socialism and (with Noam Chomsky) The Withdrawal: Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and the Fragility of U.S. Power.
An invisible killer lurking in American homes and businesses will send more than 100,000 people to emergency departments across the country this year.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a tasteless, odorless threat that, even at low concentrations, can cause lasting damage in people who inhale it.

Once concentrations of the flammable gas exceed roughly 70 parts per million, particularly if a person has been exposed for as few as two hours, certain symptoms of bodily harm will manifest from the relatively minor such as dizziness and confusion to lasting neurological damage and even death.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable by keeping up to date with appliance maintenance and installing detectors in the home. Though the latter is highly effective, a paucity of Americans have installed life-saving carbon monoxide detectors.

Initial symptoms after just a few hours of low-level exposure tend to resemble those of the flu, but ontinued exposure can lead to enduring memory loss and confusion as well as mood changes

Carbon monoxide is produced when fossil fuels burn without enough oxygen. This can occur via household appliances that run on gas as well as fires and clogged flues

What are the symptoms of CO poisoning?

Signs of carbon monoxide poisoning often first present as flu-like symptoms including headache, weakness, upset stomach, and vomiting.

Early symptoms can also be confused for signs of food poisoning, as was the case in a young couple from California who vacationed at a luxe resort in Mexico only to die in their hotel room from apparent CO poisoning that they initially believed was caused by bad food.

Dr Albert Rizzo, Chief Medical Officer for the American Lung Association, told DailyMail.com: Since it's odorless, tasteless, it can be very insidious and people don't often equate these kinds of symptoms with carbon monoxide poisoning.

They might think they have a virus or it's the flu, maybe they just need better-ventilated air, which they do, but then not make a connection that it's carbon monoxide.

More severe neurological effects will become apparent after sustained exposure  from days to months  to just low concentrations of the gas.

Continued exposure can lead to enduring memory loss and confusion. People have also experienced personality changes after exposure to CO.

Some people exposed to CO for an extended period of time will experience personality or mood changes such as the onset of depression or anxiety. It can also lead to confusion and other cognitive issues

By six weeks post-poisoning, over 40 percent of sufferers experienced higher rates of depression, anxiety, and cognitive dysfunction.

Some people exposed to concentrations of around 150 to 200 parts per million may notice some movement and walking issues resembling those experienced by Parkinsons sufferers.

A 2002 review published in the journal European Neurology reported that of 242 patients with CO poisoning examined between the years 1986 and 1996, nearly 10 percent experienced parkinsonism after an average of four weeks post-poisoning.

The most common symptoms were difficulty walking and maintaining a normal gait, impaired thinking, urinary incontinence, an inability to speak, muscle rigidity.

How does one get CO poisoning?

Carbon monoxide is produced when fossil fuels burn without enough oxygen.

Inhaling car or lawnmower exhaust is a leading cause. But people are also vulnerable to poisoning in the safety of their homes, especially if they live in smaller spaces.

Dr Rizzo said: Unfortunately, even poorly functioning household appliances, stoves, furnaces, kerosene heaters, if they're not properly vented, or not working in proper order, they're going to produce more carbon monoxide than they should.

If this is a poorly ventilated space that's going to build up and reach levels that will cause the symptoms.

Gas-powered stoves and appliances such as dryers emit toxic CO. Faulty water heaters can also emit dangerous levels of CO if not maintained.

One study found that as many as 51 percent of gas kitchen ranges surveyed raised CO concentrations in the room above the EPA standard of 9 ppm, while five percent had carbon monoxide levels above 200 ppm.

How can it be avoided?

CO poisoning is entirely preventable, but it kills roughly 420 Americans and sends more than 100,000 of them to emergency departments each year.

Any person who believes they have been exposed to carbon monoxide should seek fresh air immediately, experts say. Something as simple as opening the garage door before starting the car can prove lifesaving.

Exposure is especially dangerous to older adults with certain pre-existing health conditions including chronic heart disease, anemia, or respiratory problems. Infants and unborn babies are also extremely vulnerable. CO poisoning greatly increases the risk of fetal death and developmental disorders.

Combustion of any fuel source, from propane and charcoal to gasoline, emits toxic carbon dioxide

Homes should also be equipped with carbon monoxide detectors, small appliances that look similar to common smoke detectors.

CO detectors can save lives, but only a paucity of American homes have them. In fact, while nearly 98 percent of patients in an emergency department surveyed in the summer of 2011 said their homes were outfitted with smoke detectors, just 44 percent said the same of CO detectors.

Low-income households in which residents earned less than $26,000 per year were the least likely to have a CO detector in or near their sleeping areas, the ideal place to have them.

In addition, minority groups, renters, and urban residents were also far less likely to have CO detectors at home for a variety of reasons, including cost barriers and a lack of awareness about the importance of having a couple installed.

Dr Rizzo said: Things like carbon monoxide monitors and detectors should be readily available to individuals to be on each floor of the house. I know it's a cost factor. These are relatively cheap, but not everybody can afford two or three carbon monoxide monitors in their home.

But that's why it's so important to be aware of it and to think about using a monitor especially if you use a lot of these gas-powered appliances at home and arent very well-ventilated.
Half were tasked with cutting their social media use to just 30 minutes per day

Young adults who cut their social media use to just 30 minutes a day are less likely to have mental health problems, a study suggests.

Researchers at Iowa State University recruited 230 college students and asked half to slash their social media use from about three hours and 15 minutes a day to just half an hour  or by 85 percent  for two weeks.

Those who limited their use had significant improvements in levels of depression, anxiety and loneliness. They were also more likely to report positive feelings of excitement and pride.

Scientists suggested this may be because youngsters felt more in control of their social media use, which was fostering well-being. It comes amid rising rates of mental health problems among young adults, with up to 44 percent now reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Researchers at Iowa State University found that limiting time on social media may have helped to boost youngsters' mental health (stock image)

For the study, published in the journal Technology, Mind and Behavior, researchers sent out emails to students at the university asking them to take part in the study.

A total of 230 students agreed, who had an average age of 22 years and all owned a smartphone. About 70 percent were female.

They were split into two groups, with about half asked to limit their social media use to 30 minutes a day while the rest were told to carry on as normal.

Scientists carried out a battery of tests at the beginning and end of the study  carried out in 2021  to measure their anxiety, depression, loneliness and fear of missing out.

They were also asked to fill in surveys to measure the 'positivity effect', or their tendency to experience positive emotions such as pride or excitement.

Participants were asked to self-report how long they spent on social media daily before and during the trial, as well as how long using different apps.

During the trial, they received daily reminders via email to limit their social media use.

The researchers found that at the start of the trial, all the participants used social media for 195 minutes per day on average.

The most common app used on average was TikTok  with about 95 minutes a day  followed by YouTube  87 minutes  Snapchat  80 minutes  and Facebook  59 minutes. Instagram was at the bottom of the pile on 57 minutes per day.

At the start of the trial, the survey suggested that many of the participants had clinically significant symptoms of anxiety and depression.

But by the end, these had significantly improved among participants who used social media for just 30 minutes a day.

This group also saw an uptick in the proportion of people experiencing the 'positivity effect', results showed.

Dr Ella Faulhaber, a human-computer interaction expert who led the study, said: 'It surprised me to find that participants well-being did not only improve in one dimension but in all of them.

'I was excited to learn that such a simple intervention of sending a daily reminder can motivate people to change their behavior and improve their social media habits.'

The above shows mental health problems reported by college students who attend the Center for Collegiate Mental Health at Penn State University

Those over the age of 44 seem to be happier  34 percent of Americans aged 18-29 and 35 percent aged 30-44 have been told they have depression, compared to 26 percent of 45-64-year-olds and 21 percent of those 65 and older

In the group that limited social media use, they also saw an improvement in mental health in young adults who went over the 30-minute-a-day limit.

'The lesson here is, it's not about being perfect but putting in effort, which makes a difference.

'I think self-limiting and paying attention are the secret ingredients, more so than the 30-minute benchmark.'

The study was observational and could not determine exactly why limiting social media use improved participants' well-being.

But researchers suggested this may be because participants were engaging in self-control over how they used the apps, which can foster well-being.

'Given the design of the present study, it cannot be determined to what extent the results were an effect of self-monitoring, limiting usage or executing self-control.

'However, it is still notable that without requiring complete abstinence from social media, encouraging limited usage through a daily reminder email can effectively decrease negative psychological wellbeing.'
Where people live in the country drastically altered their likelihood of having experienced depression

More than a quarter of people reported a lifetime diagnosis of depression in West Virginia in 2020, a shocking new study has revealed.

The state is the most depressed compared to the least, Hawaii, where just 12.7 percent of the population reported having been diagnosed with depression at some point in their life.

The alarming data, released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), demonstrates the wide geographical disparity for depression in American adults.

Researchers believe that depression is higher in states such as Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Alabama due to the prevalence of other chronic diseases such as diabetes as well as other social factors, including poverty.

The study, compiled from nearly 400,000 adults across the 50 states, found that overall 18.4 percent of US adults had been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lifetime.

For readers on mobile click here to view interactive map.

'There was considerable geographic variation in the prevalence of depression, with the highest state and county estimates of depression observed along the Appalachian and southern Mississippi Valley regions,' researchers wrote in the report.

The researchers said they hoped the new data would 'help decision-makers guide resource allocation to areas where the need is greatest.'

In Kentucky one in four respondents said they had been diagnosed with depression at some point their life.

Similarly more than 24 percent of those asked in Tennessee reported a lifetime depression diagnosis.

The researchers suggested that the geographical variation may in part be explained by the prevalence of other chronic diseases.

Chronic diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, and cardiovascular diseases, occur in high concentration in the Appalachian region, where depression is also high.

They argue that depression is a comorbidity for these illnesses and therefore high levels of depression is linked to their presence in the region.

Other social factors were also cited as an explanation for high levels of depression.

24 percent of women, compared with just 13 percent of men reported having experienced depression

The study found that overall 18.4 percent of US adults had been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lifetime

Adults in the Appalachian region tend to have lower incomes, higher poverty rates, and lower education levels, all of which can negatively affect health and well-being, according to the study.

The results also showed that levels of depression were higher with women, younger adults and adults with lower education levels.

24 percent of women, compared with just 13 percent of men reported having experienced depression.

The statistics were also higher among adults who had attained less than a high school education, 21 percent, compared with with adults with a high school education or equivalent, 18.5 percent. Those with college degrees fared best, with 15.4 percent reporting a diagnosis.

Other recent reports have shown a jump in Americans reporting lifetime depression diagnoses in recent years.

Gallup reported in May that 29 percent of Americans had been diagnosed with depression at some point, which was nearly 10 percent more than in 2015.

'The fact that Americans are more depressed and struggling after this time of incredible stress and isolation is perhaps not surprising,' Dr. Rebecca Brendel, president of the American Psychiatric Association said.

'There are lingering effects on our health, especially our mental health, from the past three years that disrupted everything we knew' Brendel, who was not involved in the CDC study, added.
Society

The Peoples Hospital

by Dr Ricardo Nuila (Abacus 20, 371pp)

It's a good job I had my heart attack earlier this year in England.

Had I keeled over in America, I'd now be a corpse, as their medical system is unsympathetic towards anyone 'poor and chronically ill', which is pretty much the category I usually find myself in.

In Sussex, the NHS clicked into action stations  helicopter, emergency services, surgical and nursing teams giving instant and unstinting attention.

But had I been in Texas, and never mind being unconscious, I'd first have been required to produce a valid photo ID, a utility bill (as proof of address) and a bank statement proving gross income for the last 30 days.

Had I keeled over in America, I'd now be a corpse, as their medical system is unsympathetic towards anyone 'poor and chronically ill'

A list of assets is also needed, including the value of one's house. Without a down payment of $5,000 (3,900) the patient literally might be left for dead.

Ricardo Nuila, a doctor who teaches at the Center for Medical Ethics in Houston, tells a horrible story of a man packed off in a taxi, going from one hospital to another with a note pinned to him stating, 'This patient is sick with meningitis, please treat him'. None did. He died in a clinic forecourt.

'Excellent care is apparently available,' says Nuila, 'but it's not reaching all the people.'

No wonder, when the exorbitant costs and faff are examined. Though they have Medicare and Obamacare, the paperwork involved in making applications is so baffling, the system so 'arbitrary and vague', few get through the processes.

Before you sit down in the waiting area for an initial consultation, the receptionist will demand a starting fee of $639 (503) from an insurance company or the patient's wallet.

Orthopaedic surgery starts at $15,000 (11,800), and a liver transplant is half a million.

Kidney dialysis is $53,000 (41,750) a year, and needles for a diabetic to inject insulin are charged at $4,800 (3,780) annually.

Prosthetic limbs are $30,000 (23,600) each, cash. A prostatectomy, including pre-operative consultations and aftercare, is $241,000 (190,000), though hospitals may charge insurance companies $700,000 (551,500).

Clearly, only the wealthy can stump up. Everyone else endures wheezes, dry heaves, muffled sobs, sits about in sweat, blood and bile, unable to admit themselves to what we call Accident & Emergency.

If the rate of mothers dying in childbirth is rising in America  it doubled between 2011 and 2012 this will be because the bill for having a baby is 'just north of $15,000' (11,800). For each check-up, add another $2,000 (1,575).

People are understandably 'left to wonder if seeing the doctor is worth the trouble'. Sixty-six percent of bankruptcies in America are due to medical bills, affecting 530,000 families in 2019.

Healthcare in America is evidently a scandalous maelstrom of greedy doctors, hospital administrators, stockholders, and intransigent insurance companies

The answer is meant to be insurance, but that only makes matters worse, as cover is often insufficient.

Employers pay the cheapest rates they can locate for their employees. Workers then find, when they fall ill, that insurance firms quickly intercede, preventing tests which could help with a full diagnosis.

MRI, PET and CAT scans, electrocardiograms, these are all charged as an extra. Those reliant on employer healthcare schemes are frankly routinely ripped off.

With coverage denied, people become even more ill than they need to be. Kidney disease or colon cancer, for example, can lead to septic shock from blood infections. With treatments unaffordable, patients 'endure their sickness'.

What's to be done in each individual case is tailored to the depth of a patient's pocket, rather than what's best for them.

Doctors in America focus on how (and on how much) they might be paid, rather than on the patient's quality of life.

$22,221 - Average annual cost of health insurance per family in U.S.

Surely this is unethical? It's certainly unspeakable. Courtesy and kindly attention are things of the past; for all the loot changing hands, a patient is lucky to be given ten minutes; they are merely 'numbers on a spreadsheet'.

Healthcare in America is evidently a scandalous maelstrom of greedy doctors, hospital administrators, stockholders, intransigent insurance companies, pharmaceutical concerns  with everyone chasing profits, 'clawing and charging', inflating their invoices.

'Optimising a bill,' says Nuila, 'determines a doctor's success more than their surgical or diagnostic prowess.'

Promotion depends on being a good businessman or businesswoman, bringing in the money.

Nuila, himself still a busy doctor, or 'hospitalist', working pro bono at the Ben Taub Hospital, 'Houston's largest hospital for the poor', seems like one of the last altruistic men left standing, looking after the 'crushed, the burned, the dismembered, the stabbed, the shot up.'

He is unconcerned about patients' wherewithal. It's why he feels free to write this frankly terrifying whistleblowing book.

What money buys, he reflects sadly, 'is comprehensive healthcare for some, but mostly ineffective emergency care for those who cannot afford the high-end' treatment, where the cheapest professional advice  or rather warning  given by Nuila is that it won't matter if you end up dead.

We are always told the NHS is in crisis, yet nothing remotely similar to the American model or protocol must be allowed to come in here.
Wait for small claims case to be heard was 51.9 weeks in January-March 2023

Claimants seeking justice for their money issues are being left waiting for years before their claim even sees a courtroom, as lawyers warn the system 'really is broken'.

The delays mean agonising wait times for road traffic injury payouts from insurers, compensation for faulty goods, disputes between tenants and landlords and more.

Most money claims are civil cases, not criminal, so are heard by one of three County Court 'tracks' - small claims, fast track and multi track.

Small claims are for disputes of less than 10,000, the fast track is for straightforward cases of 10,000 to 25,000 and the multi track is for cases of 25,000 and up.

Courting controversy: Many courtrooms are dealing with lengthy backlogs of money claims

The latest figures from the Ministry of Justice show that the time for a small claims case to be heard in court was 51.9 weeks in the first three months of 2023, an increase of around one week on the same period in 2022.

For fast-track claims and multi-track claims, waiting times have risen to 79.9 weeks, up 6.3 weeks on the first quarter of 2022.

Around 89 per cent of this backlog is for money and damages claims, the Ministry of Justice said.

Damian Bradley, partner at personal injury law firm Express Solicitors, said the longest wait his company had seen was 1,336 days - more than three-and-a-half-years - for a case to reach its first court hearing.

Bradley added that these delays can be catastrophic for claimants and rack up their costs by thousands of pounds.

'One of our clients, who is in a wheelchair, was asked by defendants to give evidence in person', Bradley said.

'His partner, who was heavily pregnant, had to push him from the taxi to the courtroom. He was then told he may not get his case heard that day and was blocking a security exit, so had to wait for two and a half hours outside, and now that trial won't happen until 2024.

'He is in dire financial stress. It's a horrendous example but this is what's happening. It can add thousands of pounds to the process which is not recoverable. It can be very stressful, many have not been in a court before and it seems like a foreboding process to them. They have sleepless nights. The system really is broken.'

The Ministry of Justice says the wait times are due to a backlog of cases dating back to the Covid-19 lockdowns.

Government figures show that before the pandemic there were 20,177 full-time court staff. But after a wave of furloughs, many court staff quit and did not return. By 2021 the number of court staff had fallen to 16,714.

A spokesperson for HM Courts and Tribunals Service said: 'The number of cases being heard in the civil courts is at its highest level since the start of the pandemic thanks to our decisive action such as opening extra courtrooms and enabling more remote hearings.

'We are speeding up access to justice through the biggest-ever recruitment drive for district judges and by digitising more processes, while plans to increase the use of mediation will help more people resolve disputes without needing to go to court in the first place.'

Matthew Maxwell Scott, executive director of the Association of Consumer Support Organisations, said: 'Our civil justice system is used by the vast majority of citizens when they need to access the law, yet it has become a Cinderella service after years of Government cuts and ministers taking their eye off the ball.

'The latest data once again underline how badly justice has declined, a point noted in the latest World Justice Project report which found that the UK has slipped from 13th to 20th in the ranking of countries with the most accessible and affordable civil justice system.'
Citizens Advice helped 2,000 people with 'no fault' evictions in May, the most in a single month on record and 25 per cent more than the same month last year.

Also known as section 21 evictions, these allow private landlords to repossess their properties without having to establish fault on the part of the tenant.

So far this year the charity has seen a 9 per cent increase in people seeking support with these types of evictions, compared to the same period in 2022.

Citizens Advice is a network of independent charities offering confidential advice for free

The Government is set to end no fault evictions under the Renters Reform Bill currently making its way through parliament, but Citizens Advice has warned the changes don't go far enough to protect tenants.

The legislation still allows landlords to evict renters six months in to a tenancy if they wish to sell the property or move in a member of their family.

However, the new rules won't require landlords to give evidence they have followed through on this once a tenant has left.

Citizens Advice's research found 48 per cent of renters who have experienced an eviction had been told their landlord wanted to sell up.

Furthermore, the charity is warning that landlords may use excessive rent increases as a way of forcing tenants out.

Last year, 1.8 million households either had their rent increased or were threatened with an increase, while 300,000 renters were forced out of their home by such an increase.

Amar's renting story Amar, his wife and their two young children have lived in their rented home for more than two years. Earlier this year, they were told their rent would be increasing by almost 400 a month. When the couple challenged this, their landlord issued them with a section 21 notice. Amar said: 'We can't afford to pay more and we have nowhere to go. I tried to speak to the landlord to explain but they said I have to go through the letting agency. 'The letting agency said there is nothing they can do, either pay more or move out. They just don't care about people. 'I am very worried as I just do not know what we are going to do and where we will live. My wife is so stressed thinking we are going to be homeless on the street.'

The charity found less than 10 per cent of renters who challenged a rent increase from their landlord were successful.

An estimated 700,000 households across the UK missed rent or mortgage payments in April, according to consumer group Which? as rent hit new highs.

Rents outside of London soared to an average of 1,190 a month as tenants compete for a lack of homes to let.

Matthew Upton, acting executive director of policy and advocacy at of Citizens Advice, said: 'Our advisers are increasingly hearing from renters who are being forced to uproot their entire lives after receiving a Section 21 notice.

'Reforms to the private rental sector are welcome, but they're open to abuse from unscrupulous landlords. The Government must ensure reforms are watertight and not include loopholes which allow section 21 evictions to continue by the backdoor.'

The charity is calling on the Government to increase the length of time new tenants are protected from 'no fault' grounds for eviction from six months to two years.

It also wants steps to be put in place to ensure landlords who claim to need to sell a property can't rapidly re-let it.

Many landlords say they are being forced to put up rents due to increased mortgage costs.

One in three landlords is struggling to remortgage after failing their lender's affordability test, according to analysis by broker Mortgages for Business.

In just two years the average two-year fixed rate buy-to-let mortgage has jumped from 2.96 per cent to 5.80 per cent, figures from Moneyfacts show.

Changes to mortgage interest relief, and the reduction of landlord allowances such as wear and tear, have contributed to a tougher environment for landlords.

However, when This Money canvassed landlords' opinions on the new legislation the responses were mixed.

While some said the end of no fault evictions was the final straw pushing them out of the sector, others were more sanguine and took a long term view hoping to ride out the current turmoil.
When Turkish chemical giant WE Soda cancelled its planned float on the London Stock Exchange this week, many were quick to conclude that the decision was a blow to the City.

But while the company blamed extreme investor caution for its decision to pull out, those in the Square Mile tell a different story, one that instead saw investors give the firm the cold shoulder.

WE Sodas headquarters are in London but it operates in Turkey and Wyoming in the United States, where it produces natural soda ash, used in glass manufacturing, detergents and soaps, plus batteries for electric vehicles.

The announcement that it planned to debut in the City a fortnight ago sparked hopes of a revival of Londons slumbering market, but yesterday the boss Alasdair Warren said valuations were, in the companys opinion, unrealistically low.

Concerns: Turkish chemical giant WE Soda is owned by billionaire Turgay Ciner and his wife Didem (pictured)

The breadth of engagement which I talked about before was absolutely there. The issue was more about valuation, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

And its not just a UK issue. Its a broader European issue around the performance of IPO.

Analysts said investors were put off by several warning signs and decided they would bet against the stock instead should it list, a practice known as short selling.

Its certainly a good thing that UK investors gave this one short shrift, said Neil Wilson, analyst at financial services firm Finalto.

Extreme investor caution means lots of interest on the short side. It has all kinds of red flags and London showed it out.

AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould added that WE Soda may have simply failed to live up to the Citys standards.

If WE Soda was asking a price investors would not pay, then perhaps they were demanding too much. It is perfectly possible that the big institutions were doing what they are paid to do preserve their clients capital, as well as look to grow it, he said.

One thing that may have put off investors was that WE Soda wanted a value of between 6billion and 7billion which, while making it a prime candidate for the FTSE 100, may have been too high.

In the Financial Times, Craig Coben, former global head of equity capital markets at Bank of America, said WE Soda was a de facto Turkish company with no public track record [and] was trying to list at a peak multiple off peak earnings resulting from peak prices for soda ash.

Investors were having none of it. It was too expensive and the deal was too big. The company was only planning to float around 10 per cent of its shares, giving new shareholders little control for their money.

Concerns could also have been compounded by the fact that WE Sodas chairman Didem Ciner is the 43-year-old wife of the companys current owner, Turkish billionaire Turgay Ciner, 67.

Reports in the Financial Times this week revealed that senior executives had mishandled discussions with investors, dampening its prospects. WE Sodas strategy has fuelled scepticism about the recent changes to Britains stock market rules which are designed to boost the Citys competitiveness by making it easier for firms to float.

It came amid an exodus of UK companies from London to the US. In an effort to encourage firms to return, the Financial Conduct Authority has outlined plans that include removing the need for companies to have three years of audited accounts before listing, as well as loosening rules around dual-class shares which give company founders more voting power than ordinary investors.

But Mould said that the planned changes should be viewed with caution as many of Londons current regulations had spared investors a lot of pain and protected them from being swamped by a torrent of dross.

Warren said New York was now looking like a credible alternative for WE Soda to list.
A payments company worth up to 1billion has confirmed plans to float on London Stock Exchange (LSE)  only a day after WE Soda abandoned its own listing.

CAB Payments said that it was planning to list its shares in London amid confidence in the UK as the home for innovative and growing global businesses.

It offers cross-border payments to businesses in emerging markets, and said the listing was expected to occur in July.

It is expected to be valued at between 800million and 1billion, according to the specialist media outlet Mergermarket.

The LSE was dealt a blow on Wednesday after WE Soda said that it was ditching its IPO, a week after it was announced.

1bn float: CAB Payments offers cross-border payments to businesses in emerging markets

WE Soda said that it faced extreme investor caution, which meant it failed to reach a valuation it was happy with.

The company has not ruled out looking to list in the United States instead.

It comes after Cambridge-based chipmaker Arm decided earlier this year to pursue a US-only stock market listing, despite lobbying from the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who was hoping the company would choose London.

But CAB Payments said it was confident in the UK and was pleased with the interest it had seen from investors so far.

CAB chairman Ann Cairns said: Bringing CAB Payments to the public market underscores our confidence in the business and its value-generation potential, as well as our confidence in the UK as the home for innovative and growing global businesses  and cements CAB as a preferred payments and forex partner for blue-chip companies transacting in emerging markets.

In the future CAB Payments says that it expects its shares to qualify for inclusion in the FTSE indices.

- The boss of FTSE 100 life-saving tech group Halma has backed the LSE as its home.

Weve been listed in London for 50 years and its been good to us, said its group chief executive Marc Ronchetti.

Theres certainly no current plans to change our listing arrangements, he added.
Investment management giant Legal & General (L&G) has named a former HSBC banker as the successor to its long-serving chief executive Sir Nigel Wilson.

Antonio Simoes, who currently runs the European arm of Spanish bank Santander, will take over as chief executive of the FTSE 100 firm at the start of next year.

The 48-year-old, who lives between London and Madrid with his husband and two children, will become the first openly gay head of a FTSE 100 company.

His appointment came after Wilson announced plans to retire having led L&G for more than a decade.

Antonio brings a formidable leadership track record at the most senior level of financial services, working across complex, global organisations, said L&G chairman Sir John Kingman.

New role: Antonio Simoes (pictured) who currently runs the European arm of Spanish bank Santander, will take over as chief exec of Legal & General at the start of next year

L&G shares fell 2.5 per cent, or 6p, to 232p yesterday. When he takes over as chief executive, Simoes will receive a base salary of 1.175million and a cash allowance of 117,500 in place of a pension.

He could make up to another 5.9million in bonuses, which would take his total potential package to over 7million.

Simoes will also be compensated for any pay and bonuses given up at Santander.

This is a critical time for our industry, clients and customers, with emerging technologies, changing societal dynamics and wider economic forces presenting new challenges and opportunities, he said.

I look forward to working with the board and an exceptional team of colleagues to shape this important next chapter, he added.

Simoes is known as a strong advocate for LGBT+ representation in the business world.

In 2015 when he was the head of HSBCs UK banking operation, Simoes said that he believe he owed his success to being gay, which had made him a more authentic person, with better empathy, better emotional intelligence.

If I wasnt gay, I probably would not be CEO of the bank, he said.

His commitment to diversity is likely to fuel speculation that he will continue the move towards inclusive capitalism pioneered by Wilson, which focused L&Gs efforts towards funding long-term assets such as infrastructure and housing developments.

Before arriving at Santander, Simoes spent 13 years at HSBC and also served as a partner at consultancy McKinsey & Company.

Analysts at Barclays said his appointment may have come as a surprise to some in the market given Simoes experience had mainly been focused on banking and strategy.
Amazon's $1.7billion (1.3billion) acquisition of the company behind the Roomba robot vacuum cleaner has been given the green light by Britain's competition watchdog.

The Competition and Markets Authority, which is separately investigating the online retail behemoth's UK marketplace, said Amazon's takeover of iRobot could go ahead following a two-and-a-half month investigation.

The regulator determined that the deal 'would not lead to competition concerns in the UK' as Amazon moves to bolster its position in the 'smart devices' market.

CMA: 'More people are choosing to use 'smart' tech in their homes'

Amazon revealed the $61 per share, all-cash deal in August 2022, with the tech giant's senior vice president of devices Dave Limp at the time praising iRobot's 'ability to reinvent how people clean with products that are incredibly practical and inventive'.

iRobot emerged in 2002 with the introduction of Roomba, which has now sold millions of units worldwide.

The firm describes itself as 'a global consumer robot company that designs and builds thoughtful robots and intelligent home innovations that make life better'.

The CMA had been concerned the takeover could unfairly disadvantage iRobot's rivals, among other issues.

But the watchdog's investigation, which was launched in April, found iRobot's UK market position to be 'modest' with 'several significant rivals' and the takeover therefore 'wouldn't have a substantial impact on market outcomes'.

The CMA also said that while Amazon could use its size to disadvantage these rivals, 'it would lack the incentive to do so' as the benefits of doing so would be 'limited'.

Colin Raftery, senior director of mergers at the CMA, said: 'More people are choosing to use 'smart' tech in their homes  whether that's listening to the radio through a smart speaker, answering the door using a video doorbell, or keeping floors clean with robot vacuum cleaners.

'That's why it's important to ensure tech firms that already benefit from powerful positions aren't able to use those positions to undermine competitors at the expense of UK consumers and businesses.

'Here, after a thorough investigation, we're satisfied that the deal would have no impact on competition in the UK.'

Amazon still needs to get the green light from other anti-trust regulators around the world.

A spokesperson said: 'We look forward to similar decisions from other regulators soon.'
The war in Ukraine has made it easier for the U.S. Army to get all the money wanted for upgrades to the American M1 tank force. The army had already developed and scrutinized a new SEP (System Enhancement Package) update called SEP4 (or SEPV4) for its M1 tanks. The last upgrade (Sep3) entered service in 2020 after years of testing. The new upgrade contains lots of incremental improvements of features the SEP3 tanks already have. This includes upgrades to the gunners sight and a meteorological sensor that collects data on weather conditions to improve accuracy of the main gun. The U.S. Army has led the world in tank gun accuracy for decades and the SEP4 features offer small improvements.

Since the 1980s there have only been these incremental improvements for use against opponents who largely use T-72 upgrades that have not closed the wide effectiveness gap with the M1 and a few other similar tanks (Leopard 2, Challenger, LeClerc and Merkava), A major advantage of the M1 is that it has more combat experience than any other tank, especially its primary opponent: improved T-72/90 models. The most recent combat experience for these tanks has been in Ukraine, when the most modern Russian tank failed in a spectacular fashion against modern Western portable anti-tank weapons. These infantry weapons have a long history of success and to capitalize on that Poland has obtained lots of them and even built its own versions.

Noting the similar success of the M1, a year ago Poland ordered 250 M1A2SEP3 tanks for $6 million each. These will be new tanks, not upgrades of older models. The M1A2SEP3 is also known as the M1A2C and is currently the most advanced version of the M1. The Poles consider this tank the best option to deal with any new Russian tank developments. The 66-ton M1A2C also includes the Israeli Trophy ADS (active defense system) which has proved itself in combat and is capable of defeating ATGMs (Anti-tank guided missiles) and RPGs (rocket propelled grenades). Deliveries will begin in late 2022 and be completed in about four years.

The 250 Polish M1A2s will complement the 240 used German Leopard 2A4s Poland obtained at bargain prices since 2002, along with a license to upgrade them to the 2A6 standard as the 62-ton Leopard 2PL. Poland is also upgrading over a hundred of its 380 older Russian T-72 tanks, most of them built in Poland during the Cold War and 225 PT-91s, a much-improved T-72 variant designed and built locally since 1995. Poland plans to retire its remaining T-72s as the M1A2s arrive and the experience of these tanks in the Ukraine fighting will accelerate the retirement process. Poland has also ordered a thousand modern K-2 tanks from South Korea, most of them to be built in Poland.

Currently the most advanced Russian tank in service is the T-72B3, which is considered as good as the T-90, a 48-ton T-72 upgrade introduced in 1993 as the T-72BU but had a marketing name change to T-90. Over 3,200 were built and most were exported to India where they were produced under license. The 45-ton T-72B3 is cheaper and considered by Russian commanders and crews as equal to the more expensive T-90. Russia uses about 2,000 T-72B3s, with most of its 590 T-90s in storage and T-72B3 used for active-duty units. Russia lost most of those T-72B3s in Ukraine since February along with many of the T-90s brought out of storage. Poland sees its M1 order as a prudent and successful investment.

Russia has a new tank design, theT-14, that improves on the T-72 but has not been in combat and is too expensive to purchase in large quantities. The 48-ton T-14 is a radical new design that appears quite impressive but has so far proved too complex and too expensive to mass produce. Mass production was supposed to have started in 2015 but technical problems and shrinking defense budgets halted that until 2020 when covid19 restrictions again delayed production until 2022. The war in Ukraine meant further delays. Russia has fewer than thirty development and pre-production T-14s which have been undergoing field tests with tank units since 2016. The T-14 has a three-man crew and a fully automated turret with the three crew all in an armored capsule under the turret.

The T-14 relies on a lot of new techs, some more advanced than any other Western tank has installed. Getting all that tech to work reliably has been a major problem. Getting all these problems fixed has made the T-14 more expensive, at about $4 million each. Thats twice what the reliable T-72B3 costs and Russian combat commanders and crews will have to be convinced that the T-14 works and is not just as reliable as the T-72B3, but also better at surviving in combat. Mass production to build less than two hundred more T-14s was supposed to begin in 2022. At the moment it looks like the Polish M1A2Cs will be the first American tanks to meet the T-14 in combat if Russia ever tries to make a move on Poland and has any new tanks to do it with. The Russians considered sending some T-14s to Ukraine but the list of known and potential defects made it obvious that T-14s in combat would be an embarrassment. There are major problems with the engine and electronics and now Russia cant afford the money needed to deal with those problems.

The M1A2C tank is considered the best combat proven tank in the world. But there are many different models of M1s, which vary considerably in their combat capability. The earliest model is only about half as capable as the 2013 M1A2SEP2 model. The M1 is an old design with the first of 3,273 M1 tanks produced in 1978. This version had a 105mm gun. The first of 4,796 M1A1s (with a 120mm gun and depleted uranium armor) was produced in 1985. Another 221 were built for the U.S. Marines, 555 co-produced with Egypt and another 200 M1A1s sent to Egypt. Production of the M1A2 (with improved fire control systems) began in 1986, with 77 for the US Army, 315 for Saudi Arabia, and 218 for Kuwait. Another 600 M1s were upgraded to M1A2 standards. Deliveries of these upgrades began in 1998. In 2001 the army began to upgrade 240 M1A2 tanks as part of an ongoing SEP program with better thermal imaging and fire control equipment as well as communications and computer equipment that would allow tanks to operate a full color "battlefield internet" with each other, as well as headquarters and warplanes with similar equipment. By 2013 the army had upgraded 700 tanks to the M1A2SEP2 standard and built another 240 new M1A2SEP2 vehicles. The goal is to get at least 2,000 upgraded to M1A2SEP2 or higher in the 2020s.

So far over 10,000 American M1 tanks have been produced and most of them subsequently updated at least once, mainly in the 1990s. The army is planning to maintain and upgrade its M1 tank fleet (some 7,000 of them) into the 2030s. The M1 has already been in service since the 1980s and may become the first MBT (main battle tank) design to stay in service for half a century. Technically, some World War II tanks achieved that dubious goal but not in the service of a major power.

The SEP3 entered service in 2020 after being introduced for testing in 2017. SEP3 includes more improvements in the previous TUSK armor and RWS (remote weapons station) machine-gun upgrades as well improved electricity generation and distribution for all the electronic gadgets that need recharging (or whatever) as well as upgraded communications and networking and installation of VHMS (Vehicle Health Management System) and the use of LRMs (Line Replaceable Modules) to make it easier to upgrade or repair problems. The new communications features include ADL (Ammunition DataLink) to use airburst rounds. There is also an improved counter-IED (improvised explosive device) armor package, an upgraded FLIR (night vision heat sensor) and an APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) under armor to run electronics while stationary instead of using its fuel-thirsty turbine engine. The final addition was the Trophy ADS.

The SEP2/3 upgrades also expanded on MVP (Multifunction Vehicle Protection) features which includes external cameras that let the crew see what is going on outside at all times; day or night and in bad weather.

The SEP program is continuous, upgrading existing M1A2 tanks to the new SEP3 standard as well as upgrading more M1A2SEPs to the SEP2 level. These upgrades keep the M1, or at least some of them, competitive with more recently designed and built tanks. The U.S. (mainly the army) has over a thousand of the SEP2 upgraded M1A2s and is getting as many of those upgraded to SEP3 as the budget allows.

The original M1A2SEP was developed in the late 1990s by upgrading protection and a few other minor fixes. These were followed after 2003 after combat experience in Iraq with TUSK (Tank Urban Survival Kit) and evolved into the SEP2 upgrade. TUSK was installed on hundreds of tanks headed for Iraq as well as several hundred more M1s that had battle damage repaired and TUSK upgrades installed at the same time.

TUSK entered service in 2007 with reactive armor panels for the side and rear of the tank, to provide added protection from RPGs. A slat armor panel protects the engine exhaust outlet of the tank from RPGs. A 1.5-ton belly armor kit, which can be installed in two hours, provides additional protection from mines and large bombs. Enhancements also include night vision for all crew members. There is also a telephone added to the side of the tank, so that infantry can more easily communicate with the crew when the tank is "buttoned up" (all hatches closed). The complete TUSK kit cost about $500,000 per vehicle and requires about twelve hours to install all the components. Later additions to TUSK included a rear-view camera for the driver and RWS so the commanders' .50 caliber (12.7mm) machine-gun can be operated from inside the tank. This is particularly useful if the tank is taking a lot of small arms fire. This led to providing all-round vidcam views of what was going on outside the tank.

The M1A2SEP2 made most of the TUSK items standard and added more improvements like the RWS for the 12.7mm machine-gun as standard, as well in computer hardware, including color flat screen displays for the crew and software, including a new operating system along with improved TUSK ERA (explosive reactive armor), making the external phone standard and upgrading the transmission to make it more reliable.

The electronics on the M1 have undergone several upgrades so far, in addition to new ammo types for the main gun. A major enhancement was depleted uranium armor, which made the M1 virtually invulnerable from the front.

The one remaining item in need of major improvement is the 1,500-horsepower gas turbine engine. Past improvements here included electronic monitors on many engine components, an electronic logbook (to record all pertinent engine activity), and a maintenance program that makes the most of all this data. If the engine is monitored closely and constantly, it's possible to carry out maintenance in a timelier (before something fails) manner. The army would also like to develop an improved (more efficient and less expensive to maintain) engine, but that is also a costly item they can't afford at the moment.

MVP can also link to audio sensors that work with video sensors to automatically detect where enemy fire is coming from. The United States tested MVP on their M2 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle). New anti-tank weapons are always being developed and the army wants to at least be able to afford new gear to deal with new threats. One threat that is currently ignored is top attack warheads (that put a shaped charge type attack against the thin top armor). There are also new types of mines and electronic threats. If the M1 is to survive for half a century it will have to evolve, as well as endure. The M1A2C is an evolutionary design compared to the T-14 which is a revolutionary design with a lot of new techs introduced at once.
One of Britain's biggest pub chains to looking to speed up plans to sell off hundreds of its pubs and restaurants, it has been reported.

Whitbread, which operates the Beefeater and Brewers Fayre chains, is auctioning off 250 of its venues in an estimated 600million process.

Mitchells & Butlers, the owners of the Harvester and Toby Carvery brands, is tipped to be the frontrunner to acquire the businesses, The Times reports.

But other contenders include Greene King, Heineken and Marton's and Punch.

Whitbread is believed to be seeking to restrict the auction of its sites to established pub operators, in order to avoid a long, drawn-out disposal, and has 'tested the water' with various chains according to a city source.

Whitbread, which operates the Beefeater and Brewers Fayre chains, is auctioning off 250 of its venues in an estimated 600million process

Mitchells & Butlers, the owners of the Harvester and Toby Carvery brands, is tipped to be the frontrunner to acquire the businesses

Whitbread, based in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, plans to offload 250 of its 440 pub-restaurants, most of which are located next to a Premier Inn.

The majority of these sites for disposal have been noted as either marginal or loss-making. Full-year results published in April include impairment losses made out against 13 of its poorest performing restaurants.

Whitbread has twice completed deals with Mitchells & Butlers in the past, making it an obvious frontrunner in the upcoming sale.

In 2008, Whitbread exchanged 44 pub-restaurants for 21 M&B hotels - both valued at around 78million - in a straightforward asset swap which saw no cash involved.

M&B's estate has been praised for for its high quality following a refurbishment programme overseen by chief executive Phil urban, 60.

The company has a sizeable portfolio of 650 sites including such staples as Miller * Carter and Umber Inns.

Whitbread, based in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, plans to offload 250 of its 440 pub-restaurants, most of which are located next to a Premier Inn

Commentators said Urban may easily choose to convert Whitbread's ageing Beefeaters restaurants into high quality Miller & Carter venues, and Brewers Fayre pubs into Harvesters.

Britain's biggest pub group Stonegate is itself undergoing a sales process, ruling it out of acquiring the Whitbread collection.

Whitbread, ranked among the FTSE 100, was founded by brewing apprentice Samuel Whitbread in 1742 and grew to become the nations third-largest beer firm in the two centuries that followed.

In 1999, it abruptly sold off all of its beer interests to US firm Interbrew, now known as InBev, and instead grew its hotel business in the UK, Germany and the Middle East to around 850 sites.

Biut the group's pub-restaurant trade has struggled in recent years, with a series of CEOs unable to to turn it around.

One difficulty with disposal is the use of many Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants in providing breakfasts to Premier Inn customers, although analysts say an arrangement could be reached with the buyer.
The city of Minneapolis will pay $50,000 each to 12 people injured by police during demonstrations that erupted after a white officer killed George Floyd by pinning the 46-year-old black man's neck to the ground with a knee, court records show.

As part of a settlement approved on Wednesday in federal court, Minneapolis will also implement reforms in the way police officers handle demonstrations, prohibiting them from using physical force and from deploying chemical agents against peaceful protesters.

It also requires body cameras worn by Minneapolis police to be recorded and unobstructed when they engage with protesters, court records showed.

'This agreement is a big step towards keeping peaceful protesters safe from police violence. I hope other police departments across the country see this outcome and proactively adopt these same policies and standards,' Jordan Meyer, one of the plaintiffs in the case, said in a statement released by the Minnesota chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The ACLU helped file the class action lawsuit against the city.

The city of Minneapolis will pay $50,000 each to 12 people injured by police during demonstrations that erupted after a white officer killed George Floyd by pinning the 46-year-old black man's neck to the ground with a knee, court records show

As part of a settlement approved on Wednesday in federal court, Minneapolis will also implement reforms in the way police officers handle demonstrations, prohibiting them from using physical force and from deploying chemical agents against peaceful protesters

It also requires body cameras worn by Minneapolis police to be recording and unobstructed when they engage with protesters, court records showed

'This agreement is a big step towards keeping peaceful protesters safe from police violence. I hope other police departments across the country see this outcome and proactively adopt these same policies and standards,' Jordan Meyer, one of the plaintiffs in the case, said in a statement released by the Minnesota chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union

The ACLU helped file the class action lawsuit against the city

George Floyd, who died on Monday in Minneapolis in police custody, sparking a national protest movement

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks at a press conference about public safety

Demonstrations and, at times, violent riots erupted across Minneapolis hours after Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee against Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes during an arrest over a counterfeit $20 bill on May 25, 2020.

Chauvin was later convicted of murder and pleaded guilty to federal charges.

A video of the incident circulating on social media helped spark demonstrations against police brutality and racism across the nation and in large cities around the globe.

The 12 plaintiffs suffered injuries including bruising from less-lethal munitions, lingering respiratory issues from tear gas, and psychological trauma, the ACLU said.

The Minneapolis City Council approved the settlement on October 20 and Mayor Jacob Frey signed it six days later, local media reported.

Demonstrations and, at times, violent riots erupted across Minneapolis hours after Officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee against Floyd's neck for more than nine minutes during an arrest over a counterfeit $20 bill on May 25, 2020

Chauvin was later convicted of murder and pleaded guilty to federal charges

Minneapolis city council approved the settlement on October 20 and Mayor Jacob Frey signed it six days later, local media reported

It comes as crime in the city continues to spiral out of control in the wake of the Defund the Police movement.

Minneapolis was at the center of those protests after the murder of George Floyd by cop Derek Chauvin in May 2020.

Through late November, overall crime is up 14 percent in the city as opposed to this time last year. Assaults (9.6 percent), burglary (3.0 percent) and vehicle thefts ((48.4 percent) are all up from 2021.

And over the last year, CNN reports, 93 people were shot in the city  just shy of the total killings in 1995 when the city earned the nickname Murderapolis.

It now ranks 19th out of 70 jurisdictions in per-capita murders this year.

Meanwhile, its clearance rate for homicide cases has been shrinking since 2016, when around 54 percent of the cases were solved.

By 2020, that number fell to just 38 percent.

Experts say the rise in crime began in the aftermath of George Floyd's death in May 2020, after which the city became the epicenter of the Defund the Police Movement.

Fiery riots broke out throughout Minneapolis, with protesters demanding justice for Floyd and calling for an end to the Minneapolis Police Department.

Eventually, City Council officials relented and pledged to 'end policing as we know it' in July 2020.

The council cut $1.1 million from the city's policing budget with plans to reallocate the money to the city health department to fund civilian violence interrupters who would mediate conflicts.

Soon after, residents say, police began to withdraw from the more dangerous neighborhoods.

'The criminals were celebrating,' said KG Wilson, a longtime resident. 'They were getting rich. They were selling drugs openly.'

Following the death of George Floyd in May 2020, protesters called for an end to the Minneapolis Police Department. A protester is seen here standing in front of a burning building at one of the riots

Eventually, City Council officials gave in to the protesters and pledged to 'end policing as we know it' in July 2020. Protesters are seen here holding up their fists as flams rise behind them in front of the Third Police Precinct

At the same time, Minneapolis police saw a large cop exodus in the last two years due to retirements, resignations, and disability leaves following Floyd's death.

Its council voted to disband the police department, although they have since walked plans to do so.

Leaders at the police department say that the number of officers shrank in the city from 900 in early 2020 to about 560 in August of this year  a loss of more than one-third of the police force.

As a result, the average 911 response time jumped in May 2020 from around 10 to 11 minutes earlier that year to around 14 minutes.

It kept rising in 2021 to 16 minutes, CNN reports, with response times in the city's crime-ridden north side surpassing 17 minutes.

Some nights are now so busy that dispatchers are told to hold all non-priority-1 calls citywide, including reports of property damage, suspicious persons, or theft.

And in some cases, the Minneapolis Police Department has even refused to respond to certain crimes in a timely manner  in part due to the limited staff and also due to low morale.

'It's no secret that law enforcement, especially in the last two and a half years has been badly vilified and wrongly vilified,' said Sgt Betsy Brantner Smith of the National Police Association.

'You can't just call an entire profession racist and expect people to just sit back and say, "Ok, you know, keep piling on."'

Wealthy residents crowdfunded $210,000 to pay the city's police department for extra patrols amid skyrocketing crime in the Lowry Hill neighborhood

Now, residents are trying to take back their city.

When a referendum to defund the police and replace it with a new 'public health-oriented' Department of Public Safety came up for a vote in November 2021, 56 percent of voters rejected the measure.

That figure was even higher in north Minneapolis, a predominantly black area, where about 60 percent of police calls for shots fired this year came from.

Wealthy residents also crowdfunded $210,000 to pay the city's police department for extra patrols amid skyrocketing crime in the Lowry Hill neighborhood.

The Minneapolis Safety Initiative, a resident-created nonprofit crowdfunding for additional police patrols, calls the program a 'temporary measure to address the current crime wave while MPD continues to rebuild to full staffing levels.'

Residents are encouraged to donate $220 monthly, for six months, in order for the initiative to have its 'desired impact.'
The dramatic shifts in Britain's migration have been highlighted in figures going back nearly two centuries.

Historical figures compiled by the Bank of England show that between 1850 and the 1980s emigration consistently exceeded arrivals.

In some years before the First World War the net outflow from the UK was more than 300,000 people, meaning that any population growth was due to there being more births than deaths.

It was not until the late 1990s, when Tony Blair was elected, that immigration began to add significantly to numbers in the country. Among the key changes were loosening of work permit and international student rules.

The expansion of the EU then sparked a sharp rise in the mid-2000s, with large numbers coming from countries such as Poland and Hungary to work.

By the time of the Brexit referendum in 2016 official figures for net immigration were running at 323,000 a year - something that is thought to have contributed to the Leave result.

Historical data from the Bank of England put together with ONS estimates give an indication of how migration has changed over the years - although methodology for producing figures over the years has not been consistent

However, since then there has been another dramatic spike, only interrupted briefly by Covid travel lockdown.

Office for National Statisics (ONS) figures released last month showed net migration to the UK was 606,000 across 2022.

That was far higher than the 488,000 level for 2021 - even though that was upgraded by 91,000 in the latest official publication.

The jump was fueled by arrivals from outside the EU, largely coming to study or work, as well as to seek refuge from chaos in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.

Some argue that workers need to come in from abroad to drive UK plc, but there have been calls for firms to attract more Brits into jobs.

A strong economy and labour market makes the country more appealing for would-be migrants.

The methodology for migration figures has changed over the years, and the Bank of England stresses that its historical dataset should be regarded as estimates based on 'best endeavours' rather than official statistics.

Under David Cameron and Theresa May there was a commitment to bring the long-term net migration figures into the tens of thousands.

The eye-watering level 2022 - roughly equivalent to adding the population of Bristol or Glasgow in a single year - sparked a furious political row after the Conservative manifesto in 2019 pledged 'numbers will come down'.

Tories have been warning that voters will not tolerate the 'unsustainable' situation, and Rishi Sunak has brought in measures to stop most foreign students bringing in dependants.
Hunter Biden was finally forced to answer questions about his shady finances today  and his Arkansas baby mama made sure she was there to listen in, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.

Lunden Roberts sprang a major surprise on the president's son, 53, by turning up in person to hear him being deposed for the first time in their bitter, years-long child paternity battle.

Sources told DailyMail.com the move would crank up the pressure on the Biden scion as Roberts' attorneys prepared to grill him under oath about his earnings from secretive business deals in Ukraine, China and elsewhere.

'Lunden has every right to be there  but it is highly unusual,' a source told DailyMail.com.

'Attending Hunter's deposition would have been a strategic choice and perhaps a head game. And why not? It's harder for most people to be untruthful about a person in their presence.'

Hunter Biden was forced to answer questions about his shady finances Friday in Arkansas as part of his bitter paternity battle with baby mama Lunden Roberts. Hunter is pictured at last month's hearing

Lunden Roberts, 32, sprung a surprise on the First Son, 53, by turning up in person to hear him be deposed on Friday

'Lunden has every right to be there  but it is highly unusual,' a source told DailyMail.com. 'It's harder to be untruthful about a person in their presence'

Sources told DailyMail.com Roberts turning up today would crank up the pressure on the Biden scion as Roberts' attorneys prepared to grill him under oath about his earnings from secretive business deals in Ukraine, China and elsewhere

Hunters deposition lasted about seven and a half hours before his sprawling motorcade exited the Stephens Building in downtown Little Rock around 4:30pm.

The former flames settled the case in 2019 but Hunter abruptly asked a court last year to lower the $20,000 per month in child support he pays for their adorable four-year-old daughter, Navy Joan Roberts.

Roberts, 32, refused to budge until the First Son handed over a trove of financial docs and sat for a videotaped deposition which was supposed to take place at the Arkansas office of her Donald Trump-supporting attorney, Clinton Lancaster.

The face-to-face showdown comes after Roberts petitioned a judge to toss Hunter in jail for six months for failing to come clean about his wealth

The recovering drug addict switched the venue to the Stephens Building, which was teeming with Secret Service agents as his five-vehicle motorcade pulled in just before 9am via a private parking garage.

Roberts, a former DC bottle girl who once worked as Hunter's PA, drove in unnoticed about five minutes later. She was deposed at the same high-rise office for seven hours on Wednesday, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.

The face-to-face showdown comes after Roberts petitioned circuit court judge Holly Meyer to toss Hunter in jail for six months for failing to come clean about his wealth. Meyer is yet to rule on the contempt accusation.

In round one of their four-year suit Hunter claimed he was 'unemployed and had no monthly income' despite living in a $12,000-per-month Hollywood rental and driving a Porsche.

But when ordered to produce his financial records he repeatedly failed to do so before agreeing a 2019 settlement that has seen him pay Roberts more than $750,000 to date.

Despite already facing congressional and federal probes into his financial affairs, Hunter unexpectedly reopened the case last September, claiming he had suffered 'a substantial material change' in his income.

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.'

Her discovery request covers everything from Hunter's business deals in Ukraine and China to the names of the mystery art lovers who have paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for his beginner paintings.

In his own filings, Hunter has opposed Navy Joan becoming a Biden, insisting he wants a 'peaceful existence' for her, free of the political scrutiny associated with his family dynasty.

Hunter Biden leaves the Stephens Inc. building in a four car Secret Service convoy after a seven and a half hour child support deposition on Friday in Little Rock

The president's son was ensconced behind tinted windows as he departed the deposition

Hunters deposition lasted about seven and a half hours before his sprawling motorcade exited the Stephens Building in downtown Little Rock around 4:30pm

The recovering drug addict switched the venue to the Stephens Building in downtown Little Rock, which was teeming with Secret Service agents as his five-vehicle motorcade pulled in just before 9am via a private parking garage

Roberts argues that Hunter Biden, the father of her four-year-old daughter Navy, has plenty of money to make his child support payments

Roberts and Hunter conceived Navy Joan around December 2017 while he was still in a relationship with his brother Beau's widow, Hallie

His lawyers told a May court hearing that he was not a deadbeat dad and accused DailyMail.com of exaggerating about his jet-set lifestyle, claiming the Porsche was repossessed and that Hunter has only flown once on Air Force One once since his dad became President.

As we previously revealed, the May 1 court hearing in Batesville, Arkansas, was the first time the former lovers had seen one another since Lunden played Hunter an audio recording of her unborn daughter's heartbeat in spring 2018.

The President's son vowed to support Roberts 'emotionally, physically and financially' as she bore the fourth of his five children, according to a well-placed source.

Instead, he 'ghosted' her, ignoring her texts and calls and refusing to acknowledge that Navy Joan was his until a court-ordered DNA test proved he was her dad.

It was initially reported that Hunter met Roberts while she worked as a stripper at a DC club which Hunter frequented, when in fact they didn't meet there and Roberts was never a stripper.

Texts retrieved from his abandoned laptop proved that she was in fact on the payroll at Rosemont Seneca, Hunter's Washington, D.C. investment firm.

Roberts 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

Hunter fathered a son he named Beau after his late brother with his new wife Melissa Cohen just 17 months after Navy was born

She and Hunter conceived Navy Joan around December 2017 while he was still in a relationship with his brother Beau's widow, Hallie.

The blonde-haired girl was born in August 2018 but remained a secret until her mom sued.

Hunter has never bothered to meet Navy Joan and couldn't even pick her out of a photo lineup, according to Lancaster, who represented Trump in his 2020 Wisconsin election challenge.

And she's never met her grandpa Joe, 80, despite the President fawning over his six other grandkids and frequently bringing them along for events and speeches.

The other notable deposition in the paternity suit, that of Garrett Ziegler, a former Trump staffer who is one of Roberts' expert witnesses, took place last month.

Ziegler, a longtime Hunter nemesis, previously posted a 644-page dossier online covering the entire contents of his infamous misplaced laptop.

Hunter's legal team  headed by DC super lawyer Abbe Lowell, who is said to charge up to $855 per hour  have tried but failed to have him blocked from giving evidence when the suit goes to trial in July.
A young fly-in-fly-out worker has exposed the brutal reality of mining work as he warns others he's been forced to make some major sacrifices despite the high salary.

New Zealander Kieran Wealleans moved to Brisbane for a FIFO job as an apprentice diesel mechanic and hit back at Australians who claimed that the job was fun.

'I work 11 hours a day, Monday to Sunday. I have no friends or family around me. I go home just to do the same repetitive cycle,' Mr Wealleans said in a video posted to social media.

'I can't go for walks or anything cause the only thing is road that goes straight for three hours. I have f**k all service, but hey, at least the sunsets are cool.'

The teenager said his normal work day consists of 11 hours, but on most days he works 13 hours due to overtime.

'I'm not even an adult yet, and I bust my arse more than most people,' he said.

New Zealander Kieran Wealleans moved to Brisbane and started Fly-in-Fly-Out work as a diesel mechanic on mines

He added that he struggles to make friends as he stays in accommodation by himself in the 'middle of nowhere'.

The average salary for FIFO diesel mechanics is $127,920 or $65.60 per hour, with entry-level positions starting at $105,075 per year, according to data from Talent.

The most experienced workers can earn up to $133,565 a year.

While FIFO work often pays well, it also comes with unique challenges and sacrifices.

The higher wages are meant to compensate workers for the demands and lifestyle adjustments associated with working in remote and challenging environments while they are away from their families for an extended period of time.

Many Aussies responded to Mr Wealleans, exposing some of the downsides of FIFO jobs.

'Feels like jail,' one said.

FIFO jobs are those where an employer will temporarily transport a worker to a location or remote site of work

'My dad was in the exact situation he was never around and regrets it heaps. He wished he chose his family over work,' another added.

'I'm a FIFO worker myself. I feel you on this. The only good thing is the money,' a fourth said.

'My dad did FIFO. I only saw him for 12 weeks of the year. Most of them I was at school. I now don't have anything to do with him.

'FIFO isn't it. The money makes it sort of worth it, but almost kinda doesn't cause there are still jobs at home that can make you as much money.

However, others encouraged Mr Wealleans to stick at it and said that the industry's huge salaries made it worthwhile in the long run.

One said: 'My dad did it, remember what you're doing it for & that you don't have to do it forever. Look after yourself, darling.

'Throw the negatives in the bin, remember why you are there, stay positive and believe in yourself,' a second added.

'Money's good, get decent time off depending on your roster, don't spend much coin on site, FIFO ain't that bad, stop ya whinging!'

'So many dads in my area are FIFO workers. They are usually the richest families and sometimes the happiest - but it must be so hard,' one Aussie said.

Another added, 'I did 168 hours last week. When you have a purpose in mind it's worth it. Strengthen that mind, boy.'

'Do it for a good five years and you're set for life bro.'

'Keep it up, you're doing amazing, you'll be successful and achieve so much in life no matter how much it sucks now, but it'll be worth it in the end.

Another FIFO worker, Jordan Dowsett, said because he was able to earn in a single day what most Aussies make in a week, it made the remote work worthwhile.

'You've got the worst FOMO from everyone enjoying their weekend  but you remember you make their whole weeks pay in one day,' he said.

He recently shared a video showing what a day in the life as an electrician on the mines is really like.

At 5am, Mr Dowsett heads to the 'crib' where there are endless lunch and snack options for the workers to pack and take to the mine.

Jordan Dowsett, a former Love Island contestant and FIFO electrician, claims to earn what other people make in a week, in a single day working on a mine in central Queensland

Half an hour later, the electrician is on the bus headed for the worksite where everyone attends a meeting and does some morning stretches before getting 'on the tools' at 6am.

Mr Dowsett finishes work at 6pm and is back at the camp and in the gym by 6.30pm for an hour-long workout session.

The sparky showed the range of meals on offer for dinner at 7.30pm including curry and rice, fries, corn, green vegetables, stew, chicken schnitzel and salads as well as ice cream for dessert.

By 8pm the tradie is in bed and asleep half an hour later 'ready to repeat' the day.
Ahead of a vigil for the killer, one of the psychiatrists condemned the event and said his victims deserved the attention instead

One of the longest-held inmates on Florida's death row was executed Thursday evening for the murders of two women in 1984.

Duane Owen, 62, ate a last meal of a bacon cheeseburger with no bun, onion rings and a milkshake, and he received no visitors ahead of his lethal injection at Florida State Prison.

Owen drew death sentences for the March 24, 1984, rape and stabbing attack on Karen Slattery, 14, and for the rape and killing of Georgianna Worden, 38, in May 1984, both in Palm Beach County, Florida.

Ahead of his execution, one of the psychiatrists appointed to assess whether Owen was mentally competent to be put to death condemned a vigil that was set to be held for the killer.

In a comment on social media, state witness Emily Lazarou said: 'I do not get this. Where are the people standing in vigil for the 14 year old he stabbed to death and raped while she was dying and the mother of 2 who he bashed her head in with a hammer and raped her dying body?'

Owen (pictured in August 2006) is one of Florida's longest-serving inmates on death row after he has spent almost four decades waiting to be executed

When he began his campaign of terror almost four decades ago, Owen first targeted Slattery, who was repeatedly stabbed and raped in a home in Delray Beach while two children in her care were sleeping.

Two months later, Worden was sleeping in her Boca Raton home when Owen struck her several times with a hammer and raped her. One of Worden's children found her body the next morning while getting ready for school, according to court records.

Authorities said Owen also attacked two other women in Palm Beach County who survived. All four attacks occurred just before and after Owen's 23rd birthday.

Now 62, Owen was one of 293 people on Florida's death row and one of the longest residents there. Besides his death sentences, he also received six life sentences.

Owen was sentenced to death for the murder of Slattery in 1985, before receiving his second death sentence a year later. He has since sat on death for four decades as his fate weaved through the Florida correctional system.

Owen ate a last meal of a bacon cheeseburger with no bun, onion rings and a milkshake. He is pictured in a court hearing in December 2005

Owen carried out the murders, and two other attacks, around the time of his 23rd birthday. He is pictured in court in January 1999

The execution will be Florida's fourth this year, after none since 2019. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed each of the death warrants in the months before announcing his run for president.

Owen's lawyers had argued that he shouldn't be executed on grounds of insanity. The state Supreme Court rejected his latest appeal last week and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected it Wednesday.

Previously, Owen's lawyers had argued that he is schizophrenic and suffers from delusions, leading Gov. DeSantis to enlist three psychiatrists to assess whether he was mentally competent to be executed.

The doctors, Emily Lazarou, Wade Myers and Tonia Werner, concluded that Owen was faking his mental illness and delusions to avoid the death penalty.

The psychiatrists testified that Owen's schizophrenia is an act that he discusses when being evaluated, but he otherwise shows no signs of the illness.

Prosecutors argued that while Owen has mental health issues, nothing would preclude him from being executed because he's aware it's a punishment for his crimes.

And while the defense argued Owen has dementia and gender dysphoria, psychiatrists for the state said Owen has a good memory, doesn't appear to present himself as female and that gender dysphoria doesn't make people more aggressive or cause delusional thinking.

They said instead, Owen is sexually sadistic, according to court records.

Owen's mother died when he was 11 and two years later his father took his own life, court records indicate. They add that he was the victim of physical and sexual abuse as a child.

Owen is set to become the fourth death row inmate put to death in Florida this year. Pictured: A gurney used by the Florida Department of Corrections

A portrait of Owen's first victim Karen Slattery, who was murdered aged just 14

Taking to social media following news that Owen is set to receive a vigil before his execution, Lazarou commented on a Facebook post to share her disgust that the killer was receiving a send-off instead of his victims.

'I do not get this,' she wrote.

'Where are the people standing in vigil for the 14 year old he stabbed to death and raped while she was dying and the mother of 2 who he bashed her head in with a hammer and raped her dying body?

'Her kids found her the next morning. All of his victims. Who is staying in vigil for them? They didnt have a team protecting them, because if they did, theyd still be living.

'This man stalked them from their windows and waited for them to be alone. This makes absolutely ZERO sense to me.'

She told the Tampa Bay Times she did not believe the comment was public.
A teacher at a prestigious high school has had her position terminated after being accused of having 'unprofessional interactions' with a student.

Eleanor Yorke from Carey Grammar School, a co-educational school in Melbourne, was stood down over her alleged conduct toward a Year 12 student years earlier.

Principal Jonathan Walter said she was no longer permitted to teach following internal investigations by the school and the Victorian Institute of Teaching.

Victoria Police said their inquiries into the matter are ongoing.

Ms Yorke was a year 12 chemistry and biology teacher until she left the school suddenly a fortnight ago.

Eleanor Yorke from Carey Grammar School, a co-educational school in Melbourne, was stood down for her alleged conduct toward a Year 12 student years earlier

Carey Grammar's principal recently wrote to parents of the elite school stating they 'recently received a report regarding Ms Yorke's compliance with the school's expectations regarding professional boundaries', The Herald Sun reported.

'This report concerned her interactions with a Year 12 student some years ago,' the statement read.

'Upon becoming aware of the concerns, the school immediately implemented its student protection framework; this includes Ms Yorke being stood down whilst the matter is investigated.

'I can also indicate the School's understanding that whilst a mandatory report has been made to Victoria Police, the police are not pursuing an investigation at this time.'

He also added that the decision to terminate Ms Yorke's employment was 'not taken lightly' but was 'necessary to demonstrate the seriousness with which the school treats the professional responsibilities of all staff who support our students'.

Principal Jonathan Walter said she was no longer permitted to teach following internal investigations by the school and the Victorian Institute of Teaching (pictured: Carey Grammar)

'The school will now continue with its investigations, including making any further reports required by law,' Mr Walter said.

The dismissed teacher had previously written in a school publication that she was very grateful to have been welcomed into the Carey Grammar community after doing her university placement with the school as part of her Masters of Teaching at the University of Melbourne.

'I've been lucky to have done a range of amazing things: I have spent a vomit-inducing week on a tall ship with students battling the wild Tasman seas and I have travelled overseas on a community service trip where I met individuals with boundless generosity and witnessed, first-hand, students undergoing life-changing experiences,' she wrote in the school publication.
Labour's candidate to take Boris Johnson's former Commons seat was an enthusiastic backer of a project to install a trans flag road crossing which cost a cash-strapped council 10,000.

Danny Beales posed for pictures by the four-way blue, pink and white crossing at the junction of Tavistock Place and Marchmont Street in central London in November 2021.

Mr Beales, who is a senior councillor in the London Borough of Camden, also proclaimed a similar colour scheme installed in Tottenham Court Road as part of the Asphalt Art project as 'great', in a since-deleted tweet.

The artwork at just one crossroads cost taxpayers 10,464, including 6,500 spent on paint and labour, in a bid to to 'help celebrate transgender awareness and act as a reminder of the rich LGBT+ history' in Camden.

But weeks later it was revealed that the council was facing a budget shortfall of around 20million, blamed on the Covid pandemic, raising questions over whether it was a good use of public money.

The crossing also came under attack from disability rights campaigners, who warned it could be dangerous for partially sighted pedestrians, and mayor Sadiq Khan later halted plans for further artworks.

Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson said: 'It comes as no surprise that Labour's candidate in Uxbridge is a woke culture warrior from Sir Keir's own constituency.

Danny Beales posed for pictures by the four-way blue, pink and white crossing at the junction of Tavistock Place and Marchmont Street in London in November 2021.

He is the favourite to win the by-election expected to take place on July 20, caused by Mr Johnson's shock resignation last week over Partygate.

Camden Council installed the four-way blue, pink and white crossing at the junction of Tavistock Place and Marchmont Street to 'help celebrate transgender awareness and act as a reminder of the rich LGBT+ history' in Camden'

In his tweet from the time, since deleted, Mr Beales said: 'Camden is open! As part of #LetsDoLondon #CamdenTogether it's great to see these brightening up central London.'

He was responding to a series of eye-catching street art commissions on Tottenham Court Road, unveiled by Sadiq Khan and award-winning artist Yinka Ilori

Who wants to replace Boris in Uxbridge? Steve Tuckwell - Conservatives A father of two and Conservative councillor in South Ruislip on Hillington Council since 2018. Danny Beales - Labour Mr Beales, 34, is the former head of policy and campaigns at the National Aids Trust charity. He is a councillor in Camden but was born and raised in the constituency. Laurence Fox - Reclaim The 43-year-old former actor is running after doing a deal with the Reform Party to split by-elections between them. Came sixth in London mayoral vote in 2021. Blaise Baquiche - Lib Dems A former Tory aide in the European Parliament who quit the party over Brexit in 2017, he is now a media consultant on green matters. Advertisement

'This goes to show exactly what you get from Labour: expensive virtue signalling vanity projects.

'Only the Conservative party will listen to the people of Uxbridge and stand up for their priorities.'

Mr Beales is the favourite to win the by-election in Uxbridge and South Ruislip in west London, caused by Mr Johnson's shock resignation last week over Partygate.

It will take place on July 20, the local council said last night.

The Conservatives selected Steve Tuckwell to be their candidate for the vote, the party said in a statement.

Another by-election to replace close Johnson ally Nigel Adams in his seat in North Yorkshire will be held on the same date after he resigned on Saturday.

Freedom of Information requests submitted by local residents revealed how the total cost of the four-way crossing, believed to be the second of its kind built in the UK, came to more than 10,464.

Of that, a total of 6,500 was spent on the paint and the labour to create the four crossings points.

A further 3,614 was spent on project management and road safety audits. There was also 800 spent on traffic management during the creation of the crossing.

In January this year the council revealed the shortfall would hit 40million by 2025/26, due to the stagnant economy.

The Royal National Institute for the Blind - which has its headquarters in Camden - told the council that colourful designs at crossings could cause confusion to the blind and pose safety risks to those with bad vision trying to cross the busy street.

Transport for London's Independent Disability Advisory Group also commented that people with learning disabilities or dementia may struggle to identify the crossing.

The group also warned that the crossing is likely to confuse older and disabled people, as well as drivers.

It further highlighted that people with sensory sensitivity could struggle with colorful crossings, which could cause anxiety, especially for people on the Autistic spectrum.

Finally, the group noted that visually impaired pedestrians may find it difficult identifying the kerb edge.

These concerns were prompted by similar worries over colourful crossings across London.

Those warning forced Mayor Sadiq Khan to pause the installation of any more colourful displays across the London transport network.

However, despite this, and despite its own Equality Impact Assessment, Camden Council decided to go ahead with the installation of the trans flag crossing.

In his tweet from the time, since deleted, Mr Beales said: 'Camden is open! As part of #LetsDoLondon #CamdenTogether it's great to see these brightening up central London.'

Responding to concerns, the council argued that there wasn't enough information on the damaging effects of the crossing.

Labour declined to comment today.

Last week Mr Beales backed Sadiq Khan's ULEZ tax and suggesting struggling families hit by the 250-a-month green levy should blame the Government.

He said 'we all need cleaner air' as he was challenged over the 12.50 daily emissions toll, which will be expanded to outer London areas like Uxbridge and South Ruislip in August.

And while he admitted to ITV that some will find payments 'tough' he blamed the way 'this government has mismanaged the economy' and eaten into their spare cash.

He later sought to play down Ulez as the dominant issue in the by-election, saying: 'Local people don't view this as a binary issue.

'The Conservatives may want to run a single-issue campaign here but I don't think that will wash with voters.'

Labour is hoping to overturn Mr Johnson's 7,210 majority, but the plan to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in August could still cause the party problems.
Reusch is facing charges of aiding suicide after her ex took his own life in 2021 after receiving a barrage of 'heinous' messages from the suspect

The new lover of the mother accused of driving her estranged Army veteran boyfriend to suicide has revealed how she became a 'martyr' after his death, mourning him as a 'great guy' and 'great father' on Facebook.

Mandie Reusch, 35, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, is accused of pushing Kevin Metzger, 37, to take his own life in June 2021 after berating him for at least a year with 'heinous' text messages about their daughter, his finances and his physical appearances. In some messages, she accuses Metzger of being physically abusive.

In other exchanges, from May 2021, Reusch told Metzger that she had a new partner who will become their daughter's new father while bragging about his sexual prowess and even sharing a video of her performing oral sex on him.

The new partner, who asked not to be named, told DailyMail.com exclusively that his relationship with Reusch was 'casual' and never formalized. He said that he never even met the suspect's daughter.

The partner also disclosed how Reusch posted on Facebook about Metzger following his death. 'After he passed, she turned into a martyr and was posting all of these memorial pictures of him and saying how much she misses him and how good of a dad he was. I think just to kind of cover her tracks.'

In messages that Reusch sent to Metzger in May 2021, she tells him that their daughter will refer to her new boyfriend as 'dad' from now on. The new boyfriend told DailyMail.com that he never even met Reusch's daughter

Kevin Metzger, 37, served in the US Army for 20 years. He took his own life in June 2021, hours after he found out he would be forbidden from seeing his daughter on Father's Day

Mandie Reusch sent Metzger a pic of a man she said she was dating, that man told DailyMail.com that their relationship was casual and ended after a few months

Reusch's former lover said she never mentioned Metzger during their initial time together. The man said that he first learned of Metzger's existence when the Army veteran threatened him via text over the sex clip that Reusch sent him.

'She completely took advantage of me to make him jealous. I didn't know they had a thing. She was single for all I know, for the first I think two months, then he messaged me wanting to fight.'

He went on to describe his relationship with Reusch as 'very strange' and said it was 'never official.' The man said he met her through mutual friends on Facebook when he was under the impression that they were both single.

He also disclosed that Reusch considers herself a practitioner of wicca, a form of witchcraft. The man described the suspect being 'into all that weird s**t.'

In messages that Reusch sent to Metzger in May 2021, she tells him that their daughter will refer to her new boyfriend as 'dad' from now on.

'You won't see her for Father's Day or any holiday,' Reusch writes while also complaining that Metzger owes her money.

'My kids will be literally better off with any role model other than you... if you show up here again we have a gun and I will call the police.'

Mandie Reusch's former lover told DailyMail.com that the suspect in aiding the suicide of her daughter's father practices wicca

In several of the abusive messages that Reusch sent to Metzger, she referred to her new lover as becoming their daughter's new father

Metzger was the victim of seemingly never ending abusive text messages that only ended when he took his own life in June 2021

'From now on we are [her new boyfriend's surname] and you do not exist. [He] is her dad now. Not you. Don't ever ask about her again. She isn't your daughter. You'll never hear about her again either.'

'She will call [him] "dad" because he's a way better dad than you. Kill yourself. I mean it... I actually want you to kill yourself because I think you are the worst person on this planet,' she wrote in another message.

Reusch sent Metzger a photo of her new boyfriend and said that he has ruined every holiday 'by making it about [Metzger's] bald head and beer belly and rotting teeth.'

A friend of Metzger's shared with DailyMail.com a Facebook post in which he said that Reusch was trying 'to get me to kill myself for the money. I got the texts.'

The boyfriend said that Reusch told him that Metzger saw the sex clip of the pair because he had been going through her phone, not because she sent it to him.

In the message before sending the clip, Reusch wrote: 'I wanted you to be normal and romantic one time. I wanted you to come to an agreement and follow it. It wasn't my fault that we didn't work. But damn am I going to get closure from you turning out to be the abusive f***head that you are.'

Reusch followed that message with a 49 second clip showing a woman performing oral sex on her new partner. She does not mention the clip in the text messages.

In one exchange, Reusch says that Metzger killed their dog, Zoe. She says that she is shredding a book of photos of the pet, that the dog actually hated him and that she and her new boyfriend were going to have sex on top of the book.

'That dog f***ing hated you and ran away every chance she could. Just like I ran away to suck anyone else's d**k but yours because you're literally the worst person I've ever met in my life,' she wrote.

After saying that he killed their dog, Reusch once again says he will get shot if he attempts to come near to her.

Resuch's lawyer rejected comparisons between this case and the 2014 case of Michelle Carter, shown here. Carter was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after encouraging her boyfriend, Conrad Roy, to kill himself

Earlier this week, Reusch's attorney has rejected comparisons between the allegations facing his client and the 2014 case of Conrad Roy, then 18, and Michelle Carter, then 17.

In 2017, Carter was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after it emerged that she sent Roy text messages encouraging him to commit suicide. He ended his life via carbon monoxide poisoning. Carter was released from prison in 2020.

DiLucente said that prosecutors are comparing the two cases. '[Carter] was actually telling him reinforcing him to do it, planning it, the methods and the means, you don't have any of that here, what you have is an emotional relationship between two persons involving their child,' the attorney said.

The lawyer said that the messages sent by Reusch to Metzger could be considered 'immoral.'

'I do not see it fitting a criminal charge such as aiding a suicide. There was no coercion, duress, there was no methods and means,' he said.

'There's always two sides to a story and our side of the story will be told in the course of this case,' DiLucente added.

'The preliminary hearings are going to be long. And I think there's going to be a wealth of information discerned,' the lawyer concluded.

Mandie Reusch, 35, is accused of aiding suicide, a felony, and harassment, a misdemeanor, she will make her first appearance in court on June 27

Reusch, of Greensburg, is due back in court for another pre-trial hearing on June 27.

Prosecutors have been investigating Metzger's death for two years.

Officials said his suicide note that began with the words 'maybe she was right' as well as postings on his Facebook page detailed the 'trail of torment and solicitation' that he was allegedly put through by Reusch. In a press release, prosecutors also called the messages she sent Metzger 'heinous and graphic.'

In court documents, Reusch is referred to as Metzger's 'on-again/off-again' girlfriend. The pair previously lived together in Irwin, Pennsylvania.

At a press conference, Trooper Steve Limani called the 'bullying' that Metzger endured as some of the worst he's ever seen.

'This is the next level or most extreme amount of bullying I've seen, read about, heard about, where somebody is constantly telling someone to end their life,' Limani said.

'You're talking about the three of the biggest triggers you can have when making someone feel awful,' he added.

In a separate interview with CBS Pittsburgh, DiLucente said: 'My God, if we're going to start prosecuting people for sending harsh texts to one another versus it being verbally communicated, then we are on a different path on our legal system.'
Sunrise host Natalie Barr has unleashed at Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley as further allegations of inappropriate conduct have been raised against Senator David Van.

Former senator Amanda Stoker accused Senator Van of inappropriately touching her bottom twice at a drinks event at parliament in 2020.

The allegation was made public on the same day Senator Van was dumped from the opposition party room following sexual assault allegations made by independent Senator Lidia Thorpe in parliament.

Speaking with the Ms Ley and Labor Education Minister Jason Clare on Friday morning's program, Barr questioned why the matter wasn't addressed back in 2020.

'Why are we only hearing about this now? Has this been swept under the carpet while you were in government?' she asked Ms Ley.

Sunrise host Natalie Barr has unleashed at Liberal MP Sussan Ley asking whether her party swept allegations against David Van under the carpet

Senator David Van (pictured right with his partner Nerilee Rockman) has been sacked from the Liberal party room by Peter Dutton after explosive sexual assault allegations - which he denies - were made against him by fellow senator Lidia Thorpe

Ms Ley replied that she 'won't comment on the accuracy or otherwise of the allegations.'

'You'll appreciate it's not appropriate to do that. But Peter Dutton heard these issues, he made inquiries, he acted accordingly. That's a strong demonstration of his leadership.'

Her guarded answer only seemed to further infuriate Barr.

'Only now when it was forced on him!' she fired back.

'You are supposed to be the best of us, you are supposed to be representing us, you are supposed to be running this country.'

'And from out here it looks like a cesspool.'

'Amanda Stoker reported it. She did not hide this by the sound of it.'

Ms Ley insisted that once the issue 'became known' opposition leader Peter Dutton acted decisively.

'His actions have been endorsed by our party and many Australians,' Ms Ley said.

'It's always difficult for women to come forward.'

'That is a general comment I want to make, it's always difficult to step up and talk about things that have happened and workplaces do have to improve.'

'Let's wait for the parliamentary workplace support service to do its work.'

Asked on Friday if he was aware of further allegations against the now-crossbench senator, Mr Dutton replied: 'Yes.'

'I raised another allegation with Senator Van, but I'm not going to comment in relation to those matters otherwise,' he told Nine's Today program.

'I made a decision yesterday based on all of the information that was available to me ... that's a decision I don't regret at all.

'I believe it is in the best interests of the Liberal Party and that's what I have acted upon and I don't want Senator Van sitting in our party room. I have made that clear.'

Mr Dutton said the alleged behaviour was unacceptable.

'The thought of sexual assault against any woman in the workplace is not something that I would tolerate,' he said.

'It's been an issue in the press gallery, been an issue in Parliament House and obviously ... I've referred the matters to that independent workplace authority for investigation.'

Peter Dutton dropped Senator Van from the Liberals and he is now on the cross-bench

Senator Thorpe said the last 48 hours had been 'horrible' and parliament was not a safe workplace for women.

'It's such a toxic culture in that workplace, I've never experienced such a toxic workplace culture towards women,' she told ABC Radio.

'I had a media pile-on that day, and it wasn't until a white woman stood up and said 'yeah, this happened to me too' that the media took notice.'

Senator Thorpe said the case exemplified why women did not speak out against improper behaviour.

'I was not believed, I was questioned, I was absolutely demonised that day, by everybody,' she said.

In her statement, Ms Stoker said Senator Van 'inappropriately touched me at an informal social gathering in a parliamentary office' in November 2020.

'He did so by squeezing my bottom twice,' she said.

'By its nature and by its repetition, it was not accidental.

'That action was not appropriate. It was unprofessional and uninvited.'

Senator Van said he had no recollection of the incident, telling News.com.au he had a 'friendly' chat with Ms Stoker after her complaint and he would never have inappropriately touched her.

Former Liberal senator Amanda Stoker (pictured) claimed Mr Van groped her, accusing him of 'squeezing my bottom twice'

'I raised the matter with Senator Van at a meeting the following day. I described the action, told him it was unacceptable, and that it was not to be repeated.'

Ms Stoker said she held a meeting following the alleged incident and had accepted Senator Van's apology.

She said while she wanted the incident to be kept confidential, she said that view was 'no longer tenable' in the wake of Senator Thorpe's statement.

Earlier on Thursday, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he had told the Victorian senator earlier on Thursday he was no longer welcome in the party room.

It followed a speech by Senator Thorpe to the upper house on Thursday in which she detailed allegations of sexual assault by a Liberal senator.

She had under parliamentary privilege on Wednesday accused Senator Van of harassment and sexual assault.

Senator Van has rejected Senator Thorpe's claims.

Senator Thorpe withdrew allegations against David Van but then made more allegations against an unnamed politician

While not naming Senator Van in her speech, Senator Thorpe said she was followed and then cornered in a stairwell by a senator at Parliament House, before she was 'aggressively propositioned and inappropriately touched'.

'There are different understandings of what amounts to sexual assault ... to me, it was sexual assault,' she told parliament.

'I was afraid to walk out of the office door.

'I would open the door slightly and check the coast was clear before stepping out.

'It was to the degree that I had to be accompanied by someone whenever I walked inside this building.'

Senator Thorpe said she would not pursue legal action over the incident or go to the police with the claims.

The independent senator said the incident was not isolated and there were other people in parliament who had inappropriately touched her.

Senator Van told parliament on Thursday Senator Thorpe's allegations were 'concocted from beginning to end'.

'Nothing that she has alleged of me is truthful,' he said.

'No such exchange occurred between us.

'There is no interaction that could conceivably resemble what she described today.

'Making false allegations in the Senate today is disgraceful and brings the Senate into disrepute.'

But he accepted he would no longer sit in the Liberal party room.

David Van (pictured) ruffled more than a few feathers last year when he flew to Ukraine despite travel advice warning Australians not to visit the war-ravaged country

Senator Thorpe made the initial accusations of Senator Van on Wednesday while he was making a speech accusing the Labor Party of unethical behaviour in its handling of the Higgins sexual assault allegations.

Senator Van said he had accepted an offer made by then-Senate president Scott Ryan in 2021 to move to an office further away from Senator Thorpe.

He had done so in the wake of a claim - which he rejected - that his proximity to her office made her feel 'uncomfortable'.

In a statement, Senate President Sue Lines said she had heard the request for more security and greater CCTV in parliament.

'I will raise the proposal with the Speaker of the House as we have a joint responsibility for the building,' she told the Senate.

Senator Lines also said the statement made by Senator Thorpe on Thursday did not breach any parliamentary rules.
Licence fee dodgers face punishments that are increasingly disproportionate and unfair, the Culture Secretary admitted yesterday.

Lucy Frazer said a Government review into the BBCs funding will consider whether a mandatory TV licence fee with criminal penalties is still appropriate.

Failure to pay the 159 yearly fee can lead to a fine of 1,000 and prison sentences can be handed out if individuals deliberately refuse to pay fines.

Ms Frazer told Parliament she was concerned that the criminal measure seemed at odds with a modern service broadcasting system.

Conservative MP Stephen Metcalfe noted that 18 per cent of all female prosecutions in 2021 were for the non-possession of a TV licence, which he said seemed completely unreasonable.

The MP requested a meeting with Ms Frazer to hand her a 250,000-signature petition calling for decriminalisation.

BBC bosses have previously suggested that decriminalisation would cost it more than 1billion over five years, resulting in significant cuts.
The former First Lady of the U.S. Virgin Islands has been accused by JPMorgan bank of assisting Jeffrey Epstein traffic young women and girls to the territory.

The bank has long faced questions about their relationship with Epstein: he banked with them until 2013, despite being convicted of 'solicitation of prostitution with a minor' in 2008, and sentenced to jail.

The U.S. Virgin Islands, which is managing Epstein's estate, accused JPMorgan of turning a blind eye to his activities and enabling him: the bank on Monday reached a tentative settlement with his victims, paying up to $290 million as part of a class action lawsuit settlement.

JPMorgan has said it regrets its relationship with Epstein but is not responsible for his crimes.

On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal published documents - filed late on Wednesday - by which the bank hit back, accusing the former First Lady of the territory of aiding Epstein.

Cecile de Jongh was First Lady of the USVI from 2007-15. She worked for Jeffrey Epstein from at least 2000, earning $100,000 a year

Epstein owned this island in the USVI, Little St. James. He bought it in 1998 for $7 million, and bought its larger neighbor, Great St. James, 18 years later. In May, both were sold to financier Stephen Deckoff for $60 million: he intends to turn them into a resort

Jeffrey Epstein is seen in December 2010 with Prince Andrew in Central Park, shortly after Epstein was released from prison

Cecile de Jongh worked for Epstein from at least 2000, managing his USVI office. She was paid $100,000 a year, plus $50,000 for her children's school fees.

Her husband, John de Jongh, was governor of the USVI from 2007-15.

According to additional documents obtained last month by The Virgin Islands Consortium, JPMorgan's attorneys accuse her of being Epstein's 'primary conduit for spreading money and influence throughout the USVI.'

She is accused of guiding Epstein on 'how to buy control of the USVI political class.'

The new filing claims that the Virgin Islands 'protected Epstein, fostering the perfect conditions for Epstein's criminal conduct to continue undetected.'

The bank states: 'Rather than stop him, they helped him.'

De Jongh was allegedly at the heart of Epstein's efforts to ingratiate himself in USVI power circles.

In December 2015, she wrote to him, according to the court filings: 'It is important to me that you know that I take this job, my management of your team and our implementation of your requests very seriously and that they be done in the most confidential of ways.'

Cecile de Jongh is pictured with her husband John, who was the governor of the territory from 2007-15

Epstein's victims were enrolled at the University of the Virgin Islands (pictured), with help from de Jongh

Epstein's island featured a strange blue and white temple-style structure

De Jongh helped get visas for several alleged victims of Epstein, JPMorgan said in court filings.

She connected one woman to a local immigration lawyer, and worked to get others student visas by arranging special classes for them at the University of the Virgin Islands, the bank said.

The victims were enrolled in an English as a second language, or ESL, course at the university.

'They are structuring the class around the ladies. Please let me know so that they know what to do or not to do,' de Jongh wrote to Epstein in June 2013, according to the court filings.

The $8,868 cost of the course would be covered, de Jongh told university employees.

Two students would need a particular type of student visa, she told university staff.

That same year, Epstein donated $20,000 to the university through one of his companies, JPMorgan said in its filing.

In 2014, De Jongh solicited political donations from Epstein and his employees for the congressional campaign of Stacey Plaskett, who was elected as a U.S. representative.

Plaskett told the Journal that she has since donated his campaign contributions to charities for women and children.

'Jeffrey Epstein's conduct was despicable,' said Plaskett.

'As I've stated in the past, contributions made by Jeffrey Epstein to my campaign were donated to women and children-focused non-profits in the Virgin Islands.'

De Jongh has not commented on JPMorgan's allegations.

A spokeswoman for the territory's attorney general said on Thursday that the bank was trying to shift blame away from itself.

'JPMorgan Chase has cherry-picked and mischaracterized Epstein's interactions with U.S. Virgin Islands officials and residents in an attempt to distract and shift blame away from its role in facilitating Jeffrey Epstein's heinous crimes,' the spokeswoman said.

The lawsuit settled by the bank on Monday was filed on behalf of one woman, but rewards anyone who was victimized by Epstein, who killed himself in prison in 2019.

The number of victims who may stand to gain from the settlement could reach 100 though it's unclear if there is a limit on the number who can come forward, or whether each is limited in how much they can receive.

The bank announced the settlement on Monday without disclosing how much the it had agreed to pay to Jeffrey Epstein's victims

'The parties believe this settlement is in the best interests of all parties, especially the survivors who were the victims of Epstein's terrible abuse,' said the bank in a statement released on Monday morning.

David Boies, an attorney acting on behalf of Epstein victims, said: 'The historic recoveries from the banks who provided financial services to Jeffrey Epstein, speak for themselves.

'It has taken a long time, too long, but today is a great day for Jeffrey Epstein survivors, and a great day for justice.'

Sigrid McCawley, another of the victims' lawyers, said: 'The settlements that have been reached are both life-changing and historic for the survivors.

'Money, which for far too long flowed with impunity between Jeffrey Epstein's global sex trafficking enterprise and Wall Street's leading banks, is decisively being used for good.

'The settlements signal that financial institutions have an important role to play in spotting and shutting down sex trafficking'.

Brad Edwards, an attorney representing the Jane Doe who launched the case, said: 'The information and support the US Virgin Islands and its legal team provided to the survivors was enormously valuable, and we recognize the importance of the government's continued litigation against JPMorgan Chase to prevent future crimes.'

Epstein is shown with former private banking chief, Jef Staley (far left), Larry Summers, Bill Gates (second right) and Boris Nikolic (far right)

A spokesman for the US Virgin Islands government, which is still suing the bank over similar violations, said: 'We are gratified to hear about the settlement that will provide victims of Jeffrey Epstein some compensation for JPMorgan Chase's role in facilitating Epstein's crimes against them.

'The US Virgin Islands will continue to proceed with its enforcement action to ensure full accountability for JPMorgan's violations of law and prevent the bank from assisting and profiting from human trafficking in the future.

'The US Virgin Islands is committed to protecting women and girls who could otherwise become victims going forward.'

Epstein was a client at the bank between 1998 and 2013 - seven years after he was arrested and convicted of using underage prostitutes in Palm Beach, Florida.

Bank employees were concerned about Epstein's large cash withdrawals, some of which were used to pay underage girls in exchange for sex, but he was allowed to remain a client for years.

According to depositions that were part of the lawsuit, he would regularly withdraw between $40,000 and $80,000 a month.

The withdrawals rang alarm bells among compliance officials, but he explained them away by claiming they were for fuel and landing fees for his private plane.

'The parties believe this settlement is in the best interests of all parties, especially the survivors who were the victims of Epstein's terrible abuse,' a statement released by JP Morgan on Monday said

The bank is still entangled in a separate lawsuit filed by the government of the US Virgin Islands, where Epstein kept a home and is said to have abused dozens of girls.

Last year, the same lawyers successfully sued Deutsch Bank - which took Epstein on as a client after JP Morgan eventually cut ties with him in 2013 - over the same allegations.

Deutsch Bank settled for a tentative sum of $75million and was fined $100million by New York regulators.

Epstein died in custody while awaiting a sex trafficking trial. In his absence, the only person to have faced criminal prosecution over his crimes is Ghislaine Maxwell.

She is currently serving a 20 year prison sentence after being convicted of facilitating the abuse.
New York City officials are fining former mayor Bill de Blasio almost $475,000 for misusing his personal police detail during his failed 2020 presidential bid.

De Blasio was ordered to repay the sum by the city government's ethics watchdog, which will become the largest fine ever levied by the agency.

The punishment, which de Blasio has appealed, stems from the ex-mayor's decision to enlist his NYPD security detail for 31 out-of-state trips in 2019.

The events were part of his unsuccessful bid for the White House, which struggled to gain any traction before he dropped out due to dismal poll numbers and a failure to qualify for the DNC's third round of debates.

Bill de Blasio (pictured) allegedly misused the NYPD for his security protection during his failed bid for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination

The fine came after a years-long investigation into de Blasio's campaign by the New York City Conflict of Interest Board.

Milton Williams, the chairman of the oversight body, said the $474,794 bill sent to the former mayor is 'the largest fine in the history of the board'.

It was found that de Blasio violated a New York City ethics law that barred public servants from 'using city resources for any non-city purpose'.

In his scathing review of de Blasio's campaign practices, Williams wrote that the former mayor's conduct 'plainly violates' the state's ethics laws.

Maintaining the city normally has a 'purpose' in providing NYPD security detail for the mayor, the panel found that 'there is no city purpose in paying for the extra expenses' of de Blasio's campaign.

De Blasio is accused of extensively using the NYPD for 31 out-of-state campaign appearances

The NYC mayor's 2020 campaign struggled to gain any traction, and he dropped out less than a year into the race after failing to qualify for the third round of debates. De Blasio is pictured (far right) at the second round of debates in July 2019

De Blasio was allegedly warned by the oversight board that he could infringe upon the laws before he began his campaign.

However, Williams claimed de Blasio 'disregarded the board's advice'.

It was concluded that security for the de Blasio campaign, which ran on the slogan 'Working People First', cost taxpayers $319,794 in travel, room and board.

This total was combined with a further $155,000 for 31 ethics law violations he allegedly committed, one for each trip.

The ruling was slammed by the former mayor's lawyer Andrew Celli, who branded it 'reckless' and 'perilous'.

'COIBs action  which seeks to saddle elected officials with security costs that the city has properly borne for decades  is dangerous, beyond the scope of their powers, and illegal,' he added.

Celli's remarks came as he announced de Blasio was filing a lawsuit with the Manhattan Supreme Court seeking to overturn the fine.

'Every mayor faces threats, and all mayors are entitled to protection  regardless of party or politics,' he continued.

'Thats why the NYPD is charged with determining what level of protection is necessary for such officials, when, and how.'

However, de Blasio's extensive use of the NYPD was defended by the force's former deputy commissioner of intelligence, John Miller, who was involved in deploying officers for the mayor's campaign.

He told NY Daily News that de Blasio's family faced around 160 threats between 2018 and 2020, including threats to hang him and sexually assault his wife.

The sheer number of threats levied against the mayor meant that his use of the NYPD was justified, Miller said.

'He doesnt stop being mayor when hes on vacation or campaigning,' Miller said. 'The security detail is basically part of the package'.
The Home Office is finding just a few dozen beds a week to move asylum seekers out of hotels, a bombshell report has revealed.

Suella Braverman's department set a target to locate 500 beds a week in cheaper accommodation  but secured just 48 beds a week on average in the year to April.

The report by spending watchdogs raised serious concerns over the Government's ability to meet its pledges on tackling the asylum crisis. The National Audit Office said it was 'unclear' whether PM Rishi Sunak's pledge to slash the backlog by December was 'sustainable'.

'Dispersal' accommodation  such as self-catering flats  costs the taxpayer 14.41 a night on average, compared with 145 a night for an asylum hotel. The report, published today, also revealed the Home Office planned to have sent hundreds of asylum seekers to Rwanda or another safe country by now  but due to legal challenges the first flight has yet to take off.

Suella Braverman's department set a target to locate 500 beds a week in cheaper accommodation. The Home Secretary is pictured at No 10, June 15

Currently, 45,000 migrants are in hotels at a cost of 6million a day. In September, the Home Office envisioned ending the use of hotels by December  but it has 'since reduced its ambition'.

Amid a mountain of 173,000 asylum claims, the auditors revealed that in April this year only half of the Home Office's 1,270 caseworkers were 'deciding claims'  the rest were still 'in training' or 'absent'. In fact, just 140 were 'fully trained and working independently'.

Mr Sunak pledged in December that 92,000 'legacy' asylum claims lodged before June 28 last year would be 'abolished' by the end of this year. The backlog has fallen to 78,954, but the overall total is rising by the day.

The Home Office has set up a programme to reduce costs  but the NAO said the scheme is 'not on track'. Meanwhile, it spent 3.6billion on asylum costs, including accommodation, last year  double the previous year's sum.

A bombshell report has revealed the Home Office secured just 48 beds a week on average in the year to April. Pictured: The Comfort Inn hotel in Pimlico, London, where the Home Office reportedly asked a group of refugees to be accommodated four to a room, June 2, 2023

A Home Office spokesman said: 'The Illegal Migration Bill will stop the boats by detaining those who come to the UK illegally, and swiftly returning them to their home country or a safe third country.'

n Manston asylum centre is 'not ready' to cope with huge numbers of summer Channel arrivals, a watchdog warned yesterday. David Neal, chief inspector for immigration, added: 'Worryingly, I have received no clear answer... as to where the tens of thousands of migrants expected this year will be accommodated.'
Almost one in five youngsters missed out on their first-choice secondary school this year amid a record rise in applications.

More than 100,000 children did not receive their first preference, the latest Department for Education figures show.

A total of 82.6 per cent received their first choice  down from 83.3 per cent last year.

Lambeth (61.6 per cent), Redbridge (63.3 per cent) and Wandsworth (64.0 per cent) in London were the local authorities with the lowest first preference rates.

While Rutland (98.0 per cent), Central Bedfordshire (97.1 per cent) and Cumbria (96.0 per cent) had the highest.

Almost one in five youngsters missed out on their first-choice secondary school this year amid a record rise in applications (file image)

It comes amid a record 620,000 applications for a secondary school place  the biggest number since such data was first collected in 2014.

Louis Hodge, associate director at the Education Policy Institute, said: 'Today's data on school applications and offers highlights a number of developing trends across the English education system.

'While the vast majority of primary and secondary pupils do receive their first preference, today's data makes clear that secondary pupils are facing increased competition for places, with 82.6 per cent receiving their first preference school, as opposed to 83.3 per cent last year.

'Significant regional variations exist however, with areas in London featuring the lowest first preference rates for secondary pupils in the country.

'For parents that have not been offered their first preference, many will consider utilising the appeals and waiting lists system.'

Nearly all children in England, 98.6 per cent, received an offer to one of their preferred choices for a primary school in 2023.

Around 568,600 applications were received  a 1.3 per cent decrease on last year. Only 8,000 did not receive an offer of one of their preferred schools.

The Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, said: 'It is great to know that up and down the country families are able to make the right choice for their child, enrolling them in a school and environment that they feel will best support their child to learn and develop.

A total of 82.6 per cent received their first choice  down from 83.3 per cent last year (file image)

'Today's figures attest to the Government's priority in providing good quality school places, which will ensure every child has the opportunity to meet their potential.'

The highest primary first preference rates were achieved by Hartlepool (99.3 per cent), Redcar & Cleveland (98.4 per cent) and Rutland (98.4 per cent).

As in previous years, the lowest first preference rates at primary level are all in London.

They are Kensington and Chelsea (70.4 per cent), Camden (81.3 per cent) and Hammersmith & Fulham (82.2 per cent).

Mr Hodge added: 'There has been a decline in the number of primary applications, falling to 568,600, whilst secondary applications increased to 620,000.

'This follows what has been a surge in primary pupils over recent years, with many now transitioning through to secondary education.

'As a result, excess places within primary schools have now doubled since 2014, whilst they have more than halved in secondary schools.'
An Australian worker has been left shocked after learning their company is reducing their take-home pay when the compulsory super guarantee rate increases

The super guarantee rate will jump from 10.5 per cent to 11 per cent on July 1 this year, meaning employees will have more money tucked away for their retirement.

But in some cases, bosses may be docking your pay to cover the super increase.

If you've negotiated a salary which includes the company's super contributions in the total amount, there's a chance your company will cut your take-home pay to fund this super increase.

One Aussie worker recently received an email from their employer saying that to make up for the increase in superannuation, the amount going into their pockets on payday would be reduced.

'Is this even legal?' they wrote alongside a photo of the email to Reddit.

WINNERS AND LOSERS FROM CHANGES TO SUPER PAYMENTS THE LOSERS: Workers who have super included as part of their total package Aussies on a 'total remuneration package' or 'total package value' or 'remuneration inclusive of superannuation' could have the compulsory superannuation increase deducted from the total of their take home pay. THE WINNERS: Workers that have employment contracts that state their super should be paid on top of their base salary For most workers, including those on awards and enterprise agreements, super is paid in addition to their salary. That means the superannuation component of the salary will increase, without it being docked from your base salary. Advertisement

An Australian worker has been left shocked after learning their company is reducing their take-home pay because their superannuation is increasing

The email said the changes would be seen in the worker's July payslip.

'Please be aware this increase will impact your take-home pay,' it read.

'For employees on total fixed remuneration (TFR), the increase in super will reduce your base salary and take-home net pay.

'For example, an employee on an annual TFR of $100,000 (inclusive of super) who currently receives $90,497.74 base salary plus $9,502.26 (10.5 per cent) super, will instead receive $90,090.09 base salary plus $9,909.91 (11 per cent) super.'

The worker was informed by fellow Reddit users that if they signed a contract saying they'd be on TFR then the changes to their take-home pay were entirely legal.

But many pointed out some employers would increase the salary as a whole to make up for the changes to super.

'Legal and very scummy,' one person said.

'Thankfully my employer isn't scummy and will be forking out the difference,' said another.

One Aussie worker recently received an email from their employer saying that to make up for the increase in superannuation, the amount going into their pockets on payday would be reduced (stock image)

'As mentioned if your employment contract says your salary is 'inclusive' of compulsory super payments then you're pretty screwed,' commented one.

'Otherwise you can push back, cop it or find somewhere to work that wouldn't do this - of which im sure there would be plenty of workplaces. Because this is a low, dog of an act by the employer.'

Others pointed out the employer had every right to make the changes, and suggested the worker find another position with a company where super is additional to their salary.

Many also clarified that the employee's overall pay was not changing, just that the worker would have more super saved when they retire.

'To be fair, the amount you earn isn't really decreasing. I still think it's s***ty to do this, but from the business perspective - it still costs the business the same amount. Pay day super will be a good thing,' one said.

The super guarantee will keep going up over the next two years by 0.5 per cent until it reaches 12 per cent on July 1, 2025.
A Michigan mom is not 'loving it' after she found a box cutter in her child's Happy Meal from McDonald's as another parent claims the same thing happened to her.

Dawn Paret shared photos on Facebook of the bright yellow box cutter she says her 7-year-old daughter found inside her Happy Meal on Sunday in Warren, Michigan.

'The amount of worry and rage that went through me - I have never experienced,' Paret said in her Facebook post, which has received dozens of comments.

Shockingly, another Michigan mother - Kayla Almashy - told WXYZ that she too found a box cutter inside her child's Happy Meal three weeks ago at a different location.

'My baby, like she always says, "Mama, will you open my toy" So, she went to give me the toy, and when I grabbed it, it was a box cutter,' Almashy said. 'I was blown away.'

Michigan mom Dawn Paret (pictured) is not 'loving it' after she found a box cutter in her child's Happy Meal from a local McDonald's

Paret shared photos on Facebook of the bright yellow box cutter she says her 7-year-old daughter found inside her Happy Meal on Sunday in Warren, Michigan

McDonald's said in a statement that they have launched an investigation into the claims

Paret spoke with WXYZ and said she was shocked and angered that one of her children could have been hurt if the box cutter ended up in the wrong hands.

'Anything could have happened, and that's what's scary,' Paret said.

'She opened up the box looking for the toy, and he was getting the 2-year-old set up. She turned around, looked at him, held it out and said, "Dad, what is this?"'

In her Facebook post - in which she attached pictures of the box cutters - Paret said she was thankful it was her seven year old instead of her two-year-old.

The mom's post has received dozens of comments from other disgusted parents who urged her to call corporate and to contact a lawyer.

'Call the company. Record them. See what they say AND call a lawyer. Immediately,' one person wrote under Paret's status.

'Im so glad nothing happened to your girls,' another added. 'How scary!'

The mom said she reached out to police and that they are investigating.

Paret is still desperate for answers, however.

'McDonald's I need an answer as to WHY and HOW a box cutter ended up in the bottom of our daughter's happy meal,' Paret wrote.

'I understand accidents happen. It's just. ... I need to know how this happened exactly,' the horrified mother said.

Paret said she was shocked and angered that one of her children could have been hurt if the box cutter ended up in the wrong hands. Pictured: Paret with her two daughters

Another Michigan mother - Kayla Almashy - told WXYZ that she too found a box cutter inside her child's Happy meal three weeks ago at a different location. Pictured: Almashy

'My baby, like she always says, "Mama, will you open my toy" So, she went to give me the toy, and when I grabbed it, it was a box cutter,' Almashy said. 'I was blown away'

After hearing Paret's story, Almashy said she felt the need to come forward.

She picked up food from a McDonald's in Brighton - just about 40 minutes away from the restaurant Paret ordered from -three weeks ago.

The mother said she immediately called the restaurant to look for answers but received almost no real answers.

'I just wanted some type of explanation. But there was nothing that he could give me, other than he said, "Do you want a free apple pie or cookie?"' Almashy said.

According to the two women, restaurant owners said they have a box inside their stores that is used as a 'catch all' for random items in the kitchen.

'They basically just said that they have a catch-all box that's a Happy Meal box, and someone must have just accidentally grabbed it,' Paret said.

The moms are now urging other parents to exercise extreme caution and check their kids' Happy Meals in the future.

'That's why I brought it to Facebook, not to bash McDonald's, but it was to bring other parents to be more aware to check their kids' meals because I didn't,' Almashy said.

'The safety of customers and employees is our top priority, and we take these claims seriously,' a statement from McDonald's read in part

In a statement issued to USA Today, McDonald's said they are investigating.

'The safety of customers and employees is our top priority, and we take these claims seriously,' the statement read.

'We have been in touch with the customers involved and are continuing to investigate,' the fast-food company said.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton revealed he has heard a third allegation about Victorian senator David Van, after he was accused of sexual assault by Lidia Thorpe and former senator Amanda Stoker claimed he groped her.

Here, follow Daily Mail Australia's live updates on the unfolding political scandal:
A former senator turned Sky News host invited under-fire senator David Van on her show to discuss the cost of living crisis just three weeks before publicly accusing him of groping her.

Amanda Stoker thanked the Victorian Liberal senator for 'sparing her a moment' during the busy estimates hearing period on May 24.

Ms Stoker, who was a Queensland Liberal National senator from 2018 until 2022 but did not get re-elected at the last federal election, claimed on Thursday evening she had buried the hatchet with Mr Van after he allegedly groped her twice at an informal gathering in a parliamentary office in November 2020.

She was the second woman to accuse Mr Van of improper conduct after Lidia Thorpe told the Senate he had sexually harassed and assaulted her.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton claims there are further allegations against Mr Van and is now calling on him to resign from parliament after expelling him from the Liberal party room.

Now, footage has emerged of the last public exchange between Ms Stoker and Mr Van just three weeks ago, in which the senator said: 'It's a shame not having you here in estimates with us.

'You know I love serving with you on the legal committee.'

David Van said he was looking forward to returning home to his wife in the midst of the allegations

The pair went on to have a lengthy discussion about the Victorian budget and the cost of living crisis in the state on the back of the lengthy Covid lockdowns.

Ms Stoker ended the interview thanking the senator for appearing on her program, Sunday with Stoker.

In light of Lidia Thorpe's allegations in the Senate on Wednesday - in which she said under parliamentary privilege that Mr Van was a 'perpetrator' - Ms Stoker felt it was 'no longer tenable' to remain silent about her own alleged experience.

She said Mr Van acted inappropriately toward her 'by squeezing my bottom twice. By its nature and repetition, it was not accidental'.

Ms Stoker said she held a meeting with Mr Van the day after the 2020 incident, at which point he allegedly 'apologised and said it would never happen again'.

She informed a senior female colleague of the alleged incident but did not feel the need to take it any further, confident the matter had been dealt with.

Mr Van said he had no memory of having had such an encounter with Ms Stoker, but that they had had a 'frank and open' discussion about her recollection of the evening at the time.

Amanda Stoker thanked the Victorian Liberal senator for 'sparing her a moment' during the busy estimates hearing period on May 24

Peter Dutton expelled Senator David Van from the Liberal party room after a second woman came forward with allegations against him

Now, footage has emerged of their last public exchange just three weeks ago, in which Mr Van said: 'It's a shame not having you here in estimates with us. 'You know I love serving with you on the legal committee'

Allegations levelled against David Van: A timeline Wednesday, June 14 3.30pm: Lidia Thorpe accuses David Van of being a 'perpetrator' as he attempts to deliver a speech in the Senate

7.30pm: Ms Thorpe returns to the Senate to withdraw her allegations, citing parliamentary standing orders. A senator cannot make comments on the character of a colleague. She vows to make a follow up statement on Thursday Thursday, June 15 7am: David Van appears on 2GB to publicly reject allegations

12.15pm: Lidia Thorpe makes tearful admission in Senate that an unnamed colleague 'followed her aggressively, propositioned and inappropriately touched' her

1.45pm: Opposition Leader Peter Dutton reveals further allegations and expels Mr Van from Liberal party room. Simultaneously, Mr Van gave a speech in parliament, again refuting all allegations

6.30pm: Amanda Stoker comes forward to allege she was groped 'twice on the bottom' by Mr Van at an event inside a parliamentary office in November, 2020. She claims to have dealt with the matter privately with Mr Van Friday, June 16 Peter Dutton reveals there is at least one further allegation against Mr Van, and calls on him to resign from parliament altogether

8.30am: Mr Van issues a final statement, vowing to 'fully cooperate' with an examination into all claims levelled against him Advertisement

'I believe all women should be free from unwanted advances and confident to speak up immediately and be respected for doing so,' Ms Stoker said.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, who took steps to remove Mr Van from the Liberal party room, has since confirmed there are further allegations beyond Ms Stoker and Ms Thorpe.

Asked on Friday if he was aware of more allegations against the now-crossbench senator, Mr Dutton said: 'Yes.'

'I raised another allegation with Senator Van, but I'm not going to comment in relation to those matters otherwise,' he told Today.

'I made a decision yesterday based on all of the information that was available to me... that's a decision I don't regret at all.

'I believe it is in the best interests of the Liberal Party and that's what I have acted upon and I don't want Senator Van sitting in our party room. I have made that clear.'

Mr Dutton said the alleged behaviour was unacceptable, and is calling on Mr Van to resign.

'It's in everyone's best interest that he resign from the parliament, and I hope he's able to do that sooner than later,' he told 2GB radio on Friday.

'I think that would be an appropriate next step.'

Earlier, he said: 'The thought of sexual assault against any woman in the workplace is not something that I would tolerate.

'It's been an issue in the press gallery, been an issue in Parliament House and obviously... I've referred the matters to that independent workplace authority for investigation.'

Mr Van issued a statement on Friday stating his 'good reputation' had been 'wantonly savaged without due process or accountability'.

'I am utterly shattered by the events of the past days,' he said. 'I will fully cooperate with whatever process Mr Dutton proposes to determine these matters as quickly and fairly as possible.'

In his shock press conference 10 minutes before Question Time on Thursday, Mr Dutton revealed 'further allegations in relation to Senator Van' were brought to his attention, but did not specify the precise nature of those allegations.

Lidia Thorpe doubled down on her allegations she was sexually assaulted under parliamentary privilege, claiming she was 'followed aggressively, propositioned and inappropriately touched' - but insisted she would not make a complaint with police

Mr Van issued a statement on Friday stating his 'good reputation' had been 'wantonly savaged without due process or accountability'

Read Amanda Stoker's statement in full In November 2020 Senator Van inappropriately touched me at an informal social gathering in a parliamentary office. He did so by squeezing my bottom twice. By its nature and by its repetition, it was not accidental. That action was not appropriate. It was unprofessional and uninvited. I raised the matter with Senator Van at a meeting the following day. I described the action, told him it was unacceptable and that it was not to be repeated. He apologised and said he would never do it again. I accepted his apology and his undertaking. Contemporaneous notes of the meeting were taken and it never happened again. I believe all women should be free from unwanted advances and confident to speak up immediately and be respected for doing so. I promptly advised a senior female colleague about the incident, and of the action I had taken. I did so to ensure that if there were any other incidents of which I was not aware, or any future reports, they could be dealt with appropriately. Obviously, this was not a good experience. I took it very seriously but did not want his misbehavior to define me or any other woman. I simply wanted to ensure his behaviour was never repeated. So I used the internal process for his behaviour to be addressed, whilst asking for it to be kept confidential. I would have preferred that the matter be resolved privately and finally - as I thought it was. However, following Senator Thorpe's allegations, it is now clear that is no longer tenable. I do not know of any other similar events or reports. Advertisement

Mr Dutton did not take questions.

Hours earlier, Ms Thorpe tearfully told parliament she had been harassed and assaulted when she arrived in 2020.

She said parliament 'was not a safe place for women'. 'You are often alone in long corridors, with no windows, in stairwells hidden from view where there are no cameras.'

Ms Thorpe never spoke publicly about her alleged experiences, which she said happened around the time Brittany Higgins came forward with rape allegations, to avoid taking focus off that case.

Instead, she placed her faith in the Liberal Party that her complaint was being taken seriously.

Ms Thorpe said she has no intentions of taking the complaint to the police.

She said there are 'different understandings of what amounts to sexual assault' and that when she raised her complaint with the government of the day - the Coalition - 'it was recognised as such'.

'I was afraid to walk out of the office door. I would open it slightly and make sure the coast was clear before stepping out,' she said. 'I had to be accompanied by someone - that is how the Greens supported me and I thank them for that.'

Ms Thorpe told the Senate she was sure the then prime minister Scott Morrison had been informed. He said in a statement on Wednesday he did not recall if this was the case.

'I was convinced the government believed me... my faith in the Liberal Party was not the right decision,' Ms Thorpe said.

'Until yesterday, I thought they took the issue seriously.'

Ms Thorpe said she was prompted to speak out on Wednesday when Mr Van 'had the gall to stand up in parliament' to address the handling of Ms Higgins' complaint in parliament this week.

She will not pursue legal action or go to police, but vowed to 'continue to speak out against the abuse and harassment that happens in this building'.

'That is my choice. I want to focus on making this place safe for everyone,' she added.

'And at this moment, it is not a safe place for women and I call on the government to immediately increase the number of security guards in the building and cameras in the corridors and to consult women who work here on what measures can and should be taken.'
President Joe Biden made a cringeworthy joke as he told an audience at the White House Thursday night that he'd known actress and director Eva Longoria for 'a long time.'

'She was 17, I was 40,' the 80-year-old commander-in-chief said about the 48-year-old actress, receiving laughs from members of the crowd.

The president held Longoria's hand and the hand of his wife, first lady Jill Biden, as the trio walked out onto the South Lawn to give introductory remarks at a screening of Longoria's new film, Flamin' Hot - her directorial debut.

It tells the debunked story of Richard Montanez, who claimed to be the inventor of Flamin' Hot Cheetos before a 2021 Los Angeles Times investigation reported otherwise. Longoria has ignored those trying to fact-check Montanez's story.

'As you may have heard already, Richard Montanez disrupted the food industry in the 90s by channeling his Mexican-American heritage to help turn Flamin' Hot Cheetos into a multi-billion dollar brand today and a cultural phenomenon,' Longoria said.

President Joe Biden (center) walked out onto the South Lawn Thursday night holding hands with first lady Jill Biden (left) and actress-turned-director Eva Longoria (right) as part of a White House screening of Longoria's new film, Flamin' Hot

President Joe Biden (right) made a cringey joke about how long he's known Eva Longoria (right), a Democratic activist. 'She was 17, I was 40,' the 80-year-old commander-in-chief said about the 48-year-old actress

'We're telling a story that celebrates the American entrepreneurial dream without sidestepping the fact that the dream isn't available in the same way for everyone,' she continued.

She pointed out that while talent is 'evenly distributed in this world - opportunities have not been.'

'Which is why we rarely get to see movies where we are the heroes,' she said of the Latino community. 'Let alone a janitor-turned-corporate executive.'

A poster for Eva Longoria's directorial debut, Flamin' Hot, which can be streamed on Disney+ and Hulu

'So I knew I wanted to highlight his story, his life and the importance and power of the Latino community within American culture,' she said. 'So we worked hard to produce this authentic film steeped in inclusion - both in front of and behind the cameras.'

So now we get to bring this story to la Casa Blanca!' she exclaimed, adding that it was under an administration that 'believes in our community and shares our values.'

Despite her long times to the Democratic Party and the Bidens she indicated she was surprised that her film was given a White House screening.

'It's a dream I didn't even know I had,' she told the crowd.

She added that she had been working with Biden for 'many, many years.'

'And it has always been a great joy,' she added. 'We share so much. He's been a champion for working people in search of the American dream.'

Longoria said thanks to Biden 'there's going to be a lot more Richard Montanezes ready and waiting to take their shot to make history.'

'The man who's been fighting for us all, fighting for Latinos, fighting for Americans, fighting for workers and most importantly - fighting for democracy,' she said to cheers. 'A man who understand and embodies the values of family, community and perseverance.'

Biden greeted the crowd by giving his trademark, 'I'm Jill Biden's husband.'

When an audience member yelled, 'I love you,' the commander-in-chief shouted back, 'I accept!'

He congratulated Longoria for her directorial debut and said the movie made him think about the 'courage' displayed by immigrants leaving home and coming to the U.S.

The screening is part of Immigrant Heritage Month.

The movie has already premiered on Disney+ and Hulu.

President Joe Biden hugs Eva Longoria before a screening of the film Flamin' Hot on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 15, 2023

Eva Longoria speaks before President Joe Biden ahead of a screening of the film Flamin' Hot on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 15, 2023

President Joe Biden reacts before speaking ahead of a screening of the film Flamin' Hot on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 15, 2023

US President Joe Biden poses for pictures with the crowd during a screening of the film Flamin' Hot on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 15, 2023

US President Joe Biden speaks to the crowd during a screening of the film Flamin' Hot on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on June 15, 2023

Flamin' Hot tells the story of Richard Montanez, played by Jesse Garcia (pictured), who claims he invented the spicy Cheetos flavor. In 2021, the Los Angeles Times broke the story that Montanez long-told story was largely false, with even the chip giant saying so

Longoria was already attached to the film project by the time the Los Angeles Times punched holes in Montanez's story, looking into the Mexican-American businessman as his second memoir was about to debut.

The LA Times was able to get Frito-Lay to say on-the-record that Montanez's didn't invent the popular snack.

'None of our records show that Richard was involved in any capacity in the Flamin' Hot test market,' Frito-Lay wrote in a statement to The Times.

The company had conducted an internal investigation into Montanez's claims, The Times revealed.

'We have interviewed multiple personnel who were involved in the test market, and all of them indicate that Richard was not involved in any capacity in the test market,' the statement continued. 'That doesn't mean we don't celebrate Richard, but the facts do not support the urban legend.'

The Times found that Flamin' Hot Cheetos were created by a team of snack food professionals in Plano, Texas in 1989.

A junior employee named Lynne Greenfeld was assigned to create the brand and came up with the name, the report said.

Montanez started telling people he created the spicy cheese twists in the early 2000s.

He claimed that he took home a batch of unflavored Cheetos after a machine broke down and flavored them himself - bringing them the spice and zest of Mexican cuisine.

Greenfield alerted Frito-Lay of Montanez's false claims in 2018 and an internal investigation ensued.

'We value Richard's many contributions to our company, especially his insights into Hispanic consumers, but we do not credit the creation of Flamin' Hot Cheetos or any Flamin' Hot products to him,' the company told The Times.

Longoria - a longtime fixture in Democratic politics - was already attached to the film project by the time the LA Times report came out.

In recent interviews about the film, she's brushed Montanez's mistruths.

'That story never affected us,' she told the LA Times. 'Feels like LA Times would have better resources dedicated to more important things.'

'We never set out to tell the history of the Cheeto,' she added. 'We are telling Richard Montanez's' and we're telling his truth.'

Montanez did truly rise up the ranks - and he is accurately credited with targeting the Hispanic market as a marketing guru.

That's what Longoria said she's focused on.

'Richard's story is our story. We are all Richard Montanez,' she told the paper in a phone interview in March. 'There's been a time in our lives where somebody said, "No, no, no. Ideas don't come from people like you." "No, no, no. I don't think you're quite qualified for that."'

'And so I think we all are going to relate to his perseverance and his belief in himself. How he just was like, "Why not?" He dared to ask, "But why not me?"'

The White House indicated the film was picked because it celebrated diversity.

'This film is about the strength of faith and family to empower and uplift. Similar to other White House screenings of Till and American Born Chinese, this is an opportunity for Americans from different backgrounds to see themselves reflected in, and celebrated by, the White House,' a White House official told DailyMail.com.
Banning British game hunters from bringing home souvenir heads and pelts will undermine crucial revenue streams and promote a beggar-like dependency on aid, six African nations have warned.

The House of Lords will today debate the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill, which aims to strengthen the conservation of endangered species.

But last night the high commissioners of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe warned the legislation might not discourage hunting.

They also argued it would instead remove incentives for locals to protect animals from poachers.

In a letter to The Times, they continued: The British Government has proposed that southern African countries that do lose hunting revenue should apply for UK grant money and aid funding.

The House of Lords will today debate the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill, which aims to strengthen the conservation of endangered species

However, promoting a beggar-like dependency on aid is a 19th century solution to a 21st century problem.

Meanwhile this week 103 experts and officials from across Africa wrote to peers urging them to back the ban.
A court in Russia is conducting a grim show trial for more than 20 Ukrainian soldiers who were captured defending the Azovstal steel factory in Mariupol last year.

The 22 captured fighters lined a glass cage at the back of a military courtroom in the city of Rostov, southern Russia, on Wednesday. They have been accused by Moscow of terrorism offences and face life sentences.

Appearing malnourished and thin, 14 men and eight women wore visibly dirty prison clothing as they stood for trial. Many of them had their heads shaved.

Kyiv hit back at the Kremlin's show trial, labelling it as another Russian war crime.

The captured soldiers were members of the Azov battalion, an elite Ukrainian armed forces unit that fought Russian troops in the Sea of Azov port of Mariupol.

Russia captured Mariupol last year after a three-month battle that reduced most of the city to smoldering ruins.

Oleksiy Smykov and Artem Grebeshkov, members of Ukraine's Azov Regiment captured in Mariupol in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict, attend a court hearing in Rostov

Ukrainian soldiers who were taken prisoner during fighting sit inside a defendant's glass cage during a hearing at the Southern District Military Court in Rostov

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, called it a 'show trial' that was 'nothing but disgusting'.

'Glossy prosecutors and dressed-up jurors with brilliant smiles "judge" boys and girls who look like skeletons after a concentration camp and torture,' he said.

'Such abuse of combatants is an official war crime that has to be properly assessed by the ICC [International Criminal Court].'

It is understood that the defendants appearing in the glass cage fought in Ukraine's Azov Regiment that defended the Azovstal steel plant for three months against Russia's invasion.

The last remaining Ukrainian defenders who holed up at a giant steel mill in Mariupol surrendered to Russian forces in May 2022.

Russian authorities have designated the Azov battalion as a terrorist group.

The defendants are facing charges of involvement in a terrorist organization and taking part in action to overthrow the Russia-backed authorities in the Donetsk region.

They face sentences ranging from 15 years to life in prison if convicted.

Lawyers sit in front of the defendants' enclosure with members of Ukraine's Azov Regiment captured in Mariupol in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict

The 22 captured fighters lined a glass cage at the back of a military court room in the city of Rostov, southern Russia, on Wednesday

Ukrainian prisoners of war sit in the defendant's cage during a hearing in the Southern District Military Court

Of the remaining 22 defendants facing the trial (pictured in the background), eight are women, who reportedly worked as cooks for the Azov battalion

Of the 24 people who have faced the charges, two have been swapped for Russian prisoners of war as part of a prisoner exchange.

Eight women, who reportedly worked as cooks for the Azov battalion, are part of the remaining 22 defendants facing the trial.

Russia has regularly tried to use the Azov Regiment as proof that it is fighting Nazis in Ukraine - a frequent excuse for the war spurted by Vladimir Putin himself.

When it was first formed as a private militia in 2014, the regiment had links to neo-Nazis before it was cleaned up by Kyiv's authorities and brought under the control of the Ukrainian military.
Rainbow birds not normally seen in the UK have established a breeding colony, thanks to warmer temperatures caused by climate change.

Eight bee-eaters, distinctive blue, yellow and orange birds, have returned to a Norfolk quarry for the second year running.

It is the first time the birds, which are normally seen in Africa, have travelled to the same location in consecutive years and marks the seventh breeding attempt in England in the last 20 years.

Dozens of birdwatchers have been drawn to the site by the small birds since they were spotted at the end of May by local twitcher Andy Chamberlain.

Bee-eaters typically migrate north from southern Africa to breed in the Mediterranean and north Africa and previously have appeared in the UK when deviating from their usual routes.

Eight bee-eaters, distinctive blue, yellow and orange birds, have returned to a Norfolk quarry for the second year running

Sightings of the rainbow birds in the UK are becoming more common as temperatures increase.

Head of investigations at bird charity the RSPB, Mark Thomas, told The Telegraph that Bee-eaters are like 'no other bird' found in the UK.

'Not only are they indescribably beautiful in their ice-lolly colours but they put on a great show as they leap to catch flying insects mid-air.

He added: 'This could be the start of bee-eaters properly colonising the UK and a sign that they may become a regular feature of the great British summer.'
Tucker Carlson on Thursday mocked his former employer Fox News for apologizing after referring to Joe Biden as a 'wannabe dictator' - insisting that the president was indeed dictatorial, and likening certain aspects to Saddam Hussein, Kim Il-sung and Nicolae Ceausescu.

Fox on Tuesday night broadcast a chyron showing Biden and Donald Trump, shortly after Trump was arrested in Miami.

'Wannabe dictator speaks at the White House after having his political rival arrested,' the chyron read.

Fox apologized, and Carlson - who until April was their top-rated host - ridiculed the network for their apology.

'But why were they angry? If the banner on Fox was false? Why the hysteria?,' said Carlson in his 13-minute Twitter show, which has replaced his Fox primetime slot.

Tucker Carlson on Thursday aired the fourth episode of 'Tucker on Twitter' - this time accusing Joe Biden of behaving like a dictator

Fox News referred to Biden as a 'wannabe dictator' after Donald Trump's arrest on Tuesday

Ep. 4 Wannabe Dictator pic.twitter.com/MDcs5g0gxB  Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) June 15, 2023

'Lies don't seem to bother anyone anymore. If some cable news producer had called Joe Biden a genius or accused him of being secretly Sudanese, would anyone be yelling about it? Would Fox News have apologized for it? Probably not.

'But calling Joe Biden a wannabe dictator, that stung.'

Carlson then began mockingly listing the ways Biden 'could not possibly' be a dictator - referencing government surveillance on phones and bank accounts, and a crackdown on 'peaceful protest', like the January 6 riot.

'The main reason that Joe Biden is not a wannabe dictator is because he just does not fit the profile, as a man,' said Carlson.

'Dictators have that look: you know one when you see one.

'Dictators build cults of personality around themselves, and they use those cults to deny the glaringly obvious.'

Carlson then likened Biden to North Korea's dictator Kim Il-sung, the grandfather of the current ruler.

Kim, who ruled from 1948 until his death aged 82 in 1994, had a baseball-sized growth on the back of his neck, which state media was ordered to hide.

'Thankfully nothing like that is happening in our country, or ever will,' said Carlson.

'If Joe Biden ever developed some profound physical or mental condition that was evident to everybody, journalists would say something.

'This is not North Korea. We don't have state media here.

'If Joe Biden was, say, incapable of completing a full sentence, or mistook his sister for his wife, or suddenly started falling down in public for no reason, The New York Times would report on that and get to the bottom of what was actually happening.

'That would be a duty in a free country like ours. It's not like they would cover it up.'

Carlson move on to comparing Biden to Iraq's dictator, Saddam Hussein.

Carlson compared Joe Biden to Kim Il-sung, who had a large baseball-sized growth on his neck, which state media were forbidden from mentioning

Saddam Hussein is shown with his sons Uday (left) and Qusay (right). The brothers were killed in a raid on Mosul in 2003: their father was hanged in 2006

'If Joe Biden was a wannabe dictator, he'd have the family to match - all dictators do,' said Carlson.

'Saddam Hussein had Uday and Qusay.

'They were princelings who lived above the law, indulging their most decadent fantasies with total confidence they would never be held accountable by the police.

'As sons of a dictator they could do exactly what they wanted.

'There is no one like that around Joe Biden.'

Carlson then showed a photo of Hunter Biden, the president's troubled 52-year-old son, who has admitted to years of drug addiction and destructive behavior, and is now being investigated for tax fraud and lying on a gun permit application.

'He doesn't have weird sex scandals at the heart of his family that no one in the media will ever talk about,' said Carlson.

'He doesn't have a n'er-do-well former nightclub-owning brother who has made a living for over 30 years by being related to him.

'Not at all. That's dictator stuff.'

The 54-year-old host then laughed at Jill Biden, who has a doctoral degree in education.

'Joe Biden doesn't award ridiculous, inflated titles to his relatives that the media are then required to take seriously.

'He doesn't call people doctor, who didn't go to medical school, and force you to nod along like it's real when everyone knows it isn't.

'Nicolae Ceausescu did that with his wife Elena. Joe Biden would never do that.'

Elena Ceausescu had a doctorate in chemistry, but it remains a matter of debate as to whether she earned it or was given it.
It was just past 3pm and Question Time in the Senate had just drawn to a close - dominated yet again by the fallout of the Brittany Higgins' text leaks - when a series of extraordinary events occurred which sparked a fresh political scandal.

Lidia Thorpe did not go to work on Wednesday intending to accuse Victorian Liberal senator David Van of sexually assaulting her.

She believed her allegations, dating back to the months after she entered Parliament in 2020, had been well handled by the Liberal Party, and she felt no need to take the matter further.

However, a Liberal party decision to have Mr Van deliver a speech on the handling of Ms Higgins' allegations that she was sexually assaulted in Parliament House in 2019 prompted her to erupt.

Senator Thorpe, a former Green turned Independent, remained on the Senate floor after Question Time on Tuesday to make a statement about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

She listened as Labor's Jana Stewart spoke, lamenting the recent line of questioning from Liberal senators and defending her embattled colleague, Katy Gallagher.

Senator Stewart said: 'Senator Katy Gallagher is an absolute trailblazer and fierce advocate for women, and I am incredibly proud to be in this chamber with a woman of her calibre.

'It's certainly easy to forget in this place how powerful words are when they are used so irresponsibly by those opposite. They're used without any care for anybody outside this place. We have a responsibility in here to tread with care.'

Peter Dutton expelled Senator David Van from the Liberal party room after a second woman came forward with allegations against him

After her two-minute window lapsed, Victorian Liberal Senator Van stood to his feet.

He said: 'I thank my friend Senator Stewart for her contribution, but it's very clear that she wasn't in the last parliament, because the behaviour...'

Ms Stewart cut him off, warning: 'Don't belittle me.'

Mr Van described the behaviour of Labor over the past year as 'disgraceful' and criticised 'the muck thrown from that side to Senators Cash and Reynolds'.

He told Ms Stewart her 'words were quite strong', but were 'made a mockery of' by Labor's behaviour in the chamber.

Ms Thorpe sat silently as the exchange took place. It wasn't until Mr Van spoke again that the situation boiled over.

He said: 'As parliamentarians we need to be focused on setting the standard for all Australians and in all aspects of life. When then Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins handed...'

Ms Thorpe exploded: 'Coming from you, you got away with a lot during that time. We all know what you were doing!'

'I can't believe they put you up to make this speech,' she continued, before calling Mr Van a 'perpetrator'.

Most of the altercation wasn't recorded on the official transcript.

Ms Thorpe was told to be quiet, and Mr Van continued his speech.

At first, he treated it as business as usual, continuing on with his speech criticising the appearance that 'nothing has been learnt' from Ms Jenkins' Set the Standard report and 'that we're in the same place we were' two years ago, under the previous Liberal government.

Ms Thorpe persisted. 'Why'd you have to move your office away from me?' she shouted, before rising to her feet to make a point of order.

'I just want to relay that I'm feeling really uncomfortable when a perpetrator is speaking about violence,' she said.

She was asked to withdraw, but refused.

'I can't, because this person harassed me, sexually assaulted me and the Prime Minister had to remove him from his office. To have him talking about this today is an absolute disgrace on the whole party,' she said.

Mr Van responded immediately, outright denying the allegations - which were made under parliamentary privilege.

'I utterly reject that disgusting statement outright. It is just a lie, and I reject it. Sorry; I withdraw the word 'lie'. It's just not true.'

Again, he asked to continue. Ms Thorpe excused herself from the chamber. She was joined outside by Ms Stewart.

Clearly rattled, Mr Van carried on with his pre-planned speech. 'Transparency, honesty and integrity are the most important factors for a functioning democracy,' he said.

'The people must be able to trust that their elected representatives are working in their favour. It is time to bring back integrity into this building.'

The incident was reported to the senate president, and Ms Thorpe returned to give her scheduled speech about Aboriginal sovereignty in relation to the Voice to Parliament.

A short interaction ensued between Mr Van and fellow Liberal senator Simon Birmingham - who, along with Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, witnessed the chaotic scenes - and then the duo left the chamber.

By this point, the political bomb had been well and truly detonated.

Why Senator Thorpe withdrew allegations in parliament

Hours later, after Mr Van's lawyers had sent a letter to Ms Thorpe and issued a public statement denying her allegations, she returned to the Senate.

Ms Thorpe said: 'Earlier today I made some comments in relation to another senator.

'In order to comply with the Parliamentary Standing Orders, I withdraw those remarks. For the information of the Senate, I will make a statement on the matter tomorrow.'

Senate rules stipulate a senator cannot speak about a person's character, only about things they have said.

As such, Ms Thorpe had withdrawn her allegations directly targeted toward Mr Van. On Thursday, she instead set out to share her 'experience of parliament' generally since she was first elected.

Ms Thorpe gave a tearful speech in which she doubled down on her allegations, saying when she started in the Senate in 2020, parliament was 'not a safe place' for women.

'You are often alone in long corridors, with no windows, in stairwells hidden from view where there are no cameras.'

Ms Thorpe claimed she was propositioned 'by powerful men and approached in the stairwell'. She did not name the alleged offender.

She said there are 'different understandings of what amounts to sexual assault' and that when she raised her complaint with the government of the day - the Coalition - 'it was recognised as such'.

'I was afraid to walk out of the office door. I would open it slightly and make sure the coast was clear before stepping out,' she said. 'I had to be accompanied by someone - that is how the Greens supported me and I thank them for that.'

Ms Thorpe told the Senate she was sure the then prime minister Scott Morrison had been informed. He said in a statement on Wednesday he did not recall if this was the case.

'I was convinced the government believed me... my faith in the Liberal Party was not the right decision,' Ms Thorpe said.

'Until yesterday, I thought they took the issue seriously.'

Saying 'silence is violence', Ms Thorpe said she was prompted to speak out on Wednesday when Mr Van 'had the gall to stand up in parliament' to address the handling of Ms Higgins' complaint in parliament this week.

She will not pursue legal action or go to police, but vowed to 'continue to speak out against the abuse and harassment that happens in this building'.

'That is my choice. I want to focus on making this place safe for everyone,' she added.

'And at this moment, it is not a safe place for women and I call on the government to immediately increase the number of security guards in the building and cameras in the corridors and to consult women who work here on what measures can and should be taken.'

Lidia Thorpe has doubled down on her allegations she was sexually assaulted under parliamentary privilege, claiming she was 'followed aggressively, propositioned and inappropriately touched' - but insisted she would not make a complaint with police

The fallout

Mr Van maintains his innocence.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton took immediate steps to expel Mr Van from the Liberal party room, and has since called on him to resign altogether.

Prior to making that decision, Mr Dutton spoke with former Liberal National senator Amanda Stoker, who alleged Mr Van had behaved inappropriately with her in November 2020.

He has since confirmed there are further allegations beyond those of Ms Stoker and Ms Thorpe.

'I think it's in everyone's best interest that he resigns from the parliament,' Mr Dutton told 2GB's Ray Hadley.

'And I hope he 's able to do that sooner than later and seek the help that he needs and I think that would be an appropriate next step.'

Asked on Friday if he was aware of more allegations against the now-crossbench senator, Mr Dutton said: 'Yes.'

'I raised another allegation with Senator Van, but I'm not going to comment in relation to those matters otherwise,' he told the Today Show.

'I made a decision yesterday based on all of the information that was available to me... that's a decision I don't regret at all.

'I believe it is in the best interests of the Liberal Party and that's what I have acted upon and I don't want Senator Van sitting in our party room. I have made that clear.'

Former Liberal senator Amanda Stoker released a statement on Thursday night alleging the Victorian senator 'inappropriately touched' her 'at an informal social gathering in a parliamentary office' in November, 2020

Mr Dutton said the alleged behaviour was unacceptable.

'The thought of sexual assault against any woman in the workplace is not something that I would tolerate,' he said.

'It's been an issue in the press gallery, been an issue in Parliament House and obviously ... I've referred the matters to that independent workplace authority for investigation.'

Mr Van issued a statement on Friday stating his 'good reputation' had been 'wantonly savaged without due process or accountability'.

'I am utterly shattered by the events of the past days,' he said.

'I will fully cooperate with whatever process Mr Dutton proposes to determine these matters as quickly and fairly as possible.'
A young dad was ambushed, kidnapped and ultimately executed by a vigilante driven to act on child abuse rumours swirling around a small coastal town.

After seven days of deliberation, a Victorian jury on Friday found Albert Thorn, 57, guilty of the torture, imprisonment and murder of Bradley Lyons, from Lakes Entrance in eastern Victoria.

Two men, Rikki Smith, 26, and Jordan Bottom, 25, were found not guilty of murder, but the pair were found guilty of the assault and false imprisonment of Mr Lyons.

Mr Lyons, 30, a supermarket worker and father of three, was ambushed in bed shortly after returning home from a morning shift, beaten, and stuffed into the boot of a car on December 2, 2018.

Four men, including Thorn and Smith, stormed the family home, taking Mr Lyons by surprise after receiving 'the nod' from his wife Jana Hooper.

The night prior, Hooper had been found unresponsive and seemingly having a seizure by her children who called police for a welfare check.

Bradley Lyons went missing from Lakes Entrance in December 2017. He was murdered over child abuse rumours

His remains were discovered off a dirt track near Double Bridges in March the following year

The jury was told the call was logged but, due to 'human error', it wasn't handed off at the local police station's shift change.

Police did not arrive that night, and Hooper would detail suspicions she was drugged by Mr Lyons to friends and associates.

For several weeks, allegations Mr Lyons had been sexually abusing children had swirled around the community in the eastern Victoria town of Lakes Entrance where he lived.

Concerned police would not act on the allegations, a plan was formed inside a disused water tank on Thorn's farm and enacted the following day.

Caught on CCTV footage from neighbour's house, Thorn and Smith had already pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Lyons in his bed.

Thorn had also pleaded guilty to kidnapping, admitting he drove his mum's Toyota Corolla, with Mr Lyons restrained in the boot, to his Nyerimilang farming property.

CCTV from a neighbouring property captured the moment an injured Mr Lyons was placed in the boot of Thorn's mum's Toyota Corolla. Picture: Supreme Court of Victoria/ Victoria Police.

Bottom, who was living in a caravan on the property, would later tell police he was woken by Thorn who said he had a 'present' for him in the boot.

All three men had denied what police allege happened next.

Mr Lyons was left in the boot for hours as the trio, alongside co-conspirators Hooper and Nick Stefani, discussed what would happen next.

Witness Patricia Amey told the court she heard them discussing extracting a confession from Mr Lyons before dumping him along with the recording at a police station.

'I can't remember exactly what I said but it would have been something like, 'You're a bunch of f--king idiots and you can't be f--king doing this',' she said.

'I've gone to argue the tape wouldn't hold up in court even if you got a confession because you're tormenting him.'

Albert Thorn is above.

Jordan Bottom is above

She left shortly before midnight alongside Hooper and Stefani - both jailed late last year on kidnapping and assault charges.

Sometime later, the trio removed Mr Lyons from the boot, strapping him to a massage table - where he was tortured in an effort to 'extract a confession'.

He was then driven to an unnamed bush track near Double Bridges in East Gippsland, where a shallow grave was dug and he was shot in the back of the head.

Both Bottom and Smith had admitted to police they were present in the car and at the gravesite when Mr Lyons was killed but denied murdering him.

An investigation into his disappearance was launched on December 11, after Mr Lyons' Queensland-based brother reported him missing.

He told police he hadn't heard from his brother for more than a week, and he had stopped showing up to work.

Thorn, Stefani and Hooper were quickly identified as suspects using the neighbours CCTV footage but it took months to work out what happened after Mr Lyons was taken from the home.

A breakthrough came in February the following year when Thorn's neighbour, retired Australian Federal Police officer Kerri-Lee Wheelan, contacted police.

She told the court he had reached out to her, saying he feared for his safety and wanted to tell his side of the story 'in case anything happens'.

The trio were arrested weeks later in mid-March and Mr Lyons' remains were recovered after Bottom agreed to lead police there because 'it was the right thing to do'.

Lawyers acting for both Bottom and Smith had argued their clients didn't know Mr Lyons was going to be murdered, saying they were following instructions from the older and violent Thorn.

The had argued while their clients were involved in the circumstances surrounding Mr Lyons' murder, both men thought the plan was to scare him out of town.

An aerial photo of Thorn's Nyerimilang farming property where Mr Lyons was left restrained in the boot of a car for hours. Picture: Supreme Court of Victoria/ Victoria Police.

On the other side of the bar table, Thorn's counsel had argued Mr Lyons left the property alive with Bottom and Smith and he did not know what they were planning to do.

He told the jury his client was a 'kidnapper, not a murderer', and had played a limited role in a plot to remove Mr Lyons and dump him out of town or at a police station with a confession.

But prosecutors, led by Raymond Gibson KC, had argued that each man had been 'complicit' in the murder, regardless of who ultimately fired the fatal shot.

'In this case we say that motive is very clear,' he said.

'This was nothing short of vigilante action, people taking the law into their own hands and dishing out vigilante justice.'

Thorn, Bottom and Smith were remanded into custody and will return to court at a later date for sentencing.
An Australian biotech firm that made headlines after signing a massive deal to sell Covid-19 rapid testing kits to the US government has collapsed after a rescue package could not be reached.

The Australian operations of Brisbane-based Ellume went into voluntary administration in August, 2022.

It was hoped by administrators that a $58million offer by rival self-testing kit maker Hough would rescue the company but the deal fell over.

The company, which helped pioneer DIY Covid-19 testing kits before they became widely accessible, will now be wound up by June 13, with an estimated 40 employees to lose their jobs.

It was hoped by Ellume's administrators that a $58million rescue by rival self-testing kit maker Hough would rescue the company but the deal fell over

It was understood Ellume owed creditors around $140million when it entered administration last year.

It also lost $87.9 million in the most recent reporting period, reported news.com.au.

The company was dealt a fatal blow in November, 2022 when it was forced to recall 2.2million of its products and halt manufacturing after some tests showed 'false positives'.

The recall 'had significant impact on the operations and liquidity of the group', Ellume later reported.

Ellume had been founded in Brisbane in 2009 by Dr Sean Parsons (pictured), a former emergency clinician who saw 'the urgent need for smarter diagnostics while working on the front lines of Australia's 2008 H1N1 pandemic'

In February, 2021, the Australian company seemed set for a bright future when it announced a $231.8million agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to speed up domestic US production of its Covid-19 home tests.

'Our focus is enabling the U.S. to minimize community transmission and reopen as quickly as possible,' the company's founder Dr Sean Parsons said at the time of the announcement.

'The Ellume COVID-19 Home Test is the only authorized test of its kind and is an essential tool for the broader pandemic response in the US.'

Ellume had been founded in Brisbane in 2009 by Dr Parsons, a former emergency clinician who saw 'the urgent need for smarter diagnostics while working on the front lines of Australia's 2008 H1N1 pandemic'.

The biotech company's US operations are unaffected by the collapse of the Australian business.
Doomsday cult killer Lori Vallow had a request for a retrial denied Thursday after her attorneys tried to argue the jury that convicted her of murdering her two children were influenced by 'outside sources'.

Vallow was found guilty in May of killing her children, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, in September 2019 after believing they had become 'zombies' when she fell in love with doomsday predictor Chad Daybell.

Prosecutors successfully argued that she became obsessed by ideas of an incoming apocalypse, and the only way to save her children's souls so they could be among 144,000 people who would survive was to kill them.

However, Vallow's defense team argued that instructions given to the jury were confusing, and at least one of the jurors knew information about her crimes that were not entered into evidence.

Lori Vallow (center) had a request for a retrial denied by a judge on Thursday. She is pictured with her attorneys as she is convicted of murder on May 12, 2023

The retrial request was fueled by an interview one of the jurors gave with East Idaho News shortly after the double murder trial.

In that interview, juror Saul Hernandez noted details about the death of Vallow's husband Charles that were not mentioned in court.

Vallow's attorneys also alleged that changes in the original indictment should justify a new trial, which they argue occurred without proper notice from the prosecution.

The prosecution countered that any changes to the indictment can be made at any time before the prosecution rests, reports Idaho News 6.

Judge Steven Boyce, who also presided over Vallow's blockbuster trial, rejected the motion, and said there is no indication the indictment's change had any impact on the trial or its outcome.

Vallow was convicted of murdering her children JJ Vallow (left) and Tylee Ryan (right)

The 'doomsday mom' carried out the gruesome murders after becoming convinced there was an incoming apocalypse and her children were 'zombies'

Following Vallow's conviction in May, she is now awaiting sentencing on July 31.

Alongside charges of murdering her children, she was also accused of conspiracy to murder her husband Chad Daybell's ex-wife. She was found guilty on all counts, and Daybell has his own trial later this year.

When her two children vanished in September 2019, Lori avoided questions and evaded authorities for months.

She fled to Hawaii, refusing to tell the police where her children were, or answering any kind of questions about not only her children but the vast web of death and deceit that seemed to engulf her family.

Over 10 months after JJ and Tylee were last seen alive, investigators descended on Daybell's Idaho home, where they made the heartbreaking discovery of the youngster's remains.

Vallow's trial was marked by several chilling and gruesome moments, including one incident early in the proceedings that brought gasps from the courtroom.

Horrific photos of JJ's remains were projected onto large screens, revealing how the little boy was found inside a plastic bag and bound by thick layers of duct tape.

The 'charred remains' of Tylee Ryan, 16, and JJ Vallow, seven, were found at the couple's home in Salem, Idaho. Pictured: Investigators searching the property on June 9, 2020

Detective Ray Hermosillo, one of the first people on the scene, detailed how JJ was found with 'a thick layer (of duct tape) across his mouth jaw line to jaw line'.

Images of Tylee's charred and burnt remains were also shown to the court, showing how she was found 'stuffed' into a melted green bucket.

Tylee had been partially eaten by an animal and her pelvis was hacked into with a sharp tool before her corpse was burned. Her remains were so badly decomposed no autopsy could be performed to determine a cause of death.

Several jurors were visibly shaken by the graphic pictures and relatives in court, including JJ's grandfather, Larry Woodcock, broke down when the pictures were shown.

Throughout her trial, prosecutors presented a litany of damning evidence, and jurors heard from over 60 witnesses as they delved into her twisted past.

One of those witnesses, Vallow's former best friend Melanie Gibb, testified in court, and jurors were played a telling phone call between the two that occurred two months after JJ and Tylee were last seen alive.

During the call, which Chad Daybell was also on, Vallow also makes the haunting claim she could reveal JJs whereabouts, but that that would not be good for JJ.

Gibb also alleged that Vallow's brother, Alex Cox, warned that 'you don't want to know' what happened to JJ after she asked about his whereabouts.

Several months later, the little boys badly decomposed body was found buried near his sisters remains in Daybells backyard.

Chad Daybell, pictured during a court hearing in August 2020, built a following as a religious fantasist who warned of an impending apocalypse. He faces his own murder trial later this year

Lori Vallow (right) pictured with her daughter Tylee (left), whose remains were found alongside her brother JJ's over 10 months after they disappeared

A phone call between Lori Vallow (left) and her former best friend Melanie Gibb (right) was played for jurors in one of the most damning moments of the trial

Before her trial, Judge Boyce decided to take the death penalty off the table for Vallow, and also ruled that no cameras would be allowed inside the courtroom.

Following her guilty verdict, it emerged that she will be sent to Arizona following sentencing, to be charged with conspiracy to murder her fourth husband, Charles Vallow.

He was shot dead in July 2019 by Lori Vallow's brother Alex Cox - who died five months later, from natural causes. It is alleged that Cox may have also been involved in the murders of JJ and Tylee.
At least three people were killed and more than 75 others were injured on Thursday after a tornado struck the Texas city of Perryton.

Images revealed the devastation as parts of the town were left in rubble by the twister - while emergency crews searched for survivors amid the broken homes and debris.

'It's bad, it's very bad. It's non-stop crazy. It couldn't have hit in a more vulnerable place,' Mayor Kerry Symons said, adding that he would be unable to say how many people had died until Friday morning.

Perryton fire chief Paul Dutcher reported that at least three people were killed in the tornado, which hit at 5:10pm.

Dutcher said at least one person was killed in a mobile home park that took a 'direct hit' from a tornado. He added that at least 30 trailers were damaged or destroyed.

At least three people were killed and more than 75 others were injured on Thursday after a tornado struck the Texas city of Perryton

Pictured: Damaged buildings and cars are seen in Perryton after a tornado struck

Debris covers a residential area in Perryton, Texas, on Thursday after a tornado struck the town

Debris swirls through the air as the town is hit by a twister

The Ochiltree General Hospital in Perryton, a town of 8,000 people, had yet to receive any dead.

But some people with life-threatening injuries were transferred to larger medical centers in Amarillo, Debbie Beck, the hospital's chief financial officer, said.

Beck said that up to 100 people with injuries ranging from scratches to a collapsed lung were treated at the hospital in Perryton.

First responders from surrounding towns and cities and from neighboring Oklahoma descended on the town, which is home to more than 8,000 people and about 115 miles (185 kilometers) northeast of Amarillo, just south of the Oklahoma line.

Homes were torn apart and left in rubble, while vehicles were overturned and trees had snapped in half.

Perryton's downtown was also struck by the tornado. About two blocks of businesses were heavily damaged, including an office supply store, a floral shop and a hair salon along the town's Main Street. A minivan was shoved into the outer wall of a theater.

Officials say the town may have been struck by three tornadoes.

With a few hours of daylight left after the storm passed through, broken windows were being boarded up.

The Ochiltree County Sheriffs Department said it would enforce a curfew from midnight to 6 a.m. Friday because of downed power lines and other dangers that might not be visible in the dark.

Storm chaser Brian Emfinger told Fox Weather that he watched the twister move through a mobile home park, mangling trailers and uprooting trees.

'I had seen the tornado do some pretty serious destruction to the industrial part of town,' he said. 'Unfortunately, just west of there, there is just mobile home, after mobile home, after mobile home that is completely destroyed.'

There was no immediate word on the tornado's size or wind speeds, meteorologist Luigi Meccariello said.

A vehicle and buildings are damaged in Perryton, Texas, after a tornado struck on Thursday

A vehicle sits at the entrance to the Ellis Theater after a tornado struck Perryton on Thursday

Buildings and a vehicle bear damage from a tornado in Perryton, Texas, on Thursday

Images revealed the devastation as parts of the town were left in rubble by the twister - while emergency crews searched for survivors

Nearly 50,000 customers were without electricity in Texas and Oklahoma, according to the poweroutage.us website.

Ochiltree General Hospital in Perryton on Facebook said: 'Walking/wounded please go to the clinic. All others to the hospital ER.'

'We have seen somewhere between 50 and 100 patients,' said Kelly Judice, the hospitals interim CEO. Those include about 10 people in critical condition who were transferred to other hospitals.

Patients had minor to major trauma, ranging from 'head injuries to collapsed lungs, lacerations, broken bones,' she said.

The hospital also said an American Red Cross shelter had been set up at the Ochiltree County Expo Center.

Chris Samples of local radio station KXDJ-FM said the station was running on auxiliary power. 'The whole city is out of power,' he said.

Buildings are damaged after a tornado struck Perryton, Texas, on Thursday

Trees break and collapse following the twister

A view of a damaged site in Perryton after the town was struck by a tornado, in Texas

Vehicles get stuck due to a blockade caused by a tornado in the town of Perryton, Texas

'Jane & I are praying for the people of Perryton tonight. I am in contact with Mayor Symons and this tragedy is being closely monitored by myself and my whole staff,' U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson, a Republican from Texas, said on Twitter.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a written statement that he was deploying the state's emergency response teams to the area, including resources from an emergency medical task force, along with search and rescue teams.

Abbott said: 'The State of Texas is swiftly deploying critical emergency response resources to provide all necessary support and assistance to protect Texans and help those impacted by tornadoes in Perryton.

'I encourage all Texans to heed the guidance of state and local officials and to take all necessary precautions to protect yourselves and your loved ones.

'We remain ready to quickly provide any additional resources needed over the course of this severe weather event.

'I ask all Texans to join Cecilia and me in praying for our fellow Texans who have been impacted by this horrific storm. Stay safe, Texas.'

Rep. Four Price said: 'Please keep the Perryton community in your prayers. Many structures are damaged.'

By evening, the weather front was moving southeast across Oklahoma. The weather service said a second round of storms would continue to move through that state and parts of Texas through the evening while the risk of severe weather, including tornados, remained for the metropolitan Oklahoma City area.

Elsewhere in Texas and other Southern states stretching to Florida, heat advisories were in effect Thursday and were forecast into the Juneteenth holiday weekend with temperatures reaching toward 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). It was expected to feel as hot as 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius).

The storm system also brought hail and possible tornadoes to northwestern Ohio.

A barn was smashed and trees toppled in Sandusky County, Ohio, and power lines were downed in northern Toledo, leaving thousands without power. The weather service reported "a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado" over Bellevue and storms showing "signs of rotation" in other areas.

It was the second day in a row that powerful storms struck the U.S. On Wednesday, strong winds toppled trees, damaged buildings and blew cars off a highway from the eastern part of Texas to Georgia.
MBABANE  The Opium and Habit Forming Drugs (Amendment) Bill, 2022 debate got some Members of Parliament (MPs) heated up.

The Bill formed part of the order paper under orders of the day yesterday and the Minister of Health, Lizzie Nkosi was expected to do a second reading of it, opening room for debate for MPs, but the debate took a turn for the worst. Shortly before the Speaker, Petros Mavimbela, opened the floor for the minister to make her second reading, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Health, MP Mduduzi Small Joe Dlamini, stated that it would not be proper to carry on with the debate because there were challenges that the committee had to work on.

He shared that the challenges included that every time the committee was scheduled for a meeting to work on the Bill, they did not form a quorum. He submitted that this led to failure to get submissions from the stakeholders as it would be unprocedural to meet them when they did not form a quorum. Another challenge that he cited was that they had not benchmarked with other countries that had this law in existence to extract knowledge on how they went about enacting it. However, his explanation did not hold any water for the Speaker, who made it known that the legislators explanation was spelling laxity and no zeal to work for the members of the committee. Mavimbelas contention was that the committee had been given plenty of time to work on the Bill but to this day, nothing had come out of it. He asserted that the members of the committee were obviously not eager to deliver on their mandate and as such, they did not deserve to be in Parliament because they had failed their constituents. When we were nominated during the elections, we agreed that we would stand for the elections and that means delivering on our mandate as expected.

Failed

However, if we would have MPs fail to deliver on parliamentary business, then they have failed the people who brought them here. This law got into the House with a certificate of urgency and the expectation was that the committee would work on it in the same spirit that it reached the House, he submitted. Mavimbela reminded Dlamini that they had a meeting on the issue and he made it clear to him that as chairperson of the committee, he should prepare a report detailing the challenges faced by the committee and share it with the House.

However, Dlamini was of the view that preparing a report was not a one mans show but should entail the input of all the people he was working with. In my entire time in Parliament, I have never heard that the responsibility of preparing a report lies entirely with the chairman. We have reached the office of the Speaker on the matter and we shared the challenges that we are facing as a committee and it boggles the mind to see the Bill in the order paper, he shared.

Dlamini shared that he understood the importance of the Bill as it impacted on the lives of many emaSwati but everything should be done procedurally. Mavimbela then insisted that the business of the day, concerning the Bill, should be carried out despite the status of the Bill at the committee level. However, his submission was met with resistance from some of the MPs, including the chairman of the committee. Dont buy into the stories that the chairman is selling right now, let us continue with the business of the day as intended, said the Speaker.

Kwaluseni MP Sibusiso Mabhanisi Dlamini suggested that the members of the committee should be replaced with others who would carry out their mandate, because the current ones had failed to do so.

Procedures

Sithobelweni MP Bhekitje Dlamini shared that they had been in the House long enough to know that what the Speaker was calling for did not conform to Parliament procedures, especially because the chairperson had stated the challenges the committee had encountered. Mavimbela told the House that he had instructed the chairman to prepare a report detailing their challenges and bring it to the House but he had failed to do so. How then do you expect the office of the Speaker to react when significant Parliament matters are taken this lightly. The Bill was put into the order paper but the chairman did not show up in Parliament on the day, nor did he take it upon himself to explain or apologise to the Speaker, he submitted.

The Speaker then made a ruling on the matter that in the next sitting, the chairman should have prepared the report and it should be tabled in the House.
Brittany Higgins and her fiance David Sharaz have lashed out at a news website after they published an article calling into question her taxpayer-funded payout of up to $3million - leading the fringe publication to remove the story.

The former Liberal Party staffer launched legal action against the Morrison government after airing allegations her then colleague Bruce Lehrmann sexually assaulted her in Senator Linda Reynolds' office in Parliament House in 2019.

The trial was aborted due to a juror's misconduct and charges against Mr Lehrmann, which he has continuously denied, were later dropped.

However, Ms Higgins was awarded the hefty sum by the incoming Albanese government after she and the Commonwealth reached an agreement over her personal injury claim in December 2022.

Now, as the Labor government comes under fire over whether the payment was politically motivated, Ms Higgins has slammed a story in Crikey, a small, subscription-based Left-wing website, that declared the matter was 'in the public interest' and Australians are 'entitled to read the texts that led to it'.

In an opinion published on Friday, journalist Guy Rundle argued that Ms Higgins belongs to a 'well-connected network' and believed the compensation was fast-tracked by Labor for its own political purposes.

Some parts of the piece are too offensive to republish.

Crikey has since removed the article from its website and apologised to readers in a humiliating u-turn.

Brittany Higgins and her fiance David Sharaz (pictured) hit out at fringe online site, Crikey, on Friday

CRIKEY'S APOLOGY 'Crikey has made the decision today to remove a piece written by Guy Rundle that asserted the consultation process over Brittany Higgins compensation was stunningly rapid. That is not correct  Higgins lodged her claim in March 2022 while the Morrison government was still in office, and it was not settled until December 2022, seven months after the election of the current government. 'The piece also repeats the false assertion that the figure is believed to be $3 million. There is no factual basis for the $3 million figure; Higgins has publicly said that figure was her initial claim but that the final figure was much lower than that. 'In addition to these factual errors, the tone of the piece did not meet Crikeys journalistic standards, crucially given that it concerns writing about allegations of sexual assault. 'We firmly believe in promoting a space that publishes a plurality of views, and as editors we regularly publish opinion pieces that we may personally disagree with. But this piece doesnt fall into that category, and we regret publishing it. We have consistently pointed to the flawed coverage of News Corp on this issue, only to then join it in making that same mistake ourselves. 'We apologise to Brittany Higgins and our readers and we will update you on a continuing conversation around this issue.' Advertisement

Rundle's article said while Ms Higgins 'may still be a victim of crime', leaked texts suggest .... she and her partner 'ran a sustained, planned and strategised media campaign around her accusations.'

'Were generally required to leave our brains at the office door in these matters. However, were not required to leave our brains at the security entrance in the little plastic dish, with our keys and phone,' Rundle wrote.

'Higgins and co did what their role as political advisers trained them to do: they strategised with their assets to maximum advantage ...

'Were entitled to read the texts that led up to it.'

Ms Higgins quickly fired up her Twitter to condemn the article, which referenced publicised CCTV footage of Ms Higgins and Mr Lehrmann passing through Parliament House security on the night in question.

''We're not required to leave our brains at the security entrance...",' Ms Higgins wrote.

'Wow. Pithy but disgusting given the context.'

Sharaz quickly piled on, tagging the boss of Crikey's parent company, Will Hayward, in the comments.

'@mrwillhayward Are you happy with this victim-blaming bile being on your website?' he wrote.

Both fans and critics flocked to the comments of Ms Higgins' tweet, with some vowing to boycott Crikey while others claimed 'taxpayers are the real victims'.

In the article, Rundle claimed the case was not a matter of public interest until Ms Higgins received the payment, which he argues gave the perception the procedural process was bias.

Rundle also speculated on how Ms Higgins may have used the funds, suggesting she may have splurged on designer shoes.

Guy Rundle (pictured) authored an opinion piece calling into question the circumstances surrounding Ms Higgins' multimillion dollar compensation payout

Ms Higgins and her fiance slammed the article in the above tweets

Referencing an article titled 'I would not walk a mile in Brittany Higgins shoes' written by his colleague Michael Bradley, Rundle suggested it would hardly be possible for Bradley to do so as 'they may well be $5,000 Louboutins'.

Crikey later apologised and removed the story in an embarrassing about-face.

A statement on its website said: 'Crikey has made the decision today to remove a piece written by Guy Rundle that asserted the consultation process over Brittany Higgins compensation was stunningly rapid. That is not correct  Higgins lodged her claim in March 2022 while the Morrison government was still in office, and it was not settled until December 2022, seven months after the election of the current government.

'The piece also repeats the false assertion that the figure is believed to be $3 million. There is no factual basis for the $3 million figure; Higgins has publicly said that figure was her initial claim but that the final figure was much lower than that.

'In addition to these factual errors, the tone of the piece did not meet Crikeys journalistic standards, crucially given that it concerns writing about allegations of sexual assault.

'We firmly believe in promoting a space that publishes a plurality of views, and as editors we regularly publish opinion pieces that we may personally disagree with. But this piece doesnt fall into that category, and we regret publishing it. We have consistently pointed to the flawed coverage of News Corp on this issue, only to then join it in making that same mistake ourselves.

'We apologise to Brittany Higgins and our readers and we will update you on a continuing conversation around this issue.'

Audio recording of meetings prior to Brittany Higgins 2021 interview on The Project reveal Lisa Wilkinson and David Sharaz (pictured together) brain stormed politicians who could potentially add weight to Ms Higgins' accusations

The Labor party has been in damage control over the past few weeks as it comes under scrutiny over its treatment of Ms Higgins' accusations.

Earlier this month, audio recording was released of Mr Sharaz and journalist Lisa Wilkinson brain storming politicians who could potentially add weight to Ms Higgins' accusations and the perceived culture of misogyny within the Liberal Party.

The recording was taken during a meeting between Ms Higgins, Mr Sharaz, Wilkinson and Channel 10 producer Angus Llewellyn, in January 2021 - just weeks before she aired bombshell accusations of sexual assault on The Project.

Leaked texts aired earlier this week also reveal Mr Sharaz claimed to have held a secret meeting with Labor Senator Katy Gallagher four days before the interview screened on February 15, 2021.

In the texts, he claimed to have detailed Ms Higgins' allegations against Mr Lehrmann and gave Senator Gallagher a transcript of the interview.

Senator Gallagher, who is now finance minister, has denied she misled Parliament in 2021 by saying she had no knowledge of Ms Higgins' rape allegations before they were made public.

The trial of Mr Lehrmann was aborted over juror misconduct and prosecutors did not seek a retrial, citing concern for Ms Higgins' mental health.

The ACT is now holding an inquiry into the investigation and prosecution.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Crikey for comment.

Crikey was recently in the news was when the then editor-in-chief, Peter Fray, was forced to apologise for heckling winners at a major journalism awards event.
A young black boy has made an impassioned speech about racism at an Oregon city council meeting after he experienced discrimination at school.

Gavin Alston, 10, bravely spoke up in the room full of adults and told council members how unfair it was that kids called him a 'monkey' and the N-word in his fourth grade class.

The student from Redmond, Oregon said: 'Why should us black people suffer from racism, when there are other races doing murders.

'When us black people are showing respect, but we still get treated like c**p.'

Gavin said told the June 13 meeting that in the school he attends: 'A lot of people have been calling me the N-word, or a monkey  even black boy.

'One girl said to me, 'I would hit you, but that's called animal abuse.'

Gavin Alston, 10, bravely spoke up in the room full of adults and told council members how unfair it was that kids called him a 'monkey' and the N-word in his fourth grade class

Gavin's mother Heather posted an image of the 10-year-old boy writing out his speech in a notebook the night before the meeting

He said: 'We should not get treated like this. We should get treated equally.

'This is not fair to us black people.'

A council official made the lighthearted comment before Gavin started speaking: 'Well, you certainly cut down the average age of our speakers.'

Gavin decided to speak at the meeting after a disturbing hate crime against a black person occurred in the area the week before.

Mayor Ed Fitch arrived at work Monday morning and found that someone had placed a dead raccoon against his office door.

With it, there was a racist note directed at Redmond City Councilor Clifford Evelyn, who is black.

Evelyn said: 'This is a hate crime, plain and simple. I have complete confidence in the Redmond Police Department.'

The police are now investigating the worrying hate crime in the community.

Alston, from Redmond, Oregon, said on June 13: 'When us black people are showing respect, but we still get treated like c**p'

Gavin's mother Heather shared the live stream of her son speaking at the event, and wrote on social media: 'I'm so proud of this young man standing up for himself and his people!!

'My heart just melts. End racism.

'He did it!!! I'm so very proud if this little boy!!! For standing up for what's right!'

She also posted an image of the 10-year-old boy writing out his speech in a notebook the night before the meeting.

She posted the image, along with the caption:'Y'all come support in Redmond oregon @ 6 city council Gavin written out what he wants to say at the the city council meeting standing up for himself!! I'm so proud of him.'

Well wishers who watched the speech online came out in full support of Gavin.

Many were upset that the young boy had been subject to racism at school, but congratulated him on his bravery in front of the council

Gavin decided to speak at the meeting after a disturbing hate crime against a black person occurred in the area the week before. Mayor Ed Fitch arrived at work Monday morning and found that someone had placed a dead raccoon against his office door. With it, there was a racist note directed at Redmond City Councillor Clifford Evelyn, who is black

One person wrote: 'I'm so sorry your family is going through this. People are so awful hurtful mean people.

'Gavin is so brave and so amazing. You must be so proud of such a wonderful little man. He is so tough and doesn't deserve to be treated so awful, please give him big hugs from us and tell him he did awesome.'

Another said: 'What a very inspiring speech. I was nearly in tears he's a remarkable young man.'

And a third added: 'Oh Gavin! You did absolutely amazing. It's not fair that you have been treated differently, you're a very strong young man.

'Good job at standing up for yourself and others.'

Others spoke about their own experiences: 'Every day that it happens it's heartbreaking and sad that this happens everywhere.

'It's the parents that teach their children these kinds of words or sometimes they hear it and they end up picking it up.

'That's why I told my girls it should not matter what color they are or what kind of person they are always treat them with kindness and respect.

'Gavin awesome Job keep doing what you're doing someone will listen.'
More than fifty people arrested and charged in the raids

Police executed more than 60 warrants across Victoria

More than $47million in assets seized in AFP raids

More than fifty people have been arrested and almost $50million worth of assets has been seized after police busted one of Victoria's largest crime syndicates.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Victoria Police executed more than 60 warrants across Melbourne and regional Victoria during the years-long investigation.

Specialist officers seized more than $47million worth of assets including 60 properties, multiple luxury cars and a yacht worth nearly $800,000.

Also seized in the raids was $2.2million in cash, a Rolex, a Cartier bracelet, five paintings by notable Australian artists and more than 107kg of methylamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and firearms including a speargun and knuckle dusters.

Victoria Police and the AFP has cracked down on a massive organised crime syndicate, executing more than 60 warrants (pictured: a luxury yacht seized by police)

Also seized in the raids was $2.2million in cash, a Rolex, a Cartier bracelet, five paintings by notable Australian artists and more than 107kg of methylamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and firearms including a speargun and knuckle dusters

A total of 52 people were arrested and charged with a range of offences, including firearms possession and dealing with the proceeds of crime and trafficking large quantities of illegal drugs.

Nine people have been convicted and remain before the courts.

Police have also stopped the group from receiving an income through tenants currently living in a series of rental properties across Victoria.

Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill, Victoria Police Crime Command said police were working to remove 'every shred of benefit they have derived from their offending'.

The bust comes just days after six men were charged after six tonnes of meth hidden in canola oil bottles bound for Melbourne were seized by police.

Police estimate about $1.7billion worth of methamphetamine was stopped from hitting the streets as a result of the major bust.

Police made 52 arrests and seized almost $50million worth of assets, including artwork, (pictured) jewellery, 60 properties and designer jewellery

The drugs had been hidden in shipments from Canada, with the majority of units seized before they were dispatched to Australia.

The AFP said its joint operation with Canadian authorities and other agencies resulted in six tonnes of liquid and crystal meth being confiscated.

That is the equivalent of 19million hits of the highly addictive drug.

The busts are just the latest in a series of major drug seizures in the last year.

Recent key busts included approximately $1.6billion of drugs discovered in Sydney hidden in marble stone and $1billion of cocaine bound for the WA coast.
Britons flocked to beaches, parks and the Isle of Wight Festival today on another hot day - but forecasters warned of thunderstorms and 2.4in (60mm) of rain on Sunday.

The Met Office said the mercury would remain above average for this time of year over the coming days - with temperatures of 27C (81F) today, 26C (79F) tomorrow and 28C (82F) on Sunday - but conditions will become more 'unsettled' later today.

Forecasters said the rain will first affect western parts of Northern Ireland from this afternoon, with thundery showers and up to 1in (25mm) falling within an hour.

They said the showers could also hit parts of Wales and South West England this afternoon, but the risk of rain there would increase overnight and into tomorrow.

The threat of showers tomorrow will be most frequent across northern and western areas, although much of the rest of the UK will enjoy bright sunshine for the day.

Sunday is then likely to be a washout for many parts of the UK, with a thunderstorm warning issued for the whole day and the South East expected to be particularly wet.

The warning said heavy showers and thunderstorms will develop across parts of England and Wales during Sunday, with longer spells of thundery rain in places.

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

A group of women enjoy the warm weather conditions at Green Park in London today

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

Sunseekers flock to the Dorset seaside resort of Lyme Regis to enjoy the warm weather

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

People enjoy the hot weather at Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales National Park today

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

It said some places could see 1.2in (30mm) in an hour and 2.4in (60mm) in six hours, with the 'potential for frequent lightning, strong winds and hail'.

River levels in England continue to fall despite recent thunderstorms River levels in England are continuing to fall, despite the recent storms and torrential rain, figures show. Levels have dropped week-on-week at three-quarters of sites monitored by the Environment Agency. Some sites on the Derwent and Eamont rivers in Cumbria are classed as being 'exceptionally low'. But in a few places levels are 'notably high', including parts of the Weaver river in Cheshire and the Itchen in Hampshire. River flows were below normal for the time of year at 26 per cent of inspection sites in the week to June 13, compared with 17 per cent of sites the previous week and 13 per cent a fortnight ago, the Environment Agency said. Thunderstorms brought torrential downpours to parts of England over the weekend and Monday - the first major rainfall in some areas for several weeks. The figures show central England received 17mm of rain between June 1 and 13, the equivalent of 29 per cent of the long-term average. North West England had 15mm, or 19 per cent of the average, while south-east England had 12mm, or 22 per cent. Rainfall has been lower in South West England (4mm or 6 per cent),Eastern England (3mm or 7 per cent) and North East England (3mm or 5 per cent). Total rainfall across England stood at 9mm from June 1 to 13, the equivalent of 14 per cent of the long-term average. Last month saw England receive only 65 per cent of its average rainfall - though the figure for the three months from March to May was above average, at 121 per cent. Some showers are likely in the west of England today, with an increasing chance of thunderstorms tomorrow, on Sunday and into Monday, the Environment Agency added. Advertisement

Forecasters said there was a 'high likelihood' that thunderstorms will develop over England and Wales, but there 'remains a large amount of uncertainty in exactly where these develop'.

They added that spray and sudden flooding could lead to difficult driving conditions and some road closures.

The Met Office also said there was a 'small chance that homes and businesses could be flooded quickly, with damage to some buildings from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds'.

Other possible disruption includes is a chance of delays and some cancellations to train and bus services, while power cuts could also occur  and there is a 'small chance that some communities become cut off by flooded roads'.

The Met Office added that the risk of thundery showers for some is likely to continue into next week, but temperatures will remain above average for the time of year.

Met Office deputy chief meteorologist Steven Keates said: 'Over the coming days we'll be transitioning to a more unsettled regime for the UK, though temperatures will remain high and it'll feel very humid for many.

'Heavy showers and thunderstorms are likely to become more frequent through the weekend, with the potential for associated hail, lightning and some gusty winds.

'While the focus of thundery showers on Friday afternoon will be Northern Ireland, that risk spreads more widely across western and southern areas of the UK on Saturday, before pushing further north on Sunday.

'As in many of these situations, these showers can be hit or miss, with some places avoiding them whilst other areas nearby may see some very wet conditions.

'There's an ongoing likelihood of warnings being issued in the coming days, so keep an eye on the weather forecast for the latest outlook.'

The Met Office said it is still establishing where the heaviest thundery rain will be at the weekend, but more than 1.6in (40mm) of rain could fall in some places in short period tomorrow and on Sunday.

But they added that the most likely exception to the unsettled shift in conditions is over north-eastern parts of Scotland, which will enjoy the dry weather for the longest.

Despite more thundery conditions being on the way, temperatures will remain high while a plume of warm air still influences conditions in Britain.

The Met Office said the mercury would likely remain in the mid-to-high 20Cs for some throughout the weekend, although some places could dip slightly below the threshold for the official heatwave to continue.

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

A woman walks her dogs through Holland Park in West London today amid the warm weather

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

Kayakers and paddleboarders out on the North Sea at Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear today

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

People sit outside a restaurant in Paddington, London, this afternoon as they enjoy the heat

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

A donkey rolls in the dirt at the Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary in Oxfordshire today

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

People take a cooling swim in the Serpentine at Hyde Park in London today

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

A woman takes photos in the Kyoto Gardens at Holland Park in West London today

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

Sunseekers flock to the Dorset seaside resort of Lyme Regis to enjoy the warm weather

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

People sitting in the sun in Paddington, London, today as the hot weather continues

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

People enjoy the hot weather at Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales National Park today

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

People ride horses at Hyde Park in London this morning as well as take their dogs for a walk

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

A person pauses cycling at Hyde Park in London today to look out over the Serpentine

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

People walk through the Kyoto Gardens at Holland Park in West London today

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

A rower travels along the River Thames at Maidenhead in Berkshire this morning

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

A person cycling through tall grass at Hyde Park in London this morning

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

People enjoy the hot weather at Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales National Park today

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

Rowers approach Maidenhead Railway Bridge this morning which spans the River Thames

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

People walk dogs while others ride horses through Hyde Park in London this morning

Revellers at the Isle Of Wight Festival at Seaclose Park in Newport this afternoon

A man rests while walking his dogs through Hyde Park in London this morning

A man runs under the scorching sun through Hyde Park in London this morning

The threshold for a heatwave is different across the UK. In some areas it is classified as hitting highs of 25C (77F) to 28C (82F) across a three-day period.

Forecasters said maximums would range between 24C (75F) and 27C (81F) in most of England, Wales and Scotland today, although the North East and far South West could be closer to 21C (70F) or 22C (72F).

Met Office thunderstorm warning for Sunday

Tomorrow will be a similar story, with highs of 26C (79F) expected in the South East, and 21C (70F) to 25C (77F) elsewhere across Britain.

Sunday is looking even warmer, with Birmingham the UK hotspot at 28C (82F) and London close behind at 27C (81F). Temperatures for the rest of Britain will range between 18C (64F) and 26C (79F).

The Met Office also said night-time temperatures will remain well above average, providing 'little relief to those more vulnerable to high temperatures'.

Dan Stroud, a spokesman for the Met Office, said conditions would become 'increasingly humid and uncomfortable' over the weekend, especially in inner cities, with temperatures unlikely to drop below the 20Cs overnight.

The UK Health Security Agency, which covers the healthcare sector in England, has a Heat Health Alert in force.

It comes as an NHS medical director said the heat had contributed to one of the 'busiest days ever' in A&E departments across the country yesterday.

People enjoy the hot weather at Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales National Park today

Egyptian Goose chicks have to share their water at Hyde Park in London this morning

A man goes for a jog through Hyde Park in London this morning as he enjoys the sunny weather

People walking alongside the canal at Paddington in London today in the hot weather

People enjoy the hot weather at Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales National Park today

Kayakers and paddleboarders out on the North Sea at Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear today

People walk through Kensington Gardens in London as a heatwave sweeps across the nation

A man runs through Holland Park in West London today in the warm weather

Matthew Hormen and Charlotte McConnell at Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales today

A woman goes for a run through Hyde Park in London today as she enjoys the hot weather

People also take stroll in the sun through Kensington Gardens in London this morning

A man enjoys the hot weather at Malham Cove in the Yorkshire Dales National Park today

People walk through the Kyoto Gardens in Holland Park, West London, today

Rowers travel along the River Thames at Maidenhead in Berkshire this morning

A man sunbathes at Hyde Park in London today as the hot weather continues

A beautiful morning at Hyde Park in London today as horses trot alongside the Serpentine

A heron walks near a man on a bench at Hyde Park in London this morning

A woman walks her dog alongside the Serpentine at Hyde Park in London this morning

Early morning swimmers at Hyde Park in London today as they make the most of the weather

Earlier this week, the UK Health Security Agency extended its Heat Health Alert until next Monday.

Employers are urged to help staff cope with heatwave conditions Employers are being urged to relax dress codes and allow staff to work at cooler times of the day to help them cope with the current heatwave. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said other measures include using blinds or reflective film on workplace windows to shade workers from the sun, and making sure there is plenty of drinking water. HSE said the current temperatures for June, and the record-breaking temperatures reached last summer, show that helping workers during extreme heat must be a priority for employers. Spokesman Clare Owen said: 'The updated yellow heat-health alert, as well as the extreme heat we experienced in 2022, should serve as a wake-up call for all employers. 'We know that employers are under pressure and we don't want to add to their burden, but climate change means we're likely to get hotter summers and that could have a big impact on the workforce of this country.' TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: 'We've all been enjoying the sunny weather after a cold start to the year, but working in sweltering conditions can be unbearable and dangerous, whether it's in an overheated shop, a baking office, or outdoors in the direct sun. 'Indoor workplaces should be kept cool, with relaxed dress codes and flexible working to make use of the coolest hours of the day. 'Employers must make sure outdoor workers are protected with regular breaks, lots of fluids, plenty of sunscreen and the right protective clothing.' Advertisement

NHS national medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis added: 'We know the warm weather has increased demand on services and this week we have seen one of our busiest days ever at A&E departments.

'As we move into what's forecasted to be a very warm weekend, the heat and the impact of industrial action will continue across the country.

'NHS staff are working hard and prioritising urgent and emergency care, so as ever, use 999 in emergency and life-threatening situations and NHS 111 online for other health concerns.'

A UK Health Security Agency spokesman warned that the sustained heat could impact the health and social care sector.

She said: 'If current forecasted temperatures are reached it is likely that there could be some impacts across the health and social care sector.

'A yellow alert means that any impacts include the increased use of health care services by vulnerable populations and an increase in risk to health for individuals over the age of 65 or those with pre-existing health conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

'If you have friends, family or neighbours who you know are more vulnerable to the effects of hot weather, it is important you check in on them and ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary advice.'

Meanwhile, South East Water bosses said a hosepipe ban is set to come in across Kent and Sussex due to a record demand for drinking water.

Areas of the region have been left with little or no water this week amid the hot weather, forcing schools to shut and residents to get drinking water from bottled water stations.

A plea to use only essential water has stretched from Haywards Heath in West Sussex to Whitstable in Kent.

The temporary ban on hosepipes and sprinklers will come in on June 26.

South East Water said despite providing an extra 120 million litres of water a day, demand in June has broken records, including from the Covid lockdown heatwave.

David Hinton, the firm's chief executive, said: 'This situation has developed much more rapidly than last year. Understandably, we've seen customer demand increase in line with the hotter weather, however this has impacted our ability to keep all customers in supply at all times.

A dramatic sunrise this morning at Eye Bridge over the River Stour in Wimborne, Dorset

Noctilucent clouds form at about 2am this morning over Tynemouth Priory in Tyne and Wear

They become visible about the same time as the brightest stars and are usually bluish or silver

Noctilucent clouds are very high clouds seen in the night sky, usually on clear, summer nights, one hour after sunset and an hour before sunrise when the sun sits between -6 and -10 degrees

The threshold for a heatwave is classified in some areas as hitting highs of 25C (77F) to 28C (82F) across a three-day period. This graphic shows which areas are officially in a heatwave

'Despite asking for customers' help to use water for essential uses only, regrettably we've now been left with no choice but to introduce this temporary use ban restriction to protect customers' supplies across Kent and Sussex.'

Mr Hinton said the long-term forecast for the summer is a dry period with little rainfall, adding: 'Restricting the use of hosepipes and sprinklers to make sure we have enough water for our customers' essential use will ensure we can serve our vulnerable customers and to protect the local environment.'

On Friday, three schools in East Sussex partially closed due to water shortages.

Mark Cross Church of England Primary School in Crowborough said it could not open to all year groups because of reduced sanitary facilities and no running water.

Areas experiencing no or low water pressure during the week include Crowborough, Wadhurst, Mayfield, Lewes, Newhaven in East Sussex, and Biddenden, Staplehurst, Cranbrook and Ashford in Kent.

Wealden MP Nusrat Ghani has been calling on South East Water to introduce a hosepipe ban since earlier this week, blasting the company for 'appalling' outages across her East Sussex constituency.

Last Saturday was the UK's hottest day of the year so far, with 32.2C (90F) recorded at Chertsey in Surrey.

The Met Office said it was also the first time temperatures had got above 30C (86F) in the UK since August 24, 2022.

Since Saturday, the UK daily high has been 32C (89.6F) on Sunday, 31.3C (88.3F) on Monday, 30.8C (87.4F) on Tuesday, 29.8C (85.6F) on Wednesday and 28.8C (83.8F) yesterday.
The Mediterranean Sea has been described as a 'mass graveyard' after a boat carrying up to 750 migrants capsized on Wednesday.

So far, 78 people have been confirmed dead but with just 104 survivors plucked out the ocean that that figure is expected to rise significantly.

Women and children were likely trapped in the hold as the vessel overturned and went down in the early hours of the morning, which could make the sinking one of the deadliest ever in the central Mediterranean Sea.

Nine survivors of the sinking have been arrested on suspicion of people smuggling - including the ship's captain - as attention turned to Greece's failure to act before the overcrowded vessel capsized.

Figures show that more than 1,000 deaths have been recorded this year of people crossing from Africa to Europe. Speaking to BBC's Today Programme on Friday, Julia Black of the International organisation for Migration said the true figure is far higher.

The boat is seen in a photograph taken by the Greek coastguard as it attempted to rescue the hundreds of people onboard before the tragedy happened

Coast guard workers are seen on Wednesday night dragging carrying bod bags containing the dead from the tragedy

Women and children were likely trapped in the hold as the vessel (seen on Tuesday) overturned and went down in the early hours of the morning, which could make the sinking one of the deadliest ever in the central Mediterranean Sea

Syrian survivor Fedi, 18, who was rescued with other refugees and migrants at open sea off Greece after their boat capsized, cries as he reunites with his brother Mohammad, who came to meet him from Italy, at the port of Kalamata, Greece

'We have hundreds of records of bodies that are washed up to Mediterranean shores when we don't know of any known shipwreck,' she told the BBC's listeners.

'The problem continues, it seems to be worsening, and there's no responses in place to actually prevent these deaths that I have seen.

'The Mediterranean at this point is really a mass graveyard,' she added.

In the aftermath of Wednesday's tragedy, a huge search-and-rescue operation initially recovered 78 bodies and picked up 104 survivors - all men and boys.

But no more have been found.

Meanwhile, Greek authorities were criticised for not acting to rescue the migrants, even though a coast guard vessel escorted the trawler for hours and watched helplessly as it sank in minutes.

Greek officials argued that the migrants repeatedly refused assistance and insisted on continuing to Italy, but legal experts said that is no excuse.

The coast guard said on Thursday that it had arrested nine survivors on suspicion of belonging to the smuggling ring that arranged the voyage.

Among them was the boat's captain, the BBC reported.

State-run ERT TV said the suspects were all Egyptians, adding that the ship originally left an Egyptian port for the area of Tobruk in eastern Libya.

It was there that it picked up the migrants, who each paid thousands of dollars for passage on the battered vessel.

Relatives of the migrants gathered in the southern port city of Kalamata to look for their loved ones. Kassem Abu Zeed said he caught the first flight from Germany to Greece after realising that his wife and brother-in-law were on board the trawler.

A helicopter operated by the Hellenic Coast Guard is seen during a rescue operation to save migrants onboard the packed boat

'The last time we spoke was eight days ago, and [my wife] told me that she was getting ready to get on the boat,' Mr Abu Zeed told the Associated Press. He said she had paid $5,000 to smugglers 'and then we all know what happened'.

Mr Abu Zeed, a 34-year-old Syrian refugee living in Hamburg, said Esra Aoun, 21, and her 19-year-old brother, Abdullah, risked the dangerous crossing from Libya to Italy after they failed to find a legal way to join him in Germany.

The chances that his wife survived the sinking about 45 miles offshore are low. None of those rescued were women.

Now he hopes Abdullah may be among the men from Syria, Egypt, Pakistan and the Palestinian territories who are being temporarily housed in a Kalamata warehouse or recuperating in hospitals from hypothermia and exposure.

On Thursday, a British man said he feared his missing cousins could be among the hundreds of people thought to be dead. Aftab Khan, from Wolverhampton, also flew to Greece as soon as he heard the news.

Khan said two of his cousin are among the hundreds of people still missing from the capsized boat, which was carrying as many as 750 people.

'We don't know where the rest of them are at the moment,' he told Sky News. 'We're just trying to find out.'

The chances of finding more survivors 'are minimal', retired Greek coast guard Admiral Nikos Spanos told ERT.

The UN migration agency, known as IOM, estimated the number of passengers based on interviews with survivors and said the complement included at least 40 children.

Erasmia Roumana, head of a United Nations refugee agency delegation, said many of the survivors have friends and relatives unaccounted for.

'They want to get in touch with their families to tell them they are OK, and they keep asking about the missing,' said Ms Roumana.

Mohamed Abdi Marwan, who spoke by phone from Kobani, a Kurdish majority town in Syria, said five of his relatives were on the boat, including a 14-year-old. Mr Marwan said he has heard nothing about them since the vessel sank.

He believes his nephew Ali Sheikhi, 29, is alive, after family members spotted him in photos of survivors, but that has not been confirmed.

'Those smugglers were supposed to only have 500 on the boat and now we hear there were 750. What is this? Are they cattle or humans? How can they do this?' Mr Marwan said. He said each of his relatives paid $6,000 for the trip.

Greek authorities said the vessel appeared to be sailing normally until shortly before it sank and refused repeated rescue offers. But a network of activists said they received repeated distress calls from the vessel during the same time.

Aftab Khan, from Wolverhampton, flew to Greece as soon as he heard the fishing boat that departed from the Libyan port of Tobruk had capsized and sank early on Wednesday morning

Around 70 exhausted survivors bedded down in sleeping bags and blankets provided by rescuers in a large warehouse

Paramedics set up tents outside the warehouse for any of the survivors who need first aid

Katerina Tsata, head of a Red Cross volunteer group in Kalamata, said the migrants were given psychological support. Pictured: Survivors of a shipwreck stand outside a warehouse at the port in Kalamata town

The Greek coast guard said it was notified of the boat's presence late Tuesday morning and observed by helicopter that it was 'sailing on a steady course' at 6pm.

A little later, Greek search-and-rescue officials reached someone on the boat by satellite phone, who repeatedly said that passengers needed food and water but wanted to continue to Italy.

Merchant ships delivered supplies and observed the vessel until early Wednesday morning, when the satellite phone user reported a problem with the engine.

About 40 minutes later, according to the coast guard statement, the migrant vessel began to rock violently and sank.

Coast guard experts believe the boat may have run out of fuel or experienced engine trouble, with movement of passengers causing it to list and capsize.

Alarm Phone, a network of activists that provides a hotline for migrants in trouble, said the problems began much earlier in the day.

The network said it was contacted by people on the vessel seeking help shortly after 3pm. They said they 'cannot survive the night'.

Around 6.20pm, Alarm Phone said migrants had reported the vessel was not moving and that the captain had left on a small boat. The two accounts could not immediately be reconciled.

Experts said maritime law would have required Greek authorities to attempt a rescue if the boat was unsafe, regardless of whether passengers requested it.

Search and rescue 'is not a two-way contract. You don't need consent', said retired Italian coast guard Admiral Vittorio Alessandro.

An aerial photograph of the vessel before it sank released by Greek authorities showed people crammed on the deck. Most were not wearing life jackets.

Overcrowding, a lack of life vests, or the absence of a captain would have all been reasons to intervene, Mr Alessandro said.

Men carry the body bags of those who died after their boat capsized at the port of Kalamata, Greece

Greece's caretaker minister for civil protection, Evangelos Tournas, defended the coast guard's conduct, saying it could not intervene with an unwilling vessel in international waters.

'Consider also that an intervention by the coast guard could have placed an overloaded vessel in danger, which could capsize as a result,' he said.

The trawler sank near the deepest part of the Mediterranean where depths of up to 17,000 feet could hamper any effort to locate a sunken vessel.

Human rights groups say a European Union crackdown on smuggling has forced people to take longer, more dangerous routes to reach safe countries.

The Mediterranean's deadliest shipwreck in living memory occurred on April 18, 2015, when an overcrowded fishing boat collided off Libya with a freighter trying to come to its rescue. Only 28 people survived.

Forensic experts concluded that there were originally 1,100 people on board.

And earlier this year, 94 people were killed off the coast of Calabria when their migrant boat sank amid harsh weather conditions.

Coast guard, navy and merchant vessels fanned out for a vast search-and-rescue operation that also included a plane and a helicopter. A mega-yacht rescue dozens from the sea

Authorities said 104 people have been rescued so far after the boat sank overnight. Here, survivors receive urgent medical attention as the disembark a mega-yacht

Some in Italy blamed the country's right-wing prime minister Giorgina Meloni and her party's hardline policy against migrant boats, while she pointed the finger at 'inhumane' human traffickers.

Laws in Italy require rescue vessels to request access to a port and sail to it 'without delay' after a sea rescue.

The law complicates efforts by humanitarian boats to make multiple rescues in the central Mediterranean by assigning them ports of disembarkation along Italy's northern coasts. That means the vessels need more time to return to the sea after bringing migrants aboard and taking them safely to shore.

Humanitarian organisations have lamented that the crackdown also includes an order to the charity boats not to remain at sea after the first rescue operation in hopes of performing other rescues, but to head immediately to their assigned port. Violators face stiff fines and confiscation of rescue vessels.
Scores of Tories could vote with their feet by skipping the crunch debate on the report that found Boris Johnson lied to Parliament.

Westminster is bracing for a showdown on the Privileges Committee's brutal findings into the ex-PM on Monday.

Mr Johnson has slammed the conclusions as 'tripe' and some of his allies are vowing to oppose them when they come to the House.

However, the combination of government neutrality and backing from Opposition parties mean there is no doubt that the motion will be approved.

Conservative whips have told MPs there will be a one-line whip, meaning no sanction for missing the vote.

Downing Street declined to say whether Rishi Sunak would attend but senior Tories expect him to find he has other engagements. A Conservative source said 'a majority' of the party's MPs would abstain.

Scores of Tories could vote with their feet by skipping the crunch debate on the report that found Boris Johnson (pictured running yesterday) lied to Parliament

Westminster is bracing for a showdown on the Privileges Committee's brutal findings into the ex-PM on Monday

Usually the results of conduct probes are 'nodded through' the House, and as Mr Johnson has already quit the proposed 90-day suspension cannot take effect. However, the committee has called for Mr Johnson to be banned from holding the Parliamentary pass usually granted to ex-MPs.

Allies of Mr Johnson could try to amend the motion, but there is also the threat that Opposition MPs will attempt to strengthen the sanctions.

The Liberal Democrats yesterday called for Mr Johnson to lose the 115,000-a-year allowance granted to former PMs to help deal with issues arising from their time in office.

The fallout from the report may trigger a fresh round of Tory bloodletting that upsets Rishi Sunak's efforts to restore calm to the party ahead of an election expected next year. Nadine Dorries warned that Conservative MPs could even face deselection by angry local parties if they back the committee's findings in a Commons vote on Monday night.

'Any Conservative MP who would vote for this report is fundamentally not a Conservative and will be held to account by members and the public,' she said. 'Deselections may follow.'

The Conservative Democratic Organisation said it had been inundated with messages from activists. Its chairman, former MEP David Campbell-Bannerman, said: 'This is just the latest part of an anti-democratic attempt to destroy Boris Johnson. If Conservative MPs choose to endorse it then they should pay a price.

'We have been inundated with calls from party members complaining of a stitch-up. We are happy to assist them if they want advice and help in getting rid of an MP.'

Neil McCafferty, leader of the Boston Conservatives branch in Lincolnshire, said: 'The way the privileges committee has treated him is absolutely ridiculous and obscene.

'A 90-day suspension  that's totally silly and a complete over-reaction. You can see that the whole thing's political contrived and biased.'

Foreign Office minister Zac Goldsmith described the sanctions against Mr Johnson, which far outstrip the ten-day suspension needed to trigger a by-election, as 'obviously ridiculous and vindictive'.

Confirming the vote yesterday, Commons leader Penny Mordaunt urged Tory activists not to try to pressure their MPs to back Mr Johnson.

'It will be a painful process and a sad process for all of us, but we all must do what we think is right, and others must leave us alone to do so,' she said.

Downing Street declined to say whether Rishi Sunak would attend but senior Tories expect him to find he has other engagements

Allies of Mr Johnson believe the 'extreme' findings of the report could make him a Tory 'martyr' and pave the way to a return one day. But he is not expected to return to Parliament before the next election.

Mr Johnson said the committee had 'found not a shred of evidence' and it was 'complete tripe' to suggest he knew rules were being broken.

'This report is a charade,' he said. 'I was wrong to believe in the committee or its good faith. The terrible truth is that it is not I who has twisted the truth to suit my purposes. It is Harriet Harman and her committee.'

He denied treating Parliament with contempt and said the 'anti-democratic' report was designed to be 'the final knife-thrust in a protracted political assassination'.

'It is for the people of this country to decide who sits in parliament, not Harriet Harman,' he insisted.

Mr Johnson accused the committee of 'rank hypocrisy', noting that senior member Sir Bernard Jenkin was reported to have attended a lockdown drinks party for his wife's birthday.
A group of fast-thinking tradies have been hailed as 'legends' after they performed a dramatic citizen's arrest on an alleged car thief.

The men in hi-vis restrained the man, 25, after he crashed into a power pole on Surf Parade in Broadbeach, Queensland just before 11am on Friday.

The man, who was driving an allegedly stolen Ford Mondeo, came within metres of hitting the tradies as they took a break outside the worksite.

The alleged thief tried to flee the scene on foot, but not before a small army of tradies sprinted after him and pinned him to the ground.

Footage captured by onlookers shows at least three tradies restraining the man in the middle of the road before police arrived and put him in handcuffs.

A group of tradies have been hailed as 'legends' by locals after they performed a dramatic citizen's arrest on an alleged car thief (pictured)

Queensland Police said in a statement: 'It will be alleged that the 25-year-old male driver attempted to flee on foot but was restrained by onlookers.

'Police arrived and took the man into custody.

'No one was injured during the incident.'

Broadbeach resident Bobby-Jo Campbell was nearby in his apartment at the time when he heard a loud crash outside.

'I was just about to make a coffee and heard a crash outside,' he told 9News.

'Came out to see all the boys from the construction site running after some bloke.

'I jumped off my balcony and tried to help out.'

Footage captured by onlookers shows at least three tradies restraining the man before police arrived and put him in handcuffs (pictured)

Sergeant Mitch Grey said while he wouldn't encourage the public to perform citizen's arrests, the tradies had 'done a great job' bringing the man into custody.

Police said the Ford Mondeo was allegedly stolen from a Bilambil Heights address in NSW's Tweed Shire, just under 30km from Broadbeach, on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old man was wanted by Queensland Police before his arrest on Friday.
This is the shocking moment a brazen thief swipes an unsuspecting drinker's bag in a busy restaurant.

The theft - which happens at the plush Bloomberg arcade in central London - takes just ten seconds and neither of the two men at the table realise the black rucksack has gone.

The thief takes the bag in plain sight - in full view of other diners in the food hall.

City of London Police said: 'This CCTV footage might seem unbelievable, but it was a real crime in the City.

'Bag thieves will use any opportunity to steal your belongings.

The theft - which happens at the plush Bloomberg arcade in central London - takes just ten seconds and neither of the two men eating realise the black rucksack has gone

The flagrant thief looks around, before idly sidling up to the rucksack and slowly pulling it back from the chair with his foot

'If youre out tonight, know where your bag is at all times, and if you see anyone acting suspiciously, contact the police.'

Wearing a bright blue polo shirt and appearing to talk on the phone, the thief spots the bag on the floor beside its owner, who is having a conversation with another man over food and a drink.

The flagrant thief looks around, before idly sidling up to the rucksack and slowly pulling it back from the chair with his foot.

After looking up again to check he has not been spotted, he casually picks it up and wanders off at a fast pace.

He leaves behind the poor victim utterly unaware that his possessions have been taken and the pair carry on with their conversation as if nothing has happened.

After looking up again to check he has not been spotted, he casually picks it up and wanders off at a fast pace

He leaves behind the poor victim utterly unaware that his possessions have been taken

There were more than 12,350 bags stolen in London between December 2022 and February 2023, shocking Freedom Of Information data from TimeOut revealed.

This included 4,360 in December and 4,120 in the first few weeks of the year.

The highest number of bag thefts from any borough came in Westminster, where 3,032 were taken in just three months - nearly a third of all taken in London over that time.

And some pubs in the West End see as many as ten thefts every month.
Pope Francis was discharged from hospital today, nine days after he underwent surgery to repair an abdominal hernia.

Francis, 86, left Rome's Gemelli hospital in a wheelchair, waving to reporters and well-wishers at the main entrance as he was taken to a waiting car.

Chief surgeon Sergio Alfieri said: 'The pope is well. He is in better shape than before.'

Mr Alfieri added the pope was well enough to travel. Francis has trips planned for Portugal at the start of August and Mongolia at the end of that month. His engagements have been cancelled until June 18.

The pope traditionally takes all of July off, with the Sunday blessings being his only public appearances, so he will have next month to rest before the August trips

Francis (pictured), 86, left Rome's Gemelli hospital in a wheelchair, waving to reporters and well-wishers at the main entrance as he was taken to a waiting car

It follows a three-hour operation on June 8 to remove intestinal scar tissue and repair a hernia in his abdominal wall, problems that developed following previous surgeries.

At the time, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said 'the night went well'.

Dr. Sergio Alfieri, director of abdominal and endocrine sciences at Rome's Gemelli hospital, said the operation was successful and there were no complications or other pathologies discovered.

Mr Alfieri, who also removed part of Francis' colon in 2021, told an evening press conference that the pope was awake, alert and even joking after the operation.

'When will we do the third one?' he quoted Francis as saying.

Pope Francis (pictured yesterday at the Vatican) awoke today after a good first night in the hospital following a three-hour operation to remove intestinal scar tissue and repair a hernia in his abdominal wall

The operation was scheduled after Francis had complained about increasing bouts of pain and intestinal blockages.

After going to Gemelli on June 6 for checks, Francis was admitted the next day following his general audience and underwent the procedure a short time later.

READ MORE: How Pope Francis has battled health problems over the years Advertisement

During the operation, doctors removed adhesions, or internal scarring, on the intestine that had caused a partial blockage. Alfieri revealed that in addition to the 2021 colon surgery, Francis had undergone previous abdominal surgeries sometime before 2013 in his native Argentina, which had also caused scarring.

To repair the hernia that had formed over a previous scar, a prosthetic mesh was placed in the abdominal wall, Alfieri said. He added that the pope was suffering from no other pathologies, that the tissue removed was benign and that after he recovers, he should be fine.

A feared protrusion, or bulging of the intestine through the hernia tear, was apparently not found.

'It appears they operated on him in a timely fashion with no compromise to his intestine,' said Dr. Walter Longo, chief of colon and rectal surgery at Yale University School of Medicine, who did not participate in the surgery and commented after consulting the Vatican statement on the procedure.

Francis remained in charge of the Vatican and the 1.3-billion strong Catholic Church, even while unconscious and in the hospital, according to canon law.

In July 2021, Francis spent 10 days at Gemelli to remove 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his large intestine. In an interview with The Associated Press in January, Francis said the diverticulosis, or bulges in his intestinal wall, that prompted that surgery had returned.

Pope Francis waves as he leaves in the popemobile at the end of the weekly general audience on Wednesday ahead of his surgery

After that surgery, Francis lamented that he hadn't responded well to the general anesthetic. That reaction in part explained his refusal to have surgery to repair strained knee ligaments that have forced him to use a wheelchair and walker for over a year.

However, Alfieri said Francis had no clinically adverse reactions to the anesthesia in 2021 or Wednesday.

'Clearly no one likes to be operated on and put to sleep because the moment we're put under, we lose consciousness,' he said. 'But there was no physiological problem two years ago or today.'

Dr. Manish Chand, a professor of surgery at University College London who specializes in colorectal surgery, said the greatest issue going forward will be pain management and making sure the wound heals properly.

'In the first six weeks after this type of surgery, you're at risk of getting a recurrence again,' he said. To avoid that, patients are advised not to do anything strenuous.
A father has been charged with murder after three young brothers died in an Ohio shooting on Thursday night, officials have said.

Chad Doerman, 32, has been arrested and is charged with three counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of the boys, who are aged three, four and seven.

The Clermont County Sheriff's Office found the boys unresponsive in the yard of a home in a rural area of Monroe Township, around 25 miles southeast of Cincinnati.

The shooting was first reported at about 4.15pm by an unknown woman who phoned 911 screaming that 'her babies had been shot,' officials with the sheriff's office said in a news release.

At 4.18pm a second call was made to the Communication Center from a driver who reported that a young girl was seen running down the road saying that her father 'was killing everyone'.

Chad Doerman, 32, has been arrested and is charged with three counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of the boys, who are aged three, four and seven. He is being held without bond at the Clermont County Jail and is set to be arraigned in court on Friday morning

Doerman was detained without incident after he was found sitting on the steps outside the property.

The deputies discovered the victims unresponsive in the yard with gunshot wounds. They tried to revive the children until the Monroe Fire/EMS arrived but all of them succumbed to their injuries at the scene.

Their 34-year-old mother was also outside the property when deputies arrived, with what appeared to be a single gunshot wound to the hand that was not life-threatening.

She was taken to University Hospital in Cincinnati, where she was informed that her children had died.

The sheriff's office said there were no signs of forced entry into the home and investigators are not looking for any other suspects.

Several law enforcement agencies responded Thursday afternoon to a shooting on Laurel Lindale road in Monroe Township

Doerman is being held without bond at the Clermont County Jail and is set to be arraigned on Friday morning at the Clermont County Municipal Court.

The bodies of the boys were taken to the Hamilton County Coroner's Office for autopsies.

Tracey Miller, superintendent of the New Richmond Exempted School District, said in a statement on Thursday: 'Our hearts are once again broken tonight as we yet again ask the community to lift up those affected by this horrific incident.'

She added that grief counselors will be available at Monroe Elementary on Friday.

The boys have yet to be publicly identified and details about the circumstances that preceded the shooting were not immediately available.
Attack helicopters in live-fire training

China Military Online) 16:32, June 16, 2023

An attack helicopter attached to a brigade under the PLA Xizang Military Command fires an air-to-air missile at a mock target during a recent live-fire training exercise. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Hu Qiwu)

Attack helicopters attached to a brigade under the PLA Xizang Military Command fire rockets at mock targets during a recent live-fire training exercise. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Hu Qiwu)

An attack helicopter attached to a brigade under the PLA Xizang Military Command releases flares during a recent live-fire training exercise. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Hu Qiwu)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
MBABANE  Thabiso Siyaya, the Lavumisa-based police officer who was accidentally shot by his colleague after they were from arresting a suspect, has passed on.

Siyaya died on Tuesday around noon, while receiving treatment at the Mbabane Government Hospital, where he was transferred to following the incident that took place on April, 2023.

This was confirmed by the officers mother, Busisiwe Sikhondze, who said he would be laid to rest tomorrow. In an interview with Sikhondze, she said her son never recovered after the incident where he was shot under the armpit through his breast. Sikhondze said Siyayas colleagues family had been supportive and ensured that he received quality care, including buying him medication.

Sympathy

She said they visited their homestead from the onset to offer sympathy regarding the shooting incident and that it was not deliberate. The Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) did not even bother buying my son medication, despite that government does not have any, she alleged. She said the police service needed to follow-up on her son but that was never done until he met his death. Sikhondze said Siyayas wound had been infected.

Hospital

She said following his death, some police officers came to pass their condolences and had been to the hospital to check up on him. Speaking on behalf of the Chief Police Information and Communications Officer, Inspector Mazwi Ndzimandze, said there was no official report received from the family regarding the demise of Siyaya. Ndzimandze said an enquiry file had been opened and investigations were still ongoing.
Russia has offered troops bonus payments for every Western-made tank they destroy.

Russian troops will receive a 930 payment for destroying German-made Leopard tanks and any other armoured vehicles supplied by 'NATO countries' - which would include Britain and the US.

It comes as Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Sunday awarded the 'Hero of Russia gold star' medal to soldiers who had destroyed the armoured equipment being used in Kyiv's counter-offensive.

It is part of a wider reward scheme under which more than 10,000 Russian servicemen have received bonuses since Putin's invasion of Ukraine nearly 16 months ago.

Russia's Defence Ministry said: 'Payments are currently being made to servicemen of the Russian Federation Armed Forces who in the course of military operations destroyed Leopard tanks, as well as armoured fighting vehicles made in the USA and other NATO countries.'

Russian troops will receive a 930 payment for destroying German-made Leopard tanks and any other armoured vehicles supplied by 'NATO countries'. Pictured: Destroyed US and German-made tanks in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, last week

READ MORE: Russian recruits are offered 500 for every kilometre of ground they gain in Ukraine Advertisement

A total of 10,257 servicemen had been rewarded for destroying 16,001 items of Ukrainian and Western military equipment up to May 31, the ministry claimed.

It added that an enemy armoured vehicle was worth 50,000 roubles (467) and a tank 100,000 roubles (930), it said.

Military pilots and air defence operators received 300,000 roubles (2800) for every destroyed Ukrainian plane or helicopter.

Hits on Tochka-U and U.S.-supplied HIMARS rocket launch systems are rewarded with the same amount.

In March, state advertisements suggested Russian recruits were being offered up to 530 for every kilometre of ground gained in Ukraine.

One advertisement posted by a council in the Yaroslavl region promised a 3,100 sign-up bonus and an extra 530 for 'each kilometre of advancement within assault teams'.

A total of 10,257 servicemen had been rewarded for destroying 16,001 items of Ukrainian and Western military equipment up to May 31, the ministry claimed. Pictured: three British-made Challenger 2 tanks in Ukraine

It added that an enemy armoured vehicle was worth 50,000 roubles (467) and a tank 100,000 roubles (930), it said. Pictured: Two German-made Leopard 2 tanks

The advertisements offering recruits cash incentives appeared on Government websites and social media accounts of libraries and high schools across Russia.

It came as Vladimir Putin desperately tried to avoid another round of unpopular mobilisation - which last year saw tens of thousands of men fleeing the country.

The Yaroslavl advertisement also offered a monthly salary of 2,000 plus 80 a day for 'involvement in active offensive operations'.

Enlistment offices were working with universities and social services to entice students and the unemployed to sign up for the military, with makeshift recruitment centres popping up in cities and towns.

But Russia analyst Kateryna Stepanenko questioned whether the recruitment drive would be successful.

She told the Telegraph: 'They've already recruited a significant proportion of people that were financially incentivised. And they struggled to do that last year.'

Enlistment offices were working with universities and social services to entice students and the unemployed to sign up for the military

Putin announced Russia's first mobilisation since the Second World War on September 21 last year.

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said at the time that some 300,000 additional personnel would be drafted.

But the mobilisation proceeded chaotically with many highly publicised cases of call-up notices going to the wrong men.

Tens of thousands of men also fled Russia to avoid being drafted into Putin's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Nicola Sturgeon's dramatic fall from grace was laid bare today as a poll showed her personal ratings turning negative for the first time.

The former First Minister was arrested and questioned for seven hours last weekend by police probing the SNP's finances, before being released without charge pending further inquiries.

She has flatly denied any wrongdoing. But the plunge in her popularity was underlined as research by Savanta - conducted partly after the arrest - found her net rating standing at minus seven.

That compares to a figure of plus 28 in December 2020, before the furore over the party's accounts and a backlash over her loose gender identity rules.

It was the first time the poll has suggested Ms Sturgeon is in negative territory. She is also no longer the most popular politician in Scotland, with the SNP's Kate Forbes and Labour's Annas Sarwar and Keir Starmer all rating higher.

Nicola Sturgeon's dramatic fall from grace was laid bare today as a poll showed her personal ratings turning negative for the first time

Worryingly for the nationalists' current leader Humza Yousaf, he scores even lower than Ms Sturgeon on minus 10.

Meanwhile, the survey for The Scotsman showed the SNP's support dipping again. On Westminster voting intention it was down a point since the end of March to 38 per cent, just four ahead of Labour.

In a poll by the same company last June, the SNP boasted 46 per cent support compared to 25 per cent for Labour.

Chris Hopkins, Political Research Director at Savanta, said: 'How the mighty have fallen.

'When Savanta first started polling for The Scotsman, Nicola Sturgeon's net favourability rating was plus 28; fast forward two and a half years, and it's fallen to minus seven, the first time it's been below zero, and the first time that she hasn't been the most popular politician in Scotland.'

However, Mr Hopkins said the initial hit to the SNP from Ms Sturgeon's plummet did not seem to be getting significantly worse.

'The unionists still sense an opportunity, and those parties combined would currently poll over 50 per cent, although we're still a long way from the next Holyrood elections,' he added.

Ms Sturgeon's arrest on Sunday morning was a fresh blow for Mr Yousaf, as the Police Scotland Operation Branchform investigation continues to dominate his first three months as First Minister.

She was released without charge pending further inquiries after seven hours of questioning  and issued a statement insisting that 'I know beyond doubt that I am in fact innocent of any wrongdoing'.

Ms Sturgeon became the third figure in the SNP to be arrested and interviewed by detectives in the ongoing investigation into the party's finances, alongside former chief executive Peter Murrell - her husband - and former treasurer Colin Beattie.

Some SNP figures said Ms Sturgeon should be suspended from the party while the probe continues - but others sent her flowers in a gesture of solidarity.

Worryingly for the nationalists' current leader Humza Yousaf, he scores even lower than Ms Sturgeon on minus 10

:: Savanta polled 1,018 Scottish adults between June 9 and 14. Results were weighted to represent the wider population.
Anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist and Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has claimed he is 'aware' that he could be assassinated by the CIA but doesn't 'live in fear' of the possibility.

Kennedy Jr., 69, has repeatedly claimed that the CIA was involved in the assassination of his uncle, President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas, in 1963. He has also claimed the intelligence agency could have been behind his father Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's assassination in California in 1968.

Now, Kennedy Jr, who announced his campaign for president in April, has said he is 'aware' of the 'danger' he is in by running for office and claimed he could be assassinated by the CIA.

When asked on the Joe Rogan podcast about his belief that his uncle was assassinated by the intelligence agency, he said: 'I've got to be careful. I'm aware of that danger but you know, I don't live in fear of it at all.

'But I'm not stupid about it, I take precautions.'

Anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist and Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he is 'aware' that he could be assassinated by the CIA but doesn't 'live in fear' of the possibility

Kennedy Jr., 69, has repeatedly claimed that the CIA was involved in the assassination of his uncle, President John F. Kennedy (pictured) in Dallas, Texas, in 1963

He has also claimed the intelligence agency could have been behind his father Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's (pictured right with his wife Ethel in 1968) assassination in California in 1968

Last month, Kennedy Jr had claimed that the narrative surrounding his uncle's assassination has been a '60-year cover up'.

He claimed there is strong evidence connecting the CIA to the assassination of JFK by Lee Harvey Oswald in 1963. The CIA has repeatedly denied having any involvement in the assassination of JFK.

John McCone, CIA director when Kennedy was killed, testified to a House committee that Oswald was not a CIA agent and had never communicated with the agency - a claim that was corroborated by the CIA's file on the shooter.

Kennedy has also floated the theory that the CIA may have been involved in the killing on his own father, Robert F. Kennedy, who was fatally shot by Sirhan Sirhan in Los Angeles while campaigning for president in 1968.

RFK Jr. said evidence of CIA involvement in his father's death is 'very convincing, but is circumstantial.'

During his appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast, Kennedy Jr. also repeated his debunked claims that the Covid vaccines cause autism.

'Everybody will say, "There's no study that shows autism and vaccines are connected." That's just just crazy. That's people who are not looking at science. It's part of the religion.'

The Democrat has made a name for himself by being a prominent anti-vaxxer, but his involvement in the anti-vaccine movement intensified after the pandemic and development of the Covid-19 vaccine.

His anti-vaccine charity, Children's Health Defense, prospered at the time, with revenues more than doubling in 2020 to $6.8 million, according to filings made with charity regulators.

His organization has targeted false claims at groups that may be more prone to distrust the vaccine, including mothers and black Americans, experts have said, which could have resulted in deaths during the pandemic.

Since joining the fray, he has amassed a 20 percent share of the vote, while Biden struggles to drum up enthusiasm for his second term announcement

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (left) waves to the crowd at his 2024 campaign kick-off alongside his wife actress Cheryl Hines (right), of Curb Your Enthusiasm fame

Kennedy Jr released a book in 2021, The Real Anthony Fauci, in which he accused the U.S.s top infectious disease doctor of assisting in 'a historic coup d'etat against Western democracy' and promoted unproven COVID-19 treatments such as ivermectin, which is meant to treat parasites, and the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine.

His push against the COVID-19 vaccine has linked him at times with anti-democratic figures and groups.

Kennedy Jr has appeared at events pushing the lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen and with people who cheered or downplayed the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6.

Kennedy Jr has at times invoked his family's legacy in his anti-vaccine work, including sometimes using images of President Kennedy.

His sister Kerry Kennedy, who runs Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, the international rights group founded by their mother, Ethel, said her brother has at times removed some of the content at her request.

She told the Associated Press in a 2021 interview her brother is 'completely wrong on this issue and very dangerous.'

Since Kennedy announced his presidential bid as a Democratic candidate in April, he has amassed a 20 percent share of the vote in recent polls, as incumbent president Joe Biden's campaign gets off to a rocky start.

Kennedy refused to openly speculate on Biden's mental fitness for office, but told Fox News that he jumped in the race because he is displeased with what Biden is 'doing with this country.'

He pointed specifically to the president's handling of the ongoing war in Ukraine, which he said should have been settled long ago.

The amount of American dollars that have been sent to Ukraine since the conflict began last year currently tops $130billion, a figure Kennedy pointed out far exceeds the budgets of many of the US' alphabet agencies combined.

The candidate suggested that some of that money be spent stateside instead, citing the fact that 57 percent of Americans cannot afford a sudden $1,000 hardship expense.

Kennedy has also attracted a niche crowd of followers among conservatives for his vociferous COVID-19 vaccine skepticism, as well as his support for keeping biological males out of women's sports.
Paranoid security operatives guarding Vladimir Putin will disable mobile internet coverage in St Petersburg when the dictator today makes a speech in the city.

They fear the signals could be used to direct drones in assassination strikes on the warmonger, as has become a common tactic in Ukraine and - more recently - in attacks across the border in Russia.

Russia's Ministry of Communications issued a disabling order to all mobile operators, according to sources of Faridaily news outlet run by journalist Farida Rustamova.

The move was 'in order to prevent drones from attacking the forum venue during the plenary session of Putin's traditional event' - the annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, seen as Russia's Davos equivalent.

Ukraine has launched multiple drone strikes on Russia in retaliation for endless missile attacks by Putin's forces.

Paranoid security operatives guarding Vladimir Putin (pictured Thursday) will disable mobile internet coverage in St Petersburg when the dictator today makes a speech in the city

Strikes which hit the Kremlin on May 3 were blamed on Ukraine by the Russians.

This was portrayed by Moscow as a bid to 'assassinate Putin'.

And in late May a drone strike came close to Putin's palatial official residence Novo-Ogaryovo, near Moscow.

READ MORE: Russia offers troops 930 cash bonuses for any US or UK tanks they destroy Advertisement

Footage showed sniffer dogs at today's venue in St Petersburg, which is Putin's home city, amid a huge security clampdown.

Putin is due to make a 'lengthy speech' followed by a discussion.

'We can expect a very voluminous speech from the head of state,' said his spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

'Indeed a rather long speech was prepared.'

Most Western countries are boycotting the event which in previous years involved eminent foreign visitors.

Putin's scheduled appearance comes at a time when there are rumours that he is increasingly using a body double for public events due to security fears or illness.

Swedish economist Anders Aslund - who has worked as an advisor to both the Russian and Ukrainians governments, told Die Welt: 'Putin doesn't dare go out in public. Whenever he appears, there are suspicions that he is a double.

'Putin seems frightened. He has built bunkers at his three main residences. He travels the country by armoured train. And at each of his three main residences, he has built special stations for his personal security.

'The level of paranoia seems almost pathological.'

Both Russia and Ukraine have deployed drones to carry out precision strikes against enemy units. The small, mobile devices are difficult to detect and can go deep behind enemy lines while allowing their operators to stay out of the firing line.

Both sides have used consumer quad-copters to scope out enemy positions and drop grenades down onto soldiers hiding in fox holes, or into armoured vehicles.

But consumer models tend to require connection to the internet to function, with operators using internet-connected devices and their GPS signals to manoeuvre them into positions.

They can also be used to guide other, large munitions to their targets.

After the drone strike on the Kremlin in May, it was reported that Putin became fearful of taking any overseas trips out of fear of being assassinated.

Strikes which hit the Kremlin on May 3 (pictured) were blamed on Ukraine by the Russians

This also came after an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over war crimes charges in Ukraine, which requires any member state to detain Putin should he step food in their territory.

There have also been murmurings of a potential coup against him by Wagner mercenary group warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has grown increasingly critical of Russia's military and its faltering efforts on the battlefield if Ukraine.

According to the Daily Beast, citing the Russian independent outlet Verstka, the Russian leader has grown increasingly fearful for his life in recent months.

The source said 'behind the scenes of the Kremlin' that Putin was wary of travelling anywhere and that 'he has no sense of security.'

He did not travel to Turkey for the inauguration of President Recep Erdogan, and he will not attend an upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in India in July.

Reports have also suggested that Putin's inner circle has grown smaller and smaller since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, to the point that he is refusing the listen to negative battlefield news from his generals.

Kyiv's counteroffensive is making steady progress on at least two fronts in Ukraine, with the country's military saying on Thursday it had regained control of more than 38 square miles of territory.

Russia's own progress, meanwhile, has been stalled for months, with its military efforts more focused on holdings its defensive positions.

According to Iuliia Osmolovska, director of the GlobSec think-tank, Putin is shunning any bad news of his military's campaign and refuses to use the internet.

'As far as we know from reliable sources, Putin stopped receiving any real, up-to-date information from the battlefield some time ago because he doesn't want to hear bad news,' she said.

'Secondly, he doesn't use the internet, so he has no other information to verify the news he is hearing,' she added.

Putin has shown signs of paranoia in the past. Weeks before launching his invasion of Ukraine, he was seen inside the Kremlin holding meetings with foreign dignitaries on a vast table, each party sat at opposite ends. Pictured: Putin (left) meets French President Emmanuel Macron in Moscow on February 7, 2022

Russia announced plans on Thursday to stage elections in occupied parts of Ukraine in just three months, Moscow's latest bid to signal it is in control over the the south and east of the country, even as the Ukrainian counteroffensive presses on.

The Ukrainian assault is in its early stages, and military experts say the decisive battles still lie ahead. But corpses of Russian soldiers and burnt-out armoured vehicles lining the roadside in villages newly recaptured by Ukrainian troops attested to Kyiv's biggest advances since last year.

'Our heroic people, our troops on... the front line are facing very tough resistance,' Zelensky told NBC News in an interview in Kyiv. 'Because for Russia to lose this campaign to Ukraine, I would say, actually means losing the war.'

Zelensky said the news from the front lines was 'generally positive but it's very difficult,' according to a partial transcript of the interview.
The giant shark was spotted inside the Ciutadella Port, Menorca, this morning

A second giant shark was spotted swimming by the Spanish coastline just a day after a seven-footer terrified swimmers at a different beach.

The shark, described as a tintoera, was seen swimming in the water inside the Ciutadella Port, Menorca, this morning.

In the video, the shark can be seen slowly circling boats moored in the port as people peer over the edge to watch.

It comes a day after terrified bathers tried to run to safety through waist-high water as a seven-foot shark neared the shoreline off Aguamarina Beach, south of Alicante, on Thursday.

But the other shark, spotted yesterday, was found dead a couple of miles north, prompting fears the one seen today could be injured.

The shark, described as a tintoera, was seen swimming in the water inside the Ciutadella Port, Menorca, this morning

But the other shark, spotted yesterday, was found dead a couple of miles north (pictured), prompting fears the one seen today could be injured

A local weather webpage, which posted footage of the tintorera on its side in the sea by rocks close to a strip of sand where people were sunbathing, said: 'The seven-foot shark that approached the shoreline has died.'

A seagull was filmed standing on top of the shark as the waves lapped over it at La Caleta Beach in Cabo Roig.

Biologist Juan Antonio Pujol told a local paper: 'Coming across something like this when you're swimming in the water makes an impression but you should stay calm because they're not aggressive.

Yesterday, lifeguards blew on their whistles to warn residents and holidaymakers about the shark and urge them to get out of the sea as quickly as possible.

One woman, thought to have been an elderly person seen being helped out of the water by Good Samaritans, is said to have suffered a panic attack after realising the shark was beside her.

The incident happened at Aguamarina Beach in Orihuela Costa south of Alicante around 10am Thursday morning.

Initial reports pointed to it being a tintorera or blue shark which was about seven-foot long.

The shark could be seen thrashing its caudal fin as it circled boats inside the Ciutadella Port, Menorca, this morning

This is the dramatic moment bathers try to run to safety through waist-high water as a shark nears the shoreline off a Costa Blanca beach

Local police were among emergency responders who searched for it without success and it is understood to have swum back out to sea without being seen.

The shark sighting coincided with the start of the lifeguard service at the beach.

A blue shark was blamed for an attack on a holidaymaker in Elche near Alicante in July 2016.

The 40-year-old victim was rushed to hospital and given stitches to a wound in his hand.

First aiders described the bite as 'large' and said he had come out of the sea with blood streaming from the injury.

In August 2018 tourists fled the sea in panic after a blue shark, among the most common in Spain, appeared off the packed Majorcan beach of Calas de Majorca on the island's east coast.

In April a near seven-foot shark also believed to be a tintorera was filmed in the surf on the southeast coast of Majorca at a nearby beach called Cala Llombards.

The footage of it in shallow water showed it was obviously disorientated.

Two swimmers went to help an older woman out of the water as the shark circled close towards them. She is understood to have had a panic attack

Panicked swimmers sprint out of the water as the shark, which eventually swam back out to deeper water, found itself near to the shore

The incident happened at Aguamarina Beach in Orihuela Costa south of Alicante around 10am this morning

A Spanish woman watched it as its tell-tale fin appeared above the water's surface and it headed towards the shoreline in the clear water before nearly beaching on the sand.

She could be overheard saying as it was knocked on its side in the swallow water and thrashed its tail around in a bid to get back out to sea: 'This one is going to end up getting stuck here.

'We have to get it out of the water, it's going to stay where it is.'

Its efforts eventually paid off and it was filmed swimming back out to deeper water before disappearing.

Last week Russian tourist Vladimir Popov, 23, was filmed being attacked by a tiger shark and dragged underwater off the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Hurghada.

His body parts were later recovered from inside the predator's belly after it was clubbed to death by beachgoers.
DIY giant Wickes is facing a furious boycott campaign and tumbling share price after its chief operating officer said shoppers with trans-critical views are 'bigots' who 'are not welcome in our stores anyway'.

Wickes, one of Britain's largest suppliers of home improvement products, controversially carried a float at Brighton Pride last year with the slogan 'No LGB without the T'.

Yesterday, Fraser Longden, the firm's chief operating officer, took part in an online trans summit hosted by Pink News and sponsored by EY.

Mr Longden said: 'I don't think I'm ever going to change some of the bigots minds, I'm never going to win that argument with them, so we were doing [the Pride float] to show support to the community'.

His comment provoked a furious backlash online and Wickes' share price is currently down five points - 4.25 per cent today.

Fraser Longden, Wickes' chief operating officer, said: 'I don't think I'm ever going to change some of the bigots out there's minds, I'm never going to win that argument with them, so we were doing it to show support to the community'

Wickes, one of Britain's largest suppliers of home improvement products, controversially carried a float at Brighton Pride last year with the slogan 'No LGB without the T'

Campaigner Gary Powell wrote: 'Let's hope that Wickes now gets the Bud Light moment it so richly deserves. This is arrogant, irresponsible, authoritarian, cynical capitalism at its worst'

Mr Longden said most of the population is in a 'sort of slightly ignorant but mostly kind position'.

Responding to threats of a boycott, he added: 'The other 10 per cent you know, they're just hot air and they will go and buy a tin of paint in the nearest place to them.

'That might have been us before, it might not be us afterwards - and equally, if they do come in and buy a tin of paint and behave that way, they're not welcome in our stores anyway.'

Mr Longden started his career as an assistant store manager at Wilkinsons, before moving on to Staples and then B&Q - where he spent 14 years, rising to become head of HR with a seat on the executive committee.

He joined Wickes in 2014.

Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, who has campaigned for the rights of women and girls in sport, criticised Mr Longden's comments.

She tweeted: 'So Wickes thinks anyone in the UK that thinks biological females deserve fair and safe sport is a bigot! That's an lawful lot of mums, dads, grandparents, brothers and of course females who'll be taking their bigoted business elsewhere.'

James Esses, an ex-trainee child therapist who was thrown off his university degree for holding gender critical views, said: 'These offensive, divisive and discriminatory remarks are an absolute outrage.

'I wonder how the majority of Wickes' customers would feel, knowing its senior management holds them in such disdain?'

Twitter owner Elon Musk reacted to Mr Esses' tweet with a simple '!!'

Campaigner Gary Powell wrote: 'Let's hope that Wickes now gets the Bud Light moment it so richly deserves. This is arrogant, irresponsible, authoritarian, cynical capitalism at its worst.'

Mr Powell's comment follows news that beer chain Bud Light's sales had dropped 25.7 per cent after it hired trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney - who had no previous links with the product - in an ad campaign.

Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, who has campaigned for the rights of women and girls in sport, criticised Mr Longden's comments.

James Esses, an ex-trainee child therapist was thrown off his university degree for holding gender critical views

Twitter owner Elon Musk's reaction to Mr Esses' tweet

Another user said she had stripped her daughter's bedroom and planned to redecorate it in order to boycott Wickes

Campaigner John James said the board of Wickes needed to 'get their heads out of their bums'

Twitter user Suzannah responded to Mr Longden's comment that she was 'no longer welcome' in the store

Melindi Scott also posted about the furore, saying she had 'no idea feminist women were no longer welcome' in store

Ms Mulvaney, 26, announced the partnership in a series of videos posted to social media to coincide with the NCAA March Madness tournament.

She was even given a beer can with her face printed on it to celebrate her 365 days of being a woman.

But PR experts told DailyMail.com that the decision by Bud Light and their parent company Anheuser-Busch to link up with Ms Mulvaney was a mistake.

Gareth Boyd, Marketing & PR Director at Forte Analytica, says that while he can understand where the decision came from it is 'not the right way to go about it'.

Speaking to DailyMail.com he said: 'I really cannot understand their approach for this because their core audience just cannot relate.

'Cutting your core audience in the hope you can draw a completely new audience in, who haven't been exposed before, doesn't make sense.

Sportswear brand Nike, which also used Ms Mulvaney to advertise its women's sports range, doubled down on using the transgender influencer, telling customers calling for a boycott to 'be kind and inclusive'.

The firm's tone-deaf response came amid women's concerns over Ms Mulvaney, who identifies as female but has not had reassignment surgery.

Ms Mulvaney - who uses the pronouns she or they - was seen in paid social media content dancing in a Nike sports bra and leggings.

It led to calls for a boycott and customers deluging the company with complaints.

UB40 singer Matt Hoy shared one of the videos of Ms Mulvaney on Twitter, writing: 'Respect real women. Stop mocking real women.'

This was the response from Nike after customers said they would boycott it over the promotion

In yesterday's 'trans summit', Mr Longden spoke about Wickes' campaign for an all-out ban on conversion therapy.

He said: 'It's just a logical statement isn't it, if you're saying conversion therapy - which we all accept is a ridiculous concept.

'You know, you can't take me off in a room and try and persuade me I'm gay, you know that would be wrong, just the same as any other form of conversion therapy. So it has to be banned for all.'

Wickes has been approached for comment.

The hardware company took part in last year's Brighton Pride parade with a float featuring a poster reading, 'no LGB without the T'.

The words were emblazoned over the pink and white transgender flag, with the strapline, 'we stand with our trans siblings now and for ever' underneath it.

But Wickes's campaign sparked a heated debate on Twitter with campaigners on both sides wading in to share their views.

Activist and friend of JK Rowling, Allison Bailey, tweeted: 'To be clear, this is Wickes promoting unlawful discrimination against lesbians, gays and bisexuals and making our rights conditional on supporting another group.'

Ms Bailey is a long-standing activist for the LGB alliance, a charity which promotes and supports gay, lesbian and bisexual people.

But other supporters praised the hardware giant for its inclusive motto on show in East Sussex, with one tweeting: 'Wickes have won Twitter today... well done to whoever made the decision to do Pride right'.

Hardware store Wickes dived into the trans debate with the poster 'no LGB without the T'

Ms Bailey is a long-standing activist for the LGB alliance, a charity which promotes and 'support gay, lesbian and bisexual people'

In a statement Wickes said: 'We were proud to take part in Brighton Pride this weekend to celebrate their 30th year, and even prouder of our LGBTQ+ Employee Network who work hard every day to make sure everyone can feel at home at Wickes. We are an inclusive home improvement employer and retailer and support the LGBTQ+ community in its entirety.'

The poster prompted a lively discussion online, with activists on either side of the debate weighing in.

Youth Charity worker and former political candidate Nick Buckley posted: 'Companies are now telling gay people what they should accept - all in the name of diversity. Any gay people use Wickes? Will you continue?'

One social media user said: 'I'm confused by the messaging. Are they saying there are no lesbians, gays or bisexuals without trans people?'
Shocking footage has captured the moment a young boy is forced to kiss another teenager's shoes after being beaten up in broad daylight.

In the one-minute video, up to three boys slap, shove and throw punches at their victim before slamming him into a wall in Toowoomba, Queensland.

'Kiss them, kiss them, kiss them boy. You're a mad c*** aye,' one attacker says.

'You should've just kissed the shoes,' another boy tells their victim as three others encircle the teenager and start to throw punches.

One boy then grabs a fistful of the boy's hair and drags him to the ground, before another pushes his head towards his shoes.

In the one-minute video, up to three boys slap, shove and throw punches at their victim before slamming him into a wall in Toowoomba, Queensland (pictured)

The blurry footage was posted to a local crime social media page earlier this week.

The Department of Education said the video had been referred to police, as the incident took place outside of a school environment.

A spokesman said student safety is the department's highest priority.

'The department is aware of an incident filmed on the weekend [which] showed young people engaged in bullying,' he told the Townsville Bulletin.

'As the incident occurred outside school grounds on the weekend, the issue is best managed by the Queensland Police Service and enquiries should be directed towards them.'

Queensland Police are investigating the video alongside detectives from the Toowoomba Child Protection and Investigation Unit.

Investigations are continuing.
The former head of Britain's police watchdog was today charged with child sex offences including the alleged rape of a girl under the age of 16 in the 1980s - but claimed he 'strenuously denies all of these allegations from nearly 40 years ago'.

Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) director general Michael Lockwood stepped down from the 190k-a-year role in December after the allegations emerged.

Today the Crown Prosecution Service authorised nine charges for alleged sex offences. Lockwood will appear at Hull Magistrates' Court on June 28.

He is accused of three counts of rape between October 1985 and March 1986 and six counts of indecent assault in the same period. The alleged victim was under the age of 16 at the time and Lockwood was around 26 or 27.

Former IOPC boss Michel Lockwood was today charged with sex offences

Rosemary Ainslie, Head of the Special Crime Division at the CPS, said: 'After carefully considering all of the evidence provided to us by Humberside Police, we have authorised charges against Michael Lockwood, 64, for nine offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956.

'Mr Lockwood has been charged with six counts of indecent assault and three offences of rape against a girl under the age of 16, alleged to have been committed during the 1980s.

Michael Lockwood stepped down from the 190k-a-year role leading the IOPC in December

'The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Lockwood are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.'

Mr Lockwood resignation in December made headlines.

Law firm PCB Byrne act on behalf of Michael Lockwood. Emma Brooks, Partner on this matter, said: Mr Lockwood strenuously denies all of these allegations from nearly 40 years ago. He will strongly defend his position and will continue to co-operate with the proceedings.

It is understood that he privately informed a Home Office official about the allegations on November 4 last year, and that chiefs within the body were first told about it in October.

An IOPC spokesman said today: 'We are aware of the CPS's decision to charge Michael Lockwood in relation to allegations relating to non-recent events.

'Mr Lockwood was IOPC director general from 2018 to 2022, but as a Crown appointee, not employed by the IOPC.

'As criminal proceedings are active, we are unable to comment any further.'

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said in early December that she was forced to take 'immediate action' after being made aware of the police investigation.

She said at the time: 'I have accepted Michael Lockwood's resignation as director general of the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

'I took immediate action upon being made aware that Mr Lockwood was the subject of a police investigation into an historic allegation, and instructed my officials to ask him to resign or face immediate suspension from his role.'

The IOPC told the PA news agency: 'We will be conducting a review to determine whether appropriate steps were taken at appropriate times.'

Mr Lockwood was the first director general appointed to lead the IOPC when it replaced the Independent Police Complaints Commission in 2018.

He was previously chief executive of the London Borough of Harrow in north-west London.

After the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, he was asked by a Government taskforce to lead recovery and remediation work and liaise with bereaved families, survivors and the wider community.
This is the chilling moment an Indian scholarship student carried an extremely drunk young woman to his halls of residence before he raped her.

Preet Vikal, 20, took a 'trophy photograph' of the victim in his bed before attacking her, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

The engineering student carried the girl back to his room - at points on his shoulders - after he encountered her 'hopelessly intoxicated' outside a music venue in the Welsh capital.

Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe said Vikal and the victim, who did not know each other, went out on the night of June 3 last year with separate groups of friends.

Mr Cobbe said: 'The victim had drunk to excess and by the end of the night was, plainly, hopelessly intoxicated.

Preet Vikal, 20, carried the girl back to his room - at points on his shoulders - after he encountered her 'hopelessly intoxicated' outside a music venue in the Welsh capital

'The victim's recollection of the night is vague but she knew she and her friends had started drinking at home before going to a bar on Mill Lane, then to Live Lounge.

'She could recall "snippets" of her time at Live Lounge but could not remember leaving.'

Another clubber who did not know the victim became so concerned for her welfare that she sat her down and gave her some water.

She was not able to stand up straight and was slurring her words. At one point she fell in the women's toilets.

The stranger helping her took her phone and sent a message to the victim's friends, explaining that she should not be alone in her condition.

The victim then left Live Lounge with friends. However, outside she encountered Vikal, an engineering student who had been drinking in the venue.

Vikal joined the victim's group as they walked along North Road. He and the victim then moved far ahead of the rest of the group.

CCTV, which was played in court, showed Vikal carrying the victim in his arms and later across his shoulders at around 4am.

CCTV, which was played in court, showed Vikal carrying the victim in his arms and later across his shoulders at around 4am

He then laid her on the ground and lifted her to her feet. As they passed the Blackweir pub, the victim was walking but leaning heavily on Vikal.

Vikal brought the victim to his room at Talybont and took what the prosecutor described as a 'trophy photograph' of her on his bed.

Although the victim was not naked, the picture was revealing. The victim had no recollection of the rape but she remembered waking naked next to Vikal in his bed.

She did not know where she was or who she was with.

Mr Cobbe said: 'She was bleeding... She found her clothes folded, got out of bed and got dressed.

'The victim asked for the defendant's Instagram address and once she left, she messaged him asking him if they had had sex, and if so, whether they had used protection.

'The answer she had was that yes, they had, but they had not used protection.'

The court heard that Vikal sent the picture to a friend later that day and said in the chat that he had 'forgotten' to use a condom.

The victim then left Cardiff's Live Lounge (pictured) with friends. However, outside she encountered Vikal, an engineering student who had been drinking in the venue

That same day the victim reported Vikal to police and he was arrested.

The following day he gave a prepared statement claiming the victim had been a 'willing participant'.

Mr Cobbe said it was clear the victim was too drunk to consent to sex, but Vikal pleaded not guilty before he finally admitted the rape on the day of trial.

The victim attended court for Vikal's sentencing said she was left shaken and unable to sleep after she saw the picture he had taken of her.

She added: 'It was really difficult to pretend I was okay when I wasn't.'

For five months she did not want to go on nights out and she said she still feels a sense of guilt because of the incident.

She continued: 'I now have a boyfriend and every little thing had to be discussed... even little things like putting his hand on my leg.

'Even though I would want him to, I would recoil and wouldn't be ready to.'

The engineering student took a 'trophy photograph' of the victim in his bed before attacking her, Cardiff Crown Court (pictured) heard

Louise Sweet, mitigating, said her client was 'a real shining star'.

She said: 'Coming from a village north of Delhi, he is a young man who worked extremely hard, so much so he won a scholarship to support his study in engineering.

'He was the first of his family to go to university, the first of his village to go overseas and study. He was fulfilling his dreams to come here and those of his parents.'

Ms Sweet said Vikal was 'not a very experienced young man' and that he 'hadn't had a real girlfriend at all'. She added that he had gone out drinking after his last exam and the 'relief' led him to drink more than usual.

In a letter from her client, she read: 'I write this letter to express my deepest apology for the pain and suffering I have caused [the victim].

'I understand my actions were wrong and may have a significant impact on her life.

'In the last six months I have reflected deeply on my actions... Words can't undo the damage I have done but I hope my apology can be the first step towards healing and forgiveness.'

Ms Sweet told the court: 'This was not a predatory offence at all, but a chance meeting of two young people who were both heavily intoxicated... the court has seen the amount of alcohol he drank.

'He left himself incapable of assessing her abilities [to consent].'

The barrister asked the judge to pass as lenient a sentence as possible, pointing out that her client had experienced bullying while remanded in custody, 'some of it racially motivated'.

She said he would feel deep shame when he 'finally goes home and faces the rest of his village'.

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke acknowledged Vikal's remorse and that his behaviour was out of character but said his use of alcohol that night was an aggravating factor, rather than one that would reduce his sentence.

She sent Vikal to a young offenders institution for six years and nine months. He will serve two thirds of the sentence in custody and the remainder on licence.
She called anonymously in a 'distressed state' before hanging up

Police are desperately searching for a new mum after an anonymous call she made to triple-0 in South Australia.

The unknown woman called the emergency hotline in a 'distressed state' and told the operator she had recently given birth. Unfortunately, she ended the call before any of her details were obtained.

The call came in at about 12:35am on Friday from a public phone box on the corner of Shelley St and North East Road at Tea Tree Gully, according to police.

'Police have grave concerns for her welfare, given the information she has provided in this call and believe she is in need of urgent medical assistance,' a SA Police spokesperson said.

Police are appealing for information after a new mum in South Australia made a call to triple-0 in a 'distressed state' and believe she is in need of urgent medical attention (stock image)

Investigators have come up empty-handed after 'extensive inquiries' about the woman's identity.

Officers have also searched the area around the phone box but have 'not been able to locate any physical evidence'.

'Investigators are asking for the woman to contact Triple Zero (000) again so we can check that she and her baby are safe.'

Police are seeking information from anyone who can identify the woman or who may have dashcam or CCTV footage recorded in the vicinity of the phone box.

They are urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
MANZINI  The Suppression of Terrorism Act of 2008 is used against people in the pro-democracy movement, says a human rights lawyer.

Human Rights Lawyer Mzwandile Masuku, who is the son of deceased former President of the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) Mario Masuku, said this when addressing attendees of the Oslo Freedom Forum 2023. The Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF) is an internationally recognised conference for democracy and human rights, which began as a group of roughly 200 individuals, who gathered in the Norwegian capital in 2009, to celebrate the survivors of Communism and Nazism. On Wednesday, Masuku informed the attendees that while the Suppression of Terrorism Act was allegedly used as a target for dissenting voices, the lawyers who represented the people charged under this Act were accused of promoting terrorism. He said because of this, they (lawyers) tended to be intimidated.

Assassination

One of my colleagues survived an assassination attack and Maseko did not. For the first time in a while, Ive not worried while walking around in Oslo of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) following me or monitoring my movements with white unmarked South African registered cars, he said. The human rights lawyer claimed that the late Human Rights Lawyer, Thulani Maseko, was one of the lawyers who challenged the presence of the military personnel in schools, the shutdown of the internet and the arrest of minors. What is happening in my country could have been avoided as now there are parallel attacks happening, he alleged. He said this could have been avoided by listening to the peaceful protesters. Mzwandile said Eswatini was a small country calling for intervention, but the pleas became background noise. The lawyer claimed that the intervention of the Western countries had assisted in the release of Maseko when he was imprisoned in 2014. He appealed for the same to be applied even now instead of the lukewarm posture that was seemingly adopted by many diplomats. Mzwandile said Maseko, a long time mentor and partner, was gunned down in front of his wife and children. He said he could not get the voice of Tanele (wife) when informing him that Maseko was cold. The human rights lawyer informed the gathering that Tanele described to him an assignment executed by a skilled assassin.

Wondered

He said when he received the news of Masekos demise while he was with his family, he subsequently prayed that if this (execution) should happen, it should happen away from their families. Subsequent to this, he claimed to have wondered who was next as there were talks of an assassination list for the pro-democracy movement. Alpheous Nxumalo, the Government Spokesperson, said Mzwandile needed to be reminded that he who alleges must prove his allegations. As government, we are far from being deterred by such false narratives whose sole purpose is to deliberately delay, derail and divert investigations into the murder of Mr Maseko and many other emaSwati, including members of the national security services, a chief and ordinary citizens of the country, Nxumalo said.
Shocking CCTV of a teenage girl punching and spitting at McDonald's staff has emerged as the victims of her 'drunken rampage' blast their attacker in court.

Mia Miller, 19, unleashed on several employees after she was allegedly refused a cup of water in Adelaide's Hindley Street McDonald's in the early hours of October 7.

The teenager pleaded guilty to two aggravated counts of assault, two counts of committing prohibited acts with bodily fluid, and one count of disorderly conduct in Adelaide's Magistrates Court on Friday.

Miller was forced to watch CCTV footage of herself throwing drinks and attacking staff as she left and re-entered the diner up to three times over a 10-minute period.

Allan Mejorada, the restaurant manager who copped the brunt of the attack, read an emotional victim impact statement to the court, The Advertiser reports.

'This was the worst shift in my entire 15 years working for McDonald's, causing deep emotions that continue to affect me every day,' he said.

'These dramatic events have fundamentally altered my outlook and my life at times I still feel down, disturbed and bothered.

'I believe it's crucial for justice to be served, not only for my healing but also to ensure the safety of all in the community and the protection of retail workers.'

Shocking CCTV of a teenage girl punching and spitting at McDonald's staff has emerged as the victims of her 'drunken rampage' blast their attacker in court (pictured)

Mia Miller, 19, unleashed on several employees after she was allegedly refused a cup of water in Adelaide's Hindley Street McDonald's in the early hours of October 7, 2022 (pictured)

Mr Mejorada said Miller deserved the harshest punishment available for her actions.

His colleague, James McKenna, said he was targeted by the 19-year-old as he tried to clean up the mess she had created at the service counter.

'I was targeted by the defendant (when) I was simply cleaning up the mess she had caused in her rampage,' he said.

'I was beyond shock at what happened and felt disgusted after I was spat on.'

In the CCTV footage, Miller is seen attacking staff with her fists and cold drinks before entering and leaving the restaurant for a final time at 1.42am.

In the weeks following the incident, the teen issued an apology on TV where she claimed her actions were a result of being 'really, really drunk'.

'I do really want everyone to know that I genuinely am really, really sorry and I feel really bad for my actions that night,' Miller told 7News at the time.

She asked that she not become a 'lightning rod' for harsh new penalties.

On Friday, Mr McKenna said her TV apology had been a 'big slap in the face'.

'It showed me that the defendant didn't care about her actions that night and that she saw it as a big joke,' he told the court.

'She thought she could go out, cause chaos and attack people, and then think she could easily get away with it.'

At 1:42am Miller re-enters the diner for the final time, delivering more punches, which included hitting one worker, James McKenna, in the head multiple times

Miller pleaded guilty to two aggravated counts of assault, two counts of committing prohibited acts with bodily fluid, and one count of disorderly conduct in an Adelaide court on Friday

Miller's representative told the court that the teen was 'deeply remorseful' for her 'outrageous behaviour'.

A spokesperson for McDonald's told Daily Mail Australia that staff had acted appropriately and that the franchiser does not condone anti-social behaviour.

'The health and safety of our people and customers is our top priority,' the spokesperson said in October 2022.

'Anti-social behaviour is not tolerated in our restaurants and we expect our people to be treated with respect at all times.

Miller will be remanded on bail before she is sentenced in two weeks' time.
A holidaymaker has slammed British rapper Big Narstie's Jamaican restaurant in Tenerife, Spain, for serving him a '2/10' plate of sliced apples and grated cheese.

The tourist said 'I went to Big Narstie's restaurant in Tenerife and yeah 2/10, wouldn't recommend.'

He posted an image of an 'apple and cheese salad' which showed just nine pieces of sliced apple covered in grated orange cheese in a bowl.

But he said he couldn't be 'mad at him' after Big Narstie offered an hilarious apology by messaging the tourist with a voice note directly on Instagram.

Laughing, the rapper said: 'I can't even lie. I'd be pi**ed too. I'm so sorry about that my guy. I just b****** my team about that.

He posted an image of an 'apple and cheese salad' (pictured) which showed just nine pieces of sliced apple covered in grated orange cheese in a bowl

'My apologies. Language barriers. I hope I can make it up to you and that. I can get you another meal or something. Sorry my G. I just glimpsed it on my Insta now. Apologies.'

The salad was served alongside the restaurant's jerk steak and ships, costing 15 euros (13), according to the menu.

The tourist, who was mocked on Twitter for ordering an apple and cheese salad, said: 'Lol to all the people saying 'who orders apple and cheese salad' - bro, I just wanted the steak and fries. It came with it.'

One Twitter user said: 'You know his reply is genuine as well, the laugh said it all.'

Another added: 'Big Narstie is too funny'. A different user said: 'Looool 10/10 response.'

But he said he couldn't be 'mad at him' after Big Narstie offered an hilarious apology by messaging the tourist with a voice note directly on Instagram

The salad was served alongside the restaurant's jerk steak and ships, costing 15 euros (13), according to the menu

Big Narstie opened the Jamaican restaurant with his mother in 2022. At the time, he said: 'If anyone said to me years to come me and my mum have first Jamaican restaurant in Tenerife I'd say your lying lol.'

He said the Jamaican community must not take their food 'for granted'. He told Mixtape Madness: 'If you went to Dubai, Turkey or if you went any other country, you're going to get an Indian restaurant, a Chinese restaurant, a Turkish restaurant.

'It's not because Dubai doesn't want it, it's because no one from our culture has got the balls to go over there and make it live and promote our food and culture.'
This is the moment a passenger who arrived late for his flight falls to the ground after losing his balance as he tries to jump onto the runway and reach his plane.

The man, who had already pained other passengers by arriving late and causing a delay, was filmed pleading with airport workers after getting to the end of the boarding gangway at Malaga Airport.

He was overheard demanding in Spanish, with a foreign accent, 'Bring me a ladder' before adding: 'No ladder, then I'm coming down.'

The man proceeded to try to ease himself off the end of the walkway before losing his balance and plunging 12 feet to the hard tarmac below as astonished passengers on the plane looked on.

He landed on his back, with his small rucksack cushioning his fall slightly, and at first appeared to be seriously injured as more airport workers rushed to his aid before sitting and then standing up.

The man who already held up the flight after being late was filmed pleading with airport workers after getting to the end of the boarding gangway and discovering the plane was getting ready for take-off with a drop to the ground below

He was overheard demanding in Spanish, with a foreign accent, 'Bring me a ladder' before adding: 'No ladder, then I'm coming down.' The unnamed man proceeded to try to ease himself off the end of the jet walk before losing his balance and plunging several feet to the hard tarmac below as astonished passengers on the plane a few feet away looked on

One of the people on board the plane watching the drama unfold was overheard asking a flight attendant 'Can you call the police' but was told that was already being done.

Amazingly the disgruntled man who fell to the ground was seen walking towards the plane after taking a few moments to rest and recover and seemed to achieve his objective of boarding with his dangerous display.

A spokesman for Spanish airport operator Aena confirmed the incident had occurred in the last few days and said the Civil Guard had dealt with it.

Police could not be immediately reached this morning for comment and it was not clear if he had been allowed to board and make the flight he was so desperate to take.

In August 2016 a Bolivian national was filmed running onto the tarmac at Madrid's main international airport to catch a Ryanair flight.

He jumped off the jet bridge with two bags in his hands and sprinting across the edge of the runway to board the plane, managing to fly to his destination of Gran Canaria where he was intercepted by police and identified so he could be reported for an airport security infraction.

The unnamed man is thought to have been hit with a huge fine and the person at the centre of the latest drama is also expected to face a stiff financial penalty for his actions.

In January 2018 a Polish man was taken off a Ryanair plane that had just landed at Malaga Airport from Stansted after leaving the aircraft via an emergency exit and climbing onto the wing.

He landed on his back, with his small rucksack cushioning his fall slightly, and at first appeared to be seriously injured as more airport workers rushed to his aid before sitting and then standing up. One of the people on board the plane watching the drama unfold was overheard asking a flight attendant 'Can you call the police' but was told that was already being done.

Polish expat Romuald Gracyzk was later warned he could face a fine of up to POUNDS 40,000 for breaching airport security, although reports at the time said it was unlikely authorities would ever get any money out of him because he was living in a charity flat and busking for tourists outside Malaga Cathedral to make a bit of pocket money.

He apologised for his action after his stunt, blaming his drastic actions on an attack of claustrophobia after a delay leaving London Stansted Airport and another unexplained wait when the plane reached Malaga, but admitting: 'I'm ashamed, it was a mistake.'

Revealing he had travelled to London with an invite from one of his three nieces who lived in Britain, he added: 'He said: 'I hadn't arranged to meet anyone and I wasn't late for anything.

'I don't know what came over me. I felt a little bit of claustrophobia. I became nervous, I didn't understand why we were in Malaga and couldn't leave the plane, so I saw a door that said 'Exit' and left.

'People began to applaud me and encourage me by doing the thumbs-up.

'I wasn't going to jump. When I reached the edge of the wing I saw it was too high so I went back inside the plane.'
Whilst festival season is a time of excitement for many, there is one thing that can certainly dampen people's spirits: the dreaded British weather.

Fortunately, the UK has been in the midst of a scorching heatwave in June, with blistering sunshine hitting Britain in recent weeks.

But what is the forecast for Glastonbury festival? Is the hot weather set to continue? Will it remain over the course of the event?

Read on below for a full weather forecast ahead of Glastonbury 2023.

Although the UK has been blessed with consistent warm weather and sunshine throughout the month of June , there may be rain on the horizon for Glastonbury attendees

Thursday is predicted to start out cloudy, but, by the afternoon, the sun could be out in full force, with predicted highs of 24C and no rainclouds in sight

It is set to be dry overnight as Thursday progresses into Friday, again with a small chance of rain over this period

Is it going to rain during Glastonbury?

Although the UK has been blessed with consistent warm weather and sunshine throughout the month of June, there may be rain on the horizon for Glastonbury attendees.

There could be some rainfall on the opening day of the festival, Wednesday June 21, which may lead people to pack ponchos and wellies as a precaution.

Elton John will headline this year's event at Worthy Farm, in what will be his final live appearance in the UK.

The opening night of action from the Pyramid Stage, on the Friday, will be headlined by Arctic Monkeys, marking the first time the Sheffield indie rockers have played at Glastonbury since 2013.

Guns N' Roses will headline the Pyramid Stage on the Saturday night, whilst other artists set to feature on Glastonbury's main stage over the weekend include Aitch, Lizzo, Rick Astley, Lil Nas X, Blondie and Lewis Capaldi.

What are the predicted forecasts?

Thursday 22 June

The second day of the festival is predicted to start out cloudy, but, by the afternoon, the sun could be out in full force, with predicted highs of 24C and no rainclouds in sight.

The second day of the festival is predicted to start out cloudy, but, by the afternoon, the sun could be out in full force, with predicted highs of 24C

Rocket Man: Elton John will headline proceedings, after being selected in the traditional flagship slot to close out the festival from the Pyramid Stage on the Sunday night

Friday 23 June

The first day of headline acts will - thankfully - see the rain stay away on a warm but cloudy day, with highs of 23C.

Saturday 24 June

The penultimate day of the event will mostly be the same as Friday  cloudy but warm, with highs of 22C.

Sunday 25 June

The last day of Glastonbury festival in 2023 is expected to be the sunniest day in Pilton, with highs of 25C.
AO World's chief executive today praised the 'energy' of workers in the office as he doubled down on the electronics and white goods seller banning hybrid working.

John Roberts said bosses at the Bolton-based retailer, which has 3,000 employees, decided in January that staff coming into the office only intermittently 'doesn't work'.

The father-of-five insisted that working in the office improves productivity and told how 'people like coming in and there's a real togetherness to backing what we do'.

Mr Roberts spoke out as it was revealed some employers in Britain are now offering 'Finish Early Fridays' to their staff because they are so desperate to fill vacancies.

And recruitment experts said there was now 'a real tension in the labour market' between staff who want to work flexibly and bosses who want them in the office.

AO World's chief executive John Roberts said the firm decided hybrid working 'doesn't work'

Office for National Statistics data shows the proportion of working adults working from home

Mr Roberts, who still has some staff working from home full time, told BBC Breakfast: 'From January we basically said right, it doesn't work, we've got to get our priorities right here.

'And the priority is customers and culture, and so we need everybody in the office. You can really feel the energy, people like coming in and there's a real togetherness to backing what we do.'

Asked whether this policy had 'helped the business get back on track', Mr Roberts said: 'For sure, AO's speed unquestionably underpins productivity, without any doubt whatsoever.

'Economically, if you look at the country nationally at the minute, we need productivity. We are in difficult times economically, and so it matters.'

During a report, the BBC's business correspondent Emma Simpson also told how 'latest research suggests that offices are only around 30 per cent full and about half of that on a Friday'.

Last month, Mr Roberts also warned that staff working from home could find their jobs outsourced overseas, saying cheaper workers could be sourced in places such as Bangalore in India.

He also said that it was the company that would decide which of its staff could work from home.

Home working and coming into the office intermittently became popular during the pandemic as Britain went in and out of Covid-19 lockdowns.

But as restrictions eased for good, some people maintained their working habits, fuelling the rise of so-called 'TW*Ts' - those who only go to the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

And James Reed, chairman of Reed Recruitment, told BBC Breakfast: 'There's a real tension in the labour market at the moment between workers, who are telling us overwhelmingly that they want to work flexibly and many bosses who want to see more of people in the office.

Electronics and white goods seller AO World has banned hybrid working for its employees

And James Reed, chairman of Reed Recruitment, said there was now 'a real tension in the labour market' between staff who want to work flexibly and bosses who want them in the office

'That is being played out up and down the country in all sorts of business. But what's interesting is that workers at the moment hold a lot of power, because there are over a million vacancies in the economy and many workers can call the shots.'

Before the impact of lockdowns, Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showed 12 per cent of people said they were able to work from home in 2019.

Then, 49 per cent of people were working from home at some point in the first six months of 2020  before the most recent data from February this year showed 40 per cent of people were doing at least some work from home.

Other data released by the ONS in February found that 16 per cent of working adults reported working from home only and 28 per cent reported both working from home and travelling to work over the period of September 2022 to January 2023.

It said workers in the highest income band, those educated to degree level or above, and those in professional occupations were most likely to report home only or hybrid working.

That same month, Amazon boss Andy Jassy said the online shopping giant would insist that corporate staff should be in the office at least three days a week.

On Monday, MailOnline revealed how Whitehall office buildings are still less than a third full as civil servants continue to work from home nearly 18 months after the Government dropped the requirement.

Just 29 per cent of staff at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) turned up at its Marsham Street offices in Westminster in the last week of May.

The Home Office saw around half of staff working from home last month. Jacob Rees-Mogg took this picture in the Cabinet Office to highlight the issue of WFH civil servants last year

Jacob Rees-Mogg has also been leading the charge, having left notes on empty desks in the Cabinet Office saying: 'Sorry you were out. I look forward to seeing you in the office very soon'

And the figures were barely better at the London headquarters of the Home Office (31 per cent), Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (32 per cent), HM Revenue and Customs (also 32 per cent) and Foreign Office (34 per cent).

The departmental data for the week commencing May 29 was put in the context of it being the half-term holidays for schools and the House of Commons.

But average occupancy for these five departments over the whole of last month was still only at around 50 per cent for them all - ranging between 43 and 56 per cent.

Last year, Jacob Rees-Mogg mounted an offensive against civil servants refusing to come back into the office during his stint at Government Efficiency Minister.

He was leaving notes on empty desks in the Cabinet Office saying: 'Sorry you were out. I look forward to seeing you in the office very soon.'

But his efforts appear to have fallen by the wayside under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's regime.

In April, it was revealed that government office designs now assume just 50 per cent of staff will be in at any one time.

The assumed attendance has been reduced from 66 per cent in the wake of Covid - suggesting up to half will be working from home in the future.

On May 17, Jeremy Hunt warned that working from home can hit 'creativity' as he insisted going into the office should be the 'default' option.

The Chancellor acknowledged video conferencing and other remote tools offer some 'exciting opportunities' including being able to 'stay in touch' with work while looking after a baby.

But he said he 'worried' that firms were losing out through staff not being able to 'bounce ideas off each other' - suggesting people should be in the office unless there was a 'good reason'.

Last month, Michael Gove's Department for Levelling Up, Homes and Community signed a 200,000 contract to provide desks and chairs for its WFH civil servants.
Australia's consumer watchdog will soon start cracking down on products which put children's safety at risk.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has announced infant sleep products and other goods which affect children's safety will be among their top priorities in 2023-24.

The renewed focus on protecting young Australians was announced by the organisation's deputy chair, Catriona Lowe.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said infant sleep products and other goods which affect children's safety will be among their top priorities in 2023-24

'Addressing issues for young children, who are among the most vulnerable consumers, is our highest product safety priority,' Ms Lowe said.

'This broad body of work will involve continuing compliance, enforcement and education initiatives with a focus on toys for children aged under three, products containing button batteries and toppling furniture.'

The organisation will spend this year implementing strategies to prevent injuries and deaths associated with infant sleeping products, including incline sleep products, bassinets and cots, bouncers and sleep aids.

'An education campaign to be launched in the next week on infant incline products - including inclined sleepers and rockers - will help consumers and industry become more aware of the safety risks associated with these products,' she said.

The ACCC hopes these campaigns will support informed purchasing decisions and that consumers can take action to protect their children's interest and safety.

Sleeping on an incline increases the risk of sudden death for babies from rolling into a position that blocks the airways

The organisation first outlined its renewed efforts to keep babies safe in 2022, with former ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard saying the risks of incline sleeping products were of particular concern.

'Tragically, since 2001, about two infant deaths in Australia per year have been associated with inclined sleep products, such as rockers and bouncers marketed for sleep, while the death of around one child per year has been connected to other infant sleep products such as cots, inflatable beds and mattresses,' Ms Rickard said.

'Sleeping babies are often placed on inclined sleep products such as bouncers and rockers by parents and carers who are totally unaware of the significant suffocation risks.'

There have been 21 product recalls issued by ACCC relating to babies and children in 2023, including for cots, clothes, rattles and other toys

Investigations will be undertaken into sleep products 'of highest concern' and enforcement action will be taken when needed, according to Ms Lowe.

A mandatory standard will continue to be developed by the ACCC to address infant sleep products and the organisation will also look at new trends in these products to ensure their safety standards are up to date.

It will also consider whether products marketed for sleep with an incline angle greater than 7 degrees should be permanently banned.

'The ACCC will focus on assessing data and intelligence and engaging with other regulators, to inform our knowledge of product safety risks and emerging trends in the infant sleep environment,' the organisation's priority manifesto said.

There have been 21 product recalls issued by ACCC relating to babies and children in 2023, including for cots, clothes, rattles and other toys.
This is the moment a university student who stabbed a grandmother 29 times in her home was arrested by armed police following nationwide manhunt - as he was today jailed for life.

Dramatic footage shows officers using a knife to slash open a tent where Alexander Carr, 33, was sleeping in an area of wasteland in North London before hauling him out.

'How do you know I was here?' the killer asks after being handcuffed.

Carr murdered Michelle Hanson, 47, in her sitting room in Sunderland on December 3 before fleeing to the capital - where he was eventually located after searches lasting more than a fortnight.

The Sunderland University student was seen by a witness cuddling his Ms Hanson, a friend, earlier on the evening that he murdered her.

Dramatic footage shows officers using a knife to slash open a tent where Alexander Carr, 33, was sleeping in an area of wasteland in North London

The officers haul Carr to his feet before putting him in handcuffs. The red dot on his arm is from a Taser they were using

'How do you know I was here?' the killer asks after being detained by the Met Police officers

Carr knew alcohol and drugs had a serious impact on his mental health but still got intoxicated and smoked skunk that night before inflicting terrifying violence on the mother-of-five, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

During the manhunt, police released pictures and CCTV of Carr featuring his distinctive walk.

He was found weeks later living in a tent near Upper Holloway railway station armed with a commando knife.

The killer had a troubled childhood, has a long history of violence and was diagnosed with personality disorders and the court was told it was somewhat 'remarkable' he secured a place at university.

Psychiatrists agreed he was not suffering from a psychotic illness at the time of the murder but had been smoking 'high potency' skunk.

Ms Hanson, who lived in an upstairs flat in Brady Street, Sunderland, had been paid that day and bought a bottle of vodka and a takeaway.

A witness, who cannot be named, saw Carr sitting with her that night and later described him seeming 'nuts' and 'speaking in funny accents'.

During the manhunt, police released pictures and CCTV of Carr featuring his distinctive walk

Psychiatrists agreed he was not suffering from a psychotic illness at the time of the murder but had been smoking 'high potency' skunk. He's seen in a mugshot taken after his arrest

The witness was reassured Ms Hanson was OK and left, only to return the next day to find her lying dead in a pool of blood.

Daffyd Enoch KC, prosecuting, said the victim was repeatedly stabbed in the neck, that Carr had used a knife on her at least 29 times and that she was extensively bruised around her body.

Pieces of a broken dinner plate were found in her hair.

Nicholas Lumley KC, defending, said Carr had previously been diagnosed with personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and psychosis and had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act when he was younger.

Mr Lumley said Carr had written to the judge and admitted: 'I knew my mental health issues were getting worse and I wish I had tried to seek out more help, rather than self-medicating with the excess of drugs and alcohol.'

Carr had admitted murder at an earlier hearing, having had a guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility rejected.

Judge Paul Sloan sentenced him to life with a minimum term of 19 years and three months.

Carr murdered Michelle Hanson, 47, (pictured) in her sitting room in Sunderland on December 3 before fleeing to the capital

Carr initially lied to psychiatrists but eventually admitted he had smoked skunk - 'which has a high potency' - that night, the judge said.

'You became increasingly anxious and paranoid and believed you were about to be harmed,' he said.

'I have no doubt that the principal reason for your paranoia was your voluntary consumption of skunk in combination with alcohol.

'Your paranoia culminated in a brutal attack upon Miss Hanson.'

In a victim impact statement read out to the court, Ms Hanson's daughter Shannon Brown said: 'My mam was taken in such a vicious and mindless attack.

'We believe that her last moments would have been spent in fear. To think she welcomed this evil person into her house as a friend is unbearable.

'He has taken advantage of a vulnerable, kind and loving woman.

'It is horrific to know he towered over her in both height and strength and my mam was defenceless.'

In a victim impact statement read out to the court, Ms Hanson's daughter Shannon Brown (pictured) said: 'My mam was taken in such a vicious and mindless attack'

Detective Chief Inspector Graeme Barr of Northumbria Police said: 'This has been a horrific ordeal for Michelle's family and I hope today can help them as they begin to move on with their lives and accept her tragic loss.

'They have shown real courage and strength since this investigation was launched and I want to thank them for all they have done to help us put Carr behind bars for his vile actions.

'Carr has shown no remorse and has never provided an explanation for why he murdered Michelle - a woman who invited him into her home as a friend.

'He killed her in her own home and then fled thinking we would never catch him. This is evident in the way he speaks to us during his arrest, genuinely shocked that the law had caught up with him.

'Carr's conviction and sentence shows that violence will never go unpunished and that dangerous people like Carr do not have a place in our communities.'
Sky News host and former senator Amanda Stoker has blasted David Van after he claimed to have 'no recollection' of squeezing her bottom twice over drinks.

Ms Stoker, who was a Queensland Liberal National senator from 2018 until 2022, urged women not to 'take any s***' during an editorial on Sky News on Friday.

Ms Stoker alleged on Thursday evening that Liberal senator Mr Van had groped her twice at an informal gathering in a parliamentary office in November 2020.

She said the senator's public denial of her groping claims had validated her decision to come forward, after Lidia Thorpe on Wednesday told the Senate Mr Van had sexually harassed and assaulted her.

'Ladies, don't put up with behaviour that you don't deserve. Don't take s**t,' Ms Stoker told viewers on Friday evening.

'As Eleanor Roosevelt said, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

'Now, I am not out to make this a bigger deal than it is. I am not scarred for life and I am not out to get anyone.

'I never wanted this to be public. But I'm also not about to cover it up.'

Amanda Stoker (pictured on Sky News on Friday night) said David Van's public denial of her groping claims had validated her decision to come forward

Ms Stoker said she felt compelled to speak about her own alleged experience with the senator after she was contacted by journalists.

'Senator Van apologised to me and said I could be confident he wouldn't behave that way in the future. I accepted his apology and got on with the job,' she said.

'Senator Van is right to say that he and I buried the hatchet. We were able to work constructively. He didn't repeat the behaviour.

'I've even interviewed him on this channel recently. I am a professional and I don't hold a grudge.'

In video of that interview just three weeks ago, Mr Van told the Sky News host: 'It's a shame not having you here in estimates with us.

'You know I love serving with you on the legal committee.'

The pair went on to have a lengthy discussion about the Victorian budget and the cost of living crisis in the state on the back of the lengthy Covid lockdowns.

Ms Stoker ended the interview thanking the senator for appearing on her program, Sunday with Stoker.

David Van said he was looking forward to returning home to his wife in the midst of the allegations

On Friday, the Sky News host said the senator's public denial of her claims had confirmed to her that speaking up had been the right thing to do.

'It takes a lot more than this to get to me. But I would say this stuff has to stop. Parliament is a workplace and one that our daughters and sons should aspire to serve in. We honour that by our conduct,' she said.

In light of Lidia Thorpe's allegations in the Senate on Wednesday - in which she said under parliamentary privilege that Mr Van was a 'perpetrator' - Ms Stoker felt it was 'no longer tenable' to remain silent about her own alleged experience.

Ms Stoker said Mr Van acted inappropriately toward her 'by squeezing my bottom twice. By its nature and repetition, it was not accidental'.

She informed a senior female colleague of the alleged incident but did not feel the need to take it any further, confident the matter had been dealt with.

Mr Van said he had no memory of having had such an encounter with Ms Stoker, but that they had had a 'frank and open' discussion about her recollection of the evening at the time.

Amanda Stoker thanked the Victorian Liberal senator for 'sparing her a moment' during the busy estimates hearing period on May 24

Peter Dutton expelled Senator David Van from the Liberal party room after a second woman came forward with allegations against him

Allegations levelled against David Van: A timeline Wednesday, June 14 3.30pm: Lidia Thorpe accuses David Van of being a 'perpetrator' as he attempts to deliver a speech in the Senate

7.30pm: Ms Thorpe returns to the Senate to withdraw her allegations, citing parliamentary standing orders. A senator cannot make comments on the character of a colleague. She vows to make a follow up statement on Thursday Thursday, June 15 7am: David Van appears on 2GB to publicly reject allegations

12.15pm: Lidia Thorpe makes tearful admission in Senate that an unnamed colleague 'followed her aggressively, propositioned and inappropriately touched' her

1.45pm: Opposition Leader Peter Dutton reveals further allegations and expels Mr Van from Liberal party room. Simultaneously, Mr Van gave a speech in parliament, again refuting all allegations

6.30pm: Amanda Stoker comes forward to allege she was groped 'twice on the bottom' by Mr Van at an event inside a parliamentary office in November, 2020. She claims to have dealt with the matter privately with Mr Van Friday, June 16 Peter Dutton reveals there is at least one further allegation against Mr Van, and calls on him to resign from parliament altogether

8.30am: Mr Van issues a final statement, vowing to 'fully cooperate' with an examination into all claims levelled against him Advertisement

'I believe all women should be free from unwanted advances and confident to speak up immediately and be respected for doing so,' Ms Stoker said.

A third woman has since come forward with an allegation against Mr Van.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, who took steps to remove Mr Van from the Liberal party room, has since confirmed there are further allegations beyond Ms Stoker and Ms Thorpe.

Asked on Friday if he was aware of more allegations against the now-crossbench senator, Mr Dutton said: 'Yes.'

'I raised another allegation with Senator Van, but I'm not going to comment in relation to those matters otherwise,' he told the Today Show.

'I made a decision yesterday based on all of the information that was available to me... that's a decision I don't regret at all.

'I believe it is in the best interests of the Liberal Party and that's what I have acted upon and I don't want Senator Van sitting in our party room. I have made that clear.'

Mr Dutton said the alleged behaviour was unacceptable, and is calling on Mr Van to resign.

'It's in everyone's best interest that he resign from the parliament, and I hope he's able to do that sooner than later,' he told 2GB radio on Friday.

'I think that would be an appropriate next step.'

Earlier, he said: 'The thought of sexual assault against any woman in the workplace is not something that I would tolerate.

'It's been an issue in the press gallery, been an issue in Parliament House and obviously... I've referred the matters to that independent workplace authority for investigation.'

Mr Van issued a statement on Friday stating his 'good reputation' had been 'wantonly savaged without due process or accountability'.

'I am utterly shattered by the events of the past days,' he said. 'I will fully cooperate with whatever process Mr Dutton proposes to determine these matters as quickly and fairly as possible.'

In his shock press conference 10 minutes before Question Time on Thursday, Mr Dutton revealed 'further allegations in relation to Senator Van' were brought to his attention, but did not specify the precise nature of those allegations.

Lidia Thorpe doubled down on her allegations she was sexually assaulted under parliamentary privilege, claiming she was 'followed aggressively, propositioned and inappropriately touched' - but insisted she would not make a complaint with police

Mr Van issued a statement on Friday stating his 'good reputation' had been 'wantonly savaged without due process or accountability'

Read Amanda Stoker's statement in full In November 2020 Senator Van inappropriately touched me at an informal social gathering in a parliamentary office. He did so by squeezing my bottom twice. By its nature and by its repetition, it was not accidental. That action was not appropriate. It was unprofessional and uninvited. I raised the matter with Senator Van at a meeting the following day. I described the action, told him it was unacceptable and that it was not to be repeated. He apologised and said he would never do it again. I accepted his apology and his undertaking. Contemporaneous notes of the meeting were taken and it never happened again. I believe all women should be free from unwanted advances and confident to speak up immediately and be respected for doing so. I promptly advised a senior female colleague about the incident, and of the action I had taken. I did so to ensure that if there were any other incidents of which I was not aware, or any future reports, they could be dealt with appropriately. Obviously, this was not a good experience. I took it very seriously but did not want his misbehavior to define me or any other woman. I simply wanted to ensure his behaviour was never repeated. So I used the internal process for his behaviour to be addressed, whilst asking for it to be kept confidential. I would have preferred that the matter be resolved privately and finally - as I thought it was. However, following Senator Thorpe's allegations, it is now clear that is no longer tenable. I do not know of any other similar events or reports. Advertisement

Mr Dutton did not take questions.

Hours earlier, Ms Thorpe tearfully told parliament she had been harassed and assaulted when she arrived in 2020.

She said parliament 'was not a safe place for women'. 'You are often alone in long corridors, with no windows, in stairwells hidden from view where there are no cameras.'

Ms Thorpe never spoke publicly about her alleged experiences, which she said happened around the time Brittany Higgins came forward with rape allegations, to avoid taking focus off that case.

Instead, she placed her faith in the Liberal Party that her complaint was being taken seriously.

Ms Thorpe said she has no intentions of taking the complaint to the police.

She said there are 'different understandings of what amounts to sexual assault' and that when she raised her complaint with the government of the day - the Coalition - 'it was recognised as such'.

'I was afraid to walk out of the office door. I would open it slightly and make sure the coast was clear before stepping out,' she said. 'I had to be accompanied by someone - that is how the Greens supported me and I thank them for that.'

Ms Thorpe told the Senate she was sure the then prime minister Scott Morrison had been informed. He said in a statement on Wednesday he did not recall if this was the case.

'I was convinced the government believed me... my faith in the Liberal Party was not the right decision,' Ms Thorpe said.

'Until yesterday, I thought they took the issue seriously.'

Ms Thorpe said she was prompted to speak out on Wednesday when Mr Van 'had the gall to stand up in parliament' to address the handling of Ms Higgins' complaint in parliament this week.

She will not pursue legal action or go to police, but vowed to 'continue to speak out against the abuse and harassment that happens in this building'.

'That is my choice. I want to focus on making this place safe for everyone,' she added.

'And at this moment, it is not a safe place for women and I call on the government to immediately increase the number of security guards in the building and cameras in the corridors and to consult women who work here on what measures can and should be taken.'
A 54-year-old Manhattan financier has been charged with targeting 14-year-old girls on Instagram and paying one $700-a-week for sexual favors, before one was found nearing death in a hotel room after being given a cocktail of cocaine, Ketamine and Xanax.

Michael Olson is charged with 17 counts of sexual abuse against one child, but Manhattan prosecutors are asking other victims to come forward.

Olson, who worked for Dwight Mortgage Trust, is accused of targeting the girls on Instagram by honing in on posts where they complained about not being able to afford clothes.

He also targeted images which showed them harming themselves. Prosecutors say he would offer them money to lure them in.

The girl who the charges relate to was flown around the country by Olson who would give her drugs and rape her in hotel rooms, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors say he flew her around the country, passing her off as his daughter on flight manifests. He also kept a spreadsheet to keep track of other children he had messaged, prosecutors say.

Michael Olson is charged with 17 counts of sexual abuse against one child, but Manhattan prosecutors are asking other victims to come forward

Olson was found in the hotel room with the 14-year-old girl after she overdosed last month

Olson did not speak at yesterday's hearing in Manhattan Supreme Court. He was denied bail

Last month, she was found in a Midtown Manhattan hotel room with Olson having overdosed on the combination of drugs.

She ingested them before and after being raped by him, according to prosecutors.

When police searched his phone and iPad, they found 'hundreds of screenshots of various Instagram accounts of young, Asian teenage girls that the defendant messaged'.

The pair met in December 2022 when Olson, who worked for a mortgage lending company, messaged her on Instagram.

Prosecutors say he was responding to a post where she complained about not having money for clothes.

He sent her a gift card, and the pair struck up a relationship, say police.

'Over the next six months, Olson repeatedly raped the child, paying her approximately $700 a week to engage in sexual conduct in hotel rooms in Queens and Manhattan.

'He took the child to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Miami by purchasing her airfare with her first name and his last name in order to portray her as his daughter,' Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg said yesterday.

Olson was arrested last month but posted a $1million bond.

Prosecutors say he continued to message young girls after being released. Yesterday, he was denied bail following a hearing at New York Supreme Court.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, a spokesman for Dwight Mortgage Trust said: 'Yesterday we became aware of the serious criminal allegations against one of our employees, Michael Olson, and immediately after learning about these allegations, he was terminated.

'The allegations are horrific and our hearts go out to the victims and their families.

'We will cooperate fully with any request by law enforcement regarding Mr. Olson.'
Six people, including three children, are dead in rural Tennessee following an horrific murder suicide that unfolded on Thursday night.

Marion County Sheriff Bo Burnett described the scene as being 'one of the worst I've been involved in all my career as a law enforcement officer.' The incident occurred in the tiny community of Sequatchie, around 30 miles west of Chattanooga, at around 8pm.

Law enforcement have confirmed that the suspect is Gary Barnett and that he is one of three adults found dead in the home.

Two of the victims have been named, one is Regina Barnett, the suspect's wife, and her daughter, Britney Perez. In May, Regina had taken out a restraining order against her husband.

Perez was visiting the home at the time of the murders.

The horrific scene in Sequatchie, Tennessee, following the deaths of six people in what authorities have described as domestic incident

Police say that the perpetrator set fire to the home after shooting some family members, two of the victims died of smoke inhalation

Marion County Sheriff Bo Burnett described the scene as 'one of the worst things I've seen'

A neighbor, Sylvia Cooper, told WTVC that she heard glass smash and then around five gunshots.

Shortly afterwards, flames could be seen coming from the home. Fire teams from multiple communities were called to the scene to put out the fire.

At least two people died due to smoke inhalation. There was one survivor, an adult, who was rushed to a local hospital with several gunshot wounds. The deceased people include the children's mother and grandmother.

'It's a domestic situation, evidently that has been ongoing for a pretty good while. We have six people confirmed dead. They have been removed from the scene and they have been taken to Nashville for an autopsy. The scene has been turned over to the TBI,' Sheriff Burnett told the media.

'This is one of the worst things I've seen. You hear about these things but this is one of the worst I've been involved in all my career as a law enforcement officer,' the sheriff added.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is in taking the lead in the investigation. The sheriff said that there is no further threat to the community and that everybody involving in the incident has been accounted for.

The victims have been taken to Nashville for autopsies.

Family mass killings have become a disturbingly common tragedy across the country. They've happened nearly every 3.5 weeks for the last two decades on average. In 2022 there were 17 of them, according to a database, compiled by multiple media organizations.

Ten were murder-suicides, and 14 were shootings. The database defines a mass killing as four or more people slain, not including the assailant. \

Sequatchie, Tennessee, is one of more than 30 communities sent reeling by a family mass killing in the last two years, a list that includes communities of wealth and poverty and spares no race or class.

A family mass killing  where four or more people were killed, not including the perpetrator  happened each of the last two years in places as large as Houston or as small as Casa Grande, Arizona.

Motives can remain speculative in family killings in which assailants take their own lives, but police often cite financial or relationship issues as the causes.

Family mass killings immediately capture the attention of people in a community, but rarely garner the level of national attention received by mass killings at schools, places of worship or restaurants, said James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Northeastern University who has studied familicides and mass killings for decades.

Fox, who helped compile and maintains the database for the AP and USA Today, said that's because it doesn't carry the same kind of fear with the public. He noted police often issue messages saying there is no danger to the public shortly after the killings are discovered.

'It's a nice safe community, but family massacres are independent of the crime rate in the local area,' he said. 'We are talking about internal factors, and I think that's why it's hard for people to see themselves in these situations and why the response is to mourn instead of fear.'

Family mass killings are in fact the most common type of mass killing, making up about 45% of the 415 mass shootings since 2006, according to the database. They happen twice as frequently as mass shootings in which members of the public are killed.

Michael Haight, 42, fatally shot his wife, her mother and the couple's five kids after he was investigated for child abuse in one of the most infamous murder suicides in recent years

Most, but not all, involve handguns, only about a third involve households with a previous occurrence of domestic violence and most of the assailants have no violent history or criminal past, Fox said.

There is no governmental agency tracking murder-suicides nationally, so a few years ago policy analysts at the Violence Policy Center  a nonprofit educational organization that conducts research and public education on violence in the U.S.  began tracking details from news accounts to produce an annual report. The latest version from 2020 looked at murder-suicides including many mass killings during the first six months of 2019.

The study found 81 percent of murder-suicides happened at home and 65 percent involved intimate partners.

The study also found that among murder-suicides where more than three people aside from the assailant were killed, six of the 10 during those six months were incidents in which a person killed their children, partner and themselves.

Fox said most of the killings fall into two categories. The first is murder by proxy, in which the killer is motivated by anger or resentment and kills the children who are seen as an extension of their partner.

The second is suicide by proxy motivated by despondency or depression, most often a job loss, and the assailant kills the children as an extension of themselves.

'He wants to spare them the misery of living in this awful world,' Fox said. 'Over the years, there's been an eclipse in community. There was a time decades ago if you had trouble feeding your family or if you had lost your job, neighbors would come over with casseroles and they would offer emotional support. Many people don't know their neighbors these days.'
A chief constable came under fire today after becoming the first in England to slam her own force as 'institutionally racist'.

Sarah Crew said she had come to that conclusion about the Avon and Somerset force  which she has led since 2021 - following a series of damning reports into policing.

The chief officer said she was 'in no doubt' that racism and racial bias were reinforced within systems across the force.

However the local police federation  which represents rank-and-file officers  hit back, saying her claim risked being mere 'virtue signalling' and could drive a wedge between its members and communities.

It comes after Police Scotland's chief constable last month became the first in the UK to admit his force was 'institutionally racist' - a term first used to describe Scotland Yard after blunders allowed the racist killers of black teenager Stephen Lawrence to escape justice in 1993.

Chief constable Sarah Crew (pictured) came under fire today after becoming the first in England to slam her own force as 'institutionally racist'

The confessions follow a devastating report earlier this year by Baroness Casey into the culture of the Met Police following the murder of Sarah Everard by serving officer Wayne Couzens.

In the most damning report in its near 200-year history, the UK's biggest force was described in March as institutionally racist and corrupt as well as misogynistic and homophobic.

However Scotland Yard's new commissioner Sir Mark Rowley immediately provoked a row by rejecting the labels.

By contrast, the Avon and Somerset chief said she was 'now owning the definition of institutional racism'.

'We are not representative of the community we police,' she said.

Her comments come after a report by Desmond Brown into the criminal justice system in the Avon and Somerset force area, which covers Bristol.

It found evidence of a difference in the way the force interacted with people from different ethnic and racial backgrounds, particularly those who were from black communities.

The chief constable said 'real change' was needed, adding that 'by admitting the truth we can start to make progress'.

'I am hugely committed to build trust amongst all communities and this is an important step,' she told the BBC.

'I'm in no doubt that, by Baroness Casey's criteria at least, Avon and Somerset Police is institutionally racist.

The local police federation  which represents rank-and-file officers  hit back, saying her claim risked being mere 'virtue signalling' and could drive a wedge between its members and communities

'I must accept that the definition fits - it does for race.

'I think it's likely to for misogyny, homophobia and disability as well, though the gaps in the data don't give us the sense of scale, impact or certainty that we have for race.'

But the local Police Federation, which represents officers, objected to her statement, saying it created 'a false narrative' that could cultivate the impression that its officers were racist.

Chairman Mark Loker said data was needed to back up her assertions, otherwise they amounted to 'virtue signalling'.

'I contend that by our chief declaring Avon and Somerset as 'institutionally racist', this will create a false narrative and actually drive a divide between our officers and the communities this is intended to assist,' he added.

'If accusations of 'institutional racism' are levelled against institutions, these should - like any other serious accusation - be subject to robust assessment and evidence.'

However Ms Crew insisted that there was 'real data' behind her words.

'You are six times more likely to be stopped and searched in the force area if you're from black heritage,' she said.

'The evidence is undeniable - we are improving but it is not happening fast enough.'

She added that she was not speaking about 'what's in the hearts and minds of the vast majority of people who work for the force'.

Instead, she said, her comments were 'about recognising the structural and institutional barriers that exist and which put people at a disadvantage in the way they interact with policing because of their race'.

Last year, the force apologised to an investigator who was subjected to 'toxic' racial abuse.

Just last month, outgoing Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone said his force was 'institutionally racist and discriminatory', with 'racism, sexism' and 'misogyny' endemic within the ranks.

In 2022 Merseyside's Labour Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said the Liverpool force was 'institutionally racist'  only for its chief constable, Serena Kennedy, to say she 'categorically' disagreed.

Ms Crew became Avon and Somerset's first female chief constable in 2021, 27 years after joining the force as a new recruit.
Aides for former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis got into a ballsy exchange ahead of Saturday's Nevada lamb testicle festival.

DeSantis is making his first trip to Nevada since his 2024 announcement.

He'll visit a Veterans of Foreign Wars hall, attend a rodeo and then headline the annual Basque Fry, where the western delicacy will be served.

'Not surprised Ron DeSantis is looking for a set of b****,' Trump senior adviser Chris LaCivita told NBC News when asked about the Florida governor's trek to the Silver State.

That comment didn't sit well with Erin Perrine, the communications director for the pro-DeSantis PAC Never Back Down. 'The Trump team's obsession with men's genitalia is more perverted than a woke grooming book,' Perrine told NBC.

Aides for former President Donald Trump (left) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (right) got into a ballsy exchange ahead of Saturday's Nevada lamb testicle festival

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will headline the 8th annual Basque Fry in Nevada on Saturday. The event features lamb 'fries' - stewed and fried testicles

The larger issue at play is whether DeSantis can make inroads in Nevada, where Trump has had strong support in the state Republican Party, but lost the state in both general elections.

Adam Laxalt, the 2022 failed Republican Senate candidate who is leading a pro-DeSantis super PAC, thought so.

'Trump hasn't won Nevada the last two go-arounds,' Laxalt told NBC. 'I was a two-time Trump chair. I don't see a path for him to win Nevada in a general election.'

'Those voters are not coming back,' Laxalt added.

Laxalt's grandfather Paul Laxalt was Nevada's governor and represented the state in the U.S. Senate.

The modern-day Basque Fry is modeled after an event held by Paul Laxalt.

'We need to compete on the turf the Democrats are competing in,' Laxalt went on, referencing ballot harvesting and ballot drop-off boxes. 'They're here for the 2024 election.'

'I know Gov. DeSantis said this on the record, and I shared the same sentiment: We're going to have to compete in ballot harvesting and these methods - and everything could count,' he continued.

Laxalt also believed that DeSantis' 20-point win reelection win over Republican-turned-Democrat Charlie Crist proved he's a candidate who can rule with conservative principles but still attract female voters and independents.

When NBC asked him how DeSantis signing a six-week abortion ban in Florida might impact the governor's ability to win a general election, Laxalt demurred.

He argued that voters are looking for a change from President Joe Biden and his policies.

LaCivita cast Laxalt as a loser.

'So Adam Laxalt, who lost the governor's race in '18 and lost the Senate race in '22, is lecturing President Trump?' LaCivita said. 'That's the pot calling the kettle black.'

Taylor Budowich, the CEO of MAGA Inc., the top Trump super PAC told NBC of DeSantis: 'There's no sign that he can win in any state.'

'It's evident in their kind of ham-handed approach,' Budowich said. 'They're just largely spinning their wheels without articulating a path to winning a single state.'

MAGA Inc.'s spokespokerson Karoline Leavitt even mocked the pro-DeSantis Never Back Down PAC for advertising in the state, with it's most recent ad highlighting the Florida governor's participation in the Basque Fry.

Leavitt called it a desperate attempt 'just to get people to show up for DeSantis' events.'

The Basque Fry usually attracts hundreds of people who munch on the so-called 'lamb fries.'
A GMA reporter covering San Francisco's Westfield Mall closure has admitted his bosses told him not to appear live from fentanyl-ravaged downtown early in the morning because it was 'too dangerous'.

Chief national news correspondent Matt Gutman told viewers he had been advised against appearing live from Union Square or the mall for ABC's 4am Good Morning America segment on Thursday.

The veteran broadcaster instead reported on the latest in a long series of downtown retail closures from a separate part of the west coast 'zombie city'.

'It is worth mentioning that we are not at Union Square or the Westfield Mall this morning because we have been advised that it's simply too dangerous to be there at this hour,' he told viewers.

Back in the studio, Michael Strahan said Gutman's admission was 'saying a lot'.

Chief national news correspondent Matt Gutman told viewers he had been advised against appearing live from Union Square or the mall for ABC's 4am Good Morning America segment on Thursday

Westfield in San Francisco (pictured) has announced it is handing the building back to the lender

Downtown San Francisco is known for widespread drug use - particularly fentanyl - and its large homeless population

Earlier this week, Westfield announced it had defaulted on its half-a-billion loan for the building, and was handing it back to the lender, blaming 'unsafe conditions' and a 'lack of enforcement against rampant criminal activity'.

The folding of San Francisco's biggest mall follows the closure of at least 24 major stores in the area, which is known for its fentanyl epidemic, widespread homelessness and rampant crime - even as it remains home to tech billionaires.

Criminal activity in the area has been on the increase this year - with police data showing a 5 percent rise in robberies, arsons, grand theft autos and homicides in 2023 compared with the same period in 2022.

Drug-related deaths also sky-rocketed by 41 percent in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the same time last year, mostly due to fentanyl.

Some 200 people died due to overdoses between January and March - or one death every 10 hours - compared with 142 deaths in those months the previous year in the California city.

Earlier this week, Westfield announced it had defaulted on the $558million loan for the building and is handing it back to the lender, which will appoint a receiver.

The decision was sparked by the decision from Nordstrom, the mall's anchor tenant, to close in August.

Drug-related deaths rocketed by 41 percent in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the same time last year, mostly due to fentanyl.

Crowds of homeless people live in tents on sidewalks in the west coast 'zombie city'

San Francisco Centre generated $455 million in sales in 2019, before the pandemic, but last year, sales were down about a third to $298 million.

Westfield blamed 'unsafe conditions' and 'lack of enforcement against rampant criminal activity' in large part for Nordstrom's departure.

The mall said the 'unprecedented' poor performance in San Francisco was a sharp contrast to the rest of its properties.

San Francisco Centre generated $455 million in sales in 2019, before the pandemic.

Last year, sales were down about a third to $298 million.

Nordstrom occupied 312,000 square feet in the mall: when it closes, Westfield San Francisco will only be 55 percent leased.

What is fentanyl and why is it so dangerous? Fentanyl was originally developed in Belgium in the 1950s to aid cancer patients with their pain management. Given its extreme potency it has become popular amongst recreational drug users. Overdose deaths linked to synthetic opioids like fentanyl jumped from nearly 10,000 in 2015 to nearly 20,000 in 2016 - surpassing common opioid painkillers and heroin for the first time. And drug overdoses killed more than 72,000 people in the US in 2017  a record driven by fentanyl. It is often added to heroin because it creates the same high as the drug, with the effects biologically identical. But it can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin, according to officials in the US. In America, fentanyl is classified as a schedule II drug - indicating it has a strong potential to be abused and can create psychological and physical dependence. Advertisement

Other Westfields are, on average, 93 percent leased.

The mall is a smart and upmarket building, whose other retailers include Bloomingdales, Aesop, Rolex and Sephora.

Westfield's struggles will pile fresh pressure on city leaders, after multiple retailers and hotels shuttered in downtown San Francisco as it continues to battle soaring crime, open drug use and homelessness.

The famously progressive city has been condemned for its 'harm reduction' policies, which critics say have effectively legalized drug taking. Meanwhile, its police department remains short-staffed after woke lawmakers called for defunding in the wake of George Floyd's murder.

Whole Foods, Old Navy, Gap and Office Depot are just some of the stores in the district to announce in recent months that they are closing.

Out of 203 retailers open in 2019 in the city's Union Square area, just 107 are still operating - a drop of 47 percent in just a few pandemic-ravaged years.

The city is in something of a vicious cycle: office workers are now working from home, leaving the downtown area significantly quieter, and making the empty streets more dangerous. The rise in crime then deters people from entering downtown.

And as the downtown empties, the city loses essential tax revenues, and the area becomes less appealing.

The revenue loss to the city caused by decreased property taxes could reach $196 million per year by 2028, according to modeling published in November by the San Francisco Controller's Office.

The best-case scenario from the modeling expects the cost will be nearer to $100 million per year.
A Stanford professor who vanished for three days on a hiking trip before his domestic violence trial claimed he slipped and hit his head on a snowy slope, causing him to become 'disoriented and lost.'

Hunter Fraser, 44, was accused of slamming a door into his girlfriend, hitting her chest with the handle and was scheduled to appear in court on June 9.

However, the chemistry professor went on a solo 40-mile hike in Washington's Olympic National Park on June 5 and failed to return in time for the hearing.

Fraser claimed had every intention of coming back in time but slipped on a snowy slope, hit his head and became concussed.

'I found myself deep in the wilderness, far from any trail. I eventually found a stream and followed it through very dense, steep terrain for many miles,' he said in a statement to DailyMail.com.

The biology professor, who runs a genetics lab at the school, claims he spent the next two days hiking 15 hours each day, adding that he was losing hope but 'knowing that each step I took could bring me one step closer to seeing my daughter again. That is what drove me.'

Hunter Fraser, 44, was accused of slamming a door into his girlfriend , hitting her chest with the handle and was scheduled to appear in court on June 9. A few days prior, he set out on a solo 40-mile hike in Washington's Olympic National Park and went missing

He was supposed to return home on June 7, two days before his court day, but only emerged from the forest on Saturday. He claimed he got a concussion after hitting his head, which made him 'disoriented and lost'

A 90-person team searched for Fraser after finding his car near the Deer Ridge trailhead. They used helicopters, dogs, and ground crews to locate the educator.

Fraser - described by a Stanford official last week as an 'experienced outdoorsman and well supplied' - allegedly 'self-rescued' using the Dosewallips River Trail with the assistance of other hikers and was driven to meet with family, park personnel and medical responders.

After he was found, he was taken to the hospital for treatment, where he was diagnosed with a concussion. A park ranger reportedly told Fraser that he was the first person who 'survive' who had got lost in the park in the last 18 years.

'Every successful search had found the hiker in the first 1-2 days,' he said.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, Fraser continued to deny the charges against him and said that he had 'every intention' of appearing at the court hearing, which he says was postponed before he was reported missing.

'I set out on a solo hike in Washington's Olympic National Park on June 5 and planned to return to my family on June 7, with every intention of attending a court hearing in California on June 9,' he wrote.

'Before I was reported missing, the June 9 court date was postponed by the judge at the request of the accuser. As I have said before, I deny the allegations in that case. I am eager for all the facts to come out in court.'

After he was found, he was taken to the hospital for treatment, where he was diagnosed with a concussion. A park ranger reportedly told Fraser he was the first person who 'survive' after getting lost in the park in the last 18 years (pictured: Olympic National Park)

His criminal case dates back to July 4, 2022, when he got into an argument with his girlfriend of five and a half years at their Stanford apartment while playing a game with his young daughter from a previous relationship.

Fraser is accused of slamming a door into his girlfriend, hitting her chest with the handle. She also claims Fraser threw her to the ground before hitting her with the door.

He was arrested, jailed and charged with a misdemeanor soon after. Prosecutors later refiled the case as a felony.

The victim allegedly suffered fractured ribs from the incident, according to The Stanford Daily.

The professor addressed the accusations in an email to his laboratory after an initial hearing.

'While I am prevented from going into details here while the case is pending, I do want you to know that the allegations against me are untrue,' he wrote.

'At no point in my career or in my personal life has anyone ever made such an accusation or allegation against me before. This has all been incredibly jarring.'

Multiple student groups called for Fraser's removal from Stanford's campus at the time, though he remained at work, with officials declaring it a 'personal matter'

'In our current cultural moment, I realize that my words may stir skepticism, but they are the truth,' he added, asking people to 'allow the process to be fully completed before reaching any conclusions.'

Multiple student groups called for Fraser's removal from campus at the time, though he remained at work, with officials declaring it a 'personal matter,' according to a post made by a petitioner for Fraser to be sent away.

The petition also posted three citations for vandalism and trespassing against Fraser in 2022.

Fraser teaches biology at Stanford and runs the Fraser Laboratory, as well as Bio-X, Stanford's interdisciplinary biosciences institute; the Maternal & Child Health Research Institute; the Stanford Cancer Institute; and the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute.
The hotel, owned by Hyatt, has said it does not believe there was a gas leak

Paramedics said on entering a room they felt dizzy and feared they would die

Paramedics who entered the Mexican resort hotel room where an American couple was mysteriously found dead have said they started feeling dizzy almost immediately and feared they might die.

Abby Lutz, 28, and John Heathco, 40, were discovered unresponsive in their hotel room at the five-star $780-a-night Hotel Rancho Pescadero near Cabo San Lucas on Tuesday.

Paramedic Fernando Valencia and his partner, who was his sister, told ABC they were among the first people to enter the couple's room where Heathco was found in the shower and Lutz in the bed.

Their comments come after it was revealed that the couple was hospitalized days before their passing with what they had thought was food poisoning.

The boutique hotel, which is owned by Hyatt, disputed suggestions there may have been a gas leak, saying in a statement it does 'not believe that the cause of death was related to any issues with the hotel's infrastructure or facilities, including carbon monoxide or a gas of any kind.'

Abby Lutz, 28, and John Heathco, 40, were discovered unresponsive in their hotel room at the five-star, $780-a-night Hotel Rancho Pescadero near Cabo San Lucas

Paramedic Fernando Valencia said he and his partner felt dizzy within minutes of entering the couple's hotel room and thought they may die

Fernando Valencia and his sister are pictured. They were among the first two to enter the hotel room

'My partner and I, we started to feel dizzy and we came out. We went out of the room soon as possible and I was afraid for my partner because my first thought in mind, was are we gonna die?' Fernando told ABC's Good Morning America.

He and his sister were so concerned they sought medical treatment themselves.

'It was one of the worst experiences that I've felt,' he said.

Hotel Rancho Pescadero is located in the village of El Pescadero, by the Pacific Ocean on the Baja California Peninsula.

Heathco and Lutz had been dead for about 10 or 11 hours and when they were found and there were no signs they had been fighting.

The State Attorney General's Office of Baja California Sur said in a statement on Thursday that the cause of death was 'intoxication by substance to be determined.'

Lutz's family say that she had been messaging her father the day before she was found dead, claiming she was feeling sick and had visited a hospital.

'She had been texting her dad and telling him the same thing, that she was feeling sick and went to the hospital, stayed one night on IV, and felt so much better,' her stepmother told ABC.

'She texted him Monday night to say good night, love you, and then we hadn't heard from her again,' she added.

Her stepsister, Gabby Slate, said the family now wants answers: 'We want to know exactly what happened and we just don't know that yet.'

The couple was staying at the $780-a-night Rancho Pescadero hotel in El Pescadero, near Cabo San Lucas

Hotel Rancho Pescadero is located in the village of El Pescadero, by the Pacific Ocean on the Baja California Peninsula

Lutz's family has said they now want answers as to what led to their death in the hotel. The hotel's manager has said he does not believe there was a gas leak but the AG's office said that there was an unidentified intoxicant involved

Abby, 28, with her younger brother, who paid tribute to her on Thursday

In a statement, her sister told DailyMail.com: 'We are shocked and saddened to hear about the passing of our beloved Abby. Abby had an adventurous spirit and a wonderfully kind heart.

'She loved to travel, see new places, and share her zeal for life with those around her. We ask for your thoughts and prayers for our family during this very difficult time.

'In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to GoFundMe to help us lay Abby to rest.'

The most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.

They can often be described as 'flu-like,' according to the CDC. People who are sleeping can however die from carbon monoxide poisoning before they present symptoms.
Two teachers at an elite private school have been stood down after they were allegedly caught having sex in a classroom by a student.

The male and female educators from Aquinas College at Southport on Queensland's Gold Coast were suspended following the incident on Tuesday.

It is alleged the Catholic school teachers were caught on school grounds by a student. An investigation is underway into their conduct.

School principal Marcus Richardson wrote to parents on Thursday afternoon to inform them about 'the behaviour of two staff members while on school grounds'.

Two teachers at Aquinas College (pictured) on the Gold Coast have been stood down after allegedly being caught by a student having sex in a classroom

'This matter is being treated seriously and an investigation is currently underway,' Mr Richardson wrote.

'Please know that we cannot make any public comment on this matter while the investigation is carried out.

'The priority of the college remains the safety and wellbeing of students and staff members. If you have any concerns about this matter, please contact me.'

Aquinas College has about 1,200 students, with parents paying up to $5,700 a year for their child to attend the oldest co-educational Catholic school on the Gold Coast.

The college, which was founded in 1964, has been attended by the likes of former Miss Universe Australia Jesinta Campbell and convicted career criminal Peter Foster.
The father of the two youngest Colombian jungle survivor children has confessed to DailyMail.com that he did cheat on their mom shortly before the astonishing survival ordeal.

Manuel Ranoque, 32, admitted having the affair behind the back of wife Magdalena Mucutuy Valencia, 34  who died in the plane crash and the miraculous survival of her four children for 40 days before they were plucked from the rainforest.

I am made of flesh and bones and make mistakes, Ranoque told DailyMail.com, who exclusively revealed he cheated with a woman while in the Colombian capital Bogota and even brought her back to his indigenous Amazonian community.

Sitting down with us in a Bogota hotel, he confessed: Yes I had a woman, but it was never in order to leave Magdalena.

And he insisted the affair was now over, saying: It was just a one-time thing  what happened, happened.

Manuel Ranoque admitted he cheated on his wife before she died in a small plane crash in the Amazon jungle in Colombia

Exclusive photos show the four siblings, Lesly, 13, Soleiny, nine, Tien Noriel, four, and baby Cristin, one, safe in their hospital beds at a military hospital in Bogota, Colombia

Ranoque has appeared outside the military hospital several times since the children were taken there on Saturday after their astonishing rescue. He has been highly vocal about claiming his rights over all four survivors

The dead woman's brother Dairo told DailyMail.com: 'We didn't know Magdalena was leaving with the children. The most painful thing is my sister never said goodbye to us'

Magdalenas brother Dairo Mucutuy, 30, revealed Ranoque first went to Bogota alleging he was being threatened by a dissident group of FARC guerrillas in his southern tribal area.

But once in the sprawling city sitting 8,600ft above sea level on a plateau in the Andes he had an affair behind the back of his wife of seven years.

Ranoque then took the woman back to their community in the Amazonian village of Araracuara which shattered Magdalena, insisted her brother.

Magdalena died in the plane crash along with the pilot and an Indigenous leader

He later left for Bogota again, but kept the desperate mom dangling with hope that they could re-establish a relationship, Dairo, 30, told us.

And it was that hope amid her partners affair that led her suddenly  and without her familys knowledge  to gather up her children for the fateful light aircraft journey to the town of San Jose del Guaviare en route to the nations capital.

Manuel went back to Bogota, but he left a bag for her and inside was a piece of paper with a phone number, said Dairo.

Magdalena was communicating with him. But we noticed when she talked with him she would hide. And we would sometimes hear her crying.

We believe somehow she was fooled into trying to come to Bogota. We are not exactly sure of the reasons.

Sitting in his hotels lobby, Ranoque illustrated the animosity between the two sides of the family when he said of Dario: Hes bringing these things up. But eventually he will be in a tough situation.

The story that gripped the world tragically began when the engine on the blue and white Cessna light aircraft carrying Magdalena and the four siblings failed and the plane crashed in deep undergrowth on May 1 at Solano, Caqueta, near the Ecuadorian border.

Lesly Jacombaire Mucutuy, 13, Soleiny Jacombaire Mucutuy, nine, Tien Noriel Ronoque Mucutuy, four, and one-year-old Cristin Neriman Ranoque Mucutuy survived the impact and astonishingly managed to stay alive for 40 days in the snake-infested jungle before being rescued.

They remain recovering from their ordeal in a military hospital in Bogota, amid accusations of a custody battle between the mothers side of the family and Ranoque.

Manuel Ranoque initially dodged DailyMail.com's questions about allegations of abuse while standing outside the Bogota hospital where the four children are recuperating. Now he has admitted to cheating on his wife

Magdalena Mucutuy Valencia was left dangling with hope they could mend the relationship, according to her brother

Soldiers of the Colombian Air Force and employees of the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF) give medical attention inside a plane to the surviving children of a Cessna 206 plane crash

However the dad revealed all four are still struggling, to the point where family visits are limited.

They are delicate, they are still sick, he said. I didnt see the two youngest ones today. In fact I havent seen them for four days because of their condition.

They arent well enough for visits. They have flu and headaches.

I hope they get well soon but the lord will have the last say. I havent been told anything about when they can be released from hospital.

Ranoque revealed that even if the children were well enough for visits, he is still banned from seeing the two oldest. Their father is Andres Jacombaire, who DailyMail.com understands is also in Bogota but not in good health.

Im not fighting that because I know I will eventually see Lesly and Soleiny, said Ranoque.

The dad  who has previously been highly vocal about claiming his rights over all four survivors  added: Nor am I going to fight over custody.

But (I will say) that the kids need to be with me. I fought for them while helping to search for them and I have fought for them in their lives.

The four kids need to be with me, not separated.

Manuel Ranoque believes his two children and their half-siblings should not be separated. But he said he would not fight for custody even though he believes they all should be with him

The Cessna crashed into thick jungle in southern Colombia, killing all three adults on board, but the four children all miraculously survived

The four indigenous children are pictured after being rescued. They were missing for six weeks in the Colombian Amazon jungle after the plane crashed

FARC waged a 50-year campaign against the Colombian government in which more than 200,000 people died before agreeing to a ceasefire in 2016. Dissident groups have continued to fight on

Ranoque refused to detail the four childrens first words to him after they were dramatically rescued in a military operation.

I will wait for them to tell their own story, he said. They were so happy to see me because I am part of their life. But let them say that.

Of the public allegation by Magdalenas father Narciso Mucutuy that he had physically assaulted his wife, he insisted: Its not true. A lot of people who have heard this are angry over such a lie.

I could just tell you all pretty things about myself, but you will get the truth from the children when they can speak. I will let the children speak for me.

Meanwhile Ranoque doubled down on his public pronouncements that Magdalena and the children left on the tragic flight because of threats by an armed dissident band of FARC guerrillas operating in their area  despite a public denial by the group.

The dad, who has a community role in the region, told DailyMail.com: Yes, they have threatened me. I cant talk about it. Yes they have threatened to kill me.

He had claimed this week: The Carolina Ramirez front (of FARC) is looking to kill me. I have threats because of them. I am a target.

A baby's bottle was found in the jungle near the crash site. The youngest child Cristin Mucutuy was just 11 months old at the time of the accident, although she has had her first birthday since

I know the whole region. I know that these shameless people can start to put pressure on me with my children and I will not allow that.

But the group that calls itself the Central General Staff and has about 3,500 active fighters categorically denied the claims in a statement.

It said: It is not true and we do not know the reasons for the statements of the father of the minors before the media that the children and wife were fleeing from the region of Puerto Sabala and the Cahuinari river, due to the threats from our units.

The group describes itself as mobile, nomadic guerrillas who reach Indigenous communities in the Colombian southeast with whom they seek friendship.

FARC  the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia  waged a war of terror for 50 years against the Colombian government leading to the deaths of more than 200,000 people. A peace treaty signed in 2016 has largely held but groups of dissidents rejected the accord and refused to disarm.

The Carolina Ramirez Front continues to fight for control of much of the south of the country. The group has been battling another breakaway FARC group and tensions erupted in gunfire last November when two dozen people were killed in a gun battle in Puerto Guzman, 300 miles from Araracuara.

Dairo Mucutuy blasted Ranoque for his comments about being targeted by the guerillas, saying they could put the entire family in danger.

Saying those words is very dangerous, he told us. That is also potentially making us all in the spotlight.

Its a very serious thing to say. There is no evidence he was threatened. But the consequences of his words could create a dangerous situation for all our family.
Boys in Wales have started wearing skirts to school during the current heatwave in protest at their schools' 'no shorts' policies.

With temperatures now firmly above 25C (77F) across much of the UK this week, pupils said they had been sweltering in black trousers during classes.

Some have therefore turned up to lessons wearing skirts instead, which are also part of the school uniform, with the support of their parents who have called on teachers to be more flexible with the dress code.

Oscar Ralph, 13, went into Ysgol Bro Dinefwr in Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, wearing one of his sister Lottie's grey school uniform skirts yesterday saying no-one minded and it was easier to work without 'constantly sitting in trousers'.

Six boys at Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth, in Llanelli, also went in wearing skirts, with one pupil, Levi Smith, 15, saying it was too hot to concentrate wearing trousers and he was sitting important year 10 GCSE exams.

Boys in Wales have started wearing skirts to school during the current heatwave in protest at their schools' 'no shorts' policies (pictured Oscar Ralph from Ysgol Bro Dinefwr in Llandeilo)

Six boys at Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth, in Llanelli, including Dainton Harries (pictured), 14, went into school wearing skirts

Levi said: 'It was frustrating because I could not concentrate it was so hot. I had exams today, yesterday and more tomorrow.

'Six of us went in in skirts we borrowed from friends. The school didn't say anything. We all just carried on as normal.

'It felt much nicer and more comfortable in the heat wearing a skirt. No-one made fun of us.

'I had a Welsh exam today and it was fine. We are not allowed to wear shorts but they can't stop us wearing uniform skirts.'

Levi's mum said parents had asked the school if their sons could wear shorts but had been told no.

She said they risked detention and being sent home if they didn't comply and she would rather Levi wore a skirt than missed school or couldn't concentrate sitting his exams.

Levi's friend Dainton Harries, 14, also wore a skirt. He hopes the school will change its no shorts policy.

'It's been way too hot in black trousers. We aren't breaking the rules wearing skirts. It was cooler wearing a skirt and I felt I could concentrate better.

'Most of the teachers told us they thought it was a good idea. I had Welsh literature GCSE and it was easier to work not being too hot. I have another science GCSE tomorrow and I'm wearing a skirt again.'

Dainton's parents, Rhian and Kalam, said that when they asked the school if he could wear shorts they too were told no.

Rhian said: 'They have a no shorts policy, even though we have asked for a flexible approach. They won't allow them to go in in their PE kit shorts and the poor kids are boiling.

Dainton Harris' (pictured) parents, Rhian and Kalam, said that when they asked the school if he could wear shorts they too were told no

Dainton's friend Levi Smith (pictured), 15, also wore a skirt and said it was too hot to concentrate wearing trousers and he was sitting important year 10 GCSE exams

'They borrowed skirts off girlfriends, but I would quite happily have gone out and bought Dainton a skirt to wear. He is doing GCSEs and couldn't concentrate because it's been so hot this week.

'He sat his Welsh literature exam today wearing a skirt. I am happy about that.'

Dainton's dad, Kalam, urged schools to be more flexible about what all pupils could wear in hot weather and said he didn't understand the reason not to allow PE shorts.

'I am glad my son has the confidence to do this. We rang the school about shorts and they said no. I support him in doing this.'

Oscar said he was the only boy at his school in a skirt but teachers and pupils at Ysgol Bro Dinefwr were supportive and he did not get in trouble or laughed at.

He added: 'We have asked if we can wear shorts and it's their decision that we can't. So I borrowed my sister's skirt.

'There was a bit of fun and jokes about it, but nothing nasty. The teachers said nothing. It was a lot easier to work not being distracted and so hot. In trousers I was constantly sweating.'

Oscar's parents, Hannah and Andrew, admitted they were 'a bit apprehensive' when their son told them what he was wearing to school.

After talking to him, they supported his decision, saying the teenager loved school and didn't want to cause any trouble, but was too hot in trousers.

Hannah said: 'We were not sure if he would get in trouble or made fun of. Shorts are not allowed, but skirts are part of the uniform, so they can't stop him.

She said Oscar borrowed his eight year-old sister Lottie's grey primary school uniform skirt, which was the right colour, but had to be fastened with a safety pin, and he wore it with his usual school shoes, shirt and tie.

Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth, in Llanelli where six boys attended lessons wearing skirts

Ysgol Bro Dinefwr inin Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, where Oscar Ralph, 13, yesterday went into class wearing a skirt

Hannah added: 'I know parents have asked about wearing shorts and have been told no. It's been too hot for trousers, especially black ones.

'He looks a bit like a Celt in a shirt, tie and skirt. He walked the 1.6 miles to school on his own as usual, dressed in a skirt, it's very brave. His friends know about it. They weren't keen to do it too, but I hope he's started a trend.

'I can't think of a rational reason why boys are not allowed to wear shorts when girls are allowed to wear skirts.

It doesn't seem logical. It's a lovely school and he loves it there. It's a very nice school and proof of that is that he's not been reprimanded for wearing a skirt.'

Oscar's dad Andrew, said he was proud of his son for taking a stand and admitted he doubted he would have done the same as a teenager.

He said: 'He has got some bottle. I don't think I could have done this at his age. I am really proud of him. It's crazy not allowing them to wear shorts to school in this weather.'

Andrew, 38, who works in finance, said most work places he knew of had relaxed their dress codes to account for the weather and thought schools should do so too.

School uniforms are a matter for individual school governing bodies, which means some neighbouring schools in the same local education authority area might have had different rules for what pupils were allowed to wear.

The Headteacher of Ysgol Maes y Gwendraeth, Arwyn Thomas, said: 'At Ysgol Maes Y Gwendraeth, as with most secondary schools across Carmarthenshire, we expect all our pupils to wear the formal school uniform.

'As a school community, we will continue to work together to monitor the situation and weather patterns carefully. If there are any changes, parents will be informed through our usual communication channels.'

The Headteacher of Ysgol Bro Dinefwr, Eirian Davies told MailOnline: 'With the weather now warming we will be monitoring the situation in classes and across the school to ensure temperatures are comfortable for everyone.

'We have today allowed pupils the option of wearing their PE kit and will notify parents of any further changes in good time.'
More than 50 million Americans were placed under a severe weather threat on Friday, after a deadly twister killed three in Texas and one in Florida.

Swathes of the country including Montgomery and Mobile in Alabama , Little Rock, Arkansas ; Jackson, Mississippi; and Tallahassee, Florida remain at slight risk of tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds.

At marginal risk of large hail and damaging winds are Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Denver, and Jacksonville, Florida.

In addition huge areas of the South, Mid-Atlantic and Southern Plains could see storms at a level 2 of 5 severity.

A level 1 of 5 risk is also in place for parts of the Mid-Atlantic and from South Dakota to Florida, including twister ravaged Perryton, Texas.

Images revealed the devastation as parts of the town were left in rubble by the twister - while emergency crews searched for survivors

Swathes of the country including Montgomery and Mobile in Alabama , Little Rock, Arkansas ; Jackson, Mississippi; and Tallahassee, Florida remain at slight risk of tornadoes

Three were killed and more than 100 were injured in Perryton when a tornado hit the town at 5:10pm on Thursday.

The victims have now been named as Becky Randall, a woman in her 60s who was found in a print shop; Cindy Bransgrove, a woman also in her 60s who was found in a food bank; and Matthew Ramirez, an 11-year-old boy who was found in a trailer park, the Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard said on Friday.

Perryton fire chief Paul Dutcher said that one person was killed in a mobile home park that took a 'direct hit' from a tornado.

He added that at least 30 trailers were damaged or destroyed.

The Ochiltree General Hospital were treating the injured with some with life-threatening injuries were transferred to larger medical centers in Amarillo, Debbie Beck, the hospital's chief financial officer, said Thursday evening.

First responders from surrounding towns and cities and from neighboring Oklahoma descended on the town, which is home to more than 8,000 people and about 115 miles (185 kilometers) northeast of Amarillo, just south of the Oklahoma line.

Homes were torn apart and left in rubble, while vehicles were overturned and trees had snapped in half.

Perryton's downtown was also struck by the tornado.

About two blocks of businesses were heavily damaged, including an office supply store, a floral shop and a hair salon along the town's Main Street.

A view of a damaged site in Perryton after the town was struck by a tornado, in Texas

Buildings bear severe damage from a tornado in Perryton, Texas, on Thursday

Escambia County, Florida was also hit with flash flooding overnight

Around 150 residents from an apartment block in West Pensacola had to be moved as the water continued to rise on Friday morning

A minivan was shoved into the outer wall of a theater.

'A tornado formed, and it just dropped on us. It came out of nowhere. There were no sirens, no time to get to a shelter,' Perryton resident Jamie James told CNN.

'There was a time I thought I was going to die,' she said.

Adding: 'Everything went crazy. Dumpsters were flying, hailstones hitting the car.'

Another person was killed in Escambia County, Florida after being crushed by a tree that fell on their home, local news reported.

The area was also hit with flash flooding overnight, with some areas receiving more than a foot of rain in just three hours.

Around 150 residents from an apartment block in West Pensacola had to be moved as the water continued to rise on Friday morning, county officials said.

As of 3 a.m. CT on Friday, more than 220,000 homes and businesses across Texas were without power, according to the tracking website Poweroutage.us.

In neighboring Louisiana, more than 130,000 were without power, and outages were also reported in Oklahoma, Florida and Alabama.
Seven people have been arrested in connection with the gristly scheme

Court documents say the couple would keep some of the remains in their home

These images show the inside of a Massachusetts home where a couple allegedly stole and sold human body parts as part of a gruesome black-market business for more than four years.

Cedric Lodge, 55, is accused of taking heads, skin, bones and brains from cadavers donated to Harvard's Medical School  which he had access to as morgue manager.

A federal incitement revealed that 'at times' he would take them to his home in New Hampshire, and his wife Denise, 63, would ship the illicit goods to others in their network using the United States Postal Service.

The couple moved from their four-bedroom and three-bathroom $385,000 property in Manchester to a smaller three-bed and two-bath house in Goffstown in 2020, where they are accused of continuing their gristly scheme.

Lodge is said to have stolen the remains from cadavers donated to the prestigious university for scientific research and education.

Court documents state that Denise sent 'stolen human remains' from Manchester (pictured) to Montgomery, Pennsylvania, in 2018 and 2019  before the couple moved

Images from the time the couple sold their Manchester home show at least three fridges in the property  one in the bedroom and two in the kitchen

He had worked at Harvard since 1995 until the Medical School terminated his employment on May 6 this year.

Family members of those whose body parts were taken have branded the scheme as 'unthinkable' and are demanding their relative's remains are returned.

Court documents state that Denise sent 'stolen human remains' from Manchester to Montgomery, Pennsylvania, in 2018 and 2019  before the couple moved.

Images from the time the couple sold their Manchester home show at least three fridges in the property  one in the bedroom and two in the kitchen.

It is unclear exactly where or how they stored the stolen cadavers, as authorities have not yet revealed further details in the case.

However, the home also boasts a large shed at the rear of the property, as well as a BBQ area  with images also showing their gothic decor.

Various gargoyles are littered around the property, as well as an occult wine rack, and other dark and obscure trinkets on display in glass cabinets.

Lodge and his wife were released on conditions after appearing in federal court in New Hampshire.

He is accused of selling the remains to Katrina MacLean, a doll maker from Salem, Massachusetts, and Joshua Taylor of Pennsylvania.

Cedric Lodge (pictured), 55, is accused of taking heads, skin, bones and brains from cadavers donated to Harvard's Medical School  which he had access to as morgue manager

Various gargoyles are littered around the property, as well as an occult wine rack, and other dark and obscure trinkets on display in glass cabinets

From 3 September 2018, through to 12 July 2021, Taylor sent 39 transactions through PayPal to Denise Lodge for a total of $37,355.56

One payment of $1,000 was referenced as being for 'head number7', while another in November 2020 was sent for 'braiiiiins'  which cost $200

Taylor pleaded not guilty to the charges in Pennsylvania on Wednesday and was also released.

On more than one occasion Lodge is accused of allowing the pair access to the morgue to choose what remains to purchase.

Pauley, 40, had previously been arrested and charged for abuse of a corpse, receiving stolen property and dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities

From 3 September 2018, through to 12 July 2021, Taylor sent 39 transactions through PayPal to Denise Lodge for a total of $37,355.56.

One payment of $1,000 was referenced as being for 'head number7', while another in November 2020 was sent for 'braiiiiins'  which cost $200.

Taylor also allegedly went on to sell the body parts to Jeremy Pauley, of Enola and Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, who was another link in the grisly web.

Pauley sent Taylor a total of 25 payments through PayPal for $40,049 from at least April 2021 to January 2022.

MacLean owned and operated a business called Kat's Creepy Creations in Peabody, Massachusetts, where she stored and sold the remains.

The 44-year-old appeared in federal court in Boston Wednesday afternoon, where she was charged with transporting stolen goods and granted bail.

Lodge and his wife were released on conditions after appearing in federal court in New Hampshire

The couple moved from their four-bedroom and three-bathroom $385,000 property in Manchester to a smaller three-bed and two-bath house in Goffstown (pictured) in 2020

Pauley sent Taylor a total of 25 payments through PayPal for $40,049 from at least April 2021 to January 2022

His wife Denise, 63, is accused of shipping the illicit goods to others in their network using the United States Postal Service

She is also accused of selling the remains to buyers in multiple states - including to Jeremy Pauley.

In October 2020 Maclean sold two dissected faces and skin to Pauley for $600, who was hired to tan the skin and make it into leather before shipping it back to MacLean.

Candace Chapman Scott, 36, also allegedly stole remains from her employer, a Little Rock, Arkansas mortuary and crematorium

MacLean then allegedly shipped human skin to Pauley in June or July 2021 so he could tan the leather.

She is also said to have contacted Lodge to get more human skin to Pauley, with the morgue manager searching for the organ for her.

Pauley, 41, received the skin as payment for tanning the other skin, with MacLean messaging him to check it arrived because she 'wanted to make sure it got' to him and she didn't 'expect agents at the door', the indictment read.

In total he paid her $8,800 in October 2021 for the stolen human remains, as well as also exchanging body parts with a morgue worker from Arkansas.

Candace Chapman Scott, 36, also allegedly stole remains from her employer, a Little Rock, Arkansas mortuary and crematorium.

She is accused, in a separate indictment, of stealing parts of cadavers she was supposed to cremate, as well as the corpses of two stillborn babies.

In October 2020 Maclean sold two dissected faces and skin to Pauley for $600, who was hired to tan the skin and make it into leather before shipping it back to MacLean

Pauley (pictured) is accused of reselling the remains he received to others, including tattoo artist Matthew Lampi

Cedric Lodge is said to have stolen remains from cadavers donated to Harvard Medical School for scientific research and education

Scott allegedly sold the stolen remains to Pauley and shipped them to him, after they connected on Facebook.

She is facing 12 criminal counts: one count each of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud; four counts each of mail fraud and wire fraud; and one count each of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and interstate transportation of stolen property.

Court records show she has been held without bail since April and was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.

Pauley is accused of reselling the remains he received to others, including tattoo artist Matthew Lampi.

Lampi, 52, of East Bethel, Minnesota, and Pauley bought and sold from each other over an extended period of time and exchanged over $100,000 in online payments.

If convicted of conspiracy and interstate transport of stolen goods, the seven defendants face as long as 15 years in prison, according to the US Attorney's office in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Pauley agreed in May to admit guilt to one count of interstate transportation of stolen property and a second count of conspiracy. The agreement doesn't specify what sentence federal prosecutors will recommend.

Alleged buyer Katrina MacLean, of Salem, Massachusetts, owned and operated a business called Kat's Creepy Creations in Peabody, Massachusetts

MacLean, 44, (pictured) appeared in federal court in Boston Wednesday afternoon, where she was charged with transporting stolen goods and granted bail

Maclean is also accused of selling on the remains he obtained to other buyers in multiple states

Harvard is now working with federal authorities to determine which donors may have been affected and have set up a hotline for donors' families to access information and support.

The school insist that no other employees at the school are facing charges or are suspected of any wrongdoing.

In a statement George Q. Daley, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Harvard described Lodge's behavior as 'an abhorrent betrayal' and 'morally reprehensible.'

'We are appalled to learn that something so disturbing could happen on our campus  a community dedicated to healing and serving others.

'The reported incidents are a betrayal of HMS and, most importantly, each of the individuals who altruistically chose to will their bodies to HMS through the Anatomical Gift Program to advance medical education and research.'

Adding: 'We are so very sorry for the pain this news will cause for our anatomical donors' families and loved ones, and HMS pledges to engage with them during this deeply distressing time.'
Athens, June 16 (UNI) The Hellenic Coast Guard has detained nine people allegedly involved in illegal migrant smuggling and responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people in a shipwreck off the Peloponnese, Greek media reported Thursday.

The coast guard has detained nine Egyptian-born alleged "human traffickers and participants in an illegal slave trade network that led to the deaths of hundreds of people" after a long preliminary investigation, the ERT broadcaster reported. Those detained have been charged with forming a criminal organization and illegal immigration, the report said, adding that the captain of the fishing boat that sank has drowned.

A Greek prosecutor demanded that some witnesses remain in the city of Kalamata of the Peloponnese, where they had been taken after the shipwreck, and not be moved with the rest of the migrants to a migrant center in the village of Malakasa so that they would be available for justice, the report said.

The gang of human traffickers had a page on social media where desperate migrants and refugees turned in search of a way to make it to the EU, the report said. Migrant smugglers were pricing the passage to Europe between $4,000 and $6,000 per person.

The broadcaster, citing survivors, reported that the boat did not set out from Libya but from Egypt. It sailed empty from Egypt, made a stop in Libya to pick up between 500 and 700 migrants, including dozens of women and children, and then sailed to Italy. The broadcaster reported that the shipwreck is developing into one of the greatest tragedies in Mediterranean waters as there are fewer and fewer chances of finding survivors since not a single person have been found in the past 24 hours, and the coast guard officers have been pulling only bodies from the sea.

People from all over Europe were arriving in Kalamata in search of their relatives and loved ones on the list of survivors and missing persons, the media reported.

On Wednesday night, the fishing boat carrying migrants capsized in international waters 47 nautical miles southwest of the Greek town of Pylos. The boat was heading from the Tobruk area in eastern Libya to Italy. A large-scale search and rescue operation was launched under the coordination of the Joint Rescue Coordination Center.

Greek media reported later in the day that at least 78 people had died in the migrant shipwreck, with over 100 rescued.

The International Organization for Migration said the boat was carrying at least 400 migrants, while the survivors estimated that 700 migrants had been on board.

UNI/SPUTNIK AKS
Alfred University has agreed to close its Confucius Institute following outrage over national security concerns by House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mike Gallagher.

Gallagher, R-Wis., wrote to the university last month, demanding more information on the New York school's Confucius Institute and five-year $13.5 million taxpayer-funded research grant in 2022 to by the Pentagon to conduct hypersonic weapons research.

In a June 13 letter obtained by DailyMail.com, university attorney Robert Fisher responded to Gallagher saying Alfred University has decided to close the Confucius Institute 'as of June 30, 2023.'

The response comes after Gallagher warned that the university would be in violation of the law in October if it did not close its institute due to conditions in the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). According to the law, the Pentagon is prohibited from providing money to 'institution[s] of higher education that hosts a Confucius Institute' after October 1, 2023.

Gallagher told DailyMail.com that he's 'glad' to see Alfred University 'finally doing the right thing' and shutting down its institute, but called it only 'one tool in the CCP's toolbox' to gain access to U.S. research and technologies.

Gallagher writes that he has major security concerns regarding a five-year grant by Department of Defense to the university in 2022 to conduct hypersonic weapons research

Gallagher had also told pointed out to Alfred that since the 2021 NDAA passage, over 100 U.S. universities shut down their Confucius Institutes

'We're going to continue to dig into the facts to make sure that no American taxpayer dollars are supporting research partnerships that the CCP can exploit for its own purposes.'

Gallagher had also told pointed out to Alfred that since the 2021 NDAA passage, over 100 U.S. universities shut down their Confucius Institutes.

As of March 2023, the National Association of Scholars counts a total of 13 Confucius Institutes in the U.S. - with over 108 closing or in the process of closing.

According to its website, the Confucius Institute at Alfred University (CIAU) has a mission to 'encourage and enable people to discover the fascinating language and rich culture of China.'

'We serve as a platform for cultural exchange, as well as a bridge of friendship and cooperation between Chinese and American people,' it continues. The institute hosts numerous events throughout the year including a recent spring 2023 festival and dance competition.

Gallagher wrote in his original correspondence that, 'to put it plainly,' the university - based in western New York - is conducting 'advanced, hypersonic weapons-related research while actively partnering with a Chinese university that performs similar research for the PLA.

'We seek additional information regarding this alarming matter and Alfred's commitment to safeguard sensitive U.S. military research,' Gallagher said.

The university attorney replied to those concerns in its June 13 letter, saying Alfred 'takes very seriously the issue of protecting intellectual property and improper technology export.'

In addition, the university regularly works with the Department of Commerce and the FBI to 'strengthen export control policies and processes.'

Gallagher's committee is also keeping a close eye on four additional universities who host a Confucius Institute and have been awarded a DOD grant - University of Toledo, University of Utah, St. Cloud State University and Wesleyan College.

In 2019, the FBI found that 'foreign state adversaries seek to illicitly or illegitimately acquire U.S. academic research and information to advance their scientific, economic, and military development goals.

FBI Director Chris Wray outlined the threat in a 2020 speech, saying China pays scientists at U.S. universities to 'secretly bring our knowledge and innovation back to Chinaincluding valuable, federally funded research.'

Gallagher states that 'to put it plainly,' the university - based in western New York - is conducting 'advanced, hypersonic weapons-related research while actively partnering with a Chinese university that performs similar research for the PLA

He says the FBI is seeing an increase in these cases, pointing to a few recent arrests of Chinese researchers at the Cleveland Clinic and at the University of Arkansas who were allegedly committing fraud by concealing their participation in Chinese talent recruitment programs while 'accepting millions of dollars in American federal grant funding.'

China's infiltration into universities is just the tip of the spear.

In April, two individuals were arrested for operating illegal overseas police station in lower Manhattan, at the direction of the Chinese Government.

The defendants worked together to establish the 'first overseas police station in the United States' on behalf of the Fuzhou branch of the CCP.

'It is simply outrageous that China's Ministry of Public Security thinks it can get away with establishing a secret, illegal police station on U.S. soil to aid its efforts to export repression and subvert our rule of law,' Acting Assistant Director Kurt Ronnow of the FBI Counterintelligence Division said in April.
Fox News is reportedly finalizing a settlement with producer Abby Grossberg after she sued the network over claims Tucker Carlson's team was plagued by 'sexism, bullying and anti-Semitism.'

Grossberg, who worked at Fox for four years before her dramatic exit, accused Carlson of fostering an environment rife with harassment and bullying.

She further alleged that executives at the network coerced her into lying in her deposition in the Dominion Voting System which successfully sued Fox for airing false claims the 2020 election was rigged.

Sources told CNN's Oliver Darcy Thursday that Fox was 'on the verge of settling' with Grossberg and that she was in the 'final stages of ironing out a settlement.' It is not clear how much the agreement is worth.

It comes after she announced that she was suing the network in March, alleging that Carlson created a culture where 'unprofessionalism reigned supreme, and the staffs distaste and disdain for women infiltrated almost every workday decision.'

Fox News is reportedly finalizing a settlement with former booking producer, Abby Grossberg, who filed two bombshell lawsuits against the network in March

Grossberg, who was fired by Fox shortly after suing the network, alleged Tucker Carlson (pictured) enabled a work environment rife with sexism, harassment, antisemitism and bullying

Abby Grossberg's settlement will mark the fourth case in a series of recent lawsuits that the billionaire owners of Fox News, Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, have settled

Darcy said in Thursday's Reliable Sources newsletter: 'while the deal is close to being finalized, last-minute hiccups are always possible.'

'How much Fox News ultimately agrees to pay Grossberg to end the ugly dispute remains to be seen,' he added.

However, the amount may become public at some point in time, he said, 'given that New York law makes it exceptionally difficult for settlements of employment lawsuits containing sexual harassment claims to remain entirely confidential.'

Grossberg, who was fired by Fox shortly after suing the network, alleged in her complaint that the network was rife with sexism, harassment, antisemitism and bullying.

In another lawsuit Grossberg filed against Fox News, which was filed before the network's $787.5 million Dominion Defamation settlement, Grossberg alleged that Fox News lawyers had tried to make her take the blame for the network's promotion of misinformation about the 2020 election and airing conspiracy theories about Dominion voting systems.

Grossberg worked as a senior booking producer for Maria Bartiromo before getting promoted to head of booking on Tucker Carlson Tonight.

Grossberg said she wanted to join Carlson's show because it was a promotion from her previous position working for Maria Bartiromo, and she got a good feeling about the staff when she interviewed.

But she said she immediately came to realize Tucker Carlson enabled a culture of misogynistic and sexist behavior.

Grossberg claimed to have been overlooked at the company and denied promotions as a women. have ninety recordings from her time at the network proving her allegations.

She also noted several derogatory statement from Fox News executives, in one instance, a colleague referring to the 'Sunday Mornings Futures' host as a 'crazy b**ch' and 'menopausal.'

She described the office she worked in as filed with photos of Nancy Pelosi in a revealing bathing suit with her cleavage on display, with her colleagues openly making offensive Jewish jokes.

Insiders have suggested that her lawsuit alleging bullying, sexism and anti-Semitism among Carlson's senior staff coupled with his own 'derogatory' remarks about senior News Corp executives is what is said to have led Rupert Murdoch to fire the star host.

Grossberg also claims she was pressured by Fox lawyers into lying or downplaying her concerns about Dominion. Fox has vigorously refuted those claims

McCaskill was described by Carlson as 'one of the most capable people in the building'

According to her 79-page discrimination suit, Grossberg claims she was personally subjected to anti-Semitism by Alexander McCaskill, a senior producer, because he installed a 'preposterous Christmas' display in the booking area despite knowing she was Jewish, along with a sign that read 'Hanukah bush' which she took as a personal insult.

McCaskill, according to the lawsuit, also tormented another Jewish employee for buying lunch from Breads Bakery, which Grossberg claims he called the 'Jew bakery'.

McCaskill resigned this week, just 24 hours after Tuesday night's controversial broadcast, Carlson said - claiming the executives 'panicked'.

The chyron was on the screen for less than 30 seconds, but sparked widespread anger as it accused Biden of attempting to imprison his rival, Donald Trump.

Alexander McCaskill, a producer on Fox News, resigned following the 'wannabe dictator' controversy

Grossberg first filed the lawsuit against network executives in a Delaware state court in March. Rupert Murdoch, the chair of the FOX Corporation and Executive Chairman of News Corp, is pictured here in 2019

Grossberg also claims that while deciding the framework of Carlson's primetime show, producers chose female guests based on their appearance and made inappropriate remarks about women colleagues.

In general, she claims there was a 'pervasive' culture of misogyny at the show, and she was 'ignored' when she suggested balancing segments by adding female guests.

Grossberg at one point insisted that Fox News had not turned over evidence related to Dominion's lawsuit, which led to the judge's decision to appoint a special master to investigate and watch over Fox to make sure they were following orders.

She described a 'crass and sexist discussion' about whether Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was 'hotter or more f****ble' than her Republican rival Tudor Dixon, and also claims there were frequent discussions where 'unprofessionalism reigned supreme'.

Grossberg also claims she was pressured by Fox attorneys not to share incriminating information while being grilled as part of the Dominion lawsuit.

That specific claim has been vigorously refuted by Fox.

'FOX News engaged an independent outside counsel to immediately investigate the concerns raised by Ms. Grossberg, which were made following a critical performance review.

'Her allegations in connection with the Dominion case are baseless and we will continue to vigorously defend Fox against her unmeritorious legal claims which are riddled with false allegations against the network and our employees,' a network spokesman told DailyMail.com last month.

Despite Fox News previously arguing that Grossberg's lawsuit was 'riddled with false allegations,' Grossberg and Fox are reportedly on the 'verge of settling.'

The settlement will mark the fourth major lawsuit facing Fox News.

The amount Grossberg and Fox settled for is not yet public, however it is expecte to be revealed soon.
The payments being investigated - $5 million to Joe and $5 million to Hunter - are allegedly outlined in an internal FBI FD-1023 form

Biden family business associate Devon Archer is cooperating with House Republicans who are investigating an alleged $10 million bribery payment from a top Ukrainian gas company executive to Joe and Hunter Biden.

The news of Archer's cooperation comes after House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer subpoenaed him on Monday, saying his testimony is 'critical' to the Republicans' investigation based on his deep ties to Biden family business deals internationally - including in Ukraine - and demanded him to appear for a deposition by Friday.

A committee aide confirmed to DailyMail.com that the deposition isn't happening today, but the committee is in contact with Archer's attorney about having him appear another day.

The payments being investigated - $5 million to Joe and $5 million to Hunter - are allegedly outlined in an internal FBI FD-1023 form created in 2020 based off information from a well-paid FBI informant. A 'highly credible' whistleblower sounded the alarm on the form detailing the alleged $10 million total 'arrangement' for an exchange of money for policy decisions with a Burisma Holdings Limited executive.

A source familiar told DailyMail.com that the Burisma executive says he didn't pay the 'Big Guy' directly - referring to Joe Biden - but used so many bank accounts that it would take 10 years to unravel.

A committee aide confirmed to DailyMail.com that the deposition with Archer (left) isn't happening today, but the committee is in contact with Archer's attorney about having him appear another day

Oversight Chair James Comer also claimed this week that he will soon obtain bank records showing the Biden family accepted upwards of $20 to $30 million from foreign nationals.

Biden was asked about being referred to the 'Big Guy' in the FD-1023 form during an event at the White House Thursday.

'Why did the Ukraine informant file refer to you as the Big Guy?,' a reporter asked the president.

'Why did you ask such a dumb question?' Biden snapped back.

Earlier this week, GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley said the Burisma executive has kept 17 audio recordings of phone calls as an 'insurance policy' - 15 on Hunter and two on Joe.

Comer also claimed this week that he will soon obtain bank records showing the Biden family accepted upwards of $20 to $30 million from foreign nationals.

'We have more bank records coming in going to exceed $10 million, this week. And I think we will get between $20 and 30 million,' Comer, R-Ky., told Fox Business' Maria Bartiromo.

After a long back-and-forth between the FBI and congressional Republicans, including a threat of holding the FBI Director Chris Wray in contempt of Congress, the agency finally allowed a redacted version of the FD-1023 form to be viewed by lawmakers in a secure setting last week.

Last month Comer and his team released a 'Second Records Memorandum' that expands on information it received from subpoena returns as the committee continues its investigation into the Biden family's business practices.

The memo specifically outlines ties to Romanian 'influence peddling' and a web of LLCs created while Biden was vice president. It also accuses Biden of a 'lack of transparency' regarding his family's receipt of funds from China, which he has said are 'not true.'

During Biden's time as vice president, there were 20 companies affiliated with family members created intentionally with a 'complicated corporate structure' the memo states.

Hunter Biden and his associates, including Rob Walker, formed 'at least 15' of those companies, after Biden took the office of the vice president in 2009.

Several of those entities including Owasco P.C. - which Hunter owned - Hudson West III, LLC, Robinson Walker, LLC, and Rosemont Seneca Bohai, LLC, accepted funds from foreign companies ranging from $5,000 to $3 million, the committee said.

This specifically is 'evidence of influence peddling and a correlation between Biden family and their business associates' work, allege the Republicans who point to multiple anti-corruption speeches and meetings with Romanian leaders then-Vice President Biden engaged in between 2014 and 2015.

Biden family business associate Devon Archer is cooperating with House Republicans

The payments being investigated - $5 million to Joe and $5 million to Hunter - are allegedly outlined in an internal FBI FD-1023 form created in 2020 based off information from a well-paid FBI informant

The Romanian transactions outlined in the bank records released by the committee were from Cypriot - a company controlled by Gabriel Popoviciu, who was at the time under investigation for criminal corruption in Romania and later convicted for bribery-related offenses.

Between 2015 and 2017, Robinson Walker, LLC received $3 million from Bladon Enterprises Limited - Popoviciu's Cypriot company - which was then paid out to Biden family members in a total sum of over $1 million.

The first payments were received by the LLC just weeks after then-Vice President Biden hosted Romanian President Klaus Iohannis to the White House and they discussed anti-corruption policies.

Biden family accounts gained $1.038 million from Robinson Walker, LLC in a series of 17 deposits, 16 of which were made while Biden was still in the White House. The payments went to associate James Gilliar, Hunter Biden, Hallie Biden, Owasco LLC and an 'unknown Biden bank account.'

'It appears from bank records the Bidens were using Robinson Walker, LLC to conceal that the source of these payments was Popovici,' the memo says.

According to emails from Hunter's laptop obtained by DailyMail.com, Popoviciu hired the president's son in 2016 as part of an influence campaign to persuade anti-corruption prosecutors to cut a deal or drop the case - all while his father was sitting vice president.

The memo also 'serves as a response to misinformation' Republicans say has been spread by President Biden, Democrats in Congress and their allies regarding the China-connected findings in a first memo released last month.

On March 16, Comer released a 'First Bank Records Memorandum' detailing a payment of $3 million in 2017 received by Biden family associate Rob Walker from a CEFC China Energy-linked firm State Energy HK Limited.

About $1 million of that money was then passed from Walker to several Biden family members - including Hallie Biden - in more than 15 incremental payments.
A police officer was today carried from a block of flats with blood covering his head and neck before being airlifted to hospital - as a 48-year-old man was arrested.

The unnamed officer, a police constable in his 50s, was in a serious condition in hospital after the assault took place at around 8pm last night in Maidstone, Kent.

Officers from Kent Police were attending the address in Maidstone when the officer was attacked.

The officer was airlifted to a London hospital with stab wounds. He has since been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home.

A 48-year-old suspect, who is from Maidstone, was arrested and remains in custody while enquiries continue.

The assault took place at around 8pm last night when officers from Kent Police were attending an address in Maidstone

Kent Police deputy chief constable Peter Ayling said: 'This horrific assault shows us once again that policing can, at times, be dangerous and unpredictable.

'In Kent Police any assault on a police officer going about their duty is entirely unacceptable and will be met with the full force of pursuit and investigation.

'Our thoughts are with the officer and his family at this time.'

The stabbing took place at a two former Edwardian town houses converted into flats on the edge of a modern industrial estate including car showrooms and offices.

One neighbour who lives in the flat below the suspect said she saw the officer - who she thought was in his 50s - being taken out of the building in Albion Place in a wheelchair.

The 23-year-old office worker said: 'I'd seen the one police car come by and then I saw it parked up round the back of the building around 8pm

'I could hear a rhythmic banging coming from upstairs. It sounded like someone was trying to bang the door down.

'Then I heard this noise like someone was being dragged across the floor.

'After about half an hour my partner was going to go up there and say something, but then we saw a flood of police officers enter the flat.

'Later on a police officer was brought out of the building in a wheel chair.

'He had blood on his head and the back of his neck, and a bandage wrapped around his head.

'He was an older man - in his 50s I'd say.

'Then we saw our neighbour being taken out in handcuffs. He was shirtless and his hair was scruffy and he had a big beard.

'That must've been around 10pm. Then forensics arrived about 11:30pm.'

The 23-year-old, who lives in the flat with her partner, said she has never spoken to the man before.

She added: 'We do get the occasional banging from upstairs but never anything more than that.

'We've never had any trouble from him. I think he lives there on his own.

'The police have come round for him before though.'

The officer was airlifted to a London hospital with stab wounds and remains there in a serious but stable condition (file image of two police officers)

Another neighbour in the block of flats said she saw a man with long hair enter the flats around 5pm on Thursday - wearing nothing but a thong and a mesh vest.

The 22-year-old woman, who asked not to be named, said: 'There was a man who went into the flats upstairs around 5pm who was a bit odd.

'He had long hair and he wasn't wearing anything except a thong and a mesh vest.

'I hadn't seen him round here before.

'So when I heard six police cars go by later on I assumed they were here for him, because he went into the flat they surrounded.

'The police said they've arrested a 48-year-old man and he looked as though he could've been that age.'

The 22-year-old, who has lived in the block of flats for five months, said there's rarely any trouble in the area.

She added: 'I've never seen police around here before.

'You occasionally get people hanging around the back, but there's not normally any trouble.

'I thought it was a safe place to live but now I'm not so sure.'

One police car remains parked around the back of the building today.

In a statement, Kent Police said: 'A man has been arrested after an officer was assaulted in Maidstone.

'Officers were attending an address in Albion Place at around 8pm on Thursday 15 June 2023 when the assault took place.

'The officer was airlifted to a London hospital with injuries consistent with stab wounds.

'He remains there in a serious but stable condition.

'A 48-year old man from Maidstone was arrested and remains in custody while enquiries continue.'
Two Utah news anchors have said they feel 'duped' and 'sickened' after interviewing grief author Kouri Richins who is now accused of murdering her husband with fentanyl-tainted Moscow Mule.

Deena Manzanares and Surae Chinn, the hosts of KTVX's 'Good Things Utah', also revealed the 33-year-old Utah mother-of-three had blamed Covid for his death during her 'cold' and 'stumbling' on-air conversation with the channel in March.

Mormon former real estate agent Richins has been held in Summit County Jail since she was arrested on May 8 and charged with criminal homicide, aggravated murder and three counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Prosecutors claim she killed her husband of nine years Eric Richins with a cocktail laced with poison on March 3, 2022, before publishing an illustrated children's book about an angelic father watching over his sons.

The 39-year-old ranch farmer was found dead at the foot of his bed at their home in the town of Kamas, near Park City, on March 4 last year.

Mormon former real estate agent Richins, pictured with her late husband, has been held in Summit County Jail since her arrest on May 8 charged with criminal homicide, aggravated murder and three counts of possession of a controlled substance

Her illustrated children's book about an angelic father watching over his sons, Are You With Me? was on sale for $14.99

Manzanares and Chinn told Fox News they felt disturbed by their interview with the grief author on April 4 last year in light of what has unfolded since.

'I definitely feel like we were duped, in a sense,' Chinn said. 'I'm sickened now that she sat on our couch and talked about grieving.

'We showed so much compassion and empathy for what seemingly looked like a mourning widow.'

Richins first approached Good Things Utah requesting to be a guest on the show in an email which Manzanares said was 'all about the promotion of her children's book' - adding she 'seemed 'excited to get that 15 minutes of fame'.

Manzanares described Richins' demeanor on set as 'cold' and 'stumbling' - but hosts put this down to her struggling with grief.

'She was a little bit cold, she wasn't super emotional, but we're trained to show our guests in the best light, we were trying to be on their side, and I'm thinking, she's probably numb, this has only happened a year ago,' she said.

'She was nervous, she was stumbling over her words, I thought it was nervous to be on live TV - but now I think she was nervous because she was lying.'

Manzanares added that when the camera stopped rolling, she asked Richins what she thought happened to her husband - whose cause of death was then ambiguous - and she replied: 'Oh, we think it was Covid-related, he had a lung issue'.

Eric's family told investigators shortly after he died they suspected Richins had killed the father-of-three. Pictured: Kouri and Eric Richins with their three children

The Mosow Mule 'killer' Kouri Richins who wrote a book for children about coping with grief after her husband's death reportedly Googled 'luxury prisons for the rich' after his murder

Kouri Richins, the mother-of-three accused of poisoning her husband in Utah, appeared calm as she listened to the arguments for and against bail

Shortly after the interview aired, the show received messages warning them that Richins was 'not everything she appears to be', with an anonymous email telling them: 'You know she killed her husband?'

The hosts said they thought the warning was 'bizarre' and they 'didn't think anything of it' because they are accustomed to receiving the 'occasional crazy email'.

'I never in a million years would have thought this was all coming over the next months,' Manzanares said. 'It's truly shocking.'

Richins, who has three sons - Carter, 9, Ashton, 7, and Weston, 5 - allegedly killed her husband of nine years on March 3 last year, and was promoting her $14.99 grief book, Are You With Me? the month before her arrest on May 8 this year.

Police believe she gave Eric, who was a ranch farmer, a lethal dose of fentanyl disguised in a Moscow Mule - a cocktail comprising vodka, ginger beer and lime juice.

According to a search warrant, Kouri procured the drugs by texting a friend asking for 'the Michael Jackson' stuff in an apparent reference to fentanyl, claiming they were for a real estate investor who had a back injury.

Jackson was killed in 2009 by a cocktail of prescription drugs like OxyContin and Demerol.

Prosecutors have said that in the months before, Richins tried to make herself the sole beneficiary of her husband's life insurance policy.

But Eric had changed his will and power of attorney to give his sister, Katie Richins-Benson, 38, full control, because according to a police warrant he had been worried his wife might 'kill him for money'.

In May, the DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that Kouri launched a legal dispute against his family within weeks of his death to secure an estate valued in excess of $3.6 million.

She claimed that Eric had tried to 'defraud' her by secretly transferring the family home, all personal property and interest in the masonry business he ran with friend and partner, Cody Wright, into a Trust owned by his sister in November 2020.

Richins also took out multiple life insurance policies on him worth close to $2 million, and attempted to 'drill into his safe' just 48 hours after he died, his family has said.

Deena Manzanares and Surae Chinn, the hosts of KTVX's 'Good Things Utah', spoke with Richins about her book on the show on April 4 last year - before she became the main suspect in her husband's murder trial

A medical examiner said they found five times the lethal dose of fentanyl - a painkiller 100 times stronger than morphine - in Eric's system after he died on March 4 last year. Pictured: Richins and Eric with one of their sons

Prosecutors say Eric found out that his wife had taken out a $250,000 home equity line of credit and spent it in the months leading up to his death

Richins and her husband had been arguing about her plans to purchase and flip a 10-acre $2 million home, pictured here, in the days before he was found dead

She also allegedly attempted to poison him on several other occasions - including in February 2022 when Eric broke out in hives after consuming a sandwich which Richins had placed on the seat of his truck alongside a love note on Valentine's Day.

In the days before Eric died, the couple had also been arguing about Richins' plans to purchase and flip a $2 million home in the days before, according to court documents.

On March 4 - the day before the alleged murder - Kouri signed the closing papers on the 10-acre property and invited her friends over for a party at her house where she was drinking and celebrating, affidavits for search warrants show.

This week, Richins broke down in tears in court as she claimed that prosecutors had no evidence against her.

Third District Judge Richard Mrazik ruled that she posed a 'substantial danger' after prosecutors called a series of witnesses arguing that she had committed a 'disturbingly calculated' murder.
This is the first photograph of the Nottingham triple murder suspect - snapped when he shared a student flat in the city last year.

Valdo Calocane, 31, was today charged with murdering 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and school caretaker Ian Coates, 65. They were stabbed to death in Nottingham on Tuesday morning.

He has also been charged with three counts of attempted murder after allegedly driving Mr Coates' van into three pedestrians later that morning. One of them was left critically injured but is now stable.

In a video taken inside the flat at Madison Court, Raleigh Park, Nottingham in January 2022, Calocane can be seen holding a flatmate in a headlock during horseplay.

The former flatmate, a 21-year-old business management student at the University of Nottingham, said Calocane - a mature mechanical engineering student at the same university - did not mix well with his contemporaries, who were all much younger.

Valdo Calocane, 31, was today charged with three counts of murder and three of attempted murder

In a video taken inside the flat at Madison Court, Raleigh Park, Nottingham in January 2022, Calocane can be seen holding a flatmate in a headlock during horseplay

'At first we just thought he was quiet,' said the former flatmate, who asked not to be named.

'He would knock on your door in the middle of the night and say ''did you hear that screaming?''

'One time he walked right into my flatmate's room and he woke up to find Valdo just looking at him.'

Calocane - who was born in Guinea-Bissau in West Africa but brought up in Wales - was described as unfriendly and untalkative.

'He was always morose and really silent with us, but a girl we knew said she ran into him at a nightclub and he was completely manic,' his former flatmate continued.

'It was a shock when I saw his name published as the suspect yesterday.

'The location of the murder is only a two-minute walk from the flat we shared at Madison Court, Raleigh Park in a student residence block.'

Valdo first moved into the 6,000-a-year shared flat a month in around October 2021, about a month into the university term.

Grace O'Malley-Kumar, 19, was one of two University of Nottingham students who was stabbed to death while walking home after a night out at 4am on Tuesday

Barnaby Webber, a university student, was walking home with Grace after a night out when they were attacked

Caretaker Ian Coates, 65, was stabbed to death before the suspect allegedly stole his van and ploughed into three people at a bus stop

Forensic police investigating a van parked on Bentinck road on June 13

'Our first impression was that he was just a mature student who didn't want to speak to younger ones like us but if we made a noise, as students do, he'd burst in and just say ''shut the f*** up'',' the flatmate said.

'When we'd be sitting in the kitchen eating, he would just sit there silently.'

Chief Constable Kate Meynell, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: 'These charges are a significant development and arise as a result of our thorough investigation into these horrific incidents that occurred in our city.

'Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of all those affected by these attacks, and we will continue to provide support and reassurance.'

She added: 'This has been an incredibly sad time for our city and county, and we stand united with our communities as we come to terms with the effects of what has happened.

'We are keenly aware of the deep emotion being felt surrounding these tragic events and the high level of interest, not only in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire but also across the whole country.

'However, posting prejudicial information online about an active case could amount to contempt of court and, in the most serious cases, have the potential to cause the collapse of a trial.'

England's Ashes players holding a minute's silence for the victims of the Nottingham attacks today

Barnaby's heartbroken parents, David and Emma, alongside his younger brother Charlie, looked down at the touching scene of flowers and cards at Ilkeston Road yesterday

Another former housemate said Calocane spoke about him yesterday.

'He seemed like a normal guy, I didn't know him too well but he didn't so drugs or drink much.

'He came from Guinea-Bissau originally but had been in the UK for some time.

'I lived with him for a year in 2020. He was studying for a masters in mechanical engineering.

'We lost contact but I think he graduated last year and was still living in Nottingham.'

Valdo went to Sir Thomas Picton High School which recently became Haverfordwest High School.

His family worship at the Calvary Church in Haverfordwest which is less than a quarter of a mile from their home.

Hazel Vaughan, wife of minister Adrian Vaughan, said they are an 'amazing family, really lovely.'

She said: 'I can't believe thisit has come as a shock.'

Mrs Vaughan added: 'We haven't seen Valdo for some years. I didn't know he had moved to Nottingham.'

Thousands of people gathered in the city centre to attend a vigil yesterday, after a separate event by the University on Wednesday

The family of Ian Coates attend yesterday's vigil in Old Market Square, Nottingham, while wearing Nottingham Forest shirts

The church had 'coincidentally' earlier yesterday posted a message of solidarity and support 'for those affected by this tragic and evil act in Nottingham this week'.

The message on its Facebook page added: 'Do keep them in prayer to know God's comfort now and the only true hope of eternal life Jesus Christ.'

Marlene Raymond, 55, a neighbour of the family in Haverfordwest, said: 'I can picture the eldest boy now in his school uniform, he was very smart and handsome.

'He was very bright, all three children are - they are a nice family and have been lovely neighbours for over 15 years.

'I haven't seen the oldest boy for some time - since he went away to college or uni.

'The family have lived there for around 15 years - when the mum came here she didn't speak much English.

'But she is very fluent now - she's a nice lady and a good mum. The children are well brought up and educated.

'They are very clever, all of them are polite and intelligent children, I think the middle son went to Oxford. The two oldest boys have been out of the picture for a while.'

Mrs Raymond added: 'All the family are good looking. There were age gaps between the three children.'

The parents of Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar during Wednesday's vigil at the University of Nottingham

Grace and Barnaby's fathers address mourners at the university vigil on Tuesday

Another neighbour said: 'They are a quiet family but I only know them to say hello to. There has never been any trouble with them since I've lived here.

'They both go out to work, she is a nurse in the local hospital. They're a nice family.'

Today, England and Australia cricketers wore black armbands to show 'solidarity' with the victims of Tuesday's attacks, with a moment's silence being held before the national anthems.

Edgbaston was told Grace and Barnaby were "widely respected in cricketing communities".

All three victims have been remembered for their love of sport as tributes told of how Ms O'Malley-Kumar had played cricket for the Essex U15 team, Barnaby had played the sport for his school and local clubs, and Grace had been a lifelong Nottingham Forest fan.

Yesterday, the heartbroken mothers of the two students urged the city to "hold no hate" at the emotional vigil in Nottingham.

Barnaby's mother, Emma Webber, fought back tears as she told the crowd that the "monstrous individual" responsible for the deaths "will not define us".

Grace's mother, Sinead O'Malley, echoed the sentiment of holding no hate and urged the crowd: "Be kind to each other, look after each other, don't have hate in your hearts."

Crowds stretching back almost half a mile watched on with tears in their eyes as family members from all three victims delivered powerful, heart-wrenching tributes to their loved ones.
One of President Joe Biden's Democratic allies, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, said this week that the 80-year-old leader's age is something he will 'have to deal with' on the campaign trail.

But Whitehouse also argued that the sitting president is the only viable choice for his party in the 2024 presidential race.

Whitehouse sat down with CBS' Major Garrett for an episode of The Takeout podcast and was asked about discouraging numbers that showed that even around 40 percent of Democrats didn't want Biden to run again.

'Well, I think we'd certainly - I think everybody would certainly like a younger Joe Biden,' Whitehouse said. 'I think the people are concerned about an 80-year-old president. And I think that's an issue that President Biden is going to have to deal with on the campaign ... can't go away.'

That being said, 'there's not even a real alternative on the horizon for him,' Whitehouse said about Democratic competition.

One of President Joe Biden's (left) Democratic allies, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (right), said this week that the 80-year-old leader's age is something he will 'have to deal with' on the campaign trail.

Spiritual guru Marianne Williamson has jumped in the Democratic primary race, as has prominent anti-vaxxer Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

They're polling at 6.5 percent and 15.7 percent, respectively, according to the Real Clear Politics polling average.

'And I think so far, he's done a good job of dealing with it by saying, you know, being able to do 50 pushups is not necessarily what makes you a good president,' Whitehouse continued.

'Having the wisdom and judgment and the patience and prudence and the knowledge of how the system works to deliver for the American people, to produce the infrastructure bill, to produce the exit from COVID, to put the first major piece of climate legislation forward, to watch construction - manufacturing construction, factory building, going through the roof in America right now, that's a pretty good story to tell, that he's a actually wise and able person to lead us,' he added.

Still, Biden has been plagued by headlines of him tripping and falling - most recently at the Air Force Academy commencement earlier this month - and making gaffes.

The president also has hovering over him the Delaware U.S. attorney's investigation into his son Hunter's business practices.

I think it probably is fairly serious, which doesn't mean that he doesn't emerge from it, you know, without charges at the end of the day, but it's not a frivolous thing,' Whitehouse said.

President Joe Biden, 80, took a tumble earlier this month when he tripped over a sandbag at the Air Force Academy's commencement

But the Rhode Island Democrat also expressed that he believed President Biden could untangle himself from Hunter's problems and come out politically unscathed.

'I think Joe Biden has established himself in the public mind in a very solid way over many, many, many, many years of service,' Whitehouse said. 'A family member with an acknowledged drug and drinking problem who went off the rails during episodes of that problem is a very familiar situation for many, many American families.'

'And I don't think that whatever the problems are that Hunter Biden has ultimately proved to have had, will do much to disturb the reputation and the brand of Joe Biden,' the senator continued. 'At worst, he's the guy who loves a troubled son who has been through a bad patch and has now recovered.'

Whitehouse also cast doubt that the Republicans truly have evidence that connected the president to Hunter Biden's Ukraine Burisma deal.

'If you look at the pattern of Republican behavior towards Democratic presidents, it is always to throw accusations of misconduct and criminality at them that over time evaporate,' he said. 'But it becomes the theme of the day and it allows them to rally their base. And at this point, there is literally zero public evidence to back up any of that.'

The senator said he would tell voters, 'Wait for real evidence.'

'Eventually, these decisions, particularly if they have any criminal aspect to them, need to be made on the basis of real evidence, not third-party surmise based on a statement from somebody else that may or may not be true, by somebody who may or may not be credible, that's now been reported in a form that has never been subject to scrutiny and is now being used by partisan political figures,' the Rhode Island Democrat said.

Not surprisingly, Whitehouse viewed former President Donald Trump to be in greater legal peril.

Referencing the federal case against Trump over the former president's mishandling of classified documents, Whitehouse said that will be a 'very, very tough indictment to weather.'

'Jack Smith obviously has chosen to go the speaking indictment route and tell a story,' the senator said. 'My guess is that if he's a smart prosecutor, which he is, he's got a lot more good evidence in his holster that he's ready to deploy.'
A 20-year-old Indiana man allegedly had sex with his family's dog before threatening to kill his mother with a hammer after she witnessed the attack.

Blake Reffett, from Elkhart, Indiana, was charged with bestiality and intimidation with a deadly weapon on June 9 after his mother allegedly saw him raping the dog while it was pinned to the couch in March last year, reports the Elkhart Truth.

His mother told police that Reffett had grabbed a hammer and told her to sit on the couch and not to call the cops. The 20-year-old threatened to hit her in the face with the hammer, kill her, and then burn her body if she did so, reports Goshen News.

Reffett's mother claimed that he ran away from their home shortly afterwards which meant she could call the cops.

Officers arrived at the family home in Elkhart and found that the dog had red marks and blood on him.

Blake Reffett (pictured), from Elkhart, Indiana, was charged with bestiality and intimidation with a deadly weapon on June 9 after his mother allegedly saw him raping the dog while it was pinned to the couch in March last year

Reffett's (pictured) mother told police that Reffett had grabbed a hammer and told her to sit on the couch and not to call the cops

A veterinarian conducted a preliminary examination of the dog and diagnosed the pet with trauma, including trauma around the canine's foreskin.

Cops later conducted a search warrant at the family home on June 10 last year and said they heard Reffett making a reference to placing a hit on his mother.

Reffett was arrested and booked into the Elkhart County Jail in early March, where he is being held on a $50,000 bond.

Reffett's case is scheduled for a jury trial on February 19, 2024.

Reffettallegedly had sex with his family's dog before threatening to kill his mother with a hammer after she witnessed the attack
More than 200 migrants have arrived in Dover today after seven inflatable dinghies were intercepted in the Channel and escorted to the UK.

The dinghies - which hold between 40 and 50 people on average - were escorted into Dover, Kent, by Border Force officials and the RNLI.

The first three groups of migrants were brought into the harbour early this morning amid calm weather conditions - with low winds and clear skies forecast for today.

A fourth dingy was escorted into the harbour on Border Force cutter Typhoon at around 11.30am. The mostly male group could be seen wearing orange lifejackets, with white blankets draped over their shoulders as they left the boat.

The latest arrivals were rescued by an RNLI lifeboat and brought into the port shortly before midday.

Another 200 migrants are believed to have arrived in Dover today after five inflatable dinghies were intercepted in the Channel and escorted to the UK

The number of migrants crossing the channel on small boats rocketed in 2022. This year the figure has already surpassed 9,000

Border Force currently has several vessels out in the Channel. Its vessel Ranger (pictured) is off the coast of St Margaret-at-Cliffe near Dover

Border Force currently has several vessels out in the Channel - suggesting more migrants might attempt the perilous crossing later today.

The agency's cutter Hurricane is patrolling between Dungeness, Kent and Boulogne, northern France - alongside the French rescue ship Abeille Normandie.

Border Force vessel Ranger is off the coast of St Margaret-at-Cliffe near Dover, while cutter Typhoon is further east near Walmer.

It comes after 172 migrants, dangerously crammed into just three dinghies, were picked up on Thursday - with an average of 57 people in each inflatable.

According to official government figures, 1,669 asylum seekers have made the treacherous journey across the 21-mile Dover Straits so far in June.

According to official government figures, 1,669 asylum seekers have made the treacherous journey across the 21-mile Dover Straits so far in June

172 migrants, dangerously crammed into just three dinghies, were picked up on Thursday - with an average of 57 people in each inflatable

Border Force has several vessels out in the Channel, suggesting more migrants might attempt the perilous crossing later today

This brings the total number of Channel crossings so far this year to 9,328 in 211 boats - an average of 44 people per vessel.

The busiest day to date in 2023 came on Sunday (June 11) when 549 people reached the UK in a 24-hour period.

Last year, a record 45,755 migrants arrived in the country by inflatable dinghy or other small craft - 60 per cent higher than 2021, which saw 28,526 crossings.
Older Americans are losing $20.3 billion each year to 'financial exploitation' by their friends and family, a shocking new report lays bare.

Experts warned that adults aged over 60 are being 'stripped of a significant part of their retirement savings' by loved ones who improperly use their funds, property or assets.

A further $8 billion is lost in cases where the perpetrator is a stranger to the victim, according to the report by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

In all, it means over 60s are being swindled out of $28.3 billion annually - exacerbating America's growing retirement crisis which is forcing older individuals back to the workplace to cope with soaring living costs.

Individuals who are conned by somebody they know tend to suffer higher losses - around $50,000 compared to $17,000 lost to strangers, the report added.

Over 60s are being swindled out of $28.3 billion annually, according to a report by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)

But researchers say the true figure is likely to be even higher due to so many cases going unreported. They added that the vast majority of victims do not get their money back.

Some 72 percent of victims who are aware they have been financially exploited by somebody they know do not report the crime - often because they don't want to bring shame on their caregivers or family members.

Jilenne Gunther, an AARPs BankSafe director, said: 'While strangers often rely on quick and irreversible transactions such as gift cards or wire transfers, perpetrators who know the victim are more likely to gain direct access to their victims bank accounts.

'The keys to stopping this growing problem are consumer education, frontline employee training and strengthened technology to flag suspicious activity.'

A separate study by the AARP Public Policy Institute found that the rate of financial exploitation has more than doubled since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020.

The surge was attributed to growing isolation among elderly people during lockdown which cut them off from regular visits to doctors' offices, senior centers, churches and community initiatives.

Such interactions can prove critical to keeping elderly households safe as peers can often spot the subtle signs of financial exploitation - before the victim has realized what is happening themselves.

The study was conducted in collaboration with the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) and the University of Chicago.

Older Americans are losing $20.3 billion each year to 'financial exploitation' by their friends and family - and a further $8 billion to strangers

Researchers analyzed data from the Consumer Sentinel Network, Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and Elderly Financial Exploitation Suspicious Activities Reports.

The report warns that the scale of financial exploitation has 'rippling effects' within society resulting in billion-dollar losses to the financial industry - for which 'consumers ultimately pay.'

It comes after senators warned that elderly Americans were increasingly falling victim to 'AI voice clone' scams.

Fraudsters can now mimic a victim's voice using just a three second snippet of audio, often stolen from social media profiles.

It is then used in phone calls to friends or family members to convince them they are in trouble and urgently need money.

Last month, Sen. Mike Braun, the top Republican on the Senate Special Committee on Aging, spearheaded a bipartisan letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urging the agency to investigate the con.

The letter, seen by Fox News, read: 'In one case, a scammer used this approach to convince an older couple that the scammer was their grandson in desperate need of money to make bail, and the couple almost lost $9,400 before a bank official alerted them to the potential fraud.

'Similarly, in Arizona, a scammer posing as a kidnapper used voice-cloning technology to duplicate the sounds of a mothers crying daughter and demand ransom.'
New Delhi, June 16 (UNI) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who is on a one-day visit to Mumbai, delivered the inaugural address at the First National Legislators Conference held at the Jio World Convention Centre on Friday.

Birla lauded the initiative of holding the first ever Legislators Conference and hoped that the discussions during its various Sessions would go a long way in empowering and strengthening

our legislative bodies, Lok Sabha Secretariat communique said.

He observed that as the oldest, largest and most vibrant democracy in the world, India has always supremely upheld democratic systems.

Democratic institutions, Birla recalled, have not only existed, but have thrived and flourished in different regions in India for millennia, it said.

Drawing the attention of the audience to the democratic journey of 75 years of Indias Independence, Birla observed that the nation has made notable advancements and increased the scope of development in education, health and infrastructure, which has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on the lives of the people, it said.

He felt that legislative institutions have also similarly contributed to this momentous journey and

they have evolved into strong representative institutions focused on public welfare, it added.

Referring to the role of legislative bodies in ensuring socio-economic welfare of the people, the Speaker emphasized that the functioning of our legislative bodies should be conducted in a dignified manner.

He, however, lamented the fact that recent incidents of commotion and interruptions in the Houses are a matter of grave concern.

He cautioned that uproar, sloganeering and adjournment of the House in a planned manner are not good signs for our democracy which diminish the dignity of democracy itself, the statement said.

Birla expressed the view that being the highest public representative institution, legislators are expected to work as a role model for other institutions and organizations of the country.

In this context, he opined that legislators should maintain high standards of discipline and decency in their public life as incidents of unruly behavior tarnish their image. Being the representatives of the people, they should always try to hold the executive accountable to the House and House to the people, it said.

Referring to the role of legislators in the context of modern democracy, Birla counselled that not only are they expected to solve problems through discussion and dialogue but to ensure that such discussions are productive and achieve their intended objectives.

Birla further observed that democracy is our moral system and thus it is imperative on the part of the legislators to self-analyze the shortcomings and find solutions to the challenges of the future.

He opined that if solutions to the problems are not found by discussion and dialogue, then there will be judicial intervention which is not appropriate for the democracy.

As such, there should be extensive discussions and debates on policies and issues which can make our legislatures effective, he opined.

Elaborating on the role of the Constitution in shaping democracy in India, Birla added that as legislators they are expected to uphold the virtues of freedom, equality, justice given by the Constitution.

He illustrated that laws framed in the legislatures are the basis of all rights of the people. These

very laws strengthened the country and the people and thus they needed to conscientiously work

to strengthen them.

UNI CM BM
'Suitcase Killer' Heather Mack pleaded guilty in a Chicago court to conspiring to murder her mother while on vacation in Bali in 2014.

Mack, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to kill a United States National. She will be sentenced on December 18 and faces 28 years in prison.

In 2015, Mack was convicted in an Indonesian court of being an accessory to her mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mack's, murder. Mack helped her then-boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, gain access to Wiese-Mack's room where he bludgeoned the Illinois-native with a fruit bowl.

Her body was later found stuffed in a suit case. At the time of the murder, Mack was 18 years old and pregnant. She spent seven years in prison in Indonesia before being deported November 2021 following her early release for good behavior.

Upon her arrival back in the US, she was arrested at O'Hare Airport and charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Custody of her daughter, Stella, 7, was given to a maternal cousin in Colorado. Since then, Mack has been held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center.

Authorities allege that Mack committed the crime so that she could gain control of her $1.5 million trust fund.

Earlier this month, Heather Mack, 27, pictured here with her prison-born child, announced that she was striking a deal with Illinois prosecutors

Mack and her former boyfriend - Stella's dad - were convicted in 2015 of plotting together to kill Mack's mom, socialite Sheila von Wiese-Mack (with her left,) at a luxury resort on Bali during a family trip, and then stuffing her body in a suitcase (right)

Mack's wealthy mother was married to the late James L. Mack, a renowned composer who died during a family trip to Greece in 2006 - was killed and stuffed in a suitcase before being left in a taxi on the island of Bali.

Schaefer's cousin Robert Bibbs sentenced to nine years in a US prison for advising Mack and Schaefer on how to kill von Weise-Mack. Schaefer remains in prison in Indonesia.

Mack stood before U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly in orange jail garb and orange slippers as he asked her questions before she was set to enter a plea.

She spoke confidently and calmly as the judge asks her that she was giving up her rights to remain silent at the motion hearing. 'Yes, your honor,' she responded from a podium.

After the judge explained the charge against her, Mack pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to kill a U.S. national.

The judge set a Dec. 18 sentencing date for Mack. Her plea deal calls for a sentence of no more than 28 years.

Von Wiese-Mack's siblings William Wiese and Debbi Curran released a statement declaring that they were 'relieved' that Mack decided to plead guilty.

'After almost nine years, we are very relieved that the mastermind of Sheila's murder admitted her guilt today. We will continue to be our sister Sheila's voice throughout the sentencing process to ensure that real justice is achieved,' the statement read.

'It has been devastating to witness the corruption in Indonesia which prevented true justice from being obtained eight years ago. Thanks to the incredible efforts of the US Attorney's Office and FBI, we are hopeful for a sentence that more appropriately reflects the heinous and premediated nature of the crime,' the release read.

Speaking to The New York Post earlier this month, Mack laid bare her plans to strike a deal with prosecutors ahead of her trial in the US.

'We were offered a good plea. First, it was 15 to 35 [years]; now they are saying zero to 25 years, including time served,' Mack, who was also sentenced in Indonesia but was released early for good behavior, told the paper Wednesday.

'I have served nearly ten years in prison. I felt that I had done my time, so I was gung-ho for trial,' the convicted criminal added of her decision.

'Now, after sitting for so long, I know what I have to do.'

Mack is seen inside an immigration car after being released from Kerobokan Prison in Bali, Indonesia on October 29. She was released 34 months early for good behavior after being found guilty of plotting to kill von Wiese-Mack

Currently in Indonesian prison on an 18-year bid, Tommy Schaefer shares a child with Mack - born after the pair were convicted in 2015 - and was the one to brutally beat von Wiese-Mack to death with a metal bowl in a bid to get a hold of her millions

Mack gave birth to daughter Stella during the couple's 2015 trial in Indonesia. She was allowed to live with the child during her incarceration overseas, but her daughter now lives with her mother's relative

Mack's attorney Michael Leonard agreed with his high-profile client's assessment, but conceded he was unsure how severe a sentence Mack.

'The hope is that the judge will seriously consider the time she has already served and all the underlying circumstances of her life and her relationship with her mom,' Leonard said.

'Any federal criminal case requires a constant reassessment of risk and reward. Balancing risk in terms of a potential sentence and trying to minimize the risk to yourself.'

This uncertainty, the lawyer said, is still preferable to taking a chance of fighting the case in court - after prosecutors presented texts that showed how Schaefer encouraged Mack to suffocate her mom in her sleep during what was meant to be a relaxing Indonesia vacation - a task she could not bring herself to go through with.

In previous statements to the court, Mack claimed she hid in a bathroom a few days later at Bali's Regis hotel, as Schaefer bludgeoned her mom to death with a fruit bowl.

Until now, she pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country and obstruction of justice, but has a change of plea hearing scheduled for June 15.

Her trial was set to commence on August 1 in Chicago, nearly ten years after the case first grabbed headlines due to Mack's plotting to kill von Wiese-Mack - and her subsequent stuffing her body in a suitcase she and her beau left in the trunk of a taxi.

Mack was eighteen and pregnant at the time, and prosecutors contend she helped him cram the body into the case and wheel it downstairs where they hailed a cab and loaded it into the trunk.

A younger Stella is pictured here with her father, Tommy Schaefer. Mack said Stella, now seven, does not know why both her mother and father are imprisoned, and she wants to keep it that way

The pair ran away when the driver became suspicious something foul was afoot, and were arrested shortly afterward at a nearby budget hotel and put on trial.

Both were convicted the next year, as US prosecutors filed their own case that accused Mack of conspiring with Schaefer prior to their Bali trip, stealing her mom's credit card and using it to fly him out in a $12,000 business class seat.

In text messages presented during those proceedings, Schaefer urged his teen lover to suffocate von Wiese-Mack so they could claim her estate, which he believed was worth up to $11million.

He ended up doing the job himself - in gruesome fashion - battering the political strategist with the metal bowl until she suffocated on her own blood after sustaining a broken nose.

Schaefer later testified that Sheila had racially abused him and tried to strangle him during an argument about the pregnancy.

In reality, the besotted lovers had plotted to kill her for months and had already tried but failed to kill her by overdose, prosecutors were able to prove.

Speaking to the Post in June, 20 months after she was cuffed by federal agents in front of her daughter after stepping off the plane at Chicago's O'Hare airport, Mack explained how she looked forward to assimilating into society after serving the duration of her US sentence.

'Im going to be a felon in America, and that is fine. I understand from [the US governments] perspective that, if I dont plead guilty and they didnt indict me, I wouldnt be a felon. I could become a police officer and work for the government.'

She even added: 'I could carry a firearm on the street.'

Prior to her mother's death, Mack reportedly had a fraught and often violent relationship with her mother. According to the Associated Press, police responded many times to the family's Oak Park, Illinois house.

Hotel cameras show the three arguing in the lobby of the St. Regis on August 12, 2014, the night he arrived.

Stella, meanwhile, lives in Colorado with Lisa Hellman, a teacher who is the niece of the late von Wiese.

Under Indonesian law, Stella was allowed to live with her mother in her cell until she turned two when Mack gave custody of her to Australian native Suartama, whom she befriended during her trial.

Behind bars in Bali, Mack - who enjoyed a privileged upbringing in Chicago's upscale Oak Park suburb, growing up in a $1.5 million mansion - was said to have left her life of crime behind, going to church, organizing fashion shows and teaching other inmates to dance.

In her a 2019 interview with DailyMail.com she said felt 'more Indonesian than American', could speak their language and had no desire to return to the US.

'My daughter is more Indonesian than American. She has a good life here,' Mack said.
The family of one of his victims, Marsha McDonnell, cannot 'bear to think' of it

Levi Bellfield, 55, will be given permission to marry while serving life behind bars

The devastated family of one of Levi Bellfield's victims have revealed that they cannot even 'bear to think' about him being allowed to marry his besotted girlfriend in prison.

According to reports, the 55-year-old murderer, who is serving life at Durham's Frankland Prison is to be given permission to marry despite police officers and MPs claiming that it was 'grotesque' and an 'insult to the victims and their families' and demanded that legislation to prevent the marriage was sped up.

Ute McDonnell, 67, whose daughter Marsha, 19 was clubbed to death with a hammer by the monster in February 2003 after a night out with friends, told MailOnline: 'It's not something that I can bring myself to even think about and nor do I want to. I don't want to hear about what this man is getting up to in prison.

'We are just trying to get on with our lives. We don't want to know about him because it's all too much.'

In an earlier interview, Marsha's older sister Nathalie, 42 said: 'He won't even care about the fact Marsha can't ever get married. He deprived her of a future.

According to reports, the 55-year-old murderer, who is serving life at Durham's Frankland Prison is to be given permission to marry despite police officers and MPs claiming that it was 'grotesque'

Marsha Marsha McDonnell, 19 was clubbed to death with a hammer by the monster in February 2003 after a night out with friends

'We can't start thinking it's sad because she's not going to get married. We've done all that, we've lived it every day since it happened.

'We've done the healing and we've accepted she won't have a family. That's all you can do. We live our lives like she would want us to live our best lives.'

Marsha's father Phil, 74 added: 'He can rot in hell as far as I'm concerned.

'There are many ways I'd have loved to have gotten my hands on him for what he did to my daughter.'

Marsha was found yards from her home in Hampton, southwest London after she returned from a trip to the cinema. She spent two days in hospital before dying of horrific brain injuries.

Bellfield is currently serving two whole-life orders for the murders of Milly Dowler in 2002, Marsha, and Amelie Delagrange in 2004, as well as the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy in the same year.

Lawyers for the convicted killer argued that the European Convention on Human Rights and the 1983 Marriage Act gave Bellfield the right to marry.

The monster killer demanded video calls with his bride-to-be, a blonde in her forties and the ability to have his picture taken with her.

The monster killer demanded video calls with his bride-to-be, a blonde in her forties (pictured) and the ability to have his picture taken with her.

A government source told The Sun that there was no way to stop the murderer marrying as the law currently stands and that officials were deciding when to tell Bellfield about the decision to approve his wedding.

Ministers have vowed to ban the practice of prisoners marrying, as some 60 prisoners, many of them serving long jail terms, applied to marry last year.

News of his proposed nuptials with the woman, who is in her 40s, sparked outrage when they were revealed last year, and then Justice Secretary Dominic Raab vowed action to stop it happening.

Mr Raab introduced a Victims Bill in March, banning those on whole-life tariffs from marrying while incarcerated.

Conservative MP Alec Shelbrooke said: 'This is a disgusting insult to the victims and their families.

'This is a man who took away the human rights of young girls and women, including the right to live their lives and marry.'

He demanded that the Justice Secretary pass the legislation to stop the nuptials quickly.

David Spencer, of the Centre for Crime Prevention, said it was 'horrific' that Bellfield would be allowed to marry and that the taxpayer funding the case was 'even more grotesque'.

He said: 'Criminals of his type have forfeited their rights and if the law currently permits him to be married then that should be changed.

'His time behind bars should be spent reflecting on his horrific crimes, not enjoying home comforts.'
I first thought that something was up when I saw that a certain member of the Cabinet had miraculously changed his appearance. He had acquired a new jawline. His neck emerged without effort from his collar. When he rose from his chair at the Cabinet table, that chair no longer tried to cling longingly about his hips.

I got it! He had lost weight, stones and stones of belly and dewlap; and I immediately thought of Julius Caesar, and his preference for well-fed colleagues.

Let me have men about me that are fat, said the Roman dictator, shortly before his assassination. Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look.

As it turned out, Caesar was right to be worried about Cassius. Then I noticed another colleague whose silhouette was shrinking visibly; and another. By this time my spider senses were jangling.

If an otherwise healthy middle-aged man displays sudden weight loss, I reasoned, there are only two possible explanations. Either he has fallen hopelessly in love, or else he is about to mount a Tory leadership bid.

I was going to search for the hero inside myself  the one that was three stone lighter

I consulted the doctor, and he told me that I was an ideal candidate for these drugs

Then one of those colleagues came up and whispered the truth  that there was an entirely separate explanation. He had access, he said, to a wonder drug. It stops you wanting to eat, he said. Really? I boggled.

Look at me, he said, and twanged his braces in triumph. He was right: there was a whole lot less of him than I remembered  so much less, in fact, that he looked almost gaunt by comparison. Suddenly I was interested.

I was going to search for the hero inside myself  the one that was three stone lighter. I was going to locate that svelte and dynamic version of Johnson, imprisoned for decades in pointless extra body weight, and I was going to set him free.

Tell me how, I said; and so my friend shared the number of a brilliant physician who had prescribed this magic potion. Are you sure it works? I said. He twanged his braces again. There was no argument. It was a miracle.

I consulted the doctor, and he told me that I was an ideal candidate for these appetite-suppressing drugs. It works like this, he said: when you have had a meal, your body produces a hormone that tells your hypothalamus (at the base of the brain) that you are full; so you stop eating.

The trouble is this natural hormone only circulates for a couple of minutes, and before you know it you are chowing down again. So for decades scientists have been looking for the exact molecule that will tell you to stop being so damn hungry: the satiety molecule.

Back in the 1990s they thought they had cracked it when they extracted a hormone from the digestive system of the Gila monster  a giant black and orange lizard from Mexico.

They took this hormone, gave it to human beings, and somehow fooled the human alimentary system into slowing its metabolic rate.

Their stomachs started to think they belonged to Gila monsters, and began digesting things with reptilian slowness. People no longer felt quite so hungry, and for all I know they just sat there motionless, occasionally blinking and darting their tongues out at flies. It was an amazing breakthrough  and there is a campaign to get the scientists concerned the Nobel Prize.

But the Gila monster hormone was still too short-lived; it didnt last long enough in the system to defeat human greed. So scientists in Denmark (with some help from Oxford) started searching ever harder for the knock-out satiety hormone, one that will suppress your appetite for a whole week.

I must have been losing four or five pounds a week - maybe more - when it started to go wrong

It was a huge effort that lasted six or seven years  until bingo, they got it. The hormone is called semaglutide, and the proprietary name of the drug is Ozempic.

Its a cinch, said the doctor. All you need to do is inject a tiny dose of clear Ozempic fluid into your abdomen, once a week, and hey presto  no more raiding the fridge at 11.30pm for the cheddar and chorizo washed down with half a bottle of wine.

Say goodbye to that unconquerable mid-morning lust for a bacon sandwich. No longer will you stand over the children waiting for them to push aside their bowls of pasta  and then ruthlessly scoff whatever they have left.

After 40 years of moral failure, 40 years of weakness in the face of temptation  of akrasia  I was going to acquire a new and invincible chemical willpower. I was going to become an ex-glutton, a person of moderation and grace and restraint, and like my Cabinet colleagues I was going to start to resemble a chiselled whippet.

He wrote out the prescription, I zoomed to the chemists; and though I was frankly a bit taken aback by the cost, what the hell, I said to myself, think of the benefits to health.

So for weeks I jabbed my stomach, and for weeks it worked. Effortlessly, I pushed aside the puddings and the second helpings. Wasnt it amazing, I said to myself, how little food you really need.

I must have been losing four or five pounds a week  maybe more  when all at once it started to go wrong. I dont know why, exactly. Maybe it was something to do with constantly flying around the world, and changing time zones, but I started to dread the injections, because they were making me feel ill.

One minute I would be fine, and the next minute I would be talking to Ralph on the big white phone; and I am afraid that I decided that I couldnt go on.

For now I am back to exercise and willpower, but I look at my colleagues  leaner but not hungrier  and I hope that if science can do it for them, maybe one day it can help me, and everyone else.

I believe we are still in the foothills of what these drugs can do. They could be transformative. I talked to Mads Thomsen, the brilliant Dane who led the search for semaglutide, and he described how these drugs will eventually become much cheaper, and orally ingested. He described how people could use them daily, like statins, and radically improve their health  and I think he is right.

The obesity crisis in this country is appalling: more than three-quarters of older people are overweight or obese  and the numbers are terrible among the kids.

Yes, the drugs will cost a bit to begin with, but those who can afford it should pay; and think of the savings for the NHS in diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. We are performing terrible invasive and destructive surgeries and treatments  all because people could not restrain their appetites. Why not help them?

I agree with the fundamental conservative instinct  that we should be relying on good old-fashioned human determination to keep that fridge door shut. We should all be taking more exercise. But in the end it may not be enough.

I see nothing morally wrong in using these drugs to help you lose weight, any more than it is wrong to use an electrically assisted bicycle to get up the hill. Even for us fatties, it turns out, there is such a thing as satiety  and science has found it.
One little bear was ready to hop on the next flight out of the Tampa International Airport earlier this week - but was safely captured before he got the chance.

The young black bear had scaled a fence at the Florida airport and was caught on camera wandering around the tarmac.

The bear was spotted by a TSA agent on the north end of the property by the employee parking lot on Tuesday, according to Tampa International Airport Executive Vice President of Operations John Tiliacos.

Authorities set up a 'robust premiere' of around 40 to 50 acres to monitor the bear's movements on Tuesday, but he remained hidden in the wooded area near the parking lot. Local and state agencies used infrared helicopters to monitor the sneaky bear overnight.

The next day, he attempted 'several times to come out of the woods' and scale the fence again. Authorities attempted to tranquilize the bear twice but were unsuccessful, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

The young black bear had scaled a fence at the Florida airport and was caught on camera wandering around the tarmac. The bear was spotted by a TSA agent on the north end of the property by the employee parking lot on Tuesday, according to Tampa International Airport Executive Vice President of Operations John Tiliacos

Authorities set up a 'robust premiere' of around 40 to 50 acres to monitor the bear's movements on Tuesday, but he remained hidden in the wooded area near the parking lot. Local and state agencies used infrared helicopters to monitor the sneaky bear overnight

Eventually, the bear was 'lured' into a trap and safely captured.

'Nobody was harmed,' he said. 'The bear was captured safely unharmed, so all's well that ends well.'

There were also 'no disruptions to airport operations,' according to Tiliacos.

The bear was taken by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and relocated to Ocala National Forest on Wednesday.

It is the first time a bear has wandered onto the airport's property, a statement revealed. However, the airport does employ a wildlife biologist, as birds, coyotes, and tortoises are frequent visitors.

Eventually, the bear was 'lured' into a trap and safely captured. The bear was taken by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and relocated to Ocala National Forest on Wednesday

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said it has monitored several bear sightings in recent weeks as young bears - between 1.5 and 2.5 years old - begin to leave their mother's for the first time.

During this time period, bears 'may be seen in unexpected areas as they travel in search of a new location to settle down, the agency said, according to ABC News.

'Typically, these bears will move along on their own. If you see a bear, give it space, don't try to approach it, and never feed it,' it said.
On a warm August evening nearly two years ago, Peter Bilham received a message on Facebook from a young woman he had never previously met.

Nothing could have prepared the 60-year-old garage owner from Tarporley, Cheshire, for what it said. Apologising for breaking the news in this way, the woman  whom we will call Bella*  told Peter his only daughter, Georgia, had been posing as an orphaned boy called George from Birmingham and had fooled her into having a sexual relationship.

Your daughter put on a male accent for this amount of time and wore lad clothing including boxers, where she puts something in her pants to pose as a penis, completely fooling me, Bella wrote.

I understand that sounds naive, but your daughter is a very good liar  she had an answer for everything with names, places, times. There was a lot of uncertainty around this situation, but I never expected it to be so wrong and this twisted.

She was getting in touch, she added, because while deciding whether to take this further, she felt Peter needed to get his daughter some professional psychological aid.

Posing in a bikini on holiday in Spain with her long blonde hair and tanned skin, 21-year-old Georgia Bilham is clearly used to the attention generated by her looks

Nothing could have prepared her father Peter Bilham, 60, for the message he received on Facebook on a warm August evening two years ago informing him of his daughter's crime. He is pictured outside court on Tuesday with Georgia

Shes a fantasist who needs serious help, she added.

What Peter said to his daughter isnt documented, but its probably safe to assume there were some awkward conversations had that night.

Ultimately, the exchange led to the start of a bizarre chain of events which ended this week in the austere environs of Chester Crown Court, where 21-year-old Georgia Bilham was convicted of sexual assault against Bella for duping her into kissing her when she believed she was a boy.

She was cleared of a further 16 offences, but was warned by Judge Michael Leeming  who has ordered a report from a forensic pyschiatrist  that he could not rule out sending her to jail when sentencing takes place in August. All options are open, he told her.

In her defence, Georgia had insisted that Bella knew she was a girl throughout their four-year  mostly online  relationship, but her 20-year-old victim swore that was not the case, and said she was devastated that she was duped so extensively for so long.

Either way, there is no refuting that Georgia Bilham created an extraordinary web of lies over many years, or that there are eerie echoes of another recent case in which a woman disguised herself as a young man in order to trick her female lover into sexual activity.

In 2017, former private schoolgirl Gayle Newland  also from Cheshire  was jailed for six and a half years for three counts of sexual assault, after using a 20 sex toy and a blindfold to dupe a fellow student into believing she was having sex with a man called Kye Carlos Fortune, a case described by the judge at her retrial as a disturbingly complex and astonishing deception.

The case made headlines around the world, with many questioning whether it was psychiatric help, not prison, that Gayle required.

As a teenager lacking in self-confidence and questioning her sexuality, the garage owner's daughter created a male alter ego known as George (she is pictured posing as 'George')

Bilham sat smiling outside Chester Crown Court waiting for the jury's verdict earlier this week

Georgia Bilham arriving at Chester Crown Court with her father earlier this week. He was a constant presence as the extraordinary details of his daughter's deception were laid out  her mother nowhere to be seen

Bilham (pictured on holiday) grew up in a peaceful Cheshire backwater renowned for its canal and unusual 'staircase' locks

The same question could perhaps be asked of Georgia Bilham, whose blonde, feminine image was pictured in newspapers this week.

Her father Peter, who separated from Georgias mother when she was 12, attended court every day throughout the eight-day trial, to support his daughter.

An only child, Georgia was raised in a 400,000 detached home in a sleepy backwater on the Shropshire Union canal. She attended a prestigious school in Tarporley, where she was remembered as an unremarkable loner by fellow pupils.

Former schoolfriends this week recalled her as a low-key girl who, while keeping her blonde hair long, preferred shapeless tracksuits to glamorous clothes.

By the time she left school at the age of 18, however, taking a job as a housekeeper at the 16th-century Swan Hotel in Tarporley, she had  publicly at least  embraced a more traditionally feminine appearance.

She was very girly in some ways, recalled a former colleague this week. Georgia always had her eyelashes and her nails done, but she also liked wearing slouchy tracksuits. She was still a bit of a tomboy even then, but facially I cant understand how anyone could mistake her for a man, shes so pretty. She was very quiet, she didnt seem to have many friends and just got on with the job.

I couldnt believe it when I heard what shed been accused of. It didnt sound like the Georgia I knew.

The court heard how Bilham, who claimed not to have got any sexual gratification out of the relationship, deceived her victim into thinking she was a young man after they began messaging online. Georgia Bilham is pictured outside Chester Crown Court this week

Earlier the court was told Bilham sent text messages, mocked up here, to the alleged victim

Bilham is pictured arriving for the trial at Chester Crown Court with her father, a 60-year-old garage owner from Tarporley, Cheshire earlier this week

In fact, the court heard how in 2017, when she was 15, Georgia set up a bogus profile on the social media app Snapchat, using secretly copied photos of a fellow male pupil with blond, spiky hair, and posted them under the username George_132.

George_132 would eventually evolve into George Parry, under whose guise Georgia tried to befriend at least two other women on social media. Among them was McDonalds worker Nikita Hughes, from Wales, with whom Georgia also swapped messages on Snapchat.

The pair agreed to meet up, with Georgia picking her up in her car in early 2021. Giving evidence for the prosecution, Nikita, who now works as cabin crew, told the court there was something weird about George, who had pushed her head away when she tried to look at his face.

She decided not to see him again.

By then, Georgia had already been interacting with Bella for years, after befriending the then 14-year-old on Snapchat in 2017.

The pair, who are a year apart in age, quickly became close, chatting about food, clothes and music. During those conversations, Georgia told Bella she was one of three children raised in Birmingham and who now lived in Blacon, a suburb of Chester, with her grandma, as her parents had died.

George sent pictures of his brother Alfie  in reality her nephew Freddie  and his sister Izzy and her baby Enzo  in fact Georgias real-life best friend Izzy and her baby. Izzy was unaware of her friends deception until after she was unmasked.

George_132 would eventually evolve into George Parry, under whose guise Georgia tried to befriend at least two other women on social media. Among them was McDonalds worker Nikita Hughes (pictured), from Wales, with whom Georgia also swapped messages on Snapchat

It was while still at school that Bilham secretly copied photos of a fellow pupil with blond, spiky hair to create the bogus Snapchat profile George_132X  who was to evolve into George Parry

While Bilham was cleared of 16 out of the 17 offences for which she was on trial, she nevertheless faces being placed on the sex offenders' register

Puzzlingly, George also said he had links to a gang of Albanian drug dealers. He made stories up about how hed got involved with Albanians Denis and Lumi and Fatos and how Denis has took him under his wing and is like a big brother to him, Bella wrote in her bombshell Facebook message to Georgias father. He had endless stories and pictures on his phone of the Albanians and out for meals in London and Birmingham.

Not long after they began communicating, the pair met for the first time one winter evening in Blacon. In a gesture that would become a pattern throughout their relationship, George wore his sweatshirt hood up throughout and spoke in a deep voice with a Birmingham accent. He also made a point of asking Bella  who had terrible eyesight  to remove her glasses.

They talked for about two hours, but in the wake of that encounter Bella blocked George on social media, telling him there was something weird about him.

Yet they resumed messaging a few weeks later, sometimes exchanging multiple messages a day, which over time ran into the thousands. In them, Bella repeatedly questioned George about his honesty, accusing him of pretending to be something he wasnt.

I do not know what to believe, she wrote to him in January 2021. Sometimes an angel tells me you are innocent and sometimes the Devil tells me you are weird.

Questioned in court, Bella denied that she knew George was lying about his gender, although she admitted it was a peculiar friendship which on occasion felt more like an addiction.

It was not healthy, she said in the witness box. Giving evidence in her defence, Bilham put it differently, describing their online interaction as a love-hate relationship it was hard to walk away from.

It was not until May 2021 that the pair met again face to face. By then, Georgia had acquired her driving licence and had access to her mother Michelles Ford Focus, allowing her to pick Bella up and take her for a drive.

On the second occasion she did this, they kissed for the first time  an interaction for which Georgia would subsequently receive her conviction for sexual assault.

Jurors heard how that same night, in the small hours, Georgia lost control of the car and drove into a hedge, which meant the police were called.

She subsequently had to give her realname, with attending officer PC David Fallows testifying in court that he had informed Bella that the person she knew as George was actually a female called Georgia.

As a result, Fallows said, Bella was distressed and crying and hunched over in a foetal position as he drove her home.

The judge also ordered a pre-sentence report before his final sentence and warned her that prison could still be an option. Georgia Bilham is pictured on Wednesday

Bilham admitted being caught up in a 'web of lies' but denied getting a 'buzz' out of deceiving the teenager, maintaining throughout that she thought the woman she had sex with believed she was a woman. She is pictured on Wednesday as she embraces a young man in a hug

The prosecution said Georgia managed to assuage Bellas suspicions by saying the misunderstanding was caused by Georges Albanian associates, who had mistakenly given him a female fake ID. She also sent a picture of a boys body which didnt show a face.

Either way, the duo continued seeing each other every few days, walking Georgias dog or visiting local beauty spots. Throughout, Georgia continued to wear her hood up, insisting she was trying to remain low-profile because of her Albanian gang links while also encouraging Bella to keep her glasses off.

The pair were also sexually intimate, although they never had full intercourse. Instead, George  who insisted on wearing tracksuit bottoms, a jumper and a hood even in bed  would perform sex acts on Bella, who said that on occasion while spooning she felt a willy-like figure against her leg.

In messages to her mum that were read out in court, Georgia spoke of using boxers and socks, which the prosecution suggested was what Bella could feel.

Georgias account was that this was, in fact, a reference to a former male lovers underwear which her mother had found in a drawer.

As summer wore on, Bellas suspicions mounted: the jury heard she had messaged a friend to say she feared George could be a massive transgender and that she had also contacted George to suggest he be honest. I just hope one day you have sorted your head and want to be true about who you really are with me because the bond between us is unbreakable, she wrote.

The prosecution said Georgia managed to assuage Bellas suspicions by saying the misunderstanding was caused by Georges Albanian associates, who had mistakenly given him a female fake ID. She is pictured arriving to court on June 6

Yet in court she said that, while she knew something was wrong, she could never have fathomed the truth.

I knew there were deep issues but not that he was a girl, she told the court in evidence.

In the event, it would be Bellas mother who saw that George was not all he seemed when, in August 2021, she met him in person.

Bellas mother, untroubled by sight issues, immediately thought George was a girl and told her daughter so. After consulting family and friends, some of whom mentioned Gayle Newlands case years earlier, she decided to contact the police.

Georgia was arrested and interviewed under caution before being charged with 17 counts of sexual assault. She subsequently took down her Facebook page, although it was reinstated this week with a new profile picture, taken one morning before she attended court.

There seems little question that she carries regret for her actions. Chester Crown Court heard how Georgia had texted Bella a heartfelt apology, a sentiment repeated in several messages to her mother, calling her duplicity a stupid mistake that she bitterly regretted.

It was never meant to go that far, she wrote. The whole thing wasnt me (crying emoji) I couldnt see a way out of it. It was just lie after lie, I couldnt see a way out.

The most deeply puzzling question, of course, is why Georgia started out down such a path in the first place. Insisting in the witness box that she was not a lesbian, she struggled to explain why she had created her double life.

Bella, it seems, is haunted by the same question. I would understand if it was a moment of madness but this has been years and thousands of lies, she wrote to Georgias father. Its shocking.

* Name has been changed
John Amos, 83, has accused his adult daughter of abusing him just a week after she went public asking for $500,000, claiming he was being taken advantage of by a 'caregiver'.

Amos, who starred in Good Times, Coming to America and The West Wing, released a video on his son's TikTok account earlier this week. It shows him lying in a hospital gown with his son, KC, standing next to his bed.

Amos is on the phone with a man believed to be an elderly abuse lawyer.

He tells him: 'I am very capable. And I am very confident in the doctors that I have here in the medical staff that my son has assembled around me. I feel very good about that.

In a video uploaded on his son KC's TikTok account, Amos tells a lawyer over the phone that his daughter, Shannon, 56, is the person who 'elderly abused him'

Amos with his daughter Shannon, 56. She claimed last week that he was fighting for his life in the ICU and that the family now needed donations to help protect him

'My main issues are that prior to entering the hospital, I had some ongoing issues with my daughter, who I feel has taken advantage of me. She would be the primary suspect if you would. I don't know if that's the right term or not.

'She is the one I would attribute my elderly abuse to. It's definitely a case of elderly abuse.'

He explained he was recently hospitalized with water retention and 'a couple of other issues', but said all had been 'corrected or at least addressed.'

Last week, Amos' daughter Shannon, 56, sparked concern for the beloved TV star when she claimed in an Instagram post that he was the victim of elderly abuse at the hands of a caregiver.

Shannon Amos with her father John. Amos told the attorney on the phone she 'definitely' took advantage of him

Amos with his two kids, Shannon and KC (right) and granddaughter Quiera Williams in 2008

'The past two weeks shattered our world. My dad, a victim of elder abuse and financial exploitation.

'We are collaborating with the Colorado Bureau of Investigations and local authorities, determined to bring the perpetrators to justice.

'Legal assistance is crucial to ensure their prosecution and protect my father's future. His home, stripped bare, necessitates a safe space for his return,' she said.

She launched a GoFundMe page seeking $500,000 in donations, and told followers: 'Every donation will be directed to a trust for my dad's care, legal fees, and aftercare.

'Help us win this battle, send love, and kindle hope for the day we can dance together again'.

It's unclear how much was raised before the fundraising page was deactivated.

Shannon set up the GoFundMe on June 7, claiming her father was the victim of abuse

The page has now been taken down by GoFundMe. Amos says his daughter is 'the suspect' of any elderly abuse

Amos, shown in 2016, said he was recently hospitalized with water retention but all his health issues had been 'corrected, or at least addressed'

Amos is best known for his role in the 70s hit show Good Times

Three days later, Amos himself released a statement through his long-term rep to confirm that all was well.

He told TMZ he was not 'fighting for his life', as his daughter had claimed and said he would release more information at a later date.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigations, which Shannon said she had reported her concerns to, confirmed it had received a complaint and was investigating whether any crime had been committed.

Shannon has not yet responded to her father's claims.

She and her brother, KC, are Amos' children from his marriage to Noel J. Mickelson.

Amos was stunned to learn about the GoFundMe his daughter set up, saying: 'These are his exact words.

'To all of my fans, I want you to know that I am doing well. I am not in ICU, nor was I ever fighting for my life.

'First, I want the GoFundMe campaign about me to stop immediately and the funds subsequently returned to those who made donations.

'My son and I will reveal more information at the appropriate time,' he told People earlier this week.
Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth tore into Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and John Thune for an amendment they proposed that would reduce the number of flying hours pilots would need to fly commercial.

Duckworth accused Sinema, I-Ariz., and Thune, R-S.D., of caring more about 'corporate profits' and saying they will have 'blood on your hands' if the amendment passes as part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization.

'Now is not the time to put corporate profits ahead of the lives of our constituents who may want to board a commercial flight in the future,' said Duckworth, Ill., a former Army helicopter pilot who chairs a subcommittee on aviation safety.

'A vote to [change the training rules] for pilots will mean blood on your hands when the inevitable accident occurs as a result of an inadequately trained flight crew.'

Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth tore into Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and John Thune for an amendment they proposed that would reduce the number of flying hours pilots would need to fly commercial

For Duckworth, flight crashes are personal: she lost both of her legs in 2004 when a rocket-powered grenade fired by Iraqi insurgents hit the Black Hawk helicopter she was flying - making her the first American female double amputee of the Iraq War.

The Senate and House must agree on reauthorization of the FAA. The Senate Commerce Committee unveiled its own $108 billion version of legislation this week.

Sinema's proposed amendment forced the Commerce Committee to delay a vote on the massive aviation policy bill. Since Democrats only hold a slim majority in the Senate, Sinema and the panel's Republicans could have forced a change to the bill.

Smaller regional airlines have pushed for a change to the 1,500 training hour requirement before they can fly a commercial airplane.

The Regional Airline Association, which represents smaller, domestic airlines, supported changes to the rules to help with a shortage of about 5,000 pilots.

The amendment would allow certain kinds of training programs to be weighted more heavily to the 1,500 hour requirement - but also requires the FAA to prove any changes to curriculum will enhance safety. It is highly similar to one that already cleared the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

'Most pilots only have access to an hours-based pilot qualification standard, which incorporates little actual training after completing flight school,' the RAA said in a statement this spring.

But the Air Line Pilots Association, which represents some 74,000 pilots, said in a letter to senators Thursday the amendment 'undermines the current aviation safety regime that has resulted in the safest period in air travel in history.'

Duckworth accused Sinema, I-Ariz., and Thune, R-S.D., of caring more about 'corporate profits' and saying they will have 'blood on your hands' if the amendment passes as part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization

The association said the amendment would allow some pilots to fly with as little as 500 hours of training, a return to pre-2010 standards before Congress overhauled training requirements.

'It was this shameful era of training pilots quickly and on the cheap and the resultant series of tragic accidents, including Flight 3407 outside of Buffalo, N.Y. where all that led Congress to pass' changes, the group wrote. In 2009 a flight en route to Buffalo crashed into the ground, killing all 49 on board.

Sinema spokesperson Hannah Hurley denied the amendment would threaten safety.

'This broadly supported bipartisan amendment empowers the FAA to determine the safest way to train pilots and continues Kyrsten's laser focus on increasing aviation safety.'

The proposal comes after a spate of near-collisions this year that prompted the FAA to put out an 'urgent safety alert' and hold an impromptu safety and security summit amid rising concerns from passengers.

'There has never been a worse time to consider weakening pilot certification requirements to produce less experienced pilots,' Duckworth said.

Senators say this year's FAA reauthorization will focus on bolstering safety and customer service as the industry tries to cash in on soaring demand after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nearly three quarters of the funds in the 461-page blueprint would go to key safety programs at the FAA while new rules would require airlines to offer refunds if a domestic flight is delayed at least three hours or an international flight is delayed at least six hours.
An experienced diver from Iowa has lost her leg in a shark attack in the Bahamas while climbing into a boat.

Heidi Ernst, 73, was on vacation and decided to go scuba diving near Taino Beach when a shark chomped down on her left calf on June 7.

The predator continued to thrash in the water and she hit it to scare it off but was left nearly bleeding to death.

She realized her leg would not be saved when she made it back on to the boat and saw the extent of her injuries.

Ernst, who completed her 500th dive in May, received urgent care from a local hospital before she was airlifted to Miami for further treatment at Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

An experienced diver from Iowa has lost her leg in a shark attack in the Bahamas while climbing into a boat

Heidi Ernst, 73, was on vacation and decided to go scuba diving near Taino Beach when a shark chomped down on her left calf on June 7

She realized her leg would not be saved when she made it back on to the boat and saw the extent of her injuries

She was attacked while she was climbing a ladder to get back on a boat near a diving site called 'shark junction'.

Her dive master administered first aid immediately and put a tourniquet around her leg 'because the blood vessels were severed' while someone else called for an ambulance.

'There was blood everywhere,' she recalled in an interview from her hospital bed with The Gazette. 'I was dying. I was going to bleed to death. I was afraid I was going to die and was in severe pain.'

Ernst's friends held her hand and did what they could do to keep her awake and conscious.

'Its just what you do when somebody is in dire need,' she added. 'You hold them and you comfort them and you tell them, "Just stay with it," so you don't drift off.'

'They were very instrumental in keeping me alive. Everybody was.'

She said she was in danger and required urgent care from a local hospital to get her in stable condition and she had two initial surgeries.

The following day, Ernst was airlifted to Miami to be treated Ryder Trauma Center.

She spoke with doctors about what could be done to save her leg.

'I made the decision with the surgeon to take my leg off,' she said. 'It was evident that it could not be saved.'

Ernst, who was a physical therapist for 36 years, was evaluated and a vascular surgeon said there would be risks attached to trying to save the leg.

She said: 'He did not think that it would be a good idea to try and save the leg because of future problems with infection.

'That what I had left was enough to provide for good outcomes.

'So I said, "Yeah, lets just do it. Lets just amputate" and that night they took me into the operating room and did it.'

Ernst, who completed her 500th dive in May, received urgent care from a local hospital before she was airlifted to Miami for treatment at Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital

Ernst lost her foot and leg from the shin down and she now has a small part below the knee to allow for a prosthetic leg

She was attacked while she was climbing a ladder to get back on a boat near a diving site called 'shark junction'

Ernst lost her foot and leg from the shin down and she now has a small part below the knee to allow for a prosthetic leg.

She had a sixth surgery to close up the stump on Thursday and she will remain in hospital over the next week to recover.

Despite the attack, Ernst does not lay any blame towards the shark for attacking her.

She has been diving off the coast of Grand Bahama island for 11 years and never feared sharks.

'I dont blame the shark,' she insisted. 'It's humans who teach animals to do certain behaviors.'

She pointed to how tourists on a boat had been feeding sharks on the surface.

'For a shark to come up to the surface is not a natural thing,' she added.

'But the shark knew that there was food to be had at a boat. And he thought my leg was the food.'

Ernst is aware of the long road ahead for recovery when she returns home to Marshalltown having spent decades as a physical therapist.

She said: 'I'm realistic. I know what's going to happen down the road  I know what I can expect. And I know that I have to work hard to get back to where I was.

But insisted: 'I can do this.'

Despite the attack, Ernst does not lay any blame towards the shark for attacking her

She has been diving off the coast of Grand Bahama island for 11 years and never feared sharks

A GoFundMe page has been set up by her friend Kim Barnes to help Ernst pay for the expensive medical and travel expenses which are not covered by insurance.

'Heidi is fearless, kind, gentle, giving, honest, loves everything nature, has an amazing green thumb, an avid underwater photographer and a wonderful friend,' she wrote.

'Heidi is a proud, independent woman that does not like to ask for help but her friends want to help her and this is a way.'

So far $8,000 has been raised and the target is $30,000.
Four people have been taken to hospital after a boat crash at a San Diego Naval Base in the early hours of Friday morning.

U.S. Navy requested fire and medical assistance just before 2am to Naval Base Point Loma which was established in the area in 1998 and has around 22,000 navy and civilian personnel.

Those injured in the crash were taken to UC San Diego Medical Center Hillcrest about a 20 minute drive from the naval base.

The extent of their injuries ranged from needing basic medical care to requiring either CPR or treatment for major trauma, according to NBC San Diego.

It remains unclear whether the crash involved a civilian boat or a military watercraft and authorities are yet to determine a cause as investigations continue.

Four people have been taken to hospital after a boat crash at a San Diego Naval Base in the early hours of Friday morning

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department told DailyMail.com 'we don't provide information on other agency's incidents' but confirmed that four casualties had been taken to hospital.

Naval Base Point Loma consists of seven facilities: Submarine Base, Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command, Fleet Combat Training Center Pacific, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR), Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific, the Fleet Intelligence Command Pacific and Naval Consolidated Brig, Miramar.

In March, U.S. President Joe Biden visited Naval Base Point Loma with the prime ministers of Australia, Anthony Albanese, and the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak.

Those injured in the crash were taken to UC San Diego Medical Center Hillcrest - the extent of their injuries ranged from needing basic medical care to requiring either CPR or treatment for major trauma

In March, U.S. President Joe Biden (center) visited Naval Base Point Loma with the prime ministers of Australia, Anthony Albanese, (left) and the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak (right)

The occasion was to announce an agreement among the allies to provide nuclear-powered attack submarines to Australia.

This is believed to be the first time a sitting president has visited Naval Base Point Loma since its establishment in 1998.

DailyMail.com has contacted the Naval base and San Diego Police Department.

This is a developing story.
AT&T will close it flagship store at 1 Powell Street in San Francisco's downtown

AT&T has announced that it is shuttering its flagship store in downtown San Francisco in yet another blow to the city's struggling retail sector.

The store at 1 Powell Street in the city's Union Square shopping district is one of the largest in the country and will close on August 1, a spokesperson confirmed.

It is the latest episode in San Francisco's retail apocalypse, which has seen numerous high street retailers abandon the city's downtown area amid rising theft and homelessness, which has also driven away customers.

But the closure is also part of a wider trend for the telecommunications giant, which is also closing a store in Chicago. This will leave the company with only on flagship store in the country in Dallas.

'Consumer shopping habits continue to change, and we're changing with them,' AT&T spokesperson Chris Collins said on Thursday.

AT&T has announced that it will close its flagship store in downtown San Francisco

The store at 1 Powell Street in the city's Union Square shopping district is one of the largest in the country

'That means serving customers where they are through the right mix of retail stores, digital channels and our phone-based care team.'

Collins made assurances that employees would not be made redundant.

'We are proud of our continued presence in the community, not only through our retail stores and our local investment in world-class connectivity with our 5G and fiber networks,' said Collins.

'All retail employees affected by this change will be offered jobs at one of our other many retail locations within the city.'

The closure comes a day after Cinemark announced plans to shutter its theater in the Westfield Mall and reports that Westfield said it closing the mall altogether.

Last week a report by the San Francisco Standard Around found that 46 percent of stores in downtown San Francisco's Westfield mall have closed since 2020.

Major retailers to have abandoned the mall since 2020 include: Abercrombie & Fitch, Banana Republic, Microsoft, Tiffany & Co. and Timberland

Around 46 percent of stores - 45 out of 97 - in Westfield San Francisco Centre have closed since 2020, according to an analysis by the San Francisco Standard

A total of 45 out of the 97 retailers operating in the mall - and 16 of the 36 food vendors - shuttered in just over three years

Other major retailers to have abandoned the mall since 2020 include: Abercrombie & Fitch, Banana Republic, Microsoft, Tiffany & Co. and Timberland.

Last month, Westfield blamed 'unsafe conditions' and 'lack of enforcement against rampant criminal activity' in large part for Nordstrom's departure and claimed the poor performance in San Francisco was in sharp contrast to its other locations.

Whole Foods, Old Navy, Gap and Office Depot are just some of the stores in the district to announce in recent months that they are closing in the shopping.

Out of 203 retailers open in 2019 in the city's Union Square area, just 107 are still operating - a drop of 47 percent in just a few pandemic-ravaged years.

San Francisco is now widely thought to be stuck in a vicious cycle.

Office workers are now working from home, leaving the downtown area significantly quieter, and making the empty streets more dangerous. The rise in crime then deters people from entering downtown.

And as the downtown empties, the city loses essential tax revenues, and the area becomes less appealing.

The revenue loss to the city caused by decreased property taxes could reach $196 million per year by 2028, according to modeling published in November by the San Francisco Controller's Office.

The best-case scenario from the modeling expects the cost will be nearer to $100 million per year.

The number of homeless people in San Francisco was tallied in February of last year at almost 8,000

A significant handful of high-profile criminal episodes, in addition to a number of retail closures prompted by rampant and unprosecuted theft, have tarnished the city's image to potential visitors.

Tech exec Bob Lee became one of the city's latest murder victims. Lee, 43, was allegedly murdered by another tech executive on April 4.

The number of homeless people in San Francisco was tallied in February of last year at almost 8,000, the second highest figure of any year since 2005, according to the official government count which takes place every three years.

San Francisco saw a 41 percent surge in the number of drug-related deaths in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same time last year, as fentanyl devastated the city's homeless population.
Washington/New Delhi, June 16 (UNI) Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit, the US has termed the partnership with India as one of our most consequential relationships.

US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller, answering a question on PM Modis upcoming State Visit to the US, said:

I will say generally our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relationships. We look closely with India on  we work closely with India on our most vital priorities. They play a crucial role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific that is connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient.

And I know Secretary Blinken looks forward to seeing Prime Minister Modi and other members of the Indian delegation, while theyre here; and working to make progress on all the issues with which we consult with India.

To another question, he said: Let me just say again that our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relationships. We really do look forward to the visit next week. In addition to hosting Prime Minister Modi at the White House, there will be a state lunch here at the State Department, and were all very much looking forward to it.

Asked if the US would raise human rights issues with PM Modi during the visit, he said:

Sure. I would say, as I said in my previous comments, there are a number of issues with which we work with India, as I outlined before, but that also we regularly raise with Indian Government officials  at senior levels, our human rights concerns. Weve been clear about that. We speak with them privately  we speak about those privately with the Indian Government and we speak about them publicly.

To a question on the huge backlog of visas, he said:

I will say, with respect to visas, our consular teams have been making a huge push to process as many visa applications as possible in India, including in those visa categories that are key to the bilateral relationship. This is a top priority for our government. We know that there is more work that we can do, and we are working hard to do it.

PM Modi will be in the US from June 21-23.

UNI RN
A wife beater from South Africa has been found guilty of strangling a 22-year-old British woman to death nearly 50 years ago following a DNA breakthrough.

John Apelgren, 80, hit sex worker Eileen Cotter in the face and throttled her before throwing her body out of his car in 1974, when he was aged 31, the Old Bailey heard.

The 22-year-old's manslaughter in Islington, north London, came two years after Apelgren indecently assaulted an 18-year-old guest at his own wedding, it was alleged.

The case was reopened in 2012, when DNA was extracted from samples from Ms Cotter's body and compared with a then-prime suspect, who was ruled out.

The trail went cold for seven more years until 2019, when former minicab driver and bricklayer Apelgren came to the attention of police for attacking his third wife.

John Apelgren, 80, was found guilty of the manslaughter of sex worker Eileen Cotter almost 50 years ago

Post-mortem tests found Eileen Cotter, 22, died from manual strangulation and had a black eye and bruising after being hit in the face

He accepted a caution for the assault and his DNA was flagged as a match to the historic killing, which happened just six weeks after the birth of his first child with his ex-wife Ann.

She went on to reveal to investigators he had mistreated her too - and once applied force to her neck with both of his hands.

The mother-of-two also told officers she felt he had been seeing other women within months of their marriage in 1972 and later discovered he was having an affair with her brother's wife.

Apelgren, from Sydenham, south London, declined to give evidence in his trial and was found guilty of manslaughter and indecent assault after a jury deliberated for 11 hours and 24 minutes.

He was found not guilty of Ms Cotter's murder, with the jury instead finding him guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter.

Prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC said during the trial that Ms Cotter was seen on the night of her death at a hotdog stall in Finsbury Park where she would sometimes go for a cup of tea.

Her partly nude body was found on June 1, 1974 outside garages known to be frequented by sex workers.

She was lying on her front with her buttocks exposed and her underwear and tights pulled down. Her handbag, glasses and shoes were missing.

One resident described seeing what she thought was a 'bundle of rags', while another realised it was a body and asked her father to call the police.

Eileen's partly nude body was found on June 1, 1974 outside garages known to be frequented by sex workers

Post-mortem tests found Ms Cotter died from manual strangulation and had a black eye and bruising after being hit in the face.

Her death went unsolved despite police speaking to 92 potential suspects and carrying out an extensive operation to identify local kerb crawlers.

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 samples from two areas of the victim's body were matched to Apelgren but did not come from her tights and underwear.

She told jurors: 'The prosecution case is that the reason the defendant's DNA was not recovered from Ms Cotter's 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 defendant's DNA on her underwear and tights because she never pulled them up after he had sex with her. She was dead.'

After the DNA match in 2019, Apelgren was interviewed by police and denied knowing the victim or paying for sex.

He admitted having affairs with four women, initially saying Ms Cotter could have been one of them, but later denied it.

The jury was also told South African Apelgren attacked a young woman at his wedding to second wife Ann Apelgren 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 pushed her against a wall and indecently assaulted her, it was alleged.

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 Cotter's death.'

Apelgren had also previously been married in South Africa to a woman with whom he had two children.
TikTok star Carl Eiswerth died in a car crash after another vehicle hit his close friend's car as they passed through an an intersection in Pennsylvania.

Eiswerth, 35, was sitting in the passenger seat when the accident occurred on Route 11 in Monroe Township on Tuesday, his mother, Janet, confirmed to TMZ.

Their car was crossing the middle of the intersection when the other driver plowed into them. It is unclear who was at fault or if anyone was under the influence.

Eiswerth was pronounced dead at the scene due to blunt-force trauma, WKOK reported.

His family is planning two memorial services and are deciding if it will be live- streamed for his nearly 500,000 fans.

They are also checking to see if there are any more videos that were saved to go up on his popular TikTok page, where he often posted live streams and videos of him dancing in the laundromat and at home, Janet told TMZ.

Carl Eiswerth, 35, was sitting in the passenger seat when another vehicle hit his close friend's car on Tuesday on Route 11 in Monroe Township. They were crossing the middle of the intersection when the other driver plowed into them. It is unclear who was at fault or if anyone was under the influence He was pronounced dead at the scene due to blunt-force trauma

In his last video, he promises his fans a 'live stream with music' from various genres for a dance party.

'Come hang out with me, chill, listen to music, we're going to have a great time,' he said in the video before blowing his fans a kiss.

His fans have flooded his page with sweet notes after his death, honoring the TikToker's life.

'This breaks my heart. Carl had a heart of Gold. A lot of people mistreated him & they were so wrong for doing him that way. Im going to miss you,' one fan wrote.

Another wrote: 'Really gonna miss your positive words and seeing your face on here. Rest in peace, Carl. This world will be a little less bright without you around.'

Eiswerth often did live streams on TikTok and posted videos of him dancing in the laundromat and at home and posting fun videos and leaving fans with positive messages

In his last video, he promises his fans a 'live stream with music' from various genres for a dance party. 'Come hang out with me, chill, listen to music, we're going to have a great time,' he said in the video before blowing his fans a kiss

'I'm gonna miss you SO so much bestie!!! My heart is shattered getting the news this morning! I know you're up there hugging your dad so tight!' one wrote under his final post.

'Carl! I just found out and my heart is absolutely shattered! You were more than a TikToker to me! You were my friend! You were a shinning beacon,' a fan said in a heartfelt tribute.

Pennsylvania-based 5 Star Wrestling also paid tribute to avid wrestling fan, writing: 'The pro wrestling community has suffer a lost. We lost one of the most loyal fan through out north east Pennsylvania.

'In 2016 when I first brought pro wrestling to Williamsport. He was big supporter of ours,' it continued. 'Carl was not only a fan, he was one of us.'

Wrestler Mal Havock wrote: 'Carl Eiswerth, I just learned of your passing today. You were the first fan interaction i ever had as a heel at PCWA Pro Wrestling asap the way back in 2014, and we became good friends over the years between APEX Wrestling and interacting online! Super sad to hear about this. You were always such a nice guy with a positive outlook.'

Police have not yet revealed more details about the crash.
Furious Tesco shoppers have slammed the supermarket giant for leaving them 'hundreds of pounds out of pocket' due to new Clubcard rules.

Previously customers have been able to swap their Tesco vouchers for up to three times their worth at more than 100 High Street brands called 'Reward Partners'.

Alongside discounted prices, the Tesco Clubcard Reward Partner scheme also allows customers to earn points to spend on meals, travel and days out. Shoppers earn one point for every 1 spent in store or online.

But the changes, which were due to take effect from June 14, mean customers will only be able to claim two times the value of their vouchers at places including Virgin Atlantic, Disney+, Legoland and Cafe Rouge.

The supermarket chain was forced to push back the deadline for the voucher points as thousands of people trying to claim their rewards caused their systems to crash.

Tesco shoppers have blasted the supermarket giant for leaving them 'hundreds of pounds out of pocket' over new Clubcard rules

Angry shoppers took to Twitter to complain that they had missed out on rewards vouchers

One customer said he'd missed out on 165 of vouchers as a result of the system failure - enough to cover a family trip to Thorpe Park.

Other Tesco shoppers said online that they couldn't claim their vouchers and demanded that the supermarket honour their points at the original value.

One shopper said: 'Voucher system still not working.. and the extended deadline for 3x is now passing... THIS SUCKS.. Have tried 3 days in a row :( Why no update on social media??'

Another complained that they had been trying 'for five days' to exchange for vouchers without success.

Customers can redeem their points online and Reward Partner codes are sent by email from Tesco Clubcard. If you exchange on the Tesco Grocery & Clubcard app, they'll also appear in the 'Rewards' section.

Other changes being brought in by Tesco include that customers will collect one point for every two litres of fuel, instead of one point for every 2 spent

Tesco confirmed that any customers who received a confirmation email before the cut off point of 11.59pm on June 15 would get vouchers worth three times their value.

Any reward vouchers ordered before the deadline will be valid for a year at the current rate, rather than the usual six months. This excludes Disney+, with whom vouchers must be redeemed before August 10 and for Virgin Atlantic Flying Club members, for whom the scheme will change on July 21.

If that is not enough, Martin Lewis has revealed how to extend your usual points for even longer. The Money Saving Expert recommends making a small purchase on the Tesco Clubcard Rewards website - to get remaining points credited back to your account.

Mr Lewis explained: 'Say you've got a 10 voucher, go online, login, spend say 50p of your 10, so you've now got 1.50 in restaurant vouchers - because 50p becomes 1.50.

'For the rest of the 9.50, they re-issue it and it lasts another two years.

'So if you spend just a little bit of the voucher, the rest of it is re-issued and it lasts another two years.'

This latest change is another important point for Tesco customers looking to save, after April saw the supermarket move its points system from the 'Clubcard' app to a new 'Grocery and Clubcard' one.

Since 1995, Clubcards have helped Tesco shoppers to make savings as they shop. Every pound you spend equates to one Clubcard point.

When you redeem these points in the form of vouchers to spend in Tesco, they are worth one penny per point.

Those with Clubcards can also access discounts on select products in store and online, as well as exchanging points for other rewards.

Other changes being brought in by Tesco include that customers will collect one point for every two litres of fuel, instead of one point for every 2 spent.

The UK supermarket has already altered its loyalty scheme several times this year, including changing the terms of its famed meal deals.

It has moved to paperless coupons and personalised vouchers, as well as introducing warnings for customers whose points are about to expire.
Six and a half hours have been allotted to Monday's Commons debate on report

The expected parliamentary showdown over Boris Johnson risks descending into farce after it emerged that MPs may avoid voting on the controversial report altogether.

A massive six and a half hours had been allotted to Monday's Commons debate on the Privileges Committee's finding that the former Prime Minister had deliberately misled MPs over lockdown gatherings in No 10.

It had been thought that Conservatives would have to choose between angering grassroots members by endorsing its damning findings, or be seen as disrespecting the institutions of Parliament by voting against it.

But senior figures now increasingly believe it will be a damp squib, with the lengthy debate likely to end early due to a lack of speakers and attempts under way by some to avoid the planned free vote.

Even Rishi Sunak - despite their recent clashes over honours - has refused to confirm his attendance in the chamber.

A massive six and a half hours had been allotted to Monday's Commons debate on the Privileges Committee's finding that the former Prime Minister had deliberately misled MPs (pictured June 15)

It is rumoured that the Prime Minister will use a conveniently timed meeting with his Swedish counterpart to dodge attending the Commons (pictured June 15)

No 10 claimed yesterday (FRI) that the Prime Minister had not yet had time to 'fully consider' the report amid a diary packed full of meetings.

But asked if the PM had a view on the 'vindictive' sanctions recommended for Mr Johnson - a 90-day suspension had he not resigned and a ban on him receiving a former member's pass - his official spokesman said: 'The PM doesn't think it's appropriate to express a government view or a view on behalf of the government given that it's a matter for individual MPs and MPs have a free vote on this on Monday.'

It is rumoured that the Prime Minister will use a conveniently timed meeting with his Swedish counterpart to dodge attending the Commons.

Asked if he planned to attend the vote, his spokesman said: 'We will set out the PM's movements and activities for next week on Monday.'

Whatever the Prime Minister's decision, it is likely his attendance or non-attendance will be hotly contested within his own party.

Former Cabinet Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg - a key ally of Mr Johnson - said that Mr Sunak will abstain on the basis that it is a 'parliamentary matter'.

But senior Tory Damian Green, who served as a minister under Theresa May, urged the PM to show leadership in the house.

He told the BBC: 'I think personally it is such an important act that deliberately abstaining is not really rising to the importance of the occasion.'

He went on: 'Clearly it is very, very unusual if not unique to have this kind of report on a former prime minister and I am going to vote for it with a heavy heart, with sadness.

'I don't want to be doing this but it seems to me the report is very clear cut and parliament should respect its own procedures.'

Senior figures within the party have signalled their discomfort at the strict measures recommended by the report, including stripping Mr Johnson of his parliamentary pass.

Mr Johson's successor Liz Truss told GB News: 'I'm not going to question the integrity of these MPs.

'We do have these committees that have been set up, but it does seem to me a very harsh decision.'

And former Tory party chairman Sir Jake Berry told ITV he would 'certainly be one of those in the no lobby', adding: 'I think both the conclusions and, to some extent, the way the committee was made up in terms of this report are wrong'.

However, it is understood that Mr Johnson will not ask his supporters to oppose the sanction and the vast majority of Tories are likely to stay away completely.

There is also a growing likelihood that the few Conservatives who do attend will attempt to avoid a vote taking place.

When the Speaker ends the debate, members present are asked to say 'aye' or 'no' to the motion. But if there nobody signals their opposition, there will be no formal vote.

That means it would be recorded in Hansard as having been approved by a decision of the House but without the usual list of MPs who voted in favour or against.

One senior figure told the Mail it is 'not impossible' that this result will be engineered, although opposition MPs would be able to shout no in order to force a division.

It is not even clear how many senior Labour MPs will be present, as Sir Keir Starmer and other shadow cabinet members are understood to have an event scheduled for earlier in the day.

And even the Liberal Democrats have called for the report on Mr Johnson to be approved without a debate in order to avoid wasting parliamentary time.

Party leader Sir Ed Davey said: 'For the Conservatives to devote a whole day to debating this report shows they are even more out-of-touch than we thought.'
The Royal College of Surgeons is no longer opposed to assisted dying and are now 'neutral', it has been announced.

The organisation's council members voted after discussing survey results, which showed an appetite for change, a move which has been welcomed by campaigners.

In the organisation's independent assisted dying survey, which was carried out over four week in February and March this year, found that more than half of respondents would support a change in the law to allow assisted dying.

A fifth of the 19 per cent of membership that responded said the organisation should take a neutral stance, which just three per cent were undecided.

Just over a quarter said they were opposed to a change.

It comes after a decision was taken to review its position on the controversial subject in 2021, having previously held a firm stance of opposition to assisted dying since the subject was last discussed in 2014.

The organisation's council members voted after discussing survey results, which showed an appetite for change, a move which has been welcomed by campaigners (PICTURED: The Royal College of Surgeons building)

READ MORE: Assisted suicide could be viewed as an 'opportunity for cost saving' by the NHS because it would change the way vulnerable people are treated, church leader fears Rt Rev Iain Greenshields, who is the moderator of the Church of Scotland, warned allowing terminally ill patients to legally end their own lives would permanently change the NHS, particularly given how much pressure it is currently under Advertisement

In a statement, the college said: 'Following discussion of the survey results at our council meetings, council members voted to move the RCS England to a position of neutrality.'

Former president of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Professor Sir John Graham Temple praised the organisation for 'listening to its members and adopting a fair, representative position on assisted dying'.

'I personally believe, as do a growing number of medics, that a safeguarded assisted dying law would improve the relationship between doctors and patients, allowing for more open conversations and greater transparency at the end of life', he said.

'This debate is not going away and the law will inevitably change. As momentum for reform grows, our profession must seize the opportunity and play our part in determining what law change looks like.'

Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, said: 'The RCS should be praised for its constructive engagement in the assisted dying debate; a conversation that is becoming impossible for medics and parliament to ignore.

'Neutrality is the only stance that enables medical bodies to contribute fully and fairly to this debate, representing the range of views among their members and ensuring the voices of terminally ill people are at the forefront.'

The Health and Social Care Committee is currently holding an inquiry into assisted dying.

Trevor Moore, Chair of campaign group My Death, My Decision, said: 'Medical professionals are increasingly coming to the conclusion that assisted dying should be legalised in the UK.

'The Health and Social Care Committee must surely give due weight to this in their conclusions following the current inquiry into assisted dying.

'The public support change, doctors across the spectrum support change - now politicians need to step up and give people who are incurably suffering or terminally ill the right to take control over their own bodies and, ultimately, their own deaths.'
The former First Lady of the US Virgin Islands once sent pedophile Jeffrey Epstein an email telling him she took his requests 'very seriously' and that they would be handled 'in the most confidential of ways', court documents have revealed.

Cecile de Jongh's communications emerged in court filings this week, in the lawsuit filed by US Virgin Islands prosecutors accusing JPMorgan Chase of facilitating Epstein's predations by serving as his bank.

In response, the largest bank in America accused the USVI government itself of helping Epstein traffic young women and girls in the Caribbean territory, claiming that de Jongh was at the center of the financier's access to local power circles.

In one December 2014 email, she told Epstein: 'It is important to me that you know that I take this job, my management of your team and our implementation of your requests very seriously and that they be done in the most confidential of ways.'

De Jongh, whose husband John de Jongh served as governor of the US territory from 2007 to 2015, worked for Epstein from at least 2000, managing his USVI office.

Court filings indicate that, even as she served as territorial First Lady, she was on Epstein's payroll, receiving a salary, bonuses, and other benefits, including $200,000 in 2007 alone.

De Jongh worked for Epstein from at least 2000, managing his USVI office. JPMorgan bank has accused her of helping Epstein traffic young women and girls into the Caribbean territory.

The bank announced the settlement on Monday without disclosing how much the it had agreed to pay to Jeffrey Epstein's victims

Cecile de Jongh's communications with Epstein emerged in court filings this week

As well, Epstein paid school tuition fees for de Jongh's children, including while her husband was the sitting governor, the filings allege.

'Lest there be doubt that Epsteins goal was to gain influence, First Lady de Jongh explicitly advised Epstein on how to buy control of the USVI political class,' wrote attorneys for JPMorgan in the court filing on Wednesday.

The filing cited emails in which de Jongh advised Epstein on how to spread political donations to maximize his influence and ensure 'loyalty and access'.

According to additional documents obtained last month by The Virgin Islands Consortium, JPMorgan's attorneys accuse her of being Epstein's 'primary conduit for spreading money and influence throughout the USVI.'

Cecile de Jongh is accused of guiding Epstein on 'how to buy control of the USVI political class.'

The new filing claims that the Virgin Islands 'protected Epstein, fostering the perfect conditions for Epstein's criminal conduct to continue undetected.'

The bank states: 'Rather than stop him, they helped him.'

In a 2011 interview with Business BVI magazine about female empowerment, De Jongh made a strangely pertinent comment saying she believed that some men have a 'God complex' meaning they think no-one will find out about their misdeeds.

Speaking about the differences between men and women generally, she said: 'Some men have this God complex.

'They think everybody loves me, no one is going to find out.

'It takes a certain mentality that you're in a cocoon and no one can touch you and women think less that way.'

Facilities at Little St. James Island, one of the properties of financier Jeffrey Epstein, are seen in an aerial view, near Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Cecile de Jongh was First Lady of the USVI from 2007-15. She worked for Jeffrey Epstein from at least 2000, earning $100,000 a year

Epstein sent garbled instructions to 'DonTe max. no nsme' to the campaign of Stacey Plaskett, who was elected as a non-voting delegate to the US House of Representatives

JP Morgan has long faced questions about their relationship with Epstein: he banked with them until 2013, despite being convicted of 'solicitation of prostitution with a minor' in 2008, and sentenced to jail.

The U.S. Virgin Islands, which is managing Epstein's estate, first accused JPMorgan of turning a blind eye to his activities and enabling him.

On Monday, the bank reached a tentative settlement with his victims, paying up to $290 million as part of a class action lawsuit settlement.

JPMorgan has said it regrets its relationship with Epstein but is not responsible for his crimes.

On Thursday, The Wall Street Journal published documents - filed late on Wednesday - by which the bank hit back, accusing the former First Lady of the territory of aiding Epstein.

De Jongh helped get visas for several alleged victims of Epstein, JPMorgan said in court filings.

She connected one woman to a local immigration lawyer, and worked to get others student visas by arranging special classes for them at the University of the Virgin Islands, the bank said.

The victims were enrolled in an English as a second language, or ESL, course at the university.

'They are structuring the class around the ladies. Please let me know so that they know what to do or not to do,' de Jongh wrote to Epstein in June 2013, according to the court filings.

The $8,868 cost of the course would be covered, de Jongh told university employees.

Two students would need a particular type of student visa, she told university staff.

That same year, Epstein donated $20,000 to the university through one of his companies, JPMorgan said in its filing.

Cecile de Jongh is pictured with her husband John, who was the governor of the territory from 2007-15

Epstein owned this island in the USVI, Little St. James. He bought it in 1998 for $7 million, and bought its larger neighbor, Great St. James, 18 years later. In May, both were sold to financier Stephen Deckoff for $60 million: he intends to turn them into a resort

Epstein's victims were enrolled at the University of the Virgin Islands (pictured), with help from de Jongh

Epstein's island featured a strange blue and white temple-style structure

In 2014, De Jongh solicited political donations from Epstein and his employees for the congressional campaign of Stacey Plaskett, who was elected as a non-voting delegate to the US House of Representatives.

Plaskett told the Journal that she has since donated his campaign contributions to charities for women and children.

'Jeffrey Epstein's conduct was despicable,' said Plaskett.

'As I've stated in the past, contributions made by Jeffrey Epstein to my campaign were donated to women and children-focused non-profits in the Virgin Islands.'

De Jongh has not commented on JPMorgan's allegations.

A spokeswoman for the territory's attorney general said on Thursday that the bank was trying to shift blame away from itself.

'JPMorgan Chase has cherry-picked and mischaracterized Epstein's interactions with U.S. Virgin Islands officials and residents in an attempt to distract and shift blame away from its role in facilitating Jeffrey Epstein's heinous crimes,' the spokeswoman said.

The lawsuit settled by the bank on Monday was filed on behalf of one woman, but rewards anyone who was victimized by Epstein, who killed himself in prison in 2019.

The number of victims who may stand to gain from the settlement could reach 100 though it's unclear if there is a limit on the number who can come forward, or whether each is limited in how much they can receive.

'The parties believe this settlement is in the best interests of all parties, especially the survivors who were the victims of Epstein's terrible abuse,' said the bank in a statement released on Monday morning.

David Boies, an attorney acting on behalf of Epstein victims, said: 'The historic recoveries from the banks who provided financial services to Jeffrey Epstein, speak for themselves.

'It has taken a long time, too long, but today is a great day for Jeffrey Epstein survivors, and a great day for justice.'

Sigrid McCawley, another of the victims' lawyers, said: 'The settlements that have been reached are both life-changing and historic for the survivors.

'Money, which for far too long flowed with impunity between Jeffrey Epstein's global sex trafficking enterprise and Wall Street's leading banks, is decisively being used for good.

'The settlements signal that financial institutions have an important role to play in spotting and shutting down sex trafficking'.

Brad Edwards, an attorney representing the Jane Doe who launched the case, said: 'The information and support the US Virgin Islands and its legal team provided to the survivors was enormously valuable, and we recognize the importance of the government's continued litigation against JPMorgan Chase to prevent future crimes.'

Epstein is shown with former private banking chief, Jef Staley (far left), Larry Summers, Bill Gates (second right) and Boris Nikolic (far right)

A spokesman for the US Virgin Islands government, which is still suing the bank over similar violations, said: 'We are gratified to hear about the settlement that will provide victims of Jeffrey Epstein some compensation for JPMorgan Chase's role in facilitating Epstein's crimes against them.

'The US Virgin Islands will continue to proceed with its enforcement action to ensure full accountability for JPMorgan's violations of law and prevent the bank from assisting and profiting from human trafficking in the future.

'The US Virgin Islands is committed to protecting women and girls who could otherwise become victims going forward.'

Epstein was a client at the bank between 1998 and 2013 - seven years after he was arrested and convicted of using underage prostitutes in Palm Beach, Florida.

Bank employees were concerned about Epstein's large cash withdrawals, some of which were used to pay underage girls in exchange for sex, but he was allowed to remain a client for years.

According to depositions that were part of the lawsuit, he would regularly withdraw between $40,000 and $80,000 a month.

The withdrawals rang alarm bells among compliance officials, but he explained them away by claiming they were for fuel and landing fees for his private plane.

'The parties believe this settlement is in the best interests of all parties, especially the survivors who were the victims of Epstein's terrible abuse,' a statement released by JP Morgan on Monday said

The bank is still entangled in a separate lawsuit filed by the government of the US Virgin Islands, where Epstein kept a home and is said to have abused dozens of girls.

Last year, the same lawyers successfully sued Deutsch Bank - which took Epstein on as a client after JP Morgan eventually cut ties with him in 2013 - over the same allegations.

Deutsch Bank settled for a tentative sum of $75million and was fined $100million by New York regulators.

Epstein died in custody while awaiting a sex trafficking trial. In his absence, the only person to have faced criminal prosecution over his crimes is Ghislaine Maxwell.

She is currently serving a 20 year prison sentence after being convicted of facilitating the abuse.
A babbling President Joe Biden gave a speech Friday where he joked about being 110, told the crowd 'God save the queen' and deployed some of his greatest hits - such as the verbiage: 'don't make me a dog-faced lying pony soldier.'

Biden paid a visit to West Hartford, Connecticut to headline the National Safety Communities Summit, a gun control event where he was introduced by Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, who's long been involved in the issue.

However he ended the speech with the bizarre reference to Queen Elizabeth II, nine months after he went to her funeral, and then motioned to aides asking which way to leave the stage to take photos.

Biden expressed disgust that there were victims of gun violence 'every damn day in America!' as he again pushed to ban AR-15s and implement several other gun control mesures.

'Folks, it's time once again that we ban AR-15 rifles ... high capacity magazines,' he said.He also pushed for universal background checks.

'A lot of you are tired. You're tired. No, I get it. Try being 110 and doing it again,' he said to laughs. 'All kidding aside, a lot of people are frustrated.'

A babbling President Joe Biden gave a speech Friday where he joked about being 110, told the crowd 'God save the queen' and deployed some of his greatest hits - such as the verbiage: 'don't make me a dog-faced lying pony soldier'

He also pointed out how he had requested more money in his budget to go after gun traffickers.

'By the way, you know what I get when I, when talking about fentanyl at the border and all that? I speak to the president of Mexico. Will you stop sending guns to us? We are sending dangerous weapons, particularly assault weapons to Mexico - to Mexico!' he said.

'They're asking us, please stop it. Cut it off at the border. What in God's name are we becoming if we don't do this,' the president added.

The president pledged to 'never, never, never, never, never' yield on this issue.

As he gave a meandering mention of the Violence Against Women Act, he talked about how domestic violence was the 'ultimate abuse, abuse of power.'

'My dad used to say the single worst abuse of all was the abuse of power,' Biden continued - a line that Republicans online bristled at.

At the end of the speech, Biden told the crowd that he couldn't stick around due to an impending storm.

He was next headed to Greenwich, Connecticut for a political fundraiser.

'Is that right, is that still the deal?' he said looking over toward his aides.

The audience - comprised of a number of young activists - shouted back, 'Nooooo!'

'That's the truth, now don't make a lie,' he continued. 'As that scene in the John Wayne movie, don't make me a dog-faced lying pony soldier.'

He had previously deployed a similar line at a 2020 campaign event in New Hampshire - a bizarre moment that went viral.

He then told the group 'God save the queen,' before heading offstage to take pictures with participants.

The pool reporter chronicling the trip sent out a note to the press saying that he and the other reporters had 'no idea' why the president mentioned the queen, who has been dead since September.
Police are investigating 'hateful behaviour' after several Pride banners were scrawled with homophobic graffiti, attacked and damaged.

Investigating officers from Gloucestershire Police are appealing for information about the attacks which are being treated as suspected hate crimes.

One of the pictured banners has 'we don't want this crap' written on it while another reads: 'Protect the kids from this evil.'

The first incident happened outside Gloucester Quays shopping centre on Saturday, June 10. Police say a man scrawled homophobic graffiti on a Pride banner at around 7.45am.

Then, just two days later, two men and an older woman pulled down three vinyl banners outside of the shopping centre at around 4.35pm. They fled in the direction of Southgate Street.

Police are investigating 'hateful behaviour' after several Pride banners were scrawled with homophobic graffiti

This pride banner has black ink scribbled over it: 'Protect the kids from this evil'

Investigating officers from Gloucestershire Police are treating the crimes as suspected hate crimes

PC Steph Lawrence, County Hate Crime Coordinator at Gloucestershire Constabulary, said: 'We will not stand for this harmful rhetoric or hateful behaviour which aims to intimidate and hurt our communities.

'The majority of people in Gloucester are hugely supportive of the LGBT+ community and we will ensure that everyone feels that the city is a safe place for them.

'We will continue to work with our partners to ensure our county is the safest and most tolerant.'

Officers would like to speak to anybody who witnessed the incidents or has information about the people responsible.

You can contact police through the Constabulary website, quoting either incident 139 of 10 June for the graffiti incident or 399 of 13 June regarding the banners being pulled down.
The influencer also apologized to her family and friends who she claims have been 'harassed' in the aftermath of the incident

Transgender activist Rose Montoya has apologized for flashing her breasts at a White House Pride event last week.

The controversial model, 27, issued the apology by positing a video to Twitter on Friday in which she apologized to the President and the LGBT community for her 'unbecoming' behavior.

'In a quick moment of fleeting and overwhelming trans joy, I decided to do something unbecoming of the guest of the president at the White House lawn celebration' Montoya said.

'I want to take this moment to apologize for the impact of my actions.

'I especially want to apologize to my black trans brothers and siblings, especially transgender women who are black' she went on.

Rose Montoya, 27, attended a Pride party at the White House on Saturday and posed topless

'Because I understand that you all are constantly at a disproportionate level, impacted by the actions of others, and especially by anti-trans violence' she explained.

Montoya also apologized to her family and friends who she claims have been 'harassed' in the aftermath of the incident.

The influencer then directly apologized to the president and 'the nation' concluding, 'it was also never my intention to create a situation that would lead to harassment and harm of myself and others, nor for trans joy like my little moment of trans joy to be weaponized by vile people of the opposition.'

Montoya has since been banned from the White House after going topless at a Pride Event where she met the President.

Rose Montoya, 27, unhooked the top of her dress and grabbed her chest on the South Lawn on Saturday, as someone shouted, 'are we topless at the White House?'

Video of the move went viral on social media, and was condemned by the White House.

On Tuesday, a White House spokesman told DailyMail.com: 'This behavior is inappropriate and disrespectful for any event at the White House.

'It is not reflective of the event we hosted to celebrate LGBTQI+ families or the other hundreds of guests who were in attendance.

The controversial model , 27, issued the apology by positing a video to Twitter on Friday

Montoya, 27, has since been banned from the White House by officials after unhooking the top of her dress and grabbed her chest on the South Lawn

Montoya has modeled for brands such as Rihanna's Savage x Fenty label

Montoya met up with fellow controversial trans activist Dylan Mulvaney at the Queerties Awards in March

The activist claims on her website that she knew from a 'very young age' that she was a girl, and can even be seen saying her name is 'Queen Rose'

'Individuals in the video will not be invited to future events.'

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated that point at her Tuesday press briefing.

'Individuals in the video certainly will not be invited to future events. And this has not occurred before. This was not a normal thing that has happened under this administration,' she said.

Montoya was one of thousands invited to a Pride Month concert on the South Lawn on Saturday at the White House.

Montoya shared an Instagram montage of the day with her 103,000 followers, and was seen dancing to the DJ and striking poses in front of landmarks such as the Washington monument and the Truman balcony of the White House.

She is also seen meeting Jill Biden, and trying to take a selfie with the president - with the camera mistakenly on video, rather than photo.

During her encounter with President Biden, she also said: 'Trans rights are human rights.'

She captioned the video: 'I had the honor of attending White House Pride, the largest one in history where the Pride flag flew for the first time.

'This is trans joy. We're here at the White House unapologetically trans, queer, and brown.'

When the video went viral, she pointed out that being topless in public was not illegal in Washington DC.

The White House hosted the concert after postponing it from its original Thursday date due to the smoke that blanketed the city from the Canadian Wildfires.

Biden and his administration have emphasized they are allies to the LGBTQ movement.

Jill Biden and President Biden at Saturday's Pride event at the White House

The Idaho-born model is also seen with Jill Biden, and dancing with the trans flag

President Joe Biden and his administration are being slammed online for US Flag Code violation after displaying a rainbow-colored Pride flag between two American flags on the White House

'You are loved, you are beautiful, you are heard, you belong,' Jill Biden told the crowd on Saturday.

Montoya has been open about her September 2020 breast augmentation, November 2020 trachea shave - to remove an Adam's Apple, and March 2021 genioplasty, which makes the chin more feminine. Montoya has not undergone bottom surgery.

After her final surgery, Montoya went viral after she denounced airport checks, calling them insensitive and inappropriate.

Montoya was flying from Phoenix to Los Angeles when she was stopped at security after the full-body scanner detected an 'anomaly' between her legs.

'Can we talk about how horrible it is to travel while being transgender sometimes? I always have immense anxiety leading up to going through security,' the Hispanic model explained in her viral TikTok, which has been viewed 19 million times.

'And this means that I totally recognize the privilege of having all of my documents correct,' she continued.

'So, the gender marker on my license, for example, says female.

'But, going through the scanner, there's a male scanner and a female scanner in the TSA checkpoint.'

Montoya, who has more than 481,000 TikTok followers, has been using her platform to educate others about the difficulties trans people face.
In March, doctors gave him just three to six months to live when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer

Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsberg, the anti-war activist who revealed secret details of U.S. strategy in the Vietnam War, had died at the age of 92.

His family said that he passed away at his home in Kensington, California, after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

'Daniel was a seeker of truth and a patriotic truth-teller, an antiwar activist, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, a dear friend to many, and an inspiration to countless more. He will be dearly missed by all of us,' they said in a statement.

A one-time Vietnam hawk, Ellsberg later become a prominent anti-war activist

In March, Ellsberg had said that he had been given between three and six months to live by doctors.

The ex-military analyst was once dubbed 'the most dangerous man in America' after he revealed in 1971 how top U.S. officials had misled the public over the conflict.

A one-time hawk on Vietnam, Ellsberg disclosed Pentagon officials had secretly been putting together a 7,000-page report.

The secret memo detailed a level of U.S. involvement in Vietnam from 1945 through 1967 that was not yet public.

'I felt that as an American citizen, as a responsible citizen, I could no longer cooperate in concealing this information from the American public,' Ellsberg said at the time. 'I did this clearly at my own jeopardy and I am prepared to answer to all the consequences of this decision.'

He would say that he regretted not leaking the papers sooner.

In another email in March, Ellsberg wrote: 'When I copied the Pentagon Papers in 1969, I had every reason to think I would be spending the rest of my life behind bars. It was a fate I would gladly have accepted if it meant hastening the end of the Vietnam War, unlikely as that seemed.'

Ellsberg saw the espionage charges brought against him tossed out by a judge after he leaked secret memos to the U.S. media

Richard Nixon, the president at the time, went all the way to the Supreme Court to try and gag the New York Times and prevent any articles based on the leak being published.

The Times never said who leaked the papers but the FBI quickly figured it out. Ellsberg hid for about two weeks before surrendering in Boston.

He was charged in a federal court in Los Angeles in 1971 with theft, espionage, conspiracy and other counts.

But the judge threw out the case after it emerged the government had used illegal wiretapping to collect evidence.

Ellsberg would then become a vocal critic of the government excesses and U.S. military interventions abroad
An attorney for the New York City financier accused of raping a 14-year-old girl and plying her with drugs says he maintains his innocence and is 'upset' about the charges.

Michael Olson, 54, is accused of targeting young Asian girls on Instagram by specifically seizing on any one who posted about not being able to afford clothes, or about self-harm.

He has been charged with a range of offenses against one child who was found in a hotel room with him in Midtown Manhattan in May after overdosing on ketamine, cocaine and Xanax. Olson was there but told police the drugs were 'gifts'.

He was denied bail yesterday after a hearing in New York Supreme Court and will return to court next week. His attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, told The New York Post that he is 'very upset'.

Michael Olson, 54, is accused of targeting young Asian girls on Instagram by specifically seizing on any who posted about not being able to afford clothes, or about self-harm

'Of course hes upset, hes a human being  its a horrible day for him,' he said.

Lichtman would not give an expansive response to the allegations, instead saying: 'These are just allegations at this point, no matter how salacious they may be.

'We havent received a single piece of paper of evidence yet, so its hard to really discuss the case intelligently when youre not exactly sure what the evidence is.'

According to police, Olson stored a screenshot of the New York City public school calendar on his phone.

There were also records of pick-ups and drop-offs from NYC elementary and middle schools.

It is unclear if Olson has kids of his own or if he is married.

Prosecutors say he kept a spreadsheet detailing the drugs he gave young girls, and who he'd sent messages to.

The girl he was found in the hotel with had also been on trips with him, traveling to Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Miami.

Prosecutors claimed he pretended she was his daughter on the trips to avoid suspicion.

Prosecutors say he kept a spreadsheet detailing the drugs he gave young girls, and who he'd sent messages to

In May, EMTs were called to a hotel room where the child had overdosed.

That is how police first came across Olson, who was also in the room. He was arrested but released after posting a $1million bond.

But once free, police say he continued to target young girls on social media.

At his arraignment yesterday, he was denied bond.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, a spokesman for Dwight Mortgage Trust - the firm where he worked - confirmed he'd been fired.

'Yesterday we became aware of the serious criminal allegations against one of our employees, Michael Olson, and immediately after learning about these allegations, he was terminated.

'The allegations are horrific and our hearts go out to the victims and their families.

'We will cooperate fully with any request by law enforcement regarding Mr. Olson.'

The investigation into Olson will continue, says Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, whose office is asking any other victims to come forward.
A gunman killed his wife, her daughter and three kids in an horrific murder-suicide in rural Tennessee last night after she warned a judge she was afraid he'd shoot her.

Gary Barnett, 48, was today named as the family annihilator who massacred his estranged wife Regina Barnett, her daughter Britney Perez and three children before torching the home in Marion County.

Barnett then turned the gun on himself. A fourth unidentified adult was found by cops with three bullet wounds and flown to hospital.

Now it has been revealed that Regina had filed a restraining order against her husband a month ago warning that she feared he would kill her in a drunken rage, court records show. A judge had approved a 'no contact order' against Barnett which was still active at the time of the killings.

Regina wrote in court documents: 'My soon to be (ex) husband threatened to shoot me and he verbally abuses me every day. He also threatened to shoot my dog. He also has anywhere from 50 to 60 guns in his room. I am afraid he will get drunk and shoot me.'

Gary Barnett, 48, was today named as family annihilator who massacred his estranged wife Regina Barnett, her daughter Britney Perez and Perez's three kids before torching the home in the Sequatchie area of Marion County

Now it has been revealed that Regina had filed a restraining order against her husband a month ago, court records show. A judge had approved a 'no contact order' against Barnett which was still active at the time of the killings. Regina wrote in court documents: 'My soon to be (ex) husband threatened to shoot me and he verbally abuses me every day. He also threatened to shoot my dog. He also has anywhere from 50 to 60 guns in his room. I am afraid he will get drunk and shoot me'

The horrific scene in Sequatchie, Tennessee, following the deaths of six people in what authorities have described as domestic incident

It was earlier revealed that Regina's daughter Perez had been visiting her at the home at the time of the murders.

A neighbor, Sylvia Cooper, told WTVC that she heard glass smash and then around five gunshots.

Shortly afterwards, flames could be seen coming from the home. Fire teams from multiple communities were called to the scene to put out the fire.

At least two of the victims died as a result of smoke inhalation, officials said.

'It's a domestic situation, evidently that has been ongoing for a pretty good while. We have six people confirmed dead. They have been removed from the scene and they have been taken to Nashville for an autopsy. The scene has been turned over to the TBI,' Sheriff Burnett told the media.

'This is one of the worst things I've seen. You hear about these things but this is one of the worst I've been involved in all my career as a law enforcement officer,' the sheriff added.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is in taking the lead in the investigation. The sheriff said that there is no further threat to the community and that everybody involving in the incident has been accounted for.

The victims have been taken to Nashville for autopsies.

Police say that the perpetrator set fire to the home after shooting some family members, two of the victims died of smoke inhalation

Marion County Sheriff Bo Burnett described the scene as 'one of the worst things I've seen'

Family mass killings have become a disturbingly common tragedy across the country. They've happened nearly every 3.5 weeks for the last two decades on average. In 2022 there were 17 of them, according to a database, compiled by multiple media organizations.

Ten were murder-suicides, and 14 were shootings. The database defines a mass killing as four or more people slain, not including the assailant. \

Sequatchie, Tennessee, is one of more than 30 communities sent reeling by a family mass killing in the last two years, a list that includes communities of wealth and poverty and spares no race or class.

A family mass killing  where four or more people were killed, not including the perpetrator  happened each of the last two years in places as large as Houston or as small as Casa Grande, Arizona.

Motives can remain speculative in family killings in which assailants take their own lives, but police often cite financial or relationship issues as the causes.

Family mass killings immediately capture the attention of people in a community, but rarely garner the level of national attention received by mass killings at schools, places of worship or restaurants, said James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Northeastern University who has studied familicides and mass killings for decades.

Fox, who helped compile and maintains the database for the AP and USA Today, said that's because it doesn't carry the same kind of fear with the public. He noted police often issue messages saying there is no danger to the public shortly after the killings are discovered.

'It's a nice safe community, but family massacres are independent of the crime rate in the local area,' he said. 'We are talking about internal factors, and I think that's why it's hard for people to see themselves in these situations and why the response is to mourn instead of fear.'

Family mass killings are in fact the most common type of mass killing, making up about 45% of the 415 mass shootings since 2006, according to the database. They happen twice as frequently as mass shootings in which members of the public are killed.

Most, but not all, involve handguns, only about a third involve households with a previous occurrence of domestic violence and most of the assailants have no violent history or criminal past, Fox said.

There is no governmental agency tracking murder-suicides nationally, so a few years ago policy analysts at the Violence Policy Center  a nonprofit educational organization that conducts research and public education on violence in the U.S.  began tracking details from news accounts to produce an annual report. The latest version from 2020 looked at murder-suicides including many mass killings during the first six months of 2019.

Michael Haight, 42, fatally shot his wife, her mother and the couple's five kids after he was investigated for child abuse in one of the most infamous murder suicides in recent years

The study found 81 percent of murder-suicides happened at home and 65 percent involved intimate partners.

The study also found that among murder-suicides where more than three people aside from the assailant were killed, six of the 10 during those six months were incidents in which a person killed their children, partner and themselves.

Fox said most of the killings fall into two categories. The first is murder by proxy, in which the killer is motivated by anger or resentment and kills the children who are seen as an extension of their partner.

The second is suicide by proxy motivated by despondency or depression, most often a job loss, and the assailant kills the children as an extension of themselves.

'He wants to spare them the misery of living in this awful world,' Fox said. 'Over the years, there's been an eclipse in community. There was a time decades ago if you had trouble feeding your family or if you had lost your job, neighbors would come over with casseroles and they would offer emotional support. Many people don't know their neighbors these days.'
Jellyfish have been spotted in a spot popular with lake swimmers, with visitors being warned to remain on high alert when they are in the water.

The large creatures were pictured washed up on Clevedon's Marine Lake near Bristol, with swimmers warned to expect a painful sting if they get too close.

Experts say people should not be alarmed, and the Marine Lake Enthusiasts Society has suggested visitors should continue using the lake while remaining vigilant.

Group member Joe Norman told The Sun: 'It is more of a surprise than a problem. But the lake is its own ecosystem and part of the Severn Estuary and what lives in there, lives in the lake.

'There are lots of people using the lake in this hot weather. I think the fact that the jellyfish are there is more of an issue for the jellyfish than the humans.

'Although the jellyfish can sting they are not a threat to humans and people should continue to use the lake as they wish.'

The large creatures were pictured washed up on Clevedon's Marine Lake near Bristol, with swimmers warned to expect a painful sting if they get too close

It's not an uncommon sight around this time of year, with the animals often spotted in the area during the summer months along the Somerset coast

Experts say people should not be alarmed, and the Marine Lake Enthusiasts Society has suggested visitors should continue using the lake while remaining vigilant

None of the UK jellyfish are considered to be dangerous, but some do have nasty stings, as they can inject a venom which causes a burning feeling

It's not an uncommon sight around this time of year, with the animals often spotted in the area during the summer months along the Somerset coast.

The UK has six species of jellyfish, and two of jellyfish-like animals which include the Portuguese man o'war and the by-the-wind-sailor. The latter two are classified as siphonophores, a type of marine organism.

They are likely to be seen in the UK from mid-spring to late summer and early autumn, depending on the weather, conditions in the water and the species.

Recently, jellyfish warnings have been issued in Fairbourne, Gwynedd.

None of the UK jellyfish are considered to be dangerous, but some do have nasty stings, as they can inject a venom which causes a burning feeling. They also still have the ability to sting when washed up dead on beaches.

In the event of being stung, people are advised to remove any tentacles attached the the skin and wash the area with salt or fresh water. Those who have allergic reactions should monitor the sting and seek medical attention if needed.

In deeper waters they can grow up to 150cm, and they move to warmer areas during May and June to feed on plankton.

Over the years, there have been several reports of jellyfish washing up on beaches and in marina's, having underestimated the depth of the water.
A high school graduate in Philadelphia has spoken out after the principal allegedly refused to give her a graduation certificate because she danced across the stage in celebration.

Hafsah Abdur-Rahman, 17, was excited to take part in the ceremony with her classmates at Philadelphia High School for Girls on June 9.

Her name was called out and she did a viral dance move called the 'Griddy' on her way to collecting her high school diploma.

But the principal reportedly refused to hand the teenager the certificate and instructed her to move on before placing it back inside the basket.

Abdur-Rahman said the school head had warned students their families could not cheer or clap as they walked on stage and claims it was the laughter that led to her being rejected.

A high school graduate in Philadelphia has spoken out after the principal allegedly refused to give her a graduation certificate because she danced across the stage in celebration

Hafsah Abdur-Rahman, 17, was excited to take part in the ceremony with her classmates at Philadelphia High School for Girls on June 9

Her name was called out and she did a viral dance move called the 'Griddy' on her way to collecting her high school diploma

My blood is boiling. They stole this girls big moment, both for her and her family. If this had happened to one of my children, I would have rushed the stage. pic.twitter.com/x60EaIgEmI  Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) June 16, 2023

The shocking moment was caught on video and shared on Twitter where it has been viewed almost five million times.

It shows Abdur-Rahman, dressed in all white and carrying yellow flowers, dancing as she approaches the principal who is holding her diploma.

But the school head extends her arm and appears to gesture for her to sit down before the disappointed teenager walks away.

And the principal then placed her diploma back into a basket next to her.

'She stole that moment from me,' Abdur-Rahman told local television station WPVI. 'I will never get that again.'

She said the moment was in honor of her sister who was killed by a stray bullet aged 15 in 2014 and was never able to graduate.

The student cried following the rejection and said she was 'so embarrassed'.

'I couldn't even enjoy the rest of the graduation,' she added

'I understood the rules because I was saying "shh" in the video. Do not say nothing because I want my diploma.

'I knew and understood what we were supposed to do.'

Abdur-Rahman said the principal told her she could not receive her diploma because of the laughter following her dance move.

Abdur-Rahman, dressed in all white and carrying yellow flowers, dances as she approaches the principal who is holding her diploma

But the school head extends her arm and implies for her to sit down before the disappointed teenager walks away

And the principal then placed her diploma back into a basket next to her

She said: 'If they thought that I shouldn't do the Griddy across the stage and do the Girls' High traditions, nobody should have been able to wave or blow kisses or do period signs because I feel like that's the same thing. I feel like that's unfair.'

Abdur-Rahman claimed the assistant superintendent of the school reached out to her and her mother to apologize for the incident.

Her mother Jaszmine Reid said: 'It's 2023, a lot has happened. These girls went through COVID together. Our kids are not even living up to see high school.

'I understand traditions and rules are set in place for a reason, and we're not saying they should be broken, but it might need to be revised also.'

Abdur-Rahman's grandmother was furious with the principal over the incident and demanded a public apology.

Renee Hadiyah Reid said: 'They told the graduates that their families could NOT say anything as they received their diplomas. They also told us in the audience not to do it. Everyone respected that.

'How can you punish these young girls for something in the audience did?? Anywho, my GrandLuv went across the stage and did a lil shimmy. We saw when she got to the principal it was a delay.'

The student cried following the rejection and said she was 'so embarrassed'

Abdur-Rahman said the school head warned students that their families could not cheer or clap as they walked on stage and claims it was the laughter that led to her being rejected

She added: 'This lady thought it was ok to PUBLICLY humiliate my GrandLuv and 2 other young ladies!! HOW WAS THIS OK?? These girls worked hard for these diplomas!! This was NOT OK!!

'These young ladies may NEVER see another graduation!! Why would she do this? I will not stop until we get a PUBLIC APOLOGY!! This was hurtful and NOT OK!!

'I am NOT apart of cancel culture but I want her CANCELLED!!!'

Abdur-Rahman said three other girls did not get their diplomas on stage either but did receive them after the ceremony.

Saleemah Burch, 18, said she was denied her diploma on stage for making a gesture which the guests reacted to.

'When they called Saleemah's name, my younger son, we had our hands together, and we just put our hands in the air,' her mother Delsa Burch said.

'No one made a noise.'

A clip of the incident with Abdur-Rahman went viral on social media and was met with lots of backlash.

A clip of the incident with Abdur-Rahman went viral on social media and was met with lots of backlash

One user wrote: 'My blood is boiling. They stole this girls big moment, both for her and her family. If this had happened to one of my children, I would have rushed the stage.'

Another added: 'Idc if that was my kid or not I would have stood up and started booing that woman. Awful!!'

A third said: 'She did nothing wrong. Its graduation and a major accomplishment. We not celebrate! I would have done more stuff to make the crowd smile and laugh if they denied me of my diploma and a picture. Poor judgment on the administration.'

The School District of Philadelphia issued a statement and said: 'The District does not condone the withholding of earned diplomas based on family members cheering for their graduates.

'We apologize to all the families and graduates who were impacted and are further looking into this matter to avoid it happening in the future.'

Philadelphia High School for Girls lists Lisa Mesi as its principal and Dailymail.com has contacted the school for comment.
An Albanian armed robber who was deported after using a fake name to obtain a British passport while on the run is back in the country.

Asim Murtati, 46, was involved in the ambush of a minibus in Albania before fleeing to the UK where he gave a different surname to border guards and claimed he was a Kosovan refugee.

He went on to gain citizenship under the pseudonym and have three daughters, despite having been sentenced in absentia in his homeland.

Authorities finally caught and deported Murtati to serve his 11-year sentence in 2009.

But he was released after just six years and returned to Britain where it seems he simply renewed his old British passport.

Asim Murtati, 46, was involved in the ambush of a minibus in Albania before fleeing to the UK where he gave a different surname to border guards and claimed he was a Kosovan refugee

The Daily Mail has established that Murtati has travelled in the past using the fraudulent document, which was not cancelled when he was deported.

However, it is understood that the Home Office has now revoked the passport. Murtati has launched a legal challenge against the decision.

Murtati also registered a business under his fake name and has grown so brazen he recently transferred it to his real name.

He appears to be living in a semi-detached property in Northampton worth more than 350,000 with two of his daughters.

The Mail confronted him at his home where he initially tried to deny he had been deported before asking our reporter to leave.

Asked how he returned to the UK, he said: 'That's wrong, mate. You've got it wrong.'

He blamed his conviction on 'Albanian politics' before falsely claiming he chose to return home, stating: 'I didn't serve the sentence because I'm not guilty.'

But Albanian court documents show he was deported on January 16, 2009, and was imprisoned until his release on January 13, 2015.

It is not clear whether Murtati returned to the UK legally after serving his sentence in Albania. When pressed on this, he refused to answer.

Local Tory MP Andrea Leadsom said: 'I am extremely concerned about this. I expect the Home Office to look into it as a matter of urgency.'

Local Tory MP Andrea Leadsom said: 'I am extremely concerned about this. I expect the Home Office to look into it as a matter of urgency'

In November 1997, Murtati and four other Albanians ambushed a minibus, with one firing a machine gun to stop the driver before they boarded and robbed everyone inside.

A warrant was issued for his arrest but he fled and was convicted in absentia 12 months after the crime.

However, Murtati simply claimed he was a Kosovan fleeing the war to gain asylum and then indefinite leave to remain in Britain.

Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch, said: 'It's another clear indication the system is shattered. Sadly, there's little evidence Rishi Sunak's Government is up to the task.'

A Home Office spokesman said: 'We do not routinely comment on individual cases.'
A mandarin who reported Boris Johnson to the police over his Chequers guests during lockdown has been given a knighthood.

Alex Chisholm, permanent secretary in the Cabinet Office, receives the gong for public service in today's King's honours.

As the most senior official in the central government department, it was he who took the decision last month to hand to police the former prime minister's diaries while they were being examined as part of preparations for the Covid inquiry.

Sir Alex, 55, acted after officials suspected family and friends had attended the premier's grace-and-favour mansion when Covid restrictions were in place.

It triggered a major row, with Mr Johnson branding the fresh allegations of rule-breaking 'absolute nonsense' and that the diary entries from 2021 were 'completely innocent'. One supporter described it as 'the biggest stitch-up since the Bayeux Tapestry'.

Alex Chisholm (pictured) is the permanent secretary in the Cabinet Office and the most senior official in the central government department

Sir Alex took the decision to hand to police Boris Johnson's diaries last month. Boris Johnson is pictured leaving his home in London, March 21, 2023

Sir Alex's knighthood had been recommended several months earlier by the public service committee, which includes five permanent secretaries from other major departments. Ministers were not involved in awarding it.

But the timing of the announcement is unfortunate and risks being seen by supporters of Mr Johnson as evidence of rewarding the Establishment that tried to bring him down.

Sir Alex's honour has even raised eyebrows within Whitehall, where there have been mutterings about his performance in recent weeks.

Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, Britain's top civil servant, is said to have recently been forced to find an extra senior official to help him with preparations for the Covid inquiry.

'This knighthood hasn't gone down brilliantly in Whitehall,' one source said.

In a further blow to Mr Johnson, a senior parliamentary official who helped strengthen the case against him has also been given an honour.

Eve Samson, clerk of the journals, is made a CBE for her work on the Queen's funeral, including preparations for the Lying-in-State.

Last year, she told the Commons privileges committee that it did not have to prove that Mr Johnson had intended to mislead Parliament in order for him to be found in contempt, in what critics said was a break with tradition. Her fateful memo stated: 'It is for the committee and the House to determine whether a contempt has occurred and the intention of the contemnor is not relevant to making that decision.'

Sir Alex's knighthood had been recommended several months earlier by the public service committee

A handful of MPs have also been acknowledged in the King's first birthday honours, which come just a week after the controversy over Mr Johnson's resignation list. They include Ben Bradshaw, only the second openly gay MP when he was first elected in 1997, who receives a knighthood.

The veteran Labour MP for Exeter said last night: 'I wasn't sure about accepting it because of doubts about the honour system, and particularly in the light of recent events.

'But also the fact that there are many unsung heroes and heroines in my constituency far more worthy of recognition.

'But I guess I then thought, well, my late dad would have been very proud. My mum would have laughed very loudly.'

Conservative MPs John Baron and Bob Blackman are made CBEs, while former junior ministers Damian Collins and Heather Wheeler become OBEs.

Oxford-educated Sir Alex has been permanent secretary since 2020. Before joining the civil service, he was publisher and general manager of the Remain-backing Financial Times Group.

He is married to Eliza Pakenham, granddaughter of the late Labour peer and prison reformer Lord Longford.
Former hostage and charity campaigner Terry Waite said yesterday that his knighthood was among his life's 'peak' achievements.

Sir Terry, 84, who spent almost five years in captivity in Lebanon, was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) for his services to charity.

He travelled to Beirut as an envoy for the Church of England to try to secure the release of four hostages, including the journalist John McCarthy.

But he was taken hostage himself and held captive from 1987 to 1991, including four years in solitary confinement, during which time he was subjected to a mock execution and brutal torture.

Now co-founder and president of Hostage International, which supports the families of hostages, and president of the homelessness charity Emmaus, he said he intended to keep working.

Terry Waite who was held hostage in Lebanon from 1987 to 1991 said that his knighthood was among his life's 'peak' achievements

Queen Elizabeth II meets Terry Waite at a Commonwealth Day reception in London, March 1992

Speaking of his knighthood, Sir Terry, of Hartest, Suffolk, said: 'It is a very significant honour and I'm really amazed that I've got it.

'I'm getting on but I'm still working at 84. I'm still very active. I suppose it's a peak, really. I was given an MBE many years ago and then I got a CBE several years afterwards. Now this is the next one up, so to speak.'

Sir Terry added: 'I think I've been very fortunate to get this because there are many other people who are deserving of honours who don't get mentioned.

'I've just been fortunate to be one who's been picked out for some reason or other.'

Phil Bigley, the brother of murdered hostage Ken Bigley, was made an OBE for his work with Hostage International, where he is chairman of the board of trustees.

He dedicated the award to the memory of his late brother, a civil engineer from Liverpool who was kidnapped by Islamist extremists in the Iraqi capital Baghdad in September 2004 before being beheaded three weeks later.

Canterbury's archbishop special hostage negotiator Terry Waite leaves Lebanon by plane guarded by soldiers, 1991
Labour's brazen sympathy for eco-zealots Just Stop Oil was laid bare yesterday after a councillor jailed for joining disruptive protests was praised by fellow party members.

Richard Morgan was likened to Nelson Mandela by other councillors for being a 'passionate fighter' who was 'jailed for his beliefs'.

He has even been appointed to lead the transport portfolio at Bridgwater town council in Somerset.

It comes after Labour accepted 1.5million in donations from businessmen Dale Vince, who has also helped bankroll Just Stop Oil and joined demonstrators.

Questions have been raised about whether the donations, made via Mr Vince's firm Ecotricity, have influenced Sir Keir Starmer's pledge to block new North Sea oil and gas exploration if he wins the next election.

Richard Morgan (pictured) was likened to Nelson Mandela by other councillors for being a 'passionate fighter' who was 'jailed for his beliefs'

Mr Morgan was one of 51 demonstrators arrested in October last year for contempt of court after sitting with protesters outside the Kingsbury Oil Terminal

The Labour Party has accepted 1.5million in donations from businessmen Dale Vince (pictured), who has also helped bankroll Just Stop Oil and joined demonstrators

Mr Morgan was one of 51 demonstrators arrested in October last year for contempt of court after sitting with protesters outside the Kingsbury Oil Terminal near Tamworth, Staffordshire, which was the subject of an injunction banning protests.

He was held in jail for a week pending the subsequent court case. He was then sentenced to 23 days' imprisonment, suspended for two years, as well as being ordered to pay fines and costs totalling 320.77.

The councillor was arrested again weeks later following demonstrations in which traffic was blocked in central London. Energy Secretary Grant Shapps has led condemnation of Labour. Writing in the Daily Mail today, he says: 'What was Labour's response to the hours of inconvenience their councillor caused people? Did they suspend him? Even reprimand him?

'No. They [the local Labour branch] issued a press release celebrating him as a 'passionate fighter against climate change... arrested and jailed for his beliefs' and comparing him to Nelson Mandela. And in the ultimate snub to those motorists fuming in traffic, Bridgwater's Labour council appointed Richard Morgan as the councillor in charge of... transport.'

He accused Sir Keir of making Just Stop Oil's 'dreams come true' with its pledge to stop new drilling in the North Sea  a policy opposed by its trade union backers.

Mr Shapps added: 'Just this week, Labour voted against new laws to stop protestors disrupting your lives.

'The Labour Party has become the political wing of Just Stop Oil  and other eco-extremists who use ordinary people's lives as their weapon.'

Separately, it emerged Labour shadow minister Kerry McCarthy  MP for Bristol East  signed a pledge in 2019 by another eco-protest group, Extinction Rebellion, promising to put its three main demands into law.

A blog set up by Labour's Somerset branch described Mr Morgan as a 'passionate fighter against climate change' who was 'arrested and jailed for his beliefs'.

And Bridgwater council leader Brian Smedley defended him, saying the local party association was 'quite happy with Mr Morgan's contribution to the [climate] debate... I don't think it's a big issue.'

But last night it emerged that Mr Morgan was suspended, pending investigation, by the party on Wednesday.

A Labour spokesman said: 'Keir Starmer has been outspoken in his condemnation of Just Stop Oil who he believes have put lives and livelihoods at risk. The idea they have influenced our policy is for the birds.'
The family of Ohio man Jayland Walker is suing the eight police officers who shot him last summer for at least $45million just months after a grand jury refused to indict them.

Attorneys for the family are arguing officers used excessive force when they fired 94 bullets at the the 25-year-old Walker, who is black, during a foot chase and participated in a 'culture of violence and racism' within Akron's police department.

According to the suit filed Friday in federal court, they want damages from the officers, the city of Akron and city officials, according to a press release. The family announced the suit, with Walker's mother Pam in tears at moments.

'The case, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, seeks at least $45 million in damages, $1 million for each bullet that struck Jayland Walker,' the statement said.

During a routine traffic stop on June 27, 2022, police officers fatally shot Walker after he fired a single bullet from his vehicle, then ran from the officers, according to a state investigation. Walker left the gun in his still-moving car.

Bobby DiCello, one of the attorneys representing the family of Jayland Walker, holds up documents related to their $45 million lawsuit filed against the city of Akron, Akron Police Department and the eight officers who shot and killed Jayland last summer during a press conference at the First Congregational Church of Akron Friday

Pam Walker, Jayland's mother, is comforted by Paige White, one of the attorneys representing the family

Dash-cam video from a police cruiser captured images of Walker firing the gun from his car, said Anthony Pierson, an assistant state attorney general.

'Jayland Walkers death has been mischaracterized as his fault,' Bobby DiCello, an attorney for the Walker family, said in a press conference Friday. He called that mischaracterization 'repugnant.'

Walker had no criminal history and had never fired a gun until he went to a shooting range with a friend in early June, Pierson said.

Pierson wouldn't speculate about Walker's state of mind that night and said there was no direct evidence that he was suicidal.

Walker had been grieving his fiancee's recent death but his family had no indication of concern beyond that, a family representative previously said.

'That night he encountered the police he wasn't acting himself,' Pierson said. 'By all accounts he was a good person, a good man.'

Less than 24 hours before the chase, police in neighboring New Franklin Township had tried to stop a car matching Walker's, also for unspecified minor equipment violations.

A supervisor there called off the pursuit when the car crossed the township's border with Akron.

Walker's death received widespread attention from activists, including from the family of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The NAACP and an attorney for Walkers family called on the Justice Department to open a federal civil rights investigation

Mourners at Walker's funeral on July 13 wore 'Black Lives Matter' and 'Zero Threat, Zero Violence, Justice for Jayland' T-shirts as the protested his death at the hands of police

His death gained national attention and roiled yet another city amid heightened tensions with police over the killing of a black man that started with a traffic stop.

Walker's death received widespread attention from activists, including from the family of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The NAACP and an attorney for Walkers family called on the Justice Department to open a federal civil rights investigation.

President Joe Biden responded to the shooting during a trip to Ohio last summer by saying the DOJ was monitoring the case.

The officers fired the nearly 100 bullets at Walker in less than seven seconds when he refused to put up his hands and appeared to reach into his waistband, believing him to be armed and a 'deadly threat,' the state investigation said.

The officers involved in the incident were suspended for three months and in October, placed on desk duty.

Police officers violated Walker's rights to freedom from excessive force under the fourth amendment when they shot him in a hail of gunfire even though Walker was unarmed, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit further alleges that for years, and without consequences, the city of Akron, Mayor Daniel Horrigan and Chief of Police Stephen Mylett have knowingly allowed Akron police officers to engage in 'violent behavior' that 'disproportionately involves African Americans.'

The lawsuit goes on to list several alleged instances of Akron police officers using excessive force.

Jayland Walker, 25, was shot dead by police in Ohio, with a medical examiner finding that he was shot or grazed 46 times when police fired a hail of bullets at him on June 27

Police had been in pursuit of Walker and said the 25-year-old black man shot at them 40 seconds into the chase

It also includes a 1998 newsletter disseminated in the police department that repeatedly refers to Akron residents as animals, and states that a past internal investigation found that police officers currently employed by the department 'read, received, circulated or found humorous' the newsletter.

'The story of how Jayland Walker died begins in that year, when this newsletter was circulated,' DiCello said, calling the content 'hateful, violent porn.'

The blurry body camera footage did not clearly show what authorities say was a threatening gesture Walker made before he was shot. Police chased him for about 10 seconds before officers fired from multiple directions, a burst of shots that lasts 6 or 7 seconds.

The eight officers, whose names have been withheld from the public, initially were placed on leave, but they returned to administrative duties 3 1/2 months after the shooting.

The city of Akron and the mayor's office declined to comment about pending litigation.

The Akron Police Department did not immediately respond to request for comment.
One of Boris Johnson's leading Partygate inquisitors was effectively in hiding for a third day yesterday over claims that he attended a lockdown-busting event.

Sir Bernard Jenkin failed to break his silence again despite repeated requests for comment.

The Tory grandee is reported to have attended a drinks party for his wife's birthday, organised by Commons Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing in December 2020, while London was in Tier 2 measures, restricting indoor mixing.

Scotland Yard has said it is considering a complaint reported to it about the event.

A police spokesman said: 'The Met received a third-party report following media reporting of alleged breaches of the Health Protection Regulations.

Sir Bernard Jenkin is reported to have attended a drinks party for his wife's birthday, organised by Commons Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing in December 2020

Partygate committee member Sir Bernard Jenkin takes a dip in the sea at Bournemouth in 2006

'There is no investigation and officers have not been in contact with the Speaker's Office about this matter.'

Sir Bernard's wife is Tory peer Baroness Jenkin of Kennington and the gathering is claimed to have been for her 65th birthday party, where drinks and cake were allegedly served.

Sources claimed social distancing 'went out the window' at the gathering and that Sir Bernard was spotted drinking alcohol.

He initially said he 'did not attend any drinks parties during lockdown'.

But asked whether he drank at the event to mark his wife's birthday, Sir Bernard told the Guido Fawkes website, 'I don't recall', before hanging up.

He did not respond to further inquiries yesterday.

Mr Johnson has called on him to resign from the privileges committee, which this week found the former prime minister had deliberately misled the Commons over gatherings in Downing Street during the Covid-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday night, Mr Johnson wrote to the committee's chairman, Labour MP Harriet Harman, saying that Sir Bernard 'can no longer be held to have been a valid judge or investigator in these proceedings'.
A small Navy watercraft crashed off the California coast in the pre-dawn hours on Friday, injuring five sailors with a Naval Special Warfare unit.

The vessel hit the Zuniga Point Jetty as it entered San Diego Bay about 1:50am, Naval Special Warfare spokesperson Lt. Cmdr. Chelsea K. Irish said.

None of the injuries were life-threatening. Three of the sailors have since been released from the hospital, and two others are in stable condition, Irish said.

The sailors are part of a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit and were participating in a routine training exercise, Irish said.

The Navy is investigating the cause.

Five Navy Sailors were taken to the hospital in the early hours of Friday morning after a boat crash at Naval Base Point Loma, Police say (file photo)

Five people were taken to hospital after a boat crash at a San Diego Naval Base in the early hours of Friday morning

A West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit conducting routine training operations off the coast of Southern California hit the Zuniga Point Jetty while entering San Diego Bay

U.S. Navy requested fire and medical assistance just before 2am to Naval Base Point Loma which was established in the area in 1998 and has around 22,000 navy and civilian personnel.

Those injured in the crash were taken to UC San Diego Medical Center Hillcrest about a 20 minute drive from the naval base.

One of the injured sailors is a Navy Seal. Four of them are support personnel.

Brian O'Rourke, the media relations officer for Navy Region Southwest, told Fox 5 that a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit conducting routine training operations off the coast of Southern California hit the Zuniga Point Jetty while entering San Diego Bay.

The Navy say an investigation into 'the mishap' is underway.

Those injured in the crash were taken to UC San Diego Medical Center Hillcrest

In March, U.S. President Joe Biden (center) visited Naval Base Point Loma with the prime ministers of Australia, Anthony Albanese, (left) and the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak (right)

Naval Base Point Loma consists of seven facilities: Submarine Base, Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command, Fleet Combat Training Center Pacific, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR), Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific, the Fleet Intelligence Command Pacific and Naval Consolidated Brig, Miramar.

In March, U.S. President Joe Biden visited Naval Base Point Loma with the prime ministers of Australia, Anthony Albanese, and the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak.

It was believed to be the first time a sitting president has visited Naval Base Point Loma since its establishment in 1998.

A San Diego man whose livestream captured two U.S. Navy ships nearly colliding in the local harbor has been ordered by the military branch to take the cameras down

Last month, a San Diego man livestreamed the moment two U.S. Navy ships nearly collided in the local harbor.

Barry Bahrami has been ordered by the military branch to take the cameras down and says he was told by the Navy Criminal Investigative Service and National Park Service that he cannot have a live stream because it shows military activity in the area.

The man told one local San Diego outlet that his group has been filming for a decade, but was only ordered after the near-miss incident was captured.

'We were there for 10 years and then to suddenly make up a reason to take them down, that's just bologna I don't think anyone believes that,' Bahrami told Fox 5.

'Now we have government censorship simply out of spite because we showed something they didn't like,' Bahrami said.

Barry Bahrami says he was told by the Navy Criminal Investigative Service and National Park Service that he cannot have a livestream because it shows military activity in the area

Bahrami runs a group called San Diego Web Cam which provides live stream feeds across the San Diego area.

In November, one of Bahrami's cameras caught two Navy ships in the San Diego Bay nearly colliding in an incident of 'Warship Chicken.'

After the video gained online attention, the National Park Service reached out to him on the Navy's request, instructing him to take the cameras down.

The cameras were positioned at the Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma.

While the government organizations are claiming they simply do not want him filming any potential military activity, Bahrami is raising questions.

He is asking why his cameras were taken down after a decade in the area and calling the order an act of 'censorship.'

A legal analyst who spoke with Fox San Diego said the case is peculiar because of the length of time the cameras were up and the public interest.

'One thing that is distinguishable about this webcam company is that they were very careful not to film anything that might cause privacy issues,' Wendy Patrick said.

In November, one of Bahrami's camera caught two Navy ships in the San Diego Bay nearly colliding in an incident of 'Warship Chicken'

'We were there for 10 years and then to suddenly make up a reason to take them down, that's just bologna I don't think anyone believes that,' Bahrami told FOX 5

A legal analyst who spoke with Fox 5 said the case is peculiar because of the length of time the cameras were up and the public interest.

'One thing that is distinguishable about this web cam company is that they were very careful not to film anything that might cause privacy issues,' Wendy Patrick said.

'It's also fueling the argument on why they want to know exactly why this request was made to take these cameras down,' Patrick continued.

The cameras were ordered to be taken down just days after the incident was caught on video and public interest has only spiked.

The man says his cameras are not a threat and are just there to connect San Diego residents to their city.

The legal analyst agreed but noted their location as a potential issue.

'The cameras are taken down on private property and the footage is something that has a lot of views people are very interested in,' Patrick said.

'There are people that relied on those webcams to watch loved ones coming and going,' she continued.

While speaking with the San Diego outlet, the camera owner said he plans to put up two new cameras to replace the ones taken down.

He also said he is developing an app that will allow anyone to set up a webcam in the city.

'There are people that relied on those webcams to watch loved ones coming and going,' said legal analyst Wendy Patrick

In a statement to DailyMail.com, NCIS officials responded, saying:

'NCIS recently expressed force protection concerns to the National Park Service related to the privately owned webcams.

'We look forward to continuing close coordination with NPS.

'The private webcams and YouTube channel provided 24-hour webcam monitoring of vessels and equities located aboard Naval Air Station North Island, including aircraft hangars and flight lines, Naval Base Point Loma submarine assets, and the tracking of military personnel working aboard Naval Base Coronado.'
Lawyer Jim Trusty has pulled himself off another Donald Trump legal matter  this time citing 'irreconcilable' differences while withdrawing from a suit against CNN.

The former president's defamation suit filed last October sought $475 million in punitive damages, and accused the network of with promoting 'a series of ever-more scandalous, false, and defamatory labels of "racist," "Russian lackey," "insurrectionist," and ultimately "Hitler."

'Mr. Trustys withdrawal is based upon irreconcilable differences between Counsel and Plaintiff and Counsel can no longer effectively and properly represent Plaintiff,' Trusty wrote the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Florida.

The move followed the stunning announcement that Trusty and lawyer John Rowley had resigned from Trump's team last Friday, just hours after Trump had been indicted on 37 counts. Since then, Trump has appeared in federal court in Florida, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges of willful retention of national security information and obstruction and conspiracy charges.

Lawyer Jim Trusty withdrew from representing Donald Trump in his lawsuit against CNN. He and John Rowley announced they were resigning from the defense hours after Trump got indicted

The Trump camp said the CNN suit 'is entering a new phase, as more irrefutable facts are revealed. We thank Mr. Trusty for his work on this case and wish him all the best,' according to Politico's report on the filing.

The filing also stated that Trusty's move 'does not adversely impact' any parties to the case, where oral arguments had not yet been scheduled.

When Trump appeared for his historic arraignment Tuesday, lawyers Chris Kise and Todd Blanche were in the courtroom, while Bedminister, New Jersey-based lawyer Alina Habba blasted the prosecution from outside the courtroom.

Trump has had other media lawsuits, including one for $10 million against the New York Times, dismissed, as happened in May.

Alina Habba, lawyer for former President Donald Trump, blasted the prosecution from outside federal court in Miami this week

Jim Trusty and John Rowley announced their withdrawal from the documents case last week soon after Trump issued a post thanking them for their work and saying he would be announcing 'additional lawyers' in the coming days  without saying who they were or why the pair left.

'This morning we tendered our resignations as counsel to President Trump, and we will no longer represent him on either the indicted case or the January 6 investigation,' said Trusty and Rowley, without further explanation for the reasons.

'It has been an honor to have spent the last year defending him, and we know he will be vindicated in his battle against the Biden Administration's partisan weaponization of the American justice system,' they said.

When he was president, there were often disputes between Trump and his aides over whether they resigned or were pushed out, and there have been suggestions Trump was angry with how they handled the case and that he was blindsided by the indictment

It was just one of the stunning turns last week, when Trump aide and former 'bodyman' Walt Nauta was indicted in the same classified documents probe.

Their departure is just the latest legal shakeup involving Trump, who has continued to cycle through lawyers while facing multiple probes relating to classified documents, 'hush' payments to porn star Stormy Daniels, January 6, his election overturn effort in Georgia, and his business dealings in New York.

He continues to search for additional Florida counsel for the documents case.

'Now that the case has been filed in Miami, this is a logical moment for us to step aside and let others carry the cases through to completion,' they wrote. 'We have no plans to hold media appearances that address our withdrawals or any other confidential communications we've had with the President or his legal team,' they wrote when announcing their move.

Trusty, a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer with experience in RICO cases, had been fiercely defending Trump just hours before, on a Friday appearance where he clashed with host George Stephanopoulos on ABC's 'This Week.'

In that appearance, he accused Biden of having 'authorized' the Justice Department to try to sink his political rival, something Stephanopoulos said was not the case. He also accused prosecutors of 'criminal activity' and extortion in a Thursday night appearance.

The departure of Trump's lawyers, James Trusty, left, and John Rowley, right, was just one of the dramatic developments last week. The announced they were no longer representing him in the documents probe or the January 6 case

Trusty was defending Trump on the air and attacking President Biden and prosecutors hours before he said he resigned

Trump said he would be represented 'by Todd Blanche, Esq., and a firm to be named later,' in a reference to a lawyer who represented him on the Stormy Daniels case

Former U.S. First Lady Melania Trump arrives to Trump Tower in Manhattan on June 8, 2023 in New York City, on a day when it was revealed her husband had been indicted in a classified documents probe

Trump wrote Friday after earlier issuing an angry video and posts about the charges: 'For purposes of fighting the Greatest Witch Hunt of all time, now moving to the Florida Courts, I will be represented by Todd Blanche, Esq., and a firm to be named later. I want to thank Jim Trusty and John Rowley for their work, but they were up against a very dishonest, corrupt, evil, and 'sick' group of people, the likes of which has not been seen before. We will be announcing additional lawyers in the coming days. When will Joe Biden be Indicted for his many crimes against our Nation? MAGA!

Blanche is representing Trump in the Stormy Daniels case, with a trial set for March amid the presidential campaign.

Blanche is a former U.S. Attorney in the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office. He is a seasoned white collar defense attorney who in April announced he was leaving his firm of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft to represent Trump in the New York case.

On a fiery TV appearance Thursday night, Trusty claimed federal prosecutors 'extorted' the lawyer for a key witness and is demanding an investigation of internal communications to find out what happened.

That came in a TV spot that suggested he might have had an inkling his status wasn't settled.

Asked who would be representing Trump in a Florida courtroom, he said: 'And we will see. It'll make some excitement to see who shows up at the table on Tuesday, I guess.

Pressed on whether it wasn't clear who would be there for Trump, he replied: 'Yes, we will see where -- we will see where it all goes.'

Trusty made the allegations on CNN hours after Trump had been indicted on counts related to retention of classified documents and a violation of the Espionage Act, calling it a 'corrupt and politicized' process.

Then Trusty went after federal prosecutor Jay Bratt, head of the counterintelligence section of DOJ's National Security Division, who last year urged a court to seal the affidavit that preceded a search of Mar-a-Lago that uncovered classified material there.

His accusations related to the lawyer for former body man Walt Nauta, who served as a military aide to the president in the White House, and who was himself indicted on Friday.

He reportedly moved boxes of documents inside Mar-a-Lago around the time the feds visited seeking to collect government material.

Trusty suggested federal prosecutors, while seeking to line up witnesses that might help them make their case against Trump, sought to apply pressure by bringing up a judgeship that Nauta's lawyer Stanley Woodward had applied for.

The conversation allegedly occurred when Bratt mentioned during a meeting with Woodward that the lawyer with a deep resume had applied for a judgeship in D.C. In Trusty's telling, the prosecutors tried to use the information as 'extortion' leverage, merely by introducing the topic of the career jump Woodward had sought.

Trump spokesman Taylor Budowich, appeared before the grand jury in Miami investigating the case this week, praised Trusty in a 2022 Washington Post article on Trump's struggles finding representation.

'The Presidents lead counsel in relation to the raid of his home, Jim Trusty and Evan Corcoran, have decades of prosecutorial experience and have litigated some of the most complex cases in American history,' he said at the time. 'President Trump is represented by some of the strongest attorneys in the country, and any suggestion otherwise is only driven by envy.'

In one part of Trusty's Thursday night interview, he rattled off federal statutes that Trump was charged with by U.S. Code citation  but also didn't appear certain whether a conspiracy charge was one of them.

'I believe so. I don't have it in front of me right now,' he said when asked directly.

'Again, this is not biblically accurate, because I'm not looking at a charging document. I'm looking at a summary sheet. So, there's language in there that might actually be reflecting a single count, instead of two. But I think there was a conspiracy count as well,' he said.
President Putin told the West to 'go to hell' on nuclear arms reduction as he confirmed he has moved nuclear weapons into Belarus, claiming it is a precautionary measure for 'anyone thinking of inflicting a strategic defeat' on Russia.

Speaking at Russia's flagship economic forum in St Petersburg, Putin told those gathered that the first warheads had arrived in the country, but that this was only 'the first part' of the planned delivery.

He added: 'Just talking about this (the potential use of nuclear weapons) lowers the nuclear threshold. We have more than NATO countries and they want to reduce our numbers. Go to hell.'

Putin told the forum the transfer of the warheads would be complete by the end of the year - but added he saw no reason to deploy nuclear weapons imminently.

The deployment of tactical nuclear weapons is Moscow's first move of such bombs - which could potentially be used on the battlefield - outside Russian borders since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Speaking at Russia's flagship economic forum in St Petersburg, Putin told those gathered that the first warheads had arrived in the country, but that this was only 'the first part' of the planned delivery

Belarus has already started taking delivery of Russian nukes, some of which President Alexander Lukashenko (with Putin on June 9) boasted are three times more powerful than the atomic bombs the US dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Putin claimed on Friday the move was intended as a warning to the West about arming and supporting Ukraine.

'It is precisely as an element of deterrence so that all those who are thinking about inflicting a strategic defeat on us are not oblivious to this circumstance,' said Putin, using a diplomatic term for a defeat so severe that Russian power would be diminished on the world stage for decades.

But Russia had no need to resort to nuclear weapons for now, said Putin, signalling no change in Moscow's nuclear posture which only envisages such a move if the existence of the Russian state is threatened.

'Nuclear weapons have been made to ensure our security in the broadest sense of the word and the existence of the Russian state, but we...have no such need (to use them),' Putin said.

But he said talks with the West to reduce Russia's vast nuclear arsenal, the world's largest, were a non-starter.

Earlier Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, a staunch ally of Putin, boasted some of the weapons are three times more powerful than the atomic bombs the US dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

'We have missiles and bombs that we have received from Russia,' Lukashenko said in an interview with the Rossiya-1 Russian state TV channel which was posted on the Belarusian Belta state news agency's Telegram channel.

'The bombs are three times more powerful than those (dropped on) Hiroshima and Nagasaki,' he said, speaking on a road in a forest clearing with military vehicles parked nearby and some kind of military storage facility visible in the background.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia, which will retain control of the tactical nuclear weapons, would start deploying them in Belarus after special storage facilities to house them were made ready.

The despot yesterday threatened that the war in Ukraine could turn nuclear and warned 'there will be no winners, including America' in a Third World War.

The deployment will be Moscow's first move of such bombs - which could potentially be used on the battlefield - outside Russian borders since the fall of the Soviet Union. Pictured: Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile systems drive along a street before a military parade in Moscow, May 9

Lukashenko also raised alarms in the West on Tuesday when he contradicted the idea Russia would control the nukes, claiming that he wouldn't hesitate to order the use of them if his country faces an aggression.

He also emphasised that it was he who had asked Putin to deploy Russian nuclear weapons to Belarus, and not the other way around.

'God forbid I have to make a decision to use those weapons today, but there would be no hesitation if we face an aggression,' Lukashenko, known for his blustery statements, said, according to the state news agency BelTA.

Russian officials had no immediate comment on Lukashenko's remarks.

Putin, whose troops launched a fresh attack on Ukraine overnight on Thursday in Odesa, announced in March he had agreed to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, pointing to the US deployment of such weapons in a host of European countries over many decades.

Tactical nuclear weapons are intended to destroy enemy troops and weapons on the battlefield.

They have a relatively short range and a much lower yield (from a fraction of a kiloton to around 50 kilotons) than nuclear warheads fitted to intercontinental ballistic missiles that are capable of obliterating whole cities.

By comparison, strategic nuclear weapons can have a yield from 100 kilotons to over a megaton, which much larger warheads available.

Lukashenko (with Putin June 9) raised alarms Tuesday when he contradicted the idea Russia would control the nukes , claiming that he wouldn't hesitate to order the use of Russian tactical nuclear weapons if his country faces an aggression

There are 1,000 kilotons to a single megaton.

Only the United States has so far used nuclear weapons in anger - in the 1945 attacks on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

'Fat Man', the bomb dropped on Nagasaki, had a blast yield of 21 kilotons. The blast killed an estimated 60,000 to 80,000 people.

The most powerful nuclear bomb ever created and tested was the Russian Tsar Bomba, which demonstrated a blast yield of between 50 to 58 megatons.

The US has criticised Putin's decision to threaten nuclear conflict but has said it has no intention of altering its own stance on strategic nuclear weapons and has not seen any signs that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon.

The Russian step is nonetheless being watched closely by the United States and its allies as well as by China, which has repeatedly cautioned against the use of nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine.

Lukashenko told Russian state TV in the interview, which was released late on Tuesday, that his country had numerous nuclear storage facilities left over from the Soviet-era and had restored five or six of them.

The US has criticised Putin's decision to threaten nuclear conflict but has said it has no intention of altering its own stance on strategic nuclear weapons. Putin pictured yesterday afternoon in a meeting with Russian war correspondents

He played down the idea that Russian control of the weapons was an impediment to using them quickly if he felt such a move was necessary, saying he and Putin could pick up the phone to each other 'at any moment'.

Earlier on Tuesday, he had said separately that the Russian tactical nuclear weapons would be physically deployed on the territory of Belarus 'in several days' and that he had the facilities to host longer-range missiles too if ever needed.

Lukashenko, who has allowed his country to be used by Russian forces attacking Ukraine as part of what Moscow calls its 'special military operation', says the nuclear deployment will act as a deterrent against potential aggressors.

Belarus borders three NATO member countries: Lithuania, Latvia and Poland.

The 68-year-old former Soviet collective farm boss, who has ruled Belarus since 1994, making him Europe's longest-serving leader, said he didn't simply ask Putin for the weapons, but 'demanded' them.

'We have always been a target,' Lukashenko said. 'They (the West) have wanted to tear us to pieces since 2020. No one has so far fought against a nuclear country, a country that has nuclear weapons.'

Lukashenko has repeatedly accused the West of trying to topple him after mass protests against his rule erupted in 2020 in the wake of a presidential election the opposition said he had fraudulently won. Lukashenko said he had won fairly, while conducting a sweeping crackdown on his opponents.
The Home Office and French government are to join forces to launch a surveillance plane which will fly over the English Channel 24/7 to catch people smugglers, despite a French minister telling reporters the UK should 'thank' them for guarding the border.

The move, designed to cut the overall numbers of migrants and vulnerable asylum seekers from crossing the Channel on small boats, is being seen as the 'final piece in the puzzle' to cut crossings, the Telegraph reported last night.

The news comes after the French Interior Minister told RFI on Thursday: 'We are guarding the border for the British people. Therefore you would expect to receive thanks rather than complaints.'

The plane is said to be capable of flying in all weathers, meaning it will not be affected by conditions which affect drones currently employed in similar roles, which cannot be flown in heavy cloud cover.

It is hoped the plane will improve the ability of French and English authorities to prosecute people smugglers due to its capability to film crossings for evidence in potential legal action.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman and French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin meeting this week

It is hoped the plane will improve the ability of French and English authorities to prosecute people smugglers due to its capability to film small boat crossings for evidence in potential legal action

It will also improve authorities' ability to track boats making the dangerous crossing.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman and French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin met on Thursday morning at the National Crime Agency.

The Interior Minister, who discussed immigration policy on behalf of French President Emmanuel Macron, visited the UK for two days in his first official trip to London.

Speaking after the meeting, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: 'The United Kingdom and France are the firmest of friends, and I am delighted to welcome Minister Darmanin to the UK.

'Our cooperation goes from strength to strength, and we are firmly committed to working together in lockstep on our shared global challenges, including stopping the boats.'

But according to French media, Mr Darmanin criticised the UK for its complaints about French efforts to prevent crossings from taking place.

He said: 'We are guarding the border for the British people. Therefore you would expect to receive thanks rather than complaints.

'If people want to go to the UK, then they have their reasons. It is because there is no legal route for them to arrive in the UK that people take risks and use boats.'

In response, a government spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Our joint work with the French is a vital part of our work to tackle the unacceptable rise in dangerous Channel crossings. Together we prevented nearly 33,000 crossings last year.

'The UK government is working tirelessly to deter dangerous and illegal small boats crossings, through a range of deterrence measures including cracking down on illegal working.

'Our Illegal Migration Bill will help stop the boats by detaining those who come to the UK illegally, and swiftly returning them to their home country or a safe third country.'

The pair are understood to have discussed how the plane might be used in the Channel yesterday. It has reportedly already been signed off by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority and has completed successful test flights.

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made major pledges to 'stop the boats' earlier this year.

The Interior Minister, who discussed immigration policy on behalf of the French President Emmanuel Macron (pictured), visited the UK for two days in his first official trip to London

In a speech this month, he claimed small boat crossings have reduced by 20 percent when compared to last year in the five months since he launched his plan to tackle people smugglers.

Mr Sunak said: 'In the five months since I launched the plan, crossings are now down 20 per cent compared to last year. That's right: crossings are down 20 per cent.

'This is the first time since this problem began that arrivals between January and May have actually fallen compared to the year before.'

A Home Office spokesperson: 'We are focused on stopping the boats and we will use all the technology available to us to ensure no stone is left unturned as we go after the criminals behind this illegal trade.

'We are determined to stop abuse of the asylum system which is why we have introduced legislation which will ensure that those people arriving in the UK illegally are detained and promptly removed to their country of origin or a safe third country.'
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has upped the ante on housing spending, proposing a new $2 billion fund as the Greens block a key election promise.

State and territory governments are set to receive a $2 billion boost in funding for social housing within the next two weeks.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce the Social Housing Accelerator at the Victorian Labor conference on Saturday.

The move comes as the Greens continue to block laws in the Senate to enable the government's $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, calling for more ambitious spend and rent controls.

'When I met with premiers and chief ministers about this yesterday, they all committed to ensuring that investment in housing will work alongside better planning laws, reforming zoning and freeing-up more land for new builds,' Mr Albanese will tell the conference.

'That's what this is about: real dollars, driving real change and building more homes.

'And our government is not going to wait around while members of the Greens political party call for more housing in the media while opposing it in their electorates and voting against it in the parliament.'

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will announce the Social Housing Accelerator plan at the Victorian Labor conference on Saturday

Demand for social housing has increased almost three times as fast as the growth in population.

'The Greens have blocked more houses than they've ever built,' Mr Albanese will say.

'But we are a party of government - and we know Australians deserve the respect of practical action.'

Rallying the Labor faithful, Mr Albanese will describe the federal Liberals - who also oppose the housing fund - as 'basically a doomsday cult'.

'For them, every day is the end of days. These are the people who said energy bill relief for families and businesses was 'Venezuelan communism'.'

The move comes as the Greens continue to block laws in the Senate to enable the government's $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, calling for more ambitious spend and rent controls

The Greens say a rent freeze is needed to tackle the rising cost of housing.

But state leaders have ruled out taking any action, arguing it would reduce the flow of supply and investment.

However, the states and territories have committed to working with Mr Albanese on improving renters' rights, delivering on a 20,000-dwelling national housing accord, and progressing a new national housing and homelessness plan.

The prime minister also raised the issue of housing supply and affordability with local government leaders in Canberra on Friday.
It's long been believed that Tutankhamun died from an open wound as he was increasingly weakened by malaria.

But one Egyptologist has now proposed a controversial new theory, suggesting the Boy King may have died in a drink-driving crash.

Sofia Aziz, an award-winning independent researcher, believes the 'typical teenager' was killed in the aftermath of a high-speed chariot accident while boozed-up on wine.

It was this disaster that gave him life-threatening leg fractures which became infected and led to a slow death, she claims.

'He was like a typical teenager, drinking and probably driving the chariot too fast,' Ms Aziz told BBC Science Focus.

It's long been believed that Tutankhamun died from an open wound as he was increasingly weakened by malaria. But one Egyptologist has now proposed a controversial new theory, suggesting the Boy King may have died in a drink-driving crash

READ MORE: King Tutankhamun's face is seen for the first time 'Detective work' was involved to create the incredible CGI depiction Advertisement

In 2010, a group of Egyptologists radiologically examined the pharaoh's mummy to better understand his cause of death.

The King, who was just 19 when he died, was found to have not only malaria but multiple disorders at the time of his death.

Previous studies have claimed he needed a cane to walk as he had the painful Kohler disease in addition to oligodactyly in his right foot and clubfoot on his left.

Yet researchers concluded it was actually a broken leg that killed him, with the cause of this unclear.

Now, Ms Aziz has completely ruled out these theories, drawing to possessions in his tomb as clues.

It's long been believed that Ancient Egyptians were buried with everyday objects that could be used in the afterlife.

Experts previously said that seeds and fruit found in Tut's tomb indicate he was receiving medical treatment.

But Ms Aziz points to the six chariots, armour and stash of wine which were also found there.

These possessions indicate he was not disabled and rode on chariots like a 'warrior king', she said.

Ms Aziz draws to the six chariots, armour and stash of white wine found in his royal tomb, which suggest he was 'more of a warrior king'

It's been long believed that Ancient Egyptians were buried with everyday objects that could be used in the afterlife. Pictured: Tutankhamun's tomb

While driving, Ms Aziz believes Tutankhamun smacked into the 'dashboard' of the chariot, leading to the life-threatening wound.

His much-remarked upon clubbed foot was therefore not an issue, she claims, but instead a distortion caused during the mummification process.

Ms Aziz referred to tight bandaging and resin application as a cause of this, while also commenting on his well-aligned legs.

'When I studied Tutankhamun, I personally don't think there was any evidence he was disabled, because I have seen mummies where it looks like there is a club foot,' she told Cheltenham Science Festival.

'We call these pseudo-pathological changes. The walking sticks were just a sign of royalty.

'His legs were aligned so well - if he did have a deformity, and if he had a club foot, he would have had difficulty walking, but the long bones just don't show any evidence of that.'

Despite these views, professor Albert Zink, who contributed to the landmark 2010 study, believes its findings are still valid.

He told MailOnline: 'The CT scans clearly showed the equinovarus foot deformity and the juvenile aseptic bone necrosis of the left second and third metatarsals (Kohler disease II, Freiberg-Kohler syndrome). So, there is no doubt that Tutankhamun had a walking impairment, particularly due to the bone necrosis.'

Even so, professor Zink could not rule out that Tutankhamun may have been killed while riding a chariot, raising some questions about drink-driving.

But he added: 'Given the acute stage of the bone necrosis in his foot, it is difficult to imagine that he was able to ride a chariot in standing position.

'Nevertheless, it is true that he suffered from a leg fracture, although it is impossible to proof the exact cause. It remains a matter of speculation.'

Ms Aziz also acknowledges there is some uncertainty with this, as the information on Tutankhamun has deteriorated since the 1922 tomb discovery.

'I think we might never find out exactly how he died,' Ms Aziz told the publication.

'Unless they find something with the internal organs. I don't think that we can find out anything more until then.'
Dengue fever, malaria, Zika, West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases may have finally met their match in crowded cities across the tropics.

An unmanned, subterranean, robotic probe dispatched into the sewers of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan has proven lethally effective at locating the hidden pools of stagnant water where mosquitos breed.

The sewer robot searches, so Taiwan's exterminators can destroy it.

Researchers with Taiwan's National Mosquito-Borne Diseases Control Research Center found that their robotic hunter helped dramatically curb the city's mosquito population  dropping the number of blood-sucking bugs by nearly 70 percent.

Researchers with Taiwan's National Mosquito-Borne Diseases Control Research Center found that their robotic hunter helped dramatically curb the city's mosquito population, dropping the number of blood-sucking bugs by nearly 70 percent, based on their 'gravitrap index'

Researchers designed an unmanned ground vehicle (top) to scour cracks and crevices deep in the sewers of Kaohsiung. Their system also included a real-time monitoring station (bottom left) for receiving high-resolution images of mosquito breeding grounds back from the sewers

The measurement comes from 'gravitraps' laid across Kaohsiung, cylindrical traps with a sticky interior designed to lure female Aedes, or 'yellow fever,' mosquitos.

The scientists and pest control experts recorded a drop in their 'gravitrap index (GI),' which measures nearby mosquito population density, from 0.62 to 0.19.

Several mosquito species in the genus Aedes are notorious for spreading diseases, like dengue fever, chikungunya, and zika

Increasing urbanization globally has produced sprawling sewer systems, in which mosquitos have found fertile breeding grounds, far away from the prying eyes of public health officials who have struggled to prevent the bugs from spreading disease.

A map of sewer ditches in the Sanmin district of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, where the team's mosquito-hunting robot located breeding grounds, marked with red lines

Several mosquito species in the genus Aedes are particularly notorious for spreading diseases in humans, including dengue fever, chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika virus.

Led by Wei-Liang Liu, an investigator with Taiwan's National Mosquito-Borne Diseases Control Research Center, the researchers designed an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) to scour cracks and crevices deep in the sewers of Kaohsiung City.

Their system also included a wire-controlled cable car and a real-time monitoring station, which received high-resolution images of these hard-to-reach mosquito breeding grounds back up from their UGV hunter down in the sewer depths.

Liu and his team put this mosquito 'search and destroy' robot to work from May to August of 2018, focusing their test on five administrative districts of Kaohsiung.

The researchers specifically deployed the bot in those areas to explore previously challenging 'covered roadside sewer ditches,' measuring the UGV's success with mosquito 'gravitraps' placed nearby.

The system detected telltale signs of mosquito activity in 20.7 percent of the inspected sewers, according to their study, published this week in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. Those signs ranged from tiny larval eggs to full-blown adults.

Liu and his team then blasted those mosquito-infested sewers with either insecticides or high-temperature water jets.

'The widespread use of UGVs can potentially eliminate some of the breeding sources of vector mosquitoes,' Liu and his co-authors' report, 'thereby reducing the annual prevalence of dengue fever in Kaohsiung city.'
Fitness influencer Sophie Guidolin was forced to remove a post from her Instagram Stories after revealing far more than she intended to.

The 34-year-old was called out by influencer watchdog Dutch Minty after sharing a photo of her laptop, which revealed confidential details about another person.

An email address, cover letter and employment history of a prospective hire for Sophie's company was clearly visible on the screen in the photo she shared.

Commenting on the debacle, Minty wrote: 'That's what I love in a boss! Someone who will share my email address, cover letter and previous place of employment.'

Sophie quickly deleted the photo before reuploading it with all the confidential details scrubbed out.

Fitness influencer Sophie Guidolin (pictured) was forced to remove a post from her Instagram Stories after revealing far more than she intended to

The 34-year-old was called out by influencer watchdog Dutch Minty after sharing a photo of her laptop, which revealed confidential details about another person

The fitness queen isn't the only influencer to share too much on social media this week.

Lily Brown, who boasts almost 340,000 Instagram followers, was called out after accidentally revealing the names and addresses of her customers in a public post.

The fashion influencer was celebrating a string of sales from her sleepwear line Chille when she made the error.

Lily Brown (pictured) was also called out after accidentally revealing the names and addresses of her customers in a public post

The fashion influencer was celebrating a string of sales from her sleepwear line Chille when she made the error

Sharing an image of customer receipts to Instagram, she wrote: 'First night of the sale has been huge!'

She continued: 'Thank you all so much for the support, aiming to get orders out today and tomorrow. Wish me luck!'

Unfortunately, the 25-year-old forgot to blur out the names and addresses on the receipts.

After being called out for the mistake, she quickly deleted the post - but not before it was captured by Dutch Minty.
Supporters of ABC news star Andrew Probyn have raised an outcry after the respected journalist learned that his role as the network's political editor had been scrapped.

Probyn, a press gallery TV reporter in Parliament House, was made redundant on Thursday as the national broadcaster announced major changes to its news division from July 1.

Fans took to social media to mock the new policy, after the ABC said resources would be shifted to digital platforms in an in effort to serve a growing online audience.

'I am still recovering from the shock announcement that the position of political editor in Canberra for ABC TV has been made redundant,' tweeted former Canberra-based Ten press gallery journalist Paul Bongiorno.

'It's like saying a kitchen doesnt need a cook.'

The ABC news division faces a major shake-up as the national broadcaster rolls out a plan to increase its presence online from July 1 reports The Sydney Morning Herald

Redundancies under the new plan include axing a political editor, a role currently held by veteran journalist Andrew Probyn, who has been with the ABC since 2016 (pictured)

Among the changes announced on Thursday include the launch of a new format for the 7pm Sunday national news, and the introduction of a Climate, Environment and Energy news team Pictured: ABC news reader Jeremy Fernandez

Former ABC journalists respond to Andrew Probyn's redundancy

Barrie Cassidy, the popular former host of the ABC's political panel show Insiders, also weighed on the network's new direction.

'No,' he tweeted.

'Its like saying a restaurant doesnt need a head chef. The cooks stay. The ABC now needs to explain how the kitchen works without a head chef.

'A most shocking decision,' tweeted another viewer, adding: 'There's a lot of crap going on there ... I'm not a huge Probyn fan, but the role [of political editor] is SO critical.'

Among the changes announced in the ABC news division, include the launch of a new format for the 7pm Sunday national news, and the introduction of a Climate, Environment and Energy news team.

Meanwhile, 120 other jobs will be affected by the proposed changes.

The ABC's highly respected arts team has also been axed, though the jobs will be absorbed elsewhere through the news team.

Viewers can expect to see the launch of ABC News Sunday, a national news show in the 7pm time slot.

Covering local and global stories, the new format will mean the axing of local and state bulletins

Other plans announced by ABC News Director, Justin Stevens include the return of Stateline, which which will be available to viewers through ABC iview, and also feature during extended broadcast's of Friday's 7pm News.

Fans took to social media to mock the new policy, after the ABC said resources would be shifted to digital platforms in an in effort to serve a growing online audience (pictured)

Viewers can expect to see the launch of ABC News Sunday, a national news show in the 7pm time slot - the new format will mean the axing of local and state bulletins

The news comes after the ABC announced a Five Year Plan for their operations, which aims to make the national broadcaster a digital operation by 2028. This will mean that the majority of the ABC audience will be experiencing the network's content via digital platforms and products Pictured: Veteran ABC news reader Juanita Phillips

Stevens said that new positions created in the shake-up will include digital only roles to feed moment to moment updates on breaking stories.

The news comes after the ABC announced a Five Year Plan for their operations, which aims to make the national broadcaster a digital operation by 2028.

This will mean that the majority of the ABC audience will be experiencing the network's content via digital platforms and products.

Meanwhile, TV Blackbox reports that the announced changes will mean 40 redundancies at the ABC, while 24 new jobs will be created under the new plan for an increased digital presence.
Roxy Jacenko and her children have jetted overseas before they settle down in Singapore for good to be with her husband Oliver Curtis.

The PR queen, 43, daughter Pixie, 11, and son Hunter, eight - are leaving Sydney permanently and relocating to Asia where Curtis works.

In a photo shared on her Instagram page, Roxy's kids beamed as they sat in two separate Emirates First Class suites on the plane.

Roxy confirmed the family are going to Europe for the summer before moving to Singapore for good - travelling to Greece, Turkey and Paris.

'Off we go,' she captioned her post.

Roxy Jacenko and her children have jetted overseas before they settle down in Singapore for good to be with her husband Oliver Curtis

The mother-of-two's followers congratulated the family on their new adventure and wished them safe travels.

'How exciting! I cannot wait to see all the new exciting experiences and adventures that happen for you all,' one wrote.

'I hope everything goes well for you. All the best!' added another.

One follower commented: 'Wishing you the very best of luck as you embark on a very exciting journey and lifestyle!'

The Sweaty Betty founder revealed earlier this month she was leaving Sydney to live with her husband in Singapore.

The Sweaty Betty founder revealed earlier this month she was leaving Sydney to live with her husband in Singapore

She admitted her life in the harbour city has a stark difference to her upcoming new life overseas.

'No one knows me there, no one has any preconceived idea of who or what I am, no one has any expectation, and best of all, no one actually cares!' she told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'In Singapore it was a matter of "Roxy who?" I actually found it really refreshing and a bit liberating.'

Roxy also said she was prepared to get a divorce when her husband Oliver moved to Singapore for work.

She admitted her life in the harbour city has a stark difference to her upcoming new life overseas

Her marriage was previously under scrutiny 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 later confirmed that she and Oliver didn't split and she decided to move instead.

Speaking to The Kyle And Jackie O Show, she explained 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.

Roxy also said she was prepared to get a divorce when her husband Oliver moved to Singapore 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 will work". And I was like, "well, it's worked for the last five years",' she said.

Roxy recalled how Oliver 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.

Roxy recalled how Oliver told her he needed to be a resident of Singapore for the sake of his job and personal finances, and Roxy 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 Pixie and Hunter.

'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.'
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley looked nothing short of sensational as she attended a lunch to celebrate her Rose INC. cosmetics range in Beverly Hills on Thursday.

The Transformers star, 36, showcased her elegant sense of style in a nude corset with a complementary biased cut slip skirt.

She added inches to her enviable frame with a pair of nude sky-high heels.

The beauty styled her blonde locks in sleek straight lengths falling from a centre parting, perfectly framing her pretty face.

Rosie accentuated her natural beauty with a flawless palette of makeup, including a swipe of red lipstick.

Wow! Rosie Huntington-Whiteley looked nothing short of sensational as she attended a lunch to celebrate her Rose INC. cosmetics range in Beverly Hills on Thursday

She finished her show-stopping ensemble with a diamond necklace and dazzling silver hoop earrings.

Rosie recently spoke of her longing to return to her home county of Devon after living in celebrity enclave Malibu, California for years.

She and Jason Statham - who share five-year-old son Jack and daughter Isabella, one, together - sold their Malibu mansion for $18.5 million to move to the Chelsea district of London.

Rosie was born in the Devon city of Plymouth before moving to market town Tavistock, also located in the South West English county, and she admits that part of the world is still her favourite.

Speaking to Great British LIFE, she said: 'I'm a country girl at heart. I spend a lot of my time living in LA which is lovely. I spend a lot of time in other major cities too.'

She added: 'There might be the glamour and fun to enjoy in a city but the real beauty is in the countryside and especially in my home county where the people are so nice and ready to volunteer smile for no particular reason.

'The country air smells so fresh and I still love to see the sheep, the pigs, the ducks, chickens and, of course, the horses.

'Whenever I am here and I really don't like to be away for very long, I just find it all so relaxing and lovely. It is home to me.'

Beauty: The Transformers star, 36, showcased her elegant sense of style in a nude corset with a complementary biased cut slip skirt

Chic: She added inches to her enviable frame with a pair of nude sky-high heels

Gorgeous: The beauty styled her blonde locks in sleek straight lengths falling from a centre parting, perfectly framing her pretty face

Stunner: Rosie accentuated her natural beauty with a flawless palette of makeup, including a swipe of red lipstick

Dazzling: She finished her show-stopping ensemble with a diamond necklace and dazzling silver hoop earrings

Despite being engaged since 2016, Rosie and Jason are in no hurry to rush their wedding preparations.

Welcoming their son, Jack, a year after her beau got down on one knee, Rosie told ET in 2018 that the wedding wasn't a 'huge priority.'

She said: 'We're looking forward to that time. It's also not a huge priority for us; we're so happy.

'I think it will be fun to do it when the baby's grown up a bit and he can be involved in the wedding.'

Rosie recently unveiled her new collaboration with iconic swimwear brand Hunza G.

The collaboration between her beauty line Rose Inc and Hunza G includes chic bikinis and swimsuits in a pink and white colour palette.

One of the mirror selfies shows Rosie posing in a white two-piece which highlights her toned and tanned figure.

Other photos show her modelling scoop-neck swimsuits in pretty blush and pink shades.

Stunner: Rosie recently spoke of her longing to return to her home county of Devon after living in celebrity enclave Malibu, California for years

Nude ambition: She and Jason Statham - who share five-year-old son Jack and daughter Isabella, one, together - sold their Malibu mansion for $18.5 million to move to the Chelsea district of London

Naked ambition: Rosie was born in the Devon city of Plymouth before moving to market town Tavistock, also located in the South West English county, and she admits that part of the world is still her favourite

Incredible: Speaking to Great British LIFE, she said: 'I'm a country girl at heart. I spend a lot of my time living in LA which is lovely. I spend a lot of time in other major cities too'

'Couldn't be happier to have created a limited edition collection in collaboration with @roseinc and @hunza.g.

'Swipe to check out some of my favourite styles and colour ways inspired by our iconic Rose Inc Solar Collection,' Rosie captioned her post.

Of her love of Hunza G, Rosie told Vogue: 'I came across the brand back in 2018. And I was instantly impressed by this beautifully stretched crinkle fabric.'

'I think another thing the team does so well is staying true to a small number of styles and cuts, but introducing really iconic colors every season.'

'I'm predominantly known over the last couple of years for my love of neutrals,' says Huntington-Whiteley.

'But when it comes to swimwear like a pop of color. I feel that's where I can be a bit more adventurous and playful.'

Model behaviour: Rosie recently unveiled her new collaboration with iconic swimwear brand Hunza G

Gorgeous: The collaboration between her beauty line Rose Inc and Hunza G includes chic bikinis and swimsuits in a pink and white colour palette
Brian Austin Green clapped back at claims that he is a 'bad father' on Thursday.

The 49-year-old actor took to his Instagram Story to respond to a social media user's recent comment after defending his ex-wife, Megan Fox, when she faced backlash for her parenting style.

'People like this have lost their minds,' the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum wrote after the former couple was criticized for dressing their three sons in 'girls' clothes'.

'Why anyone thinks it's morally ok to attack people like this that they have never even met is crazy,' the Beautiful Disaster star  who denied the claims that the Transformers actress 'force' their children to dress a certain way  continued.

'Let's do better as a society.' the Terminator vet added. 'We owe it to the future generations'.

Denying the 'crazy' accusations: Brian Austin Green, 49, clapped back at claims that he is a 'bad father' on Thursday

Green  who is a father to a total of five children  and Fox share and co-parent three sons: Noah, 10, Bodhi, nine, and Journey, six.

He also has son Kassius, 21, with his ex-girlfriend and actress, Vanessa Marcil, 54.

In June 2022, he welcomed his fifth child, Zane, with his current girlfriend  Dancing With The Stars' Sharna Burgess, 37.

Over the weekend, the rapper refuted 'totally bogus' claims that his ex-wife  with who he was married from 2010 to 2021  makes their sons dress in feminine clothes against their wishes.

Green made a statement to TMZ after Robby Starbuck, who ran for U.S. Congress in 2022, claimed to have witnessed two of the pair's children say 'they were forced by their mom to wear girls' clothes as their nanny tried to console them'.

The SoCal native shot down the accusation and said: 'It's a totally bogus story.

'There are only a few people in their world that can actually verify whether or not a story like this is true and I can tell you with absolute certainty it is not,' the television personality stated.

Defending his ex: The actor took to his Instagram Story to respond to a social media user's recent comment after defending his ex-wife, Megan Fox, when she faced backlash for her parenting style

Open-minded parents: 'People like this have lost their minds,' the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum wrote after the former couple was criticized for dressing their three sons in 'girls' clothes'. Green  who is a father to a total of five children  and Fox share and co-parent three sons: Noah, 10, Bodhi, nine, and Journey, six

Proud father: In June 2022, he welcomed his fifth child, Zane, with his current girlfriend  Dancing With The Stars ' Sharna Burgess, 37

Back in 2017, the ...with Brian Austin Green podcast host had also spoken out to defend his then-four-year-old son, Noah, for wanting to wear dresses.

'He's not harming anyone,' he said at the time.

'I've heard from some people that they don't agree with him wearing dresses,' Green told Hollywood Pipeline. 'To them I say, I don't care.

'He's four,' he continued. 'And if he wants to wear it, then he wears it.'
Jock Zonfrillo's wife Lauren Fried has shared a heartbreaking photo of their daughter Isla sleeping in her late father's clothes.

The MasterChef Australia judge, 46, was found dead in a Carlton hotel room last month. He is survived by Lauren, Isla and Alfie, six, as well as his two grown-up daughters, Ava and Sophia, from his first two marriages.

The two-year-old tot was seen cuddled up in her car booster seat with her face snuggled into her late father's grey top.

'Little Isla has started sleeping with Papas clothes, keeps him close,' she wrote alongside the bittersweet picture.

Lauren's followers shared their love and support for the family, with one writing: 'This has broken me! These beautiful kids.'

Jock Zonfrillo 's wife Lauren Fried has shared a heartbreaking photo of their daughter Isla sleeping in her late father's clothes

The MasterChef Australia judge, 46, was found dead in a Carlton hotel room last month. He is survived by Lauren, Isla and Alfie, six, as well as his two grown-up daughters, Ava and Sophia, from his first two marriages

One added: 'He is close little one, just in a different way. Love and light to your beautiful babes and strength to you Loz.'

Others empathised with Lauren's heartbreak, with one writing: 'My sister did this with her fiance too. Keep him close little one. All strength to you as you journey through the deep Mumma.'

Another commented: 'My childrens father passed away almost 19 years ago. They still wear his clothes.'

'Little Isla has started sleeping with Papas clothes, keeps him close,' she wrote alongside the bittersweet picture

It comes just a few days after Lauren posted an emotional update explaining how she is helping Isla and her six-year-old brother Alfie cope with their father's death.

Lauren posted pictures on Jock's Instagram of three books she is reading to the youngsters to help them understand what happened to their father.

'Books have been a bridge to help me explain to our little ones what has happened, what they are feeling, and that love is always around them,' she explained.

Jock died on May 1 aged 46. He was laid to rest in a private funeral in Sydney in May, surrounded by 200 family and friends.

The media personality was scheduled for several publicity engagements for season 15 of MasterChef when he died suddenly.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal that when the police entered the hotel room to conduct a welfare check, officers believed that Zonfrillo had died of natural causes and didn't find anything that suggested otherwise.

There was also no drug paraphernalia found in the hotel room, sources said.

In the wake of the tragic news, Zonfrillo's fellow Masterchef judges Melissa Leong and Andy Allen pulled out of all media appearances to promote the cooking show's return.
The partner of Yummy Mummies TV star Maria DiGeronimo will have to wait to learn if he faces trial over an allegation he committed 'a prohibited act involving human biological material'.

Carlos Vannini was listed to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday when his case was adjourned for negotiations ahead of a potential pre-trial conference in August.

The 39-year-old told Daily Mail Australia in April he knew nothing about the charge or the alleged victim and he has still not entered a plea.

Carlos rose to fame on Yummy Mummies for indulging fiancee Maria with luxury goods while he ran Signature Cut Barbershop in the South Australian capital.

The partner of Yummy Mummies star Maria DiGeronimo was listed to face court on Thursday charged with committing a 'prohibited act with human biological material'. Carlos Vannini, 39, rose to fame on the program for spoiling Maria with luxury goods (pictured together)

He is charged with committing a prohibited act with human biological material against another man at Nailsworth in Adelaide's northern suburbs on January 29 last year.

Court papers state police allege Carlos spat at the man and 'the spit hit the victim in his left forearm'.

A summons for Carlos to appear in court was filed on March 23 and the matter first came before a magistrate on April 11.

When contacted by Daily Mail Australia ahead of that mention, Carlos said: 'What are you talking about, I don't have court, and I haven't been charged for anything, what are my charges??'

'What's is a prohibited act involving human biological material???? I don't know what your talking about... ,' he wrote.

Carlos said he did not know the alleged victim named in court papers and declined an invitation from Daily Mail Australia to have the charge sheet shown to him.

'My lawyer will sort it out,' he wrote.

Carlos has not responded to requests for comment since then.

When contacted by Daily Mail Australia, Carlos said: 'What are you talking about, I don't have court, and I haven't been charged for anything, what are my charges??'

Maria and Carlos were the most controversial couple on Yummy Mummies which aired on the Seven Network in 2017 and 2018 before being screened on Netflix.

The program followed wealthy expectant mothers as they supported each other through pregnancy and parenthood. It was slammed by critics and rated poorly.

Episode one of the first season attracted 755,000 viewers nationwide before that figure crashed to 207,000 by the eighth installment.

One reviewer called the program 'fabricated, contrived, vapid, vacuous, pointless tripe'.

Another wrote: 'To call Yummy Mummies car-crash television is to understate how garish, stupid, weird, poorly executed, and dutifully offensive it is.'

Seven's website said Maria was 'privileged to be a kept woman and lives a glamorous lifestyle financed by her partner Carlos, a barber'.

Carlos and Maria were known for their love of designer clothing and luxury cars. In one episode Carlos spent more than $20,000 on Maria.

In another, Maria celebrated the impending arrival of daughter Valentina with a $4,000 Versace-themed baby shower.

Network Seven's website for Yummy Mummies described Maria as 'privileged to be a kept woman and lives a glamorous lifestyle financed by her partner Carlos, a barber'

After the ceremony, Carlos presented Maria with a $7,000 money 'bouquet' and jewellery worth $15,000.

'I know you don't like flowers,' he told Maria. 'So I got you a bouquet of money.'

When Maria said Carlos worked as a 'part-time' barber, the motorcycle enthusiast took to Instagram and said he spent 45 hours a week at Signature Cut Barbershop.

Cosmopolitan called Maria the 'feistiest and most extravagant cast member... and her lifestyle, frankly, has us very confused.'

'A part-time barber's wage doesn't seem to match up to the couple's obsession with labels.'

Despite being the biggest stars of Yummy Mummies, the pair did not return for its second season, with Carlos claiming Maria was 'not portrayed accurately' in season one.

'Initially we agreed to the show on the premise that it would be an "observational documentary" which we understood would be us going about our lives with the added extra of a camera to document it,' Carlos said at the time.

'However that was not the case at all.'

Carlos and Maria announced they had parted ways in September 2018, saying their appearance on the program was partly responsible for the four-year relationship's demise.

'The pressures and judgments of the public to some degree took its toll.' Carlos told Adelaide Now.

'The pressures of the show and the expectations of the producers throughout the pregnancy and after Valentina was born having the TV crew around all the time, didn't allow for the bonding time as a family which we required.'

The split did not last and according to court documents Carlos and Maria still live in the four-bedroom house at Golden Grove in Adelaide's north-east which featured on Yummy Mummies.

They now also have a son, Cartel.
A slew of celebrities, family and friends turned out for Tamie Ingham and Guillaume Brahimi's star-studded wedding in Paris this week, but one close family member was notably absent from the nuptials.

Tamie's cousin Jess Ingham did not make an appearance at the decadent two-day event.

Jess, who is the granddaughter of Jack Ingham, the co-founder of of Ingham's Chicken empire, stayed in Australia with her second husband Roger Zraika, their six-month-old son Nemer and daughter Mimi, seven.

Tamie is the granddaughter of Jack's brother and business partner, Walter Ingham.

Jess confirmed to Daily Mail Australia on Friday she was simply unable to attend due to 'commitments' back home, shutting down any speculation of a rift between the family.

Tamie's cousin Jess Ingham did not make an appearance at her star-studded wedding to Guillaume Brahimi in Paris this week

Tamie and her celebrity chef husband, 55, wed at Musee Rodin on Wednesday, before heading to the reception at Maxim's de Paris, a restaurant that boasts Champagne, caviar & refined French classics

'We couldnt make it due to commitments here with our children, but were so incredibly happy for Tam and cant wait to celebrate with them both when they return!! She looked stunning!' she explained.

Jess, 33, shares a six-month-old son with Roger, while her daughter Mimi is from her previous marriage to Alex Macris.

The enjoyed their own opulent wedding in March 2021.

Jess looked incredible in a $20,000 custom Vera Wang wedding dress, which sat off her shoulders and featured layered long bell sleeves with 'love' embroidered across them in black.

Jess, who is the granddaughter of Jack Ingham, the co-founder of of Ingham's Chicken empire, stayed in Australia with her second husband Roger Zraika, their six-month-old son Nemer and daughter Mimi, seven

Jess confirmed to Daily Mail Australia on Friday she was simply unable to attend due to 'commitments' back home, shutting down any speculation of a rift between the family

Meanwhile Tamie and her celebrity chef husband, 55, wed at Musee Rodin on Wednesday, before heading to the reception at Maxim's de Paris, a restaurant that boasts Champagne, caviar & refined French classics.

The couple were seen arriving to Maxim's at around 10.15pm to kick off the festivities.

Among the star-studded guests were media mogul Lachlan Murdoch , 51, who served as a groomsman, and TV presenter Karl Stefanovic's wife Jasmine Stefanovic, 39, who was a bridesmaid.

Guillaume and Tamie have a base in the French capital. Tamie works as a shoe designer and Guillaume is a celebrated chef.

Jess, 33, shares a six-month-old son with Roger (pictured), while her daughter Mimi is from her previous marriage to Alex Macris. The enjoyed their own opulent wedding in March 2021

It is Guillaume's second marriage after he split with his ex-wife Sanchia in 2016.

It's wedding season for the chicken heirs, as the Ingham family will then travel to Italy for Johnny Ingham's wedding to Rey Vakili.

A star-studded event will take place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Taormina, with guests such as Kate Waterhouse and Luke Ricketson rumoured to be attending.

Johnny's future wife Rey studied political science at Yale in the US and rose to fame in fashion circles after a stint as personal assistant to Vogue editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour.

Johnny and Rey have been a couple since 2018. After a split, they revived their romance in 2021.

Finally, the Ingham family will close of their summer of love with Katie Ingham's wedding in Tuscany, Italy. She will tie the knot with her beau Ali Rosenberg.
Jennifer Lawrence made an outrageous claim that her mother Karen once sold her toilet on Craigslist while promoting her new movie No Hard Feelings.

The 32-year-old actress in an interview published by People on Thursday said her toilet was purchased by Lee Eisenberg, the producing partner of her No Hard Feelings director Gene Stupnitsky.

'Years ago, Lee Eisenberg bought a toilet on Craigslist from my mom [Karen]. My toilet,' Lawrence claimed to People.

The Oscar-winning actress visibly waffled when asked for more details of the alleged sale, shrugging: 'I don't know. I'm like, ''I broke it.'' My mom sold it for me.'

Eisenberg, 46, rushed to respond on Instagram and said Lawrence's story was 'completely untrue' in a post that featured an image of the People headline.

Outrageous claim: Jennifer Lawrence, shown on Thursday in Berlin, made an outrageous claim in a magazine interview that her mother Karen once sold her toilet on Craigslist

'It's a thrill to be a part of the cultural conversation. I've never bought Jennifer Lawrence's old toilets, but maybe this will open the door,' Eisenberg wrote in the caption for his roughly 4,300 followers.

It appeared that Lawrence was just having a little fun to liven up her press junkets for the upcoming comedy that she also co-produced.

Lawrence was raised in Louisville, Kentucky, by mom Karen, who ran a day camp, and her father Gary, a construction company owner.

She told 60 Minutes in 2018 that Karen and Gary made sacrifices for her career.

In the same interview, Lawrence described herself as 'weirdo' who used to tell her teachers and classmates that she had a peg leg.

'And I, like, walked in a very consistent limp. Like, incredibly consistent. And when my mom came to get me from school, my teachers were, like, 'It's awful what happened to Jennifer's leg.' And my mom was, like, 'She does not haveshe'sher leg has not been amputated.' I used to just invent stories just to invent them,' she revealed.

Lawrence also shared that her parents would lock her out of the house when they tired of her antics.

'I was a handful. And I got it. We never fought about it. I've always been very self-aware about my annoyingness,' Lawrence said.

Commode transaction: 'Years ago, Lee Eisenberg bought a toilet on Craigslist from my mom [Karen]. My toilet,' said Lawrence, shown with her mother Karen last month in New York City, in an article by People

Completely untrue: 'It's a thrill to be a part of the cultural conversation. I've never bought Jennifer Lawrence's old toilets, but maybe this will open the door,' Eisenberg wrote in the caption for his roughly 4,300 followers as he responded to the report on social media

Coming soon: Lawrence produces and stars in the upcoming R-rated comedy No Hard Feelings

Berlin premiere: Andrew Barth Feldman, Lawrence and director Gene Stupnitsky are shown on Thursday at the Berlin premiere of No Hard Feelings

Lawrence in No Hard Feelings stars as a Craigslist escort, who gets paid by helicopter parents to date their Princeton-bound virginal 19-year-old son Percy, played by Andrew Barth Feldman, 21.

Her former Uber driver character Maddie Barker is lured into the unseemly deal in order to save her mother's home and replace her repossessed car with a Buick Regal.

No Hard Feelings - hitting UK theaters this Friday and US theaters on June 23 - also features Matthew Broderick, Laura Benanti, Natalie Morales, Scott MacArthur, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Hasan Minhaj, and Kyle Mooney.

Lawrence has 16-month-ol son Cy with husband Cooke Maroney, 38.
Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi were seen holding hands in in Santa Barbara, California on Thursday as the former talk show host was in the headlines, with Rosie O'Donnell speaking out about why she won't forgive Ellen's past toxic behavior toward her.

DeGeneres, 65, donned a sage green crew neck sweatshirt with denim blue jeans and brown sneakers, accessorizing with black sunglasses and a wristwatch.

The Metairie, Louisiana-born entertainer had her short blonde locks parted to the side on the overcast day in the coastal California community.

De Rossi, 50, was clad in a puffy white vest over a plaid red flannel over a white top with dark denim blue jeans.

The Horsham, Australia-born actress rounded out her ensemble with brown suede boots with brown sunglasses, and had her long blonde locks parted to the side on the daytime outing with her spouse.

The latest: Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia de Rossi were seen holding hands in in Santa Barbara, California on Thursday as the former talk show host was in the headlines, with Rosie O'Donnell speaking out about past toxic behavior Ellen exhibited toward her

O'Donnell on Thursday detailed her long time falling out with DeGeneres, as she revealed that she did not accept her a recent apology DeGeneres extended.

The 61-year-old media personality told The Hollywood Reporter that the 65-year-old former chat show host had reached out a few weeks ago to say sorry, but she had opted to reject the mea culpa.

She explained: 'She texted me a few weeks ago checking in, seeing how Im doing, and I asked her how shes surviving not being on TV.

'Its a big transition. But weve had our weirdness in our relationship. I dont know if its jealousy, competition or the fact that she said a mean thing about me once that really hurt my feelings.'

Last year Rosie first revealed the long time feud with Ellen on an episode of Watch What Happens Live.

Rosie revealed that sometime after that Ellen had reached out to apologize as she explained to THR: 'She wrote, "Im really sorry, and I dont remember that." I guess she saw me talk about it on Andy Cohens show.

'I remembered it so well, I had T-Shirts printed and I gave them to my staff that said I dont know Rosie. Were not friends.'

Rosie went on to explain that she isn't willing to let her back in the circle of trust despite the two sharing a long history together.

Wary: Rosie said of Ellen's efforts to make amends, 'It just felt like I dont trust this person to be in my world'

Bundled up: Both Ellen and Portia wore layered ensembles on the overcast day

Better days: Rosie O'Donnell has detailed her long time falling out with Ellen DeGeneres as she revealed that she did not accept her apology recently; the two are seen together in April 2006

She explained; 'I have a picture of her holding [my then-infant son] Parker. I know her mother. I could identify her brother without her in the room. I knew her for so many years. It just felt like I dont trust this person to be in my world.'

The drama all began when Ellen appeared on Larry King Live back in May 1998 shortly after Rosie came out as lesbian.

Ellen was asked what her thoughts were about the news and she replied: 'I don't know. You know, maybe she didn't - I don't really know Rosie that well. I mean, I've spoken to her, but we're not really friends. We don't, like - so I don't really know and I couldn't say what her...'

Then in September 2022, Rosie finally opened up about their rivalry.

Rosie dropped by Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen at the time and was asked why she and DeGeneres have such a frosty relationship.

Despite having a lot in common - both had successful daytime talk shows, both female comics, both openly gay - the stars never got on.

O'Donnell was more or less persona non grata on The Ellen DeGeneres Show during its long tenure but was finally asked to appear as a guest in season 19.

'We had a little bit of a weird thing, and after my show went off the air and hers was coming on the air,' Rosie explained to Andy.

Trailblazer: The 61-year-old media personality (pictured in May 2019) told The Hollywood Reporter the the 65-year-old former chat show host had reached out a few weeks ago to say sorry but Rosie had opted to reject the mea culpa

She explained: 'She texted me a few weeks ago checking in, seeing how Im doing, and I asked her how shes surviving not being on TV. Its a big transition. But weve had our weirdness in our relationship. I dont know if its jealousy, competition or the fact that she said a mean thing about me once that really hurt my feelings'; they are seen together on The Rosie O'Donnell Show back in the 1990s

Smoking gun: The drama all began when Ellen appeared on Larry King Live back in May 1998 shortly after Rosie came out as lesbian; Rosie is seen in Pasadena in February

'Larry King was on with Ellen and he said 'What ever happened to Rosie O'Donnell? Her show went down the tubes! She came out as a lesbian and disappeared!''

'And Ellen said, and I'm quoting, "I don't know Rosie. We're not friends."'

At the time, Rosie was watching the interview at home with her ex-wife Kelli Carpenter.

'I was in bed with Kelli and I said "Did I just hear that? Or was that a hallucination, auditory voice in my - ''' she recollected. 'And that's what happened. And it hurt my feelings like a baby. And I never really got over it.'

Her side of the story: Rosie dropped by Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen back in September 2022 and was asked why she and DeGeneres have such a frosty relationship

'Larry King was on with Ellen and he said 'What ever happened to Rosie O'Donnell? Her show went down the tubes! She came out as a lesbian and disappeared! And Ellen said, and I'm quoting, "I don't know Rosie. We're not friends."'

'I was in bed with Kelli and I said "Did I just hear that? Or was that a hallucination, auditory voice in my ''' she recollected. 'And that's what happened. And it hurt my feelings like a baby. And I never really got over it.'

Talk show legends: The Rosie O'Donnell Show, a once very popular daytime chat series, aired from 1996 to 2002. Ellen's talk show seemingly replaced Rosie in 2003 and went on for 19 seasons until ending in a scandal

Nearly more than a decade later, Rosie was finally asked to come on Ellen's show as a guest, she revealed, but to make it 'a little less awkward' there was talk of bringing on someone with her.

Ultimately that idea didn't fly but O'Donnell seemed not to harbor ill will towards Ellen.

'I wish her all good things in her life and that she should be well,' she said.

The Rosie O'Donnell Show, a once very popular daytime chat series, aired from 1996 to 2002. Ellen's talk show seemingly replaced Rosie in 2003 and went on for 19 seasons until ending in a scandal.
Deni Todorovic returned to social media on Friday sharing details about their highly publicised mental health battle in recent months.

The non-binary activist, 35, who uses all pronouns, shared a lengthy message to Instagram detailing their recovery process during a stint in rehab.

They explained they 'sidelined deep and personal traumas and abuse' which led to them losing brand deals and being served an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) on behalf of an ex-partner.

'I have battled complicated and painful moments that I regrettably too often let take control of my life. Namely dealing with aforementioned traumas,' Deni said.

'Thanks to the unrelenting support from health care professionals, particularly the whole team at the impeccable Shellharbour Hospital, NSW mental health [facility].'

Controversial non-binary Deni Todorovic returned to social media on Friday sharing details about their highly publicised mental health battle in recent months

Deni went on to thank their family and the Barwon Health Foundation in Geelong, Brunswick and Coburg before mentioning 'first responders and even the police'.

'Because whilst ACAB is true, we can't brush all folks with one paint stroke,' they added.

'I have committed to what I know will be a lifelong battle to prioritise and recognise when I need to put myself first. Which is always but particularly now.'

They continued: 'By following my life's passions I became a public figure, and while that is a privilege and at times a curse, I entirely understand that with that comes responsibility and consequences for things I say and more importantly do.'

Deni continued their lengthy post by 'vehemently' apologising to 'all of my darlings who were impacted by my actions and comments in recent weeks'.

They said their controversial actions in recent months were not a 'holistic reflection of the goals I set out to achieve'.

Deni, who uses all pronouns, shared a lengthy message to Instagram detailing their recovery process during a stint in rehab

They explained they 'sidelined deep and personal traumas and abuse' which led to them losing brand deals and being served an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) on behalf of an ex-partner

Deni continued their lengthy post by 'vehemently' apologising to 'all of my darlings who were impacted by my actions and comments in recent weeks'

'I found no joy in letting down my community, brand partners and peers who helped champion my career and I look forward to privately and genuinely mending those relationships - if they so wish to do so,' they added.

Despite penning the long apology to friends, family and former brand partners, Deni revealed they 'stand by everything I said'.

They made clear they only felt regret for the 'mean' way they delivered their message, noting they had never been one to 'sugar coat things'.

Despite penning the long apology to friends, family and former brand partners, Deni revealed they 'stand by everything I said'

They made clear they only felt regret for the 'mean' way they delivered their message, noting they had never been one to 'sugar coat things'

Deni finished up by saying: 'And while we are here, remember we all stand on stolen land. I am grateful for the privilege I have and am aware of it.'

It comes after the influencer was swept up in a series of controversial events the last few months, with the latest being an AVO served to them by NSW police on behalf of their former partner Mitchell Latham.

The prominent fashionista also made a 'political' fashion statement which saw them flash their genitals to Newscorp journalists - Confidential's Jonathan Moran and Page 13's Alice Coster - at Australian Fashion Week, leaving them distressed.

Just one day after the flashing scandal, Deni's fashion week plans were dashed when they were stopped by security at Nadia Bartel's Henne show at St Barnabas in Ultimo.

It comes after the influencer was sept up in a series of controversial events the last few months , with the latest being an AVO served to them by NSW police on behalf of their former partner Mitchell Latham (right)

According to fashion sources, AFW organisers were furious Deni's antics made more headlines than the showcasing designers.

Before the event even started, Deni had a heated hour-long run-in with airport workers in Melbourne before flying to Sydney on a Jetstar flight.

Deni said they had been subjected to 'homophobic and racist' behaviour by staff requesting they pay $100 for excess luggage, and subsequently wrote with black marker pen, 'Jetstar, suck my d**k,' across the top of both thighs when they turned up at AFW.

The prominent fashionista also made a 'political' fashion statement which saw them flash their genitals to Newscorp journalists - Confidential's Jonathan Moran and Page 13's Alice Coster - at Australian Fashion Week, leaving them distressed

A Jetstar representative denied staff did anything wrong.

Photographs of the incident showed Deni with their mother and four police officers, appearing upset as they rested their head on their mother's arm. No charges were laid.

Deni first came to prominence when they received a starring role as ambassador for swimwear brand Seafolly - leading to a customer boycott in March.

Before attending the AFW event, Deni had a heated hour-long run-in with airport workers in Melbourne before flying to Sydney on a Jetstar flight, during which police were called

But things quickly became unstuck for the influencer in the following weeks when the model began making wild accusations to close associates on social media and attacking brands Deni formally worked for.

Subsequent erratic behaviour and tirades saw the model ditched from various public roles by underwear label Bonds, youth charity Minus 18, and gin brand Tanqueray.

When friends, family and fans expressed concern for Deni's mental health, they claimed to have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and underwent treatment at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

'I have a psychologist, a therapist, a psychiatrist, I'm going to the Banyans clinic, and there better not be any f***ing paparazzi when I get there,' they said.

For confidential 24/7 support contact Lifeline 13 11 14
Advertisement

Hailey Bieber looked sensational as she stepped out in New York City on Thursday night to celebrate her skincare brand Rhode's one-year anniversary.

The wife of Justin Bieber, 26, showed off her tanned and toned physique in a skimpy pink rhinestone minidress.

The show-stopping Vivienne Westwood Couture number had a sexy plunging neckline and a corset bodice that cinched in Hailey's already slim waist.

She strolled the sidewalk outside her NYC apartment in a pair of sky-high transparent heels.

Hailey tucked her essentials away inside a glitzy pink purse that matched her dress.

Wow! Hailey Bieber looked sensational as she stepped out in New York City on Thursday night to celebrate her skincare brand Rhode's one-year anniversary. The wife of Justin Bieber, 26, showed off her tanned and toned physique in a skimpy pink rhinestone minidress

Taking the plunge: The show-stopping Vivienne Westwood Couture number had a sexy plunging neckline and a corset bodice that cinched in Hailey's already slim waist

For added sparkle, the model accessorized with a stunning diamond choker necklace and stud earrings from Tiffany & Co.

Her nails were painted a shiny red and her cheeks were dusted generously with vibrant pink blush.

Hailey's eye makeup was soft and smokey and her lips were topped with nude gloss.

The influencer's dark blonde hair was styled in a sleek bun for the evening.

Hailey gave fans on Instagram a peek at her ultra glam look by sharing a short clip to her Story.

In the video, Hailey poses with her hands on her hips and puckers up for the camera.

It ends with the star smiling as she prepares to leave for the Rhode soiree.

Rhode was launched last June and marked Hailey's first business venture in the beauty space.

Matching: Hailey tucked her essentials away inside a glitzy pink purse that matched her dress

Sky-high: She strolled the sidewalk outside her NYC apartment in a pair of sky-high transparent heels

Sleek: The influencer's dark blonde hair was styled in a sleek bun for the evening

Glitz and glamour: For added sparkle, the model accessorized with a stunning diamond choker necklace and stud earrings. Her nails were painted a shiny red and her cheeks were dusted generously with vibrant pink blush

Sneak peek: Hailey gave fans on Instagram a peek at her ultra glam look by sharing a short clip to her Story

In the video, Hailey poses with her hands on her hips and puckers up for the camera

Ready to roll: It ends with the star smiling as she prepares to leave for the Rhode soiree

'On our way!': A friend of Hailey's snapped a photo of her in the party bus en route to dinner

Party-time! Hailey was joined by a host of influencers and pals at the bash

Gorgeous: The model stunned in her pink rhinestone dress

Pulling out all the stops: Hailey admired the decor which included giant sizes of her skincare

The brand touts itself as a vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free and dermatologist-developed line of skincare.

In Hailey's own words from the 'About Us' section of the Rhode skincare website, she writes, 'My journey towards healthier skin inspired me to develop products that really work, in a way that's accessible to everyone.'

Her business recently hired Melanie Bender, the previous founding president of Versed, as Rhode's CEO.

Another selling point for the Bieber skincare brand  each Rhode product is priced under $30

Hailey honored Rhode's one-year milestone on Instagram by sharing a video montage showcasing her favorite campaign shoots and the brand's biggest accomplishments.

The accomplishments included: launching in Canada, winning an Allure 'Best of Beauty' award and putting up a massive Rhode billboard on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles.

Her husband Justin sent several large white floral bouquets with a special note.

She honored Rhode's one-year milestone on Instagram by sharing a video montage showcasing her favorite campaign shoots and the brand's biggest accomplishments

Boss moves: Rhode was launched last June and marked Hailey's first business venture in the beauty space

The accomplishments included: launching in Canada, winning an Allure 'Best of Beauty' award and putting up a massive Rhode billboard on Sunset Blvd in Los Angeles (pictured)

The brand touts itself as a vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free and dermatologist-developed line of skincare

In Hailey's own words from the 'About Us' section of the Rhode skincare website, she writes, 'My journey towards healthier skin inspired me to develop products that really work, in a way that's accessible to everyone'

Proud husband: Her husband Justin sent several large white floral bouquets with a special note

'Happy 1 year of Rhode to my beautiful wife. I'm so proud of you. Love, Justin,' it read.

Hailey made sure to show off her flowers on her Instagram Story.

Earlier this week, Justin appeared in a series of images shared to the Rhode Instagram to announce his collaboration with the brand.

Fans of the superstar couple can join the waitlist for the 'glazing milk' product that Justin and Hailey touted for $29.
Advertisement

Diane Kruger and Cate Blanchett commanded attention as they attended the 2023 Fragrance Foundation Awards in New York City on Thursday.

The 46-year-old German actress - who was seen working in Canada last week - was fashion-forward in a red blazer dress.

Meanwhile, Cate, 54, stunned in a form-fitting black sequin gown that had a sheer panel at the bust.

Diane styled her bright blonde locks in an updo, arranged in a deep side part and pulled off her face.

For her part, Cate left her shoulder-length locks loose, softly textured as they fell around her face.

Superstars: Diane Kruger and Cate Blanchett commanded attention as they attended the 2023 Fragrance Foundation Awards in New York City on Thursday

Fashionista: The 46-year-old German actress - who was seen working in Canada last week - was fashion-forward in a red blazer dress

Sleek: Diane styled her bright blonde locks in an updo, arranged in a deep side part and pulled off her face

Underneath her thigh-grazing mini dress, Diane wore a sheer nude slip dress with a mock neck and lace details.

She put on a leggy display in the number, rounding it out with a pair of open-toe, strappy, nude heels.

The mother-of-one, who shares a child with longtime partner Norman Reedus, wore a pair of ornate golden earrings.

She looked gorgeous in a full face of makeup that included a rose gold eyeshadow to bring out her eyes.

Her cheeks were dusted with a soft, rosy blush and the full look was punctuated with a peach shade on her pout.

The longtime entertainer carried her belongings in a glittery gold clutch as she walked the red carpet.

Diane was spotted mingling with fashion designer Jason Wu, as well as ballerina Misty Copeland.

Wu, 40, looked great as he rocked an all black suit with a button-up shirt underneath his buttoned blazer.

Rubbing elbows: Diane posed with Taiwanese-Canadian fashion designer Jason Wu

Trio: Misty Copeland, Jason, and Diane gathered together for a photo opportunity

Impeccable: Cate looked ravishing in her evening attire, which bared her toned arms in the sleeveless design

Cate looked ravishing in her evening attire, which bared her toned arms in the sleeveless design.

The frock featured a sexy, plunging neckline that teased her perky cleavage and also had side cutouts.

Over the see-through material of the look, there was a multicolor stone detail throughout.

The silver screen siren flaunted a short, milky white manicure and adorned her fingers in multiple rings.

Finally, Blanchett elevated her ensemble with a pair of sky-high black heels, adding height to her frame.

She looked typically stunning in a full face of complementary makeup consisting of matte peach tones.

Misty, 40, went for a classic feminine look in a textured, off-the-shoulder A-line black dress.

The lifelong ballet dancer pulled her dark hair into a low, long braid styled with a deep center part.

Towering: Finally, Blanchett elevated her ensemble with a pair of sky-high black heels, adding height to her frame

Subtle: The silver screen siren flaunted a short, milky white manicure and adorned her fingers in multiple rings

Beauty queen: She looked typically stunning in a full face of complementary makeup consisting of matte peach tones

Guests: Cate posed with Linda G. Levy and Nicolas Hieronimus

Misty skipped a necklace and bracelets but work statement-making, dangling teardrop earrings.

The fitted bodice of the dress accentuated the star's trim waistline and she slipped her feet into a pair of pointed toe black heels with bow accents.

The Kansas City, Missouri native looked darling with her full eyebrows carefully shaped.

She drew attention to her big, brown eyes by lining them with dark liner and elongating mascara.

She went with a short, glossy nude nail and carried a satin, champagne-colored clutch.

Actress Keke Palmer also chose a black dress for the annual occasion, which was held at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center.

The 29-year-old new mother showed off her busty cleavage in her plunging look, which had thin straps.

The floor length gown clung to her curves and pulled in at her waist, giving her an hourglass silhouette.

Tiny dancer: Misty, 40, went for a classic feminine look in a textured, off-the-shoulder A-line black dress

Beauty: Actress Keke Palmer also chose a black dress for the annual occasion, which was held at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center

Stunner: The floor length gown clung to her curves and pulled in at her waist, giving her an hourglass silhouette

Duo: Keke posed with fashion designer Sergio Hudson

Wow! Michelle Pfeiffer, 65, looked youthful in a black ensemble that included a deep blazer

Hair factor: The Scarface actress wore her silky blonde locks in a deep center part and styled straight

Michelle Pfeiffer, 65, looked youthful in a black ensemble that included a deep blazer.

She cuffed the sleeves of the jacket and fastened one button, pairing it with a long skirt.

The Scarface actress wore her silky blonde locks in a deep center part and styled straight.

She tucked a black leather handbag under her arm as she posed for photos on the step-and-repeat.

The California native was in good spirits as she smiled in a light face of feature-accentuating makeup.

Iconic fashion designer Vera Wang, 73, was also present for the affair, arriving in a black bandeau and long, dramatic skirt.

She bared her midriff in the bold look and accessorized with a thick gold cuff worn on her bicep.

Wang wore her long, copper-colored hair straight and in an undefined side part, with the locks streaming over one side of her shoulder.

Showstopping: Iconic fashion designer Vera Wang, 73, was also present for the affair, arriving in a black bandeau and long, dramatic skirt

Arrival: Alexandra Richards, 36, arrived in a jewel-toned pale green halter neck dress

Star power: Malaika Jones and Tai Beauchamp turned heads in showstopping looks

Stylish savvy: Claire Sulmers, the founder and editor-in-chief of Fashion Bomb Daily wore pantaleggings and a long trench coat

Nicolas and Cate: Nicolas Hieronimus, the CEO of L'Oreal and Flipo, poses with his award backstage with Cate Blanchett

Presenter: Cate Blanchett presented Nicolas Hieronimus with an award at The Fragrance Foundation Awards

Cate in black: Cate Blanchett steps out in an all black look at the Fragrance Foundation Awards

Midtown Cate: Cate Blanchett was spotted in Midtown Manhattan

Blue and white: Cate Blanchett rocked a blue and white look while stepping out in Midtown Manhattan

All smiles: Cate Blanchett flashes a smile while stepping out in Midtown Manhattan

At Thursday night's event, the honorees were Nicolas Hieronimus and Annie Flipo.

Hieronimus is the chief-executive-officer of L'Oreal and Flipo is the master perfumer at IFF.

Hieronimus was the Hall of Fame Honoree and Flipo was the Honoree for Lifetime Achievement.

The annual soiree brought together the international fragrance community, celebrating achievements of people in 20 award categories.
If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now!

Submit
Michelle Pfeiffer oozed elegance as she attended Thursdays 2023 Fragrance Foundation Awards at Lincoln Center in New York City.

The Scarface actress, 65, showcased her slender frame in a black blazer paired with a long black shimmering skirt for the star-studded affair.

She carried a small leather clutch bag under her arm and added a bit of height with open-toed platforms.

The Cat-Woman actress showed her flawless complexion with light makeup that included blush, eyeliner around her piercing blue eyes, and a matte nude lip as she posed for snaps on the red carpet.

In 2019, she ventured into entrepreneurship as a beauty expert by introducing her unisex fragrance line, Henry Rose.

Looking good: Michelle Pfeiffer oozed elegance as she attended Thursdays 2023 Fragrance Foundation Awards at Lincoln Center in New York City. The star held a leather bag under her arm and wore open-toed platforms

Celebrating her line: The Scarface actress showcased her slender frame in a black blazer paired with a long black shimmering skirt for the star-studded affair

Her decision was prompted by her concerns about the safety of perfumes, which had led her to avoid them for a decade.

Over the years, many celebrities have launched fragrance lines. However, Pfeiffer established a fully transparent company with regards to the ingredients used in her products.

The Golden Globe winner appeared on the Today show Tuesday to promote her new fragrance line, which has expanded to include 11 different scents since launching four years ago.

Pfeiffer is celebrating the growth of her brand, which is now available for sale in high-end stores such as; Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman, and Neiman Marcus, and recently launched in Sephora.

Pfeiffer took to Instagram to share an image with Hoda and Jenna after the show, captioned, 'Had so much fun with these two this morning @todayshow. Thank you, @hodaandjenna, so much for the giggles.#henryrose.'

She also shared a fun snap while getting her makeup done at Sephora after partnering with them to sell her line of fragrances. She showed off her glowing makeup by snapping a selfie in the car on the way home.

Recognized as one of the most prolific actresses of the 1980s and 1990s, the icon has received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Film Award, three Academy Award nominations, and a Primetime Emmy Award.

In October 2020, she won the Canadian Screen Award for best actress in a leading role for her performance in the dark comedy French Exit.

Pfeiffer starred as Betty Ford in the anthology drama series The First Lady, which premiered on Showtime in April 2022.

In May, it was announced that Pfeiffer had been cast in the lead for the upcoming Wild Four O'Clocks, penned and directed by Peter Craig, and produced by Marc Platt and Adam Siegel.

Youthful: The Cat-Woman actress showed her flawless complexion as she posed for snaps on the red carpet with light makeup including blush, eyeliner, and a nude lip

Today show: Pfeiffer shared an image with Hoda and Jenna as she appeared on the Today Show on Tuesday where she talked up her new perfume collection

Selling at Sephora: She also shared a fun snap while getting her makeup done at Sephora after partnering with them to sell her fragrance collection

The beauty took a selfie in the car on the way home to show off her glow up after getting her makeup done at Sephora

Clean beauty: Pfeiffer launched her unisex fragrance line with the idea to be '100 per cent transparent' about the ingredients used in it's products

Collection: Henry Rose is currently offering eleven scents which retail for $120 each

Family first: The beauty shares two children; Claudia, 29 and John, 28, with husband David Kelley

The three-time Academy Award nominee took a break from Hollywood for around five years for privacy in her family life and was taken aback by claims she had retired from acting when she was trying to raise children.

She commented, 'I would start to hear that I had retired, and I'd be like, "Wait, no."'

With many projects in the works, the busy mother-of-two is scheduled to star alongside Annette Bening in the psychological thriller, Turn of Mind, set to be directed by Gideon Raff, and has also been cast in Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis.

Pfeiffer reprised her role as Janet Van Dyne in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) alongside Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Jonathan Majors, and Bill Murray. The film was released in February.
Eva Longoria declined to identify who bullied her on Desperate Housewives while playing Plead The Fifth on Thursday's episode of Watch What Happens Live.

The 48-year-old actress and Flamin' Hot director participated in the show's signature question-and-answer game with host Andy Cohen, 55, while visiting the Bravo set in New York City.

Eva faced interrogation after winning a spin of the wheel against fellow guest Gabrielle Union, 50, and Andy explained that she was going to be given three questions and could 'plead the fifth' to only one.

Pleading the fifth is a term for the assertion of Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination in the US judicial system.

Andy for his first question asked, 'What is the most misogynistic note that you've ever received from a Hollywood executive?'

Pleaded fifth: Eva Longoria declined to identify who bullied her on Desperate Housewives while playing Plead The Fifth on Thursday's episode of Watch What Happens Live

'Can you do that more spicy? When I was on The Young and the Restless. Can you do that more Latiny and spicy. I was like, I don't know what that means,' Eva said.

'Wow, that's also a little bit racist,' Andy said.

'A little bit,' Eva agreed.

'Yeah, big racist,' Gabrielle said.

Andy set up his next question by noting that Eva in 2019 penned a letter of support for her Desperate Housewives co-star Felicity Huffman, 60, who was arrested as part of the nationwide college entrance cheating scandal.

Eva in her letter of support recounted the time on Desperate Housewives when Felicity stood up for her against another co-worker who was bullying her.

'Who was the co-worker and how where you being bullied?,' Andy asked.

'I plead the fifth,' Eva said laughing.

ABC show: Nicolette Sheridan, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross, Eva and Teri Hatcher are shown in a 2004 promo still for Desperate Housewives

The host: Andy Cohen gave Eva three questions while she played Plead The Fifth

Close friend: Gabrielle Union joined her friend Eva as a guest on the Bravo show

No answer: 'I plead the fifth,' Eva said laughing as she declined to answer the question

'I had a feeling,' Andy said.

Andy for his last question pointed out that Eva is best pals with Victoria Beckham, 49, and is godmother to her children Cruz, 18, and Harper, 11.

'What is your least favorite Spice Girls song?,' Andy asked.

'I love them all. I really do,' Eva answered.

'And by the way, I'm Spicy Spice. I'm the sixth Spice Girl,' Eva declared.

Eva portrayed Gabrielle Solis on Desperate Housewives and the show also starred Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross, Nicolette Sheridan and Andrea Bowen.

Desperate Housewives aired on ABC from October 2004 until May 2012 and Eva on WWHl said she would be open to a reboot of the comedy-drama mystery series.

Eva was on the Bravo talk show promoting her directorial debut Flamin' Hot that was released last week on Disney+ and Hulu.

The film's stars Jessie Garcia and Annie Gonzalez were behind the bar in the Bravo clubhouse for the episode.

President Joe Biden and director Eva welcomed hundreds to the White House lawn on Thursday to screen Flamin' Hot, a feel-good story about how a Mexican-American janitor working at Frito-Lay sold his superiors on his idea to spice up the crunchy snack's cheesy coating.

Special screening: President Joe Biden and director Eva welcomed hundreds to the White House lawn on Thursday to screen Flamin' Hot as part of Immigrant Heritage Month

They held out the tale of one-time janitor Richard Montanez, which is based on his memoir, as an inspirational account of how one man reached for a dream and overcame the odds - gliding past indications that Montanez's account is dubious.

Biden congratulated Eva for her directorial debut and said the movie made him think about the 'courage' displayed by immigrants leaving home and coming to the United States.

The screening was part of Immigrant Heritage Month.

Gabrielle was on the Bravo talk show to promote her upcoming romantic comedy movie The Perfect Find that is scheduled to be released on June 23 by Netflix.

Eva and Gabrielle revealed that they've been good friends for a long time and have several projects that they are working on together.
Matt Preston has revealed his mother died of bone cancer just months before he was invited to take part in Dancing With The Stars Australia.

The former MasterChef judge, 61, said he was unable to mourn her death properly until he began filming the Channel Seven show.

He explained his dance partner Jessica Raffa, 39, whose husband also suffers from blood cancer, helped him work through his grief.

The pair decided to choreograph a dance together to commemorate the loss of his mother and best friend, who died of the same disease.

The celebrity chef said he was in tears throughout the heartfelt performance.

Matt Preston has revealed his mother died of bone cancer just months before he was invited to take part in Dancing With The Stars Australia

'I think we tend to keep ourselves very upright when we go through a bereavement,' he told 7Life.

'We deal with the funeral, we deal with the planning. [We think about] what are you going to do with their collection of china and all that process stuff you've got to do.

'It tends to keep down the grieving and the sadness when you're concentrating on that so much. Then all that stuff can bubble to the surface, and I found the [dancing] incredibly cathartic.'

The former MasterChef judge, 61, said he was unable to mourn her death properly until he began filming the Channel Seven show. He explained his dance partner Jessica Raffa, 39, whose husband also suffers from blood cancer, helped him work through his grief

He went on to say he was finally 'able to cry' over the death of his mother.

Matt will star on Dancing With The Stars alongside the likes of Home and Away's Emily Weir, former Bachelor star Laura Byrne and many others.

Daryl Somers and Sonia Kruger will once again host the toe-tapping action.

Dancing With The Stars will premiere on Sunday, June 18 on Channel Seven.
Kim Kardashian's daughter North West rang in her first decade with an extravagant 'beauty brunch' on Thursday.

The eldest child of the reality TV star, 47, and Kanye West was seen in a series of TikTok clips enjoying an afternoon tea-inspired brunch with her gal pals to celebrate her milestone 10th birthday.

In the videos, North  who was treated to dinner at Nobu Malibu by her proud mom and enjoyed a sleepover at the Beverly Hills Hotel the day before  was seen eating decadent pastries and sipping on warm beverages in fancy teacups.

During the event, the birthday girl and her friends  all wearing matching plaid pajamas  were seen gathering around Anastasia Soare, the CEO and founder of beauty brand Anastasia Beverly Hills, for a makeup tutorial.

At one point, the SKIMS founder also shared a clip of herself getting her eyebrows done by the Eyebrow Queen.

Birthday girl! Kim Kardashian's daughter North West rang in her first decade with an extravagant 'beauty brunch' on Thursday. The eldest child of the reality TV star, 47, and Kanye West was seen in a series of TikTok clips enjoying an afternoon tea-inspired brunch with her gal pals to celebrate her milestone 10th birthday

In one clip, Kim showed off the many goodie bags and makeup products that North and her friends got to play around with at her birthday event.

She also panned around a long table covered with colorful desserts and baked goods.

In the clip, North and her friends were seen enjoying and choosing from the many tiers and platefuls of mouthwatering croissants, fruit tarts, macarons, and chocolate truffles.

Kim had captioned the post shared to their mother-daughter joint TikTok account with text over the video reading: 'Happy birthday she's 10'.

A separate clip showed North standing in front of a baby pink cake adorned with macarons as her close family and friends sang happy birthday to her.

The doting mother  who was seen wearing gray sweatpants and a camouflage bomber jacket as well as rocking a high ponytail  swayed side-to-side as she sang next to her daughter.

At the end of the clip, Kim planted a kiss on North's head right before her daughter blew out the two-digit candles.

The 'beauty brunch' was held in a long room with many floor-to-ceiling windows letting the room fill with natural lighting, and the area was decorated in green plants and pink roses.

Beauty party: At one point, the SKIMS founder also shared a clip of herself getting her eyebrows done by the Eyebrow Queen

Lavish brunch: The 'beauty brunch' was held in a long room with many floor-to-ceiling windows letting the room fill with natural lighting, and the area was decorated in green plants and pink roses.

Enjoying tea time: Kim had captioned the birthday post of North and her friends to their mother-daughter joint TikTok account with text over the video reading: 'Happy birthday she's 10'

Private makeup tutorial: During the event, the birthday girl and her friends  all wearing matching plaid pajamas  were seen gathering around Anastasia Soare, the CEO and founder of beauty brand Anastasia Beverly Hills, for a makeup tutorial

Lessons from the Eyebrow Queen: North and her gal pals were seen attentively watching a private lesson from the beauty mogul

Full vanity setup: They also got to try out a range of products from Anastasia Beverly Hills. Sprawled over a long table were many eyeshadow palettes, foundations, makeup brushes, and pencils

Brunch: North sported an oversized, forest green flannel pajama set while enjoying the brunch and tea time with her family and friends. One of the treats she appeared to have enjoyed was a mouthwatering croissant

Luxurious plating: In the videos, North  who was treated to dinner at Nobu Malibu by her proud mom and enjoyed a sleepover at the Beverly Hills Hotel the day before  was seen eating decadent pastries and sipping on warm beverages in fancy teacups

Colorful treats: She also panned around a long table covered with colorful desserts and baked goods. In the clip, North and her friends were seen enjoying and choosing from the many tiers and platefuls of mouthwatering croissants, fruit tarts, macarons, and chocolate truffles

Birthday cake: A separate clip showed North standing in front of a baby pink cake adorned with macarons as her close family and friends sang happy birthday to her

Goodie bags: In one clip, Kim showed off the many goodie bags and makeup products that North and her friends got to play around with at her birthday event

Later, North and her gal pals were seen attentively watching a private lesson from the beauty mogul.

They also got to try out a range of products from Anastasia Beverly Hills.

Sprawled over a long table were many eyeshadow palettes, foundations, makeup brushes, and pencils

North is the eldest daughter and first child of Kim and Kanye.

The former couple  who were married from 2014 to 2022  share two daughters and two sons.

The pair are also parents to Saint, seven, Chicago, five, and Psalm, four.
Fans eagerly awaiting the feature film acting debut of global pop star Dua Lipa in the spy thriller Argylle finally have a date to circle on the calendar next year.

Apple Original Films - which picked up the rights to the film back in August 2021 - are teaming up with Universal Pictures for a theatrical release on February 2, 2024, via THR.

The film will go up against Warner Bros.' mob drama Wise Guys with Robert De Niro and Debra Messing and Lionsgate's horror film Imaginary with Betty Buckley.

Apple released a first look image with Henry Cavill and Dua Lipa back in March 2022, though it's unclear when the first trailer may debut.

The film marks just the latest high-profile feature project that Apple is teaming up with a theatrical distributor for.

Date: Fans eagerly awaiting the feature film acting debut of global pop star Dua Lipa in the spy thriller Argylle finally have a date to circle on the calendar next year

Coming soon: Apple Original Films - which picked up the rights to the film back in August 2021 - are teaming up with Universal Pictures for a theatrical release on February 2, 2024, via THR

Apple has also teamed with Sony for director Ridley Scott's historical biopic Napoleon starring Joaquin Phoenix, set for release on November 22.

The streaming service also teamed up with Paramount for Martin Scorsese's highly-anticipated Killers of the Flower Moon, in theaters October 6.

This has marked a major shift from most streaming services, which, until this year, had rarely given their movies theatrical release dates, unless it has an exclusive theatrical window.

The windows typically last between 30 and 45 days, which Amazon used for their feature film Air before it debuted on their Prime Video streaming service.

The film is described as following, 'the world's greatest spy, Argylle,' who 'gets caught up in a globe-trotting adventure.'

The film was first announced in June 2021, with Matthew Vaughn directing from a script by Jason Fuchs, adapted from a yet-to-be-published novel by a mysterious writer named Elly Conway.

The writer seemingly hasn't published a book before, with the Argylle novel's publication originally set for September 29, 2022 and then pushed to March 29, 2023 and now apparently set for November 9, 2023.

Apple announced in August 2021 they had acquired the rights to the film for a whopping $200 million, with Vaughn offering his thoughts on the unpublished manuscript in the announcement.

Spy: The film is described as following, 'the world's greatest spy, Argylle,' who 'gets caught up in a globe-trotting adventure'

'When I read this early draft manuscript I felt it was the most incredible and original spy franchise since Ian Flemings books of the 50s,' Vaughan said.

The director added, 'This is going to reinvent the spy genre,' though very little about the actual author is known.

The cast also includes Samuel L. Jackson, Bryce Dallas Howard, Bryan Cranston, John Cena, Sam Rockwell, Catherine O'Hara, Ariana DeBose and Rob Delaney.

Little is known about Dua Lipa's character, but she will first be seen in the highly-anticipated Barbie movie in an unknown role, in theaters July 21.
Lisa Kudrow missed out on reuniting with her Friends co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox as she headed out for dinner with her husband Michel Stern in Beverly Hills on Thursday.

The actress, 59, who played Phoebe Buffay in the hit sitcom, enjoyed a meal at legendary seafood restaurant Avra, while over in Malibu, Courteney rang in her 59th birthday.

Courteney marked her special day with a low-key affair at the Californian private members club, surrounded by her close pals, including best pal Jen.

Over in Beverly Hills, a make-up free Lisa was pictured heading home dressed in monochromatic black from head to toe, with the exception of a patterned black and white scarf.

The former Friends star had been enjoying a meal at the seafood eatery with her husband Michel, a French advertising executive to whom she has been married almost 30 years.

Busy: Lisa Kudrow missed out on reuniting with her Friends co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox as she headed out for dinner with her husband Michel Stern on Thursday

Exuding elegance: The actress, 59, who played Phoebe Buffay in the hit sitcom, enjoyed a meal at seafood restaurant Avra, while over in Malibu, Courteney rang in her 59th birthday

Celebrating: Courteney rang in her 59th birthday with Jennifer Anniston as they headed out to Soho House in Malibu

The pair, who have a son called Julian together, seemed to be in high spirits as they left the famous venue, known for its seafood and salads.

Its menu boasts 'freshly caught whole fish flown in daily from Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Florida, and New Zealand' which is served up by the pound.

The mouthwatering delicacies are then 'charcoal grilled with olive oil, lemon, sea salt, saffron, and mustard', while sashimi is also on offer.

Lisa had previously stated she's a million miles apart from her friends character Phoebe.

Phoebe was a devout vegetarian who refused to eat 'anything with a face', but it seems that, in real life, she and her husband are partial to a seafood snack.

Despite swearing off meat, however, Friends fans might remember that Phoebe struggled to control her cravings for beef lasagne - especially when pregnant.

Meanwhile, the real-life Lisa revealed she has been mocked for her unusual taste for McVitie's chocolate biscuits - her 'favourite breakfast'.

'I got made fun of once - I was at a craft service table and I said, "Oh, they've got tea. Oh, I should bring my digestive biscuits!"' she joked in an interview with CNN.

Lisa recently revealed her feelings about reuniting with her former Friends castmates for a HBO Max special, describing the experience as 'thrilling' and 'emotional'.

Back in the day: The girls have stayed close over the years

I'll be there for you: The original Friends cast back in 1995, with Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, and Matt LeBlanc (L-R)

She also disclosed that she'd initially wanted to play Rachel instead of her own character, but was rapidly rebuffed.

'When I first read the script, and was going to be auditioning for Phoebe, I saw [the pages for] Rachel, and just went, "Oh, that's like a Long Island JAP,"' she told E! News.

She added: 'That could be hilarious. I can identify with that more!', but was told: 'No, no. Phoebe!'
Sarah Ferguson has revealed that hardly anyone asks her if she is OK in the wake of her ex-husband Prince Andrew's scandals.

The Duchess of York appeared on Australia's Kyle and Jackie O Show on Friday to promote her new novel.

During the interview, host Kyle Sandilands asked her how she was doing in the wake of the 'Prince Andrew drama and media storm'. The Duchess still lives with Andrew despite being divorced.

'Friendship and loyalty is solidarity and we all have that, but you are the first person ever who has asked me on air how I am,' the Duchess said.

Her answer was strikingly similar to an answer Meghan Markle once gave to ITV journalist Tom Bradby, in which she emotionally revealed that 'not many people have asked if I am OK' and spoke of the challenges of motherhood.

The Duchess of York said she was 'very strong and feels OK, but maybe my body needs to keep up with my mind'.

Sarah 'Fergie' Ferguson (pictured) was asked about the scandals surrounding Prince Andrew while on KIIS FM's Kyle & Jackie O Show on Friday

Meghan Markle emotionally revealed that 'not many people have asked if I am OK' and spoke of the challenges of motherhood in an interview in 2019

She also dodged a question from Sandilands about a report suggesting she and Andrew were 'scared' to leave their home, the Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate, in case they were kicked out in favour of the Prince and Princess of Wales and their family.

Andrew, who no longer has official duties after being forced to quit over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, shares the 30-room, 30million mansion with his ex-wife.

King Charles believes the property could be better re-purposed but Andrew, who took over the house from the late Queen Mother on a long-term lease and has ploughed up to 7million of his own fortune into renovations, is refusing to budge.

The Duchess of York also spoke about cyber bullying, bringing up television presenter Phillip Schofield, who has been at the centre of controversy after having an affair with his younger male colleague on This Morning.

'Going back to the bullying and cyber bullying it's so hard,' she said.

'And Phillip Schofield summed it up when he said, "There is a human being at the end of this" and I think it is hard, it's hard when you can't say much and just get on with it.

The Duke of York is refusing to leave his home during building works for fear he 'might never get back in'

Kyle Sandilands (pictured) asked her how she is doing after her ex-husband Prince Andrew, was stripped of his titles, military affiliations and royal patronages last year

Fergie appeared to side with UK television presenter Philip Schofield (pictured) who has been at the centre of controversy after having an affair with his younger male colleague on This Morning

'And the best way to answer anything detracting is to be successful, [I am] 63 and a new author.

'So I think "Okay, now shoot me down again?"'

Fergie spoke fondly of her late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, and how she was more of a mother to her than her biological one.

'I was lucky enough to have the best friend and mother-in-law with the Queen, she was more my mother than my own mother,' she said.

Fergie spoke fondly of her late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth, and how she was more of a mother to her than her biological one

'And the end, she said 'The last thing I have to say to you Sarah is to be yourself and continue to be kind, kindness is what we all need.''

After Queen Elizabeth's death last year, Fergie took in her last two beloved corgi dogs.

'The [dogs] are very good, Muick and Sandy, they think I'm walking gravy bone so they love me, they are special dogs, I never knew how good corgis are,' she said.

'I recently went to see all the other corgis in the corgi grave in Frogmore.'
Theresa Caputo stunned in a glamorous thigh-high split dress as she celebrated her son Larry's fairytale wedding in Lake Como in Italy on Thursday.

The Long Island Medium star, 56, took to Instagram to share an adorable photo with the newlyweds as they posed against the idyllic background.

Her classic platinum blonde locks were styled in a curly half-up half-down hair do and tucked her front tresses behind her ears.

The TV personality was all smiles as she stood next to her daughter-in-law Leah who sported a gorgeous bridal dress with ruffled puffed sleeves.

The star, who has 1.6M followers on her Instagram, opted for a sparkly pair of court heels featuring a sequined bow.

Happily married: Theresa Caputo stunned in a glamorous thigh-high split dress as she celebrated her son Larry' fairytale wedding to wife Leah in Lake Como in Italy on Thursday

Guests: The Long Island Medium star, 56, took to Instagram to share snaps from her son Larry's wedding and posed with friends and family in a series of photos

Her son looked dapper in a cream suit over a crisp white shirt as he was all smiles on his fairytale day.

Theresa let the dress do the talking as she wowed in her silver and black ensemble which featured a bandeau neckline.

She opted for a full face of make-up with blushed cheeks and finished with a pink glossy lip.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with MailOnline, she admitted she 'struggled' coming to terms with her unique gift, which she first discovered when she was four-years-old.

Mediumship is the practice of purportedly mediating communication between familiar spirits or spirits of the dead and living human beings, which she has been practicing for the past two decades.

She explained: 'I'm the first one to say what I do is absolutely crazy, how can someone communicate with someone who has died.

'I didn't realise I was different, I've been seeing and sensing spirits since I was four so for me it was normal to see someone standing at the foot of my bed at night or talking to me and there was no one else in the room.

'It wasn't until later in my twenties when I realised not only was I able to connect with my departed loved ones but everyone else's because I believe that.'

Touring: Theresa will be coming over to the UK for the first time with Theresa Caputo Live: The Experience on June 23 and 24 at the O2

Speaking about coming to terms with being different, Theresa said: 'I realised I had this ability and then I struggled for over five years.

'But then I realised no matter who dies and what age, here in the physical world we are left with burden and guilt. At the end of the day all of those emotions don't give us the ability to heal, I want to help people heal and give them the ability to move on.'

Theresa will be coming over to the UK for the first time with Theresa Caputo Live: The Experience on June 23 and 24 at the O2.

For more than a decade, the experience has been attracting millions of people across North America.
Laura Sharrad has shared heartbreaking news with her fans.

The former MasterChef Australia star posted a photo of herself alongside her husband, Max Sharrad, and their dog, Alfie, to Instagram, alongside a long caption.

The 26-year-old wrote: 'A lot of you have noticed that I've been very quiet on here lately, and to be honest I've been avoiding all my platforms.

'I share every part of my life with you all, so this feels right to share our heartache... I wanted nothing more to share with you that our little family was growing.

'I don't think anything can ever prepare you for losing a little one, and although our baby was still so tiny, it doesn't make it any less hard'.

Laura Sharrad has shared heartbreaking news with her fans. The former MasterChef Australia star posted a photo of herself alongside her husband, Max Sharrad, and their dog, Alfie, to Instagram, alongside a long caption. Pictured with her husband

She went on: 'Not a lot of people talk about miscarriage, and I now truly understand how hard it can be, but for me, it's helped me heal physically and mentally.

'We are feeling very positive about the future and I'm so grateful to have Max by my side.

'We've taken time to process it all, and we cannot wait to be parents one day soon, and of course Alfie is very excited to one day be a big brother'.

Laura and Max married in 2018, three years after meeting as colleagues at the Orana restaurant in Adelaide, which was owned by Jock Zonfrillo.

'I share every part of my life with you all, so this feels right to share our heartache... I wanted nothing more to share with you that our little family was growing' she shared

Laura and Max married in 2018, three years after meeting as colleagues at the Orana restaurant in Adelaide, which was owned by Jock Zonfrillo

She runs Nido Bar and Pasta restaurant in Adelaide, South Australia, with her husband, fellow chef Max.

Laura narrowly missed out on winning MasterChef: Back to Win in 2020, placing second to champion Emelia Jackson.

She was undone by her overly icy gelato dessert, which she'd accidentally left in an open freezer.

There was good news for Laura, however, as she was awarded $30,000 to help grow her business.
Johnny Depp rocked out with his band Hollywood Vampire at the Hellfest Festival in Clisson, France on Thursday as he was seen for the first time since ex-wife Amber Heard finally paid him the $1million she owed following their bitter legal battle.

The actor, 60, oozed confidence on stage as he joined rock legends and bandmates Alice Cooper, 75, Tommy Henriksen, 59, and Joe Perry, 72, of Aerosmith fame.

Johnny, who strummed a selection of pricey guitars, wore a plaid blazer for the perfomance and layered it over a black shirt, rolling up his sleeves to showcase his tattooed arms.

He completed the ensemble with a multi-coloured knitted hat and shielded his eyes behind stylish dark shades.

Johnny styled his long dark tresses loose and accessorised with a string silver necklaces as well as leather bracelets.

Rocker: Johnny Depp, 60, rocked out with his band Hollywood Vampire at the Hellfest Festival in Clisson France on Thursday

On stage: The actor (left) oozed confidence on stage as he joined rock legends and bandmates Alice Cooper, 75 (right) and Joe Perry, 72, of Aerosmith fame

Meanwhile Alice strutted his stuff in his iconic stage look with a pair of black leather trousers, shirt and leather gloves.

He also wore a selection of belts around his waist with his hair styled wildly and make-up including lashings of eye-liner.

Johnny, Alice and Joe formed the Hollywood Vampires in 2012, initially performing cover songs to honour rock stars who died in the 1970s.

It comes after thousands of fans sang to Johnny Depp in Romania as the Hollywood star celebrated his 60th birthday last week.

The Pirates Of The Caribbean star thanked fans for the 'beautiful gesture', adding that it was 'the largest happy birthday song I've ever heard'.

It came as his band The Hollywood Vampires kicked off their European tour in Bucharest, Romania, on Thursday.

A video posted to the band's Instagram page showed the actor with a hand over his heart, thanking fans and blowing them kisses.

Johnny's 60th birthday comes just over a year following his victory in his high-profile defamation case with his former wife Amber Heard.

Performance: Johnny, who strummed a selection of pricey guitars, wore a plaid blazer for the perfomance and layered it over a black shirt, rolling up his sleeves to showcase his tattooed arms

Rock star: He completed the ensemble with a multi-coloured knitted hat and shielded his eyes behind stylish dark shades

Prince of darkness: Meanwhile Alice (left) strutted his stuff in his iconic stage look with a pair of black leather trousers, velvet blazer and leather gloves

Iconic: He also wore a selection of belts around his waist with his hair styled wildly and make-up including lashings of eye-liner

Perfect: Johnny styled his long dark tresses loose and accessorised with a string silver necklaces as well as leather bracelets

Strut: He strutted his stuff across the stage as the audience went wild

He had sued the Aquaman star for 50 million dollars, claiming her 2018 article in the Washington Post was defamatory.

Over the past 12 months the actor has made a slow but steady return to the spotlight, touring with musician Jeff Beck and making a surprise appearance at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards.

Speaking at a press conference at the festival he said he had 'no further need' for Hollywood, and described the fallout from the trial as a 'weird joke'.

The Hollywood Vampires are touring Europe including several dates in the UK in July.

Skills: Johnny (left) formed the band alongside Alice Cooper in 2012 (right) Joe Perry (centre) and Tommy Henriksen (pictured in 2019)

Depp and his ex-wife eventually settled their defamation claims against each other in December after five years of furious legal battles.

The actress alleged she was a victim of domestic violence during her 15-month marriage to Depp.

While a courtroom in London found in Heard's favor, a a second case in Fairfax, Virginia, last year came out on Depp's side.

After Heard was ordered to pay $10million in compensatory damages and $5million (later reduced to $365,000) in punitive damages, and Depp told to hand $2million in defamation damages, the former couple's legal teams eventually came to an agreement.

Dramatic: Depp and his ex-wife eventually settled their defamation claims against each other in December after five years of furious legal battles with the actress ordered to pay him $1million

Ex: The actress alleged she was a victim of domestic violence during her 15-month marriage to Depp (pictured together in 2016)

Now, six months on from one of the most bitter Hollywood divorces in modern times, TMZ reports that Depp has finally received his $1million from Heard's insurance company.

The outlet reports that the money will be divided evenly, $200,000 each, across Depp's five favorite non-profits.

The charities range from organizations helping sick children with life-threatening illnesses and providing housing for deprived communities.

The five non-profits Depp will choose to donate the money to are: Make-A-Film Foundation, The Painted Turtle, Red Feather, Tetiaroa Society and the Amazonia Fund Alliance.
Hong Kong: Human trafficking report refuted

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today vehemently refuted the assessment about Hong Kong in the US Department of States Trafficking in Persons Report 2023.

While noting that Hong Kong's rating was adjusted upward to Tier 2 in the report, the Hong Kong SAR Government said it strongly disapproved of and firmly rejected the report's unsubstantiated remarks.

The statement said: Trafficking in persons (TIP) is never a prevalent problem in Hong Kong, and there has never been any sign that Hong Kong is being actively used by syndicates as a destination or transit point for TIP.

The Hong Kong SAR Government noted that it has all along been making proactive and multipronged efforts in the fight against TIP and injected an enormous amount of resources to combat TIP and enhance the protection and well-being of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) in Hong Kong.

A high-level steering committee was established in 2018 which promulgated an action plan to tackle TIP and enhance protection of FDHs. The action plan contained measures including victim identification and protection as well as partnership with different stakeholders. By the end of 2019, the plan's measures were firmly put in place.

Additionally, a special investigation section was established in 2019 in the Immigration Department to step up scrutiny of FDH visa applications to facilitate identification of potential TIP victims and cases of exploited helpers.

In 2022, some 7,600 initial screenings were conducted with a record-high of 32 TIP victims identified. Of them, 31 were Hong Kong residents trafficked out of Hong Kong in relation to employment fraud in Southeast Asian countries.

The swift identification of the 31 victims speaks for the effectiveness of the Hong Kong SAR Government's TIP victim screening mechanism, the statement added.

On the claim about the lack of composite trafficking legislation in the city, the Hong Kong SAR Government pointed out that the current legislative framework comprising over 50 legal provisions against various TIP conducts provides a comprehensive package of safeguards comparable to composite TIP laws found in other jurisdictions and has served the city well.

Every jurisdiction should have its latitude to determine the best legal framework to tackle the issue and there is simply no one-size-fits-all solution. There is no indication to suggest the effectiveness of Hong Kong's anti-TIP efforts is undermined without composite trafficking legislation.

Ignoring the Hong Kong SAR Government's efforts and achievements solely because it adopts a multi-legislation approach to tackle TIP seriously calls into question the credibility and objectivity of the report, it added.

As regards the National Security Law, the statement highlighted that it clearly stipulates four categories of offences endangering national security, with the elements of the offences, the penalties, mitigation factors and consequences clearly prescribed.

Any law enforcement actions taken by law enforcement agencies are based on evidence, strictly according to the law and for the acts of the people concerned. Acts and activities endangering national security are distinctly different from normal interactions, and law-abiding people will not unwittingly violate the law.

The US Department of State's remarks about the National Security Law in its report amount to nothing but sheer political smears against Hong Kong, the statement concluded.

As a responsible member of the international community, the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue its firm commitment to contributing to the global efforts for this important cause.

This story has been published on: 2023-06-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Intl students celebrate cultures at Beijing festival

People's Daily Online) 16:43, June 16, 2023

A photo taken on June 15, 2023 shows Chinese and international students at the Global Culture Festival of Beijing Foreign Studies University in Beijing, China. (Peoples Daily Online/Weng Qiyu)

Nearly 200 international students and faculty members at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) presented their home countries unique foods, beverages, handicrafts and special products during a global culture festival held at the university campus on June 15, 2023 in Beijing.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Wu Chengliang)
Sophia Banadinovich, the daughter of Australian actor Eric Bana, looks set to follow in her father's footsteps after signing with an acting agent.

The stunning model has signed up with Emma Raciti Management, the leading independent Australian talent agency representing acting talent from film, TV and theatre.

The 21-year-old has already been working as a model after signing with Melbourne agency The Talent Buro last year.

Speaking to The Herald Sun, the dancer, model and now actress said she was broadening her interests with the support of her family and friends.

'I think that in a lot of ways dancing and modelling compliment each other,' she told the publication.

Sophia Banadinovich (pictured) the daughter of Australian actor Eric Bana, looks set to follow in her father's footsteps after signing with an acting agent

'As dancers we are taught from a young age to have strong awareness of our bodies, our physicality and the way we hold ourselves.

'Modelling was something I had never personally considered, but with the mentoring and support of my friends and family I decided why not give it a go? I am definitely a beginner but I am excited to see where it can go!'

Sophia added that while she was studying dance, she hasn't ruled out pursuing acting and following her father's footsteps as an actor.

'Acting is something that I would love to try when I am able to devote more focus, time and energy,' she said.

Back in December 2020, Sophia revealed that she has enrolled in a dance course at university.

The stunning model has signed up with Emma Raciti Management, the leading independent Australian talent agency representing acting talent from film, TV and theatre

The 21-year-old has already been working as a model after signing with Melbourne agency The Talent Buro last year

'I am about to go into full-time dance at uni,' she told The Daily Telegraph. 'I really have no idea where it's going to go.'

As for whether her famous dad has given her any advice about getting into the business, Sophia admits that she tries not to 'lean on him' too much.

'He doesn't really talk about it too much. I am just trying to figure it out myself, I don't want to lean on him too much. If I had any questions I could ask,' she added.

Eric and his wife Rebecca Gleeson share Sophia and a 25-year-old son Klaus together.

But the pair have kept their children relatively out of the spotlight while growing up, and Sophia is 'glad' they did.

'I am very glad they did that because growing up would have been very different,' she admits.
Leigh-Anne Pinnock finally released her first solo single Don't Say Love on Friday, sending fans into a frenzy with one even branding it 'life changing'.

The catchy tune raced to the top of the iTunes charts following it's debut alongside a very sexy music video.

Former Little Mix star Leigh-Anne, 31, sizzled as she slipped into a white latex gown before donning skimpy ensembles for a string of dance routines.

The impressive video also saw the stunner sport numerous hairstyles including her raven braids styled high on top her head.

Later Leigh-Anne modelled a plunging black feathered frock as well as a nude illusion look as she strutted her stuff with dancers.

Hot stuff: Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 31, finally released her first solo single Don't Say Love on Friday, sending fans into a frenzy

Sexy stuff: The catchy tune raced to the top of the iTunes charts following it's debut alongside a very sexy music video

The video ended with Leigh-Anne jumping into the ocean as text appeared on screen reading 'To be continued'.

Racing to Twitter one fan branded the track: 'The best solo debut from a girl group since Beyonce.... Leigh is coming to slay.

Beyonce Knowles, 41, released her first solo song Crazy In Love to universal praise in 2003, after catapulting to fame in Destiny's Child, she has since gone on to iconic status and sell over 29.5M albums.

Another fan said: 'Leigh Anne's music video is a life changing experience'.

A third commented: 'Don't Say Love is a hit for sure' and a fourth suggested Leigh-Anne was now entering her 'epic era'.

Someone else posted: 'Visuals, come through my girl. What an introduction to who Leigh-Anne is. The video is so beautifully done and every single look is a serve, you absolutely nailed this my girl. My heart feels so full and proud of you right now. Go get 'em'.

And: The looks, the sets, the music, the vocals. LEIGH-ANNE IS NOT MESSING AROUND'.

With one more exited fan saying: 'GUYS!!! Don't Say Lobe has officially reached number 1 on UK iTunes in less than an hour'.

Saucy: The former Little Mix star sizzled as she slipped into a white latex gown

Sexy: She then donned an array of skimpy ensembles as she showed off her figure

Dancing queen: Later Leigh-Anne modelled a plunging black feathered frock, before donning a nude illusion look as she strutted her stuff with dancers

Stunning: The impressive video also saw the stunner sport numerous hairstyles including her raven braids styled high on top her head

In December 2021, Little Mix announced that they were taking an indefinite break from touring together to pursue their own solo careers.

The group - Leigh-Anne, Perrie Edwards and Jade Thirlwall - had continued as a trio after Jesy's departure three years ago, and split after finishing their Confetti tour in May 2022.

The girls - who became a trio in December 2020, when Jesy quit the band - might be doing their own things over the next few years, but they have vowed to carefully align their schedules so there is no chance of them facing each other in the charts.

Perrie told The Sun: 'We've all said we will let each other know when we're going to release so we don't end up clashing in the charts. We're rooting for each other, not competing against each other.'

Glam: She looked gorgeous in the video and sported glamorous make-up

Move: She oozed confidence as she danced a high intensity routine

Can't wait: The video ended with Leigh-Anne jumping into the ocean as text appeared on screen reading 'To be continued'

Jade - who has inked a deal with Sony's RCA Records and has joined Harry Styles' management - added: 'It's just not going to happen. There will be a conscious effort from all of us to make sure of that.'

Leigh-Anne said: 'We are so close and that's the thing. We're all going to be in communication about this the whole time.'

It comes after Leigh-Anne showed off her sparkling wedding ring for the first time this week after tying the knot with Andre Gray in Jamaica.

Idol: Leigh-Anne was even compared by some to Beyonce who sent solo after leaving Destiny's Child (Beyonce pictured in her London concert last month)

Loving it: Fans rushed to Twitter to praise the pop star for her new single

She also finally broke her silence on her much publicised feud with former Little Mix bandmate Jesy Nelson.

The bad blood started in 2021 after leaked Instagram messages allegedly from Leigh-Anne accused Jesy who had left the pop group the previous year, of 'blackfishing' and appropriating black culture after darkening her skin and changing her hair for solo video Boyz.

Jesy's collaborator Nicky Minaj, 40, later accused Leigh-Anne of only speaking out now that her former pal was no longer helping the band make money. The rapper also accused her of trying to ruin Jesy's new solo career before branding the rest of Little Mix 'jealous miserable clowns'.

Bad blood: It comes after Leigh-Anne finally broke her silence on her much publicised feud with former Little Mix bandmate Jesy Nelson. (L-R) Little Mix, Jade Thirlwall, Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jesy Nelson in 2016

Now Leigh-Anne has spoken out about the drama, which occurred just weeks after she welcomed twins with now husband Andre.

Telling British Vogue: 'I found myself in this massive drama on Twitter, maybe a month after giving birth, and one of the babies smiled at me for the first time.'

Going on to say: 'I was just like, "Well, this puts everything into perspective, doesn't it?".

'All I had to do was put the phone down and it went away, because it's not real.'
Hans Zimmer has proposed to his partner, popping the question on stage at London 02 Arena in front of his fans.

During the Hans Zimmer Live Show, the 65-year-old surprised his recent girlfriend who was sitting in the audience and brought her on stage.

Causing an eruption of applause from fans, he said: 'This is the woman I love, apparently she loves me.'

Hans joked that he had forgotten why he had asked her up, saying 'I was going to ask you something really important. Did you lock the back door?'

He then asked her to marry him and hugged his partner in front of a standing ovation.

The composer has been married twice before to Suzanne Zimmer and Vicki Carolin, and is now set to marry a third time to his girlfriend who keeps herself out of the limelight.

But who are his ex-wives? Here is everything you need to know about Hans Zimmer's ex-wives.

The composer is a twice Academy Award Winner, best known for his work on The Lion King, he has been married twice and has just asked his current partner to marry him

Who is Suzanne Zimmer?

Suzanne Zimmer is best known for being the wife of the famous composer, she has attended many events with Hans during their time together.

Hans filed to divorce his second wife in April 2020 at the Los Angeles County Courthouse according to an article by The Blast.

Suzanne and Hans have four children together: Jake, Max, Anabelle and Brigitte.

The 56-year-old is the founder of Happy the Golden Jam, a company which creates jams from fruit grown on her property or from local farms.

According to Mansion Global, in 2022, the entrepreneur listed her Malibu beach home for $56million, according to listing agent Paul Lester she bought the house in 1995 for around $2.8million with her ex-husband Hans.

Mr. Lester said that Suzanne was the sole seller of the home and both Hans and Suzanne declined to comment.

Suzanne doesn't have much of an online presence, but photos of her are shared often by her family on Instagram and Facebook.

Hans Zimmer filed to divorce Suzanne Zimmer in 2020, the two have four children together

Suzanne was often pictured at events with Hans Zimmer and attended an Oscars luncheon with him in 2018

Who is Vicki Carolin?

Vicki Carolin is the first wife of Hans Zimmer, the two married in March 1982 and were together for a decade before their divorce in April, 1992.

In the 1980's, Vicki enjoyed a brief career as a model; she was featured in many magazines and worked for two London-based modelling agencies Models1 Elite and Laraine Ashton.

Not a huge amount is known about Vicki Carolin now and she has kept herself away from the watchful public eye.

During their ten year marriage, the couple had one daughter and welcomed Zoe Zimmer on November 2, 1987 in London.

Following in her mother's footsteps, Zoe is a model who bears a close resemblance to a young Vicki.

Since her divorce from the composer, Vicki has lived her life away from the public eye and is not active on social media.

Not much is known about why the pair split as neither Hans or Vicki disclosed any information.

Zoe Zimmer is the daughter of both Hans Zimmer and Vicki Carolin, she is now a model who looks very similar to her mother during her brief modelling stint

Pictured above: Hans Zimmer and his daughter Zoe Zimmer, the only child of Vicki Carolin and the famous composer

Who are Hans Zimmer's children?

Hans Zimmer has five children in total from two different marriages, all of which are now adults.

His eldest child, Zoe Zimmer is a model just like his first wife Vicki, she has worked internationally since she was fifteen.

The 35-year old is also a photographer and graphic artist, and has a popular following on social media, with 24K Instagram followers.

Like her half-sibling, Annabel Zimmer is also a photographer and artist, she is based in Los Angeles and is an Ambassador for the American fashion brand, Nicole Miller.

Meanwhile, Jake Zimmer followed in his father's footsteps and became a composer, the 25-year-old has collaborated with directors such as Luke Scott and Oliver Nolan.

Not a great deal is known about Hans' other children, Brigitte and Max, as the two have stayed out of the spotlight.
Kyle Sandilands and his new wife Tegan Kynaston have headed off on their idyllic honeymoon.

The couple and their young son, Otto, checked in for their first class flight to France at Sydney Airport on Friday.

The pair looked relaxed and happy as they wheeled their luggage across the terminal, with Tegan pushing along little Otto in a pram.

Kyle kept things casually chic in a checked navy blue jacket with a black T-shirt underneath.

The 52-year-old added a pair of dark trousers and sneakers to his ensemble, as well as a cap.

Kyle Sandilands and his new wife Tegan Kynaston have headed off on their idyllic honeymoon. Both pictured

Tegan, 37, looked cosy in a maroon fleece jumper and added a pair of blue skinny jeans.

She added a pair of designer black and white sneakers and carried a Christian Dior purse.

The new mother helped her toddler walk along, laughing and cuddling the tot as the pair waited to check in.

Kyle and Tegan will enjoy a honeymoon to Saint Tropez in the South of France surrounded by friends.

The couple and their young son, Otto, checked in for their first class flight to France at Sydney Airport on Friday

The pair looked relaxed and happy as they wheeled their luggage across the terminal, with Tegan pushing along little Otto in a pram

Kyle kept things casually chic in a checked navy blue jacket with a black T-shirt underneath

The couple, who married last month, will bring a posse of pals and stay at a chateau costing around $8200 a night, Daily Mail Australia revealed.

As well as Kyle's KIIS FM co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson and her daughter Kitty, Kyle will be bringing along his manager Bruno Bouchet, and Bruno's partner Laura.

Also coming for the jaunt is newsreader Brooklyn Ross and Kyle and Jackie O Show producer Jaimee Blazquez, as well as their partners.

During the two week stay, Kyle is expected to continue recording his radio show as well as having days off.

The 52-year-old added a pair of dark trousers and sneakers to his ensemble, as well as a cap

Tegan, 37, looked cosy in a maroon fleece jumper and added a pair of blue skinny jeans

She added a pair of designer black and white sneakers and carried a Christian Dior purse

The new mother helped her toddler walk along, laughing and cuddling the tot as the pair waited to check in

It comes after Jackie confessed that she has decided to crash the romantic getaway.

The radio star appeared to get jealous on her radio show with Kyle that she won't be escaping to Europe soon, so she invited herself along for their post-wedding celebration.

'I'm coming on his honeymoon. Why not? I have never been to the south of France before,' Jackie O said on air.

Kyle then said that Jackie will be a 'third wheel' on their romantic honeymoon to France.

Kyle and Tegan will enjoy a honeymoon to the South of France surrounded by friends

The couple, who married last month, will bring a posse of pals and stay at a chateau costing around $8200 a night, Daily Mail Australia revealed

As well as Kyle's KIIS FM co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson and her daughter Kitty, Kyle will be bringing along his manager Bruno Bouchet, and Bruno's partner Laura

The shock jock tied the knot with his wife Tegan in a $1million ceremony at the heritage-listed Swifts mansion in Sydney's Darling Point.

Aussie celebrities in attendance at the wedding included NSW Premier Chris Minns, Today host Karl Stefanovic, and 'King of the Cross' John Ibrahim, among others.

Kyle moved his wedding guests to tears as he shared a sweet tribute to his new wife.

The radio star gave a touching speech in front of 130 guests at Swifts - a late-Victorian Gothic Revival property with a $60million price tag - during the reception.

Also coming for the jaunt is newsreader Brooklyn Ross and Kyle and Jackie O Show producer Jaimee Blazquez, as well as their partners

During the two week stay, Kyle is expected to continue recording his radio show as well as having days off

It comes after Jackie confessed that she has decided to crash the romantic getaway

The radio star appeared to get jealous on her radio show with Kyle that she won't be escaping to Europe soon, so she invited herself along for their post-wedding celebration

As the guests sat down to a three-course dinner at the reception that followed, Kyle took the microphone to tell his bride: 'Baby  we've done it.'

'I always thought that the love I was looking for and that I wanted was a delusion and wasn't achievable,' Sandilands said in his speech.

'You've changed my life and made me a better man. I love you, baby.'

Kyle added that watching Tegan become a mother to their son Otto 'made him fall in love with her all over again'.
Elle Fanning and Kaia Gerber supported friend Bel Powley for her screening party of A Small Light at San Vincente Bungalows in West Hollywood on Thursday.

Actresses Elle, 25, and Kaia, 21, oozed sophistication as they posed for a picture next to the glamorous Bel, 31, who opted for sparkles for the evening.

The National Geographic series on Disney+ tells the real-life story about a couple who had a pivotal role in helping Anne Frank hide from the Nazis, starring Bel Powley and Joe Cole.

Kaia stunned in a crochet top and covered her shoulders with an oversized coat.

The American model, who recently turned her hand to acting, wore her glossy brunette locks down with a slight natural wave.

Trio: Elle Fanning and Kaia Gerber supported friend Bel Powley for her screening party for the A Small Light at San Vincente Bungalows in West Hollywood on Thursday

Beaming: Actresses Elle (right), 25, and Kaia (left), 21, oozed sophistication as they posed for a picture next to the glamorous Bel Powley, 31

The actress flashed her pearly white teeth as she beamed for a photo, showing off her flawless make-up.

She opted for a dewy make-up finish with blushed cheeks and added a pop of pink to her lips.

Elle donned low-waisted boyfriend jeans and a black sleeveless waistcoat showing a peep of her .

Her rosy make-up radiated her natural features which she paired with a light pink lipstick.

The actress looked elegant with blonde tresses tied behind her face in a slick back bun.

The star of the show, Bel, wowed in a glitzy top with a one-shoulder neckline which featured a dramatic black strap on her right shoulder.

Bel showcased her slender physique in her chic ensemble that she paired with black tailored trousers.

Her make-up looked picture-perfect as she opted for a bronzed look, with a strike of blush on her cheeks and added colour with a red lip.

The star of the show: Bel (middle) wowed in a animated glitzy top with a one-shoulder neckline which featured a dramatic black strap on her right shoulder

In the show, Dutch couple Miep and Jan Gies, whose story has been told, helped the young German diarist and her Jewish family hide during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam.

While Anne Frank's tragic story is world famous, epitomising the terror of Hitler's genocidal regime, less is known about the experience of the heroic Gies while they risked their own lives by hiding the Franks.

The eight-episode series titled A Small Light, tells Anne Frank's story from 'the other side of the bookcase'.

Anne had to go into hiding with her parents and sister when the Nazi anti-Jewish measures in the Netherlands made it too dangerous to stay in their own home.

And, thanks to the help of Miep Gies - known as the woman who saved Anne Frank's world famous diary - the Frank family went into hiding in the annex of a building at Prinsengracht 263, Amsterdam.

Inspiring: Dutch couple Miep and Jan Gies, whose story has been told, helped the young German diarist and her Jewish family hide during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam
Supermodel sisters Simone and Madeline Holtznagel showed off their stunning figures at a glamorous lunch in Sydney.

The models were spotted strutting outside Coogee's boujee Mimi restaurant on Friday before they hosted a lunch in collaboration with luxury jewellery brand House of K'Dor.

Madeline, 26, looked chic in a black mini dress with a plunging neckline and sheer long sleeves.

The girlfriend of billionaire businessman Justin Hemmes, 50, paired her look with black cat-eye sunglasses with gold detailing and a $3,300 black leather YSL handbag.

She flaunted her long legs as she stood outside the Coogee Pavillion wearing six-inch black heels.

Madeline Holtznagel (pictured) showed off her stunning figures at a glamorous lunch in Sydney

For accessories, Madeline wore three chains from House of K'Dor, including its popular $690 initial necklace.

The model kept her long blonde locks down in a loose wave and wore a dewy makeup look with nude lips.

Simone, 29, flaunted her model-esque figure in a skin-tight white mini-dress with a low neckline.

She flaunted her long legs as she stood outside the Coogee Pavillion wearing six inch black heels

Simone (pictured) flaunted her model-esque figure in a skin-tight white mini-dress with a low neckline

She kept her look monochrome with a small white handbag and see-through heels with silver detailing.

Adding an extra level of glamour to her look, the former Australia's Next Top Model star placed her blonde locks in an elegant up-do.

She opted for a glamorous makeup look with a smoky eye and nude lips.

Simone was spotted walking into the luncheon with her boyfriend Jono Castano's ex and business partner, Amy Castano (both pictured)

The dress code for the event appeared to be black or white monochrome outfits, as all guests strutting into the pavillion were seen in either colour.

Guests were spotted outside Coogee's boujee Mimi restaurant on Friday for a lunch with luxury jewellery brand House of K'Dor.

Simone was spotted walking into the luncheon with her boyfriend Jono Castano's ex and business partner, Amy Castano.

The gym owner also went for an all-white ensemble, as she donned a strapless fitted top with a matching flowy, full-length skirt.

The dress code for the event appeared to be black or white monochrome outfits, as all guests strutting into the pavillion were seen in either colour.

Other guests at the Coogee event included artist Dina Broadhurst, who also stunned in a black mini-dress, black tights and black heels.
Elton John is set to headline his first Glastonbury show and last ever UK gig- the performer promises to go out with a bang.

A Glastonbury co-organiser said the performance will be 'the mother of all send-offs' and marks a huge moment in both their histories.

In his Glastonbury announcement, John said 'As the end of my Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour comes into view, there is no more fitting way to say goodbye to my British fans.'

Here is everything you need to know about Elton John's farewell performance.

Elton John performing in Las Vegas, Nevada, gesturing to the crowds while he sings Tiny Dancer

When will Elton John perform at Glastonbury?

On Sunday 25 June, Elton John will headline at the festival and perform on one of the most famous festival stages in the world.

The 76-year-old is currently playing the final leg of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, which wraps up in the UK on June 18.

He said that the Glastonbury show will have a different setlist to the rest of the tour and told BBC Radio 2's Scott Mills: 'I've got guests I can't tell you who they are. But it's going to be wonderful - I'm really looking forward to it.'

Possible guests could include Dua Lipa and Rina Sawayama, who worked on an album with John in 2021.

Elton John performing during a concert at the Paulau Sant Jordi arena in Barcelona in May 2023, on the final leg of his farewell tour

While John promises an ultimate performance with a varying setlist, his recent tour could give fans an idea of what to expect. He has recently performed:

Bennie and the Jets

Philadelphia Freedom

I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues

Border Song

Tiny Dancer

Have Mercy on the Criminal

Rocket Man (I Think It's Going to Be a Long, Long Time)

Take Me to the Pilot

Someone Saved My Life Tonight

Levon

Candle in the Wind

Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding

Burn Down the Mission

Sad Songs (Say So Much)

Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word

Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me

The Bitch Is Back

I'm Still Standing

Crocodile Rock

Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting

His Encore songs include, Cold Heart, Your Song and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

Elton John and Dua Lipa (pictured above), John said he 'adores' Dua Lipa and collaborated with her for the hit song Cold Heart

Elton John could bring on stage a variety of guests for his farewell performance, Rina Sawayama (pictured above) is just one of the many talented performance who worked with John

What time will Elton John be performing?

John's set will stretch over two hours, from 9pm until 11:05pm, an hour after Lil Nas X finishes his set.

Other artists set to feature on Glastonbury's main stage over the weekend include Aitch, Lizzo, Rick Astley, Lil Nas X, Blondie and Lewis Capaldi.

Glastonbury's other headliners are Arctic Monkeys on Friday and Guns and Roses on Saturday.

The other stage will be headlined by Wizkid, Lana Del Rey and Queens of the Stone Age over Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What stage will Elton John perform on?

Bowie's debut Worthy Farm performance was at the 1971 Glastonbury Fayre, he returned to the pyramid stage in 2000

Diana Ross took to the iconic stage and gave an elaborate performance in 2022

The Pyramid Stage was started by Michael Eavis in 1971 with a few hundred people attending, it now attracts over 175,000 people

Elton John will perform on the Pyramid Stage on Worthy Farm, the stage was first set up in 1971 and has held some impressive acts.

Glastonbury Festival described the stage as 'the most instantly recognised festival stage in the world'.

The iconic stage has had quite the line-up featuring: The Rolling Stones, Radiohead, Oasis, Arctic Monkeys, Shirley Bassey and many more.

David Bowie delivered one of the most memorable Glastonbury performances on the stage in 2000.

In an interview with BBC London, John admitted that he was 'a little intimidated' by the prospect of performing on the stage.

He said: 'I'm a little, not frightened, but I'm a little intimidated by it because I haven't played there, I haven't been there before.'
Hans Zimmer proposed to girlfriend Dina De Luca in spectacular fashion on Thursday night.

The composer, 65, asked his hotelier girlfriend for her hand in marriage after bringing her out on stage towards the end of his show at London's O2 Arena, Hans Zimmer Live.

Hans, who has been married twice before, has been dating the glamorous entrepreneur and divorced mother-of-three for many years.

Following his penultimate song, the loved-up musical genius told the 20,000 strong audience: 'There's one more thing. So this is the woman I love, apparently she loves me.'

Turning to Dina, Hans said: 'Why did I bring you up here? I was going to ask you something really important. Did you lock the back door? Is the milk in the fridge? Do we have any sorbet in the freezer?... Will you marry me?'

The proposal: Hans Zimmer proposed to Dina De Luca towards the end of his show at London's O2 Arena, Hans Zimmer Live on Thursday night

Engaged! The composer, 65, asked his girlfriend for her hand in marriage (pictured in 2018)

Dina gleefully nodded as she said 'yes' and while the couple embraced, the crowd rose to their feet and erupted into applause.

Hans added: 'Things are working out well, the backdoor is locked. Everything is good. I've got this one little number left. It's intimate in its insignificance but maybe not so insignificant and maybe I quite like it.'

As his new fiancee sat beside him at the piano, he then began to perform his song 'Time', which featured in the 2010 Christopher Nolan thriller Inception.

Hans has been married twice before  to model Vicki Carolin, with whom he has a daughter, Zoe, 35. The couple wed in 1982 and divorced in 1992.

He also shares four children - Brigette, 23, Jake, 25, and twins Annabell and Maxwell, 21 - with his second wife Suzanne. The couple divorced in 2020.

In 1985, Dina married Lebanese real estate mogul Fouad Chartouni at St. Ignatius Loyola Roman Catholic Church in Manhattan. They share three children: Isabella, Edwards and a third whose name is unknown.

She previously revealed of meeting her first husband: 'I was working in films and production when I met my husband, Fouad Chartouni whilst he was completing his PhD at Columbia University.'

Dina attended the American Academy in Paris and graduated from the Spence School and Barnard College.

Congratulations: Dina gleefully nodded as she said 'yes' and while the couple embraced, the crowd rose to their feet and erupted into applause

Second wife: Hans also shares four children - Brigette, 23, Jake, 25, and twins Annabell and Maxwell, 21 - with his second wife Suzanne. The couple divorced in 2020 (Pictured in 2011)

First husband: In 1985, Dina married Lebanese real estate mogul Fouad Chartouni. They share three children (Pictured in 2009)

She was presented in 1978 at the New York Junior League's Thanksgiving Ball and at the Debutante Cotillion and Christmas Ball.

New York socialite Dina is now a hotelier, a TV and film producer and the name behind bath and beauty products range DDC28.

Frankfurt native Hans won the Academy Award for Best Original Score in 1995 for The Lion King.

His credits also include: the Pirates Of The Caribbean series, Interstellar, Gladiator, Inception, Dunkirk and The Dark Knight trilogy.

Hans also has won numerous Grammy Awards, Golden Globes and Classical BRIT Awards.

The legendary composer received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame back in December 2010.

He dedicated the award to his long-time friend and publicist Ronni Chasen who was shot and killed in November 2010 at age 64 in Beverly Hills, California.
She played the role of beloved Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter franchise.

But Miriam Margolyes has candidly revealed her part as the herbology teacher 'wasn't important' to her, much to the delight of fans.

The actress, 82, was praised for her 'unfiltered' honesty after she made the admission in an interview with British Vogue.

Miriam played the character in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets released in 2002 and 2011s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows  Part 2.

Telling the glossy magazine: 'For me, Harry Potter wasn't important. I was very glad I got the part and I enjoyed being in it and meeting all the people, but it's not Charles Dickens.'

Candid: But Miriam Margolyes, 82, has candidly revealed her part in the Harry potter franchise 'wasn't important' to her, much to the delight of fans

Praise: The actress was praised for her 'unfiltered' honesty after she made the admission in a new interview

The theatre star, who has toured in her own woman show based on works of Victorian author Dickens, did however reveal the positive impact impact the role has had on her life.

Saying: 'People come up to me and say 'I just love you', and want to hug me. And that is dazzling.'

Following the admission, fans took to Twitter with one writing: 'Miriam being so effortlessly unfiltered is truly wonderful'.

While another said: 'She is so real for this' and a third echoed the statement: 'She's so real for that'.

Someone else jumped to the star's defence after receiving a backlash from Harry Potter fans stating: 'She was hardly given anything to do with her tole. What were they expecting?'.

Last year Miriam revealed last year she only received 60,000 for her part in the highest-grossing film franchises in history.

She admitted that at the time she hadn't been impressed by the paycheck, but that she has benefitted from the role since.

Speaking to Metro, Miriam said: 'I never made Harry Potter millions. I think the three or four main people did and they deserve it but my character didnt.

Actor: Miriam played the character in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets released in 2002 and 2011s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows  Part 2 (pictured on set)

Loving it: Following the admission, fans took to Twitter with one writing: 'Miriam being so effortlessly unfiltered is truly wonderful'

'I was only in two and I only got 60,000 for being Professor Sprout but Im not grumbling... now.

'I grumbled then but it made me very famous.'

It comes after Susanna Reid cheekily posed with two croissants as she appeared on Wednesday's Good Morning Britain.

The presenter, 52, was poking fun at Miriam's decision to pose nude for British Vogue in a racy snap that was released on Tuesday.

Fun: It comes after Susanna Reid cheekily posed with two croissants as she appeared on Wednesday's Good Morning Britain

Wild: The presenter, 52, was poking fun at Miriam Margolyes' decision to pose nude for British Vogue in a racy snap that was released on Tuesday

In the image left little to the imagination with just iced buns preserving her modesty for the July issue.

Discussing the shoot on GMB Susanna held the two croissants over her chest and said: 'I've got a new top this morning...'

The July issue of British Vogue is available via digital download and on newsstands from Tuesday 20 June

Her co-host Richard Madeley started laughing as she joked: 'I'm not sure I can strategically place these in the same way [as Miriam]. Miriam has done something similar, hasn't she?'

Their co host Richard Arnold then joked: 'It's very Calendar Girls isn't it!? You can pull it off!'

Susanna then quipped: 'I can pull it off! Who would have thought it!'

Susanna later described the look as her 'croissant bikini' as they continued to talk about Miriam's cover shoot.

Richard and Susanna praised Miriam for always being herself as they gushed over the star.

Miriam stunned as one of British Vogue's most unlikely cover stars, posing for the eye-popping naked shoot for the magazine's annual Pride issue.

The star posed in the jaw-dropping snap, with just a selection of iced buns to preserve her modesty.

The July issue of British Vogue is available via digital download and on newsstands from Tuesday 20 June.
There's a new reality dating show on the block for Australians looking for love, or fame.

Channel Seven has announced it will be airing a new series, and it comes from the creators of the very successful Married At First Sight.

Stranded on Honeymoon Island is a new social experiment, and the network is currently looking for contestants.

It sounds very similar to MAFS, as the show will see singletons be coupled up by 'experts' and then put in wedding attire.

However, the intense part is that they will then be stranded on a deserted island in nothing but their wedding gowns and suits.

Channel Seven has announced it will be airing a new series, and it comes from the creators of the very successful Married At First Sight

With new couples facing the forces of nature, the test will be if love can blossom in the most dire of situations.

The show has already seen success in Belgium, and now it's coming to Australia and Channel Seven is looking for singletons ready to take on the challenge.

Applications for the show have already opened, with the casting call reading: 'How would you like to be stranded on a tropical desert island with your perfect match?

Stranded on Honeymoon Island is a new social experiment, and the network is currently looking for contestants (Pictured: Danish version of Stranded on Honeymoon Island)

'This is your chance to find true love through the most incredible experience of a lifetime.'

It will premiere on Channel Seven and 7plus in 2024, after it is produced by Endemol Shine Australia.

Speaking about the reality show, Seven's Chief Content Office Angus Ross said: 'There is good reason broadcasters around the world have fallen in love with Stranded on Honeymoon Island and Seven is thrilled to bring this hot new series to Australian audiences.

Speaking about the reality show, Seven's Chief Content Office Angus Ross said: 'There is good reason broadcasters around the world have fallen in love with Stranded on Honeymoon Island'

The show has already seen success in Belgium, and now it's coming to Australia and Channel 7 is looking for singletons ready to take on the challenge

'Snowman Productions and Endemol Shine Australia's track record of success speaks for itself, and now they're taking the reality dating genre to a whole new addictive level, blending fledgling love with the adventure of a lifetime.

'We have no doubt viewers will lap up every minute of this bold and exciting new format.'

CEO of Endemol Shine Australia, Peter Newman, said the idea is 'bold' and 'fresh'.

He added: 'The inspired fusion of the most powerful elements of the survival and relationship genres has created a raw, honest and utterly absorbing take on the search for love that Australian audiences will find completely irresistible!'
An emotional Louisa Harland was comforted by her boyfriend Calvin Demba in the street after watching the West End performance of Cabaret At The Kit Kat Club.

The actress, who starred in Derry Girls as Orla McCool, cut a sombre figure as she sat outside on a bench after leaving the show at the Playhouse Theatre.

At one point, a teary Louisa wiped her nose before Calvin drew her in for a warm hug as they said goodbye.

Louisa went make-up free and cut a casual figure in a khaki jacket and light wash jeans.

A number of stars including Kate Hudson, Emma Corrin and Billie Piper attended the launch of Cabaret At The Kit Kat Club.

Downcast: An emotional Louisa Harland was comforted by her boyfriend Calvin Demba in the street after watching the West End performance of Cabaret At The Kit Kat Club

Glum: The actress, who starred in Derry Girls as Orla McCool, cut a sombre figure as she sat outside on a bench after leaving the show

Comedy: Derry Girls was Louisa's big break. Pictured L-R : James (Dylan Llewellyn), Michelle (Jamie-Lee O'Donnell), Erin (Saoirse Jackson), Orla (Louisa Harland), Clare (Nicola Coughlan)

The hit musical features songs Wilkommen, Don't Tell Mama, Mein Herr, Maybe This Time and Money.

MailOnline has contacted Louisa's representatives for comment.

Louisa was born in Dublin but, like several of her Derry Girls co-stars, went on to train in England, at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.

Her teenage debut as an actor came as Aiden Gillen's daughter Kayleigh on RTE drama series Love/Hate in 2011.

Much like her colleagues, Derry Girls was also her big break - and she has been widely praised for her role as Orla and the representation of autism on screen.

However she previously confessed she is unsure about the level of fame and the pressures which come with the success of the show.

She told Dublin Telegraph: 'I'm so afraid of the internet, that's not even something that I was aware of.

'It is so terrifying being a woman and doing comedy because there's this belief that women are not as funny.

Upset? At one point a teary Louisa wiped her nose before her boyfriend Calvin drew her in for a warm hug as they said goodbye

Casually clad: Louisa went make-up free and cut a casual figure in a khaki jacket and light wash jeans

Farewell: Calvin went a separate way as Louisa grabbed a taxi

Career: Louisa was born in Dublin but, like several of her Derry Girls co-stars, went on to train in England, at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London

Upcoming role: Louisa can next be seen playing the title role in Sally Wainwrights highly-anticipated new Disney+ series, The Ballad Of Renegade Nell

'I think the fear of doing comedy as a woman is huge. So definitely if people find what you do funny, that is very gratifying.'

Meanwhile Louisa also spoke about her co-stars Nicola's success, saying: 'It's just so crazy. I said this to her as well: 'It's so bizarre, but also it feels very correct.''

Since the show, she has appeared in vampire comedy The Boys From County Hell, which was released in 2020.

More recently she played Agnes in Dancing In Lughnasa at The National Theatre.

Louisa can next be seen playing the title role in Sally Wainwrights highly-anticipated new Disney+ series, The Ballad Of Renegade Nell.
The Apprentice star Tom Gearing missed out on a 250k cash infusion from Alan Sugar in 2012, after the Lord voiced concerns over his wine investment business.

Yet 11 years on, the mogul has proven the show boss very wrong as it has now been revealed that Tom's company Cult Wines is turning over 90m a year and manages 290m in fine wine assets as well as boasting all-star clients.

On the show, Lord Sugar told Tom: Someone of my position in society cannot afford to be involved in something that goes wrong. Dont get me wrong, Ive made lots and lots of mistakes, but this could be a calamity with my name associated with it.

Fast-forward over a decade and Cult Wines, the company forging the future of the wine industry, has announced the successful completion of a seed fundraising round, which includes world famous Formula One ace Valtteri Bottas as an investor.

A-list wine investment is on the rise, with stars including Jay Z and David Beckham embracing fine wine enjoyment and investment - something Lord Sugar did not note in his concerns during the time on the show.

Regretting it? The Apprentice star Tom Gearing (right on the show) missed out on a 250k cash infusion from Alan Sugar (left) in 2012, after the Lord voiced concerns over his wine investment business

Speaking about the new venture, Tom told MailOnline: 'This investment is indicative of our unwavering commitment to redefining the fine wine market...

'As we continue to innovate and expand our global footprint, we remain dedicated to unlocking the full potential of wine as an asset class by investing into technology, robust data and innovative solutions that address the complexities inherent in wine ownership and trading...

'Each of these investments enhances the market's accessibility, fostering growth both within our business and the industry alike. The future of wine investment is incredibly bright, and we are poised to be at the forefront of this transformation.'

Joining Valtteri in the round is Christophe Navarre, former CEO and Chairman of Moet Hennessy, Chris Jones, former Blackrock CIO of Global Active Equities and Reda Bedjaoui, Founder of luxury fintech Privat 3 Money.

Contrary to Lord Sugar's concerns, Cult Wines has charted an impressive growth trajectory, positioning itself as a compelling investment opportunity.

In 2022, gross sales revenue topped 90m, a 32% y-o-y increase. The company currently manages 290m worth of fine wine assets (a 45% increase year on year).

Cult Wines now features two platforms: Cult Wine Investment, which reshapes consumer wine investment through a managed portfolio service, and CultX, a leading-edge digital trading platform that heightens market price transparency.

Valtteri is a long-standing Cult Wine Investment client and has revealed in the past he has a deep passion for fine wines.

All-star signing: Fast-forward over a decade and Cult Wines, the company forging the future of the wine industry, has announced the successful completion of a seed fundraising round, which includes world famous Formula One ace Valtteri Bottas as an investor

Back then: Tom (centre, back row) was a huge hit on the show but narrowly missed the investment

He said: 'In the cockpit, precision and passion drive every decision, every manoeuvre. This holds true for the world of wine as well. Investing in Cult Wines was a natural extension of my love of wine...

'It's a chance to be part of a company whose values echo my own, a company that recognizes the beauty, the skill and the potential in every bottle, just as I strive to extract every ounce of potential from my car on the track'.

Meanwhile, Christophe Navarre, former CEO and Chairman of Moet Hennessy, said: 'We are thrilled to partner with one of London's most successful entrepreneurs...

'As a disruptive force in an age-old industry dominated by traditional players, I see great potential for Cult Wines as they have already demonstrated a unique ability to leverage their expertise and drive value for investors in an ever-evolving market...

'As alternative investments continue to gain momentum, I believe Cult Wines will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the fine wine market.'
Sami Sheen joining OnlyFans and calling herself a 'sex worker' is 'causing a lot of drama' between her parents Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen, it is claimed.

The 'nepo baby' launched an OnlyFans account last year after turning 18, and though Charlie publicly slammed Sami's decision, Denise defended her.

Now a source has told People that Denise 'knows her daughter is not a sex worker' as she 'doesn't even show any skin on OnlyFans.'

Denise, who has her own OnlyFans account on the site, purportedly 'realizes she did Playboy herself - OnlyFans is just the modern version of that.'

Meanwhile the insider suspects the antics from Denise's daughter 'may be something that Sami is doing to bother her father.'

Uh oh: Sami Sheen (pictured) joining OnlyFans and calling herself a 'sex worker' is 'causing a lot of drama' between her parents Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen, it is claimed

Bombshell: The 'nepo baby' launched an OnlyFans account last year after turning 18, and though Charlie publicly slammed Sami's decision, Denise (pictured) defended her

Success?: A People insider suspects the antics from Denise's daughter 'may be something that Sami is doing to bother her father'; Charlie is pictured in December 2019

Sami, 19, called herself a 'sex worker' on TikTok this Thursday while announcing that she was planning to get breast implants.

'I know youre probably thinking: "How the hell are you a sex worker if you keep these censored?"' she said, indicating her bosom. 'I just want to wait until the girls are done so Im fully confident with everything Im showing.'

A source informed People that Denise thinks Sami is 'just saying outrageous things' by tagging herself with the 'sex worker' label.

'She doesn't even show any skin on OnlyFans. Sami has 4,000 followers. So she's making $80,000 a month doing almost nothing and barely showing anything. She's just teasing the audience. She's not really doing any nudity at all. So this is just her titillating people by saying that,' the source insisted.

After Sami launched her OnlyFans page a year ago, Charlie told E! News: 'I do not condone this, but since I'm unable to prevent it, I urged her to keep it classy, creative and not sacrifice her integrity. She is 18 years old now and living with her mother. This did not occur under my roof.'

Denise shot back to the same outlet: 'Sami is 18, and this decision wasn't based on whose house she lives in. All I can do as a parent is guide her and trust her judgement, but she makes her own choices.'

Swinging by her Instagram, Denise wrote: 'I have to say, I wish I had the confidence my 18 yr old daughter has. And I also can't be judgmental of her choices. I did Wild Things & Playboy, quite frankly her father shouldn't be either.'

In fact Denise approved so enthusiastically of Sami's decision to join OnlyFans that she has followed in her daughter's footsteps and launched a page there herself.

Looking ahead: Sami, 19, called herself a 'sex worker' on TikTok this Thursday while announcing that she was planning to get breast implants

Claims: Now a source has told People that Denise 'knows her daughter is not a sex worker' as she 'doesn't even show any skin on OnlyFans'; Sami is pictured on her Instagram

His view: After Sami joined OnlyFans, Charlie told E! News : 'I do not condone this, but since I'm unable to prevent it, I urged her to keep it classy, creative and not sacrifice her integrity'

Family business: Denise approved so enthusiastically of Sami's decision to join OnlyFans that she has followed in her daughter's footsteps and launched a page there herself

Sami told TMZ that she was 'happy for' her mother, adding: 'I don't mind at all.... I'm super happy, she's doing really well.'

Now a People source said Denise's decision to join OnlyFans 'was a great way to throw cold water on the situation with her daughter and all that drama.'

The insider claimed Denise 'doesn't do anything that risque either, but she has 100,000 followers and makes $2 million a month doing it. Denise says she wants to support her daughter. She believes that when they turn 18, it's really hard to control what they do. You can only advise them.'

Denise currently has an amicable co-parenting relationship with Charlie, in sharp contrast to the period just after their breakup.

She filed for divorce in 2005 and during their explosive split she accused Charlie of making death threats against her, shoving her and endangering their children with his affinity for prostitutes and pornography.

Denise and Charlie's divorce was finalized in November 2006 with a court order stipulating that other than during supervised visits, Charlie remain 300 feet from Denise and their daughters, according to Access Hollywood.

Charlie, who was reportedly once thrown out of the Plaza Hotel by police after trashing his room while on cocaine, is now HIV positive.

He and his next wife Brooke Mueller, who both had widely reported drug problems, welcomed twin sons called Max and Bob, 14.

Bikini blonde: A source informed People that Denise (pictured) thinks Sami is 'just saying outrageous things' by tagging herself with the 'sex worker' label

The way they were: Denise currently has an amicable co-parenting relationship with Charlie, in sharp contrast to the period just after their breakup; pictured in 2002

In 2013 it was Denise who stepped in and temporarily cared for the boys after the government took them from their mother over her substance abuse issue.

Charlie and Denise have been locked in multiple rancorous battles involving their own two daughters, including a lawsuit she filed in 2016.

Denise accused Charlie of having told her in 2013: 'I am going to sever your head and mail it to your father.'

She also claimed that Charlie had texted their daughter Lola: 'Have a merry Xmas with your loser f***s**t mom... your dad is a rock star genius ... your mom is a p*** wart,' when his daughter was only eight years old.

However by the following year they had evidently become friendly again and were spotted taking their children to a Twenty-One Pilots concert.
Salma Hayek was showing off her sassy side in a new video shared to her Instagram account early on Friday morning.

The 56-year-old Grown Ups actress was seen spanking her own bottom as she walked down an office corridor.

The mother of one was modeling a pair of skintight jeans as she added a matching strapless top.

In other images, the Instagram favorite had on a very big hat as she told her followers to 'dream big.'

The images were taken in a high rise building in New York City this week as she promoted her new series Black Mirror.

Sass mama: Salma Hayek was showing off her sassy side in a new video shared to her Instagram account early on Friday morning. The 56-year-old Grown Ups actress was seen spanking her own bottom as she walked down an office corridor

Drama: The mother of one was modeling a pair of skintight jeans as she added a matching strapless top. In other images, the Instagram favorite had on a very big hat as she told her followers to 'dream big'

'Smack it baby!' wrote one follower after seeing Hayek hit her bottom.

Fans went wild for the clip.

Another said, 'Should be illegal to look this good aaaaaaa [fire emoji].'

Another said, 'She is a wild woman.'

Most of her fans commented on how spectacular she looks not just for her age, but for any age.

This comes days after she was seen in a bikini image while on a boat at seas.

The Frida actress put her arms up as she reclined on a the side of a yacht on the ocean while modeling a pair of black sunglasses.

The Hollywood pinup's figure looked sensational with a trim tummy and muscular legs as well as thin, sculpted arms as she wore her famous long black locks down and wet from a dip in the water.

In her caption she reminded fans to enjoy their life no matter what.

So chic in the city: The images were taken in a high rise building in New York City this week as she promoted her new series Black Mirror

Good look: The top looked like it was the bottom of a denim jacket

The hat says a lot: Her cap was big and when she put her head down it covered her face

'Some people dont like grey days, but I think everyday is precious. Adore your week, No matter what it brings ' wrote the mother of one.

The Hollywood icon's 24.5million followers could not get over how astonishing she looked in a skimpy string bikini with ties on the sides of the briefs.

'You lookin good! Have fun  youre such an inspiration,' wrote one followers while another called her a 'queen' and several others shared fire emojis.

'Gorgeous,' gushed one fan as another quipped, 'Thought this was a throwback.'

The red carpet fixture is known for showing off her ageless figure on social media.

In mid April she displayed her incredible shape while in a canary yellow bikini as she climbed onto a boat with her hair slicked back from the water.

Hayek has fascinated her fans for the past decade with her very youthful looks.

But in January she was railed against for using a filter. She appeared more like her 2003 self than her 2023 self, which may have been with the help of some filters.

Followers seemed to notice as one person asked, 'Who is that?' while another follower wrote, 'You look 25 mi chula' and someone else asked, 'HOW OLD IS SHE?????????'

Later a fan added, 'You look beautiful so plz stop face tunning its getting out off hand.'

Facetune is a photo editing application used to edit, enhance, and retouch photos on a user's iOS or Android device created by Lightricks.

Hayek credit her hairstylist Jennifer Yepez and makeup artist Sofia Schwarzkopf-Tilbury but did not name the photographer.

Sun-sational! Hayek posed in a revealing bikini in an image shared to Instagram on Monday morning

Haute stuff on the shore: The red carpet fixture is known for showing off her ageless figure on social media. In mid April she displayed her incredible shape while in a canary yellow bikini

Her long dark hair was worn in a ponytail that was tight and sleek.

The looker had on cherry red lipstick with matching blush that was very flattering. Her lashes were long and her eyebrows were groomed as if she was ready for a magazine photo shoot.

All she had on for clothing was a cream-colored bathrobe with a white belt.

The actress was standing in a back yard with mature bushes. Hayek's caption read, 'Good morning!!  buenos dias!! bonjour!!'

Earlier this year she talked a beauty secret.

The Eternals star admitted that when it comes to skincare, she had been using an ingredient usually used to treat burns victims in her native Mexico.

A new look: Hayek shared a very stunning photo to her Instagram page in January

And she explained that those in the US were often shocked because they had never heard of such a product.

She said: 'I use an ingredient called Tepezcohuite thats used in Mexico for burn victims because it completely regenerates the skin, and theres no one in the States who is using this ingredient except for us.

'Some of the ingredients, when I took them to the American labs, they were like "Oh my god! How come nobody is using this?"

'This is why I have no Botox, no peels, no fillings.

Hayek last starred as Kitty Softpaws in the critically-acclaimed Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. And she was also seen in Magic Mike's Last Dance.

She will also star in Angelina Jolie's next directorial effort Without Blood, which is currently in post-production. The actress stars alongside Demian Bichir in the adaptation of Alessandro Baricco's novel, adapted by Jolie herself.
Pete Davidson has been officially charged with reckless driving after crashing his Mercedes into a Beverly Hills home earlier this year, it has been revealed.

The Saturday Night Live star was charged with one count of reckless driving on Friday by the L.A. Country District Attorney's Office, TMZ reports.

Davidson, 29, was driving the vehicle through the Flats neighborhood of Beverley Hills on Saturday March 4 around 11pm at 'high speed' when he lost control of the car.

His girlfriend Chase Sui Wonders was also in the vehicle.

The Mercedes jumped the curb and hit a fire hydrant before it crashed into the side of a nearby house, law enforcement said.

The home had to subsequently be completely demolished due to the crash impact and the homes foundation was taken down to ground zero, pictures have revealed.

Pete Davidson officially charged with reckless driving after crashing his Mercedes into a Beverly Hills home - with girlfriend Chase Sui Wonders in the vehicle

Aftermath: Davidson, 29, was driving the vehicle through the Flats neighborhood of Beverley Hills on Saturday March 4 around 11pm at 'high speed' when he lost control of the car

Police said at the time that drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the crash.

Photographs showed Davidson's damaged Mercedes following the crash, with its hood, windscreen and bumper smashed in due to the force of the collision.

The crash occurred hours after Davidson had presented the Kids' Choice Awards in LA on Saturday night.

Earlier that day, the couple had lounged on a beach in Hawaii before flying back to the mainland for the ceremony.

The victim: Pictured above is the home that Pete crashed his car into

Precious cargo: His girlfriend Chase Sui Wonders was also in the vehicle. They are pictured in here in mid-February

Scene of the incident: Police said at the time that drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the crash

Incredibly, no one was injured either inside or outside of the home, but the police were called to the scene and an investigation is now ongoing.

The crash occurred after a tiring day for the pair. Earlier Davidson and Sui Wonders had been photographed enjoying the beach in Hawaii on Saturday, returning to Los Angeles shortly afterwards.

Following a five hour flight from Hawaii back to LA, Davidson later presented at the Kids' Choice Awards that night.

Scrapped: The home has to be demolished due to the crash impact and the homes foundation seen here at ground zero

Former Saturday Night Live cast member, Davidson, has dated several women, including supermodel Emily Ratajkowski, since breaking up with Kim Kardashian, 42, in August after nine months together.

Davidson and Sui Wonders met when they worked as love interests on the horror/comedy film Bodies Bodies Bodies in 2021.

The well-received whodunit about a group of wealthy 20-somethings planning a hurricane party at a mansion that turns deadly, received an 85-percent score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The audience score, 69-percent, was not quite as generous.
Priscilla Presley has finally put an end to any signs of a family feud after posting a picture with granddaughters Riley Keough, and twins Harper and Finley Lockwood, via her official Instagram on Friday.

'Happy Graduation girls! Youre now in high school!!!' the widow of Elvis Presley captured the photo of the group, celebrating the graduation of Harper and Finley, 14.

The happy picture comes just days after it was revealed that Riley, 34, had agreed to pay her grandmother Priscilla $1.4 million to take control of the family trust amid reports of a family feud.

Riley had been at loggerheads with her grandmother Priscilla, 78, since the death of Riley's mother Lisa Marie Presley in January, at the age of 54.

Lisa Marie welcomed daughter Riley and son Benjamin with ex-husband Danny Keough - who she was married to from 1988 to 1994. Benjamin by suicide in 2020 at age 27.

She welcomed twin daughters Harper and Finley in 2008 with then-husband Michael Lockwood, but the pair divorced in 2016.

In a recently-signed settlement Priscilla, 78, agreed - in exchange for $1.4 million plus an undisclosed sum for ten years - to relinquish control of her late daughter's Promenade Trust, leaving Riley, star of TV's Davy Jones and the Six, as sole trustee.

Family truce! Priscilla Presley poses with her granddaughters (L-R twins Harper and Finley, 14, Riley Keough, 34, and Priscilla, 78) in a social media post on Friday

In her caption, she wished a happy graduation to her 14-year-old granddaughters, who are set to start high school in the fall

This week, Priscilla filed a motion asking LA Probate Judge Lynn Scaduto to seal the financial particulars of the settlement, keeping them secret from the public.

'The settlement agreement contains private details regarding my daughter's Trust that is to benefit my two minor granddaughters (14-year-old Harper and Finley, Lisa Marie's children by fourth husband Michael Lockwood, 62),' she wrote in her motion found by DailyMail.com.

'If this information were to become public, it could put me and my family's safety at risk.

'This should subject me to significant danger, emotional distress and negatively affect my physical and mental health.

'It would also subject my son (musician Navarone Garibaldi, 36) and minor granddaughters to harassment and bullying. We have all been through enough.'

The agreement between Priscilla and Riley settled a reported feud between the two sparked when, only two weeks after Lisa Marie's death in January, Priscilla filed a legal challenge to her daughter's will - which had taken control of her wealthy Promenade Trust away from Priscilla and given it to Riley.

Riley was said to be furious when her grandmother went to court to protest the will.

Priscilla, 78, has appealed to a Los Angeles judge that she 'fears for the safety of herself and her family' if the court doesn't seal the details of her new agreement

But in her motion to seal, Priscilla pooh-poohed the notion of a feud and said she had fired the lawyers who filed her petition disputing the will.

'My January 2023 petition was misconstrued in the press as a "fight" over my beloved daughter's Trust,' she wrote. 'That was not the intent. The petition was filed by a law firm who has since been terminated.

'I filed the petition to resolve all potential uncertainty surrounding the interpretation of the Promenade Trust.

'My daughter's passing was both devastating and heartbreaking.

'We have learned that the fans realize that we are "Just A Family". Elvis would be proud and his and Lisa's wishes are what are most important to all of us,' Priscilla wrote in her declaration

'We have learned that the fans realize that we are "Just A Family". Elvis would be proud and his and Lisa's wishes are what are most important to all of us.

'My grand-daughter, through her own counsel, along with my team, worked diligently and tirelessly to resolve all misunderstandings as a family.'

Riley also agrees with sealing the private financial arrangement she has made with her grandmother - which includes paying Priscilla a certain amount (redacted in the court document) 'per year for 10 years or life' as a special advisor to the trust, plus $1 million and $300,000 - $400,00 in legal fees.

Their settlement also grants Priscilla's wish to be buried at Graceland, Elvis' home in Memphis, Tennessee.

'There is an overriding privacy interest that justifies sealing the supporting documents and the statements regarding terms of the money being given to Priscilla,' wrote Riley's attorney, Justin Gold, in new court documents seen by DailyMail.com.

'The supporting documents and petition contain financial and personal information regarding payments provided to Priscilla to eliminate her role as a fiduciary for Riley, Harper and Finley.'

Gold added, 'It is requested that this court consider that Riley, Harper and Finley did not seek to have their inheritance issues brought into the public forum.'

The lawyer said in other legal documents that if the court approves the settlement between grandmother and granddaughter, Riley will not charge for her services as a trustee.

'The beneficiaries all save money that would have gone to Priscilla who was going to charge a trustee fee.

As well as being the sole trustee of Lisa Marie's estate, Riley is also the sub-trustee for her 14-year-old twin sisters Harper and Finley Lockwood

'In settling the claims pending in Priscilla's Petition, the parties are saving significant legal fees by avoiding litigation, and they are likewise avoiding the spectacle of intra-family litigation that would have been inimical to Lisa's wishes and not in the best interests.'

As well as being the sole trustee of Lisa Marie's estate, Riley is also the sub-trustee for her twin half-sisters Harper and Finley Lockwood.

She is set to invest the trust money 'in a manner consistent with the needs of the beneficiaries,' according to Gold.

Riley - mother to a baby daughter with husband Ben Smith-Petersen - 'is still grieving for her mom' and the legal tussle that came when Priscilla challenged Lisa Marie's will was said to be 'very tough' on her.

So she was relieved and happy when she and her grandmother buried the hatchet and reached a settlement agreement.

'She would not have agreed to the settlement if she was not happy with it,' her attorney Gold told DailyMail.com.

Priscilla's attorney Ronson Shamoun told DailyMail.com that with the settlement, 'the families are happy and unified and together and excited for the future.'

Priscilla was officially removed as trustee of her late daughter's estate on May 11, according to the documents.

The Daisy Jones & the Six star filed paperwork earlier this week requesting the court finalize the arrangement regarding the trust of her late mother, some five months after Lisa Marie's January 12 death following multiple cardiac arrests.
To create a federation on the lines of the USA was never intended, it would have been grave mistake had we done so

Several political figures and writers, including some foreign ones, have alleged that India is on a path of anti-federalism or centralism. However, they have coolly overlooked that over the last nine years, not once has Article 356 been used by New Delhi. Earlier, it was used 56 times when state governments were dismissed when the Centre decided that a particular state government was unfit to govern, or actually if it did not like particular state governments. Article 356 states: (1) if the President, on receipt of a report from the Governor of a State or otherwise, is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the Government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution, the President may be Proclamation (a) assume to himself all or any of the functions of the Government of the State and all or any of the powers vested in or exercisable by the Governor or anybody or authority in the State other than the Legislature of the State; (b) declare that the powers of the Legislature of the State shall be exercisable by or under the authority of Parliament. (c) make such incidental and consequential provisions as appear to the President to be necessary or desirable for giving effect to the objects of the Proclamation. Including provisions for suspending in whole or in part the operation of any provisions of this Constitution relating to anybody or authority in the State.

One prime minister used Article 356 to dismiss state governments 49 times! Not a single voice then alleged that federalism was in danger, or forced centralism. Far from any outcry about democracy or federalism being imperiled, the self-appointed watchdogs of democracy, namely the media, academia and intelligentsia chose to remain silent or look the other way during the rampant assault on state governments for not toeing the line of the central dispensation of those times. Worse is the fact that segments of the media were complicit in the misuse of political authority. Moreover, those parties that cry foul about democracy in danger are little more than family fiefs who have kept even the pretence of democracy out of their parties.

The Constitution beings with the declaration: India is a Union of States. There is no mention of the word federal. This may have been because the provinces were already present at Independence. This was unlike the USA, where new states kept joining. Initially, there were only 13 American states while there are 50 today. No new states have joined the Indian Union since the Constitution was adopted. The Union has the right to create new states and alter existing ones.

We must not forget that on the eve of the Constitution being written, our country lost a third of its land area to Pakistan. The Muslim League believed that Hindus and Muslims cannot co-exist amicably in the same country. Nevertheless, India continued to be multi-religious as well as multilingual. The countrys first law minister Dr B.R. Ambedkar believed the possibility of some state or the other wishing to secede in the future could not be dismissed. The Communist Party of India, in line with the Soviet Constitution, which gave all its republics the right to secede, wanted such a model fee India. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led by Thiru Annadorai had claimed the right to secession in its party constitution. In the late 1940s, there was a violent secessionist agitation in the Telangana region. In 1947, the diwan of Travancore Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Aiyar declared that the princely state would remain independent. The Maharaja of Jodhpur was ready to put his signature on a blank letter signed by Qaid-e-Azam Jinnah who wanted Jodhpur to join Pakistan. Sardar Patel intervened and persuaded Jodhpur to join the Indian Union. The Nizam of Hyderabad was determined to remain independent until he was forced to capitulate to the Indian army in September 1948. The Nawab of Junagadh had acceded to Pakistan when the people of the state forcibly overturned his decision. Several other states in Saurashtra were financing a highwayman called Bhupat to lead a revolt against New Delhi. The J&K problem is too well-known to narrate here. The Northeast would be on the boil from time to time. This was the environment in the midst of which the Constitution of India was drafted and adopted.

To create a federation on the lines of the USA was not only unjustified by the birth of the Republic of India, it would have been unwise had we done so. Pakistan did not follow any constitutional niceties and yet broke apart in 1971. The emotional cause for its dismemberment was the issue of a national language. The eastern wing of Bengal felt offended that its language was not considered for the status of an alternative national language. On the other hand, Urdu, which is not the language of any of Pakistans constituents, was given the honour of being the sole national language. Pakistan has ethnically cleaned out most of its religious minorities, while India has protected them within its territory. India therefore, had to have a constitution that could enable Delhi to have the luxury of being multi-religious and multilingual and yet remaining united.

(The writer is a well-known columnist, an author and a former member of the Rajya Sabha. The views expressed are personal)
It would be a big opportunity to upgrade India-US bilateral ties

A historic one-of-its-kind state visit is slated for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he lands on the East Coast of the United States next week. The rush hour traffic of high profile leaders from both countries crisscrossing Washington and New Delhi to iron out a meaningful outcome document, the choice of venues during Mr Modis visit to the US and the number of events being planned, including many for the first time, suggest that America is walking the extra mile to pull India into close friends club. This is a departure from the cold war-infused reluctance of having warm ties, which India and the US have witnessed for nearly 4 decades.

The oldest democracy and the largest democracy chose partners on either side of the cold war aisle as trusted, till things started moving a decade and a half back. The US shed its reluctance of allowing India into the exclusive nuclear group, thereby providing access to high-end technology, Delhi around the same time had started realising the benefits of a free economy and therefore, the need to shed its old socialist ideological alliances. The 15-year journey has been, dotted with milestones each upgrading the bilateral relationship.

In the run-up to the state visit, with a promise of being the most significant and full of meaningful business outcomes, Secretary of State, US, Antony J Blinken while addressing the Idea of India summit commented We are here almost literally on the eve of what we believe will be a historic state visit by Prime Minister Modi  one that will further solidify what President Biden has called the defining relationship of the 21st century. He went on to highlight that the bipartisan approach to India's relationship has been consistent during the last years of the Clinton administration, through the Bush administration, Obama administration, and Trump administration, with an extra push coming in from the ongoing Biden administration.

The aim is to bring India as a key player and close friend of the USA in the overall geo-political strategy with a sharp focus on the Indo-Pacific, where China is a growing threat to both nations, which was read out clearly in the Secretary of States speech. He said We see the importance of the partnership in a shared commitment to addressing regional and global challenges  promoting health security, working with our Quad partners to build a free, open, secure, prosperous Indo-Pacific where people, where goods, where ideas can travel freely and rules are applied fairly. I have witnessed Indias constructive leadership on these issues up close these last two and a half years, and I see it in their ambitious agenda at this years G20; in our new I2U2 group with India, with Israel, with the UAE, the United States; and in probably more than a dozen meetings that Ive had with my counterpart, my colleague, my friend, Foreign Minister Jaishankar.

The emphasis on economic ties marks a new chapter for the bilateral where the US values India as an important economic ally, which over time could prove to be one the most crucial partnerships. Statistics like $191 bn of trade between the US and India last year, robust investment by American companies in India and vice versa creating millions of job opportunities spanning from Kolkata to North Carolina and beyond, are all set to get a leg up, with the upcoming state visit.

The preparatory meetings by Defence Secretary US, National Security Advisor US, a visit by Finance Minister, India, Railways IT and Communications Minister, External Affairs Minister India and several high-level officials from India visiting the US in the recent past are sure to push the numbers higher. The industry stakeholders are cheering for a $500 billion bilateral trade which will further create jobs in both countries. All eyes are now on Mr Modi in New York and Washington, next week.

The writer is a policy analyst. The views expressed are personal.)
The PMs US state visit will address the growing expansionist intent of China and emphasise Indo-Pacific Cooperation

In the realm of international diplomacy, state visits play a crucial role in strengthening bilateral relations between nations. The relevance of an official state visit by a major global leader to the United States lies in its potential to strengthen bilateral relations, promote dialogue on key issues, and enhance cooperation in various fields. State visits provide an opportunity for leaders to engage in high-level diplomacy, exchange ideas, and foster mutual understanding. It serves as a platform to address shared challenges, expand trade and economic partnerships, and coordinate efforts on global matters such as climate change, security, and human rights. One such significant event is the state visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States. Narendra Modi's proposed state visit to the United States carried profound implications for both countries, encompassing diplomatic, economic, and strategic dimensions.

The visit provides an opportunity to deepen the diplomatic ties between India and the United States, two democratic nations with shared values and interests. Through high-level meetings and dialogues, the leaders aim to foster cooperation on various global issues, including climate change, regional security, and counterterrorism. The state visit also serves as a platform for India to engage with other key global players. As India seeks a larger role in international forums, such as the United Nations Security Council, the visit offered a chance to garner support and build alliances.

The proposed visit will have tremendous economic Implications, strengthening economic ties will be a significant aspect of the state visit. The United States is India's largest trading partner, and both countries sought to enhance bilateral trade, remove trade barriers, and explore opportunities for investment in sectors such as technology, defence, and renewable energy.

On the technology Transfer and Innovation front, major collaboration in the fields of technology and innovation emerged as a key focus during the visit. India's burgeoning start-up ecosystem and the United States' leadership in technological advancements created possibilities for joint ventures, research partnerships, and knowledge sharing.

Finally, the proposed visit will have Strategic Implications for Defense Cooperation. The visit emphasized defence collaboration between India and the United States, with discussions on defence procurement, joint military exercises, and technology sharing. Strengthening defence ties would enhance the security of both nations and contribute to regional stability.

The visit will address the growing expansionist intent of China hence the Indo-Pacific Cooperation will become extremely relevant. The state visit highlighted the converging interests of India and the United States in the Indo-Pacific region. Closer cooperation in this domain, encompassing maritime security, freedom of navigation, and regional connectivity, aimed to balance China's growing influence in the region.

The role of the US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has been vital in facilitating PM Modi's state visit to the US from 22 June 2023. The fact that immediately after his appointment as the US Ambassador to India, the proposed state visit of the Indian head of state is planned is a testimony to the US Ambassadors relevance in the entire episode. The proposed Indian Prime Ministers state visit is happening since the last Indian head of state visit of Dr Manmohan Singh on 24 Nov 2009.

The ambassador quickly started acting as a bridge between the two governments, facilitating direct communication and fostering understanding and ensuring fruitful discussions on a range of bilateral and global issues.

(The writer is Editor-in-Chief Opinion Express & Columnist with The Pioneer)
As someone who has parallel careers in Hindi cinema and Hollywood, actor Ali Fazal believes he hasn't been "pushed enough" as an artist.

The actor, who is known in India for movies "Fukrey", "Happy Bhag Jayegi" and "Bobby Jasoos", as well as hit Prime Video series "Mirzapur" and has done Hollywood features such as "Furious 7", "Victoria & Abdul" and "Death on the Nile, said the goal is to be part of great stories.

"Honestly, I haven't been pushed enough as an actor here (Bollywood), anywhere, even in Hollywood. It is fine, I'm not worried too much because those are teething problems as I am somebody coming from outside. So I will take that much time, Fazal told PTI in an interview.

"I guess I fall into a weird mix where I have to juggle both sides... I just want to be part of good films. I think we have great stories here. In fact, that is one of the reasons why we have started producing but time becomes an issue," he said, referring to his production banner Pushing Buttons Studios with actor-wife Richa Chadha.

Fazal, 36, currently stars in "Kandahar", a Hollywood action drama, headlined by Scottish star Gerard Butler. The movie released on Prime Video on Friday.

Directed by Ric Roman Waugh of Angel Has Fallen and Greenland fame, the action-thriller draws inspiration from true events from the life of a former military intelligence officer.

In the movie, Fazal plays the role of Kahil, who goes up against Tom Harris (Butler) in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

Fazal said he was drawn towards the film as it gave him the opportunity to work with Waugh and Butler, known for Hollywood hits "300", "P.S. I Love You", "Den of Thieves", and the "Has Fallen" series.

Though the two actors have just one scene together, Fazal said they bonded over food and movies as well as Butler's next visit to India.

"We had conversations about films, food and about India, his next visit to India hopefully... He keeps going to Rishikesh a lot. Hopefully next time when he comes, I will host him. It is the start of a very good friendship, if I can call it that, Fazal said.

Butler is a very "generous actor", he added.

"There is only one time in the film when we come face-to-face. In the whole film, I am chasing him. There is this whole cat-and-mouse thing that is going on. We would have common locations and we were staying in the same hotel, so everything was happening according to a routine, he added.

Having worked with Hollywood bigwigs like Judi Dench in Victoria & Abdul, Butler in Kandahar and Kenneth Branagh in "Death on the Nile", Fazal said he doesn't get intimidated by his co-actors.

It only helps him in putting his best foot forward, he said.

"I have had some wonderful actors that I have gotten a chance to work with and that only enhances my performance. Maybe you can call me a little selfish. I enjoy when co-actors have a very strong hold on their craft, and have a great presence because then my job becomes easy. They make you look good."

Post "Kandahar", Fazal has two projects -- "Khufiya" with filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, and Anurag Basu's Metro In Dino.

Working with Bhardwaj was a rewarding experience, he said.

"With Vishal ji, I experienced that he really pushed me. Every actor, we have a scene, thinking of something that we would do but when a director has a different perspective, it surprises you, it throws you in an uncomfortable zone. That's where magic happens. He has a fresh perspective," he added.

Fazal said Basu was "phenomenal" and a totally different kind of a director.

"I am excited. We haven't shot the whole thing yet, there is still stuff to shoot, he added.

The actor is equally thrilled to be working on his forthcoming international film Afghan Dreamers, being helmed by Oscar winning director Bill Guttentag.

The movie presents the true story of a program that was started by Afghan tech entrepreneur Roya Mahboob in 2017 as a way to help young women develop their skills in the field of science and technology, despite a heavily patriarchal society.

"It was the biggest thing that happened recently. It is based on a true story about a women's robotics' team. I play one of their mentors. Phoebe Waller-Bridge has also joined the cast, so it is exciting," Fazal said.
George Soros and others at Project Syndicate:

Rapid progress in the development of artificial intelligence has been too rapid for many, including pioneers of the technology, who are now issuing dire warnings about the future of our economies, democracies, and humanity itself. But AI is hardly the first technological advance that has been portrayed as an existential threat.

George Soros, Chairman of Soros Fund Management and the Open Society Foundations, thinks that AI is different. Not only is it impossible for ordinary human intelligence fully to comprehend AI; the technology will be virtually impossible to regulate. Powerful incentives to cheat mean that regulations would have to be globally enforceable  an unattainable goal at a time of conflict between open and closed societies.

More here.
A group of esteemed academicians affiliated with the NCERT books has expressed their frustration and demanded the removal of their names from the textbooks, citing the jeopardizing of their collective creative effort. This comes shortly after political scientists Yogendra Yadav and Suhas Palshikar wrote to the NCERT, requesting the exclusion of their names from the textbooks.

These academicians have been members of the Textbook Development Committee (TDC), responsible for overseeing the NCERT textbooks.

In a letter addressed to the Director of the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), Dinesh Saklani, 33 academicians have signed their names, including notable figures such as Kanti Prasad Bajpai, former professor at JNU and currently serving as the vice-dean at the National University, Singapore; Pratap Bhanu Mehta, former vice-chancellor of Ashoka University; Rajeev Bhargava, former director of CSDS; Niraja Gopal Jayal, former professor at JNU; Nivedita Menon, professor at JNU; Vipul Mudgal, head of civil society watchdog Common Cause; KC Suri, former professor at the University of Hyderabad associated with Gitam University, and Peter Ronald deSouza, former director of the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies.

The controversy surrounding the removal of various topics and sections from NCERT textbooks last month has sparked outrage, with the Opposition accusing the BJP-led Government of engaging in a whitewashing exercise. The NCERT initially referred to the omissions as a possible oversight but refused to reverse the deletions, stating that they were based on expert recommendations. It also mentioned that the textbooks were scheduled for revision in 2024 when the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) comes into effect. However, the NCERT later changed its stance, stating that minor changes need not be notified.

In view of the substantive revisions made to the original texts, rendering them essentially different books, we find it difficult to associate our names with them... We now fear that this collective creative effort is under threat, expressed the academicians in their letter to the NCERT.

The textbooks were the outcome of extensive discussions and collaborations among political scientists representing diverse perspectives and ideological backgrounds. They were originally designed to impart knowledge about Indias struggle for independence, the constitutional framework, the functioning of democracy, and key aspects of Indian politics while incorporating global developments and theoretical principles of political science, the letter further stated.

In a separate letter to the NCERT last week, Yogendra Yadav and Suhas Palshikar stated that the rationalization process has mutilated the books to the point of being unrecognizable and academically dysfunctional. They emphasized that the textbooks, which were once a source of pride, have now become a source of embarrassment.

The NCERT, on the other hand, has asserted that disassociating anyone from the textbooks is not possible, as school-level textbooks are developed based on collective knowledge and understanding of the subject, and individual authorship is not claimed at any stage.
Strong winds and heavy rain battered the coasts of Kutch and Saurashtra as Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall near Jakhau Port in Gujarat on Thursday evening after churning across the Arabian Sea for over 10 days. Power failure was reported in many areas, and low-lying areas near the sea were flooded.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) the landfall process completed by midnight.

A cattle-rearer duo of father and son died while trying to save their goats stuck in a flooded ravine in Bhavnagar district on Thursday. Three individuals were injured in Devbhoomi Dwarka district when a tree fell on them, according to a State Minister. In anticipation of Biparjoys landfall, approximately 1,00,000 people residing in coastal districts were relocated to safer locations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel over the phone on Thursday night and enquired about the situation in the State.

IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra explained that the landfall process had commenced as dense convective clouds entered Kutch and Devbhumi Dwarka districts, with the process continuing until midnight.

Landfall refers to a cyclonic storm moving over land after being over water. Biparjoy, with an eye approximately 50 kilometres in diameter, is moving at a speed of 13-14 kilometres per hour, and it is estimated to take around five hours for the wall cloud and eye to completely cross over to land.

The impact of the cyclone was evident as strong winds uprooted numerous trees and electric poles near Jakhau and Mandvi towns in Kutch. Tin sheets and plastic shades were also blown away by the destructive wind force.

However, as of 7 pm, there were no reports of any loss of life, according to Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi.

In Devbhoomi Dwarka district, three individuals were injured due to a fallen tree and are currently receiving treatment. Ground-level teams comprising the Gujarat police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the Army are working in various parts of Dwarka to clear uprooted trees and electric poles.

The IMD issued a statement in Ahmedabad, stating that the very severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy is centered over the north Arabian Sea but is approaching the Saurashtra coast with wind speeds of 115-125 kilometres per hour, gusting up to 140 kilometres per hour.

In response to the cyclones potential for extensive damage, authorities evacuated approximately 100,000 people from vulnerable areas in coastal districts of Gujarat following a timely warning from the IMD. This marks the second powerful storm to hit the state in three years, with Cyclone Tauktae striking in May 2021.

To tackle the situation, 15 NDRF teams, 12 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams, and personnel from the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Indian Coast Guard, and Border Security Force have been deployed for relief and rescue operations.

The IMD had previously issued warnings of very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in several districts, including Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Rajkot, Morbi, and Junagarh. Additionally, the cyclone was expected to cause an astronomical tide with a storm surge of 2-3 meters, which could inundate low-lying areas in Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, Porbandar, Jamnagar, and Morbi during the landfall.

Due to the severe sea conditions, characterised by waves reaching heights of 10 to 14 meters, all activities in the northeast and adjoining east-central Arabian Sea, including oil exploration, ship movement, and fishing, have been suspended.

As a precautionary measure, nearly 100,000 people residing in eight coastal districts of Gujarat have been relocated to temporary shelters. The cyclone is expected to bring extremely heavy rainfall in Kutch, Devbhumi Dwarka, and Jamnagar, with high wind speeds persisting even on Friday despite a reduction in intensity, as stated by Manorama Mohanty, Director of IMD Ahmedabad.

Officials have warned of the potential for total destruction of thatched houses, extensive damage to kachcha houses (made of weak materials), and some damage to permanent structures. Power and communication poles are likely to be uprooted, and approach roads may suffer damage and flooding. District authorities have taken extensive measures to ensure uninterrupted power and water supplies.

Various response teams have been deployed to assist with relief and rescue efforts. The Army has dispatched 27 relief columns to different locations, while the Air Force has placed helicopters on standby in Vadodara, Ahmedabad, and Delhi. The Navy has positioned teams at Okha, Porbandar, and Bakasura for rescue operations.

The Indian Air Force has also confirmed its operational readiness for relief and rescue work following the cyclones landfall. The IAF expressed its commitment to assisting fellow citizens in dealing with contingencies arising from Cyclone Biparjoy.

In view of the potential risks associated with reporting on the ground during the cyclone, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory to media organisations, particularly television channels, urging them to exercise abundant caution to ensure the safety of their personnel.

The Ministry emphasised that ground reporting of the cyclone and related incidents could pose serious risks to reporters, cameramen, and other staff deployed by private satellite TV channels.
In a significant development, the Indian Defence Ministry granted approval on Thursday for the long-awaited procurement of 30 Predator armed drones from the United States, valued at nearly 3 billion dollar dollars. This decision comes just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modis scheduled State visit to Washington, where he is expected to engage in discussions with President Joe Biden, with a particular emphasis on access to critical and high-end technology from the US.

The Pioneer on June 15 had highlighted that in addition to the Predator drones deal, India and the US are likely to collaborate on the joint production of GE-414 fighter jet engines for the domestically manufactured Tejas light combat aircraft.

Both nations are expected to explore opportunities for the joint manufacturing of armoured personnel carriers, ammunition, and other advanced defence equipment. Several crucial defence-related announcements are anticipated after talks between Modi and Biden.

The approval for the armed drones deal was granted by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday. However, the final clearance for the deal rests with the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), led by the Prime Minister.

The Predator drones, also known as MQ-9B Sea Guardians, are manufactured by General Atomics in the United States and have proven to be highly effective in combatting terrorist groups during the American war on terror against the Taliban and ISIS. These high-altitude long-endurance drones are equipped with precision strike missiles capable of targeting enemy assets with remarkable accuracy. The acquired drones will be utilised for long-range surveillance along Indias borders and maritime regions.

Sources have revealed that the Indian Navy will receive 15 drones, while the remaining will be distributed to the Army and the Indian Air Force.

India currently operates two unarmed Predator drones, which were leased and have been instrumental in assisting the Navy with monitoring activities in the Indian Ocean region. The Predator, also referred to as the Reaper, features nine hardpoints capable of carrying various sensors, laser-guided bombs, and air-to-ground missiles.

With an endurance of over 27 hours and an operational ceiling of up to 50,000 feet, the drone can carry a payload of 3,850 pounds (1,746 kg), including 3,000 pounds (1,361 kg) of external stores.

It is also capable of accommodating multiple mission payloads.

Apart from India, the United States Air Force, Department of Homeland Security, NASA, Royal Air Force, Italian Air Force, French Air Force, and Spanish Air Force have all incorporated Predator drones into their respective defence forces.
The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday decided to repeal the anti-conversion law introduced by the previous BJP Government. The Government plans to introduce a Bill for this purpose during the upcoming legislature session, scheduled to commence on July 3.

HK Patil, the Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, informed reporters after the Cabinet meeting, The Cabinet discussed the anti-conversion Bill. We have approved the Bill to repeal the changes that were brought in by them (the BJP Government) in 2022. It will be tabled during the session starting from July 3.

The BJP reacted sharply to the Congress Governments decision and dubbed the M Mallikarjun Kharge-led outfit as new Muslim League. Is this Mohabbat Ki Dukaan @RahulGandhi ? asked senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Basanagouda R Patil (Yatnal) on Twitter.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs anti-Hindu agenda is exposed, he said.

Do you want Hindus to be wiped out? Conversion mafia has influenced Siddaramaiah and his Cabinet to withdraw Anti-Conversion Law which was introduced by BJP, he added.

BJP national general secretary CT Ravi said the conversion mafia in Karnataka ensures that the Anti-Hindu CONgress repeals the anti-conversion law brought in by the @BJP4Karnataka government. CONgress is the new Muslim League and it will go to any extent to hurt Hindus, Ravi alleged.

The Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, commonly known as the anti-conversion law, was enacted in 2022 despite Opposition from the Congress party.

The act aimed to safeguard the right to freedom of religion and prohibit unlawful conversions through means such as misrepresentation, force, coercion, allurement, or fraudulent methods.

It prescribed imprisonment ranging from three to five years and a fine of `25,000 for violations. In cases involving minors, women, and individuals from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST), the offenders could face imprisonment for three to ten years and a fine of not less than Rs 50,000.

The law also provided for compensation of up to `5 lakh to individuals who were coerced into converting. Additionally, mass conversions could result in a jail term of three to ten years and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh. It declared marriages solely intended for unlawful conversions or vice versa, where one spouse converts to another religion before or after marriage, null and void. Family courts or courts with jurisdiction over such cases were responsible for adjudicating petitions filed by either party involved.
At least two abandoned houses were set on fire by a mob here on Thursday afternoon a day after an attack in the Khamenlok area left nine people dead and injured ten others, officials said.

Later on Wednesday evening, other miscreants set on fire the official quarters of woman Manipur minister Nemcha Kipgen in the Lamphel area in Imphal West district. Firefighters reached the spot and doused the flames before the blaze could spread to the neighbourhood.

Security forces which tried to quell the mob used force and fired tear gas shells at the mob at New Checkon in Imphal, they added.

No casualty was reported in the arson as the houses that were torched were abandoned. The occupants had left after the ethnic violence started in the State early last month.

The incident happened as the army and Assam Rifles intensified their area domination operations in the aftermath of the recent spurt in violence in the strife-torn state of Manipur.

Army and Assam Rifles columns intensified patrolling, taking down barriers wherever they had been created.

The social media post by the Spear Corps of the Indian Army, whose operational area Manipur falls, said the domination of fringe areas and higher reaches underway by long duration self-contained columns was being enforced.

The security forces redoubled their efforts in the wake of an attack on a Kuki village in the Khamenlok area bordering Imphal East and Kangpoki districts in the early hours of Wednesday, where 9 people died and 10 more were injured in a gunbattle which ensued between the miscreants who attacked the village and villagers.

More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki community people in Manipur that broke out a month ago. The state has imposed a curfew on 11 districts and banned the internet in a bid to stop the spread of rumours in the state.

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 per cent of Manipurs 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.
As more than 1,000 students from Delhi government schools qualified for medical entrance exam NEET-UG this year, Chief Minister ArvindKejriwal on Thursday congratulated students, their parents and teachers and said the feat could not have been imagined a few years back.

Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal shared a list of qualifying students from Delhi government schools in the past few years.

The tally of students from Delhi government schools who cleared NEET-UG saw a jump of over 40 per cent this year, with 1,074 of them qualifying the test. In 2022, 648 students from Delhi government schools cleared NEET. In 2021 and 2020, 496 and 569 students cleared the exams respectively.

Wow. More than 1000 students from Delhi govt schools qualify NEET. This could not even be imagined just a few years back. Congrats to all students, parents and teachers, Kejriwal tweeted.

A total of 11.45 lakh candidates out of 20.38 lakh have qualified the examination, up by 48 per cent from last year. NEET-UG is the qualifying entrance exam for admission to Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery (BAMS), Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgery (BSMS), Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS), and Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) and BSc (H) Nursing courses. There are more than 80,000 MBBS seats in over 540 medical colleges in the country.
The Haryana Traffic Police launched a special campaign on 'Lane Driving' and 'Under Age Driving' from June 5 to June 12 and during this period, 3176 challans of lane driving and 258 challans for under age driving have been issued. A total of 3434 challans were issued during this campaign, said Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Thursday.



Vij said that a total of 653 challans were issued in Ambala district, out of which 609 were challans for lane driving and 44 for under age driving. A total of 137 challans were issued in Sirsa district, out of which 123 challans were issued for lane driving and 14 for under-age driving. There were a total of 17 challans in Kurukshetra district, out of which 11 were challans for lane driving and 6 for underage driving. A total of 236 challans were issued in Mewat district, out of which 234 were issued for lane driving and 2 for under age driving. He said that a total of 43 challans were issued in Rohtak district, out of which 40 challans for lane driving and 3 for underage driving. A total of 59 challans were issued in Karnal district, out of which 2 were for lane driving and 57 for under-age driving. Likewise, 61 challans were issued for lane driving in Hisar district.



Vij said that a total of 135 challans were issued in Yamuna Nagar district, out of which 120 challans were issued for lane driving and 15 for underage driving. A total of 331 challans were issued in Panipat district, out of which 322 were challaned for lane driving and 9 for under age driving. A total of 168 challans were issued in Jhajjar district, out of which 164 were for lane driving and 4 for under-age driving.



He informed that a total of 175 challans were issued in Gurugram district, out of which 160 were issued for lane driving and 15 for under-age driving. A total of 90 challans were done in Sonipat district, out of which 75 were challans for lane driving and 15 for under age driving. A total of 684 challans were issued in Faridabad district, out of which 646 were issued for lane driving and 38 for under-age driving.
Expressing concern on deteriorating law and order situation in the State, the leader of opposition (LoP) in State Assembly Yashpal Arya has said that instead of finding solutions for the problems of unemployment, price rise and corruption the State government is protecting those responsible for creating panic.

In a statement Arya said that the government should get the culprits punished irrespective of their religion. Expressing surprise at the Purola incident, Arya said the pictures coming out of the town are disturbing. People of a minority community are getting displaced in the presence of police, he said. Arya said that two accused in the Purola case belonged to different communities but only one community is being targeted at every level. He said that the Union government is also silent on the issue.

Arya alleged that such communal issues are deliberately being fanned because the Lok Sabha elections of 2024 are coming near and both the Union and State governments have no answers for the issue of increasing prices, unemployment and corruption. He added that just like the Assembly elections the BJP wants to win the Lok Sabha election by playing the politics of polarisation.

The LoP said that the image of Uttarakhand is getting maligned due to such incidents and a conspiracy is being hatched to create schism between two communities.

He said that the Supreme Court had castigated the State government on the issue of hate speech and the High Court has also sought reply from the State government on the issue. Arya demanded that the Prime Minister and Union Home minister should intervene in the matter.
Madhya Pradesh has done the best work in the field of cleanliness and waste management. We will send a 25-member delegation to Bhopal and Indore including senior officials and Cabinet members of our state, you should guide them also. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said this in a video conference jointly organized by Madhya Pradesh and Assam.

The meeting was attended by Sarma along with all his Cabinet colleagues, collectors of all districts and officials of the urban administration of Assam. Urban Development and Housing Minister Bhupendra Singh and Minister of State OPS Bhadoria took part online from Madhya Pradesh.

The objective of the meeting was to apprise the Urban Development team of Assam about the remarkable efforts being made by Madhya Pradesh for urban sanitation and disposal of legacy waste.

Principal Secretary Urban Development and Housing Neeraj Mandloi and Commissioner Urban Administration and Development Bharat Yadav presented the plans. The remarkable achievements, strategy and future plans of Madhya Pradesh were discussed in detail. Along with special efforts for disposal of legacy waste in Indore and Bhopal, the efforts of behaviour change communication being done continuously in the state were also informed.

Principal Secretary Neeraj Mandloi assured all possible cooperation to Assam Chief Minister Sarma on behalf of the Madhya Pradesh government. It is known that Madhya Pradesh has attracted the attention of the entire country by setting many records in its urban cleanliness journey. The efforts being made by Madhya Pradesh, the experiences of sanitation services, waste management, behaviour change etc. are the subject of discussion in the country.

In the Swachh Sarvekshan-2022, Madhya Pradesh has received the honour of being the number one state in the country. Apart from this, Indore and Bhopal, the number one clean cities of the country, have also left their mark in the world. More than 80 per cent civic bodies of the state have increased their cleanliness ranking. Presently, the urban bodies of the state are busy in the preparations for the upcoming Swachh Sarvekshan-2023.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that Ayodhya would be made one of the most beautiful cities of the world with an investment of over Rs 32,000 crore, and it would not only add sheen to the majestic grandeur of the holy city but also boost local economy, generating employment opportunities for the local youth.

One of the key milestones would be the installation of Ram Lalla, the idol of Lord Ram, in his own temple. This historic event is scheduled for January. The people have a strong sense of Lord Rams presence in their lives, and the construction of the temple will be a manifestation of their devotion and belief, the chief minister said while addressing a rally in Ayodhya on the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi government on Thursday.

The chief minister said that Ayodhya held a special place in the hearts of millions of people and even for those who were not fortunate enough to be born here desired to be present when the Ram temple would be dedicated to people.

He said that Ayodhya had become a city that every major city aspired to connect with. New airport is coming up and the city is now linked with expressways. It is a matter of time when Ayodhya will be transformed into the new Ayodhya, he said.

Taking people to the Ramayana age, Yogi said that after the airport was built, there would be an opportunity to refresh the memory of Tretayug when Lord Shri Ram came to Ayodhya by Pushpak Viman after the victory of Lanka.

The chief minister said that Ayodhya was becoming the most prosperous city and district, embodying the spirit of Ram rajya and inspiring the entire nation. He expressed his commitment to making Ayodhya the most beautiful city in the world and developing Bharatkund, similar to Suryakund.

The meditation place of Mahatma Bharat will be brought to life with mesmerising light and sound displays.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also unleashed his vision for the roads of Ayodhya, stating that within the next four to six months, they would resemble the iconic Rajpath in Delhi. The development programmes of hospitals, education centers were being expanded, he added.

There is no dearth of money for development. Our government has stopped the loot of public money, and now we are investing that money in development, the chief minister said.

Chief Minister Yogi stated that, Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the New India has gained global recognition and respect. The successful leadership of Prime Minister Modi will continue to receive the blessings of people, leading India to become the worlds third-largest economy. This will raise the per capita income and enhance overall connectivity across the nation.

Yogi expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work under the successful leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He expressed his pride in witnessing the realisation of dreams under Prime Minister Modis leadership, such as the construction of the grand temple of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, beautification projects in Mathura-Vrindavan, and the upcoming Kumbh in Prayagraj.

He urged everyone to cooperate to advance Indias growth and stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party government would be formed again in 2024 under Prime Minister Modis leadership.

The chief minister has set a target of lighting 21 lakh lamps during the upcoming Deepotsav. He called for lighting of lamps in every house of Ayodhya, in addition to ghats, math-temples, Suryakund, and Bharat Kund. The preparations for this should commence from now itself, as it sets the stage for the arrival of Lord Ram in his own temple next year, he said.
LENKA APPOINTED NATIONAL YC GEN SECRETARY

Bhubaneswar: Dr Smruti Ranjan Lenka has been appointed as general secretary of the All India Youth Congress national committee by All India Youth Congress national convenor Krishna Alavaru and All India Youth Congress president BV Srinivasan. Lenka has been appointed in-charge of Assam and Meghalaya. From 2017, Lenka was functioning as national secretary. From June 2020, he was appointed as Odisha Youth Congress president, He has thanked the Congress leadership for entrusting the responsibility to him.

NATL WATER AWARDS: GANJAM ADJUDGED BEST DISTRICT

Bhubaneswar: Ganjam has been adjudged as the Best District in the 4th National Water Awards. Besides, Odisha has secured the second position among all States. Madhya Pradesh won the Best State award while Andhra Pradesh and Bihar were jointly placed at the third position. Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar will confer the awards on June 17 at a ceremony to be held at the Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, by the Department of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD &GR), Ministry of Jal Shakti.

REGIONAL SCIENCE CENTRE HOLDS SCIENCE-BASED ART PERFORMANCE

Bhubaneswar: On the occasion of Raja festival on Thursday, the Regional Science Centre, Bhubaneswar, in association with Natya Chetana organised a science-based art performance on the theme A fly to the Earth alongside a slew of events like theatre making workshop, poster making and a storytelling session Life of Women Scientists of India. The programme was aimed at offering gratitude to Mother Nature for her contribution to human life.

BISWAL NOMINATED AS ZRUCC MEMBER

Bhubaneswar: The Ministry of Railways in a notified memorandum has nominated Sachita Nanda Biswal as a Members for the 10th Zonal Railway Users' Consultative Committee (ZRUCC) of the East Coast Railway for a period of two years. Biswal has expressed his gratitude to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and the Government of India for having faith on him by entrusting him this responsibility. He has also expressed his commitment to dispose all assignments as a ZRUCC Member and sought cooperation of all rail users for successful implementation of railway planning in the ECoR.

CT SCAN AT B'PUR CITY HOSPITAL DEMANDED

Brahmapur: The Manav Adhikar Surakhya Manch (MASM) has demanded installation of CT Scan Machine in the Brahmapur City Hospital, which receives about 1,000 patients daily. Due to lack of CT Scan Machine, patients spend a lot to get the proper treatment outside the City Hospital. The Manch headed by its convener Abani Kant Gaya along with Shyam Sundar Khadanga, Maguni Nahak, Maheswr Badatiya, Gurudev Behera, K Bighnesh submitted a memorandum to the Health Minister through the CDMO.

2 INTER-STATE ATM ROBBERS HELD BY RAMBHA POLICE

Chhatrapur: The Rambha police arrested two inter-State ATM robbers with Rs 92,000 on Wednesday. The robbers Raghunath Reddy and Harhara Reddy had been very active in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh for last couple of years targeting ATMs of different districts of Odisha and AP. Recently, they were involved in three ATM robbery cases in the Rambha area and one in Belaguntha. Police also seized 12 SIM cards from them. Police informed that they were also involved in some ATM robbery cases in Puri district.

GIRL DROWNS IN MAHANADI INJAGATSINGHPUR

Jagatsinghpur: A minor girl, Lucy Mallick, of Jagannathpur village under Kujang block in Jagatsinghpur district drowned in the Mahanadi while taking bath on Wednesday. The 13-year-old girl had gone to the river for taking a bath with her grandmother but was swept away by strong currents and went missing. Fire Service personnel from Kujang and locals launched a search operation to trace her. After six hours, the girl's body was recovered from the river.

POWER STAFFS HARD WORK APPRECIATED BY DEPT

Bhubaneswar: The power sectors ground staffs, linemen and engineers, who have been tirelessly working day and night to restore the electricity supply network after severe Kalbaishakhi spells, have received appreciation from the Energy Department. In a tweet by the department, it was acknowledged that the frequency and intensity of Kalbaisakhis have caused significant damages to the power infrastructure.

KHARIAR COLLEGE UG, PG RESULTS OUT

Nuapada: Results of UG and PG courses of the Khariar Autonomous College were declared on Wednesday in the presence of college Principal Dr Tarun Kumar Pradhan, Examination Controller Dr Padmalochan Burma, Deputy Examination Controller Rajalakshmi Rath and Plus Two Principal Dr Ashwini Padhi. Pass rate in UG courses is 77.6% and PG pass rate 85.06%. Total 411 students had appeared in the UG examinations out of which 319 passed. In PG courses, 90 students had appeared and 77 passed. Girls have done better than boys. The pass rate in UG English language was cent percent.


In a scathing attack on Congress , Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj accused the Congress of plagiarising ideas and manifesto points from their party.

Addressing a Press conference on Thursday, Bharadwaj asserted that the Congress not only faced leadership issues but also a crisis of ideas. He warned that if Opposition parties fail to unite for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, there might not be an election in the country next time. Bharadwaj even claimed that if Prime Minister Narendra Modi is re-elected in 2024, he could potentially change the Constitution and declare himself the countrys king for life. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva dismissed Bharadwajs claims as baseless.

Highlighting the alleged theft of ideas, Bharadwaj stated, Not only is there a leadership crisis in the Congress, but there is also a crisis of ideas. Its connection with the people has ended.

The oldest party in the country has started stealing ideas and manifestos from the newest party in the country (AAP). The word Guarantee has also been copied from us.

Bharadwaj pointed out instances where the Congress reportedly replicated AAPs initiatives, including the free bus rides for women in Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.

He criticised the Congress for opposing AAPs schemes in the past but implementing similar programs in other states.

The AAP leader mentioned that the Congress had previously mocked AAPs proposals but later announced similar schemes in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, albeit with additional conditions.

The AAP leader accused the Congress of lacking talented individuals to lead the party, referring to them as the CCC  Copy Cat Congress.

He claimed that the Congress was disconnected from the ground realities and lacked party workers who understood peoples issues.

Regarding the upcoming Opposition conclave in Patna on June 23, Bharadwaj emphasized the need for opposition parties to come together to fight the BJP. He warned that the BJP was suppressing the opposition through various means.
Darul Uloom Deoband, the Islamic seminary of North India located in Saharanpur district, in an unusual order has barred its students from learning and reading English and any other language while studying in the Islamic seminary.

The order, issued by Maulana Hussain Haridwari, the in-charge of the education department, emphasises strict adherence to the order and warns of expulsion on non-compliance. Under the directive, students are prohibited from learning English throughout their tenure at the madrasa.

Any student found violating this restriction, or secretly engaging in language study, will face expulsion from the institution. Also, the students found absent from classrooms or leaving before the completion of their classes will face severe consequences, the order stated.

The order is a big setback for the students, who, along with Dinee Talim (religious education) were also learning English for pursuing higher studies and were preparing for competitive examinations after completing religious education at Darul Uloom Deoband.

Criticising the managements decision, a student, requesting anonymity, said, While we acknowledge that Darul Uloom is dedicated to Islamic studies, preventing students from learning English or any other language seems unreasonable. The management should reconsider their decision, the student said.

Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulama e-Hind, who controls the Islamic institution, said. Madrasa is our religion, the students first become Alim-e-din (religious scholar) then they should pursue other courses like medical and engineering'.

He added, A person riding two boats can never get success in life.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party MP from Sambhal, Shafiqur Rahman Barq, has opposed celebration of Yoga Day in madrasas, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party government wants madrasas not to impart religious education so that Muslim children do not get religious education.

Barq said, Yoga is a good thing and not bad. Every person can do yoga in their home. What is the meaning of (celebrating) Yoga Day (in madrasas)?

Madrasas are not part of the Yoga Day events, but are meant to impart religious education... Talim Divas (education day) should be celebrated in madrasas, he said.

Barq pointed out that earlier there used to be wrestling arenas where wrestlers used to go to do exercise. Various Muslim bodies in the past have opposed the Yoga Day celebrations, saying that recitation of shlokas during Yoga interferes with core beliefs of Islam.

The minority cell of the BJP unit in UP has announced that it would organise Yoga Day celebrations in hundreds of unrecognised madrasas in the state on International Yoga Day on June 21.
The crucial Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport drain being constructed by the Delhi Development Authority is expected to be completed by July and will bring respite from any possible waterlogging incidents in the area.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena inspected the progress of the work on the drain on Thursday, his seventh such visit, the statement issued by his office said.

During the inspection, the LG was informed by officials that 95 per cent of the work, like broadening and deepening of drains, construction of a culvert beneath the passing railway track and construction of five water bodies in different sectors of Dwarka to absorb the rainwater during monsoons had been completed, it said.

Record efforts put in by the DDA along with the Railways and DIAL (Delhi International Airport Limited) during the last eight months under consistent supervision and personal guidance of Delhi LG have ensured that the 2.5-Km-long, 20-metre-wide and 2-metre-deep airport drain will be ready by July, the statement said. The drain will channelise rain and stormwater discharge from the airport to the Najafgarh drain.

The project was stuck since 2019 due to the lack of permission to relocate trees at the site, which was finally granted by the Delhi government in November 2022 after the LGs intervention, it said. According to the statement, the lack of drainage in the area had time and again led to embarrassing waterlogging at the IGI Airport, and created problems like traffic snarls for thousands of residents of neighbouring Dwarka sectors.

The existing two drains at the IGI airport have proved insufficient for discharging rainwater from the airport which has often resulted in severe waterlogging in and around the airport during heavy rains, the statement said.

Heavy waterlogging even forced closure of the IGI Airport on many occasions. It also causes flooding in the adjoining Dwarka Sector-8, which houses several prominent government organisations, it said.
Hearing on a public interest litigation regarding the planned Mahapanchayat in Purola, Uttarkashi, which was postponed earlier on Wednesday, the Uttarakhand High Court has directed the State government to ensure necessary measures to maintain peace, law and order. The court has also prohibited television debates on the Mahapanchayat.

The PIL by Association for the Protection of Civil Rights member advocate Shahrukh Alam was taken up for hearing by the division bench of chief justice Vipin Sanghi and justice Rakesh Thapliyal on Thursday. The court said that the government should act effectively according to the law in such matters. It also stated that no television debates will be held on the subject and that the social media will not be used for it. The police was directed to submit a reply within three weeks after investigating those against whom cases were lodged in the matter.

The PIL had sought prohibition on holding the Mahapanchayat amidst tensions in Purola after an attempted kidnapping of a minor by two men. The petitioner stated that the two accused had been arrested. Even after that, members of a particular community were being forced to vacate their shops. The petitioner had expressed apprehension that leaders of organisations attending the proposed Mahapanchayat could make hate speech which might spoil the situation. The advocate general SN Babulkar stated that adequate arrangements have been made to maintain peace in Purola but some people sitting in Delhi are trying to spoil the atmosphere in Uttarakhand. He pointed out that the organisers of the Mahapanchayat had themselves postponed the event a day earlier, adding that there is no risk of communal tension or riots in the State.

It will be recalled that earlier the Supreme Court had refused to hear this petition and allowed the petitioner to approach the High Court or authorities concerned for relief.
To provide socio-financial security to Antyodaya families under DAYALU Yojana, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday digitally transferred Rs. 6.36 crore into the accounts of 223 beneficiaries of Antyodaya families having annual income of upto Rs 1.80 lakhs in case of death or disability (more than 70 percent) of their family members.



Presiding over the meeting, the Chief Minister directed the officers to change the age category, so as to ensure that maximum families can be benefitted. As per the decision, now financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh will be given for age over 25 years upto 45 years. Earlier the assistance was for age over 25 years upto 40 years. A similar change has been made in the age category of for the age of above 40 years upto the age of 60 years. Now the assistance of Rs 3 lakh, instead of Rs. 2 lakh will be given for age of above 45 years upto the age of 60 years. Haryana Home and Health Minister Anil Vij, School Education Minister Kanwar Pal Gujjar and Higher Education Minister Mool Chand Sharma were present in the meeting.



According to an official statement, at present, this scheme provides assistance that would vary depending on the age of the person at the time of death or permanent disability. The assistance of Rs.1 lakh upto the age of 6 years, Rs 2 lakh above the age of 6 years upto the age of 18 years, Rs 3 lakh for age above 18 years upto 25 years, Rs 5 lakh for age over 25 years upto 40 years and Rs 2 lakh for the age of above 40 years upto the age of 60 years. This scheme also includes the amount received under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and other insurance schemes.



The Chief Minister said that the state government is committed to the economic and social upliftment of Antyodaya. He said that he considers the entire Haryana as his own family. DAYALU Yojana launched by the state government is a part of the series of initiatives taken by the state government for providing several kinds of financial relief to such families, said Khattar.



Under the DAYALU Yojana, on the basis of the PPP verified data, assistance is provided in case of death or disability (more than 70 percent) in respect of a member of a family having an annual income of upto Rs.1.80 lakh. The Government has established a trust namely Haryana Parivar Suraksha Nyas to consolidate existing insurance schemes, ensure standardized and simplified claims processing and provide direct benefits to the people.
The IMD has issued alerts regarding Biparjoy, due to cyclonic storm, waves can rise several feet high in the Upper Lake and people should be banned from going near the Lake.

Strong winds due to the waves would be witnessed, fishermen were banned from going to the Upper Lake. State Lake Guard teams were on alert mode. IMD also sent an advisory related to the storm to the state government.

Met issued warning of thundery activities Bhopal, Sehore, Narmadapuram, Khandwa, Burhanpur, Chhindwara, Jabalpur, Sagar, Ratlam, Shajapur and Seoni districts while hot nights would be witnessed in Chhindwara, Chhattarpur, Tikamgarh and Umaria districts.

Very Severe Cyclonic Storm " Biparjoy " with maximum sustained wind speed of 115-125 kmph and 140 kmph intensified as a very severe Cyclonic Storm with gusts of wind speed of 15 kmph and cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coast between Mandvi (Gujarat) and Karachi (Pakistan) near Jakhau port (Gujarat).

Before the entry of monsoon, both day and night are heating up in Madhya Pradesh. In June, the day temperature in Khajuraho has touched 45 degrees Celsius, while Datia, Damoh, Tikamgarh, Umaria, Rewa, Nowgong and Gwalior have the hottest nights. Especially in Tikamgarh-Umaria, the temperature will be high. There is a heat wave like situation in Dhar, Balaghat and Ratlam. Hot winds are also blowing in Khajuraho and Nowgong of Chhatarpur.

Due to the scorching heat day and night, some relief is expected only after June 17, because the weather will change in Rajasthan. Its effect will also be seen in Madhya Pradesh. There will be hot weather on June 15 and 16 as well. However, amidst the scorching heat, the weather patterns will remain changed in many cities of the state.

The cyclone 'Biparjoy', which arose in the Arabian Sea, has drawn all the moisture from the state. Due to this, the weather is clear in the state and there is effect of heat. On the other hand, Rajasthan is also hot. Because of this, hot winds are coming from there to Madhya Pradesh. The effect of heat is more in the border districts. The storm will move to Rajasthan via Pakistan. It is likely to rain there on June 16-17. Because of this, the weather will change in Madhya Pradesh as well. Warm winds will turn into cold winds. There will be some relief from the heat.

Due to lack of moisture in the air, the nights of Madhya Pradesh are also hot.
Pb Governor appoints Dr. Susheel Mittal as the Vice Chancellor of I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University



Chandigarh: Punjab Governor and Chancellor of Universities in the State, Banwari Lal Purohit has appointed Dr. Susheel Mittal as the Vice Chancellor of I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar.

He has been appointed for a period of three years, with effect from the date of his assumption of office. Mittal did his Doctorate in Chemistry from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India in 1986 and is a Chartered Chemist (CChem), Fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) London (UK) and a Member of the Advisory Board/Editorial Board of many international and national journals of repute. Presently, he is serving as Vice-Chancellor of SBS State University, Gurdaspur and earlier, he served at Thapar Institute of Engg and Technology.



Punjab VB nabs Patwari for forging mutation documents



Chandigarh: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has nabbed a retired Patwari for accepting a bribe of Rs 2500 and furnishing forged documents pertaining to Jamabandi of Mutation in 2016. The accused Patwari has been identified as Iqbal Singh, who was posted at Revenue Halqa Jalalabad city in Fazilka district. An official spokesperson of the VB said that the retired Patwari Iqbal Singh has been arrested on the complaint of Rajesh Kumar resident of Panje Ke Uttar in Ferozepur district.



Memoirs of former Pb Chief Secy Ranjan Kashyap to be unveiled today



Chandigarh: 'Beyond the trappings of office, a civil servant's journey in Punjab', a memoir by Rajan Kashyap, former Chief Secretary of Punjab, would be released at Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration (MGSIPA), Sector - 26 on Friday by former Chief Justice SS Sodhi and Gurbachan Jagat, ex-Governor of Manipur. The book describes the growth story of the state, and the important events and leaders who shaped the unprecedented development of Punjab over half a century. Kashyap joined the IAS in 1965 and retired as Chief Secretary in 2003 after a career spanning 38 years.



Himachal CM launches map on 'Celebrities associated with Shimla'



Shimla: Himachal Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched the 'Celebrities associated with Shimla' map prepared by Trilok Suryavanshi on Wednesday evening. Suryavanshi is a former Assistant Director of the Department of Language, Art and Culture. Sukhu said that Shimla is a historic city and many world-famous celebrities have association with this place. He lauded the efforts to compile information about different historical sites of Shimla and hoped that this map would prove to be an interesting record for youth to get information about the historical importance of Shimla.



HP bags award in tobacco control



Shimla: Mission Director, National Health Mission (NHM), Sudesh Mokta and Director of Health Services, Dr. Gopal Beri handed over the award for outstanding contribution in the area of tobacco control to Himachal Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil. MD, NHM apprised the Minister that Himachal Pradesh was given this award for the commendable work done for tobacco control on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day this year.



Hry to introduce 'Diploma in Proficiency in Sanskrit' at Sanskrit College, Panchkula



Chandigarh: Haryana Higher Education Minister Mool Chand Sharma on Thursday said that the Education Department will introduce a new 'Diploma in Proficiency in Sanskrit' at the Shri Mata Mansa Devi Government Sanskrit College in Panchkula from this academic session. The college has been allocated 40 seats for this diploma course, while the Government College for Women in Bhodia Khera, Fatehabad has also been allotted 40 seats for M.A. Sanskrit, he added.



Intensive campaign launched in Haryana to control power theft



Chandigarh: Haryana Power Utilities has launched an intensive campaign to control power theft in the state. A total of 264 teams of Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (UHBVN) detected 1144 power theft cases of 2320 KW load and a fine of about Rs 2.90 crore was imposed accordingly. Managing Director of UHBVN, Saket Kumar shared the details of the campaign, stating that it involved comprehensive inspections conducted throughout the state by the Nigam. The Nigam, with the assistance of law enforcement authorities, took strong measures against individuals involved in power theft by carrying out coordinated raids across all districts of the state. He said that a total of 287 teams of Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam caught 1511 power thefts of 3489 KW load and imposed a fine of about Rs 6.30 crore.



Himachal CM virtually reviews law and order situation



Shimla: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday held a virtual meeting with all Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police to review the law and order situation in the context of the Salooni incident in Chamba district and directed to keep strict vigil to maintain law and order situation in their respective districts. Chief Secretary, Prabodh Saxena, Principal Secretary Home, Bharat Khera, OSD to the Chief Minister, Gopal Sharma, ADGPs, Satwant Atwal and Abhishek Trivedi, IGP, Santosh Patial, Principal Private Secretary to the Chief Minister, Vivek Bhatia and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.
Addressing Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police of all districts of the State Chief Minister Hemant Soren today said, You are an important part of the state government. You have the important responsibility of running this state in a better way. In such a situation, better maintenance of law and order is possible with your prudence, your working style, your information system, your creativity and your vigilance. The CM was holding a high level meeting on law and order in the State in the presence of senior police officers along with the DCs, SSPs and SPs.

He gave several important instructions to the police officers in order to review other matters related to law and order maintenance, including control of extremism-crime, illegal mining and drug trafficking.

The CM said that the faces of crime are changing every day. New challenges are coming in front of you. Not only this, many new challenges will come in front of you in the future as well. Along with dealing with such present challenges, start formulating a strategy to deal with future challenges from now itself.

He said that once Jharkhand was known to be one of the most militancy-affected states in the country. But, today the situation is the opposite. Insurgency has almost been wiped out in the state. This is our biggest victory and it is the result of our better policing. Praising the police, Jharkhand's police have made its own identity as the best police in the country in dealing with extremism. Now you have to fulfill the same responsibility in keeping the society safe.

The CM said that all necessary steps needed to be taken to maintain law and order in the State. In this connection, a database of anti-social elements should also be prepared. So that, if a situation of tension arises in any part of the state due to any reason, then prompt action can be taken against anti-social elements to control it.

Soren said that law and order and crime control gets strengthened only by better coordination between DC and SP in any district. Similarly, they should have constant coordination with the DC and SP of their neighbouring districts from the headquarters, in this connection meetings are held at regular intervals with you.

The CM said that the stronger the relationship of trust between the police and the public, the easier it would be to maintain law and order. If someone takes the law into his hands, legal action should be taken against him, because, maintaining law and order is a special priority of the government.

He took information from the police officials about the number of various cases registered in the state, pending cases and warrants, their research and supervision. He directed to prepare an action plan to reduce the number of pending cases. Apart from this, instructions were given to make Assistant Research Officer along with Research Officer (IO) for investigation of crimes. With this, the research of the scandals can be expedited.

The very low rate of conviction in various cases registered in Jharkhand is a matter of concern. In such a situation, the CM directed the police officers to improve the quality of research in various cases so that the rate of conviction could increase. He said that Dhanbad, Pakur, Sahibganj Deoghar, Jai Police officers should be deputed from the police headquarters for the districts where the rate of conviction is very low.

The CM said that the government is very serious about illegal mining. All necessary steps should be taken especially to stop illegal mining and transporting of coal, sand, iron ore and stone. He gave instructions to make the District Task Force more effective in this direction. On this occasion, the CM was informed about the action being taken by the Mines Secretary to stop illegal mining.

He said that problems increase due to the communication gap between the police-administration and the common people. In such a situation, the police should organize social activities in mission mode in rural areas along with Zilla Parishad members, chiefs, MPs and MLA representatives and other people's representatives. This will go a long way in connecting people with the welfare schemes of the government, while it will be easy to control different types of crimes.
In a remarkable display of leadership and compassion, Manish Kumar, the newly appointed District Development Commissioner (DDC) of East Singhbhum, took charge of his responsibilities and immediately engaged in a selfless act of donating blood. His gesture has inspired many and garnered admiration from the community.



Kumar, an experienced and dedicated civil servant, officially assumed the role of 28th DDC in a ceremony held at the district administrative office earlier today. Known for his commitment to public service, Kumar wasted no time in making a significant impact upon taking charge.



Shortly after assuming office, Kumar, accompanied by a team of health professionals, proceeded to a local blood bank to donate blood. The act, aimed at promoting awareness about blood donation and encouraging others to contribute to this noble cause, resonated deeply with the people of .



The selfless act of Manish Kumar reflects his strong belief in the power of giving back to society and setting an example for others to follow. Donating blood not only saves lives but also highlights the importance of voluntary blood donation, especially during times when blood shortages are a recurring concern.



Local residents and members of the medical fraternity have lauded Kumar's initiative, considering it a significant step toward reinforcing the importance of blood donation and its positive impact on healthcare services. His act of kindness has not only created awareness but has also encouraged more people to come forward and donate blood to meet the growing demand.



In his inaugural address as DDC, Manish Kumar expressed his commitment to serving the people of and working towards the holistic development of the district. He emphasized the importance of public participation and collaborative efforts to address pressing issues and bring about positive change.



On this occasion, he said that making people aware of the development and welfare schemes of the government and successful implementation of the schemes would be his priorities. He said that as an administrative officer, it is the responsibility of taking the schemes of the government to the last person of the society, under the guidance of the Deputy Commissioner of the district and with the cooperation of the whole team, efforts will be made to discharge this responsibility sincerely, as well as in the office Special attention will also be given on capacity building so that the full potential of all the office bearers and personnel can be better utilised.



Prior to this, he has worked as Kodarma Sub-Divisional Officer and Joint Secretary in the Energy Department. Kumar's dedication, empathy, and commitment to making a positive difference have set a high standard for public service. The community eagerly anticipates the positive changes and initiatives that will unfold under his leadership, as he strives to create a brighter and more inclusive future for the district.
Mystery shrouded the death of a medical student who reportedly died of drug overdose at a MKCG Medical College Hospital hostel on Thursday.

The deceased was identified as Suhani Patnaik, a PG first year student in the Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy Department of the college.

While the exact reason of death was yet to be ascertained, official sources said she was taking medication for migraine and died of drug overdose. Police said they reached the spot on getting information from the medical officer.

We got a call from the PG Womens hostel about the incident. The medical student was unresponsive and rushed to the hospital where doctors declared her dead on arrival. There has been no allegation from the family members or suspicion of foul play until now. A case of unnatural death has been registered and investigation is underway, police informed.
BJP president J.P. Nadda on Thursday met Arjuna awardee and shooter Anjum Moudgil here as part of his party's 'Sampark Se Samarthan' campaign to mark the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi government. Nadda was also accompanied by party's national vice president Saudan Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Anil Jain and Chandigarh BJP chief Arun Sood.

He also met industrialist and philanthropist Sanjeev Juneja.

As part of the 'Sampark Se Samarthan' campaign, met with Olympian and Arjuna Awardee sport shooter Anjum Moudgil Ji at her residence in Chandigarh and shared with her the achievements and initiatives made by our government over the past 9 years, Nadda said in his tweet.

After his meeting with industrialist Juneja, Nadda said, As part of the 'Sampark Se Samarthan' campaign, met with industrialist and philanthropist @imsanjeevjuneja ji at his residence in Chandigarh today and informed him about the various developmental initiatives and growth measures implemented by our government in the past 9 years under the able leadership of Hon. PM Shri @narendramodi ji.

Nadda also visited the residence of former Union minister and Ambala MP Rattan Lal Kataria who passed away last month after a brief illness. He met the family members of Kataria and expressed grief with them. Nadda said Kataria dedicated his life to serving the country.



NADDA MEETS AMARINDER SINGH

Earlier, Nadda met former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and his family at his residence. Nadda was accompanied by party's national vice president Saudan Singh.

"It was a pleasure to welcome @BJP4India President @JPNadda ji and Vice President @saudansinghbjp ji at my residence today, said the former Punjab chief minister, who is the member of the party's national executive.

On this occasion, Amarinder's wife and MP Preneet Kaur, daughter Jai Inder Kaur and son Raninder Singh were also present. Last year, Amarinder had joined the BJP.

Nadda on Wednesday had addressed a rally in Punjab's Hoshiarpur as part of the BJP's 'Maha Jan Sampark' programme to mark the completion of nine-year of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre.

Nadda in his tweet said, a detailed discussion was held with former chief minister @capt_amarinder on the state's political situation, development and other topics in Punjab's Mohali. He said the BJP is committed for the welfare of people of Punjab.


: The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) on June 9 sought a detailed report from the Chief Secretary of Odisha and the Secretary, Jal Shakti, Government of India over the exact situation, preparedness and process of rehabilitation and resettlement of tribals going to be affected due to the Polavaram project.



Acting on a petition dated 10.06.2021, replies from Polavaram Project Authorities and the Government of Andhra Pradesh and a rejoinder dated 15.05.2023 filed by Supreme Court lawyer and rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy, the NCST has sought for a detailed reply within 15 days.



Tripathy described the ground realities of the displaced persons due to the execution of Polavaram Project.



As per current data, submergence and effect on the people is going to increase from 286 habitations to 371 habitations and 44,000 families to 1.05 lakhs families respectively. Project displaced persons (60- 70%) are from backward tribes but there is no plan for their rehabilitation. Displacement of ST people in Odisha, and Chhattisgarh is not considered by the Central Government and the Government of Andhra Pradesh.



Though the Polavaram project is nearing completion and it is assessed that 6,316 persons in Odisha and 11,766 persons in Chhattisgarh will be affected but either rehabilitation plan or construction of protective embankments is only proposed and actual work is not yet undertaken by the project authority, Tripathy contended.



He had requested the NCST to examine all the factual positions and applicable laws, rules and regulations and the legitimate rights of the tribals including proper rehabilitation and resettlement with dignified life.


Supporting the Government of Indias mission of self-sufficiency in edible oils, Patanjali Foods has taken a massive initiative of palm plantation programme which, in due course of time, will become one of the largest and the most sustainable businesses of the agricultural projects in the country. Yoga Guru Ramdev said this while addressing the media in Palm Plantation Farm and Nursery in Hyderabad on Thursday. He said that as part of its Mission Palm Plantation, Patanjali is aiming to connect with five lakh farmers across the country. He further said that his company has already planted one crore palm saplings. We will plant in 15-20 lakh acre area in the next five years. Currently, around 40,000 farmers have been associated with Patanjali in the Mission Palm Plantation," he said, adding that this initiative would help the country to be self-sufficient in edible oil production.

The company is the largest player in the oil palm plantation business in the country on the basis of the allocated area of 0.6 million hectares and planted area of 64,000 hectares, Ramdev said. Going forward, it has set a vision to scale up the plantation area to 0.4 million hectares in the next five years and with this effort, the company is not only making the business more efficient and expanding profitability but it will also support four lakh farmers across the country.

Notably, the company has entered into MoUs with 12 State governments under PPP model which will help it maintain an asset-light business model with sustainable high margins. Any investments made in this business in the next five years will yield benefits for the company over the next 7-25 years, a Patanjali spokesperson said.
The Delhi University is planning to develop the Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute (VPCI) into a multispeciality hospital. Started in the 1950s, the Patel Chest Institute has sent a proposal to the Government of India to make it a full-fledged medical college.

According to Delhi University Vice Chancellor Prof Yogesh Singh, We have Patel Chest Institute. We wish to make it a full-fledged medical institute, which is why the Patel Chest Institute has sent a letter to the Government of India. It is now a specialised hospital if we could include more disciplines. We will open a multispeciality hospital in the coming days, Singh said.

The VPCI is a postgraduate medical institution devoted to research, teaching and patient care in the field of chest diseases.

It is a University of Delhi-maintained institution and is funded entirely by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Institute is ideally located in the heart of the main campus of the University of Delhi, providing the requisite academic environment.

In 1946, the Committee constituted by the Vice-Chancellor for this purpose recommended the establishment of a chest institute. A proposal to this effect was accordingly formulated by the Vice-Chancellor and submitted to the government.

SardarVallabhbhai Patel, the then Deputy Prime Minister, laid the foundation stone for the institute on April 6, 1949.

RajkumariAmritKaur, the then Union Minister of Health, formally opened the Institute on January 12, 1953 and Dr R. Viswanathan was appointed as the first Director of VPCI. The hospital wing, Viswanathan Chest Hospital (formerly known as Clinical Research Centre), was started around 1956. It was inaugurated by the then President Rajendra Prasad on October 24, 1957.
This is a sub-specialty of Forensic Medicine which has been initiated at AIIMS Bhopal under the guidance of Prof Arneet Arora, Professor and Head of the Forensic Medicine and Toxicology department at AIIMS Bhopal.

This sub-specialty does not exist anywhere else in India as part of a medico legal autopsy related investigation. Adding information about the microbiological status in a deceased has advantages in investigation of the case and in providing more accurate and detailed information to the family of the deceased regarding cause of death of the deceased.

Post Mortem Microbiology means exploring the presence of microbes and presence of infection in the body of the deceased. This reflects the microbial status and the status of infection of the person at the time of death. This branch exists in countries of Europe and parts of America and Australia and is useful in detecting deaths due to infection, septicaemia and presence of drug resistant organisms in the person and in the community.

Prof Arneet Arora has been given membership of the only organisation of Post Mortem Microbiology in the world, ESCMID-ESGFOR. This is a European organisation and the abbreviation stands for European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases - Study Group for Forensic Microbiology.

In the recent Post Graduate Training by ESCMID-ESGFOR in Post Mortem Microbiology, in March 2023, for the program 4 presentations from AIIMS Bhopal were accepted, were presented and appreciated by the Organisers. These presentations were given by Dr Arneet Arora, Dr Jayanthi Yadav, Dr Mrinal Patnaik and Dr Sibi Vijaya Kumar.

An intra-mural research project on Post Mortem Microbiology was approved and conducted by the department in 2022 after due process of approval from the Institutional Human Ethics Committee (IHEC) and taking consent from next of kin of research participants.

The department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology in collaboration with the department of Microbiology at AIIMS Bhopal provides the Post Mortem Microbiology (PMM) services in medico legal autopsy cases and has added a new dimension to the understanding of deaths related to infections.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday urged Union Housing and Development Minister Hardeep Puri to include Mohali in the Smart City project for its inclusive development.

Mann, who met Puri at his office in New Delhi, said Mohali assumes immense significance because it is part of the tri-city which also includes Chandigarh and Panchkula. Most of the departments of the Punjab government have their head offices in Mohali and as such it is imperative to give further fillip to its growth, the chief minister said.

He said Mohali and its adjoining municipal committees like Zirakpur, Kharar, Derabassi and Kurali have witnessed immense growth because of the presence of the international airport, educational institutes, industries and townships.

The area needs special funding to support planned growth and infrastructure development, the Punjab chief minister said, adding that including Mohali in the Smart City project for its holistic and planned growth was the need of the hour.

Flagging another issue, Mann requested Puri for the restoration of the same ratio of funds under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 as was the case in AMRUT 1.0. He said under AMRUT 1.0. Centre and States' financial contribution was 50:50 for towns in the one lakh to 10 lakh population category whereas under AMRUT 2.0, it has been revised to 33:67. For cities with a million-plus population like Ludhiana and Amritsar, the ratio was 33:67 while under AMRUT 2.0 it was 75:25, Mann said.

He stressed that these towns are rapidly expanding and need continuous infrastructure development for which the old share ratio must be restored.


Member of Parliament from Lucknow and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will pay a three-day visit to his parliamentary constituency from Friday.

Bharatiya Janata Party city president Mukesh Sharma said that the defence minister would reach Lucknow airport on Friday at 4:20 pm from where he would go to Nadwa College to attend an event.

Rajnath Singh will also go to Mankameshwar temple to offer prayers, before ending his day with a visit to Atal Convention Centre, Sharma said.

On Saturday, Singh will attend a seminar on self-reliant India at Surya Club.

Sharma further said the defence minister would attend a function at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan on Sunday. He would also witness the progress of construction work of IIM flyover, Munshi Pulia flyover, and then visit Gomti Nagar railway station. The defence minister will leave for Delhi on Sunday evening.
A woman and her five children were burnt alive when a massive fire erupted in a hut located in Urdha village in Ramkol police station area of Kushinagar late on Wednesday night.

The cause of the fire remains a mystery.

The deceased were identified as Sangeeta (38) and her five children, Ankit (10), Lakshmeena (9), Rita (3), Gita (2) and Babu (1).

According to the local residents, Sangeeta and her husband, Navami, had some dispute following which he slept with the children outside the hut. Around midnight, Sangeeta took her children inside the hut and locked the bamboo door and sometime after this the fire broke out in which she and all the five children were burnt alive.

The police are trying to ascertain whether the husband set the hut on fire or the woman set herself and her children on fire or the fire broke out accidentally.

The bodies were sent for post-mortem.

According to reports, Saryu Khatik, a resident of Urdha village under Ramkola police station of Kushinagar, has two sons. One of his sons lives in Ludhiana, Punjab with his family. The second son, Navami lived in Bapunagar, Urdha Ward-2 of Ramkola Nagar Panchayat in Kushinagar with his wife Sangeeta and five children. Saryu and his wife live in a separate hut near his sons hut.

According to Navami, for three days he was having a dispute with his wife over some domestic issue. When Sangeeta informed her parents about the fight, they asked Navami to send her to her maternal home. However, Navami refused to send her and this annoyed Sangeeta and she did not cook food on Wednesday night.

Navami claimed that he fed the children with the days leftover rice and slept with the kids under the tree outside the hut. After midnight, Sangeeta came and woke up all the children and took them inside the hut one by one. Half an hour later, at around 12:30 am, flames started coming out of the hut.

According to Navami, when the children shouted for help, he ran to the hut but the bamboo door was locked from inside. As the fire engulfed the entire hut he raised an alarm following which other residents also woke up and tried to douse the fire. By the time the fire brigade controlled the fire, Sangeeta and the five innocent children had burnt to death.

All the household articles kept in the hut were reduced to ashes. The cooking gas cylinder kept in the hut also exploded.

Meanwhile, three women and two children drowned in Chhoti Gandak river in Tarkulwa area of Deoria district on Wednesday evening.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of life in this incident. He ordered financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the families of each of the deceased.

On Wednesday evening, a group of 11 people were taking a bath in the Chhoti Gandak which flows near Ratanpura village. One person slipped into deep water and started drowning, and others rushed to save him and were also drowned.

District Magistrate Akhand Pratap Singh said three women and two children drowned, while two people were rescued by locals and admitted to a hospital.

Police identified the deceased as Asheya (40), her son Dilshan (14), Shakeena (40) and her son Tinku Ansari (12) and Asheya Khatoon (20).

The bodies were sent for post-mortem.
In an effort to make Uttar Pradesh a hub of pharmaceutical products in the country, the Yogi Adityanath government is preparing the draft of Pharmaceutical Industry Policy-2023, which will be valid for the next five years after its implementation.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, during a recent meeting, discussed the important changes required in the Pharmaceutical Industry Policy 2018 to implement proposals received during the Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit 2023 on the ground.

Chief ministers advisor GN Singh said, The new policy aims to improve the states pharmaceutical and medical device industry by encouraging local production, promoting research and development, and improving the availability of affordable medicines to citizens.

The upcoming policy will focus on creating a conducive environment for the development of the pharma sector in the state and providing subsidies, incentives and land to promote the pharmaceutical industry, he added.

He further said that the main objective of the policy was to create a strong ecosystem for research and development by setting up state-of-the-art facilities and collaborating with academic institutions. The new policy is being prepared to boost the local economy, focusing on the need for specialised technology, quality control system and specialised ecosystem for the pharmaceutical and medical device sector.

According to the policy, the Yogi government will pay a 50 per cent of interest amount for a maximum of seven years on the loan received from a bank for the purchase of land to establish the industry, which will not exceed Rs 1 crore per year. Pharma and Medical Device Park are receiving special focus.

The goal of the policy is to identify plots and develop parks for bulk manufacturing of allopathic, AYUSH products, medical devices and key ingredients used in bulk drug manufacturing.

Global Investors Summit-23 held in Lucknow attracted investment of Rs 28,402 crore from 212 companies in the pharmaceutical and medical equipment sector which will create 57,000 new employment opportunities.
In a shocking incident, a youth hailing from Bokaro was apprehended by the local authorities for allegedly abducting a minor girl. The incident has raised concerns over child safety and has sparked outrage among the community. The incident came to light when the girl's family reported her missing and promptly notified the police.



A youth from Bokaro was arrested for allegedly abducting a minor girl from the RIT police station area in Adityapur in Seraikela-Kharsawan and another youth from Mango is absconding in a similar case during the past 24 hours here.



The police on Thursday arrested a youth identified as Vikash Kumar from sector VI of Bokaro following an FIR lodged by the girls father with the RIT police station on June 13.



The police have also succeeded in recovering the minor girl from the clutch of the abductor who had abducted the victim for marriage purposes.



The RIT police succeeded to recover the girl and arrest the accused after the Seraikela-Kharsawan SP, Anand Prakash took a concerted effort soon after the FIR was lodged.



In the case registered with the RIT police station, the girl has been recovered, but in another case which has been registered with the Birsanagar police station, the abducted girl is traceless.



According to police, a 14-year-old girl who had come out of her home at Zone No 1 in Birsanagar on June 12 to attend her tuition did not return. The family members searched around for her, including at the relatives houses before lodging an FIR with the Birsanagar police station on Wednesday.



The police said, later on, the family members suspected that one Sandeep Dhabal Barua who is a resident of Gaur Bustee in Mango could have abducted the minor for marriage purposes. Presently, both the girl and the youth are missing.



In response to the incident, child rights organisations and concerned citizens have emphasized the urgent need to create awareness about child safety, preventive measures, and the importance of reporting any suspicious activities to the authorities promptly. Such incidents serve as a reminder that collective efforts are essential to protect vulnerable children from harm and ensure their well-being.



The local police have reiterated their commitment to thoroughly investigate the case, gather evidence, and present a strong case before the court. They have urged the community to come forward with any additional information related to the incident that may assist in ensuring a fair trial and appropriate punishment for the accused.



This incident serves as a wake-up call for parents, schools, and the community at large to prioritize the safety of children and establish robust systems that safeguard their well-being. It is crucial to educate young minds about personal safety, consent, and the importance of seeking help when faced with potential danger.


West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday asserted that the panchayat poll nomination process in Bengal is peaceful, while slamming opposition parties for trying to make an issue out of one or two stray incidents.

Banerjee's comments come shortly after Governor C V Ananda Bose said that political violence in the state must come to an end, after visiting Bhangore, where supporters of two parties clashed a day before, leaving three dead.

The Governor had said he has already discussed the situation with Banerjee.

"There is no other state other than Bengal where the panchayat poll nomination process is so peaceful. The opposition parties - CPI(M), Congress, BJP and the ISF are trying to blame us over one or two incidents during the nomination exercise," the chief minister said.

She was addressing the concluding session of the two-month-long Trinamool eh Nabojowar' (New Wave in Trinamool).

Hitting out at the Congress for "allying with the BJP and CPI(M)", Banerjee also said the grand old party should not expect TMC to support them nationally in the fight against the BJP.

Earlier in the day, the Governor had told reporters that some undesirable incidents have happened in some parts of Bengal.

I have made my inferences of them. No violence will be tolerated and we will have to end it," he said, after taking stock of the situation in Bhangore.
Yoga brings the world together to further good health and wellness, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday and wished that it keeps getting more popular globally.

In a historic commemoration, Prime Minister Modi will lead a yoga session for the first time at the UN Headquarters in New York on the 9th International Day of Yoga on June 21.

The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practising yoga. Recognising its universal appeal, in December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.

"I am looking forward to participating in the 9th International Day of Yoga celebrations @UN with Prime Minister @NarendraModi at the UNHQ North Lawn next week," President of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly Csaba Korosi said in a tweet Thursday.

Responding to Korosi on Twitter, Modi said, "Looking forward to seeing you at the International Day of Yoga celebrations at the UNHQ. Your participation makes the programme even more special."

"Yoga brings the world together towards furthering good health and wellness. May it keep getting more popular globally," he said.

In another tweet, Modi shared a set of videos, titled 'Yoga with Modi', depicting the various 'Asanas'.

"Yoga holds profound benefits for both body and mind, fostering strength, flexibility, and tranquillity. Let us make Yoga a part of our lives and further wellness as well as peace. Sharing a set of videos depicting the various Asanas," he said.

Nine years after Prime Minister Modi had first proposed from the UN General Assembly podium to mark International Yoga Day as an annual commemoration, the Indian leader will for the first time be at the UN Headquarters to lead the yoga session in a historic commemoration of the day.

The first International Day of Yoga was commemorated in 2015 and has since then been marked with several sessions and events highlighting the benefits and universal appeal of Yoga at the UN, Times Square and iconic locations across the world.

Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. They will host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. The visit also includes an address to the Joint Session of the Congress on June 22.
AIADMK general secretary K Palaniswami's remark on Friday that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin appeared nervous over the arrest of his cabinet colleague V Senthil Balaji by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), drew flak from the ruling DMK.

Wondering if Stalin had displayed so much concern when his sister Kanimozhi was arrested in connection with the 2G spectrum scam, Palaniswami sought to know why the CM and also the state ministers were showing so much concern for Balaji.

"Why is the CM so nervous? Balaji didn't cooperate with the ED officials, as he had assured....Instead of thinking about the people who voted the DMK to power, the Chief Minister is concerned about Senthil Balaji," Palaniswami said in a video posted on the AIADMK twitter site. In the nearly 14-minute video, he could be heard asking whether Stalin is apprehensive that Balaji would reveal everything to the ED officials.

"Is he afraid, as there's something to hide?" Palaniswami, who is the leader of the opposition in the Assembly, asked. Unlike the DMK members, the AIADMK had no fear, as they had nothing to conceal (madiyil ganam illai, vazhiyil bhayam illai), he said and taunted the DMK to face the ED case in the court and come out clean.

Also, he claimed that DMK organising secretary R S Bharathi withdrew the Rs 4,000 crore graft case, which the latter initiated against him. Dismissing Palaniswami's comments as "filtered lies" Bharathi said the Chief Minister was concerned about the health of Balaji and not otherwise because the ED officials grilled him for over 10 hours and did even give him water to drink.

"Balaji was arrested at midnight and tortured and was not even given water to drink. As a result, he suffered a heart attack," Bharathi said. The DMK organising secretary sought to know the fate of Balaji had there been a delay in admitting him to the hospital. Also, the graft case that he initiated against Palaniswami was still in the court as he did not withdraw it as the AIADMK leader claimed, Bharathi told reporters here.

He took strong exception to the AIADMK general secretary for "belittling" the Chief Minister on the issue. "Did not Palaniswami rush to Delhi and compromise with the BJP leaders when the vigillance officials raided the premises of former AIADMK Ministers: P Thangamani and S P Velumani?" Bharathi asked. He was the first to file a case against late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in the TANSI case, Bharathi said and asked Palaniswami to be aware of history before commenting about others.
Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Get Rating) saw unusually large options trading on Tuesday. Traders purchased 362,709 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of 1,605% compared to the typical volume of 21,273 call options.

Altria Group Trading Up 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE:MO traded up $0.20 during trading on Thursday, hitting $44.15. 8,450,550 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,907,561. The stock has a market cap of $78.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.20, a P/E/G ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.59. Altria Group has a fifty-two week low of $40.35 and a fifty-two week high of $51.57. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $45.54 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $45.87.

Get Altria Group alerts:

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.18 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.19 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $4.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.89 billion. Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 245.43% and a net margin of 22.44%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.12 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Altria Group will post 4.97 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.94 per share. This represents a $3.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. Altria Groups payout ratio is presently 120.90%.

Several research firms have recently weighed in on MO. Citigroup cut their price objective on Altria Group from $49.50 to $47.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 17th. Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on Altria Group in a report on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $52.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com cut Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Altria Group currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $44.67.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Altria Group by 85.6% in the 4th quarter. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC now owns 542 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. Ruedi Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Ellevest Inc. grew its holdings in Altria Group by 346.7% in the 1st quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 670 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 520 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NewSquare Capital LLC grew its holdings in Altria Group by 153.8% in the 1st quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 731 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 443 shares in the last quarter. 58.68% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Altria Group Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company provides cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; cigars and pipe tobacco principally under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco products and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; and on! oral nicotine pouches.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE:ACHR  Get Rating) major shareholder Brett Adcock sold 825,420 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $4.67, for a total value of $3,854,711.40. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 4,159,347 shares in the company, valued at $19,424,150.49. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Large shareholders that own more than 10% of a companys stock are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC.

Brett Adcock also recently made the following trade(s):

Get Archer Aviation alerts:

On Monday, June 12th, Brett Adcock sold 1,000,000 shares of Archer Aviation stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.68, for a total value of $3,680,000.00.

On Friday, June 9th, Brett Adcock sold 1,000,000 shares of Archer Aviation stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.31, for a total value of $3,310,000.00.

On Wednesday, June 7th, Brett Adcock sold 316,302 shares of Archer Aviation stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.19, for a total value of $1,009,003.38.

On Monday, June 5th, Brett Adcock sold 864,966 shares of Archer Aviation stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.02, for a total value of $2,612,197.32.

On Thursday, June 1st, Brett Adcock sold 243,560 shares of Archer Aviation stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.01, for a total value of $733,115.60.

On Tuesday, May 30th, Brett Adcock sold 271,492 shares of Archer Aviation stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.07, for a total value of $833,480.44.

On Friday, May 26th, Brett Adcock sold 474,400 shares of Archer Aviation stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.05, for a total value of $1,446,920.00.

On Wednesday, May 24th, Brett Adcock sold 217,336 shares of Archer Aviation stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.06, for a total value of $665,048.16.

On Monday, May 22nd, Brett Adcock sold 1,718,829 shares of Archer Aviation stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $3.26, for a total value of $5,603,382.54.

Archer Aviation Price Performance

Shares of ACHR traded down $0.15 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $4.45. The stock had a trading volume of 4,854,630 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,273,942. The companys 50-day moving average is $2.65 and its 200 day moving average is $2.57. Archer Aviation Inc. has a 12-month low of $1.62 and a 12-month high of $4.98. The company has a current ratio of 7.28, a quick ratio of 7.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02. The company has a market capitalization of $1.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.91 and a beta of 2.07.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Archer Aviation

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ACHR. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Archer Aviation by 1,667.7% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,964,137 shares of the companys stock worth $21,450,000 after purchasing an additional 6,570,169 shares in the last quarter. Nikko Asset Management Americas Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Archer Aviation by 40.5% in the 1st quarter. Nikko Asset Management Americas Inc. now owns 7,141,005 shares of the companys stock worth $19,995,000 after purchasing an additional 2,057,901 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Archer Aviation by 40.2% in the 1st quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 7,125,147 shares of the companys stock valued at $20,378,000 after acquiring an additional 2,042,043 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Archer Aviation by 31.9% in the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,464,734 shares of the companys stock valued at $21,475,000 after acquiring an additional 1,079,978 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Archer Aviation by 10.7% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 10,713,248 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,962,000 after acquiring an additional 1,037,250 shares during the last quarter. 41.51% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Several equities analysts recently commented on ACHR shares. Benchmark restated a buy rating and set a $12.00 target price on shares of Archer Aviation in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Canaccord Genuity Group started coverage on Archer Aviation in a research report on Friday, June 9th. They set a buy rating and a $9.00 target price for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $8.25.

About Archer Aviation

(Get Rating)

Archer Aviation Inc, an urban air mobility company, engages in designs, develops, manufactures, and operates electric vertical takeoff and landing aircrafts to carry passengers. The company was formerly known as Atlas Crest Investment Corp. and changed its name to Archer Aviation Inc Archer Aviation Inc was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Archer Aviation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Archer Aviation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Ascend Wellness (OTC:AAWH  Get Rating) and Jushi (OTCMKTS:JUSHF  Get Rating) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, risk, institutional ownership, earnings and profitability.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Ascend Wellness and Jushis gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Get Ascend Wellness alerts:

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Ascend Wellness $405.93 million 0.33 -$80.90 million ($0.38) -1.80 Jushi $284.28 million 0.29 -$202.32 million N/A N/A

Ascend Wellness has higher revenue and earnings than Jushi.

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Ascend Wellness 0 2 2 0 2.50 Jushi 0 4 2 0 2.33

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Ascend Wellness and Jushi, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Ascend Wellness presently has a consensus price target of $2.75, suggesting a potential upside of 301.46%. Jushi has a consensus price target of $2.55, suggesting a potential upside of 517.13%. Given Jushis higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Jushi is more favorable than Ascend Wellness.

Profitability

This table compares Ascend Wellness and Jushis net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Ascend Wellness -16.45% -40.01% -7.88% Jushi -66.72% -161.43% -32.20%

Insider and Institutional Ownership

0.0% of Ascend Wellness shares are owned by institutional investors. 17.5% of Ascend Wellness shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 21.0% of Jushi shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Ascend Wellness beats Jushi on 8 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Ascend Wellness

(Get Rating)

Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. engages in the cultivation, manufacture, and distribution of cannabis consumer packaged goods. It owns, operates, and manages cannabis cultivation facilities and dispensaries in several states across the United States, including Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The company's cannabis product categories include flowers, pre-rolls, concentrates, vapes, edibles, and other cannabis-related products. As of December 31, 2022, it operated 24 retail locations. The company also sells its products through company-owned retail stores and third-party licensed retail cannabis stores. Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

About Jushi

(Get Rating)

Jushi Holdings Inc., a vertically integrated cannabis company, engages in the cultivation, processing, retail, and distribution of medical and adult-use products. It focuses on building a portfolio of cannabis assets in various jurisdictions in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, California, Nevada, and Massachusetts. The company also offers hemp-based CBD products, including cannabidiol supplements, tinctures, capsules, softgels, and topicals under The Bank, The Lab, Nira+ Medicinals, Seche, Tasteology, and Nira brands. As of August 25, 2022, it operated 35 BEYOND/HELLO retail locations. The company was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida.

Receive News & Ratings for Ascend Wellness Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ascend Wellness and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Ashtead Group plc (OTCMKTS:ASHTY  Get Rating) saw a large growth in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 2,600 shares, a growth of 23.8% from the May 15th total of 2,100 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 7,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.4 days.

Ashtead Group Price Performance

ASHTY traded down $0.99 during trading on Thursday, reaching $280.00. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,255 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,743. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $241.31 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $248.19. Ashtead Group has a 1 year low of $161.67 and a 1 year high of $285.00. The company has a market cap of $30.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.19, a PEG ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 1.79.

Get Ashtead Group alerts:

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently commented on ASHTY. Barclays raised their target price on Ashtead Group from GBX 6,000 ($75.08) to GBX 6,300 ($78.83) in a research report on Wednesday, March 8th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on Ashtead Group from GBX 5,450 ($68.19) to GBX 5,500 ($68.82) in a research report on Thursday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on Ashtead Group from GBX 4,460 ($55.81) to GBX 5,100 ($63.81) in a research report on Thursday. Societe Generale began coverage on Ashtead Group in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Berenberg Bank raised their target price on Ashtead Group from GBX 405 ($5.07) to GBX 450 ($5.63) in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $4,725.00.

About Ashtead Group

Ashtead Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the construction, industrial, and general equipment rental business in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. It provides pumps, power generation, heating, cooling, scaffolding, traffic management, temporary flooring, trench shoring, and lifting services.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Ashtead Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ashtead Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Barratt Developments plc (OTCMKTS:BTDPF  Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 83,600 shares, a decrease of 61.8% from the May 15th total of 218,900 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 418.0 days.

Barratt Developments Trading Down 9.5 %

Shares of BTDPF stock traded down $0.59 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $5.60. The stock had a trading volume of 2,140 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,594. Barratt Developments has a 12-month low of $3.65 and a 12-month high of $6.70. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $5.93 and a 200 day simple moving average of $5.58.

Get Barratt Developments alerts:

Barratt Developments Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Featured Articles

Barratt Developments Plc engages in the development of residential and non-residential properties mainly in the United Kingdom. It offers services in land, design, construction, and sales and marketing. The company was founded by Lawrence Arthur Barratt in 1958 and is headquartered in Coalville, the United Kingdom.

Receive News & Ratings for Barratt Developments Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Barratt Developments and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
The Goldman Sachs Group cut shares of Great Portland Estates (OTCMKTS:GPEAF  Get Rating) from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a report published on Monday morning, The Fly reports.

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Great Portland Estates from GBX 600 ($7.51) to GBX 625 ($7.82) in a research report on Thursday, June 8th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Great Portland Estates currently has a consensus rating of Reduce and a consensus target price of $572.50.

Get Great Portland Estates alerts:

Great Portland Estates Stock Performance

Great Portland Estates stock opened at $5.95 on Monday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $5.69 and a 200-day simple moving average of $6.21. Great Portland Estates has a one year low of $4.42 and a one year high of $8.00.

Great Portland Estates Company Profile

We are a FTSE 250 property investment and development company owning 2.6 billion of real estate in central London. We proactively manage our portfolio, flexing our activities in tune with London's property cycle to deliver long-term out-performance. We create in-demand spaces that people want to be part of; helping our occupiers, local communities and the city to thrive.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Great Portland Estates Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Great Portland Estates and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Severn Trent (OTCMKTS:SVTRF  Get Rating) and SJW Group (NYSE:SJW  Get Rating) are both utilities companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations, valuation, risk, dividends and institutional ownership.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and recommmendations for Severn Trent and SJW Group, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Get Severn Trent alerts:

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Severn Trent 0 2 0 0 2.00 SJW Group 1 5 0 0 1.83

SJW Group has a consensus target price of $77.60, indicating a potential upside of 6.90%. Given SJW Groups higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe SJW Group is more favorable than Severn Trent.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Severn Trent N/A N/A N/A SJW Group 12.88% 7.57% 2.28%

Institutional & Insider Ownership

This table compares Severn Trent and SJW Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

37.3% of Severn Trent shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 72.1% of SJW Group shares are held by institutional investors. 0.6% of SJW Group shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Dividends

Severn Trent pays an annual dividend of $0.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.4%. SJW Group pays an annual dividend of $1.52 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.1%. Severn Trent pays out 98.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. SJW Group pays out 57.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. SJW Group has increased its dividend for 56 consecutive years.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Severn Trent and SJW Groups top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Severn Trent N/A N/A N/A $0.82 40.57 SJW Group $620.70 million 3.68 $73.83 million $2.66 27.29

SJW Group has higher revenue and earnings than Severn Trent. SJW Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Severn Trent, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

SJW Group beats Severn Trent on 10 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Severn Trent

(Get Rating)

Severn Trent PLC operates as a water and sewerage company in England and Wales. It operates in two segments, Regulated Water and Waste Water, and Business Services. The Regulated Water and Waste Water segment offers water and waste water services to approximately 4.8 million households and businesses in the Midlands and Wales. The Business Services segment generates renewable energy from anaerobic digestion, hydropower, wind turbines, and solar technology; manages and sells land; and offers search services. It also provides contract services to municipal and industrial clients in the United Kingdom; and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense for design, build, and operation of water and waste water treatment facilities and networks, as well as services to developers. The company was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Coventry, the United Kingdom.

About SJW Group

(Get Rating)

SJW Group, through its subsidiaries, provides water utility services in the United States. It operates in two segments, Water Utility Services and Real Estate Services. It engages in the production, purchase, storage, purification, distribution, wholesale, and retail sale of water and wastewater services. The company also provides non-tariffed services, including water system operations, maintenance agreements, and antenna site leases; contracted services and sewer operations to water utilities; and a Linebacker protection plan for public drinking water customers in Connecticut and Maine. Its water supply consists of groundwater from wells, surface water from watershed run-off and diversion, reclaimed water, and imported water purchased from the Santa Clara Valley Water District. The company offers water service to approximately 232,000 connections that serve approximately one million people residing in portions of the cities of San Jose and Cupertino, as well as in the cities of Campbell, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, and the Town of Los Gatos; and adjacent unincorporated territories in the County of Santa Clara in the State of California. In addition, it provides water service to approximately 141,000 service connections, which serve approximately 459,000 people in 81 municipalities with a service area of approximately 270 square miles throughout Connecticut and Maine, as well as approximately 26,000 service connections that serve approximately 77,000 people in a service area comprising approximately 268 square miles in the region between San Antonio and Austin, Texas; and approximately 3,000 wastewater connections in Southbury, Connecticut. Further, the company owns undeveloped land in California and Tennessee; and owns and operates commercial buildings and warehouse properties in Tennessee. The company was formerly known as SJW Corp. and changed its name to SJW Group in November 2016. SJW Group was incorporated in 1985 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

Receive News & Ratings for Severn Trent Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Severn Trent and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Navidea Biopharmaceuticals (NYSEAMERICAN:NAVB  Get Rating) in a research report sent to investors on Monday morning. The firm issued a sell rating on the biopharmaceutical companys stock.

Navidea Biopharmaceuticals Stock Performance

Shares of NAVB stock opened at $0.08 on Monday. Navidea Biopharmaceuticals has a 12 month low of $0.07 and a 12 month high of $0.83. The stock has a market cap of $2.64 million, a PE ratio of -0.14 and a beta of 1.36. The companys fifty day moving average price is $0.17 and its 200-day moving average price is $0.24.

Get Navidea Biopharmaceuticals alerts:

Navidea Biopharmaceuticals (NYSEAMERICAN:NAVB  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, March 21st. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($0.11) EPS for the quarter.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Navidea Biopharmaceuticals

Navidea Biopharmaceuticals Company Profile

A hedge fund recently raised its stake in Navidea Biopharmaceuticals stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its holdings in Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. ( NYSEAMERICAN:NAVB Get Rating ) by 264.5% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 238,133 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 172,800 shares during the quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned 0.74% of Navidea Biopharmaceuticals worth $62,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 5.55% of the companys stock.

(Get Rating)

Navidea Biopharmaceuticals, Inc engages in the development and commercialization of precision immunodiagnostic agents and immunotherapeutic. It operates through the following segments: Diagnostics, Therapeutics, and Corporate. The company was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Dublin, OH.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Navidea Biopharmaceuticals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Navidea Biopharmaceuticals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Central Asia Metals (LON:CAML  Get Rating) had its price target decreased by Royal Bank of Canada from GBX 245 ($3.07) to GBX 240 ($3.00) in a research report released on Tuesday, MarketBeat reports. Royal Bank of Canada currently has an outperform rating on the mining companys stock.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Berenberg Bank reissued a buy rating and set a GBX 320 ($4.00) target price on shares of Central Asia Metals in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Canaccord Genuity Group reissued a buy rating and set a GBX 265 ($3.32) price objective on shares of Central Asia Metals in a report on Wednesday, April 12th.

Get Central Asia Metals alerts:

Central Asia Metals Price Performance

Shares of CAML stock opened at GBX 197.20 ($2.47) on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of 358.71 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,314.67 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a current ratio of 4.17, a quick ratio of 1.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. Central Asia Metals has a twelve month low of GBX 181.40 ($2.27) and a twelve month high of GBX 299 ($3.74). The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 207.44 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 242.33.

Central Asia Metals Dividend Announcement

Insiders Place Their Bets

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, May 23rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 27th were given a GBX 10 ($0.13) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 3.98%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 27th. Central Asia Metalss payout ratio is currently 13,333.33%.

In other Central Asia Metals news, insider Gillian Davidson bought 10,119 shares of Central Asia Metals stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 22nd. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 198 ($2.48) per share, with a total value of 20,035.62 ($25,069.59). In related news, insider Gillian Davidson purchased 10,119 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, May 22nd. The stock was acquired at an average price of GBX 198 ($2.48) per share, with a total value of 20,035.62 ($25,069.59). Also, insider Mike Armitage acquired 8,334 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 29th. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 240 ($3.00) per share, for a total transaction of 20,001.60 ($25,027.03). Over the last three months, insiders have bought 28,453 shares of company stock valued at $6,088,722. 7.12% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Central Asia Metals

(Get Rating)

Central Asia Metals plc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a base metals producer. The company produces copper, zinc, silver, and lead. It owns a 100% interest in the Kounrad solvent extraction- electrowinning operation located near the city of Balkhash in central Kazakhstan; and a 100% interest in the Sasa mine located in north Macedonia.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Central Asia Metals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Central Asia Metals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
UBS Group cut shares of Dominos Pizza Enterprises (OTCMKTS:DMZPY  Get Rating) from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a report published on Tuesday, The Fly reports.

Dominos Pizza Enterprises Stock Performance

OTCMKTS:DMZPY opened at $15.75 on Tuesday. Dominos Pizza Enterprises has a fifty-two week low of $14.35 and a fifty-two week high of $25.85. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $16.45 and a 200-day moving average price of $19.55.

Get Domino's Pizza Enterprises alerts:

About Dominos Pizza Enterprises

(Get Rating)

Read More

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Limited operates retail food outlets. The company holds franchise rights for the Domino's brand in Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Japan, Germany, Luxembourg, Denmark, and Taiwan. It operates a network of 3,396 stores. Domino's Pizza Enterprises Limited was founded in 1983 and is based in Brisbane, Australia.

Receive News & Ratings for Domino's Pizza Enterprises Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Domino's Pizza Enterprises and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Alamo Group Inc. (NYSE:ALG  Get Rating) CFO Richard J. Wehrle sold 1,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.28, for a total transaction of $273,420.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 25,723 shares in the company, valued at $4,688,788.44. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.

Alamo Group Stock Performance

Shares of ALG stock opened at $183.69 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $177.49 and its 200-day moving average price is $165.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 2.36 and a current ratio of 4.14. Alamo Group Inc. has a one year low of $109.04 and a one year high of $186.76. The firm has a market cap of $2.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.78 and a beta of 0.99.

Get Alamo Group alerts:

Alamo Group (NYSE:ALG  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The industrial products company reported $2.79 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.95 by $0.84. Alamo Group had a net margin of 7.47% and a return on equity of 15.16%. The firm had revenue of $411.77 million for the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Alamo Group Inc. will post 11.03 EPS for the current year.

Alamo Group Dividend Announcement

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Alamo Group

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 17th were issued a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, April 14th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.48%. Alamo Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 9.00%.

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in ALG. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Alamo Group by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 113,146 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $16,269,000 after acquiring an additional 1,193 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. increased its stake in Alamo Group by 82.1% during the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 16,027 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,305,000 after buying an additional 7,226 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its stake in Alamo Group by 25.6% during the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 4,008 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $576,000 after buying an additional 816 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can increased its stake in Alamo Group by 4.1% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 4,296 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $640,000 after buying an additional 171 shares during the period. Finally, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund purchased a new stake in Alamo Group during the 1st quarter worth approximately $1,136,000. 91.67% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. DA Davidson boosted their target price on shares of Alamo Group from $208.00 to $212.00 in a report on Thursday, June 8th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Alamo Group in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating on the stock.

Alamo Group Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Alamo Group, Inc engages in the design and manufacture of agricultural equipment and infrastructure maintenance equipment for governmental and industrial use. Its products include tractor-mounted mowing and other vegetation maintenance equipment, street sweepers, excavators, vacuum trucks, snow removal equipment, zero turn radius mowers, agricultural implements, and related aftermarket parts.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Alamo Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alamo Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Canadian Western Bank (OTCMKTS:CBWBF  Get Rating) is one of 144 publicly-traded companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it contrast to its peers? We will compare Canadian Western Bank to similar companies based on the strength of its earnings, valuation, institutional ownership, risk, analyst recommendations, profitability and dividends.

Profitability

This table compares Canadian Western Bank and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Get Canadian Western Bank alerts:

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Canadian Western Bank N/A N/A N/A Canadian Western Bank Competitors 23.68% 9.49% 0.81%

Institutional and Insider Ownership

38.6% of Canadian Western Bank shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 39.2% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are owned by institutional investors. 14.7% of shares of all BanksRegional companies 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.

Analyst Ratings

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Canadian Western Bank 0 2 1 0 2.33 Canadian Western Bank Competitors 942 2829 2638 27 2.27

This is a breakdown of recent recommendations for Canadian Western Bank and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.

Canadian Western Bank presently has a consensus price target of $31.00, suggesting a potential upside of 65.33%. As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 45.79%. Given Canadian Western Banks stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe Canadian Western Bank is more favorable than its peers.

Dividends

Canadian Western Bank pays an annual dividend of $0.78 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.2%. Canadian Western Bank pays out 28.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BanksRegional companies pay a dividend yield of 2.7% and pay out 27.9% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Canadian Western Bank and its peers gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Canadian Western Bank N/A N/A 6.94 Canadian Western Bank Competitors $5.01 billion $1.41 billion 552.56

Canadian Western Banks peers have higher revenue and earnings than Canadian Western Bank. Canadian Western Bank is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Summary

Canadian Western Bank peers beat Canadian Western Bank on 10 of the 13 factors compared.

Canadian Western Bank Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Canadian Western Bank provides personal and business banking products and services primarily in Western Canada. The company offers current, savings, notice, cash management, US dollar, and chequing accounts, as well as organization, business trust, and trust fund investment accounts. It also offers commercial lending and real estate, and equipment financing and leasing products; agriculture lending products; mortgages; lines of credits; registered retirement savings loans; consolidation, and vehicle loans; and credit cards. In addition, the company offers cash management services; life and disability insurance products; and ATM, mobile, and online banking services, as well cheque order services. Further, it provides investment products comprising guaranteed investment certificates, US dollars investments plans, registered retirement income funds, tax-free savings accounts, registered education savings plans, and mutual funds, as well as personal and business planning services. Canadian Western Bank was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Edmonton, Canada.

Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Western Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Western Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Sendas Distribuidora (NYSE:ASAI  Get Rating) is one of 58 public companies in the Grocery stores industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare Sendas Distribuidora to similar companies based on the strength of its earnings, institutional ownership, risk, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations and profitability.

Profitability

This table compares Sendas Distribuidora and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Get Sendas Distribuidora alerts:

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Sendas Distribuidora 1.86% 29.13% 2.88% Sendas Distribuidora Competitors 1.42% 12.83% 4.11%

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings for Sendas Distribuidora and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Sendas Distribuidora 0 1 0 0 2.00 Sendas Distribuidora Competitors 1093 2718 2967 113 2.30

Insider & Institutional Ownership

As a group, Grocery stores companies have a potential upside of 18.76%. Given Sendas Distribuidoras peers stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Sendas Distribuidora has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

4.5% of Sendas Distribuidora shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 45.5% of shares of all Grocery stores companies are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of Sendas Distribuidora shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 21.8% of shares of all Grocery stores companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Dividends

Sendas Distribuidora pays an annual dividend of $0.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.5%. 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 3.8% and pay out 59.3% of their earnings in the form of a dividend.

Volatility & Risk

Sendas Distribuidora has a beta of 0.77, meaning that its stock price is 23% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Sendas Distribuidoras peers have a beta of 0.44, meaning that their average stock price is 56% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Sendas Distribuidora and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Sendas Distribuidora $10.56 billion $236.31 million 18.90 Sendas Distribuidora Competitors $26.74 billion $573.41 million 184.78

Sendas Distribuidoras peers have higher revenue and earnings than Sendas Distribuidora. Sendas Distribuidora is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Summary

Sendas Distribuidora peers 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. The company serves restaurants, pizzerias, snack bars, schools, small businesses, religious institutions, hospitals, hotels, grocery stores, neighborhood supermarkets, and individuals. It sells its products through brick-and-mortar stores, as well as through telesales. The company was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Receive News & Ratings for Sendas Distribuidora Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sendas Distribuidora and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
ASM International NV (OTCMKTS:ASMIY  Get Rating) saw a large drop in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 700 shares, a drop of 30.0% from the May 15th total of 1,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 6,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Analyst Ratings Changes

ASMIY has been the subject of several research reports. Morgan Stanley raised ASM International from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Citigroup initiated coverage on ASM International in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. They issued a buy rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, ASM International has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $347.20.

Get ASM International alerts:

ASM International Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of ASM International stock traded down $1.32 during trading on Friday, reaching $443.45. 5,528 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,918. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.61 and a beta of 1.74. ASM International has a twelve month low of $201.38 and a twelve month high of $450.00. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $394.48 and a 200-day moving average price of $346.63.

ASM International Cuts Dividend

ASM International ( OTCMKTS:ASMIY Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $3.96 earnings per share for the quarter. ASM International had a return on equity of 24.29% and a net margin of 24.66%. The business had revenue of $761.74 million during the quarter. On average, equities research analysts forecast that ASM International will post 14.52 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 25th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 18th were issued a dividend of $2.2659 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 0.61%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 17th. ASM Internationals payout ratio is 17.14%.

About ASM International

(Get Rating)

ASM International NV engages in the research and development, design, manufacture, and sale of equipment, and provision of service to customers for the production of semiconductor devices and integrated circuits. It operates through the Front-end and Back-end segments. The Front-end segment manufactures and sells equipment used in wafer processing, encompassing the fabrication steps in which silicon wafers are layered with semiconductor devices.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for ASM International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ASM International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Austevoll Seafood ASA (OTCMKTS:ASTVF  Get Rating) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 46,100 shares, a decline of 35.5% from the May 15th total of 71,500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 57.6 days.

Austevoll Seafood ASA Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS:ASTVF remained flat at $7.37 during midday trading on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $8.50 and a 200 day moving average price of $8.78. Austevoll Seafood ASA has a 1 year low of $7.00 and a 1 year high of $13.27.

Get Austevoll Seafood ASA alerts:

Austevoll Seafood ASA Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Featured Stories

Austevoll Seafood ASA, a seafood company, engages in the salmon and trout, white fish, and pelagic businesses in Norway, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, South America, and internationally. The company is involved in the ownership and operation of fishing vessels, as well as farming, aquaculture, processing, sale, and distribution of salmon and trout.

Receive News & Ratings for Austevoll Seafood ASA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Austevoll Seafood ASA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Allstate (NYSE:ALL  Get Rating) had its price objective dropped by investment analysts at Bank of America from $149.00 to $136.00 in a report released on Friday, The Fly reports. Bank of Americas target price would suggest a potential upside of 23.03% from the stocks previous close.

A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup decreased their target price on shares of Allstate from $150.00 to $138.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on shares of Allstate from $144.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Allstate from $122.00 to $117.00 in a research note on Friday. William Blair raised shares of Allstate from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on shares of Allstate from $130.00 to $120.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $139.92.

Get Allstate alerts:

Allstate Stock Performance

NYSE ALL opened at $110.54 on Friday. The firms fifty day moving average price is $114.25 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $123.13. The stock has a market cap of $29.06 billion, a PE ratio of -12.46, a PEG ratio of 4.77 and a beta of 0.58. Allstate has a fifty-two week low of $103.20 and a fifty-two week high of $142.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a current ratio of 0.41.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Allstate

Allstate ( NYSE:ALL Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The insurance provider reported ($1.30) earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($1.94) by $0.64. The firm had revenue of $13.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.68 billion. Allstate had a negative net margin of 4.33% and a negative return on equity of 7.77%. The companys revenue was up 11.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.58 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Allstate will post 3.34 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in ALL. Sei Investments Co. raised its holdings in shares of Allstate by 40.2% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 187,869 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $26,022,000 after purchasing an additional 53,824 shares during the period. Prudential PLC acquired a new stake in shares of Allstate in the 1st quarter worth about $1,325,000. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its holdings in shares of Allstate by 13.9% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 23,536 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $3,260,000 after acquiring an additional 2,874 shares during the last quarter. Dakota Wealth Management acquired a new stake in shares of Allstate in the 1st quarter worth about $270,000. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Allstate by 36.2% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,237 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $448,000 after acquiring an additional 860 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.48% of the companys stock.

About Allstate

(Get Rating)

The Allstate Corp. engages in the property and casualty insurance business and the provision of protection solutions. It operates through following business segments: Allstate Protection, Protection Services, Allstate Health and Benefits, Run-off Property-Liability, and Corporate and Other. The Allstate Protection segment offers private passenger auto, homeowners, other personal lines, and commercial insurance marketed under the Allstate, National General, and Answer Financial brand names.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Allstate Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Allstate and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust plc (LON:BRGE  Get Rating) shares traded up 0.2% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as GBX 552.91 ($6.92) and last traded at GBX 550 ($6.88). 196,151 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 85% from the average session volume of 105,796 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 549 ($6.87).

BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust Stock Up 0.5 %

The company has a quick ratio of 2.71, a current ratio of 2.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. The stock has a market cap of 554.49 million, a PE ratio of -276.00 and a beta of 0.99. The business has a 50 day moving average price of GBX 541.08 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 517.49.

Get BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust alerts:

BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust Cuts Dividend

The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 19th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 18th will be paid a GBX 1.75 ($0.02) dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 18th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.32%. BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trusts payout ratio is -351.76%.

Insider Transactions at BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust

BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust Company Profile

In other BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust news, insider Paola Subacchi purchased 1,083 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 11th. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 544 ($6.81) per share, for a total transaction of 5,891.52 ($7,371.77). Company insiders own 10.41% of the companys stock.

(Get Rating)

BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust plc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched by BlackRock Fund Managers Limited. It is managed by BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited. The fund invests in the public equity markets of Europe, excluding the United Kingdom. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock Greater Europe Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Cedar Brook Financial Partners LLC lowered its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (BATS:MTUM  Get Rating) by 1.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 9,914 shares of the companys stock after selling 104 shares during the period. Cedar Brook Financial Partners LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF were worth $1,378,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of MTUM. Syntal Capital Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 23.6% during the first quarter. Syntal Capital Partners LLC now owns 31,899 shares of the companys stock worth $5,367,000 after purchasing an additional 6,090 shares in the last quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF by 63.5% during the first quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,192 shares of the companys stock worth $201,000 after acquiring an additional 463 shares during the last quarter. Eudaimonia Partners LLC acquired a new position in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF during the first quarter worth about $689,000. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new position in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF during the first quarter worth about $329,000. Finally, Colonial Trust Advisors acquired a new position in iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF during the third quarter worth about $45,000.

Get iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF alerts:

iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Price Performance

MTUM traded up $1.52 on Friday, reaching $143.30. 574,300 shares of the companys stock were exchanged. The stock has a market cap of $10.04 billion, a PE ratio of 19.35 and a beta of 0.91. iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF has a twelve month low of $81.37 and a twelve month high of $113.60. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $140.19 and its 200-day moving average price is $142.09.

iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Company Profile

The iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (MTUM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Momentum SR Variant index. The fund tracks an index of large- and mid-cap US equities, selected and weighted based on price appreciation over 6- and 12-month periods and low volatility over the past 3 years.

Read More

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MTUM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF (BATS:MTUM  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Centre Asset Management LLC lowered its position in shares of Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE:TRGP  Get Rating) by 3.5% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,389 shares of the pipeline companys stock after selling 267 shares during the quarter. Centre Asset Management LLCs holdings in Targa Resources were worth $539,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Ellevest Inc. lifted its position in shares of Targa Resources by 122.9% during the 4th quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 350 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 193 shares in the last quarter. MinichMacGregor Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Targa Resources during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Targa Resources during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC increased its stake in shares of Targa Resources by 199.0% during the 4th quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 1,507 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 1,003 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fred Alger Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Targa Resources during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $56,000. Institutional investors own 88.29% of the companys stock.

Get Targa Resources alerts:

Targa Resources Stock Performance

NYSE:TRGP opened at $71.91 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $16.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.62 and a beta of 2.29. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.59. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $72.32 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $72.98. Targa Resources Corp. has a twelve month low of $55.56 and a twelve month high of $79.70.

Targa Resources Increases Dividend

Targa Resources ( NYSE:TRGP Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The pipeline company reported $0.03 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.43 by ($1.40). Targa Resources had a net margin of 5.43% and a return on equity of 24.05%. The company had revenue of $4.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.72 billion. As a group, equities analysts predict that Targa Resources Corp. will post 5.53 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, April 28th were given a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 27th. This is a positive change from Targa Resourcess previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.78%. Targa Resourcess payout ratio is 51.81%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on TRGP shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Targa Resources in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Targa Resources from $89.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Scotiabank assumed coverage on shares of Targa Resources in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. They set an outperform rating and a $115.00 price target for the company. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on shares of Targa Resources from $110.00 to $104.00 in a report on Monday, May 8th. Finally, Capital One Financial restated an overweight rating on shares of Targa Resources in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $100.27.

Targa Resources Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Targa Resources Corp., together with its subsidiary, Targa Resources Partners LP, owns, operates, acquires, and develops a portfolio of complementary domestic midstream infrastructure assets in North America. The company operates in two segments, Gathering and Processing, and Logistics and Transportation.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TRGP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Targa Resources Corp. (NYSE:TRGP  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for Targa Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Targa Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Chubu Electric Power Company, Incorporated (OTCMKTS:CHUEF  Get Rating) was the target of a large decrease in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 477,400 shares, a decrease of 31.6% from the May 15th total of 697,500 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently  days.

Chubu Electric Power Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS:CHUEF remained flat at $12.35 on Friday. Chubu Electric Power has a 1 year low of $8.08 and a 1 year high of $10.85. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $10.68 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $10.11.

Get Chubu Electric Power alerts:

About Chubu Electric Power

(Get Rating)

Read More

Chubu Electric Power Company, Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and retail of electricity in Japan and internationally. The company operates through three segments: JERA, Power Grid, and Miraiz. It generates electricity through thermal, nuclear, hydroelectric, wind, biomass, and solar sources.

Receive News & Ratings for Chubu Electric Power Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chubu Electric Power and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
CompX International (NYSE:CIX  Get Rating) and Simpson Manufacturing (NYSE:SSD  Get Rating) are both industrial products companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, profitability, analyst recommendations, dividends, valuation, earnings and risk.

Institutional & Insider Ownership

8.3% of CompX International shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 91.5% of Simpson Manufacturing shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.4% of CompX International shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.7% of Simpson Manufacturing shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Get CompX International alerts:

Volatility & Risk

CompX International has a beta of 0.61, indicating that its share price is 39% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Simpson Manufacturing has a beta of 1.22, indicating that its share price is 22% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Dividends

Analyst Ratings

CompX International pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.6%. Simpson Manufacturing pays an annual dividend of $1.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.8%. CompX International pays out 56.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Simpson Manufacturing pays out 13.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. CompX International has increased its dividend for 2 consecutive years and Simpson Manufacturing has increased its dividend for 3 consecutive years.

This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for CompX International and Simpson Manufacturing, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score CompX International 0 0 0 0 N/A Simpson Manufacturing 0 1 1 0 2.50

Simpson Manufacturing has a consensus target price of $137.50, suggesting a potential upside of 4.25%. Given Simpson Manufacturings higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Simpson Manufacturing is more favorable than CompX International.

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares CompX International and Simpson Manufacturings revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio CompX International $166.60 million 1.59 $20.87 million $1.78 12.12 Simpson Manufacturing $2.12 billion 2.66 $333.99 million $7.62 17.31

Simpson Manufacturing has higher revenue and earnings than CompX International. CompX International is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Simpson Manufacturing, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

This table compares CompX International and Simpson Manufacturings net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets CompX International 13.28% 13.48% 12.13% Simpson Manufacturing 15.18% 23.71% 13.03%

Summary

Simpson Manufacturing beats CompX International on 15 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

About CompX International

(Get Rating)

CompX International Inc. manufactures and sells security products and recreational marine components primarily in North America. It operates in two segments, Security Products and Marine Components. The Security Products segment manufactures mechanical and electrical cabinet locks, and other locking mechanisms used in various applications, including ignition systems, mailboxes, file cabinets, desk drawers, tool storage cabinets, high security medical cabinetry, integrated inventory and access control secured narcotics boxes, electrical circuit panels, storage compartments, gas station security, and vending and cash containment machines. This segment serves recreational transportation, postal, office and institutional furniture, cabinetry, tool storage, healthcare, and other industries. The Marine Components segment manufactures and distributes stainless steel exhaust headers, exhaust pipes, mufflers, and other exhaust components; gauges, such as GPS speedometers and tachometers; mechanical and electronic controls and throttles; wake enhancement systems, trim tabs, steering wheels, and billet aluminum accessories; dash panels, LED indicators, and wire harnesses; and grab handles, pin cleats, and related hardware and accessories primarily for performance and ski/wakeboard boats for the recreational marine and other industries. The company sells its products directly to original equipment manufacturers, as well as through distributors. The company was incorporated in 1993 and is based in Dallas, Texas. CompX International Inc. is a subsidiary of NL Industries, Inc.

About Simpson Manufacturing

(Get Rating)

Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc., through its subsidiaries, designs, engineers, manufactures, and sells wood and concrete construction products. The company offers wood construction products, including connectors, truss plates, fastening systems, fasteners and shearwalls, and pre-fabricated lateral systems for use in light-frame construction; and concrete construction products comprising adhesives, specialty chemicals, mechanical anchors, carbide drill bits, powder actuated tools, fiber-reinforced materials, and other repair products for use in concrete, masonry, and steel construction, as well as grouts, coatings, sealers, mortars, fiberglass and fiber-reinforced polymer systems, and asphalt products for use in concrete construction repair, and strengthening and protection products. It also provides connectors and lateral products for wood framing, timber and offsite construction, structural steel construction, and cold-formed steel applications; and mechanical and adhesive anchors for concrete and masonry construction applications. In addition, the company offers engineering and design services, as well as software solutions that facilitate the specification, selection, and use of its products. It markets its products to the residential construction, light industrial and commercial construction, remodeling, and do-it-yourself markets in the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Portugal, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The company was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in Pleasanton, California.

Receive News & Ratings for CompX International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CompX International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Currys (LON:CURY  Get Rating)s stock had its reduce rating reaffirmed by stock analysts at Numis Securities in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, MarketBeat reports. They currently have a GBX 53 ($0.66) price objective on the stock. Numis Securities price target would suggest a potential downside of 0.30% from the companys previous close.

Currys Trading Up 3.0 %

LON:CURY opened at GBX 53.16 ($0.67) on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 54.63 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 62.77. Currys has a 12 month low of GBX 48.78 ($0.61) and a 12 month high of GBX 87.15 ($1.09). The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 80.13. The stock has a market cap of 600.69 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -110.75 and a beta of 1.34.

Get Currys alerts:

Insider Transactions at Currys

In other news, insider Alex Baldock sold 185,731 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 59 ($0.74), for a total value of 109,581.29 ($137,113.73). Corporate insiders own 11.22% of the companys stock.

About Currys

Currys Plc operates as a retailer of technology products and services. The company operates through UK & Ireland, Nordics, and Greece segments. It offers consumer electronics and mobile technology products and services; and mobile virtual network operator and consumer electrical repair services. The company also sells its products through online; and offers insurance services.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Currys Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Currys and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Elevance Health (NYSE:ELV  Get Rating) updated its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Tuesday. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $32.70- for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $32.85. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Morgan Stanley raised Elevance Health from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and increased their target price for the stock from $500.00 to $571.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. StockNews.com began coverage on Elevance Health in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on Elevance Health from $571.00 to $575.00 in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Elevance Health from $597.00 to $561.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised Elevance Health from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and upped their price target for the company from $523.00 to $572.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Elevance Health presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $570.60.

Get Elevance Health alerts:

Elevance Health Stock Performance

NYSE:ELV opened at $451.73 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Elevance Health has a 12-month low of $428.87 and a 12-month high of $549.52. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $463.40 and a 200 day moving average price of $479.35. The stock has a market capitalization of $107.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.58, a P/E/G ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 0.85.

Elevance Health Announces Dividend

Elevance Health ( NYSE:ELV Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The company reported $9.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $9.26 by $0.20. Elevance Health had a return on equity of 20.05% and a net margin of 3.86%. The firm had revenue of $41.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $40.93 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $8.25 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 10.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Elevance Health will post 32.78 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 23rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be issued a dividend of $1.48 per share. This represents a $5.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.31%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 8th. Elevance Healths dividend payout ratio is presently 23.04%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Elevance Health

In other Elevance Health news, EVP Gloria M. Mccarthy sold 15,098 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $444.76, for a total transaction of $6,714,986.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 51,435 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,876,230.60. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.35% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Elevance Health

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Continuum Advisory LLC lifted its stake in shares of Elevance Health by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. Continuum Advisory LLC now owns 1,328 shares of the companys stock valued at $611,000 after purchasing an additional 31 shares during the last quarter. Plancorp LLC lifted its stake in shares of Elevance Health by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. Plancorp LLC now owns 1,436 shares of the companys stock worth $705,000 after acquiring an additional 32 shares during the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Elevance Health by 6.8% during the 1st quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 518 shares of the companys stock worth $254,000 after acquiring an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. First Manhattan CO. LLC. lifted its stake in shares of Elevance Health by 7.4% during the 1st quarter. First Manhattan CO. LLC. now owns 492 shares of the companys stock worth $226,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Penserra Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Elevance Health by 4.0% during the 1st quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 1,205 shares of the companys stock worth $591,000 after acquiring an additional 46 shares during the last quarter. 87.66% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Elevance Health Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Elevance Health, Inc operates as a health company, which engages in improving lives and communities, and making healthcare simpler. It operates through the following segments: Commercial and Specialty Business, Government Business, CarelonRx, and Other. The Commercial and Specialty Business segment provides insurance products and services such as stop loss, dental, vision, life, disability and supplemental health insurance.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Elevance Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Elevance Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Global Payments (NYSE:GPN  Get Rating) in a research note released on Tuesday morning, The Fly reports. The firm issued a hold rating and a $105.00 price objective on the business services providers stock.

GPN has been the subject of several other research reports. 51job reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Global Payments in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on Global Payments in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. They issued a neutral rating and a $124.00 target price on the stock. Barclays assumed coverage on Global Payments in a report on Thursday, March 30th. They issued an overweight rating on the stock. Truist Financial upped their target price on Global Payments from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, February 13th. Finally, Citigroup assumed coverage on Global Payments in a report on Friday, April 28th. They issued a buy rating and a $136.00 target price on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $143.75.

Get Global Payments alerts:

Global Payments Price Performance

Global Payments stock opened at $101.95 on Tuesday. Global Payments has a 12 month low of $92.27 and a 12 month high of $136.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.92 and a quick ratio of 0.92. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $103.56 and a 200-day simple moving average of $104.81. The stock has a market capitalization of $26.71 billion, a PE ratio of -216.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.00.

Global Payments Dividend Announcement

Global Payments ( NYSE:GPN Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 1st. The business services provider reported $2.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.31 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $2.29 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.01 billion. Global Payments had a positive return on equity of 10.67% and a negative net margin of 1.58%. Global Paymentss revenue was up 6.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.97 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Global Payments will post 9.61 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.98%. Global Paymentss payout ratio is -212.76%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Penserra Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Global Payments by 6.4% in the 1st quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 1,389 shares of the business services providers stock worth $190,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich boosted its position in Global Payments by 25.7% during the 4th quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 465 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems boosted its position in Global Payments by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems now owns 21,791 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $2,164,000 after purchasing an additional 95 shares during the period. Quent Capital LLC boosted its position in Global Payments by 7.9% during the 1st quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 1,331 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $140,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares during the period. Finally, Rock Point Advisors LLC boosted its position in Global Payments by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Rock Point Advisors LLC now owns 29,306 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $3,084,000 after purchasing an additional 99 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.58% of the companys stock.

Global Payments Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Global Payments Inc provides payment technology and software solutions for card, check, and digital-based payments in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific. It operates through three segments: Merchant Solutions, Issuer Solutions, and Consumer Solutions. The Merchant Solutions segment offers authorization, settlement and funding, customer support, chargeback resolution, terminal rental, sales and deployment, payment security, and consolidated billing and reporting services.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Global Payments Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Global Payments and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Global Wealth Strategies & Associates lowered its stake in shares of Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO  Get Rating) by 68.2% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 682 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 1,465 shares during the period. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates holdings in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF were worth $28,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in VWO. Sound Income Strategies LLC boosted its position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 311.0% in the 4th quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 637 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 482 shares during the period. Endurance Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 303.2% in the 4th quarter. Endurance Wealth Management Inc. now owns 633 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 476 shares during the period. Retirement Group LLC purchased a new position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Dakota Community Bank & Trust NA boosted its position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF by 110.1% in the 4th quarter. Dakota Community Bank & Trust NA now owns 689 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 361 shares during the period. Finally, Boyd Watterson Asset Management LLC OH purchased a new position in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000.

Get Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF alerts:

Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of VWO stock opened at $42.04 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $74.83 billion, a PE ratio of 10.00 and a beta of 0.69. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $40.22 and a two-hundred day moving average of $40.36. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF has a 52 week low of $34.88 and a 52 week high of $43.22.

Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Company Profile

The Fund seeks to track the performance of the FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index, that measures the return of stocks issued by companies located in emerging market countries.

Recommended Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VWO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:VWO  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Prime Medicine, Inc. (NYSE:PRME  Get Rating) major shareholder 2019 Gp L.L.C. Gv sold 15,672 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $14.48, for a total value of $226,930.56. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Major shareholders that own at least 10% of a companys shares are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC.

2019 Gp L.L.C. Gv also recently made the following trade(s):

Get Prime Medicine alerts:

On Wednesday, June 14th, 2019 Gp L.L.C. Gv sold 28,960 shares of Prime Medicine stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $14.87, for a total value of $430,635.20.

On Monday, June 12th, 2019 Gp L.L.C. Gv sold 16,031 shares of Prime Medicine stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $14.98, for a total value of $240,144.38.

On Monday, June 5th, 2019 Gp L.L.C. Gv sold 22,434 shares of Prime Medicine stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.70, for a total value of $374,647.80.

On Wednesday, May 31st, 2019 Gp L.L.C. Gv sold 16,633 shares of Prime Medicine stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $13.65, for a total value of $227,040.45.

On Friday, May 26th, 2019 Gp L.L.C. Gv sold 12,602 shares of Prime Medicine stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $13.70, for a total value of $172,647.40.

On Wednesday, May 24th, 2019 Gp L.L.C. Gv sold 7,900 shares of Prime Medicine stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $13.66, for a total value of $107,914.00.

On Monday, May 22nd, 2019 Gp L.L.C. Gv sold 87,922 shares of Prime Medicine stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $14.13, for a total value of $1,242,337.86.

Prime Medicine Stock Up 1.2 %

Prime Medicine stock opened at $15.01 on Friday. Prime Medicine, Inc. has a 12 month low of $11.07 and a 12 month high of $21.73.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

About Prime Medicine

Separately, StockNews.com raised Prime Medicine to a sell rating in a report on Tuesday, May 23rd.

(Get Rating)

Prime Medicine Inc is a biotechnology company committed to delivering a new class of differentiated one-time curative genetic therapies. Prime Medicine Inc is based in CAMBRIDGE, Mass.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Prime Medicine Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Prime Medicine and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust (NYSEARCA:FXB  Get Rating) shares crossed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $119.96 and traded as high as $122.10. Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust shares last traded at $121.65, with a volume of 21,545 shares.

Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust Stock Performance

The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $120.03 and a 200 day simple moving average of $118.04.

Get Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust alerts:

Institutional Trading of Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $104,000. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its stake in shares of Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust by 417.5% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,035 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $111,000 after buying an additional 835 shares during the last quarter. Elmwood Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $215,000. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC purchased a new position in shares of Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $301,000. Finally, Flow Traders U.S. LLC purchased a new position in shares of Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,245,000.

About Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust

Guggenheim CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust, formerly CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust, is a grantor trust. The Trust issues shares (the Shares) in blocks of 50,000 (a Basket) in exchange for deposits of British Pound Sterling and distributes British Pound Sterling in connection with the redemption of Baskets.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Range Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG  Get Rating) by 19.7% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 9,117 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,502 shares during the quarter. Range Financial Group LLCs holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $908,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management grew its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 145.5% in the first quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 6,590 shares of the companys stock valued at $705,000 after purchasing an additional 3,906 shares in the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 36.2% in the 1st quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 52,003 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,570,000 after buying an additional 13,829 shares in the last quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the first quarter worth approximately $44,000. Baltimore Washington Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new position in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF during the first quarter valued at approximately $241,000. Finally, West Michigan Advisors LLC lifted its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 2.0% in the first quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 14,640 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,568,000 after acquiring an additional 292 shares during the last quarter. 80.07% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF alerts:

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Stock Performance

Shares of AGG traded down $0.41 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $98.04. 659,315 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,986,077. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $98.88 and a two-hundred day moving average of $98.82. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a twelve month low of $93.20 and a twelve month high of $104.39.

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Profile

IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
iSIGN Media Solutions Inc. (CVE:ISD  Get Rating)s stock price rose 50% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as C$0.02 and last traded at C$0.02. Approximately 148,000 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 4% from the average daily volume of 141,948 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.01.

iSIGN Media Solutions Trading Up 50.0 %

The company has a 50-day moving average of C$0.01 and a 200-day moving average of C$0.01. The company has a market capitalization of C$3.40 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.00 and a beta of 0.18.

About iSIGN Media Solutions

(Get Rating)

iSIGN Media Solutions Inc, a data-focused software-as-a-service company, provides location-based security alert messaging and proximity marketing solutions in North America. The company provides Hybrid Analytics Location Observation, a software platform and listening device that offers a suite of functions specifically designed to maximize safety and security within a managed environment, such as school, hospital, shopping plaza, and concert venue; Hybrid Analytics Location Observation with facial recognition offers facial and object recognition modules; Passive Historical Aggregate Contact Tracing, an intelligent smart space analytics platform that utilizes publicly available anonymous interactions between mobile devices to accurately determine occupancy levels and movements of individuals.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for iSIGN Media Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iSIGN Media Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE:AAP  Get Rating) Director Joan M. Hilson bought 388 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, June 9th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $64.26 per share, for a total transaction of $24,932.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 388 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $24,932.88. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink.

Advance Auto Parts Stock Performance

NYSE:AAP opened at $69.91 on Friday. 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, Inc. has a 1 year low of $63.56 and a 1 year high of $212.25. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $108.88 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $129.82. The company has a market cap of $4.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.39, a PEG ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 1.11.

Get Advance Auto Parts alerts:

Advance Auto Parts (NYSE:AAP  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 31st. The company reported $0.72 earnings per share (EPS) 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.43 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $3.57 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Advance Auto Parts, Inc. will post 6.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Advance Auto Parts Cuts Dividend

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 14th will be paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.43%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 13th. Advance Auto Partss payout ratio is 89.15%.

AAP has been the topic of several research reports. Stephens dropped their target price on Advance Auto Parts from $148.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 1st. 92 Resources reissued a maintains rating on shares of Advance Auto Parts in a research report on Thursday, June 1st. Barclays dropped their target price on Advance Auto Parts from $129.00 to $69.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 1st. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on Advance Auto Parts from $144.00 to $67.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 1st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on Advance Auto Parts from $158.00 to $84.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 1st. Seventeen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $103.89.

Institutional Trading of Advance Auto Parts

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AAP. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL increased its position in shares of Advance Auto Parts by 15.7% during the 3rd quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 2,389 shares of the companys stock valued at $373,000 after purchasing an additional 325 shares during the last quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Advance Auto Parts by 92.0% during the 4th quarter. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC now owns 84,994 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,497,000 after purchasing an additional 40,720 shares during the last quarter. Commerce Bank increased its position in shares of Advance Auto Parts by 17.5% during the 4th quarter. Commerce Bank now owns 24,380 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,585,000 after purchasing an additional 3,636 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System increased its position in shares of Advance Auto Parts by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 17,016 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,502,000 after purchasing an additional 366 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Freestone Capital Holdings LLC increased its position in shares of Advance Auto Parts by 4.7% during the 4th quarter. Freestone Capital Holdings LLC now owns 11,154 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,640,000 after purchasing an additional 504 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.04% of the companys stock.

Advance Auto Parts Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Advance Auto Parts, Inc provides automotive replacement parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items for domestic and imported cars, vans, sport utility vehicles, and light and heavy duty trucks. The company offers battery accessories; belts and hoses; brakes and brake pads; chassis and climate control parts; clutches and drive shafts; engines and engine parts; exhaust systems and parts; hub assemblies; ignition components and wires; radiators and cooling parts; starters and alternators; and steering and alignment parts.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Advance Auto Parts Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Advance Auto Parts and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN (NYSEARCA:AMJ  Get Rating) Vice Chairman Peter Scher sold 2,482 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $141.39, for a total value of $350,929.98. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 41,333 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,844,072.87. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink.

Peter Scher also recently made the following trade(s):

Get JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN alerts:

On Monday, May 15th, Peter Scher sold 1,240 shares of JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $135.02, for a total value of $167,424.80.

JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN Stock Up 1.2 %

Shares of AMJ stock opened at $22.85 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $22.45 and a 200-day moving average of $22.38. JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN has a one year low of $17.73 and a one year high of $23.84.

Institutional Trading of JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in shares of JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN by 6.2% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 71,317,554 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,582,537,000 after acquiring an additional 4,181,619 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC increased its stake in JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 7,319,028 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $839,440,000 after purchasing an additional 98,062 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its stake in JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN by 18.7% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,201,689 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $261,000 after purchasing an additional 189,535 shares in the last quarter. Morgan Stanley increased its stake in JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN by 8.9% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 1,121,484 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $24,392,000 after purchasing an additional 91,307 shares in the last quarter. Finally, LPL Financial LLC increased its stake in JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN by 2,217.5% during the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 824,029 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $17,923,000 after purchasing an additional 788,472 shares in the last quarter.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Lennar (NYSE:LEN  Get Rating) had its price objective boosted by stock analysts at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods from $130.00 to $145.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, The Fly reports. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods target price suggests a potential upside of 21.02% from the companys previous close.

LEN has been the subject of several other reports. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on Lennar from $76.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research report on Friday, March 17th. Bank of America raised their target price on Lennar from $103.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Lennar in a research report on Wednesday, May 31st. They issued a sell rating and a $105.00 target price for the company. Seaport Res Ptn reiterated a buy rating on shares of Lennar in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Wedbush increased their price objective on Lennar from $94.00 to $123.00 in a research note on Thursday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $112.33.

Get Lennar alerts:

Lennar Stock Up 4.4 %

LEN opened at $119.81 on Friday. Lennar has a 1-year low of $62.54 and a 1-year high of $120.36. The company has a current ratio of 7.82, a quick ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.16. The stock has a market capitalization of $34.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.18, a P/E/G ratio of 1.97 and a beta of 1.44. The business has a 50 day moving average of $111.10 and a 200-day moving average of $101.93.

Insider Buying and Selling

Lennar ( NYSE:LEN Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, March 15th. The construction company reported $2.12 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.56 by $0.56. The firm had revenue of $6.49 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.99 billion. Lennar had a return on equity of 18.50% and a net margin of 12.66%. Lennars quarterly revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.70 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Lennar will post 9.7 earnings per share for the current year.

In related news, CFO Diane J. Bessette sold 9,289 shares of Lennar stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.16, for a total value of $958,253.24. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 9.53% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lennar

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Sanders Capital LLC boosted its holdings in Lennar by 3.5% during the first quarter. Sanders Capital LLC now owns 3,067,185 shares of the construction companys stock worth $322,392,000 after buying an additional 102,601 shares during the last quarter. Smead Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Lennar by 3.2% during the 1st quarter. Smead Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,057,384 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $321,362,000 after purchasing an additional 94,694 shares in the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Lennar by 111.4% during the 1st quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 2,467,501 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $259,359,000 after purchasing an additional 1,300,163 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of Lennar by 551.1% during the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,824,684 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $191,793,000 after purchasing an additional 1,544,432 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nordea Investment Management AB lifted its holdings in shares of Lennar by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 1,441,742 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $148,802,000 after purchasing an additional 43,237 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.68% of the companys stock.

About Lennar

(Get Rating)

Lennar Corp. engages in the provision of real estate related financial and investment management services. It operates through the following segments: Homebuilding East, Central, Texas, and West, Financial Services, Multifamily, and Lennar Other. The Homebuilding East, Central, Texas, and West segment constructs and sells homes primarily for first-time, move-up, and active adult homebuyers primarily under the Lennar brand name.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Lennar Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lennar and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Seaport Res Ptn reissued their neutral rating on shares of Meritage Homes (NYSE:MTH  Get Rating) in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday, PriceTargets.com reports. Seaport Res Ptn also issued estimates for Meritage Homes Q2 2023 earnings at $3.25 EPS, Q3 2023 earnings at $3.50 EPS, Q4 2023 earnings at $4.18 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $14.46 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $15.20 EPS.

Other analysts have also issued reports about the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Meritage Homes from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $129.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Wedbush restated an outperform rating and set a $132.00 target price on shares of Meritage Homes in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Meritage Homes in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. StockNews.com lowered shares of Meritage Homes from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, May 26th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Meritage Homes in a research note on Wednesday, May 31st. They issued a buy rating on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $115.14.

Get Meritage Homes alerts:

Meritage Homes Trading Up 1.5 %

NYSE MTH opened at $130.90 on Wednesday. The firms 50-day moving average is $123.60 and its two-hundred day moving average is $110.12. Meritage Homes has a 12 month low of $62.51 and a 12 month high of $133.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 1.89 and a quick ratio of 1.89. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.34 and a beta of 1.59.

Meritage Homes Dividend Announcement

Meritage Homes ( NYSE:MTH Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The construction company reported $3.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.51 by $1.03. The business had revenue of $1.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.03 billion. Meritage Homes had a net margin of 14.44% and a return on equity of 23.99%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $5.79 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Meritage Homes will post 15.36 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. Meritage Homess dividend payout ratio is presently 4.41%.

Insider Activity at Meritage Homes

In related news, Director Gerald W. Haddock sold 2,000 shares of Meritage Homes stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.64, for a total value of $249,280.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $747,840. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, Director Gerald W. Haddock sold 2,000 shares of Meritage Homes stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.64, for a total value of $249,280.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $747,840. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Phillippe Lord sold 3,900 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $126.03, for a total transaction of $491,517.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 42,760 shares in the company, valued at $5,389,042.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 7,400 shares of company stock worth $926,077 in the last three months. Insiders own 2.00% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Meritage Homes

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in MTH. Bailard Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Meritage Homes during the 4th quarter worth $267,000. Moran Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Meritage Homes during the 4th quarter worth $4,459,000. Sei Investments Co. raised its stake in shares of Meritage Homes by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 44,065 shares of the construction companys stock worth $4,063,000 after buying an additional 121 shares during the last quarter. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Meritage Homes by 37.2% during the 4th quarter. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,701 shares of the construction companys stock worth $603,000 after buying an additional 1,546 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Portolan Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Meritage Homes during the 4th quarter worth $3,655,000. 95.63% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Meritage Homes

(Get Rating)

Meritage Homes Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs and builds single-family attached and detached homes in the United States. The company operates through two segments, Homebuilding and Financial Services. It acquires and develops land; and constructs, markets, and sells homes for first-time and first move-up buyers in Texas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Meritage Homes Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Meritage Homes and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE:MFA  Get Rating) announced a quarterly dividend on Thursday, June 15th, Zacks reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be paid a dividend of 0.35 per share by the real estate investment trust on Monday, July 31st. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 12.04%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th.

MFA Financial has decreased its dividend by an average of 25.2% per year over the last three years. MFA Financial has a dividend payout ratio of 67.6% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect MFA Financial to earn $1.37 per share next year, which means the company may not be able to cover its $1.40 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 102.2%.

Get MFA Financial alerts:

MFA Financial Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MFA opened at $11.63 on Friday. MFA Financial has a 1 year low of $7.15 and a 1 year high of $13.20. The firms 50 day moving average price is $10.52 and its 200 day moving average price is $10.61. The firm has a market cap of $1.19 billion, a P/E ratio of -10.77 and a beta of 1.95.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several research firms recently commented on MFA. StockNews.com started coverage on MFA Financial in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and set a $11.00 price objective on shares of MFA Financial in a report on Tuesday, March 7th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group restated an outperform rating and issued a $12.50 target price on shares of MFA Financial in a report on Friday, March 10th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $12.45.

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Captrust Financial Advisors acquired a new stake in shares of MFA Financial in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Federated Hermes Inc. grew its position in MFA Financial by 240.7% in the third quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 4,027 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 2,845 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP raised its stake in shares of MFA Financial by 1,734.3% during the first quarter. Quarry LP now owns 4,219 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 3,989 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. boosted its stake in shares of MFA Financial by 77.2% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 5,272 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $52,000 after purchasing an additional 2,297 shares during the period. Finally, Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new stake in MFA Financial during the 2nd quarter valued at $72,000. 64.40% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MFA Financial Company Profile

(Get Rating)

MFA Financial, Inc is a real estate investment trust. engages in the business of investment, on a leveraged basis, in residential mortgage assets including agency mortgage-backed securities, Non-Agency mortgage backed securities and residential whole loans. The company was founded by Stewart Zimmerman on July 24, 1997 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for MFA Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MFA Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Milestone Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 5,719 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $262,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 92,577.7% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 228,843,548 shares of the companys stock worth $10,499,342,000 after buying an additional 228,596,624 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 14.7% in the 4th quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 57,373,048 shares of the companys stock worth $2,632,275,000 after buying an additional 7,374,338 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 16.3% in the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 11,979,393 shares of the companys stock worth $549,615,000 after buying an additional 1,680,250 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 8.3% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 11,328,235 shares of the companys stock worth $519,739,000 after buying an additional 872,912 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 10.5% in the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 8,496,476 shares of the companys stock worth $389,818,000 after buying an additional 805,938 shares during the last quarter.

Get iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF alerts:

iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Price Performance

EFV stock opened at $49.52 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $15.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.51 and a beta of 0.84. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF has a 1 year low of $49.15 and a 1 year high of $59.57. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $49.35 and its 200-day moving average price is $48.33.

iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Company Profile

iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Value Index. The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East.

Featured Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Bank of New Hampshire reduced its position in shares of Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS  Get Rating) by 4.7% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 20,672 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 1,014 shares during the quarter. Bank of New Hampshires holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $1,815,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MS. Norges Bank bought a new position in Morgan Stanley during the 4th quarter valued at $956,566,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Morgan Stanley by 125,756.8% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 10,641,190 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $904,714,000 after acquiring an additional 10,632,735 shares during the last quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board acquired a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley during the 1st quarter valued at $451,711,000. Neuberger Berman Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Morgan Stanley by 123.3% during the 3rd quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 3,183,121 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $251,546,000 after acquiring an additional 1,757,682 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec lifted its position in shares of Morgan Stanley by 479.4% during the 3rd quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 1,390,483 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $109,862,000 after acquiring an additional 1,150,483 shares during the last quarter. 83.48% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Get Morgan Stanley alerts:

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Cfra reiterated a strong-buy rating and set a $105.00 price objective on shares of Morgan Stanley in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Morgan Stanley in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Morgan Stanley from $89.00 to $85.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 3rd. Citigroup reduced their target price on Morgan Stanley from $100.00 to $95.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Evercore ISI reduced their target price on Morgan Stanley from $106.00 to $104.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $95.34.

Morgan Stanley Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE MS traded down $0.17 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $88.88. The company had a trading volume of 1,921,247 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,405,199. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.68, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $85.57 and its 200-day simple moving average is $89.50. Morgan Stanley has a 12 month low of $72.05 and a 12 month high of $100.99. The firm has a market cap of $148.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.30, a PEG ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.35.

Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The financial services provider reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.67 by $0.03. Morgan Stanley had a net margin of 14.12% and a return on equity of 11.35%. The business had revenue of $14.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.96 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.06 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Morgan Stanley will post 6.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Morgan Stanley Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Monday, May 1st were paid a $0.775 dividend. This represents a $3.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.49%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, April 28th. Morgan Stanleys payout ratio is presently 53.26%.

Insider Activity at Morgan Stanley

In other Morgan Stanley news, major shareholder Stanley Morgan sold 1,049,889 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $9.45, for a total transaction of $9,921,451.05. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 8,456,881 shares in the company, valued at $79,917,525.45. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Morgan Stanley news, major shareholder Stanley Morgan sold 1,049,889 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $9.45, for a total transaction of $9,921,451.05. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 8,456,881 shares in the company, valued at $79,917,525.45. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Thomas H. Glocer sold 4,535 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.11, for a total transaction of $395,043.85. Following the transaction, the director now owns 98,110 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,546,362.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.26% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Morgan Stanley Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Morgan Stanley, a financial holding company, provides various financial products and services to corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It operates through Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Morgan Stanley Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Morgan Stanley and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Morguard North American (TSE:MRG  Get Rating) announced a monthly dividend on Thursday, June 15th, Zacks reports. Investors of record on Friday, June 30th will be paid a dividend of 0.06 per share on Friday, July 14th. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of . The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th.

Morguard North American Price Performance

Morguard North American has a 52-week low of C$13.17 and a 52-week high of C$16.21.

Get Morguard North American alerts:

Morguard North American (TSE:MRG  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported C$0.49 earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of C$79.65 million for the quarter.

Morguard North American Company Profile

Morguard North American Residential Real Estate Investment Trust (the Trust) is a real estate investment trust (REIT). The Trusts investment objectives are to generate stable and growing cash distributions on a tax-efficient basis; enhance the value of the REITs assets and maximize long-term Unit value through active asset and property management, and expand the asset base of the REIT and increase adjusted funds from operations per Unit primarily through acquisitions and improvement of its properties through targeted deployed capital expenditures.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Morguard North American Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Morguard North American and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
M&R Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL  Get Rating) by 1.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 11,998 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. M&R Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Aflac were worth $774,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. RDA Financial Network grew its stake in Aflac by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. RDA Financial Network now owns 4,305 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $310,000 after buying an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. RFG Advisory LLC lifted its position in shares of Aflac by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. RFG Advisory LLC now owns 18,496 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,257,000 after purchasing an additional 146 shares during the last quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Aflac by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. now owns 22,628 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,641,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. Flputnam Investment Management Co. boosted its stake in Aflac by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Flputnam Investment Management Co. now owns 10,479 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $754,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares during the period. Finally, J2 Capital Management Inc grew its holdings in Aflac by 2.5% in the 4th quarter. J2 Capital Management Inc now owns 6,477 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $466,000 after buying an additional 161 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 66.22% of the companys stock.

Get Aflac alerts:

Insider Activity at Aflac

In other news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.45, for a total transaction of $32,225.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 19,269 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,241,887.05. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.45, for a total transaction of $32,225.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 19,269 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,241,887.05. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, COO Frederick John Crawford sold 59,053 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.43, for a total value of $4,040,996.79. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 321,367 shares of the companys stock, valued at $21,991,143.81. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 112,582 shares of company stock valued at $7,647,192 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.90% of the companys stock.

Aflac Price Performance

NYSE AFL traded up $0.22 during trading on Friday, reaching $69.98. 579,837 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,524,507. Aflac Incorporated has a 1-year low of $52.48 and a 1-year high of $74.01. The company has a market cap of $42.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 0.94. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $66.76 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $68.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.05 and a current ratio of 0.05.

Aflac (NYSE:AFL  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The financial services provider reported $1.55 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.40 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $4.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.61 billion. Aflac had a return on equity of 15.25% and a net margin of 22.90%. The businesss revenue was down 7.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.42 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Aflac Incorporated will post 5.81 EPS for the current year.

Aflac Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 17th were issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.40%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 16th. Aflacs dividend payout ratio is currently 24.24%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

AFL has been the subject of several research reports. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on Aflac in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $73.00 price objective for the company. VNET Group restated a maintains rating on shares of Aflac in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Aflac from $77.00 to $72.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Bank of America initiated coverage on shares of Aflac in a research note on Monday, June 5th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, Citigroup lowered their price target on Aflac from $73.00 to $69.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Aflac has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $71.22.

Aflac Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Aflac, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of financial protection services. It operates through the following segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. The Aflac Japan segment offers life insurance, death benefits, and cash surrender values. The Aflac U.S. segment sells voluntary supplemental insurance products for people who already have major medical or primary insurance coverage.

Featured Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AFL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Aflac Incorporated (NYSE:AFL  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for Aflac Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aflac and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Neville Rodie & Shaw Inc. lowered its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 1.4% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 35,552 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 500 shares during the quarter. Neville Rodie & Shaw Inc.s holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $1,329,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 326,822,162 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $13,144,788,000 after purchasing an additional 3,920,830 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased 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 acquiring an additional 18,252,701 shares in 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. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company in the 4th quarter valued at about $2,049,693,000. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 129,312.1% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 26,287,479 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,085,410,000 after acquiring an additional 26,267,166 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.24% of the companys stock.

Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts:

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $41.00 to $43.00 in a research report on Thursday. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Raymond James raised their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $47.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $64.00 to $54.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $45.00 to $42.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $48.71.

Wells Fargo & Company Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE WFC traded up $0.06 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $42.42. The companys stock had a trading volume of 5,639,163 shares, compared to its average volume of 22,805,305. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick 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 stock has a market capitalization of $159.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.14, a PEG ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 1.12. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $40.21 and a 200-day simple moving average of $42.13.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates 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 company had revenue of $20.73 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.06 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.88 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 16.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.77 earnings per share for the current year.

Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 5th were issued a $0.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 4th. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.83%. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 34.38%.

About Wells Fargo & Company

(Get Rating)

Wells Fargo & Company, a diversified financial services company, provides banking, investment, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance products and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through four segments: Consumer Banking and Lending; Commercial Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; and Wealth and Investment Management.

Featured Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WFC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Northern Oil and Gas (NYSE:NOG  Get Rating) had its price objective reduced by Piper Sandler from $47.00 to $42.00 in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday, The Fly reports.

Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $46.00 price target on shares of Northern Oil and Gas in a report on Friday, March 17th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Northern Oil and Gas in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on Northern Oil and Gas from $43.00 to $42.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 30th. Truist Financial lifted their price target on Northern Oil and Gas from $44.00 to $59.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Finally, Raymond James dropped their target price on Northern Oil and Gas from $52.00 to $48.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $45.30.

Get Northern Oil and Gas alerts:

Northern Oil and Gas Trading Up 1.5 %

Shares of NYSE NOG opened at $33.22 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $32.19 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $31.79. The firm has a market cap of $2.84 billion, a PE ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 1.97. Northern Oil and Gas has a twelve month low of $21.45 and a twelve month high of $39.01.

Northern Oil and Gas Increases Dividend

Northern Oil and Gas ( NYSE:NOG Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $1.76 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.54 by $0.22. Northern Oil and Gas had a return on equity of 86.66% and a net margin of 60.39%. The business had revenue of $582.21 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $395.37 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.58 EPS. Analysts expect that Northern Oil and Gas will post 8.36 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 29th will be given a dividend of $0.37 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 28th. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.46%. This is a boost from Northern Oil and Gass previous quarterly dividend of $0.34. Northern Oil and Gass payout ratio is currently 8.99%.

Institutional Trading of Northern Oil and Gas

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in Northern Oil and Gas by 137.7% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 10,915,028 shares of the companys stock worth $331,271,000 after acquiring an additional 6,322,462 shares during the period. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Northern Oil and Gas by 5.5% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 6,803,857 shares of the companys stock valued at $206,497,000 after buying an additional 354,002 shares during the period. Angelo Gordon & CO. L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Northern Oil and Gas by 400.6% in the 4th quarter. Angelo Gordon & CO. L.P. now owns 5,113,784 shares of the companys stock valued at $157,607,000 after buying an additional 4,092,342 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Northern Oil and Gas by 12.3% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,515,908 shares of the companys stock valued at $138,625,000 after buying an additional 494,969 shares during the period. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Northern Oil and Gas by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,743,683 shares of the companys stock valued at $102,615,000 after buying an additional 20,217 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.41% of the companys stock.

Northern Oil and Gas Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Northern Oil & Gas, Inc engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas properties. It focuses on the Bakken and Three Forks formation within the Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana. The company was founded on March 20, 2007 and is headquartered in Minnetonka, MN.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Northern Oil and Gas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Northern Oil and Gas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Palisade Capital Management LP increased its position in Douglas Emmett, Inc. (NYSE:DEI  Get Rating) by 30.7% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 58,838 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 13,831 shares during the period. Palisade Capital Management LPs holdings in Douglas Emmett were worth $923,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Douglas Emmett by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 25,142,146 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $450,799,000 after purchasing an additional 135,881 shares during the last quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Douglas Emmett by 3.3% in the 4th quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 12,416,793 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $194,695,000 after purchasing an additional 399,783 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Douglas Emmett by 13.1% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 9,474,627 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $319,244,000 after purchasing an additional 1,095,717 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Douglas Emmett in the 4th quarter valued at about $114,497,000. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP increased its position in Douglas Emmett by 12.5% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 6,844,166 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $228,732,000 after acquiring an additional 759,320 shares during the period. 97.25% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get Douglas Emmett alerts:

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Douglas Emmett from $20.00 to $15.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 10th. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on Douglas Emmett from $17.00 to $16.00 in a research report on Monday, March 27th. TheStreet cut Douglas Emmett from a c rating to a d+ rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Piper Sandler upgraded Douglas Emmett from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price target for the company from $13.00 to $15.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Douglas Emmett from $18.00 to $16.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Douglas Emmett has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $15.78.

Douglas Emmett Stock Performance

Douglas Emmett Dividend Announcement

DEI opened at $12.78 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $2.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.05 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 2.54 and a quick ratio of 2.54. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $11.99 and its 200 day simple moving average is $13.86. Douglas Emmett, Inc. has a 1-year low of $10.09 and a 1-year high of $23.85.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 18th. Investors of record on Friday, June 30th will be issued a $0.19 dividend. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.95%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. Douglas Emmetts dividend payout ratio is currently 149.02%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director William E. Simon, Jr. bought 10,000 shares of Douglas Emmett stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 8th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $12.42 per share, with a total value of $124,200.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 91,000 shares in the company, valued at $1,130,220. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 14.00% of the companys stock.

Douglas Emmett Profile

(Get Rating)

Douglas Emmett, Inc (DEI) is a fully integrated, self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT), and one of the largest owners and operators of high-quality office and multifamily properties located in the premier coastal submarkets of Los Angeles and Honolulu. Douglas Emmett focuses on owning and acquiring a substantial share of top-tier office properties and premier multifamily communities in neighborhoods that possess significant supply constraints, high-end executive housing and key lifestyle amenities.

Read More

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DEI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Douglas Emmett, Inc. (NYSE:DEI  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for Douglas Emmett Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Douglas Emmett and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Pensionfund Sabic lessened its holdings in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Get Rating) by 22.0% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 7,100 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 2,000 shares during the quarter. Pensionfund Sabics holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $1,728,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in ITW. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 25,609,537 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $4,626,363,000 after buying an additional 215,823 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 106,553.0% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 7,185,211 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,582,902,000 after buying an additional 7,178,474 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 8.5% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 7,005,137 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,531,936,000 after buying an additional 545,904 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 5,004,410 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,100,917,000 after buying an additional 85,640 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 59.2% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 4,591,278 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,011,459,000 after buying an additional 1,707,780 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.83% of the companys stock.

Get Illinois Tool Works alerts:

Insider Activity

In other news, CAO Randall J. Scheuneman sold 5,425 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $239.23, for a total transaction of $1,297,822.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 8,870 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,121,970.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock.

Illinois Tool Works Stock Up 1.0 %

Illinois Tool Works stock opened at $246.94 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $231.46 and a 200 day simple moving average of $230.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $75.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.69, a P/E/G ratio of 3.68 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 Inc. has a 1-year low of $173.52 and a 1-year high of $253.37.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Rating) last released its quarterly 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. The firm had revenue of $4.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.98 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 19.27% and a return on equity of 92.13%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.11 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.65 earnings per share for the current year.

Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be given a dividend of $1.31 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $5.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.12%. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 52.40%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $240.00 to $236.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. StockNews.com raised shares of Illinois Tool Works from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $205.00 to $203.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $183.00 to $181.00 and set a sell rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $250.00 to $227.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Illinois Tool Works has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $228.21.

About Illinois Tool Works

(Get Rating)

Illinois Tool Works Inc manufactures and sells industrial products and equipment worldwide. It operates through seven segments: Automotive OEM; Food Equipment; Test & Measurement and Electronics; Welding; Polymers & Fluids; Construction Products; and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment offers plastic and metal components, fasteners, and assemblies for automobiles, light trucks, and other industrial uses.

See Also

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ITW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for Illinois Tool Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Illinois Tool Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (OTCMKTS:TLKMF  Get Rating) and Vodacom Group (OTCMKTS:VDMCY  Get Rating) are both business services companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their risk, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership, valuation, earnings and profitability.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk and Vodacom Group, as reported by MarketBeat.

Get Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk alerts:

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk 0 0 1 0 3.00 Vodacom Group 1 0 0 0 1.00

Given Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbks stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, research analysts plainly believe Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk is more favorable than Vodacom Group.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

Earnings & Valuation

15.6% of Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.0% of Vodacom Group shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

This table compares Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk and Vodacom Groups top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk N/A N/A N/A C$148.16 0.00 Vodacom Group N/A N/A N/A $8.82 0.77

Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Vodacom Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Dividends

Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk pays an annual dividend of C$64.37 per share and has a dividend yield of 24,446.0%. Vodacom Group pays an annual dividend of $3.75 per share and has a dividend yield of 55.4%. Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk pays out 43.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Vodacom Group pays out 42.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years.

Profitability

This table compares Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk and Vodacom Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk N/A N/A N/A Vodacom Group N/A N/A N/A

Summary

Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk beats Vodacom Group on 6 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk

(Get Rating)

PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk is a holding company, which engages in the provision of telecommunications, information, and technology services. It operates through the following segments: Mobile, Consumer, Enterprise, Wholesale and International Business (WIB), and Others. The Mobile segment provides mobile voice, SMS, value added services and, mobile broadband. The Consumer segment offers fixed wire line telecommunications services, pay television, data, and internet services to home customers. The Enterprise segment provides end-to-end solution to corporate and institutions. The WIB segment is composed of interconnection services, leased lines, satellite, VSAT, broadband access, information technology services, data and Internet services to Other Licensed Operator companies and institutions. The Others segment deals with Digital Service Operating Segments that does not meet the disclosure requirements for a reportable segments. The company was founded on September 24, 1991 and is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia.

About Vodacom Group

(Get Rating)

Vodacom Group Ltd. is an investment holding company, which engages in the provision of communications products and services. The firm operates through the following segments: Corporate, South Africa, and International. The Corporate segment comprises the holding companies of the group which do not relate to specific operating segments. The South Africa segment includes the segment information relating to the South African-based cellular network, service provider and other business segments. The International segment provides the segment information relating to the non-South African-based cellular networks in Tanzania, Mozambique, Lesotho and the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as the operations of Vodacom International Limited and Vodacom Business Africa. It offers voice, messaging, converged services, broadband, data connectivity, mobile financial services, and other value added services. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Midrand, South Africa.

Receive News & Ratings for Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Range Financial Group LLC trimmed its position in National Bank Holdings Co. (NYSE:NBHC  Get Rating) by 0.9% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 36,839 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 323 shares during the quarter. Range Financial Group LLC owned about 0.10% of National Bank worth $1,233,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in NBHC. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its holdings in shares of National Bank by 76.4% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 156,517 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $6,305,000 after acquiring an additional 67,805 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in shares of National Bank by 20.6% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 727,077 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $29,286,000 after buying an additional 123,952 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. grew its stake in shares of National Bank by 12.3% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 26,539 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,069,000 after buying an additional 2,898 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. increased its holdings in shares of National Bank by 5.2% in the 1st quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 15,882 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $640,000 after buying an additional 791 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can raised its position in shares of National Bank by 4.8% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 20,429 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $856,000 after buying an additional 943 shares in the last quarter. 78.50% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get National Bank alerts:

National Bank Trading Down 1.3 %

Shares of NYSE NBHC traded down $0.43 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $32.01. The companys stock had a trading volume of 47,015 shares, compared to its average volume of 245,040. National Bank Holdings Co. has a 12-month low of $26.48 and a 12-month high of $50.00. The company has a current ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.93. The firm has a market cap of $1.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.13 and a beta of 0.92. The businesss 50 day moving average is $31.37 and its two-hundred day moving average is $37.33.

National Bank Increases Dividend

National Bank ( NYSE:NBHC Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The financial services provider reported $1.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.00 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $109.55 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $108.49 million. National Bank had a net margin of 22.64% and a return on equity of 12.25%. The businesss revenue was up 66.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.61 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that National Bank Holdings Co. will post 3.72 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Investors of record on Friday, May 26th were issued a $0.26 dividend. This is a positive change from National Banks previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 25th. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.25%. National Banks payout ratio is presently 38.95%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on NBHC shares. StockNews.com started coverage on National Bank in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price target on National Bank from $49.00 to $40.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 6th.

About National Bank

(Get Rating)

National Bank Holdings Corp. is a bank holding company. The firm engages in the provision of banking products to both commercial and consumer clients. It operates under the following brand names: Bank Midwest in Kansas and Missouri, Community Banks of Colorado in Colorado, and Hillcrest Bank in Texas, Utah and New Mexico.

Recommended Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NBHC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for National Bank Holdings Co. (NYSE:NBHC  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for National Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for National Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Range Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Gold Fields Limited (NYSE:GFI  Get Rating) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 120,445 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,604,000. Gold Fields makes up 1.0% of Range Financial Group LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest holding.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in GFI. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Gold Fields by 10.2% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 25,589,382 shares of the companys stock worth $395,611,000 after acquiring an additional 2,368,601 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in shares of Gold Fields by 6.4% during the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 10,693,622 shares of the companys stock worth $86,529,000 after acquiring an additional 640,161 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Gold Fields by 22.5% during the 3rd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 10,593,784 shares of the companys stock worth $85,704,000 after acquiring an additional 1,947,700 shares during the period. Two Sigma Investments LP lifted its holdings in shares of Gold Fields by 16.4% during the 3rd quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 5,155,224 shares of the companys stock worth $41,706,000 after acquiring an additional 726,490 shares during the period. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its holdings in shares of Gold Fields by 118.8% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 5,107,356 shares of the companys stock worth $78,960,000 after acquiring an additional 2,772,894 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 28.41% of the companys stock.

Get Gold Fields alerts:

Analyst Ratings Changes

GFI has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Investec downgraded shares of Gold Fields from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Gold Fields from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, May 29th. HSBC downgraded shares of Gold Fields from a hold rating to a reduce rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Gold Fields from a neutral rating to an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and three have given a hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $11.50.

Gold Fields Stock Down 1.7 %

About Gold Fields

NYSE:GFI traded down $0.25 on Friday, hitting $14.87. The company had a trading volume of 973,553 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,532,300. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $15.46 and a two-hundred day moving average of $12.65. Gold Fields Limited has a 52 week low of $7.03 and a 52 week high of $17.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 2.29 and a quick ratio of 1.33.

(Get Rating)

Gold Fields Ltd. is a gold mining company, which engages in the production of gold and operation of mines. Its operating mines are located in Australia, Ghana, Peru, and South Africa. The company was founded on May 03, 1968 and is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Gold Fields Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gold Fields and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
SandRidge Energy, Inc. (NYSE:SD  Get Rating) gapped up prior to trading on Friday . The stock had previously closed at $13.85, but opened at $14.47. SandRidge Energy shares last traded at $14.30, with a volume of 57,865 shares traded.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of SandRidge Energy in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock.

Get SandRidge Energy alerts:

SandRidge Energy Stock Up 0.2 %

The company has a 50-day moving average price of $14.76 and a 200-day moving average price of $15.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $528.78 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 2.35.

SandRidge Energy Announces Dividend

SandRidge Energy ( NYSE:SD Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The oil and natural gas company reported $0.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of $43.15 million during the quarter. SandRidge Energy had a return on equity of 37.95% and a net margin of 96.37%.

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 7th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 24th were given a dividend of $2.00 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 23rd.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On SandRidge Energy

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SD. First Wilshire Securities Management Inc. raised its holdings in SandRidge Energy by 159.5% during the first quarter. First Wilshire Securities Management Inc. now owns 1,257,631 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock worth $18,122,000 after purchasing an additional 772,981 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in SandRidge Energy by 483.7% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 620,316 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock worth $9,720,000 after purchasing an additional 514,040 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its holdings in SandRidge Energy by 25.7% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,435,465 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock worth $20,685,000 after purchasing an additional 293,200 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada raised its holdings in SandRidge Energy by 799.5% during the third quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 308,992 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock worth $5,040,000 after purchasing an additional 274,640 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. raised its holdings in SandRidge Energy by 234.8% during the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 377,141 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock worth $6,042,000 after purchasing an additional 264,484 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 17.42% of the companys stock.

About SandRidge Energy

(Get Rating)

SandRidge Energy, Inc is an oil and gas company. It engages in acquisition, development, and production activities. The company was founded by Noah Malone Mitchell in 1984 and is headquartered in Oklahoma, OK.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for SandRidge Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SandRidge Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Interview: Arab League official highlights importance of Abbas's visit to China for Palestinian cause, bilateral relations

Xinhua) 16:47, June 16, 2023

CAIRO, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's visit to China indicates that the Arab world welcomes "active and influential" Chinese involvement in the Palestinian cause, an Arab League (AL) official has said.

"The visit comes at a time of great importance for the Palestinian cause, for the development of China-Palestine relations, as well as for the progress and development witnessed by China-Arab relations in general in various fields," Saeed Abu Ali, AL assistant secretary-general for Palestine and occupied Arab territories affairs, said Tuesday in an interview with Xinhua.

The Palestinian president is on a state visit to China until Friday.

The official said that the Palestinian cause faces grave challenges amid the continuous and prolonged stalemate in the peace process. He added that these challenges have significantly undermined the hope of the region and the Palestinian people toward establishing an independent state of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders and with east Jerusalem as its capital.

Abu Ali said these challenges require a Chinese position that equals the role China plays in the world.

China has well-known positions on the Palestinian issue with its historical depth, which are viewed by the Palestinian people and the entire Arab nation with respect, he said.

"Everyone knows that Chinese support for the State of Palestine does not stop at the limits of multiple political support, and there is also material and economic support through many projects that China offers to the Palestinian people," he added.

"China has presented many initiatives to resolve the Palestinian question, including the initiative previously put forward by President Xi as the foundation for the peace process and achieving the establishment of a Palestinian state. China also appointed a special envoy for the peace process to follow up on developments," Abu Ali said.

He hopes that China's initiatives will play a significant role in the country's vast network of relationships and global visions.

In Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Abbas, during which the two leaders announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and Palestine.

Xi put forward a three-point proposal to settle the Palestinian question, saying, "China stands ready to play a positive role in assisting Palestine in achieving internal reconciliation and promoting peace talks."

Abbas thanked China for its long-term strong support and selfless assistance for the Palestinians' just cause of restoring their legitimate national rights, calling China a trustworthy friend and partner.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Tsingtao Brewery Company Limited (OTCMKTS:TSGTF  Get Rating) was the target of a large increase in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 381,000 shares, an increase of 36.6% from the May 15th total of 279,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 2,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 173.2 days.

Tsingtao Brewery Price Performance

Shares of Tsingtao Brewery stock remained flat at $8.87 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $9.64 and its 200 day moving average price is $9.80. Tsingtao Brewery has a fifty-two week low of $6.78 and a fifty-two week high of $10.89.

Get Tsingtao Brewery alerts:

Tsingtao Brewery Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Featured Stories

Tsingtao Brewery Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production, distribution, wholesale, and retail sale of beer products worldwide. It operates through seven segments: Shandong Region; South China Region; North China Region; East China Region; Southeast China Region; Hong Kong, Macau and Other Overseas Region; and Finance Company.

Receive News & Ratings for Tsingtao Brewery Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tsingtao Brewery and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
SSAB AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:SSAAF  Get Rating) crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $6.54 and traded as high as $7.63. SSAB AB (publ) shares last traded at $7.63, with a volume of 2,164 shares.

SSAB AB (publ) Stock Performance

The firms 50-day simple moving average is $6.80 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $6.55.

About SSAB AB (publ)

(Get Rating)

SSAB AB (publ) produces and sells steel products in Sweden, Finland, Rest of Europe, the United States, and internationally. It operates through five segments: SSAB Special Steels, SSAB Europe, SSAB Americas, Tibnor, and Ruukki Construction. The SSAB Special Steels segment offers quenched and tempered steels, and advanced high-strength steel products.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for SSAB AB (publ) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SSAB AB (publ) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Jabil (NYSE:JBL  Get Rating) had its price objective hoisted by Stifel Nicolaus from $90.00 to $105.00 in a research note released on Monday morning, The Fly reports.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on Jabil from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, March 17th. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price objective on Jabil from $90.00 to $110.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. Raymond James lifted their price objective on Jabil from $84.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Jabil in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $96.29.

Get Jabil alerts:

Jabil Stock Performance

NYSE JBL opened at $104.64 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $13.88 billion, a PE ratio of 15.17, a P/E/G ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 1.43. The company has a current ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96. Jabil has a twelve month low of $48.80 and a twelve month high of $105.58. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $84.94 and a 200-day simple moving average of $80.28.

Jabil Announces Dividend

Jabil ( NYSE:JBL Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, June 15th. The technology company reported $1.99 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.87 by $0.12. Jabil had a return on equity of 39.80% and a net margin of 2.74%. The company had revenue of $8.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.20 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.52 EPS. Jabils revenue for the quarter was up 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Jabil will post 7.77 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 15th were given a dividend of $0.08 per share. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.31%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 12th. Jabils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 4.64%.

Insider Transactions at Jabil

In other news, CEO Steven D. Borges sold 8,483 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.40, for a total transaction of $707,482.20. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 159,129 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,271,358.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, SVP Francis Mckay sold 1,197 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $82.91, for a total transaction of $99,243.27. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 51,084 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,235,374.44. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Steven D. Borges sold 8,483 shares of Jabil stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.40, for a total value of $707,482.20. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 159,129 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,271,358.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 2.75% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. FMR LLC increased its position in 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 buying an additional 1,844,254 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in Jabil by 71.2% during 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 position in Jabil by 3.0% during 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 acquired a new position in Jabil during the first quarter worth approximately $384,818,000. Finally, Point72 Asset Management L.P. increased its position in Jabil by 4.1% during 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. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.45% of the companys stock.

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.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Jabil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Jabil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Symmetry Partners LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:EFAV  Get Rating) by 4.2% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 252,729 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 10,092 shares during the period. iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF comprises 0.9% of Symmetry Partners LLCs holdings, making the stock its 29th biggest holding. Symmetry Partners LLC owned approximately 0.23% of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF worth $17,079,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Accurate Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Milestone Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Gradient Investments LLC boosted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 30.8% in the 4th quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 662 shares of the companys stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 156 shares during the period. Finally, Simplex Trading LLC boosted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF by 157.4% in the 3rd quarter. Simplex Trading LLC now owns 682 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 417 shares during the period.

Get iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF alerts:

iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF Stock Performance

iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF stock traded up $0.66 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $68.32. The company had a trading volume of 435,697 shares. The firm has a market cap of $7.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.01 and a beta of 0.60. iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF has a 1 year low of $64.68 and a 1 year high of $76.51. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $69.28 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $66.75.

iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF Profile

The iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility (USD) index. The fund tracks an index of developed-market equities, ex-US and Canada, selected and weighted to create a low volatility portfolio subject to constraints including sector exposure.

Featured Articles

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFAV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:EFAV  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Teradata Co. (NYSE:TDC  Get Rating) Director Michael P. Gianoni sold 29,053 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.57, for a total value of $1,498,263.21. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 38,107 shares in the company, valued at $1,965,177.99. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink.

Teradata Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:TDC traded up $0.61 during trading on Friday, reaching $51.88. 1,913,340 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 888,988. The companys 50 day moving average is $44.04 and its two-hundred day moving average is $39.01. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.25 billion, a PE ratio of 142.42, a PEG ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.43. Teradata Co. has a 52 week low of $28.65 and a 52 week high of $52.19.

Get Teradata alerts:

Teradata (NYSE:TDC  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The technology company reported $0.40 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $476.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $458.91 million. Teradata had a return on equity of 25.01% and a net margin of 2.08%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Teradata Co. will post 1.03 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Teradata

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of TDC. Point72 Asset Management L.P. acquired a new position in shares of Teradata during the 4th quarter worth $59,279,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. increased its holdings in Teradata by 21.0% in the 1st quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 7,731,175 shares of the technology companys stock worth $311,412,000 after purchasing an additional 1,342,494 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Teradata in the 4th quarter worth about $41,629,000. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Teradata in the 1st quarter worth about $49,344,000. Finally, Alyeska Investment Group L.P. acquired a new position in Teradata in the 4th quarter worth about $34,371,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.92% of the companys stock.

TDC has been the subject of several recent research reports. Barclays boosted their price target on Teradata from $37.00 to $41.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Craig Hallum boosted their price target on Teradata from $48.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Guggenheim upgraded Teradata from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $62.00 price target for the company in a research note on Monday, May 1st. Northland Securities initiated coverage on Teradata in a research note on Tuesday, May 2nd. They issued an outperform rating and a $63.00 price target for the company. Finally, TheStreet upgraded Teradata from a c rating to a b- rating in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $47.44.

Teradata Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Teradata Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides a connected multi-cloud data platform for enterprise analytics. The company offers Teradata Vantage, a data platform that allows companies to leverage their data across an enterprise, as well as connects various sources of data to drive ecosystem simplification and support customers on their journey to the cloud through an integrated migration.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Teradata Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Teradata and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Vistry Group PLC (LON:VTY  Get Rating) insider Tim Lawlor purchased 20 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 16th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 743 ($9.30) per share, with a total value of 148.60 ($185.94).

Vistry Group Stock Performance

Shares of Vistry Group stock traded down GBX 23.50 ($0.29) during trading hours on Friday, hitting GBX 718.50 ($8.99). 1,437,136 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 799,293. Vistry Group PLC has a 1 year low of GBX 502 ($6.28) and a 1 year high of GBX 947.50 ($11.86). The company has a current ratio of 2.53, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 19.85. The business has a 50-day moving average of GBX 779.74 and a 200-day moving average of GBX 740.23. The stock has a market capitalization of 2.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 852.87, a P/E/G ratio of -0.20 and a beta of 2.14.

Get Vistry Group alerts:

Vistry Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 20th were issued a GBX 32 ($0.40) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 4.37%. This is an increase from Vistry Groups previous dividend of $23.00. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, April 20th. Vistry Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 6,321.84%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

About Vistry Group

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 987 ($12.35) price objective on shares of Vistry Group in a report on Thursday, March 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on Vistry Group from GBX 700 ($8.76) to GBX 740 ($9.26) and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Monday, May 22nd. Berenberg Bank lifted their price target on Vistry Group from GBX 760 ($9.51) to GBX 871 ($10.90) and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Vistry Group from GBX 725 ($9.07) to GBX 750 ($9.38) and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Monday. Finally, Barclays reaffirmed an underweight rating and set a GBX 740 ($9.26) price target on shares of Vistry Group in a research report on Friday, May 19th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Vistry Group presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of GBX 821.14 ($10.27).

(Get Rating)

Vistry Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a housebuilder in the United Kingdom. It offers one-bedroom apartments and larger family homes. The company was formerly known as Bovis Homes Group PLC and changed its name to Vistry Group PLC in January 2020. Vistry Group PLC was founded in 1885 and is headquartered in West Malling, the United Kingdom.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Vistry Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vistry Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Tokuyama Co. (OTCMKTS:TKYMF  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 57,500 shares, a growth of 20.3% from the May 15th total of 47,800 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently  days.

Tokuyama Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS TKYMF remained flat at $15.10 during midday trading on Friday. Tokuyama has a 12 month low of $13.56 and a 12 month high of $15.10. The companys 50-day moving average is $15.10 and its 200-day moving average is $14.52.

Get Tokuyama alerts:

About Tokuyama

(Get Rating)

See Also

Tokuyama Corporation produces and sells various chemical products in Japan. The company operates through six segments: Chemicals, Cement, Electronics Materials, Life Science, Eco Business, and Others. The Chemicals segment offers caustic soda, soda ash, calcium chloride, sodium silicate, vinyl chloride monomer, polyvinyl chloride resin, propylene oxide, chlorinated solvents, and hydrogen.

Receive News & Ratings for Tokuyama Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tokuyama and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Verity & Verity LLC trimmed its position in shares of Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC  Get Rating) by 0.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 60,130 shares of the specialty retailers stock after selling 115 shares during the quarter. Verity & Verity LLCs holdings in Genuine Parts were worth $10,060,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of GPC. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its stake in Genuine Parts by 6.6% during the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 19,056 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $2,401,000 after buying an additional 1,180 shares during the period. Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its position in shares of Genuine Parts by 14.8% during the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 2,740 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $345,000 after purchasing an additional 354 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. lifted its position in shares of Genuine Parts by 9.4% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 50,928 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $6,448,000 after purchasing an additional 4,372 shares during the last quarter. Aviva PLC lifted its position in shares of Genuine Parts by 63.1% during the first quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 78,951 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $9,949,000 after purchasing an additional 30,545 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH lifted its position in shares of Genuine Parts by 195.1% during the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 114,328 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $14,408,000 after purchasing an additional 75,591 shares during the last quarter. 78.14% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get Genuine Parts alerts:

Genuine Parts Stock Up 0.7 %

Genuine Parts stock traded up $1.20 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $162.85. The stock had a trading volume of 172,146 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,061,962. The company has a market cap of $22.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.52, a PEG ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 0.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 0.58. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $163.49 and its 200-day moving average price is $168.72. Genuine Parts has a 52 week low of $126.95 and a 52 week high of $187.73.

Genuine Parts Dividend Announcement

Genuine Parts ( NYSE:GPC Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The specialty retailer reported $2.14 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.03 by $0.11. Genuine Parts had a net margin of 5.50% and a return on equity of 32.53%. The business had revenue of $5.77 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.68 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.86 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Genuine Parts will post 9.06 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, June 2nd will be given a $0.95 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 1st. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.33%. Genuine Partss dividend payout ratio is currently 43.53%.

Insider Activity at Genuine Parts

In other news, CEO Paul D. Donahue bought 1,600 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 24th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $156.08 per share, for a total transaction of $249,728.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 59,727 shares in the company, valued at $9,322,190.16. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, insider Randall P. Breaux acquired 500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 1st. The shares were acquired at an average price of $149.44 per share, for a total transaction of $74,720.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 20,523 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,066,957.12. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Paul D. Donahue acquired 1,600 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 24th. The stock was bought at an average price of $156.08 per share, for a total transaction of $249,728.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 59,727 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,322,190.16. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.39% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Truist Financial lifted their target price on Genuine Parts from $186.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Wedbush reiterated a neutral rating and set a $165.00 target price on shares of Genuine Parts in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Bank of America upgraded Genuine Parts from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $185.00 to $189.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 1st. StockNews.com upgraded Genuine Parts from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Genuine Parts from a sell rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $163.00 to $164.00 in a report on Monday, May 1st. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Genuine Parts presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $178.25.

Genuine Parts Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Genuine Parts Company distributes automotive replacement parts, and industrial parts and materials. It operates through Automotive Parts Group and Industrial Parts Group segments. The company distributes automotive replacement parts for hybrid and electric vehicles, trucks, SUVs, buses, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, farm vehicles, small engines, farm equipment, marine equipment, and heavy duty equipment; and accessory and supply items used by various automotive aftermarket customers, such as repair shops, service stations, fleet operators, automobile and truck dealers, leasing companies, bus and truck lines, mass merchandisers, farms, and individuals.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Genuine Parts Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Genuine Parts and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Verity & Verity LLC lowered its position in shares of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV  Get Rating) by 40.9% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,615 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 2,500 shares during the quarter. Verity & Verity LLCs holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $620,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in shares of Travelers Companies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $160,000. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its stake 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 acquiring an additional 1,327 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Travelers Companies by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 11,905 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $2,210,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares during the period. Blair William & Co. IL grew its holdings in shares of 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 shares of Travelers Companies by 5.0% in the first 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 during the period. Institutional investors own 81.59% of the companys stock.

Get Travelers Companies alerts:

Insider Activity at Travelers Companies

In other Travelers Companies news, EVP Michael Frederick Klein sold 10,246 shares of the companys stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the executive vice president now owns 14,080 shares in the company, valued at $2,574,528. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, CFO Daniel S. Frey sold 37,316 shares of Travelers Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, April 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $179.08, for a total transaction of $6,682,549.28. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 11,703 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,095,773.24. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Michael Frederick Klein sold 10,246 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.85, for a total value of $1,873,481.10. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 14,080 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,574,528. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 59,134 shares of company stock valued at $10,617,466. 1.29% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Travelers Companies Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE:TRV traded up $0.54 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $176.51. The companys stock had a trading volume of 661,840 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,384,564. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $177.24 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $181.06. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $149.65 and a fifty-two week high of $194.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.00, a PEG ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.61. 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 posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The insurance provider reported $4.11 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.64 by $0.47. The firm had revenue of $9.70 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.98 billion. Travelers Companies had a net margin of 7.41% and a return on equity of 13.41%. The businesss revenue was up 10.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $4.22 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 14.31 earnings per share for the current year.

Travelers Companies announced that its board has initiated a stock buyback program on Wednesday, April 19th that permits the company to repurchase $5.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the insurance provider to buy up to 12.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are generally an indication that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Travelers Companies Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, June 9th will be issued a $1.00 dividend. This is a boost from Travelers Companiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.93. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.27%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 8th. Travelers Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 34.10%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. Roth Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Travelers Companies in a report on Friday, April 21st. Citigroup upped their target price on Travelers Companies from $182.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Travelers Companies from $181.00 to $182.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. StockNews.com upgraded Travelers Companies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, May 12th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered their target price on Travelers Companies from $188.00 to $182.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 10th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $193.29.

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.

Read More

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TRV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for Travelers Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Travelers Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Victoria Gold Corp (CVE:VIT  Get Rating)s stock price crossed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$8.30 and traded as low as C$8.22. Victoria Gold shares last traded at C$8.30, with a volume of 136,122 shares.

Victoria Gold Stock Down 1.5 %

The firm has a market cap of C$474.98 million and a PE ratio of -13.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 96.76, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 0.74. The firms 50-day moving average price is C$8.30 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$8.30.

Get Victoria Gold alerts:

Insider Transactions at Victoria Gold

In related news, Senior Officer Marty Rendall acquired 3,333 shares of Victoria Gold stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 18th. The stock was acquired at an average price of C$8.54 per share, for a total transaction of C$28,463.82. In other Victoria Gold news, Senior Officer Marty Rendall purchased 3,333 shares of Victoria Gold stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 18th. The stock was purchased at an average price of C$8.54 per share, for a total transaction of C$28,463.82. Also, Senior Officer Adam Melnyk purchased 5,000 shares of Victoria Gold stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 2nd. The stock was acquired at an average price of C$8.64 per share, with a total value of C$43,200.00. In the last quarter, insiders purchased 9,333 shares of company stock worth $81,714.

About Victoria Gold

Victoria Gold Corp. engages in the acquisition, evaluation, and exploration of mineral properties in Canada and the United States. The company primarily explores for gold deposits. Its principal property is 100% owned Dublin Gulch property, which hosts the Eagle Gold deposit covering an area of approximately 555 square kilometers located in central Yukon, Canada.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Victoria Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Victoria Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Skip to main navigation

Juneteenth Commemoration



Juneteenth commemoration in 1900 Juneteenth commemoration in 1900

New York designated Juneteenth as an official state holiday for the first time on June 19, 2021. Juneteenth (short for June 19th) commemorates African American freedom in our country. Its history goes back to June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger read federal orders in Galveston, Texas, that declared all enslaved people in Texas were free. While President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation a full two and a half years before the end of the war, it wasn't until the war's end that enslaved people in Texas knew they were free.

DEC recognizes the continued struggle and delayed liberation some communities face as they search for environmental freedoms and equality. We support the spirit of Juneteenth by:

Ensuring all New Yorkers and visitors have the freedom to access, enjoy, and feel welcome on state lands;

Providing Community Impact Grants, competitive grants that empower communities to develop and implement solutions to environmental justice issues;

Working with partners including the Climate Action Council to implement a plan that will achieve the State's bold clean energy and climate agenda that will improve public health and the environment in the state's most marginalized communities; and

Facilitating the work of the Climate Justice Working Group - composed of representatives from environmental justice communities statewide - in developing the finalized criteria that incorporates the needs of disadvantaged communities and ensuring these populations receive at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of investments from both the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act.

This Juneteenth, we continue to strive for environmental and climate justice. The freedom to enjoy a clean and safe environment is important to every New Yorker, and we will continue to work to bring equity and justice to historically overburdened communities

Be sure to check out Juneteenth events around the state and help commemorate the independence and liberty achieved more than 150 years ago and the fight for freedom still underway today (links leave DEC website):

Juneteenth NY Festival

Second Annual JuneTEENth Freedom Day Celebration and Open House! - Underground Railroad Education Center

Binghamton Juneteenth celebration 2023 | Assata Shakur Park, Binghamton, NY | June 17, 2023

Upcoming Juneteenth 2023 Events in Albany, NY

African American Heritage | Buffalo Juneteenth | Buffalo

Juneteenth (iloveny.com)

Hamilton Hill Arts Center - Schenectady

DEC's website content is available in English, Spanish, and 11 additional languages. At the bottom of every webpage, you can find the translation section. Each language link will bring you to a mirror of DEC's website translated into the selected language.




BRS leaders strongly feel that the party retained power for second term on the back of farmers support who benefited from schemes such as Rythu Bandhu and 24x7 free power as well as abundant rains. (Representational Image: DC)

Hyderabad: The delayed monsoon and possible drought conditions in Telangana in the election year have left the ruling BRS worried. Party leaders were assessing the impact of a likely drought on irrigation, drinking water and fodder that could pose serious problems in rural areas and fuel public anger against the state government.

It is for the first time that the BRS government would have to reckon with drought conditions, if such a situation develops, as the state has enjoyed abundant rains since 2014. The leadership is hopeful that the situation could improve with good rains in the remaining three months of this monsoon.

They recalled that the monsoon was weak in June and July in 2015 but the rains in August and September made up for the loss to some extent.

A majority of the state population lives in rural areas and is dependent on agriculture and allied sectors directly and indirectly. An adverse impact on agriculture due to drought will hit the rural economy, lead to financial problems and unrest among rural people. Every ruling party fears that such a situation would fuel an anti-incumbency mindset.

A heated debate is underway in BRS circles over the outcome of Assembly elections held in the backdrop of drought conditions. Many recalled the reversal of electoral fortunes that saw the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and then Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu humbled in the 2004 general elections which were held after severe drought in 2002 and 2003.

As per the socio economic outlook for 2022-23 released by the state government in February, the services sector accounted for 62.8 per cent of Telanganas Gross State Value Added (GSVA) at current prices, followed by industries at 19 per cent and agriculture and allied sector with 18.2 per cent in 2022-23. Thought the share of agriculture seems small, it is a very large employer of people.

BRS leaders strongly feel that the party retained power for second term on the back of farmers support who benefited from schemes such as Rythu Bandhu and 24x7 free power as well as abundant rains.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Yoga brings the world together to further good health and wellness, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday and wished that it keeps getting more popular globally.

In a historic commemoration, Prime Minister Modi will lead a yoga session for the first time at the UN Headquarters in New York on the 9th International Day of Yoga on June 21.

The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practising yoga. Recognising its universal appeal, in December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.

"I am looking forward to participating in the 9th International Day of Yoga celebrations @UN with Prime Minister @NarendraModi at the UNHQ North Lawn next week," President of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly Csaba Korosi said in a tweet Thursday.

Responding to Korosi on Twitter, Modi said, "Looking forward to seeing you at the International Day of Yoga celebrations at the UNHQ. Your participation makes the programme even more special."

"Yoga brings the world together towards furthering good health and wellness. May it keep getting more popular globally," he said.

In another tweet, Modi shared a set of videos, titled 'Yoga with Modi', depicting the various 'Asanas'.

"Yoga holds profound benefits for both body and mind, fostering strength, flexibility, and tranquillity. Let us make Yoga a part of our lives and further wellness as well as peace. Sharing a set of videos depicting the various Asanas," he said.

Nine years after Prime Minister Modi had first proposed from the UN General Assembly podium to mark International Yoga Day as an annual commemoration, the Indian leader will for the first time be at the UN Headquarters to lead the yoga session in a historic commemoration of the day.

The first International Day of Yoga was commemorated in 2015 and has since then been marked with several sessions and events highlighting the benefits and universal appeal of Yoga at the UN, Times Square and iconic locations across the world.

Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. They will host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. The visit also includes an address to the Joint Session of the Congress on June 22.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Image: PTI)

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-nation visit to the United States and Egypt next week, it was officially announced on Friday.

The visit, taking place from June 20 to June 25, will begin with Modi leading the International Day of Yoga celebrations at the United Nations headquarters on June 21. He will then travel to Washington for bilateral engagements, including addressing a joint session of the US Congress on June 22, followed by a state dinner hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

On June 23, Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken will host Modi at a luncheon. Apart from official engagements, the Prime Minister will have interactions with CEOs, professionals, and the Indian diaspora.

Following his US visit, Modi will make his first visit to Egypt from June 24 to June 25 at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. The visit aims to strengthen trade, economic, and cultural ties between the two countries, which were elevated to a "Strategic Partnership" during President Sisi's visit to India in January 2023.

India and the United States are aiming to elevate their bilateral ties to new levels by expanding their strategic partnership beyond government cooperation to include industry collaboration, according to sources. The focus of this partnership will be on long-term technological cooperation, involving the industrial ecosystems of both nations and facilitating technology transfer from the US to India.

Sources highlight the significant American interest in aligning with India's economic structure, emphasising the mutual desire to make the upcoming visit a resounding success. They also underscore the importance of facilitating the movement of skilled manpower between the two countries. In addition, efforts are underway to simplify regulatory frameworks to enhance trade and technological collaboration.

The objective is to foster a robust and comprehensive partnership that encompasses various domains, further strengthening the ties between India and the US.

In a statement, New Delhi stated, "At the invitation of H.E Mr Joseph Biden, President of the USA, and First Lady Dr Jill Biden, the Prime Minister will pay an official state visit to the USA. The visit will commence in New York, where Prime Minister Modi will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations Headquarters on June 21."

New Delhi further added, "Following this, the Prime Minister will travel to Washington D.C., where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22 and hold high-level dialogues with President Biden. President Biden and First Lady Dr Jill Biden will host a state dinner in honour of the Prime Minister. Additionally, at the invitation of Congressional Leaders, the Prime Minister will address a joint sitting of the US Congress on June 22."

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also stated, "On June 23, Prime Minister Modi will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by Vice-President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Alongside official engagements, the Prime Minister will participate in curated interactions with prominent CEOs, professionals, and stakeholders. He will also meet members of the Indian diaspora."

Elaborating on the Egypt visit, the MEA said, "In addition to talks with President Sisi, Prime Minister Modi is expected to engage with senior dignitaries from the Egyptian government, prominent Egyptian personalities, and the Indian community in Egypt. India and Egypt share deep-rooted historical trade, economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties. During President Sisi's State Visit in January 2023, the two countries agreed to elevate their relationship to a 'Strategic Partnership'."
Prime minister Narendra Modi addresses delegates virtually during the G20 meeting on Agriculture at HICC in Hyderabad on Friday. (Photo By Arrangement)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on the agriculture ministers of the G20 countries to collaborate on achieving global food security. In a video message to the G20 Agriculture Ministers' Meet, he emphasised the need for sustainable and inclusive food systems that prioritise small farmers and strengthen the global fertiliser supply chain. The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of exploring regenerative agriculture alternatives inspired by traditional practices from different regions.

Addressing the ministers, Modi said, "We must find ways to build sustainable and inclusive food systems, focused on marginal farmers. We must find ways to strengthen global fertiliser supply chains. At the same time, adopt agricultural practices for better soil health, crop health, and yield."

He stressed on the significance of empowering farmers with innovation and digital technology, particularly in the Global South, while also addressing the urgent need to reduce agricultural and food waste and promote wealth creation from waste.

Modi acknowledged that the responsibilities of agriculture ministers extend beyond their sector, as they play a crucial role in securing the future of humanity. Agriculture sustains over 2.5 billion people worldwide, contributing nearly 30 per cent of GDP and employing over 60 per cent of the workforce in the Global South.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the challenges faced by the Global South, including the impact of the pandemic and geopolitical tensions that disrupt supply chains, as well as the increasing frequency of extreme weather events due to climate change.

Highlighting India's approach to agriculture, Modi underscored the country's fusion of "back to basics" and "march to future" policies. India promotes both natural farming and technology-enabled farming, with farmers adopting practices such as organic fertilisers, pest management solutions, and the use of technology like solar power, soil health cards, and drones for crop monitoring.

Modi expressed his belief that this fusion approach is the most effective way to address various agricultural issues. He also mentioned that 2023 is celebrated as the International Year of Millets, praising these superfoods for their health benefits and potential to increase farmers' income.

India is developing an Institute of Millets Research as a Centre of Excellence to share best practices and technologies in millet cultivation. The Prime Minister highlighted India's G20 priorities in agriculture, focusing on healing the Earth, creating harmony within the global family, and providing hope for a brighter future.

He expressed satisfaction that concrete efforts are underway, including the 'Deccan High-level Principles on Food Security and Nutrition' and the 'MAHARISHI' initiative for millets and other grains, which support inclusive, sustainable, and resilient agriculture.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the Development Ministers Meeting of G-20, that is being held in Varanasi, via video conferencing, from New Delhi, Monday, June 12, 2023. (File Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address Indian Americans on the diaspora's role in India's development during his visit to the US from June 21-24. The event, organised by Chicago-based Dr Bharat Barai in Washington DC, is sold out with 838 registered attendees.

The focus will be on the diaspora's contributions to the countrys growth, emphasising engagement with the prime minister. Modi will address an invitation-only gathering of diaspora leaders at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Centre in Washington on June 23.

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. The visit also includes an address to the Joint Session of the Congress on June 22.

Amitabh Mittal from Chicago expressed excitement and anticipation for Modi's visit, hoping for an announcement on the Hindu Heritage Month in October, which has received recognition in several countries.

Meanwhile, the defence ministry on Thursday approved procurement of 30 MQ-9B Predator armed drones from the US under a government-to-government framework and the nearly $3 billion deal is expected to be announced following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden in Washington next week.

The procurement of the weaponised hunter-killer drones from General Atomics was cleared at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh, people familiar with the matter said.

The Sea Guardian Predator drones are being procured at a cost of around $3 billion to crank up the surveillance apparatus of the armed forces, especially along the frontier with China, they said.
The Gujarat High Court judge who stoked a controversy by suggesting a lawyer to read the controversial ancient scripture Manusmriti to understand how women used to get married and have children early, on Thursday asked the lawyer if there was a chance of compromise between a minor rape survivor and the accused.

The rape survivor is seven months pregnant and has sought an abortion.

Justice Samir Dave passed an order directing the police to produce the accused before the court on Friday and kept it open for the victim or her parents to be present on the day following the request of the victims lawyer.

After the victims lawyer Sikander Saiyed briefly argued for abortion on the grounds that it was traumatic for the girl to keep the pregnancy due to her age and mental health, Justice Dave inquired, Where is the accused? Is there a chance to (sic) compromise?

Saiyed responded that in the past he had made attempts to convince the accused but he refused.

The lawyer said that both the victim and accused are labourers and he had tried different options to save three lives  the victim, the child and the accused  but to no avail. Justice Dave, then, passed an order asking the police to produce the accused on June 16 stating that he may ask him to ascertain. He added that he wouldnt disclose what is in his mind as of today.

The moment Justice Dave asked about any chance of compromise and Saiyed started answering, the assistant public prosecutor (APP) stood up and pointed out that the courts view will be taken differently like the last time  the reference to Manusmriti.

Justice Dave paraphrased the APPs words to say, The APP is saying that if something comes from the court then people criticise you. That is what he wants to convey, but one thing I may say is that a judge must be like sthita prajna. Its definition is given in Bhagwat Gita, chapter-2 Samkhya Yoga, sloka 54 to 72. A judge has to be like that. Praise or criticism one should ignore both...

Last week, Justice Dave had asked the victim's lawyer, who had requested an abortion due to her tender age, to read Manusmriti, while saying, "We are living in the 21st Century... But ask your mother or great-grandmother, [before] 14-15 was the maximum age... The first child would be born by the age 17... Girls mature faster than boys. Four-five months here and there doesn't make any difference. You will not read it but [I suggest you] do read Manusmriti once."
The BJP on Friday hit back at the Congress over its remarks on the renaming of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, saying the party does not hesitate to insult even its own leaders who served as prime minister of the country.

This came after Congress lashed out at the government over renaming of the museum here as the Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society, calling it a "petty act" and asserting that legacies don't get erased by renaming buildings.

In response, BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Sudhanshu Trivedi said the Congress is leveling allegations even though its leaders have not yet visited the museum to see how contributions and achievements of first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and those of his successors have been showcased in a much better way with use of technology.

Read | 'Pettiness and vengeance': Congress on Modi govt renaming the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library

He said the museum showcases the contributions and achievements of all the former prime ministers including Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, P V Narasimha Rao, Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh of the Congress.

"I am deliberately taking the name of their own prime ministers. I can understand if they have some bitterness with Narasimha Rao. But, I want to know what is their problem with the achievements of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Manmohan Singh whose terms as prime minister have been showcased in an organised manner," Trivedi said.

"In their opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they do not hesitate to even insult their own leaders. They are not able to differentiate between their own leaders and others due to 'Modiabind' of Modi's opposition in their eyes," he charged.

Trivedi reminded the Congress how the Modi government celebrated the 125th birth anniversary of Nehru in 2014 after the NDA came to power at the Centre.

"I am surprised and a bit perturbed also (with the Congress' reaction in the matter)," he said and asked, "How many Congress leaders have gone there to see the Nehru Memorial."

He said the memorial of India's first prime minister at Teen Murti Bhavan was not in a very good condition.

Read | Nehru's name dropped, NMML renamed Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society

"It was gathering dust... The portion of Nehru ji's memorial has been reorganised in a much better way and it showcases his contributions and achievements with the use of advanced technology," the BJP leader added.

Earlier in the day, the culture ministry said that in a special meeting of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society (NMML), it was resolved to change the museum's name to Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society.

The meeting was presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is the vice president of the society, it said.
The Kerala High Court on Friday granted interim relief from arrest to state Congress chief K Sudhakaran facing a Crime Branch probe in a cheating case involving controversial antique dealer Monson Mavunkal.

Considering an anticipatory bail plea filed by Sudhakaran, Justice Ziyad Rahman directed the police not to arrest him till June 21, the next date of hearing.

"No coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioner till the next posting date. Post the matter on June 21," the court said.

Sudhakaran, who is the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, was recently asked to appear before the Crime Branch which is probing the case. In his anticipatory bail plea, the senior leader stated that he apprehends arrest as he could not turn up before the investigating agency on Wednesday.

Also Read| Kerala govt of fabricating fake cases to shift focus from graft charges: Congress

The KPCC chief said he had "prearranged meetings and consultations" on Wednesday, the day he was asked to appear before the Crime Branch, and as a result he had submitted a request for another date for his personal appearance.

The Crime Branch had decided to interrogate the KPCC president on the basis of a statement by complainants, who lost their money in the cheating case, claiming they had handed over money to Mavunkal in the presence of Sudhakaran.

Earlier, the agency had submitted an additional report before the court here, arraigning Sudhakaran as an accused in the case.

When the allegations cropped up against him two years ago, Sudhakaran denied them.

The issue had snowballed into a political controversy as images of Mavunkal, along with Sudhakaran, emerged. Sudhakaran had said he had gone to Mavunkal's residence for treatment, as the latter claimed to be a trained cosmetologist.

Mavunkal had allegedly made false representations about himself and his business to various people and collected money from them. Many images of Mavunkal with senior police officers and bureaucrats of the state have surfaced.

Cherthala native Mavunkal, who claims to be in possession of rare and historic antiques, was arrested by the Crime Branch in September 2021.

He is facing charges of having swindled Rs 10 crore from several people.
Five foreign terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in north Kashmirs frontier Kupwara district on Friday as the army foiled the biggest infiltration bid since 2021.

The operation in the Jumagund area of the Keran sector in Kupwara was launched on Thursday night based on intelligence input, the army said. Based on the input, multiple ambushes were set up along the expected routes of infiltration.

General-officer-Commanding of the armys 28 Division, Major General Girish Kalia told reporters in Kupwara that following the inputs the LoC fence or the anti-infiltration obstacle system (AIOS), was kept under surveillance.

Around midnight, the movement of terrorists was picked up by the alert troops who braved challenging terrain and weather conditions. The infiltrating terrorists were engaged with precise and accurate fire, and in the ensuing firefight, five unidentified terrorists were neutralised, the army commander said.

He said a large amount of arms and ammunition, including five AK series rifles, 15 magazines and grenades, and equipment such as night vision devices and binoculars were recovered from the encounter site.

This year it was for the first time that five militants were killed in a single encounter in Kashmir. The killings of militants have witnessed a sharp decline this year compared to previous years.

Police and army maintain that local recruitment has declined due to which the number of active militants have come to double digit in the Valley.

Earlier on June 13, security forces shot dead two militants near LoC in Kupwara. The Kashmir Zone Police shared the news on Twitter. The police said the incident happened in the Dobanar Machhal area.
With new facts coming to light vis-a-vis the sensational Saraswati Vaidya murder case of Mira Road, a court in Thane on Friday extended the police remand of accused Manoj Sane till June 22.

Manoj (56), who worked in a ration shop in Borivali in Mumbai, was arrested by the Nayanagar police station for murdering Saraswati (32), whom he brutally killed and later chopped the body and was disposing of it off in a phased manner.

Hours after the decomposed body parts were received on June 7, the police had arrested Sane, after which a court in Thane remanded him to police custody till June 16.

Read | Mira Road murder: Statements of 20 persons recorded so far, say police

Sane had allegedly killed Saraswati on June 4 at their rented accommodation - Flat No. 704 in the Akashdeep Building in Geeta Nagar area of Naya Nagar locality of Mira Road.

He was produced in the court on the expiry of remand - after which the court extended the remand.

Sanes lawyer Atul Saroj opposed the police custody.

As part of the investigations, police have checked Sane's cellphone records and browsing history.

Police has ruled out claims that Saraswati has died by suicide by consuming poison.

Statements of more than 20 persons have been recorded by the police.
Following vehement protests by parents, a teacher of Kapol Vidyanidhi International School in the Kandivali area of Mumbai was suspended on Friday for allegedly playing the Azaan (Muslim prayer) during the morning Assembly.

Several parents led by BJP MLA Yogesh Sagar protested against the school management.

This is a serious issue The playing of the Azaan by the teacher at the school was intentional and not a mistake, as claimed by the school. The school was trying to shield the teacheryou are not running a madrasa but a school, Sagar fumed.

The parents assembled there asked whether the management of a Muslim school had allowed Gayatri mantra, Hanuman Chalisa or Mahamrityunjaya Mantra to be played during the morning assembly.

The Mumbai police have launched an investigation into the incident.

We have received a complaint from Kandivali. The matter will be probed from all angles. All necessary action will be taken, said Deputy Commissioner of Police Ajay Kumar Bansal.

The BJP Mumbai unit also tweeted about the protests that broke out outside the school.

Principal Dr Reshma Hegde said that the teacher had been placed under suspension.

Mumbai BJP President Ashish Shelar said that it is serious. BJP would not tolerate such things. And we never say anything about what is happening in schools run by minorities, he said.
Noting that the "recent incidents of commotion and interruptions" in the Houses are a matter of grave concern, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday said that uproar, sloganeering and adjournment of the House in a "planned manner" are not good signs for our democracy as it diminish the dignity of democracy itself.

Referring to the role of legislative bodies in ensuring socio-economic welfare of the people, the Speaker emphasized that the functioning of our legislative bodies should be conducted in a dignified manner.

Birla was speaking at the first-ever National Legislators' Conference Bharat (NLC Bharat) being held at the Jio Convention Centre at the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai.

Former Lok Sabha Speakers Shivraj Patil, Meira Kumar and Sumitra Mahajan, Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Presiding Officers of State Legislative Assemblies, and Councils, MPs, MLAs and MLCs were present in the conference attended by over 2,000 delegates.

Read | In-depth debates required for passing legislations: Om Birla

Democracy comes naturally to Indians and is imbibed in our conduct, thoughts and behavior and it was a natural progression that Independent India opted for parliamentary democracy as our system of governance, said Birla.

Referring to the role of legislative bodies in ensuring socio-economic welfare of the people, the Speaker emphasized that the functioning of our legislative bodies should be conducted in a dignified manner.

Birla expressed the view that being the highest public representative institution, legislators are expected to work as a role model for other institutions and organizations of the country.

In this context, he opined that legislators should maintain high standards of discipline and decency in their public life as incidents of unruly behavior tarnish their image.

Being the representatives of the people, they should always try to hold the executive accountable to the House and House to the people., he said.

The role of the legislators is one of great responsibility as they are the crucial link between the citizen and the executive. As such, their sole responsibility is to effectively convey issues of the public interest, wishes, aspirations and needs of the populace to the executive," said Birla.

He emphasized that, in this perspective, it is crucial that discussions and dialogues in legislatures should be result-oriented to effectively address the concerns.

Elaborating on the role of the Constitution in shaping democracy in India, Birla added that as a legislator, one is expected to uphold the virtues of freedom, equality, and justice in accordance with the Constitution.

"Laws framed in the legislatures are the basis of all rights of the people. These very laws strengthened the country and the people and thus they needed to conscientiously work for strengthening them, he said.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said the Congress will hold protests at all district centres against the BJP government at the Centre on June 20, as he accused it of ensuring that the state doesn't get the required amount of rice to implement its 'Anna Bhagya' scheme, which provides additional 5 kg of rice for BPL families.

Noting that the state government is making all efforts to procure rice from other sources and from producing states, he indicated that there may be slight delay in rolling out the scheme against the scheduled date of July one.

Also Read | Govt, wholesalers benefitting from falling prices of essential commodities, not consumers: Congress

"I want to congratulate BJP national President J P Nadda, as they (BJP) have walked the talk", Shivakumar said sarcastically. "It was reported in the media quoting him that if BJP loses the election central schemes to the state will get affected, he has kept up his word. Even as the Prime Minister speaks about federal structure..."

Speaking to reporters here, he said, the BJP government at the Centre is indulging in 'politics of hate' by ensuring that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) does not supply the required amount of rice to implement the scheme; it is their way of registering a protest against Karnataka's poor for voting in favour of Congress.

"BJP is a party that betrays the poor. Congress party and the government condemns and protests this. On on June 20 at 11 am, the Congress will stage protests at all district centres across the state against the BJP government at the Centre. The protests will be organised by local leadership of the party at district level, all MLAs and leaders from the district will take part in the protest," he added.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had recently said that the central government has stalled the sale of wheat and rice to state governments under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) (OMSSD), which prohibits the FCI from selling any additional rice to Karnataka for its Anna Bhagya scheme.

Noting that the state government is committed to provide 10 kg of free rice to the poor, the DCM said, "we are in talks with neighbouring states like Telangana, also Chhattisgarh, which are rice producing states, on the stocks available with them for procurement. He said it is not difficult for us to procure from the open market, but we want to maintain transparency.

"The Centre has rice stock of over seven lakh metric tonne, we asked for about 2,88,000 metric tonnes. Despite having stock they are not giving. As they (FCI) had initially agreed to give rice, we had announced that we will supply from July 1. We will arrange rice somehow and roll out the scheme, there may be a couple of days delay due to procurement and transportation," he added.

Shivakumar also expressed hope that MPs from the state will come forward to help Karnataka, and said, "we will write to them to put pressure on the centre in the interest of the state."

Out of 28 MPs from the state, 25 are from BJP.
Walmart Inc. is the worlds biggest company by revenue and its largest employer with over 2.2 million globally. It is a general merchandise discount retailer founded in 1962 by Sam Walton and remains a very tightly-held family-owned company to this day. At last look, the Walton family and its heirs owned more than 50% of the company through the family-holding company Walton Enterprises and individual holdings. As of October 2022, the company operated nearly 10,600 stores in 24 countries under 46 different banners. For example, Walmart de Mexico is the Mexican branch while Flipkart Wholesale is the companys operations in India.

Sam Walton began his crusade to undercut retail competitors began in the early 1950s. He opened the first Wal-Mart Discount City store in 1962 and was able to leverage the brand to great success. It became a publicly traded company in 1972 and was the US's most profitable retailer by 1988. The chain went nationwide in the early 1990s and expanded to international markets soon after that. While the company has seen some success outside the US, those remain limited, and the US is the primary market and produces well over 60% of the revenue and earnings.

Today, the company operates through three segments that include Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. The stores offer groceries, health, beauty, apparel, footwear, household, furniture, automotive, electronics and recreational products among others. In addition, the company offers a wide variety of ancillary services that include automotive repair, tire change, vision/eyeglass services and financial services that include gift cards, prepaid wireless, check cashing and money transfers. Sams Club, launched in 1989, is the companys membership club brand. It is the second-largest membership club in North America and about 12% of Walmarts total revenue.

Walmart is a Dividend Aristocrat with nearly 50 years of consecutive annual dividend increases to its credit. Based on the 2022 financial metrics, the company is capable of sustaining another several decades of increases at a low single-digit pace. Once a laggard in ESG, Walmart is now a leader in environmental, social, and governance issues. The companys efforts include increasing the efficiency of its truck and vehicle fleets to include the upgrade to electrification or hydrogen fuel cells. In terms of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles alone, the company had upgraded more than 9,500 of its warehouse and facility service machines to fuel cells as of mid-2022 and was also working to electrify its vehicle fleets.
Germany and Poland have committed to supporting Ukraines defense capabilities by providing sustained assistance for the countrys newly acquired Leopard tanks. At the same time, the Netherlands and Denmark have shared their plans to train pilots on advanced fourth-generation fighter aircraft, which include the F-16s. These significant developments were announced by Lloyd J. Austin III, who serves as both the U.S. Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG). He made these announcements during a media briefing held in Brussels following a UDCG meeting attended by representatives from approximately 50 nations.

During the briefing, Secretary Austin emphasized the shared focus on fulfilling Ukraines immediate needs for ground-based air defense systems. This need has become increasingly urgent due to Russias relentless escalation of missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities over the past month, resulting in the loss of many innocent lives. Secretary Austin highlighted Canadas commitment to send over 200 air-defense missiles to Ukraine as part of their substantial $500 billion aid package.

Get alerts:

Moreover, the United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, and the Netherlands have joined forces to contribute funds for additional air-defense missiles, showcasing their unwavering support for Ukraine. Italy has also announced its latest military assistance, while Norway and Germany have unveiled comprehensive security assistance packages extending over several years.

In a significant announcement, Denmark has pledged almost $2.6 million in military assistance to Ukraine, which will continue until 2024. Secretary Austin underscored the importance of these collective contributions, emphasizing the unity among nations in supporting Ukraines defense efforts and upholding the rules-based international order that guarantees global security. He acknowledged Ukraines resilience in overcoming numerous challenges and expressed gratitude for the historical support and goodwill extended by nations worldwide. Secretary Austin affirmed that Ukraine is well-prepared to face future obstacles.

Secretary Austin added, Ukraines fight is not a simple sprint to the finish line. Our message remains steadfast: We will stand by your side for as long as it takes. These sentiments echoed the remarks of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, who highlighted the United States training initiatives in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, the U.S. has trained over 11,000 Ukrainian personnel in combined-arms maneuver and staff training. This training effort has resulted in the formation of 12 Ukrainian maneuver battalions comprising nearly 5,000 operators actively engaged in the conflict.

Gen. Milley further revealed that allies and partners collectively trained close to 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers, with the United States contributing 11,000 of those trained personnel. He commended the courageous Ukrainian people for their unwavering resilience and emphasized their tireless fight to reclaim their homeland from Russian occupation. Gen. Milley acknowledged that the Ukrainians draw strength not only from their military equipment but also from the indomitable will that resides within their spirits.

As international support continues to strengthen Ukraines defense capabilities and empower its armed forces, the nation remains unwavering in its determination to defend its sovereignty and secure a peaceful future.
Your Ultimate Investing Toolkit

Sign up for MarketBeat All Access to gain access to MarketBeat's full suite of research tools:

Portfolio Monitoring

Top Stock Lists

Premium Reports

Stock Screeners

Live News Feed

Premium Support

Free for your first month.
Mastercard Inc. is a leading technology company in the payments industry that provides payment processing solutions to businesses and consumers worldwide. Mastercard is one of the largest payment processors in the world by market cap and the number of payments processed.

Mastercard was founded in 1966 as Master Charge: The Interbank Card. The company was created to respond to the growing need for a secure and reliable payment processing system. In 1979, the company changed its name to Mastercard. Mastercard is in over 200 countries and territories and serves over 2.8 billion cardholders.

Mastercard operates on a business-to-business (B2B) model, providing payment processing services to financial institutions, merchants and governments. The company earns revenue primarily through transaction processing fees, cross-border fees and other value-added services. Mastercard's business is divided into four segments: domestic assessments, cross-border volume fees, transaction processing fees and additional revenue.

Mastercard's financial performance has been consistently strong in recent years, with revenue and earnings growth driven by increased transaction volumes and higher fees. Mastercard faces significant competition from other payment processing companies, including Visa Inc. (NYSE: V), American Express Co. (NYSE: AXP) and PayPal Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL). However, Mastercard has maintained its position as one of the largest payment processors in the world due to its strong brand recognition, global network and innovative technology solutions.

Mastercard has consistently invested in innovative technology to enhance its payment processing solutions. One of the company's most significant innovations in recent years is Mastercard's tokenization technology, which provides a secure way to process payments without exposing cardholder data. Mastercard has also invested heavily in contactless payment technology, which has become increasingly popular during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mastercard has a solid commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability. The company has set ambitious goals to reduce its carbon footprint, increase financial inclusion and promote gender equality. Mastercard is also actively involved in philanthropic efforts, including the Mastercard Foundation, which focuses on advancing financial inclusion in Africa.

As with any company, Mastercard faces several risk factors that could impact its financial performance. One of the most significant risks facing Mastercard is the potential for increased regulation of the payment processing industry. Mastercard is also vulnerable to changes in consumer behavior, such as a shift away from traditional payment methods toward mobile payments. Additionally, Mastercard's business depends on the overall health of the global economy, which could be impacted by factors such as inflation, geopolitical tensions and natural disasters.
Eden Place Arts Centre is celebrating a special milestone of 30 years of partnership with Pilots Row Youth Club.

Over 30 years, thousands of young people from the area have benefitted from the youth services offered there, and to mark the occasion, current members of the youth club created a landmark mural at the entrance to the arts centre.

Eden Place Arts Centre is supported by The National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

Working with local, professional artist, Patrick Doherty, the young people spent months planning and designing the mural which was recently unveiled to an excited audience from the local community in the Bogside area of Derry.

Inspired by the work of artist L.S. Lowry, and Derry artist Square Bear, who himself is a former member of the youth club, the mural features several landmarks from the city such as Eden Place Arts Centre, The Peace Bridge, The Derry Walls, The Guildhall and more, enveloped in a cascade of colour and emotion.

Judi Logue, Eden Place Arts Centre Co-Ordinator, said: I am absolutely brimming with pride to be with the young people of Pilots Row Youth Club, their fantastic Youth Leader Tomas Logue and local artist Patrick Doherty today to launch this beautiful mural on the wall of our building to celebrate our 30th Anniversary.

The young people of this area have done us proud. The mural, full of imagination and colour has been designed and painted by the young people over the last number of months and will inspire the many people coming through our door for years to come.

Pictured at the unveiling of the mural are Pilots Row Youth Club members, Aaron Sharp, Eva McGilloway, artist, Paddy Doherty, Lucy-May Harrigan and Dillon Ryan.

Patricia Lavery, Head of Community Arts and Education, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, added: The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is proud to support Eden Place Arts Centre, thanks to The National Lottery players.

I was thrilled to attend the launch of this wonderful mural by members of the youth club at Eden Place Arts Centre which celebrates 30 years of partnership between Eden Place Arts Centre and Pilots Row Youth Club.

From this mural it is clear that the young people wanted to express how they feel when they go into the arts centre and being opened up to a world of colour and imagination. Congratulations to all involved.
Evermore Energy at Lisahally has teamed up with the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) as an official host for Engineering Open House Week 2023.

Engineering Open House Week is one of many events that make up the IETs Engineer a Better World campaign to encourage young, aspiring engineers to discover the exciting world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) and discover more about the variety of stimulating and in-demand careers in engineering.

The IET aims to assist children aged 5-13, their caregivers, and teachers, to understand the work of an engineer or technologist by working with a wide range of organisations such as Evermore Energy.

These companies in the UK open their doors and hold events, discussions, presentations, tours, interactive exhibits, and workshops to encourage young people to think differently and get excited about engineering and technology.

At Evermore Energys Engineering Open House Day, students from Foyle College and Thornhill College saw and heard first-hand how engineering is applied in a range of different roles across the energy industry.

Ciaran Devine, Co-owner of Evermore Group, said: We were delighted to welcome students to the Lisahally CHP plant, which is one of Irelands largest renewable energy generators and is located at the Foyle Port.

Evermore Founders Stephen Devine and Ciaran Devine, Hayley McCready (Asset Manager at Lisahally Power Station) and students from Foyle College.

The Lisahally plant produces renewable energy for over 30,000 homes and businesses across the province and plays a key role in Northern Irelands sustainable energy strategy.

"At Evermore, we are passionate about giving back to the local community in ways such as this initiative.

Hayley McCready, Asset Manager at Lisahally Power Plant: Its important that our local, young students are aware of the opportunities and various career paths available to them on their doorstep.

Evermore Founders Stephen Devine and Ciaran Devine, Hayley McCready (Asset Manager at Lisahally Power Station) and students from Thornhill College.

"We would encourage them to get in touch with Evermore as we are very much focused on developing young people and their careers.

Engineering Open House Week is all about showing young people just how diverse and incredible the world of STEM really is.
Gorse wildfires in Co Antrim are no longer in major incident status, the Northern Ireland Fire & Service (NIFRS) has said.

The NIFRS has resumed normal operational response across the province following three days of wildfires and other emergency incidents.

From Wednesday to Friday, NIFRS received 716 emergency calls and attended 318 incidents, with 96 of these being wildfire incidents.

Over 500 fire appliances, including specialist appliances, were mobilised.

We are no longer in Major Incident status. From 2pm 14 June until 2pm on 16 June, we received 716 emergency calls & attended 318 incidents, with 96 of these being wildfire incidents. Over 500 Appliances were mobilised to deal with these incidents. https://t.co/E7ldDiUtFL pic.twitter.com/b9viYRC2oF  Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (@NIFRSOFFICIAL) June 16, 2023

The largest blaze was the wildfire at Ballyemon Road, Glenariff, Co Antrim, which the fire service was first called to around midday on Wednesday.

The Irish Air Corps was called in to assist with helicopters to drop water directly on the gorse fires.

Resources at Glenariff were scaled down on Friday afternoon but over 51 firefighters, eight officers, eight fire appliances, and five specialist appliances remain at the site.

NIFRS interim chief fire & rescue officer Andy Hearn thanked firefighters who had tackled the blaze, as well as the community for their support.

Our firefighters have been working in extremely challenging and exhausting conditions during this major incident to bring these wildfires under control, he said.

I would like to thank our firefighters for their exceptional work and commitment, working in intense conditions, in challenging terrain.

Id also like to pay tribute to the many others across the organisation who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to support the operational response, including our personnel in our Regional Control Centre and support staff.

I would like to send our sincere thanks to our partner agencies, Northern Ireland Water, Forestry Service Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Skywatch NI, the Red Cross, Rapid Relief Team, the PSNI, and the Irish Air Corps who have supported our response.

We are heartened and grateful for the support of our local community and the generosity in providing refreshments. Their support has been invaluable.

I would also like to thank the public for supporting us during this critical time and ask that they continue to avoid areas where incidents are still ongoing.

Please act safely, be responsible and vigilant when it comes to enjoying the countryside and follow our safety advice.

The gorse plant is made of 2-4% flammable oils and so is highly susceptible to fire in spells of long, dry weather.

The NIFRS reminded the public of safety when enjoying the countryside at this time of year.

They advise extinguishing cigarettes and other smoking materials properly and ensuring that barbecues are fully extinguished and cold before disposing of their contents.
A hotel concierge who has been welcoming royals, presidents and rock stars to Belfast for 40 years has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM).

Martin Mulholland, the head concierge of the Europa Hotel in Belfast, has been awarded the honour as part of the Kings Birthday Honours list.

I got a letter at home and my wife rang me and said there was a very official looking letter so I rushed home and there it was, it was a surprise, a big big surprise, he said.

Mr Mulholland said he had met King Charles on several occasions prior to his coronation, as well as an array of senior political figures.

(Ive met the then) Prince Charles on quite a few occasions and various members of the royal family, and also the presidents of the United States are regular visitors as well. So, yes, were quite used to that, he said.

He added: He (The King) actually came to officially open our new hotel, the Grand Central Hotel. So thats the last time we met and he always has a minute for everyone.

Hes very good, very good people person.

Mr Mulholland said the BEM was a recognition of his 40 years of service to world dignitaries visiting Belfast.

Im in my 40th year here at the Europa, so its nice to be recognised for what you do, he said.

I love doing what I do, its not really a job as such, but dont tell anyone that.

Music stars such as Radiohead, U2, Rod Stewart and Bob Dylan have all stayed at the Europa with Mr Mulholland also famously having to call an ambulance for the Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain who was staying in the hotel after the bands show at The Kings Hall.

The visit that Mr Mulholland said was a highlight of his 40 years was president Bill Clintons three-day trip to Belfast in 1995.

Of course, it has to be the Clinton visit in 95 when he was here as president of the United States, that was massive.

A massive time for Belfast and Northern Ireland, but a massive time for the Europa as well. So fond memories of that.

And then, of course, we were able to revisit our photograph just a few weeks back again, when president Clinton was back in the hotel, so we did the photograph, again, with a 28-year gap between it, so it was a nice moment.
While we all wait for the official release of Samsungs latest flagship foldable smartphones, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5, a slew of leaks about the Galaxy Z Fold 5 has come our way.

A bunch of leaked renders reveals the design similarities it shares with its predecessor, the Fold 4. This includes the USB Type-C port, speaker grills, and microphone locations.

However, Samsung has made notable enhancements, with a considerably thinner bezel that promises to elevate the user's visual experience by significantly increasing the screen-to-body ratio.

Also read: Google Pixel Fold vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 vs Oppo Find N2 Flip: What's your choice?

Although the color selection for the new device is yet to be confirmed, a Blue variant is very much expected. Another sought-after feature of it would be the S Pen, which is likely to be sold separately, continuing the trend established with the previous model.

The back of the device could feature a triple camera setup, reminiscent of the Fold 4. However, a slight relocation of the LED near the rear cameras is possible. Samsung designers are likely to have refined the hinge and other aspects of the design.

The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is said to house Samsung's custom-designed Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, a detail previously disclosed in other leaks. This powerful chipset is currently deployed in Samsung's flagship Galaxy S23 series, suggesting that the Fold 5 will pack a similar performance punch.

With its refined hinge design and likely S Pen support, the Fold 5 is poised to carry forward Samsung's legacy in the realm of foldable smartphones. However, it remains to be seen whether these upgrades, including the potential enhancements in the camera department, will enable Samsung to maintain its competitive edge in the face of emerging rivals like the Google Pixel Fold and rumoured foldable from OnePlus.

As anticipation continues to build, all eyes are now on Samsung's Unpacked event next month, where the tech giant is expected to officially lift the veil on the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5.
Save my User ID and Password

Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site.

Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site.
Intel's latest quantum chip marks progress in silicon qubit strategy

Intel announced the release of Tunnel Falls, a 12-qubit silicon chip, fabricated on 300mm wafers in Intel's D1 fabrication facility in Oregon, US. According to Intel, Tunnel Falls is the first chip publicly announced by Intel based on silicon spin qubits. The device leverages its most advanced CMOS fabrication capabilities, including the use of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. Intel also reports a 95% yield rate across the wafer, in addition to voltage uniformity similar to a CMOS logic process. Each wafer provides over 24,000 quantum dot devices.

"The release of the new chip is the next step in Intel's long-term strategy to build a full-stack commercial quantum computing system," indicated Jim Clarke, director of Quantum Hardware at Intel.

Intel has long belived that silicon spin qubits are superior to other qubit technologies because of their synergy with leading-edge transistors. Being the size of a transistor also means that silicon spin qubits are up to 1 million times smaller than other qubit types measuring approximately 50 nanometers by 50 nanometers.

In the context of a silicon electron spin device, silicon is employed to host and manipulate the spin of individual electrons. The device structure involves quantum dots, which are small nanoscale regions within the silicon that can confine electrons and control their spin behavior. A major advantage of this device is its resemblance to conventional transistors.

While silicon spin qubits are typically presented on one device, Intel's research demonstrates success across an entire wafer. Back in October 2022, in a research conducted using its second-generation silicon spin test chip, Intel already demonstrated what it claimed to be the industry's highest reported yield and uniformity to date of silicon spin qubit devices.

Through testing the devices using the Intel cryoprober, a quantum dot testing device that operates at cryogenic temperatures ( -271.45 degrees Celsius), Intel's research isolated 12 quantum dots and four sensors. This result represents the industry's largest silicon electron spin device with a single electron in each location across an entire 300 millimeter silicon wafer, according to Intel.

In the October 2022 demonstration, Intel reported uniformity with a 95% yield rate across the wafer. The increased yield and uniformity in devices allows Intel to use statistical process control to identify areas of the fabrication process to optimize. Intel indicated that this accelerated learning and marked a crucial step toward scaling to the thousands or potentially millions of qubits required for a commercial quantum computer.

In addition, the use of the cryoprober together with software automation enabled more than 900 single quantum dots and more than 400 double dots at the last electron, which can be characterized at one degree above absolute zero in less than 24 hours.

Following the release of Tunnel Falls, Intel will work to improve the performance of the chip and integrate it into its full quantum stack with the Intel Quantum Software Development Kit (SDK). According to Intel, it is already developing its next-generation quantum chip based on Tunnel Falls; it is expected to be released in 2024. In the future, Intel plans to partner with additional research institutions globally to build the quantum ecosystem.
A TRAINEE Prison Officer has secured a temporary High Court injunction restraining his dismissal from his employment over alleged serious misconduct.

The interim injunction was made in favour of Eddie Campbell who had been the subject of disciplinary proceedings after bags allegedly containing traces of an illegal drug were found in a room, he had occupied a week earlier.

The court heard the Irish Prison Service has informed him that his employment is to be terminated later this month, arising out of findings made against him following internal disciplinary hearings.

The allegations against him include that on a date in June 2022 three plastic bags, containing a powdery substance were found in a room in a building used to house trainee prison officers at Portlaoise Prison that he had occupied several days previously.

Mr Campbell, who is from Cappamore in County Limerick, vehemently denies any wrong-doing and says that both the decision to dismiss him and the disciplinary process he underwent are unfair.

His lawyers say he has come to the High Court seeking orders "as a last resort" to challenge the disciplinary process, that was conducted in breach of fair and proper procedures.

The injunction was granted, on an ex-parte (one side only) basis, against the Irish Prison Service, the Minister for Justice, Ireland and the Attorney General by Ms Justice Siobhan Stack this Friday afternoon.

The judge commented that the threshold for granting such orders in employment cases was high.

However, she said based on the evidence put before the court that threshold had been met by the applicant.

Pearse Sreenan SC instructed by Frank Buttimer solicitors said Mr Campell commenced working for the Irish prison service as a recruit Prison Officer on a 12-month probationary contract in April 2022.

He said he passed all his reviews without incident or complaint and is staunchly opposed to drug taking.

Counsel said the disciplinary process his client underwent arising out of the discovery of the plastic bags is "full of inconsistencies" and procedural flaws.

One major flaw counsel said is that the plastic bags found in the room were never fingerprinted.

While the bags were sent to a forensic lab, and the matter reported to gardai, counsel said his client is not facing any criminal charges and there is a high degree of uncertainty if traces of any illegal substances were found in the bags.

His client's offer to undergo drug testing has not been taken up by the prison service, counsel added.

Mr Sreenan said the rooms his client and other trainees are housed in at Portlaoise are regularly inspected by the IPS and the corridors are monitored by round-the-clock CCTV.

His client, he added, had not been given the CCTV footage from the several days after the plaintiff had left the room to the the time when the bags were discovered by the authorities.

All Mr Campbell was told by the prison services was that the CCTV had been inspected by one of its officers, and that there was "nothing of interest there."

Counsel said his client would like to view the images himself.

All his client was furnished with are images around an eight-minute period when another trainee officer entered the room, when Mr Campbell was there.

The court heard, there was also a lack of electronic records available to Mr Campbell concerning the use of the room following his departure from it or if the room was locked during that relevant period.

Counsel also said that there was a lack of written statements from other parties and witnesses in the disciplinary process, which he said was surprising.

In a sworn statement to the court Mr Campbell, who is aged in his mid-twenties, said that he is hugely concerned about his reputation if he is dismissed.
The Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence (AMTCE), established by the Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) has just launched a substantially funded national cyber security training programme to support industry 4.0.

AMTCE say the programme will combat the current shortage of skilled cyber security personnel and the need to develop a strong and coordinated national ecosystem against the backdrop of rising cyber threats,

The AMTCEs Cyber for Advanced Manufacturing Ireland suite of programmes were officially launched at the LMETB/ AMTCE event 'Strategic Initiatives for Advanced Manufacturing in our National Cyber Security Ecosystem at Buswells Hotel in Dublin, by Ossian Smyth, Minister of State for Public Expenditure and at the Department of the Environment with Martin OBrien, chief executive of LMETB and founder of AMTCE and independent Senator Gerard Craughwell.

The objectives are to increase cyber security skills, public awareness, support job creation and the indigenous cyber security industry by creating an interconnected ecosystem.

It is hoped the programme will help Ireland to become a global cyber security leader and ties into the proposed establishment of a European Cyber Shield to protect, detect, defend, and deter, as outlined the recent EU International Cyber security Forum in April 2023.

Cyber Irelands recent report estimates that Irelands cyber security cluster could support up to 2.5bn in annual GVA (Gross Value Added) and the employment of over 17,000 cyber security professionals in the sector by 2030, if the right environment and supports are in place.

The AMTCE programmes say they will adopt a multi-facetted approach, generating an Irish talent pipeline to meet the workforce gap of more than 3.4 million* cyber security positions globally. The AMTCE, which is supported by SOLAS and Enterprise Ireland will also be delivering a cyber skills model that may be utilised by other Education and Training Boards.

Speaking at the launch, Martin OBrien, chief executive of LMETB and the founder of the AMTCE, said:

Ever increasing levels of connectivity are now exposing factory systems to cyber security risks and manufacturing now accounts for almost 25% of all cyber-attacks. A recent report by KMPG highlighted the fact that nearly 1 in 5 organisations have no factory IT cyber security awareness training to improve the security culture across organisations.

"This is a clear deficit that needs to be addressed urgently. Im delighted to announce today that LMETB and the AMTCE are moving to address the very real needs of industry in this area.

"Training has a key role to play in helping the advanced manufacturing sector gain the benefits of Industry 4.0 while mitigating the risks. LMETB and AMTCE provide access and delivery of cyber security related training programmes to provide the necessary skills and knowledge to improve and develop the cyber security IQ of Irelands advanced manufacturing workforce, Martin OBrien continued.

The Estonian ambassador Kairi Kunka was also one of the speakers at the event. She hosted a visit by the AMTCE team to her country as Estonia is ranked among the leading nations in the world for cyber security.

Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell said:

The cyber-attack on the HSE was a wakeup call for Ireland. Our citizens must quickly understand that our nations cyberspace will be exploited at all levels by rogue states and criminals from home and abroad. It was surprising to see how quickly the HSE story was consigned to history.

"Many seemed to accept that it was just one of those things we must learn to live with. Clearly cyberattacks must never become just one of those things we must all accept that we have a role in defending ourselves and the state against such attacks.

"Most see cyber security as a job for government, the Gardai or the NCSC, few see themselves as having a role. If we are going to have any chance at limiting the damage a cyber-attack could unleash on our country, its economy, and its citizens we are all going to have to up our game in cyber awareness.

"While there are many programmes running in the higher education sector focusing mainly on research, there is a need to focus on the entry level skills. LMETBs chief executive Martin OBrien is a leader and innovator in the further education sector. When approached about establishing the first Cyber IT/OT training programme at LMETBs Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence, Martin took the view it should be world class.

"It was agreed that Estonia was a good example to look at when it came to cyber and it was fantastic to have the assistance of Kairi Kunka, the Estonian ambassador to Ireland in this regard. She put in place an agenda for LMETB representatives and I to visit Estonia. The delegation got to see the CCDCOE centre, the cyber range CR14, and Tallinn Technological University.

"Thanks to the ambassador and our own Irish Defence Forces Representative Commandant Ronan OFlaherty, the LMETB delegation returned to Ireland with a more informed vision. The launch of AMTCEs cybersecurity programmes are the realisation of that vision.

"Other ETBs may wish to become involved in delivering similar cyber-awareness programs. To ensure continued FDI, Ireland must become the go-to country for operating in a cyber safe environment, Senator Craughwell continued.

The substantially funded courses available under the AMTCEs cyber security programme are open to individuals as well as employees of organisations.

The AMTCE cyber security programme will focus strongly on supporting industry in all sectors to identify cyber risk and their potential impacts on the physical assets, software, and data of an organisation.

The AMTCE utilises outside industry experts for its courses, to ensure that the quality and focus of its training is always cutting edge.

AMTCE will also create multiple entry points for people interested in starting a career in cyber security, people looking to upskill or change career.

One such example is the AMTCEs Cyber security Apprenticeship launched in 2022 in association with Fastrack into Information Technology (FIT). These apprentices are all employed by industry and are part of the Earn and Learn Generation Apprenticeship initiative.

To encourage an interest in cyber security as a career in primary and post-primary students, AMTCE will create various entry points and pathways.

The AMTCEs Cyber for Advanced Manufacturing Ireland programmes begin in September 2023, for more details, visit www.amtce.ie
Local Labour TD Ged Nash has branded it as shameful that many contract cleaners, catering, security and other staff in public hospitals have yet to receive their pandemic bonus payment.

Senator Nash said: The utter disregard of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party towards low-paid workers is outrageous. It took 11 months after the pandemic payment was first announced in January 2022 to even confirm that these workers would qualify for the payment.

"Since last November, these workers have been waiting and have got nothing.

This week alone I have been contacted by many local workers who have not received the pandemic bonus they so greatly deserve for keeping our hospital going during the pandemic.

The delay is a massive failure of leadership and shows utter disrespect towards some of the lowest paid workers in the health service.

"This payment was the very least that the government could do, but even this simple payment has become a disaster of mismanagement and turned a potentially good news story into a bad one.

It is completely unacceptable that these workers have not been paid the 1000 Pandemic Special Recognition Payment. Many of us know first-hand the sacrifices made by these frontline workers to care for our loved ones.

These workers went above and beyond the call of duty for Ireland during the pandemic and this effort must be recognised by government. Minister Donnelly needs to make good on his promise to these workers.
CORK writer Conal Creedons latest book, Art Imitating Life Imitating Death, has just been awarded Gold for the European Non-Fiction section of the prestigious Independent Publisher Awards - the IP Book Awards in the USA.

His name will now be included alongside an impressive list of previous IP award winners, including best-selling author Margaret Atwood, former U.S Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera, and Canadian Law Professor Randal Graham.

The awards were established in the U.S to highlight and honour exemplary books, which are selected from more than 5,000 titles.

The works are chosen from among an array of independent publishers such as Oxford University Press, Yale University Press, University of Washington Press, Stanford University Press, and The White House Historical Association. Now, a book produced by Conals own independent publishing venture, Irishtown Press, based in Cork, has received the highest accolade of them all - the Gold award.

A fantastic achievement indeed, and while Conal was elated with the announcement in late May, he is also characteristically modest about his achievement.

I love what I do, its only rock nroll and I like it, as the old song goes, said Conal.

So the fact that I can keep on doing what I do is the greatest reward of all.

Having said that, at a very basic level its always special to receive encouragement. That sense of Well done! and a slap on the back, be it from friends or family or people I meet as I wander round the town, is always heart-warming.

Sometimes, Im crossing Patricks Bridge and a taxi driver honks the horn and gives me a thumbs up, or yells out the window to keep on doing what Im doing.

Like, how special, how privileged is that?

Encouragement is always important, but on a deeper level I guess its only human to wonder how my work is received and how it rates on a competitive level, so it means an awful lot to me when a third party endorsement comes in like this.

Conal Creedons award and his book

Art Imitating Life Imitating Death is Conals personal exploration of the short story Guests Of The Nation by fellow Cork writer Frank OConnor - a tale which has touched the hearts of many scholars in the Irish educational system over the years as it was featured in the textbook Exploring English and was on the syllabus for the state exam the Inter Cert. now known as the Junior Cert.

The impact of Guests Of The Nation upon many teenagers reading it for the first time was profound. Its set against a backdrop of a deeply perturbing period in the history of the Irish nation- the Irish War of Independence - and examines a moral dilemma of vast proportions.

This impact was felt too by a young Conal when he read the story for the first time in his school textbook - something abut that story just stopped me in my tracks. he recalls.

It tells of two young IRA volunteers, Bonaparte and Nobel, who are guarding their captured enemies in an isolated rural cottage, two British soldiers named Belcher and Hawkins.

Over time, a camaraderie unfolds between them as they enjoy cosy evenings by the fire, playing cards and enjoying some lively banter.

The relaxing evenings come to an abrupt and horrific ending when the lads are ordered to perform their duty, by taking Belcher and Hawkins outside and shooting them dead as an act of reprisal.

In 2003, Conal was commissioned by RTE to adapt Guests Of The Nation for radio as part of the Frank OConnor centenary celebrations, and thus began his meticulous research into the background of the story. He uncovered many fascinating details of real life events, which he concluded may have been the inspiration for OConnors story.

"Seduced by a narrative so deeply rooted in a culture, history and landscape so familiar to me, I was captivated by this wartime parable, recalls Conal.

He discovered that senior British officer Major Geoffrey Compton Smith had been held hostage and killed in Donoughmore, Co. Cork, the birthplace of OConnors mother.

In 2012, Conal was invited by descendants of the Donoughmore IRA to visit the series of safe houses where Major Compton Smith had been held, and concluded it was highly probable that Guests Of The Nation was inspired by it.

His visit to Donoughmore that day had a profound effect on him.

It was a day where painful memories of generations past were laid bare, and in some cases laid to rest.

He has given many public lectures and enjoys engaging with his audience.

Public lectures are always exciting, engaging and great fun. You never know whos going to turn up. At a lecture at the Crawford Gallery here in Cork, a relative of the man who actually pulled the trigger and shot Major Compton Smith came up to me afterwards to say hello.

On another occasion, a granddaughter of Noble Johnson turned up, which was really brilliant. She said my research had in turn encouraged her to research her family, as during my research I had stumbled upon the real Noble Johnson who may have been the inspiration for the fictional character in O Connors story.

As well as the inspiration drawn from the profound OConnor story, Conal says his book would not have come about if it were not for three other people who were instrumental in its conception.

It all began on the cusp of Covid in January 2020 in Switzerland, he recalls Dr Shane Walshe had invited me to present my lecture, Art Imitating Life Imitating Death, at the Swiss Centre for Irish studies at the University of Zurich and Zurich James Joyce Foundation for the Irish Revolutionary Period Symposium.

Then, following on from that, Dr Fiorenzo Fantaccini of Florence University published the text in Studi Irlandesi, A Journal of Irish studies by Firenze University Press.

The second part of the book was compiled by Dr Conci Mazzullo, of Catania University, Italy, who conduced an extensive interview with me on my work entitled The Joy Of Writing After 20 Years, which was published in 2022 by Studi Irlandesi, a Journal of Irish studies by Firenze University Press.

This part of the book gives a fascinating insight into the writer Conals life and creative practice and the inspiration which he draws from the streets where he lives in downtown Cork city which he describes as the Spaghetti Bowl of Streets and from where his family have traded for over a hundred years.

Conal Creedon will be presenting Art Imitating Life Imitating Death at the Maritime Hotel in Bantry on July 9 at 2.30pm as part of the West Cork Literary Festival.

His book is available from Waterstones and Dubray books and www.IrishtownPress.com
A PLANNING application to transform Corks docklands into a major residential area with more than 1,300 new homes is to be submitted to Cork City Council in the coming days.

Leeside Quays Limited, a subsidiary of OCallaghan Properties (OCP), is to apply for the construction of 1,325 residential units, including apartments and duplexes, in 10 buildings at the Gouldings site, Centre Park Rd and Monahan Rd. The plans also make provision for more than 25,000sq m of public space, including play and exercise areas.

This project will be an exemplar for the 15-minute city concept, will be highly sustainable, and be served by efficient public transport, said OCallaghan Properties managing director Brian OCallaghan.

It will be, in every sense, an example of the emerging new city and will make an even bigger statement on the attractiveness of Docklands as a location to work and live.

It would provide 658 one-bed units, 465 two-bed units, and 202 three-bed units in 10 buildings, ranging in height from two to 14 storeys.

If approved, it will be the largest residential development plan to date in Cork City centre.

At ground-floor level in the development there are plans for cafes/restaurants with outdoor seating areas, service retail units, and a convenience retail store.

A standalone two-storey creche with associated outdoor amenity space is also proposed.

Mr OCallaghan said the project would establish large-scale residential availability in this major regeneration project.

Cork City Docklands is recognised as having a key national economic development role, he said.

Thousands of jobs have already been created in Docklands and it is imperative that residential development runs parallel, otherwise investment momentum will be impacted.

The proposed development includes pedestrian and cycle links and road crossings, public lighting, and all ancillary works and services. It also includes associated internal residential support services and facilities including a management suite, parcel centre, and amenity spaces as well as a gymnasium. A mobility hub is also proposed on Centre Park Road.

Other developments in area

Earlier this month, it was confirmed appeals against two other OCP developments for the area have been withdrawn, clearing the way for construction to begin.

OCP, through Leeside Quays Ltd, lodged a planning application with Cork City Council seeking 10-year planning permission for a mixed-use development comprising four new buildings and the conversion of the long-idle Odlums building as well as a separate planning application with the council seeking 10-year planning permission for a proposed rehabilitation hospital, all within the citys South Docklands.

Cork City Council granted conditional planning permission for both developments, but appeals were subsequently lodged with An Bord Pleanala.

It was confirmed earlier this month the appeals had been withdrawn. OCP hopes to start site works on Kennedy Quay later this year before construction begins next year.
THERE have been fresh calls for an increased Garda presence on the streets in Cork city centre after a man was critically injured in a stabbing incident at Grand Parade on Wednesday evening.

The man in his mid-20s was rushed to Cork University Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition. A man in his early 20s was arrested following the serious assault, and gardai are appealing for witnesses.

Fine Gael councillor Deirdre Forde, the mayor of Cork city, said Garda commissioner Drew Harris is due to visit the city in the next few days, and she intends to raise the issues of crime and garda numbers with him.

The Garda commissioner is visiting Cork next week, she said. I will be sitting down with him and I will be saying: What else can we do?. People are saying to me we need more guards. We do, but how do we get them?

People have got to feel safe no matter where it is in the city. Businesses work too hard to keep the city centre alive.

More guards would give reassurance to the public, but they cant be everywhere. We have a lot of good community gardai, and I will be asking the Garda Commissioner to redouble his efforts.

Cork is a great city. We want to make sure that our city is one of the safest in Ireland.

Sinn Fein councillor Mick Nugent echoed the calls for more gardai on the streets.

We need to listen to what the public and businesses in the city centre are looking for and increase the garda presence in the city centre, he said.

Cork city centre has undergone a transformation in the last number of years with increased pedestrianisation and more retail coming back. I still think the city centre needs more of a garda presence.

Gardai have appealed for any witnesses to Wednesdays assault to come forward.

Any road users and pedestrians who may have camera footage (including dash cam) and were in the area of Grand Parade/Daunt Square between 7.15pm and 8pm this evening Wednesday, June 14, 2023, are asked to make this footage available to Gardai, a spokesperson said.
The chief executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey, has said he would welcome an examination of what can be done to help town centres to be better presented for the public.

It follows a motion from Fianna Fail councillor Sean ODonovan which called on Cork County Council to allow vacant business premises windows to be dressed in display products from other shops in the town, while not being liable for rates.

It was unanimously supported by his colleagues at last Mondays full council meeting.

Mr ODonovan said that if a vacant shop window is currently dressed in products, it is liable for rates.

Mr ODonovan highlighted the 13 vacant premises on the main street in Bandon and said that some other businesses would have displayed their products on those windows. However, the vacant property owner is then liable for rates if something is displayed in the window.

The products have now been taken off the windows and they are either painted or there is newspaper in the window, so it looks shocking going through the town, he said.

I would like to send this to the Economic Development SPC for consideration that they would be allowed have their windows dressed and not liable for rates.

I am calling on the rates department to allow the windows to be dressed to help regenerate and improve how a town centre looks," said Mr ODonovan.

A dressed window looks a lot better than an empty window and it would make the town more attractive to new businesses setting up."

Fianna Fail councillor Deirdre Kelly seconded the motion and asked for clarity on the criteria for the charges, while Fine Gael councillor Kay Dawson said there is nothing worse than seeing newspapers stuck in a window.

We have to think outside the box, said Fine Gael councillor Marie OSullivan.

We have to look aesthetically at our town centres and see what is best for the town. You have an awful lot of businesses putting a lot of effort into their premises and a little bit of help in the right direction would be no harm.

Lorraine Lynch, the councils head of finance, in reply to Mr ODonovans motion, said:

A vacant property by definition in rates legislation must be unoccupied. Vacant properties may be eligible for vacancy relief of commercial rates subject to certain conditions.

By placing display products from other shops or businesses in a vacant property, the property is no longer vacant and thus not be eligible for vacancy relief.

Mr Lucey, said he would welcome an SPC looking at the issue in more detail.

I would welcome an SPC looking at this because there is some sort of a policy we could develop that might assist town centre presentation.

There is a quid pro quo type of scenario that may well be capable of being reached.

We recognise that windows are used for a particular purpose and our rates department do take a prudent approach, but certainly a policy around it which could be very simple might be of value to us.
A four-year jail term was imposed on a 49-year-old health care worker who was never in trouble in his life but raided three post offices while armed with a knife last November.

Judge Colin Daly imposed a total sentence of five years with the last year suspended in the case against Fintan Tindley at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

He carried out a robbery of South Douglas Road post office on November 11 and attempted robbery there on November 18, and robbed Ballintemple post office on November 16 2022.

Each time he grabbed an unsuspecting customer and placed a knife to their throat making a death threat as he demanded cash from the post mistress.

Judge Daly said:

Culpability is high where he deliberately and intentionally disguised himself with a hat and mask and armed himself with a knife.

The judge agreed with a submission by defence senior counsel Elizabeth OConnell that while the level of planning was high there was an absence of criminality from Tindleys life other than that shown in his behaviour over a seven-day period last November when he carried out these crimes.

The judge said that two of the victims to these crimes attributed their decisions to stop working, to the experience of these crimes carried out by Tindley.

Detective Garda Kevin Motherway testified that at lunchtime on November 11 2022, the accused entered South Douglas post office and placed a knife to the neck of a 72-year-old customer and shouted at the post mistress, give me all the money.

The customer said he felt the knife at his neck and feared he was going to be cut. 2,380 was robbed from the post office that day.

Five days later he turned up shortly before noon at Ballintemple post office and placed a knife to the neck of a 44-year-old woman who was there to post a parcel. On this occasion, he demanded 15,000.

The customer was in fear that she was going to be injured or killed. The defendant left with 1,300.

He returned to the South Douglas Road post office and grabbed a 45-year-old woman and again threatened her with a knife as he demanded 15,000 but he fled when the post mistress sounded the panic alarm.

On that occasion, the customer feared she was going to be stabbed or seriously harmed.

On the occasions of these two robberies and one attempted robbery, he wore a hat and mask.

When CCTV was examined, the accused was seen waiting across the road for up to two hours before entering a post office.

His gold-coloured Nissan Qashqai with three alloys and one odd wheel proved important in tracking down the accused.

The car was seen by two senior gardai around the time of the incidents at a car park and the accused was identified from CCTV.

The knife used in the crimes was found under the drivers seat. So too was the hat which had the accused mans DNA, Det. Garda Motherway said.

Fintan Tindley travelled to the USA in 2022 where he met his fiance whom he had originally met online, and over the course of last year, he sent her a total of 19,000.

During the investigation, it was established that Tindley had identified nine post offices in Cork around the time he committed the offences at two premises.

Having worked as a HSE Home Care Assistant and having no previous convictions, the crimes at the post offices were described by Elizabeth OConnell senior counsel as totally out of character  as he had always been a person who was a million miles away from someone with criminal tendencies.

She said that the accused had written letters of apology to the three customers he threatened and the three members of staff on duty when he raided.

Ms OConnell accepted that the crimes were indefensible and (for the victims) traumatic and frightening.

The defence senior counsel said there was an unusual degree of disconnect between these violent offences and the offender.
MINISTER for Health Stephen Donnelly yesterday visited a number of key community healthcare projects in west Cork.

He officially opened the Bantry Primary Care Centre and the Clonakilty Primary Care Centre and paid a courtesy visit to Clonakilty Community Hospital.

The ribbon-cutting events in Bantry and Clonakilty highlighted the progress made by bringing health services and decision-making closer to communities through the HSE Enhanced Community Care programme.

Minister of Health Stephen Donnellywith Christopher O'Sullivan TD and Maureen Minihane, Dir. of Nursing during his visit to Bantry General Hospital in Bantry, Co. Cork. Pic Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

The work I have seen underway in west Cork today shows that this integrated way of working is embedded here and delivering results for communities.

Mr Donnelly first cut the ribbon on the 32,000 sq ft Bantry Primary Care Centre, which is home to 18 medical and healthcare services and two GP practices.

Minister of Health Stephen Donnelly meets Dr Hugh Brennan head of Laboratory, during his visit to Bantry General Hospital in Bantry, Co. Cork. Pic Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

He then travelled to Clonakilty Community Hospital, where he met staff and residents and viewed a recently completed 20-bed extension.

The new 5m extension will provide four additional dementia-specific beds and a new unit, called Silverwood, which will have 16 single rooms.

Finally, Mr Donnelly officially opened the 23,000 sq ft Clonakilty Primary Care Centre on Clarke St, home to 16 medical and healthcare services, with over 500 appointments per week.

Minister of Health Stephen Donnelly meets nursing staff during his visit to Bantry General Hospital in Bantry, Co. Cork. Pic Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

At both official openings, speeches were given by the Mayor of Cork County, Cllr Danny Collins, and by the head of primary care for Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, Priscilla Lynch.

Also present were community representatives from Bantry Age Friendly group, Clonakilty Mens Shed, West Cork Traveller Organisation, Meals on Wheels, and Clonakilty Autism Friendly group.

Minister of Health Stephen Donnelly meets Ambulance Staff Finbarr Buckley, Orla Hickey and Garry Minihane during his visit to Bantry General Hospital in Bantry, Co. Cork Pic Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision

Mr Donnelly met staff providing services from both primary care centres, as well as the network manager for primary care services in the region, Dr Emer Shanley and the GP lead for the network, Dr Michael Kingston.
A former financial administrator at Blackrock Castle observatory was given a suspended two-year sentence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court for the stealing cash totalling 26,000 in the course of her employment.

Judge Colin Daly imposed that sentence and explained that some of the factors taken into consideration for the suspension in full of the sentence included the fact that she was not in any trouble before or since, had repaid the money in full to her former employer and was now employed elsewhere with an employer who is aware of the case relating to her time at Blackrock Castle observatory.

The thefts were committed on various dates in 2018 and 2019 and she pleaded guilty to 14 sample counts.

Angela Falvey of Ashbrook Heights, Lehenaghmore, Togher, Cork, appeared for sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where her defence senior counsel Elizabeth OConnell outlined the defendants serious health concerns.

Originally 153 charges against the accused were brought by Detective Garda Maura ORiordan and many of them referred to sums of cash of 100 or 200. But the sums varied. For instance, one referred to 9 while another referred to 460. Ultimately, the accused pleaded guilty to the 14 sample counts.

Det Garda ORiordan explained the modus operandi used by the defendant to carry out the thefts.

Visitors to the observatory paid money on admission and at the end of the day the cash was totalled and lodged in the bank. The defendant was able to use her position in financial administration to change the paper work in respect of the money taken and then lodged the reduced amount with falsified paperwork.

When she became ill and had to be replaced by a new person in the role, what had been happening became apparent on that persons first day of work, Det Garda ORiordan said.

Management was notified, an internal investigation commenced, outside auditors were brought in to inspect the particular accounts and An Garda Siochana was notified.
With a week left in office as Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Deirdre Forde on Friday officially opened 202 new homes for Cork city.

Cllr Forde, whose term as Lord Mayor concludes on Friday 23 June, officially launched five housing schemes across the city, all of them State- and city-supported.

Describing herself as incredibly proud today to open so many homes for the people of Cork, Cllr Forde said the delivery of homes was a key priority for Cork City Council, and she commended all involved in bringing the developments to fruition.

I welcome the delivery of these affordable housing schemes, which are at the heart of Cork City Councils delivery programme, with homeowners now moving into each of these schemes, she said.

I hope that these homes will be the start of a new and happy chapter in many peoples lives and in the long term, will create sustainable and vibrant communities for those that live there.

Brian Geaney, Assistant CE, Cork City Council; Bronagh D'Arcy, Tuath Housing; Ann Doherty, CE, Cork City Council; Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Deirdre Forde, Niall O Donobhain, Director of Housing, Cork City Council, and Alison O'Rourke, Housing Dept, Cork City Council, pictured at the official opening by Cork City Council, of five housing schemes in Cork city.

Cork City Councils assistant chief executive, Brian Geaney, described the councils housing delivery programmes as robust, and he acknowledged the work and efforts of all involved in making the new housing schemes a reality.

Cork City Council will continue to show strong leadership in the delivery of more homes across the city and continue to develop a strong pipeline of social and affordable housing into the future in collaboration with all of our partners, he said.

On Cork citys northside, Cllr Forde opened 20 new homes in Laurel Heights, Shanakiel, a development which comprises of three one-bedroom apartments, nine two-bedroom apartments and eight one-bedroom house.

Developed by Summertime Developments and constructed by Murphy & OSullivan Ltd through Cork City Councils award-winning competitive dialogue procurement process, the Shankiel development was funded by the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) and will now be managed by Tuath Housing in partnership with Cork City Council.

Cllr Forde later opened a mixed-tenure social and affordable development of 54 new homes at Crann Darach, Middle Glanmire Road, Montenotte.

The scheme comprises 27 social homes, with three two-bedroom homes, twenty-two three-bedroom homes and two four-bedroom homes, which will be owned and managed by Tuath Housing, as well as 27 affordable homes comprised of five two-bedroom homes, nineteen three-bedroom homes and three four-bedroom homes.

Developed on a formerly vacant site by Murnane & OShea Limited through Cork City Councils competitive dialogue procurement process, the scheme was provided with support by the DHLGH provided support through capital advance leasing facility (CALF) funding to Tuath and its affordable housing fund.

Cllr Deirdre Forde, Lord Mayor of Cork, pictured at the official opening.

The Lord Mayor also launched a third northside scheme, unveiling 60 new homes within a social and affordable residential development at Newton Heights, Boherboy Road.

This scheme comprises of 37 affordable homes, and 23 social homes provided across phases one and two, with the first tranche of affordable purchasers now beginning to move into their new homes.

The balance of the scheme, which is under construction, is being delivered in three further phases by Lyonshall Limited and Clancy Construction in a joint venture.

This strategic housing site was acquired for development and designed by Cork City Council, and the social housing in this development is owned and managed by Cluid in partnership with Cork City Council, and the development was supported by the DHLGH.

On the southside, Cllr Forde unveiled 43 new homes at Carrig Court, Blackrock, comprising of 15 two-or-three-bedroom houses and 28 apartments with a mix of one, two and three bedrooms, developed by Lyonshall Ltd and built by Clancy Construction through Cork City Councils competitive dialogue procurement process, and funded by the DHLGH.

This development is managed by Co-Operative Housing Ireland in partnership with Cork City Council.

Concluding the days launches, Cllr Forde opened a new scheme of 25 new homes at Josephine McCoy Mews, South Douglas Road, which was developed on a formerly vacant and derelict site by Lyonshall Ltd and built by Clancy Construction through Cork City Councils competitive dialogue procurement process.

This rightsizing scheme was funded by the DHLGH and includes a mix of 17 one- and two-bed bungalows and eight two-bed apartments, which are now under the management of Tuath Housing and further develops Cork City Councils rightsizing programme.

Josephine McCoy Mews resident, Noel Delea, pictured meeting Cllr Deirdre Forde, Lord Mayor of Cork, at the official opening by Cork City Council, of five housing schemes in Cork city.

Rightsizing refers to a voluntary scheme aimed at residents, aged 60 and over, who would like to move from their current property to one that is more suitable to their needs.
A man aged in his 30s who was seriously assaulted in Cork city centre in broad daylight on Wednesday has died.

Gardai have confirmed that the man, who had been in a critical condition at Cork University Hospital (CUH) following the incident on the Grand Parade, has since passed away.

A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said: The injured party in this incident, a male in his 30s, has since passed away from his injuries. A 29-year-old man accused of cutting a mans throat with a broken bottle was arrested and detained at a garda station in the city and appeared before the Cork District Court on Friday.

Detective Garda Patrick Russell charged Aaron Babbington of 25 Churchfield Avenue, Churchfield, Cork, with assault causing harm to 32-year-old Jason Butler at Grand Parade.

Judge Olann Kelleher refused bail and remanded him in custody until June 22, following an objection to bail by Sergeant Pat Lyons.

Det Garda Russell objected to bail on various grounds including the seriousness of the alleged offence.

"I believe there is strong evidence that on June 14 2023 at 7.38pm the injured party was in the company of the accused and his (Babbingtons) partner and that he was approached by the accused and stabbed in the neck with a broken bottle, Det Garda Russell said.

The detective alleged that a number of witnesses observed what happened and identified him to gardai who arrived a short time later and arrested Babbington close to the scene.

Det Garda Russell said there was excellent CCTV of the incident and that the accused man was clearly identifiable.

He spends a lot of time in and around Cork city. There are strong concerns he would make approaches to witnesses if granted bail.

It happened in broad daylight in an area with a large number of pedestrians present including children.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said in the course of the bail application that the gardai could apply for an order excluding Babbington from the city centre. Det Garda Russell said the accused would not adhere to such an order.
Happy Days by Samuel Beckett

Ongoing until Saturday June 17; 7.30pm (matinee at 2.30pm on Saturday); Cork Opera House; 36-38

Critics described Siobhan McSweeneys performance as a dream' and 'superb ... a remarkable feat' when it was streamed live from the stage of Dublins Olympia in 2021 - audiences will have the opportunity to see the much-loved Cork actress play Samuel Becketts iconic heroine live on stage, for 5 performances only, in a Landmark Production, overseen by director Caitriona McLaughlin.

CMF Music Trail

Saturday June 17; all day, venues around Cork; free (more info on website)

Curated by and featuring electronic producer, DJ and composer Ellen King, aka ELLLL, the Music Trail is a journey through the city centre via its music scene - regular venues for original music, like The Roundy, the Crane Lane, join Crawford and Co, Fionnbarras and the Franciscan Well in hosting live sets from King, ambient/pop duo Howlbux, musician Eamon Ivris Mineral Stunting project, Limerick sound artist Alan Massey, and DJ sets from Corks DOSE collective, and restaurant soundscaper Sweet&chilli___.

Cork Midsummer Parade

Sunday June 18; 3pm; setting off from Oliver Plunkett Street and ending back at Grand Parade; free

The second annual Midsummer Parade will be a riot of colour, celebrating the creativity and diversity of Cork communities. Cork Community Art Links next extravaganza will delight audiences with their renowned creative vision - and celebrate the facilitys 30th anniversary.

Spin, Spin, Scheherazade

Thursday June 22 - Saturday June 24; 7.30pm (5.30pm on Saturday); Crawford Art Gallery; 10

New live artwork from acclaimed Irish artist Orla Barry, blending autofiction and oral history to create a humorous, passionate monologue about the intersection of man and animal, rooted in a form of artistic barefoot anthropology.

Sun & Sea

Friday June 23 - Sunday June 25; 5pm, 6pm, 7pm and 8pm nightly; 18-28

An award-winning opera performance watched from above, performed on an indoor beach at Millenium Hall in Cork's City Hall - evoking the sunshine, but celebrated for its humorous and powerful exploration of our relationship with the planet and climate crisis.
IT is apt that this Tipperary-born innovator, academic and business person has come full circle  this is a woman who looks for roundedness throughout her work, who wants to know the full picture.

Her perseverance has paid off in the form of an exciting new technology that she is now promoting through the SPRINT programme in UCC.

Gut Health

FemmeBiome is a probiotic supplement to be taken daily by pregnant women. These carefully selected probiotics reduce stress and optimise maternal gut and vaginal health during pregnancy.

Stress reduction has a huge impact on a mother, the passionate academic explains, and this impacts the baby. Higher levels of stress with reduce her chance of breastfeeding and increase the likelihood of her experiencing depression after birth.

By minding a mothers gut health, Dr OMahony explains, we can mind her overall health and the health of her baby.

She meets me with her son Daniel in tow, a gorgeous little boy who shares his mums reassuring smile. She brings up her own childhood too.

I was always a nervous child and later a nervous student. I was stressed from childhood and I always knew that about myself, I just didnt know what to call it.

I would say now that it was a kind of social anxiety. Back when I was studying in 1999 there was far less openness around mental health.

From the Brain To The Gut

This early experience informed her desire to study neuroscience through which she learned the anatomy of the nervous system and came to understand the diseases of the nervous system.

She went on to complete a Masters in Neuropharmacology in Galway. The course was very focused on the brain and she wanted to go deeper, to truly understand the causes of diseases in order to target them with treatment.

Searching for this roundedness in her knowledge base, she was delighted to get a Marie Curie fellowship in Maastricht in the Netherlands.

In Netherlands we did a very early study testing how an antidepressants taken during pregnancy might impact the wellbeing and brain development of a baby.

This proved significant. Professor Brian Leonard, who had facilitated her going to Maastricht, then introduced her to Professor Ted Dinan, the Head of Psychiatry in CUH.

Everything was still very focused on the brain and I knew from my own body that there was more to be done on it; I just didnt know how or why. Professor Dinan asked me to complete a PhD and set up his lab. He was incredibly kind and supportive and was truly ahead of his time in his interest in a babys gut health.

Winner of the Critical Impact Award, Dr Siobhain OMahony, APC Microbiome Ireland, winner of the One To Watch Award , Dr Julie O Sullivan, APC Microbiome Ireland, winner of the Disruptive technology Award Dr Brenda Long , School of Chemistry ,UCC ERI and winner of the Sustainability Award Dr Shivani Pathania, Teagasc at the 7th GatewayUCC SPRINT Awards.

Dr OMahony explains that back in 2004 people thought they were really off the wall.

They asked us why we were interested in looking at baby poo! But we were growing in our understanding that stress coming from the brain affects the gut and vice versa. It is a bio-directional communication pathway.

At this moment, Daniel asks to go to the toilet. Handing him the key, she nods towards him, Toileting should be just like that. If you have a very healthy gut you dont think about it. The gut is a nervous system of its own but it is governed by our unconscious brain.

By 2009 her interest in the gut was more accepted. At this point she understood the whole system at a deeper level. She had, through her perseverance and the trust she had in her own body and experience, figured out that its all related: the stress system is linked to the immune system and all relates the bacteria in your gut.

Maternal Health

There was still a missing link she soon discovered.

We were not focusing enough on the mum. Pregnancy is a natural stress test. It puts stress on the body and there is the stress of breastfeeding, the birth, all of it. I realised that maternal health is a better place to start than looking at the baby. Mind mum and you will end up minding baby. We had to get to the source.

Dr OMahony carried out a study that showed that sub clinical levels of stress affected the mothers gut substantially and this in turn could affect things like placenta growth.

I am not talking about women who you would send to a professional for help. These were women worried about money or the birth or their relationships.

She explains that this kind of stress may reduce a womans likelihood of breastfeeding: Breast feeding is best in terms of the gut. Breast milk primes the immune system, stress system and brain. Human milk. It is also really important for the woman. We also know it reduced breast cancer.

But it makes sense, Dr OMahony explains, that a stressed mother wont want to breastfeed.

It is another way to fail and if a public health nurse is commenting on a baby losing weight, which breastfed babies often do, the mother will see that as another failure. Of course a new mum, especially a first time mum, would want someone else to carry the weight of feeding her. She has just done something she never did before, giving birth, and now shes expected to do another thing, breastfeeding. She needs a great deal of support.

Dr OMahony believes passionately in helping women to be healthy and confident and to feel powerful.

Women have a right to feel powerful. They are growing and birthing babies. Too often they are not given an opportunity to feel entitled to look after themselves. This product will look after their gut first  the rest will follow.

Sprint

Dr OMahony was introduced to Myriam Cronin, Head of SPRINT about a year and half ago.

It was so lovely to be mentored by a woman. My mum was my first mentor. She was always my rock, so I really appreciated having Miriam guide me. She was so expressive about wanting me on the programme. She is professional but also warm and supportive.

Another full picture emerged for Dr OMahony.

She knew I was an academic with a scientific brain so she wanted to teach me the commercial and business side of things. She taught us everything from writing funding applications to understanding the legal elements. She brought me from a tiny seed to having three flourishing leaves: the scientific, the business and the academic leaves. Before, I was torn in different directions but SPRINT brought it all together.

The Future

Dr OMahony is currently looking for a commercialisation fund from Enterprise Ireland to develop her technology, FemmeBiome further.

My hope is to develop sex specific oral supplements for women throughout their lives. My work is all about reducing stress and managing oestrogen metabolism. This is hugely important during menopause for example. Selling this product will mean I can generate the revenue to continue in my research.

She sees America as an obvious market as well as Asia.

Gut health is a huge part of the culture in Asia. They produce gentle foods for the bowel. When I was there for two days my gut never felt healthier. That is certainly a potential market.

For a woman who looks for the big picture in everything, it makes sense that shes ready to take on the world.
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.

Heavy smoke from Canada's wildfires blankets the sky over downtown St. Paul, Minnesota on June 14, 2023. Jerry Holt / Star Tribune via Getty Images

Wildfires in Ontario, Canada continued to bring thick smoke to the midwestern U.S. Thursday, compromising air quality for residents of Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin.

The worst air quality in the U.S. was detected in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported.

As of Thursday, at least 50 wildfires were burning in Ontario, with the northwest region the most affected, according to a map of the wildfires.

Another map showed smoke from the wildfires in parts of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, North Dakota and Michigan.

The state Department of Natural Resources warned, People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion, reported CNN.

Last week, smoke from the wildfires came down from Quebec, blanketing a large portion of the U.S., from the mid-Atlantic and Northeast to the Midwest, and lowering air quality.

The air in New York City, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia had a hazy orange tinge that lingered for days. Flights were grounded, and schools, beaches and zoos were forced to close.

Scientists have warned of the likelihood of more frequent and severe wildfires as the climate crisis continues.

Research shows that changes in climate create warmer, drier conditions. Increased drought, and a longer fire season are boosting these increases in wildfire risk. For much of the U.S. West, projections show that an average annual 1 degree C temperature increase would increase the median burned area per year as much as 600 percent in some types of forests. In the Southeastern United States, modeling suggests increased fire risk and a longer fire season, with at least a 30 percent increase from 2011 in the area burned by lightning-ignited wildfire by 2060, according to the environmental nonprofit Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.

Smoke from wildfires can be especially hazardous as it contains fine particulate matter, which can make its way into deep lung tissue and end up in the bloodstream, CNN reported. This type of smoke can cause health issues like heart disease, asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

The smoke returned to the northeast again Friday, bringing upper atmospheric smoke to Philadelphia and New York.

Whats going to happen over the next few days is were going to start to see a shift in the pattern thats going to bring the smoke a little bit farther toward the east, said Weather Channel meteorologist Ari Sarsalari, as reported by CBS News. Sarsalari said the smoke would travel over the Great Lakes, likely arriving in the North Atlantic on Friday into Saturday.

Since it was higher up in the atmosphere, the new round of smoke wasnt affecting air quality as much at ground level, sparing the region the orange Martian glow.

[T]he vast majority of the smoke should remain aloft, the Weather Service said Thursday, as The New York Times reported.

According to Bill Goodman, a Weather Service meteorologist, the smoke this time around will be experienced as hazy skies, and the smoke at the surface should be negligible, as reported by The New York Times.

Last week, New York City had its worst air quality ever recorded when the Air Quality Index moved up the scale from unhealthy to hazardous.




FEFAC appoints new president

FEFAC's 68th General Assembly, which was held on June 14 in Ystad, Sweden, during the 30th FEFAC Congress, elected Pedro Luis Cordero Castillo as its new president for the a 202326 term.

Castillo, a graduate of the Complutense University of Madrid (Veterinary  Animal Production sp), served as managing director of NANTA (Nutreco). He is also vice-president of the Spanish Feed Industry Association (CESFAC).

"I look forward to representing the interests of European compound feed and premix manufacturers in these challenging times, trying to buffer the impacts of the geopolitical crisis caused by the Russian aggression in Ukraine and climate change, which affect the economic sustainability of the EU livestock and aquaculture value chain," said Castillo.

"As FEFAC, we welcome and support the EU Commission's efforts to increase the resilience of our agri-food systems to better withstand external shocks. This requires a full functioning of the single market and a level playing field for our livestock sector facing growing competition from imports not meeting the same high EU standards on sustainability and animal welfare. We will proactively contribute to the announced EU protein plan seeking to increase the EU's feed and food autonomy for protein production.

"Our industry can offer effective solutions to support our customers with climate change mitigation effects, such as raising protein efficiency and reducing of emission intensity of animal products. Our collective investment and toolbox development adopting new technologies, including the use of big database tools, like our Global Feed LCA database, can help accelerate the uptake of more advanced feeding techniques at farm levels, as demonstrated in our latest publication.

"As FEFAC President, I will do my utmost to promote circular, sustainable feed solutions, integrating them into our best-practice professional recommendations to assist our customers with the transition to more sustainable production systems, as laid down in our FEFAC Sustainability Charter 2030."

- FEFAC




Taiwan opens market to Canadian beef imports ahead of trade agreement

Taiwan has announced its decision to fully open its market to imports of Canadian beef, removing a longstanding hurdle as Taipei seeks to finalise a bilateral investment agreement with Ottawa later this year, Today Online reported.



The previous ban on imports of Canadian beef slaughtered more than 30 months earlier was in place due to concerns over bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease.



Following a weekly meeting, Taiwan's cabinet issued a statement confirming its approval for the complete opening of beef imports from Canada. But the island's food and drug administration stated that six offal items, including brains and eyes, would remain banned due to safety concerns.



This decision comes after Taiwan lifted a similar 30-month-aged ban on US beef in 2021. Since Taiwan has limited beef production, it heavily relies on imports from countries like the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.



Canada' had previously announced in May that its beef exporters would soon gain full access to the Taiwanese market, following discussions between top trade officials at an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting. Concurrently, Taiwan has been engaged in negotiations with Canada for a bilateral investment agreement known as the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Arrangement.



John Deng, Taiwan's chief trade negotiator, expressed confidence earlier this month that the agreement would be signed within this year.

- Today Online
Japan's nuclear wastewater discharge plan widely opposed

People's Daily Online) 16:52, June 16, 2023

Cartoon by Ma Hongliang

On June 12, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the operator of Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, started trialing the equipment that will be used to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the Pacific to confirm that it can operate reliably. The trial operation will last for two weeks.

According to Japanese media reports, the Japanese government plans to complete all facility-related preparations by the end of this month and officially start discharging nuclear-contaminated water into the Pacific after the task force of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) releases a final safety analysis report.

Once the radioactive wastewater is dumped into the sea, it will pose considerable risks on the global maritime environment. This approach is extremely irresponsible and violates Japan's international obligations to protect maritime environment as established in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Japan's selfish act will transfer the risk of pollution to the whole world.

Japanese society and the international community have voiced strong opposition to Japan's willful decision to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea. However, the Japanese government still clings obstinately to its own course and ignores this opposition. It is hoped that the Japanese side can faithfully fulfill its international obligations, stop its plan to dump nuclear waste into the Pacific, and abandon an approach that hurts the interests of all of entire humanity without benefiting itself.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Jack Texeira, the Air National Guard member who was arrested in April for sharing documents containing US intelligence matters, has been indicted on six counts of willful retention and transmission of classified national defense information. According to The New York Times, Texeira was indicted by a federal grand jury and now faces up to 60 years in prison. His 10-page indictment reportedly contained a distilled version of the national secrets Texeira allegedly took from the Cape Cod air base and shared with people on Discord.

The Justice Department arrested Texeira in April in connection with its investigation on the "alleged unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information." While previous reports said he shared national secrets using a pseudonym on Discord, he was identified through the Instagram account he linked to his Steam profile. The photos on that account showed the same granite kitchen countertop and floor tiles that were also visible in the leaks.

According to the 10-page indictment documents, Texeira mishandled classified information that included details on the delivery of military equipment to Ukraine, as well as details on Russian and Ukrainian troop movements. He also reportedly leaked documents showing how the US spies on its foreign allies. Some of the documents he shared with the public had markings to show that they had the most highly restricted classification and could only be viewed inside a protected facility.

Previous reports said Texeira didn't intend to become a whistleblower and only started sharing documents to impress his gaming friends. He started by copying sensitive information by hand, since he worked at a facility that prohibited cameras and phones, but was eventually able to post photos of original documents. Since he was arrested, prosecutors presented his history of making violent and racist threats to court. The Justice Department's national security division also argued for his indefinite detention, because he could still be in possession of information that would be "tremendous value to hostile nation-states." In addition, the Justice Department has revealed that Air Force officials failed to remove Texeira from his job and to take appropriate action after catching him copying sensitive details and actively looking for classified information months before he was arrested.

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing.
Google Domains is a quick and simple way to get a jumpstart on building your website, but now the company will soon leave that business. Today, Squarespace announced that it will acquire approximately 10 million domains from the search giant. The company expects the transaction to close in the third quarter of 2023.

Under the purchasing agreement, Squarespace says that it will honor existing customer pricing for at least 12 months following the completion of the purchase. The company claims that it will use Googles infrastructure to ensure a "seamless transfer of domains."

Once everything is set and done, Squarespace will become the exclusive partner for anyone looking to purchase a domain alongside their Google Workspace domain. For existing customers, Squarespace says that it will provide billing and support for Google Workspace customers whove already purchased domains through Google Domains. But as time goes on and as subscriptions start to renew, these customers will likely be forced to migrate to Squarespaces billing system.

Squarespace is already a behemoth in the websites and domain space, so its not surprising it had an interest in acquiring Google Domains. Its a little more surprising that Google is selling, though the company is notorious for abandoning established products at any time. Meanwhile, Squarespace is constantly adding new features to its platform, including the ability to add a "Members Area" (more commonly known as a paywall) to new and existing sites.
Google's designers on why the Pixel Fold isn't just another foldable We talked to two product managers about the what the company is doing differently with its first flexible screen device.

Ever since the release of the original Galaxy Fold back in 2019, Samsung has basically enjoyed a monopoly on big handsets with bendy screens. But with the imminent arrival of the Pixel Fold later this month, Google is hoping to break that stranglehold. That said, with Samsung having already released four generations of its flagship foldable, Google can't afford to simply iterate on a rival's design. In an interview ahead of the Pixel Fold's release, two of Googles product managers (PM)  George Hwang and Andrea Zvinakis  sat down to shed some insight on why now, what the company is doing differently, and how its upcoming flexible phone will impact future devices.

The first thing I noticed during my hands-on was the Pixel Folds shape. Instead of having a long and skinny baton-like chassis similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Google opted for a wider frame shaped more like a passport, which was an intentional decision by Google. Hwang, who is a PM on the Pixel Fold team told me that when we talk about the Pixel Fold, we often talk about the outer display first.

In this design sketch, you can see how the Pixel Fold's hinge is positioned on the very edge of the device, which greatly impacted the phone's overall design Google

Hwang says the reason for this is that more than 50 percent of interactions people have with their phones are less than two minutes long  things like texting a friend, changing a song or simply setting an alarm. Our focus on form factor was critical and quite intentional to make sure that we offered a usable exterior display, such that you could use the phone like you want to.

While using the Pixel Folds outside display like you would a regular phone might sound kind of obvious, it was also a bit of a surprise. Typically, when people discuss foldables, much of the attention is reserved for that fancy flexible screen on the inside. But more importantly, that touches on a few of Googles overarching design goals for the Pixel Fold: Being able to use it like a regular handset even when youre only using it closed, allowing users to open the Fold to augment their experience and then making sure that even though it's a larger device, its still a feasible daily driver.

For Engadget's interview about the Pixel Fold, we talked to two of Google's product managers: George Hwang (left) from the Pixel Fold team and Andrea Zvinakis (right) from the Android platforms team. Google

As for using that big interior display to enhance the devices capabilities, it feels like much of the Pixel Folds potential lies in the marriage between hardware and software. As someone who works on Googles Android platform team, Zvinakis highlighted the importance of continuity and posture for the Pixel Fold. If we were just designing for tablets, you could just create one large screen, he said, "whereas for foldables youre often unfolding to continue a session.

When designing an app or UI for a foldable device, Google needs to consider things like buttons or other elements that may fall in the Pixel Folds crease. But it also means being able to open the device without losing your place, which often feels like an elusive goal. But when it works, it provides a sense of instant adaptability that you just cant get from a traditional phone.

For the Pixel Fold, one of Google's main goals was to make the phone's 5.8-inch exterior display as usable as possible so that people don't feel forced to use the larger main display for certain tasks. Google

Continuity also impacts posture, which is the position of the phones screen from open to closed and every angle in between. Due to the Pixel Folds flexible design, not only does Google need to track how the device is oriented, its important to anticipate how components like the phones cameras and UI adjust and move and behave depending on its posture. We want there to be a user benefit to unfolding the device rather than just seeing an expanded phone layout, Zvinakis said. That's why we created things like dual shade for notification that leverages both sides of the display.

But whats even more exciting is how Zvinakis says posture detection can unlock entirely new use cases like dual-screen interpreter mode on the Pixel Fold. This allows users to hold the phone in a position so that two people can see a different language get translated in real-time  each with their own display  which cuts down on the typical back and forth that happens when everyone has to share a single screen. And while weve seen some other novel uses of foldable phones like taking high-res selfies with the rear camera while using a phones exterior display, there are a growing number of functions available on foldable you simply cant get when using a traditional glass brick.

While the Pixel Fold is a large device, Google focused on making it extremely thin (less than 6mm) so that it would still feel like a feasible daily driver. Google

There are other elements that are needed for foldables to reach their true potential. Take, for example, the Folds taskbar, which needs to straddle the line between enabling short mobile interactions and more complex multitasking situations. We launched a taskbar with Android 12L in March of last year and the first version was basically a pinned taskbar that you had to long press to hide and long press to show, Zvinakis said. But as we did more testing, users said they found that behavior a little clunky. So instead we refined it into a more transient taskbar where you can access it with a short swipe, drag any app into split-screen and then it automatically closes when youre not using it.

The big challenge is combining competing design elements, like the thinness of the device, while still supporting sophisticated components such as the phones 5x optical zoom. So to get over that hump, Hwang issued a challenge to the team to make a device that was more than just a collection of components: "If you don't want to use it every day, then it's not a device that we want to ship."

For apps like YouTube that have optimized tabletop modes, it's very important for the Pixel Fold to be able to accurately detect its posture, which includes the orientation and position of its screen. Google

The quest for thinness is far more important for foldables than other phones. We realized that if this thing was thick and bulky it's not something you'd really want to have in your pocket all day long," Hwang said. I think the thing that was a key enabler was the hinge. How the hinge is architected drives everything around the foldable display. It's kind of symbiotic.

This was a somewhat unexpected revelation because, as someone who has owned multiple generations of the Galaxy Z Fold line, I thought the hinge issues had been solved after all the issues with the original model. What you see in most foldables is that you'll have hinge mechanisms across the full length of the hinge at three to four different spots, Hwang said. But the thing is that now that you have hinge components in the middle of the device, that drives the thickness of what we call the stack and then you have the display on top.

While the Pixel Fold's flexible display does have a crease, Google has done some innovative things with the screen's fold geometry to minimize its appearance. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

So Hwang thought if those are the limiting factors, then is there a way we can creatively move those components somewhere else? So in the end what the Pixel Fold team did was relocate the phones two hinges to the very edge of the device bringing it out of plane, which had a number of important effects. She says not only does this decrease thickness, it also helps drive the largest delta between the outer 5.8-inch display and the interior 7.6-inch flexible interior screen. On top of that, Googles architecture helped address what Hwang calls fold geometry, which describes how the screen actually bends inside the hinge. The hinge allows us to furl the display inwards, which lets the fold extend into that area to further drive down thinness, she added. And while Ive only used the Pixel Fold briefly so far, the result is rather spectacular, with Google able to make a phone that folds completely flat while still measuring less than 6mm thick (or just 12.1mm when closed).

Steps forward like Pixel Folds hinge and thinness dont come without trade-offs. But, while its bezels are somewhat larger than Samsungs, to Hwang its worth it. The bezel gave us the opportunity to have an unadulterated display without the need for an under-display camera, which we thought was really cool. It also gave Google more leeway to improve the Pixel Folds general durability, which includes an IPX8 rating for water resistance. Plus, theres the ergonomics of it, with the larger display bezels offering a resting area for your hands, she said

While it might not sound like a big deal, the Pixel Fold's (right) thinner design and lack of a gap between its screen when closed go a long way towards making it easy to use. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Hwang said dealing with the inevitable crease in the Pixel Folds display was another balancing act, one that he still thinks about on a regular basis. Its unappealing, but the bigger question is how do we mitigate the crease? How do we minimize it? Eventually, what Google decided on was a hybrid approach that produces a fold thats more of a miniature water drop that runs the length of the screen instead of a full crease, which reduces its appearance while also preventing unsightly trenches from forming over time.

Still, as impressive as the Pixel Folds design is, after talking to Google product managers, I feel like it has an even more important job serving as an ambassador for future foldables and as a flagbearer for forward-thinking software features in Android alongside newly optimized apps. Thats because in addition to the device itself, the Pixel Fold is also ushering a fresh set of resources to help app makers optimize their work. Zvinakis said, the key ways we do that are through developer guidelines, developer tooling and easy-to-use libraries. These things dictate support for features like adaptive resolutions, landscape orientation, multitasking behavior and more. There are even separate tiers denoting how much a developer has done to support foldable-friendly features along with sample configurations available in the Android Studio emulation environment. We're about to launch physical device streaming for these Google devices in Android studio, which basically means that developers can see how their apps run on Google-hosted Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet devices, but right from your IDE (integrated developer environment). We just want to make it really easy for developers to test on these new products.

Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 which features a shorter zoom than on the S22 Ultra, the Pixel Fold features the same camera system including a 5x optical zoom just like you get on the Pixel 7 Pro. Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

To make sure these apps are easier for users to find, Zvinakis says Google will begin showcasing really high-quality apps more prominently in the Play Store, including screenshots that show new foldable-specific features. And all of this is coming with a slate of more than 50 first-party Google apps that have been optimized for foldables, something that both Hwang and Zvinakis said was no easy feat. In this way, the Pixel Fold not only serves as a testbed for future devices, but also for Googles evolving software design.

Unfortunately, the team behind the Pixel Fold hasnt been able to overcome every hurdle that might prevent someone from hopping on the flexible phone trend  particularly its $1,800 price). But even with the Fold serving as the companys first go at the category, its clear Google is bringing a ton of new ideas to the space, both in terms of hardware and software. Its slim, its sleek and, unlike the Z Fold 4, the Pixel Fold delivers the same great camera experience that you get on the Pixel 7 Pro. It remains to be seen how well it will sell but, with Samsungs Z Fold basically treading water the past couple years, the Pixel Folds arrival couldnt come at a better time.
Meta is expanding the audience for Quest headsets by inviting preteens into the fold. The Facebook owner is lowering the age for Quest 2 and 3 accounts from 13 to 10 later this year by introducing parent-controlled accounts. Kids will need their parents' approval to set up accounts, download apps and block access to already-present software. Those adults can set time limits.

The company says it's implementing strict privacy controls. Meta will provide "age-appropriate" app store experiences like recommendations if parents volunteer their child's age. It won't serve ads to kids, however, and parents will have the choice of whether or not data is used to refine the experience. These younger users' Meta Horizon profiles are private by default and will require approval for follows and active status updates. Horizon Worlds will still require that users are 13 and older.

Meta portrays this as a boon for education. This could give kids virtual science lessons and a raft of educational games, the company says. Most educational titles on the store are rated for ages 10 and older, so there shouldn't be a shortage of material.

Whether or not there's a trouble-free launch is another matter. Meta's policies theoretically comply with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act), which bars collecting personal data from kids under 13 without parental consent. The New York Times sources claim Meta is already discussing its plans with regulators. However, there are concerns about safety. VR apps, particularly social ones, are sometimes prone to creeps, harassment and similar abuse. Meta can't necessarily shield young users against what happens inside third-party apps.

There's also the question of whether or not it's healthy for children to use VR headsets in the first place. As Duke University optometrist Dr. Nathan Cheung explains to ZDNet, these wearables can introduce eye and neck strain that may be particularly problematic for kids with smaller bodies and developing eyes. There's also a lack of definitive research on how VR can affect depth perception and focusing. The technology isn't definitively dangerous for kids, but it's not guaranteed to be safe, either.

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing.
Sony Bravia TV owners can soon take Zoom calls from the couch It requires the $200 Bravia Cam, which also adds several smart features.

Sony Bravia TVs will be the first hardware to support the upcoming Zoom for TV app on Google Play. Although remote work has dwindled as corporations beckon their underlings back to the office, those still enjoying work-from-home or hybrid arrangements could soon attend virtual meetings from their living room couches. It follows Apples WWDC 2023 announcement that FaceTime is coming to Apple TV (via mounted iPhones) later this year.

Bravia TVs dont have built-in webcams, so youll need to buy a Bravia Cam to make the setup work. In addition to enabling Zoom calls, the $200 accessory can adjust sound and picture settings based on your location and distance from the television. It also allows you to control your TV with hand gestures without picking up the remote, enables a proximity alert that detects when kids sit too close (as theyre wont to do) and adds a power-saving mode that dims the screen if nobody is watching.

Sony

Sony says the Zoom for TV app will be available for Bravia TVs by early summer. The companys head of Bravia product design, Shusuke Tomonaga, said, This partnership will make it possible for our customers to enjoy more realistic video communication on a large TV screen in the living room, enabling them to be more connected with the people they care about, whether they are working from home, learning remotely, or just catching up with friends and family.

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. All prices are correct at the time of publishing.
The past of the North East Indian community comes down from generation to generation through language, music, songs, dance, rituals, beliefs, practices, and a great variety of narratives, tales, stories, and myths. These are the elements that constitute the thickness or density of North East Indian history. The place is too complex as the whole terrain of the North East is fascinating, especially for an ethnographer to apply their mind. In the context of the regions engagement with the larger Indian landscape, diversity and its preservation may be the lens through which the North East should be understood.

The myths, legends, and history of the North East date back to antiquity. This region has been inhabited by earlier settlers since 2000 BC. The first recorded mention of this region may be found in the narrative of Hiuen Tsang, who visited the court of the Assamese king Bhaskar Varman in the first half of the seventh century. Starting from the prehistoric time, settlers, invaders and intruders from all corners exposed this land, deriving a complex cultural phenomenon. The history of the North East is well contested. Everybody has their own version of history and the politics of identity derived from this well-contested version of history. The history of this land needs to be taught, written, and evaluated. Mainstream Indian historical discourse usually does not cover the history of the North East, though it had around 600 years of the Ahom kingdom.
Bothsidesim, as you might have guessed, is the mainstream media's tendency to pretend that reporting objectively requires covering "both sides" with equal weight. But here are a few problems with that approach:

Often, there are many more than two sides. Bothsidesism pushes other voices and more nuanced analysis to the margins, just as the two-party system that drives most US politics. Not everything can be separated into either/or, black/white, environmentally friendly/environmentally harmful. A great example would be US Supreme Court decisions in the 1970s, where Justices would frequently write concurring opinions that raised issues and perspectives outside the "official" opinion (this is less true of the current court, which disposes of many cases in the "shadow docket"). When there are just two sides, one side may be well-reasoned and make a compelling case, while the other puts forth "alternative facts"--in other words, lies--to build a case based on demagoguery or deceit. (The link goes to an NBC clip of then presidential advisor Kellyanne Conway, 2 minutes in, introducing the term in an interview early in the term of the 45th US president--and the interviewer, Chuck Todd, calling her out immediately.) Bothsidesim turns any contest of ideas into a "horse race" where the issues get swept aside in favor of who appears to be the better debater.

The current "debate" over DT's federal indictment in the document-hiding case shows what happens when bothsidesim runs amok--and this is NOT about Republican vs. Democrat. While some media fall all over themselves to cry, "both sides did this," quoting hyperpartisan pols like Ted Cruz, there is a lot of similarity between the approaches of Republican former VP Mike Pence and Democratic former VP (now president) Joe Biden, and basically none between either of them and DT.

What differentiates the cases of Pence and Biden from DT's is simple: The two former VPs immediately notified government agencies and cooperated fully, while DT reportedly was personally involved in hiding documents and telling the government there were no more. It took Pence's team just three days to turn over the documents; Biden's response was even quicker, and the documents were delivered one day after discovery.

DT falsely claimed all the documents had already been turned in and stalled so long that the government sent in the FBI to retrieve them. Also, DT's document trove reportedly includes important military secrets, and DT showed these to people who were not authorized to see them--potentially putting our country and its military at risk.

It's interesting that some of the most sycophantic yes-men of the DT years--not just Pence but also former Attorney General William Barr and former National Security Advisor John Bolton--have broken with DT over his handling of the matter.

The astute historian Heather Cox Richardson provides an equally current example thousands of miles outside the US. She quotes Timothy Snyder, a Yale scholar of authoritarianism on the recent Russian attack on Ukraine's Nova Kakhovka Dam:

Snyder warned journalists not to bothsides the story by offering equal time to both sides. What Russian spokespersons have said has almost always been untrue, whereas what Ukrainian spokespersons have said has largely been reliable. The juxtaposition suggests a false equality, he wrote. The story doesn't start at the moment the dam explodes. For the last fifteen months Russia has been killing Ukrainian civilians and destroying Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, whereas Ukraine has been trying to protect its people and the structures that keep them alive. Objectivity does not mean treating an event as a coin flip between two public statements, he said. It demands thinking about the objects and the settings that readers require for understanding amidst uncertainty.

Let's hope that becomes the mantra for journalists everywhere.
Montana Environmental Information Center director of policy and legislative affairs Anne Hedges prepares to take the stand in the Held v. Montana trial on Thursday, June 15, 2023. (Photo by Blair Miller)

A policy expert and longtime lobbyist with the Montana Environmental Information Center testified Thursday at the Montana climate change trial about what she said has been a backwards slide by the state in terms of fighting climate change and pushing back on energy projects that emit large amounts of greenhouse gases.

In addition, a greenhouse gas emissions accounting scientist told the court Montana is responsible for tens of millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year  the sixth-most in the U.S. and more than 100 other countries  and like other climate experts who have testified so far this week in the Held v. Montana trial, that any reduction in emissions by the state would be beneficial to both its residents and the world population.

I think this past (legislative session) provides a number of examples in which the legislature succeeded in making it more difficult for clean energy development, created obstacles for renewable energy, and is putting the gas on fossil fuel development, said MEIC director of policy and legislative affairs Anne Hedges.

She and Peter Erickson, the emissions accounting scientist with the Stockholm Environment Institute, based in Seattle, were the two expert witnesses brought in to testify on the fourth day of the trial, in which 16 youth plaintiffs are suing the state of Montana alleging its close relationship with the fossil fuel industry violates their constitutional rights to a clean and healthful environment.

Hedges, who has worked for the MEIC in several capacities for the past 30 years, detailed the states history with climate change, the Montana Environmental Policy Act, the mining and burning of fossil fuels, and the states permitting process dating back to the 1960s.

She said through her legislative and research work with the MEIC that she believes there is evidence the state has known and understood for decades that global warming was a side effect of the burning of fossil fuels, and while some efforts were made along the way to try to study and respond to climate change, those efforts have all but stopped since the MEPA limitation was put in place in 2011 and since the Gianforte administration took office.

Hedges added that she does not believe there is anyone in Montana who knows more about Montanas fossil fuel energy practices.

Hedges detailed several large power plants, pipeline infrastructure, and mining efforts that she said have for years emitted millions of tons of CO2 into Earths atmosphere and which received permits from the state  many of which over the past 12 years involved the state rebuffing requests from the MEIC to undertake greenhouse gas emissions reviews before granting the permits.

Dating back to 1968, Hedges said, Montana lawmakers and executives have acknowledged the states climate was warming. At the time, a report written stated that while a warmer climate in Montana sounds enticing, it also could spell disaster.

MEPA was written and put into law in 1971  a year before the Constitutional Convention that put the language requiring a clean and healthful environment for future generations into the states most important document, which delegate Mae Nan Ellingson, who helped write that section, testified about earlier this week. Hedges said in 1999, the Montana Supreme Court concluded that the provisions of that part of the constitution were anticipatory and preventative.

In the early 1990s, the legislature developed and adopted a state energy policy, which lawmakers repealed through a bill this year. The energy policy was an original target of the lawsuit, filed in 2020, before it was repealed this spring by lawmakers and the governor.

At the time the policy was written, Hedges said the state was trying to determine its best use of resources considering the negative consequences of certain resources like fossil fuels.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its first two reports in 1990 and 1995, which she said the MEIC brought to the attention of lawmakers and governors, whom she said were aware of the reports findings.

In the 2000s, Gov. Brian Schweitzer asked the Department of Environmental Quality in a letter raising concerns about climate change and asked the director of the department to come up with a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, she said. In the years that followed, the DEQ issued reports on greenhouse gas inventories and projections from 1990 to 2020, including the 2007 Montana Climate Action Plan, which she said found emissions were steadily increasing and confirmed fossil fuels were the primary driver.

The plan issued dozens of recommendations on how the state could decrease emissions, including reducing emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.

I had great hope the state was moving forward, taking climate change seriously, and was going to implement a plan moving forward to reduce emissions to the degree necessary, Hedges said.

In the first decade of the 2000s, she said, the state was considering climate impacts when considering projects, which led to multiple large power plants being shelved after what Hedges called vast public opposition and pressure because of the emissions projections.

It gave the public and legislators knowledge about the impact of a proposal, allowed them to comment, to provide information on the severity of impacts, and alternatives available to the project, she told the court.

But the state was also still mostly issuing permits despite concerns about emissions, which she said flew in the face of the reports that said the state should be reducing emissions.

It was a real disconnect, Hedges said.

In 2011, due to what Hedges called a real backlash against some of the projects being halted, the legislature put the MEPA limitation into law, which said the state could not review impacts beyond Montanas borders when considering permits  what is now called the MEPA limitation. Hedges said she testified in opposition to the bill creating the limitation, saying it violated constitutional obligations of Montanans rights to participate, to know, and to a clean and healthful environment.

She said it was clear talking to legislators and lobbyists at the time the limitation was put in to preclude consideration of climate change.

They hoped it would prevent the state from having to disclose those impacts, from allowing the public to comment, and hopefully would help projects get built, she told the court Thursday.  The legislature did the bidding of the fossil fuel industry, and the governor signed the bill.

She said there were multiple occasions since then when the MEIC tried to get greenhouse gas emissions included in the MEPA process before a permit was granted, but that she is not aware of a single fossil fuel project permit the state denied, and the emissions studies were not completed.

The state released a 2017 climate assessment that analyzed the impacts of climate change on parts of Montanas economy, and Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock in 2019 issued an executive order about climate changes effects in Montana, asking the DEQ to come up with a plan to reduce emissions. That plan was released in 2020 along with 30 recommendations on how the state could reduce emissions, Hedges said.

But she said she does not believe the state has implemented any of those recommendations. Asked what Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, who took office in January 2021, had done with the plan, Hedges said: I believe he put it on the shelf.

And nearly three years after the youth plaintiffs filed their lawsuit, and after a Yellowstone County judge this spring said greenhouse gas emissions should have been included in an environmental review of a NorthWestern Energy power plant in Laurel, the legislature amended the MEPA limitation again this year to say an environmental review of a project could not include evaluations of greenhouse gas impacts and climate impacts inside or outside of Montana.

Another bill Hedges testified against, Senate Bill 557, which was signed into law, was amended to include the same language and also limits a courts ability to stop a permit from going forward if an agency does not disclose a projects impacts on the environment.

Hedges has long argued that MEPA is not simply procedural  as the state believes  but rather a companion to permitting statutes intended to inform regulatory agencies and facilitate public comment on projects.

They are integrally related because when you allow that type of disclosure in the MEPA analysis, you create a body of information the agency can use in permitting to make better decisions, she told the court.

She said the current limitation allows agencies to turn a blind eye to alternatives for projects and any possibility of a project emitting fewer greenhouse gases, as well as to analyzing if a project would be too harmful to proceed  something she said she believes agencies absolutely have the skill and the information necessary to undertake.

A fossil fuel project proposal could be the least reasonable but wouldnt appear to be so because they are not considering alternative things, she said. It forces the state to ignore the impact that is the biggest crisis of our day.

Because lawmakers and governors have limited what can be analyzed when it comes to fossil fuel permitting, Hedges said she believes they have limited opportunities for public comment in violation of the constitution and created a world for the plaintiffs that is antithetical to one that will keep their future Montana the same as, or better than, the one they grew up with.

Without some interpretation that a clean and healthful environment includes a clean atmosphere, I dont believe there is any hope before the crisis really does rain down upon us, she said. I think we should have the judicial branch weigh in.

Peter Erickson, a researcher with the Stockholm Environment Institute who has worked on greenhouse gas accounting for more than 14 years and published dozens of papers, was called as an expert witness for the plaintiffs to detail greenhouse gas emissions in Montana.

He looked at three facets of fossil fuel activity in Montana  what gets extracted here, what is consumed here, and what is transported through the state or refined here. He used 2019 data, which he said was currently the most comprehensive dataset.

His presentation showed 32 million tons of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels were consumed in Montana that year, while 70 million tons were extracted, including some overlap between the two  like the coal mined in Montana used to feed the power plants in Colstrip and elsewhere. Further, he estimated there were at least 80 million tons of fossil fuels transported through or refined in Montana before being sent elsewhere.

Erickson said the 32 million tons burned off or consumed in Montana put it sixth among U.S. states that year and was more than in 100 other countries. He said Ireland also burned 32 million tons that year but has a population of 6 million compared to Montanas 1.1 million.

The states total annual CO2 emissions from fossil fuels that year, Erickson said, put it on par with countries like Argentina, the Netherlands and Pakistan, all of which have much larger populations.

He called Montanas emissions disproportionately large given its population and said while it appeared, as the state claims, that Montana has made some efforts since 2019 to curb some of its emissions, the fracking boom, and efforts this spring to continue permitting fossil fuel projects show it is likely to continue to emit more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Even by the most narrow definition of its emissions, I cant make any other conclusion other than Montanas emissions are significant, Erickson told the court.

He also said that reports show Montana has the largest coal deposits in the nation and hundreds of millions of oil and gas reserves that could further be tapped by the government if it continues to disregard emissions and push forward with fossil fuel projects.

Erickson also rebutted testimony from two planned state witnesses about greenhouse gases, emissions data, and the effects of climate change in Montana that the witnesses are likely to discuss next week, pushing back on their claims that current emissions are minuscule or not meaningful.

For them to make their own judgements about that being minuscule seems to be misleading and to misrepresent the nature of science and international cooperation on climate change, Erickson said.

When attorneys for the state pushed back against his data and characterizations that Montana should analyze emissions and start to reduce them, arguing again that Montana accounts for a small share of global emissions and can make little difference on that scale, Erickson said that was not the case.

The idea Montana would be acting on its own doesnt stand up to me because there is a global effort among other nations and an effort among U.S. states to work together, share policy, and amplify the effects of work on emissions, he said.

Erickson told state attorneys and the court that Montana should adhere to the latest IPCC report out earlier this year which said that every increment of global warming will create broader extremes in the climate and that government action at all levels plays a crucial role in shifting toward a more sustainable world.

Montanas emissions are going to contribute to climate change irrespective what other countries do. Every ton matters equally, he said. That means it doesnt really matter to the atmosphere whether Montanas emissions are bigger or smaller than someone elses. They matter on their own.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs are expected to finish questioning their witnesses and the plaintiffs on Friday before the state starts to call its witnesses on Monday. The trial is slated to run through the end of next week.

The post Environmental policy expert says at trial Montana has moved backward in fighting climate change appeared first on Daily Montanan.
GREAT FALLS, Mont. - Earlier this week, agents from the IRS Criminal Investigation Unit and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (AFT) closed Highwood Creek Outfitters to search for financial documents.

Friday afternoon, Congressman Matt Rosendale announced he sent a letter to ATF Director Steven Dettelbach and IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel, asking for answers and calling the incident outrageous.

Rosendale asked Dettelbach and Werfel for answers behind Wednesdays search, including why it was conducted.

Under Director Dettelbachs leadership of the ATF, a pattern of intimidation and harassment against hardworking Americans has emerged  Montanans will not tolerate these political witch hunts. I remind both Director Dettelbach and Commissioner Werfel that Congress has the power of the purse, and I will ensure that funding for these agencies is not weaponized against the American people, Rosendale said in his letter

Rosendale was in Great Falls and talked with Highwood Creek Outfitters owner Tom Vanhoose.

Senator Steve Daines also sent a letter to IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel asking for answers.

I write today seeking further clarification surrounding events that took place on June 14, 2023 at Highwood Creek Outfitters gun shop in Great Falls, Montana. According to the owner and local reporting on the event, 20 armed federal agents entered the store, remained on the premises for several hours, and confiscated several boxes worth of documents. Among the documents reportedly seized were Firearms Transaction Records (ATF Form 4473) that contain the personally identifiable information (PII) of prospective firearm purchasers. With the PII of an unknown number of Montanans potentially collected by your agents, the stores customers and the community are rightfully concerned. As a result, local law enforcement has been inundated with calls and inquiries seeking information they are unable to provide, Daines letter reads.

We have reached out to the Great Falls Police Department and IRS and have not heard back at this time. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.

You can read Rosendales full letter here.

You can read Daines' full letter here.

Article update on June 21, 2023 with a release from Senator Steve Daines.
HELENA, Mont. - The Vietnam war was a long conflict that pitted the government of North Vietnam against South Vietnam and it's ally, the United States; with almost 2.7 Americans serving in the war.

One of those men that served is James Gildea, a flight engineer on some of the first chinook helicopters that flew in Vietnam when he was younger.

"You can hear these things coming from a mile away," said Gildea.

Gildea served from 1965 to 1967.

"I was drafted... and I was totally shocked because at the time, in 1965, they weren't drafting married men. And if you had a child, they weren't drafting anybody with a child. I was married and I had a child on the way... But that particular day that I showed up, they took everybody. They took a gentleman that had a broken leg on crutches.," said Gildea.

While he went through basic training and was in the military, they couldn't send him anywhere until his child was born.

"Two-days after my child was born, I had orders to go to Vietnam," said Gildea.

And that's where he went... spending about a year working on helicopters.

"I fell off a helicopter when I was doing some maintenance on it from the top of the back pylon, I got 18 stitches. The government, to this day, still doesn't have any record of me being in a hospital in Vietnam," said Gildea.

This month, Gildea had the chance to go to the Montana National Guard and tour Chinook helicopters and how they look today.

"What I flew in in Vietnam, compared to what they have now, the technology is so much better. So much. The ones we flew in Vietnam were the basic first ones out ever. They were just a basic helicopter and the ones you have now have to do a whole mess of different things all by themselves," said Gildea.

He shared stories with pilots and other crew members at the Montana National Guard and says it's an experience he'll never forget.
A top call of 5,600, plus a trio of joint 5,100 second top calls, were among the highlights at Skipton Auction Marts timed online-only summer sale of working sheep dogs.

Welsh handlers and trialists Kevin Evans and Dewi Jenkins were again to the fore, joined by Scotswoman Matilda Young, who sold for the first time at the venue.

Kevin Evans, of Llwynfedwen, near Brecon, in Powys, had four entries in the sale, a brace going to buyers in the United States and Germany.

He was top dog on price at 5,600 with a fully broken two-year-old red and white dog, Foxridge Flynn, another well-bred son of his red Spot, a German import increasingly proving his worth as a stud dog.

Out of David Edwards Tanhill Lilly, bred by Kirkby Stephens Alec Baines, Flynn returned to Wales with Merthyr Tidfils Rory Parker, who runs some 500 Welsh Mountain sheep, plus a small flock of Valais Blacknose.

He had earlier seen Flynn at work on the farm, before bagging him online as a work dog only.

Another fully broken and fully home-bred Evans dog, this time a black and white bitch, Kemi Nan, was one of the 5,100 performers.

The June 2021 daughter of European Nursery Champion and dual Welsh and International Brace Champion, Derwen Doug, out of Scalpsie Joy, herself a daughter of fellow Welsh handler Ross Games accomplished trials dog Roy, joined US buyer Dr Karen Thompson.

Over the years, Dr Thompson has imported a number of top-class working dogs from the legendary Welsh handler for her Thompsons Border Collies Farms, also home to Dorper hair wool sheep and percentage Boer goats.

Back in July 2020, and again at a Skipton online sale, she paid 10,200 for another well-bred Evans dog, Kemi Floss.

A retired theologian who has been working, training and breeding Border Collies for some 40 years, Dr Thompson was herself a well-known trialist in the 1970s and 1980s.

She served on the board of directors of the North American Sheepdogs, which later became the American International Sheepdog Society and now the American Border Collie Association.

Ive been importing steadily from Kevin Evans since 2012 and hes never failed, she commented.

Of the 41 fully broken, part-broken and unbroken entry, a total of 21 dogs successfully found new homes.

Skiptons next working sheep dog sale, a live fixture with field trials, is scheduled for 21 July.
Scottish farm leaders have called for the 'urgent approval' of the herbicide Asulox for use to control bracken this year due to the lack of alternatives.

NFU Scotland, Scottish Land & Estates and Bracken Control Group have urged the Scottish government to reauthorise Asulox (asulam) to control bracken.

An aggressive and invasive weed, there are reports that it is growing frantically throughout the hillsides of Scotland.

Where bracken grows, the land is unproductive, and it is also a risk to livestock health due to the abundance of ticks.

Currently, Asulox is not registered for use in the UK. However, an emergency authorisation of the herbicide was issued last year.

To counter the threats posed by bracken, a number of different control techniques are employed by land managers and specialist contractors.

Asulox is just one of these options, but for Scotlands farmers and landowners, aerial application is often the only option due to the scale of the area covered by bracken.

In a joint statement, the industry bodies said: Our organisations believe that in the longer-term, a more consistent and strategic approach should be taken for the control of bracken.

"This includes the development of an improved stewardship approach that introduces effective controls to manage and monitor the use of the various bracken control techniques, including herbicides."

Control of bracken is a multi-stage process and effective control requires a repeat treatment for up to ten years.

Failure to carry out repeat treatments can lead to bracken recovering quickly and the cost and effort associated with the primary treatment being wasted.

A greater emphasis would be placed on integrated pest management, the groups said, with a view to reducing the use of herbicide except in cases where other control options are not possible.

They added: We would also like to express our disappointment that bracken control was removed from this years agri-environment scheme.

"This has not only increased the risks of bracken as set out above, but also reverses the benefits of public money already spent. We urge government to restore this option in future rounds of funding."

Brian Walker, of Carloonan Farm in Inveraray, Argyll, recently accused the Scottish government of "dragging its heels" on the issue of reauthorisation.

The tenant farmer said he had never before seen more cows coming off the hill this spring covered in ticks.

The warm temperatures in the dead bracken over the winter months makes it the perfect place for them to survive and breed over winter," he said.

He said this was having a devastating impact on his livestock, adding: "Once an animal becomes a host for ticks, we have to use a chemical  like spot-on treatments used on cats and dogs  to get rid of them.

"If we dont do this, it could lead to the animals getting seriously ill - redwater disease in cattle and louping ill in sheep are nasty diseases."

Scottish Conservative shadow rural affairs secretary, Rachael Hamilton MSP has also called on the SNP-led government to grant authorisation.

"There is no time to wait for the SNP-Green government in urgently granting the emergency use of Asulox," Ms Hamilton said.

"I have pressed Humza Yousaf on the matter at the last two First Ministers Questions, but he's either passed the buck to the Health and Safety Executive or given no answer at all.

"Our farmers and rural communities are crying out for a decision as they know asulox is the most effective method of controlling bracken."
Participants in a Scottish programme designed to encourage new entrants to make moves into agriculture have commented on its successes.

An evaluation of the Starter Farm initiative, launched by the Scottish government, shows that it has provided opportunities to run a farm business.

The initiative has also provided skills and experience to enable participants secure future tenancies and further their agricultural careers.

To date, the Farming Opportunities for New Entrants (FONE) group, which supported the governance of the initiative, has facilitated entry to over 80 new entrants.

The group has provided 122 land opportunities across more than 7,000 hectares of land in Scotland.

Chair of the FONE group, Henry Graham said supporting new entrants into the sector was vital for the sustainability of the industry.

"This programme has offered ambitious young people the opportunity to get the essential experience they need to take the first step on the farming ladder.

"There has been considerable positive narrative around the programme and the value it has brought. It was therefore important to get an analysis of the tenants' perceptions of the initiative.

He added: "Not only has the programme offered essential farming business experience for ten new entrant tenants, it has driven thinking into further new entrant focused policy."

Responding to the scheme's success, Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said it was important that the voices of new entrants were heard.

"The future of agriculture and the rural economy is rooted in the need for the next generation to drive innovation and best practice, improve efficiency and contribute to the economic vitality of the sector.

We will continue to work with stakeholders and the FONE Group to ensure we are taking further steps to enable a strong, dynamic and productive rural economy to create wealth and employment across Scotland."
Larry Hagman refused to talk on Sundays and would communicate via whistling instead.

Larry Hagman has been remembered by his Dallas co-stars who recalled the one day of the week when he refused to talk

The 'Dallas' star - who died in 2012 aged 81 - was remembered by co-stars including Patrick Duffy, Linda Gray and Joan Van Ark when they reunited in Palm Springs, California this week ahead of the show's 45th anniversary and the called Larry's "silent Sundays" which left many of them utterly baffled.

Van Ark, 79, told PEOPLE: "The silent Sundays where he wouldn't talk. Oh boy," and Duffy added: "He wouldn't talk to anybody on Sundays."

Gray went on to explain how Larry would communicate during his vow of silence, adding: "He would whistle! To get your your attention, he would whistle.

She often went on holiday with Larry and his wife Maj - and says silent Sundays continued even while they were enjoying a vacation.

Gray went on: "We would travel to Europe and every Sunday he wouldn't speak. He would whistle. Whistle. His wife would show the menu and point and all that. And he would whistle what he wanted."

When asked if Larry was using silent Sundays as "vocal rest", she dismissed the idea saying: "No, it's bulls***. Bulls***!

"He did this for years and years. He was like a little boy. But it was also control. Wed be like: Can we order this for you? And one day, we were in Germany, I said: I'm done. I'm not not playing this anymore.

"And he was like a four year old. He was just like: Oh, somebody caught me'."

Audrey Landers - who played Larry's onscreen love interest in 'Dallas' - also saw the actor's eccentric side when they filmed their first scene together and he tipped ice down her back.

She told the publication: "So were under the covers. Theres a Champagne bucket next to the bed. I had never met anyone, even Larry. The director says: 'Action!' Larry reached over, grabbed a handful of ice from the bucket, and puts it down my back. The camera is rolling. And I'm there. I was taught never to stop until the director says, cut and never break concentration ... I'm trying not to scream. And there's like, this ice dripping down. And then, of course, everybody was in on the joke. So the whole crew starts laughing and the director says: 'Cut.'

"And then Larry says: See, that's how we break the ice in Dallas'."
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex's Archetypes podcast is not being renewed by Spotify.

Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan have other deals away from Spotify

Prince Harry, 38, and Meghan, 41, inked a $20 million deal with the streaming giant back in 2020 - the same year they quit as senior members of the British Royal Family and became financially independent - however, they allegedly didn't make enough content to warrant being paid the sum originally agreed.

In a joint statement to The New York Post, Spotify and Archewell Audio said they mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together.

An Archewell Productions spokeswoman also added to The Wall Street Journal: Meghan is continuing to develop more content for the Archetypes audience on another platform."

It comes after the podcast's producer, Rebecca Sananes, left her role.

The likes of Mariah Carey, Serena Williams and Paris Hilton were guests.

It was recently revealed that Meghan had signed a deal with huge talent agency WME.

The former 'Suits' actress will be working with the company - who represent the likes of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, Rihanna, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Christian Bale, and Serena Williams - to "build out her business ventures" in a range of areas.

The company announced in a statement shared on Instagram: "We are honoured to announce that WME now represents Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, in all areas.

"The agency will be focusing on building out her business ventures across multiple facets of the agency and its broader ecosystem, including film and television production, brand partnerships, and more."

According to Variety, WME will also take on representation of Meghan and her husband Prince Harry's content creation under their Archewell company.

But the outlet stressed that: "Acting will not be an area of focus."

It is believed a number of talent agencies had been pitching to represent the duchess since she and her spouse stepped back from senior royal duties to start their new life in her native California.

Archewell also has a deal with Netflix, which is home to the couple's 'Harry + Meghan' docuseries.

The 41-year-old duchess - who has Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two with Harry - previously revealed she is keen to make romantic comedies through her production company.

She told Variety last year: So much of how my husband and I see things is through our love story.

"For scripted, we want to think about how we can evolve from that same space and do something fun.

"It doesnt always have to be so serious. Like a good rom-com. Dont we miss them? I miss them so much.
Sir David Attenborough's crew feared for their lives when their boats were attacked by sharks.

Sir David Attenborough's crew were terrified

The 'Our Planet II' film crew were in blow-up boats on a six-day trip to an island north of Hawaii shooting footage of a Laysan albatross' maiden flight when they had to make an emergency rush towards dry land.

The show's producer Huw Cordey told The Sun newspaper's TVBiz column: "The original idea was to do an underwater shoot with the tiger sharks waiting in the shallows at Laysan.

"But the first day the tiger sharks were around, the crew got into these inflatable boats  and two sharks attacked them.

"It was like something out of 'Jaws.' "

He revealed that everyone "panicked" and had to effectively make "an emergency landing", and they didn't manage to get certain shots for the four-episode documentary series.

He added: The crew panicked and basically made an emergency landing on the sand.

"Suffice to say, they didnt get any underwater shots.

Legendary broadcaster Sir David, 97, is narrating the new show - which is now available to stream on Netflix - and he's been keeping busy with plenty of projects, including recent Apple TV+ series 'Prehistoric Planet 2'.

Meanwhile, the show's co-producer Mike Gunton previously reflected on the presenter's longevity.

He told the Radio Times magazine: "When I arrived at the BBC, the head of department said, 'It's lovely this project is under way, and it's really important because this is David's last series. We now need to be thinking about who's going to take over from him.'

"That was in 1987. If I had a pound for every time somebody said, 'This is probably going to be David's last series', I'd be a very rich man."

And the TV icon previously vowed to continue informing and entertaining the masses with his fun facts for years to come.

Sir David told The Sun newspaper: "How long do I plan to keep going? As long as I'm vertical and people ask me to do it.

"It's a marvellous time, why would I suddenly say, 'Don't bother'?"
Gross domestic product (GDP) in the G20 area grew by 0.9 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) in the first quarter (Q1) of 2023, up from 0.4 per cent in the previous quarter, as per provisional estimates by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The acceleration in the G20 area in Q1 2023 mainly reflected the reopening of the economy in China, where GDP growth picked up to 2.2 per cent compared with 0.6 per cent in Q4 2022. The acceleration was also driven by higher growth in India, where GDP rose by 1.9 per cent in Q1 2023, up from 1.0 per cent in Q4 2022. In Mexico, GDP growth reached 1.0 per cent in Q1, compared with 0.6 per cent in Q4, while in Japan it reached 0.7 per cent, compared with 0.1 per cent.

The G20 area's GDP grew 0.9 per cent QoQ in Q1 2023, an acceleration mainly due to economic reopening in China and growth in India, said the OECD. Several economies rebounded from contractions in Q4 2022, including Brazil, South Africa, and South Korea. The GDP growth slowed in several countries, while the UK's GDP growth remained stable.

Several economies returned to growth after contracting in Q4 2022. In Brazil GDP rose by 1.9 per cent in Q1 after contracting by 0.1 per cent in Q4, while in South Africa and South Korea, GDP grew by 0.4 per cent and 0.3 per cent respectively after contracting by 1.1 per cent and 0.4 per cent. Growth also recovered in Canada, France, and Italy, the OECD said in a press release.

Despite the acceleration in growth in the G20 area as a whole, Germany, entered recession, with GDP continuing to contract, -0.3 per cent in Q1 2023, following -0.4 per cent in Q4 2022, as decreases in government spending and private consumption weighed heavily on the economy, removing 1.1 and 0.6 percentage points respectively from growth.

GDP also contracted in Saudi Arabia at -1.4 per cent in Q1 for the first time in two years, mainly reflecting a decrease in oil activities. GDP growth slowed in Indonesia to 0.7 per cent in Q1 compared with 2.2 per cent in the previous quarter, and, to a lesser extent, in Australia, Turkiye, and the US. In the UK, GDP growth remained at 0.1 per cent in Q1, the same as the previous quarter.

In Q1 2023, GDP in the G20 area exceeded its pre-pandemic or Q4 2019 level by 7.8 per cent. However, in the UK and Germany, GDP remained below its pre-pandemic levelsby 0.5 per cent in both countries.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)
Kriti Sanon Adipurush: Enthralling the audience with her enchanting persona and grace, Kriti Sanon is undeniably the talk of the town, with fans going gaga over her character as Janaki.

Kriti Sanon on coming back to the Telugu industry after 8 years

Overwhelmed by the outpouring of positive responses, Kriti Sanon enjoys a warm welcome back to the Telugu industry after 8 years.

The actress has nailed it with her excellent acting skills and unquestionably lives up to her part by exuding embodied beauty, adding an added dimension of authenticity to her portrayal. She has radiated a surreal charm, leaving the audience spellbound.

After her much-talked-about iconic film Nenokkadine, the actress has returned after a long gap, as she quotes, "Coming back to the Telugu industry after 8 years! Thank u for such a warm welcome! Overwhelmed, Jai Siya Ram."

In the span of just nine years, Kriti Sanon has established a name for herself in the Indian film industry. The actress is known for her versatility and for leaving an imprint of her roles in the minds of the audience.

No One Could Have...: Netizens Share Adipurush Twitter Reactions, Call Kriti Sanon 'Perfect Choice' For Janaki

Meanwhile, fans are hailing Kriti in the role of Sita in Adipurush and are of the opinion that nobody could have done it better than her. The film has created a massive buzz across the nation, and as per an early estimate, Adipurush is said to gross Rs 50 crore on its opening day.

Adipurush, which was released today, June 16, is inspired by the Hindu epic Ramayana. Directed by Om Raut, the epic fantasy movie stars superstar Prabhas as Raghav, Kriti as Janaki, Sunny Singh as Laxman, and Saif Ali Khan as antagonist Lankesh.

Kriti Sanon on the work front

On the work front, Kriti Sanon will next be seen in Vikas Bahl's Ganpath: Part 1, and Rhea Kapoor's The Crew, starring next to Kareena Kapoor, Tabu, Diljit Dosanjh, and Rajkummar Rao. She also has an untitled project with Shahid Kapoor in the pipeline.

Adipurush: Bhushan Kumar & Om Raut's Magnum Opus Starring Prabhas, Kriti Sanon Releases With Prolific Feat
Nikhil Kamath Podcast: India's Brightest Investor, Nikhil Kamath is here with the latest episode of his podcast series where he hosts founders of various companies in a panel to discuss relevant topics and the one for this episode being, Ed Tech.

After dropping out of school post class 10, Nikhil went onto become India's youngest Billionaire and is currently making use of highly consumed digital platforms to break down relevant topics for the layman, along with a panel of various achievers and experts in and around the field that he brings together, for an opinion based discussion.

In this interesting podcast, Nikhil Kamath hosted guests like Ronnie Screwvala, Chairperson & Co-Founder of UpGrad, and also renowned filmmaker Gaurav Munjal, Co-Founder at Unacademy and Jay KotakCo-Head at Kotak811.

They discussed various sectors of education and how to make the process more interesting for kids and how ed tech is making waves today. From high presence in private schools in India to the idea of the gamification of education to make it more interesting and even breakdown of personal topics like Jay's love story or Ronnie's ability to not be able to take a compliment, they discussed it all.

Bigg Boss OTT 2: Abdu Rozik Supports THIS Contestant Ahead Of Grand Premiere; Shares An Adorable Video

When Nikhil asked about what's more important between the syllabus or teachers in a learning setup, Ronnie replied, "For me and for the overall working professional, it's a lot of plus, plus, plus. It's not necessarily teachers and the faculty, which is the epicenter."

He adds about what should have more weightage between the 2, saying, "No, I think the learning experience and the whole process of learning because it's online, is the most important part of it, and connecting. Otherwise, just a lecture today is not gonna move the needle from all points of it."

He added, "And if you have just a ted talk, that's not how you gonna learn for the next level of what you want to basically do, I think that's the pivotal part. Right now, to me, what I think is going to revolutionize learning is peer-to-peer learning. So while we are talking about teachers and faculty."

"I can see that trend in the next 5 years, the power of everything that's going to go to the next level and maybe not in school because you do need that basic element, you can't suddenly have peer to peer, is peer to peer learning," he shared.

Nikhil also asked Jay if he felt he learnt more at Harvard from his teachers or peers, to which Jay replied revealing, "Harvard Business School is a very interesting kind of education model because it is a combination of teacher to student and peer to peer, because every class is almost like a conductor to an orchestra where the conductor is only kind of (which is the professor)."

He went on to add, "He gives you a case, everybody has to read it before the class, you assume everybody has read it (it's usually a very interesting case on a topic on what the class is and they have millions of cases) then the professor has a roadmap of what he/she wants to get out of that discussion, but he pushes different members of the class."

Bigg Boss OTT 2 | Akanksha Sends SPECIAL Message For Falaq, Jiya & Others Ahead Of Premiere: Unhe Mujhse

"And because it is a very diverse class, like for an example on a case where (you are talking about Disney, the media company) there was a girl, who was a child actress, who became a very successful child actress and then a media executive and then came to Harvard Business School and had an interesting perspective to share with the rest of the class and likewise on other topics and that for me, I learnt a lot more."

Also, discussing whether the current benchmarks in schooling are well placed to cope with the changes taking place or not, Nikhil shared his view saying, "Ill give you my experience of education- went to a terrible school, I hated my school, hated my teachers, grew up being scared of things I should not have been scared of."

Further, he said, "I was probably scared of my class teacher, this teacher, that teacher. Stopped going to school.. beyond the 10th, I didn't go, I started working and stuff like that. But what I remember of school is that it taught me to be a conformist, in a manner where their idea of what I should be, their idea of what I should learn, their idea of what is required to get the outcome we just spoke about- big job, success, entrepreneurship whatever, that was met."

He finished off saying, "But the idea seems to be changing very quickly in the world, I don't think you become successful, 10 years from now by being conformist anymore."

Adipurush OTT Release Date & Time: Prabhas-Om Raut's Mythological Saga To Make Its Digital Debut On THIS Date!

Check out the latest podcast here-

You can catch India's youngest billionaire, host his guests in an interesting and highly insightful discussion right from the successful experts themselves.
New Delhi (India), June 16: Om Prakash Salvi, a promising and talented actor, is preparing to captivate audiences with his upcoming film, which explores the migration of Rajasthanis to Tamil Nadu. With his acting debut, Salvi has chosen a project that sheds light on the challenges and aspirations of these migrants as they search for better opportunities in a new land.

During the narration process, Salvi immersed himself in the stories and experiences of the migrants, leading to a deep sense of empathy for their plight. His understanding grew as he delved into the Census 2011 data, which revealed that Rajasthan had the highest number of outmigrants among all states, with approximately 5.3 million people leaving in search of greener pastures.

Rajasthanis have been driven by the desire for improved employment opportunities and livelihoods, resulting in their migration to states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. These migrants have found employment in diverse sectors, including construction, agriculture, manufacturing, services, and trade, contributing significantly to the economies of their destination states.

Speaking passionately about his upcoming film, Salvi disclosed that it revolves around the theme of Rajasthan natives relocating to Tamil Nadu in pursuit of better prospects. The film aims to shed light on the challenges, hopes, and dreams of these migrants, offering a glimpse into their lives and the emotional rollercoaster they experience when leaving their homes behind.

The debut film featuring Salvi is a short film with a runtime of approximately 1.6 hours, carefully crafted to capture the essence of the migration journey. With its focus on the migration of Rajasthanis to Tamil Nadu, the film promises to be an intriguing and thought-provoking cinematic experience, allowing the audience to reflect on the broader social and economic dynamics at play.

Expressing his excitement about this milestone project, Salvi revealed that he underwent multiple auditions before being approached for the role in the film titled "Pyar Na Hoga Dobara." As a first-time actor, he eagerly awaits the opportunity to bring this compelling story to life, aiming to create a lasting impact on the audience through his performance.

While the complete details and release date of the film are yet to be announced, expectations are running high among both the film industry and the audience, who are eagerly awaiting the unveiling of this engaging and socially relevant project. This upcoming movie has the potential to not only showcase Salvi's acting prowess but also shed light on the often untold stories of migrants and their struggles in search of a better life.

As Salvi prepares to grace the silver screen for the first time, his dedication to this significant project resonates with the audience, raising hopes for a compelling narrative that brings forth empathy, understanding, and awareness of the challenges faced by those who leave their homes behind in pursuit of a brighter future.
- Pivotal study showed durable responses, with a 56% overall response rate, a 43% complete response (remission) rate, and a median duration of response of 1.5 years (18.4 months) -

- Given over a fixed period of time, Columvi provides patients with a treatment end date and potential time off treatment -

- Columvi is part of Genentech's industry-leading portfolio of T-cell engaging bispecific antibodies in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which also includes the recently approved Lunsumio to treat follicular lymphoma -

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Columvi (glofitamab-gxbm) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified or large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) arising from follicular lymphoma, after two or more lines of systemic therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on response rate and durability of response in the Phase I/II NP30179 study. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial. Columvi will be available in the United States in the coming weeks.

"People with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who have gone through multiple lines of therapy have a poor prognosis and desperately need additional treatment options," said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "As an off-the-shelf, fixed-duration treatment providing durable response rates, we believe Columvi could change the way this aggressive lymphoma is treated, reinforcing our dedication to bringing innovative treatment options to people with critical unmet needs."

DLBCL is an aggressive, hard-to-treat disease and is the most common form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the United States. While many people with DLBCL are responsive to treatment, the majority of those who relapse or are refractory to subsequent treatments have poor outcomes.

"Patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma may experience rapid progression of their cancer and often urgently need an effective treatment option that can be administered without delay," said Krish Patel, M.D., Director of the Lymphoma Program at the Swedish Cancer Institute in Seattle and investigator of the Columvi Phase I/II NP30179 study. "Experience from clinical trials demonstrates that Columvi can provide patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma a chance for complete remission with a fixed-duration immunotherapy and that such remissions can potentially be sustained after the end of their treatment."

The FDA accelerated approval is based on positive results from the Phase I/II NP30179 study of Columvi given as a fixed course for 8.5 months in 132 patients with DLBCL who had relapsed or were refractory to prior therapies, including about one-third (30%) who had received prior CAR T-cell therapy. Additionally, 83% were refractory to their most recent therapy. Results showed patients treated with fixed-duration Columvi achieved durable remission, with 56% of patients achieving an overall response (OR; 74/132 [95% confidence interval (CI): 47-65]) and 43% of patients achieving a complete response (CR; 57/132 [95% CI: 35-52]). Over two-thirds of those who responded continued to respond for at least nine months (68.5% [95% CI: 56.7-80.3]). The OR rate is the combination of CR rate (a disappearance of all signs and symptoms of cancer) and partial response rate (a decrease in the amount of cancer in the body). The median duration of response was 1.5 years (18.4 months [95% CI: 11.4-not estimable]). Data from the NP30179 study were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine

Among 145 patients who received Columvi in the study, the most common adverse events (AEs) were cytokine release syndrome (CRS; 70%), which may be serious or life-threatening, musculoskeletal pain (21%), fatigue (20%) and rash (20%). CRS was generally low grade (52% experienced Grade 1, and 14% experienced Grade 2).

Columvi is the first and only CD20xCD3 T-cell engaging bispecific antibody for the treatment of R/R DLBCL that is given for a defined period of time. Unlike treat-to-progression approaches where treatment is given indefinitely until the cancer progresses or the therapy cannot be tolerated, Columvi is administered in 13 intravenous infusions over a maximum of 12 cycles (including step-up dosing) or until disease progression or the treatment cannot be tolerated, whichever occurs first. After Cycle 1, Columvi is administered once every three weeks. Designed to be completed in approximately 8.5 months, Columvi offers people with R/R DLBCL a target end date for their course of treatment and the possibility of a treatment-free period. Additionally, Columvi is a chemotherapy-free treatment option that is off-the-shelf and ready for infusion. Patients are pretreated with a single dose of obinutuzumab seven days prior to starting Columvi. Patients are also given a corticosteroid, an antipyretic (fever-reducing medicine) and an antihistamine as premedications to reduce the risk of CRS.

Columvi is part of Genentech's broad and industry-leading CD20xCD3 T-cell-engaging bispecific antibody clinical development program. This includes the Phase III STARGLO study evaluating Columvi in combination with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GemOx) versus rituximab in combination with GemOx in patients with DLBCL who have been treated with one or more previous therapies and are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant. Genentech's hematology bispecific antibody portfolio also includes Lunsumio (mosunetuzumab-axgb), which was granted accelerated approval by the FDA in December 2022 for the treatment of adult patients with R/R follicular lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy. Genentech is exploring the potential of both Columvi and Lunsumio as monotherapies and in combination with other therapies, including Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin-piiq), in earlier lines of treatment with the goal of providing patients with long-lasting outcomes. This robust development program includes two Phase III studies: CELESTIMO, investigating Lunsumio plus lenalidomide in second line plus (2L+) FL, and SUNMO, investigating Lunsumio plus Polivy in 2L+ DLBCL. Columvi received its first worldwide approval in Canada, and the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use recently granted a positive opinion recommending its approval.

Genentech is committed to helping people access the medicines they are prescribed and will be offering comprehensive services for people prescribed Columvi to help minimize barriers to access and reimbursement. For people who qualify, Genentech plans to offer patient assistance programs through Genentech Access Solutions. More information is also available at 866-4ACCESS/866-422-2377 or http://www.Genentech-Access.com.

About the NP30179 Study

The NP30179 study [NCT03075696] is a Phase I/II, multicenter, open-label, dose-escalation and expansion study evaluating the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of Columvi (glofitamab-gxbm) in people with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Outcome measures include complete response rate by an independent review committee (primary endpoint), overall response rate, duration of response, progression-free survival, safety and tolerability (secondary endpoints).

About Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive (fast-growing) blood cancer and is the most common form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in the U.S. While many people with DLBCL are responsive to treatment, the majority of those who relapse or are refractory to subsequent treatments have poor outcomes. DLBCL not otherwise specified is the most common category of large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) and accounts for about 80% or more of cases. It applies to cases that do not fall into any specific disease subgroups of LBCL.

About Large B-Cell Lymphoma Arising from Follicular Lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common slow-growing (indolent) form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), accounting for about one in five cases. It typically responds well to treatment but is often characterized by periods of remission and relapse. The disease typically becomes harder to treat each time a patient relapses, and early progression can be associated with poor long-term prognosis. As part of the natural history of FL, it can transform to more aggressive malignancies, including large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), one of the most aggressive (fast-growing) blood cancers.

About Columvi (glofitamab-gxbm)

Columvi is a CD20xCD3 T-cell engaging bispecific antibody designed with a novel 2:1 structural format. Columvi targets both T cells, a type of immune cell, and B cells, which are cancerous in DLBCL. Columvi is engineered to have one region that binds to CD3, a protein on T cells, and two regions that bind to CD20, a protein on B cells, which can be healthy or cancerous. This dual-targeting brings the T cell in close proximity to the B cell, activating the release of cancer cell-killing proteins from the T cell that result in the death of B cells. A robust clinical development program for Columvi is ongoing, investigating the molecule as a monotherapy and in combination with other medicines for the treatment of people with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and other blood cancers.

Columvi U.S. Indication

Columvi (glofitamab-gxbm) is a prescription medicine to treat adults with certain types of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) that has come back (relapsed) or that did not respond to previous treatment (refractory), and who have received 2 or more prior treatments for their cancer.

It is not known if Columvi is safe and effective in children.

The conditional approval of Columvi is based on response rate and durability of response. There are ongoing studies to establish how well the drug works.

What is the most important information I should know about Columvi?

Columvi can cause Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), a serious side effect that is common during treatment with Columvi, and can also be serious and lead to death.

Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of CRS, including:

fever of 100.4F (38C) or higher

chills or shaking

fast or irregular heartbeat

dizziness or light-headedness

trouble breathing

shortness of breath

Due to the risk of CRS, you will receive Columvi on a "step-up dosing schedule".

A single dose of a medicine called obinutuzumab will be given to you on the first day of your first treatment cycle (Day 1 of Cycle 1).

You will start the Columvi step-up dosing schedule a week after the obinutuzumab dose. The step-up dosing schedule is when you receive smaller "step-up" doses of Columvi on Day 8 and Day 15 of Cycle 1. This is to help reduce your risk of CRS. You should be hospitalized during your infusion and for 24 hours after receiving the first step-up dose on Day 8. You should be hospitalized during your infusion and for 24 hours after receiving the second step-up dose on Day 15 if you experienced CRS during the first step-up dose.

You will receive your first full dose of Columvi a week after the second step-up dose (this will be Day 1 of Cycle 2).

If your dose of Columvi is delayed for any reason, you may need to repeat the "step-up dosing schedule".

If you had more than mild CRS with your previous dose of Columvi, you should be hospitalized during and for 24 hours after receiving your next dose of Columvi.

Before each dose of Columvi, you will receive medicines to help reduce your risk of CRS and infusion-related reactions.

Your healthcare provider will monitor you for CRS during treatment with Columvi and may treat you in a hospital if you develop signs and symptoms of CRS. Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or completely stop your treatment with Columvi if you have severe side effects.

Carry the Columvi Patient Wallet Card with you at all times and show it to all of your healthcare providers. The Columvi Patient Wallet Card lists the signs and symptoms of CRS you should get emergency medical help for right away.

What are the possible side effects of Columvi?

Columvi may cause serious side effects, including:

Cytokine Release Syndrome.

Neurologic problems. Columvi can cause serious neurologic problems that may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for neurologic problems during treatment with Columvi. Your healthcare provider may also refer you to a healthcare provider who specializes in neurologic problems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of neurologic problems, including: headache confusion and disorientation difficulty paying attention or understanding things trouble speaking sleepiness memory problems numbness, tingling, or weakness of the hands or feet dizziness shaking (tremors)

Columvi can cause serious neurologic problems that may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for neurologic problems during treatment with Columvi. Your healthcare provider may also refer you to a healthcare provider who specializes in neurologic problems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of neurologic problems, including:

Serious Infection s. Columvi can cause serious infections that may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for signs and symptoms of infection and treat you as needed. Tell your health care provider right away if you develop any signs of an infection, including: fever, chills, weakness, cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat.

Columvi can cause serious infections that may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for signs and symptoms of infection and treat you as needed. Tell your health care provider right away if you develop any signs of an infection, including: fever, chills, weakness, cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat. Growth in your tumor or worsening of tumor related problems (tumor flare). Tell your healthcare provider if you get any of these signs or symptoms of tumor flare: tender or swollen lymph nodes pain or swelling at the site of the tumor chest pain cough trouble breathing

Tell your healthcare provider if you get any of these signs or symptoms of tumor flare:

The most common side effects of Columvi include: CRS, muscle and bone pain, rash, and tiredness.

The most common severe abnormal lab test results with Columvi include: decreased white blood cells, decreased phosphate (an electrolyte), increased uric acid levels, and decreased fibrinogen (a protein that helps with blood clotting).

Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or completely stop treatment with Columvi if you develop certain side effects.

Before receiving Columvi, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

have an infection

have kidney problems

are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Columvi may harm your unborn baby

Females who are able to become pregnant:

Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with Columvi.

You should use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment and for 1 month after your last dose of Columvi. Talk to your healthcare provider about what birth control method is right for you during this time.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with Columvi.

are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Columvi may pass into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 1 month after your last dose of Columvi.

Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

What should I avoid while receiving Columvi?

Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities if you develop dizziness, confusion, shaking (tremors), sleepiness, or any other symptoms that impair consciousness until your signs and symptoms go away. These may be signs and symptoms of neurologic problems.

These are not all the possible side effects of Columvi. Talk to your health care provider for more information about the benefits and risks of Columvi.

You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or http://www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

Please see Important Safety Information, including Serious Side Effects, as well as the Columvi full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide or visit https://www.Columvi.com.

About Lunsumio (mosunetuzumab-axgb)

Lunsumio is a first-in-class CD20xCD3 T-cell engaging bispecific antibody designed to target CD20 on the surface of B cells and CD3 on the surface of T cells. This dual targeting activates and redirects a patient's existing T cells to engage and eliminate target B cells by releasing cytotoxic proteins into the B cells. A robust clinical development program for Lunsumio is ongoing, investigating the molecule as a monotherapy and in combination with other medicines, for the treatment of people with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, including follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and other blood cancers.

Lunsumio U.S. Indication

Lunsumio (mosunetuzumab-axgb) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with follicular lymphoma whose cancer has come back or did not respond to previous treatment, and who have already received two or more treatments for their cancer.

It is not known if Lunsumio is safe and effective in children.

The conditional approval of Lunsumio is based on response rate. There are ongoing studies to establish how well the drug works.

What is the most important information I should know about Lunsumio?

Lunsumio may cause Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), a serious side effect that is common during treatment with Lunsumio and can also be severe or life-threatening.

Get medical help right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of CRS at any time, including:

fever of 100.4F (38C) or higher

chills

low blood pressure

fast or irregular heartbeat

tiredness or weakness

difficulty breathing

headache

confusion

feeling anxious

dizziness or light-headedness

nausea

vomiting

Due to the risk of CRS, you will receive Lunsumio on a "step-up dosing schedule."

The step-up dosing schedule is when you receive smaller "step-up" doses of Lunsumio on Day 1 and Day 8 of your first cycle of treatment

You will receive a higher dose of Lunsumio on Day 15 of your first cycle of treatment

If your dose of Lunsumio is delayed for any reason, you may need to repeat the step-up dosing schedule

Before each dose in Cycle 1 and Cycle 2, you will receive medicines to help reduce your risk of CRS

Your healthcare provider will check you for CRS during treatment with Lunsumio and may treat you in a hospital if you develop signs and symptoms of CRS. Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or completely stop your treatment with Lunsumio, if you have severe side effects.

What are the possible side effects of Lunsumio?

Lunsumio may cause serious side effects, including:

Neurologic problems. Your healthcare provider will check you for neurologic problems during treatment with Lunsumio. Your healthcare provider may also refer you to a healthcare provider who specializes in neurologic problems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of neurologic problems during or after treatment with Lunsumio, including: headache numbness and tingling of the arms, legs, hands, or feet dizziness confusion and disorientation difficulty paying attention or understanding things forgetting things or forgetting who or where you are trouble speaking, reading, or writing sleepiness or trouble sleeping tremors loss of consciousness seizures muscle problems or muscle weakness loss of balance or trouble walking

Your healthcare provider will check you for neurologic problems during treatment with Lunsumio. Your healthcare provider may also refer you to a healthcare provider who specializes in neurologic problems. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of neurologic problems during or after treatment with Lunsumio, including: Serious infections. Lunsumio can cause serious infections that may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will check you for signs and symptoms of infection before and during treatment. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of infection during treatment with Lunsumio, including: fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher chest pain tiredness shortness of breath painful rash sore throat pain during urination feeling weak or generally unwell

Lunsumio can cause serious infections that may lead to death. Your healthcare provider will check you for signs and symptoms of infection before and during treatment. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of infection during treatment with Lunsumio, including: Low blood cell counts. Low blood cell counts are common during treatment with Lunsumio and can also be severe. Your healthcare provider will check your blood cell counts during treatment with Lunsumio. Lunsumio may cause the following low blood cell counts: low white blood cell counts (neutropenia). Low white blood cells can increase your risk for infection low red blood cell counts (anemia). Low red blood cells can cause tiredness and shortness of breath low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia). Low platelet counts can cause bruising or bleeding problems

Low blood cell counts are common during treatment with Lunsumio and can also be severe. Your healthcare provider will check your blood cell counts during treatment with Lunsumio. Lunsumio may cause the following low blood cell counts: Growth in your tumor or worsening of tumor related problems (Tumor flare). Lunsumio may cause serious or severe worsening of your tumor.Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any of these signs or symptoms of tumor flare during your treatment with Lunsumio: tender or swollen lymph nodes, chest pain, cough, trouble breathing, and pain or swelling at the site of the tumor

Your healthcare provider may temporarily stop or permanently stop treatment with Lunsumio if you develop severe side effects.

The most common side effects of Lunsumio include: tiredness, rash, fever, and headache.

The most common severe abnormal lab test results with Lunsumio include: decreased phosphate, increased glucose, and increased uric acid levels.

Before receiving Lunsumio, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

have ever had an infusion reaction after receiving Lunsumio

have an infection, or have had an infection in the past which lasted a long time or keeps coming back

have or have had Epstein-Barr Virus

are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Lunsumio may harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with Lunsumio

Females who are able to become pregnant:

your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with Lunsumio

you should use an effective method of birth control during your treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of Lunsumio

are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Lunsumio passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 3 months after the last dose of Lunsumio

Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

What should I avoid while receiving Lunsumio?

Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do other dangerous activities if you develop dizziness, confusion, tremors, sleepiness, or any other symptoms that impair consciousness until your signs and symptoms go away. These may be signs and symptoms of CRS or neurologic problems.

These are not all the possible side effects of Lunsumio. Talk to your health care provider for more information about the benefits and risks of Lunsumio.

You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or http://www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

Please see Important Safety Information, including Serious Side Effects, as well as the Lunsumio full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide or visit https://www.Lunsumio.com

About Polivy(polatuzumab vedotin-piiq)

Polivy is a first-in-class anti-CD79b antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). The CD79b protein is expressed specifically in the majority of B cells, an immune cell impacted in some types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), making it a promising target for the development of new therapies. Polivy binds to cancer cells such as CD79b and destroys these B cells through the delivery of an anti-cancer agent, which is thought to minimize the effects on normal cells. Polivy is being developed by Genentech using Seagen ADC technology and is currently being investigated for the treatment of several types of NHL.

Polivy U.S. Indication

Polivy is a prescription medicine used with other medicines (a rituximab product, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone) as a first treatment for adults who have moderate to high risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), not otherwise specified (NOS) or high-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBL).

Polivy is a prescription medicine used with other medicines, bendamustine and a rituximab product, to treat DLBCL in adults who have progressed after at least 2 prior therapies.

Important Safety Information

Possible serious side effects

Everyone reacts differently to Polivy therapy, so it's important to know what the side effects are. Some people who have been treated with Polivy have experienced serious to fatal side effects. Your doctor may stop or adjust your treatment if any serious side effects occur. Be sure to contact your healthcare team if there are any signs of these side effects.

Nerve problems in your arms and legs: This may happen as early as after your first dose and may worsen with every dose. Your doctor will monitor for signs and symptoms, such as changes in your sense of touch, numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, nerve pain, burning sensation, any muscle weakness, or changes to your walking pattern

This may happen as early as after your first dose and may worsen with every dose. Your doctor will monitor for signs and symptoms, such as changes in your sense of touch, numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, nerve pain, burning sensation, any muscle weakness, or changes to your walking pattern Infusion-related reactions: You may experience fever, chills, rash, breathing problems, low blood pressure, or hives within 24 hours of your infusion

You may experience fever, chills, rash, breathing problems, low blood pressure, or hives within 24 hours of your infusion Low Blood Cell Counts: Treatment with Polivy can cause severe low blood cell counts. Your doctor will monitor your blood counts throughout treatment with Polivy

Treatment with Polivy can cause severe low blood cell counts. Your doctor will monitor your blood counts throughout treatment with Polivy Infections: If you have a fever of 100.4F (38C) or higher, chills, cough, or pain during urination, contact your healthcare team. Your doctor may also give you medication before giving you Polivy, which may prevent some infections, and will monitor your blood counts throughout treatment with Polivy. Treatment with Polivy can cause severe low blood cell counts

If you have a fever of 100.4F (38C) or higher, chills, cough, or pain during urination, contact your healthcare team. Your doctor may also give you medication before giving you Polivy, which may prevent some infections, and will monitor your blood counts throughout treatment with Polivy. Treatment with Polivy can cause severe low blood cell counts Rare and serious brain infections: Your doctor will monitor closely for signs and symptoms of these types of infections. Contact your doctor if you experience confusion, dizziness or loss of balance, trouble talking or walking, or vision changes

Your doctor will monitor closely for signs and symptoms of these types of infections. Contact your doctor if you experience confusion, dizziness or loss of balance, trouble talking or walking, or vision changes Tumor lysis syndrome: Caused by the fast breakdown of cancer cells. Signs include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and lack of energy

Caused by the fast breakdown of cancer cells. Signs include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and lack of energy Potential harm to liver: Some signs include tiredness, weight loss, pain in the abdomen, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the white part of your eyes. You may be at higher risk if you already had liver problems or you are taking other medication

Side effects seen most often

The most common side effects of Polivy when used as a first treatment in DLBCL with the medicines rituximab product, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone include

Nerve problems in arms and legs

Nausea

Tiredness or lack of energy

Diarrhea

Constipation

Hair Loss

Redness and sores of the lining of the mouth, lips, throat, and digestive tract

Polivy may lower your red or white blood cell counts and increase uric acid levels.

The most common side effects of Polivy when used in DLBCL after at least 2 prior therapies with other medicines, bendamustine and a rituximab product include

Low blood cell counts (platelets, red blood cells, white blood cells)

Nerve problems in arms and legs

Tiredness or lack of energy

Diarrhea

Nausea

Fever

Decreased appetite

Infections

Polivy may not be for everyone. Talk to your doctor if you are

Pregnant or think you are pregnant: Data have shown that Polivy may harm your unborn baby

Data have shown that Polivy may harm your unborn baby Planning to become pregnant: Women should avoid getting pregnant while taking Polivy. Women should use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 months after their last Polivy treatment. Men taking Polivy should use effective contraception during treatment and for 5 months after their last Polivy treatment

Women should avoid getting pregnant while taking Polivy. Women should use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 months after their last Polivy treatment. Men taking Polivy should use effective contraception during treatment and for 5 months after their last Polivy treatment Breastfeeding: Women should not breastfeed while taking Polivy and for 2 months after the last dose

These may not be all the side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider for more information about the benefits and risks of Polivy treatment.

You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or http://www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

Please see the full Prescribing Information and visit https://www.Polivy.com for additional Important Safety Information.

About Genentech in Hematology

For more than 20 years, Genentech has been developing medicines with the goal to redefine treatment in hematology. Today, we're investing more than ever in our effort to bring innovative treatment options to people with diseases of the blood. For more information visit http://www.gene.com/hematology.

About Genentech

Founded more than 40 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.gene.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230613097002/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Lindsey Mathias, (650) 467-6800

Advocacy Contact:

Cem Mangir, (202) 251-4037

Investor Contacts:

Loren Kalm, (650) 225-3217

Bruno Eschli, 011 41 61 687 5284
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2023) - Tenet Fintech Group Inc. (CSE: PKK) (OTC Pink: PKKFF) ("Tenet" or the "Company"), a fintech technology and data services provider and operator of the Cubeler Business Hub, announces today that it commenced a review of technology earlier this month to assess "fit for purpose" technology for deployment and revenue generation for the Company.

Given the Company's current state of technology readiness, funding, skill sets and revenue opportunities, the independent members of the board of directors of Tenet approved a 90-day plan to launch a Benchmarking product geared at small and medium-sized businesses to help them understand their strengths, weaknesses and where to optimize their business needs compared to other SMEs in general, and in their specific business niches.

The decision to focus on the data and servicing the SMEs with benchmarking products to leverage the Company's existing capabilities was made as a viable product offering with the nearest path to revenue for build out cost and most promising for demand amongst SMEs which are underserviced in the area of peer benchmarking.

The Company expects to share plans on the SME Benchmarking platform at its upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM). Tenet's Management also encourages the Company's shareholders to vote for Management's nominees for election to Tenet's board of directors. In addition, Tenet reminds the Company's shareholders that the deadline to vote is prior to 10:00 am ET on Friday, June 23rd, 2023.

For any questions or more information with respect to the AGM, which will be held on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 at 10:00 am ET, please contact TMX Investor Solutions at 1-800-549-6746 toll free in North America or 1-201-806-7301 outside of Canada and the United States, or by email at INFO_TMXIS@TMX.com.

Additionally, the Company announced today that it intends to complete the second tranche of the non-brokered private placement financing of units of the Company ("Unit") for proceeds of up to $3,000,000 (the "Offering"), conducted in tranches over a period of six months. The Second Tranche Offering will be $500,000.06 and will be comprised of 4,291,846 Units.

Each Unit sold in the Second Tranche Offering (referenced below) is comprised of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant") to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.155 per share any time prior to two years following the closing of the Second Tranche Offering, subject to certain terms and conditions.

The Second tranche offering (the "Second Tranche Offering") of 4,291,846 Units is offered at a price of $0.1165 per Unit (the "Second Tranche Offering Price"), for gross proceeds of $500,000.06. The Second Tranche Offering will take place by way of a private placement to a Cayman Segregated Portfolio Company, Open-Ended Fund, (the "Investor") managed by an investment firm headquartered in Hong Kong. It is the intention of the parties that the offering of the Units will be made in reliance on the exemptions available in OSC Rule 72-503 Distributions Outside Canada. The Company expects to close the Second Tranche Offering on June 22, 2023. Subsequent tranches of Units in the Offering will be priced at the time of each such tranche, within the pricing policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE").

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Private Placement for working capital requirements and for other general corporate purposes, including safeguarding the Company's financial position in the short-term and allowing the Company to meet its payroll obligations.

Forward-looking information

Certain statements included in this presentation constitute "forward-looking statements" under Canadian securities law, including statements based on management's assessment and assumptions and publicly available information with respect to the Company. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company cautions that its assumptions may not materialize and that current economic conditions render such assumptions, although reasonable at the time they were made, subject to greater uncertainty. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of terminology such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "assumes," "outlook," "plans," "targets", or other similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from the outlook or any future results, performance or achievements implied by such statements. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that could affect the forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, holding company with significant operations in China; general economic and business conditions, including factors impacting the Company's business in China such as pandemics (ex.: COVID-19); legislative and/or regulatory developments; Global Financial conditions, repatriation of profits or transfer of funds from China to Canada, operations in foreign jurisdictions and possible exposure to corruption, bribery or civil unrest; actions by regulators; uncertainties of investigations, proceedings or other types of claims and litigation; timing and completion of capital programs; liquidity and capital resources, negative operating cash flow and additional funding, dilution from further financing; financial performance and timing of capital; and other risks detailed from time to time in reports filed by the Company with securities regulators in Canada, the United States or other jurisdictions. We refer potential investors to the "Risks and Uncertainties" section of the Company's MD&A. The reader is cautioned to consider these and other risks and uncertainties carefully and not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information.

Forward-looking statements reflect information as of the date on which they are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable securities laws. In the event the Company does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that the Company will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statement.

All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.

About Tenet Fintech Group Inc.:

Tenet Fintech Group Inc. is the parent company of a group of innovative financial technology (Fintech) companies. All references to Tenet in this news release, unless explicitly specified, includes Tenet and all its subsidiaries. Tenet's subsidiaries provide various analytics and AI-based services to businesses and financial institutions through the Business Hub, a global ecosystem where analytics and data are used to create opportunities and facilitate B2B transactions among its members. Please visit our website at: http://www.tenetfintech.com.

For more information, please contact:

Tenet Fintech Group Inc.

Christina Boyd, Director, Investor Relations

416-428-9954

cboyd@tenetfintech.com

Follow Tenet Fintech Group Inc. on social media:

Twitter: @Tenet_Fintech

Facebook: @Tenet

LinkedIn: Tenet

YouTube: Tenet Fintech

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/170219
Die KI-Revolution ist in vollem Gange und vor allem ein Bereich wird stark betroffen sein: Cyber-Security. Die Experten sind sich sicher: Mit steigender Entwicklung von KI-Technologien nehmen auch KI-gestutzte Cyber-Attacken zu. Wir zeigen hier, welche Aktien profitieren konnen.

OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - Manulife said that it appointed its Chief Financial Officer, Phil Witherington, as President and Chief Executive Officer of Manulife Asia, effective July 1, 2023. Witherington will continue reporting to Roy Gori, President and Chief Executive Officer of Manulife, and remain on Manulife's Executive Leadership Team. Witherington replaces Damien Green, who will now chair Manulife Financial Asia Ltd. (MFAL). Prior to his appointment as Manulife's Chief Financial Officer in 2017, Witherington served as Manulife Asia's Chief Financial Officer. Before joining Manulife in 2014, Witherington was the Asia-Pacific head of finance for retail banking and wealth management at HSBC. He also held finance roles at AIA and was a financial services specialist at KPMG. Colin Simpson, Chief Financial Officer for the US and General Account, succeeds Witherington and is appointed Manulife's Chief Financial Officer, also effective July 1, 2023. Simpson joined Manulife in November 2022 to help deliver on US Segment strategic priorities. He joined Manulife from Aviva plc, where he held the position of Interim Group Chief Financial Officer, having previously served as Chief Financial Officer for Aviva Canada, and Director of Investor Relations. Prior to his roles at Aviva, Colin was Vice President, Equity Research at Goldman Sachs International. 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.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2023) - American Aires Inc. (CSE: WIFI) (OTCQB: AAIRF) ("Aires" or the "Company"), a leader in scientifically-proven EMF modulation technology, announces a proposed non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of up to $3,000,000 through the issuance of up to 3,000 units (the "Units") at a price of $1,000 per Unit. Each Unit shall consist of (i) one (1) $1,000 principal amount secured convertible debenture (a "Debenture" or "Debentures") of the Company, and (ii) and 20,000 common share purchase warrants (the "Warrants"). The Debentures shall bear interest at a rate of 12.0% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on the last day of June and December in each year , with the first interest payment payable on June 30, 2023, and mature on June 30, 2025 (the "Maturity Date"). The Debentures will be convertible into common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Common Shares") at the market price of the Common Shares at the time of conversion, subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") in the event such price is below $0.05, determined by the most recent closing price of the Common Shares on the day of conversion, at the option of the holder at any time prior to the close of business on the earlier of: (i) the last business day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, and (ii) the date fixed for redemption. Each Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.05 until June 30, 2025 . In addition, the Debentures are secured by all of the assets of the Company.

In connection with the Offering, the Company will pay registered dealers or finders a cash commission equal to 6% of the aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of the Units to a subscriber referred to the Company by such registered dealer or finder.

The Company also announces the completion of the first tranche of the Offering. The Company has raised gross proceeds of $325,000 through the issuance of 325 Units. Pursuant to the first tranche of the Offering, the Company paid a finder's fee of $19,500. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a four month hold period from the date of issue. Proceeds from the Offering will be used by the Company for working capital purposes and to further the business objectives of the Company.

About American Aires Inc.

American Aires Inc. is a Canadian-based nanotechnology company committed to enhancing well-being and environmental safety through science-led innovation, education, and advocacy. The company has developed proprietary silicon-based microprocessors that reduce the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Aires' Lifetune products target EMR emitted by consumer electronic devices such as cellphones, computers, baby monitors, and Wi-Fi, including the more powerful and rapidly expanding high-speed 5G networks. Aires is listed on the CSE under the ticker 'WIFI' and on the OTCQB under the symbol 'AAIRF'. Learn more at www.airestech.com .

On behalf of the board of directors

Company Contact:

Josh Bruni, CEO

Email: wifi@airestech.com

Telephone: (415) 707-0102

Website: www.airestech.com

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements may be discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of any person 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 any common shares in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. We seek safe harbour.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/170225
MUNICH, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Intersolar Europe 2023 was held in Munich, Germany from June 14 to 16. Under the theme of "Making the Most of Every Ray", FusionSolar's next-generation all-scenario smart PV solution made a stunning debut, leading the PV industry again with its continuous intelligent innovations of which Huawei's smart string inverter SUN2000-330KTL has once again won the Intersolar AWARD this year.

The FusionSolar booth has five exhibition areas: Utility PV+ESS, commercial & industrial (C&I), residential, charging network, and open ecosystems, showcasing the all-scenario smart PV solution, as well as the achievements and concepts in charging network and open ecosystem.

Utility Smart PV Solution: Unleash Green Potential through Convergence of PV & ESS

In complex "PV+" scenarios such as desert PV, floating PV and agrivoltaics PV, utility-scale PV+ESS plants face a series of challenges in safety, grid connectivity, operation and maintenance and generation efficiency. With these challenges, Huawei innovates by raising "the three integrations": integration of power electronics and digital technologies, integration of PV and ESS, and integration of energy flow and information flow. Together with the ecosystem partners, Huawei developed the smart PV solution that offers grid-connecting stability, ultimate safety, smart O&M, and higher yield.

Huawei has set the trend of string inverters and reshaped the Smart String ESS architecture. Huawei Smart String ESS is an innovative all-in-one system that integrates electrochemistry, cooling, power electronics, digital technologies, and safety design. The inconsistency and uncertainty of lithium batteries are managed by pack-level optimization and rack-level management control through power electronics technologies. The four-level active safety and two-level passive isolation enable refined management, raising the available capacity and safety standards to a higher level. Highly recognized by customers, the solution has been adopted in the 1.3 GWh Red Sea project in Saudi Arabia, the world's largest micro-grid ESS project powered by 100% renewable energy.

C&I Smart PV Solution: The Ultimate Solution for a Sustainable Business

More enterprises seek lower electricity costs and carbon emissions to achieve the green transformation to reduce energy costs and gain energy independence. To cater to their needs, Huawei has proposed the "1+4" Optimizer+PV+ESS+Charger+Management System architecture to deliver high safety, reliability, energy yield, and easy O&M using intelligent technologies, establishing the solution as the preferred choice for PV plants in commercial and industrial scenarios.

Residential Smart PV Solution: A Home That Always Shines

Huawei launches the Residential Smart PV Solution 4.0. This comprehensive solution adopts a 1+4+X framework, where"1" represents the core smart energy controller, "4" represents the smart module controller, Smart string ESS, smart charger, and smart PV management system, and the "X" is composed of the home appliances ecosystem. The solution aims to elevate household self-consumption of solar energy to 90%+ and gradually evolve towards 100%, offering core values such as electricity freedom, smart control experience, and active safety.

Safety is the cornerstone of everything. Building upon Huawei's established expertise in the PV industry, the solution provides comprehensive and rock-solid safety protection for PV and ESS above and under the rooftop. Above the rooftop, the L4 intelligent arc protection (the highest in the industry) and module-level rapid shutdown are provided. Under the rooftop, the device resembles home appliances, showcasing technological innovation. In addition to four-level safety protection, the ESS is safeguarded with up to 12 protective measures including dual emergency protection.

Charging Network: Supporting the Development of High-quality Charging Infrastructure

Huawei showcased the all-scenario FusionCharge solution (European version), including the Residential smart charger, DC charging module, and Liquid-cooling power unit. This solution covers various electric vehicle (EV) charging scenarios such as at home, on-the-go, dedicated use and destination, helping create a ubiquitous intelligent charging network.

Huawei's 40 kW DC charging module is green, low-noise, reliable, and fully adaptive, providing an enhanced user experience for vehicle owners and improved operation efficiency for charger enterprises and operators. It serves as the "heart" of a high-quality charging infrastructure.

The new-generation Liquid-cooling power unit integrates PV and energy storage and supports one-off deployment and long-term evolution. The full liquid-cooling design ensures high reliability, low noise, and ultra-long service life. Compared to traditional solutions, it doubles the turnover rate of site operations, delivering optimal benefits to operators.

Looking ahead, Huawei will be committed to its open strategy and collaborate with more partners to offer charging solutions, help build high-quality charging infrastructure, and accelerate the electrification of the automotive industry together.

Joining Hands with Industry Partners to Build a Clean Energy Oasis

At the event, Huawei showcased the latest achievements in the industry ecosystems and shared Huawei's insights and opinions on PV industry trends and the future of PV-ESS plants by organizing open speeches, more than 20 signing ceremonies, and keynote speeches at third-party conferences.

Looking ahead, Huawei will keep innovating and working with partners, industry players, governments, industry organizations, and standards organizations to drive the high-quality innovative development of the PV and ESS industries. Green PV will become the main energy source for every home and business to accelerate carbon neutrality and build a better, greener future.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2103579/1.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/making-the-most-of-every-ray-fusionsolar-continues-to-lead-the-development-of-the-pv-industry-accelerating-pv-to-become-the-main-energy-source-301852768.html
TAMPERE, Finland, June 16, 2023and Lockheed Martin Corporationhave signed a cooperation agreement for developing next generation security and gateway solutions. This is the first agreement under indirect industrial cooperation in the Finland acquisition of the 5th Generation F-35.

During the project Insta and Lockheed Martin will develop together a Cross Domain Solution, a bi-directional next generation network security & gateway solution for demanding military use, that enables cooperation in various security level networks.

Insta, which is focused on smart technology and cyber security, has long experience in developing demanding data filtering, network security and data encryption solutions. With this cooperation the solution is further developed for future data filtering needs.

"The cooperation enables us to expand our comprehensive and versatile product family of network security and data encryption solutions. This kind of gateway solution is needed in multi-domain operations. Command and control systems heavily rely on tactical communication capability to coordinate and execute operations effectively and our solutions address both Cyber and Operational security aspects," tells Petri Reiman, Senior Vice President from Insta.

By combining the expertise and technological capabilities of both companies the goal of the two-year project is to develop a product which can also be offered to international market.

Insta is a strategic partner of the Finnish Defence Forcesand one of Finland's key partners for cyber security. We offer a wide range of services from consultancy to cyber-attack prevention and from network security to secure digital device identity.

We have operated in the defencemarket for more than 50 years. We deliver superior performance to our customers through our command-and-control solutions, secure communication solutions, and life-cycle services in avionics.? Our services and products are trusted by corporations and public sector organisations in Finland and abroad.

About Insta Group:

Insta empowers a secure and sustainable future. We are a front runner and a reliable partner for our industry, defence, software consulting and cyber security customers. By combining the state of the art know-how with intelligent technology, we improve our customers' safety and performance in a digitalizing world that is changing at an increasing pace. Our operating culture is founded on people, expertise and responsibility. In 2022, our family company's net sales were 153.4 million euros and number of personnel was approximately 1,100. For more information, please visit: www.insta.fi

Read more: Insta - Expert in Defence Technology



Further information:

Insta Media Contact - Lockheed Martin: Petri Reiman Brittany Malone Senior Vice President, Defence International Communications +358 207717252 +1 817 614 7112 petri.reiman@insta.fi (mailto:petri.reiman@insta.fi) brittany.g.malone@lmco.com (mailto:brittany.g.malone@lmco.com) insta.fi (https://www.insta.fi) | Twitter (https://twitter.com/InstaGroupOy) | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/insta-group-oy)| YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAsj584MsnkPU-om-CjexLQ) Media: media@insta.fi (mailto:media@insta.fi)

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at



https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f831bcf7-f689-442b-8d72-cef5da114887

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/05b68856-797b-4217-844b-0c372e2467ae
Die KI-Revolution ist in vollem Gange und vor allem ein Bereich wird stark betroffen sein: Cyber-Security. Die Experten sind sich sicher: Mit steigender Entwicklung von KI-Technologien nehmen auch KI-gestutzte Cyber-Attacken zu. Wir zeigen hier, welche Aktien profitieren konnen.

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.
Seamless Asia, the leading annual gathering of Asia's commerce leaders, will take place in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre on 27 - 28 June 2023. After a series of annual virtual editions, the event marks the first in-person edition of the event since 2019.

Over 2,500 of the region's leading banks, payments players, digital wallets, e-commerce retailers, telcos, government bodies will attend Seamless Asia 2023 to reconnect, explore and shape the future of digital commerce in Asia. From structured round-table sessions to informal networking gatherings, there will be ample opportunities for attendees to build relationships and forge meaningful partnerships.

"With digital payments in Asia forecast to exceed $350 billion USD by 2026 and with e-commerce spending in Southeast Asia expected to reach $180 billion USD by 2025 it's a time of tremendous growth in the region" says Paul Clark, Managing Director - Asia, Terrapinn Pte Ltd. "Over recent years, the payments, banking and e-commerce sectors have been at the forefront of innovation. Now is the perfect time to bring together the region's digital commerce leaders to explore how to truly capitalise on this growth, how to ride the waves of market volatility and to explore what we can expect next in the world's fastest growing commerce market."

More than 200 thought leaders will share insights across seven key content pillars: Payments Innovation, Payments Security, eKYC & Authentication, Banking Transformation, E-commerce Strategy, E-commerce Marketing and Online Payments. The engaging presentations and panel discussions will address pressing trends, challenges and opportunities in digital commerce. Speakers at the event include:

Albert Tinio, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Commercial Officer, GoTyme Bank

Alin Dobrea, Head of Marketing Solutions & Partnerships, Zalora

Carlo Brillantes, Head of Digital Payments, foodpanda

Chandana Sunder, Senior Vice President, LazMall Marketing Solutions, Lazada

Darrick Rochili, Chief Innovation Officer, DANA Indonesia

Dipashree Das, Head of Partner Marketing, APAC & ANZ, Amazon

Henry Aguda, CEO and President, UnionDigital Bank

Hung Nguyen, Head of Regional D2C & Emerging Verticals, TikTok

Ida Mok, Co-Founder and President, Women In Blockchain Asia (WIBA)

Ingrid Rose Ann Berona, Chief Risk Officer, Gcash

Julie Reyes, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, Maya

Lito Villanueva, Executive VP & Chief Innovation & Inclusion Officer, RCBC

Lucose Eralil, Executive Vice President and Head of Enterprise Technology and Operations, Security Bank

Lynn Huang, Ex-CMO, Asia Pacific, Honeywell SPS, Motorola Solutions

Sharon Tan, Chief Operating Officer, DBS Bank

SheueChee Beh, Director, Payments APAC, Uber

Smriti Modi, Head of Consumer & eTail Marketing, APAC, Poly (HP)

Sonal Kapoor, Senior Director, Flipkart

Tiffany Chng, Co-Founder & Marketing Director, cheak

Will Vayakornvichit, Chief Financial Officer, Love, Bonito

Over 170 sponsors, exhibitors and partners will showcase their cutting-edge products, services, and solutions, including Platinum Sponsors 8x8, Alipay+, CleverTap, HPS, Stripe and World First Asia Pte Ltd. On the exhibition floor, attendees will have the chance to demo solutions and interact directly with product experts to discover innovations that will propel their businesses forward and identify new partnership opportunities.

Seamless Asia 2023 will help accelerate the transformation of digital commerce in Asia. For event information and full conference agenda, visit www.terrapinn.com/SeamlessAsia.

About Seamless Asia 2023

Seamless Asia 2023 will take place at Marina Bay Sands Expo and & Convention Centre, Singapore on 27 - 28 June 2023.

About Terrapinn

Terrapinn has been sparking ideas, innovations and relationships that transform business for over 30 years. Using our global footprint, we bring innovators, disrupters and change agents together, discussing and demonstrating the technology, strategies and personalities that are changing the way the world does business. Whether you're looking to make new connections, introduce product or inspire change in your industry, we invite you to join us as agitators of change. Terrapinn - spark something.

Press attendance is complimentary. Enquiries should be directed to:

Jia Le Lim

Marketing Manager

Terrapinn Asia

jiale.lim@terrapinn.com

Source: Terrapinn Holdings Ltd.Copyright 2023 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Arverne Group is an industrial group with a wide array of expertise in the energy transition, specializing in harnessing subsurface resources, with a focus on geothermal energy via its subsidiary 2gre and lithium extraction via its subsidiary Lithium de France.

Although the demand for key resources to decarbonize the economy is exponential, Arverne Group has the unique know-how to become the French champion in geothermal production and low-carbon lithium extraction.

Geothermal energy combines the benefits of decarbonisation, price stability and energy sovereignty. These issues have become a priority for European countries and are especially important in France, reflecting the absolutely critical and strategic nature of 2gre projects. Geothermal energy is a local energy source par excellence, and will go a long way to helping France and Europe meet their decarbonisation targets for industry and buildings.

Thanks to the integration of innovative extraction technologies, Lithium de France aims to make France a global champion in low-carbon lithium sourced from the country's geothermal waters, which are essential to the development of low-carbon mobility, in particular by enabling the European automotive industry to benefit from a local supply of this strategic metal with a very low carbon footprint.

The combined expertise and resources of Arverne Group and Transition will accelerate growth in harnessing subsurface resources to support the energy transition, with an initial goal of achieving revenues of between 200 million and 350 million by 2027, and between 800 million and 1.15 trillion by 2030.

To meet this target, the combined entity plans to operate geothermal heat production facilities able to generate 4.8 TWh per year by 2030 (with initial production starting in 2025), along with an annual 30 kt of low-carbon lithium extraction and refining (with production due to begin in 2027). The group has already secured or filed applications for relevant permits, and draws on a combination of exploration and drilling expertise unparalleled in France.

Arverne Group has experienced rapid growth and currently has five onshore drilling rigs (able to reach a depth of 5,000 m) and six exclusive research permits and five exclusive research permits under instruction. The group draws on the support of world-renowned players with whom it has set up industrial partnerships. Its assets have enabled it to generate total revenues of around 10 million in 2022 through its drilling business.

The Initial Business Combination will be based on a fully diluted pre-money valuation of Arverne Group shares of 166 million and a value of Transition shares (issued or to be issued) of around 148 million1, corresponding to a pro forma enterprise value of around 257 million.2

The Board of Directors of Transition received a fairness opinion from Joh. Berenberg, Gossler Co. KG ("Berenberg"), which determined that the consideration offered to Arverne Group shareholders in the form of Transition shares as part of the merger is fair from a financial standpoint to the existing Transition shareholders.

On the date of the merger, the combined entity will have development capital comprising (i) the funds raised by Transition via its initial public offering less any amounts resulting from redemption requests made by holders of Class B3 preference shares issued during the initial public offering and (ii) additional funds raised from institutional investors via a Private Investment in Public Equity ("PIPE"), net of listing costs and other operating expenses since Transition's listing.

The total amount of funding secured to date stands at 130 million, enabling the company to pursue its growth strategy through 2025, regardless of the final level of redemption of Transition's Class B preference shares and costs related to the combination and Transition IPO. This amount corresponds to the PIPE commitments and non-redemption undertakings received from investors (for 63 million and 52 million respectively) including ADEME Investissement, Sycomore AM and Credit Mutuel Equity, as well as to the conversion into capital under the same conditions of the 15 million "bridge loan" made available to Arverne Group by the Transition Sponsors in the form of convertible bonds (the "Convertible Bonds"). Transition sponsors support the operation with 30 million4

Transition and Arverne Group have also received indications of interest from strategic European investors, with whom they continue to hold active discussions. These additional investments could bring the total amount of financing up to 200 million.

The planned transaction will give Arverne Group the financial resources needed to effectively pursue its portfolio of projects and develop the technology most suited to extracting and processing lithium. Combined with the capital raised by Lithium de France through its most recent (Series B) round funding of 44 million5, of which the first tranche of 24 million has been released, in March 2023, the funds provided by Transition will allow the Group to meet its equity investment needs until 2025.

Transition will change its name to "Arverne Group" on completion of the merger.

"With this transaction, Arverne is taking a decisive step towards becoming the French champion of geothermal and low-carbon lithium production at a time when demand for key resources to decarbonize our economy is exponential. It's a natural alliance between highly complementary entrepreneurs in the energy transition who share a common ambition, vision and values. We are grateful of the trust placed in us by renowned investors, whom I would like to thank for supporting our sustainable growth strategy. Being publicly listed will enable us to capitalize on our unique expertise and strategic positioning across the entire subsurface value chain in order to accelerate our growth in France and Europe while supporting the energy transition and regional prosperity," commented Pierre Brossollet, Chairman and CEO of Arverne Group

"We are extremely proud to enable the Arverne Group, an outstanding entrepreneurial success story, to go public. Arverne will now have the capital it needs for its rapid and ambitious expansion and will gain visibility by being listed on Euronext Paris. This operation is a tremendous boost for Arverne's teams, who are committed to the energy transition by developing underground resources. By producing green heat and extracting decarbonated lithium, Arverne will contribute not only to the ecological transition, but also to French and European industrial sovereignty," added Xavier Caitucoli, Erik Maris and Fabrice Dumonteil, Chairman of Eiffel Investment Group, the management company of the Eiffel Essentiel SLP fund, the founders of Transition

Regulatory News:

Transition (Paris:TRAN):

Not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia or any other jurisdiction in violation of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction.

Transition (Euronext Paris: TRAN) and Arverne Group ("Arverne"), a company specialised in harnessing the potential of subsurface resources, with a focus on geothermal production and lithium extraction, today announced that they have entered into business combination agreement (business combination or "Initial Business Combination", as defined in the Transition prospectus approved by the French financial markets authority (Autorite des Marches Financiers "AMF") on June 16, 2021 (the "IPO Prospectus

The Initial Business Combination will involve the merger and absorption of Arverne Group, a French simplified joint stock company (SAS) with registered office at 2 Avenue du President Pierre Angot, 64000, Pau, France, listed in the trade and companies register under 850 295 957 Pau ("Arverne" and its subsidiaries, collectively referred to as the "Group") by Transition6, the acquiring entity in the merger (the "Merger"). Transition will change its name to "Arverne Group" on completion of the Merger.

The common shares issued by Transition as part of the Merger in consideration of Arverne shares will be listed for trading in the Professional Segment (Compartiment Professionnel) of the Euronext Paris regulated market on the date of the Merger. Transition will prepare and submit a prospectus to the AMF for approval (the "Merger Prospectus

Concurrently with the Merger and as part of the PIPE, Transition will issue new common shares at a subscription price of 10.00 per share, which will also be admitted to trading in the Professional Segment (Compartiment Professionnel) of the regulated market of Euronext Paris, on the date of, and a reasonable time prior to, the completion of the Merger. As such, Transition will prepare and submit to the AMF a second prospectus for its approval (the "Admission Prospectus

1) About the Group

The Group is an industry player with a wide array of expertise in the energy transition. It couples that expertise with solid business ethics to help local authorities unleash the potential of subsurface resources in an environmentally responsible manner, to create an innovative energy mix in tune with the needs of future generations.

Established in March 2018, the Group was founded by seasoned experts who specialise in harnessing the potential of subsurface resources, and draw on knowledge gained from a background in the oil and gas and drilling industries. Alongside its focus on geothermal resources, the Group embarked on a new path in 2020 to establish itself as the future French leader in extracting and distributing low-carbon geothermal lithium. Building on the backing of partners at the forefront of industry in Europe and around the globe, including Equinor Ventures and Norsk Hydro, Arverne subsidiary Lithium de France has set out to become a leading provider of lithium extracted from geothermal brine to meet the needs of the fast-changing EV industry and other sectors.

The Group's know-how stems from its expertise in geoscience and its extensive experience in exploration and drilling, which has allowed it to unlock untapped subsurface resources and harness their potential as renewable energy solutions (geothermal heat) while at the same time extracting minerals critical to Europe's electric battery industry (low-carbon geothermal lithium). The Group aims to build on a favourable regulatory and business environment in France and across Europe to become the French leader in both of these fields. Initial production of geothermal heat is scheduled for 2025, with production of lithium due to begin in 2027. The Group aims to achieve 4.8 TWh of geothermal production per year and produce an annual 30 kt of extracted lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM) by 2030.

As an integrated player with a significant presence in the Rhine Valley, the Group spans the entire subsurface value chain, with a scope of operations that covers:

production and sale of geothermal heat by its subsidiary 2gre (formerly Arverne Geothermal);

extraction, transformation and distribution of low-carbon geothermal lithium by its subsidiary Lithium de France. Through the integration of innovative extraction technologies, Lithium de France aims to make France a global leader in low-carbon lithium extracted from geothermal brine;

drilling operations via deep geothermal wells by its subsidiary Arverne Drilling Services (formerly COFOR then Entrepose Drilling, with 60 years' experience in geothermal well operations at depths of between 1,500 metres and 4,000 metres, which has already sunk more than 1,000 wells worldwide);

shallow geothermal drilling operations (up to 200 metres) via its subsidiary DrillHeat, which specialises in installing geothermal probes to offer solutions tailored to the need to quickly decarbonise buildings on a broad scale throughout France.

In March 2023, the Commercial Court in Agen approved Arverne's acquisition of 100% of shares in GeoRhin and 12 of its wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively, the "GeoRhin Group")7. GeoRhin Group is a French company based in Agen, founded by Yann Maus in 2011 as an independent producer of heat and energy from deep geothermal resources. It has five exclusive prospecting licences either currently held or pending renewal in different regions of France, granted by ministerial decree. Through this Merger, the Group aims to cement its position as a new French leader in both deep and shallow geothermal energy production. The acquisition gives the Group six valid mining permits, with five more applications for exclusive prospecting licences submitted in three different French regions (Nouvelle Aquitaine, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, and Grand Est), spanning 2,000 km of land on which work has already begun or is due to begin in the near future.

In 2022, Arvene's consolidated revenues totalled 10.7 million, compared with 12.6 million in 2021 and 4.5 million in 2020. Revenues generated in 2020 and 2021 were mainly related to deep drilling operations for third parties, while revenues in 2022 largely stemmed from well maintenance work. The vast majority of these revenues are generated with Storengy, a subsidiary of Engie, the Group's main customer.

Arverne's consolidated EBITDA8 stood at -0.7 million in 2022, compared with -0.8 million in 2021 and -2.0 million in 2020. In 2022, this was mainly caused by the negative EBITDA of the Lithium de France subsidiary, which has yet to generate revenues. The progression between 2020 and 2022 reflects the return to equilibrium for the drilling business acquired in 2020.

Arverne holds 4.2 million in intangible assets at the end of 2022. These assets are divided into two categories: development costs (420,000 euros) and intangible assets in progress (4.1 million). The latter mainly correspond to investments made by our subsidiary Lithium de France in the development of its exclusive research permits.

Arverne's IFRS-compliant consolidated financial statements for the financial years ended December 31, 2020, 2021 and 2022, along with the pro forma statements for the combined entity for the financial year ending 31 December 31, 2022, are available on the Transition website (spactransition.com) in a section dedicated to the Initial Business Combination (extracts shown in Annex 1) and will be included in the Merger Prospectus. Details of the consolidated balance sheet and income statement are included.

Following the Merger with Transition, the Group aims to invest a total of 1.3 billion in drilling operations, geothermal plants, and lithium extraction and refining facilities by 2027, and 2.4 billion by 2030. These investments will be financed by the capital provided by Transition (including the PIPE). A significant portion will also come from project financing via bank loans, operating cash flow from the Group's business (particularly geothermal energy production) as of 2025, and the grants currently being discussed at French and European level to promote the production of critical metals in Europe and the decarbonisation of energy systems. Equity financing will also be used where required. The sums contributed by Transition will enable the Group to cover its capital needs until 2025.

The Group's revenue target is between 200 million and 350 million by 2027, with an EBITDA margin of around 60%, and between 800 million and 1.15 trillion by 2030, with an EBITDA margin of around 70%.

At present, Arverne Group's shareholders are as follows:

Total number of shares % of share capital and voting rights Arosco9 12 228 56.22% New Escence Consulting 1 800 8.28% Groupe Elanje 1 123 5.16% Stokka 900 4.14% David Merle 900 4.14% Emerode 144 0.66% Alhia Green 1129 5.19% Jacques Marraud des Grottes 302 1.39% Piccolo 5 SA 2 177 10.01% Langa International 1 049 4.82% Total 21 752 100.00%

2) About the IBC

Transition sees Arverne as a perfect match across all investment criteria set forth by Transition in its IPO Prospectus:

a growing actor in the energy transition space focused on unlocking the potential of renewable subsurface energy sources;

exposed to several technologies, with the goal of developing an innovative energy mix including:

Deep geothermal energy

Shallow geothermal energy

Lithium extraction and refining

based in France;

with an experienced leadership team offering both operational and technical expertise in areas such as geoscience, drilling, production and R&D;

having developed a portfolio of key projects (organic and external growth);

with significant potential for growth and value creation as proven by the first two rounds of funding for Lithium de France, which will be bolstered by the complementary expertise of Transition's founders;

ambitious goals with respect to CSR, producing energy where it is intended to be consumed, with a focus on short supply chains and serving the needs of the local economy.

Arverne is a "mission-driven company" that aims to accelerate the energy transition through the use of geological resources by pioneering the new renewable energy sector in France and further afield. This approach reflects the Group's steadfast commitment to make sustainability an integral part of its strategy and business operations.

Arverne's mission (raison d'etre) is enshrined in its articles of association: "Through its unique know-how, Arverne Group unleashes the potential of geo-resources and sustainably values them for a pragmatic energy transition for the prosperity of territories." This gives rise to two key social and environmental objectives, which guide the Group's initiatives:

act as a bold energy specialist to defend a pragmatic energy transition; encourage a virtuous society by relying on women and men within the company and the territories.

Above and beyond these objectives, which will be expanded on in an ambitious ESG roadmap in the coming months, Arverne plans to implement a system of governance built around a CSR Committee incorporated into the Board of Directors, a Mission Committee (in compliance with the standards expected of a mission-driven company) and an Impact and Engagement team which will report to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the combined entity and will be represented on the Executive Committee.

The Group's leadership team and Transition's founders plan to leverage their extensive, complementary experience in areas such as:

the energy sector;

diversified fundraising;

the design and execution of an internal and external growth strategy built on the network offered by the founders of Transition and the experience provided by the Arverne Group leadership team, particularly through the acquisition and integration of Arverne Drilling Services and, more recently, GeoRhin.

Transition and Arverne leadership teams are in complete agreement with respect to the combined company's growth strategy and ambitions, with a focus on the following key goals:

maximise value creation in step with key developments in the European market (with an energy transition already underway that is leading to long-term demand for geothermal energy and lithium);

pursue profitable growth by building on a portfolio of targeted, strategic projects to make the Group a key European player capable of effectively unlocking the potential of subsurface resources;

optimise the vertical integration of the Group's businesses (from subsurface analysis to the sale of resources) to unlock an increasingly wide array of project opportunities;

pool the experience and expertise of the Group's leadership teams and Transition's founders.

The Transaction values Arverne shares at 166 million pre-money(on a fully diluted basis) and Transition shares (issued or to be issued) of around 148 million10, representing a pro forma enterprise value of the combined entity of around 257 million11, thus fulfilling the "80% Minimum Threshold" valuation condition as described in the IPO Prospectus.

The Board of Directors received a fairness opinion from Joh. Berenberg, Gossler Co. KG ("Berenberg"). In its report, Berenberg states that the consideration offered to Arverne Group shareholders in the form of Transition shares as part of the Merger is fair from a financial standpoint to the existing Transition shareholders.

There is significant potential for value creation given the outlook for growth, based on a number of macroeconomic factors:

the "net zero" goal set by the French and European authorities, which is driving interest in geothermal energy as a low-carbon primary energy source;

the sovereignty goals of France and Europe with respect to critical metals, with a focus on meeting the considerable demand for lithium from the automotive industry to support the production of batteries, a key challenge for the sector's transition towards electric vehicles;

the determination of the French authorities to adapt the regulatory framework and governance of the geothermal and critical metals industries to rise to these challenges.

The Group is perfectly placed to meet these challenges via:

its expertise in the exploration and development of geological resources;

the integration of drilling rigs adapted to the requirements of geothermal energy to unlock its inherent potential for development;

the possession of exclusive prospecting licences for a promising array of diversified resources, particularly in the Rhine Valley;

the ramp-up of the Lithium de France subsidiary, with its focus on geothermal lithium development;

the negotiations underway with a number of key actors regarding battery-grade lithium contracts.

The composition of the Board of Directors of the combined entity is currently being finalized and will be announced at a later date. The Chairman will be Pierre Brossollet, who will also serve as Chief Executive Officer of the combined entity.

The Board of Directors of the combined company plans to create four committees: an Audit Committee, a Nominations and Remuneration Committee, a Strategy and Risks Committee, and a CSR Committee.

Transition intends to ensure ongoing general compliance with the guidelines set forth in the corporate governance code published by AFEP-MEDEF ("AFEP-MEDEF Code"), which was last updated in December 2022 and can be found at: http://www.medef.com/. This will entail a particular focus on recommendations with regard to the number of independent directors, as well as gender parity among board members.

In accordance with the recommendations of the AFEP-MEDEF Code, the Merger Prospectus will include a table summarising the recommendations set forth in the Code which Transition will not apply, if any, along with the reasons for these decisions.

Arverne's existing partners and Transition's founders have agreed to be bound by a lock-up agreement with respect to their shares in the combined entity, key details of which are described below.

Main risk factors related to the Transaction

Main risk factors related to the Initial Business Combination are as follows:

The shares issued as part of the Merger through the PIPE will result in significant dilution for existing Transition shareholders.

The Initial Business Combination could adversely affect Transition's share price.

Existing Arverne shareholders whose Transition shares received as part of the Merger are not subject to a lock-up provision may opt to sell those shares on the market, which could adversely affect the value of Transition stock. The main terms of these commitments are described below.

The Merger is contingent on approval from Transition and Arverne shareholders. In addition, the completion of the Merger remains subject to the conditions precedent outlined on pages 23-24. Failure to meet one of these conditions could prevent completion of the Initial Business Combination.

During preparatory talks to discuss the planned Initial Business Combination, two of the three Transition founders (Xavier Caitucoli, through a structure he controls, and Eiffel Essentiel SLP) granted Arverne 15 million in interim financing through bonds to be converted into or exchanged for shares in Arverne or its subsidiary Lithium de France12. In the context of the Combination and in accordance with their terms, these Convertible Bonds, which mature on June 30, 2024, will be automatically converted into new ordinary shares (on the basis of the value per share retained in connection with the Merger) immediately prior to the effective completion of the Merger. As a result, the interests of those founders could potentially diverge from those of other Transition shareholders or directors, leading to a conflict of interest regarding the choice of Arverne as a target for the Initial Business Combination. Hence the decision to request a fairness opinion from Berenberg.

Forecast market opportunities and trends may prove inaccurate.

The main risk factors inherent in the Group's activities are as follows:

Through its drilling and lithium extraction activities, the Group faces the risk of pollution, whether on the surface or at depth, which could harm people and the environment.

The Group's design of drilling wells and/or operation of geothermal sites could potentially generate risks of geomechanical disorders at depth and on the surface, of various natures and origins.

The Group is subject to competitive risk due to the presence of well-established historical competitors. Furthermore, the Group cannot guarantee the success of its commercial strategy.

Variations in the price of raw materials used and produced by the Group could have a direct impact on the price of the Group's services, reduce the value of the Group's projects, render some of them unviable, or require the Group to postpone their delivery schedule.

The Group cannot guarantee access to and the successful exploitation of the resources it has identified, and hence the expected return on investment. In particular, uncertainties relating to the geology and hydrology of the various geothermal deposits that the Group intends to exploit could have an impact on the quality and quantity of exploitable heat and lithium resources.

The Group could face difficulties in the construction and operation of its future power plants and, more generally, malfunctions in its industrial equipment that would have an impact on its business. Similarly, although the Group is currently carrying out a series of tests, it cannot guarantee the efficiency of the operating processes it intends to implement, particularly in view of the technologies currently available on the market.

Although the Group is actively developing its fleet of drilling tools, it is facing a concentration of drilling customers, mainly due to the number of tools currently in its possession. By way of illustration, for the year ending December 31, 2022, the Group's 5 biggest drilling customers represent 88% of total Group sales (all activities combined).

Any questioning or unfavorable changes in public policies encouraging geothermal energy or in the regulations governing the Group's activities could have a negative impact on the development of its business plan. Similarly, the Group cannot guarantee that it will obtain all the permits and other authorizations required for its activities, and that it will be able to maintain them.

Over the past few years, the Group has made two targeted acquisitions that have made a significant contribution to the growth of its business, namely Arverne Drilling in 2020 and GeoRhin in 2023. With regard to the latter acquisition, the Group cannot guarantee that it will be able to successfully integrate this new business or obtain the benefits expected from it.

The Group may not succeed in generating sufficient cash flow to finance its business plan, and may require additional financing which may not be available or may be available only on unacceptable terms.

Arverne valuation and Merger consideration

The Initial Business Combination will be based on a value of the Arverne shares of 166 million and a value of Transition shares (issued or to be issued) of around 148 million, corresponding to a pro forma enterprise value for the combined entity of around 257 million.

As stated above, in its Fairness Opinion (a copy of which can be found in Annex 2), Berenberg states that the consideration offered to Arverne Group shareholders in the form of Transition shares as part of the Merger is fair from a financial standpoint to the existing Transition shareholders.

As part of the Initial Business Combination, Transition will absorb Arverne, which will transfer all of its assets and liabilities to Transition, in accordance with the terms of a Merger Agreement concluded on expiration of the period for the redemption of the Class B preference shares issued by Transition ("Class B Shares"), in accordance with Article L. 236-1 et seq. of the French Commercial Code (the "Merger Agreement"). On completion of the Merger, Arverne will cease to exist and Transition will remain as the surviving entity. Transition will change its company name to "Arverne Group" as of the date on which the Initial Business Combination is completed.

In consideration of the Arverne assets and liabilities transferred to it in the Merger, Transition will issue new common shares to Arverne investors. The value of each newly issued Transition common share, used to determine the exchange ratio, will be 10.00.

In accordance with French legislative and regulatory provisions, Transition and Arverne will file a joint request with the President of the Commercial Court of Paris to appoint two independent auditors, who will assess the value of the contributions, any related consideration and the fairness of the exchange ratio.

All Class A1 preference shares issued by Transition and all Class B shares, except those for which Transition has received a redemption request from the holders (the "Dissenting Shareholders"), will automatically be converted into common shares in accordance with Transition's articles of association and the IPO Prospectus.

The Class A2, A3 and A4 preference shares issued by Transition will not be converted into common shares on completion of the Merger. Instead, they will be converted into common shares in the combined entity in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in Transition's articles of association, notably with regard to specific share price thresholds for the combined entity, as specified below.

Starting from the completion date of the Initial Business Combination and no later than the tenth anniversary of that date, each Class A2, A3, and A4 preference share will be automatically converted into one common share in the combined entity if, and only if, the closing market price of the common shares of the combined entity equals or exceeds the specified threshold for at least 20 trading days within a consecutive 30-day trading period (these 20 trading days need not be consecutive):

for Class A2 preference shares only, the price is set at 12.00;

for Class A3 preference shares only, the price is set at 14.00;

for Class A4 preference shares only, the price is set at 20.00.

Class A2, A3 and A4 preference shares will not be listed until they have been converted into common shares.

There are also plans to give Transition shareholders the opportunity to amend the company's articles of association in order to grant double voting rights to fully paid shares held continuously in their registered form by the same shareholder for a period of at least two (2) years from the completion date of the Initial Business Combination, in accordance with Article L. 225-123 of the French Commercial Code.

In addition to the 206 million held in escrow by Transition (which may be reduced by redemption requests from Dissenting Shareholders), the combined entity will be financed through the PIPE.

In view of this, Transition and Arverne have secured commitments from a select group of investors, including ADEME Investissement and Credit Mutuel Equity, who are willing to provide long-term support for the newly combined entity.

As part of the Initial Business Combination, all Arverne partners have agreed to be bound by a lock-up agreement relating to (A) Transition common shares (i) issued in connection with the Merger, and (ii) which may have been subscribed in connection with the PIPE, and (B) any dilutive instruments giving access to Transition common or preferred shares, for a period from the date of completion of the Combination which varies depending on the partner concerned, namely:

three (3) months for Lithium partners who have elected to transfer their shares in that subsidiary to Arverne prior to the Initial Business Combination (together holding 4% of Arverne's share capital post-contribution but pre-merger),

12 months for Arverne's historical partners (together holding 45% of Arverne's share capital post-transfer but pre-merger), and

48 months for Pierre Brossollet, in respect of the shares he holds directly or indirectly via his asset holding company Arosco (i.e. 51% of Arverne's share capital post-transfer but pre-merger).

Transition's founders and have also agreed to a 48 months lock-up period, starting from the date of the Initial Business Combination, which is similar to that of Pierre Brossollet concerning: (A) Transition common shares (i) issued in connection with the Merger and (ii) potentially subscribed to in the PIPE; (B) the Class A2, A3 and A4 preference shares; and (C) any other dilutive instruments providing access to Transition common shares or preference shares.

All the aforementioned commitments are subject to the usual exceptions and, as regards the founders of Transition and Mr. Pierre Brossollet only, to the possibility, as from the 1st anniversary of the Initial Business Combination, to sell up to 20% of their stake in Transition or pledge all or part of the shares held to an international financial institution based within the European Union.

In addition, as part of the Transaction, Transition's founders have undertaken to transfer to ADEME Investissement, as a long-term reference investor, which has undertaken to acquire them, 364,358 Transition preference shares of category A1 at a price of 1.40 per share, 163,364 preference shares of category A2 at a price of 0.90 per share, 100,956 preference shares of category A3 at a price of 0, 72 per share and 75,717 Class A4 preference shares at a price of 0.40 per share (i.e. 19.85% of the total number of outstanding Class A1 preference shares, 8.9% of the total number of outstanding Class A2 preference shares, 5.5% of the total number of outstanding Class A3 preference shares and 5.5% of the total number of outstanding Class A4 preference shares to be transferred).

The implementation of the Merger will require the convening of:

a special meeting of Class B shareholders, whom will be asked to approve the Initial Business Combination (by a two-thirds majority), followed by

extraordinary meetings of Transition and Arverne shareholders, whom will be asked to approve the Merger and, in the case of Transition, authorise the PIPE.

In the event that (i) the Initial Business Combination is not approved by the special meeting of Transition Class B shareholders or (ii) the Merger or PIPE is not approved by Transition or Arverne shareholders, the Initial Business Combination will not be implemented.

Approval of the Initial Business Combination by the Board of Directors

In accordance with the provisions of the IPO Prospectus, the independent members of the Transition Board of Directors, meeting on May 10, 2023, appointed Berenberg as an independent financial expert to confirm that the consideration offered to Arverne Group shareholders in the form of Transition shares as part of the merger is fair from a financial standpoint to the existing Transition shareholders (the "Fairness Opinion

This was done to ensure no conflict of interest on the part of Transition's founders. In February 2023, Mr. Xavier Caitucoli (through an entity he controls) and Eiffel Essentiel provided Arverne with equity bridge financing in the form of bonds convertible into Arverne shares or exchangeable for Lithium de France shares, comprising two tranches worth a total of thirty million euros (30,000,000). The first tranche of fifteen million euros (15,000,000) was made available on March 10, 2023 in order to (i) allow Arverne to participate in the Series B round of funding for Lithium de France and (ii) to finance Arverne's acquisition of GeoRhin. In the event of a Merger before the first of the two dates between (i) the dissolution of Transition and (ii) December 31, 2023, Mr. Xavier Caitucoli and Eiffel Essentiel will be deemed to have requested early redemption of their bonds by conversion into new Arverne shares (based on the value per share used in the Merger), which will occur on the day of and shortly before completion of the Merger, based on a price per Arverne share equal to the value of one Arverne share, as determined in the Merger Agreement.

In accordance with Transition's articles of association, the strategy committee of Transition's Board of Directors held a meeting on June 14, 2023. After reviewing the terms of the Initial Business Combination and the Fairness Opinion, the committee decided unanimously among its members having taken part in the vote (it being specified that Mr. Xavier Caitucoli and Mr. Fabrice Dumonteil (Chairman of Eiffel Investment Group, management company of the Eiffel Essentiel SLP fund) took part neither in the deliberations nor in the vote, in accordance with the provisions of the AFEP-MEDEF Code of corporate governance relating to the ethics of directors) to recommend that the Board of Directors vote in favor of the Initial Business Combination. The members of the strategy committee include Mr. Xavier Caitucoli, Schuman Invest (represented by Mr. Erik Maris), Mr. Fabrice Dumonteil, Ms. Beatrice Dumurgier, Ms. Christine Kolb, Cowin (represented by Ms. Colette Lewiner) and Ms. Monique Roosmale Nepveu. All members of the strategy committee were present.

Pursuant to the recommendations of the strategy committee, the members of the Transition Board of Directors were convened by the chairman, Mr. Xavier Caitucoli, at a meeting on June 14, 2023 (i) to review the Fairness Opinionand the terms of the Initial Business Combination, and (ii) to vote on the planned Initial Business Combination with Arverne, based on a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, including a majority of the independent members of the Board of Directors, i.e. three out of the four independent Board members (the "Required Majority") in accordance with Transition's articles of association and the IPO Prospectus. All Board members were present.

Transition's Board of Directors reached a decision unanimously approved by its members who took part in the vote (it being specified that Mr. Xavier Caitucoli and Mr. Fabrice Dumonteil took neither part in the deliberations nor in the vote, in accordance with the provisions of the AFEP-MEDEF Code of Corporate Governance relating to the ethics of directors), including the independent members, an extract of which is given below:

"In accordance with the information and conditions provided and as stipulated in the IPO Prospectus, the Board of Directors must vote for or against the proposed Initial Business Combination with Arverne by the Required Majority.

In addition, and in accordance with the IPO Prospectus and Transition's articles of association, the Transition strategy committee (the "Strategy Committee") was convened prior to this meeting. The Chairman informed the Board members of the findings of the strategy committee meeting, which were in favour of the Initial Business Combination.

The members of the Strategy Committee and the members of the Board of Directors were provided with relevant information prior to their decisions and given the opportunity to review and assess the report delivered by Berenberg on June 14, 2023 confirming the Arverne valuation (the "Fairness Opinion

After reviewing the recommendations of the Strategy Committee and deliberating on the matter, the Board of Directors has taken note of (i) the terms of the proposed Initial Business Combination, (ii) the draft agreement outlining the terms and conditions of the Merger (the "Business Combination Agreement") to be entered into by Transition and Arverne, as well as the information contained in the Company's press release to be issued following this meeting (the "IBC Notice") (iii)the Fairness Opinion, and (v) the opinion of the Strategy Committee, and acknowledges that:

the proposed Initial Business Combination meets the criteria set forth in the IPO Prospectus for the completion of the IBC, particularly with regard to the "80% Minimum Threshold" (as defined in the IPO Prospectus) and other criteria and guidelines identified by Transition in the IPO Prospectus;

the proposed Initial Business Combination will lead to the Merger and absorption of Arverne with and by Transition in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement and Articles L. 236-1 et seq. of the French Commercial Code;

as a result of the Merger, Arverne will cease to exist and Transition will be the surviving entity;

the terms and conditions of the Merger will be prepared based on the financial statements of Arverne and Transition for the financial year ended December 31, 2022 (i.e. the closing date of the last accounting year for each of the parties);

the proposed Initial Business Combination will be based on the pre-money valuation of Arverne shares, i.e. 166 million (on a fully diluted basis);

in its Fairness Opinion, Berenberg states that the consideration offered to Arverne Group shareholders in the form of Transition shares as part of the Merger is fair from a financial standpoint to the existing Transition shareholders;

in consideration of the Arverne assets transferred to it in the context of the Initial Business Combination, Transition will issue new common shares to Arverne shareholders;

Arverne's shareholders, with the exception of Mr. Pierre Brossollet, have agreed to a 12-month lock-up period starting from the date of the Initial Business Combination, in relation to the Transition common shares issued in connection with the Merger; this lock-up will be limited to three months for Lithium de France shareholders who have elected to transfer their shares to the Arverne subsidiary prior to the Initial Business Combination;

- Transition's founders and Mr. Pierre Brossollet have agreed to a four-year lock-up period starting from the date of the Initial Business Combination, with the exception of disposals not exceeding 20% of their holdings in Transition as of the 1st anniversary of the Initial Business Combination;

the value of each newly issued common share in Transition, used to determine the exchange ratio, will be 10.00;

in order to meet the cash requirements of Transition following the Merger, the new entity will need to be financed in part via a capital increase estimated at 133 million (including share premium), reserved for select investors and potentially some categories of investors through the issuance of up to 13.3 million new common shares (the "PIPE") at a subscription price of 10.00 per share;

the planned Initial Business Combination is subject to the following conditions precedent: (i) the company having an amount of Available Cash of at least 130 million, and (ii) the completion of the PIPE transaction;

the composition of Transition's governing bodies and corporate governance will be modified to reflect its new shareholder base, in accordance with the principles set forth in the IBC Notice;

the Arverne Drilling social and economic committee (CSE) approved the proposed Initial Business Combination on June 13, 2023 by way of an information and consultation process.

As a result, the Board of Directors, by unanimous vote:

determines that the Initial Business Combination is fair and in the best interests of Transition and its shareholders;

recommends that Transition shareholders approve the Merger, the PIPE and all documents necessary to the Merger and the PIPE;

agrees to submit the planned Initial Business Combination for approval by the special meeting of holders of Transition Class B preference shares, as per the conditions set forth in Article 20 of Transition's articles of association, and to convene the meeting on July 26, 2023;

determines that if the planned Initial Business Combination is not approved by the aforementioned special meeting, then it will be submitted for approval by the Transition shareholders at a subsequently convened shareholders' meeting;

approves the contents of the draft IBC Notice it has received;

approves the terms and conditions of the Business Combination Agreement and the decision to give full powers to Mr. Xavier Caitucoli, in his capacity as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, to (i) complete the Business Combination Agreement, sign the Business Combination Agreement and (ii) take any other steps necessary to complete and execute the Business Combination Agreement;

grants all powers to Mr. Xavier Caitucoli, in his capacity as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, to (i) finalise the Merger Agreement, the Merger Prospectus to be submitted to the AMF, along with any other documents required as part of the Initial Business Combination, notably the listing prospectus in relation to Transition common shares newly issued through the PIPE, (ii) sign and submit any other documents required as part of the Initial Business Combination to the AMF, (iii) sign any attestations required as part of the Initial Business Combination, and (iv) take any other steps necessary to complete and execute the Business Combination Agreement, i.e. concluding and signing for and on behalf of Transition all transactions and documents related to and required by the Initial Business Combination, including any press releases and attestations."

Terms and conditions of the Initial Business Combination

Main terms and conditions of the Merger

As previously stated, as a result of the Initial Business Combination, Arverne will be merged into and absorbed by Transition. The Merger aims to create a new French leader in geothermal energy production and low-carbon lithium extraction to support the energy transition.

As a result of the Merger, Transition will change its company name to "Arverne Group" and update its mission statement to cover the following activities in France and abroad:

technical studies and consulting, operational support, project management, and assistance to business leaders in an industrial and commercial environment;

acquisition, ownership and management of majority and minority holdings in all types of civil or commercial companies;

all activities within the scope of financial companies or holdings;

all services provided to other companies and subsidiaries;

holdings in any existing or future enterprises or entities that are related to the company's purpose, including but not limited to the creation of new companies, contributions, partnerships, subscriptions or purchases of securities or equity interests, mergers, alliances, or joint ventures;

holdings or interests in any other undertakings or companies in France and abroad, irrespective of their stated purpose;

all commercial undertakings directly or indirectly linked to the above or liable to promote the development and expansion of the company's business activities.

The Merger will also expand Transition's shareholder base. In addition, Transition may call on the market to raise additional funds and finance its business development.

Existing Transition shareholders

Arverne and Transition have secured 67 million in financing from Sycomore AM, Arbevel, Guisando and Financiere St James, through non-repurchase commitments from existing Transition shareholders and Convertible Bonds subscribed by Xavier Caitucoli and Eiffel Essentiel SLP.

Main terms and conditions of the PIPE

The PIPE will have a ceiling of 133 million.

To date, Transition and Arverne have received commitments from the aforementioned parties totalling 63 million.

The total of the above-mentioned amounts of 67 million and 63 million corresponds to the total amount secured to date of 130 million.

The use of these funds will provide Transition with the capital needed to support the future development of the combined entity until 2025. The amount of funding available to the combined entity to support its future development will depend on the actual amount raised through the PIPE and the number of B Class shares actually redeemed by Transition at the request of Dissenting Shareholders.

Conditions precedent to the Merger

Completion of the Merger is notably contingent on complying with the following conditions precedent:

approval of the Initial Business Combination by the special meeting of Transition Class B shareholders;

approval by the Transition shareholders' meeting of (i) the Merger, (ii) the capital increase in consideration of the contributions as part of the Merger and (iii) the PIPE;

approval by the Arverne shareholders' meeting of (i) the Merger and, in particular, the valuation of the assets transferred to Transition by Arverne and related consideration, and (ii) the dissolution without liquidation of Arverne;

completion of the PIPE;

approval of the Merger Prospectus and the Listing Prospectus by the AMF;

Available Cash amounting to at least 133 million held by Transition on completion of the Merger, where "Available Cash" refers to the sum of (i) the principal amount and accrued interest not received from funds immediately available in the escrow account opened by Transition with Caisse d'Epargne CEPAC under the business current account agreement entered into on September 21, 2021 between Transition and Caisse d'Epargne CEPAC, net of expenses of any redemption requests from shareholders; (ii) any other funds held by Transition that are available, excluding the funds held in escrow mentioned in (i); (iii) the proceeds from the PIPE and (iv) of the proceeds from the subscription of the Bonds.

Indicative timetable

The Transaction is due to be completed in the month of September/October 2023, subject in particular to its approval by the Transition and Arverne shareholders' meetings.

The expected timetable for completion of the Transaction is as follows:

Dates Milestones June 21, 2023 Start of the Class B share redemption period June 21, 2023 Convening notice for the special meeting of Class B shareholders published in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires (BALO) July 20, 2023 End of the Class B share redemption period July 24, 2023 Press release on redemption of Class B shares July 26, 2023 Special meeting of Class B shareholders July 2023 Signing of the Merger Agreement July 2023 Press release covering key terms and conditions of the Merger August/September 2023 Convening notice for the combined general meeting of Transition shareholders published in the BALO August/September 2023 Merger Prospectus approved by the AMF September/October 2023 Combined general meeting of Transition shareholders Arverne shareholders' meeting September/October 2023 Settlement and delivery of shares issued as part of the PIPE Completion of the PIPE Settlement and delivery of shares issued as part of the Merger Completion of the Merger September/October 2023 Cancellation of repurchased Class B shares and payment by Transition of the redemption price to Dissenting Shareholders.

Compensation of Transition Executives

No exceptional or variable remuneration will be due to the Transition Executives as a result of the Initial Business Combination.

Redemption of shares

In accordance with the provisions of the Transition articles of association and pursuant to Section III of Article L. 228-12 of the French Commercial Code, following the approval of the Initial Business Combination by the Board of Directors by the Required Majority, the redemption of B Shares will be proceed at the joint initiative of Transition (by publishing this IBC Notice) and the Dissenting Shareholders (by submitting a redemption request) under the following conditions:

1. As from the date of this IBC Notice, Transition offers holders of Class B shares the opportunity to redeem all or part of their Class B shares. Any shareholder holding Class B shares who wishes to benefit from the redemption (irrespective of whether they participate in the special meeting of Class B shareholders called to approve the proposed Initial Business Combination and regardless of their vote on said proposal) must submit a redemption request to the financial intermediary holding their Class B shares, using the form provided by the intermediary, in a timely manner from the date of publication of the IBC Notice, and no later than the fourth (4th) business day preceding the date of the special meeting of Class B shareholders convened to vote on the proposed Initial Business Combination, i.e. no later than July 20, 2023. Class B shares must be freely transferable and free from any liens, pledges, encumbrances, or any other guarantees or restrictions of any kind that would restrict the free transfer of their ownership.

2. In practice, any holders of Class B shares wishing to have all or part of their shares redeemed should:

submit a redemption request to their financial intermediary for all or part of their Class B shares during the redemption period open from June 21, 2023, to July 20, 2023, in accordance with the standard procedures for securities transactions in Euroclear France. Euronext will notify the market of the start of the redemption period on June 19, 2023. Shareholders are responsible for contacting their financial intermediary to obtain specific instructions on how to submit their redemption requests.

possess full and absolute ownership of the number of Class B shares for which they are requesting redemption by July 20, 2023;

not have transferred, as of the date of the redemption of the Class B shares by Transition, full ownership of the number of Class B shares for which they have requested redemption.

3. The Initial Business Combination, contingent on approval from the special meeting of Class B shareholders, must be completed no later than the IBC deadline, i.e. December 21, 2023.

Transition will not redeem Class B shares held by Transition shareholders who have not notified their financial intermediary during the aforementioned period.

The redemption price of a Class B share is equal to 10.00.

Transition will redeem Class B shares within a period ending no later than the thirtieth (30th) calendar day from the date on which the Merger is completed, or the next business day if that date is not a business day. The Board of Directors will determine the redemption date for the Class B shares and proceed with the redemption within the specified timeframe, and will have the power to delegate such authority in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, after acknowledging that all necessary redemption criteria have been met.

The Class B shares redeemed by Transition as described above will be cancelled immediately after their redemption through a reduction of Transition's share capital, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, including Article L. 228-12-1 of the French Commercial Code. The Board of Directors will record the number of Class B shares redeemed and cancelled, and make the necessary amendments to Transition's articles of association.

An amount corresponding to the total redemption price of the Class B shares redeemed in this manner will be deducted from the share capital up to the amount mentioned in the previous paragraph. The remainder will be allocated to distributable reserves (as defined in Article L. 232-11 of the French Commercial Code), in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Transition will publish a press release on expiry of the redemption deadline to inform the market of the number of Class B shares to be redeemed. This press release must be published no later than two business days before the date of the special meeting of shareholders of B shares, i.e. July 24, 2023.

Advisors and placement agent

ATFIS and CIC Market Solutions are acting as financial advisors to Transition for the purposes of the Transaction. Bredin Prat is serving as legal counsel to Transition.

CIC Market Solutions is the placement agent.

Rothschild Co is acting as financial advisor to Arverne. Jones Day is serving as legal counsel to Arverne.

Important notice

The distribution of this document may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. Persons into whose possession this document comes are required to inform themselves about and to observe any such restrictions.

This press release is provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute and should not be deemed to constitute an offer to the public of securities, nor a solicitation of the public relating to an offer of any kind whatsoever in any country, including France.

European Economic Area France

This press release is not a prospectus but an advertisement provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute and should not be deemed to constitute an offer to the public of securities by Transition, nor a solicitation of the public relating to an offer of any kind whatsoever in any country, including France.

A prospectus (the "MergerProspectus") will be submitted to the approval of the Autorite des marches financiers solely for the purpose of the merger between Transition and Arverne Group and a separate prospectus (the "Listing Prospectus") will be submitted to the approval of the Autorite des marches financiers solely for the purpose of the admission for trading on the professional segment (compartiment professionnel) of the regulated market of Euronext Paris of the securities to be issued by Transition through a placement to the benefit of certain investors and a categories of investors, as the case may be. A copy of the Merger Prospectus and the Listing Prospectus will be available on the AMF's website (www.amf-france.org) and on Transition's website (spactransition.com) and will be obtainable free of charge from Transition. The Merger Prospectus and the Listing Prospectus will include a detailed description of Transition, including a section describing certain risk factors relating to Transition and the Merger and the PIPE.

Investors should not subscribe for or purchase any securities referred to in this press release except on the basis of the information contained in the Merger Prospectus and the Listing Prospectus, as applicable.

The distribution of this press release may be subject to legal or regulatory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. Any person who comes into possession of this press release must inform him or herself of and comply with any such restrictions.

The securities of Transition admitting for trading on the professional segment (compartiment professionnel) of the regulated market of Euronext Paris are addressed solely to Qualified Investors, as defined in the regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of 14 June 2017 and in accordance with the provisions of Article L. 411-2, 1 of the French Code monetaire et financier.

United Kingdom

This press release does not constitute an offer of securities to the public in the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom, this press release is for distribution only to and is directed only at (a) "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of U.K. domestic law by virtue of the EUWA which are (b) (i) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within the provisions of Article 19(5) of The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (ii) "high net worth entities", "unincorporated associations" and other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as "Relevant Persons"). This press release must not be acted on or relied on, in the United Kingdom, by persons who are not Relevant Persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is only available to Relevant Persons and will be engaged in only with Relevant Persons. Persons distributing this press release must satisfy themselves that it is lawful to do so.

United States of America

This press release and the information it contains does not, and will not, constitute an offer to the public to subscribe for or sell, nor the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy, Transition securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction where restrictions may apply. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), it being specified that the Transition securities have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and Transition does not intend to register securities or conduct an offer to the public in the United States.

Canada

This press release and the information it contains do not, and will not, constitute an offer to the public to subscribe for or sell, nor the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy, Transition securities in any province or territory of Canada. Securities may not be offered or sold in Canada except in a transaction exempt from the prospectus requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws or pursuant to a prospectus that qualifies those securities in the relevant provinces and territories of Canada, it being specified that the Transition securities have not been and will not be qualified by way of prospectus under the securities laws of any province or territory of Canada and Transition does not intend to qualify any such securities or conduct an offering to the public in Canada.

This announcement is not being made in and copies of it may not be distributed or sent, directly or indirectly, into the United States of America, Canada, Australia or Japan.

Public information

Potential investors should review the risk factors described in Transition's prospectus that has been approved by the AMF on June 16, 2021 solely for the purpose of listing of Transition securities on the professional segment (compartiment professionnel) of the regulated market of Euronext Paris. A copy of the prospectus is available on the AMF's website at www.amf-france.org and on Transition's website at spactransition.com and may be obtained free of charge from Transition.

The information relating to Arverne Group contained in this press release has been extracted from the information made publicly available by Arverne Group. Transition, ATFIS, CIC Market Solutions, Rothschild Co or any of their respective affiliates, shareholders, directors, officers, advisors, employees and representatives have not independently verified the accuracy of any such information. No representation, warranty or undertaking, express or implied, is made by any of them as to the accuracy or completeness of the information relating to Arverne Group contained in this press release and no liability whatsoever (in negligence or otherwise) is accepted for any loss howsoever arising, directly or indirectly, from any use of such information or otherwise arising in connection therewith.

Forward looking statements

This press release contains forward looking statements, estimates, opinions and projections with respect to anticipated future performance of the combined entity ("forward-looking statements"). These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "may," "will" or "should" or, in each case, their negative, or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts, including, without limitation, statements regarding the consummation of the contemplated business combination, statements regarding market opportunities and forecasts regarding market trends, and statements regarding the anticipated performance of the combined entity. Forward-looking statements are based on the current views, expectations and assumptions regarding the potential business combination, the business, the economy and other future conditions of the combined entity and involve significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking statements, include, without limitation, the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the contemplated business combination, including the risk that any required regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined entity; changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the contemplated business combination; risks relating to the uncertainty of projected market opportunities and market trend forecasts; risks related to the growth of the combined entity's business and product offerings; the effects of competition on the combined entity's future business; the amount of redemption requests made by Transition's shareholders; and the ability of Transition to issue equity securities in connection with the contemplated business combination or in the future.

Forward-looking statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. Any forward-looking statements included herein only speak as at the date of this press release. Transition and Arverne Group undertake no obligation, and do not expect to publicly update, or publicly revise, any of the information, forward-looking statements or the conclusions contained herein or to reflect new events or circumstances or to correct any inaccuracies which may become apparent subsequent to the date hereof, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Transition and Arverne Group accept no liability whatsoever in respect of the achievement of such forward-looking statements and assumptions.

Annex 1

Extract from the consolidated financial statements of Arverne Group for FY 2020, 2021 and 2022

Consolidated income statement

En milliers d'euros Note 2022.12 2021.12 2020.12 12 mois 12 mois 20 mois Chiffre d'affaires 6.2 10,717 12,613 4,496 Autres produits de l'activite 6.3 45 365 66 Production immobilisee 6.3 961 1,050 Achats consommes 6.4 774 1,078 414 Charges externes 6.4 5,494 9,113 3,370 Charges de personnel 6.5 5,786 4,396 2,510 Impots et taxes 207 202 153 Autres charges d'exploitation 6.4 160 14 159 Dotation aux depreciations des creances clients Resultat operationnel courant avant amortissements - 699 - 776 - 2,044 Dotation aux amortissements 1,968 1,635 1,472 Resultat operationnel courant - 2,667 - 2,411 - 3,515 Autres produits operationnels non courants 6.6 7,958 Autres charges operationnelles non courantes 6.6 137 Resultat operationnel - 2,667 - 2,411 4,305 Produits de tresorerie et d'equivalents de tresorerie Cout de l'endettement financier brut 7 125 46 8 Cout de l'endettement financier net - 125 - 46 - 8 Autres produits financiers 7 954 52 2 Autres charges financieres 7 18 17 15 Resultat avant impot - 1,856 - 2,422 4,284 Impots sur les benefices 8 19 38 17 Resultat apres impot - 1,875 - 2,461 4,267 Quote-part du resultat des entreprises mises en equivalence 5.3 0 0 35 Resultat des activites destinees etre cedees ou abandonnees Resultat net total - 1,875 - 2,461 4,232 Part du groupe - 1,646 - 2,382 4,232 Part des participations ne donnant pas le controle - 228 - 79 Resultat par action (en ) -76 -118 223 Resultat dilue par action (en ) -76 -118 223

Consolidated statement of financial position assets

En milliers d'euros Note 2022.12 2021.12 2020.12 2019.03 12 mois 12 mois 20 mois Ouverture Immobilisations incorporelles 9.1 4,475 555 21 Immobilisations corporelles 9.2 6,685 8,254 8,360 Droits d'utilisation 9.3 Titres mis en equivalence 5.3 0 0 0 Actifs financiers 9.5 20 259 277 Impots differes actifs 8.1 0 1 0 Autres actifs long terme Actifs non-courants 11,180 9,068 8,659 Stocks Creances clients et actifs de contrat 9.6 161 3,985 4,497 Creances d'impot exigibles 9.6 57 Actifs d'indemnisation 9.6 150 552 Autres actifs financiers 9.5 72 875 833 Autres actifs courants 9.6 891 1,021 994 Tresorerie et equivalents de tresorerie 10 3,165 2,787 1,072 18 Actifs destines etre cedes 5.4 5,175 Actifs courants 9,521 8,817 7,948 18 Total Actif 20,701 17,884 16,608 18

Consolidated statement of financial position liabilities

En milliers d'euros Note 2022.12 2021.12 2020.12 2019.03 12 mois 12 mois 20 mois Ouverture Capital 11.1 314 314 288 18 Primes liees au capital 843 843 Actions propres Autres reserves 7,005 133 4 Resultats accumules 1,850 4,232 0 Resultat de l'exercice 1,646 2,382 4,232 Capitaux propres part du groupe - 5,644 3,140 4,523 18 Participations ne donnant pas le controle 748 133 Participations ne donnant pas le controle 748 133 Total capitaux propres - 4,896 3,273 4,523 18 Emprunts et dettes financieres 13 5,116 5,817 4,131 Autres passifs financiers 14 11,324 650 Passifs financiers derives 14 Dettes locatives 13 23 97 10 Passif au titre des engagements lies au personnel 6.5 44 65 59 Impots differes passifs 8.1 3 8 0 Total passifs non courants 16,510 6,638 4,199 Emprunts et dettes financieres courant 13 12 1,693 2,897 Autres passifs financiers et derives 14 366 1,302 29 Dettes locatives courant 13 26 75 5 Provisions 12 150 760 Dettes fournisseurs 15 907 2,909 2,169 Dettes d'impot exigible 15 174 1,410 1,606 Autres passifs courants 15 202 435 418 Passifs lies un groupe d'actifs destines etre cedes 5.4 7,401 Total passifs courants 9,087 7,973 7,885 Total des passifs 25,597 14,611 12,084 Total Passif 20,701 17,884 16,608 18

Cash flow statement

En milliers d'euros Note 2022.12 2021.12 2020.12 12 mois 12 mois 20 mois Resultat net de l'exercice - 1,875 - 2,461 4,232 Ajustements pour : - Amortissements des immobilisations et droits d'utilisation 1,966 1,101 1,628 - Badwill 5.1 7,958 - Cout de l'endettement financier net 7 125 46 8 - Quote-part dans le resultat des entreprises mise en equivalence (nette d'impot) 0 0 35 - Resultat de cession d'actifs immobilises 126 46 - Impot sur le resultat 19 38 17 - Augmentation (diminution) de la juste valeur des passifs financiers derives 16.1 937 50 0 - Reevaluation des BSA Rachet 16.1 - Reprise de l'actif d'indemnisation 9.6 402 Total des eliminations des charges et produits sans incidence sur la tresorerie 1,298 1,583 - 6,270 Total marge brute d'autofinancement - 576 - 878 - 2,038 Variations des : - Creances clients et autres debiteurs 9.6 353 27 4,372 - Passifs sur contrat client - Dettes fournisseurs et autres crediteurs 15 503 620 1,385 - Provisions et avantages du personnel 12 - Autres creances dettes courantes 9.6 307 13 1,859 Total des variations - 458 634 - 1,127 Flux de tresorerie generes par les activites operationnelles - 1,034 - 244 - 3,165 Impots payes 28 29 836 Tresorerie nette liee aux activites operationnelles - 1,061 - 273 - 4,001 Acquisition d'immobilisations corporelles et incorporelles 9.2 1,170 1,115 324 Depenses de developpement capitalisees 9.1 3,978 558 21 Subventions d'investissements (incl. CIR compendant des frais actives) Cession d'immobilisations corporelles et incorporelles 9 162 57 Augmentation d'actifs financiers 9.5 77 42 756 Diminutions d'actifs financiers 9.5 877 25 8 Acquisition de filiale, nette de la tresorerie acquise 5.1 1,821 Diminutions de tresorerie sur activites destines etre cedee 5.4 Tresorerie nette utilisee par les activites d'investissements - 4,187 - 1,632 727 Augmentation de capital 11 570 270 Augmentation de capital souscrite par les participations de donnant pas le controle 5 4,368 2,650 Encaissements lies aux nouveaux emprunts 13.2 2,100 1,000 1,980 Remboursement d'emprunts et dettes financieres 13.2 130 102 Encaissement et (Remboursement) des autres flux de financement 13.2 697 545 2,092 Paiement de dettes de loyers 13.2 82 36 11 Interets payes sur emprunts et dettes financieres 13.2 109 45 8 Interets payes sur dettes de loyer 13.2 4 0 0 Acquisition d'une participation ne donnant pas le controle Tresorerie nette liee aux activites de financement 5,445 3,491 4,324 Variation nette de tresorerie et equivalents de tresorerie 197 1,586 1,050 Tresorerie et equivalents de tresorerie au 1er janvier 10 2,654 1,068 18 Effet de la variation des taux de change sur la tresorerie detenue Tresorerie et equivalents de tresorerie au 31 decembre 10 2,851 2,654 1,068

The Group's consolidated financial statements for the years ending December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020 are the first financial statements presented in compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and adopted by the European Union, including the application of IFRS 1: "First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards".

The IFRS accounting principles and methods described below were applied in preparing the financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, and for the opening IFRS balance sheet as of March 12, 2019, i.e. the transition date to IFRS.

No comparative information is available as the Group has not previously prepared consolidated financial statements.

The Group has prepared its opening balance sheet in line with IFRS 1 ("First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards"). This standard is based on the general principle of retrospective application of all applicable standards as of December 31, 2022, subject to certain mandatory exceptions and optional exemptions. However, the first-time adoption exemptions do not apply insofar as the transition date corresponds to the date on which the Arverne Group was established.

Extract from pro forma financial statements for the combined entity for the financial year ended December 31, 2022

Pro Forma balance sheet at December 31, 2022

Bilan consolide retraite du groupe Arverne au 31 dec. 2022 Bilan retraite du SPAC Transition au 31 dec. 2022 Ajust. Pro forma lies au rappro. d'entreprises Bilan Pro Forma En milliers EUR Note 3.1 Note 3.2 Note 3.3 Actifs Ecart d'acquisition 37,975 37,975 Immobilisations incorporelles 13,956 13,956 Immobilisations corporelles 6,966 6,966 Actifs financiers non courants 136 136 Impots differes actifs Total actifs non-courants 59,032 59,032 Stocks et en-cours 413 413 Creances clients et actifs de contrat 6,667 6,667 Creances d'impot exigibles 57 57 Autres actifs financiers 72 72 Autres actifs courants 914 355 1,269 Compte sequestre 206,578 206,578) Tresorerie et equivalents de tresorerie 46,033 1,040 136,938 184,011 Actifs destines etre cedes Total actifs courants 54,156 207,973 ( 69,640) 192,489 Total Actif 113,189 207,973 ( 69,640) 251,522 Passif Capital 314 275 190) 399 Primes liees au capital 843 5,749 152,010 158,601 Autres reserves 3,418 3,418 Resultats accumules 10,227 15,134) 53,506 48,599 Resultat de l'exercice 3,098 2,828) 53,388) 53,118) Capitaux propres part du groupe 17,900 11,938) 151,938 157,900 Participations ne donnant pas le controle 18,577 18,577 Total capitaux propres 36,476 ( 11,938) 151,938 176,477 Emprunts et dettes financieres 20,540 20,540 Autres passifs financiers 16,272 15,000) 1,272 Passifs financiers derives Dettes locatives 23 23 Passif au titre des engagements lies au personnel 44 44 Impots differes passifs non-courants 24,671 24,671 Total passifs non-courants 61,551 ( 15,000) 46,551 Emprunts et dettes financieres courant 3,707 208,544 206,578) 5,673 Autres passifs financiers et derives 10,613 10,613 Dettes locatives courant 26 26 Impots differes passifs courants Dettes fournisseurs 10,723 10,723 Dettes d'impot exigible 174 174 Autres passifs courants 531 754 1,285 Passifs lies un groupe d'actifs destines etre cedes Total passifs courants 15,162 219,911 ( 206,578) 28,495 Total Passif 113,189 207,973 ( 69,640) 251,522

Pro Forma income statement from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022

Compte de resultat consolide retraite du groupe Arverne 2022 Compte de resultat retraite de Transition 2022 Couts de listing Couts de transaction Compte de resultat Pro Forma En milliers d'euros Note 4.1 Note 4.2 Note 8.3 Note 8.4 Chiffre d'affaires 11,425 11,425 Autres produits de l'activite 45 45 Production immobilisee 961 48,766) 47,805) Achats consommes 943) 943) Charges externes 6,214) 2,690) 4,622) 13,527) Charges de personnel 6,026) 6,026) Impots et taxes 228) 41) 270) Autres charges d'exploitation 387) 96) 483) Dotation aux amortissements 2,207) 2,207) Resultat operationnel ( 3,574) ( 2,828) ( 48,766) ( 4,622) ( 59,791) Cout de l'endettement financier brut 430) 430) Autres produits financiers 7,001 7,001 Autres charges financieres 18) 18) Resultat financier 6,553 6,553 Impots sur les benefices 110) 110) Quote-part du resultat des entreprises mises en equivalence Resultat net 2,869 ( 2,828) ( 48,766) ( 4,622) ( 53,347) Part du groupe 3,098 2,828) (48 766) 4,622) (53 118) Part des participations ne donnant pas le controle 228) 228)

The Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information has been prepared in accordance with the principles described in Annex 20 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/980 of March 14, 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, ESMA guidance on disclosure requirements under the Prospectus Regulation (ESMA32-382-1138 of March 4, 2021) and position-recommendation n2021-02 issued by the AMF on pro forma financial information.

The Pro Forma adjustments included in the Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information are limited to those directly attributable to the agreements relating to the Business Combination, notably the Term Sheet signed between the shareholders of Transition and Arverne Group on February 1, 2023, and which can be supported by facts.

The Pro Forma adjustments reflecting the completion of the Merger and the PIPE are based on certain information currently available and on certain assumptions and methodologies considered reasonable at the date of the Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information. They may be revised as additional information becomes available. Consequently, it is likely that actual amounts will differ from the Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information.

The Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information is based on the respective historical consolidated financial statements of Arverne Group and Transition. It should be read in conjunction with the following financial statements:

Arverne Group's IFRS consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2022, December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, which are included in the present "IBC Notice". These consolidated financial statements have been audited by KPMG, which will issue its audit reports at the time of publication of the prospectus.

Transition's IFRS financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2022, which are appended to this IBC Notice. These financial statements have been audited by Deloitte Associes. Their audit report is dated May 10, 2023 and is also appended to this IBC Notice.

Annex 2

Fairness Opinion

15 June 2023

Transition SA

49 bis, avenue Franklin Delano Roosevelt 75008 Paris

Attn: Board of Directors

Dear Members of the Board of Directors:

We understand that Transition SA ("Transition") intends to enter into a Business Combination Agreement (the "Agreement") with Arverne Group (the "Company") pursuant to which, among other things, (i) the Company will merge (the "Merger" or the "Transaction") with and into Transition with Transition being the surviving company in such Merger, and (ii) each ordinary share of the Company ("Company Shares") will be exchanged for a number of ordinary shares ("Transition Shares") of Transition (such shares the "Merger Consideration") as provided by, and subject to the procedures, adjustments and limitations set forth in, the Agreement (as to which procedures, adjustments and limitations we express no view or opinion). We in addition understand and at your direction have assumed that, based on the stated value per share of Transition ordinary shares of 10.00 set forth in the Agreement, the aggregate value of the Merger Consideration is equal to 166 million. In addition, we understand that pursuant to, or as contemplated by, the Agreement, the Company intends to enter into subscription agreements (the "Subscription Agreements") with certain investors pursuant to which such investors will purchase (the "PIPE Financing") immediately prior to the Merger a number of Transition ordinary shares (the "Related Transactions"). Please be advised that while certain provisions of the Transaction are summarised above, the terms of the Transaction are more fully described in the Agreement. As a result, the description of the Transaction and certain other information contained herein is qualified in its entirety by reference to the more detailed information appearing or incorporated by reference in the Agreement.

The Board of Directors of Transition (the "Board"), at the direction of its independent directors, has requested that Joh. Berenberg, Gossler Co. KG ("Berenberg") provide an opinion (the "Opinion") to the Board as to whether, as of the date hereof, the Merger Consideration to be issued and paid by Transition in the Merger pursuant to the Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of outstanding shares of Transition.

In connection with this Opinion, we have made such reviews, analyses and inquiries as we have deemed necessary and appropriate under the circumstances. Among other things, we have:

reviewed a draft, dated 15 June 2023, of the Agreement; reviewed certain publicly available business and financial information relating to the Company that we deemed to be relevant; reviewed certain information relating to the historical, current and future operations, financial condition and prospects of the Company made available to us by the Company and Transition, including financial and production projections prepared by the management of Transition and the Company relating to the Company (the "Projections") and certain estimates of measured, indicated and/ or inferred reserves of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) or Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate (LHM) reported in tons of the Company (the "Reserves Information"), certain estimates of LCE and/ or LHM output (the "Output Information") as well as certain estimates of geothermal energy volumes ("Geothermal Information") in each case, as made available to us by the management of Transition; spoken with certain members of the management of Transition and certain of their respective representatives and advisors regarding the business, operations, financial condition and prospects of the Company, the Transaction and related matters; compared certain financial and operating data of the Company with that of companies with publicly traded equity securities that we deemed to be relevant; considered the publicly available financial terms of certain transactions that we deemed to be relevant; and conducted such other financial studies, analyses and inquiries and considered such other information and factors as we deemed appropriate.

We have relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, the accuracy and completeness of all data, material and other information furnished, or otherwise made available, to us, discussed with or reviewed by us, or publicly available, and do not assume any responsibility with respect to such data, material and other information. In addition, at your direction, we have assumed that the Projections and the Reserves, Output and Geothermal Information have been reasonably prepared in good faith on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the management of Transition and the Company as to the future financial results and condition of the Company. At your direction, we have assumed that the Projections, Reserves, Output and Geothermal Information provide a reasonable basis on which to evaluate the Company and the Transaction and we have, at your direction, used and relied upon the Projections, Reserves, Output and Geothermal Information for purposes of our analyses and this Opinion. We express no view or opinion with respect to the Projections or the Reserves, Output, and Geothermal Information or the assumptions on which they are based. For purposes of our financial analyses and this Opinion, with your consent, we (i) did not perform any financial analyses to evaluate the value of Transition or to derive valuation references ranges for any shares of Transition for purposes of comparison with the Merger Consideration or otherwise, and (ii) have assumed that the value of each ordinary share of Transition to be issued as part of the Merger Consideration is equal to the original issue price per class B preferred share of Transition (which you have advised us is 10.00 per share), notwithstanding the different voting rights and other non-financial terms of Transition shares that could impact their value. We have relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, that there has been no change in the business, assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or prospects of the Company or Transition since the respective dates of the most recent financial statements and other information, financial or otherwise, provided to us that would be material to our analyses or this Opinion, and that there is no information or any facts that would make any of the information reviewed by us incomplete or misleading.

We have relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, that (a) the representations and warranties of all parties to the Agreement and all other related documents and instruments that are referred to therein are true and correct, (b) each party to the Agreement and such other related documents and instruments will fully and timely perform all of the covenants and agreements required to be performed by such party, (c) all conditions to the consummation of the Transaction will be satisfied without waiver thereof, and (d) the Transaction will be consummated in a timely manner in accordance with the terms described in the Agreement and such other related documents and instruments, without any amendments or modifications thereto. We have relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, that (i) the Transaction will be consummated in a manner that complies in all respects with all applicable foreign, federal, state and local statutes, rules and regulations, and (ii) all governmental, regulatory, and other consents and approvals necessary for the consummation of the Transaction will be obtained and that no delay, limitations, restrictions or conditions will be imposed or amendments, modifications or waivers made that would result in the disposition of any assets of the Company or Transition, or otherwise have an effect on the Transaction, the Company or Transition or any expected benefits of the Transaction that would be material to our analyses or this Opinion. In addition, we have relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, that the final form of the Agreement will not differ in any respect from the draft of the Agreement identified above.

Furthermore, in connection with this Opinion, we have not been requested to make, and have not made, any physical inspection or independent appraisal or evaluation of any of the assets, properties or liabilities (fixed, contingent, derivative, off-balance-sheet or otherwise) of Transition, the Company or any other party. We did not estimate, and express no opinion regarding, the liquidation value of any entity or business. We did not conduct or provide geological, environmental or other technical assessments and are not experts in the evaluation of Lithium and Geothermal reserves or properties and we expressed no view or opinion as to reserve quantities, or the exploration, development or production (including, without limitation, as to the feasibility or timing thereof) of any properties of the Company. We have undertaken no independent analysis of any potential or actual litigation, regulatory action, possible unasserted claims or other contingent liabilities, to which Transition or the Company is or may be a party or is or may be subject, or of any governmental investigation of any possible unasserted claims or other contingent liabilities to which Transition or the Company is or may be a party or is or may be subject. In giving our

Opinion, we have relied on Transition's commercial assessments of the Transaction. The decision as to whether or not Transition enters into a Transaction (and the terms on which it does so) is one that can only be taken by Transition.

This Opinion is necessarily based on financial, economic, market and other conditions as in effect on, and the information made available to us as of, the date hereof. As you are aware, the credit, financial and stock markets have been experiencing unusual volatility and we express no opinion or view as to any potential effects of such volatility on the Transaction, and this Opinion does not purport to address potential developments in any such markets. We have not undertaken, and are under no obligation, to update, revise, reaffirm or withdraw this Opinion, or otherwise comment on or consider events occurring or coming to our attention after the date hereof.

The opinion contained in this letter is not and does not purport to constitute an independent appraisal or "attestation d'equite" from an independent appraisal expert within the meaning of Article 262-1 of the AMF's General Regulation and the related regulations of the AMF relating to independent appraisals in the context of public offers. It cannot be excluded that analyses conducted pursuant to such an appraisal could come to a result differing from that contained in this Opinion Letter. The underlying analyses for this letter rely on customary valuation methods as applied by investment banks in the context of corporate transactions. The analyses may potentially deviate in material aspects from valuations conducted by independent appraisers under Article 262-1 of the AMF's General Regulation.

We have not been requested to, and did not, (a) initiate or participate in any discussions or negotiations with, or solicit any indications of interest from, third parties with respect to the Transaction, the securities, assets, businesses or operations of Transition, the Company or any other party, or any alternatives to the Transaction, (b) negotiate the terms of the Transaction, (c) advise the Board, Transition or any other party with respect to alternatives to the Transaction, or (d) identify, introduce to the Board, Transition or any other party, or screen for creditworthiness, any prospective investors, lenders or other participants in the Transaction.

We are not expressing any opinion as to what the value of the Transition ordinary shares actually will be when issued in the Transaction pursuant to the Agreement or the price or range of prices at which the Transition ordinary shares may be purchased or sold, or otherwise be transferable, at any time.

This Opinion is furnished for the use of the Board in its capacity as such to support the Board in carrying out its duties in connection with its evaluation of the Transaction and this Opinion may not be used for any other purpose without our prior written consent. This Opinion is not intended to be, and does not constitute, a recommendation to the Board, Transition, any security holder or any other party as to how to act or vote or make any election with respect to any matter relating to the Transaction or otherwise, including, without limitation, whether holders of Transition ordinary shares should redeem their shares or whether any party should participate in the PIPE Financing. We have agreed that the Board may include a copy of this Opinion as an annex to the shareholder materials distributed in connection with the Extraordinary General Meeting called to approve the initial business combination. However, the letter is directed only to the Board and no person other than the Board is authorized to rely on the Opinion for any purpose. We accept no responsibility to any person other than to the Board in relation to the contents of this letter.

In the ordinary course of business, certain of our employees and affiliates, as well as investment funds in which they may have financial interests or with which they may co-invest, may acquire, hold or sell, long or short positions, or trade, in debt, equity, and other securities and financial instruments (including loans and other obligations) of, or investments in, Transition, the Company or any other party that may be involved in the Transaction and their respective affiliates or security holders or any currency or commodity that may be involved in the Transaction.

Berenberg is not affiliated with Transition or the Company or any of their financial advisors involved in the Transaction. During the 18 months preceding this Opinion, except in connection with the delivery of this Opinion, Apart from the none of Berenberg or its affiliates (i) has been engaged as an advisor by Transition or the Company to provide any services or (ii) been engaged by any other party to proceed with a valuation of the Company.

Berenberg will receive a fee for rendering this Opinion, all of which became payable to us upon the rendering of this Opinion. In addition, Transition has agreed to reimburse certain of our expenses and to indemnify us and certain related parties for certain potential liabilities arising out of our engagement.

Other than as described above, Berenberg has no financial interest in the completion of the Transaction and it holds no debt of Transition or the Company or any of their subsidiaries that would affect its independence in connection with the delivery of this Opinion.

We have not been requested to opine as to, and this Opinion does not express an opinion as to or otherwise address, among other things: (i) the underlying business decision of the Board, Transition, its security holders or any other party to proceed with or effect the Transaction, (ii) the terms of any arrangements, understandings, agreements or documents related to, or the form, structure or any other portion or aspect of, the Transaction or otherwise (other than the Merger Consideration to the extent expressly specified herein), including, without limitation, any Related Transaction, (iii) the fairness of any portion or aspect of the Transaction to the holders of any class of securities, creditors or other constituencies of Transition, or to any other party, except if and only to the extent expressly set forth in the last sentence of this Opinion, (iv) the relative merits of the Transaction as compared to any alternative business strategies or transactions that might be available for Transition or any other party, (v) the fairness of any portion or aspect of the Transaction to any one class or group of Transition's or any other party's security holders or other constituents vis-a-vis any other class or group of Transition's or such other party's security holders or other constituents (including, without limitation, the allocation of any consideration amongst or within such classes or groups of security holders or other constituents), (vi) the appropriate capital structure of Transition, whether Transition should be issuing debt or equity securities or a combination of both in the Transaction, or the form, structure or any aspect or terms of any debt or equity financing for the Transaction (including, without limitation, the PIPE Financing) or the likelihood of obtaining such financing, (vii) whether or not Transition, the Company, their respective security holders or any other party is receiving or paying reasonably equivalent value in the Transaction, (viii) the solvency, creditworthiness or fair value of Transition, the Company or any other participant in the Transaction, or any of their respective assets, under any applicable laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance or similar matters, or (ix) the fairness, financial or otherwise, of the amount, nature or any other aspect of any compensation to or consideration payable to or received by any officers, directors or employees of any party to the Transaction, any class of such persons or any other party, relative to the Merger Consideration or otherwise. Furthermore, we are not expressing any opinion, counsel or interpretation regarding matters that require legal, regulatory, environmental, accounting, insurance, tax or other similar professional advice. It is assumed that such opinions, counsel or interpretations have been or will be obtained from the appropriate professional sources. Furthermore, we have relied, with the consent of the Board, on the assessments by the Board, Transition, the Company and their respective advisors, as to all legal, regulatory, environmental, mining, accounting, insurance, tax and other similar matters with respect to Transition, the Company and the Transaction or otherwise.

At your request, we have briefly summarized in Annex I to this letter the principal valuation methods considered as part of our analysis.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, the Merger Consideration to be issued to holders of securities of the Company by Transition in the Merger pursuant to the Agreement is fair from a financial point of view to the holders of outstanding shares of Transition.

Very truly yours,

JOH. BERENBERG, GOSSLER CO. KG

Annex I

Financial Analyses

In preparing the Opinion expressed in the attached letter, we performed a variety of analyses, including those described below. The summary below is not a complete description of the analyses underlying the Opinion. The preparation of such an Opinion is a complex process involving various quantitative and qualitative judgments and determinations with respect to the financial, comparative and other analytical methods employed and the adaptation and application of these methods to the unique facts and circumstances presented. As a consequence, neither our Opinion nor its underlying analyses is readily susceptible to summary description. We arrived at our Opinion based on the results of all analyses undertaken by us and assessed as a whole and did not draw, in isolation, conclusions from or with regard to any individual analysis, methodology or factor. While the results of each analysis were taken into account in reaching our overall conclusion with respect to fairness, we did not make separate or quantifiable judgments regarding individual analyses. Accordingly, such analyses and the following summary must be considered as a whole selecting portions of the analyses, methodologies and factors, without considering all analyses, 
Court in Amsterdam will rule on the injunction to prevent sale of company on June 27

Saif Jaffair Markhan Alketbi, principal equityholder, believes that the court will protect his interests as the largest single owner and investor from attempts to take over the company.

H.E. Saif Jaffair Markhan Alketbi indirectly owns 43.41 percent in Fortenova Group and is taking legal action to protect his interests in Fortenova Group following the initiation of proceedings to sell all valuable assets of the group by selling one of the holding companies down the ownership chain.

For this reason, an application for a number of reliefs was filed with the court in Amsterdam last week to prevent the attempt to sell the whole company to one of the shareholders. Yesterday, the court rejected one of the reliefs that Fortenova said was the most urgent to decide on. The court's decision on all the rest of the reliefs is expected on June 27, 2023.

Mr Alketbi is advised by lawyers TA Advisory in Dubai, as well as legal counsel in other jurisdictions.

H.E. Saif Jaffair Markhan Alketbi said:

"Fortenova Group's management constantly twists the facts in favor of one of the company's co-owners and previously even allowed voting for changes to the company's charter in favor of one co-owner, the Open Pass company.

As we have argued in court, Fortenova Group and its management have illegitimately and cynically taken advantage of SBK ART's temporary status as a sanctioned entity. They used the fact that SBK ART could not exercise its vote as Fortenova's biggest equity holder to change the company's articles of association earlier this year. This benefited the second largest stakeholder, Open Pass, and effectively gave it full control. A Dutch court (the Enterprise Chamber) expressly called these changes "questionable".

In April this year, Fortenova and its management (including people related to Open Pass) started an unnecessary distressed sale process of the entire business. They initiated the collection of tender offers with very short deadlines, and created the impression that potential purchasers will somehow have a big problem dealing with Fortenova's EUR 1bn debt. In fact, although this debt is currently due in September 2023, it is likely to be extended shortly.

It is against this rigged background that Open Pass can now portray itself as a White Knight, supposedly saving the company. This portrayal is bogus. In fact, the situation has been engineered, with management's help, to enable Open Pass ultimately to gain absolute voting and ownership control over Fortenova on the cheap.

From the beginning, I have attempted to engage co-operatively with management and other shareholders, in the best interests of Fortenova Group, but at every point these attempts have been rejected. My first contact with the other shareholders of the Fortenova Group and the company's management, unfortunately, took place just before the court hearing in Amsterdam- which is unfortunate, given my numerous previous attempts to communicate with them and agree on the best way forward for the company."

Background to the dispute

Mr Alketbi purchased SBK ART on October 31, 2022, and since then the company no longer belongs to anybody in Russia, despite claimed claims to the contrary; nor is it under Russian influence. The company SBK ART was therefore sanctioned unjustly and without valid arguments.

Mr Alketbi is challenging the sanction (through SBK ART) in court. The facts and the law favor his position and he is confident he will prevail, although because of the court's timetable, it will take many months to do so.

Additionally, Fortenova did not inform or invite Mr Alketbi to participate in the distressed sale process, despite his express request to do so. The result was that the process was effectively rigged and Fortenova received no bids, which we believe was management's intention.

Mr Alketbi is ready to offer a high-quality "alternative solution" for the company in order to promote the best possible outcome both for the Fortenova Group itself and for the economy of the Republic of Croatia. He decided to invest in the company back in October 2022 because he believes in the strength and potential of the Fortenova Group, in whose development he wants to invest more.

Mr Alketbi is a citizen of the United Arab Emirates. He is not and has never been subject to sanctions.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230615924401/en/

Contacts:

Media enquiries

Palatine Communications

Conal Walsh Andreas Grueter Will Matthews

fortenova@palatine-media.com




ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, June 16, 2023 - (JCN Newswire) - Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all, today announced it won an order from Electricity Interconnection France-Spain (Inelfe), the joint venture bringing together operators of the Spanish (Red Electrica) and French (RTE) electricity transmission networks, in charge of the construction and commissioning of all cross-border connections between both countries, to supply four high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter stations to interconnect France and Spain via a subsea cable across the Biscay Gulf.The Biscay Gulf interconnection, labeled as project of common interest (PCI) at the European level, will consist of two HVDC links, with a converter station at each end of both systems. Combined, the links will efficiently supply a total of 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity at 400 kilovolts (kV) over 400 kilometers (km). Providing the equivalent of the power consumption of more than two million households(1), the links will improve the safety, stability, and quality of the electricity supply between the two countries. It will advance the integration of emission-free electricity and create a more efficient system to generate savings that benefit consumers and the rest of Europe.(2) Most of the link will be underwater, but a short section of the link cable route will return to land to avoid the deep Capbreton Canyon."Cross border, and often subsea, interconnections are vital to Europe's increasingly interconnected grid," said Niklas Persson, Managing Director at Hitachi Energy's Grid Integration business. "Through our pioneering HVDC technology, we enable Inelfe to accelerate the two countries' sustainability goals, improving the safety, stability, and quality of electricity supply between France and Spain and the rest of Europe."Inelfe (Interconexion Electrica Francia-Espana or Electricity Interconnection France-Spain) was set up following the 2008 Zaragoza Agreement, between the governments of Spain and France, with the mission to enhance the exchange of electricity between the two countries. The resulting infrastructure doubled the interconnection capacity between France and Spain from 1,400 MW to 2,800 MW today. With the Biscay Gulf interconnection, the capacity to exchange power will soon reach 5,000 MW.(3)In line with its Purpose to champion the urgency of a clean energy transition through innovation and collaboration, Hitachi Energy is collaborating with VINCI, an industry leader in energy and construction. Together the two companies will provide an advanced solution for the Biscay Gulf project by delivering the engineering and power technologies and the construction of the converter stations. The collaboration with VINCI will leverage the core competencies of the two companies to deliver a best-in-class solution for the project.Note to editors:Hitachi Energy's HVDC solution combines world-leading expertise in HVDC converter valves; the MACH digital control platform4, converter power transformers and high-voltage switchgear; as well as system studies, design and engineering, supply, installation supervision and commissioning.HVDC Light is a voltage source converter technology developed by Hitachi Energy, which was launched over 25 years ago. It is the preferred technology for many grid applications, including interconnecting countries, integrating renewables and "power-from-shore" connections to offshore production facilities. HVDC Light's defining features include uniquely compact converter stations and exceptionally low electrical losses.Hitachi Energy pioneered commercial HVDC technology almost 70 years ago and has delivered more than half of the world's HVDC projects.(1) bit.ly/3XqpqcF(2) www.inelfe.eu/en/projects/bay-biscay(3) www.inelfe.eu/en/about-inelfe(4) Modular Advanced Control for HVDC (MACH)HVDC website; www.hitachienergy.com/offering/product-and-system/hvdcAbout Hitachi EnergydHitachi Energy is a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. We serve customers in the utility, industry and infrastructure sectors with innovative solutions and services across the value chain. Together with customers and partners, we pioneer technologies and enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future. We are advancing the world's energy system to become more sustainable, flexible and secure whilst balancing social, environmental and economic value. Hitachi Energy has a proven track record and unparalleled installed base in more than 140 countries. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ around 40,000 people in 90 countries and generate business volumes of over $10 billion USD.www.hitachienergy.comwww.linkein.com/company/hitachienergyhttps://twitter.com/HitachiEnergyAbout 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 www.hitachi.com.Source: Hitachi, Ltd.Copyright 2023 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
LONDON, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sodexo Benefits and Rewards Services activity, a leading global employee benefits and engagement partner, is adopting a new brand, Pluxee:

To better support companies in the face of changes to the workplace, and individual expectations of well-being and fulfilment,

To support its growth strategy, by creating more value for all its stakeholders,

To prepare for the spinoff and listing project announced by Sodexo on April 5, 2023.

Aurelien Sonet, Pluxee's CEO said:  Pluxee is a new digital, optimistic and innovative brand that embodies our vision and our strong ambitions in a growing market. With this new brand, we stand out for who we are. Our stronger identity will be a key differentiator for our clients and partners and to attract new talent, particularly in digital .

Why a new brand ?

Pluxee, the preferred partner of companies for an enhanced and digital employee experience

By adopting a new identity, the Benefits and Rewards Services activity intends to differentiate itself more strongly in an extremely dynamic market.



Pluxee will allow its client companies to promote their employer brand by offering their employees innovative and personalised solutions, in the face of major changes in the world of work.



Pluxee aims to help each employee enjoy more of what really matters to them.



Pluxee, a strong player present in 31 countries, has all the assets to capture the potential of a growing and largely under-penetrated market: its know-how acquired over nearly 45 years, solid performance, the vision and long-term commitment of its reference shareholder, the Bellon family, and its CSR commitments, which drive the engagement of its employees.

Pluxee at the service of an ambitious strategic plan

As part of its 2025 strategic plan, Pluxee primarily intends to:



Accelerate its historical activity, the meal and food benefits business, in particular by strengthening its penetration rate among SMEs.





Expand its offer on well-being, gifts, mobility or measures to support purchasing power and employee engagement.





Make its services more easily accessible to its clients' employees via a single digital platform.





To achieve these goals, Pluxee will invest each year, by 2025, 10% of its turnover in tech.

Pluxee, a new brand to support an autonomous strategy

Pluxee is a modern and digital brand that reflects the vision, ambition and positioning of the activity in view of the spinoff project announced by Sodexo Group in April 2023.



Pluxee will have its own governance and dedicated resources to deploy its strategic plan.

Pluxee creates value for all its stakeholders

For its 500,000 client companies by offering ever more complete, rich and varied solutions based on an efficient and attractive digital ecosystem.

by offering ever more complete, rich and varied solutions based on an efficient and attractive digital ecosystem.

For its 36 million consumers , thanks to personalised services offering more freedom, responsible choices, and more purchasing power. Six million people use Pluxee's services every day in both Brazil and France respectively, and more than three and a half million in India.

, thanks to personalised services offering more freedom, responsible choices, and more purchasing power. Six million people use Pluxee's services every day in both Brazil and France respectively, and more than three and a half million in India.

For its 1.7 million merchant partners by making their daily lives easier, helping to increase traffic at their points of sale, and enabling them to better understand and interact with their consumers through data.

by making their daily lives easier, helping to increase traffic at their points of sale, and enabling them to better understand and interact with their consumers through data.

For public authorities by helping them to innovate socially to address the new needs of employees and the self-employed, to manage social assistance or to direct spending in a specific area. In Europe, Pluxee manages four billion euros in social assistance annually.

by helping them to innovate socially to address the new needs of employees and the self-employed, to manage social assistance or to direct spending in a specific area. In Europe, Pluxee manages four billion euros in social assistance annually.

For its 5,000 employees, by strengthening their sense of belonging, strengthened by the positive impact they can have on the lives of millions of individuals.

Pluxee, created with the assistance of the Conran Design Group Agency of the Havas Group, will be gradually deployed in the 31 countries where the activity operates by the end of 2023, starting with Brazil in August.

About Sodexo

Founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo is the global leader in sustainable food and valued experiences at every moment in life: learn, work, heal and play. Operating in 53 countries, our 422,000 employees serve 100 million consumers each day. The Sodexo Group stands out for its independence and its founding family shareholding, its responsible business model and its portfolio of activities including Food Services, Facilities Management Services and Employee Benefit Solutions. This diversified offer meets all the challenges of everyday life with a dual goal: to improve the quality of life of our employees and those we serve, and contribute to the economic, social and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. For Sodexo, growth and social commitment go hand in hand. Our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all. Sodexo is included in the CAC Next 20, CAC 40 ESG, CAC SBT 1.5, FTSE 4 Good and DJSI indices

Sodexo Key Figures

21.1 billion euros in Fiscal 2022

consolidated revenues

consolidated revenues 422,000 employees as at August 31, 2022

#2 France-based private employer worldwide 53 countries

100 million consumers served daily

13.3 billion euros in market capitalization (as at April 4, 2023)

About Pluxee

Pluxee is the global leading employee benefits and engagement partner that opens up a world of opportunities to help everyone enjoy more of what really matters for them. Through a full range of innovative and digital solutions deployed in 31 countries, Pluxee creates meaningful, engaging and personalised experiences to contribute to the well-being of individuals at work and beyond. From meal and food, culture, gifts to wellness and mobility, Pluxee's products and services are designed to bring more value to people. Pluxee supports the purchasing power and promotes the well-being of more than 36 million consumers. Pluxee accompanies 500,000 clients to develop more meaningful relationships with their employees and improve their engagement. Pluxee simplifies the life of 1.7 million merchants every day. Strengthened by its historical ties with Sodexo, Pluxee with its 5,000 employees is committed to increase its influence as a CSR leader by giving its clients, partners and consumers the means to make more sustainable choices every day.

Contact

Lottie Hutchins at Octopus Group for Sodexo Engage, sodexoengage@octopusgrp.com, +44(0)7951065119

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sodexo-benefits-and-rewards-services-becomes-pluxee-the-new-employee-experience-brand-that-opens-up-a-world-of-opportunities-301852379.html
Vienna, Austria (ots) -Vienna - On Thursday, June 15th, 2023, the magazine "Annabelle" has been awarded as "Magazine of the Year". The publication by Medienart AG (Zurich) is one of the main winners of this season's European Publishing Awards. "Annabelle" provides strong content and outstanding pictures beyond classical magazines for women, said the jury of international experts. The ceremony took place at Palais Niederosterreich during this year's European Publishing Congress."European Newcomer of the Year" is "BL8D", a magazine published from Tallin. The publication leaves conventions of lifestyle or fashion magazines behind in order to stand up against war by using artistic methodes. "Spraktidningen" (Vetenskapsmedia, Stockholm) received a "Special Award": The magazine's topic is language, and it makes use of a unique diversified, colourful and lively craftwork.The project "Women on the Run" was elected as "European Digital Publishing Platform of the Year" by the jury. The independent blog published by freelance journalist Sandy Bossier-Steuerwald (Berlin) creates a collage of women from Ukraine, with an intimate perspective on a war that is often conveyed in the media from a male-dominated point of view.In their fifth season, the European Publishing Awards saw some 370 entries from 13 European countries - a third more than in the year before and more than ever. The awards, anually conducted by Salzburg-based Medienfachverlag Oberauer, honour the best digital media, magazines and newspapers of Europe's various media industries. The international jury consists of publishing experts from markets across Europe. More details regarding all winners within 25 categories can be found at https://www.publishing-congress.com/?lang=en.Pressekontakt:Maria AlgaerMedienfachverlag Oberauer, Franklinstrae 27, 10587 Berlin, Germanyphone: +49-30-364286-513, mail: publishing-awards@oberauer.comOriginal-Content von: Medienfachverlag Oberauer GmbH, ubermittelt durch news aktuellOriginalmeldung: https://www.presseportal.de/pm/66148/5535714
JAXA accredited space venture Tenchijin is extending the application of its Tenchijin COMPASS data utilization platform to revolutionize agriculture. With a bold vision of cultivating asparagus on the moon in the future, Tenchijin has successfully harvested "Moon Asparagus".

Tenchijin Farm: Solving agricultural challenges through Space Big Data and knowledge Aggregation

As the moon economy is thriving, growing vegetables on the Moon is warranted. However, the environment is severe for a crop to survive.

Tenchijin recognizes the array of challenges and severe environment jeopardizing global food production and takes this as an opportunity to develop advanced farming techniques. Therefore, Tenchijin has launched "Tenchijin Farm", a pioneering farming initiative, which harnesses the power of Big Data, aimed to explore innovative and efficient cultivation methods to identify the most suitable land for sustainable crop production. Tenchijin also believes this initiative will be useful to grow crops in harsh environments in outer space. Asparagus, a powerful antioxidant, is poised to maintain people on the Moon healthy. Subsequent to its "Space Big Data Rice project", Tenchijin Farm is growing "Moon Asparagus", which aims to be cultivated on the Moon. In this first phase, Tenchijin aims to cultivate delicious asparagus in a field with the help of Big Data and A.I.

Connecting the dots: The Intersection of Technology, Crops, and Environments

Tenchijin Farm project leverages satellite data to identify optimal land for cultivating asparagus. As the project advances, the farm will transition to a harsh environment and become a great test-bed to investigate the impact of climate change on crop growth and spur the development of farming techniques that enable crop development under challenging conditions. Through meticulous research and development, Tenchijin aims to acquire the essential knowledge required for crops to thrive in harsh environments including on the Moon. This wealth of information will be centralized within Tenchijin COMPASS, an integrated platform that "connects the dots" to visualize agricultural challenges and improve farming techniques.

Tenchijin COMPASS can be used for free by creating an account on the Tenchijin website.

URL: https://tenchijin.co.jp/compass/?hl=en

Language: English, Japanese

Browsers: Google Chrome (recommended), only PC

If you are interested in customizing Tenchijin COMPASS or consulting on data analysis, please contact us at info-compass@tenchijin.co.jp

Access here for the details: https://tenchijin.co.jp/?hl=en

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616870086/en/

Contacts:

Tenchijin, Inc.

Yasuhito Sakuraba

info@tenchijin.co.jp
Honour recognizes Prof. Jackson's contributions to biological research, including foundational work in DNA damage repair and the invention of synthetic lethality drugs

Adrestia science founded on Prof. Jackson's translation of synthetic lethality approaches into a synthetic rescue platform to create new drugs for genetic diseases

Prof. Jackson also notable for scientific entrepreneurship in founding Mission Therapeutics, KuDOS Pharmaceuticals and Adrestia Therapeutics

Adrestia Therapeutics, a leader in synthetic rescue therapies for genetic diseases, today announced its co-founder, Professor Steve Jackson FRS FMedSci, has been named a Knight Bachelor in the 2023 Birthday Honours List, which announces the bestowing of various awards and designations on the King's Birthday in the United Kingdom. Professor Jackson is a noted scientist-entrepreneur and holds several academic positions in addition to being the Chief Scientific Officer of Adrestia. The Knights Bachelor are appointed by the British sovereign and have existed as an order since the Middle Ages.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616268448/en/

Professor Steve Jackson FRS FMedSci (Photo: Business Wire)

"It is humbling to join a group with such a long history," said Professor Jackson. "I see this as a recognition of the important contributions the biological research community make to medicine and our understanding of life, and I thank the many collaborators and members of my teams who have supported my research over the years."

"Our team congratulates Steve on this wonderful recognition of his pioneering work in foundational aspects of biology that play important roles in many diseases," said Rob Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Adrestia. "He is an inspiring leader and we are incredibly fortunate to have his expertise and guidance inform Adrestia's scientific strategy and the development of our platform for developing new therapies for genetically defined diseases."

Professor Jackson's work has provided key insights into cellular processes that respond to DNA damage; processes fundamental to life and whose defects cause various diseases, particularly cancer.

Latterly, one part of his research agenda has been the development of new drug discovery techniques for genetic diseases in an area called synthetic rescue. As many directly causative gene mutations are not amenable to being targeted by drugs, synthetic rescue can involve screening the entire genome to identify compelling drug targets in a much wider network of related genes. The aim is to correct the effects of the causative mutations and 'rescue' health. Professor Jackson used a related approach, synthetic lethality, to co-originate a new class of drugs for cancer and subsequently translated his experience into synthetic rescue tools and technologies focused on finding new treatments for genetic diseases. He co-founded Adrestia to progress this work for patients.

Professor Jackson is the University of Cambridge Professor of Biology and Senior Group Leader at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute. After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh, he carried out four years' post-doctoral training at UC Berkeley in the United States. He founded and served as CSO for the companies Mission Therapeutics and KuDOS Pharmaceuticals, the latter of which developed the blockbuster anti-cancer drug olaparib, the first of a new family of drugs called PARP inhibitors. KuDOS was acquired by AstraZeneca in 2005. Professor Jackson is a fellow of the Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences UK, and he has received multiple national and international awards for his research leadership.

As a Knight Bachelor, Professor Jackson may use the prefix "Sir" and will formally be presented with this honour in the coming months.

About Adrestia

Adrestia is a leader in synthetic rescue therapies for genetically defined diseases. As many directly causative gene mutations are not druggable, synthetic rescue identifies drug targets in a much wider network of functionally connected genes. The aim is to correct the effects of the causative mutations and 'rescue' health. Adrestia is creating a synthetic rescue 'Atlas' of the human genome and advancing a portfolio of first-in-class oligonucleotide or oral small molecule therapies, initially for neurologic, neuromuscular and cardiomyopathic diseases. Adrestia's platform and in-house programs are complemented by a target discovery alliance with GSK and a Huntington's disease collaboration with noted researchers including Dr Sarah Tabrizi at University College London.

Adrestia was co-founded by Professor Steve Jackson and the deep technology investment fund Ahren Innovation Capital, which co-led Adrestia's Series A financing along with GSK. Jackson co-originated the first synthetic lethality drug, olaparib, which was the first drug approved to treat cancers caused by inherited mutations. For further information, visit: www.adrestia.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616268448/en/

Contacts:

Adrestia

Investors

Robert Johnson

investors@adrestia.com

Media

Tom Donovan

tom@lyrebird.bio

+ 44 7498 152764
Dubai International Chamber (DIC), one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers, has launched a new international representative office in London, United Kingdom. The office, which is DIC's first in Europe and 20th globally, was inaugurated yesterday during a special ceremony with the participation of H.E. Mansoor Abdullah Khalfan Juma Abulhoul, the United Arab Emirates' Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616286737/en/

Dubai International Chamber's new international representative office in the United Kingdom was inaugurated during a special ribbon-cutting ceremony held yesterday in London. From L R: Hussein Al Ansari, Senior Manager International Operations, Dubai Chambers; H.E. Simon Penney, His Majesty's Trade Commissioner for the Middle East Pakistan and His Majesty's Consul General for Dubai and the Northern Emirates; H.E. Mansoor Abulhoul, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United Kingdom; Edward Lister, Baron Udny-Lister; Khalid Al Shamsi, Vice President Operations, Dubai Chambers; and Noora Al Suwaidi, Regional Director Europe and Americas, Dubai Chambers. (Photo: AETOSWire).

Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah, President and CEO of Dubai Chambers commented: "The opening of our 20th international representative office in London is a landmark occasion that will bring far-reaching benefits. Today's inauguration represents another important step on our journey to consolidate Dubai's position as a leading global business destination and further strengthens the close historic economic ties between Dubai and the United Kingdom."

The opening of the London office comes as part of the Dubai Global initiative, which was launched last year to develop a powerful network of 50 international representative offices worldwide by 2030. The offices will support Dubai Chambers' strategic goals of attracting international business and investment to Dubai and driving the global expansion of its members.

According to Dubai Customs statistics, the UK ranked 14th on Dubai's list of trading partners in 2022, with non-oil trade achieving year-on-year growth of 28.6% to reach AED29.7 billion. The London office will open new channels for communication and economic cooperation between businesses and organisations in the two markets, and is set to further enhance bilateral trade and investments.

Dubai's strategic location and world-class logistics facilities have established it as a leading trade hub for UK companies with global ambitions. The emirate serves as a gateway between East and West that offers access to 2.2 billion consumers and unlocks opportunities for businesses looking to expand their footprints in the GCC, Africa, and South America.

About:

Dubai International Chamber, one of three chambers operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chambers, was established to promote Dubai as a global business hub, attract multinational companies and expand the emirate's trade ties with promising markets. The Chamber has a mandate to meet His Highness Sheikh Mohammed's ambition to increase Dubai's foreign trade from AED 1.4 trillion to AED 2 trillion by 2026

Follow us on:

www.facebook.com/DxbChamberIntl

www.twitter.com/dxbchamberintl

www.linkedin.com/company/dubai-international-chamber

www.youtube.com/DubaiChamberTV

www.instagram.com/dxbchamberintl

*Source: AETOSWire

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616286737/en/

Contacts:

Mohamad Mouzehem

PR Corporate Communications

+97142028537

mohamad.mouzehem@dubaichamber.com
Dassault Aviation at the 2023 Paris Air Show

(Saint-Cloud, France, June 16, 2023) - Dassault Aviation is proud to present its dual civil/military know-how to professionals and the general public at the Paris Air Show, the 54th edition of which will be held at Paris-Le Bourget airport from June 19 to 25, 2023.

Dassault Aviation will be present in hall 2A, stand A251, displaying models of our aircraft under a giant video screen. A "Rafale Experience" area will enable visitors to experience a flight in virtual reality.

The static display (row A - no. 7) will showcase the Rafale, Falcon 8X, 6X and 2000LXS, as well as full-scale models of the NGF and the Falcon 10X cabin. The Falcons presented at the show will fly with blends containing 30% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF); our Falcons will be able to fly with 50% blends as soon as they become available; the 10X will be the first 100%-compatible Falcon.

The static display will also feature a building dedicated to our collaborative air combat solutions and customer support services.

The Rafale will be demonstrated in flight by the French Air and Space Force, and the Falcon 6X by our test pilots.

Dassault Aviation will be taking part in the 5th edition of "L'Avion des Metiers" (Careers Plane) and in the "L'Aero recrute" recruitment operation; an HR reception desk will be permanently available on our stand. People interested in aeronautical professions will be able to attend demonstrations and directly consider career opportunities with our engineers, technicians, master craftsmen and HR managers. In 2023, Dassault Aviation will be recruiting 1,000 employees in all fields: design, production, support, digital, etc.

We will also be present at the Paris Air Lab, an exploration area dedicated to innovation, where our specialists will be exhibiting work relating to decarbonized air transport and 4.0 production methods.

Finally, we'll be welcoming to the Show the partners we support as part of our social commitments:

- "Elles bougent", an association that encourages girls to take up technical and scientific careers;

- "Feminisons les metiers de l'aeronautique et du spatial", a coordinating body for companies in the sector committed to promoting gender mix;

- Hanvol", an association co-founded by Dassault Aviation to support the retraining of disabled people in the aeronautical sector.

Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, said: "This 54thParis Air Show will illustrate how we are looking to the future of our two main activities:military aviation, which defends our country and its allies, and contributes to France's sovereignty and Europe's strategic autonomy; and business aviation, which connects companies with ever greater efficiency, safety and control of its environmental footprint, thanks in particular to SAF. Le Bourget is also the place to celebrate the remarkable passion for aeronautics shown by the French people for over a century. We're delighted to welcome back the general public, whose interest in our industry is as strong as ever."

ABOUT DASSAULT AVIATION:

With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft (including 2,700 Falcons) delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation has built up expertise recognized worldwide in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter, to the high-end Falcon family of business jets, military drones and space systems. In 2022, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of 6.9 billion. The company has 12,700 employees.

TO FOLLOW THE PARIS AIR SHOW WITH DASSAULT AVIATION:

www.dassault-aviation.com

twitter.com/dassault_onair

linkedin.com/company/dassault-aviation

facebook.com/dassaultaviation

PRESS CONTACTS:

Corporate Communications

Stephane Fort - Tel.: +33

Mathieu Durand - Tel.: +33

Falcon Communications

Vadim Feldzer - Tel.: +33 (0)1 47 11 44 13 - vadim.feldzer@dassault-aviation.com

Defense Communications

Nathalie Bakhos - Tel.: +33

HD photos: mediaprophoto.dassault-aviation.com

HD videos: mediaprovideo.dassault-aviation.com

Attachment
NEW DELHI, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Azure Power Global Limited (the "Company" or "Azure") (NYSE: AZRE), an independent sustainable energy solutions provider and renewable power producer in India, today announced two changes to its Board of Directors.



Mr. Richard Payette, FCPA, GCB.D, will join the Board as an Independent non-executive Director on the Company's Board effective July 1, 2023. Mr. Payette is a business leader with over four decades of experience in management of global companies and accounting and audit matters. He currently serves as a director of Export Development Canada (EDC), Canada's export credit agency wholly owned by the Government of Canada and the Canadian Public Accountability Board (CPAB), a regulatory body charged with overseeing audits of Canadian reporting issuers. Earlier, he served as Chair of the boards of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Federation de chambres de commerce du Quebec. From 2016 until 2020, he served as President and CEO Quebec of Manulife and was the CEO for the Americas region at BDO International between 2010 and 2015. He worked with Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton since 1982 until 2009, lastly as the President and CEO. Mr. Payette is also a member of the advisory boards of Lemay and LexRockAI. His area of expertise includes organisational transformation, international market development, finance, audit, governance and risk management. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada and holds an ESG Certification and designation.

Mr. Payette will take over as Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee and will also join the Board of Azure Power India Private Limited, a subsidiary of the Company.

Christine McNamara, Independent non-executive Director and current chair of Audit & Risk Committee has decided to resign from the Company's Board effective June 26, 2023. Her decision to step down from the Board is necessitated due to her commitments towards family health matters. Christine's decision to resign was not the result of any disagreement with the Company's operations, policies, or procedures.

Speaking on these board changes, Alan Rosling, Chairman of the Board, said, "Christine's resignation is a sad moment for all of us on the Board. She led the board and committee commitments during a tough year for the Company even while attending to family health issues. The Board joins me in thanking Christine for her unwavering efforts during this period and her professional guidance to the Board. We wish her all the best as she and her family address their current health issues."

"I warmly welcome Richard to the Board. His vast experience will be crucial at this juncture for Azure. He is a versatile professional with deep financial expertise including in governance, audit, control and compliance. We look forward to working closely with him on the Board."

Richard Payette said, "Azure is an important player in the sustainable energy sector in India. It is an exciting opportunity for me, and I am looking forward to contributing at the Board and help in the cause of long term sustainable journey at Azure. I am delighted to work with the team in further growth and success of the Company. I also thank Christine for her tenure on the Board and wish her all the best."

Christine McNamara said, "It has been a great privilege to serve on Azure Power's board. I'm sad to be leaving the Company at this stage due to personal family health issues. I wish the Board and the Company all the very best."

About Azure

Azure is a leading independent sustainable energy solutions provider and renewable power producer in India. Azure developed India's first utility scale solar project in 2009, and since then has grown rapidly to become a leader in developing and operating large utility-scale renewable energy projects in the country.

For more information about Azure, visit: www.azurepower.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the bringing of a fresh perspective and valuable guidance, driving growth and success, driving the Company forward, and achieving Company goals. Words such as "may," "will," "should," "likely," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "outlook" and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements in this press release. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

For more information:

ir@azurepower.com

pr@azurepower.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2103887/Azure_Power.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/819565/Azure_Power_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/azure-power-announces-changes-in-board-of-directors-301852984.html
MUNICH, Germany, June 16, 2023(EVE), a distinguished global supplier of high-quality battery cells.

Under this agreement for prismatic LFP cells, ABS ESS and EVE have confirmed raw material supply and production capacity that will support a portion of ABS ESS's impressive plans to deploy over 30 GWh of their innovative energy storage architecture over the next three years. The current terms grant ABS ESS access to more than 100 MWh of manufactured cell capacity per week-which equates to 5 GWh per year-ensuring a steady supply to meet much of the growing demand for their large-scale TeraStor BESS solution.

"Our collaboration has been in progress for the past year, with an initial agreement reached in Q4 of 2022," said Steven Chen, Vice President of EVE Energy Co. Ltd. "Extended warranty terms were finalized in Q1 of 2023, and we are very happy to announce this partnership now." In line with ABS ESS's commitment to providing customers with an unrivaled level of service and support, the agreement enables robust extended capacity and availability guarantees that last up to 20 years for ABS ESS customers.

ABS ESS selected EVE cells for their market acceptance and exceptional reliability. Both of the following recent announcements from ABS ESS used EVE-sourced cells in their related studies:

TeraStor BESS system reliability analysis, conducted by Reliant Labs, confirming an unrivaled predicted 99.999% (5-nines) reliability

TeraStor 9540A module-level testing, demonstrating efficacy of architected safety features

"ABS ESS is excited to join forces with EVE in our mission to deliver reliable energy storage solutions that enable a sustainable energy future," said Rick Cwiakala, Vice President of Operations. "Through this strategic partnership and MSA, we are well-positioned to meet much of the growing demand for the TeraStor and for our additional forthcoming systems that are purpose-built for execution of further energy storage scenarios."

ABS ESS maintains flexibility in its supply chain, with the ability to source additional new and future cells from EVE and other high-quality suppliers. The extended warranty options and flexible energy assurance plans demonstrate the company's commitment to delivering revolutionary energy storage solutions at the highest quality and greatest total lifetime value to customers. For more information on American Battery Solutions' Energy Storage Division and the 7.2 MWh (600MWh/acre) TeraStor, please visit https://www.americanbatterysolutions.com/ess/ess-home.

About American Battery Solutions' Energy Storage Solutions Division

American Battery Solutions, Inc.'s Energy Storage Solutions division is a pioneering provider of advanced energy storage solutions. The company designs, develops and manufactures cutting-edge systems, empowering customers to harness the full potential of renewable energy and optimize energy management. With a steadfast commitment to value, reliability, sustainability and innovation, the ABS ESS team of industry veterans aims to revolutionize the energy storage landscape.

Contact

ESS Media Relations

American Battery Solutions

2 Cabot Road, Hudson, MA 01749 USA

ess_media@americanbatterysolutions.com

About EVE Energy

Founded in 2001 and listed in Shenzhen in 2009, EVE Energy has developed into a global player in the battery cell market. The company's research institute has obtained over 5,870 national patents in China, with 60 doctors and more than 3,100 interdisciplinary R&D engineers in materials, electrochemistry, structure design and electronic circuit design on staff. The company launched a carbon reduction roadmap, saved a total of 2,533 tons of standard coal, reduced 16,000 tons of annual CO2 emissions and was named a "National Green Factory." For more information about EVE Energy's prismatic LFP cell technology, please visit https://www.evebattery.com/en/prismatic-lfp-cell.
From its origins over drinks in a local pub- to leading independent risk and safety consultancy- the Abbott Risk Consulting (ARC) story was celebrated this week when the company brought all its people from Australia and the UK together for a conference in Edinburgh, Scotland.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616980492/en/

From Start-Up to Global Leader- ARC Celebrates Its 20th Birthday in Style (Photo: Business Wire)

Colleagues from the engineering consultancy's Melbourne, Sydney and Perth offices are pictured here at the Norton House Hotel, where ARC hosted two days of activities and events for its people.

ARC is now a global leader in risk and safety engineering, providing a suite of services to the defence, transport, civil nuclear and oil and gas industries with a reputation for providing an outstanding service. In the past 20 years ARC has seen its go from turnover $18m Aus. to more than $54m- and its people from 80-150 in the last 10 years, 30 of them in Australia.

Managing Director John Abbott is justifiably proud of ARC's people and what they have achieved together. He said: "When we met in that pub all those years ago, we had all had enough of the politics and bureaucracy of large corporates. We wanted to create a working environment where people were supported to deliver for clients- with high levels of independence and autonomy. We offered- and continue to offer- industry-leading terms and conditions- and a workplace culture that supports social interaction, community engagement and employee health and well-being."

ARC's ethos and values are the core of its success as the leading independent consultancy in most of its sectors in Australia, the UK, and many other parts of the world. It is employee-owned, with share allocations, enabling the company to pay an annual share dividend to its employees based on its financial performance.

Co-founder and Managing Director John Abbott said: "My ties with Australia are deep and personal. It is a matter of pride that we have been able to build a presence here, recruiting Australians to work on some of the largest rail, oil and gas, nuclear and defence projects here in Australia and around the world. I am delighted that so many of my Australian colleagues are making the journey to Scotland to celebrate being part of a team which is not divided between our two countries but is truly one great team.

"It is a matter of pride that we have been able to build such a strong independent company and provide so many opportunities for young people to develop their careers in science and engineering. We've also been recognised along the way by The Sunday Times as one of the best companies to work for in the UK."

Note to editors:

ARC are extremely proud to support Yalari, a charity focusing on educating and empowering indigenous children in Australia. It is their belief that education is the key to generational change and a brighter future for indigenous children. https://www.yalari.org/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616980492/en/

Contacts:

Further information: graham.birse@consultarc.com (00) 44 07813 6048
Planting Hope's team showcased menu solutions featuring RightRice Veggie Rice, Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk, and Mozaics Real Veggie Chips to hundreds of Foodservice channel decision makers during the 2023 DOT Foods Innovations Show

DOT Foods is the linchpin to opening up the Foodservice channel, a major focus for Planting Hope for expanded growth and profitability

DOT Foods provides direct access to more than 4,500 distributors and 200,000 Foodservice end user locations

Menu concepts showcased to DOT customers include RightRice in bowl formats (as featured on CAVA restaurant menus nationwide, Chicken + RightRice Bowl ), as well as in burritos and wraps

Now appearing on nearly 25% of menus nationwide, bowls are one of the fastest growing menu trends in Foodservice, offering customers both easy customization and portability

RightRice is the only bowl base that also provides complete protein

CHICAGO, IL and VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / The Planting Hope Company Inc. (TSXV:MYLK)(OTCQB:MYLKF)(FRA:J94) ("Planting Hope" or the "Company"), a plant-based food and beverage company focused on producing the world's most nutritious and planet-friendly products, is proud to announce that Planting Hope was invited to showcase its product lines at the DOT Food Innovations show, June 13-15 in St. Louis, Missouri. All three brands, RightRice Veggie Rice, Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk, and Mozaics Real Veggie Chips are newly listed in DOT Foods, making them available to more than 4,500 distributors and 200,000 Foodservice end user locations nationwide. The DOT Foods Innovations Show brings together DOT customers, suppliers, and national account operators, to make meaningful connections, discover industry insights, and explore trending products-all available through DOT.

"Achieving distribution through DOT Foods across our brands has been a major milestone achievement for the Company, and we're proud to be invited to showcase our products to DOT Foods Partners at the annual DOT Foods Innovations Show," says Julia Stamberger, CEO and Co-Founder, Planting Hope. "DOT's reach and reputation in the Foodservice channel is unparalleled, and they're truly a company that their partners enjoy working with, from vendors to end customers. We're thrilled to bring our own Planting Hope innovation to DOT customers at the show and are showcasing a variety of menu solutions across our products that speak to some of the fastest-growing trends in Fast-Casual, Quick Service Restaurant, and Campus Foodservice."

At DOT Innovations, Planting Hope offered samples of a RightRice Pad Thai- style bowl prepared by Planting Hope's Michelin Star Chef Henry Hill. Menu solutions on display included a RightRice Vegetarian Burrito and a RightRice Mediterranean Bowl, similar to the bowls at CAVA Restaurants (NYSE: CAVA), where RightRice is offered by name as a Grain Bowl base.

The Bowl menu trend now appears on more than 25% of restaurant menus nationwide and is continuing to scale rapidly. As Bleu Zones put it (Super Bowls: Why This Healthier Food Trend is Here to Stay), "the Bowl Boom emerged from fast-casual restaurants almost by accident, an ad hoc solution for meeting off-menu special requests from customers. Seen this way, it's clear that bowls are the food format we'd long wanted, rather than some clever marketing ploy foisted upon us."

Bowls are now a fixture on the menu of Fast-Casual Restaurants, which fill the gap between fast-food and casual table-service restaurants; today there are more than 40,000 Fast-Casual restaurant outlets in the United States, and annual revenues are anticipated to grow by $55.4 billion between 2022-2027, a CAGR of 12%.

To build a Bowl, typically a consumer selects a Base, then a Protein, then a variety of Veggies, wet Toppings (beans, guacamole, hummus), dry Toppings (seeds, croutons, cheese), and Dressing. Popular bowl bases on menus include Salad Greens, Grains (rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, lentils), and Noodles (zucchini noodles, rice noodles, ramen).

"The great thing about RightRice is that it is far more than a rice alternative," said Planting Hope Product & Culinary Development Chef, Henry Hill. "RightRice is the only bowl base that is ALSO a complete protein. Now operators can garnish and build up the bowl without having to add additional protein on top. With 11g of compete protein per serving, ounce for ounce RightRice has comparable complete protein to salmon, 3x the protein in tofu, and 25% more protein than most alternative meats, like Beyond Meat or Impossible Burger."

Ounce-for-ounce, RightRice Foodservice bulk product is priced comparably to quinoa, and less than animal protein sources, also providing opportunities for operator cost savings across the finished product as additional protein is not required to complete the meal.

For Beverage menu solution ideation, Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk was featured in a Toasted Black Sesame Nitro Latte and in a Vanilla Matcha Latte.

The Planting Hope 2023 Foodservice Catalog, including DOT Foods item numbers, is available here.

RightRice on display at DOT Innovations 2023 Show with Mediterranean bowl; Chef Henry dishes out a RightRice sample bowl to a show attendee

Planting Hope Vice President of Foodservice Becky Harrison and Product & Culinary Development Chef Henry Hill open Day 3 of the 2023 DOT Foods Innovations Show

About DOT Foods

Dot Foods, Inc. carries 125,000 products from 1,020 food industry manufacturers, making it the largest food industry redistributor in North America. Through Dot Transportation, Inc., an affiliate of Dot Foods, the company distributes foodservice, convenience, retail, and vending products to distributors in all 50 states and more than 55 countries. Dot Foods operates 12 U. S. distribution centers, which are located in Bullhead City, Arizona; Modesto, California; Bear, Delaware; Vidalia, Georgia; Burley, Idaho; Mt. Sterling, Illinois; University Park, Illinois; Cambridge City, Indiana; Williamsport, Maryland; Liverpool, New York; Ardmore, Oklahoma; and Dyersburg, Tennessee. Dot's 13th U.S. location will be located in Manchester, Tennessee. Dot Foods' Canadian operations are located in Toronto, Ontario and Calgary, Alberta. A new Dot Foods Canada distribution center is currently under construction in Ingersoll, Canada.

In November 2022, Planting Hope announced that the Company had become a vendor to Dot Foods, initiating listings through Dot with Original RightRice Veggie Rice in bulk 5lb bags and Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk in 32 oz shelf-stable cartons. An additional three RightRice? SKUs and six Hope and Sesame? SKUs were added to Dot warehouses in March 2023.

For more information, visit DotFoods.com.

About CAVA

CAVA is the category-defining Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand, bringing together healthful food and bold, satisfying flavors at scale. Rooted in rich Mediterranean heritage, CAVA bring a timeless approach to modern wellness through authentic cuisine and vibrant brand experience. Guided by its mission, CAVA believes food is a unifier for a more diverse and inclusive world for their guests, team members, and grower and rancher partners, where all are welcome at their table. CAVA believes that consumers should not have to choose between taste and health - their innovative cuisine appeals to a wide variety of preferences, satisfying the modern consumer's desires for flavorful, craveable, and nutritious food without compromise.

About RightRice

RightRice is a vegetable-based, protein-rich, lower carbohydrate alternative to white rice that's packed with fiber and complete plant-based protein. RightRice is the first of its kind: a shelf-stable grain that's 90% vegetables (lentils, chickpeas, green peas), and delivers on taste, functionality, and nutrition. With more than 9g of complete protein and 5g of fiber per 50g serving, RightRice provides almost four times the protein and 40% fewer net carbohydrates than traditional white rice, plus it can be prepared in 12 minutes. RightRice is available in Original (unflavored) and pre-seasoned flavor varieties, including Garlic & Herb, Spanish, and Cilantro Lime. RightRice Risotto provides a protein-rich, easy-to-cook alternative to traditional risotto. All RightRice products are made using real herbs and spices, and are plant-based, non-GMO verified, gluten-free certified, and kosher certified. RightRice products are currently sold in more than 8,500 doors in leading retailers across North America, including Whole Foods Market, Wegman's, Kroger, Sprouts, and Publix, and in Canada can be found at Walmart stores. RightRice is ideal for foodservice applications, and is featured on restaurant menus, including CAVA locations nationwide. RightRice has received awards and acclaim since its launch in 2019, including People Magazine's Best Plant-Based Food Award, NOSH's Best New Product, and Sunset Magazine's 2021 Pantry Award, in addition to being highlighted as the Best Alt Grain Grocery Store Swap by goop. RightRice Risotto was awarded Best Sauce/Store Cupboard Product in FoodBev's 2021 World Plant-Based Taste Awards and received the 2021 Eco Excellence Award for Best Gluten Free Product, in addition to being chosen as a 2021 Editors' Pick for Best New Product by Progressive Grocer. For more information visit: www.rightrice.com.

About The Planting Hope Company Inc.

Planting Hope develops, launches, and scales uniquely innovative plant-based and planet-friendly food and beverage brands. Planting Hope's award-winning and cutting-edge products fill key unmet needs in the skyrocketing plant-based food and beverage space. The Planting Hope brand family includes Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk, Barista Blend Sesamemilk, and Sesamilk creamers, RightRice Veggie Rice, Mozaics Real Veggie Chips, and Veggicopia Veggie Snacks. Planting Hope products are currently found in more than 15,000 retail doors and 70,000 total distribution points across North America. Founded by experienced food industry entrepreneurs, Planting Hope is a women-managed and women-led company focused on nutrition, sustainability, and representation.

For more information about Planting Hope please visit plantinghopecompany.com, sign up for Planting Hope news emails HERE and follow on LinkedIn.

An informational webinar on The Planting Hope Company from CEO and Co-Founder Julia Stamberger is available HERE.

To follow the brands on Instagram and Facebook, please visit: @hopeandsesameco, @rightrice, @mozaicschips, @veggicopia.

To find Planting Hope products at a store near you in the United States or Canada, please visit the store locator. Planting Hope products are also available at plantinghopebrands.com and ecommerce retailers including Amazon.com and Amazon.ca.

The 2023 Planting Hope Product Catalog is available here. The Planting Hope Foodservice Catalog, including item codes to order Planting Hope products through DOT Foods, is available here.

Contacts

Company Contact:

Julia Stamberger

CEO and Co-Founder

(773) 492-2243

julia@plantinghopecompany.com

Investor Relations Contact:

Glen Akselrod, Bristol Capital

(905) 326-1888 ext. 1

glen@bristolir.com

Media Contact:

Alex Jessup, Jessup PR

(323) 529-3541

alex.jessup@jessuppr.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively referred to hereafter as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements that address activities, events, or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will, or may, occur in the future, including statements about the Company's ability to execute on its goals, the timing pertaining to these goals the potential demand for the Company's products, the timing and success of anticipated product launches and distribution of the Company's products, and the Company's business prospects, future trends, plans and strategies. In some cases, forward looking statements are preceded by, followed by, or include words such as "may", "will," "would", "could", "should", "believes", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "continues", or the negative of those words or other similar or comparable words. In preparing the forward looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, the assumption that demand for the Company's product will be sustained or increase in accordance with management's projections, that the Company's internal research and analysis is indicative of broader market trends and the Company's anticipated future demand for its products, that changes in consumer preferences in the plant-based food industry will continue in accordance with the Company's expectations, that the Company's current business objectives can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected, and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. Although the management of the Company believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. Risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company, as well as trends identified by the Company affecting its industry can be found in the Company's annual information form dated December 31, 2022 and the Company's continuous disclosure record available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Such cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements made in this news release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE: The Planting Hope Company Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/761659/Planting-Hope-Showcases-RightRiceR-Veggie-Rice-Hope-and-SesameR-Sesamemilk-and-MozaicsTM-Real-Veggie-Chips-at-its-First-DOT-Foods-Innovations-Show
Recent activities honored teachers and school employees with special events, gifts, and recognition.

TUSTIN, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union serving school employees and their families in the U.S., announced that the organization has wrapped up another successful school year with a series of appreciation events honoring teachers and school employees during School Employee Appreciation Month in May. Events and activities were held throughout Teacher Appreciation Week and Classified School Employee Appreciation Week, and included tickets to sporting events, sweepstakes, gifts, and support of various employee recognition programs in local school districts throughout California. SchoolsFirst FCU currently serves over 436,000 school employees in its Membership.

This year's activities included:

School Employee Appreciation Night at Angel Stadium: On May 5, the Credit Union sponsored a special night to honor teachers and school employees at the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Texas Rangers game, offering discounted tickets for 12,075 school employees, family members and friends who attended.

On May 5, the Credit Union sponsored a special night to honor teachers and school employees at the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Texas Rangers game, offering discounted tickets for 12,075 school employees, family members and friends who attended. In-Branch Gift and Treat: During Teacher Appreciation Week May 1 - 6 and Classified School Employee Appreciation Week May 22 - 27, the Credit Union offered a branded cooler bag gift and custom chocolate cookie bar for all school employees who visited SchoolsFirst FCU branches.

During Teacher Appreciation Week May 1 - 6 and Classified School Employee Appreciation Week May 22 - 27, the Credit Union offered a branded cooler bag gift and custom chocolate cookie bar for all school employees who visited SchoolsFirst FCU branches. School Employee Appreciation Sweepstakes: In April, SchoolsFirst FCU announced a sweepstakes for school employee Members, with a grand prize package featuring an exclusive culinary experience with renowned chef Trevor Perkins for 10 teachers and 10 classified school employees, and additional prizes of $100 Mastercard prepaid cards for 20 teachers and 20 classified school employees.

In April, SchoolsFirst FCU announced a sweepstakes for school employee Members, with a grand prize package featuring an exclusive culinary experience with renowned chef Trevor Perkins for 10 teachers and 10 classified school employees, and additional prizes of $100 Mastercard prepaid cards for 20 teachers and 20 classified school employees. School Employee Recognition Programs: SchoolsFirst FCU also supports and sponsors numerous local recognition programs and activities throughout California, including: Sacramento County Office of Education District Teachers of the Year and Classified Employees of the Year recognition games at the Sacramento River Cats. ABC10 Sacramento's Teacher of the Month and Teacher of the Year programs. Orange County Classified Employee of the Year and Teacher of the Year programs.

SchoolsFirst FCU also supports and sponsors numerous local recognition programs and activities throughout California, including:

"Teachers and classified school employees are the backbone of our education system. School employees help shape the lives of children and empower them to be their best selves," said Josh Smith, vice president, school and community relations for SchoolsFirst FCU. "Each year, it is an honor to recognize their hard work and celebrate their many contributions by sponsoring these annual activities."

During School Employee Appreciation Month, and all year round, SchoolsFirst FCU is honored to serve school employees and their families.

# # #

Link to Recap Video: 2023 School Employee Appreciation Month with SchoolsFirst FCU

About SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is the fifth largest credit union in the country. Serving school employees and their families, the organization is dedicated to providing World-Class Personal Service and improving the financial lives of its Members. Today they serve more than 1.3 million Members with a full range of financial products and services. SchoolsFirst FCU was founded in 1934, when 126 school employees pooled $1,200 and established a Member-owned cooperative to help improve each other's lives. In 2022, the Credit Union reported nearly $28 billion in assets and remains the largest credit union in California. For more information about SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, visit schoolsfirstfcu.org.

Media Contact: Ann Bouchard

ann@bouchardcommunications.com

Mobile: (916) 521-7440

SOURCE: SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/761655/SchoolsFirst-Federal-Credit-Union-Celebrates-Teachers-and-School-Employees-through-Annual-Appreciation-Events
HIGHLIGHTS

Palos Verdes (silver, Sinaloa, Mexico) 2,500-meter drilling program underway 5 holes have been completed for a total of 727 meters of HQ core drilled Samples from the first three holes have been submitted to the lab for analysis A rock chip sample from mapped veins returned an assay of 840.5 AgEq (700 g/t Ag and 1.68 g/t Au) over a sample width of 1 meter

Los Pavitos (gold, Sonora, Mexico) 295 meters of trenches have been constructed and sampled with assay results received for 96.7 meters Interval of 0.44 g/t Au over 10 metres in trench ZSC9 High grade silver assays in surface sampling in northeast Santa Cruz area 2,500-meter drill program to start by the end of June

Hot Breccia (copper, Arizona) LiDAR survey completed, results expected in three weeks Airborne ZTEM survey contracted, to be flown in June Drill permit application started Expecting to drill 1000-2000 meters starting in Q3-2023 Results of ongoing surface sampling expected in June



Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2023) - Prismo Metals Inc. (CSE: PRIZ) (OTCQB: PMOMF) ("Prismo" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the ongoing exploration programs at its Palos Verdes, Los Pavitos and Hot Breccia properties.

Dr. Craig Gibson, President and CEO commented: "Prismo is in the very enviable position of having three fully funded drilling campaigns this year, thanks to our strong liquidity position. Drilling is currently underway at our Palos Verdes silver project, drilling will commence shortly at our Los Pavitos gold project and we expect to be drilling our Hot Breccia copper project in the third quarter."

Palos Verdes Exploration Update

The Company recently started a 2500-meter drill program on the Palos Verdes project. The drill program will test the areas of the Palos Verdes vein system in areas where there previously was no drill access, mainly along the northeastern extension of the vein system and certain areas in the southwestern portion where previous drilling occurred.

Five holes have been completed for a total of 727 meters of HQ core drilled for the current program. Samples from the first three holes have been submitted to the lab for analysis. Drilling so far has been completed in the northeastern limit of the Palos Verdes vein system exposed on the Palos Verdes concession. Results confirm the presence of multiple narrow quartz veins along the structural trend as expected based on surface mapping and sampling (see photos below). Surface sampling undertaken in the region to help define the drill pattern yielded high grades from one of these veins that returned an assay of 840.5 AgEq (700 g/t Ag and 1.68 g/t Au) over a width of 1 meter.

Dr. Craig Gibson, President and CEO of Prismo, stated, "The Palos Verdes drilling is progressing according to plans, with the initial shallow holes providing important geological information. The drilling so far is in line with expectations, with multiple narrow intercepts in each hole along the structural trend of the Palos Verdes vein system with multistage mineralization at what appear to be high structural levels. The drill rig is being moved to the southwest to offset intercepts in previous drill holes where we did not previously have access while we await assay results."

Table PV. Highlight assays from recent surface sampling on the Palos Verdes concession

Sample Type Style Width (m) Easting Northing Au_g/t Ag g/t 126020 Rock chip Vein 1.0 414,037 2,593,290 0.005 15.6 126021 Rock chip Vein 0.5 414,087 2,593,397 0.244 30 126028 Rock chip Vein 1.0 413,986 2,593,321 0.008 13.25 126029 Rock chip Vein 0.5 414,088 2,593,396 0.019 39.9 13702 Rock chip Vein 1.0 413,994 2,593,431 1.68 700 13704 Rock chip Vein 3.0 414,177 2,593,461 0.878 68.6 13708 Rock chip Vein 1.0 413,898 2,593,248 0.523 15.1 13716 Rock chip Vein 1.0 414,011 2,593,306 0.061 15.35





Photo of core from hole PV-20, interval 18-23.5 m.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7434/170247_f7b7cf10c4c6eb9a_003full.jpg





Photo of core from PV-21, interval 45 to 51m.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7434/170247_f7b7cf10c4c6eb9a_004full.jpg

Los Pavitos Exploration Update

The Company is also pleased to announce that its trenching program across the main mineralized trends on its Los Pavitos property is well underway, and that 295 meters of trenches have been constructed and sampled. The main objective of the trenching program is to better define the orientation and full width of the mineralized structures prior to starting the drill campaign. Assay results have been received for 44 samples from the first three trenches in the Santa Cruz area with a combined length of 96.7 meters, along with an additional 233 samples from the ongoing mapping and sampling program. Of note are an interval of 10m with a weighted average of 0.44 g/t Au in trench ZSC9, and a new silver rich target area with multiple samples assaying more than 300 g/t Ag over 1-2 meter widths and ranging to as much as 579 g/t Ag. An additional 127 trench samples have been submitted to the assay lab with results expected in two weeks. The 5289 hectare (20 square miles) Los Pavitos project is located in the well mineralized Alamos region of southern Sonora State, Mexico.

"We are excited by the results of our recent sampling program at Los Pavitos. Initial results from trenches provide the first indication that wider zones of low-grade gold mineralization are present in the structural zones that contain narrow high-grade quartz veins, which could be important for future development of the property. We are also awaiting further results for an additional 94 samples along 160 meters of trenches," said Dr. Gibson. Dr. Gibson also stated, "We have expanded surface sampling in the northeastern Santa Cruz area as well as the Oromuri area, and discovered a new silver rich mineralized area that will be added to our future exploration plans. We are on track to begin a 2,500-meter drill program projected to commence in late June."





Trenching at Los Pavitos.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7434/170247_f7b7cf10c4c6eb9a_005full.jpg





Figure LP1. Trench location and gold assays in the Santa Cruz area.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7434/170247_f7b7cf10c4c6eb9a_006full.jpg

Table LP1. Highlight assays from contiguous samples from part of trench ZSC9 in the Santa Cruz area

Sample Type Style Width (m) Easting Northing Au_g/t Ag g/t As_ppm Bi_ppm 543121 Channel Trench 1.0 676,815 3,001,995 1.58 1.58 3490 2.43 543153 Channel Trench 1.0 676,816 3,001,995 0.625 0.63 1160 1.63 543154 Channel Trench 1.0 676,817 3,001,995 0.47 0.47 1065 1.42 543155 Channel Trench 1.0 676,818 3,001,995 0.425 0.43 957 34.5 543156 Channel Trench 2.0 676,820 3,001,994 0.174 0.35 211 0.28 543157 Channel Trench 2.0 676,822 3,001,994 0.366 0.73 363 0.28 543158 Channel Trench 2.0 676,824 3,001,994 0.127 0.25 205 0.21

Table LP2. Highlight assays from the northeastern Santa Cruz area

Sample Type Style Width (m) Easting Northing Au_g/t Ag g/t As_ppm Bi_ppm 543144 Channel Oxidation 1.3 678,084 3,002,432 1.16 509 7900 2.91 543145 Channel Vein 1.0 678,086 3,002,443 0.427 579 6860 2.61 543146 Channel Vein 2.0 678,086 3,002,441 0.233 352 3870 0.7 543147 Channel Vein 1.0 678,092 3,002,444 0.643 305 2230 1 543148 Channel Vein 1.0 678,082 3,002,441 0.551 168 2590 1.28 543149 Channel Vein 1.0 678,092 3,002,442 0.392 201 >10000 2.17 543150 Channel Vein 1.0 678,096 3,002,444 0.394 574 2430 20.7 543151 Channel Vein 1.0 678,096 3,002,445 0.071 29.3 545 0.15 543152 Chip Vein 1.0 678,078 3,002,437 0.191 85.7 6030 0.64

Hot Breccia Exploration Update

Work at the Hot Breccia property in Arizona is also progressing according to plans. Field work for an environmental permit to allow drilling on existing roads has been completed and report preparation for submittal to the appropriate agency is in progress. A drone LiDAR survey was completed in May and analysis of the data is in progress. A planned airborne ZTEM survey has been contracted and is programmed to be flown within the next 2 to 3 weeks. Surface mapping and sampling is also progressing.

Dr. Gibson stated, "A LiDAR survey over the Hot Breccia property has identified multiple small mines and prospects that were developed along several of the northeast trending structural trends highlighted by intrusion of various typed of dikes. Some polylithic breccias are located along these structural trends as are showings of oxide copper minerals and iron oxide rich shears that commonly show elevated gold in assays."





Figure HB1. Preliminary LiDAR interpretation with small mines and prospects and historic drill holes.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7434/170247_figurehb1.jpg

QA/QC

Rock samples taken by Prismo were analyzed by multielement ICP-AES and MS methods by ALS Group, an internationally recognized analytical service provider. Gold is analyzed as part of the ICP package using a 25-gram aqua regia digestion. Ag, Pb and Zn over 1% and Au values over 1 g/t are re-analyzed by the by an overrange ICP method. Certified Reference Materials including standard pulps and coarse blank material were inserted in the sample stream at regular intervals.

For Palos Verdes, silver equivalent values are calculated using the following metals prices: Au, US$1,750/oz, Ag, $21.24/oz, Pb, $0.97/lb and Zn, $1.34/lb. Cu was not used in the calculation, and metallurgical recoveries were not considered as there is no data available.

Dr. Craig Gibson, PhD., CPG., a Qualified Person as defined by NI-43-01 regulations and President, CEO and a director of the Company, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosures in this news release.

About Prismo

Prismo (CSE: PRIZ) is mining exploration company focused on two precious metal projects in Mexico (Palos Verdes and Los Pavitos) and a copper project in Arizona (Hot Breccia).

Please follow @PrismoMetals on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube

Prismo Metals Inc.

1100 - 1111 Melville St., Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 3V6

Contact:

Craig Gibson, President & Chief Executive Officer craig.gibson@prismometals.com

Jason Frame, Manager of Communications jason.frame@prismometals.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement and exploration program results, the ability to complete future financings, required permitting, exploration programs and drilling, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are 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. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations 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, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, the analytical results from surface trenching and sampling program, including diamond drilling programs, the results of IP surveying, the results of soil and till sampling program. the quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including CSE acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Company to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, the potential impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on the Company's exploration program and on the Company's general business, operations and financial condition, and other risks and uncertainties. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/170247
Featuring Critical Metals Day on June 20, 2023

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2023) - Quebec Nickel (CSE: QNI), a well funded junior exploration company focused on a high-grade critical metals discovery in Quebec, is pleased to announce that it will be participating in THE Mining Investment Event of the North, June 19-21, 2023, ("THE Event") at the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac and Voltigeurs de Quebec Armoury in Quebec City, Canada.

Management from Quebec Nickel will be holding one-on-one investor meetings throughout the three-day conference. Interested parties should contact Jennifer Choi at jchoi@vidconferences.com to inquire about registering to attend.

Information regarding THE Event including investor registration details, a list of participating companies, panelists and keynote speakers and a preliminary agenda can be found here https://vidconferences.com/conferences-events/tier-1-mining-conference/.

About Quebec Nickel

Quebec Nickel Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on acquiring, exploring, and developing critical metals (Ni-Cu-Co-PGE) projects in Quebec, Canada. The Company has a 100% interest in the Ducros Property, consisting of 282 contiguous mining claims covering 15,293 hectares within the eastern portion of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in Quebec, Canada. Additional information about Quebec Nickel Corp. is available at www.quebecnickel.com.

THE Mining Investment Event of the North is Canada's only tier 1 Global Mining Investment Conference and hosted annually in Quebec City, Canada. THE Event is invitation only and is independently sponsored by the Government of Quebec, and financial and mining communities at large. THE Event is designed to specifically facilitate privately arranged meetings between mining companies, international investors, and various mining government authorities. THE Event is committed to promoting sustainability in the mining industry through education and innovation through unique Student Sponsorships, She-Co Initiatives, highlighting ESG and equality issues and by providing a platform for some of most influential thought leaders in the sector. The agenda, brochure, participating companies, speakers & panelists, initiatives and registration applications for issuers and investors may be found here: https://vidconferences.com/conferences-events/tier-1-mining-conference/.

Interested parties please contact Jennifer Choi, jchoi@vidconferences.com.

Joanne Jobin

Principal & Founder

IR.INC & VID Media Incorporated

jjobin@irinc.ca

Jennifer Choi

Vice President, Operations

IR.INC & VID Media Incorporated

jchoi@vidconferences.com

Brhett Booker

Associate

VID Media Incorporated

bbooker@vidconferences.com

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube
EQS-News: Alteia Fund / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

The launch of the Alteia Fund heralds the consolidation of an iconic investment fund focused on Africa and the Middle East



16.06.2023 / 14:48 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





The launch of the Alteia Fund heralds the consolidation of an iconic investment fund focused on Africa andthe Middle East

The Fund's strategy is premised on investing in debt finance assets in a panoply of asset classes in Africa and the Middle East

Alteia Fund ( www.AlteiaFund.com ) emerged from a Management Buy Out of Barak's Group founding partners in early 2023. With assets under Management (AuM) of over USD 1bn, Alteia comprises a team of highly specialised fund managers who offer their clients access to 30 countries in Africa as well as expansion opportunities into new markets in the Middle East, including UAE and Saudi Arabia, where they now have a presence.

In the words of Alteia Fund's CEO, Kevin Ramsamy, Alteia's vision is to "provide sustainable investment solutions that empower clients to achieve their financial goals while driving positive societal change in both Africa and the Middle East. Adherence to the highest industry standards cements our unwavering commitment to responsible, transparent, accountable investing".

The Fund's strategy is premised on investing in debt finance assets in a panoply of asset classes in Africa and the Middle East. The Alteia team's particular area of focus is on commodities with a high physical liquidity, which are of an export, import or regional nature. "Alteia's stakeholders get to experience the power of investment via the ingenuity of our highly experienced team and their extensive network of stakeholders in the field" Kevin Ramsamy, Alteia Fund CEO.

With myriad strong pipeline deals, positive investor sentiment and the collective expertise of the Fund's staff focused on unlocking investor opportunities, the future looks exceedingly bright for Alteia. Invest today, earn tomorrow!

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group.

Download image (1): https://apo-opa.info/3PdhA3V

Download image (2): https://apo-opa.info/3X8wBWB



Contact details:

Ms. Keshika Motaye contact@alteiafund.com Tel: +230 698 0397

www.AlteiaFund.com



About Alteia Fund:

Alteia is a market-focused alternative investment fund for Africa and the Middle East, backed by a team that has a strong legacy of debt financing in key sectors such as soft and hard commodities. Alteia's team provides trade finance to companies towards achieving economic growth and job creation in these vital sectors with high impact on the community and local livelihoods. The ability to provide short, medium and long-term financing solutions, is what underpins Alteia's vision of being one of the leading alternative financiers in both Africa and the Middle East.

###

16.06.2023 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


Grande River Vineyards Will Celebrate the Launch of Sante! Sparkling Wine

PALISADE, CO / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Grande River Vineyards will celebrate the launch of Sante! Sparkling Wine produced in the Methode Champenoise at its seasonal pickup at the winery in Palisade on Saturday, June 17, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.





Sante! Sparkling Wine

Grande River Vineyards Presents Sante!





The party, which will enable Legacy Wine Club members to pick up their June selections, is open to the public and will feature live music by Tony Rosario as well as homemade Mexican food by the El Ray food truck. Other Grande River Vineyards wines will also be available for tasting and sale.

"Our limited production of the traditional sparkling wine will be available in the Tasting Room, at Colorado Wine Country Inn and select restaurants," says Grande River Vineyards Manager Daniel Vice. This will be the first opportunity to purchase Sante!, whose name is derived from the French Votre Sante! toast, meaning "to your health."

"We're so excited to add a traditional sparkling wine to our product line of mostly Bordeaux and Rhone varietals," Vice adds. "Rainer Thoma, our European-trained and certified winemaker, is already planning to increase production next year."

Vice is expecting the Brut bubbly to be very well received, especially for weddings, anniversaries, and other celebrations. Sante! is recommended for pairing with a wide range of foods.

Priced well at $44.95 a bottle, Sante! falls into an affordable range for a quality sparkling wine.

"I would encourage fans of traditional sparkling wines to come by for a tasting soon because we think Sante! is going to be a popular bubbly," Vice emphasizes.

The winery was purchased by Richard and Jean Tally in June 2021 from founder and industry pioneer Stephen Smith. Anne Tally, their daughter, is a partner of Ten Acre Winery LLC, doing business as Grande River Vineyards.

Founded in 1987 when Smith planted his first vines, Grande River Vineyards fermented its first wine in 1990 and was the state's fifth licensed winery. Learn more at https://granderivervineyards.com.

Contact Information

Daniel Vice

Manager

dan@granderivervineyards.com

970-464-5867

Related Files

GrandeRiver_logo.jpg

SOURCE: Grande River Vineyards

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/761675/Grande-River-Vineyards-Introduces-Sante-Sparkling-Wine
MILAN, Italy, June 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intesa Sanpaolo presented Isybank, the Group's new digital banking platform, a qualifying project of its Business Plan 2022-2025, central to its customer service model and digital development strategy.

The launch of Isybank took place at the Gioia 22 office tower in Milan, nicknamed 'The Glass Splinter' and located in Porta Nuova, which houses the operational headquarters of Isybank and other Intesa Sanpaolo Group Divisions.

In addition to Carlo Messina, Managing Director and CEO of Intesa Sanpaolo, the Group was represented by Stefano Barrese, Head of the Banca dei Territori Division, and Paola Papanicolaou, Head of the Transformation Coordination Area, who participated in a panel on the digital development of Intesa Sanpaolo that included the testimony of Tara Brady, President of Google Cloud for Europe, Middle East and Africa. This was followed by a discussion between Virginia Borla, Head of Business Governance, Banca dei Territori Division, and Massimo Proverbio, Chief Data, AI, Innovation and Technology Officer, in a panel focused on Intesa Sanpaolo's service model, the value of people and technology, to which Paul Taylor, Founder & CEO Thought Machine, a leading fintech company and former Isybank partner, also contributed.

Antonio Valitutti, CEO of Isybank, presented the innovative approach of the new digital bank by demonstrating the functions of the app at the centre of the new digital ecosystem.

"With the launch of Isybank, the digital transformation of Intesa Sanpaolo continues, which sees this project as one of the pillars of the 2022-2025 Business Plan", explained Carlo Messina, Managing Director and CEO of Intesa Sanpaolo.

"This is a further step towards making our Group an example of best practice in the technological field as well," Messina continued, "and it is a break with the bank's past, which will enable it to be a leader on the European market in terms of operational efficiency and innovation in the service of its customers. At the same time, the digital competencies of the bank's core business continue to be reinforced decisively, with a focus on growth drivers, through significant investments in human capital and the development of a business model that has proven successful due to its diversification and resilience".

Intesa Sanpaolo has identified Thought Machine, a core banking technology company based in the UK, with regional offices in New York, Singapore and Sydney, as the ideal partner to bring the new digital banking platform to life.

The Group has outlined a 5 billion investment plan for technology and growth and will employ 4,000 people from Intesa Sanpaolo between professional retraining and recruitment of specific profiles, including about 2,000 IT professionals, to whom it will offer professional development and growth as Italy's largest private employer and one of the 'best employers' according to Linkedin and the Top Employers ranking.

For more information:

Press Office LaPresse - ufficio.stampa@lapresse.it

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2d614654-e90b-4cf9-a429-f196b5445568

The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress.
AMSTERDAM, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Autoriteit Consument & Markt (the Dutch Authority for Consumers & Markets, ACM) has granted permission for users to switch from LiteBit to Bitvavo. The Rotterdam-based crypto currency broker LiteBit announced its decision to cease operations due to market developments, increased competition and regulatory pressure two weeks ago, as reported previously .

According to Bitvavo, this fits into a trend of consolidation within the market of crypto exchanges and brokers. Bitvavo expects that more, especially smaller parties, will throw in the towel in the coming months. Currently Bitvavo is the biggest and most valued crypto exchange in The Netherlands .

Strong brand

Mark Nuvelstijn, CEO of Bitvavo, is pleased with the arrival of LiteBit customers, stating: 'LiteBit's choice for Bitvavo is a confirmation of our reliable and user-friendly platform as well as the strong brand we have built over the past years. This is reflected in the consistent organic growth of our user base, not only in the Netherlands but also abroad. It is truly gratifying to add a significant number of users to our platform, in addition to our existing base of more than one million users."

Consolidation in the world of crypto

Mark Nuvelstijn: ''Our market is on the verge of a major consolidation wave. Firstly, there will be companies that simply cannot comply with the upcoming MiCa regulations and other legislation. Additionally, this regulatory framework leads to rising costs and the profitability of smaller-scale players will diminish. Finally, the market is currently experiencing relatively low trading volumes. As a result of these three factors, the market will rapidly consolidate, the most competitive players will emerge as the winners.'

Nuvelstijn adds: 'The acquisition of LiteBit's customer base aligns with Bitvavo's growth strategy. In fact, we are in discussions with several players for a similar arrangement as the one we have made with LiteBit, just as we have welcomed customers from Bitzeb and Bitqist in the past.'

The crypto customer wins

Nuvelstijn states: "Supervision and enforcement will ensure that companies can demonstrate their compliance. MiCA, in particular, creates a level playing field for fair competition, with Europe taking the lead. Enforcement is crucial in this regard. If non-European entities can operate freely and disregard fines, it leads to unfair competition.

Bitvavo support regulations

'As Bitvavo, we will continue to commit ourselves to supporting the development of appropriate regulations and providing a secure environment for our users. We look forward to further consolidation in the market and remain determined to be a competitive and customer-centric player.'

Bitvavo has been registered with DNB since 2020. We invest significantly to comply with laws and regulations. Of course, the introduction of MiCA means there is work to be done to ensure we meet all the new requirements. Fortunately, we have strong compliance, risk, and legal departments that ensure we are prepared and ready on time for the necessary preparations and implementation.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/acm-approves-acquisition-of-litebit-customer-base-by-bitvavo-301853113.html
The International Niemann-Pick Disease Registry (INPDR) and biopharmaceutical company Mandos Health today announce a new collaboration giving Mandos Health controlled access to registry information via INPDR's research "Gateway" platform. This partnership will provide Mandos Health with real-world evidence that will directly inform the development of its Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1) investigational product, VTS-270. INPDR is the largest active database about the diagnosis, management, and progression of the devastating inherited lysosomal storage disorder known as Niemann-Pick type C1.

In 2013, the INPDR was launched to collect real-world data and allow patients, families, and healthcare providers worldwide to record and share experiences. The INPDR database includes information relating to more than 300 patients with NPC1, across 20 clinical sites in 11 countries, which makes the largest source of real-world Niemann-Pick type C1 evidence ever collected.

INPDR's Chief Executive Officer Conan Donnelly states, "The INPDR is delighted to announce that registry data is working hard on behalf of the community to support clinical research. This collaboration with Mandos Health demonstrates that INPDR is serving the Niemann-Pick community in the way it was intended. It also supports our efforts to deepen understanding of Niemann-Pick diseases."

"We are committed to working with the Niemann-Pick community to ensure we have every piece of high-quality evidence incorporated in our analysis of the treatment effects of VTS-270," notes Cathy Traz, Mandos Health's VP of Patient Community Engagement "We chose to partner with INPDR as it provides an unparalleled source of real-world data that represents the Niemann-Pick type C1 community and it enables us to address open questions and have further discussions with regulators about the treatment effects of VTS-270 on this ultra-rare condition."

Niemann-Pick UK's Chief Executive and INPDR Trustee Toni Mathieson adds, "This work is only possible as patients, their families and clinicians have committed to participating in the registry, sharing important real-world information about diagnosis, management, and progression of Niemann-Pick diseases. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the community by showing how their valuable data is accelerating research in the field. We enter this partnership guided by our founding principles of integrity and independence, and our mission to advance research and improve health outcomes by accurately documenting the Niemann-Pick patient experience."

Notes to Editors About the INPDR

The INPDR is a web-based disease-specific registry, collecting information about ASMD Niemann-Pick disease (types A B), and Niemann-Pick disease type C, via, an anonymised Clinician Reported Database (CRD) and a Patient Reported Database (PRD). The PRD enables patients to self-enroll online and to contribute their data through a series of questionnaires including disease impact, health economics and quality of life. The INPDR is actively supported by patients, clinicians, patient advocates and researchers from over 20 countries across five continents.

For more information, visit: www.inpdr.org.

About Niemann-Pick disease

Niemann-Pick diseases are a group of rare and devastating inherited lysosomal storage disorders that can affect both children and adults:

Acid Sphingomyelinase Deficiency (ASMD) includes Niemann-Pick disease type A (NPA) and type B (NPB), which are caused by a lack of the enzyme acid sphingomyelinase leading to a build-up of toxic materials in the body. Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC) is a hugely life-limiting neurodegenerative disease caused by an accumulation of lipids (fats) in the liver, brain, and spleen.

About Mandos Health

Mandos Health is a biopharmaceutical company committed to furthering development of VTS-270 for Niemann-Pick Type C, an ultra-rare genetic disease that affects the body's ability to metabolize cholesterol and lipids within cells. Niemann-Pick Type C disease can affect the brain, nerves, liver, spleen, bone marrow and lungs and there are currently no FDA approved treatments.

For more information, visit: www.mandoshealth.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616695911/en/

Contacts:

Cathy Traz

Patient Community Engagement

patientadvocacy@mandoshealth.com
Organizations support over 1,200 Families with Hunger Relief throughout Spring

ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Americold, Feed the Children and the Mayor's Office of International and Immigrant Affairs - Welcoming Atlanta wrapped up a series of community resource events on Wednesday, June 14. Through the four-month initiative, the organizations provided nearly 80,000 pounds of food and essentials valued at more than $400,000 to families across Atlanta as well as supported Atlanta Public Schools. The goal of these efforts was to alleviate the stress of food insecurity families face daily.

The program launched on March 1 to help bring awareness to the need for additional resources in the community. An increasing number of children - including 1 in 7 - in Georgia do not have consistent access to enough food. This can lead to growth and developmental issues over time.

Volunteers from Americold gathered at each event helping to distribute items to families including 25-pound boxes of shelf-stable food, 15-pound boxes of essentials such as soaps and self-care items and action boxes that contained fun and healthy activities for children.

Communitypartners including CORE, were on site at events to provide COVID and flu vaccines and public benefit application assistance. Additionally, Second Helpings provided meal kits from HelloFresh, and representatives from the Atlanta Public Schools Multilingual Services & Programs, Fulton County Library, Philadelphia College of Medicine Georgia, Latino Community Fund, Edens, Operation Hope, and The Latin American Association, PAD Initiative, Center for Global Health Innovation, Helping Mamas,Tahirih Justice Center, Department of Parks & Recreation, Cherokee Family Violence Center, and Children's Museum Atlanta participated at various events to share information with families.

The program also directly supported Atlanta Public Schools, providing more than 20 schools throughout the district, with items to stock resource rooms so students have access to food and essentials.

The fourth event was held at Sara J. Gonzalez Memorial Park and provide children and their families with much-needed food and essentials along with access to additional community resources. Atlanta's Sara J. Gonzalez Memorial Park, is the first park named for a Latinx individual in the state of Georgia, and honors inclusiveness and cultural diversity while providing all-abilities accessible child and family oriented greenspace to the growing Atlanta Westside community it serves.

In observance of National Immigrant Heritage Month this June we are proud to partner together to support the diverse immigrant communities in Atlanta sharing values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Two of the community events were held at the park, established to uphold Atlanta's diverse communities while commemorating the legacy of Ms. Gonzalez - a devoted mother and Cuban immigrant whose faith in the American Dream propelled her from small business owner to revered Latino, immigrant and minority-rights leader who served all in her community with joy and compassion.

Additional events were held at a residential community located at 3200 Lenox Rd. NE in Atlanta to support families nearby.

Americold has a passion for defeating hunger, they recently partnered with Feed the Children to distribute 8,000 ready-to-eat meal kits to students throughout the month of December 2022 to help support students with access to food during the holiday when families struggle to provide enough food without free, or reduced cost meals available while schools are closed winter break. These meals were distributed at Community Resource events across Atlanta neighborhoods including Adamsville, Morningside, Lindbergh, Orchard Knob, Lenox, Virginia Highlands, Perkerson, Bolton and Underwood Hills.

"Our partnership with Feed the Children is incredibly meaningful because it is one way that we show our commitment to fighting hunger and to giving back in the communities where we live and work. We're especially proud of these events in Atlanta because our company headquarters are here. We also own and operate a dozen cold storage facilities in the area to deliver on our mission to help our customers feed the world," said George Chappelle, CEO of Americold.

During the five-year partnership, Americold has donated critical funds to Feed the Children as well as travelled hundreds of thousands of miles providing complimentary temperature-controlled transportation services of chilled and frozen goods. Together, the organizations have helped feed hundreds of thousands of families across America.

Feed the Children believes it takes everyone - the nonprofit sector, corporations, community organizations, government officials and food suppliers - to come together to do good for those who need it. When efforts are combined, a greater impact is achieved.

"We welcome partnerships because we know our work would not be possible without collaborative relationships. Feed the Children is proud to join efforts with Americold and Welcoming Atlanta to support children and their families with access to food and essentials. Together, we are stronger than any one of us is alone." said Travis Arnold, president and CEO of Feed the Children.

About Americold

Americold is the world's largest publicly traded REIT focused on the ownership, operation, acquisitions and development of temperature-controlled warehouses. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Americold owns and operates 250 temperature-controlled warehouses, with approximately 1.5 billion cubic feet of storage, in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and South America. Americold's facilities are an integral component of the supply chain connecting food producers, processors, distributors, and retailers to consumers. Visit www.americold.com for more information.

About the Mayor's Office of International & Immigrant Affairs - Welcoming Atlanta

The Mayor's Office of International & Immigrant Affairs - Welcoming Atlanta is committed to positioning Atlanta as a welcoming City-a connected, inclusive community that uplifts our foreign-born population and provides an opportunity for all-and a global hub for diplomacy, business, innovation, education, culture, and sports. MOIIA's mission is to develop and foster relationships between Atlanta's international communities, City departments, and external partners to empower our foreign-born population through access to information, to identify economic opportunities, and to address local and global challenges. Visit www.welcomingatlanta.com for more information.

About Feed the Children

At 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. To learn more about Feed the Children visit feedthechildren.org and follow us on Instagram @feedthechildrenorg.

For more information, please contact:

Kelly Frey | 405-945-4064

Kelly.Frey@feedthechildren.org

Carrie Snodgrass | 405-213-9757

carrie.snodgrass@feedthechildren.org

SOURCE: Feed the Children

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/761760/Americold-Feed-the-Children-Mayors-Office-of-International-and-Immigrant-Affairs--Welcoming-Atlanta-Complete-Partnership-with-Fourth-Community-Resource-Event


BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The pound climbed against its major rivals in the European session on Friday, as a slew of economic data released overnight prompted traders to reassess rate outlook.



While U.S. retail sales rose unexpectedly in May, weekly jobless claims came in higher than expected last week.



Weak data fuelled hopes that the Federal Reserve is getting closer to the end of its rate hiking cycle.



University of Michigan's preliminary U.S. consumer sentiment index for June will be released at 10.00 am ET. The index is expected to improve to 60 from 59.2 in May.



Chair Jerome Powell will testify on the semi-annual monetary policy report next week. Powell's comments will be scrutinized for more hints on the central bank's next move.



The pound touched 181.28 against the yen, its highest level since December 1, 2015. The currency is likely to find resistance around the 184.00 level.



The pound advanced to 0.8534 against the euro, setting nearly a 1-year high. The pound is seen finding resistance around the 0.84 level.



The pound was higher against the greenback, at more than a 1-year high of 1.2848. On the upside, 1.31 is likely seen as its next resistance level.



The pound edged up to 1.1447 against the franc, reversing from an early low of 1.1388. The pound may find resistance around the 1.17 level.



Looking ahead, University of Michigan's preliminary U.S. consumer sentiment index for June is set for release in the New York session.



Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Mega-Chance Cyber Security Die KI-Revolution ist in vollem Gange und vor allem ein Bereich wird stark betroffen sein: Cyber-Security. Die Experten sind sich sicher: Mit steigender Entwicklung von KI-Technologien nehmen auch KI-gestutzte Cyber-Attacken zu. Wir zeigen hier, welche Aktien profitieren konnen. Hier klicken
VIENNA, VA / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / MicroHealth LLC, a leading Health Information Technology company, has been named one of The Washington Post's 2023 Top Workplaces in the Washington, D.C. area. More than 70% of MicroHealth's employees responded to the anonymous third-party survey, which was the sole basis determining selection.

MicroHealth earns DC Top Workplace honors, again

MicroHealth earns DC Top Workplace honors, again

"We're thrilled and honored that our employees continue to think of us as one of the best places to work," says Claude Hines, MicroHealth Chief Operating Officer. "This award speaks to the culture we have at MicroHealth and how employees recognize the impact they have in helping make MicroHealth an even better place to work, for years to come."

As MicroHealth celebrates this honor, it remains focused on its mission to put the health back into health IT. That requires calling upon team members with different backgrounds and skillsets to get the job done.

"Part of what makes MicroHealth so special is that we come from all these different backgrounds and have worked in different industries or were prior military. But we work as one team and focus on getting the job done," says Frank Tucker, MicroHealth CEO.

"We've got some of the brightest technologists and program managers on hand, but we also recognize the importance of having folks who really understand clinical workflows and how healthcare works in the real world," adds Tucker, a physician assistant himself. "If you combine all those skills together, we're helping our customers ensure a more viable product. That can go a long way, especially when you are talking about health IT and patient outcomes."

Life at MicroHealth

MicroHealth offers a wide variety of highly competitive benefits, with most available from day one. Our programs address a number of employee needs, such as planning for retirement, advancing one's education, and taking time off to unwind and savor moments that matter in your life. We take great pride in developing programs that acknowledge and celebrate the variety of needs of our diverse workforce.

To help inspire creativity at our headquarters office, we strive to create a lively and welcoming environment. Amenities include but are not limited to a coffee cafe, a 16-seat theater, a game room, massage chairs, napping pods, and an in-suite gym, to name a few. We also offer a corporate wellness program, Be Well, that offers information and assistance on your social, physical, and nutritional well-being.

About MicroHealth

MicroHealth LLC is a service-disabled veteran-owned and SBA 8(a) small business that specializes in providing IT-related solutions in the ever-changing federal health IT landscape. Our team of clinical executives, health professionals, technologists, researchers, and informaticists bring decades of experience treating patients, managing services, and developing strategies across federal departments, agencies, and the Uniformed Services.

Simply put, we're focused on putting the health back in health IT.

For more information about MicroHealth and career opportunities, please visit www.microhealthllc.com.

Contact Information

Heidi Ashbaugh

awards@microhealthllc.com

8552943547

SOURCE: MicroHealth

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/761775/Employees-Weigh-In-Name-MicroHealth-Top-Washington-Area-Workplace
Trintech Recognized for the 8th year in a row as One of Dallas/Fort Worth's Best and Brightest Companies to Work For

DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Trintech, a leading global provider of cloud-based reconciliation and financial close solutions, is pleased to announce that it has been named to the 2023 list of Dallas/Fort Worth's "Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" by the National Association for Business Resources for the 8th year in a row.

An independent research firm evaluates each company's entry based on key metrics in various categories including; Compensation, Benefits and Employee Solutions; Creative Wellness and Wellbeing Solutions, Employee Enrichment, Engagement and Retention; Employee Education and Development; Recruitment and Selection; Employee Achievement and Recognition; Communication and Shared Vision; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Work-Life Blend; Community Initiatives and Corporate Responsibility; and Leadership, Strategy and Company Performance.

"The companies that made the list of Best and Brightest Companies to Work For as well as the companies that continue to make the list are truly remarkable. Given today's need for not only attracting talent, but also retaining talent, these companies have proven they are superior to market conditions. They are elite thinkers, and this honor demonstrates their commitment to excellence," said Jennifer Kluge, President, and CEO of NABR and The Best and Brightest Program.

"Our success at Trintech is a direct result of the ongoing dedication of our employees and this recognition reaffirms our commitment to prioritizing the value of collaboration, where team members are encouraged to be innovative and given the opportunities to grow both professionally and personally," said Darren Heffernan, CEO of Trintech. "We find ourselves at a very exciting and pivotal time at Trintech with several new growth opportunities ahead, so finding and retaining the right talent will be critical in fueling this next phase of growth. We are honored to once again be recognized for this award as it continues to ensure we are attracting the best and brightest to join our growing team in North Texas and across the globe."

Committed to providing a work environment focused on work-life blend, healthy lifestyles, community service and personal and professional development, Trintech continues to provide its employees with several benefits including: Open time off (OTO), comprehensive healthcare and wellness programs, 100% company-paid volunteer time, and a tuition reimbursement program to name a few. If you're looking to join a company that continues to invest in its employees, customers, and community, check out Trintech's open positions?here.?

###

About the Best and Brightest Programs

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For is a powerful community of the Nation's elite leaders who share ideas, practices and have proven they are employers of choice. This program identifies and honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in operations and employee enrichment that led to increased productivity and financial performance. There are numerous regional programs throughout the United States, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Houston, Milwaukee, San Diego, San Francisco, Miami, New York, Charlotte, Denver, Nashville, Pacific Northwest and Nationally. Nominations are now being accepted for all programs. Visit thebestandbrightest.com to nominate your organization.

About Trintech

Trintech, a leading global provider of cloud-based, integrated reconciliation and financial close solutions for Finance & Accounting departments. From high volume transaction matching, to automating and managing balance sheet reconciliations, intercompany accounting, journal entries, close management tasks, to governance, risk and compliance - Trintech's portfolio of financial solutions, including its Cadency Platform (for large enterprises) and Adra Suite (for mid-market organizations), help manage all aspects of the reconciliation and financial close processes. Trintech's excellence in both innovation and client support have been recognized with a variety of awards over the years including most recently "Easiest to Do Business With" and "Fastest Implementation" in G2's Report. Over 3,500 clients worldwide - including the majority of the Fortune 100 - rely on Trintech's solutions to enable their F&A operation to become a strategic partner to the business by controlling risk, driving efficiencies, and providing strategic insights.

Headquartered in Plano, Texas, Trintech has offices located across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the Nordics, as well as strategic partners in South Africa, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific. To learn more about Trintech, visit www.trintech.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Media Contact:

Kelli Shoevlin

Director, Global Corporate Marketing & Communications

kelli.shoevlin@trintech.com

SOURCE: Trintech, Inc

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/761580/Trintech-Named-a-2023-DallasFort-Worth-Best-and-Brightest-Companies-to-Work-For-R
MUNICH, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Qn-SOLAR, a global PV manufacturer, recently attended the three-day Intersolar Europe 2023 in Munich, Germany. They showcased their key product lineup to global audiences and hosted a cocktail party on June 15th, bringing together the three co-founders, key clients, and the local sales team from across Europe to relax and unwind after the exhibition.

The party gathered the three co-founders of Qn-SOLAR: Stephen Cai, Jack Ren, and Aaron Wu, along with key clients including distributors, installers, EPCs, business developers, and the local sales team from across Europe. The event was held at the Qn-SOLAR booth and offered cocktail services and Q&A for their brand and key products: N-type TOPCon 182mm 16BB cell, QNN182-HS585-72, and QNM182-HS410-54 modules.

"Tonight, we celebrate not only the success of our products and our presence at Intersolar, but also the strength of our partnerships with our clients and the dedication of our team. We are committed to delivering innovative and sustainable solutions to meet the energy needs of our global community, and we look forward to continuing to work together towards a brighter and greener future," said Stephen Cai, co-founder of Qn-SOLAR.

Since its inception, Qn-SOLAR has quickly risen to the top of the Chinese PV manufacturing industry. The senior team of Qn-SOLAR has over 15 years of comprehensive expertise in PV technology and PV solutions. From 2014 to present, the installed capacity of signed projects has reached 15GW, and its own asset of PV power stations has exceeded 1.5GW. In 2022, Qn-SOLAR officially launched its global PV business.

Qn-SOLAR currently offers four main product categories: PERC182, 210, TOPCon 182, and 210, ranging from 410W to 705W specifications. Their products can meet the needs of various applications. The company specializes in creating customized products for different customers and projects, providing professional photovoltaic integrated solutions tailored to meet their specific needs.

Earlier this year, Qn-SOLAR formed a localized management team outside of China, with locations in Europe, North America, South America, and the Asia-Pacific region. The sales structure has been reorganized to include regional and country-specific management, along with supporting departments, allowing for a more comprehensive and efficient approach to addressing customer needs.

About Qn-SOLAR

Qn-SOLAR is a professional and fully-integrated photovoltaic manufacturer with over 15 years of experience in EPC project development. Our commitment to providing customers with comprehensive and value-driven solutions is matched by our unwavering dedication to rigorous product quality control and refined management practices that drive cost efficiency. With expanding footprint in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, and South America, the business landscape of Qn-SOLAR has already marked the entire photovoltaic supply chain. By 2023, our production capacity for photovoltaic cells and modules will reach 69 GW and 39 GW, respectively, solidifying our position as a leading player in the industry.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2103985/Jack_Ren__eighth_left__Stephen_Cai__seventh_left__co_founders_Qn_SOLAR.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/qn-solar-wraps-up-intersolar-europe-2023-with-a-lively-on-site-party-attended-by-three-co-founders-301853112.html
ALMATY, Kazakhstan, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yerkin Tatishev, a renowned business leader and Chairman of Kusto Group, has been appointed as the Chairman of Almaty Management University (AMU), the oldest private university in Kazakhstan. This prestigious appointment marks a significant milestone for AMU, as it seeks to further its reputation as a pioneer of business education in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region.

Yerkin Tatishev is an accomplished entrepreneur and philanthropist and brings a wealth of expertise and a visionary approach to his new role. As the Chairman and Founder of Kusto Group, a diversified international investment group with a strong presence in the CIS region, Tatishev has demonstrated exceptional leadership in driving growth and transformation across various industries. His strategic vision and commitment to social development make him an ideal candidate to lead AMU into a new era of success.

AMU, established in 1988, holds the distinction of being the first business school in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The university has played a pivotal role in shaping the country's educational landscape and has emerged as a beacon of excellence in business education. The appointment of Yerkin Tatishev as Chairman solidifies AMU's commitment to fostering an environment of innovation and strategic leadership.

Expressing his gratitude for the appointment, Yerkin Tatishev stated, "I am deeply honored to assume the chairmanship of Almaty Management University, an institution that has long been at the forefront of business education. I look forward to working closely with the esteemed faculty and dedicated staff to strengthen AMU's position as a center of excellence, producing highly skilled professionals equipped to navigate the challenges of the global business landscape."

Under Tatishev's leadership, AMU aims to further enhance its academic programs, foster international collaborations, and promote entrepreneurship among students. By leveraging his extensive network and industry connections, Tatishev intends to attract leading global experts, renowned faculty, and prominent guest speakers to contribute to the university's mission of producing future business leaders.

The appointment of Yerkin Tatishev as Chairman reinforces the AMU's commitment to providing a world-class business education that empowers students with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in a rapidly evolving global economy. As the university builds upon its illustrious history, it will continue to set new standards for business education in Kazakhstan and the wider CIS region.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/yerkin-tatishev-chairman-and-founder-of-kusto-group-assumes-chairmanship-of-almaty-management-university-kazakhstans-oldest-private-university-301853188.html
WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) published a large study "ISIS In Africa (Chad, Cameroon, Niger, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Mozambique): Targeting Christians - Killing, Beheading, Murdering Priests And Nuns, Burning Churches, Health Clinics, And Homes - As The World Is Largely Silent."

The study details ISIS's targeting of Christians in Africa and how the organization is continuing to use social media to disseminate images and videos of attacks it carries out across the regions that it controls through its branches there: Islamic State Central African Province (ISCAP), Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), and Islamic State-Mozambique (ISMP).

In the study's preface, MEMRI Vice President Amb. Alberto Fernandez highlights the importance of this research, writing: MEMRI's new, lengthy, and detailed report on ISIS in Africa's targeting of Christians is grim, if essential reading, done with MEMRI's characteristic comprehensiveness. What we have here is a steady, slow-motion, constant campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing, waged one village and ramshackle church and peasant family at a time. The result is devastating and horrific in its scope when this mass of individual outrages is collated, analyzed, and translated in one place, as we have here. And as devastating as this report is, the situation is even worse, given that there have been other actions targeting African Christians from ISIS's rivals in Al-Qaeda and Al-Shabab, in addition to the permanent campaign of targeted killings and burning carried out by Islamist Fulani militias in countries like Nigeria. This report focuses on ISCAP (ISIS's Central African Province), ISWAP (Boko Haram in Nigeria and neighboring countries) and ISMP (ISIS in Mozambique) which are main perpetrators. But they are not the only ones.

He concludes: "This comprehensive MEMRI report should be a wake-up call, not only about the military and security dimensions of the conflict in Africa that are too easily ignored, but about the ideological and cultural elements of this struggle. Only by understanding this crisis fully can we hope to address it successfully."

For full access to this JTTM report on ISIS activity in Africa targeting Christians, contact media@memri.org.

ABOUT THE JIHAD & TERRORISM THREAT MONITOR (JTTM)

he MEMRI Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) scrutinizes Islamist terrorism and violent extremism worldwide, with special focus on activity within and emanating from the Arab world, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran, as well as on attacks and activity in the West inspired and encouraged by the Islamic State (ISIS), Al-Qaeda, and other global jihad organizations. This activity includes lone-wolf attacks by residents of Western countries.

The JTTM monitors imminent and potential threats posed by various terrorist and violent extremist organizations - such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda and its affiliates, and emerging jihadi groups - and individuals. These threats, whether strategic, tactical, military, conventional, non-conventional, or cyber, may be against national security and public safety in the U.S. and the West, or against these countries' crucial interests and assets worldwide. It also examines and analyzes the ideological motivations behind these threats, and includes a decade and a half of archives of exclusive content on jihad and terrorism.

ABOUT MEMRI

Exploring the Middle East and South Asia through their media, MEMRI bridges the language gap between the West and the Middle East and South Asia, providing timely translations of Arabic, Farsi, Urdu-Pashtu, Dari, Turkish, Russian, and Chinese media, as well as original analysis of political, ideological, intellectual, social, cultural, and religious trends.

Founded in February 1998 to inform the debate over U.S. policy in the Middle East, MEMRI is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization. MEMRI's main office is located in Washington, DC, with branch offices in various world capitals. MEMRI research is translated into English, French, Polish, Japanese, Spanish, and Hebrew.

MEMRI - Middle East Media Research Institute: www.memri.org

MEMRI TV - www.memri.org/tv

Jihad & Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) - www.memri.org/jttm

Cyber & Jihad Lab (CJL) - www.memri.org/cjlab

MEMRI Twitter: https://twitter.com/memrireports/

MEMRI YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC59Cpk70K2TwdmApJOTuW9g/videos

MEMRI Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/memrireports/

Contact Information:

MEMRI

media@memri.org

202-955-9070

www.memri.org

SOURCE: Middle East Media Research Institute

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/761786/MEMRI-Jihad-And-Terrorism-Threat-Monitor-JTTM-Publishes-Large-Study-Of-ISIS-Activity-In-Africa-Targeting-Christians-As-The-World-Is-Largely-Silent
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Merck & Co., Inc.

In underserved and under-resourced communities across the globe, from the U.S. to Rwanda, our company is helping patients at risk for and living with cancer access the care they need to stay well and lead fulfilling lives.

We have a global-to-local approach, where we support programs and initiatives that help advance health equity directly in communities around the world by addressing barriers that people may face when accessing high-quality, equitable health care.

Advancing patient-centered cancer care in every community

Our company collaborates with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to address high disparities in cancer care. In the U.S, we partnered with ACS on its Get Screened Initiative, which encourages people to schedule regular cancer screening tests. Through this initiative:

~497K vulnerable community members enabled to be screened in 2021 and 2022 combined

~11,200 incidences of breast, cervical and colorectal cancer found

We're also helping the ACS bring its expertise in patient navigation to resource-limited settings in sub-Saharan Africa as well as develop a toolkit to help low- and middle-income countries adopt navigation programs as part of delivering comprehensive cancer care.

Our global partnerships at work

In addition, we've partnered with City Cancer Challenge to implement a Patient Navigation Program in Kigali, Rwanda. With our support, City Cancer Challenge has trained nurses to become patient navigators. They help patients understand health information more easily, identify and assess cancer care gaps and barriers, help to accelerate the path to health care options, and mitigate the risk of patients falling out of the care continuum.

Olivier Habimana, a cancer patient navigator with City Cancer Challenge, said he witnessed first-hand how this program has given his team the ability to effectively communicate, share and exchange information so that vital data can be used for the benefit of cancer patients.

"Before the implementation of this project, patients faced all sorts of challenges. If they were referred to a hospital for cancer care, sometimes they'd go to the wrong hospital, while others missed their follow-up visits." - Olivier Habimana

The Patient Navigation Program has created an impact in the east African country:

1,220+ patients supported by the program

Building on our legacy for high-quality, equitable care now and in the future

We continue to forge new partnerships to help reach underserved and under-resourced communities. This includes:

Partnering to improve access to cancer care to under-served communities in Georgia.

Supporting solutions like MedHaul that can help to address transportation barriers to accessing care.

Providing access to educational and advocacy resources on the unique challenges faced by Black women

diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Working with Go Further, a partnership that aims to reduce cervical cancer incidence in HIV positive women in eight African countries with the highest rates of HIV prevalence and cervical cancer deaths in the world.

"Building on our foundational principles of innovation and putting patients first, we're committed to discovering new ways of enabling access to high-quality, equitable cancer care," said Carmen Villar, vice president of social business innovation. "I couldn't be more proud to be one of many in this effort."

Learn more about Merck's Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) approach by visiting merck.com/company-overview/esg

View original content here

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Merck & Co., Inc. on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Merck & Co., Inc.

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/merck-co-inc

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Merck & Co., Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/761788/Merck-is-Collaborating-To-Help-Make-Cancer-Care-More-Accessible-Worldwide
ECW Executive Director Yasmine Sherif Calls for Increased Support for Central African Republic

BANGUI, Central African Republic, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to multiplying crises that are impacting both host community and refugee children in the Central African Republic, Education Cannot Wait (ECW) announced today a US$2 million First Emergency Response grant. ECW-financed programmes in the Central African Republic have already reached approximately 250,000 children with close to US$70 million in total funding.

ECW Executive Director Yasmine Sherif announced the new tranche of funding after a UN mission was conducted by ECW Deputy Director Graham Lang and UNHCR - together with local education authorities and implementing partners - this week to the border regions with Sudan.

To date, approximately 15,000 people have fled the war in Sudan and crossed into the Central African Republic, of which the majority are refugees. ECW is supporting the efforts, led by UNHCR, with the government, donors, UN agencies, civil society and local communities to build a coordinated and inclusive multi-country response to the regional refugee crisis.

"Conflicts, climate change, COVID-19, poverty, hunger and forced displacement are putting more children at risk every day. World leaders must step up their support for ECW and our strategic partners in responding to these interconnected crises," said Sherif.

The Central African Republic is one of the world's least developed countries, where 79% of people live in poverty, 45% are food insecure, and three out of four people require humanitarian assistance. Only a third of children here will finish primary school, and only one out of ten will graduate from secondary school. Across the country, at least 1.5 million school-aged children are in need of education support.

The new investment will be delivered by UNHCR. It will reach these learners by ensuring access to quality education services, providing language training and catch-up classes, strengthening protection and mental health support, reinforcing educational infrastructure, supporting teachers and rallying community support around education.

"For children who arrived from Sudan and the communities that so generously welcomed them, education has the power to open doors and unlock dreams. This grant will allow them, both girls and boys, to regain access to protective, inclusive and quality education," said Fafa Olivier Attidzah, UNHCR Representative in Central African Republic.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2104066/Education_Cannot_Wait_children_in_sub_Saharan_Africa.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/education-cannot-wait-announces-us2-million-first-emergency-response-in-the-central-african-republic-total-funding-reaches-us70-million-301853245.html
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Mastercard

Kelly Ifill, a former math teacher with an MBA from Columbia Business School, was determined to make banking work for Black entrepreneurs. Working in venture capital after business school, she'd seen how difficult it is for Black entrepreneurs to raise capital, so she built Guava to provide access and financing to Black-owned small businesses across the country.

At the start of her career as a humanitarian with the UN and the Peace Corps, Elizabeth Gore saw the disparities, particularly for women, to start and grow a business. She was incredibly passionate about creating a scalable solution to support small business owners, and together with her co-founder Carolyn Rodz, they built Hello Alice to bring equitable access to capital to aspiring entrepreneurs.

And on the outskirts of Mexico City, store owner Magdalena Padilla Medina learned the ropes of digital payments from a mentor she calls her "angel." "I was not looking for her, but she came and helped me a lot.  It was just a matter of giving me a little push."

Women entrepreneurs face unique barriers to success, from challenges in obtaining funding to inadequate access to basic financial services and tools, but a world that works better for women creates limitless possibilities for us all. That's why Mastercard is committed to building an inclusive digital economy where everyone prospers and providing these women-owned small businesses with solutions that can help them grow and thrive.

A global commitment to financial inclusion for individuals and small businesses

Guided by the conviction that the company can do well as a business by doing good in the world, Mastercard has embraced financial inclusion for individuals and small businesses as both a philanthropic pursuit and a fundamental tenet of its business strategy.

In 2020, Mastercard redoubled its commitment to financial inclusion as a pathway to broad-based prosperity, including a specific focus on providing 25 million women entrepreneurs with solutions that can help them grow their businesses. By harnessing technology, philanthropy and its network of partners, the company has reached 25 million women entrepreneurs, with more work and support to continue, as noted in its latest ESG Report.

"We are committed to helping women-owned businesses surmount the obstacles that prevent them from attaining optimal growth, such as limited access to financing, lack of support networks and the gender gap in business," said Jane Prokop, executive vice president, Small and Medium Enterprises at Mastercard. "From small business card offerings, microcredit, and payment services to grant funding, mentorship, and training, we're harnessing a full range of solutions to help empower women who are powering economies around the world."

"Our commitments to financial inclusion are core to our business strategy, and we know that doing what we do best as a company can change lives for the better," said Shamina Singh, founder and president of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. "Supporting women entrepreneurs is smart because they pay it back and pay it forward. We'll keep learning about the unique challenges they face and continue to apply those insights to meet their needs with solutions that help them reach their potential."

View original content here.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Mastercard on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Mastercard

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/mastercard

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Mastercard

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/761805/Mastercard-Highlights-From-a-Journey-To-Support-Women-Entrepreneurs
Finsbury Growth & Income Trust Plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

London, June 16

For immediate release

16 June 2023

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announces that it has today purchased 100,000 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 893.84 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company.

The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 17 January 2023.

Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 17,545,544; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 207,445,759.

.

The figure of 207,445,759 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

For and on behalf of

Frostrow Capital LLP

Company Secretary

For further information, please contact:

Victoria Hale

Frostrow Capital LLP

Tel: 020 3 170 8732
CLEVELAND, OH and BANGKOK, THAILAND / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / NovAccess Global Inc. (OTCQB:XSNX), a biomedical company developing novel immunotherapies for brain tumor patients, today announced a partnership with Thailand-based CKN Ventures Limited, a multifaceted clinical and commercial healthcare platform, to expand clinical data set access in Southeast Asia to enhance and accelerate personalized therapeutics and treatment protocols. This partnership supports NovAccess Global's new Precision Medicine Division, launched earlier this month, to develop the most comprehensive collection of personalized therapeutics and treatment protocols using artificial intelligence (AI), Big Data and Predictive technologies.

Using advances in AI, image recognition and predictive data science, NovAccess Global and CKN Ventures will collaborate to expand access to relevant data sources in Asia that will improve the quality and impact of licensed databases to identify patient data (phenotypic, clinical, and genomic) for analysis relating to therapeutic drug development and therapeutic treatment purposes. Therapeutic and treatment protocol data will be marketed to external pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, private payers, national/international health agencies and healthcare providers and insurers.

According to Market.us, the global precision medicine market size was $83.4 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $254 billion by 2032, exhibiting a compounded annual growth rate of 12.1% in the forecast period (2023-2032). Asia is the fastest growing market in the world for the delivery of innovative care in oncology and immune oncology therapeutics, all of which depend upon management of robust, high-quality data sets to discover new treatment pathways.

Commenting on the latest development to expand the Company's new Precision Medicine Division, NovAccess Global's Chief Executive Officer Dr. Dwain K. Irvin said, "We are very excited to publicly announce our partnership with CKN Venture Limited's world-class team of physicians and data scientists to expand access to critical data streams in Asia to better serve patients facing cancer and other diseases, globally. As part of the initial contributions from CKN, we expect to accelerate and expand our collection of patient data primarily through their glioblastoma database from multiple southeast Asian countries. Furthermore, CKN offers a wide variety of other support services and collaborative opportunities through their basic science and clinical laboratories. Together, we will also have opportunities to bring our technology to Asia and collaborate and develop novel therapeutics and diagnostics."

"Joining forces with NovAccess Global will not just expand the quality of data sources available to both companies and improve our combined geographical reach, but will allow for CKN Ventures to drive a generation of new and enhanced targeted data sets by providing molecular and genomic sequencing capabilities from its Bangkok-based laboratory and wholly owned subsidiary, Phoenix Molecular," said CKN Ventures Director Supornchai Kongpatanakul, MD. "We view CKN's strengths in bioinformatics, molecular diagnostics, and the development of digital health systems to be complimentary to NovAccess Global's assets in therapeutics and precision medicine. Together, the two companies will leverage their combined talents to identify new breakthroughs in cancer and chronic disease management through this unique collaboration."

NovAccess Global intends to also use AI within these data sets to identify the most optimal antigens to use for dendritic cell vaccines. Antigens are the molecules that trigger the immune response, and they need to be specific for the tumor cells and not the normal cells. AI can analyze the genomic and proteomic data of tumor cells and find the most suitable antigens for each patient.

It is NovAccess Global's belief that AI can help to optimize the dose and timing of dendritic cell vaccines. The dose and timing of the vaccine can affect the efficacy and safety of the treatment. AI can use mathematical models and machine learning algorithms to predict the optimal dose and timing based on various factors such as the patient's characteristics, the tumor type and stage, and the immune status.

In partnering with NovAccess Global, CKN Ventures is positioned to support trials of the Company's therapeutic candidate in glioblastoma patients in both North America and Asia. Dr. Supornchai added, "Our proven capabilities in genomics and bioinformatic analysis will help to support NovAccess Global's trial design and assist in measuring patient response to this groundbreaking therapy while providing research and pharmaceutical entities with data on various variables such as biomarkers and clinical outcomes."

About NovAccess Global

NovAccess Global is a biomedical company accelerating novel cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. Our goal is to discover, develop and bring to market novel and innovative medicine and medical devices to improve the quality of care for cancer and neurological patients.

NovAccess Global is currently developing a cancer vaccine therapy that enhances the patient's immune response against brain tumors. Our Company has a novel immunotherapeutic approach to treating brain tumor patients with glioblastoma, the most common adult brain tumor with a 15-month median survival after diagnosis. Our patented technology is designed to combine a dendritic cell-based immunotherapeutic approach with a unique combination of toll-like receptor (TLR) adjuvants, TLR-AD1, to help promote an enhanced immune response against the patient's tumor. Our platform technology focuses on enhancing the patient's immune cells to fight their unique cancer by utilizing the antigens specific to the patient's tumor. It is a meaningful technology that could significantly improve the quality of life and prognosis for the many people who suffer from brain tumors. For more information, please visit novaccessglobal.com.

Follow us on social media and stay up to date on all of our developments:

https://www.youtube.com/@novaccess

https://www.facebook.com/novaccessglobal

https://www.linkedin.com/company/64892686

https://twitter.com/novaccessglobal

ABOUT CKN VENTURES, LTD.

CKN Ventures is a group of technology companies based in Thailand with offices and facilities in Thailand and Singapore and serving both ASEAN and international regions. We focus on advanced diagnostics and technology-based precision medicine that enables physicians to deliver personalized care to patients with Cancer and other chronic or infectious diseases. Founded in 2019 we apply advanced technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) to process diverse peer reviewed data (genome, medical test results, medications, lifestyle etc.) on patients and utilize the latest medical research to generate personalized prescriptions/care plans. The personalized care plans go beyond the current standard-of-care and utilize targeted combinations of existing treatments to deliver better patient outcomes for target diseases as well as lowering healthcare costs. Physicians use our care plans as a guide to treat patients uniquely based on analysis including a battery of existing clinical tests, their genome, and their disease status, and do so in a fast and economical package.

Our initial products address the spectrum of cancers with a personalized combination therapy which deliver better patient outcomes than the standard-of-care. Physicians are provided with a detailed and comprehensive report which outlines individual genomic details and suggests the most appropriate therapies to administer based on individual genetic analysis. The AI based software which creates Physician Reports is regularly updated as new therapeutic techniques and drugs are constantly being developed, published, and approved.

CKN also owns and manages registered diagnostic labs outfitted with State-of-the-Art equipment and highly trained personnel. We have a catalogue of esoteric molecular and immunological diagnostic assays and also create and develop our own "LDT's" (Lab Developed Tests), including reagents, testing formats, and equipment/automation.

The Company is also developing a distribution network to sell the diagnostic kits and processes we acquire and develop to hospitals and clinical lab networks throughout ASEAN countries. We are creating a combination of in-house sales force and large regional corporate partnerships for distribution of registered kits and select genomic sequencing services for cancers. CKN also is highly experienced in Regulatory Approvals and running Clinical Trials.

Forward-Looking Statement for for NovAccess Global

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, as amended, and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may," "future," "plan" or "planned," "will" or "should," "expected," "anticipates," "draft," "eventually" or "projected." You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in the Company's disclosures or filings with the Securities Exchange Commission. You are further cautioned that penny stocks and stocks of smaller companies like NovAccess Global Inc. are inherently volatile and risky and that no investor should buy this stock unless they can afford the loss of their entire investment. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date thereof.

Investor Relations Contact for NovAccess Global:

Jordan Darrow

Darrow Associates

631-766-4528

jdarrow@darrowir.com

Contact for CKN Ventures:

Supornchai Kongpatanakul, M.D.

+66 81 836 7987

supornchai@cknventures.com

SOURCE: NovAccess Global Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/761806/NovAccess-Global-Partners-with-CKN-Ventures-to-Expand-its-New-AI-driven-Precision-Medicine-Division
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Smart, strategic choices - like how Regions and Pinnacle Group have worked together - can make the difference.

A company rooted in purpose and founded on an apartment living room floor more than 25 years ago is now a top talent sourcing enterprise and key player in helping Regions grow a talented and diverse managed workforce.

In some ways, 2020 seems like decades ago. A pandemic, remote work, supply chain issues - it was certainly a challenging year.

At Regions Bank, with hundreds of contract or alternate staffing openings, the challenges were complicated by a management system that looked more spreadsheet than digital. 134 spreadsheets, to be exact.

Today, those spreadsheets are gone. They've been replaced by a powerful tracking and management software - Beeline - and a strong business collaborator - Pinnacle Group. These have helped improve the efficiency and processes around the company's contingent workforce.

The improvements have helped Regions recognize more than $1 million in expense savings. Competition among the company's contingent labor workforce providers has increased, contract staff are better prepared when they begin, and the quality of the workers has vastly improved.

But the "success" part of this success story isn't simply in the results; it's in how those results were realized. It's a story that shows what can be accomplished when small, diverse businesses have a level playing field to succeed.

Making a "Beeline" From Manual Spreadsheets

In business parlance, companies like to refer to "problems" as "opportunities."

But if you asked Antonio Howard, Regions HR Technology Manager, or Julie Jarecki, Regions Procurement Manager, it would be difficult to categorize a system to manage the company's contract and offshore workforce that had almost no automation, no significant usable data and no company-wide reporting as an "opportunity."

We made a strategic business decision to contract with a technology company - Beeline - to help Regions automate and better manage our offshore and contract workforce. Julie Jarecki, Regions Procurement Manager

"We were literally keeping up with our contract worker requisitions, access authorizations, spend and more on spreadsheets," Howard said. "We were also not doing enough to competitively source contract workers. We had a few companies that we typically used, but the whole process was manual."

An opportunity indeed.

"We made a strategic business decision to contract with a technology company - Beeline - to help Regions automate and better manage our offshore and contract workforce," said Jarecki. "Beeline could offer us much of what we needed."

Technically, Beeline is a software-as-a-service company. Its expertise is in providing software that helps companies manage non-traditional workforces, such as contract, offshore or similar. They are one of the largest providers of this type of technology.

They provide the tool.

"But we knew that we needed more than Beeline," Howard added. "It doesn't provide the people or the analysis. It manages the processes, not the soul."

The Opportunities You Don't Know You Have

Beeline helped improve the day-to-day management of Regions' contingent workforce needs, tracking spend more effectively and managing credentialing and onboarding. At the same time, there were some real opportunities:

To better manage overall contingent worker expenses

To ensure a greater focus on diversity in contingent workers

To reduce time spent finding and placing contingent workers

To encourage more competition between vendors

Enter Pinnacle Group.

"I could talk for hours," said Jarecki. "Pinnacle has helped Regions move from an inefficient, spreadsheet-based methodology for managing our contract workforce to one that helps ensure we are getting the best workers at a fair price, while working toward our goals for diversity."

Here are just a few examples of how Pinnacle Group and Beeline are making an impact:

The process and time needed for onboarding contract workers (credentialing, access approval and more) has been reduced, in some cases by up to 40%.

Automated systems now alert managers and others about contract worker departures or renewals, and have greatly improved recordkeeping and accuracy around identity and access management

Nearly one-quarter of the contingent positions filled in 2022 were filled with diverse workers, up more than 75 percent over the previous year.

Helping companies reach those types of goals isn't just something Pinnacle Group did for Regions. It goes back to the company's roots and its purpose.

The Pinnacle Group Story

Nearly 27 years ago, Nina Vaca was a young entrepreneur with big dreams. She sat on her apartment living room floor and drew up the beginnings of a business plan that would plant the seeds for what is today one of the nation's premier managed service providers (MSPs) and contingent staffing companies, and the largest Latina-owned one.

"We focus on intelligent growth," Vaca said. "What that means is we don't do business with just anyone. We've been very focused on picking captains of industry, companies that we can grow with for decades. That's been our strategy. We like to go deep and wide into the companies we serve."

Growing up the daughter of Ecuadorian immigrants, she watched the entrepreneurial spirit in her parents and learned. Her father's key to success was looking for opportunity where others didn't.

Two years out of college, she started Pinnacle. 27 years later, Vaca is an advocate and role model for women-owned businesses and the Hispanic community.

The walls of Pinnacle Group's Dallas headquarters are lined with awards the company has won and profiles on the company and Vaca, based on the success they've enjoyed with their clients. But the real story on those pages is all about service and ensuring inclusive prosperity for the people they place and the companies they serve.

"We're delighted that we get to serve some of the largest companies in the nation, including Regions Bank," she said. "We're so proud to have helped co-author the company's contingent labor program, one of the best in their sector."

Adding Soul to Powerful Technology

"The goal at the outset was for visibility into Regions' contractor workforce," said Michael Keiper, SVP of Strategic Services at Pinnacle Group. "What we thrive on are environments that are brand new to build the services and infrastructure our clients need."

Managers and executives now have more access to data and assurance that they are getting qualified workers at a fair price, while also ensuring a level playing field for everyone.

"The reporting that is available to us now in Beeline is incredible," said Benji Barnett, Regions Financial Manager. "This is a level of detail for staff augmentation that we have not had access to in the past. It now enables and enhances our ability to manage, analyze and forecast for human capital with precision. In addition, the customer service from Pinnacle is top notch."

Results matter. And we've been able to structure the program in a way that pays for itself - still getting a better product and diverse and talented workers for a fair price. Tiffany Lovelace, head of Supplier Diversity at Regions

According to Tiffany Lovelace, head of Supplier Diversity at Regions, Pinnacle Group and Beeline not only paved the way for the program to become more efficient, they also created a pathway to ensure that the teamwork continues.

"Results matter," Lovelace added. "And we've been able to structure the program in a way that pays for itself - still getting a better product and diverse and talented workers for a fair price."

"By clearly understanding Regions' goals and pain points, we've been able to partner with them and with Beeline to boost visibility into Regions' diverse supply base, increase the participation of diverse suppliers in the program and create the opportunity for Regions to procure the best, most transformational talent in the market," said Vaca. "A winning solution for all involved."

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Regions Bank on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Regions Bank

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/regions-bank

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Regions Bank

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/761820/Good-Business-Benefits-Beyond-Savings
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Alkermes

On Monday we commemorate Juneteenth - also known as Freedom Day - the anniversary of the freeing of the last enslaved Black Americans, which took place on June 19th, 1865, more than two years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. It is also a day to reflect on the impact - both short and long term-- of slavery, systemic racism and discrimination on our communities and how we can be part of a more equitable future.

Alkermes' U.S. offices will be closed on Juneteenth (Monday June 19th) and we are encouraging our employees to take time out to learn about, reflect on and celebrate the critical contributions of Black Americans to our country.

Diversity, inclusion and belonging (DIB) is an important aspect of our culture and critical to our ongoing success. We embrace these values at Alkermes by integrating DIB into every aspect of our organization. We aim to create a culture that allows individuals to embrace their identities, where our people can show up with authenticity - knowing that their unique perspectives will be appreciated. We believe our differences make us stronger, generating new ideas that enhance what and how we deliver as an organization on behalf of the patients and communities we serve.

This month's Juneteenth celebration is an opportunity to acknowledge how far we've come while recognizing the work ahead to build a more equitable and inclusive world. Learn more, courtesy of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture here: https://nmaahc.si.edu/juneteenth

This post originally appeared on LinkedIn

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Alkermes on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Alkermes

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/alkermes

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Alkermes

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/761825/Juneteenth-Reflections-From-Alkermes-Harold-Weekes-Sr-Director-Human-Resources
WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / On June 16, Groundswell, in partnership with Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church, SunLight General Capital, Working Power, and the Office of the People's Counsel, celebrated the newest DC Solar for All community solar array, which will bring the number of income-qualified DC residents receiving free solar electricity to more than 6,000 households, as a part of the DC Department of Energy and Environment's (DOEE) Solar for All program.

The new 222 kWdc community solar array at Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church will provide 73 local, income-qualified households with up to $500 a year in clean energy savings through DC Solar for All. Since DC Mayor Muriel Bowser launched Solar for All in 2016, the program has saved its 6,000 community solar subscribers more than $5 million - in addition to savings to participants in the program's rooftop solar option - with the goal of improving energy affordability and progressing environmental goals within the District.

Energy bill affordability is a major concern for many households, and DOEE analysis shows that 64% of low-income households across Metro DC face high energy burdens.

"The DC Solar for All program sets a national standard for how to build a clean energy future that embraces justice as a core value," said Groundswell CEO Michelle Moore. "Our team is so grateful that DC is Groundswell's hometown, and that we're able to work with this team of purposeful partners to get good things done to serve our neighbors."

SFA solar arrays are located throughout the District, and Rev. Juan Guthrie of Sargent Memorial Presbyterian said the church decided to host the solar array as part of their ongoing service to the surrounding community, and the congregation felt blessed by the opportunity to serve the community through every ray of sun that shines on the church.

"We are called by Christ to care for one another. Through this solar array, our congregation at Sargent Memorial is able to share God's gifts with our neighbors in the surrounding community," said Rev. Guthrie.

"Too often, the savings solar affords don't reach the people who need it most," said Erika Smith, SunLight General Capital's Director of Project Development and Operations. "SunLight felt honored to work with Groundswell and its team to develop and finance an important project bringing savings and clean energy to the broader DC community."

"Sargent Memorial solar shows what real climate leadership looks like by demonstrating that clean energy can build wealth and broaden opportunity," said Bracken Hendricks, co-founder of Working Power and Urban Ingenuity. "This project is an inaugural investment of the Working Power Impact Fund, which generates dedicated income for community groups to fund their social and economic justice work nationally. We're honored to join with Groundswell, Sargent, and the rest of this powerful team of leaders."

"DOEE is committed to an equitable clean energy future. Programs like Solar for All help our residents stay in the District and thrive in their communities while actively participating in the city's clean energy transition," said DC DOEE Economist/Senior Program Analyst, Dr. Lance Loncke.

"Energy equity is critical if our communities are to thrive; not every consumer has the resources or a home that allows them to have energy independence. Programs that aggregate energy resources provide basic benefits to many more consumers. It is our mission to bring together the experts, those who can host, and consumers who can share cooperatively in the energy created," said Sandra Mattavous-Frye, People's Counsel for the District of Columbia.

Solar is one of the fastest-growing industries in the US, and community solar installations like the one at Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church have improved access to career opportunities within the communities they serve.

"I was fortunate to grow up in a family of contractors, and my grandfather was always passionate about extending second chances to people. I have extended that practice into the way I do business, and I have seen these new opportunities change lives," said Brad Boston, SunCatch Energy Founder and President.

The project was constructed by Maryland Black-owned solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firm, SunCatch Energy; was completed in partnership with the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU), which manages construction for the Solar for All program in partnership with DOEE; was financed by SunLight General Capital, a woman-led clean energy investment firm; and was developed by Groundswell, a DC-based nonprofit.

About Groundswell

Groundswell is a 501c3 nonprofit that builds community power through equitable community solar projects and resilience hubs, clean energy programs that reduce energy burdens, and pioneering research initiatives that help light the way to clean energy futures for all. Groundswell leads clean energy programs and projects in five states, including the District of Columbia, serving more than 5,500 income-qualified customers with more than $2.75 million per year in clean energy savings. Learn more at Groundswell.org.

Groundswell, in partnership with Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church, SunLight General Capital, and the Office of the People's Counsel, held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of the solar array at Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church on Friday. The completion of the community solar project marks a major milestone for affordable clean energy in the District. (Photo by Alicia B. Hill | Groundswell)

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Groundswell on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Groundswell

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/groundswell

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Groundswell

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/761840/Groundswell-Celebrates-New-Community-Solar-Array-and-District-Milestone
Colorado Springs, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2023) - The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) is proud to announce that it has earned "Flourishing Status" through the Best Christian Workplaces Survey.

In a multi-year trend upward, ACSI employees ranked the organization as being the highest tier attainable in the Best Christian Workplaces Survey-a thorough employee engagement survey assessing organizational culture. The association's score this year lands in the 93rd percentile, with areas of strength including high commitment to excellence, effective teamwork, supervisors caring for employees as people, and recruiting highly capable employees.

ACSI President & CEO Dr. Larry Taylor is thrilled by this great accomplishment.

"At ACSI, we are committed to excellence in everything that we do to serve our schools and educators across the globe," he shared. "The survey shows that we have made substantial leaps year over year in areas that our staff previously rated lower- areas such as compensation, acting on the suggestions of employees and involving them in decision making, and encouraging employee exploration and innovation. We are excited to continue strengthening and growing our culture to model what it means to be a flourishing community."

Best Christian Workplaces Consulting Director Cary Humphries is excited about the survey results and is honored to serve as ACSI's engagement partner.

"ACSI has demonstrated a commitment to regularly measure the health of their workplace culture," he said. "This year's actions and survey progress display excellence and the increased opportunity for full engagement of the ACSI team."

The organization conducted this anonymous survey to all employees in May and analyzed the data in June.

ACSI Director of Human Resources Chris Loncar looks forward to implementing strategies to address the data specifically regarding areas that present opportunities for growth.

"We will focus on key areas employees are concerned with and will further demonstrate our commitment to improving our culture at ACSI," he shared.

Taylor believes the future of Christian education is bright.

"We are grateful for our staff's commitment to the mission and vision of ACSI," he said. "It's what makes it possible for us to continue discipling future leaders who will further God's Kingdom worldwide through Christian education."

To learn more about the Best Christian Workplaces Certified Workplaces, visit the website at https://workplaces.org/certification. To learn more about ACSI, visit the website at https://www.acsi.org/.

Contact Information:

Caitlyn Berman

media_inquiries@acsi.org

(719) 867-0243





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9439/170326_e5c26f5eb4a7380b_001full.jpg





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9439/170326_e5c26f5eb4a7380b_002full.jpg

About ACSI:

Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, ACSI exists to strengthen Christian schools and equip Christian educators worldwide as they prepare students academically and inspire them to become devoted followers of Jesus Christ. ACSI advances excellence in Christian schools by enhancing the professional and personal development of Christian educators and providing vital support functions for Christian schools through multiple services including teacher and administrator certification, school accreditation, legal/legislative assistance, and curriculum publishing. Serving more than 25,000 schools in 108 countries, ACSI helps more than 5.5 million students worldwide connect to Christian education.

Follow ACSI on our social channels: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram

About Best Christian Workplaces:

Best Christian Workplaces exists to equip and inspire Christian leaders to create an engaged, Flourishing Workplace. Since 2003, the ministry has surveyed over 1,000 churches, nonprofits, businesses, and educators. Their vision is that Christian-led workplaces set the standard as the best, most effective places to work in the world.

Follow Best Christian Workplaces on their social channels: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/170326
CHEYENNE, WY / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Mighty Fire Breaker is pleased to announce that its CitroTech Products and Application Cannons are heading to Canada to Support our new distribution partner, Okanagan Garages in Kelowna, BC, Canada. We are excited to be working with Laurence Waidmann, the business principle to support and teach Proactive Wildfire Defense, with Certified EPA Safer Choice fire chemistry. In the news today, many are saying that disasters often bring politicians, policymakers, researchers, and the public to the discussion table. They are saying that this focus often exposes the operational, coordination and governance deficiencies and weaknesses of current emergency management systems. This should help Laurence Waidmann gain headway with his efforts to achieve better and safer ways to deal with wildfire.

As Canada is enduring its most destructive start to wildfire season, Mighty Fire Breaker will be working to find others in the building trade like Laurence to set up other distributor locations throughout Canada and the U.S. to make our products and equipment readily available to property owners, thereby supporting a proactive wildfire campaign with MFB's safe fire chemistry.

In addition, Mighty Fire Breaker was just featured as a lead supporter and exhibitor at the Placerville, CA Fair, a four- day event which drew over 70,000 people last year. The MFB booth is in place now as the show just opened and people are already liking our Do-It-Yourself Wildfire Defense System display.

For technical product information: Info@mightyfirebreaker.com

Contact Information

Twitter: @GEVIOfficial

Website: ?https://generalenterpriseventures.com/

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements. The words 'believe,' 'may,' 'estimate,' 'continue,' 'anticipate,' 'intend,' 'should,' 'plan,' 'could,' 'target,' 'potential,' 'is likely,' 'will,' 'expect' and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company has based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Some or all of the results anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not be achieved. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

SOURCE: GENERAL ENTERPRISE VENTURES, INC. ("GEVI")



View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/761842/General-Enterprise-Ventures-Inc-OTC-PINKGEVI-Mighty-Fire-Breaker-LLC-Ohio-Has-Established-New-Distribution-in-Kelowna-BC-Canada-to-Help-Property-Owners-With-MFBs-Proactive-Fire-Chemistry-Equipment-and-Wildfire-Defense-Systems
Las Vegas, Nevada and Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2023) - Body and Mind Inc. (CSE: BAMM) (OTCQB: BMMJ) (the "Company" or "BaM") an operations-driven multistate cannabis company, is pleased to announce the Company has received all regulatory approvals to complete the transaction to divest the Body and Mind Muskegon, Michigan dispensary as outlined in a press release on April 18, 2023 and 8-K filings.

About Body and Mind Inc.

BaM is an operations-focused cannabis company with active retail operations in Ohio, Arkansas, and California, pending retail operations in Illinois and New Jersey, and craft cultivation and/or processing operations in Nevada, Ohio and Arkansas. We work daily to increase our market share through delighting customers while also continuing to hone our operational efficiencies to drive profits. We are primarily guided by the metric of return on investment. Currently, we believe the most significant return on investment projects in front of us are successful retail cannabis store launches in Illinois and New Jersey, which augment our existing retail footprint. We also believe that our team's core operational skillsets will create significant future shareholder value as the cannabis industry matures.

Please visit www.bodyandmind.com for more information.

Instagram: @bodyandmindBaM

Twitter: @bodyandmindBaM

For further information, please contact:

Company Contact:

Michael Mills

President and CEO

Tel: 800-361-6312

ir@bodyandmind.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Safe Harbor Statement

Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation of activities, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that 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 contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release.

Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/170324


SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - Amazon (AMZN) on Thursday officially inaugurated its second headquarters, known as HQ2, in Arlington, Virginia.



The plan for a second headquarters was first announced in 2017, during the tenure of Amazon's founder and former CEO, Jeff Bezos. The opening of HQ2 coincides with a challenging period for the e-commerce giant, as it navigates the aftermath of the pandemic and copes with the need to downsize its corporate workforce, which has led to 27,000 layoffs.



However, Amazon Vice President of Economic Development Holly Sullivan emphasized that HQ2 is not merely an expansion for the company. Instead, she views it as a fulfillment of Amazon's commitments, stating, 'Today, we delivered on our commitment.' According to Sullivan, HQ2 will significantly enhance Amazon's efficiency, particularly in terms of workflow across different time zones, as it eliminates the reliance on time zone constraints.



The newly constructed facility, called Metropolitan Park, encompasses 2.1 million square feet of office space, a 2.5-acre park, and 50,000 square feet of retail space, which will be occupied by local businesses such as a dog daycare and a taqueria. The campus consists of two 22-story buildings named Jasper and Merlin, designed with a focus on sustainability.



While the official opening took place on Thursday, Metropolitan Park has been gradually opening in phases over the past few weeks. Merlin, for example, has been operational for approximately three weeks. On the opening day, 3,000 employees were welcomed into the offices at HQ2.



The concept for HQ2 was developed before the onset of the pandemic and the subsequent rise of remote work. To address the changing work environment, Amazon incorporated features in the design to cater to the increased need for collaboration spaces. Sullivan highlighted the presence of central floors and breakout rooms in the building layout.



The company plans to bring a total of 8,000 employees to HQ2, all of whom will be locally hired from the Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia areas. Sullivan mentioned that hiring is progressing ahead of schedule, indicating the positive momentum for the new headquarters.



Copyright(c) 2023 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Mega-Chance Cyber Security Die KI-Revolution ist in vollem Gange und vor allem ein Bereich wird stark betroffen sein: Cyber-Security. Die Experten sind sich sicher: Mit steigender Entwicklung von KI-Technologien nehmen auch KI-gestutzte Cyber-Attacken zu. Wir zeigen hier, welche Aktien profitieren konnen. Hier klicken
CoinSwitch Kuber is a prominent cryptocurrency exchange based in Bangalore, with more than 7.5 million users.

The platform collaborates with global exchanges such as Coinbase, Tiger Global, and Ribbit Capital, offering competitive prices on over 100 cryptocurrencies. The accessibility of numerous cryptocurrencies encourages diverse trading experiences for its users.

Traders Union published a CoinSwitch review in 2023 which confirmed the platforms value and potential. Following its successful Series B funding of $25 million in 2021, CoinSwitch Kubers future growth seems promising. This funding symbolizes the markets confidence in its future expansion.

CoinSwitch: pros and cons

Traders Union, in its 2023 review, delineated several key advantages and disadvantages of using CoinSwitch Kuber for cryptocurrency trading.

Pros:

Minimum deposit of about $2 is affordable for any trader.

Access to the liquidity of the worlds major exchanges through a convenient mobile application.

Wide range of trading instruments.

Opportunity to sell and buy cryptocurrencies without paying transaction fees to exchange (for a limited period).

No deposit and withdrawal fees for both fiat and cryptocurrencies.

Simple conditions for receiving referral fees.

An informative blog on the website featuring various cryptocurrency reviews and financial markets news.

Cons:

Absence of leverage trading options.

Lack of offered investment solutions, necessitating trading with personal capital.

Only Indian Rupee (INR) is accepted as fiat currency.

Card-based deposits and withdrawals are not supported.

Expert review of CoinSwitch Kuber

Traders Union experts examined CoinSwitch Kuber, a unique cryptocurrency exchange established in 2017. It functions as a mediator, not a liquidity provider, connecting traders with major exchanges like Coinbase, Tiger Global, and Ribbit Capital for optimal trades.

Key takeaways from the review:

CoinSwitch Kuber enables users to work with the market, instant, 24-hour, 7-day, or 90-day limited orders.

Trading is solely conducted via mobile applications as theres no web platform.

Designed for all levels of trading experience, even catering to beginners.

User login security is ensured by a four-digit PIN code.

The company maintains an active presence on multiple social media platforms and has a profile on Bloomberg.

It does not currently support card deposits or deposits of DOGE, ZIL, THETA, or NEO.

The platform occasionally disables cryptocurrency withdrawals and fiat deposits, as per site announcements.

Analysis of the main features of this crypto exchange

According to the Traders Union analysts, the assessment of CoinSwitch was carried out based on the following criteria:

Overall score: 3.44

Execution of orders: 3.23 out of 10

Investment instruments: 3.65 out of 10

Withdrawal speed: 3.29 out of 10

Customer support work: 3.59 out of 10

Variety of instruments: 3.07 out of 10

Trading platform: 3.81 out of 10

Key features and trading conditions

Traders Union presents a comprehensive review of CoinSwitch Kuber, detailing its services and trading conditions.

Primary focus : Cryptocurrency exchange and active trading.

: Cryptocurrency exchange and active trading. Investment solutions : Does not offer staking or interest for asset storage in CoinSwitch wallet.

: Does not offer staking or interest for asset storage in CoinSwitch wallet. Passive income : Available through referral fees for onboarding new traders.

: Available through referral fees for onboarding new traders. Large investor contact: For investments over $10,000, assistance is available via email or website feedback form.

Affiliate Program

CoinSwitch Kuber offers an enticing affiliate program, where both the client and the referral receive an equivalent of 50 INR in BTC upon successful KYC verification of the new user. The trading conditions are quite straightforward with a minimum deposit of 100 and 1:1 leverage.

The platform operates 24/7, supporting trading through mobile applications available for both Android and iOS. Accounts can be funded in INR or cryptocurrencies via various methods including UPI, IMPS, NEFT, RTGS, and bank transfers.

Comparison of CoinSwitch with other brokers

Traders Union provides a comparative analysis of CoinSwitch Kuber with other brokers in the cryptocurrency trading market.

Bybit : Unlike Bybit which focuses on derivative trading, CoinSwitch Kuber provides direct cryptocurrency trading with multiple global exchanges.

: Unlike Bybit which focuses on derivative trading, CoinSwitch Kuber provides direct cryptocurrency trading with multiple global exchanges. OKEx : CoinSwitch Kuber, unlike OKEx, does not offer futures trading, but provides a simpler interface and access to many exchanges.

: CoinSwitch Kuber, unlike OKEx, does not offer futures trading, but provides a simpler interface and access to many exchanges. Binance : While Binance is a standalone exchange with its own liquidity, CoinSwitch Kuber operates as an aggregator of multiple global exchanges.

: While Binance is a standalone exchange with its own liquidity, CoinSwitch Kuber operates as an aggregator of multiple global exchanges. Huobi Global : In contrast to Huobi Globals wide array of offerings, CoinSwitch Kuber simplifies the trading process by primarily focusing on cryptocurrency exchanges.

: In contrast to Huobi Globals wide array of offerings, CoinSwitch Kuber simplifies the trading process by primarily focusing on cryptocurrency exchanges. KuCoin: Unlike KuCoin, which offers lending and staking services, CoinSwitch Kuber is more focused on providing competitive prices for direct cryptocurrency trading.

In the world of cryptocurrency trading, its also worth noting Bittrex Pro. This platform, like CoinSwitch Kuber, offers a vast selection of cryptocurrencies but also includes advanced charting and trading features. Yet, CoinSwitch Kubers unique position as an aggregator of various global exchanges, including Bittrex Pro, simplifies trading and could offer a more advantageous trading environment for those looking for simplicity and broad market access.

Conclusion

CoinSwitch Kuber is a unique cryptocurrency trading platform that provides broad market access by aggregating various global exchanges. Despite some limitations, it maintains a promising position in the crypto world due to its user-friendly features and competitive prices. For a deeper understanding and more extensive reviews of various trading platforms, visit the Traders Union website.
Fernride, a Munich, Germany-based autonomous, electric trucking company, raised $31M in Series A funding.

Backers included 10x Founders, Promus Ventures, Fly Ventures, Speedinvest, and Push Ventures along with corporate investors, such as HHLA Next, DB Schenker via Schenker Ventures and Krone.

The company intends to use the funds to accelerate the transition towards automated and sustainable logistics, scale operations with existing and new customers globally and boost the technological development of their approach to human-assisted autonomy.

Founded by Hendrik Kramer, Maximilian Fisser, and Jean-Michael Georg, Fernride offers scalable automation solutions for yard trucking that increase productivity, promote sustainability, and improve worker safety. The company employs a human-assisted automation approach, which allows for remote takeovers of electric trucks when necessary. This ensures integration and reliable operations for logistics operators.

Customers include Volkswagen, HHLA, DB Schenker, and BSH, among others.

FinSMEs

16/06/2023
Greenstic Europe, a Budapest, Hungary-based distributor and contract manufacturer of disposable, eco-friendly restaurant packaging materials, containers, and cutlery, raised approximately EUR1.4M in funding.

Hiventures made the investment.

The company intends to use the funds to expand its manufacturing and logistics capacities and broaden its product range and customer base in Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania.

Greenstic is a key player in the market of disposable containers and cutlery. Following their acquisition of a competitor at the end of 2021, Greenstic became market leader in the premium segment. In 2022, they embarked on international expansion by establishing a subsidiary in Romania and a franchise partnership in Slovakia, under the new brand identity of Greenstic Europe.

FinSMEs

16/06/2023
Xiplomacy: China elevates ties with Palestine, pledging support

Xinhua) 16:59, June 16, 2023

BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Beijing on Wednesday, where both announced a strategic partnership between China and Palestine.

Abbas, who kicked off his four-day state visit to China on Tuesday, is the first Arab head of state hosted by China this year.

During their meeting on Wednesday, Xi put forward a three-point proposal for the settlement of the Palestinian question and voiced China's support for Palestine in becoming a full member state of the United Nations. He said China stands ready to play a positive role in assisting Palestine in achieving internal reconciliation and promoting peace talks.

SIGNIFICANT MEETING

This year marks the 35th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between China and Palestine. China is among the first countries to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization and the State of Palestine.

China has all along firmly supported the Palestinian people's just cause of restoring their legitimate national rights and worked for a comprehensive, just and durable solution to the Palestinian question at an early date, Xi said on Wednesday.

Underscoring the significance of the meeting between the two leaders, Sun Degang, director of Center for Middle Eastern Studies at China's Fudan University, said China carried out the head of state diplomacy with Palestine in an effort to promote peace and development in the Middle East.

If peace between Palestine and Israel cannot be reached, the Middle East will not have sustainable peace, and regional reconciliation will be gravely jeopardized, he said.

Because of significant disagreements over security, Israeli settlement expansion and establishing a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, U.S.-sponsored peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine have stalled since March 2014.

"After years of marginalization and the Israeli government's refusal to sit at the negotiating table to revive the peace process, the Palestinians are looking for a different approach from the international community towards finding a serious and quick solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict," said Mazen Shamieh, former assistant minister for the Palestinian Foreign Ministry.

Strengthening ties with China will help Palestinians internationalize and mobilize more support for their cause, Shamieh said.

FREQUENT HIGH-LEVEL EXCHANGES

China and Palestine are good friends and good partners who trust and support each other, Xi said on Wednesday.

Over the past several years, high-level exchanges between China and Palestine have been frequent.

For 10 consecutive years, Xi has sent congratulatory messages to the special commemorative meeting in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, and more than once he put forward China's proposals for resolving the Palestinian question, stressing the need to resolutely advance a political settlement based on the two-state solution and intensify international efforts for peace.

In July 2017, Abbas awarded the highest Palestinian medal to Xi for China's support for the just cause of Palestine and to pay homage to Xi himself.

This week's visit by Abbas is the Palestinian leader's fifth to China. The Palestinian leader also met Xi during the first China-Arab States Summit held in the Saudi capital of Riyadh in December last year.

In addition to high-level exchanges, China has often spoken up for Palestine, championed justice, and provided assistance to help ease humanitarian difficulties and reconstruction in Palestine.

Over the past years, China has completed dozens of assistance projects in Palestine, helping the latter build schools and roads. After the outbreak of COVID-19, China sent medical personnel and vaccines to Palestine to aid in the fight against the pandemic. China also frequently donated to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

Palestine, meanwhile, has adhered to the one-China principle and supported China's position on issues concerning its core interests.

Ahmed Rafiq Awad, a Ramallah-based political analyst, told Xinhua that China has long been a pivotal and balanced country committed to international resolutions regarding the Palestinian question and the Palestinian people's rights.

China has firmly supported Palestinian causes at the United Nations and provided selfless support to the Palestinian people, said Abbas Zaki, a Palestinian Fatah Central Committee member and commissioner for relations with Arab countries and China.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Agrophobia? Prince Harry had earlier shared in his controversial memoir Spare that he struggled with agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder that causes intense fear in certain situations, such as among crowds.

According to the Dukes controversial memoir Spare, Prince Harry mentioned that this fear can be severe enough that people avoid leaving home. Harry wrote: I was an agoraphobe. Which was nearly impossible given my public role?

Defying British royal tradition, Harry had opened up on his mental health condition and the difficulties he faced because of the early death of his mother, Lady Diana. He also disclosed that he had to undergo therapy because of agrophobia. But the obvious question that might come to the readers minds is that why we talking about Harrys mental health condition all over again?

Well, it is important and mostly it is all the more important to understand the trauma that Harry is going through again because of the way he has been used by Meghan Markle and now the divorce rumour. Instead of helping Harry with his mental condition, Meghan is separating herself from him, claims a veteran royal biographer. And that she wants to take full custody of their two children. Harry has a mental health issue and Meghan is not doing anything to help him out.

How plotter Meghan is cutting the chain from Prince Harry?

Royal biographer and commentator Angela Levin has said Meghan Markle is cutting the chain from Prince Harry after his solo appearance at the US Department of Defenses Warrior Games this week. Levin told GB News host Dan Wootton the Duchess of Sussex isnt supporting him. Shes not there to support him and I think that is a big sign because the things he has gone through with the Queens death, his grandfathers death and the coronation all on his own. Levin said.

Levin also said the Duke of Sussex is in a terrible state and worries what the Duchess is going to do. Hes mentally disturbed  and I am terrified that thats what shes going to do  It will be a sudden thing, but hes in such a terrible state. Hes so negative. Hes going backwards.

How did the trigger of mental health happen to Prince Harry?

According to a report published in turnbridge.com, throughout his twenties, Prince Harry feels that he was a problem because he didnt speak up about his struggles. I didnt know how to deal with it, he explains. And because of this, his suffering affected those around him. No one knew he was hurting. The only thing about keeping it quiet is that its only ever going to make it worse. Not just for you but everybody else around you as well. In his Apple TV series with Oprah Winfrey, The Me You Cant See, Prince Harry revealed some of his symptoms and triggers: Panic attacks, severe anxiety. And 28 to probably 32 was a nightmare time in my life. From freaking out every single time I jump in the car and every single time that I see a camera.

Harry went into detail on this, explaining that he would do anything just to cope with the feelings he was battling silently. Harry says that he was willing to drink and do drugs to escape the things that hurt him. I was willing to try and do the things that made me feel less like I was feeling, he said. This is common of people struggling with a mental illnessthey use drugs or alcohol to self-medicate. However, drugs and alcohol can exacerbate mental health symptoms.

How the separation will leave Harry isolated again?

Royal biographer Angela Levin, who has written numerous books about the monarchy, claimed that Meghan was planning to break up with Harry and leave him lonely in America. Speaking on GB News, she said that their relationship had disintegrated very badly following the wedding. She added: If we look back to that day, we discovered later that Meghan had already planned to leave the UK before she actually got married.

Royal expert Angela Levin claims Isolated Prince Harry is being abandoned by his planner and plotter wife Meghan Markle who is absolutely separating from him. The author of Harry: A Biography told GB News host Dan Wootton the Duke of Sussex is not even in the family house anymore.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
After days of anxiety and worry, Cyclone Biparjoy  packed with high wind speeds  struck the Jakhau port in Gujarat on Thursday evening, causing damage and destruction along the states coastline.

Cyclone Biparjoy, which translates to disaster in English, lived up to its name  killing two people, injuring at least another 22, uprooting a large number of trees and snapping supply of power to several villages. In fact, according to experts, Cyclone Biparjoy is one of the worst cyclones in recorded history.

After wreaking havoc on the Gujarat coastline, the intensity of Cyclone Biparjoy reduced on Friday morning, and is likely to weaken into a depression this evening over Rajasthan. Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said that his state was geared up for the cyclone and the heavy rainfall that will come with it. According to the India Meteorological Department (Met), heavy rainfall is likely to occur in Jodhpur and Udaipur divisions on Friday and Saturday due to the cyclone.

Trail of destruction

On Thursday, around 6.30 pm, Cyclone Biparjoy with wind speeds of 115-125 kilometres per hour made landfall at Gujarats Jakhau port after travelling in the Arabian Sea for 10 days.

As the storm struck, it brought total darkness to several parts of Gujarat as electric poles across the state were brought down. Officials were quoted as saying that at least 940 villages in the western state had been plunged into blackness with the entire town of Mandvi in the dark.

The cyclone also led to the deaths of two people. According to an Indian Express report, a shepherd and his son  Ram Parmar and Rajesh  died after they were swept away in a flooded stream while trying to save their herd of sheep from drowning in Sodvadar village, on the outskirts of Bhavnagar city, on Thursday evening. The district flood control room of Bhavnagar said that it received the information about the missing father-son duo at 6:25pm. A search and rescue mission was launched, and the bodies were later fished out.

Also read: A look at the deadliest cyclones that have hit India

Furthermore, Cyclone Biparjoy caused injury to around 22 people in the state. Alok Pandey, Relief Commissioner of Gujarat, was quoted as saying that the cyclone had also caused the death of 23 animals. However, the wildlife in Gir National Park went unscathed.

In the Kutch district, roads had been blocked after trees were uprooted and electricity poles came crashing down. Similar scenes were prevalent in Jakhau too. At some places, the roofs of houses had blown away owing to the strong winds.

The storm also brought fear to the people of Gujarat with Juma Koli, a worker at the salt pans in Jakhau telling Indian Express, Whether we are afraid of the cyclone or not, where else can we go. Well stay indoors and try to weather the storm.

Cyclone alert in Gujarat



As the cyclone travelled in the Arabian Sea for 10 days, officials in Gujarat had enough time to prep for it and to mitigate the destruction. Gujarat state officials said that 94,000 people had been evacuated from coastal areas.

Additionally, several train services were suspended in Gujarat, while the ports of Kandla and Mundra  two of Indias largest stopped operations. Fishing was also suspended along the Gujarat coast.

An India Today report also stated that 76 Multipurpose Cyclone Shelters (MPCS) had been set to house people who had been evacuated on account of the cyclone. This includes 25 shelters in Junagadh, 29 at Gir-Somnath, four each in Porbandar, Devbhoomi Dwarka, and Kutch, two in Amreli, one each in Jamnagar and Navsari, five in Bharuch, and one in Ahmedabad.

Also, 1,512 shelter homes have been built across Gujarat, which includes 196 in Junagadh, 173 in Kutch, 56 in Jamnagar, 140 in Porbandar, 182 in Devbhoomi Dwarka, 507 in Gir-Somnath, 31 in Morbi, and 236 in Rajkot.

Eighteen teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 12 of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), 115 teams of state road and building department, and 397 of the state electricity department have also been deployed in coastal districts.

The cyclone on Thursday evoked strong memories in the minds of the people in Gujarat who saw horrific destruction owing to a cyclone 25 years ago. In June of 1998, a very severe cyclonic storm had crossed the Gujarat coast near Porbandar with an intensity of 167 km per hour, killing 1,173 people and another 1,774 people reported missing. Some say that these numbers didnt reflect the reality of the moment and over 4,000 people had died in that cyclone.

Blame global warming

According to many experts, Cyclone Biparjoy was more intense owing to global warming factor. As per IMD, Biparjoy intensified twice in its lifetime because of the unusually warm waters of the Arabian Sea due to global warming.

A study by Punes Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) has recorded that the number of cyclones has increased by 52 per cent and incidents of very severe cyclones went up by 150 per cent. The rise in sea-water temperatures increases humidity due to evaporation, which lends energy to cyclones to intensify.

A report prepared by the Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (GIDM) in Rysan, Gujarat, concedes that the Arabian Sea was earlier considered less prone to cyclonic conditions as compared to the Bay of Bengal as the sea temperatures were lower there. However, the GIDM report quotes a UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report of 2019, which suggests that the Arabian Sea is quickly responding to climate change signals and the frequency of severe cyclone has registered a threefold increase in recent times. The report adds that the intensity of tropical cyclones in the region is reaching its extreme.

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Another boat disaster has unfolded in the Mediterranean. On Wednesday, a boat sank off the coast of Greece, killing at least 79 passengers. According to some reports, the boat carried 400-700 people, and the actual number of deaths could be far higher. A total of 104 people were rescued by Thursday evening.

The deadly shipwreck off southern Greece, involving a large boat carrying migrants that capsized after apparently rebuffing offers of help, is just the latest case of smugglers packing vessels full of desperate people willing to risk their lives to reach continental Europe.

The trip from Libya or Tunisia through the Central Mediterranean and north to Europe is the deadliest migratory route in the world, according to the UNs International Organisation of Migration.

Heres a look at situation in the Mediterranean and some of the particulars of the latest tragedy:

What happened?

Greek coast guard, navy and merchant vessels and aircraft launched a vast search and rescue operation after the overcrowded fishing boat capsized and sank early Wednesday some 75 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of the southern Peloponnese peninsula.

So far, 79 bodies have been recovered and 104 people have been rescued. It was unclear how many were missing, but some initial reports suggested hundreds may have been aboard. If that is confirmed, the wreck could become the deadliest so far this year.

What about offers of help?



The coast guard said the boat rebuffed several offers of assistance by both coast guard and merchant ships in the area starting Tuesday. The agency said in a statement that the ships captain wanted to continue to Italy.

However, Alarm Phone, a network of activists who run a hotline for migrant boats in distress, said they had been in contact with people they believe were on the same vessel and who were desperate for help. The passengers reported that the captain had abandoned the ship on a small boat before it capsized, Alarm Phone said.

Vincent Cochetel, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees special envoy for the Western and the Central Mediterranean, tweeted that this boat was unseaworthy & no matter what some people on board may have said, the notion of distress cannot be discussed.

Many migrants look to bypass Greece and reach Italy, where they can more easily continue their journeys north to family and other migrant communities elsewhere.

Had the migrants been rescued by Greek authorities, they would have to trek through the often-hostile Balkans to reach Western or Northern Europe. The route north from Italy is closer and often more accessible.

What is Greeces migration policy?



Most migrants to Greece cross from Turkey, either reaching the nearby eastern Greek islands in small boats or by crossing the Evros river  known as the Meric in Turkey  which runs along the land border.

Crossings have fallen sharply in recent years as Greece stepped up sea patrols and built a border fence along the Evros. But the country faces persisting allegations from migrants, human rights groups and Turkish officials that it returns migrants back across the border to Turkey, illegally preventing them from claiming asylum. Athens has repeatedly denied that.

Alarm Phone blamed Greeces migration policy for the shipwreck, saying Athens has become Europes shield to deter migration. The Greek coast guard defended its actions, saying it had accompanied the vessel even after it refused assistance and then launched the search and rescue operation after the boat capsized.

How many migrants have arrived through the Mediterranean?

Italy has recorded the vast majority of irregular arrivals in Europe so far this year, 55,160. That is more than double the 21,884 who arrived in the same period in 2022, and 16,737 in 2021. People from Ivory Coast, Egypt, Guinea, Pakistan and Bangladesh account for the most arrivals this year, according to Interior Ministry data.

UN refugee officials note that overall numbers of migrants seeking to come to Europe this way have been on the decline, to an average of around 120,000 annually.

In addition to the deadly Central Mediterranean route, the Western Mediterranean route is used by migrants seeking to reach Spain from Morocco or Algeria. The Eastern Mediterranean route has traditionally been used by Syrian, Iraqi, Afghan and other non-African migrants who go first to Turkey and then try to reach Greece or other European destinations.

How dangerous is the Mediterranean?

Even before Wednesdays deaths, at least 1,039 people were known to be missing from Central Mediterranean crossings this year. The real figure is believed to be far higher given the likelihood that some wrecks were never recorded. Overall, the International Organisation of Migration has tallied more than 27,000 missing migrants in the Mediterranean since 2014.

What have been some of the worst disasters?

On 18 April 2015, the Mediterraneans deadliest known shipwreck occurred when an overcrowded fishing boat collided off Libya with a freighter that was trying to come to its rescue. Only 28 people survived. At first it was feared the hull held the remains of 700 people. Forensic experts who worked to identify the dead concluded in 2018 that there were originally 1,100 on board.

On 3 October 2013, a trawler packed with more than 500 people, many from Eritrea and Ethiopia, caught fire and capsized within sight of an uninhabited islet off the southern Italian island of Lampedusa. Local fishermen rushed to try to help save lives. In the end, 155 survived and 368 people died.

Another shipwreck occurred just a week later on 11 October farther out at sea south of Lampedusa. The disaster has become known in Italy as the slaughter of children, for the 60 children among the more than 260 people who died. In 2017 the Italian newsweekly LEspresso published audio recordings of the migrants desperate calls for help and Italian and Maltese authorities seemingly delaying the rescue.

How has migration divided EU nations?

Mediterranean countries have for years complained that they bear the brunt of receiving and processing migrants and have long demanded other countries step up and take them in.

Poland, Hungary and other Eastern European nations have repeatedly refused an EU plan to share the burdens of caring for migrants. But after years of bickering, EU leaders last week said there was a breakthrough in negotiations for a new migration and asylum pact.

Human rights groups say the EU has been outsourcing migrant rescues to the Libyan coast guard, which returns them to horrific camps where many are subjected to beatings, rape and other abuse. The EU and member states have also struck agreements with other North African nations to improve their border control and stop migrant boats from reaching Europe.

With inputs from AP

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The defence ministry has given the go-ahead to buy 30 MQ-9B Predator drones from the United States.

The move comes just days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis state visit to Washington. The deal worth billions of dollars is expected to be announced after talks between Modi and US president Joe Biden.

The procurement of the weaponised hunter-killer drones from General Atomics was cleared at a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, people familiar with the matter said.

This comes in the backdrop of reports that the Joe Biden administration will sign off on a deal that would allow General Electric Co (GE.N) to produce jet engines powering Indian military aircraft.

Lets take a closer look at how India-US defence ties are flourishing under Modi:

By the numbers

According to OROF, between 2015 and 2019, the US share in Indias total defence imports rose by 14 per cent.

Defence trade between the two nations touched $20 billion in 2020  a sea change from near-zero in 2008.

In 2016, the United States designated India under the Modi regime as a major defence partner.

According to Eurasian Times, this bestows a unique status that puts India on par with Washingtons closest allies.

US-India jet engine deal: What is it and why is this big news for New Delhi?

That led to India being elevated to Strategic Trade Authorization tier 1 status in 2018.

This makes it easier for the US to sell high-technology products to India.

Big purchases

India has also made several significant purchases from the US in recent years including MH-60R Seahawk helicopters ($2.8 billion), Apache helicopters ($796 million), and the Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasure ($189 million).

India is also the first non-NATO partner to be offered these predator drones  a sign of growing trust.

Cooperation on defence trade continues to expand as the countries have put into place Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), and the Industrial Security Agreement (ISA).

EurAsian Times notes that apart from the Defence Technologies and Trade Initiative (DTTI)  which was signed in 2012  all the pacts were concluded after Modi took power in 2014.

The previous governments in Delhi were reluctant to conclude them, the rationale being that those would make India a member of the US-led camp and affect the countrys long-cherished strategic autonomy. Such reasoning was dubious, to speak the least. But the fact remains that with the coming of the Modi government, the Indo-US relations, including the security ties, have undergone dramatic changes, the piece noted.

Load bearing pillar

India is also interested in purchasing for its air force the Lockheed Martin F-21 and Boeings F/A-18 Super Hornet and F-15EX Eagle.

These expectations ride on the back of successful collaborations in aircraft systems like the P-8Is which are seen as useful in boosting Indias maritime reconnaissance and domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific expanse, OROF noted.

According to the United States Institute for Peace, defence ties between the two nations have been the load-bearing pillar of the strategic partnership.

The two countries have built intelligence-sharing channels and assessment capabilities to better identify and prepare for threats; developed access agreements for military logistics to support each others reach; and conducted regular military exercises to improve our capabilities and interoperability, the piece noted.

The piece also noted how Washington came to New Delhis aid during the border crises with China and Pakistan how it shared vital intelligence, rushed critical supplies and then approved the lease of MQ-9B drones for deterrence by detection during the dust-up at the Line of Actual Control.

USIP also reported that a senior US official said weve broken all the china to share this level of technology when it comes to authorising joint production of GE F-414 jet engines in India.

According to Hindu Business Line, these engines would be used in the AJT Tejas MK-2 planes.

Modis visit a springboard

US officials told India Today that Modis visit is being looked as a springboard to further elevate the relationship between the two countries.

The piece noted how members of the US presidents cabinet have in recent days talked about the relationship with unusual clarity and enthusiasm

The White House is calling the shots and projecting Modis visit as the cement that will bind the two countries and consecrate the relationship  to use the words of Kurt Campbell, the White House coordinator for the Indo-Pacific, the piece noted.

It also recalled defence secretary Lloyd Austins words that the countries were at a transformative moment.

Austin made the remarks on a visit to Delhi earlier in June.

The evolution of Indo-US defence relations over the last two decades has been phenomenal and always received bipartisan support, irrespective of the regimes in both countries. The path ahead seems to be bright, the Eurasian Times piece concluded.

Time come to move forward

US Representative Richard McCormick stressed on having ties between the United States (US) and India economically, militarily and strategically. He emphasised that lawmakers whether they are Democrats or Republicans need to pay more attention to India as a future partner going forward.

On reports of the US pushing a sign a big-arms drone deal during the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, I think the more we link our countries together, both strategically, economically, militarily, the better. If you look at the threats in the region, if you look at Indias strategic location next to China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, with all the problems that we have in that part of the world right now, we need a strong partner, somebody that we can link ourselves to.

Experts suggest US President Joe Biden has made deepening ties with India a cornerstone of his policy to counter Chinas growing influence, placing special attention this year on collaboration between the worlds two largest democracies on advanced military technologies, despite their lack of a formal security alliance.

We need to make sure we continue to be linked to that very important part of the world with somebody who sees the world very similar to us, McCormick told ANI.

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Indian Navy exhibited its formidable maritime capabilities last week as it carried out a Carrier Battle Group (CBG) operation in the Arabian Sea. The exercise involved Indias two aircraft carriers  INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant  as well as more than 35 aircraft, several warships and submarines.

According to the Times of India (TOI), a CBG is a floating air base with fighter jets and helicopters that can sanitise over 200 nautical miles around it. The development comes at a time when China is making efforts to expand its influence in the Indian Ocean region (IOR).

What was this dual aircraft carrier exercise and why is it so important for India? We explain.

Twin CBG operation

The twin aircraft carriers served as floating sovereign airfields in the exercise on 10 June, offering a launch platform for an array of aircraft, including MiG-29K fighter jets, MH-60R, Kamov, Sea King, Chetak and Dhruv helicopters.

As per the Indian Navy, the CBG operation was a powerful testament to the pivotal role of sea-based air power in maintaining maritime superiority.

The seamless operational integration of the two aircraft carriers @IN_Vikramaditya & @IN_R11Vikrant as well as fleet ships & submarines is a powerful testament to the pivotal role of sea based air power & Indias role as the preferred security partner in the #IndianOcean & beyond pic.twitter.com/XiW2UXloSK  SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) June 10, 2023

These mobile bases can be positioned anywhere, allowing for increased mission flexibility, timely response to emerging threats and sustained air operations to safeguard our national interests across the globe. In addition, they provide our friends with an assurance that the Indian Navy is capable and ready to support our collective security needs in the region, a Navy spokesperson said in a statement, as per The Hindu.

The twin CBG operation displayed Indias technological expertise in the maritime domain, as per the Navy.

This demonstration of naval prowess underscores Indias commitment to safeguarding its national interests, maintaining regional stability, and fostering cooperative partnerships in the maritime domain, the spokesperson further added.

About the dual aircraft carriers

The 44,500 tonne INS Vikramaditya, which was procured from Russia in 2004, went into service in 2013.

Indias first indigenously designed and built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant will become fully operational later this year, as per The Hindu. The 44,000-tonne aircraft carrier was commissioned in the Navy last September.

As per CNN, with the induction of INS Vikrant, India joined the only two other countries  the United Kingdom and China  to have commissioned an indigenous aircraft carrier in the last three years.

Meanwhile, the Indian Navy is planning to get a third aircraft carrier and is in talks for a repeat order of INS Vikrant, reported Indian Express.

Why was the CBG operation significant?

The exercise involving twin aircraft carriers was a big accomplishment for India, analysts told CNN. This is not a small achievement and underlines that the Indian Navy is one of very few in the world that operates more than one aircraft carrier, Nick Childs, senior fellow for naval forces and maritime security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), said.

Sameer Patil, author and senior fellow at Observer Research Foundation Mumbai, told International Business Times (IBT) that the twin aircraft carrier exercise shows Indian Navys operational preparedness to meet security needs.

This impressive display of naval strength by the Indian Navy certainly shows its decades-long expertise in operating aircraft carriers.

The Navy has increasingly positioned itself as the Net Security Provider and stepped up its naval profile in the Indo-Pacific region in recent years. This dual aircraft carrier exercise neatly aligns with this expanded profile and provides an opportunity for the Navy to demonstrate its operational preparedness, he was quoted as saying by IBT.

ALSO READ: India looking to partner up with US for warship engines

While China and the UK have multiple aircraft carriers in their modern fleets, neither has yet to perform dual-carrier operations with them, analysts told CNN.

China has two aircraft carriers in service, the Soviet-built Liaoning and the indigenous Shandong. The Fujian, its third warship, has been launched but is yet to be commissioned.

Before India, only the United States carried out multi-aircraft carrier operations in recent times, reported IBT.

Although India has operated two aircraft carriers earlier as well, between 1987 and 1997 and between 2013 and 2017, this recent exercise is seen as a significant feat.

Speaking to CNN, Collin Koh, a research fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said Indias naval history is likely to provide it an edge over China.

The Indian Navy has had decades-long experience and expertise in aircraft carrier ops and this is probably the key advantage it possesses over the PLA (Chinas Peoples Liberation Army) Navy, its key rival in this field, despite the latters relative advance in its indigenous aircraft carrier programme, Koh said.

As per the TOI report, China has seven to eight vessels and spy ships in the IOR at any point in time; and it is also aiding Pakistan to build a strong maritime force to counter India in the Arabian Sea. However, currently, India has an advantage over the region while Beijing faces logistical challenges, the report added.

Chinas aggression along the (shared Himalayan) border and expanding operations and presence in the Indian Ocean have become Indias most serious security concern. The naval expansion and modernisation is intended to address that concern, analyst Carl Schuster, a former US Navy captain, told CNN.

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Will you buy a handbag even tiny than a grain of sea salt? If you are thinking such a thing does not exist, you are wrong. MSCHF, a United States-based art collective known for its Big Red Boots and other unconventional products, has come out with another bizarre item  a rectangular lime green bag that is as big as a speck of dust.

The miniature bag has Louis Vuittons monogram and is inspired by the French luxury fashion houses OnTheGo tote.

With a bag this small, lets take a closer look at it.

Microscopic Handbag

Made of photopolymer resin, MSCHFs Microscopic Handbag measures 657 by 222 by 700 micrometers, as per The New York Times (NYT) report. The company had approached biotechnology manufacturers to make this fluorescent green bag using a stereolithographic process commonly used for making tiny mechanical biotech structures, New York Post reported.

Its translucent handle and other features are visible once put the bag under a microscope. The company says their art piece is narrow enough to pass through the eye of a needle.

Microscopic handbag by MSCHF for Pharrells Joopiter auction (2023) pic.twitter.com/7IlMIaHxEy  Outlander Magazine (@StreetFashion01) June 14, 2023

To showcase this miniature bag at the 8 Avenue Matignon gallery in Paris from 20-24 June, it will be mounted beneath a microscope and sealed within a gel case, according to Vogue magazine.

Then, it will be sent for auction.

As per NYT, the bag will be sold at Just Phriends, an auction organised by Sarah Andelman and Joopiter, Pharrell Williamss auction house, from 19-27 June. The starting bid is not known yet, noted Vogue.

A commentary on handbags

Kevin Wiesner, the chief creative officer of MSCHF, told NYT that the bag was a commentary on shrinking luxury handbags.

I think bag is a funny object because it derives from something rigorously functional, he said. But it has basically become jewellery.

MSCFH said in a statement: As a once-functional object like a handbag becomes smaller and smaller, its object status becomes steadily more abstracted until it is purely a brand signifier.

Previous small leather handbags have still required a hand to carry themthey become dysfunctional, inconveniences to their wearer.

In an interview with NYT, Wiesner said this handbag takes this trend of to its logical conclusion by stripping away all of the bags utility.It is the final word in bag miniaturisation, the Brooklyn-based creative arts company said in its statement.

Wiesner told NYT that he hopes the buyer of this handbag will not accord it too much respect. I almost hope somebody eats it, he said.

According to the chief creative officer, MSCHF had not taken Louis Vuittons permission to use its logo or design.

ALSO READ: Why India is becoming the new darling of luxury brands across the globe

Social media reacts

As the brand posted the pictures of this minuscule handbag on Instagram, netizens went into a frenzy.

A user wrote sarcastically: Finally, a bag that fits all this cash. Another wrote, Imagine, you drop it.

Applauding the effort, a user commented: Actually incredible. Id love to see how the absolute tiniest details were done.

When MSCHF hit the headlines

This is not the first time MSCHF has got people talking about its out-the-box product. As per NYT, the collective has employed parody and controversy to make statements on absurdities of consumer culture previously as well.

MSCHF is a counter-culture media/product brand, playing in a gray area that isnt yet defined by traditional approaches, Daniel Greenberg, the companys head of commerce, had told CBS News in 2019.

Earlier this year, the company released the Big Red Boots, which it described as cartoon boots for a cool 3-D world. People had taken to TikTok to share their experiences of trying to remove the boots, with one commenting, Now u know how Ronald feels, a reference to McDonalds primary mascot.

The MSCHF Big Red Boots restock TODAY at 2pm ET  pic.twitter.com/aBz04HJ2Mm  JustFreshKicks (@JustFreshKicks) June 13, 2023

Last year, the company came out with a black MSCHF logo handbag that had the manufacturing label of Italy, Texas  a quip on the made-in-Italy tag that most designer handbags feature, noted Vogue.

In 2019, it launched Jesus Shoes, or customised Nike Air Max 97s that had holy water in the soles sourced from the River Jordan. The shoes were on sale for as high as $4,000 (more than Rs 300,000).

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The next week is doing to be a busy one for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is heading to the United States on 20 June, where he will be meeting President Joe Biden, holding bilaterals and inking crucial deals. After his first official state visit to the US, the PM will be travelling to Egypt.

Modi will travel to Cairo for a state visit from 24 June to 25 June. This visit to Egypt will mark Prime Minister Modis first official trip to the country, the Ministry of External Affairs informed on Friday.

The invitation to the visit was extended by Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who was Indias chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations in January 2023.

We take a look at the agenda of the PMs visit and how India has revived ties with Egypt in the past nine years under the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government.

What to expect from PM Modis Egypt visit

In Cairo, the Indian leader is expected to hold bilaterals with President Sisi, interact with senior dignitaries from the Egyptian government, engage with prominent Egyptian personalities, and meet the diaspora.

The announcement of the PMs visit comes soon after Egypt formally applied for membership of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). The West Asian nation also has plans to ditch the US dollar while trading with BRICS nations, a move that promises greater economic cooperation.

Egypts willingness to reduce dependence on the US dollar aligns with the BRICS vision to promote alternate currencies in international trade, including its own currency.

As Cairo looks to establish stronger ties with emerging economies, PM Modis visit assumes significance. During the upcoming visit, there will be talks on defence cooperation, education, and Egypts application to join the BRICS. The country is expected to make rapid economic growth, it has abundant natural resources and strategic control over the Suez Canal, which will make its addition to the bloc valuable, according to a report in Financial Express.

Increased trade and investment between Egypt and the BRICS countries can contribute to economic development and foster greater cooperation within the group Furthermore, Egypts application to join BRICS may influence the perceptions of other Middle Eastern and African nations toward the group, the report says.

PM Modi has worked towards building stronger ties with Egypt, even inviting the country as a special guest at the G20 summit during Indias presidency.

Sisis invite to Modi is a reciprocation of New Delhis decision to have him as chief guest for Republic Day.

What did Modi and Sisi discuss in New Delhi?

In January, India and Egypt elevated the bilateral partnership to the level of a strategic partnership. Modi and Sisi decided that the two countries will develop a long-term framework of greater cooperation in political, security, economic and scientific fields.

According to Indias foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra, there are broadly four elements to the partnership: political, defence and security; economic engagement; scientific and academic collaboration; and cultural and people-to-people contacts.

The two countries also agreed that concerted action is necessary to end cross-border terrorism and that they would together alert the international community.

The decision to invite Sisi was part of Indias ongoing efforts to boost ties with Cairo. The president has visited India three times now since he took charge in June 2014  for this years Republic Day, for the Third India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi in October 2015 and on a bilateral visit in 2016. He is likely to return in September for the G20 summit.

India wants to become the voice of the Golbal South, which includes countries in Asia, Africa and South America and Egypt is an important part of that.

Ahead of Sisis January visit, former India ambassador to Egpyt, Navdeep Suri, told DD India that the ties between the two nations have not lived up to their potential in the recent past. But added that India has picked up the baton and is trying to give a fresh momentum to the relationship with a country, which is pivotal in its geopolitical location as it straddles Asia and Africa.

What has changed under PM Modi?

Under PM Modi, the ties between India and Egypt have strengthened. Last year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Cairo.

The two countries are exploring opportunities in new and renewable energy, trade and investment, education, tourism and connectivity and have agreed to promote independent thinking in a polarised world. Egypt is keen on establishing a premium institution like an IIT on its soil.

During Singhs visit, the focus was to expand bilateral defence agreements. Egypt has shown interest in some of the made-in-India technologies like Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, the Akash missile system, and DRDOs Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW).

Amid wheat shortage caused by the Russia-Ukraine war and restrictions on exports of the grain in India last year, the Modi-led government decided to make an exception for Egypt.

Bilateral trade between India and Egypt has expanded rapidly in 2021-22, amounting to $7.26 billion registering a 75 per cent increase compared to 2020-21, according to media reports.

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Communal tensions are high in Uttarakhands Purola town. A mahapanchayat called by right-wing organisations in the small town against what they call love jihad incidents did not take place Thursday (15 June) after the district administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

In the last few weeks, several reports of Muslims leaving Purola located in the Uttarkashi district, around 140 km from Dehradun, have come up. The impact of this communal tension in Purola has also reportedly been witnessed in some other towns and villages in the Uttarkashi district.

But what has led to this strife? What is going on Purola? Lets take a closer look.

How did it start?

Tensions rose in Purola after two men, one belonging to the minority community, allegedly tried to abduct a minor girl on 26 May. The two men identified by the police as Jitendra Saini and Ubaid Khan were arrested and booked under sections 363 (kidnapping) and 366A (procuration of minor girl) of the IPC and sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, reported Indian Express.

On 27 May, police officials asked traders to keep their shops shut for the day, Mohammad Ashraf, who has a garment shop in Purola, told Scroll.

Later that day, right-wing groups, local Vyapar Mandal (trade union) and some residents took out a march against the alleged kidnapping of the 14-year-old Hindu girl, which they termed a case of love jihad.

Calling for action against the accused, they also demanded a strict verification process for outsiders who come to the town.

According to Indian Express, the police have denied the love jihad angle in the case, with an officer familiar with the investigation saying the girl did not know these people.

Love jihad is a conspiracy theory of far-right Hindutva groups that claims Muslim men lure Hindu women into romantic relationships under false pretences to convert them to Islam.

#WATCH | Uttarakhand: Police patrol streets of Purola of Uttarkashi district where Section 144 CrPC has been imposed by the district administration after the town witnessed communal tensions over an alleged attempt to abduct a minor girl last month pic.twitter.com/kW6fa9LYsa  ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) June 16, 2023

Religious tensions flare-up

On 29 May, Hindus again took out a rally in the market area and also went up to homes of Muslims, eyewitnesses told news outlet Scroll.

They came down here and shouted slogans for 20 minutes at my door, Ashraf, the 41-year-old trader, was quoted as saying by the news outlet. They raised provocative slogans against Muslims, he alleged.

At least 30 shops owned or rented by Muslims were also vandalised that day, reported Hindustan Times (HT).

Four days later, in Barkot, a small town about 30km from Purola, the letter X was marked on the doors of some Muslim-owned shops, as per Al Jazeera.

Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand: Muslim owned shops forcibly closed by Hindutva outfits! Posters have come up asking Muslim traders to vacate their shops before a Panchayat for targeting Hindu women to be held on June 15! Some Muslim shopkeepers have left Uttarkashi & came to Dehradun! pic.twitter.com/FQ6vYJD0bL  Muslim Spaces (@MuslimSpaces) June 6, 2023

In a letter to the administration in the neighbouring district of Tehri Garhwal, dated 5 June, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a Hindu right-wing outfit, alleged that members of a particular community have become a threat to Hindu girls, according to ThePrint report.

The letter also said if Muslims do not leave the town in 10 days, then VHP and the Hindu Yuva Vahini, will protest by blocking the highway on 20 June, the report added.

A poster allegedly put up by Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan asking love jihadis to leave the town before mahapanchayat on 15 June or else face the consequences, also worsened the tensions, reported Indian Express. Following the incident, Uttarkashi police filed a first information report (FIR) against unidentified people over the poster.

As per HT, since the Purola flare-up, rallies against Muslims have also been organised in the towns of Barkot and Chinyalisaur and villages of Naugaon, Damta, Barnigad, Netwar and Bhatwari in Uttarakhand.

Allegations of love jihad, land jihad

On 3 June, Hindutva groups held a rally in Barkot over love jihad and land jihad allegations, as per the Scroll report.

Land jihad is also a far-right conspiracy that accuses Muslims of occupying public land to build religious structures.

On 9 June, Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami claimed cases of love jihad are increasing in the state. There is growing awareness against crimes of this nature. That is why victims are now coming out to register such cases. Its a planned conspiracy to change the demography of our state, he was quoted as saying by HT.

The term land jihad has also been often used by Dhami.

As per ThePrint, the Uttarakhand chief minister had said in April: We are not against anyone but encroachment in the name of mazar will not be allowed. We will not allow land jihad to prosper. We believe in the law but will not allow anyones appeasement.

Speaking to ThePrint ahead of the proposed Purola mahapanchayat, VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal said that the Hindu community is being forced to hold the mahapanchayat against jihadi elements in Uttarkashi, and the local unit of the VHP is supporting the community against jihadi elements.

He further said that Jamiat is wasting the time of the Supreme Court and home minister and that they should restrict their community to do love jihad and land jihad in Uttarakhand.

Expressing concerns over the communal tensions in Uttarkashi and the open threat of expulsion to Muslims, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind president Mahmood Madani had written to Dhami and Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday (13 June).

Muslims flee homes, abandon shops

Amid recent tensions, Muslim traders in Purola have been unable to open their shops. As per Scroll, around 40 shops in the market are owned by Muslims and there are around 40-45 Muslim families in the town.

About a dozen Muslim families have already fled Purola, according to the Al Jazeera report on 13 June.

Among those who have left the small town include Zahid Malik, who claimed he was the Uttarkashi district president of the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) minority wing. Malik had been living in Purola for the last 30 years but he has now fled to Dehradun with his family, as per reports.

I had no option but to leave because there were clear threats that we will be harmed if we dont leave before 15 June, he told Al Jazeera.

Even though I am associated with the ruling party, sadly I did not get any help from the administration, Malik, who owned a readymade garments shop in the town, alleged.

BJPs Uttarakhand leader, Dushyant Kumar Gautam, has called the reports of an alleged exodus of Muslims from Purola baseless.

There was a case of love jihad. The police are investigating  People are leaving the town on their own because of the possibility of their involvement in the case, he was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.

No mahapanchayat

Against this backdrop, the district administration did not give permission for the 15 June mahapanchayat called by Hindutva groups including VHP and the Bajrang Dal.

However, some VHP members reached the Purola stadium on Thursday and held a symbolic protest amid heavy police presence across the town, reported HT.

Section 144 will remain in place until 19 June in the small town with a population of 5,000.

This comes after Uttarakhand High Court directed the state to maintain law and order in the area. Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) had approached the High Court seeking to stop the mahapanchayat.

#BREAKING Mahapanchayat proposed by Hindutva groups in Purola called off after State intervention, Uttarakhand Govt tells HC. HC directs the State to ensure that law and order is maintained. HC directs all concerned parties to refrain from social media debates on the issue to https://t.co/KwB1uAPYNs  Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) June 15, 2023

The Bajrang Dal and VHP members have submitted a memorandum to the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Purola for the Uttarakhand chief minister, demanding legal action against attempts by people with Jihadi mentality to defame the Hindu community and right-wing organisations, reported HT.

Muslim Seva Sangathan has called its own mahapanchayat in Dehradun on 18 June to discuss the atmosphere of hatred against Muslims in Uttarakhand.

Meanwhile, Dhami said in a statement on Thursday that no one will be allowed to take the law into their hands.

If anyone tries to vitiate the atmosphere, the law will take its course. In the incidents that have happened so far, the administration has acted properly. If someone is guilty, the law will work against him. Do not take the law into your hands, he said.

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Over the years, this conundrum has perplexed not just young brains but also intellectuals.

However, according to a new study by the University of Bristol published in the Journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, it might be a smart idea to bet on the chicken, because it suggests that the first reptiles and birds may have borne their offspring.

Along with researchers from Nanjing University, scientists dispute the existing view that hard-shelled eggs were the key to the success of amniotes  animals whose foetuses develop inside an amnion (membrane or sack) inside the egg.

Lets take a closer look.

Also read: Worry Side Up: Why the cost of eggs has doubled in the US

Chicken might be the winner

In terms of evolution, the chickens distant dinosaur predecessors were laying eggs millions of years before the first chicks appeared. It was believed that this would finally put an end to the age-old debate over which came first, the egg or the chicken.

However, the earliest reptilian ancestors of the chicken, who lived millions of years before dinosaurs formed, may not have laid eggs, contrary to what was previously believed, according to the study.

The development of the embryo or foetus occurs within an amnion, a protective membrane inside the egg, and scientists have long believed that the ability to lay eggs with hard shells was vital to the early evolutionary success of the amniotes, a group of vertebrates, more than 300 million years ago, according to Dailymail.

As per the study, which looked at 51 fossil species and 29 current species that might be classified as oviparous (meaning they lay hard or soft-shelled eggs), or viviparous (meaning they give birth to live young), the contrary is true.

The study demonstrates that all the major Amniota taxa, including Mammalia (mammals), Lepidosauria (lizards and other reptiles), and Archosauria (dinosaurs, crocodiles, and, well, birds), appeared to be viviparous and displayed evidence of long-term embryo retention.

The amniotic egg is very different from the anamniotic egg of extant amphibians, which lacks an eggshell and extraembryonic membranes. The amniotic egg consists of a suite of fetal membranes, including the amnion, chorion and allantois, as well as an external shell that can be either strongly mineralised (as in rigid-shelled eggs) or weakly mineralized (as in parchment-shelled eggs), the study said, as per NDTV.

Also read: No land to bury dead chickens in Japan: How deadly is the current bird flu outbreak?

Extended embryo retention (EER)  the primitive reproductive mode

Extended embryo retention (EER) describes the situation in which the young are kept by their mothers for varied lengths of time, depending on whether or not the circumstances are favourable for survival. Long considered one of the greatest evolutionary breakthroughs, hard-shelled eggs appear to have been replaced by longer embryo preservation, according to this new study.

The first tetrapods that developed limbs from fishy fins were largely aquatic in their behaviour before the amniotes. As with contemporary amphibians like frogs and salamanders, they needed to dwell in or close to water to eat and reproduce, according to co-author Michael Benton from the University of Bristols School of Earth Sciences.

Amniotes were able to escape the water when they first arose, some 320 million years ago, because they evolved waterproof skins and other qualities that allowed them to regulate water loss, according to him.

But the amniotic egg was the key. It was said to be a private pond in which the developing reptile was protected from drying out in the warm climates and enabled the Amniota to move away from the waterside and dominate terrestrial ecosystems, he said.

This standard view has been challenged. Biologists had noticed many lizards and snakes display flexible reproductive strategies across oviparity and viviparity. Sometimes, closely related species show both behaviours, and it turns out that live-bearing lizards can flip back to laying eggs much more easily than had been assumed, said Baoyu Jiang, leader of the project and a professor at Nanjing University, in a press statement.

Today, EER, in which the mother retains the developing young inside their body, is extremely prevalent among vertebrates. In lizards and snakes, it is likewise highly pervasive and diverse. At various phases of life, these animals can release the young, either inside an egg or as tiny wrigglers. while moms are able to release their young while the weather is warm and there is ample food supply, EER may be advantageous.

Benton draws the conclusion that the current study consigns the classic reptile egg model of the textbooks to the wastebasket, along with other recent studies. This may indicate that EER, rather than a hard-egged shell, originated in amniotes to shield their growing embryo.

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Pakistan governments crackdown on former Prime Minister Imran Khan seems to be getting even more intense. Over the last few days, it has been difficult to find Imran Khan or even mention of his name or photo in Pakistani media. Now the crackdown has extended to his social media profiles as well.

The government has shared with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) the social media profiles of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and several other leaders of his party to conduct a forensic test for allegedly sharing controversial anti-state content between 8 March and 9 May, a media report revealed on Thursday.

The situation leading up to these restrictions was his arrest on corruption charges a month ago, as violent protests erupted across the country when Khan was taken from a court complex in Islamabad on 9 May.

Forensic tests on Imran Khans social media accounts

A total of 23 links from Instagram, Facebook and Twitter of the leaders of Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party have been sent to the FIA, Samaa TV reported, citing details from the police.

FIA is the premier agency of Pakistan at the national level to investigate federal crimes.

Police said that the links shared are based on the videos and posts of PTI leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Murad Saeed and Hammad Azhar and the statements of the political leaders will also form part of the Joint Investigative Teams final report on the 9 May violence cases, the report said.

Police added that the renowned PTI personalities and social media handlers kept sharing allegedly offensive material, as reported by Samaa.

A forensic test is being conducted on the videos and posts over allegedly anti-state statements contained in the shared links.

The forensic reports of the links will be made part of the investigation report. Youth were incited against the state through the use of social media, said the report.

Earlier, on 14 May, the Islamabad police stated that 564 people had been held for violence following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, and that further arrests were being made, according to Dawn. It claimed that during the violent protests, government property worth Pakistani Rs 25 crore was damaged.

Governments strict action

On 9 May, violent protests erupted after the arrest of Khan, 70, in a corruption case by paramilitary Rangers in Islamabad. Khan was later released on bail.

Workers from his party PTI 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 in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first time.

The federal Cabinet has decided that the protesters who vandalised military installations on 9 May would be tried under the stringent Army Act and Official Secrets Act.

Khan, the chairman of PTI has been raising clamour against the incumbent Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz)-led coalition government after he was ousted last year through a no-confidence motion in Parliament.

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 9 May, which the Pakistan Army dubbed Black Day.

Khan is facing more than 100 cases across the country.

With inputs from PTI

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Travel to Paris and a look around its skyline and theres something that will stand out  the Eiffel Tower that stands tall at 330 metres and the Montparnasse Tower, standing at 210 metres (689 feet). While one has become synonymous with the City of Lights, the other, the Montparnasse Tower, shares a weird relationship with the people. Most Parisians consider the 59-storey chocolate-coloured glass tower as out of place.

Their disdain for the high-rise isnt singular. In fact, Paris dislike for high-rises is so strong that they have re-imposed a ban on tall buildings in a bid to preserve its low-rise skyline. Through the Plan Local dUrbanisme, the city is restricting the height of structures to 12 storeys  or 37 metres.

But why have such a ban? Whats the reason Parisians want a low-rise city?

Paris low-rise skyline

To understand Paris love for low-rise buildings, we have to look back into the past. Napoleon III sought to turn the city in a symbol of French grandeur in the mid-19th century. To realise his dream, he appointed Baron Georges-Eugene Haussmann to transform the capital into a vibrant, modern European city.

Haussmann razed many of Paris cramped medieval streets and decrepit buildings to make way for wide avenues, public squares, parks and a new sewer system, all of which helped to revitalise and clean up the city. He also introduced Haussmannian apartment buildings  six-storey, stone-facade buildings that are visible even today across the city.

After World War II ended, there was a need among the people of Paris to redevelop. Many believed that Paris needed to follow in the footsteps of the United States and the United Kingdom with their nationwide highways and new skyscrapers. As Virginie Picon-Lefebvre, a professor of architecture at the Ecole Nationale Superieure dArchitecture Paris-Belleville and expert in the capitals postwar architectural history, told CNN, On the ruins of the disaster of war, they wanted to build something completely new for a new generation.

And hence, in 1973, came the Montparnasse Tower. The 231-metre-tall building, designed by architects Eugene Beaudouin, Urbain Cassan, and Louis Hoym de Marien and built by Campenon Bernard, became Frances tallest skyscraper and held on to that badge of honour until 2011.

But the initial hoopla around the building died and locals criticised it for its looming presence. Many called it out of place where buildings were just six-stories high.

And in 1977, the City of Lights turned dark on tall buildings, restricting constructions to 37 metres. That ban was in place until 2010. It was overturned by former Mayor Bertrand Delanoe for a limit of 180 metres for office towers and 50 metres for housing blocks.

A new ban on high-rises

Last week, even as Paris marked the 50th anniversary of the construction of the Montparnasse Tower, the city council voted in favour of limiting the height of new buildings and adopted a new Plan Local dUrbanisme (PLU).

The new ban, instigated by Green Councillor Emile Meunier and brought about by Mayor Anne Hidalgo, is part of a larger Bioclimatic Urban Plan which aims to reduce carbon emissions in the city.

It has also come in response to the construction of Herzog & de Meurons Tour Triangle tower. The construction on the 180-metre Tour Triangle began in 2021 and is expected to be completed by 2026. Set to stand at 42 storeys with 91,351 square metres of floor space, the Triangle would become the third-tallest building within the Paris city limits, behind only Tour Montparnasse and the Eiffel Tower.

Reacting to the ban, Emile Meunier was quoted as saying, They said Paris was naff and needed high towers to compete with Londons city. Now its the end of towers in Paris. The new local urban plan of Paris marks the end of the towers and returns to a reasonable height.

Not just Paris though

However, Paris isnt the only place in the world to impose a ban on high-rise constructions. China, home to some of the worlds tallest buildings, in 2021 also placed a ban on super skyscrapers in smaller cities across the country.

According to the rules, skyscrapers taller than 150 metres (490 ft) will be strictly limited, and those higher than 250 metres (820 ft) will be banned for cities with a population of fewer than three million. In cities with over three million people, authorities have limited structures taller than 250 metres.

The ban came into effect as many argued that in low-density cities massive skyscrapers are merely impractical vanity projects.

There are several who argue that high-rise buildings can kill liveability. World-renown architect Jan Gehl has argued that people who live in tall buildings are separated from people and can tend to become lonelier. Because its not as easy as walking out your front door, people who live on the high floors of a high-rise are less likely to leave their houses. This separates people from the outdoors, the city and from other people  affecting not only an individuals physical health but also their mental and emotional health.

Also read: Touchwood! All you need to know about worlds tallest timber building coming up in Switzerland

Theres also the aspect that tall buildings are not environmentally friendly. Many environmentalists argue that they are energy guzzlers and are not green at all. Patrick Condon of the University of British Columbia was quoted in SmartCitiesDive.com as saying, High-rise buildings are subject to the effects of too much sun and too much wind on their all-glass skins. And all-glass skins are, despite many improvements to the technology, inherently inefficient. Glass is simply not very good at keeping excessive heat out, or desirable heat in. Our high-rises, according to BC Hydro (the province of British Columbias main electric utility) data, use almost twice as much energy per square metre as mid-rise structures.

However, the backers of skyscrapers argue that these structures are needed, exciting and provide employment. If vertical buildings can enrich the heart of the capital, why deprive ourselves?

He was further quoted as telling The Independent, There is this obsession in France that new architecture should not stand out. This causes a problem for towers, which must be visible and proud of themselves.

For now, however, it seems Paris vertical ambitions are on hold.

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You might have taken a flight to Bangkok before but in the near future, the Thai metropolis and an eastern Indian city will be joined by a road. Yes, you heard it right.

The Kolkata-Bangkok highway would be a significant transportation link which will strengthen closer ties between India and Thailand.

The massive project, which will involve several nations, has the potential to completely transform regional trade and transportation.

Lets take a closer look.

Kolkata-Bangkok highway

The construction of the Kolkata-Bangkok Highway marks a significant milestone in the efforts to enhance connectivity and strengthen trade relations between India and Thailand. A seamless connection to Thailand and India is the goal of the enormous project.

The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) project is the umbrella organisation for this highway project that would link Kolkata and Bangkok, according to News18.

According to reports, construction has already started on the project, and the suggested strategy is anticipated to significantly boost the countrys economy.

The trilateral highway project was put forward by then-Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at a ministerial meeting between India, Myanmar, and Thailand in Yangon, Myanmar in April 2002. The project aimed at increasing trade between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), according to Swarajya.

Also read: Nitin Gadkari says Centre working to develop electric highways: What are they? When is India likely to get one?

The projects long history

Swarajya magazine explains the 160-kilometre-long Indo-Myanmar Friendship Road (Moreh-Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo) construction project was taken on by Indias Border Roads Organisation (BRO), who maintained this route until 2009 in accordance with the bilateral agreement between India and Myanmar.

After that, all of the bridges along the road were to be upgraded in Myanmar, but it was unable to do so because of severe financial limitations. In May 2012, then-Manmohan Singh administration declared that India would spend $100 million (~Rs 8.192 billion) to turn the existing highway into a four-lane highway, and rebuild the stretchs 71 bridges. However, this didnt happen until Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014.

In August 2016, an MoU was signed between India and Myanmar stating that India will fund the construction of 69 bridges in the 146.28-kilometre stretch of the Tamu to Kalewa road. In November 2017, the upgradation of the 160-kilometre portion of the projected road was completed at a cost of $27.28 million (~Rs 2.293 billion). India allocated $256 million (~Rs 20.96 billion) in August 2017 to finish all outstanding work on the highways Myanmar sector.

Later, the Modi administration granted a $150 million (~Rs 12.28 billion) contract in September the same year to upgrade and maintain the highways Kalewa to Yar Gyi stretch (121.8 km). It also persuaded Thailand to provide funding for a 68-kilometre section of the Trilateral Highway in Myanmar that runs between Thaton (in the Mon state) and Ein Du (in the Kayin state).

Due to its unstable financial situation, Myanmar was having trouble upgrading the Thaton-Ein Du stretch. Thus, an MoU was signed in February 2017 stating that Thailand will upgrade this portion for $51 million (~Rs 4.178 billion). The project is now finished.

The India-Myanmar-Thailand Motor Vehicles Agreement is being signed as soon as possible, according to the Myanmar Commerce Minister. The agreement along with protocols for regulating and facilitating the movement of cargo and passenger vehicular traffic is under inter-governmental negotiations between India, Myanmar and Thailand, as per a press release.

The work on the Kalewa to Yar Gyi stretch, which has been the scene of heavy combat between rebels primarily from the Arakan Army, and soldiers of the Myanmarese regime, has been halted. According to the magazine, the Arakan Army was contacted by New Delhi during the Modi administration in order to obtain a promise from the rebel group that it would not obstruct the construction of the section of the Trilateral Highway that runs through the province of Sagaing.

Also read: PM Modi lauds Nitin Gadkaris infra push: A look at Indias National Highways network in last 9 years

The route

The complete highway would be approximately 2,800 kilometres long. While Thailand would have the shortest section of the roadway, India will have the longest.

The vast trilateral highway, which will reportedly begin in Bangkok and pass through Sukhothai, Mae Sot, Mandalay, Yangon, Kalewa, and Tamu in Myanmar, will also be said to pass through Bangkok. Kohima, Moreh, Srirampur, Guwahati, Kolkata, and Siliguri would also be included on the list of Indian cities that it will pass through. A total distance of 2,800 to 2,820 km will be traversed. Highways will reportedly have their longest stretch in India, according to reports. The shorter one will land in Thailand.

Boosting trade, tourism, and economic growth

It is anticipated that the trilateral highway will open up significant potential for improving and advancing travel convenience and transportation, as per Times Now.

It will drastically cut down on the time and expense of transporting products and commodities by building a direct and effective road link between India and Thailand. In the regions the highway passes through, this improved connection will promote bilateral trade, promote cross-border investments, and drive economic development.

The Kolkata-Bangkok Highway also has enormous potential for fostering travel and cultural connections between the nations it connects. It is projected that tourism between India and Thailand would increase as travel becomes more convenient and accessible, according to Free Press Journal. This route will make it easier to explore various topographies, historical landmarks, and cultural riches, promoting greater mutual understanding and appreciation between the two countries.

Also read: Nightmare of Indian Streets: When is it most risky to be on the road?

The opening

According to foreign ministers of trade who attended a business conference hosted by the Indian Chamber of Trade (ICC) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the trilateral highway will officially open in the next three to four years, reported News18.

According to Vijavat Isarabhakdi, vice minister of foreign affairs for Thailand, the majority of the projects work has already been finished in Thailand.

Aung Naing Oo, the trade minister for Myanmar, said that the majority of the 1,512-kilometer highway in his nation is built and that the remaining sections should be finished in three years.

He told Swarajya that it will take time to convert a 121.8-kilometre section of the road between Kalewa and Yar Gyi into a four-lane motorway.

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged the G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting to deliberate on how to undertake collective action for achieving global food security.

Underlining the challenges faced by the Global South today, the Prime Minister stated the impact of the pandemic and the worsening geopolitical tension disrupting the supply chain. He also touched upon climate change causing extreme weather events more and more frequently.

The Prime Minister also mentioned that the responsibilities of an agriculture minister are not only limited to handling one sector of the economy but extend towards securing the future of humanity.

PM Modi also noted that agriculture provides a livelihood for over 2.5 billion people globally and accounts for almost 30 per cent of GDP and over 60 per cent of jobs in the global south.

LIVE. PM @narendramodis remarks at the G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting. https://t.co/FFNla6xs6d  PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 16, 2023

He suggested finding ways to build a sustainable and inclusive food system that focuses on marginal farmers and strengthens global fertilizer supply chains. At the same time, the Prime Minister asked for adopting agricultural practices for better soil health, crop health and yield.

The traditional practices from different parts of the world may inspire us to develop alternatives for regenerative agriculture. He emphasized the need to empower the farmers with innovation and digital technology and make solutions affordable for small and marginal farmers in the Global South. He also touched upon the urgent need to reduce agricultural and food waste, while investing in creating wealth from waste, he added.

Throwing light on Indias contribution to the agricultural sector, the Prime Minister highlighted Indias policy of a fusion of back to basics and march to the future and said that India is promoting Natural Farming as well as Technology-enabled Farming.

Farmers all over India are taking up natural farming now, the Prime Minister said. He further added that they are not using synthetic fertilizers or pesticides but their focus is on rejuvenating the mother earth, protecting soil health, producing per drop, more crop, and promoting organic fertilizers and pest management solutions.

At the same time, the Prime Minister continued, our farmers are proactively using technology to boost productivity and gave the example of generating and using solar power on their farms, the use of Soil Health Cards to optimize crop selection, and drones to spray nutrients and monitor their crops.

Modi expressed the belief that this fusion approach is the best way to address several issues in agriculture.

The Prime Minister noted that the year 2023 is being celebrated as the International Year of Millets and said that the dignitaries will find a reflection of this on their plates in Hyderabad as many dishes are prepared based on millets, or Shri Anna.

Highlighting the history of millets, the Prime Minister informed that they have been cultivated for thousands of years but due to the influence of markets and marketing, the value of traditionally grown food crops was lost.

Let us embrace Shri Anna Millets as the food of our choice, the Prime Minister remarked as he pointed out that India is developing an Institute of Millets Research as a Centre of Excellence for sharing best practices, research and technologies in millets.

Concluding the address, the Prime Minister said, Indias G20 priorities in agriculture focus on healing our One Earth, creating harmony within our One Family and giving hope for a bright One Future.

He expressed happiness that work is underway on two concrete outcomes  The Deccan High-level Principles on Food Security and Nutrition, and the MAHARISHI initiative for millets and other grains.

The support for these two initiatives is a statement in support for inclusive, sustainable, and resilient agriculture, he added.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Residents of a Bengaluru apartment complex became enraged and physically assaulted a food delivery agent based on a false complaint made by an eight-year-old girl. The incident occurred on 12 June, when the girls parents returned to their apartment and discovered that she was missing, as reported by The Times of India.

Additional details about the incident were revealed in a viral Twitter thread by a user named Shweta. According to Shweta, the parents became alarmed and initiated a search when they couldnt locate their daughter. Neighbours joined in the search, and soon they spotted the girl on the terrace of the building.

An eight-year-old girl was left alone at home while her parents went to drop off her sibling at school. Upon their return, they couldnt find the child, which caused panic, and everyone started looking for her. Eventually, she was found on the terrace, crying, shared Shweta on Twitter.

The girl informed her parents that a food delivery agent had rung the doorbell and forcibly taken her to the terrace. She claimed to have struggled and bitten his hand to free herself.

She informed that 1 delivery guy pulled her out from her home n took her to terrace. She struggled n bit his hand so he ran away. Parents n neighbors were in shock. They somehow lined up all the delivery people in the society present at that time n girl identified the culprit.  Candid_Shweta (@CandidShweta) June 14, 2023

Alarmed by the revelation, the girls parents and other residents confronted all the delivery agents present in the complex at that time. They asked the girl to identify the alleged perpetrator. Security guards were instructed to prevent any delivery agents from entering or leaving the premises.

The girl pointed out a man whom she claimed had dragged her to the terrace. Filled with anger, the couple, along with their neighbours and security guards, took matters into their own hands, physically assaulting the accused and confining him to a room, believing him to be a molester targeting a minor.

However, the truth behind the incident only came to light two days later, when the police reviewed CCTV footage that contradicted the girls claims of being forcibly taken to the terrace, revealing that she had actually gone there alone.

Police looked for CCTV footage to figure out the actual culprit. What police found was absolutely shocking.

The girl was all alone on the terrace. Playing and wandering around, right after her parents walked out of home. She was enjoying her freedom.  Candid_Shweta (@CandidShweta) June 14, 2023

It turned out that the girl had made-up the story about the delivery agent out of fear that her parents would scold her for playing instead of studying.

Upon further questioning, the girl admitted to fabricating the entire incident after witnessing the commotion she had caused.

Speaking to The Times of India, the 30-year-old delivery agent mentioned that he was beaten by both the couple and the security guards. He expressed confusion as to why the girl had made the false allegation.

When the girls parents were shown the CCTV footage, they couldnt believe their eyes. They later apologised to the delivery agent. He decided not to file a counter-complaint against the couple.

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
A man and a woman died allegedly by suicide by hanging themselves in the Shahbad Dairy area in north-west Delhi.

The Delhi Police said further investigation into the case is underway.

Shahbad Dairy was in headlines last month after 20-year-old man Sahil Khan allegedly stabbed his 16-year-old girlfriend multiple times. The two were allegedly in a relationship for the last two years, police said.

Further details are awaited.

A collection of suicide prevention helpline numbers are available here. Please reach out if you or anyone you know is in need of support. The All-India helpline number is: 022-27546669

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar of turning the NCCSA into a farce, even before the first meeting. The allegation, however, was denied by L-G.

Terming the statement issued by Delhi CM as shocking and misleading, an official of the L-G Secretariat said that the statement comprising patently wrong assertions and half-truths is being issued as official statements of the Chief Ministers office.

The first meeting of the National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA), constituted through an ordinance by the Centre, was summoned by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on June 20 even as he called the panel a farce.

The NCCSA, formed on May 19 by the Centre to bring back executive control over matters related to services to its domain, is likely to discuss disciplinary proceedings against an officer during the meeting. The Delhi CM is the chairman of the authority.

Statements misleading, claims L-G office

An official of the L-G Secretariat says it is shocking that false and misleading statements comprising patently wrong assertions and half-truths are being issued

It is shocking that false and misleading statements comprising patently wrong assertions and half-truths are being issued as official statements of the Chief Ministers Office.

Contrary to claims being made, the official said that not even a single file pertaining to posting or transfer has been sent to or received by the LG Secretariat after the Ordinance came into effect.

The official further said that as far as the matter of suspension of an official is concerned, it was duly recommended by the NCCSA as per law, and the Chief Minister as Chairman of the authority was fully aware of it.

Moreover, in any case, the LG is the disciplinary authority as per previous and extant laws, and the matter of suspension being referred to in CMs statement pertained to gross deviation from rules, amounting to misuse of authority for dispensing undue favour to individuals, he added.

Is Kejriwal trying to save the corrupt and encourage corruption, he asked.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Friday that regardless of ideology, there has always been consensus from all quarters towards achieving the aim of complete self-reliance, and Indias defence sector is also meeting the security demands of friendly countries.

The Minister chaired a meeting of the Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Self-reliance in Defence Manufacturing here, an official release said.

The members during the meeting of the committee from both Houses of Parliament were apprised about the initiatives taken by the MoD to achieve Aatmanirbharta in defence and the progress achieved, so far, due to the decisions.

The Minister highlighted the Governments constant endeavour to enhance the security of the country and make the Armed Forces technologically advanced to deal with challenges emanating out of the ever-evolving global scenario.

Terming demand assurance as one of the most important aspects to ensure self-reliance, he stated that a number of decisions have been taken to achieve the objective.

These include constant increase in defence budget, including capital outlay; earmarking of record 75 per cent of defence capital procurement budget for domestic industry in financial year 2023-24 and issuance of positive indigenisation lists.

Singh asserted that the Governments decisions have started to bear fruit and today the country is indigenously manufacturing submarines, fighter jets, helicopters and weapons.

He added that the growing defence industry is not only catering to the domestic requirements, but also fulfilling the security needs of friendly countries.

In the last financial year, our defence production crossed Rs one lakh crore and exports touched Rs 16,000 crore. This is proof that the defence sector and the nation at large are on the right path, Singh was quoted as saying in the release.

The Minister appreciated the fact that irrespective of the ideology, there has always been consensus from all quarters towards attaining the goal of complete self-reliance.

If we wish to make India a defence exporter instead of an importer, we must stand together in every situation with the idea of Nation First. Only then will we be able to achieve the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, he said.

During the course of the discussion, the members of the committee gave valuable suggestions, which were appreciated by the Minister, who stated that efforts will be made to incorporate them, the release said.

Minister of State for Defence, Ajay Bhatt; Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan; Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane; Secretary (Ex-Servicemen Welfare) Vijoy Kumar Singh and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman, DRDO, Samir V Kamat were also present in the meeting, it said.

With inputs from PTI

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Five foreign terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday.

In a tweet, ADGP Kashmir said that search in the area was underway.

The encounter started in the early of Friday between terrorists and joint parties of Army and police on a specific input of Kupwara Police in Jumagund area of LoC of Kupwara district.

On 13 June, two terrorists were killed in a joint operation of the Army and police near LoC in Dobanar area of Machil in Kupwara district.

The terrorists killed after an infiltration bid was foiled by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.

Also Read: 2 terrorists gunned down near LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara

Last week, General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, also known as Chinar Corps, Lt Gen Amardeep Singh Aujla said that a 'dangerous move' by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and heads of terror groups to rope in women and juveniles to carry weapons and messages had come to light.

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
In the latest incident of violence in Manipur, a mob on Thursday night torched residence of Union Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh in Imphals Kongba.

The minister was not at home at the time when his Manipur house was torched by miscreants. He was in Kerala.

Singh termed the act inhuman and appealed for peace in Manipur.

I am currently in Kerala for official work. Thankfully, nobody got injured last night at my Imphal home. The miscreants came with petrol bombs and damage has been done to the ground floor and first floor of my home, the Union Minister told news agency ANI.

Appeal for peace

The minister appealed for peace in the state and said, It is very sad to see what is happening in my home state. Those indulging in this kind of violence are absolutely inhuman.

An eye for an eye will make the whole world go blind. Violence doesnt help any cause. Those who are indulging in this violence are doing a huge disservice to the nation. It also reflects that they are enemies of humanity, the minister said.

#WATCH | Manipur: A mob torched Union Minister of State for External Affairs RK Ranjan Singhs residence at Kongba in Imphal on Thursday late night. https://t.co/zItifvGwoG pic.twitter.com/LWAWiJnRwc  ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2023

Violence in Manipur

Since 3 May, Manipur has been witnessing violent clashes between two groups  Meiteis and Kukis  over the demand for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category. As many as 115 people have been killed and over 40,000 displaces so far.

Earlier on Thursday, a violent mob set ablaze at least two abandoned houses. The occupants of the houses had left after the ethnic violence started in the northeastern state last month.

A day earlier (on Wednesday), miscreants made an attempt to burn down the official residence of Manipur minister Nemcha Kipgen in Imphal West. His home was partly burnt.

On Tuesday, nine people were killed and 10 others were injured in an attack in the Khamenlok area. Police said that a group of armed assailants began attacking people in the area in ethnic violence-hit Manipur and the gunfight was triggered after security forces reached the area to counter the assailants.

Why Manipur is witnessing incidents of violence?

In Manipur, the Meiteis are the dominant community in Imphal valley, while Kukis mostly reside in the hill districts. The violence on 3 May was triggered during a court order for granting schedule tribe status to Meities.

Soon the violence spread to the state and additional security forces were pumped in to bring the situation under control.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on 1 June, had announced the formation of the panel as part of measures to ease tensions.

However, earlier this week, prominent civil society organisations from Meitei and Kuki communities refused to be a part of a peace committee that the Union government constituted to broker peace in the state.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society in New Delhi has been renamed as Prime Ministers Museum and Library Society. The decision to change the name was taken during a special meeting of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society (NMML), the Culture Ministry said on Friday.

The change is a big step to acknowledge, honour and celebrate the diversity in Indias national leadership, Vice Chairman, Executive Council, NMML A Surya Prakash said.

A spl GM of @_NMML_ resolved yesterday to change its name to Prime Ministers Museum & Library. @rajnathsingh ji, VP of society presided. The change is a big step to acknowledge, honour & celebrate the diversity in Indias national leadership. @narendramodi @PMSangrahalaya pic.twitter.com/4nZ8TjvWuD  A. Surya Prakash (@mediasurya) June 16, 2023

"The passage of the resolution by the General Body of this Society is not a small step. It is rather a very big step to reiterate our commitment to democracy and to acknowledge our national political leadership," Prakash was quoted as saying by ANI

The meeting was presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday. Singh is also the vice president of the Society.

A statement by Culture Ministry said Singh in his address "welcomed the proposal for change in name", since in its new form the institution exhibits the contributions of all prime ministers from Jawaharlal Nehru to Narendra Modi and their responses to various challenges faced by them.

Singh described prime ministers as an institution and comparing the journey of various prime ministers to the varied colours of a rainbow. He emphasised that "all the colours of a rainbow have to be proportionately represented in order to make it beautiful".

"Thus the resolution has given a new name, respect to all our previous prime ministers and is democratic in content," the statement read.

The renaming comes within a year after the Pradhanmantri Sanghralaya or the Prime Ministers Museum was inaugurated at the historic Teen Murti Complex, where the NMML is housed.

Congress hits out at PM Modi

The Congress hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government over the decision to rename the museum, calling it a "petty act" and asserting that legacies don't get erased by renaming buildings.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Pettiness and Vengeance, thy name is Modi. For over 59 years Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) has been a global intellectual landmark and treasure house of books and archives. It will henceforth be called Prime Ministers Museum and Society."

"What won't Mr. Modi do to distort, disparage and destroy the name and legacy of the architect of the Indian nation-state. A small, small man overburdened by his insecurities is the self-styled Vishwaguru," Ramesh said.

Pettiness & Vengeance, thy name is Modi. For over 59 years Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML) has been a global intellectual lamdmark and treasure house of books & archives. It will henceforth be called Prime Ministers Museum & Society. What won't Mr. Modi do to distort,  Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 16, 2023

Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal said the Teen Murti Bhavan is a historic monument where India's destiny was crafted.

"The architect of India's post-independence glory was our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Erasing his legacy by changing the name of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library is a petty act, which only further diminishes the stature of the current regime," Venugopal tweeted.

"India's every success is achieved on the foundation of Nehru ji's vision. India knows that, and removing his name from a museum will not change the revered stature that Nehru ji enjoys in every Indian's heart," he said.

The Teen Murti Bhavan is a historic monument where India's destiny was crafted. The architect of India's post-independence glory was our first PM Jawaharlal Nehru. Erasing his legacy by changing the name of the Nehru Memorial Museum & Library is a petty act, which only further  K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) June 16, 2023

Congress MP Manish Tewari also attacked at the government, saying legacies don't get erased by renaming buildings.

"I wish those who want to erase Jawahar Lal Nehru's contribution to freedom struggle & building of Modern India would once read Discovery of India & Glimpses of World History to fathom the depth of Nehru," he said on Twitter.

Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said, "You can remove (Jawaharlal Nehru's) name from the boards but you can't remove the respect which people of this country have for him."

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
A political row has erupted over the renaming of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library in New Delhi as the Prime Ministers Museum and Library Society.

The Congress has accused the BJP-led Central government of trying to erase the legacy of Indias first prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru.

The partys chief Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted that the move showed the low mentality and dictatorial attitude of the BJP and the RSS and that they can never reduce the contribution of Nehru, who is modern Indias architect.

However, the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society which took the decision to change the name of the museum has rejected the Congress allegations.

Celebrating all our prime ministers

Speaking exclusively to Firstpost, A Surya Prakash, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of this body said the move is not aimed at erasing Nehrus legacy but at acknowledging and celebrating all our prime ministers.

The museum currently showcases the work of 14 PMs, he said. A gallery for the sitting PM Narendra Modi is currently being built, Prakash added.

Last year, a museum dedicated to all PMs of India, Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, was inaugurated in the Teen Murti Bhavan which used to be the residence of Nehru till his death in 1964.

Those criticising the move must come and visit the museum first. They should see how we have showcased Nehrus work, Prakash added.

Earlier, the museum was not well maintained, he said.

Meanwhile, reacting to the Congress allegations, BJP president JP Nadda said that PM Sangrahalaya is an effort beyond politics and Congress lacks the vision to realise this.

Classic example of political indigestion- the inability to accept a simple fact that there are leaders beyond one dynasty who have served and built our nation, he added.

Classic example of political indigestion- the inability to accept a simple fact that there are leaders beyond one dynasty who have served and built our nation. PM Sangrahalaya is an effort beyond politics and Congress lacks the vision to realise this. https://t.co/jmyNzJPB9a  Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) June 16, 2023

Teen Murti Bhavan was built by British in 1930

Formerly known as Flagstaff House, the Teen Murti Bhavan was built by the British in 1930. It served as the headquarters and residence of the Commander-in-Chief of Forces in India. Post independence, the building became the residence of Jawaharlal Nehru.

Spread over nearly 30 acres, it was named Teen Murti (three statues) after a memorial which stands on the junction of the road in front of its entrance gate.

The memorial was built in 1922 in the honour of regiments named after the Indian princely states from where they were raised- Jodhpur Horse, Hyderabad Horse and Mysore Horse.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Former Director General of Police (DGP) of Tamil Nadu, Rajesh Das, who had been suspended, was sentenced to three years in prison on Friday in a sexual harassment case. The complaint against the DGP was filed in 2021 by a serving woman IPS officer of the superintendent of police rank.

The judgment was delivered on Friday morning by Villupuram Sessions Judge Pushparani.

Tamil Nadu | Suspended Special DGP Rajesh Das convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment by Chief Judicial Magistrate, Villupuram for sexually harassing a woman IPS officer two years ago.  ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2023

Another IPS officer, Kannan, who was the superintendent of police of Chengalpet district at the time, has been fined Rs 500 and acquitted. He had blocked the survivor-officers vehicle in an attempt to prevent her from going to Chennai to file the complaint, reported TOI.

Rajesh Das, who was suspended and arrested following the incident, has also been fined Rs 10,000.

The Madras High Court took suo motu cognizance of the case to ensure a fair investigation. The court also oversaw the progress of the investigations and the trial. Das was accused of harassing the woman officer while both were on security duty for the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K Palaniswami, during the election campaign.

A total of 68 witnesses were examined during the course of the case.

Following the incident, MK Stalin demanded the suspension of Das. He also warned that the DMK would stage a massive protest if no action was taken against the tainted cop. Stalin also recalled a previous complaint against Vigilance Director Murugan, who faced similar charges, and how it was covered up by the Tamil Nadu government.

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that theft during a train journey does not prove deficiency in service on the part of Indian Railways. It added that the public transporter cannot be held responsible if passengers lose their belongings during their journey.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah made the observation while setting aside an order from the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) which had directed the Railways to pay Rs 1 lakh to a businessman.

The businessman raised a complaint with District Consumer Forum claiming that he lost Rs 1 lakh cash he was carrying in a belt tied around his waist while travelling by train, and sought reimbursement from the transport behemoth for his loss.

We fail to understand as to how the theft could be said to be in any way a deficiency in service by the Railways. If the passenger is not able to protect his own belongings, the Railways cannot be held responsible, the bench said.

The court made the order while hearing a plea by the Railways against an order f the NCDRC which had directed it to pay Rs 1 lakh to Surender Bhola.

The businessman said that he was travelling to New Delhi on the Kashi Vishwanath Express on 27 April 2005. He said had kept the money in a belt made of cloth and tied it to his waist.

He woke up around 3:30 AM and found the belt missing and part of the right side of his trousers cut open.

With inputs from PTI

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
A wedding ceremony in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh took an unpleasant turn on 14 June when a dispute erupted between the families of the groom and the bride during the jai mala ritual.

Amarjeet Verma, the groom, allegedly demanded dowry just before the exchange of garlands on the stage. The brides family was taken aback by this demand and subsequently held the groom and the wedding party members (baratis) hostage. A video of the incident, where the groom is seen being tied to a tree, went viral on social media.

Watch:

Warning: Offensive language; viewer discretion advised

The wedding procession had arrived from Jaunpur in Harakhpur of the Mandhata area on Wednesday night.

In the viral video, the enraged members of the brides family can be heard verbally abusing the groom, who remains silent as he is being tied with a rope to the tree. The brides side can be heard stating,  You are playing with the respect and boundaries of others. Onlookers can be heard suggesting that the groom should be securely tied.

Subsequently, police from the Mandhata police station arrived at the scene, freed the groom, and took him into custody.

The Station House Officer (SHO) of Mandhata stated, as per India Today, that both parties were present at the police station, but no compromise had been reached yet.

He further explained, The groom, Amarjeet, demanded a dowry after an argument broke out between the two sides due to misbehavior by the grooms friends.

Additionally, a discussion was underway between the two families to find a resolution and provide compensation to the brides side for the expenses incurred during the wedding arrangements, according to the SHO.

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Murshidabad district of West Bengal witnessed a fresh round of violence on Friday evening as unidentified assailants shot the father of a local Congress leader in Hajbibidanga village.

The Congress has blamed the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the incident. The victim has been identified as Meherul Sheikh, the father of local Congress leader Ramzan Sheikh who has filed his nomination for the upcoming West Bengal panchayat elections.

According to media reports, the victim is in critical condition and is undergoing treatment at a local hospital.

The latest round of violence comes after the recent murder of the regional president of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Murshidabad.

The family members of the victim told the media that Mehrul Sheikh was sitting at a tea stall when a group of miscreants attacked him. The victim was seriously injured in the incident. He was rescued and taken to Murshidabad Medical College Hospital for treatment.

On the other hand, in the Navgram area of Murshidabad, a bandh was called by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Friday in protest against the murder of local TMC leader Mozammel Haque.

Mozammel was killed on Thursday while campaigning for TMC. The incident had taken place in the Hajbibidanga area of Pachgram block in Navgram police station area.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Karnataka BJP on Friday threatened to hold massive protests across the state if the Congress-ruled government does not withdraw its decision to repeal the anti-conversion law.

It alleged that for the sake of vote bank and appeasement politics, the Congress government is pushing back Karnataka into the Tipu Sultan era by becoming the brand ambassador for religious conversion.

After Congress came to power in Karnataka, it appears that the foundation has been laid for the beginning of the Tipu era once again in Karnataka. Congress has decided to become the brand ambassador for religious conversion, senior BJP leader and former Minister R Ashoka said.

There may be slight changes in figures, but according to my information over 30 to 40 lakh Hindus (in the State) have been converted by force or using allurements like money, as a victim of Love Jihad, and for the sake of treatment in hospitals, among others, he added.

For whose sake are you bringing in the new bill? The law that we had enacted was against forceful conversion or alurements. We had said conversions can only be in accordance with the law. Mahatma Gandhi and Ambedkar were against religious conversion, he continued.

Former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday slammed the Siddaramaiah government over its decision to repeal the anti-conversion law and said that the Congress government is jeopardizing the interests of the people of the state.

This comes moments after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah on Thursday decided to repeal the Anti-Conversion law brought in by the previous Bommai-led BJP government.

Who does the Government think it is appeasing by deciding to repeal the Anti-Conversion Bill that has been plaguing our society? It seems that Siddaramaiah, who is ruling the state at the mercy of the high command, is jeopardizing the interests of the people of the state in favour of the high command, Bommai said in a tweet.

VHP members protest

On Friday, members of Vishva Hindu Parishad held a protest in Bengalurus Freedom Park against the governments decision to scrap the anti-conversion law.

#WATCH | VHP (Vishva Hindu Parishad) protests at Freedom Park in Bengaluru against Karnataka Governments decision to repeal the anti-conversion law introduced by the previous BJP Government in the state. pic.twitter.com/NuV5vUQE58  ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2023

Former CM Bommai reacts

Former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday slammed the Siddaramaiah government over its decision to repeal the anti-conversion law and said that the Congress government is jeopardizing the interests of the people of the state.

This comes moments after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah on Thursday decided to repeal the Anti-Conversion law brought in by the previous Bommai-led BJP government.

Who does the Government think it is appeasing by deciding to repeal the Anti-Conversion Bill that has been plaguing our society? It seems that Siddaramaiah, who is ruling the state at the mercy of the high command, is jeopardizing the interests of the people of the state in favour of the high command, Bommai said in a tweet.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
In 1995, the map of Canada stood within a striking distance of being dramatically altered. Quebec  a province that made up over quarter of the countrys population believed its Francophone culture deserved an independent identity  and was close to collectively pass a damning verdict on the idea of a united Canada. Cest pas mon affaire was a refrain that grew louder than ever. In an October 1995 referendum, had Quebec voted to break away, the former premier of Quebec, Jacques Parizeau was ready to unilaterally declare its independence from Canada. The future of Canada hung in balance and set the proverbial cat among pigeons in the national elections two years later where Quebec became an agenda. Parizeau writes about the bizarre possibility in his book.

Walking on thin ice

For a nation that has treaded on an unsteady ground of domestic discord two decades ago, it has an uncanny knack of proffering unwise fillip to fading militant groups that harbour dreams to uproot a culture in another country. A tasteless tableau using Indias former prime minister, Indira Gandhi was displayed at a parade in Canada on 4 June to commemorate the anniversary of Operation Bluestar that saw a fierce gunbattle resulting in the deaths of Sikh militants including their leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and others. The parade marked references to the Sikh pogrom of 1984. The tableau marking the glorification of assassination of a former Indian prime minister met with suitable approbation from the Indian foreign minister and condemnation from Canadas High Commissioner to India, Cameron MacKay. It was the right diplomatic thing to do. But then, Canada, like before, tended to send out confusing signals when Brampton mayor Patrick Brown issued a statement that the police didnt consider such demonstration as involving a hateful motive. This wasnt the first time Canada seemed to conflate diplomatic nicety mixed with an accommodative stand towards radical organisations in Canada.

In September last year, a statue of Mahatma Gandhi was wrecked in Ontario. Earlier Khalistani groups damaged the Swaminarayan temple in Canada and pasted hateful graffiti. Two months later, Sikhs for Justice, a banned radical group in Brampton, passed a referendum in favour of Khalistan. In response India issued a travel advisory to Canada a day later. A farcical exercise was held by the extremists and radical elements supporting the so-called Khalistan Referendum in Canada and elsewhere, read out an angry Arindam Bagchi from Indias MEA in response.

The Kanishka disaster from Canadas soil

Canadas tryst with Sikh militancy isnt new. On 23 June 1985, an Air India flight that took off from Canada exploded 45 minutes before it was supposed to land in Londons Heathrow airport. There were 329 passengers on board. No one survived the crash. Khalistani militant groups were responsible for the bombing but the investigations in Canada took 25 years to conclude the trial. Ripudaman Malik  the key accused was shot dead in Surrey, British Columbia and his car was burnt  packing off the air bombing investigations findings into a cul de sac. For decades, Canadian governments have found themselves deferring to militant groups who were responsible for a ghastly plane bombing that emanated from their soil. In the recent decade, Justin Trudeaus tenure has seen an unusual rise of this anti India tirade from Canadian soil.

Over the last few years, the Canadian governments response to the brewing, billowing fanaticism of certain groups is so feckless that it has oscillated from the apathetic to the feeble. When contrasted with Prime Minister Trudeaus sudden fustian enthusiasm for domestic issues in India such as the farmers movement in Punjab, the penny drops.

Trudeaus dilemma

Why does Trudeau appear vacillating and hesitant? Why does the Canadian government speak in different voices?

A growing Sikh population of settlers in Canada over the last four decades meant that radical groups became key political influencers. Trudeau understood well where the support for his government lay. He began to pander to the radical Sikh groups to outwit the opposition. In 2015, Trudeau attended the Khalsa day parade, which accused India of genocide in 1984. The Sikh pogrom is one of the darkest chapters in Indias history, in which serious human rights violations occurred and the perpetrators still abound, but by lending support to opportunistic militant groups in its own land, Canada was breeding a crocodile in its farm. In 2018, Trudeaus first state visit to India was an embarrassing one for a state premier, as he found himself ignored by the Indian government and became a meme for the media. Trudeau began to befriend the NDP, led by Jagmeet Singh  a Khalistani supporter and fund raiser.

In the 2019 elections, Trudeaus Liberal Party won 157 seats while the opposition Conservative won 121. Trudeau needed 13 legislators to get to the number of 170 to form a government. Among others, NDP got 24. Trudeau needs the support of NDP to ensure the government doesnt fall. In return, Jagmeet gets what he wants  nuisance value against India. The bond is expected to continue at least until 2025.

Will Canada miss the bus?

India is a critical market for Canadian products such as lentils, peas, lumber and potash, especially as India remains the worlds fastest growing economy. Canada attracts a large section of Indian students and professionals who find it easier to settle in a country that has over 1.2 million Indian origin people. There is a growing tribe of bright, enterprising Indian business owners and entrepreneurs who have invested in Canadian ventures and believe in an India-Canada story.

In the past few years, India has bonded with democracies such as Japan and Australia (it didnt have deep ties with the latter until recently), diversified weapons exports from Russia to include other countries such as France and the US. Indias relations with the middle east have resulted in inflow of funds to power infrastructure-led growth plans for the economy. Despite the extremities of India-China rivalry, there is a continuing trade relationship. The tepid India-Canada equation, on the other hand, is baffling.

In 1980s, Canada provided safe harbour to anti India militancy movements. Relations began to change in 1990s. Then, in 2015, Canada and India signed a momentous nuclear deal for supply of 3.2 million kilograms of uranium over five-year period. The future promised much. However, despite the common bonds of a democratic and free world ecosystem, exchanges between India and Canada occasionally regress into the gloomy 1980s.

The rise of Jagmeet Singh and the influence of Khalistani radical groups in Canadas institutions has meant that individuals and certain Gurudwaras have been used in Canada in attempts to infiltrate into Indias financial ecosystem. A case in point being the attempt by a Khalistani backed businessman to invest in an Indian bank a few years ago. It was information about his involvement with a Gurudwara patronised by Sikhs for Justice, a radical Khalistani group, that gave away his motives.

Justin Trudeaus worst kept secret is that he is a prime minister because of the support of a political party that backs pro-Khalistan groups. Trudeau tries to befriend India but appears weak because he dines with the devil, whose writ runs his political future. Canada doesnt seem to be able to shake off the influence of Khalistani activists on its soil. In the bargain though, unlike the 1980s, it is Canada that stands to lose out this time while a resurgent India builds stronger bridges with other major democracies to drive collaborative growth. For the Canadian government to not invest sincerely into a political and business relationship with India might mean an opportunity lost  for Canada.

The writer is the author of Watershed 1967: Indias Forgotten Victory over China. His fortnightly column for FirstPost  Beyond The Lines  covers military history, strategic issues, international affairs and policy-business challenges. Views expressed are personal. Tweets @iProbal

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with 11 foreign leaders on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Bali, Indonesia. This also included his first meeting with US President Joe Biden. Among these 11 meetings, one key meeting that stands out is his meeting with Senegals president on 15 November. The African Union presidency rotates each year, the president of the chairing African nation is invited to the years high-level meetings. As Senegals President Macky Sall attended the event, Xi Jinping took full advantage of the opportunity to court him by meeting and shaking hands with him.

Actually, it was Chinas COVID-19 protocols prevented Xi from leaving the country from January 2020 to September 2022. Xi was finally able to shake Salls hand on 15 November, nearly a year after the missed opportunity at FOCAC. Both Xi and Sall emphasised the importance of cooperation between their respective countries, as well as between China and the African continent as a whole.

Senegal was a French colony that gained independence in 1960. Since then, the country has established a stable electoral democracy, witnessed peaceful power transitions between opposing parties since 2000, and experienced rapid economic growth. Historically, Chinas engagement with African countries has been primarily concentrated in southern and eastern Africa, with Sudan and Angola receiving significant Chinese investments and loans. Senegal, on the other hand, has seen far less Chinese involvement. However, the growth trajectory of China-Senegal relations, especially in the last few years, requires careful analysis.

Senegal and China re-established diplomatic relations only in 2005. However, things began to really change in 2014, when Senegalese President Macky Sall toured Beijing. During the visit, Chinese Premier Xi Jinping proposed expanding cooperation in economic and trade matters, transportation infrastructure, and other areas, increasing agricultural imports from Senegal, and encouraging more Chinese enterprises to invest in the African country. During the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, east China, the two sides agreed to expand bilateral relations into a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Another significant step forward in this relationship took place in 2021 when Senegal hosted the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) from 29-30 November. This was the first time in two decades that a FOCAC was held in West Africa. This provided China with an opportunity to enhance its influence on Senegal. Unsurprisingly, in a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Senegal ahead of the FOCAC, Senegalese President Macky Sally emphasised the importance of China in Senegals development and how the two countries are significantly expanding their cooperation in diverse fields.

In the same year, Senegal announced that it would start moving all digital platforms and government data to Huaweis Chinese servers. And this was done under the pretext of strengthening Senegals digital sovereignty. The Chinese government also funded the construction of a data centre in Diaminadio in collaboration with Huawei, which will serve both the public and private sectors, making Senegals digital infrastructure almost entirely reliant on Chinese technology.

France and other European countries have historically been the dominant sources of investment in Senegal. China accounted for only about 3.3 per cent of total imports to Senegal in 2000. However, in 2020, China became Senegals second-largest trading partner after France, with a 9.2 per cent share. Chinas exports to Senegal were worth $2.5 billion in the same year, while imports from Senegal were worth $315 million.

Furthermore, the construction of the National Wrestling Arena in Dakar in 2018 is one of the most noticeable outcomes of Chinese investment in Senegal. China has also made investments in Senegals other cultural areas, such as the Friendship Stadium, the National Theatre, and the Black Civilisation Museum. Meanwhile, the Senegalese private sector is active in forming alliances with Chinese firms, such as the Safar railway extension project in Touba, which is being carried out by China Railways Senegal. China assisted Senegal in two of its most important infrastructure projects since independence, the Thies-Mbour-AIBD Highway and the Ila Touba Highway.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the PRC also made significant health contributions to Senegal, including the provision of vaccines. In February 2021, China was the first country to provide Senegal with a batch of 200,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine for $3.71 million. In May, China donated another 300,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine and 300,800 syringes to Senegal.

Senegalese officials have taken part in annual military education programmes held in China over the years. China supplied Senegal with $36 million in arms (excluding small arms and light weapons) from 2000 to 2018, making it the countrys second-largest supplier with a 23 per cent share of the total value.

China recently became the first country to raise the issue of African Union (AU) membership in the G20. Pushing for the AUs inclusion in the G-20 has ideological as well as practical implications for Beijing. It is ideologically consistent with Chinas discourse about championing a more democratic world order, one that gives the developing world more leverage. In a more pragmatic way, increased AU representation would imply greater support for China on major issues of concern.

Chinas aid packages are typically unrelated to political or financial reforms. They do, however, come with various kinds of conditions, such as diplomatic support for Chinese positions in international organisations. To recall, African countries played a critical role in assisting Chinas re-admission to the United Nations in 1970, despite US protests. Africa has the largest grouping of any continent in the UN system. Many African countries are also heavily indebted to Beijing and rely heavily on it for the majority of their trade. As poor, developing countries, they are unable to withstand the immediate repercussions of upsetting China. And China knows how to use their helplessness in its favour.

The contentious issue of Chinas violations of human rights against Uyghurs and other Turkic ethnic groups in Xinjiang. Rights groups and governments in the West have both condemned Chinas mass detentions and oppressive surveillance in Xinjiang as crimes against humanity. At least a million Uyghurs are believed to have been detained in a sprawling network of camps in Xinjiang. China is accused of forced labour, forced sterilisation, torture, and genocide, all of which it denies. The Chinese government has defended the detention camps, claiming that they are vocational re-education centres designed to combat terrorism and religious extremism.

A recent proposal at the United Nations Human Rights Council to hold a debate on the situation of human rights in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China was narrowly defeated, owing in large part to African countries support for Chinas position. The final vote count was 17 in favour, 19 opposed and 11 abstained. Only one of the 17 countries in favour (Somalia) was African. Eight African countries voted to shield China from scrutiny: Cameroon, Cote dIvoire, Eritrea, Gabon, Mauritania, Namibia, Senegal, and Sudan. Another four African countries abstained: Benin, Gambia, Libya, and Malawi. Earlier, 25 African countries backed China in a vote at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in June 2020 on the contentious Hong Kong national security law, which imposed harsh penalties for political dissent and effectively ended the territorys autonomy.

In contrast, Gambia filed a case against Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmars former leader, for the mistreatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority in her country in 2019. In that case, Gambia received support from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, a group of 57 mostly Muslim countries, 27 of which are African. The West has applauded the move, which has resulted in the International Court of Justice ordering Myanmar to take genocide prevention measures.

Chinas role in Senegal is expanding, particularly in digital infrastructure, but also in manufacturing, infrastructure, culture, and health. Senegal announced in June 2022 that it will move all government data and digital platforms from foreign servers to a new national data centre supported by China, thereby strengthening its digital sovereignty. The data centre, which will be financed with a Chinese loan and built with Huawei equipment and technical support, will connect to global networks via an undersea cable as well as the countrys 6,000-kilometer (3,730-mile) fibre optic network.

Senegal, as a former French colony, maintains close ties with France and Europe. On occasion, China also collaborates with France to carry out projects in Senegal. In March 2022, the French group Meridiam, which specialises in the development, financing, and management of public infrastructure projects through its subsidiary Dakar Mobilite, the BRT concessionaire, signed a contract with the Chinese company CRRC Corporation for the acquisition of 121 electric buses in Dakar, Senegals capital.

China Henan is another example of a state-owned enterprise that appears to have received assistance from Beijing in entering the Senegalese market through subsidised loans. Around 30 years ago, the company was involved in the construction of the Friendship Stadium, which was financed by Beijing, and then continued to do business in Senegal, even when the two countries diplomatic relations were severed. The Senegalese government is still awarding contracts to China Henan for large projects like modernising the municipal infrastructure in Touba.

A similar trend can be observed in joint ventures formed in the radio industry. It is evident that the Chinese government is eager to participate in Senegal cooperation projects involving its own state-owned enterprises. Using Senegal as the regions focal point connecting Saharan and Sub-Saharan Africa, it is possible to envision them expanding into neighbouring states using it as a launching pad.

Analysing Chinas development cooperation instruments in Senegal reveals that China employs a broad range of strategies that are typical of its activities in Africa. The Peoples Republic is clearly attempting to build a positive relationship with the country. Senegals shifting recognition of China (up to 1996 and since 2005) and Taiwan (1996-2005) is very interesting from a political standpoint. We can assume that China became more interested in Senegal for strategic reasons after the country decided to recognise Taiwan.

From an economic standpoint, China is interested in Senegal as a regional trade and service hub. The fact that Chinas relatively small export volumes to Senegal are increasing significantly in absolute terms demonstrates this. However, Chinas primary motivation for its interest in Senegal is to broaden its sphere of influence in international politics. So far, the West African country has had positive relations with Western countries. Senegal is a regional leader and frequently serves as an intermediary. This republic, led by President Sall, is a member of the Economic Community of West African States, along with 14 other countries in the region (ECOWAS). Senegal is also one of eight members of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), whose common currency is the Franc CFA.

Clearly, Chinas policy in Africa is driven by much beyond its economic transactions. Chinas courting of Africa comes principally from its need to garner support in order to counter Western criticism of its internal policies and reject Western hegemony in international organisations. China has prioritised and strengthened ties with African members of global organisations such as the United Nations General Assembly, World Trade Organisation, and International Olympic Committee. Furthermore, African support for the PRC increases its legitimacy on a national and international level through voting alignments. Therefore, Chinas growing bonhomie with Senegal follows the pattern and as African Union Chair, it will continue to be a priority in Chinas Africa policy.

The author is a Senior Research Associate with the Vivekananda International Foundation and doctoral scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Views expressed are personal.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
That the Vijayanagara empire prevented Dakshinapatha from suffering the same fate as Uttarapatha at the hands of the Turushka invaders is a phenomenon that has not received the attention it really merits in our historical annals. The grand Hindu revival that Dakshinapatha witnessed in all spheres was possible solely because of the ironclad protection that this empire provided. No other Hindu empire devoted entirely for safeguarding Sanatana Dharma arose after Vijayanagara fell to the same invaders  the confederacy of the Bahamani sultans.

Education is one area which flourished in an unprecedented fashion under the nourishing shelter of the Vijayanagara Rayas. In fact, a separate book can be devoted to exploring this subject in detail.

Like in other areas, reconstruction was the first task in this realm as well. For seventy years preceding the rise of Vijayanagara, the whole of south India was a scene of absolute desolation successive waves of Islamic invasions had reduced a vast geography in South India to a smoking wasteland.

The reconstruction phase

The reconstruction phase began with the Rayas offering sustained security, peace and stability. A major component in this effort was to recover the backbone of the traditional Hindu method of education which was community-driven and community-funded. The community would take care of education while the Rayas performed their Dharma as its enablers. There is much value in this setup and approach  serious damage occurs if the ruling class directly interferes in education our experience of the last seven-plus decades only proves and endorses this point.

The Pyal school system

The second phase witnessed the revival and expansion of the Pyal (also spelled, Pial) system of schooling, which was flourishing in Tamil Nadu just a century ago.

Every village or a cluster of villages had a school of its own. Classes were conducted on the verandah of a house or on the porch of a temple. The typical elementary syllabus included a basic course in reading, writing and arithmetic. Children from all socio-economic strata were freely admitted. Fees were not mandatory. The teacher was remunerated in kind or cash by parents who could afford it or by some philanthropist.

The next type of educational institutions can be roughly equated with contemporary private schools. These were largely meant for the children of kings and chieftains and aristocrats. Some subjects taught there included Sastra, Darshana, literature, fine arts and military tactics.

This system of schooling was emulated by other folks as well  private citizens hailing from the middle class. They established schools in their own homes and appointed tutors. Any child could attend these home schools with or without paying fees.

In other cases, learned Brahmana scholars would voluntarily offer to teach. Eventually, a small group of students would collect around them and their happy parents would gladly remunerate the Brahmanas  the remuneration was mostly in kind  grain, provisions, clothes and finery and cash on festivals and Utsavas.

Next, the ubiquitous Agraharas were an inseparable feature of the Vijayanagara socio-cultural atmosphere. The Brahmana scholars inhabiting them are frequently described as being zealous in discharging their six-fold traditional duty. Perhaps the most important of these duties was Adhyapana or teaching. A majority of these Agraharas were great centres of higher education. For example, Kallidaikurichi on the banks of the sacred Tamraparni River, was an ancient Agrahara of great distinction until E.V. Ramaswami Naicker in the 1920s, unleashed his fanatical Dravidian goons and virtually made it extinct a few decades later.

Apart from the Veda, subjects taught in these Agraharas included Law, Astrology, Astronomy, Philosophy, Medicine, Statecraft and Music. These subjects were taught only by the absolute specialists and students were put through a demanding rigour before they were admitted. The Italian missionary, de Nobili writes in a letter dated 1610 that in Madurai alone, more than ten thousand students were enrolled under various Pandits well-versed in Darshana and Sastra.

The next great hubs of education in the Vijayanagara realm were temples and Mathas scattered all over Dakshinapatha. Even today, we notice some vestiges of that past glory. The temples and Mathas at Kanchi, Ahobilam, Srisailam, Kalahasti, Chidambaram, Srirangam, Melukote, Sringeri, Gokarana, Chandragiri, Penukonda, and Tirupati are still considered as great centres of traditional learning. The heads of the Mathas were not only first-rate scholars, they were also highly cultured individuals who took genuine and personal interest in keeping alight the flame of learning.

If a backhanded compliment for this exalted educational climate is needed, it comes from the Portuguese Pastor and writer, Duarte Barbosa: Every man may come and go and live according to his own creed, without suffering any annoyance and without enquiry whether he is a Christian, Jew, Moor or Heathen. Great equity and justice is observed to all not only by the rulers, but by the people one to another.

In the next and concluding part of this series, we will explore other facets of education in the Vijayanagara Empire including technical subjects, and the overall milieu of learning.

To be continued

The author is the founder and chief editor The Dharma Dispatch. Views expressed are personal.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The city of Kolhapur in Maharashtra erupted in communal violence after controversial posts glorifying Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan were shared on social media by a few anti-social elements. On Wednesday, some organisations, including the Bajrang Dal, had called for a Kolhapur bandh and the members of these outfits gathered at Shivaji Chowk where the protests turned violent and the police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the groups of protesters. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde appealed for calm, urging people not to take law into their hands. Shindes deputy Devendra Fadnavis said some politicians fearing a riot-like situation and a section of people glorifying Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan cannot be a mere coincidence.

This is not the first time that the followers and opponents of the respective legacies of Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan have found themselves at loggerheads with each other, brewing tension on the ground. This must be noted that influential historical figures are not merely individuals; they are a bunch of ideas that they stood for and a set of values that they espoused. Now, what remains to be seen is whether the values that Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan stood for have any place in the secular, democratic, republic of India or not.

Aurangzebs reign, which started with abandoning his predecessors legacy of pluralism and religious tolerance, is marred with imposition of sharia and jizya (religious tax) on non-Muslims, doubling of custom duties on Hindus while abolishing it for Muslims, executions of Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and destruction of temples. His farmaan (orders) to destroy temples at Kashi, Mathura and Kalkaji are recorded in his biography Masir-e-Alamgiri by Mohammad Saqi and Mustaid Khan. A Pew research report based on Manuccis account of his reign has found him to be responsible for the genocide of 4.6 million Indians. His standards of justice, too, took a complete break from his predecessors such as Akbar who implemented Sulh-e-Kul (peace for all).

As for Tipu Sultan, according to historian Lewis B. Boury, the devastation Tipu Sultan inflicted on the southern part of India was harsher and more barbaric than the atrocities performed against the Hindu inhabitants in India by the infamous Mahmud of Ghazni, Alauddin Khalji, and Nadir Shah. He had declared openly that he would wage Jihad against Hindus, and so he did. Mir Hussein Kirmani, Tipus courtier and biographer, has detailed how his raids resulted in the burning of hundreds of villages in Kushalapura (now Kushalnagar), Talakaveri, Madikeri, and other locations, slaughtering the Hindu population residing there.

This does not need further extrapolation that celebrating Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan on the Indian landmass would be akin to eulogising Adolf Hitler in the midst of a Jewish population. Driven by an extremist and expansionist version of the Islamic faith, they actively set out to undermine the syncretic, pluralistic culture of the Indian subcontinent.

On the other hand, the Mughal ruler Akbar believed that a rulers duty was to treat everyone equally, whatever their belief. He also ended jizya, a discriminatory tax imposed on non-Muslims. During his reign, non-Muslims were not forced to obey Islamic law and his administration included many Hindus in positions of responsibility. Similarly, Dara Shikoh, the elder brother of Aurangzeb, was the true son of the soil and a champion of interfaith harmony. He translated the Upanishads and other important sources of Hindu religion and spirituality from Sanskrit to Persian. Through these translations, he was largely responsible for taking the Hindu culture and spiritual traditions to Europe and the West.

The secular, democratic, republic of India is founded upon the values of equal rights, progressive outlook and syncretism between all cultures and faiths. Needless to say that Akbar and Dara Shikoh, not Aurangzeb and Tipu Sultan, are the icons for modern-day Indians across religious lines.

Unfortunately, the modern Indian society is undergoing a process of widening communal rifts and upsurge in religious intolerance, the reason could be, perhaps, an inadequate understanding of history and an inability to choose the right icons from the past. It is essential, therefore, to have a more honest conversation about history with an intention of acknowledging the problems and solving them.

Historians, like Audrey Truschke for example, have an agenda to prevent that honest conversation from happening, as it will render them irrelevant. In an attempt to whitewash the atrocities of Aurangzeb, she writes: Aurangzebs life, widely misrepresented by the Hindutva brigade as that of a cardboard despots, was far more complex as well as riddled with many contradictions. A successful statesman must act expediently, even though their actions may not always square with their professed political ideologies. Aurangzeb, who took on the title of Alamgir (the seizer of the world), was no exception. His actions were in accordance with what he imagined to be that of an effective and equitable rulers. On the Indian governments ruling of changing the name of the Aurangzeb Road to APJ Abdul Kalam Road, she says: The idea was to remove the association of evil, represented by Aurangzeb, from the name of the street and replace it with the name of the former president of India, who, presumably, embodied goodness.

It is quite telling that she finds the life of Aurangzeb complex and nuanced to the point of calling him an effective and equitable ruler; however, she cannot find concrete reasons to praise Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, a man who lived his life as an embodiment of harmony, progress and peace.

The modern, progressive values of the Indian constitution do not exist in a vacuum; they are a continuation of a dynamic tradition that goes back thousands of years and this landmass has been the example of unity in diversity for millennia. The establishment of modern India happened under the supervision of visionaries like Swami Vivekananda, S. Radhakrishnan, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, and steered forward by the likes of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. It would be a shame if this society, built on such solid foundations, would fall prey to the divisive and communal agenda of some anti-social elements.

The author takes special interest in history, culture and geopolitics. He is a proponent of religious reform and identifies himself as an Indic Muslim exploring Vedic knowledge and cultural heritage through music. When he is not writing columns, he enjoys playing drums and performing raps. Views expressed are personal.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares for his first state visit to the United States on 21 June, a lingering question needs to be addressed fairly and squarely. The whole world knows that Cold War 2.0 between the Western alliance led by the United States and China, with Russia probably in the same camp, has already started. Which side should India be on? There are essentially three options for India to choose from. Let us consider them in turn.

The first is to join the Chinese side. I remember Singapores senior diplomat, Indian origin Kishore Mahbubani, making a persuasive case for this position some years back. He said that India had chosen the wrong, that is the Soviet, side during Cold War 1.0. It should not repeat the same mistake by joining the Western, which he believes is the losing side this time around.

Indeed, there are many who believe that a China-led world order would be safer, more peaceful, and less exploitative than the Western domination of the world for several centuries. The rapacity of the Western colonial powers, their violent world wars, and hyper-individualistic and consumeristic culture are seen as inimical not only to the poorer nations of the world, but for human survival itself. Climate change, for instance, is arguably one of the deadly outcomes of the modern, Western civilisation which many, including Mahatma Gandhi, criticised for being violent and, in the end, self-destructive.

China, on the other hand, has been trying to present to the world its own social and civilisational model as fairer, not to mention peaceful for its residents, with low crime rates and stable social structure. There are obvious advantages in aligning with China. These include economic opportunities and an Asian geopolitical dominance, with the two most populous neighbours being in partnership. With former superpower Russia also part of such an alliance, such an alliance might be very powerful and economically advantageous indeed.

Unfortunately, Chinese belligerence on our borders and elsewhere, especially in the Indo-Pacific and the South China seas, has put paid to any such possibility. The whole world knows that Chinas so-called peaceful rise has been far from peaceful. Over the last decade or so, Chinese wolf warriors have bared their fangs in many theatres, quite far from the main Chinese homeland. Chinas exploitation of poorer nations through debt traps and extraction of natural resources is also well known.

But what put the last nail, so to speak, on the Chinese double-dealing coffin is its deadly export of the Wuhan virus. Whether or not Covid-19 leaked out of a Chinese lab, who can deny that by covering up its severity, underreporting the number of early deaths, and suppressing vital information, China contributed to its global spread. Evidently, it also used its power and clout to browbeat the WHO in suppressing information which could have been crucial in saving millions of lives.

I believe that this was the breaking point as far as the Western honeymoon with China is concerned. The idea that the West and China could happily coexist in a partnership with cheap Chinese labour and goods severing world consumption, while the West retained control over higher technology, was also shattered. The United States began to see China as a serious and determined adversary, bent upon taking over as the global hegemon not only by stealing US technology but undermining Western democracies from within through weaponised information.

What, then, is Indias second, some would say, obvious option? To join the Western alliance by partnering with the US. Indeed, that is what the latter wants from us. But Indias foreign policy has been shaped by its historical experiences, its geopolitical interests, and its values. During the first Cold War, though leaning toward the USSR, India adopted a policy of non-alignment, which meant not joining either power bloc. India also sought to play a leadership role among the newly independent countries of the Third World. Indias non-alignment was based on both idealism and pragmatism, as it allowed India to pursue its own interests and maintain its autonomy and sovereignty.

With the declining power of the US, some old style anti-imperialists would still argue that the West cannot be trusted. However, they too agree that the two largest and greatest democracies in the world have much in common, including a prosperous, powerful, and increasingly vocal Indian diaspora inside the US. In recent years, the US has decisively dropped its closeness to Pakistan and shown its increasing willingness to be Indias strategic partner. It has also supported Indias rise as a global power and a permanent member of the UN Security Council. It is the advanced technology from the US that India most needs to secure its borders. The US, on the other hand, also needs India to counter Chinas aggression and expansionism in Asia and beyond.

The third view that maintains that India should remain neutral or non-aligned in the Cold War 2.0 is also very strong. According to this view, taking sides would limit Indias options and expose it to risks. They emphasise that India has a unique position and role in world affairs, that India has good relations with both US and Russia, not to mention a working relationship with China. India can thus benefit from both sides, as it has by buying cheap Russian oil during the Ukraine war. The non-aligners therefore assert that remaining neutral would enable India to preserve its independence, flexibility, and avoid being dragged into conflicts that are not in its interest. Strategic autonomy, balancing regional powers, and economic diversification are the additional advantages of not joining either the Western or the Chinese side.

Determining the best option for India is a complex decision that requires considering multiple factors, such as Indias national security concerns, economic goals, regional dynamics, and long-term strategic interests. Indias foreign policy decisions are typically guided by a combination of these factors, and they can evolve over time based on changing geopolitical circumstances. The best option for India depends on how it defines its national interest, how it assesses the changing global order, and how it balances its opportunities and challenges.

There is no easy or definitive answer to this question, as each option has its pros and cons. However, one thing is clear: India cannot run with the hare and hunt with the hounds. It is time to drive a good, though not necessarily hard bargain, with the US. NATO plus by any other name would suit us, even a bilateral agreement, provided we get: 1) a permanent seat in the UN security council; 2) defence and technology guarantees; 3) easing up of immigration rules for skilled and service sectors from India. The time is ripe to take India-US relations to new heights. We must not forego this opportunity.

The writer is an author, columnist, and professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University. Views expressed are personal.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
In a text entitled The Hour of God, Mahayogi Sri Aurobindo wrote: There are moments when the Spirit moves among men and the breath of the Lord is abroad upon the waters of our being; there are others when it retires and men are left to act in the strength or the weakness of their own egoism. The first are periods when even a little effort produces great results and changes destiny; the second are spaces of time when much labour goes to the making of a little result.

Perhaps one of these moments came in October 1950 when Communist China invaded its weak, though non-violent neighbour, Tibet; India had then the choice, unfortunately Delhi did not gather the courage to stand by the truth and its own interests.

At a time when big insects ate small insects, as the Tibetan saying goes, India chose not to react to the blatant and immoral aggression and in a process lost a peaceful frontier which for centuries had been opened, without manning, even by police.

Sri Aurobindos text elaborates: Unhappy is the man or the nation which, when the divine moment arrives, is found sleeping or unprepared to use it, because the lamp has not been kept trimmed for the welcome and the ears are sealed to the call. But thrice woe to them who are strong and ready, yet waste the force or misuse the moment; for them is irreparable loss or a great destruction.

A turning point

Look at Indias northern borders today, with lakhs of Indian and Chinese troops confronting each other from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh, passing through the Central Sector and Sikkim, the loss of Tibet has indeed been an irreparable loss for India. Further, it brought the total destruction of a centuries-old civilisation.

At a time when the world witnessed earth-shaking changes: as India became independent, as China went through its own revolution, as African and Asian nations became free from colonisation, de facto independent nations such Tibet, Eastern Turkestan (today Xinjiang) or Inner Mongolia came under the yoke of Communist China; the annexation of Turkestan in December 1949 opened the doors to Western Tibet and the Aksai Chin in Ladakh. For the first time in history, an unprepared and peaceful Land of Snows became part of the Chinese Motherland.

Sardar Patels letter

At the end of October 1950, as Delhi merely regretted the Chinese invasion of Tibet, many of Nehrus colleagues objected to the prime ministers weak stance.

On 7 November, a month after the entry of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in Eastern Tibet, deputy prime minister Sardar Patel wrote to Nehru: I have carefully gone through the correspondence between the External Affairs Ministry and our Ambassador in Peking [Beijing] and through him the Chinese Government. I have tried to peruse this correspondence as favorably to our Ambassador and the Chinese Government as possible, but I regret to say that neither of them comes out well as a result of this study. The Chinese Government has tried to delude us by professions of peaceful intention. My own feeling is that at a crucial period they manage to instill into our Ambassador a false sense of confidence in their so called desire to settle the Tibetan problem by peaceful means.

The following pages of Patels missive described the importance of Tibet for Indias northern frontiers. It was ignored by the prime minister with the far-reaching consequence that we can see today.

The two camps

Historical records showed the emergence of two factions during the tumultuous last six months of 1950: one led by prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and KM Panikkar, his ambassador in Beijing, both obsessed by an imaginary friendship with New China and fixated on the larger implications for World Peace; the other, which immediately saw the strategic implications of the loss of Tibet for India, was led by Sardar Patel, the deputy prime minster with Sir Girja Shankar Bajpai, the Secretary General of the Ministry of External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations as his main adviser for foreign affairs. It also comprised president Rajendra Prasad, C Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), KM Munshi and others. They were fed by reports from the ground by Harishwar Dayal, the political officer in Sikkim and Sumul Sinha, the head of the Indian Mission in Lhasa, two sincere and far-sighted civil servants. At that time, India had a full-fledged mission in Tibet as well as three trade agencies in Gyantse, Yatung and Gartok.

This dichotomy between the officers on the ground and the visionaries in South Block continued throughout these difficult years.

The day after Patel shot his letter, meeting Bajpai in the corridors of South Block, the prime minister told his general secretary: you are marshalling the big shots. Bajpai had also written to president Rajendra Prasad, Rajaji and others. In fact, most of the Cabinet, understanding the issues that India would face in the future, was in favour of a strong action to defend Tibet (one possible action was to occupy the Chumbi Valley adjacent to Sikkim).

Nehrus answer

A day after receiving Patels letter, Nehru dictated a note: The recent developments in international affairs have to be considered by us carefully with a view to the policy we should pursue in the U.N., in regard to our neighbouring countries, in regard to China, and with reference to our defence problems.

The prime minister elaborated: Our foreign policy has been based on a desire to help in the maintenance of world peace or, at any rate, in the avoidance of a war on a large scale. Because of this we have avoided any alignment with any particular power or group of powers and have attempted to follow an independent policy, judging each question on its merits and from the point of view of world peace.

Protection of Indias interests was not the objective of Delhis Foreign Policy; only the avoidance of conflicts, particularly in the Korean peninsula, was.

A vital moment was lost for India.

Border defence committee

Interestingly, new historical documents show that Patel moved fast. On 12 November, a committee was constituted to examine the possibility of Chinese Communist troops occupying the areas south of the McMahon Line and to consider the feasibility of advancing an outpost of the Assam Rifles towards the border to forestall such ingress. According to the historical records: The committee discussed at great length the advisability of pushing forward a post to Tawang and it was considered that the question of establishing a post at Tawang should be referred to the Government of India for instructions. Pending the receipt of such instructions, it was decided to establish a small post at feet of the Se-La Pass.

This resulted in Maj Bob Khathing taking over Tawangs administration in February 1951 and this apparently without the knowledge of the prime minister. By that time, the Iron Man of India had already left this world (Patel passed away on 15 December, 1950).

Less than four years later, the line taken by Nehru landed India in a capitulation during the Panchsheel Agreement negotiations. China was offered all the rights and responsibilities India had in Tibet, without even a confirmation of the boundary; all these for the sake of the new Hindi-Chini bhai-bhai policy.

Tibet liberated of what?

Throughout 1950, China kept repeating that Tibet was soon going to be liberated. It is ironical that 73 years later, the Tibetans still do not understand for what (or from whom) they needed to be liberated.

Today China speaks of poverty alleviation for the Roof of the World, but what have the Communists done since they entered Lhasa in September 1951, if the Tibetans have remained poor? There is no answer to this question.

The truth is that Mao was not just interested in the strategic position of Tibet; China gained not only a huge landmass, also the access to the water tower of Asia, large mineral resources and a strategic position dominating the subcontinent. The Tibetan uplifting of the masses was nowhere in Chinas periscope.

Indias immoral position

One of the most immoral actions of Delhi was to ignore the existence of the Tibetan government during all its dealing with the new masters in Lhasa, particularly during the talks for the 1954 Tibet Agreement. This continued till 1959 when the Dalai Lama had to take refuge in India.

It was indeed wrong from the part of the Indian government to be vociferous about the decolonisation of Africa or Asia, while at the same time, ignore Tibet, the gentle neighbour at its gates.

Today the question is: what can be done to undo the blunders of 1950? There is no easy answer, though the recently strong statements of the Minister of External Affairs are perhaps a first step in the right direction.

The author is Distinguished Fellow, Centre of Excellence for Himalayan Studies, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence (Delhi). Views are personal.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Pros

 Vegan leather back

 Uses the same display as the Pro+ variant

 Has the same SoC as the Pro+ variant

 Battery management and battery life

 Impressive dual camera setup

 Great speakers

 Seems to be better tuned and optimised than the Pro+ variant

 Almost as good as the

Cons

 Tons of bloatware and ads

 No ultrawide camera

Price: Rs 27,999 for the tested 12GB + 256GB variant (starts at Rs 23,999)

Rating: 4/5

The Realme 11 Pro has an older sibling, the Realme 11 Pro+. Despite their similarities, the 11 Pro offers a more budget-friendly option by cutting back on certain features. It features a dual-rear camera setup instead of a triple-camera system, a lower resolution selfie camera, and supports 67W fast charging instead of the impressive 100W of its sibling, the Pro+.

Realmes positioning of the Realme 11 Pro is a bit complex. Not only is the 11 Pro a massive upgrade over last years 10 Pro, it is also an upgrade over the 10 Pro+. And, barring a few things, there isnt much of a difference between the 11 Pro and the 11 Pro+, especially when it comes to performance.

In this review, we try to assess whether the sacrifices made in the Realme 11 Pro take too much away from the experience, how it fare against its elder sibling, and if someone goes for the more budget-friendly option out of the two, what exactly do they give up on

Realme 11 Pro 5G review: The Design

Differentiating between the Realme 11 Pro and Pro+ can be challenging at first glance, but careful examination of their camera modules can reveal the distinction. The Realme 11 Pro has a subtle engraving in small letters that reads 100MP OIS camera, while the Realme 11 Pro+ reads a 200MP OIS camera. Plus, the Realme 11 Pro has two cameras instead of three, so in the camera module, there is a dummy placeholder.

Other than this, theres no difference whatsoever in the design of the device. Whether its the dimensions, ports, finish, or colour options, both devices are virtually identical. We received the Sunrise Beige colour variant, which in the vegan leather, looks and feels great.

In case you want to take a deep dive into the design of the device, take a look at our detailed review of the Realme 11 Pro+.

Realme 11 Pro 5G review: The Display

The Realme 11 Pro is equipped with the same 6.7-inch curved OLED display that we find on the Realme 11 Pro+. It has the exact same peak brightness of 950 nits and the same refresh rate of 120Hz. Even the bezels and curved edges are the same. Like the Realme 11 Pro+, the 11 Pro has a Widevine L1 certification, allowing it to stream content in FHD resolution.

However, its important to note that, unlike the 11 Pro+ models, the regular 11 Pro smartphone does not currently support HDR capabilities on popular streaming platforms like Netflix.

The display, clearly, is the best in its segment, especially if youre going for the base variants, which comes in at Rs 23,999.

For a more detailed dive into the display of the Realme 11 Pro, read our review of the Realme 11 Pro+.

Realme 11 Pro 5G review: The camera

It is when we come to the cameras that we get to see some major differences between the Realme 11 Pro and the Realme 11 Pro+. The Realme 11 Pro gets a dual camera setup at the rear.

The Realme 11 Pro is equipped with a 100MP OIS primary sensor, which is a downgrade from the 200MP sensor found in the Pro+ model. Additionally, it features a 2MP portrait unit. The primary sensor produces 12MP images by default, which are excellent when photos are shot in the daylight. The colours pop out and the dynamic range is pretty good. However, when zoomed in, the level of detail may appear slightly underwhelming.

Nevertheless, the overall results are satisfactory. In low-light conditions or indoor settings, noise tends to become noticeable. However, the phone manages to preserve details quite well. The device also offers a night mode, which reduces noise in images, but it has the tendency to overprocess and smooth everything out.

The primary camera of the Realme 11 Pro captures daylight photos with remarkable precision and vivid colours. It offers a dynamic range comparable to high-end flagship devices, benefiting from its large sensor that allows ample light to illuminate landscapes accurately.

The Realme 11 Pro offers a digital zoom capability of up to 20x, but the company claims that the in-sensor 2x zoom can capture lossless images. However, when using this mode, some warmth is taken out of the picture, and upon closer inspection, there are noticeable watercolour-like effects on foliage, which can degrade the overall image quality.

In the Street mode, there are two options available: 26mm and 52mm, which correspond to 1x and 2x zoom. One particularly enjoyable feature in the Street mode is the auto-zoom effect. By simply tapping on the subject, the focus locks and the camera gradually zooms in. This not only looks cool but also reduces the need for precise subject tracking and pinching the screen. The portrait mode also performs well, producing a good blur effect to enhance the subject separation.

The 16MP front camera captures acceptable selfies with good detail and accurate skin tones, especially in well-lit conditions. However, there is a slight issue with oversharpening, which can make the images appear artificially sharp. In low-light situations, the cameras performance is average, and the resulting images may lack the desired level of quality.

Click here for some unprocessed and uncompressed images from the Realme 11 Pro 5G.

Realme 11 Pro 5G review: The performance, software experience and UI

The Realme 11 Pro 5G is powered by the same MediaTek Dimensity 7050 SoC, which we find in the high-end 11 Pro+. Our test unit was equipped with 12GB RAM and 256GB ]internal storage. Again, there is the option to virtually add another 12GB of RAM.

Surprisingly, the Realme 11 Pro, fared marginally better than the Realme 11 Pro+ across a bunch of benchmarks. To ensure that our results werent contaminated for some reason, we reran the benchmarks on the Realme 11 Pro+ and had the same results.

But, as we have always said, benchmarks are only indicative of what performance is like. In day-to-day usage, the Realme 11 Pro is exactly the same as the Realme 11 Pro+.

During our experience, we found that the Realme 11 Pro provides smooth gameplay when playing games like Asphalt 9 and Call of Duty Mobile, when set to the high graphics settings, at a consistent 60fps. We didnt encounter any issues or performance issues during gameplay.

The Realme 11 Pro 5G runs on RealmeUI 4.0, which is based on Android 13. The user interface offers an impressive range of features, and easy customization options, and provides a user-friendly and intuitive experience.

You get Dolby Atmos support in the stereo speakers-powered audio setup, here as well.

The software experience, of the Realme 11 Pro, is marred by bloatware and ads, just like it happens with the Realme 11 Pro+. We have a detailed dive about this in our review of the Realme 11 Pro+, which you can check out here.

All things said and done, we have to say that RealmeUI 4.0 is actually intuitive, customisable, and overall easy to use.

Realme 11 Pro 5G review: The battery life

The Realme 11 Pro is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery, which offers sufficient capacity to last an entire day on a single charge, even with moderate gaming and occasional navigation. In my usage, which involved streaming, web browsing, and gaming, I was able to achieve around six hours of screen-on-time with the device.

During our regular usage, with the display set to 70 per cent brightness, the Realme 11 Pro can deliver over 8 hours of screen-on time and more than 15-16 hours of overall usage time.

This includes various activities such as video watching, web browsing, gaming, email handling, and video calls. The devices battery life is impressive and can easily keep up with extended periods of usage without requiring frequent recharging.

While the Realme 11 Pro lacks the 100W fast charging support found in its higher-end counterpart, the Pro+, its 67W fast charging solution still provides satisfactory performance. Using this, the device can be fully charged from 0 to 100 per cent in well under an hour, ensuring quick and convenient charging.

Realme 11 Pro 5G review: The verdict

The Realme 11 Pro is priced at Rs 23,999 in India, about Rs 4,000 cheaper than the Realme 11 Pro+. This pricing makes the Realme 11 Pro a bargain, given that it performs just as well as its elder siblings in most aspects. The 100MP primary camera, although not as headline-worthy as the 11 Pro+s 200MP sensor, is also pretty impressive.

Having said that, the lack of an ultra-wide camera is a notable drawback as it limits the phones ability to capture a wider field of view and include more details in photos. The excessive bloatware gives the interface a slightly cluttered appearance. Despite these shortcomings, the Realme 11 Pro remains a solid choice that offers reliable performance and overall satisfaction.
Artificial Intelligence has become a hot topic in the tech industry, with an increasing number of companies now incorporating this emerging technology to maintain a competitive edge. Prominent companies such as Canva, LinkedIn, Meta, Adobe and Google have recently unveiled AI-powered features for their products.

Accenture has now declared a substantial investment of USD 3 billion in the field of AI. This investment will be made over the next three years, demonstrating Accentures commitment to this emerging technology. Additionally, Accenture plans to expand its AI workforce to 80,000 employees, doubling the current number.

It is worth noting that in March of this year, Accenture announced the layoff of 19,000 employees as a cost-cutting measure. It was then that Accenture announced that

Accentures AI gamble worth $3 Billion

The announcement regarding the investment was made by Accenture through a blog post on June 13. The post stated, Accenture today revealed a USD 3 billion investment over three years in its Data and AI practice, aiming to assist clients across various industries in rapidly and responsibly advancing and utilizing AI to achieve enhanced growth, efficiency, and resilience.

Julie Sweet, CEO of Accenture, discussed the investment, stating, There is an unparalleled interest in all aspects of AI, and the substantial investment we are making in our Data & AI practice will help our clients move from interest to action to value, in a responsible manner with clear business objectives.

She added, Companies that establish a strong foundation in AI by embracing and scaling it now, when the technology is mature and delivers tangible value, will be better positioned to innovate, compete, and reach new levels of performance. Our clients operate in complex environments, and during this rapidly changing technological landscape, our profound understanding of ecosystem solutions enables us to assist them in swiftly and cost-effectively making intelligent decisions.

Accenture to hire 80,000 AI Professionals

The blog post further mentioned that Accenture intends to achieve a workforce of 80,000 employees dedicated to the AI field. This will be accomplished through a combination of recruitment, acquisitions, and training. The post stated, The Data & AI practice will expand its AI expertise to reach a total of 80,000 professionals, employing a combination of recruitment, acquisitions, and training.

In March of this year, Accenture made the announcement of 19,000 job cuts, emphasizing that these layoffs would be implemented gradually over the next 18 months. The company attributed these layoffs to their cost-cutting initiatives and acknowledged that overhiring was a contributing factor. Additionally, Accenture disclosed that the onboarding of new graduates had been delayed.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the US and Egypt from 20 to 25 June, the PMO said.

The visit of PM Modi will commence from New York where he will lead the celebrations of 9th annual International Day of Yoga at the United Nations headquarters on 21 June.

PM Modi US visit

Thereafter, the Indian Prime Minister will travel to Washington DC where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on 22 June. On the same day, PM Modi will meet US President Joe Biden to continue their high-level dialogue, PMO said.

Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host a state dinner in honour of PM Modi on the evening of 22 June.

PM Modi to address joint sitting of US Congress

At the invitation of US Congress leaders, including Speaker of the House of Representative Kevin McCarthy and Speaker of the Senate Charles Schumer, PM Modi will address a Joint Sitting of the US Congress on 22 June.

The next day (23 June), PM Modi will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The Prime Minister will also interact with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders. He will also meet members of the Indian diaspora on the same day, the PMO said.

PM Modi visit to Egypt

After wrapping up his US visit, the Prime Minister of India will travel to Cairo to pay a State Visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt from 24-25 June.

The visit is at the invitation of Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of Egypt.

It will will be Prime Minister Narendra Modis first visit to Egypt.

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
According to cybersecurity firm Mandiant, a major cyber espionage campaign targeting government agencies linked to Beijing is being conducted by online attackers with clear connections to China.

Mandiants Chief Technology Officer, Charles Carmakal, described it as the most extensive cyber espionage campaign attributed to a China-affiliated threat actor since the mass exploitation of Microsoft Exchange in early 2021.

The attackers managed to breach the computer defenses of hundreds of organizations, gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information, including the emails of prominent individuals involved in matters of interest to the Chinese government.

Mandiants report expressed high confidence that a group identified as UNC4841 was responsible for this expansive espionage campaign, which was carried out in support of the Peoples Republic of China.

The targeted victims spanned at least 16 countries and encompassed both public and private sector organizations worldwide. The campaign specifically focused on issues of significant policy importance to the Chinese government, with particular emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region and Taiwan.

The report identified various victims, including foreign ministries, research organizations, and foreign trade missions situated in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The cyber attacks employed malicious code embedded in email messages, taking advantage of a vulnerability in Barracuda software used for screening and ensuring email safety.

The campaign was first detected in May, but it is believed to have originated as early as October of the previous year. Some compromised systems continue to exhibit signs of ongoing malware activity, as confirmed by Barracuda.

In 2021, a separate hack targeting Microsoft Exchange, which was attributed to a hacker group backed by Beijing, affected over 30,000 organizations in the United States, including businesses and local governments.

CNN reported that multiple US federal agencies were simultaneously dealing with an apparent cyber attack on Thursday. The details regarding the nature of the attack and its possible connection to other incidents were not provided in the report.

However, several security experts with a history of working closely with US federal agencies have tweeted that there is a very strong possibility that the same attackers, hacked into the US federal agencies.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Pakistani social media influencer Shayan Ali recently announced a significant life decision, stating that he has chosen to leave the Islamic faith and embrace Hindu Dharma. Shayan revealed that due to persistent pressure from Pakistani intelligence agencies, he felt compelled to flee the country. During this challenging period, he found solace in Lord Krishna, whom he believes guided him. Shayan also expressed his intention to visit India in the near future.

Shayan Ali emphasised that he had no alternative but to permanently leave Pakistan due to the ongoing oppression by the ISI. He even alleged that there was a plot against his life.

Watch:

Taking to Twitter, Shayan Ali announced his Ghar Wapsi, which refers to his homecoming to his ancestral roots. He wrote, After deeply immersing myself in my ancestors culture and way of life over the past two years, I now officially declare my Ghar Wapsi.'

After observing my ancestors culture and lifestyle for the last 2 years, today I am officially announcing my Ghar Wapsi.  Thanks to ISKCON for never giving up on me  After I had to leave Pakistan in 2019 because of the torture of Pakistani agencies, I went into pic.twitter.com/e1QVftsHHO  Shayan Ali (@ShayaanAlii) June 15, 2023

He recounted the distressing experiences he endured at the hands of Pakistani agencies in 2019, which led to his forced departure from the country. Shayan shared that he fell into a state of depression and nearly lost all hope.

However, he believes it was Lord Krishna who intervened and gave him the strength to persevere. Shayan now feels a responsibility to repay the support he received.

After being forced to leave Pakistan in 2019 due to persecution by Pakistani agencies, I sank into a deep depression and teetered on the edge of surrender. But then, Krishna reached out to me, and now it is my duty to give back and bring honor to my ancestors, Ali tweeted.

Shayan further expressed his eagerness to return to his ancestral homeland, India, where his grandparents and ancestors originated. He longs to embrace the land and its people, as he believes that home is where the heart resides.

While announcing his ghar wapsi, Shayan Ali made it clear that as a follower of Sanatana Dharma, he does not endorse any form of religious hatred. He holds deep respect for the beliefs and practices of all religions, and he hopes for the same mutual respect towards his own.

In a previous disclosure made in May this year, Shayan Ali shared the circumstances that led him to flee Pakistan. He revealed being falsely accused of being a Jewish agent and a member of the Indian Intelligence Agency, R&AW, after he declined to participate in a PR music video on Kashmir proposed by the Pakistani intelligence agency, ISI.

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Alphabet Inc, the parent organisation of Google, is advising its employees to be cautious when using chatbots, including its own program called Bard, even as it continues to promote the software globally.

The company has updated a longstanding policy to protect confidential information, instructing employees not to input sensitive materials into AI chatbots. These chatbots, such as Bard and ChatGPT, which advanced artificial intelligence to engage in human-like conversations and respond to various queries are also called LLMs or large language models.

Google doesnt trust its own creation

Google is worried that human reviewers may have access to the chat logs that these chatbots generate. AI developers often use this data to train their LLMs more, which poses a risk of data leaks.

Furthermore, Alphabet has warned its engineers to also refrain from directly using computer code generated by chatbots. When asked for comment, the company acknowledged that although the AI bot may generate unwanted code, it still is of huge assistance to programmers. Google aims to maintain transparency regarding the limitations of its technology.

These precautions highlight Googles desire to prevent any adverse impact on its business caused by its software competing with ChatGPT. The competition between Google, OpenAI, and Microsoft Corp holds substantial investment opportunities and potential advertising and cloud revenues from new AI programs.

More tech companies are staying away from AI bots

Googles caution aligns with a security standard that is increasingly being adopted by tech companies. Most tech companies are now alerting employees about the use of publicly-available chat programs. These include Samsung, Amazon, and Deutsche Bank. Reports suggest that even Apple is following a similar approach.

A survey conducted on Fishbowl, a professional networking site, revealed that around 43 per cent of professionals, including those from prominent US companies, were already using ChatGPT or other AI tools as of January 2023. However, many of them did not disclose this usage to their superiors.

Google was always wary of Bard. Yet, it was released to the public

According to Insider, in February, Google instructed its staff testing Bard prior to its launch not to provide it with internal information. Currently, Google has made Bard available to over 180 countries and supports 40 languages.

Google has engaged in detailed discussions with Irelands Data Protection Commission and is addressing regulators inquiries following a Politico report suggesting the postponement of Bards launch in the European Union this week due to concerns about the chatbots impact on privacy.

AI-powered chatbots have the potential to accelerate various tasks like drafting emails, documents, and software. However, this technology also poses risks, as it can inadvertently include misinformation, sensitive data, or even copyrighted content.

In line with privacy concerns, Googles updated privacy notice on June 1 explicitly advises users not to include confidential or sensitive information in their conversations with Bard.

Microsoft too takes a conservative approach

To address these concerns, some companies have developed software solutions. Both Google and Microsoft offer conversational tools to their business customers, which come with a higher price tag but avoid incorporating data into public AI models. By default, Bard and ChatGPT save users conversation history, but users have the option to delete it.

Yusuf Mehdi, Microsofts consumer chief marketing officer, commented that it is understandable that companies prefer not to use public chatbots for work-related matters. Microsoft takes a conservative approach, with more stringent policies in place for its enterprise software compared to its free Bing chatbot.

Although Microsoft did not provide specific details regarding a blanket ban on entering confidential information into public AI programs, including its own. However, another Microsoft executive revealed that he personally limits his usage of such programs.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
India plays a critical role in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific that is integrated, prosperous, secure, and resilient, the Biden administration stated a week before Prime Minister Narendra Modis official state visit to the United States.

In the face of Chinas increasing military manoeuvres in the region, the United States, India, and other world powers have been discussing the importance of ensuring a free, open, and vibrant Indo-Pacific.

Our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relationships. We look closely with India onwe work closely with India on our most vital priorities. They play a crucial role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific that is connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference on Thursday.

Secretary (of State, Tony) Blinken looks forward to seeing Prime Minister Modi and other members of the Indian delegation, while theyre here; and working to make progress on all the issues with which we consult with India, Miller said.

Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. They will host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. The visit also includes an address to the Joint Session of the Congress on June 22.

Responding to a question on visa delays in India, Miller said US consular teams have been making a huge push to process as many visa applications as possible in India, including in those visa categories that are key to the bilateral relationship.

This is a top priority for our government. We know that there is more work that we can do, and we are working hard to do it, he said.

When asked about human rights issues in India, Miller said there are a number of issues with which the US work with India and it also regularly raises with Indian Government officials its human rights concerns.

Weve been clear about that. We speak with them privately  we speak about those privately with the Indian Government, he said.

I will also say that with respect to protests, we support the right of every American to exercise their First Amendment rights to make their voices heard. We just earlier in this briefing talked about a very vigorous exercise of the First Amendment right thats been happening outside our building for, I dont know, a week or two now, and we continue to support the right of Americans to do so, Miller said.

Responding to a question on US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, he said: Ive heard that the new American ambassador, Ambassador Garcetti, is actually a bit of a celebrity in India, as well.

Let me just say again that our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relationships. We really look forward to the visit next week. In addition to hosting Prime Minister Modi at the White House, there will be a state lunch here at the State Department, and were all very much looking forward to it, Miller said.

In March, Garcetti, the former Mayor of Los Angeles, was officially sworn in as the US Ambassador to India by Vice President Kamala Harris during a ceremonial event here.

Garcettis nomination was pending before the US Congress since July 2021 when he was nominated by President Joe Biden.

With inputs from PTI

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
In a major breakthrough, women in Pakistan will now be able to perform Hajj even in the absence of a male counterpart.

The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) officially gave permission to women to perform Hajj without a Mehram (close male relative) in specific circumstances.

According to Fiqah-e-Jafria, the Maliki and Shafii schools of thought, and Shariat, a woman is permitted to make the yearly Islamic pilgrimage without a Mehram (a close male relative).

Women who seek approval from their parents or spouse can perform Hajj alone, a CII spokesperson was quoted as saying on Geo News.

Pakistans Ministry of Religious Affairs also sought the opinion of the council on the matter.

Meanwhile, the government in Saudi Arabia announced last year that a Mehram is no longer required for a woman to perform Hajj.

The Saudi Minister for Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, made the statement at a press conference, bringing an end to the Kingdoms lengthy reign.

Without a Mehram and in the company of trusted women or a secure company, women are allowed to conduct Hajj or Umrah. This is the viewpoint of the Maliki and Shafii scholars, Geo News quoted Ahmed Saleh Halabi, advisor for Hajj and Umrah Services, as saying.

With inputs ANI

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
There is a lot of excitement among people of the US for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis State visit next week. American politicians, prominent citizens as well as Indian diaspora are looking to give him a grand welcome.

PM Modis first ever state visit between 21 and 23 June centres around ceremonial reception and an intimate private dinner that will be hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

During this visit, PM Modi will address a joint session of the US Congress for the second time on 22 June.

US Congress will be honoured

US Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith said the US Congress is looking forward to the Indian Prime Ministers visit to the US.

Next week, we will be honoured to have him (PM Modi) address a joint meeting of the Congress underscoring the significance of the relationship between the United States and India. The bond between India and US is not just an alliance, it is a strategic and global partnership, Cindy said.

The Republican Senator from Mississippi went on to say that Our two nations relationship is built on the strong foundation of shared values, democracy, freedom, and respect for the rule of law. India and the United States have long recognized the power of collaboration in fostering peace, prosperity, and global stability. US-India diplomatic relations have only grown since India gained its independence 75 years ago.

In the face of global challenges ranging from education to energy to agriculture and health, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked with the United States to address these issues and continues to work towards solutions that benefit not just our countries but the entire world, Hyde-Smith said.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in extending a warm welcome to the prime minister as he visits our great nation, she said.

#WATCH | Next week, we will be honoured to have him (PM Modi) address a joint meeting of the Congress underscoring the significance of the relationship between the United States and India. The bond between US & India is not just an alliance, it is a strategic and global pic.twitter.com/zCKrB2nk37  ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2023

'India-US relationship to be celebrated as we welcome PM Modi'

Talking about India-US ties ahead of PM Modi's visit, Congressman Bill Posey said: "The growing importance of the relationship between India and the US cannot be understated. Our shared commitment to democracy and economic freedom serves to build peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region and challenge the increasingly aggressive China."

"Robust cultural, educational, professional programes play a key role in strengthening our partnership in science, technology, education, medicine, cyber security, civil nuclear energy," Posey further said.

"Americans of Indian descents are important fabric of the American life... This is relationship to be celebrated as we welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington DC next week," he added.

'PM Modi's visit an opportunity to work on India-US trade ties'

US Representative Ami Bera said PM Modi's State visit next week is going to be an opportunity to work on trade ties between the US and India.

"I think it's an important visit at this moment in time. You're seeing the US-India relationship grow, obviously, there are geopolitical challenges within Asia and so forth, and then India is also a rising economic power. So I think there's an opportunity to work on the US-India trade relationship. We're talking a lot about supply chains and coming out of the pandemic. I think there's a real opportunity for the two countries to grow together," he said.

Responding to a question regarding the defence partnership between the two nations, US Congressman said there should be tangible things coming out of PM Modi's visit to the US. "Certainly there should be some tangible things that come out of this visit. I think the defence space will be one of them. Is it the coproduction of helicopters? Is it more maritime partnership? Those are all things that we have been doing for a long time," he said.

"But, I think there's a real opportunity to accelerate some of those partnerships. And I think you'll be hearing some big things coming out of this. And then maybe there are some things on the supply chain front. Again, I think India, as we think about redundancy and supply chains, obviously, the pandemic exposed an over-reliance on China. I think India would be smart to present itself as an opportunity for US investment," he added.

#WATCH | Washington DC, US: ...It's an important visit considering the geopolitical challenges & as India is rising as an economic power. It is an opportunity to work on US-India trade relationships. There is a real opportunity for the two countries to grow together...: pic.twitter.com/m9KN5DpaIw  ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2023

PM Modi's visit to US is crucial

Welcoming PM Modi to the US, Representative Adam Smith said, "We (US-India) share a strong relationship. I am looking forward towards strengthening the relationship between both countries and PM's visit here is a crucial part of doing that."

#WATCH | "I welcome PM Modi to our country and thank him for his visit. We (US-India) share a strong relationship. I am looking forward towards strengthening the relationship between both countries and PM's visit here is a crucial part of doing that," says US Representative Adam pic.twitter.com/6he2BRnIA8  ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2023

'Welcome PM Modi to our great country'

Missouri Governor Mike Parson said, "The US and India have many shared interest of promoting security, stability, and economic prosperity. On behalf of all Missourian, I want to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi to our great country."

Don't Miss: After US, PM Modi to jet off to Egypt for two-day state visit

Missouri has a strong relationship with India... and our connection only continue to grow... The deep trade and investment ties between India and Missouri are on display in more than one-billion-dollar trading relationship," he said.

Parson said that Missouri regards India as an important partner and has successful track record of supporting Indian companies as they grow with US.

On behalf of all #Missourians, I want to welcome Prime Minister @narendramodi to our great country. Thank you, Governor @GovParsonMO for highlighting our shared interests in promoting security, stability & economic prosperity. #USWelcomesModi #IndiaUSAPartnership pic.twitter.com/1pFOejaRmZ  India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) June 15, 2023

Looking forward to strengthening India-US relations

Welcoming PM Modi to the US, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown said, "Ohio has a strong Indian-American community. We are looking forward to strengthening the relations between the two countries."

#WATCH | We welcome PM Narendra Modi to the United States of America. Ohio has a strong Indian-American community. We are looking forward to strengthening the relations between the two countries: Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown speaks on the upcoming state visit of PM Narendra Modi to pic.twitter.com/IEUvcgfodp  ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2023

Delighted PM Modi traveling to US

Representative Jeremy Gray said he was honoured that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit to the US to celebrate the 9th annual International Day of Yoga.

"His (PM Modi) involvement underscores the drift of our bilateral relationship and our mutual commitment to wellbeing and harmony as we engage yoga. It is more than a physical exercise. It is a path to peace, balance and unity," he said.

Our partnership with #India illustrates the power of shared values and cooperation. #USWelcomesModi #ModiUSVisit2023 Appreciate @RepJeremyGrays message underscoring Prime Minister @narendramodis #HistoricStateVisit2023 reflecting the depth of our bilateral relationship and pic.twitter.com/Kb1DEhodTM  India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) June 16, 2023

PM Modis visit has extra special significance

"We eagerly await to welcome PM Modi in Washington DC and to listen to his address in the US Congress... This visit of PM Modi has an extra special significance. After his address to the Congress, he will become only the third (global) leader to have formally more than once, said Arvind Panagariya, Professor of Columbia University and former Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog.

PM Modi bridge between two creative democracies

Chef Vikas Khanna, an Indian living in America for last 25 years, said he feel honoured about PM Modi's visit to the US.

"He (PM Modi) has been a bridge between two creative democracies in the world. At the same time, he has given us opportunity, voice and also give us pride to represent India in America," he added.

PM Modi will arrive in Washington after landing in New York where he will participate in the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations, with New Delhi asserting its cultural proprietorship of the practice in recent years.

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Russia has accused Australia of Russophobic hysteria after Australia cancelled the lease on a piece of land where Russia had planned to build its new embassy. The Australian government deemed the location too close to Parliament House and a security risk.

Parliament passed emergency legislation on Thursday to block the lease after Russia successfully appealed a decision by local Canberra authorities to do the same last month.

In response, the Russian Embassy posted a report from Russian news agency TASS on social media, quoting Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskovs condemnation of Australias actions.

Peskov is quoted as saying, Australia, having cancelled the lease agreement for the site for the construction of the new Russian Embassy building, diligently continues to move forward in the mainstream of the authors of the Russophobic hysteria and tries to distinguish itself on this path.

He added, Another unfriendly display from Australia. We will take this into account, and if there are issues on the agenda that require the principle of reciprocity, we will act accordingly.

The Russian Embassy described the lease termination as another step by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese towards a deliberate and systematic destruction of relations with Moscow.

The law terminating the lease took effect late Thursday when Governor-General David Hurley, representing Australias head of state, King Charles III, gave his approval.

Albanese justified the urgency of the decision as a means to prevent the site from becoming a formal diplomatic presence.

Lawmakers cited concerns of espionage and political interference if Russias second embassy was built in the Yarralumla diplomatic precinct, in such close proximity to Parliament House.

Currently, Russia occupies the former USSR embassy in the suburb of Griffith, which is farther from Parliament House than the proposed new site. The Yarralumla site would have provided Russia with a second cluster of diplomatic buildings in the capital city, Canberra.

Australian intelligence agencies now consider espionage and foreign interference as the countrys greatest security challenges.

In February, it was reported that Australia had quietly expelled a significant Russian spy ring that had been posing as diplomats. The spy ring included individuals claiming to be embassy and consular staff, as well as other operatives using deep-cover identities, according to unnamed sources cited by The Sydney Morning Herald.

The Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), the nations main domestic spy agency, had earlier announced that it had detected and disrupted a major spy network. However, ASIO has not disclosed the country responsible for the espionage.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said Ukraines counteroffensive would fail as Kyivs troops sought to advance in several directions, including the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia.

I think that Ukraines armed forces stand no chance here, as well as in other directions  I have no doubt about that, Putin told an annual economic forum in Saint Petersburg.

AFP and representatives of other countries the Kremlin deems unfriendly were not accredited to cover the forum.

Putin claimed Ukraines armed forces were suffering heavy losses.

In some places Ukrainian units are managing to reach the first line (of defence), in other places they are failing, he said.

They are using the so-called strategic reserves, he added.

Putin said Ukrainian forces did not achieve their objectives in any section of the front, adding: Thats the important thing.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Thailands caretaker government is proposing to fully re-engage Myanmars military rulers and has invited ASEAN foreign ministers to an informal meeting on Sunday to discuss a stalled peace plan, according to a letter seen by Reuters and sources aware of the invitation.

The proposal was made in a June 14 letter to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) counterparts from Thailands Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, which was seen by Reuters on Friday and confirmed by three sources with knowledge of the planned meeting.

In a summit last month, ASEAN leaders called for an immediate end to the violence in Myanmar, which began after the military deposed the elected civilian government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in a 2021 coup.

Frustration has mounted among some members of the 10-country bloc over how to handle Myanmar and its bloody political turmoil and Thailands latest move will raise fresh questions about the groups unity.

Two sources with knowledge of Sundays meeting told Reuters that Myanmars junta-appointed foreign minister had been invited. Myanmars military spokesman did not respond to phone calls on Friday night.

ASEAN chair Indonesia has declined to attend the proposed meeting, according to three sources. Indonesias Foreign Ministry told Reuters it hasnt heard about the invitation.

The foreign ministry in Thailand declined to comment. Thailand is expected to have a new government by August following an election last month that saw the ruling pro- military coalition trounced by progressive and populist parties.

Myanmars ruling generals for nearly two years have been barred by ASEAN from its high-level meetings over its failure to honour a 2021 agreement, known as the 5-point consensus, which included calls for an cessation of hostilities, dialogue between all parties and the granting of full humanitarian access.

The government of Thailand  whose current prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, himself first came to power in a army coup  has previously sought to bring Myanmars military officials back into informal talks with ASEAN counterparts  at times putting it at odds with efforts by Indonesia.

A source in Jakarta said Indonesias rejection of the invitation included the fact that Thailands initiative contradicted the recent ASEAN agreement at the May summit.

Foreign Minister Dons letter said the proposed meeting would be part of the initial steps of the peace process and cited the summit where a member nation made an unequivocal statement that ASEAN should fully re-engage with Myanmar at the leadership level.

A number of members supported the call and some were willing to consider, there was no explicit dissenting voice, Don said in the letter.

Should this informal ministerial engagement make substantial positive progress, we would like to suggest that a carpe diem back-to-back meeting of leaders be convened thereafter.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said the Thai foreign minister had shown arrogance by inviting his junta counterpart who other regional neighbours have shunned.

No wonder ASEANs efforts have been stymied at every step to resolve the Myanmar crisis, he said.

Thailands progressive Move Forward Party, which won most seats in the May election, has signalled that if it is able to form a government, it intends to follow a different policy on Myanmar from the current pro-military coalition that was soundly defeated at the polls.

Indonesia last month cited progress in its own behind-the-scenes efforts to engage multiple parties in Myanmars conflict in a bid to advance a peace process agreed by ASEAN leaders and Myanmars military in April 2021.

Myanmar has been roiled by violence since the Feb. 1, 2021 coup, with the military battling on multiple fronts to try to crush an armed pro-democracy resistance movement formed in response to the crackdown.

Human rights and some United Nations experts have accused the military of committing widespread atrocities. The junta says it is fighting terrorists who aim to destroy the country.
A company in China recently sparked a heated discussion on the Chinese social media after it announced a ban on employees having extramarital affairs. The Zhejiang-based company introduced the extramarital affairs prohibition order on 9 June, which applied to all married staff.

The companys document explaining the rule emphasised the aim of strengthening inner management, advocating loyalty to family and love between husband and wife, and focusing on work.

The company stated that the violators will face termination. It also encouraged employees to embrace values of love and strive to be good employees with four Nos  no illicit relationship, no mistress, no extramarital affair, and no divorce, reported The South China Morning Post (SCMP).

An anonymous employee from the company told SCMP that the ban aimed to encourage a stable and a harmonious family environment and enhance productivity at work. The specific trigger for the companys decision or whether any workplace affairs influenced it remains unclear.

The announcement generated diverse reactions on social media platforms. Some supported the companys stance, viewing it as a positive measure to promote a harmonious society. Some criticised the ban as an infringement on personal freedom and privacy.

In a separate incident, a married senior executive at a state-owned oil company in China faced public scrutiny after a video of him holding hands with a woman who was not his wife went viral. The executive was subsequently dismissed from his position.

With inputs from agencies

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
According to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), multiple US federal government agencies fell victim to a global hacking campaign that exploited a vulnerability in widely used file-transfer software.

This revelation adds to the growing number of entities in the US, UK, and other countries that were infiltrated through the software known as MOVEit Transfer. The hackers capitalized on a security flaw that was discovered by the softwares maker, Progress Software, in the previous month.

Global hacking campaign attacked several establishments in several countries

Eric Goldstein, CISAs executive assistant director for cybersecurity, expressed the agencys urgent efforts to assess the impacts and implement timely remediation measures. However, specific US agencies were affected and the extent of the damage was not disclosed by CISA.

In addition to the US agencies, British energy company Shell, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Health System, and the University System of Georgia also reported being targeted in separate statements.

Shells spokesperson, Anna Arata, mentioned that only a small number of Shell employees and customers utilize MOVEit Transfer. She reassured people that there was no evidence of any impact on Shells core IT systems. The company is currently conducting an urgent investigation to determine the potential data compromised, considering there are approximately 50 users of the tool.

From Shell to John Hopkins University, several organisations attacked

Johns Hopkins University acknowledged the recent cyber attack on their networks and the networks of numerous other large organizations worldwide. They are currently investigating the incident.

The University System of Georgia, which comprises 26 public colleges, stated that they are evaluating the extent and seriousness of the potential data exposure resulting from the MOVEit hack.

Notably, several prominent organizations in the UK, including the telecom regulator, British Airways, the BBC, and Boots pharmacy chain, were also identified as victims last week. The UK telecom regulator confirmed that data was stolen from their systems, while the personal information of tens of thousands of employees from British Airways, Boots, and the BBC was exposed.

Extent of damage unknown

Despite the breach, CISA Director Jen Easterly reassured that the United States does not anticipate any significant consequences from the incident. However, it is now yet known whether the hackers were able to get away with any data theft or other kind of damage.

MOVEit Transfer is commonly utilized by organizations to facilitate file transfers between their partners or customers. A representative from MOVEit mentioned that the company is collaborating with federal law enforcement and assisting customers in implementing necessary fixes to their systems.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Journalists covering events in Pakistan should be permitted to do their work, said US Department of State official spokesperson Matthew Miller, adding that a free and independent press is vital.

Responding to a question regarding the Pakistan government and military imposing a ban on the media coverage of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Miller said, We generally urge all governments to respect the role of journalists and media. We believe the press performs a critical function in democratic societies.

We expect that journalists covering the events in Pakistan should all be allowed to do their work. A free and independent press is a vital, core institution that undergirds healthy democracies by ensuring that electorates can make informed decisions and holding government officials accountable, he said.

That last part is near and dear to my heart, as someone who personally comes before you to be held accountable just about every day, he added.

Miller also refuted Imran Khans allegations against the US, and called all of them false.

He further stated that Pakistani politics is a matter for the countrys people to decide, and is not a matter for the US government.

When asked about Imran Khans allegations that US policies led to his downfall, Miller said, I would say that weve spoken to this in the past. Those allegations are absolutely false. Pakistani politics are a matter for the Pakistani people to decide, pursuant to their own constitution and laws. They are not a matter for the United States government.

Meanwhile, two more journalists have been arrested by the Pakistan police on charges of sedition and terrorism related to the May 9 incident, Dawn reported. Anchorpersons Sabir Shakir and Moeed Pirzada were booked in connection with the incident, where an angry mob vandalized property at Melody Chowk.

The complainant stated that the mob received instructions through video messages from Sabir Shakir, Moeed Hassan Pirzada, and Syed Akbar Hussain, the Dawn reported.

In the May 9 incident, the complainant was present at Melody Chowk when an angry mob vandalised property, taking instructions from Sabir Shakir, Moeed Hassan Pirzada and Syed Akbar Hussain through video messages, according to the FIR.

Earlier, journalists Shaheen Sehbai and Wajahat Saeed Khan, YouTuber Adil Raja (a former army officer), and anchorperson Syed Haider Raza Mehdi were also arrested in the same case.

On May 9, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan was arrested at the Islamabad High Court in the Al Qadir Trust case. After his arrest, protests erupted in Pakistan and military installations including the Lahore corps commanders residence and state properties were attacked in Pakistan.

As per the Dawn report, an FIR registered on Monday, complainant Muhammad Aslam said he was passing by Islamabads G-11 locality on May 9 when he witnessed 20-25 people sharing screenshots of tweets and video messages of Adil Raja, Wajahat Saeed Khan, Syed Haider Raza Mehdi and Shaheen Sehbai.

With inputs from ANI

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday cleared the air around reports of the US and Iran engaging in nuclear deals and releasing US citizens detained in the country.

Blinken rejected reports that Washington and Tehran were close to deals on limiting Irans nuclear program.

With regard to Iran, some of the reports that weve seen about an agreement on nuclear matters or, for that matter, on detainees, are simply not accurate and not true, Blinken said when asked about indirect talks via Oman.

On Monday, Iran claimed that it was indirectly negotiating with the United States through the Sultanate of Oman, with nuclear issues, US sanctions and detainees on the menu.

Irans foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kananis official statement added more magnitude to the claim.

We welcome the efforts of Omani officials and we exchanged messages with the other party through this mediator, he said.

He added, We have never stopped the diplomatic processes.

The two sides have been unable for two years to reach a deal on President Joe Bidens desire to revive the 2015 deal which granted Tehran much-needed sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.

Bidens predecessor Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018, and since then Tehran has steadily progressed in the development of its nuclear industry, though not  as feared  producing a nuclear weapon.

Meanwhile, Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated last week that Iran is not seeking to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Khameini said deals could be reached with the United States, provided they do not change the existing infrastructure of the nuclear industry.

Kanani on Monday said a prisoner exchange could be agreed in the near future, provided that Washington exhibits the same level of seriousness as Tehran.

At least three Iranian Americans are being held in Iran, including businessman Siamak Namazi, arrested in October 2015 and sentenced to 10 years in prison for espionage.

With inputs from AFP

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The much-anticipated meeting between Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Chinese President Xi Jinping happened on Friday where the latter called the former an old friend.

The meeting between the two comes at a crucial time as tensions between China and the US simmer.

According to Chinese state media, Xi called on Gates to look into ways to promote the US-China relationship. I am very happy to see you. We havent seen each other for more than three years  and you are an old friend of ours, Xi said as he gave a warm welcome to the worlds fifth-richest man.

The meeting marked Xi Jinpings first-ever meet with a foreign private entrepreneur in a long time.

The president also said that Bill Gates is the first American friend Ive seen this year.

I always believe that the foundation of the US-China relationship is in the people. I am placing my hope in the American people, he said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with Bill Gates @BillGates , co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on Friday in Beijing.

Video Credit @CGTNOfficial pic.twitter.com/cExCEt59Vw  Zhang Heqing (@zhang_heqing) June 16, 2023

The two met in Beijings Diaoyutai state guesthouse, where Chinas leaders have historically received senior foreign guests.

Meanwhile, Gates also expressed his gratitude saying that he was honoured for getting a chance to meet the Chinese president.

Weve always had great conversations and well have a lot of important topics to discuss today. I was very disappointed I couldnt come during the last four years so its very exciting to be back, he said.

Significance of Gates meeting with Xi

The last public and known interaction between Jingping and Gates happened in 2015 when they met on the sidelines of the Boao Forum in Hainan province. In early 2020, Xi wrote a letter to Gates thanking him, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, for pledging assistance to China including $5 million for the countrys fight against COVID-19.

Gates visit to China gained more significance with this meeting as Teslas Elon Musk, Jamie Dimon of JP Morgan and Apples Tim Cook have all travelled to the country this year but only met senior Chinese officials.

The meeting also comes just a day after the Bill and Melina Gates Foundation pledged over $50 million for research toward drug discovery and treatments of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, which disproportionately affect the worlds poorest in China.

Sino-US relations

Bill Gates visit to China and his meeting with the Chinese leader comes at a crucial time as tension between Beijing and Washington rises.

Last month, Microsoft issued a warning saying that Chinese state-backed hackers were allegedly trying to break into capabilities that could potentially disrupt critical communications between US and Asia Pacific.

Also, Gates visit comes just days ahead of a long-delayed visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to China.

On Wednesday, Blinken had a tense call with Chinas foreign minister Qin Gang where the latter urged the US to stop meddling in its affairs and harming its security.

Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News,

India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Samsung India has unveiled the top 30 teams participating in the Solve for Tomorrow competition, aimed at promoting innovative thinking and problem-solving among 16-22-year-olds.

The competition invited ideas centered around four themes: Education & Learning, Health & Wellness, Environment & Sustainability, and Diversity & Inclusion.

Expanding a global initiative with Strategic partnerships

Solve for Tomorrow was initially launched in the US in 2010 and has now reached 63 countries worldwide. Over 2.3 million young people have participated in the competition globally.

In India, the 2023 edition has garnered tremendous response, with over 70,000 registrations from youth residing in 500 cities, towns, and villages.

For the second year of the competition, Samsung India has partnered with the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technologys (MeitYs) Startup Hub and the Foundation for Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT Delhi.

From different parts of India, 15 states and 1 union territory have teams among the top 30. These include Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Haryana, Rajasthan, Assam, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Delhi.

Addressing real-world challenges

The selected teams have proposed solutions to tackle pressing issues, such as converting seawater into potable water, combating drinking and driving, enhancing youth skilling, improving solar panel efficiency, finding missing children, early detection of diseases using menstrual blood samples, promoting mental health, reducing food wastage, identifying crop diseases, safeguarding teenagers against inappropriate content, and addressing gender bias in STEM fields.

Training and mentorship

Online training on how to design and innovate will be given to the 30 best teams. Samsung, FITT at IIT Delhi, and MeitY Startup Hub will provide mentoring during a residential bootcamp at IIT Delhi, enabling participants to refine their ideas.

Prototyping and pitching

Each of the top 30 teams will be granted Rs. 20,000 to develop initial prototypes of their ideas. Subsequently, they will present their concepts to a jury comprising young Samsung employees, guided by experts from FITT, IIT Delhi, and MeitY Startup Hub. The jury will select the top 10 teams to advance to the finale.

Exploring Samsung facilities

Visiting different Samsung India offices, such as the R&D centers, the design center, and the Samsung Opera House in Bengaluru, will be a chance for the 30 top teams. This will provide them with a chance to engage with Samsung employees and researchers.

Rewards and recognition

Members of the top 30 teams will receive a prize package, including a Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 laptop, Galaxy Buds2 Pro, and a certificate for attending the bootcamp.

The program will conclude with the announcement of three winners. These teams will have the opportunity to win Rs. 1.5 crore in prize money and exciting Samsung products.

To Know more you can check samsung.com/in/solvefortomorrow

Speaking on the announcement, Hyun Kim, Corporate Vice President, Samsung Southwest Asia, said:
Sony India is celebrating World Music Day with an exciting 6-day sale on select audio products. Music lovers can enjoy special offers on Sony headphones, truly wireless earbuds, portable Bluetooth speakers, and soundbars, ensuring an immersive audio experience. The sale has already begun and will run until 21st June 2023.

Sony World Music Day Sale Offers

Category Product Name Previous Best Buy (in INR) New Best Buy (in INR) Cashback Wireless ANC Headphones WH-1000XM4 24,990 17,990 Inclusive of Rs.2,000 Wireless ANC Headphones WH-1000XM5 29,990 24,990 Inclusive of Rs.2,000 Truly Wireless Earbuds WF1000XM4 19,990 14,990 Inclusive of Rs.2,000 WF-LS900N 16,990 11,990 Inclusive of Rs.2,000 WF-L900 14,990 7,990 Inclusive of Rs.2,000 WF-C500 5,990 4,490  Wireless On-Ear headphones WH-CH520 4,490 4,490  Wireless In-Ear headphones WI-XB400 3,290 2,999  WI-C100 1,849 1,399  Gaming Headphones WH-G900N 21,990 16,990 Inclusive of Rs.3,000 WH-G700 15,990 12,990 Inclusive of Rs.2,000 MDR-G300 6,990 5,990  Bluetooth Speakers SRS-XE200 12,990 7,990 Inclusive of Rs.2,000 SRS-XE300 19,990 13,990 Inclusive of Rs.3,000 Party Speaker MHC-V43D 46,990 36,990  MHC-V73 65,990 49,990  SRS-XP500 35,990 25,990 Inclusive of Rs.2,000 SRS-XP700 51,990 34,990 Inclusive of Rs.3,000 SRS-XG300 33,990 17,990 Inclusive of Rs.2,000 SRS-XG500 39,990 26,990 Inclusive of Rs.3,000 SRS-XV900 99,990 63,990 Inclusive of Rs.6,000 Soundbar HT-S40R 34,990 24,990  HT-S400 28,990 21,990  HT-S2000 52,990 38,990 Inclusive up to Rs.4000 HT-A3000 69,990 52,490 Inclusive up to Rs.5500 HT-A5000 1,04,990 77,990 Inclusive up to Rs.8000 HT-A7000 1,49,990 1,14,990 Inclusive up to Rs.10000 HT-A9 1,69,990 1,34,990 Inclusive up to Rs.10000

Availability

All products in the sale can be purchased across several Sony retail stores (Sony Center and Sony Exclusive), Sony Center portal, major electronic stores and other e-commerce portals.
In September 1997, as a first-year student at Victoria University of Wellington, Hipkins was one of dozens arrested while protesting against the Tertiary Review Green Bill at Parliament. The matter went through the courts, and 10 years later an apology and award of over $200,000 was shared among the 41 protesters. The judge ruled that despite claims by police that the protestors were violent, the protest was peaceful and there were no grounds for arrest.

In 2023, Chris Hipkins became Prime Minister of New Zealand, following the resignation of Jacinda Ardern from that role leading the country.In 1997, Hipkins was part of a group of 75 Victoria University students protesting governmental education policy. They were arrested for trespassing at Parliament, though none of the subsequent prosecutions were successful. Curiously, one of the cabinet positions Hipkins would later hold was as NZ's Minister of Education.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
amasan1 at 16-06-2023 07:46 PM (1 month ago) (m)

Despite the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has maintained his belief that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25 general remains the best candidate for a better Nigeria.

Despite the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has maintained his belief that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25 general remains the best candidate for a better Nigeria.

The declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the election prompted Obi and other political parties and their candidates to seek legal redress.

Obi and his LP are currently in court challenging the validity of the electoral process that resulted in Tinubus victory.

In an exclusive interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo and posted on Friday, Obasanjo, who has never hidden his support for Obi, reiterated his belief that the former Anambra governor is the best candidate that the country needs.

He said, For the Nigeria that I believe we need to have at this point in time, Peter Obi is still the best candidate, still the man.

When reflecting on his most profound impact, the ex-president expressed, My greatest legacy lies in the fact that I arrived on this earthly realm, where Gods boundless kindness was bestowed upon me, and His grace illuminated my path.



Below is the video of the interview.

The interview is finally up on https://t.co/MZm7kkJrwk!



Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of Nigeria, has lived a long, full, rich life that many can only wish for.



It was an absolute honour to sit and ask him many of the tough and kind questions I have always wanted to ask pic.twitter.com/jCjax4TyNH  Chude Jideonwo (@Chude) June 16, 2023 The declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the election prompted Obi and other political parties and their candidates to seek legal redress.Obi and his LP are currently in court challenging the validity of the electoral process that resulted in Tinubus victory.In an exclusive interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo and posted on Friday, Obasanjo, who has never hidden his support for Obi, reiterated his belief that the former Anambra governor is the best candidate that the country needs.He said, For the Nigeria that I believe we need to have at this point in time, Peter Obi is still the best candidate, still the man.When reflecting on his most profound impact, the ex-president expressed, My greatest legacy lies in the fact that I arrived on this earthly realm, where Gods boundless kindness was bestowed upon me, and His grace illuminated my path.Below is the video of the interview.

Post Reply I am an investigative reporter at Gistmania, I conduct fact-finding investigative journalism. Posted: at 16-06-2023 07:46 PM (1 month ago) | Hero
Justice Hamza Muazu of the High court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Abuja has ordered the Department of State Service to allow the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Godwin Emefiele have access to his lawyers and family.

The order of the court is based on the fundamental rights of the applicant presently in the custody of the DSS.The matter has been adjourned to 20th June, 2023 for commencement of the substantive suit.Recall that President Tinubu suspended Emefiele on June 9 and he was taken into DSS custody on June 10.
Galaxy Z Flip 5: Leaked Design Renders Show Clamshell Style Phone News lekhaka -Subhrojit Mallick

Update: We have taken down the original leaked renders at Samsung's request. The company reached out to us claiming that the leaked renders contain official Samsung intellectual property (IP). We have therefore replaced the leaked renders with images that that do not run afoul of Samsung's IP rights.

A report published in MySmartPrice , which has since been taken down, revealed the official press renders of the Galaxy Z Flip 5, a much-awaited foldable smartphone. The leaked renders give away quite a bit about the design and built of the phone.

Samsung is likely to reveal more about its newest range of foldable phones in the event Samsung Galaxy Unpacked. Although the company hasn't officially said anything on the date of the event, rumours suggest that the Seoul Unpacked event will be held on July 26. Post this event, the US and Canada launch event is rumoured to be scheduled for August 11. Let's take a closer look at the design of the Galaxy Z Flip 5.

Galaxy Z Flip 5: Design Details

According to the leaked official render, some big changes on the outside of the phone are evident.

One of the most noticeable things is that the clamshell-style foldable phone is slated to have a big display on the outside. This display covers almost the entire rear side, when the phone is in its folded state.

Point to note is that so far, all the phones in the Z Flip series have come with a 1.9-inch display. However, that is surely set to change with the Z Flip 5, if the renders are to be believed. According to rumours, this display size will be 3.4-inches.

An arching display accommodates the dual camera setup in the phone. There's an LED flash in this area too, beside the cameras. The two cameras are placed horizontally, next to each other.

From the leaked renders, the use cases that are evident show that this display can be used as a viewfinder to click high-quality images as well as to control music.

Galaxy Z Flip 5: Leaked Specifications

Apart from the design, several rumours are also doing the rounds about the specifications of the phone.

The phone is expected to feature a 6.7-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is expected to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC for Galaxy.

It will also feature a 3700mAh battery with 15W or 25W fast charging.

The rear cameras include a 12MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide camera. Additionally, it is expected to have a 12MP selfie camera.

Source

Best Mobiles in India
Global Hacking Campaign Targets US Government Agencies Tech Biz oi -Kabir Jain

In an alarming revelation, the United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has reported that the country has been targeted in a worldwide hacking campaign. This campaign capitalized on a vulnerability discovered in widely-used software, posing a potential threat to the security and integrity of critical systems.

The Vulnerability and Breaches

The hacking campaign exploited a weakness in the file transfer software known as MOVEit, developed by Progress Software. This software is commonly employed by organizations to facilitate file transfers with partners or customers. It allows for seamless exchange of data, making it an attractive target for hackers seeking unauthorized access.

Following the discovery of the vulnerability, several federal entities in the United States experienced breaches. Unfortunately, the specific agencies affected have not been disclosed by CISA, leaving many questions unanswered. The extent of the impact remains unknown at this time.

Response and Statements

Eric Goldstein, the executive assistant director for cybersecurity at CISA, first revealed the breaches to the public. In an initial report by CNN, Goldstein acknowledged the incidents but emphasized that the expected consequences were not significant. However, the lack of detailed information regarding the breaches has raised concerns among experts and the public alike.

Requests for additional comments from CISA have gone unanswered, and similar silence has been observed from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Security Agency (NSA). The absence of official statements and updates has created an air of uncertainty surrounding the situation.

The Software and Its Impact

MOVEit, the software at the center of this breach, is a widely-utilized file transfer solution. Its popularity stems from its ability to simplify and secure data exchanges between organizations and their partners or customers. However, the recent events have cast doubt on the software's overall security.

Upon news of the hacking campaign, shares of Progress Software experienced a decline of 4 percent.

The Hackers' Message

The online extortion group known as Cl0p has claimed responsibility for the MOVEit hack. Surprisingly, on their website, the group has stated that they will not misuse any data obtained from government agencies. While this statement offers a glimmer of hope, it is crucial to remain vigilant and prepared for any potential fallout resulting from the breach.

Via

Best Mobiles in India

Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications
Micron to Commit Over $1 Billion to Indian Chip Packaging Plant Amid US-China Tensions Tech Biz oi -Nachiket Mhatre

Micron Technology, a leading global semiconductor company, is reportedly on the brink of committing upwards of $1 billion to establish a new chip packaging facility in India. This move, seen as a significant diversification of its geographic operations, comes at a time of escalating tensions between the US and China.

The announcement is expected to coincide with the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US, where Modi plans to address trade issues and strengthen US-India relations.

Investment to Bolster India's Semiconductor Ecosystem

The planned investment from Micron would be a significant victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make in India initiative, aimed at transforming India into a global manufacturing powerhouse. The country has been active in seeking partnerships and attracting investments from global tech companies to establish a robust semiconductor ecosystem.

This potential commitment from Micron could go up to $2 billion, indicating the company's strong interest in India's growing semiconductor sector. The proposed chip packaging facility, equipped with cutting-edge technology, could become a critical part of India's semiconductor value chain.

The Role of the Packaging Facility

Chip packaging is an integral process within the semiconductor production cycle. It involves encapsulating chips in protective casings and connecting them to circuit boards, a step that ensures optimal functioning. Micron's potential investment in a world-class packaging facility could significantly boost India's capabilities in chip manufacturing.

In addition to strengthening the local semiconductor industry, the facility is expected to create numerous jobs and foster technological innovation within the region.

Implications Amid US-China Tensions

This investment decision follows a recent Chinese ban on the use of Micron chips in what Beijing terms as critical infrastructure. This move has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the status of US chipmakers in the world's largest semiconductor market. In response to the ban, Micron pledged to invest an additional $600 million in its Chinese plant to create jobs and support the local market.

In the face of growing Chinese tensions, the US has been urging for diversification in advanced chipmaking to reduce global reliance on Asian manufacturing hubs like Taiwan. This trend is evidenced by Micron securing financial backing for a $3.6 billion next-gen plant in Japan.

Embracing Strategic Diversification

Prime Minister Modi's visit to the US, starting June 21, is a significant event that could mark the beginning of a new era for India's semiconductor industry. As part of his visit, Modi aims to remove barriers to technological trade between the US and India, strengthening their strategic partnership.

Micron's investment in India is also reflective of the company's strategic diversification efforts in response to the changing geopolitical landscape. With its move to invest in India and its plans for a next-gen plant in Japan, Micron is positioning itself to maintain resilience amid geopolitical tensions, while capitalizing on the growing opportunities in the global semiconductor market.

Best Mobiles in India

Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications
Reports Say CIA Warned Ukraine Not To Sabotage Nord Stream Pipeline Prior To Blasts

By Mike Eckel June 15, 2023

The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency reportedly warned Ukraine not to sabotage the Nord Stream undersea gas pipelines last year after receiving a tip from the Netherlands' intelligence agency that a plot was under way.

The reports by several European and U.S. media outlets deepen the mystery of the Baltic Sea pipeline, which was mostly destroyed in September in explosions that remain under investigation.

In the aftermath of the blasts, Western officials blamed Russia for the September 26 incident, which all but destroyed the twin pipelines at a spot just east of a Danish island called Bornholm. The explosions were discovered as residual gas in the pipelines bubbled up to the surface.

The Ukrainian government has repeatedly denied responsibility for the attack.

The pipelines were built by Russia to deliver Russian gas directly to Germany and Europe while bypassing Ukraine, Poland, and other nations that had hostile ties with Moscow.

While the first pipeline was operational, the second had yet to receive final approval from German regulators. The United States had warned for years that the pipelines were a security risk for Germany and other European nations as they would make the countries beholden to Russian energy exports.

In the months that followed the blasts, the mystery over who was responsible deepened, with a spate of reports by European media organizations that focused on a yacht called the Andromeda that had been rented at a German port by a group of people, some of whom showed Bulgarian passports. German investigators reportedly found traces of explosives on the Andromeda, which had been reported in Bornholm prior to the explosions.

Other reports focused on the presence of a Greek-flagged tanker that had been seen drifting around the site of the blasts and later continued on to a Russian port.

Last month, the German newspaper Die Zeit and The Wall Street Journal reported that German police raided an apartment in the eastern German city of Frankfurt an der Oder, investigating a woman whose former boyfriend was a Ukrainian soldier. According to the reports, the soldier was among the crew members on the Andromeda prior to the blasts.

On June 13, Dutch public broadcaster NOS, along with German newspaper Die Ziet and public broadcaster ARD, reported that in June a year earlier, the main Dutch intelligence agency received a tip that a secret plot by Ukrainian operatives was under way to target the pipelines.

The Dutch agency forwarded the tip to the CIA, which then warned Ukrainian officials not to carry out the effort.

That reporting was later corroborated by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed U.S. officials. U.S. officials were reportedly told by Ukrainian counterparts that the plot had been aborted.

Then, in September, the explosions took place.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that German investigators were examining evidence that suggested the sabotage team had used Poland as a conduit or base for carrying out the attack.

A top adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Mykhaylo Podolyak, called the latest reporting "endless anonymous sources [that are] artificially fueling the disinformation campaign about Ukraine's alleged involvement in the destruction of the Nord Stream."

It "should be viewed as a deliberate campaign to undermine Ukraine's credibility, reputation, and voice in the global arena," Podolyak said in a post on Twitter on June 13.

U.S. and European media have said the group that carried out of the attack may have done so without the knowledge of Zelenskiy or other top officials.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/cia-warned-ukraine- sabotage-nord-stream-pipeline-blasts/32460491.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






'Cost Of War': Czech President Says Russians In West Should Be 'Monitored'

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service June 15, 2023

Czech President Petr Pavel said security services should monitor Russians living in the West, calling it "simply the cost" of the Kremlin's war against Ukraine, but a spokeswoman for the president clarified that he did not mean creating internment camps or any type of persecution.

Speaking in a wide ranging interview with RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service on June 14, Pavel said that while he has empathy for Russians outside the country who face hardships over Moscow's decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 -- a decision they may not support -- "when there is an ongoing war, the security measures related to Russian nationals should be stricter than in normal times."

Hundreds of thousands of Russians have fled the country since the start of the conflict, many looking to avoid a military mobilization.

"So, all Russians living in Western countries should be monitored much more than in the past because they are citizens of a nation that leads an aggressive war.... That's simply the cost of war," he said.

Pavel noted that in World War II, Japanese descendants living in the United States were under "a strict monitoring regime as well."

After RFE/RL reached out to Pavel's office for a clarification of what the "strict monitoring regime" would look like, a spokeswoman said a significant majority in Russia support President Vladimir Putin, the aggression against Ukraine, and even attacks on civilian targets.

"Given those circumstances, it would be an utter failure of our own security services and a threat to the security of our own citizens if these [security] services did not pay heightened attention to the Russian community living in our country," Pavel spokeswoman Marketa Rehakova said in an e-mailed response. She added that this refers not to each individual but "those presenting risk factors."

The reference to Japanese citizens in the United States during World War II "was made in the context that restrictive measures toward citizens of hostile countries is not something new and has been applied in the past even though in a harsher way."

The president did not say that it should be followed now and in no way did he mean "internment or any type of persecution," she said.

Internment camps, which were surrounded by barbed wire and guarded by U.S. soldiers, were established during World War II by President Franklin D. Roosevelt for people of Japanese descent. About 120,000 people -- the majority of whom were American citizens -- were affected by the move, which the U.S. government has since apologized for and paid reparations of more than $1.6 billion.

In the interview with RFE/RL, Pavel, a former senior NATO official, said he expects to hear strong language about long-term support for Ukraine during the military alliance's summit next month along with an acknowledgement of the importance of having Ukraine as a member.

The Czech president, whose role is largely ceremonial, said the support expressed for Ukraine when NATO leaders gather on July 11-12 in Vilnius, Lithuania -- with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expected to be present -- will highlight the significance of the event.

"What I expect is really strong language when it comes to long-term support of Ukraine. I see a number of countries agreeing on a long-term plan of support to Ukraine that will not be based on one-off contributions but on a carefully planned long-term procedure," Pavel said during the interview at the Prague headquarters of the U.S. government-funded broadcaster.

When President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian officials said one of his justifications was concern Ukraine was moving toward joining the military alliance.

While post-Soviet countries such as Ukraine and Georgia have sought for decades to distance themselves from Moscow, all they received were vague promises that fell far short of a pledge of accession.

That has all changed with the war in Ukraine, and Zelenskiy has pressed NATO over membership, saying recently his country is "ready to join" and the alliance must make a decision about Ukrainian membership at the summit.

Pavel, whose country joined NATO in March 1999, said that while the accession process cannot start when a country is still at war, he would welcome "clear language" about future membership once the war is over.

"I strongly believe that all the leaders will understand that having Ukraine on board -- both in NATO and EU -- is probably the only guarantee [of] how to ensure stability in this region, how to make both NATO and EU stronger, and how to keep Russia and its aggressive policies at bay," he said.

He said he has heard two scenarios about how NATO will proceed on the question of Ukrainian membership. One is to use guarantees like those provided to Finland between the initial move to accession and its ratification in April.

Another would be akin to the security guarantees that NATO offers Israel, he said, predicting that the end result probably will depend on how much countries will be willing to commit.

"If we just put on paper what we already are doing for Ukraine and make it a kind of a guarantee, including the long-term plan, it sounds like a guarantee to me," he said.

As a chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Pavel visited Ukraine at least three times and observed the progress the Ukrainian military was making. That progress has only sped up since the war began in February 2022, he said.

He said that if it were a member of the alliance today, the Ukrainian military would be "without any doubt the most experienced military in NATO." He said that in technical and procedural terms, the Ukrainian military will very soon will be ready for NATO membership.

Pavel added, however, that there is a disadvantage to having such diverse equipment now in its arsenal, and when the war ends there will have to be a "stabilization and unification of equipment." But he called this "a technical issue" that is overshadowed by the determination of Ukrainian soldiers.

Asked to assess the first days of Ukraine's counteroffensive, Pavel said he would call it "shaping operations," as he believes the "true counteroffensive" has not yet begun.

Shifting to Ukraine's EU membership aspirations, Pavel noted that he has already said he sees Ukraine as a future member and would link membership to postwar reconstruction.

The accession period for any aspirant country requires the candidate to meet successive goals that can be used within the reconstruction process, he said. The Czech Republic has already started a conversation on how it can offer its expertise and resources in terms of reconstruction, and Pavel says the earlier the projects start the better for both sides.

Asked about concerns that China would play an outsized role in the reconstruction of Ukraine, he said he suspects China will be more active during that phase than it was in trying to use its influence on Russia to prevent the war.

"We will have to keep an eye on such an effort because it is clear that China will not do it from humanitarian reasons, but simply to get influence and control."

He said he regretted that China didn't take a more active role from the very beginning -- on one hand, discouraging Russia from continuing aggression, while one the other, using its weight to come up with viable peace proposals.

"China didn't take that chance. I believe that China is behaving in their own interest," he said. "They are using this conflict...to get a stronger position globally."

With reporting by Natalie Sedletska of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/czech-president-ukraine- support-nato-summit/32460184.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






How Trump's Handling of Classified Materials Compares to Biden, Pence, Clinton

By Patsy Widakuswara June 15, 2023

Following the indictment of Donald Trump in connection with his alleged mishandling of classified documents, the former president and his supporters contend that he is the target of a politically weaponized justice system. They claim that the Department of Justice has ignored similar alleged crimes committed by his rivals, including President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

In a speech after his arraignment Tuesday, Trump alleged that Biden and Clinton and other former presidents have committed far graver crimes than he has, yet he was the only one charged with felonies. That, he says, is proof that he is the victim of a political witch hunt.

Among other claims, many of which are contrary to evidence, Trump said Biden had "troves of classified documents" from his time as vice president and senator and sent away "1,850 boxes," and "refuses to give them up." He added that Clinton "stored vast quantities of classified and sensitive information on an illicit server."

Biden, Clinton and Mike Pence, Trump's former vice president, all have faced questions about holding on to government materials from their time in office. And like Trump, Biden is the subject of a Department of Justice investigation led by a special counsel appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Here are summaries of the three cases and how they compare to Trump's.

Joe Biden

Following media reports in January, the White House disclosed that in November the president's personal attorneys found classified documents from Biden's time as vice president stored at the Penn Biden Center, a think tank in Washington.

The White House said it notified the National Archives, which retrieved the documents and informed the Department of Justice. It instructed the FBI to search the think tank, which was done with White House consent. It's unclear whether they found additional classified records.

Additional classified documents were found by Biden's personal lawyers at the president's personal residence in Wilmington, Delaware, which they reported to DOJ. The documents were secured by FBI agents, who found several more classified records while searching Biden's home with White House consent. The FBI also searched Biden's vacation home in Rehoboth, Delaware, but did not find any classified materials.

In January, Garland appointed Robert Hur, former U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland, to oversee the investigation. Hur's probe is ongoing, and it is unclear when it will conclude. The White House has pledged full cooperation.

Mike Pence

In January, Pence's lawyers discovered about a dozen documents marked classified at his Indiana home and turned them over to the FBI. The documents were found after Pence asked attorneys to search his home "out of an abundance of caution" after the Biden classified document revelation.

A month later, the FBI discovered an additional document with classified markings at his home during their search. That search was done with Pence's consent.

In June, the DOJ notified Pence that the investigation into his handling of these materials had been concluded and that he would not be charged.

Hillary Clinton

In 2015, Clinton was found to have used a personal email account and a private server at her residence in New York for both personal and official correspondence during her tenure as secretary of state from 2009 to 2013, triggering concerns about security and potential mishandling of classified information.

An FBI investigation revealed that Clinton and her aides had deleted thousands of emails, claiming that they were personal in nature, raising suspicions of attempts to conceal potentially incriminating information.

In July 2016, during Clinton's presidential campaign, then-FBI Director James Comey criticized her for being "extremely careless" in handling classified information but did not recommend criminal charges against her.

Willful retention

A key difference between the three cases and Trump's, according to legal experts, is that the former president continued to willfully retain those documents despite repeated government efforts to have them returned, including through a subpoena.

"Acting criminally is to know that you have documents that contain sensitive military information and to intentionally continue to hold them," said David Sklansky, professor of Constitutional Criminal Procedure at Stanford University to VOA.

Unlike Trump, Biden and Pence handled the discovery appropriately, which ended the matter, said Mark Zaid, an attorney who focuses on national security law.

"The same would have happened with Trump had he cooperated," Zaid told VOA.

The evidence in the indictment released by special counsel Jack Smith lays out "very, very persuasively" that Trump knew he had classified material, said Alison LaCroix, professor of constitutional law at the University of Chicago.

Setting aside the question of whether Biden and Pence knew they had classified documents in their possession, LaCroix added, "they haven't attempted to conceal them."

With respect to Clinton, Zaid added, authorities determined there was no intent to violate the law and that the parties involved avoided discussing classified information.

Hunter Biden

In his Tuesday remarks, Trump alleged that the Biden administration is targeting him to distract from "the real espionage and the real crime."

"Let's indict President Trump so they don't talk about the $5 million bribe," he said.

Starting in 2019, as he campaigned for the 2020 presidential election against Biden, Trump has alleged that an executive of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma funneled millions of dollars to Biden and his son around 2015, so that Biden, then vice president, would pressure Ukraine to fire the government prosecutor investigating the company for corruption.

In June 2020, the head of Ukraine's national anti-corruption bureau said that neither Biden nor Hunter Biden, who joined Burisma as a board member in 2014, had anything to do with the company's corruption case.

A congressional investigation, which later led to Trump's first impeachment in December 2019, concluded that Trump pressured the Ukrainian government to announce an investigation into Biden, including by withholding military aid to Kyiv.

In January, House Republicans launched an investigation into the Biden family's business dealings. In May, they released financial documents detailing how some of the president's relatives were paid more than $10 million from foreign sources between 2015 and 2017 but conceded they have not uncovered evidence of criminal conduct and corruption by President Biden.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Australia Blocks Plan for New Russian Embassy on National Security Grounds

By Phil Mercer June 15, 2023

Australia is blocking Russia's plans to build a new embassy near the Australian Federal Parliament, citing unspecified national security concerns. There has been no response so far from Russia's diplomatic staff. Australia has imposed broad sanctions on Russia and sent military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since Russia's invasion of its neighbor.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Thursday that a new Russian Embassy so close to Parliament House would pose a threat to national security. His government has proposed emergency legislation that would terminate the Russian Federation's lease on the land. The move doesn't affect Russia's existing embassy in suburban Canberra, which is about a 10-minute drive to Australia's Federal Parliament.

Albanese said that presence would continue "just as Australia has a diplomatic presence in Moscow."

The Australian leader has not specified what sort of security threat a proposed new Russian Embassy, less than 2 kilometers from Parliament House would pose but he told reporters in Canberra the risk was too great.

"The government has received very clear security advice as to the risk presented by a new Russian presence so close to Parliament House," he said. "We're acting quickly to ensure the leased site does not become a formal diplomatic presence. The government condemns Russia's illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine. To be clear today's decision is one taken in the national security interests of Australia."

Media reports earlier this year said that Australian intelligence agencies had uncovered a so-called hive of Russian spies who were posing as diplomats. At the time, security chiefs said that Australia was facing an "unprecedented" spy threat but did not name the country or countries involved.

Albanese has rejected suggestions that Australia wasn't doing enough to support Kyiv's war effort.

Australia is among the largest non-NATO contributors to Ukraine, supplying missiles and armored personnel carriers.

Since the February 2022 invasion began, Canberra has imposed sanctions on hundreds of Russian politicians, including President Vladimir Putin, military commanders and businesspeople. They are the most sweeping penalties Australia has ever put on another country.

Canberra has also banned the import of Russian oil, petroleum, coal and gas.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






June 15, 2023

Release

Readout of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Sasha Baker's Meeting With Estonian Ministry of Defense Permanent Secretary Kusti Salm

Department of Defense Spokesman Lt. Col. David Herndon provided the following readout:

Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Sasha Baker met with Estonian Ministry of Defense Permanent Secretary Kusti Salm here at the Pentagon, June 15.

The leaders discussed efforts to strengthen defense cooperation and advance shared priorities, as our nations prepare for the Vilnius NATO Summit in July.

Deputy Under Secretary Baker thanked Permanent Secretary Salm for Estonia's significant military assistance to Ukraine, which has been critical to Ukraine's successes on the ground. The leaders emphasized their steadfast commitment to Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3429944/

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






June 15, 2023

By Joseph Clark , DOD News

DOD Committed to Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence

The Defense Department is prioritizing ethical considerations and collaboration in its approach to developing and fielding military applications of artificial intelligence, a top Pentagon technology official said today.

Michael C. Horowitz, the director of the emerging capabilities policy office in the office of the undersecretary of defense for policy, underscored the U.S.' commitment to leading the international conversation surrounding artificial intelligence during a panel discussion in Washington on setting rules and expectations for emerging technologies in national security.

Underpinning this commitment, Horowitz said, is a comprehensive set of policy decisions within DOD that governs the development and fielding of autonomous weapon systems, ethical artificial intelligence strategy, and the development of responsible artificial intelligence strategy and pathways.

U.S. leadership, in codifying these principles, is now driving responsible artificial intelligence policy formulation among international partners, he said.

"If you look at NATO's ethical AI principles, for example, they're very similar to the Defense Department's ethical AI principles and that's not that's not an accident," Horowitz said. "It reflects in many ways the sort of common values and perspective on how we're thinking about... when we would want to use AI and how."

He said U.S. also led on the international stage by issuing its Political Declaration of Responsible Military use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy in February.

"That's a set of strong norms that lay out principles of what responsible use looks like that we're now working to bring other countries on board to endorse since we think that bringing the international community together on this issue, that there is a lot of possibility for cooperation and we want to encourage the rest of the world to take these issues as seriously as the department has," Horowitz said. "And in looking at our allies and partners, we're really encouraged by that."

That commitment to the responsible development of artificial intelligence, and its transparency concerning the development of policy surrounding emerging technologies, is also how the U.S. has distinguished itself from its global competitors, he said.

He said all DOD policy surrounding artificial intelligence and emerging technology is publicly available.

"That's in contrast to some of the competitors of the United States who are a lot less transparent in what their policies are concerning the development and use of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems, including autonomous weapons systems," Horowitz said. "And we think that there's a real distinction there."

At the same time, the U.S. has remained committed to being at the leading edge of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, Horowitz said.

He said the rapid advance of the technology has opened up a wide array of use cases for artificial intelligence beyond defense. The U.S. continues to be "an engine of innovation when it comes to AI."

"The Defense Department does lots and lots of different experimentation with emerging technologies," Horowitz said. "And we both want to do them in a safe and responsible way, but also want to do them in a way that can push forward the cutting edge and ensure the department has access to the emerging technologies that it needs to stay ahead."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






NATO: Press remarks by High Representative Josep Borrell upon arrival at the Defence Ministerial Meeting

European External Action Service (EEAS)

15.06.2023

Brussels, 15/06/2023

EEAS Press Team

Check against delivery!

Today's meetings show the importance of the cooperation between NATO and the European Union to [to support Ukraine and] boost the capacity of our defence industry.

From our side, we will continue supporting Ukraine. I have a figure to show how important is this support: we have reached about 24,000 Ukrainian soldiers being trained in different Member States. This figure will continue growing.

Putin continues terrorising, attacking and destroying civilian infrastructure, and killing civilians. So, we have to increase our support and provide [Ukraine] with more sophisticated arms to face these attacks.

That is why we have launched this initiative to provide ammunition [in addition to other equipment such as] drones and artillery. Ammunition is being done. We have already received 960 million [worth] of reimbursement requests by the Member States of the first track to provide ammunition. And as of July, we will have the contracts passed with industry on the joint procurement launched by the European Defence Agency (EDA).

So, the two tracks which are under the control of the High Representative [for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy] are going well. The third track - also - was in the [European] Parliament to provide support to the industry to ramp-up their capacities.

The cooperation between NATO and the European Union goes further than the conflict in Ukraine. For example, in Kosovo, these days have shown how important our cooperation is. I want to thank the KFOR troops and the KFOR Commander [Division General Angelo Michele Ristuccia] for the work they have been doing in North Kosovo.

You know that there has been an incident around the arrest of three police officers from Kosovo. We are trying to exactly determine what has happened. We are in close contact with the KFOR command and with both parties to see what has really happened there that led to these arrests.

In the meantime, I have to call for calm on the ground, and seeing the situation deteriorating every day, we are - again - in crisis management mode. I will call the two parties - Kosovo and Serbia - for a crisis management meeting here in Brussels next week.

Thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Pevkur: The rapid military readiness of the Joint Expeditionary Force is crucial for the defence of Estonia

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Defence

15. June 2023

Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur participated in the meeting of Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) defence ministers in Amsterdam, where the ministers took part in a table-top exercise to practice the role of the Joint Expeditionary Force role in peacetime crisis escalation and the transition to supporting NATO activities with a focus on the North Sea and the Baltic region.

"The Joint Expeditionary Force, with its military readiness and rapid response capabilities, plays an important role in ensuring defence and deterrence. The table-top exercise confirmed that the defence ministers from Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) partner nations have a very similar understanding regarding the speed and essence of the necessary decisions. The aim of the decisions at the political level is to enhance military cooperation between members, to ensure a sufficiently rapid response to the threats against critical undersea and offshore infrastructure," said Minister of Defence Pevkur.

"The strength of the Joint Expeditionary Force lies in its ability to respond quickly militarily and, if necessary, to support each other through military assistance, thus sending a clear message of deterrence to the adversary," Pevkur noted.

The main discussions at the meeting of defence ministers following the exercise focused on the military assistance being provided to Ukraine, the future vision for the Joint Expeditionary Force, and its role in dealing with hybrid threats.

A new long-term vision for the Joint Expeditionary Force and a joint statement of the meeting of defence ministers were also approved.

The Joint Expeditionary Force is a coalition initiated and led by the United Kingdom, which also includes Estonia, Holland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland. Areas of focus for the coalition are the Baltic Sea region, the High North, and the North Atlantic region. Upon activation of the Joint Expeditionary Force, Great Britain will provide the necessary command and control elements, which the Member States will supplement with their own capabilities.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Four more Allies join NATO's Multinational Ammunition Warehousing Initiative

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

15 Jun. 2023

Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany and Luxembourg joined NATO's Multinational Ammunition Warehousing Initiative (MAWI) on Thursday (15 June 2023). MAWI plays a key role for enabling the pre-positioning of adequate munition stockpiles in support of NATO's multinational battlegroups on the Alliance's eastern flank.

In response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Allies decided to reinforce the four existing multinational battlegroups in the eastern part of the Alliance, and add four more. Allies are also working to preposition more arms and equipment, to remain prepared for any potential threat.

"Enhancing NATO's deterrence and defence posture will only be possible if our troops are adequately supported and supplied. We have all been brutally reminded in the past year of the importance of ammunition supplies for our armed forces. The Multinational Ammunition Warehousing Initiative - or MAWI for short - is precisely designed to ensure that our soldiers have access to the right quantities of munitions in the right locations," said Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana, as he welcomed the four new participants to the initiative.

This brings the list of MAWI participants to 23 Allies, together with invitee Sweden, as well as the NATO Support and Procurement Agency.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Defence explains award process for new submarines

Netherlands Ministry of Defence

News item | 15-06-2023

In order to acquire four new submarines, the Netherlands Ministry of Defence (MoD) has asked three candidate shipyards to submit tenders. The candidate yards are Naval Group, Saab Kockums and ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. They are required to submit their tenders by 28 July 2023 at the latest. Netherlands State Secretary for Defence Christophe van der Maat today sent a letter to the House of Representatives in which he explained the process that is in place for the provisional award decision.

Submarines are among the most effective weapon platforms of the armed forces. It is therefore important for the MoD to carefully assess whether what the shipyards are offering is in keeping with what the navy of the future needs. The set of requirements drawn up by the MoD constitutes the foundation for this assessment.

Because tenders contain a tremendous amount of detailed technical and commercial information, assessing them is always a major undertaking. In this case, the assessment process is expected to last until the end of January 2024, after which the provisional award decision will be drawn up. Following parliamentary debate and finalisation of the decision, the contract with the winning yard will be prepared for signing.

Reaching agreement on industrial cooperation with the winning yard will be a key element. Industrial Cooperation Agreements (ICAs) are instruments that the Dutch government uses to strengthen the Netherlands Defence Technological and Industrial Base (NLDTIB). The winning yard will be expected to contribute to this base. The NLDTIB consists of almost 1,000 companies that provide added value in European and transatlantic terms. Examples in this regard include radar technology, aircraft manufacturing and maintenance, sensor technology and the construction of surface ships.

After the 28 July deadline, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy will evaluate the ICA proposals received from the yards. The ICA evaluation will be separate from the MoD's tender assessment.

Provisional award decision

The outcome of the tender assessment will be an overall assessment with a ranking and a provisional winner. The ICA proposal of the provisional winner as verified by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy will be added to the overall assessment. The provisional award decision will be presented to the House of Representatives after it has been discussed by the submarine replacement ministerial committee and the cabinet.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






New security deal grants US 'unimpeded' access to Papua New Guinea bases

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 15 June 2023 8:07 AM

A recently inked defense agreement has granted the US military an "unimpeded access" to Papua New Guinea (PNG) military bases, as part of Washington's push to increase its military footprints in the Pacific to counter the influence of China.

The full text of the 15-year agreement was tabled in Papua New Guinea's parliament on Wednesday evening and obtained by AFP for the first time, elucidating the details that have been closely guarded since the pact was signed in May.

"The defense cooperation was drafted by the United States and Papua New Guinea as equals and sovereign partners," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in the signing ceremony last month.

With Papua New Guinea's agreement, the United States will be able to station troops and vessels at six key ports and airports, including Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island and facilities in the capital Port Moresby, PNG's capital.

Access to Lombrum could be used to reinforce US facilities on Guam to the north, which could be a key base in the event of a conflict over Taiwan.

The agreement grants Washington "unimpeded access" to the sites to "pre-position equipment, supplies and materiel," and have "exclusive use" of some base zones, where development and "construction activities" could be carried out.

Another contentious section of the agreement gives US authorities the "exclusive right to exercise criminal jurisdiction over US personnel." however Papua New Guinea officials have denied this section in the contract.

Prime Minister James Marape has been forced to defend the deal against a wave of protests and criticism in the country's universities, with some opponents questioning whether Papua New Guinea was signing away its sovereignty.

"We have allowed our military to be eroded in the last 48 years," Marape said to the parliament on Wednesday evening. "Sovereignty is defined by the robustness and strength of your military."

Former Prime Minister Peter O'Neill slammed the deal with the Americans and warned that the United States is only considering their own interests, which do not align with PNG's security as it will become stuck in the middle of a war between two superpowers.

"America is doing it for the protection of its own national interest, we all understand the geopolitics happening within our region," he said.

The Oceania country, which sits on an abundance of natural resources, is located in a key geopolitical zone near critical shipping routes and now is set at the center of a diplomatic tug-of-war between Washington and Beijing. PNG was the site of fierce battles during World War II.

China has repeatedly warned the US about hyper-militarizing the region and destabilizing its security, but Washington is still expanding in the Asia and Indo-Pacific region as part of its hostile agenda against Beijing.

Washington is trying to woo Pacific nations with an array of diplomatic and financial incentives in return for strategic support, after similar moves by Beijing.

Last month, when asked whether China's defense pact with PNG's neighboring Solomon Islands is a factor in renewing ties, US Secretary of State said that the agreement "is not about any other country."

Moreover, the US State Department has promised to provide $45 million in new funds as it worked with PNG to strengthen economic and security cooperation, including protective equipment for the Papua New Guinea Defense Force (PNGDF), climate change mitigation, and tackling transnational crime and HIV/AIDS.

US President Joe Biden had been scheduled to pay an official visit to Papua New Guinea to sign the pact but his visit was canceled due to Washington's debt crisis.

PNG, with a population of nearly 10 million people, is the most populous Pacific island nation, located just north of Australia.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






West Darfur governor 'brutally' killed as fighting spreads in Sudan

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 15 June 2023 5:46 AM

West Darfur state governor has been killed after publicly blaming the deaths of civilians on Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as the conflict spreads in the African nation.

The Sudanese army blamed the RSF for killing governor Khamis Abakar on Wednesday, depicting the murder as a "brutal act", which was carried out hours after Abakar accused the RSF and allied fighters of "genocide".

No details on his death were available, but the army accused the RSF of "kidnapping and assassinating" the governor.

Just before his death on Wednesday, Abakar said, "Civilians are being killed randomly and in large numbers."

The killing of the governor meant the RSF has added a "new chapter to its record of barbaric crimes that it has been committing against all the Sudanese people," the army said on Facebook.

Over the past two months, the army headed by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF commanded by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo have been locked in urban combat which has so far killed at least 1,800 people, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project's (ACLED) latest figures from last month.

The fighting now spreads to the provinces, particularly to the cities of the western region of Darfur.

While the attacks originally targeted areas of El Geneina where members of the Masalit tribe lived, these attacks have spread to the entire city, the governor said. "We haven't seen the army leave its base to defend people."

The RSF, which called the fighting in El Geneina a tribal conflict, said it had been making efforts to get aid into the city.

In the meantime, the fighting is spreading into the capital of South Darfur, according to the Darfur Bar Association  a local group monitoring the fighting  which said that artillery strikes hit civilian homes in the area after RSF soldiers complained of not receiving salaries.

Also in El Obeid, a hub between Khartoum and Darfur in North Kordofan, the army launched air and artillery strikes against RSF positions, according to witnesses.

The RSF has controlled the roads connecting the city to other towns and has agreed with local tribal leaders to secure the area from armed gangs.

The city of Zalingei, the capital of Central Darfur, was under siege, the association said.

The head of the United Nations mission in Sudan said Tuesday that attacks in Darfur region could amount to crimes against humanity.

The situation in Darfur "continues to deteriorate," Volker Perthes said, adding that "these reports are deeply worrying and, if verified, could amount to crimes against humanity."

Several ceasefires have so far been violated and diplomatic efforts led by the United States and Saudi Arabia to address the conflict have faltered.

US and Saudi mediation efforts are at a standstill. On Tuesday, senior US State Department officials said they were considering a new approach for the coming days.

Saudi Arabia has also announced an international conference for next week.

Around 2.2 million people have fled their homes, more than one million of them escaping the capital Khartoum, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Of those, more than 528,000 have sought refuge in neighboring countries, according to the UN agency.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Fresh Attacks Put Spotlight On Afghanistan's Northeast As IS-K Stomping, Recruiting Ground

By Michael Scollon June 15, 2023

Targeted attacks in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan Province have left residents fearful of leaving their homes and the Taliban scrambling to maintain its authority as the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) extremist group makes clear that it has not gone away.

The region, once a bastion of resistance to the Taliban, has suffered four attacks targeting Taliban security and government officials claimed by IS-K in just over a year.

Two occurred in the provincial capital, Faizabad, last week: the assassination of Deputy Governor Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi in a car bombing on June 6, and a gruesome explosion at his funeral attended by hundreds of locals and several Taliban officials at the Nabawi Mosque two days later.

At least 19 attendees were killed, including the Taliban's former police chief of northern Baghlan Province, Safiullah Samim, and more than 30 were injured in the mosque attack, which shocked residents and was seen by observers as a "new level" of violence in the region.

"This kind of situation has not been seen in Faizabad in the past 20 years, we have not experienced anything like it," local resident Mahmud Ghafuri told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. "We are afraid that the same type of explosion could go off at another mosque at any minute. We are very worried."

Urban Warfare Reaches Badakhshan

After its foundation in Afghanistan in 2015, the IS-K controlled territory in the country's north and east as part of its broader aim of territorial expansion and the formation of a caliphate extending throughout South Asia. But under fire from Afghan and Western forces, as well as the Taliban, the IS-K began withdrawing from its territorial strongholds in 2019 and embarked on a new strategy of urban warfare.

As the Taliban strengthened its hold on the country and advanced on the capital before seizing power, the IS-K carried out one of its most high-profile attacks -- the killing of 170 Afghan civilians and 13 members of the U.S. military at Kabul's international airport in August 2021 as Western forces pulled out of Afghanistan.

Since the Taliban took power that month, the IS-K has targeted Taliban officials, foreign nationals and embassies, Afghanistan's Shi'ite Hazara community, and others it considers incompatible with its own extremist interpretation of Islam. It has also launched cross-border attacks into Uzbekistan and Tajikistan from Afghanistan's north.

"In an earlier phase, IS-K was interested in taking territory and expanding geographical control, however, the group has now transitioned into a strategy of guerrilla warfare and urban terrorism for the time being," Lucas Webber, co-founder and editor of MilitantWire.com, said in written comments. "IS-K's targeting has simplified since the previous government was overthrown and international forces left, leaving the Taliban [and its allies] as the sole armed enemy in Afghanistan."

In April 2022, Faizabad entered the spotlight with the killing of Abdul Fattah, who headed the Taliban's mining department in Badakhshan, and the December assassination of the province's police chief, Abdulhaq Abu Omar. The IS-K claimed responsibility for both bombings.

The Taliban has claimed success in eliminating IS-K cells around the country, and the decline of IS-K "attacks and propaganda output seems to indicate that the organization has been degraded to some extent" compared to its early years, according to Webber. "Several prominent leadership figures have been killed in recent months and the IS-K's internal communications show concern over infiltration of IS-K's online networks and militant cells by the Taliban and foreign intelligence services," he added.

But in a report this month on "The Growing Threat Of The Islamic State In Afghanistan And South Asia," the U.S. Institute of Peace says that the IS-K has shown itself to be flexible in its "ambitions, operations, and ties with other militant groups."

"This flexibility has made it resilient in the face of setbacks both to the Islamic State as a whole and within Afghanistan and Pakistan," the report said. "Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, [the IS-K] remains a potent force despite hundreds of members having been arrested or killed by the Taliban."

The UN Security Council, in a report published on June 1 regarding the situation in Afghanistan, said that the Taliban was failing to combat terrorism on Afghan soil as agreed in the U.S.-Taliban pact signed in 2020.

Noting that "a range of terrorist groups have greater freedom of maneuver" in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, the Security Council said that while the Taliban had "sought to reduce the profile of these groups and has conducted operations against [the IS-K], in general the Taliban has not delivered on the counterterrorism provisions."

The Security Council said the number of IS-K militants in Afghanistan was "estimated to range from 4,000 to 6,000," including family members. It added that IS-K fighters included Afghans as well as citizens of Pakistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, the Central Asian countries, and a small number of Arab fighters from Syria who traveled to Afghanistan in the past year.

Fertile Recruiting Ground

The recent attacks in Badakhshan have made clear that the region is a focal point for the IS-K and led to concerns by locals that the Taliban's counterterrorism efforts in an area where it is still working to impose its full authority are insufficient.

The Taliban army's chief of staff, Fasihuddin Fitrat, condemned the attacks and called on people to inform security officials about any suspicious activities to help counter the threat posed by IS-K.

Whether the region can be considered a haven for IS-K activities is questionable, but it does offer the group a geographically strategic place to launch operations not only in Afghanistan but in restive areas of neighboring Tajikistan and Pakistan as well.

From Afghanistan's north the IS-K "can easily spread to other sides of the border," Arif Sahar, a London-based counterterrorism expert, told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. And this, he said, can send a "dangerous signal to Central Asia because these countries are very good centers to boost fundamental Islamic ideologies" like that of the IS-K.

Badakhshan has also emerged as a potentially ripe hub to flip and recruit fighters from militant groups allied with the Afghan Taliban and based in the region, including the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Al-Qaeda, the Turkistan Islamic Party, and the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban.

Ted Callahan, a security adviser formerly based in Badakhshan, says support for the Islamic State extremist group, the parent of the IS-K, was prominent as far back as 2014 "among the foreign fighters who had been displaced by a massive military offensive in Pakistan and made their way up north."

At that time, Callahan told RFE/RL in written comments, the Taliban was "able to brutally suppress any overt displays of affiliation with IS, like raising the IS flag."

But Callahan suggests that the IS-K may have made inroads in Badakhshan. "Maybe the Taliban has alienated the population so much that some Badakhshanis are willing to join IS-K; or maybe some of the curious foreign fighters have thrown off the Taliban's shackles and become full-fledged supporters."

The TTP, which has waged a yearslong insurgency against Islamabad, is an avowed ally of the Taliban in Kabul and is considered to be an enemy of the IS-K. But it previously expressed loyalty to the IS-K and continues to be a source of IS-K recruits.

With the Taliban currently engaged in an effort to remove TTP members from southeastern areas bordering Pakistan, which is keen to eliminate the group's safe havens in Afghanistan, it leaves open the possibility that some could migrate north and join the IS-K.

"[The IS-K] has a history of attracting TTP fighters and has historically been comparatively less hostile to TTP than the Afghan Taliban," Webber said. "It is possible that IS-K sees TTP as more hard-line and riper for recruitment."

Disputed Territory

While not discounting IS-K's claim of responsibility for last week's attacks, Callahan also notes that the group "is usually only too happy to claim credit."

Some in Badakhshan, Callahan says, believe that while the December assassination of police chief Omar was carried out by the IS-K, the most recent attacks that killed Ahmadi and Samim could be the result of internal Taliban disputes.

All three of the Taliban officials were ethnic Tajiks, the predominate group in Badakhshan, Callahan notes. The Taliban, a mostly Pashtun group whose political base is in southern Afghanistan, recruited ethnic Tajik and Uzbek fighters in the country's north during its insurgency from 2001-2021.

"The narrative among certain Badakhshani Tajiks is that senior Tajik Taliban officials are being targeted by a segment of the Pashtun Taliban, although the evidence that IS-K conducted the three separate attacks seems hard to refute," Callahan said.

Ahmadi and Samim were from the same town, suggesting the possibility of a local dispute for influence even among Tajik Taliban members.

Other Afghanistan observers have commented about divisions among Badakhshan's Taliban over control of the region's mining wealth, smuggling, and support of foreign fighters, while mentioning that Omar and Ahmadi were "on the same side" and opposed current provincial Governor Amanuddin Mansur and his predecessor Fitrat, who now heads the Taliban army.

"It does seem like an unusually large number of senior Tajik Taliban officials are dying in northern Afghanistan," Callahan said, adding that the governor of the northern Balkh Province was also killed in March. "But whether it's just IS-K-driven attrition, intra-Taliban feuds, or something else is hard to discern."

Locals who spoke to Radio Azadi appeared to be little concerned about who was responsible for the attacks -- they just want them to stop.

"There is still fear in the city and people cannot go to the mosque for prayers and the shops are closed," said Samiullah Mubariz, a resident of Faizabad.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban- badakhshan-is-k/32460999.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Kurti Says Kosovo Tightened Border Controls After Three Kosovar Police 'Kidnapped'

By RFE/RL's Balkan Service June 15, 2023

Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on June 15 that Kosovo was still allowing Serb vehicles to cross its border but only after tightened controls following what Pristina said was the "kidnapping" of three of its police officers by Serbian forces in the predominantly ethnic Serb northern part of Kosovo -- a region where tensions have been running high for weeks over the installation of ethnic Albanian mayors.

"For security reasons, as an immediate and necessary step, border controls with Serbia have been tightened, limiting traffic and increasing controls on vehicles coming from Serbia, especially road freight vehicles," Kurti told a news conference in Pristina.

Kosovar police said on June 14 that the three officers went missing during a patrol aimed at preventing the illegal use of roads for smuggling.

Kosovar Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla accused Serbia of "entering the territory of Kosovo and kidnapping" the three policemen.

Belgrade says the officers were arrested "deep inside" Serbian territory.

A government spokesman in Pristina said late on June 14 that for "security reasons" all vehicles with Serbian license plates would be barred from entering the territory of Kosovo. RFE/RL correspondents on the ground said on June 15 that vehicles with Serbian license plates were still entering Kosovo, but only after passing through the tightened controls.

During the joint news conference with Svecla, Kurti demanded the immediate release of the three police officers and lashed out at the NATO-led peacekeepers for not condemning the incident, saying he was surprised by KFOR's "silence."

U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller on June 15 said Kosovo and Serbia must both take immediate steps to de-escalate tensions, including the unconditional release of three Kosovo police officers detained by Serbia.

The incident comes amid rising tensions in the region following an attack two weeks ago on KFOR forces and the Kosovar police in Zvecan.

The attack occurred amid clashes between international peacekeepers and Serbs after three ethnic Albanian mayors took office following a local election that Serbs boycotted.

The ethnic Albanian mayors were installed with the help of Kosovar police in three towns with overwhelming ethnic Serb majority -- Zvecan, Leposaviq, and Zubin Potok -- following by-elections in April with a turnout of under 3.5 percent amid the Serbian boycott.

Kurti, who has been under pressure from key Western supporters of Kosovo's independence, on June 13 presented a five-point plan -- including fresh elections -- that he said would contribute to calming tensions in northern Kosovo.

Holding new elections is a request of the international community, which condemned the decision of the Kosovo authorities to forcibly take over municipal buildings in the north.

The United States and European Union have called on Kurti to withdraw the mayors, remove special police used to install them, and uphold a 2013 deal for an association of autonomous ethnic Serb municipalities in the region.

Ethnic Albanian-majority Kosovo, a former part of Serbia, declared independence in 2008, a decade after the two sides fought a 1998-1999 war that ended with a 78-day bombing campaign of Serbia by NATO.

Serbia and its traditional ally Russia have not recognized Kosovo's independence.

With reporting by AP and dpa

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kurti-kosovo-border-controls- police-kidnapped/32460581.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Bulgarian President Signs Decree Firing Controversial Prosecutor-General

By RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service June 15, 2023

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev fired Prosecutor-General Ivan Geshev on June 15, halfway through his seven-year term amid growing domestic and Western frustration with his failure to tackle endemic corruption.

Radev signed a decree dismissing Geshev three days after Bulgaria's Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) voted 16-4 to oust him following months of political intrigue, which included an alleged bomb attack against the prosecutor-general.

Geshev, 52, was appointed for a seven-year term in 2019 with sweeping powers to oversee the work of all prosecutors. But his appointment sparked protests by people who accused him of protecting corrupt politicians, oligarchs, and mafia kingpins, who were never brought to justice.

The United States and Britain in February sanctioned several Bulgarian individuals for corruption in what some experts interpreted as growing frustration in Washington and London over Geshev's failure to crack down on powerful people involved in graft.

Geshev initially enjoyed the backing of the SJC, which is responsible for all judiciary appointments, but the council's support evaporated after Geshev on May 15 at a press conference referred to lawmakers as "political garbage" that should be "swept away" by parliament in response to parties demanding his resignation.

The majority of the council believed that the comments undermined the prestige of the judiciary and Geshev therefore could no longer hold the post of prosecutor-general.

The SJC's vote came on the heels of a new coalition government in Bulgaria that had made the removal of Geshev a priority.

The alleged roadside bomb attack on May 1 proved to be a turning point in efforts to oust Geshev. After he claimed he had been targeted, critics said the attack was staged in an attempt to boost his image as an anti-corruption crusader.

Details emerged showing the explosion did not even damage his armored car, and Geshev admitted on May 7 that his family was not traveling with him after media reports said they were. Geshev was later rebuked by a deputy for not quickly addressing the misinformation circulating in the media.

After the explosion he left for Turkey and the United States, while his deputy, Borislav Sarafov, began publicly attacking him for interfering in the political process. Geshev then lost the favor of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's GERB party, which called for his resignation.

With reporting by AFP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-prosecutor-geshev- fired-radev/32461169.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Deputy Secretary Sherman's Call with Singaporean Foreign Minister Balakrishnan

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

June 15, 2023

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke today to Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan during the Foreign Minister's visit to Washington, D.C. Deputy Secretary Sherman and Foreign Minister Balakrishnan reaffirmed the strength of the U.S.-Singapore strategic partnership and its effectiveness in confronting today's major challenges, including Russia's war against Ukraine and defending the international rules-based order. They reiterated our shared commitment to facilitating a free, open, rules-based, and inclusive Indo-Pacific and to promoting peace and stability across the region.

The Deputy Secretary and Foreign Minister discussed how the United States and Singapore can address the threat posed by synthetic drugs to international security, global health, and public safety. They also highlighted the importance of cooperation through multilateral fora, including ASEAN and APEC, and economic initiatives such as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Foreign Minister Shahid

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

June 15, 2023

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony Blinken met today with Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid. The Secretary expressed his support for deepening bilateral relations, most notably with the re-establishment of a Maldives embassy in Washington, DC and the prospective establishment of U.S. Embassy Male.

He thanked Maldives for their proactive leadership in the Summit for Democracy and noted that Maldives remains a leader in the region on promoting and strengthening democracy. The Secretary reiterated our joint commitment to economic growth, adapting to a changing climate, defense cooperation, free and fair elections, and open and free media in Maldives.

Secretary Blinken added that the United States looks forward to enhancing people-to-people engagement in higher education with Maldives, and to growing the bilateral ties between our nations.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Secretary Antony J. Blinken at the Release of the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Dean Acheson Auditorium

Washington, D.C.

June 15, 2023

AMBASSADOR DYER: Good morning, everyone. And welcome. My name is Cindy Dyer. I'm the Ambassador-At-Large for the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons here at the Department of State. And I have the honor of kicking off today's ceremony. Thank you all so much for joining us.

I know it has been a few years since we could gather such a crowd in person for this ceremony, and it is such a pleasure to see so many friends and colleagues. I'm especially excited that three of my predecessors are here, Ambassadors Luis CdeBaca, Susan Coppedge, and John Richmond.

Today's program will consist of the following. First, Secretary Blinken will offer remarks on this year's report. Then we will honor eight outstanding Trafficking In Persons Report Heroes for their extraordinary dedication to combatting human trafficking. We will also hear briefly from one of the heroes who will speak on behalf of this year's honorees. Finally, I will offer my own closing remarks. After the ceremony, we hope you will find some time to visit state.gov to access this year's report online.

We are so grateful to you, Secretary Blinken, for joining us today to release the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report. Thank you for your continuous work elevating the issue of human trafficking in your meetings around the world and here at home, as well as chairing the President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. We are proud to serve under your leadership as we all work together to advance efforts to combat human trafficking.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (Applause.)

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. Thank you. Good morning, everyone. And just to reiterate what Cindy said, it is so wonderful to see you all here at the State Department.

Today, the State Department is releasing the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report. This report provides a comprehensive, objective assessment of 188 countries and territories - including the United States. Its purpose is to showcase successful efforts to prevent trafficking, to identify areas where countries are falling short and have more work to do, and ultimately - ultimately - to eliminate trafficking altogether.

The United States is committed to combatting human trafficking because it represents an attack on human rights and freedoms. It violates the universal right of every person to have autonomy over their own life and actions. Today, more than 27 million people around the world are denied that right.

Trafficking harms our societies: weakening the rule of law, corrupting supply chains, exploiting workers, fueling violence. And it disproportionately impacts traditionally marginalized groups: women, LGBTQI+ individuals, persons with disabilities, ethnic and religious minorities.

In his first year in office, President Biden released an updated National Action Plan to ensure that our policy response is keeping pace with what is an evolving challenge. Earlier this year, as the ambassador noted, I chaired a meeting of the President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, where we reviewed steps that we've taken to implement the plan: prohibiting the importation of goods made with forced labor; imposing financial sanctions on those that knowingly profit from that labor; integrating racial equity into our antitrafficking work; strengthening our efforts to counter online sexual exploitation and abuse of children.

The TIP Report is a central part of the United States Government's antitrafficking work, and it reflects the efforts of so many people in this room today - and countless others both in Washington and around the world.

And that starts with the leadership of Ambassador Dyer and her team at the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, as well as colleagues that we have in our embassies around the world, whose work to interview survivors, to gather information, to conduct factchecking is at the very foundation of the report. Bipartisan efforts in Congress, where there is an ironclad commitment and strong partnership to end trafficking - including Representative Chris Smith, who's been a longtime champion and who's here with us today, and I thank you for your presence and thank you for your leadership over so many years. And members of the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking and the Human Trafficking Expert Consultant Network - their insights, their ideas are indispensable to shaping and evaluating our policy and programs.

And maybe most significantly, most importantly, we're grateful to the survivors whose courage, whose resilience, and whose perspectives inspire and inform all of our work.

Finally, a very warm welcome to our eight TIP Report Heroes who are with us today - you'll hear a little bit more about them shortly - journalists, activists, prosecutors, lawmakers, each of whom shares a commitment to stopping trafficking in all of its forms.

This year's report shows a picture of steady progress around the world, with dozens of countries making significant strides in preventing trafficking, in protecting survivors, in prosecuting those who carry out this crime.

In Seychelles, the national government offered enhanced training to airport staff and police officers to better spot trafficking. The government also instituted new policies to screen vulnerable populations, like migrants at transit points, for trafficking indicators. That's helped them identify more victims than ever before and convict a record number of traffickers.

Hong Kong launched a new hotline to help trafficking victims report fraudulent overseas employment scams and to get help. In its first month, that hotline received hundreds of calls, leading to several investigations.

In Denmark, authorities led a renewed focus on - and committed additional resources to - combatting human trafficking, identifying more victims, prosecuting and convicting more traffickers.

So that's the good news, and these are just examples of it. The report also highlights a number of concerning trends.

The first is the continued expansion of forced labor. As the pandemic disrupted supply chains around the world and spiked demand in certain industries, like PPE production, exploitative employers used a host of tactics to take advantage of lower-paid and more vulnerable workers.

The second is the rise in labor trafficking using online scams, which have proliferated as more of the world gains access to the internet. The pandemic supercharged this trend. Traffickers capitalized on widespread unemployment to recruit victims with fake job listings and then forced them to run international scams.

Third, the report exposes the risks facing an often-overlooked segment of trafficking victims: boys and young men. According to a recent report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, between 2004 and 2020 the percentage of boys identified as victims of human trafficking rose five-fold.

Now for years, there's been a widely held - but incorrect - belief that trafficking affects exclusively female victims. This false perception has had some, quite frankly, devastating and tangible consequences, with far few support services typically allocated to male victims of trafficking.

The reality is that any person, regardless of sex, regardless of gender identity, can be targeted by human traffickers. And so governments, civil society, the private sector - all of us have to develop resources for all populations, including male victims.

When President Biden released his National Plan to Combat Human Trafficking, he said, and I quote, "We can accomplish far more working in partnership than we [can] working alone." That's true for the work between governments, between the federal and local officials, and with and between civil society and the private sector.

We see that in North Macedonia, where the government partnered with social workers, with NGO staff, with psychologists, with law enforcement to launch mobile teams that identify the majority of trafficking victims in the country. This program has been so effective that several other countries in the Balkans either plan to, or already have, implemented the very same model.

We see it in the work of the Issara Institute. That's an NGO that's worked hand-in-hand with private sector to help hundreds of thousands of workers learn about their rights and seek remediation when labor abuses occur.

We see it in Argentina, where leaders from the federal government regularly meet with representatives from across the country's 24 jurisdictions, to coordinate their efforts and raise one another's ambition, including by committing to offer long-term housing to survivors of trafficking.

For an issue that's as complex and as constantly evolving as this one, we simply need all hands on deck. We need law enforcement working to prosecute traffickers. We need social workers providing trauma-informed care to the victims. We need advocates holding governments accountable. We need communities coming together to support the survivors. In many ways, this room reflects that need and reflects that community.

We are so grateful to you for the partnership that you've shown, sharing expertise, sharing ideas, building and strengthening networks with us. And what I want to share with you today is simply this: the United States is committed to standing with you, and once and for all, ending human trafficking.

Thank you all very much. Cindy, back to you. (Applause.)

AMBASSADOR DYER: Thank you so much, Mr. Secretary, for those inspiring words. I am now delighted to turn our attention to celebrating the 2023 TIP Report Heroes. Please join me as we recognize and honor this year's eight TIP Report Heroes:

First, Pureza Lopes Loyola from Brazil - (applause) - in recognition of her unwavering advocacy on behalf of herself, her son, and others who have experienced forced labor, including through firsthand documentation of evidence and testimony to illustrate the severity and proliferation of exploitative conditions in rural Brazil, which spurred a national movement and prompted the Brazilian Government to establish mobile labor inspection units to increase identification of victims. (Applause.)

And second, Mech Dara from Cambodia in recognition - (applause) - of his courageous reporting on human trafficking for the purpose of forced criminality in Cambodia, which led to greater public awareness of and improvement in the Cambodian Government's anti-trafficking response. (Applause.)

Mrs. Iman Al-Sailawi and Mr. Basim Abdulrazzaq Jebur from Iraq - (applause) - in recognition of their leadership and innovation in establishing FATE, Iraq's first NGO dedicated to ending human trafficking, which has helped release and support hundreds of individuals, including children and foreign nationals, from dangerous work conditions, forced labor, and sexual exploitation. (Applause.)

Evon Benson-Idahosa from Nigeria - (applause) - in recognition of her continued commitment to empower and elevate the voices of survivors of sex trafficking through her organization's transformative programs that address root causes of human trafficking, and her advocacy work with various levels of the Nigerian Government to improve anti-trafficking policy and legislation. (Applause.)

Zaheer Ahmed from Pakistan - (applause) - in recognition of his pivotal leadership in the application and modernization of anti-trafficking and anti-smuggling laws in Pakistan, the formulation and implementation of a national action plan to combat these crimes, and the improvement of coordination and cooperation efforts between law enforcement and civil society organizations. (Applause.)

Paola Hittscher from Peru - (applause) - in recognition of her powerful use of innovative partnerships with the Peruvian navy, national police, and civil society to advance the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases in the Loreto region of Peru despite a challenging environment of limited funding, security concerns, and limited state presence. (Applause.)

Eumelis Moya Goitte from Venezuela - (applause) - in recognition of her courageous work to investigate and document human trafficking crimes affecting marginalized indigenous communities that are hard to reach and frequently living under the control of illegal armed groups, drawing international attention to human trafficking crimes in Venezuela's mining sector, and providing support for international recommendations to prevent human trafficking of vulnerable populations. (Applause.)

Thank you. And now we will hear from one of the 2023 TIP Report Heroes. Please join me in welcoming R. Evon Benson-Idahosa from Nigeria. (Applause.)

MS BENSON-IDAHOSA: Thank you. Thank you, Secretary Blinken, Ambassador Dyer. I'm honored to stand before you as a representative of so many who do this work of justice, of reconciliation, most without recognition but with the same tenacity and compassion that each of us being recognized today do.

Each of these heroes - Pureza, Mech, Iman and Basim, Zaheer, Paola, and Eumelis - exemplify courage in the moment in history where more than 27 million people are victimized by the evil that is human trafficking. Thank you to each of you, and to all of you who fortify our arms, for leading the change.

I also stand before you on behalf of millions of African women whose bodies have been legislated upon, weaponized, but especially on behalf of Faith, a young Nigerian woman whose last words to me in September of 2016 were, "Auntie, I'm dying." Those three words still echo in my mind and serve as the impetus for why we at Pathfinders, the NGO I founded to protect survivors and prevent the sex trafficking of Nigerian women at home and abroad, continue to do this work. You see, Faith was trafficked from our hometown in Benin City to Libya, and then to Europe, where she involuntarily serviced the underbelly of the European sex industry until her body was literally consumed to death. No one should ever be utilized as a product for consumption.

Faith's story represents the reality of thousands of victims annually who are waiting for those of us with access and power and privilege to muster the social and economic courage to do for others what we do for ourselves. As visionaries who see the world as it should be, not as it is, the new face of our response requires a fundamental shift in consciousness that prioritizes reconciliation and promotes an integrated, intersectional, and interdependent methodology.

You see, I'm not naive to ignore the geopolitical factors - the self-interest, the economic realities - that have culminated in global divides that separate developing from the developed, that use the word "global" to demarcate North from South, and both in love and in war other them and hypocritically center us. Nor do I profess to have all the answers to the hard, inconvenient truths that allow for the proliferation of trafficking, that destabilize governments in the pursuit of national interest, that strongarm countries into a legacy of imperialism.

But what I do know is that we can all bear witness to the import of human trafficking on our collective suffering and the erosion of our conscience, universal aspirations, and inherent rights and dignity. And so today I offer considerations that are visible in plain sight, considerations that reframe these complex narratives and underscore the reality that one's interests, rights, and dignities are best preserved when those of others are equally preserved. Both postures are not diametrically opposed.

To world leaders who have the power to disrupt trafficking, systemic failures of national and international governments that prioritize profit over people, arbitrary rules over good conscience, can no longer be countenanced. We cannot in good conscience foster a world where vulnerabilities are abused and - or systemically condoned and exploited. World leaders must consistently reach across the borders and political divides, not to embrace those for whom seats at the table have been intentionally curated, but to invite and make room for those who have consistently been missing from it.

Those who are the most impacted by the problems that human trafficking and its related geopolitical underbelly have created - i.e. survivors and local communities - are whose voices must now be consistently centered. The new face of this movement must democratize and shift power, reconcile, if you will, that power back to those who are seemingly powerless so that they too can take responsibility to birth innovative solutions. World leaders must envisage partnerships that are laced with compassion and empathy, with the understanding that structural transformation demands a tenacious commitment to our collective long-term vision.

To survivors and stakeholders who work tirelessly to restore dignity to those from whom it has been violently obliterated, we must enlarge our work from speaking truth to power to also speaking truth to the seemingly powerless - our local communities. We must unapologetically take up our space as global leaders who, because of our lived experience and expertise, not only deserve a seat at the table but understand that we can create additional, more inclusive tables that diversify and center our voices.

And finally, on a micro level - (applause) - and finally, on a micro level, we must each commit to doing the small daily actions that exemplify love - offering a cup of water to the thirsty, taking only that which you need, abandoning intellectual dishonesty that denies our own complicity in injustice, choosing kindness over indifference and the collective good over individual advancement. That is how we reconcile the world. It is how we choose a world that extols the values that we contend guard our collective conscience and, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "embody an audacious faith in the future of mankind." E se. Thank you for listening. (Applause.)

AMBASSADOR DYER: Now that's a hard act to follow. Next year, I'm going to speak first. (Laughter.) Thank you, Evon, for sharing that important message on behalf of all of this year's heroes. Let's give this amazing group of leaders another round of applause. (Applause.)

It is such an honor to celebrate your important work. We are thrilled to be partnering again with our colleagues in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to provide an International Visitors Leadership Program, an IVLP for short, for several of our TIP Report Heroes. Through the IVLP, our TIP Report Heroes will have the opportunity to meaningfully engage with Americans here in Washington, D.C., Boston, and Miami, who are also working to eliminate human trafficking and support survivors. So we are excited to not just honor you today, but to work together to share best practices and engage.

Today we are releasing the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report. The TIP Report is an essential tool in the world's fight against human trafficking. It not only serves as a central reference point for the status of anti-trafficking efforts in each country, including the United States, but it also highlights the best practices and helps disseminate them.

This year we chose to highlight the importance of partnerships in addressing human trafficking. I know firsthand the power of partnerships. Starting out as a local prosecutor in Dallas, Texas, I could see how our response to trafficking situations would be immensely improved if we all had relevant actors - all the relevant actors together in the same room, preferably with chips and hot sauce. (Laughter.) So I joined Dallas County's very first interagency task force on human trafficking. I have carried that lesson throughout my career, partnering with NGOs to provide guidance as grassroots activists around the world worked to implement or strengthen anti-trafficking legislation in their various communities.

Over the last 30 years, I have seen the immense benefits of elevating the voices and perspectives of survivors. Survivors can play an important role in shaping policies and programs to ensure that they are survivor-centered and responsive to the needs and experience of survivors. By partnering with survivors, we can promote anti-trafficking efforts grounded in the realities of those who have been most directly impacted by this issue.

The need for partnerships starts within our own governments. We need all our various agencies to collaborate to make our work more effective and impactful. This year's report highlights the progress made in one country, the Comoros, when they established a national committee to enhance interministerial coordination on anti-trafficking efforts. Through this interagency cooperation, they were able to identify more victims, investigate more trafficking crimes, and refer all victims to services.

Strong partnerships between countries can also address the vulnerability of migrants, refugees, and international job seekers to human traffickers. We saw this in Europe when EU governments banded together to proactively protect Ukrainian refugees to prevent trafficking among them as they fled from Russia's illegal, full-scale invasion. And in Southeast Asia, Indonesia and the Philippines have worked together to assist trafficking victims lured by cybercrime syndicates into cyber-scam operations.

Partnerships are also critical because they allow us to harness the diverse expertise of different organizations to tackle trafficking in novel ways. At its core, human trafficking is a financially motivated crime. This report highlights how one partnership between PayPal and Polaris in the United States interrupts traffickers' cash flows and enables parallel prosecutions for financial crimes. Deeper partnerships between financial institutions and law enforcement can better identify the financial trail of human traffickers, allowing law enforcement to collect more evidence to aid prosecutions and lessen the burden on survivors having to testify.

Finance Against Slavery And Trafficking, or FAST, developed by UN University and financed by Australia, is another great partnership. FAST is leveraging the use of technology to provide a free e-learning training tool for Southeast Asian government officials working on financial regulation, intelligence, and investigation to understand human trafficking, how it is connected to the financial sector, and what they can do to identify and interrupt it.

And we know traffickers are always looking to exploit new vulnerabilities, from conflicts to climate change to the digital world, so we need to continually be building partnerships with new stakeholders. New partnerships between NGOs, governments, law enforcement, survivors, and technology companies can help counter some of these new vulnerabilities. The OSCE and Thomson Reuters used social media and Uber for their Be Safe campaign, reaching hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees about the warning signs of human trafficking.

Another great partnership, the Tech Against Trafficking initiative harnesses the expertise of companies and other stakeholders to accelerate technology solutions to combat human trafficking. Through the Accelerator program, tech companies provide mentorship, education, and greater network access to assist anti-trafficking NGOs to pilot or scale up initiatives, such as generating synthetic data to better share and analyze case information responsibly while protecting victim privacy.

Survivors are some of our most important partners. Their lived experience can inform our programs and policies, ensuring we maintain a trauma-informed and victim-centered approach. More countries than ever are seeing the benefits of partnering with survivors to enhance their anti-trafficking work. Israel last year established an advisory committee, including two survivors, to help address forced labor issues, while Australia and Canada committed to survivor engagement in their national action plans.

Here at home, the U.S. Government continues to pursue partnerships to advance our anti-trafficking work. We are enhancing intergovernmental cooperation with the President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, regularly bringing together 20 agencies to review and refine our federal anti-trafficking strategies. We are incorporating recommendations of survivors into our policymaking and programs at the highest levels, and working further to integrate survivors into all that we do, including through the work of the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking. We are partnering with neighboring countries to reduce the risk of migrants falling prey to human traffickers, and we are championing partnerships with technology companies and financial institutions to better prosecute traffickers, protect victims, and prevent trafficking in the first place.

As we close, I want to draw our attention back to the individuals. Behind these pages of statistics and trends and tier rankings are millions of adults and children who are in trafficking situations and depend on our collective efforts. We owe it to them to work together to hold perpetrators accountable, to partner with survivors, to make sure our responses are trauma-informed and victim-centered, and ultimately, to address the underlying factors that make people vulnerable to trafficking. The report offers many recommendations and best practices that are critical steps our government and governments around the world can take to build a world free of human trafficking.

I'm going to take a page out of a Evon's book, who quoted the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, who also once said, "The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people, but the silence over that by the good people." It is so humbling and inspiring to be in a room full to the brim with good people who refuse to be silent.

Thank you so much for your steadfast service to others and for joining us today. Please remember to go to state.gov to check out this year's full report online. The cards and bookmarks you have received at today's event have a QR code you can scan to reach the website. Thank you for coming. Thank you all. (Applause.)

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






182nd Airlift Wing leads C-130 Hercules operations at NATO's Air Defender 2023

Published June 15, 2023

By Staff Sgt. Paul Helmig

182nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

WUNSTORF AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- The largest NATO multinational air forces redeployment exercise in history began at Wunstorf Air Base, June 12, with the Illinois Air National Guard's 182nd Airlift Wing leading the C-130 Hercules aircraft operations.

Exercise Air Defender 2023, which continues through June 23, integrates both U.S. and allied airpower to defend shared values, while leveraging and strengthening vital partnerships to deter aggression around the world.

According to the National Guard Bureau, approximately 2,600 U.S. Airmen and 100 aircraft from 42 states rapidly descended on western Europe to train with 24 allied and partner nations to enhance joint capabilities around the globe.

Exercise AD23 provides valuable opportunities to bolster tactical interoperability skills of participating international partners, aircrew and supporting elements within a composite air operation environment, according to NATO.

A vital element within AD23 is the C-130 airlift operation, led by the 182nd AW Maj. Joseph Chambers, 182nd Operations Support Squadron chief of tactics, explained, the unit's participation is a display of commitment reinforcing relations between militaries, and their readiness to defeat hostility toward the U.S. and their partner nations.

"Air Defender is testing NATO's strength in deterrence," Chambers said. "The Air National Guard is reassuring our allies of the U.S. resolve to the NATO charter."

More than 440 Airmen from 11 states and Puerto Rico are serving at Wunstorf AB during the exercise. The 182nd AW is sharing the sky with nine different C-130 Hercules and Super Hercules units from Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Texas and Wyoming.

Chambers began operations planning for AD23 nearly 11 months prior to the start of the exercise in July 2022. Though the C-130 mission is the primary objective at Wunstorf AB, it was not Chambers' only aim for this exercise.

"As the lead planner and lead C-130 unit, we had the job to coordinate for 12 different Air National Guard units," Chambers said. "We also are supporting the Joint Tactical Air Control and Combat Communications missions at Air Defender 23."

AD23 will provide Airmen the opportunity to apply their multi-capable Airmen skills through interactive training with personnel from various wings and career fields, along with NATO and state-partner militaries. Airmen operating at Wunstorf AB integrated with Airmen from Germany, Romania and Lithuania performing full-scale readiness training and completing their mission-essential tasks.

A primary component of exercise AD23 is the NGB's State Partnership Program that has been successfully building relations for 30 years, including 88 partnerships with 100 nations around the world.

"Relationships in the ANG are like water to a fish; one can't operate without the other," said Col. Rusty Ballard, 182nd AW commander and C-130 detachment component commander. "The exchange of information, tactics, techniques, procedures, ideas and history will forever benefit the allied NATO countries involved in this massive exercise."

The SPP engagements capitalize on the MCA concept while enabling Guardsmen to train and learn from partner nations. The ANG's focus is to prepare mission-ready Airmen to safeguard the U.S. homeland and execute global operations successfully.

U.S. Air Force units, including the 182nd AW, regularly participate in multinational exercises on the European continent to strengthen relations and resolve. That frequent interaction sets the stage, allowing stateside ANG units to more easily integrate with allies and partners throughout the region.

The 182nd AW has been cited for multiple readiness awards, such as maintaining the highest C-130 mission capability rate since 2015. As a prominent leader within the C-130 community, Ballard was excited to bring the unit's ready and postured forces to the warfighting training environment.

"As soon as the 182nd found out about the exercise and its intent, we jumped on as the lead unit," Ballard said. "The opportunity for the 182nd to showcase our capabilities amongst the community has been even better than I could have imagined."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Biden Administration 'Hopeful' Sweden Will Be Admitted to NATO

By Anita Powell June 15, 2023

The Biden administration says it remains "hopeful" about Sweden's application to join the NATO security alliance, despite tepid words from NATO's main holdout, Turkey.

But the White House declined to say whether that could happen before a NATO summit scheduled for next month.

With less than a month before alliance members meet July 11 in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that the White House was optimistic.

"We are still hopeful that this will get done," she said, "I don't have a timeline, certainly. The sooner, the better, as I said, without delay. And so, we'll continue to be very clear. We'll continue to communicate that with Turkey."

Sweden needs unanimous support from all 31 NATO members before it can join. So far, all but Hungary and Turkey have given it, diminishing hopes that Sweden can join by the summit.

Ankara has accused Stockholm of not doing enough to crack down on its branch of a political party that Turkey's government sees as extremists. And Hungary's leader objects to Sweden's criticism of his record on democracy and the rule of law.

Sweden and Finland applied jointly for NATO membership last May, with both Nordic nations citing overwhelming popular support for the idea amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Finland's membership was finalized in April.

On Wednesday, newly reelected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters, "The expectations of Sweden do not mean that we will comply with these expectations. In order for us to comply with these expectations, first of all, Sweden must do its part."

Meanwhile, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday that his staff had reported that a meeting between Sweden and Turkey "took place in a constructive atmosphere."

"Some progress has been made," he said.

F-16 leverage

Stoltenberg cited the recent extradition from Sweden of suspects related to the Kurdistan Workers' Party, known as the PKK.

"This is good for the fight against terrorism, but also good for Sweden's efforts to fight organized crime in Sweden, because these groups are very often linked," he said Wednesday in Brussels.

But Erdogan on Wednesday took a harder line, telling journalists, "What we told [Stoltenberg] was this: 'If you expect us to respond to Sweden's expectations, first of all, Sweden must erase what this terrorist organization has done.' While we were expressing these to Stoltenberg at that particular time, unfortunately, terrorists were demonstrating again in the streets in Sweden."

Michael Kimmage, a professor at Catholic University and a senior nonresident fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told VOA that "there are a few bona fide issues, and then there's also a little bit of gamesmanship that Ankara is engaging in."

One thing he pointed to  which Erdogan did not mention Wednesday when speaking to journalists  is that Turkey is seeking to buy 40 American F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits, a purchase that needs congressional approval.

Biden, who called Erdogan in May, has framed the deal for the jets as Washington's leverage for fast-tracking Turkey's decision on Sweden.

"He still wants to work on something on the F-16s," Biden said late last month. "I told him we wanted a deal with Sweden, so let's get that done."

The Orban obstacle

Washington appears to be taking a harder line with the other holdout, Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has bristled under Western criticism  backed up by prominent rights watchdogs  accusing his administration of violating civil liberties, media freedom, the rule of law and democratic governance.

This week, Senator James Risch, the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, moved unilaterally to block a $735 million U.S. arms sale to Hungary.

"For some time now, I have directly expressed my concerns to the Hungarian government regarding its refusal to move forward a vote for Sweden to join NATO," he told U.S. media. "The fact that it is now June and still not done, I decided that the sale of new U.S. military equipment to Hungary will be on hold."

Analysts say Orban  who has tightened his grip on power  can be unpredictable.

"It is fair to say that he is the loose cannon within NATO and EU," Jan C. Behrends, a history professor at European University Viadrina in Frankfurt, Germany, said during a discussion with analysts convened by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's Europe program.

NATO members agree to come to each other's defense in the event of an attack. Hungary, a landlocked nation that shares a border with Ukraine, has yet to meet a 2014 pledge to spend at least 2% of its GDP on defense.

And by dragging his feet on letting in two larger, wealthier nations, analysts argue Orban is acting against his own interests.

"Delaying the NATO accession of Finland and further blocking that of Sweden similarly have no justifiable reason and are harmful from a security perspective," said Zsuzsanna Vegh of the European Council on Foreign Relations.

"What's more, none of these steps can even be explained by the Hungarian national interest [that] Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz [Party] is so adamant to protect," he said.

VOA's Mehmet Toroglu contributed to this report.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US Shores Up Indo-Pacific Allies, Partners Ahead of Blinken's Beijing Trip

By Patsy Widakuswara June 15, 2023

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan is on an Asian diplomatic blitz this week, participating in a trilateral meeting with his counterparts from Japan and South Korea on Thursday.

On Friday, he is meeting with his counterparts from Japan and the Philippines, in the first trilateral engagement of that group's national security advisers.

Sullivan's meetings in Tokyo follow a stop in New Delhi earlier this week to finalize details for next week's official visit to the White House by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India - a country that is becoming increasingly indispensable for Washington's goals in the region.

While the timing is "coincidental," according to an administration official, Sullivan's meetings take place just days before Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to Beijing this weekend.

The State Department says the Beijing visit, which Washington postponed after it shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon flying over U.S. territory in February, is part of the Biden administration's efforts to repair deteriorating ties and keep lines of communication open between Washington and Beijing.

Strengthening alliances and partnerships is a clear component of the administration's strategy to effectively compete with China, while Blinken's trip to Beijing is aimed at stabilizing the relationship, said Yun Sun, director of the China Program at the Stimson Center. "They are two sides of the same coin," she told VOA.

Working with more than one country at a time to shore up allies is part of what's often called the administration's "minilateral" strategy. The goal is to play up the strengths of each partner and encourage them to work together.

"We will not be able to get one big grouping, so let's do lots of minilaterals," said Aparna Pande, director of the Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia at the Hudson Institute in Washington. That way, she told VOA, the U.S. carries less burden, even as it acts as the glue that keeps the groupings together.

Geostrategic Indo-Pacific

The busy week of diplomacy is designed to reaffirm the message that Washington wants to bolster ties with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific, which it sees as the world's key geostrategic region with vast opportunities for greater economic security cooperation, including on critical and emerging technologies.

The region's challenges include North Korean nuclear threats, highlighted by Pyongyang's launch on Thursday of two short-range ballistic missiles. China, meanwhile, has massively increased its military spending in the past decade and has engaged in what Washington calls "economic coercion," imposing economic costs on various countries to achieve political goals.

Amid Beijing's maritime expansion in the South China Sea and tensions with Taiwan, the war on Ukraine has amplified the region's threat assessment, reminding countries of the devastating impact of a potential Chinese invasion.

This leads to increased defense spending by individual countries and demands for an increasingly muscular American presence in the region, with more joint military exercises, a ramped-up defense posture and a stronger nuclear umbrella for South Korea, known as extended deterrence.

"We know they tend to balance against threats, and countries are feeling threatened," said Zack Cooper, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, at a recent event with the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Beijing characterizes the increased U.S. presence as a "distinct military provocation," a charge the Biden administration rejects.

"The fact that we are looking at ways to be more present is a response to changes in the security environment, not forcing changes in the security environment," said Lindsay Ford, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for South and Southeast Asia, during the CSIS event. "If that were not true, we would not have allies and partners who are so interested in having the United States there more."

Beyond the defense context, U.S.-China relations are "more than just an arms race," said Sheila Smith, senior fellow for Japan studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

"It's a competition now for the edge, the strategic edge in the future, on technology and economic power as well," she told VOA.

U.S. officials say Blinken's visit to China is aimed at restoring a sense of calm and normalcy and is unlikely to achieve any significant breakthrough in the myriad problems affecting Washington-Beijing ties.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Aid Organization Warns of Looming Food Crisis in Sudan

By Mariama Diallo June 15, 2023

A catastrophic food crisis looms in Sudan if fighting doesn't stop, said Freydoun Borhani, team leader with aid organization Mercy Corps in Gedaref state, on the Ethiopian border.

"Right now, it's planting season in Gedaref state, for example. People there must buy seeds for plantation. The price of the seeds go very high. And this creates a problem for the farmer," Borhani said.

But that's not the only challenge farmers face, according to Borhani.

"Besides that, the number of people who moved here have created a lack of food in the market, and the price of food is very high, and some people cannot afford to purchase this food," Borhani said. "Some places, it's 134 percent increase. Wheat flour, rice or sugar also 100 percent or more."

Mercy Corps had plans to distribute seeds to about 2,100 farmers in Gedaref, Nyala and Kordofan states, but for security reasons it will be able to give seeds to only 700 farmers in Gedaref starting next week.

The latest 24-hour cease-fire negotiated by the United States and Saudi Arabia expired early Sunday, and the war is showing no signs of ending, as fighting continues in parts of the capital, Khartoum, and elsewhere.

Kenya's President William Ruto said he and other East African leaders plan to meet the Sudanese generals in person next week to discuss ways to end the war. The announcement follows a gathering of heads of states and government convened by the East African bloc IGAD, or Intergovernmental Authority on Development, in Djibouti earlier this week.

"We have taken the decision that the quartet of Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Somalia will in the next 10 days meet face to face with General [Abdel Fattah al-] Burhan and General [Mohamed Hamdan] Dagalo in a face-to-face engagement, so we can speak to them directly on behalf of IGAD with a view of stopping the war that is raging in Sudan," Ruto said following the IGAD talks.

Macharia Munene, professor of history and international relations at the United States International University in Nairobi, told VOA the in-person meeting with the two generals is a good step but there are more factors at play.

"The problem with IGAD and AU [African Union] is that it depends on the EU [European Union] and external forces of resources to operate," Munene said. "That's the main problem ... sometimes it's difficult to agree on anything, in part because the players are dependent on advice and resources from outside."

Abdisalan Adan, education and peace advocate and the director of Maarifa College in Kenya, told VOA bringing them to the table might be the solution, but there's much to accomplish between now and then.

"First of all, bridging the gap and bringing the trust among the two [generals] and from our side, Kenya, we should see the conflict from a wider perspective, then working very softly in terms of bringing all actors together, international actors together, not only IGAD, but bring on board African Union, European Union and Americans," he said.

Dr. Edgar Githua, a lecturer at USIU and Strathmore University specializing in international relations, peace and conflict, told VOA that Kenya's Ruto is a good person to lead the negotiations.

"I think he's seen conflict within Kenya. Remember, in Kenya we had our post-election violence in 2007, and he was part of that mediating team ... so he understands what internal conflicts are all about; in Sudan, it's an internal conflict, so he understands the dynamics," Githua said.

Ruto also said officials will try to persuade the warring factions to establish a humanitarian corridor in the next two weeks and, following that, initiate a process of an inclusive national dialogue.

But in a statement on Thursday, Sudan's foreign ministry said it preferred South Sudanese leadership of the initiative.

Since the war started about two months ago, more than 1.65 million people have been displaced, including more than 1.2 million within the country and about half a million to neighboring countries. As long as the conflict continues, Mercy Corps says humanitarian needs will grow among the populations that were already severely food insecure.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ministers Gather in Uganda to Look for Solutions to East Africa's Refugee Crisis

By Halima Athumani June 15, 2023

Calls for countries in the East and Horn of Africa to address the needs of the millions of displaced people in the region came Tuesday at the start of a four-day ministerial conference being held by the Inter-governmental authority (IGAD) in the Ugandan capital.

Hilary Onek, Uganda's Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees, called on ministers to examine and address the wide range of factors that are forcing people from their homes. These factors, he said, include not only material issues but political ones.

"Some governments don't tolerate opposition. And they clamp down on them and these people run to exile. Tribal intolerance. Like in Congo here there's Lendu against the Hema group killing each other, and some are forced to flee their home. Those are the challenges of intolerance I'm talking about. And most of them are driven by ignorance," Onek said.

Limited funding has been cited as one of the major challenges in handling the refugee crisis in the East and Horn of Africa. Uganda is currently hosting more than 1.5 million refugees, the largest population in Africa. Other refugee-hosting countries include Ethiopia with more than 830,000 refugees and Kenya, which has 560,000.

Matthew Crentsil, the UNHCR Country representative, says all these countries have single, unsustainable funding sources while their refugee burdens continue to grow. Crentsil said it is time for countries hosting refugees to look at expanding domestic and internal sourcing of funds, such as engaging the private sector.

"There should also be other means of supporting refugees," he said. "It doesn't pay at all keeping refugees in settlements and camps for years and feeding them for years. That is why we are advocating for an increase in livelihood opportunities and activities for refugees in the region."

In October 2021, a military coup destabilized Sudan, which is already home to 1.1 million refugees. The majority of those refugees are from South Sudan, followed by Eritrea and Syria.

As efforts continue in different parts of the world to bring an end to the conflict in Sudan, Osman AbdulRahman, the deputy Ambassador of Sudan to Uganda, told VOA he hopes the meeting will also find solutions to contribute to peace in his country.

"This humanitarian situation right now is going to threaten even the region and the entire world unless we do something right now to stop this war," he said. "And to have peace talks between all elements in Sudan and our partners as well."

The UNHCR says the East and Horn of Africa is home to 5.5 million refugees, out of which 2.5 million are from South Sudan.

The conference in Kampala comes as the United Nations marks World Refugee Day on June 20, with "Hope away from home" as this year's theme.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Readout of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's Meeting with the National Security Advisors of Japan and the Republic of Korea

June 15, 2023

On June 15, 2023 in Tokyo Japan, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Japanese National Security Secretariat Secretary General Akiba Takeo and ROK National Security Office Director Cho Tae-yong for a trilateral national security advisors meeting. Mr. Sullivan commended his counterparts on the historic steps taken by both Seoul and Tokyo to strengthen bilateral Japan-ROK ties, noting that our trilateral partnership is now stronger and has more potential than ever before. The national security advisors discussed the DPRK's illicit nuclear and missile programs and most recent provocations and identified next steps to strengthen their coordination. They discussed opportunities for coordination in the East China Sea and South China Sea and emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The national security advisors discussed ways to increase economic security cooperation, including on critical and emerging technologies, energy security, and countering economic coercion. Mr. Sullivan reiterated the United States' ironclad commitment to the defense of Japan and the ROK and the national security advisors discussed recent efforts to strengthen both alliances to the benefit of the region. The national security advisors look forward to the trilateral leaders' summit to be hosted by President Biden in the United States in the coming months.

###

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Foreign National Sentenced for International Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, June 15, 2023



A Mexican national was sentenced today in the District of Columbia to 13 years in prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine for importation into the United States.

According to court documents, between 1998 and approximately 2012, Jaime Antonio Mandujano-Eudave, 61, worked with the Sinaloa Cartel to coordinate the transportation of cocaine by boat from Colombia to Culiacan, Los Cabos, and elsewhere in Mexico. Mandujano-Eudave communicated GPS coordinates to the boats' crew members to facilitate meetings in the Pacific Ocean. There, the cocaine-laden boats from Colombia would meet other boats under the control of the Sinaloa Cartel and offload the cocaine. These boats transported multi-kilogram amounts of cocaine. Once the cocaine arrived in Mexico, other members of Sinaloa Cartel would transport the cocaine to the United States for sale. Mandujano-Eudave knew that the cocaine would be subsequently imported into the United States for further distribution.

In 2009, Mandujano-Eudave sent a vessel, the Fiona, to pick up approximately 1,000 kilograms of cocaine in the Pacific Ocean. In October 2009, the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted the Fiona just north of Clarion Island, Mexico. The Fiona was set on fire by its crew, but the U.S. Coast Guard was able to recover 500 kilograms of cocaine from the water.

In August 2014, Spanish authorities arrested Mandujano-Eudave at the request of the United States. He was extradited from Spain to the United States in February 2015. On March 8, Mandujano-Eudave pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department's Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York Field Office made the announcement.

The HSI New York Field Office investigated the case with assistance from the FBI Washington Field Office.

Trial Attorneys Kirk Handrich and Melanie Alsworth of the Criminal Division's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section prosecuted the case. The Criminal Division's Office of Enforcement Operations provided significant assistance.

The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Spain to secure the arrest and extradition of Mandujano-Eudave.

This case is supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF).

Topic(s): Drug Trafficking

Component(s): Criminal Division

Criminal - Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section

Criminal - Office of Enforcement Operations

Criminal - Office of International Affairs

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces

Press Release Number: 23-671

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






New cranes reach lofty heights

By Corporal Luke Bellman

16 June 2023

Higher lift capacity and advanced Bluetooth control systems are just two capabilities of Defence's new Liebherr C6 mobile slewing cranes.

The 24 cranes are the first of 13 variants of earth-moving and manual handling equipment to be introduced across the three services as part of the Land 8120 Phase 1 rollout.

The equipment is used in Australia and overseas on operations, ranging from conflict to disaster relief, that require heavy lifting, moving, clearing, repair and construction.

The new cranes, which will be delivered by July, can be set up from inside or outside the cab using a remote control, allowing operators to focus on set-up and riggers to focus on organising the lift.

The cranes also have adjustable counterweights and a variable-base stabilisation system that provide greater lift options, with the ability to work in close-quarter areas. This allows individual crane supports to be positioned according to conditions rather than having all of them extended. The computer then calculates what loads can be lifted.

Corporal Braden Pritchett, of the School of Military Engineering, said with a lift capacity of 48 tonnes and a boom length of 48 metres, the cranes had filled a gap.

"We only have 20-tonne and 30-tonne mid-lift capacity cranes available so these will help with building military structures, infrastructure, or just lifting stores more efficiently," Corporal Pritchett said.

"It's an all-terrain vehicle and has market-leading technology. It's the best there is and we are lucky to get them."

Warrant Officer Class 1 Aaron Watts, technical adviser for the project, said 10 introduction-into-service courses would be run across Sydney, Amberley and Townsville bases in July.

Able Seaman Solomon Camilleri-McDonald completed the first trial course, delivered by Ventia, at the School of Military Engineering in mid-May.

"No other crane in Defence has the ability to set up the crane, the outriggers and the boom from inside the cab," Able Seaman Camilleri-McDonald said.

"The cranes are very advanced, high tech and fun to use. They are helpful with everything we do.

More information on the Land 8120 Phase 1 rollout and introduction into service training schedule is available from Army Headquarters' Combat Support Program DPN pages:

http://collab/army/hq/lcd/si/csp/es/SitePages/Home.aspx

http://collab/army/hq/lcd/si/csp/es/SitePages/Development%20-%20L8120.aspx

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US aircraft carrier enters South China Sea in show of strength while Chinese naval ship visits Southeast Asian countries for friendship

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Published: Jun 15, 2023 08:51 PM

A US Navy aircraft carrier group is reportedly operating in the South China Sea in an obvious demonstration of US strength that aims to raise tensions in the region against China, while a Chinese naval training ship is on a goodwill tour of building the peace and friendship in Southeast Asia.

Based on the flight tracks of two C-2A Greyhound carrier-based transport aircraft, the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan made a transit through the Bashi Channel and sailed into the South China Sea on Wednesday, according to open-source monitoring by the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative, a Beijing-based think tank.

The flight tracks show that the US aircraft flew between the aircraft carrier and the Philippines, a country the US has recently been roping in to militarily confront China. The US gained access to four additional military bases in the Philippines in addition to holding joint naval and coast guard exercises with the country this year.

"The US aircraft carrier is anticipated to hold exercises and show off its strength in the South China Sea," Wei Dongxu, a Beijing-based military expert, told the Global Times on Thursday.

As a force from outside the region, the US has been rallying up gangs in the South China Sea - now the Philippines in particular - to gain footholds for its naval and aviation forces and hold provocative joint exercises that negatively impact peace and stability in the region, Wei said.

However, on the same day the US aircraft carrier entered the South China Sea, the training ship Qi Jiguang of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy arrived in Manila on Wednesday for a three-day goodwill visit to the Philippines.

Carrying 476 sailors and cadets, the training ship Qi Jiguang started its far sea cadet training and visit mission on May 15 from Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning Province. Over the past month, it has already visited Vietnam, Thailand and Brunei, and the Philippines is scheduled to be the last stop.

The visit of Qi Jiguang, a non-combat vessel, to the Philippines showed the PLA Navy's friendly gesture that can enhance communication and mutual trust, Wei said. "The PLA Navy vessel's voyage in the South China Sea is a tour of peace and friendship. It is a stark contrast with the US aircraft carrier's muscle flexing, which is a hegemonic move that is not welcomed in the region," Wei said.

Before entering the South China Sea, the USS Ronald Reagan teamed up with the USS Nimitz into a dual carrier strike groups at the start of June. Together with forces from other countries including Japan, France and Canada, they conducted consecutive exercises in the East China Sea and the Philippine Sea in the vicinity of China's Taiwan region.

Such provocative moves are not conducive to easing tensions in China-US military relations, another Chinese military expert told the Global Times on Thursday, requesting anonymity.

The PLA is fully capable of defeating any hostile forces, including US aircraft strikes groups, on China's doorstep, be it in the South China Sea or around the island of Taiwan, and safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, the expert said.

The PLA has established a comprehensive system consisting of naval, aviation and rocket forces supported by complete intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to prevent foreign forces from coming close to China if a conflict breaks out, analysts said.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Premier Li to visit Germany, France in first overseas trip

Global Times

Enhanced cooperation sought to inject positive energy into sluggish global economy

By GT staff reporters Published: Jun 15, 2023 10:24 PM

At the invitation of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the French government, Chinese Premier Li Qiang will pay an official visit to Germany and hold the seventh China-Germany inter-governmental consultation, and pay an official visit to France and attend the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact from June 18 to 23, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin announced on Thursday.

Li's visit is of vital importance in that it will help enhance cooperation between China and Europe and clarify some misunderstandings formed during the COVID-19 pandemic in the past three years due to lack of communication and the US-led Western camp's smearing of China, according to Chinese experts.

They believe the visit will be a trip to seek consensus. It shows China's sincerity, confidence and strong willingness to cooperate with not only Europe, but also the world, Wang Huiyao, founder and president of the Beijing-based Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times on Thursday.

This would certainly inject positive energy into the global economy, which is facing a turbulent international situation and sluggish economic recovery after the pandemic, observers said.

Li's visit came after French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to China in April and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit to China in late 2022, during which China reached fruitful cooperation and agreements with the two leaders.

More European leaders have realized and agreed that the world is becoming multipolar rather than unipolar. The extensive exchanges between China and the world after the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated China's efforts to bring the world back to a correct channel of communication and cooperation rather than conflict, Wang Huiyao pointed out.

Chinese experts expect China to reach practical cooperation during Li's visit in various fields, ranging from trade and nuclear power plants to loans for developing countries and climate change.

According to the Foreign Ministry, in Germany, Li will lead a delegation to participate in the seventh round of China-Germany government consultations, comprehensively reviewing and promoting practical cooperation in various fields between the two sides.

Li will also attend the 11th China-Germany Economic and Technological Cooperation Forum and hold in-depth exchanges with representatives of the two countries' economic circles, Wang announced.

As for the agenda in France, Wang said that Li will focus on implementing the consensus reached by the two heads of state and focus on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France in 2024.

Li will have in-depth communication with the French side on comprehensively deepening exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields. He will also have extensive contacts with people from the economic circles of the two countries, which is believed to inject new impetus into the post-epidemic practical cooperation between China and France.

An important part of Li's France visit will be his attendance of the New Global Financing Compact summit proposed by Macron, Wang Wenbin noted.

In today's world, countries are increasingly interconnected and interdependent. In the face of endless crises and challenges, all parties need to work together to deal with them, he said.

Experts believe Premier Li will probably also hold talks with German and French partners on the Ukraine crisis.

From May 15 to 26, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui paid a visit to five countries in Europe involved in the crisis, including Russia and Ukraine, to communicate on the issue.

Special envoy Li's mission is to collect opinions from and communicate with the relevant parties. This time, Premier Li and his counterparts may touch upon some specific arrangements, including possible practical methods to promote peace negotiations, how to better continue cooperation between China and European countries - such as the China-Europe freight train service - under the impact of the Russia-Ukraine military conflict as well as humanitarian relief to Ukraine,Cui Heng, an assistant research fellow from the Center for Russian Studies of East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Thursday.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






EU Urges Release of Jailed Hong Kong Newspaper Founder Lai

By Liam Scott June 15, 2023

The European Parliament passed a resolution Thursday calling for the immediate release of Apple Daily newspaper founder Jimmy Lai, as well as the repeal of Hong Kong's national security law, which has been used to target pro-democracy activists and China critics such as Lai.

The resolution received widespread support, with 483 votes in favor, 9 against and 42 abstentions.

Lai, a British citizen, founded Apple Daily in 1995, and the newspaper became one of Hong Kong's most popular until authorities forced it to close in 2021.

Hong Kong authorities have targeted the pro-democracy advocate and China critic since 2020 a partially in retaliation for the newspaper's criticism of the Chinese government. Lai, 75, has been detained in a maximum-security prison since December 2020.

His son Sebastien Lai said the resolution "sends a powerful message to Hong Kong that the targeting and imprisonment of my father and other prominent pro-democracy figures, in an attempt to silence them, is not going unnoticed by the international community."

The EU resolution urged "the Hong Kong Government to immediately and unconditionally release and drop all charges against Jimmy Lai and all other pro-democracy representatives and activists who have exercised their freedom of expression and basic human rights."

It also called on Hong Kong authorities "to stop impeding the work of all journalists."

Lai's detention and the forced closure of Apple Daily have become symbols of the rapid deterioration of press freedom and other basic rights in Hong Kong since the national security law came into effect in 2020.

Hong Kong authorities have arrested dozens of people on accusations of breaking the law, which criminalizes any act of secession, subversion, terrorism or collusion with foreign forces.

At least 13 journalists and media workers are detained in Hong Kong, according to the press freedom group Reporters Without Borders, or RSF.

September trial

Lai, who is already serving a nearly six-year sentence for breaching a commercial lease agreement, is scheduled to stand trial in September for allegedly violating the national security law. He stands accused of sedition and collusion with foreign agents a with charges alleging he committed the crimes through his journalism and pro-democracy activism. He faces a life sentence.

Lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher, who leads Lai's legal team, warned in a statement that "he now faces the prospect of life behind bars, and we now face the terrible prospect of a UK national dying in prison for standing up for democratic values and exercising his internationally protected rights."

The British government has been criticized for failing to speak out strongly in support of Lai.

"It is heartening to see the European Parliament now speak out for Jimmy Lai," Gallagher added in the statement. "Now, Hong Kong must act a before it is too late."

Press freedom groups also commended the resolution.

"In highlighting the Hong Kong government's persecution of detained publisher Jimmy Lai, the adoption of this resolution is an important step by the European Parliament to address the decline of press freedom in the territory," Cedric Alviani, RSF's East Asia bureau director, said in a statement.

Sebastien Lai said he is "grateful to the European Parliament for their strong stance and important recognition of the alarming deterioration of the rule of law and fundamental rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, and for their call for my father's release."

"They have shone a light in the dark corners which Hong Kong wishes to keep hidden," he said.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Blinken visit still 'opportunity' amid mutual low expectations

Global Times

US realizes urgency of risk management, but its sincerity unclear: expert

By Zhao Yusha and Xie Jun Published: Jun 16, 2023 12:04 AM

High-level US officials played down expectations of breakthrough from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's upcoming visit to China. Although Chinese experts also have low expectations, they said the visit, propelled by the US' urgent need to engage with China as it finds itself mired a slew of domestic and international woes, may serve as "window of opportunity" to save bilateral ties from deteriorating to "worse than the worst."

Relaunch of the next stage high-level meeting, the Taiwan question, economic cooperation and the Russia-Ukraine conflicts are expected to top the list of topics during Blinken's visit, experts predicted. For this visit to generate practical results, the onus is on Washington to show more sincerity and respect, as it is the US that is more eager to communicate with China, rather than the other way round, said the experts.

On the same day that Blinken's China visit was announced, Daniel Kritenbrink, the State Department's top diplomat for East Asia, told reporters in a briefing call on Wednesday, "We're not going to Beijing with the intent of having some sort of breakthrough or transformation in the way that we deal with one another."

White House Indo-Pacific Coordinator Kurt Campbell said in the same call that Washington has an interest in setting up crisis communication mechanisms to reduce conflict risk.

Blinken is the highest-ranking US government official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, and his visit also comes at a time when bilateral ties have spiraled down to a new low.

"The lack of expectations of a breakthrough from Blinken's trip is mutual," LA Xiang, research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. However, he described Kritenbrink and Campbell's remarks as "restrained."

"Although it is still unclear if the US is being sincere in improving ties, it's clear from their remarks that the US has realized the danger facing bilateral ties and the urgency of risk management," said LA.

Wang Wenbin, spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, did not brief on the details of Blinken's visit from Sunday to Monday, saying that both sides are discussing arrangements and will publish details soon.

Relaunch of the next stage high-level meeting, the Taiwan question, economic cooperation and the Russia-Ukraine conflict are expected to top the list of topics during Blinken's visit, said Jin Canrong, associate dean of the School of International Studies at the Renmin University of China.

Shortly before Blinken's visit was confirmed by China, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang had a phone call with Blinken at the latter's request. During the phone call, Qin expounded on China's firm stance on core concerns such as the Taiwan question.

The reason why the US is eager to engage with China and for Blinken to make a trip to the country partly is because Washington is mired in a quagmire of both domestic and international issues, such as its debt ceiling problem, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, and other urgent issues, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times. Communications with China are key to solving those problems, he noted.

LA opined that the US' eagerness to strengthen crisis communications with China also came after its efforts to align countries to counter China ended in vain. Apart from one or two countries, most are unwilling to tie themselves to the US chariot, and most countries have publicly expressed concerns over deteriorating China-US ties.

Southeast Asian leaders warned against the economic cost of the growing US-China rivalry during the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan this March. In April, French President Emmanuel Macron also urged Europe to reduce its dependency on the US and avoid getting dragged into a confrontation between China and the US over the Taiwan question.

Despite low expectations, LA still believes it is not too late for both countries to use this visit as a "window of opportunity" to prevent bilateral ties sliding from "worse to worst." He believed that a deeper consensus between the world's two biggest economies could not only prevent bilateral ties from hitting rock bottom, but also alleviate the spillover from the China-US competition to other countries.

Acting as a catalyst

As Blinken is about to embark on his journey to China, there are more signs of US companies seeking interactions with Chinese market, with a number of executives from US multinationals visiting China recently. Bill Gates, Microsoft Corp's co-founder, is set to meet the Chinese president on Friday during his visit to China, Reuters reported. This follows a recent visit made by US billionaire Elon Musk to China.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also said recently that the US' decoupling with China would be a big mistake, and that it is in the US' best interests to maintain ties with China, according to a report by CNN.

In response, Shu Jueting, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce, said on Thursday that China and the US should uphold principles of mutual trust, peaceful co-existence, and win-win cooperation to push for the healthy and stable development of bilateral economic ties, and also inject more stability and positive energy into the world's economy.

Experts the Global Times talked to said they hoped Blinken's visit can act as a "catalyst" to encourage forces in the US that oppose China-US decoupling, and they expect the trade sector to be the first ice-breaking area during this visit. They said that under pressure from the US business community and some pro-business officials, one of Blinken's goals for this visit is to ensure that economic cooperation between the two countries remains at normal level, and to maximize the benefits of this cooperation for the Biden administration.

Li Changan, a professor at the Academy of China Open Economy Studies of the University of International Business and Economics, told the Global Times on Thursday that Blinken's visit to China is a good opportunity for the two countries to "break the deadlock" in the economic field, and make their requests known to each other.

Li said that as China has risen to become an integral part of the global economic system, it's impossible for the US to completely bypass China's supply chains and form a new one.

"Because of China's irreplaceable position in global supply chains, the US has to cooperate with China in many industries. Take the chip industry for example, China is not only a chip manufacturing powerhouse, but a big consumer market of chip products. If the US completely decouples from the Chinese market in the chip industry, that would bring tremendous losses to global chip producers, including US companies," Li said.

"Getting in touch with each other is a sign of positive communication and is a good thing for both sides, but we should watch the US' actions to see if the two sides can really reach some consensus," Li said, adding that the US' China strategy is quite "twisted" nowadays, as it wants to curb China's rise, but at the same time does not want to completely drift apart from the country.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Spokesperson for DPRK Ministry of National Defence Issues Strong Warning

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, June 15 (KCNA) -- A spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence of the DPRK issued the following strong warning through the Korean Central News Agency on Thursday as regards the fact that the U.S. and south Korea are staging anti-DPRK hostile military drills for days on end:

The U.S. forces in south Korea and the puppet army are staging "combined joint firepower annihilation drill" targeting the DPRK by massively mobilizing various types of offensive weapons and equipment.

The drill has been staged five times on May 25 and June 2, 7, 12 and 15.

Our response to this is inevitable.

Our army strongly denounces the provocative and irresponsible moves of the puppet military authorities escalating the military tension in the region despite its repeated warnings, and warns them solemnly.

Our armed forces will fully counter any form of demonstrative moves and provocation of the enemies. -0-

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






North Korea fires two ballistic missiles amid joint South Korea-US drills

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 15 June 2023 4:53 PM

North Korea has launched two short-range ballistic missiles as several thousand South Korean and US troops hold joint live-fire exercises in the Korean Peninsula.

A Japanese Defense Ministry official confirmed at least two ballistic missiles fired by North Korea landed in waters within the exclusive economic zone on Thursday. "Two ballistic missiles fell inside the EEZ," the official said.

The zone extends up to 200 nautical miles from Japan's coast, beyond the limits of its territorial waters.

Japanese authorities said one of the missiles landed in the Sea of Japan, about 110 kilometers northwest of Hegura island, part of Ishikawa prefecture, and the other about 250 kilometers away.

Earlier in the day, South Korean and US troops held joint live-fire exercises in the region. A total of 2,500 troops took part in the maneuvers in Pocheon, northeast of Seoul.

South Korean president oversees joint drills

President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea personally watched the live-fire exercises. He said the drills were the largest of their kind ever held with the United States.

Yoon's office said in a statement the initial phase of the drills were designed to manifest a response to North Korea's potential nuclear and missile threats and a full-scale attack.

Pyongyang says such military maneuvers amount to a rehearsal for invasion.

North Korea released a statement on Thursday, with a defense ministry spokesperson saying the exercises were "targeting the DPRK (North Korea) by massively mobilizing various types of offensive weapons and equipment."

"Our response to this is inevitable," said the statement, carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

It said the drills were "escalating the military tension in the region."

"Our armed forces will fully counter any form of demonstrative moves and provocation of the enemies."

The developments came as US President Joe Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan was in Tokyo for meetings with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts. In a meeting with South Korea's national security adviser Cho Tae-yong and Japan's National Security Advisor Takeo Akiba, the three discussed the North's missile program, according to a readout of the meeting released by Japan.

North Korea, which has been under harsh sanctions by the United States and the United Nations Security Council for years over its nuclear and ballistic-missile programs, launched an unprecedented number of missiles in 2022, including its most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile ever.

Over 28,500 American troops are based in South Korea as a legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean War, which concluded in an armistice rather than a peace treaty, meaning that the two neighbors are still technically at war.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






North Korea Fires 2 Short-Range Ballistic Missiles Towards Sea of Japan - Seoul

Sputnik News

20230615

SEOUL (Sputnik) - North Korea has fired two ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan from the Sunan region, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Thursday.

Pyongyang launched two short-range ballistic missiles from 7:25 p.m. to approximately 7:37 p.m. (from 10:25 to 10:37 GMT) from the Sunan region towards the Sea of Japan, according to the military.

The range, altitude and speed of the rocket have not yet been reported.

Earlier in the day, media reported, citing South Korean military, that Pyongyang launched an unspecified ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan.

Media reported later, citing sources in government circles, that the missile allegedly launched by North Korea had fallen inside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

This prompted Japan to convene a meeting of the National Security Council, media reports, citing a government source.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Designation of Two DPRK Individuals Supporting the DPRK's Unlawful Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missile Programs

US Department of State

Press Statement

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

June 15, 2023

Today, the United States is designating two Beijing-based Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) nationals connected to the DPRK's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) procurement. The DPRK's development of its missile programs directly threatens regional and international security, and the United States will continue to take action to curtail activities in support of those programs.

The United States is designating Choe Chol Min and his wife Choe Un Jung. Choe Chol Min has worked with DPRK weapons trading officials, People's Republic of China (PRC) nationals, and other associates to procure materials used in the production of DPRK missiles. He has also supported Second Academy of Natural Sciences (SANS) representatives to facilitate the importation of over a thousand DPRK workers into the PRC to unlawfully generate income abroad for the DPRK regime. Choe Un Jung, who is officially assigned to the DPRK Embassy in the PRC, helped coordinate an order with one or more SANS associates for dual-use bearings used in DPRK missile production.

Choe Chol Min is being designated for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the SANS, pursuant to Executive Order 13382 . Choe Un Jung is being designated for being a North Korean person who has engaged in commercial activity that generates revenue for the Government of North Korea or the Workers' Party of Korea, pursuant to Executive Order 13810 . For more information about this designation, please see the Department of the Treasury's press release .

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Treasury Targets Procurement Agents Who Supply Prohibited Components for DPRK Missile Development

U.S. Department of the Treasury

June 15, 2023

WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned two Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) nationals involved in the procurement of equipment and materials that support the DPRK ballistic missile program. The DPRK continues to utilize a network of representatives in foreign countries, including the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Iran, to illicitly import restricted components necessary to conduct research and development of its unlawful weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs, in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.

"The DPRK's ongoing development of its ballistic missile program - even Pyongyang's recent failed military satellite launch - continues to threaten regional and international security," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. "The United States is committed to targeting the regime's illicit procurement networks that feed its weapons programs."

DPRK PROCUREMENT REPRESENTATIVES

The DPRK relies on foreign-sourced ballistic missile-related components that it cannot produce domestically. To obtain these components, the DPRK uses an extensive overseas network of procurement agents, including officials who operate from DPRK diplomatic missions or trade offices, as well as third-country nationals and foreign companies.

The Second Academy of Natural Sciences (SANS) is a national-level organization responsible for research and development of DPRK's advanced weapons systems, including missiles and likely nuclear weapons. SANS is designated by the UN and U.S. for its involvement with the DPRK's WMD programs. SANS uses numerous subordinate organizations and international representatives to procure foreign technology, equipment, materials, and information used in the research and development of advanced weapons systems, including missiles and likely nuclear weapons.

Choe Chol Min is a Beijing-based SANS representative who has worked with DPRK weapons trading officials, PRC nationals, and other associates to purchase and procure a range of items, including items known to be materials used in the production of DPRK ballistic missiles. Choe Chol Min has also collaborated with SANS representatives to facilitate the dispatch of over a thousand DPRK workers to the PRC and has supported the DPRK's primary weapons trading entity. Choe Chol Min received procurement requests from the DPRK for items and coordinated with associates to fulfill those orders. Furthermore, Choe Chol Min has worked with DPRK weapons trading officials to purchase electronic equipment for Iranian customers.

Choe Chol Min is being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13382 for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, SANS, an entity whose property and interests in property is blocked pursuant to E.O. 13382.

Choe Chol Min's wife, Choe Un Jong, is a Beijing-based North Korean national and is officially assigned to the DPRK Embassy in the PRC. Choe Un Jong has previously accompanied her husband, Choe Chol Min, on official travel related to his work with the DPRK's primary weapons trading entity. On at least one occasion, Choe Un Jong helped coordinate an order with one or more SANS associates for dual-use bearings that are used in DPRK ballistic missile production.

Choe Un Jong is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13810 for being a North Korean person, including a North Korean person that has engaged in commercial activity that generates revenue for the Government of North Korea or the Workers' Party of Korea.

Today's action will further restrict the ability of SANS to procure various items, including items that are listed in the North Korea Ballistic Missile Procurement Advisory, that the DPRK uses in the production of its ballistic missiles.

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, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all dealings by U.S. persons or within the United States (including transactions transiting the United States) that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.

In addition, persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals or entities designated today may themselves be exposed to designation. Furthermore, any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for any of the individuals or entities designated today could be subject to U.S. correspondent or payable-through account sanctions.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (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. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here.

Find identifying information on the individuals sanctioned today here.

###

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page..
Rights Activists Say China Neglecting North Korean Refugees

By Christy Lee June 15, 2023

Human rights activists and former officials are accusing Beijing of violating both Chinese and international laws, putting thousands of North Korean refugees in imminent danger.

Approximately 2,000 North Korean refugees are detained at the Chinese border "awaiting imminent forced repatriation" by a Chinese government that has been refusing to protect them, said U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, chair of the Congressional Executive Commission on China (CECC).

The commission held a hearing Tuesday to discuss the fate of North Koreans detained by Beijing since the border between the two countries closed during the pandemic. Repatriation for the North Koreans means torture, forced labor in camps that yield export income for the Pyongyang regime, or death.

The number of North Korean refugees detained by China could be higher as the number quoted by Smith was first cited in 2022 by Elizabeth Salmon, the U.N. special rapporteur on North Korea's human rights.

"China has failed to accord protection to North Korean refugees as it is required to do so under its domestic law, international law, and humanitarian principles," said Ethan Hee-seok Shin, a legal analyst at Seoul-based Transitional Justice Working Group. He spoke to VOA Korean Service before he testified Tuesday.

China considers North Korean refugees to be illegal immigrants. North Korea regards those who flee the repressive country as traitors. The regime denies its people freedom of speech, religion, mobility or assembly.

The U.N. defines refugees as those forced to flee their country because of persecution, war or violence.

A large-scale repatriation of some 2,000 North Koreans who were in China while seeking to reach a third country could mean a humanitarian and human rights crisis, according to the CECC.

Violating law

As a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol as well as the U.N. Convention against Torture, China is obligated under the principle of nonrefoulement to protect those who are at risk of facing human rights abuses upon return to their country.

Shin said in a statement submitted to the hearing that Beijing has been neglecting Article 32 of its constitution, which says China "may grant asylum to foreigners who request it on political grounds."

He also pointed out Article 46 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law that Beijing enacted in 2012, which says, "Foreigners applying for refugee status may, during the screening process, stay in China on the strength of temporary identity certificates issued by public security organs."

According to the CECC, Beijing has been blocking the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees from reaching out to North Korean refugees in China even though it agreed in 1995 to allow UNHCR staff full access to all refugees.

The UNHCR is responsible for determining refugee status and registering asylum seekers in China.

Jung-hoon Lee, a former South Korean ambassador-at-large for North Korean human rights who testified virtually at this week's Washington hearing, told VOA Korean in an email that it is time to call out both Beijing and UNHCR.

"Beijing is reneging on its obligation," he said, and "UNHCR on its part is not doing its job" of "resorting to binding arbitration" and putting pressure on China to allow its staff to access North Korean asylum seekers.

In response to the hearing, the spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, told VOA Korean on Wednesday that the government "has properly handled the issues related to the illegal entry of North Koreans in accordance with China's law, international law, and the principle of humanitarianism."

He continued, "This so-called committee, biased against China, is distorting facts, and making irresponsible remarks and accusations of China's social system and the relevant policies. Its rhetoric is full of ignorance and prejudice."

He added, "We urge the U.S. Congress and relevant parties to reflect on their own problems, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and do more things that are conducive to China-U.S. relations."

UN's role

During the hearing, Smith, the CEEC chair, said he had shared his "deep concern" about the plight of the North Koreans with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in an April meeting. On Tuesday, Smith appealed to Guterres to "please use your influence to the utmost to dissuade the Chinese government from forcibly repatriating these refugees."

In response, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a news briefing on Tuesday that Guterres "stands for the respect of international refugee law and against refoulement."

According to Robert King, special envoy for North Korean Human Rights during the Obama administration, who testified at the hearing, the U.N. is careful in its discussions with China on the issue.

He told VOA Korean that the U.N. is cautious about urging China to take steps to protect refugees or "publicly criticizing them" as Chinese officials who hold important positions at the U.N. wield considerable influence at the U.N.

Lee, the former South Korean ambassador, who is currently the dean of Graduate School of International Studies at Yonsei University in Seoul, said at the hearing that the U.N. General Assembly's (UNGA) Credentials Committee should examine North Korea's role at the U.N. as well.

"If South Africa was bad enough to be suspended from all U.N. activities for 20 years, shouldn't the U.N. General Assembly consider doing the same to North Korea until the nonproliferation and human rights goals are met?" Lee said.

In 1974, the UNGA suspended South Africa's participation at the organization over instituting apartheid as a state policy.

Risks refugees face

According to the Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights, a Seoul-based rights group promoting North Korean human rights, Beijing and Pyongyang profit financially by sending refugees back to North Korea.

In a statement sent to the hearing, the rights group said after refugees are forcibly repatriated by China, North Korea sends them to forced labor camps where they manufacture fake eyelashes and wigs that are exported to Chinese companies.

Business networks linking Beijing and Pyongyang that employ refugees as laborers earned an estimated $22.6 million in April alone for the North Korean regime and Chinese companies, according to the group.

"There is a high probability that [a] portion of products originating from North Korea but produced for Chinese companies have been made in prisons detaining repatriated North Korean refugees from China," the statement said.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Trilateral National Security Advisors Statement on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's Missile Launches

June 15, 2023

The United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea condemn today's DPRK missile launches. These launches are clear violations of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, and demonstrate the threat the DPRK's unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs pose to the region, international peace and security, and the global non-proliferation regime. This action demonstrates the need for all countries to fully implement DPRK-related UN Security Council resolutions that are intended to prohibit the DPRK from acquiring the technologies and materials needed to carry out these destabilizing launches.

The United States reaffirms unequivocally its ironclad security commitments to both Japan and the ROK. National Security Secretariat Secretary General Akiba Takeo, ROK National Security Advisor Cho Tae-yong, and U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met today in Tokyo and discussed ways to further strengthen trilateral cooperation, including through lock-step coordination in responding to the threats posed by the DPRK's illicit nuclear and missile programs. They also affirmed that Japan-ROK-U.S. cooperation would not be shaken by provocations and shared their belief that the DPRK should take the path of diplomacy rather than continued provocations. The national security advisors stated their intent to redouble their collective efforts to uphold peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

###

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Aatmanirbhar Bharat: MoD signs Rs 500 crore contract to strengthen Indian Army's communication system

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 15 JUN 2023 5:09PM by PIB Delhi

Giving a further boost to indigenous manufacturing of defence equipment and incentivize the private sector to engage in realizing the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Ministry of Defence inked a contract on June 15, 2023 in New Delhi with ICOMM Tele Limited, Hyderabad for the procurement of 1,035 numbers of 5/7.5 Ton Radio Relay Communication equipment containers. The value of the contract under Buy (Indian) Category is nearly Rs 500 crore. The delivery of the containers is scheduled to commence from the current Financial Year 2023-24.

The Radio Relay Containers will address a long overdue requirement of mobile communication detachments of the Indian Army. These containers will be utilized to provide a protected environment for communication equipment to function in a failsafe and reliable manner. The containers would be mounted on authorized specialist vehicles and moved as per operational requirements.

The company would produce the containers with all equipment and sub-systems sourced from indigenous manufacturers. This will give further boost to the indigenous manufacturing of defence equipment and stimulate the private sector to actively engage in realizing the vision of Aatmnirbhar Bharat. The development of such state-of-the-art equipment will also help in boosting exports to friendly countries.

********

ABB/GC



(Release ID: 1932615)

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






EP Plenary: Speech by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell on EU citizens detained in Iran

European External Action Service (EEAS)

15.06.2023

Strasbourg, 15/06/2023

EEAS Press Team

Speech delivered by Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, on behalf of High-Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell

Check against delivery!

President, Honourable Members of the European Parliament,

The recent release of EU citizens, including EU-Iranian dual citizens, unjustly detained in Iran is very positive news. In the past few weeks, six European citizens unjustly detained in Iran came back to Europe and their families: two Austrian-Iranian citizens, one Belgian, one French-Irish, one French and one Danish citizen.

However, these recent releases happened in the context of a growing number of illegitimate detentions involving European Union citizens in Iran. The European Union continues to urge Iran to release all of European Union citizens under arbitrary detention. Our thoughts are with those still in the country and their families.

The European Union made clear its united position and coordinated approach on EU citizens detained in Iran in the Conclusions of the Foreign Affairs Council in December 2022 and in the Statement of the High Representative on behalf of the European Union of 20 February 2023. In order to have consular access, be able to intervene, and work for the release of all European Union citizens, we must keep our critical engagement with Iran. The European Union and Member States must keep diplomatic channels open.

At the same time, the EU Member States are also recommending to their nationals to avoid travelling to Iran, in line with their respective national risk assessments, due to the acute risks.

It is worth reminding that these consular cases are under the national competence of each Member State. That is why we have strengthened our coordination with the Member States.

But let me stress that the High Representative/Vice-President [Josep Borrell] and his team are using every opportunity to express our firmest disapproval to the Iranian authorities towards this new, disturbing and unacceptable trend of detentions.

It is also worth stressing that these consular cases are all quite different, often require discretion and that, unfortunately, there is no one size-fits-all solution.

The European Union will continue to intervene and support whenever deemed necessary by the Member States involved.

For instance, we have used every official opportunity, as well as more discrete channels, to discuss EU cases with the Iranian authorities, always in full in coordination with the consular efforts by Member States who have primary consular responsibilities.

We will continue to work relentlessly for the freedom of unjustly detained EU citizens.

Thank you.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-242415

Closing remarks

President, Honourable Members,

The debate today testifies the [European] Parliament's continued interest and solidarity with European citizens detained in Iran.

I will share your input with my colleague High Representative Josep Borrell.

While our support and solidarity [are] crucial, it is also important not to disclose here more details regarding specific individual cases. We must always be aware of the risks of undermining ongoing consular efforts.

Let me stress once again that the European Union will continue to follow these cases in full coordination with the Member States involved and to use open channels to urge for the release of all detained European Union nationals in Iran.

Thank you.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-242417



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iran, Cuba sign 6 major cooperation deals

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 15 June 2023 7:39 PM

Iran and Cuba have signed six agreements to expand economic, political and judicial cooperation between the two allied countries.

The memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed on Thursday during Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi's state visit to Cuba.

The MoUs were focused on judicial issues, political cooperation as well as on customs and information technology, according to a report by Iran's official IRNA news agency.

Along with Raeisi, Cuban president Miguel DAaz-Canel watched on as ministers and senior officials of Iran and Cuba signed the deals in the Palace of the Revolution in the Cuban capital Havana.

The agreements came less than a day after Raeisi's delegation signed three similar cooperation deals with officials in Nicaragua.

Those agreements were in the fields of judicial cooperation, trade and supply of medical equipment, said the IRNA.

Unconfirmed reports by Iranian media outlets suggested Iran had secured tens of billions worth of economic and trade deals during Raeisi's four-day tour of Latin America where he has visited Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba.

The tour is part of Iran's efforts to diversify its trade partners and to join ranks with countries that have been targeted by foreign sanctions.

Raeisi had said before leaving Tehran for Latin America earlier this week that Iran views relations with independent countries of the region as "strategic".

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Iranian, Cuban presidents discuss bilateral ties in Havana

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Jun 16, 2023

Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Cuban counterpart Miguel DAaz-Canel met and conferred on bilateral ties in Havana on Thursday.

President Raisi arrived in the Cuban capital as the last leg of his five-day tour of Latin America.

Raisi was accorded warm welcome by his Cuban counterpart Miguel DAaz-Canel in Havana on Thursday morning local time.

High-ranking officals of Iran and Cuba signed six cooperation pacts in the presence of the two countries' presidents.

The cooperation agreements covered judicial, comprehensive political cooperation, customs cooperation, and information technology which were signed by senior Iranian and Cuban officials.

2050

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






June 15, 2023

Release

Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting in Brussels With Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant

Pentagon Spokesperson Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

Today in Brussels, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant to discuss opportunities to expand military cooperation to counter regional threats.

Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant discussed important developments in the U.S.-Israeli bilateral defense partnership, U.S. security assistance for Israel, and efforts to increase partnership and interoperability. Both leaders agreed to continue working together to address the wide range of threats posed by Iran, including its nuclear program, destabilizing regional activities, and proliferation of uncrewed aerial systems and other lethal assistance throughout the Middle East and to Russia. Secretary Austin lauded Israel's continued integration into the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility, and he expressed the Department's intent to strengthen the regional security architecture and to further multilateral cooperation with regional partners.

Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant discussed Russia's aggression in Ukraine. Secretary Austin noted that increased Iranian-Russian military cooperation is resulting in profoundly negative consequences for Ukraine, as well as the Middle East region, which are being attacked with Iranian-made uncrewed aerial systems.

Secretary Austin expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation in the West Bank and encouraged further cooperation, including via the United States Security Coordinator, to deescalate conflict and reduce tensions. The Secretary emphasized U.S. support for a two-state solution and ways to advance equal measures of freedom, justice, dignity, and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians.

Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3429954/

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs meets EU's High Representative /Vice President

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Minister of State for the Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Hina Rabbani Khar met the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP), Josep Borrell in Strasbourg on 13 June 2023.

Recalling her meeting with the High Representative on the sidelines of the second EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in Stockholm on 13 May 2023, the Minister of State expressed satisfaction on the ongoing cooperation between Pakistan and the EU based on the Strategic Engagement Plan.

The Minister of State highlighted that Pakistan is engaging with the European institutions for building partnerships under various initiatives of the EU including the Global Gateway Strategy with a focus on green energy, and blue economies.

She also expressed the desire to further enhance EU-Pakistan mutual engagement, especially legal pathways to migration while addressing EU's concerns on readmission.

Underscoring the importance of trade and economic cooperation, Minister of State emphasized that the EU's GSP Plus framework had been mutually beneficial and instrumental in growth of trade between the two sides.

The Minister of State highlighted the importance of decisive global action on climate adaptation and building climate resilience, and the importance of developed countries taking the lead in mobilising climate finance, noting the significant role of public and private funds, and technology to facilitate the transition.

Minister of State and the High Representative/Vice-President also exchanged views on regional issues and reaffirmed their commitment to promote peace and prosperity through concerted efforts.

Minister of State expressed hope that the HR/VP will visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience.

Islamabad

15 June 2023

115/2023

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Transcript of the Media Briefing by the Spokesperson Thursday 15 June 2023

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

[This is a rush transcript. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated]

Assalam-o-Alaikum,

Thank you for joining us.

I will begin with Prime Minister's ongoing visit to Azerbaijan. Prime Minister arrived in Baku yesterday on a two-day visit. This morning he will meet President Ilham Aliyev. The two sides will exchange views on diverse areas of bilateral cooperation including in energy, culture, banking, education, defence, information technology, science and technology, trade and investment, labour mobility, agriculture and transport connectivity. Regional and global issues of mutual concern and cooperation in multilateral forums will also be discussed. The two sides are expected to sign a programme of cultural cooperation and an MOU of cooperation between the foreign service academies of Pakistan and Azerbaijan.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar, has just concluded an official visit to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Belgium. During her visit, she met high-level officials including: Foreign Minister, Anniken Huitfeldt and State Secretary, Erling Rimestad of Norway; Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell; Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy of Denmark, Dan Jrgensen; State Secretary to Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Johanna Sumuvuori; and Belgian Secretary of State for Migration and Asylum Nicole de Moor.

The Minister of State has held meetings with local leaders and parliamentarians in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Belgium including: members of the Standing Committee of Foreign Affairs and Defence of Norway; the Chair of the Pakistan Belgium Parliamentary Friendship Group, Senator Allesia Cleas; and First Deputy Speaker of Swedish Parliament, Kenneth G Forslund.

The Minister of State has held extensive meetings with officials of the European Union including the High Representative of Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borell, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, and European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson. In Strasbourg, she met with the Members of the European Parliament. In these meetings, the two sides discussed Pakistan-EU cooperation in diverse areas including food security, climate change, energy, sustainable development, green economy, agriculture and digital connectivity.

Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy of Denmark, Mr. Dan Jrgensen has arrived in Pakistan on a two-day official visit. This afternoon, he will meet with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. They will discuss bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Denmark in political, trade, economic, investment, agriculture, information technology and energy domains with key focus in the areas of climate change and green transition. They will also exchange the Joint Action Plan on the Green Framework Engagement Agreement, signed in August last year. The Joint Action Plan would pave the way for joint initiatives and projects in renewable energy and green transition driven by technological advancement and collaborative partnerships. It will also contribute towards the realization of Sustainable Development Goals and thus set the foundation for a sustainable future.

We are concerned about the recurring acts of confiscation of properties of Kashmiri activists and human rights defenders in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). India's National Investigation Agency and the State Investigation Agency (SIA) have moved aggressively to seize immovable properties of several Kashmiri activists. It is concerning that just SIA has attached 124 such properties since its establishment in 2021.

We condemn India's recent move to confiscate the property of All Parties Hurriyat Conference Spokesperson and Tehreek-e-Hurriyat leader, Ayaz Akbar, in Srinagar. Mr. Akbar remains behind the bars since 2017 on fictitious charges. India must end dispossessing the political leaders and human rights defenders of their rightful properties. Kashmiris are the rightful heirs to their own land. It is unfortunate that non-Kashmiris are being encouraged to buy land and property in the disputed territory while the properties of Kashmiris are being confiscated and destroyed.

Now couple of announcements.

The 12th round of Pakistan -Iran Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) will be held in Tehran on 17-18 June 2023. The Foreign Secretary will lead Pakistani delegation while Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs of Iran, Mr. Ali Bagheri Kani will lead the Iranian side.

While reviewing the progress on implementation of decisions of last session, the BPC will review all aspects of Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations covering political, economic, trade, investment, border security, education, climate change and culture domains. The two sides will also hold discussions on regional situation particularly Afghanistan, Kashmir, resumption of Iran-Saudi Arabia diplomatic ties and regional peace and stability. The two sides will also discuss progress on institutional frameworks to promote ongoing cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.

In Tehran, Foreign Secretary will call on the Iranian Foreign Minister and address the Institute of Political and International Studies. He would also hold meeting with Secretary General of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and Chairman of Pakistan -Iran Parliamentary Friendship Group. The last meeting of BPC was held in Islamabad in October 2021.

The second round of Pakistan-Belgium Bilateral Political Consultations is being held in Islamabad today. Additional Foreign Secretary (Europe) Ambassador Muhammad Saleem will lead the Pakistan side while the Belgium delegation will be led by Ambassador Cooreman, Director General, Bilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Belgium.

The two sides will review the entire spectrum of Pakistan-Belgium relations and set the agenda for bilateral engagement and cooperation for the next year. The two sides will discuss collaboration at international forums, including at the UN, and important regional and global developments. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Belgium.

Pakistan remains committed to further deepening and broadening its ties with Belgium in the areas of trade, investment, academic and cultural cooperation, tourism and labor mobility.

I thank you.

*

Question: There are reports in Afghan media that Afghan government is ready to shift TTP in the northern part of Afghanistan. Have they communicated this to Pakistan and what are the details if you may share?(Azaz Syed, Geo News)

Answer: I would not like to go into specifics on this particular issue. We are engaged with the Afghan Interim Government on the serious concerns that Pakistan has about the menace of terrorism. Our regular engagement is an ongoing process. All aspects of countering this menace remain under discussion between the two sides. Besides it is not appropriate for us to make comments on any such media statements. We look forward to working closely with Afghan side to counter the terrorist threat.

Question: My question is regarding the recent Pakistan European Union Readmission Agreement in which the two sides agreed to explore further avenues for collaboration in disaster management and capacity building, what will be its outcome? Will it prove fruitful in sustaining a long-term partnership in terms of countering catastrophes related to climate change? (Naimal Khawaja, Media Today)

Answer: I think there are two three aspects of Pakistan European Union cooperation that you have referred to in your question. Pakistan and the European Union have a robust dialogue of cooperation, it is multifaceted and it includes climate change, food security, green technology and sustainable development, and it also includes labor mobility. We are engaged with the European Union to ensure that there are legal pathways for migration and the two sides have developed certain mechanisms under this framework. For further details about these mechanisms, you may contact the Ministry of Interior.

Question: Firstly, with regards to the cyclone that is off the coast of Karachi in Pakistan. Was there any coordination between Pakistan and India with regards to data sharing for this cyclone?

Secondly, yesterday the Afghan interim Defence Minister in a statement to Tolo News, their local network, has alleged in an apparent mention with reference to Pakistan that Afghanistan continues to be invaded by the Americans and its neighbors and I want the Americans and our neighbors to back off from our soil. What is your response on that?

Thirdly, the US State Department Spokesperson has raised concerns regarding functioning of the military courts, hoping that the rule of law and constitutionalism will be upheld. What is your take on the matter?(Anas Mallick, Capital TV)

Answer: I would like to reiterate what we have said in the past, that Pakistan is a country of laws and constitution. We remain committed to our constitutional obligations, to protect the rights and property of our citizens, who enjoy constitutional guarantees and fundamental freedoms, which are underwritten by our judiciary. We are also a country of laws and the rule of law must be upheld. Any actions of the Government of Pakistan with regards to the events of May 9 will be in accordance with our laws and constitution.

Regarding the statement by the Afghan Interim Defense Minister, I have not seen the statement and I would hesitate to comment on it before seeing that statement.

On your first question, I would point out that this is a matter on which NDMA is taking the lead and as far as I understand, there have been no contacts with the Indian authorities. You can seek a confirmation from the NDMA.

Question: My first question is that many cases have been registered against Pakistani people who are living abroad and they are continuously writing or speaking against the government or some of the institutions of Pakistan. Regarding the statement made by the Spokesman of the State Department, I draw your attention that he was referring to the protests of May 9. While the Government of Pakistan and our institutions are seeing these events as attacks on military institution; while protest is a right, attack on military institution is a mutiny. Why is there a large cleavage between the world perception and pronouncement by the Government of Pakistan? Whether we are not able to convey our exact context that what has happened on May 9?

Second question is that the State Minister is there in Europe and visited Sweden, Norway, Belgium and other countries. What is the single most important agenda or focus that she is carrying with her? Is it GSP plus and that we want to get it revived or is it something else?(Shaukat Piracha, AAJ News)

Answer: The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs is undertaking this visit to Europe to hold consultations on a range of matters, including the areas that I referred to in my opening statement. And, yes, GSP plus is also part of the agenda of her conversations with the European counterparts.

On your first question, I would reiterate what I have said before, that Pakistan will continue to follow its laws and constitution in holding those responsible for May 9 events to account. In this process, the rule of law, Pakistani laws and the Constitution will be upheld.

Question: There was an incident of boat wreck off the coast of Greece in which Pakistanis were also present. Can you share details that till now how many Pakistanis have died in that incident?

Secondly, during operation Zarb-e-Azab in North Waziristan, some people who were living near border shifted to Afghanistan. Now, they are facing lot of difficulties. What efforts are being done by Pakistan to bring them back? (Allah Noor, Mashriq TV)

Answer: I have to get further details on this particular issue. But I can share with you that all issues that concern Pakistanis in Afghanistan have always remained a high priority for the Government of Pakistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our Mission in Kabul. I have to inquire about the details of this particular case.

On your first question about the boat wreck off the coast of Greece, we have seen the reports. Initial reports from our Mission suggest that no Pakistani casualties have been reported. We continue to follow the developments in this case, and will keep the media updated.

Question: I want to know the exact amount which NAB has to pay to Foreign Office regarding the Broadsheet Case? What is the update on this matter? (Anwar Abbas, Bol News)

Answer: According to our accounts nothing is outstanding against NAB as far as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is concerned. There were some financial transactions that took place between the two departments in the past. At this stage, nothing is outstanding against NAB in financial terms.

Question: Firstly, US Treasury Secretary Yellen has said that United States of America fully supports IMF regarding latest installment for Pakistan. Being Spokesperson of Foreign Office, what do you think are the obstacles that are behind this delay in release of installment to Pakistan by IMF?

Secondly, regarding a Pakistani social activist Major retired Adil Raja, unofficial sources said that he was arrested in UK. Was any sort of request officially sent by Pakistan to London police or some other institution to arrest him? (Adeel Bashir, Roze News)

Answer: On your second question, it would be more appropriate if the details are sought from the UK authorities. If you have further questions with respect to the second part of this question, you can approach the Ministry of Interior that deals with issues pertaining to extradition and law enforcement.

On your first question regarding IMF, I like the way you framed it by putting spokesperson in that question, although you know exactly what my answer would be. Because this is a matter that relates to the Ministry of Finance and the Minister of Finance is taking the lead on these negotiations with IMF. You may contact the Ministry of Finance for further details or comments on the statements by the US Treasury.

Question: On the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Russia, the first oil consignment from Russia reached Pakistan. How does Pakistan view this development?

Secondly, there are reports that Pakistan has paid for this oil in Chinese currency. What are your comments on this?(Syed Faisal Ali, Daily State Views)

Supplementary Question: It has also been reported that for this consignment different route was used passing through India and UAE. Can you share whether it beneficial for Pakistan or not? (Sohail Majeed, The Asian Telegraph)

Answer: First of all, for Pakistan, access to affordable oil imports has been a priority as the country faces a difficult economic situation, energy shortages and high cost of energy due to dependence on imported petroleum. Our process of procuring petroleum from Russia started a while back. After intense negotiations we were able to finalize a deal as a result of which the first shipments have arrived from Russia. This will have high benefits for the Pakistani people. The Ministry of Petroleum has taken a lead in this process. It would, therefore, be more appropriate you contact the Ministry of Petroleum for further details.

Question: From the recent visit of Foreign Minister Bilawal to Iraq there were some reports that a Ferry service will be started between Pakistan and Iraq from Gwadar. Secondly, a Pakistani consulate is also going to be opened in Najaf. What are other important things that were agreed during this visit and which will be beneficial for Pakistanis? (Mohsin Ul Mulk, 24 News)

Answer: Foreign Minister had a historic visit to Iraq, where in depth discussion were held on bilateral cooperation in diverse fields. Yes, as I announced in our last briefing, the Government of Iraq has agreed for Pakistan to open a consulate in Najaf for facilitating trade and for facilitating Pakistani Zaireen, who visit there. For ferry service, discussions are underway, and we will make announcements when we have a final outcome.

Question: Is Prime Minister going to visit France in coming days and if yes what is the agenda? (Ali Hussain, Business Recorder)

Answer: You know my response. We will be making announcements shortly about Prime Minister's future engagements.

Question: Our Prime Minister and Finance Minister have already said that Pakistan has fulfilled all requirements for the revival of IMF deal. Now, the hurdles are at diplomatic and political front, and more importantly, there is no support from influential countries like U.S. for Pakistan and Foreign Office is responsible for getting such support. What is your opinion on this? (Ghulam Abbas Jaffer, Daily District News)

Answer: My response is the same that the IMF negotiations are being handled by the Ministry of Finance and I would not like to comment on this question.

Question: The Minister of State has just concluded her visit to mostly Nordic countries. She was in Sweden as well and we understand that Sweden has closed its Embassy or consular section precisely since early February this year. A lot of Pakistani students and Pakistani nationals have been facing this hurdle. The last time when we spoke, you said from this podium that the matter will be raised. Was the matter raised in her bilateral interactions, if yes what was the response? Should we expect the consular section to be opened anytime soon? (Anas Mallick, Capital TV)

Answer: As you know, the visit has just concluded yesterday and I do not have a complete readout of all the meetings that took place. Once we have that, will be able to make a comment.

Question: Can you please share if there is any discussion going on between Pakistan and Russia regarding opening of Russian Consulate in Pakistan? (Anwar Abbas, Bol News)

Answer: I do not have any information on this.

Thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Sergey Karaganov: By using its nuclear weapons, Russia could save humanity from a global catastrophe

14 Jun, 2023

A tough but necessary decision would likely force the West to back off, enabling an earlier end to the Ukraine crisis and preventing it from expanding to other states

By Professor Sergey Karaganov, honorary chairman of Russia's Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, and academic supervisor at the School of International Economics and Foreign Affairs Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow

This article has sparked major debate among experts in Russia about nuclear weapons, their role and the conditions of their use.

This is especially the case given Sergey Karaganov's status as a former presidential adviser to both Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin, and his position as head of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, a noted Moscow think tank.

Some prominent figures have reacted with dismay, while others have been less critical.

RT has decided it would be beneficial for our readers to read it in full. The following piece has been translated and lightly edited.

***

Our country, and its leadership, seems to me to be facing a difficult choice. It is becoming increasingly clear that our clash with the West will not end even if we achieve a partial - let alone a crushing - victory in Ukraine.

Even if we completely liberate the Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, it will be a minimal victory. A slightly greater success would be to liberate the whole of eastern and southern Ukraine within a year or two. But it would still leave part of the country with an even more embittered ultra-nationalist population pumped full of weapons - a bleeding wound that threatens inevitable complications, such as another war.

The situation could be worse if we liberate the whole of Ukraine at the cost of monstrous sacrifices and are left with ruins and a population that mostly hates us. It would take more than a decade to "re-educate" them.

Any of these options, especially the last one, will distract Russia from the much-needed shift of its spiritual, economic, military and political center to the East of Eurasia. We will be stuck with a wasteful focus on the West. And the territories of today's Ukraine, especially the central and western ones, will attract resources - both human and financial. These regions were heavily subsidised even in Soviet times.

Meanwhile, hostility from the West will continue; it will support a slow-burning guerrilla civil war.

A more attractive option is the liberation and reunification of the east and south, and the imposition of capitulation on the remnants of Ukraine with complete demilitarization, creating a buffer, friendly state. But such an outcome would only be possible if we are able to break the West's will to support the Kiev junta, and use it against us, forcing the US-led bloc into a strategic retreat.

And here I come to a crucial but hardly discussed issue. The root cause of - and indeed the main reason for - the Ukrainian crisis, as well as many other conflicts in the world, and the general increase in military threats, is the accelerating failure of the contemporary Western ruling elites.

This crisis is accompanied by an unprecedentedly rapid shift in the balance of power in the world in favor of the global majority, driven economically by China and partly by India, with Russia as the military and strategic anchor. This weakening not only infuriates the imperial-cosmopolitan elites (US President Joe Biden and his ilk) but also frightens the imperial-national elites (such as his predecessor Donald Trump). The West is losing the advantage it has held for five centuries to siphon off the wealth of the entire world by imposing its political and economic order and establishing its cultural dominance, mainly by brute force. So there is no quick end to the defensive, but aggressive, confrontation that the West has unleashed.

This moral, political and economic collapse has been brewing since the mid-1960s, was interrupted by the collapse of the USSR, but resumed with renewed vigour in the 2000s (the defeats of the Americans and their allies in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the crisis of the Western economic model in 2008 were milestones).

In order to slow down this seismic shift, the West has temporarily consolidated itself. The US has turned Ukraine into a punching bag to tie the hands of Russia, the politico-military lynchpin of a non-Western world freed from the shackles of neocolonialism. Ideally, of course, the Americans would simply like to blow up our country and thus radically weaken the emerging alternative superpower, China. We, either not realizing the inevitability of the clash or hoarding our strength, have been slow to act preemptively. Moreover, in line with modern, mainly Western, political and military thinking, we were rash in raising the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons, inaccurate in assessing the situation in Ukraine, and not entirely successful in launching the current military operation.

By failing internally, Western elites have actively fed the weeds that have taken root in the soil of 70 years of prosperity, satiation and peace. These comprise of anti-human ideologies: the denial of family, homeland, history, love between men and women, faith, service to higher ideals, everything that is human. Their philosophy is to weed out those who resist. The aim is to neuter people in order to reduce their ability to resist modern "globalist" capitalism, which is becoming more and more obviously unjust and harmful to man and humanity.

Meanwhile, a weakened US is destroying Western Europe and other countries dependent on it, trying to push them into a confrontation that will follow Ukraine. The elites in most of these countries have lost their bearings and, panicked by the crisis in their own positions at home and abroad, are dutifully leading their countries to the slaughter. At the same time, because of greater failure, a sense of powerlessness, centuries of Russophobia, intellectual degradation and a loss of strategic culture, their hatred is almost more intense than that of the US.

Thus, the trajectory of most Western countries clearly points towards a new fascism, which could be called "liberal" totalitarianism.

In the future, and this is the most important thing, it will only get worse. Truces are possible, but reconciliation is not. Anger and despair will continue to grow in waves and waves. This vector of Western movement is a clear sign of the drift towards the outbreak of World War Three. It has already begun and could erupt into a full-blown conflagration either by accident, or due to the growing incompetence and irresponsibility of the ruling circles of the West.

The introduction of artificial intelligence and the robotization of war increase the risk of unintended escalation. Machines can act outside the control of confused elites.

The situation is aggravated by "strategic parasitism" - in 75 years of relative peace, people have forgotten the horrors of war, have stopped fearing even nuclear weapons. Everywhere, but especially in the West, the instinct for self-preservation has weakened.

I have spent many years studying the history of nuclear strategy and have come to an unequivocal, if unscientific, conclusion. The advent of nuclear weapons is the result of the intervention of the Almighty, who, appalled that mankind had unleashed two world wars within a generation, costing tens of millions of lives, gave us the weapons of Armageddon to show those who had lost their fear of hell that it existed. On that fear rested the relative peace of the last three-quarters of a century.

But now that fear is gone. The unthinkable in terms of previous notions of nuclear deterrence is happening - a group of ruling elites, in a fit of desperate rage, have unleashed a full-scale war in the underbelly of a nuclear superpower.

The fear of atomic escalation must be restored. Otherwise humanity is doomed.

It is not only, and not even so much, what the future world order will look like that is being decided in the fields of Ukraine right now. But rather whether the world we are used to will be preserved at all, or if all will be left is radioactive ruins, poisoning the remnants of humanity.

By breaking the West's will in imposing its aggression, we will not only save ourselves and finally free the world from the Western yoke of five centuries, but we will also salvage the whole of humanity. By pushing the West towards catharsis and the abandonment of the hegemony of its elites, we will force it to retreat before a global catastrophe. Humanity will be given a new chance to develop.

Proposed solution

Of course, there is an uphill struggle ahead. It is also necessary to solve our own internal problems - to finally get rid of the mindset of Western-centrism and of the Westernizers in the administrative class. Especially the compradors and their peculiar way of thinking. Of course, in this area, the NATO bloc is helping us, unwittingly.

Our 300-year journey around Europe has given us a lot of useful lessons and it has helped us to form our great culture. Let us cherish our European heritage. But it is time to return home, to ourselves. Let us begin, with the baggage we have accumulated, to live in our own way. Our friends in the Foreign Ministry have recently made a real breakthrough by referring to Russia as a civilizational state in their foreign policy concept. I would add - a civilization of civilizations, open to the North as well as to the South, to the West as well as to the East. Now the main direction of development is to the South, to the North and, above all, to the East.

The confrontation with the West in Ukraine, however it ends, should not distract us from the strategic internal movement - spiritual, cultural, economic, political, military and political - towards the Urals, Siberia and the Pacific Ocean. A new Ural-Siberian strategy is needed, one that includes several powerful spiritually uplifting projects, including, of course, the creation of a third capital in Siberia. This movement should become part of the much-needed formulation of the "Russian Dream" - the image of the Russia and the world to which one aspires.

I have often written, and I am not alone in this, that great states without a great idea cease to be such or simply disappear into the void. History is littered with the graves of powers that lost their way. This idea should be created from above and not rely, as fools or lazy people do, on what comes from below. It must correspond to the deepest values and aspirations of the people and, above all, it must take us all forward. But it is the responsibility of the elite and the leadership of the country to formulate it. The delay in putting forward such a vision is unacceptably long.

But for the future to come to pass, the resistance of the forces of the past - i.e. the West - must be overcome. If this is not achieved, there will almost certainly be a full-scale world war. Which will probably be the last of its kind.

And here I come to the most difficult part of this article. We can keep fighting for another year or two, or even three, sacrificing thousands and thousands of our best men and grinding up hundreds of thousands more who are unfortunate enough to fall into the tragic historical trap of what is now called Ukraine. But this military operation cannot end in a decisive victory without forcing the West into a strategic retreat or even capitulation. We must force the West to abandon its attempts to turn back history, to abandon its attempts at global domination, and to force it to deal with its own problems, to manage its current multifaceted crisis. To put it crudely, it is necessary for the West to simply "piss off" and end its interference in the direction of Russia and the rest of the world.

However, for this to happen, Western elites need to rediscover their own lost sense of self-preservation by understanding that attempts to wear down Russia by playing the Ukrainians against it are counterproductive for the West itself.

The credibility of nuclear deterrence must be restored by lowering the unacceptably high threshold for the use of atomic weapons and by moving cautiously but quickly up the ladder of deterrence-escalation. The first steps have already been taken through statements to this effect by the president and other leaders, by beginning to deploy nuclear weapons and their delivery vehicles in Belarus, and by increasing the combat effectiveness of the strategic deterrent forces. There are quite a few steps on this ladder. I count about two dozen. It could even go as far as warning our compatriots and all people of good will about the need to leave their homes near the objects of possible nuclear strikes in countries directly supporting the Kiev regime. The enemy must know that we are ready to launch a preemptive retaliatory strike in response to its current and past aggression in order to prevent a slide into a global thermonuclear war.

I have often said and written that with the right strategy of deterrence and even use, the risk of a 'retaliatory' nuclear or other strike on our territory can be minimized. Only if there is a madman in the White House who also hates his own country will the US decide to strike in 'defense' of the Europeans and invite retaliation by sacrificing a hypothetical Boston for a notional Poznan. The Americans and the Western Europeans are well aware of this, they just prefer not to think about it. We, too, have contributed to this recklessness with our peace-loving pronouncements. Having studied the history of US nuclear strategy, I know that after the USSR acquired a credible nuclear retaliatory capability, Washington never seriously considered using nuclear weapons on Soviet territory, even though it publicly bluffed. When nuclear weapons were considered, it was only against "advancing" Soviet forces in Western Europe. I know that the late Chancellors Helmut Kohl and Helmut Schmidt fled from their bunkers as soon as the question of such use came up in an exercise.

Movement down the ladder of containment-escalation should be fairly quick. Given the current direction of the West - and the degradation of most of its elites - each successive decision it makes is more incompetent and ideologically veiled than the last. And, at present, we cannot expect these elites to be replaced by more responsible and reasonable ones. This will only happen after a catharsis, leading to the abandonment of much ambition.

We cannot repeat the 'Ukrainian scenario'. For a quarter of a century we were not listened to when we warned that NATO enlargement would lead to war; we tried to delay, to "negotiate". As a result, we ended up in a serious armed conflict. Now the price of indecision is an order of magnitude higher than it would have been earlier.

But what if the present Western leaders refuse to back down? Perhaps they have lost all sense of self-preservation? Then we will have to hit a group of targets in a number of countries to bring those who have lost their senses back to their senses.

It's a morally frightening choice - we would be using God's weapon and condemning ourselves to great spiritual loss. But if this is not done, not only may Russia perish, but most likely the whole of human civilization will end.

We will have to make this choice ourselves. Even friends and sympathizers will not support it at first. If I were Chinese, I would not want an abrupt and decisive end to the conflict, because it will draw back US forces and allow them to gather forces for a decisive battle - either directly or, in the best Sun Tzu tradition, by forcing the enemy to retreat without a fight. As a Chinese person, I would also oppose the use of nuclear weapons because taking the confrontation to the nuclear level means moving to an area where my country is still weak.

Also, decisive action is not in line with the Chinese foreign policy philosophy, which emphasizes economic factors (with the accumulation of military power) and avoids direct confrontation. I would support an ally by providing him with rear cover, but I would go behind his back and not enter the fray. (In this case, perhaps I don't understand this philosophy well enough and am attributing motives to my Chinese friends that are not their own.) If Russia uses nuclear weapons, Beijing would condemn it. But Chinese hearts would also rejoice in knowing that that the reputation and position of the US had been dealt a severe blow.

How would we react if (God forbid!) Pakistan attacked India, or vice versa? We'd be horrified. Upset that the nuclear taboo has been broken. Then let us help the victims and change our nuclear doctrine accordingly.

For India and other countries of the world majority, including nuclear weapon states (Pakistan, Israel), the use of nuclear weapons is unacceptable, both for moral and geostrategic reasons. If they are used "successfully", the nuclear taboo - the notion that such weapons should never be used and that their use is a direct route to nuclear Armageddon - will be devalued. We are unlikely to win support quickly, even if many in the Global South would feel satisfaction at the defeat of their former oppressors who plundered them, carried out genocides and imposed an alien culture.

But in the end, the victors are not judged. And the saviors are thanked. Western European political culture does not remember, but the rest of the world does (and with gratitude) how we helped the Chinese to free themselves from the brutal Japanese occupation, and many Western colonies to throw off the colonial yoke.

Of course, if they do not understand us at first, they will have all the more incentive to educate themselves. Still, it is very likely that we can win, and focus the minds enemy states without extreme measures, and force them to retreat. And after a few years, we take take up a position as China's rear, as it is now performing for us, supporting it in its struggle with the US. Then this fight can be avoided without a big war. And we will win together for the good of all, including the people of the Western countries.

At that stage, Russia and the rest of humanity will pass through all the thorns and traumas into the future, which I see as bright - multipolar, multicultural, multicolored - and giving countries and peoples the opportunity to build their own destinies in addition to the common one, which should unite worldwide.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russia-Algeria talks

Vladimir Putin held talks in the Kremlin with President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who is in Russia on a state visit.

June 15, 2023

16:00

The Kremlin, Moscow

The agenda covered matters related to promoting strategic cooperation between Russia and Algeria in various sectors, as well as major international issues, including the situation in the Middle East and North Africa.

After a welcome ceremony held in the Grand Kremlin Palace's St George Hall, the leaders of the two countries had a conversation, followed by an expanded format meeting.

Following the talks, a package of documents was signed, including the Declaration on Enhanced Strategic Cooperation between Russia and Algeria.

Also signed were the Convention between the Russian Federation and the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria on Extradition, intergovernmental agreements on cooperation in mass communications, in quarantine and plant protection, and in space exploration and the use of outer space for peaceful purposes.

In addition, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Algerian Ministry of Culture and Arts signed a cooperation programme for 2023-2025; the justice ministries of the two countries signed a protocol on cooperation; the related ministries signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation on water resources; and the Delovaya Rossiya business association and the Algerian Economic Revival Council signed the Memorandum on Cooperation.

In addition, Vladimir Putin and Abdelmadjid Tebboune gave statements for the media.

* * *

Beginning of the narrow-format Russia-Algeria talks

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, friends,

Welcome to Russia. We are delighted to see you here.

Our country attaches special importance to its relations with Algeria, which can be described as strategic ties. On our way to this room today, Mr President and I recalled that relations between Russia and Algeria started to take shape and develop back in the mid-1950s. We can say without exaggeration that these were strategic relations even back then.

Over these years, the people of Russia and the heroic and, I would say, courageous people of Algeria, considering the fact that they had to fight for independence for many years and won, have developed a very good relationship. Last year, our two countries marked 60 years of diplomatic ties.

As you know, the USSR has offered its Algerian friends meaningful support in its war for independence. During the first years of independence, the USSR supported Algeria as it emerged as an independent, sovereign state, and helped it develop many sectors of its economy.

Russia-Algeria interaction is truly multifaceted and has a tangible potential for further development. Mr President, following our talks we will sign a declaration on deepening strategic partnership between Russia and Algeria, which will launch a new, more advanced stage in our bilateral relations.

Regular political dialogue is playing an important role. You and I are practically always in touch, our colleagues are also working a the Foreign Minister [Sergei Lavrov], the Security Council Secretary [Nikolai Patrushev], and Speaker of the Russian Parliament's upper chamber Valentina Matviyenko. The Intergovernmental Commission is operating.

Algeria is among Russia's top three trading partners in Africa. As far as I know, yesterday you must have attended the RussiaaAlgeria business forum. I hope that there will be increasing interest from both sides in such events. Looking ahead, I would like to say that we will be happy to see you at the second Russia-Africa Summit in St Petersburg in late July.

I would also like to note that Russia-Algeria coordination at multilateral forums and organisations is at a good level as well. Our efforts in OPEC Plus and the Gas Exporting Countries Forum are facilitating stabilisation of the global energy markets.

We continue our constructive cooperation at other venues, in particular, the UN. I hope that with Algeria's election as a Security Council member for 2024-2025, our interaction will only become stronger.

Our humanitarian ties are making headway. Yesterday's opening of a square named after Algeria's national hero Emir Abdelkader in the centre of Moscow was also timed to coincide with your visit. This square will become another good, striking symbol of strong Russia-Algeria friendship.

Welcome, Mr President.

President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune (retranslated): Let me express my deep satisfaction with this meeting. Thank you very much for your hospitality. This is evidence of the depth of friendship that exists between Algeria and the Russian Federation.

Our relations have never changed for the past 60 years, with Algeria always supporting Russia. Today, foreign states may bring pressure to bear on us, but this can never affect our relations.

First, we should preserve our independence, and this is possible thanks to support from the Russian Federation that supplies us with weapons so that we can preserve our independence in this challenging environment.

We should exchange views under all circumstances. We should always be in contact and address all items of interest.

Before we get to a detailed discussion of all these matters, let me congratulate you on your national holiday, Russian Federation Day, June 12.

As for the main items that we must address, Russia, as you know, has always helped Algeria, and now we are a member of the UN Security Council - thanks to the friendly Russian Federation.

We have almost agreed - even before we started the talks - on all items related to the international situation, a very tense situation, as you know. It is necessary to accelerate the process of Algeria joining the BRICS group so that we no longer accept dollars and euros. This will be to Algeria's benefit. God grant!

As for the geopolitical situation and relations, we must touch on the Libya issue. Libya is a friend to Russia and Algeria, and therefore we are always eager for stability in that country.

Where the Sahel region is concerned, we support relations between Mali and the Russian Federation. Mali neighbours our country. We should negotiate and discuss all issues under any circumstances. We have an instrument known as the Algiers Agreement.

<...>

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






The President of Russia and the President of Algeria made statements for the press

Following Russian-Algerian talks, Vladimir Putin and Abdelmadjid Tebboune made statements for the mass media.

June 15, 2023

16:20

The Kremlin, Moscow

President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends.

We just held talks with President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, Mr Tebboune, who is on a state visit in Russia. The talks took place in a businesslike atmosphere and were quite productive.

This is borne out by a solid package of signed interstate, intergovernmental and interdepartmental documents aimed at further strengthening relations between our countries in various diverse areas. Journalists have just seen the exchange of some of these documents.

I will mention one of them - the Declaration on Enhanced Strategic Partnership between our countries. This is a most important bilateral document with clear guidelines for interaction in the long-term perspective.

Overall, the Algerian President's programme here is extremely intensive and substantial. He has met with the Prime Minister of Russia and the speakers of both Federal Assembly chambers. Mr Tebboune also attended the Russia-Algeria business forum and the unveiling ceremony for a square named after Algerian national hero Emir Abdelkader in the centre of Moscow. I'd like to note that in tsarist times, I believe, Alexander II awarded him with the Order of the White Eagle in his time.

Tomorrow, we will continue talking with Mr President at the main plenary session of the 26th St Petersburg International Economic Forum in St Petersburg.

I would like to emphasise that we are sincerely happy to receive, here in the Kremlin, our friend, President of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune since Algeria is our key partner in the Arab world and in Africa. Russian-Algerian relations are truly constructive and mutually beneficial. They rest on respect and consideration for each other's interests, and we continue developing them in the spirit of friendship and mutual support.

Our bilateral cooperation goes back a long time. Last year marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties. As a reminder, our country helped our Algerian friends fight colonialism and was among the first to recognise the independence of Algeria. It contributed to the development of Algerian statehood and the strengthening of the young republic's position in the international arena.

Our specialists, engineers and construction workers, helped build major industrial and energy infrastructure facilities, as well as important manufacturing enterprises in Algeria. Many of them, after modernisation, continue to function successfully to this day and make a significant contribution to Algeria's economic development.

Today, we discussed in detail a wide range of issues, including bilateral relations in the political, economic and humanitarian spheres, as well as priority items on the regional and international agendas.

With regard to economic cooperation, Algeria has for many years been among Russia's leading trading partners in Africa. Suffice it to say that in the first quarter alone, our trade grew by over 73 percent and mutual trade in agricultural products doubled.

Our interaction in the energy sector - I will come to this a little later - is quite significant, with Algeria and Russia being oil and gas producing countries.

The joint Russian-Algerian intergovernmental commission [for trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation] is a permanent body. Its regular, 11th meeting is scheduled to be held in Moscow in the second half of the year and will focus on deepening mutually beneficial business and investment contacts and promoting large-scale projects.

Without doubt, our efforts to expand mutual transactions in national currencies are crucial. They will shield mutual trade from third countries' impact and adverse developments on international foreign exchange markets.

As I've already said, Russia and Algeria are successfully developing cooperation in the energy sector. Major Russian energy companies have long been working in the Algerian market. Thus, in cooperation with the Algerian company Sonatrach, Gazprom is taking part in developing the El Assel oil and gas field in the east of Algeria's section of the Sahara Desert. Transneft, Stroytransgaz, Power Machines (Silovyye Machiny) and other major Russian companies have strong business ties in Algeria as well.

We know that Algeria is interested in developing its national nuclear energy industry. The Rosatom State Corporation has unique experience and competences in this area. Its technology is unmatched in the world. It is ready to take part in joint projects, including those in the non-energy use of nuclear technology, for instance, in medicine and agriculture.

There are good opportunities for Russian-Algerian business cooperation in a number of other areas, including the auto industry, transport and agricultural equipment manufacturing, the peaceful use of outer space, communications and telecommunications. Importantly, Russia is ready not only to supply equipment and organise its after-sales maintenance but also to localise production in Algeria and to educate Algerian professionals.

Russia has traditionally done much to educate highly qualified Algerian national personnel. Overall, about 20,000 Algerians have received education at our universities, and about 1,500 Algerian students are continuing their education now. Considering Algerians' high interest in studying in Russia, we have decided to increase the quota for state-funded capacity by one third for Algeria.

During the discussion of the most pressing regional and international issues, we agreed that the views of our states are identical or similar on the majority of them. Russia and Algeria are striving to coordinate their positions within multilateral associations. Considering that next year Algeria will receive non-permanent UN Security Council member status, we are motivated to intensify our interaction on all urgent issues on the UN agenda.

And, of course, we consider joint efforts with our Algerian colleagues to stabilise world energy markets very important, including in the OPEC Plus format and at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum.

Regional discussions focused on the state of affairs in Libya, Sudan, Western Sahara, and the Palestinian-Israeli settlement. Since Algeria is a member of the Contact Group of the League of Arab States on Ukraine, I outlined for my Algerian colleague Russia's view of the core causes behind the conflict and our assessment of the current situation. Just a short while ago, before entering the auditorium, the President and I discussed this in detail, and we are grateful to Algeria and the President of Algeria for his willingness to act as mediator.

Certainly, we discussed Russia-Algeria interaction in the military and defence technology spheres, which has enjoyed success over many decades. Russia assists Algeria's law enforcement agencies in fighting the terrorist threat. In November 2022, the Russian-Algerian joint anti-terrorist exercise Desert Shield was held in Algeria.

Generally speaking, we maintain a regular dialogue with our Algerian partners on a wide range of issues related to current security challenges and threats in the African region and the world at large.

On a separate note, I would like to say that this year can be described as a special year for Russia's relations with Africa. Our contacts with African countries are as intensive as ever and the President's visit clearly shows it.

On Saturday, I plan to receive a delegation of heads and high-ranking representatives from several African countries to discuss an initiative put forward by the African states regarding Ukraine.

As a reminder, the second Russia-Africa summit will be held in St Petersburg next month. The President has an invitation to the summit, and I very much hope that he will be able to lead the Algerian delegation in person.

In closing, I would like to say that the visit by the President of Algeria is a success, which, without a doubt, will give a boost to comprehensive progress in Russia-Algeria strategic partnership for the benefit of the people of our countries.

Thank you very much for your patience and time.

President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Abdelmadjid Tebboune (retranslated): In the name of Allah!

Mr President, my friend,

I would like to begin by once again saying what a joy it is to be in the Russian Federation. I wanted to thank you for the hospitality and for the warm welcome: we feel at home here. This visit is taking place as part of our bilateral efforts.

The talks with the President of the Russian Federation were candid and friendly, which is indicative of the high level of our relations. We agreed with everything that Comrade Putin said. We talked as friends about bilateral relations in all areas and ways to strengthen them.

We have a shared perspective on the regional and international situation. We are very pleased that our opinions overlap. We agreed on Western Sahara and the Sahel, the political issue, and the situation in the Middle East at large, and we also talked about Libya.

This meeting gave us an opportunity to say a big thank you to the Russian Federation for supporting Algeria in its efforts to become a non-permanent member of the [UN] Security Council. This means relations between Algeria and the Russian Federation are good, which we can see from the adoption of a new Declaration on Enhanced Strategic Partnership between the two countries, which we have signed.

Our relations go back over 60 years, and we have implemented a new roadmap of cooperation between our two countries. We have signed several agreements and a Declaration of Partnership, which includes our plans to expand intergovernmental relations. We look forward to seeing good growth dynamics in the coming years.

We will promote bilateral relations, and we will make use of the experience of the Russian Federation in all areas. The economy and the manufacturing industry are open for cooperation.

I would like to take this opportunity and ask investors to invest in Algeria, which currently boasts a favourable environment for doing business. We have adopted a new law on investment.

To reiterate, our points of view on all issues overlap. Russia is a friendly country, and we share a common opinion.

All Algerians thank Mr Putin for naming a square in Moscow after Emir Abdelkader. Thank you very much again, Comrade President. For the sake of history, I would like to remind everyone that the Tsar [Alexander II] awarded Emir Abdelkader the Order of the White Eagle. Under Putin, we were presented with a square named after Emir Abdelkader.

Yesterday, I met with the Algerian community. Also yesterday, I presented an award to a Russian man who took part in mine clearance in Algeria. Many thanks go to the Russian army for taking part in mine clearance. Many regions were cleared of mines. The Russian Federation lent Algeria a helping hand in cleanup efforts following nuclear tests in the desert [conducted by France] as well.

Many thanks to Comrade Putin and the Russian Federation, a friendly country. Thank you very much for trusting us, we will meet your expectations. In closing, I would like to thank Comrade Putin for strengthening our political partnership and I thank him for his personal efforts.

Long live Russia, Russian-Algerian friendship and Russian-Algerian cooperation!

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Press release on demarche to the Embassy of Canada in Russia in connection with Ottawa's decision to confiscate a Russian-owned An-124 aircraft

15 June 2023 10:29

1177-15-06-2023

On June 14, Brian Ebel, the deputy chief of the Canadian diplomatic mission in Moscow, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and issued a demarche in connection with the stated intention of the government of Canada to confiscate an Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft, property of Volga-Dnepr. The aircraft has been illegally detained at the Toronto Airport since February 2022.

It was noted that Russia views this step as cynical theft. According to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, this decision was taken in order to transfer the aircraft to the Kiev regime. This amounts to an attempt at undisguised robbery and the appropriation of a unique aircraft that delivered Covid-19 medications to Toronto under a humanitarian project and at the request of the Canadian government, and was seized in a disgraceful manner.

The Canadian diplomat was told that the actions of the official Ottawa and its Russophobic policy will entail the most serious repercussions for Russian-Canadian relations, which are on the verge of being severed through the fault of the Trudeau administration.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






South African Police Receive Chinese Training

By Kate Bartlett June 15, 2023

South Africa's police minister, Bheki Cele, and a delegation of senior police officials recently returned from a visit to China, where they discussed strengthening law enforcement collaboration.

"The ministry is confident that the country's crime problems can be better dealt with when we also step up smart policing. This is why the country is exploring all avenues in this regard including cooperation with Chinese law enforcement to assist in technological advancement," police ministry spokesperson Lirandzu Themba told VOA.

According to a police statement, the delegation's five-day trip included visits to police stations in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, and engagements at China People's Public Security University, an elite training institution.

"Members from SAPS (South African Police Service) specialized units such as the National Intervention Unit (NIU) and Special Task Force (STF) recently received combat and educational training and graduated from the university," the statement noted.

Minister Cele also met with China's minister of public security, Wang Xiaohong. High on the agenda was "the establishment of a formal and rigorous policing exchange program of personnel capabilities and training between the two countries."

The two also discussed security preparations for the upcoming summit of the BRICS group of emerging nations. The summit is being held in Johannesburg in August and will be attended by China's president, Xi Jinping.

"Environmental crimes, the collaboration to deal with violent crimes in South Africa through technological interventions, and the safety of nationals residing in both countries also featured high on the agenda," the statement said.

Wang will be working with South Africa on issues including "Belt and Road security, crackdown on transnational crimes and law enforcement capacity building," reported Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

South Africa continues to struggle with violent crime. In the first three months of this year, there were 6,289 murders and the country has among the highest rates of rape in the world. Assaults and robberies have also increased compared to the same time period in 2022.

New research

The South African trip comes in the wake of a new report that details growing police co-operation between China and many African countries.

"Between 2018 and 2021 over 2,000 African police and law enforcement personnel received training in China," said the report, published last month by The Africa Center for Strategic Studies.

China has supplied African countries with police equipment and also built police training schools, it said.

"China's expanding public security frontlines and tactics in Africa have triggered debates about how much sovereignty African countries surrender by offering Chinese security agencies a highly permissive environment to craft a growing mix of security mechanisms within African countries," the study said.

South Africa's ruling African National Congress received Chinese support during its fight against apartheid. The report's author, Paul Nantulya, said that many within the ANC share a basic "anti-imperialist stance."

Asked if South Africa's democratic system doesn't put it at odds with a one-party state like China when it comes to policing, Nantulya noted the ANC favors closer ties with China.

"This is the wider political setting in which South Africa, which adheres to separation of powers, can prioritize getting policing tips from China, which comes from a tradition of absolute party control of the state and security forces, including police," he told VOA.

He added, the statement issued by the South Africans after the recent visit "underscores the multifaceted engagement between the South African police and law enforcement agencies and their Chinese counterparts, which has been in operation since 2010 and was renewed in 2019."

"It entails high level political exchanges (twice yearly), police training and capacity building, targeted language training, Chinese community policing forums, reciprocal visits to police stations and institutions and the training of South African police in Chinese police academies," he said.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Canada reaffirms support for people of Syria

Global Affairs Canada

News release

June 15, 2023 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Syrian crisis continues to affect millions of people in Syria and neighbouring countries. Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon, as well as Egypt and TArkiye, now host more than 6.8 million Syrian refugees. Canada continues to actively engage in the region and is committed to continuing its work with the international community and with Syrians to put an end to this crisis through a sustainable political solution.

Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, announced $148.59 million in funding for humanitarian and development assistance to Syria and the region in 2023.

Of this amount, $78.59 million in humanitarian assistance funding will help crisis-affected people meet their basic needs. This includes the provision of food assistance, protection, water, sanitation and hygiene services and health servicesaincluding sexual and reproductive health and rightsaas well as response to and prevention of sexual and gender-based violence.

As well this year, Canada will allocate another $70 million to the region, solidifying our steadfast and ongoing efforts to support development assistance in the region. This funding aims to deliver transformative change that will better empower women and girls, further advance gender equality, and better integrate effective and accountable governance. By continuing to improve the sustainability of gender-responsive social servicesaincluding educationaCanada's support will also help foster long-term economic growth and contribute to more impactful climate action.

Quotes

"Years of conflict in Syria have left millions of people in need of urgent assistance, which has been amplified by the devastating natural disasters that hit the region last February. Canada is and will continue to be a strong partner to people facing this crisis, working with its international partners to end this terrible humanitarian disaster." - Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada

Quick facts

In 2023, Canada has committed $178.29 million in funding for humanitarian assistance to Syria and the region. Today's announcement builds on the $99.7 million in humanitarian assistance funding announced earlier in the year following the earthquakes in TArkiye and Syria.

Since 2016, Canada has committed more than $4.7 billion in funding for the region, including significant humanitarian, development and stabilization assistance.

On June 14 and 15, 2023, Canada participated in the seventh conference in Brussels, Belgium, on supporting the future of Syria and the region. The conference focused on addressing the critical needs of millions of people across the region and supporting a lasting political resolution to the Syrian conflict.

The conference reaffirmed the international community's solidarity with countries and communities hosting Syrian refugees and acknowledged the challenges refugees are facing, paying particular attention to those faced by Syrian women.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Backgrounder: Canada announces funding for humanitarian and development assistance for those affected by conflict in Syria

Global Affairs Canada

Backgrounder

Humanitarian assistance

Canada will provide $178.29 million in funding for humanitarian assistance to Syria and the region in 2023.

Working through partners, including UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Canada ensures that the specific needs and priorities of vulnerable and marginalized individuals and groups are addressed. In line with its commitment to the Grand Bargain for humanitarian assistance, Canada continues to provide multi-year and flexible funding, including regional funding, to trusted partners to ensure that they can continue to meet needs as the situation evolves.

The funding will be distributed as follows:

Iraq - $7.85 million

Jordan - $5.5 million

Lebanon - $31.14 million

Syria - $82 million

Syria Regional - $21.8 million

TArkiye - $30 million

Development assistance

Canada will also provide $70 million in funding for development assistance to Syria and the region in 2023. In Iraq, Canada is helping to strengthen governance, build capacity to provide basic services, further gender equality and promote the economic empowerment of women and girls. In Lebanon, Canada's efforts are focused on expanding livelihood opportunities and skills development for women and youth. In Jordan, Canada is working to improve access to quality public education for all children and to support economic reforms and inclusive governance, including in municipal services. In Syria, programming supported by Canada aims to enhance gender equality by supporting women's economic empowerment and local women's organizations.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Syria: Press remarks by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at Brussels VII Conference on Syria

European External Action Service (EEAS)

15.06.2023

Brussels

EEAS Press Team

Check against delivery!

You know that the Syrian conflict is with us for more than 12 years. It is a long-lasting crisis with unspeakable suffering of millions of people. And this has been [made] even worse. First, by the dramatic and damaging earthquake in February, and secondly, because the global situation is worsening, not only because of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, but also for the new conflicts erupting - the latest one is in Sudan.

But here we are, again, in Brussels, for the seventh year, discussing the needs and pledging further support to the Syrian people.

We are the biggest donor for the Syrian people. The European Union needs and wants to make sure that their situation remains high on the international agenda.

And I am very happy to see that today, at this annual Conference, we have been gathering Ministers and representatives from 57 countries and over 30 international organisations, including the United Nations. And I thank [UN] Secretary-General [Antonio] Guterres for the words that [he] addressed to the Conference.

As I said, the European Union, we are the biggest donor for the Syrian people. And this Conference shows that even in the 13th year of conflict, we continue standing with the Syrian people, whatever else is going [on] in our neighbourhood - be it on the east or on the south.

I can confirm a pledge of humanitarian and resilience funding to the Syrian people for this year amounting to 1.56 billion.

The pledging still continues, and the total amount will be announced in the afternoon by Commissioner [for Crisis Management, Janez] Lenarcic, for this year and for next year.

The pledges cover the humanitarian needs of Syrians inside Syria, and also support for early recovery and resilience, helping Syrians to rebuild their country and covering the needs of almost 6 million - 5.7 million - Syrian refugees in the hosting countries, in the neighbourhood. I am talking about Lebanon - for sure -, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq, and also the needs of the communities who so generously provide them shelter.

The Conference is not only about pledging financial resources. The Conference is also about the ongoing commitment of the international community to an overall and comprehensive political solution to the conflict in Syria.

That is why the Conference restated its insistence on the full implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 2254.

Allow me to say that the European policy on Syria has not changed. We will not re-establish full diplomatic relations with the Assad regime, or start working on reconstruction, until a genuine and comprehensive political transition is firmly under way - which is not the case. And we will do it in accordance with the United Nations [Security Council] resolution.

As long as there is no progress - and for the time being there is no progress - we will maintain the sanctions regime. Sanctions that target the regime and its supporters, and not the Syrian people. Our sanctions do not target the population of Syria, nor the health care or the food sectors.

The dire living situation and conditions in Syria are not a result of our sanctions, they are the result of the conflict and the way how the Assad regime governs the country - with repression and corruption.

At that moment when we are pledging resources to support the Syrian people, we do not forget the awful atrocities that the Syrian people have been enduring. And we have to remain committed to justice and accountability for the crimes committed during more than a decade of conflict.

Also, to remember that yesterday, we celebrated the Day of the Dialogue, which is also an integral part of our Conference.

In this Conference, participants [from] across Syria and beyond exchanged views, ideas and plans for a future Syria.

I would like to highlight a remark made by a participant.

He said: "The European Union, the international community, must find ways of empowering Syrian civilians with the means to rebuild their country."

Syrians want a chance to live their lives independently of - and despite - the Assad regime.

They no longer want to depend on emergency handouts. They want to regain control of their future.

Today's Conference reaffirms the conviction of the international community that a comprehensive political solution, brokered through the United Nations and enjoying the full support of all its members, remains the ultimate imperative. The Syrian people must get a chance to live in dignity and peace.

That is what the European Union is working for, standing with the Syrian people until that prospect - however distant it may sometimes appear - will be fulfilled.

I want to thank all the participants to this pledging Conference for gathering here in Brussels again.

Q&A

Q. [In Arabic - English interpretation] Today, the Jordanian Foreign Minister [Ayman Safadi] expressed his deep concern. He sounded the bell about the reduction of aid to Jordan which is the country that hosts the largest number of refugees. What is your position on this? How did you respond to this warning he issued?

That is why the Conference is gathering here: to ask for resources. We understand the difficult situation of Jordan that hosts the biggest number of refugees per capita around the world. And we know that 200,000 girls and boys have been born, increasing the population of Jordan, since the start of the crisis. We know that they are asking for services - school, health, refugees camps, many of them inside the civil society of Jordan. We know the dire situation that Jordan economy is facing, and this Conference wants to bring an answer to that. The pledging of this Conference will alleviate the situation in Jordan. The message of the Jordan [Foreign] Minister was very moving, and I am sure that this will increase the support of the Conference's attendance in order to alleviate the situation in Jordan. I understand that, if the international organisations reduce the support to Jordan and to Jordan's refugees, someone else has to take this place. This someone else is the international community gathered here. I hope that, when today, the results of the pledging will be announced, we will find a concrete answer to this question.

Q. Syrian and international human rights organisations have been raising concerns on the serious violations of the human rights of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, albeit by Lebanese state institutions, including the military. Yesterday, Syrian civil society stressed the importance of conditional support to host countries. Mr Borrell, I would like to know: how is the European Union going to approach conditionality in order to guarantee that the rights of Syrian refugees in Lebanon and other host countries are not violated?

The only way is [through] dialogue with the Lebanese authorities. We know about some of these events that you are mentioning. We cannot accept that the refugees could be forced to go back to Syria without the conditions for a safe and dignified return being fulfilled. These kinds of policies of sending these people to Syria by force has been proven [to be] completely ineffective, because people come back. You send them back by the door and they come back by the window. So, this is not the answer to the situation. But at the same time, I understand that Lebanon requires more support because if you compare the living standards of the population and the refugees, both are bad. In order for the civil population to understand that they have to continue hosting these refugees, they need stronger support from the international community. Once again, this is the purpose of this Conference.

Q. I was just curious about something you said this morning. You said: "The EU will not waver from its approach towards Damascus, it won't re-engage." Yet, you remain ready to explore with your partners every possible manner of bringing the Syrian regime to engage in a political solution to the conflict in Syria. Can you tell us more about how you are exploring this? What does this consist of?

How do we do that? By doing. We do that by doing. We have not changed our political approach. We are not on the same line as the Arab League, that is clear. And I express clearly the position of the European Union that we keep the same position with respect to the Syrian regime. But it does not mean that we will not explore any possibility for improving the situation in Syria - supporting the United Nations Special Envoy [Geir Pedersen] and, certainly, trying to work together with the Arab League and combining the pressure that we can do put from our position, and the outreach that the Arab League can do from their new position. I think that this opens a possibility for exploring. As the Arab League believes that this new policy can bring some results, we will support them but keeping our position.

Q. [In Arabic - English interpretation]Yesterday, during the Day of Dialogue, there were people who drowned. More than 700 people drowned, only 100 survived. Many of them were Syrian youth, many of them from Dar'a,which is no longer under the control of the Syrian regime. Those young people fled from the region because they have no future there and they wanted to reach the shores of Europe for a better future. There are reports that show that there is corruption and theft in the humanitarian aid that reaches the areas controlled by the regime. So, are there any guarantees for the part of the humanitarian aid that goes to areas controlled by the regime? What are the guarantees, or is there any guarantee that the regime will not use this to support its military machine that kills people?

You know that you will never have a complete guarantee. You will never be sure that the corruption phenomenon cannot divert [part of] the funding from the destination, but we have to face this risk. We cannot stop our support because there is 'a risk of it'. Risk will never disappear, especially under the political circumstances of Syria. So, we cannot say that [there is] 100% certainty. We have to deal with this [risk], it happens everywhere. There is interference, there is corruption phenomena, but we rely on United Nations' agencies, and we rely on the agencies that manage the fundings that we are allocating to them [to always adhere to humanitarian principles and principled operational guidelines]. What we can do is keep vigilant in order to avoid any kind of sequestration of these funds for illegitimate purposes.

Q. You have been in Iraq, in Kurdistan. Do you have any plan to go back there? And do you have any message for the Iraqi authorities or the Kurdish authorities? Because, you know, over the past several years, there are always tensions between the Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan regional government. So, do you have any message for them today? And also, today the Iraqi Foreign Minister [Fuad Hussein] is here.

Yes, I had a bilateral meeting with the Iraqi Minister [for Foreign Affairs], as [with] many others - Jordan, Lebanon. I will have bilaterals with as many ministers and representatives as possible. Certainly, I had the opportunity to praise the Iraqi government for the good cooperation with the European Union in some fields, in particular in the field of migration. I had to praise the Iraqi government for the regional role that they are playing, trying to balance the multiple tensions in the region. They have been playing an important role on the normalisation of the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Today, the Iraqi government is a factor of stability. The Minister [for Foreign Affairs] invited me to the Baghdad Conference that will take place in November, so I hope I will have the occasion to go back to Iraq, and maybe also to Kurdistan, I was very well received. And my message can only be a message of cooperation and mutual understanding between the different institutions of the country.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Syria: Opening speech by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell at the Ministerial session of the VII. Brussels conference on the future of Syria and the region

European External Action Service (EEAS)

15.06.2023

EEAS Press Team

Welcome to the 7th Brussels Conference on the Future of Syria and of the Region. I am pleased to see so many friends from the region, from Europe and beyond, and also from the UN family, which has come in strength, as always.

The Syrian people - Syria's refugees, those displaced, those suffering desperate levels of poverty brought about by more than a decade of conflict and repression at the hands of the Syrian regime - have suffered a painful and traumatic year since we last gathered in this forum.

It is a year which has seen a devastating earthquake in the region, bringing yet further misery to Syrians in the north-west of the country, not to mention millions of Turkish people across the border. Already 90% of Syrians living in Syria live in poverty; 60% suffer food insecurity. They barely know where their next meal is coming from.

The situation for Syrian refugees and for their host communities in neighbouring countries has become no easier, quite the contrary. Nor can we forget 438,000 Palestine refugees in Syria, whose plight the international community cannot overlook.

And, unfortunately, over the last year there has been little progress, very little progress, towards a resolution of the Syria conflict, despite the unstinting efforts of UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen. Thank you for your efforts, dear Geir.

It is unacceptable that Syria has been brought so low. It is unacceptable that we tolerate the present plight of the Syrian people. Our task must be to find ways of working positively towards a resolution of the conflict. Our task today must be to bring hope. Some hope, some relief.

On 7 May 2023, the League of Arab States took a decision to readmit Syria in the League of Arab States (LAS). There has been a process of normalisation between a number of Arab states and the regime in Damascus. We are following, too, Turkey's attempts to resolve some of its concerns through contacts with the Syrian regime.

Allow me to say, this is not the path that the European Union would have chosen. It's not. Very soon, we will see if these efforts have convinced the regime in Damascus to engage in a dialogue with Gulf and Arab states over various aspects of UN Security Council resolution 2254.

I am afraid, we are a long, long way from the full and comprehensive implementation of UN Security Council resolution 2254, from a lasting resolution of the crisis in Syria. In fact, progress seems to have stalled completely.

Yet signs of hope must not be dismissed. After all, it is our job as diplomats to be positive, even in the worst circumstances, to find hope even where there appears to be none.

Let us draw hope from the refusal of Syrian and international civil society - as witnessed at yesterday's Day of Dialogue - to give up on their commitment to building a future Syria. To building peace from within. Yesterday we heard how Syrian civil society envisages a future Syria of human rights, of peace and democracy. We will hear them speak in a moment. We will continue to support and encourage them, paying special attention to the crucial role played by Syrian women. They must have a seat at the table.

I draw hope too from the Syrians living in Syria, who have decided that they will no longer remain dependent on emergency handouts, and who refuse to set aside their aspiration to rebuild Syria - despite the depredations and abuses of the Assad regime - along renewed, democratic and peaceful lines.

I draw hope from the openness of the international community to supporting early recovery efforts in Syria, to making sure that its assistance is both efficient and sustainable. It is by working with Syrian civil society, with local organisations, with local leaders to help Syrians rebuild their lives and communities, their economy and social services, that we can ensure that our assistance not only has maximum impact, but contributes positively to a future Syria.

I draw hope from the continuing commitment of refugee-hosting countries in the region. Thank you so much to all of them for doing right on behalf of the Syrian refugees. Even as needs rise and tensions mount, these states continue to provide generously for nearly seven million Syrian refugees. This is certainly a heavy burden. While supporting refugee-hosting countries in their difficult work, we also need to defuse tensions and to avoid the exploitation of the presence of refugees for political ends. We cannot set aside the need for a long-term solution to the refugee situation. We need to work positively for solutions. So we will continue to support all attempts to prevail on the Syrian regime, which has the primary responsibility for ensuring the conditions for voluntary, safe, sustainable and dignified returns, and make sure that these conditions are monitored by the international community.

I draw hope as well from the continuing generosity of the international community, both to the Syrians in Syria but also to the refugees and their host communities. This generosity was witnessed yet again as recently as March of this year, when we gathered in Brussels to raise pledges for the victims of the earthquake which struck the region in February.

This brings me to the immediate purpose of today's Conference. Our first task is to gather fresh pledges of support for the Syrian people as they continue to suffer the effects of more than a decade of conflict, economic collapse, corruption and repression. We cannot forget either the needs of Syrian refugees living in neighbouring states - in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Iraq - and the needs of their host communities. We must maintain the hope that the Syrian people, and the region, place in all of us.

Dear Ministers, dear colleagues, thank you for being, here: we need to ensure that pledges of assistance remain substantial.

I am pleased to confirm the pledge I made last year on behalf of the European Union of a1,5 billion for the benefit of Syrians in Syria, and of refugees and their host communities in the region, for this calendar year 2023.

I am also able to pledge that for calendar year 2024 the European Union will make available a560 million.

Ministers, colleagues: I draw hope most of all from the steadfast commitment of the international community to the full implementation of UN Security Council resolution 2254. This is the reference point, the point of departure for a solution. I draw hope from the continuing commitment of the Syrian opposition to that resolution.

Now is not the time to give up. The European Union will not waver in its commitment to this resolution [UNSCR 2254], to the efforts of UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen to generate momentum for the political process, to a future Syria of rights and democracy. The only way out of this conflict is a political one.

We must maintain, too, our commitment to justice and accountability for the crimes committed over what is now more than a decade of conflict. I would like to make a special mention in this regard of the work of the Commission of Inquiry and of the 'Triple I M' whose work we continue to support.

The EU is already considering how it can support a new mechanism that, we hope, will be created by the UN to discover the fate and the whereabouts of those missing, and to support victims' families.

Another priority are the millions of people in Syria whose survival depends on continued cross border assistance from Turkey. This is a very important issues The European Union will work with Turkey and other likeminded partners to achieve the renewal of the vital cross-border resolution guaranteeing the delivery of humanitarian assistance into Syria.

Let me be clear: the conditions are not in place for the European Union to change its policy on Syria, Member States are united on that. It will maintain and has recently actually intensified its targeting by sanctions of the Syrian regime. The European Union will not support organised returns to Syria unless there are cast-iron guarantees that those returns are being made voluntarily, safely, and in dignity, under international monitoring.

Ministers, colleagues: we all want the same thing in Syria, we all want to end to the conflict in Syria, lasting peace for the Syrian people, the return of refugees, stability for the region as a whole. We know that, realistically, we can achieve our goals only through genuine political reforms in Syria. The path to that goal is the UN Security Council resolution 2254.

My sincere hope is that over the coming year we can combine our different approaches in order to make progress towards peace in Syria. I have set out quite clearly the European Union's own approach. It remains unwavering. Yet this does not mean that we are not ready to explore, with our partners, every possible manner of bringing the Syrian regime to engage in a political solution to the conflict in Syria.

Ministers and colleagues: allow me to finish by saying that the purpose of the annual Brussels conferences has always been to show a beacon of hope for the Syrian people. We are here to today to help keep that hope alive. I hope that we will continue to seek a way forward.

Our presence today demonstrates that the international community will stand with the Syrian people and keep alive its determination to achieve a just and peaceful Syria. Today, we have to reiterate our commitment - the commitment of the international community - to the future of the Syrian people.

Thank you in advance for your pledges, for your support, and simply for being here to attest our continued and joint commitment for the future of Syria. We continue standing with the Syrian people.

Thank you for your presence, and let's get to work.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Syria and the region: International community mobilises 5.6 billion during the 7th Brussels Conference

European Commission

Press release

15 June 2023

Brussels

During the 7th Brussels Conference on 'Supporting the future of Syria and the Region' on 15 June, the international community pledged 5.6 billion for 2023 and beyond, including 4.6 billion for 2023 and 1 billion for 2024 and beyond. The funding pledged today will support people inside Syria and the neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees. 3.8 billion of grants were pledged by the EU, with 2.1 billion from the European Commission and 1.7 billion pledged by the EU Member States. Since the beginning of the crisis in 2011, the EU and its Member States have mobilised over 30 billion to support Syrians in Syria and in the region. In addition, international financial institutions and donors have announced 4 billion in loans, bringing a total of grants and loans to 9.6 billion.

The European Union also published a report on delivery against the pledges made at the 6th Brussels Conference on 'Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region' held on 10 May 2022, as well as a report on the online survey on consultations with civil society carried out in the run-up to the Conference.

Background

Since 2017, Brussels Conferences address critical humanitarian and resilience issues affecting Syrians in Syria and neighbouring countries, as well as those which impact communities hosting Syrian refugees in the region. The Conferences aim to renew the international community's political and financial support for Syria's neighbours, particularly Jordan, Lebanon and Turkiye, as well as Egypt and Iraq. A special Donors' Conference was held earlier this year to support the people in Turkiye and Syria in the wake of February's devastating earthquakes. Today's Conference remains the main pledging event this year for Syria and its neighbouring countries.

Yesterday, on 14 June, the Day of Dialogue provided an interactive platform for dialogue between civil society actors from inside Syria, the region as well as the diaspora, refugee-hosting countries, operational partners engaged in the Syria response, the European Union and the participation of other key partners, including the United Nations and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The Days of Dialogue recording can be accessed here.

More than 40 side events were also organised in the margins of the Brussels VII Conference, initiated and organised by civil society organisations, participating countries, the United Nations and international organisations.

Furthermore, today, Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi and Commissioner Janez Lenarcic also announced an additional 10.5 million for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Syria, as part of the EU's overall pledge. This funding comes on top of our ongoing funding for ICRC. ICRC aims to prevent the collapse of critical water infrastructure and provide safe water to the Syrian population in a more sustainable way. After 12 years of conflict, mass displacement and climate emergencies, nearly half of the Syrian population relies on unsafe water. Building resilience and sustainable humanitarian impact through access to safe water is critical to improving the lives of Syrians.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






The United States Announces $920 Million in Additional Humanitarian Assistance for Syria

US Department of State

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

June 15, 2023

Today, Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya announced $920 million in additional U.S. humanitarian assistance for Syria at the Brussels VII Conference on "Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region."

The announcement brings the total U.S. government humanitarian assistance to Syria and the region to $1.1 billion in FY 2023 and almost $16.9 billion since the start of the 12-year crisis. It is our largest announcement of humanitarian funding to the Syria response to date and comes against a backdrop of record-high humanitarian needs exacerbated by the devastating earthquakes in TArkiye and Syria in early February 2023. The United States remains steadfast in our commitment to the Syrian people, and we urge other donors to increase their contributions to the response as Syrians continue to face severe challenges from years of war, terrorism, and natural disaster.

In her remarks at the Brussels VII Conference, Under Secretary Zeya reaffirmed the importance of unfettered humanitarian access to all parts of Syria and urged the UN Security Council to re-authorize UN cross-border aid into Syria in July. She underscored U.S. support for a 12-month authorization of all three border crossing points currently in use, to ensure predictable humanitarian access to millions in need in northwest Syria. Under Secretary Zeya also shared concern around the deteriorating situation for refugees in the region, including increased anti-refugee rhetoric, and reaffirmed that conditions inside Syria are not in place for safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable refugee returns.

Under Secretary Zeya emphasized that a political solution in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254 remains the only way to end the suffering of the Syrian people. She also stressed that the United States will continue promoting respect for the dignity and human rights of all Syrians and continue supporting Syrian civil society in pursuing justice and accountability for human rights violations and abuses.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UN chief insists on solidarity with people of Syria, with 'no time to spare'

15 June 2023 - As donors gathered in Brussels at an international pledging conference for Syria organized by the European Union on Thursday, UN chief AntAnio Guterres highlighted the immense suffering of the Syrian people, which he said "defies description".

The UN was asking for $11.1 billion dollars - its largest appeal worldwide - to support Syrians inside the country and those displaced in the broader region, Mr. Guterres said.

By the end of the conference, donors announced a5.6 billion in grants, tweeted the UN refugee agency chief Filippo Grandi, reiterating that pledges must "translate into tangible contributions for Syrians inside the country, those on the move and the countries hosting them.

Severe underfunding

Only about a tenth of the necessary funding for 2023 has been secured so far and needs are sky-high, after a devastating earthquake in February compounded suffering brought on by more than a decade of war.

Nearly the entire population of the country lives below the poverty line. Mr. Guterres warned that there was "no time to spare", as aid will run out for 2.5 million Syrians next month, for lack of financing.

Political solution sorely needed

Mr. Guterres also reiterated his call for a sustainable political solution to the conflict that would involve all Syrians.

"We must chart a path forward for the Syrian people to find a degree of stability and a measure of hope for the future", he said, stressing that this required progress towards "credible and comprehensive" negotiations, in line with Security Council resolution 2254. Adopted in December 2015, the resolution drew up a road map for a peace process in Syria.

Status quo 'unacceptable and unsustainable'

The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir O. Pedersen, echoed this call, saying that it was urgent to renew the intra-Syrian political process, as the current situation in the country was "unacceptable and unsustainable".

"Average Syrians have yet to see any dividend from diplomacy," he deplored.

Mr. Pedersen also underscored the need to ensure humanitarian access "via all modalities, including cross-line and cross-border". He joined Mr. Guterres in calling for a 12-month extension of the Security Council's authorization for cross-border aid access from TArkiye into northwestern Syria, a lifeline for millions in the area.

'Astronomical' human toll

In a joint statement to the conference, Filippo Grandi, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) chief, Martin Griffiths, head of the UN aid coordination office (OCHA), and Achim Steiner who leads the UN Development Programme (UNDP), called the human cost of the Syrian crisis "astronomical".

Seven out of ten people in the country - more than 15 million in total - need humanitarian aid and protection, they said.

Some 12 million are food insecure, while one in four Syrian children are stunted and risk "irreversible damage" to their development.

Solidarity with refugees

The crisis has driven more than 13 million people to flee their homes, including 6.8 million Syrian refugees who escaped to neighbouring countries.

The UN leaders underscored the generosity of host countries in the region - Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and TArkiye - in supporting the refugees.

They called for increased international solidarity with those countries as they find themselves "reeling from global economic pressures".

The statement noted that conditions for Syrian refugees in Lebanon and TArkiye have deteriorated in recent years, with nine in 10 refugees unable to cover their basic needs, while in Jordan almost two thirds were forced into debt.

The heads of UN agencies also highlighted the plight of Syrian refugee women and girls, who face widespread gender inequality and higher risks of violence.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Foreign Minister Landsbergis: "It took courage to open NATO's doors to the eastern flank. The time is ripe for taking another bold step - recognizing that Ukraine is already a creator of Europe's security architecture and opening the doors to it"

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2023.06.14

Today, on 14 June, security and international relations experts from the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Nordic and Central European countries gathered in Vilnius to discuss the future of Europe's security architecture.

The keynote speaker for this event is Anders F. Rasmussen, former NATO Secretary General (2009-2014) and former Prime Minister of Denmark from the times when Lithuania was seeking accession to the EU and NATO.

"It took courage to open NATO's doors to the eastern flank. The time is ripe for taking another bold step - recognizing that Ukraine is already the creator of Europe's security architecture and opening the doors of NATO also to it," Landsbergis said at the opening of the security experts' event.

When discussing the Alliance's next steps to ensure transatlantic security, the head of Lithuania's diplomacy noted that Russia could not and should not be part of the European security architecture.

"Recent history has shown that Russia disregards international agreements and that peace settlements eventually result in frozen conflicts. Tor twenty years, the Kremlin has escalated and created conflicts, eroding the foundations of Europe's security architecture. So we cannot give in to the intimidation to use nuclear weapons or other Russian blackmail," Landsbergis said.

In his speech, Rasmussen listed why Ukraine should become part of the Alliance without waiting for the end of Russia's war against Ukraine. He also argued that there should be no fear of a possible escalation of the conflict between NATO and Russia. According to Rasmussen, those who succumb to the threat of the use of nuclear weapons are forever condemned to live in the slavery of the nuclear weapon manager.

"We have an unprecedented opportunity to turn the current security crisis into a success story for Ukraine and Europe," said the Director of the Institute of International Relations and Political Science at Vilnius University, Professor Margarita A eAelgytA, summarizing the security situation ahead of the NATO summit.

Security experts' discussion "The Future of European Security Architecture" took place according to the rules of Chatham House.

The opening speeches by Landsbergis, A eAelgytA and Rasmussen can be found here: https://youtu.be/VkIeJq4JiNE

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Defence Minister Anita Anand participates in 13th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group

National Defence

News release

June 15, 2023 - Brussels, Belgium - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Today, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence, participated in the 13th Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting in Brussels, hosted by United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III. The meeting brought together representatives from approximately 50 countries, who gathered to discuss the provision of military aid to Ukraine.

Minister Anand reiterated Canada's unwavering support to Ukraine, and highlighted Canada's latest tranche of military aid to Ukraine, announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 10, 2023:

Canada will commit $500 million in new funding for military assistance to support Ukraine's capacity to defend itself from Russian aggression.

Canada will donate 288 AIM-7 missiles to Ukraine from Canadian Armed Forces inventory. to support Ukraine in its efforts to defend its skies.

Canada will provide 10,000 rounds of 105mm ammunition from Canadian Armed Forces inventory to sustain artillery systems in Ukraine..

Operation UNIFIER will be extended to 2026, providing significant capacity for the Canadian Armed Forces to respond to urgent Ukraine training needs.

Canada will contribute to multinational efforts to train pilots and maintain and support Ukraine's F-16s, leveraging Canadian expertise in these areas.

Canada will also be contributing to the Leopard 2 tank maintenance centre in Poland.

The Minister also provided updates on the delivery of Canada's commitments to Ukraine:

All 200 Senator armoured vehicles announced by Minister Anand in January have been produced, with 116 vehicles already delivered and 18 more to be delivered next week.

The following previously announced Canadian donations will also be delivered in the coming days: 6,750 assault rifles; 1.1 million rounds of 7.62mm ammunition; 250,000 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition; and 70,000 rounds of sniper ammunition.



Canada will continue to work with allies and partners to provide Ukraine with the military aid that it needs to defend itself.

Quotes

"Ukrainians are fighting valiantly against Russia's illegal and unjustifiable invasion. At today's meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, we reaffirmed our commitment to providing Ukraine with the military equipment that it needs to win its battle for freedom. Canada commends the bravery and strength of Ukrainians, and we will continue to stand with Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity." - The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence

Quick facts

Prior to being donated, the AIM-7 missiles will undergo modifications to be used in a ground-to-air capacity.

The Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) was created by the United States Secretary of Defense in April 2022 to provide a strategic mechanism to identify critical equipment needs and gaps for Ukraine, allow allies and partners to synchronize donations, consult, and coordinate military assistance to Ukraine, and build the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Convening monthly at the ministerial level, the UDCG now brings together over 50 countries.

Since the beginning of 2022, Canada has committed over $8 billion in aid to Ukraine, including over $1.5 billion in military assistance. This includes eight Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks and one armoured recovery vehicle, a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) with associated munitions, 39 armoured combat support vehicles, anti-tank weapons, small arms, M777 howitzers and associated ammunition, high-resolution drone cameras, winter clothing, and more.

More than 300 CAF members are now deployed under Op UNIFIER in various roles such as the provision and coordination of training, national command support, and the facilitation and delivery of military donations to Ukraine in coordination with our allies and partners. Op UNIFIER is ongoing in, Latvia, Poland and the United Kingdom.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






War in Ukraine - Military support for Ukraine

Germany - Federal Government

Thursday, 15 June 2023

Germany provides support for Ukraine by supplying equipment and weapons, these come from supplies of the Federal Arms Forces and from deliveries from industry financed from the Federal Government's funds for security capacity building. An overview.

This list provides an overview of military assistance provided by the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine. It includes deliveries from the Federal Armed Forces, from industry and assistance measures together with partners, which have, inter alia, been financed from Federal Government funds for security capacity building.

Funding for the security capacity building initiative amounts to 5.4 billion Euros for 2023 (after 2 billion Euros for 2022) and additional authorisations to enter commitments in the following years amounting to 10.5 billion Euros. These funds are to be used primarily for military assistance to Ukraine. At the same time, they will be used for re-filling Federal Armed Forces stocks for items delivered to Ukraine as well as for Germany's contributions to the European Peace Facility (EPF), from which costs incurred from providing military assistance to Ukraine can be re-imbursed to EU member states.

Delivered military support to Ukraine:

(Changes compared to the previous update in bold)

Armoured fighting vehicles

8 tracked all-terrain vehicles Bandvagn 206 (BV206)*

ammunition for LEOPARD 1*

18 LEOPARD 2 A 6 main battle tanks with ammunition (German share in joint project with further LEOPARD 2 operators)

40 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER with ammunition (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

50 MRAP vehicles DINGO

54 M113 armoured personnel carriers each with 2 MG* (systems of Denmark, upgrades financed by Germany)

118 MG3 for LEOPARD 2, MARDER and DACHS

Spare parts for LEOPARD 2 and MARDER

Air defence

55,000 rounds ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD

1 air surveillance radar TRML-4D*

2 air defence system Iris-T SLM*

Iris-T SLM missiles*

air defence system PATRIOT with missiles

34 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD including circa 6,000 rounds of ammunition*

4,000 rounds practice ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns

500 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STINGER

2,700 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STRELA

Artillery

5 multiple rocket launchers MARS II with ammunition (German share in joint project with USA and Great Britain)

ammunition for multiple rocket launchers MARS II

14 self-propelled howitzers Panzerhaubitze 2000 (German share in joint project with the Netherlands)

23,500 projectiles 155mm

155mm precision guided ammunition*

20 rocket launchers 70mm on pick-up trucks with rockets*

counter battery radar system COBRA*

Military Engineering Capabilities

4 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1* (before: 2)

8 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER*

11 mobile and protected mine clearing systems*

15 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2*

4 armoured engineer vehicles DACHS*

2 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 3

3 mobile, remote controlled and protected mine clearing systems*

17 heavy and medium bridge systems*

6 palettes material for explosive ordnance disposal

Protective and Special Equipment

68 reconnaissance drones VECTOR*

146 border protection vehicles*

93 drone detection systems*

40 frequency range extensions for anti-drone devices*

1 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems*

32 reconnaissance drones*

42 mobile antenna mast systems*

40 laser target designators*

55 anti-drone sensors and jammers*

10 unmanned surface vessels*

10 anti-drone guns*

28,000 combat helmets

125 binoculars

600 safety glasses

1 radio frequency system

3,000 field telephones with 5,000 cable reels and carrying straps

353 night vision goggles*

12 electronic anti-drone devices*

165 field glasses*

38 laser range finders*

6 mobile decontamination vehicles HEP 70 including decontamination material

10 HMMWV (8x ground radar capability, 2x jamming/anti drone capability)*

7 radio jammers*

8 mobile ground surveillance radars and thermal imaging cameras*

1 high frequency unit with equipment*

Logistics

23 truck tractor trains 8x8 HX81 and 18 semi-trailers* (before: 21/16)

108 trucks Zetros* (before: 92)

14 tracked and remote controlled infantry vehicles THeMIS*

4 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 20 roll of containers*

288 vehicles (trucks, minibuses, all-terrain vehicles)

179 Pick-ups*

12 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh*

26 load-handling trucks 15t*

12 heavy duty trailer trucks and 4 semi-trailers*

35 load-handling trucks 8x8

30 protected vehicles*

10 roll off containers

Combat Readiness and Survivability

11,000 group module rations

83,520 rounds ammunition 40mm*

160,000 first aid kits*

103,000 tourniquets

500 pistols SFP9*

2 hangar tents*

8 lift trucks*

295 generators

10 winter camouflage nets

168 mobile heating systems*

36 ambulances*

36,400 wool blankets

14,000 sleeping bags

Mi-24 spare parts*

spare parts for heavy machine gun M2

200 tents

116,000 winter jackets

80,000 winter trousers

240,000 winter hats

405,000 pre-packaged military Meals Ready

67 fridges for medical material*

3,000 anti-tank weapons Panzerfaust 3 with 900 firing devices

14,900 anti-tank mines (9,300* from industry stocks)

22 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms

50 Bunkerfaust with 15 firing devices

100 machine gun MG3 with 500 spare barrels and breechblocks

100,000 hand grenades

5,300 explosive charges

100,000 m detonating cord and 100,000 detonators

350,000 detonators

100 auto-injector devices

15 palettes military clothing

1,200 hospital beds

18 palettes medical material, 60 surgical lights

protective clothing, surgical masks

1 field hospital (project jointly financed with Estonia)*

medical material (inter alia back packs, compression bandages)

Diesel and gasoline*

10 tons AdBlue*

500 medical gauzes*

MiG-29 spare parts*

7,944 man-portable anti-tank weapons RGW 90 Matador*

Military support to Ukraine in planning/in execution

(due to security concerns, the Federal Government abstains from providing details on transportation modalities and dates until after handover)

Armoured fighting vehicles

64 tracked all-terrain vehicles Bandvagn 206 (BV206)*

66 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)*

110 LEOPARD 1 main battle tanks* (project jointly financed with Denmark)

20 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER*

ammunition for LEOPARD 1*

ammunition for MARDER*

Air defence

6 air defence system IRIS-T SLM*

Iris-T SLM missiles*

12 launchers Iris-T SLS*

Iris-T SLS missiles (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

7 air surveillance radars TRML-4D*

18 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD*

300,000 rounds of GEPARD ammunition

Artillery

26,350 projectiles 155mm*

18 wheeled self-propelled howitzers RCH 155*

16 self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (project jointly financed with Denmark and Norway)

Military Engineering Capabilities

5 bridges for bridge-laying tanks BEAVER*

18 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER*

3 mobile and protected mine clearing systems*

38 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1*

1 armoured engineer vehicles DACHS*

3 heavy and medium bridge systems*

Protective and Special Equipment

357 reconnaissance drones VECTOR*

121 reconnaissance drones*

10 unmanned surface vessels*

40 ground surveillance radars*

1 Satcom surveillance system*

2,000 portable light systems*

8 mobile antenna mast systems*

5 mobile reconnaissance systems (on vehicles) *

354 border protection vehicles*

vehicle decontamination system

11 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems*

Logistics

12 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh*

30 tank trucks (water/fuel)*

78 truck tractor trains and 86 semi-trailers*

3 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 8 roll of containers*

67 heavy duty trailer trucks 8x8 HX81 and 72 semi-trailers*

2 tractors and 4 trailers*

10 protected vehicles*

92 trucks Zetros*

Combat Readiness and Survivability

340,000 first aid kits* (before: 40,000)

13 ambulances*

continuing deliveries of medical material*

100 machine guns MG5*

100 grenade launchers GMG*

17 mobile heating systems*

132,480 rounds ammunition 40mm for grenade launchers*

field hospital (role 2)*

5,032 man-portable anti-tank weapons*

* Deliveries from industry stocks financed by German funds for security capacity building. Some of the deliveries require upgrades or productions is ongoing; also training measures take place.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






June 15, 2023

Transcript

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark A. Milley Hold Press Conference Following Ukraine Defense Contact Group Meeting, Brussels, Belgium

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III; Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark A. Milley

STAFF: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you very much for being here today. It's my pleasure to introduce Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley.

The secretary and the chairman will deliver opening remarks, and then have time to take a few questions. Please note that I will moderate those questions and call on journalists. Given our tight schedule, I'd ask that you please limit your follow-ups to give your colleagues a chance to ask their questions, and I appreciate your assistance with this.

With that, I'll turn it over to Secretary Austin.

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD J. AUSTIN III: Thanks, Patrick. Good afternoon, everyone, and thanks for being here.

We've just wrapped up our 13th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and it once again demonstrated the unity and the resolve that have characterized this group ever since our very first meeting. We continue to be inspired by the Ukrainian people.

As I told the Contact Group today, the missile strike that hit a residential building in Kryvyi Rih reminded us all of the senseless suffering that the people of Ukraine have endured. But they remain undaunted, and so do their leaders.

We were fortunate to be joined yet again by my good friend, Ukrainian Minister of Defense Oleksiy Reznikov. As always, this Contact Group benefits hugely from hearing firsthand from him and his team about the state of the battlefield and Ukraine's most urgent needs. As I've told Oleksiy, we have great confidence in the training and the capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces thanks in large part to the tireless and combined work of the Contact Group -- Group's members.

Now, we all know that the Ukrainians have been engaged in a tough fight to defend their sovereign territory and take back the -- the occupied territory, and we have all seen the skill and courage of Ukraine's defenders ever since the start of Russia's invasion. Of course, we've given Ukraine's forces important training and impressive capabilities, but war is fluid, dynamic and unpredictable. Ukraine's fight is not some easy sprint to the finish line and our message remains clear: We will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Now, let me talk a bit more about today's Contact Group. In addition to the briefing from Ukraine, we heard from the leaders of U.S. European Command, and they briefed us on future training plans as well as efforts to maintain and sustain the equipment that we've already provided and to ensure that Ukraine can do so for future equipment, as well.

We also heard from our friends from Germany and Poland on their work sustaining Ukraine's new Leopard tanks, and our colleagues from the Netherlands and Denmark shared the progress that they've made on plans to train Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter aircraft, including F-16s.

But it brings me back to one of the very top priorities of this Contact Group. We remain laser-focused on meeting Ukraine's urgent needs for ground-based air defense systems, and that's especially important since Russia's -- since Russia has ruthlessly ramped up its missile and drone attacks over the past month against Ukraine's cities, and these attacks have killed scores of Ukrainian civilians, and that's just part of Moscow's reckless and lawless attempt to break the will of the Ukrainian people.

But Ukraine's air defenders have served -- saved countless lives using air defense systems and intercepts -- interceptor missiles donated by members of this Contact Group, and our ongoing support will ensure that Ukraine can continue to defend its civilians, its cities and its critical infrastructure.

Now, several countries have stepped up today with new commitments for Ukraine.

Canada committed another $500 million package to support Ukraine, and that will include more than 200 critical air defense missiles to help Ukraine's skies -- help protect Ukraine's skies. And the United States, along with the U.K., Denmark and the Netherlands all contributed funding for additional critical air defense missiles for Ukraine. Italy also announced its latest tranche of assistance, which includes highly critical capabilities that meet Ukraine's most urgent needs to defend itself.

And several allies are beginning to think about supporting Ukraine for the long term. Norway and Germany announced multi-year packages and Denmark just announced its own nearly $2.6 billion package for military assistance through 2024.

All these contributions underscore our unity in supporting Ukraine and in defending the rules-based international order that keeps us all secure.

Ukraine has overcome so many obstacles but more lie ahead, and Ukraine's troops and citizens do not stand alone. Thanks to the historic support of nations of goodwill from around the world, Ukraine is well-positioned for the challenges still to come.

As President Biden has said, our support will not waver, our resolve will not falter, and our unity will not crack. Make no mistake, we will stand with the Ukrainian people for as long as it takes.

And with that, I'll turn it over to General Milley.

GENERAL MARK A. MILLEY: Thank you, Secretary Austin, and good afternoon to everyone that's with us here today.

For 16 months, the international community has stood together in defense of the rules-based international order. This coalition's commitment at this 13th meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group demonstrates our unwavering dedication to the ideals of sovereignty and self-determination.

But first, let me thank Secretary Austin for his steadfast leadership in fostering this global coalition. From the first meeting to the 13th today, without his leadership, these would not be happening. And thank you also to the ministers and chiefs of defense from some-50 nations that joined us today.

To Ukrainian Minister of Defense Reznikov, my counterpart, General Zaluzhnyi, who is not here today but I did have a chance to talk to him the other day, and his representative, General Moisiuk, who was here, thank you for your unflinching resolve and determination in the face of immense adversity and thank you also for the incredible bravery of the Ukrainian people.

We stand here today not simply as a group of nations but as a united front standing for the values that are much larger than ourselves. We stand for the bedrock principles of national sovereignty and liberty, principles that Russia's illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine clearly undermine.

Putin's war of choice is not just a transgression against Ukraine, it is literally a frontal assault on the very international order that guarantees peace, prosperity and freedom to all nations. The brave Ukrainian people continue to demonstrate their spirit of resilience, fighting relentlessly to reclaim their homeland from Russian occupation. Each day, the Ukrainians fight not just with steel and weapons but the iron will of their spirit.

As President Zelenskyy has announced recently, the Ukrainians have embarked on an offensive operation to liberate their country. They're in the early stages and it's far too early to make any definitive assessments but I can tell you that each day, the Ukrainians demonstrate the courage and tenacity needed to methodically regain their territory.

We have said before that war is dynamic, it is a contest of wills. As the Secretary just said, it's uncertain, it's violent, and as always, has high costs. But we can be sure that Ukrainian bravery, competency and preparedness will carry the day. We can be confident that this contact group has given Ukraine the tools that it needs to succeed.

And we know that the will of the Ukrainian people will continue to resonate far beyond their borders. In fact, it will resonate throughout the globe. Their actions echo the voices of all people who cherish freedom and the rights to determine their own fate against tyranny. Our assistance to Ukraine supports their cause to remain free and independent. It represents our commitment to what binds us as nations operating within the rules-based international order.

We have and we will continue to offer wide-ranging support, from providing sophisticated combined arms capabilities to intelligence to training of Ukrainian forces to be more effective on the battlefield. Through a global effort, more than 6,000 Ukrainians are being trained right now at 40 different locations -- training locations in 65 courses in 33 nations on three continents. That is all happening right now, today.

Since the beginning of the war, the United States has trained over 11,000 Ukrainians in combined arms maneuver and staff training. The U.S. training effort has created 12 maneuver battalions, nearly 5,000 operators that are fighting in those machines right now, along with their combined arms staffs. We are currently training three battalions -- a tank battalion and two territorial National Guard battalions.

All in all, the international effort has trained almost 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers for this current operation, and many of whom are engaged in close combat as we stand here today.

Last week, the United States released another Ukrainian Security Assistance Initiative package totaling several billion dollars, $2 billion. This package procures critical capabilities, including Patriot munitions, HAWK air defense systems, artillery rocket munitions, maintenance and sustainment support, and much more.

Additionally this week, we released our latest drawdown package of $325 million. From our current stocks, we are providing Ukraine air defense munitions, GMLRS, long-range artillery, artillery rounds, 155, Bradley, Strykers, and many other capabilities.

Over the past year, we have seen the strength of Ukraine because of the international coalition and the impact of our collective support, along with the courage of the Ukrainian people. We see Ukrainian forces displaying exceptional skill in operating complex systems, like Patriot, armored vehicles and HIMARS. We see Ukrainians effectively leveraging anti-armor weapons, advanced munitions and sophisticated air defense systems.

Our commitment to Ukraine extends far beyond the here and the now. It is not defined by time or convenience but it is defined by the principles of democracy, freedom and the international rule of law. It is a pledge that upholds the international order to ensure that every nation, big or small, can live in peace, enjoying its rightful sovereignty without fear of unprovoked aggression.

As the President of the United States and Secretary of Defense Austin have consistently stated over and over again, the United States remains committed to supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes. We will continue to provide Ukraine with the means to fight until Russia ends this unprovoked aggression.

Thank you and I look forward to your questions.

STAFF: Thank you both, gentlemen. The first question, we'll go to Dan Lamothe, Washington Post.

Q: Gentlemen, good afternoon. Thanks for your time today.

A question for Secretary Austin please. We've started to see battlefield losses in this Ukrainian counter-offensive emerge online and otherwise. To -- to what degree do they concern you? And do you anticipate additional commitments of U.S. fighting vehicles to bolster the counter-offensive as it moves forward?

And then for General Milley, in light of this counter-offensive, there's the expectation that this could be a grinding, bloody slog that takes many months. To what degree and what kind of patience do you anticipate will be necessary not just for the Ukrainians, but the American people and taxpayers and the U. -- and the military alliance that is supporting Ukraine as this goes on? Thank you.

SEC. AUSTIN: Thanks, Dan.

Regarding the battlefield losses of vehicles and equipment, this is a war, so we know that there will be battle damage on both sides. And you know, what's important is that, you know, the Ukrainians have the ability to recover equipment that's been damaged, repair where -- where possible, get that equipment back into the fight, and also that they have the -- we have a means to continue to push capability forward.

So there will continue to be battle damage. I think the Russians have shown us that same five vehicles about a thousand times from 10 different angles. But quite frankly, the Ukrainians have -- still have a lot of combat capability -- combat power. So as you've indicated, this will continue to be a -- a tough fight as we anticipated, and I believe that the -- the -- the element that does the best in terms of sustainment will -- will probably have the advantage at the end of the day. So our focus is on making sure that we continue to push forward what Ukraine needs in order to be successful.

GEN. MILLEY: So Dan, it'll be very premature to put any estimates of how long, time, on an operation of this magnitude. There are several hundred thousand Russian troops dug in in prepared positions all along the front line, and Ukraine has begun their attack, and they're making steady progress. This is a very difficult fight. It's a very violent fight and it will likely take a considerable amount of time and at high cost. But at the end of the day, as Napoleon once said, "The moral is to the physical as three is to one", and the Ukrainian morale, their leadership, their skill, their tenacity, their resilience is very high. Russian, on the -- the Russians, on the other hand, their leadership is -- is not necessarily coherent. Their troops' morale is not high. They've been sitting in defensive positions. Many of them don't even know why they're there. So we'll see. It's too early to tell, but we'll see how this plays out.

STAFF: Thank you, gentlemen.

Let's go to the back here. (inaudible)

Q: Thank you very much. From (inaudible). Secretary Austin, one question: There is a growing frustration among Eastern European allies, that they believe there is not enough support from your government, your admin -- administration towards a Ukrainian membership in NATO. Why are you so hesitant to give any more concrete signs that Ukraine will enter the alliance and that there will be some more promises which go beyond the Budapest clauses? Thank you.

SEC. AUSTIN: Well, thanks. I think you've heard us say over and over again that we continue to support Ukraine's open door -- excuse me --- NATO's open-door policy, and each -- each country will -- will have a different path to -- to -- to accession. And so again, I'll let -- I will further say that we remain where we were with Budapest, and -- and so as -- as we go forward here, I think you'll see allies and -- and partners continue to work together to provide Ukraine what it needs to be successful, and also provide assurances going forward, so...

STAFF: Our next question will go to Carla Babb, Voice of America.

Q: Mr. Secretary, Chairman, thank you both for doing this. Mr. Secretary, what has the U.S. committed to provide to the F-16 training program for Ukrainians, specifically, trainers, munitions, jets? And can you provide us with any more details on the overall F-16 training plans?

And Chairman Milley, the indictment of former President -- U.S. President Trump includes a transcript of him discussing a classified document about plans to attack a country. How concerning is it to you that a former president or any U.S. official, for that matter, is willing to discuss classified military plans and consider using those plans to settle personal scores?

SEC. AUSTIN: Thanks, Carla. Let me start with the F-16 question here. First, let me say how much I really appreciate the Netherlands and Denmark stepping up to lead this consortium. And they are outlining the -- the -- the plan for training, and there are a number of other countries that have joined in and volunteered to -- to help in this effort.

And so this work continues. We were briefed today on -- on kind of the outline of the plan and the steps for, you know, for the way ahead, and I have to tell you that they, in the 30 days that we've been after this, they have leaned into this in a major way.

As you know, the United States will have to provide approval for the training, and also some other aspects of this, and as you would expect, we continue to work with the Netherlands and Denmark as they -- as they put this plan together. But -- but again, this will take some time, but -- but they're really moving out in a very impressive way and -- and they're getting support from other partners in the -- in the UDC -- CG.

GEN. MILLEY: And Carla, thank you for the opportunity to make no comment. I appreciate that. The -- it's -- it's entirely inappropriate for me to ever make a comment about an ongoing federal investigation, so I'm not going to make any comment. I will focus on my job, and that's protecting the Constitution of the United States and protecting our country, and in this particular case, in supporting Ukraine in their fight for freedom.

STAFF: Thank you, gentlemen. Final question will go to (Vitaly Surkov, U.A. Television.

Q: Thank you. You said what about Ukrainian advanced. Which insight did you get from observing this advance? Maybe it would change the way of help, maybe a new type of weapons United States would provide. And what you promoted, when F-16 and Abrams could be on the territory of Ukraine? That's it. Thank you.

SEC. AUSTIN: Is that for me or the chairman?

Q: (inaudible).

GEN. MILLEY: Yeah, we had a -- a session today with a variety of countries. We're early in the planning process. I -- I think there's a -- a -- an intent by several countries that have stepped up to take the lead, Netherlands and -- and -- and Denmark, in terms of the planning. So there's a lot of work left to be done, but I think it would be premature to -- to give a specific date on any time the F-16s or any other type of advanced aircraft would be employed in combat in -- in Ukraine. There's -- there's a lot of work to do. You have to do language training. You have to do pilot training. You've got to get all the systems set in place. So those -- those wheels are in motion, but we're a ways from completion of that project.

SEC. AUSTIN: In terms of lessons learned, there are -- there are key lessons learned in every fight, and -- and we always encourage our partners to capture those lessons learned and -- and adapt as required.

You know, fights are dynamic. Squads and platoons actually fight the fight. Everybody else on the battlefield supports it. And so what those squads and platoons are doing and seeing and learning, how they're employing supporting fires and -- and all of that, and we incorporate those insights into the training that we're doing for follow-on forces.

And so the -- the Ukrainian military is a learning organization and an adaptive organization, and we see continuous adaptation on -- on -- on a daily basis. It's been that way from the very start, and as things -- as the battlefield dynamics have changed over the weeks and months, we've worked with the Ukrainians -- we've also changed, in terms of kinds of things that we're providing them, and it's been successful and the evidence that it's been successful is because -- is -- can be seen in where the -- where the Ukrainians are today on the battlefield.

STAFF: Mr. Secretary, General Milley, thank you very much, gentlemen. Ladies and gentlemen, this concludes our press briefing. Thank you.

SEC. AUSTIN: Thanks, everybody.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3429774/

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






June 15, 2023

By David Vergun , DOD News

Nations Step Up With New Ukraine Military Assistance

Germany and Poland committed to sustaining Ukraine's new Leopard tanks, and the Netherlands and Denmark shared progress made on their plans to train pilots on fourth-generation fighter aircraft, including F-16s, said the U.S. secretary of defense.

Lloyd J. Austin III, who also serves as chairman of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, spoke to the media today following a UDCG meeting with some 50 nations in Brussels.

"We remain laser-focused on meeting Ukraine's urgent needs for ground-based, air-defense systems," Austin said.

That's especially important since Russia has ruthlessly ramped up its missile and drone attacks over the past month against Ukrainian cities, killing scores of civilians, the secretary said.

Canada will send Ukraine over 200 air-defense missiles as part of its $500 billion commitment, Austin said.



Additionally, the United States, United Kingdom, Denmark and the Netherlands contributed funding for additional air-defense missiles for Ukraine, Austin said.

Italy also announced its latest tranche of military assistance, and Norway and Germany announced multiyear security assistance packages, he said.

Also, Denmark just announced nearly $2.6 million for Ukraine military assistance through 2024, Austin said.

"All these contributions underscore our unity and support for Ukraine in defending the rules-based international order that keeps us all secure. Ukraine has overcome so many obstacles, but more lie ahead. And Ukraine's citizens do not stand alone. Thanks to the historic support and goodwill from nations around the world, Ukraine is well positioned for the challenges still to come," Austin said.

"Ukraine's fight is not some easy sprint to the finish line. Our message remains clear: We will stand by your side for as long as it takes," he added.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark A. Milley said that since the beginning of the Russian invasion, the United States has trained over 11,000 Ukrainians in combined-arms maneuver and staff training.

That training effort has resulted in the creation of 12 Ukrainian maneuver battalions of nearly 5,000 operators who are now in the fight, he said.

Nearly 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained by allies and partners, including those 11,000 trained by the U.S., Milley said.

"The brave Ukrainian people continue to demonstrate their spirit of resilience, fighting relentlessly to reclaim their homeland from Russian occupation. Each day, the Ukrainians fight, not just with steel and weapons, but with the iron will of their spirit," Milley said.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Estonia is working on a solution for using sanctioned assets to compensate war damages to Ukraine

Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

15.06.2023

At a cabinet meeting, the government discussed ways of using the frozen assets of individuals linked to Russia's aggression to achieve the complete failure of the aggression and contribute to rebuilding Ukraine. The government supported the proposal to draft legislation for this purpose.

"Russia continues its war in Ukraine and devastation in Ukraine grows with each passing day. It is unfair that the taxpayers of democratic countries must pay for the war damage caused by Russia," Prime Minister Kaja Kallas emphasised. "Ukraine is a victim of Russia's war and must be compensated by Russia. This is why we are working on a solution that would allow the use of frozen assets, which we have seized with sanctions from Russian citizens and companies, to compensate war damages. Estonia is the first country in the European Union to start working on a solution for using sanctioned assets and other countries can use this model if they wish."

Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said it was important to provide deterrence by sending the message that aggression will not go unpunished and there will be compensation for the damage caused by aggression. "The existence of such a mechanism raises the cost of the aggression, especially if similar solutions are used by other countries or the European Union," he said.

According to international law, unlawful damage must be compensated. Russia has gravely violated the UN Charter and the prohibition of the use of force in international relations. Compensating the damage caused by the aggressor when Russia is not compensating the damage would be a so-called advance payment from frozen assets. The precondition for using frozen assets is an international agreement with Ukraine or with an international compensation mechanism to keep track of damages and compensations. The first step is the establishment of a register of war damages in Ukraine at the Council of Europe. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice have prepared draft legislation for amending the International Sanctions Act that will be submitted for approval in the near future.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ukraine: Commission strengthens cooperation and support on education and health

European Commission

Press release

15 June 2023

Kyiv

Today in Kyiv, Vice-President for Promoting our European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, signed two Arrangements for Cooperation with Ukraine on behalf of the Commission in the context of the EU's support to Ukraine as the country deals with the consequences of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression.

Stronger cooperation on Education

After having met Ukraine's Minister of Education and Science, Oksen Lisovyi, Vice-President Schinas and Minister Lisovyi jointly signed an Arrangement for Cooperation on Education between the European Commission and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. Both parties agreed to strengthen and further develop cooperation and dialogue in this field.

Through this arrangement, the Commission has reiterated the standing invitation to Ukrainian authorities to participate in the working groups and peer learning activities under the European Education Area Strategic Framework. This will allow Ukraine to further align with the EU's acquis in the area of education and, amongst others, to facilitate the mutual recognition of academic qualifications. The Commission has also opened up participation in the Eurydice Network to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine to get a deeper understanding of the respective education systems and their cooperation in education.

Vice-President Schinas encouraged Ukrainians to take full advantage of the opportunities offered to them through the Erasmus+ Programme, from strengthened cooperation between schools to the potential of the Commission's online platforms on education, most notably eTwinning, the online community of European teachers and educators. The Commission also welcomed further efforts by Ukraine to encourage schooling in the EU Member States.

In addition, the Vice-President also today announced the extension of Ukraine's participation in the EU's flagship Erasmus+ programme. The Commission is opening up the possibility for Ukrainian organisations to participate - as of 2024 - in international cooperation projects in the framework of Erasmus+ Capacity Building Actions in the field of Youth and Sport.

Stronger cooperation on Health

Vice-President Schinas and Ukraine's Minister of Health, Viktor Liashko jointly signed an Arrangement for Cooperation on Health between the European Commission and the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Both parties agreed to strengthen and further develop cooperation and dialogue in this field.

The Russian aggression against Ukraine has had devastating consequences for the health of thousands of people, destroying vital lifesaving health care facilities and health systems. Through this arrangement, the Commission reiterates the standing support to Ukraine's healthcare system, as well as to those who have to flee the country. Under the EU's MEDEVAC system, more than 2,250 patients have already been evacuated from Ukraine for medical treatment in the EU and EEA countries.

The six areas of cooperation of today's Arrangement are: mental health, access to healthcare and catering to the health needs of refugees, the return of patients to Ukraine and strengthening its rehabilitation system, enhancing the work of Ukraine on rare diseases and continued funding through the EU4Health programme.

Going forward, the work will focus on both urgent and long-term health priorities, such as resilience to cross-border threats to health, Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe and digital health.

Background

As of 30 April 2023, close to 780 000 Ukrainian nationals were registered in the national education systems of EU Member States and the four non-EU countries associated to the Schengen activities of the EU. The Commission continues to support the national education systems as they welcome the new pupils, amongst others through the EU Education Solidarity Group for Ukraine, in which Member States' authorities exchange good practices and coordinate work at EU level.

The Commission has allowed for maximum flexibility under the Erasmus+ programme in support of youth, students and staff from Ukraine already at the beginning of the war. This included full and free access to the Erasmus+ Online Language Support platform. Ongoing projects could adapt their focus to support Ukraine, and applicants for new grants were encouraged to include activities linked to the integration of Ukrainian refugees, the promotion of European values, or the fight against disinformation and fake news. Opportunities for mobility in the education and training fields were exceptionally opened up to incoming participants from Ukraine, which was already possible in the youth field.

On 9 March 2023, the Commission adopted its Erasmus+ 2023 Annual Work Programme with an increased annual budget of a100 million to support the integration of people fleeing Ukraine into their new learning environments, and to support organisations, learners, and staff in Ukraine. This additional budget will be mostly allocated to cooperation partnership actions, which are best-suited to support Ukrainian learners and staff currently displaced in other European countries.

In the area of health, in the spirit of European solidarity, the Commission and the EU/EEA countries have evacuated more than 2,250 severely ill patients from Ukraine for medical treatment in 21 EU/EEA countries since the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

The Commission, through its Foreign Policy Instrument (FPI), is financially supporting (around a5 million) the World Health Organization (WHO) to set-up a system to organise the return of Ukrainian patients, many of them trauma patients, to Ukraine after their treatment in EU/EEA countries. This includes activities to ensure that these patients are seamlessly accepted into the health and social care system in Ukraine to receive follow-up treatment like rehabilitation.

A network was established under the Health Policy Platform in April 2022 to support and coordinate activities of the EU stakeholders working to provide support to displaced patients and health professionals from Ukraine.

On 15 July 2022, Ukraine signed an association agreement to join the EU4Health Programme which was back dated to 1 January 2022. As a result, Ukraine can access the EU4Health funding on equal footing with the EU Member States and the other associated countries (Norway, Iceland, and the Republic of Moldova).

In the EU4Health Work Programme 2022, a28.4 million is being used to improve mental health and provide psychosocial support to Ukrainian displaced people under an action coordinated by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies together with Red Cross National Societies in 22 EU Member States, Norway and Ukraine.

In the Work Programme 2023, a10.66 million are being used to improve access to healthcare and improve mental health.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Norway and Denmark cooperate on new donations to Ukraine

Government of Norway

News story | Date: 15/06/2023

Norway and Denmark agree to donate an additional 9,000 rounds of artillery to Ukraine. Norway provides the shells, while Denmark donates fuzes and propellant charges.

The two countries made a similar donation earlier this year.

Norway is also donating 7,000 rounds from own stocks. These are already sent to Ukraine.

- Ukraine has an urgent need for artillery ammunition. We have therefore decided to join forces with Denmark for a new donation, so that Ukraine receives the ammunition as quickly as possible, says Defense Minister BjArn Arild Gram.

- It is important that we continue to stand together in demonstrating our support of Ukraine. Norway will continue to support Ukraine against the Russian invasion forces as long as it is needed, says Gram.

Previously, Norway donated 20,000 artillery rounds. With the donations now being announced, Norway has donated a total of 27,000 artillery rounds alone, and 17,000 together with Denmark.

- Ukraine still has an urgent need for ammunition in its fight against Russia. Denmark, together with other EU and NATO countries, is in the process of accommodating a number of different measures. Together with Norway, we can now send more than 9,000 complete artillery rounds within a short time, says Acting Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen. In addition, Denmark itself will donate further 1,500 complete artillery rounds and 500 shells.

The artillery rounds can be used in several types of artillery, including the M109 that Norway previously has donated.

The ammunition will be replaced through acquisition of new munitions.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Meeting with Head of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency Veronika Skvortsova

Vladimir Putin had a meeting with Head of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA) Veronika Skvortsova.

June 15, 2023

00:20

The Kremlin, Moscow



President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, Ms Skvortsova.

Let's start with the situation around the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant.

Head of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency Veronika Skvortsova: Mr President, the FMBA has been actively involved in the special military operation, alongside the Defence Ministry, since February 2022. Our combined detachments have been deployed in the Belgorod Region, including Shebekino and Valuyki, as well as the Rostov Region and in northern Crimea, in Krasnoperekopsk.

Over this entire period, we have treated more than 51,000 people in total, and more than 5,600 children. Our teams continue to operate; as many as 800 employees have taken part during this period.

Since June 1, by order of the Government, we have taken over the medical and sanitary-epidemiological support of Energodar and the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant and the organisations operating the power plant.

On June 1, we opened our territorial unit there and a hygiene and epidemiology centre - a branch of our Novovoronezh Centre for Hygiene and Epidemiology. We have opened an emergency radiation-monitoring and medical centre, a mobile medical and radiation-monitoring unit, and taskforces that can help the victims in case of emergency. We have integrated a large local medical sanitary unit, and it became a branch of our southern district centre.

It is also important to note that, because we started routine medical checks in Energodar in December [2022], examining both the children and adult population, we got to know the team and became familiar with the problems on the ground. And this helped us to actually keep the entire team on board: all 540 employees were hired, plus those employees who came from other FMBA centres.

We have purchased new equipment worth of 230 million rubles, which has already been delivered: the local surgical, anaesthesiology, laboratory, technical and other services have been fully re-equipped. We have replaced the vehicle fleet. The team has revived, and in fact, we have accepted them into the FMBA family.

We work well together. All radiation risks are being monitored. Everything is calm: there are no radiation peaks, and the situation is under control.

Following the collapse of the Kakhovka dam on June 6, Mr Saldo appealed to the FMBA in the evening of June 9 to send an interservice medical team to them. We have sent such a team made up of four groups from our departments in Rostov, Starobeshevo (Donetsk People's Republic), Yalta and Krasnoperekopsk. On June 12, it arrived in the area called Zhelezny Port, where 11 temporary accommodation centres with 1,500 people are located. There are about 1,000 people in the city itself, more than 900 adults and about 100 children.

The team includes 30 specialists: two surgical groups, two intensive care groups, a primary care doctor, a paediatrician, a trauma specialist, a mobile microbiology group of five epidemiologists and laboratory assistants, a group of psychologists and nursing professionals. They advanced in a convoy of 10 specialised vehicles: a rapid response group, a mobile surgery, an intensive care vehicle, dressing units, a mobile microbiology laboratory, critical care vans and ambulances.

They arrived at the destination and started working on June 12. It must be said that the demand for medical assistance is huge: over the first two days, 600 of the 1,000 people and 60 of the 100 children there requested medical assistance. The team is working round the clock. We have split it into two groups, which provide primary surgical assistance, dressings, treatment of chronic diseases, and emergency care.

The epidemiological group has started working as well. They collected samples from the public water supply system, because people drink bottled water but use the public water system to clean their teeth. We completed the seed process yesterday, and the initial result is that, thankfully, there are no pathological substances.

Nevertheless, the team took not only medicines and dressing materials with them but also a large number of Hepatitis A, dysentery and typhoid vaccines, as well as the specialised Intesti bacteriophage for the treatment of all types of intestinal infectious diseases. We began the vaccination today. Over the past two days, we came to the conclusion that the team should be reinforced. Tomorrow we will send one more vehicle with vaccines to prevent potential shortages.

Besides, there is no clinical laboratory service there, which is why we will send a mobile laboratory service and specialists who will take clinical biochemistry tests. We have diagnosed several tuberculosis cases, and so we will also send a mobile screening van with specialists.

Vladimir Putin: Are these cases connected with the flooding or did you diagnose them during a screening?

Veronika Skvortsova: No, we diagnosed them during the screening. But since people are living in cramped quarters in the temporary shelters, we must prevent potential risks.

Vladimir Putin: The risks are increasing.

Veronika Skvortsova: Besides, we need more psychologists there, as we have concluded. The second section of the group will arrive on Friday.

Overall, the situation is under control. The team has an experienced leader, who worked in Starobeshevo, Donetsk People's Republic, for six months. He is a competent doctor and, actually, a member of the FMBA staff. He knows how to speak with the people and has developed a good rapport with them.

In addition to this, I would like to report on your instruction. We have been building a multi-purpose high-technology centre in Mariupol together with the Defence Ministry since December 2022. It will serve not only the Donetsk People's Republic, but other new regions too, as well as the nearby regions of the Russian Federation. It is currently 74 percent complete, even though construction started in December.

Only recently, I visited both Energodar and Mariupol, where I had a meeting with the construction team. Everything will be ready in August. We purchased the equipment, with 90 percent made in Russia, and very high quality too. The remaining 10 percent comes from Belarus and the People's Republic of China. The installation of the heavy equipment will begin on June 15, and we will complete this effort by December 1.

This will be the first stage, which includes a diagnostics and treatment building, eleven operating suites, a sophisticated intensive care unit, an angiographic endovascular operating suite, and a diagnostics clinic, with 60 beds for overnight stays and 20 daycare beds.

The second stage will begin next year. It will include a building with 333 additional beds. We hope that this centre will open in December. We would like to invite you there, and we will be happy to see you, Mr President, if you have an opportunity to visit.

Vladimir Putin: Thank you.

I saw it from the outside when I visited Mariupol. I did not go inside, but the project was at an advanced stage, about 60 percent ready, I think.

Veronika Skvortsova: It is now 74 percent ready. Let me show you. This is what it looks like now.

Vladimir Putin: This is a big facility.

Veronika Skvortsova: Indeed, it is 36,000 square metres. We will add another 26,000 square metres next year. This is a major centre that will employ a big workforce. We have already recruited the core employees, and engineers and maintenance personnel are already working there. For stage one, there will be 170 medics, but we will need several times this number when we reach stage two.

We are now working with all the new regions of the Russian Federation and are ready to offer professional training to all interested medical professionals. Some of them need this training, and maybe there are also those who do not. Anyway, we are always glad to recruit them. This will work.

Mr President, if you will allow me, I would like to say that while all this has been going on, in 2022, our research team developed several novel antidotes against toxic agents, new radioprotective drugs and several treatments targeting specific symptoms for the radiation, biological and chemical protection troops. All these products come in user-friendly formats, including pre-filled syringes or can be quickly administered orally. In fact, we prepared a new layout, as requested by the Defence Ministry. It is ready and provides a convenient solution containing all the key medicines, including those against chemical and radiation hazards.

We continue developing new products and have already developed two new universal antidotes against toxic pulmonary oedema and toxic seizures. Clinical trials are getting underway. So here too, the agency is doing everything to help our troops.

Vladimir Putin: Good.

Thank you very much.

<...>

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Lithuania develops medium term assistance plan for Ukraine to encompass beyond military needs

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2023-06-15

International cooperation

"We are in progress on a medium term assistance plan for Ukraine. The assistance will address not only military needs but also the defence reform so that Ukraine comes closer to NATO membership as a result," said Minister of National Defence on June 15 at the NATO Defence Ministers meeting with participation of Minister of Defence of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov.

Minister also attended the Ramstein format Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting Thursday in Brussels as well. The meeting addressed the course of the war and further assistance the countries were to render. Minister confirmed that Lithuania's next package of assistance to Ukraine includes millions of 5.56 mm rounds of ammunition, drone jamming equipment, EUR 1 million contribution to the UK-administered International Fund for lethal weaponry to Ukraine, and half a million euros to the NATO Trust Fund for non-lethal assistance to Ukraine.

Lithuania will also further actively provide training assistance with the ambition this year set as high as 2300 Ukrainian graduates.

The Ramstein format donor nations also agreed on new initiatives in assistance of the fighting Ukraine, including F-16 fighter jets and IT projects.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






NATO Secretary General: we must ensure Ukraine can defend itself now and in the future

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

15 Jun. 2023

Opening a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Commission on Thursday (15 June 2023), Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Allies must continue to increase the delivery of military equipment to Ukraine as it fights to regain territory from Russian occupying forces. NATO Defence Ministers were joined by their Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov, as well as Swedish Defence Minister PAl Jonson and EU High Representative Josep Borrell.

The Commission addressed further steps to be taken at the Vilnius Summit to support Ukraine, "including a multi-year package of support with substantial funding" to ensure that "Ukraine can defend itself now and in the future," said Mr Stoltenberg. On Ukraine's membership aspirations, the Secretary General reaffirmed that "Ukraine's future lies within the Euro-Atlantic family," and that "all Allies agree that it will become a member of the Alliance".

Meeting the press earlier on Thursday, Mr Stoltenberg praised the "the courage, the bravery, the skills of the Ukrainian soldiers" as they pursue their counteroffensive, adding that their gains demonstrate that Allies' support "actually makes a difference on the battlefield as we speak."

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






NATO Secretary General: Defence Ministers will focus on support to Ukraine, bolstering deterrence and defence

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

15 Jun. 2023

Arriving at the start of a two-day meeting of NATO Defence Ministers on Thursday (15 June 2023), Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Allies would discuss how to sustain and step up support to Ukraine, and work to further bolster the Alliance's deterrence and defence.

The meeting of NATO Defence Ministers will begin with a NATO-Ukraine Commission, with the participation of Defence Minister Reznikov. It will be preceded by a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, led by the United States.

"We will also address how to further strengthen NATO's deterrence and defence as preparation for the upcoming Vilnius summit in July next month, where we will have new regional plans, a New Force Model - new force structure, - and also address the need to strengthen our pledge to invest more in defence," said Mr Stoltenberg.

Other topics over the coming two days include the development of a new Defence Production Action Plan; the approval of new capability targets for battle decisive ammunitions; and the establishment of a NATO Maritime Centre for the Security of Critical Undersea Infrastructure. The Nuclear Planning Group will also meet "to address how to continue to ensure that our nuclear deterrence remains safe, secure and effective and in a more dangerous world," said the Secretary General.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






US urges allies to 'dig deep' with arms in Ukraine's fight against Russia

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 15 June 2023 7:28 PM

The United States has called on its allies to "dig deep" and provide more weapons and ammunition to Ukraine as Kiev faces a tough fight in its counteroffensive against Russian forces.

Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made an appeal on Thursday while speaking after holding a meeting of the US-led Contact Group of some 50 countries that give military aid to Ukraine.

"Ukraine has begun their attack and they are making steady progress. This is a very difficult fight. It's a very violent fight, and it will likely take a considerable amount of time at a high cost," Milley said at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also told the meeting in opening remarks that the group had already given Patriot, IRIS-T and NASAMS air defense systems. But he said Ukraine needed even more.

"I ask that the members of this Contact Group continue to dig deep to provide Ukraine with the air defense assets and munitions that it so urgently needs to protect its citizens," Austin said.

"We'll also continue to adapt our assistance to meet the changing circumstances on the ground in the changing needs of Ukraine's forces," he added.

It was the 13th meeting of the group, which Washington set up last year to coordinate Western aid for Kiev.

Later in the day, NATO ministers met separately with Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov to discuss their support for Kiev. Reznikov also briefed his counterparts on Ukraine's counteroffensive, which Kiev launched this month.

The NATO ministers will also meet with defense industry bosses to urge them to ramp up production capacity so NATO allies can provide more munitions to Ukraine.

Ukraine to get more Leopard-2 tanks from Western states

Media reports, citing NATO sources, said on Thursday that Ukraine would get a further 14 Leopard-2 battle tanks worth a three-digit million euro sum from Western partners, financed by Denmark and the Netherlands.

Contracts for the new delivery have already been signed and the German government was involved as it has to agree to the export of vehicles.

The vehicles will be supplied and refurbished by the Rheinmetall group. Delivery of the battle tanks is to take place by the end of January.

Zelensky: 'We need weapons so we can restore peace in Ukraine'

In a video address to both houses of the Swiss parliament on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Switzerland to allow the re-export of weapons to Ukraine.

"I know there is a discussion in Switzerland about the exportation of war material to protect and defend Ukraine. That would be vital," Zelensky said.

"We need weapons so we can restore peace in Ukraine," he added.

Switzerland has a long-standing policy of barring any country that buys its arms from re-exporting them to parties in a conflict.

In November last year, it imposed an embargo on Swiss munitions being sent to either Russia or Ukraine.

Elsewhere in the speech, Zelensky thanked Switzerland for adopting EU sanctions over the invasion but said more was needed.

"It is very important to show solidarity because these sanctions will help us to end aggression," the Ukrainian president said. "We have to strengthen the sanctions."

Despite having adopted EU sanctions and frozen Russian assets worth 7.5 billion Swiss francs ($556 million), Switzerland has denied requests from some EU countries to re-export Swiss ammunition, weaponry and military vehicles to Ukraine.

Germany recently asked Swiss authorities to sell mothballed Leopard 2 tanks to arms maker Rheinmetall, which would allow the company to backfill gaps in the armaments of NATO members that have sent tanks to Ukraine.

Japan in talks to provide artillery shells to US to help Ukraine: WSJ

The Wall Street Journal said in a report that Japan was in talks to provide artillery shells to the US to help bolster stocks for Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russia,

WSJ sources added that Japan is considering supplying 155-mm artillery shells under a 2016 pact to share ammunition as part of its security alliance with the US.

The Japanese defense ministry says it has not yet made a final decision on the provision of shells.

A Pentagon spokesman said it is up to each country to decide what it could provide.

Ukraine claims advances in early stages of counterattack

Ukraine's military said on Thursday that its forces have advanced on key sectors of the front line in a counteroffensive against Russian forces. It added Kiev forces had regained control of over 100 square km (38 square miles) of territory during the battles.

The land recaptured in just over a week is a fraction of the territory Russia holds in Ukraine.

Media reports could not immediately verify the Ukrainian claims.

Russian forces hit Ukrainian drone production facilities

Russia's Defense Ministry said on Thursday that Russian forces successfully hit drone production facilities in Ukraine using high-precision, long-range weapons.

The ministry also said Russian air defenses had intercepted five US-built HIMARS-launched missiles and shot down 25 drones.

Russia has accused the West of becoming directly involved in the Ukraine war by supplying the country with weapons and training its soldiers.

Russia says the operation in Ukraine has been in order to defend the pro-Russia population in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk against alleged persecution by Kiev.

Ever since the war began, Kiev's allies, led by the United States and Britain, have been supplying Ukraine with weapons, a step that Russia says would prolong the conflict.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Stoltenberg urges NATO allies to arm Ukraine for offensive, as ministers discuss ties with Kiev

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 15 June 2023 11:13 AM

NATO Security General Jens Stoltenberg has urged the member states to arm Ukraine for an offensive against Russia, after reassuring that there is no consensus for the country to join the military alliance while it is at war with Russia.

"The most obvious thing is to ensure they have the weapons, the supplies, the maintenance to continue to conduct the offensive," Stoltenberg said a day before NATO defense ministers gathered in Brussels on Thursday to discuss future relations with Ukraine.

The NATO chief said he expected the bloc's defense ministers at a subsequent meeting on Friday to agree to "substantially" ramp up the targets for the amount of ammunition each NATO member must have in stock.

So far this year, NATO countries have jointly ordered 155-millimeter shells worth $1 billion, he said.

In addition, the military bloc is also looking to approve a "defense production action plan" at a summit next month in Lithuania's capital Vilnius, in a bid to get Western defense industries to ratchet up output.

US President Joe Biden and his counterparts will also gather at the meeting in Vilnius.

NATO agreed in 2008 that Ukraine would join the military organization one day, but did not set a date for it to start membership talks.

Stoltenberg further said that he expects the 31-nation alliance to "agree (to) a multi-year program where we help to move Ukraine to transition from old standards, equipment, procedures, doctrines to NATO standards and become fully interoperable with NATO."

He was also at pains to confirm the casualties caused to Western military equipment by Russian forces during the Ukraine war.

"There will be casualties, also, when it comes to modern NATO equipment," he said.

"No one expected there to be zero casualties. The realities of this is fierce, fierce fighting."

The war between Russia and Ukraine began in February last year, with the US-led NATO's eastward expansion blamed for it.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly railed against Washington for driving NATO's eastward expansion, especially its courting of ex-Soviet republics such as Ukraine and Georgia.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Nuclear Watchdog Chief Says Situation At Zaporizhzhya Plant 'Serious' Amid Russian Strikes Nearby

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service June 15, 2023

UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi said the situation at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in Ukraine following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam is "serious" but said measures are being taken to stabilize the situation.

Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), arrived on June 15 at the Russia-occupied nuclear power plant as the head of an inspection mission amid growing concerns about the safety of Europe's largest nuclear station. The breach of the downstream dam last week reduced the supply of water that the plant uses to keep its reactors from overheating.

Grossi's arrival, which was postponed by a day due to security concerns, was announced by Ukraine's nuclear energy company, Enerhoatom, on Telegram on June 15.

Until a few hours ago I was not sure whether I would be able to come here and visit the plant," Grossi said, describing the trip as "extremely difficult" but "important."

He said he was able to see the plant's cooling pond and "there was sufficient water" but also said he wanted the world to be "aware of the danger" that there could be a "major accident."

Grossi, who held talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv on June 13, has voiced concerns that the Russian-controlled nuclear plant was facing "a relatively dangerous situation" from both the dam burst and the start of Ukraine's counteroffensive against invading Russian troops.

His arrival was announced hours after Russia launched another wave of air strikes on Zaporizhzhya's neighboring Dnipropetrovsk region that hit two industrial facilities in the city of Kryviy Rih, causing substantial damage and wounding one person.

Authorities declared an air-raid alert across Ukraine overnight that was lifted around 5 a.m. local time on June 15.

"A 38-year-old man was wounded. He is hospitalized in stable condition," Dnipropetrovsk Governor Serhiy Lysak said on Telegram.

Lysak said the strikes caused significant damage at the two facilities.

It was the third day in a row that Russia targeted the region. In the first such attack this month, 12 people were killed and 13 others, including three children, were wounded on June 13 by a Russian missile strike on a five-story apartment building in Kryviy Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Ukraine's air defense said on June 15 it had destroyed all 20 Iranian-made drones launched at Dnipropetrovsk, but three out of four Russian cruise missiles could not be intercepted and hit factories in Kryviy Rih.

Russia has stepped up its air attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks as Kyiv prepared to launch its long-awaited counteroffensive to reclaim territory occupied by Russian forces.

Zelenskiy last week acknowledged the operation was under way, with Moscow responding by ratcheting up its strikes with cruise missiles and drones targeting major cities across the country.

On the battlefield, fighting continued in and around Bakhmut, the city in the eastern Donetsk region that has been for months the scene of fierce battles.

The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said in its morning report on June 15 that 49 close combat battles took place in Bakhmut and nearby Avdiyivka and Maryinka over the past 24 hours.

While information about the progress of Ukraine's counteroffensive remained scarce, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on June 15 that the military aid that NATO members have given Ukraine is showing its impact on the battlefield.

"The support NATO allies have been giving Ukraine now for many, many months actually makes a difference on the battlefield," Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels ahead of a two-day meeting of the bloc's defense ministers that is also going to be attended by Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov.

With reporting by Reuters and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-strikes- target-ukraine-dnipropetrovsk-region/32460280.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






You're Hearing A Lot About Ukraine's New Counteroffensive. One Week In, It's Only Getting Started.

By Mike Eckel June 15, 2023

Roughly a week into counteroffensive that Kyiv hopes will turn the tide of the nearly 16-month Russian invasion, Ukrainian forces continue to grind forward, claiming to have recaptured at least six villages along the southern and southeastern sections of the 1,000-kilometer front line.

Russia, meanwhile, has reportedly pushed back in at least one location, and the two sides are engaging in heavy artillery battles and close-quarter tank combat in several places. Deep Russian defenses -- trenches, minefields -- have inflicted serious damage on some Ukrainian units and slowed their progress.

So who's winning?

For military experts, intelligence officers, historians, and other observers, it's way too early to make a definitive assessment that Ukraine's counteroffensive has been a resounding success -- or a decisive failure. Up to now, Ukraine has already outperformed all expectations, first thwarting a Russian effort to seize Kyiv in the first weeks of the invasion and then conducting blitz counteroffensives in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions late last year.

And now Ukraine's forces are fortified by billions of dollars' worth of Western weaponry -- tanks, artillery, armored vehicles, drones, missiles -- and bolstered by months of training in NATO warfare and Western battlefield tactics. For Ukraine's Western backers, the hope is Kyiv can punch through Russian defenses and achieve a decisive victory -- of some sort.

Still, military doctrine holds that an attacking force is nearly always at a disadvantage to a defending force; it is generally more difficult to recapture or seize territory than it is to defend it.

For some observers, whether the fighting happening now even constitutes the main thrust of Ukraine's offensive is an open question.

"The gains the Ukrainians have achieved, you cannot speak about them [in terms of] relative success or failure. It's too early," said Pentti Forsstrom, a retired Finnish lieutenant colonel who also served as Finland's defense attache in Moscow.

"I have the feeling we haven't seen the real offensive yet," he told RFE/RL. "Yes, they are fighting in many places, but to my mind, not with the full capacity. Ukraine hasn't committed their heavier brigades yet."

Here's how things look on the battlefield so far, based on open-source reporting, posts by Russian military bloggers, official Russian statements, and Ukrainian statements.

What's Happened So Far?

After months of signaling, Ukraine's forces began their new offensive effort last week. The exact date of the beginning is unclear; U.S. officials have said D-Day was June 4. Russia's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said on June 5 that new Ukrainian operations were under way, reporting a "large-scale offensive on five sectors of the front in the southern Donetsk area."

The first detailed reports of full-scale combat emerged on June 8, from Russian military bloggers and defense officials, with new clashes reported in at least three regions.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on June 8 that Russian forces had beaten back a Ukrainian attack near Novodaryivka, in the Zaporizhzhya region just west of the Donetsk region line, and in nearby Velyka Novosilka, which involved one of several newly constituted, Western-trained units, the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade.

Shoigu claimed up to 1,500 troops and 150 tanks and armored vehicles were involved in the fight, a claim that could not be corroborated.

In the following days, Ukrainian officials began pointing to offensive operations in several locations.

During a June 10 news conference with the visiting Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, Zelenskiy stated outright that a counteroffensive was under way.

"Counteroffensive and defensive actions are taking place in Ukraine, but I will not say in detail what stage they are at," he said.

The Ukrainian generals "are all in a positive mood," he told Trudeau. "Pass that on to Putin."

In recent days, Ukraine has claimed to have recaptured at least six villages, claims partially corroborated by both Ukrainian sources and Russian military bloggers, some of whom have close ties with military or intelligence units.

The captured settlements are primarily straddling the Mokriy Yaly River, south of Velyka Novosilka, a Donetsk region town to close to the administrative border with the Zaporizhzhya region.

At least one Western military expert said Velyka Novosilka was currently the main focus -- "the center of gravity" -- of Ukrainian operations.

"Both defensive and offensive fierce fighting is ongoing in the east and south of our nation," General Valery Zaluzhniy, commander in chief of Ukraine's armed forces said in a post to Telegram on June 13.

At a briefing two days later, Brigadier General Oleksiy Hromov said that Ukraine had regained control of over 100 square kilometers of territory in its counteroffensive.



"We are ready to continue fighting to liberate our territory even with our bare hands," he told reporters in Kyiv.

During a visit to the White House on June 13, NATO secretary-general, meanwhile, said the Ukrainians were "making advances."

"This is still early days but what we all know is the more land the Ukrainians are able to liberate, the stronger their hand will be at the negotiation table and the more likely it is that President Putin will understand that he will never win this battle, never win the war of aggression on the battlefield," Jens Stoltenberg said.

What About Russia?

Since seizing large parts of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions in the early weeks of the February 2022 invasion, Russia has been building a network of defensive lines across large parts of the region: trenches, concrete firing posts, minefields, anti-tank fences.

Daunting defensive lines have also been reported in the eastern Kharkiv region near the administrative border with the Luhansk region, and also around the city of Bakhmut, which has been largely obliterated and all but captured by Russia after a 10-month campaign in the area.

"Russian fortifications are the most extensive defensive works in Europe since World War II," according to a report published on June 9 by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank.

Russia has also replenished the ranks of its units, frontline or otherwise, with some of the estimated 300,000 reservists called up in a major mobilization decreed by President Vladimir Putin in September.

For that reason alone, military experts have predicted that Ukraine would have an exceedingly difficult time breaching Russian lines, particularly if one of the goals was to push south toward the Sea of Azov in a bid to rupture the "land bridge" that allows Russian overland access to the occupied Crimean Peninsula.

"The defense system itself is built quite skillfully," said Major Maksym Zhoryn, the commander of Ukraine's Third Separate Assault Brigade, whose unit is battling to take positions around Bakhmut and reportedly has already taken some higher ground positions.

"They're trying to do it in accordance with military science, by chapter and verse," he told Current Time. Russian troops "are trying to hold on to [their defensive positions]. Unfortunately, at the moment I can't say that there are positions that are being completely abandoned."

"The enemy is trying to hold on to all its positions, trying to fight. This slows our advance, but doesn't stop it," he said.

"Russia plans to fight linear defense battles from trench lines, exploiting obstacle belts, falling back on deeper defensive positions when pressed," said Ben Barry, a retired British brigadier general, now a senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

"I'd comment that if Ukraine can rapidly break through a defensive belt ... it could get behind the Russian defenses and unpick them," he told RFE/RL.

Around the Zaporizhzhya region city of Tokmak, Ukrainian forces have reported serious defensive lines that, complemented with Russian artillery and attack helicopters, have made advances slow going. Moreover, Ukrainian forces have yet to hit the main, even more formidable lines some 10-15 kilometers further to the south.

Russia's Defense Ministry also claimed that its forces had captured or destroyed NATO-supplied weaponry, including Leopard tanks from Germany and Bradley infantry vehicles from the United States. Video published on Telegram showed several disabled vehicles not far from the village of Orikhiv, west of Velyka Novosilka. Some unconfirmed tallies said up to 17 Bradleys and at least three Leopards had been damaged.

Meeting with a group of prominent Russian military bloggers on June 13, Putin claimed Ukrainian losses were "approaching a level that could be described as catastrophic."

"We have 10 times fewer losses than those of the armed forces of Ukraine," he asserted.

But Putin and other Russian officials have made many exaggerated claims about the war in Ukraine. And while Russia's military and sympathetic bloggers boasted about destroying NATO equipment -- Germany's Leopard is considered one of the most advanced tanks in the world -- Western observers doubted that the loss of several pieces of equipment, with or without commensurate casualties, should be considered a failure.

Russia may have suffered a substantial propaganda defeat as well this week. A prominent Russian military blogger reported that Major-General Sergei Goryachev, chief of staff of the 36th Combined Arms Army, was killed on June 12 by a Ukrainian missile in the Zaporizhzhya region.

The report, which was later deleted, has not been independently confirmed. But if it is verified, he would be at least the fifth Russian general to have been killed since the start of the invasion -- providing Ukraine fodder for bragging.

In another unconfirmed incident, a unit of Russia's 20th Combined Arms Army mustering near the village of Kreminna, in the eastern Luhansk region, awaiting the arrival of another general were hit on June 14 in a strike from a Ukrainian HIMARS unit. Russian military bloggers, including one with links to the Defense Ministry, said an unknown number of troops were killed.

HIMARS, a U.S.-supplied multiple rocket launcher that can be equipped with high-precision rockets, has been used repeatedly by Ukrainian forces to target Russian weapons depots and bases.

Fog Of War. War Of Fog.

The biggest question about the counteroffensive at this point is whether Ukraine will be able to breach Russian defenses in one or more places along the front line, considered one of the most complicated and dangerous procedures any military can perform.

"The extent of a success will be determined by how much progress is made on the other side of the breach," Jack Watling, a senior research fellow at the Royal Armed Services Institute in London, said in a note.

"If a breach can be achieved, then the critical question will be how many units Ukraine has in reserve to surge forward and exploit the success. If operations are currently methodical, once a breach in the line occurs, speed will be of the essence," he wrote.

Another major question is whether Ukraine's ongoing operations really do constitute the main effort, or whether, as some experts suspect, they are "probing" or "shaping" operations, aimed at locating weak points in the defenses.

"The Ukrainians are looking for the weak points, where the Russians are at their weakest," said Forsstrom, who is now a senior researcher in the Russian research group at Finland's National Defense University.

"The crucial decision is if it's about reconnaissance, intelligence, where they can find the Russians at their weakest, so they can't organize a counteroffensive," he told RFE/RL. "They are now seeking the crucial points where the Russians might not have the capacity to make a counterattack."

"There is a big difference between starting an offensive, and the main attack or main effort of the operation. The offensive has clearly started, but not I think the main attack," Ben Hodges, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general who commanded U.S. forces in Europe, said in an article. "When we see large, armored formations join the assault, then I think we'll know the main attack has really begun."

The assessment that Ukraine had yet to commit in full to the offensive was echoed by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Russian businessman and bombastic founder of the private mercenary company Wagner Group.

"I can say one thing, that any offensive must be evaluated, and its results, after the enemy's offensive potential has been exhausted. As far as I understand, Ukraine's offensive potential is far, far from exhausted," he said in a post published by his company's press service. "And therefore...don't count your chickens before they hatch."

RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service contributed to this report

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-strikes- target-ukraine-dnipropetrovsk-region/32460280.html

Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






EU Parliament Calls on NATO Allies to Invite Ukraine to Join Alliance

Sputnik News

20230615

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The European Parliament on Thursday adopted a resolution calling on NATO allies to pave the way for a membership invitation for Ukraine at the upcoming summit.

"The accession process will start after the war is over and be finalised as soon as possible," the resolution read.

Lawmakers promised to work closely with Ukraine to develop a temporary framework for security guarantees which would be implemented immediately after the conflict ends.

The parliament also reiterated its support for the European Council decision to grant Ukraine the status of a candidate for accession to the EU.

According to the lawmakers, a recovery package, focusing on the country's recovery in a short, medium- and long term, should be linked to Ukraine's EU accession preparation, following the "build back better" principle and the European Green Deal.

The parliament also condemned the destruction of the Kakhovka dam "in the strongest possible terms," blaming Russia for it without providing evidence.

A NATO summit is set to be held in Vilnius from July 11 to 12, with Ukraine's NATO prospects being one of the crucial topics. Since Kiev's bid to join the alliance was denied in 2008, Ukraine has been trying to deepen cooperation with NATO, leading to an escalation of tensions with Russia.

In 2021, Moscow came forward with an agreement to ease NATO-Russia ties and bolster security cooperation with Washington, but the alliance ignored it, instead doubling down on supporting the Ukrainian regime.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Rheinmetall Unable to Supply Leopard Tanks to Ukraine in 2023

Sputnik News

20230615

In recent days, Russia has published numerous photos showing destroyed Ukrainian IFVs and tanks - including German-made Leopards - which Kiev's forces lost amid their much-hyped counteroffensive.

German conglomerate Rheinmetall has confirmed that it will not be able to meet Ukraine's request for Leopard tanks from its existing stock this year, the company's CEO Armin Papperger revealed in an interview on Thursday.

Papperger said the company currently has about 110 tanks, including 22 Leopard 2 vehicles, that could be prepared and shipped to Ukraine. At the same time, he noted that there are certain procedures which could hinder the supply.

"However, we cannot repair these tanks without an order because the cost would be several million euros," he told the German press.

The repair process for the tanks will be time-consuming as it goes beyond just repainting. The vehicles will require extensive reconfiguration. Papperger explained that a complete disassembly followed by a meticulous restoration will be necessary. Even if the decision to send the Leopard tanks to Kiev is made in the near future, the delivery schedule would extend into early next year, he emphasized.

Regarding the delivery schedule of ammunition for the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine, the CEO mentioned that the production of the first batch will be completed in June-July. By the middle of the following year, Rheinmetall plans to ship 300,000 rounds of ammunition to Ukraine.

The head of the company emphasized that since the beginning of the Russian special military operation, the company has hired an additional 1,200 employees, with the workforce numbers currently reaching about 25,000.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






NATO Secretary General Says 'Too Early' for Bloc to Decide on F-16 Delivery to Ukraine

Sputnik News

20230615

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday that the time had not yet come for the alliance to make a decision on the timing of the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

"Exactly when a decision will be taken [to deliver F-16s to Ukraine] it's too early to say, but the fact that training has started provides us with the option to also decide to deliver planes, and then the pilots will be ready to fly them," Stoltenberg told reporters before the NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels.

Stoltenberg thanked those NATO member countries who offered to provide Ukrainians with F-16 training.

Meanwhile, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said ahead of the NATO meeting that the issue of delivering F-16 jets to Ukraine was not discussed at the moment.

"Of course it is about the pilots, but it is also training, about technical personal, maintenance etc, a next step, but that would be indeed a new decision also by the Americans [who] would be providing them with the actual platform, but that is not on the table right now," Ollongren said.

Acting Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said that Ukrainian pilots would be trained at the Skrydstrup air base in the central part of Denmark.

"We are planning that it will take place in Skrydstrup, where our F-16 combat aircraft are based," Danish Broadcasting Corporation quoted Poulsen as saying.

On Wednesday, Stoltenberg said that NATO would begin the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s this summer. On the same day, the Dutch Defense Ministry said that a training center for Ukrainian pilots would be created in one of the Eastern European countries.

Russia has slammed the possible deliveries of F-16s to Ukraine and warned that the jets will become a legitimate military target for Russian forces. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday that the supply of F-16 fighters to Ukraine would become another escalation, as there is a modification of the fighter capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ukraine Continues Offensive Attempts in 3 Directions in Past Day - Russian MoD

Sputnik News

20230615

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine continued offensive attempts in South Donetsk, Zaporozhye and Donetsk directions in the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

"The total losses of Ukrainian military in these areas [South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions] during the past day amounted to 155 military, three tanks, two armored combat vehicles, one French-made CAESAR self-propelled artillery gun, as well as D-30 and Msta-B howitzers," the ministry said.

The ministry added that two Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups were destroyed near the settlement of Synkivka in the Kharkov Region and near the village of Novoselovskoe in the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR).

Ukraine has touted its coming offensive since late 2022. It was first scheduled for the spring, then rescheduled to the summer. The Ukrainian government said the postponement was due to a shortage of weapons, all while pushing its Western donors to supply progressively heavier arms, including tanks, drones and fighter jets.

On June 4, the Ukrainian armed forces launched a large-scale offensive in five sectors of the South Donetsk direction and failed to achieve their goals, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Japan, US Discussing Supply of 155mm Shells for Ukraine's Counteroffensive - Reports

Sputnik News

20230615

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Japan is considering supplying 155mm artillery shells to the United States under a 2016 deal that allows the two countries to trade ammunition as part of their security alliance, US media reported on Thursday, citing sources.

"We continue to work together with Japan and more than 50 countries around the world to provide support to Ukraine," a spokesperson for the US Defense Department was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

The Japanese shells will help replenish US stockpiles, depleted by the huge amount of military assistance provided to Ukraine, the report said, adding that Washington has sent to Ukraine over 2 million 155mm shells since the start of Russia's special military operation on February 24, 2022.

Earlier in June, media reported, citing sources, that Washington had found a way to buy TNT in Japan for the production of 155mm shells. This was necessary, as Japan's export regulations prohibit the sale of lethal goods abroad.

Western countries supplied Ukraine with M777 howitzers, as well as PzH 2000, Krab and CAESAR self-propelled howitzers that fire 155mm shells.

On Tuesday, the US Department of Defense said that Washington would provide another $325 million package of security assistance to Ukraine, which will include artillery shells, among other things.

Moscow has repeatedly warned against continuously funneling arms to Kiev. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said any cargo that contains weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russia. Moscow has repeatedly emphasized that the heavy levels of military aid being handed to Ukraine is only prolonging the conflict.

A Sputnik

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Ukraine Recovery Conference will help in Ukraine's recovery: UK statement to the OSCE

Ambassador Holland tells the 2023 Struga Conference on the Economic and Environmental Dimension of the OSCE that the Ukraine Recovery Conference will help unlock the potential of the private sector for Ukraine's recovery

15 June 2023

Mr Chair, we have heard much today about economic and environmental issues facing our region. As my Delegation colleague said at the start, its biggest security issue - Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine - also presents some of the largest economic and environmental challenges. This is why I would like to say few things on the future of Ukraine's recovery.

Ukraine's reconstruction needs will be immense and will require unprecedented collaboration between government, the private sector and international institutions. That is why next week, at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London, we will start the process to help unlock the potential of the private sector.

The Conference will bring together governments, business leaders and civil society, mobilising the international community to help secure for Ukraine a more modern, open, and resilient economic future.

We want the Conference to result in a new business compact; new fiscal support; an announcement of plans for an EBRD capital increase to pave the way for increased investment; a framework for progress on war risk insurance; a pronouncement of Ukraine's reform plans; a showcase of tech partnership opportunities; and a G7+ green energy initiative to support longer-term transition.

The Conference won't be a pledging conference, but we encourage fellow States to come with offers of support, nonetheless.

The programme will comprise plenary sessions, breakout sessions, a business fair, and His Majesty the King and First Lady Zelenska will host receptions for senior heads of delegations.

We encourage States to send suitably senior political and business representation, as well as maximum business signatories to the Business Compact.

Mr Chair, Ukraine's recovery from Russia's war of aggression will show President Putin that his attempts to destroy Ukraine will only produce a stronger, more prosperous and more united European nation.

We look forward to welcoming delegations in London.

Thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Russia's war is devastating the economy of Ukraine: UK statement to the OSCE

At the 2023 Struga Conference on the Economic and Environmental Dimension of the OSCE, Justin Addison (UK Delegation to the OSCE) says Ukraine's economic growth has been destroyed by Russia.

15 June 2023

Excellencies, dear colleagues,

The theme of this conference is 'Promoting security and stability through economic growth.' But we cannot ignore that one participating State - Ukraine - has had their economic growth destroyed because another - Russia - launched a full-scale illegal and unprovoked invasion against their sovereign neighbour.

Russia's war has had a devastating impact on the economy and environment of Ukraine, and profound impacts for the OSCE region. As ambassador Hasani said in opening remarks, in March the World Bank estimated that the cost of rebuilding Ukraine stood at $411 billion. We have heard in this forum of the devastating consequences of the war on Ukraine's ecosystem and the wider environment.

Last week we witnessed the appalling destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. This was an abhorrent act which, if it does prove to have been an intentional attack, would fit the pattern of behaviour by Russia during this war of deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure.

Assessment of impacts are ongoing, but it is anticipated that hundreds of thousands could face water shortages and contamination, as well as interruption to electricity supplies. There is also a risk of mines dislodging and threatening lives and livelihoods. On 10 June the UK set out an additional A16 million of humanitarian support as Ukraine deals with the aftermath of the flooding.

As the international community comes together to provide economic assistance to Ukraine, we must continue our efforts to hinder Russia. The UK will introduce new measures against key sectors of the Russian economy and those in Russia and outside who are supporting or profiting from Putin's war.

I would like to finish by drawing attention to the Ukraine Recovery Conference in London next week, which will help build a modern, resilient Ukrainian economy that strengthens the rule of law, tackles corruption and promotes reform.

Thank you.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






UK joins international partners in delivering air defence equipment to Ukraine

A major new fund will deliver hundreds of vital air defence missiles, the result of a partnership between Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA.

15 June 2023

A major new fund announced today will deliver hundreds of vital air defence missiles.

Result of a partnership between Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA.

Announcement comes on the eve of the Defence Secretary discussing the future of NATO at a meeting of Alliance defence ministers in Brussels.

The UK will contribute to the rapid delivery of a significant package of vital air defence equipment for Ukraine, working alongside international partners, the Defence Secretary has announced today.

The announcement was made today by the defence ministries of Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA, during a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG). The UDCG brings together some 50 nations providing a variety of military support to Ukraine.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said:

Working with our international partners we are able to provide vital air defence equipment, which will help Ukraine support offensive operations and protect critical national infrastructure.

Hundreds of short and medium range air defence systems will be procured via the fund. Delivery of the equipment has already begun and is expected to be completed within weeks. The package consists largely of Soviet-era missiles, supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine's most pressing needs for systems to support offensive operations and protect critical national infrastructure.

As well as attending the UDCG, the Defence Secretary will also be attending a meeting of NATO defence ministers at NATO HQ, Brussels, ahead of next month's summit of the Alliance's leaders in Vilnius. The Defence Secretary will reiterate the UK's ambition for Sweden's accession to the Alliance to be ratified ahead of the NATO Leaders' Vilnius summit.

Ministers will also discuss changes to NATO's military structures, strengthening ties with defence industry, and making sure the Alliance has the resources it needs to tackle threats across all domains - laying the groundwork for the biggest transformation of NATO for decades.

Funding for air defences is the latest UK support for Ukraine to be announced, following the recent delivery of long-range Storm Shadow missiles, and the announcement from the Prime Minister last week that the UK is donating other air defence systems and long range attack drones.

Earlier this week, the Defence Secretary met his Joint Expeditionary Force counterparts in Amsterdam, and announced that the UK will commit a further A250 million to the International Fund for Ukraine (IFU), as well as a new package of vital air defence capabilities worth A92 million. The equipment will be procured in the coming months through the IFU to bolster Ukraine's ability to protect its critical national infrastructure, civilian population, and front-line personnel. The package will provide radars to help protect from indiscriminate Russian strikes as well as guns and a significant amount of ammunition. Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland and Lithuania have all contributed to the fund.

Other recent support for Ukraine has included the granting of Challenger 2 main battle tanks, armoured vehicles, and self-propelled guns, as well as running training programmes for Ukrainian infantry, marines, and pilots.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Joint statement by Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK, and the USA

A statement on delivering high priority air defence equipment to Ukraine.

15 June 2023

The Denmark, the Netherlands, and the UK defence ministries and the United States Department of Defense today announced that they are partnering together to deliver high priority air defence equipment to Ukraine, addressing its most urgent air defence requirements as Russia continues its brazen missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities.

The initiative will deliver hundreds of short and medium range air defence missiles and associated systems required to protect Ukraine's critical national infrastructure and further ensure the success of counter-offensive operations in coming months. Delivery of the equipment has already begun and should be complete within several weeks.

The initiative was announced ahead of the June 15, 2023 meeting of the U.S.-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) in Brussels, Belgium. The UDCG brings together some 50 nations providing a variety of military support to Ukraine.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






By supporting Ukraine, the world supports protection from war, because the source of aggression is outside our borders - Volodymyr Zelenskyy's address to the Federal Assembly and the people of the Swiss Confederation

President of Ukraine

15 June 2023 - 19:49

Thank you very much, Mr. Candinas, Mr. Speaker, for your kind words about Ukraine and our defense.

Now, as we defend the lives of our people from Russian strikes and overcome the consequences of the terrible crimes of this war, including the largest ecocide in Europe, we need maximum unity. The unity of all those who share with us the key values - the value of life, the value of freedom, the value of law and the value of respect for every nation, every community and every person. When unity is at its highest, solidarity is also most effective. And when it is, life, freedom, law, and respect will definitely prevail.

And today I am addressing you to talk about this unity.

Dear members of the Federal Assembly!

Dear people of Switzerland!

The soul of the values that unite us is peace. Peace! Ukraine has never been the source of any wars of aggression. And even now, although it sounds somewhat paradoxical, the Ukrainian land is a territory of peace, because the source of this war, the source and cause of aggression, is outside our borders.

Just imagine this... Every night, instead of going to sleep normally, our people check the news to see if there are warnings that Russian bombers are approaching the point of launching missiles over the Caspian Sea or elsewhere. This is more than 1,500 kilometers from our land! This is where the war takes wings. And when it is clear that there will be another Russian missile, another Russian attack, people immediately put their children to bed, for example, in a corridor where there are no windows and therefore it is safer, or go to a shelter.

Imagine what it is like to live in communities that border Russia. Our border - three regions - is constantly suffering from purely terrorist attacks from Russian territory. Almost every night and every day. Towns, villages, houses, schools, churches, markets, businesses - everything... They are shelled across the border from Russian territory with artillery or mortars, missiles or guided bombs... This is death or the threat of death that comes to our land from Russia.

Hundreds of Ukrainian families have lost their loved ones due to strikes by Iranian kamikaze drones - Shaheds, dozens of which the Russians launch at our cities almost every night. Fortunately, thanks to the defense assistance of our partners - and we are grateful for it - we are now able to shoot down most of the Shaheds. But, unfortunately, not all of them... They take the lives of our people and constantly destroy our infrastructure! And all this is also death that came from Russia.

There is absolutely nothing in this brutal war that is taking place on our land that would make our land, our people, our Ukraine a source of war or the territory of those who want to take something from another nation. We are defending the lives of our people, our freedom, our independence, our values... Peace for Ukrainian children! It is to our peaceful land that those who burn towns and villages and turn everything they touch into black ruins came. It is from Russia that those who still occupy the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and cynically use it as a cover for the constant shelling of our cities came to Ukraine. It is from Russia that those who blew up the dam and other structures of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant came to Ukraine, causing a man-made disaster and a colossal crime against people and nature, and they did it exactly on the occupied territory...

Any unbiased view will confirm one thing - if war had not been brought from Russia to our peaceful Ukrainian land, there would have been no war. The source of evil and death is outside our borders. By supporting us, the world supports protection from war. That is why solidarity with our people is shown, in particular, even by those nations with which we had no meaningful relations before February 24, 2022, when Russia turned its hybrid aggression against our country into an open full-scale genocidal war.

I am grateful for every package of sanctions against Russia that curbs Russia's terrorist potential. I thank the world for every piece of weaponry that helps save people from Russian terror! I am grateful for every frozen asset of the Russian state and those individuals whose collaboration with the Kremlin has turned Russia into a terrorist state...

All this helps curb the aggression - weapons for us, ever-increasing sanctions against Russia that prevent it from adapting to the world's pressure, and justice for Ukrainians and the world. Justice, which we are bringing closer by establishing the Tribunal for Russian aggression.

I am grateful to you, Switzerland, for not remaining indifferent to the suffering that Russia is bringing to our land with its aggression. You supported the joint European sanctions against Russia, and this is an important solidarity, because sanctions bring the end of this aggression closer. They should be intensified.

I know that you are having a discussion about permits to re-export weapons to protect Ukraine. And I want every participant in the discussion to remember one fact: we are asking the world for weapons to make our Ukrainian territory a territory of peace again. All our land, all our people... Only for this! Exactly as envisaged by international law. Exactly as Mr. Speaker said at the beginning: a rules-based international order must guarantee freedom for every nation.

We are not a source of aggression, not a territory of war, and not some kind of conflict zone. We are a country that has always valued and will always value peace, and you know it. Our peace can only withstand such aggression by force of arms.

Last year, in the autumn, at the G19 Summit, I presented the Ukrainian Peace Formula. Different states and leaders are already involved in efforts to implement the Formula. It is designed so that everyone in the world can choose the component of restoring peace and security they can help implement most effectively. There are partners who have chosen radiation and food security. There are partners who are ready to help with the return of children who have been deported to the aggressor's territory by the Russian occupiers and are being kept away from their families and Ukraine. Thousands and thousands of children stolen by Russia! We must bring them all home, back to Ukraine. There are partners who are ready to help with the restoration of justice and protection from ecocide and mine clearance...

In March, in our conversation with Mr. President of Switzerland, Mr. Berset, I presented the points of the Peace Formula and our approach to its implementation. And now I invite all of you, ladies and gentlemen, all of you, Switzerland, to join the preparation of the Global Peace Summit and show your leadership in the part of the Formula where you consider your national experience to be most useful for the world and peace.

And one more thing.

The world has gone through various wars, and the more wars destroyed life, the greater was the understanding that defense against aggression and prevention of aggression require collective efforts and solidarity. We are now defending ourselves against aggression that replicates the worst wars of the past and seeks the best technologies of our time to terrorize people, states, and even continents. Nothing but unity can stop it. In particular, our unity!

Thank you, Switzerland!

Thank you for your attention!

Glory to Ukraine!

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






President of Ukraine had a phone call with the Prime Minister of Belize

President of Ukraine

15 June 2023 - 19:38

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with Prime Minister of Belize Juan Antonio BriceAo.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally thanked the Head of Government of Belize and the entire nation for their principled position in support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Head of State noted the consistent support for Ukraine by Belize in the UN, the Caribbean Community, the Crimea Platform and other international platforms. The President invited Belize to take part in the implementation of the points of the Ukrainian Peace Formula and join the organization of the Global Peace Summit.

Separately, Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need to support the Ukrainian initiative to establish a special international tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine. He invited Belize to join the Core Group to establish the tribunal.

The parties discussed the possibility of holding the Ukraine - Latin America Summit.



NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine had a phone call with Jake Sullivan

President of Ukraine

15 June 2023 - 09:27

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a phone call with National Security Advisor to the President of the United States Jake Sullivan as part of the ongoing dialogue with allies.

The Head of the President's Office briefed the U.S. representative on the current situation on the frontline, in particular, on the course of hostilities in the east and south of Ukraine.

Andriy Yermak expressed gratitude to the United States for another package of defense support for our country, which includes artillery, armored vehicles, ammunition, etc.

The Head of the Presidential Office also spoke about the recent missile attacks by Russian troops on the Ukrainian cities of Kryvyi Rih, Odesa and settlements of Donetsk region, which resulted in the deaths of people and destruction of civilian infrastructure. Andriy Yermak emphasized the need to strengthen Ukraine's sky shield to protect people from Russia's missile terror.

The Head of the President's Office thanked the Administration of President Joseph Biden, both houses of Congress and all Americans for their strong support for our country's fight for freedom and peace in Europe.

NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






Westford, USA, June 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global Microscopy market size is expected to reach USD 11.31 billion by 2030 and exhibit a CAGR of 5.8% in the forecast period (20232030), according to Skyquest's latest research report. The technological advancements in microscopy, rising demand for nanotechnology and nanomaterials, increasing applications in life science and material science research, growing focus on personalized medicine, rising demand for pathology and diagnostic applications, growing investments in research and development, increasing demand for advanced microscopy techniques in the semiconductor industry are fueling the Market's growth.

Demand for High-resolution Imaging to Promote the Use of Microscopy

At a global scale, increasing demand for high-resolution imaging for research and development activities, growing adoption of super-resolution microscopy techniques, advancements in automation and artificial intelligence technology, rising demand for portable and easy-to-use microscopes, growing use of microscopy in the semiconductor and electronics industry, increasing use of microscopy in the field of nanotechnology and material science, growing demand for microscopy in the healthcare sector for disease diagnosis and research

Several governments are investing in the research and development of new microscopy technologies, and training of professionals in microscopy techniques and applications. Several countries have initiatives aimed at promoting the use of microscopy in various industries, such as healthcare and biotechnology. For example, the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) in the United States, which provides funding for research and development in the field of nanotechnology, including microscopy techniques. The initiative aims to accelerate the development of new technologies and applications.

Get a sample copy of this report:

https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/microscopy-market

Optical Microscopy Type Demand to Grow Substantially in the Forecast Period

Optical microscopy type dominated the global market owing to its wide use. It is also easy to use, cost-effective, and versatile in a wide range of applications. Moreover, advances in technology, such as digital imaging and automation, have improved the performance and efficiency of optical microscopy systems, expanding their applications in both research and industrial settings. For example, confocal microscopy.

Life Sciences is the Leading Application Segment

In terms of application, the life sciences are the leading segment due to the increasing demand for microscopy techniques in medical research and diagnostics. In addition, the growing focus on personalized medicine and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases is expected to further drive the demand for advanced microscopy techniques in the life sciences.

Europe And North America are the leading Markets Due to the Presence of Major Market Players

Region-wise, North America is one of the largest growing markets due to the presence of key market players, the availability of advanced microscopy technologies, and a growing focus on research activities in the region.

As for government initiatives, in the United States, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been a major driving force behind the growth of the microscopy market. The agency has provided funding and resources for research and development of advanced microscopy techniques, such as super-resolution microscopy, which has been a major breakthrough in the field.

Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC):

https://www.skyquestt.com/report/microscopy-market

Browse in-depth TOC on " Microscopy Market "

Pages - 237

Tables - 132

Figures - 77

Microscopy Market Report Suggests:

Gatan, Inc. has merged with EDAX, LLC to offer the ultimate suite of tools for electron and X-ray microscopy. The combined organization will continue under the name Gatan, Inc. and provide advanced solutions for transmission electron and scanning electron microscopes, enhancing the operation and productivity of these instruments.

In terms of application, the life sciences segment dominates due to the demand for microscopy in medical research.

In terms of type, the optical microscopy type segment is projected to gain more popularity due to its wide use.

North America and Asia Pacific are leading markets and will continue to exhibit dominance in the global market mainly due presence of major market players

Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements:

https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/microscopy-market

Microscopy Market Segmentation:

The global Microscopy market report is segmented based on Product type, application, and region.

By Type

Optical Microscopy

Electron Microscopy

Scanning Probe Microscopy

Others

By Application

Material Sciences

Nanotechnology

Life Sciences

Semiconductors

Others

By Region

North America

U.S

Canada

Europe

Germany

France

UK

Spain

RoE

Asia-Pacific

China

India

Japan

South Korea

Rest of Asia-Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

RoLA

Middle-East and Africa

South Africa

GCC Countries

Rest of MEA

Microscopy Market Major Company Profiles:

Carl Zeiss AG

Leica Microsystems

Nikon Corporation

Olympus Corporation

Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation

Bruker Corporation

FEI Company

JEOL Ltd.

Agilent Technologies

Danaher Corporation

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.

Asylum Research

Gatan Inc.

Nanosurf AG

WITec GmbH

Park Systems Corp.

TESCAN ORSAY HOLDING

Zyvex Labs LLC

Keysight Technologies.

Related Reports in SkyQuests Library:

Global Near Infrared Imaging Market

Global Disposable Medical Gloves Market

Global Hybrid Operating Room Market

Global Lasik Eye Surgery Devices Market

Global Thrombectomy Devices Market

About Us:

SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally.

Address:

1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886

Phone:

USA (+1) 617-230-0741

Email: sales@skyquestt.com
English French German

TAMPERE, Finland, June 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Finnish high-technology company Insta and Lockheed Martin Corporation have signed a cooperation agreement for developing next generation security and gateway solutions. This is the first agreement under indirect industrial cooperation in the Finland acquisition of the 5th Generation F-35.

During the project Insta and Lockheed Martin will develop together a Cross Domain Solution, a bi-directional next generation network security & gateway solution for demanding military use, that enables cooperation in various security level networks.

Insta, which is focused on smart technology and cyber security, has long experience in developing demanding data filtering, network security and data encryption solutions. With this cooperation the solution is further developed for future data filtering needs.

The cooperation enables us to expand our comprehensive and versatile product family of network security and data encryption solutions. This kind of gateway solution is needed in multi-domain operations. Command and control systems heavily rely on tactical communication capability to coordinate and execute operations effectively and our solutions address both Cyber and Operational security aspects, tells Petri Reiman, Senior Vice President from Insta.

By combining the expertise and technological capabilities of both companies the goal of the two-year project is to develop a product which can also be offered to international market.

Insta is a strategic partner of the Finnish Defence Forces and one of Finlands key partners for cyber security. We offer a wide range of services from consultancy to cyber-attack prevention and from network security to secure digital device identity.

We have operated in the defence market for more than 50 years. We deliver superior performance to our customers through our command-and-control solutions, secure communication solutions, and life-cycle services in avionics. Our services and products are trusted by corporations and public sector organisations in Finland and abroad.

About Insta Group:

Insta empowers a secure and sustainable future. We are a front runner and a reliable partner for our industry, defence, software consulting and cyber security customers. By combining the state of the art know-how with intelligent technology, we improve our customers safety and performance in a digitalizing world that is changing at an increasing pace. Our operating culture is founded on people, expertise and responsibility. In 2022, our family company's net sales were 153.4 million euros and number of personnel was approximately 1,100. For more information, please visit: www.insta.fi

Read more: Insta - Expert in Defence Technology



Further information:

Insta Media Contact - Lockheed Martin: Petri Reiman Brittany Malone Senior Vice President, Defence International Communications +358 207717252 +1 817 614 7112 petri.reiman@insta.fi brittany.g.malone@lmco.com insta.fi | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube Media: media@insta.fi

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at



https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f831bcf7-f689-442b-8d72-cef5da114887

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/05b68856-797b-4217-844b-0c372e2467ae
English French

CORPORATE PRESS RELEASE





TECHNICOLOR CREATIVE STUDIOS

GOVERNANCE UPDATE FOLLOWING THE REFINANCING

Paris (France), June 16, 2023  Following the completion of its refinancing on June 8, 20231, Technicolor Creative Studios governance has evolved with a tightened Board of Directors and the reorganization of its Committees.

Updated composition of the Board of Directors





Upon recommendation of the Governance & Social Responsibility Committee, the Board of Directors is now composed of:

Ms. Anne Bouverot , Chairperson of the Board of Directors

Chairperson of the Board of Directors Ms. Caroline Parot , CEO and Director

, CEO and Director Mr. Andrew Fowler, Director

Director Ms. Katherine Hays , Independent Director

Independent Director Mr. Rajan Kohli, Independent Director

Independent Director Ms. Christine Laurens , Independent Director

Independent Director Mr. Guillaume Maucomble , Director representing the employees

Director representing the employees Sculptor, represented by Mr. Hadi El Mir, Board Observer

represented by Mr. Hadi El Mir, Board Observer Pimco , represented by Mrs. Cecile Davies, Board Observer

represented by Mrs. Cecile Davies, Board Observer Angelo Gordon Europe LLP, represented by Mr. Julien Farre, Board Observer





Reorganization of the Board Committees





The Board of Directors of Technicolor Creative Studios has decided to create a new Strategic Committee to assist the Board in the definition and implementation of the Companys strategy, including the Re*Imagined transformation plan, as well as corporate social responsibility matters.

Thus, the Committees will be reorganized as follows:

Audit and Risks Committee : Christine Laurens (Chair), Anne Bouverot and Katherine Hays.

: Christine Laurens (Chair), Anne Bouverot and Katherine Hays. Governance , Remuneration & Talent Committee : Rajan Kohli (Chair), Christine Laurens and Guillaume Maucomble. Anne Bouverot, permanent invitee.

: Rajan Kohli (Chair), Christine Laurens and Guillaume Maucomble. Anne Bouverot, permanent invitee. Strategy and CSR Committee: Anne Bouverot (Chair), Andy Fowler and Katherine Hays. Caroline Parot, permanent invitee.





The Board would like to thank Directors for their availability, commitment, and support during the transition to this new phase.

This tightened governance will focus on further accelerating the Companys transformation and delivery of high-quality projects to clients.

***

ABOUT TECHNICOLOR CREATIVE STUDIOS

Technicolor Creative Studios shares are admitted to trading on the regulated market of Euronext Paris (TCHCS)

Technicolor Creative Studios is a creative technology company providing world-class production expertise driven by one purpose: The realization of ambitious and extraordinary ideas. Home to a network of award-winning studios, MPC, The Mill, Mikros Animation and Technicolor Games, we inspire creative companies across the world to produce their most iconic work.



Our global teams of artists and technologists partner with the creative community across film, television, animation, gaming, brand experience and advertising to bring the universal art of storytelling to audiences everywhere.

www.technicolorcreative.com

***

Investor Relations Contact:

investor.relations@technicolor.com

Corporate press:

Image 7: Technicolorcreative@image7.fr

1 Please refer to the press release published on June 9, 2023, available on the website: www.technicolorcreative.com

Attachment
Dublin, June 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Bio-LNG Market - A Global and Regional Analysis, 2023-2032 report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global bio-LNG market was valued at $618.4 million in 2022 and is anticipated to reach $3.6 billion by 2032, witnessing a CAGR of 20.3% during the forecast period 2023-2032.

The demand for bio-LNG is anticipated to grow with the increasing demand from end-use industries such as automotive, ships, and others. Furthermore, it is anticipated that during the projected period of 2023-2032, there will be an increasing adoption of bio-LNG in the automobile industry, and several governments are expected to implement policies and incentives to encourage the production and use of bio-LNG in various regions. For instance, the European Union has been setting targets to increase the use of renewable energy in the transport sector. In addition, the European Union has introduced the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive, which aims to support the development of infrastructure for alternative fuels such as bio-LNG. However, the high cost of bio-LNG as compared to LNG is anticipated to hinder market growth in the future.

Market Lifecycle Stage

The global bio-LNG market is in the growth phase. Rising sales of vehicles and increasing focus on decarbonization and controlling pollutants are expected to boost the market growth. Furthermore, the increasing numbers of LNG trucks and rising environmental concerns are creating significant growth opportunities for bio-LNG. Bio-LNG is an inexhaustible substitute for conventional fuel and is one of the best options to meet the rising need for energy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, owing to the aforementioned factors, its demand is increasing. Moreover, the global bio-LNG market is expected to benefit from favorable government policies, which are expected to promote market expansion. The requirement for bio-LNG is being stimulated by ships as well.

Industrial Impact

Growing demand for decarbonization is the main driving force behind the growing consumer interest in bio-LNG. As a result, these fuels are getting prominence in a variety of industries, including buses, trucks, ships, and others. One area where their implementation has been significantly greater is trucks and ships, which is expected to create opportunities for both existing market participants and market entrants.

Furthermore, bio-LNG has a moderate to high impact on end-user industries; however, in the upcoming future, with increased production of automobiles, ships, and other applications, the impact is anticipated to increase.

Market Segmentation



Segmentation 1: by Application

Automotive

Ships

Others

Based on application, automotive led the global bio-LNG market in terms of value in 2022.

Segmentation 2: by Source

Agriculture Residues

Industrial Waste

Household Waste

Others

The global bio-LNG market was led by agriculture residues in terms of source by value in 2022.

Segmentation 3: by Region

North America - U.S., Canada, and Mexico

Europe - Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Scandinavian, and Rest-of-Europe

China

U.K.

Asia-Pacific and Japan - Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, and Rest-of-Asia-Pacific and Japan

Rest-of-the-World - South America, and Middle East and Africa

In the global bio-LNG market, Europe dominates the market owing to several bio-LNG production facilities already operational and more in the pipeline. This is due to several factors, including the strong regulatory support for renewable energy and decarbonization in the region, the availability of feedstocks for bio-LNG production, and the high demand for low-carbon fuels in the transportation and shipping sectors.

Recent Developments in the Global Bio-LNG Market

In February 2023, GREEN CREATE built manure-fed biomethane production facilities in Wijster, Netherlands. The plant produces renewable natural gas (RNG) from agricultural waste, specifically manure that can be further upgraded to bio-LNG, which can then be used as a low-carbon fuel in the transportation sector.

In February 2023, Liqvis announced migration to bio-LNG for heavy-duty transportation starting in 2023 as it broadens its range of bio-LNG suppliers. Beginning in mid-2023, Liqvis would gradually migrate to CO2-neutral bio-LNG and sell it as a substitute fuel at its refueling facilities.

In April 2023, the U.K.'s largest owner of bio-CNG and bio-LNG plants, Nottingham-based Roadgas, recently transferred its assets to Pretoria Energy Group, which is funded by Mercuria Clean Energy Investments. Roadgas provides customized on-site fuelling options using biomethane made in the U.K. Within five years, the firm aims to power more than 2,500 gas-fuelled trucks annually.

Demand - Drivers and Limitations



The following are the demand drivers for the global bio-LNG market:

Rising Environmental Concerns

Increasing Number of LNG Trucks

The market is expected to face some limitations as well due to the following challenges:

Limited Availability of Feedstocks

High Price of Bio-LNG as Compared to LNG

Key Market Players and Competition Synopsis

The companies that are profiled have been selected based on inputs gathered from primary experts, analyzing company coverage, product portfolio, and market penetration.

The global bio-LNG market has been segmented by different application, among which automotive captured around 66% of the market as of 2022, ships accounted for around 29%, and other end-use industries accounted for around 5% of the total demand in 2022 in terms of value.

Key Companies Profiled

TotalEnergies SE

Linde plc

MAKEEN Energy

Nordsol

BoxLNG Pvt Ltd

Flogas Britain Limited

DBG Group BV

Gasum Ltd

RUHE Biogas Service GmbH

LIQVIS GmbH

Andion Global Inc.

Cycle0

Titan LNG

Alexela

EnviTec Biogas AG

Scandinavian Biogas Fuels International AB

Scale Gas Solutions

GREEN CREATE

Biomet SpA

Air Water Inc

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ho0j61

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 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Smart Crop Scouting and Smart Spraying Market Report: Focus on Product, Application, Operational Analysis, and Country - Analysis Forecast Period, 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global smart crop scouting and smart spraying market was valued at $3.47 billion in 2022, which is expected to grow with a CAGR of 18.78% and reach $9.86 billion by 2028.

This growth is primarily driven by the agricultural industry's growing emphasis on achieving higher crop yields while minimizing input costs. Smart crop scouting and smart spraying technologies offer precise and targeted approaches for pest and disease management, optimized nutrient application, and effective weed control.

By enabling farmers to make data-driven decisions, enhance operational efficiency, reduce resource wastage, and mitigate environmental impact, these technologies are poised to fuel the expansion of the global smart crop scouting and smart spraying market in the coming years.

Market Introduction

Smart crop scouting and smart spraying are innovative agricultural practices that leverage advanced technologies to enhance crop management and protection. Smart crop scouting utilizes drones, sensors, and imaging systems to collect real-time data on crop health, pest presence, and field conditions, enabling precise decision-making for irrigation, fertilization, and pest control.

On the other hand, smart spraying integrates sensors, AI, and data analytics to optimize pesticide application, considering factors like crop health, weather, and pest presence. These technologies minimize resource wastage, reduce environmental impact, and maximize crop yield, leading to more efficient and sustainable farming practices.

Demand - Drivers and Limitations



Market Demand Drivers: Global Smart Crop Scouting and Smart Spraying Market



Need for Higher Production at Limited Resources

With the increasing global population and limited availability of arable land, there is a growing need to maximize agricultural productivity. Smart crop scouting and smart spraying technologies enable farmers to optimize crop yield by providing real-time data on crop health, nutrient levels, and pest infestations. This allows for targeted and efficient use of resources, resulting in higher production.

Labor Shortage

The migration of the population toward urban areas has resulted in a shortage of labor for agricultural activities. Smart crop scouting and smart spraying technologies help mitigate this challenge by automating tasks such as crop monitoring, weed detection, and pest management. By reducing the dependence on manual labor, these technologies enable farmers to overcome labor shortages and improve operational efficiency.

Increased Focus on Sustainable Agriculture

There is a growing global focus on sustainable agricultural practices to minimize environmental impact and conserve resources. Smart crop scouting and smart spraying technologies support sustainable agriculture by enabling precise and targeted application of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. This reduces chemical usage, minimizes environmental pollution, and promotes eco-friendly farming practices.

Growing Demand for Organic and Non-GMO Crops

The consumer demand for organic and non-genetically modified organism (GMO) crops is on the rise. Smart crop scouting and smart spraying technologies play a crucial role in ensuring the quality and integrity of organic and non-GMO crops by enabling early detection of pests, diseases, and weed infestations. This facilitates timely intervention and supports the production of high-quality, pesticide-free crops to meet market demand.

Market Challenges: Global Smart Crop Scouting and Smart Spraying Market

High Initial Investment

Data Security-Related Concerns

Compatibility with Existing Equipment

Limited Availability of Skilled Labor

Market Opportunities:

Integral Offerings with Horizontal Integration in Farming

Climate Smart Agriculture

Key Market Players and Competition Synopsis

The companies that are profiled have been selected based on inputs gathered from primary experts and analyzing company coverage, product portfolio, and market penetration.

The global smart crop scouting and smart spraying market exhibits a fragmented landscape, with numerous competitors vying to meet the diverse needs of the industry. In the smart crop scouting segment, the top six companies collectively hold a market share of around 30%, indicating a relatively dispersed market. Among them, John Deere stands out as the leader, showcasing its strong presence and market position.

On the other hand, the smart spraying market is characterized by fewer players, resulting in a more consolidated landscape. While the top 4 companies capture approximately 23% of the market share, led by DJI, the remaining market share of over 77% is distributed among a handful of other players. These players include prominent names such as XAG, EFT, Small Robot Company, FMC, Kubota, TeeJet, Topcon, and Trimble.

This fragmented landscape signifies the existence of multiple competitors who offer a range of solutions tailored to the specific requirements of the agricultural industry. Each company strives to differentiate itself through innovative technologies, customer-centric approaches, and strategic partnerships. This competitive environment fosters ongoing advancements and improvements in smart crop scouting and smart spraying solutions.

The diverse range of competitors in the market reflects the varied needs of farmers and agricultural stakeholders. The presence of numerous players encourages healthy competition, stimulates innovation, and provides farmers with a wider choice of solutions to optimize their crop scouting and spraying operations. As the industry continues to evolve, this fragmentation drives the continuous development and enhancement of technologies and services, ultimately benefiting the end users in their pursuit of improved productivity and sustainable agriculture practices.

Key Companies Profiled



Smart Crop Scouting

Semios

Bushel Inc

Climate LLC

BASF SE (xarvio)

Cropin Technology Solutions Private Limited

Corteva

Syngenta

Telus Agriculture & Consumer Goods

Taranis

Smart Spraying

AGCO Corporation

Deere & Company

WEED-IT

Precision AI Inc

HARDI

Agrifac Machinery B.V.

Ecorobotix SA

BA Pumps & Sprayers

Smart Crop Scouting and Smart Spraying

Trimble Inc

Greeneye Technology

Agridrones Solutions

Key Attributes:

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 382 Forecast Period 2023 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $4.17 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $9.86 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 18.8% Regions Covered Global

Key Topics Covered:

1 Market

1.1 Industry Outlook

1.2 Business Dynamics

1.2.1 Business Drivers

1.2.1.1 Need for Higher Production at Limited Resources

1.2.1.1.1 Labor Shortage

1.2.1.2 Increased Focus on Sustainable Agriculture

1.2.1.2.1 Growing Demand for Organic and Non-GMO Crops

1.2.2 Business Challenges

1.2.2.1 High Initial Investment

1.2.2.2 Data Security Related Concerns

1.2.2.3 Compatibility with Existing Equipment

1.2.2.4 Limited Availability of Skilled Labor

1.2.3 Market Strategies and Developments

1.2.3.1 Business Strategies

1.2.3.1.1 Product Development and Innovations

1.2.3.1.2 Business Expansion

1.2.3.2 Corporate Strategies

1.2.3.2.1 Partnerships, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Alliances

1.2.3.2.2 Mergers and Acquisitions

1.2.3.2.3 Others

1.2.3.2.4 Snapshot of Corporate Strategies Adopted by the Players in Smart Crop Scouting and Smart Spraying Market

1.2.3.3 Case Studies

1.2.3.3.1 See & Spray Ultimate Sprayer Case Study

1.2.3.3.2 5G Connected Autonomous Robots by KPN and AGROiNTELLi

1.2.3.3.3 DJI Drone-Based Roden Control Case Study

1.2.4 Business Opportunities

1.2.4.1 Integral Offerings with Horizontal Integration in Farming

1.2.4.2 Climate-Smart Agriculture

1.3 Geopolitical and Socioeconomic Impacts

1.3.1 Impact of COVID-19 on Global Smart Crop Scouting and Smart Spraying Market

1.3.2 Impact of Russia-Ukraine on Global Smart Crop Scouting and Smart Spraying Market

1.4 Startup Landscape

1.4.1 Key Startups in the Ecosystem

1.4.2 Funding Analysis

1.4.2.1 Total Investment and Number of Funding Deals

1.4.2.2 Top Investors

1.4.2.3 Top Funding Deals by the Startups and Investors

1.4.2.4 Funding Analysis (by Country)

2 Application

2.1 Global Smart Crop Scouting Market (by Application)

2.1.1 Weed Detection

2.1.2 Disease and Damage Detection

2.1.3 Pest Detection

2.1.4 Nutrient Analysis

2.1.5 Others

2.2 Demand Analysis of Global Smart Crop Scouting Market (by Application)

2.2.1 Demand Analysis of Global Smart Crop Scouting Market (by Application)

2.3 Global Smart Spraying Market (by Application)

2.3.1 Nutrient Application

2.3.2 Crop Protection Chemical Application

2.3.3 Herbicide Application

2.4 Demand Analysis of Global Smart Spraying Market (by Application)

2.4.1 Demand Analysis of Global Smart Spraying Market (by Application)

3 Products

3.1 Global Smart Crop Scouting Market (by Product)

3.1.1 Equipment Scouting

3.1.1.1 Robots

3.1.1.2 Drones

3.1.1.3 Mobile Applications and Sensors

3.1.2 Software Scouting

3.1.2.1 Geographic Information System (GIS) Software

3.1.2.2 Remote Sensing Software

3.1.2.3 Crop Management Software

3.2 Demand Analysis of Global Smart Crop Scouting Market (by Product)

3.2.1 Demand Analysis of Global Smart Crop Scouting Market (by Equipment Scouting)

3.3 Demand Analysis of Global Smart Crop Scouting Market (by Product)

3.3.1 Demand Analysis of Global Smart Crop Scouting Market (by Software Scouting)

3.4 Global Smart Spraying Market (by Product)

3.4.1 Tractor Mounted and Self-Propelled Sprayers

3.4.2 Robotic Sprayers

3.4.3 Drone Sprayers

3.5 Demand Analysis of Global Smart Spraying Market (by Product)

3.5.1 Demand Analysis of Global Smart Spraying Market (by Product)

3.6 Supply Chain Analysis

3.7 Operational Analysis

3.8 Adoption Scenario

3.9 Patent Analysis

3.9.1 Patent Analysis (by Application)

3.9.2 Patent Analysis (by Organization)

3.9.3 Patent Analysis (by Patent Office)

4 Region

5 Market - Competitive Benchmarking and Company Profiles

5.1 Competitive Benchmarking

5.1.1 Competitive Position Matrix

5.1.1.1 Smart Crop Scouting

5.1.1.2 Smart Spraying Market

5.1.2 Market Share Analysis

5.1.2.1 Smart Crop Scouting Market

5.1.2.2 Smart Spraying Market

5.2 Competitive Analysis

5.3 Company Profiles

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/uqi2tc

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
Jersey City, NJ, June 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BitMart, a leading global digital asset trading platform, announced today a strategic partnership with Hong Kong Virtual Assets Consortium (HKVAC). This collaboration aims to facilitate cooperation between the two entities in the cryptocurrency field to foster a more secure, trustworthy, stable, and sustainable environment for the development and innovation of virtual assets in Asia and worldwide.





HKVAC, founded by professional rating organizations and stakeholders in the virtual asset industry, including data companies, exchanges, and institutional investors, along with licensed rating agencies in Hong Kong, aims to promote the importance of industry-led security risk management. HKVAC is dedicated to assisting the national and Hong Kong governments in establishing a significant position as an international financial center. HKVAC obtains primary data from major exchanges and public chains in the market, analyzing the market from various critical dimensions and factors. They provide impartial and objective credit ratings that reflect the reputation of trading platforms.

Notably, HKVAC plans to introduce the "Virtual Asset Index" and "Virtual Asset Exchange Rating," which will serve as objective third-party reference data for professional investors and the public when engaging in related activities.

The Major Cryptocurrency Index provided by HKVAC represents the overall performance of the top-valued cryptocurrencies in the global cryptocurrency market. It consists of the 30 cryptocurrencies with the highest market capitalization that meet specific qualifying criteria. The index is reviewed and adjusted quarterly on the last day of each quarter (March, June, September, and December).

Albert Lo, the spokesperson for HKVAC, expressed their satisfaction with the important memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with BitMart. As a representative of virtual asset stakeholders and rating organizations in Hong Kong, we are committed to promoting innovation and development in blockchain and virtual asset technologies. The collaboration with BitMart provides valuable industry resources and data to jointly advance the development of the virtual asset industry and strengthen Hong Kong's competitive position in the global virtual asset market.

Sheldon Xia, Founder and CEO of BitMart, emphasized the importance of the partnership with HKVAC, stating, "This collaboration marks a significant milestone for BitMart. Acknowledging Hong Kong's potential in the blockchain and virtual asset industry, we aim to drive the adoption of innovative projects and foster collaboration through this alliance. We are excited to explore the global virtual asset market with HKVAC and provide users with a trading experience that is more convenient, and efficient."

By signing this strategic cooperation memorandum, HKVAC and BitMart are committed to building a more transparent, secure, and innovative virtual currency ecosystem, thereby actively contributing to the overall advancement of the virtual asset industry.



About HKVAC

HKVAC (Hong Kong Virtual Assets Consortium) is the first comprehensive organization in Hong Kong dedicated to serving the virtual asset industry. HKVAC offers a range of professional services and resources to support the development and promotion of innovative projects. Upholding fairness across all sectors, HKVAC fulfills its primary functions, including: 1) collaborating with licensed rating agencies to provide credit ratings for digital assets exchanges 2) offering auxiliary services for the collective interests of the industry, such as fraud detection mechanisms and other necessary products and services 3) providing data and industry research to stakeholders and regulatory bodies to drive the development of the virtual asset industry. HKVAC aims to restore investment confidence in the virtual asset market and facilitate the healthy growth of the digital and virtual asset industry.

The goal of HKVAC is to make Hong Kong a leading global hub for virtual assets by fostering a prosperous and secure environment for innovators and investors. Through promoting technological innovation, advancing compliance standards, and nurturing talent, HKVAC is committed to driving the sustainable development of the virtual asset industry and contributing to Hong Kong's competitiveness in the global digital asset market.



About BitMart

BitMart is the premier global digital asset trading platform. With millions of users worldwide and ranked among the top crypto exchanges on CoinGecko, it currently offers 1,000+ trading pairs with competitive trading fees, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other leading cryptocurrencies. Constantly evolving and growing, BitMart is interested in cryptos potential to drive innovation and promote financial inclusion. To learn more about BitMart, visit their website , follow their Twitter , or join their Telegram for updates, news, and promotions. Be sure to download the BitMart App to easily trade your favorite crypto anytime, anywhere.

Follow us on social media:
COLUMBIA FALLS, Me., and ARLINGTON, Va, June 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, nonprofits Wreaths Across America (WAA), and the Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation (MWM) announce they will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Sunday, July 9, 2023, to solidify a partnership between the two like-minded missions which are dedicated to honoring our nations servicemembers, past and present, and sharing their stories of service. The signing will take place as part of a joint Giving in July event to be held at the Military Womens Memorial, the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery.

This free, public event will take place in the Memorials education center from 11am  5pm ET, on Sunday, July 9. There are several exciting things happening at this all-day event, including:

Giving in July Opportunities. Learn more about Giving in July and ways you can Do Good Twice by supporting a registered WAA Sponsorship Group like MWM. By visiting www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/VA0827p and sponsoring a $17 veterans wreath, the MWM Foundation earns $5 back for each sponsored wreath  funds which support the Memorial throughout the year.

WAAs Mobile Education Exhibit Tours. Tours aboard this onsite, rolling interactive museum highlight and share WAAs mission to Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teach the next generation about the value of freedom. The Mobile Exhibition also serves as an official Welcome Home center for our nations Vietnam Veterans.

the fallen, those who serve, and the next generation about the value of freedom. The Mobile Exhibition also serves as an official Welcome Home center for our nations Vietnam Veterans. Dog Tag Remembrance Tree Program. Guests can make a replica dog tag to be hung at WAAs 10-acre Military Womens Grove in honor or remembrance of a servicewoman. The grove, located in Maine, is where the balsam tips are harvested to make the veterans wreaths placed on servicemembers graves on National Wreaths Across America Day. Dog tags will initially be displayed at the Military Womens Memorial Education Center throughout the month of July.

Wreaths Across America Radio will be broadcasting LIVE throughout the day, sharing stories of service and success!

In speaking about the partnership, retired Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Phyllis Wilson, president of the Military Womens Memorial Foundation, said, We at the Military Womens Memorial Foundation are especially pleased to formalize our partnership with Wreaths Across America. Joining forces in support of our common goal  to honor and tell the stories of Americas military  is a force multiplier. Were excited to move forward with the Wreaths Across America team on a variety of initiatives that spotlight the extraordinary service of Americas military.

The Military Womens Memorial Foundation has long been an important partner of WAA because like us, they work tirelessly to ensure the stories of our nations veterans are being told, said Karen Worcester, executive director of WAA. Through this formal partnership, we will work even more closely to ensure these stories are captured and shared to help teach young people about the opportunities available to them through service.

This year, National Wreaths Across America Day will take place on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at over 3,700 participating locations nationwide, including Arlington National Cemetery. To sponsor a veterans wreath and support the mission of the Military Womens Memorial Foundation at the same time, please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/VA0827p.

# # #

About Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organizations mission  Remember, Honor, Teach  is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at thousands of veterans cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond.

For more information or to sponsor a wreath please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

About the Military Womens Memorial

The Women In Military Service for America Memorial Foundation, Inc. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, built and now operates and maintains Americas only major national memorial and historical repository to document and tell the story of womens service to the nation. Located at the ceremonial entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, the memorial features an education center, a one-of-a-kind interactive database of womens records of service, exhibitions, a world-class collection of artifacts and memorabilia related to womens service, and engaging programs and events for all generations. Donate to this Charity Navigator, 4 Star Organization and join the National Registration Campaign to help capture and preserve the stories of servicewomen, past and present.

Find out more about us at www.womensmemorial.org or by following us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. #HERstory #appreSHEation

WAA Press Contact:

Amber Caron

acaron@wreathsacrossamerica.org

(207) 513-6457

MWM Press Contact:

Marilla Cushman

mjcushman@womensmemorial.org

703-892-4326

NOTES TO MEDIA:

Media are encouraged to attend the event, and interviews with leadership will be available. Media access to the Military Womens Memorial must be coordinated in advance with the MWM press contact.

Press photos from the signing event will be available upon email request.

For videos, photos, logos, background about WAA and more, please visit https://learn.wreathsacrossamerica.org/mediaresources.

Attachment
TORONTO, June 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Forty-five students in publicly funded Catholic schools across Ontario, from Kindergarten through Grade 12, have been recognized by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA) for excellence in writing. The Young Authors Awards/Prix jeunes ecrivains acknowledge English and French writing in categories ranging from poetry and short stories, to plays and non-fiction.

The Young Authors Awards/Prix jeunes ecrivains are a celebration of the exceptional spirit and accomplishments of students and teachers in Ontarios publicly funded Catholic schools, showcasing the high caliber of writing and critical thinking happening in our classrooms, says OECTA President Barb Dobrowolski.

The diversity of topics, perspectives, and styles are amazing to read, and speak to the skills and values that Catholic teachers strive to nurture in our students. The quality of work is especially impressive given the difficulties that students, teachers, and education workers have endured throughout this school year.

This years winners were selected from the 260 entries elevated for consideration at the provincial level, out of the thousands of entries from students that participate locally. This year marks the 38th year in which Catholic teachers have supported and celebrated student writing and achievement through the Young Authors Awards/Prix jeunes ecrivains.

Some of the winning entries for 2023 include:

The Toxic Ocean  a poem about the environmental devastation being wrought by the growing garbage patch in the Pacific Ocean.

Should Our School Have a Gender-neutral Washroom?  an insightful essay about why gender-neutral washrooms in schools can help make all students feel safer.

Getting Stuck as a Spy Was NOT in the Script!!!  a play where not everything is as it seems  or is it?

Les phases de la lune  a tribute to the moon, our underappreciated light in the night sky.

The complete list of the 2023 winners and a booklet with all of the winning entries is available HERE.

- 30 -

OECTA represents the 45,000 passionate and qualified teachers in Ontarios publicly funded English Catholic schools, from Kindergarten to Grade 12.




BRADENTON, Fla., June 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Token Communities, Ltd. (Token Communities or the Company), today announced that the Company has launched the first two of its naturopathic supplements in the Asia Markets. The Company has engaged seven distributors in China to distribute the Companys products in seven different areas of China. The first product is our supplement that we refer to as Detox. This supplement is a revolutionary Type 2 diabetes supplement designed to significantly improve Type-2 diabetes. It contains many effective clinically-proven ingredients, such as milk thistle, CoQ10, GABA and others which can detox the fatty liver and improve the endocrine disorder and blood sugar ( glucose ) management. The second product is our supplement called Cleaner. This supplement is designed to clean blood lipids and impurities in blood vessels designed to lower blood pressure. This supplement contains apple cider vinegar, lemon extract along with a variety of other vitamins and minerals.



We are so pleased to announce that after working diligently for over one year the Company has announced the release of our first two supplements. After working tirelessly during this time we are excited that our first delivery of these supplements has cleared customs in China, commented David Chen, Chairman and CEO of Token Communities. With the initial launch of our first supplements in China we are excited to begin exploring potential distribution partners in North America.

About the Company

We are actively engaged in the Health and Wellness Sector developing holistic and naturopathic products, including plant stem cell, natural supplements, cosmetic facial masks and more. We are developing an eCommerce platform to commence sales of all products.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements using the words hope, anticipate, may and statements regarding the effects of the supplements referred to herein, and future plans and objectives of the Company, are "forward-looking statements" (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). that involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results could differ materially from current projections or implied results. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company cautions that statements and assumptions made in this news release constitute forward-looking statements and make no guarantee of future performance. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the time statements are made. The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

Food and Drug Administration Disclosure

The products featured in this release are not for use by or sale to persons under the age of 12. These products should be used only as directed on the label. Consult with a physician before use if you have a serious medical condition or use prescription medications. A doctors advice should be sought before using these and any supplemental product. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Investor Contact: David Chen, Chairman, CEO: dchen@elementsofhealthandwellness.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/87d3fbaa-1933-4bf9-a572-9dd089aabfad

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/83dfd8d5-80b2-4d84-814f-175d9a6ab633
Beverly Hills , June 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mission Matters Podcast Agency distributes the Growing Our Future Podcast.

The latest episode of the popular "Growing Our Future" podcast features an illuminating interview with Dr. Temple Grandin, a highly regarded animal scientist and autism advocate. Dr. Grandin engages in a captivating conversation with host Aaron Alejandro, providing valuable insights into the world of agriculture, and the diverse career opportunities it offers.

In this thought-provoking episode, titled Capitalize on Thinking Differently, Dr. Grandin shares her unique perspective on various topics, ranging from the importance of exposure and hands-on experience in agriculture, to the need for different types of minds to collaborate in solving complex challenges. Dr. Grandin offers candid thoughts and vivid storytelling, providing listeners with an intimate glimpse into her remarkable career and expertise.

One notable aspect of the discussion centers around the significance of exposure to agriculture and animals for young people. Dr. Grandin highlights the impact of her own exposure to the industry as a teenager, and emphasizes the importance of internships and mentorships for students seeking to explore career options. She emphasizes that the field of agriculture offers numerous pathways beyond veterinary medicine, such as animal nutrition, genetics and food safety, which are often overlooked by aspiring professionals.

Dr. Grandin provides her views on the integration of different types of minds, and the power of collaboration. Drawing from her vast experience, she illustrates the value of hands-on problem-solving, critical thinking and sustainability ingrained in agricultural education. Dr. Grandin's insights shed light on the crucial role of career technical education in developing not only skilled agriculturalists, but also well-rounded individuals equipped with problem-solving abilities and a sense of community.

Furthermore, Dr. Grandin shares her frustration with the tendency for abstract thinking and vague discussions, particularly in tackling complex issues. She offers a specific and practical approach to problem-solving, using the example of addressing power plant equipment freezing in Texas. Her emphasis on specificity and collaboration between mechanics and mathematicians offers valuable lessons for policymakers and professionals in various industries.

Listeners of the "Growing Our Future" podcast are sure to be inspired by Dr. Temple Grandin's compelling anecdotes and expert opinions. Her unique perspective, bridging the gap between animal science and autism advocacy, opens doors to new ways of thinking, and encourages a diverse range of students to consider the rewarding career opportunities in agriculture.



Listen to the full podcast interview, Capitalize on Thinking Differently, by Aaron Alejandro with Dr. Temple Grandin on your favorite podcast channel:

 iTunes

 Spotify

 Audible

 YouTube

 Mission Matters

In this podcast, the host and guest cover:

What is the importance of exposure and hands-on experience in agriculture?

What are some of the diverse career opportunities in the world of agriculture?

Why is there a need for different types of minds to collaborate in solving complex challenges with the agriculture field?

What is the significance of exposure to agriculture and animals for young people?

Why is it important to have internships and mentorships for students seeking to explore career options?

What is the value of hands-on problem-solving, critical thinking and sustainability ingrained in agricultural education?





About the Podcast Host and Guest

The Texas FFA Foundations purpose is to strengthen agricultural education and the Texas FFA program, so each student can develop their potential for personal growth, career success and

leadership in a global marketplace.

Learn more about the Texas FFA Foundation at mytexasffa.org.

To learn more about Dr. Temple Grandin, visit www.templegrandin.com.

Media Communications

Mission Matters Podcast Agency distributes the Growing Our Future Podcast

Inquiries: adamtorres@missionmatters.com

Media contact and published by KISS PR az@kisspr.com





Attachment
Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States

TORONTO, June 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PIMCO Canada Corp. (PIMCO Canada) today announced the 2023 second quarter cash distributions for the ETF series (ETF Series) of the PIMCO Canada mutual funds that distribute quarterly (Funds). Unitholders of record of the ETF Series, at the close of business on June 23, 2023, will receive a per-unit cash distribution payable on or about June 30, 2023.

Details of the per-unit cash distribution amounts are as follow:

Fund Name Ticker Cash Distribution per Unit PIMCO Managed Conservative Bond Pool PCON $0.28218 PIMCO Managed Core Bond Pool PCOR $0.24932

The Manager, PIMCO Canada, administers and manages the PIMCO Canada ETFs, and retains Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC (PIMCO) to provide sub-advisory services to the Funds.

About PIMCO

PIMCO was founded in 1971 in Newport Beach, California and is one of the worlds premier fixed income investment managers. Today we have offices across the globe and 3,000+ professionals united by a single purpose: creating opportunities for investors in every environment. PIMCO is owned by Allianz S.E., a leading global diversified financial services provider.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, those identified by the expressions expect, intend, will and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Funds. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect the Funds, PIMCO Canadas and/or PIMCOs current expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including, but not limited to, market factors. Although the Funds, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCO believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and, accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. The Funds, PIMCO Canada and/or PIMCO undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement or information whether as a result of new information, future events or other factors which affect this information, except as required by law.

No offering is being made by this material. Interested investors should obtain a copy of the prospectus, which is available from your Financial Advisor.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

All investments contain risk and can lose value. For a summary of the risks of an investment in a specific fund, please see the risks of mutual funds section of the prospectus.

Investments made by a Fund and the results achieved by a Fund are not expected to be the same as those made by any other PIMCO-advised Fund, including those with a similar name, investment objective or policies. A new or smaller Funds performance may not represent how the Fund is expected to or may perform in the long-term. New Funds have limited operating histories for investors to evaluate and new and smaller Funds may not attract sufficient assets to achieve investment and trading efficiencies. A Fund may be forced to sell a comparatively large portion of its portfolio to meet significant shareholder redemptions for cash, or hold a comparatively large portion of its portfolio in cash due to significant share purchases for cash, in each case when the Fund otherwise would not seek to do so, which may adversely affect performance.

Funds can offer different series, which are subject to different fees and expenses (which may affect performance), having different minimum investment requirements and are entitled to different services.

The products and services provided by PIMCO Canada may only be available in certain provinces or territories of Canada and only through dealers authorized for that purpose.

PIMCO Canada has retained PIMCO LLC as sub-adviser. PIMCO Canada will remain responsible for any loss that arises out of the failure of its sub-adviser.

PIMCO as a general matter provides services to qualified institutions, financial intermediaries and institutional investors. Individual investors should contact their own financial professional to determine the most appropriate investment options for their financial situation. This material contains the current opinions of the manager and such opinions are subject to change without notice. This material has been distributed for informational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any particular security, strategy or investment product. Information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but not guaranteed. No part of this material may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without express written permission. PIMCO is a trademark of Allianz Asset Management of America L.P. in the United States and throughout the world. 2023, PIMCO

PIMCO Canada Corp. 199 Bay Street, Suite 2050, Commerce Court Station, P.O. Box 363, Toronto, ON, M5L 1G2, 416-368-3350

Contact:

Agnes Crane

PIMCO  Media Relations

Phone: +212 597.1054
English French

TORONTO, June 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nexus Industrial REIT (the "REIT) (TSX: NXR.UN) announced today that has completed the previously announced purchase of an industrial property in London Ontario.



The REIT acquired an approximately 305,000 square foot single-tenant distribution facility in London Ontario. The property includes a brand new approximately 160,000 square foot expansion and features 32-foot clear heights, 45 truck-level doors and 8 drive-in doors. The $56.35 million acquisition was funded by the issuance of 2,359,978 Class B LP units valued at $10.30 per unit and the assumption of existing mortgage financing with an approximately 10-year remaining term at a rate of 4.93%.

Q2 Results Date

The REIT intends to release its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 before the opening of the TSX on Monday, August 14, 2023.

Management of the REIT will host a conference call at 1:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on Monday, August 14, 2023 to review the financial results and operations.

To participate in the conference call, please dial 416-915-3239 or 1-800-319-4610 (toll free in Canada and the US) at least five minutes prior to the start time and ask to join the Nexus Industrial REIT conference call.

A recording of the conference call will be available until September 14, 2023. To access the recording, please dial 604-674-8052 or 1-855-669-9658 (toll free in Canada and the US) and enter access code 0271.

June and July 2023 Distribution

The REIT will make a cash distribution in the amount of $0.05333 per unit, representing $0.64 per unit on an annualized basis, payable July 14, 2023 to unitholders of record as of June 30, 2023.

The REIT will also make a cash distribution in the amount of $0.05333 per unit, representing $0.64 per unit on an annualized basis, payable August 15, 2023 to unitholders of record as of July 31, 2023.



The REITs distribution reinvestment plan (DRIP) entitles eligible unitholders to elect to receive all, or a portion of the cash distributions of the REIT reinvested in units of the REIT. Eligible unitholders who so elect will receive a bonus distribution of units equal to 4% of each distribution that was reinvested by them under the DRIP.

About Nexus Industrial REIT

Nexus is a growth-oriented real estate investment trust focused on increasing unitholder value through the acquisition of industrial properties located in primary and secondary markets in Canada and the ownership and management of its portfolio of properties. The REIT currently owns a portfolio of 114 properties (including two properties held for development in which the REIT has an 80% interest) comprising approximately 12.0 million square feet of gross leasable area. The REIT has approximately 68,120,000 Units issued and outstanding. Additionally, there are Class B LP Units of subsidiary limited partnerships of Nexus issued and outstanding, which are convertible into approximately 22,220,000 Units.

For further information please contact:

Kelly C. Hanczyk, CEO at (416) 906-2379; or

Rob Chiasson, CFO at (416) 613-1262.
Vancouver, June 15, 2023 - Goldgroup Mining Inc. (TSX: GGA) (OTC Pink: GGAZF) (BMV SIX: GGAN.MX) ("Goldgroup" or the "Company") hereby announces that the Company will be seeking minority shareholder approval at the Company's Annual General and Special Meeting (the "Shareholders Meeting") to be held on June 28, 2023 in connection with the settlement of a loan obtained from Accendo Banco S.A., Multiple Banking Institution ("Accendo") in 2020.

Background to the Settlement

On June 29, 2020, the Company's subsidiary, Minas de Oroco Resources, S.A. de C.V. ("Minas de Oroco"), completed a definitive loan facility agreement with Accendo in the amount of US$3,000,000 at a rate of 12% per annum with a final repayment date of 36 months from the date of the first disbursement (the "Accendo Loan"). The Company guaranteed the Accendo Loan on behalf of Minas de Oroco. The amount currently outstanding under the Accendo Loan is approximately US$1,850,000.

The debt underlying the Accendo Loan has been acquired by Minera Cerro Esperanza S.A de C.V. ("MER"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Calu Opportunity Fund LP ("Calu"). Calu is a shareholder and investor in the Company having acquired 1,177,500 Common Shares and having loaned the Company US$2.16 million (the "Calu Loan"). The Company will be seeking shareholder approval for the conversion of the Calu Loan into Common Shares of the Company at the Shareholders Meeting, which approval shall exclude any votes cast by Calu.

MER contacted the Company on April 26, 2023 seeking repayment of the Accendo Loan. As the assets of Minas de Oroco are currently the only operating assets of the Company, the seizure of these assets would effectively place the Company into insolvency unless another arrangement was made. Further to discussions with MER, the Company is proposing to enter into a Settlement Agreement and an Exploitation and Option to Purchase Agreement, subject to approval of minority shareholders at the Meeting, pursuant to which the Company will deliver the assets of Minas de Oroco to MER in full satisfaction of the Accendo Loan and the Company is provided the right to operate the assets of Minas de Oroco and to purchase the assets in the future.

Shareholder Approval of the Transaction

As Calu and its affiliates constitute related parties in respect of the Settlement Agreement and the Exploitation and Option to Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby pursuant to MI 61-101, the Settlement Agreement and the Exploitation and Option to Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby must be approved by a simple majority of the votes cast by the shareholders present in person or represented by proxy at the Shareholders Meeting and entitled to vote, excluding the votes cast by Calu and its affiliates.

For additional information regarding the background and details of the Settlement Agreement and the Exploitation and Option to Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, please read the full disclosure contained in the Company's Information Circular posted on the Company's website https://goldgroupmining.com/investors/annual-reports-and-meetings and available under the Company's profile on Sedar at www.sedar.com.

About Goldgroup

Goldgroup is a Canadian-based gold production, development, and exploration Company with projects in Mexico, including an interest in DynaResource de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., which owns 100% of the high-grade gold exploration project, San Jose de Gracia located in the State of Sinaloa and the Company's 100%-owned Cerro Prieto heap-leach gold mine, in the State of Sonora, Mexico.

Goldgroup is led by a team of highly successful and seasoned individuals with extensive expertise in mine development, corporate finance, and exploration in Mexico. Goldgroup's mission is to increase gold production, mineral resources, profitability and cash flow, with a view to building a leading gold producer.

For further information on Goldgroup, please visit www.goldgroupmining.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Investor Relations



Toll Free: 1-877-655-ozAu (6928)

The TSX has neither reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain information contained in this news release, including any information relating to future financial or operating performance, may be considered "forward-looking information" (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law) and "forward-looking statements" (within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Actual results could differ materially from the conclusions, forecasts and projections contained in such forward-looking information.

These forward-looking statements reflect Goldgroup's current internal projections, expectations or beliefs and are based on information currently available to Goldgroup. In some cases forward-looking information can be identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "projects", "potential", "scheduled", "forecast", "budget" or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology.

Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to materially differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors including, without limitation: receipt of all required stock exchange and regulatory approvals; risks associated with the non-approval by shareholders of the agreements and transactions to be put forward for approval at the Shareholders Meeting; risks associated with operating the Minas de Oroco assets after the Shareholders Meeting if shareholder approval to the agreements and transactions is obtained at the Shareholders Meeting; the scope, duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; the scope, duration and impact of regulatory responses to the pandemic on the employees, business and operations; uncertainties related to actual capital costs operating costs and expenditures; production schedules and economic returns from Goldgroup's projects; uncertainties associated with development activities; uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources and precious metal recoveries; uncertainties related to current global economic conditions; fluctuations in precious and base metal prices; uncertainties related to the availability of future financing; potential difficulties with joint venture partners; risks that Goldgroup's title to its property could be challenged; political and country risk; risks associated with Goldgroup being subject to government regulation; risks associated with surface rights; environmental risks; Goldgroup's need to attract and retain qualified personnel; risks associated with potential conflicts of interest; Goldgroup's lack of experience in overseeing the construction of a mining project; risks related to the integration of businesses and assets acquired by Goldgroup; uncertainties related to the competitiveness of the mining industry; risk associated with theft; risk of water shortages and risks associated with competition for water; uninsured risks and inadequate insurance coverage; risks associated with potential legal proceedings; risks associated with community relations; outside contractor risks; risks related to archaeological sites; foreign currency risks; risks associated with security and human rights; and risks related to the need for reclamation activities on Goldgroup's properties, as well as the risk factors disclosed in Goldgroup's Annual Information Form , MD&A and Information Circular for the Shareholders Meeting. Any and all of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements.

Although Goldgroup believes that the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on reasonable assumptions, readers cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with such statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking information. Goldgroup expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except as may be required by, and in accordance with, applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/170191
Vancouver, June 15, 2023 - Westmount Minerals Corp. (CSE: WMC) ("Westmount" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of its non-brokered, private placement financing of $250,000 priced at $0.05 per Unit. 5,000,000 Share Units have been issued, with each Unit consisting of one common share and one share purchase warrant. Each warrant is exercisable into one common share for a period of 24 months at an exercise price of $0.075 for the first year and $0.10 for the second year.

Finders' fees of $11,125 and Finders' warrants of 222,500 have been paid. Each Finders' warrant is exercisable into one common share for a period of 24 months at an exercise price of $.075 per share. The shares are subject to a four month hold period which expires in October 2023.

Proceeds from the financing shall be used for exploration activities on Westmount's Ontario lithium and critical minerals projects as well as working capital and general corporate activities.

About Westmount Minerals Corp.

Westmount is focused on mineral exploration in the Americas and is well positioned in the emerging world-class critical minerals district of NW Ontario. The 3,486 hectares, Kaba lithium property, is located in the Georgia Lake, lithium-pegmatite region in close proximity to Rock Tech Lithium Inc. Multiple pegmatite showings have been documented and mapped on the Property by the Ontario Geological Survey.

Additionally, Westmount can earn a 100% interest in the 5,002-hectare lithium-pegmatite bearing, Otatakan and Pilot East Lithium properties located near Ear Falls, Ontario. The properties are just south of Green Technologies' expanding Root deposit.

The Company has advanced the Douay East gold property located within the greater Abitibi Greenstone Belt region in Quebec to the drill-ready stage.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

David Tafel

Chief Executive Officer and Director

For further information, please contact:

David Tafel

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(604) 683-1991

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.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements regarding future capital expenditures, anticipated content, commencement, and cost of exploration programs in respect of the Company's projects and mineral properties, anticipated exploration program results from exploration activities, resources and/or reserves on the Company's projects and mineral properties, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Often, but not always, forward looking information can be identified by words such as "pro forma", "plans", "expects", "will", "may", "should", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "potential" or variations of such words including negative variations thereof, and phrases that refer to certain actions, events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that market fundamentals will result in sustained precious and base metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration of the Company's properties, that the COVID-19 global pandemic will not affect the ability of the Company to conduct future exploration of the Company's properties, the availability of financing on suitable terms, and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, statements as to the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, including the Company's option to acquire the Douay East Project, the proposed expenditures for exploration work thereon, the ability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to fund its business activities and plans, delays in obtaining governmental and regulatory approvals (including of the Canadian Securities Exchange), permits or financing, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations, the Company's limited operating history, currency fluctuations, title disputes or claims, environmental issues and liabilities, as well as those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's prospectus dated February 14, 2022, and other filings of the Company with the Canadian Securities Authorities, copies of which can be found under the Company's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release except as otherwise required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/170192
HIGHLIGHTS

Palos Verdes (silver, Sinaloa, Mexico) 2,500-meter drilling program underway 5 holes have been completed for a total of 727 meters of HQ core drilled Samples from the first three holes have been submitted to the lab for analysis A rock chip sample from mapped veins returned an assay of 840.5 AgEq (700 g/t Ag and 1.68 g/t Au) over a sample width of 1 meter

Los Pavitos (gold, Sonora, Mexico) 295 meters of trenches have been constructed and sampled with assay results received for 96.7 meters Interval of 0.44 g/t Au over 10 metres in trench ZSC9 High grade silver assays in surface sampling in northeast Santa Cruz area 2,500-meter drill program to start by the end of June

Hot Breccia (copper, Arizona) LiDAR survey completed, results expected in three weeks Airborne ZTEM survey contracted, to be flown in June Drill permit application started Expecting to drill 1000-2000 meters starting in Q3-2023 Results of ongoing surface sampling expected in June



Vancouver, June 16, 2023 - Prismo Metals Inc. (CSE: PRIZ) (OTCQB: PMOMF) ("Prismo" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the ongoing exploration programs at its Palos Verdes, Los Pavitos and Hot Breccia properties.

Dr. Craig Gibson, President and CEO commented: "Prismo is in the very enviable position of having three fully funded drilling campaigns this year, thanks to our strong liquidity position. Drilling is currently underway at our Palos Verdes silver project, drilling will commence shortly at our Los Pavitos gold project and we expect to be drilling our Hot Breccia copper project in the third quarter."

Palos Verdes Exploration Update

The Company recently started a 2500-meter drill program on the Palos Verdes project. The drill program will test the areas of the Palos Verdes vein system in areas where there previously was no drill access, mainly along the northeastern extension of the vein system and certain areas in the southwestern portion where previous drilling occurred.

Five holes have been completed for a total of 727 meters of HQ core drilled for the current program. Samples from the first three holes have been submitted to the lab for analysis. Drilling so far has been completed in the northeastern limit of the Palos Verdes vein system exposed on the Palos Verdes concession. Results confirm the presence of multiple narrow quartz veins along the structural trend as expected based on surface mapping and sampling (see photos below). Surface sampling undertaken in the region to help define the drill pattern yielded high grades from one of these veins that returned an assay of 840.5 AgEq (700 g/t Ag and 1.68 g/t Au) over a width of 1 meter.

Dr. Craig Gibson, President and CEO of Prismo, stated, "The Palos Verdes drilling is progressing according to plans, with the initial shallow holes providing important geological information. The drilling so far is in line with expectations, with multiple narrow intercepts in each hole along the structural trend of the Palos Verdes vein system with multistage mineralization at what appear to be high structural levels. The drill rig is being moved to the southwest to offset intercepts in previous drill holes where we did not previously have access while we await assay results."

Table PV. Highlight assays from recent surface sampling on the Palos Verdes concession

Sample Type Style Width (m) Easting Northing Au_g/t Ag g/t 126020 Rock chip Vein 1.0 414,037 2,593,290 0.005 15.6 126021 Rock chip Vein 0.5 414,087 2,593,397 0.244 30 126028 Rock chip Vein 1.0 413,986 2,593,321 0.008 13.25 126029 Rock chip Vein 0.5 414,088 2,593,396 0.019 39.9 13702 Rock chip Vein 1.0 413,994 2,593,431 1.68 700 13704 Rock chip Vein 3.0 414,177 2,593,461 0.878 68.6 13708 Rock chip Vein 1.0 413,898 2,593,248 0.523 15.1 13716 Rock chip Vein 1.0 414,011 2,593,306 0.061 15.35





Photo of core from hole PV-20, interval 18-23.5 m.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7434/170247_f7b7cf10c4c6eb9a_003full.jpg





Photo of core from PV-21, interval 45 to 51m.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7434/170247_f7b7cf10c4c6eb9a_004full.jpg

Los Pavitos Exploration Update

The Company is also pleased to announce that its trenching program across the main mineralized trends on its Los Pavitos property is well underway, and that 295 meters of trenches have been constructed and sampled. The main objective of the trenching program is to better define the orientation and full width of the mineralized structures prior to starting the drill campaign. Assay results have been received for 44 samples from the first three trenches in the Santa Cruz area with a combined length of 96.7 meters, along with an additional 233 samples from the ongoing mapping and sampling program. Of note are an interval of 10m with a weighted average of 0.44 g/t Au in trench ZSC9, and a new silver rich target area with multiple samples assaying more than 300 g/t Ag over 1-2 meter widths and ranging to as much as 579 g/t Ag. An additional 127 trench samples have been submitted to the assay lab with results expected in two weeks. The 5289 hectare (20 square miles) Los Pavitos project is located in the well mineralized Alamos region of southern Sonora State, Mexico.

"We are excited by the results of our recent sampling program at Los Pavitos. Initial results from trenches provide the first indication that wider zones of low-grade gold mineralization are present in the structural zones that contain narrow high-grade quartz veins, which could be important for future development of the property. We are also awaiting further results for an additional 94 samples along 160 meters of trenches," said Dr. Gibson. Dr. Gibson also stated, "We have expanded surface sampling in the northeastern Santa Cruz area as well as the Oromuri area, and discovered a new silver rich mineralized area that will be added to our future exploration plans. We are on track to begin a 2,500-meter drill program projected to commence in late June."





Trenching at Los Pavitos.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7434/170247_f7b7cf10c4c6eb9a_005full.jpg





Figure LP1. Trench location and gold assays in the Santa Cruz area.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7434/170247_f7b7cf10c4c6eb9a_006full.jpg

Table LP1. Highlight assays from contiguous samples from part of trench ZSC9 in the Santa Cruz area

Sample Type Style Width (m) Easting Northing Au_g/t Ag g/t As_ppm Bi_ppm 543121 Channel Trench 1.0 676,815 3,001,995 1.58 1.58 3490 2.43 543153 Channel Trench 1.0 676,816 3,001,995 0.625 0.63 1160 1.63 543154 Channel Trench 1.0 676,817 3,001,995 0.47 0.47 1065 1.42 543155 Channel Trench 1.0 676,818 3,001,995 0.425 0.43 957 34.5 543156 Channel Trench 2.0 676,820 3,001,994 0.174 0.35 211 0.28 543157 Channel Trench 2.0 676,822 3,001,994 0.366 0.73 363 0.28 543158 Channel Trench 2.0 676,824 3,001,994 0.127 0.25 205 0.21

Table LP2. Highlight assays from the northeastern Santa Cruz area

Sample Type Style Width (m) Easting Northing Au_g/t Ag g/t As_ppm Bi_ppm 543144 Channel Oxidation 1.3 678,084 3,002,432 1.16 509 7900 2.91 543145 Channel Vein 1.0 678,086 3,002,443 0.427 579 6860 2.61 543146 Channel Vein 2.0 678,086 3,002,441 0.233 352 3870 0.7 543147 Channel Vein 1.0 678,092 3,002,444 0.643 305 2230 1 543148 Channel Vein 1.0 678,082 3,002,441 0.551 168 2590 1.28 543149 Channel Vein 1.0 678,092 3,002,442 0.392 201 >10000 2.17 543150 Channel Vein 1.0 678,096 3,002,444 0.394 574 2430 20.7 543151 Channel Vein 1.0 678,096 3,002,445 0.071 29.3 545 0.15 543152 Chip Vein 1.0 678,078 3,002,437 0.191 85.7 6030 0.64

Hot Breccia Exploration Update

Work at the Hot Breccia property in Arizona is also progressing according to plans. Field work for an environmental permit to allow drilling on existing roads has been completed and report preparation for submittal to the appropriate agency is in progress. A drone LiDAR survey was completed in May and analysis of the data is in progress. A planned airborne ZTEM survey has been contracted and is programmed to be flown within the next 2 to 3 weeks. Surface mapping and sampling is also progressing.

Dr. Gibson stated, "A LiDAR survey over the Hot Breccia property has identified multiple small mines and prospects that were developed along several of the northeast trending structural trends highlighted by intrusion of various typed of dikes. Some polylithic breccias are located along these structural trends as are showings of oxide copper minerals and iron oxide rich shears that commonly show elevated gold in assays."





Figure HB1. Preliminary LiDAR interpretation with small mines and prospects and historic drill holes.



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7434/170247_figurehb1.jpg

QA/QC

Rock samples taken by Prismo were analyzed by multielement ICP-AES and MS methods by ALS Group, an internationally recognized analytical service provider. Gold is analyzed as part of the ICP package using a 25-gram aqua regia digestion. Ag, Pb and Zn over 1% and Au values over 1 g/t are re-analyzed by the by an overrange ICP method. Certified Reference Materials including standard pulps and coarse blank material were inserted in the sample stream at regular intervals.

For Palos Verdes, silver equivalent values are calculated using the following metals prices: Au, US$1,750/oz, Ag, $21.24/oz, Pb, $0.97/lb and Zn, $1.34/lb. Cu was not used in the calculation, and metallurgical recoveries were not considered as there is no data available.

Dr. Craig Gibson, PhD., CPG., a Qualified Person as defined by NI-43-01 regulations and President, CEO and a director of the Company, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosures in this news release.

About Prismo

Prismo (CSE: PRIZ) is mining exploration company focused on two precious metal projects in Mexico (Palos Verdes and Los Pavitos) and a copper project in Arizona (Hot Breccia).

Please follow @PrismoMetals on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube

Prismo Metals Inc.

1100 - 1111 Melville St., Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 3V6

Contact:

Craig Gibson, President & Chief Executive Officer craig.gibson@prismometals.com

Jason Frame, Manager of Communications jason.frame@prismometals.com

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement and exploration program results, the ability to complete future financings, required permitting, exploration programs and drilling, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are 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. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations 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, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, the analytical results from surface trenching and sampling program, including diamond drilling programs, the results of IP surveying, the results of soil and till sampling program. the quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including CSE acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Company to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, the potential impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on the Company's exploration program and on the Company's general business, operations and financial condition, and other risks and uncertainties. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/170247
Baru Gold Corp. (the "Company" or "Baru") (TSXV:BARU) | (OTC:BARUF) wishes to advise the shareholders that the financing announced in the May 1, 2023 news release is progressing well.

The Company is currently in discussion with three potential investors or institutions for the gold prepayment financing. One of the institutions is undertaking final due diligence and the Company expects the process to conclude imminently. Both parties are working as expeditiously as possible to conclude the financing agreement.

The Company also announces a $100,000 non-brokered private placement consisting of up to 3,333,333 units priced at $0.03 per unit for total proceeds of $100,000. Each unit will comprise one common share in the capital of the Company and one transferable common share purchase warrant. Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase over two years one additional share at an exercise price of $0.05 for the first year and $0.10 cents for the second year. The financing is expected to close on or before June 23, 2023.

The use of proceeds of the financing will be for working capital purposes while the Company completes the due diligence on the USD $10 million financing.

Insiders of the Company participation in the foregoing offering constitutes a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Such participation is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the securities acquired by the insiders, nor the consideration for the securities paid by such insiders, exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization.

The private placement is subject to regulatory approval, and all securities to be issued pursuant to the financing are subject to a four-month hold period under applicable Canadian securities laws. All funds are denominated in Canadian dollars. In connection with the private placement, the company may pay finders' fees in cash or securities, or a combination of both, as may be permitted by the policies of the exchange.

The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. federal and state registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements.

ABOUT SANGIHE GOLD PROJECT

The Sangihe gold project is located on the Indonesian island of Sangihe, off the northern coast of Sulawesi. Sangihe has an existing National Instrument 43-101 inferred mineral resource of 114,700 indicated and105,000 inferred ounces of gold, as reported in the company's "Independent Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Estimates of the Binebase and Bawone Deposits, Sangihe Project, North Sulawesi, Indonesia," dated May 30, 2017. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The company intends to proceed to production without the benefit of first establishing mineral reserves supported by a feasibility study.

The Company's 70-per-cent interest in the Sangihe mineral tenement contract of work (CoW) is held through PT. Tambang Mas Sangihe (TMS). The remaining 30-per-cent interest in TMS is held by three Indonesian corporations. The term of the Sangihe CoW agreement is 30 years upon commencement of the production phase of the project.'

Baru has met all the requirements of the Indonesian government and has been granted its environmental permit. The company has received approval for the upgrade of its licence to advance the Sangihe project to construction and production.

Note: The company cautions readers that the any production decision made by the company will not be based on a National Instrument 43-101 feasibility study of mineral reserves that demonstrates economic and technical viability, and, as such, there may be involved increased uncertainty and various technological and economic risks such as the interpretation of drill results; the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; commodity and currency price fluctuation; failure to obtain adequate financing; regulatory, recovery rates, refinery costs, and other relevant conversion factors, permitting and licensing risks; general market and mining exploration risks, and production and economic risks related to design and engineering, manufacturing, technological processes and test procedures, and the risk that the project's output will not be saleable at a price that will cover the project's operating and maintenance costs.

ABOUT BARU GOLD

Baru Gold is a dynamic junior gold developer with National Instrument 43-101 gold resources in Indonesia, one of the top 10 gold-producing countries in the world. Based in Indonesia and North America, Baru's team boasts extensive experience in starting and operating small-scale gold assets.

Frank Rocca, BAppSc (geology), MAusIMM, MAIG, CPI-KCMI, chief geologist of Baru Gold, is the qualified person as defined under NI 43-101 who has reviewed and approves the content of this release.

Baru Gold Corp.

Per: "Terry Filbert"

Terry Filbert, Director



President & CEO

info@barugold.com



For investor contacts more information, please contact:

Kevin Shum

Investor Relations

kevin@jeminicapital.com

647-725-3888 ext 702

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Certain statements in this News Release, which are not historical in nature, constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of that phrase under applicable Canadian securities law. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements or information concerning future work programs, results and timing of any work programs, the Company's performance or events as of the date hereof. These statements reflect management's current assumptions and expectations and by their nature are subject to certain underlying assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or events to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Those risks include the interpretation of drill results; the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with our expectations; commodity and currency price fluctuation; failure to obtain adequate financing; regulatory, recovery rates, refinery costs, and other relevant conversion factors, permitting and licensing risks; general market and mining exploration risks and production and economic risks related to design and engineering, manufacturing, technological processes and test procedures and the risk that the project's output will not be salable at a price that will cover the project's operating and maintenance costs. Forward-looking statements should not be construed as investment advice. Readers should perform a detailed, independent investigation and analysis of the Company and are encouraged to seek independent professional advice before making any investment decision. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward looking statements to reflect events or changes in circumstances that occur after the date hereof.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES


TORONTO, June 16, 2023 - AmmPower Corp. (CSE: AMMP) (OTCQB: AMMPF) (FSE: 601A) (the "Company" or "AmmPower") announces that Rene Bharti has tendered his resignation from the AmmPower Board of Directors effective May 18, 2023. However, Mr. Bharti will continue on as President and an officer of the company.



"We would like to thank Mr. Bharti for his contributions to the company in his role as a member of AmmPower's Board of Directors," said Dr. Gary Benninger, AmmPower's Executive Chairman. "We are happy that he has consented to remain on as President of the company."

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

Gary N. Benninger

CEO and Executive Chairman

About AmmPower

AmmPower is a clean energy company focused on the production of green hydrogen feedstock for green fuel and green derivatives. The Company is based in Toronto, Ontario, with a research and manufacturing facility in Southeast Michigan. The Company is active in all facets of green hydrogen feedstock and green fuel production, including the production of green fertilizers, carbon free shipping fuel, and the 'cracking', or moving of green hydrogen derivatives. The Company is working on the development of proprietary technologies to produce green hydrogen at scale, including the investigation of unique catalytic reactions to bring down costs and to take advantage of carbon credits in the renewable energy space. AmmPower currently holds several LOIs with ports in Brazil, the United States, and is currently completing its IAMMTM prototype to create green hydrogen feedstock for fertilizer for the agricultural industry. The Company also holds a lithium exploration property in the James Bay/Eeyou Istche region of Quebec and an option on the Titan Property located in Klotz Lake area in Northwestern Ontario.

For More Information please visit:

www.ammpower.com

Or Contact AmmPower Investor Relations:

+1 248-662-5565

invest@ammpower.com

Forward-Looking Statements ?

This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, ???including with respect to repayment of the Loan. The Company ??provides forward-?looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current ??expectations and plans ?relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be ??appropriate for other ?purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and ??uncertainties that may be general ?or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, ??forecasts, predictions, projections, or ?conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not ??be correct, and that objectives, ?strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and ??uncertainties include but are not ?limited those identified and reported in the Company's public filings ??under the Company's SEDAR profile ?at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify ??important factors that could cause ?actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those ??described in forward-looking information, ?there may be other factors that cause actions, events or ??results not to be as anticipated, estimated or ?intended. There can be no assurance that such information ??will prove to be accurate as actual results and ?future events could differ materially from those ??anticipated in such 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 unless ??required by law.?

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.
Don't blame drivers for Ferrari crisis says Berger

Ferrari cannot blame its current problems on the drivers, according to F1 legend and former Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger.

Charles Leclerc, Spanish GP 2023

 Ferrari

Ferrari cannot blame its current problems on the drivers, according to F1 legend and former Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger.

The 63-year-old Austrian had two different stints at Maranello in the 80s and again in the 90s, and he says the reason the team is lagging behind is because it lacks top personnel.

"You have to convince people to move to Maranello and that's not easy," Berger told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "They are concerned that they cannot win there.

"There are also other big teams now, such as Mercedes, Aston Martin and even the up-and-coming Audi, who are also trying to attract engineers from Red Bull."

Berger says he even suspects recent rumours linking Lewis Hamilton with a move to Ferrari could even have been triggered by Maranello for tactical reasons.

"Sometimes certain strategic moves can be used to attract engineers, in this case from Mercedes," he said.

"I don't believe the drivers are Ferrari's real problem, just as they weren't in 2022 either. It's not about their driving skills.

"(Charles) Leclerc and (Carlos) Sainz are exceptionally strong," added Berger.

1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, whose late father Gilles is one of the most famous Ferrari drivers of all time, agrees that the team's latest crisis is "not new".

"Don't just look at this year," he told Le Journal de Montreal ahead of the Canadian GP, which takes place at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

"When you keep changing direction as they do, you never have a base to work from. And we see that everyone passes the buck. It's never anyone's fault.

"There is no decision making and this instability is costing Ferrari dearly. Over the last ten years they chose to go back to their roots and be an Italian team but it doesn't seem to work, especially in Formula 1.

"In the process, the team has lost good people and rebuilding all this takes a lot of time," Villeneuve added.

(GMM)
New contract could take another month says Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has hit back at boss Toto Wolff's claims that signatures on a 2024 contract extension may be just "days" away.

Lewis Hamilton, Spanish GP 2023

 Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.

Lewis Hamilton has hit back at boss Toto Wolff's claims that signatures on a 2024 contract extension may be just "days" away.

Mercedes chief Wolff had even hinted that the long-delayed deal could be signed and sealed prior to the Canadian GP on Sunday.

"I don't really have a huge amount to say on the contractual side of things," Hamilton, 38, said in Montreal. "It'll get done when it's done.

"If that's next week, if that's in a month's time, as long as it gets done I'm not really bothered."

The seven time world champion did, however, hint that Wolff's claims that the pair would get together for contract talks whilst they were both in New York earlier this week may be true.

"I've seen Toto, we've talked several times, we have a great relationship but there's nothing else to say at the moment," said Hamilton.

He said some "progress" has been made.

"Yeah, but nothing else new to really add to it."

Some believe the impasse is simply about money, while there are also rumours that the main stumbling blocks are allowances in the new deal for Hamilton's diversity projects such as Mission 44.

"I think we already covered a lot of that already in the previous contract," said Hamilton.

(GMM)
Graphic Business Stanbic Bank Breakfast Meeting slated for June 20

Kwame Larweh Business News Jun - 16 - 2023 , 10:20

The much anticipated second edition of the Graphic Business Stanbic Bank Breakfast Meeting takes place at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra this Tuesday, June 20 at 7am.

The forum which discusses pressing economic and social issues affecting society and proffering viable solutions will be under the theme 'The Current Economic Situation And You:What to expect.

How to cope and how to thrive'.

Renowned economic professor, Professor Godfred Alufar Bokpin is expected to headline this edition's meeting.

The Executive Director at the Africa Centre for Energy Policy, Benjamin Boakye will be a key speaker at the event to speak on Ghana's energy economy, challenges and solutions.

Graphic Business Stanbic Bank Breakfast

Mr Timothy Mugodi, the Head of Corporate and Investment Banking at Stanbic Bank Ghana, who are partners in the meeting will also deliberate on problems bedeviling the banking sector, customers apprehensions,and measures that should be taken by the banks and customers to tackle it.

Another expert , Mark Badu-Aboagye, CEO of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TBC) is also expected at the event to delve into the topic; 'How to thrive'.

Also added to the distinguished personalities speaking at the meeting will be Bright Simmons and Yaw Graham of the Civil Society Organisations(CSO).

Just as the first edition early this year which attracted national and global attention, this second edition is expected to bring together stakeholders in the economy and other well meaning Ghanaians that clamour for the programme.
AGUS Festival to promote Highlife music in Switzerland

Kofi Duah Showbiz News Jun - 15 - 2023 , 18:00

THE Association of Ghanaian Unions Switzerland (AGUS) is set to host a concert from Friday, June 30 to Saturday, july1, 2023 as part of its commitment to promote Highlife music and increase its patronage.

The concert which forms part of activities marking the two-day annual AGUS Festival takes place at Helvetaplatz-Zurich, Switzerland AND is also intended to intensify Highlife as relevant music genre with regards to international music.

Making the list of Highlife artistes who will rock the concert are Oheneba Kissi, Adane Best, KK Fosu, Kwaisey Pee, Dada KD, Okyeame Kwame, Dada Hafco, Epixode and Aka Blay.

There will be supporting acts such as Habyba, Stylish Mikay, Shaibu the Shaiguy, Jennifer Throne, Bless Sowah among others.

In a chat with Graphic Showbiz, Media and Communications Executive of AGUS, Philip Wangyimba(Wangyims) said the purpose of the event is to showcase Ghanaian cultural heritage and also start the preservation of Highlife music as an intangible asset recognised by UNESCO.

This is the first ever Highlife music open-air concert to be staged in Switzerland with Ghanaian artistes. I believe in Highlife music and this festival aims at projecting the music style to Ghanaians and music lovers across the world.

This is the fourth edition of AGUS Festival and we believe with our little contributions to Highlife music which is the true and authentic music from Ghana, our efforts will be much appreciated, he said.

He also expressed appreciation to the Chairperson of National Folklore Board, Madam Bernice Deh-Kumah and the Vice President of the Creative Arts Agency, Frank Kwabena Owusu popularly known as Frankie 5 for their unwavering support to make the event successful.

Special thanks also goes to the Swiss Embassy in Accra, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, GEPA, GIPC, Tourism Ministry, Small World Money Transfer, Angel Group of Companies and Adonko Bitters, he added.
Highlife at Grammy long overdue Abiana

Gifty Owusu-Amoah Showbiz News Jun - 16 - 2023 , 08:00

HIGHLIFE artiste, Abiana, like her colleagues in the music industry and many Ghanaians is beside herself with joy for the acceptance of Highlife music by the Recording Academy of the United States (US), popularly known as Grammy Awards; however, she believes it was long overdue.

Yesterday, June 13, 2023, Ghanas Drill and Highlife music genres were announced as part of relevant African music styles for the Best African Music Performance category at this year's Grammy awards.

The Best African Music Performance category is one of the three new slots that have been added to the 2024 edition of the prestigious music awards scheme. The other two are the Best Alternative Jazz Album and Best Pop Dance Recording.

The Grammy awards are presented by the Recording Academy of the US to recognise outstanding achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious and significant awards in the music industry worldwide.

In a conversation with Graphic Showbiz yesterday, Abiana, 2021 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) Best Female Vocal Performance winner, said Highlife music had travelled around the world with the likes of Osibisa and Ebo Taylor, among others, becoming global music icons, an indication the genre attained international recognition and repute a very long time ago.

She described Grammy's recognition as a good cause even though the progress of Highlife had not been loud on the global front in recent years and, therefore, supported the call for Ghanaian musicians to have a collective identity for their music.

We are all happy for this acknowledgement but this is long overdue. But who do we blame? As stakeholders, we must take the responsibility to forcefully promote what we have.

Yes, I see an ongoing debate about how Ghana needs an identity in terms of how our music should be called, I believe that Highlife is the main core of music that Ghanaians are celebrated for.

If you look at the past, Highlife has done a lot for Ghana, Looking at Osibisa and recently, Rocky Dawunis The Voice of Bunbon, which was nominated in the Global Music category at the Grammy awards was Highlife. This shows that anytime Ghana gains global mention for music, Highlife is there but we are not branding it.

We need to go back to it and then as artistes, intentionally call ourselves Highlife musicians so that the brand will be globally recognised, she said.
Lil Win, Kolege attend EyesInDubais Yacht Rendezvous in Dubai

Kofi Duah Showbiz News Jun - 16 - 2023 , 10:54

EyesInDubai, arguably one of the best Ghanaian -owned traveling firms headquartered in Dubai has hosted popular Ghanaian actors Kwadwo Nkansah Lilwin and Kolege on its breathtaking yacht cruise experience, Yacht Rendezvous.

The Yacht Rendezvous, according to the organizer and founder of EyesInDubai, Kingsley Kojo Aikins is an exclusive party to host stars who come to Dubai and want a yacht cruise.

He revealed that this edition was an After-party for Lil Wins concert in Dubai. The event hosted other popular music stars like Okomfo Kolege and other top acts from Ghana.

EyesInDubai over the years has hosted renowned personalities on Yacht cruise and created beautiful memories with them with their bespoke services. The brand also helps clients to rent luxurious cars and visit unique places in Dubai.

EyesInDubai is a premium provider in terms of pick-up and drop-off services, photography, visas, tickets, hotel reservations, and treasured tour activities.

The Dubai-based agency is known for providing an upscale experience for customers in need of quality hospitality services, such as short-term rental options and a platform where people can book travel experiences all year round.

EyesInDubai has hosted renowned personalities like Bola Ray, Sarkodie, Sandra Ankobea, DWP Academy dancers, celebrity dentists, Gambo, Asantewaa, Wendy Shay and other great families and corporate organizations from all over the world who want to experience Dubai.
Court halts OSPs arrest of Charles Bissue

Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson Jun - 16 - 2023 , 06:50

A High Court in Accra has ordered the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) not to proceed to execute an arrest warrant against former Presidential staffer, Charles Bissue, in the next 10 days.

Apart from the execution of the arrest warrant, the court further restrained the OSP from applying for a further arrest warrant or publishing notices declaring Mr Bissue as wanted within the 10-day period that the interim injunction would be in force.

In a ruling yesterday, the court, presided over by Justice Nicholas Abodakpi, held that the interim injunction affected not only the OSP but its assigns, agents or anyone acting on behalf of the OSP.

The interim injunction by the court followed an ex-parte application by lawyers of Mr Bissue, who have filed a suit challenging the legality of the OSPs investigations against him over alleged corruption during his tenure as the Secretary of the defunct Inter Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).

OSPs reaction

However, in a reaction, the OSP has issued a public notice indicating that per law, it had the full powers of the police and, therefore, it was not obliged to seek an arrest warrant from court before effecting an arrest of a suspect.

The general public is advised that in exercise of its police power, the Office of the Special Prosecutor can arrest without warrant, any person it reasonably suspects of having committed corruption or corruption-related offences, the notice said.

Investigations

The OSP, in December last year, announced that it had launched widespread investigations into alleged corruption and corruption-related activities relating to the illegal mining menace

According to the OSP, the investigations would affect activities of the IMCIM and its officials, including Mr Bissue, indigenous mining firm, Akonta Mining Limited, some officials of the Lands Commission, Forestry Commission, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, some mining entities and other individuals, and political party officials.

A statement signed by the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, and issued in Accra on December 10 last year, said Mr Bissue was already being investigated on allegations that he used his office for private gain.

The investigation includes the active and ongoing enquiry into allegations of use of public office for profit against Charles Bissue during his tenure as Secretary to the IMCIM, arising from an investigative documentary titled Galamsey Fraud Part I', published by Tiger Eye PI, the statement said.

Bissues suit

On January 4 this year, Mr Bissue filed a writ at the Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court seeking to stop the OSP from investigating him, with a case that the Ghana Police Service had already investigated and exonerated him of any wrongdoing relating to alleged corruption in illegal mining.

It is, therefore, his case that the OSP did not have the powers to review the investigations of the police or investigate him when the police had already investigated and found no adverse findings against him.

Reliefs

The plaintiff is seeking a declaration from the court that upon a true interpretation of the OSP Act, 2017 (Act 959), the OSP does not have the power to review an investigation done by the police.

Again, he is seeking a declaration that the powers granted the OSP under Act 959 does not allow the anti-graft body to investigate and prosecute him when the subject matter had already been investigated by the police.

The plaintiff is further seeking an order perpetually restraining the OSP from investigating him about the same issue investigated by the police, unless the police refers the matter to the OSP.

Anas allegation

In February 2019, a documentary produced by a private investigator, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, and his Tiger Eye team, featured Mr Bissue allegedly taking money to help an unlicensed company to circumvent laid down processes to be given clearance for its mining operations.

The documentary alleged that the secretary was involved in alleged shady deals to facilitate processes for ORR Resource Enterprise.

Exoneration

However, in July 2019, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service exonerated Mr Bissue from any wrongdoing or allegation of corruption.

The CID concluded that the documentary which was aired was not a true reflection of what transpired between Bissue and one Yaw Ben of ORR Resource Enterprise.

The CID investigations primarily relied on the documentary and other sources, as already indicated, but the lead investigator of the Tiger Eye documentary, Mr Anas Aremeyaw Anas, failed to avail himself to assist in investigations and also failed to provide a copy of the unedited version of the documentary, the CID report said.
Lukula, Mempeasem clashes: Victims still stranded, perching in dilapidated structures

Mohammed Fugu Jun - 15 - 2023 , 18:05

Three weeks after a violent clash in relation to a chieftaincy and land dispute at Lukula and Mempeasem in the North Gonja District of the Savannah Region, some victims whose homes were destroyed are still stranded.

Some are currently perching in dilapidated structures. Others are seeking shelter in churches and mosques.

Since the incident, officials of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) are said to have neglected the victims and have not even visited the community, Graphic Online has been told.

Although, relative peace has since returned to the area, the affected persons are still struggling to survive.

When Graphic Online visited the community Thursday, some people who fled the area, particularly women and children had returned

Some were still hiding in the bushes for fear of another attack.

Schools and health facilities in the communities have remained closed as the staff have also fled the area.

Victims

A victim, Abdul-Rahaman Yakubu told Graphic Online's Mohammed Fugu that he has lost virtually everything and was homeless and stranded.

When contacted, the Savannah Regional Director of NADMO, Mohammed Tohir said his outfit was collaborating with the District Assembly and the Member of Parliament for the area to mobilise some relief items for the victims.

It is not true that we have neglected them, as I am speaking to you I am on my way to Accra to follow up on a request I sent to the head office for relief items. I am very hopeful that very soon we will be able to moblise some items for them.
Otumfuo steps in to resolve Bawku conflict

Kwadwo Baffoe Donkor Jun - 16 - 2023 , 06:59

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has begun the process of resolving the Bawku conflict.

The eminent chief has already held discussions with the feuding parties.

He has also engaged the youth in the area and both sides have brought their documents laying claim to the chieftaincy.

The Asantehene said plans were afoot to have all the parties involved to sit together to find a lasting solution to the current dispute.

He was hopeful that after the meeting, all the parties would agree to resolve the conflict and allow peace to prevail.

The Asantehene disclosed this last Wednesday when the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

The visit was to introduce himself to the Asantehene as the new holder of that portfolio that works with traditional rulers and also seek his help to resolve some of the chieftaincy disputes in the country.

The Otumfuo observed that most of the chieftaincy disputes in the country were as a result of lies and greed.

The Asantehene said for anyone who was not a royal to contest or become a chief would be as a result of some traditional leaders not being truthful to the succession line and allowing money to influence their decisions.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu promised to invite the minister to sit in the meeting to be convened by Manhyia for the Bawku feuding parties.

The Asantehene said no matter the type of succession, be it matrilineal or patrilineal, it should be possible to trace those qualified to ascend the throne and therefore questioned why that should be difficult and lead to conflicts.

Using the Ashanti Region as an example, the Asantehene said when he ascended the throne, he realised that some of the judicial committees were unfair to some parties and allowed money to influence their decisions.

He said all those concerned were called and decisions they had taken were overturned, saying and all the parties have lived together ever since.

Resource

The Asantehene said the chieftaincy institution was still relevant in the scheme of things in the country and urged the government to resource it to enable it to perform effectively.

The Otumfuo, however, observed that the government was not resourcing the ministry to perform its function effectively.

The Asantehene noted that the minister in charge of Chieftaincy was not even a Cabinet member to enable him to sit at Cabinet meetings and share concerns of traditional leaders and how the government could rope them into its programmes.

He urged the government to give meaning to the importance of the chieftaincy institution by resourcing the ministry adequately.

Drain on national coffers

For his part, Mr Asamoah Boateng said about 70 per cent of all national security issues in the country were due to chieftaincy disputes.

He said such disputes were draining the coffers of the country as the government had to channel resources into maintaining peace in those places when these resources could be channelled into developmental projects.

The minister said the money the government was spending on maintaining peace in those areas was quite substantial and expressed the belief that if all those conflicts were resolved, the government would have resources for other needs.

Mr Asamoah Boateng was grateful to the Asantehene for stepping in to resolve the Bawku chieftaincy conflict which, he said, would bring a huge relief to the government when resolved.
Prof. Ama Ata Aidoo was outstanding writer, advocate  President

Donald Ato Dapatem Jun - 16 - 2023 , 10:36

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has described the late Prof. Ama Ata Aidoo as "an outstanding writer, advocate for women, Africans and the progressive people around the world".

The President said he and Prof. Aidoo were contemporaries at the University of Ghana and she brought a lot of glory to our country, by her works, her personality and by the cause she stood for.

President Akufo-Addo was speaking when the family of the late Prof. Aidoo paid a courtesy call on him at the Jubilee House in Accra yesterday to officially announce the death of the professor and burial arrangements.

The delegation was led by the Head of the Ogyadze Asona Family of Abora Nkwanta, Ebusuapanyin Kwamena Essandoh Aidoo.

Other members of the delegations were the deceaseds daughter, Kinna Likimani; Emmanuel Eduful Esaah, Dr Agnes Akosua Aidoo, Ambassador Ekua Prah, Kwesi Baffoe Intsiful, Josephine Gyimah, Lucy Aikins, Abena Duma Aidoo and Ojo Arko Erskine.

Burial

Professor Aidoo will lie in state on July 13, 2023, and be buried in her hometown, Abiadze Kyarkor in the Mfantsemen Municipality in the Central Region the following day.

She would be given a state-assisted burial.

Thanksgiving Service would be held on Sunday, July 16, 2023, at the Good Shepherd Methodist Church, Abiadze Kyarkor.

Prof. Aiddo who passed on May 31, 2023, was a Ghanaian author, poet, playwright, politician and academic.

She was the Secretary of Education from 1982 to 1983 under President Jerry John Rawlings's PNDC administration.

Some of the books she authored are Anowa, The Dilemma of a Ghost, The Girl who Can, Our Sister Killjoy, No Sweetness Here and Changes: A Love Story.



Great loss

President Akufo-Addo said the death of Prof. Aiddo was a great loss to the nation and that the two of them had maintained a good relationship since their student days.

He further described her as one of the most distinguished citizens of this generation and expressed appreciation to the family for formally informing him of her demise and pledged to attend the funeral.

It is my decision that the late Prof. should be given a state-assisted burial because she deserves it.

It will also offer the opportunity for the people to pay their due respect, express their appreciation and gratitude for a life that was strongly dedicated to the country, the President added.

He said the Office of the Chief of Staff would collaborate with the family to plan towards a fitting burial for the late Prof. Aidoo.

Deceaseds wish

Ebusuapanyin Kwamena Essandoh Aidoo disclosed that while alive, Prof. Aidoo requested that the family should not preserve her remains for more than six weeks, a wish the family said would be fulfilled.
Rotary Club donates refurbished library to La Yahoushua school

Diana Mensah Jun - 16 - 2023 , 10:06

The Rotary Club of Accra-Labone has handed over a refurbished library stocked with assorted books worth GH60,000 to the La Yashoshua Basic School in Accra.

In addition to the books, the library was furnished with new shelves, chairs, tables, windows and bulbs for use by schoolchildren.

The project, which was handed over yesterday, will provide a conducive reading environment for the pupils to improve upon their academic performance and communication skills.

As part of the clubs annual projects for 2022 to 2023, the club identified the need to renovate the schools library.

Stationery was also presented to the 83 final year pupils to assist them in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), as well as a cash prize to the Best Science Female Student and Best Maths Student; Bethany Faddol and Gideon Akanto Akpanta, respectively.

Initiative

The Rotarian President of Accra-Labone, Theresa Ama Afro Agbodo, said the club was committed to enhancing communities and improving lives across the world through humanitarian service and the advancement of goodwill and peace.

She indicated that the project was spurred by the former President of the club and after the needs assessment, we decided to continue to improve the reading skills and learning outcomes of pupils in the beneficiary school.

This project would also help build pupils vocabulary, expression, writing skills and ability to search for simple information either in books or on the Internet, the President said.

Ms Agbodo expressed the hope that the initiative would empower the pupils and actually make their dream come true.

She advised the schoolchildren to utilise the library for their research purposes and not allow the books to remain idle on the shelves as books for all subjects have been made available.

She entreated the management of the school to always guide the children who visited and ensure that the library was well maintained.

We want to come here again and see that the library is in good shape and your results have improved.

We will come again and bring more books. We have also started renovating an ICT Centre for you, she said.

Commendation

The School Improvement Support Officer (SISO) for Airport-Rangoon Circuit, Perpetua Akafia, commended the club for extending its gesture to the school, adding that it would uplift the academic performance of the school.

She entreated the pupils to make good use of the library to acquire the knowledge they needed to improve their performance.

She urged the head teacher to apply for a librarian to take full control of the daily activities in the library, adding that it would help maintain the facility.

The head teacher of the Junior High School, Raymond Koney, expressed his gratitude to the club, adding that the donation constituted some of the basic needs of the school.

The donation has come at the right time and would go a long way to improve the reading and communication skills of the students, he said.

He, however, noted that the school required more support, adding that most of the students came from deprived homes.

The head teacher at the primary school, Patience Adumuah, also appealed for the gesture to be extended to the primary level, adding that the pupils would develop vital skills they can use throughout their lives.
Zango, not Zongo

Haruna Yussif Wunpini Jun - 16 - 2023 , 09:53

In Ghana, communities within cities and towns inhabited mostly by Muslims are called Zongos.

However, in reality the word Zongo is a corrupted version of Zango, the actual name of Muslim dwellings attached or within communities in the country.

The word Zongo, therefore has no meaning.

With the introduction of Islam in West Africa centuries ago, most of the people who converted to that religion were Hausas.

The Hausas called their dwellings Zangos and not Zongos as people continue to pronounce the name wrongly.

The Hausas during their migration to their present locations moved in numbers and where they periodically sourjourned were named Zangos.

Periodically, such locations turned to be permanent abodes with a lot of non-Hausa Muslims.

The inhabitants were therefore described as having established a Zango or expressed as "Sunyaa Da Zango" in Hausa meaning a resting place for travellers on a journey and most of the travellers were Hausa traders.

The word Zango with the alphabet 'a' after the 'Z', a Hausa phrase, literally means a home for a travelling people.

Original homes

It is, therefore, undisputed that most of the Zangos across Africa were established by the Hausas.

Zangos of today are cosmopolitan in nature, being home to people of different ethnic groups with varying cultures other than Hausa traders.

For example, the Koforidua Zongo which has close to 44 tribal chiefs as well as other Zongos in the country should be called Zango instead of Zongo, its corrupted version.

However, one amazing observation is that in all original Hausa dominated communities in Nigeria and Niger, the original homes of Hausas there are not Zangos because a Zango is a place of travellers from another country.

The reason can be attributed to the fact that Hausas cannot be strangers in their own country or hometown.

One rather finds Zangos in areas outside the original communities domiciled by Hausas.

In Ghana, however, there are other variations of mispronunciation of the word Zango.

For instance in a conversation with some elderly Akan women, one of them pronounced the word as "Nzongo" while the real Zango people (Zangolese) continue to pronounce the word correctly but write it wrongly as Zongo.



Minyilla Zango

The Zangos have now become permanent homes for thousands of citizens and non-citizens in Ghana.

A resident of the community who is also the Secretary to the Koforidua Zongo Chief, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed Maikidi, told the Daily Graphic that his outfit was not happy that Ghanaians continued to pronounce and spell the word Zango as Zongo.

Giving a brief history of the Koforidua Zango, he said, it was common knowledge that there had been three to four relocations in the Koforidua Township.

The first Zango, Alhaji Maikidi said, was at Joe Lartey in Betom, from where it then moved to the Jackson Park area, then to the Ofoss line, near the Koforidua Central Mosque, and finally to the present location popularly referred to as Minyilla Zango.
Latest News Headlines from Ghana

Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs Launches Young Female Entrepreneurs Programme

Jun - 16 - 2023 , 12:29

The virtual launch event, held on June 15, witnessed the presence of distinguished guests, industry leaders, and prominent figures dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship.

Chairperson, Mr Richard Addison of the Chamber's Governing Council opened the event, extending a warm welcome to all participants and highlighting the Chamber's commitment to empowering young entrepreneurs.

Mr Sherif Ghali, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs, presented a comprehensive overview of YoFEP, outlining its objectives and significance in driving economic growth. Ghali emphasized the program's commitment to providing young female entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge, and resources necessary to succeed in their ventures.

The keynote address was delivered by the esteemed Kosi Ayi-Yankey (Mrs), who captivated the audience with her profound statement, "The Future is Female and The Future is Entrepreneurship." Ayi-Yankey, CEO of the Ghana Enterprises Agency, shed light on the government's proactive measures to support women entrepreneurs and expressed her dedication to empowering women in business. She encouraged young females to seek information, grasp opportunities and emphasized the importance of collaboration among partners to maximize impact.

During the event, partners including WUSC Ghana, GIZ, and the Development Bank Ghana congratulated the chamber for initiating YoFEP. These organizations pledged their continued collaboration to empower young female entrepreneurs in Ghana, recognizing the crucial role they play in driving innovation and economic progress.

YoFEP holds immense promise in transforming the entrepreneurial landscape for young Ghanaian women. By removing barriers and fostering a supportive ecosystem, the program aims to elevate the participation of young women in entrepreneurship, creating a vibrant and inclusive business environment.
Group declares support for Bawumia

Alberto Mario Noretti Politics Jun - 16 - 2023 , 07:19

Members of the Volta Region Resource Group (VRG) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have thrown their weight behind the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, in his bid to become the flag bearer of the party.

The Secretary of VRG, King David Akpabli, said at a press conference in Ho last Monday that Dr Bawumias experience as Vice-President over the years, humility, loyalty to the party, and leadership skills made him the best man to lead the NPP to break the 8.

Further, as a former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana and current head of the Economic Management Team of the government, Dr Bawumia has the best ability to understand, analyse and manage Ghanas economy when he becomes President, said the VRG Secretary.

Choice

Mr Akpabli credited Dr Bawumia with the digitalisation of various sectors of the economy and said his knowledge of the protocols and challenges at the Presidency add to his sterling credentials for the role of the President of the republic.

Mr Akpabli maintained that the choice of Dr Bawumia as flag bearer would readily testify to the fact that the NPP was not an Akan party but rather a party for all Ghanaians.

Dr Bawumias election will also attract more people from the northern part of the country as well as members of the Zongo communities into the party for victory in 2024.

He will also help to bridge the north and south divide as well as the Christian-Muslim gap, since Dr Bawumia is accepted in all circles, Mr Akpabli said.

He insisted that Dr Bawumia was the most marketable material for the job of President and that was evident in his performance as Ghanas best Vice-President.

The VRG Secretary appealed to other flagbearer hopefuls in the party to step down for Dr Bawumia to ensure a smooth victory for the NPP in the 2024 general election.
Speaker of Parliament denies predicting 2024 election outcome

Kweku Zurek Politics Jun - 16 - 2023 , 07:14

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has denied predicting that the 2024 presidential elections will be between former President John Mahama and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.

Bagbin's denial comes after a report in the media that he made the prediction when he visited the Yagbonwura in Damongo as part of the 30th-anniversary celebrations of uninterrupted Parliamentary democracy in Ghana.

In a statement issued by the Parliament's Public Affairs Directorate, Bagbin said he did not make any prediction about the outcome of the 2024 elections.

"The Speaker made reference to the two politicians at the said event, but it was not an exercise in prediction," the statement said.

"He suggested that what should be of interest to the people in northern Ghana, in which context he was speaking, is that they will be well represented at the apex of Ghana's political structure, and that should be a source of pride to them."

Bagbin also reiterated his commitment to working with all members of Parliament, regardless of their political affiliation, to achieve the common good of all Ghanaians.

"The Rt. Hon. Speaker explained that despite political differences, we are one people with a common destiny. Our common goal therefore should be to work towards the common good of all Ghanaians, irrespective of our political differences."

The statement concluded by urging the media to be circumspect in their reporting and to avoid sensationalizing stories that could potentially divide the country.
SK Signet is adding Teslas North American Charging Standard (NACS) connection capabilities to the product design of its ultra-fast chargers. SK Signet has started development of chargers that meet NACS standards and expects to release a compliant product in 2023.

SK Signet is a top global manufacturer of electric vehicle (EV) chargers and a leader in fast and ultra-fast charging, featuring the first UL-certified ultra-fast charger (350 kW) in the US. Earlier this month, the company opened its first US manufacturing center in Plano, Texas, with the capacity to make more than 10,000 ultra-fast chargers a year.

SK Signet will continue to provide customers with the option of other widely used standards for EV charger connections, including the Combined Charging System (CCS), CHAdeMO and Megawatt Charging System (MCS) standards. SK Signet charging solutions support more than 40 EV models offered in North America.

EV owners with vehicles designed for NACS, previously known as the Tesla charging connector, already are using SK Signet chargers by adding adapters to existing connectors. The new option of NACS connections on SK Signet chargers will enhance accessibility for these EV owners.

SK Signet supplies its chargers to a broad range of customers, including charge point operators, companies with large EV fleets, and traditional gas stations and convenience stores adding EV charging to their offerings.

The option for NACS, CCS, CHAdeMO and MCS connectors will be offered to customers on SK Signets full line-up of chargers made at the Texas plant. SK Signet has started pilot production of its 350 kW charger at the Texas facility. Later this year, SK Signet will also start production of the V2 charger with a maximum output of 400 kW enough power to charge an EV up to 80% in less than 15 minutes.

SK Signet's existing ultra-fast chargers typically have two connectors attached to one charger, both of which are either CCS (Combined Charging System) or one CCS while the other is CHAdeMO. In future models, NACS couplers can also be installed upon customer request. With this implementation, a single charger will be able to simultaneously charge EVs using NACS and CCS standards, enabling a more efficient operation of charging stations.

SK Signet is based in South Korea with USheadquarters in McLean, Virginia. SK Signet joined the SK family of companies through an acquisition by SK Inc., the strategic investment arm of SK Group, in April 2021.




Haiti - Politic : Canada sanctions 2 other political figures and announces $13M in funding





Thursday, June 15, 2023, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Melanie Joly announced that Canada had imposed sanctions on two other people : former deputy Prophane Victor and former senator Gracia Delva. These sanctions impose a dealings prohibition that effectively freezes any assets these individuals may hold in Canada. These individuals are now also inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38948-haiti-politic-why-the-usa-sanction-less-haitian-personalities-than-canada.html



Minister Joly also announced that Canada will allocate $10 million in funding to the UN Development Programmes (UNDP) multi-donor basket fund on security in Haiti and $3 million in funding to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) anti-corruption project. These contributions will help bolster the HNP capacity to address immediate security needs and long-term capacity-building, as well as strengthen Haitis capacity to fight corruption and impunity.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2023/06/16 | Source

Korean movies opening today 2023/06/16 in Korea: "Suga: Road to D-DAY" and "j-hope IN THE BOX"

Advertisement

"Suga: Road to D-DAY" (2022)

Directed by Park Joon-soo-I

With Suga,...

Release date on Disney+: 2023/04/21

Synopsis

Suga's Solo Documentary is to be released in theaters around the world to mark the 10th anniversary of BTS' debut.

Gather together and enjoy the festival on the big screen of the movie theater!

"I want to find what I want to talk about right now"

18-year-old Min Yoon-gi, a troubled, worried, and dreamy boy when he was a trainee, and 28-year-old BTS Suga, who has everything he wanted as an artist who shone the world.

And at 30, breaking records that cannot be broken with natural talent, endless effort, and brilliant success, Min Yoon-gi, Suga, or AgustD, will work on the album and go on their way to find new stories and dreams. Where could he be headed?

Las Vegas, Malibu, Chuncheon, Pyeongchang, San Francisco, Tokyo, Seoul

Once again, the journey to find a dream, and the people he met there, Suga, Road to MUSIC, Road to D-DAY

"j-hope IN THE BOX" (2023)

Directed by Park Joon-soo-I

With J-Hope,...

Disney+ release date: 2023/02/17

Synopsis

"I'm your HOPE, You're my HOPE, I'm j-hope"

A documentary that captures the album production process of J-Hope' first official solo album, "Jack In The Box" released in July last year and features his solo activities in a span of over 200 days, from working on the album's songs to listening parties with musicians and directors, the day before the album release, and the Lollapalooza performance in Chicago, USA.
(HedgeCo.Net) The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged Patrick Thayer of Cincinnati, Ohio, previously a dually-registered representative and investment advisory representative, with misappropriating more than $1.3 million from an advisory client.

The SECs complaint alleges that in November 2013, Thayer surreptitiously established an account in a clients name over which he maintained control and, without the clients permission, regularly transferred client assets to the account, which he then used to pay personal expenses, including his mortgage. The complaint alleges that Thayer engaged in this conduct for nearly a decade, in total misappropriating over $1.3 million by periodically selling the clients securities to fund transfers to the clandestine account.

The SECs complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Western Division, charges Thayer with violating the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and Sections 206(1) and 206(2) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Thayer, without admitting or denying the allegations, consented to a partial settlement, agreeing to be permanently enjoined from future violations of the charged provisions and to pay monetary relief in an amount to be determined by the court at a later date upon motion of the SEC. The settlement is subject to court approval.
Despite a generally calm situation regarding blue-green algae, there has been a slight increase in observations of this phenomenon in lakes and coastal areas. The Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) and various authorities are actively monitoring the state of the environment, including the occurrence of cyanobacteria in water bodies across Finland.

However, there have been no reports of surface blooms in Finland's open sea areas at present. It is worth noting that surface waters, both inland and at sea, are experiencing rising temperatures, which may contribute to the growth of blue-green algae.

The national cyanobacterial monitoring program involves collaboration between Syke, the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, municipal environmental and health authorities, and Finnish Rotary Clubs. The monitoring program encompasses approximately 400 permanent observation sites across the country, including inland and coastal waters as well as the archipelago.

In order to gather information on the cyanobacterial situation in open sea areas, satellite images are primarily used. Additional data is obtained from sources such as the Finnish Border Guard, the marine research vessel Aranda, the Uto Atmospheric and Marine Research Station, and Alg@line measuring equipment installed on cruise and merchant ships. Drift forecasts for cyanobacterial rafts in open sea areas are prepared in collaboration with the Finnish Meteorological Institute's Maritime Services.

To keep the public informed, Syke provides weekly reports on the national cyanobacterial situation every Thursday from June to August. This regular reporting has been in place since 1998, allowing authorities and the general public to stay updated on the prevailing conditions.

While blue-green algae occurrences are generally calm, it is important to note that they can pose health hazards. Cyanobacteria produce various compounds that can cause symptoms in humans. Certain strains of cyanobacteria can produce liver or nerve toxins, but most symptoms experienced by swimmers can also be attributed to other compounds. As a precautionary measure, it is recommended to keep small children and pets away from water rich with cyanobacteria. Additionally, water containing cyanobacteria should not be used in saunas or as washing or irrigation water.

If poisoning is suspected, it is advised to seek medical advice or take affected pets to a veterinarian. Further instructions can be obtained from the Poison Information Centre if necessary. Municipal health authorities are responsible for monitoring the cyanobacterial situation on beaches to ensure the safety of beachgoers.

To aid in the monitoring efforts, individuals are encouraged to report their cyanobacterial observations through the Jarvi-meriwiki (Lake and Sea Wiki). This online service, maintained by the Finnish Environment Institute, allows users to establish their own observation sites and share their observations. Observations can also be reported via the smartphone-friendly Havaintolahetti website. These reported observations are displayed on the national cyanobacterial observation map and contribute to the overall assessment of the algal situation. Notably, observations about the absence of cyanobacteria are also valuable.

Jarvi-meriwiki serves as a collaborative platform involving authorities and citizens, providing essential information on lakes larger than one hectare and different areas of the Baltic Sea. Users can share photos and other observations to enhance the collective understanding of cyanobacteria occurrences.

In addition to Jarvi-meriwiki, cyanobacterial observations can also be accessed through the MarineFinland.fi and Waterinfo.fi services. These platforms combine observations reported to Jarvi-meriwiki with data from the beaches of the City of Helsinki and satellite interpretations made by Syke over the past three days.

It is crucial to remain vigilant and informed about the cyanobacterial situation in Finnish waters. By reporting observations and following the recommended guidelines, individuals can contribute to the ongoing efforts to monitor and mitigate the potential risks associated with blue-green algae.

HT
The National Coalition, Finns Party, Swedish Peoples Party and Christian Democrats on Thursday announced they have reached an agreement on the government programme for the next four years, adding that the programme could be released as soon as today.

THE GOVERNMENT of Petteri Orpo (NCP) is expected to be sworn in next week.

We took the time we needed, itll pay itself back, insisted Orpo, the prime minister-designate who led the coalition formation negotiations as the leader of the largest party in the Finnish Parliament, the National Coalition. Weve got a carefully drafted programme. We wanted to take the agreements pretty far so that we can implement quick changes in Finland.

If all the processes go smoothly, well be ready before Midsummer.

Orpo yesterday evening reminded reporters that the times are challenging. The public economy is in crisis, social and health care services are jammed, and Russia continues its offensive in Ukraine, he listed.

The government is expected to implement fiscal adjustments worth billions of euros to consolidate the public economy, an expectation that has already seen it branded the frugal four by a political correspondent at YLE.

Our message to [low-income earners] is that Finland is in a tough spot and weve had to scrape together savings from everyone, said Orpo.

Weve nonetheless done our utmost to secure sufficient funding for basic services, he added. So that we can look after the weakest, we need a strong economy and economic growth. You cant build that on debt.

It wouldve been easier if the [economic situation] was different and we could spread money around like the previous government, added Riikka Purra, the chairperson of the Finns Party.

Orpo on Thursday indicated that the number of ministers will not change significantly from the current 19. Further details about the content and distribution of ministerial portfolios are expected on Friday.

Purra revealed that the distribution of the portfolios was one of the last issues tackled by the four parties. It didnt take us long, she said.

Anna-Maja Henriksson, the chairperson of the Swedish Peoples Party, reminded that the ruling parties will start the real work after wrangling over the details of the government programme for the past seven weeks  the longest coalition formation process in the history of Finland.

To produce good results, you have to unwind a bit first, she added when asked if the ministers intend to take time off after what had at times been a difficult process.

Sari Essayah, the chairperson of the Christian Democrats, viewed that the past four weeks have brought the four parties together, moulding them into a functioning ruling coalition.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
The new Finnish coalition government which was finally shaped today after 11 weeks of negotiations is yet to officially publish its program, but according to drafts handed out to the media, the government will introduce changes include reducing the refugee quota, differentiating social security between immigrants and permanent residents, tightening penalties for employee exploitation, altering international protection, and introducing new prerequisites for permanent residency.

Additionally, reforms in social security, housing assistance, and unemployment benefits are included.

Reduction in Refugee Quota

Finlands government announced that the refugee quota will be reduced from 1,050 to 500 individuals per year.

Differentiation in Social Security and Benefits

The government plans to differentiate the social security and benefits between immigrants and permanent residents in Finland. However, the government has also stated that it will take the constraints of the constitution into account.

Employee Exploitation and Monitoring

There is a planned increase in penalties for employee exploitation. The monitoring mechanisms will also be enhanced to protect workers' rights.

Temporary International Protection

International protection status in Finland will be temporary in nature. The duration of international protection permits is being shortened to the minimum length permissible under EU law.

Restricted Access to Services for Illegal Residents

Individuals residing in Finland without proper documentation will only have access to urgent social and health services. This policy reinstates the legal situation before the last electoral term.

New Requirements for Permanent Residency

To obtain permanent residency, individuals must have lived in Finland for six years and must demonstrate language proficiency through a language test. Additionally, they must have a two-year work history without significant reliance on unemployment benefits or welfare, and stricter good conduct requirements will be applied. However, permanent residency can still be granted with four years of residence if the individual, for example, has an annual income of 40,000 euros or a recognized higher education degree in Finland, along with a two-year work history without significant reliance on unemployment benefits or welfare.

Notification Requirements for Employers

Employers are required to notify the Finnish Immigration Service if an employee's work permit expires and they havent secured new employment within three months. This notification is mandated under the risk of sanctions.

Income Threshold for Residency Permits

The income threshold for employee residency permits will be raised to reflect sector-specific minimum wages, with a general minimum of 1,600 euros per month. The government will also investigate the possibility of further increasing these thresholds.

Expedited Processing for Specialized Workers

The government aims for a one-month maximum processing time for work-based residency permits. However, for specialists earning more than 4,000 euros per month, the processing time goal is one week.

Targeted Recruitment

Recruitment efforts will be focused on specialized worker groups in India, the Philippines, Brazil, and Vietnam. The government will monitor the economic impacts of this targeted recruitment model.

Replacement of Income Support with Integration Support

For immigrants, income support and employment benefits will be replaced with an integration support that includes incentives and requirements for integration.

Tuition Fees for Non-EU/EEA Students

Finland is poised to significantly increase the tuition fees for higher education students coming from outside the EU and EEA. The fees are expected to be set at around 8,000 euros per academic year on average, which represents an average increase of 6,500 euros from the current fees, and is aimed at covering the actual costs of education. This move is in line with an agreement reached during government negotiations, and would require higher education institutions to ensure that international students bear the costs of their studies in Finland. The raised fees are anticipated to release approximately 83 million euros which could be used for educating domestic students, potentially allowing for an additional 2,500 new starters per year. However, there are concerns that the increase in tuition fees may lead to a reduction in the number of international students coming to Finland.

In Finnish higher education institutions, according to the Ministry of Education and Culture (OKM), there were a total of approximately 13,000 students from outside the EU or EEA area in 2022. Around 10,000 of these students were subject to tuition fees.

New General Support Model

The upcoming government will create a new general support model for basic security. This aims to combine the minimum benefits, such as rehabilitation allowance, sickness and parental daily allowance, and unemployment basic daily allowance into one new form of support.

Housing Assistance and Unemployment Benefits Reform

Several reforms will be implemented in housing assistance, including removal of the 300 euro income deduction and raising the basic deductible to 50%. Unemployment security will see a lengthening of the work requirement to 12 months, and a switch to a euro-based system, tying benefits to earned wages rather than hours worked.

Child Allowances

Allowances for families with children under three years old, multi-child families, and single-parent supplements will be increased.

These reforms represent a significant shift in Finland's approach to immigration and social security, reflecting the government's focus on ensuring sustainable integration and social support systems.

HT
Georgia man sentenced to prison for attempting to meet child for sex

A 30-year-old Georgia man was sentenced on Thursday to 30 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release after pleading guilty on Feb. 27 of traveling to Western North Carolina in order to engage in illicit sex acts with a minor, U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced.

U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger also ordered Stephen William Wargo, formerly of Dallas, Georgia, to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison and to pay restitution in the amount of $13,200.

Ronnie Martinez, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in North Carolina and South Carolina, and Henderson County Sheriff Lowell S. Griffin joined King in making the announcement.

According to court documents and court proceedings, Wargo began communicating with a 10-year-old minor female via the Discord social media messaging application in September 2021. Wargo had extensive conversations with the minor victim and at times made inappropriate romantic overtures, court records said. When minor victims parent discovered the communications and turned over the minors cell phone to the Henderson County Sheriffs Office, a detective took over the minor victims Discord account and continued to communicate with Wargo. During this period, the messages from Wargo became increasingly sexual and the two discussed Wargo traveling from Georgia to North Carolina to meet the minor victim. On Oct. 16, 2021, Wargo did in fact travel from Georgia to Henderson County, with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a child, court records said. He was arrested upon arriving at the predetermined meeting location.

Wargo pleaded guilty in February to crossing state lines with intent to engage in a sexual act with a person less than 12 years of age.

Every child has the right to a childhood free from sexual abuse and trauma. Identifying and prosecuting predators like Wargo is at the forefront of our efforts to combat child sexual exploitation and keep our most precious resource, our children, safe from those who wish to cause them harm, King said.

Protecting the children in our communities remains a top priority for Homeland Security Investigations, said Special Agent in Charge Martinez. This sentence is a testament that HSI remains committed to identifying individuals who prey on our most vulnerable population.



Griffin added: There is nothing more precious than our children. I am proud of the extraordinary efforts put forth by the men and women of the Sheriffs office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Attorneys Office to remove this dangerous criminal from society. We will continue to work collaboratively to hold those accountable that choose to prey on the most vulnerable."

U.S. Attorney King credited HSI and the Henderson County Sheriffs Office with the investigation leading to todays sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis Solheim with the U.S. Attorneys Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.




Since the eighth day of the fourth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, Guangzhou has started a series of events for the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival, including a traditional dragon boat racing participated by 12 dragon boats from Chebei Village on Thursday.

The village, which is located in urban Guangzhou, has a history of over 1,000 years. The culture of dragon boat inherited here is very representative, and the "Chebei dragon boat scene" was listed as a provincial intangible cultural heritage.

Nowadays, there are 12 active dragon boat organizations in Chebei subdistrict, and over 50 traditional dragon boats are preserved in the village.
Daily Horoscope Predictions says, no chaos but all happiness is your catchword As per accurate daily horoscope predictions, your love relationship will be intact today & officially youll be good. Youll be both healthy & wealthy today. Aquarius Daily Horoscope Today, June 17, 2023: Being an Aquarius, you are also known for your rebellious streak.

Be ready to propose or to receive a proposal today. New opportunities will be there to professionally grow whereas businessmen will sign new deals today. Invest smartly for better future. You will be also free from major ailments.

Aquarius Love Horoscope Today

Your love life will be free from chaos today. No serious problem will impact the relationship. However, it is good to restrict the interference of a third person in the relationship. Single Aquarius females may receive a proposal today from someone whom they had known for a long time. This may be a surprise but accept it as this will bring a change in your life. Your love relationship can be changed into a married relationship by deciding on it today.

Aquarius Career Horoscope Today

A smooth official life will keep you relaxed. Most Aquarius natives will be successful in achieving the targets. Those who want a change in the job can put down the paper today and a good job awaits you. Be sincere in your studies and students will see good results. Businessmen will be successful in signing new deals that may bring in good funds. All issues associated with partnerships will be resolved today.

Aquarius Money Horoscope Today

A good financial condition ensures you utilize wealth smartly and diligently to accomplish your dreams. Revenue will come from different sources and even old investments may bring in good wealth today. You may repay the pending dues and a bank loan will also be approved, which may help traders and businessmen.

Aquarius Health Horoscope Today

You can relax today your health will be good, ensuring a happy life. However, some senior Aquarius natives may complain about breathing issues and consult a doctor. Always maintain a positive attitude and stay in the company of people who spread positivity. Yoga and meditation in the early morning will help you mentally healthy throughout the day. While going on adventure trips, ensure that you have a medical kit ready.

Aquarius Sign Attributes

Strength: Tolerant, Ideal, Friendly, Charitable, Independent, Logical

Weakness: Disobedient, Liberalistic, Rebel

Symbol: Water carrier

Element: Air

Body Part: Ankles & Legs

Sign Ruler: Uranus

Lucky Day: Saturday

Lucky Color: Navy Blue

Lucky Number: 22

Lucky Stone: Blue Sapphire

Aquarius Sign Compatibility Chart

Natural affinity: Aries, Gemini, Libra, Sagittarius

Good compatibility: Leo, Aquarius

Fair compatibility: Cancer, Virgo, Capricorn, Pisces

Less compatibility: Taurus, Scorpio

By: Dr. J. N. Pandey

Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert

Website: https://www.cyberastro.com

E-mail: caresponse@cyberastro.com

Phone: 9717199568, 9958780857

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Where does one write? In the midst of life? Or does one step out, stop to smell the flowers and look forward to whole days of writing, reading, thinking? What gets the words to flow better? The sweat of quotidian labour? Or the quiet breath of leisure? PREMIUM A view of the idyllic town of Stellenbosch in South Africa. (Shutterstock)

Like most enigmas of art, there are no right answers. They change with people, time, space. Perhaps one needs all kinds. Working mothers write with a baby on the lap and food simmering on the stove; aristocratic men write with jewelled pens in gilded silence. Art is blind, unpredictable, and chaotically democratic, coming from all sources, often carrying unique aromas of those very sources. People write from within the din of other professions. Two are particularly common  the clangour of the newsroom and the tedium of grading student papers; the journalist and the academic, two professions particularly common for writers in India today. But we dream of time off, of writing retreats and residencies where we do nothing but write, sometimes in ambiences of alien beauty.

Stellenbosch, a bastion of Afrikaner power and privilege, is often considered the birthplace of apartheid due to the centrality of the segregationist Dutch Reformed Church there. (Shutterstock)

When the news came that Id been appointed a Fellow at the Stellenbosch Institute of Advanced Study to complete my new book, my heart sang in a hundred tunes. My very first novel had marked, for me, a passage from what I imagined to be my James Joyce phase to my JM Coetzee phase  a kind of a growth, from long, indulgent, experimental sentences to a quieter, more austere style that longed for a bare-bone quality. My doctoral advisor, an English South African scholar, opened up vast worlds of South African writing, including much work that did not travel beyond Africa  such as the intricate champions of quotidian life in the midst of the spectacle of apartheid, the novelist and short story writer, Zoe Wicomb, and the educator Njabulo Ndebele, a writer of fiction and nonfiction. As I learned more of its history and culture, I came to think of South Africa as the most fascinating country in the world. A country with two contrasting forces of white settler colonialism  the Dutch-derived Afrikaner and the English  and the appalling anachronism of apartheid exactly through those decades when the world was waking up to decolonization and civil rights.

Stellenbosch, a bastion of Afrikaner power and privilege, is often considered the birthplace of apartheid due to the centrality of the segregationist Dutch Reformed Church there. Today, it is hard to imagine a place to write that is more idyllic, and one that is more troubling. Endowed by the Wallenberg Foundation in Sweden, the institute collaborates with the Nobel Foundation and the Royal Swedish Academy to run the celebrated Nobel in Africa symposium. This is where Nobel awardee Abdulrazak Gurnah began working on the project Fugitive Whispers, which eventually become his 2021 novel, Afterlives. It is where Zoe Wicomb wrote Still Life (2020), on the Scottish abolitionist Thomas Pringle, considered by many as the father of South African poetry. This is also where Tsitsi Dangarembga started to write her yet-unnamed trilogy of young adult dystopian fiction about three Shona-speaking high school girls from Zimbabwe.

Stones steps going to the rocks cliffs at the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. (Shutterstock)

This is the heart of South Africas wine country, nestled in the Stellenbosch Mountains, with Cape Towns fabled Table Mountain in view, close to the historic Cape of Good Hope, where the Atlantic meets the Indian ocean. This is where Vasco Da Gama, making his way through the cold turbulence, saw hope just as he turned past the tip of the continent to sail into the warm and more predictable winds of the Indian Ocean. My 13-year old daughter likes to repeat that meme about the Portuguese traveller where he tells the locals: Trust me, bro, hum to sirf masala lene aye hain. The natives trusted the white bro when he said he was there just to get some spices, and the rest is history. This is also the place where you see the endangered African penguin. History meets geography in the most breathtaking way here, and everything you hated in your school textbooks suddenly comes alive, seducing you into a dream.

But as you walk past the beautiful Cape Dutch architecture of downtown Stellenbosch, you cannot stop thinking that this was the whites-only part of town under the former Group Areas Act  where black or coloured people were allowed only within designated hours when they came to cook, clean, and serve the white population. Desolate black figures come up to you, asking for money.

Notices reserving seats for whites was a common sight during the apartheid years in South Africa. (Shutterstock)

A story you keep hearing is that they need money for transport, to go get their AIDS treatment, the disease that took much of their family. This is the country, you remember, where one of its early presidents, Thabo Mbeki, essentially denied the reality of AIDS, denouncing all science, calling the disease a western fabrication. The human cost of that denial was colossal. Your neighbours and well-wishers here, all white, warn you against these fabricated tales of AIDS affliction; most of them, they tell you, are chronic substance abusers. Sometimes they just beg for food. You give them leftovers you carry from a dinner and they swoop down like ghosts, vanishing with the packet. You return to your house where the power cut lasts 10 hours and where, if you are very lucky, you have power back-up.

A township outside Cape Town. (Shutterstock)

Along the highway to Cape Town you see the mass of townships, jagged iron and brick, crime and violence decimating its poor black dwellers, including the wave of immigrants from neighbouring Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique, and Namibia. You walk past the derelict and psychedelically lit Stellenbosch station, looking at the loitering shuttle minibus drivers, young black men playing loud music, making convivial rowdiness, which drives fear into the hearts of the citys white residents.

A field of proteas in South Africa. (Shutterstock)

You walk back into your cottage-like office in the heart of whiteness  the place that would have kept you, an Indian, out of its fringes back in the days of Aparthood. You look out of your window, at the crest of the mountain in the distance and at the blooming protea flowers close at hand. You seek words but meet something more powerful. Silence.

Saikat Majumdars forthcoming work includes the novella The Remains of the Body and the nonfiction book, The Amateur.

Enjoy unlimited digital access with HT Premium Subscribe Now to continue reading Start 14 Days Free Trial Already Subscribed? Sign In

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
New Delhi, June 16, 2023: Silicon Valley, California-based iToConnect Inc has announced the launch of its Voter Campaign Connect platform in India. Voter Campaign Connect is a methodology that aids in winning elections. The platform uses micro-targeting of voters to give candidates an edge by drilling down to the very core of the constituency, helping them run successful campaigns.

Speaking on the launch, Kumar Vidadala, CEO, iToConnect said that iToConnect is committed to advancing its platform and services to meet the evolving needs of political campaigns and governance through the Voter Campaign Connect platform. The platform provides an state-of-the-art Voter Management platform for micro-targeting voters and converting them in the candidates' favour, leading them right to the oath ceremony.

The 5 pillars of Voter Campaign Connect are Voter Research, Voter Strategy, Voter Connect, Voter PAC (Profiling & Analysis of the Constituency), and GOTV (Get-out-the-vote) operation.

iToConnect has also announced the acquisition of Janta Ka Mood, a political research and consultancy firm with over 8 years of experience in the Indian political landscape. This acquisition will augment iToConnect's foothold in India, allowing the company to establish a local presence, improve voter connection and be at the forefront of change in India. The core strength of Janta Ka Mood is voter segmentation into micro segments based on demographic, geographic, beneficiary mapping and voter reach-out. All this will add to the core strength of iToConnect.

"We intend to make a significant impact on our candidates' trust and improve the quality of local services with the strategic acquisition of Janta Ka Mood. This synergy also aims to improve the political campaign landscape in India and generate large employment, utilizing the tremendous human capital present in India," added Mr Vidadala.

Bhaskar Singh, CEO, Janta Ka Mood said that, We are excited to join the iToConnect family. We believe this acquisition will create a compelling and sustainable value for any political candidate. We look forward to revolutionizing the political landscape in the country.

iToConnect aims to build strong partnerships with political parties, organizations, and individuals who share their vision of creating a more transparent, efficient, and participatory political process.

About iToConnect Inc:

The vision of iToConnect is to build a better society working with leaders globally, helping to create long-term value for citizens, society and helps build trust in the democratic process. iToConnect educates, motivates and empowers voters to be a part of the electoral process.

For more information, visit https://www.itoconnect.com.

Contact Resource- Saket: +918263960960

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.
For decades Prof. Dr. Parin Somani has been helping humanity globally through an array of diverse mediums. Her hard work and dedication to progress humanity has known no bounds as she has selflessly devoted her time, knowledge and resources towards noble causes. This has led Prof. Dr. Parin Somani to be honoured twice in a row with prestigious Kabir Kohinoor Samman 2023 Award at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre ND by Sadguru Kabir Ashram Seva Sansthan on 5th February and Mother Teresa Humanity Award on 4th February 2023 in Delhi for helping society at large with self-less pure service to mankind.

Prof. Dr. Parin Somani is Director of London Organisation of Skills Development, Chief Editor of Global Research Journal and Chairperson of Global Research Conferences, Independent Academic Scholar, TEDx Speaker, Educator, International Motivational Speaker, Author, Writer, Banker, Humanitarian, Philanthropist and Multi-International Award Winner. Her belief in the importance of education and lifelong learning has led Prof. Dr. Parin Somani to achieve Eight Doctorate degrees. Prof. Dr. Parin Somani has also been recognised Five times in the World Book of Records, Twice in the India Book of Records, Asia Book of Records, Karnataka Book of Records and also in the Golden Book of World Records. Prof. Dr. Parin Somani has published 100+ educational papers, newspaper/magazine articles, 19 books and featured in 200+ videos, 300+ newspapers/ books for her amazing societal contribution.

During the COVID-19 pandemic Prof. Dr. Parin Somani has helped to educate 100,000+ people globally through her Humanitarian work and was invited to deliver her research at Harvard University. Her strong desire towards creating sustainable societal development and progressing societies towards positive change in the fields of Quality Education (SDG 4) and Gender Equality including Woman Empowerment (SDG 5) has resulted in Dr Parin Somani being invited by Governors of different States of India and Governmental dignitaries.

Serve humanity with love and your special unique gifts ~ Prof. Dr. Parin Somani

The astonishing, remarkable humanitarian and social work that Prof. Dr. Parin Somani has been carrying out to help global societies in the field of Education, Women Empowerment and Youth Development is commendable. Her purity and good will has radiated throughout the world through her actions educating, inspiring and motivating the masses. Despite the hardships she has faced throughout her life ranging from life threatening health challenges to beating societal stigma, Prof. Dr. Parin Somani has remained steadfast in her intentions to facilitate positive societal progression. She has travelled to more than 117 countries around the world. and dedicated her life to the service of humanity. She shares her knowledge to build bridges between societies for sustainable development.

Prof. Dr. Parin Somani has been inspiring individuals, encouraging knowledge acquisition through education and skill development. She holds numerous designations contributing to societal betterment including. In addition to her great humanitarian initiatives, Prof. Dr Parin Somani has been instrumental in facilitating sanitary water provisions and clean drinking water within deprived educational institutions. She has been working in collaboration with local authorities to support build a school and training centre for individuals living in a forgotten village Jharia Gulgulia Basti in Jharkhand (One of the Eastern States of India) facilitating them towards a sustainable better quality of life for both children and adults. In contrast, Prof. Dr. Parin Somani has spoken at the Sparsh Geetanjali cancer support group at Geetanjali cancer hospital in Udaipur. She delivered a motivating talk to support cancer patients who are undergoing treatment teaching them not to lose hope and faith. Utilising her life experiences, Prof. Dr. Parin Somani has became a beacon of light paving the path to recovery for those individuals ensuring they cultivate a positive mindset.

Prof. Dr. Parin Somani was also invited by JDCA Dance Studio and Jinhal Foundation to create history and be named in the Golden Book of World Records, and she was invited as a chief guest to speak at the grand event. She was also invited as a special guest to the Shining Rays Ms India cancer warrior event, delivering a speech to commemorate and inspire cancer survivors that are competing within the beauty pageant. Prof. Dr. Parin Somani has supported finding solutions to global environmental challenges by planting trees with numerous NGOs. Prof. Dr. Parin Somani is educating societies through writing academic literature on the importance of environmental sustainable development. Her initiatives to help humanity continues, as she inaugurated the Campaign against Child Abuse, with governor of Pondicherry. She has also inaugurated the Worlds Largest Kids Film Festival and inspired students towards becoming good leaders and honour their school through their actions and achievements.

Youth are leaders of the future, educate without exception ~ Prof. Dr. Parin Somani

Prof. Dr. Parin Somani has received numerous multi-international awards: Kabir Kohinoor Samman 2023; Mother Teresa Humanity Award 2023; Women Leader Award in Skill Development 2022, Inspiring Leaders Award 2022, The Economic Times Inspiring Leaders Award 2022, The Naari Shakti Award 2022, The Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Shiksha Award 2022, Samaj Ratna Award 2022, Mahatma Gandhi Award 2022, Inspirational Super Women as a Best Woman Leader Award 2022, Global Iconic Education Award 2022, Best Mentor Award in the field of Education, World Saint Kabir Award 2022; Rastra Ratna 2022, The Most Inspiring Woman of the Earth Award 2022, Queen League Golden Award 2022, Prof. Dr. Somani was Honoured a title of Mrs Universe 2022 and crowned by Bollywood Actress Mahek Chahal, Winner of Enigma Mrs World 2022, Winner of Mrs India 2021 and crowned by Bollywood Actress Aditi Govitrikar , Winner of Mrs Universe International 2021, Winner of Mrs BritAsian 2021, Winner of Mrs India Global 2021 and Runner up of Mrs Queen of India 2021. Shaheed E Azam Motivational Award 2021, /Golden Prestige Award 2021, Golden Humanity Award 2021 Dr. Sarojini Naidu The Nightingale of India International Award 2021; Gandhi Sewa Ratna Award 2021, International Prestigious Award 2021, Golden Achiever Award, COVID-19 Warrior award 2021, Rastra Ratna 2021, Corona Warrior Award 2021, The Most Powerful Woman Award 2021, Human Rights National Excellence Award 2021, Woman Para Award 2021 and numerous many more awards.

Prof. Dr. Parin Somani lives by two mottos:

1. It is my aim in life to serve mankind until my last breath

2. By working together, we can make a positive global change

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.
Nissan's chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta will leave his position at the Japanese automaker, a source said Thursday, confirming a report that described a leadership clash within the company. Ashwani Gupta, chief operating officer of Nissan Motor Co., during a Bloomberg Television interview at the Shanghai Auto Show in Shanghai, China, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. (Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg)

The Indian national has held the job since December 2019 -- a time of turmoil for Nissan after the shock arrest a year earlier of ex-chief Carlos Ghosn, who later jumped bail and fled Japan.

Since then, rivalry between Gupta and chief executive Makoto Uchida has hampered the firm's efforts to rebalance its alliance with French automaker Renault, the Financial Times reported Thursday.

Gupta agreed to step down following multiple internal complaints, seen by some as a campaign to engineer his resignation, the British newspaper said.

A source close to the matter confirmed Gupta's impending departure to AFP, saying the number-two executive wanted to become CEO one day and wasn't prepared to continue in his current role.

"He had a very clear ambition to take the top job. He wasn't forced out, but he had understood" that it wouldn't be possible in a "very Japanese" company still reeling from the Ghosn scandal, the source said.

There was "a little rivalry" between Gupta, 52, and 56-year-old Uchida, the source added.

Nissan declined to comment directly on reports that Gupta was poised to leave the company, with the Financial Times saying an official announcement could come within days.

"Independent third parties have been retained to verify facts, and carry on appropriate actions," a Nissan spokesman told AFP, referring to the reports of internal complaints.

Earlier this year, Nissan and Renault signed a deal to reboot their rocky 24-year relationship, following months of painstaking negotiations and repeated delays.

Under the agreement, Renault will slash its stake in Nissan, which will in turn take a stake of up to 15 percent in Renault's new electric vehicle venture Ampere.

The Financial Times said Renault executives had long viewed Gupta as "one of the biggest obstacles in negotiations between the alliance partners" because he consistently rejected the French company's demands.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The home-grown dairy brand of Karnataka, Nandini, has once again sparked a row after Kerala minister J Chinchu Rani claimed that the milk is of poor quality. She also urged the people of Kerala to consume Milma milk of Kerala Co operative Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF). Nandini milk parlor in Bengaluru. (PTI)

Also Read - What is Amul-Nandini controversy that erupted political slugfest in Karnataka?

Speaking to the reporters on Thursday, the animal husbandry minister of Kerala said, Before entering Kerala, the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) should have taken permission from authorities. We will file a complaint with the National Dairy Development Board regarding this. The quality of Nandini milk is poor and I request the people of Kerala to consume Milma milk, as milk is mostly consumed by kids in our homes.

Nandini has opened its parlours in Mamallapuram, Kochi, this year and is even planning to expand to other areas in the near future, reported claimed.

KCMMF called Nandini an 'unethical practice'

In April, the KCMMF had opposed the presence of Nandini in Kerala and called it an unethical practice. The chairman of Milma brand, KS Mani then said, The Nandinis move to expand its sales to Kerala is unethical and destroys the purpose of Indias dairy movement. Earlier, they only sold value added products and now they are even selling milk. They also began shop-to-shop distribution of milk in Kerala. We wrote a letter to them regarding this and there is no response.

Meanwhile, Karnatakas cooperation minister Kyathasandra Rajanna has responded to the objections of the KCMMF and said there is nothing unethical about Nandinis business in Kerala.

Speaking with NDTV, he said, In a democratic country, anyone can sell their products anywhere. There is nothing unethical about it. At the end of the day, it is all about competition and consumers will only choose the product which delivers the best quality.

Before the Karnataka assembly election, the presence of Gujarat-based Amul dairy brand in Karnataka was strongly opposed by the Congress which was then in Opposition. The Congress then alleged that Amul's entry into Karnataka will only destroy the home-grown Nandini run by Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF).

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Congress leaders Partap Singh Bajwa and Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Friday accused AAP legislator Sarvjit Kaur Manuke of usurping the house of a Canada-based NRI in Jagraon and demanded a CBI probe. The two Congress leaders appealed Punjab CM to order a CBI probe into alleged usurping of the house of a Canada-based NRI in Jagraon by the AAP MLA. (AP File Photo)

Bajwa, who is also the leader of opposition in the state assembly, said that NRI Amarjit Kaur had filed a complaint with Ludhiana police alleging that the MLA has illegally occupied and encroached her house. On Thursday, Manuke denied the allegations. This house was taken on rent. We had a lease agreement and paid the rent every month. When the NRI asked us to vacate it, we sought one month to find new accommodation. The house has been vacated, the ruling party MLA said at a press conference here.

The two Congress leaders appealed to the chief minister to order a CBI probe into the matter. Amarjit Kaur was also present at the press conference.
A day after the promoter of the real estate development company, M3M, Basant Bansal, and his son, Pankaj Bansal, were held for money laundering linked to a graft case registered by the Haryana anti-corruption bureau (ACB) against suspended judicial officer Sudhir Parmar, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested his nephew, Ajay Parmar. Enforcement Directorate officials said that a search operation was conducted at the residence of Ajay Parmar, who is the deputy manager, legal, with real estate firm M3M India, in Gurugram on Thursday evening. (Representational photo)

ED officials said that a search operation was conducted at the residence of Ajay Parmar, who is the deputy manager, legal, with M3M India, in Gurugram on Thursday evening.

Ajay, who along with his uncle and former ED/CBI judge Sudhir Parmar and M3M India director Roop Kumar Bansal is an accused in the April 17 first information report registered by the ACB at Panchkula, has been named in the June 13 enforcement case information report (ECIR) under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Suspended judicial officer Sudhir Parmar and under arrest M3M director Roop Bansal have also been named in the ECIR.

Undue benefits for judicial officer through nephew

According to the April 17 ACB FIR, ED officials said undue benefits were provided to Sudhir Parmar in his capacity as a sitting judge of the PMLA court in the IREO money siphoning case for not letting M3M Group, its promoters Roop and his brother Basant Bansal become accused in the case. Undue benefit was passed to Sudhir Parmar through his nephew Ajay Parmar, who was given employment in M3M India Pvt Ltd by the M3M directors. Ajays salary was initially fixed at around 10 lakh per annum and after the prosecution complaint (a chargesheet) was filed and provisional attachment order was passed in the case, his salary was substantially hiked, ED officials said.

ED officials said that Ajay Parmars bank statements corroborate the findings that M3M directors influenced former PMLA/CBI judge Sudhir Parmar by giving the appointment and salary hike to his nephew, Ajay Parmar.

Ajay Parmars salary was almost doubled by M3M directors in August 2022 which showed that the increase had a direct correlation with the cases filed by the ED before Sudhir Parmar, who was holding trial of PMLA cases. A perusal of income tax returns filed by Ajay Parmar showed a significant jump of income from 2.64 lakh in the 2020-21 financial year to 9 lakh in 2021-22. The substantial increase in salary by M3M directors during the period when the ED was investigating the supplementary prosecution complaint can be directly linked to Sudhir Parmar, who was the jurisdictional judge in ED case, the documents said.

The ED said that the bank transactions show that M3M directors indirectly bribed Sudhir Parmar, the then ED judge to take undue benefit in the case before his court. The facts reveal that Basant Bansal, Roop Bansal and Pankaj Bansal as promoter/directors of M3M group sought undue favours from Sudhir Parmar, the then ED judge, and granted him undue favours through illegal gratification, generating proceeds of the crime.

ED officials said that investigations have revealed that Ajay Parmar also received 40 lakh from an unknown entity between August 2022 and February 2023, the period when further investigations were being conducted by the agency to file a supplementary prosecution complaint.

FIR on basis of reliable source info, audio recordings, chats

The ACB FIR of April 17 was registered under Sections 7, 8, 11 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code against the judicial officer, Ajay Parmar and M3M director Roop Bansal for offences relating to public servant being bribed, a public servant taking undue advantage without consideration from person concerned in proceedings or business transacted by such public servant, criminal misconduct by a public servant and criminal conspiracy.

Sudhir Parmar, an additional sessions judge rank judicial officer was presiding over as the CBI and ED judge at Panchkula before he was suspended on April 27 by the Punjab and Haryana high court on being booked by the ACB on April 17. According to the FIR, Parmar was accused of alleged favouritism to real estate developer Roop Bansal and his brother Basant Bansal of M3M and Lalit Goyal of IREO Group.

The April 17 FIR by the ACB was registered on the basis of reliable source information, WhatsApp chats and audio recordings of the accused. According to the FIR, reliable source(-based) information disclosed instances of grave misconduct, abuse of official position and demand/acceptance of undue advantage/bribe from the accused in cases pending in Parmars court.

ED challenges grant of bail to Basant, Pankaj in Supreme Court

The central agency had on June 8 arrested M3M India director and Basants brother Roop Bansal in a separate PMLA case. The PMLA probe against Roop Bansal was initiated after multiple FIRs against the IREO group. The investigation done by the ED, however, revealed that hundreds of crores was siphoned off through M3M Group also, an ED statement said.

While the Delhi high court on June 9 granted interim relief (from arrest) to Basant Bansal and son Pankaj Bansal till July 5 in the IREO matter, the ED on June 15 challenged the high court decision to grant interim bail in the Supreme Court. A vacation bench of the apex court took up the matter and listed it for June 20.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
With the cash-strapped state government keen to legalise industrial hemp cultivation, the legislators panel constituted by chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to explore the possibility of hemp cultivation will submit its report within a month. The successive Himachal Pradesh government has been deliberating on legalising the hemp trade in the state for the past two decades. (Representative)(REUTERS)

During the budget session, Sukhu constituted a five-member committee headed by revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi. Other members comprised chief parliamentary secretary Sunder Thakur, MLA Hans Raj, Dr Janak Raj and Puran Thakur.

The committee members toured Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand to study their model. Its clear that the state government will adopt an altogether approach of non-narcotic use of hemp plants to generate revenue besides creating livelihood opportunities for people, said Negi. The committee has studied all aspects of regulation policy. But so far, the committee is yet to set the jobs and revenue targets the government wants to generate from legalising hemp.

The committee has looked at all aspects of regulations and policy framework to open the market for medical and industrial use of hemp to provide patients with access to safer natural medicines and for making available biodegradable or organic alternatives to plastic and construction material in the state.

The government has held discussions with representatives of panchayati raj institutions. So far no one is against the proposed plans of the government, he said.

The committee also analysed the scope of the hemp market in the state with a focus on environmental benefits.

The successive Himachal Pradesh government has been deliberating on legalising the hemp trade in the state for the past two decades. Cannabis is exploited for making narcotics. An estimated 2,400 acres in Himachal are under organised illicit cultivation of cannabis. Charas worth 960 crore is smuggled out of the state each year and find their way to Western European and Scandinavian countries, while in Israel there is demand for malana cream.

The cannabis produced in the state is of high quality and there is potential to undertake its controlled cultivation. Under the NDPS Act of 1985, there are provisions for the cultivation, production, maintenance and transportation of cannabis

Himachal Pradesh is not the first state to legalise cannabis cultivation for medicinal purposes and industrial use to boost its economy. Neighbouring Uttarakhand did so in 2017 followed by Madhya Pradesh.

Hemp, the plant from which charas is extracted as resin, grows in the wild in all districts of the state barring Lahaul and Spiti. In the remote regions of the Kullu district, hybrid hemp is sown clandestinely by foreigners to extract high-quality charas, which are sold at exorbitant prices abroad and at key destinations in India.

Former CM Jai Ram Thakur had worked on a plan to legalise cannabis cultivation in the state. The BJP government had hoped to earn 18,000 crore annually apart from generating job opportunities. The BJP government had targeted to generate 50,000 jobs and benefit 2.8 lakh families.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Gaurav Bisht Gaurav Bisht heads Hindustan Times Himachal bureau. He covers politics in the hill state and other issues concerning the masses. ...view detail
The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday allowed sacked DSP and 2013 drugs case kingpin Jagdish Bhola to attend bhog and other ceremonies in his mothers remembrance under the watch of a special team of Punjab Police. The court has now directed the principal secretary (home), to constitute a special team with at least two IPS officers, including one female, to avoid any complications. (Representational Photo (Shutterstock) )

Bholas mother died on June 8, and he had approached the high court to allow him to attend bhog and other ceremonies on June 17, June 18, and June 19.

The alleged kingpin of a multi-crore drugs racket in Punjab busted in 2013, Bhola is convicted in two drug cases, and a few more criminal cases are still pending against him. He has been behind bars since 2014.

To states opposition to allowing interim bail to him, the bench of justice Mahabir Singh Sindhu observed that no doubt, he (Bhola) is a convict in two drugs cases and is also facing other criminal cases; but there would be no justification to deny him the right, coupled with an obligation to perform the last rites of his mother, being the only son in such a scenario.

The court has now directed the principal secretary (home), to constitute a special team with at least two IPS officers, including one female, to avoid any complications.

Under the teams watch, Bhola would be taken to his village Rai Ke Kalan in Bathinda on June 17 for bhog ceremonies, and thereafter, he would be lodged in Central Jail, Bathinda.

On June 18, he would be brought back to his village for attending the bhog ceremonies, and then he would be lodged in Ropar. On June 19, he would be taken to Sri Kiratpur Sahib to perform the remaining ceremonies and thereafter taken to Kapurthala jail, where he is currently lodged.

The court made it clear that the responsibility for Bholas care and custody during this period of interim bail would be of the special team. The court also directed the deputy commissioners of Bathinda, Ropar and Kapurthala to cooperate with the special team. It is made clear that in order to maintain law and order, if the occasion so arises, the senior most IPS officer from the special team shall take all possible necessary steps as per his or her best judgment, the bench added.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
A nihang (Sikh warrior), Baldev Singh, was hacked to death near Daba police station in Ludhiana on Thursday night, police said. A nihang (Sikh warrior), Baldev Singh, was hacked to death near Daba police station in Ludhiana on Thursday night. (HT file photo)

Baldev Singhs family members told the police that he was unwell and going to see a doctor when the accused intercepted him on Sua raod and attacked him with sharp-edged weapons. Baldev, who worked as a driver, ran for his life but the assailants hacked him to death on the street before fleeing.

Also read: Punjab: Giani Harpreet Singh quits as Akal Takht acting jathedar, Raghbir Singh new head

The police reached the spot and initiated investigation after registering a case of murder against the unidentified assailants.

The family members said that Baldev Singh along with residents of his colony was distributing sweetened water at a chabeel (stall) on Wednesday when he had an argument with passers-by. Baldev Singh assaulted them with a lathi, they said, adding thatthey feared the men were behind the attack.

Assistant commissioner of police Gurpreet Singh said that the police were scanning CCTV footage of the area to identify the assailants.
Three men carrying firearms allegedly entered the office of a money exchanger at Scindia House near Connaught Place Outer Circle in central Delhi and attempted to rob cash at gunpoint on Friday afternoon, police officers aware of the incident said, adding that their attempt was foiled by the shopkeeper and the public, who caught one of them and thrashed him before handing him over to the police. A police team reached the spot and learnt that three people armed with weapons entered the office of Raju Sharma, a money exchanger, and attempted robbery at gunpoint. (Representational Image)

The arrested suspect was identified as Narender, 36, a resident of Sonepat in Haryana, police said. Police added that the two other suspects, who were also identified, managed to escape from the crime scene. However, the pistol one of them was carrying fell on the spot during the incident. The two suspects at large are originally from Agra in Uttar Pradesh. Police did not reveal their names as they were yet to be arrested.

Additional deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi) Hemant Tiwari said that around 4pm, the Barakhamba Road police station received a call regarding a robbery attempt at a shop at Scindia House. A police team reached there and learnt that three people armed with weapons entered the office of Raju Sharma, a money exchanger, and attempted robbery at gunpoint.

Apart from that pistol, another firearm and a stolen TVS Apache motorcycle on which the suspects had come were seized by the police.

A police officer who visited the crime scene but did not want to be named said that apart from the money exchanger, his three employees were also present at the shop. The shopkeeper and his staff raised an alarm. Hearing their screams some locals rushed towards the shop and seeing the crowd, the suspects panicked and attempted to flee by showing their firearms, said the officer.

The crowd overpowered one of them and thrashed him. He identified himself as Narender. The other two fled. Two pistols were seized from the spot. A case of attempted robbery has been registered and investigations are underway, the officer added.

During the initial interrogation, the officer said, Narender disclosed that he and his two associates had come to the Connaught Place area to spend time together and look for a robbery opportunity. They were roaming around and went to the lane outside Scindia House. They found the money exchangers shop in the seemingly secluded lane and decided to target it. However, the locals intervened and prevented the robbery, added the officer.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
A political row erupted in the Capital after Delhis education minister Atishi mentioned Indias performance on the Human Development Index and raised income disparity in the country in her speech at a conference on role of education in Indias development at UKs Cambridge University. Delhi education minister Atishi spoke on the topic, Education- Building Indias Future at 100, during a conference hosted by Cambridge Judge Business School in UK on Thursday. (PTI)

In her speech on the topic, Education- Building Indias Future at 100, during a conference hosted by Cambridge Judge Business School on Thursday, the Delhi minister spoke about the importance of quality school education, adding that while there was a narrative about Indias trillion-dollar and fastest-growing economy, the ground realities cannot be ignored.

India ranks 132 among 191 nations on the Human Development Index of UNDP, behind its neighbours such as Bhutan and Bangladesh. All 140 crore people in the country do not have access to education, health care, nutrition, or employment. The richest 1% of the country owns 40% of Indias wealth, while the bottom 50% of the population owns only 3%. Thus, while the GDP may be growing, it is primarily benefiting the richest, while the majority of the population suffers, Atishi said, according to a statement by the Delhi government.

The speech, which also touched upon the success of the Delhi governments school education model, led to a sharp response from the Bharatiya Janata Party. which accused the Aam Aadmi Party leader of defaming India.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the Delhi minister must reveal the source of the data that she quoted in her speech, and added that in her opposition to the BJP, the AAP leader has begun opposing India.

Leaders of the AAP, who call themselves staunch patriots, leave no stone unturned to embarrass the country. These people shamelessly defame the country when they visit foreign countries. Atishi will not be forgiven by the country, specially by the people of Delhi, Sachdeva said.

Atishi also spoke about hunger and poverty in the country. Another figure is the number of hungry people in the country, which grew from 19 crore to 35 crore. This is alarming considering that India is the second-largest food producer in the world. Despite this, it has the largest number of malnourished or undernourished people, she said, according to the Delhi government statement.

Sachdeva said that the country wants to know from where Atishi got this figure of 35 crore hungry people. He said that the central government provided free ration to 80 crore (800 million) people during the coronavirus pandemic, and the distribution was continuing.

Talking about the performance of the AAP government in Delhi, Atishi said, The work done by the AAP government in Delhi is landmark in Indian politics because the party has made education a political issue... one which also brings dividends. This has made other state governments consider working on education and improving schools. I believe this change will determine the future direction our country takes.
A 25-year-old Kenyan woman was arrested at the international airport in Delhi for smuggling cocaine dissolved in two whiskey bottles she was carrying, a senior customs official said on Friday. The accused was intercepted at the Indira Gandhi International Airport after her arrival from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) on Thursday. (Representative)

The accused was intercepted at the Indira Gandhi International Airport after her arrival from Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) on Thursday.

A detailed search resulted in the recovery from her of two whiskey bottles with cocaine worth approximately 13 crore dissolved in them, the official said.

The accused was arrested and the whiskey bottles containing cocaine were seized, he said.

"These two bottles were handed over to her at Nairobi airport. She was supposed to hand over them to a person in Delhi," the official said.

The passenger was produced before a local court that has sent her to 14 days' judicial custody, he added.
The construction of Delhi Universitys East Campus is expected to start next year, and it will likely be ready in 2026, Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh said. Delhi University vice-chancellor Yogesh Singh launched the Admission Portal and Brochures for Admission for academic year 2023 -2024 at University conventional hall on Wednesday. (Vipin Kumar/HT Photo)

The university, which currently has two campuses -- North and South -- had announced expansion plans a few years ago, in which it envisaged the construction of East and West campuses to introduce more courses as well as a centre for law.

Delhi University has sent a proposal to the central government to fund the East Campus construction. The construction of the East Campus will begin in the next eight months. We have applied for funding with the central government, Singh said, adding that the aim is to develop the East Campus along the lines of the North and South campuses. He said that the East Campus is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and that the university is planning to start law programmes there.

The expansion will not only provide more opportunities for higher education but also help manage administrative work, Singh said.

Delhi University has planned its West Campus in Roshanpura near Nagafgarh, catering to students from rural areas of Delhi and Haryana. However, there are no plans for the construction of the West Campus as of now, Singh said.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The registr ation process for three new Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) courses that Delhi University is introducing this academic year is likely to begin in the end of June, officials from the university said on Thursday. On Wednesday, DU kicked off its undergraduate admissions process with the launch of an automatic seat allocation system that will assign applicants seats based on their CUET scores and declared college-course preference. (Vipin Kumar/HT Photo)

According to the officials, the eligibility criteria for admission to these courses will be different from other undergraduate (UG) courses being offered by the university. The registration portal for the other courses opened on Wednesday.

The three B.Tech courses will have 360 seats  120 each for the computer science and engineering, electronics and communication engineering, and electrical engineering courses. Officials said that for admission to these courses, the university will consider the candidates Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2023 score, as opposed to the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) scores for other programmes at DU.

Candidates must have passed Class 12 from a recognised board to be eligible for the programme. The candidate must also have secured 60% or more marks in an aggregate of physics, chemistry, and mathematics and must have passed English (core or elective) as a subject at the senior school certificate examination level. Apart from these qualifiers, admission will be based on the ranks obtained in JEE-Main, said a DU official, requesting anonymity. The university is likely to open its registration portal in the last week of June and there will be a registration-cum-counselling fee of 1,500.

The three BTech programmes will be taught at the faculty of technology.

Officials said some credentials of the candidates, such as name, signature, and photograph, will be auto integrated from the JEE application form, and candidates will only have to submit their preferences for the three programmes while applying for the courses. The course allocation will be based on the merit score and the preference submitted.

Alok Ranjan Pandey, a DU academic council member and a member of the varsitys standing committee, said while the Delhi Technological University (DTU) and Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT) were earlier affiliated with DU, their shift to the Delhi government in 2009 and 2018, respectively, meant the university did not have its own BTech courses. Therefore, a need was felt over the last decade to introduce these programmes, which was fast-tracked after new vice-chancellor Yogesh Singh took over, he said.

More than 52K students register on DU portal

A day after DU began registering candidates for its undergraduate programmes, varsity officials said that 52,790 candidates registered on the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS) portal till 7pm on Thursday.

DUs 68 colleges offer 78 undergraduate programmes and 198 BA programme combinations, with around 71,000 seats.

The varsity on Thursday also said it will hold webinars from June 19 to help prospective students understand the admission process. A second DU official said that the university website  https://admission.uod.ac.in/  already has information in the form of text bulletins, infographics, and video recordings and the webinars will further make the registration process simpler.

Our website already has bulletins, flowcharts illustrating eligibility, and webinars. A series of webinars on CSAS will also be held from Monday in bilingual mode, the second official said.

The next stage of admissions will commence after the CUET results when candidates need to specify their preferred course-college combination. The order of the programme and college combination selected then will become the priority list, which will determine allotments, he added. DU officials said once a seat is allocated in a particular round, the candidate must accept the allocated seat before the last date for the given allocation round, with inactivity or inaction to be taken as non-acceptance to the allocated seat.
A man was handed over to police on Friday morning after he entered the official residence of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Singh, Delhi Police said. The man is currently being questioned by the police. (File AP photo)

According to police, the man began enquiring about Bhushan after which he was caught by the staffers.

The man is currently being questioned by the police.

A police officer, on condition of anonymity, said the man began enquiring about Singhs whereabouts before he was held.

Meanwhile, the mans family claimed that he is a patient with mental health issues.

They have submitted medical documents to substantiate their claims, but police said they will verify them.

Also Read: Sexual harassment, no Pocso: Delhi Police charges against Brij Bhushan Singh

Delhi Police on Thursday had charged Singh with sexual harassment, stalking, and assault or force to outrage the modesty of a woman but told another court to cancel a second case filed against the strongman politician under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act due to a lack of corroborating evidence.

Deputy police commissioner Pranav Tayal said Singh  a six-time member of Parliament (MP) from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)  was charged under sections 354 (assault or criminal force with intent to outrage modesty), 354A (sexual harassment) and 354D (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). His aide, former Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) assistant secretary Vinod Tomar, was charged under IPC sections 109 (abetment), 354, 354A, and 506 (criminal intimidation), added Tayal.

Singh faces a maximum jail term of five years under Section 354, three years under 354A, and three years under 354D.In case an accused has been convicted under 354D previously, they face up to five years in jail.

The 1,082-page charge sheet was submitted to additional chief metropolitan magistrate Deepak Kumar at Rouse Avenue court. It was put up for consideration on June 22.
Since an advisory was issued by the residents welfare association (RWA) of Himsagar Apartment, in Pocket 4 of Greater Noida, it has stirred a debate among residents across NCR. The reason being the notice that urges residents to choose appropriate attire while roaming within the society premises, which excludes certain garments such as lungis and nighties. This has become the bone of contention since some feel that its unfair on the part of an RWA to dictate the dress code for its members/residents whereas others support the move, which has fuelled a war of words on social media as well. A notice from the RWA of Himsagar Apartment in Greater Noida, urging residents to avoid lungis and nighties, leads to a divisive debate among residents. (Photo for representational purpose only) (Photo: Shutterstock)

The notice was never issues as a rule, but just as a polite request on our part to sensitise the residents towards their dressing choices, says CK Kalra, president, RWA of Himsagar Apartments, adding, A few days back, we received a complaint from some residents who felt uncomfortable when others wore loose clothes while practising yoga in the common park. Keeping in mind the discomfort that this behaviour causes others, we issued this notice for the people to think about others residents of the society in general.

The advisory, however, had to be followed by another notice after the matter caused an outrage on social media. Our second notice clarifies that our intention was not to put any restrictions, but to tell people to maintain decorum in the society, adds Kalra. But, residents are divided in opinion.

The fabric of humanity knows no bounds, and no garment can confine the spirit of unity and individuality. Let us rise above such narrow circles, embracing the richness of cultural expressions, says Yoginder Singh, one of the residents in the society.

The debate on has caught fire on social media leading to other RWAs to jump in too. If most of the body is covered when one wears lungis and nighties then whats the problem? If anyone has to object then the objection could be on short clothes. But lungi is a part of our culture, wearing which should not be objectionable at all, feels Pawan Goyal, president of RWA of Blocks B, C, D in Noidas Sector 48.

And KK Jain, secretary general of Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Association (FONRWA), which has over 140 RWAs as members, also feels that such diktats are not needed: We have no such restrictions in our society because we believe everyone should have the freedom to wear whatever they want. But, at the same time people should maintain decency when roaming around within the society. So the responsibility lies with both sides. Any society shouldnt stop people from wearing what they want and people should also respect that.

Residents from Delhi also weigh in on the issue sharing how relevant it is to choose ones clothing basis where one is headed. Wearing lungis is a part of our culture and shouldnt be objected, says Raja Chhraba, forum president of Tilak Nagar Block 11 RWA.

Seema Rana, president of Ladies Club in Noida Sector 48, adds, According to me, the decision by the RWA to stop people from wearing clothes that make others uneasy is absolutely right because there needs to be certain dress code and protocols when one is living in a housing society. We might be okay to wear certain clothes within our homes, but if others have an objection to them then we must be sensitive to their feeling as well. Thats how we can live in harmony in a society.
Gurugram: Police arrested two members of a gang from Rajasthan on Thursday for allegedly duping at least 200 people via a mobile dating app for the LGBTQ community. As per police, the suspects posed as police officers and journalists to hoodwink their victims. Police arrest gang members for extorting money from LGBTQ community

Police said the suspects targeted their victims on the dating app and extorted huge sums of money from them.

Police said they had arrested a gang member, identified as Sunil Kumar from Jaipur on June 5, and after interrogating him, they tracked the two other suspects. As per police, the gang was active from 2020.

Varun Dahiya, assistant commissioner of police (crime), said they received a complaint from a city-based resident on June 4, who said three suspects had extorted 50,000 from him through a gay dating app for escort services.

The suspects called him to Cyber Park in Sector 39 and made him sit in a Swift Dzire car and introduced themselves as police officers. They threatened to send him to jail for giving escort services, ACP Dahiya said.

ACP Dahiya said another suspect introduced himself as a senior police officer and demanded 1 lakh from him and threatened to send him to jail in case of non-payment. The victim transferred 50,000 from his brothers account and assured them he will pay the remaining amount in a few days. The suspects threatened to kill him if they did not receive the remaining amount, he said.

Nitish Agarwal, deputy commissioner of police (east), said that after interrogating Kumar, police teams raided locations in Jaipur and arrested two more suspects on Thursday.

The suspects were identified as Mohit Kumar Tank (29), of Jaipur and Devkinandan (37), of Madhya Pradesh, police said.

ACP Dahiya said the suspects have revealed that they have cheated hundreds of people in Delhi, Jaipur, Belgaum in Karnataka, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, etc.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Leena Dhankhar Leena Dhankhar has worked with Hindustan Times for five years. She has covered crime, traffic and excise. She now reports on civic issues and grievances of residents. ...view detail
As West Bengal gears up for the panchayat polls with single-phased voting scheduled on July 8, reports of pre-poll riots have sparked a fresh war of words between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP National spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi (File Photo)

BJP on Friday alleged that the states election commission (SEC) was working hand-in-hand with the state government and doing nothing to control the situation.

The gory images that are evolving every day from West Bengal are extremely saddening. What is more depressing is the state governments insensitivity to address these issues. Even the BJP leaders have been subject to deadly violence, said BJP National spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi while addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Friday.

Also Read: will be silenced permanently: Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose visits violence-hit Bhangore

At least four persons were killed and several others injured in violence on the last day of nomination filing on Thursday, with most of the strife having been reported from Bhangore, some 25 km to the southeast of Kolkata, where two persons were killed.

Trivedi claimed that 25-30 BJP workers were injured during the clashes but the West Bengal election commission had done nothing about it. Because of this, we had to approach the court and the matter was taken under control, he added.

The way the West Bengal government and police is behaving is a dark chapter of Indias democratic and electoral legacy, Trivedi said.

While slamming the West Bengal election commission which is already getting hammered by the Calcutta high court for lack of deployment of adequate security ahead of the pre-polls, the BJP spokesperson added, Its clear that the election commission is just working as the governments machinery and I want to ask the people who questioned democracy is finished in India, are the violence in West Bengal an example of a flourishing democracy or vanishing?

Meanwhile, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee blamed the Indian Secular Front (ISF), an ally of the Left and Congress in the state, for the violence and said the clashes were due to local issues.

Calcutta high court had on Tuesday ordered that Central paramilitary forces must be deployed in seven sensitive districts and other areas witnessing law-and-order problems to ensure free and fair panchayat elections.

Urging the opposition to take note of the alleged undemocratic practices that the TMC was governing, Trivedi requested the election commission for functioning how they are supposed to and warned the TMC that if this continues, they will see a similar fate as of the previous state governments ruled by the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

Also Read: 4 killed in Bengal violence on last day for nominations

The Panchayat elections in West Bengal will be held in a single phase on July 8, with the counting of votes scheduled for July 11.

In the panchayat samiti, 23,486 nominations were filed, out of which 17,120 are by the opposition candidates.

In Zilla parishads, 2,877 nomination papers have been filed, out of which 2,463 are from the opposition.

In total 1,37,000 nominations have been filed for the village panchayats, out of which 94,124 are from the opposition.
Trinamool Congress leader Madan Mitra claimed on Thursday  after a division bench of the Calcutta high court directed the state election commission to request for the Central Paramilitary forces amid the ongoing violence in West Bengal districts ahead of the panchayat elections  that the party will face the central forces and is even ready to face their torture. Police and paramilitary personnel reach the site where the violence took place on the last day of West Bengal panchayat polls, at Sainthia BDO office, Ahmadpur, in Birbhum on Thursday. (ANI)

Mitra also questioned the funds to be spent on central forces, claiming that Bengal was not receiving a single penny for development purposes.

The people of Bengal are with Mamata Banerjee. I don't know how many thousands of crores will be spent on these central forces where West Bengal is not getting a single penny for the development of the state. It is a court verdict, everybody has to accept it but don't forget that the votes will be given by the voters, Mitra told news agency news agency ANI.

We will give our blood, we are ready to give 'qurbaani' but we will fight back. We will face the central forces but we will prove that the TMC will win and if we have to give our lives, we are ready to face the torture of central forces, Mitra added.

At least four people were killed across West Bengal on Thursday, the last day of filing nominations for the three-tier panchayat polls. On Thursday, the division bench of chief justice TS Sivagnanam and justice Uday Kumar asked the poll body to seek paramilitary assistance from the Union government within 48 hours, and deploy them in every part of the state, and not just the seven districts  Birbhum, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Murshidabad, East Midnapore and Jalpaiguri  that are categorised as sensitive. This comes two days after the high court had ordered the SEC to evaluate the law and order situation in view of the ensuing violence and deploy central forces in sensitive districts as well as other areas witnessing violence.

On Thursday Banerjee said her party was not involved in the Islampur violence. "It was perpetrated by those who were not given a ticket by our party because they lost credibility. I have asked the police to take strong action. At Bhangar, the party who won the (assembly) polls are indulging in violence. Communal slogans were raised when properties were ransacked. There was some retaliation from our side yesterday. I will not hide the truth, Banerjee said.

Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, meanwhile, welcomed the high court's order. The decision that has come this evening regarding the violence that took place during the filing of nominations for Panchayat elections is very clear. The decision will end political violence in Bengal & restore democracy. The village panchayat will conduct these elections in a democratic & peaceful manner. It is a good judgement, ANI quoted Adhikari as saying.

Panchayat polls violence

Crude bombs were reportedly thrown at the Block Development Office in Birbhum's Ahmadpur. However, no casualties have been reported in the incident.

Overall, the death toll in poll-related violence has risen to at least five, after Congress worker Phoolchand Sheikh died in Murshidabad on June 9.

Under the schedule issued by the state election commission (SEC) on June 8, nominations will be accepted till June 15, they can be withdrawn till June 15, with polling on July 8, and counting on July 11.We will comply with the court order, State Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha said on Thursday night.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
A day after four persons were killed in clashes across West Bengal where panchayat elections are due on July 8, Governor CV Ananda Bose visited one of the violence-hit areas near Kolkata on Friday. West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose (File Photo)

The governor said that political violence will not be tolerated, asserting that there will be action and no alibi for inaction.

No violence would be tolerated. Whoever has resorted to violence would be brought to book and would be shown their place behind bars. There will be action and not an alibi for inaction, Bose told media persons here on Friday.

Fresh clashes erupted at Bhangore in South 24 Parganas on Thursday, the last day of filing the nomination for the upcoming panchayat polls in which two persons were allegedly killed.

Also Read: Dark chapter: BJP slams Bengal police, TMC over panchayat poll violence

I saw some places where unfortunate incidents of violence had taken place. I could interact with some of the victims and the local people. This is a fact-finding data-gathering period for me. I have made my own inferences. I would like to take further action based upon objective analysis of what I have seen, heard, analysed and experienced, said the governor.

Following the incidents of violence, West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Sukanta Majumdar wrote a letter to Union home minister Amit Shah apprising him of the violence while seeking his intervention.

I urge you to expedite the deployment of central forces as per the Calcutta high court order to maintain law and order and to prevent any further incidents of violence or disruption, Majumdar wrote.

Meanwhile, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee Friday asserted that the panchayat poll nomination process was peaceful, and slammed the opposition parties for trying to create an issue over alleged incidents.

Banerjee hit back saying that panchayat poll nominations have not been peaceful in any state.

Show me one state, having so many panchayat booths, where nomination has been peaceful ever in the past. The Bhangore-incident was done by some goons. We have lost two men. TMC didnt trigger Bhangore-violence, Banerjee said while speaking at a political rally in South 24 Parganas on Friday.

She also said that even though there are more than 60,000 booths, violence took place in only two of them.

Thursday was the last day of nominations. More than 2.31 lakh nominations were filed. TMC is the ruling party and is fighting alone. We are contesting 82,000 seats. The opposition parties together have filed more than 1.5 lakh nominations. Still, they are alleging their candidates were not being allowed to file nominations, Banerjee added.

Also Read: Ready to give qurbaani: TMC leader on Calcutta HC order ahead of Bengal panchayat polls

Indian Secular Front legislator Nawasad Siddique told media persons that he has moved the Calcutta high court seeking a National Investigation probe into the Bhangore-clashes where two persons were killed.

Moreover, following the incidents of violence across the state, the Calcutta high court on Friday sought a report from the police on why candidates were not given protection while they were going to the block office to submit their nomination papers.

The bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha has directed the police to submit a report on why candidates were not given protection while they were going to the block office to submit nomination papers, Firdaus Shamim, counsel representing some of the aggrieved candidates told media.

Calcutta high court had on Tuesday ordered that Central paramilitary forces must be deployed in seven sensitive districts and other areas witnessing law-and-order problems to ensure free and fair panchayat elections.

On Friday, a separate bench of the Calcutta high court also allowed some candidates to file nominations who failed to submit their nominations on Thursday amid incidents of violence.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
PRAYAGRAJ: A journalist from an electronic media died on Friday days after allegedly being assaulted by some assailants over a property dispute. While two of the accused were arrested, the search for the other assailants was on, police said. Kaushambi SP Brajesh Kumar Srivastava said an FIR was lodged against the assailants on the complaint of the deceaseds kin.

Saud Ansari, 30, a resident of Makanpur Asrawal Kala under Pipri police station limits of Kaushambi, and his brother Sarfaraz were ploughing their fields when some persons of the same village attacked them with sticks and rods. The assailants fled when the locals rushed to the spot. Saud received severe head injuries in the assault and was admitted to a private hospital for treatment. However, he was shifted to SRN Hospital on Wednesday when his condition deteriorated.

Kaushambi SP Brajesh Kumar Srivastava said an FIR was lodged against the assailants on the complaint of the deceaseds kin.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Samajwadi Partys national general secretary Shivpal Singh Yadav on Friday indicated that he may contest the upcoming Lok Sabha (LS) election from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh. He hinted at the possibility in response to a query as to who would be the party candidate from Azamgarh or would he contest election from Azamgarh LS seat. Samajwadi Partys national general secretary Shivpal Singh Yadav. (Ht file photo)

It is for the national leadership to decide who will contest from the Azamgarh LS seat. But the decision of the party will be respected, he said in an Azamgarh village. If the party leadership asked him to do so (contest polls from there), he would respect the partys decision, Shivpal added.

He visited Chadai village in Rani Ki Sarai area in Azamgarh district to offer his condolences to the kin of CRPF jawan Parvind Yadav who died of illness at Chhattisgarhs Dantewada where he was posted a few days ago. He demanded martyrs status for the deceased jawan.

The SP leader alleged that the government had no intention to build an airport in Azamgarh. This is the reason why even after claiming many times, the flight has not started from here till now, he alleged.While talking to the media, Shivpal said while the BJP described nine years of its government at the Centre unmatched, the government, he alleged, had not been able to accomplish even five tasks during its nine-year rule.

He also alleged that the government had completely failed in keeping an effective check on corruption. Shivpal said the SP will win all the 80 seats in the state in the 2024 LS elections.This time, the government of the opposition party will definitely be formed at the Centre and the decision on PM will be taken later, the SP leader claimed.

He appealed to the all secular political parties to unite. In last years LS bypoll in Azamgarh, SP candidate Dharmendra Yadav lost to BJPs Dinesh Lal Yadav. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav was elected MP from Azamgarh Lok Sabha seat in 2019. However, after getting elected as an MLA from Karhal seat in Mainpuri in the 2022 UP assembly polls, he resigned from his LS membership causing a bypoll. SP founder Mulayam Singh Yadav was elected MP from Azamgarh in 2014.
The Uttar Pradesh Madrasa Education Board chairman Iftikhar Ahmed Javed has written a letter to PM Narendra Modi highlighting the alleged mismanagement and poor arrangements made by the Haj Committee during the pilgrimage. He pointed towards Haj pilgrims going from Varanasi who had to face a number of difficulties during Haj. For representation only (HT File Photo)

Javed, who hails from Varanasi, said, The authorities took the pilgrimage so lightly that the process to select good airlines for the pilgrims was delayed and the pilgrims from Varanasi were forced to catch flights from Lucknow and Delhi. They had to face many difficulties due to this poor planning.

Because we are from the prime ministers constituency, workers like us have to face public ire. The Haj authorities should have taken special care of the pilgrims from the prime ministers constituency, he added.

It is surprising that every pilgrim was not given 2100 Riyals despite depositing Indian rupees for the conversion of currency. Moreover, the announcement of Haj-2023 was delayed by almost four months due to which everything got delayed and affected.

Also, the Central Haj Committee has not been formed for the last three years which is affecting the management of the day-to-day affairs of the committee. We all are people of Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah tradition, in such a situation, this kind of indifference in a holy work like Haj is beyond understanding.

He said, The Centre spends a huge amount for facilities of Haj pilgrims but if the Haj Pilgrims are not getting benefits of them then this has to be probed.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday said his government was working to transform Sonbhadra into a new development hub Sonanchal. He also said those who indulged in negative politics were creating obstacles to development. Yogi was addressing a gathering in Sonbhadra after gifting 217 development projects worth 414 crore to the district. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. (HT file photo)

He inaugurated roads worth 292 crore built in the district and laid foundation of the projects worth around 125 crore. The CM also flagged off a bike rally of BJP workers which will go to villages and apprise people of the works done and welfare schemes launched in the last nine year of the Modi government at the Centre.

He further said that health ATM would be installed at every public and community health centres in the district. He said these should be connected to the IMS-BHU. Underscoring the work done under the Har Ghar Nal Yojana, the CM said that his government was committed to providing potable water to every house.

Yogi said under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last nine years, sustainable development of the country had been ensured by protection of environment, proper utilisation of renewable natural sources of energy.

He said the PMs policies focused on bio-conservation and campaigns like Mission Life had given shape to the idea of sustainable growth. On the occasion, Yogi also issued instructions for aerial sprinkling of Chironji seeds in the forests of Sonbhadra.

The CM said the foundation stone of Krishi Vigyan Kendra was laid in Sonbhadra on Friday. The Kendra will give farmers technical information about the agricultural sector and help them increase their income, he added.

Yogi said that once Lord Ram came to this area and the people here honoured him with service. Those who held power for decades kept Lord Ram under the tent, but in 2024 Lord Ram is going to sit in his grand temple. All the ongoing schemes in Uttar Pradesh are the foundation stone of Ramrajya, the CM said. He added that the government did not discriminate on the basis of caste, creed, or religion.

The CM said the people of the tribal society had always been exploited by those who did family and caste politics. State agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi, minister of state for stamp registration and court fee Ravindra Jaiswal and social welfare minister Sanjeev Singh Gond welcomed the CM on the occasion.
Senior BJP leaders from Maharashtra on Friday described the Karnataka governments move to revise school textbooks as minority appeasement and asked Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray to clarify his stand on the matter. While Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) is a partner in the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi, former ally BJP has accused him of veering away from Hindutva ideology. (File)

The Congress-led Karnataka government on Thursday approved the revision of Kannada and Social Science textbooks of Classes 6 to 10 in the state for this academic year by removing the chapters on RSS founder K B Hedgewar and Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar among others.

While Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) is a partner in the Maharashtra opposition bloc of Maha Vikas Aghadi, which also comprises the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), former ally BJP has often accused him of veering away from the Hindutva ideology.

Talking to reporters here, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the revision in school textbooks in Karnataka was expected after the Congress returned to power in the southern state.

The Congress can remove Savarkar and Hedgewar from textbooks but not from the hearts and minds of people. In Maharashtra, the Opposition wants to replicate the Karnataka model. I want to ask Uddhav Thackeray what is his stand on this issue, he asked.

It is clear that Thackeray has compromised on his ideology for the sake of power, Fadnavis said.

Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Fadnavis's party colleague and BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said Thackeray should clear his stand on the textbook issue as well as the Karnataka government's decision to repeal the anti-conversion law brought in by the previous government.

Apart from dropping chapters on Savarkar and Hedgewar, the Karnataka government also plans to include lessons on social reformer and educator Savitribai Phule, Jawaharlal Nehrus letters to Indira Gandhi and poetry on Dr B R Ambedkar in the textbooks.
MUMBAI: A 63-year-old therapist lost 1.84 lakh while attempting to change her name on a flight ticket. The victim, a resident of Malabar Hill, web-searched for the contact number of a travel portal from where her ticket was booked. However, she ended up contacting frauds who asked her to pay 10 for the process and asked her to download a remote accessing application. The frauds then copied her bank details and siphoned off the money. HT Image

According to the Malabar Hill police officials, the victim told them that her cousin had booked an air ticket for her to travel to Goa for a birthday celebration. However, while doing so, her cousin had put her nickname on the ticket.

The woman wanted to change the same and therefore she searched for the customer care number of the travel agency.

The call connected and she was asked to pay 10 for getting her name changed on the ticket and was sent a link to enable her to make the payment. When she clicked the link, it asked her to download AnyDesk - a remote access application and was required to enter her debit and credit card details multiple times to make the payment of 10 through the app, said an officer attached to the Malabar Hill police station.

While doing so, in eight transactions she lost 1,84,560 from her bank accounts linked to the debit and credit cards whose details she had entered in forms sent by the frauds. When she realised that she had been duped, she approached us and based on her complaint an offence was registered for cheating, cheating by personation under the Indian Penal Code and under relevant sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000 against unknown accused, the police officer said.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Friday came down heavily on the Congress government in Karnataka for removing a chapter on Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar from the textbooks of state board. The reaction came hours after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sought party president Uddhav Thackerays stand on the issue. Mumbai, May 24 (ANI): Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Uddhav Thackeray along with Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal addresses a press conference at Matoshree Residence, Bandra, in Mumbai on Wednesday. (ANI Photo) (Nitin Lawate)

On Thursday, the Karnataka cabinet decided to drop a chapter on Savarkar from the textbooks, describing the move as an effort to rectify the distortion of history and saffronisation of the syllabus by the previous BJP regime.

Reacting to the decision, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis dared Thackeray to speak on the matter.

The MVA (Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi) is talking about the Karnataka pattern. I want to ask Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray if he agrees with this (removing Savarkar chapter from the textbooks) Karnataka pattern. What is Thackerays opinion on this insult to Savarkar? Does he endorse the scrapping of the anti-religious conversion legislation too? the BJP leader asked.

Manisha Kayande, spokesperson for Thackeray faction, said though his party is in alliance with the Congress they have not given up their ideology.

For us, Swantraveer Savarkar is an idol. Party president Uddhav Thackeray had earlier made it clear that he would not tolerate insults to Savarkar. I condemn the decision of the Karnataka government. They can remove a chapter from the textbooks but cannot remove Savarkar from the hearts of people, Kayande said.

Kayande was referring to Thackerays comments at a rally a few months ago when he took objection to the criticism of Savarkar by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

As the Shiv Sena (UBT) has its own ideology, the Congress too has its own ideology, state Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe said, The Congress has joined hands with the Shiv Sena (UBT) on a common minimum programme and to oppose the BJP. The people of Karnataka have voted for the Congress and its ideology. Instead of talking about removal of Savarkar chapter from the textbooks there should be a discussion on the Centres decision to drop a chapter on evolution from NCERT textbooks.
MUMBAI: There are many who survive with one kidney, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday argued before the Bombay high court opposing the bail application of Nawab Malik, leader of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). HT Image

As the former Maharashtra minister had one functional kidney and was receiving treatment in a private hospital, he need not be granted interim bail on medical grounds, argued the ED.

The single judge bench of justice Anuja Prabhudessai on Friday concluded hearing on Maliks plea for interim bail on medical grounds and reserved the orders for the next week.

Malik sought the bail on the ground that one of his kidneys was damaged and the other functional kidney was deteriorating.

The court as informed by additional solicitor general Anil Singh for ED that the ground on which medical bail was being sought was not maintainable.

Singh cited judgements and orders of the Supreme Court and other high courts wherein medical bail was rejected as the ailment of the applicant was not serious and proper medical treatment was being provided by the jail authorities. He cited the case of Asaram Bapu.

Singh added that the instances of medical bail being granted were for those where applicants had severe ailments and could not afford treatment in government hospitals while being in custody. However, as Malik was able to bear the cost of the treatment in a private hospital, and was admitted to one since his arrest, he should not be granted bail on medical grounds.

Earlier, senior advocate Amit Desai for Malik had submitted that the former minority development minister had been suffering from kidney problem before his arrest in February 2022 and it had aggravated after the arrest.

Desai added that Maliks kidney problem was affecting other organs as well and the court should take a sympathetic view of the same as it involved his fundamental right to life with dignity.

Singh said that people survive with single kidney and none of the medical reports said that the second kidney was functioning at 60% of its capacity, hence bail on medical grounds could not be invoked in Maliks case.

After hearing the submissions, the bench reserved its order which is expected to be pronounced next week.
Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) founder and former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi was spying for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) so he asked him to either merge his party with the Janata Dal (United) or leave the ruling alliance, the mahagathbandhan, in the state. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar interacts with the media in Patna on Friday. (Santosh Kumar/HT Photo)

Kumar broke his silence on the matter three days after Manjhis son and HAM-S president Santosh Kumar Suman quit his cabinet.

I had asked Manjhi to either merge his party with us or leave the alliance. Instead, his son and HAM(S) president preferred to quit the state cabinet. It is good he is no longer with our alliance. It is an open secret that Manjhi was meeting BJP leaders. He was keen on attending the June 23 meeting. Had he stayed with us and attended the meeting, he would have passed all information to the BJP, Kumar told reporters after the swearing-in of JD(U) MLA Ratnesh Sada as a minister in place of Suman.

The chief minister was referring to the meeting of top Congress leaders and regional satraps, including a few chief ministers, scheduled in Patna on June 23, in which they are expected to discuss strategy to unitedly challenge the BJP in of the 2024 parliamentary polls.

Manjhi said it was good that Kumar had himself snapped ties with his party, adding that he would decided on his next course of action on June 19 at the party meeting in Patna.

I had vowed to always remain with CM Kumar. Now, when he has himself pressed the exit button for me, I feel liberated. When Kumar was with the BJP-led NDA as a CM, everything was fine. Now, suddenly he has developed an allergy for BJP, Manjhi said on phone from Gaya.

Suman, in a press interaction, dismissed Kumars allegation that his party was hobnobbing with BJP. We could never have compromised with our partys identity by merging it with JD(U). They do not want smaller parties to grow for the fear of their own existence, he said.

HAM(S) currently has four MLAs and its exit will not impact from the ruling alliance which has a comfortable majority in the in the 243-member Bihar assembly.

Manjhi said his party has identified 15 seats in Magadh and Kosi regions where it could field candidates in the next Lok Sabha polls.

This isnt the first time that Nitish Kumar and Jitan Manjhi have fallen out.

In May 2014, Nitish Kumar, owning responsibility for his party JD(U)s poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls, had quit the chief ministers post and handpicked Manjhi as his successor.

However, in February the next year, Manjhi was ousted as CM and Kumar returned to the helm following an intra-party coup.

It is me who had made Manjhi the CM. But everybody knows what happened later, CM Kumar said today.

Meanwhile, state BJP spokesperson Arvind Singh said the accusations levelled against Manjhi by the CM was unbecoming of a leader of the stature of Kumar.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Bihars state universities are again turning into a battleground for the state government and the Raj Bhawan over the implementation of the four-year integrated graduation programme with choice based credit system (CBCS) from the new academic session that has just started. Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. (ANI)

On Thursday, the new additional chief secretary (education) K K Pathak wrote a letter to the officer on special duty (judicial), Governors secretariat, Shailendra Shukla, with a copy to all the vice-chancellors, seeking reconsideration of the Governors letter for launching four-year graduation programme with CBCS, people familiar with the matter said.

The state government does not support the aforementioned four-year programme and requests the Chancellors office to reconsider their May 15 letter. Given the circumstances, the state government is of the view that the universities should first complete the ongoing courses, particularly the delayed ones, reads the letter sent on Friday, which has been seen by HT.

Soon after taking charge, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who is also the chancellor of state universities, had called all vice chancellors and asked them not only to streamline the derailed exam calendar but also implement the four-year graduation programme with CBCS, a prerequisite in most of the central universities and premier institutions, from the current session itself to ensure uniformity in the state. He also asked the VCs of the state universities to stick to a uniform academic calendar.

After Raj Bhawan approved the ordinance for the four-year undergraduate course a month ago, the universities also started the process, while experts completed the curriculum and syllabus for the first two semesters. The academic council of the universities also passed the new pattern.

Patna University has already initiated the admission process.

The Raj Bhawans move is significant, as none of the Bihar universities had managed to implement the CBCS and semester system at the undergraduate level despite this being a common practice in most of the good universities.

KB Sinha, working president of the Federation of University Teachers Associations of Bihar, said the state governments disapproval of the move of the Governor, who will return on Friday, could lead to confusion for universities at the start of the academic session.

The Governor has been keen on introducing the four-year programme from this academic year itself. It remains to be seen how he responds, he said.

In his letter, Pathak has written that most of the universities are lagging behind as per academic calendar and the capacity of the universities to conduct a new programme has to be seen in totality, particularly in terms of their ability to conduct and successfully complete the existing on-going programmes.

The letter also said mentioned an official gazette, issued during Pathaks previous tenure eight years ago, on exam calendar.

The state government expects the universities to strictly adhere to the gazette notification likely to be issued shortly and not to conduct any examination not duly notified by the state government, the letter says.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Arun Kumar Arun Kumar is Senior Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times. He has spent two-and-half decades covering Bihar, including politics, educational and social issues. ...view detail
Two days after Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumars big claim that the Lok Sabha elections may be held before its 2024 schedule, the Janata Dal (United) chief has revealed the reason behind his prediction. He alleged that the ruling BJP can opt for early LS polls to curtail the spread and strength of a united opposition. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. (HT Photo)(HT_PRINT)

"The central government has the majority and can obviously prepone the Lok Sabha elections. They (BJP) might think that the opposition unity may affect them in the coming time, so it can get the (Lok Sabha) polls preponed, he told reporters on Friday.

The general assembly elections are due in March-April next year.

The statement comes days ahead of the crucial Opposition meeting in Patna on June 23 to chart the roadmap for 2024 polls. Kumar, a former ally of BJP, has been at the forefront in stitching together a united front against the Centre.

Therefore, all opposition parties must come together to defeat the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha polls. We must start preparations after the June 23 meeting, he added.

He was speaking at a function of the rural development department where he inaugurated 5,061 projects worth 6,680.67 crore via video conferencing.

Read: BJP's 'super EC' jibe at Nitish's 'early Lok Sabha polls' remark

I was told during the departments review meeting that all projects would be completed by January 2024. I will request you all to complete all projects as soon as possible. Nobody knows when the Lok Sabha polls would be held. It is not a given that these would be held next year only. It is possible these may be held before time, this year itself, Kumar said.

Deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday echoed Kumar's speculation and said, "You never know, it is possible..... Everything is in the hands of the ruling dispensation at the Centre," the senior RJD leader said.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Pune: The Maharashtra State Waqf Board had issued a show cause notice to Anil Ramod, IAS official and former additional divisional commissioner (revenue), in connection with an alleged illegal Waqf land transaction estimated to be around 100 crore. The notice was sent on May 24 this year before he was arrested wherein the board had sought his written response within four weeks. (Representative Image)

Maharashtra State Waqf Board CEO has issued a show cause notice to Ramod for helping add names of private persons in the 7/12 land extract of a Waqf property measuring about 19 acres in Vadu Budruk.

Also Read | Will remove encroachments from waqf board land in country

The notice was sent on May 24 this year before he was arrested wherein the board had sought his written response within four weeks.

MB Tahsilar, Waqf Board CEO, further stated in the notice, Reply to the notice within four weeks of its receipt failing which criminal action under section 52 (A) will be taken against you by the board.

Ramod was nabbed by CBI sleuths on June 9 while accepting a bribe of 8 lakh to award higher land-acquisition compensation to farmers whose lands are being acquired for highway projects.

Also Read | Amid row over Bathinda librarys land ownership, waqf to seek probe

Searches conducted at the official and residential premises of Ramod at three locations in Pune led to the recovery of cash of 6 crore (approx); property-related documents including 14 immovable properties in the name of self and family; Investment and bank account details and other incriminating documents.

The show cause notice, a copy of which is available with Hindustan Times has named eighteen persons for carrying out illegal transactions (buying and selling) of the Waqf land property measuring around 19 acres.

Shirur Tahsilder in his order dated March 20, 2017, ordered the land in question was Waqf property and that it should be taken as a registered Waqf property on revenue records. Despite the order, due diligence and verification of the government property records were not done by Ramod who cancelled the tahsildars order. Prima facie it appears that Ramod while giving the order did not bother to check whether it was a Waqf property, neither MSWB was made a party to the decision nor the boards opinion was sought. Ramod ordered the transfer of the said waqf property in the name of private persons and facilitated an illegal transaction of the waqf property, the notice states.

Special Judge AS Waghmare had remanded Ramod to CBI custody till June 13. Following the expiry of the custody, the judge remanded him in judicial custody till June 27 after which the former top bureaucrat was lodged at Yerawada Central Prison.
RANCHI: In an interim relief, a special court in Ranchi on Friday allowed the prayer of Rahul Gandhi seeking at least 15-day time for appearance before it in connection with an ongoing hearing in the Modi surname case. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi . (ANI)

The court of magistrate Anamika Kisku had on May 3 rejected the petition of Gandhi for exemption from personal appearance in the matter. The Congress leader has challenged the order in Jharkhand high court which is yet to hear the matter.

Based on our petition in the high court we prayed for 15-day time. The court has posted the matter for next hearing on July 4, said Deepankar Roy, counsel of Gandhi.

The development is related to an ongoing defamation case in Jharkhand capital, filed by an advocate Pradip Modi, for his all Modis are thieves comment at an election rally in Ranchi in 2019. In a similar case, Gandhi was convicted by a Gujarat court in March and subsequently disqualified from the Lok Sabha.

The former Congress president had made the remark at a rally on March 3, 2019. Subsequently, Pradip Modi had filed the defamation case against Gandhi, who in turn had challenged the lower court summon in the high court.

The Jharkhand high court on July 2, 2022, had rejected his quashing petition. Subsequently, the lower court had issued fresh summons to Gandhi. A petition was filed by Gandhis lawyers seeking an exemption of personal appearance in the case. However, the special court on May 3 rejected the petition and issued fresh summons.
The highly anticipated Black Clover movie, titled "Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King," is finally hitting the screens soon, bringing the beloved characters and enchanting world of Black Clover to life like never before. Originally scheduled for March, the movie had to face delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But fear not, as the release date is just around the corner. he highly anticipated Black Clover movie, titled 'Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King,' is finally hitting the screens.

Release date

On Friday, June 16, fans can embark on an exhilarating cinematic adventure with Asta and his magical companions. While the movie will have a theatrical release in Japan, international fans can catch all the action on Netflix, as the streaming platform has secured the rights to bring the film to a global audience. Although the exact release time on Netflix has not been confirmed, we can expect it to follow the usual pattern of new releases.

Release time

Pacific Time: 12:00 AM

Mountain Time: 1:00 AM

Central Time: 2:00 AM

Eastern Time: 3:00 AM

British Time: 8:00 AM

European Time: 9:00 AM

Indian Time: 12:30 PM

With a runtime of 112 minutes, "Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King" promises stunning animation, courtesy of Studio Pierrot, renowned for their work on beloved anime series like Naruto, Bleach, and Tokyo Ghoul. This visual spectacle is sure to captivate viewers and transport them into the fantastical world of Black Clover.

Even if you're new to the series, don't worry! The movie will introduce a brand-new story arc, focusing on the Wizard Kings of the past, making it an ideal starting point for newcomers to dive into the magical realm of Black Clover.

Fans can look forward to seeing their favorite voice actors reprising their roles, bringing their beloved characters to life on the big screen. With Gakuto Kajiwara as Asta, Nobunaga Shimazaki as Yuno, Junichi Suwabe as Yami, and Toshiyuki Morikawa as Julius Novachrono, the stellar cast will deliver powerful performances that will leave audiences spellbound.

Also read | Kanroji Mitsuri's Breath of Love technique in Demon Slayer season 3 describes the sensations of love as 

So mark your calendars, set your alarms, and prepare to be swept away by the magic of "Black Clover: Sword of the Wizard King." It's a thrilling journey that fans won't want to miss, filled with action, adventure, and a dash of enchantment.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Anime adaptations of manga often present an intriguing canvas for animators to modify the original narrative. This sometimes manifests as dramatic shifts in villainous characters, not always to the audience's approval. Despite certain series like Fairy Tail or Demon Slayer aiming for manga-anime parity, numerous others opt for divergent pathways, often reshaping the antagonist's persona or significance within the series. Transformations in Vinland Saga: Comparing the Manga and Anime villains(Ufotable)

Significant shift of Manga Villains

Whether through minimizing brutality, introducing new arcs, lessening an antagonist's impact, or entirely erasing their presence, alterations in manga could drastically affect the characterization.

Deep dives into anime adaptations

1. Death Note: This series introduces Light Yagami, the protagonist turned cold-blooded murderer. While his objectives remain consistent in both anime and manga, differences in character development are apparent. In the anime, Light is depicted as a far more malevolent, corrupted individual with disdain for his peers and daily life. His remorseless demeanor when employing the Death Note starkly contrasts with his softer, discontented representation in the manga, which even includes signs of regret for his actions.

2. One Piece: The manga version of this beloved series is notably more violent, particularly when it comes to the antagonist, Arlong the Saw. His ruthless actions, including a graphic execution scene, are substantially toned down in the anime adaptation.

3. Dragon Ball Z: Garlic Jr, a love-hate figure in the series, is non-existent in Akira Toriyama's manga. His entire storyline, including the Dead Zone arc, is exclusive to the anime version.

4. Soul Eater: Crona's narrative displays significant variations in the anime and manga. Alterations due to censorship considerations resulted in a less horrifying portrayal in the anime. Also, her antagonistic role extends longer in the manga, including the shocking act of killing Medusa.

5. Tokyo Ghoul: Yamori, the villain who plays a crucial part in Ken Kaneki's character transformation, is depicted differently in the manga and anime. While the anime adaptation toned down the traumatic torture scenes, the manga includes more psychologically impactful moments that greatly influence Kaneki's development.

6. Twelve Kingdoms: The character Yuka Sugimoto has a relatively minor role in the manga. However, in the anime adaptation, she evolves into a central rival character to Youko, with the storyline diving deeper into their confrontations.

7. Naruto: The portrayal of Gaara, one of the series' initial antagonists, is notably softer in the anime adaptation. Gaara's violent actions and the death toll resulting from them are significantly minimized in the anime, making his subsequent redemption arc easier for viewers to accept.

8. Hunter X Hunter: The enigmatic antagonist Gyro receives substantial screen time in the anime, focusing on his challenging upbringing. However, his character undergoes dramatic transformations in the manga post the Chimera Ant arc, which are not reflected in the anime.

These bold shifts in character development and narrative direction highlight the complexity and creative liberties inherent in transforming manga to anime, leaving fans to debate the faithfulness and efficacy of such changes.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail
Ayushmann Khurrana's wife, writer, producer Tahira Kashyap took to her Instagram account and posted a heartfelt video of her mother-in-law Poonam who recently shifted to Mumbai after her husband, P. Khurana's death. Earlier this month, the actor was seen holding his mother's hand as the family returned to Mumbai from Chandigarh where his mother and father lived. His father died on May 19. Also read: Ayushmann Khurrana and Aparshakti Khurana hold their mother's hands as they return to Mumbai after father's death Ayushmann Khurrana's mother shifted to Mumbai.

Ayushamann's mother Poonam

The video features Poonam Khurana and narrates how she has been reconnecting with her new life in a new city at 73. It read, At 73, what do I choose to see? Is it going to be loneliness? Is that my destiny? Have shifted bases and moved to a new city. In a world without my most loved one can I still breath?

It further talks about how Poonam has met strangers on her own and made them her friends, a group of women she meets every day and they talk about various things, ranging from the benefits of yoga, mythology, acupuncture and some jokes. The video captures the ladies laughing and spending their time together. I think my life has just begun. I am all geared up, reads an excerpt from the ending note.

Sharing the video, Tahira wrote in the caption, Mother-in-law aka mama. The video has left many people emotional and happy. Celebrities like Aparshakti Khurana, Sonakshi Sinha and Ekta Kapoor dropped heart emojis in the comment section.

Internet sends love for Poonam and Tahira

An Instagram user wrote to Tahira, This is so beautifully inspiring. Youre a true wordsmith. This is so beautiful.your voice, message everything is perfectlove and power to your mother-in-law, added another one. Someone also commented, A 360 degree change at this age is so tough such is life but fortunate to have such loving sons and daughter-in-law.

Ayushmann's father's death

The news of P Khurana's death was confirmed by Aparshakti's spokesperson. The family issued a statement which read, 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. He is survived by his two sons, Ayushmann, and Aparshakti and their wives, Tahira and Akriti, and his wife Poonam.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Karan Deol is all set to tie the knot with Drisha Acharya this weekend and the couple threw a sangeet party in Mumbai on Friday. In attendance were Karan's dad Sunny Deol and uncles Bobby and Abhay Deol. (Also read: Inside Karan Deol and Drisha Acharya's pre-wedding celebrations) Karan Deol and Drisha Acharya with Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol and Abhay Deol.

Who wore what

Karan and Drisha turned up in matching black outfits. She wore an ornate black lehenga with an off-shoulder blouse and he wore a heavily embroidered sherwani. The couple posed for photos outside the venue before making their way inside.

Sunny Deol decided to bring back his iconic character from Gadar Tara Singh's look to the party. He wore a plaid jacket over a grey kurta and salwar. He also wore a beige pagg like Tara Singh. Bobby looked handsome in his light pink-peach outfit and got his pictures clicked with his wife Tanya, who wore a yellow lehenga. Sunny and Bobby's cousin Abhay Deol wore a pink sherwani and showed big smiles to the cameras.

The roka ceremony

The wedding festivities began with a roka ceremony on Monday night and videos and pictures from the festivities are trending. A video of Sunny Deol dancing to the song Morni Banke from the 2018 film Badhaai Ho is everywhere on social media. Sunny, Bobby and cousin Abhay Deol also posed together at the roka ceremony.

Karan and Drisha are all set to tie the knot on June 18. Reportedly, grandpa Dharmendra will only attend the couple's wedding and none of the other functions. They have been in a relationship for a long time now.

Karan's partner is from Dubai and does not belong to the film fraternity, as per an ANI source. The engagement ceremony reportedly took place on the occasion of the marriage anniversary of his grandparents, Dharmendra and Prakash Kaur, in a close-knit ceremony.

About Karan's work

Karan is also an actor. He made his acting debut in his father's 2019 movie Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas. Not just Karan, the film also marked the Bollywood debut of Sahher Bambba. And the film was directed by his father Sunny Deol.

After debuting in 'Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas', Karan featured in 'Velle' in 2021. The film marked Karan's first on screen collaboration with his uncle Abhay Deol. The film also starred Mouni Roy and Anya Singh. It was produced by Ajay Devgn and directed by debutante Deven Munjal. It is said to be the Hindi adaptation of the 2019 Telugu movie Brochevarevarura.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Actor-filmmaker Rakesh Roshan and his wife Pinkie Roshan recently hosted monk and motivational speaker Gaur Gopal Das. Their children Hrithik Roshan and Sunaina Roshan as well as granddaughter Suranika also attended the get-together. Rakesh's brother Rajesh Roshan's daughter Pashmina Roshan was also seen. (Also Read | Virat Kohli calls Hrithik Roshan's Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai a cult' hit) Gaur Gopal Das with Sunaina Roshan, Hrithik Roshan, Pinkie Roshan, Rakesh Roshan and Suranika Soni.

Rakesh's post

Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Rakesh shared a picture with Gaur Gopal Das at his home. The photo also featured Hrithik, Sunaina Roshan and Suranika. All of them posed and smiled for the camera. For the meet, Hrithik opted for a full-sleeved maroon T-shirt, blue denims and a yellow cap. Rakesh wore a white shirt and trousers. Pinkie, Sunaina and Suranika were seen in ethnic wear.

Rakesh captioned the post, "It was such an honour to have @gaurgopaldas come to our home and bless us with his presence and words (hibiscus emoji) filled with gratitude (folded hands emoji)." Reacting to the post, Gaur Gopal Das commented, "It was an absolute pleasure spending time with all of you. Thank you so much for having me over @rakesh_roshan9 ji."

Pinkie's post

Pinkie Roshan also shared a post on Instagram as all of them including Pashmina sat and listened to Gaur Gopal Das. She also gave a peek inside her living room. Several chairs were seen in the room next to a wooden chair. The walls were painted in white with one side featuring a photo of Rakesh hugging Hrithik from behind. A few tables, several potted plants, and art pieces were also seen in the room. A rug was placed in the centre of the room.

She captioned the post, "A blessed day!!!! A day in Gratitude. A humbling day. In the midst of @gaurgopaldas an unforgettable experience to hear and share at our home. Overwhelmed and THANKFUL to @gaurgopaldas once again." A comment read, "He is truly wonderful missed being there and listening to his discourse! Always admired him !" An Instagram user wrote, "Yes he is such a peaceful & humble human being.

Hrithik's upcoming films

Fans will see Hrithik in Siddharth Anand's Fighter, billed as India's first aerial-action film. The film also stars Anil Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Karan Singh Grover. It will release in theatres in January 2024. He also has War 2 in the pipeline.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Actor Kareena Kapoor has reacted after actor-sister Karisma Kapoor shared a throwback photo also featuring her. Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Karisma posted a selfie, seemingly from the sisters' family trip to the Maldives. (Also Read | Shahid Kapoor recalls spoiling Karisma Kapoor's Dil To Pagal Hai song as background dancer) Karisma Kapoor shared an old pic also featuring Kareena Kapoor.

Karisma's post

In the photo, Karisma Kapoor posed for the selfie on a beach. She wore a blue bikini with black sunglasses. Kareena lay on a hammock as she scrolled on her phone. Karisma captioned the post, "Pouting, while the sister is scrolling (winking face, grinning squinting face and red heart emojis)." She also added the hashtags  role reversal, throwback and sister squad.

Reactions to Karisma's photo

Reacting to the pictures, Bhakhtyar Irani commented, "Tan tan aa tan tan tan @therealkarismakapoor awesome." A comment read, "Haha just sibling things." Talking about Kareena busy on her phone, a person asked, "Wonder who is her internet provider on this deserted island?!" "She zooming in," a person said. "Queen of Bollywood," a fan said.

Kareena reacts

Taking to her Instagram Stories, Kareena shared Karisma's post. She captioned it, "Learning to pout I see (star eyes and heart eyes emojis)." Re-sharing Kareena's post on Instagram Stories, Karisma wrote, "Learning from the best (hugging face and red heart emojis)."

Taking to her Instagram Stories, Kareena shared Karisma's post.

Karisma and Kareena's Maldives trip

Karisma and Kareena travelled for a vacation to the Maldives last year in March with their children. The duo had shared several pictures on Instagram from their trip. On Instagram Karisma had shared a photo with a red heart emoji and added the hashtags, "spring break 2022, this is us, family love".

Kareena had shared the same picture on her Instagrama nd wrote, "Spring Break 2022 @therealkarismakapoor @thesamairakapur#Kiaan#TimTim#Jeh Baba." The photograph showed the sisters next to each other at the beachside. They were accompanied by Kareena's kids Taimur Ali Khan and Jeh Ali Khan, and Karisma's kids Samaira Kapoor and Kiaan Raj Kapoor.

Karisma's upcoming projects

Karisma will be next seen in an upcoming series Brown. Helmed by Abhinay Deo, Brown is based on Rita Brown, a suicidal alcoholic, and Arjun Sinha, a widower with survivor's guilt. The protagonists need to deal with an unstoppable serial killer on the loose. Apart from that, she also has director Homi Adajania's next Murder Mubarak alongside Sara Ali Khan.

Kareena's upcoming films

Fans will see Kareena with Tabu, Kriti Sanon, and Diljit Dosanjh in the film The Crew. The shoot of the film commenced last week. Helmed by Rajesh Krishnan, the film is a story of three women. It is touted as a laugh-riot, set against the backdrop of the struggling airline industry. However, their destinies lead to unwarranted situations and they get caught in a web of lies. She also has Sujoy Ghosh's next thriller film which is based on the book The Devotion Of Suspect X. It also stars Vijay Varma and Jaideep Ahlawat.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Impactful storytelling through the medium of cinema and appropriate representation of characters onscreen can move mountains. And when it comes to stories of queer community being told on screen, the recent years have witnessed a significant evolution. Be it the narratives, portrayal of these characters and also how audiences mindset has changed towards the community, there definitely is better understanding of the whole subject. Actors Regina Cassandra and Pratik Gandhi portrayed queer characters in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga and Modern Love Mumbai respectively.

Through their convincing performances, actors have transcended stereotypes, shattered biases, and opened doors to a new era of acceptance. As the nation celebrates Pride Month, we talk to actors who have fearlessly portrayed queer characters, who discuss how their roles have impacted individuals, and how Indian audiences are embracing queer content like never before.

Bani J - Four More Shots Please!

Bani J in Four More Shots Please.

I wish I had the data to quantify if Indian audiences have started accepting LGBTQIA+ content now. But yes, I do feel that with the number of shows or content coming out, and the amount of exposure these stories and characters are now getting, audiences are definitely watching [and liking these stories]. When it comes to their mindset, however, one can only hope it gets changed with time.

Im glad we got to tackle the stigma in our show Four More Shots Please!, along with showing how real and normal queer characters are. My bisexual character, Umang Singh, showcased very simply that queer people exist, they have a heart and that they (and their stories) deserve respect just like everyone else. Its important that the way these characters are portrayed isnt done in a demeaning or caricature-ish way. I most definitely think shows and films can help impact society and promote inclusivity.

Gulshan Devaiah - Badhaai Do

Gulshan Devaiah in Badhaai Do.

I can relate to one surprising experience, which clearly shows that things are changing. I was shooting in Dehradun, and coincidentally, Raj (actor Rajkummar Rao) was also there. There were so many times that elderly women above 60, who had grandchildren would come to me and Raj to appreciate our film Badhaai Do (where they played queer characters). They even said that we were such a great couple on screen. Ive not read any research papers or statistics about it. But, this is my experience.

We underestimate our society to some extent. I think now people are a lot more open. It really depends on how you communicate it to them. With any sensitive topic, you cant shove everything down somebodys throat. I dont know if there is a change as such, but there are definitely more stories being told. In Badhaai Do, I was just sincere and honest with the script, and I think it did impact the audience in a way. My character was in a way a part of bringing this change.

Sayani Gupta - Margarita With A Straw

Sayani Gupta with Kalki Koechlin in Magherita With A Straw.

I know that a lot of people said no to playing the queer character in Margarita With A Straw, which finally I portrayed. They didnt want to do it because they were scared. I never saw any merit to that thought at all. It shouldnt be a stigma for anybody. Not doing a part like this is being dumb. I did not care about the acceptance of the audience, I did it because its a good part and a great script. The younger generation and even the older generation people are becoming much more aware, open, and inclusive. When we made the film in 2013, and now a decade later, people have become way more accepting towards such stories, and my character in the film is a part of bringing this acceptance.

Regina Cassandra - Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga

Regina Cassandra in a still from Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga.

The film industry has evolved with time, and it has definitely evolved for the better. As someone who has played a queer character, Im very happy to be someone who was in the initial phase of this evolution. There has always been an audience for LGBTQIA+ content. But yes, there are now more people who understand these social aspects and theres more awareness and inclusion. Cinema in a way has shaped that.

It was so surprising when a few years ago, a girl from the North East came up to me and said, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga was my gay awakening. It made me feel so happy that my character actually impacted a set of people. It might have helped many in standing up for themselves. There will be challenges, but then this is your story, and you have to do this.

Pratik Gandhi, Modern Love Mumbai

Pratik Gandhi in Modern Love: Mumbai.

Things are changing slowly, and the Indian audience is also understanding that queer stories are much more beyond just sex. Along with the audience, Indian cinema has also evolved in showcasing queer content in shows and films. We are seeing many good stories and characters, with very sensitive representation of the LGBTQIA+ community. Earlier, these characters and concepts were shown in a comic manner, but now theyre more real and better fleshed out.

Our approach in Modern Love Mumbai was also very deep, and not at all cliche. Those gay characters played by me and Ranveer Brar were not at all stereotypical, instead very simple and true to their own selves. They (members of the queer community) are one of us and dont need to be spelled out differently. I think my character Manzar played an important role in promoting inclusivity and impacting society. The way he stood for himself, and tried explaining to his family and the way he manoeuvred around it was very real. Pyaar sirf pyaar hota hai.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
30 years ago, actor Rahul Bose made his acting debut in English, August. Since then he has acted in multiple movies, directed, penned and helmed a few. With his three decade journey, Bose is quite content with his film choices. A career is decided not by what you say yes to, but what you say no to. A lot of people have difficulty saying no. So Im very happy with that, he mentions. Rahul Bose (Twitter)

Having said that Bose does have a few regrets. In fact, he doesnt relate the clan claiming they have no regrets.I would definitely change my life if I had a chance, he confesses, further elaborating, I would change many little things. Ive been mean to people in school. Ive been rude to teachers. Ive been a real pain in the neck for my parents. Ive been rebellious. Ive been way too full of myself. Sometimes I havent worked hard enough. I have many things with me and my behaviour and my personality that I would love to have changed.

When he talks about saying no to movies, Bose admits he has said to a few. They were more mainstream (than the ones I did). They were more in the comedy genre. And I had done enough of it, he says.

Meanwhile, recently, reports about his upcoming projects said it that the actor will be seen in filmmaker actor Farhan Akhtars Jee Lee Zara that stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt. Though the film hasnt started filming yet, it was speculated that Bose features in the film. But refuting all rumours, the actor denies any involvement with the movie. Let me categorically say that Im not (doing the movie). Neither Farhan nor anybody (from the production) has approached me. I am definitely not part of the project, he shares.

On his personal front, the 55-year-old chooses to continue being single. Im the president of the Indian Rugby Federation, I have two NGOs that I run, Ive acted in five films last year, Im directing my next film. Do you really, really think I have time? Last year I went out, just socializing, six times in 2022. I stepped out of my house six times. So where would there be hope for any woman in my life? Its completely in the realm of impossibility right now. Im not proud of it, and Im not happy about it. Its just this is the way it is, he explains.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
On Friday, actor Saif Ali Khan was seen arriving for the Adipurush screening in Mumbai. The actor who plays Lankesh in the film, wasn't alone as his sons, Taimur and Ibrahim joined him for the movie. A video of them reaching for the theatrical screening on the first day of the release has surfaced. Also read: Adipurush review: Saif Ali Khan and Prabhas fight it out with their CGI armies, film offers a visual spectacle Saif Ali Khan, Ibrahim Ali Khan and Taimur Ali Khan at Adipurush screening. (Photo: Varinder Chawla)(Varinder Chawla)

Saif and his sons at Adipurush screening

In the video, Saif is seen getting out of his vehicle with a casual look. He wore a blue T-shirt with denim pants. Upon seeing the media, he flashed a thumbs up sign at them. Following him, Taimur was seen walking behind with his nannies. Saif's eldest son Ibrahim Ali Khan was also with them, posed for the media before watching the film.

Saif has four kids. Ibrahim Ali Khan is his eldest son with his ex-wife Amrita Singh. He is also the brother of Sara Ali Khan. Saif married Kareena Kapoor after parting ways with Amrita Singh. Kareena and Saif have two sonsTaimur Ali Khan and Jehangir Ali Khan. Ibrahim is currently gearing up for his Bollywood debut.

Adipurush

Adipurush is an interpretation of Ramayana, directed by Om Raut. It stars Prabhas as Raghav, inspired by Rama, Kriti Sanon as Janaki, inspired by Sita, and Saif Ali Khan as Lankesh, inspired by Ravana. The film also has Sunny Singh and Devdatta Nage.

The film released on Friday and has turned out to be the widest release in India this year. It's out in both 2D and 3D formats, and in five languages: Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada. The film received a tremendous response via advanced booking and is expected to open in huge numbers, as per film trade insiders.

Adipurush review

However, the film has received mixed reactions. While fans have been raving about it, critics have expressed their disappointment with the film. The Hindustan Times review of Adipurush reads, Adipurush is merely a Bollywood-ised version of one of the most epic tales that ever existed. If you keep the story aside for it's largely known to all, the execution turns out to be a messy blend of over-the-top CGI and passable VFX, and making it worse are the intentionally funny dialogues that sound misplaced in a sensitive and mythological story."

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Actor Shahid Kapoor vaguely clarified his thoughts behind his recent comment when he said the South Indian audience should watch Hindi films wholeheartedly. On Friday he conducted an ask me anything session on Twitter for the promotion of his upcoming film Bloody Daddy. During the session, he replied to various questions including one about his request to the South audience. Also read: Shahid Kapoor tells Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam audience to accept Hindi films Shahid Kapoor reacted to a question on Twitter regarding his recent comment on South audience. (ANI Photo) (Sunil Khandare)

Shahid Kapoor on Twitter

Shahid tweeted, How about a BLOODY qna sess with DADDY. A Twitter user wrote to him, Sir you said south Indian audience don't watch Hindi films? Why? You have such thinking we love to watch every movie if it is good. We love movies sir.

Shahid Kapoor on urging South audience to watch Hindi films

Responding to the questions, Shahid stressed upon the importance of cinema without any specific language barrier. He said, Of course I love South Indian films myself. Especially during the lockdown watched so many. Idea is cinema is universal now more that ever. So there should be no boundaries in Indian art and artists. And thank you I love you all very much.

Shahid's remark

Last week, Shahid during an interview urged audiences from the South to 'accept' Hindi films. The actor said that just as the Hindi audience has 'wholeheartedly' accept their films, the 'Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada audience' should also reciprocate and watch Hindi movies too.

He told Bollywood Spy, Mujhe nahi lagta we should draw any kinds of lines, and I would say that for even the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada audience, I would say ki aap bhi Hindi films dekho, kyuni Hindi audience toh dil khol ke aapki films accept kar rahi hai. Toh aap bhi hamari films accept karo, toh hi toh cinema grow karega. Toh khula dil hona chahiye, woh acceptance honi chahiye aur har taraf se honi chahiye (There should be no division. Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada audience should also accept Hindi cinema the way the Hindi audience has wholeheartedly accepted south Indian films. They should also have a big heart). I feel like everybody should work with each other... everybody should come together to add more value, so more people go to the theatres. But everybody should have the same attitude, he added. His words attracted mixed reactions from social media users.

Apart from Bloody Daddy, Shahid will be seen next in an untitled romantic film with Kriti Sanon.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail
London was buzzing with excitement as Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell made a stunning appearance at a screening of their highly anticipated film, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One. The dynamic duo, known for their on-screen chemistry, exited the Dolby Screening Room London Soho separately but left a lasting impression with their monochrome ensembles. Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell made a stunning appearance at a screening of their highly anticipated film, Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One(RICKY VIGIL M / JUSTIN E PALMER/GC IMAGES)

Hayley Atwell, 41, looked effortlessly chic in a white button-up shirt paired with cream-colored trousers, exuding a timeless elegance. She added a pop of color with orange peep-toe heeled sandals and carried a vibrant red bag. Meanwhile, Cruise, 60, embraced his signature sleek style in an all-black ensemble, donning a polo shirt, slacks, and matching shoes. His Top Gun: Maverick vibes were complete with a pair of aviator sunglasses, as he graciously waved and smiled for photographers.

Although Cruise and Atwell have been seen together in various outings, including the 2021 Wimbledon women's singles finals alongside co-star Pom Klementieff, rumors of a romantic relationship were swiftly debunked in December 2020. An insider clarified, "Not true at all!" Cruise has remained private about his personal life since his 2012 divorce from Katie Holmes, with whom he shares a daughter, Suri, now 17. The actor was previously married to Nicole Kidman, and they have two children, Isabella, 30, and Connor, 28.

In the upcoming Mission: Impossible film, Cruise reprises his iconic role as Ethan Hunt, leading his team on a mission to prevent a dangerous weapon from falling into the wrong hands. The action-packed plot promises a global race against time, with high-stakes thrills and a mysterious adversary. Ethan Hunt must grapple with the weight of his mission, even if it means sacrificing those he cares about most.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Ving Rhames, Esai Morales, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Mariela Garriga, Henry Czerny, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Charles Parnell, Frederick Schmidt, Cary Elwes, Mark Gatiss, Indira Varma, and Rob Delaney. The film is helmed by acclaimed director Christopher McQuarrie, a longtime collaborator of Cruise's, who also wrote the screenplay. McQuarrie is set to direct the upcoming sequel, Dead Reckoning Part Two, slated for release in 2024.

Also read | Tom Cruise gives 'The Flash' a speedy thumbs-up, superstar's seal of approval boosts filmmakers' confidence

Fans eagerly anticipate the thrilling escapades and electrifying performances in Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, which is set to hit theaters on July 12. With Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell leading the charge, audiences are in for a heart-pounding cinematic experience that will leave them on the edge of their seats.
Andy Cohen and John Mayer are in love. On Wednesdays episode of SiriusXMs The Howard Stern Show, Cohen expressed his love for Mayer. Andy Cohen and John Mayer(Twitter)

I am in love with John Mayer. We are in love with each other, said Cohen.

During the show, Cohen further revealed that his relationship with Mayer hasn't been sexual.

Swear on your childrens lives that there has never been anything sexual between you and John Mayer, asked Stern.

ALSO READ| 83-year-old Al Pacino welcomes his first child with 29-year-old girlfriend Noor Alfallah

Yes. I do. I swear, said Cohen in reply.

Notably, Mayer attended baby shower for Cohen's son, spoke at Cohens Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in February 2022, and sang to Cohen for his 50th birthday. Fans of the stars have often wondered about the equation between them.

In December 2022, Cohen talked about Mayer on "Table for Two with Bruce Bozzi".

"John Mayer is someone who is very in touch with his emotions. He very quickly in our friendship started saying, 'You know what, I gotta tell you something  I love you,' said Cohen.

He is someone to say, 'I love you and I cherish you and I cherish our friendship'  just this stuff that straight guys aren't necessarily supposed to say, added Cohen.

In an interview to CNN in 2018, Cohen revealed that he wasn't dating Mayer and that they were just great friends.

Listen, we have a very sweet friendship, and we are together all the time, said Cohen.

Speaking on the matter of fans speculating on his relationship with Mayer, Cohen said: I think that I was not surprised because we also have a great love for each other. So, it just seems like the obvious assumption.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The drama unfolds as fans eagerly anticipate streaming Meghan Markle's hit series "Suits" on Netflix, coinciding with King Charles III's highly anticipated birthday parade, known as Trooping the Colour. This age-old tradition, celebrated at the start of summer to make the most of the splendid weather, adds an extra layer of tension to an already strained relationship between the royal family and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Netflix recently announced the availability of "Suits - The Complete Series" in the United States starting on June 17, the same day King Charles III's highly anticipated birthday parade, known as Trooping the Colour is scheduled to take place.

Netflix recently announced the availability of "Suits - The Complete Series" in the United States starting on June 17, further fueling the ongoing feud. This streaming platform also hosts the couple's docuseries, "Harry & Meghan," which made its debut in December, capturing the attention of millions worldwide.

Sources estimate that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry secured a monumental deal worth around $100 million with Netflix for their six-episode bombshell. The Post reached out to representatives for Markle and Buckingham Palace for comment, but both parties remained tight-lipped, adding to the speculation surrounding the situation.

"Suits" followed the gripping tale of a fictional New York City law firm, with Markle portraying the character of Rachel Zane, a paralegal-turned-attorney who eventually ties the knot with fellow lawyer Mike Ross, played by Patrick J. Adams. The actress appeared in the USA Network series from its inception in 2011 until Season 7, bidding farewell to the show just weeks before her wedding to Prince Harry in April 2018.

Interestingly, "Suits" served as Markle's final acting project. Reflecting on her time in the industry, she acknowledged the existence of an unspoken toxicity, long before movements like #MeToo and #OscarsSoWhite shed light on systemic issues. In an interview with Variety, Markle shared her experience of navigating a culture that often silenced concerns and discomfort.

For the Duchess of Sussex, landing a steady role on a show was a lifelong ambition, with countless failed attempts and pilot seasons. Even during Season 1 of "Suits," Markle lived in constant fear of being recast. She recalled conversations with the show's creator, who questioned her anxieties and prompted her to confront the source of her unease.

As the streaming debut of "Suits" on Netflix coincides with King Charles III's birthday parade, speculation intensifies regarding the strained relationship between the Sussexes and the royal family. Reports suggest that the couple has not received an invitation to the upcoming celebrations, possibly due to Prince Harry's ongoing legal battles against Mirror Group Newspapers.

Also Read | Can Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's marriage survive the power struggle? Expert breaks it down

While Harry briefly attended his father's coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey last month, he spent less than 24 hours in the UK, rushing back home to celebrate his son Archie's fourth birthday. The absence of an invitation to King Charles' birthday celebrations further exacerbates tensions and reflects the current state of relations between the Sussexes and the royal family, according to an unidentified source cited by Daily Mail columnist Richard Eden.

The coronation itself marked the official transfer of power to King Charles following the tragic passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September at the age of 96. As the saga continues, only time will tell how the streaming drama and ongoing legal battles will shape the already strained relationship between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the royal family.

In this captivating chapter of the royal saga, the convergence of streaming drama, legal battles, and royal protocols leaves fans eagerly awaiting the next twist in the ongoing saga. The intricate web of relationships, power dynamics, and personal ambitions captivates the public's imagination as they await further revelations from both sides of the divide.
A 15-year-old boy was allegedly thrashed and burnt alive in Andhra Pradeshs Bapatla district by a 21-year-old man and three others for opposing his sisters harassment, his family said in a police complaint on Friday. A 15-year-old boy was allegedly thrashed and burnt alive in Andhra Pradeshs Bapatla district by a 21-year-old man and three others (Agencies/Representative use)

According to police, the Class 10 student, a resident of Uppalavaripalam village, was going for tuition in the nearby Rajavolu village when the local residents heard his screams and saw him engulfed in flames.

The villagers extinguished the fire and rushed him to the Guntur Government General Hospital. Although the victim could not speak clearly, he gave the name of Rajavolu resident Venkateshwara Reddy. He, however, did not specify if Reddy set on him fire or if others were involved. But we have detained Reddy and interrogating him, Bapatla SP Vakul Jindal said, adding that the victim died of severe burn injuries

In her police complaint, the victims mother said that Reddy was stalking her 17-year-old daughter for two years and her son had opposed the harassment, police said. She added that Reddy recently threatened to kill her son, they added. She said that on Friday, Reddy and three others waylaid her son, poured petrol on him and set him on fire.

Police have registered a case under sections 302 (murder), 323(voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), 354 D (stalking) and Section 8 of the Pocso Act, police officials familiar with the matter said.
Five heavily armed terrorists of JK Ghaznavi Force (JKGF), a Pakistan-based terror group, were killed as security forces foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Kupwara district on Friday, police said. HT Image

The incident took place in Jumagund area of Keran sector, when security forces launched an anti-infiltration operation on Thursday evening on the basis of inputs by J&K Police. An encounter broke out after the deceased terrorists, whose identities could not be ascertained immediately, opened fire at the forces, the officials said.

Five foreign terrorists were killed in an encounter at Jumagund near LoC, Kashmir additional director general of police (ADGP) Vijay Kumar said.

ADGP Kumar said the terrorists belonged to JKGF, which also has Rafiq Nai and Shamsher Nai, both residents of Poonch district, but presently settled in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), as its handlers. The group also has Murtaza Pathan, alias Ghaznvi, a resident of Faisalabad in Pakistan, supervising the tactical aspects of JKGF from PoK, the officer said.

Girish Kalia, general officer commanding of Vajr Division, said while there is a ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan, security forces have been getting a large number of intelligence inputs of likely infiltration from across the LoC in the recent past.

On June 15, we received inputs from J&K police about the possible infiltration of a group of terrorists in Jumagund area of Keran sector. Based on this input, multiple ambushes were established along the routes of infiltration. The entire fence in the area was kept under surveillance, Kalia told a press conference.

On the intervening night of June 15 and 16, the security forces detected the movement of the terrorists. The infiltrating terrorists were engaged with precise and accurate fire and in the ensuing gunbattle, five unidentified terrorists were neutralised with no collateral damage, he added.

Kalia said the terrorists were heavily armed and appeared to be well trained. The (anti-infiltration) operation continued throughout the night and a detailed search was held in the area with the first light. During the search, large quantities of war-like stores, five AK series rifles, 15 magazines, ammunition, grenades, night vision devices and binoculars were recovered, he said.

The officer said the operation is a reflection of the high level of synergy between the Indian Army and J&K Police, who have been working tirelessly to ensure that our beloved J&K remains peaceful and continues to progress on the path of development and prosperity.

At least 18 terrorists were killed in various operations in J&K so far this year. Eleven of them were killed during anti-infiltration operations along the LoC, according to the police.

Army spokesman Col Emron Musavi said there is a drop in infiltration attempts this year. After the ceasefire in 2021, the number of such attempts from north Kashmir have reduced, he said.
Australia on Friday named career diplomat Philip Green as the next high commissioner to India, with foreign minister Penny Wong describing the two countries as close partners working for a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region. Philip Green. (Twitter)

Green, a senior officer with the department of foreign affairs and trade, served recently as Australias ambassador to Germany. He has also served as the high commissioner to Singapore, South Africa and Kenya.

Green will replace Barry OFarrell, who has played a crucial role in shaping and guiding Australias defence, security, and trade relations with India over the past three years.

During OFarrells watch, the two countries signed the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement (MLSA), which gives the armed forces reciprocal access to bases and logistics, and the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA).

Wong also announced the appointment of Hilary McGeachy as Australias first consul-general in Bengaluru. The new consulate in Bengaluru will be Australias fifth mission in India, with consular responsibilities for Karnataka and Telangana.

The consulate will deepen trade, investment, and people-to-people ties and strengthen Australias technology partnership with South India, she said. McGeachy has earlier served in India and Germany.

While announcing Greens appointment, Wong said the Australia-India relationship has never been closer.

She said: Australia and India share perspectives, challenges, and a democratic heritage. We are working together, through our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and as Quad partners, to promote a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, where sovereignty is respected.

Along with deepening defence and security cooperation, the two countries have a mutually beneficial economic partnership, which will expand as they work to finalise a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA), she said.

Wong also thanked OFarrell for his contribution to advancing Australias interests in India.

OFarrell, a political appointee of the previous Scott Morrison government, became high commissioner in February 2020. He earlier served in the parliament or state legislature of New South Wales during 1995-2015, including as the states premier between 2011 and 2014.

Even during his stint as premier, OFarrell led annual trade missions to India to promote economic, cultural and social links between New South Wales and Indian states. He also served as New South Wales special envoy for India.

Besides their close cooperation alongside Japan and the US within the Quad, the security cooperation between India and Australia has been deepened because of shared concerns over Chinas actions across the Indo-Pacific.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rezaul H Laskar Rezaul H Laskar is the Foreign Affairs Editor at Hindustan Times. His interests include movies and music. ...view detail
A political row broke out on Friday in Tamil Nadu over the continuation of arrested minister V Senthil Balaji, even as a Chennai court granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody of the politician for eight days, but allowed the federal agency to question him only in the private hospital where he is undergoing treatment for heart-related issue. Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji.

In a statement, governor RN Ravi accepted chief minister MK Stalins suggestion to distribute Balajis portfolios between two other ministers after holding out for two days but added that he didnt agree to the arrested politicians continuation in the state cabinet. Under the law, the governor has no say in this regard, which is the domain of the chief minister. Order has also been issued for Mr V Senthil Balaji to continue as Minister Without Portfolio, the statement said.

The governor has not agreed to Thiru V Senthil Balaji continuing any longer as a Member of the Council of Ministers, as he is facing criminal proceedings for moral turpitude and is currently in Judicial custody, it added.

On June 14, ED arrested Balaji over money laundering charges in a 2011-2015 corruption case. Hours later, he was admitted to a Chennai hospital, where doctors recommended an immediate heart surgery. Since then, he has remained in hospital.

In the afternoon of June 14, citing Balajis health condition, Stalin sent a file to the governor, informing him that Balajis portfolios will be re-allocated to two other ministers. But around 6pm, Ravi returned it, stating that Stalins reasons were misleading and incorrect. Immediately, Stalin called for a meeting and sent another file to the governor, pressing him to accept the portfolio changes. On Friday, Ravi accepted the changes.

Finance minister Thangam Thenarrasu and housing minister S Muthusamy will handle Balajis two important portfolios - electricity and prohibition, and excise - respectively.

But his statement disapproving of Balajis continuation sparked another controversy.

A governor or anyone has no right under the Constitution to decide on cabinet portfolios which is the prerogative of a CM, said Tamil Nadu speaker M Appavu. Unless an elected representative is convicted, they wouldnt have to be removed. Even as the political row brewed, principal district judge S Alli ordered eight-day ED custody for Balaji, who appeared via-video conferencing.

He opposed it (being shifted from judicial custody to EDs custody), telling the judge that his surgery is being fixed and he is unwell, said Balajis counsel and DMK spokesperson A Saravanan. His surgery will be performed in another 3-5 days.

Based on our concern that ED officials may take him out of the hospital, the judge ordered that he has to be investigated inside the hospital, added Saravanan.

After 18 hours of questioning, ED arrested Balaji under the prevention of money laundering act (PMLA) on June 14 at 1:39 am. Complaining of chest pains, Balaji was admitted to the Omandurar government hospital after 2.30 am where doctors recommended a by-pass surgery after diagnosing three blocks in his heart. On June 14, Balaji was remanded under judicial custody but allowed to stay in the hospital. On June 15 night, Balaji moved to the Kauvery hospital after a nod from the Madras high court.

Kauvery hospital also advised a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery for Balaji who is in the ICU with cardiac monitoring, a medical bulletin from the hospital said on Friday.

The allegations against Balaji date back to 2011-15 when he was the transport minister in the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government. The complaints against him had alleged that he had taken money from candidates in return for promised jobs. Many candidates did not get jobs despite allegedly paying bribes, the complaints had alleged. After the allegations, Balaji was dropped from the cabinet and he quit AIADMK after former chief minister J Jayalalithas death in 2016. He joined the DMK in December 2018.

In May, the Supreme Court allowed ED to continue its money laundering investigations in the alleged job scam overruling a Madras high court order of 2022. Balaji was arrested two weeks after the income-tax (I-T) department raided over 40 places across in Tamil Nadu linked to the minister.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose on Friday visited Bhangore in South 24 Parganas district, which witnessed sporadic violence between supporters of rival political groups over nomination filing for the state panchayat elections. Charred remains of vehicles after clashes broke out over filing of nominations for upcoming West Bengal Panchayat polls, at Bhangore area in South 24 Parganas, on Friday. (PTI)

Addressing the media, Bose said, Whoever has instigated the violence will be put behind bars. Bose added that the violence should die a silent death in Bengal".

I can assure the people of Bengal that violence will be the first victim in this election. Perpetrators of violence will be silenced in a permanent way under the Constitution, under the law of the land, Bose told the reporters.

On Thursday, the governor said, in a statement, that victory in elections should depend on the count of votes, not the count of dead bodies.

Bose visited Bijoyganj market at Bhangore, which was the centre point of violence and spoke to the people and district police and administration officials.

At least four persons were shot dead and several others injured in violence in the state on the last day of nomination filing on Thursday, with most of the strife having been reported from Bhangore, some 25 km to the southeast of Kolkata, where two persons were killed.

The other person was killed at Chopra in North Dinajpur district in connection with the nomination filing-related violence.

(With inputs from agencies)

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Cyclone Biparjoy swept through several parts of Gujarat on Friday, damaging homes, uprooting trees, snapping electricity, and causing flooding in Saurashtra and Kutch in the hours after it made landfall near the Jakhau port late on Thursday, with winds gusting up to 140k/hr. A drone view of a broken bridge along the Naliya-Bhuj highway. (REUTERS)

Intensive preparations by multiple central and state agencies and the evacuation of over a 100,000 people, however, meant casualties were contained, with two deaths reported before landfall on Thursday. In all, officials said on Friday, 23 injuries were confirmed and no known fatalities had taken place once the cyclone crossed into land.

Gujarat commissioner of relief, Alok Pandey, said that a total of 1,137 trees fell, obstructing 263 roads, most of which were restored. The cyclonic winds also caused substantial power outages, with 5,120 power poles collapsing and affecting over 4,600 villages.

In terms of structural damage, Pandey said 65 huts, 20 mud houses and nine brick-and-mortar homes collapsed while 474 more mud houses and two permanent homes were partially damaged.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) director general Atul Karwal said: Two lives were lost before the landfall, which is tragic but there were no deaths after the cyclone made landfall There is cell phone connectivity and the number of concrete houses damaged is in single digits.

The massive evacuation appears to have been successful in averting any significant number of casualties, as had been in 2021 when cyclone Tauktae followed a similar trajectory. The lessons from such mobilisation, the template for which was set a decade ago in Odisha, must continue to be followed for future disaster threats.

Originally categorised as an extremely severe cyclonic storm, Biparjoy made landfall as a slightly weakened but still very severe cyclone, bringing heavy rain to Gujarat. The storm lost its intensity and was expected to turn into a deep depression as it headed towards Rajasthan, where it was forecast to trigger heavy rain.

Jakhau and Mandvi towns, in Gujarats Kutch region, bore the brunt of the cyclone following the landfall that began at 6.30pm on Thursday and took about five hours to complete.

The strong winds caused temporary sheds and hoardings to collapse, while incessant rain led to flooding in several low-lying areas. In towns and cities such as Bhuj, trees and electricity poles lay uprooted on several roads as personnel of the administration conducted the dual task of keeping people off the streets and restoring normalcy when they could.

Most, wary of the damage that Cyclone Tauktae, that had taken place in 2021, caused, stayed indoors and markets remained shut.

The uneasy calm reminds me of the lockdown period when people stayed indoors for months together. People in Bhuj and even elsewhere in Kutch have taken a cue from that and stored all essential things that can last for few days. Everybody has taken the cyclone warning quite seriously, said Navin Patel, a 35-year-old resident of Bhuj.

There were, however, some moments of worry at ports such as Okha, where a tugboat sank, and MV HAI NAM 81 vessel, which reported engine trouble at Kandhla Port, began drifting towards Dwarka in choppy seas. There were 22 Vietnamese crew on board this vessel. We could not get assisting tugs or emergency towing vessel from DG shipping due to the bad weather. The engine was partially working and was not able to move against the wind or current. We managed to keep it safe till the weather condition improved and have safely rescued all the crew members along with the vessel, said Captain Ashwin Solanki, chief nautical officer, Gujarat Maritime Board.

He said that all ports along the Gulf of Kutch, including Kandla, Mundra, Navlakhi, Bedi, Sikka and Okha, were set to be allowed to resume operations in a day or so.

On Friday morning, chief minister Bhupendra Patel and senior officials convened at the State Emergency Operation Center (SEOC) to oversee the situation. Commissioner of relief Pandey said that the priority was to immediately address damage and reinstate crucial services such as water, communications, electricity, and road connectivity.

In a video message, Patel thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union minister Amit Shah for support.

The Central Government assured full support and sent a team of ministers to review rescue efforts. Due to the Gujarat governments preparedness and timely steps, the state overcame the calamity, avoiding significant loss of life and property, said Patel.

The Gujarat government announced cash incentives of 100 per day to adults and 60 per day for children, which will be given to approximately 100,000 people for five days. The Prime Minister held meetings and maintained regular communication to assess the situation, Patel said.

Shah assisted by video conferencing with federal and state officers, as well as district collectors, he added.

Heavy rain warnings have been issued for parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat as the cyclone moved northeastwards with a speed of 13kmph, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

IMD director general M Mohapatra said that strong winds can be expected over neighbouring areas of Rajasthan starting Friday evening along with extremely heavy rains.

The Met department has issued an orange alert for some areas of Rajasthan, including Barmer, Jalore, Jaisalmer, Sirohi, Jodhpur, Pali, and adjacent locations, and has forecast heavy to very heavy rain on Friday.

Preliminary assessments were ordered to estimate damages and plan assistance measures such as cash aid, household support, shack assistance, and animal aid for those impacted by the cyclone, officials said.

Power was successfully restored in 3,580 villages by teams from the PGVCL (Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited), the government said.

In the evening, the state police issued warnings to people to remain indoors until the cyclone had completely passed. Strong winds accompanied by heavy rains are blowing at Mundra, Mandvi, Naliya, and Jakhau. Police are deployed everywhere and are stationed all over the district so that they can reach wherever there is a need. No casualties have been reported so far. We appeal to the people to come out of their houses only after the cyclone has completely calmed down, Bhuj superintendent of police Karan Singh Vaghela said.

NDRF director general Karwal said that over the next two days, there will be heavy rainfall in southern Rajasthan. As the cyclone loses strength and becomes a deep depression, there is a possibility of rainfall in south Rajasthan. The 18 teams deployed in Gujarat are working there, and we are also in touch with Rajasthan. Upon the request of the Rajasthan state government, we have sent a team to Jalore in advance of the eventual possibility that the heavy rain will cause flooding, the NDRF director general said.

Our teams are also deployed in other affected states; four in Karnataka, five in Maharashtra, one in Diu (UT), and also several teams are stationed in reserve in these areas, he said.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Welcome to hindustantimes.com updates platform where you can find breaking news from India and across the world. Find fast updates about the latest news as it breaks.

Get latest news, breaking news, latest updates, live news, top headlines, breaking business news and top news of the hour.
In an interim relief to the Congress leader, a special court in Ranchi on Friday allowed Rahul Gandhi 15 days time to appear before it in connection with an ongoing hearing in the Modi surname case. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (File Photo)

Gandhis lawyer had asked for 15 days time from Ranchis MP-MLA special court.

The court of magistrate Anamika Kisku had on May 3 rejected Gandhis petition for exemption from physical appearance in the matter following which the order was challenged in the Jharkhand high court which is yet to hear the case.

Based on our petition in the high court we prayed for 15-day time. The court has posted the matter for the next hearing on July 4, said Gandhis counsel Deepankar Roy.

Also Read: Nadda attacks Rahul for trying to tarnish countrys image overseas

The matter is related to an ongoing defamation case filed by one Pradip Modi for Gandhis alleged All Modis are thieves comment at an election rally in Ranchi in 2019. In a similar case, Gandhi was convicted by a Gujarat court in March and subsequently disqualified from the Lok Sabha.

The former Congress president allegedly made the remark in Karnatakas Kolar district ahead of the 2019 national election and Gandhi was found guilty by a court in Surat in Gujarat, which is prime minister Narendra Modis home state. The court sentenced Gandhi to two years in jail but he has been released on bail so he can appeal the verdict.

Later, Pradip filed a defamation case against Gandhi. The Jharkhand high court on July 2, 2022, had rejected his quashing petition. In May, the MP-MLA court in Ranchi had rejected Gandhis plea for exemption from personal appearance.Subsequently, the lower court issued a fresh summons to Gandhi.
As reports of fresh violence in Manipur came to the fore, as many as ten Congress MLAs from the state reached the national Capital on Thursday and sought an appointment from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Police said fresh violence late on Thursday was reported hours after a mob burnt down two houses. (ANI file photo)

Speaking to HT, president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) Keisham Meghachandra Singh said, Right now also, cross firing continues in Manipur and mostly in the periphery area and the state. The central government is still not doing anything about it and Prime Minister Modi never made a comment on it. After 26 days, union home minister Amit Shah left Imphal, but violence still continues and today in the 40th day.

Also Read:Union minister RK Ranjan Singhs house torched amid fresh violence in Manipur

Speaking on the violence in the state and how the situation is, Singh said the party representatives are doing everything in their capacity to control the situation.

Congress representatives are in danger in Manipur, but the party representatives are doing everything to control it. Our Congress party is suffering a lot to restore normalcy. The violence started on May 3 and on the very next day we requested CM N Biren Singh to hold an all-party meeting.

Singh stressed on the fact that they are struggling to restore peace in the state.

Whatever Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge advised us, we followed. Weamet the Manipur governor and President Droupadi Murmu. All I can say, we are struggling to restore peace in Manipur. Now we are here in Delhi and have united ten political parties to take up this issue with the PM.

In the latest incident of violence in the state, a mob set union minister RK Ranjan Singhs residence afire in Manipurs Imphal even as an unspecified number of people were injured when armed men attacked a village in Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district on Thursday night, officials aware of the matter said.

The arson attack amid protracted ethnic violence in Manipur came days after a mob stormed Singhs residence on May 23 before security personnel managed to disperse the attackers by firing in the air.

Fresh violence late on Thursday was reported hours after a mob burnt down two houses as clashes broke out between protesters and security personnel in Imphal.

Two days earlier nine people were gunned down and another 10 injured in the sharpest escalation of violence in the state. It was the highest number of casualties in a single day since violence first broke out on May 3.

Clashes between the majority Meitei community and the tribal Kuki community first erupted on May 3. They have since left at least 115 people dead. At least 300 people have been injured and nearly 40,000 displaced. Clashes were triggered during a protest against a court order for considering Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Meiteis.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The Gujarat government had deployed more than 200 teams in Gir forest and Kutch district to respond to emergencies related to Asiatic lions and other wildlife during the landfall of cyclone Biparjoy, an official said on Friday. (Follow here for the LIVE updates on Cyclone Biparjoy) Girs lions (Representative Image)

One of the teams rescued two lion cubs that had fallen into an open well in Jasadhar Range of Gir East division during the cyclone's landfall on Thursday evening, the official said.

Of the 210 teams formed by the state forest department, 184 were deployed in the Gir Forest and surrounding regions, comprising nine divisions of Junagadh wildlife and territorial circle, a government release stated.

The teams were formed to rescue wild animals, remove fallen trees and provide rapid response to any other emergency related to wildlife, it said.

ALSO | Watch: Bridge swept away as cyclone Biparjoy batters Gujarat's Bhuj

The nine circles are Junagadh forest, Gir East, Gir West, Sasan, Porbandar, Surendranagar, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar and Morbi, the release added.

As per the last wildlife census conducted in 2020, the Gir forest in Saurashtra region is home to 674 lions and many other carnivorous and herbivorous animals.

The forest department had also set up 58 control rooms at different locations in the Asiatic lion zone to receive SOS messages from people about any wildlife emergency during the cyclone, the release said.

Satellite technology was used to keep watch on the movement of lions during the cyclone, and some radio-collared lions were tracked through satellite signals, it said.

"The state forest department has created a high-tech 'lion movement monitoring system' to track the big cats. Apart from this, the movement of 40 lions living near the coastal areas is also being closely monitored," it said.

To save lions as well as humans during the floods, teams were also deployed on the banks of seven rivers that pass from the Asiatic lion's habitat in and around Gir Forest, it said.

As per the release, cattle-rearers living inside the forest were evacuated and shifted to 91 specially created shelters in Gir and the adjoining Barda sanctuary area.

For the Kutch region, which includes Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary, the forest department had deployed 13 wildlife rescue teams, equipped with earth movers, tractors and other machines, as well as 13 operations teams, it said.

A team deployed in Gir East division successfully rescued two lion cubs that had fallen into an open well after getting separated from their mother when Biparjoy made landfall on Thursday evening, the forest department said in a statement.

"On learning about the two cubs inside a well in Jasadhar Range of Gir East division, a rescue team rushed to the spot on Friday morning and brought them out of the well amid rain," the statement informed.

Prime minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday night, held a telephonic conversation with Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel and inquired about the situation in the state following the landfall of cyclone 'Biparjoy'.

Among other things, the prime minister had also inquired about the steps taken by the state administration for the safety of wild animals, especially the lions in Gir Forest, officials said.

The state government evacuated more than 1 lakh people and shifted them to safer places ahead of the cyclone's landfall at Jakhau port in Kutch district on Thursday evening.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The Gujarat government has taken numerous measures to protect wildlife, including Gir lions, and animals against the possible impact of cyclone Biparjoy, which made landfall on Thursday evening. 58 control rooms were set up to receive emergency SOS messages for wild animals. (File)

Striving for a zero-casualty approach, the Gujarat government deployed rescue teams in Gir forest, Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary in Kutch and Mata's Madh, Barda and Narayan Sarovar.

Cyclone Biparjoy made landfall in Gujarat's coastal areas on Thursday night reducing its intensity from very severe cyclonic storm to severe cyclonic storm, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

A total of 184 teams were formed in nine divisions of Wildlife and Territorial Circle of Junagadh for rescue, rapid action and removal of fallen trees to save endangered Asiatic lions, according to the Gujarat government. The nine divisions were in Gir East, Gir West, Sasan, Porbandar, Surendranagar, Jamnagar, Bhavnagar and Morbi including Junagadh Forest.

Besides, 58 control rooms were set up to receive emergency SOS messages for wild animals.

Satellite technology is being used to monitor the movements of lions during natural calamities. The forest department has developed a high-tech lion movement monitoring system for tracking lions, in which radio collars are attached to some lions living in groups. Through that, their movements are recorded in the monitoring cell through a satellite link. At present, the monitoring team is keeping a special watch on 40 lions living in Gir forest area and coastal zone of the state, the state government said in a statement.

Teams were also placed at special locations in seven rivers across the Gir forest to rescue lions and human life. The people living in the Gir area were also moved to shelter homes.

A total of 46 safe shelters were created in Gir and 45 in Barda for people.

Six special wildlife rescue teams with necessary equipment were also deployed.

The release stated, Four rescue teams have been sent to Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary and Dayapar range in Kutch at Dayapar, Mata Madh, Barda and Narayan Sarovar. Apart from that, a total of 13 teams consisting of five members have been formed in Kutch circle in the large desert area of Kutch. JCBs, tractors and other necessary equipment have been deployed at strategically important locations. Three teams have been deployed in the horse sanctuary for rescue operations or other needs.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden of Gujarat Nityanand Srivastav said, We are fully prepared and equipped to meet the challenges of this cyclone We have created diverse teams to tackle the challenges.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sanskriti Falor Sanskriti Falor is a Senior Content Producer at the News Desk of HT Digital. Having worked in Digital Media for the past two years, she is interested in covering civic issues and global affairs. ...view detail
Destructive cyclone Biparjoy, which packed high wind speeds and brought heavy rain, caused complete disruption of life in Gujarat's Kutch district on Thursday as trees were uprooted in large numbers, power failure was reported in many areas, but it began weakening in the early hours of Friday as it moved north. At least 23 people were also injured as the 'very severe' cyclonic storm made landfall in Gujarat's coastal areas on Thursday evening, the National Disaster Response Force or NDRF said, adding that two persons were killed before the cyclone made landfall. Trees uprooted after heavy rainfall and strong winds due to the impact of cyclone Biparjoy in Dwarka on Thursday. (ANI Photo)(ANI )

Cyclone Biparjoy lay centred over the Saurashtra-Kutch region, 30 km north of Naliya till 2.30am. It was expected to move northeastwards and weaken into a cyclonic storm by early morning on Friday, and into a depression by the same evening over south Rajasthan, the India Meteorological Department or IMD said.

Top updates on Cyclone Biparjoy in Gujarat and Pakistan

1. Biparjoy made landfall near Jakhau as a very severe cyclonic storm around 6.30 pm on Thursday with wind speeds of 115 to 125 kmph gusting upto 140 kmph.

2. Strong winds broke electric wires and poles, causing a power outage in 45 villages of Maliya tehsil. Power has been restored in 11 villages. Over 300 electric poles have been broken in the coastal rural and desert areas. The Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Ltd. (PGVCL) is working to restore power to the rest of the rural areas as soon as possible, J C Goswami, executive engineer, PGVCL in Morbi told news agency ANI.

3. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel over the phone and took stock of the situation. PM Modi also asked about the details of the safety arrangements for wild animals including lions in Gir Forest.

4. The cyclonic storm crossed the coastline near Jakhau Port Thursday evening, but started losing force several hours later and at 2:30am on Friday was packing 100 kilometres per hour winds with gusts up to 110 km/hour, the IMD said.

5. Alok Singh, relief commissioner of Gujarat, said 24 animals have been killed, 524 trees have fallen, and electric poles have also fallen in some places due to which there is no electricity in 940 villages.

6. A total power blackout was witnessed in Mandvi town. Many trees were uprooted on Jakhau-Mandvi road as well as in Mandvi town due to the strong winds. "No casualties have been reported so far," district collector Amit Arora said.

7. Around 99 trains running through, originating or terminating in Biparjoy-affected areas of Gujarat, will remain cancelled or short-terminated, THE Western Railway said.

8. The Gujarat government said around 1 lakh people had relocated from coastal and low-lying areas to shelter.

9. Pakistan's climate change minister Sherry Rehman said around 82,000 people had been moved from southeastern coastal areas in the face of "a cyclone the likes of which Pakistan has never experienced."

10. Storm surges were expected to reach four metres, with flooding possible in Karachi - home to about 20 million people.

(With inputs from agencies)

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aniruddha Dhar Have 11 years' experience in print and digital media. Write on politics, defence and world affairs, and have a keen eye for human-interest stories. ...view detail
Delhi and nearby areas experienced relief from the scorching heat as rainfall arrived on Friday due to the influence of cyclone Biparjoy, which hit Gujarat on Thursday. The much-needed pre-monsoon rain, accompanied by strong winds, aligned with the earlier forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The rainfall, partially also a result of a western disturbance active over the northwest Himalayan region, is expected to persist until Monday, providing a brief respite to the national capital and its surrounding regions. (LIVE updates of cyclone Biparjoy) Vehicles ply on a road amid rainfall, in Gurugram, Friday.(PTI)

On Cyclone Biparjoys movement, the IMD said it is expected to move nearly northeast wards and weaken into a deep depression over Saurashtra and Kutch around Friday night. It said that over the weekend, parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat will continue to receive rainfall due to the cyclone. Additionally, the weather body made rainfall prediction for Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and pockets of Uttar Pradesh, among other states as well.

List of states to receive rainfall as per IMD prediction:

1) Himachal Pradesh - Fairly widespread rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning during next five days.

2) Uttarakhand - Fairly widespread rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning during next five days. Thundersquall and hail storms will be seen in some places on Sunday and Monday.

3) Rajasthan - Southwest region is going to receive heavy rainfall at isolated places on Saturday and Sunday. In eastern Rajasthan, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely on Monday. Southeast Rajasthan will get heavy to very heavy rainfall till Sunday, which will gradually turn to heavy rainfall and is expected to continue till Tuesday.

4) Madhya Pradesh- Northwestern region is predicted to get heavy rainfall on Monday and Tuesday.

5) Uttar Pradesh - Western parts of the state are likely to get heavy rainfall on Monday and Tuesday.

6) Kerala - Isolated heavy rainfall over the state from June 18-20.

7) Tamil Nadu- Isolated heavy rainfall over Tamil Nadu from June 18-20.

8) Karnataka-South interior Karnataka is predicted to get isolated heavy rainfall on Monday and Tuesday.

9) West Bengal- Sub-Himalayan region to get rainfall during the next five days.

10) Sikkim is also predicted to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, IMD said.

11) Assam- The weather body said that isolated extremely heavy rainfall is expected in Assam till Sunday.

12) Meghalaya- Like Assam, Meghalaya will also get extremely heavy rainfall till Sunday.

Heatwave alert:

The weather body also issued a heatwave alert in isolated pockets over Odisha, Vidarbha in the next five days and for Gangetic West Bengal, Jharkhand over the next four days. It said east Uttar Pradesh, coastal Andhra Pradesh, East Madhya Pradesh and Bihar will see heatwave conditions during the next three days. Heatwave conditions will also persist in parts of Tamil Nadu, west Madhya Pradesh, Telangana during the next two days, IMD warned.

The monsoon hit the Indian mainland in Kerala on June 8  a week after the usual date of June 1. Earlier, the weather body had predicted a delay of four days but cyclone Biparjoy delayed it further, IMD said.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Rahul goes to US, Atishi to England, don't take them seriously: BJP vs AAP on 35 crore people hungry A fresh row between the BJP and the AAP began on Friday after Delhi minister Atishi said India has the "largest number of malnourished people" and things in the country are not as they are claimed. The Delhi ministerread more. A fresh row between the BJP and the AAP began over Delhi minister Atishi's comments at Cambridge India Conference in London.

NIA charge sheets 13 in India-Sri Lanka arms and drugs smuggling case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against 13 people, including 10 Sri Lankan nationals and three Indians, in connection to its probe into the illegal drugs and arms trade case relating toread more.

China plans to develop Star Wars-style supership: Report

Is China inspired by Hollywood's franchise Star Wars? A Chinese naval scientist has presented a blueprint of a futuristic warship that is set to challenge traditional naval formations spanning over 100 yearsread more.

Watch: Harry Brook's astonishingly bizarre dismissal leaves Ponting, Taylor befuddled in Ashes 1st Test

On the back of a disappointing IPL 2023 season, Harry Brook's woes continued as he was dismissed in bizarre fashion on Day 1 of the Ashes series opener between England and Australia, at Edgbaston in Birminghamread more.

Benefits of honey for skin: 3 ways to add shahad in your beauty, skincare routine

Honey or shahad is a natural ingredient that offers numerous benefits for the skin and it has been used for centuries as a beauty treatment due to its moisturising, soothing and antibacterial properties...read more.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail
Five foreign terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara on Friday. A search operation in the area is going on, said additional director general of police (ADGP) Kashmir Vijay Kumar. Search in the area is going on, said the ADGP Kashmir.. (PTI file)

This is the first major attempt of infiltration this year in Kashmir from the Kupwara sector.

"An encounter has started between terrorists and joint parties of Army & Police on a specific input of Kupwara Police in Jumagund area of LoC of Kupwara district. Further details shall follow," Kashmir Zone Police had earlier tweeted.

On June 13, two terrorists were killed in a joint operation of the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police in the border area of Kupwara district.

"Two terrorists have been neutralised in a joint operation of Army and Kupwara Police in Dobanar Machhal area (LoC) of Kupwara district. Search still continues," Kashmir Zone Police said in a tweet on Tuesday.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Five infiltrators were killed in Jumagund area close to Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Kupwara district, officials said. Security forces said that the search in the area is under way. (File image)

An encounter has started between terrorists and joint parties of Army & Police on a specific input of Kupwara Police in Jumagund area of LoC of Kupwara district. Five (05) foreign terrorists killed in #encounter. Search in the area is going on, additional director general of police Kashmir Vijay Kumar had posted on his official Twitter account.

On Tuesday, two unidentified militants were killed in a joint operation in Dobanar Machil area of Kupwara district on the LoC.

The forces also recovered arms and ammunition from the site including two AK rifles and four hand grenades.

Also Read: J&K: 2 terrorists gunned down near LoC in Kupwara

On May 13, the army said they had foiled an infiltration attempt on the LoC in north Kashmirs Uri sector.

Similarly, on May 6, a Lashkar-e-Taiba militant from Kulgam was killed in Karhama village in Baramulla district while on May 4, two militants from south Kashmir were killed in another shoot out with security forces in Baramulla.
Tamil Nadu minister K Ponmudy late on Thursday hit out at governor RN Ravi and asked him not to behave like a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) agent amid the fresh row between the latter and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government over reallocation of minister V Senthil Balajis portfolios. Governor RN Ravi and chief minister M K Stalin. (ANI/File)

Ponmudy said Ravi returned a file chief minister MK Stalin sent to the governor for the relocation following Balajis arrest over money laundering charges and hospitalisation on Wednesday. He said Ravi refused to sign the file saying it is misleading and incorrect, prompting Ponmudy to call a late-night press conference.

Also Read: ED arrests Tamil Nadu minister Senthil Balaji under anti-money laundering act

The CM [chief minister] said that since the minister is ill, his portfolios have to be reallocated, but the governor returned it [file] saying that he has not given the exact reason. And the reasons he [Stalin has] given are misleading and incorrect, said Ponmudy.

Ponmudy addressed the press conference after Stalin called a meeting and again asked Ravi to sign the file. We think he [Ravi] will accept it and not behave like an agent of the BJP, said Ponmudy.

Stalin proposed the handing over of Balajis electricity, prohibition, and excise portfolios to ministers Thangam Thennarasu and S Muthusamy. The DMK government has been at loggerheads with Ravi over a series of issues.

Also Read: Who is Senthil Balaji, arrested TN minister, hospitalised after ED's inquiry?

Ponmudy said Ravi wrote to Stalin on May 31 seeking Balajis removal as the minister. He added this came days before the federal agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided Balajis premises and arrested him. ...on the night the CM returned from Japan, he received the governors letter [for Balajis removal]. ...the CM replied to him the next day that there is no need for ministers to be removed if they have been named in a case, said Ponmudy.

Balaji was sent to judicial remand until June 28 hours after he was arrested on Wednesday in a 2011-2015 corruption case even as he was admitted to a Chennai hospital, where doctors recommended an immediate heart surgery.

The DMK criticised the BJP-led Union government for misusing federal probe agencies following Balajis arrest. Senior advocate and DMK lawmaker NR Elango filed a petition before the Madras high court saying the minister was arrested without due procedure such as issuing summons.

Also Read: Stalin warns BJP after Senthil Balaji alleges assault by ED upon arrest

Stalin accused the federal agency of torturing his colleague, which allegedly led to his hospitalisation, even after the minister said he would cooperate with the investigation. He said the DMK will not be intimidated by these threats from the BJP. At least 15 state ministers visited Balaji in the hospital.

Balaji was arrested hours after Stalin slammed the BJPs backdoor tactics against its political opponents as ED on Tuesday launched raids at premises linked to Balaji as part of its probe against him in Tamil Nadus Chennai, Karur and Erode. Stalin called EDs raid at the secretariat office of Balaji a direct assault on the federal principle.

The allegations against Balaji date back to 2011-15 when he was the transport minister in the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government. The complaints against him alleged he took money from candidates in return for promised jobs. Many candidates did not get jobs despite allegedly paying bribes, the complaints alleged. After the allegations, Balaji was dropped from the cabinet and he quit AIADMK after former chief minister J Jayalalithas death in 2016. He joined the DMK in December 2018.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged the G20 agriculture ministers meeting to deliberate on steps to undertake collective action for achieving global food security. The inaugural G20 session will be held on Saturday followed by ministerial meetings. (ANI file image)

In a video address to the three-day meeting underway in Hyderabad, PM Modi highlighted the issue of climate change and how its consequences are borne mostly by the global South.

Globally, agriculture provides livelihood for over two point five billion people. In the Global South, agriculture accounts for almost 30% of GDP, and over 60% of jobs. And today, this sector faces several challenges. The supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic have been worsened by the impact of geo-political tensions, PM Modi said.

Also Read:Canadas international development minister attends G20 meet in Varanasi

Climate change is causing extreme weather events more and more frequently. These challenges are felt most by the Global South, he added.

On Indias agricultural policy, he said that it is the fusion of back to basics and march to future while promoting natural farming as well as technology-enabled Farming.

Our farmers are proactively using technology to boost productivity. They are generating and using solar power on their farms. They are using Soil Health Cards to optimize crop selection, and drones to spray nutrients and monitor their crops. I believe this fusion approach is the best way to address several issues in agriculture, PM Modi said.

Making a reference to 2023 being celebrated as the International Year of Millets, he said the superfoods are not only healthy to consume, but also help raise the incomes of farmers by using less water, needing less fertiliser, and being more pest-resistant.

Concluding his address, he said, Indias G20 priorities in agriculture focus on healing our One Earth, creating harmony within our One Family and giving hope for a bright One Future.

The inaugural G20 session will be held on Saturday followed by ministerial meetings.

The major issues on the agenda include food security, nutrition, digital technologies, agri-business, climate change, and sustainable agriculture.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Prabhas-starrer Adipurush invited fresh trouble on the day of its release as the Hindu Sena national president filed a PIL in the Delhi high court seeking the removal of some 'objectionable scenes' in Om Raut's film relating to "Ravana, Lord Ram, Mata Sita and Hanuman', Livelaw reported. The plea said the scenes are contrary to the depictions of the religious characters as found in the Ramayana. "The Hindus have a particular view of the image of Lord Ram, Sita and Hanuman and any change/tampering of their divine image by the film producers, directors and actors would be a violation of their fundamental rights," the plea stated. The scenes in the movie showed the religious characters in bad taste insulting the Hindu civilisation, the Hindu religious figures and idols. Read | Kathmandu mayor Balen Shah who installed Greater Nepal map in office opposes Adipurush | Explained Hindus have particular image of Ram, Sita, Hanuman: PIL against Adipurush in Delhi HC

"The hair style, beard and dressing are well defined as per image created in epics. Any variation by film producers, directors and actors would certainly hurt the sentiments of worshipers, devotees and religious believers," the plea said asking for 'corrective measures' to be taken by the film producers and directors.

"Distorted public exhibition of Hindu religious figures by film Adipurush is a clear cut violation of freedom of conscience and practice in as much as freedom to manage religious affairs as guaranteed under Article 26 which is also violated," it said.

Controversies over Adipurush since last year; Kathmandu's objection

Adipurush retelling the story of the Ramayana received a lot of flak since the teaser of the movie was released last year. Hindu organisations, Ayodhya Ram Temple chief priest objected the portrayal of the epic characters while the makers of movie assured that they took care to not hurt any religious sentiment. Director Om Raut made an appeal to the threatre owners to keep a seat empty to honour Lord Hanuman which became the buzz before the release of the movie.

However, the release day witnessed some hiccups as the movie was not released in Kathmandu in the morning shows. Kathmandu mayor objected to a dialogue of the movie that Sita is India's daughter and said that it is factually wrong as Sita is Nepal's daughter. Mayor Balen Shah threatened to ban all Indian movies in Kathmandu if the dialogue was not rectified. Reports said the dialogue was edited later.

Twitter user share Adipurush meme showing Eknath Shinde; Thane Police responds

Amid poor to mixed review of Om Raut's Adipurush, a Twitter user on Friday got a message from Thance City police asking him to sharing his number after he posted an Adipurush meme featuring Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Poulomi Ghosh Poulomi Ghosh is a journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi. ...view detail
New Delhi: One of the findings of Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) internal surveys in the lead up to election season has the partys top bosses puzzled: voters give the Modi government full credit for the governments flagship housing for all scheme, PM Awas Yojana, but are indifferent about the Jal Jeevan Mission, considered a game-changer by analysts and party strategists alike. This is taking up a lot of mind space especially as the party finalises not just the campaign for 2024 but also their strategy in the election-bound states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chattisgarh. PREMIUM HT Image

HT learns that this was one of the key findings of the booth sashaktikaran abhiyan, or the booth strengthening initiative done, over the past year in 100,000 polling booths, giving BJP strategists information about what voters feel. When asked about what central government schemes they liked, respondents repeatedly brought up the Modi governments scheme to build homes but there was no buzz about the ambitious piped water initiative to take piped water to every home by 2024. The piped water scheme was announced by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in 2019 soon after the BJP returned to power . Of Indias total of 190.4 million rural households, 122 million or 63.2% have so far been connected with a functioning tap water connection under JJM. At the start of the mission, a baseline survey showed that less than 17% or 32.3 million households had a connection. The Jal Jeevan Mission is one of the largest social infrastructure programmes in the country, which involves installing source-to-household water tap connections.

We are working it out, said a senior leader who is part of the decision-making process said about the puzzle the party needs to resolve. The strange thing is that women-centric schemes are ones that have the maximum impact but even though this scheme targets women who have to travel long distances in order to get water, we are not getting the kind of reaction we expected for it, added this person who asked not to be named.

Some senior leaders have theories about why this is so. One is that because water is a state subject and the scheme is implemented at the panchayat level, voters are not linking it to the Modi government.

 Before 2014, sanitation was never seen as a priority. It is only after PMs Swachh Bharat or Clean India call, that people realised and beneficiaries consciousness grew. So, for the target population to become aware will take some time. Thats why compared to the housing scheme, something which is tangible and gives people a home of their own, the benefits of piped water are less alluring, said BJP national secretary Anupam Hazra.

The feedback system has also thrown up other details which is helping BJP formulate their strategy. For example, the 2016 scheme to give women below the poverty line cooking gas cylinders called the Ujjwala Yojana, was a vote-getter in 2019 . Now our feedback shows that people want to know where the money will come for the refill, the BJP leader cited in the first instance added.

In 2019, and again during the Uttar Pradesh elections last year, the BJP wooed beneficiaries of its welfare schemes. After Narendra Modi became PM in 2014,a new caste has emerged in the country, that of beneficiaries. This new caste has broken all the previous bindings of caste, home minister Amit Shah said in an interview to HT last month. Termed labharatis, beneficiaries of schemes such as the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana which provided free grain to the poor were acknowledged to be a major factor behind the wins in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Tripura elections.

Yes, we need to work more on the Jal Jeevan Mission to get the electoral response, said Hitesh Bajpai, spokesperson of the partys MP unit. It is difficult to fight an election on the basis of development issues but we would like to keep that our primary focus. Then we will expose the corrupt governments of the Congress-ruled states.

Experts called the water programme a complicated and ambitious initiative.

Schemes like Swachh Bharat and PM Awas have been fundamental to the BJPs growth in the Modi era, but in the early years, the party was careful in how it projected them at the centre stage of its political communication until they were proven as harbingers of a new voting constituency. Jal Jeevan is a much more complicated and ambitious initiative in many ways and it is understandable that the party would be analysing all its aspects carefully as it crafts the nuances of its electoral messaging, said Nalin Mehta, political scientist and author of The New BJP.
The Narendra Modi governments decision to approve a tri-service proposal to acquire 31 MQ 9-Predator B armed drones from the US on the eve of the Prime Ministers state visit to the US on June 21 is the first major purchase after Indian Navy acquired 24 MH 60 R anti-submarine warfare helicopters from America in February 2020. The last major acquisition was done on the eve of then US President Donald Trumps visit to India. Predator B drone is feared by terrorists and their supporters in the Af-Pak region.

The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved the acceptance of necessity (AON) for purchasing the armed drones after the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) headed by PM gave a nod to General Electric manufacturing F-414 jet engines in India through 100 per cent manufacturing route in collaboration with HAL on June 14. India, however, did not accept Boeings proposal to make F-18 fighters in the country.

The two deals with the US not only indicate the deepening of bilateral defence cooperation but also the realization within the Indian military that the era of stand-off weapons delivery platforms has come to stay. The Predator-B drone is a top-of-the-line weapon platform that is used for high-value targeting of the enemy with its four Hell-Fire air-to-ground missiles and precision bombs. With the Indian DRDO not being able to come up with a viable armed drone, the Modi government had no options but to go for outright purchase of Predator-B drones through the foreign military sales route in order to ensure that the entire USD 3.5 billion deal has only government to government involvement with no scope for any lobbyist or middle-men. Under the FMS route, the US government will fix the price of the drones after negotiations with the manufacturer (General Atomics in this case) and then sell it to the government of India with a minimum processing fee. The deal will have to be cleared by the CCS after the final negotiations are complete. The drone deal also means that the US will extend the lease of two Sea Guardian drones currently deployed by the Indian Navy. The lease of two drones was expiring in January 2024.

The decision to manufacture the F-414 engine in India will seriously push both the DRDO, which is designing and developing the Tejas Mark II fighter, and the HAL, which will manufacture the engine, so that theIndian Air Force (IAF) has requisite number of fighter squadrons at the turn of this decade. There is also a possibility that GE with approval from the US government also decides to manufacture higher thrust engines in India.

With China making inroads into the Indian sub-continent particularly in Pakistan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka through the Belt-Road-Initiative leverage, India cannot afford to let go of its guard as Islamabad has decided to move towards the Middle-Kingdom as its special strategic partner after being a client state of US for the past decades. Given the rock-bottom economic conditions of these three Indian neighbours, China will use its money power to use these countries for expanding its footprint in the Indian Ocean. It is for this very reason that the Modi government has decided to purchase 15 Predator B drones only for the Indian Navy so that its maritime domain awareness in the Indo-Pacific increases manifolds. The long-endurance Predator B will also be used to target drug shipments coming out of the Af-Pak region as well as the golden crescent on the eastern borders of India. The hi-tech platform will not only track warships from adversaries in the Indian Ocean but also be part of a Quad surveillance network to ensure that sea lanes of communications remain open for all legal shipping.

The F-414 engine deal and the acquisition of Predator B drones from the US will not only add teeth to the Indian military but also act as a huge deterrence to adversaries who want India to be confined as a regional power and not aspire for a global leader.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The year 2023 has been a busy one for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with the space agency already successfully completing four missions successfully in the past five months. While this is a milestone in itself, the space calendar for India will continue to remain packed for the coming months, as some of the biggest space missionsincluding the much-awaited Chandrayaan-3, Indias third lunar mission, Aditya-L1, the sun mission, and the uncrewed and crewed missions of Gaganyaanare also progressing at a promising pace, scientists assured. PREMIUM Indian Space Research Organisation is working on Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1 launches in this year(ISRO)

Senior scientists from the department of space said that after the success of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) D2 or SSLV-D2/EOS-07 mission that was completed in February, the second batch of 36 OneWeb satellites in March, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C55) mission carrying two Singapore satellites, TeLEOS-2 and Lumelite-4, and the launch of Indias first second generation navigation satellite, NavIC or NAVigation with the Indian Constellation, ISRO is now gearing up for Indias third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3. This will likely be followed by Aditya-L1. 2023 and 2024 are very exciting years for Indian space missions. We have some heavy-duty missions planned for the year ahead and we are very excited about it. The immediate missions that we are working towards are Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1, Indias moon and sun missions, a senior ministry official confirmed. Heres a closer look at what ISROs calendar looks like for the rest of the year and the next.

The Chandrayaan programme is an ongoing series of outer space missions by ISRO(ISRO)

Chandrayaan-3

ISRO chairman S Somnath confirmed that the launch window for Chandrayaan-3 will open on July 12 this year. All the tests around the mission have been completed and the launch vehicle has arrived at ISROs Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota in preparation for the July launch.

The Chandrayaan programme, also known as the Indian lunar exploration programme, is an ongoing series of outer space missions by ISRO. The first moon rocket, Chandrayaan-1, was launched in 2008, and was successfully inserted into lunar orbit. Chandrayaan-2 was successfully launched and inserted into the lunar orbit in 2019, but its lander crash-landed on the moons surface when it deviated from its trajectory while attempting to land on September 6, 2019, due to a software glitch, according to ISROs mission document. In May, the space agency started the assembly process for the payloads for Chandrayaan-3, a move to ensure that the space agency is able to stick to the launch date of July, senior officials from the department of space said. The assembly happened at the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bengaluru, before it was sent to the Sriharikota space port for the launch. Chandrayaan-3 consists of an indigenous lander module, a propulsion module and a rover. Its objectives include developing and demonstrating new technologies required for interplanetary missions. The lander will have the capability to soft land at a specified lunar site and deploy the rover, which will carry out in-situ chemical analysis of the lunar surface. The main function of the propulsion module is to carry the lander module from launch vehicle injection till the final lunar 100km circular polar orbit and separate the lander module from the propulsion module. Apart from this, the propulsion module also has one scientific payload as a value addition, which will be operated post-separation of the lander module. Chandrayaan-3 will be launched by Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The propulsion module will carry the lander and rover configuration till the 100 km lunar orbit.

Aditya-L1

Aditya-L1, on the other hand, is India's first dedicated scientific mission to study the sun. Earlier, this mission was conceived as Aditya-1 with a 400kg class satellite carrying one payload, the VELC, and was planned to be launched in an 800km low earth orbit.

However, since a satellite placed in the halo orbit around the first Lagrangian Point (L1) of the sun-earth system has the major advantage of continuously viewing the sun without any occultation/eclipses, the Aditya-1 mission was renamed as Aditya-L1 mission, which will be inserted in a halo orbit around the L11.5 million km from the earth towards the sun. This will provide a greater advantage of observing the solar activities and its effect on space weather in real time. The spacecraft will carry seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere and the outermost layers of the sunthe coronausing electromagnetic and particle and magnetic field detectors. Scientists explained that using the special vantage point L1, four payloads directly view the sun, and the remaining three payloads carry out in-situ studies of particles and fields at the Lagrange point L1, thus providing important scientific studies of the propagatory effect of solar dynamics in the interplanetary medium. The primary objective of this mission is to study the solar upper atmospheric (chromosphere and corona) dynamics, chromospheric and coronal heating, physics of the partially ionised plasma, initiation of th/e coronal mass ejections, and flares. ISRO officials said that after the Chandrayaan-3 mission, the next big-ticket project for the space agency will be Aditya-L1, which is likely to be scheduled for August this year.

Gaganyaan project envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability (ISRO)

Gaganyaan (uncrewed and crewed missions)

ISROs Gaganyaan project envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members to an orbit of 400km for a three-day mission and bringing them back safely to earth, by landing in Indian sea waters. However, before India sends its selected astronauts to space, there will be a series of uncrewed testscurrently scheduled for early 2024to ensure that the systems are safe for human travel.

The project is accomplished through an optimal strategy by considering inhouse expertise, experience of Indian industry, intellectual capabilities of Indian academia and research institutions along with cutting edge technologies available with international agencies," ISRO said in its mission document. The prerequisites for Gaganyaan mission include development of many critical technologies including human rated launch vehicle for carrying crew safely to space, life support system to provide an earth like environment to crew in space, crew emergency escape provision and evolving crew management aspects for training, recovery and rehabilitation of crew, the document stated. The prerequisites for Gaganyaan mission include development of many critical technologies including human-rated launch vehicle for carrying crew safely to space, life support system to provide an earth-like environment to the crew in space, crew emergency escape provision and evolving crew management aspects for training, recovery and rehabilitation of crew. Last month, the Indian Navy along with ISRO released a recovery training plan for Indias first human space flight mission at the Water Survival Training Facility at INS Garuda, Kochi. The space agency is hoping to complete its test vehicle missions and pad abort teststwo key tests for the missionthis year before the unmanned flights are conducted in the first quarter of 2024. The manned mission is expected to happen in the second half of next year, officials said.

NISAR is the first time that National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and ISRO are collaborating on an Earth-observing mission.(Getty Images via AFP)

NISAR

NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar or NISAR as it is being called, is another mission to look forward to in 2024. This is the first time that National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the US civil space programme, and ISRO are collaborating on an Earth-observing mission. NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is leading the US part of the project and is providing the missions L-band SAR (synthetic aperture radar) and the radar reflector antenna, the deployable boom, a high-rate communication subsystem for science data, GPS receivers, a solid-state recorder, and payload data subsystem. ISRO is partnering to provide the spacecraft bus, the S-band SAR, the launch vehicle, and associated launch services and satellite mission operations.

Once in operation, NISAR will be able to collect measurements day and night, in all weather conditions, and its trove of data will help researchers better understand a broad range of Earth science topics, including landslides, groundwater loss, and the carbon cycle," JPL said in a statement issued in February. The US leg of the mission has been completed and the payloads were officially handed over to Isro early this year. After a few rounds of tests, the mission will be ready for launch early next year, ISRO scientists said.

Enjoy unlimited digital access with HT Premium Subscribe Now to continue reading Start 14 Days Free Trial Already Subscribed? Sign In

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Soumya Pillai Soumya Pillai covers environment and traffic in Delhi. A journalist for three years, she has grown up in and with Delhi, which is often reflected in the stories she does about life in the city. She also enjoys writing on social innovations. ...view detail
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Friday described prime minister Narendra Modi as a small small man overburdened by his insecurities, as he reacted to the Union government renaming the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) Society to Prime Ministers Museum and Library Society. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh. (PTI File Photo)

Jawaharlal Nehru, the country's first PM whose name the body bears, has a name and legacy as the architect of the Indian nation-state,' noted Ramesh.

Pettines & Vengeance, thy name is Modi. For over 59 years, NMML has been a global intellectual landmark and treasure hose of books & archives. It will henceforth be called Prime Ministers Museum & Society. What won't Mr. Modi do to distort, disparage and destroy the name & legacy of the architect of the Indian nation-state, the Congress' General Secretary in-charge Communications, said in a tweet.

A small, small man overburdened by his insecurities is the self-styled Vishwaguru, the Rajya Sabha MP, who identifies himself as an Unapologetic Nehruvian added, referring to PM Modi.

Renaming of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society

According to a government statement, the decision to rename was taken at a Special Meeting' of the NMML Society; defence minister Rajnath Singh, who is the vice-president of the 29-member body, presided over the session.

It is headed by prime minister Modi, and has Union ministers Amit Shah, Anurag Thakur, Dharmendra Pradhan, G Kishan Reddy, Nirmala Sitharaman among its members.

Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society

It was founded on April 1, 1966, by the Government of India to look after the Nehru Memorial and Museum Library, an autonomous institution inaugurated on November 14, 1964  the Congress stalwart's 75th birth anniversary  that is dedicated to the promotion of 'advanced research on Modern and Contemporary India.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Union minister RK Ranjan Singh, whose residence at Kongba in Imphal was torched by a mob on Thursday late night, criticised the law and order situation in Manipur stating that he is in a state of shock. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi and Union minister RK Ranjan Singh

I am shocked. The law and order situation in Manipur has totally failed, the Union minister of state for external affairs told reporters.

Singh said his own house was burned down by a mob and it was not a communal issue.

"My own house has been burned down. That's my own sweat... hard-earned money. I am not corrupt. No one is corrupt in this regime. If this was something religious, then I am a Hindu. The attackers were Hindus. So, this is not religious. This is a mob," Ranjan Singh.

The central minister said he has been trying to bring peace and stop violence since May 3 when the ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur.

"There was an incident at my residence in Manipur last night. I have been trying to bring peace and stop violence since May 3...this is all a misunderstanding between two communities. The government has set up a peace committee, the process is on. Civil society leaders are sitting together," he said.

Singh, also a BJP leader, cancelled all his party programmes in Kerala and left for his home state following the incident.

Reacting to Ranjan Singh's comments, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Friday questioned the government. Thats a sitting minister in the government, not an opposition MP. Is his colleague in the cabinet - the Home Minister listening? Chaturvedi tweeted.

Miscreants torched the residence while the minister was in Kerala.

It is extremely sad to see what happened last night. I was told that more than 50 miscreants attacked my home at around 10pm. Damage has been done to the ground floor and the first floor of my residence. Neither me, or anybody from my family was present during that time. Thankfully, nobody got injured, news agency ANI quoted Ranjan Singh as saying.

Ranjan Singh, who comes from the Meiti community, has continued to appeal to both sides to stay away from violence and restore peace in the state.

"An eye for an eye will make the whole world go blind. Violence doesn't help any cause. Those who are indulging in this violence are doing a huge disservice to the nation. It also reflects that they are enemies of humanity," Singh told ANI.

On June 14 in Imphal East, nine people were killed while more than 10 were injured. Yesterday, the state government extended the clamp on internet in the state up to June 20.

On Wednesday, miscreants tried to burn down the official residence of Manipur minister Nemcha Kipgen in Imphal West. His home was partly burnt.

Chief minister N Biren Singh said the government was holding discussions at multiple levels and assured that action will be taken against those involved in violence. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Biren Singh said, "As per our commitment, we are contacting everyone, we are discussing at various levels. The governor has also constituted a peace committee and consultation with peace committee members will start. I hope that with the support of the people of the state, we will achieve peace at the earliest."

He said that it is not easy to say that the situation will improve suddenly but the incidents of violence are reducing in the state.

Since the last month and a half, there have been restrictions in the state of Manipur, including clamp down on the internet.

Trinamool seeks urgent meeting of parliamentary panel

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek OBrien wrote to the chairman of the standing committee for home affairs demanding a discussion urgently on the situation of violence in Manipur.

A copy of the letter by the AITC leader to the parliamentary panel chairman reads, The recent incidents of violence in Manipur have raised concerns about the safety and well-being of the people residing in the region. Reportedly, many are dead and thousands have been displaced.

Shoot-at-sight orders have further added to the atmosphere of fear in the state. It is imperative that we understand the ground reality and assess the extent of the violence. In this regard, holding a standing committee meeting to discuss the ongoing violence in Manipur would provide first hand insights into the situation, the letter mentioned.

Manipur Congress MLAs seek Modi meeting

Congress MLAs from the state reached the national capital and sought an appointment from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Speaking to HT, president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) Keisham Meghachandra Singh said, Right now also, cross firing continues in Manipur and mostly in the periphery area and the state. The central government is still not doing anything about it and Prime Minister Modi never made a comment on it. After 26 days, union home minister Amit Shah left Imphal, but violence still continues and today on the 40th day.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Indias central intelligence agencies on Thursday informed the Manipur Police that miscreants are arranging for police commando uniforms, and could use them to fuel violence through a coordinated attack in the state that has been torn by ethnic strife since last month, officials aware of the matter said on Friday. Army personnel patrol an area in Manipur. (PTI)

The advisory by the intelligence bureau (IB), which was shared with top security officials in the state, said that it was reliably learnt that a tailor in Bishnupur districts Moirang town was contracted to stitch 500 Manipur Police commando uniforms by June 15. HT has not seen the advisory.

But officials aware of its contents said the agencies said miscreants were likely to carry out attacks on June 17 and 18 by posing as commandos across different areas in least three districts of Churachandpur, Imphal East and Imphal West in Manipur.

One such attack by miscreants posing as security personnel occurred last week (June 9) when people wearing olive green fatigues walked into Khoken village in Kangpokpi district and opened fire, killing three residents and injuring two others.

Following the incident, the Indian Army last Saturday tweeted that they had information of miscreants masquerading as security personnel to enter villages and foment trouble.

Security forces are working together with utmost synergy to protect lives, property and bring peace in Manipur. Miscreants inimical action will be appropriately responded, the army statement said.

A senior security official, aware of the latest intelligence inputs, said: Miscreants posing as police or security forces is a worry, but, in a place like Manipur, where army and security forces have almost been present throughout the last few decades, villagers can distinguish between the real and the fake uniforms. Even in last weeks case in Khoken village, the villagers had sensed that the armed miscreants who posed as security personnel were fake. But by the time they could react, however, it was too late.

The bigger worry, this official explained, is that the miscreants have access to large calibre weapons and ammunition, stolen from police armouries.

The miscreants have access to powerful weapons and enough ammunition. They have AK 47s and SLR and INSAS rifles. Also, the ammunition they have is innumerable, the official said.

Mobs across different districts broke into armouries of different police stations and other military units in two phases over the last one month. The first breach happened during the first week of violence that started on May 3, and the second during the weekend of May 27 and 28.

Manipur Police, in their assessment of the loss of weapons and ammunition have noted that at least 500,000 pieces of ammunition and 3,500 weapons were stolen. Of this, police and security agencies have jointly recovered at least 953 weapons and 13,351 ammunition since then.

AK 47s, mortars, INSAS light machine guns, pistols and grenade launchers are among weapons and ammunition that police and security forces have seized so far.

Ethnic violence in Manipur -- particularly between the Meiteis, who largely live in the plains, and the Kukis, who largely live in the hill areas -- erupted on May 3. Since then, at least 115 people have been killed, over 300 have been injured, and 36460 have been displaced . The first few incidents of violence were reported in Churachandpur but spread quickly across the state. The immediate trigger for the violence was a proposal to accord Meiteis, who make up 53% of the population, Scheduled Tribe status. The protests turned into clashes that engulfed the state where ethnic fault lines run deep.

Going by the reports, one community feels that the forces are not neutral and is thus, blocking roads and not allowing the forces to move at a few places.There is also some apprehension that the police is taking sides. It is a dangerous situation if locals lose confidence in the security apparatus because they could be tempted to take law in their own hands. Now, if some of those people pose as security personnel and indulge in violence, it is only going to exacerbate the situation. The forces must engage in confidence building with the locals to assure them that they act in a completely bipartisan manner to ensure security to all people, retired lieutenant general DS Hooda said.

Officials said women CRPF personnel have been sent to Manipur to engage with the women protesters.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
A mob set Union minister RK Ranjan Singhs residence afire in Manipur's Imphal even as an unspecified number of people were injured when armed men attacked a village in Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district on Thursday night, officials aware of the matter said. Smoke bellows from a street after a standoff between mob and security forces at Sekhon in Imphal East during ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur on June 15. (AFP)

The arson attack amid protracted ethnic violence in Manipur came days after a mob stormed Singhs residence on May 23 before security personnel managed to disperse the attackers by firing in the air.

Officials said some vehicles parked outside the house were also damaged but no one was injured in the arson attack around 10pm on Thursday. Firefighters and security forces rushed to the scene and doused the flames and dispersed the mob of around 50 people.

Singh, who is in New Delhi with his family, did not respond to phone calls for comments. No one was at their residence when it was attacked.

The attack on Singhs house was the latest in a series of attacks on the residences of politicians. On Wednesday, unidentified attackers torched Manipur minister Nemcha Kipgens official residence when she was not there. No one was injured in the incident.

Kipgen, who is the only woman in the Manipur Cabinet, was among the 10 Kuki lawmakers who sought a separate administration for Kuki-Zomi-Chin-Hmar communities amid the violence.

BJP's Vungzagin Valte attacked

On May 4, ruling Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker (BJP) Vungzagin Valte sustained grievous injuries when a mob attacked him in Imphal. Valte is undergoing treatment in Delhi.

Another Cabinet minister Govindass Konthoujams house was vandalised in Imphal on May 24. A day later another mob tried to attack state minister T Biswajit Singhs residence in Imphal.

BJP lawmaker K Raghumani Singhs home was vandalised in Lamphel on May 28. On June 9, a grenade was hurled at the residence of BJP lawmaker Soraisam Kebi.

The fresh violence late on Thursday was reported hours after a mob burnt down two houses as clashes broke out between protesters and security personnel in Imphal. Two days earlier nine people were gunned down and another 10 injured in the sharpest escalation of violence in the state. It was the highest number of casualties in a single day since violence first broke out on May 3.

The two houses were burned down before security forces arrived at the scene to prevent more violence. But clashes broke out between protesters comprising mostly women, and security personnel and left at least three people injured. Rapid Action Force and other security personnel resorted to force and fired tear gas shells to disperse the mob.

Clashes between the majority Meitei community and the tribal Kuki community first erupted on May 3. They have since left at least 115 people dead. At least 300 people have been injured and nearly 40,000 displaced. Clashes were triggered during a protest against a court order for considering Scheduled Tribe status to the Meiteis.

Violence quickly engulfed the state and forced the authorities to clamp a curfew and suspended the internet. Additional security forces were rushed to the state but tensions have simmered. The internet is still not fully back in the state.

Union home minister Amit Shah visited the state between May 31 and June 3. The Central Bureau of Investigation is looking into five cases of violence and a sixth case of conspiracy behind the cases. The government has also announced a peace committee but prominent groups from both sides of the divide have distanced themselves from the process.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON

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
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek OBrien on Thursday wrote to the chairman of the standing committee for home affairs demanding a discussion urgently on the situation of violence in Manipur. Derek OBrien also expressed his concerns about the economic crisis shooting up in the state. (ANI image)

A copy of the letter by the AITC leader to the parliamentary panel chairman reads, The recent incidents of violence in Manipur have raised concerns about the safety and well-being of the people residing in the region. Reportedly, many are dead and thousands have been displaced.

Shoot-at-sight orders have further added to the atmosphere of fear in the state. It is imperative that we understand the ground reality and assess the extent of the violence. In this regard, holding a standing committee meeting to discuss the ongoing violence in Manipur would provide first hand insights into the situation, the letter mentioned.

Also Read: Amid violence, fire at ministers home, Manipur Cong MLAs seek Modi meeting

Expressing his concerns about the economic crisis shooting up in the state, he added,

Prices of essential commodities have shot up and there are long queues in front of ATMs, he said.

The state of Manipur has been witnessing violent clashes between two ethnic groups- Meitis and Kukis since May 3.

Clashes between the majority Meitei community and the tribal Kuki community first erupted on May 3.

They have since left at least 115 people dead.

At least 300 people have been injured and nearly 40,000 displaced. Clashes were triggered during a protest against a court order for considering Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Meiteis.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
A mob stormed and set Union minister of state for external affairs RK Ranjan Singh's residence on fire at Kongba in Imphal on Thursday late night, the Manipur government said amid the ethnic violence. The union minister and his family were not present in the house when the incident took place. Unidentified miscreants torch two houses belonging to a particular community in Manipur on Thursday,(PTI)

I am currently in Kerala for official work. Thankfully, nobody got injured last night at my Imphal home. The miscreants came with petrol bombs and damage has been done to the ground floor and first floor of my home, Ranjan Singh told news agency ANI.

It is very sad to see what is happening in my home state. I will still continue to appeal for peace. Those indulging in this kind of violence are absolutely inhuman, he added.

A mob burnt down two houses as clashes broke out between protesters and security personnel in Imphal on Thursday, two days after the sharpest escalation of violence in the state saw nine people gunned down and another 10 injured.

Chief minister N Biren Singh on Thursday said the government is holding discussions at multiple levels and assured that action will be taken against those involved in violence. In a fresh violence case reported on Wednesday in Manipur, nine people were killed and 10 others were injured.

"As per our commitment, we are contacting everyone, we are discussing at various levels. The governor has also constituted a peace committee and consultation with peace committee members will start. I hope that with the support of the people of the state, we will achieve peace at the earliest," Singh said at a press conference.

He said that it is not easy to say that the situation will improve suddenly but the incidents of violence are reducing in the state.

The CM assured that action will be taken against the culprits of violence.

"Nine people were killed, and incidents of arson were reported. This is very sad. The combing operation has started to find out the culprits. I assure the people of the state, we will definitely book the culprits as per the law of the land," he said.

Manipur has seen violence since early May following clashes during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category.

The Manipur high court had asked the state government to consider including the Meitei community in Scheduled Tribes (STs) list. The state government has extended the internet ban in the state until June 15 in view of the prevailing situation.

In the wake of the violence, Home minister Amit Shah visited Manipur for four days from May 29 and announced a series of measures to restore peace in the state.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAM-S) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi was spying on Mahagathbandhan allies for the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar, and his party is no longer a part of the ruling alliance since it is not ready to merge with the Janata Dal (United), chief minister Nitish Kumar said on Friday. Chief minister Nitish Kumar also said that Manjhi wanted to be a part of the June 23 meeting of Opposition parties but was not invited amid apprehensions that he may leak details of the event to the BJP (Santosh Kumar/ HT)

Kumar also said that Manjhi, a former chief minister, wanted to be a part of the June 23 meeting of Opposition parties in Patna but was not invited amid apprehensions that he may leak details of the event to the BJP.

Manjhi, however, said he felt liberated by exiting the alliance and his party will soon decide on the next course of action.

The Mahagathbandhan or Grand Alliance has 164 MLAs in the 243-seat Bihar assembly. HAM-S has a total of four MLAs in the House. Besides HAM-S and the JD(U), the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and Left are among parties which are part of the alliance.

Kumars remarks came two days after Manjhis son, Santosh Suman, quit the state cabinet amid a proposal to merge HAM-S with the JD(U). Suman, who held the SC and ST welfare portfolio, and is national president of HAM-S and member of the legislative council, said he tendered his resignation as he had no option and could not sacrifice his party.

The chief minister was speaking to reporters after the swearing-in of JD(U) MLA from Sonbarsa assembly seat, Ratnesh Sada, who took over the vacant portfolio.

He (Manjhi was spying on the Mahagathbandhan allies and was in constant touch with BJP leaders. He recently met several BJP leaders. It is an open secret. He was keen to attend the Opposition meeting but we knew what he was up to. Had he stayed with us and attended the meeting, he would have passed on all information to the BJP, Kumar, who is trying to bring Opposition leaders together on a common platform ahead of the Lok Sabha elections next year, said.

I asked Manjhi to merge HAM-S with JD(U). He said he could not do so. I asked him to leave the alliance it is good that he left, he added.

Manjhi, however, said he felt liberated by exiting the alliance. I had vowed to always remain with Kumar. Now that he, himself, has pressed the exit button for me from the alliance, I feel liberated. When Kumar was with the BJP-led NDA, everything was alright. Now, suddenly he has developed an allergy for the BJP, he told HT over phone from Gaya.

The HAM-S leader also said that the party will decide on the next course of action during a national working committee meeting in Patna on June 19.

Suman dismissed allegations that HAM-S was hobnobbing with the BJP. He also said that his party could never compromise with its identity by merging with the JD(U). The JD(U) and other constituents of the alliance do not want smaller parties to grow as they fear their own existence may be at stake, he said.

BJP state spokesperson Arvind Singh said the accusations level against Manjhi was unbecoming of a leader of a chief ministers stature.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Amid the row over substantive revision of the original syllabus National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks, 73 academicians including vice-chancellors of central universities released a statement alleging that a false propaganda is being spread against the council. The statement said that ihe process of selection of scholars for this task was thoroughly liberal, democratic and humanistic. (Representative file image)

They added that attempts are being made to derail the process of implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 for political agenda.

Also Read: 33 more academicians ask NCERT to drop their names from rationalised textbooks

The statement comes days after 33 academicians, who were members of the textbook development committee for books drafted in 2006-07 based on the 2005 version of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and are currently in use, wrote to the council stating that the recent syllabus rationalisation exercise has jeopardised their creative collective effort, and asked the council to remove their names from the current textbooks.

This was followed by two former NCERT advisors, Yogendra Yadav and Suhas Palshikar, dissociating themselves from the rationalised political science textbooks.

In a statement, issued late on Thursday night, the 73 academicians, alleged their counterparts who wanted their names to be dropped from the textbooks were trying to capture media attention, and seem to have forgotten that textbooks are an outcome of collective intellectual engagement and rigorous efforts.

Starting that the school curriculum in India has not been updated for nearly for two decades, they said, The last update of textbooks was undertaken in 2006. The current NCERT team has been making consistent efforts for reducing the burden on students and improving learning outcomes by rationalising the syllabus and making the content relevant according to current needs.

The scholars who have suggested the changes in the textbook have not suggested any epistemic rupture in the existing domain of knowledge but just rationalised the course content as per contemporary knowledge need.As regards the decision of who decides what is unacceptable and what is desirable it is argued that every new generation has the right to make additions/deletions to the existing knowledge base, they said.

The signatories included Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) VC Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, Suresh Kumar, VC of the English and Foreign Languages University, Sanjay Srivastava, VC of Mahatma Gandhi Central University,Motihari, Shambhu Nath Singh VC of Tezpur Central University, Shrinivasa Varakhedi VC of Central Sanskrit University, Sushma Yadav, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Central University of Haryana, Prakash Mani Tripathi, VC of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, and B Das, VC of Central University of Jharkhand, among others.

The academicians said that unlike the selection process of authors in the previous times, the selection process this time, during the rationalisaion exercise, was far more transparent and ethically justified.

The process of selection of the scholars for this task was thoroughly liberal, democratic and humanistic, they said.

The signatories said that the demand of some academicians that students continue to study from 17 year old textbooks rather than updated textbooks reveal intellectual arrogance.

In their quest to further their political agenda, they are ready to endanger the future of crores of children across the country. While students are eagerly awaiting updated textbooks, these academics are continuing to create hurdles and derail the entire process Through misinformation, rumours, and false allegations, they want to derail the implementation of the NEP and disrupt the updation of NCERT textbooks, they said.

They also invited intellectuals, academicians, and concerned citizens to sign their form to expose arrogant and self-interested academicians who want to derail the implementation of NEP 2020 and much- needed and long overdue updation of school curriculum.

UGC chairperson M Jagadesh Kumar also endorsed the statement and said that the criticism of NCERTs revised textbooks is unwarranted.

NCERT has been revising textbooks from time to time in the past too. NCERT is fully justified in carrying out the rationalisation of its textbook contents. NCERT has repeatedly stated that the revision of textbooks originates from various stakeholders feedback and suggestions. NCERT has also confirmed that it is developing a new set of textbooks based on the recently launched National Curriculum Framework for School Education and that current textbooks in which the contents have been rationalised to reduce the academic load are only a temporary phase. Given this, there is no merit in the hue and the cry of these academicians. The objective behind their grumbling seems to be other than academic reasons, he said.

Ever since the rationalisation of NCERT textbooks took place last year, there has been an ongoing political controversy. The exercise had led to the deletion of references including passages on the theory of evolution, references to the Cold War, the Mughal courts, and industrial revolution, the 2002 Gujarat riots, the contribution of agriculture to the Indian economy, and a section on challenges to democracy

The changes were made during a syllabus rationalisation exercise carried out by the council to reduce the burden of students in view of Covid-19 pandemic.

In its response, NCERT had said that it consulted as many as 25 external experts, and 16 CBSE teachers for the entire exercise and revision.

According to a written response submitted by the union ministry of education in Parliament on July 18, 2022, the consultations were with experts in seven subjects, including history, political science, economics, geography, commerce and business studies, sociology, and psychology.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Fareeha Iftikhar Fareeha Iftikhar is a principal correspondent with the national political bureau of the Hindustan Times. She tracks the education ministry, and covers the beat at the national level for the newspaper. She also writes on issues related to gender, human rights and different policy matters. ...view detail
The Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) Society has resolved to rename the autonomous eponymous institution founded on the premises of the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehrus official residence Teen Murti Bhavan after his death in 1964, the Union culture ministry said on Friday and prompted a sharp reaction from the opposition Congress and its allies. The institution was founded in 1964 after first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehrus death. (Wikipedia)

In a statement, the ministry said defence minister Rajnath Singh, who is the societys vice-president, presided over a special meeting where it was resolved to change the name to Prime Ministers Museum and Library Society. It added Prime Minister Narendra Modi mooted the idea of setting up a museum dedicated to all the Prime Ministers on Teen Murti premises in 2016. The Executive Council, NMML...[at its] 162nd meeting...on...[November 25, 2016] approved the construction of the Museum of all Prime Ministers in the Teen Murti Estate. The project was completed and the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya was opened to the public on 21st April 2022, said the statement.

It added the council later felt that the name of the institution under the culture ministry should reflect the present activities. ...[the institution] now also [includes] Sangrahalaya, depicting the collective journey of democracy in Independent India and highlighting the contribution of each Prime Minister in nation-building.

It called the museum a seamless blend. ...[It] begins at the renovated and refurbished Nehru Museum building, now completely updated with technologically advanced displays on the life and contribution of...Nehru. Housed in a new building, the museum then goes on to tell the story of how our Prime Ministers navigated the nation through various challenges and ensured [the] all-round progress of the country.

The statement said the institution recognises all Prime Ministers, thereby democratising the institutional memory.

It quoted NMML executive council chairman Nripendra Misra emphasising the Prime Ministers Museum expresses the nations commitment to democracy and that the institutions name should reflect its new form.

The statement quoted Singh welcoming the proposal for the name change since the institution in its new form exhibits the contributions of all prime ministers from Nehru to Modi and their responses to challenges they faced. Describing Prime Ministers as an institution and comparing the journey of various prime ministers to the varied colours of a rainbow ...Singh emphasized that all the colours of a rainbow have to be proportionately represented...to make it beautiful. Thus the resolution has given a new name, respect to all our previous prime ministers, and is democratic in content.

In a tweet, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh hit out at the move, accusing Modi of attempting to distort, disparage, and destroy the name and legacy of the architect of the Indian nation-state. Pettiness & Vengeance, thy name is Modi. He added NMML has been a global intellectual landmark and treasure house of books and archives for over 59 years. It will henceforth be called Prime Ministers Museum & Society. What wont Mr. Modi do to distort, disparage and destroy the name & legacy of the architect of the Indian nation-state? A small, small man overburdened by his insecurities is the self-styled Vishwaguru.

The Congress has been accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of undermining Nehrus legacy of secular institution-building and conviction that India belonged to all its people.

Communist Party of India leader D Raja criticised the decision of renaming NMML as desperate. He said it was part of the attempts of BJPs ideological mentor, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), to rewrite the countrys history. The people of India know that the RSS had no contribution to the Indian [national] movement, he said. This is an attempt by them to rewrite the countrys history and insert themselves into the narrative. He added they had no contribution to building the modern Indian nation-state. Nehru was the countrys first Prime Minister and his contributions such as the decision to establish public sector enterprises and the Planning Commission are immense.

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Manoj Jha said the move revealed the governments trivial thinking. Nehru was the first Prime Minister. He was the choice of Mahatma Gandhi...the architect of the Indian democratic state, he said. This government needs to realise that memory erasers do not work.

Jha added even after Nehrus death, the government feels threatened by his democratic spirit. The government views Nehru as the last wall standing and protecting the interests of parliamentary democracy against majoritarian impulses.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against 13 people, including 10 Sri Lankan nationals and three Indians, in connection to its probe into the illegal drugs and arms trade case relating to attempts to revive the activities of Sri Lankan Tamil separatist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in India and Sri Lanka, the agency said on Friday. NIA said the charge sheet was filed on Thursday (Representative Photo)

NIA said the charge sheet was filed on Thursday against the arrested accused for the illegal drug trade to fund, amass and stash weapons for the revival of LTTE in India and Sri Lanka.

Three Indians named in the charge sheet are Selvakumar M, Vigneshwara Perumal alias Vicky, and Iyyapan Nandhu.

Further, the NIA has named Sri Lankan nationals C Gunashekharaan alias Guna and Pushparajah alias Pookutti Kanna, who allegedly ran a drug syndicate in the island nation and have been accused of working with Pakistani drugs and arms supplier Haji Salim.

The drugs were being sourced from Salim, who is suspected to be residing in Pakistan. The accused persons were using foreign WhatsApp numbers to carry out the clandestine trade, the NIA said in a statement.

Salim, as reported by HT on April 30, allegedly worked with Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). He handled almost entire maritime smuggling of drugs and arms to India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and other nearby countries, the agency said.

Investigations in the case had exposed their conspiracy to fund the revival of LTTE through the drug trade. They were arrested (last year) at the Trichy Special Camp. Investigations had further revealed that the accused were using the proceeds of crime to live a lavish life. Several mobile phones with pre-activated Indian SIM cards were also seized from them along with various digital devices, documents relating to drug transactions, cash to the tune of 80 lakh and nine gold bars. The cash and gold were proceeds from the sale of narcotics and were being channelled through hawala networks between Chennai and Sri Lanka. Several transactions using Crypto platforms were also unearthed, the NIA statement added.

Besides Guna and Kanna, eight other Sri Lankans who have been named in the charge sheet are Mohammad Asmin, Alahapperumaga Sunil Ghamini Fonseka, Stanly Kennady Fernando, Dhanukka Roshan, Ladiya, Vella Suranga, Thilipan and Danarathnam Nilukshan.

While Vicky and Nandhu were arrested in April this year, the others were arrested in December 2022.

The federal agency is probing at least four cases related to conspiracy to revive the activities of LTTE in India and Sri Lanka.

In October 2021, Satkunam alias Sabesan, a former intelligence officer of LTTE, was arrested by the NIA in connection with a probe into the seizure of five AK47 rifles, thousands of rounds of 9 mm ammunition and 300 kg of heroin from fishing vessel Ravihansi, which was intercepted by the Coast Guard off the coast of Minicoy in Lakshwadeep on March 18, 2021.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against 13 persons, including Lankan nationals, in its probe into the India-Sri Lanka illegal drugs and arms trade case relating to attempts to revive the activities of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in both countries, the agency said on Friday. The NIA has filed a charge sheet against 13 persons in its probe into the India-Sri Lanka illegal drugs and arms trade case (HT File)

Among the charge-sheeted persons are C Gunashekharaan alias Guna and Pushparajah alias Pookutti Kanna, Sri Lankan nationals who run a drug syndicate in the island nation and work closely with Pakistani drugs and arms supplier Haji Salim.

Salim, as reported by HT on April 30, works with the Pakistani spy agency ISI and handles almost the entire maritime smuggling of drugs and arms to India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and other nearby countries.

The agency said that the charge sheet was filed on Thursday against three Indians and 10 Sri Lankan nationals as they conspired with each other to exploit the illegal drugs trade in India and Sri Lanka for funding, amassing and stashing weapons for the revival of LTTE in India and Sri Lanka.

The drugs were being sourced from one Haji Salim, who is suspected to be residing in Pakistan. The accused persons had been using various foreign WhatsApp numbers to carry out the clandestine trade, said an NIA statement.

Investigations in the case had exposed their conspiracy to fund the revival of LTTE through the drug trade. They were arrested (last year) at the Trichy Special Camp. Investigations had further revealed that the accused were using the proceeds of crime to live a lavish life. Several mobile phones with pre-activated Indian SIM cards were seized from them. NIA also seized various digital devices, documents relating to drug transactions, cash to the tune of 80 lakh and nine gold bars during the investigations. This cash and gold were proceeds from the sale of narcotics and were being channelled through hawala networks between Chennai and Sri Lanka. Several transactions using Crypto platforms were also unearthed between the accused, the statement added.

Three Indians named in the charge sheet are Selvakumar M, Vigneshwara Perumal and Iyyapan Nandhu.

Besides Guna and Kanna, eight Sri Lankans named include Mohammad Asmin, Alahapperumaga Sunil Ghamini Fonseka, Stanly Kennady Fernando, Dhanukka Roshan, Ladiya, Vella Suranga, Thilipan and Danarathnam Nilukshan.

While Vicky and Nandhu were arrested in April this year, the others were arrested in December 2022.

The federal agency is probing at least four cases related to conspiracy to revive the activities of LTTE.

In October 2021, a former intelligence officer of LTTE  Satkunam alias Sabesan was arrested in a probe into the seizure of five AK47 rifles, thousands of rounds of 9 mm ammunition and 300 kg of heroin from the fishing vessel Ravihansi, which was intercepted by the Coast Guard off the coast of Minicoy in Lakshwadeep on March 18, 2021.
New Delhi: The name of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) Society -- founded on the premises of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehrus official residence Teen Murti Bhavan after his death in 1964 -- is being changed to Prime Ministers Museum and Library Society, the Union culture ministry said on Friday. The decision came a year after the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, or prime ministers museum, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PTI)

The announcement immediately sparked a political row, with the Congress calling it a petty act and an attempt to distort, disparage, and destroy the name and legacy of Nehru, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slamming the partys reaction as a classic example of political indigestion.

In a special meeting of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society, it was resolved to change its name to Prime Ministers Museum and Library Society. The special meeting was presided over by defence minister Shri Rajnath Singh who is the vice-president of the society, said the ministry statement.

The decision came a year after the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, or prime ministers museum, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The statement said that the NMML executive council in 2016 approved the construction of the museum of all PMs in the Teen Murti Estate, and the project was opened to the public on April 21, 2022. The executive council subsequently felt that the name of the Institution should reflect the present activities, the statement added. It recognises all the Prime Ministers, thereby democratising the institutional memory.

It quoted NMML executive council chairman Nripendra Misra emphasising that the prime ministers museum expressed the nations commitment to democracy and that the institutions name should reflect its new form.

The statement quoted Singh welcoming the proposal for the name change as the institution in its new form exhibited the contributions of all PMs, from Nehru to Modi. Describing Prime Ministers as an institution and comparing the journey of various prime ministers to the varied colours of a rainbow ...Singh emphasised that all the colours of a rainbow have to be proportionately represented...to make it beautiful. Thus the resolution has given a new name, respect to all our previous prime ministers, and is democratic in content, the statement said.

The announcement immediately sparked a political row.

In a tweet, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh hit out at the move, accusing Modi of attempting to distort, disparage, and destroy the name and legacy of the architect of the Indian nation-state.

Pettiness & vengeance, thy name is Modi, he said.

He added that NMML was a global intellectual landmark and treasure house of books and archives for over 59 years. It will henceforth be called Prime Ministers Museum & Society. What wont Mr. Modi do to distort, disparage and destroy the name & legacy of the architect of the Indian nation-state? A small, small man overburdened by his insecurities is the self-styled Vishwaguru.

In the past, the Congress has accused the BJP of undermining Nehrus legacy.

Communist Party of India leader D Raja termed the decision of renaming NMML as desperate. He said it was part of the attempts of the BJPs ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), to rewrite the countrys history.

The people of India know that the RSS had no contribution to the Indian [national] movement, he said. This is an attempt by them to rewrite the countrys history and insert themselves into the narrative.

Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Manoj Jha said the move revealed the governments thinking. Nehru was the first PM. He was the choice of Mahatma Gandhi...the architect of the Indian democratic state, he said. This government needs to realise that memory erasers do not work. Reacting to Congress remarks, BJP president JP Nadda on Friday said that the partys inability to accept that there are leaders beyond one dynasty is a classic example of political indigestion. In a series of tweets, Nadda said, Classic example of political indigestion -- the inability to accept a simple fact that there are leaders beyond one dynasty who have served and built our nation.

Every prime minister has been given respect in the prime ministers museum and the section relating to the first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, has not been altered, he said. In the PM Sangrahalaya, every PM has got respect. Section relating to Pandit Nehru hasnt been altered. On the contrary, its prestige has been enhanced, Nadda said. For a party which ruled India for over 50 years, their pettiness is really tragic. Its also the reason people are rejecting them, Nadda said.

The prime ministers museum is an effort beyond politics, Nadda asserted and alleged that the Congress lacks the vision to realise this.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Prime Minister Narendra Modis packed State visit to the US next week is expected to lead to several understandings and remove barriers in the way of taking cooperation in crucial areas such as defence and critical technologies to the next level, people familiar with the matter said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (File Photo)

Aside from the pomp and symbolism associated with a State visit, the two sides are firming up engagements between Modi and US President Joe Biden to pave the way for closer alignment between the economic and technology ecosystems of the two countries and eliminating hurdles to building more resilient supply chains, the people said.

The external affairs ministry on Friday announced that Modi will visit the US during June 20-24, when he will be hosted by Biden at the White House and address a joint session of the Congress. This is only the third State visit hosted by Biden, following those for French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The ministry said Modi will travel from the US to Egypt during June 24-25 to meet President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and build on trade and strategic relations between the two sides. This will be Modis first visit to Egypt.

Modis State visit to the US, at the invitation of Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, will commence in New York, where the Prime Minister will lead celebrations marking the International Day of Yoga at the UN headquarters on June 21.

Thereafter, Modi will travel to Washington, where he will be given a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22. Unlike past such welcomes, more than a thousand people are expected to be at the event, including members of the diaspora.

Modi will then hold a high-level dialogue with the US President. Biden and the First Lady will host a State dinner in honour of Modi the same evening. Several hundred guests, a mix of members of Congress, diplomats and celebrities, are expected to be at the dinner, the people said.

At the invitation of Congressional leaders, including speaker Kevin McCarthy of the House of Representatives and Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, Modi will address a joint sitting of the Congress on June 22. Addresses to joint sessions of Congress are reserved for the closest allies of the US or major world figures. Modi last made such an address in 2016.

On June 23, Modi will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by vice-president Kamala Harris and secretary of state Antony Bilnken. The people said the two sides are exploring the possibility of more interactions between Modi and Biden, besides the ones that have already been slotted, in order to allow the two leaders to spend the maximum amount of time together.

In addition to the official engagements, Modi is scheduled to have several curated interactions with CEOs, professionals and other stakeholders. He will also meet members of the Indian diaspora, the external affairs ministry said.

HT reported most of the engagements announced in the official schedule over the past two weeks.

Modis visit to the US is being seen as the high point in Indias calendar for bilateral engagements ahead of the G20 Summit in September, for which Biden is expected to travel to New Delhi. Several important deals, including one for Indias planned acquisition of 31 weaponised drones and another on closer collaboration on semiconductors, are expected to be unveiled during the visit to the US.

The people said there is genuine interest on both sides to use the visit to take relations to the next level. In this context, they pointed to back-to-back visits to India by secretary of state Blinken, commerce secretary Gina Raimondo, defence secretary Lloyd Austin and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.

The people also pointed to forward movement under new frameworks such as the initiative for Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) and the Strategic Trade Dialogue, which paved the way for interlinking supply chains and facilitating cooperation in critical technologies such as AI and quantum computing, trade and investment.

We have been talking to US stakeholders, both private players and regulators, to create greater linkages in manufacturing, services and technology. We are also evolving standards for critical technologies, one of the people said.

While the people declined to confirm specific defence deals or other agreements, they pointed to how India-US ties in this realm had moved from a buyer-seller relationship to building a long-term technology and security partnership, including more complex military exercises and co-development of platforms.

The people acknowledged that the Ukraine war and its economic impact on developing countries and the role of China in the Indo-Pacific are likely to figure during discussions on regional and global issues, but made it clear that the frame of reference for the Prime Ministers visit is purely bilateral.

Modi will subsequently travel to Cairo to pay a State visit to Egypt at the invitation of President Sisi. The invitation was extended to Modi in January when Sisi attended the Republic Day celebrations as chief guest.

Apart from holding talks with Sisi, Modi is likely to interact with senior dignitaries from the Egyptian government, prominent personalities and the Indian community.

Relations between India and Egypt are based on ancient trade and economic linkages and cultural and people-to-people ties, the external affairs ministry said. During Sisis state visit in January, the two countries agreed to elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
India on Friday announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make a state visit to the US during June 20-24, when he will be hosted by President Joe Biden at the White House and address a joint session of the Congress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (File Photo)

The external affairs ministry said Modi will travel from the US to Egypt during June 24-25 to meet President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and build on trade and strategic relations between the two sides. This will be Modis first visit to Egypt.

Modis visit to the US is being seen as the high point in Indias calendar for bilateral engagements ahead of the G20 Summit in September, for which Biden is expected to travel to New Delhi. Several important deals, including one for Indias planned acquisition of 31 weaponised drones and another on closer collaboration on semiconductors, are expected to be unveiled during the visit to the US.

Also Read: Ahead of Modis visit to US, India approves procurement of MQ-9B armed drones

Modis state visit to the US, at the invitation of Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, will commence in New York, where the prime minister will lead celebrations marking the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations headquarters on June 21. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in December 2014 to proclaim June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.

Thereafter, Modi will travel to Washington, where he will be given a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22. He will meet Biden to continue their high-level dialogue, the external affairs ministry said.

Biden and the First Lady will host a state dinner in honour of Modi the same evening.

At the invitation of Congressional leaders, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, and the Speaker of the Senate, Charles Schumer, Modi will address a joint sitting of the US Congress on June 22. Addresses to joint sessions of Congress are usually reserved for the closest allies of the US or major world figures. Modi last made such an address in 2016.

On June 23, Modi will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of state Antony Bilnken.

In addition to the official engagements, Modi is scheduled to have several curated interactions with CEOs, professionals and other stakeholders. He will also meet members of the Indian diaspora, the external affairs ministry said.

Also Read: NSA Sullivans visit underscored dynamism of India-US partnership: White House

Modi will subsequently travel to Cairo to pay a state visit to Egypt at the invitation of President Sisi. The invitation was extended to the prime minister in January when Sisi attended the Republic Day celebrations as chief guest.

Apart from holding talks with Sisi, Modi is likely to interact with senior dignitaries from the Egyptian government, prominent Egyptian personalities, and the Indian community.

Relations between India and Egypt are based on ancient trade and economic linkages and cultural and people-to-people ties, the external affairs ministry said. During Sisis state visit in January, the two countries agreed to elevate their relationship to a strategic partnership.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
A fresh row between the BJP and the AAP began on Friday after Delhi minister Atishi said India has the "largest number of malnourished people" and things in the country are not as they are claimed. The Delhi minister made these comments at Cambridge India Conference in London which drew flak and a parallel with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi -- from BJP leaders. BJP leaders slammed Delhi minister Atishi and accused her of making anti-national statements abroad like Rahul Gandhi.

"There are a lot of media narratives of how India is growing. Sometimes it's shining, sometimes it's a trillion-dollar economy. And we are often told that India's GDP has now crossed the 3.5 trillion dollar mark. We are told that India is the fastest growing G-20 economy and many other such pieces of information. But the reality is frankly far more worrying. A better indicator is the human development index which looks at healthcare, education, malnourishment etc. India ranks 132 out of 191 in this. This is India@75. And I think a lot of countries in comparison with which we consider ourselves far more developed are much ahead of us in this regard. Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have a higher ranking than India on this index," Atishi said.

Comparing Atishi's statement on India with Rahul Gandhi's statements abroad, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, "There are two youth leaders. One goes to America... there is another youth leader... She goes to England and says that there are 35 crore people hungry in India. The prime minister is giving 80 crore people free ration, where these 35 crore came from. Thir remarks should not be taken seriously."

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the figures that Atishi gave were wrong. "Her statements are shameful. Going abroad and presenting wrong facts and figures about the country is equivalent to treason," the BJP leader said.

As the debate escalated, AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said the BJP's problem is to deny the existence of a problem. Citing reports, Priyanka wrote: "They know that according to a report India is at the 107th place in the Global Hunger Index. And this is the reason why 80 crore people of the country do not have money to make ends meet."

Rahul Gandhi's recent US visit came on the radar like his previous London one as he has been accused of insulting India's democracy on foreign soil.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
A Tamil Nadu court on Friday convicted and sentenced Rajesh Das, the former Special Director-General of the state's police force, to three years imprisonment in a sexual harassment case filed by a junior officer in February 2021. Das was also fined 10,000. The court in Tamil Nadu's Villupuram also imposed a fine of 500 on a male cop who had tried to stop the complaint from being filed. Senior IPS officer Rajesh Das convicted of sexual harassment of junior by Tamil Nadu court. (Source: Twitter/Shilpa1308)

Das was then granted bail by the same court to file an appeal within 30 days.

What was the case?

The woman police officer had accused Das of inappropriate behaviour while the two were on-duty in the state's central districts. This was when All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader Edappadi Palaniswami was chief minister.

The state set up a six-member committee to probe the complaint.

READ | TN cop accuses senior officer of sexual harassment, inquiry ordered

Also, following the complaint - which became a major issue ahead of the 2021 Assembly election that the AIADMK lost - Das was replaced by Jayanth Murali, Additional Director General in-charge of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, and placed under compulsory wait; meaning he had no specific assignment.

He was later suspended.

What did the Madras High Court say?

Months after the complaint was filed the Madras High Court dismissed a plea by Das challenging the jurisdictional competence of the Villupuram court.

Justice P Velmurugan junked the plea, saying the High Court found no 'perversity' in the order passed by Villupuram court in rejecting a similar petition, and directed the lower court to not bear 'prejudice' to the petitioner.

READ | Madras HC rejects Spl DGP's plea to transfer sexual harassment case

The High Court had earlier also criticised the incident, calling it 'shocking' and warning of the impact on other women police officers in Tamil Nadu.

The state government suspended Das after the High Court's comments.

Matter in the Supreme Court

Das had also moved the Supreme Court asking for the trial to be shifted out of the state as he feared comments by the Madras High Court would damage his chances of a fair trial. The top court did not allow that but did expunge some comments and said there was no need for the high court to monitor inquiries.

The Supreme Court also said day-to-day hearings were not needed - as ordered by the Madras High Court, which wanted the case to be finished in six months.

What did the opposition say?

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader MK Stalin - now chief minister - said his party 'will never allow disgraceful situation... for women in Tamil Nadu police'.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Friday said he would persuade all opposition parties to forge unity based on a common minimum programme to provide an alternative to the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. Sharad Pawar, NCP Chief addresses the people during the Foundation Day celebrations of NCP at the Party office in New Delhi, India, on Saturday.(Hindustan Times)

Talking to reporters here, the opposition stalwart said the Bharatiya Janata Party had been rejected in a majority of the states where it was ruling, adding that the saffron party had toppled elected governments to grab power.

"If the people have rejected the BJP at the state level, their (citizens) view will not be any different at the national level," the NCP chief asserted.

Informing that he would put forth his view in the meeting of opposition parties to be held in Patna in Bihar on June 23, Pawar said, "All non-BJP parties need to sit together and think about forging opposition unity on the basis of a common minimum programme."

"The BJP made big assurances, raised expectations of people but did nothing. It is time to provide an alternative," the former Union minister said.

Queried on the Bharat Rashtra Samithi led by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao speaking about making inroads into Maharashtra, Pawar said the Congress-NCP alliance had faced reverses in the 2019 polls due to the presence of Prakash Ambedkar's Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA).

"Even though all parties have the right to expand their base in any state, it remains to be seen if the BRS is a B team (of the BJP)," he said.

Rao opened a party office in Nagpur on Thursday and had said the BRS would expand its base in Maharashtra to fight upcoming polls on its own strength.

Asked about the Uniform Civil Code, Pawar said there was need for a population control law for all citizens irrespective of caste and religion, but one needs to know whether the UCC is "targeted at a particular community" and "then we can speak (on it)".

Queried on the newly-elected Congress government in Karnataka removing chapters on Hindutva ideologue late VD Savarkar and RSS founder Keshav Hedgewar from school books, Pawar said the Congress had promised such a move in its Assembly poll manifesto.

The Congress there had promised to remove chapters that impact social unity, he said.

If the people of Karnataka have voted them to power, it means they agree with the Congress' view, Pawar added.

On the acrimony created by an advertisement that appeared in several dailies on Tuesday claiming that a survey showed Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was more popular than his deputy Devendra Fadnavis, the NCP leader said it had cleared a misunderstanding that the BJP had a big role in the ruling dispensation.

"The advertisement played a historical role in creating awareness about the fact. Similarly, the print media benefited," he said in a swipe at the Shinde-Fadnavis government.

A war of words erupted over a newspaper advertisement that projected Shinde as being more popular in the state than his deputy Fadnavis.

The full-page advertisement, which also had a picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appeared in major newspapers in the state on Tuesday, citing a "survey" that showed Shinde was ahead of Fadnavis in popularity.

The advertisement, which did not have pictures of either Fadnavis or Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray, fuelled talks about a possible rift among the two allies whose government will complete one year in office on June 30.
Six Indian Skimmer eggs laid beside a barrage in Uttar Pradeshs Bijnor were washed away on Thursday due to the strong flow of water from the dam, said conservationists who were observing the endangered bird, warning that four hatchlings who survived are now at risk of being submerged unless authorities limit the flow from the reservoir. The Indian skimmer is found in the coastal estuaries of western and eastern India.

Birders and conservationists in Bijnor, who were keeping a watch on the nesting birds, said this is the second time the rare birds eggs were washed away from the barrage, built on the Ganga, in a month, after a current swept away 20 eggs in May.

Five pairs of skimmers were nesting in April and laid 20 eggs. But all 20 were washed away in May. The five pairs nested again and their six eggs were swept away on Thursday, said birder Ashish Loya, who is leading the Wildlife Trust of Indias Nest Guardian Programme in Bijnor.

The eggs were all laid, and hatched, on a sandbar  a partially exposed ridge of sand in a water body. Four of the hatchlings remain on the sandbar, said Loya, stressing that their survival is contingent on authorities keeping the water level unchanged or ideally reducing it.

The state irrigation department is strict about allowing the water level to go up to 10,600 cusecs. It is over 9,000 cusecs now, Loya said.

He pointed out that the water level was between 4,000 and 5,000 cusecs over the past month and that similar levels will need to be maintained for at least the next two weeks to keep the birds safe.

The Indian skimmer is found in the coastal estuaries of western and eastern India. It resides primarily on larger, sandy, lowland rivers, around lakes and adjacent marshes and, in the non-breeding season, in estuaries and coasts.

The bird, having an estimated population of 3,700-4,400 in south Asia, according to BirdLife International 2021, has been under threat as human activities gnaw away at its habitats. According to experts, the birds dwindling numbers are down to the degradation of rivers and lakes through irrigation schemes, and pollution.

Officials of the UP forest department said it was aware of the threat to the hatchlings and monitoring the situation to protect them.

Muzaffarnagar district forest officer (DFO) Kanhaiyalal Patel said: I spoke to the irrigation department regarding regulating the waterflow in the Ganga downstream of the Bijnor barrage so that the hatchlings can be protected The irrigation department needs to maintain 10,600 cusecs of water to ensure water supply to irrigate hundreds of thousands of hectares of agriculture land in the region. They can store water upstream only after they get it in excess.
Some of the former Indian students, who allegedly arrived in Canada on study permits based on fake documents, have been removed or have left voluntarily, a Canadian official said. Canadian immigration, refugees, and citizenship minister Sean Fraser. (Twitter)

There were few people who were removed, some others have left voluntarily. To the extent someone has already left Canada, and can demonstrate they too were a victim of fraud, they will have access to the same remedies as those who are already here, Canadian immigration, refugees, and citizenship minister Sean Fraser said on Thursday.

The matter came to light a day after Fraser said these former students will receive temporary residence permits until a task force considers each case on its merits.

A person aware of the matter said that seven former students have been deported. Two removal orders were placed on hold as the task force is taking into account each case separately. The process is expected to take about eight weeks. The former students have been given permission to remain in the country during that period.

The number of former students, mainly from Punjab, has been put at 700. This may be an exaggeration as about 30 such students are facing removal proceedings. An additional 130 or so cases were being investigated. Fraser has put the number at dozens.

India has raised the matter and flagged the issue of those who have left. An official said the Indian high commission hopes the review will cover those who have returned to India.

Several of the former students, who were staging a protest in the Greater Toronto Area, called it off after 18 days. In a statement, they said the fight is not over. They pointed out the deportations were postponed temporarily and the Canadian government could attempt to remove some ex-students after investigations are complete. If that happens, the students and community have vowed to restart this morcha [protest] and maintain it until the deportations are permanently cancelled.

The statement called the temporary residence permits a tremendous victory, which was unthinkable a month ago. The students achieved it through courage, unity, and resilience.

These students arrived in Canada between 2017 and 2020. They started receiving notices in 2021 and 2022 as the authorities concluded the letters of offer of admission to Canadian higher education institutions, which formed the basis of their study permits, were fake.

Agents in India allegedly used fraudulent documentation to procure study permits for them and they started receiving notices from immigration authorities once these were detected.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anirudh Bhattacharyya Anirudh Bhattacharya is a Toronto-based commentator on North American issues, and an author. He has also worked as a journalist in New Delhi and New York spanning print, television and digital media. He tweets as @anirudhb. ...view detail
Former Tamil Nadu special director general of police (DGP) Rajesh Das on Friday was convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment for sexually harassing a woman superintendent of police (SP) while on duty in February 2021. Former Tamil Nadu special DGP Rajesh Das

However, Das, who has been suspended since 2021, was granted bail by the same court, which gave him 30 days to appeal the conviction.

Viluppuram chief judicial magistrate M Pushparani acquitted Das of charges under sections 506 (threat to cause death, grievous injuries) read with 109 (bribing) of Indian Penal Code (IPC), citing a lack of evidence.

But the court upheld charges under sections 354 A(2) (sexual harassment), 341(wrongful restraint) read with 109 (abets an offence) of IPC and section 4 (abets harassment of suicide) of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Women Harassment Act, 2002.

A second accused in the case, IPS officer D Kannan, who held the rank of a superintendent of police, was found guilty under IPC section 341 (wrongful restraint) for preventing the woman from entering Chennai while she was on her way to file a complaint.He was let off with a fine of 500.

The incident took place when the two were accompanying then Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami during an official visit to Karur district, and set off a storm when it emerged in February 2021, two months before assembly elections in the state.

According to the womans complaint, Das, who accompanied her in a car, harassed her around 7.40pm on February 21, when they were travelling from Karur to Namakkal district.

He has also been granted 30 days time to go for an appeal, Das advocate K Ravindran told HT. We will be appealing in the sessions court that he has not committed this offence.

Das and Kannan were suspended in 2021 on the recommendation of the Election Commission of India. The Madras high court took suo motu cognisance of the case later that year.

On hearing his sentence, Das on Thursday told the court: I am innocent, I have not done anything which (is) alleged to be done.

Kannan also said: I have not done anything.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin's visit to a Chennai hospital - to check-in on minister V Senthil Balaji after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate - was due to 'fear', ex-CM Edappadi Palaniswami said Friday. Palaniswami claimed Stalin is afraid Balaji may reveal 'information' that could damage the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader's political career. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin speaks regarding Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister V Senthil Balaji's arrest Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case. (PTI)

"Chief minister Stalin visited Senthil Balaji at the hospital due to fear he might reveal some information to (the) Enforcement Department. Not only the CM but his ministers are also panicking due to this. If Balaji reveals the truth then Stalin's political career will be affected... you can't do anything to AIADMK [All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam] workers."

Jibes at Stalin's 'fear' were also made on Wednesday by the Bharatiya Janata Party's state unit boss K Annamalai, who claimed the CM got a 200 crore kickback for a Metro contract.

Annamalai declared that 'fear' was why Stalin had blocked the Central Bureau of Investigation from operating in the state without his government's permission.

READ | Stalin afraid he's next after Balaji: TN BJP chief on state's CBI move

TN minister arrested

V Senthil Balaji, 47, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate early Wednesday morning after 18 hours of interrogation in connection with a money laundering case.

READ | High drama as TN minister Balaji cries in pain after ED questioning - VIDEO

The electricity and excise minister, Balaji was taken to a government hospital where he was diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease and moved to the privately-run Kauvery Hospital on order from the Madras High Court and has been advised Coronary Artery Bypass Graft surgery.

READ | TN minister Senthil Balaji, arrested by ED, advised CABG surgery. What is it?

He has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days after the ED told the court he refused to cooperate, refused to sign the arrest memo and shouted and yelled at agency officers.

Balaji's arrest has sparked a major political row in the state ahead of next year's general election, with the opposition AIADMK and its ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party, eager to capitalise and hit back after a resounding defeat in the 2021 Assembly election.

Why was he arrested?

Balaji was arrested over an alleged cash-for-jobs scam from when he was the transport minister; back when he was with the AIADMK and the late J Jayalalithaa was chief minister.

READ | ED arrests TN minister over alleged job-for-cash scam. What is the case?

The arrest came two weeks after the Income Tax officials conducted an eight-day raid of locations linked to the minister and his supporters. That, in turn, was after the Supreme Court overruled a 2022 Madras High Court order dismissing proceedings against Senthil Balaji.

Stalin on the attack

Stalin delivered another broadside at the AIADMK and the BJP on Thursday after Balaji claimed mental and physical torture by Enforcement Directorate officials.

The chief minister's criticisms come as he and other opposition parties have once again accused the BJP using central investigative agencies like the ED to target rival leaders.

"We are also capable of all sorts of politics. This is not a threat. It's a warning... do not rub a DMK man the wrong way. If we retaliate you will not be able to tolerate it," Stalin declared.

READ | Stalin's 2024 warning to BJP as TN CM meets Senthil Balaji at hospital

"For ten years before the BJP came to power, the ED conducted only 112 raids. After BJP came... ED has conducted 3,000 raids against those who opposed them," he claimed.

" Only 0.05 per cent of the cases are proven."

Stalin, the Congress (allies of the DMK), Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party and Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress have all slammed the ED's action as 'political vendetta'.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The Kauvery Hospital in Tamil Nadu's Chennai on Friday issued an update on the health of minister V Senthil Balaji, who was hospitalised Wednesday in dramatic circumstances after being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on money laundering charges. While Balaji's colleagues claimed torture by the central agency, the hospital advised the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader and TN power minister undergo early Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery. Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin with V Senthil Balaji at a hospital in Chennai. (PTI)

The hospital statement, signed by the hospital's executive director, Dr Aravindan Selvaraj, said the minister had a 'history of cardiac symptoms' and that 'he is undergoing further tests to assess fitness for anaesthesia... based on the assessment, surgery will be planned'.

V Senthil Balaji - widely seen as influential political figure from western Tamil Nadu, and whose clout could be key for the ruling DMK in next year's Lok Sabha election - is being treated in the Intensive Care Unit by a multidisciplinary team, the hospital said.

What is Coronary Artery Bypass Graft surgery?

According Johns Hopkins Medicines this is a surgical procedure used to treat Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), which leads to narrowing of coronary arteries - these are the blood vessels responsible for supplying oxygen and nutrients to heart muscles.

CAD is usually the result of the build-up of fatty material' in artery walls. This narrows the insides of the arteries and limits the oxygen-rich blood supply to the heart muscle.

The surgery helps in diverting blood around narrowed and clogged parts of major arteries and helps in improving blood flow. One way to treat this disease is to bypass blocked parts of the artery with pieces from a healthy blood vessel from elsewhere in the body, such as pieces of a vein from the leg or an artery in the chest or from the wrist.

Symptoms of CAD may include (but are not limited to) chest pain, extreme fatigue and/or palpitations, abnormal heart rhythms, shortness of breath, swelling in the hands and feet, and indigestion. There are unfortunately, fewer symptoms in the disease's early stages.

Among the possible risks of this surgery are bleeding during or after, blood clots that may elad to a heart attack, stroke, or lung problems, an infection at the incision site, pneumonia, pancreatitis or kidney failure. There may also be instances where the graft fails or when the patient dies in or after surgery. According to Johns Hopkins there may be other risks that depend on individual patients' medical conditions.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Trinamool Congress national spokesperson Saket Gokhale, who had filed a Right to Information (RTI) application with the information and broadcast ministry seeking the reason behind the ban on BBC's controversial documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi - 'India: The Modi Question', has claimed to have received the response. Trinamool Congress national spokesperson Saket Gokhale

In response, Ministry of I&B tells me that the documentary was banned based on Rule 16 of the IT Rules 2021 on recommendations of Inter Departmental Committee (IDC), Gokhale tweeted, in a series of post, sharing a copy of the RTI query reply, which he termed as bizarre.

"Now here's the facts: Rule 16 allows @MIB_India to block digital content "in cases of emergency" only After that the Ministry is required to constitute an inter-departmental committee (IDC) to review the ban. The IDC can issue ONLY RECOMMENDATIONS and NOT ORDERS. Also note that Rule 17 of IT Rules says that Ministry shall maintain complete records of proceedings of the Committee (IDC) including complaints referred & recommendations made by the Committee. Therefore, the proceedings of the IDC are PUBLIC RECORDS under RTI Act. And despite this, @MIB_India refused to tell me the reasons behind banning the BBC documentary on PM Modi because: IT would AFFECT SOVEREIGNTY & INTEGRITY OF INDIA. How does a documentary criticizing PM Modi affect India's sovereignty, integrity, & national security?" Gokhale tweeted.

The two-part documentary, which claims it investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots when Modi was chief minister, caused a massive furore in India. The government called it a propaganda piece and blocked it from viewing in the country.

In the document, the TMC spokesperson highlighted the point where the I&B ministry purportedly mentioned that the proceedings of the IDC are confidential and exempt from disclosure under Section (1)(a) of the RTI Act 2005.

Further, despite Rule 17 of IT Rules specifying that deliberations of the IDC are public records, @MIB_India has refused to release them in the case of banning the BBC documentary. This is a CLEAR ATTEMPT of using emergency powers to censor criticism of PM Modi, Gokhale added.

The TMC spokesperson said now an appeal will be filed asking the ministry be directed to immediately release the deliberations of IDC and why BBC documentary on Modi was banned on he grounds of sovereignty & integrity of India.

Modi is NOT India. His criticism cannot be BANNED as a threat to India, he added.

Centre's directives to YouTube and Twitter

The Centre had ordered YouTube and Twitter to remove video links of the documentary, and university administrations in various varsities denied students permission to screen the film and took action against those who did. But despite the ban, students' organisations and opposition parties screened the documentary for public viewing.

Days after the documentary became a political flashpoint, tax officials searched the offices of BBC in New Delhi and Mumbai in February. The Enforcement Directorate opened an investigation into the UK broadcaster in April over charges of violations of foreign exchange rules. A government adviser had said the inspection was not "vindictive."

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Washington India and the US are exploring ways to set up joint research institutes focused on energy and environment, public health and pandemics, agriculture and food security; a joint seed fund to boost higher education collaboration; share each others research infrastructure including labs; translate research into commercial opportunities; ensure more American researchers and students experience the Indian education system; and overcome obstacles including visa delays for Indian students and researchers during Prime Minister Narendra Modis state visit to Washington DC on June 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Washington DC on June 22 (PTI)

These will be among the interim recommendations of a task force set up under the initiative on critical and emerging technologies (ICET) to both governments to deepen the knowledge partnership, Barbara Synder, the president of the Association of American Universities (AAU) said in a conversation with HT. AAU is the umbrella institution leading the effort from the American side.

Suggesting that the knowledge partnership had great potential, Synder said, These two countries share the same values. They care about higher education and research and understand the benefits it brings to their countries, economies, national security, public health and quality of life. There is tremendous potential in working together.

Under ICET, in January this year, a White House fact sheet had noted that AAU and Indian institutions, including IITs, would set up a task force to make recommendations for research and university partnerships in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines. In April, AAU set up the task force with a set of co-chairs, including Penn State University president Neeli Bendapudi, University of Illinois Urbana-Campaign chancellor Robert Jones, University of California San Diego chancellor Pradeep Khosla, University at Buffalo president Satish Tripathi, and current Johns Hopkins University provost who is taking over as the Tufts University president next month, Sunil Kumar. This task force will release an interim report in the next few days that will help guide the deliverables for the joint statement during Modis visit.

Mentioning the specific ways in which AAU and its Indian partners are looking to build on this potential, Synder mentioned joint institutes in three areas in particular  energy, environment and sustainability; public health and pandemics; and sustainable agriculture and food security.

We will recommend some commitments by both governments to help fund this joint research without asking for a particular dollar figure. We will ask the philanthropic community to step up and help with people going back and forth. We are keen to work with partners on translating research that can be commercialised into commercial technologies. We have people who do that well in both countries, said Synder, giving a glimpse of the recommendations to both systems.

She also highlighted the importance of sharing research infrastructure. Some of the research equipment and labs are extremely difficult to reproduce. It is so much more efficient if you can share them. We have talked to colleagues in India about the possibility of arranging of sharing of some core facilities where Indian students and researchers could come here and vice versa. This will spark collaborations, sometimes things happen and ideas get generated by putting people together.

While there are 200,000 Indian students in the US, Indias new education policy is seeking to encourage foreign universities to set up campuses in India and international students to study in Indian institutions. Synder said that US institutions setting up campuses in India isnt on the agenda at the moment, and instead the focus is on collaborating with Indian institutions, but she spoke about the need for two-way traffic.

It is not just US students  their number is about 3,000 in India at the moment. But it is also US faculty members, graduate students, post-docs. Those create long term sustainable relationships. If they make connections with colleagues in India, those could last decades. We are really interested in those connections because we think this relationship has the potential to be enduring. We want two way movement on both education and research, Synder said. She added that while awareness among American students about Indian institutions is relatively limited, there was no reason for this to be so given the number of Indians who have studied in India and now work, teach, and run American educational institutions.

Flagging some of the obstacles in the pursuit of the knowledge partnership, Synder said she was at the meeting with both national security advisers  Ajit Doval and Jake Sullivan  in January where both expressed their commitment to eliminating barriers.

One of them is delay in getting visas  that continues to be a challenge. The other is moving funds back and forth  and there are opportunities to make that easierSustainable funding is another challenge. Seed funding is great and gets things started but we need sustainable funding, Synder said, adding that she hoped that both governments made higher education a centre piece of the deliverables during Modis visit next week.

Committing to collaborating on this is the single thing that can produce the greatest results over the longest period of time because academic institutions last. None of our members, or IITs, havent gone out of business. These institutions endure over long histories and there is an opportunity to create something that will last over time.

India, too, has been keen on deepening the knowledge partnership. The Indian ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, has met leaders of close to 200 American universities in the past two years. During external affairs minister S Jaishankars visit to Washington in April 2022, India and the US launched a working group on education and skill training. While the Indian side did not comment on the potential deliverables on the knowledge partnership front during Modis upcoming visit, Jaishankar had said last year, Policymakers in both countries are sharply aware of the immense difference that our educational collaboration can make.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
A mob set Union minister RK Ranjan Singhs residence afire in Manipurs Imphal even as an unspecified number of people were injured when armed men attacked a village in Kuki-dominated Churachandpur district on Thursday night, officials aware of the matter said. The fresh violence late on Thursday was reported hours after a mob burnt down two houses. (ANI)

The arson attack amid protracted ethnic violence in Manipur came days after a mob stormed Singhs residence on May 23 before security personnel managed to disperse the attackers by firing in the air.

Officials said some vehicles parked outside the house were also damaged but no one was injured in the arson attack around 10pm on Thursday. Firefighters and security forces rushed to the scene and doused the flames and dispersed the mob of around 50 people.

Singh, who is in New Delhi with his family, did not respond to phone calls for comments. No one was at their residence when it was attacked.

The attack on Singhs house was the latest in a series of attacks on the residences of politicians. On Wednesday, unidentified attackers torched Manipur minister Nemcha Kipgens official residence when she was not there. No one was injured in the incident.

Kipgen, who is the only woman in the Manipur Cabinet, was among the 10 Kuki lawmakers who sought a separate administration for Kuki-Zomi-Chin-Hmar communities amid the violence.

On May 4, ruling Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker (BJP) Vungzagin Valte sustained grievous injuries when a mob attacked him in Imphal. Valte is undergoing treatment in Delhi.

Another Cabinet minister Govindass Konthoujams house was vandalised in Imphal on May 24. A day later another mob tried to attack state minister T Biswajit Singhs residence in Imphal.

BJP lawmaker K Raghumani Singhs home was vandalised in Lamphel on May 28. On June 9, a grenade was hurled at the residence of BJP lawmaker Soraisam Kebi.

The fresh violence late on Thursday was reported hours after a mob burnt down two houses as clashes broke out between protesters and security personnel in Imphal. Two days earlier nine people were gunned down and another 10 injured in the sharpest escalation of violence in the state. It was the highest number of casualties in a single day since violence first broke out on May 3.

The two houses were burned down before security forces arrived at the scene to prevent more violence. But clashes broke out between protesters comprising mostly women, and security personnel and left at least three people injured. Rapid Action Force and other security personnel resorted to force and fired tear gas shells to disperse the mob.

Clashes between the majority Meitei community and the tribal Kuki community first erupted on May 3. They have since left at least 115 people dead. At least 300 people have been injured and nearly 40,000 displaced. Clashes were triggered during a protest against a court order for considering Scheduled Tribe status to the Meiteis.

Violence quickly engulfed the state and forced the authorities to clamp a curfew and suspended the internet. Additional security forces were rushed to the state but tensions have simmered. The internet is still not fully back in the state.

Union home minister Amit Shah visited the state between May 31 and June 3. The Central Bureau of Investigation is looking into five cases of violence and a sixth case of conspiracy behind the cases. The government has also announced a peace committee but prominent groups from both sides of the divide have distanced themselves from the process.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
A mob of around 50 people burnt down the house of Union minister of state for external affairs, RK Ranjan Singh, on Thursday night in Manipurs capital Imphal, prompting the politician to speak out against his own partys government and putting the spotlight on the state governments struggle to put on a lid on the sweeping ethnic violence that has gripped the northeastern state. A burnt vehicle at the residence of Union minister RK Ranjan Singh in Imphal. (AFP)

Also Read | On Union minister's Manipur has failed' remark, Priyanka Chaturvedi's his colleague question

The mob damaged Singhs home at around 10pm on Thursday in the Konga Nandeibam Leikai area of Imphal East district, police officers said. Firefighters and security forces rushed to the scene and doused the flames, with Singh away in Kerala at the time, officials added.

This was the second time in a month that the house was attacked. On May 23, when a similar mob stormed the ministers residence, security personnel managed to disperse them by firing shots in the air.

Video footage from his home on Friday showed that this time, large sections of his home and multiple vehicles were charred.

Also Read | Fix Manipurs law and order

Singh, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of Parliament (MP) from Inner Manipur said he never expected it from fellow citizens.

This is the second time... It seems to be an attempt on my life and could happen a third time as well. There is a total failure of law and order in Manipur. The existing [state] government hasnt been able to maintain peace despite the central government sending a lot of protection, Ranjan said.

He said he has been trying to bring peace to the state since the violence first erupted on May 3. The government has set up a peace committee, the process is on. Civil society leaders are sitting together. That (house) is (from) my own hard-earned moneythis is a mob, he added.

The police did not offer a statement on Friday.

Tensions continued to simmer in the state, three days after the sharpest escalation of violence saw nine people gunned down and another 10 injured in a village on the border of Imphal East and Kangpokpi districts.

A warehouse belonging to a retired administrative service officer was torched near the Imphal Palace grounds on Friday afternoon by a mob. Security personnel resorted to firing tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. On Thursday, a mob had burnt down two houses in Imphal as clashes had broken out between protesters and security personnel.

Clashes between the majority Meitei community and the tribal Kuki community first erupted on May 3 and have since claimed 115 lives. Tuesday nights incident marked the highest number of casualties in a single day since violence first broke out six weeks ago, underlining the challenge of restoring peace in a state where ethnic divisions run deep. At least 300 people have been injured and nearly 40,000 displaced.

On Thursday, chief minister N Biren Singh had said that search and combing operations were on, and that stringent action will be taken against those trying to disturb law-and-order.

Search and combing operations have been conducted at different places including Kurangpat and Yaingangpokpi by a team consisting of paramilitary forces and Manipur Police. Search operations had been conducted in 41 villages of hill areas and 39 villages in adjoining valley areas. The government will not compromise even an inch of land to any force trying to disturb the states unity and integrity, he had said.

Clashes first broke out on May 3 in Churachandpur town after Kuki groups called for protests against a court-proposed tweak to the states reservation matrix, granting scheduled tribe (ST) status to the majority Meitei community. Violence quickly engulfed the state where ethnic fault lines run deep, displacing tens of thousands of people who fled burning homes and neighbourhoods into jungles, often across state borders. The authorities clamped a curfew and suspended internet, pumping in additional security forces to force a break in the spiraling clashes. Internet is still not fully back in the state.

The renewed violence was yet another reminder that anger and distrust continued to drive wedges between various communities in the state, where the law-and-order situation remained in flux. The government, therefore, must try to get a handle on the law-and-order situation, ensure that security forces calm tensions while initiating confidence-building measures to bridge the trust deficit between groups.

On Wednesday, the official residence of Nemcha Kipgen, a state cabinet minister, was burned down by unidentified men. Kipgen, the BJP lawmaker from Kangpokpi, is the industry minister and the only woman in the Manipur cabinet. She is also among the 10 Kuki lawmakers seeking a separate administration for Kuki-Zomi-Chin-Hmar communities of the state, and was not present in the house.

A government order issued on Friday said that nine policemen were suspended for dereliction of duty for failing to protect Kipgens home, and 17 others arrested in Imphal for their alleged involvement in cases of arson.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
A groom in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh was tied to a tree by the brides family for allegedly demanding dowry on Tuesday, India Today reported. The friends of the groom - Amarjeet Verma - reportedly created a ruckus at the function which led to a quarrel between the two families. The brawl was further intensified after Verma asked for dowry right before the exchange of garlands on stage. A video of the alleged incident went viral on social media. (Screengrab/Twitter)

The argument erupted during the 'jai mala' ceremony following which Verma was held captive for a couple of hours after the families efforts at reconciliation failed. A video of the alleged incident, where the groom is seen being tied to a tree, went viral on social media.

In the video, the outraged members of the brides family can be heard verbally abusing Verma.

Verma was later taken into custody after police from Mandhata police station arrived at the spot. The warring sides couldnt reach an agreement even after the police intervened, India Today quoted the Station House Officer (SHO) Mandhata in a statement.

A discussion was also underway between the two families to reach a compromise on reimbursing the expenses incurred by the brides side for the wedding events, the report added.

Earlier, a woman from Bangana town of Una district in Himachal Pradesh refused to marry a man after he demanded dowry.

She reportedly sent back the barat after he demanded a car, a hefty amount of money, and gold jewellery. The woman's brother also lodged a complaint against the groom's family at Bangana Police Station.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose warned on Friday that no violence will be tolerated in the run-up to the local body polls as chief minister Mamata Banerjee blamed the Opposition for stoking clashes during the filing of nominations for the high-stakes panchayat elections, a day after four people were killed in clashes across the state. West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose warned on Friday that no violence will be tolerated in the run-up to the local body polls (PTI)

The filing of nominations ended on Friday after the Calcutta high court extended the process by a day, allowing people who couldnt submit their papers by the state election commission (SEC)-mandated deadline of June 15. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) fielded 85,817 candidates for the July 8 polls, followed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with 56,321 nominations, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) with 48,648 and Congress with 17,750, the SEC announced.

The filing of nominations began on June 9but was marred by incidents of violence, which peaked on Thursday, when four people were killed in clashes in north Bengal and Bhangore in the south.

Bose visited Bhangore on Friday.

No violence would be tolerated. Whoever has resorted to violence would be brought to book and would be shown their place behind the bars. There will be action and not an alibi for inaction, he told reporters.

Empty shells of bullets and crude bombs could be seen strewn in the villages. White patch marks on black metalled-roads and charred jute strings were reminders of crude bombs that were hurled indiscriminately after clashes broke out between the TMC and the Indian Secular Force.

I saw some places where unfortunate incidents of violence had taken place. I could interact with some of the victims and the local people. This is fact finding data gathering period for me. I have made my own inferences. I would like to take further action based upon objective analysis of what I have seen, heard analysed and experienced, Bose added.

Speaking in the South 24 Parganas, Banerjee hit back.

Show me one state, having so many panchayat booths, where nomination has bene so peaceful ever in the past. The Bhangore incident was done by some goons. We have lost two men. The TMC didnt trigger the Bhangore violence, Banerjee said.

She also said that there were more than 60,000 booths, but violence was reported from only two. Thursday was the last day of nominations. More than 2.31 lakh nominations were filed. TMC is the ruling party and is fighting alone. We are contesting in 82,000 seats. The opposition parties together have filed more than 1.5 lakh nominations. Still they are alleging their candidates were not being allowed to file nominations, Banerjee added.

One more death was reported from Murshidabad late on Thursday night. A village-level TMC leader Mojammal Sheikh was killed and a few others injured in a clash allegedly between TMC and Congress workers. In all, the nomination period saw at least fivedeaths.

State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar sent a letter to Union home minister Amit Shah, seeking his intervention.

I urge you to expedite the deployment of central forces as per the Calcutta high court order to maintain law and order and to prevent any further incidents of violence or disruption, Majumdar wrote in the letter.

On Thursday, the high court had ordered the deployment of central forces all over the state till the elections end. Nawasad Siddique, the ISFs lone legislator, said he moved the high court seeking a National Investigation Agency probe into the Bhangore clashes.

Violence and elections in Bengal have had an unfortunate relationship dating back decades. In 2018, for example, at least 20 murders were reported . Therefore, it is the responsibility of the election authorities, as well as the state government, to ensure free-and-fair polls.
BEIJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The fourth volume of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" has lately been published in French, Russian, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Japanese and traditional Chinese. Distributed both domestically and internationally, the work has aroused enthusiastic response among readers worldwide. Overseas scholars and observers commend the publication of the multilingual editions for helping the international community comprehend the latest developments in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and enhance their understanding of the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s governance concepts and practices. They also say the volume provides inspiration and reference for other countries to achieve development and growth. CHINA'S ANSWER Xi's fourth volume is a confident statement for the mission and prospects of the Chinese nation, Martin Albrow, a fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences, told Xinhua. The Chinese and English editions of the fourth volume of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China," published and released in July 2022, have been enthusiastically received by overseas readers ever since. Albrow, who has visited China multiple times since the 1980s, has been deeply impressed by many chapters, sections, and sentences in the volume. He said one of the greatest strengths in Xi's thought is how he combines the wisdom and depth of experience of China that dates back millennia, with the Marxist ideas that developed in the West under the impact of modernity, which is a dynamic view of the relation of ideas to reality, schooled in an understanding of the past. It is directed to the people of China but such is their historic experience and recent achievements that the rest of the world should regard as an example of what is possible, said Albrow, describing it as an inspiration for the common effort to secure a shared future on this earth. Xi's book provides other countries with important inspiration on state governance, said Alexey Avdonin, an analyst at the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies. The volume showcases the extraordinary journey that China has made with its own strength, bringing hope to people who aspire to a just society. Allowing the world to see China's answers to the critical issues of the moment, the book is an authoritative work that fully and systematically reflects the new horizon opened up and latest development achieved by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, providing inspiration for countries to realize development centered on people's interests and build a just society, he said. It is important to read this book to understand China's position on how to shape the world's future, on global harmony and prosperity for all, said Fernanda Ilheu, president of the New Silk Road Friends Association, a Lisbon-based non-profit think tank, adding that this book allows people to know more about the Chinese president's philosophy on how to contribute to the world's development and peace. INSPIRATION FOR DEVELOPMENT The book has provided an invaluable window for the rest of the world to understand and appreciate the Chinese society and its role in global development and transformation, Cavince Adhere, a Kenya-based international relations scholar, told Xinhua. The fourth volume is particularly important for developing countries whose collective desire is to lift their populations out of poverty and achieve sustainable development, said Adhere, noting that in reading the series of the books, leaders from emerging economies, mostly in Africa, can learn how to advance national development that is people-centered, inclusive, just, equitable and global in vision. The publication of the fourth volume makes the world aware of and knowledgeable about the great development of China, especially over the past decade, said Diaa Helmy, an Egyptian expert in Chinese affairs, secretary-general of Cairo-based Egyptian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce. The volume elucidates how China has dealt with the problems and challenges it confronted, which are similar to those facing many countries, whether developing or developed, he said, adding that these countries can benefit from these experiences. The concepts Xi elaborated on can inspire Africa and even the whole world to achieve development and growth, because through this book, African countries will understand and draw inspiration from various policies implemented by China to meet the needs of its people and society, said Amadou Diop, a Senegalese expert on China and former correspondent for the Senegal national daily Le Soleil in China. For the international community, including Africa, this book is of extraordinary significance for understanding Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and its development, said Diop. Ibrahim Alluhayb, a professor at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia, believes the timely publication of the Arabic edition provides the possibility and convenience for Arab countries and people to understand the latest development of the CPC's thoughts on state governance and learn from China's experience. With remarkable progress in Arab-China relations over the past years, more and more Arab countries have begun to "look east," he said, noting that the Arabic edition will play an important role in deepening the Arab world's understanding of China's development achievements and promoting their exchanges and mutual learning. NEW PERSPECTIVE ON CHINA Chea Munyrith, president of the Cambodian Chinese Evolution Researcher Association, who led the translation team for the Cambodian edition, has unique and profound insights into this book. Munyrith said that the publication of the multilingual edition has opened up a new perspective for the world to better understand China, as it contains a series of Xi's important discourses, provides theoretical guidance for a Chinese path to modernization, and showcases the country's governance capabilities. Kiyomi Seno, chairman of the Japan-China Society, who has a strong interest in China's trajectory, governance, and philosophy, said that the multilingual edition enables more people in the world to have a deep understanding of a real China, see what kind of development path China has chosen under complex situations and appreciate the Chinese wisdom in it. Gennady Zyuganov, chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, deemed the multilingual edition a window into China's thinking, as this book contains new ideas, new thoughts and new strategies of Xi's governance. Zyuganov believes that for everyone who wants to strengthen friendship and cooperation with China, the series of books by Xi should become their desk book. Anyone who wants to understand China today needs to pore over the work of "Xi Jinping: The Governance of China," said Evandro Menezes de Carvalho, head of the Center for Brazil-China Studies of the Getulio Vargas Foundation School of Law in Brazil. Xi often cited Chinese philosophers and quotes to express the wisdom of the Chinese people, thereby revealing much of the fine tradition of Chinese culture, said the expert.
Sixty-three-year-old Tapati Mandal did not know it then, but two simple words she heard one morning in 1964 were destined to be the beginning of a miraculous story. Droupadi Murmu, became the 15th President of India, and the countrys first woman tribal commander-in-chief.(PTI)

Mandal was in her run-down classroom at the government upper primary school in the tribal hamlet of Uparbeda. The school was a single-storey pink walled structure, the playground full of both weeds and snakes. The classroom itself had paint peeling off the walls and rickety wooden furniture to sit on. Next to her, on one such chair was her nine-year-old friend, pigtailed and eager; the Class 4 topper, Droupadi Tudu.

Also Read| Number Theory: Comparing Droupadi Murmus win with her predecessors

The teacher asked students to recite a poem, and the topper volunteered again. Mandal knew which poem was coming, and why. The verses were from an Odia translation of Robert Frosts Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. In the run up to that day, the teacher had told his wards that the poem was Jawaharlal Nehrus favourite, famously kept on his bedside table. Young Tudu was taken by the reference. So when her friend finished the last stanza with the words, there are miles to go before I sleep, Mandal recalls mocking her, she asked her classmate if she planned to become a leader like Indias first Prime Minister. I laugh when I think about that day. Perhaps, even then, she was predicting her own future, Mandal says.

A nine-year-old Tudu turned to Mandal, her eyes fiery. Why not? she asked.

Why not, indeed. Fifty-five years later, on July 21, 64-year-old Droupadi Tudu, now Droupadi Murmu, became the 15th President of India, and the countrys first woman tribal commander-in-chief.

The beginning

Tucked away in a corner of Rairangpur subdivision of Odishas Mayurbhanj district, Uparbeda is a village of close to 2,500 people, most of them Santhal tribals. Many homes are still made of mud and thatch, their walls painted with the folk art depicting flowers, fruits and forests. The terrain is lush, green and remote, dotted with sal, tamarind and teak. There is still no irrigation, so everyone is a subsistence farmer, dependent on minor forest produce for sustenance. There is a primary health care centre, but the lone doctor is irregular. Most simply ignore the dilapidated building and go to the subdivisional hospital in Rairangpur town 25km away. There is still no piped drinking water for every home, and there is the constant fear of wild elephants.

Sixty years ago, when Droupadi Murmu was growing up, the village was even more remote.

The 1971 Census put the literacy rate of Mayurbhanj district at 12.22%. There were no matriculate (a class 10 qualification) women in Uparbeda, and Murmu was determined to be among the first. Basudev Behera, who taught her at the upper primary school where she studied from Class 1 to 7, said: She was good at studies, and determined at everything she did. I remember one day it poured through the night. The next morning, even teachers skipped school. But I watched her arrive, half swimming and half wading through water. I told her that she had immense potential, and that she would one day become a teacher.

Even then, Uparbeda was too small for Murmus dreams. Her father, Biranchi Tudu, was the village chief, but like everyone else, was a marginal farmer. Pushed by his daughter, in 1970, Biranchi Tudu took her to a public meeting held by Kartik Chandra Majhi, then the local MLA and the urban development minister in chief minister RN Singh Deos government. In the middle of the congregation in Rairangpur, an impatient 12-year-old Murmu walked up to the minister, her Class 7 mark sheet in her outstretched hand. Majhi, also from Uparbeda, was impressed. He told her that he would get her admitted to a school in Bhubaneswar.

In July 1970, Murmu packed her bags and moved to a girls high school in the state capital, 280km away. She lived at the Kuntala Kumari Sabat hostel. In the years that followed, Murmu stayed on in Bhubaneswar, completed her schooling, and joined the Rama Devi womens college in 1974 where she studied sociology and political science.

Murmu was far away from her rural Santhali roots, surrounded by friends from urban backgrounds, and money was hard to come by. Biranchi would send her 10 rupees a month, and she never asked for more. She would not even go to the canteen because she couldnt afford it. All her energy was on completing her education, and getting a job so she could ease the burden on her father, said 41-year-old Saraswati Tudu, her fathers youngest sister.

In 1979, Murmu got her first job as a junior assistant at the Odisha secretariat.

Tentative steps into politics

Shortly after, she married Shyam Charan Murmu, then a bank cashier in Bhubaneswar and from the village of Pahadpur, 10km away from Uparbeda. In 1980, Murmu became a mother for the first time, and three years later quit her government job to take care of her children  two sons and another daughter were born soon after. But she encountered a debilitating personal tragedy when her firstborn daughter died of an illness in 1988.

In 1993, Shyam Charan Murmu was transferred to their home block of Rairangpur, posted as an officer with Bank of India. Itching to do something productive, Murmu enrolled as a teacher at the Arabinda Integral Education School. She was paid no salary; just rickshaw fare to and from home. Indira Ota, a former colleague, said, She had her own way of endearing herself to the students by telling them stories or giving chocolates to those who completed their homework on time. She encouraged children to take part in extracurricular activities and would often give inspirational speeches. She was very well-known in town.

Murmus reputation as a popular teacher grew, and she soon began to draw attention. In 1997, one of the wards in the Rairangpur Notified Area Council, where Murmu lived with her family, became reserved for tribal women. As parties scouted for a suitable candidate, they zeroed in on her. The Congress and the newly formed Biju Janata Dal (BJD) both approached her, but prodded by a fellow tribal teacher Dibakar Mahanta and local Bharatiya Janata Party worker Nigamananda Patnaik, she signed up with the BJP.

Patnaik was then the party in-charge of the ward where Murmu lived with her husband. As the ward was reserved for a tribal woman and there were many bank officials that lived in that area, we thought we should give her the ticket. Her husband did have some reservations about her getting into politics, but he agreed after many of us persuaded him, said Patnaik.

Murmu won, and became vice chairperson of NAC, a post that was also reserved for tribal women.

By this time, she and her husband had a white Maruti 800, a vehicle that soon became ubiquitous in the narrow lanes of Rairangpur. She would come in her car and supervise sanitation work in each and every ward. This was very unusual in regional politics where most take a back seat after winning an election, said local hotelier Debabrata Patnaik, who also canvassed for her in the elections.

BJD MLA Rajkishore Das, who began his political journey in the BJP, mentored Murmu in her initial years. She rose through the ranks very quickly because she was accessible, hardworking and that endeared her to the local BJP cadre. Her doors were always open for local residents about civic grievances, said Das.

Her reputation kept growing, and in 2000, the BJP gave her the ticket for the Rairangpur assembly constituency despite stiff opposition from party veterans. She won, and in a rare move for a first-time MLA, was immediately made minister for transport, fisheries and animal husbandry in the coalition government formed between the BJP and the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD. She was 42.

BJP leader and former minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, who was industries minister in the same cabinet between 2000 and 2004, said that Murmu was given the honour despite being a relative novice because of her rare grassroots connect with tribals from her area. I had seen her work during her days in Rairangpur NAC and the party thought she should be promoted. Though she was a first-time MLA, she learnt the ropes quickly, was sympathetic and efficient, and importantly, stayed away from controversies. For a person that young, these abilities already meant she was well on her way to becoming a successful politician, said KV Singh Deo.

Murmu was given the Nilakantha Award for being the best MLA for the year 2007 by the legislative assembly of Odisha, and between 2002 and 2009, was a member of national executive of ST Morcha of the BJP.

But starting 2009, Murmu began facing setbacks  both political and personal. In 2009, she lost the Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha seat, finishing third behind Laxman Tudu of the BJD and Sudam Marndi of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, managing only 18.26% of the votes cast. That same year, her 25-year-old son Laxman passed away suddenly  he was brought dead to his uncles residence after dinner with friends. Police suspected that Laxman had suffered head injuries after a bike collision as he was coming home.

Four years later, her other son, Sipun, also died in a car accident. In 2014, she lost her husband Shyam Charan Murmu to a cardiac arrest. Despite the personal tragedies, she fought the Rairangpur assembly constituency the same year, but lost to the BJDs Saiba Sushil Kumar Hansdah by over 6,000 votes.

Also Read| PM visits Droupadi Murmu's house, says she will be an outstanding President

For some months, Murmu sank into a well of anguish, and told her family that she was considering quitting politics. She became absent-minded and stopped eating regularly. Even if you spoke to her, she would not pay attention, and drift away. I tried to tell her about the futility of dwelling in the past because it was clearly affecting her. I remember telling her that we would all die one day, and she needed to live a life helping others without regret, said her aunt Saraswati Tudu.

The following year, in 2015, Murmu seemed to rebound. She joined the Prajapita Brahmakumaris, turned vegetarian, and began waking up at 3.30am to meditate. The spiritual turn brought her back from the brink and she seemed calm and herself again. She began to smile again, and that steel in her eyes that we so admired returned, said younger brother Taranisen Tudu.

The rise and rise

Later that year, even as her political career looked like it was stagnating, Murmu was given another lease of life, and appointed governor of Jharkhand  the first woman to hold the position. Here, too, Murmu displayed a fierce sense of determination, even if it came at the expense of her own partys government.

In 2016, the Raghubar Das-led BJP government tried to pass amendments to the Chhota Nagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act and the Santhal Pargana Tenancy (SPT) Act. The CNT Act barred non-tribals from purchasing tribal land on the Chhota Nagpur Plateau, while the SPT Act prohibited land transfers in the Santhal Pargana division where CNT was not applicable. The proposed amendments sought to acquire land belonging to tribals, Dalits and backward classes for infrastructure projects. Even as the Opposition protested against the incumbent government, calling the laws a method to weaken the institutional protection that the two acts provided, Murmu sat on them for eight months, and eventually returned them to the government, refusing to sign them into law.

Murmu told the government that she would not sign an anti-tribal bill. She asked the government to let her know how the amendments would help adivasis. It was her way of showing that she was no pushover, said a senior IAS officer in Jharkhand who worked with her.

While she discharged her duties as Jharkhand governor, Murmu never lost sight of home.

She built a residential high school for tribal children in Pahadpur village in 2016. Named SLS (Shyam, Laxman, Sipun; after her husband and sons) Memorial Residential school, the institution is spread over three acres donated by Murmu, in which 75 students between classes 6 and 10 live and study. Janmejay Giri, headmaster of the school, said Murmu makes it a point to visit at least six times every year, on the birth and death anniversaries of her husband and two sons.

Also Read| Droupadi Murmu: Once a councillor and now India's president-elect

On Thursday afternoon, sounds of a celebration, at a scale yet unseen, filled the village of Uparbeda. Most residents were out on the streets singing and dancing, tribal performers beat drums, and distributed sweets.

Murmus childhood friend Tapati Mandal stayed inside her two-room home, her health forbidding her from joining the festivities. She offered a small prayer for Murmu in her home, and spent the morning cooking rice porridge for her family and neighbours. By noon, Mandal sat herself down in front of the small TV, and watched the visuals beamed from Parliament, hungry for every glimpse of her friend.

When I prayed in the morning, I asked God to protect her, and that she comes home to Uparbeda soon, she said. I want to see her. I want to meet my friend, the President of India.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday said the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library could have been renamed as Nehru Memorial Prime Ministers' Museum instead of axing Nehru's name, 'without seeming to demean the original'. There is some value in respecting the past, Tharoor said adding, "One day today's rulers will also be history and they will want to receive the respect they shamefully deny their predecessors." Shashi Tharoor said today's rulers will also become history and want respect that they denied to their predecessors. (PTI)

The renaming of the museum as Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society has become the latest flashpoint between the BJP and the Congress. As a war of words began, the BJP countered the Congress's criticism and said to oppose PM Modi, the Congress is even sidelining their own past PMs. "I can understand if they have some bitterness with Narasimha Rao. But, I want to know what is their problem with the achievements of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Manmohan Singh whose terms as prime minister have been showcased in an organised manner," BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said those who do not have any history is now erasing the history of others. Calling the name change a disgusting attempt, Kharge said this cannot belittle Nehru but only shows the mentality and the dictatorial attitude of the BJP-RSS.

NMML name change

The culture ministry on Friday said on Friday that the name change has been finalised at a meeting presided over by defence minister Rajnath Singh, who is also the vice president of the Nehru Mmorial Museum and Library Society housed in Teen Murti Bhavan.

The removal of Nehru's name drew asharp reaction from the Congress. "Pettiness & Vengeance, thy name is Modi. For over 59 years Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML) has been a global intellectual lamdmark and treasure house of books & archives. It will henceforth be called Prime Ministers Museum & Society. What won't Mr. Modi do to distort, disparage and destroy the name & legacy of the architect of the Indian nation-state. A small, small man overburdened by his insecurities is the self-styled Vishwaguru," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said.

'Classic example of politicial indigestion': JP Nadda to Kharge

Commeting on Kharge's tweet, BJP chief JP Nadda said this is a classic example of 'political indigestion - the inability to accept a simple fact that there are leaders beyond one dynasty who have served and built our nation'. "PM Sangrahalaya is an effort beyond politics and Congress lacks the vision to realise this," Nadda tweeted.

Congress spokesperson Surpiya Shrinate gave back. "Mr Nadda - get a better writer. This one makes you look naive and trigger happy. And yes, no matter how hard you try - you can NEVER ever stymie Nehru - a giant among the stalwarts," Shrinate wrote.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Toponymy is the study of place names. Often, areas are simply named after a local natural or geographical feature, such as a river, hill, forest or swamp. Theyre sometimes named for a person or prominent structure, such as a fort, castle, conqueror or saint. Icelands many hot springs, whose vapours could be seen from afar, give its capital, Reykjavik its name. In Old Norse it means bay of smokes. (Adobe stock)

The most interesting toponyms can be traced to folk lore. Lets start with a few country capitals. Scholars attribute the name of Yerevan in Armenia to the expression Yerevats! (It appears!). Legend has it that this is the cry Noah gave, in Armenian apparently, when his ark landed on Mount Ararat, the waters receded, and he looked to the north-east and spotted land in the direction of, well, Yerevan.

Baku in Azerbaijan, a place of fierce winter snowstorms, is widely held to have got its name from the Persian bad-kube, or wind-pounded city (kubidan being to pound).

Paris, France, got its present-day name from its early inhabitants, the Celtic Parisii tribe. Its nickname, City of Light (La Ville Lumiere), comes both from its leading role in the Age of Enlightenment, and because it was one of the first European cities to adopt gas streetlights, in the 1860s.

Icelands capital, Reykjavik, is Old Norse for bay of smokes, because of the many hot springs here, whose vapours could be seen from a distance. Indeed, the main street in the citys downtown area, Laugavegur, is literally washing street, because this was the path women took to get to Laugardalur (washing valley), where the springs were, to do their washing.

Vatican comes from the Latin vaticinari, to prophesy, from the name of the hill, Mons Vaticanus, on which the tiny country sits. Why Vaticanus? Because the streets at its base were lined with fortune-tellers and soothsayers during the Roman Empire.

Istanbul in Turkey started out, in the 10th century, as Stanbul, derived from the Greek stim boli, meaning in the city. Its a term that dates back to when Istanbul was still Constantinople. When the Greeks referred to that great heart of the Roman Empire, they simply said: The City.

One theory has it that Britain is derived from the Celtic word pretani, meaning painted, a reference to the fact that when Roman soldiers arrived here, they found the inhabitants of the islands covered in body paint and tattoos.

A similar place name based on appearance is Lapland, from the ancient Finnish lapp, meaning wedge or patch of cloth. One can assume that when rather better-clad Finns ventured here, into the Arctic Circle, they looked down upon the scraps of fur sewn together by the inhabitants.

Also not vastly impressed by their neighbours are Estonians. Various regions of that country have rather derogatory names. Kiimariigi means country of lechery; Linnusitamaa is island of bird shit; Mortsuka is simply murderers.

Spains Canary Islands, meanwhile, get their name not from the colourful birds but from canes, the Latin word for dogs, supposedly because of the multitude of dogs of a huge size found there, as noted in writings by the Roman chronicler and naturalist Pliny the Elder in the 1st century CE.

As for swamps, they were clearly everywhere. Brussels, Berlin and Switzerland all derive their names from words for marshy land. Even Paris was originally named Lutetia by the Romans, meaning land of mud.

(Adam Jacot de Boinod was a researcher for the BBC series QI and is the author of The Meaning of Tingo and Other Extraordinary Words from Around the World)

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
We will need new words as the climate crisis unfolds  for the solutions we find, our new ways of life, the phenomena we encounter. (Adobe Stock)

Already, the air in and above the stratosphere is cooling, even as the troposphere warms, fresh satellite data has shown. It is unclear what the impact of this will be on our climate, but we will likely need a term for this.

Meanwhile, in laboratories around the world, bacteria are being used to break down plastics in new ways, help make biofuels and enrich soil. We will need terms for these solutions, as they begin to be deployed more widely.

Well need words for the emotions we feel as our world changes. This matters, because language influences our worldview.

New words dont just validate an emotion, they help us process these implications of the climate emergency, collectively and individually, says climate scientist Peter Kalmus, who works at the California Jet Propulsion Laboratory of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA; all views expressed are his own, he insists).

Terms such as nonnapaura, one of those on the list alongside, validate the fear that grandmothers feel, as they watch their grandchildren play and grow. Its a fear also felt by parents, godparents, families, communities.

Could words spur action? Think of the power of terms such as home, love, azadi.

Think of the devastating simplicity of Anthropocene, the proposed term for this era; an age so defined by human activity which has caused a distinct geological change.

This week, were looking at new words for the emotional experience of life within the climate crisis. Where are the new terms coming from? Theyre being coined by scientists, artists, linguists, philosophers and writers around the world, and by everyday citizens participating in projects dedicated to naming what were feeling but dont yet have the words for.

Artists Alicia Escott and Heidi Quante have been holding word salons and pop-up events in which they invite people to coin a phrase to describe a new emotion they have experienced in the climate crisis. Their project is called The Bureau of Linguistical Reality, and its website features new words crafted, defined and vetted in collaborative group efforts, at events conducted online and offline, involving people from a range of countries.

Australian philosopher Glenn Albrecht has coined terms of his own, and presented them in his 2019 book, Earth Emotions: New Words for a New World.

In Germany, the Gesellschaft fur deutsche Sprache (Association for the German Language), a government-funded research organisation, has been recognising new terms in that language, as they enter the mainstream, These include heisszeit (warm age), umweltauto (environment-friendly car) and klimakatastrophe (climate catastrophe).

The key is involving people, so that the eventual language is accessible and meaningful to them, says Quante. Theres this dominant Western idea that only some people know things, and hence, only theyre in charge of knowledge. We need to remind people that every human is intelligent, every human is experiencing climate change, and every human has the right to express it in their own way.

This is important because there is so much to be done; so much you can do.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Tens of thousands of people are directly affected by the floods following the breach of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine. Leaking oil threatens to cause serious damage to nature and animals as well. And, once again, cultural heritage sites and with them Ukraine's history are also at risk from the destruction, which many observers describe as a war crime. The flooding following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam has destroyed significant archaeological sites. (Alexander Ermochenko/REUTERS)

Churches, monuments and museums are submerged all over the Kherson region. Archaeological sites dating back to the Scythians  a nomadic people who lived in the region in the 8th century BC  and a Greek settlement from around 400 BC have been damaged or irretrievably destroyed. (Also Read | Louvre museum exhibits icons from Ukraine)

"The damage affects culturally and historically significant properties from different centuries," Kilian Heck, an art historian at the University of Greifswald, told DW. "In terms of archaeological sites, Ukraine is one of the first places of discovery in the world." The affected region in southern Ukraine had also become the center of Cossack culture in the 16th century and was also symbolically significant for the country's independence.

Extent of the destruction not yet foreseeable

The extent of the damage is not yet clear, and information is scarce. Large parts of the flooded region are occupied by Russian troops, the Dnipro river marks the front line between Russian and Ukrainian soldiers.

According to official Ukrainian information, a museum honouring writer and humourist Ostap Vyshnya, which was not restored until 2020, and the Kherson Art Museum, named after painter Oleksii Shovkunenko, remain flooded as well.

In the flooded town of Oleshky, the former residence of folk artist Polina Rayko had been damaged by the water as well. The artist had begun painting only at the age of 69. She painted frescoes on the walls of her house and the building is one of Ukraine's official cultural heritage sites.

"The situation is unprecedented," says Kilian Heck, who helped initiate the Ukraine Art Aid Center after the Russian invasion last year. The network of art historians and museum experts organizes aid shipments with packaging materials, generators or dehumidification equipment to protect works of art in Ukraine from the consequences of the war.

A certain routine was established during the war. Kilian Heck explains: "We rehearsed routines like: pack the works up, put them in the basement or evacuate them."

The flood, on the other hand, is a completely new challenge: "There are hardly any means of responding appropriately in terms of conservation. It's a new form destruction of cultural assets."

In frequent Zoom meetings, German art historians exchange information with colleagues from Ukraine. Colleagues from the flooded areas had recently reported corpses floating in the water, which had been washed out of the cemeteries by the masses of water. Animal carcasses floating in the water, as well as contamination, also raised concerns about epidemics.

"The most important thing right now is to provide water filters," says Kilian Heck.

The dam and hydroelectric plant near Kachowka were destroyed on June 6, with Ukraine and Russia blaming each other. Ukrainian authorities have called on the International Criminal Court in The Hague to investigate the destruction of the dam. The reservoir stored about 18 billion cubic meters of water. Authorities in the Kherson region reported that 600 square kilometers of land had been flooded  about the size of Chicago.
Kangana Ranaut, the talented actress, has expanded her horizons into production and is eagerly preparing for the release of her self-produced film, "Tiku Weds Sheru." While promoting her movie, she continues to amaze us with her glamorous appearances. After captivating us with a stunning black co-ord set, Kangana recently stepped out in an exquisite red dress that exuded power and left a lasting impression. Showcasing her unrivalled fashion prowess, she serves as a style inspiration to her fans who can't help but admire her stunning look. With every appearance, Kangana effortlessly proves her fashion prowess, leaving us in awe. Dive in to discover more about her stunning ensemble. (Also read: Kangana Ranaut radiates boss vibes in a ravishing all-black ensemble, accentuated by sublime pearls. All pics inside ) Kangana Ranaut turns heads with her enchanting look in a cherry-coloured midi dress (Instagram/@kanganaranaut)

Kangana Ranaut Sizzles in a Red Midi Dress

On Thursday, Kangana pleasantly surprised her fans by sharing pictures of herself on Instagram, accompanied by the caption, "Humming tumse milke from Tiku weds Sheru". While we are still in awe of her appearance, the actress also treated her followers to a video of herself in the same outfit, with the caption, "Another day of promotions for Tiku weds Sheru". In the post, Kangana can be seen gracefully posing in a stunning red mini-dress. Her social media post swiftly gained traction, accumulating numerous likes and comments from her admirers, who showered her with praise and compliments. Join us in taking a closer look at her captivating photos.

For her look, Kangana chose a captivating cherry-coloured midi dress from the renowned fashion brand Rutu Neeva. The dress showcases a round neckline, a fitted bodice, elegant cap sleeves, a stylish wrap pattern on the midriff, a flattering bodycon fit, and a knee-length hemline. With the expertise of fashion stylist Tanya Gharvi, Kangana Ranaut elevated her chic ensemble with classy jewellery, including statement pearl earrings, and completed the look with elegant pump heels.

With the assistance of makeup artist Albert, Kangana opted for a minimal makeup look, featuring nude eyeshadow, winged eyeliner, beautifully coated lashes, contoured cheeks, and a shade of nude lipstick. Assisted by hairstylist Haseena Shaikh, Kangana embraced a retro-inspired hairstyle, leaving her wavy hair open with a middle partition. As Kangana leaves no stone unturned in promoting her film, her fans eagerly anticipate her next captivating look.

Follow more stories on Facebook & Twitter
Actor and model Lisa Haydon is in London to attend her sister's wedding. Lisa and her sister Malika Haydon turned bridesmaids for the special occasion, and their latest look in matching ethnic looks is how you should be dressing up as a bridesmaid for your best friend or sister's wedding. The two ladies draped themselves in beauteous and elegant ruffle sarees from designer Aprita Mehta's collection. Scroll through to see how they styled the traditional yet modern look. Lisa Haydon and her sister look stunning in their bridesmaid looks. (Instagram)

Lisa Haydon twins with her sister for bridesmaid duties

Lisa Haydon took to Instagram to share pictures of herself and her sister, Malika Haydon, dressed in off-white ruffled sarees for their sister's wedding in London. The posts show Lisa and Malika dressed in hand-embellished six yards, boasting of Arpita Mehta's signature design elements, including sequins and mirror work. The two sisters chose minimal styling and makeup to glam up the ethnic attire. You would want to steal some tips from them for the next wedding you attend as a bridesmaid.

Lisa Haydon's saree look decoded

Lisa Haydon's off-white saree features tiered ruffled pleats on the front, a floor-sweeping pallu trailing from her shoulder, intricate rose gold embellishments done on the borders, shimmering sequin work all over the drape, and a semi-sheer dreamy silhouette.

Lisa wore the six yards with a bralette blouse featuring a plunging neckline showing off her decolletage, cropped hem length, mirror and sequin embellishments, and fitted bust. For the accessories, Lisa chose dangling earrings, statement rings, and strappy high heels. Lastly, centre-parted open locks, nude brown lip shade, striking eye shadow, and minimal makeup rounded it off.

Meanwhile, Lisa's sister complemented her in a matching off-white drape featuring similar tiered ruffled pleats on the front, sequin embroidery all over, and intricate embellishments on the borders in a beige gold hue. A mirror work asymmetric blouse, mang tike, open tresses, and minimal dewy makeup gave the finishing touch.
The moon sighting for Eid-ul-Adha or Eid-al-Adha (also known as Eid-ul-Zuha, Bakra Eid, Bakrid, Bakhreid, Eid Qurban, Qurban Bayarami or the Feast of Sacrifice) holds significant importance for Muslims as it determines the exact date of the festival as the sighting of the crescent or the new moon marks the beginning of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah, the tenth day of which is celebrated as Eid-ul-Adha. However, the moon sighting process varies depending on the region and local traditions. Eid-ul-Adha 2023: When will Muslims in India sight crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah to mark Bakra Eid or Eid-ul-Zuha (Photo by Twitter/4rockngames)

Traditionally, Muslim communities rely on eyewitness testimonies from reliable sources to confirm the sighting of the new moon where local religious authorities or committees often oversee the process and skilled observers are appointed to look for the crescent moon shortly after sunset on the 29th day of the preceding Islamic month. If the moon is sighted and confirmed by these individuals, the announcement of the onset of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah (the twelfth or last month of the Islamic or lunar calendar) is announced and simultaneously, the date of Eid-ul-Adha is declared.

However, if the moon is not sighted, the month of Dhul Hijjah is extended by a day and the moon sighting process is repeated on the following evening after maghrib prayers. In recent years, advancements in technology have facilitated the moon sighting process and many Muslims now use astronomical calculations and scientific data to predict the visibility of the moon accurately.

This approach combines traditional practices with scientific knowledge to determine the start of the Islamic month but it is important to note that different regions or communities may follow different methods and criteria for moon sighting. Some rely solely on local sightings while others consider global sightings or rely on official announcements from designated authorities however, the goal is to ensure the unity and consensus within the Muslim community regarding the start of important Islamic events such as Eid-ul-Adha.

Ultimately, the moon sighting process for Eid-ul-Adha serves as a means of establishing religious observance and coordinating the celebrations among Muslims worldwide. It adds a sense of anticipation and excitement as communities come together to await the announcement, signifying the start of the festival and the beginning of a time of worship, reflection and acts of devotion.

This year, Muslims in India will gear up to sight the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah post the evening or maghrib prayers on June 19 and if it is sighted, the firt day of the month of Dhul Hijjah will be marked on June 20 and Eid-ul-Adha in the country will be celebrated on June 29 otherwise on June 30. This is because the beginning of the Islamic month of Dhu Al-Hijjah marks the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia (one of Islam's five pillars) and is followed by Eid al Adha on the tenth day.

Hajj is the pilgrimage that every Muslim must make at least once in their lifetime if they are able. Eid-ul-Adha is the second major Islamic festival celebrated by Muslims after Eid-ul-Fitr and commemorates the story of Prophet Ibrahim AS (Abraham AS) and his willingness to sacrifice his son, as an act of obedience to God.

Just as Prophet Ibrahim AS was about to sacrifice his son, God provided a lamb to be sacrificed instead, demonstrating His mercy and intervention. This event symbolises the importance of faith, submission to God's will and the willingness to make sacrifices for the sake of one's beliefs.
The inauguration last month of India-financed Sittwe Port in Myanmar, a crucial component of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project, has granted New Delhis Northeast (NE) essential sea access, bolstering its economic potential by connecting it to regional trade and transportation networks. Simultaneously, there is progress on the India-Myanmar-Thailand Highway, albeit at a slower pace. To further enhance connectivity, developing a missing cross-border railway link between India, Myanmar and Thailand will serve as a crucial multimodal connection between South and Southeast Asia, stimulate economic growth, and unlock fresh avenues for business ventures in the region. PREMIUM Workers at the construction site of Jiribam-Imphal railway project in Imphal, Manipur.(ANI)

In the last few years, India prioritised enhancing railway development in Manipur and Mizoram, inching closer to the border with Myanmar. The best example of this push is the 236 km Jiribam-Imphal-Moreh link in Manipur, initially proposed in 2004; 93% of the work on the Jiribam-Imphal section is complete. The second section of this route extends in Myanmar from Tamu to Kalay (128 km), with plans to connect it further to Thailand as part of the Trans-Asian Railway Network. Additionally, the development of the 51.38 km Bairabi-Sairang line in Mizoram, is also in the pipeline. These developments not only place the Northeast on Indias railway map, but also underline the potential for railway development that can be extended to Myanmar and Thailand.

The recent impetus for railway connectivity is driven by multiple factors. A recent report published by the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, Connectivity and Cooperation in the Bay of Bengal Region, identifies three significant drivers.

First, it is a significant component of Prime Minister Narendra Modis capital connectivity project, aiming to connect all northeastern state capitals with road and rail networks to unleash the regions economic potential. In the last three years, the region saw the initiation of 19 railway projects. Notably, 40% of the work on these projects has been commissioned. Second, rail connectivity in the Northeast is crucial to Indias foreign policy priority in the neighbourhood geared towards strengthening inter-regional connectivity between South and Southeast Asia. Third, increasing emphasis on expanding rail connectivity also comes against the backdrop of Chinas increasing investment in the development of pan-Asian railway connectivity in Southeast Asia where infrastructure linkages between Myanmar and Thailand are crucial. In August 2021, China inaugurated a high-speed railway line from Chengdu to the Myanmar border, and recently resumed work on a railway running from southern China to the Myanmar coast in Rakhine State.

Despite the potential, there are several challenges to achieving seamless rail connectivity between India, Myanmar and Thailand. First, while significant development is underway in Indias Northeast, there is also a need for the upgradation of rail infrastructure in Myanmar, which given the political and economic conditions, will likely fall to New Delhi. The Asian Development Bank has estimated that Myanmar requires transport investments of approx. $60 million.

Second, the heterogeneity in rail gauge systems poses a hurdle. India operates on a broad gauge, Myanmar on a narrow gauge, and Thailand on a standard gauge, necessitating alignment adjustments and the development of dual gauge systems. India is already developing a dual-gauge system in Bangladesh and is well placed to extend best practice learnings.

Third, India and Myanmar face high freight costs, infrastructure gaps, and limitations in rail service operating procedures. The cumulative cost of rail transportation, including first and last-mile logistics, remains one of the highest in the region and needs to be addressed.

The 2021 military coup in Myanmar resulted in a decline in official development assistance and loans for critical infrastructure projects. Consequently, India is now tasked with a greater responsibility to lead cross-border investment and development efforts. To address the challenges in constructing railway lines from India to Thailand via Myanmar, India must also actively engage with international financial institutions such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and European Investment Bank. This collaboration is essential to overcome barriers and ensure that the project adheres to international standards, enabling high-quality connectivity  a priority in Indias neighbourhood policy. With concerted efforts and strategic partnerships, India can pave the way for enhanced regional integration and economic growth through robust railway connectivity in the Indo-Myanmar-Thailand corridor.

Riya Sinha is associate fellow, Centre for Social and Economic Progress, New Delhi. The views expressed are personal
The Balasore train tragedy which killed at least 288 people, mostly poor and crammed into unreserved bogeys, has shaken us. But it has also done something else that brings a couplet from the Tirukkural to life: PREMIUM The 1956 Ariyalur train accident led to Shastri tendering his resignation(HT Archive)

As swift as the arm that saves ones vesture from slipping/ Is the help of a friend when it comes at the moment of reckoning

In a speed that Artificial Intelligence could note with tutelary admiration, several agencies from the Union government, the railways, the defence services, governments of states from where many of the stricken passengers hailed, private institutions and above all, locals, as the people of the region, are called, moved like the Kurals swift-moving arm to help save lives, reduce pain, and give to the life-lost the dignity in death they deserved.

For one of my generation, the scene unfolded memories of two railway accidents that occurred in 1956 during the tenure of Lal Bahadur Shastri in the railway ministry. In September that year, a disaster occurred on Central Railways in Mahabubnagar, erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, resulting in the death of 112 people. And in November, on Southern Railways in Ariyalur, then Madras State, another accident that left more than 140 dead.

The Ariyalur accident occurred in the dim hours of predawn when it was raining torrentially. The Madras-Tuticorin Express was over the bridge of the Marudayar river when the first seven of the trains 12 bogies jumped off the rails and plunged 15 feet down into a deep ditch, leaving some bogies standing perilously on the bridge and the remaining safe. Of the seven, four were third class compartments including one reserved for women. The first of these had 63 pilgrims from north India headed for Dhanushkodi.

Why did this happen? What and who was responsible?

These questions were to be asked but the immediate need was rescue. And it came then, too, with the speed of the Kurals hand. Shastriji was at headquarters but OV Alagesan, the deputy minister for railways, was in Madras, about just 170 miles away. Hearing the news on the radio, he rushed to the site with senior officials of Southern Railways. By evening, under Alagesans watch, 104 bodies had been extricated and moved to a cement factory nearby for identification.

Communication systems then were not what they are now. No mobile phones but ordinary land-phones and the humming of sleepless telegraphy in extraordinary transmissions enabled Southern Railways to tell the world within hours, for instance, that the entire crew of three consisting of the driver, Mr M G Doraiswamy, and two firemen, Mr M Muniswami and Mr A Kothandapani, were killed on the spot but the chief guard and under guard were safe. Reading that communique now, I am humbled by the use of Mr before the names given. That title immediately invests the three with human dimensions  a family grieving, an office bereft, a rare learnt skill extinguished. Today, 67 years on, it is not unlikely that some of the seniors in the families of those three and of the scores of others killed are still with us and remember the trauma. And contemporary digital technology enables newspaper offices to preserve their old issues and educate us on the events of the time. As do that remarkable mint of archival gold often called the Hansard, namely, the records of Parliamentary debates.

Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had declined to accept Shastris resignation after the Mahabubnagar accident but very reluctantly accepted it when Shastri gave it after Ariyalur, in order to make the point that government should not be seen as status quoist when a tragedy like this occurs. Parliament was taken aback by the resignations acceptance, with many members from the Opposition urging Shastri to stay on. I have found the debate on this in the Lok Sabha on November 27 and 28, 1956, fascinating for what it says of the political culture of the time.

K M Vallatharas, a Member of Parliament (MP) from the Praja Socialist Party (and the Krishak Mazdoor Praja Party) elected from the Cauvery basin area initiated the debate and said there could be no better substitute to Shastri, but demanded that local officials should be at least placed under suspension. Frank Anthony, the nominated member representing the Anglo-Indian community that had strong links with the railways , expressed deep sadness at the ministers resignation and said it would be reducing accountability to an absurdity if the responsibility for rail accidents was to be traced back to the minister. Maharaja Karni Singh of Bikaner said Shastri was a man of action and a giant in the matter of honesty and integrity, and should take back his resignation in the interests of the railways and the nation. A K Gopalan , the fiery doyen of the Communist Party from Malabar, went beyond the subject of the ministers resignation and said what was needed was a shake-up, a real and good shake-up in the entire railway administration. That was what is called perspective.

Shastris reply, as the former minister who would not take his resignation back, is a text that should be read and re-read by each and every employee in the railways , and every regular traveller on the railways, but also by others, especially those in public life, for the transparency of its truthfulness and the voltage of its ethics. He refused to blame those lower down, defended the Railway Board with passion, and placed everything in perspective in these words: There are two very important elements in these accidents. One is the human factor. There are various regulations laid down and yet a driver might pass against a signalThe second factor is the fury of nature

Those two  the human factor and what may be called factors beyond human control  should not be cited to explain away lightly any accident of the kind that Mahabubnagar and Ariyalur witnessed in 1956, and we have just done in Balasore. Shastri referred to them to give the Lok Sabha some perspective but he took the responsibility on himself.

What does railway minister Shastris action show? And what do the reactions of MPs of that time show? This  that in the life of a nation when tragedies occur, one needs to react to them with the immediate reflexes described in the Kural, but also take, when the rescue stage is over, a view that includes that of a microscope and a telescope. And give no room in the reactions to politics  either of blame or of denial. Neither Shastri nor Alagesan nor the Railway Board nor any arm of the government flaunted the action taken to rescue the victims. They regarded what was done as duty, dutifully performed. Investigations were ordered but as earnest searches for causes, not witch-hunts for the culprit. No attempt was made by the government to minimise culpability. No attempt was made by the Opposition to become witnesses for the prosecution.

Uchharangrai Navalshankar Dhebar, Congress president at the time, said that Shastris resignation was an act of self-effacement and would rank as a landmark in the annals of democracy. But almost no one at that time demanded resignations.

To self-efface is not easy, to deface another not so difficult.

Gopalkrishna Gandhi, a former administrator, is a student of modern Indian history The views expressed are personal
The space sector has played a crucial role in the progress of humanity by providing solutions to some of the worlds most pressing challenges. From satellite-based navigation and communication services that revolutionised the way we connect and communicate, to remote sensing technologies that aid in disaster management, agriculture, and weather forecasting, the space sector has transformed our everyday lives for the better. Crucially, by opening the door for deeper understanding of our universe through the use of state-of-the-art technologies, space exploration has inspired innovation in various industries. This begs the question: What else is possible? PREMIUM According to Morgan Stanleys Space Team, the roughly $350 billion global space industry could surge to over $1 trillion by 2040.(Gene Blevins / REUTERS)

The remarkable truth is that these developments are just the tip of the iceberg. According to Morgan Stanleys Space Team, the roughly $350 billion global space industry could surge to over $1 trillion by 2040. With the Indian governments recent reforms and initiatives to promote the private sectors participation in the space industry, India has the potential to capture a significant share of this market. Our tenure as G20 president this year affords us the opportunity to strengthen multilateral cooperation to achieve bolder, brighter, and mutually beneficial policies that develop global space capabilities. If we are to view space as an economic sector, it is essential to encourage the transfer of space technology beyond national borders. This involves facilitating technology trade, fostering partnerships between startups, promoting the exchange of skilled personnel, and attracting investments. The ultimate goal is to develop practical applications of space technology for all of humankind.

Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space, once said that astronauts tend to stop seeing their own countries from space when they realise that there is no boundary between the countries and the entire world is one family where our destinies are integrated. This ethos is reflected in Indias approach of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam even today  where both responsibility and reward is shared between members of this One Earth, One Family, One Future.

The Indian space programme has come a long way since its inception in 1962. The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro)s early focus was on developing capabilities to meet national needs, with the Indian National Satellites (Insat) and the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite series providing communication and remote sensing services. Today, the national space agency has achieved several milestones and emerged as a major collaborative player in the global space industry, having launched over 100 satellites for India and other countries, including the Mars Orbiter Mission, which made us the first nation to successfully reach the red planet on its maiden attempt. Whats more, the entire mission cost approximately 450 crore, making it the cheapest Mars mission to date.

With time, Isros efforts also moved beyond its initial responsibilities by nurturing Indias upstream industries and supporting the development of technological capabilities. This growth has resulted in the emergence of more than 500 micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), public sector undertakings (PSUs), and private industries.

A second wave of space entrepreneurs has emerged in India with new space startups appearing across the country. Recognising the changing landscape, the Indian government opened up the space sector to private players in June 2020, and established the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe). This move has been met with a passionate response from the industry; over 130 Non-Government Entities (NGEs) have applied to IN-SPACe, with startups, MSMEs, and large companies taking the lead.

Competitiveness, competence, and capital build good products. The Indian Space Policy, 2023, recognises this. With an ambitious aim to increase Indias share in the global space economy from less than 2% to 10% in the years to come, the government has bet big on the private sectors capabilities, allowing them to build satellites, rockets, and other space-based technologies with minimal to no restrictions.

Indias engagement with the final frontier is ready for launch. In the backdrop of this progressive policy, the countrys private space sector is already showing rapid growth and innovation, with an exponential increase in the number of startups since 2016; 47 startups were added to the ecosystem in 2021, up from a mere 7 in 2016, reaching a total of 101 cumulatively. Catalysing this surge, investor confidence also increased in tandem, with funding charting a rising graph from $6 million in 2019, $22.5 million in 2020, $31 million in 2021, to an impressive $80.5 million in 2022.

Skyroot Aerospace, founded by former Isro scientists Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, received an incredible $68 million in investment. In November 2022, it proceeded to successfully launch Indias first privately made rocket on a suborbital flight. Ten days earlier, Agnikul Cosmos, a rocket manufacturing startup, successfully test-fired a second stage semi-cryogenic engine, showing the range and pace of Indias space-tech development. On the satellite front, companies such as Pixxel are providing next-gen capabilities in the fight against the climate crisis through advanced imaging. Their third demo hyperspectral satellite, Anand, has the potential to provide priceless earth observation applications in agriculture, energy, and climate.

These homegrown enterprises, among a host of others, need to continue to attract significant and effective investments, and capitalise on the enabling environment to forge meaningful partnerships with the international community. With the recent policy reforms and initiatives to promote private sector participation, India has the potential to capture a significant share of the trillion-dollar global market if it plays on its strengths of delivering cost-effective, quality infrastructure, and evolving innovative technology-driven solutions. By focusing on international synergies in the three key areas of manufacturing, energy, and mining in space, India can lead the flight into the final frontier of human development.

Amitabh Kant is Indias G20 Sherpa and ex-CEO, NITI Aayog. The views expressed are persona
Top business leaders are divided on the impending risks that artificial intelligence (AI) can bear on human beings, with 42% of them believing that the technological revolution has the ability to wipe humanity within 5-10 years. The revelation came forward in a survey conducted to assess their views on the growing footprint of artificial intelligence (AI). Last month, Geoffrey Hinton, who created a foundation technology for AI systems, also warned over "profound risks to society and humanity" due to AI.(REUTERS)

The survey, first originally published by media organisation CNN, was conducted by the United States-based acclaimed Yale Universitys CEO Summit. The website describes the event as a leadership platform bringing together a range of the top management of globally successful companies.

Yale professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld described the results dark and alarming as reported by CNN. A total of 119 CEOs participated in the survey which revealed little consensus among them about risks and opportunities linked to AI.

Some of the participating companies' heads were included from Walmart, Zoom, Coca-Cola and media, pharmaceutical chiefs.

Nearly 34% CEOs said the AI had the potential to destroy humanity in ten years, while 8% said that could happen in five years. Others were not worried about any such outcome.

Last month, Geoffrey Hinton, who created a foundation technology for AI systems, also quit his job at Google over profound risks to society and humanity" due to AI. He flagged the risks associated with such a quick pace of advancement made in this field. "Look at how it was five years ago and how it is nowIt is hard to see how you can prevent the bad actors from using it for bad things, he had told the New York Times.

He had cautioned over AI citing various threats and said scientists should not scale this up more until they have understood whether they can control it."

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
To make a missed WhatsApp call more visible, the Meta-owned service has introduced a feature that will also make it easier and quicker to call back the person who made the original call. Representational Image (Reuters)

This feature is called Call back, according to WABetaInfo, a platform that tracks news and updates related to WhatsApp, and was the first to report about this option.

How does Call back work?

As per a screenshot uploaded by WABetaInfo on its website, the Call back button is now visible on the event message that shows up when a call is missed on WhatsApp.

The 'Call back' feature on WhatsApp (Image courtesy: WABetaInfo)

Also, as seen in the image attached above, one must simply tap the button to call back (hence the feature name) the person who made the first call.

Why is WhatsApp bringing this feature?

WhatsApp, the report says, wants to make it clearer that the message event is dedicated to the possibility of calling back the contact after receiving a missed call.

Availability

The instant messaging service has, for now, made the Call back option available to select beta users only, so that it can be tested for any possible flaw or shortcoming before a more general release. If you don't see this update on the Microsoft Store, you need not worry; it will be released to more people over the coming days.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail
The videos that showcase the indomitable human spirit in the moments of crisis are often amazing to watch. Just like this clip shared on the Instagram page of Good News Movement. The video shows how a man climbed a burning building to save a dog, despite being afraid of heights. The image shows the man scaling a burning building to save a dog. (Instagram/@goodnews_movement)

This hero, Colombian Sebastian Arias, scales the outside of a burning building to rescue 25 dogs trapped inside June 9 in Lima, Peru. Before the flames engulf the structure, the hero drops the dog down to safety, where the firemen are waiting with their safety net. Dog and hero are doing great! A total of 25 dogs were rescued that day, reads the caption posted along with the video.

Take a look at the video that shows the mans act of bravery:

The video was shared two days ago. Since being posted, it has accumulated close to 2.9 million views and the numbers are quickly increasing. Additionally, the share has accumulated several likes and comments.

Heres how Instagram users reacted:

As someone who loves dogs and is also afraid of heights, I applaud this man. Hero among men, posted an Instagram user. This single hero is enough to renew my faith in humanity. Priceless, joined another. I see his wings and halo, added a third. Amazing the kindness and selflessness of some human beings! Some people are simply incredible!! Bless him!! wrote a fourth.
Is China inspired by Hollywood's franchise Star Wars? A Chinese naval scientist has presented a blueprint of a futuristic warship that is set to challenge traditional naval formations spanning over 100 years, according to a report by South China Morning Post (SCMP) (article beyond paywall). Chinese flags flutter near containers stacked at the Yangshan Deep Water Port in Shanghai(Reuters)

Read here: Always placed hopes on US people: China's Xi Jinping after meeting 'old friend' Bill Gates

Chinese naval force's Rear Admiral Ma Weiming, who is key to the development of China's most advanced naval technologies, presented the layout of the Star Wars-esque vessel. He claimed that it would revolutionise naval warfare and it would be unlike anything the world had seen.

"It will completely overturn the combat formation of naval fleets that has been in place for over a hundred years," Ma said in a peer-reviewed paper published in Transactions of China Electrotechnical Society journal, the report added.

According to the Rear Admiral, the futuristic ship would feature new naval combat system embedded with electromagnetic weapons and a robust nuclear-powered electrical system. At all, the warship would do the job of an entire carrier fleet.

Additionally, the ship would incorporate an array of advanced weapons like rail guns, coil guns, rocket launchers, laser weapons and high-powered microwaves to defend against air strikes, anti-submarine warfare, solidifying its position in delivering precise strikes on naval and land enemies.

Read here: China youth unemployment edged up to record 20.8% in May: Report

In the research paper, Weiming has also attached a computer-generated image of the warship that carries a large number of aircraft, the report added.

"The ship's advanced technology cleverly and effectively transform the energy from the ship's power source into the electromagnetic energy needed to power high-powered weapons," Weiming said, the report added.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
China has urged Britain to stop "political manipulation" and interference in its internal affairs, according to a foreign ministry fax sent to Reuters on Friday. Chinese President Xi Jinping.(Reuters)

The comments came after British foreign minister James Cleverly earlier this week called China's sanctioning of British parliamentarians "deplorable".

"The British side unlawfully sanctioned Chinese personnel based on false information in the first place, and China took counter-measures which were entirely justified and reasonable," the ministry said in the fax.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
A Michigan mom lashed out after she discovered abox cutter in her child's Happy Meal from McDonald's. The woman, Dawn Paret, took to Facebook to post photos of the bright yellow box cutter she found in the meal, slamming McDonalds in the caption. The mother took to Facebook to post photos of the bright yellow box cutter she found in the meal (Dawn Paret/Facebook)

You hear of things like this, but never did I think it truly could happen. The amount of worry and rage that went through me - I have never experienced. A millions "what ifs" - what if it was Ava (2 years old) who found it? What if it wasn't Eliana or Ava and the next kid who was going to eat in the car and play with that? Dawn wrote.

McDonald's I need an answer as to WHY and HOW a box cutter ended up in the bottom of our daughter's happy meal. Simply saying, a happy meal box is your "catch all" and someone must've accidentally grabbed that one is not the answer I want, she added.

Another mother from Michigan, Kayla Almashy, told WXYZ that she too shockingly found a box cutter inside her child's Happy Meal weeks ago. This incident took place at a different location.

My baby, like she always says, "Mama, will you open my toy" So, she went to give me the toy, and when I grabbed it, it was a box cutter, Kayla said. I was blown away.

Kayla said she thought she should come forward after Dawns story surfaced. She had picked up the food from a McDonald's in Brighton, about 40 minutes away from where Dawn got her food. She called up the restaurant after finding the box cutter, but the restaurant allegedly had no concrete answer. I just wanted some type of explanation. But there was nothing that he could give me, other than he said, "Do you want a free apple pie or cookie?" Kayla said.

Dawn told WXYZ she was furious and shocked thinking what would have happened if her child was to get hurt. Anything could have happened, and that's what's scary, she said. She opened up the box looking for the toy, and he was getting the 2-year-old set up. She turned around, looked at him, held it out and said, "Dad, what is this?"

Both the women claimed that restaurant owners said there is a box inside their store, used as a catch all for items kept in their kitchen. They basically just said that they have a catch-all box that's a Happy Meal box, and someone must have just accidentally grabbed it, Dawn said. The mothers are now urging parents to be very careful.

McDonald's told USA Today in a statement that they are investigating the matter. The safety of customers and employees is our top priority, and we take these claims seriously, the statement reads, according to the Daily Mail. We have been in touch with the customers involved and are continuing to investigate.
Judging purely by the steady stream of Western executives crossing the Pacific, China is picking up where it left off before the onset of covid-19. In the past couple of weeks Elon Musk of Tesla, an electric-car maker, met officials in Beijing on his first trip to the country in more than three years. At the same time Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase, Americas biggest bank, was hosting a conference in Shanghai that brought together more than 2,500 clients from around the world. Hundreds of business bigwigs have made similar trips in the past three months. President Xi Jinpings top officials have been greeting them with the mantra that, after a pandemic hiatus,  China is back in business . PREMIUM The space for foreign businesses in China was already being constrained by restrictions that their own governments,(Reuters)

Once the executives settle in, though, many are finding the place a lot less welcoming. In April the government strengthened an already strict anti-espionage law and, according to the Wall Street Journal, put Chinas spymaster in charge of cracking down on security threats posed by American firms. Officials invoke hazily worded data-related laws introduced during the pandemic, which perplex many foreign businesses, American or otherwise. Something as innocent as sharing an email signature, considered under some interpretations of Chinese data laws as personal information, with a recipient abroad can get you into hot water.

The space for foreign businesses in China was already being constrained by restrictions that their own governments, led by Americas, have placed on Chinese firms amid geopolitical tensions; more than 9,000 Chinese firms have been hit by Western sanctions, according to Wirescreen, a data provider. Now Mr Xi is shrinking businesses room for manoeuvre further. Worse, even cautious movements within the space that remains can invite disaster.

A spate of spectacular cases has sent chills down the spines of foreign executives. In March five local employees of Mintz Group, an American due-diligence firm, were arrested over what many suspect was a potential breach of laws relating to data security. A month later the authorities launched an investigation into Bain, a consultancy with headquarters in Boston, over apparently similar transgressions.

In May state television aired footage of police rummaging through the offices of Capvision, a multinational research firm. At JPMorgans conference, cocktail-party chatter turned, sotto voce, to the case of a Chinese banker well known in foreign business circles, whose detention would, as it emerged during the evening, be extended for three more months for unspecified reasons. Mintz said it always operated transparently, ethically and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Bain said it was co-operating as appropriate with the Chinese authorities. Capvision vowed to resolutely abide by Chinas national-security rules.

It is unclear why the authorities took aim at the advisers; rumours are rife that it had to do with their sleuthing in Xinjiang, where America accuses China of using forced labour, and in Chinas semiconductor industry, which it hopes to hobble by withholding advanced chips. In the absence of clarity, and facing pressure from governments at home, some foreigners are calling it quits. On June 6th Sequoia Capital, a stalwart of Silicon Valleys venture-capital industry, decided to part ways with its Chinese arm, which will become a separate firm. On June 10th the Financial Times reported that Microsoft would move a few dozen top artificial-intelligence researchers from China to Vancouver, in part to avoid them being poached by Chinese big-tech rivals, but also for fear of harassment by Chinese authorities. The boss of a Swiss asset manager whispers, I dont think [China] is investible, honestly. Many foreigners concur. Still, for most of them China remains too big a prize to forsake. Those that stay put must therefore learn to live with not one pushy superpower, but two.

The travails of Mintz, Bain and Capvision struck a nerve in foreign boardrooms because they targeted the investigators, consultants, lawyers and other advisers on whose expertise outsiders depend to find their feet in faraway places. Clients most commonly enlist such intermediaries in order to understand whom they are doing business with, to identify any hidden risks and to lubricate transactions.

The Communist authorities have always looked askance at such work and put in place rules on data-sharing and state secrets that, if enforced, could be used to curb it. Practitioners report that this year enforcement has become much more common. In areas like Xinjiang and chipmaking, corporate investigations now appear entirely verboten. Details on critical inputs for the broader technology sectorwhich could become targets of fresh American sanctionsincreasingly seem to be treated as state secrets. So is personal information about state-linked businesspeople, who often find themselves in the sights of due-diligence firms. This list of forbidden subjects is unlikely to be exhaustive. And it is almost certainly lengthening.

WIND Information, a Chinese firm employed by banks and brokers around the world to provide financial information on Chinese companies, has been told by the authorities to stop offering some of its services to foreigners, ostensibly lest they breach data-security rules. So has Qichacha, another data provider. A number of Chinese analysts working for foreign companies have been visited by the authorities and pressed to present a rosier picture of China. Officials fears that regulatory disclosures in America could divulge secrets about Didi Globals technology suppliers or the whereabouts of sensitive passengers were potent enough to force the ride-hailing firm to delist from New York last year.

When corporate muckrakers try to dig up information beyond what is publicly available, or volunteered by firms, things get thornier still. Asking too many questions about a company that turns out to have ties to powerful officials can prove especially hazardous for a nosy adviser. As one consultant recounts, such questions just shouldnt be asked. Many now turn down requests for enhanced due diligence, which can leave clients in the lurch.

Even humdrum administrative and legal footwork required in most business dealings, from writing emails to exchanging bank-account information, is becoming fraught. Whereas, historically, foreign firms worried most about leakage of their intellectual property to Chinese rivals, now they fret about the flow of information from their Chinese partners to them, notes Diana Choyleva of Enodo, a research firm in London. The boss of a global law firm says he can technically no longer correspond with his partners in China. When the Chinese company in question has links to the state, as many do, any of its information could be classified as a state secret.

Foreign companies are scrambling to navigate this perilous new environment. To avoid accidental data leaks, some are considering developing software to parse all exchanges of information, including contracts and emails. They will probably also need to hire and train people to review any data that is flagged by the computer as sensitive. Experts compare it to the anti-money-laundering systems which banks and other multinationals began putting in place more than a decade ago.

Many Western firms have also started drawing up action plans for dealing with the new risks. These are being devised by in-house counsel or outside law firms, often at the behest of multinational companies regional offices, which are keen to demonstrate preparedness to headquarters back home. The scope and depth of these plans make them unlike the ones that firms draw up routinely, says Benjamin Kostrzewa of Hogan Lovells, a law firm. They are based on a broad survey of fast-changing Chinese laws, such as those concerning data, intellectual property and national security, as well as of the equally protean American restrictions. Their provisions are informed by an evaluation, so far as one is possible, of any Chinese companies and individuals involved.

Contingencies that the plans consider include reviewing office leases, employment contracts and other legal responsibilities if a firm were suddenly forced to pull out of China. Companies are also more careful about sending executives to China. A mining executive describes how any visit to the mainland is now preceded by lengthy meetings with the companys lawyers to discuss how to behave in the event of an arrest or other run-in with Chinese officialdom. Without such training, the executive says, the compliance department would not sign off on a Chinese trip.

To ensure compliance with Chinas data laws, meanwhile, joint ventures between foreign and Chinese firms have been restructuring how they process and store information, explains an adviser. Many joint ventures which are ostensibly run as a single unit are divvying up data-hosting to make sure that the foreign partner does not end up holding anything that could be considered a state secret. Any Chinese intellectual property is kept on Chinese servers.

Cash trapped

Concerns are mounting, too, over the threat of multinationals money being seized or frozen in the event of a conflict between China and the West, says Mark Williams of Capital Economics, a research firm. In response, advisers say that some foreign firms are putting in place corporate structures that would reduce their overall financial exposure to the country and its capital controls. One ruse is to set up new companies in China that use money borrowed from Chinese banks to buy assets held by the foreign firms original Chinese subsidiary. That original company then remits the proceeds of the sale overseas. Should those assets be seized, the liabilities sit with Chinese banks, not with the foreign multinational or its bank abroad.

Such arrangements are possible thanks to a series of rule changes in the past four years that relaxed criteria for lending to newly formed foreign entities. Though the structures remain rare for now, some advisers see them as a sign of deteriorating confidence. This confidence is almost certain to deteriorate further, as foreign companies determined not to give up on their Chinese dream find themselves in an impossible situation. They must comply with Western sanctions and, at the same time, with Chinas ever more draconian laws and Mr Xis desire to control cross-border flows of information. To make the system work, either China or the West must turn a blind eye. China used to be willing to do this for the sake of economic growth. No longer.

To stay on top of the biggest stories in business and technology, sign up to the Bottom Line, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
When Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won Brazils election last year, climate activists the world over breathed a sigh of relief. His right-wing predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, had gutted the environmental agency, turned a blind eye to illegal gold-mining and undermined indigenous rights. Lula, by contrast, promised to end illegal deforestation in the Amazon and lead international efforts to halt climate change. On June 5th the left-winger outlined an ambitious plan to stop illegal deforestation in the Amazon by the end of the decade. There should be no contradiction between economic growth and environmental protection, he said. Yet Lulas green agenda is suffering setbacks. PREMIUM Brazil is well placed to lead efforts against climate change(REUTERS)

In theory, Brazil is well placed to lead efforts against climate change. In 2019 fully 82% of its electricity was generated from renewable sources, compared with a global average of 29%. Its carbon emissions mainly come from deforestation and agriculture, rather than energy.

Curbing deforestation promises rich rewards. The World Bank estimates that the value of the Amazon rainforest, mainly as a carbon store, is $317bn a year, nearly all the benefits of which accrue to the rest of the world. This is three to seven times more than the estimated value which could be made from farming, mining or logging in the area. A Senate committee is working on creating a carbon market, which would allow Brazil to make money by selling carbon credits. And in April the EU, with which Brazil may soon sign a trade agreement, passed a law that will ban imports of products that contribute to deforestation. All this provides incentives to prevent more tree-felling.

Several problems are getting in Lulas way. For a start, he is far less popular than under his first two terms, between 2003 and 2010. Back then, he could sway Congress more easily. But he only won last years election by a slim margin.

Whats more, Congress has veered to the right. Lula leads a rowdy coalition that has frequently failed to vote with him. He has had to resort to pork-barrel tactics, but that has not entirely worked. On June 1st Congress passed a law that removed the rural-land registry and management of waste and water from the environment ministry. It also took away the power of the newly created indigenous ministry to demarcate territories. The day before, the lower house passed a bill which, if approved by the Senate, would not recognise claims to land by indigenous groups arising after 1988.

Both bills were coups for the agri-business lobby, which is the second problem for the president. Agriculture is increasingly important in the country. First-quarter GDP figures released this month show the agricultural sector is 18% larger than the same period last year, a performance strong enough to prompt analysts to raise their full-year forecasts for the whole economy. This was partly because of a spell of good weather compared with last year, and because the price of agricultural commodities has risen. By contrast industrial output declined and the service sector grew slightly. According to the World Bank, the value added of agriculture, forestry and fishing as a share of GDP has risen from 4% in 2010 to 7% in 2021.

The agri-business lobby now commands 347 out of 594 seats across both houses of Congress, up from 280 in 2018. There is no Brazil without agri-business, says Pedro Lupion, the leader of the lobby.

Part of the agriculture sectors expansion happened under Lulas first two administrations, when trade with China accelerated. Yet Lula has struggled to win back the support of the lobby, which has rallied behind Mr Bolsonaro. In April Lulas agriculture minister had his invitation to the countrys biggest agricultural fair rescinded, after Mr Bolsonaro announced that he would attend. Later, Lula called the organisers of the event fascists. Mr Lupion complains that the left has made the green agenda an ideological issue.

A third problem for Lula is the importance of the state oil firm, Petrobras. In his first two administrations, Lula celebrated Petrobras as a national champion after the company made one of the largest offshore oil discoveries ever in 2006, in what are known as the pre-salt fields off the south-eastern coast. The discovery allowed Brazil to become the worlds eighth-biggest oil-producer. Much more of that potential oil will be developed this decade, which the government hopes could make Brazil the fourth-biggest oil-producer. Adtiya Ravi, an analyst at Rystad Energy, a consultancy, estimates that oil from the pre-salt fields alone could account for nearly 4% of global supply by the end of the decade. Petrobras expects to increase output from 3m barrels per day today to over 5m by 2030.

Along with developing existing projects, Petrobras is trying to win a licence to drill for offshore oil near the Amazon basin, in an area known as the equatorial margin (see map). This area could hold as much as 30bn barrels of oil and its equivalents, of which a quarter are thought to be extractable. Recent discoveries of oil in Guyana and Suriname are encouraging Petrobras, which is ready to invest roughly half of its $6bn exploration budget over the next five years in the area. On May 18th Brazils regulator denied the company an exploration licence, though Petrobras has appealed the decision. Alexandre Silveira, the energy and mining minister, described oil exploration in the region as a passport to the future, and called the regulators demands incoherent and absurd. Lula said he finds it difficult to believe that oil exploration would cause environmental damage in the region.
Meghan Markle's Spotify podcast will not be renewed for a second season, it has been reported. Her Archetypes podcast has been at the centre of a few controversies, including spreading misinformation on Covid-19 vaccine. The show was also accused of making antisemitic comments and using racial slurs. Earlier reports claimed that Spotify paid Prince Harry and Meghan $25 million for singing for a lucrative audio deal. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at United Nations headquarters, Monday, July 18, 2022 (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)(AP)

Insiders close to Spotify have claimed the royal couple failed to meet the productivity benchmark that was needed to receive the full payout, according to Wall Street Journal. Meghan, however, is reportedly planning to create more podcasts.

After the end of the first season, Spotify was reportedly planning to release a second season. Sources close to Meghan and Harry have claimed the couple would stop making Netflix documentaries, publishing memoirs and appear for interviews that do not speak well of the Royal Family.

The axing of the show comes after it was reported that Spotify may slash 200 more jobs after Meghan and Harrys podcasts failure. Spotify laid off about 6% of its 6,600 workforce back in January. Redundancies are now said to be reaching 2% of the streaming platforms workforce, according to New York Post.

Spotifys head of podcast business, Sahar Elhabashi, wrote in a blog post, We have made the difficult but necessary decision to make a strategic realignment of our group and reduce our global podcast vertical and other functions by approximately 200 people, or 2% of Spotifys workforce.

Unfortunately, this means saying goodbye to close colleagues and friends. We know news like this is never easy, especially for those impacted. These decisions are not something we take lightly. I want to express my appreciation for everything those leaving have done for podcasting and Spotify, he added.

The podcast is described on Spotify as a podcast where we investigate, dissect, and subvert the labels that try to hold women back. It features interviews with famous women, but Markle has also revealed a lot about herself.

Markle discussed the concept of ambition with Serena Williams during the inaugural episode of the podcast. She also opened up about her struggles while living with the royal family.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
11:19 | Washington D.C. (U.S.), Jun. 16.





2023 Trafficking in Persons Report Hero awards to eight recipients whose work to end human trafficking, despite great challenges, is worthy of special recognition. The recognition came as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday presented theto eight recipients whose work to end human trafficking, despite great challenges, is worthy of special recognition.





"Congratulations to the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report Heroes! We commend your devotion to fighting human trafficking. Congratulations to the Heroes," the U.S. Department of State posted on Twitter.





During the ceremony, U.S. Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Cindy Dyer affirmed that Paola Hittscher receives the Trafficking in Persons Report Hero award in recognition for her powerful use of innovative partnerships with the Peruvian Navy, National Police, and civil society to advance the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases in Peru's Loreto region.











Moreover, Dyer said the award recognizes the Peruvian prosecutor's efforts despite a challenging environment of limited funding, security concerns, and limited state presence.





"Paola Hittscher was honored as a 2023 TIP Report Hero today in recognition of her work to end human trafficking. Congratulations!" reads another tweet by the U.S. Department of State.





About Hittscher





According to the latest Trafficking in Persons Report released by the United States, Ms. Hittscher has been a key figure in the fight against human trafficking in Loreto since 2016, and a crucial actor in the design, planning, and implementation of the U.S.-Peru Child Protection Compact Partnership.





The magistrate is renowned for her collaboration and cooperation with the Peruvian Navy, Peruvian National Police, Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations, and civil society.





Despite limited funding and minimal staff, she has made significant strides to advance investigations and seek prosecutions of human trafficking cases.





Furthermore, Paola Hittscher has taken steps to help child trafficking victims feel at ease as they go through police interviews.





Additionally, she has faced down major security concerns.





She regularly travels into the jungle with police officers to conduct operations, despite knowing the potential for gunfire, injury, and even loss of life. She endures indirect and direct threats to her life and still perseveres, and in spite of the risks, drives remarkable progress.



Paola Hittscher was honored as a 2023 TIP Report Hero today in recognition of her work to #EndHumanTrafficking. Congratulations! #Peru #TIPReportHeroes @USEMBASSYPERU pic.twitter.com/mhGoyMEkQy  Department of State (@StateDept) June 15, 2023

Congratulations to the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report Heroes! We commend your devotion to fighting human trafficking. https://t.co/ir8Nw1aUyv @JTIP_State #EndHumanTrafficking #TIPReportHeroes pic.twitter.com/MlyZQiyLhh  Department of State (@StateDept) June 15, 2023

(END) RMB

Paola Hittscher, a provincial prosecutor in Peru's Public Prosecutor Office, specializing in human trafficking crimes in Loreto region, has been honored with a prestigious award in the United States for her efforts to end human trafficking.Publicado: 16/6/2023
NATO countries are increasingly likely to ask Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to remain for another year as they struggle to reach a consensus on his successor ahead of next months summit, according to a person familiar with the matter. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. (Reuters)

Stoltenberg has led the alliance since 2014, and his tenure is set to end in October. President Joe Biden met Tuesday in Washington with Stoltenberg, days after he met with a candidate to replace him, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. That led to speculation Frederiksen was a front-runner for the job, despite recent denials by Frederiksen that she is a candidate.

Biden thinks highly of a number of possible choices to lead the alliance, especially Frederiksen, according to the person, who requested anonymity to describe internal thinking. But it has become clear to the US and other allies that there is no agreement on who should be the next secretary general, the person said.

Also Read | Some progress talks in Turkey on Swedish NATO bid: Jens Stoltenberg

British defense chief Ben Wallace was also believed to be a candidate to replace Stoltenberg. Conversations among allies are continuing about a successor, but extending Stoltenbergs term could buy time to reach a solution, the person said.

While allies would like to see a woman in the role, hailing from a Nordic country could count against Frederiksen given Stoltenberg  a former Norwegian prime minister  and his predecessor both came from the region. Meanwhile, Wallace could struggle to win backers since allies hope to maintain the position for a former head of state or government.

White House spokeswoman Olivia Dalton declined to comment on media reports that Biden asked Stoltenberg to remain in his job, but told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday that the president has complete confidence in Secretary General Stoltenberg.

NATO has never been stronger or more unified than it is today as a result of the United States leadership and others in the alliance, Dalton said.

Bidens top priority for the alliance is maintaining unity in the face of tough problems including the war in Ukraine, the person said.

The deliberations are occurring weeks before NATO leaders are scheduled to hold a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, and as Ukraine is mounting a counteroffensive against Russian forces.

NATO allies view Stoltenberg as a strong leader who would offer continuity as Ukrainian forces try and push Russia out of areas it took during its invasion launched last year, the person said.

Keeping him on board would not preclude allies from picking a new leader in the meantime, according to the person.

An extension could see Stoltenberg in his position until next year, when the alliance celebrates its milestone 75th anniversary. More candidates may also become available then after the European Union holds elections in early summer of 2024.

Turbulent Times

Stoltenberg, whose post has already been extended three times, has helmed the alliance during some of the most turbulent times in its history.

Since Russias invasion of Ukraine, hes had to carefully balance the alliances support for Kyiv without drawing the organization into a wider conflict with Moscow, especially as Russian President Vladimir Putin has cited NATOs enlargement as justification for his aggression.

During his tenure, hes welcomed Montenegro, North Macedonia, Finland, and potentially soon Sweden, into the alliance. Stoltenberg backed former President Donald Trumps demand that other NATO countries spend more on defense, while trying to retain unity within the alliance.

Asked about his future at a press conference Friday, Stoltenberg said, I have stated again and again that I dont seek extension and there are no other plans than to end my work and my tenure ends this fall.

Still, Stoltenberg appeared to keep his options open when he said earlier in the week: I am responsible for all decisions that this alliance has to take except for one. And that is about my future. That is for the 31 allies to decide.

--With assistance from Justin Sink.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

2023 Bloomberg L.P.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
In a surprising turn of events, it has been revealed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were not invited to King Charles III's Trooping the Colour birthday parade. The exclusion has left many wondering about the Duke of Sussex's reaction, and according to a royal expert, Harry is likely "relieved" to miss the event this year. In a surprising turn of events, it has been revealed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were not invited to King Charles III's Trooping the Colour birthday parade.

Richard Eden of the Daily Mail was the first to report the news, stating, "I hear that Prince Harry and Meghan have not been invited to the king's birthday parade. It will be the first time in Harry's life that he has not been welcome at the monarch's official birthday celebrations. This year's event is particularly significant because it is the first since his father succeeded the throne last September."

Royal historian and author Tessa Dunlop shed some light on the situation, noting that although Harry and Meghan attended the event last year, they did not have prominent roles in the parade and other festivities. "Last year, [Harry] attended the Trooping of the Colour because his one-time commander-in-chief, the queen, was celebrating her Platinum Jubilee. But even then, he and Meghan were shadowy civilian figures, seen briefly in a window," she revealed.

Dunlop believes that Prince Harry is "relieved" not to attend the event this year, and one of the reasons behind it might be his relationship with his brother, Prince William. "Prince Harry is not coming to the king's inaugural Trooping of the Colour, when for the first time since 1986 Britain's monarch will be mounted taking the salute," Dunlop explained. "Harry is no longer a working royal. Trooping the Colour is a job for our working royals. The key word there is 'job.' Saturday will see them dressed up and on parade doing what they do best, providing the military, which depends on its hierarchical structures, with a symbolic figurehead."

Also Read | Can Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's marriage survive the power struggle? Expert breaks it down

Furthermore, Dunlop mentioned that Harry had always played second fiddle to William during previous Trooping the Colour events and that this dynamic seemed to bother him. "We now know that playing second fiddle to William chafed, and I suspect [Harry] is also relieved that, courtesy of his new civilian identity, he does not have to cross the Atlantic for yet another ceremonial pit-stop," she added.

With tensions within the family still unresolved, the expert concluded that Harry's priorities in Britain have shifted, particularly focusing on his ongoing legal cases. "Harry is a changed manhe has opted for America and freedom from an institution over the British royal family and their unique version of duty," Dunlop remarked.

As the Trooping the Colour celebration approaches, all eyes will be on the royal family and how this absence will impact the dynamics within. Prince Harry's newfound distance and focus on his life in America continue to raise questions about his future interactions with the British royal family.
On Thursday evening, a lethal tornado swept through Perryton town in northern Texas. The National Weather Service, Amarillo, verified that the town was struck by a tornado. This town is near the Oklahoma border, home to approximately 8000 residents. This catastrophic tornado destroyed a trailer park and several communication towers. A Lethal tornado caused a catastrophe in Perryton, Texas. (Chicago & Midwest Storm Chasers screenshot/Twitter)

Paul Dutcher, Perryton Fire Department Chief reported that 3 people have died. He highlighted the condition of their trucks was pretty bad as the tornado directly hit them. The chief informed, roughly 200 homes were damaged, and a stretch of a mile and a half area was impacted. approximately 30 mobile homes were completely destroyed as they took a direct hit.

Hospital CFO Debbie Beck informed that 50 to 100 people have been injured and are hospitalized at Ochiltree General Hospital. Some have minor injuries and some are severely injured and are diagnosed with head injuries, broken bones and collapsed lungs.

Four Price for Texas assured that the mayor, Texas Division of Emergency Management and Governor Abbott had been informed and they are mobilizing resources right now. This is a serious situation. Again, please lift that community up in prayer.

Keith Shadden, Emergency Manager in Oklahoma, has informed that fire, law enforcement and EMS units have been sent by the county to assist across the state border. Additionally, he mentioned that as soon as the weather clears up, a second wave of assistance will be dispatched.

The city of Stinnett, Texas, is sending officers as well as EMS units. Following the devastating tornado the Hutchinson County Sheriffs Office is also sending aid and assistance to rescue and emergency operations.

Over the weekend, there will be severe weather threats for southern states. There are high possibilities for more hail, destructive winds and tornadoes across the plains and mid-south.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
A pregnant woman who was killed in what appears to have been a random shooting in downtown Seattle this week has been identified as the owner of a sushi restaurant near the citys famed Pike Place Market. The fetus was delivered at a hospital and but died soon after, according to a probable cause statement. (File)

Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell said on Twitter Thursday that his condolences go out to the family of Eina Kwon. Kwon, 34, was eight months pregnant when a man shot multiple times into her car Tuesday while it was stopped at an intersection near the Aburiya Bento House restaurant she owned with her husband.

The fetus was delivered at a hospital and but died soon after, according to a probable cause statement. The womans 37-year-old husband, Sung Kwon, was shot in the arm and treated at the hospital.

Eina was a leader in our community and business owner, running Aburiya Bento House with her family. What was supposed to be a joyful time for the Kwon family has turned into an unimaginable nightmare caused by senseless gun violence, Harrell's statement said.

Harrell also said he spoke to Sung Kwon on Thursday.

He is a grieving but resilient father and husband who is grappling with unimaginable pain while recovering from his own injuries, Harrell said.

On Tuesday morning, a man approached the couple's car, fired at the drivers side with a handgun and ran away, the probable cause statement said. Video from the neighborhood showed no previous interaction with the victims.

Police said they found a 30-year-old man who matched witnesses description soon after. Approached by officers, he raised his arms and said, I did it, I did it, according to police. Police said the man told investigators he saw a firearm in the vehicle and reacted by firing.

He was taken into custody, and a judge found probable cause to hold him on investigation of homicide, assault and unlawful possession of a firearm, according to a spokesperson for prosecutors. Charges are expected this week, The Seattle Times reported.

The shooting has led to an outpouring of grief for the Kwons, who also have a toddler.

Mourners have placed flowers and other remembrances at their now-shuttered restaurant, including Eunji Seo, the consulate general for the Republic of Korea in Seattle. A crowdfunding campaign to bring Eina Kwons family from Korea to the United States for her funeral has raised nearly $50,000.

The Kwons opened Aburiya, which serves traditional and fusion sushi, in 2018. The restaurant is popular with tourists and downtown workers seeking lunch deals.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Ukraine on Friday as part of a delegation of African leaders and senior officials seeking ways to end Kyiv's 15-month war with Russia. African Heads of State and Government, including South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, participating in the African Leaders Peace Mission, hold a consultation while en route from Warsaw to Kyiv by train.(via REUTERS)

Ramaphosas press service said that he was met by a Ukrainian special envoy and South Africas ambassador at a rail station near Bucha, the Kyiv suburb where bodies of civilians lay scattered in the streets following Russian forces withdrawal last spring.

The Bucha visit was symbolically significant, as its name has come to stand for the barbarity of Moscows military since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The brutal Russian occupation of Bucha left hundreds of civilians dead in the streets and in mass graves.

The African delegation also includes senior officials from Zambia, Senegal, Uganda, Egypt, the Republic of the Congo and the Comoro Islands.

Ramaphosa said last month that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to separate meetings with the delegation.

The delegation was set to travel to St. Petersburg later Friday, where Russias top international economic conference is taking place, and meet with Putin on Saturday.

Officials who helped prepare the talks said the African leaders not only aimed to initiate a peace process but also assess how Russia, which is under heavy international sanctions, can be paid for the fertilizer exports Africa desperately needs.

They are also set to discuss the related issue of ensuring more grain shipments out of Ukraine amid the war and the possibility of more prisoner swaps.

The African peace overture comes as Ukraine launches a counteroffensive to dislodge the Kremlin's forces from occupied areas, using Western-supplied advanced weapons in attacks along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line. Western analysts and military officials have cautioned that the campaign could last a long time.

China has also been working on a peace proposal, but it appears to have few chances of success as the warring sides appear no closer to a cease-fire.

Ukrainian troops recorded successes along three stretches of the front line in the countrys south and east, a spokesman for Ukraines General Staff said in a statement Friday.

According to Andriy Kovalev, Ukrainian forces have moved forward south of the town of Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region, in the direction of the village of Robotyne, as well as around Levadne and Staromaiorske, on the boundary between Zaporizhzhia and the Donetsk province further east.

Kovalev also said that Ukrainian troops advanced in some areas around Vuhledar, a mining town in Donetsk that was the site of one of the main tank battles in the war so far.

It wasn't possible to indepenently verify the claims.

Russian shelling on Thursday and overnight killed two civilians and wounded two others in the southern Kherson region, its Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said.

Russian forces over the previous day launched 54 strikes across the province, using mortars, artillery, multiple rocket launchers, drones, missiles and aircraft, according to Prokudin.

Ten people were wounded over that same period in the eastern Donetsk region, local Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said.
President Vladimir Putin on Friday lauded the health of Russia's public finances and said additional defence spending had been needed to bolster national security as Moscow conducts what it calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses a plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday.(AP)

Putin, speaking at the plenary session of Russia's flagship St Petersburg International Economic Forum, said the public finances were generally balanced, putting the $42-billion budget deficit so far this year largely down to the bringing-forward of of some planned expenditures.

Analysts and data, however, suggest that slumping energy revenues and soaring military spending have played a key role.

"Naturally, additional funds were needed to strengthen defence and security, to purchase weapons," Putin said. "We were forced to do this to protect our country's sovereignty.

"I should say that on the whole this justifies itself from an economic point of view," Putin added.
An air raid alert was issued in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and the Kyiv region on Friday as African leaders visited on a peace mission. A view shows the Ukrainian capital at sunset during an air raid alert. (Reuters)

Kyiv authorities issued the alert after the Ukrainian air force said several Russian Kalibr missiles had been launched from the Black Sea and were "heading north" towards Kyiv.

The Kyiv military administration later said Ukrainian forces had put air defence systems into action outside the capital and urged residents to stay in shelters.

It gave no more details.

The African delegation was expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv later on Friday.
Missiles target Kyiv as visiting African leaders push Ukraine and Russia for peace and grain Local residents take shelter in a metro station in the centre of Kyiv during a Russian missile attack. (AFP)

At least two explosions rocked Kyiv on Friday and air raid sirens blared as African leaders began a peace mission, hoping to mediate between Ukraine and Russia.

Read here: African leaders to meet Putin, Zelensky in a bid to resolve Ukraine crisis

The peace delegation, including leaders from South Africa, Senegal, Zambia, the Comoros and Egypt, said it was pressing on with plans to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later on Friday, before talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Saturday.

A Reuters journalist in central Kyiv heard two explosions. Mayor Vitali Klitschko also reported explosions in the central Podil district.

Another Reuters correspondent saw the smoke trail of two missiles in the sky above the capital. It was not clear if those missiles had been fired by Russia or Ukrainian air defences.

A Reuters television crew saw the leaders arriving in Kyiv in a convoy of cars and entering a hotel to use its air-raid shelter.

The all-clear was later issued for Kyiv, and the South African presidency tweeted that the mission was "proceeding well and as planned".

Ukraine's air force said it had downed six "Kinzhal" ballistic missiles, six cruise missiles and two drones. City authorities said they had received no reports of deaths or serious damage so far, but police said there were an unspecified number of casualties.

The air attack was the latest of many launched by Russia since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Moscow has increased their frequency since Ukraine began preparations for a counteroffensive that is now under way.

"Putin 'builds confidence' by launching the largest missile attack on Kyiv in weeks, exactly amid the visit of African leaders to our capital," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter. "Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace."

Read here: Air alert issued across Ukraine's Kyiv amid African leaders' peace mission visit

Reuters was unable to confirm that it was the biggest air strike on the capital in weeks, and Russia did not immediately comment on the events in Kyiv.

VISIT TO BUCHA

The African leaders had begun their trip by visiting Bucha, a town outside Kyiv where Ukraine says Russian occupiers carried out executions, rapes and torture, and where international investigators are collecting evidence of war crimes. Russia denies the allegations.

The peace mission, which includes South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Senegalese President Macky Sall, could propose a series of "confidence building measures" during initial efforts at mediation, according to a draft framework document seen by Reuters.

The document says the objective of the mission is to promote peace and encourage the parties to agree to a diplomacy-led process.

Those measures could include a pullback of Russian troops, removal of Russian tactical nuclear weapons from Belarus, suspension of implementation of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant targeting Putin, and relief from the Western sanctions imposed on Russia, it indicated.

Read here: Ukraine to train 'several dozen' combat pilots to fly US' F-16 aircrafts

An agreement on cessation of hostilities could follow, and would need to be accompanied by negotiations between Russia and the West, the document stated.

Kyiv says its own peace initiative, which envisages the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian land, must be the basis for any settlement of the war.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The Kremlin said on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is still open to any contacts to discuss a resolution of the Ukraine conflict, Russian news agencies reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin. (AFP)

Read here: Ukraine to train 'several dozen' combat pilots to fly US' F-16 aircrafts

The comments came on the eve of a visit by African leaders to present a new peace initiative to Putin, nearly 16 months after he launched Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"President Putin was and is open to any contacts to discuss possible scenarios for solving the Ukrainian problem," Interfax quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

Russia has long said it is open to negotiations, but says Ukraine must recognise the "new realities" on the ground, where its forces control some 18% of Ukrainian territory.

Moscow claimed last autumn to have annexed four regions in eastern and southern Ukraine as well as the Crimea peninsula, which it seized in 2014.

Read here: African leaders to meet Putin, Zelensky in a bid to resolve Ukraine crisis

Ukraine says its own peace plan, which envisages the withdrawal of Russian troops from all Ukrainian land, must be the basis for any settlement of the war.

The African delegation was due to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday before meeting Putin in St Petersburg on Saturday.
Ukraine plans to send "several dozen" combat pilots for training to fly U.S.-manufactured F-16 fighter jets, Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said on Friday, as western allies prepared the necessary training programmes. US air force F16 fighter jets fly in formation. (AFP)

"Everything is being done to get it started as early as possible," Ihnat told Ukrainian national television, adding that the pilots picked for training would have combat experience.

"It's not training, it's retraining," Ihnat said.

Ukraine, which has launched a long-awaited counter-offensive, has repeatedly said it needs new Western aircraft to successfully counter Russia's aerial dominance.

NATO members the Netherlands and Denmark are leading efforts by an international coalition to train pilots and support staff, maintain aircraft and ultimately supply F-16s to Ukraine.

Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren told Reuters this week that training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s could begin as soon as this summer.

She said the aim would be to have the training programme fully operational within six months. Denmark, where there are flight simulators, is a possible location to host the program.

A final decision has not yet been taken on a request from Kyiv to supply dozens of F-16s, Ollongren said. The U.S.-backed training program will include Belgium and Luxembourg, while France and Britain have offered assistance, she said.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The United States Treasury on Friday announced sanctions on a Mexico-based migrant-trafficking gang that supplied asylum seekers with false papers to game the process. The department said the gang charged migrants between $10,000 and $70,000 for package deals of travel to Mexico, fake documents and smuggling fees to enter the United States. (File)(Herika Martinez / AFP )

Known as the Hernandez Salas organization, the gang is based in the border city of Mexicali, across the border from Calexico, California.

Also Read | Mexico police find 45 bags with human body parts in ravine

Since at least 2018, the gang organized travel by migrants from countries posing national security concerns, the Treasury statement said, though it did not specify what countries those were.

However, the department did say the gang smuggled migrants into the United States from Russia, Eritrea, Yemen and Iran, among others.

The Treasury said in a statement that the criminal scheme hurts those who really need asylum protection.

The practice of human smuggling and the facilitation of fraudulent documentation undermines the U.S. asylum system, the statement said, damaging public confidence in the vetting process and jeopardizing access to protection for vulnerable persons fleeing conflict, famine, and persecution.

Also Read | Three killed, five wounded in New Mexico motorcycle rally shootout

The gang is allegedly run by a woman, Ofelia Hernandez Salas, with links to the Sinaloa drug cartel. The sanctions also applied to four associates and two hotels used to house migrants. Hernandez Salas is under arrest in Mexico and is awaiting extradition to face U.S. charges.

The department said the gang charged migrants between $10,000 and $70,000 for package deals of travel to Mexico, fake documents and smuggling fees to enter the United States.

The sanctions imposed by Treasurys Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) freeze assets of the companies and people in the United States. They also prohibit U.S. citizens and businesses from any transactions with the targeted entities.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
A US nuclear-powered submarine has arrived at a port in the South Korean city of Busan, the South Korean military said on Friday. In April, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President Joe Biden agreed in Washington to "further enhance the regular visibility of strategic assets" on the Korean Peninsula. (File)

It is the first time in nearly six years that a submarine classified as "SSGN" by the US Navy, or a cruise-missile submarine, has stopped off in South Korea.

The arrival comes after North Korea fired two short-range missiles off its east coast on Thursday and follows a failed attempt by Pyongyang to launch a spy satellite last month.

In April, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President Joe Biden agreed in Washington to "further enhance the regular visibility of strategic assets" on the Korean Peninsula.

The leaders also agreed that a US Navy nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) will visit South Korea for the first time since the 1980s to help demonstrate Washington's resolve to protect the country from a North Korean attack. There was no timetable given for such a visit.
You may have hoped that when China reopened and face-to-face contact resumed between politicians, diplomats and businesspeople, Sino-American tensions would ease in a flurry of dinners, summits and small talk. But the atmosphere in Beijing just now reveals that the worlds most important relationship has become more embittered and hostile than ever. PREMIUM Each side is following its own inexorable logic. America has adopted a policy of containment, although it declines to use that term. It sees an authoritarian China that has shifted from one-party to one-man rule.(afp)

In the halls of government Communist Party officials denounce what they see as Americas bullying. They say it is intent on beating China to death. Western diplomats describe an atmosphere laced with intimidation and paranoia. In the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, multinational executives attending the China Development Forum worried what a deeper decoupling would mean for their businesses. The only thing both sides agree on is that the best case is decades of estrangementand that the worst, of a war, is growing ever more likely.

Each side is following its own inexorable logic. America has adopted a policy of containment, although it declines to use that term. It sees an authoritarian China that has shifted from one-party to one-man rule. President Xi Jinping is likely to be in power for years and is hostile to the West, which he believes is in decline. At home he pursues a policy of repression that defies liberal values. He has broken promises to show restraint when projecting power outward, from Hong Kong to the Himalayas. His meeting with Vladimir Putin this month confirmed that his goal is to build an alternative world order that is friendlier to autocrats.

Faced with this, America is understandably accelerating its military containment of China in Asia, rejuvenating old alliances and creating new ones, such as the aukus pact with Australia and Britain. In commerce and technology America is enacting a tough and widening embargo on semiconductors and other goods. The goal is to slow Chinese innovation in order that the West can maintain its technological supremacy: why should America let its inventions be used to make a hostile regime more dangerous?

To Chinas leaders, this amounts to a scheme to cripple it. America, in their eyes, thinks it is exceptional. It will never accept that any country can be as powerful as itself, regardless of whether it is communist or a democracy. America will tolerate China only if it is submissive, a fat cat, not a tiger. Americas Asian military alliances mean that China feels it is being encircled within its own natural sphere of influence. Red lines agreed on in the 1970s, when the two countries re-established relations, such as those on Taiwan, are being trampled by ignorant and reckless American politicians. Chinas rulers think it only prudent to raise military spending.

In commerce, they view American containment as unfair. Why should a country whose gdp per head is 83% lower than Americas be deprived of vital technologies? Officials and businesspeople were appalled by the spectacle of TikTok, the subsidiary of a Chinese firm, being roasted in an American congressional hearing this month. Although some Chinese liberals dream of emigrating, even worldly, Western-educated technocrats now loyally condemn shows of wealth, promote self-reliance and explain why globalisation must serve Mr Xis political priorities.

Given two such entrenched and contradictory world-views, it is naive to think that more diplomacy alone can guarantee peace. A meeting in Bali between President Joe Biden and Mr Xi in November eased tensions, but the deeper logic of confrontation soon reasserted itself. The spy-balloon crisis (Chinese officials mock America for downing what they call a stray naughty balloon) showed how both leaders must appear tough at home. America wants China to adopt guardrails to control the rivalry, including hotlines and protocols on nuclear weapons, but China sees itself as the weaker party: why tie yourself down with rules set by your bully? Nothing suggests the hostilities will ease. Americas election in 2024 will show that China-bashing is a bipartisan sport. Mr Xi faces a slowing economy and has tied his legitimacy to a vision of a muscular and rejuvenated nation.

Faced with such an opponent, America and other open societies should adhere to three principles. The first is to limit economic decoupling, which the IMF reckons could cost anything between a manageable 0.2% of world gdp and an alarming 7%. Trade in non-sensitive sectors also helps maintain routine contact between thousands of firms, thereby narrowing the geopolitical divide. Embargoes should be saved for sensitive sectors or areas in which China has a chokehold because it is a monopoly supplier: these account for a minority of Sino-American trade. Where possible, businesses that straddle both sides of the cold war, such as TikTokaccused of spreading Chinese misinformationshould be ring-fenced, sold or spun off, not be forced to close.

The second principle is to lower the chances of war. Both sides are locked in a security dilemma in which it is rational to shore up your position, even as that makes the other side feel threatened. The West is right to seek military deterrence to meet a growing Chinese threatthe alternative is a collapse of the American-led order in Asia. But seeking military dominance around flashpoints, notably Taiwan, could spark accidents or clashes that spiral out of control. America should aim to deter a Chinese attack on Taiwan without provoking one. This will take wisdom and restraint from a generation of politicians in Washington and Beijing who, by contrast with the leaders of America and the Soviet Union in the 1950s, have no personal experience of the horrors of a world war.

The last principle is that America and its allies must resist the temptation to resort to tactics that make them more like their autocratic opponent. In this rivalry, liberal societies and free economies have big advantages: they are more likely to create innovations and wealth and to command legitimacy at home and abroad. If America sticks to its values of openness, equal treatment of all and the rule of law, it will find it easier to maintain the loyalty of its allies. America must be clear that its dispute is not with the Chinese people, but with Chinas government and the threat to peace and human rights that it poses. The 21st centurys defining contest is not just about weapons and chipsit is a struggle over values, too.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
President Xi Jinping told his "old friend" Bill Gates on Friday that China had always placed its hopes in the American people, after the Microsoft co-founder's foundation pledged $50 million to help Chinese efforts to battle disease. Bill Gates, left, meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.(AP)

Read here: Elite figures entangled in Epstein saga: Bill Gates, Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton face allegations

Gates -- one of the world's richest men -- is the latest in a string of Western business leaders to visit China since the country ended strict Covid controls that largely closed it off from the world for almost three years.

The visit is Gates' first to China in four years, and included a rare sit-down between the Chinese head of state and a foreign business leader.

"You are the first American friend I have met in Beijing this year," Xi told Gates in Beijing, according to the state-run People's Daily.

"We have always placed our hopes on the American people, and hoped for continued friendship between the peoples of the two countries," Xi added.

Gates, in turn, said he was "very honoured to have this chance to meet", according to a recording shared by state broadcaster CCTV.

"We've always had great conversations and we'll have a lot of important topics to discuss today," he said.

"I was very disappointed I couldn't come during these last four years, and so it's very exciting to be back."

A state media readout also quoted Gates as praising China's efforts in "tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, setting a good example for the world".

$50 million

The meeting comes ahead of an expected visit to China by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday, during which Beijing said the two countries "will exchange views on China-US relations and major international and regional issues of common interest".

Read here: After Tim Cook, China tries to revive foreign business interest with Bill Gates' visit

"China will state its position and concerns on China-US relations and resolutely safeguard its interests," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a regular briefing on Friday.

The tete-a-tete also follows an announcement by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on Thursday that it would give $50 million to support Chinese efforts to fight malaria and tuberculosis.

The foundation announced it would renew a collaboration with the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI) -- a Beijing-based group set up by Gates, the Beijing municipal government and Tsinghua University.

The $50 million will support "efforts to improve health outcomes worldwide through lifesaving therapies for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, which disproportionately affect the world's poorest", the Gates Foundation said in a statement.

On Thursday, Gates gave a speech at GHDDI, the Gates Foundation said, hailing China's efforts in eradicating malaria and poverty reduction.

"China has made significant gains reducing poverty and improving health outcomes within China," Gates said.

"I'm hopeful China can play an even bigger role in addressing the current challenges, particularly those facing African countries."

Gates last visited China in 2019, where he met with first lady Peng Liyuan to discuss his foundation's work in HIV/AIDS prevention.

During a visit to the country the previous year, he brandished a jar of human waste at a forum in Beijing in a bid to draw attention to the shortage of toilets in the developing world.

A string of American business leaders have visited China this year, talking up their optimism about its vast market and trade ties between the two economic powerhouses.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon visited China in recent weeks, as did Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who made his first trip there in more than three years.

Musk, who has extensive business interests in China, met senior officials in Beijing and visited Tesla's Gigafactory on the outskirts of Shanghai for a late-night meeting with staff.

Read here: Explosive blackmail unveiled! Jeffrey Epstein, Bill Gates' tangled web of secrets and a Russian bridge player

In March, Apple CEO Tim Cook visited Beijing, saying his company enjoyed a "symbiotic" relationship with China.
A union of hundreds of Starbucks outlets claimed that employees in 21 states have been briefed by their managers to abstain from decorating for pride month. On the contrary, the company denied this claim which, according to them, represented outlier resolutions by local leaders that did not mirror corporate policy. A customer returns her drink after the district manager removed pride flag. (USA Today screenshot/Twitter)

In a recent video, a Starbucks district manager took off a pride flag pinned on the building, which made a customer return her drink. You can have my drink, I only came here because of that support and I am not gonna drink it. She further showed her disappointment by mentioning, People were coming here to protest, so when I saw the flag up, I bought a drink but I would rather not drink it.

The Starbucks workers union took to Twitter to protest against no pride decoration. Subsequently, Starbucks refused to change any policies surrounding pride decoration.

This year, due to varied guidelines from the district manager, who possesses discretion over store decorations, Starbucks stores adopted different approaches. Damon Schnur, an employee at Starbucks, Ohio, said "We were instructed not to hang any of our Pride flags by order of our district manager claiming it is a company-wide thing.

An employee working in a Wisconsin outlet stated that the district manager notified him, "No store is allowed to have Pride decor anymore, as it doesn't fit Starbucks' current vision for appearance," and "Pride flags aren't welcoming to everyone and might be offensive."

In May, a few store managers raised questions regarding pride decor and requested clarity, in accordance with the company's workplace massage boards. The employees were asked to follow their market leaders direction in regard to store display.

The employees criticized Starbucks' initial denial of removing the pride decorations in stores. The company claimed that the removal of decoration was not part of any corporate policy change as it was a regional management choice. Andrew Trumbull, the Starbucks spokesperson, affirmed that We unwaveringly support the LGBTQIA2+ community. There has been no change to any policy on this matter and we continue to encourage our store leaders to celebrate with their communities including for US Pride month in June,

He further added, Were deeply concerned by false information that is being spread especially as it relates to our inclusive store environments, our company culture and the benefits we offer our partners. Starbucks has a history that includes more than four decades of recognizing and celebrating our diverse partners and customers  including year-round support for the LGBTQIA2+ community.

The union repelled Starbucks's denial and cited several reports of employees highlighting the issue surrounding pride decoration. Starbucks employees claimed that the new policy is different from the previous one for pride month as it permitted pride decoration. Starbucks has aligned its policy with Target, which removed pride merchandise as a response to criticism and threats received from far-right anti-LGBTQ+ groups.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has held a meeting with the Ambassador of India to Armenia Nilakshi Saha Sinha.

The Prime Minister congratulated the ambassador on assuming office and expressed hope that as a result of her active work the Armenian-Indian relations will continue to develop in various directions, the Prime Ministers Office said in a readout.

PM Pashinyan said that Armenia is eager to expand ties with India, including in the economy and culture.

At the same time, the Prime Minister also discussed the Azerbaijani border shooting targeting a metallurgical plant which is under construction involving foreign investments in the village of Yeraskh, which resulted in two Indian citizens involved in the construction works being wounded. The Prime Minister wished speedy recovery to the wounded construction workers.

Ambassador Nilakshi Saha Sinha thanked the Government of Armenia for the attention and care for the health condition of the two Indian nationals wounded in Yeraskh.

The PM and the Indian ambassador also discussed issues related to the expansion of business ties, IT, tourism, education and culture partnership. Organizing high-level mutual visits and strengthening of the close ties between the two countries was highlighted.
YEREVAN, JUNE 16, ARMENPRESS. During the meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia on June 16, Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopirkin was presented with Armenia's strong dissatisfaction with the incident involving Russian peacekeepers near the Hakari Bridge. The press secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Ani Badalyan, told ARMENPRESS, answering the question about the purpose of the visit of the Russian Ambassador to Armenia, Sergey Kopirkin, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"During the meeting with the Russian Ambassador at the Foreign Ministry today, Armenia's strong displeasure was presented with regard to the incident involving Russian peacekeepers near the Hakari bridge on June 15. It was called to take all the necessary steps to find out the circumstances of the incident and correct the situation," said Badalyan.

Earlier, the border guard service of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia reported that on June 15, around 08:40, a group of soldiers of the border guard service of Azerbaijan attempted to advance towards the Hakari bridge in order to raise a flag on the territory of the Republic of Armenia. It is noted that as a result of the measures taken by the Armenian side, the advance of Azerbaijani servicemen and the attempt to raise the flag on the territory of the Republic of Armenia was prevented.

In one of the videos spread on the Internet, it was seen how the Azerbaijani military, accompanied by the Russian peacekeepers, tried to raise the Azerbaijani flag on the Hakari bridge.
Travel + Leisure Co. (NYSE:TNL), the world's leading membership and leisure travel company, announced today that Amandine Robin will join the company as Chief Brand and Communications Officer, serving on the company's Executive Committee. In this new role, Ms. Robin will lead the company's brand, communications, and digital marketing programs as the organization executes on the expansion of its multi-brand strategy.

Ms. Robin spent the past 11 years at Pernod Ricard, the world's No. 1 premium wine and spirits organization, most recently as Chief Communications Officer for the North America region, serving on the company's executive team based in New York. Prior to that she worked for McCarthy Tetrault and GE Capital in Canada. She is an award-winning communications leader recognized internationally for her transformational communications programs. She will lead the Travel + Leisure Co. teams supporting the company's global brands, internal and external communications, digital marketing, social media, and consumer insights.

She earned a dual Bachelor of Commerce degree in Strategic Marketing and International Business from NEOMA Business School in France and the University of Ottawa in Canada, and completed the Pernod Ricard Executive Leadership Program at INSEAD. She served as a board member with Columbia University Maison Francaise and Keep America Beautiful, among other organizations.

Ms. Robin will be based at the company's global headquarters in Orlando, Fla.
Kimberly Virtuoso, who joined Fontainebleau Las Vegas in 2022 as Vice President of People, has been elevated to Senior Vice President of People. Mrs. Virtuoso is overseeing the resort's human resources strategy and recently launched the online recruitment portal that will lead to the hiring of thousands of future Fontainebleau Las Vegas employees - known as MEMBERS. Mrs. Virtuoso is a certified HR leader who previously served as Executive Director of Corporate Human Resources for MGM Resorts International. She is also an instructor in the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Continuing Education department.

Fontainebleau Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada

United States Website
Rosewood Hotel Group, one of the world's leading hotel companies, encompasses four brands: ultra-luxury Rosewood Hotels & Resorts in North America, Caribbean/Atlantic, Europe, the Middle East and Asia; contemporary deluxe New World Hotels & Resorts in China and Southeast Asia; neighbourhood lifestyle pentahotels in Europe and Asia; and KHOS, a dynamic global business lifestyle hotel brand. Its combined portfolio consists of 59 hotels in 18 countries. Rosewood Hotel Group is pursuing a thoughtful expansion strategy with a target of 120 hotels in operation by 2020.
Rendering of the Hotel JAL City Bangkok

Hotel JAL City Bangkok, the 16th property to operate under the Hotel JAL City brand, announced that the opening of the hotel, which had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will now take place on July 3rd, 2023.

Located on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkoks Thonglor tourist and business district and currently operating as Hotel Verve Bangkok, the property will be rebranded as Hotel JAL City Bangkok.

The hotel is now accepting bookings and offering special opening rates for One Harmony Members from THB 2,800++ for Standard Rooms, including complimentary breakfast for 2 persons, for stays from July 3rd to September 30th, 2023 that are booked by August 31st, 2023.

Hotel JAL City Bangkok is situated adjacent to Hotel Nikko Bangkok, which opened in January 2019. Thonglor BTS Skytrain station is just a three-minute walk away. Thonglor is an area extending north and south from Soi Sukhumvit 55, commonly known as Thonglor Road, in the Wattana district of central Bangkok. The area has long been home to many Japanese and other expatriates as well as wealthy Thais. The Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC) and Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), along with multinational restaurants, bars, community malls and international hospitals, are all nearby, making it a prime location for both business and leisure.

We are delighted to be able to announce the opening of the first Hotel JAL City property outside Japan, said Mr. Tadashi Kitahara, General Manager of Hotel Nikko Bangkok and Hotel JAL City Bangkok. We are expecting this to bring broader recognition of our hotel brand in Thailand and we aim to provide the renowned Japanese style omotenashi service, taking full advantage of the convenient and strategic location of the new hotel.

Advertisement



Hotel JAL City Bangkok comprises 324 chic and relaxing guest rooms, each with a standard area of around 28 square meters. In-room TVs offer 9 Japanese TV channels, including commercial channels. All bathrooms are equipped with bathtubs and toilets with washlets. J-Residence rooms, spacious 56-square meter rooms that are suitable for long stays, offer bathrooms with separate shower booths and a separate toilet. Guests will be able to use the swimming pool at the adjacent Hotel Nikko Bangkok for a fee.

Restaurant S-SEN on the second floor of the hotel will offer Asian, American and Japanese breakfasts from 5:30 a.m., for the convenience of guests departing early. Three meeting rooms offer a total space of more than 300 square meters.

Special promotional opening rates for One Harmony members. (a membership program that can be used at Okura Hotels & Resorts, Nikko Hotels International or Hotel JAL City)

 Standard rooms (28 sq. m.) THB 2,800++ per night  Premium standard rooms (28 sq. m.) THB 3,600++ per night  J-Residence rooms (56 sq. m.) THB 6,300++ per night

* These rates are available for stays from July 3rd to September 30th, 2023; bookings must be made by August 31st, 2023. * Only One Harmony members are eligible for these rates. * Inclusive of complimentary breakfast for up to 2 persons. * These offers are subject to availability and may be changed without notice. * Guests who stay at Premium standard rooms and J-Residence rooms are able to access to Fitness center and Swimming pool at Hotel Nikko Bangkok.
Azerbaijans actions once again confirm Armenias concerns that Azerbaijan is carrying out a policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno Karabakh, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on June 16.

June 16, 2023, 11:58 Azerbaijan has launched ethnic cleansing in Artsakh with total blockade, warns Armenian Prime Minister

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 16, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: The installation of an illegal checkpoint in the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan, the disruption of power and gas supply to Nagorno Karabakh, which is ongoing for six months, have extremely escalated the humanitarian situation in Nagorno Karabakh, and if Azerbaijan was ensuring some passage through Lachin Corridor last month for its propaganda purposes, through the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers, starting yesterday this passage was also shut down and even the supplies of essential food products to Nagorno Karabakh have been suspended. That is, Nagorno Karabakh has no food supply from the outside world. The passage of citizens requiring urgent medical treatment is also banned. These actions once again confirm our fears that Azerbaijan is carrying out a policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno Karabakh. However in this case this is no longer a fear but already the launch of actions. What is this if not ethnic cleansing? The food, gas, electricity supplies to the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh are cut off, farmers carrying out agricultural work are targeted with automatic gunfire, the possibility of movement is blocked even for critically-ill patients, Pashinyan said.

The Armenian Prime Minister said that Armenia should increase international awareness not only among governments and organizations, but also societies.

Pashinyan reiterated that dialogue between Baku and Stepanakert within the framework of international mechanisms is extremely important for ensuring the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh. We must hope that concrete steps will be taken in this direction, Pashinyan said.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping called Bill Gates "an old friend" and said he hoped they could carry out activities together beneficial to both China and the United States, in the Chinese president's first meeting with a foreign entrepreneur in years, Reuters reports.

June 16, 2023, 14:31 Chinas Xi Jinping holds meeting with Bill Gates in Beijing

STEPANAKERT, JUNE 16, ARTSAKHPRESS: In a meeting at Beijing's Diaoyutai state guesthouse, where China's leaders have historically received senior foreign guests, Xi told the Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist that he was very happy to see him after three years and described Gates as the first American friend he had met this year.

"I often say the foundation of US-China relations lies with its people. I place my hopes on the American people," Xi said.

"With the current global situation, we can carry out various activities beneficial to our two countries and people, activities that benefit humanity as a whole," he said.

Gates, who arrived in Beijing on Wednesday, told Xi that he was "honoured" to have the chance to meet. "We've always had great conversations and we'll have lot of important topics to discuss today. I was very disappointed I couldn't come during the last four years so it's very exciting to be back."

Xi stopped travelling abroad for nearly three years as China shut its borders during the pandemic and his international meetings since the reopening have mostly been with other state leaders. Plans for his meeting with Gates were first reported by Reuters.

The last reported meeting between Xi and Gates was in 2015, when they met on the sidelines of the Boao forum in Hainan province. In early 2020, Xi wrote a letter to Gates thanking him and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for pledging assistance to China, including $5 million for the country's fight against COVID-19.
Chicago, IL (60637)

Today

Cloudy skies this evening followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 68F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms overnight. Low 68F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
Click here for a Print Subscription with Online Digital included.

Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition.

If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Below you will see test that reads Print Subscribe Access. Click this to then Get Started attaching your account number and zip code to you online user account.

Click on the banner above if you would like to become a print subscriber with digital access.

If you simply want online access without print click get started below.
Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

Take your most birthday-obsessed friend (the one who does a birthday month instead of justa day) and multiply their vibes by a thousand. Cool, that is the energy King Charles is bringing to his 1st birthday as monarch, by which I mean hes throwing himself a massive parade.

To be fair to KingI Hate Leaky Pens Charles, Trooping the Colour is an annual tradition for Britains monarch and involves a bunch of soldiers, horses, and musicians getting together for a giant parade, which is watched by the King and members of the royal family from the Buckingham Palace balcony.

Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images

Prince Harry has been invited to every Trooping the Colour parade since he was old enough to attend, but this year, he appears to have been left off the guest list. Last week, royal expert Richard Eden wrote in the Daily Mail that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not been invited, which is the first time in Harrys life that he has not been welcome at the monarchs official birthday celebrations. A source also told Eden that the decision not to invite the Susssexes seemed to be a reflection of the state of relations at the moment.

Things only continued to go south as of this morning when it was confirmed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex didn't receive an invite to the yearly celebrationan especially huge blow, as it's the first time the event has taken place during the reign of Harry's father. Instead, Harry and Meghan will likely spend the day at their home in Montecito, California with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Btw, Harry was recently in the UK for a court hearing but reportedly didnt see his father, King Charles, or his brother, Prince William. Tensions between the family members appear to be at an all-time high following the publication of Harrys memoir, Spare, earlier this year, and to make matters more complicated, King Charles has evicted the Sussexes from their home in England, Frogmore Cottage. In other words, things area mess!

You Might Also Like
The news you need, when you need it, by the editors you trust. Get continuing news coverage and educational information on crops, livestock, soil health and other topics you select.
Subscribers to Register-Star or The Daily Mail are eligible to receive full access to HudsonValley360.

If you have an existing print subscription, please make sure your email address on file matches your HudsonValley360 account email.
Hudson, NY (12534)

Today

Some passing clouds. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Some passing clouds. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable.
Published: 16 Jun 2023 Share:





Celebrations get underway today (Fri 16 June) with the return of Heriot-Watts summer graduation programme for 2023 as the University ranks top in Scotland for employability.

More than 2000 students from around the world will collect their academic scrolls in the coming week at Heriot-Watts Edinburgh campus and in Galashiels having successfully overcome years of study and the unique challenges brought on by the pandemic.

Many of our students are already in employment in business, technology and governmental roles and others will soon enter employment, some for the first time. Professor Richard A. Williams, Principal and Vice-Chancellor at Heriot-Watt University

The ceremonies come as Heriot-Watt was ranked top university in Scotland and fourth in the UK for the employability of its graduates.

In the largest annual social survey conducted by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), it has been revealed that an impressive 85.4% of Heriot-Watt graduates secure full-time employment or pursue further study within just 15 months of graduation. This statistic underscores the remarkable success and employability of Heriot-Watt graduates, highlighting their ability to seamlessly transition into meaningful careers or continue their educational journey.

Professor Richard A. Williams, Principal and Vice-Chancellor at Heriot-Watt University, said: During our graduation programme, we celebrate not only the academic achievements of our students but also their own personal sense of purpose to impact our future world.

Our undergraduates, research doctoral and postgraduates are equipped to lead out and address the opportunities and challenges ahead with conviction, compassion, and with the spirit of continuous learning.

Many of our students are already in employment in business, technology and governmental roles and others will soon enter employment, some for the first time.

While they may leave the University today as graduates, they will forever be connected to Heriot-Watt through The Watt Club, joining around 152,000 members in 190 countries.

A total of 14 graduation ceremonies are lined-up, beginning at the Old Parish & St Pauls Church in Galashiels on Friday 16 June where students belonging to the School of Textiles and Design will receive their academic qualifications. Ceremonies will continue at the Universitys Edinburgh campus throughout next week for students from the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure & Society; the School of Engineering & Physical Sciences; the School of Social Sciences; and the School of Mathematical & Computer Sciences.

Sir Geoff Palmer, Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, added his congratulations, saying: I extend my heartfelt congratulations to each student and their friends and family. Graduations are a highlight of the year at this University and it is truly an honour to share in the joy of graduates as they leave Heriot-Watt with their new academic qualifications and towards a bright future.

As part of this years graduation programme, the University will welcome three new honorary graduates, representing medicine, mathematics, and music. Further information on each will be released on the Universitys website and social media accounts.

Graduation ceremonies are also planned for Heriot-Watts Dubai campus on July 4-5 and at the Malaysia campus on 9-10 July.
Four people have been indicted on charges of stealing from a Cayuga County retailer, with one facing a possible sentence of 15 years in prison for robbery.

District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci announced Thursday that Kahlila Bender Baker, Dathan Haynes, Tayonna Albert and Tavaris McLaurin, all of Syracuse, were indicted by a Cayuga County grand jury on one count of third-degree grand larceny.

The four are accused entering Kohls in the Town of Aurelius on June 11 and stealing more than $3,000 worth of merchandise. Bender Baker was additionally charged with second-degree robbery, a Class C violent felony, for allegedly forcibly stealing property while aided by another individual.

Haynes, Albert and McLaurin face a maximum prison sentence of 2 to 7 years. Bender Baker faces a 15-year determinate prison sentence followed by five years of post-release supervision.

All four were apprehended after leaving the store, the DA's office said, and the investigation was conducted by members of the New York State Police, with assistance from the Auburn Police Department.

The defendants will be brought before Cayuga County Court for the purposes of formal arraignment.
Syracuse Hancock International Airport will receive the largest share of more than $23.4 million in federal funding to improve airfield safety.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced the grants for 13 New York airports. Syracuse will get nearly $9.3 million to rehabilitate taxiway lighting.

"Syracuse Hancock International Airport proudly serves as the safe, secure and efficient gateway to central New York and beyond," said Jason Terreri, executive director of the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority. "We greatly appreciate the efforts of Senator Gillibrand, Senator Schumer and all congressional leaders who continue to advocate for funding to maintain critical airport infrastructure such as our taxiways."

The funding is provided through the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program.

Large and small New York airports were awarded grants. The Greater Binghamton Airport will receive $6.4 million for safety improvements. Long Island MacArthur Airport is getting $2.7 million to rehabilitate its terminal, while Buffalo-Niagara International Airport will receive nearly $1.5 million to update its master plan.

"From Buffalo to Binghamton to Syracuse to Long Island, our local airports are gateways to the world, and I am proud to deliver this $23-plus million in federal funding that will give New York travelers the modern facilities they deserve and to help our economies soar and reach new heights," Schumer said.

Gillibrand also highlighted how the funding will benefit New York airports. She visited Syracuse Hancock International Airport in January to announce a separate grant  $2.5 million to establish a centralized communications system within the airport.

"(Airports) need to be safe, modern and efficient in order to facilitate tourism and spur local economic growth, and that requires continued upgrades," Gillibrand said. "I'm proud to be delivering these funds and I'll keep fighting for resources to revitalize our airports."
This June, GCash, the Philippines' leading mobile wallet, joins the celebration of Pride Month by promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion not only within its work culture, but also through its accessible financial services.

GCash adheres to international goals such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in advocating gender equality while reducing workspace inequalities of all kinds, and to promote inclusive economic growth.

Product for All: Inclusive financial products

GCash, through GInsure, is an avenue for its partner insurance companies to support the mandate of the Insurance Commission (IC) to allow policyholders to designate their same-sex partners as beneficiaries for their plans.

With GInsure, same-sex couples can now have access to a wide selection of affordable insurance products from GCashs insurance partners namely FPG Insurance, Singlife, Sun Life, and Generali. These companies allow LGBTQIA+ couples to easily designate their partners as beneficiaries for their chosen insurance coverage.

All people  regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, must experience fair and equitable access to market opportunities. Thats why we at GCash have developed simple, affordable, and inclusive products, and work with like-minded partners that promote fair and non-discriminatory processes for users - breaking the stigma and bias against the LGBTQIA+ population, says GCash head of new business Winsley Bangit.

Aside from offering inclusive financial products for all, GCash also helps the community have equal and fair access to funding and loans through a suite of lending products such as GGives, GLoans, and GCredit.

These services have a non-discriminatory and easy application process as it only considers in-app behavior and approves eligibility regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, place of birth, family background, race, age, or ability.

Cultivating a diverse and inclusive work culture

More than just providing inclusive financial services, GCash also values the importance of embracing its employees' unique identities.

GCash upholds non-discriminatory policies which allow its employees to freely express themselves. This policy ensures all employees, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, are being treated fairly in work evaluation, and are given equal employment opportunities where everyone can advance into leadership positions and progress into their career path. The company follows a no-mandatory dress code per gender and requires employees, company-wide, to undergo a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training to further educate and empower each one to cultivate a safe space for all in and out of the company.

To strengthen the community spirit among its employees, GCash is also a proud member of the Philippine Financial & Inter-Industry Pride (PFIP)  a collaborative, voluntary, and non-profit community that serves as the leading voice and champion of LGBTQIA+ workplace inclusion in the Philippines.

GCash also conducts relevant and meaningful communities where employees can connect with like-minded peers such as GCash Pride Club, while encouraging the talent of the community through participation in Drag Events and the Pride Parade.

No one should experience prejudice as everyone deserves to have a voice and be treated fairly wherever they are. At GCash, we always make it a mission to foster inclusive work culture where different views, backgrounds, culture, and experiences are valued and nurtured. This is one of the companys ways to effectively address not only the needs of our consumers, but of the very people behind this amazing app. With the help of GCashs diverse team and leaders, we are on our way to make our Finance for All vision a reality, says GCash chief people officer Robert Gonzales.

Beyond the historic Pride Month, GCash continues to become a better ally to the community and remains firm in its mission to make Filipino lives better everyday, and transform the country into a more equal, diverse, and inclusive nation where everyone from all walks of life can work with pride, now more than ever.

GCash is one with the LGBTQIA+ community in the celebration of Pride Month as we all #WerkWithPride.

For more information about GCash and its advocacies, you may visit www.gcash.com or follow its official facebook page @gcashofficial.
Power Mac Center (PMC) is opening an exciting new location in Iloilo, and its ready to welcome Apple and non-Apple fans alike. Thats right! The launch of The Loop by Power Mac Center at SM City Iloilo on June 16, 2023 expands the product offerings to provide the premium digital lifestyle needs of more and more customers.

Opens new go-to hub for Apple and non-Apple devices and accessories

In its commitment to reach Filipinos all over the country and extend them the best experience, PMC created The Loop as a concept store that serves as the new generations digital playground. The products it carries cater to a wide range of personalities, moods, and styles, perfect for the trend-hunters and those who like going beyond the norm.

We opened a brand-new hub in Iloilo to be able to serve more tech enthusiasts in the city and neighboring areas. For all these store openings, our goal is to provide the tools that will help keep people stay connected, creative, and productive in the digital world. Were also bringing a lot of our partner premium brands to offer new and exciting products that make every trip to our store an experience in itself, said Joey Alvarez, PMC Director of Product Management and Marketing.

Customers can celebrate the new Iloilo store and take advantage of deals and promos on offer, including:

Up to P15,000 off on 13-inch MacBook Air M1

Up to P13,000 off on select iPhone models

P2,400 off on AirPods (2nd generation)

Up to 80% off on select Mac and iPad accessorie

Up to 20% off on participating brands when you purchase an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and/or AirPods

Up to 15% off on select Jabra products

Get Php 1,000 extra credit on your trade-in value when you trade in your current device

Terms and conditions apply. More promos and offers are coming soon.

The Loop by PMC SM City Iloilo at the 3L Cyberzone is the 102nd PMC location nationwide, counting Power Mac Center and The Loop stores, as well as Mobile Care Service Centers. It is the second PMC store in the province, following Power Mac Center in Festive Walk Mall.

Visit a Power Mac Center location near you and find more online by following PMC on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube and The Loop by PMC on Facebook and Instagram.
Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Ezra Miller has given their first public comments since being mired in a string of controversies and legal troubles.

The actor, who plays the lead role in DC superhero film The Flash, attended the films premiere on Monday (12 January) where, according to reports, they were given a rock star welcome.

Millers troubles began when a video surfaced on Twitter in 2020 that appeared to show the actor choking a woman at a bar in Reykjavik, Iceland. No charges were ever brought against Miller over the incident.

The actor was also accused of grooming and psychologically manipulating, physically intimidating and endangering the safety and welfare of 18-year-old indigenous activist Tokata Iron Eyes.

In an interview with The Independent, the teenagers father claimed Miller supplied them with alcohol, marijuana and LSD during their friendship, which dated back to when Iron Eyes was 12. Tokata Iron Eyes vehemently denied allegations that they were abused or groomed by the actor.

In May 2022, Miller was charged with alleged alcohol theft in the state of Vermont. Local police said in a statement that they had received a complaint that several bottles of alcohol had been stolen from an address in County Rd in Stamford on 1 May this year.

The actor, who uses they/them pronouns, issued an apology in August 2022, explaining that they had been suffering complex mental health issues.

According to Variety, Miller thanked the DC team  including James Gunn and Peter Safran, Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav and Warner Bros Film Group bosses Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy  for your grace and discernment and care in the context of my life.

Director Andy Muschietti and Ezra Miller at The Flash premiere (Getty Images)

The actor also thanked them for bringing this moment to fruition, seemingly addressing the films many delays amid a threat of a boycott by fans.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 6.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 6.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Speaking to director Andy Muschietti, Miller said: I love you, maestro. I think youre amazing, and I think your work is monumental.

It was Millers first professional appearance in almost two years.

Find The Independents review of DC supehero mash-up The Flash here, in which critic Clarisse Loughrey calls it a morally tricky film to enjoy due to Millers legal troubles.
Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Glenda Jackson is one of just a relatively small number of actors who have won two or more Oscars.

As of 2023, 44 Hollywood stars have won multiple trophies at the ceremony, with Katharine Hepburn leading the pack with four.

Jackson, who died on Thursday (15 June) aged 87, won twice for her roles in Ken Russells Women in Love (1970), and A Touch of Class (1973), which was directed by Melvin Frank

While several other stars have the honour of being two-time Oscar winners (Bette Davis, Renee Zellweger and Cate Blanchett to name a few), Jackson is the only one who didnt collect either award.

Once she received the golden trophies, she decided to give them to her mother, who found another use for them altogether. In 2021, Jackson told The Times that her mother used them as bookends.

Jackson said: It always sounds so ungrateful, and Im not, but once youve got it, what do you do with it?

She also said that getting a good part gave her more pleasure than receiving accolades for her work.

Glenda Jackson in A Touch of Class (AVCO Embassy Pictures)

Jacksons agent confirmed that the actor died at her home in Blackheath, London after a brief illness.

The actor, who also was a Labour MP, won a Bafta for Best Actress in 2020 for her role in Elizabeth Is Missing, which followed the story of a woman suffering from dementia.

She recently completed filming The Great Escaper, in which she co-starred with Michael Caine.

The film is inspired by true events, and tells the story of a Second World War veteran who escaped his home in Hove, east Sussex, to attend a commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France.

It marked the first time Jackson had acted alongside Caine since they starred together in The Romantic Englishwoman, 48 years ago.
Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny director James Mangold has explained why Shia LaBeouf will not be reprising his role as the titular archaeologists son, Mutt.

LaBeouf, 37, debuted the role in 2008s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull directed by Steven Spielberg.

Asked about LaBeoufs absence at the Dial of Destiny premiere this week, Mangold told Variety: I think the point I had was that when I came on, I wanted to capture that wonderful energy between Indy and an intrepid female character.

The franchises fifth instalment sees the new addition of Fleabag star Phoebe Waller-Bridge, 37, as Indianas goddaughter Helena who helps him on his new quest.

So that was my first goal, and theres only so many people you can edge into a picture, Mangold added.

The maligned fourth film in the Indiana Jones franchise, starring LaBeouf, was widely panned by critics.

At the end of the movie, it is heavily hinted that Mutt would be Indianas successor as the adventurers iconic hat is seen flying in the breeze and landing at Mutts feet.

Harrison Ford (left) and Shia LaBeouf in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Lucasfilm)

However, screenwriter David Koepp revealed in 2017 that LaBeouf would not be reprising his role.

LaBeouf criticized the production in a 2010 interview with the Los Angeles Times. He said that he dropped the ball on the legacy that people loved and cherished, and that Harrison Ford wasnt happy with the film either.

Ford, 80, later responded by calling his costar a f***ing idiot for making the comments.

In recent years, the Even Stevens star has been repeatedly mired in controversy.

The actor is currently fighting a legal battle over allegations of abuse made against him by his former partner, the musician known as FKA Twigs.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 6.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. 6.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free

Though he denied each of the allegations, LaBeouf admitted to being aggressive and mentioned his alcohol addiction, stating: Im not in any position to tell anyone how my behaviour made them feel. I have no excuses for my alcoholism or aggression, only rationalisations.

You can read a full breakdown of LaBeoufs career and controversies here.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is out in theatres on 30 June.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The house of a federal Indian minister was set on fire by a mob in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur that has been under the grip of widespread ethnic violence for over a month.

Indias minister of state for external affairs and education RK Ranjan Singh, who was in southern Kerala state at the time of the incident, called the violence absolutely inhuman. I am shocked. The law and order situation in Manipur has totally failed, Mr Singh told news agency ANI on Friday.

Violence in Manipur erupted between two communities on 3 May over demands to be included in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category for economic benefits and quotas in government jobs and education reserved for hill people.

Under Indian law, some government jobs, college admissions and electoral seats  from village councils to parliament  are reserved for communities under the ST category as a form of affirmative action to tackle historical structural inequality and discrimination.

The protests by the members of the mainly Hindu Meitei community that want to be designated as a Scheduled Tribe have culminated in widespread violence after clashes with people from the Kuki community who oppose their demand.

The Meiteis constitute about half of Manipurs population of 3.5 million, according to Indias last census conducted in 2011. They live in low lands around state capital Imphal.

The Kukis make up around 40 per cent of the population of the state and live in hilly areas. The community is recognised under the ST category and worry that it will lose control over ancestral forest lands if the Meitei demand is accepted.

Charred remains of official residence of Manipurs minister Nemcha Kipgen in Imphal, which was set ablaze by mob last evening during ongoing ethnic violence in Indias north-eastern Manipur state (AFP via Getty Images)

On Thursday night, at least three houses were gutted after they were set alight by a huge mob of around 1,200 people in Imphals Kongba area.

The mob, which came armed with petrol bombs, hurled them at the house of the federal minister, who is Meitei and overwhelmed security forces, officials said.

Visuals of the aftermath of the attack showed a part of Mr Singhs house completely destroyed by fire and cars burned down.

We couldnt prevent the incident as the mob was overwhelming and we couldnt control the situation. They threw petrol bombs coming in from all directions... from the bye lane behind the building and from the front entrance. So we simply couldnt control the mob, said escort commander L Dineshwor Singh.

A member of the Kuki tribe reacts as she takes part in a tribal solidarity protest against the alleged ethnic cleansing in Manipur state (EPA)

The attack by the violent protesters on Mr Singhs house forced the security personnel to fire in the air to disperse the mob.

I am currently in Kerala for official work. Thankfully, nobody got injured last night at my Imphal home. The miscreants came with petrol bombs and damage has been done to the ground floor and first floor of my home, Mr Singh said.

Chief minister N Biren Singh promised action against those involved in the violence and said the states governor had constituted a peace committee.

Nine people were killed, and incidents of arson were reported. This is very sad. The combing operation has started to find out the culprits. I assure the people of the state, we will definitely book the culprits as per the law of the land, he said.

The incident comes after nine people were killed and 10 others were injured when unidentified gunmen stormed into the village of Kamenlok, near Imphal, on Tuesday and opened indiscriminate fire.

No casualties were reported after arson in Kongba as abandoned houses were targeted.

Over 100 people have died and 310 have been left injured in the violence since last month, according to authorities.

More than 60,000 residents have been displaced since May as people fled their homes to escape the violence.

Civil society organisations from the Meitei and Kuki communities have said figures of casualties could be much higher, given the extent of the violence.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Japan has raised the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16 in a major overhaul of the sex crime laws in the country.

On Friday, Japanese lawmakers adopted the legislation which also clarifies rape prosecution requirements and makes upskirting and producing images of genitalia without consent crimes punishable under the new law.

According to Japan Times, the countrys age of consent has remained unchanged since its enactment in 1907 and is one of the lowest among developed nations.

In February this year, a justice ministry panel proposed raising the age of consent in Japan from 13 to 16 as part of a series of reforms to the sex crime laws.

Japans age of consent, to date, was the lowest among all G7 countries.

The reforms were spurred after several rape acquittals in 2019 caused massive outrage among the Japanese public which then sought changes to the law.

Earlier, it was reported that there are several regions in the country which have banned lewd acts with minors. However, they do not lead to harsh sentences and significantly lighter penalties than rape charges while also terming sex with children unethical conduct as opposed to a crime, Kazuna Kanajiri, an activist fighting against pornography and sexual exploitation was quoted as saying by AFP.

Now, under the new law, teenage couples no more than five years apart in age will be exempt from prosecution if both partners are over 13.

Many activists welcomed the new legislation but said that more needed to be done to protect children from becoming victims of sex crimes. It is still far from the reality of sex crimes and only really scratches the surface. I really hope that the laws will catch up to the reality imminently, Ikuko Ishida, founder of sexual violence survivors group Be Brave Japan told the Washington Post.

The very fact that the age of consent was set at 13 created the societal mood that teenagers starting at 13 can be exploited sexually and be viewed sexually, Hiroko Goto, a law professor and expert on sexual violence at Chiba University told WaPo.

It has created a culture and mood where everyone assumes that teenagers have the ability to make decisions around sexual consent, and therefore people dont question their sexual exploitation, she said.
 Close High tide and strong winds witnessed as Biparjoy approaches India coast

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A man and his son died in Indias Gujarat state as they attempted to save their livestock in the region hit by cyclone Biparjoy, officials said today.

The longest cyclone to have struck the Arabian Sea, Biparjoy knocked out power in nearly 1000 villages and threw shipping containers into the sea in western India before moving to Pakistan where lashing winds and rain are expected to strike a part struck by devastating floods last year.

The storm made landfall a night earlier, packing windspeeds of 85 kph (53 mph), gusting up to 105 kph (86 mph) through the coastal regions of western Indias Gujarat state. Pakistani authorities were on high alert after evacuating 82,000 people.

The eye of the cyclone, which was churning across the Arabian Sea for more than 10 days, was located around 20km southwest of Jakhau port, 120km northwest of Devbhumi Dwarka and 50 km west-southwest of Naliya, reported Press Trust of India.

Recent studies show cyclones in the Arabian Sea are getting stronger and wetter as the sea surface temperature increased by 1.2C to 1.4C in recent decades.
Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

An 11-year-old boy was among the three people killed by the massive tornado which tore through a Texas Panhandle town on Thursday.

Becky Randall, a woman in her 60s, was found in a print shop, and Cindy Bransgrove, a woman also in her 60s, was discovered in a food bank, Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard said.

The body of an 11-year-old boy, Matthew Ramirez, was found in a trailer park.

The twister hit Perryton, a town of around 8,000 people close to the Oklahoma border, on Thursday just after 5pm local time, leaving a quarter-mile trail of destruction according to the National Weather Service.

A mobile home park took a direct hit from the tornado, Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher said. In addition to the fatalities, up to 100 people are being treated for injuries ranging from minor to severe.

Ochiltree General Hospital in Perryton lost power in the tornado as the injured were brought in to be treated.

Debbie Beck, CFO of Ochiltree General Hospital, told ABC News on Thursday that the hospital was without power but managed to treat 50 to 100 patients for tornado-related injuries.

Patients had suffered head injuries to collapsed lungs, lacerations, broken bones, said Kelly Judice, the hospitals interim CEO.

At least one person remains missing in the town, according to emergency responders on Friday, who are scouring collapsed buildings. Dozens of homes and businesses had been destroyed or suffered damage.

More than 200,000 customers were without power in Texas on Friday afternoon, according to utility tracker Poweroutage.us. In Ochiltree County, home to Perryton, 91 per cent of customers have been cut off.

In a separate incident, another person died late on Thursday in the Florida Panhandle when a tornado ripped through Escambia County and downed a tree onto a home, The Associated Press reported.

The Lone Star State was pummeled by severe storms on Thursday. Storm chaser Brian Emfinger told Fox Weather that he watched the twister move through a mobile home park in Perryton, mangling trailers and uprooting trees.

Debris covers a residential area in Perryton, Texas (AP)

I had seen the tornado do some pretty serious destruction to the industrial part of town, he added.

Unfortunately, just west of there, there is just mobile home, after mobile home, after mobile home that is completely destroyed. There is significant damage.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced on Thursday that the state Division of Emergency Management would send resources to Perryton to assist in the response and recovery.

Storms also impacted neighboring Oklahoma later on Thursday including the metropolitan Oklahoma City area.

Large parts of the southwest are under extreme heat advisories this week with temperatures soaring well above 100F in Texas, Louisiana and Florida.
 Close Texas tornado captured crossing through Perryton by locals

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

An 11-year-old boy was among three people killed by the massive tornado which tore through a Texas Panhandle town on Thursday.

Becky Randall, a woman in her 60s, was found in a print shop, and Cindy Bransgrove, a woman also in her 60s, was discovered in a food bank, Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard said.

The body of an 11-year-old boy, Matthew Ramirez, was found in a trailer park.

The twister hit Perryton, a town of around 8,000 people close to the Oklahoma border, on Thursday around 5pm local time and left a mile-long trail of destruction, the National Weather Service reported.

A mobile home park took a direct hit from the tornado, Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher said. In addition to the fatalities, up to 100 people are being treated for injuries ranging from minor to severe.

More than 200,000 customers were without power in Texas on Friday afternoon, according to utility tracker Poweroutage.us. In Ochiltree County, home to Perryton, 91 per cent of customers were cut off.

In a separate incident, one person died late on Thursday in the Florida Panhandle when a tornado ripped through Escambia County and downed a tree on a home, The Associated Press reported.
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.

Great Wall Motor applies for "SPACEGPT" trademark

According to Chinese corporate database Tianyancha, Great Wall Motor has recently applied to register the "Great Wall Motor SPACEGPT" and "GWMSPACEGPT" trademarks, classified under transportation vehicles. The current status of the trademarks is "pending." It's worth noting that several other automakers have also applied for GPT-related trademarks, such as NIO's "NIOGPT," XPeng's "XPGPT," and Li Auto's "MindGPT."

AITO M5 intelligent driving edition delivered to first customers

At the 27th Guangdong-Hongkong-Macao Greater Bay Area International Auto Show, the first batch of the AITO M5 intelligent driving edition vehicles were handed over to their owners. Equipped with a roof-mounted LiDAR, three millimeter-wave radars, eleven high-definition cameras, and twelve ultrasonic radars, the M5 intelligent driving edition achieves advanced intelligent driving functions in both highways and urban areas, without relying on high-precision maps.

HOZON Auto scratches idea of off-roader SUV model

Zhang Yong, CEO of HOZON Auto, released via his Weibo account a picture of a rugged and futuristic-looking off-roader SUV model. The CEO explained that the rendered photo shows the design idea of the companys off-roader project, which has now been temporarily taken off the table.

Photo credit: Zhang Yong's Weibo

Ontime, Pony.ai partner with Shenzhen Qianhai authorities for autonomous ride-hailing pilot program

Ontime, the mobility service platform backed by GAC Group, and autonomous driving solution developer Pony.ai, have signed a cooperation framework agreement with the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone Management Bureau on June 16.

Chery Auto's 2023 OMODA 5 facelift hits market, starting at 79,900 yuan

Chery Auto officially launched the 2023 facelift of the OMODA 5, a global-oriented model, on June 15.

New Li L9 variant without roof-mounted LiDAR revealed in MIITs catalogue

Li Auto's new Li L9 model has been unveiled through the latest declaration images included in a catalogue released by Chinas Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

Li Auto's Beijing factory secures production qualifications

In the latest announcement by Chinas Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), "Beijing Li Auto Co., Ltd." appeared on the list, indicating that Li Auto's Beijing factory has obtained the production qualification for pure electric and extended range passenger vehicles.

Tesla China issues time-limit insurance, loan incentives for Model 3 RWD

On June 16, Tesla China announced via its official Sina Weibo account a limited-time incentive for the China-made Model 3, which is now available for immediate purchase.

U.S. chipmaker Micron to invest over 4.3 billion yuan in Xian packaging, testing factory

On June 16th, U.S.-based memory chipmaker Micron Technology Inc. (referred to as "Micron") announced its plans to invest over 4.3 billion yuan in its packaging and testing factory located in Xi'an city, Shaanxi province over the coming years.

IM Motors LS6 SUV included in MIITs catalogue

IM Motor's third model, the IM LS6, has made its appearance in the catalogue by Chinas Ministry of Industry and Information Technology ("MIIT").

TuSimple completes China's first fully unmanned public road test with autonomous heavy-duty trucks

On June 16, TuSimple, the autonomous driving solution provider, announced that it has achieved a significant milestone by successfully conducting China's first fully unmanned testing of autonomous heavy-duty trucks on public roads.

NIOs first touring model hits market worldwide

On June 15th, NIO, a leading name in Chinas electric vehicle industry, put its first touring model - the ET5 Touring, onto the market.
I met Glenda Jackson once. She had returned to the British stage at the age of 80 to play King Lear at the Old Vic, and the theatre had asked me to hold a Q&A session with her after the performance. Lear is a long play and this was a long production; I had been sternly warned that I mustnt overtire her and that the interview had to end after half an hour.

Yet from the moment she walked on stage, to endless applause, there was no stopping her. Her answers werent drawn-out, but they were detailed and full of insight. She more or less ignored my questions, talking about what she wanted to speak about and relishing taking questions from the audience. It was utterly riveting, so I just sat back and enjoyed it.

Stage management virtually had to drag us off-stage to get it to stop. The last I saw of Jackson, it was nearly midnight and she was still standing in the theatre lobby, talking animatedly, wrapped in a red coat, unlit cigarette in her hand.
Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

An Airbnb customer was left furious after being charged for leaving pet hair at a home rental, despite the listing for the property labelling it as pet friendly.

The angry guest, called Maddie, claimed the cottage stated that it allowed pets on the listing, and even checked her German Shepherd, Judge, in on the booking.

However, Maddie, who initially enjoyed her stay, took to social media to express her anger after the host demanded she pay an additional cleaning fee for leaving behind pet hair.

After challenging the host, Maddie was furious to discover the house was not pet-friendly after all.

The picturesque, three-bedroom property is listed as Travel Haus: Stunning Cottage in German Village and is based in Columbus, Ohio. The cottage currently has a 4.96 out of five star rating on Airbnb.

I hate Airbnb. I checked out and received a message from the host saying they have to charge me an additional cleaning fee because pets arent allowed, Maddie said on Twitter. Your listing literally says pets allowed. I even included my dog on the booking.

The disgruntled guest then proceeded to share her conversation with the host, whod messaged Maddie to say: Maddie, my cleaner is at the house and has informed me that you had a pet with you.

This house is not a pet-friendly home and will now require additional cleaning due to the amount of pet hair that was left behind before the next guest.

I need to charge you an additional cleaning.

(Jam Press)

(Jam Press)

(Jam Press)

However, the charge was ultimately waived after Maddie pointed out that the listing for the home had described it as pet-friendly. The listing was updated to state that it was not pet friendly after the host suggested the pet-friendly label had been wrongly placed on the listing.

The heated encounter has left many divided - with some backing Maddie, while others sided with the Airbnb host.

I mean she ultimately didnt charge you and now youre doxxing her business and left a really excessive amount of hair on her property, one person wrote, while another said: She clearly shouldnt be charging you. Some of these people do not know how to run a business and sometimes you have to eat certain fees if you want to get those longer bookings.

That being said, you didnt feel an urge to sweep up after the dog? Thats a lot of hair.

According to someone else, Maddie should have definitely said no to paying the fee.

Also, when you book with a pet included you dont see it but the rate is higher than it would be without a pet! Thats already built in! they wrote.

In a statement, an Airbnb spokesperson said: Our Community Support team had already assisted our host and guest to resolve this.

We understand this issue was due to a misunderstanding by the host, and they have since apologised to the guest who will not be charged for this.

As of now, the property has been changed to no pets.
Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Chris Hemsworth has expressed immense gratitude for his wife of 13 years, Elsa Pataky.

During an interview with British GQ, the 39-year-old actor spoke candidly about his partner, with whom he shares an 11-year-old daughter, India, and nine-year-old twins, Tristana and Sasha. He described some of the foundations of their relationship as he said that they both have the desire to have a good time, to laugh, and be involved in new adventures.

The Thor star also confessed that without his wife, he wouldnt have the personal or professional success that he currently has.

Her sacrifice, commitment, work, support, forgiveness  everything that she has given me over the years has been incredible, he said. I couldnt have done any of the things Ive done without it.

He noted how his life has moved so fast, before recalling a point in marriage where he ultimately felt closer to his wife.

We were having kids [at] the same time my career was taking off, same time we were getting married, same time we were getting to know each other, he said. It feels like we got to know each other halfway through our relationship, five, six years ago. In a beautiful way. Once our kids were out of nappies, things became a bit more manageable.

Hemsworth continued to explain how he felt like his life was on fast forward when his children were born. He said that after the release of Thor, he was constantly focused on his career, which was a feeling that didnt stop until the last couple years.

I was going from one film to another, didnt know if the phone was going to stop ringing, he said. Id spent so many years coming up thinking, Am I going to make it? And once it starts to roll youre like, I dont want to get off this train. This could be my one shot.

He noted that throughout the making of his 2022 series Limitless he realised that he needed to take a step back from acting.

All of these beautiful moments were rapidly flying past me, Hemsowrth continued. It made me just kind of want to wrap that show and get back and see my family. And I did.

The actors comments about his family come a few months after he and his wife made headlines as they shared a prank that they pulled on their twin sons birthday. To celebrate his kids ninth birthday in March, Hemsworth posted a photo of his family on Instagram, in which Pataky held her sons head down in a chocolate cake.

Despite the amused looks on Hemsworths and his two other childrens faces, the prank sparked mixed reactions from fans. In the comments section, some Instagram users said the stunt was just a bit of harmless fun, while others branded the move as ridiculous and violent.

The Marvel star and the Spanish actress first met in 2010 and got married that same year. The family of five soon relocated from Los Angeles to Australia, where they are currently living in the southeastern coastal town of Byron Bay in New South Wales.
Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A representative for Jamie Foxx has shut down conspiracy theories that the actors recent hospitalisation was due to the Covid-19 vaccine leaving him partially paralyzed and blind.

In a statement to NBC News, Foxxs representatives called the claims completely inaccurate.

The conspiracy theory began on 30 May, when Hollywood gossip columnist AJ Benza made the unsubstantiated claim on Ask Dr Drew, hosted by reality TV host Dr Drew Pinsky. During the podcast episode, Benza alleged that Foxx was forced to get the Covid-19 vaccine while he was working on a film, citing a source in the room with Foxx when he was hospitalised.

Benza claimed Foxx developed a blood clot in the brain after receiving the vaccine, which caused him at that point to be partially paralyzed and blind.

Despite Foxxs representatives refuting Benzas claims, it hasnt stopped far-right commentators from spreading the anti-vaccination conspiracy theory on the internet.

Political commentator Candace Owens peddled the theory on her YouTube-based podcast, where she has 1.67m subscribers, on 6 June. In the video, titled Whats Going On With Jamie Foxx?, Owens suggested there may be some veracity to Benzas claim because nobody in Foxxs family had denied it at the time.

Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk also weighed in on the claim, tweeting on 1 June that he was infuriated a decent person like Jamie Foxx fell victim to Big Pharma because a movie set is still dumb enough to mandate their cash cow clot shot.

Theres been much speculation surrounding Jamie Foxxs health after the 55-year-old actor was hospitalised in April following a medical complication. On 12 April, his daughter Corinne Foxx shared in a social media statement that the Django Unchained star experienced a medical complication yesterday.

Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery. We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers, she said. The family asks for privacy during this time.

Foxx was filming the forthcoming Netflix film Back in Action in Georgia when he was taken to a medical facility. Many rumours soon emerged about Foxxs health. While most reports suggested that the actor was recovering, one source told Radar that his friends and family were hoping for the best  but preparing for the worst.

On 3 May, Jamie Foxx broke his silence on social media when he thanked fans for their support. Appreciate all the love!!! Feeling blessed [prayer, heart and fox emoji], the actor shared on his Instagram Story.

Meanwhile, his daughter Corinne later rebuked claims that his family were preparing for the worst and revealed that the actor had been out of the hospital for weeks.

Update from the family: Sad to see how the media runs wild. My Dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating, she shared on her Instagram on 12 May. In fact, she continued, he was playing pickleball yesterday! Thanks for everyones prayers and support! We have an exciting work announcement coming next week too!
Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Marston Hefner, the son of late Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, has launched an OnlyFans to help fund his love for collecting Pokemon cards and comic books.

The 33-year-old Playboy scion referred to his OnlyFans career as a long-term avenue for further financial security in a new interview with Page Six. However, Hefner admitted that his wife Anna Lambropoulos isnt crazy about his new endeavour.

She would rather me not be on OnlyFans, but whats more important to her is me pursuing my dreams or my interests  taking risks, said Hefner, who identifies as bisexual af on his OnlyFans account. Hefner, who married Lambropoulos in August 2022, said he would support his wife if she ever wanted to join the platform.

If she wanted to do an open relationship, well talk about it, he said. If she wanted to do anything sexual, thats a conversation that we have no matter what, and we are always having it.

The couple is expecting their first child, according to the New York Post.

Marston Hefner, the third youngest of the late Playboy founders four children, explained how his unconventional upbringing at the Playboy Mansion allowed him to feel more open-minded about the sex work industry. I believe that theres nothing wrong with nudity or sexuality, he said. If people have sex and they make money from it, cool. If I end up doing it, cool.

Hefner added that growing up with Playboy [magazines] strewn around in the house helped him understand that nudity was a common thing.

The writer and collectors OnlyFans account is mostly reserved for Pokemon-related content, and he refrains from sharing videos that show himself having sex. However, some content on his OnlyFans has NSFW labels, such as crazy sexy undie dancing, strip tease, and butt plug play.

While Hefner didnt disclose how much money hes made off the subscription platform, he hinted that he would be able to afford a Pokemon trophy card before the end of the year from his OnlyFans earnings. Just last April, a rare Pokemon trophy card sold for $300,000 at auction.

Marston Hefner is the oldest son of former Playboy model Kimberley Conrad and Playboy editor-in-chief Hugh Hefner. His 31-year-old brother, Cooper Bradford Hefner, is the chief creative officer and chief of global partnerships at Playboy Enterprises. Hes married to Harry Potter actor Scarlett Byrne, and the couple share three children.

Their parents, Conrad and Hefner, were married in 1989 but divorced in 2010 after being separated for 11 years.

The late Playboy founder also has two older children from his first marriage to Mildred Williams, from 1949 to 1959. His son David Hefner, 67, is an entrepreneur, while his daughter Christie Hefner, 70, was chairman and CEO of Playboy Enterprises from 1988 to 2009. She went on to create the Hugh M Hefner First Amendment Award in honor of her father, and raised $30 million to build the CORE Center in Chicago, the first outpatient facility in the midwestern US for people with AIDS.

In 2012, Marston Hefner was arrested for allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend and Playboy Playmate, Claire Sinclair. He was sentenced to one year in a domestic-violence programme and ordered to stay away from Sinclair for three years.
Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Hans Zimmer made an unexpected grand gesture while onstage in London on Thursday night (15 June).

The Oscar-winning musician, 65, best known for composing the scores for hit films such as Dunkirk and The Dark Knight, was at Londons O2 arena for the Hans Zimmer Live show when he brought his partner on stage towards the end of the performance.

"Theres one more thing. So this is the woman I love, apparently she loves me, he told the audience.

Addressing his partner directly he said: Why did I bring you up here? I was going to ask you something really important. Did you lock the back door? Is the milk in the fridge? Do we have any sorbet in the freezer? Will you marry me?

The audience then rose to their feet, applauding the couple as they embraced, after she appeared to accept the proposal.

Zimmer added: Things are working out well, the backdoor is locked. Everything is good.

Ive got this one little number left. Its intimate in its insignificance but maybe not so insignificant and maybe I quite like it.

At this point, he began performing his song Time, which featured in the 2010 Christopher Nolan thriller Inception.

Zimmer played the piano for the piece as his partner, whose identity has not been confirmed, sat beside him.

Earlier in the night, the composer approached the audience and shared a hug and kiss with his partner. He later clarified that it was not just some random woman in the audience he was embracing, but his partner.

The show was a celebration of the composers work, and included pieces composed for films such as Gladiator, Pirates Of The Caribbean, Interstellar and the James Bond film No Time To Die.

At the show, he led his band and the Ukrainian Odessa Orchestra, while laser lights and beams lit up the concert arena.

Zimmer paid tribute to the Ukrainian orchestra during the show.

I would really to thank our orchestra because our orchestra is special, our orchestra is from Odessa in Ukraine, he said.

I think it takes enormous courage to sit here, smile at you, play without flaw for three hours while you do not know whats going on at home and everything is going on at home.

The musician has been nominated for 12 Oscars across his career, and has won two for best score  for the classic 1994 Disney film The Lion King, as well as the 2021 sci-fi film Dune, which also featured in the show.

The composer divorced his first wife model Vicki Carolin, with whom he has a daughter, in 1992.

In 2020, Zimmer reportedly filed for divorce from his second wife Suzanne, with whom he shares three children.

With additional reporting from PA.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A survivor of the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre said Wednesday that she saw her right arm get blown open in two places by a gunman and cried Mommy after her 97-year-old mother was shot and killed next to her in the nations deadliest attack on Jewish people.

Andrea Wedner was expected to be the governments last witness as prosecutors wrap up their case against Robert Bowers, who burst into the Tree of Life synagogue building with a military-style rifle and other weaponry and opened fire, shooting anyone he could find.

Bowers killed 11 worshippers and injured seven others, including five police officers, in the 2018 attack. The 50-year-old truck driver is charged with 63 criminal counts, including hate crimes resulting in death and the obstruction of the free exercise of religion resulting in death. Some of the charges carry a potential death sentence.

Wedner told jurors that Sabbath services had started five or 10 minutes earlier when she heard a crashing sound in the building's lobby, followed by gunfire. She said her mother, Rose Mallinger, asked her, What do we do?

Wedner said she had a clear memory of the gunman and his rifle.

We were filled with terror -- it was indescribable. We thought we were going to die, she said.

Wedner called 911 and was on the line when she and her mother were shot. She testified she checked her mothers pulse and realized, I knew she wouldnt survive. As SWAT officers entered the chapel, Wedner said, she kissed her fingers and touched them to her dead mother, cried Mommy, and stepped over another victim on her way out. She said she was the sole survivor in that section of the synagogue.

Her harrowing testimony capped a prosecution case in which other survivors also testified about the terror they felt that day, police officers recounted how they exchanged gunfire with Bowers and finally neutralized him, and jurors heard about Bowers' toxic online presence in which he praised Hitler, espoused white supremacy and ranted incessantly against Jews.

The defense has acknowledged that Bowers was the gunman, but suggests he acted not out of religious hatred but rather a delusional belief that Jews were enabling genocide by helping immigrants settle in the United States.

Also testifying Wednesday was Pittsburgh SWAT Officer Timothy Matson, who was critically wounded while responding to the rampage.

He told jurors that he and another officer broke down the door to the darkened room where Bowers had holed up and was immediately knocked off his feet by blasts from Bowers' gun. Matson, who stands 6 foot 4 and weighed 310 pounds at the time of the shooting, said he made his way to the stairs and was placed on a stretcher, and remembers thinking, I must be in bad shape.

Matson was shot seven times, including in the head, knee, shin and elbow, and has endured 25 surgeries to repair the damage, but he testified he would go through the door again.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A public process started Thursday to reshape the way Colorado River water is distributed, with federal officials promising to collect comments about updating and enacting rules in 2027 to continue providing hydropower, drinking water and irrigation to farms, cities and tribes in seven Western U.S. states and Mexico.

The U.S. Interior Department said it will publish in the Federal Register on Friday a call for replacing guidelines that expire in 2026, including pacts enacted in 2007 for states to share cutbacks in water drawn from a river diminished by drought and climate change, as well as operating plans for the key Lake Powell and Lake Mead reservoirs. An agreement between the United States and Mexico on use of Colorado River water also is set to expire at that time.

The department's U.S. Bureau of Reclamation promised a robust and transparent public process beginning with online virtual public meetings July 17, July 18 and July 24. It set an Aug. 15 deadline for receipt of public comments on "specific operational guidelines, strategies and any other issues that should be considered.

The result is expected to guide federal management of the dams that control the flow of the river throughout the Colorado River Basin, from the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California.

The 1,450-mile (2,334-kilometer) river is a crucial supplier of power and water for more than 40 million people in cities including Denver, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, San Diego, Los Angeles and Phoenix. However, agriculture uses the most water, including farms in the arid Imperial Valley area of California and Yuma County in Arizona that produce many of the nation's winter vegetables.

As we look toward the next several years across the Basin, the new set of operating guidelines for Lake Powell and Lake Mead will be developed collaboratively based on the best-available science, Deputy Interior Secretary Tommy Beaudreau said in a statement.

The Basin is currently facing an historic drought, driven by climate change, that is increasing the likelihood of warming temperatures and continued low-runoff conditions, and therefore reduced water availability, across the region, the statement said.

Agreements that date back to 1922 and involve the federal government and the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming promise more water to users than the river holds. Native American tribes along the river argue that they have not been involved in water-use decisions.

The Bureau of Reclamation is committed to ensuring we have the tools and strategies in place to help guide the next era of the Colorado River Basin, especially in the face of continued drought conditions, bureau Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton said.

The announcement is separate from a breakthrough interim agreement announced last month by water administrators from Arizona, Nevada and California to cut their combined use of the dwindling Colorado River in exchange for funding from the U.S. government, and to avoid letting the federal government decide and impose cuts.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- Ontime, the mobility service platform backed by GAC Group, and autonomous driving solution developer Pony.ai, have signed a cooperation framework agreement with the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone Management Bureau on June 16.

Signing ceremony; photo credit: Ontime

The three parties will collaborate on a pilot program for commercial autonomous ride-hailing operations in the Qianhai Cooperation Zone, aiming to provide citizens with safe, convenient, green, and technological travel services, while jointly promoting the high-quality development of Shenzhen's intelligent connected vehicle industry.

According to the agreement, the three parties will jointly implement a globally significant pilot project for fully unmanned autonomous driving commercial operations within the Qianhai Cooperation Zone. The operational scope will cover areas such as cultural and tourist attractions, business CBD districts, exhibition centers, airports, etc., in the core area of Qianhai.

Ontime Robotaxi; photo credit: Ontime

As the smart mobility platform under GAC Group, Ontime, with the support of the Qianhai Cooperation Zone, will collaborate with Pony.ai to establish a professional operational team. They will explore a multi-party collaborative operation model for commercialization and provide autonomous ride-hailing services to Qianhai residents.

By focusing on management systems, division of responsibilities, human resources, operational services, and safety supervision, they will enhance the operational capabilities of autonomous ride-hailing services. This partnership aims to accumulate operational experience for the large-scale application of autonomous driving.

Additionally, the three parties will strive to establish a comprehensive coordination mechanism across departments, industries, and domains, supporting the formulation and improvement of Shenzhen's intelligent connected vehicle standards. The trio will facilitate exchanges and cooperation between the intelligent connected vehicle industries in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, promote technology innovation and business model sharing.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Sir Ben Okri says to be honoured means helping the human race to be better and more civilised after being made a Knight Bachelor.

The renowned Nigerian-born writer and cultural activist, considered to be one of the foremost African authors in the post-modern and post-colonial traditions, said he was delighted by the honour.

His best-known work includes The Famished Road novel trilogy, the first of which  The Famished Road  won the Booker Prize in 1991.

Sir Ben has been made Knight Bachelor in the Kings Birthday honours for services to literature, having previously been made OBE in 2001.

Im delighted to be given this honour. I think of the illustrious writers who have preceded me and the gifted writers to come, he said, in a statement shared with the PA news agency.

The writer does not write for honours but for truth, the mysterious truth of the human condition.

For me the main value of this honour at this moment is necessity to remind my fellow human beings that we are living on the cusp of a world wide environmental crisis.

If we dont do something radical about it now, within ten years nothing will be the same.

Art is a reminder that the human destiny has to go upwards. This is the moment to reverse our backward thinking and create a new future.

If being honoured means anything it means helping the human race to be better, more civilised, more beautiful.

Sir Ben was born in Nigeria and came to England as a child, growing up in London, but later returned to his home country with his parents on the eve of the Nigerian Civil War  which had a defining impact on his life.

Originally set for a career as a scientist, he found his true vocation in writing and began producing poetry and articles about the living conditions in the slums of Lagos.

Art is a reminder that the human destiny has to go upwards. This is the moment to reverse our backward thinking and create a new future. If being honoured means anything it means helping the human race to be better, more civilised, more beautiful. Sir Ben Okri

He then turned his hand to short stories and eventually what was to become his first novel, Flowers And Shadows in 1980, two years after he returned to London.

Over the next decade, despite a period of homelessness, he wrote a second novel and two collections of short stories.

His most well-known and successful novel, The Famished Road, was published in 1991 and was awarded the prestigious Booker Prize.

The book was the first Booker Prize winner to go straight to number one in the paperback bestseller lists and has been highly influential in the decades since its release.

The Famished Road is the first book in The Famished Road Trilogy, which also includes Songs of Enchantment and Infinite Riches.

Despite his success as a novelist, Sir Ben thinks of himself primarily as a poet having produced multiple collections.

In 2009 he invented a new form called a Stoku, a cross between a short story and Haiku, which first displayed in his book Tales of Freedom, now re-titled The Comic Destiny.

Sir Ben is also an influential essayist and has written multiple film scripts and plays.

He was a Fellow Commoner in creative arts at Trinity College, Cambridge from 2001 to 2003 and is an honorary Fellow at Mansfield College, Oxford.

In 2019, Sir Bens novel Astonishing the Gods, first published in 1995, was selected as one of the BBCs 100 novels that shaped our world.

Other writers to be recognised on the Kings birthday honours list include William Dalrymple and Sally Magnusson.

Historian, author and art curator Dalrymple was made CBE for services to literature and the arts.

Broadcaster and author Magnusson was made an MBE for services to people with dementia and their carers.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Labour and Conservative former ministers along with two prominent Tory backbenchers are among the politicians recognised in the Kings Birthday Honours for public service.

Sir Ben Bradshaw, who served in both Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Browns governments and was only the second MP to be openly gay when elected in 1997, is receiving a knighthood.

Long-serving Tory MPs John Baron and Bob Blackman are both made CBEs, while Conservative former ministers Damian Collins and Heather Wheeler become OBEs.

Sir Ben said he had questioned whether to accept the award in light of the recent controversy surrounding Boris Johnsons resignation honours list but viewed it as a thank-you to all those who supported him over the years.

My late dad would have been very proud. My mum would have laughed very loudly Sir Ben Bradshaw MP

The Exeter MP told the PA news agency: I wasnt sure about accepting it because of doubts about the honour system, and particularly in the light of recent events.

But also the fact that there are many unsung heroes and heroines in my constituency far more worthy of recognition.

But I guess I then thought, well, my late dad would have been very proud. My mum would have laughed very loudly.

So in their memory and on behalf of all the people whove supported me in my public and private lives over many, many years, Id like this to be seen as a thank-you to them really, because without them I couldnt have done the job.

Sir Ben, who faced homophobic abuse when he was first elected 26 years ago, also issued a stark warning that LGBTQ+ rights are at risk of going backwards.

He said a highlight of his parliamentary career, which saw him serving a number of ministerial roles including as culture secretary in 2009-10, was the fantastic progress made on LGBTQ+ equality during Sir Tony Blairs government.

But he said it feels like things have come full circle with the moral panic thats being stoked against trans people today.

He added: The LGBTQ+ community and their allies and the overwhelming majority of the British people who support equality, we must all redouble our efforts to ensure that hard-won rights and freedoms are not reversed.

Sir Ben, 62, who is stepping down as an MP at the next general election, also paid tribute to the people he has represented in Parliament for over a quarter of a century.

I consider myself incredibly lucky to have served such a fantastic constituency as Exeter, which must be the nicest constituency in the country.

On his plans for post-MP life, Sir Ben said he will move to a smallholding in Sicily and improve the productivity of my olive trees.

Mr Baron, who has been MP for Basildon and Billericay since 2001, said he was elated and surprised to learn of his award.

I was elated and surprised in the sense that I wasnt expecting it. You dont come into this job expecting anything, you come in to serve, he said.

Mr Baron, who has not always toed the party line on foreign policy matters in the past, said the highlight and challenge of his career has been to serve as a lone voice on interventions.

He left Iain Duncan Smiths shadow cabinet in 2003 in protest over the leaders support of the Iraq war and later led calls to prevent UK military action in Syria under David Cameron.

If you vote as you see matters then you dont always expect to be applauded by your own side, he said. But overall in 22 years of service, Im reflecting and thinking Im pleased I did it. Even if it hasnt always been a smooth ride and you havent always won all the battles you would like to have done  thats life isnt it?

An arch Brexit supporter, Mr Baron said he was delighted to have been instrumental in pushing in 2013-14 for the vote on the EU referendum, a time which he describes as an active period in his career.

But his priority will continue to be his constituents, he said. Ive always put my constituency first and last. You start and finish there, literally. Im focusing on my day job.

Mr Baron, 63, said a small minority within his party questioning the damning parliamentary report that found Mr Johnson lied to MPs would not distract him from his job.

He will be supporting the Privileges Committees findings if they come to a vote on Monday, he confirmed.

I think no individual or indeed party is bigger than Parliament and we must maintain the integrity of Parliament, he told PA.

Mr Baron had already concluded that Mr Johnson had misled MPs over partygate, he said, adding: You cannot allow that to happen, otherwise were on a very slippery slope. Im a parliamentarian first and last, and the integrity of Parliament and its standing  were very lucky to have the political system we have in this country.

Fellow Tory Mr Blackman said Friday would be a double celebration of both his award and the third reading of his Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Private Members Bill, which targets landlords providing poor support to vulnerable residents, in the House of Lords.

I think there might be a bit of alcohol involved  not too much  and a good dinner, the Harrow East MP told PA.

Mr Blackmans first Private Members Bill  the Homelessness Reduction Act  marks his proudest moment in Parliament, he said.

It meant that vulnerable people who are threatened with becoming homeless had to be assisted by local authorities, he said.

Im highly delighted, and pleased for my wife as well because she stood by me throughout all these many years, Mr Blackman, 67, said of receiving a CBE.

In a nod to the controversy over Boris Johnsons resignation appointments list, he added: Im pleased that it is the Kings Birthday Honours rather than any resignation honours.

Ms Wheeler, who served in both Theresa May and Boris Johnsons governments including as an assistant whip, said she was delighted to be recognised.

I dont think anyone in my family has ever had an OBE before, she said.

She said serving constituents in the brilliant seat of South Derbyshire and working so closely with our town councillors and the community had been the privilege of her career.

I love it, Ms Wheeler said.

Ms Wheeler paid tribute to those she had worked alongside, saying the honour reflects their efforts as well as her own.

On her parliamentary career, she said being at the heart of everything while parliamentary secretary in the Cabinet Office, along with her work in the Whips Office, were highlights.

I must be one of the few people Boris has sacked twice and brought back twice, she joked.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A betting companys algorithm that was supposed to identify customers at risk of harm failed to see red flags in the behaviour of a gambling addict who went on to take his own life, an economist has told an inquest.

Luke Ashton, 40, had become consumed by gambling and had lost thousands of pounds in the months before he died on April 22 2021, with his activity on betting website Betfair spiking.

On Wednesday, a hearing at the coroners office for Leicester and South Leicestershire was told Mr Ashton, from Leicester, had been gambling more than 100 times a day, including early in the morning and late at night when his wife Annie was asleep.

On Friday, economist and gambling expert Professor David Forrest, who completed a report for the inquest, said he believed Betfair  an operator that Mr Ashton had been a customer with since 2012  had failed to identify that he was at risk of harm.

Despite what Professor Forrest described as red flags in Mr Ashtons betting activity, including the number and frequency of his bets and the increasing amount of money he was depositing and losing, Betfairs machine-learning algorithm that is run every day to analyse the behaviour of its customers did not identify him as being at risk.

At the hearing on Thursday, Richard Clarke, managing director at Betfairs parent company Flutter with responsibilities for customer experience and customer relations, said it was clear the firm could have done more at the time.

If the model had flagged Mr Ashton as being at risk, a number of further steps could have been taken, including a phone assessment to discuss his behaviour and betting patterns or a forced ban on his account.

Instead, Mr Ashton was deemed a low risk and as such, only had automated awareness emails sent to him.

The emails, of which eight had been sent to Mr Ashton over the period being examined by the coroner, would ask him to consider things like how much time he spent on the Betfair site and whether he wanted to take a time out.

Professor Forrest determined Betfair should have taken stronger action based on the evolution of his betting.

He told the hearing, which has been attended every day by Mr Ashtons wife and other family members, that he was very surprised the activity had not been picked up by Betfairs algorithm.

He said there had been a clear escalation in Mr Ashtons betting activity in February 2021 and in March, he was putting down substantially larger bets and there was evidence he was trying to chase his losses.

On March 5 2021, there was reasons to believe Mr Ashton had lost control with excessive time spent and higher bets.

At the end of March, Betfair sent Mr Ashton another automated email asking him if he wanted to take a time out, despite there being days when he would place more than 100 bets.

Professor Forrest said these interventions had been weak and suggested if a human had been involved in the risk-identifying process, rather than relying on an algorithm, more appropriate steps may have been taken to protect Mr Ashton.

He said: There could have been an option to discuss self-exclusion over the phone, to get some background on what was happening as he may have been experiencing harm, or a forced exclusion.

He said Betfair had not been significantly curious about its customers background or behaviour and that the threshold for identifying harm was too high.

Representing Flutter, Philip Kolvin KC said lowering the threshold could have placed an unmanageable load on the company and would have resulted in a number of false positives and negatives.

Betfair says it is confident the company complied with the rules and the regulatory framework in place at the time, but accepted that changes have now been made that would prevent a customer in Mr Ashtons circumstances from being able to repeat the same pattern of betting.

It was confirmed at the end of Fridays hearing that Mr Ashton died as a result of hanging. The day before he was found dead, he had sent a message to his wife saying the company he was doing part-time delivery work for had asked him to go to Scotland and he needed to turn his phone off to save battery.

The next day, Mrs Ashton reported him missing to the police and his colleagues confirmed he had not been asked to go to Scotland.

His phone was tracked to an AirBnB flat he had rented in South Yorkshire where his body was found.

The inquest was due to finish on Friday but due to schedule delays, will continue on a date that has yet to be decided.

 Anyone who needs support can call Samaritans free of charge on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Rishi Sunak is still agonising over the investigation that found Boris Johnson lied to MPs with his partygate denials as the former prime ministers allies attacked the damning report.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister will study the report closely but Downing Street was refusing to say whether he will vote to approve it in the Commons on Monday.

The Privileges Committee report recommended that Mr Johnson should have faced a 90-day suspension had he not already resigned in advance of its judgment.

Though he cannot now serve that, the cross-party group of MPs also recommended that he should be banned from holding a pass to access Parliament for a series of offences.

Tory MPs will be given a free vote, but allies of Mr Johnson warned they could face battles with their local parties to remain as candidates at the next election if they back the motion.

However, Mr Johnson was privately urging his supporters not to oppose it, arguing the sanctions has no practical effect. He was aware that he would get his pass back if re-elected as an MP.

Mr Sunak will be wary of angering his predecessors remaining fanbase in the Tory party, but will also want to avoid allegations that he is too weak to stand up to Mr Johnson.

Senior Conservative MP Damian Green told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that deliberately abstaining is not really rising to the importance of the occasion.

The former de facto deputy prime minister said he intends to vote to approve the report with a heavy heart.

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former Cabinet minister who is a staunch ally of Mr Johnson, told LBC he believes Mr Sunak will abstain on the basis that it is a parliamentary matter.

He described the 90-day recommendation for Mr Johnson as vindictive and suggested the severity may have helped his return, rather than hindered it.

Liz Truss, who spent 49 days in No 10 after succeeding Mr Johnson as Tory leader, told GB News that preventing him holding a parliamentary pass would be a very harsh decision.

But she is not expected to vote on the report, with a source close to the MP pointing to her speaking at an event in Dublin on Monday morning.

Sir Jake Berry, a former Tory party chairman who is a close ally of Mr Johnson, conceded he was almost certain that Parliament will vote in favour of the report.

But he told ITVs Good Morning Britain he will certainly be one of those in the no lobby opposing this report, because I think both the conclusions and, to some extent, the way the committee was made up in terms of this report are wrong.

Despite the Privilege Committees report being published early on Thursday, Downing Street said Mr Sunak hasnt fully had time to consider the report.

The Prime Minister takes these processes very seriously, which is why he intends to take the time to study the report closely, a spokesman added.

The sanctions proposed by the Tory-majority committee are expected to pass, with only a relatively small group of Johnson loyalists set to oppose the reports findings.

Mr Sunak will be hosting a foreign leader in No 10 on Monday, which could give him an excuse not to take part.

After an erudite new columnist who will be required reading in Westminster was billed to begin in the Daily Mail on Saturday, the PA news agency was told it will be Mr Johnson, as widely anticipated.

The role will give Mr Johnson, who used to receive a 275,000 salary to write for the Telegraph, a powerful platform to take shots at the Prime Minister with whom he has been publicly clashing.

But Mr Johnson could again find himself under scrutiny, if confirmed, after the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) said he had not applied for clearance.

Former ministers who have left the Government in the last two years must apply to the anti-corruption watchdog before taking up a new appointment or role.

Chairman Lord Eric Pickles, a Tory peer, will be writing to Mr Johnson to seek clarification on whether he is taking the job.

An Acoba spokeswoman told PA: We havent had an application and we will be writing to Mr Johnson.

A source close to Mr Johnson insisted he had written to the committee, but would not say when the letter was sent.

Mr Johnsons exit from Parliament has also left Mr Sunak facing a tricky by-election in Uxbridge and South Ruislip on July 20, with Labour hopeful of gaining the west London seat.

Another by-election on the same date, triggered by Tory Nigel Adams who was denied a peerage in Mr Johnsons resignation honours list, will take place in Selby and Ainsty.

Former Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries, who had also announced she was going to resign, is staying on while she seeks to investigate how she was denied a seat in the Lords as part of the former prime ministers honours list.

She warned that any Tory MPs who endorsed the Privileges Committees report on Monday were not true Conservatives and would be held to account by members and the public.

Deselections may follow. Its serious, she said.

The committee found Mr Johnson deliberately misled the House with his partygate denials before being complicit in a campaign of abuse and intimidation against the MPs investigating him.

Branding him the first former prime minister to have ever lied to the Commons, the Privileges Committee said the offences merited a 90-day suspension which would have paved the way for a by-election if he had not preemptively resigned in protest.

Mr Johnson was furious at what he called a deranged conclusion, claiming the 14-month investigation had delivered what is intended to be the final knife-thrust in a protracted political assassination.

The committee, comprised of four Tories, two Labour MPs, and one from the SNP, found many aspects of Mr Johnsons defence were not credible, allowing them to conclude he intended to mislead MPs.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A 93-year-old school crossing patrol officer in Northern Ireland who has been awarded the British Empire Medal has said she has no intention of retiring.

Veronica Hammersley said she was so shocked when she received the letter informing her of the honour that she originally thought it was a scam.

Mrs Hammersley, who has been helping children cross the road at Glengormley Integrated Primary School for 32 years, is recognised for her services to the community.

She said she continues to do the job because she loves the children and they love me.

She told the PA news agency: I love my job, I really do enjoy it.

Ive never really regretted getting up in the morning to come to work.

You get the feeling that you are not wasting your day or your time. Each day when the children say thank you for helping them across the road, you appreciate that.

When you get a little three-year-old boy bringing you a paper bag with a bun in it for my tea, when you go home you really feel that they love you.

I do get great pleasure out of it. Look at the people you meet every day Veronica Hammersley

Children are sensitive and they do understand a lot more than you think. They would say if they like you or they didnt like you, but all my little ones, I love them and they love me.

Mrs Hammersley retired early from her first career in the civil service when her husband was diagnosed with cancer. After he died, she decided to look for a new job.

She said: I had worked in an office and I didnt want to be in an office anymore. I wanted out in the fresh air. When you are out here you are more or less your own boss.

I looked in the papers to see what jobs there were. I wanted something out in the open and something which didnt require a lot of paperwork.

Asked if she had ever considered retiring from her present role, Mrs Hammersley said: No I havent, I really havent.

I do get great pleasure out of it. Look at the people you meet every day.

I am very particular when they (cars) come flying up here. I step out onto the middle of the road, I dont care whether they like it or not, and I put my hand up and my stick and I see the children across. I am there for the children, not to entertain cars.

My job is to ensure they get home safely to their mammies and daddies, that is my job.

On receiving the BEM she said: It is a great honour. I never thought of getting an award.

I didnt even believe the letter when I saw it, I thought it was one of those scams you see on TV.

It is an honour, they just dont hand them out to anyone.

Nigel Arnold, principal of Glengormley Integrated PS, nominated Mrs Hammersley for the honour, along with a local councillor and a parent.

He said: She has been a wonderful member of our staff in the school here for 32 years now.

She was here long before I started.

I see her every morning, she is out there rain, hail or shine at the junction crossing children and families, both from our school and other schools.

She is a warm, caring lady and a real pillar of society in our community at the heart of Glengormley.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A school worker who claims she was sacked because of her Christian beliefs has won her appeal against an employment tribunals decision to uphold her dismissal and faces a fresh hearing.

Kristie Higgs, 46, was dismissed for gross misconduct by Farmors School in Fairford, Gloucestershire, in 2019 after sharing Facebook posts criticising plans to teach LGBT+ relationships in primary schools.

Mrs Higgs, supported by the Christian Legal Centre, took the school to an employment tribunal, arguing she had been unlawfully discriminated against because of her Christian beliefs.

The school had denied dismissing the mother of two because of her religious beliefs and said she was sacked because of the language used in the posts.

In its ruling in 2020, the tribunal concluded her religion is a protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act but the school lawfully dismissed her.

Mrs Higgs appealed against that judgment to the Employment Appeal Tribunal in London, which has now ruled in her favour.

Mrs Justice Eady allowed the appeal and remitted the case back to an employment tribunal for a fresh determination.

In her judgment, she said: First, the foundational nature of the rights must be recognised: the freedom to manifest belief (religious or otherwise) and to express views relating to that belief are essential rights in any democracy, whether or not the belief in question is popular or mainstream and even if its expression may offend.

Those rights are, however, qualified. The manifestation of belief, and free expression, will be protected but not where the law permits the limitation or restriction of such manifestation or expression to the extent necessary for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

Mrs Justice Eady, who is president of the Employment Appeal Tribunal, said the question for a future hearing would be whether the schools decision to sack Mrs Higgs were because of, or related to, the manifestation of the claimants protected beliefs, or were due to a justified objection to the manner of that manifestation, in respect of which there was a clear legal basis for the claimants rights to freedom of belief and expression to be limited to the extent necessary for the legitimate protection of the rights of others.

In answering that question, the employment tribunal will need to be satisfied that the measures adopted were prescribed by law and, recognising the essential nature of the claimants rights to freedom of belief and freedom of expression, that they were necessary (that is, proportionate) in pursuit of the protection of the rights, freedoms and reputation of others.

Mrs Higgs, from Fairford, Gloucestershire shared and commented on posts which raised concerns about relationship education at her sons Church of England primary school.

Pupils were to learn about the No Outsiders In Our School programme, which is a series of books teaching the Equality Act in primary schools.

Mrs Higgs, who was posting on Facebook under her maiden name, shared two posts in October 2018 to around 100 friends.

One of the posts referred to brainwashing our children and added: Children will be taught that all relationships are equally valid and normal, so that same sex marriage is exactly the same as traditional marriage, and gender is a matter of choice, not biology, so that its up to them what sex they are.

We say again this is a vicious form of totalitarianism aimed at suppressing Christianity and removing it from the public arena.

An anonymous complaint was made to the school and Mrs Higgs was suspended and, after a disciplinary hearing, dismissed for gross misconduct.

Mrs Higgs welcomed the ruling but said she was frustrated by the delays to receiving justice.

From the beginning, despite the many attempts by the school to suggest otherwise, this has always been about my Christian beliefs and me being discriminated against for expressing them in my own time, she said.

I will never forget the moment, shaking and tearful, that I was ordered to leave the school premises after my Christian beliefs were aligned with Nazism.

Christian parents must have the freedom to bring their children up in line with their Christian beliefs.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: This is a win for Kristie, but Mrs Justice Eady should have had the courage to exonerate her.

We press on in this important case. We are pleased that the force of the facts in this case meant the judge had to do the right thing.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A 54-year-old man has been committed indefinitely to a psychiatric hospital for killing his partner and her father in a knife attack after believing that they had turned into replicas.

Achilleas Costa, of no fixed address, stabbed Fernanda Assis, 31, and Joanilson Souza De Assis, 61, to death in Wood Green, north London, on November 27 2021.

The Old Bailey heard on Friday that Costa was apprehended by police after he was seen behaving strangely on the pavement outside a Wetherspoons pub in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, at around 6.20am on November 28.

William Emlyn Jones KC, prosecuting, told the court that police were called after Costa was seen muttering to himself, and was kneeling to pray.

He had a plastic bag on him with 1,315 and three bankcards in Ms Assiss name, the court heard.

He referred to the two persons involved as replicas William Emlyn Jones KC, prosecuting

The prosecutor said Costa told police that he had travelled to Huntingdon from an address in Mayes Road, Wood Green, by taxi, and that his beliefs had required him to bring the cash with him and to pray outside the Wetherspoons.

Costa told the officers that his girlfriend had gone out and on her return was not herself but had instead taken on the appearance of her mother or a paranormal creature, Mr Emlyn Jones said.

He said he had been attacked and had been compelled to defend himself, He said.

He also told police that someones been attacked.

When asked by who, Costa said me, before adding that they looked strange and they were looking at each other in a strange way.

Eventually, Costa gave police the home address of his partner and her father.

When police attended the address on Mayes Road, Wood Green, they were met with a dreadful scene, the court heard.

There they found the dead body of Fernanda Assis in a pool of blood in the hallway, and the dead body of her father in the bathroom, Mr Emlyn Jones said.

It was obvious that they had been dead for at least several hours. The flat was heavily bloodstained.

He said that the victims had been stabbed multiple times to the face, neck and body.

He told the court that Costas account was that he had been attacked by his partner and her father, who had been transformed into replicas or nonces.

The essence of his account was that he was attacked by two persons with knives, and that he grabbed one of those knives and pushed them back with it, stabbing them both, he said.

He referred to the two persons involved as replicas and nonces.

He seemed adamant that neither of them had been Fernanda.

Costa said that his victims eyes were different and that it wasnt Fernanda, while Joanilson was radio controlled.

Costa pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey last February to manslaughter.

He had been charged with murder, but the prosecution accepted his guilty plea, by reason of diminished responsibility, in light of psychiatric reports.

The court heard evidence from Dr Jonathan Hafferty, a psychiatrist who assessed Costa.

Dr Hafferty told the court that Costa suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and that cannabis use had been a contributor to his illness.

In summary, I believe that cannabis is a contributor to his illness and is something that in the future must be avoided, he said.

He agreed with Mr Emlyn Jones that Costa was an extremely dangerous man.

I could not believe that the young woman I had known and loved had been so cruelly killed and taken from us Celia Haddon, Fernanda Assis's aunt

In an impact statement read out to the court, Ms Assiss aunt, Celia Haddon, said she felt shock and agony when she heard about the killings.

My reaction was total shock and agony, she said.

I could not believe that the young woman I had known and loved had been so cruelly killed and taken from us.

She described her niece as gullible, naive, and desperate for affection.

In his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Murray said that he was satisfied that Costa was suffering from a mental illness, namely paranoid schizophrenia.

He committed Costa to Broadmoor psychiatric hospital indefinitely.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Serial killer Levi Bellfield will be able to marry his girlfriend behind bars after prison chiefs were forced to concede they could not stop him under existing laws.

Bellfield, 55, is serving two whole-life sentences at HMP Frankland in Durham for murdering three young women, including 13-year-old schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

The infamous murderer is said to have threatened legal action after his application to marry a woman was blocked by the prison governor.

The Sun reported that he had won 30,000 in legal aid and had claimed discrimination after he was banned from wearing an engagement ring.

Alex Chalk KC, the justice secretary, had been advised that his department could do nothing to prevent the marriage, after Bellfields lawyers said doing so would breach the European Convention on Human Rights and the 1983 Marriage Act.

Milly Dowler was murdered by Bellfield in 2002 as she travelled home from school (Surrey Police/PA) (PA Media)

Ministers, including former justice secretary Dominic Raab, have vowed to change the law to prevent prisoners serving whole-life terms from being able to marry within prison walls. New legislation launched in March however, will not come in time to prevent Bellfield from marrying his bride.

His engagement was first revealed in May 2022, after The Sun reported that he had proposed during a jail visit. The news sparked outrage, with then-prime minister Boris Johnson saying he was sickened and appalled.

Following news that his application to marry would like be successful, Tory MP Alec Shelbrooke said: This is a disgusting insult to the victims and their families.

This is a man who took away the human rights of young girls and women, including the right to live their lives and marry.

French student Amelie Delagrange, 22, was visiting the UK when she was murdered by Bellfield on the streets of Twickenham, London (PA)

Yet he is demanding the right to do so using human rights law.

The justice secretary needs to move as quickly as possible to get this legislation through and make sure that no other people this evil can exploit this situation again.

The former bouncer was jailed in 2008 for murdering Marsha McDonnell, 19, and Amelie Delagrange, 22, as well as the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy, 18, in south-west London.

The attacks had taken place in 2003 and 2004, with detectives stating at the time that he was likely to be linked to dozens more of other attacks.

He was found guilty three years later for the murder of schoolgirl Milly who was abducted in Walton-on-Thames in 2002 as she was returning home from school.

Bellfield has admitted killing missing student Elizabeth Chau who disappeared in west London in 1999 (PA)

Her disappearance sparked a nationwide search with a 100,000 reward offered for information.

Five months later, her remains were found near Hampshire, with Surrey Police confirming in 2008 that Bellfield was the prime suspect. Bellfield was convicted by an Old Bailey jury and later admitted during an interview in 2016 that he was responsible for her abduction and death.

Last month, he was questioned in prison after allegedly confessing to the murder of 19-year-old student Elizabeth Chau, who vanished in west London in 1999.

It was reported that Bellfield described how he killed her to a prison visitor and showed police a rough area where he had hidden her body.

This latest confession came just a month after he admitted to murdering 45-year-old Lin Russell and her six-year-old daughter Megan. The two were found bludgeoned to death in Chillenden, Kent, in July 1996 with Michael Stone currently serving three life sentences for their murders.

Stone has repeatedly protested his innocence and was convicted despite a lack of forensic evidence.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: Under current laws there are no legal routes to block this marriage and we recognise the pain and anger this outcome will bring to his victims families.

It is what has driven our plans to stop prisoners on whole-life orders from marrying in prison through our new Victims and Prisoners Bill  ensuring this never happens again.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The former head of Britains police watchdog has been charged with raping a child, and other sexual offences.

Michael Lockwood, 64, resigned as director general of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in December.

On Friday, he was charged with nine sexual offences following an investigation by Humberside Police.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said he was accused of six counts of indecent assault and three offences of rape against a girl under the age of 16, which are alleged to have been committed during the 1980s.

Rosemary Ainslie, head of its Special Crime Division, said: The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Lockwood are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.

Mr Lockwood is due to appear at Hull Magistrates Court on 28 June charged with six offences of indecent assault and three offences of rape, all between October 1985 and March 1986.

He was appointed to lead the IOPC in 2018, and was made co-chair of the Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission after heading up recovery and remediation work and liaising with bereaved families.

Mr Lockwood previously held senior roles in the Local Government Association and at Harrow London Borough Council.

In March, the IOPC announced an independent review that it said would establish the circumstances of his resignation to ensure that relevant IOPC processes and policies are fit for purpose.

The watchdog oversees the police complaints system in England and Wales, investigating serious incidents such as deaths following police contact, and setting standards.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The suspect in the Nottingham knife and van attacks is a former student of the University of Nottingham, the institution said in a statement.

The suspect allegedly killed three people in a brutal knife attack and then ran over three others with a stolen van.

According to multiple reports, the suspect was born in Guinea-Bissau, a country on West Africas coast.

He was arrested on Tuesday, following a 90-minute rampage in the early hours when two 19-year-old university students and a 65-year-old man were killed.

The victims were Barnaby Webber and Grace Kumar, both 19 and Ian Coates, a primary school caretaker, who was found dead near Mapperley Park.

His van was stolen by the attacker who ran over three people waiting at a bus stop on Milton Street in the city centre around 5.30am.

The suspect was from the same university as two of the young victims. But police said they do not believe it was connected to the attack or explained the motive behind the attack.

The University of Nottingham confirmed one of their former students was involved in the attack and said they were devastated by it, although neither the university nor the police have formally named the man.

We are devastated that the suspect is a former University of Nottingham student. The police have confirmed that this is not believed to be connected with the attack, the university said.

Emma Webber, the mother of Barnaby Webber, speaks during a vigil in Old Market Square (PA)

Our focus remains on supporting the family and friends of Barney and Grace and our wider community. We will continue to support the police in any way we can.

Grace Kumar, her father Dr Sanjoy Kumar, mother Sinead and brother James. Grace (Family handout/PA)

It is understood that the suspect studied mechanics and graduated in 2022.

He remained in police custody after the police applied for a 36-hour extension at the magistrates court until Friday.

Counter-terrorism police are involved in the investigation, although no confirmation has been made regarding any connection to extremism.

Members of the public take part in a vigil at the University of Nottingham after three people were killed and another three hurt in connected attacks (PA)

Detectives are searching electronic devices linked to the suspect, including his phone.

The suspect reportedly has a history of mental health issues and was previously known to the police. He came to the UK legally and settled in Nottingham at the age of seven.

On Thursday evening, thousands turned out to pay tribute to the victims as the city is yet to come to terms with a tragedy that shocked the country.

A vigil at the citys Market Square heard the families of each victim take to the stage to pay tribute to their loved ones, while local leaders called for unity in the wake of the deadly attacks.

Barnaby Webber who was killed along with Grace Kumar (PA)

Addressing the crowd, Barnabys mother Emma said the monstrous individual responsible for the three deaths will not define us.

I know he will receive the retribution that he deserves, she said. However, this evil person is just that. He is just a person. Please hold no hate that relates to any colour, sex or religion.

Speaking in tears, Graces father Dr Sanjoy Kumar asked crowds to imagine a world without violence and said: We were four and we are now three, and the same for Barneys family.

I speak to you as a broken-hearted father. I loved my Grace more than I loved anything and Im trying to be as strong as I can, forgive me.
MINNEAPOLISCarnal Media announced Friday that it has signed Tucker Barrett as its newest studio exclusive.

We are so excited to have Tucker officially on our team, said Carnal Media CEO Legrand Wolf. It took some time to connect with him at first, but when we finally did, he was family. Tucker brings a passion and charisma to everything he does ... not to mention, he's a phenomenal performer and dancer."



Barrett made his debut with Carnal in The Grooming from the BoyForSale series Boy Ethan, and is originally from Windsor, a small city in Southwestern Ontario on the U.S. border, where he was very active, starting with gymnastics at 4, then moving on to swimming, running, dance and various other sports.. It's a quiet place with a charming small-town feel that I called home for 23 years, Barrett said.



Coming out at the age of 17 in a town that had a limited LGBTQ presence was difficult at first, but Barrett found solace among supportive friends in his circle. At 23, he made the move to Toronto to pursue his passion for the performing arts, with dreams of becoming a movie star. He soon discovered his calling as an adult performer, embracing his identity as a sex worker and using his platform to challenge stigma and advocate for the community.

Barrett's journey intersected with Carnal Media when he discovered Wolfs movies. After facing financial and health challenges during the pandemic, Barrett reached out to Wolf, and their connection led to his hiring and first shoot with Carnal just days later. Im so happy every time I step on a Carnal set. I know Im in a safe space and Im working with incredible people, said Barrett. From the bottom of my heart, it feels like family ... people that have my best interests in mind.



Having recently traveled to Chicago with Carnal Media for the Grabby Awards, Barrett enthused, From the first time I looked into doing porn, I had known about the Grabbyswhen I found out I was attending the show, it felt right ... like my life was heading in a direction it was meant to be headed in, and getting to do it with the Carnal Media team had me elated. Thats the word Id use for the Grabbys and Chicago ... elated.



In his spare time, Barrett indulges in creative pursuits such as boylesque, a form of male burlesque performance, and is unapologetic about his love for board games, boasting an impressive collection of over 280 titles, and I love being outdoors ... I thrive outdoors.

My life has always been moment-to-moment, high stakes, high stress, go-go-go ... constantly working and looking for work 24/7, make work 24/7, he concluded. Im entirely my own boss; its not an easy life but a life that allows for the choices to be all mine. Thats the best thing for me.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A man has been arrested after a police officer was stabbed in Kent.

Kent Police said the officer was in a serious but stable condition after the attack in Maidstone on Thursday evening.

The force was attending an address in Albion Place at around 8pm on Thursday when the assault took place.

The officer was airlifted to a London hospital with injuries consistent with stab wounds, police said.

The 48-year-old man from Maidstone was arrested and remains in custody while police investigate.

Maidstone is a historic town with a population of around 175,000, sitting some 35 miles from London. It is the largest town in Kent, a county home to one of the largest hospital trusts in England.

Images published by KentOnline appeared to show several police vehicles and and ambulance vehicles parked close to a car dealership in Andrew Broughton Way on Thursday evening.

(The Independent)

One local resident told the outlet that they witnessed dozens of officers entering a residential building nearby, in addition to an official wearing a hazmat suit who arrived in a forensics van at around 11pm.

The scene is close to an A-road and is less than half a mile away from the high street, lying just east of the town centre.

In a statement on Friday, Kent Police said: A man has been arrested after an officer was assaulted in Maidstone. Kent Police officers were attending an address in Albion Place at around 8pm on Thursday 15 June 2023 when the assault took place.

The officer was airlifted to a London hospital with injuries consistent with stab wounds. He remains there in a serious but stable condition. A 48-year old man from Maidstone was arrested and remains in custody while enquiries continue.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A student who launched a knife attack on a grandmother while paranoid after drinking vodka and smoking skunk cannabis has been jailed for her murder.

Sunderland University student Alexander Carr was seen by a witness cuddling his friend, Michelle Hanson, 47, in her sitting room earlier on the evening he killed her last December.

Carr knew alcohol and drugs had a serious impact on his mental health but still got intoxicated that night before inflicting terrifying violence on the mother-of-five, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

He then went on the run to London and was found weeks later living in a tent near Upper Holloway railway station.

When police arrested him after a struggle in which they used a Taser, the powerfully built 33-year-old was found to have a commando knife with him.

Carr had a troubled childhood, has a long history of violence and was diagnosed with personality disorders and the court was told it was somewhat remarkable he secured a place at university.

Psychiatrists agreed he was not suffering from a psychotic illness at the time of the murder.

Ms Hanson, who lived in an upstairs flat in Brady Street, Sunderland, had been paid that day and bought a bottle of vodka and a takeaway.

A witness, who cannot be named, saw Carr sitting with her that night and later described him seeming nuts and speaking in funny accents.

The witness was reassured Ms Hanson was OK and left, only to return the next day to find her lying dead in a pool of blood.

Daffyd Enoch KC, prosecuting, said the victim was repeatedly stabbed in the neck, that Carr had used a knife on her at least 29 times and that she was extensively bruised around her body.

Pieces of a broken dinner plate were found in her hair.

Nicholas Lumley KC, defending, said Carr had previously been diagnosed with personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and psychosis and had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act when he was younger.

Mr Lumley said Carr had written to the judge and admitted: I knew my mental health issues were getting worse and I wish I had tried to seek out more help, rather than self-medicating with the excess of drugs and alcohol.

Carr had admitted murder at an earlier hearing, having had a guilty plea to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility rejected.

Judge Paul Sloan sentenced him to life with a minimum term of 19 years and three months.

Carr initially lied to psychiatrists but eventually admitted he had smoked skunk  which has a high potency  that night, the judge said.

You became increasingly anxious and paranoid and believed you were about to be harmed, he said.

I have no doubt that the principal reason for your paranoia was your voluntary consumption of skunk in combination with alcohol.

Your paranoia culminated in a brutal attack upon Miss Hanson.

Ms Hansons daughter Shannon Brown read out an emotional victim statement to the court, saying: My mam was taken in such a vicious and mindless attack.

We believe that her last moments would have been spent in fear.

To think she welcomed this evil person into her house as a friend is unbearable.

He has taken advantage of a vulnerable, kind and loving woman.

It is horrific to know he towered over her in both height and strength and my mam was defenceless.
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

An Australian travel firm previously slammed for its handling of Covid quarantine hotels has been quietly handed a 1.6bn contract covering the UKs new asylum accommodation ships, The Independent can reveal.

Corporate Travel Management (CTM) was put in charge of the lucrative two-year arrangement in February, weeks before the government revealed it would use a barge as its first offshore accommodation for asylum seekers.

The contract was awarded directly to CTM without competition, and a lawyer with knowledge of the system said the government had pushed a wider deal originally drawn up for official travel beyond what it was intended to be used for.

Ministers have repeatedly refused to detail the projected cost of Rishi Sunaks controversial asylum vessels, while insisting they will be cheaper than using hotels that are currently costing 6m a day.

This week, Suella Braverman told parliaments Home Affairs Committee she could not predict the cost of the new Illegal Migration Bill, because there are many unknown factors.

Three vessels so far have been announced, with a barge named the Bibby Stockholm due to arrive in Portland, Dorset later this month and a further two ships set for undisclosed locations.

Richard Drax, the Conservative MP for South Dorset, said the public should know how much is being paid on the barge set-up and said the spending he was aware of so far was alarmingly high.

The point is this is taxpayers' money, he told The Independent. This contract might actually be separate to what the ports are being paid.

Then on top of that, the police want money, the health authority wants money, of course the council wants money, and yet the government continues to insist that this is cheaper than hotels. The overall figure will be alarmingly high.

Yvette Cooper, Labours shadow home secretary, said the Home Office has serious questions to answer.

The Tories are spending more and more taxpayers money on their total failure to fix the asylum backlog they have created, she added.

This is an incredibly expensive contract with no clarity on whether proper procedures have been followed, and the barges come on top of costly hotels, not instead of them, because of the government failure to take asylum decisions or get any grip.

Three-storey barge expected to house migrants arrives at Falmouth

The CTM contract, published under the title provision of bridging accommodation and travel services, states that it has an estimated value of 1,593,535,200 over two years and could be extended beyond 2025.

The Home Office refused to answer The Independents questions on what portion of the contract covers barges, and parts of official documents headed pricing details have been redacted in full because of commercial interests.

John O'Connell, chief executive of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: This murky contract leaves taxpayers in the dark. The migrant crisis may require an urgent response, but bungled procurement has cost a fortune in recent years.

Ministers must ensure transparency and value for money when tendering services.

Answering a parliamentary question on the Bibby Stockholm in May, immigration minister Robert Jenrick said it would be managed by a specialist and experienced provider, which has a strong track record of providing this kind of accommodation. He added that the provider had managed two vessels [housing Ukrainian refugees] in Scottish ports for the past year.

On its website, CTM describes itself as a global provider of innovative and cost-effective travel solutions spanning corporate, events, leisure, loyalty and wholesale travel.

The firm says it was established in Brisbane in 1994 and has since grown from a two-person start-up into one of the worlds most successful travel management companies, operating across Australasia, Asia, the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It has two UK offices in London and Manchester.

The official brochure for the Bibby Stockholm shows 222 single bedrooms, but the Home Office says it will house 500 asylum seekers (Bibby Marine)

The firms most recent financial report hailed record profits, having taken A$292m (160m) in revenue over the last six months of 2022.

A notice to its shareholders celebrated the new contracts significant impact on financial growth, adding: This work involves highly complex services and logistic support CTM has both the experience and specialised knowledge to support this work.

The government placed the new barges under a pre-existing agreement with CTM for travel and venue solutions, which previously covered official bookings for conferences, flights, train tickets, hotels and vehicle hire for ministers and civil servants.

A source familiar with the drawing up of the overarching framework accused the government of pushing the scope beyond what it was intended to be used for.

If products and services are outside scope theres a procurement failure and the contract has been awarded without following the rules, they told The Independent. It doesnt look like the right vehicle for this kind of contract and it looks like theyve done it to minimise visibility.

The remit of CTMs government work was widened during the pandemic and its general manager for northern England, Michael Healy, was made an OBE in the 2021 New Year honours list over the repatriation of British nationals stranded abroad during the Covid pandemic.

A report by parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee found that the operation was too slow and placed too much reliance on commercial providers, but CTM was then handed a contract for operating quarantine hotels and mandatory testing.

In a series of angry Google reviews that dragged the companys rating down to 1.4 stars, one person called CTM incompetent, while another wrote: Shame on the Tory government UK, on whoever decided to give them this contract.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 / 50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 17 June 2023 Typhoon fighter jets fly over The Mall after the Royal family attended the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, central London, as King Charles III celebrates his first official birthday since becoming sovereign. PA UK news in pictures 16 June 2023 A peregrine falcon nesting at Malham Cove, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park PA UK news in pictures 15 June 2023 Newborn alpaca Sir Steveo, who has been named after one of his keepers, ventures outside in the Pets Farm area of Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling PA UK news in pictures 14 June 2023 Grace Kumars father and Barnaby Webbers brother, Charlie, embrace ahead of a vigil at the University of Nottingham after they and Ian Coates were killed and another three hurt in connected attacks on 13 June PA UK news in pictures 13 June 2023 Police forensics officers on Ilkeston Road PA UK news in pictures 12 June 2023 People relax in a suspended swimming pool as hot weather continues, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 11 June 2023 Usain Bolt and teammates celebrate with the trophy after winning Soccer Aid 2023 Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 10 June 2023 A cyclist trains in the early morning, as hot weather continues, in Richmond Park, London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 June 2023 A performer walks on a tightrope at Covent Garden during a sunny day in London AP UK news in pictures 8 June 2023 A women rides her horse through the river during the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 7 June 2023 The Princess of Wales during a game of walking rugby during her visit to meet local and national male rugby players at Maidenhead Rugby Club PA UK news in pictures 6 June 2023 An aerial view shows the dry bed of Woodhead Reservoir, revealed by a falling water level after a prolonged period of dry weather, near Glossop, northern England AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 5 June 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak onboard Border Agency cutter HMC Seeker during a visit to Dover PA UK news in pictures 4 June 2023 A hot air balloon rises into the sky above Ragley Hall, Alcester, south of Birmingham in central England AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 June 2023 Skaters use the mini ramp at the Wavelength Spring Classic festival in Woolacombe Bay in Devon PA UK news in pictures 1 June 2023 The And Beyond installation, during a photo call for the London Design Biennale at Somerset House in London PA UK news in pictures 31 May 2023 Emergency services attending to a blaze at a derelict listed building in Samuel Street, Belfast PA UK news in pictures 30 May 2023 A robot named Stella interacts with visitors during the International Conference on Robotics and Automation ICRA in London AP UK news in pictures 29 May 2023 Dave Hackett and his daughter Daisy, five, explore the laburnum arch in the grounds of Preston Tower, East Lothian, in the warm Spring Bank Holiday weather PA UK news in pictures 28 May 2023 Great Britains Nick Bandurak scores their sides third goal of the game during the FIH Hockey Pro League mens match at Lee Valley, London PA UK news in pictures 27 May 2023 People enjoy the sunny weather at a park in London AP UK news in pictures 26 May 2023 People drink coffee inside Daleks during MCM Comic Con at the ExCel London in east London PA UK news in pictures 25 May 2023 King Charles III and Queen Camilla during a visit to Enniskillen Castle, Co Fermanagh as part of a two day visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 24 May 2023 Horses enjoy the sunny weather on Middleham Gallops in North Yorkshire PA UK news in pictures 23 May 2023 An aerial view of a yellow rapeseed field in Hemel Hempstead, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 22 May 2023 Manoj Malde and Clive Gillmor kiss after getting married, the first wedding ever at the Chelsea Flower Show AP UK news in pictures 21 May 2023 People enjoy the warm weather as they take punt tours along the River Cam in Cambridge PA UK news in pictures 20 May 2023 Protesters emerge from the sea as Surfers Against Sewage hold a UK-wide paddle-out protest at Brighton West Pier in East Sussex PA UK news in pictures 19 May 2023 Good Karma ridden by Daniel Muscutt (right) wins the Earl & The Pharaoh Novice Stakes at Newbury Racecourse, Berkshire PA UK news in pictures 18 May 2023 Choristers from the Choir of St Johns College at the University of Cambridge look out from the top of the Chapel Tower before performing the Ascension Day carol - a custom dating back to 1902. PA UK news in pictures 17 May 2023 Oxfam activists wearing 'big heads' of G7 leaders during a demonstration in Trafalgar Square, London, highlighting their lack of action to tackle the East Africa hunger crisis ahead of the start of the G7 summit in Japan PA UK news in pictures 16 May 2023 Part of a childs jacket during a photo call for the Chinas hidden century exhibition, which opens at the British Museum PA UK news in pictures 15 May 2023 Viewing assistant and History of Art student Emma Scarr Hall takes a closer look at @Pink Roses (1923) by Scottish Colourist artist Leslie Hunter which is estimated at 60,000-80,000 in the forthcoming Bonhams Scottish Art Sale in Edinburgh PA UK news in pictures 14 May 2023 Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, Sharon Horgan and Anne-Marie Duff, with the award for Drama Series, for Bad Sisters at the 2023 BAFTA TV Awards in London EPA UK news in pictures 13 May 2023 Singer Loreen performing on behalf of Sweden celebrates with the trophy after winning the final of the Eurovision Song contest 2023 AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 12 May 2023 Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer views a cancer tumour under a microscope during a visit to the Francis Crick Institute in north London where he met scientists working on research into lung cancer PA UK news in pictures 11 May 2023 Judging takes during the artisan cheese awards at St Marys Church, Melton Mowbray PA UK news in pictures 10 May 2023 A dog joins members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) on the picket line outside HMRC in East Kilbride during a strike in the long-running civil service dispute over pay, jobs and conditions PA UK news in pictures 9 May 2023 Two trains carrying 170 Eurovision song contest superfans arrive into Liverpool Lime Street train station PA UK news in pictures 8 May 2023 Britains Prince Louis eats toasted marshmallows as they take part in the Big Help Out, during a visit to the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, England, AP UK news in pictures 6 May 2023 King Charles III and Queen Camilla can be seen on the Buckingham Palace balcony ahead of the flypast during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla Getty UK news in pictures 5 May 2023 Britain's King Charles III leaves after speaking to well-wishers on The Mall near to Buckingham Palace in central London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 May 2023 A night time rehearsal in central London for the coronation of King Charles III PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2023 Teacher members of the National Education Union (NEU) at a rally in Westminster, London, as they stage walkouts across England in an ongoing dispute over pay PA UK news in pictures 1 May 2023 Former US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media on the tarmac after disembarking "Trump Force One" at Aberdeen airport on the north-east coast of Scotland AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 April 2023 Handout photo issued by the Big Partnership of walkers at the start of The Kiltwalk 2023 from Glasgow Green. PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2023 Englands flanker Marlie Packer celebrates with the trophy and teammates after winning the Womens Six Nations Grand Slam at the end of the Six Nations international womens rugby union match between England and France at Twickenham in south-west London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 28 April 2023 Lucy Williams, from Aberfan, holds her son Daniel Williams, one, as he takes the handbag of the Princess of Wales, during her visit with her husband the Prince of Wales, to the Aberfan memorial garden, to pay their respects to those who lost their lives during the Aberfan disaster on October 21st 1966 PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2023 Teachers on the picket line outside Bristol Cathedral School, College Square, Bristol, as they take strike action in a dispute over pay PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2023 Protesters wait for the arrival of King Charles III and the Queen Consort for their visit to Liverpool Central Library PA

Several MPs raised their constituents poor experiences in parliament, with one presenting a formal petition demanding compensation and saying the way the contract was awarded avoided due process or competition.

CTM was later involved in operations to transport Afghans and Ukrainians to the UK, and operated two cruise ships used to temporarily house Ukrainian refugees in Scotland.

That contract, which was also awarded without competition under the same framework as the new barges, covered two ships and hotels, and had an estimated value of 100m.

CTM declined to comment and did not answer The Independent's request for details of what the contract covered.

A Home Office spokesperson said: 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 money for taxpayers than hotels. It is right that we explore all available options.

CTM was awarded the contract to deliver accommodation for the Home Office after an extensive procurement process and has a strong track record of providing this kind of accommodation.

We are pleased that they will be providing management for Bibby Stockholm, the two additional vessels announced by the prime minister, as well as bridging accommodation and travel services.
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Britain is bracing for further industrial action this month as junior doctors belonging to the British Medical Association (BMA) stage a five-day walkout and both the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) and Aslef introduce more strike dates, bringing yet more disruption to rail services.

Senior doctors are also downing stethoscopes for a 48-hour period in July and Aslef is also taking action short of a strike by announcing overtime bans, which is likely to result in the cancellation of further trains relied upon by beleaguered commuters.

Months of negotiations between the government and unions representing workers in public-facing professions have failed to yield a solution to ongoing disputes over pay and working conditions in a number of sectors, leaving the NHS with little choice but to cancel routine appointments and treatments and travellers stranded on platforms.

The most recent rail strikes in late May and early June made life difficult for parents in half-term week and for those attending specific summer events such as the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool, the FA Cup Final in London and the Epsom Derby, as trainline employees and station staff sought to demonstrate the importance of the services they provide.

And those were only the latest instances of industrial action bringing the UK to a halt after a long winter in which thousands of public sector workers took to the picket line.

From nurses and teachers to civil servants, postal workers and driving instructors, working people have demanded salary increases in response to the sky-high rate of inflation and the ongoing cost of living crisis.

While some of those disputes have since been resolved, many more threaten to rumble on amid little sign of progress.

Dr Robert Laurenson and Dr Vivek Trivedi, co-chairs of the BMA, have urged Rishi Sunaks administration to come forward with a fresh offer above the 5 per cent wage rise proposed so far to prevent what promises to be the longest single walkout by doctors in the NHSs history.

Even now the government can avert our action by coming to the table with a credible offer on pay restoration, they said.

But common ground appears likely to remain elusive after health secretary Steve Barclay accused the BMA of walking away from the table.

RMT general-sectretary Mick Lynch has meanwhile told The Independent that further rail strikes are fairly likelythis year so long as its talks with government negotiators remain in a state of deadlock.

Here is a list of all of the major walkouts that have been announced so far for July 2023.

All the national strike dates for July

Monday 3 July

Aslef train drivers union begins a six-day overtime ban for members.

Tuesday 4 July

Aslef overtime ban in effect.

Wednesday 5 July

Teachers in England belonging to the National Education Union (NEU) stage the first of two days of strike action.

Aslef overtime ban in effect.

Thursday 6 July

Aslef overtime ban in effect.

Friday 7 July

Teachers in England belonging to the NEU stage the second of two days of strike action.

Aslef overtime ban in effect.

Saturday 8 July

Final day of Aslef overtime ban.

Wednesday 12 July

NHS juniors doctors belonging to BMA in Scotland on strike.

Thursday 13 July

Five-day strike by junior doctors belonging to the BMA in England begins at 7am.

Friday 14 July

Junior doctors strike continues.

NHS ambulance drivers belonging to Unite on strike in Yorkshire.

Saturday 15 July

Junior doctors strike continues.

Sunday 16 July

Junior doctors strike continues.

Monday 17 July

Junior doctors strike continues.

Aslef overtime ban resumes for another six days.

Tuesday 18 July

Junior doctors strike concludes at 7am.

Aslef overtime ban in effect.

Wednesday 19 July

Aslef overtime ban in effect.

Thursday 20 July

Rail workers belonging to the RMT stage the first of three days of national strike action.

Senior doctors belonging to the BMA stage the first of two days of strike action.

Aslef overtime ban in effect.

Friday 21 July

Senior doctors stage the second of two days of strike action.

Aslef overtime ban in effect.

Saturday 22 July

RMT members stage the second of three days of national rail strike action.

Aslef overtime ban concludes.

Sunday 23 July

RMT commences six-day strike on the London Underground.

Monday 24 July

RMT Tube strike continues.

Tuesday 25 July

RMT Tube strike continues.

Wednesday 26 July

RMT Tube strike continues.

Aslef members also on strike on London Underground.

Thursday 27 July

RMT Tube strike continues.

Friday 28 July

Final day of RMT Tube strike.

Aslef members on strike on London Underground again.

Saturday 29 July

RMT members stage the third of three days of national rail strike action.
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

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.

Her parents, Kate McCann 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.

Follow all the latest updates on The Independents liveblog

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 Amelia and Sean  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.

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.

Madeleine McCann (PA)

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.

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.

Gerry and Kate McCann (PA)

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 (AFP/Getty)

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.

Investigators explore the Barragem do Arade beauty spot (EPA)

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.

Later that month, the case unexpectedly lurched back into life in when investigators launched a major search operation at a reservoir in the Algarve, with Mr Wolters saying they were acting on certain tips from Brueckner, whom the prosecutor said he remains very confident holds the key to Madeleines disappearance.

With help from Portuguese police and with Scotland Yard detectives watching on, German investigators carried out a thorough examination of the Barragem do Arade beauty spot in Silves.

They combed the shoreline and surrounding grasslands with sniffer dogs, rakes, spades and pickaxes and inspected the water in a rigid-hull inflatable boat. A no-fly zone was put in place in the skies overhead to allow police drones to survey the region undisturbed.

The site is located approximately 30 miles northeast of the Ocean Club resort, from which the missing girl first disappeared.

In their most recent update, the investigators said they were comparing soil samples from the reservoir with others taken from Brueckners VW camper van in an attempt to establish for certain that he was in the area during the timeframe of interest in order to try to close the net around him.
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The heartbroken mothers of two students stabbed to death in the deadly Nottingham knife and van rampage have urged the city to hold no hate at an emotional vigil.

Thousands of people gathered in the citys Market Square to pay their respects Grace OMalley-Kumar, Barnaby Webber and Ian Coates  who were all fatally stabbed in Tuesdays attacks.

Nottinghamshire Police said detectives were granted a further 36 hours to quiz a former University of Nottingham student after he was tasered and arrested on suspicion of murder.

On Thursday, crowds stretching back almost half a kilometre watched on with tears in their eyes as family members from all three victims delivered powerful, heart-wrenching tributes to their loved ones.

Talented 19-year-old students OMalley-Kumar and Webber were found stabbed to death in Ilkeston Road at around 4am on Tuesday.

Dedicated school caretaker Coates, 65, was then found dead in Magdala Road after his van was allegedly stolen by the suspect.

Webbers mother, Emma Webber, fought back tears as she told the crowd that the monstrous individual responsible for the deaths will not define us.

I know he will receive the retribution that he deserves, she said.

However this evil person is just that. He is just a person.

Please hold no hate that relates to any colour, sex or religion.

The history students tearful brother and father stood behind Mrs Webber as she clutched his photo and said: My beautiful, beautiful boy, you have mine, your dad and your brothers heart forever.

Mother of medical student OMalley-Kumar, Sinead OMalley, echoed the sentiment of holding no hate and urged the crowd: Be kind to each other, look after each other, dont have hate in your hearts.

She said the magnitude of the grief for her daughter reflects the magnitude of the love she and her family had for her.

Family members of both students offered a hand of support on each others shoulders as they attempted to get through their emotional addresses.

A huge number of people watching sobbed as Dr Sanjoy Kumar said their family had become three.

Please hold no hate that relates to any colour, sex or religion Emma Webber, mother of Barnaby Webber

He had to pause to wipe his eyes during his address, calling himself a broken-heart father before asking people to imagine a world without violence, one of just love.

OMalley-Kumars brother James voice shook as he called his sister his best friend and said: If theres only one message that comes out of this, I urge you all to cherish every moment you spend with your loved ones as you just never know when it will end.

The sons of Ian Coates paid tribute to their father wearing red Nottingham Forest shirts, which all had R.I.P Dad printed on the back.

One of them, James, promised support to the families of OMalley-Kumar and Webber before thanking people for the kind words that have poured in about his father.

It feels like hes touched a lot of hearts over the years, more than what we assumed and knew that he had, so its been really nice and heart-warming to see the messages and people come out and talk about how he was when they were younger and how hes helped them, he said.

He added: Dad was an avid fisherman, he loved his family and he also loved his Forest. You Reds.

The vigil ended with a musical item from University of Nottingham students which prompted parents in the crowd to hold their children in their arms and many to wipe away tears with tissues.

As well as the fatal stab attacks Nottinghamshire Police said a man also remains in a serious condition in hospital after the van was driven at him in Milton Street.

The force has referred a further incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) watchdog after a marked police car followed the vehicle for a short distance before it struck another two pedestrians in Sherwood Street.

The IOPC confirmed it was assessing the referral to decide what further action may be required.

The 31-year-old suspect was arrested at 5.30am when the van was eventually stopped.

Police revealed that the suspect is a former University of Nottingham student, but said this is not believed to be connected with the attack.

On Thursday afternoon, Home Secretary Suella Braverman visited the city to pay her own tribute to the victims of the attack  laying a wreath at Nottingham Council House with a hand-written message to their families saying: We are with you.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Humza Yousaf has dismissed claims that Scottish ministers make foreign government officials uncomfortable when discussing constitutional issues.

The First Minister said discussions are quite the opposite to what was claimed by Scottish Secretary Alister Jack earlier this week amid a row over foreign affairs.

The UK Government has instructed officials to ensure its representatives are present for talks between Scottish ministers and overseas governments, with Mr Jack telling the Scottish Affairs Committee on Monday that foreign ambassadors find it uncomfortable when issues like independence are tabled.

But speaking at the British-Irish Council summit in Jersey on Friday, the First Minister said that was not the characterisation that I would use by any stretch of the imagination, quite the opposite.

He added: Whenever Im engaged with foreign governments, ambassadors, with ministers, with heads of state, theres been a really warm approach to Scotland.

I think for me, its so important that when we are here on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, we remind ourselves of the importance of devolution, but also, frankly, the fragility of devolution.

Mr Yousaf met with the heads of states of Wales, Ireland and the Channel Island nations, as well as Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, at the summit.

His conversations with the UK Government minister, he said, were robust in relation to his concerns about the erosion of devolution.

But he added: I think its really important that we keep the engagement, the dialogue going, but Michael certainly knows my reservations and my concerns around the pattern of behaviour that we have seen recently around the erosion of devolution.

Mr Gove sat beside Mr Yousaf, who was attending his first British-Irish Council summit, during a press conference following the talks.

Asked whether the pair had a chance to resolve the conflict between the two governments, Mr Gove said: We didnt touch on that issue, but we had an informal chat within ourselves and we had a chance to talk one-on-one this morning.

The First Minister brought up a number of issues, and I think its fair to say that both of us, both governments, are committed to working together in the interests of the people of Scotland.

He acknowledged there are issues of contention which Im very happy to defend issue by issue wherever possible.

Following the press conference, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford told the PA news agency that his Government has in the last four years seen continual incursions into responsibilities that lie at the devolved level.

The Welsh Labour leader added: You see the UK Government wanting to claw back powers, claw back money, take responsibility for things which they have no constitutional responsibility, and we badly need to reset that relationship.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Former hostage Sir Terry Waite said being included in the Kings Birthday Honours list is one of lifes peak achievements.

Sir Terry, who spent almost five years in captivity after being kidnapped by Islamic terrorists in Lebanon, has been appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) for his services to charity.

The humanitarian, 84, of Hartest, Suffolk, the co-founder and president of Hostage International, which supports families of those taken captive, said he plans to keep on working.

He told the PA news agency: It really is a big surprise. I had no idea that this was coming up.

And, of course, whenever this sort of award is given I recognise that there are a lot of people to whom one shares that award with, particularly with Hostage International and Emmaus for the homeless.

They have worked incredibly hard and still do over the years to make those organisations what they are today.

Im just a figurehead, really.

As an envoy for the Church of England, Sir Terry travelled to Beirut to try to secure the release of four hostages but was kidnapped and held captive from 1987 to 1991.

He said he was kept in solitary confinement and, when anybody came into the room, he had to put a blindfold over his eyes.

He also faced a mock execution and was beaten.

The KCMG honour recognises service in a foreign country or in relation to foreign and Commonwealth affairs, such as the work of diplomats overseas.

Sir Terry said: It is a very significant honour and Im really amazed that Ive got it. Im getting on but Im still working at 84 now. Im still very active.

I suppose its a peak, really. I was given an MBE many years ago and then I got a CBE several years afterwards. Now this is the next one up, so to speak.

I think Ive been very fortunate to get this because there are many other people who are deserving of honours who dont get mentioned.

Ive just been fortunate to be one whos been picked out for some reason or other.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Three current and former Police Scotland officers have been recognised for their dedication to public service in the Kings Birthday Honours list.

Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham and retired assistant chief constable Kenny MacDonald were awarded the Kings Police Medal.

Retired detective inspector Simon Broadhurst becomes an MBE for his service to the police force.

Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone, who was previously awarded the Queens Police Medal, said: I warmly congratulate Malcolm, Kenny and Simon and thank them for their outstanding service to policing and the people we serve.

These awards are tribute to their dedication to public service and the communities of Scotland. I am hugely grateful for their professionalism and quality.

Mr Graham, 50, began his career with Lothian and Borders Police in 1995.

He worked his way through the ranks, becoming detective chief superintendent and head of CID in 2009, and took on his current role in 2019.

He was a key leader in steering Operation Unicorn, Police Scotlands response to the death of the Queen, and also provided leadership for the policing response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Graham, from East Lothian, said: I feel deeply grateful and honoured to receive this recognition.

It is truly a reflection of the relentless dedication and collaborative efforts of Police Scotlands fantastic people, serving our communities every day to make life safer and better for our fellow citizens.

I extend my sincere thanks to all colleagues past and present, and to my family for their ongoing encouragement and support throughout my career.

Mr Graham led the development of a new strategy tackling violence against women and girls for Police Scotland, and is also the service lead for sex, equality and tackling misogyny.

Mr MacDonald, 52, joined Strathclyde Police in 1994 and retired in November last year after almost 29 years with the police.

During Operation Unicorn he took on the role of gold commander, meaning he held overall command.

Mr MacDonald, of Perthshire, said: I am truly honoured and humbled to receive this award. I accept it on behalf of all of the officers and staff working throughout the service, across Scotland.

It was a true privilege to serve as a police officer, and my most sincere thanks go to my family, friends and colleagues who have supported me throughout my career.

Mr Broadhurst, 54, began his career with the police in 1992 with Lancashire constabulary, transferring to Lothian and Borders in 1996.

He retired after serving for more than 30 years in February last year, after a nine-year tenure working in counter-terrorism.

Mr Broadhurst, of East Lothian, said: I am extremely surprised but also massively grateful to have been honoured for my police work in this way.

My career was shaped by my family, colleagues and the partners I worked alongside through the years, and I very much feel this award is as much for them as it is for me.

Policing is truly a team effort and I have been lucky to be part of some amazing teams, and they are owed a great deal of credit.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Senior politicians have reflected on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement at the British-Irish Council summit in Jersey.

The 39th summit brought together leaders from the UK Government, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Island nations of Jersey and Guernsey, and the Isle of Man.

No representatives from Northern Ireland were present due to the collapse of the power-sharing institutions at Stormont.

Levelling Up Minister Michael Gove represented the Westminster Government in the absence of the Prime Minister.

Mr Gove spoke of the regret that no representatives from Northern Ireland could attend the summit.

I think everyone has expressed their regret both formally when the council are deliberating, but also conversations, that our friends in Northern Ireland, the elected representatives, havent been here.

He added efforts by the Westminster Government were ongoing to try to persuade all parties in Northern Ireland about the need for movement to restore Stormont.

The summit included a visit to the Limes, an example of housing construction in Jersey as the members focused on decarbonisation and sustainable building.

Kristina Moore, chief minister of the Jersey administration, told the press conference: It has been a great honour for us to host the summit for the fifth time here in Jersey.

And of course, its a really important opportunity for us all to reflect on 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement.

She said shared challenges were discussed between the representatives.

Mr Gove added: I know there is a commitment on the whole Jersey Government to making sure that both the affordability challenges that the island faces can be properly addressed but also that its done so in a way which is environmentally sustainable.

It was a common thread in all of the contributions that we made that we all appreciate the pressure on supply and affordability in all of our jurisdictions.

Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf attended his first British-Irish Council summit since taking up his post, where he met Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
Xem them

...

Tin bai cuoi cung

Khong con du lieu e load
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The new leader of Plaid Cymru has pledged to learn lessons and set new foundations for the party following a damning report that led to the resignation of his predecessor.

Rhun ap Iorwerth, who represents Ynys Mon (Anglesey) in the Senedd, was named as successor to Adam Price during a press conference in Cardiff Bay on Friday afternoon.

The announcement came a month after the resignation of Mr Price, following the publication of the Project Pawb report that found a culture of sexual harassment, bullying and misogyny in Plaid Cymru.

Nominations for leader of the party  the third largest in the Welsh Parliament  closed on Friday morning, with Mr ap Iorwerth the only confirmed candidate.

In an emotional speech which received a standing ovation, former BBC journalist Mr ap Iorwerth said independence for Wales would mean a better society and a country which tried to give everyone the same chances in life.

He described the co-operation agreement Plaid Cymru has with the Welsh Government as mature politics that delivered tangible benefits.

Mr ap Iorwerth said: Following a difficult period for the party, I am committed to learning lessons, implementing the recommendations of Project Pawb, and setting new foundations.

My vision is one of a stronger, fairer economy able to support sustainable public services and allowing Wales to fulfil its real potential.

Wales needs a strong Plaid Cymru if we are to build a confident nation working in partnership with others but with its future firmly in its own hands.

I see very much the role of leading Plaid Cymru to be a joint venture, bringing together the very best of the talent, energy and ideas we have right across the party, as we build trust in our vision Rhun ap Iorwerth

Mr ap Iorwerth said he would strive for a better life and a better future for people in Wales.

He added: I see very much the role of leading Plaid Cymru to be a joint venture, bringing together the very best of the talent, energy and ideas we have right across the party, as we build trust in our vision.

And trust is key. See how the Conservatives not only trashed the economy but trashed trust in politics through their chaotic, callous, selfish and self-serving actions, and through [Boris] Johnsons lies.

See how trust in the delivery of public services in Wales is undermined by Labours NHS crisis. We have to build trust and we all have a part to play.

Mr ap Iorwerth, a married father-of-three, was deputy leader of Plaid Cymru under Mr Price and has represented his Ynys Mon constituency since 2013.

Born in South Wales, Mr ap Iorwerth grew up on Anglesey and was educated at Ysgol David Hughes and later Cardiff University, where he graduated in politics and Welsh.

Mr Prices predecessor, Leanne Wood, publicly said she believed the next leader should be a woman  claiming a female leader would be better placed to deal with issues of misogyny.

However, early in the race two of Mr ap Iorwerths potential competitors, Sioned Williams and Sian Gwenllian, announced they would not be standing.

First Minister Mark Drakeford welcomed the announcement of Mr ap Iorwerth as party leader in a statement issued on Friday.

I look forward to a constructive working relationship to continue delivery of the ambitious programme set out in the three-year Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru, Mr Drakeford said.

Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives, also congratulated Mr ap Iorwerth on his appointment.

Although the reason the change of leadership came about was because of the previous Plaid leaderships inability to tackle issues within their party, he added.

As Rhun was the deputy leader in that team, whats changed?
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Boris Johnson is said to be considering an audacious independent bid to become London mayor for a second time after his exit from parliament and dramatic fall from grace in the Tory party.

The former prime minister is weighing up his next move outside Westminster after his fate was sealed by a damning report that found he deliberately and repeatedly lied to the Commons over Partygate.

Mr Johnson has been revealed as the erudite new Saturday columnist at the Daily Mail, offering a veiled warning to Rishi Sunak that he may have to cover politics from time to time.

And the Financial Times has reported that Mr Johnson could look to get his old job back in City Hall by running as an independent candidate to defeat Labour mayor Sadiq Khan.

Guto Harri, who served as a key aide to Mr Johnson in his last stint as London mayor, told The Independent that it would be a great idea.

The former No 10 communications director said he has not discussed the move with his old boss, but added: London needs a powerful advocate with the profile, ambition, credibility and character to fight its corner and champion its cause.

Baroness Camilla Cavendish, David Camerons former policy adviser, wrote in the FT: I hear he is now considering standing as an independent in next years London mayoral election.

She added: The tragedy is that he was quite good at that job  and some of those on his honours list are people who worked for him then. He was just never able to rise to the heights required of a prime minister.

Will Walden, Mr Johnsons former communications director at City Hall, told The Independent: Boris only runs for things if he knows he can win. Running might well split the Tory vote but running doesnt equal winning.

Former PM considering his next move after damning Partygate verdict (Getty)

Mr Walden added: I expect if theres even a shred of truth in this then its more about limelight hogging than reality. Last time I looked Boris was still a Conservative. Im not sure Tory members in London will look kindly on him running against their chosen candidate.

Richard Barnes, the former deputy mayor of London under Mr Johnson, told LBC that trying to run for mayor again would be the act of a desperate man, adding: You can go forwards, left or right, but you cant go backwards.

The Conservatives had already shortlisted three candidates for next years London mayoral contest: Susan Hall, Mozammel Hossain, and Daniel Korski. Mr Johnsons former adviser and ally Samuel Kasumu missed out  with speculation he was blocked for his links to the ex-PM.

There are no restrictions on the number terms a London mayor can serve or number of times candidates can run. With the election taking place in May 2024, Mr Johnson would have until March 2024 to hand in his nomination papers.

Meanwhile, the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) chair Lord Eric Pickles will be writing to Mr Johnson on his news job as a Mail columnist. Former ministers who have left in the last two years must apply to Acoba before taking up a new role.

It comes as Mr Johnson licks his wounds after the damning verdict of MPs on the privileges committee Partygate inquiry  who said theyd have recommended a 90-day suspension had he not already quit his seat to spite their expected sanction.

Senior Tory MP Damian Green said it will be quite difficult for Mr Johnson to return as a Tory candidate for the Commons in the future. Mr Green told BBC Radio 4s Today that if he had offered a more temperate response to the committee it would be easier for him to made a comeback.

Boris Johnson could run in Nadine Dorries old seat, says ally (PA)

But Mr Johnsons allies havent given up hope that he can find another seat to run at the general election in 2024  or even before then.

David Campbell Bannerman, chairman of the Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO), said Mr Johnson still stand in the Oxfordshire seat of Henley  or run in Nadine Dorries Mid-Bedfordshire seat once she formally quits in the weeks or months ahead.

He is still an approved Conservative candidate  but is the party chairman and No 10 going to allow him to stand? he told The Independent. They would be unwise to stop him. He needs to get back in quickly, and MPs need to get real and see Sunak is not going to stop a wipe-out.

Mr Bannerman dismissed the idea of Mr Johnson running as London mayor. He was a very good mayor, but he has bigger fish to fry  we need him back as prime minister, the Johnson ally said.

Mr Johnson is pondering whether to launch a series of appearances in the weeks ahead to push his policy agenda, according to The Telegraph. The Reform UK Party are reportedly keen to invite him to join their efforts to protect Brexit.

Conservative MPs are considering whether to vote for the privileges committee report or abstain on Monday, as Ms Dorries and a small group of Johnson allies warned of a grassroots uprising and deselections.

Tim Loughton told the BBC he was likely to vote in favour of the report, describing the committee as legitimate and their findings damning. One senior Tory told The Independent that colleagues should show backbone on Monday.

Liz Truss says Tories wrong to get rid of Boris (PA Archive)

Mr Green told Today that abstaining from voting would be not really rising to the importance of the occasion. Asked if Rishi Sunak should turn up to vote, the One Nation moderate said: Every individual will make up their own mind.

Liz Truss defended Mr Johnson in an interview with GB News, arguing that the Tories had been wrong to get rid of him and were sowing the seeds of huge problems for our party.

The former PM said the committees move to bar him from him holding a parliamentary pass was very harsh decision, and said people should never, ever, ever, write Boris off.

Sir Jake Berry, a friend of Mr Johnson, said it was an absolute disgrace that the privileges committee have warned MPs who criticised its work on Mr Johnson that it will produce a special report  accusing the panel of seeking to gag MPs.

The former Tory chairman told ITVs Good Morning Britain: Its an attack on free speech. Its an absolute disgrace and it rather begs the question that if the committee is so certain and so happy with their findings, why are they trying to stop any debate on this, to gag MPs.

Meanwhile, further evidence of Mr Sunaks problems with managing his own party came as Telford MP Lucy Allan announced she would step down at the next election.

The Shropshire town is where Mr Johnson launched his 2019 manifesto, but Ms Allan said: Todays Conservative Party is just not interested in seats like Telford anymore.

The Independent has approached Mr Johnsons spokesman for comment.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A former Downing Street official who worked throughout the Covid crisis has revealed the true scale of the drunken debauchery under Boris Johnson  with No 10 parties so wild that staff passed out on the stairway.

Speaking exclusively to The Independent, the whistleblower said the details in the Partygate report were just the tip of the iceberg when it came to the raucous drinking culture and blatant rule-breaking throughout the pandemic.

They revealed that Mr Johnson was happy to have his staff drinking and oversaw a culture of endemic rule-breaking so widespread that it put No 10 at odds with the rest of the country.

The No 10 insiders new revelations add to the damning evidence in the privileges committees scathing report into Mr Johnson  found to have deliberately and repeatedly lied to parliament about Partygate.

The source spoke of their embarrassment at being part of a charade orchestrated to pretend staff were following rules while a grubby reality played out behind closed doors. It came as the insider revealed:

Boris Johnson was aware of regular drinks parties during lockdown

The former PM oversaw a toxic masculine culture at Downing Street

No 10 staff were ill all of the time but were told no point wearing masks

Staff travelling with Johnson and Priti Patel were told to put on masks while going through train stations in case of cameras

Panicking staff started shredding material and deleting pictures after initial Partygate stories

The No 10 insider made clear the culture of non-compliance with Covid rules despite the draconian restrictions placed on the rest of the country.

Social distancing and mask-wearing were not enforced and regular parties  including birthday bashes and wine-time Fridays  continued during lockdown.

The former official said Mr Johnson was happy for people to be drinking even though he mostly drank water himself. He wanted to be part of the party  The idea he saw nothing is total nonsense  there is no way he didnt know they were going on.

There were so many parties, said the ex-official. Senior staff often stayed all night, sleeping under desks. One colleague was so drunk he was found passed out on the stairs.

Boris Johnson celebrating his birthday at No 10 in June 2020 (PA Media)

The former official said the utterly ridiculous culture at No 10 meant it was widely accepted that we were all breaking the rules, adding: When Sky News were live outside we all had to pretend we were adhering to the rules, it was pure theatrics.

A July 2020 train journey to and from North Yorkshire, during which Mr Johnson and then home secretary Ms Patel where photographed wearing masks, saw staff told only to bother with masks when cameras were present, they claimed.

Boris and Priti were on a train up north and we were all crammed into a VIP section of a train. Every time we were going through a station wed all be ordered to put our masks on in case there were cameras on the platform, the former official said.

Another particularly ridiculous moment was when Boris announced the lockdown. There he was on camera telling the nation to isolate, then as soon as they stopped filming, he and about five others crowded round a tiny screen to watch himself back  it was ridiculous. Days later he had Covid.

The whistleblower also revealed that there was a panic to get rid of evidence when the first Partygate stories broke at the end of 2021. People started shredding things and deleting pictures.

[Then No 10 communications director] Jack Doyle had handed out a load of awards at these parties and people had them hung up on the walls, but people ended up shredding them because they were evidence a gathering had happened.

Boris Johnson and Priti Patel on journey from North Yorkshire to London in July 2020 (Andrew Parsons / No10 Downing St)

The whistleblower said they remain angry at the rule-breaking culture. We were all ill, all of the time, I had multiple chest infections and Covid twice. I asked a senior colleague why we werent wearing masks inside early on, and she said, Theres no point, Ive seen the science.

Police were hunting people down using drones to catch them out walking with friends having a coffee, people were separated at funerals, I saw footage of peoples goodbye messages from hospital  all following rules set in this building. It was embarrassing.

Becky Kummer, a spokesperson for Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice, who lost her 77-year-old father at the height of the pandemic, said the latest claims showed that the crisis was treated as a good excuse for a knees-up at No 10.

Families like mine did everything we could to stick to the rules and protect others, she told The Independent. Its an utter tragedy that Johnson was in charge when the pandemic struck and he should never be allowed to stand for any form of public office again.

The whistleblower said many No 10 employees enjoyed a sudden rush of power when Mr Johnson arrived in June 2019, which got worse over time. Staff became arrogant, untouchable and werent afraid of exercising that feeling.

The ex-official also condemned the toxic masculine culture, saying Mr Johnson respected and listened to men more than women.

Boris Johnson near his home in Oxfordshire this week (Reuters)

It comes as a Tory MPs were urged to ignore threats of deselection by Nadine Dorries and back the privileges committee report at a crunch vote in the Commons on Monday. No 10 refused to say whether Rishi Sunak would turn up to vote.

Senior Tory Damian Green, leader of the One Nation group, warned colleagues who are considering keeping clear that abstaining is not really rising to the importance of the occasion.

However, Mr Sunak may be spared embarrassment after Mr Johnson told his supporters not to oppose the report in the Commons and enflame the row.

Sir Jake Berry, a friend of Mr Johnson, said it was an absolute disgrace that the privileges committee had warned MPs who criticised its work that it will produce a special report  accusing the panel of trying to gag MPs.

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson has been revealed as the erudite new Saturday columnist at the Daily Mail, offering a veiled warning to Mr Sunak that he may have to cover politics from time to time.

But the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba)  the body which rules on what jobs former ministers can take after office  said it was a clear breach for Mr Johnson to have applied for approval only 30 minutes before announcing the Mail column in a video.

The ex-Tory leader is also said to be weighing up an audacious independent bid to become London mayor for a second time after his dramatic fall from grace in the party.

The Financial Times reported that Mr Johnson was considering whether to take on Sadiq Khan in May 2024. Guto Harri, who served as a key aide to Mr Johnson during his last stint at City Hall, told The Independent it would be a great idea.

The Independent has approached Mr Johnsons spokesperson for comment on the new Partygate claims, as well as Ms Patel and Mr Doyle. No 10 declined to comment.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Boris Johnson has committed another clear breach of the rules with a column in which he disclosed he has taken the controversial drug alleged to be behind some celebrities dramatic weight loss.

In what will be seen as a thinly veiled attempt to settle old scores, the former prime minister also revealed two senior Tories, including a then cabinet minister, have used the medication.

Just a day after he was found to have repeatedly lied to Parliament, the appointments watchdog said he was in clear breach of the ministerial rules.

The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) has written to Mr Johnson to demand an explanation.

The ex-Pm informed Acoba of his new role as a Daily Mail columnist just half an hour before the public announcement.

In his first column Mr Johnson said he had grown concerned when he saw senior Tory MPs lose weight.

He wrote: I first thought that something was up when I saw that a certain member of the Cabinet had miraculously changed his appearance. He had acquired a new jawline. His neck emerged without effort from his collar. When he rose from his chair at the Cabinet table, that chair no longer tried to cling longingly about his hips.

If an otherwise healthy middle-aged man displays sudden weight loss, I reasoned, there are only two possible explanations. Either he has fallen hopelessly in love, or else he is about to mount a Tory leadership bid.

Then one of those colleagues came up and whispered the truth  that there was an entirely separate explanation. He had access, he said, to a wonder drug. The drug is called Ozempic.

The Acoba rules are designed to ensure ministers do not exploit the access they had in government.

But the watchdog has been accused of being "toothless" because it cannot impose sanctions.

A spokesman for the former prime minister said: "Boris Johnson is in touch with Acoba and the normal process is being followed."

Labours deputy leader Angela Rayner said Mr Johnson was "once again breaking the rules and taking advantage of a broken system for his own benefit".

"As he makes a mockery of the toothless ethics watchdog, this disgraced former prime minister clearly thinks the rules are for the little people," she added.

Mr Johnson's column will appear in the paper every Saturday.

Speculation about his future has intensified after he dramatically quit as an MP last Friday.

Before he became party leader, Mr Johnson received 275,000 to write for the Daily Telegraph.

On Thursday, Mr Johnson was found to have deliberately misled MPs with his partygate denials in a report by the Privileges Committee.

Recommended

They said a series of offences merited a 90-day suspension from the House and recommended he should be blocked from holding the pass to Parliament that former MPs are granted.

Mr Johnson dismissed the report by the cross-party committee as "deranged".
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Rishi Sunaks pledge to clear a backlog of asylum decisions by the end of this year is on course to fail after the annual cost of Britains asylum system hit 3.6bn, a watchdog has revealed.

The National Audit Office (NAO) said Home Office officials had internally warned that the pledge is in doubt, with urgent action required as costs soared amid an accommodation crisis, unrealistic targets, staffing issues and highly uncertain assumptions made by the government.

In a flagship speech on migration in December, the prime minister vowed to abolish the backlog of initial asylum decisions by the end of next year, but Downing Street swiftly clarified that he was only referring to legacy applications lodged before last June.

NAOs report said even that target is at risk, finding: While decisions are increasing, the Home Office is not yet making enough decisions on legacy claims to clear the backlog by December 2023.

The UKs independent public spending watchdog warned that the cost of Britains asylum system hit 3.6bn in 2022-23 and could rise further, despite the introduction of new laws the government believes will improve the cost and fairness of the asylum system.

Stephen Kinnock, Labours shadow immigration minister, said the Conservatives had lost control at an astronomical cost to the taxpayer.

The prime ministers focus on the legacy claims is in essence a red herring, and the actual backlog is likely to see an influx of another 23,000 claims by December, he added.

NAO calculated that 2,200 decisions would have to be made every week for the prime ministers target to be met  but the current figure is only 1,300.

Most of those are not full grants or refusals of asylum but administrative decisions, where applications are withdrawn from the system.

The Home Office may consider a claim implicitly withdrawn if, for example, a person seeking asylum leaves the UK before an asylum decision is made, fails to attend an asylum interview, or fails to complete an asylum questionnaire when asked to do so, NAO report said.

An asylum decision-maker told The Independent the Home Office had been setting impossible targets and unfairly attacking workers productivity, when they are hampered by the departments own policies and technology.

They are not trying to solve the backlog, he added. Theyre trying to refuse as many people as possible.

NAO warned that the prime ministers backlog pledge last December had forced the Home Office to reprioritise its activities to achieve these shorter-term targets, letting the backlog of post-June 2022 claims build.

Rishi Sunak onboard Border Agency cutter HMC Seeker during a visit to Dover (PA)

By the end of April, there were almost 138,000 claims awaiting an initial decision, including over 60,000 newer applications deprioritised as a result of the prime ministers target.

The delays are driving up the costs because of a legal duty on the government to house and support any destitute asylum seekers while their claims are being considered.

In February, the government announced a new system of fast-track asylum questionnaires for countries with high grant rates, including Afghanistan and Syria.

The scheme was expanded further last week, as the government scrapped measures introduced by Priti Patel that slowed down decisions, but NAO revealed that Home Office staff have raised concerns that the rate and quality of questionnaire returns were lower than their assumptions.

They warned that decisions based on the forms, which must be filled out in English regardless of the asylum seekers first language, could result in wrongful decisions and an increase in court appeals.

The questionnaires are part of a wider asylum transformation programme, which started in 2021 and aims to speed up decisions and reduce costs.

The business case for the programme is based on a range of highly uncertain assumptions, NAO warned, saying the Home Office had made unevidenced predictions about the number of people claiming asylum, the number of caseworkers it could employ, their productivity and costs.

The report said that the Home Office based its policy partly on an expectation that by April this year, it would be deporting 250 people each month to Rwanda or other countries where their asylum claims could be processed. The number is currently zero.

The total asylum backlog has hit a new record high (Home Office)

The Home Office has given the whole asylum transformation programme an amber/red rating, meaning it was in doubt, with urgent action required and possible delays to delivery, the report said.

An official review found there were unrealistic ambitions around accommodation and the productivity of caseworkers and issues with staffing capacity in parts of the Home Office.

Other issues include the absence of an operational asylum agreement with Rwanda or any other country, and the struggle to procure sufficient accommodation or advance controversial plans to use military bases and barges.

Alex Fraser, the British Red Crosss director for refugee support, said people cannot get on with their lives until the government processes their asylum claims.

We see every day the toll this takes on their physical and mental health, he added: More than 172,000 men, women and children living in limbo.

The Refugee Council spokesperson called for the government to set out a more ambitious, fair, and workable approach to tackling the backlog instead of pushing through unworkable and expensive legislation.

A Home Office spokesperson said: The government is working non-stop to reduce the asylum backlog and deliver cheaper, more orderly alternatives to hotel accommodation.

As NAO acknowledges, we have already doubled the number of caseworkers and cut the legacy backlog by 20 per cent, but we know more must be done to bring the asylum system back into balance.

The Illegal Migration Bill will stop the boats by detaining those who come to the UK illegally, and swiftly returning them to their home country or a safe third country.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

An SNP MP who previously worked as a police officer has claimed it was highly unusual for a tent to be erected outside Nicola Sturgeons home when her husband was arrested as part of a fraud probe into the partys finances.

Allan Dorans, who spent 15 years in the Metropolitan Police and rose to the level of detective inspector before entering politics, said he never knew of any occasions where a structure was assembled outside the home of a suspect accused of fraud.

His comments come just days after James Dornan, an SNP MSP, claimed that there appeared to have been collusion between the police and media in an attempt to maximise coverage of the arrest. Party leader Humsa rejected the suggestion.

Peter Murrell, who resigned as SNP chief executive in March, was arrested the following month over claims that money raised for a second independence referendum had been spent on other things.

When Mr Murrell was arrested, there was police activity at the home he shares with Mr Sturgeon in Glasgow and a tent was erected. The SNPs headquarters in Edinburgh was also searched.

In my 15-year career as a police officer in the Metropolitan Police, I never knew any occasions where a tent was erected during the search of premises in relation to the investigation of a case of alleged financial crime, Mr Dorans told The National, a pro-independence and SNP supporting newspaper.

Sir Iain Livingstone, Police Scotland chief constable, has previously defended the conduct of the force, saying earlier this month the probe has been proportionate and necessary.

The force first launched its investigation into potential criminality within the SNPs fundraising in July 2021. It came after a formal complaint was filed in March that year by party activist Sean Clerkin, who alleged that around 666,953 in donations raised since 2017 for a second independence referendum campaign had been spent on other things, contrary to promises made to supporters.

Police outside Nicola Sturgeons home following arrest of husband Peter Murrell (PA)

Ms Sturgeon, who announced in February that she was standing down as Scotlands first minister and SNP leader, has also been arrested in connection with the incident. She and Mr Murrell have both been released without charge pending further inquiries.

In a statement following her release from police custody, Ms Sturgeon said she was shocked and deeply distressed to have been arrested and insisted she was innocent of any wrongdoing.

Detectives working on the case seized a luxury campervan taken from a house in Fife at the same time police searched the SNP couples home when Mr Murrell was arrested.

The scandal has resulted in an incredibly difficult start to life for Mr Yousaf as successor to Ms Sturgeon, who he described as one of the best politicians in Europe in an interview on Sunday broadcast hours before her arrest was made made public.

He refused to suspend Ms Sturgeon from the party, saying he would only do so if she was found guilty of an offence.

And earlier this week he doubled down on his support for Ms Sturgeon, telling colleagues in Holyrood they should resign if they were not willing to fully back their former leader.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The head of a criticised review into the Governments anti-terror programme has said he is happy and very grateful to receive a knighthood.

The commissioner for public appointments Sir William Shawcross has been recognised in the Kings Birthday Honours List for his public service.

Sir Williams long-awaited report on the Prevent programme  which aims to stop people turning to terrorism  was published earlier this year, shortly after he announced an investigation into the selection of BBC chairman Richard Sharp amid concerns over his role in helping Boris Johnson secure a loan.

On his honour, the former Charity Commission chairman told the PA news agency: I am happy and very grateful.

The review into Prevent, ordered by former home secretary Priti Patel in 2019, found it was out of kilter with the rest of the counter-terrorism system, and the UK terrorism threat picture and must return to its overarching objective: to stop individuals from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.

Terrorism was wrongly treated as a mental illness and there was a failure by those working on Prevent to properly understand the nature of ideology in Islamist radicalisation which risks several potentially serious consequences, he said.

However, Sir William said in his review that accusations Prevent was anti-Muslim were an insult, and alleged that there was a concerted campaign to undermine it.

Some MPs and campaigners heavily criticised the review, with human rights group Amnesty International UK claiming it was riddled with biased thinking.

The charitys racial justice director Ilyas Nagdee said the report had no legitimacy, and claimed the scheme had unfairly targeted Muslim social activists.

Mr Nagdee said: This review is riddled with biased thinking, errors, and plain anti-Muslim prejudice  frankly, the review has no legitimacy.

William Shawcrosss history of biased comments on Muslims and Islam should have precluded his involvement in this ill-starred review in the first place.

Labour MP Zarah Sultana accused Mr Shawcross of having an anti-Muslim attitude.

In January, Sir William Shawcross said he would review the competition which led to Mr Sharp getting the BBC job.

He subsequently recused himself, because he had met Mr Sharp a number of times, with Adam Heppinstall KC appointed to lead the investigation.

It found found there were no concerns about Mr Sharps integrity while he was BBC chairman.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Leading figures from the arts world in Scotland have been recognised in the Kings Birthday Honours list.

Christopher Hampson, chief executive and artistic director of Scottish Ballet, becomes a CBE for services to dance.

Peter Lawson, chairman of Scottish Opera, is also made a CBE for services to the arts in Scotland.

Mr Hampson trained at the Royal Ballet School, where he began his choreographic work which continued while he danced with English National Ballet.

He joined Scottish Ballet as artistic director in 2012, and was appointed chief executive/artistic director in 2015.

Commenting on his royal honour, he told the PA news agency: I do feel very honoured and I think its wonderful to share the recognition with my family, friends and colleagues, and for me the real honour is the opportunity to share all the amazing work we do at Scottish Ballet, so thats really wonderful too, it helps me shine a light on all the creativity and work we do to make sure the dance world is a safe and welcoming environment for everyone.

I think coming out of lockdown and getting back into theatres and reconnecting with all of our audiences and the wider community in Scotland, thats just been amazing and thats really what keeps me going and what keeps the company going, so I feel like this particular recognition really helps me to shine a light on all that were doing around Scotland and internationally.

It does give us that opportunity to just really celebrate what were doing at Scottish Ballet.

Im in my 50th year this year so its been a lovely year to receive it as well.

Mr Hampson, who lives in Glasgow, is renowned for championing female choreographers, driving diversity in the ballet world, and commissioning ground-breaking films and digital dance forms, reaching huge international audiences during lockdown and beyond.

As well as his own works, such as The Snow Queen and Cinderella, Scottish Ballets repertoire includes new versions of classics such as The Crucible and Coppelia, as well as new commissions by emerging choreographers.

One of Mr Hampsons key focuses is developing in-house talent through choreographic initiatives.

Scottish Ballet recently won the award for outstanding company at the Critics Circle National Dance Awards in London.

Mr Lawson is a lawyer and has been involved in a number of arts organisations and trusts, both as legal adviser and as a board member, over several decades.

He is a past chairman of both the Tron Theatre Company and Glasgow Unesco City of Music, and a former committee member of Bafta Scotland.

Mr Lawson, who lives in Glasgow, said: I am honoured and delighted to accept the CBE in the 2023 Birthday Honours list.

I have been very fortunate to have been able to contribute to the cultural scene over the past 40 years, particularly with my chairmanships of the Tron Theatre and currently with Scottish Opera.

I consider the honour as a recognition of the importance of culture in bettering everyones day-to-day life, and also honouring the wonderfully dedicated and talented people with whom I have worked in the arts in Scotland.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Scottish Labours deputy leader has told how she was humbled to be made a dame in the Kings first Birthday Honours.

Dame Jackie Baillie said the honour was totally unexpected, with news of of its award coming as quite a shock to me.

She is understood to be the first sitting MSP at Holyrood to either be knighted or be given a damehood  the female equivalent of a knighthood.

When you have represented people for 24 years this is such a humbling experience Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie

The veteran MSP, who has represented the constituency of Dumbarton since the Scottish Parliament was first created in 1999, told PA Scotland: I understand I was nominated by constituents and when you have represented people for 24 years this is such a humbling experience.

And so I was delighted to accept on that basis.

With recipients of honours sworn to secrecy about their awards ahead of the honours list being made public, the Labour politician told just two people about the award  her daughter and the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar.

The 59-year-old is one of only three MSPs at Holyrood who have represented the same constituency for the lifetime of the Parliament  the others being former deputy first minister John Swinney, and the SNPs Fergus Ewing.

And she vowed that the awarding of the honour, given in recognition of her political and public service, would not change her.

In her time in Holyrood Dame Jackie has fought for a public inquiry to be held into the outbreak of Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven hospital in West Dunbartonshire.

When the inquiry was held it highlighted serious personal and systemic failures at the hospital, finding that C.diff was a factor in the death of 34 out of 143 patients who had tested positive for the infection there over the course of 2007 and 2008.

I hated the fact the C.diff at the Vale of Leven hospital damaged so many of my constituents and so many of them lost their lives as a result, Dame Jackie said.

It was my job to make sure that I relentlessly pursued a public inquiry for them, against the then health minister Nicola Sturgeon.

I think it took five years to get there, but we finally got a public inquiry that made all sorts of recommendations that I think have benefited not just the Vale of Leven but the NHS across Scotland.

With her constituency including the Faslane nuclear submarine base on the Clyde, she has also supported the jobs there, even at times when Labour as not been in favour of nuclear weapons.

Dame Jackie said: Im a multilateralist, I want to see nuclear weapons across the world removed, but these are good jobs in my constituency.

The MSP, who was born in Hong Kong to a Portuguese father and Scottish mother, was made deputy communities minister by Holyroods first first minister Donald Dewar, before becoming social justice minister under his successor Henry McLeish, during which time she was spearheaded the efforts of the then Scottish Executives homelessness task force.

In opposition at Holyrood, she brought forward a members bill to tackle the abuse of disabled parking bays, with legislation passed by Holyrood in 2009 establishing fines for those who park in them without holding a blue badge.

She has held a range of positions in the shadow cabinet, covering areas including health, social care and finance and the economy.

She has previously served as acting Scottish Labour leader and was elected as the partys Scottish deputy leader in 2020.

But she said: The reality is I cant get over the fact that I think there are many, many more people in my constituency who are much more deserving of this honour than me.

The NHS staff that I know, the care staff that I know, who went above and beyond during the pandemic to care for us. I think of all the people in my constituency who are always giving of their time freely to help others, whether it is volunteering with Chas (Childrens Hospices Across Scotland) which is in the constituency, or raising funds for cancer services, all of that they do all the time. So they are far more deserving than me.

This is less about me, this is for them. It is for them as much as it is for me.
Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Fifteen people died after a semi-truck collided with a bus full of seniors on their way to a casino in Canadas Manitoba province, according to officials.

The bus was carrying about 25 people from the western Manitoba city of Dauphin when the accident happened on Thursday, say the Royal Mounted Canadian Police.

Ten wounded people were taken to the hospital with injuries, RCMP Manitoba Commanding Officer Assistant Commissioner Rob Hill told reporters.

The bus was on its way to the Sand Hills Casino in Carberry when the accident took place, reported CTV News.

Investigators say that the bus was going south on Highway 5 and was crossing the eastbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway when it got hit by the truck.

At 11.40am today, (RCMP) responded to a mass casualty collision between a semi-trailer & bus. At this time, there are 15 fatalities & 10 people taken to hospital with various injuries. Major Crime Services is investigating & on scene, RCMP Manitoba tweeted.

(The semi-trailer was heading EB on #MBHwy1 & the bus, carrying senior citizens from Dauphin, was headed SB on #MBHwy5. The bus had already crossed the WB lanes of Hwy 1 & was crossing the EB lanes when it was struck by the semi.

AC Hill said that it was a tragic day for the province.

Sadly this is a day in Manitoba and across Canada that will be remembered as one of tragedy and incredible sadness, he said.

To all those waiting, I cant imagine how difficult it is not knowing if the person you love the most will be making it home tonight. Im so sorry we cannot get you the definitive answers you need more quickly.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau commented on the crash on Thursday.

Im sending my deepest condolences to those who lost loved ones today, and Im keeping the injured in my thoughts, he said on Twitter. I cannot imagine the pain those affected are feeling  but Canadians are here for you.

Manitobas Premier Heather Stefanson praised first responders and offered her condolences.

Our hearts are broken, and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of all the lives impacted by the horrific and devastating tragedy near the Town of Carberry, she said in statement.
Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A clown performer has been left devastated after his 15-year-old son was shot dead as he entertained children.

Osvaldo Abdiel often helped his dad Jose Aminadad Rodriguez Barajas set up shows and manage the sound system, Jam Press reports.

The teen was tragically gunned down while sitting on a bench outside the house where his dad was performing at a childrens party in Tijuana, Mexico.

The victim was accompanied by his twin brother while waiting for their father to finish the show.

Mr Barajas, who performs under the name Payaso Garritas, said he heard gunshots and immediately ran outside to check on the two teens.

He found his other lad cradling his injured brother in the street at around 8pm on 11 June.

He then rushed over to hold the dying teen in his arms in his final moments.

The heartbroken father said: I saw my son lose his life while in my hands.

Jose Aminadad Rodriguez Barajas shares heartbreak at his sons murder (Jam Press)

The shooting took place outside a home on 24th February Street (calle 24 de Febrero) in Tijuana, close to the US border.

Paramedics arrived on the scene, but could only confirm that the teenager had passed away.

Forensic experts found at least four shell casings on the street.

At least one bullet went through the victims back and exited through his chest, according to the authorities.

The victims brother said a hooded masked man approached them and suddenly opened fire at point-blank range without saying a word.

The brother managed to run off and was unharmed in the shooting.

Meanwhile, the suspect was last seen running towards a nearby hill and has yet to be arrested.

Investigators are pictured at the scene of the shooting in Tijuana (Jam Press)

Mr Barajas said: Words cannot express the terrible pain one feels as a father, watching your own son die in your arms.

Especially when one does a job that, however humble it may seem, is to make families laugh.

My son was such a kind person, so genuine. Its tragic and sad, but this is the reality.

He was my right hand man, he put on the music and supported me during my shows.

The performer added: I am not one to deny Gods will, but heaven knows why He does these things.

Based on the shell casings found at the scene, the State Attorney Generals Office said the murder weapon appears to be the same firearm used in four other homicides in the area in recent weeks.

Investigators currently suspect that the victim was intentionally targeted by the shooter.

The motive for his alleged murder is currently unclear as the investigation continues.
Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A Texas man allegedly yelled a homophobic slur before firing a barrage of shots that struck and killed a gay woman during an argument in a gas station forecourt, according to court documents.

Bradley Jacob Stanford, 23, has been charged with the first-degree felony murder of Akira Ross at a Circle K gas station in Cedar Park, near Austin, on 2 June, a charging document shows.

A witness who was with the couple saw Mr Stanford get into a verbal exchange with Ross, 24, after her girlfriend Tanya Gasaway went into the convenience store, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by KXAN.

The suspect began to get agitated and went to his car to retrieve a firearm, and Ross went into the store to warn her girlfriend that he was waving a gun around, the witness told investigators.

Ross went back outside and continued to argue with Mr Stanford, who then pulled a gun from his waistband, shouted an anti-gay slur and fired three shots and fled the store.

Officers from the Cedar Park Police Department arrived at the Circle K at about 10pm and found Ross next to her black Nissan sedan lying on her back in a pool of dark red blood.

She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Akira Ross, 24, was shot dead in an anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime, her family say (KVUE)

Mr Stanford was arrested two days later in Ingleside, near Corpus Christi, by a San Patricio Sheriffs Office tactical response team.

He was booked into Williamson County Jail on a murder charge.

Rosss grieving father Anthony Hill told KVUE that he believes his daughters homicide was a hate crime.

I just want people to stop hating on people for whatever they decide to do in life, Mr Hill told the news station.

You know, because at the end of the day, we are the same. No one is better than the next. No one is worse than the next.

Bradley Stanford, 23, has been charged with the murder of Akira Ross after allegedly yelling an anti-gay slur at her in a gas station car park (San Patricio County Sheriffs Office)

Rosss grandmother Carolyn Hartman told KVUE: She loved people, and she had her way of showing her love to people.

The witness told police that the couple had been in a minor quarrel over a food order that had caught Mr Stanfords attention.

Surveillance footage from the gas station shows Mr Stanford walk over to Ross where they appeared to have an exchange of words.

According to figures from the FBI, there were more than 10,500 hate crimes recorded in the United States in 2021, a 12 per cent increase from the previous year.

Around 16 per cent of those were due to the victims sexual orientation.
Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Paramedics in Baja California Sur who responded to the report of an American couple deceased in their hotel room said they felt symptoms consistent with carbon monoxide poisoning when they entered the room.

Fernando Valencia and his partner were called to the Hotel Rancho Pescadero in El Pescadero around 9pm on Tuesday (13 June) after receiving reports that two Americans were unconscious.

Upon arriving, Mr Valencia said he and his partner felt dizzy when they entered the room where they found 28-year-old Abby Lutz and 41-year-old John Heathco dead.

We went out of the room as soon as possible  I was afraid for my partner because my first thought in my mind was are we going to die? Mr Valencia told Good Morning America.

Lutz and Heathco were on a vacation in Mexico when they began to experience what Lutzs family said are symptoms consistent with food poisoning. The two went to the hospital to seek treatment and by Monday (12 June) were feeling better.

Between the time that Lutz texted her father on Monday and Tuesday evening, the couple died of intoxication by an unknown substance, according to the Baja California Sur attorney generals office.

Lutzs family said they were told the couples deaths were due to improper venting of the resort with the possibility that it could be carbon monoxide poisoning.

Mr Valencia called walking into the room one of the worst experiences of his life. He was especially worried for his and his partners health because he was working with his sister.

John Heathco was found dead in a Mexico hotel room with Abby Lutz (LinkedIn)

The Baja California Sur attorney generals office said in a statement that Lutz and Heathco had been dead between 10 and 11 hours by the time paramedics arrived. There were no signs of physical violence.

In a statement provided to The Independent, Henar Gil, the general manager of Rancho Pescadero  a Hyatt property  said: We are truly heartbroken by this terrible tragedy. Our hearts are with the impacted families and loved ones during this unimaginable loss.

Abby Lutz was found dead in a hotel room in Mexico with her partner John Heathco (Family handout)

Local authorities are still actively investigating the situation, and the safety and security of our guests and colleagues remains a top priority, as always. We can confirm there was no evidence of violence related to this situation, and we are not aware of any threat to guests safety or wellbeing, Ms Gil said.

She added We are working to care for those who have been impacted and we are working closely with authorities as they conduct their investigation to understand the cause of death. Further inquiries should be directed to local authorities.

US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said they are closely monitoring the investigation into Lutz and Heathcos deaths in a news conference on Thursday (15 June).

We stand ready to provide any consular  any appropriate consular assistance, Mr Miller added.
Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Two Americans who were on vacation in Mexico were found dead in their hotel room on Tuesday, 13 June, after apparently being poisoned by an unknown substance.

The couple, identified as 28-year-old Abby Lutz and 41-year-old John Heathco were staying at the luxury hotel Rancho Pescadero in Baja California Sur.

Paramedics were called to the couples hotel room after receiving a report that they were unconscious, according to ABC News.

However, once paramedics checked, they determined Lutz and Heathco were unresponsive and did not have vital signs.

Now, Lutzs family is speaking out, believing the two suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Heres everything we know so far.

Abby Lutz was found dead in a hotel room in Mexico with her partner John Heathco (Family handout)

What happened?

Lutz and Heathco were on vacation together in Baja California Sur, according to a statement in a GoFundMe started by one of Lutzs family members.

The two were staying at the Rancho Pescadero, a luxury hotel and Hyatt property located in El Pescader, approximately 40 miles north of Cabo San Lucas.

Lutz and Heathco began to experience symptoms they thought were consistent with food poisoning and went to the hospital for treatment during the trip, according to Lutzs GoFundMe.

John Heathco (pictured) was found dead in a Mexico hotel room with Abby Lutz (LinkedIn)

The couple started feeling much better several days later and by Monday (12 June) were back at the hotel and communicating with their families.

Just one day later, their families received phone calls saying they had passed away peacefully in their hotel room in their sleep.

Recommended Two Americans found dead in luxurious Baja California Sur hotel as family suspects carbon monoxide poisoning

Paramedics in the area responded to a report of two unconscious people in the hotel and arrived around 9pm on 13 June.

The Baja California Sur attorney generals office said in a statement that the two died of poisoning by an unknown substance and had no signs of physical violence. They said the two had been dead between 10 and 11 hours by the time they arrived.

Lutzs family said they were told the deaths were due to improper venting of the resort and could be carbon monoxide poisoning.

One of the first responders, Fernando Valencia, said that he and his partner felt dizzy when they entered the room where Lutz and Heathco were staying.

We went out of the room as soon as possible I was afraid for my partner because my first thought in my mind was are we going to die? Mr Valencia told Good Morning America in an interview.

Mr Valencia called it one of the worst experiences.

Henar Gil, the general manager of Rancho Pescadero said in a statement provided to The Independent: We are truly heartbroken by this terrible tragedy. Our hearts are with the impacted families and loved ones during this unimaginable loss.

Local authorities are still actively investigating the situation, and the safety and security of our guests and colleagues remains a top priority, as always. We can confirm there was no evidence of violence related to this situation, and we are not aware of any threat to guests safety or wellbeing, Ms Gil said.

She added We are working to care for those who have been impacted and we are working closely with authorities as they conduct their investigation to understand the cause of death. Further inquiries should be directed to local authorities.

US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said they are closely monitoring the investigation into Lutz and Heathcos deaths in a news conference on Thursday (15 June).

We stand ready to provide any consular  any appropriate consular assistance, Mr Miller added.

Current and former employees of the hotel have voiced concerns, alleging that the hotel knew about gas leak problems and even disabled the carbon monoxide alarms.

Ricardo Carbajal, the former night manager of Rancho Pescadero told The Los Angeles Times: They knew there were problems with a gas leak.

He added: Everyone was aware of the alarms and that the detectors were off.

Mr Carbajal, who stopped working at the luxury hotel in March, said carbon monoxide detectors went off frequently over a period of three months last year before hotel managers disabled the alarms due to noise complaints.

Current employees of the luxury hotel told The Los Angeles Times that there were complaints of a strong smell of gas from employees and guests but hotel managers ignored it.

Housekeepers reported gas leaks, security reported gas leaks maintenance workers reported gas leaks, one employee who requested to remain anonymous said.

Who are the victims?

The victims are Abby Lutz and John Heathco.

According to the GoFundMe description, they were dating at the time of their deaths.

Lutz, 28, was from Newport Beach, California but grew up in Idaho, her aunt, Karen Lutz, told The Daily Beast.

Abby Lutz (GoFundMe)

According to Karen, Lutz loved travelling and had previously visited Europe, Asia and Mexico.

Abby was supposed to meet up with her dad this week for Fathers Day, the GoFundMe description for Lutz says. Abby was the most beautiful soul and we will miss her so much.

Her family is asking for assistance in bringing her home so they give her a funeral.

Heathco owned a health supplement company in Newport Beach, according to his LinkedIn profile. It is unclear where he is from originally.
 Close Related video: Harvard Morgue Manager Was Selling Body Parts

Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A Harvard Medical School morgue manager and his wife are among five people who have been charged with stealing and selling human remains.

Cedric Lodge, who was fired on 6 May, allegedly stole heads, brains, skin and bones from cadavers that were donated to the school, federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania said on Wednesday.

He and his wife Denise sold the body parts to buyers in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, sending them in the post, according to the indictment. In one case, the buyer allegedly intended to tan skin into leather.

The scheme, which is part of a larger black market, is alleged to have gone on from 2018 to 2022.

Mr Lodge, who was hired by Harvard in Boston, Massachusetts in 1995, allegedly sometimes allowed potential buyers into the morgue to choose which body parts they wanted.

After the horrifying allegations emerged, family members who donated their loved ones bodies to medical research spoke of their horror.

We were just disgusted, Paula Peltonovich, whose fathers remains were donated to the school, told the Boston Globe on Thursday. Sick, like we were going to throw up.
 Close Woman's body found in suitcase

Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Suitcase killer Heather Mack has pleaded guilty in a Chicago court today over the 2014 murder of her socialite mother in Bali, bringing some sort of conclusion to the shocking case.

In August 2014, Mack, then 18 and pregnant, and her boyfriend Tommy Schaefer, then 21, bludgeoned Sheila von Weise-Mack, 62, to death with a metal fruit stand while on vacation at the luxury 5-star St Regis resort on the Indonesian island.

The couple, who described themselves as Bonnie and Clyde in chilling text messages, then stuffed her body in a suitcase and left it in the trunk of a taxi.

They were both convicted of premeditated murder in Indonesia  narrowly escaping death by firing squad.

After serving seven years in a Bali jail (where her daughter was born), Mack was extradited to the US where she was arrested on arrival in Chicago and hit with fresh charges of conspiracy to murder in a foreign country in November 2021.

Since then, she has been behind bars fighting the charges but had a change of heart and decided to take a plea deal.
Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The world first heard the story of American teenager Heather Mack and her mother Sheila von Wiese-Mack when the 62-year-olds body was found stuffed in a suitcase in Indonesia.

But the story actually begins many years earlier.

Behind the headlines about the so-called Suitcase Killer is a tragic story of a mother who endured years of domestic violence at the hands of her child inside the home they shared in the Oak Park suburb of Chicago.

Abuse which ultimately escalated to that day in 2014 when the 18-year-old and her 21-year-old boyfriend bludgeoned her to death at a 5-star resort in Bali.

Rasul Freelain, a retired Oak Park Police sergeant who arrested Mack multiple times for allegedly abusing her mother, tells The Independent that the warning signs were there as soon as he met the pair for the first time back in 2010.

What he saw was a sadly typical case of a domestic abuse victim reluctant to speak out or take action against the abuser that she loved.

The violence grew progressively worse over the next few years until January 2013, when von Wiese-Mack made the chilling admission that she believed her daughter was going to kill her.

But  due to the current lack of laws around child to parent domestic abuse  Sgt Freelain and the Oak Park authorities were ultimately helpless to save von Wiese-Mack from her fate.

Nineteen months later, her tragic prediction became a reality.

It was like watching a slow-moving train derailment  we can see it and we all look and see it falling off into a ravine, says Sgt Freelain.

I feel that on some level the entire criminal justice system failed Sheila.

He adds: Her daughter of course failed her the most. Her child who she loved and raised and doted on and did everything she could to win her affection and approval betrayed her in a way no one could match.

Suitcase murder

On 12 August 2014, Mack, then 18, and her then-boyfriend Tommy Schaefer, 21, bludgeoned von Wiese-Mack to death with the metal handle of a fruit stand at the luxury 5-star St. Regis resort in Bali.

They then stuffed her body into a suitcase, hailed a taxi and loaded it into the trunk of the car.

When they were unable to check out of the luxury resort  using her mothers credit card  the couple fled the scene, leaving the bloodstained suitcase behind.

They were soon tracked down to a budget motel and arrested on suspicion of murder.

Heather Mack in an immigration car in Indonesia after her release from Bali prison in 2021 (EPA)

At the time of the murder, Mack  the daughter of socialite von Wiese-Mack and famed musician James L Mack  was pregnant with Schaefers child.

Prosecutors revealed that she had flown her lover out on a $12,000 business-class ticket just hours earlier charged to her mothers credit card. Chilling text messages also showed how the couple likened themselves to the notorious duo Bonnie & Clyde and plotted methods of murder with the help of Schaefers cousin Ryan Bibbs.

They were both convicted of premeditated murder in Indonesia and narrowly avoided facing the firing squad. Macks baby Stella was born in Bali prison and was allowed to stay with her there for the first two years of her life. She is now being raised by von Wiese-Macks niece in Colorado.

Bibbs was also convicted of conspiracy to kill von Wiese-Mack and sentenced to nine years in prison.

After Mack served seven years in an Indonesian jail, she was extradited to the US, where she was arrested on charges of conspiracy to murder in a foreign country in November 2021.

Since then, she has been behind bars in Illinois awaiting trial.

On Friday (16 June), she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to murder a US national under a plea agreement with prosecutors despite believing  by her own admission  that she has already done her time for her crime.

Its a horror case that has transfixed the nation for the past eight years and raised several questions due to the sheer brutality of von Wiese-Macks demise: How could a daughter have plotted her own mothers death? How could she have then stuffed her own mothers corpse in a suitcase? And why did she do it?

But the bigger question  and one that has rarely been asked over the years  is could von Wiese-Macks murder have been prevented?

History of violence

In the years leading up to the murder, police records reveal that officers responded to a string of violent incidents committed by Mack against her mother at their home in Illinois.

Oak Park Police records show at least 35 interactions with officers since 2008 including reports of Mack breaking her mothers arm, biting her and punching her. The records also include reports of stealing credit cards and money  an apparent motive for the murder.

While only Mack now knows when the violence first began, the first record of police being called to the home came in April 2008 for a report that the then-13-year-old had locked her mother in a room and threatened her.

The next police report came in January 2010 when Mack allegedly punched her mothers broken ankle.

Sgt Freelain first met von Wiese-Mack in November of that year when she reported that her daughter had stolen her credit card and $1,060 cash.

A detective specialising in youth and family issues at the time, he was assigned the case and says he met von Wiese-Mack in person and spoke with her on the phone several times. It was also the first time he met Mack, then aged 15.

After interviewing her, Mack admitted that she stole her mothers credit card but denied stealing the cash.

Sheila von Weise-Mack, 62, was found stuffed in a suitcase in Bali (Provided/Caxton Club)

In that first meeting, I certainly saw how Sheila was torn in terms of what to do about Heather, Sgt Freelain recalls.

She suspected and then knew that she had stolen from her but didnt want to follow through on pressing charges against her daughter which is understandable but as things progressed that infliction would make things very difficult for us to be able to help Sheila.

In that first meeting it was clear something was wrong  in terms of both the financial side of things but also her daughters behaviour.

But it was the next time when I met Sheila in February 2011, that alarm bells really went off.

Sgt Freelain says that von Wiese-Mack turned up at the police department that night with her right arm broken and in a cast.

In one violent incident that January, Mack had pushed her mother causing her to fall and break arm, according to a police report later filed.

Her body language  she looked so beaten back, Sgt Freelain says of that day in February 2011.

In November, it was clear there was some kind of domestic dynamic that wasnt good but Sheila hadnt been forthright in elaborating about what was going on.

But that night I got her more comfortable talking and she opened up about the physical and verbal abuse. We established a good rapport that night that stayed over the next two-and-a-half years.

Von Wiese-Mack told him what had happened to her arm.

I told her Ive worked with families where the kids abuse the parents and it doesnt fix itself, he says.

I told her about one case where a kid went on to murder their mother.

But when Sgt Freelain says he told von Wiese-Mack that they would have to arrest Mack and that she needed to press charges over the alleged attack, he says reality hit and she ran out of the police precinct.

She was so fearful of the idea of Heather being arrested, he says.

I figured I would never see her again but she came back the next day to say shed been attacked by Heather again.

An officer came and got me from the detective division and said a woman is asking for you.

I went out and it was Sheila Mack. She had been attacked and was crying and said Im sorry, I should have listened to you. Can you help me?

He adds: And that was the first day that I arrested Heather.

On 17 February 2011, Mack was arrested for the first time for domestic battery over the January attack on her mother that resulted in her broken arm.

This marked a major step forward for von Wiese-Mack.

Sheila von Wiese-Macks body was stuffed in a suitcase (AP)

Up until that point, Sgt Freelain says there was a pattern of her calling 911 to report Macks alleged attacks but then refusing to cooperate when police urged her to press charges.

But it was a cycle von Wiese-Mack ultimately couldnt get out of.

Victims conflict

Her behaviour was completely consistent with other families Ive worked with where kids have been abusive to the parents and in other broader situations of domestic or family abuse, says Sgt Freelain.

Its mirrored in what we see in intimate partner violence where the victim is very reluctant to speak out against their abuser.

Sheilas conflict was I dont believe she wanted to break my arm, she was just mad at me.

Its what we hear from so many victims of domestic violence.

Following Macks first arrest, von Wiese-Mack was given all the options for next steps and decided she did not want the case to go to court.

But, by 14 April  less than two months later  Mack was arrested for a second time for biting her mothers arm.

Sgt Freelain was not the arresting officer in that case but, when he heard about it, he contacted von Wiese-Mack and urged her to seek court protection against her daughter.

The situation was escalating and I was trying to both keep Sheila safe and help Heather change her behaviour, he says.

But Heather didnt give things a chance and by the summer more and more reports were coming in about her behaviour.

Between that first arrest in February and the end of 2011, Oak Park Police records reveal no fewer than 10 separate interactions where police were called to the suburban home.

The reports include incidents of biting her mothers bicep, threatening her, running away and one where she is described as out of control.

In early 2012, Mack was convicted of battery in juvenile court over the violence against her mother, according to Cook County juvenile records, obtained by The Chicago Tribune.

Under the juvenile conviction, she was ordered to attend counselling, with a specific focus on anger management.

Heather Mack behind bars in Indonesia (Getty)

Sgt Freelain says that the conviction initially caused von Wiese-Mack to distance herself from the help of police.

She went from thanking me for helping to navigate the chaos as Heather became more violent and aggressive to not speaking to me because Heather was detained, he says.

You see it a lot in domestic abuse cases.

He adds: We were going against Sheilas hardwired desire to protect her own child. Heather was her only child  she was wired to keep her girl safe even though she was going to kill her.

As well as trying to protect von Wiese-Mack, authorities also tried to get Mack the help she needed to change her violent behaviour.

Mack spent time at two separate facilities for juvenile offenders who suffer from mental health problems, receiving both inpatient and some outpatient treatment.

As well as mental health services, Sgt Freelain connected the teenager with a female detective who specialised in connecting with at-risk girls who could act as her mentor.

My motivation was keeping Sheila safe but also saying what do we need to do for Heather to break this cycle, he says.

Its a duality we tried to balance.

Despite the efforts, the alleged domestic abuse continued.

Throughout 2012, at least 15 police reports were made about Macks behaviour.

It wasnt enough

Things then came to a head in January 2013, says Sgt Freelain.

As police records show, von Wiese-Mack confided in him for the first time that she feared her daughter was going to kill her.

When a victim says I think this person is going to kill me, I believe them, he says.

Sgt Freelain says he passed the information straight away to Macks probation officer who shared the same fears about the danger to von Wiese-Macks life. They tried to lay out a case that Mack had violated her court supervision and so should be jailed.

But, von Wiese-Mack stopped cooperating again, he says, and so the case was dismissed in May 2013. The mother and daughter moved from Oak Park to Chicago, out of the jurisdiction of the police department.

Fifteen months on from the case being dropped  and just over a year-and-a-half after von Wiese-Mack disclosed her fears for her life  her only daughter and her boyfriend beat her death.

Sgt Freelain recalls the moment he heard about von Wiese-Macks murder.

I was driving my car and it came out on the local news radio I had to pull the car over to the side of the road, he says.

Heather Mack with her baby daughter inside a prison cell in Indonesia (AP)

What Sheila said had happened. It was information overload. I started pounding the steering wheel and saying no, no, no in the car. I couldnt fathom that it had happened even though it was like watching a slow-moving train derailment.

Sgt Freelain says he also recognised the name of Macks accomplice Schaefer, having tried to take him under my wing while working as an officer at a school that he attended.

For the retired detective, he is confident that he did everything he could under the law to try to save the 62-year-old.

In the police department, I felt we were very thorough in terms of documenting every interaction we had and trying to get Sheila to press charges, he says.

I was the first person who arrested Heather and I arrested her four times in total. I worked to get her convicted and then tried to get her probation violated.

But it just shows it wasnt enough.

Gaps in the law

In the way was the lack of laws protecting parents from domestic violence at the hands of a child or teenager.

In Illinois and many other states, there are laws protecting children from abuse by their parents and other adults.

There are laws protecting elders from abuse.

And there are also laws protecting adults from abuse by domestic partners and other adults in the home.

But there are currently no laws in Illinois protecting parents from abuse from their minor children.

What this meant was that, once von Wiese-Mack stopped cooperating and refused to press charges, authorities had no power to push ahead and take action against Mack.

Sgt Freelain explains that if Mack had been 18  and therefore an adult under the law  things would have been very different.

As it was, Mack was just five months away from her 18th birthday when the case was dismissed.

Sgt Freelain asks: Why is Sheila any safer from a 17-and-a-half-year-old than from an 18-year-old?

If Heather had been an adult, in Illinois there would have been all kinds of mandatory things that would have kicked in after even one attack, he says.

She would have been put in jail overnight, there would be a list of restrictions, a mandatory appearance in domestic violence court, an almost guaranteed second court appearance and  even if Sheila stopped cooperating  we could have continued to prosecute Heather.

In other forms of domestic violence, we have things in place that even if the person tells the judge or prosecutors that they dont want to cooperate, we can continue with the prosecution. But none of those things are in place for child to parent violence.

Because of the lack of laws recognising child to parent abuse, their hands were tied.

Here was a case where the same laws that can be used to protect victims of abuse by their partner, child victims of abuse by their parents, victims of elder abuse, or abuse by any domestic adult within the home, could not protect a parent being abused by her child.

The state of Illinois is far from alone with this issue. The very first law recognising child to parent abuse (CPA) also came into force in Florida six years ago.

And von Wiese-Mack is also far from alone in her suffering.

While CPA may be less common and rarely spoken about when compared to partner-to-partner violence or child abuse, it is still far too common.

A 2018 study, which looked at 60 years of research, found that CPA exists in between 5 and 21 percent of families.

Heather Mack escorted by Indonesian authorities on her release from Bali prison in 2021 (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Due to underreporting  perhaps in part due to a stigma on the issue  the true figures are actually expected to be higher.

Von Wiese-Mack appears to have felt that stigma.

Sgt Freelain recalls that she once attended a support group for domestic violence but, after finding herself the only person in the room being abused by their child, she never went back.

While its impossible to know, Sgt Freelain believes that the system failed von Wiese-Mack and that her horrific and tragic death may well have been avoided.

I strongly believe that if the systems that are in place for adults who abuse women, if those laws and protocols had been in place for child and teenage abusers, then there would be a greater chance Sheila would not have been killed on August 12 2014, he says.

Logistically, he points out if the case hadnt been dismissed by the court in May 2013 and Mack had been found in violation of the court order, she would have been sent to jail at 17 and turned 18 behind bars that October. Leaving jail as an adult, she would have then been on parole for any future domestic situations on her release.

It could have changed the dynamic, he says.

Need for change

This is why the retired police officer is now pushing for a change in laws to recognise child to parent abuse and shore up the gaps in protections and available responses. He is also calling for more training for police and schools on CPA and improved access to mental health services to support young people like Mack. He is writing a book on the topic centred around this tragic case, with the blessing of von Wiese-Macks family.

There are gaps in the criminal justice system  do I feel it let Sheila and Heather down? Yes.

Sheila lost her life and its had a catastrophic effect on people who cared about her and Heather. And its sad for Heather as well. I wanted the best for her too, he says.

Its a tragedy on all sides.

So Im motivated by two things: to try to honour the memory of Sheila. We hear about her as someone shoved in a suitcase and about Bonnie and Clyde but what about the victim? She wasnt perfect but she loved her daughter and wanted to give her the best life and no one deserves to be abused the way she was, he says.

The second motive is to bring awareness of how this case is an extreme example of what can happen with child to parent abuse if we dont bring about change in society. We have got to figure this out.

Theres not a day I dont think about this case and about how families like Sheila and Heather need assistance. Where Sheila and I didnt agree was because she accused me of pushing too hard and I kick myself now as I feel like I didnt push hard enough.

This month von Wiese-Mack should be turning 75.

Instead, her daughter has just pleaded guilty to conspiring to kill her and now faces up to 28 more years behind bars at her sentencing in December.

The sad irony of Sheilas case is that, were it not for the tragic ending, no one would ever have known the years of abuse she endured behind closed doors.

If it wasnt for the suitcase, the world wouldnt have known about this. The world knows because of the horror and because what they had to do to get her in there was unthinkable, says Sgt Freelain.

But theres more to it. Its the unthinkable combination of years of unthinkable abuse.
Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

On 13 June, Jordan Williams, 20, and his girlfriend of eight months were traveling between their houses on a J train in New York City when another man on the train allegedly began harassing other passengers.

The man, Devictor Ouedraogo, 36, was allegedly moving throughout the car harassing and provoking other passengers, according to witnesses.

He eventually worked his way to Mr Williams, where his alleged harassment escalated into violence, and ended with Mr Williams fatally stabbing the 36-year-old.

Mr Williams was taken into custody and has since been charged with manslaughter.

Here's everything we know about the stabbing death of Devictor Ouedraogo on a New York City subway train.

The stabbing

Mr Williams and his girlfriend were out for the evening on 13 June and were travelling on the J train toward Marcy Avenue and Broadway. Ouedraogo was also on the train, allegedly shirtless and seemingly intoxicated, according to witnesses. Toxicology reports are forthcoming to confirm or deny his intoxication.

He allegedly worked his way through the train harassing other riders, even gyrating in the face of one rider who refused to acknowledge him, according to the New York Daily News.

When he reached Mr Williams, who is Black, and his girlfriend, he allegedly began shouting about "white power" and asked Mr Williams' girlfriend  who has remained unnamed  if she wanted to have sex with him.

The details of the escalation are currently unclear, but what is known is that at some point Ouedraogo punched Mr Williams' girlfriend. The confrontation ended when Mr Williams produced a folding knife and stabbed Ouedraogo in the chest.

Jordan Williams, 20, a New York man charged with manslaughter after he fatally stabbed a rider who was harassing others and who had punched his girlfriend, speaking with his attorney (screengrab/ABC7)

A video taken by a witness and reviewed by the Daily News shows Ouedraogo stumbling shirtless from the train car bleeding from his chest. First responders transported him to the nearby Brooklyn Methodist Hospital where he later was pronounced dead.

A witness reportedly told investigators that Mr Williams said I just stabbed that n*****, according to the Daily News. You see him leaking?

Mr Williams and his girlfriend were arrested a few stops down the line after the stabbing.

Manslaughter charges filed

Mr Williams has been charged with manslaughter and criminal weapon possession in connection to the stabbing. His girlfriend was released by authorities without charges.

The 20-year-old had no prior criminal complaints on his record.

Ouedraogo previously served a three-year prison sentence in 2009 for an attempted robbery in Queens, according to court records.

Mr Williams' attorney, Jason Goldman, said his client acted in self-defence the night of the stabbing.

"We understand that this was a packed subway car during rush hour with dozens of witnesses. We have spoken with some who have already confirmed that the victim was physically violent with others prior to and during this incident," he said.

Mr Goldman expressed frustration that his client was not receiving the same treatment that Daniel Penny, who allegedly killed Jordan Neely after the latter reportedly had been harassing passengers. Mr Penny was questioned and then released for the duration of the police investigation into Mr Neely's death. Mr Penny was ultimately indicted by a grand jury.

Mr Williams was initially kept in custody.

"Is Mr. Williams not getting the same treatment that Mr. Penny received  released, voluntary surrender, and low bail  because his skin color is different and he comes from a particular neighborhood?" Mr Goldman asked. "Instead, those very factors will likely result in Mr. Williams, a young boy, fighting this case of clear self-defense from a cage at Rikers," he said, referring to the city's largest jail.

On Thursday, a judge ruled that Mr Williams could be released without bond so long as he remained under supervision.

A family member hugs Jordan Williams, 20, following his released without bail after he fatally stabbed Devictor Ouedraogo, 36, who punched Mr Williams girlfriend and harassed riders on a New York City subway. (screengrab/ Fox5 NY)

Mr Williams' family wept inside the courtroom upon learning he would be released without bail, with Mr Goldman noting that the $100,000 bond sought by the prosecution "might as well be $1m to this family."

Mr Williams' aunt, Amanda Trammell, described the incident as a "very sad situation."

Jordan is a very quiet, respectful child," she said. "This is obviously an intoxicated or mentally ill person. He did assault Jordan. Put yourself in his shoes.

An online fundraiser was established to help Mr Williams pay for his legal defence. The fundraiser collected just over $68,000 of its $100,000 goal as of 16 June.

We are blessed that a Judge has allowed my son to fight his case alongside his lawyer from the outside but there is still a way to go in having these charges completely dismissed, the family said in a post on the fundraising page.

Comparisons to Daniel Penny

The stabbing is the second subway altercation to end in a death in recent months; in May, ex-US Marine Daniel Penny put Jordan Neely, a Black busker experiencing homelessness who allegedly had been harassing other subway riders, in a chokehold. Mr Neely eventually died due to the chokehold.

The encounter was captured on witness video and sparked a national debate over whether or not Mr Penny was in the wrong for stopping a man who had been allegedly harassing other riders.

Many conservatives decried his eventual arrest and manslaughter charges, claiming he was acting in the defence of other passengers from an individual they argued was possibly unstable and dangerous.

Jordan Neely (left) and Daniel Penny surrendering (right) (Getty)

Mr Neely's family has argued that Mr Penny had no regard for Mr Neely's life and felt "entitled" to take it as a result.

A witness on the train the night Ouedraogo was stabbed told ABC7 that Mr Williams was not the aggressor, but also said he went too far in stabbing the man.

"It's certainly something he didn't start or would have probably been involved in if it weren't for, you know, the guy who was killed being the aggressor," the witness said. "But you can't kill someone just because, you know, they started a fight with you."

Those sentiments were similar to the complaints made against Mr Penny following Mr Neely's death, including those made by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who advocated on behalf of Mr Neelys family.

Mr Williams' family said that the similarities between Mr Penny's case and Mr Williams' are only similar because they occurred on a train.

The only comparison is that they both happened on the train, April Williams, Jordan's mother, said. I dont know what else to say. I know my Jordan [acted in] self-defense.
Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

An Idea judge has denied cult mom Lori Vallow a new trial after she was convicted of murdering her two youngest children and conspiring to murder her new husband Chad Daybells first wife.

The 49-year-old mother-of-three was last month found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and grand theft over the deaths of her daughter Tylee Ryan, 16, and son Joshua JJ Vallow, 7, in Ada County Court in Boise, Idaho.

She was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit the murder of Tammy Daybell, the then-wife of Vallows husband Mr Daybell.

Her lawyers returned to court on Thursday to argue that she deserved a fresh trial, claiming the jury was confused by misleading instructions, reported KIFI.

Her defence team argued that the court should overturn her previous trial and that she be re-tried along with Mr Daybell, who will face a jury next year.

They also argued that one juror, who later appeared in media interviews, knew about evidence not presented at trial.

Vallow was smiling as she arrived in court wearing an orange and white prison jumpsuit, with her feet shackled together, reported KIFI.

District Judge Steven Boyce rejected the claims and she is scheduled to be sentenced on 31 July at the Fremont County Courthouse. Chad Daybells trial is scheduled for 1 April, 2024.

JJ and Tylee vanished without a trace back in September 2019, with their mother refusing to reveal their whereabouts to both authorities and the childrens desperate family members.

One month later, Tammy  an otherwise healthy 49-year-old  also died suddenly. Her death was initially ruled natural causes.

Lori Vallow talks with lawyers at trial as a jury convicted her (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

This bizarre spate of disappearances and death came just months after Vallows fourth husband Charles Vallow was shot dead by Vallows brother Alex Cox in Arizona in July 2019.

With Vallows children and both of their spouses then out of the way, she and Mr Daybell embarked on a new life together  flying to Hawaii to get married in a fairytale wedding on the beach.

But, with months passing since the last signs of life of Vallows children, concerns continued to grow, prompting authorities to exhume Tammys body. A subsequent autopsy revealed that she had died by asphyxiation.

In June 2020  nine months after they were last seen alive  Tylee and JJs remains were found buried on the grounds of Mr Daybells property in Rexburg, Idaho.

JJ, who had autism, had been smothered with a plastic bag taped over his face, his little body still dressed in a pair of red pyjamas. Tylees cause of death meanwhile has been impossible to establish as the teenagers dismembered, charred bones and body parts were found scattered in the ground on Mr Daybells pet cemetery.

Jurors in Ada County Court in Boise, Idaho, took almost seven hours to find Vallow guilty on all charges over the three murders after a gruelling six-week trial where the panel heard harrowing details about the doomsday moms path of deadly destruction and were shown graphic images of the murdered childrens remains.
The 29th Beijing International Book Fair kicked off in Beijing on Thursday, gathering exhibitors from 56 countries and regions at the four-day event.

A total of 2,500 exhibitors are showcasing more than 200,000 Chinese and foreign titles at this year's book fair, which is being held both online and offline.

Of the 1,500 offline participants from domestic and international publishing houses and related organizations at the National Convention Center, around 60 percent are from overseas.

With Algeria as the Country of Honor, the event is being co-hosted by the National Press and Publication Administration, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Beijing Municipal Government, the Publishers Association of China and the China Writers Association.

The 21st Beijing International Book Festival is being held concurrently with the book fair.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency


Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A prosecutor has issued a public plea urging Missouri Governor Mike Parson not to pardon a former police detective over the fatal shooting of a Black man.

Eric DeValkenaere was convicted in 2021 of involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the December 2019 death of 26-year-old Cameron Lamb.

DeValkenaere, a former Kansas City police officer, was sentenced in 2022 to six years in prison but has remained free on bond as his appeal is reviewed.

After reports emerged earlier this week that Gov Parson is considering a pardon in the case, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker warned in a public letter that the greater long-term effect of the potential pardon would be the erosion of our public safety system as fair and just.

Pardons are political actions by design, not devised for the innocent but for the guilty, wrote Ms Peters Baker in the letter addressed to Gov Parson.

I imagine you might view a pardon as a way to support police. But I expect this extreme action for the only KCPD officer convicted of fatally shooting a black man will ignite distrust, protests, and public safety concerns for citizens and police.

Ms Peters Baker accused Gov Parson of being lobbied into the decision and of using a political action to subvert the rule of law. According to the prosecutor, no one from the governors office has reached out to the family members of the victim.

Lamb family members and loved ones also gathered on the steps of the Jackson County Courthouse on Tuesday, asking the governor to speak with them before making a final call.

Governor, if you pardon DeValkenaere, you will create more tension in the city and we will be left to pick up the pieces, Reverend Emmanuel Cleaver said during the Tuesday rally, according to KCTV.

In a statement to KCTV, the governors office accused Ms Peter Baker of political games ... for her re-election bid.

Cameron Lamb was killed by former Kansas City police officer Eric DeValkenaere during a traffic incident in 2019 (Facebook )

Governor Parson is grounded in his faith and believes in second chances, spokesperson Kelli Jones said, noting the 538 the governor has issued. He has created more workforce training opportunities for offenders, brought the landmark Reentry 2030 program to assist offenders, and started the first law enforcement academy at a historically black college.

During a bench trial in 2021, a judge said DeValkenaere and his partner violated Lambs constitutional rights because they had no probable cause to believe he had committed a crime, had no warrant for Lambs arrest and had no search warrant or consent to be on the property.

Lambs family and prosecutors have issued public pleas urging Missouri Governor Mike Parson not to kill Mr DeValkenaere

The convicted officer shot Lamb as the victim was backing up a truck into a garage and within seconds of arriving where Lamb lived. The officers had followed him after reports of several traffic violations.

DeValkenaere testified that he shot Lamb because he believed his partners life was in danger. Meanwhile, Lambs family has said he was not armed and that a gun found at the scene was planted.

In a motion filed last year with the Missouri Court of Appeals, DeValkenaeres attorneys argued that DeValkenaere and his partner had probable cause to be on Lambs property and to arrest him for the traffic violations, The Kansas City Star reported.
Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Nathan Carmans rescue from an inflatable life raft 200 kms off the coast of Cape Cod in 2016 after spending eight days adrift in the North Atlantic Ocean was hailed as a miracle.

The then 22-year-old and his mother Linda Carman had set off for an overnight fishing trip from Rhode Island on 17 September that year to try to mend their fractured relationship.

She was never heard from again, and authorities quickly realised something about his extraordinary tale of survival wasnt adding up.

It would take prosecutors nearly six years to charge Nathan with her murder, and also name him as a prime suspect in the 2013 murder of his grandfather John Chakalos.

The 29-year-old was arrested last May and pleaded not guilty to murder and fraud charges. He had been due to stand trial in October.

Prosecutors alleged he had been plotting for more than a decade to claim his grandfathers $40m estate, and stood to inherit millions with both elder family members dead.

On Thursday morning, he was found unresponsive in his cell in Cheshire County Jail in Keene, New Hampshire. He was pronounced dead about 40 minutes later, an official said.

Who was Nathan Carman?

Nathan Carman grew up in Connecticut, the only child of Clark and Linda Carman.

The family had a web of strenuous and often combative relationships, according to a 2018 New York article. Linda Carman had suffered from depression, and reportedly had struggled with a gambling addiction.

Nathan was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome, and underwent years of psychiatriac analysis and pharmaceutical treatment, according to a 2022 investigation by Air Mail.

He was described by those close to him as an angry, wayward, unpredictable child, who matured without empathy, or recognition of the reality of anyone other then himself, according to the article.

His mother, the second of four daughters, separated from Clark Carman and struggled to maintain a harmonious relationship with Nathan.

Nathan Carman was accused of killing his millionaire grandfather and his mother in an attempt to claim an inheritance (AP)

Prosecutors said they would go on fishing trips to try to mend the fractured bond.

In spite of this, he had a good relationship with his grandfather, who he considered his best friend, Nathans lawyers have said.

After finishing high school in 2012, Nathan Carman enrolled in community college but failed to complete most of his courses.

He then began showing an interest in his grandfathers businesses and attended several meetings with him in 2012 and 2013, according to prosecutors.

During this period, his grandfather convinced Linda Carman to designate her son as a beneficiary of her trust.

Chakalos also paid for his grandsons personal expenses, funding the purchase of a truck and an apartment, and a white Irish Sport horse named Cruise.

Killing of John Chakalos

John Chakalos was found dead at the age of 87 from gunshot wounds in his home in Windsor, Connecticut, on 20 December 2013, one month after his wife of 59 years Rita had passed away from cancer.

Chakalos had made an estimated $40m fortune in real estate, primarily from building and renting luxury nursing homes, and continued to work right up until the day he died, according to an obituary.

Even after amassing enormous wealth, he and his wife continued to live in the modest home where they had raised their daughters and lived for much of their married lives.

The obituary stated that Chakalos had showered his grandchildren, nieces and nephews with paternal love. His motto was without family youve got nothing.

John Chalakos was shot dead as he slept in his home in Connecticut in 2013. His grandson Nathan Carman was suspected of being responsible (Carmen Community Funeral Home)

However, prosecutors believed his then 19-year-old grandson was secretly plotting to murder him and claim his fortune.

Carman was never charged over his grandfathers death. But authorities laid out in detail in a 2022 indictment how they believed he had carried out the killing.

Authorities said that Nathan purchased a Sig Sauer rifle about a year before the shooting.

They alleged that he drove from his apartment in Bloomfield, Connecticut, to his grandfathers home at about 3am and shot him twice in the head while he slept.

Carman then discarded his computer hard drive and a GPS unit in his truck, they stated, preventing them from tracing his movements and plans.

He received $550,000 after his grandfathers death. In 2014, he moved to Vernon, Vermont, and by 2016, had allegedly squandered most of his inheritance.

Linda Carmans mysterious death

In 2015, Nathan Carman purchased a 31-foot fishing boat, the Chicken Pox, using his newfound wealth from his grandfathers death.

Prosecutors stated that fishing had been a way for Nathan and Linda Carman to get together, and put aside their differences.

In September 2016, Nathan arranged to go on a fishing trip with his mother around Block Island, off the coast of Rhode Island.

They left from Ram Point Marina in South Kingston, Rhode Island, late on the evening of 17 September, and Linda told friends they would return by noon the next day.

Prosecutors say that prior to the departure, Nathan removed parts of the engine and a part of the hull that stabilises the boat.

Nathan Carmen's mother Linda (WTNH News8 / Youtube screengrab)

At some point soon after departing, he murdered his mother and deliberately sank the boat, prosecutors alleged.

The US Coastguard was notified that the boat was missing on 18 September, and mounted an extensive search and rescue effort.

On 25 September, Nathan Carman was found floating on an inflatable life raft by the Orient Lucky commercial boat 200kms off the coast of Cape Cod.

The then 22-year-old would later tell investigators that he had noticed the engine making unusual noises on the day he had set off, and the Chicken Pox started taking on water.

He said he saw his mother in the cockpit, and grabbed three bags containing food, flares and life jackets. But when he looked back, his mother was no longer there.

The unlikely survival tale set off a media frenzy as outlets tried to secure interviews with the survivor and the ships captain.

I was yelling, Mom! Mom! Nathan Carman said in an interview with the Associated Press describing the sinking. I loved my mother and my mother loved me.

The Hartford Courant reported at the time that police were investigating Nathan Carman for knowingly operating an unsafe vessel and putting his mother's life in danger.

Police obtained a search warrant for his Vermont home, and found Nathan had removed his computer prior to leaving.

When asked about the police search, he told the AP: I dont know what to make of people being suspicious. I have enough to deal with.

Arrest and death

In 2019, Chakalos three surviving daughters filed a lawsuit in New Hampshire seeking to block Carman from receiving any more of his grandfathers inheritance.

They publicly accused him of involvement in his mothers death.

The case was dismissed after a judge ruled that Chakalos was not a New Hampshire resident. It was later refiled in Connecticut and was still pending at the time of his death.

In May 2022, Carman was charged with murder on the high seas by US attorneys in Vermont. He was also charged with insurance fraud, relating to an attempt to claim $85,000 for the loss of the Chicken Pox.

Carman leaves federal court in Providence, Rhode Island, in August 2019 (Associated Press)

Authorities said his arrest was the culmination of a multi-year investigation conducted by the FBI, the US Coast Guard, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Connecticut State Police, the Windsor Police Department in Connecticut, and the South Kingstown Police Department in Rhode Island.

Carman denied the charges and was ordered to be held in custody pending the trial.

On Thursday morning, he was found unresponsive in his cell at the Cheshire County Jail and was pronounced dead soon after, according to the CT Insider.

A cause of death has not yet been released, and police are investigating.

Carmans attorney Martin Minnella told the Associated Press that he had been in good spirits when they spoke on Wednesday, and they had been due to meet again on Thursday.

Its just a tragedy, a tragedy.

Carmans three aunts issued a statement to the AP saying they were deeply saddened by his death.

While we process this shocking news and its impact on the tragic events surrounding the last several years we ask for your understanding and respect relative to our privacy, they said through a lawyer.
Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Handcuffed and with his legs in shackles, Jack Douglas Teixeira glanced nervously around a crowded Boston courtroom during his first court appearance in April.

The 21-year-old Massachusetts National Guard airman whispered yes when informed of his rights as a criminal defendant, according to CNN, showing no hint of the swagger of his online persona OG.

As the hearing concluded, a man in the public gallery shouted: Love you, Jack. Without looking back, Teixeira replied: You too, Dad.

On Thursday, 15 June, the low-level IT worker was indicted by a grand jury on six counts of willful retention and transmission of classified information relating to the national defence.

Prosecutors allege that Teixeira, while caught up in the braggadocio culture of online gaming, shared hundreds of classified documents on a Discord chat server in the biggest leak of US intelligence data in a decade.

Despite his low-level rank as a cyber systems journeyman with the National Guard, he has held top secret security clearance since 2021, according to charging documents unsealed in April.

The clearance afforded him access to top-secret reports about the whereabouts and movements of high-ranking political leaders and tactical updates on the military forces of friends and foes alike.

Federal investigators allege Teixeira began copying and sharing classified reports in December on a private Discord chat group with a cabal of 20 to 30 young men and teenagers, who had come together during the pandemic through a shared interest in guns, God, and gaming.

By January, he was allegedly taking photographs of military maps and charts, and briefing documents. Some showed weaknesses in Ukraines air defence systems and supply lines, others contained politically-sensitive intelligence on allies such as Israel and Egypt.

A TV screen shows a news program reporting on the leaked Pentagon documents at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea. (Associated Press)

Around 30 classified documents were then posted on a public Discord chat group in early March, according to Bellingcat, before finding their way onto Russian Telegram channels.

US military officials were blindsided by the spread of top secret information and did not become aware until the week before his arrest that secrets had been spreading online for months, leaving the Pentagon scrambling to try to work out the source of the leak, according to reports.

The information risked exposing US sources and methods of intelligence gathering, in particular with the war in Ukraine, military analysts say.

It revealed that the Pentagon knew a lot about what the Russians were going to do before they did it, and had seemingly penetrated the top ranks of their military intelligence unit, the GRU.

One leaked document from February was titled Russia-Ukraine: Battle for the Donbas Region Likely Heading for a Stalemate Throughout 2023. It notes the challenges with assessing the endurance of Ukraines operations.

Military experts say the leak has exposed an inherent weakness at the heart of US intelligence gathering.

With an estimated 1.25 million US citizens holding top secret clearance, the sheer number of people with access to the nations secrets makes it almost impossible to properly vet and monitor every individual.

National Guard airman Jack Teixeira has been charged with leaking a trove of national security documents. (Instagram)

This appears to have been exposed in spectacular fashion through one individuals narcissism, experts say.

The desire for fame by the leader who is among a group of young gamers is unfathomable, retired US Lieutenant General and military analyst Mark Hertling wrote on Twitter. God help our country.

Its also forced the US government to hold a reckoning on who should receive top secret clearance, and how they are vetted.

The Department has taken steps to further restrict access to relevant documents, Pentagon spokesperson Sue Gough told The Independent in a statement.

We periodically review our distribution lists for personnel who receive such information to ensure that these recipients still have a valid need to know the information, as the distribution lists often grow over time. We are taking this opportunity to review many of our distribution lists now.

Jack Teixeiras arrest by armed FBI agents in North Dighton, Massachusetts was broadcast live on cable news channels. (CNN )

Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, effectively admitted during a press conference that officials still dont know how many classified documents were out there.

He described the leak as a deliberate, criminal act.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasised in a statement that access to top secret materials would likely be tightened as a result of the leak.

Mr Austin added that he would not hesitate to take any additional measures necessary to safeguard our nations secrets.

Every US service member, (Department of Defense) civilian and contractor with access to classified information has a solemn legal and moral obligation to safeguard it and to report any suspicious activity or behaviour, he said.

The leaked documents present a very serious risk to national security, a Pentagon spokesman said during a briefing on Monday.

President Joe Biden has publicly played down the significance of the risk to American assets around the world, saying during a state visit to Ireland in April that he wasn't concerned because the leaked information was not contemporaneous.

US intelligence agencies receive $90bn in annual funding, and have sweeping powers to tap electronic communications, run spies and monitor the precise movements of its enemies and allies via satellites.

The results are seldom seen in public view.

The nations diplomats have reportedly been in damage control to calm relations with some of their most important allies.

The leak has also left the USs partners in the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing community, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, scrambling for answers.

We expect the US to share a damage assessment with us in the coming days, but we cannot wait for their assessment. Right now we are doing our own, one official from a Five Eyes member country told CNN.

How the Pentagon leaks unfolded

Among his group of friends on Discord, Jack Teixeira had a reputation as someone with an uncanny knack for knowing about major events before they appeared in the news.

The Thug Shaker Central chat group was formed by a group of isolated gamers during Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020, with the young men drawn together by a shared interest in Christianity and guns, one member told the Washington Post.

Among the group of about two dozen teenagers and young men, Teixeira was known by his handle OG and was the informal leader. Elsewhere, he posted under the names jackthedripper and excalibureffect, and would occasionally share racist memes, members of the group chat say.

Amid the bombastic culture common among online gamers, Teixeiras secret insights into the upper echelons of US government impressed his young circle.

He told the group that he worked on a military base, and would spend hours taking handwritten notes of the classified information.

FBI officials guard the driveway where Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guard member, was taken into custody. (AP)

He lectured them about world affairs and secretive government operations as they watched movies and prayed together, one told the Washington Post.

He had wanted to keep us in the loop, and thought that the secrets would be shielded from the outside world inside the private chat group that he controlled, the member said.

But he appeared unsatisfied with the level of interest others showed toward his knowledge of intelligence acronyms such as NOFORN, meaning not to be shown to foreigners.

So Teixeira allegedly began taking greater risks. According to accounts of those in the chat group, he began posting photographs of crumpled copies of top secret briefing documents.

The greater degree of risk taking seemed to excite the young military man, members of the group have said.

After the leaked documents, some of which had been doctored, began appearing on Russian Telegram channels, the Pentagon finally leapt into action.

Investigators soon narrowed down the search for the source of the leak to members of Teixeiras chat group, and traced him using Discord payments, an initial charging document stated.

Teixeira was then publicly identified by The New York Times on the day of his arrest.

He sent a final message to members of the group. Only God can decide what happens from now on, he said, a friend told the Times. Guys, its been good. I love you all.

On 13 April, Teixeira was seen in aerial footage reading a book on his porch as an armoured vehicle made its way up the driveway of the home he shared with his mother Dawn, a florist, in North Dighton, Massachusetts.

Heavily-armed FBI agents in tactical gear then moved in to arrest Teixeira.

He had reportedly been under FBI surveillance for several days, but his unmasking by news sites prior to his arrest was a further embarrassment to law enforcement officials.

At a brief press conference announcing the arrest, Attorney General Merrick Garland suggested the suspect was motivated by a sense of bravado rather than ideology.

In a statement announcing Teixeiras indictment: acting US Attorney Joshua S. Levy said: The unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified information jeopardizes our nations security.

Teixeira faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 if convicted.

Who should have access to the nations top secrets?

The most recent figures on the number of people with top secret clearance are from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in 2019.

Of the more than 1.25 million with clearance, around 605,000 are Government employees, 472,000 are contractors, and 173,000 are placed under a category of other.

Receiving a top security clearance is far from a fait accompli.

In 2019, it was revealed that Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner had been rejected for top-secret clearance by two senior officials. The then-senior White House adviser eventually received his clearance after an intervention by the former president .

Experts believe that warning signs about the Teixeiras temperament may have been missed during his clearance process.

Paul Lushenko, the Deputy Director of Cornells Tech Policy Institute, told CBS News that anyone receiving top secret clearance would have to go through a fairly rigorous background check.

This person obviously did well in that interview. But between that and this episode or episodes of breaching something went awry, he said.

Military records show he enlisted in 2019 as a cyber transport systems specialist. Teixeira had an E-3 ranking, a junior position reflecting his short stint in the military.

Last year, he graduated to an Airman 1st Class in the Guards 102nd Intelligence Wing, in the same unit his stepfather Thomas Dufault had served in for 34 years, according to The Post.

Friends told CNN that Teixeira described him as a loner who held a longstanding fascination with the military.

Jack Teixeiras family members leave the Moakley Federal Courthouse after his arraignment. (AP)

John Powell, a classmate from high school, said Teixeira used to carry around textbooks about military vehicles including tanks, planes and submarines.

Mr Powell told the network that his friend was interested in anything military-related from a tender age.

He was dead set on joining some branch of the military, even as a kid, he said.

Members of his Discord group rejected claims that Teixeira saw himself as a whistle-blower akin to Edward Snowden.

This guy was a Christian, antiwar, just wanted to inform some of his friends about whats going on, a 17-year-old member known as Vahki told the New York Times in an interview.

He was the man, the myth. And he was the legend. Everyone respected this guy.

From Putins chemo treament to Ukraines battlefield capabilities

The leak has exposed hundreds of sensitive intelligence gathering operations.

These included a plan by Egypt, which receives $1.3bn in American military aid each year, to sell rockets and munition to Moscow.

The Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi reportedly instructed officials to keep production and shipment secret to avoid problems with the West, according to the Associated Press.

They also pointed to Ukrainian casualty figures being far higher than publicly stated by Kyiv, and that Ukrainian air defences were running out of munitions.

There were additional claims that UK special forces may be operating in Ukraine.

The leaked documents also suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be undergoing chemotherapy.
Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A mother has been reunited with her daughter nearly three decades after she was kidnapped from a Mexico park as a toddler.

Lorena Ramirez was in Bosque de Chapultepec, one of the largest parks in Mexico City, with her three-year-old Juana when the child suddenly vanished on 1 October 1995, Jam Press reports.

The toddler was allegedly taken in by another family who gave her a new birthday - the day she was kidnapped. She was also given a new name, Rocio.

Twenty-seven years later, and now a 30-year-old married mother of two herself, Rocio tracked down her real mother.

Just imagine, I suffered terribly for 27 years, an emotional Ms Ramirez said after the reunion.

The mother had taken her daughter and her two other children to the park along with her husband on the fateful day of the alleged abduction.

The adults were saying goodbye when the little girl disappeared.

Three-year-old Juana - who now goes by Rocio - is pictured around the time of the kidnapping (Jam Press)

I dont know if it was a mothers hunch, but I knew in that moment that my daughter had just been taken from me, Ms Ramirez said.

She said the family scoured the park for Juana and couldnt find her. When they contacted police, they were told they had to wait 72 hours to file a report, Ms Ramirez said.

Rocio said she remembered her parents letting go of her hands for a moment before someone grabbed her by the wrist.

She then woke up in a strange house with three young boys and said she was told that they were now her brothers.

Rocio said always knew that the people who took her, who lived in Toluca, were not her real family and that she was very poorly treated by them.

When she was old enough, several neighbours told her that the couple she was living with were not her real parents.

A missing persons poster with Juanas details (Jam Press)

After confronting her one day, her mother told her that she found her wandering around Bosque de Chapultepec alone.

Without wanting to delve into the subject, Rocio told local media: They treated me badly.

She said she moved out to live with her now-husband at 17 years old.

Her husband later encouraged her to look for information about lost or stolen children on the internet.

Lorena Ramirez and Rocio after they were reunited (Jam Press)

On one website, she noticed a photo of a little girl and realised she looked exactly like her own son.

Rocio explained: There was such a strong physical resemblance I said to myself Im that girl.

However, as there were no contact details accompanying the photo, Rocio forgot about it and more time passed.

She said: It took me another eight years before deciding to look for my family.

Lorena explained: The years began to pass and I had two other daughters.

But every time Juanas birthday came around, I prayed to God for her to be okay and to give me the chance to see her again.

Rocio eventually launched an appeal on social media and included the photo of her as a young girl.

Her post was soon spotted by one of Lorenas other daughters Maria Jose.

They began to talk on social media and soon arranged for Rocio to reunite with her long-lost mother.

After meeting up, Lorena told local media: I couldnt believe it.

When I opened the door, I stopped and she walked in. That hug after 27 years...

She saw me and said you are my mother. I replied yes, and you are my daughter.

Thank you for the opportunity to see you again.

Mugshots show the couple arrested for the kidnapping (Jam Press)

They then underwent a DNA test that determined they were mother and daughter with 99.99% certainty, Lorena said.

After so much time spent apart, Lorena and Rocio vowed to make the most of the time they have together now.

Lorena said: God gave us the opportunity to be together again.

They reunited in August 2022 and have spent the last 10 months getting to know each other.

Lorena said: I lost a three-year-old child and found a 30-year-old woman.

I did not experience those stages of her life, it is a part of her that was stolen from me.

The couple who allegedly snatched Rocio were arrested by the authorities in March this year.

It is unclear when they will stand trial.
Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The footage is desperate, heartbreaking and the stuff of every parents worst nightmares. Beata Kowalski sits in a doctors office  the latest in a long line of medical rooms  alongside her daughter, not yet 10 years old, whose formerly vivacious energy has been slipping away before her familys eyes. Beata and her husband, retired firefighter Jack, have watched as Maya began suffering headaches, pain and lesions, her feet turning inwards as the use of her legs deteriorated.

The doctor mentions anxiety as a possible cause, and both Beata and Maya, turning to each other when he briefly steps outside, seem sad and exasperated.

Its not anxiety, says Maya, her voice small as she sits in her tiny wheelchair.

I know, baby, I know, her mother replies. Hes just trying to figure it out. You just stay as calm as you can.

The encounter was recorded by Beata, a trained and exacting nurse, as she and Jack fought to get a diagnosis and treatment for Maya after she began experiencing mysterious symptoms in 2015. The uncertainty, coupled with Mayas worsening pain, seemed bad enough.

New documentary Take Care of Maya debuts on Netflix on 19 June

But the Kowalskis medical journey would plunge the family into heretofore unimagined depths of hell. Doctors would accuse Beata of deliberately making her daughter sick. Maya would be taken from the familys custody. And her mother, shockingly and tragically, would take her own life.

The horrifying story is chronicled in new Netflix documentary Take Care of Maya, streaming 19 June, featuring interviews with Maya, now a teenager, as well as Jack and the familys younger child, Kyle. Through tears and anger, they chronicle how their family fell apart after entering the medical, legal and child welfare vortex.

They say theyre sharing their painful story for Beata  and for the countless other families touched by medical abuse allegations, many of whom also come forward in the jaw-dropping film.

I want people to see that I wasnt lying, and that other families who are going through similar situations, theyre not lying either, Maya, now more than halfway through her teens, says in the documentary. I have CRPS. My mom was not making me sick. I just wish people would believe me.

Not even a decade ago, the family had been living the true American dream in Florida. Beata had emigrated from Poland as a teenager and thrown herself into her studies and American life, excelling at nursing school and in her career; her bond with Jack is evident as he reminisces about their meeting and romance, wistfully describing his wife as magic.

Maya was born in 2005 and her brother shortly thereafter. Beata doted on the children, working as an infusion nurse and reveling in the comfortable family life she and Jack had built in their sparkling Venice suburb.

Beata, a nurse, doted upon Maya, her first born and longed-for daughter with her firefighter husband, Jack (Netflix)

When Maya began suffering an array of worrying symptoms in the spring of 2015, Beata applied her nursing knowledge and meticulous nature to the familys search for answers. Eventually, she sought out Dr Anthony Kirkpatrick, an anesthesiologist and expert in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS.)

According to the Mayo Clinic, CRPS is a form of chronic pain that usually affects an arm or a leg and typically develops after an injury, a surgery, a stroke or a heart attack.

The pain is out of proportion to the severity of the initial injury, the Mayo Clinic site continues. CRPS is uncommon, and its cause isnt clearly understood. Treatment is most effective when started early. In such cases, improvement and even remission are possible.

To explain the rare condition, Dr Kirkpatrick says in Take Care of Maya, the best way to think about it is the way it evolves.

Lets say you have an injury; you know that, probably in a week or two, the pain is going to go down, the swelling is going to go down, the redness and all that is going to go down, he says. But what happens in these patients with CRPS is that it actually intensifies over that period of time ... The patients describe it primarily as a burning sensation, that their skin becomes exquisitely sensitive to light touch.

Following his initial evaluation for Maya  and portions of his intake video are included in the film  it was clear to me that, because of the magnitude of her symptoms (the lesions, this burning sensation in her legs, in the pain throughout her entire body, that Maya had advanced CRPS that we had to right away get aggressive with it, get under control, he says.

Beata, a nurse, doted upon Maya, her first born and longed-for daughter with her firefighter husband, Jack (Netflix)

Weve treated over 3000 patients with complex regional pain syndrome, Dr Kirkpatrick says. And we know what the best therapy is for. Its called ketamine.

Treatments were extreme and required tough choices. Given the severity of Mayas symptoms, the Kowalskis decided to take her to Mexico for an induced ketamine coma that, while unapproved by the FDA, offered some possibility of relief. It seemed to have a positive effect, and, when the family returned from Mexico, they couldnt afford to keep up with Dr Kirkpatricks treatments, so he recommended his colleague, Dr [Ashraf] Hanna, who took our insurance and prescribed low dosages of ketamine for Maya, Jack says in the documentary.

She was getting stronger, he says. The dystonia [bent legs] was straightened out. She was unable to use her legs, but she was using her arms, and she was doing very very well ... She went back to school, to laughing and playing. We were just blessed that we were finally seeing something working. And for a year, it did.

Then  as Hurricane Matthew barreled through Florida in October 2016  Mayas symptoms came roaring back with a vengeance. Jack took her to the emergency room at Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital.

Maya relapsed; it came back, and it was very severe, he says in the documentary. She started complaining of pain in her tummy, and it got to the point where she was screaming and crying and begging for help.

Jack contacted Beata, who was at work, and she arrived at All Childrens about an hour after hed entered triage with their daughter. The medical care team had already been asking questions about Mayas rare syndrome and even rarer ketamine treatment. When Beata turned up, the situation deteriorated.

Hugely concerned for her daughter, intimately acquainted with her treatment and authoritatively explaining it, Beata never could have guessed that her demands for her daughters health would quickly spiral into a maelstrom that would dismantle her family, her health and drive her to take her own life.

Maya, now 17, shares her memories, feelings, pain and tears in the new documentary (Netflix)

Beata insisted that Maya needed far higher doses of ketamine to manage her pain  with one healthcare worker calling Beata belligerent in a deposition  and the demanding mother raised more eyebrows in the process.

We were told, if we plan on trying to leave, that security would be called, Jack Kowalski says in the documentary, and it wasnt long before child welfare services were contacted by medical staff. When child abuse investigator Sally Smith  a doctor with the Suncoast Center, a company contracted by Pinellas County for its privatised child welfare system  walked into Mayas room, her father had no idea who the woman was.

She came in and she acted like a regular doctor that worked for the hospital, and she started to ask questions, Jack says in the film. She asked whats wrong with Maya, where is she being treated, about medications, how could I let somebody give such high dosages, and I told her, Thats what the doctors prescribed.

She did a ten-minute interview at most  and, shortly after she walks out, the nurse walks back in that was helping me. She told me I had to leave  that my daughter is under state custody, he says, choking up. I remember looking at my daughters eyes, and shes looking at me. Im wondering if I would ever see her again.

They accused her of over-medicating Maya, he says of Beata. And they thought Maya was faking this syndrome. At that time, I said we need to get a hold of a lawyer.

They hired attorney Debra Salisbury, who also becomes emotional during interviews for the documentary. Describing Beata as perhaps a little too direct sometimes, Ms Salisbury says she believes maybe some of the doctors took that offensively. I believe somebody at all Childrens Hospital was offended  and a conflict started.

Whatever the root cause, the consequences of the conflict escalated quickly, exponentially and, upon review years later, almost inexplicably.

Beata Kowalski was just 43 when she took her own life in January 2017 after being separated from her daughter for months by the courts following accusations of Munchausen by proxy (Netflix)

As soon as I was made aware that Sally Smith was investigating, I called her immediately, Dr Kirkpatrick says in the film. And I explained to her, This is what the diagnosis is. If you want to see the objective evidence, Ive got it for you. I told her that on the phone.

She writes a report two days later, the doctor says. Does she include that in the report? No ... I told her that if she goes forward with this, it would not only be a catastrophic outcome for the child, it would be a permanent injury to the whole family.

Dr Smiths report, and the testimony of other healthcare workers, led to the courts refusal to return Maya to her parents custody or even see Beata  who continued to try to manage her daughters care and check on her from afar, causing tensions with her husband and the system. In recordings featured in the film, he pleads with her to stop any antagonisation, guessing  correctly  that it will only make things worse. Beata cant seem to understand why her rights as a mother dont trump everything else.

Maya, in pain and confused, remained at the hospital as child welfare advocates insisted she was being abused, her mother making her sick through Munchausen by proxy. It is described by the American Psychological Association as a psychological disorder in which caregivers fabricate or intentionally cause symptoms in those they are caring for in order to seek and obtain medical investigation or treatment (i.e., to assume the sick role by proxy).

Typically, the caregiver is the mother, who behaves as if distressed about her childs illness and denies knowing what caused it, APA continues in its definition. She is believed to be motivated by the hope that she will be seen as an exceptionally attentive parent, and her behavior may be an attempt to arouse sympathy.

While advocates were suggesting Beata could be facilitating  or Maya could be faking  CRPS, the hospital was billing the insurance company for treatment of the exact same disease being questioned, the Kowalskis lawyers claim in Take Care of Maya.

The hospital declined comment to The Independent about this specific allegation, citing strict patient privacy laws precluding further information sharing without the Kowalskis release of Mayas medical records.

A hearing was held in December 2016, shortly before Christmas; Maya had written a letter to the judge, begging to see her family for the holiday and outlining how she felt worse and worse. During proceedings, a lawyer for the child asked the judge whether there was any way ... she could just see her mom, just to like hug her mother?

The Kowalskis continue to live in Florida, where 17-year-old Mayas CRPS symptoms have become less severe (Netflix`)

The judge said no  and, the following month, Beata took her own life in the garage of the familys home.

I know its because he turned her down, Jack sobbed on the phone after the family discovered her body; the audio is included in the documentary. That killed her. All the way home, thats all she talked about. I dont know how Im gonna tell Maya later, because I cant go there and tell her and then leave.

Hed been on the phone to Ms Salisbury, who says in the film: It never made any sense to me why she was denied giving her child that hug  and I can tell you, as we left the courthouse that day, that Beata was devastated. Devastated.

And the one thing that I know, to this day, is: None of us can get that hug back now. That hug is gone.

Jack, Maya, Kyle and their wider family were left equally devastated.

Its very difficult to understand what went through Beatas mind, thinking that was the only way to get her daughter out, Jack says in Take Care of Maya. I miss her dearly. But I have anger here and there. It is so difficult to try to play both roles. In as much as you try, you cannot replace their mother.

Something good has to come from all this pain.

What has come from the pain is the familys realisation that they are not alone in their anger  and that their story of what they say are false abuse allegations is anything but an anomaly. Families from Pinellas County and all over the country began coming forward, some appearing on film in Take Care of Maya to detail how their own children were ripped from them.

What has also come from the tragedy is a court case  an ongoing legal battle by the Kowalski family against Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital.

We want Beatas voice to be heard, Jack says in the documentary. We want Mayas voice to be heard.

Maya, Jack and Kyle Kowalski are pursuing a legal battle against Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital in Florida; a trial date is scheduled for September 2023 (Netflix)

And it was Beatas voice  her recordings, her studious notes  along with her vigilance that enabled legal action in the first place, according to one of the familys lawyers.

If she hadnt taken such an aggressive approach, we couldnt have sued, attorney Gregory Anderson says int he film. So were going after the hospital, Dr. Sally Smith and Suncoast based on whats known as infliction of emotional distress, meaning that they knew what they were doing, pushing her towards some form of harm. So they should pay punitive damages, which are designed to punish them for their wrongdoing.

Dr Smith and the Suncoast Center settled their portion of the lawsuit with the Kowalskis in December 2021, according to the documentary, and a trial date has been set for the Kowalskis to pursue punitive damages for September 2023  2,530 days after Maya first entered the hospital.

Dr Smith declined to be interviewed by filmmakers, and the Suncoast Center did not respond to request for comment from The Independent.

While referring to the constraints of patient privacy laws, a lawyer for Johns Hopkins All Childrens, in a statement to The Independent, pointed to allegations of medical child abuse within the family that had predated their time at the hospital.

If DCF, two circuit judges, and a Sheriffs Deputy found probable cause to suspect abuse, the conclusion is inescapable that JHACH providers had reasonable cause to suspect and report it, reads the hospitals motion to obtain statutory immunity for the phone call made to child services.

There are hundreds of additional publicly available court documents that completely contradict the Netflix narrative; a narrative that has been unfortunately echoed by media outlets with scrutiny, attorney Ethen Shapiro told The Independent, pointing, among other documents, to a police interview in which Jack Kowalski admitted he would support Beatas move from the house if Maya were returned home.

A police investigator confirmed under oath that the police investigation  separate and apart from the input at my clients hospital  was heading towards criminal charges of Beata Kowalski prior to her suicide, he continued.

But other families who felt victimised by the system are looking to the Kowalskis and their case as a beacon of vindication.

This young girl, Maya, represents hope for all of us, one mother tells the filmmakers in Take Care of Maya.

And Maya herself outlines the familys determination in a heart wrenching letter to her mother read aloud near the end of the compelling film.

As soon as we step foot into our home, we brought back to reality, she tells Beata. We miss you. I miss you. For five years, we have been promised a trial. Yet it seems that the closer we get to a set date, the further it gets pushed. Even though we are discouraged, we will not settle.

We will fight for you, and we will fight for the thousands of other families who find themselves in the same unfortunate circumstances, the teenager says. The day will come.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A Democratic super PAC has launched a campaign against former president Donald Trump on the eight-year anniversary of his announcement that he was running for president.

American Bridge, a super PAC founded by former right-wing journalist-turned-Democratic-operative David Brock, announced the campaign entitled This F***ing Guy to remind people of the chaos surrounding the former president.

Its easy to forget the unnecessary drama that Donald Trump and his clown car of shady associates created on a regular basis because weve been experiencing the benefits of President Bidens responsible leadership, American Bridge President Pat Dennis said in a press release. American Bridge is going to take charge in reminding everyone just how annoying and anxiety-raising the Trump years were as voters head to the ballot box next November.

The group plans to highlight Mr Trumps efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, his passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, as well as his mishandling of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, his drawing of moral equivalence between the alt-right and left, as well as his meetings with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

The announcement comes the same week that the former president appeared in a federal courthouse in Miami, where he pleaded not guilty to 37 charges, including illegally retaining national defence documents and other classified material from his presidency in his private residence.

The twice-impeached and now twice-indicted former president has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

American Bridge also said that it would dig into shady characters that Mr Trump hires for his 2024 campaign and would continuously update its Trump Research Book to help opponents defeat the former president in next years election.

The announcement comes as the former president continues to lead in Republican presidential primary polls, even as more candidates like Miami Mayor Francis Suarez joined the contest for the GOP nomination this week.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Daniel Ellsberg, the history-making whistleblower who by leaking the Pentagon Papers revealed longtime government doubts and deceit about the Vietnam War and inspired acts of retaliation by President Richard Nixon that helped lead to his resignation, has died.

He was 92.

Ellsberg, who announced in February that he was terminally ill with pancreatic cancer, died Friday morning, according to a letter from his family released by a spokeswoman, Julia Pacetti.

Until the early 1970s, when he revealed that he was the source for the stunning media reports on the 47-volume, 7,000-page Defense Department study of the U.S. role in Indochina, Ellsberg was a well-placed member of the government-military elite. He was a Harvard graduate and self-defined cold warrior who served as a private and government consultant on Vietnam throughout the 1960s, risked his life on the battlefield, received the highest security clearances and came to be trusted by officials in Democratic and Republican administrations.

He was especially valued, he would later note, for his talent for discretion.

But like millions of other Americans, in and out of government, he had turned against the yearslong war in Vietnam, the governments claims that the battle was winnable and that a victory for the North Vietnamese over the U.S.-backed South would lead to the spread of communism throughout the region. Unlike so many other war opponents, he was in a special position to make a difference.

An entire generation of Vietnam-era insiders had become just as disillusioned as I with a war they saw as hopeless and interminable, he wrote in his 2002 memoir, Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers. By 1968, if not earlier, they all wanted, as I did, to see us out of this war.

As much as anyone, Ellsberg embodied the individual of conscience  who answered only to his sense of right and wrong, even if the price was his own freedom. David Halberstam, the late author and Vietnam War correspondent who had known Ellsberg since both were posted overseas, would describe him as no ordinary convert. He was highly intelligent, obsessively curious and profoundly sensitive, a born proselytizer who saw political events in terms of moral absolutes and demanded consequences for abuses of power.

As much as anyone, Ellsberg also embodied the fall of American idealism in foreign policy in the 1960s and 1970s and the upending of the post-World War II consensus that Communism, real or suspected, should be opposed worldwide.

The Pentagon Papers had been commissioned in 1967 by then-Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara, a leading public advocate of the war who wanted to leave behind a comprehensive history of the U.S. and Vietnam and to help his successors avoid the kinds of mistakes he would only admit to long after. The papers covered more than 20 years, from Frances failed efforts at colonization in the 1940s and 1950s to the growing involvement of the U.S., including the bombing raids and deployment of hundreds of thousands of ground troops during Lyndon Johnsons administration. Ellsberg was among those asked to work on the study, focusing on 1961, when the newly-elected President John F. Kennedy began adding advisers and support units.

First published in The New York Times in June 1971, with The Washington Post, The Associated Press and more than a dozen others following, the classified papers documented that the U.S. had defied a 1954 settlement barring a foreign military presence in Vietnam, questioned whether South Vietnam had a viable government, secretly expanded the war to neighboring countries and had plotted to send American soldiers even as Johnson vowed he wouldnt.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A New York judge will soon decide whether to make public a tranche of emails between Donald Trump Jr and a friend in which both men use offensive and bigoted language.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the emails in question are part of a legal defence mounted by a New York hedge fund seeking to prevail in a long-running legal dispute with the friend of Mr Trump, an ex-employee called Gentry Beach over tens of millions of dollars in compensation.

The controversial messages were sent from Mr Beachs work email account over a three-year period between 2005 and 2008, but the hedge fund, Touradji Capital Management, only recently raised them during a re-trial in the 15-year-old litigation.

The parties are currently on opposing sides regarding whether the court should allow unredacted versions of the emails to become part of the cases public record. For his part, Mr Beach is asking the court to allow for Mr Trumps name to be redacted.

The judge hearing the case heard arguments over whether to allow the emails to be made public on Thursday and could render a decision any day now.

The Journal reports that Mr Beach and Mr Trump, who have known each other for decades, both used racist rhetoric in the emails at issue.

Mr Beach reportedly wrote messages that contained references to hunting Jews and shooting Mexicans, and in one email referred to having Jews for dinner.

In a different exchange of messages that was revealed in court transcripts, Mr Trump Jr reportedly responded to a note about Mr Beachs move to one part of Manhattan by describing the area as Harlem and remarking that he could hear the theme song of the Jeffersons playing in the background.

Mr Trump Jr also lambasted another recipient in the group email thread for encourag[ing] the Mexicans to come to the US and giv[ing] them another excuse to not learn English.

When I have to speak to my grandchildren in Spanish, at least I know I will have you to thank, he added.

The Independent has contacted Mr Trump and Mr Beach for comment
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A longtime producer for Tucker Carlson is out at Fox News after he was deemed responsible for the on-air headline that referred to President Joe Biden as a wannabe dictator" because of the indictment of former President Donald Trump.

The producer, Alex McCaskill, confirmed his exit in an Instagram post. Fox News did not comment on Friday.

He had remained at Fox after Carlson, the network's most popular personality, was fired on April 24. The reason for Carlson's sudden ouster, less than a week after Fox agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787 million to end a defamation case, has never been publicly explained.

It was during the last minutes of Carlson's former time slot on Tuesday when the message appeared under separate onscreen boxes that showed Biden and Trump talking. It read: Wannabe dictator speaks at the White House after having his political rival arrested.

Carlson, in a Twitter monologue posted Thursday, said the women who run the network panicked about the post and scolded the person responsible. Carlson didn't name the producer, but said he was considered one of the most capable persons in the building.

The producer offered to resign with two weeks' notice, but was told to clean out his desk and leave immediately, he said.

Fox, in a statement on Wednesday, said the chyron had been taken down and the issue addressed, without further explanation.

In an Instagram message posted on Twitter by Justin Baragona of The Daily Beast, McCaskill is pictured outside of Fox's Manhattan office holding a box.

Today was my last day at Fox, read the message under his picture. It's been a wild 10 years and it was the best place I've ever worked because of the great people I met. But the time has come. I asked them to let me go, and they finally did. To all my friends there: I will miss you forever.

A call and text message to a phone listed as McCaskill's was not immediately returned.

Plenty of Biden critics have suggested politics was behind Trump's indictment by special prosecutor Jack Smith on charges of hoarding classified documents and resisting government attempts to retrieve them. Biden has not commented on the case.

McCaskill was named this spring in a lawsuit filed by a former Fox producer, Abby Grossberg, who also worked on Carlson's staff. Her lawsuit said McCaskill habitually belittled female employees at Fox. He said that a room at Fox set aside for employees to pump breast milk was a waste of space and should be replaced with a room for men to tan their testicles, according to the lawsuit.

Fox has denied allegations in Grossberg's lawsuit.

___

Associated Press correspondent Beatrice Dupuy and researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

On 13 June, Donald Trump was charged with a number of crimes for the second time in less than three months.

He surrended to authorities in Miami on 37 federal charges stemming from his alleged unlawful retention of national defence information, adding another criminal case to the legal pressure against the twice-impeached former president as he seeks to win his partys nomination in next years Republican presidential primary.

Mr Trump also was criminally charged in New York in connection with hush money payments to bury stories of his alleged affairs in the lead up to the 2016 election.

He also is at the centre of another sprawling US Department of Justice special counsel probe into his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election  separate from an investigation in Atlanta into his attempts to reject the results of that election in Georgia.

Should he be convicted in any of those cases, speculation has mounted whether he will face jailtime, raising the prospect of federal prosecutors and judges weighing whether to jail a presidential candidate or potential victor in the 2024 race.

Charges in the federal case surrounding his alleged mishandling of classified documents include the willful retention of national defence information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record, concealing a document in a federal investigation, scheme to conceal, and false statements and representations.

Each charge carries a maximum sentence ranging from five years to 20 years. A potential sentence, if convicted, could include decades in prison.

That indictment was Mr Trumps second. In March, he appeared in a New York City courtroom to face criminal charges following Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs investigation into hush payments leading up to the 2016 presidential election.

He has pleaded not guilty in both cases. And after both hearings, he returned to his properties to deliver remarks to crowds of supporters to cast himself as a victim of political persecution, baselessly accusing his political rivals of interfering with his chances of winning election to the presidency in 2024.

Former US President Donald Trump waves from his vehicle following his appearance at Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse, in Miami, Florida, on June 13, 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)

Following his federal indictment, Mr Trump declared that he was an innocent man.

Those charges stem from a case that began early last year after National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) officials discovered more than 100 classified documents in boxes that were retrieved from Mr Trumps Palm Beach, Florida residence.

That discovery led NARA officials to notify the Justice Department which kicked off an investigation into how the documents ended up at Mr Trumps property.

Throughout the investigation, prosecutors and investigators harboured concerns that the ex-president was not being truthful about whether he had returned any and all classified documents in his possession to government custody as required under the Presidential Records Act.

But the classified nature of the records at issue added another wrinkle to the dispute between Mr Trump and the government he led from January 2017 to January 2021.

Trump stops off at Versailles restaurant after his arrest and arraignment (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

At times, the ex-president has claimed that he had used the sweeping classification and declassification authority to declassify any record he took with him to his Palm Beach home at Mar-a-Lago.

No evidence has emerged that any such order was ever issued, and in audio recordings obtained by prosecutors, Mr Trump is said to have acknowledged that he did not declassify certain records that were in his possession long after his authority to possess them expired.

The Justice Department is likely to attempt to have Mr Trump incarcerated if hes convicted.

National security lawyer and George Washington University law professor Kel McClanahan said that the department will probably want to go for incarceration in the case of Mr Trump, according to Insider.

Mr McClanahan said that the evidence in the indictment is intended to show that Mr Trump is a kingpin who knowingly broke the law, endangered national security, endangered nuclear weapon security, [and] endangered other countries national security.

The consensus among most legal experts commenting on the indictment appears to be that Mr Trump is in serious legal jeopardy.

A former assistant US attorney in the Southern District of New York, Sarah Krissoff, said that to the extent that theres a conviction here, the Department of Justice is going to want to be seeking a real sentence because of the nature of the conduct, how long it lasted, his involvement, the involvement of other people, working allegedly at Trumps direction.

She noted that if Mr Trump is convicted, the sentence would depend on the judge, which seems likely to be Trump-appointee Aileen Cannon in the District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Mr McClanahan noted the novelty of possibly having to find a proper way to put a former president behind bars.

He questioned how the authorities would go about imprisoning someone who has a Secret Service detail and who has national security secrets bouncing around his brain, such that if someone holds a shiv to his neck, hell reveal the location of our missile bases.

In this handout photo provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, stacks of boxes can be observed in the White and Gold Ballroom of former U.S. President Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida (Getty Images)

He added that Mr Trump might become a foreign intelligence gold mine for most countries on earth if hes imprisoned. Mr McClanahan sees it as more likely that if Mr Trump is convicted, he would be sentenced to house arrest with an ankle monitor.

But Ms Krissoff told the outlet that Trump can share that information that is in his head whether he is incarcerated or not incarcerated. So Im not particularly concerned that, as a citizen, the incarceration will trigger the sharing of information that wouldnt be shared otherwise.

Fox News legal commentator Jonathan Turley also didnt hold back after the indictment was unsealed.

Mr Turley, the Shapiro Chair of Public Interest Law at George Washington University, said on Fox News that it is an extremely damning indictment.

There are indictments that are sometimes called narrative or speaking indictments. These are indictments that are really meant to make a point as to the depth of the evidence, there are some indictments that are just bare bones, he added.

This is not one of those indictments, Mr Turley said.

This is clearly an indictment that was drafted to answer those questions. Its overwhelming in detail, he said. The Trump team should not fool itself. These are hits below the waterline. These are witnesses who apparently testified under oath [and] gave statements to federal investigators, both of which can be criminally charged, if theyre false.

Speaking about the images from Mar-a-Lago of the boxes of documents found in a ballroom and a bathroom, in addition to other less-than-ideal places, Mr Turley said that obviously, this is mishandling.

Its hard to show a picture of these boxes surrounding a toilet and saying we really acted responsibly, he added. Keep in mind that every one of these counts is coming with a substantial potential sentence.

A photo published by the US Justice Department in their charging document against former Trump shows boxes of documents stored in a bathroom at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida (Justice Department via REUTERS)

The Justice Department, meanwhile, is separately investigating Mr Trumps rejection of 2020 results, building on the years of work from federal prosecutors to investigate more than 1,000 people in connection with the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, fuelled by the former presidents ongoing false claims that the election was rigged against him.

Based on evidence uncovered by the House select committee that investigated the events surrounding the attack as well as other filings and reporting, prosecutors are likely investigating several key elements of the sprawling effort to reverse the 2020 election.

Those could include Mr Trumps election lies, his campaigns attempts to pressure state officials and push false slates of electors to obstruct the certification of the results, a failed attempt to persuade Mr Pence to refuse the outcome, and Mr Trumps failure to stop a mob of his supporters from breaking into the Capitol.

A target letter from federal prosecutors to Mr Trump that indicates he is the subject of an investigation cites three statutes that the former president likely violated in his attempts to reverse the outcome of the 2020 election.

One charge  obstruction of an official proceeding  has already been brought against hundreds of people in connection with the Capitol attack.

The House select committee and a federal judge who was involved in cases stemming from its inquiry argued that there is evidence that Mr Trump sought to corruptly obstruct the certification of electoral college votes in Congress  a crime punishable up to 20 years in prison, if convicted.
Gage Countys annual day of giving is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023.

Organized by the Gage County Foundation, with assistance from the Beatrice Community Hospital Foundation, Big Give Gage is a 24-hour online event encouraging individuals and Gage County communities to support local nonprofits.

Last year, 61 nonprofit organizations participated in Big Give Gage. These nonprofits represent nearly all facets of nonprofit work being done in Gage County and Southeast Nebraska. There are a wide array of causes included in Big Give Gage, such as arts and culture, community development, health and wellness, environment, animals, and education.

We are excited to see what 2023 will bring, and how all communities in Gage County will come together and show how much they care," Don Vetrovsky, Gage County Foundation Chairman, said in a press release. "Over the past four years we have raised over $1 million and we look forward to Sept 14, 2023. Together we can do great things.

Organizations interested in participating in the 2023 Big Give Gage event are asked to register. There will be a meeting on July 18 for all participating organizations.

The Gage County Foundation works adamantly to encourage local businesses and individuals to support Big Give Gage through various sponsorship opportunities. 100% of all sponsorships and match money go directly back to the participating nonprofits.

To participate in Big Give Gage, either as a non-profit organization, or if you would like to be a sponsor, please email biggivegage@gmail.com.

The Gage County Foundation exists for the purpose of raising and providing funds for the benefit of Gage County nonprofit organizations engaged in the pursuit of serving the educational, cultural, recreational, historical, health and meaningful needs of our Gage County citizens.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Just a year ago, President Joe Biden signed the first significant piece of federal gun safety legislation in nearly three decades.

It was a good start, Biden has said, but it didn't go far enough.

On Friday, the Democratic president will speak at a summit in Connecticut highlighting how the sweeping law has been implemented so far. He'll also use it as a moment to push for universal background checks and the banning of so-called assault weapons. Those are part of a 2024 political platform that was unthinkable to Democrats as recently as Barack Obamas term.

The gathering is being led by U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and major gun safety groups hoping to build on recent progress.

We actually had it wrong for a long time. We left an opportunity on the table for decades, Murphy said of the push for gun safety legislation.

Even before the Sandy Hook massacre in Murphy's state in 2012 spurred him to action, there was a mythology around Democratic election losses that dogged the party following passage of a crime bill in the 1990s  that voters weren't interested in gun safety and it was a losing issue politically. That was just a lie," Murphy said. "But it was a lie the gun lobby did a great job of selling, with some help from Democrats.

Last year's law, signed just weeks after a mass shooting that killed 19 elementary school children and two teachers in Uvalde, toughened background checks for the youngest gun buyers, sought to keep firearms from domestic violence offenders and aimed to help states put in place red flag laws that make it easier for authorities to take weapons away from people adjudged to be dangerous.

There's been success: Stepped-up FBI background checks have blocked more than 200 transactions of attempted purchasers under the age of 21. Prosecutions have increased for unlicensed gun sellers, and new gun trafficking penalties have been charged in more than 100 cases around the country. Prosecutions for those who sell firearms without a license doubled.

Millions of new dollars have flowed into mental health services for children and schools. On Friday, the departments of Health and Human Services and Education sent a joint letter to governors highlighting resources available to them to help support mental health  in particular if a student has been impacted by gun violence.

I think theres no question about it, the passage was a watershed moment, said John Feinblatt, head of Everytown for Gun Safety. The law clearly broke a log jam.

What were really going to do is continue to build on the moment both at the federal and the state level," he said.

Yet since that bill signing last summer, the tally of mass shootings in the United States has only grown. As of Friday, there have been at least 26 mass killings in the U.S. so far in 2023, leaving at least 131 people dead, not including perpetrators who died, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

That puts the country on a faster pace for mass killings than in any other year since 2006, according to the database, which defines a mass killing as one in which four or more people are killed, not including the perpetrator, within a 24-hour period.

Firearms are the No. 1 killer of children in the U.S., and so far this year 85 children younger than 11 have died by guns and 491 between the ages of 12 and 17 have died. As of 2020, the firearm mortality rate for those under age 19 is 5.6 per 100,000. The next comparable is Canada, with 0.08 deaths per 100,000.

Too many schools, too many everyday places have become killing fields in communities across America. And in each place, we hear the same message: Do something. For Gods sake, just do something, Biden said on the anniversary of the Uvalde shooting. We did something afterwards, but not nearly enough.

The president has said he'd like to ban so-called assault weapons, a political term to describe guns most often used in mass shootings with the capacity to kill a lot of people quickly. Still, the idea of further action  or unilateral action by the White House  makes some Republicans who voted for the 2022 gun legislation uneasy.

Im a little apprehensive, said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. I dont want them writing a rule that basically deviates from what weve negotiated or voted on.

After his speech in West Hartford, Biden will head to a fundraiser in tony Greenwich. In the coming days, he will accelerate his campaign travel, making stops in New York, California, Illinois and Maryland before the end of the month.

___

Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

President Joe Biden is facing criticism for slipping up when outlining a new railroad project, mistakenly saying it would be built across the Indian Ocean.

Mr Biden was speaking to the League of Conservation Voters in Washington DC on Wednesday night, saying, We have plans to build a railroad from the Pacific all the way across the Indian Ocean.

We have plans to build in Angola one of the largest solar plants in the world, Mr Biden added. I can go on, but Im not. Im going off-script. Im going to get in trouble.

Theres no proposal to build a railroad covering the third largest ocean on the planet, and conservatives were quick to capitalise on the slip-up, with the Twitter account RNC Research sharing the clip on Wednesday night.

Last week, during a visit from UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Mr Biden made a similar mistake, before correcting himself, saying that Were talking about building  and I had my team putting together with other countries as well  to build a railroad from the Pacific Ocean  from the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the Indian Ocean.

Africa is surrounded by the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, and the Arabian Sea, but not the Pacific.

Before fumbling his words, Mr Biden spoke about how the US is planning on helping developing countries combat the climate crisis.

Weve mobilised the worlds leading emitters to help poorer countries deal with the impacts of climate change. They called it, at the G7, the Build Back Biden  Build Back Better. And we realized that got confusing, the president said to laughter in the room.

Heres the bottom line  Were the ones that caused the problem, the United States. We cleared all our land. We did all the things that make things more easy for us to make money. Not a bad thing at the time. No one really fully understood, he added. But we, the major emitters in the world, have an obligation to help those countries.

Soon, Africa will have one billion people. China has their Belt and Road Initiative. It turned out to be their debt and destruction initiative. No, Im serious. Not a joke. Well, were going to win, and were going to help, Mr Biden said, seemingly arguing that the US will take on China in their soft power push to help poorer nations with infrastructure projects, which critics have claimed are exploitative, with some calling it a debt trap.

Mr Biden was mocked by Twitter users for his railroad slip, with conservative columnist Ian Haworth tweeting: Whos going to run that train, SpongeBob?

Former Utah Republican Representative Jason Chaffetz tweeted: Bold initiative, Mr. President.

The communications director for Republican Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, Abigail Marone, wrote: Put grandpa to bed.

The DeSantis War Room simply tweeted: Ambitious.

Right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro made a dig about Mr Bidens age, writing, He does remember Pangea so.

I for one am booking a seat on the first ever rail trip to the Indian Ocean. You laugh but the beverage car is gonna be sick, Philadelphia talk radio host Rich Zeoli wrote.

Mr Bidens reelection effort was endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund, NextGen PAC, and the Sierra Club on Wednesday evening, the New York Post noted.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

An executive order designed to protect people providing and receiving gender-affirming care was signed by New York City mayor Eric Adams on Monday.

Executive Order 32, signed in celebration of Pride, prevents the use of city resources to investigate, detain or prosecute anyone providing or receiving care.

Its a measure similar to one cities have taken to try to protect abortion rights after the reversal of Roe v Wade.

New York as a state has not passed any restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors, which remains legal across the Northeast.

But Mr Adamss measure comes at a time when the transgender community has been under a sustained attack from Republican party officials who have introduced more than 400 bills in state legislatures targeting LGBT+ people so far this year. Twenty states have already passed laws limiting or banning gender-affirming care for minors, with more states actively considering bans.

As states across the nation continue their onslaught of attacks on our LGBT+ neighbors, New York City is doing what we have always done  standing up for justice and against discrimination, Mr Adams said in a statement on the executive action.

This executive order reaffirms the fact that hate has no place in our city and that all people deserve the right to gender-affirming care and protection against prosecution for being who they are.

The spirit of Mr Adamss order is aligned with advisories from a number of major medical associations like the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, which have said that gender-affirming care is safe and can be lifesaving.

The number of people who transition and express regret about it later is believed to be at or less than one percent. For some of them, the regret was temporary.

Some see attacks on gender-affirming care for children as part of a broader assault on the bodily autonomy of people who are not cisgender men.

A number of the states that have passed bans on gender-affirming care have also passed limits or effective bans on abortion care. Some people in such states have been forced to move to other areas without such restrictions.

New York is a place of particular import for the LGBT+ movement, as it is the site of the Stonewall riot and one of the countrys largest and most visible LGBT+ communities.

Its annual Pride parade is set to take place on 25 June.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A pair of Florida elected officials are livid after Governor Ron DeSantis used his budget veto power to retaliate against them for not supporting his bid to become the GOPs nominee in next years general election.

Mr DeSantis, who under Florida law can use a line-item veto to slash individual projects from the Sunshine States annual budget, cut more than half a billion dollars from the budget passed by the Florida legislature earlier this month, including $160,000 appropriated for a Black History Month celebration in Orlando and millions in funds for Florida Polytechnic University.

But the cuts in the budget ordered by the governor appeared to specifically target ex-Florida GOP Chair Joe Gruters, a state senator who saw millions of dollars cut from projects in his district, which includes the city of Sarasota.

Mr Gruters is just one of 14 state legislators who failed to endorse Mr DeSantis before his official entry into the Republican primary last month.

In a text message to Politico, the state senator said Mr DeSantis was clearly upset because hed endorsed Donald Trump for president.

So he took it out on the people of Sarasota County  simply because I support his political opponent, the governor chose to punish ordinary Floridians who want better water quality, less traffic congestion and increased for resources for disabled children to grateful employment, he said.

Its mean-spirited acts like this that are defining him here and across the country, he added.

The Florida governor also took his veto pen to line items favoured by Wilton Sampson, the states Republican agriculture commissioner.

Specifically, Mr DeSantis cut from the budget a $100 million line-item used to compensate farmers who choose not to sell their land to developers, as well as $30 million from what Politico described as energy programs under Mr Sampsons purview.

The commissioner said there was no conceivable reason for Mr DeSantis to target his programs when the state has billions of dollars in budget reserves.

He added: Agriculture was harmed today and so was the state of Florida.

In addition, the governor heeded a request to dock a $2m appropriation for the Brevard Zoo from a Republican in the Florida House of Representatives, Randy Fine, who has expressed ire over the zoos management considering an end to allowing political campaigns to rent space for events there.

According to Florida Today, Mr Fine explained his opposition to the funding by claiming the facilitys consideration of a ban on campaign fundraisers was woke.

Why would we give taxpayer money to an organisation thats so successful that they turn away business? In the state of Florida, if you go woke, you go broke, he said.

Mr DeSantis budgetary decisions are consistent with the way he has routinely used the power of his office to reward friends and harm enemies, real or percieved.

The most prominent example of this pattern is the governors ongoing feud with Disney, which touched off after the companys previous CEO criticised his decision to sign into law the so-called Dont Say Gay bill, which banned any classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity for young elementary school grades, though Mr DeSantis later signed a separate bill to expand the ban to all grades in all Florida public schools.

A spokesman for Mr DeSantis, Jeremy Redfern, said the governor had vetoed the agricultural preservation programme because there is $240m currently available in unspent funds for it.

He also accused Mr Gruters of turning conservative governance and fiscal responsibility into a political statement.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The attorney who recently withdrew from former president Donald Trumps case regarding his alleged mishandling of classified documents has now also withdrawn from Mr Trumps lawsuit against CNN.

James Trusty sent a motion to withdraw as an attorney to the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Friday, asking to pull out of the case.

Mr Trustys withdrawal is based on irreconcilable differences between Counsel and Plaintiff and Counsel can no longer effectively and properly represent plaintiff, the motion read. The motion said that Mr Trustys withdrawal did not adversely affect Mr Trump as oral arguments on CNNs motion to dismiss had not been scheduled, discovery had not yet begun and no deadlines are pending.

The motion also said that Lindsey Halligan continued to serve Mr Trump.

Based upon these facts, Counsel requests to be withdrawn as attorney of record for Donald J Trump, the motion reads.

Mr Trump filed a lawsuit against the cable news channel last year alleging that CNN defamed the former president and his Make America Great Again movement by comparing it to the rise of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. Mr Trumps lawsuit seeks $475m in punitive damages. The lawsuit alleges that CNN fears him running for president again.

The withdrawal comes as Mr Trump faces multiple ongoing legal headaches. Last week, a federal grand jury under the supervision of Special Counsel Jack Smith indicted him for his mishandling of documents related to national security.

Mr Trump pleaded not guilty to the 37 charges he faces when he appeared for his arraignment in a federal court in Miami on Tuesday.

But shortly after the announcement, Mr Trump said that Mr Trusty and fellow attorney John Rowley withdrew from defending him.

I want to thank Jim Trusty and John Rowley for their work, but they were up against a very dishonest, corrupt, evil, and sick group of people, the likes of which has not been seen before, he said. We will be announcing additional lawyers in the coming days.

Mr Trump also faces criminal charges in New York over hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. He also faces investigations into the January 6 riot at the US Capitol, and a probe into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Tucker Carlson ridiculed his former employer Fox News and Democrats over the broadcasters chyron that briefly described Joe Biden as a wannabe dictator.

Releasing the fourth episode of his Twitter show Tucker on Twitter on Thursday, Carlson questioned the apology tendered by Fox News following the gaffe.

He likened Mr Bidens personality to that of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, North Koreas Kim Il-sung and Romanias tyrannical communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

But why were they angry? If the banner on Fox was false? Why the hysteria? asked Carlson in his show that was launched as a counter to his Fox primetime slot after being forced to resign.

On Tuesday night, Fox News broadcasted a chyron  a caption superimposed over the lower part of a video image  beneath split-screen videos that showed Donald Trump addressing supporters live in New Jersey and Mr Biden speaking at the White House earlier in the day.

Wannabe dictator speaks at the White House after having his political rival arrested, read the chyron.

Fox News said the chyron was taken down immediately and was addressed. Carlson claimed the Fox News producer responsible for the chyron resigned.

Those words were up for less than 30 seconds, but the effect was immediate. Inside Fox, the women who run the network panicked, he said in his long rant.

He said the channel scolded the producer who put the banner on the screen and claimed the producer later resigned.

He questioned why Democrats reacted to the chyron with anger.

But why were they angry? If the banner on Fox was false? Why the hysteria? Lies dont seem to bother anyone anymore. If some cable news producer had called Joe Biden a genius or accused him of being secretly Sudanese, would anyone be yelling about it? Carlson said.

Would Fox News have apologized for it? Probably not. But calling Joe Biden a wannabe dictator, that stung.

In a mocking tone, Carlson proceeded to enumerate the various ways in which Mr Biden could never be considered a dictator. He sarcastically referred to government surveillance of phones and bank accounts, as well as a purported suppression of peaceful protests such as the events that unfolded during the Jan 6 riot.

The comments come as Daily Beast reported that Fox News producer Alexander McCaskill had parted ways with the network.

Fox News has sent Carlson a cease and desist letter ordering him to stop releasing shows on Twitter.

Foxs attorneys wrote to Carlson demanding he stop posting Tucker on Twitter videos, the first two episodes of which attracted a combined 169 million views.

The right-wing network has been locked in a bitter contractual dispute with its former primetime anchor since he left in the aftermath of the $787m Dominion Voting Systems pay out in April.
Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A white Starbucks manager whose staff refused bathroom access to two Black men was awarded $25.6m after successfully arguing that the company fired her because of her skin colour.

In April 2018, two Black men visited a Starbucks in Philadelphia to attend a business meeting. A third person  a white man  had not yet arrived. One of the men asked if he could use the restroom while they waited for the third to arrive. The staff told him no. The men, Donte Robinson and Rashon Nelson, both 23 at the time, were eventually asked to leave, and an employee later called the police to report them when they did not.

The men were arrested, and videos of their encounter with police spread on social media, resulting in boycotts, threats, and allegations of racism against the coffee company.

Kevin R Johnson, the company's CEO at the time, apologised following the incident, calling the situation "reprehensible."

The stores manager, Shannon Phillips, was fired over the incident, but sued Starbucks, alleging she had only been terminated because she was white. A federal jury in New Jersey appears to have agreed with her argument, according to the New York Times.

The jury found that Starbucks violated a New Jersey law prohibiting racial discrimination, and awarded her $600,000 in compensatory damages, along with $25m in punitive damages.

Laura Mattiacci, Ms Phillips' lawyer, said she and her client were "very pleased" by the outcome.

A spokesperson for Starbucks told The Independent that the company had no comment to offer in response to the ruling.

She claimed in her lawsuit that Starbucks sought to punish white employees in and around Philadelphia, even if they had not been involved in the bathroom incident.

Ms Phillips also alleged that one of her superiors, a Black woman, told her to suspend a white manager who oversaw other Philadelphia stores, though not the store where the incident took place. The woman allegedly said the suspension was in response to the white manager engaging in discriminatory conduct, but Ms Phillips said she knew for a fact the allegations were not true, and she pushed back against the demand.

She also said that the in-store manager at the location where the two Black men were arrested was a Black man himself. Ms Phillips said Starbucks took no action against him following the incident.

Ms Phillips said she was fired shortly after she pushed back on the alleged directive to fire the white managers.

Starbucks denied targeting Ms Phillips due to her race, insisting instead that she was terminated because of her reportedly lackluster response to the Rittenhouse Square incident.

Lawyers representing the company argued that the crisis required "a leader who could perform" and claimed that "Ms Phillips failed in every aspect of that role."

Starbucks eventually settled a lawsuit brought by Mr Robinson and Mr Nelson. The settlement with Starbucks was confidential.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

The leader of Australias Liberal party said he has been made aware of a third instance of inappropriate touching by his colleague David Van who has denied the sexual misconduct allegations against him.

Opposition party leader Peter Dutton said on Friday that he was told about the new allegation after Mr Van was expelled a day earlier and is under pressure to quit federal politics.

I raised another allegation with Senator Van but Im not going to comment in relation to those matters otherwise, Mr Dutton told Nine Network.

I made a decision yesterday based on all of the information that was available to me. It had come to me overnight and on that morning, I raised it with him. I made a decision and thats a decision I dont regret at all.

Mr Dutton has insisted that it is in everyones best interest that he [Mr Van] resign from the parliament.

I hope hes able to do that sooner than later and, and seek the help that he needs, he said.

And I think that would be an appropriate next step in terms of the decision to expel him from the party.

Mr Dutton was quoted as saying by Sydneys 2GB Radio that he wont elaborate on the third complaint because theres a person who I understand doesnt want to be identified and said that it was of a similar nature to those relating to Senator Stoker.

Former Liberal senator Amanda Stoker had said in a Thursday statement that Mr Van had inappropriately touched her at a social event in November 2020.

He did so by squeezing my bottom twice. By its nature and by its repetition, it was not accidental. That action was not appropriate. It was unprofessional and uninvited, she said.

Independent senator Lidia Thorpe had on Wednesday come forward and accused Mr Van in parliament of harassing and sexually assaulting her. She, however, later withdrew the comments to comply with senate rules, according to the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.

Nothing [Ms Thorpe] has alleged about me is truthful. No such exchange occurred between us. There is no interaction that could conceivably resemble what she described today, Mr Van had retorted.

On Thursday, Ms Thorpe told the senate that an unnamed man had cornered her in a stairwell and alleged that, during her time in parliament, she had been aggressively propositioned and inappropriately touched.

She had not named anyone.

Sussan Ley, Mr Duttons deputy and the party spokesperson for women, said in a statement that she supports the strong words and actions of the leader in dealing with this very sensitive and serious matter.

The oppositions leader in the senate, Simon Birmingham, said he supported Mr Dutton, as did senators Anne Ruston and Marise Payne.

It would be entirely appropriate for him to reflect upon his position in the senate, Mr Birmingham said.

Meanwhile, Mr Van issued a statement on Friday after allegations of the third inappropriate touching incident surfaced.

I am utterly shattered by the events of the past days and stunned that my good reputation can be so wantonly savaged without due process or accountability, he said.

I will fully cooperate with whatever process Mr Dutton proposes to determine these matters as quickly and fairly as possible.

While I understand the public interest is high, I will not be making any more public statements on the allegations until a proper examination of these claims is concluded.

Mr Dutton also commented on the allegations.

It is unacceptable behaviour, the thought of sexual assault against any woman in the workplace is not something that I would tolerate and its been an issue in the press gallery, been an issue in Parliament House and obviously theres now a system where matters can be referred independent of the parties and Ive referred the matters to that independent workplace authority for investigation and its now with them, he said.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A delegation of security officials, diplomats and journalists accompanying the South African president to Ukraine and Russia was stranded on a separately chartered plane at Warsaws airport for more than 24 hours. Polish authorities said on Friday that the problem was over permissions for firearms.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is among a group of African leaders visiting Kyiv and Moscow on a mission to encourage a resolution to Russias war on Ukraine.

According to the Poland Border Guard agency, Ramaphosa's security detail did not have permission for the weapons they were carrying, which resulted in a standoff. The president's office described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply regrettable but said his security was not compromised.

Members of the delegation had weapons which they did not have permission to bring, but they could leave the plane themselves, the Polish agency tweeted Friday.

Our officials remain engaged with their Polish counterparts in trying to resolve the situation, said Vincent Magwenya, Ramaphosa's spokesman.

Among the group was Maj. Gen. Wally Rhoode, the head of Ramaphosas personal protection unit, who claimed the delegation faced hostile treatment from Polish authorities, including one of their female colleagues who was strip searched.

Rhoode told journalists from the steps of the plane that Polish officials were being deliberately obstructive and had tried to confiscate firearms from them  even though the arms were being transported in secure cases in the planes cargo hold.

South African journalists who were stuck on the plane were tweeting that they were later told to disembark and proceed to customs.

It was unclear whether they would be allowed to proceed to Kyiv, where Ramaphosa and other African heads of state are expected to hold talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The incident sparked debate in South Africa, where many suggested the standoff was an indirect message to the country over its non-aligned stance on the war that has led to diplomatic tensions with the West.

___

Associated Press writers Vanessa Gera in Warsaw and Gerald Imray in Cape Town, South Africa, contributed to this story.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Two American women who were attacked while they hiked a trail near a famous castle in Germany have been identified.

Eva Liu, 21, and Kelsey Chang, 22, had travelled to Germany following their May graduation from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, DailyMail.com first reported.

A university spokesperson confirmed in a statement to The Independent that Ms Chang and Liu were shoved down into a ravine near the historic Neuschwanstein Castle in the German state of Bavaria on Wednesday. Liu died as a result of injuries she sustained during the 164ft fall, while Ms Chang remains in hospital.

Bavarian police said in a statement on Thursday that the victims joined a man along a trail just moments before the attack. He reportedly tried to sexually assault them before pushing them down a steep gorge. A 30-year-old American man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and sexual offences.

Both had just graduated in May and should have been able to celebrate such an important accomplishment without the fear of such a tragic outcome, the office of the university chancellor said. Our thoughts are with Ms. Chang as she recovers and with both of their families as they grieve.

Just weeks before the tragedy, Liu was awarded a computer science degree, while Ms Chang received a bachelors in computer engineering.

Liu had landed a role as a software engineer at Microsoft after finishing an internship with the company during her last semester, she wrote in a LinkedIn post.

On Wednesday afternoon, the two women were on a hiking trail east of the Marienbrucke Bridge, an attraction just an hours drive from Munich that is popular among visitors for its sweeping views of Neuschwanstein Castle. They met a man and joined him on the hike, police said.

Eva Liu was the fatal victim in Wednesdays attack near the Neuschwanstein Castle, a spokesperson with the University of Illinois confirmed (Eva Liu/ Microsoft )

The man then steered the two under a pretext to a trail that was difficult to see, which leads to a viewpoint, Bavarian police said in a statement. According to the current state of knowledge, an attempted sexual offence to the detriment of the 21-year-old must be assumed.

Once out of sight, the 30-year-old assailant reportedly tried to attack Liu, prompting Ms Chang to try and defend her, police said.

The younger of the two women was attacked by the suspect, police spokesman Holger Stabik told the AP. The older one tried to rush to her aid, was then choked by the suspect and subsequently pushed down a slope.

Both women were shoved down 164 feet into a ravine. Liu was airlifted to a hospital in serious condition and died on Thursday night.

Ms Chang suffered bruises and lacerations to her head but much of the impact was blunted by a tree, according to the Mail.

She was transported to a hospital and was still recovering as of Friday morning.

German police arrest man accused of throwing women off bridge at castle

Bavarian police said the attacker was a 30-year-old US national, DW reports. Bystander video posted online showed police leading away a handcuffed, bearded man in a T-shirt, jeans and a baseball cap.

The victims and their alleged attacker had reportedly stayed at the budget Seibel Hotel in Munich, staff told the Mail.

The suspect appeared before a judge at the Kempten District Court, but did not comment on a motive behind the attack.

Following protocol, German authorities will not release the name of the suspect in the early stages of the investigation.
A Billings woman previously charged with a DUI is now facing one count of vehicle homicide while under the influence following a deadly crash on the interstate last year.

Marcia Lynn Jefferson, 33, pleaded not guilty Friday to accusations of driving drunk in December and causing a wreck that killed her passenger, 34-year-old Glen Seth Myers.

The most recent charge is not the first time Jefferson has allegedly endangered the lives of others while under the influence, Deputy Yellowstone County Attorney Margaret Gallagher said.

Late on the evening of New Years Eve a Jeep Grand Cherokee went off I-90 and crashed into a building on the 3100 block of King Avenue East. The Jeeps driver, identified in court documents as Jefferson, went to the hospital. Emergency crews also extracted Myers, and declared him dead at the scene. The wreck was one of two fatal crashes in Billings that night.

Investigators with Montana Highway Patrol later determined that Jefferson was driving eastbound on I-90, court documents said. A witness also driving on the interstate allegedly told MHP he watched the Jeep approach him from the rear at a high rate of speed. He crossed over to make way for the Jeep, court documents said, which had drifted into the middle of the interstate before correcting and almost striking him. After the Jeep passed him, he allegedly watched it lose control and go off the right side of the road.

The Jeep struck a delineator post and a mile marker, court documents said, then crashed through a fence, striking a tree and a wood shed. The Jeep overturned and came to a stop on its hood after hitting a metal building. The Jeep was driving at 85 mph just seconds before the crash, according to charging documents.

A blood sample taken from Jefferson the night of the crash showed she had a BAC of .202 percent, more than twice the legal limit. During an interview with an MHP trooper in February, according to court documents, she said shed had two shots of whiskey and was in an argument with Myers prior to the wreck. County prosecutors charged Jefferson with vehicular homicide on May 12, and Yellowstone County District Judge Michael G. Moses signed a $10,000 warrant for her arrest.

At her arraignment Friday, a tearful Jefferson appeared via teleconference and listened to Gallagher list of her numerous previous driving offenses, which included multiple counts of driving without a license and driving while her privileges had been revoked. In 2016, she pleaded guilty to criminal endangerment and DUI, admitting to driving drunk in Billings with three children in her car. Gallagher recommended that Jeffersons bond be set at $150,000.

Yellowstone County District Judge Ashely Harada presided over Fridays hearing and set her bond at $100,000, and ordered that Jefferson be monitored by GPS should she make bail. If convicted, Jefferson could be sentenced up to 30 years in prison and face a fine of up to $50,000.

Last year ended with 207 people killed in crashes in Montana, according to the Montana Department of Transportation. As of June 12, 2023, per preliminary information from MHP, there have been 62 fatalities this year, about half of which involved driving under the influence. From 2011 through 2020, an average of 67 people a year across the state were killed in wrecks involving a driver with a BAC of .08 percent and higher.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A Syrian teenager who survived a shipwreck that killed at least 78 people off the coast of Greece was reunited with his elder brother on Friday.

Mohammad, 18, burst into sobs as he spotted his elder brother Fadi, who had travelled from the Netherlands searching for him. They wept and hugged through metal barricades, erected by Greek police around a warehouse in Kalamata where survivors had been sleeping for the past two days.

Thank God for your safety, Fadi said, repeatedly kissing his younger sibling on the head.

About 25 other relatives gathered outside the Kalamata shelter, hoping for news, clasping screenshots of their loved ones on mobile phones.

Witness accounts suggested between 400 and 750 people  including potentially up to 100 children  had packed the 20- to 30m-long fishing boat that capsized and sank early on Wednesday morning about 45 miles from the southern coastal town of Pylos.

The Greek coastguard denied reports that the boat flipped after the coastguard attempted to tow it, as criticism mounted over both the response of Greek authorities and the years-long failure of the EU to hammer out a migration policy.

There was no effort to tug the boat, coastguard spokesperson Nikos Alexiou told state broadcaster ERT.

A massive search and rescue operation continued on Friday, but hopes are dwindling of finding any more survivors  despite the fact that the Greek coastguard suggesting the operation could be extended beyond the standard 72 hours. The area where the boat capsized contains some of the deepest waters of the Mediterranean.

In the immediate aftermath, 104 survivors and 78 victims were brought to shore by Greek authorities, but nothing has been found since.

Most of the survivors, 71 people, were transferred on Friday by bus to the migrant camp of Malakasa, a gated facility with barbed wire fencing 40km (25 miles) outside Athens.

Its a tragedy, said Anwar Bakri, secretary general of the Syrian Association of Greece. I have numerous photos, at least 15 photos until now, of missing people, young children, 16-year-olds, 20-year-olds, 25-year-olds, whose parents are looking for them."

Mr Bakri said he had received hundreds of calls from people in Germany, in Turkey and other countries, who feared their Syrian relatives were on the sunken boat.

From what I was told, there are no women. All the women died, they sank, they drowned with their children in their arms.

The UNs migration and refugee agencies issued a joint statement calling timely maritime search and rescues a legal and humanitarian imperative and calling for urgent and decisive action to prevent further deaths at sea.

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations refugee agency, the UNHCR, said the latest tragedy in the Mediterranean was the worst in several years and urged states to address the gaps in search and rescue rules.

It is clear, that the current approach to the Mediterranean is unworkable, IOMs Federico Soda. Year after year, it continues to be the most dangerous migration route in the world, with the highest fatality rate.

Pope Francis, who visited Greece two years ago to draw attention to the plight of refugees, urged for measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

I feel great pain at the death of the migrants, including many children, in the shipwreck in the Aegean Sea, he said on Twitter. We must do everything possible so that migrants fleeing war and poverty do not meet death while seeking a future of hope.

The ageing fishing vessel was thought to have departed from Egypt, then picked up passengers in the Libyan coastal city of Tobruk on 10 June. Greek authorities say survivors have told them they paid $4,500 (3,500) each to go to Italy. The exact circumstances of the vessel sinking while it was being shadowed by the Greek coastguard are still unclear.

Authorities, who were alerted by Italy on Tuesday and subsequently monitored the vessel over a period of 15 hours before it sank, say occupants on the vessel repeatedly refused Greek help, saying they wanted to go to Italy.

An advocacy group that had been in communication with the vessel said that on at least two occasions persons on board pleaded for help. The group, Alarm Phone, said it had alerted Greek authorities and aid agencies hours before the disaster unfolded.

Nine Egyptians, aged between 20 and 40 years, were arrested over the shipwreck on Thursday evening. Authorities said they faced charges of negligent manslaughter, exposing lives to danger, causing a shipwreck and human trafficking.

They were expected to appear before a judge and respond to the accusations in the coming days.

Reuters
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Ryanair boss Eddie Wilson has apologised after a flight attendant said that Tel Aviv was in Palestine, causing an angry backlash from Israeli passengers.

A row broke out after a Ryanair cabin crew member made the announcement in both English and Italian on a flight from Bologna to Tel Aviv on June 10.

Mr Wilson said the company was "100% satisfied that it was an innocent mistake with no political overtones or intent".

But passengers complained and passengers "continued to be abusive" even after the cabin crew apologised.

According to the BBC, police had to be called to meet the aircraft when it landed.

Some Israeli media commentators called for Israelis to boycott the airline if an apology wasn't made.

In a statement to the Jewish Chronicle, Ryanair said: "A junior crew member on this flight from Bologna to Tel Aviv (10 June) made a routine descent PA mistakenly saying Palestine instead of Tel Aviv.

"This was an innocent mistake with no intent and was immediately corrected and apologized for by the senior crew member on board."

Calling the Israeli city Palestinian is seen as highly provocative as it is considered to be denying the recognition of the Jewish state.

But Mr Wilson said he has written to the Israeli ambassador for Ireland, adding that Israel was an "important partner" for Ryanair.

The airline is also the second-largest in Israel.

Mr Wilson said: "We plan to invest in Israel to grow traffic and connectivity both for Israelis travelling to Europe and also to bring much-needed inbound tourism to Israel."

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Simon Wiesenthal Center associate dean, said: "How would Ryanair react if their flight attendant on a flight to Dublin announced multiple times that passengers would soon be arriving in the UK?

"Everyone is entitled to their opinions but not to alternative facts."
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

A second shark has been spotted off the Spanish coast just a day after a previous sighting sent beachgoers fleeing in panic.

Tourists and locals were terrified after they saw a seven-foot tintorera, or blue shark, off the coast of Aguamarina Beach in Orihuela Costa south of Alicante on Friday, June 16.

And on Thursday, June 15, a shark was spotted on the shoreline off Aguamarina Beach in Orihuela Costa south of Alicante.

Tourists fled in panic and a good samaritan helped an elderly woman out of the water who was said to of had a panic attack when she spotted the shark beside her.

However, the shark believed to have been the one in yesterday's sighting, was found dead a couple of miles north.

The most recent sighting was spotted inside the Ciutadella Port in Menorca.

Because it was so close to the shoreline, some believe it may have been injured.

Biologist Juan Antonio Pujol told a local paper: "Coming across something like this when you're swimming in the water makes an impression but you should stay calm because they're not aggressive."

The shark was spotted at the start of a lifeguard service at the beach.

Shark attacks are generally rare overall, with confirmed unprovoked cases totalling 57 worldwide in 2022, according to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), which is lower than the most recent five-year (2017-21) average of 70 incidents annually.

The database suggests those that end in a fatality are even rarer, numbering just five of last years figure, which is roughly in line with the five-year global average of six unprovoked fatalities per year.

It adds there were an additional four shark-related deaths in 2022 that were classed as provoked.

However, the ISAF notes two of those unprovoked killings happened in Egypts waters, making it the highest, joint with South Africa, for fatal cases last year. It states two was also the countrys total figure for unprovoked shark bites, which means all attacks there resulted in death.

Although there were 41 unprovoked shark bites in the USA in 2022, the database shows only one resulted in death, while of the nine people who were bitten in Australia, all survived.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

An undersea tunnel could one day connect Europe's high-speed rail network to north Africa under plans revived by the Spanish and Moroccan governments.

Spain on Friday confirmed 2.3 million (2 million) in funding for a design study on the Gibraltar strait fixed link  a planned railway tunnel linking the country with Morocco.

It comes after the two governments said in April they wanted to re-launch the mothballed project, which has been on ice since 2009.

The so-called "Europe-Africa Gibraltar strait fixed link" could resemble the Channel Tunnel between Dover and Calais and bridge the nine-mile continental divide.

The plan was first seriously suggested in the 1970s and formalised in the 1980s, yet progress on the project has been slow.

A joint committee set up to push the tunnel forward has not met since 2009 and the two national bodies responsible for exploring the idea received no funding  until now.

The opening of Morocco's first high-speed rail line in 2018 has given the idea of linking the continents new impetus and raised hopes that the two continents could one day be connected by fast express train.

After fourteen years, from Tangier in October 2009, we are going to give impetus to the studies of a project of maximum geostrategic importance for our countries and for relations between Europe and Africa, said Raquel Sanchez, Spains transport minister, at a meeting in April.

We are beginning a new stage in the revival of the fixed link project across the Strait of Gibraltar, which we launched in 1981, hand in hand."

Morocco's northern port city of Tangiers is now the northern end of a 320 km/h (200mph) high speed rail line with services running to the capital Rabat and largest city Casablanca.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 / 50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 3 July 2023 Philippine Air Force (PAF) aircrafts in formation during PAF's 76th anniversary at Clark air base, Angeles city, Pampanga province, Philippines EPA World news in pictures 2 July 2023 A woman holding an umbrella in support of the yes vote takes part in a Yes23 community event in support of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in Sydney, Australia. A referendum later this year will seek to amend the countrys constitution by creating the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to represent Indigenous Australians to the parliament and federal government on matters of Indigenous affairs. EPA World news in pictures 1 July 2023 Police officers walk as they try to disperse protesters with tear gas during a demonstration against police in Marseille, southern France AFP via Getty Images World news in pictures 30 June 2023 Mud-covered farmers play in a paddy field during "National Paddy Day", which marks the start of the annual rice planting season, in Tokha village on the outskirts of Kathmandu AFP/Getty World news in pictures 29 June 2023 A fire burns in the middle of a street in Paris during clashes between protesters and French riot police following a march in the memory of 17-year-old Nahel, who was killed by French Police in Nanterre on 27 June EPA World news in pictures 28 June 2023 Debris from the Titan submersible, recovered from the ocean floor near the wreck of the Titanic, is unloaded from the ship Horizon Arctic at the Canadian Coast Guard pier in St Johns, Newfoundland The Canadian Press via AP World news in pictures 27 June 2023 Muslim pilgrims gather on the Mount of Mercy at the plain of Arafat as water mist is sprayed due to high temperature during the annual haj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia Reuters World news in pictures 26 June 2023 A burning pile of seized illegal drugs during a destruction ceremony to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Yangon AFP/Getty World news in pictures 25 June 2023 Muslim pilgrims pray around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia AP World news in pictures 24 June 2023 Supporters form the word 'Family' during the annual Pink Dot event in a public show of support for the LGBTQ community at Hong Lim Park in Singapore AFP/Getty World news in pictures 23 June 2023 France's Yasmina Aziez competes during round one of the Virtual Taekwondo event of the inaugural Olympic Esports Week in Singapore EPA World news in pictures 22 June 2023 Swimmers participate in the annual nude winter solstice swim during Hobarts Dark Mofo festival at Long Beach, Australia EPA World news in pictures 21 June 2023 Smoke billows from rubbles of a building at Place Alphonse-Laveran in Paris AFP/Getty World news in pictures 20 June 2023 A masked Palestinian gunman stands guard during the funeral of Palestinian Amjad Aref Jaas who succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained in yesterday's Israeli raid, in Jenin in the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty Images World news in pictures 19 June 2023 A Rafale fighter jet from France's Dassault Aviation takes off in front of a flock of birds, during a demonstration flight at the International Paris Air Show, in Le Bourget, north of Paris EPA World news in pictures 17 June 2023 Mayon volcano spews ashes and lava in Legazpi city, Albay province, Philippines EPA World news in pictures 16 June 2023 A competitor dives in the Seine river near the Eiffel Tower during a training session prior to the Red Bull Cliff Diving event AP World news in pictures 15 June 2023 Renat Korchm, an assistant of Russias Rosatom nuclear company, speaks in front of the cooling systems of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant during an inspection in Enerhodar, southeastern Ukraine EPA World news in pictures 14 June 2023 People, including AC Milan fans waving flags in the crowd, attend Silvio Berlusconis state funeral in Milans Duomo Cathedral AP World news in pictures 12 June 2023 Workers inspect and clear debris from a section of the bridge that collapsed on Interstate 95 after an oil tanker explosion in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Getty World news in pictures 10 June 2023 A group of Maasai women sing traditional songs during a festival in Sekenani AFP/Getty World news in pictures 9 June 2023 Members of Russias emergencies ministry use an inflatable boat in a flooded area during a rescue operation following the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka dam in occupied Ukraine Reuters World news in pictures 8 June 2023 A multiple exposure of Carolina Marin in action during her womens singles second round match at the Singapore Badminton Open EPA World news in pictures 7 June 2023 People attend a morning yoga class on The Edge observation deck as a haze caused by smoke from wildfires burning in Canada hangs over Manhattan EPA World news in pictures 6 June 2023 Damage on the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine Planet Labs PBC/AP World news in pictures 5 June 2023 Sunrise from Vista Chinesa, one of the main tourist attractions in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil EPA World news in pictures 4 June 2023 Giant dragons float down the Vistula river during the the Great Dragon Show at the Vistula Boulevard in Krakow, southern Poland EPA World news in pictures 2 June 2023 Aermacchi MB-339 aircrafts of the Italian Air Force aerobatic unit Frecce Tricolori (Tricolor Arrows) release smoke with the colors of the Italian flag over Rome to mark the 77th Republic Day AFP/Getty World news in pictures 1 June 2023 US President Joe Biden is helped up after falling during the graduation ceremony at the United States Air Force Academy, just north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, on June 1, 2023 AFP via Getty Images World news in pictures 31 May 2023 A boy jumps off a platform during a free jumping-diving competition at the Adrenaline Park, in Tehran, Iran EPA World news in pictures 30 May 2023 A labourer sorts out onions at a vegetable market in New Delhi AFP via Getty Images World news in pictures 29 May 2023 People enter an underground station to hide during an air raid alert in Kyiv Reuters World news in pictures 28 May 2023 A drone explodes after being shot down during a massive Russian strike mainly targeting the Ukrainian capital Kyiv AFP/Getty World news in pictures 27 May 2023 Thousands of people stand together to form the largest image of a bicycle in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record, at O'Higgins park in Santiago, Chile, AP World news in pictures 26 May 2023 Israeli socialite and tv host Hofit Golan arrives for the screening of the film The Old Oak during the 76th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France AFP/Getty World news in pictures 25 May 2023 Ash and smoke billow from the Popocatepetl volcano as seen from the Santiago Xalitzintla community, state of Puebla, Mexico AFP via Getty Images World news in pictures 24 May 2023 The Popocatepetl volcano spews ash and steam, seen from Santiago Xalitzintla, Mexico AP World news in pictures 23 May 2023 Dancers perform ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival to attend an Indian community event at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia AP World news in pictures 22 May 2023 Flamingos stand in a pond in Navi Mumbai AFP/Getty World news in pictures 21 May 2023 An Afghan boy and man work on clay ovens in Nangarhar province AFP/Getty World news in pictures 20 May 2023 People attend the Brussels Pride - The Belgian & European Pride 2023 parade, organised by the LGBTQIA+ community in Brussels, Belgium EPA World news in pictures 19 May 2023 Harrison Ford attends the photocall for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny during the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival in France EPA World news in pictures 18 May 2023 The Popocatepetl volcano spews ash and smoke as seen from Puebal in Mexico AFP via Getty Images World news in pictures 17 May 2023 Performers during the closing ceremony of Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia Reuters World news in pictures 16 May 2023 Cattle graze on the meadow in front of Germanys parliament building, the Reichstag, in a Greenpeace protest for species-appropriate animal husbandry, in Berlin AP World news in pictures 15 May 2023 Supporters of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and AK Party (AKP) gather on election night, in Istanbul, Turkey REUTERS World news in pictures 14 May 2023 A member of Bembe do Mercado, an Afro-Brazilian religious group which practices Candomble, takes part in a ceremony to honour Yemanja, the goddess of the sea, in Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brazil AFP/Getty World news in pictures 13 May 2023 A worker prepares to unload from a semi-truck a part of a wall with the work of graffiti artist Banksy which was dismounted from a residential building heavily damaged during Russias attack in the town of Irpin, outside of Kyiv REUTERS World news in pictures 12 May 2023 Nurses take part in a candlelight vigil to mark the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale in Chennai, India. EPA World news in pictures 11 May 2023 Ed Sheeran poses for a photo with Maxine the Fluffy Corgi during a visit to SiriusXMs The Howard Stern Show at SiriusXM Studios in New York City Getty/SiriusXM

Spain's extensive high speed rail network also runs services to its own southern coast  raising the prospect that trains could one day run on intercontinental routes such as Casablanca to Madrid.

The latest cash to revive the project comes from the EUs Recovery, Transformation & Resilience Plan, which has backed investments around the bloc since the Covid pandemic.

An entry in Spain's state gazette published on 16 June 2023 shows the Spanish government has now confirmed the "transfer of economic resources" to Spanish Society of Studies for a Fixed Link through the Strait of Gibraltar (SECEGSA), which will look at options for the project.

The proposed link is not the only ambitious such project under consideration in Europe. On the other side of the continent a tunnel linking the Finnish capital of Helsinki with Tallinn in Estonia has also attracted EU funding for feasibility studies.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Ukraine has reported regaining further ground from invading Russian forces along the eastern and southern fronts in early July as its counteroffensive continues, following on from the liberation of a number of frontline villages in June.

Offering an update from the frontlines on Monday 10 July, the Ukrainian military said its troops have so far retaken more than 65 square miles on the southern front and 9.26 square miles around the eastern city of Bakhmut since the counteroffensive effort commenced.

Ukraines deputy defence minister, Hanna Maliar, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said that heavy fighting raged in two areas of the southeast.

We are consolidating our gains in those areas, she wrote.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking to US network ABC News ahead of a Nato summit in Lithuania, said: All of us, we want to do it faster because every day means new losses of Ukrainians. We are advancing. We are not stuck.

We would all love to see the counteroffensive accomplished in a shorter period of time. But there is reality. Today, the initiative is on our side.

Ukrainian military analyst Denys Popovych meanwhile reported that Ukrainian forces had taken important positions near Klishchiivka, a village lying on heights to the south of Bakhmut.

This will allow for artillery control of Klishchiivka itself and of parts of Bakhmut and supply routes, he told Ukraine's NV Radio. Just as [Russian mercenary group] Wagner surrounded the city, so will we.

For its part, Russias Defence Ministry said brutal fighting had persisted in that area, with combat made difficult not only by the daily intensity of fire and battle, but also by topography. The line of contact runs between two hills.

Pro-Moscow Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov also took to Telegram to claim that his Akhmat unit had been deployed to the region.

A week earlier, Ukraine had said its soldiers had made steady advances in the Lyman, Avdiivka and Mariinka directions of Donetsk in the Donbas as Russias under-pressure defence minister Sergei Shoigu moved to deny that the short-lived rebellion by the aforementioned Wagner Group, which saw them occupy Rostov-on-Don and march on Moscow in protest on 24 June, had had any impact on its operations in Ukraine.

Following months of speculation about when the Ukrainian counteroffensive might begin, unverified photographs and video began to appear on social media on Sunday 11 June showing its soldiers holding aloft their countrys blue and yellow flag in triumph above the eastern villages of Storozheve, Blahodatne, Neskuchne and Makarivka in Donetsk, suggesting they had been recaptured from occupying enemy troops.

The Ukrainian national flag is seen flying in the newly-liberated village Neskuchne in Donetsk (Oleksandr Ratushniak/Reuters)

Ms Maliar posted one such photo from Storozheve and thanked the 35th Separate Brigade of Marines for liberating it and subsequently reported that Ukraine had won back three more villages in Zaporizhzhia  Lobkove, Levadne and Novodarivk  and made fresh advances near Bakhmut, on the Toretsk front in the east and towards the port city of Berdyansk.

The enemy is doing everything to hold on to the positions it has seized, Ms Maliar wrote on Telegram two days later.

She added that Russian forces had air support and were showering Ukrainian troops with intense artillery fire and that the latter were encountering continuous minefields which are combined with anti-tank ditches.

All this is combined with constant counterattacks by enemy units on armoured vehicles and the massive use of ATGMs [anti-tank guided missiles] and kamikaze drones, Ms Mailer reported.

A team of Reuters journalists subsequently visited Neskuchne, observing that no building had been left unscarred by the fighting, noting three Russian corpses lying in the road and writing: The hamlet was silent except for birdsong and the crump of artillery fire in the distance.

Since then, two more villages have been added to the list, bringing the reported total to nine.

Kyiv has imposed a strict silence on its armed forces to avoid compromising an operation it hopes will retake swathes of land and eventually threaten the land bridge Russia has established for use in supplying the occupied Crimea.

In practical terms, the advance represented by the retaking of the villages amounts to only modest gains: Makarivka, for instance, is around three miles short of the frontline and 56 miles from the southern rim of the aforementioned bridge over the Sea of Azov.

But the symbolic value of Ukraines most rapid progression forward for seven months, after an arduous winter, is obvious, a timely boost to national morale for a beleaguered nation still reeling from the collapse of the Nova Kakhovka Dam, allegedly brought down after being mined by Russian soldiers, flooding neighbouring towns for miles around and leaving the regions farmland swamped, its crops ruined and livestock drowned.

As the pushback continues, Ukraine is banking on the huge amount of weaponry, training and intelligence it has received from the West, combined with its own battlefield resolve, tactical nous and the motivation of driving an invader from its own land, to give it the edge in the conflict.

The country also knows it may have to show significant progress over the summer to ensure its international allies demonstrate the same level of commitment in future.

But so far the response has been positive, with Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg telling US president Joe Biden recently: The Ukrainians are making progress, making advances. Its still early days, but what we do know is that the more land that Ukrainians are able to liberate, the stronger hand they will have at the negotiating table.

The US has responded by announcing that it will begin supplying Ukraine with cluster bombs for very careful use on its own territory against Russian forces, despite previously criticising Russias use of such munitions and the opposition of other nations, 100 of whom signed a 2008 treaty in Oslo, Norway, objecting to their deployment in warzones.

Moscow has largely refrained from officially acknowledging any Ukrainian advances, insisting that it has consistently repelled attacks and inflicted heavy casualties on opposition forces.

A map showing several of the villages liberated from Russian occupation by the Ukrainian military (The Independent/Datawrapper)

Unverified footage circulated on social media by pro-Russia accounts has meanwhile shown destroyed American and German armoured vehicles, clearly intended to undermine allied faith in the Ukrainian cause.

It is unquestionably too early to draw conclusions about the fate of the counteroffensive from these early skirmishes, which may be more about testing Russian defences than staking out major land gains.

The US-based Institute for the Study of War said Ukraine was attempting an extraordinarily difficult tactical operation, a frontal assault against prepared defensive positions, further complicated by a lack of air superiority and these initial assaults should not be extrapolated to predict all Ukrainian operations.

Ben Hodges, a former commander of US forces in Europe, told the Center for European Policy Analysis that the main attack, when it came, would be expected to feature several hundred tanks and infantry fighting vehicles.

The offensive has clearly started, but not I think the main attack, he said.

When we see large, armoured formations join the assault, then I think well know the main attack has really begun.

That tallies with Ms Mailars recent comments on domestic television, when she told the nation the main events of the attack remain ahead of us, adding: The main blow is still to come.

Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukraines ground forces, similarly told The Guardian: I want to say that our main force has not been engaged in fighting yet, and we are now searching, probing for weak places in the enemy defences. Everything is still ahead.

Additional reporting by agencies
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Russias special military operation in Ukraine has been raging for one year now as the conflict continues to record devastating casualties and force the mass displacement of millions of blameless Ukrainians.

Vladimir Putin began the war by claiming Russias neighbour needed to be demilitarised and de-Nazified, a baseless pretext on which to launch a landgrab against an independent state that happens to have a Jewish president in Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine has fought back courageously against Mr Putins warped bid to restore territory lost to Moscow with the collapse of the Soviet Union and has continued to defy the odds by defending itself against Russian onslaughts with the help of Western military aid.

Battle tanks from the US, Britain and Germany are now being supplied for the first time and Mr Zelensky toured London, Paris and Brussels in early February 2023 to request fighter jets be sent as well in order to counter the Russian aerial threat, a step the allies appear to have reservations about making, although Joe Biden has since visited Kyiv in a gesture of solidarity.

Much of the fighting has been concentrated around the key eastern city of Bakhmut of late, with bombardments and heavy artillery fire taking place as Russian forces ramp up a major new offensive with the one-year anniversary of the war looming.

In the autumn, Mr Zelenskys forces launched a major campaign of their own to retrieve the besieged city of Kharkiv and succeeded in driving Russian orcs out of Kherson but, as Ukraines resistance grows, Mr Putins threats of escalating the fight grow too, causing concern globally about the prospect of nuclear warfare being unleashed.

Mr Zelensky has said Russian officials have begun to prepare their society for the possible use of nuclear weapons but added that he does not believe the Kremlin is ready to use them.

The president believes action is needed now to avert that scenario, pointing out that Russias threats pose a risk for the whole planet and that Moscow has made a step already by occupying the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europes largest nuclear station.

In response to the ever-growing sense that his invasion has backfired, Mr Putin staged a televised address in September in which he ordered a partial military mobilisation of 300,000 reservists and reiterated his threat to use nukes against the West, a major escalation of his rhetoric in which he assured the world: Its not a bluff.

Vladimir Putin (Mikhail Klimentyev/AP)

The Kremlins faltering troops, otherwise saddled with outmoded equipment and sub-standard supplies, have employed brutal siege warfare tactics throughout the war, surrounding Ukraines cities and subjecting them to intense shelling campaigns, a strategy previously seen in Chechnya and Syria.

Ukrainian cities in the east and south have been battered by Russian missiles in pursuit of gradual gains, while the targeting of residential buildings, hospitals and even nurseries and memorials have led to outraged accusations of civilians being intentionally targeted and of war crimes being committed on a massive scale.

The discovery of mass graves in towns like Bucha and Izium have shocked the world.

Mr Zelenskys initial appeals for Nato to implement a no-fly zone remain unanswered as the West fears such an act would be interpreted as a provocation by Russia and draw the alliance into a much larger war over Eastern Europe.

However, US president Joe Biden, his European counterparts Rishi Sunak, Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz and UN secretary general Antonio Guterres have all condemned the Kremlins unprovoked and unjustified invasion and promised to hold it accountable, with the West introducing several rounds of tough economic sanctions against Russian banks, businesses and oligarchs while supplying Ukraine with additional weapons, hardware and defence funding.

The Ukrainian president has recently shown signs of frustration with allied dithering over next steps and the West has also faced criticism for not doing enough to support the millions of refugees from the conflict, who have fled their homeland for neighbouring states like Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Moldova.

Ukrainian refugees wait in front of the consular department of the Ukrainian embassy in Berlin, Germany, in April 2022 (AP)

So what are the key issues behind the conflict, where did it all begin and how might it unfold?

How did the crisis start?

Rumbling tensions in in the region first began in December 2021 when Russian troops amassed at its western border with Ukraine, creating widespread international concern but not acting until the final week of February 2022, when Mr Putin moved to officially recognise the pro-Russian breakaway regions of the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) and Luhansk Peoples Republic (LPR) as independent states.

This enabled him to move military resources into those areas, in anticipation of the coming assault, under the guise of extending protection to allies.

That development meant months of frantic diplomatic negotiations pursued by the likes of US secretary of state Antony Blinken, Mr Macron, Mr Scholz and then-UK foreign secretary Liz Truss in the hope of averting calamity had ultimately come to nothing.

Going back even further to 2014 gives the current situation more context.

Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula that year in retaliation after the countrys Moscow-friendly president, Viktor Yanukovych, was driven from power by the midwinter mass protests seen in Kyivs Maidan Square, an angry reaction to his decision to reject a treaty strengthening economic and diplomatic ties between his country and the EU, probably acting under pressure from the Kremlin.

Ukrainians return to Kyivs Maidan Square to celebrate the liberation of Kherson in November 2022 (AFP/Getty)

Weeks later, Russia threw its weight behind two separatist insurgency movements in Ukraines eastern industrial heartland, the Donbas, which eventually saw pro-Russian rebels in Donetsk and Luhansk declare the DPR and LPR independent states, although their claims went entirely unacknowledged by the international community.

More than 14,000 people died in the fighting between 2014 and 2022, which devastated the region.

Both Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of sending troops and weapons to back the rebels but Moscow has denied the allegations, stating that the Little Green Men who joined the separatists cause were not really Russian soldiers or had done so voluntarily, hence their lack of identifying insignia, an argument few believe.

A 2015 peace accord  the Minsk II agreement  was brokered by Francois Hollande of France and Germanys Angela Merkel to bring Mr Yanukovychs eventual successor Petro Poroshenko and Mr Putin to the table in the hope of ending the bloodshed.

The 13-point agreement obliged Ukraine to offer autonomy to the separatist regions and amnesty for the rebels while Ukraine would regain full control of its border with Russia in the rebel-held territories in return.

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel mediates a tense meeting between then-Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko and Vladimir Putin at a D-Day commemoration in 2014 (AP)

The agreement is highly complex and remains contested, however, because Moscow continues to insist it has not been a party in the conflict and is therefore not bound by its terms.

In point 10 of the treaty, there is a call for the withdrawal of all foreign armed formations and military equipment from the disputed DPR and LPR: Ukraine says this refers to forces from Russia but Mr Putin is adamant in his denials that his country has any of its own troops in the contested regions, despite the obviousness of the untruth.

In 2021, a spike in ceasefire violations in the east and a Russian troop concentration near Ukraine fuelled fears that a new war was about to erupt but tensions abated when Moscow pulled back the bulk of its forces.

How is the situation at present?

As discussed, the fighting has become entrenched around the towns of Bakhmut and Soledar since late 2022, with Russias savage Wagner Group mercenaries battling Ukrainian forces in heavy mud, rubble and sub-zero temperatures in what has become a savage war of attrition.

Of the latest aggressions against Bakhmut, the deputy commander of Ukraines Svoboda battalion, Volodymyr Nazarenko, said: The city, the citys suburbs, the entire perimeter, and essentially the entire Bakhmut direction and Kostyantynivka are under crazy, chaotic shelling.

But after months of costly and violent warfare like this, it is believed that Russian citizens are finally beginning to see through the fog of Kremlin propaganda and understand Mr Putins misjudgement of the war for what it is, the aggressor having suffered devastating losses and economic consequences as a direct result of its leaderships actions.

Ukrainian servicemen drive along a street with BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicle in the frontline town of Bakhmut in February 2023 (Yevhenii Zavhorodnii/Reuters)

The news that the average number of Russian soldiers dying per day has hit 824 in February 2023, four times higher than the rate of casualties recorded in June and July 2022, will only increase the pressure on Mr Putin at home.

A growing reluctance to see more conscripts killed and living standards fall, especially in support of a war so ill-defined, is likely and could eventually lead to street protests.

Sir Jeremy Fleming, director of the intelligence, cyber and security agency GCHQ, said Russians are now feeling the consequences of the Kremlin leaders war choice.

What might happen next?

In October, Russia responded to Ukrainian strikes on a major bridge connecting Crimea to its territory  a matter of huge pride to Mr Putin when it was first opened  by launching a widespread missile bombardment of Ukraine, some of which killed civilians in Kyiv.

Mr Putin called the destruction of the bridge along the Kerch Strait an act of terrorism aimed at destroying critically important civilian infrastructure.

In response to these assaults, Mr Zelensky accused Russia of trying to wipe his country off the face of the earth while his foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, added that the strikes show Mr Putin is a terrorist who talks with missiles.

Volodymyr Zelensky (AP)

Meanwhile, the West continues to assess the risk of nuclear warfare.

Mr Biden has warned explicitly that the conflict could lead to nuclear armageddon. However, the White House has insisted that it has no reason to believe there is an imminent threat of Mr Putin using such weapons just yet.

But the Kremlin leader did make clear in that September address that Russia would consider the use of nuclear weapons against Nato if its territory were to be threatened as a result of the invasion.

At the time, Mr Putin warned: To those who allow themselves to make such statements about Russia, I would like to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction, and for some components more modern than those of the Nato countries.

The threat was the most significant suggestion of the use of nuclear weapons by a leader with access to those weapons in decades and threatened to return Washington and Moscow to the height of tensions not seen since the Cold War.

The question of fighter jets now needs to be resolved with some urgency as the war enters a new stage with the coming of spring.

A Ukrainian man surveys the damage caused by a missile strike on a residential area near Kyiv's main train station (Getty)

It is feared that Mr Putin, humiliated by the failure of his conquest so far, could now resort to even more drastic measures as the first anniversary of the war approaches, given that he will be under enormous pressure to present demonstrable wins to a Russian public growing impatient with a futile conflict.

The prospect of the war finally spilling out over Ukraines borders and engulfing the rest of Europe can also not be dismissed, although Nato remains hugely reluctant to take up arms against Russia and will do everything in its power to avert that nightmare scenario.

Ukraine is not (yet) a member of the military alliance, hence Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty not having been triggered before this point.

However, the world saw a near-miss on 15 November when what appeared to be a Russian rocket crossed into Poland, killing two people when it hit a grain silo in Przewodow, Lublin, an act that might well have been interpreted as an attack on a Nato ally necessitating the entire alliance entering the fray to come to its defence.

Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and investigators concluded that the blast had actually been caused by a Soviet-era relic from Ukraines own arsenal, which had been fired in an attempt to bring down one of the aggressors projectiles targeting Lviv and drifted off course by mistake.

The West breathed a collective sigh of relief but the episode served to illustrate just how quickly matters could escalate into a much wider war over continental Europe.
For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Elon Musk has hired a 14-year-old wonder kid to work as a software engineer at SpaceX.

Kairan Quazi will join the billionaires firm after graduating from Santa Clara University in California later this month, where he is set to receive a Bachelors degree in Mathematics and Computer Science and Engineering.

The teenager has already completed an internship at Intel and will work on SpaceXs Starlink team, which is building the worlds largest satellite internet network.

I will be joining the coolest company on the planet as a software engineer on the Starlink engineering team, he wrote in a LinkedIn post last week.

One of the rare companies that did not use my age as an arbitrary and outdated proxy for maturity and ability.

His LinkedIn profile has since been removed as the business networking site requires users to be at least 16 years old.

Recommended Man locked out of smart home for a week after delivery driver accuses him of being racist

In an Instagram post responding to the ban, Quazi said his removal from the platform was illogical, primitive nonsense that amounted to discrimination.

I can be qualified enough to land one of the most coveted engineering jobs in the world but not qualified enough to have access to a professional social media platform? he wrote. LinkedIn showing everyone how regressive some tech company policies are.

A LinkedIn spokesperson told The Independent: We appreciate his enthusiasm to join LinkedIn and applaud his incredible success, however we have an age limit in place of 16 years of age and that extends to all members.

Quazi will become the youngest graduate in the US colleges 172-year history, having jumped from third grade to the community college Las Positas College when he was just nine years old.

Local media has described him as a genius and a wonder kid for his academic achievements, with IQ tests suggesting he is in the 99.9th percentile of the general population.

I think my college years have been the happiest years of my life because I had a lot of autonomy, really, to share my journey, he told the Los Angeles Times.

I think one of the things I really want to do with telling my story is hopefully have leaders in influential positions challenge their biases and misconceptions. Hopefully, I can open the door to more people like me.
Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Virgin Galactic will launch its first commercial space tourism flights before the end of June, Sir Richard Bransons company has announced.

A team of specialists with the Italian Air Force and the National Research Centre of Italy will be shooting up to the edge of space to conduct microgravity research, with a launch window in the three days from 27 June.

Then in August, those who have been waiting more than a decade for their ride aboard Virgin Galactics rocket-powered space plane are expected to finally get their chance.

The company said the first of those flights will begin in early August, with monthly flights to follow. The final test flight was conducted in May.

Virgin Galactic has sold about 800 tickets over the past decade, with the initial batch going for $200,000 (156,000) each. Tickets now cost $450,000 (352,000) per person. The company said early passengers have already received their seat assignments for their space flight.

After reaching an altitude of nearly 50,000ft (15,000m), Virgin Galactics space plane is released from a carrier aircraft and drops for a moment before igniting its rocket motor. The plane shuts off once it reaches space, providing passengers with silence, weightlessness and an aerial view of Earth. The rocket ship then glides back to the runway at Spaceport America in the New Mexico desert.

This next exciting chapter for Virgin Galactic has been driven by innovation, determination and a commitment to delivering an unparalleled and truly transformative customer experience, said Michael Colglazier, Virgin Galactic chief executive.

Simon Calder, travel correspondent of The Independent, said: Concern about the environmental as well as financial viability of space tourism is growing. Even so, for wealthy individuals who are looking for new options to spend large amounts of money, a brief encounter with weightlessness will no doubt prove attractive.

Once the first commercial tourists return, I predict sales will rocket.

As with trains and planes, though, so with space travel  it evidently cuts the cost if you book well in advance, as the first people to sign up for Virgin Galactic have found.

The announcement comes after Virgin Orbit, a separate space firm owned by Sir Richard, was shut down, months after a mission failed.

In May, The Independent reported on research from the UKs Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that suggested travellers will be able to fly from London to Sydney, Australia, in less than two hours within the next decade  if they go through space.

Additional reporting by AP.
Junior doctors are preparing to strike every month until next spring, medics have said.

The British Medical Association (BMA) said it will ballot training doctors next week to extend its strike mandate.

Junior doctors said they will also consider coordinated action with consultants, who are also currently being balloted over the possibility of strike action.

If members vote to continue strikes, junior doctors will take to picket lines for three days a month, every month, until March 2024.

The move would represent a significant escalation in the dispute with the government over pay.
Indigenous people of the West have long fascinated outsiders, an intrigue stoked by the works of such artists as Charles M. Russell, Frederic Remington and Joseph Henry Sharp.

These artists came from the East to roam the Great Plains and document the traditional lives of Native people as they were being forced onto reservations. The illustrious and often romanticized worlds they created became part of Montanas expanding folklore.

One such work, The Young Chief, a 2030 oil painting by Sharp that portrays an intimate exchange among an Apsaalooke (Crow) family, will be available at auction on July 15 in Reno, Nevada, during the Coeur dAlene Art Auction. The painting, one of Sharps first open-air camp scenes, depicts the family preparing for a sweat lodge ceremony as the warm hue of morning hits the prairie. Grazing horses dot the horizon and tepees rise in the background, merging with a pink-tinted sky.

The Young Chief is valued between $300,000 and $500,000, according to the auction catalog.

That the painting is for sale is not unique  the art market is rich with paintings that have drastically appreciated as originals become scarce and western continues as a fashionable lifestyle trend.

What is unique is the story behind the painting, created by Sharp in 1905 and gifted to the Billings Chamber of Commerce in 1915 by Charles Bair, a close friend of the artists and a well-known businessman of the region.

Some area art experts worry that selling the painting is a mistake in a long line of Montanas historic artwork being parceled off to the highest bidder. The chambers current leadership maintains the painting is rarely seen by the public and should be sold so the proceeds can be used for other purposes.

The painting is a magnificent work of art, and we are hopeful that it will be purchased by an organization or individual who will be able to fully enjoy and appreciate the piece, Billings Chamber of Commerce President John Brewer told Montana Free Press.

Brewer, when asked, did not disclose any other works the chamber intends to sell, but Warren Rollins Indian Portrait, a 3828 oil painting valued between $15,000 to $25,000, will also be auctioned in July. According to the Coeur dAlene Art Auction, billed as the nations largest auction of western art, the painting also is owned by the Billings Chamber of Commerce.

Gordon McConnell, assistant director of the Yellowstone Art Center in Billings (now the Yellowstone Art Museum) from 1982 to 1998, disagrees with the sale of Sharps work.

My initial reaction is that [the decision to sell the painting] is disconnected from any social or cultural responsibility, McConnell said. He recalls The Young Chief being exhibited during the 1998 inaugural exhibition of the Yellowstone Art Museum, which included a major addition to the former art center that was housed in the old Yellowstone County Jail.

At the time, the museum received a large gift from Virginia Snook, a Billings resident whose family collected art and entertained many artists and writers, including Russell, Sharp, Ernest Hemingway, Will James and Isabelle Johnson. Though the YAM was a contemporary art museum, We saw it as a responsibility to accept Virginia Snooks generous gift to preserve that for the people of Montana, McConnell said. We were trying to fill out the narrative of art history in Montana.

The painting has been on extended loan to the museum since 1967, stored as a courtesy to the chamber, according to Laura Krapacher, YAMs registrar.

Historian Thomas Minckler saw The Young Chief in the early 1980s and recalls being in awe.

It was a signature Joseph Henry Sharp painting of a Crow encampment, very typical, though a very important piece of that period, said Minckler, who is a Montana scholar and author of Montana: A Paper Trail and In Poetic Silence: The Floral Paintings of Joseph Henry Sharp.

In November 2022, Minckler was asked by Brewer to assess the value of the painting. Minckler did not conduct a formal appraisal, but estimated it could easily sell for $300,000, and up to as much as $800,000.

In an emailed response to MTFP, Brewer said the chamber board in December 2022 unanimously voted to contract with the Coeur dAlene Art Auction and based its decision purely on the merits of the sale, noting that the Chamber is on solid financial footing with healthy reserves.

In May 2023, the Billings Chamber Foundation was created and will be operated for educational and charitable purposes, Brewer explained. The corporation shall support the educational programs of the Billings Chamber of Commerce, as well as community placemaking initiatives.

When asked, Brewer would not specifically say whether the proceeds of the sale will be used for the foundation. But in an email obtained by MTFP, Brewer told Minckler the proceeds will be gifted to the chamber foundation.

Brewer told MTFP that the board is considering holding the principal similar to an endowment, which will allow the asset to provide value to the community for many years to come. Some initiatives that Brewer foresees the chamber supporting include diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, workforce development and increasing tourism.

The sale hasnt been publicized in Billings, but the art was displayed at the C.M. Russell Auction in Great Falls in August 2022 and in several national art publications to generate interest, Brewer said.

SHARP AMONG THE CROWS

Both Sharp and Russell came west in search of something mystical and ruggedly romantic, their brushes conjuring grand scenes: part folklore, part observation of Indigenous people who lived in connection with the land for thousands of years.

Born in Ohio in 1859, Sharp began painting at age 14. He attended the McMicken School of Design in Cincinnati and then studied in Antwerp, Munich and Paris among the modernists and the impressionists. He brought their sweeping brush strokes and casual style back with him to America. His subjects ranged from florals to landscapes to portraits, but he is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Native Americans at the turn of the century. He painted with a familiarity gained from living on the Crow Reservation and frequenting the Blackfeet Reservation in the early 1900s. His impressionistic and intimate scenes of Native life and the tribes of the region were rich with detail and the nuances of everyday life.

He was such a versatile painter, Minckler said. He was known for firelight scenes when the sun is just starting to set, illuminating the inside of the tepees. He painted figural scenes in the Southwest, and his Crow and Blackfoot camps are just masterfully painted.

Sharps paintings contrasted with the works of his contemporaries, who often painted the clashing of Native people with western pioneers.

Frederic Remington and, to a lesser degree, Charles Russell, especially in his early work, tended to portray the Indian as a malevolent force, Peter Hassrick wrote in The Charles M. Bair Family Collection, published by the Yellowstone Art Museum in 2004. They were pictured  as resisters of civilization, to be feared and revered for their bellicose traditions.

When Sharp arrived at Crow Agency in 1902, he met Charles Bair, who leased land on the reservation to run sheep and cattle. Bair became Sharps largest customer in Montana, as described by Carolyn Reynolds Riebeth in her book J.H. Sharp Among the Crow Indians 19021910. Riebeth noted that Bair would buy paintings for gifts and for himself. A fine one in the [Billings Chamber of Commerce] is long ago a gift from Bair.

Riebeth was the daughter of Indian Agent Samuel Guilford Reynolds, and the family arrived the same year as Sharp to reside on the Crow Reservation. Bair, Sharp and Reynolds became close friends. Bair even gave Sharp a covered sheep wagon with a stove to use during his outings to paint in the winter, as Sharp was drawn to the winter landscapes of the plains.

Bair was the patron, Sharp the creative force, and Reynolds the facilitator, according to Hassrick.

In 1915, Bair gifted The Young Chief to the Billings Commercial Club (later renamed the Billings Chamber of Commerce) as a thank you for promoting a showing of Sharps works, according to Brewer.

Minckler recalled speaking to Alberta Bair, the daughter of Charles Bair, in the early 1980s about the painting. They were members of the Yellowstone Corral of the Westerners, a chapter of the international history group that gathered periodically at the Northern Hotel downtown. She said her father was a great friend of Billings, Minckler said. At the time he gifted the painting, it was perhaps worth $400 or $500. That was a lot of money back in 1904. He wasnt just gifting for fun.

Elizabeth Guheen, executive director of the Charles M. Bair Family Museum in Martinsdale, did not return inquiries for comment for this story.

The Young Chief demonstrated a shift in Sharps subject matter, according to author Hassrick. Such paintings came to be considered something of a corrective in the pictorial interpretation of the American Indian  Sharp, having lived peaceably for so long among the Pueblo in Taos and the Crow in Montana, explored another more accommodating dimension of Native life.

Though Sharp shied away from painting scenes of conflict, he did paint the battlefield from Custers last stand. From the back window of his studio at Crow Agency, Riebeth wrote, he could see Custer Hill.

Custer Battlefield, a thickly layered, 2436 oil painting depicting the Little Big Horn Valley blanked in snow with the battlefield in the distance, is owned by the Billings Public Library. It is one of six paintings by Sharp, dating back to the early 1900s, owned by the Billings library. Sharp donated the painting to the library in 1944 in memory of Reynolds. The painting was described as one of his few remaining Crow Reservation paintings in a letter from Riebeth, acting on Sharps behalf, to offer the artwork to what was then the Parmly Billings Library.

As city assets, the paintings belong to the people of Billings, local historian Joseph Lanning told MTFP. The collection also includes a watercolor by Russell, six hand-tinted prints by photographer L.A. Huffman, and Luther Yellowstone Kellys 1870s oiled-silk map.

Lanning, who oversees the librarys archives, described the library in the early 1900s as the place residents went for cultural exposure, which is why such artworks hung on its walls. Sharp, who held painting demonstrations at the library during his old days, Riebeth wrote, believed the library was a logical place for a memorial to my father, and who I know was Mr. Sharps best friend in Montana and one of his best anywhere.

Lanning utilizes the librarys collection of art for educational programming and to represent the myriad cultures in the region.

Its very important that I dont use this art to just look back, he said. I want to know how I can use this art collection going forward, not just teaching new generations about it, but seeing them through a new lens and getting new voices and interpretations of them.

Due to their value, the paintings are not hung at the library permanently, but rather stored in the Yellowstone Art Museums vault, Lanning said.

A LEGACY OF LOSS

Selling Sharps work is part of a larger story of loss that dates back at least to the 1950s, when Montanans lost one of the greatest collections of C.M. Russells works to Amon G. Carter, a wealthy Texan who used the art as the foundation of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas.

Russell, who was born in 1864 in St. Louis, came to Montana at age 16 and never left, becoming internationally known as the original cowboy artist. After his death in 1926, his widow, Nancy Russell, sought to ensure her husbands legacy in Montana and donated to the city of Great Falls his studio and its contents, which would become part of the C.M. Russell Museum.

Russells works were coveted during his lifetime and even more so after his death. A robust collection of paintings made their way to Billings in the 1940s after the death of one of Russells longtime friends, Malcom Mackay. His son, Bill, in the book Montanas Charlie Russell: Art in the Collection of the Montana Historical Society, remembered his fathers love of Montana to be deep and abiding. Living in Montana was a particular way of life, and it was easy to see why the paintings of Charles M. Russell immediately caught dads fancy.

The Mackay collection expanded to the point where the family built a Russell Room in their New Jersey home to display the collection of paintings, drawings and bronze sculptures, according to Montana Historical Society archives. After Malcom passed away in 1932, his wife, Helen, approached the Northern Hotel in Billings about displaying the collection. The hotel was being rebuilt after a devastating fire and boasted of its state-of-the-art (and fireproof) new facility. When it opened in July 1942, Russells paintings were on display in the lobby and became a tourist attraction for the next decade.

The leaders of the Montana Historical Society in Helena also wanted to share Russells legacy. Director K. Ross Toole pushed to expand the society and establish art galleries and a museum, and in 1952 he formalized the acquisition of the Mackay Collection of Russell paintings and bronzes, spurred by the loss that same year of another great collection of Russells works obtained by Sid Willis, owner of the Mint saloon, which operated in downtown Great Falls through the 1960s. Having served him drinks and befriended the artist over the years, Willis collected a great deal of Russells work.

Willis sold his collection of nearly 100 original oil paintings, watercolors, pen and ink drawings, illustrated letters and clay models in 1945 to the Mint Corporation, an organization established by Maurice and Gretchen Egan of Billings and George and June Sterling of Great Falls, according to the publication The Mint Collection and the Saloon Entrepreneurs by Paul T. Devore. A clause in the sale required that if the collection were to be resold, it would first be offered to Montanans, and in 1948, it was. The Charles M. Russell Memorial Committee was formed to raise the $125,000 asking price, and when it failed to raise even half that amount, the collection was purchased by Amon Carter.

After the loss of the Willis collection, Helen Mackay decided it was time to offer the familys collection to the state, and asked for $50,000  a fraction of its worth. Toole went about fundraising, promoting the collection as the last chance to keep a large body of Russells work intact and in the state.

We simply could never explain its loss to our children. We could never rationalize our apathy and selfishness, Toole wrote in a society brochure to promote the purchase. Are we awake enough to save this last and finest collection? The effort succeeded, and the collection now makes up the Montana Historical Societys Charles M. Russell room.
Former Conservative Party Chairman Jake Berry has slammed the Partygate report as an attack on free speech and an absolute disgrace.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, the MP for Rossendale and Darwen added: If the Committee is so certain and happy with their findings, why are they trying to stop any debates in this and gag MPs?

His comment comes after the Privileges Committee officially found that Boris Johnson misled Parliament and MPs over parties that took place at Downing Street during lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Liz Truss has denied rumours that she snubbed Nicola Sturgeon when she was prime minister.

During an appearance on GB News, presenter Dan Wooton told the former Conservative leader that she was accused of snubbing, to which Ms Truss responded: I met her during the Queens mourning... and we had a series of events.

Her comment comes after Scotlands former first minister was arrested on Sunday (11 June) as part of an investigation into the SNPs finances.

Ms Sturgeon was later released without charge, pending further inquiries, after voluntarily going to a police station.
Footage captures the destruction of a northern Texas town, after a tornado swept through, killing three people and injuring 75 more.

Perryton, located close to the Oklahoma border, is home to just under 8,500 people.

At least 30 mobile homes took a direct hit from the tornado and were damaged or destroyed, Perryton fire chief Paul Dutcher said.

Its bad, its very bad. Its non-stop crazy. It couldnt have hit in a more vulnerable place, mayor Kerry Symons added.

Piles of rubble and an overturned mobile home could be seen at the roadside in footage shared after the tornado hit.
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the

View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

Does anyone want to hear what Harry and Meghan have to say anymore? The California royals' megabucks podcast deal has been mutually junked after just a single season by Spotify and its billionaire boss Daniel Elk, who presumably has had enough of forking out the reputed $20m it took to eke a measly dozen podcasts from the Sussexes.

A shame for the groovy young things, for life at Spotifys swanky HQs sounds like a 24-hour office party. So long to staffer paintball parties. Please hand in your animal onesie and your key to the karaoke suite at the door.

But the radically-honest royals must surely be worrying that their commercial castle is starting to crumble.

On the surface, the numbers look reassuring  if not rosy. Harrys tell-all memoir Spare was an international bestseller, and the prince has promised three more books to Penguin Random House for a reported 33m, all-in.

But Meghans animated series Pearl was quietly scuttled by her Netflix paymasters last year, and there have been whispers that about the Sussexes ability to pump out content  and, indeed, whether the market has the stomach for the type of hand-wringing that Haz and Megs have made such a habit of recently.

Every artist struggles. Perhaps this is simply their flop era  that "difficult" third album. Yet it is striking that the gravy boat is starting to flounder just as Harry has his day in court.

A desire to tell all after a lifetime of secrecy is understandable, if not admirable, but it is certainly difficult to think of an elevator pitch to sell a creative team who are chiefly exercised by exorcising ghosts.

Much has been made of the duo reportedly planning to stop making tell-all Netflix documentaries, publishing memoirs and taking part in interviews that reveal the inner workings of the royal family, because there is nothing left to say  but surely the horse has already bolted.

For a couple determined to break with tradition and turn the page, they have been demonstrably backwards-looking when moving forwards: settling scores, opening old wounds and creating new ones. That is their story to tell, but it is starting to bore its target audience.

Given that enough words have been written about Haz and Megz  and indeed by Haz and Megz  to fill a library, it was curious how few were spared in the terse joint statement after this latest split: Spotify and Archewell Audio have mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together. The bank of bon mots is running dry.

And what have they achieved? In December, Archetypes won the top podcast award at the Peoples Choice Award in Los Angeles, which is nothing to sniff at, but which is hardly one of Hollywoods glossier gongs, and certainly looks to fall well short of the seismic cultural moment the Sussexes set out to achieve.

For the kind of dosh theyre cashing, you would hope that when your stars spoke, they moved minds and mountains. The Sussexes have long pursued laudable ambitions of using their platform to champion mental health, but achieved much more when they worked hand in glove with the Cambridges, not against them. Their powder and spark has certainly been dampened after so long wallowing in self-absorption and psychodrama.

Meghan, for her part, has said that she has enjoyed digging my hands into the process, sitting up late at night in bed, working on the writing and creative  and I loved digging deep into meaningful conversation with my diverse and inspiring guests, laughing and learning with them. At least she's busy.

But you cant help but feel that the court of Montecito finds itself at a crossroads. They are not the first transatlantic hoppers to have made a pile of cash from sitting around twiddling their thumbs: much has been made of the Fleabag supremo Phoebe Waller-Bridges ability to bag $60m from Amazon in return for several years in which no shows have fallen out the pipeline. Nor are they the first to have found belts being squeezed by chilly headwinds blowing across the tech sector.

But even if the party's not over, there is a whiff of deflation about the Sussexes: a sense that the brand that they have sought to become is losing its currency. They have burnt a lot of bridges; the moat theyve dug has not kept criticism out.

That will sting.

They have tried to control their narrative, to write their own chapter, only to become that most feared of American celebrity assets: toxic. To lose the plot, even for a moment, is enough to keep any auteur up at night. Still, the greatest artists struggle.

That extraordinary, unknowable giant of American literature Cormac McCarthy, who died this week, lived in total poverty according to his second wife, Anne DeLisle, recalled. Someone would call up and offer him $2,000 to come speak at a university about his books. And he would tell them that everything he had to say was there on the page. So we would eat beans for another week.

So perhaps less is more for the Sussexes. Inspiration lies in adversity. Let them eat beans.
That is according to planning documents lodged with DAAs planning application for an expanded CBP facility at Dublin Airport to cater for the growing numbers of transatlantic passengers.

Underlining the strain on the existing facilities, planning consultants for DAA, Coakley ONeill, have told Fingal County Council that the CBP overflow queuing system was required to be used five out of every seven days in the summer of 2022 and is projected to see even more use this summer.

They say the overflow queuing system is technically and logistically complex and cumbersome and affects other parts of pier 4 including the gates for arrivals and departures to non-US destinations and even affects the link between pier 4 and the main Terminal 2 building itself.

Coakley ONeill go on to state that the overflow queuing system is inefficient and confusing for passengers with US-bound and rest of world-bound passengers frequently becoming concerned about getting through security to board their flights on time.

The consultants say 1.7 million passengers are projected to use the CBP facility in 2023 which is a 13pc increase on the number of people who used the facility in 2022.

DAA CEO introduces new C3 Technology - A game changer in airport security and passenger experience

It is therefore the case that the current CBP facility does not have the capacity to cater for the existing passengers, say Coakley ONeill.

The planning report states that passenger experience, as well as staff wellbeing, will therefore undoubtedly be improved by the proposed expanded building and the improved customs and border post facilities there.

Coakley ONeill say the proposed expansion is undeniably needed to ensure the efficient, comfortable and safe operation of the CBP facility at Dublin airport.

The CBP facilities at Dublin and Shannon airports allow US-bound passengers to undertake all US immigration, customs and agriculture inspections at the airports prior to departure.

The CBP facilities gives the two airports a competitive advantage over most other airports operating US flight services as those passengers who go through pre-clearance are treated as domestic arrivals in the US, allowing them to avoid immigration queues upon arrival.
Ulster Bank will pay a dividend of 800m to parent group NatWest Holdings.

The dividend is being paid as a consequence of its ongoing withdrawal from Ireland, the bank said.

This is the first time Ulster Bank has paid shareholders in the UK since it announced its decision to withdraw from the Irish market in February 2021.

Ulster Bank paid a total of 3.5bn back to its parent company from 2016 to 2019.

After the pay-out, Ulster Banks common equity tier one ratio (CET1), a key measure of a banks financial strength, will stand at more than 30pc.

This is significantly above regulatory capital minimums, it reported.

In April, the 63 remaining Ulster Bank branches in Ireland shut permanently, while the bank announced a further 813 redundancies last month as it prepares to exit the Irish market.

At the end of 2021, Permanent TSB acquired 6.2bn of Ulster Banks performing non-tracker mortgage business, as well as its performing micro-SME loans and Lombard Asset Finance.

It also took over 25 former Ulster Bank branches.

Around 350 Ulster Bank employees will move to Permanent TSB, it reported last month.

Last June, AIB announced it would acquire Ulster Banks 5.7bn portfolio of performing tracker mortgages.

Ulster Bank sold commercial and corporate loans worth 4.2bn to AIB in 2021 ahead of its exit from the Irish market.
Can Comreg really end scam calls and texts? Heres how to tackle the problem yourself

The telecoms regulator, Comreg, is proposing new rules that would compel Irish operators to block scam calls and texts. Can it work?

Adrian Weckler Fri 16 Jun 2023 at 16:34
Chinese firms Huawei and ZTE will be barred as a 5G strategy is unveiled. Photo: VCG via Getty Images

The European Commission is planning to ban equipment from Chinese vendors Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp from its own internal telecommunications networks, people familiar with the matter said.

The move comes ahead of an anticipated review of the European Unions guidance on fifth generation mobile networks that will increase pressure on bloc members to phase out equipment from the companies, the people said, asking not to be identified because the plan isnt yet public.

In the EUs updated guidance in the 5G toolbox, the Commission will tell members that excluding Huawei and ZTE from national networks is justified and will for the first time name them, the people said.

The move comes as the EU faces increasing pressure from Washington to take a harder line on China.

The US has attempted to hinder Chinese access to technologies including artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum computing as tensions over Taiwan escalate.

In response, the EU is ramping up its rhetoric against Chinese influence.

While it cant force member states to act as security  issues are handled at the country level  it shows how the group is aligning itself more closely with the US.

Representatives for the Commission, Huawei and ZTE didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

The ban will require telecom companies to strip out any equipment from the vendors and apply across all EU institutions in member states, the people said.

It would follow the Commissions decision to block its staff from using TikTok over security concerns over the social-media apps data-collection practices.

When the Commission first published the toolbox three years ago, the EUs executive arm didnt name names. Instead, the Commission encouraged countries to reduce their dependencies on what it termed high-risk vendors.

Some countries, like Sweden, made it their policy to remove the Chinese sellers from their telecom operations.

However, most countries did not. The Commission has become increasingly frustrated by countries, including Germany, with networks that rely heavily on Huawei equipment.
Also reviewed this week: Greatest Days and Sunlight

Do you know how many superhero films have been made in the last 20 years?

The Flash (12A, 144mins)

I do because Im a sad person: almost 90 of the things, churned remorselessly out of Hollywoods tumble drier by DC, Marvel and others. And for the most part, theyve been entirely forgettable.

As crazes go, its been a long one, driving adults out of the multiplexes and sucking up vast amounts of production money that might have been spent making films for grown-ups instead.

It hasnt been all bad though: the production values of the Avengers movies have at times been breath-taking, the storytelling in films like Captain America: The First Avenger genuinely accomplished, and Christopher Nolans Dark Knight trilogy felt like Batman scored by Wagner.

The genre itself is not the problem  its the sheer volume of the damned things because after a while, pumped people in Lycra become more or less interchangeable.

There are signs that the superhero era is waning, but tell that to The Flash, one of the lesser DC heroes now intent on getting his five minutes.

A product of the atomic age, The Flash has been buzzing through the pages of DC Comics since the 1950s, but only saw cinematic light of day in the recent Justice League pictures, which have prompted this spin-off.

The Flash is the superhero alter ego of Barry Allen (Ezra Miller), a lonely and socially awkward forensic scientist who gained superhuman speed after being struck by a bolt of lightning that had first sliced through a jar of chemicals.

Barry has become allied to the Justice League, and in an action-packed opening, races to Gotham City to help Batman (Ben Afflecks chin reprising the role it was born to play) clean up the messy aftermath of a violent heist.

Flash does the job and manages to save a ward-full of babies in spectacular fashion. But hes preoccupied by the fate of his father Henry (Ron Livingston), who languishes in prison having been wrongly accused of murdering Barrys mother Nora (Maribel Verdu) many years before.

Desperate to help him, Barry decides if he can use his hypervelocity to travel back in time, hell avert his mothers death and so save both his parents.

The Flash - Trailer

Doesnt work out that smoothly of course because Barry ends up crashing to earth in a universe where Superman never landed, there are no metahumans and he finds himself confronted by his ditsy 18-year-old self.

And when it emerges that General Zod (Michael Shannon) has arrived to destroy our planet for reasons too boring and complicated to go into, Barry joins forces with, well, himself to avert disaster.

Ezra Miller plays two Barry Allens. Photo: Warner Bros

There might be no superhumans in this alternative past, but there is Michael Keatons Batman, who is highly amusing as an old recluse, swigging wine from the bottle in a ramshackle Wayne Manor.

He reluctantly emerges from retirement to confront Zod and his armies, thereby lending this madcap production moments of dignity it scarcely deserves.

Christina Hodsons screenplay has a smattering of wit, Miller does a creditable job of portraying the two Barry Allens, and Derry Girls star Saoirse-Monica Jackson delivers a very funny cameo as Barrys workmate, but theres an anxiousness to The Flash when it comes to its storytelling.

Unsure perhaps of his silly premise, director Andy Muschietti concludes that less is never more and throws the kitchen sink at scenes that might have been handled more simply.

The special effects are tacky, and the films frequent recourse to other DC characters creates an air of desperation.

Nowhere is this more true than in The Flashs frenetic and overblown ending, which engineers a ghastly synthesis of the DC extended universe so grandiose it may in fact have broken it.

We live in hope.

Rating: Two stars

The Flash is out from Friday, June 16, 2023.

Aisling Bea (second right) in Greatest Days

Greatest Days (12A, 112mins)

A kitchen sink musical fantasy inspired by the songs of Take That, Greatest Days stars Aisling Bea as Rachel, a childrens hospital nurse with a heart of gold and an enduring passion for a 90s boyband called The Boys.

Aisling Bea Interview

As a teenager in greater Manchester, she bonded with friends Heather, Zoe, Claire and Debbie over the catchy songs of the winsome group, who in daydreams still emerge from under beds and out of wardrobes to serenade her.

Rachels nearing 40 and her boyfriend (Marc Wootton) is worryingly keen on marriage, but when she wins tickets in to a Boys reunion concert in Athens, Rachel decides to reach out to those old friends by inviting them.

They havent seen each other in decades and we eventually find out why, but the womens reflections on life and its lessons are amusing, and come interspersed with stirring renditions of some of the finest pop songs of the past few decades.

Bea is a winning lead and though Greatest Days might be mawkish at times, its excesses are very British and very forgivable.

Rating: Three stars

Maureen Beattie, Barry Ward and Liam Carney in Sunlight

Sunlight (15A, 91mins)

A low-budget drama with a jaunty tone and dark undercurrents, Claire Dixs Sunlight stars Barry Ward as Leon, a recovering drug addict with an irrepressible zest for life.

Hes three years clean, a small miracle on an estate where his sobriety is bitterly resented by some, but Leon sails past the nay-sayers and has dreams of making a career for himself as a musician.

He owes his health to Iver The Viking (Liam Carney), a grizzled guru whos helped Leon and many other young Dubliners to get their lives back on track.

Now Iver is in trouble, confined to a wheelchair by motor neuron disease, which will soon rob him of his voice. He wants to die before that happens, and has asked Maria (Maureen Beattie) to help him end his life.

Leon is horrified by this prospect and hopes a big day out around Dublin 8 will make Iver change his mind.

Not every aspect of Ailbhe Keogans ambitious screenplay comes off and tonal changes can be abrupt.

But most of the dialogue has the bitter ring of truth, and Carney and Ward are superb as the inner city odd couple.

Rating: Three stars
Chris displays great scope in his new album, while Made in Dublin shows the best of Christy Dignam

Jarvis Cocker, who played Dublin this month with a reformed Pulp, has views on many things, including the perfect length of a record. A vinyl album, he told the New York Times, is the perfect form for listening to music. A side of a record, 18 to 20 minutes, is perfect. A CD, with 15 or 16 songs, is too much time. Half the days gone if you listen to it.

Many of us are inclined to agree. Forty minutes or so feels like the ideal run-time, although there are several all-time great albums that are done and dusted in under half an hour. Im looking at you Nashville Skyline, Pink Moon, Ramones.

If the arrival 40 years ago of the compact disc pushed total duration beyond what people were used to in the vinyl age, its positively ballooned in an era when streaming rules. Now, an ever increasing rump of new album releases weigh in over the hour mark. Even still, it comes as a shock to discover that the new album from Christine and the Queens is a hefty one hour and 37 minutes long.

Paranoia, Angels, True Love by Christine and the Queens

Paranoia, Angels, True Love, which arrives just seven months after the French stars disappointing, muddled third album. Redcar les Adorables Etoiles (Prologue) is a 20-track collection with plenty of marvellous songs, but it could have done with a judicious edit. Its perhaps best listened to in half-hour tranches  and its notable that the streamed version lists the tracks 1 to 7, 1 to 7 and 1 to 6 as though its a triple album.

The songs are suffused with grief and the ticking time-bomb trauma experienced by Chris (formerly known as Christine and, before that, Heloise Letissier) following the death of his mother in 2019. The songs are refracted through the prism of Tony Kushners harrowing 1991 play, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Angels in America, which examines homosexuality, Aids and death. Paranoia, Angels, True Love, for its part, has an equally wide scope, taking in everything from outsider art to transgenderism, while never losing sight of its central theme  death, loss and the passage of time.

The subject matter may be heavy, but most of the songs are delivered with a light, sometimes playful touch. Synths are to the fore and there are orchestral flourishes throughout. There may be an absence of the sort of Grade A radio-friendly tunes that characterised marvellous debut album Chaleur Humaine, whose English language version was released in 2015, but this pop opera  for that is what it is  is not short of effervescent pop moments. Theyre just not as immediately accessible as before.

Its co-produced by Mike Dean  best known for his studio alchemy on Beyonce and Travis Scott albums  and theres a cacophony of styles and genres that vie for attention. But Dean earns his wage on songs like the companion pair Marvin Descending and A Day in the Water: both revel in spacy, jazzy atmospherics, subtly sophisticated arrangements and Chris expressive vocals.

Since first emerging as a Gallic artist par excellence, Chris has been feted by many of pops giants and, on this album, Madonna lends her vocals to three songs. Its to her credit that her contributions complement rather than dominate. Madge may have been a bona fide star for four decades, but she knows when to stand in the wings.

Made in Dublin by Aslan

The death of Christy Dignam on Wednesday, after a decade-long illness, affected many, including President Higgins who noted that people in nearly every town in Ireland will have their own memories of seeing them play as Aslan had displayed an endless dedication to touring throughout the country.

Aslan - Alone Again - Independent.ie Windmill Lane Sessions

The Dubliner was one of Irish rocks good guys and he wrote and recorded a handful of songs including, of course, This Is, that will forever be part of the cultural firmament of Ireland.

Aslan certainly seemed happiest playing live rather than slaving in the studio and their 1999 album, Made in Dublin, captures Dignam and the band at their very best. Recorded in Vicar Street, less than a year after the now iconic venue first opened, its a fine reminder of his strengths as a frontman. The cover of the Rolling Stones Angie is especially captivating, his singing beautifully augmented by the playing of his comrades, led by Billy McGuinness.
The North Dakota Ethics Commission is accepting applications from people who would like to serve.

North Dakota voters in 2018 approved a ballot measure adding ethics mandates to the state constitution, creating the five-person panel, which began meeting in 2019. The ethics board has oversight of elected and appointed officials of the executive and legislative branches, members of the governors Cabinet, members of the Ethics Commission and legislative branch employees.

Commissioners serve a four-year term. The terms of Cynthia Lindquist and Ron Goodman are expiring on Aug. 31. Both are eligible for reappointment; Goodman is seeking another term but Lindquist is not, according to Commission Executive Director Rebecca Binstock.

Applications for the two seats will be accepted until July 3, and the appointees will begin serving Sept. 1. Appointments will be made by consensus of the governor, Senate majority leader and Senate minority leader.

People are not eligible to apply if they hold a statewide elected or appointed public office, are a candidate for statewide public office, a political party official, a lobbyist, an employee of the legislative branch including Legislative Council, or an appointed agency director serving in one of the governor's Cabinet agencies.

Interested people can apply at https://www.governor.nd.gov/boards/. More information on the commission is at https://www.ethicscommission.nd.gov/.
Tom Hanks (right), with festival co-founder Sian Smyth, Bono and broadcaster and journalist Andrea Catherwood, who interviewed Hanks at his sold-out event held in the Church of the Assumption as part of the annual Dalkey Book Festival. Photo: Conor McCabe Photography

Tom Hanks and Bono after the event at the Dalkey Book Festival. Photo: Conor McCabe Photography

Two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks proved he can do a convincing Irish accent  as he provided a heartfelt and amusing tribute to former artistic director of the Abbey Theatre, Vincent Dowling, whom he credited with his colossal career.

Hanks (66), who was speaking to a packed house at the Dalkey Book Festival earlier, did an impression of Mr Dowling and recalled how he had told Hanks when he was a young man: I think you could be an actor. I would like to give you an opportunity in my theatre.

I would like you to join us as an actor, officially in the company. What I cannot do is pay you any money. To this the crowd laughed.

The star added that Mr Dowling had instead offered him experience working in a professional theatre.

A bunch of us bought it. And I am here today because of Vincent Dowling, Hanks said, to a huge reaction from the audience. 

Hanks, who spoke to a crowd who lapped up every word he said, discussed the plot of his new novel, The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece.

The book tells the tale of the making of a multimillion superhero action film and a comic book that inspired it.

Among the celebrity guests in the audience were Bono, who was joined by economist and festival organiser David McWilliams.

Hanks delved into some of his life as an actor and told about the challenges of having to film regardless of how he felt over the years.

And he revealed how hed learned early that being on time, working hard and meeting the right people, had been the most important issues that drove his early career. Clearly Mr Dowling had been one of those right people.

When asked if he had ever fallen out with anyone on set, he diplomatically responded: You can respect anyone once the camera is running.

The writer said hed tried to touch on things that did not make sense and serendipity and how you end up where you are, doing what you are doing.

He referenced his role in the 1984 movie Splash and said he wound up meeting Ron Howard, the famous director, and producer Brian Grazer.

They were about the same age as me, he said. That was refreshing. At that time, producers and directors were all a generation above us. They were making this odd little movie.

I went in and thought I was auditioning for the funny looking brother, as Id never considered I was anything other than the geeky, funny looking guy, Hanks said.

Ron called me up and said Great job By the way, you got the job. But I need you to do a test with Daryl Hanna on film.

Clearly very humble, the actor then told how he asked Howard was there any chance if he did the screen test that the movie makers would decide they want her but lose that guy.

Howard had promised this wouldnt happen.

He added: Then I asked why me? To which Howard responded: Well, no one else would do it. The audience again laughed. To think that this would become a smash hit and a cult classic to this day, was clearly something that resonated.
A former HSE home-care assistant who made knifepoint death threats during post office raids he carried out in order to raise money to visit his fiancee in the US has been jailed for four years.
Three men held after ram-raids on stores across seven counties
The Leaving Cert German higher level paper was very relevant and stayed true to the style and format of previous exams, said teacher Orla Ni Shuilleabhain.

Ms Ni Shuilleabhain, of The Institute of Education, Dublin, said German is a long paper with lots to cover and so students will always find themselves racing against the clock.

Additionally, German is a subject for which you cannot rote learn pieces and so students must adapt and think on their feet to answer the questions, she added

The first reading comprehension, a literary text on friendship dynamics among some college students, was not only relevant to the age group but also had a convenient overlap with more material some students would have prepared, she said.

But while it gave the piece familiarity, that was offset with some challenging vocabulary , she said.

Ms Ni Shuilleabhain said trend of mixing the familiar with the more advanced was continued in the second text on sustainability and festivals, and, at first sight, many students might have paused, because of its length, but it was a very accessible piece.

On the written pieces, she said there was something for everyone although students had to think on their feet and adapt to previously unseen questions.

Ms Ni Shuilleabhain thought it very unlikely that a student would have prepared set pieces on IT firms in Ireland or the extension of the drinking license to 6am, but by the typical standards of the German exam they were fair questions.

Leaving Cert Analysis 2023: German (Higher)

She said behind all the questions lay well-trodden key themes of friendship, wellbeing, climate change, technology, school life, food, and work.

Even a question that was seemingly about insomnia was just a way to discuss friendship and wellbeing. This aspect of the paper is always challenging but always present, she added.

Ms Ni Shuilleabhain described the aural as well-paced and well-pitched, with relevant material and only the occasional tricky term.

She added that there was more past tense than might have been expected in Section 1 but much like the rest of the paper, it was a nice true-to-form examination of their skills.

Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) subject representative, Pamela Conway, said both students and teachers appreciated the continuation of the Covid concessions, which allowed students more choice and to do fewer sections on the paper.

She said both ordinary Level and higher level students came out with a thumbs up after the written paper.

The journalistic text in the higher paper was on the theme of how to make festivals more environmentally friendly and Ms Conway, of Skerries Community College, Co Dublin, said it was not only topical but of interest to many students who will have attended festivals and who are passionate about the environment.

She added: While German may have the reputation of having challenging grammar, it also has the bonus of having 60pc of words which are similar to English, and that was obvious in today's paper, with plenty of Germans words like Festival, Plastik and CO2 Emissionen to aid students' understanding of the text.

Then there are the trendy English words that Germans have just incorporated into their language. The letter asked candidates to explain what they do when they are chillen and relaxen. 

She noted the link between another of the written tasks about drug and alcohol problems at festivals which was also covered on one of the role plays which students prepared for the oral exam over Easter. That would have been much appreciated by students, she said.

But Ms Conway said it was not to say there weren't challenging aspects to the paper and some of the vocabulary was challenging and benefitted the well-prepared student.

She said that some students found the usually easier Section 1 of the Listening exam more challenging than the usually trickier Section 2.

But, overall, she added, the usually-dreaded listening exam at the end of the written paper was felt to be quite straightforward this year and students emerged from that smiling and ready to relaxen this weekend.
The 15-year-old is missing from Blanchardstown since Wednesday.

Gardai are appealing to the public for help in tracing the whereabouts of Edward Clarke (15) who is missing from Blanchardstown in Dublin 15.

He is missing since Wednesday.

The teenager was last seen wearing a grey jumper and black shorts and is described as being approximately 5 foot 6 inches in height.

He is of slim build, with brown hair and green/blue eyes.

Anyone with any information on Edward's whereabouts are asked to contact Blanchardstown Garda Station on 01 666 7000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
Ice cream fans are reeling in choc at the news that the iconic Choc Ice is to be discontinued.

Makers HB confirmed the move on Friday.

However, they did hold out some hope to devastated dessert lovers, with a promise that they would bring back the much-missed Feast this summer.

"We're sorry to disappoint Choc Ice lovers with the discontinuation of this ice cream, but we have found that it is no longer as popular as it once was, a spokesperson for HB said.

"We will continue to offer classics such as Iceberger, Brunch, and Loop the Loop, and are happy to say that we have also brought back our chocolate ice cream Feast in time for the sun to shine!"

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

Scores of people took to social media to express their emotions on the news of Choc Ice demise.

Kerry TD Michael Healy Rae wrote: "Choc Ice are being discontinued, shocking, what's next?? Is nothing sacred anymore?

"Did the Greens have anything to do with this?"

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

In wake of the news, a petition has started to save the Choc Ice and already has hundreds of signatures. Podcasters and comedians TheTwo Johnnies were among the many who shared the petition and encouraged people to sign it.

A twitter user posted the petition to bring back the dessert saying: "BRING BACK CHOC ICE - Sign the petition!

"The beloved 'Choc Ice' has been discontinued Choc Ice fan Neil Cash wrote.

"HB Ice-Cream has come to the decision as the once popular dessert is no longer as sought-after as it once was.

We don't accept this and are asking the people of Ireland to come together and make our voices known, we want to keep the 'Choc Ice' on the shelves (of the freezer). For all ice-cream lovers, sign this petition and save the 'Choc Ice'.

"This is extremely bad news. RIP the Choc Ice," another user tweeted.
Leo Varadkars internal party critics are furious with their colleagues for publicly praising the Fine Gael leader while privately criticising his leadership.

There was widespread support for Mr Varadkar at Fine Gaels parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday after the weekend newspapers were filled with off-the-record briefings by TDs and senators against the leader.

However, the show of strength by politicians loyal to Mr Varadkar angered his party critics because they believed some of those praising the leader had privately criticised his performance.

It was absolutely comical, one Fine Gael TD said. People felt they had to speak out so that it wouldnt look like they were briefing against him in the newspapers.

The TD said Leo is no fool and he knows this is only going in one direction if the opinion poll results do not improve.

Another TD said there was private encouragement by some in the party to leak criticisms about Mr Varadkar and added the same people are saying the opposite at party meetings.

The meeting was held before the publication of an opinion poll which showed Fine Gael down four points, with just 18pc of the publics support.

This is the lowest Fine Gael has been in the Irish Times/Ipsos poll since it began in 1994.

Meanwhile, Mr Varakdars personal satisfaction rating dropped six points to 37pc.

The state of the other parties was Sinn Fein down four to 31pc, Fianna Fail up three to 21pc, the Green Party unchanged at 4pc, Labour unchanged at 4pc, Social Democrats up three points to 5pc, Solidarity/People Before Profit up one point to 2pc and Independents up two points to 17pc.

Speaking at an event in Mayo, Mr Varadkar said he has the support of the overwhelming majority of Fine Gael TDs and insisted he will lead the party into the next general election.

The Taoiseach said he would lead from the front and was confident of regaining lost ground.

Polls go up and they go down, he said. We are probably back to where we were this time last year. We bounced back from that and we will bounce back again.

Mr Varadkar said he will be contesting the general election for a fifth term in his Dublin West constituency.

He said his focus as Taoiseach isnt actually on party politics, its on leading the Government.

And the most important thing that we can do as a Government is to concentrate not on party issues, but on the things that concern people.

Yesterday, Fine Gael loyalists insisted his position in the party was safe and criticised those who were seeking to sow unrest.

There are people criticising the Taoiseach who are sitting on their h**es. I have no time for them. The next election will be won by work on the ground, and that comes down to all of us individually, one Fine Gael TD said.

Another TD said: People have their individual styles and other people may not like that or they might just want to advance themselves.

You can quibble with anything, but I think the real test will come in the autumn with the Budget. And then that leads into the local and European elections next year.

There have been suggestions in some quarters of the party that Mr Varadkar will not be given as long as the elections next May, if Fine Gaels ratings in the opinion polls continue to drop.
Boliden rejected the findings of an investigation into the flooding at Tara Mines.

Parent company Boliden is in disagreement with the Government over a flooding incident at Tara Mines in 2021.

More than 400 million litres of water poured into the mines emergency storage ponds and overflowed into working areas from a hole in a shaft over 12 days in November and December 2021.

Mining operations had to be halted until the gap was sealed, and local people saw their wells run dry as water levels dropped significantly in surrounding townlands. Water was still being pumped out six months later.

An investigation commissioned by the Department of Environment concluded last October that Bolidens risk assessments before the incident were inadequate.

The company rejected the findings and complained it did not have sufficient input into the investigation.

We feel it would have come to other conclusions if we had been given the opportunity to be more actively involved, a spokesman for the Swedish- headquartered company said yesterday.

The Department of Environment responded that it was aware of Bolidens views, but it accepted the investigations conclusions.

Reactions to workers temporarily laid off at Tara Mines

Boliden said the issues arising from the flooding had been resolved and there was no connection between it and the decision to suspend operations at the zinc mine in Navan, which has put 650 people out of work.

It said the suspension was ordered because of falling zinc prices and high energy costs.

The investigation report, however, reveals the considerable challenges facing the company in its efforts to secure a long-term future in Ireland.

Boliden is banking on a proposed new section of extra deep mine called Tara Deep to extend its operations as the quality of zinc in the current extraction area wanes.

It was working on an exploration tunnel to this new area when the flooding, termed an inrush, happened. At one point the inflow peaked at more than two million litres an hour.

Water seeping in from underground aquifers is common in mines, but consultants Wardell Armstrong said Boliden should have attached more importance to some high inflows of water that happened before November 2021.

The consultants also said Boliden should have paid more heed to complaints from local people, going back almost two years previously, that water in their wells was dropping.

That suggested evidence of connections between the mine shaft and water flows stretching for several kilometres.

The consultants said the transmissivity of the site, meaning the ability of water to move through rock, was greater than Boliden assessed.

It is clear the original conceptualisation was not sufficiently precautionary, Wardell Armstrong said.

Any further drilling or similar development in the Tara Deep area should undergo new hydrogeological risk assessment in advance using an updated conceptualisation.

In a statement, Boliden said: We have worked closely with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications at all times and have undertaken new hydrogeological risk assessment, as has been recommended.

The Department said in a statement: The Department has been involved in extensive discussions with the company to build on lessons learnt and to integrate proper monitoring and preventative measures.
The employee said he believed the evidence of his emergency defecation would be washed away by the rain. Photo: Getty Images

A truck driver alleged to have put the future of his employer at risk by defecating in a client's loading bay during an urgent diarrhoea incident has told the Workplace Relations Commission he decided not to tell anyone about it because he thought it would wash away in a thunderstorm.

His employer, however, has challenged a report that the complainant had suffered a gastrointestinal flare, arguing that the firmness of the stool discovered by one of his colleagues was inconsistent with diarrhoea.

Edward Riordan has accused his former employer, the Limerick-based All Star Logistics Ltd, of discriminating against him on the grounds of age and disability by hiring a younger driver, cutting his hours and then sacking him in the wake of the loading bay incident, which he said was brought on by a peptic ulcer condition.

His former boss, who denies discrimination, said Mr Riordan put two dozen jobs and the future of the logistics firm at risk by jeopardising its relationship with its client, Flextronics in Cork. He likened defecating in the loading bay to doing the same at the front door of your house.

I was told I was caught on camera going to the toilet under the truck, that was three weeks later, said Mr Riordan. I said yes, it did happen. I got a pain in my stomach, there was no toilet  the only thing I could do was to go under the truck. If I had to go through two buildings to get to the toilet there was no way Id have made it.

Mr Riordan, who said he is 72, stated that he had been hospitalised after suffering a weakness at work in a hotel when he was 17 or 18.

He was diagnosed with a peptic ulcer but said his condition improved when he stopped smoking and that he was able to manage by taking medication, right up to September 2022.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 16th

Mr Riordans barrister, Thomas Wallace-ODonnell BL, submitted a report from his clients GP stating that the complainant had suffered a gastrointestinal flare that month associated with cramping and an urgent need to pass a bowel movement.

The tribunal was told that the nearest bathrooms to the loading dock at Flextronic were between 60 and 90 seconds away.

At that time I couldnt have lasted ten seconds, Mr Riordan said.

The doctors note presented by the complainants side was challenged by the company in legal submissions.

Its representative, Ellen Walsh of Peninsula Business Services, argued that the firmness of the stool discovered by one of Mr Riordans colleagues was inconsistent with diarrhoea.

As far as I was concerned, it was diarrhoea, Mr Riordan said in evidence.

In cross-examination, Ms Walsh asked how it was that a colleague of the complainant found solid excrement in the loading dock.

I thought it would be washed away in 20 minutes. Is her word to be taken over mine? Mr Riordan said.

Questioned further on why he did not use tissues he had in a bag in the cab of the lorry to clean up, he said: I couldnt pick that up with tissues, in fairness, in a thunderstorm.

He said he did not report the matter to staff on the Flextronic site because it was the last run of the day and there was nobody there except the two Polish workers who unloaded his lorry.

Why not contact your employer, Ms Walsh asked.

It wasnt a big issue, I thought, Mr Riordan replied.

Helen Kelleher, another truck driver working for the company, said she went to remove a piece of wood from the loading bay to avoid a puncture while backing in, and brought it to a Flextronic worker to dispose of.

One of the lads said whats stuck to the timber?, she said. I saw there was excrement on it and I just picked it up. With that the Flex employee said hed have to report it to health and safety. I went into the toilet to wash my hands.

The tribunal heard Mr Riordan was later identified on CCTV and admitted responsibility.

If you would take it that excrement can have a consistency, that theres a spectrum of consistencies, you can have absolutely liquid and  Ive been struggling to think how to describe the other other end  an absolutely solid piece of faeces, Mr Wallace-ODonnell said.

"Where on that spectrum would you put it? Would it be like mashed potato?

I suppose it would, yes, Ms Kelleher replied.

The tribunal was told that an instruction was passed from the companys management to its transport manager not to assign Mr Riordan to driving jobs after the defecation incident.

Mr Riordan said he was only told that business was quiet at the time and only learned that an issue was being made of what happened when he approached his employer three weeks later.

You suspended him before you ever mentioned this to him, Mr Wallace-ODonnell said to the companys HR manager, Caroline Murphy.

When we found out about this incident we immediately stopped the drives because of how serious the nature of it was, she said.

Ms Murphy said the gross misconduct finding made against Mr Riordan that had been the reason for dismissal was not based solely on the fact that Mr Riordan had defecated in the loading bay, but the fact that he had failed to either clean it up or report the matter to Flextronics or his own employer.

It would have been totally understandable  an accident happened, couldnt help it, and we would have notified our customer of what happened, she said.

The companys managing director, Paudie Murphy, denied discrimination on either age or disability grounds, stating that he had hired Mr Riordan at the age of 70, and that it was cheaper to employ drivers past retirement age because of the lower rate of employers PRSI.

Mr Murphy said Mr Riordan had failed to declare that he was taking any medication, or that he had the peptic ulcer disorder in two medical forms he signed and had made no mention of it until a disciplinary meeting was held.

To say no-one would see it on the loading bay  thats like saying no-one would see it at the front door of your house. Its a warehouse, everything goes in and out of the loading bay, Mr Murphy said.

[He was] lazy and careless. He didnt care. When I asked did he care about our reputation, the other staff, his exact words were: Why would I?. Its unbelievable, and to come around and accuse us of this (discrimination), I just cant get my head around it.

The complainant side argued there had been defects in the investigation, disciplinary and appeals process leading to Mr Riordans dismissal.

The firm maintained this was not relevant to a claim brought under equality legislation and that no discriminatory link had been established.

Adjudicating officer Ewa Sobanska is now considering her decision in the matter after concluding the hearing of the case yesterday afternoon, and will deliver her decision in writing to the parties in due course.
The president of TU Dublin wrote to then Justice Minister Simon Harris, pictured, to express his concerns. Photo: PA

A university president wrote directly to the Justice Minister earlier this year, appealing for more gardai near campus because students and staff were increasingly vulnerable to intimidation and anti-social behaviour.

Professor David FitzPatrick, of TU Dublin, expressed concern after a video was posted of an incident last February in which students were subjected to a tirade of racist abuse at a Luas station near the colleges new Grangegorman campus in the capital.

In his letter to then Justice Minister Simon Harris, Prof FitzPatrick said this had not been an isolated occurrence at Broadstone station.

He said many students and staff had reported incidents of intimidation and anti-social behaviour at the plaza and tram stop.

He also said people were encouraged to call gardai if they felt they were in immediate danger, and TU Dublin authorities were working hard to keep the campus safe.

The letter added: However, we have received reports that the response is slow, and are also constrained by the fact that the Universitys estates and security team cannot respond to off-campus incidents.

This leaves staff, students and members of our local community vulnerable when availing of the vital transport links in Broadstone.

Prof FitzPatrick said the university had repeatedly asked for an enhanced policing plan, given the thousands of students now on campus.

He also called on the justice minister to ask that the upsurge in incidents be raised with senior gardai in Dublin.

In internal emails, a TU Dublin staff member said racist incidents like the one at Broadstone in February were not a recent issue and something that is endemic.

The head of student support and well-being told colleagues: We have reports going back years from students, especially international students, of problems with racism in Ireland.

I think we need to take this one out of the politics and focus on how we can ensure we have a culture that tackles racism within the university environment.

Records released under Freedom of Information also detail how Prof FitzPatrick raised concerns over an on-campus rally against racism to which he had been invited, but was unable to attend.

In an email to the head of the student union, he said he understood the event had been for the university community to show support for those who had been victims of racist incidents.

However, he added that key contributors from outside the university had spoken about matters that were not focused on the topic at hand and incorrect information about security provision at TU Dublin was given out.

A spokeswoman for the university said: We can confirm a noticeable increase in An Garda Siochana presence in recent months.

More importantly, we have not received any reports of racist intimidation or verbal or physical abuse from students, staff or members of the public since this incident in February.
North Dakota's Parks and Recreation Department is turning to tree plantings to protect scenic views in Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, after nearby landowners declined voluntary easements on their land.

The department's Natural Resources Division will look at soil types and growth patterns and identify types and quantities of trees that "would make the best viewshed in those particular areas," Parks and Recreation Director Cody Schulz said.

The work will last over the next two summers, he said. Plantings likely will occur in spring 2024.

Funding the plantings will be the $50,000 the 2021 Legislature approved for paying the three landowners for viewshed easements, Schulz said. The easements would have stopped development within the 81.21-acre area, to preserve its scenic and historic views.

Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer commanded the Seventh Cavalry at Fort Abraham Lincoln from 1873-76 prior to his death at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, or Greasy Grass, in present-day Montana.

Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park is the oldest of North Dakota's 13 state parks, established in 1907 at the former military site south of present-day Mandan on the Missouri River.

Landowners

The state parks director said the landowners "simply did not want to encumber that property."

"What we were asking for was a commitment not to build structures in those certain areas, and they simply just did not want to make that commitment, and I completely understand," Schulz said.

Brandon Koch, who lives on property his father owns bordering the park, said the easements "just didn't make sense" for his family, being a "very small amount of money" that would have "handcuffed" future development for years to come.

He said tree plantings are a satisfactory outcome and in line with what his family had asked for to begin with.

"I think the tree idea is a good idea," Koch said.

Another landowner declined to comment; a third did not return a Tribune phone message.

Building moratorium

The Morton County Planning and Zoning Commission in July, tentatively, will begin hearings about ending a building moratorium in the park area and putting height restrictions on new buildings that can be seen from the park's Cavalry Square, according to County Commissioner Andy Zachmeier.

Morton County has had the building moratorium for two decades. County officials a few years ago began discussing the idea of a permanent regulation, and in 2020 they wrote to the state about protecting the viewshed.

The 2021 Legislature subsequently approved the $50,000 for voluntary easements.
More than 400 students in Sligo no longer have a place to stay in the town following the abrupt and untimely closure of their accommodation.
Hard-wearing and eco-friendly, this material goes with just about everything  just dont drop your porridge on it

All hail jute. The hitherto humble fibre is having a moment in interiors.

It comes in the form of woven floor rugs, poufs, lampshades, storage baskets and table mats. Jute has a rough and ready aesthetic and its unevenness is pleasing to the eye.

It rates high on sustainability and goes with pretty much anything. Also, its relatively cheap.

Historically, jute was known as the golden fibre, partly because of its colour but also because there was once a great deal of money to be made from jute.

Its main purpose was packaging. Until plastic became ubiquitous, almost everything that was transported came in sacks made of jute (also called hessian, burlap, or gunny sack).

Jute is woven from the stems of corchorus plants, which grow best in Bangladesh and West Bengal. It was traditionally used to make rope, twine, and coarse handspun fabric but, until the 19th century, it couldnt be mass produced.

Then, someone in the Scottish whaling port of Dundee discovered that dipping jute in whale oil made it suitable for factory production.

An unlikely industry was born and, by 1850, Dundee was the worlds largest manufacturer of jute. A few entrepreneurs, known as the jute barons, became rich on the fibre grown by the poor of Bangladesh, woven by the poor of Dundee, and lubricated with the rendered blubber of unfortunate whales.

Jute is a very versatile material, says Laura OKeefe of EZ Living Interiors.

We mainly use it in rugs. Theyre designed in Ireland by our team in Cork and handwoven in India. Its a cost-effective material because of its years of usage.

" You can change everything around it but the foundation stays the same. Jute rugs are good for high traffic areas and you can put furniture on them without worrying about wear and tear.

Interior by Dunelm with jute stair runner

While jute is a hard-wearing material, it will absorb moisture and is better suited to bedrooms and living rooms than places where it might get wet.

Spilled water can stain jute rugs. Flat-woven rugs are easier to clean than heavily textured weaves as domestic debris gets caught in the fibres.

Semi-liquid spillage like porridge (or worse) can be particularly hard to clean. Those with babies or pets take note. On the sustainability side, jute is relatively eco-friendly. Its biodegradable, can be grown with few chemicals, and tends not to trigger allergies.

Jute rug from Dunelm

OKeefe has noticed that customers who buy circular jute rugs often purchase more than one to use in the same room. People are nervous of the idea of layering with prints, she says.

Its easy with jute rugs because theyre never going to clash. Id suggest using three overlapping round rugs underneath an angular coffee table.

Read more Cushions: the secret weapon of styling

The Marli round jute rug (from 69 to 249 depending on diameter) is made from a coiled continuous braid. Shes also observed a trend for rectangular jute rugs in larger sizes (typically 200 x 300 cm).

Tablescape with jute placemats from The Designed Table

Both the braided Shilo jute rug and the two-tone Evet, a reversible flat-weave rug in cotton and jute, cost between 169 and 399 depending on size.

Because variation in texture is hard to communicate in photographs, its best to encounter a jute rug in a showroom before purchase.

Some are softer than others. Walk on it without shoes to see how it feels underfoot. If you like to sit on the floor, consider a jute-cotton blend, which is less prickly.

Rug from Dunelm

EZ Living Interiors is a Cork-based brand with 15 shops across Ireland including Belfast, Carlow, Cork, Drogheda, Dublin, Waterford and Wexford.

I love the texture and warmth that jute brings to a room, says Louise Johnston, an interior designer based in Ballina, Co Tipperary.

Its often used in rugs and or blended with other natural fibres, like cotton and wool, to create textured fabrics for soft-furnishings.

"Its earthy colouring brings a casual touch to a design while also adding a subtle layer of texture which is always important in interior design.

She suggests balancing the roughness of a jute rug with a sofa in plain fabric, like cotton or linen, or perhaps a leather chair. Then play with the scale of the texture by introducing some cushions or a textured throw.

Jute can be used effectively in very small ways. Ikeas new Mavinn range of crafted objects made by social enterprises includes several jute items: a pendant lampshade (23); a set of two small baskets with pompom lids (17); and two-tier hanging basket made of banana fibre and jute (19). Any of these add a fibrous homespun texture to an ensemble.

Jute Natural Circle Rug from Carpetright

Likewise, place mats. Homeware designer and stylist Tara OConnor is a fan. Jute is a welcome addition to any dining experience, she says.

It works beautifully with tablecloths and napkins. Her range for The Designed Table includes a rainbow collection of six round placemats (38cm diameter), each made of a coiled jute braid with a cotton rim in natural, pink, yellow, blue, green or navy.

They can be ordered singly (12 each) or in a rainbow collection of six (60). I love to layer them on top of cotton tablecloths, though they also stand out on a plain dinner table.

Happy Pride!

See ezliving-interiors.ie, louisejohnstondesign.com, and thedesignedtable.com.
PILOTS at Emerald Air are set to take industrial action from Saturday week.

The action will begin with a work to rule that will include a refusal to work on off days, no overtime or working other out of hour duties.

Emerald Airlines operates regional flights, including the Dublin to Donegal route on behalf of Aer Lingus. It also provides Aer Lingus regional routes in the UK, including Bristol, Birmingham and Edinburgh.

Forsa and Ialpa, which is a branch of the union, served notice on the airline today after members backed industrial action by over 82pc.

Ialpa said the dispute is over the airlines failure to engage with it on a collective agreement for pilots.

Daniel Langan, Ialpa officer, said pilots were surprised at Emeralds refusal to engage with the union.

Other airlines that previously refused to engage with unions are now happy to negotiate with them to achieve the certainty and stability of a collective labour agreement, he said.

Emeralds position suggests its currently out of touch on how best to sustainably establish terms and conditions for its employees in a highly competitive labour market. The employers refusal to engage is why this action is now necessary.

Forsa official Ian McDonnell said pilots have repeatedly shown great flexibility to keep aircraft flying by working on days off.

This flexibility is not recognised by the management team and pilots are now withdrawing their flexibility of working on their days off to accommodate the airlines staffing issues as an official work to rule, he said.

Emerald airlines are out of step with the other commercial Irish airlines who do recognise and negotiate with trade unions such as Aer Lingus and Ryanair.

Meanwhile, an Emerald Airlines spokesperson said it is confident that this unnecessary action from IALPA will not impact Emerald Airlines operations nor cause any disruption to passengers.

Since day one, we have been actively engaging in direct discussions with our flight crew and just this week we have had an overwhelming majority of 70pc accepting our new pay and conditions package, she said.

We maintain an active and healthy dialogue directly with all of our employees including pilot employee representatives.

She said Ialpas threat of labour disruption is creating unwarranted stress and uncertainty for passengers and our people. We are focused on a reasonable and timely resolution through our direct employee forum, she said.
Weve done the candlelight vigils, this is about us getting answers, said organiser Annette McKay, adding that families had waited far too long for a promised exhumation

A symbolic protest by families and supporters of hundreds of babies who died at Tuam during the mother and baby homes scandal will take place in a fortnights time.

Annette McKay, who is attached to the Tuam Babies Family Group, is organising the protest in Tuam, Co Galway, on Sunday, June 25. Im going to walk up to the mother and baby home site and ask the question: When will the exhumation finally take place?

I am inviting people to bring a toy shovel, but no blade of grass will be touched. It is a symbolic protest because we still do not have a date for the exhumation, which was promised this year, but will certainly not happen until next year at this stage. The families of the babies who died at Tuam have not been consulted over recent developments and it is just not good enough anymore.

Ms McKays late mother Maggie OConnor gave birth to her sister Mary Margaret at Tuam in 1942. Mary Margaret died at Tuam within months of being separated from her mother. The baby was conceived as a consequence of rape at another industrial school when Maggie was aged 17.

In late May, Childrens Minister Roderic OGorman appointed a director to oversee the excavation and recovery of childrens remains at the site of a former mother and baby home in Tuam.

Daniel Mac Sweeney, a former International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) envoy, will lead the independent office as the director of authorised intervention for Tuam.

We were promised that the exhumation would happen this year, it clearly will not. I would invite Daniel Mac Sweeney to come and talk to us at the symbolic protest. There are two very important things he needs to do, said Ms McKay.

Make the religious order pay for the exhumation, which was estimated at 30m a few years ago. Otherwise the Irish taxpayer will be paying for it.

The second thing he needs to do is give us a timeline for when the exhumation will take place. The families of the babies who died at Tuam should have been informed of developments about Mr Mac Sweeneys appointment, but we werent.

We hope he will do a good, thorough job, but yet again, we have not been consulted.

The remains of 798 babies are believed to have been interred in a subterranean septic tank or sewage chamber at Tuam.

It was hoped exhumations could begin before the end of this year, but Mr OGorman recently acknowledged it would be a matter for Mr Mac Sweeneys assessment and that it could certainly be next year.

The newly appointed expert is to be responsible for ensuring the remains are re-interred in a respectful and appropriate way.

A key first priority for the director will be to engage with relatives, survivors and former residents of the Tuam institution, Mr OGorman said last month.

The minister has also recently appointed former INTO general secretary, Sheila Nunan, as a negotiator with the religious orders that ran mother and baby homes to seek a meaningful contribution towards redress.

Mr OGorman has so far come up empty-handed from talks with the religious groups involved, mostly orders of nuns.

He refused to specify a range of financial contributions that might be meaningful, saying it was precisely a matter for negotiation, and that Ms Nunan, a former president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) had much experience in the area.

Ms McKay said that many younger generations of women had been in touch seeking to attend the symbolic protest in two weeks time.

This is about womens rights being trampled over, the mothers of these infants who died as well as the babies themselves.

I am asking people to bring a toy shovel, because we deserve answers about the exhumation. We have done the candlelight vigils, this is about us now demanding answers but it will of course be entirely peaceful, she added.
Frank Coughlan: Reaction to Ricky Gervais gigs in Dublin shows its funny how we take offence when we could look the other way
OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, claims it may be 'forced' to pull out of Europe. Photo: Getty

With artificial intelligence we are summoning the demon, said Elon Musk, never a man to shy from a shot in the dark. In the same speech, he warned that AI could be more dangerous than nuclear weapons.

His comments were made nine years ago at the MIT Aeronautics and Astronautics departments Centennial Symposium.

Whether you are an all-embracing AI enthusiast or a deeply anxious onlooker, the reality is it is here to stay. Some see it is a tool, others as a threat,

From either standpoint, it will create jobs that did not exist and render many that already exist superfluous.

For decades, technology has outpaced the legislators trying to control its advance. If it is already too late to recapture the lightning in a bottle, how can we realistically protect ourselves from unintended consequences that have yet to be even imagined?

Leaving aside the many dystopian scenarios the purveyors of doom might promote, the fact is that AI presents extraordinary opportunities that are as exciting as they are intimidating. But given that so much is yet to be understood about its applications or behaviours, taming it, or reining it in, is going to be problematic.

Undaunted, MEPs in Brussels have become the first to try to do so. In attempting to impose curbs on how companies use AI, they risk going head to head with Big Tech, which has bet billions on its seemingly limitless potential

The EU AI Act intends to ban systems that pose an unacceptable level of risk, such as predictive policing tools, or social scoring systems, like those used in China to classify people based on their behaviour. It will also restrict systems with the potential to influence voters in elections, or even introduce harm to peoples health.

Given the stakes involved, this seems highly desirable. The hope is that member states and other countries will come on board.

Calls for protective guardrails have become more urgent as the enormity of the untapped potential and unforeseen risks emerge. Yet already, discussions of what seem to be entirely sensible limits to keep people safe are coming up against a wall of resistance. OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, has announced it may be forced to pull out of Europe.

The bill is still under discussion and has yet to be put to member states, so its final contours have not been defined.

To its credit, Brussels has been developing AI legislation for a couple of years. It is keen to cement itself as the global Big Tech regulator. It is also determined to contain threats.

Covering all the angles on something that is evolving so rapidly is a big ask.

Trade and Employment Minister Simon Coveney has said Ireland must become a global hub for AI to create and retain valuable jobs. And so indeed we should. However, a regulatory framework that sets out how an AI landscape might look would be very welcome before committing to any great leap in the dark.
I was a private school kid growing up, and Aslan were a bit rough-looking  from where I was at 14.

Fast-forward 30 years, when my social prejudices had been diluted, and I was visiting a young patient with leukaemia in London. Christy Dignam and Aslan were on my flight and I got talking to Christy.

When our flight landed, he split from the band and came up to me at the luggage collection point. We had a long chat and recorded a message for the kid I was visiting.

It was a non-rushed, very relaxed and philosophical chat and he amazed me with his humility, patience and honesty with regard to his own health.

He said he didnt mind the treatment, but hated being in waiting rooms with some of the people who appeared as if they were waiting to die.

He said he was glad to be alive and preferred doing gigs. Ive played the piano since I was about six, so we chatted about music, his vocal training and growing up.

I was struck by how generous he was in the conversation, and he had an innate Irish way of observing things, articulating the craic elements brilliantly.

From reading everyones messages about similar meetings with Christy, he obviously never had an air of famousness about him, and it strikes me it is the ultimate measure of the mans character to have been recognised as someone who is just sound.

He was clearly a deep thinker who seemed to get a lot out of life, and he obviously took responsibility for the things he said he got wrong.

From what I saw, he probably made up for anything he may have got wrong a billion times over with his gentle and formidable approach to resolving as much as he could.

I asked him what drove him, and he told me he was motivated by love for family and friends.

David OReilly, Eyre Square, Galway

Read more Gerard ORegan: Polish mum cherishes freedoms but fears for the future

Donald Trump is making a show of himself and the US

Proper democracy relies on freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest as much as the transfer of power without hindrance or rancour. This patently is not happening in United States.

One has to wonder how former US president Donald Trump is allowed to make inflammatory and rabble-rousing speeches at every opportunity, more often than not full of inaccuracies and downright lies. To watch and listen to some of his more rabid followers, one can only cringe.

David Ryan, Co Meath

Is that all folks? Capers are like a Looney Tunes special

I listened to Manny Morales, the Miami police chief, saying the police force and other agencies were prepared for a crowd of anywhere from 5,000 to 50,000 Trump supporters to be outside the Miami federal courthouse, but he might have overestimated the potential numbers.

From reports on television and online, it appears the number five might have been correct, but for 500, not 5,000 or 50,000.

Is this a police chief being overly cautious or an ex-president being under-supported?

Time will tell, but given that most of the recent news items concerning Trump appear to include the words indictment, lawyer, witch hunt and conspiracy, surely that is not a positive for any candidate and certainly not for one running for the most powerful position in the world.

This would be amusing were it not so serious.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

Were wealthy enough to look after those in need of care

The other evening, I saw an appeal for Family Carers Ireland, and it made me incredibly angry.

Why do people in this wealthy country have to ask for donations in order to provide vital care for their disabled children and other sick loved ones?

Why does the State not wrap its arms around families in their time of need?

We can do better, and we must do better.

Bernie Linnane, Dromahair, Co Leitrim

The sounds and smells of a summer spent in Dublin

I enjoyed Ian ODohertys column (Bagatelle, Bermuda shorts and BBQ bugs aside, this weather doesnt half cheer us up, Irish Independent, May 31) recalling the song Summer In Dublin and the Liffey as it stank like hell and so on.

To me the song that sings of summer in an Irish heart is Dont Go by Hothouse Flowers. Does this make me a heavy petal freak? Are there other great sounds of Irish summer Im forgetting?

M OBrien, Dalkey, Co Dublin
More than 4 million was raise through the 2022 Late Late Toy Show appeal.

ALMOST 20 organisations across Cork City and County are set to benefit from a combined funding windfall of more than 460,000 through the RTE Toy Show appeal.

They are among 147 groups and initiatives across the country to receive grants through the appeal, which the broadcaster said would improve the lives of children across Ireland in multiple ways.

The grants have been made possible by the generosity of viewers who tuned into last Novembers Late Late Toy Show, donating to the appeal to the tune of more than 4 million.

Announcing the grants the outgoing director general of RTE, Cork woman Dee Forbes, said the response of the public to the appeal will help transform the lives of 1.2 million children, young people and their families in every county across the country.

Childrens voices have always been at the very core of The Late Late Toy Show. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our viewers, thousands of children are now being supported in so many different ways, said Ms Forbes.

To everyone who donated a huge thank you; this will help so many young lives in the year ahead and is a remarkable testimony to Irelands renowned generosity, she added.

The grants, which are managed by RTEs charity partner Community Foundation Ireland, are administer under the following three key areas of support  Addressing Essential Needs, Health and Wellbeing and Creativity and Play.

Community Foundation Ireland chief executive, Denise Charlton, said the competition for funding across the sector is intense given the impact of cost of living on donations.

The range of projects receiving funding are indicative of the range of challenges that children can face, but also of the innovative, practical and really valuable work being done by charities large and small, that are helping to make a difference, said Ms Charlton.

Childrens lives are being transformed thanks to the generosity shown by family, friends and neighbours who respond during the Toy Show to ensure the magic continues all year round, she added.

Grants ranging in value of between 7,000 and 56,000 were awarded to 19 recipients across Cork.

Among those to benefit were the Mallow-based Love and Care For People organisations, which was granted 10,000 to provide musical instruments for asylum seekers and Ukrainian refugees living the area to help build skills and reduce isolation felt in Direct Provision.

YANA  The North Cork Domestic Violence Project, was granted 17,000 to hire a case worker to work specifically with children who have experienced domestic violence.

Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind was granted 35,000 to match Community Therapy Dogs with young people who have fallen out of mainstream educations as a result of mental and emotional stress related to their disability.

NASC The Cork-based Irish Immigrant Support Centre was awarded 56,000 for their New Beginnings project that ensures that the basic and essential needs of refugee children arriving in Ireland are met through family reunification and children of families transitioning out of Direct Provision into new homes.

The full list of Toy Show appeal fund recipients and how they will use the grants is available by following the link at www.communityfoundationireland.ie.
Cork Chamber CEO Conor Healy - the plan will respond to the growing demand for housing as the population rises and as jobs growth continues to prosper.

An impression outlining a birds-eye view of the proposal for 32-acre Gouldings site at Corks Docklands, that if granted planning permission will incorporate more than 1,300 residential units.

THE CEO of Cork Chamber has described plans for a more than 1,300 residential unit development in the Docklands area of the city as a sign of great progress and a huge vote of confidence in the city.

Conor Healys comments came after it emerged a planning application for the ambitious project is set to be lodged with Cork City Council in the coming days, which if rubber-stamped will make it the largest residential development in the city.

It is understood the project, the brainchild Leeside Quays Limited a subsidiary of OCallaghan Properties, will make provision for 1,325 residential units including apartments and duplexes on the 32-acree Gouldings site bounded by the Monaghan and Centre Park Roads.

The development will incorporate a mix of 658-one bed, 465 two-bed and 202-three-bed units set within 10 buildings ranging in height from two to 14 storeys.

The project will also incorporate 25,000 sq meters of open public amenity space, with a number of ground-level mixed use units set aside for cafes/restaurants with outdoor seating, service retail units and a convenience retail store.

The development will also include a standalone two-storey creche, gymnasium, a mobility hub on the Centre Park Road, pedestrian and cycle paths, road crossings, public lighting and other ancillary services and works.

The managing director of OCallaghan Properties, Brian OCallaghan, said the development would be an exemplar for the 15-minute city, an urban planning concept where the majority of daily necessities such as work, shopping education and healthcare can be reached within a 15-miunte walk.

It will be highly sustainable, served by efficient public transport and, in every sense, an example of the emerging new city and will make an even bigger statement on the attractiveness of Docklands as a location to work and live, said Mr OCallaghan.

Cork City Docklands is recognised as having a key national economic development role. Thousands of jobs have already been created in Docklands and it is imperative that residential development runs parallel, otherwise investment momentum will be impacted, he added.

Last August OCallaghan Properties was given the green light for a transformational 350 million Docklands project to incorporate a new rehabilitation hospital, three multi-storey office towers, an 11-storey apartment complex and the re-purposing of a giant 131-year-old Odlumss grain warehouse into a hospitality complex.

The plan for Corks South Docks was hailed as being a game-changer for the city in its bid to dramatically increase in size over the next four decades and rival Dublin as a southern powerhouse.

Objections lodged against the project with An Bord Pleanala were subsequently withdrawn, with construction work set to commence in mid-2024.

Commenting on the latest proposed Dockland development, Cork Chamber CEO Conor Healy said it was very encouraging to see plans of this scale being announced.

Particularly in the Docklands which will play a key role in shaping our economy, our society and our city. The plan will respond to the growing demand for housing as the population rises and as jobs growth continues to prosper.

The planned addition of open space, cafes/restaurants, and service and retail stores to accompany the apartments will also increases the attractiveness of the city as a place to work and live, said Mr Healy.

He said any stumbling blocks that exist to development in Cork City, where planning permission for almost 8,000 units remains inactivated must be removed.

More announcements of this nature are needed in the near future and addressing the challenges around apartment viability, which were raised in a recent meeting we held with An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, will result in the step change we need to get boots on the ground and cranes in the sky, said Mr Healy.

The redevelopment of Cork South Docks will rejuvenate the city centre and this planned development in the area complements this period of transformation for Cork city as imagined by OCallaghan Properties whose vision will breathe new life into the city, he added.

Mr Healy said the city must be ready an equipped to embrace this vision.

It is yet another reason to advance our public transport improvement plans, accelerate the timeline for Corks light rail and make the 15-minute city concept a reality in Cork, he concluded.
The exclusion of children living in social housing in the David Road Apartment complex has been called disgraceful

The exclusion of children in social housing from using a playground in their housing complex in Dublin has been called disgraceful amid calls to open the playground for all.

Social housing tenants living in the Davitt Road apartment complex on Davitt Road in Drimnagh say they have been excluded from using the communal services that have been reserved for private tenants living in the building.

The facilities in the build-to-rent property include a childrens playground, car park, gym, lounge and a co-working area.

The exclusion has resulted in some children in the property being allowed to play in the playground, while the children in the social housing units watch on.

Councillor Daithi Doolan said the exclusion of tenants is unacceptable and must end immediately.

While councillor Vincent Jackson said children being excluded from the playground was akin to an apartheid system.

Cllr Doolan said: "I met with tenants in the properties reserved for social housing. They are furious at the fact that they can not access car parking, bicycle lock up, the gym or the promised indoor play area.

Meanwhile tenants renting privately have access to all the amenities in the complex.

"This segregation is wrong. It further divides communities and flies in the face of Dublin City Council's own City Development Plan and their Strategy for Housing People with Disabilities.

Coilin O'Reilly, housing manager at DCC said the exclusion of the playground is disgraceful, however, all tenants should now have access.

Everybody in the Davitt has access to the playground. There was confusion over fobs and that has now been sorted so everybody has access to the playground and anybody who doesn't can come to me directly, he said councillors at a meeting on Monday.

Mr OReilly said the social housing tenants in the complex have access to the other communal services at a cost of 20 per household per week.

Davitt Road apartment complex in Drimnagh

The reality is that the private tenants are also paying for those facilities. In the agreement we entered into with the property owners, we are not paying for those facilities.

Mr OReilly said it could be part of a conversation into the future of who pays?

If as a local authority we decide to pay for all our tenants in these properties to have access to those facilities then that money has to come from somewhere, he said.

I do agree that it is disgraceful that children dont have access to a playground and I am glad thats sorted.

Residents are also calling for use of the car park in the complex due to a lack of on-street parking which is causing traffic issues.

Cllr Doolan said dozens of parking spaces in the complex are empty while there is a crisis outside with buses not being able to access the road.

Mr OReilly said there should be an element of parking for people with a disability but, We cant provide parking for everybody everywhere.
The U.S. Treasury Department has approved North Dakotas application for $68 million to help finance the construction of 13 career academies across the state.

Gov. Doug Burgum earlier this year signed House Bill 1199, providing for a $68 million line of credit from the state-owned-Bank of North Dakota for the academies -- a move to boost fields with workforce needs.

U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., on June 9 announced the federal funding, saying it "means the short-term loan from the state can be promptly repaid and will enable construction to move forward.

Career academies help students prepare for careers in the trades, health care, technology and other industry sectors. All of those fields are in need of workers in North Dakota.

These career academies are a key component of our comprehensive efforts to address North Dakotas workforce shortage," Burgum said in a statement June 9 after Hoeven's announcement.

State lawmakers during the Legislature's special session in November 2021 approved $88 million for career academies, including $20 million in state funds that have already been distributed and $68 million from Treasurys Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund. Legislators this past February approved the $68 million line of credit because the federal funding was still uncertain. It was the first bill of the session signed by Burgum, to avoid delaying construction of career academies.

Money is going to 13 projects, including the Heart River Career and Technical Education Center in Mandan and an expanded facility for the Bismarck Public Schools CTE program.

Other projects are in Dickinson, Watford City, Williston, Minot, Grand Forks, Fargo, Grafton, Wahpeton, Devils Lake, Jamestown and Valley City. Projects require a local dollar-for-dollar match.
Public access to the vacant Dominick Streets flats and an associated car park are due to be boarded up to prevent extreme drug-dealing and anti-social behaviour.

Dublin City Council will secure the walkway and car park along the flat complex on Dominick street Lower following requests from local residents and gardai.

The site will be secured by hoarding at the front of the flat complex facing onto the Luas stop and the back of the complex will be secured by steel fencing.

The council hopes stopping access to the site will prevent further anti-social behaviour and protect the public from the adverse effects of the vacant site.

Councillor Cieran Perry said the buildings that are due to be demolished for redevelopment need to be demolished as soon as practically possible.

There is extreme anti-social behaviour, drug-dealing going down at this site, possibly the worst in Dublin as far as Im aware.

We cannot have the continued black spot of drug dealing and crime down there, he said.

While councillor Christy Burke said the level of criminality in the area is the worst Ive ever seen, comparing it to the heroin epidemic in Dublin during the 1980s.

Its serious stuff, he told councillors on Tuesday at the local area meeting.

In the early days of the heroin epidemic it was done in broad daylight, nobody cared who they were offending or what authorities might arrest them.

That went on morning, noon and night from storing heroin, crack cocaine, right across the board, on balconies, shoots and in other small pockets of the complex, he said.

Cllr Janice Boylan said people are constantly under the attack of anti-social behaviour and serious drug dealing which is affecting businesses, residents, people walking on the street and those waiting at the Luas stop.

Councillor Ray McAdams said the issue is down-right thugery and criminality.

Concerns were also raised over hoarding being erected as it is easily damaged and could be used for storing drugs, with calls for murals to be painted on the hoarding to improve the appearance of the street.

In response, David Forde, area manager said the hoarding would be erected as soon as possible, but a temporary access point would remain open for access to the creche.

The Dominick Street Regeneration Project has seen some 70 new homes built directly across the road from the old flats.
Kerry County Council has advised motorists to travel Sli Cheann Sleibhe (Slea Head) in west Kerry in a clockwise direction as peak tourism season approaches.

The breath-taking, scenic roadway on the western portion of the Corca Dhuibhne is one of the top tourist attractions in Ireland, with a huge number of motorists travelling the route each year. It has been plagued over the years, however, by traffic issues caused by motorists driving it anti-clockwise. Much of the route is too narrow for two cars travelling in opposite directions to pass one another safely, and such instances can lead to serious delays.

Kerry County Council said measures will be in place to maintain smooth traffic flow along the loop route west of Dingle town from June 30 to September 15.

A Kerry County Council staff member will be positioned at Coumeenoole [Com Dhineol] each day from 10.30am to 4.00pm encouraging vehicles travelling anti-clockwise to respect the advisory, a statement from the local authority said.

Visitors will be urged to follow the recommended route from the outset resulting in a more pleasant journey, ensuring time to relax and enjoy the magnificent views, attractions, history, and culture in this magnificent part of Kerry.

Local access will be maintained as normal. Directional signage advising of the Sli Cheann Sleibhe clockwise travel advisory will be established locally.
Given more time to produce compensation

A 33-year-old man who reached through the hatch at a filling station and grabbed scratch cards, has been given more time to gather compensation.

Gary Gray, Fr Murray Park, Dundalk, previously pleaded guilty to a burglary charge arising out of that incident last year and to other charges.

It was stated on behalf of the father of two that he made admissions and co-operated with gardai.

Evidence was presented that at 4.50am on 10 August 2022 the defendant interfered with the 24-hour hatch at the Maxol Filling Station, Castletown Road.

He reached through and took 70-worth of scratch cards. He could be seen on CCTV removing his face mask.

The court also heard of thefts which occurred at Tesco Extra on 25 April 2022 and again the following day.

On the first occasion Mr Gray took wireless headphones valued 70 and on the second headphones and speakers worth 71.99.

On 26 May he took headphones valued 50 from Tesco, Longwalk Shopping Centre.

Having been assessed as suitable for community service, the defendant was remanded on continuing bail to 14 June for payment of compensation.

Judge McKiernan said if that was done, a sentence of 200 hours community service would be imposed in lieu of four months imprisonment on the burglary charge and the others taken into consideration.

On the adjourned date, the court was informed that 270 compensation had not been paid.

Solicitor Peter Lavery said his client had gone into custody on a Section 3 assault charge in Monaghan. He hadnt sought bail because he wanted help.

He was on a detox programme and doing well in Cloverhill Prison.

Mr Lavery continued that he was not aware of Mr Grays heroin problem the last day.

Judge McKiernan said she had a note of drug issues.

The solicitor said that was tablets.

The accused wanted to address compensation. There was a job for him in Monaghan when he got out.

Mr Gray was remanded on bail on these charges to 19 July for payment of compensation.

Legal aid was granted.
News

Full time Cath Lab at Sligo University Hospital is still awaited despite promises

It is clearly unacceptable that no commitment has been given to approve the provision of a CT Scanner and associated resources for Sligo University Hospital, Cllr Declan Bree told the most recent meeting of the Regional Health Forum West.
A tablet designed with older people in mind and teams of staff in Wexford, the UK and the USA are helping to tackle loneliness and isolation in the communities they serve.

GrandPad is a tablet designed with older users in mind featuring simple navigation, large buttons, and enhanced sound. Founded in the USA by Scott Lien and his son Isaac in 2014, the company quickly went from strength to strength and now has both users and employees across the globe.

The idea for GrandPad was born out of Scotts own dilemma. Scott was trying to maintain contact with his elderly mother through Skype but owing to her hearing challenges and the fact that Skype was not built with older people in mind, this proved challenging. In light of this experience, he began to consider the kind of device that would work best for an older person, while also exploring what kinds of unique challenges they face when using technology.

GrandPad was built from the ground up from taking everything into consideration with older adult in mind, explains Member Experience Manager, Geoff Rochford, who is based in Gorey. All of Scotts research went into the final design. It influenced the eight by eight inch size of the device as we know that larger devices are more difficult for those with dexterity issues to handle. Charging can also be a big challenge for older people if have dexterity problems so we decided to incorporate a standing charger.

"There is a special screen on it that reacts to drier skin because as we get older, our skin gets drier. Modern phones arent responsive to drier skin.

When choosing what services to incorporate into the device, the founders were keen to create something that was safe and secure but also gave the user autonomy.

It was important that we provided older people with a safe environment for using technology, while also offering them the freedom we all enjoy when we use a device, explains Geoff. Quite often, if an older adult has a device you get for them, it might just go in the drawer and not be used because they did not feel that they had ownership over them.

On the GrandPad, our own team have designed a range of apps. It is its own system so it doesnt have any access to the app stores. That was intentional so that we could avoid malicious software and scams.

You can do almost anything you can do on normal tablet in a safe and secure way. One of the main functions is voice and video calling. By far that is the most popular feature on it. The way we do it is we have built a secure family network around that user. The GrandPad owner is contactable only by people in their secure family network. That means they wont have scam calls. However, they can still make outgoing calls to the likes of their GP if they need to.

The GrandPad also features a companion app with which users can share photos and videos and play games with their family members. The idea behind this is to build engagement between the user and their friends and family, says Geoff.

"One of our main goals is to fight loneliness and isolation, he adds. Our users are not only saying it is helping them, but we are seeing the impact. We get to see our customers a lot and as a result, we see the impact it is having on their lives. Obviously, we have just come out of the pandemic too and, at a time when many were not able to see anyone, getting GrandPads into peoples hands to connect with their family was massive.

While learning how to use a new device can be daunting for someone of any age, the GrandPad team have put the supports in place to ensure that each users feels supported from the get-go. From device orientation meetings soon after the purchase of their device, to 24/ 7 assistance from teams of member experience agents, they can be confident in knowing that help is only a click of a button away.

"The backbone of what we do is our customer service. We have a 24/ 7 service you can get through to right away, explains Geoff. When you call us or tap the help number, you get through to one of the member experience agents. Ten of them are based here in Wexford. We encourage our users to tap that help button any time.

GrandPad has member experience agents in the USA, UK and Ireland and it was no accident that Wexford was chosen as its Irish base.

When GrandPad was looking at where to base themselves in Europe, they were looking to cater to the UK and Irish market. The whole idea behind the member experience team was to recruit people who have that sense of care already built in. It was one of those things the company looked for when recruiting, says Geoff. They found Wexford and it is ideally located to Dublin for business but also, in the resource of the people we tap into here in the region, we have found that sense of care and community.

While GrandPad will continue to evolve in the coming years, any shifts will be driven by the needs and preferences of its users, added Geoff.
Sean Kinsellas lifetime of dedication and service to the people of Wexford has been recognised with a special award from The Rotary Club. Now 88-years-old, Sean first got involved as a volunteer with The Society of St. Vincent de Paul 70 years ago, became a founder member of Dun Mhuire Parish Hall, and for the past 50 years has been the driving force behind St. Bridgets Day Care Centre.

From 1974 to 1979 Sean served on the National Social Services Council, a role which saw him address government ministers Brendan Corish and Charlie Haughey. In addition, since 1966 he has been a member of the Irish Citizens Parliament, a lobby group for older people, and he is also the Chairman of Wexford Meals on Wheels. Seans involvement with the Rotary Club sees him distribute hampers to need people in need every Christmas.

Sean is this years recipient of The Rotary Club of Wexford Sassmannshausen award which was created in honour of Jurgen Sassmannshausen, one of the founding members of the club in 1979. Through the Sassmannshausen award, the Rotary Club of Wexford recognises people who make a difference in their community, and use their energy, passion and intelligence to make the world a better place.

Sadly, Jurgen passed away last December 2022, aged 92, so for this presentation Rotary President David Power welcomed his wife Helga to attend on her late husbands behalf.

It was my honour and privilege to nominate Sean Kinsella for his unique and significant contribution to our community over the past 70 years, said David. He embraces the Rotary motto, Service Above Self . I want to thank Sean for his service to our community. I believe he deserves a place in the Guinness Book of Records for his 70 years of service to our community, it must be a world record.

During his acceptance speech Sean said he felt very honoured and very humbled to receive this award and reminded all members in attendance that there is no age limit to giving back and making a difference in our community.
Tributes have been paid to the late Dr Colman Etchingham from Greystones, a retired lecturer at Maynooth University, who died on Wednesday, June 7, following an illness and while on holiday in Greece.

Dr Etchingham was Emeritus Lecturer in Early Irish History, having taken early retirement in 2019.

A graduate of Trinity College Dublin, Dr Etchingham was an expert in many aspects of early medieval history, most notably the history of the early Irish Church, early Irish law and the history of the Scandinavian raiders and settlers in early medieval Ireland, Britain and the wider Viking World.

In a eulogy to Dr Etchingham from his colleagues at Maynooth University, Dr Elizabeth Boyle (Early Irish) and Dr Michael Potterton (History) wrote: Among his many ground-breaking publications, his most influential include his monograph, Church Organisation in Ireland, AD6501000, published in 1999, and his 2001 article on North Wales, Ireland and the Isles: the Insular Viking Zone in the journal Peritia.

More recently, in 2019, he published a book that was jointly written with Maire Ni Mhaonaigh, Elizabeth Ashman Rowe and Jon Vidar Sigurdsson, entitled Norse-Gaelic Contacts in a Viking World. One of his co-authors, Prof. Ni Mhaonaigh (University of Cambridge), states that Dr Etchinghams research has altered fundamentally our understanding of medieval Irish society and of Viking activity, broadening and deepening our knowledge of relations between Ireland, Britain and beyond in the early medieval period.

His incisive close textual readings and forensic scholarship, combined with utter clarity of thought, has transformed and will continue to inform our knowledge of the past.

Dr Etchingham demonstrated a kindness and loyalty to his students that was returned with great affection.

In the days since his passing, several former students have got in touch to make it known how highly he was regarded and how inspirational were his guidance and scholarship.

Colleagues have remarked how supportive and empathetic Colman was, especially when he saw someone in difficulty. He was exceptionally generous with advice, lecture notes and materials to new tutors and lecturers.

Dr Etchingham had several major works in an advanced state of preparation at the time of his death and it is to be hoped that they will see the light in due course.

In the meantime, both the Department of History and the Department of Early Irish offer sincere condolences to his loved ones and look forward to future generations of scholars reading and engaging with his work, they added.

Dr Etchingham grew up in Greystones and sailed locally at Greystones Sailing Club with his brother, Fiachra. He was active in the campaign to protect St Crispins Cell, the medieval site at Rathdown, which is now watched over by Greystones Tidy Towns. He later moved to Ballinaguilkey, Hacketstown, Co Carlow. He will be sadly missed by his wife Carmel McKenna, brother Fiachra, sister-in-law Geraldine and a wide circle of family, friends and fellow academics.

A Civil Funeral Service will take place on Thursday, June 22, at 11am in the Glenview Hotel, Glen-o-the-Downs followed by burial in Redford Cemetery, Greystones.
Baltinglass Councillor Patsy Glennon has urged Wicklow County Council to expedite a long-awaited bus stop and a safe pedestrian access and stopping zone for bus services in the village of Hollywood.

In 2021, Cllr Patsy Glennon and Cllr Edward Timmins both contributed 5,000 from their discretionary funding allowance to cover the cost of consultants who carried out a feasibility study of the proposed bus stop facilities in the west Wicklow village.

The final design will include a park and ride area, traffic calming, improved sight lines and a safe stopping zones for the bus, secure bike parking, pedestrian accessibility and lighting.

Raising the issue at this month's Wicklow County Council meeting, Cllr Glennan said: "I see there's another study been done on the bus stop and traffic calming at Hollywood. I would like to see that being advanced as soon as possible.

I also noticed the park and ride that was previously mentioned for that same location has vanished from the Chief Executive's report, while the one for the N11 is still there. I have no difficulty with that, but the N81 one should not be forgotten about.

Responding to Cllr Glennnon's questions, Director of Transportation, Water and Emergency Services Leonora Earls said: In relation to the bus stop in Hollywood that is on the radar, and we have continuing conversations with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) about it.

We haven't set aside the park and ride, it may take more work, and we didn't want to delay the bus stop and the traffic calming, so we are trying to move it along. The quickest one gets delivered, but we want to make sure that the bus stop and the park-and-ride both happen. But they might happen at a different pace and come up at a different time."
Boris Johnson is said to be considering an audacious independent bid to become London mayor for a second time after his exit from parliament and dramatic fall from grace in the Tory party.
The prospect of a Canadian utility company siting a small nuclear reactor just a stones throw from the North Dakota border has come as a surprise to state officials and local landowners.

But the power such a project could bring may be welcome.

Its a very positive development, Jody Gunlock said of the possibility that SaskPower will build a nuclear power plant across the border from Noonan, a town in Divide County in the states far northwest corner.

Gunlock, who ranches near the border and also serves as Divide Countys emergency manager, is eager to hear more, not just about SaskPowers plans, but about the possibility of North Dakota planning its own small modular nuclear reactors.

Sheri Haugen-Hoffart, one of three commissioners serving on the North Dakota Public Service Commission, said the North Dakota News Cooperative's query was the first shed heard of the project. Gov. Doug Burgums office indicated that the Department of Commerce had communications with SaskPower and others regarding small modular reactors -- known as SMRs -- at a recent energy conference in Atlanta.

According to Commerce, much of the discussion about nuclear power at the conference revolved around the fact that either the U.S. or Canada will need at least 10 years from initial study to finalized buildout, even for SMRs, said Burgum spokesperson Mike Nowatzki, adding that the state is unaware of any SMR planning for North Dakota.

Victor Schock, director of public utilities at the PSC, said he was prompted to research the project after the inquiry for this story and said SaskPower hadnt reached out to state authorities about the plans.

Not that they would necessarily need to since theyre really outside our jurisdiction, but that wouldnt necessarily prevent us from intervening in a proceeding they may have up there either, Schock said. If were concerned about safety on our side of the border, it would be potentially worthwhile to intervene and raise some concerns.

SaskPower is narrowing down potential sites for the location of a GE-Hitachi BWRX-300 small modular reactor, with one possible location in the Estevan region and the other near Elbow, which is about an hour northwest of Regina.

Site selection should be finalized by the end of 2024, with licensing finished by 2029, Darcy Holderness of SaskPower said in an online presentation earlier this month.

An operating reactor wouldnt be in place until the mid-2030s, he said, and the site picked could possibly host at least an additional reactor after the initial project is approved.

Eagerness for reliable power

Gunlock spent time at the Defense Nuclear Weapons School in New Mexico and led the 55th Civil Support (WMD) response team at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport during his time in the U.S. Army, so he is familiar with both the potential opportunities and dangers of nuclear material.

If you want clean, carbon-free energy and want reliable energy thats there all the time, youve got to go nuke, he said, adding that the intermittency of wind and solar reduce reliability, plus they take up much more space than a small nuclear reactor.

If it was up to me and they came and asked if they could put a nuke on my property, Id say yes, build that, Gunlock said.

Divide County Commissioner Isaac Jacobs and his brother, Morgan, own a farm right next door to the Noonan Port of Entry. Isaac had already heard of the project from Canadian radio broadcasts, and shared thoughts similar to Gunlocks. He calls nuclear the cleanest, most efficient and most readily available source of energy.

Its been around for a long time, he said. So why arent we using it?

Morgan had a slightly different take, saying he wouldnt be opposed to nuclear if it benefited the local community in some way but that if all we could get is the risk of something going wrong, Id be opposed to such a project.

Based on transmission infrastructure already under discussion, one future benefit for North Dakota could be power delivered from Canada. Plans for two 230 kilovolt transmission lines extending from Wheelock and the Tande-Neset areas into Canada are in the works.

Basin Electric Power Cooperative will be the transmission owner of the lines, Basin spokesperson Andrew Buntrock said. The project is part of nearly $700 million in line improvements planned for the state, with this one slated to improve power transferability between the two countries.

SaskPower has not discussed its nuclear power plans with the cooperative and the transmission development has no relation to that project, Basin Electric's communications manager Lindsey Chumley told The Tioga Tribune.

Weve identified that the proximity to the U.S. border will require some consideration, though to date, we have not had any direct communications with representatives in North Dakota or in other American jurisdictions regarding our SMR development project, said Scott McGregor, a media relations representative of SaskPower.

McGregor said that the planned transmission line could enable the potential export of power generated from an SMR, but the scope of import and export arrangements has not been finalized.

A nuclear powered future?

Plans for small modular nuclear power projects arent just in the works north of the border.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in January certified designs on the first small modular nuclear reactor in the U.S. -- a 50 megawatt unit built by Oregon-based NuScale Power to be located near Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Another project in the works is the Bill Gates-backed TerraPower small modular reactor that will replace the Naughton coal plant near Kemmerer, Wyoming, an effort that has been funded with nearly $2 billion by Congress.

Other small modular reactors in the pipeline include potential sites in Ohio, Texas and Washington state. No such plans exist in North Dakota, but recently passed House Resolution 3034 directed the Legislature to consider studying the feasibility of advanced nuclear energy development and transmission in the state.

Legislative Management approved the study on May 25; it will be on the agenda of members of an Energy Development and Transmission Committee in the next two years.

This study is a vital first step to future-proof our energy industry, said Rep. Corey Mock, D-Grand Forks, who sponsored the study bill.

Mock said it is important to consider nuclear power as coal-fired power plants age and reach the end of their life cycle, especially considering the average age of facilities in the state is over 45 years old.

Advanced nuclear power may be the critical piece that makes North Dakota a perpetual leader in American energy production, Mock said, adding that if it eventually replaces some coal-fired power, it could breathe new life into coal country.

Xcel Energy, which testified in support of the bill and already has two nuclear power plants in Minnesota, is also working with NuScale to support its Idaho development and sees potential for advanced nuclear in North Dakota and across the region, senior media relations manager Kevin Coss said.

Schock said small modular reactor discussions have come up over the years at the PSC, but concerns have been raised. North Dakota would want to have a cost-effective, developed technology ready to deploy instead of trying out something new, he said. Another aspect is long term storage of spent nuclear fuel, which has been a costly regulatory problem for other nuclear power providers.

That said, nuclear will likely need to be on the table in the coming years.

Theres really no future reliable energy that can happen without that piece of the puzzle, Schock said, mentioning that renewable energy resources, natural gas and battery storage cant fully ensure grid reliability. Nuclear is a good way to get over that hump, as long as you can become okay with the risks associated with it.

Alan Ahn, a climate and energy fellow specializing in nuclear power at the center-left think tank Third Way, said interest has been increasing in nuclear energy around the country, particularly in coal-to-nuclear transitions.

For areas that could see coal-fired power shut down in the future, small modular nuclear reactors could be a way to transition to another energy source that can use existing infrastructure from cooling water to transmission lines to the plants themselves.

The primary interest that were hearing from other states like West Virginia, for example, is that a lot of the skills in an existing coal workforce are translatable or could be converted to that of an advanced reactor plant with modest or minimal retraining, Ahn said.

Obviously its a huge benefit for the clean energy transition for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but then you can also preserve the socio-economic fabric of a community, Ahn said. If you were to replace the generation from a coal plant with the equivalent amount of wind turbines and solar, there wouldnt necessarily be the same jobs in that geographic location."
Barnaby Webber, Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and Ian Coates, who were killed in the Nottingham attacks

A former university student has been charged with three counts of murder after two talented sportspeople and a school caretaker were found stabbed to death in Nottingham streets.
Europe

Ireland will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes, vows Leo Varadkar
Meet the firm behind our content. Visit their website to see how their services can help your business succeed.
New Delhi: Indian scientists have proved that the Indian Dickinsonia fossil that had been originally reported from UNESCO World Heritage Site Bhimbetka Cave Shelter in earlier research in 2021, was actually a left-over impression of a fallen beehive, not a true fossil, Ministry of Science & Technology said on Friday.

The Vindhyan Supergroup, an archive of more than one billion years of history of the earth, is one the largest basins of the world and is the site of many discoveries of fossils that explain how earliest life originate and diversified on the earth.

Reporting of an Ediacaran fossil by a group of American scientists from the area encouraged a group of Ediacaran palaeontologists at BSIP curious to take a look and further hunt for another similar fossil.

This is because; Ediacaran fossils were traced to be the earliest animals that existed on the earth around 550 million years ago and hence evoke much interest among evolutionary biologists and palaeontologists. Fossil discoveries in the Precambrian Era (4000-538 million years of the earth history) claim to know about the evolutionary changes occurred in the life on the earth.

Because of their implications on our understanding of the evolution of life on the earth, many of these discoveries are followed and scrutinized by some researchers.

The group from Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology, travelled to the spot of the discovery and scrutinised the fossil Dickinsonia tenuis, an important Ediacaran fossil (the earliest animal), reported from the UNESCO World Heritage Site Bhimbetka Cave Shelter in 2021.

The purported fossil from the Maihar Sandstone of Vindhyan basin was re-examined on the field to ascertain the biogenicity (chemical and/or morphological signature preserved over a range of spatial scales in rocks, minerals, ice, or dust particles that are uniquely produced by past or present organisms).

Field observations, outcrop features, and detailed laboratory analyses (XRD, Raman Spectroscopy) published in the Journal of the Geological Society of India did not support the biogenicity and syngenecity (formed at the same times as the enclosing rock) of fossil and it was inferred as a left-over impression of a fallen beehive.

The study refutes the interpretation given by renowned American researchers.

The researchers, who undertook a field study of the place where the fossil was claimed, found that, unlike fossils which are always preserved on the bedding plane of the rock strata, the sample was not entirely preserved on the bedding plane.

Part of it was preserved on the bedding plane and part of it on transversally cut face of the Maihar Sandstone outcrop. Both fresh and decayed honey beehives were observed on the same bedding plane.

A giant active beehive with several bees Apis dorsata attached to the hive was also found. Honeycomb structure was also observed.

This evidence shows that the described fossil was misinterpreted as Dickinsonia.

Further, Laser Raman Spectroscopy and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) confirmed the presence of honey and wax in the material, due to the activity of bees in forming hives.

Such misinterpretations are rare, but they need to correct with due diligence for tracing the exact evolutionary trail and the correct study of Indian geology.

Publication link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-023-2312-2
Image Credit: Jan Canty via Unsplash

Kolkata: Abuse against older women in India is witnessing a rising trend, with physical violence emerging as the top form of abuse, a report focusing on older women revealed.

The national HelpAge report showed an alarming trend regarding abuse against older women, which seemed to be on the rise at a disturbing 16%.

For the first-time physical violence came out as the top form of abuse, with 50% of those abused experiencing it, followed by disrespect (46%) and emotional/ psychological abuse (40%).

The main perpetrators of abuse were the son (40%), followed by other relatives (31%) which is troubling, as it denotes that the abuse extends beyond the immediate family circle, this was followed by the daughter-in-law (27%).

Despite facing the abuse most older women did not report it due to fear of retaliation or further abuse (18%) being the top reason, followed by 16% who seemed to have no awareness on available resources, while 13% think their concerns would not be taken seriously.

Fifty-six percent older women lacked awareness on redressal mechanisms available for abuse, with only 15% being aware of the Maintenance & Welfare of Parents & Senior Citizens Act and 78% of older women are not aware of any government welfare schemes.

Their social status only further added to their woes, with 18% of older women stating to have faced discrimination due to their gender, 64% faced social discrimination due to their marital status i.e. widowed.

On the economic front, 53% of older women do not feel financially secure. Of the 47% who do feel secure, 79% are dependent on their children for finances.

A total of 66% older women in India dont own any assets, 75% older women do not have any savings.

Where digital inclusion is concerned older women are far behind, with 60% older women have never used digital devices, 59% older women not owning smartphones.

Thirteen percent older women said they would like to enroll for some skill development program online.

A significant 48% of older women have at least one chronic condition, yet 64% older women have reported not having any health insurance.

As many as 67% older women still undertake caregiving roles in their families, while 36% older women are not able to manage the burden of caregiving.

As total of 47% of the older women who are working, said that they do not find their environment at home friendly towards work, while 36% of the older women who are working, say the same for their environment at their workplace.

Forty three percent elderly women worry of getting physically harmed, with 76% saying its due to fear of falling and 46% stating due to weak eyesight.

The report was spread across the length and breadth of the country covering both rural & urban India across 20 states, two UTs, and five metro cities, including, West Bengal and Kolkata, with a sample size of 7911, covering various socio-economic categories. In total, West Bengal, including Kolkata had a robust sample size of 589 respondents.

About 42 percent of women in Kolkata are widowed, and merely 14 percent own some kind of asset or property in their name.

Only 22 percent of senior women are employed in Kolkata, and the rest are dependent on family support for their survival.

A total of 58 percent of Kolkata's elderly women do not feel financially secure.

Sixty-seven percent of senior women accept that elder abuse exists in society, even though only seven percent have experienced it, among the lowest abuse figures in the country, as per the survey.

In the rest of West Bengal, 61 percent of women are widowed, while 77 percent of senior elders do not own any property.

Thirty-four percent of senior citizens in West Bengal are employed, even though 83 percent do not feel financially secure.

Over forty percent think elder abuse exists in Bengali society, while only seven percent accept that they have been subjected to abuse by their close relatives, including sons, daughters, and daughters-in-law.

HelpAge India CEO Rohit Prasad said, It is a stark reality that women, as they become older, tend to become neglected and are often invisible. Women aged 60 plus comprise 11% of the total women population (7 crore of 66 crore) in 2021 and it will become 14% by 2031 (10 crore of 72 crore). The report highlights the gender inequality gap and the vulnerability elderly women face nationally.

It throws up some hard facts such as 54% are illiterate, 43% are widowed, 16% face abuse, 75% do not have any savings, 66% of older women dont own assets and many feel financial insecure. Most are defined by the traditional roles they play in their families and communities, which are often taken for granted.

The needs of elderly women are often overlooked and contributions go unrecognized.

Some areas for urgent response are raising awareness about government welfare schemes, greater priority in pension, healthcare and economic participation programs, special schemes for elderly women and recourse to redressal mechanisms for elder abuse, he said.

As per the 2020 Population Projections for India and States report and the demographic shifts, there is a distinct feminization of ageing that is taking place due to rapid rise in ageing population and women living longer.

While the gender ratio for overall population is 948 females for 1000 males, the ratio in elderly is 1065 (more females in elderly population) which further increases with age.

The HelpAge report brings out the unpreparedness and dependency of older women starkly, with high illiteracy levels, low financial security, lack of awareness on redressal mechanisms and schemes beneficial for them, lack of employment opportunities and medical cover, it leaves them open and vulnerable to abuse.

HelpAge India Head  Policy & Research Anupama Datta said, Females are at social, economic and educational disadvantage from an early age, this impacts their lives in old age in unimaginable ways. They seldom make choices about their lives and despite all the good intent they remain secondary in almost all aspects of life.

Fifty one percent of the older women have reported being never employed, while 32% older women want work till as long as possible.

Anupama Datta asks, But where are the opportunities?

This can be interpreted to mean low or no social security in old age. Not much is done by way of creating an enabling environment for them. Nearly 70% of the older women have reported a lack of adequate and accessible employment opportunities.

If technology is the future, where do we see these hapless women todays digital world? 59% older women dont even own smartphone. In this day and age 72% older women said they cant take decisions for themselves. We need to rethink on how we can enable and encourage these women to be self-reliant after all they will outlive their partners who have been taking decisions for them, she says.

HelpAge India suggests the following measures to improve the quality of life for older women, in India, so they can live with dignity:

 Need raise awareness around the importance of gainful employment and undertake capacity-building efforts. Promote elder-friendly working environments.

 Raise awareness on the importance of physical and mental health amongst older women and their families.

 Promote a culture of empathy, understanding and respect through educational platforms.

 Implement digital training workshops for older women.

Raise awareness on elder abuse and promote redressal mechanisms through door-to-door volunteers, television, radio and digital platforms.

 Raise awareness amongst older women regarding their rights and entitlements.

 Simplify procedures and processes to apply for government welfare schemes for older women.
UNI

Srinagar: An encounter is underway between militants and security forces near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu Kashmirs Kupwara district on Friday, police said.

The encounter erupted during the wee hours of Friday at Jumagund area of LoC following specific information about the presence of militants in the area.

As the joint parties of Army and Police reached the particular spot, militants opened fire and the security forces effectively retaliated, triggering the encounter, they said.

The joint team of security forces are on the job and further details shall follow, police said.

An encounter has started between terrorists and joint parties of Army & Police on a specific input of Kupwara Police in Jumagund area of LoC of Kupwara district. Further details shall follow, a police tweet said.
Image Credit: UNI

Srinagar/UNI: Security forces shot dead five suspected foreign militants in an encounter close to the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Friday.

The encounter erupted at Jumagund in Keran sector after Army and Police intercepted a group of infiltrating militants following a specific input about their movement.

Additional Director General of Police Vijay Kumar said five militants were killed in the operation.

"Five (5) foreign terrorists killed in the encounter. Search in the area is going on," ADGP Kashmir was quoted in a police tweet.

The identity and the group affiliation of the slain militants could not be ascertained immediately.

This is the first major infiltration attempt that has been foiled along the LoC in Kashmir this year. Three days ago two militants suspected to be foreigners and members of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in a gun battle in the Machil sector of Kupwara.

This year five infiltration bids have been foiled in Kupwara district.
Image: PMO India Twitter page

New Delhi/UNI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay state visits to the US and Egypt from June 20 to 25. This will be his first visit to Cairo.

At the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, Prime Minister Modi will pay an Official State Visit to the USA.

The visit will commence in New York, where the Prime Minister will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations Headquarters on June 21. In December 2014, the UN General Assembly had adopted a resolution proclaiming June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.

Prime Minister Modi will thereafter travel to Washington D.C., where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22, and meet President Biden to continue their high-level dialogue. President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden will host a State Dinner in honour of the Prime Minister the same evening.

At the invitation of Congressional Leaders, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Speaker of the Senate Charles Schumer, Prime Minister Modi will address a Joint Sitting of the U.S. Congress on June 22.

On June 23, the Prime Minister will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by Kamala Harris, Vice President and Antony Blinken, Secretary of State.

In addition to the official engagements, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to have several curated interactions with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders. He will also meet members of the Indian Diaspora, a statement said.

Prime Minister Modi will subsequently travel to Cairo to pay a State Visit to Egypt from June 24-25.

The visit is at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which he extended to the Prime Minister in January 2023 when he was Chief Guest at Indias Republic Day celebrations. This will be Prime Minister Modis first visit to Egypt.

Apart from his talks with President Sisi, the Prime Minister is likely to interact with senior dignitaries from the Egyptian Government, some prominent Egyptian personalities, as well as the Indian community in Egypt.

Relations between India and Egypt are based on ancient trade and economic linkages as well as cultural and deep-rooted people-to-people ties. During the State Visit of President Sisi in January 2023, it was agreed to elevate the relationship to a Strategic Partnership, the statement added.
Image: PIB

Washington DC/Cairo/New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit USA and Egypt from 20 to 25 June 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed on Friday.

"At the invitation of H.E Mr. Joseph Biden, President of USA and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Prime Minister will pay an Official State Visit to USA," read the official statement.

The visit will commence in New York, where Prime Minister will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations Headquarters on June 21.

In December 2014, the UN General Assembly had adopted a resolution proclaiming June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.

The Prime Minister will thereafter travel to Washington D.C., where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22, and meet President Biden to continue their high-level dialogue.

President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden will host a State Dinner in honour of the Prime Minister the same evening.

At the invitation of Congressional Leaders, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, Prime Minister will address a Joint Sitting of the U.S. Congress on June 22.

On June 23, the Prime Minister will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by Kamala Harris, Vice President and Antony Bilnken, Secretary of State.

In addition to the official engagements, the Prime Minister is scheduled to have several curated interactions with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders. He will also meet members of the Indian Diaspora.

The Prime Minister will subsequently travel to Cairo to pay a State Visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt from 24-25 June 2023.

The visit is at invitation of H.E. Mr. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of Egypt, which he extended to the Prime Minister in January 2023 when he graced our Republic Day celebrations as the Chief Guest.

This will be the Prime Ministers first visit to Egypt.

Apart from his talks with President Sisi, Prime Minister is likely to interact with senior dignitaries from the Egyptian Government, some prominent Egyptian personalities, as well as the Indian community in Egypt. Relations between India and Egypt are based on ancient trade and economic linkages as well as cultural and deep-rooted people-to-people ties. During the State Visit of President Sisi in January 2023, it was agreed to elevate the relationship to a Strategic Partnership.
New Delhi: Conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, who is currently lodged in jail, has written a letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw offering to donate Rs 10 crore for the education of children orphaned in the Odisha train accident.

In his letter addressed to the railway minister, Chandrashekhar wrote the contribution would be from his personal fund which is his "legitimate source" of earnings, reported India Today.

As many as 288 people died and over 1,200 were injured in the devastating triple-train crash in Odishas Balasore earlier this month.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) initiated an investigation into the accident based on the recommendation of the Railways.

"My heart and prayers are with all those sisters and brothers and their families," he said.

"As our government is already providing all the needful to the affected, I, as a responsible and good citizen, am contributing this fund of Rs 10 Crore/- as a fund to be used specifically for those families/ children, our future youth, who have lost their loved one/ breadwinners of their family towards their education expenses. The contribution to be specifically used for that every child of the deceased for their education expenses, be it school, high school, college education," his letter read.

He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railways for taking prompt action. "Its a very proud feeling to see our government under the leadership of Honble Prime Minister who personally took control of the situation in no time and stood by every single affected one in the mishap and took strong action against those who were responsible for their negligence."

Sukesh said that his organisation, Sharadha Foundation, Chandrashekhar Cancer Foundation, LS Education, has been actively involved in making contributions across various sectors in the southern states of the country.

Sukesh Chandrashekhar has been involved in extorting money from politicians, celebrities, and businessmen.

One of his victims was Aditi Singh, the wife of former Ranbaxy owner Shivinder Mohan Singh, whom he duped of Rs 200 crore. Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez is also implicated in a money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Both Sukesh Chandrashekhar and his wife, Leena Maria Paul, were arrested by the Delhi Police for their alleged involvement in the case.
Image: Amritpal Singh (Credit: video grab)

New Delhi: Khalistan supporter and Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh, who was arrested by Punjab Police two months ago, suffers from schizophrenia, a mental disorder that affects one's interpretation of reality, India Today reported citing sources.

Sources also revealed that he has a rigid personality and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), said the report.

Amritpal Singh has been taking Fludac Tablet, which is commonly used for treating depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and other ailments.

During his interrogation, Amritpal Singh remained mostly tight-lipped and showed a firm belief in his separatist ideology.

Investigators are focusing on tracing the money trail associated with the separatist leader but have not yet established any link to Pakistan.

Sources believe that funding has been received from Sikh religious organizations, including some from abroad.

Bikramjit Tarun Rathi, a close aide of Amritpal Singh and the former treasurer of Waris Punjab De, who is currently evading arrest, is likely to possess more information about the funding, said the report.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) recently interrogated Amritpal Singh and his nine associates, who are currently detained in Assam's Dibrugarh jail, regarding the incidents in the UK.

The NIA is investigating the violence caused by Khalistan protesters outside the Indian High Commission in London on March 19.

The agency has released CCTV footage of the attack and is seeking help from the public in identifying the individuals involved in the attempted vandalism of the High Commission.

Before visiting London, the NIA team had already questioned Amritpal Singh and his associates.
Image: Unsplash/Jason Leung

In the face of rising hatred worldwide, both on and offline, faith leaders are vital allies in the quest for global peace, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council on Wednesday.

The Council met specifically to discuss the values of human fraternity in promoting and sustaining peace, building on a 2019 declaration co-authored by Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church, and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al Sharif, Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, and also considered the highest authority in Sunni Islamic thought.

The declaration urges religious and political leaders to bring an end to wars, conflicts, and environmental destruction.

Groundswell of hatred

Although threats to peace come in many forms, hatred is an all-too-common denominator to the onset and escalation of conflict, Mr. Guterres told the high-level meeting, convened by the United Arab Emirates, which holds the rotating Security Council presidency this month.

Around the world, we are witnessing a groundswell of xenophobia, racism and intolerance, violent misogyny, anti-Muslim hatred, virulent anti-Semitism, and attacks on minority Christian communities, he said.

Neo-Nazi white supremacist movements today represent the top internal security threat in several countries  and the fastest growing.

Halt online hate

Meanwhile, social media has equipped hatemongers with a global bullhorn for bile, giving credibility to unverified assertions and lies and facilitating the spread of hateful ideas and language from the margins to the mainstream.

The effects in the real world have been deadly. The perpetrators of heinous attacks on a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand; a synagogue in Pittsburgh in the United States, and a church in the US city of Charleston, were all radicalized online.

Mr. Guterres called for action to reign in the hate spreading online. Earlier this week, he launched a policy brief that proposes a code of conduct for making digital spaces safer and more inclusive while also upholding human rights, such as the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

Respect for diversity

He emphasized the need for greater investment in social cohesion as societies become more multi-ethnic and multi-religious.

We need to ensure that every community feels respected in their unique identity while feeling valued as an integral part of society as a whole, he said. We need to recognize diversity as a richness of all societies  not a threat.

Because hatred takes root in the soil of ignorance and fear, countries must ensure quality education for everyone, and support education systems that both instill respect for science and celebrate humanity in all its diversity.

Compassion and solidarity

Finally and fundamentally, we must strengthen the values of compassion, respect and human fraternity anchored in international human rights norms and standards, and secure free and safe civic spaces. They are our best antidote to the poison of discord and division, he said.

This demands action by all of us  across international organizations, governments, civil society, and the private sector. And it requires intervention by faith leaders everywhere.

Mr. Guterres said that because examples of intolerance are found in all societies, and among all faiths, religious leaders have a duty to prevent instrumentalization of hatred amidst their followers.

He urged the international community to take inspiration from the 2019 declaration and renew commitment to stand together as one human family.

Together, let us forge an alliance of peace, rooted in human rights and the values of human fraternity. Rich in diversity, equal in dignity and rights, united in solidarity, he said.

End ongoing wars

The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif addressed the Council via videoconference from Egypt.

Speaking through an interpreter, he said it is logical that relations among people from different backgrounds should be built upon the bedrock of peace and security.

He appealed for the international community to end the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Yemen, and on the eastern borders of Europe, and to expedite without delay the recognition of an independent Palestinian State, with Jerusalem as its capital.

He also addressed the refugee crisis and environmental degradation, among other global challenges.

Concern for humanity

The Grand Imam underlined the need to continue advocating for peace and love. He also called for opposing hate speech, the manipulation of religion and doctrines to ignite wars among nations, and instilling fear and terror in the hearts of people.

He said this was the mission pursued by Al Azhar Al-Sharif, in partnership with the Catholic Church, Western and Eastern Churches, and other religious institutions, in a collective effort to revive the culture of dialogue among followers of religions and to consolidate the principles of peace and harmonious coexistence.

Our gathering today is not a luxury, but a necessity, dictated by concern for the future of humanity, he said. We are seeking a solution to its complex crisis which has begun to expand and infiltrate, warning of severe consequences if allowed to persist on this disastrous path.

Famine of fraternity

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher of the Holy See delivered remarks on behalf of Pope Francis. He lamented that even though the globalized world has brought humanity closer, it has not made us any more fraternal.

Indeed, we are suffering from a famine of fraternity, which arises from the many situations of injustice, poverty and inequality and also from the lack of a culture of solidarity, he remarked.

The worst effect of this famine is armed conflict and war, according to the English priest, who serves as the Vaticans Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.

Say no to war

As a man of faith, I believe that peace is Gods dream for humanity. Yet sadly I note that because of war, this wonderful dream is becoming changed into a nightmare, he said.

"The time has come to say an emphatic no to war, to state that wars are not just, but only peace is just: a stable and lasting peace, built not on the precarious balance of deterrence, but on the fraternity that unites us.
Image Credit: Wallpaper Cave

Vatican City: Pope Francis, who underwent abdominal surgery last week, returned to the Vatican on Friday from the Gemelli Hospital in Rome.

On June 7, the Vatican press office said that Pope Francis had undergone a laparotomy  an incision in the abdomen  and plastic surgery of the abdominal wall with prostheses, and that the three-hour operation had been completed without complications.

The Holy See said that all audiences with Francis had been canceled until June 18.

A white Fiat carrying the pontiff entered the city-state at 10:04 local time (08:04 GMT). The moment Pope Francis returned to the Vatican was broadcast by Italian broadcaster RaiNews24.

The pontiff left the hospital at around 09:00 a.m. local time. In response to reporters questions about his health, he joked that he was "still alive."

On his way to the Vatican, the pontiff stopped at the Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore to pray at the icon of Salus Populi Romani.

Before entering the Vatican grounds, Pope Francis got out of his car to greet the law enforcement officers who accompanied him on his way from the hospital.

The Holy See said that on Sunday the traditional reading of the Angelus prayer will take place, which the Pope will accompany with a sermon from the window of the Apostolic Palace. In addition, all papal audiences have been confirmed, with the exception of the general audience on June 21.

(With UNI inputs)
Image:  UNICEF/Ashley Gilbertson

New York: The UN Secretary-General said on Wednesday he was horrified at the news of dozens more deaths in the Mediterranean after an overloaded boat reportedly capsized and sank off the coast of Greece.

Latest news reports said the bodies of at least 79 men, women and children had been recovered, with hundreds more potentially dead or missing. The UN migration agency (IOM) estimated that at least 400 had been on board, adding that 104 survivors had been brought to shore by the middle of the day, local time.

Briefing correspondents in New York, UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said UN chief Antonio Guterres had stressed previously that every person searching for a better life needs dignity and safety.

Comprehensive action needed

This is yet another example of the need for Member States to come together and create orderly safe pathways for people forced to flee and for comprehensive action to save lives at sea and reduce perilous journeys.

On Tuesday, IOM released figures showing nearly 3,800 people had died on migration routes within and from the Middle East and North Africa last year  the highest number since 2017, when 4,255 deaths were recorded.

The first quarter saw 441 migrants die in the central Mediterranean, and since 2014 more than 26,000 people have died or gone missing on all the routes combined.

Tweet URL

UN refugee agency (UNHCR) chief Filippo Grandi tweeted that he felt only sadness and anger after another deadly tragedy at sea.

May the victims rest in peace. May the survivors find consolation and care. May governments cooperate to increase safe pathways and work together on collective solutions to address these flows.

Impossible choices

The UNHCR office in Greece pointed out that Wednesdays deaths were wholly avoidable. We need more safe pathways for people forced to flee, the agency tweeted. They should not be left with impossible life-threatening choices.

According to Greek media reports, the boat that sank off the coastal town of Pylos was on its way to Italy having set sail from the Libyan city of Tobruk.

The shipwreck is the deadliest off the Greek coast so far this year.

Survivors were reportedly taken to the southwestern Greek town of Kalamata and were expected to be moved to a camp outside Athens.
Image: Wallpaper Cave

Vatican City/IBNS/UNI: Pope Francis, who underwent abdominal surgery last week, returned to the Vatican on Friday from the Gemelli Hospital in Rome.

On June 7, the Vatican press office said that Pope Francis had undergone a laparotomy  an incision in the abdomen  and plastic surgery of the abdominal wall with prostheses and that the three-hour operation had been completed without complications.

The Holy See said that all audiences with Francis had been canceled until June 18.

A white Fiat carrying the pontiff entered the city-state at 10:04 local time (08:04 GMT). The moment Pope Francis returned to the Vatican was broadcast by Italian broadcaster RaiNews24.

The pontiff left the hospital at around 09:00 a.m. local time. In response to reporters questions about his health, he joked that he was "still alive."

On his way to the Vatican, the pontiff stopped at the Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore to pray at the icon of Salus Populi Romani.

Before entering the Vatican grounds, Pope Francis got out of his car to greet the law enforcement officers who accompanied him on his way from the hospital.

The Holy See said that on Sunday the traditional reading of the Angelus prayer will take place, which the Pope will accompany with a sermon from the window of the Apostolic Palace.

In addition, all papal audiences have been confirmed, with the exception of the general audience on June 21.
Image Credit: Pascal Bernardon on Unsplash

Brehat, a charming French island off the north coast, has taken a stand against "overtourism" by implementing restrictions on the number of visitors this summer. Concerns over waste management and environmental preservation prompted the island, along with several other destinations in France, to address the issue.

Brehat, which is part of the EU's Natura 2000 conservation network, aims to protect habitats and promote biodiversity for vulnerable species, reported AFP.

To alleviate the strain caused by excessive tourism, Mayor Olivier Carre issued a decree limiting the number of day visitors to a maximum of 4,700 between July 14 and August 25. This figure is a significant reduction considering the island's tiny population of only 377 permanent residents.

According to a study by Littomatique, Brehat attracts approximately 450,000 visitors annually, with numbers peaking at nearly 6,000 in a single day during the spring and summer.

The mayor's statement highlighted the municipality's inability to handle the substantial increase in waste during peak tourism months. Waste management is not the only concern, as the large crowds are eroding paths leading to the picturesque lighthouse and impacting protected areas on the island.

Additionally, overcrowding has resulted in a decline in visitor satisfaction, as revealed by a study conducted by the Ponant Islands Association (AIP).

The situation is not unique to Brehat, as 80 percent of tourists in France tend to concentrate in only 20 percent of the country's territory. Paris alone expects to welcome over 37 million visitors this year, nearing pre-pandemic levels.

To address these challenges, the France Tourism Alliance has recommended various measures. Tourism operators are encouraged to promote lesser-known sites to disperse the crowds, and techniques such as daily visitor quotas, scheduled ticketing, and higher tariffs are being considered.

Furthermore, "demarketing" campaigns have been successful in reducing overcrowding in Marseille and Porto-Vecchio, where images depicting crowded sites were used to make them appear less appealing.

Other regions have implemented reservation systems to manage visitor numbers and protect the environment. For instance, the Calanques national park near Marseille introduced a reservation system for the Sugiton coves during the Covid-19 pandemic, limiting the daily visitors to 400.

The Porquerolles island's national park has also limited daily visitors to 6,000 over three summers to preserve its landscape.

These efforts aim to strike a balance between promoting tourism and safeguarding the natural beauty and sustainability of these popular destinations.
Pixabay

Social media activist and YouTuber Major (retd) Adil Raja has been released on bail after he was arrested by the UK police on suspicion of encouraging acts of terrorism inside Pakistan, media reports said.

Lawyer Mahtab Aziz, who represents Adil Raja, told reporter as well as a media conference that Adil Raja has been released after he was arrested from his home and detained at a police station in relation to complaints filed by the Pakistan government with UK authorities, reports The News International.

He was released after being questioned by the police. A police source said the investigation continues and no details will be made public at this stage.

Mahtab Aziz was quoted as saying by the newspaper: In Pakistan, a serious terrorism-related warrant was issued against him. Such allegations are very serious. I came to know on Tuesday he has been arrested by the police. The manner Adil Raja has been arrested, I believe it falls under anti-terrorism laws. This doesnt mean hes guilty of terrorism, but this means the UK had to act against Adil Raja based on information and intelligence they received (from Pakistan).

Mahtab Aziz said under the anti-terrorism laws, the UK police have to act if they get intelligence.

He said the police take away all gadgets when they conduct raid in such cases.
Representational image from Wallpaper Cave

Kabul: Several Chinese investors have travelled to Afghanistan's Maidan Wardak to assess the possibility of expanding business opportunities in the region, media reports said.

During the visit, Chinese investors met with the governor of Maidan Wardak province Qari Bakhtyar Mouaz and stated they are interested to build production plants of kitchen utensils, wire nets, and diapers, reports Khaama Press.

These foreign investors would like to invest an estimated amount of $250,000 for a starter and will increase their investment in a gradual manner, sources told the news agency.

For his part, Governor Qari Bakhtyar Mouaz said that they are ready to provide all the necessary facilities for the construction of these factories in the industrial town of the province, reports Khaama Press

Additionally, Mouaz stressed that security-wise, every corner of Afghanistan is ready for investment, and he called on national and international entrepreneurs to consider Maidan Wardak a promising and potential destination for small and medium-sized businesses.

Afghanistan is currently ruled by Taliban forces.

Taliban snatched power in the country in 2021 after the fall of the previous government.
Pixabay

Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) of Pakistan has taken suo-moto notice of landlords' brutality to set peasants houses on fire in Sanghar district and has written a letter to the Shaheed Benazriabad DIG police to ensure action on the case against the culprits and provide justice to the poor farmers, media reports said.

The landlords namely Rasool Bux Gundaro and Sultan Ali with the help of their people set two houses of peasants on fire in Chak96 within Mangli Police jurisdiction when poor farmers demanded their due share from the wheat crop, reports The Express Tribune.

The peasants, Hout Shaikh and Naib Shaikh with their family were living on the agricultural land where the dispute occurred and it went viral on social media.

"After harvesting, the landlords tried to take away all the wheat stock, but peasants argued to get their share that ensued to the dispute among them," SHRC Chairperson Iqbal Detho was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune.

Initially, police were reluctant to register a case against the landlords on the complaint of sharecroppers.
Pixabay

Mardan: Residents of Pakistan's Toru region recently warned they would besiege the local grid station to protest the unscheduled and prolonged power loadshedding in their area, media reports said on Friday.

They said that the duration of power loadshedding was being increased with each passing day. They alleged that supply of electricity to several localities in the district was suspended, reports Dawn News.

Jehangir Khan Toru, a social worker and union council member, told Dawn News that students, patients, children and elderly people were facing problems owing to excessive power outages in the area.

He said they paid bills of electricity regularly but they were not provided with power supply.

Ihtisham, another resident of the area, said that consumers often got the faults removed in the supply lines on a self-help basis.

He alleged that Pesco sent them inflated bills without conducting meter reading.
(They) love it and they deserve it.

 Duane Sand, founder of the North Dakota Heroes Foundation, which is building memorials in the hometowns of North Dakota soldiers who died in Iraq or Afghanistan, talking about the mothers of the fallen soldiers.

  

I like that you can pick and choose and go anywhere in the city. People can get an idea whats happening.

 Bismarck Police Chief Dave Draovitch, discussing the attributes of an online police incident map that details crime, traffic and service calls.

  

This is a major step in enhancing our ability to get our trust assets of oil and gas out to market.

 Mark Fox, chairman of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, which is buying a pipeline segment from Enbridge that will connect the tribes oil facilities on the Fort Berthold Reservation to Enbridges broader system that covers the U.S. and Canada.

  

The need for this project is the ongoing and continued development in south Bismarck. The traffic volumes continue to increase along South Washington Street.

 City Engineer Gabe Schell, on a $15.5 million project to upgrade Bismarcks South Washington Street.

  

This ruling is absolutely devastating for those families who lost loved ones and those who were severely injured in the BIA highway 3 washout. This is simply a very, very tough result for these families.

 Attorney Tim Purdon, after a federal appeals court upheld the dismissal of a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the federal government filed by people who were injured and the families of people who died in a road washout on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation four years ago.

  

The market said meh, and that is really kind of surprising.

 State Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms, on the less-than-expected impact to oil prices of Saudi Arabia cutting its monthly production.

  

If you want clean, carbon-free energy and want reliable energy thats there all the time, youve got to go nuke.

 Divide County Emergency Manager Jody Gunlock, supporting the possibility that SaskPower will build a nuclear power plant across the border from Noonan, a town in North Dakotas far northwest corner.

  

It was an incredibly special year to be crowned.

 Bismarck native Sydney Helgeson on being crowned Miss North Dakota 2023 during the 75th anniversary of the competition.

  

We are already seeing one of the worst wildfire seasons on record, and we must prepare for a long summer.

 Steven Guilbeault, Canadas minister of environment and climate change, on the wildfire smoke thats affecting parts of the U.S., including North Dakota.

  

People need to take care of their stuff. Bismarck is not a place like it was 30, 40 years ago, where you could leave your keys in your car and expect it to be there the next day.

 Bismarck Police Chief Dave Draovitch, on a rash of vehicle thefts in the city in 2022.
lovely_ahyeong Instagram page

A court in Cambodia has charged a Chinese couple with murder after a popular South Korean influencers body was dumped in a pit on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, media reports said.

The Chinese couple, who run a medical clinic, were arrested last week after the body of BJ Ahyeong was found, according to a Cambodian police report as quoted by news agency AFP.

Lai Wenshao, 30, and Cai Huijuan, 39, testified to police that they abandoned the womans body after she had seizures and died while receiving treatment at their clinic on June 4, the report said.

Prosecutor Plang Sophal said that Lai and Cai were charged on Tuesday with murder accompanied by torture.

If convicted, they face life imprisonment.
Pixabay

A tornado hit Perryton city of Texas on Thursday which left at least three people dead, media reports said.

According to reports, 100 others were injured in the town.

The city was left without power after the tornado ripped through the town.

The north and east sides of the small town saw significant damage, with trailer houses destroyed and communication towers downed, Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher told ABC News.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management organized a team to come from Amarillo, Texas, and are sending an AmBus capable of transporting 10-12 patients, Dutcher said.

"We have a lot of patients in hospital who will need to be transported," Dutcher said.

There is currently no power to Perryton, Xcel Energy told ABC News.

"Our crews are arriving on site and are assisting in removing lines from cars and across the roads. We are patrolling the transmission feeds into the city and also assessing possible damage at the main substation in town. One of the three main transmission feeds into the city was apparently undamaged, but we deenergized it for safety reasons," Xcel Energy said in a statement as quoted by ABC News.
Image: UNI

Winnipeg/IBNS: At least 15 people were killed in a crash between a semi-trailer truck and a Handi-Transit vehicle near Carberry town in Canada's southwestern Manitoba on Wednesday.

Emergency crews and multiple air ambulances responded to the crash on Trans-Canada Highway near Carberry, including 14 critical care medical crew, two helicopters and two planes from the STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service) air ambulance service.

"RCMP units from across western Manitoba are on scene to assist along with other first responders," a statement from Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) read, adding its Major Crimes Services is now investigating the crash.

A code orange has been declared by Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg prompted by this mass casualty incident.

"Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg as well as hospitals in Prairie Mountain Health and the Winnipeg Health Region are prepared to receive patients related to this event, and/or patients relocated in order to create capacity at Manitobas tertiary centre," a statement from Shared Health reads.

"Response teams are at the scene and transporting patients and emergency department, surgical and critical care teams at HSC and Brandon Regional Health Centre (BRHC) are prepared to support the care needs of incoming patients."

Premier Heather Stefanson issued a statement Thursday afternoon, praising first responders and offering condolences to people impacted by the crash.

Our hearts are broken, and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of all the lives impacted by the horrific and devastating tragedy near the Town of Carberry, the premier said in a written statement,

The flags at Manitobas legislature, Stefanson said building will be lowered to half-mast out of respect to the victims.

Ray Muirhead, the Mayor of Carberry, said the town council is in shock and added,

Our thoughts are in support of anyone that has been impacted by this tragic event, he said in a written statement.

People were asked by Muirhead to stay away from the area to allow first responders to work.

While the eastbound lanes of the Trans-Canada highway at highway 5 remain reportedly closed with a detour in effect using service roads,

the westbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway at Highway 5 are open.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
Toronto Holocaust Museum/Image credit Facebook page

Toronto/IBNS: Created by the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) Federation of Greater Toronto, the 9,500-square-foot Toronto Holocaust Museum (THM) opened its doors last week on the federations Sherman Campus, a Jewish community center at 4588 Bathurst St.

Funded by the federal and provincial governments as well as donors, THM replaces the citys Holocaust Education and Memorial Centre which was founded in 1985 by local survivors who wanted to share their stories with students.

Comprising four galleries, a 40-seat theatre, a learning lab for school groups (expected to make up 60 to 70 percent of its estimated 80,000 annual visitors), THM has a room of remembrance, with the names of hundreds of Holocaust victims with a connection to Toronto inscribed on its walls.

The four galleries explore Jewish and minority persecution in both Europe and Canada, World War II atrocities and the beginnings of new life in Canada for thousands of refugees.

What we set out to do from the very beginning was to ensure that this was a place to hear from survivors long after theyre gone, the museums Executive Director Dara Solomon reportedly told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Bringing the Holocaust survivors in to see how weve done that, and having them really happy and fulfilled, has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my personal and professional life.

Holocaust survivors in Toronto have wanted to see such a space become a reality for the last 40 years, said Solomon.

One of the more powerful exhibits in the new museums collection is a series of large video screens, populated with the images of more than 70 survivors and inviting visitors to Explore Our Stories.

On tapping the screen one can hear first-hand accounts drawn from almost four hours of recordings. Its a way to keep history alive even after its witnesses are no more.

95 year old Nate Leipciger, a holocaust survivor of the Nazis Sosnoweic ghetto in occupied Poland and several concentration camps, immigrated to Canada in 1948 and has been a force for Holocaust education for decades, and was at a preview of the newly created THM on Thursday.

Images of pre-war Jews engaged in work and play, a reminder of the way things were, were found outside the entrance, and a warning not to take that for granted.

Our life was like their life is today, Leipciger said, referring to the many students he encounters as a speaker. And then suddenly, beyond our control, it all changed.

Artifacts, images and documents inside the museum tell the story of the Holocaust aimed at making it accessible to modern Torontonians.

While the center tells human stories from a genocide, some materials such as images of mass killings in pits on the outskirts of towns are stored in drawers that must be pulled out by willing viewers.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) has reportedly advised Holocaust educators to use graphic material judiciously to achieve learning objectives and added graphic images and texts can exploit students emotional vulnerability instead of encouraging them to think critically in a safe environment.

Along with recorded testimonies, visitors at the new museum can now see artifacts that have never been shared with the public.

Also housed in the museum is a Torah rescued from a burning synagogue in the town of Brand, the night when the Nazis destroyed Jewish homes, businesses and synagogues throughout Germany and Austria in November 1938. The Torah was handed it to young U.S. army chaplain Gunther Plaut, who brought it home in a bazooka case and entrusted the scroll to the future THM before he died in 2012

Ontario Premier Doug Ford reportedly encouraged people both within and outside the Jewish faith to visit the museum to help educate many about the Holocaust.

THM is open Sundays through Thursdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with extended hours (to 8 p.m.) Wednesdays.

Admission for adults is $18 and $12 for seniors, with free admission for those 25 and under, Holocaust survivors, Indigenous peoples, veterans, educators and journalists.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)
In recent years, China has drawn attention to its peculiar and often controversial employee policies adopted by some companies across various industries. These policies have sparked debate and raised eyebrows both within the country and internationally.

From strict regulations on personal relationships to unconventional grooming standards, Chinese companies have gained a notorious reputation for implementing measures that challenge traditional workplace norms.

Unsplash

A company in eastern China has banned employees from having extramarital affairs.

This announcement has sparked a heated discussion on social media in mainland China.

As per a report in SCMP, the ban applies explicitly to married staff members and aims to encourage family loyalty and maintain a productive work environment.

However, legal experts have raised concerns about the ban's legality, suggesting it might violate employees' rights.

A company in Zhejiang, China, recently issued an order on June 9 that banned extramarital affairs.

The company aimed to improve internal management, foster a culture of loyalty, protect families, and enhance work focus.

Representative Image

The ban specifically applied to married employees and prohibited activities like having extramarital affairs or keeping mistresses.



Violating the rule could result in termination, as the company stressed the significance of promoting healthy relationship values among its staff.

"Anyone found violating this stipulation will be fired. We hope all staff can have correct love values and try to become good employees with four 'Nos' - no illicit relationship, no mistress, no extramarital affair, and no divorce," the company said in a statement.

The company banned extramarital affairs from promoting stable families and better work concentration.

Representative Image

Legal experts doubt the ban's legality under China's Labor Contract Law. It's unclear what triggered the ban, and whether any workplace affairs influenced the decision is unknown.

According to lawyer Chen Dong, an affair ban in the employee manual cannot be a valid reason for termination. Dismissed employees can seek legal protection.

The ban received mixed reactions on social media in China. Some supported it as a positive contribution, addressing a common issue.

Others, like blogger Zhou Kanjun, criticized it for infringing on personal freedom and privacy. So far, no complaints have been filed with the local labor authority.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.


Lawmakers in Japan have passed significant reforms to sex crime legislation, raising the age of consent from 13, one of the lowest in the world, to 16. The reforms also include clear guidelines for prosecuting rape cases and the criminalization of voyeurism.

The bill was successfully passed through the upper house of parliament with unanimous support.

Notably, the age of consent is 16 in the UK, 15 in France, and 14 in Germany and China, below which sexual activity is considered statutory rape.

For the first time since 1907, Japan has revised its age of consent law. Previously, children aged 13 and above were considered capable of giving consent. However, the new rule changes this standard.

Additionally, specific regional ordinances that prohibited "lewd" acts with minors were sometimes interpreted as effectively raising the age of consent to 18.

Under the updated law, teen couples no more than five years apart will be exempt from prosecution if both partners are over 13 years old.

This provision aims to address situations where consensual relationships involve minor age differences.

In 2017, Japan made the first revision to its criminal code on sexual offenses in over a century, but critics argued that the reforms were inadequate.

The country faced nationwide rallies in 2019 following a series of acquittals in rape cases.

Critics argued that under the previous law, prosecutors were required to prove that victims were incapacitated due to violence and intimidation. This led to the criticism that victims were unfairly blamed for not resisting enough.

The recently passed bill lists specific circumstances under which rape prosecutions can be pursued.

Unsplash

These include instances where victims were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, experienced fear, or were exploited due to the perpetrator's social status.



According to the justice ministry, the clarifications in the bill aim to ensure more consistent court verdicts and are not intended to make securing rape convictions easier or harder.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new offense called "visitation request offense."

This offense applies to individuals who use intimidation, seduction, or financial means to coerce children under 16 into meeting for sexual purposes. Offenders could face a sentence of up to one year or a fine of 500,000 yen ($3,500).

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.


"They live in the cities. They are not a part of us. We have never seen one here, said an elderly woman, while others sitting in the circle nodded. This brief conversation happened in 2018, during one of my field visits in a distant village of Andhra Pradesh. It may have been a passing remark, but these words communicated how society continues to treat LGBTQIA+ persons as public secrets.

Invisibilising LGBTQIA+ individuals as public secrets

A public secret is not just a conversation about taboo, but a systematic legacy of driving a social group towards extinction. This retributive system has 4 elements:

Weaponising the production of public knowledge to shape ideologies as facts. Science was selectively used to legislate laws that criminalised trans-queer bodies. Biological essentialism was an intellectual genocide to strip the human body of its anatomical diversity. For the community, the biological birth came attested with social death  experienced every day in moments and relations. Erasing the LGBTQIA+ community from our collective history, to only romanticise their punctuated presence in myths and mythology. It was a political act of denying them a history of their own, a history of being ordinary. Persecuting LGBTQIA+ persons from normative families and public spaces to keep them invisible to the public eye or conscience. Social stigma was employed as policing agents to drive them out of opportunities for education, health, or employment. The most visceral element of all, socialising LGBTQIA+ persons to experience their bodies as dysphoric confinements, with integrity and desire as its permanent in-mates.

As sociologist George Simmel puts it, secrecy holds a social function. The patterns of concealment in our society explain how political power shapes information flows, restrictions, and blockages in contemporary society. For the powerful, controlling data means controlling the beating heart of this countrys conscience and an individuals informed ability to self-identify their gender.

Indiatimes

Consequently, in a densely populated country like India, data remains extremely germane to the complete enjoyment of rights. From recording initial entries of a citizen through birth certificates to issuing necessary identification documents like Aadhar card, voter identity card, ration cards, driving licenses to more specific details like health history, the existence of an individual's correct information in official state records is a fundamental outcome of right to equal recognition and equal protection under the purview of the law. However, a community, whose more visible ancestors - Hijras, Kinnars, Kothis were publicly persecuted and catalogued in the criminal registries, to which place, with what trust, and for what promise do they go to enroll for equality?

Politics of Labels and Surveys

The Indian Government has played a proactive role in the construction of views like minuscule minority of unapprehended felons or urban elite for the LGBTQIA+ community. Even a surficial reference to the 2011 Census of India could have informed the Solicitor General of India that most of the transgender community belongs to rural areas, which might also be indicative of a similar pattern for the larger LGBTQIA+ community.

Indiatimes

Population-related datasets generated by various government bodies are not simply objective. Even before the enumerators hit the field, at the framing stage, demographic indicators are laced with a political consideration of capturing only what the government would like to recognise and acknowledge in its scheme of policy making. A more disaggregated gender identity category or inclusion of sexual orientation would practically deliver the Supreme Courts affirmation of the principle of self-identification to everyones doorstep in India.

Also read: How A Trans Tattooist Empowers Lives And Breaks Boundaries, One Ink Stroke At A Time

At present, there are only two national statistical sources that record demographic details about the transgender community in India. The 2011 Census of India and the Election Commission of Indias election records post-2014 are the only publicly available data repositories which have their own shortfalls. The 2011 Census recorded the transgender population when homosexuality was still criminalised under IPC 377 and before the Supreme Court of India extended constitutional recognition to transgender persons in India. Whereas the ECIs 2014 and 2019 general election records depict how less than 10% of the already undercounted trans community were able to access a voter ID in the largest democracy of the world.

Indiatimes

Even after the NALSA vs Union of India Judgement of 2014 and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019, the Indian Government does not envision a public data system responsive and inclusive of the LGTBQIA+ community. The website of Niti Aayog enlists an inventory of 82 National Surveys, conducted by various governmental agencies and contractors, like the National Family Health Survey, which fail to account for gender-disaggregated socio-economic indicators inclusive of the LGBTQIA+ community. The reluctance to register LGBTQIA+ persons in public surveys essentially excludes them from being counted as a separate marginalised group with unique needs and challenges during the process of policy or law-making.

Also read: Survey Reveals Massive Public Support For Legalisation Of Same-Sex Marriages In India

Its dangers were laid bare in the open when a Trans Rights Activist Vyjayanti Vasanta Mogli filed a petition in the Telangana High Court praying for life-sustaining relief for the socio-economically excluded transgender communities in the State of Telangana during the Covid-19. The learned Court expressed distress in how the Telangana State Government had no reliable demographic data at the municipal level to actualise the delivery of ration items to the aggrieved community. The High Court noted -



"Although this Court had asked the exact figures with regard to the population of the transgender community in the major cities of State, in para 11, a bald statement has been made that the (State) Government has identified 2,175 transgenders in the State of Telangana Whether this number includes the transgenders in the major cities of Telangana, or merely in the GHMC Area is unclear."









The recently concluded Supreme Court hearing on the marriage equality case reads into the anxiety of the Indian Government of publicly recording trans-queer persons as singular and social units. To be visible in official state documents is to exercise ones undeniable constitutional claim to governmental welfare programmes, and a desire for normalcy of life. A positive verdict will significantly rupture the generational concealment of the LGBTQIA+ community as a public secret. It will force the government to acknowledge how the entire public information system was designed to keep LGBTQIA+ persons out of it and how it saved itself from doing the reparative and mainstreaming work owed to the community.

Also read: Transgender Shelter Homes Teeter On Closure During Pride Month

Reuters

At present, we have trans-queer students in schools and colleges but no data to make our education system more accessible and inclusive. We have ill and ailing queer individuals but no data or training manual to make medical services sensitive to their identity. We have trans- queer couples loving and living together but no mechanism to formalise their union.

Also read: Resilience And Glamour: Unveiling The Tapestry Of Indian Drag Queens

Our public information system and associated bureaucracy requires an overhaul to be sensitive and accessible to diverse gender and sexual minorities. The fact that only 12,507 transgender persons have applied for a Transgender Certificate till date, serves the government an important cautionary message that - any progressive step towards the inclusion of an under-documented social group cannot be hyper-documentation to validate ones existence.

For more stories on the LGBTQIA+ community and queerness in India, keep reading Spectrum on Indiatimes.
Operatives of the Enugu State Police Command have arrested a 21-year-old man identified as Junior Augustine Akor, for allegedly raping and strangling his 16-year-old relative, Faith Akuji to death on June 8 in a bush at Mpole-Ubere in the Ette community.

The police spokesman of the state command, Daniel Ndukwe in a statement said Police Operatives, serving in Igbo-Eze North Division of the Command, with assistance from Neighborhood Watch Group, arrested one male suspect, Junior Augustine Akor aged 21, of Ette in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, for allegedly raping and strangling to death his 16 years old female relative, one Faith Akuji, in a bush at Mpole-Ubere in the Ette community.

READ ALSO: My Wife Secretly Married Another Man, Has A Child With Him  Man Seeking Divorce Tells Court

Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim had gone missing in the evening hours of 08/06/2023, after her grandfather sent her to grind cassava in the community centre, with all efforts made to trace her whereabouts proving abortive.

Her decomposing body was, however, found in the mentioned bush, following the arrest of the suspect, who confessed to having dragged the victim into the bush, forcefully had carnal knowledge of her, until she fainted and died in the process. The victims remains, found without any lower-body cloth, were evacuated to hospital and confirmed dead by doctors on duty, he said.

The Police PPRO said the case is undergoing further discreet investigation at the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department from where the suspect will be arraigned in court upon conclusion of the investigation.

Consequently, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Ammani, while consoling the family and friends of the deceased victim, has described the act as atrocious and unthinkable.

The Commissioner has directed that the case be meticulously handled, concluded within recorded time and charged to court for justice to be dispensed accordingly, he said
A Federal High Court in Gusau, Zamfara State has on Thursday, ordered the police and six others security agencies to produce properties seized from Bello Mohammed Matawalle, the States former Governor.

Information Nigeria recalls that security agencies raided Matawalles residences on June 9 and seized a number of properties, cars inclusive.

The former Governor brought the motion against the police, the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, Zamfara State; State Security Service (SSS), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Attorney General of the Federation.

READ ALSO: Return Missing Vehicles Within Five Days  Zamfara Gov, Lawal To Matawalle

Justice Aminu Bappa Aliyu, ruling on the motion ex parte, further directed the officers of the security agencies involved in the raid of Matawalles residences in Gusau and Maradun to within 48 hours produce a comprehensive inventory of all vehicles and personal property of the former Governor and his family members taken away.

Also, the court ordered them to produce and domicile the property within the premises of the court, and under the control of the Deputy Chief Registrar, Federal High Court, Gusau Judicial Division, pending determination of the applicants substantive originating motion in this matter.

The case was adjourned to June 28 for hearing.
The lead counsel for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has asked the general public to ignore a notice issued by his clients younger brother, Kingsley Kanunta, about the disengagement of his clients legal team.

Recall that Kanus young brother, Kingsley Kanu, better known as Kanunta Kanu, announced earlier that Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), is no longer the head of the legal team for the IPOB leader who is currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

In a post via his Twitter page, Kanunta Kanu, among other things, accused Ozekhome of refusing to allow Kanus personal physicians access to him for the urgent ear surgery was part of the reasons for his sack.

In a swift reaction, however, Kanus lawyer, Ejiofor described Kanuntas statement as defamatory, mischievous, fake, reprehensible, denigrating, insulting and unauthorized.

According to him, the IPOB leaders brother was being mischievous, adding his post on social media was meant to ridicule and embarrass Kanus legal team.

In view of the desperate attempt of the enemies to break our rank, the legal team resolved to minimise the information that we make public through my regular updates. Therefore, you will not be receiving updates on our routine visits as regularly as it used to come, except when there is a compelling situation that demands it. Several visits to Onyendu, and particularly, the visit of June 3, 2023, was not publicised because of the nature of the matters discussed, but the relevant persons were duly briefed on the outcomes, Ejiofor noted.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Ejiofor noted these in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday evening after he visited Kanu at the Headquarters of the DSS in Abuja.

The statement reads: Let it be on record that Neither Kingsley Kanu nor Emmanuel Kanu, had at any point in time briefed me to handle Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanus case or even IPOBs matters. My letters of engagement issued to me in 2015 by Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB are still with me till date.

READ MORE: Nnamdi Kanu Remains The Only Political Prisoner In Nigeria  IPOB

Neither Kingsley Kanu nor anybody acting on his behalf engaged Mike Ozekhome, to represent Onyendu in any matters affecting him. Biafrans and members of the public are aware that Onyendu specifically requested to see Mike Ozekhome upon his abduction and extraordinary rendition to Nigeria. During that meeting, which details are already in the public domain, Onyendu personally briefed Mike Ozekhome to head his legal team. Till date, Mike Ozekhome, SAN has done creditably and overwhelmingly well in deploying his advocacy skills in representing Onyendu in all Courts in Nigeria.

Further to the above, my briefings with Onyendu lasted for over one hour, during which we discussed pertinent issues concerning his legal and health matters. There was no time during the meeting that Onyendu entertained or expressed any iota of doubt whatsoever on the ability of his indefatigable legal team, ably led by Mike Ozekhome, to defend him. Onyendu also proceeded to avail me with other important messages to be passed on to his lead counsel which assignments are expected to be conducted within the next 24 hours.
Conservative downers strike again! This time in Warsaw, Poland, where the 666 bus goes  er, used to go  to Hel for a pitstop.

What started off as a joke in 2006 turned into a red-hot tourist attraction, where people would come from all over to ride the bus, "simply to say they had taken the 666 bus to Hel," reports HuffPost.

But after bedeviled protestors drew their pitchforks, demanding that the damned number be changed, the local bus company finally complied. You can now catch the 669 to go to Hel.

From HuffPost:
Former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, has expressed his disappointment and alleged betrayal by some of his colleagues after losing the Senate presidency to Senator Godswill Akpabio.

Recall that Akpabio, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), emerged as the President of the 10th Senate on Tuesday with a total of 63 votes, while Yari received 46 votes.

During an interview in Abuja on Thursday, Yari shared his perspective on the election and revealed that his calculations, as of 3 am on Tuesday, indicated that he would secure at least 61 out of the 109 available votes, which would have ensured his victory.

READ ALSO: Zamfara Govt Recovers 40 Vehicles From Ex-Gov Matawales Residence

Despite feeling betrayed by the outcome, Yari acknowledged that only God knew what had transpired.

Yes, I can say there was a betrayal. Thats the truth because as we were assessing the situation at 3 am during the Monday-Tuesday election, we had a tally of over 76 votes. However, as is often the case with human beings, we anticipated a withdrawal of about 15 votes, which would still have given us a comfortable 61 to secure the election, Yari explained.

But the reverse happened, and only God knows what transpired. So, I feel betrayed, but life goes on, and this is all part of the cycle.

Apart from Akpabios victory, Senator Jibrin Barau, representing the Kano North Senatorial District, was elected unopposed as the Senate Deputy President, succeeding Ovie Omo-Agege.

In addition, Tajudeen Abbas, a member of the House of Representatives from Zaria Federal Constituency in Kaduna State, was elected as the Speaker of the Green Chamber, while Benjamin Kalu, a representative of Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State, assumed the role of Deputy Speaker.
A divorce-seeking businessman, Chuka Emmanuel on Thursday, prayed a Customary Court in Jikwoyi Abuja, to dissolve his marriage to his wife, Jane, whom he accused of remarrying secretly.

Chuka the petitioner in his divorce petition, said, my wife moved out of our house without informing me.

READ ALSO: My Husband Does Not Pray, Observe Ramadan Fast  Divorce Seeking Wife

I later found her new location, when I got there I realize that she had married another man and already has a baby for him.

It is on this grounds that I seek to dissolve the marriage between us.

He told the court that his wife left him and their three children in 2020.

I have been the one taking care of the children, I dont want anyone to poison their minds against me, I beg this court to stop my wife from coming to my house to see my children in my absence.

I beg this honourable court to dissolve the marriage and grant me custody of my three sons. he pleaded.

The presiding judge, Mr Labaran Gusau, adjourned the matter until June 22, for further hearing.
The immediate past Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, has debunked reports that he was invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Information Nigeria had reported that the EFCC invited the former Minister to appear before it within the week to answer questions related to the launch of the airline, Nigerian Air, in Ethiopian colors labeled as fraud by the Senate.

Recall also that the anti-graft agency also questioned officials of the national carrier over the recent launch of the airline in Abuja.

Sirika in a chat with Daily Trust however denied knowledge of any invitation.

He said, Well, maybe they invited me in their imagination, but what I do know is that I had gone to see the former chairman (Abdulrasheed Bawa) last week, and I have not received any invitation. If they want to invite me, Im here.

READ ALSO: EFCC Summons Sirika, Nigeria Air Officials

Responding to whether he went to see Bawa based on his invitation or personally, he said, I did not get any invitation from the EFCC, Oga, thats what I said to you. I have not been invited. If Im invited, it is not any news or no news; I can go whenever Im invited.

If they invite me today, I will appear. I was a public officer and I am accountable for my actions. Public officers are accountable for their actions. If Im invited by the EFCC, I will go. Ive not seen any invitation. I am in my house, and Im based in Abuja, not Kaduna, and they are also here in Abuja.

EFCCs spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, who told Daily Trust that Sirika had been invited said: Yes, thats what I am telling you, he was invited. I can confirm that there is an ongoing investigation in that regard. I wont speak further until he confirms his invitation.
The protesting Petroleum Tanker Drivers under the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), have called off their protest.

They called off their protest at the office of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) in Port Harcourt, following its refusal to release their petrol and petrol trucks seized last year.

PTD had on Wednesday morning, barricaded the entrance to the office of the NSCDC and a section of the Olu Obasanjo road in Port Harcourt, asking the agency to release their trucks and petrol as directed by a court.

The National Vice Chairman of PTD, Ola Oluwa who addressed members of the union, after a stakeholders meeting with NSCDC, said the security agency promised to release their products on the 28 of June.

Oluwa further asked members of PTD to move their trucks from the vicinity and wait for the compliance of NSCDC.

Our National Chairman, Comrade Lucky Ozesua, has dialogued with their general in Abuja.

Immediately, they sent someone down from Abuja to come and interface with us here. So, please, my dear comrades, this man gave us his word.

They have released our trucks to us. But we said we will not carry the trucks today until the products have been put inside.

The product, they said they kept it for us for its safety. They said it will take a week or two for them to give us back the product.

We are going to suspend our action now.

READ ALSO: NLC Declares Nationwide Strike Over Fuel Subsidy Removal, Petrol Price Hike

In the meantime, the PTD has threatened to shut down operations in the country if the NSCDC fails to release their petrol tankers and petroleum product seized last years August over allegations of transporting adulterated petrol, as promised.

The Zonal Public Relations Officer of PTD, Johnbosco Alex Bosco, who briefed journalists during the protest on Wednesday, explained that they got a judgement from a Rivers State High Court, ordering NSCDC to release their drivers, their petrol-laden trucks and the product in the tankers.

Bosco alleged that the NSCDC has not only sold the product worth N70,000,000 per truck but has also defaced the tanker trucks, despite the judgement of the State High Court.

He said they had proof that the drivers loaded the petrol from government-approved depots in Lagos and Delta States.

The Zonal Public Relations Officer of PTD claimed the NSCDC is unable to provide their products which were kept in their exhibit yard at Ogbogoro, Obio/Akpor local government area of Rivers State.

He accused the state Commandant of NSCDC in Rivers State, Michael Besong Ogar of corruption.

We have papers backing every product we load and we dont go for illegal products.

They caught these vehicles, as Im talking to you, since August last year, they took the matter to the court and the State High Court struck out that matter.

Now, when the court had made their judgement that these drivers are free; because there is no justification for holding them and their trucks.

Since then weve been appealing to Civil Defense Commander, Mr Ogar. Can you believe that these products cannot be seen anymore?

The fuel, almost 45,000 litres into three, if you multiply it into what its sold now, a truck is like N70,000,000 and the truck itself is almost one hundred and twenty-something million naira, Civil Defense man sold it.

Meanwhile, the NSCDC said a Federal High Court in Rivers State had given it an order for the forfeiture of petroleum products in the three trucks seized from tanker drivers last year August, for allegedly carrying adulterated petroleum products.

The Public Relations Officer for NSCDC Rivers State Command, Deputy Superintendent, Olufemi Ayodele, told journalists that the court gave the order because of the risks associated with keeping petrol in the tanker for too long.

Ayodele said before selling the petrol, the NSCDC had placed adverts to auction the products but was informed 9 months after, that NUPENG had also gotten a judgement in their favour, for the release of their trucks and their product.

The NSCDC PRO said the agency is working seriously to ensure the matter is resolved but denied changing the colour of the trucks seized.

He said the NSCDC is committed to stopping oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the country.

Three trucks were impounded, and as an agency that is statutorily empowered to combat illegal oil bunkering, and safeguard critical national assets and infrastructure in the state, the trucks were handed over to us by the Nigerian Army.

We approached the court through the legal unit of the Command, and we were able to get an order for the forfeiture of the product.

You know how highly inflammable it is, so it is not right to keep such a product for a very long time.

The Federal High Court gave the order, which we carried out.

Just 9 months after we were informed that NUPENG also got a judgement for their product to be handed over to them.

The products were sold, I believe this morning, NUPENG was taken to the exhibit yard, he said.
President Bola Tinubu has held a meetinf with prominent Niger Delta leader and former leader agitator in the oil-rich region, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, at the State House.

Although the agenda of the meeting was unclear, it is believed that Dokubo is likely to be part of the Presidents ongoing consultations with opinion leaders from the Niger Delta region.

Recall that Tinubu had earlier reiterated a promise to crush crude oil theft in the country, had also met with other key figures from the region, including former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Timi Alaibe, as well as former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). Dr Dakuku Peterside.

READ MORE: Rivers Not A Christian State  Asari Dokubo Disagrees With Gov. Fubara

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Dokubo entered a closed-door meeting with the President after arriving at the Aso Rock Villa about 11:00 am.

Dokubo arranged Niger Delta youths to attend the Abuja meeting of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal three weeks prior.
President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, held a closed-door meeting with the 14th Emir of Kano and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, at the State House.

INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that on Thursday evening, the former Emir of Kano arrived at the Presidential Villa a few minutes before 05:00 pm before heading to the state house to meet the Nigerian leader.

Sanusis visit, which is the first since the President assumed office, comes barely one week after the President suspended Godwin Emefiele as the CBN Governor.

Meanwhile, the agenda of the meeting is unclear as of press time.

READ MORE: President Tinubu Suspends Emefiele As CBN Governor

Recall that Sanusi served as CBN chief from June 2009 to June 2014 when Emefiele took over from him.

On Friday, the President suspended Emefiele as the apex banks chief and directed that the banks Deputy Governor of Operations, Folashodun Shonubi, resume office in an acting capacity.

On Saturday, the Department of State Services (DSS) confirmed that Emefiele is in its custody.

On Wednesday, the apex bank unified all segment of the forex market collapsing all previous windows into one.
Elder statesman and human rights activist, Tanko Yakasai on Thursday said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who did well as the Governor of Lagos State, will replicate same, now that he is Nigerias leader.

The former aide to late President Shehu Shagari, who disclosed this after meeting with Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja said he prayed for Tinubu to become the leader of the country, noting that only politicians can correct Nigeria like it was done in Germany.

We are looking, we are yearning for God to bring somebody like Asiwaju to be the president of Nigeria.

From Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Asiwaju is the last leader of this country from the political class and Im a politician, I spent 60-something years in politics.

READ ALSO: Tinubu On Right Track, Difference Is Clear  Buba Galadima

I know that only politicians will correct this country, as theyve done in Germany, as theyve done in America, as theyve done in England and other places, Russia and the Soviet Union.

Im happy that Asiwaju has now been elected by the people of Nigeria as president of this country. I saw what Asiwaju did in Lagos. Lagos in terms of revenue and development, is bigger than a lot of countries in Africa.

When I visited Lagos and was taken round, I said I prayed that God will bring Asiwaju to lead this country and replicate what he did for Lagos to Nigeria and God has answered my prayers, the founding member of Arewa Consultative Forum said.

He furthered that Nigerians should support the administration of Tinubu to succeed.

Let us pray that he will succeed in his mission and let us pray that all Nigerians, regardless of their tribes, will give him cooperation and well all team up with him to work hard, he said.
Completed in 1972, the Nakagin Capsule Tower Building in Tokyo was an iconic example of "metabolism," the Japanese architecture movement focused on modular and flexible structures inspired by biology. Designed by Kisho Kurokawa the tower was a combination of office spaces and tiny residential pods. Each prefab capsule measures 2.5 meters high by four meters long. And yes, each includes a bathroom. Last year, the building was demolishedor rather, disassembledbut 23 of the modules were saved by the Nakagin Capsule Tower Preservation and Restoration Project. Now, one of them has landed at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Scroll down to see the interior.

From Deezen:

"Capsule A1302 has been carefully restored in close conversation with Kurokawa's office, curators and historians," said SFMOMA.

"The capsule joins the museum's deep holdings in Japanese architecture, design and photography."[]

According to the SFMOMA, its acquisition of Capsule A1302 reflects "the architect's wish that the capsules not remain fixed, but rather move to other locations".
Songs experience in the industry spans over 20 years across various APAC markets. According to his LinkedIn, he also sits on the board of governors for the Singapore College of Insurance. He has also worked at WTW as a senior actuarial consultant, at Suncorp as an actuarial advisor, and at Allianz Australia as an actuarial analyst.
The first phase of the partnership will see the launch of 13 different travel insurance products underwritten by Fubon Insurance, with the range offering coverage from anywhere between NT$3 million to NT$12 million. Customers under the Taiwan Mobile brand can get insured in under three minutes when they log in and purchase insurance offerings through their Taiwan Mobile account.
Rosenfield said his group had called on the insurance giant to prove that it was entitled to a rate increase considering its decision to stop new home insurance sales, adding that it should not be rewarded for reducing insurance access without justifying the impact of this decision on its rates.
We were beginning to be able to answer questions that people have thought about for decades. Being able to deliver insights into those issues was powerful. We got a lot of energy off that and it became very clear early on that we wanted to work with this segment.
New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles!

New Yorks highest court ruled that a state regulation requiring the installation of electronic logging devices in commercial motor vehicles does not violate the state constitutions prohibition against unreasonable search and seizure.

The Court of Appeals, in a unanimous decision released Tuesday, rejected a constitutional challenge filed by the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association. The high court did modify the lower courts decision, finding that instead of dismissing the trucker groups lawsuit, the trial court should have issued a declaration that the rules did not violate the state constitution.

The high court said that truck owners who participate in a pervasively regulated industry have a diminished expectation of privacy. The ELDs capture a limited amount of data that can be collected electronically, without requiring physical searches of vehicles, the court said.

There is also no merit to petitioners contention that the ELD rule is unconstitutional because it fails to limit the frequency of the authorized searches, the opinion says.

The Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association said in an email that it is disappointed by the ruling because electronic logging devices do not improve motor vehicle safety.

In addition, there is no on/off switch for ELDs that monitor drivers 24/7, living in a truck as their home, not just while working, the association said in a statement.

New York has enforced hours-of-service limits and recordkeeping requirements for commercial vehicle owners since 1937. Congress adopted a similar law in 1938 and encourages states to cooperate in enforcing federal safety standards by providing grant funding.

Historically truck drivers documented their time in service by using paper records. Congress, however, in 2012 passed legislation that mandated Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rules that require trucks involved in interstate commerce to be equipped with ELDs that use global position system technology to record location, engine hours, mileage and other data points.

The owner operators group filed a lawsuit that challenged the federal rules as an unwarranted violation of truck drivers 4th Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in 2016 that the ELD requirement did not amount to an unreasonable search.

Three owner-operators who belong to the Independent Drivers Association then filed a lawsuit challenging the latest version of New Yorks ELD rules, which werent adopted until 2019. The organization argued that the state improperly enforced the federal requirement before the state rules were adopted, and that the data collection requirement violated the state constitutional guarantee against unreasonable search and seizure.

The Albany County Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit, finding that searches under the ELD rule are valid under an exception for administrative searches to the constitutional requirement that a warrant be issued before any search by enforcement. The Appellate Division affirmed that ruling.

The Court of Appeals said courts have found two exceptions to the requirement under the New York State constitution that a warrant be issued before any search: When the activity or premises subject to the search has a long tradition of pervasive government regulation, and when regulations are drafted to ensure that searches are not conducted solely to uncover evidence of criminality but rather further the goals of the regulatory scheme.

The court found that the ELD rules meets both exceptions. Truck drivers undoubtedly participate in a pervasively regulated industry, the opinion says. The ELD rules also are designed to impede cheating without unduly gathering unnecessary information about a truck drivers activities.

Inspecting officers can retrieve that data electronically without entering the vehicle and the ELD rule does not authorize them to search either the cab of the truck or the driver for contraband, the opinion says. Furthermore, ELDs record only at specified times, such as when the vehicle is turned on, when the duty status changes, and once per hour when driving.'

The Court of Appeals remanded the case to the Supreme Court with instructions to modify its ruling by declaring that the ELD rules are not unconstitutional.

Topics New York Commercial Lines
Blueberry fail in Aldi grocery store. Photograph by Kriste Melcher.

Batavia, Illinois-based grocery store chain Aldi, which is rapidly expanding across the United States and plans to have 2,400 stores in the US by the end of 2023, is currently embroiled in two lawsuits. A class action lawsuit demanding almost 10 million dollars in damages has been filed in the U.S. District Court of Central Californiait alleges that the company mislabeled its Millville Fruit & Grain cereal bars as "naturally flavored," when, in fact, they contain artificial flavors, a move that violates several California codes. Supermarket News explains:

According to tests, the synthetic flavoring agent "DL malic acid" was discovered in the cereal bars. Listed in the ingredients is malic acid, which can be produced naturally, but the lawsuit alleges that DL malic acid, specifically, is being used, which would then make it an artificial ingredient. The lawsuit says this "misrepresented and deceived consumers regarding the flavoring in the products for the purpose of enriching itself." The suit also says there is financial motivation behind labeling products as "naturally flavored," which allegedly led Aldi to make the claim.

The second case involves allegations that Aldi misrepresented the number of servings on the label of one of its oatmeal products. The box claimed to contain more servings than it actually didthus the store was charging more than it should have.

Coincidentally, an Aldi opened this morning in my town, and Iinadvertently dressed in the Aldi color schemewent to the ribbon cutting and won a $100 gift card, and within ten seconds of entering the store I spilled an entire container of blueberries all over the floor. I hope I'm invited back, and I hope Aldi fixes its label problems ASAP.
New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles!

Gambling giant MGM Resorts International says it did nothing wrong in its dealings with a New York City man who accuses it of preying on his gambling addiction with repeated cash bonuses intended to keep him gambling.

In court papers, MGM says Sam Antar, a twice-jailed fraudster who repeatedly victimized friends, relatives and strangers, is engaging in his latest scheme by falsely accusing MGM of wrongdoing.

MGM is asking a federal judge to dismiss Antars lawsuit and refer the matter to arbitration, which it says is required by the terms of service to which Antar agreed when he opened an online gambling account with the company.

The company also denies it violated any New Jersey laws.

Sam Antar is a convicted felon and repeat fraudster who has pled guilty to defrauding numerous individuals out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in false stock investment schemes, MGM wrote in its June 9 response to Antars litigation, filed in U.S. District Court in New Jersey. Rather than accept accountability for his own actions, Antar blames BetMGM for his crimes, falsely claiming that BetMGM preyed upon his alleged gambling addiction.

The company did not respond to requests for comment beyond what is contained in its court filing.

Investment Scheme

Antar is the nephew of Eddie Antar, who founded the Crazy Eddie electronics stores in the 1970s and 1980s. Eddie Antar defrauded investors out of more than $74 million, and died in 2016.

In 2013, Sam Antar was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for taking $225, 000 in a fraudulent investment scheme. He was convicted and jailed last year on theft by deception charges involving nearly $350,000. In April, he admitted committing federal securities fraud for bilking investors including friends stemming from that same case, and was ordered in May to pay restitution.

I would like to publicly apologize to all the people I hurt, he said in an interview Wednesday.

His initial lawsuit, filed last September, accused MGM of plying him with bonus cash to dissuade him from reporting to New Jersey gambling regulators numerous instances in which he was gambling online and was disconnected from the system  often when he had a winning hand.

His revised lawsuit, filed in May, drops those allegations and focuses on what his lawyer Matthew Litt calls whats really important here to society as a whole: the enticement by the casino of a person who was showing signs of being a problem gambler.

Antar, who has homes in New York and in Long Branch, New Jersey, gambled $30 million over 100,000 bets during nine months in 2019, according to his lawsuit, which does not specify how much he actually lost. Litt would not estimate those losses, although a previous lawyer in Antars case said they totaled easily hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In its response, MGM says it did not create or worsen a gambling problem in Antar or anyone else.

To be sure, BetMGM takes problem gambling seriously, and has numerous options for persons to self-exclude or limit their play, as well as resources for assistance, the company wrote. However, New Jersey law does not include a common law duty to protect problem gamblers from their actions.

Despite a heightened sensitivity to problem gaming, New Jersey courts have repeatedly held that casinos have no common law duty to prevent alleged compulsive gamblers from gambling, MGM wrote.

The latest version of Antars lawsuit makes some of the same claims that were raised  and rejected by a judge  in another persons lawsuit targeting Atlantic City casinos. In 2008, a federal judge ruled against New York gambler Arelia Taveras who sued seven casinos that she said had a duty to stop her from gambling. She lost nearly $1 million over two years, including dayslong gambling binges.

She spent money on the bona fide chance that she might win more money, U.S. District Court Judge Renee Bumb wrote in a 2008 ruling. In short, she gambled. The mere fact that defendants profited from her misfortune, while lamentable, does not establish a cognizable claim in the law.

MGM cites that case among its numerous defenses to Antars litigation.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Fraud New York New Jersey
New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles!

A commuter train collided with a pickup truck in Connecticut on Wednesday, injuring the driver and heavily damaging the vehicle, authorities said.

The crash happened just before 11:30 a.m. at a Metro-North Railroad street crossing in Norwalk that has warning lights and gates, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. None of the 24 passengers on the train were injured, the MTA said.

The driver, an older man whose name was not immediately released, was unconscious and trapped in the mangled cab of the truck, said Ed McCabe, assistant Norwalk fire chief for operations. He was taken in serious condition to Norwalk Hospital, he said.

There was severe damage to the pickup truck. It took us about 10 minutes to extricate him by cutting parts of the vehicle, McCabe said.

The train pushed the pickup at least 100 feet (30 meters) down the track, he said.

The rail crossings warning lights were on and the gates were down when firefighters arrived, and it wasnt immediately clear how the accident happened, McCabe said. Trains dont go very fast through that section because of street crossings and an upcoming tunnel, he said.

The MTA is investigating the cause.

The accident happened on Metro-Norths Danbury Line, a spur of the New Haven line that runs from Norwalk to Danbury. Rail service was suspended and replaced with buses on a section of the line between Norwalk and Wilton until about 4:15 p.m., when trains resumed running, the MTA said.

Norwalk police said Commerce Street, where the train collided with the truck, reopened around 3 p.m. Local police referred questions to the MTA.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Auto Personal Auto Connecticut
New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles!

A Vermont man facing charges he murdered his mother at sea in order to obtain a multimillion dollar inheritance has been found dead in his jail cell in New Hampshire, officials announced yesterday.

The state medical examiner and the Keene police are investigating the death of Nathan Carman, according to the New Hampshire Department of Justice, which added that the death is not considered suspicious.

Carman, 29, was being held in jail pending his trial, scheduled for October in Vermont, on murder and fraud charges to which he had pleaded not guilty.

In 2016, Carman was rescued on a raft 115 miles off Marthas Vineyard. He told his rescuers and police that his mother died at sea when their fishing boat sank.

Police had identified him as a suspect in the shooting death in Connecticut of his grandfather, John Chakalos, three years earlier but he was never charged with that crime.

In May 2022, he was charged in Vermont with the murder of his mother as part of an alleged plot to gain her inheritance.

A boat insurance claim denial and fraud investigation were integral pieces of the murder case against Carman. After the sinking of the boat, Carman attempted to collect $85,000 on boat insurance policies but the insurance companies filed suit against Carman to keep him from collecting any money.

Although Carman claimed the boat sinking was an accident, insurers and prosecutors believe he deliberately sabotaged the boat to kill his mother. In 2019, a federal judge in Rhode Island decided that Carman contributed to sinking the fishing boat, ruling in favor of an insurance company that had refused to pay the claim for the boats loss.

Carmans attorneys told The Associated Press that Carmans death was a tragedy and they believed he would have been vindicated once the entire story came out in court.

Photo: Nathan Carman, center, carries documents as he arrives at federal court, Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019, in Providence, R.I. Carman faces civil charges in federal court over insurance issues regarding the boat aboard which he and his mother went out to sea for a night of fishing in 2016. The boat sank, Carman survived but his mother was never found. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Related:

Topics Vermont
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  The parents of a 6-year-old girl who drowned at a popular Kansas City water park last year allege in a lawsuit that the park repeatedly hires young, inexperienced lifeguards and does not adequately train them.

Therron and Debra Stewart, of Grandview, Missouri, filed the lawsuit against Oceans of Fun and its parent company, Cedar Fair. Their daughter, Adeline Stewart, died at a Kansas City hospital days after she was pulled from the Coconut Cove pool on July 5, 2022, The Kansas City Star reported.

A company spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Lawyers for the family say in the lawsuit that pool lifeguards did not detect Adeline for several minutes, even while park patrons made frantic attempts to get their attention.

After she was pulled from the pool, the lifeguards were not equipped to give her first aid, according to the lawsuit.

The Stewarts are seeking a jury trial.

After Adelines death, the water park made some changes to improve safety, including increasing height requirements for wearing life jackets in the pool, and requiring children shorter than 31/2 feet (1.07 meters) to be accompanied by a supervisor.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits Missouri Kansas
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)  Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt has been diagnosed with breast cancer and plans to undergo treatment in the coming weeks.

Schmidt disclosed the diagnosis in a statement Wednesday. She said she will continue to work as the states top insurance regulator while undergoing treatment at the University of Kansas Cancer Center in Kansas City, Kansas. Her statement was not more specific about her treatment.

I expect to make a full recovery, Schmidt said, adding that operations at her department will not be interrupted.

Schmidt, who is 67, said a doctor found an area of concern during a routine mammogram and ordered a biopsy. She informed her staff of her diagnosis on Wednesday morning.

A Republican, Schmidt was first elected commissioner in 2018 and reelected last year with 63% of the vote, the largest percentage of any candidate running statewide.

She is a pharmacist who represented a Topeka-area district in the Kansas Senate for 14 years before her election as insurance commissioner.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Kansas
New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles!

Suspected state-backed Chinese hackers used a security hole in a popular email security appliance to break into the networks of hundreds of public and private sector organizations globally, nearly a third of them government agencies including foreign ministries, the cybersecurity firm Mandiant said Thursday.

This is the broadest cyber espionage campaign known to be conducted by a China-nexus threat actor since the mass exploitation of Microsoft Exchange in early 2021, Charles Carmakal, Mandiants chief technical officer, said in a emailed statement. That hack compromised tens of thousands of computers globally.

The hackers sent emails containing malicious file attachments to gain access to targeted organizations devices and data, Mandiant said. Of those organizations, 55% were from the Americas, 22% from Asia Pacific and 24% from Europe, the Middle East and Africa and they included foreign ministries in Southeast Asia, foreign trade offices and academic organizations in Taiwan and Hong Kong. the company said.

Mandiant said the majority impact in the Americas may partially reflect the geography of Barracudas customer base.

Barracuda announced on June 6 that some of its its email security appliances had been hacked as early as October, giving the intruders a back door into compromised networks. The hack was so severe the California company recommended fully replacing the appliances.

After discovering it in mid-May, Barracuda released containment and remediation patches but the hacking group, which Mandiant identifies as UNC4841, altered their malware to try to maintain access, Mandiant said. The group then countered with high frequency operations targeting a number of victims located in at least 16 different countries.

Mandiant said the targeting at both the organizational and individual account levels, focused on issues that are high policy priorities for China, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. It said the hackers searched for email accounts of people working for governments of political or strategic interest to China at the time they were participating in diplomatic meetings with other countries.

The U.S. government has accused Beijing of being its principal cyberespionage threat, with state-backed Chinese hackers stealing data from both the private and public sector.

China says the U.S. also engages in cyberespionage against it, hacking into computers of its universities and companies.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Cyber China
At least three people died and dozens more injured when a tornado struck the Texas Panhandle town of Perryton on June 15.

The National Weather Services in Amarillo said the tornado hit at 5:10 p.m. CT. Perryton, a town of 8,500 people, is 115 miles southwest of Amarillo.

Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher and Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard told KAMR that 56 people are reported as injured and two people are missing. Officials with Ochiltree General Hospital told the news outlet that 75 people have come the hospital as a result of injuries from the tornado.

Bouchard told KAMR the tornado destroyed 25-30 mobile homes and two blocks of business.

Perryton is without power, Xcel Energy officials told ABC News.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Division of Emergency Management to deploy state emergency response resources.

I encourage all Texans to heed the guidance of state and local officials and to take all necessary precautions to protect yourselves and your loved ones, Abbott said.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Texas Windstorm
The weapons supervisor on the film set where Alec Baldwin shot and killed a cinematographer was drinking and smoking marijuana in the evenings during the filming of Rust, prosecutors are alleging, saying she was likely hungover when she loaded a live bullet into the revolver that the actor used.

They leveled the accusations Friday in response to a motion filed last month by Hannah Gutierrez-Reeds attorneys that seeks to dismiss her involuntary manslaughter charge. The prosecutors accused her of having a history of reckless conduct and argued that it would be in the public interest for her to finally be held accountable.

Jason Bowles, Gutierrez-Reeds attorney, said Tuesday that the prosecution has mishandled the case.

The case is so weak that they now have chosen to resort to character assassination claims about Hannah, Bowles told The Associated Press. The prosecution has abandoned the idea of doing justice and getting to the actual truth apparently.

A preliminary hearing for Gutierrez-Reed is scheduled in August. A judge is expected to decide then if theres probable cause for Gutierrez-Reeds charge to move forward.

In the response, the prosecutors also noted that they expected to decide within the next 60 days whether to recharge Baldwin, depending on the results of an analysis of the gun and its broken sear. The items were sent to the states independent expert for further testing.

The involuntary manslaughter charge faced by Baldwin, who also was a producer on the film, was dismissed in April, with prosecutors citing new evidence and the need for more time to investigate.

Baldwin was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal on the New Mexico film set in October 2021 when it went off, killing her and wounding the films director, Joel Souza.

Gutierrez-Reeds attorneys had argued in their motion that the prosecution was tainted by improper political motives and that Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and the initial special prosecutor she appointed, Andrea Reeb, both used the tragic film set accident that resulted in the death of Halyna Hutchins as an opportunity to advance their personal interests.

The defense lawyers contend that the permanent damage done to the gun by FBI testing before the defense could examine it amounted to destruction of evidence and a violation of the courts rules of discovery. They also argued that the selective prosecution of Gutierrez-Reed was a violation of the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitutions 14th Amendment.

New special prosecutors who were appointed after Reeb stepped down disputed those claims in their response, saying nothing about this prosecution has or will be selective.

The prosecutors also acknowledged the unanswered question of where the live rounds found on set came from, saying they were trying to find out and that the investigation was ongoing. They also suggested there was evidence to support the theory that Gutierrez-Reed herself may be responsible and if so, more charges may follow.

They offered no specifics in the filing as to what that evidence might be.

Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Mexico New Mexico
Source: Streetwise Reports

June 16, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) MAG Silver Corp.'s new processing plant in Mexico has achieved commercial production status, and analysts are "encouraged" by the company's progress.

MAG Silver Corp.'s (MAG:TSX; MAG:NYSE American) new Juanicipio processing plant in Mexico achieved commercial production status this month.

It was slated to open by the end of 2021, but local requirements delayed its electricity hookup by a year.

Despite the delay, several analysts - including those from PI Financial, TD Securities, Stifel GMP, and Canaccord Genuity - continue to rate the stock a Buy.

"Following a six-month ramp-up period, achieving commercial production at Juanicipio was a key step for MAG as it completes its transition from an explorer/developer to a producer," Canaccord analyst Michael Fairbairn wrote on June 5, the day MAG announced commercial production at the plant. "Going forward, we expect cash flow from Juanicipio will fund MAG's exploration objectives ... with the remainder returned to shareholders, possibly via share buybacks or an inaugural dividend."

Fairbairn has rated MAG a Speculative Buy with a CA$26 per share target.

The Juanicipio mill is operating at about 85% of its design capacity of 4,000 tonnes per day (tpd), the company said. Silver recovery has consistently been above 88% and about 3.2 million ounces silver (Moz Ag) were produced from March to the end of May.

Production is expected to grow steadily and reach design capacity in Q3.

Commercial production at the plant "completes our transformation from developer to producer," MAG's President and Chief Executive Officer George Paspalas said at the time. "Today marks the beginning of a very exciting and dynamic growth phase for MAG as we combine stable, high-margin silver production with the ongoing high-grade exploration potential that has made and continues to make MAG so unique."

The Catalyst: Mill Ramping Up to Capacity

MAG is mining the Bonanza zone of the Valdecanas vein in the Zacatecas state of Mexico. It is jointly operating the mill with Fresnillo Plc. and receives 44% of the income.

The plant is expected to reach nameplate capacity by the end of the third quarter. Once the power was hooked up, the plant's ramp-up "was in line with our model," wrote analyst Stephen Soock of Stifel GMP.

It was "fast, but expected given that the mill was 'hyper pre-commissioned' due to the power connection delays," wrote Soock, who has maintained a Buy rating on the stock with a CA$26 per share target price. "We currently model Q3 production of 3.8 Moz Ag (on a 100% basis), slightly above the company's expectation."

Soock wrote that partner Fresnillo has a long history of operating underground in the district and brings "best in class" practices to the project.

MAG continues to explore at Juanicipio, drilling 25,858 meters in 2022, with another 4,109 meters of infill drilling in the first quarter of this year. Assay results are pending.

"The Juanicipio deposit continues to grow as it is drilled, and MAG's 'exploration mindset' has resulted in the discovery of a new mineralized vein set, which could drive additional discoveries as the model is applied more widely," Soock wrote. "We believe there are additional economic ore deposits on the JV ground, the value of which will be realized in the market after Juanicipio reaches commercial production by July 2023 and focus shifts to regional exploration."

Soock named the stock one of his "top picks" for the third quarter of 2022.

Focus Turning to Optimization

The company's focus is turning from construction to optimization at the mill, analyst Craig Hutchison of TD Securities wrote in a note on the day of the announcement.

"With all major construction work now complete, the operation team is looking to improve and optimize the mine to achieve and potentially exceed design capacities," Hutchison wrote.

He rated MAG a Speculative Buy with a CA$25 per share target price.

"Investments in Juanicipio should be largely done by mid-year, and we expect MAG to start receiving its share (44%) of dividends from 2024," he wrote.

That money flowing in from the plant will increase the attractiveness of the stock, analyst Brian MacArthur of Raymond James has written.

"We believe that MAG is one of the better options for investors looking for exposure to silver," MacArthur wrote, rating the stock Outperform with a target of CA$24.50 per share.

Analysts Say Progress Is Encouraging

MAG recorded US$7.9 million as its 44% in first-quarter income from the large-scale Juanicipio plant after splitting the cash with Fresnillo.

The plant produced its first concentrate and started shipping commercial lead and zinc concentrates in March. About 30% of the Q1 totals reported were processed through the plant, the rest through Fresnillo's Saucito and Fresnillo plants.

The company said about 2 million payable silver ounces, 5,291 payable gold ounces, 1,281 payable lead tonnes, and 1,656 payable zinc tonnes were produced and sold during the quarter.

Analyst Chris Thompson of PI Financial wrote that the anticipated Q3 nameplate capacity of the plant was encouraging and ahead of his Q4/23 assumption.

"We anticipate updates through to year-end as Juanicipio achieves nameplate capacity and material processed through the nearby Saucito and Fresnillo beneficiation plants is reduced," Thompson wrote on June 5. "We also anticipate an improvement in feed grade at the Juanicipio plant from low head grades which were a direct result of the processing of lower grade stockpiles earmarked for commissioning."

Almost all computers, phones, cars, and appliances contain some silver, which is used to coat electrical contacts and is an important element in solar technology.

The World Silver Survey 2023, published by the Silver Institute, said there was a 237.7 Moz deficit between supply and demand for the precious metal in 2022. This deficit is likely to be repeated in 2023, the institute said.

"This environment is positive for safe-haven assets like silver (and gold)," the report said. "Similarly positive is the market deficit that silver will remain in this year."

Ownership and Share Structure

Institutions own 71% of MAG, and 29% is retail, according to the company.

Top institutional shareholders include Juanicipio project operator Fresnillo Plc. with 9.9%, BlackRock Asset Management at 8.8%, ETF Managers Group LLC at 5.3%, Sprott Asset Management at 5.1%, and First Eagle Investment Management at 5%, the company said.

MAG Silver has a market cap of US$1.76 billion. It has 102.9 million shares outstanding, according to TSX Infosuite. It trades in a 52-week range of US$22.96 and US$13.60.

More Info:

This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders

Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions.

More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/

Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp

Get Great Trading Ideas and News Alerts

Guest posts and sponsored content - Got $100?

That's all it takes to get an article published on Investor Ideas - Learn More
Source: Streetwise Reports

June 16, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Usha Resources Ltd. says it has discovered a significant lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) system up to 8 kilometers in strike at its White Willow lithium project in Ontario.

Usha Resources Ltd. (USHA:TSX.V; USHAF:OTCQB) announced it has discovered a significant lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) system up to 8 kilometers in strike at its White Willow lithium project in Ontario.

The maiden geological work has been finished on just 5% of the more than 15,000-hectare project area. The company said it plans to return in July and complete a more comprehensive field program to build on the findings.

"Unlike most companies who have recently acquired properties in Ontario and Quebec with a focus on location, our acquisition of this project was predicated on a technical model that showed that the two initial pegmatites identified were part of a larger unexplored system waiting to be discovered," Chief Executive Officer Deepak Varshney said.

Varshney said the company had identified 45 new pegmatites within a zone where spodumene was likely to occur and grown the strike and width of the system ten and 20 times in size, respectively.

"We believe Willow to be a flagship asset where we firmly believe Ontario's next major lithium discovery will occur," he said.

Usha recently announced it is resuming drilling at its flagship Jackpot Lake project in Nevada with a more powerful rig, allowing it to expand two holes to 2,000 feet to deliver a National Instrument 43-101 resource estimate.

Technical analyst Clive Maund of CliveMaund.com noted that Usha has strategic properties of rich mine sites and is focused "on the development of quality battery and precious metal properties that are drill-ready with high-upside and expansion potential," which makes it a safe bet for investors.

The Catalyst: Looking for Drill Targets

The company recently added five highly prospective Ontario prospects to its roster, executing options for the right to purchase 100% interest in the Lee Lake, Mead, Bluett, Gathering Lake, and Triangle Lake sites. Besides the White Willow project, it also has the Lost Basin project in Arizona.

Fieldwork activities at the Ontario projects this year include prospecting, mapping, and soil and visible outcrop sampling.

The primary target is identifying targets for a fall drilling program, especially at White Willow for its LCT system.

"Each of these projects offers considerable exploration upside, as they are situated in highly prospective geological settings known for hosting significant lithium mineralization," Varshney said.

Usha completed a two-week site visit at White Willow and took 217 rock samples that were submitted for laboratory analysis.

The company said 103 samples had anomalous lithium (more than 115 parts per million, or ppm), of which 45 were very anomalous (more than 300 ppm). Six samples assayed above 1,000 ppm, which is up to 0.5% LiO2.

Till and lake sediment surveys also identified highly anomalous lithium values in the 98th percentile of the provincial government database, Usha said.

Jackpot Lake in its Own World, Newsletter Writer Says

At Jackpot Lake, the company hopes to expand on the 99-foot and 273-foot intervals of the holes to higher-porosity sand conglomerate zones where it believes the best potential brines are present.

"By exploring to a depth of 2,000 feet, we aim to gather a more comprehensive understanding of the mineral potential within our project area, further enhancing the overall resource estimation and project feasibility," Varshney said.

Last year, Usha said it saw the highest grades ever at the project, assaying 820 ppm lithium with an average of 334 ppm lithium in 30 samples collected from shallow surface soils.

Jackpot Lake is "somewhat in its own 'world'" with a possible shallower and richer resource than other Nevada lithium projects, wrote Chris Temple, editor of The National Investor.

Temple said he took another look at the project after colleagues told him "NOT to sleepwalk past this one."

"Usha Resources Ltd. started as a Buy and is added to my list of Speculative-rated stocks," Temple wrote.

Market Deficits to Widen

As a soft, silvery metal with highly reactive and flammable properties, lithium is a major part of electric vehicle (EV) batteries and the transition to green energy. It also strengthens alloys, is a high-temperature lubricant, and is used as a drug to treat bipolar disorder.

The lithium market is expected to grow globally from to US$6.62 billion between 2021 and 2028, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1%, according to a report by Fortune Business Insights.

"The growing adoption of hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs), high-drain portable electronics, and energy storage systems has had a huge impact on the growth of the overall market," the report said.

Analysts from Eight Capital predicted that lithium market deficits will widen into the late 2020s and that those shortfalls will be driven by demand in North America.

"We estimate North American lithium nameplate production capacity will be 262,900 LCE (million tonnes lithium carbonate) in 2026 based on projects that currently have completed a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS)," analysts Anoop Prihar and Alex Riazanov wrote. "Although this is a significant increase from the current North American production capacity of 6,000 tonnes LCE, it's still more than 128,000 tonnes short of what we anticipate will be required by the battery plants. As such, we anticipate the fundamentals underlying lithium demand to remain robust."

Ownership and Share Structure

Management and insiders own 13.3% of Usha Resources, including the CEO Varshney, who owns 5.04%. Director Navin Varshney owns 7.1%.

According to Reuters, 15.03% is owned by institutions and strategic investors. Out of this category, Palos Management Inc. has the most at 1.77%.

The balance of 71.7% is held by retail investors.

Usha's market cap is CA$12.8 million, with about 48 million shares outstanding. It trades in a 52-week range of CA$0.42 and CA$0.205.

More Info:

This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders

Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions.

More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/

Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp

Get Great Trading Ideas and News Alerts

Guest posts and sponsored content - Got $100?

That's all it takes to get an article published on Investor Ideas - Learn More
Donald Finley, the owner of the now-shuttered Jekyll and Hyde Club horror-themed restaurant in New York City, pleaded guilty to using Covid-relief fraud, using $3.2 million in federal loans, the purpose of which was to keep his business afloat and paying employees, to buy a house in Nantucket and other personal items.

The restaurant was decorated to look like a British club, but with spooky props, animatronic monster figures that would pop into life at random times, and live actors who would put on horror performances and interact with patrons.

But sometimes the real evil is even scarier than the themed evil.

Eating at the coolest restaurant ever. Jekyll & Hyde Club in Times Square. I dig it. pic.twitter.com/pIi6T0SDAF  Lady A (@LadiesOfChrist) May 25, 2013

From a Department of Justice press release:

"Finley has admitted diverting millions of dollars in COVID-19 disaster relief funds to finance his personal expenses, including the purchase of a home in Nantucket, Massachusetts," stated United States Attorney Peace. "This Office will continue investigating and prosecuting those, like the defendant, who shamelessly steal from government programs that were intended for struggling small businesses and families during the pandemic."

The Covid relief loan programs have often proven to be a massive marshmallow test for businesses at best, and an opportunity for premeditated fraud at worst. From NPR:

"The PPP [Paycheck Protection Program] program seems to have resulted in billions of dollars of fraudulent loans that have ultimately turned into grants," said Samuel Kruger, an assistant professor of finance at the University of Texas at Austin who co-authored a paper estimating that $64 billion of the nearly $800 billion in loans issued show signs of fraud, such as suspiciously high payrolls and multiple businesses listed at the same home address. The SBA [Small Business Administration] disputes those findings, but its own inspector general has estimated that at least 70,000 loans are potentially fraudulent. An unknown additional number of loans went to companies that didn't need PPP funding to survive the pandemic. And although the Justice Department and other federal agencies have up to 10 years to prosecute pandemic fraud, the SBA's inspector general has called that pursuit a "pay-and-chase" situation unlikely to recover much money.

At one time there were two locations of the spooky themed Jekyll and Hyde Club, but since 2015 only the original location in Greenwich Village, which opened in 1991, remained. The federal loans were intended to keep that location operating, but we know what happened to that  and it closed in 2022.

Finley still owns a small theme park in Bayville, Long Island, Bayville Adventure Park. But probably not for long.
Source: Streetwise Reports

June 16, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) This company is drilling to probe a gold resource in the historic Homestake District of South Dakota that is said to be more than a mile in strike length.

Dakota Gold Corp. (DC:NYSE American) announced results from four more holes at its Richmond Hill Project in the historic Homestake District of South Dakota, saying they confirm and extend mineralization in several zones.

Hole RH23C-031 at Turnaround Breccia Pipe returned 1.61 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au) over 68.5 meters, including 2.23 g/t Au over 16.8 meters.

RH23C-034 at Twin Tunnels Breccia Pipe returned 1.54 g/t Au over 34.7 meters, including 0.72 g/t Au over 106.5 meters.

And hole RH23C-037 at the Cleveland Zone returned 2.3 g/t Au over 24.8 meters.

"The latest drill results from the metallurgical test program generally exceed grade and intercept thickness expectations and demonstrate the potential of the six breccia pipes known to exist at Richmond Hill, all of which remain largely untested," the company said in a release.

The fourth hole, RH23C-038, returned 0.96 g/t Au over 9.4 meters.

The drilling campaign at the gold system, described as more than a mile in strike length, has been more productive than expected, with unit costs coming in about 30% below budget without reportable safety or environmental incidents.

"The drilling at Richmond Hill continues to validate and extend the mineralization characterized by historical drill programs and subsequent resource estimates," said Chief Operating Officer Gerald Aberle.

Spring and early summer drilling has been concentrated on validation and metallurgical test work, the company said, although it has extended the mineralization. Starting in late July, the company said it will return to exploration drilling at the site with the goal of producing a maiden resource in Q1 2024 using 880 historical drill holes and the current results.

"DC continues to drill aggressively across its Homestake District land package," Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Fairbairn wrote. "Results to date bode well for the next resource update, with indications that Richmond Hill hosts a substantial high-grade gold orebody."

The Catalyst: 'Where There's Smoke...'

Dakota Gold has said it is working to outline a gold system at Richmond Hill described as more than a mile in strike length.

Holes released earlier include RH23C-017, which continued to expand the mineral amounts of drilling at the Twin Tunnels Breccia by intersecting 0.99 g/t Au over 93.5 meters, including 1.65 g/t Au over 19.2 meters.

That hole was 500 feet northwest of RH22C-013, which intersected 5.98 g/t Au over 30 meters at the intersection of a dominant north-south structure, confirming the existence of higher-grade gold mineralization.

Other assay results included hole RH23C-029, which intersected 0.89 g/t Au over 12.2 meters; hole RH22C-032, which intersected 3.22 g/t Au over 8.3 meters; and hole RH23C-033, which intersected 1.58 g/t Au over 23.6 meters.

RH23C-029, RH23C-032, and RH23C033 were drilled for grade validation and metallurgical test work to support a maiden resource compilation in early 2024.

Fairbairn has noted that results at Richmond Hill "confirm the existence of higher-grade mineralization" in its breccia pipes.

"Where there's smoke, there may be fire," he wrote.

Hope for a Large Discovery

Richmond Hill is 2.3 miles west of another of the company's projects in the Homestake District, Maitland.

It's also 1.5 miles north of Coeur Mining Inc.'s (CDE:NYSE) Wharf Mine, which produced more than 79,000 ounces Au in 2022 and is the only current operating gold mine in South Dakota.

Dakota Gold continues to have four drills operating on its Homestake District properties, two at Richmond Hill and two at Maitland.

Robert Quartermain and Jonathan Awde head the company, which is exploring the 46,000 acres it has acquired and consolidated over the past decade surrounding the Homestake Mine. The historic Homestake Mine produced more than 40 million ounces (Moz) Au over its lifetime. Industry giant Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX:TSX; GOLD:NYSE) also backs Dakota Gold.

Much of the land owned by Dakota Gold has not been explored in nearly 30 years, leading some to hope for a large discovery there.

"Dakota Gold is now seeking to revitalize this legendary district in hopes of making a material discovery on its land package proximal to the mine," Fairbairn wrote. [OWNERSHIP_CHART-7442]

Ownership and Share Structure

According to the company, approximately 30% of the company's shares are with management and insiders. Out of management, Co-Chairman Robert Quartermain holds the most shares at 10% or 7.34 million shares. President and CEO Jonathan Awde is next at 9%, with 6.71 million, while COO Jerry Aberle holds 6%, with 4.21 million. The remainder of the 30% is held by other members of management and the board of directors.

According to Reuters, about 26.6% of the shares are with institutional investors, including Van Eck Associates with 3.8%, BlackRock Fund Advisors with 3.6%, CI Investments with 3.6%, Fidelity Management with 3.5%, The Vanguard Group with 3.2%, Barrick Gold Corporation with 3%, Medalist Capital with 2.4%, Delbrook Capital with 2%, and Sprott Asset Management with 2%.

About 27.4% is with strategic investors, Reuters said. The largest holding is with Marin Katusa + KCR LLC, which owns 4.9%.

Dakota Gold has a market cap of US$238.75 million, with 75.3 million shares outstanding and about 56 million free-floating. It trades in a 52-week range of US$4.69 and US$2.61.

More Info:

This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders

Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions.

More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/

Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp

Get Great Trading Ideas and News Alerts

Guest posts and sponsored content - Got $100?

That's all it takes to get an article published on Investor Ideas - Learn More
The Central Bank of Ireland has set a date for an inquiry hearing into a former chief executive of Permanent TSB as part of its investigation into the tracker mortgage scandal that engulfed the banking sector.

David Guinane, who worked for the bank for 25 years, is the first individual to be put before a public inquiry into the scandal since it first emerged in 2015.

The inquiry is being overseen by UK barrister Peter Hinchliffe, who has held four private meetings relating to the inquiry since February last year.

The Central Bank announced on Friday that a public inquiry management meeting will take place on Monday, June 26, in Dublin, with the inquiry hearing due to begin on Monday, October 2, and run until Friday, October 20.

The investigation into Mr Guinane was initially announced in 2021. Mr Guinane left the bank in 2012 and was replaced by Jeremy Masding.

David Guinane, who served as chief executive of Permanent TSB up until 2012, is the first individual to be put before a public inquiry as part of the investigation into the scandal.

Since the tracker mortgage scandal emerged, the Central Bank has levelled fines against implicated banks to the tune of tens of millions of euro.

The five main banks at the time  AIB, KBC, Permanent TSB, Bank of Ireland, and Ulster Bank  were all involved in the scandal.

The investigation into the scandal revealed an estimated 40,000 customers were wrongly removed from their tracker mortgages and moved onto a higher interest rate. In some instances, people lost their homes due to the scandal.

The first fines for the scandal imposed by the Central Bank was for 4.5m in late 2016 against Springboard Mortgages  a subsidiary of Permanent TSB which was eventually sold on.

In May 2019, the Central Bank followed this up with a fine of 21m for Permanent TSB itself.

In March 2021, Ulster Bank was fined almost 37.8m and in September the same year, KBC was fined 18.3m.

In June 2022, AIB was fined 96.7m including the 13.4m fine handed down to its AIB-owned EBS  for its role in the scandal.

However, Bank of Ireland was set for the largest fine arising from the scandal, with the Central Bank imposing a record 100.5m fine in September last year for its involvement.

The banks failures resulted in the loss of 50 properties, including 25 family homes.
Young workers are putting in long hours, often involving unpaid overtime, due to a mix of insecurity about their jobs and a sense that they need to prove their worth.

Long, underpaid work days are not unique to Gen Z workers, but a number of recent studies suggest that younger workers believe they need to overcompensate for the perception among older cohorts that Gen Z workers are lazy, lack initiative, and have a snowflake outer shell; i.e. they don't take criticism well.

The latest People at Work 2023 report by the global cloud-based human capital management firm ADP Research Institute, found that those aged 18 to 24 tend to put in an extra eight hours and 30 minutes of free work per week.

ADPs report surveyed 32,000 workers across 17 countries. The report found that younger workers tend to start earlier, stay later and work during breaks and lunchtime. Their 8 hours of free work compares to 7hrs 28 minutes for the 45-54 cohort, and 5hrs 14 minutes for workers aged 55+.

Nela Richardson, ADPs chief economist, also highlighted a rise in employee willingness to change jobs for higher pay, greater hybrid work options and opportunities for career progress.

"Workplace dynamics are beginning to solidify after pandemic-driven disruptions, with workers remaining consistent in wanting increased pay, flexibility, and a positive workplace culture; however, the interplay among these factors will challenge employers to get creative in order to meet employees' needs," said Nela Richardson.

"Forward-thinking leaders will need to find ways to help safeguard workers' financial health, while bolstering their professional development.

"Going forward, employers that focus on career progression while retaining and advancing a caring and inclusive workplace culture can better meet the needs of their workforce, both now and in the future."

Nela Richardson, chief economist with the ADP Research Institute, the global cloud-based human capital management specialist.

A survey by EU agency Eurostat found that 7% of people worked long hours in 2022, averaging 49+ hours per week. The greatest overwork was among the self-employed, skilled agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers and managers, again with younger workers more likely to put in longer hours than the older cohort.

In February, the EU issued guidelines around age limits and conditions for young workers, effectively a recap of an EU directive in place since 1993.

You cannot employ people aged 15 or under in a full-time role in the EU; strict rules also govern part-time roles.

Moving up the age categories, other EU research is examining the relationship which younger workers have with their jobs, bringing oversight to terms and conditions and examining questions around the workplace wellbeing of younger employees.

The European Trade Union Confederation has been working to protect the rights of workers to limit their working hours, noting the link between the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights (2000) back to the 1993 Working Time Directive, setting a 48-hour maximum working week and laying down the framework for rest and leave periods.

Again, ETCU sharpens its focus when it comes to younger workers, notably conscious that a generation of younger European workers are taking on non-union jobs.

Trade unions in Ireland, meanwhile, have been pushing to change what they see as age discrimination against younger workers in Irelands national minimum wage.

A rally this week at the gates of Leinster House called on the Dail to support the passage of a People Before Profit (PBP) Bill to amend the national minimum wage. PBP politicians, trade unions, and student groups attended the rally, which preceded a Dail debate on the bill.

Discrimination

The bill seeks to amend what the PBP party calls minimum wage pay discrimination for workers under the age of 20.

Since January 1, 2023, the national minimum wage has been 11.30 for people aged 20+, while its just 7.91 (70%) for workers under 18, 9.04 (80%) for those aged 18, and 10.17 (90%) for those aged 19.

The trade union Mandate has voiced its support for a bill tabled by PBP.

Siuirtan O Priongaloid, chair of Mandates youth committee, said: We are in full support of this bill which will finally bring the end to young workers being paid a subminimum rate for equal work. We urge people to lobby their own local TDs to support the bill.

Young workers have high costs of living like everyone else. However, your landlord is not going to accept 70% of the rent simply because youre 18 years of age, so why should workers accept 70% of the wage because theyre young? he said.

Mandate argues that the national minimum wage is the bare minimum a worker needs to get by in one of the most expensive countries in the developed world.

A number of months ago the current Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, announced a move towards a national living wage. A living wage and what you need to earn to put a roof over your head and food on your table is not influenced by age rates, said O Priongaloid.
Italy, Poland and Sweden proposed candidates to lead the European Investment Bank (EIB), according to people familiar with the matter, kicking off an initial round of European Union horse-trading before bargaining over top jobs intensifies next year.

The deadline yesterday is just a week before the cut-off date for nominations to lead the European Central Banks (ECB) financial watchdog. Three women  Germanys Claudia Buch, Spains Margarita Delgado and Irelands Sharon Donnery  are considered the favourites for that job. Both the EIB and ECB positions become available as of January.

The chair of the ECBs Supervisory Board is the eurozones most senior banking regulator, directly overseeing the blocs major banks and endowed with a powerful voice to help shape rules that determine the industrys structure. Whoever wins the job will contend with bankers who are chafing at what they regard as excessively intrusive oversight as they seek to lift share prices that have been battered since the 2008 financial crisis.

The current chair, Andrea Enria, is scheduled to step down when his five-year non-renewable term ends in December. Back when he won the job in 2018, the Italian was up against Donnery and Frenchman Robert Ophele.

Donnery oversees banks and insurers at the Irish central bank, but on the European level, shes better known for formerly leading the ECBs task force on non-performing loans. Back in 2017, the ECB was criticised by banks and some politicians for allegedly overstepping its mandate based on that groups work. Yet Donnerys tough tack helped European banks shrink their mountain of bad debt and set them on a more stable footing.

While not the biggest prizes in the EU pecking order, the influence the two EU roles have in financial matters still makes the push to win them worth it for member states.

This round may also give a foretaste of the future bargaining over the make-up of the European Commission, which could be up for grabs after the June 2024 EU parliament elections.

The various nominees also underscore how much the bench of talent has broadened in recent years, as the European Central Bank makes headway in increasing the share of women in leadership positions, with President Christine Lagarde the most prominent.

The jostling between big countries is likely to be fierce. The EU typically attempts to distribute top jobs fairly and take into consideration size and political affiliation of a country, with appointing women an increasing priority.

Read More Eamon Quinn: ECB faces credibility test as it tries to tame inflation with interest rate hikes

Bloomberg
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the Loire Valley, the nearest wine region to Ireland and easily accessible if you are taking the boat to France this summer.

There is such a diversity in the Loire I could fill several columns so this week Im focusing on Muscadet and the reds of Chinon.

I feature two Chinon Cabernet Francs below but dont forget the other great Cab-Franc villages such as Bourgueil, St. Nicholas de Bourgueil, Saumur, Saumur Champigny and of course Anjou Villages in general. These reds are perfect for Summer as they are best served a little cool and have light and crunchy red fruit flavours.

They also tend to be lower in alcohol than wines from other French regions - the two below are 12% ABV.

Chinon is a beautiful town to visit and was the hometown of Francois Rabelais who wrote the comic Gargantua and Pantagruel stories about the adventures of two giants - you will find some of their outsized belongings scattered throughout the town.

If Chinon makes the softest reds of the region then Muscadet, south of Nantes, makes the lightest whites - ideal for seafood. The Muscadet grape is Melon-de-Bourgogne and their searingly dry wines are having a bit of a renaissance.

The Loire Valley is famed for another culinary wonder and that is of course Goats Cheese which comes in many different shapes all tasting slightly different. There are at least 16 varieties with six having AOP status.

Easiest to find are Sainte-Maure de Touraine and Valencay along with Selles-Sur-Cher, Pouilly Saint-Pierre and Crottin de Chavignol. if you cant find Loire goats cheese just seek out St. Tola from Co. Clare. These cheeses go remarkably well with Sauvignon Blanc and also with dry Chenin Blanc and even with demi-sec wines. With Valencay in mind, I recommend an interesting wine from that commune.

There is one non-Loire interloper from well known producer Marquis de Goulaine who have Irish Wine-Geese connections. The family has been making wine in the Loire for a millennium and I suspect they have been supplying Ireland with Muscadet for most of that time. All of this weeks suggestions are suited to the lighter foods of summer.

Wines Under 17

Domaine de la Chauviniere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie - 16-17.00

Domaine de la Chauviniere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie - 16-17.00

Stockists: MacCurtain Wine Cellar; Cavistons; 64 Wine; James Nicholsons Crossgar - www.jnwine.com

Classic Muscadet from granite soils and an elevated position where the grapes ripen a little later. Apple and citrus and a hint of ozone on the nose, rounded and almost creamy on first taste but then the saline stony tang of fine quality Melon grapes kicks in - bone dry, zingy and fresh.

Marquis de Goulaine Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie, Loire - 14.95

Marquis de Goulaine Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie, Loire - 14.95

Stockists: JJ ODriscolls; Fine Wines Limerick; McCambridges Galway

I drank many a bottle of Marquis de Goulaine Muscadet in the 1990s so I was pleased to see it is still on form. This is the perfect wine for oysters and mussels with stony lemon and apple aromas with a touch of petrichor - textured apple fruits, tangy lime and citrus freshness on the finish.

Marquis de Goulaine Merlot 2021, Pays dOc IGP, France - 15-16.00

Marquis de Goulaine Merlot 2021, Pays dOc IGP, France - 15-16.00

Stockists: JJ ODriscolls; No. 1 Group; Jus de Vine; WineOnline.ie

An interloper as this is not from the Loire but is from a Languedoc estate owned by the Goulaine family who have been making wine in the Loire for over 1000 years. Bright purple fruits with black raspberry aromas and flavours, juicy and fresh and best served a little cool.

Wines Over 17

Sebastien Vaillant Valencay 2021, Loire, France - 19.99

Sebastien Vaillant Valencay 2021, Loire, France - 19.99

Stockists: World Wide Wines; Searsons; Simply Delicious Foxrock; Dwans; Drink Store; MartinsOffLicence.ie; Wineonline.ie.

Valencay is south of Tours and also famed for its goats cheese (a squat pyramid shape). This is mostly Sauvignon with 15% Chardonnay - the grapes are co-fermented. Aromas of green apple, pear and peach intermingled (like the grapes), brisk acidity and freshness with rounded yellow peach notes, a perfect summer white.

Chateau de Coulaine Chinon, Loire, France - 23.00

Chateau de Coulaine Chinon, Loire, France - 23.00

Stockist: Whelehans Wines - www.whelehanswines.ie

The beautiful Chateau de Coulaine was built in 1470 and is worth a google, or better still a visit. Organic since 1997 this is old vine Cabernet Franc with berry fruit aromas and a touch of strawberry coulis - bright and juicy on the palate with complexity and structure underlining the lush red and black fruits. Delicious.

Olga Raffault Chinon Les Barnabes 2020 - 26.95

Olga Raffault Chinon Les Barnabes 2020 - 26.95

Stockists: Kellys of Newport; Blackrock cellars; TheAllotment.ie; James Nicholson Crossgar - www.jnwine.com

Olga Raffault took over this brilliant estate in 1947 and became a bit of a legend - these days her Grandaughter and great-grandson run the estate. Red fruits, pencil lead and strawberry leaf aromas, blackberry and strawberry fruit flavours and a pleasing crunch of freshness with lingering cranberries - outstanding.

Spirit of the Week

Dalmore 15-Year-Old Highland Single Malt, 2020 Edition, 40% ABV, 70cl

Dalmore 15-Year-Old Highland Single Malt, 2020 Edition, 40% ABV, 70cl - 120

Stockist: The Single Malt Shop - www.thesinglemaltshop.com

Fathers Day is tomorrow and if you forgot then an online voucher is an option - CelticWhiskeyShop.com, MidletonDistilleryCollection.com or perhaps TheSingleMaltShop.com who have some nice exclusive and rare whiskies.

The Single Malt Shop held a tasting of their rarer whiskies recently and I particularly liked the Highland Park 21 (375) which has salted caramel and wood smoke notes, and Skyes Talisker 18 (210) which has a fine balance between peat and honeyed dried fruits.

This Dalmore 15 has heavy Sherry influence with lots of dried fruits and baked honey aromas with a toffee and chocolate palate that lingers
It is a truth universally acknowledged that an author at a party will be asked two things: where do you get your ideas, and, what do you write?

The first question is tricky to answer quickly, especially while eating a mini-burger. The second question leads to, lets call them assumptions, particularly if you write historical fiction.

Although often excluded from end of year broadsheet best of lists (because, genre), and without a category in the Irish Book Awards (looks to camera), historical novels continue to be popular with readers.

But what exactly is a historical novel, and should that be an historical novel? (No, it shouldnt).

For many, the word history stirs memories of boring lessons at school  dates, battles, kings and queens, very long essays  while the term historical fiction leads to assumptions about costume drama romances (think Bridgerton) and books about Vikings (think Vikings), and while it might be those things, it will often be none of those things.

Wikipedia will tell you historical fiction is a literary genre in which the plot takes place in a setting related to past events, but is fictional.

Huh? How can you fictionalise history? We already know the plot, the protagonists, the facts, dont we? Spoiler alert: not necessarily.

There are always gaps in the historical record, other points of view that were conveniently ignored, erased, or not considered important or relevant enough, aka women.

These gaps and exclusions are fertile ground for historical novelists because historical fiction is not history, nor is it a history lesson.

Like all fiction, it aims to entertain, to provoke reaction and discussion, to consider the world through someone elses experience.

History gives us the recorded facts. Historical fiction gives us colour, texture, thoughts and emotions. Context.

In her first Reith Lecture for the BBC in 2017, the late Hilary Mantel talked about the relationship between fact, fiction and history.

Facts are not truth, though they are part of it. And history is not the past. It is the method we have evolved of organising our ignorance of the past. Its whats left in the sieve when the centuries have run through it  a few stones, scraps of writing, scraps of cloth. It is no more the past than a birth certificate is a birth, or a script is a performance, or a map is a journey.

Historical novelists might use actual events and people as inspiration, as done brilliantly by Maggie OFarrell in Hamnet, Mantel in her Wolf Hall trilogy and Tracy Chevalier in Girl With A Pearl Earring.

Others might use a historical setting but create fictional characters and plot, such as Bonnie Garmuss 1950s-set Lessons in Chemistry, or Kate Atkinsons revolving historical door in Life After Life.

However, wherever, or whenever, historical fiction takes the reader, it is a literary portal to the past which, as the quote says,  is a foreign country; they do things differently there.

While this is true, people tend to experience the same universal emotions, regardless of date.

Whether youre being tried as a witch in the 16th century, a soldier about to go over the top at the Somme, or a mother in 2023 teaching her son to drive (Its me. Hi. Im the mother, its me) emotions are timeless.

This evergreen palette of what it is to be human is what connects the past to the present, and within this framework of feelings historical fiction adds delicious texture  life!  to the static history of our schoolbooks.

The imagined narrative in a historical novel comes from months, sometimes years, of detailed research.

Yet historical fiction done well allows the history to settle quietly and seamlessly onto the page rather than shouting about it.

Much of what is researched is left out of the finished book (please ask me about that at the aforementioned party), but that research allows the author to understand the place and time of their story and create an authentic world for the reader.

History is who we are, where we come from, the story of our grandparents and great-grandparents. The pull of family history inspired Sheila OFlanagans first historical novel, and recent number-one bestseller, The Woman on the Bridge.

Having always written contemporary fiction, she approached this new genre with a clear sense of what she wanted to achieve.

I wanted to leave readers with the feeling that they knew the characters as well as any in my contemporary fiction, and that the settings and situations they found themselves in were relevant and believable. Historical fiction is a great way of learning about and understanding past events from the perspective of the characters who are living them rather than the more academic view of historians; historical fiction brings the period alive.

Carmel Harrington: My objective was to write an unforgettable love story of the past and present. Picture: Patrick Browne

Carmel Harrington has been a fan of historical novels for years and also recently turned her pen to the past with her Irish Times bestseller, The Girl From Donegal, taking the reader from Ireland in 1939 to present day Bermuda.

I see historical novels as portable time machines, allowing me to visit the past curled up in my armchair. Every one Ive read has been rich in historical detail with evocative prose and a cracking story that captivated me until the last page, but I never planned to write one myself until a story took root in my imagination that I simply could not ignore.

Discovering a forgotten or overlooked event from the past is, as it happens, my answer to where do you get your ideas? The Last Lifeboat was inspired by British children sent overseas during the Second World War, and a remarkable true story about a lifeboat of survivors adrift in the Atlantic after their evacuee ship was torpedoed.

My debut, The Girl Who Came Home, was inspired by Titanic and the Addergoole 14 from Mayo who sailed on her. My other novels have been inspired by the My Fair Lady flowersellers of Victorian London, a famous lighthouse keeper, fake fairies, and the world wars.

History is a rich source of dramatic events, but it is the voices of ordinary relatable people who lived through those extraordinary times that I want to hear in the books I write and read.

For Harrington, an account of a young Irish woman bound for a new life in Bermuda with her fiancee, a British admiral at the start of the Second World War, sparked the idea for her dual timeline story.

I couldnt stop thinking about that woman and how brave she must have been to leave Ireland for a new life on an unknown tropical island. Eliza Laverys character and storyline came to me fully formed. My objective was to write an unforgettable love story of the past and present.

But does a historical setting appeal in our frenetic modern world? Absolutely. Novels such as Jennifer Saints Ariadne and Elektra, which reimagine women from ancient myths, are finding legions of contemporary fans.

With the help of BookTok, Madeleine Millers The Song of Achilles (an adaptation of Homers Iliad) found new levels of success 10 years after it was first published.

The Netflix adaptation of Julia Quinns Bridgerton novels have made regency romance hot again, in every sense of the word.

History is timeless, and will, therefore, always have a place in the present. As a reader and a writer, I want stories that take me not just to a different place, but to another time, travelling through my bookshelves like a literary Doctor Who.

If youre new to historical fiction, welcome! Turn the pages and step into that foreign country of the past. You might be surprised to discover that it is not so different there after all.
LAST week, Channel 4 broadcasted Pill Revolution, a compelling documentary that revealed serious problems in how contraceptives are prescribed and administered to women in Britain. Presented by Davina McCall and produced by Kate Muir, it compared womens choice of contraception to a game of roulette. Because women are not educated about the range of options available to them, most choose blindly, usually opting for the familiar contraceptive pill.

Lack of education is merely the first problem. According to a Channel 4 poll of 4,000 women, 77% of women experience side effects as a result of taking the pill. Some 36% suffer from anxiety, depression or low mood and 21% have low libido. The side effects were so severe for 33% of women that they stopped taking the pill altogether.

There were other surprising findings, says Muir. A third didnt know what pill they were taking. They didnt realise there were 40 different types available and that they all react differently in different people. Women arent educated about contraception, about the choice available or the possible side effects. Nor are they listened to when they have problems with it.

Muir was first alerted to the issues surrounding contraception by her daughter. Molly was depressed but because she was home from university due to the pandemic, we thought it was lockdown misery, she says. But then she came off the pill and felt better within weeks. I thought back to when I was on that same pill and how it was only when I came off it years later that I realised I felt more creative and alive.

When I told Davina about it, she said her daughter had also had a bad time on the pill. That left us wondering how many more women were suffering as a result of their contraception, which is why we got Channel 4 to carry out its poll.

Delving into scientific research lead Muir to a 2016 study. This looked at over one million Danish women and found that they were more likely to start antidepressants for the first time or be diagnosed with depression if they were currently using or had recently used hormonal contraception, she says.

That study proved that Molly wasnt alone in her mental health struggles. So too did the enormous online response to last weeks Channel 4 documentary.

Women shared their experiences of how hormonal contraception had affected their mental health over social media and also expressed shock that they learned more about contraception from a one-hour documentary than from years of interactions with health professionals.

Davina McCall - The Pill Revolution

Help not a hindrance

Muir is keen to acknowledge just how much hormonal contraception has done for women. The pill is a godsend, preventing pregnancy and regulating the ups and downs of periods and PMS, but many women are still as in the dark about it as we were when it was first introduced 60 years ago, she says.

The pill should work for us, not against us, and for this to happen, women have to be informed, heard and supported.

The documentarys findings relate to women in Britain but what of those in Ireland? A study published by the Dublin Well Woman Clinic in 2020 found that 31% of women use the contraceptive pill, patch or vaginal ring, 16% use long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) and 28% use condoms.

Despite the wide range of contraceptive options available to women in Ireland, like our counterparts in Britain, we too may have a problem with education. A study carried out by the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) in 2014 found that misconceptions about the negative health outcomes of LARCs were common. Other studies including one published by researchers at Oxford University this year have shown that hormonal contraception in general is hampered by misinformation about its safety.

So, what is the range of contraception available to women in Ireland? The contraceptive pill, patch and vaginal ring are examples of short-acting hormonal contraceptives, says Dr Ciara McCarthy, the ICGP and HSE clinical lead in womens health. They last for less than a month and have to be taken or used regularly to ensure they are effective.

The contraceptive implant and intrauterine devices, also known as coils, are examples of LARCs. Once fitted, they can protect against unwanted pregnancy for up to eight years.

Non-hormonal options include copper coils and condoms  the only contraceptive method that also prevents transmission of sexually transmitted infections.

There are pros, cons and potential side effects associated with all options. The biggest difference between the pill and other short-acting contraceptives and LARCs is the higher risk of unintended pregnancy with the former, says McCarthy.

The implant and coils are 99.9% effective while the pill has only been shown to be 91 to 94% effective with typical use. For patients with busy lifestyles who may not be in a position to reliably remember to take a pill or change a patch or ring, a LARC may be a safer choice.

Dr Ciara McCarthy, ICGP and HSE clinical lead, women's health

All hormonal options usually help to make periods lighter and less painful. Some even allow women not to have periods altogether.

Possible side effects include the impact on mental health and libido that can come from taking hormonal medication, as highlighted by the Channel 4 survey.

Dr Caitriona Henchion, medical director of the Irish Family Planning Association, says: Some women who were prescribed the pill come back to us saying that its affected their mood or made them feel depressed.

Dublin-based pharmacist Laura Dowling, aka @fabulouspharmacist on Instagram, has heard stories from Irish women who believe their sex life declined while they were on the pill.

These are women who were on it for a long time and who didnt discover their true libido until they came off it to start a family, she says. The leaflet that comes with the pill, which nobody reads, does tell you that it can affect your libido, but their doctor had never mentioned such a thing. They didnt get to experience the highs and lows of a libido until they stopped taking the pill.

Other possible side effects include painful periods as a result of fitting a copper coil, acne, weight gain, headaches, nausea, increased blood pressure and more.

Dr Caitriona Henchion, medical director, IFPA

Focus on side-effects

While its important to be aware of such potential side effects, its just as important to keep them in perspective. Henchion worries that the increased focus on side effects is turning a growing number of young women off hormonal contraceptives.

Theyve heard that hormones will affect their mood or make them depressed or put on weight, she says. They then become resistant to using any form of hormonal contraception, to the extent that they are happier to use less reliable forms of birth control.

Dowling is concerned that some women will have unplanned pregnancies as a result. I come across lots of girls online saying they dont want to take hormonal contraceptives and while I think its all well and good that they are aware of potential side effects, they need to be just as aware of the risk of unplanned pregnancy and the impact it can have on a womans life.

Like those surveyed for the Channel 4 documentary, many Irish women dont realise there are different types of pill and that a consultation with their doctor should help identify which one will suit them best. If youre suffering side effects, tell your doctor, says Henchion.

Some pills are better for skin for example while others reduce periods more. Once your doctor knows what it is about a particular pill that isnt suiting you, it will help them find one that will.

The ICGP wants women to know that they have choice and control when deciding on contraception. That decision should always be shared between the patient and the healthcare professional, says McCarthy.

To help women decide, GPs start by asking screening questions to assess for medical conditions that might preclude the use of certain methods. Then they ask about lifestyle, periods, whether the women are planning a family shortly or have finished their family, and what contraceptives they have used previously. Armed with this information, the GP can then advise suitable contraceptive options. The patient can consider which ones would be acceptable to her and a plan can be made to commence or fit the chosen method.

A follow-up appointment should then be arranged to review how well the contraception is working.

We make sure to warn women about side effects and things that might go wrong in the meantime, says Henchion. Its important that they know to come to us if theres a problem. They dont just have to put up with it. There are alternatives.

Pharmacist Laura Dowling

Help and advice is available

Its vital women know there is a choice, says Dowling. Theres still so much women arent told about their own bodies, she says.  We should be telling our young women that there are lots of different forms of contraception available and if they dont get on with one, they can simply try another. They should know that help and advice is always available from their physicians and pharmacists.

The introduction of free contraceptive care for women up to the age of 26 has helped promote this sense of empowerment, according to Henchion. Women now realise they have nothing to lose by asking their doctor about contraception or approaching another healthcare professional if they arent happy with what their GP offers them, she says.

Its great that its being extended to include women up to the age of 30 from September.

Muir would like to see the medical system go even further and offer a bespoke service to all women. We dont have the same hormone levels, so we wont react the same way to hormonal contraceptives, she says. I take HRT, so I know first-hand how hormones can make a real difference to your life if you get them right. Id like all women, young and old, to be informed about this when it comes to contraceptives just as much as menopause.

McCarthy urges women in Ireland to seek reliable information about contraception from their GP or local family planning clinic or to check out the HSEs website, www.sexualwellbeing.ie.

Theres a large amount of misinformation being circulated online, she says. This HSE website has recently launched a series of videos called Spotlight on Contraception, which aim to provide bite-sized, evidence-based information on the types of contraception available and to address some potential concerns patients may have.

We are fortunate to have access to a wide variety of contraceptives in Ireland, just as they do in Britain, and we want patients to be able to make an informed decision about the method thats right for them.
Fastnet Maritime and Folk Festival

Friday, June 16 to Tuesday, June 20, Ballydehob

The 10th annual Fastnet Maritime and Folk Festival kicks off this weekend in the picturesque village of Ballydehob in West Cork. With events taking place until June 20, there will be lots of music, workshops, craft stalls and more to enjoy over the few days.

On Saturday, there will be a Squeezebox special with Steve Turner, Dick Miles, Keith Kendrick and Sylvia Needham at the old bank building from 2pm with plenty more music sessions throughout the day.

On Sunday, you can head along to the Ballydehob Community Hall car boot sale from 8am to 3pm. If youre still on the lookout for a unique purchase, there will be craft stalls open from 11am at the back of the bank building.

For the full programme, see fastnetmaritime.com

Noreen Healy and Strudel (Autism Assistance Dogs Ireland AADI) at the Preview Launch of Cork Summer Show 2023. Picture: Jim Rocks Photography

Cork Summer Show

Saturday, June 17 and Sunday, June 18, Cork Showgrounds, Curraheen

A 200-year-old tradition, the Cork Summer Show is back this weekend with fun for all the family. The annual event is organised by the Munster Agriculture Society and includes a fun fair, a dog show, a food market, live music, and more.

Under 12s go free and family passes are available for both Saturday and Sunday. The website also has a handy list of 50 free things to do, so everyone can pick out their must-do items ahead of time.

Located just outside Cork city, there is also free parking as well as a park and ride, so this is an easy one to get to.

For tickets and more, see corksummershow.com

As the Cork Midsummer Festival gets underway, there are lots of events happening across the city. Picture: Darragh Kane

A Handful of Dreams

Saturday, June 17 and Sunday, June 18, Fitzgeralds Park - free

As part of this years Cork Midsummer Festival, a free outdoor show will take place at Fitzgeralds Park this weekend. The aerial performance is inspired by the poem The Stolen Child by William Butler Yeats and The Celtic Twilight book of fairies, ghosts, and spirits.

From Fidget Feet, this stunning spectacle will combine live Irish traditional music and dance with aerial and circus arts.

Saturday's shows take place at 12pm and 4.30pm while the Sunday shows kick off at 12pm and 2pm.

James Joyce set Ulysses on June 16, a day that's now marked as Bloomsday. Picture: Fran Caffrey/AFP via Getty Images

Bloomsday

Friday, June 16 and Saturday, June 17

Taking place between Friday and Saturday, Cork Bloomsday will see a host of different events across Cork city, including book readings, roundtable discussions, and music.

This may be one for teenagers or those interested in history and/or literature but with events taking place across Crawford Art Gallery, Nano Nagle Place, University College Cork, and Cork City Library, it may be worth dropping in. There will also be various pop-up events in Waterstones, the City Library, and shop windows.

See eventbrite for more informmation.

The Cork Midsummer parade returns this weekend

Cork Midsummer Parade

Oliver Plunkett Street, Sunday, June 18 3pm  free

The second annual Midsummer parade promises to be a riot of colour as Cork Community Art Link puts on yet another extravagant display. From spectacular floats to a street parade and plenty of performances, there is something for everyone in this celebration of the creativity and diversity of Cork communities. Plus  its free for all to enjoy.

The parade starts on Oliver Plunkett Street at 3pm, with the grand finale taking place on Grand Parade.

Louise Banton and Artist Anna Fruse at the preview of Muscle: a question of power and Bodywork at Crawford Art Gallery. Picture: Darragh Kane

Muscle at Crawford Art Gallery

If you find yourself in need of a rainy-day activity this weekend, Muscle: a question of power by Anna Fuse at Crawford is an immersive experience that brings visitors on a journey through the gallerys collection of Canova Casts.

The exhibition, which runs until August, aims to bring visitors up close and personal with these ancient Classical forms.

Crawford Art Gallery is open Saturdays from 10am to 5pm.
Fatima Valencia, grandmother of the four children rescued after 40 days alone in the Colombian Amazon, had a simple explanation for why they had taken so long to be found despite a huge search effort: They were being carried through the jungle by a duende, a leprechaun-like mythological creature said to roam the forest.

As more details emerge about the childrens incredible feat of survival, it has become clear that the ancestral knowledge of the eldest child played a vital role in keeping her younger siblings, including a baby who turned one during the ordeal, alive for 40 days.

Lesly Mukutuy, aged 13, was able to identify edible fruits, find suitable water, and avoid dangerous plants and animals, thanks in part to knowledge handed down to her by Valencia.

We have to recognise not only her bravery but also her leadership, the minister of defence, Ivan Velasquez, said after a visit to Bogotas

military hospital, where the children were being treated for malnutrition and minor injuries.

We can say that it was because of her that her three younger siblings could survive by her side, thanks to her care and her knowledge of the jungle.

A Cessna carrying the four children, their mother, and two other adults, including the pilot, crashed in one of Colombias most remote and dangerous regions on May 1.

A search team found the plane on May 16 in a thick patch of the rainforest and recovered the bodies of the adults but the children were nowhere to be found.

Paramedics carry to an ambulance one of the children missing after surviving a plane crash in Bogota. Picture: John Vizcaino/AP

Last week the four children, members of the Huitoto Indigenous community, were found in a small jungle clearing 5km from the wreckage, in an area where snakes, mosquitoes, and other animals abound.

Several times search teams had passed within 50 metres of the clearing. They were finally able to pin the childrens location down thanks to a cry from Cristin, the youngest of the siblings.

He was just 11 months old when the plane came down, while the children were travelling with their mother from the Amazonian village of Araracuara to San Jose del Guaviare.

The childrens great-uncle, Fidencio Valencia, said the siblings had survived by eating farina, or cassava flour, and by using their knowledge of the rainforests fruits.

So far the children have given few details of their ordeal, but conversations with family members suggest they have may have hidden from the search team out of fear.

They were afraid out there, with the dogs barking, said Fidencio Valencia, having spoken to the children. They hid among the trees they ran.

Valencia told the media outlet Noticias Caracol that the children were starting to talk and one of them said they hid in tree trunks to protect themselves.

Alicia Mendez, journalist with newspaper El Tiempo, said that at one point the children had heard a message in their native language recorded by Fatima Valencia and transmitted from a helicopter, but they were scared to respond.

Henry Guerrero, an Indigenous man who was part of the search group, told reporters that the children were found with two small bags containing clothes, a towel, a torch, two mobile phones, a music box, and a drink bottle.

He said they used the bottle to collect water in the jungle, adding that after they were rescued the youngsters complained of being hungry. They wanted to eat rice pudding, they wanted to eat bread, he said.

Soldiers and Indigenous men with the children who were found in the Solano jungle, Caqueta state. Picture: Colombian Armed Forces/AP

Aside from the shock and trauma of the crash and their mothers death, the children may have had reason to fear the olive uniforms of the search party.

Manuel Ranoque, father of the two younger children, claims that members of the Carolina Ramirez Front, an ex-Farc dissident group active in the region, had a history of threatening him and his family.

Ranoque, who served as governor of a Huitoto community, said the threats had forced him to leave the region to Araracuara, in Caqueta in Colombias southern Amazon region.

The family had visited Ranoque there in April and were returning to San Jose de Guaviare in a chartered Cessna when the engine failed and it crashed into a region where the rebel group operates.

On May 20 the army confirmed it had found an abandoned Farc dissident camp 2.8km from the crash site but quickly ruled out speculation that the children had been kidnapped by the group.

Ranoque said the children would tell their own stories in time.

Search operation

No one can accuse the military of not doing enough to find the siblings. They used 11 aircraft, distributed 10,000 flyers, and launched 100 food kits into the search area of 323 sq km, even at distances further than the children could have been expected to reach on foot.

More than 150 soldiers and 200 volunteers from local Indigenous communities and a team of 10 Belgian shepherd dogs took part in the search.

At first the troops from the Colombian special forces acted silently, accustomed to tracking down rebel groups in the jungle.

We realised we had to modify the procedure, to make noise and call Leslys name, to make them see us, a soldier involved in the rescue told El Mundo on condition of anonymity.

Of the Indigenous volunteers, he said: They taught us about the jungle, their traditions, and their deep spirituality.

It was perhaps telling that the first people to find the children were members of the Indigenous search team, who had been calling out in native languages. On the morning of the rescue they partook in a ritual with yage (ayahuasca), a traditional jungle medicine with psychedelic properties.

They were found by an Indigenous guardian who took yage, and with the support of the armys technology, said Luis Acosta, coordinator of the Guardia Indigena. Those who take yage see far beyond what we see. He becomes a doctor, a panther, a tiger, a puma. He sees beyond because its a holistic medicine. He had the capacity to look.

Fatima Valencia also credited the spiritual and natural worlds for her grandchildrens survival. I give thanks to Mother Earth, because she released them.

Guardian
The man arrested following the discovery of a body of a woman at a house in Raheny on Thursday, has been charged.

He is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice at 10.30am on Friday morning.
South Africa: Selected Home Affairs offices to open on Youth Day and Saturday

The Home Affairs Department says 186 of its offices will open on Youth Day and on Saturday, 17 June 2023.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Njabulo Nzuza, is expected to visit the Home Affairs Germiston office, today and tomorrow, to encourage South Africans to apply or collect their IDs.

The 186 Home Affairs offices that will open their doors will operate from 8 am to 1 pm on both days.

As of Monday, 12 June 2023, over 471 000 IDs were uncollected at Home Affairs offices nationwide.

This drive is part of the additional work done by young employees in the department who have been coming to work on Saturdays this month to assist learners to apply for their IDs in honour of the sacrifices of the youth of 1976.

I am heartened to see young employees leading by example by affording South Africans an opportunity to apply or collect enabling documents that ensure that citizens enjoy the full benefits of being citizens, said Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi.

The Minister said applying for enabling documents is as important as collecting them.

I encourage people who applied for their enabling documents two weeks ago or earlier to come and collect their documents, he pleaded.

The Minister said the department is continuously looking at ways of delivering services in a manner that is convenient for citizens.

Meanwhile, several offices will not open, as they will be undergoing routine IT maintenance.

These include, Cala, Elliotdale, Engcobo, Idutywa, Libode, Mqanduli, Mount Aylif, Ngqeleni, Qumbu, Tsolo, Willowdale, Burgersdorp and Sterkspruit.

The department will communicate its plans to open on a weekend to cater for communities affected by the offices that are unable to open this weekend.

Visit http://www.dha.gov.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1683:live-capture-offices&catid=9:civic-services for a list of offices that will be open this weekend.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-06-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Ferdinand Magellan embarked on a westward voyage across the Atlantic Ocean Sept. 20, 1519, with five ships and 270 crew members, starting from Spain. He discovered a navigable passage at the southern tip of South America connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, now known as the Strait of Magellan. Magellan died in 1521 during a battle on Mactan Island, near the Philippines. Juan Sebastian Elcano, a navigator on a Spanish ship from the Magellan expedition, assumed command of the journey. In 1522, the Nao Victoria, the remaining ship from the Magellan expedition, completed the first trip around the world, arriving in Spain Sept. 6. In Kitty Hawk, NC, 381 years later, the Wright Flyer, an airplane built by Wilbur and Orville Wright, made aviation history. On Dec. 17, 1903, Orville piloted the Wright Flyer 120 feet above the ground for 12 seconds. It became the worlds first engine-powered airplane. Louis Bleriot, a French aviator, flew his Bleriot XI monoplane, equipped with a 25-horsepower engine, across the English Channel from Calais, France, to Dover, England, July 25, 1909. On Sept. 23, 1913, Rohland Garros successfully flew his French Morane-Saulnier fixed-wing aircraft across the Mediterranean Sea. Captain John Alcock and Lt. Arthur Whitten Brown flew 15 hours non-stop on the first transatlantic flight in June 1919. In July 1923, the US Army Air Service announced its intention to fly airplanes around the world. The Douglas Aircraft Company built four unique planes known as the World Cruisers. The planes were named after US cities; Seattle, Chicago, Boston, and New Orleans. These aircraft had Liberty V-12 engines that could generate up to 423 horsepower. Their wingspan measured 50 feet and six inches, while their length was 35 feet and nine inches. Each World Cruiser weighed 4,380 pounds on wheels, but when equipped with pontoons for oceanic travel, their weight rose to 5,180 pounds. On April 6, 1924, a group of US Army Air Service pilots took off in their World Cruisers, flying westward from Seattle, WA. The planes flew up the coast of Canada to Alaska, across the Pacific Ocean to Japan, over the Asian continent and the Middle East, crossing Europe, then flying over the Atlantic Ocean via Iceland, Greenland, and then reaching Newfoundland. Seattle and Boston crashed during the trip; however, all crew members survived. Arriving in the Northern Hemisphere, the Chicago and New Orleans planes traveled down the East Coast to Washington, DC, westward across the Allegheny Mountain Range to Dayton, OH, and over Chicago, IL, before heading south towards Dallas, TX. The planes then crossed the southwest, reaching San Diego, CA. Traveling up the West Coast, both planes landed from where they started in Seattle, WA, after a 15-day airborne journey covering 26,345 miles, completing the first-ever around-the-world flight Sept. 28, 1924. While circling the Earth, New Orleans and Chicago maintained an average air speed of 116 mph and reached altitudes of up to two miles. The front page headline of the Minneapolis Morning Tribune Sept. 29, 1924, announced, Fliers Complete Globe Trip. A subheading read, Only Two of Four Original Planes Finish Schedule. On May 21, 1927, Charles Lindbergh completed the first non-stop solo flight from New York City to Paris, France. The following year, Charles Kingsford Smith and his team flew the first non-stop transpacific flight from the US to Brisbane, Australia, some 9,500 miles, in their Dutch Fokker Trimotor airliner, Southern Cross. However, the first non-stop flight circling the globe had yet to be achieved. In 1981, Burt Rutan, an aerospace designer, and his brother Dick Rutan, an aircraft test and fighter pilot, collaborated to build the Model 76 Voyager aircraft. The 939-pound Voyager utilized every available space to store 7,011 pounds of fuel. It had a wingspan of 111 feet, with a stabilizer wing on the front of the planes nose. Voyager was lightweight, using carbon fiber, tape, and paper coated with epoxy resin. These materials made the aircraft as light as possible, significantly improving its lift and fuel efficiency. On Dec. 14, 1986, Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager (unrelated to Chuck Yeager) departed from Edwards Air Force Base in California aboard the Voyager airplane. Voyagers flight aimed to circle the earth non-stop without refueling, which had never been done before. On Dec. 23, 1986, Voyager completed its non-stop flight around the world with 140 pounds of fuel remaining. We have traveled beyond our planet using spacecraft to explore the moon and our solar system. NASA still communicates with the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft, launched in 1977, as they continue to travel through interstellar space. When talking about space exploration, I cant help but use a Star Trek analogy. In the 1994 movie Star Trek Generations, retired Captain James T. Kirk is seen on the bridge of the new USS Enterprise-B (NCC-1701-B) starship as it was about to leave Spacedock. Captain Kirk, Id be honored if youd give the order to get underway, asked Capt. John Harriman of the USS Enterprise-B. Kirk briefly paused while looking at the distant, unexplored stars on the main viewer screen before calmly saying, Take us out.
LOCKPORT  Louise Williams never thought about working anywhere other than Eastern Niagara Hospital in Lockport.

Its where she was born in 1961 and where her mother and her aunt worked as nurses. Her sister worked there, too, retiring as a nurse when the East Avenue hospital  well into the bankruptcy process by then  closed its intensive care unit in late 2020.

Williams, who started at the hospital in 1982 as a nursing assistant and became a registered nurse two years later, saw services cut as financial challenges mounted in recent years.

She knew the hospital, where she had her own kids, would eventually close. But she didnt want to think about it actually happening.

That day is now here: The hospital will close Saturday evening, ending its 115-year run in Lockport.

Things have been quiet, said Williams, clutching a tissue in her left hand. Its just hitting us now in the last couple of weeks that, you know, its definitely over.

And for the first time in 41 years, Williams is thinking about working somewhere else.

Shes of retirement age, but shes not ready to leave nursing. Williams, and many other Eastern Niagara employees, plan to join the $62 million Lockport Memorial Hospital that Catholic Health System is building about 3 miles away. That facility should open in September, preserving hospital access for 80,000 residents in eastern Niagara County.

Im very grateful that the Catholics are doing this for our community, because we definitely need it, Williams said.

It represents a new chapter for health care in this part of Niagara County.

Eastern Niagaras closure highlights the difficulty of surviving as an independent community hospital that serves a rural population  a challenge across the country.

Since January 2005, 99 rural hospitals have closed nationally while another 95 have cut inpatient beds to maintain some health care services, according to the University of North Carolinas Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research.

Longtime Eastern Niagara employees hope the new Lockport Memorial will provide that same community hospital feel that kept them working at one facility for decades.

There is a lot to say about a community hospital, said Tina Zimmerman, a radiologic technologist who has worked at Eastern Niagara for nearly 25 years and is now at the hospitals ambulatory center on South Transit Road that will remain open under Catholic Health. You do become a family, and the relationships that you build there, I think, are what kind of stapled me here and kept me here all this time.

End of an era

On a Friday earlier this month, Eastern Niagara Hospital was eerily quiet.

Unused wheelchairs lined one hallway. The ICU, which served as a Covid wing during the pandemic, was empty, its wall clock an hour behind.

One hallway wall, where the hospital displayed portraits of physicians who once worked there, was getting increasingly bare, with facility leaders gradually distributing the photos to each doctors family.

The hospitals gift shop had a two-day closing sale recently. The shop, managed by volunteers from the Hospital Guild, once made $80,000 selling Beanie Babies during the height of the toys popularity, funds that were reinvested into the hospital.

Its bittersweet, said volunteer Mary Urtel, 92. Its the end of an era.

In the hospitals final days, employees found themselves sharing memories of a once-bustling facility as they prepared for a difficult goodbye.

John Villella started in shipping/receiving at Eastern Niagara in 1981, part of a hiring wave as the hospital underwent a big addition.

On his third or fourth day, when the addition was just a hole in the ground, it started to downpour as he was about to punch out at 3 p.m. That hole in the ground filled with water, flooding the existing structure. So he and about 30 others stayed until 9:30 p.m., taking buckets of water out to the parking lot.

After 10 years in that physically demanding role, Villella became a pharmacy technician  working with Louise Azzinaro for five or six years before she moved on to another role in the hospital.

One day, he came in to the pharmacy when his back was out.

So he laid on the floor in the pharmacy and good friend Azzinaro, then nine months pregnant, walked on his back, fixing it with a few cracks.

As the closing neared, Villella kept thinking about his original rationale for working at the hospital as he hopes to land a new pharmacy technician job.

My No. 1 reason for coming was, they dont close hospitals, he said. Keep your nose clean, do a good job, work until you retire. And I was almost right.

The scary part

The Lockport hospital, founded in 1908 as Lockport City Hospital and renamed Lockport Memorial Hospital in 1959, has been through many changes, particularly over the last 25 years.

There was the affiliation ironed out in 1999 with Inter-Community Memorial Hospital in Newfane. Then, on the recommendation of the Berger Commission, a formal merger between the Lockport and Newfane hospitals came in 2009, creating Eastern Niagara Hospital.

While Eastern Niagara was profitable for a few years afterward, the system posted its last annual profit in 2015. Annual revenues that totaled more than $70 million a decade ago fell to under $35 million by 2021.

Over time, maintaining services with low patient volume led to losses, and debt obligations went unpaid. A long-planned affiliation with Kaleida Health, announced in 2017, collapsed amid Eastern Niagaras financial woes.

The stress mounted for employees as they saw Eastern Niagara further cut services. In mid-2019, the system closed its maternity unit at the 134-bed Lockport hospital and eliminated X-rays, dialysis and Express Care from the Newfane site. In August 2019, Eastern Niagara said it would close and sell the former Newfane hospital.

Loaded with debt, Eastern Niagara filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2019, with plans to offer services at only its Lockport hospital and its outpatient site on South Transit Road.

Then in October 2020, Catholic Health announced a management agreement with Eastern Niagara as well as plans to construct a right-sized hospital nearby.

Catholic Health takes a different approach with new Lockport hospital "The model was built for the community based on need, not based on what textbooks would say about hospitals," Catholic Health President and CEO Mark Sullivan said.

The plan originally called for Eastern Niagaras Lockport hospital to stay open until Lockport Memorial could open, but funding challenges made it difficult to continue beyond Saturday.

Maralyn Militello, who joined the hospital in January 2019 and became Eastern Niagara CEO in March, said the health system kept our doors open as long as we could.

If we could have gone further, we would have, she said.

Recently, Eastern Niagara was still seeing around 70 patients daily in its emergency room and its urgent care, another 70 patients daily for imaging and lab work and approximately 20 outpatient surgeries a day. The hospitals emergency department treated seven patients from Mondays incident when a tour boat tipped over in the Lockport Cave.

Most of the more than 300 employees at the Lockport hospital and the ambulatory center have new jobs lined up. Meanwhile, some longtime employees will retire and others are assessing their next move.

My focus is still making sure were taking excellent care of every patient that walks through the door, and that the staff are taken care of right up through the end, Militello said.

Saying goodbye

Louise Azzinaro began at the hospital on Nov. 16, 1981, but still feels like she just started.

Even today, I feel like I just walked in, had my interview and got my job, said Azzinaro, who works in purchasing and said she might go to work at the new hospital. Its just been wonderful. Its just kind of sad going through the floors.

For the Lockport community, it will be a transition.

Dr. Suresh Sofat, a cardiologist who has a practice in Lockport and is affiliated with Eastern Niagara, said that while the community is upset about Eastern Niagaras closure right now, that should improve once Lockport Memorial opens.

Its a sad time, he said, but it will get better.

To bridge the gap until Lockport Memorial opens, Catholic Health will open a 24/7, freestanding emergency department at the South Transit Road site it is taking over from Eastern Niagara. Once Lockport Memorial opens, it wont be a traditional hospital but instead will have 10 inpatient rooms and various specialty services.

But the transition should be easier with many familiar faces staffing the new hospital.

Some of them will be at the old Lockport hospital on Saturday when the Emergency Department closes at 5 p.m.

There, theyll see their last patient out.
Former Fianna Fail minister Pat Carey has received damages, believed to be about 250,000, and an apology from the Garda Commissioner and all his legal costs under a settlement of his action over two newspaper articles relating to a criminal investigation.

The Garda Commissioner has apologised before the High Court to Mr Carey for the "severe and wholly unjustified distress" the former TD suffered after information in relation to a Garda investigation made its way into the public domain. The legal costs in the case are believed to be substantial.

Mr Carey had claimed in High Court proceedings his privacy and confidentiality was breached in articles published in 2015 concerning a Garda investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse involving an ex-government minister.

Mr Carey was not named in the reports, but claims he had to make a public statement rejecting the innuendo that surrounded him following their publication, as well as having to step down from roles he held at the time.

Following the conclusion of the Garda investigation, the DPP informed Mr Carey, who at all times strongly rejected any allegations of wrong-doing, that no charges were to be brought against him.

Arising out of the articles the former Fianna Fail minister and TD sued the Garda Commissioner, the Attorney General, Independent Newspapers Ireland Ltd and Independent News and Media Plc. seeking damages for an alleged breach of privacy and confidentiality.

When the matter was mentioned before Ms Justice Siobhan Stack at the High Court on Friday, Remy Farrell SCinstructed by solicitor James MacGuillsaid that the matter against all parties had been settled, and the matter could be struck out.

Apology

As part of the settlement Declan Doyle SCappearing with Paul O'Neill Bl, on behalf on the Garda Commissionerread an apology to Mr Carey.

In the apology, the Commissioner Drew Harris said that he acknowledges that during the course of the investigation into allegations relating to Mr Carey that information in relation to that investigation found its way into the public domain.

The Commissioner also accepts that this should never have happened and acknowledges that this was the cause of severe and wholly unjustified distress to Mr Carey, and those close to him and damage to his reputation.

"The disclosure of confidential Garda information in an unauthorised and uncontrolled manner in relation to investigations is damaging to the integrity of the investigative process and damaging to public confidence in An Garda Siochana."

"The public is entitled to expect that relevant policy and procedures are in place and adhered to," the statement concluded.

Ms Justice Stack welcomed the settlement and agreed to strike out the proceedings. No further details of the settlement were given in open court.

Pat Carey's action

In his action, Mr Carey claimed that while the subject of the investigation was not named in the media reports, he was identified as the person concerned, and consequently became the subject of speculation.

He claimed he was placed in a position of having to make a public statement dealing with allegations of which he had no knowledge and felt obliged to step aside from positions he held while any investigation was underway.

He claimed his constitutional rights to privacy and confidentiality as well as his rights under the European Convention on Human Rights were breached.

He further alleged that the information in the reports published by the paper was disclosed to the media unlawfully by servants or agents of the Garda Commissioner, and he had sought aggravated and exemplary damages.

When the matter was previously before the courts the defendants had admitted that the articles were published, but had denied all the claims made against them. The media defendants had argued that he was not identified as a result of the articles, and it was Mr Careys own statement that identified him as being the former minister in question.

The media defendants also published Mr Careys denials of the allegations, and had claimed that the articles were in the public interest.

'Lessons'

In a statement outside the court, Mr Carey "welcomed the end of the litigation and the apology," saying that he had been subjected to the gravest allegations, adding that his character had been vilified and his "good name destroyed."

"I hope lessons have been learned from the wrongful treatment that I was subjected to and that no other citizen has their rights violated in such a fashion again." he added.

"Those who know me throughout Ireland and abroad and from every sector of society knew there was no substance to the allegations. However, the scale of the publicity meant that I chose to step aside from my public functions in the interest of others until I could demonstrate the allegations were false," he said.

"This has occurred, but at an enormous price to me and those close to me, who have put up with so much over the last seven-and-a-half years. I have fully resumed my public duties," he said.

He said that he had been vindicated by the payment of "substantial damages" and his entire legal costs. He added that "I was targeted because of my prominent position in public life," and that he did not seek special treatment.

He said:

No citizen should have their fundamental rights violated as occurred to me.

He said that he had to endure an extremely difficult time but was fortunate to have the support of those close to him, and the right-thinking embers of civil society who stood by him.

"I would like to thank them for being there when needed."

He also thanked his legal team for their efforts, particularly the late Frank Callanan SC who he said was of great assistance.

Mr Carey was a TD for Dublin North West from 1997 to 2011. He became minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht affairs in 2010 and also served as Minister for Transport as well as Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

He lost his seat in the 2011 general election.
A Kerry pimp who was jailed for 11 years for twice raping a sex worker and sending intimidating messages over Snapchat to prevent her from giving evidence has launched a bid to overturn his conviction.

Emmet O'Connor (30) from Shronemore, Rathmore, Co. Kerry, was found unanimously guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in December 2020 of two counts of rape as well as organising prostitution and intimidating a witness by sending her a drawing of a headless woman hanging upside-down from a tree. He had denied all charges.

In April 2021, Mr Justice Michael White sentenced O'Connor to eight years' imprisonment for the two rapes, to two years for organising prostitutionto run consecutively with the rape sentencesand to another consecutive year for the intimidation offence.

At his trial, the jury of six men and six women heard evidence that OConnor told gardai that he had rough sex with the victim at her home but insisted it was consensual and typical of their sexual relationship. The woman told the jury that she and OConnor had consensual rough sex a year earlier but that on September 25, 2017, she did not consent and was crying, begging him to stop.

The woman told the trial of how he grabbed her, putting her over his shoulders and brought her upstairs in her home, threw her on the bed and twice raped her, ignoring her pleas for him to stop.

Grounds for appeal

At the Court of Appeal on Friday, Michael Lynn SC, for O'Connor, said the trial judge erred in allowing the evidence of two witnesses to go before a jury without a sufficient warning that their evidence went only towards the consistency of the complaint and not towards its corroboration.

Mr Lynn said the two witnesses, in whom the woman confided soon after the rapes, added "very little" to the case but had, however, added a "prejudicial effect" against his client. The two "recent complaint" witnesses were the woman's sister, who was very concerned and became a bridge to contacting the second witness, a Ruhama counsellor.

Mr Justice George Birmingham said the woman "spoke to the sister first and then made a report that she was raped. But to get to the second conversation you had to get through the first to get to Ruhama". Mr Justice Birmingham noted that the woman's sister was concerned enough to make arrangements for the injured party to stay elsewhere from her home.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the trial judge had laid out the legal principles to the jury regarding corroboration evidence and then summarised the evidence.

Mr Lynn said that another ground of appeal was the introduction into the trial of late forensic evidence, after an error was noticed by gardai that a report had not been compiled regarding the woman's underwear. Mr Lynn said his client felt a "serious grievance" in the late introduction of the evidence in the trial in the interest of fairness.

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said the error in not having a report arose through cross-examination of a Garda witness and asked: "So, why is it wrong that the prosecution do, in getting the report, what your side said should be done?"

"It was too late. The perception is that it is unfair and we had put our best foot forward," said Mr Lynn.

Mr Lynn said the witness intimidation amounted to a Snapchat picture of a drawing done by O'Connor that the jury had questioned. Mr Lynn said the judge did not adequately explain the possible issue of O'Connor's intent when sending the message.

Prosecution objections

Roisin Lacey SC, for the State, said the complaint regarding the two witnesses was "something simply raised on a recent reading of the transcript".

Ms Lacey said that "at no stage did it form the basis of any requisition to Mr Justice White", who made it "patently obvious" to the jury that the evidence was not hearsay. "Nobody was under any illusion where that evidence came from," said Ms Lacey, who added that the trial judge had also explained the limited use of that evidence to a jury.

"Juries are not stupid and they understand the evidence, and they were entitled to know the nature of recent complaint evidence," said counsel.

Regarding the complaint about the late introduction of the forensic evidence, Ms Lacey said the defence could have gotten their own forensic evidence at any time. "We say there was no prejudice as it arose out of a line of cross-examination and it was then incumbent on us [the prosecution] to deal with it," said Ms Lacey.

Regarding the intimidatory Snapchat message, Ms Lacey said the trial judge set out the nature of the offence to the jury and explained that the provision for making an inference was open to the jury.

Ms Lacey said the drawing, sent as a Snapchat image to a pool of contacts of whom the woman was one, was one of a headless woman's body hanging upside-down from a tree with the words 'karma', 'bitch' and 'suffer' included.

"It could be nothing other than intimidatory," said Ms Lacey, who added that the original drawing had been signed by the accused and that "karma is a bitch" was a phrase used by the injured party in a phone call to O'Connor.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the court would reserve its judgement in the matter.

Original trial

At the trial, the woman said she had been working as a sex worker before she met OConnor, but he organised her business and instructed her to give the money to himshe was paid each Thursday. The jury heard the defence's claims that the prosecution had characterised O'Connor as a "low-grade pimp".

He was the boss of my prostitution, the woman told the trial, adding that she thought her cut of the money was 70/30 or 60/40 but that OConnor would tax her if she missed an appointment or was drunk when a client arrived.

The trial also heard that after he was arrested, OConnor sent another Snapchat message to the woman with the text: I guess it takes a special kind of rape victim to want to stay close to her rapist. In her victim impact statement, the woman told the court how she cannot forget the day OConnor raped her and finds it difficult to trust anyone new coming into her life.

I have never been so scared in my life. I have repeated nightmares of the crime. I wake up screaming and having cold sweats. I see him in the room even though he is not, she said.

The woman said she hoped her strength in testifying and seeing OConnor convicted would help women in a similar situation to know there is help out there.
The former head of the police watchdog in the UK has been charged with rape and other sexual offences against a girl under the age of 16.

Michael Lockwood, the former director general of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), has been charged with six counts of indecent assault and three offences of rape, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.

Lockwood, 64, stepped down from his role at the IOPC in December after it emerged he was the subject of a police probe into a historical allegation.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between October 1985 and March 1986.

He is due to appear before magistrates in Hull on June 28.

Rosemary Ainslie, head of the Special Crime Division at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said: After carefully considering all of the evidence provided to us by Humberside Police, we have authorised charges against Michael Lockwood, 64, for nine offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956.

Criminal proceedings against Mr Lockwood are active and ... he has the right to a fair trial

Mr Lockwood has been charged with six counts of indecent assault and three offences of rape against a girl under the age of 16, alleged to have been committed during the 1980s.

The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Lockwood are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.

Lockwood was the first director general appointed to lead the IOPC when it replaced the Independent Police Complaints Commission in 2018.

He was previously chief executive of the London Borough of Harrow in north-west London.

After the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire, he was asked by a Government taskforce to lead recovery and remediation work and liaise with bereaved families, survivors and the wider community.

After Lockwood stepped down last year, the IOPC announced it was conducting a review to determine whether appropriate steps were taken before his resignation.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said at the time that she took immediate action after she was made aware he was the subject of a police investigation and instructed her officials to ask him to resign or face immediate suspension.
President Vladimir Putin has talked up Russias prospects at the countrys main international economic forum despite heavy international sanctions imposed because of the war in Ukraine.

Western officials and investors steered clear of this years St Petersburg International Economic Forum that for decades has been Russias premier event for attracting foreign capital and is sometimes likened to the Davos World Economic Forum.

The Kremlin also banned journalists from countries that Russia regards as unfriendly from covering the proceedings that began on Wednesday and continue until Saturday.

Vladimir Putin claimed Russia is not isolated (Photo host Agency RIA Novosti via AP)

Moscow has imposed that designation on scores of countries including the United States, Canada, European Union members and Australia in connection with sanctions imposed over the fighting in Ukraine.

Nonetheless, Mr Putin said at the forums plenary session: We havent turned on to the self-isolation path.

Quite the opposite  we have widened contacts with reliable and responsible partners in the countries and regions that serve as the engine, the drivers of the worlds economy today.

Id like to reiterate: these are the markets of the future, everyone clearly understands it.

Officials did not provide a list of foreign businesses attending but the programme for the more than 100 panel discussions showed a marked majority of speakers hailing from Russia.

While one of the sessions listed in the programme touted Russia as a global tech hub, descriptions of others tacitly admitted Moscows growing economic isolation since its troops moved into Ukraine last February.

Mr Putin also vehemently defended Russias sending troops into Ukraine and repeated his claims that the Ukrainian government is a neo-Nazi regime, despite President Volodymyr Zelenskys Jewish roots.

We have more such weapons than the Nato countries

My Jewish friends say that Zelensky is not a Jew, but a shame to the Jewish people, Mr Putin said.

Mr Putin also confirmed that Russia has deployed its first tranche of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, a plan that was announced earlier, but he gave an ambiguous assessment of Russias willingness to use them.

Nuclear weapons are created to ensure our security in the broadest sense of the word and the existence of the Russian state. But we, firstly, do not have such a need, Mr Putin said.

But he added: Extreme means may be used if there is a threat to Russias statehood. In this case, we will certainly use all the forces and means that the Russian state has at its disposal.

Mr Putin also rejected the possibility of reducing Russias nuclear arsenal, chuckling mildly as he used a vulgarity: We have more such weapons than the Nato countries. They know about it, and all the time we are being persuaded to start negotiations on reductions. The hell with them, you know, as our people say.
A short profile on Myanmars ousted democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has hit the bookstores in the UK, becoming the latest book about the Myanmar juntas most high-profile political detainee, who will turn 78 on Monday. The books author, Burmese-born novelist Wendy Law-Yone, told The Irrawaddy that she started working on her latest book, Aung San Suu Kyi: Politician, Prisoner, Parent after the 2021 military coup in Myanmar with the aim of exploring the three main aspects of the popular leaders career that are pointed to in the title.

Law-Yone is the author of A Daughters Memoir of Burma (2014), Golden Parasol (2013), The Road to Wanting (2010), Irrawaddy Tango (1994) and The Coffin Tree (1983). In this interview with The Irrawaddy, she discusses what distinguishes her book from the many others that have already appeared about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as other issues related to the book and Myanmars most famous political prisoner.

The Irrawaddy: Many books have been written about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi already. Whats new in your book?

Wendy Yaw-Lone: The abundance of books on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is always a deterrent to writing yet another one about her. I have written one anyway. If there is anything really new about mine, I suppose you could say its neither a puff-piece nor a polemic. Most books about her are either one or the other.

What inspired you to write the book?

I dont know if inspiration is the right word. The idea wasnt mine. It came from a publisher in the UK.

When did you first get the idea to write the book?

I never thought about writing a book about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and probably never would have written one if I hadnt been asked to. But not long after the 2021 coup, I was invited to write an article on [her] by the TLS [Times Literary Supplement] in London. When I outlined the article I had in mind, the editors thought it could be expanded and published as a book. I agreed.

How long did it take to finish the book and what were the challenges?

I was supposed to finish the book in three months, and I did. But publication was delayed because the Russian invasion of Ukraine somewhat overshadowed the troubles in Myanmar. Then it was one damned thing after another, and the world kept shifting its gaze to other, more compelling, global catastrophes. Meanwhile, Myanmar was fast fading from memory. It was only when Daw Aung San Suu Kyis succession of closed trials was finally brought to an end that publication of the book could be brought forward.

How did you feel writing the book, knowing that the main subject of the story wasand remainsin prison ?

That was a difficult question, and I must admit it gave me pause. But then everything I write gives me pause. In this case, the hesitations were heavier than usual. But once I decided it was a book worth writing and contracted to write it, I simply had to power through all the doubt and vacillation and just get on with the job.

What kind of person is she to you? Given the current situation she is in, what do you think of her?

I have never actually met Aung San Suu Kyi, and maybe for that reason she remains opaque, even impenetrable to me. But what I think of her is not the point: Its what people both inside and outside Myanmar think of her that I discuss in my book.

What kind of politician is she to you? She is now 78 and still in prison some people think her leading political role in Myanmar is over. What do you think?

A 78-year-old sentenced to 33 years in prison by Myanmars military government? Yes, I think its the end of her political career. But Aung San Suu Kyi has a particular hold on the collective imagination of the people of Myanmar, and that mystique is far from over.

To many Myanmar people, she is a motherly figure. For her family, what kind of mother is she?

The original title of my book was Aung San Suu Kyi: Mothering Myanmar. The editors decided, for reasons I still dont quite buy, to change the subtitle to Politician, Prisoner, Parent. In any event, I wanted to focus on the ways in which Daw Aung San Suu Kyis political life conformed to popular Burmese-Buddhist notions of motherhood. At a defining moment in her early political career, she chose not to return to her home in England, to her two young sons and her dying husband. She could have left the country, but doing so would most likely have meant being permanently barred from re-entry. That she chose country over family seemed shocking to much of the Western world. But to her Burmese devotees, the decision was seen as the supreme sacrifice a mother can makefor the greater good of her country. Not for nothing do the people of Myanmaror I should say the Bamar peoplerefer to her as Amay Suu [Mother Suu].
Myanmars junta suffered heavy losses in Sagaing Township, according to resistance groups.

Ambushes were carried out by 35 resistance commandos specially selected from three groups from Mandalay and Sagaing regions, according to Ko Thet Gyi of Myingyan Peoples Defense Force, which planned the attacks.

On Tuesday morning, a clash broke out near Thar Zin village to the west of Sar Daung town in Sagaing Region when the commandos ambushed around 130 troops, who were advancing on the village.

We attacked after systematic planning and taking up positions by scouting the regime troops, Ko Thet Gyi told The Irrawaddy on Friday.

He said 10 regime soldiers were seen being gunned down and another 10 were injured.

The junta force then raided Thar Zin and burned nearly 700 out of around 1,000 homes in the village, according to the anti-regime Sagaing Township True News media group.

A 60-year-old female villager died in the arson attack and around 40 villagers were detained with 10 females later being released, the media reported.

Another clash was reported near the village on Wednesday with no details known about casualties.

On Thursday the resistance commandos ambushed the same regime troops at close range while they headed to Pauk Ma village.

A resistance video shows regime forces being attacked in farmland.

At least 20 soldiers were killed and many others injured in the ambush, Ko Thet Gyi said.

The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports.

Resistance combatants said four regime soldiers were hit by 40mm explosives and two more troops, including the commander, were killed by resistance snipers, said Zero Guerrilla Force, which took part in the attack.

Six resistance fighters were injured, the group said.

After the ambush, the troops torched houses in Pauk Ma.

Myanmars junta faces near-daily attacks from resistance groups and ethnic armed organizations across the country.
Myanmars resistance forces say they ambushed junta forces in Pale Township, Sagaing Region, killing at least five junta and Pyu Saw Htee militia troops.

All Burma Students Democratic Front and Pale People Defense Force reportedly ambushed junta troops with mines near Min Taing Pin village on Wednesday morning.

At least five troops, including two Pyu Saw Htee members, were killed and many others were wounded, according to our sources, said a spokesman for the front.

The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports.

Around 120 troops from Light Infantry Battalion 704 and Pyu Saw Htee militias raided Ohn Hnauk village in western Pale and looted food on Tuesday.

The junta raiding force was attacked by resistance groups near Min Taing Pin village on Wednesday morning.

They usually raid villages once a month to feed Pyu Saw Htee villages. Their villagers cannot go out on their own as they are frequently attacked by resistance forces, the spokesman said.

A source said the Pyu Saw Htee villages rely on junta food supplies and shortages have been reported as troops have not raided Pale Township for nearly two months.

On Friday, junta troops advanced on Ma Yoe Kone village and looted food before moving to Zee Pyu Kone, sources said.

Two junta airstrikes were reported near Zee Phyu Kone village earlier this month, according to sources.
More than 3,000 residents of Kayah States Maese Town have fled to Mae Hong Son Province in northwest Thailand following an artillery attack on the town on Tuesday, according to volunteers helping the refugees and Thai media.

They need food, the volunteers said.

The refugees fled after Myanmars military shelled Maese Town late Tuesday, following intense clashes with allied resistance forces comprising the Karenni Army, Karenni Nationalities Defense Force, and Peoples Defense Force.

The allied force attacked three junta bases in Maese Township and a police station in Maese Town on Tuesday.

The juntas military responded by shelling Maese town, forcing its residents to flee across the border to Thailand.

They had no time to pack their belongings because the artillery attack was sudden and need emergency supplies, said Ko Banyar, the director of Karenni Human Rights Organization.

He estimated that about 3,400 residents of the town had fled to Thailand.

They need food, he said.

They were preceded by refugees from Demoso and Hpruso townships and, more recently, Bawlake Township, Ko Banyar said.

There are not enough shelters [for them], he added.

Mae Hong Son Province administrator Chettha Mosikkharat was quoted by the Bangkok Post as saying Thai authorities are taking care of 3,342 people who have fled fighting in Maese.

A volunteer said: Displaced people are currently accommodated in makeshift shelters. They need more assistance.

Maese Town borders Thailands Mae Hong Son Province.

Fierce clashes broke out as Karenni forces attempted to seize hill-top outposts from Myanmar military in Karenni State after the formation of Karenni State Interim Executive Council on June 6.
The civilian National Unity Government has launched an investigation after three members of a resistance group in Sagaing Regions Myaung Township were killed by the resistances Peoples Security Force (PSF).

The PSF is under the command of the NUG, while the three victims were members of the Zamani Revolution Force (ZRF) based in Myaung.

The PSF sought to detain ZRF leader Ko Zaw Moe and three members on June 1 for allegedly killing one of its senior members on March 26 and disposing of his body.

The PSF claims that Ko Zaw Moe and two other ZRF members were killed in an exchange of gunfire that also wounded a fourth resistance member.

We did not falsely accuse Ko Zaw Moe and shoot him, PSF chief U Myint Tin told The Irrawaddy. We received complaints, evidence and testimony, so we tried to detain him, he added.

ZRF information officer Ko Paung Paung, however, said he heard from the district Peoples Defense Force (PDF) that the three resistance fighters had died during PSF interrogation.

They were arrested on suspicion [of killing a PDF member] and they were just suspects. I have no complaint about the interrogation, which I accept if it was in line with the law. But they have been killed, and I need say no more, said Ko Paung Paung.

The ZRF said that it was told that one resistance fighter was injured during the arrest but was not formally informed about the deaths of the three others.

ZRF leader Ko Zaw Moe, members Ko Khant Min Thar and Ko Soe Win, and local resistance group leader Ko Hla Myo Oo from Padettaing village were reportedly abducted, tied up and transported to an unknown location by the PSF.

U Myint Tin denied the ZRF members were killed during interrogation.

They did not die because we used excessive force in interrogation. They were hit in an exchange of fire as we tried to detain them. They were barely alive when they reached our base, said U Myint Tin.

The sole survivor is in good health, he added.

The NUGs Home Affairs Ministry has launched a probe into the case. The NUGs Myaung Township police force said it is still investigating and refused to provide details.

NUG spokesman U Nay Phone Latt said action would be taken if the three members were found to have died from excessive force used during interrogation.

If one side resisted arrest, there may have been an exchange of fire. But we have yet to find out if [the PSF] fired shots to make the arrest or if there was an exchange of fire. We will not tolerate it if they were deliberately shot dead or if they died from unnecessary force during interrogation. We will take legal action if this is the case, the NUG spokesman said.

The PSF said it has evidence, including from an eyewitness, that the ZRF killed its senior member Ko Poe Htaung.

The NUGs Sagaing District PDF Battalion 1 commander, Bo Yakha, has also called for an investigation, saying the incident had undermined trust between the NUG and Local Defense Forces.

The PSF had previously detained seven members of Sagaing District PDF Battalion 1 and three members of ZRF in connection with the death of Ko Poe Htaung, said the ZRF spokesman.

Revolutionary organizations have reported rivalry involving tit-for-tat arrests, shootings and killings among armed anti-regime groups in Sagaing Region, a resistance stronghold in central Myanmar.

A judge working for the interim peoples judicial body in Sagaings Pale Township was abducted by the Myanmar Royal Dragon Army on June 7. He remains in detention.

In August last year, Wetlet Township PDF attacked a checkpoint manned by a resistance group led by Bo Kyar Gyi in the east of the township, killing two members and wounding 12 others.

In another case, Yinmabin Township PDF led by monk-turned-revolutionary Bo Thanmani killed over 20 people including members of fellow resistance group Hero Tiger in 2022. Over 60 local resistance groups filed complaints over the killing with the NUG.

Revolutionary organizations have criticized the NUG for failing to publicly punish culprits in cases of resistance-on-resistance violence.
Thailand will hold an informal ministerial meeting with some regional countries next week to prepare the way for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to fully re-engage Myanmar at the leaders level, according to the meeting invitation letter from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The letter, viewed by The Irrawaddy, said informal talks will be held in Thailand on Monday.

Thailands outgoing Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai said in the letter that the meeting is a follow-up to the unequivocal statement by a member nation of ASEAN during the summit in Indonesia in May that it was time for the bloc to fully re-engage Myanmar at the leaders level.

A number of members supported the call and some were willing [to] consider [and] there was no explicit dissenting voice, the letter says.

Myanmar, an ASEAN member, has been a thorn in blocs side since the countrys military staged a coup in 2021. The takeover not only caused social and political turmoil inside the country, it also posed a threat to regional security.

Following the coup, ASEAN adopted a five-point peace plan, including a call for an immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar, but the ruling generals failed to honor the plan. In response, ASEAN has excluded Myanmars junta leader and its foreign minister from its summits since late 2021.

More than two years on, the regional grouping still hasnt solved Myanmars crisis, despite quiet diplomacy to find a solution by its current chair, Indonesia.

The regime has already killed more than 3,600 people, most of them civilians, for rejecting military rule in Myanmar.

Thailands organization of informal talks on Monday has prompted fear that it may lead to regime leaders being invited to ASEAN meetings again.

Igor Blazevic, a senior adviser at the Prague Civil Society Centre, condemned Don Pramudwinais informal meeting on Myanmar as a rushed and unilateral decision that could seriously endanger ASEAN unity and the international consensus that the regional bloc is the main forum for dealing with, and solving, the crisis in Myanmar.

Once the regimes foreign minister is re-invited to [a] surrogate ASEAN meeting, [a] red line will be crossed and there will be no more ASEAN centrality in dealing with the Myanmar crisis, he said.

The current Thai government has been accused of being too close to the regime in its neighboring country and offering only a muted response to its atrocities.

Bangkok has said it is adhering to ASEANs so-called non-interference policy, which prevents members of the association from interfering in the internal politics of other member states.

In December last year, Thailand arranged an informal meeting with some other ASEAN members to discuss Myanmar. Then-Myanmar Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin was invited.

In March of this year, it also organized the Track 1.5 roundtable on Myanmar in Bangkok as a way of opening additional channels for dialogue among those affected by the Myanmar crisis. It was attended by members of the Myanmar junta, and representatives of ASEAN members Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, along with representatives of China, India, Bangladesh and Japan.

A second roundtable was hosted by India in April.

Myanmar junta Foreign Minister Than Swe is expected to attend the meeting on Monday. It is not clear which other ASEAN members will join the talks.

In the invitation letter, Don Pramudwinai said the informal meeting could be part of the initial steps towards a peace process in Myanmar in line with what was suggested at the ASEAN summit in May.

Should this informal ministerial engagement make substantial positive progress, we would like to suggest that a carpe diem back-to-back meeting of leaders be convened thereafter, he said.
A federal jury Wednesday convicted David Lettieri, 36, of Broome County, of enticement of a minor, a charge that carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Bonanno and Maeve E. Huggins presented the case to jurors that Lettieri traveled to Wyoming County to attempt to have sex with a 13-year-old girl.

The prosecutors said that in October 2020, Lettieri traveled to a park in Wyoming County with the intent of having sexual intercourse but that sexual contact did not occur.

An investigation recovered communications between Lettieri and the girl, including photos of her on Lettieris phone, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Investigators searched Lettieris Facebook account and recovered conversations between Lettieri, the girl and the girl's sister, which were sexual in nature. The victims age was revealed during the conversations.

The investigation was done by the Wyoming County Sheriffs Office and the FBI.

Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo, who presided over the trial.
At least 42 Myanmar junta forces including pro-junta Pyu Saw Htee militia members were killed in the last four days as Peoples Defense Forces (PDFs) continued to attack regime targets across the country.

Incidents were reported in Sagaing, Magwe and Tanintharyi regions and Shan State.

The Irrawaddy has collected the following reports of significant attacks from PDFs.

Some military casualties could not be independently verified.

Military column ambushed with land mines in Sagaing

The resistance group Chindwin Tiger People Defense Force claimed to have killed 15 junta soldiers as it and two PDF groups used several land mines to ambush a military column of 200 troops and Pyu Saw Htee militia members in Yinmabin, Sagaing Region on Thursday.

The column was traveling to the pro-regime village of Bent Bwe in Yinmabin from another pro-junta village, Alal Kyun in Kani Township.

First, the military column was ambushed while passing through three minefields, killing five junta forces.

The PDF groups continued to ambush the column by using another cluster of 12 land mines, killing 10 more regime troops.

Four junta policemen killed in PDF ambush in Sagaing

Combined resistance forces ambush regime police forces in Myaung Township on Thursday. / Myingyan Tiger PDF

PDF group Myingyan Tiger claimed to have killed four junta police from Kyauk Yit police station in Myaung Township, Sagaing Region on Thursday when it and other PDF groups jointly ambushed the officers as they were returning to their base.

Township administration office raided in Magwe

At least 10 regime forces were reportedly killed in Yesagyo Township, Magwe Region on Wednesday when a large number of resistance forces attacked regime troops stationed at the township General Administration Department in Yesagyo town, said Myingyan Black Tiger PDF, which led the raid.

Prior to the attack, regime forces had attempted to arrest two PDF members, detaining one, who was injured. The regime forces placed the injured fighter on a road in an attempt to lure resistance forces to try to rescue their comrade, planning to ambush the rescuers.

But the junta abandoned the ambush plan when it learned that a large number of PDF fighters were heading to the town to take part in the rescue of the injured comrade, said the leader of the PDF group. Unable to rescue their comrade, the PDF groups attacked the administration office instead.

Regime forces face repeated mine blasts in Magwe

At least three junta troops were killed and many others injured in Yesagyo Township, Magwe Region on Thursday when Yesagyo PDF conducted a series of land-mine ambushes on military vehicles from the militarys Light Infantry Battalion 256, the resistance group said.

First, the group used a cluster of eight land mines to ambush two military vehicles carrying 60 troops on a road. It also used a cluster of 15 land mines to ambush one more military truck transporting reinforcements to the ambush site.

In the second attack, three soldiers were killed and eight others injured, the PDF group said. There were no PDF casualties despite soldiers chasing and attacking them.

That afternoon, the PDF group used six land mines to ambush two more military vehicles carrying the bodies of killed and injured soldiers near the entrance to Yesagyo. More regime forces were injured, the resistance group claimed.

On Wednesday, two soldiers were killed in the township when Yesagyo PDF ambushed five regime forces traveling to a village.

Junta spy, militia leader killed in Magwe

Southern Magway PDF claimed to have killed the Pyu Saw Htee militia leader Aung Thaung, who was also chair of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)s branch in Ma Dine Village, in Min Hla Township, Magwe Region on Tuesday.

The militia leader was supplying the regime with information about striking government servants and pro-junta activists.

The group said it also killed army Sergeant Tin Kyi from the No. 2 Military Weapons Factory as he was spying on the movements of local resistance groups by pretending to be a civilian.

The sergeant was shot dead while in resistance detention as he attempted to flee after snatching a weapon from PDF forces, the resistance group said.

Police outpost seized by resistance in northern Shan

Four junta policemen were killed in Momeik Township, northern Shan State on Wednesday when the northern unit of All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) raided the police outpost in Kyauk Maw Village, the resistance group said.

After a 30-minute firefight, the resistance group managed to seize the whole police base. Six weapons and some ammunition were also seized. The resistance forces found three women and two children at the outpost and released them later.

The police outpost was notorious for extorting money from vehicles and businesses nearby.

Army major killed in land-mine ambush in Tanintharyi

Two regime forces including an army major were killed in Yephyu Township, Tanintharyi Region on Tuesday when Yephyu PDF used land mines to ambush a small vehicle from the militarys Artillery Battalion 304 on the Ye-Dawei Highway, the PDF group told local media.

After the incident, regime forces arrested 30 residents including women and children from nearby Kyauk Kanya Village, according to a report by The Tanintharyi Times citing locals and the resistance group.
Friday, Jun 16th, 2023 (1:17 pm) - Score 5,808

Network builder and broadband ISP Hyperoptic, which earlier this year revealed that their gigabit-capable full fibre (FTTP/B) network had covered 1.15 million UK homes (inc. 275,000 customers), has today announced that theyre proposing to make around 110 redundancies (mostly build engineers) and refocus others to customer-facing roles.

News of job cuts is never good, although the operator stressed to ISPreview that the proposed changes to their engineering workforce  mostly impacting network build teams in Scotland and North West England (i.e. where the rollout of their network is now said to be almost complete)  was not being drive by KKR or any economic challenges.

NOTE: KKR acquired a majority (75%) equity stake in KKR acquired a majority (75%) equity stake in Hyperoptic during 2019 ( here ) and the operator, which is home to 2,000 employees, has so far secured 600m in debt to fund its growth.

As part of this change Hyperoptic said theyd also be redeploying around 40 network build engineers into customer build and customer connections teams, and into the New Build Homes part of their business where theyve seen good performance  thanks to improvements in wayleave signing, delivery, and customer take-up rates.

In addition, the operator said theyre working to remove a layer of management in their Infrastructure Division to help simplify their processes and deliver more quickly. Some of todays changes reflect the fact that Hyperoptic has somewhat evolved from focusing solely on MDUs (blocks of flats etc.), to also serving New Builds, existing houses and more.

Dana Tobak, Founder & CEO of Hyperoptic, said: In support of our continued growth at Hyperoptic, we have refocused around 40 employees on customer-facing engineering roles, and are proposing to make around 110 redundancies in the UK as we increase our focus on areas that offer us the greatest customer reach. Where necessary for the customer-centric roles, we will provide support and training to help keep our people in Hyperoptic  building on their skills, experience and expertise. For those employees that do move on from Hyperoptic, we will ensure the support they receive reflects the great work they have delivered for this company.

Naturally, we queried whether the job losses from their build team might impact upon their target of reaching 2 million premises by the end of 2023, which it should be said was only set in February 2022 and after they downgraded it from the prior goal (here). In case anybody has forgotten, Hyperoptic originally aimed to cover 2 million UK homes by the end of 2021 and 5 million by 2024.

The provider informed us that theyve actually revised the 2m target internally some time ago, but havent yet set a specific new timeline or communicated it externally (until now). The expectation is that Hyperoptic will now hit this mark sometime in 2024, but we were told that this delay (another one) is not related to the aforementioned redundancies.

Hyperoptic remains adamant that theyve now achieved the network build rate they aimed for, have roughly completed their Hyperzone builds in Scotland and North West England, and are ready to focus on their next phase  scaling their customer-oriented Infrastructure delivery teams to boost value (take-up etc.). But like it or not, to many people, this will still look like theyre about to miss yet another coverage target.

Customers of the service typically pay from 25 per month on a 24-month term (plus 29 activation) for a 50Mbps package, which rises to 45 for their top 1Gbps plan with free activation (currently free for the first 3 months of service). The provider also offers a social tariff for those on benefits.
Friday, Jun 16th, 2023 (7:33 am) - Score 1,128

European satellite operator Eutelsat, which is also the parent of UK ISP Konnect and bigblu, has announced that its reached a deal to sell its European broadband retail activities to an experienced private operator. The move impacts their retail activities in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Hungary, and Greece.

The move isnt all that surprising, particularly since theyve struggled to grow their retail base in the wake of ever-expanding coverage by full fibre broadband networks and the arrival on the scene of SpaceXs rival Starlink network in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which made a lot of the Eutelsats GEO/GSO based packages seem less attractive.

Despite this, we had assumed that Eutelsat might continue trying to retain some retail presence in the European market, not least due to their merger with OneWeb and the new opportunities that could bring. Not to mention the imminent commercialisation of their recently launched Very High Throughput Satellite (VHTS), which has a huge Ka-band (radio spectrum) capacity of around 500Gbps (Gigabits per second).

Instead, Eutelsat appears set to focus more on the wholesale side of their business, which has performed well. The catch is that wholesale can sometimes suffer when clients perceive an operator as being too vertically integrated with its own retail operators.

Eutelsat Statement The disposal comes in the wake of the considerable success of Eutelsats wholesale go-to-market model to distribute its satellite broadband capacity over Europe, underpinned by major wholesale deals signed with Orange (France), TIM (Italy), Hispasat (Spain) and Swisscom (Switzerland) for the capacity in their respective markets on the Eutelsat KONNECT satellite. The private operator will also become a wholesale distributor in existing markets. This strategy will be further bolstered by the entry into service of KONNECT VHTS expected in the second half of 2023, with 230 beams over Europe and MENA, representing a Ka capacity of 500 Gbps, adaptable according to demand and specific needs in each country. Firm commitments have already been secured for part of this incremental capacity by important European telecom operators, (e.g., Orange, TIM or Swisscom), confirming the ability of KONNECT VHTS to provide a compelling and competitive solution for broadband to under-served regions of Europe.

The announcement doesnt say who the experienced private operator is that will be taking on their retail business.
June 15, 2023



Jaxon Jensen, a teacher at American Falls High School, is the first graduate of an innovative program aimed at providing high school teachers with the necessary credentials to teach dual credit courses to their students while earning their masters degree.

The program, offered through Idaho State University, is known as the STRIPES Instructor Scholarship Program and it allows high school educators to teach dual credit courses while simultaneously pursuing their master's degree.

The STRIPES Instructor Scholarship Program was established in response to the growing demand for high school teachers qualified to teach dual credit courses within their respective schools. Through this program, teachers pursue a master's program of study that fully certifies them to teach dual credit courses in their specific discipline. Once accepted into the program, instructors can begin teaching while receiving guidance and mentorship from a designated Faculty Liaison Mentor from ISU.

"It's a win-win situation for everyone involved," said Chelsie Rauh, Director of the Early College Program. "The Stripes Instructor Scholarship Program provides high school teachers with the opportunity to earn their master's degree and gain valuable teaching experience, while students benefit from access to college-level courses taught by qualified instructors."

The program, now entering its fourth cohort in Fall 2023, has seen significant growth since its inception. A total of 21 participants have been involved in the program across the three previous cohorts, with Jensen being the first graduate. While most instructors typically take five years to complete the program, Jensen pursued a plan that allowed him to finish ahead of schedule. He earned a Master of Arts in Communication degree.

Jensen, who also does college and career advising at American Falls High School, graduated in 2016 from ISU with an undergraduate communication degree. He says he had not thought it would be possible to pursue a masters degree, but when he was approached about the program by Holly Kartchner, Director of Outreach and Retention for the College of Arts and Letters in 2020, he saw it as an excellent opportunity.

I thought about doing a masters degree but it was further down the road, Jensen said. This opportunity was perfect. It was a great fit and opportunity to advance in my career and be able to help students in the process.

Jensen has been teaching Communication 1101, a dual credit course offered by ISU, providing high school students with an early college experience. He also recently piloted a new dual credit course called ACAD 1101, which focuses on college learning strategies. This course is typically taken by freshmen at ISU, but offering it to high school students enables them to better prepare themselves for the challenges of college life.

Reflecting on the benefits of the program, Jensen said he was able to improve his teaching skills because of his coursework in communication, which in turn, positively impacted his students.

Being able to pursue my master's degree and take courses that enhance my teaching abilities has been incredibly beneficial, he said.

Jensen says that the dual credit courses he teaches to high schoolers in communication and academic strategies give students a head start in college, helping them develop vital communication skills necessary for success.

The dual credit courses offered by American Falls School District have proven to be a hit among students, with 13 students enrolled in the communication course and 15 in the academic strategies course this past academic year. These courses not only provide students with college credits but also equip them with essential communication skills that are crucial for their academic and personal growth.

Jensen encourages educators to consider participating in the STRIPES Instructor Scholarship Program, emphasizing the unique opportunity it provides for professional advancement and helping students.

"If someone is looking to earn a degree when they thought it wouldn't be possible, this program is a great opportunity. It allows you to advance your career while making a difference in students' lives, he said.

For more information about the STRIPES program, contact Chelsie Rauh at (208) 282-6067, or email rauhchel@isu.edu.
The mental health and school records of a child who told her mother that G. Steven Pigeon raped her in 2016 are pivotal to his defense, his lawyer told a judge Friday as he sought wide access to them.

Without any physical or DNA evidence, the case against Pigeon  the former Erie County Democratic Party chairman who at one time was an influential figure in local and statewide politics  comes down to what the child says and to what others say about her change in behavior since the alleged attack, said Rochester-based defense attorney James Nobles.

Nobles called the childs mental health records at Erie County Medical Center as well as her school records important for our investigation because they could call into question the credibility of what the child and mother say in court.

It puts these records, all of them, at the center of the case, Nobles said.

Among the records Nobles seeks are those from a mental health incident this past January that Hamburg police responded to, which led to the child being held temporarily at ECMC.

Nobles said he has a good faith reason to believe that a lot of the trauma the child has suffered is caused by the mother, and Pigeon has a right to any evidence that might show that in his defense.

But prosecutors urged State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller not to let Nobles engage in a fishing expedition.

Whatever the child suffered in January or in previous mental health episodes should not be considered material or relevant to the charges against Pigeon, because it has no effect on her ability to recall what happened in 2016, said Lynette M. Reda, chief of the Erie County District Attorneys Offices Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau.

The defense believes they are entitled to go on a fishing expedition of educational and mental health records, Reda said, adding those records are not relevant to the guilt or innocence of the defendant.

Attorney Emily OReilly, representing ECMC, called the childs interview with a therapist exactly the type of material were supposed to be protecting from being disclosed.

A review in which the judge would privately screen the childs records is the only way the hospital would want to turn them over, OReilly said.

Boller reserved ruling on the motions and scheduled the lawyers to return to court in August. In the meantime, he said he would seek to balance the rights of someones mental health records to remain private with Pigeons constitutional rights as a defendant as he decides how to proceed with the records.

The path to criminal charges against Pigeon started in the summer of 2021, according to prosecutors, when the child told her mother about what allegedly took place five years ago, between Thanksgiving and Christmas 2016.

The name and age of the child have been withheld, with prosecutors saying the child was under the age of 11 at the time charges were filed in December 2021.

After hearing from her child, the mother spoke with an attorney who had previously done work for the family. That attorney contacted the District Attorneys Office.

County prosecutors started investigating and then brought in state police for help.

Pigeon has been indicted on two counts of predatory sexual assault against a child and one count each of first-degree rape, first-degree criminal sexual act, first-degree sexual abuse and child endangerment. Pigeon has denied the accusations.

On Friday, Nobles argued for a motion first made by Pigeons previous defense lawyers, asking the judge to block the testimony of a potential prosecution witness about Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome.

Assistant District Attorney Cathleen M. Roemer said the average juror has misconceptions about how a child responds to an assault, presuming the child would immediately report what happened to a trusted adult.

Thats completely incorrect, Roemer told the judge.

An expert can talk to jurors about the syndrome to explain behavior of abuse victims, including a delay in reporting the abuse, Roemer said.

I have more faith in jurors today than Ms. Roemer, Nobles told the judge.
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.
The two buses from New York City arrived in Cheektowaga about 3 a.m. Friday.

They carried 50 people from around the world who are seeking asylum in the United States.

Today our team will be meeting with folks, and so well know a little bit more about where people are from, said Dr. Myron Glick, founder and CEO of Jericho Road Community Health Center, one of the groups providing supportive services.

Most of the people on the buses are single men, he said, and they speak at least 12 different languages, with the most common being French. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said there are three couples as well. There are no children in this group.

Were talking multiple countries from all over the world, Glick said.

Poloncarz said the county has known for days that people were coming and had expected some asylum-seekers to arrive as soon as this past Tuesday. But not enough asylum-seekers volunteered to come to the Buffalo area to make the trip worthwhile before Thursday. And even then, the county was expecting 60 people  two busloads of 30.

Of those who did arrive in the overnight hours, the majority were residents of the Congo in central Africa. The second-largest group came from Venezuela. The asylum-seekers have come from all over the world, and not all necessarily from the southern border, he said.

I was a little heartened when I heard the largest population was Congolese, Poloncarz said. We have a Congolese population here.

They were met by representatives of the New York Immigration Coalition, Jericho Road, Justice for Migrant Families and Jewish Family Services Refugee and Immigrant Center for Healing. Journeys End Refugee Services and the International Institute also are helping them.

New York City contracted with an intermediary to be responsible for providing shelter and food, according to the New York Immigration Coalition.

A hotel near the Buffalo Niagara International Airport in Cheektowaga agreed to host the men and has a contract with New York City to provide housing and food for them for up to a year.

The intermediary contracted with Jericho Road, which is partnering with the other groups to do new arrival intakes and provide case management and legal services. They will also assist people in getting to their final destinations.

Poloncarz expressed optimism that some of those who arrived have ties here that will result in them leaving the local hotel and staying with friends and relatives.

While New York City is responsible for covering the costs of asylum-seekers food, shelter and other needs, some have questioned that citys ability to cover the costs of migrants staying here long term.

Poloncarz said he feels assured that even if New York City doesnt come through, the state and federal government will.

Financially, New York State knows that it has responsibilities if New York City decides to walk away, he said.

This is a federal problem, he added. Local governments, state governments cant solve issues about asylum-seekers, and whos coming in and how theyre paid for. It requires federal action.

Poloncarz and others said what the county is dealing with now is not new to Erie County or local resettlement agencies.

That is normal, Glick said. This is not new to Buffalo. Its not new to Jericho. Buffalo has been helping asylum-seekers for 40-plus years, its part of our DNA.

He said case managers will evaluate each persons case and situation. Some may want to go to Canada, but there has been a change in the policy around the U.S. border with Canada making it more difficult for immigrants to enter. The change also has played a part in Jericho Roads Vive Shelter in Buffalo being full.

The others who remain will be helped in their efforts to gain asylum. After a certain amount of time they can get working papers and find jobs and apartments.

The initial investment of dollars will pay off because these folks will be a part of the fabric of our community and will be giving back in some way, Glick said.

Glick and Poloncarz said they presume there will be more asylum-seekers arriving in Erie County, but they did not know how many or when they might come. Given the difficulty in filling two buses from New York City, Poloncarz said, asylum-seekers may not be looking at Buffalo as an attractive landing spot.

Poloncarz said he was first anticipating asylum-seekers arrival on Tuesday.

It leads me to believe that they had a very difficult time just getting the 50 individuals, so whether we get more people is all going to be dependent upon whether individuals want to come up here.

The county executive has been criticized by Republican and Conservative legislators and candidates for not being more forthcoming or transparent about migrants coming to the county, resulting in legislators finding out about migrants being bused into town through the news media. Democratic legislators also have been criticized for not wanting to discuss the issue.

Poloncarz, meanwhile, expressed concern Friday about the reaction he has heard and read on social media and local talk shows.

I know theres been, unfortunately, in the last 24 hours, a lot of racist and bigoted statements on social media and other places, he said.

He added that he was concerned about the rhetoric and fears the potential for violence against migrants and drew parallels with the residents from Erie County who participated in the insurrection on the nations Capitol.

Theres a lot of angry people, unfortunately in our community, and I hope that people sit back, take a deep breath and realize this is not a crisis. This is not an emergency. These people are not coming for your jobs. These people are not coming for your children. These people are getting away from a horrible situation in their home country, whatever it might have been.

Glick praised Poloncarz and other local officials for welcoming the new arrivals.

Buffalo is better because we do this, Glick said. Buffalo is built on the backs of people who have fled oppression.
Sandy Crowley couldnt believe how different the Buffalo AKG Art Museum looked Thursday after a $195 million expansion, restoration and renovation of the entire campus.

Opening of Buffalo AKG Art Museum a 'stunning accomplishment' Creating new spaces to meet the museum's needs in the 21st century, and pursuing new approaches to broaden and diversify its audience are all part of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum's $195 million expansion, restoration and renovation.

Its so amazing, she said. I feel like Im traveling somewhere else in the world and visiting a world-class museum, and here it is in our own backyard.

Crowley, of Getzville, was one of more than 1,600 people who streamed into the museum by 3 p.m. on the first day it opened to the general public. Museum officials expected 3,000 by the 8 p.m. closing time.

Her enthusiasm was typical.

This is spectacular, said Tony DiRienzo of East Aurora, standing on the third floor of the Jeffrey E. Gundlach Building. This is really Buffalo at its best.

The AKG, which formally opened to invited guests Monday, features the new Gundlach Building; the restored 1905 building, now called the Robert and Elisabeth Wilmers Building; the reimagined 1962 building, now the Seymour H. Knox Building; and the curvy John J. Albright Bridge.

Im overwhelmed, said Martha Parzych, of the Village of Akron, as she toured Clyfford Still: A Legacy for Buffalo, a first-floor exhibition that will be up until February in the Gundlach Building. The museum is beautiful. What a wonderful gift.

Every turn, every angle  Im speechless, said Allentown resident Alana Kilminster, who had kept track of the project the past 3 years and 7 months while the museum was closed.

The wait, she said, was more than worth it.

Museum members, donors, members of community organizations and construction workers and their families had a chance before Thursday to see the museum. Thursday marked the first of four free days before the Gundlach Building closes Monday for roughly a month to complete construction work. The Wilmers and Knox buildings will remain open.

Christine Goerss-Barton, head of visitor experience, said the last free tickets to visit the Buffalo AKG through Sunday were distributed earlier in the day.

It has been extraordinary to see so many people come back to their hometown museum, Goerss-Barton said. I have had countless conversations with visitors about their memories of the museum and their excitement about our new campus. Their enthusiasm is infectious, and our team cannot wait to continue welcoming them throughout the summer.

On the third floor, Buffalo resident Karen Thompson stood before German artist Anselm Kiefers 2012 work, Der Morgenthau Plan, enamored by the artwork, one of the three by the artist on exhibit.

This painting makes me want to touch it, even though we cant, Thompson said. There are so many elements, and theres movement in all of it. Each part of it is almost its own frame.

Photos: Buffalo AKG Art Museum opens to the public The Buffalo AKG Art Museum opens to the general public after a week of events for donors and members.

Thompson said she had waited for the chance to see the museum after reading about reopening plans and the guy who donated all the money to have it built, she said, referring to Gundlach.

Paul Jarca, attending with his wife, Mary Beth, saw the museum for the first time, despite living all 59 years of his life in Buffalo. Mary Beth is a member, and Paul decided to accompany her.

Theres a first time for everything, I guess, Paul Jarca said. Its fun. You have to see whats in other peoples heads when theyre making their art.

Betty Thurston of Depew sat at a table under the striking kaleidoscopic canopy in the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Town Square, known as Common Sky, enamored by its reflections. This was Thurstons first trip to the museum in about 20 years. She now plans to come back often, starting with a return trip with her granddaughter.

Im so thrilled that I got to see this today, Thurston said. It really is one of the best things Ive ever seen.

Kilminster was smitten by the Town Square, too.

Complete coverage: Buffalo AKG Art Gallery reopens to public The Buffalo AKG Art Gallery will reopen to the public Thursday for the first time since it was closed in November 2019 for an extensive renova

Stun-ning!, she said, spacing the two syllables. To look up and to see the sky, and the natural light and the mirrors, it was breathtaking.

Nearby, children and teens played and made art in the Creative Commons, the first museum space sponsored by the LEGO Foundation.

Kilminster said it made her happy to see so many people in the galleries, and is excited by what the museum means for Buffalo and all the attention its going to bring.

Buffalo resident Eileen Ryan was struck by the views from the Albright bridge that connects the Wilmers and Gundlach buildings, including Hoyt Lake and the grand stairway thats back in front of the Wilmers building after being dismantled in 1962.

Parzych said she was reserving judgment on the exterior of the new glass-and-marble Gundlach building.

I think the outside will take some time because Im old school, and I remember the Elmwood Village as being teeny-tiny, she said. But its lovely and theres always room for change, and change is good.

Museum hours run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday to Monday. The museum is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Admission is $18, $16 for seniors and college students, $10 for ages 18 and under, and free for ages 5 and under and for members. Tickets can be purchased online at buffaloakg.org, and are sold out through the weekend.

The Gundlach Building is expected to be closed until July 20 for finishing work, but the rest of the museum will be open.
Reddit 34 Email 196 Shares

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas accomplished a great deal on his 4-day visit to Beijing, including a Chinese agreement to try to bring Palestine into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, if the other members agree. Chinese President Xi Jinping and he announced on Tuesday a strategic partnership. Some months ago Foreign Minister Qin Gang expressed an interest in having China host peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians to bring their 75-year-old conflict to a just and peaceful end. China recognized Palestine as an independent state in 1988 and is one of over 80 nations in the world to have done so.

Chinas diplomatic moves with Middle Eastern powers are being closely watched after it pulled off the coup of negotiating the return of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran this spring.

Xi pointed out that Abbas was the first Arab leader to visit Beijing this year, in the wake of his reelection as president by the Chinese Communist Party, which underlined the importance of Sino-Palestinian relations. He and Abbas went on to announce a strategic partnership between China and Palestine, saying, The Chinese side is keen to seize this opportunity to enhance in a comprehensive manner friendly cooperation with the Palestinian side in various fields. For his part, Abbas pledged to make Palestine part of Chinas One Belt and Road infrastructure project for Asia.

The previous week, Beijing had hosted the Chinese-Arab Business Forum, where the Saudi foreign minister announced that China had become the Arab worlds biggest trading partner, with trade worth $430 billion per year. Much of that trade is Chinese purchase of petroleum and LNG fossil gas from the region.

Article continues after bonus IC video

South China Morning Post: Chinese President Xi Jinping offers Palestinian leader a lasting solution to conflict with Israel

The US does not import very much petroleum from the Middle East any more, producing two-thirds of oil consumed by Americans itself through hydraulic fracturing, and importing most of the shortfall from Canada and Mexico. Hydraulic fracturing is banned in states such as New York, since it is environmentally catastrophic and leaves behind highly polluted pools of water.

Conor Mycroft at the South China Morning Post points out that while China only does $158 million annually in trade with Palestine, its trade with Israel every year amounts to $21 billion. Still, China gives aid to Palestinians and is going to build some roads on the West Bank, and many of its Middle Eastern trading partners, including Iran, no doubt pressure Beijing to offer more practical support to the Palestinians.

Chinas increasing trade with the Arab world and Israel may be one of the impetuses for it to become more involved in Middle East diplomacy.

The Egyptian Evening News reported on Beijings commitments to Palestine as announced in a joint statement after the meeting between Abbas and Xi.

1. China expressed its unfaltering backing for the establishment of an independent and fully sovereign state of Palestine on the basis of 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

2. Beijing also supported the historical understandings that constitute the status quo agreements about the holy places of Jerusalem.

3. China supports the full membership of Palestine in the United Nations. (At the moment it is a non-member observer state, in the same category as the Vatican.)

4. China wants to see the achievement of Palestinian internal unity (i.e. ending the faction-fighting between Hamas and the PLO).

5. China supports a two-state solution through peace negotiations with Israel on the basis of land for peace and UN Security Council resolutions.
VANCOUVER, BC, June 15, 2023 /CNW/ - Zinc8 Energy Solutions Inc. ("Zinc8" or the "Company") (CSE: ZAIR) (OTC: ZAIRF) (FSE: 0E9) is pleased to announce that Robert F. Parker has joined the Company's Board of Directors. Mr. Parker has worked in ClimateTech, Renewable Energy, and Sustainability for 18 years as an entrepreneur, executive, consultant, policy advisor, project developer, and venture and angel investor.

"Mr. Parker brings a unique range of skills to the Zinc8 Board. His extensive experience in the New York financial markets and his years of leadership in energy sustainability, as well as his deep knowledge of the rapidly developing Clean Tech markets, will greatly assist the company as it pursues growth opportunities in the U.S Energy Storage Industry," said Ron MacDonald, President and CEO of Zinc8 Energy Solutions.

Mr. Parker has been a leader in the ClimateTech ecosystem, working with non-profits, government agencies, venture and angel funds, national laboratories, accelerators, and incubators in a variety of volunteer and paid roles to develop the people and technologies to drive the clean energy transition. Mr. Parker is the Managing Partner of Honu Hoku Advisors, serves on the advisory board of HELIXintel, and is an Adjunct Professor at New York University. He has extensive, multi-disciplinary experience supporting the development and scaling of early-stage companies, including serving as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority ("NYSERDA"), which focuses on guiding early-stage companies through specific projects and issues. Previously, he was a Director at Sif Capital Advisors, an Innovation Advisor to NYSERDA, Operating Partner at the S CAP Cleantech Venture Fund, and the co-founder of Empire State Greenhouses.

The Company also announces that it will make the first milestone payment to Digital Energy Corp. ("Digital Energy") pursuant to the terms of the Initial Deployment Agreement as described in the Company's news release dated March 11, 2020. Digital Energy achieved their first milestone in the Zinc8 battery demonstration project at Fresh Meadows Community Apartments in Queens, New York as announced on January 18, 2022. The battery demonstration project at Fresh Meadows Community Apartments in Queens, New York is Zinc8's first private-sector installation of a 100kW/1.5MWh storage system project. In consideration for Digital Energy's participation in the project and achievement of certain milestones, Zinc8 has agreed to pay Digital Energy an aggregate of USD$100,000 in four tranches of USD$25,000 each upon the achievement of the following performance milestones: (i) upon agreeing on a suitable location for the project; (i) upon system startup and submission of commissioning report to NYSERDA; (iii) upon Con Edison final interconnection approval and the start of normal operations; and (iv) upon submission of the final report to NYSERDA. Each milestone payment is payable by the issuance of Zinc8 shares. A total of 126,615 shares at a deemed price of $0.26 per share will be issued to Digital Energy as the first tranche milestone payment.

Digital Energy and Zinc8 will continue to work together to identify similar projects in New York State and Northeast USA, for the Zinc8 Energy Storage System.

About Digital Energy Corp.

Digital Energy is a premier consulting firm specializing in the energy industry with a focus on cogeneration plant operations and financial performance. In addition, Digital personnel have experience with the NYISO, REV PSC proceedings, and Utility rate case proceedings, Digital is an authorized aggregator in the Con Edison's BQDM Demand Response Program and has experience with other utility demand response programs. Digital assists its clients in operating their cogeneration plant, analyzing utility bills, procuring energy supply, and assisting standby rate customers in receiving the Standby Reliability Credit.

Digital specializes in maximizing financial performance from your energy infrastructure assets and analyzing upgrades to energy infrastructure quite often utilizing NYSERDA/Utility programs.

For more information on Digital Energy Corp, visit www.digitalenergyny.com

About Zinc8 Energy Solutions Inc.

Zinc8 has assembled an experienced team to execute the development and commercialization of a dependable low-cost zinc-air battery. This mass storage system offers both environmental, energy efficiency, and financial benefits. Zinc8 strives to meet the growing need for secure, resilient, and reliable power.

To learn more about Zinc8's technology, please visit: https://zinc8energy.com

More about the Zinc8 Energy Storage System (ESS)

The Zinc8 ESS is a modular Energy Storage System designed to deliver power in the range 20kW - 50MW for beyond 8 hours and up to 100hours with capacity of 8 hours of storage duration or higher. With the advantage of rechargeable zinc-air flow battery technology, the system can be configured to support a wide range of long-duration applications for microgrids, utilities and C&I. Since the energy storage capacity of the system is determined only by the size of the zinc storage tank and amount of electrolyte and zinc, a very cost-effective and scalable solution now exists as an alternative to the costly fixed power/energy ratio of the lithium-ion battery.

Technology

The Zinc8 ESS is based upon unique patented zinc-air battery technology. Energy is stored in the form of zinc particles, similar in size to grains of sand. When the system is delivering power, the zinc particles are combined with oxygen drawn from the surrounding air. When the system is recharging, zinc particles are regenerated, and oxygen is returned to the surrounding air.

Architecture

The Zinc8 ESS is designed according to a modular scalable and customizable architecture that enables a wide variety of system configurations for various applications and requirements to be created from a small number of common subsystems. Each subsystem implements a single element of the technology:

The Zinc Regeneration Subsystem (ZRS) provides the recharging function.

The Fuel Storage Subsystem (FSS) provides the energy storage function.

The Power Generation Subsystem (PGS) provides the discharging function.

Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements or disclosures relating to Zinc8 Energy Solutions that are based on the expectations of its management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Zinc8 Energy Solutions which may constitute forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements") under applicable securities laws. All such statements and disclosures, other than those of historical fact, which address activities, events, outcomes, results or developments that Zinc8 Storage anticipates or expects may or will occur in the future (in whole or in part) should be considered forward-looking statements.

Forward looking statements in this press release include that Zinc8's involvement with energy storage projects; that we can execute the development and commercialization of a dependable low cost zinc-air battery; the proposed benefits of the funding and the proposed use of the funding and the risk that the benefits may not prove to be as stated in the news release and that the funds may be used for other purposes; that our mass storage system offers both environmental and efficiency benefits; that we can help meet the needs for secure and reliable power; and that we will continue to work with Digital Energy to identify new projects. Zinc8 Energy Solutions believes the material factors, expectations and assumptions reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable at this time, but no assurance can be given that these factors, expectations and assumptions will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are not guarantees of future performance. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements including, without limitation: that we may not be able to secure the financing necessary to execute our business plan; that financing, if available, may not be on terms favorable to the Company; that our technology fails to work as expected or at all; that our technology proves to be too expensive to implement broadly; that customers do not adapt our products for being too complex, costly, or not fitting with their current products or plans; that our products may take too long to develop; our competitors may offer better or cheaper solutions for battery storage; general economic, market and business conditions; increased costs and expenses; inability to retain qualified employees; our patents may not provide protection as expected and we may infringe on the patents of others; and certain other risks detailed from time to time in Zinc8 Energy Solution's public disclosure documents, copies of which are available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the CSE nor any Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
HIGHLIGHTS

Palos Verdes (silver, Sinaloa, Mexico) 2,500-meter drilling program underway 5 holes have been completed for a total of 727 meters of HQ core drilled Samples from the first three holes have been submitted to the lab for analysis A rock chip sample from mapped veins returned an assay of 840.5 AgEq (700 g/t Ag and 1.68 g/t Au) over a sample width of 1 meter

Los Pavitos (gold, Sonora, Mexico) 295 meters of trenches have been constructed and sampled with assay results received for 96.7 meters Interval of 0.44 g/t Au over 10 metres in trench ZSC9 High grade silver assays in surface sampling in northeast Santa Cruz area 2,500-meter drill program to start by the end of June

Hot Breccia (copper, Arizona) LiDAR survey completed, results expected in three weeks Airborne ZTEM survey contracted, to be flown in June Drill permit application started Expecting to drill 1000-2000 meters starting in Q3-2023 Results of ongoing surface sampling expected in June



Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2023) - Prismo Metals Inc. (CSE: PRIZ) (OTCQB: PMOMF) ("Prismo" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the ongoing exploration programs at its Palos Verdes, Los Pavitos and Hot Breccia properties.

Dr. Craig Gibson, President and CEO commented: "Prismo is in the very enviable position of having three fully funded drilling campaigns this year, thanks to our strong liquidity position. Drilling is currently underway at our Palos Verdes silver project, drilling will commence shortly at our Los Pavitos gold project and we expect to be drilling our Hot Breccia copper project in the third quarter."

Palos Verdes Exploration Update

The Company recently started a 2500-meter drill program on the Palos Verdes project. The drill program will test the areas of the Palos Verdes vein system in areas where there previously was no drill access, mainly along the northeastern extension of the vein system and certain areas in the southwestern portion where previous drilling occurred.

Five holes have been completed for a total of 727 meters of HQ core drilled for the current program. Samples from the first three holes have been submitted to the lab for analysis. Drilling so far has been completed in the northeastern limit of the Palos Verdes vein system exposed on the Palos Verdes concession. Results confirm the presence of multiple narrow quartz veins along the structural trend as expected based on surface mapping and sampling (see photos below). Surface sampling undertaken in the region to help define the drill pattern yielded high grades from one of these veins that returned an assay of 840.5 AgEq (700 g/t Ag and 1.68 g/t Au) over a width of 1 meter.

Dr. Craig Gibson, President and CEO of Prismo, stated, "The Palos Verdes drilling is progressing according to plans, with the initial shallow holes providing important geological information. The drilling so far is in line with expectations, with multiple narrow intercepts in each hole along the structural trend of the Palos Verdes vein system with multistage mineralization at what appear to be high structural levels. The drill rig is being moved to the southwest to offset intercepts in previous drill holes where we did not previously have access while we await assay results."

Table PV. Highlight assays from recent surface sampling on the Palos Verdes concession

Sample Type Style Width (m) Easting Northing Au_g/t Ag g/t 126020 Rock chip Vein 1.0 414,037 2,593,290 0.005 15.6 126021 Rock chip Vein 0.5 414,087 2,593,397 0.244 30 126028 Rock chip Vein 1.0 413,986 2,593,321 0.008 13.25 126029 Rock chip Vein 0.5 414,088 2,593,396 0.019 39.9 13702 Rock chip Vein 1.0 413,994 2,593,431 1.68 700 13704 Rock chip Vein 3.0 414,177 2,593,461 0.878 68.6 13708 Rock chip Vein 1.0 413,898 2,593,248 0.523 15.1 13716 Rock chip Vein 1.0 414,011 2,593,306 0.061 15.35

Photo of core from hole PV-20, interval 18-23.5 m.

Photo of core from PV-21, interval 45 to 51m.

Los Pavitos Exploration Update

The Company is also pleased to announce that its trenching program across the main mineralized trends on its Los Pavitos property is well underway, and that 295 meters of trenches have been constructed and sampled. The main objective of the trenching program is to better define the orientation and full width of the mineralized structures prior to starting the drill campaign. Assay results have been received for 44 samples from the first three trenches in the Santa Cruz area with a combined length of 96.7 meters, along with an additional 233 samples from the ongoing mapping and sampling program. Of note are an interval of 10m with a weighted average of 0.44 g/t Au in trench ZSC9, and a new silver rich target area with multiple samples assaying more than 300 g/t Ag over 1-2 meter widths and ranging to as much as 579 g/t Ag. An additional 127 trench samples have been submitted to the assay lab with results expected in two weeks. The 5289 hectare (20 square miles) Los Pavitos project is located in the well mineralized Alamos region of southern Sonora State, Mexico.

"We are excited by the results of our recent sampling program at Los Pavitos. Initial results from trenches provide the first indication that wider zones of low-grade gold mineralization are present in the structural zones that contain narrow high-grade quartz veins, which could be important for future development of the property. We are also awaiting further results for an additional 94 samples along 160 meters of trenches," said Dr. Gibson. Dr. Gibson also stated, "We have expanded surface sampling in the northeastern Santa Cruz area as well as the Oromuri area, and discovered a new silver rich mineralized area that will be added to our future exploration plans. We are on track to begin a 2,500-meter drill program projected to commence in late June."

Trenching at Los Pavitos.

Figure LP1. Trench location and gold assays in the Santa Cruz area.

Table LP1. Highlight assays from contiguous samples from part of trench ZSC9 in the Santa Cruz area

Sample Type Style Width (m) Easting Northing Au_g/t Ag g/t As_ppm Bi_ppm 543121 Channel Trench 1.0 676,815 3,001,995 1.58 1.58 3490 2.43 543153 Channel Trench 1.0 676,816 3,001,995 0.625 0.63 1160 1.63 543154 Channel Trench 1.0 676,817 3,001,995 0.47 0.47 1065 1.42 543155 Channel Trench 1.0 676,818 3,001,995 0.425 0.43 957 34.5 543156 Channel Trench 2.0 676,820 3,001,994 0.174 0.35 211 0.28 543157 Channel Trench 2.0 676,822 3,001,994 0.366 0.73 363 0.28 543158 Channel Trench 2.0 676,824 3,001,994 0.127 0.25 205 0.21

Table LP2. Highlight assays from the northeastern Santa Cruz area

Sample Type Style Width (m) Easting Northing Au_g/t Ag g/t As_ppm Bi_ppm 543144 Channel Oxidation 1.3 678,084 3,002,432 1.16 509 7900 2.91 543145 Channel Vein 1.0 678,086 3,002,443 0.427 579 6860 2.61 543146 Channel Vein 2.0 678,086 3,002,441 0.233 352 3870 0.7 543147 Channel Vein 1.0 678,092 3,002,444 0.643 305 2230 1 543148 Channel Vein 1.0 678,082 3,002,441 0.551 168 2590 1.28 543149 Channel Vein 1.0 678,092 3,002,442 0.392 201 >10000 2.17 543150 Channel Vein 1.0 678,096 3,002,444 0.394 574 2430 20.7 543151 Channel Vein 1.0 678,096 3,002,445 0.071 29.3 545 0.15 543152 Chip Vein 1.0 678,078 3,002,437 0.191 85.7 6030 0.64

Hot Breccia Exploration Update

Work at the Hot Breccia property in Arizona is also progressing according to plans. Field work for an environmental permit to allow drilling on existing roads has been completed and report preparation for submittal to the appropriate agency is in progress. A drone LiDAR survey was completed in May and analysis of the data is in progress. A planned airborne ZTEM survey has been contracted and is programmed to be flown within the next 2 to 3 weeks. Surface mapping and sampling is also progressing.

Dr. Gibson stated, "A LiDAR survey over the Hot Breccia property has identified multiple small mines and prospects that were developed along several of the northeast trending structural trends highlighted by intrusion of various typed of dikes. Some polylithic breccias are located along these structural trends as are showings of oxide copper minerals and iron oxide rich shears that commonly show elevated gold in assays."

Figure HB1. Preliminary LiDAR interpretation with small mines and prospects and historic drill holes.

QA/QC

Rock samples taken by Prismo were analyzed by multielement ICP-AES and MS methods by ALS Group, an internationally recognized analytical service provider. Gold is analyzed as part of the ICP package using a 25-gram aqua regia digestion. Ag, Pb and Zn over 1% and Au values over 1 g/t are re-analyzed by the by an overrange ICP method. Certified Reference Materials including standard pulps and coarse blank material were inserted in the sample stream at regular intervals.

For Palos Verdes, silver equivalent values are calculated using the following metals prices: Au, US$1,750/oz, Ag, $21.24/oz, Pb, $0.97/lb and Zn, $1.34/lb. Cu was not used in the calculation, and metallurgical recoveries were not considered as there is no data available.

Dr. Craig Gibson, PhD., CPG., a Qualified Person as defined by NI-43-01 regulations and President, CEO and a director of the Company, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosures in this news release.

About Prismo

Prismo (CSE: PRIZ) is mining exploration company focused on two precious metal projects in Mexico (Palos Verdes and Los Pavitos) and a copper project in Arizona (Hot Breccia).

Please follow @PrismoMetals on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube

Prismo Metals Inc.

1100 - 1111 Melville St., Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 3V6

Contact:

Craig Gibson, President & Chief Executive Officer This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Jason Frame, Manager of Communications This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including without limitation, statements regarding the anticipated content, commencement and exploration program results, the ability to complete future financings, required permitting, exploration programs and drilling, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are 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. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations 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, but not limited to, the state of the financial markets for the Company's equity securities, the state of the commodity markets generally, variations in the nature, the analytical results from surface trenching and sampling program, including diamond drilling programs, the results of IP surveying, the results of soil and till sampling program. the quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, variations in the market price of any mineral products the Company may produce or plan to produce, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required, including CSE acceptance, for its planned activities, the inability of the Company to produce minerals from its properties successfully or profitably, to continue its projected growth, to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies, the potential impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on the Company's exploration program and on the Company's general business, operations and financial condition, and other risks and uncertainties. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties.
Two busloads of asylum-seekers from New York City were being driven up to Cheektowaga on Thursday and expected to arrive by midnight. A hotel near the Buffalo Niagara International Airport in Cheektowaga has agreed to host the 60 people and has a contract with New York City to provide housing and food for them for up to a year.

The costs are to be borne by New York City.

Judge suspends emergency orders barring asylum-seekers from being bused to other NY counties Afederal court ruling has suspended emergency orders from two county executives barring the transportation and housing of New York City asylum-seekers in hotels and other lodging outside the Big Apple.

Erie County Legislator Frank Todaro, in whose district the hotel is located, said he learned the details at 4:45 p.m. from the County Executives Office that a hotel has reached an agreement with New York City. He said he did not wish to publicly identify the hotel in order to protect the safety and security of the hotel and its occupants.

Aside from paying an attractive daily rate for the migrants who are staying at the hotel, Todaro said, the hotel is also coordinating with nearby restaurants to feed the asylum-seekers. New York City is paying an upfront fee each month to cover those food costs, Todaro said after speaking with the hotel manager.

The Erie County Executives Office had confirmed the pending arrival of asylum-seekers Thursday morning after WGRZ-TV broke the news.

What will incoming asylum-seekers cost Erie County? Here is what we know Based on some fact-finding by The Buffalo News, including communication with state and county officials and advocates, here are the best answers we have right now on the who is bearing what costs, why this is happening and what we still don't know.

Late Tuesday afternoon, New York City made calls to elected officials in the Cheektowaga area informing them about the asylum-seekers pending arrival, said Peter Anderson, spokesman for County Executive Mark Poloncarz.

County officials encouraged their NYC counterparts, who are paying for this move, to ensure that contracts were in place with the appropriate resettlement agencies like Jericho Road and Jewish Family Services to ensure a smooth transition, Anderson said in an email.

Early Thursday, however, Anderson said the county was unaware of any busloads of people on the move to Erie County or hotel space under contract.

That frustrated Todaro, who learned from the WGRZ story that the migrants would be staying in a hotel near the airport, where his district extends.

How is the media finding out more than a legislator of the district? said Todaro, R-Lancaster. Just be transparent. Were getting bombarded with calls.

No room at Vive, the Buffalo shelter that has long welcomed asylum-seekers The East Side shelter can house about 120 people at a time, but with new clients showing up daily it has been a challenge for the staff to find housing for everyone.

He said he understands if there are concerns about safety and security, and would oppose anyone protesting hotel sites that shelter migrants. But he said legislators should not feel like they are in a blackout.

More than 70,000 asylum-seekers have arrived in New York City since last year, and more are expected as migrants continue to arrive at the Southern border.

City officials are scrambling to find housing for them and have been looking at options outside the city, including busing people to hotels in neighboring counties.

Many counties outside New York City have balked at the idea of taking in the asylum-seekers, including the leaders of seven counties in Western New York who declared states of emergency to bar local hotels from accepting migrants.

Erie County was the exception, and Poloncarz said that the emergency orders were likely illegal and morally repugnant. In a ruling in Westchester County, a judge agreed that it was illegal.

Dr. Myron Glick, founder and CEO of Jericho Road Community Health Center, said in a statement that Jericho Road has committed to working with local, state and federal governments to care for the asylum-seekers coming to the area.

We intend to do this job well. These asylum-seekers are fleeing war and horrible situations in their home countries. They are just hoping for a safe place to call home for themselves and their children, he said.

It is our mission at Jericho Road to love our neighbors who are in need, whoever they are and from wherever they come. As we stand together with those who are oppressed  our community, this city, will be better for it, Glick said.

Republican Legislator Jim Malczewski criticized the Poloncarz administration Thursday morning, saying that it has offered little transparency on the migrant issue. He said he wants to know more about what assurances the county has that asylum-seekers sheltered here will be fully paid for by New York City.

Poloncarz has previously answered questions about asylum-seekers, when directly asked about it by the media, saying that the county would not be blindsided by any incoming migrants, but would know about their arrival in advance.

On Thursday, Anderson said the role of the county administration has been to encourage New York City, which is expected to pay for the transportation and housing of migrants here and ensure that contracts exist with the appropriate resettlement agencies to ease the transition.

The legal transport of migrants is simply a business transaction between the City of New York and a private hotel owner, as upheld in recent court decisions, Anderson said.

Malczewski, C-Elma, who put forth a resolution three weeks ago to have Poloncarz issue a state of emergency over the asylum-seekers, said it was wrong for so little information to be shared with the public and with legislators.

This administration has not been transparent, he said in a statement. They have not shared with us details about how we are supposed to manage this crisis. ... New York City officials have been in touch with the County Executive, yet he shares none of that information with us. If my colleagues were serious about addressing this issue we would have met already.

Malczewski is referring to the fact that his state of emergency resolution was sent to the Legislatures Government Affairs Committee, but that committee has held no meetings since September. Committee Chairman John Bargnesi, D-Town of Tonawanda, said he had no problem calling a meeting, but he has not called one since Malczewskis resolution was referred three weeks ago.

Bargnesi told The Buffalo News on Thursday morning that there wasnt any more information or answers to share.

He also said he wanted to avoid false information and panic in the community, but expressed no opinion about who could or should come before his committee to provide information. He pointed out that the asylum-seeker transfer is a private transaction between New York City and a private Cheektowaga hotel.

Poloncarz declined to grant interviews on the topic Thursday.

Malczewski said this hasnt been discussed by the Legislature because it is an uncomfortable topic for Democrats, who hold the majority.

I believe our cohorts across the aisle are afraid to address the situation, he said Thursday. Its not something thats a popular topic. Its an election year, and some people might be afraid of the different views on it.

He also accused Democratic legislators of repeatedly saying they dont know about plans for busing migrants to the region, yet they have declined to hold any committee meeting to try to get answers.

Bargnesi said Thursday that the arrival of 60 asylum-seekers is not worth this much excitement. However, Legislature staff said plans are now in the works to hold a discussion on the issue in two to four weeks.

Malczewski said he doesnt know whether more migrants will come to Erie County.

Is there another batch coming tomorrow, or is there another group coming in next week? You dont know, he said. Those are the answers that Im looking for. As a legislator, as I said, I need to provide answers to the different towns in my district that I represent, and at this moment, I cant.
VANCOUVER, BC, June 15, 2023 /CNW/ - Horizon Copper Corp. (TSXV: HCU) ("Horizon Copper", "Horizon", or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has closed the second part of the previously announced reverse takeover transaction ("RTO Part B") whereby the Company acquired a 1.66% net profits interest on the low-cost, high-grade Antamina copper mine (the "Antamina NPI") from Sandstorm Gold Ltd. ("Sandstorm"). With the completion of RTO Part B and the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V"), common shares of the Company are expected to resume trading on the TSX-V on June 21, 2023 under the symbol HCU.

"This is an exciting day for Horizon Copper," said Erfan Kazemi, CEO & President of the Company. "We officially add another world-class copper asset to Horizon's portfolio that will provide significant cash flows to Horizon immediately. It is extraordinary to have a portfolio like Horizon's right out of the gate and I want to thank our shareholders and partners for their support in making this happen. We are excited to continue to grow Horizon in meaningful ways over the coming months and years as we build the next premiere copper company."

Purchase of Antamina NPI and Closing of RTO Part B

As consideration for the Antamina NPI, Horizon provided to Sandstorm:

i. US$20 million in cash (the "Cash Component");

ii. A 1.66% life-of-mine silver stream referenced to the silver production from Antamina (the "Antamina Silver Stream");

iii. A long-term secured convertible note with a principal amount of US$149.1 million; and,

iv. 2,329,849 common shares of the Company (the "Equity Component").

In addition, Sandstorm also retained a residual royalty with payments equal to approximately one-third of the total Antamina NPI, after deducting the Antamina Silver Stream (the "Residual Royalty").

The Cash Component was funded from the Company's existing working capital and the proceeds from the private placement financing (the "Private Placement") that was completed in April 2023 (see the Company's press releases dated April 17th and April 20th).

With the completion of RTO Part B and the satisfaction of certain escrow release conditions, the proceeds from the Private Placement have been released from escrow and the subscription receipts from the Private Placement were converted into a total of 8,378,500 common shares of the Company and 4,189,250 nontransferable share purchase warrants (the "Warrants"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at an exercise price of C$1.10 (or US$ equivalent) per share for a period of four (4) years.

The Company previously announced its intention to complete a US$15 million secured convertible debt financing (the "Convertible Debt") (see press release dated April 17, 2023). With SSR Mining Inc.'s ("SSR Mining") recent acquisition of an operating interest in the Hod Maden project (in which the Company owns a 30% interest), SSR Mining provided updated development timelines that indicate a longer period for the remaining construction and development activities at Hod Maden than was previously expected. As a result, Horizon expects that it will have ample liquidity to fund its operations for at least the next 18 months, and no longer requires immediate proceeds from the Convertible Debt. Deferring or eliminating this financing option limits interest costs and curtails any dilution from the Convertible Debt.

Updated summaries of Available Funds and Principal Purpose of Funds for the next 18 months from those presented in the Company's Management Information Circular dated July 26, 2022 describing the proposed RTO transactions to acquire certain assets from Sandstorm are as follows:

Available Funds

RTO Part A, RTO Part B and Revised Minimum Concurrent Financing

Updated Amount

(US$000) Working Capital Available as at May 31, 2023 Cash $ 32,816 Receivable from Sandstorm 8,349 Net Proceeds from Minimum Concurrent Financing (Private Placement) 4,853 Estimated Net Revenues Received from Antamina Royalty 21,958 Interest Income on Cash 845 Legacy RNP Receivables 194 Total $ 69,015

Principal Purpose of Funds

RTO Part A, RTO Part B and Revised Minimum Concurrent Financing

Budgeted Expenditure Updated Amount

(US$000) Estimated Hod Maden Cash Contributions $ 20,000 Antamina Royalty AcquisitionCash Component 20,000 Antamina Stream Obligations 7,204 Payments under the RTO Part B Note 13,257 G&A Expenses for the following 18 Months 1,461 Commitments under the Peninsula Project Work Program 250 Unallocated Working Capital 6,843 Total $ 69,015

Grant of Stock-Based Compensation

As contemplated in the Company's management information circular dated July 26, 2022, the Company has granted 3,850,000 stock options and 350,000 restricted share rights ("RSRs") to certain officers, directors and consultants. The stock options have an exercise price equal to the subscription price for the Private Placement (C$0.80) and expire five (5) years after the date of grant. Both the stock options and the RSRs vest annually in three equal tranches commencing with the first anniversary of the grant date.

About Antamina

The Antamina Copper mine is an open-pit operation located in the Andes Mountain range of Peru. The mine is operated by Compania Minera Antamina, a top-tier operator jointly owned by major stakeholders BHP Billiton plc (33.75%), Glencore plc (33.75%), Teck Resources Limited (22.5%), and Mitsubishi Corporation (10%). It is the world's third-largest copper mine1 on a copper equivalent ("CuEq") basis, producing approximately 560,000 CuEq tonnes per annum. Antamina has been in consistent production since 2001, including a throughput expansion completed in 2012 to the mine's current operating capacity of 145,000 tonnes per day.

For details regarding the Antamina NPI, please refer to the Horizon's news release dated May 2, 2022, available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company's issuer profile.

QUALIFIED PERSON

Imola Gotz (M.Sc., P.Eng.), Sandstorm's Vice President, Mining & Engineering is a Qualified Person as defined by Canadian National Instrument 43-101. She has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.

The TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or buy or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any security and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation, sale or purchase of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offering, solicitation, sale or purchase would be unlawful.

Notes

1. BMO Capital Markets & S&P Capital IQ; Antamina mine's 2022 estimated production ranks #3 on a copper equivalent basis.

ABOUT HORIZON COPPER

Horizon Copper is a premier copper company holding unique non-operating interests in high-grade, low-cost copper assets. Horizon holds a portfolio of unparalleled copper assets including a 30% interest in the copper-gold Hod Maden project, exposure to the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine through a 25% equity ownership in Entree Resources Ltd., and a 1.66% net profits interest on the Antamina copper mine. Horizon plans to actively grow its portfolio of assets with a focus on copper projects.

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. 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. Horizon cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by Horizon 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 factors, including, but not limited to: estimated cash flows to be received from the Antamina NPI; expectations related to development timelines for Hod Maden including the timing of construction and expected capital costs; the Company's expectations with respect to its liquidity to fund operations over the next 18 months; the state of the financial markets for Horizon's securities; the state of the natural resources sector; Horizon's ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; and other risks and factors that Horizon is unaware of at this time. Although Horizon believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Horizon 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.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anfield Energy Inc. (TSX.V: AEC; OTCQB: ANLDF; FRANKFURT: 0AD) (Anfield or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Haywood Securities Inc., on behalf of a syndicate of agents (collectively, the Agents), who have agreed to sell, on a commercially reasonable efforts private placement basis, 90,909,090 units of the Company (Units) at a price of C$0.055 per Unit (the Offering Price), for aggregate gross proceeds of C$4,999,999.95 (the Offering). Each Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (a Share) plus one-half of one Share purchase warrant (each whole such warrant, a Warrant). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Share (a Warrant Share) at an exercise price of C$0.085 for 24 months following the completion of the Offering.

The Units to be issued under the Offering will be offered to purchasers pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption (LIFE Exemption) under Part 5A of NI 45-106, and will not be subject to resale restrictions pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws.

There is an offering document related to the Offering that can be accessed under the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Companys website at www.anfieldenergy.com. Prospective investors should read this offering document before making an investment decision.

The Company plans to use the net proceeds from the Offering to fund the advancement of the Companys uranium and vanadium assets in the United States, and for general corporate purposes including the acquisition of the Marquez-Juan Tafoya uranium project in New Mexico (as previously announced by the Company on June 6, 2023). The Offering is scheduled to close on or about July 6, 2023 (the Closing Date) and is subject to certain conditions customary for transactions of this nature including, but not limited to, the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company has agreed to pay the Agents a cash commission of 6% of the gross proceeds raised under the Offering and will issue to the Agents that number of compensation options (Compensation Options) equal to 6% of the Units issued under the Offering, with each Compensation Option exercisable into one Share at an exercise price equal to the Offering Price for a period of 24 months.

The securities to be offered pursuant to the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. 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 any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

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.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

ANFIELD 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 Mostert

Corporate Communications

780-920-5044

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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 ANY 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, STATEMENTS OR INFORMATION RELATED TO THE SIZE OF THE OFFERING, THE USE OF PROCEEDS FROM THE OFFERING, THE ANTICIPATED CLOSING DATE, THE RECEIPT OF REGULATORY APPROVALS FOR THE OFFERING, 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 WITH THE REGULATORY APPROVAL PROCESS, COMPETITIVE COMPANIES, 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.
GOLDEN, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Golden Minerals Company (Golden Minerals, Golden or the Company) (NYSE American: AUMN and TSX: AUMN) is pleased to announce that Pablo Castanos will be joining the Company on July 1, 2023, serving in a newly-created role of executive vice president.

Mr. Castanos brings to the Company more than 20 years of global and strategic leadership expertise, including twelve years in the mining industry, in positions focusing on strategic planning, finance, compliance, sustainability, government affairs and risk management. Since 2017, he has served as managing partner of Integra QRO Hold and Magnolia OneZero Investments, LLC, real estate development and construction companies located in Queretaro, Mexico and Austin, Texas, respectively. Between 2013 and 2016, he worked at Goldcorp Inc. (now Newmont Corporation) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, initially serving as director of environmental compliance and subsequently serving as vice president of corporate social responsibility. From 2009 to 2013, he worked at Golden Minerals, serving as director of corporate affairs and later as vice president of corporate affairs. Between 2007 and 2009, he held the role of director of investor relations with Apex Silver Mines, and from 2004 to 2007 he served as corporate manager of Minera San Cristobal, the largest silver, zinc and lead mine in Bolivia.

Mr. Castanos attended a graduate program conducted jointly by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Gabriela Mistral University in Santiago, Chile, where he earned a Master of Business Administration in finance, with honors.

Mr. Jeffrey Clevenger, Chairman of the Board of Golden Minerals, commented on Mr. Castanos appointment, Goldens board is delighted with the return of Pablo to our organization. He is very familiar with Golden, brings significant bench strength to the team and his experience brings hands-on knowledge to our activities in Mexico.

About Golden Minerals

Golden Minerals is a gold and silver producer based in Golden, Colorado. The Company is primarily focused on producing gold and silver from its Rodeo Mine, advancing its Velardena and Yoquivo properties in Mexico and, through partner-funded exploration, its El Quevar silver property in Argentina, as well as acquiring and advancing selected mining properties in Mexico, Nevada and Argentina.

Follow us at www.linkedin.com/company/golden-minerals-company/ and https://twitter.com/Golden_Minerals.




The International Criminal Court said Thursday it will examine allegations of war crimes by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo's volatile east ,after Kinshasa made a new formal referral to the tribunal.

Kinshasa has accused the M23 rebel group of attacks in the DRC's mineral-rich North Kivu province, and says Rwanda is backing the Tutsi-led militia. Kigali denies any involvement in the violence.

The DRC referred the situation to the Hague-based ICC in 2004, but has now made a second referral asking that it launch an investigation into the latest alleged crimes, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said.

"I intend to conduct a preliminary examination promptly," Khan said in a statement.

The British prosecutor added that this would initially assess "whether the scope of the two situations referred by the DRC Government are sufficiently linked to constitute a single situation".

The ICC, founded in 2002 to prosecute war crimes suspects, carries out preliminary examinations into alleged atrocities before deciding whether or not to proceed to a full investigation.

It has already convicted three former militia leaders over conflicts in the DRC including rebel leader Bosco "Terminator" Ntaganda, jailed for 30 years for mass murder, rape and abduction.

The Tutsi-led M23 has captured swathes of territory in North Kivu province since taking up arms in late 2021 after years of dormancy, with over one million people displaced by the fighting.

The DRC accuses Rwanda of backing the M23. Despite denials from Kigali, independent United Nations experts and several western nations, including the United States, agree with Kinshasa.

Armed groups have plagued much of eastern Congo for three decades, a legacy of regional wars that flared in the 1990s and 2000s.
A United Nations expert voiced alarm Thursday over alleged widespread torture by Russian military forces in Ukraine, saying it pointed to "state-endorsed" abuse.

The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Jill Edwards, said the alleged victims included both Ukrainian civilians and prisoners of war, adding that she had written to Moscow about this.

She cited reports and testimonies that torture was being consistently used to extract intelligence, to force confessions or used to punish former membership or support of Ukrainian armed forces.

"The alleged practices include electric shocks, beatings, hooding, mock executions and other threats of death," she said in a statement.

"If established, they... may also amount to a pattern of state-endorsed torture."

Those allegedly tortured were often held in "grossly inadequate conditions" in facilities run by Russian forces inside Ukraine after Moscow invaded in February last year, the statement said.

It detailed how the alleged torture had left people suffering from things like hallucinations, damage to internal organs, fractures and cracks in bones and strokes.

Edwards said she and other UN rights experts had voiced their concerns in a letter to Moscow.

In the letter, she said the consistency and methods of the alleged torture suggests "a level of coordination, planning and organisation, as well as the direct authorisation, deliberate policy or official tolerance from superior authorities".

Edwards and other special rapporteurs are independent rights experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, but who do not speak on behalf of the UN.

"Torture is a war crime, and the systematic or widespread practice of torture constitutes a crime against humanity," Edwards warned.

"Obeying a superior order or policy direction cannot be invoked as justification for torture, and any individual involved should be promptly investigated and prosecuted by independent authorities."

Edwards said she planned to conduct a fact-finding mission to Ukraine later this year.

"The longer the war goes on, the more reports are emerging of torture and other inhuman treatment," Edwards said.

"I strongly urge relevant authorities to ensure that civilians and prisoners of war are protected and treated humanely at all times."
Almost one million people have fled their homes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo so far this year, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Thursday.

"A surge in attacks on civilians by non-state armed groups has newly displaced close to one million people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) since January," the IOM said in a statement.

In total an estimated 6.1 million people are internally displaced in the DRC, a 17 percent increase from October 2022, it added.

"As the conflict intensifies, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, and millions are facing acute food insecurity as well as other critical needs," the UN agency said.

Since the beginning of the year armed attacks against civilians in the eastern Kivu and Ituri regions have resulted in loss of life, massive population displacements and growing instability, the organisation stressed.

"Across the country, over 26 million people need humanitarian aid" from a population of around 100 million, the IOM said.

In the early hours of Monday, at least 46 people, half of them children, were killed in a militia attack on a camp for displaced people in Ituri province, security analysts and a local community leader said.

That attack was blamed on the CODECO militia, or Cooperative for the Development of the Congo, which claims to protect the Lendu community from rival ethnic group, the Hema.

This tragedy also "resulted in the renewed displacement of over 7,800 people from the site, destruction of shelter and personal belongings," the IOM said.

"IOM strongly condemns this heinous violation of international humanitarian law and recalls that attacks against civilians may constitute war crimes," it added.

On Thursday the International Criminal Court in The Hague announced it will examine allegations of war crimes by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo's volatile east, after Kinshasa made a new formal referral to the tribunal.

Kinshasa has accused the M23 rebel group of attacks in the DRC's mineral-rich North Kivu province, and says Rwanda is backing the Tutsi-led militia. Kigali denies any involvement in the violence.

The DRC referred the situation to the Hague-based ICC in 2004, but has now made a second referral asking that it launch an investigation into the latest alleged crimes, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said.

Armed groups have plagued much of the eastern DRC for three decades, a legacy of regional wars that flared in the 1990s and 2000s.
On March 29, 2023, the United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus a resolution requesting the opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on state obligations in relation to climate change. The resolution, initiated by Vanuatu, marks a decisive step from both a legal and political point of view.

Legally, the resolution poses two very general questions for the ICJ, the main judicial body of the United Nations. The Court is called to rule on States obligations to combat climate change "for the benefit of States and future generations", but also on the legal consequences for those who violate these obligations.

In other words, this raises the delicate question of the responsibility of greenhouse gas emitters for damage caused to other States, in particular small island developing States, as well as to the peoples and individuals affected.

Politically, the collective support for the text is a strong signal, albeit with limits. At the same time, it is emblematic of the new visibility of Oceania, and of a narrative shift: those experiencing "climate hell" have become actors pushing for change.

The amazing campaign of Pacific students

The General Assembly's approval is first and foremost a victory for civil society; coincidentally, the same day saw the opening of hearings before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in another case, that of the "Swiss pensioners" of the Elders for Climate Protection group.

It all began four years ago in a classroom at the University of the Pacific, on the campus of Port-Vila, the capital of Vanuatu. A few students, with the help of their supervisors, took up the aborted project of Palau and the Marshall Islands, which had tried in 2011 to bring the case before the ICJ.

A decade later, the context is more favourable and, above all, the campaign of the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change is particularly active. In a part of the world where the effects of climate change have long been felt, the determination of those concerned is serious.

A petition taken up by Vanuatu

Vanuatu, a small Melanesian island state, is particularly prone to disasters, as this year's news tragically reminded us (a state of emergency had to be declared following the two-day passage of cyclones Judy and Kevin in March 2023).

The Vanuatu government then took up the young people's petition on an interstate level. At their 51st meeting in Suva, Fiji, in July 2022, the members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) officially endorsed the request at the UN, and eventually won the support of the majority of the world's states.

This is the first time that a resolution requesting an ICJ opinion has been adopted by consensus, and at a time of crisis for multilateralism, this cohesion is not insignificant. However, its scope needs to be clarified.

Clarifying the obligations of States

Article 96 of the United Nations Charter provides that the General Assembly or the Security Council "may request the International Court of Justice to give an advisory opinion on any legal question".

Such opinions, given within the framework of the Court's advisory jurisdiction, have no binding legal force, but are not without effect. They have a very high moral authority and contribute to the development of the law by providing essential elements of interpretation.

In this case, the Court could give its opinion within the next two years, thereby clarifying the obligations of States in the field of climate change, in particular their obligation to cooperate.

The aim, moreover, is to influence the positions of the parties during negotiations under the climate regime, helping to boost ambitions and provide legal arguments for the most vulnerable states. Such an opinion is also likely to clarify the relationship between climate law and other areas of international law, in particular the protection of human rights and the law of the sea.

The text of the resolution refers not only to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, but also to a variety of instruments, such as the 1966 Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the Montego Bay Convention.

Risk of resistance

The more precise and substantiated the judges' opinion, the more likely it is to be effective at national level, by being taken up by domestic judges, particularly when they are approached by civil society on climate issues.

An ICJ opinion will not be enough, and the initiators of the project are themselves perfectly aware of this, as illustrated by the speech of Vanuatus Prime Minister Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau.

First of all, consensus does not mean unanimity of views. It was a pleasant surprise to see that the United States did not oppose it, whereas it had been feared like with China that it would ask for a formal vote.

The US representative, in his statement after the text was adopted, nonetheless voiced his government's "very serious concerns", arguing that a judicial process could complicate collective efforts, to the detriment of diplomatic channels.

The risk of "soft" answers

Secondly, the judges' task will not be an easy one. The 26 opinions handed down by the ICJ, the most recent of which concerned the Chagos Archipelago, have met with varying degrees of success, not only because of the political contexts surrounding these cases, but also because the answers provided depend on the questions posed.

In this case, the questions posed by the resolution are particularly wide-ranging. First formulated by the legal advisors, they then pass through the filter of modifications discussed by the UN members supporting the text, and are thus the result of compromises.

This leaves room for the judges in The Hague to add more or less substance. However, responses that are too "soft" with regard to States' climate obligations could have detrimental effects, and thus run counter to the objective pursued.

The final risk is a clash of procedures, with two other international jurisdictions having recently been called upon.

A clash of procedures?

In December 2022, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) received a request for an opinion from the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law - created by Tuvalu and Antigua and Barbuda specifically to be able to seize the Tribunal - on State obligations to protect the marine environment, in relation to climate change, under the Law of the Sea Convention.

In January 2023, Colombia and Chile requested an opinion from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on State obligations to combat climate emergencies, under international human rights law. These interventions could usefully complement each other, but they could also, to a certain extent and in view of the timetables, diverge on certain points.

In pushing the UN to take an important step towards climate justice, the Pacific voices and those who have joined them have chosen to believe that the balance of benefits and risks is in their favour. While we can only have reasonable expectations, the ICJ's perspective on the challenge of the century could well be a significant contribution.

This article, translated by Justice Info, is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article.

Recommended reading Vanuatu brings climate justice to the ICJ
James Joyce fans around the world celebrate June 16 as Bloomsday  the day the famed Irish authors 1922 classic Ulysses takes place in 1904  and commemorate it with special readings, plays and even races.

But the University at Buffalo is celebrating it with the news of $10 million in state funding that will pay for construction of a museum to house the largest James Joyce collection in the world.

Since acquiring much of the collection in the 1950s, UB has kept more than 10,000 pages of Joyces manuscript material, notes and correspondence, as well as photographs and personal belongings, in the Special Collections library on the fourth floor of Capen Hall on UBs North Campus.

On Bloomsday 2021, UB unveiled a 36-foot-tall mural of Joyce on the side of the LoTempio P.C. Law Group building in downtown Buffalo and announced the plan for a Joyce museum to be constructed in 5,000 square feet of Abbott Hall on its South Campus, to make the collection and the man behind the famous name accessible to a broader audience.

Last Bloomsday, UB started a fundraising campaign for the museum with a $100,000 challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and estimated the capital project alone  the bricks and mortar part  would cost $10 million.

Friday, State Sen. Tim Kennedy and UB officials gathered to announce that amount in state funding for the project, ensuring it will become a reality.

Kennedy, whose district includes UBs South Campus, has been a longtime supporter of the universitys Joyce collection and has brought leading representatives of the Irish government to visit it.

This funding is transformational for the preservation of Irish heritage here in Buffalo and all of New York State, and will allow the University at Buffalos extensive collection of James Joyces work to be truly celebrated, Kennedy said. Ive fought for this state investment for years, because I firmly believe the UB James Joyce Museum will attract visitors from around the world, and further strengthen the relationship between the United States and Ireland.

We are very grateful to Senator Kennedy and New York State for this significant funding, and for being able to announce it on Bloomsday and help the world celebrate the 101st anniversary of Ulysses,  said James Maynard, curator of UBs poetry collection, which includes the Joyce items.

UB still needs to raise $3 million for an endowment fund for a curator of the collection, future preservation and acquisition of Joyce materials and programs and exhibitions for the public, Maynard said.

The funding for the museum allows UB to move forward with enlisting an exhibit design consultant and entering the design phase of the museum hopefully by the end of this calendar year, Maynard said.

Joyce is best known for writing Ulysses, considered one of the most difficult and masterful works of the 20th century, as well as the much shorter A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and his short story collection, Dubliners.

Besides being long and containing many purposely puzzling references, Ulysses also contains sexual scenes that led it to be banned as obscene in Great Britain before it was published in Paris by American bookseller Sylvia Beach in 1922.

UB amassed its Joyce collection under the direction of the first director of the UB libraries, Charles D. Abbott, whose name graces the building that will house the new museum, with help from many benefactors. It includes many materials acquired from Sylvia Beachs personal collection in 1959 and after her death in 1962.

Researchers and Ulysses nerds around the world have sought out UBs Joyce collection over the years, but a Joyce museum and programming will make Buffalo the place for regular people to go to learn who Joyce was and why his work is so celebrated, Maynard said.

Our vision of success is to create a vibrant, worldwide destination where a diverse audience can experience James Joyce, he said. For years it has been a destination for scholars, but now we will be able to share these renowned materials with a much broader audience and tell the story of Joyces life, his works and the enduring legacy of his influence which continues today.

UB President Satish Tripathi said the state support would not have happened without the advocacy of Kennedy and Gov. Kathy Hochul.

On behalf of our entire university community, I would like to thank Sen. Tim Kennedy for his enduring support of UB and our mission of excellence, he said. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Gov, Hochul for her commitment to amplify our impact as New York States flagship university.
News / Local

by Staff reporter

ZIMBABWE Republic Police had to intervene after fading opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) members caused commotion, baying for Morgen Komichi's blood as he announced a splinter group.There appears to be an insatiable appetite for power within MDC as tussles to salvage what is left of a once formidable political party continues.Komichi, Wednesday, announced his splinter group from the Douglas Mwonzora led MDC, yet another episode in the opposition's fragmentation.The former chairman is reviving the United Movement for Democratic Change with him at the helm.The announcement triggered violence from Mwonzora supporters who stormed a press conference in Harare accusing Komichi of destroying the opposition party."You presided over the congress last year and you were in charge there. You were the chairman of MDC. At the last congress you got three votes. Who nominated you? Who supported you? Right now the president of MDC is in the UK. Why did you not announce it when he was here?"On your Facebook page I doubt if your friends support you. Right now your posts on Facebook, only one or two people will support you. You cannot even post something that can bring happiness. It will be rejected by people even in the MDC. They will never support you," charged one MDC supporter who identified himself as Boaz Mangamiso.MDC has endured power wrangles since the death of founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai in 2018, seeing the party split four times.Succession disputes and constitutional challenges have destroyed MDC which since the turn of millennium mounted opposition against revolutionary party Zanu-PF.Last year MDC failed to secure parliamentary and council seats during the by-elections, a final nail on the coffin for the party.According to insiders MDC members' confidence in Mwonzora is waning with some jumping ship to join Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) led by erstwhile leader Nelson Chamisa.Komichi said he has the wherewithal to bring MDC to life, before he was whisked away from the angry Mwonzora supporters."I had not come here to talk about personalities but rather to outline the vision I have as Morgan Komichi, the belief that I can lead the new outfit of the opposition struggle. I do not want to engage in these side shows," said Komichi.
While some of 2023's hit K-dramas center around revenge, romance, and power, Netflix delivered an interesting series through the webtoon-based "Bloodhounds."

Featuring a spectacular team-up between Woo Do Hwan and Lee Sang Yi, the 8-episode K-drama introduces a mix of the industry's legends, K-pop stars, and more.

Helmed by Jason Kim of "The Divine Fury" and "Midnight Runners," "Bloodhounds" depicts the story of two amateur boxers, Kim Gun Woo and Hong Wo Jin, who get intertwined with a huge organization led by terrifying loan shark Kim Myung Gil.

In their attempt to escape the danger, the duo meets a former gang boss who will change their fate forever.

From Woo Do Hwan, Lee Sang Yi and a slew of award-winning stars, here are the familiar faces seen in Netflix's "Bloodhounds."

Woo Do Hwan

Taking on the role of Kim Gun Woo, he gets caught up with Kim Myung Gil after his mother borrows from the lending company called Smile Capital.

Interestingly, "Bloodhounds" is among the actor's first projects after successfully completing his military service.

Apart from the Netflix series, Woo Do Hwan also starred in the recently-concluded historical K-drama "Joseon Attorney" with WJSN's Bona.

Besides, viewers might know Woo Do Hwan from the series "The King: Eternal Monarch" as Jo Young, the Captain of the Royal Guard and the second lead, Seok Dong Chul, in "Save Me."

Lee Sang Yi

Apart from headlining "Bloodhounds," Lee Sang Yi is also one of the lead stars in "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha," together with Shin Min Ah and Kim Seon Ho.

Adding to the list of his filmography, he also played as the main character in "Youth of May" and the upcoming K-drama "My Demon," along with Song Kang and Kim Yoo Jung.

However, besides his supporting and lead roles, Lee Sang Yi also had a slew of cameos in various K-dramas, like in "Crash Course in Romance," "Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist," and "Yumi's Cells" as Kim Go Eun's first ex-boyfriend.

Heo Joon Ho

One of the veteran stars who joined "Bloodhounds" is the award-winning actor Heo Joon Ho.

In the Netflix series, he took on the role of President Choi, the grandfather of Kim Hyun Joo (Kim Sae Ron), who is the former boss of Kim Myung Gil.

Viewers might know the A-list star as the North Korean ambassador, Lim Yong Su in "Escape from Mogadishu," and scholar Ahn Hyun in "Kingdom" seasons 1 and 2.

This 2023, Heo Joon Ho is set to star in two upcoming movies. First is joining as a supporting actor in "Noryang: The Sea of Death" and playing the lead role in "Possession," starring Kang Dong Won.

Park Sung Woong

Playing as the series' villain, Kim Myung Gil, Park Sung Woong surely set viewers on the edge of their seats with his terrifying moves against President Choi and the duo.

The versatile star also appeared in hit K-dramas, such as "Crash Landing on You," "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes," "Snowdrop," and more.

Choi Si Won

Despite Choi Si Won being active in his activities with UNICEF, the Super Junior member once again wowed K-drama fans with his versatility as he took on the role of chaebol's firstborn son, Director Hong Min Beom.

He played a significant role in bringing down Kim Myung Gil.

Interestingly, Choi Si Won's other works include "Love is for Suckers," "Work Later, Drink Now" seasons 1 and 2, "She Was Pretty," and more.

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
Kim Woo Bin and Shin Min Ah are one of South Korea's most private couples. With their status and popularity, the duo likes to keep their relationship as private as possible.

Interestingly, the K-stars were seen on a date as they were at the same event.

Kim Woo Bin & Shin Min Ah Out on Movie Date

According to a media outlet, the South Korean heartthrob and Hallyu queen graced the VIP premiere of the movie "Live Stream" that took place in Lotte Cinema in Konkuk University.

During the VIP screening, Kim Woo Bin showed off his charm and swooned everyone with his visuals as he posed at the photo wall, wearing a casual outfit, a plain white shirt over a cropped navy jacket, and paired it with denim jeans and white sneakers.

Although Shin Min Ah was not spotted at the photo wall for the VIP screening, eagle-eyed netizens speculated that she was with her boyfriend, Kim Woo Bin, after the "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" star posted an Instagram Story featuring the event for "Live Stream."

Capturing the stage greeting with the cast of "Bloodhounds," Park Sun Ho, Kim Hee Jung, and Park Sung Woong from "Bloodhounds," along with director Choi Yeon Joo, Shin Min Ah took to Instagram and posted a story captioned "'Live Stream' Fighting!"

Kim Woo Bin Reunites With Bae Suzy + To Headline Action Movie 'Martial Arts Officer'

After the success of his Netflix K-drama "Black Knight" and his comeback to the small screen with "Our Blues," the South Korean hearthrob is booked and busy with new projects.

Following his 4-year hiatus due to his health condition, the actor is set to star in multiple projects in the coming years. Among his forthcoming projects, fans of the hit K-drama "Uncontrollably Fond" will once again see him and Suzy in one series.

According to Korea Times, the duo officially confirmed their appearance and will play the main characters of the upcoming romantic-comedy K-drama.

Titled "It Will Come True," the series was created by renowned screenwriter Kim Eun Sook of hit K-dramas "Mr. Sunshine" and "The Glory," and will be produced by Hwa & Dam Pictures.

Meanwhile, it will be directed by "Extreme Job" and rom-com series "Be Melodramatic" filmmaker Lee Byung Hun.

"The best fantasy rom-com requires a captivating story, stunning visuals, and exceptional acting. This series has it all," the production company said, hinting at what to expect in Kim Woo Bin and Bae Suzy's drama.

In addition to the actor's upcoming works, he will also be headlining the upcoming film "Martial Arts Officer," directed by Jason Kim of "The Divine Fury," "Midnight Runners," and "Bloodhounds."

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
Viewers were truly entertained by the bromance of Woo Do Hwan and Lee Sang Yi in Netflix's "Bloodhounds."

Interestingly, the 31-year-old lead star, who played the role of Hong Woo Jin, spills more details regarding his experience filming the series and working relationship with fellow stars, especially Woo Do Hwan.

Lee Sang Yi Reveals He Got Close With Woo Do Hwan Because of a Mobile Games

During his guest appearance on the MBC variety show "I Live Alone," the actor spoke about his friendship with his "Bloodhounds" co-star.

According to Lee Sang Yi, he and Woo Do Han spent a lot of time on the makeup set since the team had to do effects like fake blood and bruises.

"I always shared the makeup bus with Woo Do Hwan," he said, as obtained by a media outlet, revealing that his fellow lead star took a lot of time doing his make up because of his character's scar.

To recall, one of the scenes in "Bloodhounds" featured an encounter between Kim Gun Woo, played by Woo Do Hwan, and the villain, Kim Myung Gil, portrayed by Park Sung Woong, where the gang boss made a mark on Gun Woo's face using a knife.

Meanwhile, Lee Sang Yi revealed what they bonded over to pass the time.

"We had a lot of time talking and playing the same game on my cell phone," he said, adding they became closer because of this and that Woo Do Hwan "is really good at that game."

Lee Sang Yi Says Woo Do Hwan Has a Lot of Celebrity Friends

Apart from having the same interest when it comes to mobile games, Lee Sang Yi also shared that he and Woo Do Hwan are close to some fellow actors.

"Do Hwan is also close with actors Kim Kyung Nam and Kim Go Eun," he said, adding that there are also a lot of celebrities with whom he has good relationships.

Woo Do Hwan met Kim Kyung Nam and Kim Go Eun during the filming of the hit romance fantasy series "The King: Eternal Monarch."

The K-drama lead star, Lee Min Ho, even met him before enlisting in the military, showing their undeniable closeness.

Continue to praise, his co-star, Lee Sang Yi, described Woo Do Hwan as someone who shows a lot of passion in his work.

"When I actually met, rehearsed, and read the script, I had a lot of questions for him," he said, adding, "that means that I have a lot of things I want to do or have a lot of thoughts. I felt, 'Oh, he loves his work.'"

Since "Bloodhounds" is among the first few projects that Woo Do Hwan did after completing his enlistment, Lee Sang Yi says he felt his hunger and passion for filming.

READ MORE: 'Bloodhounds' Director Admits Kim Sae Ron's DUI Affected Other Cast Members' Screentime

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Wills
Lee Do Hyun gets honest about his plans following the conclusion of "The Good Bad Mother." He also hinted that it might be his last series for 2023. Keep on reading to know more about what the actor said.

Lee Do Hyun Turns Down Offers as He Might Start His Military Service This 2023

In his media interview released on June 14, Lee Do Hyun shared his plans for military enlistment.

According to Lee Do Hyun, he has decided to apply for military service this 2023. As per the actor, before it happens, he wants to travel, especially with his family. The actor mentioned that he is planning on taking his parents to Jeju for a vacation.

As the conversation continued, the "18 Again" star also clarified that "The Good Bad Mother" is his last work before he enters the military camp.

Lee Do Hyun further explained that he still wants to participate in other projects, but if he already receives an enlistment notice while filming, the schedule would have to be adjusted. Humbly worrying about the staff and artists who will be affected by the changes.

"If everyone has to rush and film with a tight schedule because of me, I would feel guilty. That's why, even though I still want to take on more projects, I decided to turn down all offers."

'The Good Bad Mother' Lead Star Shares His Plans Before & During Enlistment

The award-winning actor added that he has always considered fulfilling military enlistment earlier. He also expressed his desire to have different life experiences while serving in the army.

Lee Do Hyun shared that he wants to talk with people a lot during his military service since he didn't have the chance to converse with a lot of people due to his busy schedule.

"I want to enlist and learn about other people's strengths, and believe that I will grow as an actor during my stay in the military camp." Lee Do Hyun concluded.

Lee Do Hyun successfully ended his healing-comedy series "The Good Bad Mother" with impressive ratings and was lauded for his impeccable performance throughout the drama.

As per writing, there's no confirmation yet when is the exact date of Lee Do Hyun's enlistment. While on his break, the actor is expected to spend more time with his family and close friends.

He also mentioned in the interview that his "The Glory" co-stars might visit him in the army camp once he enlisted.

What can you say about Lee Do Hyun's upcoming military enlistment? 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.
With the success of "Doctor Cha," Kim Byung Chul continues to establish himself in the Hallyu scene as a top star.

Since his debut, he has appeared in high scale works including "SKY Castle," "Goblin" and more. Following his recent return, the actor opened up about his woes and insecurities in his career. Keep on reading.

Kim Byung Chul Dishes About Career Insecurities & More

Kim Byung Chul dominated prime time earlier this year with his comical and endearing side through "Doctor Cha."

The actor created a massive buzz during the drama's entire run, establishing his name in the acting scene. He also gained a huge following among viewers around the world.

Unbeknownst to many, Kim Byung Chul has been in the industry for two decades. It wasn't until 2015 that he penetrated the competitive scene through his unforgettable role in Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo's "Descendants of the Sun."

Since then, he has appeared in high scale works like "Goblin," "SKY Castle," "Mr. Sunshine," "Doctor Prisoner" and "All of Us Are Dead."

The 50-year-old actor bared his soul and openly talked about his hardships in the field. According to him, he has lived in his parents' home for 10 years during his time as a rookie actor.

While working as an actor, he earned money by doing part-time jobs like an after-school theater professor at an elementary school. This also affected his perspective in relationships.

At the moment of this writing, Kim Byung Chul still has no ring on his finger. However, his career continues to skyrocket, much to his delight.

Kim Byung Chul Shares Thoughts On Marriage

Although he looks confident outside, Kim Byung Chul is a shy and sweet person in real life.

His "Doctor Cha" co-stars described him as an introverted yet caring person who makes filming fun and entertaining. With this, fans grow curious as to why he's still single.

Kim Byung Chul, because of his rough experiences as a young adult, has focused on earning money and establishing his career. This left no space for romantic trysts and other things.

When asked about marriage, the "Doctor Cha" star believes that it's too late for him now to start his own family. In addition to that, he's also not confident to date due to his physical appearance.

Kim Byung Chul believes that he won't be able to date as he's not conventionally attractive to some. Regarding his ideal type, he is drawn to wise and hardworking people like himself.

Although he's not looking for anything at the moment, the doors to marriage are still open for the actor.

Check out Kim Byung Chul's adorable performance in "Doctor Cha" now. All 16 episodes are available on Netflix with English subtitles.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Written by Elijah Mully.
Protesters for abortion are separated from protesters against abortion as the two groups demonstrate on the front lawn of Parliament, Thursday, May 11, 2023, in Ottawa. A controversial Conservative private member's bill intended to make violence against pregnant women an aggravating factor during court sentencing was roundly defeated in the House of Commons, as other parties feared it would reopen the debate on abortion. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
News / Local

by Staff reporter

A COMBINED team of Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), military intelligence and the Zimbabwe Republic Police, known as Ferret Force, last week busted a car smuggling syndicate operating between South Africa and Zimbabwe.The syndicate, allegedly consisting of members of the police, Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), and other law enforcement agents deployed along the border between South Africa and Zimbabwe at Beitbridge, was said to be smuggling stolen cars across the Limpopo River into Zimbabwe.The matter, still being investigated by the Police Anti-Corruption Unit, exposed what could be a sophisticated cartel involved in smuggling dozens of vehicles between the two countries.National police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was still looking into the allegations when contacted for a comment."I have not heard anything from Beitbridge and let me just find out," he said.Last week, Tapiwa Nigel Mashanda of Beitbridge and Petros Chawasarira of Mufakose, Harare, were intercepted by the Ferret team soon after allegedly smuggling a stolen Toyota Fortuner vehicle.The pair was allegedly assisted by four police officers using an official Zimbabwe Republic Police vehicle and a booked firearm.The policemen (names supplied) reporterdly worked in cahoots with some members of the ZNA deployed at an illegal crossing point just close to Beitbridge Aerodrome.During the investigation, Mashanda and Chawasarira revealed how they had paid R54 000 to the police to evade arrest. The money was allegedly shared among five policemen.Mashanda and Chawasarira, who are facing vehicle theft charges, were denied bail by regional magistrate Innocent Bepura.It is alleged the Toyota Fortuner vehicle was allegedly stolen from Mpumalanga, South Africa, with the owner identified as BS Sebothoma. Mashanda and Chawasarira allegedly used a duplicate key to steal the vehicle.
Finance minister Matia Kasaija says he has secured Shs2.2 trillion to address flooding, traffic congestion, among other issues in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area.

Presenting the budget speech yesterday for the next financial year 2023/2024, Kasaija noted that the funds have been set aside to address poor road infrastructure and unemployment in the area covering Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, and Mpigi districts and their municipalities.

The funds will also see 504 km of roads upgraded including junction signalization in 8 urban authorities, rehabilitation of 30 stormwater drainage points; upgrade 23 markets, and construct 25 artisanal parks and industrial workspaces for small-scale manufactures.

We have secured US$ 608.7 million (equivalent to Shs. 2.25 Trillion) to address flooding, traffic congestion, poor road infrastructure, un-signalized junctions and unemployment in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA) covering Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono and Mpigi districts and their municipalities. Kasaija said.

This will upgrade 504 km of roads including junction signalization in 8 urban authorities; rehabilitation of 30 storm water drainage points; upgrade 23 markets and construct 25 artisanal parks and industrial work spaces for small scale manufactures, he added.

The total national budget for the next financial year is Shs52.7 trillion and out of this, an allocation of Shs4.5 trillion about 13.3% has been budgeted for road maintenance and construction, railway development and rehabilitation, water and air transport development.
Government has allocated Shs192 billion to accelerate digital transformation in the next financial year that kicks off next month.

Delivering his budget speech, Finance minister, Matia Kasaija said government will in the next year deploy Wi-Fi to over 800 locations in the country, targeting schools, hospitals, and markets in the selected sub-regions.

Kasaija also said the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area network will be upgraded to monitor service provision over the national backbone infrastructure.

He also said they will also digitally transform public service delivery by connecting all essential services, such as schools, hospitals, tourism sites, and the police to the national backbone.

According to Kasaija, Free Wi-Fi hotspots have been established at nine border posts namely Lwakhakha, Mpondwe, Mutukula, Busia, Vura, Katuna, and Elegu.

We would like to provide free internet to selected areas at selected times. The internet that we are providing will be utilised by government during working hours, and by citizens after working hours, and weekends, he said.

He meanwhile revealed that 4,717 km of optic fibre has been laid across the country and that the geographical coverage of broad Band services (3G) stands at 66% with 25 broad band sites upgraded to 3G providing services to over 700,000 Ugandans.
Leader of Opposition in Parliament Mathias Mpuuga has accused Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja of seeking relevancy in the way she handles government business.

Mpuugas response comes a day after Nabbanja while visiting Kawolo hospital in Buikwe district blamed the opposition for inciting healthcare workers to strike.

The strike started on Monday after the healthcare workers laid down tools over unpaid salaries.

Addressing journalists this morning at parliament, Mpuuga expressed dismay over the way the Prime Minister handles herself, further advising her to change strategies and focus on the most important things that are affecting Ugandans.

My dear sister Nabbanja, you know its very difficult to be relevant in this country and I can see her struggles at relevancy and Im sympathetic, Mpuuga told journalists.

I dont need her approval or direction to do anything. She must really try to concentrate and you see her lack of concentration is what took her to Mabaatiinto whatjust concentrate. And I wish people around her can assist her to understand the extent of her work so that they do not scatter her into going to the kind of things that are out of touch, said Mpuuga.

Mpuuga has vowed to continue with his nationwide tours to expose the rot in government and has poked the premier to join him.

I am the LOP, I speak on behalf of 5 million people that voted the opposition in this countryso I dont need anybodys permission to do anything and I know the realm, the breadth and width of my work my powers and privileges but I am sympathetic to her, it is not easy to be relevant. LOP Mpuuga emphasized.
As Uganda joins the rest of the continent to commemorate the Day of the African Child today, Members of Parliament have implored government to review and enact laws aimed at strengthening the protection of children on the internet amidst the increasing cases of cybercrimes in Uganda.

The day is being celebrated under the theme; The rights of the child in the digital environment.

Speaking to journalists at Parliament, the MPs argued that the digital environment has become complex and subject to rapid evolution with the potential of exposing children to a spectrum of risks of online exploitation and abuse in various ways including child pornography, online grooming, cyberstalking, cyberbullying and exposure to harmful and inappropriate content.

Namayingo district Woman MP, Margaret Makokha, who also doubles as Chairperson of Uganda Parliamentary Forum for Children, expressed concern over the excessive unsafe, and extreme content that is easily accessible to children of all ages online.
News / Local

by Staff reporter

We protested #FreeJobSikhala today as he clocked 365 days as a political prisoner in Chikurubhi Maximum Prison.



It was a protest against tyranny,

a demand for #JusticeForMoreblessingAli,

a demonstration against the continued unjust imprisonment of Jacob Ngarivhume, the pic.twitter.com/Pyc2xGh6vT  Makomborero Haruzivishe (@MakomboreroH) June 14, 2023

BRITISH Parliamentarians Catherine Hoey and Jonathan Oates Wednesday joined over 70 Zimbabweans at Parliament Square, London to protest the year-long incarceration of local lawmaker Job Sikhala in Harare.Sikhala clocked 365 days in pretrial detention this week after his arrest on charges of inciting public violence, with no indication of the judiciary considering releasing him.Efforts to have him granted bail by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) have hit a brick wall 15 times.Hoey and Oates joined pro-democracy activist Makomborero Haruzivishe who at one point spent 10 months at the same prison Sikhala is being kept and Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni, another one of those hounded out of the country by President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration.Hoey and Oates have constantly led the UK Parliament in highlighting disrespect of basic human rights by the Zanu-PF government over the years."Joined with Oates to support the protest. Job Sikhala held for one year without bail. A brave opposition MP in Zimbabwe where the rule of law is broken and Mnangagwa allows corruption and uses violence to silence critics," said Hoey after the demonstration.A lengthy open letter written by Sikhala to mark the year in jail revealed a man ready to ride the tide for democracy.Sikhala vowed to continue fighting for his cause even if it costs him his life.'"Let me reassure you, I will stand with the people even if it costs my freedom. I will stand with the people even if it costs my professional and political career. I will stand with the people even if it costs my blood. No one should be mistaken to think otherwise," read Sikhala's letter.Sikhala was arrested days after people in satellite Chitungwiza town broke into massive protests after the gruesome murder of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) supporter Moreblessing Ali.Her decomposing dismembered body was found days after her killing, dumped in a disused well belonging to the alleged perpetrator Pius Jamba's mother.Ali is yet to be buried. Her family has not been granted access to her remains and after a year do not know whether the state has buried her or not.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A man was arrested for impersonating a police officer to the extent of taking a bribe from a motorist while conducting traffic enforcement duties.According to the Police's Twitter page, the man Ishmael Madara was arrested."Police in Harare arrested Ishmael Madara (31) at corner Inez Terrace and Robson Manyika for impersonating a police officer."The suspect was arrested after receiving US$10 bribe from a motorist while conducting traffic enforcement duties at corner Julius Nyerere and Samora Machel Street in Harare Central Business District," posted the Police.
A nine-month prison sentence was handed down to a defendant who admitted two counts of theft dating back to ten years ago.

Marcu Kvec, 63 Manor Street, Waterford pleaded guilty to theft from a premises on John Street on August 14, 2013 and from another retail premises at Patrick Street on November 21, 2013.

The court heard that on August 14, 2023 gardai attended a call from the manager at the Wine Centre on John Street. The manager said that on the date in question the manager said that two males and a juvenile had entered the store and had distracted staff and stole a Havana cigar.



Sergeant Morgan OConnor also outlined to the court that on November 21, 2013 at approximately 4.30pm two males and a juvenile entered a retail premises on Patrick Street and stole a gold chain, which was valued at 3,500. The court heard that the juvenile was observed taking the chain from the window while the defendant distracted a member of staff.

Solicitor Joe Farrell said that his client did not benefit from the theft of the jewellery.

Judge Geraldine Carthy remarked to the court that the defendant had previously taken 17 bench warrants. The judge convicted him and sentenced him to nine months in prison which she backdated to May 13. Judge Carthy also convicted him of failing to appear and imposed a six month prison sentence which is to run consecutively to the nine-month sentence.





The defendant was also convicted of being in possession of drugs for personal use when he was stopped by gardai at Archersrath, Kilkenny on November 13. 2022.

On the date in question the gardai stopped a vehicle on the N10 and got the distinct smell of cannabis from the vehicle. There were three occupants travelling in the car, including the defendant. All three admitted to the possession of a single cigarette that contained cannabis.

Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted the defendant under section 3 of The Misuse of Drugs Act and imposed a fine of 101.
Members of Tourism Irelands French Marketing Partnership Group (MPG) are visiting Kilkenny as part of their visit to Irelands Ancient East this week.

The MPG is made up of leading French tour operators, online travel agencies, as well as air and sea carriers, and is the official vehicle for Tourism Ireland to consult with its key tourism partners in France.

The visit was an excellent opportunity for Tourism Ireland to showcase Irelands Ancient East to the senior travel representatives from France who make up the MPG. Their programme included guided tours of Kilkenny Castle, St Canices Cathedral and Round Tower and the Smithwicks Experience Kilkenny, as well as a walking tour of Kilkenny.

The group also visited Butler House, Zuni Restaurant and Langton's Hotel, and they stayed at Hotel Kilkenny.

Elmagh Killeen, Tourism Irelands Acting Director of Markets, said: We are delighted that the members of our French Marketing Partnership Group have taken the time to come and visit Irelands Ancient East. Seeing is believing  so visits like this are extremely important to continue to build awareness of Ireland and our excellent tourism offering among key French partners.

France is the fourth-largest market for overseas tourism to the island of Ireland. In 2019, we welcomed 557,000 French visitors, who spent 283 million during their time here.
Grow Mental Health is inviting Kilkenny communities to wear yellow and walk for 30 minutes on this years summer solstice - Wednesday, June 21 at 7pm in The Castle Park.

By supporting the YELLOWWALK for Mental Health, youll be helping achieve a vision of an Ireland where no one needs to navigate mental health challenges or life's struggles alone.

You can register on: https://buytickets.at/grow22/906273 or scan the QR code on the poster.

Or contact Grow Mental Health, Kilkenny Area Coordinator Liz Shortall

Email: lizshortall@grow.ie Phone: 086 0849171

Grow is a community of people drawn together by first-hand experiences of mental health problems.

From a Grow member

Aislings story:

"Who knows where this heart will go, for some things are not yet known. This feeling of aliveness within myself is a deep compulsion to be shared. So, with the determination of a baby learning to walk Ill try, try and try again. Its not about how often we fall but how often we get back up."

From STORIES OF HOPE AND RECOVERY. Forward by Dr Pat Bracken.

There are weekly Grow Mental Health support meetings at 4 Dean Street in Kilkenny - for more details contact area coordinator Liz Shortall.
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.

Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.

If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .

Support our mission and join our community now.
KIT researchers use the KITcube to gather detailed information on the state of the atmosphere during the formation and development of thunderstorms. (Photo: Amadeus Bramsiepe, KIT)

In recent years, hailstorms, strong rain showers, and floods increased in frequency as well as in their effects on humans and the environment. In Germany, these are the natural phenomena having the highest damage potential. To better cope with these weather extremes in the long term, researchers study their development and effects within Swabian MOSES, a program coordinated by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). The ongoing second campaign is aimed at understanding the complete lifecycle of thunderstorms, from their development to intensification to their immediate effects.

How do weather extremes develop in summer? What are their effects? Which damage do they cause? These questions are addressed by the measurement campaign Swabian MOSES 2023. Researchers want to better understand weather extremes. For this purpose, they observe the course of events from the first small initial cumulus cloud to the development of a thunderstorm and accompanying hail formation, to strong rain and floods, to the influx of pollutants into water bodies.

Regional Development of Thunderstorms, Strong Rain Showers, and Hailstorms

A major component used in the research campaign is KITcube, a KIT-made atmosphere observation system that consists of several measurement instruments. It is the first of its kind in Europe. We use the KITcube to measure wind speeds at high altitudes and precipitation in high resolution. Its main location is Villingen-Schwenningen. In addition, we have chosen seven outstations to cover the entire measurement area, says the coordinator of the campaign, Lutz Beckebanze from KITs Institute of Meteorology and Climate Research  Troposphere Research Department (IMK-TRO). Our data are sent directly to the German Weather Service. In a parallel weather forecast cycle, they determine the influence of these additional observations on weather forecasts and their quality.

Moreover, the researchers of KIT, in cooperation with colleagues from Bonn, Australia, and the USA, are hunting for storms. They use special probes to measure flow conditions in thunderstorm clouds and determine the growth of hailstones. Other working groups of IMK measure aerosols in the atmosphere and slight variations of air pressure with the help of a new infrasound instrument. Apart from the coordinators of IMK-TRO, the other two departments of IMK and KITs Institute for Water and River Basin Management (IWG) participate in the campaign.

The measurement campaign from May to September this year covers the area from the Swiss border to the region of Kirchheim unter Teck. Measurements in the Southern Black Forest concentrate on the development of thunderstorms. Most of them move in north-eastern direction, resulting in a very high number of weather extremes with high damage-causing potential in the area between Rottenburg and Kirchheim. That is why this region is chosen for studying the impacts of the thunderstorms in terms of water quality, ground humidity, and runoff rate.

About MOSES

The Swabian MOSES campaign is part of the Helmholtz Initiative MOSES (Modular Observation Solutions for Earth Systems). Within this initiative, institutes of the Helmholtz Association develop and test new observation systems and measurement concepts to study the interactions between short-term events like weather extremes and long-term development of environmental systems. MOSES consists of flexible and mobile observation modules to investigate the complete chain of events from formation to direct consequences.

Further Information

Swabian MOSES

MOSES in general

More about the KIT Climate and Environment Center

Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,800 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.


SAO PAULO, June 15 (Reuters) - Brazilian steelmaker Gerdau SA said on Thursday it will invest 3.2 billion reais ($666.64 million) by 2026 in a new sustainable mining platform in the Minas Gerais state, a bid to boost its iron ore output while reducing emissions.

The new platform will raise the production capacity of Gerdau's Miguel Burnier mine to 5.5 million metric tons of iron ore per year and is scheduled to start operating at the end of 2025, according to the company.

The project will rely on the dry stacking method for disposal of 100% of the mining tailings, eliminating the need to use a dam, Gerdau said.

"This new sustainable mining platform is also an important initiative in reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, since we will have high quality ore," Gerdau's CEO Gustavo Werneck added in a statement.

Gerdau said it will use the iron ore obtained from the new platform on four steel production units also located in Minas Gerais state.

(Reporting by Paula Arend Laier; Editing by David Gregorio)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
LONDON, June 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. affiliate of crypto giant Binance has carried out a round of layoffs since regulators last week charged it with violating securities laws and sought to freeze its assets, said two people with knowledge of the dismissals and employees' social media posts.

One of the sources said around 50 people were laid off. Reuters was unable to independently verify the number or seniority of employees affected.

A Binance.US spokesperson did not respond to emails and calls seeking comment.

Employees in Binance.US' legal, compliance and risk departments were among those dismissed, the people told Reuters, requesting anonymity because the matter is private.

The SEC on June 5 accused Binance and its founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao of creating Binance.US as part of a "web of deception" to evade securities laws aimed at protecting U.S. investors. Binance said it would defend itself "vigorously."

The SEC also sued Binance.US' operating company, BAM Trading, alleging that it misled investors about "non-existent trading" controls over its platform.

A day later, the SEC asked a federal court to freeze Binance.US' assets, including more than $2.2 billion held in crypto and some $377 million in U.S. dollar bank accounts. The SEC expressed concern that the exchange could move those funds offshore.

Binance.US called the request "unwarranted" and said the SEC's allegations were "unjustified."

Two Binance.US employees said on LinkedIn on Wednesday they were leaving the company, with one citing a "round of layoffs."
News / National

by Staff reporter

An argument between two men resulted in the other being stabbed and dying at a business centre in Masvingo on Wednesday night.Police on Twitter said they have arrested Vavarirayi Mapingure for "murdering" Owen Mabwe."Police in Masvingo have arrested Vavarirayi Mapingure (26) alias Chitsano in connection with a case of murder in which Owen Mabwe (38) died after being stabbed on the chest with an unidentified sharp object following an argument over an undisclosed issue at Mucheke Business Centre on 14/06/23 at around 2330 hours."
MILAN, June 15 (Reuters) - Intesa Sanpaolo (ISP.MI), Italy's biggest bank, on Thursday launched a new digital lender dubbed Isybank as it strives to upgrade the technology underpinning its business and cut costs.

Isybank is powered by cloud technology provided by Britain's ThoughtMachine, a cloud-native banking technology firm. The cloud services are supplied by Google (GOOGL.O) which has invested 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in Italy to set up the two cloud regions Intesa will rely upon.

High-street banks globally face a big challenge in replacing their existing core IT infrastructure, known as mainframe, with cloud technology. Legacy systems pose a major hurdle, while the task is easy for challenger banks built from scratch on cloud technology.

ThoughtMachine CEO Paul Taylor told a presentation that established banks like Intesa could still aim to combine a top-notch digital experience with the financial resilience, wide user base and product offering of traditional lenders.

Intesa has said it will attempt to shift its entire business onto the cloud if Isybank proves successful.

With an ageing population, Italy is a digital laggard in Europe.

Intesa Sanpaolo has forecast its new digital bank would save around 800 million euros a year in 2026-2027, up from 600 million euros in 2025, according to a strategy presentation delivered in February last year.

"What we've managed to accomplish in just 12 months is something the entire country should be proud of," CEO Carlo Messina said.

Isybank targets some 4 million Intesa customers who generate around 200 million euros in revenues a year and could become more profitable for the bank if shifted away from branches given they already only use digital bank services.

Stefano Barrese, the head of Intesa's commercial banking business, said that out of the bank' 12 million customers 8-9 million used also digital channels, and roughly half of those only digital means. That share was 400,000 back in 2013.

($1 = 0.9158 euros)
WASHINGTON, June 14 (Reuters) - A collection of the nation's leading and biggest spending environmental groups endorsed President Joe Biden's re-election bid on Wednesday, an early sign that he has consolidated their support despite some recent policy moves that angered climate activists.

The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Action Fund, billionaire Tom Steyer's NextGen PAC, NRDC Action Fund and the Sierra Club endorsed Biden during an LCV dinner in Washington. This is the first time the four groups have ever jointly announced a presidential endorsement, according to the Biden campaign.

"Together, we've made a lot of progress so far. We have to finish the job," Biden told the crowd climate activists.

He added that the world poses many threats, but climate change "is the only truly existential threat."

While the endorsements are not surprising, they are a sign that the environmental groups are not letting a series of recently disappointing administration decisions on oil drilling in Alaska and backing a gas pipeline in West Virginia to dampen their enthusiasm.

"The stakes could not be more high and the choice could not be more clear," said Eva Hernandez, Managing Director of the Sierra Club.

The groups represent the mainstream part of the environmental movement and tend to reflect older voices. Younger activists, such as the ones that sought to disrupt the annual White House Correspondents Dinner earlier this year, may be less enthusiastic to back Biden.

The four organizations combined represent millions of members and activists in every state across the country who can help mobilize voters in 2024. They also represent big money.

Steyer's NextGen PAC spent $56.7 million in 2020, campaign finance records show.

Biden is traveling to California next week to raise campaign cash from tech and climate donors as he races to raise over a billion dollars for his re-election fight, Reuters reported.
June 16 (Reuters) - The Taliban's acting governor of the Afghan central bank met China's ambassador this week to discuss banking relations and business, the bank's spokesperson told Reuters on Friday.

Afghanistan's banking system has been severely hampered by U.S.-led sanctions, a drop in liquidity from frozen central bank assets and a cut in development spending. Regulatory risk concerns of international banks have also largely cut off the country's formal banking sector from the global financial system.

China does not have formal diplomatic ties with Afghanistan but has continued to maintain an embassy in Kabul since the Taliban took over the country in 2021. Beijing has recently signalled economic interest in its neighbour, and although some Chinese business executives have raised security concerns, they have said they are looking into investment opportunities, especially in mining.

"In this meeting, economy, banking relations, business and some related topics were discussed," the bank's spokesperson Hassibullah Noori told Reuters, adding the meeting took place on Thursday in Kabul between Ambassador Wang Yu and acting governor Mullah Hidayatullah Badri.

The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson's office said in a statement to Reuters that the ambassador had met Badri and other heads of "relevant departments" in recent days.

"Both sides exchanged opinions on strengthening China-Afghanistan cooperation in areas such as the economy and trade," the statement said, adding financial sanctions on Afghanistan were hampering the country's development.

"China has always supported the peaceful reconstruction of Afghanistan, provides sincere help to Afghanistan, and welcomes Afghanistan to join the Belt and Road Initiative," it said.

Badri is a senior Taliban figure who became acting head of the central bank in March after stepping down as acting finance minister. He was head of the economic commission of the Islamic Emirate, as the Taliban refer to their government, as they conducted a 20-year insurgency against the former Western-backed government of Afghanistan, according to Taliban officials, and he ran most of the Taliban's fundraising operations at the time.
Get all the essential market news and expert opinions in one place with our daily newsletter. Receive a comprehensive recap of the day's top stories directly to your inbox. Sign up here!

(Kitco News) - Hydrogen is gaining a lot of attention as a new source of clean energy and while this growing commodity will help support platinum group metal demand, it might not be the panacea for a precious metal that is looking to define its role in the green energy transition.

According to the World Platinum Investment Council, green hydrogen production could be the biggest source of platinum demand by 2040. Platinum and iridium are two major components of proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology, which are used in electrolyzers that separate hydrogen and oxygen molecules in water. PEM technology is also used in hydrogen fuel cells to convert the gas into electricity.

The growing hydrogen economy was a featured discussion during the International Economic Forum of the Americas in Montreal. A panel discussion hosted during the conference noted that Canada is one of the top hydrogen producers in the world and could set itself up as a leader in this burgeoning energy sector.

"Hydrogen is one of the key paths to Sustainable green energy and Hydrogen is in our Canadian DNA," said Robert Stasko, executive director of the Hydrogen Business Council, Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA), in the panel discussion. "Hydrogen is a way Canada can export our excess energy, and every province can participate."

However, the panel noted several ways hydrogen can be produced, and PEM electrolyzers are playing only a small part in the broader green energy transition.

Stasko noted that hydrogen is produced in Canada's prairie provinces by separating hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Historically, the carbon dioxide was released into the atmosphere, but as companies look to reduce carbon emissions and greenhouse gasses, the carbon dioxide is now being collected and trapped underground. This type of hydrogen production is referred to as "blue hydrogen."

The production of "green hydrogen" is mostly done in Eastern Canada, as provinces like Quebec and the Maritimes have access to inexpensive renewable energy.

While green hydrogen has no carbon footprint, its most significant obstacle for mass adoption is that it is extremely energy intensive. The panel speakers noted that 80% of the cost to produce hydrogen is energy costs.

Raveel Afzaal, President and Chief Executive Officer of Next Hydrogen Corporation, said the key to green hydrogen adoption is reducing renewable energy costs. He added that demand and interest in hydrogen are growing despite the higher prices.

Afzaal described the current environment as the golden age for hydrogen.

"We have never seen this much interest in hydrogen," he said.

In an interview with Kitco News, Afzaal said that he expects it is only a matter of time before the price of renewable energy drops, making hydrogen a cheaper fuel source.

Next Hydrogen builds the electrolyzers that are used to produce green energy; however, because of costs, his company's technology uses nickel-based electrolyzers.

Although Afzaal said he expects hydrogen adoption to grow as the world pushes towards net-carbon emission by 2050, he added that it won't solve the global green energy needs.

"I think hydrogen is a surgical tool that needs to be adopted by specific industries like industrial transportation; that is its strength as an alternative fuel," he said. "We need to electrify our economy where we can. Where we can't, that is where we will need to use hydrogen."

Aurora Hydrogen was another company featured during the Montreal IEFA conference. Andrew Gillis, Chief Executive Officer of Aurora Hydrogen, said that he doesn't expect platinum to play a significant role in the hydrogen economy.

In an interview with Kitco News, Gillis said that his company is able to produce green hydrogen from natural gas. He said that the company uses microwaves to heat natural gas, breaking the molecular bonds and separating the hydrogen from the carbon. The carbon is then solidified.

Gillis added that the solid carbon could be used as filler in the construction industry or as a component in producing artificial graphite.

He explained that transportation costs are the most significant hurdle he sees for the hydrogen economy. He noted that even if renewable energy prices continue to fall, it still remains expensive to ship hydrogen as it is an extremely light gas.

However, he said that Aurora Hydrogen is looking a using current infrastructure to bring hydrogen to the point of use. He added that his company can access utility companies' nat gas infrastructure already in place. His company can connect the equipment needed to produce hydrogen to existing industrial connections.

Gillis explained that ease of use and reduced costs will help drive hydrogen adoptions.

"You need two things to happen for hydrogen power to be adopted. There needs to be easy access and it needs to be cheaper," he said. "You can make hydrogen cheaper by increasing the costs of hydrocarbon fuels, or you can find a way to produce it more efficiently."

Although his company does not need platinum or other precious metals to produce hydrogen, Gillis said he is bullish on the sector. He noted that platinum and other critical metals are still required in fuel cell technology.

He added that the money going into the clean energy sector remains a significant tailwind for hydrogen and other critical metals to achieve the global net-zero goals.

Afzaal said that although many companies are taking a different approach to developing the green hydrogen economy, there is more than enough room for competition and collaboration. He added that there is no silver bullet that will fix the growing climate change crisis.

"We are all on the same mission: to decarbonize the world and I think we all realize that we can't do it alone," he said.

While the hydrogen economy will take decades to build and become sustainable, the panel remained optimistic that it will see significant growth within the next decade.

"Hydrogen is the path of sustainable growth," said Stasko. "It's going to take decades to reach a net-zero target, but we need to bend the emission curb in this decade, or we never will."

Gillis said he is optimistic that the green hydrogen economy will become sustainable. He noted that the hydrogen market is already valued at about $200 billion. However, it is primarily used in the oil and gas industry and in producing fertilizers.


MEXICO CITY, June 16 (Reuters) - U.S. labor officials on Friday asked Mexico to investigate alleged worker rights abuses at a Grupo Mexico mine in the central state of Zacatecas, the 11th U.S. labor complaint in Mexico under a 2020 trade pact.

The U.S. request follows a petition from a Mexican union, Los Mineros, along with two major U.S. labor organizations, the AFL-CIO and the United Steelworkers.

The groups alleged Grupo Mexico resumed operations at its San Martin lead, zinc and copper mine even as a strike was in place.

They also said the company bargained with a group of employees who did not have the right to formally represent the mine's workforce.

Grupo Mexico did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"Respect for a union's status as the exclusive collective bargaining representative and its right to strike are critical components of Mexico's labor reform," said U.S. Department of Labor Deputy Undersecretary for International Affairs Thea Lee in a statement.

Mexican law aimed at improving workplace conditions underpins the 2020 trade pact known as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which has paved the way for new unions to secure better pay and benefits.

The U.S. government on Monday also filed a complaint in Mexico over alleged rights abuses at a garment facility in Aguascalientes state owned by Industrias del Interior (INISA).

(Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon in Mexico City and Ismail Shakil and David Gregorio)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
Get all the essential market news and expert opinions in one place with our daily newsletter. Receive a comprehensive recap of the day's top stories directly to your inbox. Sign up here!

(Kitco News) - Despite the recent fall in nickel prices, FPX Nickel CEO Martin Turenne said mines and projects still work.

On Tuesday Turenne spoke to Kitco.

FPX Nickel (TSX-V: FPX) is a Vancouver-based junior nickel mining company advancing the Baptiste Nickel project at the Decar Nickel District in central British Columbia.

In September the company plans to release a feasibility study.

Mineralization at the project is awaruite nickel, which the company claims has advantages over sulphide or laterite deposits.

"It is a noveltype of nickel deposit, but one we think that can be very disruptive to global nickel supply," said Turenne. "We're the first company to have ever discovered an economic deposit."

Turenne said the ore can be more simply processed and mineral processing operations would be more easily vertically integrated. To turn any project into a mine, Turenne said size is important.

"What does it take to move the needle for a major mining company to want to acquire you?" asked Turenne. "Whether it's copper, zinc, or nickel, the criteria tend to be the same: scale. [Miners] need something that is going to move the needle from a revenue and a free cash-flow generation standpoint. This operation would produce over 100 million pounds of nickel per annum at a billion dollars per year top line."

Nickel prices have dipped by about a quarter this year. Indonesian smelters have increased output tipping the market into a surplus. The metal is currently at $10.31 a pound. The metal hit a low in May of $9.20 a pound.

Turenne said the prices are still good.

"[That's] actually a pretty robust price," said Turenne. "It's still one that supports a wide and expanding use of nickel. Nickel in the $9 to $12 a pound range is sort of a Goldilocks' zone where it doesn't have any dampening impact from a demand standpoint but for operating minesthey should be highly profitable."
Get all the essential market news and expert opinions in one place with our daily newsletter. Receive a comprehensive recap of the day's top stories directly to your inbox. Sign up here!

(Kitco News) - Astar Network, a layer-one smart contract blockchain platform in the Polkadot ecosystem, announced the start of its Astar 2.0 Vision rollout earlier this week as part of its mission to help drive the mainstream adoption of blockchain technology and Web3.

Astar 2.0 focuses on getting us ready to deliver web3 to billions and further decentralizing Astar, the company said in its announcement. 2.0 describes the future iteration of our network, as well as shows the direction were headed towards.

Kitco Crypto sat down with Astar Network founder Sota Watanabe at the Consensus Conference in April to learn more about the project and their plans for the future.

Astar has a global team of developers spread across 20 different countries, but Sota, who is Japanese, said the team is heavily focused on building out their presence in Japan.

We see a lot of opportunity in Japan," he said. "We have been working with Toyota, Sony, and other agencies to develop their use cases. The Japanese government made Web3 a national strategy, and I think almost all people think Astar is the leading project in Japan, so I would like the make the most of the opportunity.

Sota specifically highlighted the platform's work with Sony, which is the largest company Astar has collaborated with and which he believes has a promising future in Web3. They have music, movies, gaming, even car bunking," he said. "So I would like to onboard Sony to Web3 through Astar.

Astar and Sony have already begun to collaborate on multiple projects, and Sota is looking to deepen the relationship between the two in the months ahead.

We started an incubation program with Sony and are incubating 19 different projects right now. They are going to be launched in the coming months, he said.

According to the Astar website, the incubation period for the collaboration with Sony runs from mid-March to June 18, and the Demo Day is scheduled to take place on June 18.

Demo Day will be held in June at Sony Group Corporation Headquarters in Tokyo during Japan Blockchain, the website says. About 200 people, including companies and investors participating in the incubation program, will attend.

Sota said that they received more than 200 applications for the incubation program in less than two weeks.

Astar and Polkadot

Astar is currently the leading parachain in the Polkadot ecosystem, Sota said.

Parachains can serve a variety of functions, such as serving as a smart contract platform, DeFi application, decentralized identity provider, or as a non-fungible token platform. Thanks to the underlying structure that the Polkadot relay chain provides, parachains can specialize in offering one service.

The main limitation of the Polkadot relay chain, which is considered a layer 0 blockchain, is that it does not support smart contracts. This is what motivated Sota to develop Astar  to bring smart contract capabilities to Polkadot.

We have two types of smart contracts, Ethereum native smart contracts and protocol native smart contracts, Sota said. Astar is the only platform that provides not only Ethereum smart contracts but also native smart contracts.

Astar has also added a bridge to the Cosmos network, he said. We would like to connect our blockchain to other ecosystems as well. Since Polkadot is not strictly Ethereum compatible, we are also compatible with networks like Near and Solana. Recently, the top NFT marketplace on Near [Paras] elected to deploy on Astar.

We would like to attract big projects from Ethereum, Solana, and so on, he said. And another narrative is that we are backed by Japan, so we would like to see a Japanese CBDC launched on Astar so that we can help create a lot of real use cases together."

Astar and the Japanese government

Sota said the Japanese government is being quite aggressive in the space because they see blockchain as an opportunity.

Japan used to be number one in terms of cars, electric goods, let's say 30 years ago. A lot of Japanese companies ranked toward the top in terms of valuation, he said. But right now, the biggest company in Japan is Toyota, which ranks near 50th.

We completely missed Web2, he said. We do not have a Tencent or Alibaba. We dont have a Line as they do in Korea. So we completely missed the opportunity. And thats why our economy is not growing. Web3 is the new opportunity, and they would like to invest a lot of money and resources on Web3 because if they miss it, we are probably going to see another 20 losing years.

Sota noted that while Japanese companies were good at developing products for Web2 platforms, the real money is in the platforms, which they did not succeed in building.

Platforms create a lot of money and value, so Web3 is going to be the same. If we miss building a platform, all we will have is small projects on top of other platforms, he said.

This is why he created Astar to be a layer-one smart contract platform, and why the Japanese government is endorsing the platform, even if they cannot officially push people to adopt it.

Blockchain interoperability and future plans

On the topic of why Sota selected Polkadot as the base chain for Astar, Sota said its ability to connect with other blockchain networks was a major factor.

In the future, I think blockchains should be connected, so we would like to enter the Ethereum ecosystem and the Solana ecosystem and so on," he said. "But, if we have a strong presence in Polkadot and are recognized as a leading chain in the Polkadot ecosystem, that will make it easier to work with other networks. This is one of our main objectives.

Other future plans for Astar include the possible launch of a stablecoin, but that process is still at the exploration stage.

Im actually speaking with a big bank to issue a stablecoin right now, Sota said. We can issue a stablecoin by ourselves, but history shows us this is pretty dangerous. So working with big banks to launch a stablecoin on Astar makes more sense than issuing a stablecoin by ourselves.

Crypto and Web3 are all about trustless infrastructure, but business is all about trust," he added. "Right now I see a big shift from trustless to trust, so working with big companies makes sense for mass adoption."

Sota also shared his perspective on the changing landscape of Web3, which he said was previously only for tech people but has started to move towards mass adoption.

The average person doesnt care which blockchain to use, he said. Just like the internet. When I interact with the internet, I dont care which server I use. Blockchain should be the same. While which specific blockchain to use matters more to the long-term adopters, general people, like your grandparents, will not care about which blockchain to use.

The main selling point of Astar is that it supports smart contracts, so it is capable of hosting protocols in the top sectors of the blockchain ecosystem. Sota said the network is already supporting a variety of projects from multiple sectors including the metaverse, artificial intelligence, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

One of the most exciting things for me is NFTs because [Japan] historically has strong IP, such as manga, anime, and so on, he said.

Sota added that he thinks this is one of the best opportunities for Japan to leverage in terms of the mass adoption of blockchain technology.

His ultimate goal with Astar is to make the network completely vertical and provide all the various components that other platforms provide individually. This includes indexing, node management, oracle capabilities, and wallet service, among others.

He would also like to see greater integration between Web3 and real assets. We should connect existing Web3 to real assets, Web2, Web1, and even the finance market," he said. "This is what we would like to do, and we are on the right track.

When it comes to central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and a digital yen, Sota said that he would personally like to have the CBDC hosted on Astar first, and then see it expanded to other blockchain networks, but based on his understanding from conversations with the Japanese government, there is no timeline for the release of a digital yen and it has not yet been decided whether they will use blockchain.

As an entrepreneur, I would like to make something people want to use, something that can actually change reality, he said. Right now, Web3 does not change our reality much, so I would like to change the current status quo and make something people actually use.

People are using the internet, people are using ChatGPT, he said. I would like to make something similar within the next two years. The crypto market will be coming back, and I think the next bull market will be the biggest one. So we should not miss it. But making a great product takes time.

In the coming months, Sota said he will continue to work on making Astar the go-to-market chain for Japan, and then expand its presence in Asia and eventually to the U.S., once the regulatory landscape becomes more settled. I would like to make Astar a star, he said.
News / National

by Simbarashe Sithole in Bindura

Failure to control one self on drugs costed the life of Murehwa man Polite Nimba (21) who jumped to his death in a disused mine shaft in Bindura yesterday.

Mashonaland Central deputy police spokesperson Sergeant Major Samuel Chikasha confirmed the case.Allegations are that Polite Nimba was pannning for gold at Botha mine when he started behaving strange under the influence of drugs.Nimba who could not be controlled by his colleagues ran in a shaft and threw himself.He died on the spot and his body is yet to be retrieaved.President Emmerson Mnangagwa is urging the police and judiciary to deal seriously with drugs since they are impacting negatively on youths mainly.
newshub reports:

Hundreds of criminals could have avoided jail time under a proposal from the Justice and Corrections departments.

The idea was to prioritise home detention instead of incarceration and address the overpopulation of Maori in prison  but it didn't work out like that.

Tommy Doran's come a long way from his teenage years committing petty crime to fund his meth addiction.

As it does for a lot of people who meth gets their hooks into, it led to my incarceration, he told Newshub.

He's done his jail time and he's now doing an honour's degree in criminology. He said home detention isn't a silver bullet.

I don't think the solution lies in just taking them out of prison and sticking them in their home where they probably did a lot of their using and offending.

But that's a solution a document  released under the Official Information Act  recommended to the Government.

It was to the Minister of Justice, proposing an increase in the use of home detention to safely reduce the prison population. Judges would prioritise home detention when a short prison sentence  anything under two years  would usually be imposed.

While it would reduce the prison population by around 600 beds after three years, and save $7 million annually
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
By Jan Schwartz and Victoria Waldersee

(Reuters) - Volkswagen will face investors hungry for answers at its capital markets day next Wednesday on how it will achieve high cost-cutting targets and whether it will heed their calls for an independent audit of its co-owned Xinjiang plant.

Pressure is high after a turbulent shareholder meeting in May where activists interrupted proceedings with protests against the carmaker's jointly-owned plant in Urumqi, Xinjiang and investors grilled executives on their plans to take on Chinese competition in electric vehicles.

"The 21 June CMD is an opportunity to reset a fraught relationship with investors, a challenging exercise," Jefferies wrote in a note on Friday.

The carmaker has invited investors to the "Porsche Experience Center" at a racetrack in southwest Germany to test-drive its cars, hear presentations on its brands and get an updated financial strategy from CEO Oliver Blume and CFO Arno Antlitz.

The Porsche-Piech family, who own 31.9% of Volkswagen, are expecting Blume to begin replicating his success from Porsche at Volkswagen, a source close to the families said, with the caveat that a multi-brand group cannot achieve the same margins as a luxury player.

One source close to the company said Stellantis, who have a similar number of brands as Volkswagen but higher margins, was viewed by some as a benchmark - as well as growing Chinese EV giants like BYD.

Investors also demanded that Volkswagen conduct an independent audit of the Urumqi plant, which executives have is only possible with the agreement of joint venture partner SAIC.

Two investors, who declined to be named, said they expect the topic to come up again on Wednesday.

Alongside targets, investors needed details on how the carmaker expects to make its EV production more cost-effective, Daniel Roeska of Bernstein Research wrote in a note on Thursday.

"The risk is that instead we see more punchy earnings and volume targets, with little to support them," he added.

(Reporting by Jan Schwartz and Victoria Waldersee; Editing by Conor Humphries)
Brie Williams

If you havent visited Jamaica recently, one very good reason to do is the Calabash International Literary Festival, located in the rustic fishing village of Treasure Beach.

Its a spectacular, colorful three-day celebration of words, life, and endurance through literature, music, and conversation. The gathering of locals from across the island and international guestsAngelina Jolie was in the audience this yearis notable for the energizing and cleansing effect of storytelling; its programming emphasizes harmony, joy, and empathy in a place where stories, music, and laughter are mainstays even after centuries of deep-seated trauma.

Brie Williams

For many years this literary festival was on my radar. I went, fearing disappointment, but finding cultural enthusiasm, fire, energy, open-mindedness, and a landscape of ideas, where culture, knowledge and responsibility unite. This audience listened, learned, and contributed, each with their singular emotions and storiesa direct connection linking reader and listener. Yvonne Bailey-Smiths reading about her exile as a child to London from these very same sands where we listened immediately recalled my own to New York City. How was I identifying with the experiences of the fiery Staceyann Chin as she told us of the mental and physical abuse of her youth as a queer woman in Jamaica, followed by the extremely painful experience of childbirth? I think every single woman, in the thousands, was vibrating equally with tears, horror, laughter, as well as triumph. It was a spiritual feminine cleansing despite our immense differences. Amens and applause thundered beneath the tent. I felt included with these very different people, yet I was of the diaspora, returning after 15 years. What a thrill to realize that I remembered the words to "The Banana Man" by the Jamaican poet Evan Jones. I found myself repeating the refrain along with my companions. I am Jamaican.

During this, the 15th year of the festival founded by Justine Henzell and Kwame Dawes, writers from Jamaica (Olive Senior, Staceyann Chin, Kei Miller, and Maisy Card) and well as those who hail from around the world (Cathy Park Wong, Nathalie Diaz, Andrew Motion, and Padma Laksmi, to name a few) and a generation of future laurel bearers were on hand for readings, workshops, dance parties, live music performances, film screenings, and tributes.

The artistic director Kwame Dawes says, Calabash began as an expression of our conviction that readers and writers in Jamaica deserved a world-class international literary festival simply because there was not one, and we believed there could be one. We also started the festival to bolster our effort to create opportunities for Jamaican writers, through seminars and workshops, and the opportunities that come through contact with writers, agents, and publishers from around the world. Our audience is international, even as it remains deeply committed to the Jamaican people who have proven to be some of the best audiences for literature.

Brie Williams

Over the course of the final weekend in May, approximately 3,000 guests float beneath an enormous open-air tent and the hot sun of Treasure Beach, softened only by characteristic sweet breezes and the rhythmic pounding of the waves. Audiences were attentive and receptive to personal and authentic stories, both Jamaican and foreign, which created strong bonds between participants and listeners alike. One of the freeing experiences is the mingling of writers and audience between events, while obtaining food, strolling along the beach, sitting by the hotel pool, being side by side during the readings, or sweating and swaying rhythmically in the early morning hours to the sound of reggae music. All five senses enjoy the magic in a seemingly simplistic world of this colorful rural Jamaican town, but layers are stripped away as conversations show how distinct yet similar, we are. The exchange is freely given as I greet a passing poet laureate or a man with dreadlocks selling beaded bracelets on the street. Then encountering the white robed writer Taiye Selasi, happiness found in the mangoes and large knife in her hands, seemingly to walk off the page of a novel. Sitting with Maisy Card to speak of her novel that I had just finished with characters, emotions and places strongly reflecting the very essence and existence of what I was witnessing on this reentry to my Motherland.

Brie Williams

The next Calabash won't be celebrated again until May 2023, but my bags arein my mind, at leastalready packed, and perhaps that time Ill find the courage to voice my own story.

You Might Also Like
In this April 28, 1973, file photo, Daniel Ellsberg, co-defendant in the Pentagon Papers case, talks to the media outside the Federal Building in Los Angeles. Ellsberg has died, his family announced in a statement. He was 92.
Bank of Ireland Group plc (OTCMKTS:BKRIF  Get Rating) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,078,700 shares, a decrease of 22.7% from the May 15th total of 1,394,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 4,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 224.7 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Credit Suisse Group started coverage on Bank of Ireland Group in a research report on Monday, February 20th. They set an outperform rating on the stock.

Get Bank of Ireland Group alerts:

Bank of Ireland Group Price Performance

BKRIF stock traded up C$0.51 during trading on Thursday, reaching C$10.40. 390 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 9,205. Bank of Ireland Group has a 12 month low of C$5.33 and a 12 month high of C$11.34. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of C$9.98 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$9.81.

About Bank of Ireland Group

Bank of Ireland Group plc provides various banking and financial products and services. The company operates through Retail Ireland, Wealth and Insurance, Retail UK, and Corporate and Treasury segments. It provides current and savings accounts, and business deposits and accounts; personal, car, home improvement, graduate, and student loans, as well as overdrafts; and business and farming loans, BREXIT loans, invoice finance, hire purchase, and leasing services.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Ireland Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Ireland Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
StockNews.com lowered shares of DHT (NYSE:DHT  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report published on Tuesday.

Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on DHT. TheStreet lowered shares of DHT from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 17th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on shares of DHT from $11.00 to $12.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 25th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of DHT from a buy rating to a hold rating and decreased their price target for the company from $12.00 to $10.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 4th.

Get DHT alerts:

DHT Trading Up 0.1 %

DHT stock opened at $8.87 on Tuesday. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $8.77 and its 200-day simple moving average is $9.46. The company has a quick ratio of 3.03, a current ratio of 3.48 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. DHT has a 52-week low of $5.34 and a 52-week high of $12.13. The firm has a market cap of $1.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.49 and a beta of -0.20.

DHT Cuts Dividend

DHT ( NYSE:DHT Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The shipping company reported $0.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.30 by ($0.07). DHT had a return on equity of 10.65% and a net margin of 22.92%. The firm had revenue of $93.90 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $97.36 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned ($0.14) earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 142.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts forecast that DHT will post 1.09 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 25th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 18th were paid a $0.23 dividend. This represents a $0.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 10.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 17th. DHTs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 129.58%.

Institutional Trading of DHT

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System increased its holdings in shares of DHT by 17.3% during the 1st quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 174,766 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $1,889,000 after buying an additional 25,823 shares during the last quarter. Prelude Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of DHT during the 1st quarter worth approximately $205,000. Toroso Investments LLC increased its holdings in shares of DHT by 5.2% during the 1st quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 30,419 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $329,000 after buying an additional 1,509 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in shares of DHT by 8.4% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 988,582 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $10,686,000 after buying an additional 76,976 shares during the last quarter. Finally, New York State Common Retirement Fund increased its holdings in shares of DHT by 151.6% during the 1st quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 230,564 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $2,492,000 after buying an additional 138,940 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 54.61% of the companys stock.

About DHT

(Get Rating)

DHT Holdings, Inc engages in the operation of a fleet of crude oil tankers. It operates through its integrated management companies in Monaco, Singapore, and Oslo, Norway. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for DHT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DHT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded shares of EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG  Get Rating) from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note published on Tuesday, The Fly reports. They currently have $130.00 target price on the energy exploration companys stock, down from their previous target price of $137.00.

Several other analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $142.00 to $141.00 in a report on Monday, May 22nd. UBS Group initiated coverage on shares of EOG Resources in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. They issued a buy rating and a $152.00 price target on the stock. TD Securities reduced their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $150.00 to $145.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 8th. Citigroup reduced their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $160.00 to $122.00 in a report on Friday, March 17th. Finally, Roth Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of EOG Resources in a research note on Friday, February 24th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $148.17.

Get EOG Resources alerts:

EOG Resources Stock Up 0.9 %

EOG stock opened at $111.70 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $65.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.99, a P/E/G ratio of 0.34 and a beta of 1.54. EOG Resources has a 52 week low of $92.16 and a 52 week high of $150.88. The companys 50-day moving average price is $114.42 and its 200 day moving average price is $120.46. The company has a current ratio of 2.17, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15.

EOG Resources Announces Dividend

EOG Resources ( NYSE:EOG Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 5th. The energy exploration company reported $2.69 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.42 by $0.27. The firm had revenue of $6.04 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.28 billion. EOG Resources had a net margin of 33.83% and a return on equity of 30.34%. The firms revenue was up 51.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $4.00 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that EOG Resources will post 11.63 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 17th will be given a $0.825 dividend. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.95%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 14th. EOG Resourcess payout ratio is currently 20.64%.

Insider Transactions at EOG Resources

In related news, COO Lloyd W. Helms, Jr. sold 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.87, for a total transaction of $579,350.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 149,689 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $17,344,464.43. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.30% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On EOG Resources

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ossiam boosted its stake in EOG Resources by 1,206.7% during the 4th quarter. Ossiam now owns 196 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 181 shares during the last quarter. Fortis Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in EOG Resources during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Pinnacle Holdings LLC bought a new position in EOG Resources during the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. Kistler Tiffany Companies LLC bought a new position in EOG Resources during the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Finally, Lumature Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of EOG Resources in the 1st quarter worth about $28,000. 87.40% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About EOG Resources

(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.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for EOG Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EOG Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Keel Point LLC raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA  Get Rating) by 21.6% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 365,312 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 64,984 shares during the period. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF comprises about 3.8% of Keel Point LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th biggest holding. Keel Point LLC owned 0.05% of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF worth $26,127,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. VitalStone Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Financial Freedom LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Chambersburg PA lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 172.9% in the 4th quarter. Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Chambersburg PA now owns 464 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 294 shares during the last quarter. Milestone Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF during the 4th quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF during the 1st quarter worth $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.78% of the companys stock.

Get iShares MSCI EAFE ETF alerts:

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Stock Up 0.3 %

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF stock traded up $0.22 on Friday, reaching $73.77. 2,537,734 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 18,660,188. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has a twelve month low of $54.61 and a twelve month high of $74.05. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $72.77 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $70.35.

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Profile

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Funds investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of its underlying index, MSCI EAFE Index (the Index). The Index has been developed by MSCI Inc as an equity benchmark for its international stock performance.

Featured Articles

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Nuveen Mortgage and Income Fund (NYSE:JLS  Get Rating) passed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of $15.91 and traded as low as $15.89. Nuveen Mortgage and Income Fund shares last traded at $15.95, with a volume of 5,018 shares trading hands.

Nuveen Mortgage and Income Fund Price Performance

The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $15.91 and a 200 day simple moving average of $16.22.

Get Nuveen Mortgage and Income Fund alerts:

Nuveen Mortgage and Income Fund Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a $0.123 dividend. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.18%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nuveen Mortgage and Income Fund

About Nuveen Mortgage and Income Fund

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in JLS. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Nuveen Mortgage and Income Fund during the 4th quarter worth approximately $71,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. bought a new position in Nuveen Mortgage and Income Fund during the 1st quarter worth $26,000. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. raised its position in shares of Nuveen Mortgage and Income Fund by 33.8% in the 1st quarter. Pekin Hardy Strauss Inc. now owns 26,329 shares of the companys stock worth $420,000 after acquiring an additional 6,651 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Nuveen Mortgage and Income Fund by 5.2% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 25,930 shares of the companys stock worth $414,000 after acquiring an additional 1,278 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its position in shares of Nuveen Mortgage and Income Fund by 21.0% in the 1st quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 152,310 shares of the companys stock worth $2,431,000 after acquiring an additional 26,419 shares in the last quarter.

(Get Rating)

Nuveen Mortgage and Income Fund is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments, Inc The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors LLC, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, and Wellington Management Company LLP. It invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. The fund invests in undervalued mortgage-backed securities consisting primarily of non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities with a favorable total return potential.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen Mortgage and Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen Mortgage and Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
A 56-year-old Eleva man has died after a motorcycle crash Wednesday morning near Eau Claire, according to a press release.

The release says that the Wisconsin State Patrol responded to a one vehicle motorcycle crash at the bottom of the westbound on-ramp from Highway 93 to Interstate 94 in Eau Claire County.

First aid was applied to Steven R. Berndt, the lone rider of the motorcycle, before he was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire. Berndt died later from his injuries.

The Eau Claire County Sheriffs Office assisted with the crash, which remains under investigation.
ASOS Plc (OTCMKTS:ASOMY  Get Rating) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 5,200 shares, a decrease of 50.9% from the May 15th total of 10,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 48,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently weighed in on ASOMY. Credit Suisse Group lowered their price target on shares of ASOS from GBX 550 ($6.88) to GBX 450 ($5.63) in a report on Wednesday, June 7th. Berenberg Bank lowered their price target on shares of ASOS from GBX 1,000 ($12.51) to GBX 940 ($11.76) in a report on Tuesday, June 6th. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of ASOS from GBX 500 ($6.26) to GBX 450 ($5.63) in a report on Wednesday, May 31st. Citigroup raised shares of ASOS from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, May 19th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price objective on shares of ASOS from GBX 950 ($11.89) to GBX 725 ($9.07) in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, ASOS presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $788.89.

Get ASOS alerts:

ASOS Trading Up 16.5 %

Shares of OTCMKTS:ASOMY traded up $0.69 during trading on Thursday, reaching $4.85. The company had a trading volume of 23,919 shares, compared to its average volume of 16,470. The firms fifty day moving average is $6.96 and its 200 day moving average is $8.20. ASOS has a twelve month low of $4.06 and a twelve month high of $14.09.

ASOS Company Profile

ASOS Plc operates as an online fashion retailer worldwide. It offers womenswear and menswear products. The company sells its products under the ASOS Design, ASOS Edition, ASOS Luxe, ASOS 4505, Collusion, Reclaimed Vintage, Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge, HIIT, AsYou, Dark Future, UNRVLLD/SPPLY, Crooked Tongues, Daysocial, Actual, and Weekend Collective brands, as well as through third-party brands.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for ASOS Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ASOS and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCMKTS:ENZN  Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 3,300 shares, a growth of 106.3% from the May 15th total of 1,600 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 26,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Enzon Pharmaceuticals Price Performance

OTCMKTS:ENZN remained flat at $0.14 on Thursday. The companys stock had a trading volume of 26,050 shares, compared to its average volume of 16,944. Enzon Pharmaceuticals has a 12-month low of $0.12 and a 12-month high of $0.45. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $0.18 and a two-hundred day moving average of $0.23.

Get Enzon Pharmaceuticals alerts:

Enzon Pharmaceuticals Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Read More

Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in marketing drug products. The company's marketed drug product is PegIntron. It also has a marketing agreement relating to Vicineum drug. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Cranford, New Jersey.

Receive News & Ratings for Enzon Pharmaceuticals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Enzon Pharmaceuticals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 63F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 63F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
State officials are recommending residents limit their time outside Thursday amid poor air quality in some parts of the state caused by wildfire smoke drifting south from Canada.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources pointed to its air quality monitoring map as evidence of the conditions, although as of Thursday afternoon more than half of the state's 72 counties were either reporting no air quality data or had no air monitors to report such data.

Only one county, Grant, had an air quality rating as "unhealthy" while one other, Dane, was rated "unhealthy for sensitive groups," such as those with heart or lung disease, the elderly and children.

Those in areas with poor air quality can also avoid activities that increase indoor pollution  such as vacuuming, frying food, burning candles or using gas-powered appliances  install a high-efficiency air filter and use an N95 mask if outdoors for long periods of time, the DNR said.

The agency said in a news release that cleaner air was coming in from the northeast Thursday and should bring much of the state below the air quality advisory threshold by early Friday morning.

This is the sixth time this spring that an air quality advisory has been issued in Wisconsin, the DNR said. All six have been a direct result of Canadian wildfire smoke.
Maestro Releases Technology and Market Assessment of 5G/6G Technologies Published: 16 June 2023 by Tyler Hanes by Tyler Hanes

MORRISVILLE, NC  The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI) has announced the availability of three reports from the 5G/6G mmWave Materials and Electrical Test Technology Roadmap (5G/6G Maestro).

These reports, developed under the leadership of TechSearch International, Florida International University and Georgia Institute of Technology, assess current market and technology capabilities of 5G/6G mmWave materials and electrical test, primarily for printed circuit boards (PCBs) and packaging substrates.

Maestro, managed by iNEMI, is a joint industry/academia project sponsored by the NIST Office of Advance Manufacturings Advanced Manufacturing Technology (MfgTech) Roadmap. The goal is to create a foundation of knowledge and expertise in mmWave material selection, characterization and test to support the development and manufacture of leading-edge 5G and 6G products in the US. The Maestro team is developing a comprehensive 10-year hardware roadmap for mmWave materials development and electrical characterization and test, along with an implementation strategy to execute the vision of the roadmap and promote the growth of a strong U.S. workforce in radio frequency (RF) communications technologies.

5G technology is expected to have a significant impact on the US economy and will not only generate trillions of dollars in economic output but will also create or transform millions of jobs, said Shekhar Chandrashekhar, iNEMI CEO. Thats why roadmaps like Maestro are so import. Its critical that we identify the technology challenges we are facing and create a roadmap for addressing those challenges to ensure that we can achieve timely and cost-effective implementation of 5G technology.

The three reports integrate information and feedback from industry, market analysts and academic researchers to provide a comprehensive assessment of the 5G market and technology. Together, they serve as a foundation from which the roadmap can be created.

Market Assessment (TechSearch International)  This report outlines the industrial needs for mmWave products for different market segments based on surveys and one-on-one interviews with industry experts. It identifies anticipated timelines for development and deployment of the technologies and capabilities required to support 5G deployment, such as materials for devices, substrates and PCBs, as well as thermal and test challenges/needs.

System Design Analysis (Florida International University)  Advances in mmWave system integration require innovative architectures and topologies along with 3D packaging integration. This report summarizes various critical system architecture trends that are expected to enable the next generation of communication systems.

Identification of Next-Generation Dielectric Materials and Testing Needs (Georgia Tech)  This report focuses on the primary needs of low loss materials and their adequate testing and characterization for accuracy and repeatability. It discusses the challenges faced in the 5G and 6G bands for device and heterogeneous packaging materials. The report reviews the literature on dielectric loss and permittivity in crystalline semiconductors and, for packaging, it discusses the materials classes of organics and inorganics, as well as more complex stackups. Dielectric and other testing needs are also addressed.

These three reports represent significant contributions by our partner organizations to define the market and technology landscapes of where we are today, where we need to be heading and what challenges we face in getting there, says Urmi Ray, iNEMI principal investigator for Maestro. This substantial body of information lays the groundwork for development of the roadmap.

Maestro is now working on the next phase of the project, which is to create a 10-year roadmap that focuses on three critical areas:
SHREVEPORT, La. - Heavy winds raging at nearly 80 mph on Friday has devastated most of the ArkLaTex, leaving over 200k without power for over 
Several years ago Dr. Joan Keit was working as a radiation oncologist in Omaha, where she saw Columbus patients. These patients would have to drive roughly one-and-a-half hours every day just to get five minutes of radiation treatment, only to turn around and drive back to Columbus, for weeks on end.

Some people, Keit noted, would forgo their cancer care altogether as it was too difficult for them to travel.

That changed in 2011 with the opening of Columbus Cancer Care, which featured cutting-edge technology, including a TomoTherapy machine, which had been one of two in Nebraska at that time, according to a 2011 Columbus Telegram article.

My husband and I opened Columbus Cancer Care to try to improve access to good quality cancer care for people in this area, Keit said. It's been really wonderful. Since I've been here, not only did we start the cancer center, we started a cancer foundation called the Columbus Cancer Care Foundation, which I think has been a great resource for the community.

Working with Columbus Community Hospital (CCH), Keit has assisted in starting many programs, including a cancer support group, tumor board and physician education.

The cancer care center provides services in radiation therapy and radiopharmaceutical therapy for a long list of cancer types. According to the facilitys website, radiation services also include stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiotherapy, 4-D treatment planning, image-guided radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy and TomoTherapy which, because of its accuracy, is used to treat tumors that are hard to reach or next to vital organs.

CCH, which acquired Columbus Cancer Care a few years ago, announced this week the retirement of Keit. Dr. Margaret Barnes and Dr. Subashini Furman will be serving the community on a temporary basis until the hospital finds a permanent replacement.

Our community has been blessed to receive Dr. Keit's specialized care in radiation oncology for over 14 years," said Dr. Joe Citta, a physician at Columbus Family Practice who is serving as president of the hospital's medical staff. "She has allowed those that we take care of and care for to be to able receive cancer treatment at home. We thank Dr. Keit for her dedication and care that she provided to the Columbus community and wish her the best with her retirement.

Keit said her time serving the Columbus community has been a rewarding experience. Overall, developing a local cancer program  which includes the treatment side and the charitable foundation  has been a shining accomplishment.

There are a lot of needs here and I think there's still the opportunity to improve the cancer program and that's what Columbus (Community) Hospital is going to be working towards in the future, Keit said. We can always do better.

Keit said she plans on working part-time in radiation oncology and consulting, as well as doing some traveling and enjoying time with her family.

It's been a pleasure and a privilege working with the Columbus community, Keit said. I hope to stay involved in some way, particularly with the foundation. I have plans to continue to grow the Columbus Cancer Care Foundation to provide free services for people in the area.
New Delhi, Jun 16 (PTI) All-out efforts have been made by the Centre to bring back normalcy in Manipur through a number of initiatives that include enhanced area domination in fringe areas and higher reaches by security forces, mobilisation of additional troops and close monitoring by senior officials, sources said Friday.

The Union home ministry has also rushed Director General of CRPF S L Thaosen to Manipur to assess the situation and for better utilisation and coordination of central forces, the sources privy to the development said.

Also Read | Odisha Train Tragedy: Death Toll Rises to 290 After Bihar Resident Succumbs to Injuries at Hospital.

The central government's urgency to check continuous violence in Manipur comes after the killing of nine youths in a single incident and torching of the private residence of Union minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, they said.

At present, around 30,000 central security personnel are deployed in Manipur for law-and-order duties besides state police forces.

Also Read | Cyclone Biparjoy: Gujarat Likely To Receive Heavy Rain Today, Tomorrow; Cyclone Progress in Line With Forecast, Says MET Director Manorama Mohanty.

The forces include around eight battalions of central paramilitary forces, 80 columns of the Army and 67 columns of the Assam Rifles.

Army's Dimapur-based 3 Corps said enhanced area domination operations by Army and Assam Rifles are being undertaken in the aftermath of recent spurt in violence.

The domination of fringe areas and higher reaches underway by long duration self contained columns, it said.

The sources said the central government is regularly sending additional forces whenever there is a demand from the state administration.

While the CRPF DG CRPF met Governor Anusuiya Uikey this evening and apprised her of the present turmoil, he has also held closed-door meetings with local commanders so that further coordination among security forces could be ensured for effective results.

Top functionaries of the central government are also closely monitoring the situation and giving regular directions so that the normalcy is brought back as early as possible.

Violent clashes broke out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

So far, nearly 120 people lost their lives and over 3,000 injured ever since the ethnic violence broke.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has also visited the state for four days last last month and met a cross sections of people in his efforts to bring back peace in the Northeastern state.

On June 4, the Centre set up a Commission of Inquiry, headed by former Gauhati High Court chief justice Ajai Lamba, to probe the violence in Manipur.

The home ministry said the commission will make inquiry with respect of the causes and spread of the violence and riots targeting members of different communities, which took place in Manipur on May 3 and thereafter.

On June 10, the central government constituted a peace committee in the state headed by the governor for facilitating peace making process among various ethnic groups and initiate dialogue between conflicting parties and groups.

However, office bearers of several civil society groups have refused to be part of the committee for different reasons.

The Centre has also approved Rs 101.75 crore relief package for the displaced people in violence-hit Manipur following a directive of Home Minister Shah.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chennai, Jun 16 (PTI) A local court here on Friday granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) 8 days custody of Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji, who was arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the agency on June 14.

Balaji's counsel A Saravanan said the court has made it clear to the ED that Balaji cannot be shifted out of the hospital where he is currently undergoing treatment for heart-related issue.

Also Read | Delhi Police Nab Nigerian National With Amphetamine Worth Rs 70 Lakh.

Balaji appeared before the court through video conferencing.

Saravanan told reporters the court granted 8 days custody of Balaji to ED and told the agency that he shall not be shifted out of the Kauvery hospital where he is undergoing treatment now,

Also Read | No Mutton, No Marriage: Bride Calls Off Wedding Over Groom's 'More Meat' For Baraatis Demand in Odisha.

The court was informed Balaji was set to undergo bypass surgery in "3-5 days," and certain drugs he has been prescribed have been stopped to facilitate the procedure.

The next course of action will be taken based on consultations with senior advocates, he added.

Balaji was arrested by the ED on Wednesday in connection with a cash for jobs scam dating back to the earlier Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK regime where he was transport minister.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chennai, June 16: The medical bulletin released by Kauvery Hospital on Friday said that DMK Minister Senthil Balaji has been advised an early Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery. He is undergoing tests to assess fitness for anaesthesia and based on that, the surgery will be planned. "Thiru. V. Senthil Balaji, Honorable Minister of Government of Tamil Nadu was referred to Kauvery Main Hospital at Alwarpet, Chennai with history of cardiac symptoms on 15th June 2023," the medical bulletin said.

The bulletin said that he was assessed by a team of doctors led by Dr AR Raghuram, Senior Consultant Cardio Thoracic Surgeon. "Dr AR Raghuram, Senior Consultant Cardio Thoracic Surgeon has advised early Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery. He is undergoing further tests to assess fitness for anaesthesia and based on the assessment, the surgery will be planned," the medical bulletin from the Kauvery Hospital stated. Senthil Balaji Breaks Down in ED Custody Video: Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister Bursts Into Tears After Being Arrested by Enforcement Directorate in Money Laundering Case, Hospitalised.

The bulletin further said, "He is currently being treated in ICU with cardiac monitoring and being looked after by a multidisciplinary team of doctors and nurses." Arrested state minister and DMK leader V Senthil Balaji was hospitalised on Wednesday after he complained of chest pains while being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case. He was arrested by the central probe agency after being questioned in the money laundering case on Wednesday. Senthil Balaji Arrest by ED: DMK Cannot Be Cowed Down by Intimidations, Says MK Stalin After Enforcement Directorate Arrested Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister.

Earlier, a bench of Justices J Nisha Banu and D Bharatha Chakravarthy at the Madras High Court ordered the shifting of the arrested DMK leader to Kauvery Hospital at his own cost. The directive was issued reportedly on humanitarian grounds. Balaji broke down while being taken into custody by ED officials for questioning in the money laundering case in the early hours of Wednesday. After raiding his premises on Tuesday, the central agency grilled the DMK leader. Senthil Balaji Arrested: ED Arrests Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister in Money Laundering Case After Conducting Raids on His Properties (Watch Video).

Balaji underwent a coronary angiogram on Wednesday at the Omandurar government hospital in Chennai, informed hospital officials. The government-run super speciality hospital issued a medical bulletin, advising the minister to undergo a bypass surgery at the earliest. "State minister Senthil Balaji underwent Coronary Angiogram today (Wednesday); bypass surgery is advised at the earliest," read the medical bulletin issued by the state-run hospital on Wednesday.

Even as the state minister was remanded to 14 days' judicial custody on Wednesday, a war of words erupted with the DMK saying it won't be intimidated by the BJP's threats. Opposition leaders, too, tore into the ED over its "highhandedness" for questioning Balaji for long hours and taking him into custody.
Ujjain, June 16: A fire broke out at a furniture showroom located in front of Madhav Nagar Railway Station in Madhya Pradesh's Ujjain district on Friday. Upon getting the information about the incident, the fire brigade team and the police reached the spot. With the efforts of four fire tenders, the fire was brought under control and no casualty was reported in the incident.

Nonetheless, it was assumed that furniture worth lakhs of rupees were turned into ashes in the incident. According to fire personnel, the reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained. Further details are awaited. Madhya Pradesh Fire: Three Kids Charred to Death, Four Injured After Blaze Erupts Inside House Due to LPG Cylinder Blast in Bhind District.

Fire Breaks Out at Furniture Showroom in Ujjain:

Notably, earlier this week on Monday evening, a massive fire broke out at Satpura Bhawan in the state capital Bhopal. Initially, the fire incident occurred at the third floor of the building but later it spread up to the sixth floor.

Bhopal District Collector Ashish Singh had said that the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Army came together to douse the fire. "The fire has been brought under control. All agencies including CISF, Army came together to douse the fire and it has been controlled," said the District Collector. Nagpur Fire: Three Charred to Death, Several Injured After Massive Blaze Erupts at Factory in Hingna MIDC (Watch Video).

Bhopal Police Commissioner, Harinarayan Chari Mishra said that primarily it has come to the fore that the cause of the fire is a short circuit, but a team of experts has been formed to investigate it.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
An incredibly social individual, Columbus native Rylee Seim thought the title "regional recruitment coordinator" sounded like something she would be good at. It sounded so good, in fact, she applied for it at three different businesses.

"I love talking to people, meeting new people doesnt scare me so this was perfect," Seim said.

Graduating from Columbus High School in 2021, Seim went to Northeast Community College in Norfolk for her associate's degree in business. Upon graduating from there, she started looking for a job and with her experience as president of student ambassadors at Northeast, she said, it was a natural fit.

"I worked a lot with recruitment. I knew I really liked that title and worked with the directors of of recruitment on and off-campus, recruiting, working hand-in-hand with them every single day," Seim said. "I was like 'this is perfect, I have to do this.'"

The position, which only came into being fairly recently, is a pilot project of sorts, according to Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce President Dawson Brunswick. Funded by several parties and organizations, he said, they had to have exactly the right person in this role.

"With the project funders, the three-year funding from Nebraska Community Foundation, the City of Columbus is a substantial funder as well as the Columbus Area Future Fund, we wanted to make sure the funds theyre providing were in line with that theyre envisioning for what this pilot project would look like and Rylee (Seim) is the absolutely perfect person," Brunswick said.

Seim's prior experience from college and her exuberant personality, Brunswick said, made her exactly the person they wanted in that role. In the month she's been at the chamber, Brunswick said Seim has already made a lot of connections and learned a lot.

"Shes a ball of energy, she can connect with people very well, very ambitious. Shes out there  she told me yesterday apparently Howells has a CHI Health clinic, I didnt realize Howells had a health clinic  shes doing the research in all these communities," Brunswick said.

As her duties cross over into what Director of Talent & Workforce Development Sarah Ehlers does and has done, the two are working together while Seim gets more experience. Her objective, he said, is to connect with area communities so they can collectively do better with each other's help.

"Columbus grows as a region, last census we grew substantially and we need to keep doing these things if we want to continue to grow. She is going to be our perfect ambassador for growing the region, promoting the region. Shell be attending career fairs for the region as well, she can connect with people," Brunswick said.

Connecting with people, Seim said, is an important part of her job, but her ultimate objective is also to connect the people with each other. While pursuing those connections, she will also be working on a degree at Bellevue University.

"I want to see a lot of connections being formed not only with me and other people but other people like interacting together," Seim said. "I think if we can get everyone to work together, its my personal goal for this position to be the middleman in that situation."
Gangtok, June 16: Flash flood hit North Sikkim district and submerged the National Highway 10 at Pegong, officials said on Thursday. Heavy rains lashed North Sikkim on Thursday night which resulted in the overflow of nearby rivers leading to the flash flood that engulfed the highway.

Areas such as Lachen and Lachung in North Sikkim have been cut off from the rest of the state due to flash flood, they said. The flash flood has caused severe damage to infrastructure along the highway, making it unsafe for any kind of vehicular movement, officials said. Assam Flood Woes: 29,000 People in Six Districts, 25 Villages Affected by Floods Due to Incessant Rain (Watch Video).

Flash Flood Hits North Sikkim District:

Local authorities are currently assessing the situation and Border Roads Organisation is working to clear the debris and restore normalcy. However, it is expected to take some time before the highway can be reopened for traffic, they said. Weather Forecast: IMD Predicts Heavy Rainfall over West Bengal, Sikkim and Northeast India During Next Five Days.

The road is also blocked due to landslide at 13th mile and Thulo Khola, Rail khola along JN Road of Gangtok-Nathula route. All tourist permits have been cancelled for Tsomgo Lake, Baba Mandir, Nathula and North Sikkim till further notice, they added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 16 (ANI): Reacting sharply to Bharatiya Janata Party's uproar after the Karnataka government dropped chapters on Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar from school textbooks, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Nana Patole on Friday said that if the BJP has guts then they must take the name of Savarkar on foreign soil instead of Mahatma Gandhi.

"They [BJP] talk about Mahatma Gandhi when they visit London. If BJP has guts then they must take the name of Savarkar when they go to London and say there that they belong to Savarkar's country, but they won't do it, it's their double standard," Patole said.

Also Read | Punjab Road Accident: Two Killed As Pilot Car of AAP MLA Gurditt Singh Sekhon Collides With Bike in Faridkot.

The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday approved the revision of Social Science and Kannada textbooks for classes 6 to 10 in state schools, dropping chapters on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder KB Hedgewar and Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar among others.

On dropping Hedgewar from the textbooks, Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa on Thursday said that whatever changes the previous government have done last year have been changed.

Also Read | CBI Court Acquits Accused in Karnataka College Student Rape, Murder Case After 11 Years.

"Syllabus on KB Hedgewar has been dropped. Whatever changes they (previous govt) have done last year, we have changed it and reintroduced whatever was there last to last year," said Madhu Bangarappa, on the revised textbook syllabus.

"Hedgewar chapter has been taken out. Whatever was manipulated has been omitted and reintroduced whatever was there last to last year. All the details will be available very soon," the Education minister added. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kochi (Kerala) [India], June 16 (ANI): Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Ernakulam district committee has removed Centre of Trade Unions (CITU) leader PK Anil Kumar from all official duties after his purchase of a Mini Cooper worth Rs 50 lakhs sparked controversy.

Anil Kumar has been the Kerala Petroleum and Gas Workers Union General Secretary, Kochi.

Also Read | UN Says Migrant Boat Capsizing off Greece horrific Tragedy.

The decision was taken in the Ernakulam district committee and district secretariat meetings of CPM held on Thursday in Kochi.

CPIM State Secretary MV Govindan also attended the meeting.

Also Read | Conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar Urges Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw To Accept Rs 10 Crore Donation for Odisha Train Tragedy Victims.

After the purchase landed him in controversy, Anil Kumar said that the car was purchased by his wife who is employed at Indian Oil Corporation.

Photos of Anil Kumar's Zesty Yellow Cooper S purchase were viral on social media. (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 16 (ANI): Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena came down heavily on the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for deliberately denying drinking water and sewerage connections to slum dwellers at a recent meeting of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

DJB Vice-Chairman and AAP MLA Somnath Bharti, who is also an Authority Member, was present at the meeting.

Also Read | Andhra Pradesh: Three Die of Electrocution During Relative's Cremation in Chittoor.

Saxena termed this deliberate stonewalling on the part of the DJB that was depriving the poorest of the poor with something as basic as water, as unfortunate and requested Somnath Bharti to avoid playing politics when it came to the welfare of the people of Delhi.

It may be noted that the requests from DDA for the supply of water and laying of sewer lines is pending with the DJB since as early as 2013 in the case of Kalkaji and 2017 in the case of Jailorwala Bagh, the release stated. Taking strong exception to welfare of the poorest of the poor being put to political ransom by the DJB, LG Saxena pointed out that just during the last one month, he had allotted 17 pieces of land to the DJB for its various projects. The DDA or the LG had not demanded to barter the land given to DJB with water supply to the slum rehabilitation projects, the release read. "Thousands of slum dwellers from the Kalkaji Bhoomiheen Camp, who were shifted to modern multi-storey flats in November last year, are facing acute water crisis with Delhi Jal Board under AAP CM Arvind Kejriwal refusing to provide drinking water to the occupants of these flats. DDA has been supplying water to these people through tankers," it read.

Also Read | Mira Road Horror Killing: Thane Court Extends Custody of Accused Manoj Sane Till June 22.

The AAP Government has been sitting over the DDA's request to provide water supply to the project that houses more than 2000 families. This intransigence on the part of DJB is despite the fact that it had approved the drawings for laying of pipelines for water supply and sewerage way back in 2019 following DDA's demand to this effect in 2014, it read. DDA, which had made all required payments in this regard in 2019 itself, has been writing consistently to the DJB, the last being a letter from VC (DDA) to CEO (DJB) on May 24, 2023. Similarly, for the Jailorwala Bagh in situ rehabilitation project that is ready for possession by another 1800 slum dweller families, the DJB has not till now even cleared the drawings for the laying down of water and sewer pipelines, despite the request to this effect having been made by the DDA as far back as in 2017. Persistent stonewalling by DJB led to the VC (DDA) escalating the matter to the Lt. Governor through a letter on June 2, 2023, it further said.

Thereafter, the matter was taken up by the Lt Governor in the Authority meeting of DDA, where Member of the Authority, MLA Somnath Bharti, who is also the Vice-Chairman of DJB, was present and cornered, it read. The Kalkaji in situ rehabilitation project of the DDA that can house over 3000 slum dweller families was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 2, 2022, when he handed over keys to the beneficiaries at a widely reported function in Vigyan Bhawan. Similarly, the Jailorwala Bagh Project of the DDA which can house 1800 families is ready for allotment to slum dwellers, but it yet does not have the essential water supply and sewerage pipeline laid, in the absence of clearance by the Kejriwal Government, the release 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)
Pune, Jun 16 (PTI) Union Minister of State for Education Subhas Sarkar on Friday called for collaborative efforts to explore multi-dimensional aspects of Indian knowledge systems, including "vastu vidya".

Sarkar also emphasised the importance of removing barriers to knowledge, promoting transparency and fostering multi-disciplinary collaborations. The minister made the comments at the inauguration of precursor events ahead of the fourth G20 Education Working Group and Education Ministers meeting.

Also Read | CBI Court Acquits Accused in Karnataka College Student Rape, Murder Case After 11 Years.

"There is potential for collaborative efforts to explore multi-dimensional aspects of Indian knowledge systems, including Ganita and Jyamiti (Indian system of Mathematics and Geometry) and Vastu Vidya (Indian system of Architecture). It is very important to remove barriers to knowledge, promoting transparency, and fostering multidisciplinary collaborations," he said.

The precursor events began here on Friday with a seminar on "Accessible Science: Fostering Collaboration", organised at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in collaboration with ELSEVIER.

Also Read | Mumbai Shocker: Railway Staffer Killed While Shunting Trains in Western Railway's Carriage Repair Workshop in Lower Parel.

The minister also launched a report, titled "The status and relevance of research collaborations for development, considering G20 nations" on the occasion.

Higher Education Secretary Sanjay Murthy said, "NEP (National Education Policy) 2020 speaks about reaching out to institutions within and outside the country to improve our research output. The discussions and report launched today will lead to avenues and knowledge on how to further research collaboration and enhance regulatory framework to provide solutions to the global challenges."

Nick Fowler, Chief Academic Officer at Elsevier, noted that India's scholarly output has been steadily increasing.

"India is the third largest producer of scientific research, overtaking the UK in 2022. But India has not only succeeded in volume of research output, it also boasts achievements in academic quality. Field Weighted Citation Impact has jumped up from 0.85 in 2019 to 1.05 in 2021, putting India above the global average for publication citations," he said.

Carlos Henrique de Brito Cruz, Senior VP, Elsevier, noted India's surge in the global scientific community.

"India is bound to become to be the second largest publisher in AI-related topics with oldest AI article with Indian authors dating back to August 1968," Cruz said.

The seminar is part of the ongoing fourth and final Education Working Group meeting scheduled from June 19 to 21.

The overarching theme of the meeting is "Ensuring Foundation Literacy and Numeracy, especially in the context of blended learning." The EDWG meeting comprises various precursor events, seminars, exhibitions, heritage excursions, and will culminate with the Education Ministerial meeting on June 22.

On the sidelines of the meeting, an exhibition will be inaugurated on June 17 which will showcase innovative practices being adopted in education and foundational literacy and numeracy, digital initiatives, research and skill development, in particular by states and Union territories, besides other agencies in the field of education.

The first meeting of the G20 Education Working Group was held in Chennai in January, followed by the second meet in Amritsar in March and the third in Bhubaneswar in April.

(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 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal on June 27 as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gears up for the upcoming assembly elections in five states.

According to party sources, 3000 representatives of the BJP will be deployed in the five election-bound states namely Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana. Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2023: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to Kick-Start Congress Poll Campaign From Jabalpur Today.

The selected 3000 leaders at the mandal level will receive the PM's winning mantra and will also have the opportunity to put questions to the Prime Minister after his address, the sources added. Bharatiya Janata Party General Secretary Tarun Chugh said that the process of selecting these workers has been quite complex. Madhya Pradesh Assembly Elections 2023: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Attacks BJP Government in MP During Jabalpur Rally, Says '21 Jobs, 225 Scams' (Watch Video).

Tarun Chugh stated that all these workers will stay in Bhopal between June 26-28, where Prime Minister Modi will give them the mantra of strengthening the 'My Booth is the Strongest' program.

"BJP National President JP Nadda will also be present at this event. Immediately after PM Modi's mantra, all 3000 workers will depart for their respective designated states, where they will stay continuously for 10 days in their assigned areas. The process of selecting these workers has been quite complex", he added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Kalaburagi (Karnataka) [India], June 16 (ANI): A tractor diver has been arrested for allegedly crushing to death under his vehicle a police constable in Karnataka's Kalaburagi district, police said on Friday.

The incident took place when the constable was attempting to stop a tractor from transporting illegally mined sand in Jewargi taluk, they said.

Also Read | Anti-Conversion Law: Congress Wants To Turn Karnataka Into Mini Pakistan, Slams BJP Leader R Ashoka.

The prime accused tractor driver has been arrested and further probe is on, Superintendent of Police Kalaburagi, Isha Pant said.

The SP said that the incident took place on June 15 when head constable identified as 51-year-old Mayura Chauhan was trying to stop a tractor transporting illegally mined sand in Jewargi taluk of Kalaburagi.

Also Read | Assam Government Announces Reservation of 10% in MBBS Courses for NRIs Students in Medical Colleges Across State.

The deceased constable was posted at Nelogi Police Station in and at the time of incident, he was on duty.

A case has been registered under sections 302, 333, 307, 379, 504, and 506 of IPC against those responsible for the head constable.

Meanwhile, Priyank Kharge, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj and Minister-in-charge of Kalaburgi District has assured action and all possible help from the State government to the family of a deceased police constable.

In a press statement, Kharge said, he had already called on the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police regarding the incident and ordered an investigation. He expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased police constable and assured them of providing appropriate compensation soon by the government.

"I have once again given a strict order to the concerned police department and directed them to take immediate legal action against the illegal sand mafias," said Kharge.

BJP has lashed out at the Congress over the police constable's death. "When Congress comes to power, 'goondagiri ' follows. The State government should take immediate action," R Ashoka a BJP MLA 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)
Kota (Raj), Jun 16 (PTI) An advocate created a sensation at a government hospital here on Thursday when he brought his 15-year-old son with a fractured leg to the orthopaedic ward on the third floor of the building on his e-scooter.

The reason: there were no wheelchairs around.

Also Read | Kenyan Woman Held at Delhi Airport for Smuggling Cocaine Dissolved in Whiskey.

Manoj Jain said upon reaching the hospital, he asked for a wheelchair from staffers Mukesh and Sukhlal but they said it was not available. He claimed that he got permission from the duo to take his scooter to the ward.

However, on their way back, the father-son duo was stopped by ward in-charge Devkinandan who took away the scooter's key. The advocate then created a ruckus against the alleged mismanagement of the hospital administration and the unavailability of wheelchairs.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: 80-Year-Old Man Dies After Being Hit by Stray Ox in Greater Noida.

The incident took place at MBS Hospital, which is the largest hospital in Kota division.

Police said both sides decided not to file any complaint and the matter was resolved through dialogue.

According to eye-witnesses, the incident occurred at around 1.30 pm when Jain, dressed in a black coat, rode towards an elevator on an e-scooter with his son riding pillion.

He exited the lift on the third floor and rode around the ward leaving patients, visitors, hospital staff and doctors bewildered, they said.

Several others too demanded that they should also be allowed to bring their loved ones to the ward on a two-wheeler leading to a commotion.

As tempers flared, the hospital check post police rushed to the spot and calmed things down.

Meanwhile, Devkinandan admitted that there is a shortage of wheelchairs at the ward which is visited by around 3,000 patients daily and assured that the issue would be resolved soon.

Hospital deputy superintendent Karnesh Goyal, who also reached the spot, said the supply of wheelchairs from the government is awaited and sought donations from people to buy wheelchairs.

(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 16: The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned the plea of Abhishek Jha, the husband of suspended Jharkhand cadre IAS officer Pooja Singhal, seeking anticipatory bail to the Enforcement Directorate. ED has been investigating the MNREGA scam and money laundering case in which the couple was accused.

A vacation bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin Amanullah posted the matter for hearing on next Friday (June 23) after Jha's advocate sought a postponement. During the hearing, the bench declined to grant interim protection as of now from arrest to the petitioner. Same-Sex Marriage: Nepal Supreme Court Orders Government To Legally Recognise Same-Sex Marriages, Give Approval To Nepali Man's Relationship With Foreign Husband.

The counsel urged the bench to only adjourn the matter for the next week so that the senior advocate can argue the case. This bench has not been permitting senior counsels to argue the cases during the court's vacation. Supreme Court Quashes NCDRC Order Awarding Rs 2 Crore Compensation to Woman for Bad Haircut at a Five-Star Hotel in Delhi.

The 2000-batch IAS officer Pooja Singhal was accused along with her husband and others in connection with a money laundering case registered by a federal agency pertaining to the alleged embezzlement of MGNREGA funds in Khunti district during 2009-2010 and some other suspicious financial transactions.

The ED has accused a suspended IAS officer of money laundering and said its team seized more than Rs 36 crore cash linked to alleged illegal mining as part of two separate money laundering investigations.

Apart from Singhal, her businessman husband, a chartered accountant associated with the couple, and others were also raided by the ED as part of the money laundering probe.

Singhal, who was holding the charge of Jharkhand mining secretary, was suspended by the state government following her arrest by the ED. Suman Kumar, a chartered accountant linked to Singhal and her husband, was also arrested by the ED and cash totalling Rs 19.76 crore was seized from him.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Jammu, Jun 16 (PTI) Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday launched a bio-plastic carry bag developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) under the polythene-free Jammu initiative, and said that "swachhta" has become the priority of the government.

He said that the cleanliness campaign is leading the country, especially urban centres, on the path of sustainable growth and development.

Also Read | Kenyan Woman Held at Delhi Airport for Smuggling Cocaine Dissolved in Whiskey.

"Today, 'swachhta' (cleanliness) has become the priority of the government. It has become the very principle for effective implementation of all other government schemes," Puri said while addressing the gathering.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has converted the challenges of urbanisation into opportunities, he said.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: 80-Year-Old Man Dies After Being Hit by Stray Ox in Greater Noida.

Speaking on the occasion, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha lauded the DRDO for developing the bio-plastic carry bag as an alternative to polythene bags.

"It is a significant step towards transforming urban landscape, faster sustainable development and ease of living of citizens," he said.

"This edible and water soluble bag is the best alternative to curb growing menace of plastic pollution," the Lt Governor said.

He called upon people from every section of society and all stakeholders to discharge their duties towards nature and rededicate themselves to realise the goals of sustainable growth.

"The youth will play a crucial role in combating climate change and building a sustainable future. The youth will also lead the communities to reduce the plastic pollution and to strengthen economic, commercial and social activities in our cities, the Lt Governor added.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)


Requirements Rubrics Grades GitHub Stanford researchers evaluate foundation model providers like OpenAI and Google for their compliance with proposed EU law on AI.

Foundation models like ChatGPT are transforming society with their remarkable capabilities, serious risks, rapid deployment, unprecedented adoption, and unending controversy. Simultaneously, the European Union (EU) is finalizing its AI Act as the worlds first comprehensive regulation to govern AI, and just yesterday the European Parliament adopted a draft of the Act by a vote of 499 in favor, 28 against, and 93 abstentions. The Act includes explicit obligations for foundation model providers like OpenAI and Google.

In this post, we evaluate whether major foundation model providers currently comply with these draft requirements and find that they largely do not. Foundation model providers rarely disclose adequate information regarding the data, compute, and deployment of their models as well as the key characteristics of the models themselves. In particular, foundation model providers generally do not comply with draft requirements to describe the use of copyrighted training data, the hardware used and emissions produced in training, and how they evaluate and test models. As a result, we recommend that policymakers prioritize transparency, informed by the AI Acts requirements. Our assessment demonstrates that it is currently feasible for foundation model providers to comply with the AI Act, and that disclosure related to foundation models development, use, and performance would improve transparency in the entire ecosystem.

Motivation

Foundation models are at the center of global discourse on AI: the emerging technological paradigm has concrete and growing impact on the economy, policy, and society. In parallel, the EU AI Act is the most important regulatory initiative on AI in the world today. The Act will not only impose requirements for AI in the EU, a population of 450 million people, but also set precedent for AI regulation around the world (the Brussels effect). Policymakers across the globe are already drawing inspiration from the AI Act, and multinational companies may change their global practices to maintain a single AI development process. How we regulate foundation models will structure the broader digital supply chain and shape the technologys societal impact.

Our assessment establishes the facts about the status quo and motivates future intervention.

Status quo. What is the current conduct of foundation model providers? And, as a result, how will the EU AI Act (if enacted, obeyed, and enforced) change the status quo? We specifically focus on requirements where providers fall short at present. Future intervention. For EU policymakers, where is the AI Act underspecified and where is it insufficient with respect to foundation models? For global policymakers, how should their priorities change based on our findings? And for foundation model providers, how should their business practices evolve to be more responsible? Overall, our research underscores that transparency should be the first priority to hold foundation model providers accountable.

Methodology

Table 1. We identify, categorize, summarize, and source requirements from the draft AI Act adopted by EU Parliament.

Below is a summary of our approach, including all relevant details in the referenced documents.

We extract 22 requirements directed towards foundation model providers from the European Parliaments version of the Act. We select 12 of the 22 requirements to assessthese requirements are able to be meaningfully evaluated using public information. We categorize the 12 requirements as pertaining to (i) data resources (3), (ii) compute resources (2), (iii) the model itself (4), or (iv) deployment practices (3). Many of these requirements center on transparency: for example, disclosure of what data was used to train the foundation model, how the model performs on standard benchmarks, and where it is deployed. We summarize the 12 requirements in the table above. We design a 5-point rubric for each of the 12 requirements. While the Act states high-level obligations for foundation model providers, it does not make precise how these obligations should be interpreted or enforced. Our rubrics come from our expertise on the societal impact of foundation models. These rubrics can directly inform statutory interpretation or standards, including in areas where the Acts language is especially unclear. We assess the compliance of 10 foundation model providersand their flagship foundation modelswith 12 of the Acts requirements for foundation models based on our rubrics. The two lead authors independently scored all the providers for all requirements with substantial inter-annotator agreement of Cohens Kappa = 0.74. We merge scores through panel discussion with all authors involved in this work. While comprehensive assessment of compliance with these requirements will require additional guidance from the EU, our research on providers current practices will play a valuable role when regulators ultimately assess compliance.

Findings

Figure 1. We assess 10 major foundation model providers (and their flagship models) for the 12 AI Act requirements on a scale from 0 (worst) to 4 (best). The best possible score is 48 as a result.

We present the final scores in the above figure with the justification for every grade made available. Our results demonstrate a striking range in compliance across model providers: some providers score less than 25% (AI21 Labs, Aleph Alpha, Anthropic) and only one provider scores at least 75% (Hugging Face/BigScience) at present. Even for the highest-scoring providers, there is still significant margin for improvement. This confirms that the Act (if enacted, obeyed, and enforced) would yield significant change to the ecosystem, making substantial progress towards more transparency and accountability.

Persistent challenges. We see four areas where many organizations receive poor scores (generally 0 or 1 out of 4). They are (i) copyrighted data, (ii) compute/energy, (iii) risk mitigation, and (iv) evaluation/testing. These speak to established themes in the scientific literature:

Open vs restricted/closed models. We find a clear dichotomy in compliance as a function of release strategy, or the extent to which foundation model providers make their models publicly available. At present, foundation model providers adopt a variety of release strategies, with no established norms. While release strategies are not binary and exist on a spectrum, for simplicity we consider broadly open releases (e.g. EleutherAIs GPT-NeoX, Hugging Face/BigSciences BLOOM, Metas LLaMA) vs restricted/closed releases (e.g. Googles PaLM 2, OpenAIs GPT-4, Anthropics Claude). Open releases generally achieve strong scores on resource disclosure requirements (both data and compute), with EleutherAI receiving 19/20 for these categories. However, such open releases make it challenging to monitor or control deployment, with more restricted/closed releases leading to better scores on deployment-related requirements. For instance, Googles PaLM 2 receives 11/12 for deployment. We emphasize that EU policymakers should consider strengthening deployment requirements for entities that bring foundation models to market to ensure there is sufficient accountability across the digital supply chain.

The relationship between release and area-specific compliance to some extent aligns with our intuitions. Open releases are often conducted by organizations that emphasize transparency, leading to a similar commitment to disclosing the resources required to build their foundation models. Restricted or closed releases, by contrast, often coincide with models that power the providers flagship products and services, meaning the resources underlying the model may be seen as a competitive advantage (e.g. data decomposition) or a liability (e.g. copyrighted data). In addition, open-sourcing a model makes it much more difficult to monitor or influence downstream use, whereas APIs or developer-mediated access provide easier means for structured access.

Overall feasibility of compliance. No foundation model provider achieves a perfect score, with ample room for improvement in most cases. Therefore, we consider whether it is currently feasible for organizations to fully comply with all requirements. While we believe that with sufficient incentives (e.g. fines for noncompliance) companies will change their conduct, even in the absence of strong regulatory pressure, many providers could reach total scores in the high 30s or 40s through meaningful, but plausible, changes. To be concrete, the entry-wise maximum across OpenAI and Hugging Face/BigScience is 42 (almost 90% compliance). We conclude that enforcing these 12 requirements in the Act would bring substantive change while remaining within reach for providers.

Releases of foundation models have generally become less transparent, as evidenced by major releases in recent months. The reports for OpenAIs GPT-4 and Googles PaLM 2 openly state that they do not report many relevant aspects about data and compute. The GPT-4 paper reads Given both the competitive landscape and the safety implications of large-scale models like GPT-4, this report contains no further details about the architecture (including model size), hardware, training compute, dataset construction, training method, or similar.

We believe sufficient transparency to satisfy the Acts requirements related to data, compute and other factors should be commercially feasible if foundation model providers collectively take action as the result of industry standards or regulation. We see no significant barriers that would prevent every provider from improving how it discusses limitations and risks as well as reporting on standard benchmarks. Although open-sourcing may make aspects of deployment disclosure challenging, feasible improvements in disclosure of machine-generated content or availability of downstream documentation abound. While progress in each of these areas requires some work, in many cases we believe this work is minimal relative to building and providing the foundation model and should be seen as a prerequisite for being a responsible and reputable model provider.

Recommendations

We direct our recommendations to three parties: (i) EU policymakers working on the EU AI Act, (ii) global policymakers working on AI policy, and (iii) foundation model providers operating across the ecosystem.

EU policymakers.

The implementation of the EU AI Act and technical standards to follow should specify areas of the Act that are underspecified. Given our expertise in evaluations, we emphasize the importance of specifying which dimensions of performance are necessary to disclose to comply with the mandate for a description of the models performance. We advocate that several factors such as accuracy, robustness, fairness, and efficiency be considered necessary for compliance (the NIST AI Risk Management Framework provides a similar list).

The EU AI Act should consider additional critical factors to ensure adequate transparency and accountability of foundation model providers, including the disclosure of usage patterns: such requirements would mirror transparency reporting for online platforms, the lack of which has been a chronic inhibitor for effective platform policy. We need to understand how foundation models are used (e.g. for providing medical advice, preparing legal documents) to hold their providers to account. We encourage policymakers to consider making these requirements apply only to the most influential foundation model providers, directly mirroring how the EUs Digital Services Act places special requirements on Very Large Online Platforms to avoid overburdening smaller companies.

For effective enforcement of the EU AI Act to change the conduct of the powerful organizations that build foundation models, the EU must make requisite technical resources and talent available to enforcement agencies, especially given the broader AI auditing ecosystem envisioned in the Act. Our assessment process made clear that technical expertise on foundation models is necessary to understand this complex ecosystem.

Global policymakers.

Transparency should be the first priority for policy efforts: it is an essential precondition for rigorous science, sustained innovation, accountable technology, and effective regulation. Our work shows transparency is uneven at present, and an area where the EU AI Act will bring clear change that policy elsewhere should match. The history of social media regulation provides clear lessons for policymakersfailing to ensure sufficient platform transparency led to many of the harms of social media; we should not reproduce these failures for the next transformational technology in foundation models.

Disclosure of copyrighted training data is the area where we find foundation model providers achieve the worst compliance. Legislators, regulators and courts should clarify how copyright relates to (i) the training procedure, including the conditions under which copyright or licenses must be respected during training as well as the measures model providers should take to reduce the risk of copyright infringement and (ii) the output of generative models, including the conditions under which machine-generated content infringes on the rights of content creators in the same market.

Foundation model providers.

Our work indicates where each foundation model provider can improve. We highlight many steps that are low-hanging fruit, such as improving the documentation made available to downstream developers that build on foundation models. In various cases, some providers score worse than others with similar release strategies (e.g. different providers that deploy their foundation models via an API). Therefore, providers can and should improve compliance by emulating similar providers that are best-in-class.

Foundation model providers should work towards industry standards that will help the overall ecosystem become more transparent and accountable. The standards-setting process should involve stakeholders beyond foundation model providers with specific attention towards parties that can better represent the public interest like academia and civil society.

Limitations

While we offer expertise on foundation models, our reading of the draft law is not genuine statutory interpretation, though it could inform such interpretation (especially where the law is unclear). The AI Act remains under discussion and will be finalized during the upcoming trilogue between the EU Commission, Council, and Parliament. Foundation model providers also have requirements under provisions of the AI Act that do not address only foundation models, such as when their foundation models are integrated into high-risk AI systems. Therefore, our assessments might diverge from foundation models providers compliance with the final version of the AI Act. Given that our assessment is based on, and limited by, publicly available information, we encourage foundation model providers to provide feedback to us and respond to these scores.

Conclusion

We find that foundation model providers unevenly comply with the stated requirements of the draft EU AI Act. Enacting and enforcing the EU AI Act will bring about significant positive change in the foundation model ecosystem. Foundation model providers compliance with requirements regarding copyright, energy, risk, and evaluation is especially poor, indicating areas where model providers can improve. Our assessment shows sharp divides along the boundary of open vs. closed releases: we believe that all providers can feasibly improve their conduct, independent of where they fall along this spectrum. Overall, our analysis speaks to a broader trend of waning transparency: providers should take action to collectively set industry standards that improve transparency, and policymakers should take action to ensure adequate transparency underlies this general-purpose technology. This work is just the start of a broader initiative at the Center for Research on Foundation Models to directly assess and improve the transparency of foundation model providers, complementing our efforts on holistic evaluation, ecosystem documentation, norms development, policy briefs, and policy recommendations.

Acknowledgments

We thank Alex Engler, Arvind Narayanan, Ashwin Ramaswami, Dan Ho, Irene Solaiman, Marietje Schaake, Peter Cihon, and Sayash Kapoor for feedback on this effort. We thank Alex Engler, Arvind Narayanan, Ashwin Ramaswami, Aviv Ovadya, Conor Griffin, Dan Ho, Iason Gabriel, Irene Solaiman, Joslyn Barnhart, Markus Anderljung, Sayash Kapoor, Seliem El-Sayed, Seth Lazar, Stella Bidermann, Toby Shevlane, and Zak Rogoff for broader discussions on this topic. We thank Madeleine Wright for designing the graphics.

@misc { bommasani2023eu-ai-act, author = { Rishi Bommasani and Kevin Klyman and Daniel Zhang and Percy Liang } , title = { Do Foundation Model Providers Comply with the EU AI Act? } , url = { https://crfm.stanford.edu/2023/06/15/eu-ai-act.html } , year = { 2023 } }




Sonbhadra, June 16: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath inspected the under-construction medical college in Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra and issued necessary instructions to the officials. The Chief Minister reached Sonbhadra half an hour before his scheduled time and first took stock of the Medical College and saw the progress of the construction.

He gave instructions to the officers of the executive body while performing a thorough inspection of every area of the medical college, said an official statement. It is noteworthy that under the One District One Medical College, the construction work of medical colleges is going on at a fast pace in all the districts of the state. In this sequence, the construction work of the Medical College is going on by upgrading the district hospital located at Sonbhadra district headquarters. CM Yogi Adityanath Most Popular Chief Minister on Twitter: Uttar Pradesh CM Sets New Record as His Twitter Account Crosses 25 Million Followers Mark.

The Chief Minister directed to complete the medical college at the earliest so that its operations could start from the next academic session. After this, CM Yogi flagged off BJP's bike rally. BJP members will highlight the accomplishments of the 9-year Modi government through the bike rally.

(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 16: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned Bushra Bibi, the wife of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan once again in National Crime Agency (NCA) 190 million pounds scandal, ARY News reported on Friday.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has once again summoned former first lady Bushra Bibi. For her attendance on June 22, the anti-corruption watchdog once more handed Bushra Bibi a call-up notice in the 190 million NCA affair. Al-Qadir Trust Case: National Accountability Bureau Summons Imran Khan on May 18.

She has been told to provide the NAB investigators with any pertinent Al-Qadir Trust documents. Bushra Bibi was called on June 13 but did not show up before the NAB before the notification was issued, ARY News reported. Pakistan: NAB to Probe Former PM Imran Khan's 22 Cabinet Members in Al-Qadir Trust Corruption Case.

The anti-corruption watchdog also called former principal secretary Azam Khan in the same case. On June 19, Azam Khan was requested by NAB Rawalpindi. The anti-graft watchdog called him on June 6, but he did not show up, as per ARY News.

Earlier on June 13, Pakistan's National Accountability Bureau (NAB) summoned former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's wife Bushra Bibi to record her statement in the same case, The News International reported.

The News International is an English-language newspaper in Pakistan. Initially, Bushra Bibi was summoned by the NAB Combined Investigation Team (CIT) as a witness being a trustee of Al-Qadir University Trust on June 7. But later, she sought an extension till June 8 with her husband. The CIT directed her to appear before the investigators on June 13.

The NAB team issued a notice to Imran Khan's wife for her appearance on June 13 in Lahore, as per The News International. According to The News International, earlier, when Bushan Bibi was summoned by the CIT, she penned her reply, dismissing the NAB's allegations as baseless. She also said that does not have any information about the NCA settlement case.

Earlier, the NAB, Rawalpindi summoned Bushra Bibi on June 7 to record her statement as a trustee of the Al-Qadir University Trust in the Pound 190 million National Crime Agency (NCA) UK settlement case, Pakistan-based The News International reported.

The Al-Qadir Trust case alleges that the PTI chief and his wife, Bushra Bibi, obtained billions of rupees and land worth hundreds of kanals from a real estate firm for legalising PKR 50 billion that was identified and returned to the country by the UK during the previous PTI government, as per The News International report.

Furthermore, Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were also charged in a fraud case filed at Islamabad's Kohsar Police Station for creating "fake receipts" in the sale of official items on June 7.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Nairobi [Kenya], June 16 (ANI): A Chinese woman arrested for vandalizing and stealing Kenya Power property has been released on a cash bail of Kenyan Shilling (Sh) 1 million, The Star reported.

The Star is a daily newspaper published in Nairobi, Kenya.

Also Read | Tornado in Texas Photos and Videos: Devastating Scenes After Tornado Rips Through Perryton; One Dead, Several Injured.

The woman, Luo Minghui pleaded not guilty to the two charges when she was arraigned at Mavoko Law Courts in Machakos County on Wednesday.

She appeared before Principal Magistrate Eunice Kimaiyo. The suspect was represented in court by lawyer Cecil Miller.

Also Read | Worlds Most Expensive Cities for Renting: Mumbai Has Highest Rent for 1-Bedroom Apartment in India, New York Tops Global List; Check Where Islamabad, London and Other Metros Stand.

Kimaiyo said: "I have applied my knowledge and charges before court, the accused person's nationality, the public interest involved in this matter and I have set the cash bail at Sh1 million, the accused person is also to deposit her passport in court."

She said she reached the bail terms on the consideration that the accused person is not Kenyan and finding a surety may be a challenge to her.

Magistrate Kimaiyo said: "I'm also informed and it has been confirmed by the prosecutor that the accused person is out on police bail of Sh 100,000 issued on June 13, 2023. That bail was issued pending police investigations. Now that the investigations are over, the court needs to look into the charge sheet and make a determination."

Kimaiyo said the matter will proceed for hearing on July 25, 2023, mention slated June 25 while a pretrial has been scheduled for June 27.

In the first charge, Minghui was charged with stealing contrary to Section 268 (1) as read with Section 275 of the penal code.

The particulars of the charge were that on diverse dates between April 30, 2023 and June 13, 2023 at an unknown place within the Republic of Kenya, jointly with others not before court, she stole 350 metres of copper valued at Sh700,000 being the property of Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO).

As per the prosecution, she was arrested on June 12, 2023 and detained at Athi River police station before she was released on Sh100,000 police cash bail.

The suspect in the second charge was accused of stealing contrary to section 268 (1) as read with Section 275 of the penal code.

The court heard that on diverse dates between April 30, 2023 and June 13, 2023 at unknown place within the Republic of Kenya, jointly with others not before court, she stole copper earthing conductors and transformer fuses valued at Sh600,000, the property of Kenya Power & Lighting Company (KPLC).

In the alternative count to count one, Minghui was charged with handling stolen goods contrary to section 322(1) (2) of the penal code.

The particulars of the count was that on June 12, 2023 at Jinxin Commercial Limited, in Athi River subcounty within Machakos County, she dishonestly received and retained 98 metres of copper wires valued at Sh196,000, the property of Kenya Electricity Transmissions Company Limited (Ketraco) knowing or having reason to believe them to be stolen goods, as per The Star.

The alternative count to count two was handling stolen goods contrary to section 322 (1) (2) of the penal code. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Prague, Jun 16 (AP) Lawmakers in the lower house of the Czech Parliament agreed on Friday to tighten the country's conflict of interest legislation to ban politicians from owning media, in a direct snub to former populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis.

In the 200-seat house, lawmakers voted 85-79 to amend the current law and prohibit media ownership for members of Parliament, the government and the president.

Also Read | Chinese President Xi Jinping Meets Bill Gates in Beijing, Calls Him 'American Friend'.

Babis' centrist opposition ANO (YES) movement vehemently protested the move and threatened to challenge it at the Constitutional Court. Babis was not present for the vote but later said he was not planning to leave politics for now.

The amendment still requires the approval of the upper house, the Senate, where the governing coalition has a comfortable majority, and then presidential approval.

Also Read | US Shocker: Finance Executive Raped Teen by Overdosing Her on Cocaine and Ketamine After Targeting Her on Instagram.

Babis, one of the country's richest people, was required by law to transfer ownership of his businesses to two trust funds in February 2017.

That included two nationwide newspapers and a popular radio station for which some called him the Czech Berlusconi, a reference to Italy's late Prime Minister and billionaire media mogul Silvio Berlusconi.

The new legislation bans such transfers to funds or relatives.

Babis, 68, lost the presidential election to retired army general Petr Pavel earlier this year. His ANO ended up in opposition after losing the 2021 general election.

Despite facing a number of scandals, Babis remains popular. The next parliamentary election is scheduled for 2025. (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 [India], June 16 (ANI): The Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2027 between the Government of India and the United Nations was signed today by NITI Aayog and the UN office in India.

In the presence of the Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, Suman Bery, senior members from NITI Aayog, central ministries, and heads of UN agencies in India, B V R Subrahmanyam, CEO, of NITI Aayog, and Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator, India, signed the GoI-UNSDCF, the official release of NITI Aayog said.

Also Read | Sexual Consent Raised in Japan From the Age of 13 to 16; Was Among the World's Lowest.

GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 represents the UN development system's collective offer to the Government of India, in line with the national vision for development, for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting gender equality, youth empowerment and human rights.

The United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/72/279 designates the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework as the principal planning and implementation instrument for the UN Development System at the country level. Programme priorities of the UN entities working at the country are derived from the GoI-UNSDCF, the official release read.

Also Read | Congo Fever Spread in Afghanistan: Over 90 People Die of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in the Country.

According to the release, the GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 is built on four strategic pillars derived from the 2030 Agenda - People, Prosperity, Planet and Participation.

Six outcome categories centred on health and well-being, nutrition and food security, quality education, economic growth and decent work, environment, climate, WASH and resilience, and empowering individuals, communities, and institutions make up the four interconnected pillars.

For the first time, the GoI-UNSDCF will specifically focus on SDG localization and South-South cooperation in order to further expand cooperation in crucial sectors, in keeping with India's leadership towards the implementation and acceleration of the SDGs and India's championing of South-South cooperation. The effort's focal point will be showcasing Indian examples of growth internationally.

The formulation of the GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 was led by NITI Aayog, on behalf of the Government of India, with robust participation of line Ministries, State Governments, and Union Territories.

The UN Resident Coordinator led and coordinated inputs from the UN development system in India. Partners from civil society, think tanks, the private sector, cooperatives and labour unions also contributed to the development of the document, ensuring a whole of society, whole of government and whole of UN approach. The GoI-UNSDCF was informed by a third-party evaluation of the previous Cooperation Framework (2018-2022) and a Common Country Analysis (CCA) undertaken by the UN in India.

The implementation, monitoring and reporting of GoI-UNSDCF 2023-2027 will be co-led by the Government of India and the United Nations, India through a Joint Steering Committee, according to the official release of NITI Aayog.

According to the official release of NITI Aayog, while signing the Cooperation Framework, CEO of NITI Aayog, B V R Subrahmanyam, said: "India has advanced steadily in its ability to deliver development and resilience at scale. This includes transforming India's social welfare system and safety nets, underpinned by a robust ecosystem of digital public infrastructure and a range of national missions. India's leadership in climate action and resilience continues to grow.

The new Framework comes at a critical juncture as the world reaches the halfway mark to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. India envisions a 'Viksit Bharat' over the next 25 years, in line with the clarion call of the Hon'ble Prime Minister.

At the event, presenting the Cooperation Framework. United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, Shombi Sharp, stated: "India is a key shaper of the 2030 Agenda. With the goal of 'Leave No One Behind' reflected in the Government of India's message of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, India has aligned its flagship national initiatives with the SDGs and translated Agenda 2030 into local actions at all levels, while delivering development gains at scale. Meeting India's youthful population's expectations and aspirations will require further accelerating progress in addressing remaining development challenges and investing in human capital to leverage a unique demographic dividend. As the United Nations Secretary-General has said, India is the country that can make achieving the SDGs a global reality". (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, D.C. [US], June 16 (ANI): US Congressman Buddy Carter has said the country looks forward to hearing Prime Minister Narendra Modi address a joint session of the US Congress.

"US-India relationship is very important. We are looking forward to hearing PM Modi address the joint session. PM Modi has served the people well," said Carter on PM Modi's visit to US.

Also Read | Serial Thief Arrested in Australia: Man Breaks Into Over 50 Cars Between March and May in Melbourne, Nabbed by Police.

US Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith on the PM's visit to US said: "Next week, we will be honored to have him (PM Modi) address a joint meeting of the Congress underscoring the significance of the relationship between the US and India."

Smith said the bond between US and India is not just an alliance, it is a strategic and global partnership.

Also Read | Indian Worker Killed in Singapore After Part of Fuji Xerox Building Collapsed.

US Representative Adam Smith said: "I welcome PM Modi to our country and thank him for his visit. We (US-India) share a strong relationship. I am looking forward towards strengthening the relationship between both countries and PM's visit here is a crucial part of doing that."

Indian Chef Vikas Khanna on PM Modi's upcoming US visit said: "As an Indian living in America for the last almost 25 years, I'm really honored for Prime Minister Modi Ji's visit to the US. He has been a bridge between two greatest democracies in the world. At the same time, he has given us opportunities, given us a voice and also given us the pride to represent our country in America. I'm really looking forward to the visit and also be inspired to present India in its highest glory to the world."

Meanwhile, US Department of State official spokesperson Matthew Miller in a press briefing on Thursday (local time) said US partnership with India is one of the "most consequential relationships" and the two nations work closely on the most vital priorities. He said that India plays a crucial role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Matthew Miller, however, refrained from divulging details on issues likely to be taken up for discussion during PM Modi's visit to the US.

He said, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken looks forward to seeing PM Modi and other members of the Indian delegation in the US.

"So I don't want to get ahead of the White House, who will be hosting Prime Minister Modi, of course. They will be making further announcements about the visit in the coming days leading up to the trip next week," Matthew Miller said.

"I will say generally our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relationships...We work closely with India on our most vital priorities. They (India) play a crucial role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific that is connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient. And I know Secretary Blinken looks forward to seeing Prime Minister Modi and other members of the Indian delegation, while they're here and working to make progress on all the issues with which we consult with India. But in terms of any specific issues, I will defer to the White House for comment on that," he added.

At the invitation of US President Joe Biden, PM Modi will be on a state visit to the United States from June 21 to June 24. Indian diaspora in the US is eagerly awaiting PM Modi's arrival. On June 22, more than 7000 Indian Americans are planning to be on the South Lawns of the White House when Biden and the First Lady Jill Biden would welcome PM Modi amidst a 21-gun salute. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Muzaffarnagar, June 16: A 25-year-old woman, along with her paramour, allegedly strangled her husband and buried his body in a seven-feet deep toilet pit in their home in Muzaffarnagar district. The woman continued to stay at the same house, police said.

The body of the victim, identified as Sagar Ahmed (30), was found Thursday evening, almost 10 days after he was murdered at village Mandla under Purkazi police station. Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Wife Kills Husband With Help of Paramour in Muzaffarnagar, Dumps Body in Septic Tank; Both Accused Arrested.

According to police, the accused woman identified as Ashiya had lodged a missing complaint of her husband on June 7. During investigation, it came to the fore that Ashiya was in a relationship with Sagar's stepbrother Suhail Ahmed (28), who lives in the same area. Mumbai Shocker: Man Kills Wife's Paramour With Help of His Brother in Bhandup, Both Accused Arrested.

SHO of Purkazi police station, Gyaneshwar Kumar, said, "During questioning, Ashiya admitted that she, along with Suhail, strangled her husband to death and buried him in the toilet pit. Both have been arrested." SP (city), Satyanarayan Prajapati, said, "The magistrate was summoned to the scene. The spot was excavated and the body recovered and sent for autopsy."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 16, 2023 10:26 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
The body of a 20-year-old Indian national, who died after a part of a building collapsed in Singapore, was pulled out of the rubble in rescue operations lasting for more than six hours, a media report said.
On 15 June the Caribbean Community (Caricom) published a statement noting that Haitis Prime Ministerhad committed to establish a national unity government and widen the composition of the countrys three-member high transition council (HCT).

End of preview - This article contains approximately 394 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options
On 15 June Colombias Presidentdenied reports that the ongoing scandal engulfing his government was triggered by the theft of Col$3bn (US$723,000) of cash belonging to him.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 406 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options
Is the US's Crypto Crackdown a Blessing in Disguise for Other Nations?

Source: Pixabay

The regulatory crackdown on crypto in the US could prove to be just what is needed for the industry to thrive elsewhere, a recent Wall Street Journal article has indicated.

But according to the article, which took a rather hostile tone towards crypto, the industrys move to greener pastures overseas is not something that should be celebrated.

To avoid regulation in the US, the crypto industry can flee abroad, the article declared, while adding that flouting the rules of regular finance isnt a bug of crypto, it is a key feature.

The piece, written by London-based columnist Jon Sindreu, went on to accuse the crypto industry of having paved the way for rampant speculation while reviving age-old phenomena such as bank runs, and hinted that innovation in crypto has not created any economic value.

Despite this, certain regions outside of the US, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates have embraced crypto with far friendlier regulations than the US.

So far, the EUs new Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) law has led the major crypto exchanges Binance, Coinbase and Gemini to open regulated entities in Europe, while many other companies have opened shop in Hong Kong and the UAE.

As recently as last month, Hong Kong regulators showed just how eager they are to attract crypto companies to the semi-autonomous city, telling banks in a closed meeting that that they should not be afraid of taking on crypto firms as clients.

MiCAs big red flag

Commenting on the EUs MiCA law, the Wall Street Journal article argued that the laws limited reach over decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols is a big red flag.

While decentralized in theory, this corner of crypto can end up dominated by big lenders and concentrate voting power in a few hands, the article claimed.

The piece finally said that crypto regulations in the EU and elsewhere will only remain friendly until the next big scandal hits investors, at which point regulators again are likely to tighten rules.

As much as crypto can run, all roads may end up leading back to the SEC, Sindreu concluded his piece by saying.
On 15 June Brazils federal police (PF) raided the residences and office of Senator, who has been accused of obstructing the authorities investigations into the 8 January attack on the capital perpetrated by supporters of right-wing former president(2019-2023).

End of preview - This article contains approximately 383 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options
The Justice Department has made an official announcement regarding the indictment of Jack Teixeira, the Air National Guardsman accused in the Pentagon leak case, after sharing classified documents on social media, CNN reports.

Teixeira, a junior enlisted airman within the Massachusetts Air National Guard's 102nd Intelligence Wing, has been formally charged with six counts of willfully retaining and transmitting classified information related to national defense.

The arrest of the 21-year-old Massachusetts native took place in April, with charges being filed against him under the Espionage Act.

Teixeira allegedly obtained classified information from Otis Air National Guard Base and posted it on Discord, a popular social media platform among gamers.

The Justice Department's statement on the indictment noted that Teixeira had shared images of classified documents on the social media platform, which were marked with standard classification labels such as "SECRET," "TOP SECRET," and SCI designations, indicating their highly classified nature as official United States government information.

Teixeira has not entered a formal plea and remains in federal custody.

READ NEXT: Pentagon Tracks Suspected Chinese Spy Balloon

Jack Teixeira Punishment

When the Espionage Act was initially enacted, it outlined potential penalties of up to 20 years of imprisonment and fines reaching $10,000 per charge, per BBC.

Brandon Van Grack, a former national security prosecutor with the Justice Department who now works at the law firm Morrison Foerster, explained that in this case, the severity of the potential punishment could be toward the higher end due to the significant damage caused by the leaks.

He emphasized the potential for criminal charges and accompanying financial penalties under the Espionage Act.

Steven Stransky, another expert in the field, stated that the Espionage Act carries both criminal charges and financial consequences.

If the Justice Department pursues a criminal violation of the Espionage Act, he noted that jail sentencing is often sought to deter future similar actions.

The Pentagon has expressed its grave concern over the Pentagon leak, describing it as a deliberate criminal act.

The Pentagon spokesperson underscored the seriousness of the offense, emphasizing that strict guidelines are in place for employees, and any violation of those rules is considered a willful act.

Jack Teixeira and the Pentagon Leak

The charging documents shed light on Jack Teixeira's journey within the Air National Guard, starting from his enlistment in September 2019 and eventually attaining a top-secret security clearance by 2021, according to Al Jazeera.

However, the Justice Department alleges that Teixeira's actions took a concerning turn around January 2022. During this period, he is accused of accessing, copying, and sharing sensitive information within the online community Discord, which is commonly frequented by gamers.

Teixeira reportedly transcribed classified information or captured images of records to disseminate online, according to the charging documents.

The Pentagon leak included details of Ukraine's efforts to defend against a full-scale Russian invasion that commenced in February 2022.

Among the documents allegedly leaked were specifics about Ukraine's air defenses, casualty figures, updates on US aid, and documentation related to Russian espionage activities.

Furthermore, the records uncovered intelligence concerning US military interests in other parts of the world.

For instance, some documents seemed to suggest that the US had conducted surveillance on security officials in South Korea and exerted pressure on President Yoon Suk Yeol to provide ammunition to Ukraine.

These revelations triggered strong reactions among South Korean politicians, with some accusing the US of violating their national sovereignty.

Others, however, expressed skepticism about the authenticity of certain records, suggesting possible manipulation.

READ MORE: Florida Man Missing for 46 Years Confirmed Dead

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Jack Teixeira indicted for leaking classified military information - From CBS Boston
After his indictment hearing, where he was charged with 37 crimes, Donald Trump headed to a local Miami restaurant where he promised supporters free food. However, it seems that they did not get any.

The Miami restaurant known as Versailles served Cuban food and is one of the most famous Cuban restaurants out there, and it played host to the Republican frontrunner and former president. There, he declared to Trump supporters, "Food for everyone!" after walking inside.

The Miami New Times noted that Trump probably chose the restaurant to curry favor with Cuban voters. However, right off the bat, he promised free food. The newspaper tried asking patrons if they had received what he had promised and found out he had not.

Trump was only at the famous Miami restaurant for around 10 minutes and left before anyone else could eat anything or even place an order. He left without giving him the free food he promised when he walked in.

It was pointed out that Trump usually preferred KFC and well-done steaks slathered with ketchup but is also known to not pay for his meals, letting others pick up the tab for him. However, Trump may have been in a hurry as he was scheduled to return to Bedminster, New Jersey for his post-arraignment speech.

Ron DeSantis Aiming to Take 'Law and Order' Candidate Away From Donald Trump

Despite the legal troubles he is facing left and right, Donald Trump still touts himself as the "law and order" candidate. Now, Ron DeSantis is seeking to change that.

According to WPTV, DeSantis, who may also be facing legal troubles because of his migrant stunts, pointed out that a 2018 bipartisan criminal justice reform bill that Donald Trump signed into law was responsible for the rising crime in the country. This move is seen to weaken the former president's standing as the "law and order" candidate amongst conservative voters.

READ NEXT: Donald Trump Praises Kim Jong Un

Former Trump adviser Steve Cotes, who is now a Ron DeSantis supporter, posted on social media that it was "time for a law and order leader." This was posted on the same day that Donald Trump was arraigned in Miami on federal charges and when he visited that Miami restaurant.

However, Trump supporters quickly stepped up to defend the ex-POTUS. While bipartisanship was rare in the Trump era, the law in question, the bipartisan First Step Act, was praised by Democrats and Republicans alike as aimed to address "inequities in the criminal justice system for first-time offenders with misdemeanors."

Donald Trump Facing 6 Trials Over 4-Month Span

As DeSantis seeks his moniker as the "law and order" candidate, Trump must not just campaign but also face multiple trials as he must appear in six court cases over four months.

According to Politico, he must face E. Jean Carroll in court once again on January 15 next year. Before that, however, he must also face his civil fraud lawsuit in October. And then, on January 29, he must face a federal class action lawsuit that accused him of promoting a pyramid scheme.

Another one will happen on March 25, as he finally faces his Stormy Daniels hush money case. Unlike the others listed above, this is a criminal case, which might mean prison time for Trump. Finally, there is also the classified documents case and Georgia election tampering case, where Trump is expected to be indicted once again.

READ NEXT: Donald Trump Caught On Tape Talking About Classified Document He Kept

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Trump Promised Free Food For His Fans; Doesn't Deliver - Waldorf Nation
Mexico farmers in the northern Mexican city of Culiacan staged a protest at the Sinaloa airport to express their dissatisfaction with the low prices offered for their corn and wheat crops, AP reports.

The blockade, which began on Tuesday in Sinaloa state, resulted in the cancellation of numerous flights until it concluded on Thursday.

While the protest initially received limited international attention, Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha's call for the takeover of US-owned grain warehouses sparked controversy.

Governor Rocha appealed to the farmers on Wednesday, urging them to abandon the airport and instead occupy the warehouses or offices of the American food giant Cargill.

This statement drew a strong rebuke from a group of US expatriates in Mexico. However, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador stated on Thursday that he would not intervene in the dispute, despite the disruptions caused by the airport blockade.

Lopez Obrador accused large-scale farmers, who possess thousands of acres of land, of taking advantage of a subsidy system designed for small-scale farmers.

He also suggested that political opponents were instigating the dispute. While asserting that the government would not yield to pressure, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador emphasized that force would not be employed to end the airport occupation.

READ NEXT: Mexico Plans to Ban GM Corn

Mexico Farmers Want Guarantee Prices for Their Crops

Mexico farmers are urging President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to intervene and ensure price guarantees for corn, wheat, and sorghum, as they face a significant decline in international prices, per Reuters.

The most-active corn contract on the Chicago Board of Trade dropped by approximately 19.5% compared to last year. In comparison, wheat prices have seen a decrease of around 43%.

Farmers publicly addressed a letter to President Lopez Obrador last week, requesting the establishment of price levels to sustain their livelihoods amidst rising production costs.

They proposed setting the price of corn at 7,000 pesos ($402.90) per ton, wheat at 8,000 pesos ($460.45) per ton, and sorghum at 6,500 pesos ($374.12) per ton.

However, the farmers claimed they received no response to their demands, which prompted them to take action.

Videos shared on social media depicted farmers marching to Culiacan airport and blocking its entrances. In other footage, farmers entered government offices and emptied bags of grain onto the floor as a form of protest.

The demonstrations prompted the deployment of national guard troops and police to some protest sites.

Mexico Farmers End Their Protest After AMLO Refused Talks

Mexico farmers concluded their protest at the Sinaloa airport on Thursday and agreed to hold a meeting with the local governor, SaltWire noted.

This decision came after President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he would not negotiate with the demonstrators.

Baltazar Valdez, the president of the United Farm Workers of Sinaloa, explained that the hundreds of farmers protesting at the Sinaloa airport since Tuesday chose to end the demonstration to avoid further inconvenience to airport users.

Valdez emphasized the importance of maintaining the sympathy and support of civil society and mentioned that a delegation of farmers would meet with Rocha.

Valdez expressed that many agricultural workers had initially supported President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador but no longer believed he was effectively safeguarding their interests.

Valdez also said that there is a perception that the president needs more interest in protecting the agriculture sector, despite its crucial role in ensuring food self-sufficiency.

READ MORE: Archaeologists Found '3,000 Year-Old' Mummy in Lima

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: US to challenge Mexico corn ban - From Market to Market
The Florida condo collapse resulted in the deaths of 98 people. Now, it was found that the building did not comply with building codes and standards.

The collapse was so tragic that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and President Joe Biden put their differences aside and worked together to help the victims. Recent development in the investigation reveals it was the fault of the people behind the Champlain Towers, which owned the South building that collapsed on June 24, 2021.

According to the Associated Press, inspectors from the National Institute of Standards and Technology reported during a regular meeting of the National Construction Safety Team Advisory Committee that the building's design was understrength. The inspectors also pointed out signs of corrosion and misplaced reinforcement.

The investigators also reported that there was "placement of heavier and additional plant containers on the deck than those in the original plans." These, plus other factors, led to "critically low margins against failure."

Investigations into the collapsed building are ongoing, even though two years have already passed and the victims have been buried. However, developers are now working to build a new structure where the building collapsed despite families of the victims calling to build a memorial instead.

Florida Condo Collapse Started With Pool Deck

In their "leading failure hypothesis" report, the National Institute of Standards and Technology investigators also found that the concrete columns and pool deck in the Champlain Towers South building did not meet building codes.

Glenn Bell, one of the investigation team's lead investigators, stated that it was clear that "the 12-story condo tower's pool deck and the columns supporting it weren't built strongly enough."

READ NEXT: Texas Sheriff Files Criminal Charges Over Ron DeSantis's Martha's Vineyard Migrant Stunt

According to NPR, the team found problems with how the concrete was cast, which left it permeable to water. This made its steel reinforcement corrode. The rebar was also placed improperly into the cast concrete slabs of the pool deck, which left some sections weaker than required.

The final report is due for another two years, though families of those who died in the tragedy have already reached a $1 billion settlement last year.

Building Owner in Iowa Collapse Pleads Guilty to Civil Infraction

Meanwhile, as the Florida condo collapse investigations continue, the owner of the collapsed building in Iowa appeared in court after the city of Davenport fined him $300.

NBC News reported that Andrew Wold, who owns the collapsed six-story apartment building in downtown Davenport, was ordered to pay a $300 fine and $95 in court costs. While Wold himself was not present, his attorney entered a guilty plea.

While the fine seemed rather small, prosecutors stated it was necessary so Wold could not just transfer the property and avoid a demolition order.

While historic, the apartment building had been subject to tenant complaints. Much like the collapsed Florida condo, many believe that the buildings were also not up to code.

READ NEXT: Florida Could Face Mass Labor Shortage Due to Ron DeSantis' New Immigration Law

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Video shows moment of condo building collapse in Surfside, Florida | ABC7
California Governor Gavin Newsom made a late Wednesday announcement revealing a significant seizure of fentanyl in San Francisco by the state's highway patrol, according to ABC News.

The amount confiscated over the past six weeks in the city's Tenderloin neighborhood and its immediate surroundings are so substantial that it could potentially cause fatalities nearly three times over the entire population of San Francisco.

Since the launch of a public safety partnership between the city and the state on May 1, the California Highway Patrol has successfully seized more than 4.2 kilograms of fentanyl. It is worth noting that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration considers just 2 milligrams of fentanyl to be a lethal dose.

To put it into perspective, a kilogram of this powerful synthetic opioid can potentially claim the lives of half a million individuals. Thus, the quantity seized in San Francisco has the alarming capacity to potentially endanger approximately 2.1 million people, as outlined in a press release issued by Governor Newsom's office.

Moreover, in the initial six-week period of this operation, the California Highway Patrol also confiscated over 957 grams of methamphetamine, 319 grams of cocaine, and 31 grams of heroin.

In addition to these significant drug seizures, the agency successfully executed 92 arrests, ranging from felony to misdemeanor charges. These arrests encompassed offenses related to fentanyl possession, illegal possession of firearms, driving under the influence, and domestic violence incidents.

READ NEXT: Military Finds 1.8 Million Fentanyl Pills in Tijuana

California Governor Gavin Newsom Launches Campaign to Address Fentanyl Crisis

Following a thorough inspection of San Francisco's Tenderloin district in April, Governor Newsom initiated a comprehensive plan to address the fentanyl crisis, SF Gate noted.

The plan involves collaboration between the California Highway Patrol, the California National Guard, the city's police department, and the district attorney's office.

In an official release on April 21, Governor Newsom emphasized the importance of their proactive approach, stating, "We're taking action."

Through the newly established partnership, the initiative aims to allocate additional law enforcement resources and personnel to combat crimes associated with the fentanyl crisis; he continued adding that the primary objectives are to hold those involved in the illicit trade accountable, increase the presence of law enforcement personnel, and ultimately enhance public safety while restoring public confidence in San Francisco.

San Francisco has grappled with a severe fentanyl crisis for over a decade. Fentanyl, an immensely potent synthetic opioid, is known to be up to 50 times stronger than heroin and a staggering 100 times more powerful than morphine.

While the number of accidental overdose deaths in San Francisco declined between 2020 (725) and 2022 (620), there has been a recent upswing in 2023.

The city recorded 268 deaths from January through April due to accidental drug overdoses. Comparatively, the figure stood at 196 deaths during the same period last year.

Critics Lambaste California Highway Patrol for Stopping Cars to Crackdown Fentanyl in San Francisco

Critics of the California Highway Patrol's practice of conducting traffic stops for minor infractions to investigate motorists for more severe crimes have raised concerns regarding its use in San Francisco for aiding in drug busts, per SF Chronicle.

These critics argue that such tactics, known as pretextual stops, are employed when the city moves away from this approach.

However, no explicit indication from the mayor's office or the Board of Supervisors suggests that the CHP's involvement in combating open-air drug dealing could be more welcome.

Sara Shortt, the Treatment on Demand Coalition coordinator, expressed concerns about the CHP's operation, stating, "When we first saw the CHP coming in, that was our fear - that they would do an end-run around our local policies and laws."

She added, "And the second thing we feared was that this operation would cast a huge net and many people would get arrested who had nothing to do with the fentanyl crisis. I don't think making stops like this will solve the problem."

The coalition issued a statement criticizing police responses to the city's drug problem. As an alternative, they argued that putting more resources into volunteer rehabilitation services would be more beneficial.

READ MORE: Pentagon Leak Suspect Jack Teixeira Indicted

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: CHP seized enough fentanyl in SF to kill 2.1M people - From ABC7 News Bay Area
Just six months after his environmental activist brother was killed in Honduras, Oqueli Dominguez was shot to death by two men riding on a motorcycle. His brother was killed in a similar way.

Oqueli was the elder of the two Dominguez brothers killed, and he was shot at his family's home in Tocoa, located in northern Honduras. The deadly attack on the environmental activist was confirmed by his brother, Reynaldo Dominguez, as well as the Municipal Committee for the Defense of Common and Public Goods, which is a local environmental organization.

The eldest brother, Reynaldo Dominguez, stated that local police are now seemingly steering the investigation toward a possible robbery. However, he says that this is untrue. "In my house there's nothing of value. The event was aimed at my brother, because they separated the rest of the family," said the surviving brother.

Oqueli Dominguez and his late brother, Aly, have been protesting against the iron oxide mining in the nearby Carlos Escaleras National Park. All three brothers were notable environmental activists in the area, according to the Associated Press.

The brothers, along with other local environmental activists, have long pointed out that the mining operations have been causing damage to the nearby Guapinol and San Pedro rivers. These protests and legal actions have killed several environmentalists, including two of the Dominguez brothers.

Environmental Activists Claim Local Authorities Colluding With Mining Operators in Honduras

Aly Dominguez and fellow environmental activist Jairo Bonilla were killed in January of this year. They were riding a motorcycle between La Concepcion and Guapinol before they were shot to death.

Their deaths led to global outrage and condemnation, with even the United Nations asking for answers to why they died. However, as the Associated Press pointed out, the eldest Dominguez brother, Reynaldo, stated that local authorities may be colluding with the mining company.

READ NEXT: 'Day Without Immigrants' Protests Across Florida

"To date, they haven't done anything. The investigations don't advance because the authorities of Tocoa are colluding with the mining company that exploits the national park," said Reynaldo Dominguez. He also pointed out that Aly and Bonilla were not robbed, as the attackers did not take their cellphones, motorcycle, and money.

Kelvin Romero, another Honduran environmentalist, admitted they have been getting death threats and other threatening messages.

"So for us here, the judiciary and the authorities ignore despite the fact that we have protective measures for human rights defenders," he added.

Honduras Has Been Among the Deadliest Countries for Environmentalists

Honduras is infamous for having rampant inequality, a weak judicial system, cozy relationships between political and business elites, and authorities acting with impunity. These factors have helped the country become a deadly place for environmentalists.

According to The Guardian, British NGO Global Witness released a report that crimes against human rights defenders have increased in Honduras, with 101 environmentalists being killed from 2010 to 2014. One of the most high-profile deaths happened in 2016 when a well-known activist named Bertha Isabel Zuniga Caceres was assassinated.

READ NEXT: Honduras Ex-First Lady Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison For Corruption

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: How "blatant impunity" continues to prevent justice in murder of Honduran activist Berta Caceres - Democracy Now!
Homelander, often described as a much darker version of Superman, is the main villain of Amazon Prime Video's "The Boys." However, his actor, Anthony Starr, finds it weird that Americans are idolizing the character, who had been responsible for some of the most heinous acts in the show.

Many in the far-right MAGAverse have come to embrace Homelander, the leader of "The Seven," a team of superheroes based on the Justice League. However, while on the outside, Homelander appears heroic and embracing America, he is a scheming villain who manipulates those around him. Despite his horrendous acts, many still embrace him.

This has made Homelander actor Anthony Starr raise his eyebrows, telling his character's fans, "You are missing the point."

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Starr stated, "There's a very strange thing that's happened with the character, though he is clearly not a good guy. A lot of people have glommed onto him. There's a weird element out there that actually kind of idolize him. I've seen some s- on Twitter and I'm like, 'Wait, What? You are missing the point entirely!'"

The concept of the character was supposed to be a dark take on Superman and asks the question, "What if Superman were a narcissistic sociopath?"

The adaptation by Amazon Prime Video takes this concept even further, as one of its showrunners admitted that the adaptation's version played by Starr is actually modeled after Donald Trump.

Homelander as a Parody of Donald Trump

During a 2022 interview with Rolling Stone, "The Boys" showrunner Eric Kripke admitted that the show's version of the villainous "superhero" really was modeled after former President Donald Trump.

"He's always been a Trump analogue for me. I'll admit to being a little more bald this season than I have in past seasons." he said when asked by the magazine about Homelander adapting Trump-style political tactics and misinformation.

READ MORE: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Production Company Not Happy With Donald Trump

For his version of Homelander, Anthony Starr stated that while the character is modeled after Trump, he said that making him too directly like the politician would make the character "two-dimensional."

However, he did point out that when Homelander killed a protester in front of his fans and those fans just cheered him on, it mirrored the former president's claims that even if he killed somebody in Fifth Avenue, his followers will still adore him.

What Is Next for 'The Boys?'

Amazon will finally release "The Boys" Season 4 very soon, though no exact premiere date has been revealed yet. The series recently released a new teaser, and it showed that the events of Season 3 will have plenty of repercussions for everyone. However, a bit of warning though, as there are a few spoilers ahead.

According to Screen Rant, Homelander is getting emboldened by the support he is getting for killing the protester. Meanwhile, his new puppet CEO Ashley Barrett is seen defending his actions while the "hero" is preparing for his upcoming trial.

READ NEXT: Danny Trejo Wives: A Look Into the 'Machete' Actor's 4 Marriages

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: A Conversation With Karl Urban and Antony Starr | The Boys | Prime Video
Authorities in Lehigh County on Thursday announced an arrest in the drug overdose death of a 20-year-old from Orefield in South Whitehall Township.

The victim, Bryce Boyer, was pronounced dead after township police were called June 8, 2022, to a home on Emerald Drive, according to a news release from county District Attorney Jim Martin and South Whitehall police Chief Glen Dorney.

The Lehigh County Coroners Office determined Boyer died of accidental mixed drug toxicity, including fentanyl, according to the release.

An investigation revealed Jose Miguel Ramirez, 23, of Allentown, delivered the drugs on June 8, 2022, that caused Boyers death, Martin and Dorney said in the release.

Ramirez was taken into custody Thursday to be arraigned on felony charges of drug delivery resulting in death, criminal use of a communication facility, delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, in addition to misdemeanor reckless endangerment and drug possession.

At his arraignment, bail would be considered and a preliminary hearing would be scheduled for a district judge to determine if there is sufficient evidence to send the charges toward trial in the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas.

Boyers obituary states he was a 2020 Parkland High School graduate who was working as a machinist, a music lover and artist, a mixed-martial arts fighter and athlete, anime expert and a person who enjoyed company with anybody.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
Tucker Carlson is a Republican.

Why does he matter?

As a former Fox News opinion pundit with millions of American followers and who was paid a $20 million annual salary, Carlson perpetuates Putins lies about Russias Ukraine invasion and Trumps lies about a stolen 2020 election.

On June 6, 2023, Carlson promoted on his new Twitter diatribe that a whistleblower claims our government has in its possession alien spacecraft and dead pilots.

Carlson said, UFOs are actually real, and apparently so is extraterrestrial life.

Wow! Actually real.

I anxiously look forward to seeing the actually real alien spacecraft and hearing Carlsons analysis on how many in organized religion have been duped into believing their God only created intelligent life on planet Earth.

So, if you care, like current and former Fox News pundits encourage you to care, about whose face adorns a can of Bud Light or about critical race theory, which no one can exactly define; then, you will really care about the extraterrestrial evidence apparently forthcoming soon.

What else is forthcoming?

Its apparently time for every Republican politician to justify and explain his or her allegiance to the twice-indicted Donald Trump.

Vote for sanity. Vote Democratic.

Reggie Regrut

Phillipsburg
A man and woman are facing animal cruelty and related charges after authorities said they found two dead dogs on a Slate Belt property and other dogs living in unsanitary conditions.

James Robert Deppen, 59, is facing 27 charges and Shannon Drake, 39, is facing 10 charges, including two counts each of cruelty to animals, related to dogs found at the licensed kennel at 10035 Gravel Hill Road in Lower Mount Bethel Township, court records show.

Reached by phone, Deppen said he was unaware of the criminal charges.

Authorities said they had contact with Deppen, a breeder and former American Kennel Club judge who lives at the property, in April 2022 about providing clean and sanitary shelter, and necessary veterinarian care, for the dogs at the kennel.

Deppen was given a warning, and provided veterinary care at that time through North Warren Animal Hospital for two dogs, one with eye issues and another dog with a mass and wound on its chest, authorities said.

Court records show Deppen was cited that month with a summary count of unlawfully operating a kennel without a license, and he pleaded guilty in the case in August.

In March of this year, a police officer with the Pennsylvania SPCA was notified of a dead dog and unsanitary conditions at the Lower Mount Bethel kennel.

SPCA officers and state police went to the property on March 15 and found one dead dog in a trash bag in Deppens vehicle and a second deceased dog in a wooden shelter in a barn where three dogs were loose, authorities said.

One of the dead dogs appeared underweight, and Deppen reportedly told authorities it died of cancer, but that he had not recently taken the dog to the vet for treatment, according to court papers.

North Warren Animal Hospital said the last record of treatment they had for Deppen was on Nov. 14, 2022, to provide nine rabies shots.

Authorities said they removed two dead and three living Mastiff-type dogs from the barn area where there was no food available, and two Mastiff-type dogs and six German Shorthaired Pointers from the basement of the home on the property where the animals were living in filth.

Multiple German Shorthaired Pointers were in a separate fenced area with shelter behind the house, and German Shorthaired Pointers were also found in a detached room at the back of the house. Those conditions were not unsanitary and those dogs remained at the property.

During the visit, Deppen collapsed and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, police said.

Authorities said a veterinarian determined both dogs died from bite wound trauma, and they both had severe injuries on their heads and bodies.

Given the history of a fighting incident among the dogs in this space, this is considered the most likely cause of death, court records say.

In a phone call on March 16, Deppen said Drake owned five of the seized dogs, but that he was the only person caring for the dogs at the site and Drake was not paying him to care for her dogs, according to court records.

Authorities said they spoke to Drake by phone, and that she reported living in Missouri in one call and in Oklahoma in a later call, but refused to provide her address both times.

Deppen did not want to surrender ownership of any of the seized dogs, and Drake only agreed to surrender the deceased dogs and requested their ashes, court records say.

The seized dogs are in the Pennsylvania SPCAs protective custody, said spokeswoman Gillian Kocher. The dogs will remain in their custody until they are either awarded to the agency by the courts or signed over by their owner, she said.

As anyone can see clearly from the information included in the complaint filed, the charges, in this case, are serious. We aim to obtain justice for the animals involved and ultimately freedom for the dogs in question, Nicole Wilson, director of animal law enforcement and shelter operations at the Pennslyvania SPCA, told lehighvalleylive.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
Showers and thunderstorms, some potentially severe, are expected to kick off the Juneteenth and Fathers Day weekend. But dont cancel any plans just yet.

At their worst, Fridays storms could develop damaging winds and hail as they roll through the Mid-Atlantic. The National Weather Service expects most of the storms between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., though scattered showers could linger into the evening.

The Lehigh Valley can expect some of that rain and thunder, but the biggest threat is expected to the south. Anyone heading to the South Jersey shore or Delaware beaches on Friday will need to be aware. A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for areas south of the Valley, including Bucks and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania and Hunterdon County in New Jersey, until 6 p.m.

Showers & thunderstorms expected today, with some of those storms potentially becoming severe. The greatest risk is for southern NJ, and DelMarVa. Storms expected to arrive by 11 AM, clearing by 5 PM. Stay alert for potential tree damage, powerline issues & large hail. pic.twitter.com/wE2sZGKGjG  NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) June 16, 2023

Meanwhile, some of that Canadian wildfire smoke that choked the region last week has returned. This time, however, it is expected to stay high in the atmosphere with only moderate impacts on Lehigh Valley air quality.

Saturday forecast

The National Weather Service says Saturday shapes up to be showery with a few thunderstorms developing in the afternoon and dissipating at night. Highs in the 70s are expected.

Lehigh Valley-based EPAWA Weather Consulting projects only isolated showers in our area, though, with most of the rain pushing east into New Jersey.

Keep an eye on the forecast for any Juneteenth events.

MORE: Juneteenth 2023 celebrations around the Lehigh Valley

Fathers Day forecast

Both the National Weather Service and EPAWA says that Sunday should generally be nice with highs around 80.

The weather service does say that some isolated showers pop up but most areas should stay dry.

Juneteenth forecast

The forecast into next week is less certain. The National Weather Service says there will be chances of showers and thunderstorms starting Monday, with cooler temperatures most of the week. EPAWA says Monday will see stray showers at the most.

Any rain that we do get over the next several days is needed. Pennsylvania has declared a statewide drought watch, asking residents to conserve water.

Current weather radar

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com.
There are now a total of 1,000 Ukrainian people in Laois with most of those here living in the east of the county, however, Laois has fewer refugees than any of its neighbouring counties except Offaly.

The findings are part of the Central Statistics Office recently published the figures contained its 10th report in its Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland Series.

It shows that the number of arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland based on PPSN allocations as of 6 June 2023 had risen to exactly 1,000 since Russia invaded in 2022. The latest official figures, which were published on June 13, also reveal a 14% rise in the number who had found refuge in Laois to February this year when the figures were last published. There were 873 people in the county up to February 12.

Of the total, 368 are residing in the Portlaoise Municipal District. This takes in Abbeyleix and Ballinakill and stretches to the Kilkenny border. There were 337 in the district up to February 2023.

The Portarlington - Graiguecullen Municipal District is home now home to the largest number of Ukrainians in the county. There were 320 war refugees in the county in February but now there are 408 in the district which stretches from the Offaly border, along the Kildare boundary to Carlow and Kilkenny.

The Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District is the biggest district in Laois as it stretches from the Offaly border to the boundaries with Tipperary and Kilkenny. However, it has just one large town. There are now 227 people from Ukraine in the district compared with 216 people living there in February.

The number of children from Ukraine has risen from 210 in February to 225 this summer. Of these, 136 are in primary school and 89 in secondary school.

The figures also show that there are now 225 people in Laois in receipt of Accommodation Recognition Payment for hosting Ukrainians which is up from 139 in February last year

Laois has fewer refugees than nearly all its neighbour counties.

Carlow is accommodating 1,315 Ukrainians. Kilkenny has 1,501 people who have fled the war. There are 1,521 refugees in Tipperary. There were 1,338 people living in Kildare.

Offaly is the only county that borders Laois with fewer Ukrainians where there are 973 living.

Nationally, the CSO says that as of the week ending June 6, 2023 a total of 84,613 Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs) have been to arrivals from Ukraine under the Temporary Protection Directive since early 2022.

Women and men, aged 20 and over, made up 46% and 22% respectively of arrivals to date, while 32% were people aged under 20. Of all arrivals to date aged 18 and over, 62% of males and 47% of females were married or cohabiting.

There were 16,504 arrivals enrolled in further education and training courses on 01 June 2023, of which 14,630 enrolled in further education English language courses.

As of 06 June 2023, 32,756 arrivals had attended an employment support event arranged by Intreo Public Employment Services. Of those, 64% (or 20,996 persons) noted that English language proficiency was a challenge in securing employment.

Of the 32,756 arrivals that attended an Intreo event, 15,811 had recorded previous occupations, with Professionals being the largest group at 31% (or 4,928 persons).

Killarney in Co Kerry had the highest number of associated arrivals from Ukraine at 2,302. The Local Electoral Area with the highest rate of refugees was Ennistimon in Co Clare.
Thousands of striking firefighters in Laois and around Ireland have suspended their industrial action so that talks can proceed in the Labour Court.

The trade union SIPTU has accepted an offer of talks in the Labour Court in the dispute over pay and a wide range of conditions.

Industrial action began on June 6 and escalated on June 13 with rolling strikes to an average of 50% of retained fire stations and ultimately. An all-out strike was due to start on June 20.

Mass resignations from the service were also on the cards.

The strike made it to the floor of the Dail this week when a pager was presented to a Government Minister at the request of a striking firefighter.

SIPTU confirmed that it had received an invite from the Labour Court to exploratory discussions.

The Labour Court has separately written to the Local Government Management Association (LGMA), as the employer in the dispute, requesting its attendance at the talks.

SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Organiser, Karan O Loughlin, said: The SIPTU National Committee for Retained Firefighters, today (Friday, 16th June) unanimously agreed to suspend all industrial action and strike action for a period of 24 hours commencing at 12.01 am on Monday in order to facilitate the explanatory discussions at the Labour Court.

She added: While our members appreciate the intervention of the Court in this matter, the resolution to this dispute will be complex and difficult. However, the SIPTU negotiating committee have agreed to attend and will make every effort to create the space for a resolution to this dispute.

SIPTU Sector Organiser Brendan OBrien, said: The SIPTU negotiating committee will do their utmost on Monday but it is imperative that the employers attend this meeting with a willingness to engage in a manner that they have not done to date. There must be a willingness to acknowledge that there needs to be resources put into the Retained Fire Service in order to commence its rebuilding. There must also be proper remuneration of firefighters to reflect the responsibilities of their job.
Forsa, the union representing civil servants among others, has written to Laois Chief Executive John Mulholland giving notice of industrial action.

They are taking the action in an ongoing dispute with the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) over what Forsa say is their refusal to establish a job evaluation scheme.

The industrial action will begin with an indefinite ban on engagement on all political representations (verbal and written) from Wednesday, June 21.

A telephone ban on the 22nd June 2023 - this includes the use of work landline and mobile phones, work telephone calls via online platforms such as MS teams, and work calls via social media platforms such as WhatsApp phone/video and the use of personal mobile phones for work issues, will begin the following day.

Forsa is the second largest union on the island of Ireland and by far the largest trade union voice in the Irish civil and public service.

The union was formed following the amalgamation of the Civil and Public Services Union (CPSU), IMPACT and the Public Service Executive Union (PSEU) on January 2, 2018.

Assistant General Secretary of the Laois branch, Tony Martin sent the letter giving notice to Mr Mulholland.

I am writing to inform you that Forsa members in local authorities have been instructed to take industrial action in furtherance to our dispute to achieve job evaluation in the sector, he wrote.

The letter states that further action will be taken in the coming weeks and Mr Mulholland would be notified beforehand.

Attempts to circumvent or undermine this action may lead to the immediate escalation of the action. Equally so, any attempts to intimidate or threaten Forsa members engaging in this legitimate action, may lead to the immediate escalation of the dispute, Mr Martin explained.

Forsa remains available to discuss derogation requests for emergency cover, providing that it is genuine emergency cover and limited in nature, he concluded.
Laois County Council must take action rapidly at a dangerous junction on the Portlaoise to Tullamore in the wake of recent traffic accidents.

Cllr Seamus McDonald, Fianna Fail, made the appeal to the local authority at a recent meeting about the problem on the national route and main artery between Laois and Offaly.

He tabled a motion calling on the Council to make safe the junction on the N80 at Moneyquid in Laois near Killeigh not far from the Offaly border.

He told officials and fellow councillors that they would all be aware of the junction because of the extent of the danger which was evident again recently.

There were two accidents there a few weeks ago and there was a fatal accident there a few years ago. Action needs to be taken as quickly as possible, he said.

Paul McLoughlin, Senior Engineer Roads, replied in writing.

The Road Design Section will meet Councillor McDonald to examine the nature of the safety concerns at this location and will advance same with the assistance of the Transport Infrastructure Ireland, he said.

The issue was raised at the May 2023 meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District.
A defendant who appeared in Naas District Court on Thursday, June 15, had his case struck out.

The man was being prosecuted for speeding in County Kildare, and pleaded guilty to the offence.

However, his solicitor, David Powderly, told Judge Desmond Zaidan that he was speeding in order to come to the aid of his mother, who was in an abusive relationship at the time, and had been 'beaten up' by her now ex-partner.

Mr Powderly also showed the judge's photographs of the injuries the woman sustained while she was involved in the relationship.

He added that she has since been granted a protection order against her ex-partner.

Garda Sergeant Brian Jacob said that while the man did commit a speeding offence, he accepted that it was 'an emergency situation.'

Judge Zaidan said he also accepted this, and decided to strike out the case.
For Joy Klein, it would be almost impossible to avoid Mechanicsburgs Jubilee Day street fair.

Each year, the one-day festival floods the downtown with visitors and vendors, and her business, Joys Ceramic Shop at 119 E. Main St., is right in the middle of it.

So, rather than avoid what almost always works out to be a hectic day, Klein takes one question at a time and embraces the fair, just as she has for more than 50 years.

I think its good to keep people busy doing something constructive, so they dont do things that gets them in trouble, she said.

In her time participating in Jubilee Day, which celebrated its 93rd year in Mechanicsburg Thursday, Klein said the focus has shifted from more 4-H-focused activities to crafts.

That means her outdoor ceramic-painting setup blends right in.

Klein is one of more than 325 vendors that participated in the event, which is the largest, longest running one-day street fair on the East Coast, according to the Mechanicsburg Chamber of Commerce, which presents the festival.

Its the vendors that drew Tom Kohler, of Manchester, to the fair.

He cited meeting them and seeing how far theyve traveled as his favorite part of Jubilee Day.

The nice weather and fact that Kohlers wife works in the area also served as incentives for him to attend.

Last time was a total rain out, he said. We got stuck in heavy thunderstorms [and] took cover in the restrooms. ... [Today its] beautiful sunny weather out, you couldnt ask for a better day.

Aside from meeting the vendors, Kohlers to-do list for the day included stopping by some of the nonprofit stands and eating a hamburger.

For Mechanicsburg area-resident Janette Fischer, food was at the top of her list.

I love the food and I was looking for the London broil sandwich specifically and we got it, she said. Im happy.

Fischer also brought her four-year-old daughter, Camila, who wanted to visit her dad while he worked at Jubilee Day as a paramedic.

Aside from getting to watch her dad on the job, Camilas favorite part of the festival was seeing the ducks at a petting zoo run by Christian Life Assembly in Camp Hill.

It brings everyone together for food and music, [which] everyone loves, Fischer said of Jubilee Day. Its just something to do in our small little town.

While not a stranger to Jubilee Day, Revolutionary Hot Sauce is new to the so-called small little town, having opened its doors at 30 S. Market St. in Mechanicsburg in April.

CEO and creator Timothy Myers said this year marks the first time the business has served food at Jubilee Day, with menu items that included hot candied bacon on a stick, pickles on a stick and hot sausage.

To him, participating in the festival was a no brainer.

It gets the word out, Myers said. Youll never have this many people all together once again, so its a great way to let people know that were here [and] were serving awesome food.

In addition to benefiting businesses, Kohler believes Jubilee day impacts the community as a whole.

It brings people to the community that normally wouldnt be here and it brings the vendors to the area to wake up peoples eyes to say, Hey look this is available in our area, we never knew that was available before, but look its right here in Mechanicsburg.

Photos: Scenes from Mechanicsburg's 93rd Jubilee Day
A Naas District Court Judge has called for changes in how mental health patients are assessed by doctors.

Judge Desmond Zaidan made the comments during a court case which was held on Thursday, June 15 last.

The case concerned a defendant that has a personality disorder, and had previously spent time voluntarily in a psychiatric unit.

She appeared via video-link.

A Health Service Executive (HSE) worker, in addition to a social worker and the woman's parents, were present on the date in question.

Judge Zaidan told the HSE worker that he had concerns about remanding the woman into custody, but added that he had previously seen that the woman 'was in a very, very, bad way' back in March.

He added: "She seems stable now, but there is a possibility that she won't go into prison, and will be let back into the community by herself, and if no one is there to help her, things could go wrong again.

The HSE worker replied to the judge by saying that those with personality disorders 'can only be detained for a short period of time.'

In addition, the woman's mother said that the only emergency accommodation available to her daughter was a unit in County Wicklow: one full of people with similar mental health difficulties  "That wouldn't be healthy," Judge Zaidan replied to her.

Speaking to the HSE worker, Judge Zaidan also said: "People like you need to tell the State that there are shortcomings in this area."

The HSE worker said he agreed with the sentiment, and said: "Often times, the HSE, gardai, and even people like you, Judge, are left picking up the pieces."

The judge further said that he believes that there should be a change in how doctors see patients: "When it comes to seeing a patient who is over 18 years of age, another person should be there in order to give the doctors a clearer picture of how they are.

"Having the patient appear on their own does give the doctor an accurate representation... I just think that's so bad.

"For example, If I had seen her now (in her present, stable state), for the first time, with no prior knowledge, I probably would have granted her bail."

He added: "It's a general problem across all of Ireland, we don't seem to learn."

Judge Zaidan thanked the HSE worker for his attendance, and also thanked him for 'not mincing' his words.

When the woman's solicitor asked for reporting restrictions to be imposed in the case, Judge Zaidan agreed to apply them.

He adjourned the case to a later date.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Samaritans Ireland (116123 or jo@samaritans.org) or you can visit pieta.ie (24/7 Free Crisis Helpline: 1800 247 247 or Text HELP to 51444).
This week's Prize Bond Star Prize of 50,000 has gone to lucky Prize Bond number AHS209794 held in County Kildare.

The lucky bond was purchased in 2017. There were over 4,800 prizes awarded in this weeks Prize Bond Draw, amounting to 305,500.

In addition to a 250,000 prize awarded on the last weekly draw of March, June, September and December, there are weekly draws where the top prize is 50,000. Other cash prizes awarded each week include 10 of 1,000 and 10 of 500.

Prize Bonds are a State Savings product which, instead of paying interest, offers bond holders the chance to win cash prizes every week. All winnings are tax-free, and Prize Bonds can be cashed in at any time after the minimum holding period of three months.

Prize Bonds can be purchased by Direct Debit, online at www.StateSavings.ie, by telephone to callsave 0818 20 50 60 or at your local Post Office. Prize Bond holders can check draw results online at www.StateSavings.ie. The main winning numbers are also available in most Post Offices.

Founded in 1957, the Prize Bonds draw is Irelands longest running prize draw. The unit price of a Prize Bond is 6.25 with a minimum purchase of four units, at a total cost of 25.

Prize Bond draws are held every Friday. There is a 250,000 Prize awarded on the last Friday of every March, June, September and December. A top prize of 50,000 is awarded in every other weekly draw.

Prize Bonds are an integral part of the wider range of Ireland State Savings products offered to retail customers by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA). The scheme is operated by the Prize Bond Company on behalf of the NTMA.

While the Prize Bond Company is a joint venture between An Post and FEXCO all money is placed directly with the Irish Government under the management of the NTMA.

Prize Bonds money form part of Irelands National Debt. Repayment of all Prize Bonds money, together with the payment of prizes, is a direct unconditional obligation of the Government.
Senior politicians have reflected on the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement at the British-Irish Council summit in Jersey.

The 39th summit brought together leaders from the UK Government, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Island nations of Jersey and Guernsey, and the Isle of Man.

No representatives from Northern Ireland were present due to the collapse of the power-sharing institutions at Stormont.

Levelling Up Minister Michael Gove represented the Westminster Government in the absence of the Prime Minister.

Mr Gove spoke of the regret that no representatives from Northern Ireland could attend the summit.

I think everyone has expressed their regret both formally when the council are deliberating, but also conversations, that our friends in Northern Ireland, the elected representatives, havent been here.

He added efforts by the Westminster Government were ongoing to try to persuade all parties in Northern Ireland about the need for movement to restore Stormont.

The summit included a visit to the Limes, an example of housing construction in Jersey as the members focused on decarbonisation and sustainable building.

Kristina Moore, chief minister of the Jersey administration, told the press conference: It has been a great honour for us to host the summit for the fifth time here in Jersey.

And of course, its a really important opportunity for us all to reflect on 25 years since the Good Friday Agreement.

She said shared challenges were discussed between the representatives.

Mr Gove added: I know there is a commitment on the whole Jersey Government to making sure that both the affordability challenges that the island faces can be properly addressed but also that its done so in a way which is environmentally sustainable.

It was a common thread in all of the contributions that we made that we all appreciate the pressure on supply and affordability in all of our jurisdictions.

Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf attended his first British-Irish Council summit since taking up his post, where he met Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
A Leitrim TD has praised local retained firefighters for their dedication amid ongoing strikes in the industry.

Members of Ireland's largest trade union, SIPTU, began a campaign of industrial action on June 6 due to a worsening recruitment and retention crisis in the service.

According to SIPTU, almost 2,000 retained fire service members - who are required to provide 24/7 emergency response in their respective areas - are organised across 200 fire stations countrywide.

Deputy Martin Kenny spoke during discussion of a Sinn Fein motion on the topic in the Dail this week (June 13) and highlighted the difficulties facing the retained fire service in Sligo and Leitrim.

He said, "They are highly trained. They have to train in the use of fire equipment, vehicles and breathing apparatus and yet these people are ordinary citizens who have to hold down other jobs as well.

"When we need them, they are there for us. Therefore, it is incumbent on the Government to ensure it is there for them and that we are there to stand by them in their time of need. Their time of need is clearly now."

He continued: "It is clear that the future is very dark for the retained fire service across the country. So many people who have been part of that service, over generations in some cases, tell me they will not get others to follow into it and people will simply not give up the time and effort which they are prepared to give to be part of that huge resource that is there for communities."

He called on the government to act and ensure firefighters are properly remunerated with appropriate pay and conditions.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Daragh O'Brien, first responded to concerns raised by Deputy Kenny and other TDs by welcoming SIPTUs confirmation that retained firefighters would comply with provisions of the 1992 Code of Practice for Emergency Disputes.

This means members will continue to respond to emergency calls during strikes, however they will not conduct training, drills, or cooperate with radio calls through emergency centres.

Minister OBrien welcomed "the dedication of the retained firefighters who have served to minimise the impact on the public".

He said, "Knowing firefighters as I do, I would not have expected any less from such a committed group of front-line workers."

He also welcomed SIPTU members' acceptance of a revised model of service put forward by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) following publication of a report by the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management in December 2022.

The report contained 13 recommendations aimed at improving fire services and addressing recruitment and retention issues.

The revised model included changes such as an increase in staff of approximately 20% as well as structured time off, among other suggestions; however, a demand for a significant increase in pay remained an issue of contention.

The LGMA - who claimed a pay increase is not possible outside the current national collective public pay agreement - has instead proposed a rebalancing of pay.

This includes a widening of the premium hours bands and additional fixed-earnings potential in the areas of pre-incident planning and home fire safety visits.

Minister O'Brien said, "All Deputies will be familiar with public service agreements and how they work, and they all know rates of pay for public sector employees are set by collective agreements. They are put in place to ensure public service pay will be managed sustainably and in a climate of industrial peace.

"In practice, this means that despite what I or union representatives might like to see in an ideal scenario, it is not within our gift to make an exception or operate outside of the terms of national public service pay policy.

"That type of selectivity would completely unravel the collective approach that has served us well and helped to share our prosperity without industrial action that would jeopardise it.

"We have to jump together or we will all fall separately."

He continued: "There is, however, a way forward that meets firefighters' needs and protects the integrity of the collective pay process. I do not believe there is an appetite within the retained brigades, local authority employers or my Department for this action to continue indefinitely.

"We all want to protect our communities, keep them safe and be there to support them through times of need. It is clear the issue of the fixed element of retained firefighter remuneration needs to be addressed to meet the legitimate needs of firefighters.

"In good faith, I want to state as clearly and simply as possible my personal commitment to ensuring the retainer payment will be positively dealt with in the upcoming national pay talks."

The minister concluded by calling on SIPTU to re-engage with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) as "the route out of an industrial relations dead end".

According to Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn (SF), gathered firefighters walked out of the public gallery in response to the Minister's comments.

Deputy MacLochlainn said, "How can the Minister possibly connect the working pay and conditions that have been so well reported to the people of Ireland over the past week on our public airwaves, namely, the shocking conditions where the firefighters are supposed to be available 50 weeks of the year, 24-7, within 3 km of their stations.

"With the type of pay and conditions they have, how can the Minister possibly compare them with every other public sector worker?"

He continued: "We have taken the salt of the earth of our country for granted for far too long. These are people with civic pride. They are agonising about this strike because if a fire or a road traffic collision happens in their community, they know the people involved. It is absolutely agonising to force people like that to go on strike."

SIPTU members also reacted with outrage in response to Minister O'Brien's comments.

In a statement published on Wednesday June 14, SIPTU Public Administration and Community Division Organiser, Karan O Loughlin, said, "In his statement, [Minister O'Brien] said nothing can be done concerning the recruitment and retention crisis in their service until new public sector talks commence, adding that firefighters should take his word that he would seek to rectify the serious structural issues in the service then.

"This is nowhere near good enough and has made resolution of this dispute more difficult.

"Our members believed that when they entered into discussions on the implementation of the Coyne Report on reform of the Retained Fire Service in January, the process would be meaningful and would deliver improvements in a reasonable time frame. They now hear the Minister saying that while he supports their cause, he can do nothing about it in advance of new public service pay talks."

She continued: "The Coyne Report asserts that additional expenditure is required. Mr OBrien and the public expenditure and finance ministers need to put their heads together and arrange for the allocation and release of funds required to action the Coyne Report reforms if this strike is to be resolved."

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Brendan OBrien, also commented and said, "Firefighters across the country are receiving overwhelming public support for their strike action. They are steadfast and resolute in the pursuit of their objectives and the Ministers statement last night has strengthened their resolve to escalate their industrial action, as planned, if necessary."

In a further statement published on Thursday June 15, O Loughlin stated SIPTU members employed as retained firefighters will begin to resign from the service in large numbers from the beginning of next week (the week of Monday June 19).

She said, "There is no sign of a breakthrough in this dispute and with all out strike action to begin on Tuesday 20th June, which will result in the closure of all retained fire stations across the country, an increasing number of SIPTU members have made clear they are considering resigning from the service.

"This strike was a last resort to endeavour to improve the service and prevent it from total collapse but the pressure on the community that full closure of stations will bring could well be a burden too far for already overburdened firefighters.

She added, Many would rather walk away altogether. If this happens, with crewing already at crisis levels, the service will collapse and will take years to rebuild as those firefighters will not return if they leave.

Brendan OBrien also commented and said, "The only action that can save this vital community resource from disaster is that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh OBrien and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, put their heads together and arrange for the allocation of sufficient funds to address the necessary reforms that can resolve the recruitment and retention crisis in the retained fire service."
Des membres du service de securite du president sud-africain retenus en Pologne

Des membres de la securite de Cyril Ramaphosa, qui devaient accompagner ce dernier lors de sa mission de mediation en Ukraine vendredi, ont ete retenus en Pologne, ce qui a provoque un incident diplomatique, selon des responsables des deux pays.

Le general Wally Rhoode, chef de ce service, a taxe les autorites polonaises de racisme et les a accusees de mettre  en danger  la vie du chef de lEtat. Jugeant ses declarations  ineptes , le gouvernement polonais a explique que certaines personnes a bord de lavion arrive dAfrique du Sud navaient pas de permis de port darmes et nont donc pas ete autorisees a debarquer.  Des biens dangereux se trouvaient a bord de lavion, que les Sud-Africains navaient pas la permission dapporter , explique le ministere des affaires etrangeres dans un communique.  De plus, il y avait des personnes a bord de lavion dont la presence navait pas ete signalee aux autorites polonaises , poursuit-il.

Le vol charter avait quitte Pretoria tot jeudi, avec quelque 120 personnes a son bord, dont des membres des forces de securite sud-africaines et des journalistes qui devaient suivre le chef de lEtat dans son voyage a Kiev, dans le cadre dune mission de mediation de dirigeants africains. Cyril Ramaphosa est arrive jeudi dans la capitale polonaise a bord de lavion presidentiel Inkwazi, puis sest rendu en train a Kiev, ou il est arrive vendredi, selon la presidence.

Vincent Magwenya, porte-parole du president, a juge lincident  regrettable  tout en ajoutant quil navait pas compromis la securite du president.  Le reste de la mission se deroule bien et comme prevu , a-t-il assure, avant dajouter :  Le president est arrive a Kiev en toute securite. 

Les responsables sud-africains ont engage des discussions avec leurs homologues polonais pour sortir de limpasse et permettre aux membres retenus de lequipe de securite et a des journalistes, egalement retenus, de poursuivre leur voyage. Vendredi apres-midi, certains journalistes ont ete autorises a debarquer apres plus de vingt-quatre heures passees sur le tarmac.
A TRAINEE Prison Officer from County Limerick has secured a temporary High Court injunction restraining his dismissal from his employment over alleged serious misconduct.

The interim injunction was made in favour of Eddie Campbell who had been the subject of disciplinary proceedings after bags allegedly containing traces of an illegal drug were found in a room, he had occupied a week earlier.

The court heard the Irish Prison Service has informed him that his employment is to be terminated later this month, arising out of findings made against him following internal disciplinary hearings.

The allegations against him include that on a date in June 2022 three plastic bags, containing a powdery substance were found in a room in a building used to house trainee prison officers at Portlaoise Prison that he had occupied several days previously.

Mr Campbell vehemently denies any wrong-doing and says that both the decision to dismiss him and the disciplinary process he underwent are unfair.

His lawyers say he has come to the High Court seeking orders "as a last resort" to challenge the disciplinary process, that was conducted in breach of fair and proper procedures.

The injunction was granted, on an ex-parte (one side only) basis, against the Irish Prison Service, the Minister for Justice, Ireland and the Attorney General by Ms Justice Siobhan Stack this Friday afternoon.

The judge commented that the threshold for granting such orders in employment cases was high.

However, she said based on the evidence put before the court that threshold had been met by the applicant.

Pearse Sreenan SC instructed by Frank Buttimer solicitors said Mr Campell commenced working for the Irish prison service as a recruit Prison Officer on a 12-month probationary contract in April 2022.

He said he passed all his reviews without incident or complaint and is staunchly opposed to drug taking.

Counsel said the disciplinary process his client underwent arising out of the discovery of the plastic bags is "full of inconsistencies" and procedural flaws.

One major flaw counsel said is that the plastic bags found in the room were never fingerprinted.

While the bags were sent to a forensic lab, and the matter reported to gardai, counsel said his client is not facing any criminal charges and there is a high degree of uncertainty if traces of any illegal substances were found in the bags.

His client's offer to undergo drug testing has not been taken up by the prison service, counsel added.

Mr Sreenan said the rooms his client and other trainees are housed in at Portlaoise are regularly inspected by the IPS and the corridors are monitored by round-the-clock CCTV.

His client, he added, had not been given the CCTV footage from the several days after the plaintiff had left the room to the the time when the bags were discovered by the authorities.

All Mr Campbell was told by the prison services was that the CCTV had been inspected by one of its officers, and that there was "nothing of interest there."

Counsel said his client would like to view the images himself.

All his client was furnished with are images around an eight-minute period when another trainee officer entered the room, when Mr Campbell was there.

The court heard, there was also a lack of electronic records available to Mr Campbell concerning the use of the room following his departure from it or if the room was locked during that relevant period.

Counsel also said that there was a lack of written statements from other parties and witnesses in the disciplinary process, which he said was surprising.

In a sworn statement to the court Mr Campbell, who is aged in his mid-twenties, said that he is hugely concerned about his reputation if he is dismissed.
CONSUMERS in Limerick who have shopped at the Iceland store in the city over the past three months are being advised not to eat any imported frozen food of animal origin which they bought.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has served a notice on Metron Stores Limited (trading as Iceland Ireland) directing to to immediately withdraw al imported frozen food of animal origin which has been imported into Ireland since March 3.

In addition, the FSAI is directing the company to recall the implicated product from consumers.

In a statement, it said: "As a precaution, the FSAI is advising consumers not to eat any imported frozen food of animal origin bought from Iceland Ireland stores since March 3, 2023. Foods of animal origin are any food products that contain ingredients that come from an animal, such as chicken, meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, etc. This enforcement action is due to a number of identified breaches of food legislation and an ongoing investigation."

The company operates a single store in Limerick - at Watch House Cross, Moyross and one in Shannon, County Clare.

According to the FSAI, there have been a number of incidents of non-compliance with import control legislation in relation to frozen foods of animal origin.

It says some frozen food of animal origin has been imported into Ireland without pre-notification and completion of entry declarations and health certificates since March 3, 2023.

Discussions with the company have taken place and the investigation involves the FSAI; the Environmental Health Service of the Health Service Executive; the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority.

According to Dr Pamela Byrne, CEO of FSAI the matter involves serious breaches of food law.

To date, while we have no reports of any illness associated with implicated products from Iceland Ireland stores, in the absence of the company providing valid and correct traceability documentation as required by the law, we have to take a precautionary approach to best protect consumers, as we cannot be fully confident of the traceability and safety of these imported frozen foods of animal origin."

Consumers are being advised that foods of animal origin are any food products that contain ingredients that come from an animal, such as chicken, meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, etc.

"It is the legal responsibility of any food business importing food into Ireland to make the correct import declarations for the food they are importing. All food businesses must also have full traceability information on the food they are importing, producing, distributing and selling. Due to these breaches of food legislation and in the interest of consumer protection, this action has been taken," added Dr Byrne.

The, details of which were revealed on Thursday evening, action is part of an ongoing investigation following identification by Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Border Control Post officials, in collaboration with Revenue Customs, of undeclared frozen food of animal origin with no accompanying documentation for goods being imported by Metron Stores Limited trading as Iceland Ireland into Ireland.

This, the FSAI says, has led to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine detaining consignments and issuing an import control notice to return them to Great Britain or destroy them.

As part of the investigation, the FSAI has informed the European Commission, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) UK, Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland, and Food Standards Scotland and are sharing relevant information to support the investigation.

The FSAI Advice Line can be contacted at by email info@fsai.ie or through our social media channels.
MINISTER Simon Harris visited Limerick on Thursday to view the progress of the new state-of-the-art TUS Coonagh Engineering Campus.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD today visited th campus for a site tour.

The fit-out of this new state-of-the-art campus will transform the former Coonagh Cross Shopping Centre into a modern industry-relevant engineering, technology, teaching and learning facility.

It will become the primary base for up to 800 engineering students and apprentices.

The increased space will provide them with new workshops, laboratories and research facilities. It will also provide space for manufacturing engineering, other engineering activities and apprenticeship programmes.

Speaking during the visit, Minister Harris said: I am delighted to see the progress being made here at the new TUS engineering campus in Coonagh.

When completed this state-of-the-art facility will be the seventh TUS campus to come online and will take centre stage in growing engineering education and research here in Limerick and indeed the mid-west.

It will also be a focus point for apprentice training in the region.

We need to get the word out there that an apprenticeship is third level education, it is a way of getting a well-paid job and is a way to meet the challenges we face.

This project plays a major role in addressing the increasing demand for skilled graduates across the region and nationally.

Minister of State for Skill and Further Education Niall Collins TD said: I am delighted to see progress being made on the new TUS Coonagh campus and that theyll welcome students in January 2024.

TUS students and apprentices will have access to this state-of-the-art engineering facility with technical workshops, teaching spaces and soft skill spaces.

This puts the Coonagh campus on track to becoming a centre of excellence in manufacturing and engineering.

Work is continuing on the Coonagh campus with a substantial amount due to be completed by the end of the year.

Students are expected to walk through the doors of the new campus in January 2024.
THE BIGGEST investment Kilmallock has ever seen is being delayed by the council, a local Sinn Fein representative has claimed.

Cllr PJ Carey, speaking at a Cappamore-Kilmallock municipal meeting, said it was agreed by councillors two years ago to dispose of 2.7 acres in Kilmallock Business Park to Dansko -a family-run global dairy trade business.

Dansko have committed to huge expansion plans which would see Dansko being the biggest factory in the entire local electoral area and the biggest investment this town has ever seen.

We passed a disposal of land locally in Kilmallock in April 2021 and this went for full council approval the following month. Dansko have been waiting since for this sale to go through. Two years. They have opened a similar facility in the UK in the meantime, said Cllr Carey.

He was speaking during a motion he put down calling for an acceptable level of maintenance be carried out at the business park and that it becomes a priority for the local authority in order to keep the existing business and to encourage other business to establish there.

Cllr Carey said a business is embarrassed to bring visitors to the park due to the obvious neglect.

He praised Matt Lynch who organised a meeting with businesses.

In response, the council said they acquired Kilmallock Business Park in early 2020 just before Covid and that under-investment in the park prior to the takeover by the council has led to significant infrastructural and maintenance issues to be dealt with.

A service level agreement is in place with Kilmallock Tourism to maintain the green areas within the business park.

In 2023, the surface of all existing footpaths will be replaced, all public lighting will be upgraded and vegetation surrounding the lights will be cut back or removed. Investment will be in the order of 100,000.

Cllr Mike Donegan commented that the previous owners didn't know where the park was.
Prof Yann LeCun, one of the pioneers in the field of AI, has dismissed concerns that AI will dominate the world or lead to permanent job losses, calling such fears "utterly absurd," reported BBC.

According to a BBC report, Prof Yann LeCun believes that although there may come a time in the future when computers surpass human intelligence, that is still far off, and he emphasized that if it is deemed unsafe, it simply should not be developed.

In a recent interview with the BBC, a government advisor from the UK suggested that certain highly advanced artificial intelligence systems might require prohibition.

Prof Yann LeCun, who, along with Geoffrey Hinton and Yoshua Bengio, was awarded the Turing Award in 2018 for their groundbreaking contributions to AI, currently serves as the chief AI scientist at Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. In contrast to his fellow pioneers, Prof LeCun holds a differing viewpoint and does not perceive AI as a threat to humanity.

"Will AI take over the world? No, this is a projection of human nature on machines" he said. It would be a huge mistake to keep AI research "under lock and key", LeCun adds.

Prof LeCun contended that individuals who expressed concerns about the potential risks of AI were driven by their inability to envision how AI could be effectively rendered safe.

"It's as if you asked in 1930 to someone how are you going to make a turbo-jet safe? Turbo-jets were not invented yet in 1930, same as human level AI has not been invented yet. Turbo jets were eventually made incredibly reliable and safe, and the same would happen with AI," he stated.

The report from BBC suggests that Meta has established a significant AI research initiative with the objective of developing intelligent systems that match the capabilities of humans. In addition to conducting research, the company employs AI technology to assist in identifying detrimental content on social media platforms.

During a press event, Prof LeCun discussed his work in the field of Objective Driven AI, which strives to create secure systems with the ability to remember, reason, plan, and possess common sensequalities that are currently absent in widely used chatbots like ChatGPT.

Reportedly, according to Prof LeCun, it is indisputable that AI will eventually exceed human intelligence. However, he acknowledged that researchers still lack crucial concepts necessary to achieve such a milestone, which could take numerous years, if not decades, to accomplish. When individuals express apprehensions about future machines operating at or beyond human-level capabilities, they are alluding to artificial general intelligence (AGI)systems capable of solving a broad spectrum of problems, akin to human beings.

When questioned by BBC News, Prof LeCun explained that the progress in AGI development would be gradual, potentially reaching a level of intelligence comparable to that of a rat's brain. He emphasized that such an AI system would still operate within a controlled data center environment and could be deactivated if necessary. Prof LeCun further emphasized that if it is deemed unsafe, the logical course of action would be to refrain from its construction altogether.
Axis Bank on Friday said that it has appointed former Reserve Bank of India ( RBI ) Deputy Governor NS Vishwanathan as a part-time Non-Executive Chairman.

The board of directors of the bank have appointed Vishwanathan for a period of three years.

The Board of Directors of Axis Bank at its meeting held today approved the appointment of N. S. Vishwanathan, Independent Director as the Non-Executive (Part-time) Chairman of the Bank for a period of three years, subject to approval of the shareholders of the Bank and Reserve Bank of India," said Axis Bank in its release.

Earlier, in May, Axis Bank had appointed Vishwanathan as an independent director. Other than Axis Bank, Vishwanathan, in April 2023 was appointed as head of the advisory board at Razorpay.

Vishwanathan had joined the RBI in 1981 and retired in March 2020 as the Deputy Governor, spanning a career of nearly four decades at the central bank.

"We are delighted and privileged to welcome Mr. Vishwanathan to the Axis family. His profound knowledge, understanding of the financial sector and expertise in navigating the regulatory landscape will augment strategic decision-making, while further enhancing our commitment to uphold the highest standards of compliance and corporate governance. With his presence on the Board, we are well-positioned to advance our agenda of sustainable growth and profitability," said Amitabh Chaudhry, MD & CEO, Axis Bank.

He currently serves as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Governing Council at the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology, Hyderabad, as also of the Academic Council of the College of Supervisors, RBI, Mumbai.

Axis Bank reported a net loss of 5,728. 42 crore as against a net profit of 4,117.77 crore in the same quarter a year ago.

Axis Bank in an exchange filing said that it incurred a huge loss during the March quarter owing to purchasing cost of Citi Bank's India consumer division during the quarter.

For the quarter ended March, the private bank's total income stood at 28,865.08 crore as compared to 21,999.58 crore in same quarter a year ago.

For the quarter ended March, the Net Interest Income (NII) increased 33% year over year to 11,742 crore. The quarter's net interest margin (NIM) was 4.22%, up 73 basis points year over year and 2% sequentially.

On Friday, the company's scrip ended 0.37 per cent up at 980.90 on BSE.
Finance ministry officials on Friday presented its assessment of the state of the economy and made a case for a better sovereign rating citing multiple economic indicators in the positive direction, at a meeting with officials from Moodys Investors Service Inc., a person informed about the development said.

A second person, who is also informed about the ministrys discussions with the rating agency, said that these meetings happen every year and are part of a series of interactions over the course of the year.

This meeting, the second person said, is not a forum to question the rating methodology or make a cross-country comparison but is meant to explain the governments assessment of the economy to help credit agencies make their assessments. The meeting was conducted in the most cordial atmosphere, the person said.

News agency PTI reported that during the meeting, Moodys representatives discussed the governments disinvestment roadmap, and officials highlighted that disinvestment should be seen from the prism of reform and not just revenue generation exercise. Moodys assigned India a sovereign rating of Baa3 with a stable outlook.In FY23, Indias fiscal deficit stood at 6.4% and in the current year, it is budgeted at 5.9% of GDP.

According to official estimates, the Indian economy is set to grow at 6.5% this fiscal. Policymakers also believe that the dent in household spending induced by the pandemic and lockdown restrictions is now a thing of the past as private consumption has caught up with the pre-pandemic growth trend.

Emails sent to Moodys Investors Service and to the finance ministry on Friday remained unanswered.
Patanjali Foods Ltd, which sells packaged foods and edible oil, Friday said it has forayed into the premium products market with ragi cookies, dry fruits and a wider range of nutraceutical products under its Nutrela and Patanjali brands.

Over the next five years Patanjali Foods expects to draw between 5-10% of its turnover from premium products, catering to consumers at the upper end of the consumption basket. Currently premium products account for 3% of the companys business.

The whole idea is that we want to move towards premiumization for a class of consumers that can typically afford them and are willing to pay," Sanjeev Asthana, CEO, Patanjali Foods Ltd said on the sidelines of an event to launch Maxx dry fruit and chocolate cereals in New Delhi on Friday.

To be sure, the company already sells biscuits, cookies, rusks, breakfast cereals, noodles and nutraceutical products. Over the next five years the company also plans to scale its dry fruit business to touch 1,000 crore. The business is currently over 100 crore.

For this, Patanjali Foods has signed several deals to build its supply chain for dry fruit. It recently partnered Wonderful, among the largest pistachio businesses in the world, and Mariani, for almonds. It is also working on building its supply chain for walnuts from Chile and the US.

The company is also exporting raw cashews from Africa to be processed in India. It has also set up a small pilot plant for almond processing at its Patalganga unit, Asthana said during the companys post-earnings call earlier in June.

The opportunity that were seeing is that the market (for dry fruit) is nearly 50,000 crores. It is growing at 10% to 15%. Globally, India has moved almost to the centre stage in the dry fruit segment from the demand perspective. As economies struggle in Europe and China tends to stagnate, we have a great possibility of building up a very solid band around dry fruit," he said.

Asthana explained the company is trying to capture consumers who are switching from unbranded, loose dry fruit to branded ones. What is happening in the dry fruit space is that it is moving to a level where consumers are looking for options. So the market of the flavoured dry fruit is very smallwe will eventually come into that too," he added.

Patanjali Foods (earlier Ruchi Soya Industries Limited) was earlier acquired by a consortium led by Patanjali Ayurved for 4,350 crore through an insolvency process in 2019. Last year, Patanjali Ayurved sold its food retail business to Patanjali Foods Limited for 690 crore as part of its goal to focus on the non-food, traditional medicine and wellness business.

Commenting on overall demand for consumer goods, Asthana said demand is steadily picking up" as commodity prices cool down. We are seeing demand pick-up, right now commodity prices have come down, barring wheat; in general commodity prices are lower," he said. Rural markets are turning resilient, he said, as we see a lot of alternate economic activity other than core agriculture starting to build up."

As commodity prices cool down, Patanjali has been taking price cuts. For instance, it slashed MRP of its edible oils by 30%.
Twitter is being kicked out of the company's offices in Collardo over non-payment of rent in the building. The social media giant has not paid the rent since March this year and now a Judge has asked the sheriff to assist in the eviction of Twitter from the Colorado premises within the next 49 days.

According to a report in the Denver Business Journal, Twitter had given the landlord a $968,000 letter of credit when it leased 4 units in its building in February 2020. The 65,000 sq ft office is located at 3401 Bluff Street, Boulder, Colorado.

Twitter has been using its $968,000 letter of credit in lieu of normal rent payments, but the credit ran out in March this year and the company has not paid the rent since.

The landlord filed a lawsuit in Boulder District Court in May, and the Elon Musk-owned company was ordered to vacate its offices within 49 days on May 31.

At its peak, the Boulder office employed around 300 people. However, citing the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, The Independent reported that as of November last year, Twitter had laid off around 87 employees, while 38 others had voluntarily left the company.

The report goes on to say that Twitter has also been sued by another Boulder-based company, Avalanche Commercial Cleaning, for around $93,500 in unpaid bills.

According to a Bloomberg report in December last year, Twitter was being sued by its San Francisco landlord for non-payment of $136,250 in rent for its offices on the 30th floor of the Hartford Building. The New York Times also reported the same month that the social media giant had not paid rent on any of its offices for months.
The worlds two richest individuals lunched together on Friday in Paris.

Tesla Inc. founder Elon Musk and Bernard Arnault, the CEO and controlling shareholder of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, shared the midday meal at Cheval Blanc, the high-end hotel chain which is part of LVMH. Arnaults sons Antoine and Alexandre as well as Elon Musks mother Maye also took part, based on photos posted on Antoines Instagram account.

The moguls combined fortunes amount to about $426 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Musk recently surpassed Arnault to reclaim the title of the worlds wealthiest person after investors sold luxury stocks.

ALSO READ: Elon Musk responds to Megan Fox controversy, says looking to hire

LVMH owns brands such as Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior, major advertisers on social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and also Twitter. Musk, who bought Twitter last year, recently hired Linda Yaccarino, a former NBCUniversal ad executive, to improve the companys relationship with brands after the site lost business following his takeover.

READ more: Twitters New CEO Yaccarino Has First Day in the Role

Musks lunch was followed by his talk at the Viva Technology event in the French capital, an annual gathering created by the ad agency Publicis Groupe SA and Les Echos, the economic and financial daily owned by LVMH.

2023 Bloomberg L.P.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.
The release of Sony's Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has faced a setback in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Vox Cinemas announced on June 15 that the film would not be screened in the country. The decision has sparked discussions among movie enthusiasts and online communities, particularly regarding the animated film's portrayal of transgender themes.

Scheduled as a sequel to the critically acclaimed Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), the movie premiered in the United States on June 2 and was initially slated for release in the Gulf region on June 22.

However, Vox Cinemas, a subsidiary of retail conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim, provided no explanation for the decision when responding to inquiries via Facebook Messenger. Majid Al Futtaim, the parent company, has yet to comment on the matter.

Major cinema chains in Middle East Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain, including Vox, Novo and Reel cinemas, have also refrained from listing the film in their "coming soon" sections on their respective websites, Reuters reported.

One aspect of the film that has sparked online debate revolves around the character Gwen Stacy, with discussions speculating whether she is portrayed as transgender. Notably, a trailer scene displays a sign in the background stating "protect trans kids".

However, it remains unclear if this specific reason prompted the withdrawal of the movie in the UAE and other Gulf countries.

In an earlier Twitter statement, the UAE Media Council affirmed that it would not permit the dissemination or publication of content conflicting with the country's values, principles, and media content standards.

While the council did not provide further details or mention any specific content, it is essential to note that the Middle East, known for its socially-conservative nature, regards deviations from traditional sexual norms as taboo and, in many cases, even as criminal offences, according to Reuters.

Local reactions to the decision have been mixed. Abdullah Al-Oufi, a Saudi citizen, expressed support for the directive, emphasising the need to avoid normalising non-traditional gender identities. On the other hand, Sami al-Shoraim, a young Saudi resident, acknowledged the sovereign decision while highlighting the importance of movies respecting the values of their viewers.

As of now, Vox Cinemas, which operates across the Gulf region, has not made tickets available for purchase on its websites for the affected countries. Requests for comments from relevant government bodies, including those in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have yet to receive a response. The Kuwaiti Ministry of Information confirmed that it had not yet received the film for consideration.

(With Reuters inputs)
Cash-strapped Vodafone Idea has reportedly purged about 25,000 of its retail partners across the country in a cost-cutting initiative. According to a report by the Economic Times, Vi has removed the partners from the muti-brand retailer segment, with the company stopping payment of a commission.

VIL has continued to lose its subscribers to rival brands Reliance Jio Infocomm and Bharti Airtel in the recent year. VIL, therefore, was adding new retailers so that its customer acquisition do not suffer.

ET in its report said Vodafone Idea has a pan-India network of 4-5 lakh retail touch points, and the majority of them are multi-brand retailers, offering services for all telcos. The business daily said many of the axed retailers were giving negative returns to Vi in terms of customer acquisition costs.

Vodafone Idea's consolidated loss narrowed to 6,418.9 crore in the March quarter.

Revenue from operations increased about 3% to 10,531.9 crore during the quarter from 10,239.5 crore in the year-ago period.

VIL recorded the first-ever annual growth in revenue from operations post-merger. The company's consolidated revenue from operations grew 9.5% to 42,177.2 crore from 38,515.5 crore a year ago.

The growth in the annual revenue was supported by tariff hikes, improving subscriber mix, and 4G subscriber additions, the company said.

According to TRAI data, Vodafone Idea lost 12.12 lakh wireless users in March. The company's mobile subscriber base shrunk to 23.67 crore in March, from 23.79 crore in the previous month.

Separately, Vodafone Idea is reportedly proposing a significant equity infusion of 14,000 crore as part of its business revival plan. The plan includes contributions from the company's existing promoters, Aditya Birla Group (ABG) and Vodafone Group Plc.

ABG and Vodafone Group will invest 2,000 crore as fresh equity, with the promoters already having invested 5,000 crore since the government's telecom revival package in September 2021.
PHILADELPHIA  A subway security guard was shot and wounded on a Philadelphia-area train Thursday afternoon, transit officials said.

The guard was shot about 3:10 p.m. Thursday while on board a Market-Frankford Line train at the Arrott Transportation Center in northeast Philadelphia, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority spokesperson Andrew Busch said.

The guard was hospitalized Thursday evening and no other details about the circumstances surrounding the shooting are available yet, Busch said. It was not known whether there were any witnesses to the shooting.

The man who was shot is an employee of Scotlandyard Security Services, which provides security personnel who work in outreach roles for the transportation authority, Busch said.

Police arrest man accused of Philadelphia subway rape Police did not release many details of the assault, which came about six months after a much-publicized rape on a commuter train in October while other passengers were present.

The guard, who is 27, has not been publicly identified, KWY newsradio reported. SEPTA in 2022 deployed over 80 of the guards, called outreach specialists, to help reinforce the rules of riding on the trains and to contact SEPTA police when needed. They do not have weapons.

The security guards were hired after a series of sexual assaults at subway stations or on trains in recent years. From October 2021 to April 2022, three sexual assaults were reported on a Philadelphia-area commuter train or train platform.
The Nifty FMCG index rose for the fourth consecutive session on Friday, reaching its all-time high for the third straight day due to an uptick in buying in heavyweight stocks and an overall favourable market. At 13:08 IST, Nifty FMCG index was trading 0.28% high at 52,194.05 levels.

Analysts claim that the previous record high level was 51,718 on June 8 and that it was surpassed on June 14. From there, it follows that today is the third straight trading session in which the index has reached a record high.

Ruchit Jain, Lead Research Analyst at 5paisa, said that the market is bullish overall and that the major heavyweights are doing well. Stocks like ITC and Britannia have all recently seen a rise in buying activity. This is the main cause of the Nifty FMCG's continued upward movement.

Because the momentum indicators are technically in the over-bought zone, Jain believes that the index may have some consolidation, but this would be a time-wise correction, so traders should expect this in the near future. However, considering that some of the major weights' overall strength is pretty good, more price-wise reductions are doubtful. The trend would therefore continue to be good, but there might be timewise corrections in between.

Britannia Industries Ltd and Colgate Palmolive India Ltd are two stocks that Ruchit Jain has suggested as top picks from this sector. Even ITC Ltd is recommended but 'buy and dip' approach should be kept.

Also Read: Britannia Industries share price hits 52-week high, up 47% in last one year; is it still a buy?

Emami Ltd, United Breweries Ltd, and ITC Ltd contributed positively to the index, which increased 1%4%; Godrej Consumer Products Ltd, Varun Beverages Ltd, and Tata Consumer Ltd contributed negatively, with declines of 0.8%2% each.

According to Rajesh Bhosale - Equity Technical and Derivative Analyst, Angel One, Tata Consumer, Marico, and Hindustan Unilever are showing strong positive momentum and recommended as buy.

FMCG has been an outperformer and after last week's price dip, the prices are back in momentum this week, it indicates every dip getting bought into. Traders and investors should continue with this setup and prefer using dip as an opportunity 51,700 is the immediate support whereas 53,300 is resistance," added Bhosale.

EMAMI More Information

VARUN BEVERAGES More Information

BRITANNIA INDUSTRIES More Information

COLGATE PALMOLIVE INDIA More Information

GODREJ CONSUMER PRODUCTS More Information

UNITED BREWERIES More Information

Know your inner investor Do you have the nerves of steel or do you get insomniac over your investments? Lets define your investment approach. Take the test
To build or not to build India GPT? Geopolitics will provide the answer As I set out to answer that question, I believe its very important to provide some context since most of the confusion over this topic has arisen from statements that were either misinterpreted or taken out of context. Heres the story so far. What Ashwini Vaishnaw hinted On 27 March, Union minister for electronics and information technology Ashwini Vaishnaw hinted at a big announcement regarding Indias own version of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, similar to ChatGPT. Wait for a few weeks. There will be a big announcement, he said while speaking at the India Global Forum Annual Summit. It was a statement that generated both excitement and some scepticism too. Excitement because India has proven technical skills and has built the exemplary India stack, comprising the Aadhar-enabled payment system (AEPS), Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), and Account Aggregator (AA), to name a few applications. They have not only transformed the country but have also attracted attention from governments worldwide, some of whom are implementing a few such apps. But theres scepticism, too, since India does not have a semiconductor fab that can build chips (graphic processing units, or GPUs, are now 4 nm or even 2 nm, whereas India is keen on building a 28-40 nm semiconductor fab) that are need to power a large language model (LLM) that can compete with OpenAIs AI-powered chatbot called ChatGPT. Of course, one can buy the processors (GPUs, CPUs, or even tensor processing units) and use the cloud to defray costs, but that will not be a full-fledged India-built LLM-powered chatbot (whatever its name). Further, Indias experiment with building its mobile operating system has not been all that good. BharOS has been dismissed as a forked Android, which implies that the startup has leveraged the Android Open Source Project (ASOP) to develop its own OS. To be sure, Android itself is a Linux-based mobile OS. And an Android fork, which is a legally-modified version of Android built on Googles AOSP, allows any handset maker or developer to build a custom version of Android without having to pay any license fee to Google or pre-installing any of its apps. That said, if India decides to build a mobile OS from scratch, it can definitely do so but is the effort worth it? Google benefits enormously from a global scale in terms of investment in Android development, developing, testing, and supporting it for thousands of handset models. Hence, it would be very challenging to develop an Indian alternative to Android and have it succeed purely on merit and market forces. Why Sam Altam said it is hopeless, and how some CEOs reacted OpenAIs Sam Altam, who was in India this month as part of his global tour to advocate the regulation of Generative AI and meet the governments of countries and network with local businesses, added fuel to the fire by saying that Indias attempt to develop an AI tool like ChatGPT is hopeless. He made these remarks during an event organized by The Economic Times in India, where he was asked a question by Rajan Anandan, managing director at Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India & SEA) and former head of Google India. Anandan and CEO of Tech Mahindra, C.P. Gurnani, countered by expressing their determination to compete with OpenAI in the field of AI. Anandan tweeted: Thank you @sama for the clear answer. As you said, it is hopeless, but you will try anyway. Five thousand years of Indian entrepreneurship have shown us that we should never underestimate the Indian entrepreneur. We do intend to try  @sama @OpenAI" Sam Altman clarified this (replying to Gurnani and referring to Anandans tweet) is really taken out of context! The question was about competing with us with $10 million (as opposed to $100 million), which I really do think is not going to work. But I still said try! However, I think its the wrong question . The right question, he added in the Twitter thread, is what a startup can do thats never been done before, that will contribute a new thing to the world. I have no doubt that indian startups can and will do that! and no one but the builders can answer that question. You can read more about this here. What Rajeev Chandrasekhar believes At the Mint Digital Innovation Summit held in Bengaluru on 9 June, I asked the Minister of State (MoS), Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, to share his thoughts on India building a ChatGPT-like version. He clarified that the government of India is not going to specifically say which applications they intend to develop. Im pretty emphatic that there should be no misunderstanding that the government of India will say we will do a ChatGPT equivalent (referring to reports about the country planning an IndiaGPT), he added (You can view all the tracks at). Chandrasekhar added, however, that Indian startups and Indian researchers would get curated access to Indian datasets, and ...we will not allow that to foreign companies. We are very clear on that. Rather, the startups accessing the Indian datasets would be allowed to have partnerships with foreign companies and research and innovate in... areas that we are focused on... He concluded: Language translation, healthcare and governance are three very focused areas that are near term in our goals of creating AI models and AI capabilities. But governments can change their mind. Its their prerogative. So, lets explore how easy or hard it is to build an LLM-powered ChatGPT-like chatbot. And how expensive is it to build a ChatGPT-like version that is built using a foundational model? Cost of building and running costs of a ChatGPT-like version A determined India can certainly build a ChatGPT-like version based on a foundational model that it builds from scratch. But let us understand the process that is involved. To begin with, Generative AI, as the name suggests, can generate new content -- images, text, sounds, etc.-- based on the data it has been trained on. It typically involves using deep learning (DL) algorithms, such as generative adversarial networks (GANs), variational autoencoders (VAEs), and transformers, to produce new content that resembles the training data. Generative AI models are trained on large datasets, implying that a generative AI model trained on images of faces could generate new, original faces that are similar in style to the faces it has seen during training. Generative AI itself is typically built using foundation models (FMs) that are DL models trained on unstructured, unlabeled data which can be used for specific tasks by fine-tuning them. Examples of foundational models include Transformers, BERT, RoBERTa, and variants of GPT like GPT, GPT-2, GPT-3, GPT-3.5, and GPT-4. These are also loosely referred to as LLMs. Picture courtesy of Scribbledata LLMs like generative pre-trained (GPT) can complete sentences, translate a foreign language, summarize information from multiple sources, and generate a vast range of content with minimal training. ChatGPT, for instance, is a GPT-3.5 series model. And they have millions and billions of parameters (the more parameters, the more effective the model). Googles BERT, for instance, was trained with 340 million parameters, while GPT-3 has 175 billion parameters. Megatron-Turing NLG, a model released in 2022 by Nvidia and Microsoft, is trained with 530 billion parameters. Googles Pathways Language Model (PaLM) comprises 540 billion parameters, while Google Brains open-sourced Switch Transformer natural language processing (NLP) AI model scales up to 1.6 trillion parameters. GPT-4 was expected to significantly outperform GPT-3 with its rumoured 100 trillion parameters, but Altman is yet to publicly disclose the number of parameters (and hes unlikely to do so). The larger the LLM, the more computing power it needs. Estimates peg the hardware costs of running GPT-3 at somewhere between $100,000 and $150,000, excluding other costs such as electricity, cooling, backup, etc. And if you think that these costs would be lower if companies use cloud computing, Elliot Turner says, The cost to train this 175 billion parameter language model (GPT-3) appears to be staggering: Nearly $12 million in compute based on public cloud GPU/TPU cost models (200x the price of GPT-2). According to semiconductor research and consulting firm SemiAnalysis LLC., inference costs far exceed training costs when deploying a model at any reasonable scale. Inference implies concluding new data. For instance, a developer or data scientist could provide a trained machine learning (ML) model with some photos of cars it has never seen before to discover what it can infer from what it has already learned. As for ChatGPT, when it was launched, an associate professor at Maryland University, Tom Goldstein, tweeted: I estimate the cost of running ChatGPT is $100K per day or $3M per month. This is a back-of-the-envelope calculation. I assume nodes are always in use with a batch size of 1. In reality, they probably batch during high volume but have GPUs sitting fallow during low volume. Now even if we presume that ChatGPT is being hosted on Microsofts Azure cloud so that OpenAI does not have to invest in servers, we still have to account for the fact that ChatGPT has more than 100 million users. In OpenAIs case, though, charging ChatGPT users $20 per month (and $42 for Pro) may just about defray the costs. After all, its a volume game. The costs simply escalate when ChatGPT gets integrated with a search engine, but it does add to Googles bottom line, too, with a search engine + thought engine combination. That said, there are LLMs such as the Large Language Model Meta AI (LLaMa) from Meta (formerly Facebook) that require far less computing power and resources to test new approaches, validate others work, and explore new use cases, according to Meta. Meta is making LLaMA available in several sizes (7B, 13B, 33B, and 65B parameters) and also sharing a LLaMA model card that details how we built the model in keeping with our approach to Responsible AI practices. Geopolitics will prevail How many countries have their own foundational models or LLMs? The US and China jointly account for more than 80% of all global LLMs, with the US leading the race for now. China (which has banned the use of ChatGPT) launched 79 LLMs over the past three years with over 1 billion parameters each, according to a report produced by research institutes under the countrys Ministry of Science and Technology. In 2020, Chinese organizations released two LLMs compared with 11 in the US but the following year, both countries released 30 LLMs each. In 2022, 37 LLMs were released in the US, ahead of Chinas 28. But in 2023, China has taken the lead with 19 LLMs while the US had 18, according to a Reuters report. Russia, which also banned the use of ChatGPT, has a chatbot called Gigachat which was released by Russian banking institution Sberbank. Theres pressure on the UK (which trails the US and China to rank third on the global AI index), too, to develop its own LLM. Geopolitics, as we see, will play a crucial role in developing local LLMs or foundational models. In this context, I believe India should develop its own foundational model that can take advantage of the huge, localized datasets it has access to. Picture courtesy of India e-Conomy Report With CEOs batting for a local LLM, its time to strike when the iron is hot. An India GPT combined with some search engine capabilities can help the countrys 1.4 billion citizens access localized information--with all its strengths and, of course, biases too that will need to be ironed out with time--in Indian languages. It will require a lot of time, effort, money and computing power. But if the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) could show the world how to develop low-cost satellites, and we could build our own supercomputers and now are building a quantum computer too, our researchers do have the capability to develop localized LLMs at a reasonable cost. We must believe in their capabilities.
Gurugram Zonal Unit of the Directorate General of GST Intelligence unearthed a major fraud involving 461 shell and fake entities that were passing on fraudulent Input Tax Credit (ITC) of 863 crore after a search operation.

Finance Ministry while informing about the fraud in a press release on Thursday said, This racket of passing on of fraudulent ITC through fake shell entities was detected, when based on intelligence a search was carried out at a secret office being operated for this purpose."

"Huge number of forged/ morphed/ fake soft copies of documents like rent agreements, electricity bills, aadhar card, driving license, PAN card, etc. were detected in the laptops resumed from this secret office, which were used to create and operate their fake entities" the release by Finance ministry added

The Ministry further explained that the forensic examination of the laptops and other devices that were seized from this secret office led the authorities to detect the ITC fraud of 863 crore and make the arrest of two key operatives involved. It also informed that the initial investigation suggests that fraudulent ITC credit has

led to the eventual detection of ITC fraud to the tune of Rs. 863 crore involving fake 461 entities and the arrest of two key operatives. Initial investigations indicate that the fraudulent ITC credit has eventually travelled to the evasion-prone metal/iron & steel sector.

In a similar case of GST fraud, Gautam Budh Nagar police on June 1 busted a gang for orchestrating a fraudulent scheme of around 10,000 crore. The operation involved registering thousands of companies from stolen or fake identities and using them to generate e-way bills and receive input tax credit from the government. Police had arrested unearthed 2,660 fake companies and arrested eight suspects during the course of the investigation.
2 min read

PM Modi will lead a yoga session at the United Nations Headquarters on 21 June to commemorate the International Day of Yoga

Ahead of the International Yoga, which is celebrated worldwide on 21 Jne, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished that the ancient Indian art unites the world to further good and wellness. This year, PM narednra Modi will lead a yoga session at the UNited Nations Headquarters on 21 June. "I am looking forward to participating in the 9th International Day of Yoga celebrations @UN with Prime Minister @NarendraModi at the UNHQ North Lawn next week,"President of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly Csaba Korosi said in a tweet. PM Modi replied to Korosi and wrote, "Looking forward to seeing you at the International Day of Yoga celebrations at the UNHQ. Your participation makes the programme even more special". In another tweet, Modi shared a set of videos, titled 'Yoga with Modi', depicting the various 'Asanas'. "Yoga holds profound benefits for both body and mind, fostering strength, flexibility, and tranquillity. Let us make Yoga a part of our lives and further wellness as well as peace. Sharing a set of videos depicting the various Asanas," he said.

Notably, the International Yoga Day is celebrated after PM Modi in 2015 proposed from the UN General Assembly podium to mark this day as an annual commemoration.

The draft UNGA resolution establishing the International Day of Yoga was proposed by India and endorsed by a record 175 member states.

The proposal was first introduced by Prime Minister Modi in his address during the opening of the 69th session of the General Assembly, in which he said: Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action ... a holistic approach (that) is valuable to our health and our well-being. Yoga is not just about exercise; it is a way to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and nature."

The resolution notes the importance of individuals and populations making healthier choices and following lifestyle patterns that foster good health."

PM Modi will for the first time be at the UN Headquarters to lead the yoga session in a historic commemoration of the day.

The first International Day of Yoga was commemorated in 2015 and has since then been marked with several sessions and events highlighting the benefits of it at the UN, Times Square and iconic locations across the world.

Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. They will host Modi at a state dinner on June 22.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received complete details of Cyclone Biparjoy via a telephonic conversation with Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel on Thursday. He also expressed concerns about the safety of wild animals that are living in the Gir Forest.

Informing about the conversation with PM Modi, CM Bhupendra Patel wrote on Twitter, Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendrabhai Modi received complete details of the Biparjoy cyclone situation over Gujarat through a telephonic conversation. He also expressed concern for the safety of wild animals including lions of Gir Forest and questioned the care arrangements for them"

Also Read: Cyclone Biparjoy LIVE

Bhupendra Patel also informed on Twitter about chairing a meeting at the State Emergency Operations Centre to get the current status of Cyclone Biparjoy. The Chief Minister informed that he is in constant touch with coastal district administration to get the details on disaster management and give necessary directions.

Indian Meteorological Department said on Thursday that Cyclone Biparjoy had made landfall in the Saurashtra and Kutch region of Gujarat and the adjoining coasts of Pakistan and would continue with wind speeds likely to be in the range of 115 and 125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph,

The weather department has also predicted heavy to extremely heavy rainfall over north Gujarat and adjoining areas in south Rajasthan on Friday. There is also a forecast for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in southeast Rajasthan and adjoining areas of north Gujarat on Saturday.

IMD also informed that the intensity of the cyclone reduced from 'very severe' category to 'severe' after the storm made landfall in Gujarat on Thursday. It is now expected to weaken further by Friday morning and move into a 'depression' in the subsequent evening

The Bhupendra Patel-led government in Gujarat has evacuated close to 100,000 people in eight cyclone-prone districts to safer areas.
US-based Micron Technology is closing in on a massive investment agreement for India. The deal - ammounting to at least $1 billion - could be announced next week during Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's state visit. While an official confirmation is yet to come reports suggested that the committment could go up to $2 billion.

A Bloomberg cited people with with knowledge of the matter to say that the company was close to an agreement toward setting up a semiconductor packaging factory in India. The amount of money committed may ultimately go up to $2 billion. An announcement could be made as soon as when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the US next week.

The details are however subject to change as discussions are still in progress and there is no guarantee about the finalised agreement.

Earlier in the day, the US-based company had announced plans to invest more than $600 million in a packing and testing factory in northern China. The development came less than a month after Beijing banned its chips from critical infrastructure projects.

The deal with India - apart from marking a major win for the goverment's Make in India initiative - would also offer the US an opportunity to strengthen key supply chains outside of China.

Modi starts his first formal state visit June 21, with President Joe Biden hosting him for a banquet the following day. The Indian leader will also address the US Congress. Modi has pledged $10 billion to woo chipmakers to India, promising his administration will bear half the cost of setting up all semiconductor sites.

(with inputs from agencies)
Beijing resident Hu Yongwei has spent approximately $31,000 ( 25 lakh) in total. He purchased his 15th property in Hebi for 18,000 yuan ( 2 lakh). The region has experienced a significant decline in property prices over the past two years.

The flats were sold very cheaply, like cabbage," Reuters quoted Hu as saying.

Real estate agents have observed a growing trend of buyers from outside these locations acquiring low-cost apartments, with cities like Huainan, Rushan, and Gejiu being particularly popular.

Buyers with the financial means to re-enter the market have found it difficult to resist the allure of second-hand apartments at rock-bottom prices in these smaller cities. Hu, for instance, secured one of his apartments in Hebi for a remarkably low price of 1,000 yuan ( 11,500), excluding taxes and fees.

According to Anjuke, one of China's largest real estate platforms, prices in some areas of the city have fallen by 27% from their peak in 2021.

While these purchases in smaller cities do not have a significant impact on China's vast real estate market, they do indicate a glimmer of hope in a sector that has been grappling with a downturn and a sluggish overall economy.

The transactions occur against a backdrop of increasing challenges for China's property market. Recent data reveals a slowdown in the growth of new home prices in May, as well as a sharp decline in property investment, which experienced its fastest drop in over two decades.

Real estate agents in China have noted that many buyers in these small cities are not local residents, according to the publication. They encompass speculators who have no intention of residing in the purchased apartments, as well as individuals seeking affordable retirement options or a cost-effective place to live.

The allure of lower living costs in these areas has attracted buyers, especially young people who aim to acquire affordable housing and lead more frugal lives.

Despite the growing interest in low-cost flats in smaller Chinese cities, experts remain cautious about drawing optimistic conclusions. The broader economic indicators suggest that China's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is still challenging.

Weak consumer sentiment, low domestic demand, and high youth unemployment rates raise concerns about future income stability and dampen overall confidence in the market.

(With Reuters inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sounak Mukhopadhyay Sounak Mukhopadhyay, who also goes by the name Sounak Mukherjee, has been producing digital news since 2012. He's worked for the International Business Times, The Inquisitr, and Moneycontrol in the past. He's also contributed to Free Press Journal and TheRichest with feature articles. He covers news for a wide range of subjects including business, finance, economy, politics and social media. Before working with digital news publications, he worked as a freelance content writer. Read more from this author
A top Indian American Congressman has said India is much better suited than China to play a leading role in resolving the war in Ukraine because of the country's old relationship with Moscow.

The statement was made by Congressman Ami Bera who said that he would love to see the Indian administration use its full diplomatic capacities to help end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

He said he was not sure if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden will discuss the conflict in Ukraine in their meeting in the Oval Office next week.

While speaking to news agency PTI, Bera said, I am not sure (talks on this issue) will happen, but I certainly think India can play a leading role in helping us resolve the Russia-Ukraine crisis. India obviously has an old relationship with Russia."

The Prime Minister can have conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin that we're not going to be able to have. I think it's in everyone's interest to see some resolution to this conflict. So, you see (Chinese President) Xi Jinping trying to negotiate some sort of ceasefire or resolution. I actually think India is much better suited for this role, because of the relationship that they have with Vladimir Putin," Bera said.

Bera, who is in his sixth consecutive term, is the senior most and the longest serving Indian American Congressman in the House of Representatives.

He is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Select Committee on Intelligence.

Bera also spoke about PM Modi visit to the US and meeting with President Biden. He added that during the White House meeting next week, he said Biden and Modi will also talk about economic partnerships.

There'll be some conversations around trade relations. I think they'll talk about supply chains. India can be a critical supplier of raw ingredients. They certainly have a mature pharmaceutical sector, but also on the technology side," he said.

Bera further added that there will be discussion around geopolitical security which would involve on what is happening on India's northern border with China and those border incursions.

It will also be in maritime space. I think there'll be conversations about the defence relationship, some of the opportunities for co-production," Bera said.

Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. They will host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. The visit also includes an address to the Joint Session of the Congress on June 22.

Bera said Modi's state visit to the US is a recognition of the strength of the India-US relationship. The fact that he's invited by a Democratic President for a State Visit and by a Republican Speaker of the House for a joint session of Congress emphasises the bipartisan nature of the US-India relationship; how Congress and the administration see the importance of this relationship," he said.

(The address to the joint session of the Congress) gives Prime Minister Modi an opportunity to lay out how India is viewing the relationship to members of Congress; those important opportunities both in the economic space and supply chain, but also in regional security in Asia."

"I think it's a platform that the prime minister can use to emphasise the importance of the relationship from the Indian side," Bera said.

He also said that US-India relationship could be the most important partnership of the 21st century. Coming out of the pandemic, the opportunity for stronger partnerships in vaccine development in the pharmaceutical space, defence relationship has been very strong.

"I anticipate you'll see some announcements in the defence space that come out of the State Visit. So, I think President Biden has been a leader in this space and continues to be," Bera said.

The pandemic was a challenge for the US and India, he said, asserting that Modi and Biden should look at opportunities around supply chains, co-production technologies and how to work together on artificial intelligence.

Under President Biden, the Quad coalition has been elevated to the leaders level, he said.

That has placed an emphasis. Often people will say, this is about China, and certainly, China looms large in the conversation. But it's about more than that. It's about economic cooperation.

"It's about working together as leading democracies. It's about maritime security and freedom of navigation. I think you will continue to see the Quad take on more and more importance," he said.

Bera also said the diaspora is starting to play a role in moving the US-India relationship into a positive direction.

Meanwhile, earlier in the month, the Pentagon had committed an additional $2.1 billion in long-term arms package to the country, a Bloomberg report said. The fresh package will involve providing the war hit nation with air defense systems, artillery munitions, hand-launched drones and laser-guided rockets. The statement from the Pentagon said that the funds will be used to facilitate the purchase of Hawk launchers and missiles, two types of advanced Patriot air-defense missiles and Puma reconnaissance drones as well as an unspecified number of 105mm and 203mm artillery rounds.

(With inputs from PTI)
Ukraine's much-anticipated counter-offensive is still in its early days and the efficacy of the operation will be tested in the coming days. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said that losing the counter-offensive could mean losing the war for Russia. Meanwhile, Russians are planning to conduct operations in the occupied Ukrainian territory in a bid to signal normalcy in the region.

While speaking about the counter-offensive in an interview with NBC News, Volodymyr Zelenskiy saidI cannot give you all the details. There are both offensive and defensive actions. Things look not bad. I would say it is generally positive but it's difficult. Our heroic people, our troops who are now at the front of the frontline are facing very tough resistance and you understand why."

Also Read: Ukrainian forces retake seven villages in early counteroffensive stages

"Because for Russia to lose this campaign to Ukraine, I would say, actually means losing the war." the Ukrainian President added

According to Reuters, Ukrainian forces have advanced several kilometres along the Mokry Yali River, capturing territory that Russia has held since the early days of the invasion. The report added that bodies of Russian solider were lying in the streets of depopulated villages while Ukrainian troops claimed to kill 50 of their counterparts and capture 43 more.

The Ukrainian military also conducted its first full media briefing ever since the offensive began. Brigadier-General Oleksii Hromov claimed to have captured at least seven settlements and around 100 square kilometres of territory.

"We are ready to continue fighting to liberate our territory even with our bare hands," Hromov proclaimed

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that the Ukrainian army is suffering 10 times more casualties than his forces while insisting that Moscow's goals remain unchanged.

In an effort to convey that the situation is stable, Moscow is planning to conduct elections in the territory it occupied in Ukraine. Russia election chief Ella Pamfilova recently said that both the Defence Ministry and Federal Security Service had concluded that it would be safe to conduct elections in September.

Moreover, African countries are sending a delegation to mediate the conflict between the two neighbours. The delegation includes Senegal's President Macky Sall, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Egypt's prime minister Mostafa Madbouly among others.

The African delegation will travel to Ukraine on Friday and subsequently travel to Russia the next day. The Reuters report claims that the delegation could suggest a series of confidence building measures during their initial interactions.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping who met Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates today said China had always placed its hopes in the American people after the Microsoft co-founder's foundation pledged $50 million to help Chinese efforts to battle disease. He added that the foundation of China-US relations lies with the people, and hopes for an enduring friendship, state media has reported.

"You are the first American friend I have met in Beijing this year," Xi told Gates in Beijing, according to the state-run People's Daily. "We have always placed our hopes on the American people, and hoped for continued friendship between the peoples of the two countries," Xi added.

He further said, "You are someone who has done a lot of good things in your participation in China's development work, and you are our old friend."

Gates in turn said that he was honoured to have this chance to meet, according to a recording of the meeting shared by state broadcaster CCTV as reported by AFP.

We've always had great conversations and we'll have a lot of important topics to discuss today. I was very disappointed I couldn't come during these last four years, and so it's very exciting to be back," he said.

A state media readout also quoted Gates as praising China's efforts in "tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, setting a good example for the world".

The meeting comes days after an announcement by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on Thursday said that it would give $50 million to support Chinese efforts to fight malaria and tuberculosis. The foundation announced it would renew a collaboration with the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI) -- a Beijing-based group set up by Gates, the Beijing municipal government and Tsinghua University.

The $50 million will support "efforts to improve health outcomes worldwide through lifesaving therapies for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, which disproportionately affect the world's poorest", the Gates Foundation said in a statement. On Thursday, Gates during a speech at GHDDI hailed China's efforts in eradicating malaria and poverty reduction. "China has made significant gains reducing poverty and improving health outcomes within China," Gates said. "I'm hopeful China can play an even bigger role in addressing the current challenges, particularly those facing African countries."

This is Gates' first to China in four years. One of the world's richest men, Gates, is among a number of Western business leaders to visit China since the country ended strict Covid controls that largely closed it off from the world for almost three years.

Gates last visited China in 2019, where he met with first lady Peng Liyuan to discuss his foundation's work in HIV/AIDS prevention. The last reported meeting between Xi and Gates was in 2015, when they met on the sidelines of the Boao forum in Hainan province.

In early 2020, Xi wrote a letter to Gates thanking him and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for pledging assistance to China including $5 million for the country's fight against COVID-19.

Meawhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is planning to travel to China next week as the Biden administration pushes to improve ties that hit a new low in February after a Chinese surveillance balloon was shot down over US airspace.

U.S. officials said that Blinken expects to be in Beijing on June 18 for meetings with senior Chinese officials, including with Foreign Minister Qin Gang and possibly President Xi Jinping. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because neither the State Department nor the Chinese foreign ministry has yet confirmed the trip.

The visit, which was agreed between Xi and President Joe Biden last year at a meeting in Bali, had been initially planned for February but was postponed after the spy balloon incident

(With inputs from agencies)
In partnership with the Arcadia Valley Chamber of Commerce, Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site will host the second Acadia Valley Community Picnic from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 24.

This event is a way for the community to come together and kick off the summer with games, food and kids activities, as well as horseshoe and beanbag-toss tournaments for adults and kids.

This years theme, "Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales," will allow for several theme-related fun fantasy activities including arts, crafts and opportunities to dress up for pictures or put on a play.

Food items will be available for purchase, but general admission is free. All proceeds from food sales and event vendors and food trucks will go toward the annual fireworks display, which the chamber of commerce holds on the historic site grounds every Fourth of July.

For more information about the picnic, contact the historic site museum at 573-546-3454 and speak to Brick or Bryan. The Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site is located at 118 E. Maple in Pilot Knob.

For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
The state of West Bengal is witnessing ongoing violence over filing of nominations for Panchayat elections. Governor CV Ananda Bose on Thursday said that "effective and corrective" action will be taken against those responsible.

Incidents of violence in Bengal

Tragic incidents of violence unfolded on Thursday, the final day for filing nominations for the upcoming panchayat polls in West Bengal. In Bhangar, South 24-Parganas, a prospective candidate and a political worker were shot dead, while in Murshidabad, a campaigner lost his life.

One of the victims, Mahiuddin Molla, was killed around 3pm while en route to the Bhangar II block office under police escort. He was filing nomination papers as a candidate from the Indian Secular Front (ISF).

At around 1:30 pm, a clash between political opponents near the same block office where the nomination filing was taking place resulted in the alleged shooting and death of Trinamul Congress supporter Rashid Molla.

Later, at approximately 9 pm, Trinamul leader Mozammel Sheikh was brutally attacked in Nabagram, Murshidabad, while he was en route to campaign for a party candidate. He was first shot and then targeted with explosive devices. In response to this tragic incident, Trinamul Congress has called for a bandh (strike) in Nabagram on Friday.

The final day of filing nominations witnessed continued clashes across various parts of the state, including an outbreak of violence at the Block Development Office in Birbhum's Ahmadpur. Incidents of bomb hurling were also reported in the area, leading to police intervention using tear gas shells to restore order. However, no casualties have been reported in the incident.

West Bengal Governor, CV Ananda Bose' stance on violence

He said while speaking to ANI, No words, only action. Wait and watch. You will see effective action, concrete action. That is all I can say now."

Expressing his shock at the increasing death toll, Governor Bose emphasised that victory in elections should be determined by votes, not by the count of dead bodies. He highlighted that when the media is under attack, it signifies an attack on democracy, the common man, the Constitution, and the new generation.

Governor Bose assured that violence will be eradicated from the state and that those responsible will be held accountable. No one, regardless of their stature, will be allowed to take the law into their own hands. Bengal is committed to upholding the rights of its citizens and ensuring freedom and peace during the local elections. Miscreants and individuals who engage in muscle power will face legal consequences.

The Governor urged all political parties and the people of Bengal to unite and defend democracy. He called for collective effort to counter disruptive forces and maintain the dignity of the common man, the sanctity of free and fair elections, and to foster an era of peace.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's stance on violence

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised the opposition parties, accusing them of instigating violence in an attempt to disrupt the electoral process and tarnish the state's image. She vowed that the people would respond firmly to any one-sided violence unleashed by the opposition.

Measures to ensure law and order

To maintain order, heavy security deployment has been implemented in the South 24 Parganas district. Tension prevailed in several areas, particularly in the Bhangar block, where clashes have occurred between supporters of the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Indian Secular Front led by Naushad Siddiqui.

In response to the escalating situation, the Calcutta High Court's division bench, led by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, directed the election commission to request the deployment of central paramilitary forces in all districts of the state within the next 48 hours, ahead of the upcoming panchayat elections in the state.

The Panchayat elections in West Bengal are scheduled to take place on July 8, with vote counting on July 11. These elections are anticipated to be a crucial test for both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Trinamool Congress, serving as a litmus test ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

(With inputs from ANI)
Alphabet Inc. is warning its staff about how they use chatbots, including its own Bard, four people familiar with the matter told Reuters. This also comes at same time when the company markets its the program around the world.

As per the report, the company has advised employees not to enter its confidential materials into AI chatbots, the people said and the company confirmed, citing long-standing policy on safeguarding information.

The chatbots, among them Bard and ChatGPT, are human-sounding programs that use so-called generative artificial intelligence to hold conversations with users and answer myriad prompts. The report said that added that human reviewers may read the chats, and researchers found that similar AI could reproduce the data it absorbed during training, creating a leak risk.

Moreover, some people also told Reuters that, Alphabet has also alerted its engineers to avoid direct use of computer code that chatbots can generate.

When Reuters asked for comment, the company said Bard can make undesired code suggestions, but it helps programmers nonetheless. Google also said it aimed to be transparent about the limitations of its technology.

The concerning factor is how Google wishes to avoid business harm from software it launched in competition with ChatGPT.

At stake in Googles race against ChatGPTs backers OpenAI and Microsoft Corp are billions of dollars of investment and still untold advertising and cloud revenue from new AI programs.

Googles caution also reflects whats becoming a security standard for corporations, namely to warn personnel about using publicly-available chat programs.

A growing number of businesses around the world have set up guardrails on AI chatbots, among them Samsung, Amazon.com and Deutsche Bank, the companies told Reuters. Apple, which did not return requests for comment, reportedly has as well.

According to a survey of nearly 12,000 respondents including from top US-based companies showed that some 43 percent of professionals were using ChatGPT or other AI tools as of January, often without telling their bosses.

Google told Reuters it has had detailed conversations with Ireland's Data Protection Commission and is addressing regulators' questions, after a Politico report Tuesday that the company was postponing Bard's EU launch this week pending more information about the chatbot's impact on privacy.

Worries about sensitive information

Such technology can draft emails, documents, even software itself, promising to vastly speed up tasks. Included in this content, however, can be misinformation, sensitive data or even copyrighted passages from a Harry Potter" novel.

As per the Google privacy notice updated on June 1 states: "Dont include confidential or sensitive information in your Bard conversations."

Some companies have developed software to address such concerns. For instance, Cloudflare, which defends websites against cyberattacks and offers other cloud services, is marketing a capability for businesses to tag and restrict some data from flowing externally.

Google and Microsoft also are offering conversational tools to business customers that will come with a higher price tag but refrain from absorbing data into public AI models. The default setting in Bard and ChatGPT is to save users' conversation history, which users can opt to delete.

It "makes sense" that companies would not want their staff to use public chatbots for work, said Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's consumer chief marketing officer.

"Companies are taking a duly conservative standpoint," said Mehdi, explaining how Microsoft's free Bing chatbot compares with its enterprise software. "There, our policies are much more strict."

Microsoft declined to comment on whether it has a blanket ban on staff entering confidential information into public AI programs, including its own, though a different executive there told Reuters he personally restricted his use.

Matthew Prince, CEO of Cloudflare, said that typing confidential matters into chatbots was like "turning a bunch of PhD students loose in all of your private records."

(With inputs from Reuters)
We've had nothing short of a frenetic week in terms of chronicling the activity across the spheres of business and finance.

Here's the best of the week gone by:

 Investors v. the market: Retail investors played with fire in May, choosing to trade in options, despite the markets regulator asking brokers to warn them about the risky nature of such instruments. Read Mint's markets writer Ram Sahgal's piece to know why this happened, how it can be dangerous to investors and why analysts say such trades are fraught with risk. At the same time, I wonder if it has anything to do with several fresh investors trying their hand at the markets. Ram reported later in the week that the record numbers of demat accounts were opened by investors in May, a 9-month high, as per market data.

 Uttar Pradesh v. Maharashtra: The populous northern state just beat its western counterpart at an unlikely metric  new equity investor sign-ups. Mint's Ram Sahgal and Sneha Shah speak to the founders of the popular trading platforms Zerodha and Upstox as well at top shots at IIFL Securities and Motilal Oswal Securities to explain how and why investors from the Hindi hinterlands are diving into participate in India's capital markets with such enthusiasm; an insightful report on how diversity may be seeping into market trading activity.

 Premji v. Delaporte: This week we took a deep dive into Wipro Ltd. Written by Mint's Bangalore-based correspondent, Varun Sood, the piece takes a long, hard look at what ails one of India's top 5 IT companies. At the heart of the narrative are two main characters and their relationship  Chairman Rishad Premji and chief executive Thierry Delaporte. Since the story broke, the IT major's share price hit a 1-month low of INR 381.30 on Friday. Wipro has announced a INR 12k Cr share buyback at a 12-14 percent premium.

 Monsoon v. El-Nino: Sayantan Bera, our rural economy writer, explains why the government's recent hike in the minimum support price (MSP) for farmers is a balance between political priorities before India's parliamentary elections next year and effects of the El-Nino. Bera's explainer dwells on how the Monsoon season and the agrarian economy may be threatened by the warming currents in the Pacific Ocean. Whether or not the El Nino is a major factor in this year's Monsoon in South Asia, there are several others that farmers need to consider for their survival. Mint's Kerala correspondent, Nidheesh MK, reports from Palakkad district on what agriculture entails in 21st century India -- labour issues, government subsidies, rising costs, the minimum support price, and more. However, the silver lining (if one could all it that), is that the salaries of younger Indians might enable farmers to hang on to traditional practices.

 India v. Asia: India is widely touted as the world's fastest growing major economy. Our partners at howIndialives.com presented 5 charts to compare India's performance over the past decade with that of its Asian peers  GDP growth, per capita income, exports, manufacturing and unemployment. Read this for a refined understanding of economic growth and social progress in a key region of the Global South.

 Education v. Jobs: We argue why engineers who gather interdisciplinary experience are good for our economy and talent pool in an editorial this week. This is in response to a recent remark from the director of IIT Madras, one of India's top engineering schools, who said engineers switching to other career paths is a waste of resources. Simultaneously, our careers correspondent, Devina Sengupta, reports that India's job market in smaller towns is cooling this year. The biggest decline in hiring coming from IT, outsourcing, manufacturing and consumer sectors. Devina followed up with an article about how candidates are diluting their resumes to cast a wider net in their job search, an indicator of just how tight the job market is at the moment. I'm afraid some engineers may not have as may options as heads of their colleges hoped they might.

 Grasim v. Berger and Asian Paints: A battle is brewing the usually calm paint sector. Aditya Birla Group-owned Grasim Industries is threatening to cause a kerfuffle by taking on incumbents Berger Paints and Asian Paints. For the first time in decades there are rumblings of an impending war in the INR 70,000 Cr paint industry. Mint's Sumant Banerji gives us a ring side view.

 SP Group v. Investors: The Shapoorji Pallonji (SP) Group is taking on onerous terms as it seeks to raise US $ 1.7 billion to meet its debt and other obligations. The move is being attempted to pay back loans and obtain working capital for its ports and real estate businesses, report Mint's Satish John and Varun Sood. SP Group, one of the largest shareholders in Tata Sons, is being led by Shapoor Mistry, who suffered two personal setbacks last year  he lost his father Pallonji Mistry and brother Cyrus in quick succession.

 SIA and AI: A strategic move may be adrift in the skies: Singapore Airlines is in talks to possibly increase its stake in Air India from 25 to 40 percent, reports Mint's Mihir Mishra in an exclusive story. The move might be useful for Singapore Airlines to bring its expertise to Tata Sons-owned Air India across its swathe of operations, raising its standard to compete domestically with Indigo and internationally with the likes of Emirates and Qatar Airways.

~~~

That's all for this week folks.

Please write to us with your thoughts, ideas and feedback. We would love to hear from you.

Thank you for your time and have a great weekend!

Nikhil Kanekal

Head of Subscriber Experience

nikhil.k@livemint.com
Washington State Park will celebrate the accomplishments of Civilian Conservation Corps Company 1743 with a series of events from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday.

CCC Bus Tours: Noon to 1 p.m. and 2 to 3 p.m. at Thunderbird Lodge - Join the parks team for a bus tour of the Civilian Conservation Corps structures in the park. Tickets for this tour are free but limited and must be reserved in advance. Reserve your seat at by visiting icampmo.com.

Company 1743's Quarry Hike: 4 p.m. at Campground - Park interpreters will lead a hike to an area of Company 1743s important resources, the quarry where workers accessed the stone.

CCC Company 1743 Program: 6 p.m. at Campground Amphitheater - Join park representatives for this informative program about the historic CCC Company 1743 and its many contributions to Washington State Park.

Washington State Park is located at 13041 State Highway 104 in De Soto. For more information, contact the park at 636-586-5768.

For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Community, Charity & Cause

By Chris Boyle Published: June 16 2023

LIBOR is proud to have had the opportunity to work with City Harvest in its fight against hunger, said Gina Marie Bettenhauser, LIBOR President.

Long Island Board of REALTORS (LIBOR) recently participated in the 2023 REALTOR Volunteer Days by volunteering with City Harvest, New York Citys largest food rescue organization. In partnership with the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), REALTORS throughout Long Island and Queens collaborated on the nationwide philanthropic initiative to make a difference in the lives of our neighbors in need and strengthen the communities we serve.

LIBOR REALTOR volunteers joined City Harvest at its Astoria Mobile Market on June 3, 2023, to assist with the food distribution of thousands of pounds of fresh produce to eligible market-goers. At days end, the team distributed 12,000 lbs. of food to nearly 400 families in the neighboring community. Through its Mobile Markets, City Harvest delivers fresh fruits and vegetables, free of charge, to thousands of New Yorkers each month.

In recognition of the national week of REALTOR volunteering, LIBOR also contributed $3,000 to City Harvest to support its mission to help feed the millions of New Yorkers who are struggling to make ends meet.

The 2023 REALTOR Volunteer Days united REALTOR associations, brokerages, and members at large nationwide in their efforts to launch community service projects in all 50 states. Created by NAR, the weeklong give-back event is part of the REALTORS Are Good Neighbors campaign and is meant to show how REALTORS, are good stewards of their communities, from volunteering at homeless shelters to organizing donation drives.

LIBOR is proud to have participated in the 2023 REALTOR Volunteer Days and to have had the opportunity to work with City Harvest in its fight against hunger, said Gina Marie Bettenhauser, LIBOR President. Giving back is part of who we are as both people and as professionals. We are committed to helping the communities we serve and supporting organizations, like City Harvest, that are making a difference in peoples daily lives.

About Long Island Board of REALTORS
The Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan claimed responsibility for todays suicide assault that targeted a Shiite mosque in the northwestern provincial capital of Peshawar. At least 20 people were reported killed in the deadly attack.

Four Taliban fighters armed with assault rifles and suicide vests entered the mosque during morning prayer, according to Dawn. Reports of what happened next are unclear. Pakistani officials claimed that one suicide bomber detonated his vest, one was killed by security forces, and another was wounded and subsequently captured. Witnesses told Dawn that one suicide bomber detonated, while three others opened fire on the crowd.

Initial reports indicate that at least 20 people were killed and more than 50 were wounded in the Taliban assault.

Muhammad Khurasani, the spokesman for the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, claimed credit for todays attack, and said it was executed to avenge the killing of Usman, according to a statement received by The Long War Journal. Khurasani is referring to Dr. Usman, the Taliban commander who led the assault and siege on Pakistans Army General Headquarters in October 2009. The Pakistani government executed Dr. Usman at the end of December.

This is a series that will continue to draw blood for blood, the Taliban spokesman said, warning of more severe attacks in the future.

In a separate email which included a photograph of the four-man suicide assault team, Khurasani described the attack as a blessed operation. Khurasani also sent a short video of the suicide bombers.

Todays attack is the second by jihadist groups that have targeted a Shiite mosque in the past two weeks. On Jan. 31, Jundullah, the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan splinter group that purportedly joined the Islamic State last November, attacked another mosque in Shikarpur, killing at least 49 people. (Note: Jundullah was not included in the Islamic States announcement that declared the establishment of Khorasan province; see LWJ report, Islamic State appoints leaders of Khorasan province, issues veiled threat to Afghan Taliban.)

Our target was the Shia mosque  They are our enemies, Jundullah spokesman Fahad Marwat told Dawn while claiming the operation.

The Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan and allied groups such as Jundullah have not let up their attacks against civilian targets since the former launched a suicide assault on a military high school in Peshawar on Dec. 16, 2014. More than 140 children and teachers were killed in the horrific attack.

While the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan fractured after a leadership dispute that emerged after the appointment of Mullah Fazlullah as the groups emir in November 2013, the jihadist group is still capable of plotting, organizing, and executing deadly operations such as todays assault in Peshawar. [See LWJ report, Discord dissolves Pakistani Taliban coalition.]

The suicide assault, or coordinated attack using one or more suicide bombers and an assault team, is a tactic frequently used by the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, the Afghan Taliban, the Haqqani Network, al Qaeda and its branches, allied groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Shabaab, and by the rival Islamic State. Suicide assaults are commonly executed by jihadist groups in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and Nigeria.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
Pakistani Taliban claims attack on Rawalpindi imambargah, three killed

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
The Afghan Taliban, with the help of Al Qaeda, is directly sheltering, supporting, and training the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP) despite claims to the contrary.

The Afghan Taliban and Al Qaedas support of the TTP is documented in the latest report on Afghanistan by the United Nations Security Councils Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, which was released on June 9.

The link between the Taliban and both Al Qaeda and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains strong and symbiotic, the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team noted. A range of terrorist groups have greater freedom of maneuver under the Taliban de facto authorities. They are making good use of this, and the threat of terrorism is rising in both Afghanistan and the region.

There are indications  that TTP is launching attacks into Pakistan with support from the Taliban, that groups of foreign terrorist fighters are projecting threat across Afghanistans borders, the report continued.

The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team also rebutted repeated Taliban claims that the group does not allow foreign terror groups to operate within Afghanistan and conducts attacks outside the country. [See: FDDs Long War Journal has refuted this false assertion numerous times]

Taliban harbouring and supporting TTP evidences a threat projecting beyond the borders of Afghanistan and negates the groups numerous assertions that Afghanistans soil will not be used for carrying out attacks against other countries, the report stated.

The relationship between the Afghan Taliban and TTP, like the Talibans relationship with Al Qaeda, is tightly bonded and unlikely to dissipate.

Additionally, The Taliban does not consider TTP a threat to Afghanistan, but rather as part of the emirate.

The Afghan Taliban-TTP ties have been forged in decades of war both inside Afghanistan and across the border in Pakistan. The leader of the TTP has sworn allegiance to the Talibans emir, and says his group is part of the Talibans Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

The TTP helped the Afghan Taliban battle the U.S. and the prior Afghan government, and is known to have a safe haven in eastern Afghanistan.

Al Qaeda, for its part, trained and supplied ideological guidance to TTP fighters in suicide bomber training camps in Kunar Province, according to one UN member state. Al Qaeda could not operate multiple training camps in Afghanistan without the express consent and support of the Afghan Taliban and its leadership. [For more information on Al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan, see LWJ report, Al Qaeda actively operating training camps in 5 Afghan provinces.]

The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team estimates that the TTP has 4,000 to 6,000 fighters  based mainly in the eastern provinces of Nangarhar, Kunar, Logar, Paktika, Paktia and Khost. TTP emir Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud is believed to be based in Paktika province, a stronghold of the Haqqani Network, while his deputy, Qari Amjad Ali, shelters in Kunar.

The Afghan Taliban has vehemently objected to the latest UN report, as it punches gaping holes into the Talibans narrative that it does not shelter and support foreign terror groups. However, the presence of the TTP, Al Qaeda and a host of other terror groups in Afghanistan is undeniable and backed by decades of evidence.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
Press Release

June 16, 2023 STATEMENT OF SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS ON PRIDE MONTH CELEBRATION Magandang araw, my fellow allies! A happy, happy PRIDE month to us all! I want to share a quite loving observation about the syntax of our language. Sa wika natin, we don't say he or she. We cannot. Instead, we could say "sila". In English that loosely translates to "they". We don't say brother or sister, we can only say "kapatid". Again loosely translated, that could mean "sibling". I say loosely translated because these English words cannot convey the intimacy of "sila" and "kapatid". Through these everyday words, it is clear that the gender of a person is not nearly as important as their personhood, as the fact that they are our fellow human beings. In our own language, the person, the human, the Filipino, is always intimately privileged over any personal opinions of gender or sexuality. The Sexual Orientation Gender Identity and Expression or SOGIE Equality Bill takes this very Filipino value and reasserts as our way of life because this is not true for society today, where opinions of gender and sexuality have a hold over whether a child is afforded protection from bullying, whether one is allowed access to quality education or fair livelihood or emergency healthcare. From women to members of the LGBTQIA+ community, discrimination on the basis of SOGIE is real and felt. As I always say, the bill is fundamental, practical even. It is an explicit articulation of basic rights, of access to basic services necessary for a life of dignity and quality, regardless of ANYONE'S sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, because yes, we all do have SOGIE. For those who think that this is a special bill for the LGBTQIA+ community, one need only look at the numbers recently released by the UN. 9 out of 10 persons are still biased against women. And in the Philippines, the UNDP says 99.5% of Filipinos hold some sort of bias against women. Our hard-won rights and paradigm shifts could be lost if we do not explicitly make efforts to protect them in our laws and in our institutions. In this modern age, to hear numbers or reports like these sound alien. But no matter how harsh the truth, the truth should be our north star. The SOGIE Equality Bill is crucial in any conversation about changing the status quo, protecting the rights we won, and recovering victories that we have let slip between our fingers. I believe that we have never been as close to passing this bill as we are now. The House of Representatives recently passed their version. The ball is in the Senate's court. I take hope in the fact that many of my colleagues at the Senate have expressed that they are ready to voge this bill into law. In the most technical sense, the bill has not been certified urgent. But to say that this bill is not urgent is an insult to the many long suffering many Filipinos who are economically and socially excluded from participating in our most basic societal processes. At the end of the day, no matter what your opinion on SOGIE is, we all pay the cost. And the ones who must endure the greatest pains are women, and most especially, the LGBTQIA+ community. But in the most recent pronouncement of the bill's non-urgency, I believe, is an opportunity. It is clear now what we must emphasize in this Congress to take advantage of the staunch support this bill has. The most support we need at the moment is your sense of urgency. Our collective resources must be poured into showing that the bill is urgent. When there is an overwhelming clamor for the bill's urgency to be heard at the Senate, I believe the dams will be opened, and no one will be able to resist the wave that will come. I know the road has been long, but you are always that much closer. Do not let go. Dear members of the LGBTQIA+ community, allies and advocates, it is important to keep on carving out spaces for joy and community, not just this month but always. Kasama ko kayo, in this march, and all the days to come until equality is ours. Mabuhay ang LGBTQIA+ community! Mabuhay ang mga Pilipino! _______________ VIDEO STATEMENT LINK: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jAcKrlG8g23Op5dobFcJp1CIoUJw94rW/view
Dr. Albert Levis is seen here at his Museum of the Creative Process at the Wilburton Inn in 2018. The former runway of the Equinox Airport has been sold to a company formed by members of the Levis family for $1.34 million.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Friday revised its balance of payments forecast in 2023 to a deficit of $1.2 billion from a previous estimate of $1.6-billion shortfall over the narrowing trade deficit.

For 2023, the overall BOP position is seen to register a lower deficit relative to the March 2023 projection exercise. This development is underpinned largely by a narrower merchandise trade gap, as goods imports growth is expected to slow down sharply following the pullback in international prices of major commodities, particularly fuel. This is accompanied by a sustained fall in goods exports as global demand weakens further, it said in a statement.

The Philippines incurred a BOP deficit of $7.3 billion in 2022, a turnaround from the $1.3-billion surplus in 2021.

The BSP said despite the optimism attached to the reopening of Chinas economy, such a view remained tentative given its numerous domestic challenges, including declining property sales and real estate investment.

Nonetheless, prospects for business process outsourcing and tourism industries remain positive, alongside stable remittance inflows from overseas Filipinos, providing support to the current account, it said.

Latest Philippine Statistics Authority data showed that the trade-in-goods deficit, or the difference between the value of exports and imports, reached $4.53 billion in April, down from $5.32 billion a year ago. It was also lower than the $5.1-billion deficit in March.

The BSP said it also expects a lower BOP deficit of $500 million in 2024.

For 2024, the overall BOP position is projected to post a slightly lower deficit relative to the previous forecast. This is hinged mainly on the foreseen normalization and return to pre-pandemic levels of global and domestic economic activity, the BSP said.

The International Monetary Fund expects global economic activity and trade to rise by 3.0 percent and 3.5 percent in 2024, respectively, both higher than their 2023 forecasted growth rates.

The BSP said these developments bode well for the countrys trade and investments prospects for next year, with the downturn in the global semiconductor market predicted to bottom out by the middle of 2023 and into 2024.

The Monetary Board earlier approved the new set of 2023 and 2024 balance of payments projections during its June 15 meeting that incorporated the latest available data and recent emerging developments.

The forecast for cash remittances for 2023 and 2024 was retained at 3 percent on sustained demand for overseas Filipino workers abroad as they fill in for the labor shortage resulting from pandemic-induced job losses and aging populations in host economies.

The forecast for net foreign direct investments was lowered to $9 billion from $11 billion for 2023, and to $11 billion from $12 billion for 2024 in line with the slowdown in non-residents investments globally.

This is attributed to the observed geo-economic fragmentation of FDIs and slowdown in the globalization process triggered primarily by rising geopolitical tensions between major economies, the BSP said.

It also retained the forecast for registered foreign portfolio investments or hot money at $2.5 billion and $3.5 billion for 2023 and 2024, respectively.

The BSP maintained the forecast for gross international reserves at $100 billion this year and $102 billion in 2024.

Data showed that the GIR increased to $101.8 billion as of end-April from $101.5 billion as of end-March. The latest GIR level represented a more than adequate external liquidity buffer equivalent to 7.6 months worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income.

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
Kuala LumpurEdmund Araga, President of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP), participated in the highly anticipated EMA 2023 CEO Business Luncheon held on May 30, 2023, in Kuala Lumpur. The E-Mobility Asia (EMA) event, recognized as Southeast Asias ultimate platform for the electric vehicle industry, showcased cutting-edge electromobility offerings and unrivaled opportunities. This engagement served as a significant step towards the forthcoming Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit, scheduled to take place on October 19-21, 2023, at the SMX Convention Center in the Philippines.

EMA 2023 encompassed a diverse range of activities, including an international exhibition, conference, seminar, and business meetings. The event focused on highlighting the latest technologies and solutions within the Electric Vehicle (EV) sector, covering automotive variants, charging infrastructure, battery technology, energy storage, logistics, and system providers, among others. EMA brought together industry experts, advisors, architects, OEM leaders, power companies, venture capitalists, and more, fostering a dynamic environment for networking and collaboration.

The recent EMA 2023 CEO Business Luncheon, held on May 30, 2023, welcomed 150 esteemed guests from 97 companies. Notable participants included strategic partners such as the Electric Vehicle Association of Malaysia (EVAM) and supporting associations from the Asian Federation of Electric Vehicle Associations (AFEVA), including the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP), the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT), the Indonesian Electric Vehicle Industry Association (PERIKLINDO), and the ESG Association of Malaysia (ESGAM). Representatives from the Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) and the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI) were also in attendance, alongside local media outlets in Malaysia. This diverse gathering of industry leaders and enthusiasts created a vibrant atmosphere for networking and knowledge exchange.

Edmund Aragas participation in the EMA 2023 CEO Business Luncheon highlighted EVAPs dedication to advancing the electric vehicle industry in the Philippines. By engaging in influential gatherings, EVAP seeks to establish strategic alliances, exchange insights, and learn from regional and global leaders in the EV sector. The luncheon provided a valuable opportunity for collaboration and exploration of innovative solutions that will shape the future of e-mobility in Southeast Asia.

EVAP remains steadfast in its mission to promote and develop the electric vehicle industry in the Philippines. Participation in events like EMA 2023 exemplifies the associations dedication to advocating for sustainable transportation solutions, fostering collaboration with industry stakeholders, and championing the benefits of e-mobility for a greener and more efficient future. As EVAP prepares for the highly anticipated Philippine Electric Vehicle Summit on October 19-21, 2023, at the SMX Convention Center, this engagement marks a pivotal step towards showcasing the Philippines commitment to driving the growth and development of the electric vehicle industry.

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
A special use permit (SUP) to create a substance abuse treatment center at the former Sevenoaks property has been denied.

In April, Dr. Christopher von Elten, Noel Jewell and William Manning of NWC Investments LLC (also known as Addiction Allies) applied for a special use permit (SUP) to operate a licensed substance use disorder treatment center on the current 120-acre Sevenoaks Retreat facility. The treatment center would be a licensed day treatment service and intensive outpatient treatment service with overnight guest accommodations. Licensed services would be provided by behavioral health providers with staff on-site to assist with accommodations. All clients and patients would be medically and psychiatrically cleared by a physician prior to receiving services. There would be no detox on-site.

Addiction Allies currently operates two licensed drug and alcohol treatment programs from an office in Charlottesville. These include day treatment consisting of five to six hours of face-to-face behavioral health education and support seven days per week up to six weeks. Theres also intensive outpatient treatment (IOP) consisting of three hours of face-to-face behavioral health education and support three days per week lasting up to 12 weeks. IOP is often a stepdown from day treatment and patients have typically already participated in four to six weeks of day treatment.

Elten said the Sevenoaks property would allow the programs to move out of a Charlottesville into a space more conducive to healing. He said the Sevenoaks property, which has seven different lodges on-site, would allow for patients to have housing at the center. Currently, those in need of housing are put up at local hotels and driven to and from the Charlottesville office. Elten said they would start small with just 15 overnight guests and eventually expand to allow more. A peer recovery person would be in each dorm and an additional recovery person would be on-site overnight.

Theres a great need for this, Elten said. We think this would be of great benefit to Madison County and local counties. Its extremely common. One in eight would benefit from substance abuse treatment.

County planner Ligon Webb suggested nearly a dozen conditions for the SUP including having it run with the applicants; having the center be fully licensed; capping patients at 30 with a maximum of 20 overnight (any expansion would require approval by the board of supervisors); occupancy of each building to be determined by the building official and if under the number allowed, the number would be lowered; the submission and approval of an emergency plan; a vegetative buffer with a fence along the 600 feet bordered by a neighbors property (a late addition to the conditions); approval from the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) since the land is under a conservation easement; the prohibition of on-site detoxification of patients and the storing or giving of non-prescription controlled substances; no admittance of acutely ill patients, mentally or otherwise; and 24 hour staff on site with a minimum of one staff member per seven patients.

However, neighbors and planning commissioners still voiced concerns about the application, stating there were too many unanswered questions.

While former Sevenoaks owner Susan Thesenga, who still resides on approximately 10 acres at the center of the property, voiced support for the project, others noted concerns such as patients wandering from the facility and the devaluation of neighboring properties.

Andy Wynham, who said he was familiar with substance abuse due to his late son, said he had doubts about the project as proposed. He said it was a business for profit and would expand in the future. He said he also was concerned about the use of suboxone, a narcotic used to treat substance abuse. Wynham said substance abuse treatment is needed and he could support a non-profit, but not a for-profit business, stating the loss in property values would represent a real taking from neighbors.

Neighbor Dale Knighting worried about the safety of his family and local investigator Sarah McKnight said there were still too many unanswered questions. She pointed out that there had been quite a few emergency calls for the Charlottesville Addiction Allies location, although they couldnt be specifically tied to the two substance abuse programs or the clinics other patient loads. She said shes not opposed to treatment programs and services in Madison County, but there is no public transportation option when patients want to leave. She questioned if the countys social services would become responsible for them and while a great service, asked for more details.

Sandra Littlehales said Sevenoaks has trails that go to her property and while she has sympathy for those suffering from substance abuse disorder, addicts will lie, steal and betray you to get drugs. She said doesnt want to live next to 60 addicts and suggested full-time security for the facility should it be approved.

George Haney, who owns neighboring property in Greene County, questioned if the VOF would even allow such a use to occur on property that was in easement. Like others, he also worried about wanderers and noted there would be little to no tax revenue for the county.

[They] need to know a lot of hunting goes on and they ma be mistaken for a deer, Haney said about those who may wander from the facility. If you dont want it next to you, dont put it next to me, he told planning commissioners.

Dr. Phillip Sansone, who owns property next to Sevenoaks, said it would be foolish to think local patients would be served by the facility. He said places would love to get rid of their Medicare patients and send them somewhere cheaper which would cause the facility to fill up fast and private patients wouldnt likely want to be treated there. He also questioned the idea that peer recovery specialists with one-year of training who are recovering from their own substance abuse issues would be able to be suitable overnight watchmen.

Cheryl Yowell, also a neighbor, echoed Sansones comments about the peer recovery specialists and asked what benefit the facility would bring to the county. She also questioned Thesengas enthusiasm for the project, stating that if my property was $2.7 million and [for sale and] I was getting it, I would be very happy too. Thesenga later explained that she wouldnt benefit from the sale at all as she and her late husband had long ago donated the property to an entity to run Sevenoaks.

Elten took issue with many of the comments and statements, saying there wasnt enough time for him to address the stigma and fear and discriminatory comments that exist in this room. He said he treats a lot of people from Madison County at his clinic in Charlottesville and they have their own families and lives.

Im not sure theres a place for them here, he said. Having a facility in Madison County is not going to make the problems any worse. You can keep sweeping it under the rug. We get this everywhere we go.

He said Medicare patients are very worthy of services and support and he would continue to fight the fears and stigma associated with drug treatment.

Planning commissioner Fay Utz voiced support for the project. She said there is a drug problem in Madison County and those with substance abuse issues are just like anyone else.

Its embarrassing to hear these comments about them, she said.

Former planning commissioner Nan Coppege agreed. She said everyone knows someone with a substance abuse problem. She said she understands no one wants a facility beside them, but then where is it supposed to be? She suggested those commenting volunteer with the local community services board and be a part of the solution.

Madison County resident and tourism director Tracey Gardner said Addiction Allies has a good reputation and instead of worrying about wanderers from the proposed facility, people should worry about those wandering down U.S. 29. She said peer to peer recovery is one of the most successful and she found some of the comments offensive.

People should be commended for getting help, not condemned, she said.

Planning commissioner Nathan Cowan commended Elten and associate William Manning on their work, but said maybe a rural area is not the right place for a facility. He said theres no transportation, nor a hotel or resources.

For those reasons, Im not sure this is a great location for you guys, he said.

Planning commission chairman Steve Carpenter agreed. He said there were still to many questions and asked if the application should be tabled.

Cowan said he thought every question had been answered twice while commissioner Mike Snider agreed and commissioner Daniel Crigler said tabling would only kick the can further down the road. Cowan made a motion that the commission recommend denial of the application. It was seconded by Snider and approved 3-2 with Utz and Crigler dissenting. Commissioners Peter Elliott and James Graves III were absent.

The supervisors also considered tabling the application, but said its unlikely anything would change in 30 days.

Supervisor James Jewett said the countys emergency services are already stretched to the limit and any additional calls could cause a problem. Board of supervisors chairman Clay Jackson agreed, stating a solution is needed, but services are stretched thin. He said he was inclined to go down the tabling route with a review by the local emergency services officials and the countys legal team.

[Drug addiction] is a serious problem and we dont have a solution, but at least youre working on it, Jackson said.

Supervisor Charlotte Hoffman agreed theres a need for substance abuse treatment services, but echoed others that there were still unanswered questions. Supervisor Dustin Dawson said he could support tabling the application, but wasnt sure anything would change his mind which was leading toward denial.

Jewett said he agreed in principle, but thought the application needed to be voted up or down. Jackson said its really one that should have gone through two commission workshop meetings.

Jewett made a motion to deny the application. It was seconded by Dawson and passed 3-1 with Jackson dissenting. Supervisor Carty Yowell was absent.
3 Investing lessons I learned in Italy

My wife and I took a birthday trip to Tuscany over Memorial Day weekend.



There was love, laughter, and lots of wine.



Im always on the lookout for investing ideas on my trips. You often find inspiration in the strangest places, and Tuscany didnt disappoint.



Today, Im sharing three investing lessons I learned from the trip and how you can use them to make money.

Marchesi Antinori didnt know it at the time, but he started a revolution.If youre a wine nerd like me, you know Italian winemaking is heavily regulated. It has strict laws regarding which grapes can be used. For example, Tuscan winemakers could only produce wine using mostly sangiovese, the native grape of Tuscany.Marchesi Antinori knew it didnt have to be this way.In 1971, he introduced Tignanello, a wine that broke the rules. Tignanello was made using some French grapes, so it had to be labeled a Vino da Tavola (table wine).But this wasnt some crappy vino that comes free with a meal. Tignanellos exceptional quality soon won it a slew of awards.Fast-forward 50 years, and its one of the worlds most sought-after wines. A bottle will set you back at least $150.Making Italian wine with French grapes wasnt just a crazy idea. It was basically against the law. Yet it helped Antinori build a multimillion-dollar empire.Heres the winerys impressive barreling room, which we toured last week:In 1980, Bill Gates had a vision to put a computer on every desk and in every home.This seems obvious now, but it was a wild idea 40 years ago when computers were huge clunky boxes and you had to be a coding whiz to use one.made computers accessible to everyone and made early investors rich:In the 90s, we warned teenagers not to talk to people online and to NEVER get into a strangers car. Ditto for sleeping in a strangers house.Yet all three of these nutty ideas turned into multibillion-dollar empires that handed early investors huge gains.allowed you to talk to billions of people online.normalized getting into a strangers car.And tens of millions of people bookrooms each year.As disruption investors, its our job to see the future. To invest in ideas everyone thinks are crazy today, but tomorrow will be billion-dollar businesses.and uranium producerare two of my top youre out of your mind investment ideas today.My wife and I had a fabulous dinner high in the Chianti hills last week.This restaurant was literally on top of a mountain. We had to drive 25 minutes up windy, narrow roads to reach it. We arrived and were surprised to find it packed with English-speaking foreigners like us.How did we all end up at the same place in the middle of nowhere? It was one of the top-rated restaurants on Google. It didnt matter that this place was tucked away in the Tuscan hills; we all found it by clicking a few buttons online.The internet created winner-take-all/most markets online.Over half of digital ad dollars flow through two companies: Google and Facebook. Uber andcontrol 95% of the US ridesharing market. Google totally dominates search.Now, the web is creating winner-take-all/most markets in the real world, too.For example, the restaurant owner told me the restaurant is fully booked every weekend until October mostly by tourists. And its all thanks to its high rating on Google and Tripadvisor.Back in 2019, I said: . But I did a 180 on Uber last September.Its jumped 40% since then, and my research suggests it has room to run., is another winner Im continuing to buy.We drove over 300 km up and down mountains, through tiny villages, and along rocky roads while in Tuscany.It was our first time visiting, but we didnt once get lost. Google Maps told us exactly where to go at every twist and turn.My childhood vacations involved running my finger along giant fold-out maps to avoid getting lost which were then eventually replaced by clunky GPS trackers.Before phones, getting lost on road trips was a constant worry. You stopped to ask for directions. And you squinted at road signs to avoid taking a wrong turn.Now, unless your phone dies, Google Maps will accurately guide you home like magic.Id easily pay $100/day for Google Maps while vacationing. Its a life-saver.Im no fan of Google stock today. But I am buying the company making every modern-day, magical technology possible:Longtime readers know chips are the brains of computers. And each one contains billions of brain cells called transistors.The more transistors on a chip, the faster it is. For example, did you know your smartphone is more powerful than the NASA computer that sent Neil Armstrong to the moon?Chips inside NASAs computer had 2,000 transistors. There are an incredible 16 billion packed onto the chip inside the latest iPhone. (Keep in mind, the chip is no bigger than your thumbnail.)And get this: The beam on its machine is so precise, its equivalent to shining a laser and hitting a quarter on the moon.Ive been recommending ASML since 2018, and Im still buying it today.

Stephen McBride



Chief Analyst, RiskHedge

To get more ideas like this sent straight to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, make sure to sign up for The RiskHedge Report , a free investment letter focused on profiting from disruption.



Expect smart insights and analysis on the latest breakthrough technologies, the big stories the mainstream media isn't reporting on, and much more... including actionable recommendations.



Click here to sign up.

 2023 Copyright Stephen McBride - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

 2005-2022 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




The Justice Department accused Minneapolis police Friday of engaging in a pattern of violating constitutional rights and discriminating against Black and Native American people following an investigation prompted by the killing of George Floyd.

The sweeping two-year civil rights investigation concluded that systemic problems in the Minneapolis Police Department made what happened to George Floyd possible.

The investigation found that Minneapolis officers used excessive force, including unjustified deadly force, and violated the rights of people engaged in constitutionally protected speech.

The probe also found that both Minneapolis police and the city discriminated against people with behavioral health disabilities when officers are called for help.

As a result, the city and the police department agreed to a deal known as a federal consent decree, which will require reforms to be overseen by an independent monitor and approved by a federal judge. That arrangement is similar to reform efforts in Seattle, New Orleans, Baltimore and Ferguson, Missouri.

For years, MPD used dangerous techniques and weapons against people who committed at most a petty offense and sometimes no offense at all, the report said. Police used force to punish people who made officers angry or criticized the police.

Read More: 5 key takeaways from the 2020 Worcester George Floyd protest that landed the city in court

Officers patrolled neighborhoods differently based on their racial composition and discriminated based on race when searching, handcuffing, or using force against people during stops, the report said.

The pattern or practice investigation was launched in April 2021, a day after former officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, was convicted of murder and manslaughter in the May 25, 2020, killing of Floyd, who was Black.

Read More: Worcester sued 3 years after police clashed with residents in streets after George Floyd protest

Floyd repeatedly said he couldnt breathe before going limp as Chauvin knelt on his neck for 9 1/2 minutes. The killing was recorded by a bystander and sparked months of mass protests as part of a broader national reckoning over racial injustice.

The report found that the city sent officers to behavioral health-related 911 calls, even when a law enforcement response was not appropriate or necessary, sometimes with tragic results. These actions put MPD officers and the Minneapolis community at risk.

The findings were based on reviews of documents and incident files; observation of body-worn camera videos; data provided by the city and police; and ride-alongs and conversations with officers, residents and others, the report says.

Federal investigators acknowledged that the city and Minneapolis police have already begun reforms.

The report noted that police are now prohibited from using neck restraints like the one Chauvin used in killing Floyd. Officers are no longer allowed to use some crowd control weapons without permission from the chief. And no-knock warrants were banned after the 2022 death of Amir Locke.

The city also has launched a promising behavioral health response program in which trained mental health professionals respond to some calls rather than police.

A similar investigation by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights led to a court-enforceable settlement agreement to address the long list of problems identified in the report, with input from residents, officers, city staff and others. Frey and state Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero signed the agreement in March.

The state investigation, which concluded in April 2022, found significant racial disparities with respect to officers use of force, traffic stops, searches, citations, and arrests. And it criticized an organizational culture where some officers and supervisors use racist, misogynistic, and disrespectful language with impunity.

Lucero said the legally binding agreement requires the city and the police department to make transformational changes to fix the organizational culture of the force, noting it could serve as a model for how cities, police departments and community members elsewhere work to stop race-based policing.

The report recommends 28 remedial steps to improve policing as a prelude to the consent decree. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the steps provide a starting framework to improve public safety, build community trust and comply with the constitution and federal law.

The federal investigation could have prompted a separate but similar court-enforceable agreement, known as a consent decree, that would overlap the settlement with the state.

Several police departments in other cities operate under consent decrees for alleged civil rights violations. A consent decree requires agencies to meet specific goals before federal oversight is removed, a process that often takes many years at a cost of millions of dollars.

Floyd, 46, was arrested on suspicion of passing a counterfeit $20 bill for a pack of cigarettes at a corner market. He struggled with police when they tried to put him in a squad car, and though he was already handcuffed, they forced him on the ground.

As Chauvin pressed his knee against Floyds neck, officer J. Alexander Kueng held Floyds back, officer Thomas Lane held Floyds feet and officer Tou Thao kept bystanders back.

Chauvin was sentenced to 22 1/2 years for murder. He also pleaded guilty to a federal charge of violating Floyds civil rights and was sentenced to 21 years in that case. He is serving the sentences concurrently in Tucson, Arizona.

Kueng, Lane and Thao were convicted of federal charges in February 2022. All three were convicted of depriving Floyd of his right to medical care, and Thao and Kueng also were convicted of failing to intervene to stop Chauvin during the killing. Lane and Kueng have since pleaded guilty to a state count of aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. In exchange, counts of aiding and abetting murder were dropped.

Lane, who is white, is serving his 2 1/2-year federal sentence at a facility in Colorado. He is serving a three-year state sentence at the same time. Kueng, who is Black, is serving a three-year federal sentence in Ohio, while also serving a 3 1/2-year state sentence.

Thao, who is Hmong American, received a 3 1/2-year federal sentence. In May, the judge in the state case found him guilty of aiding and abetting manslaughter. Thao had said it would be lying to have pleaded guilty, and he agreed to let the judge decide the case. The judge set sentencing for Aug. 7.
Update: Dickson Joel De Los Reyess body was found by law enforcement in a marshland in Revere on Friday, June 16, 2023.

A 24-year-old man from Lynn is missing after a disconnected 911 call was made from his phone when he left a Chelsea party in a Lyft ride early Sunday morning and never returned home, according to Massachusetts State Police.

Dickson Joel De Los Reyes has not been heard from or seen since he left the party at 3:42 a.m. on Sunday, June 11, police said.

De Los Reyes is a Hispanic male and is approximately 5 feet 3 inches tall and 150 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

He was last seen wearing the clothes depicted in the photograph below from a city of Chelsea surveillance camera taken of De Los Reyes leaving the party, which appears to be black pants, a black vest, a white long-sleeve shirt and white sneakers.

Dickson "Joel" De Los Reyes leaving a party on June 11, on surveillance footage from the City of Chelsea. Photo courtesy Massachusetts State Police

According to the department, De Los Reyes got into a Lyft rideshare vehicle at 3:42 a.m. in front of 168 Shurtleff St. in Chelsea June 11.

At the same time the Lyft ride ended, about 14 minutes later at 3:56 a.m, police said, a 911 call came in to the Revere Police Department from De Los Reyes cell phone number, state police said.

The call disconnected, state police said, and several attempts to call De Los Reyes number back by police were unsuccessful.

Police said the call came from the area of American Legion Highway in Revere. State Police have also attempted to determine the phones location several times, and stated the department believed the phone may be off.

Police asked if any have information regarding this investigation to contact Trooper Timothy Burns of the State Police Detective Unit for Suffolk County at 617-727-8817, or the Massachusetts State Police Troop A Headquarters at 978-538-6020, or to call 911.
Update: Dickson Joel De Los Reyess body was found by law enforcement in a marshland in Revere on Friday, June 16, 2023.

Massachusetts State Police are searching in Revere marshlands on Thursday afternoon for a 24-year-old man from Lynn whos been missing since early Sunday morning, after a disconnected 911 call was made from his phone when he left a Chelsea party in a Lyft ride and he never returned home.

Dickson Joel De Los Reyes has not been heard from or seen since he left the party at 3:42 a.m. on Sunday, June 11, police said.

De Los Reyes is a Hispanic male and is approximately 5 feet 3 inches tall and 150 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing black pants, a black vest, a white long-sleeve shirt and white sneakers.

Divers from the state police are searching in the Diamond Creek marshlands on the Revere-Saugus line right next to near Route 107, about a mile and a half from American Legion Highway in Revere, where De Los Reyes 911 call came from, according to state police.

According to the department, De Los Reyes got into a Lyft rideshare vehicle at 3:42 a.m. in front of 168 Shurtleff St. in Chelsea June 11.

At the same time the Lyft ride ended, about 14 minutes later at 3:56 a.m, police said, a 911 call came in to the Revere Police Department from De Los Reyes cell phone number, state police said.

The call disconnected, state police said, and several attempts to call De Los Reyes number back by police were unsuccessful. State Police have also attempted to determine the phones location several times, and stated the department believed the phone may be off.

The department is also working to locate the driver of the Lyft, who is believed as of June 16 to be the last person who saw De Los Reyes before he went missing, police said.

Police asked if any have information regarding this investigation to contact Trooper Timothy Burns of the State Police Detective Unit for Suffolk County at 617-727-8817, or the Massachusetts State Police Troop A Headquarters at 978-538-6020, or to call 911.
A Duxbury police officer is facing charges after Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz claims he falsified a police report and intimidated a witness.

Steven J. Amado, 51, of Plymouth, was indicted Friday on one count of misleading a police officer, intimidation of a police officer and a false crime report, the district attorneys office said.
The families of loved ones who were stolen from Harvard Medical School morgue now have emotional distress, a lawsuit filed Friday claims.

Keches Law Group filed the class action lawsuit Friday on behalf of the families involved. It was filed against the President & Fellows of Harvard College (the legal name for Harvard University) and Cedric Lodge.

Lodge, 55, is accused of stealing dissected portions of cadavers that were donated to the school, such as heads, brains, skin, bones and more, according to court documents. He then took them to his home in New Hampshire, officials claim.

The indictment, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, stated it started in 2018 and continued until March 7.

Using social media, Lodge and his wife, Denise Lodge, sold the stolen body parts, court documents read.

Hes one of multiple people from Massachusetts and Pennsylvania who been indicted for trafficking stolen human remains.

But Keches Law Partner Jeff Catalano said in a statement that Harvard owed a duty of care to the families who entrusted the school with custody of their loved ones donated bodies.

Medical schools like Harvard have a duty to ensure [donated remains] are handled properly and with decency and to ensure they are used for their intended purpose of scientific study, Catalano said.

After the trauma of losing a loved one, Catalano said sometimes the only thing they can latch onto, is that their loved ones remains are going to be used for an important scientific purpose.

They are asking those impacted by this, to contact Keches Law Group. Jonathan Sweet of Keches Law Group claimed between 350 and 400 bodies are believed to have been impacted.

United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam claims Harvard is a victim too. And thanked them for their cooperation.

Some crimes defy understanding, said Karam. The theft and trafficking of human remains strikes at the very essence of what makes us human. It is particularly egregious that so many of the victims here volunteered to allow their remains to be used to educate medical professionals and advance the interests of science and healing. For them and their families to be taken advantage of in the name of profit is appalling. With these charges, we are seeking to secure some measure of justice for all these victims.

But some families are upset with the way it was handled.

Paula Peltonavich and Darlene Lynch told WBZ that both their parents donated their bodies to Harvard and they were informed on Wednesday that pieces of their fathers body were likely sold on the black market.

I literally wanted to throw up, Lynch told the news outlet.

The news outlet reported the daughters are now asking for their mothers remains back from Harvard.

John Yacobians mother donated her body to the school too, CBS reported.

The news outlet reported that he repeatedly had to call the school to learn his mothers body is intact for future research. He is upset with Harvard for the way it notified families.

I had to go through the process of piecing together timelines and whether she was in or out of that group and I think thats patently unfair, Yacobian told the news outlet.

The U.S. Attorneys Office said it is going to continue to attempt to identify victims and contact as many of the victims families affected by this case as possible.

If an individual or family member has been impacted by the conduct charged in these indictments and information, contact the United States Attorneys Offices Victim and Witness Unit at usapam-victim.information@usdoj.gov or 717-614-4249.
Something locals have known for a long time is getting some recognition nationally: Charlottesville has turned into a hospitality hotspot in the South.

Charlottesville was ranked in the top 20 U.S. cities on online travel agency Booking.coms 2023 Most Welcoming Destinations list.

Charlottesville and Albemarle County have a variety of different experiences that can be enjoyed by visitors and residents alike, Brantley Ussery, a spokesman for the Visit Charlottesville tourism agency, told The Daily Progress. With a robust outdoor recreation scene, a vibrant arts community, a renowned wine scene, incredible culinary options, and our historic pedestrian Downtown Mall, there are a myriad of ways to enjoy our region.

Charlottesville ranks 17th in the nation in hospitality, which was determined by surveying 24,179 Booking.com travelers from 32 countries and territories. Respondents were asked to rate their experiences in terms of the friendliness and helpfulness of the locals, the cleanliness and safety of the destination as well as the overall value for money.

At the top of the list this year was Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Charlottesville, at No. 17, was between State College, Pennsylvania, and Maggie Valley, North Carolina.

Unlike some other far-less-rigorous polls, Booking.coms might have more merit to it. Booking.com is the most frequently downloaded travel app, according to the Apple App Store.

Charlottesville is benefitted from its location in the heart of the Virginia wine country and its proximity to the homes of American Founding Fathers, including Thomas Jeffersons Monticello, James Monroes Highland and James Madisons Montpelier. Naturally, it is also a destination for University of Virginia alumni, parents and prospective students.

The city and surrounding countryside have become popular for weekend getaways for the residents of larger cities and weddings for locals and out-of-towners alike.

It also provides an easy base for those interested in exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains on the parkway or Skyline Drive, the Shenandoah Valley and the Appalachian Trail.

One of the featured hotels in Charlottesville on Booking.coms website is the art-forward boutique hotel the Quirk on West Main Street.

The hotel is in the heart of the city. Its location helps our visitors have walkable access to all of the amenities Charlottesville can offer, Hannah Gessler, an operator at the Quirk Hotel, told The Daily Progress. Everything from shops, food, nightlife and the incredible culture Charlottesville has are just steps away.

It is not just tourism driving business success in the area though. Locals are integral to profitability.

Business is going great. Every weekend seems to be booked with wedding events and receptions, but we also host a lot of recurring events that are popular for locals and visitors alike, Gessler said.

Tourism raked in a whopping $680,000 in revenue for the city of Charlottesville and surrounding Albemarle County in 2021, according to Visit Charlottesville. Also, visitors to the city generate $22.9 million in local tax collection, according to data released by the U.S. Travel Association.

Rivaling towns such as Asheville and Austin, Charlottesville has seen a surge in revenue because of its burgeoning arts and theater scene.

Charlottesville is a breath of fresh air, Ix Art Park Executive Director Lisa Capraro told The Daily Progress. It offers so many things that a big city does but with a small town feel. We have great music, inspiring art, a vibrant food scene with many types of cuisine, an intellectual community and interesting history.

The future for Charlottesville tourism includes efforts to make the region more inclusive and welcome a diverse array of visitors.

We as the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau have been working on an important initiative called Tourism For All, Ussery said. This initiative aims to make all visitors feel welcome throughout Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

Recently, the regional tourism authority has partnered with local businesses to make attractions more accessible. According to Ussery, 62 of the board partners have completed accessibility assessments aimed at making them more welcoming to visitors.
The man who police said was impersonating a Bernarston police officer on Tuesday evening by driving around Western Massachusetts in a fake police cruiser with police-style tools, has been identified the Bernardston Police Department.

Brendon Douglas was identified by the department as the man they believe was pretending to be an officer on June 14. Douglas was arrested in connection with the crime and was being held pending a dangerousness hearing on June 16, according to the department.

A man was accused of impersonating a cop in Bernardston. Police arrested him in a fake cop car and said they found a loaded handgun, knives and other police-style equipment. 6/13/23.Bernardston Police Department

Bernardston police said Douglas was driving around town Tuesday night in a sedan that had a police-like white and black color palette and flashing lights on its roof. The officer stopped the car and arrested the operator, police said.

Authorities said he was dressed in a tactical vest with a police-style badge pinned to the front. He was also armed with a loaded handgun, knives, handcuffs and other police equipment, the department said.

The department also said Douglas has previously attempted to impersonate police in New Hampshire.
The passenger who was in the car with a Massachusetts man wanted by State Police in connection with a fatal shooting in 2022 has been charged after the pair crashed in Raynham on Thursday afternoon, seriously injuring a Taunton woman, according to Massachusetts State Police.

Demarje Taylor, a 23-year-old Chelsea man, was arraigned Thursday at State Police Middleborough barracks on gun possession charges after he was released from Good Samaritan Hospital for his injuries from the crash. Taylor was brought to the Ashe Street Jail in New Bedford to be held pending bail or arraignment, police said in a press release Friday morning.

David Lynch, 24, who police say was driving the car that crashed in Raynham Thursday, had been added to the polices Most Wanted list in March. He was arrested June 16, following the crash, in connection with the killing of 26-year-old John Abreu Junior DePina, who was fatally shot in Brockton in November 2022, police said.

Besides Brockton, Lynch was said by police to have ties to Abington, Canton and Weymouth, and was previously considered armed and dangerous.

At around 3 p.m. on Thursday in Raynham, Lynch was fleeing from police in a BMW X1 SUV with Taylor, when he hit and seriously injured a 32-year-old Taunton woman driving a Honda Accord, according to police.

Troopers had spotted Lynch in the BMW in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn in Middleborough, officials said, and as the authorities approached who they believed to be the suspect in the Brockton shooting, officials said he drove off, ramming two police cars, and fled onto Route 44.

Lynch was pursued by troopers briefly, police said, before the officers lost track of the BMW. At 3:05 p.m., authorities learned that Lynch crashed into another car at the intersection of Orchard and Warren streets in Raynham.

The 32-year-old Taunton woman was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton and was in serious condition Thursday evening, police said.

Lynch and Taylor ran away from the crash but were caught and arrested a short time later, police said. After a search Thursday evening, police said troopers found two guns inside Lynchs BMW.

Lynch was also brought to Good Samaritan Hospital, and was moved Thursday night to Boston Medical Center, where he remains under police guard, state police said. There has been no information released regarding an arraignment in the 2022 fatal shooting, nor the new charges from the crash.
A family friend has identified the Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School student who died Tuesday following a crash between her SUV and a tractor-trailer when exiting the school on Tuesday.

Mary Collins, 16 of South Hadley, was exiting Pathfinder Tech in Palmer when a tractor-trailer going southbound on Sykes Street struck her 1988 Chevrolet Suburban on the drivers side. Family friend Linda Pulaski confirmed Collins was the student driving the Suburban.

Palmer police blocked all traffic from Palmer District Court to the entrance to Pathfinder Regional using police tape. A medical examiner was seen arriving at the site of the crash, according to WWLP, along with Massachusetts State Police.

The tractor-trailer driver was not injured and cooperated with investigators, police said.

Pathfinder Techs staff have been working to notify all students and parents and will have support services available for all students and staff on Wednesday, police added.

Pulaski organized a GoFundMe page to help Collins family with funeral expenses. As of Friday afternoon, the page has raised $23,670, well past the $15,000 goal.

Mary was a bright, smart, sarcastic, beautiful, caring, young lady who was taken way too soon, the GoFundMe reads. Please help this family of six in their time of need to bring their daughter to rest.
A Massachusetts man wanted by State Police in connection with a fatal shooting in 2022 was arraigned Friday afternoon and will face additional charges related to that homicide after he hit a Taunton woman with a car while evading police on Thursday afternoon, according to Massachusetts State Police.

David Lynch, 24, was arraigned from his Boston Medical Center hospital room on Friday afternoon, as he also had injuries from the crash, and pleaded not guilty to one count of murder, according to the Plymouth District Attorneys Office.

Lynch was ordered held without bail pending a trial and is scheduled to appear in court on July 14, the district attorney said. He will remain in the hospital, police added.

He was arrested June 16, following the crash, in connection with the killing of 26-year-old John Abreu Junior DePina, who was fatally shot in Brockton in November 2022, police said.

Police had previously stated the full list of charges against Lynch were still being finalized, but were expected to include further charges stemming from the crash in addition to charges from the fatal shooting.

The charges against Lynch are to include firearms and narcotics offenses, police said, along with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, operating to endanger, failure to stop for police and other motor vehicle-related offenses.

Police said after the crash, they seized two guns and found narcotics inside the car.

Lynch had been added to the polices Most Wanted list in March. Besides Brockton, Lynch was said by police to have ties to Abington, Canton and Weymouth, and was previously considered armed and dangerous.

Demarje Taylor, a 23-year-old Chelsea man who was the passenger in the car, was arraigned Thursday at State Police Middleborough barracks on gun possession charges after he was released from Good Samaritan Hospital for his injuries from the crash.

Taylor was brought to the Ashe Street Jail in New Bedford to be held pending bail or arraignment, police said in a press release Friday morning.

What happened in Raynham?

At around 3 p.m. on Thursday in Raynham, Lynch was fleeing from police in a BMW X1 SUV with Taylor, when he hit and seriously injured a 32-year-old Taunton woman driving a Honda Accord, according to police.

Troopers had spotted Lynch in the BMW in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn in Middleborough, officials said, and as the authorities approached who they believed to be the suspect in the Brockton shooting, officials said he drove off, ramming two police cars, and fled onto Route 44.

Lynch was pursued by troopers briefly, police said, before the officers lost track of the BMW. At 3:05 p.m., authorities learned that Lynch crashed into another car at the intersection of Orchard and Warren streets in Raynham.

The 32-year-old Taunton woman was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton and was in serious condition Thursday evening, police said.

Lynch and Taylor ran away from the crash but were caught and arrested a short time later, police said. After a search Thursday evening, police said troopers found two guns inside Lynchs BMW.

Lynch was also brought to Good Samaritan Hospital, and was moved Thursday night to Boston Medical Center, where he remains under police guard, state police said. There has been no information released regarding an arraignment in the 2022 fatal shooting, nor the new charges from the crash.
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.

Meaka Brown. (Courtesy photo)

Meaka Brown

Age: 43

Community: Boston

Her story: Meaka Brown began her career in the music industry but became curious about cannabis when her sister-in-law was diagnosed with cancer and used cannabis to help her eat and gain weight during treatment. After learning about the medicinal properties of the plant, she began creating her own recipes for cannabis-infused salves at home.

She studied herbalism and cannabis science, but to learn about the cannabis business, Brown took a position as a supervisor at Pure Oasis, a dispensary in Boston, eventually becoming the stores general manager.

The rest is history, she said.

Today, Brown works as a cannabis banking regulatory specialist at Green Check Verified, a technology company that provides financial services for legal cannabis businesses. She also serves on the Massachusetts Cannabis Social Equity Fund Advisory Board and is the director of education and wellness for Boston Cannabis Week.

In her spare time, Brown continues to work on developing body care products that incorporate cannabis, and plans to relaunch her company Babes Handmade later this year.

In her words: Find a mentor in the industry. Learn everything you can about each aspect of the industry, and be sure to lean into any past experience you have. It will always be useful when moving through.

Each day, we will introduce more 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.
A New Hampshire man faces several charges after police in Bernardston say they found him driving a decommissioned police cruiser and wearing a tactical vest, a worn-out badge and several weapons, including a Smith & Wesson handgun holstered to his hip.

At a dangerousness hearing for Brendon L. Douglas, of Hooksett, New Hampshire, Judge William F. Mazanec III of Greenfield District Court set a bail at $3,000 with conditions after authorities brought 11 charges against Douglas on Wednesday.
Update: Dickson Joel De Los Reyess body was found by law enforcement in a marshland in Revere on Friday, June 16, 2023.

Massachusetts State Police are working to locate the Lyft driver who picked up a 24-year-old Lynn man from a party in Chelsea early Sunday morning after a 911 call came from the Lynn mans cell phone at the end of the ride.

He never returned home, according to the department.

Dickson Joel De Los Reyes has been missing since he left the Chelsea party at 3:42 a.m. on Sunday, June 11, police said.

De Los Reyes is a Hispanic male and is approximately 5 feet 3 inches tall and 150 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes.

He was last seen wearing the clothes depicted in what appears to be black pants, a black vest, a white long-sleeve shirt and white sneakers. Police provided a photograph from a city of Chelsea surveillance camera taken of De Los Reyes leaving the party.

Dickson "Joel" De Los Reyes leaving a party on June 11, on surveillance footage from the City of Chelsea. Photo courtesy Massachusetts State Police

According to the department, De Los Reyes got into a Lyft rideshare vehicle at 3:42 a.m. in front of 168 Shurtleff St. in Chelsea on June 11.

At the same time the Lyft ride ended, about 14 minutes later at 3:56 a.m, police said, a 911 call came in to the Revere Police Department from De Los Reyes cell phone number, state police said.

The call disconnected, state police said, and several attempts to call De Los Reyes number back by police were unsuccessful.

Police said the call came from the area of American Legion Highway in Revere. State Police have also attempted to determine the phones location several times, and stated the department believed the phone may be off.

The department is now working to locate the driver of the Lyft, who is believed as of June 16 to be the last person who saw De Los Reyes before he went missing, police said.

Police asked if anyone has information regarding this investigation to contact Trooper Timothy Burns of the State Police Detective Unit for Suffolk County at 617-727-8817, or the Massachusetts State Police Troop A Headquarters at 978-538-6020, or to call 911.
A teenager who surrendered to authorities in connection with the second of two shootings near Revere Beach Memorial Day weekend has received additional shooting charges, Massachusetts State Police announced late Thursday.

The 17-year-old suspect, who was previously charged with several firearm possession offenses, including carrying a firearm without a license and possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, received two additional charges of two counts of assault and battery by means of discharging a firearm, state police said in a statement.

Read more: Adrian Perez to be held without bail in double fatal shooting in Springfield apartment

On May 28, police responded 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.

During the second shooting, a 17-year-old boy was grazed by a bullet while a 51-year-old female bystander was shot in her legs, police said. The teen declined to go to the hospital, but the woman was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for treatment.

The suspect has been held in custody since a dangerousness hearing in Chelsea District Court on Monday, state police said. All charges thus far were filed by the State Police Detective Unit for Suffolk County. State police said the suspect will be arraigned on the new charges at a later date.

Police declined to release the teens name, citing his juvenile status. Under Massachusetts law, a 17-year-old defendant is considered a juvenile unless charged with homicide or indicted as a youthful offender.

That weekends first shooting, located near 123 Centennial Ave., two blocks from Revere Beach, happened when police believe the shots were fired during a large brawl around the area. A 17-year-old girl was shot in her lower body during the incident. Her injury was not life-threatening, authorities said.

Revere Beach was closed after the shootings and reopened in time for Memorial Day but with a larger law enforcement presence.
Carlos Asencio had a crisis. He wanted to get back into U.S., but he was wanted on attempted murder charges after police said he broke into Amanda Dabrowskis home and assaulted her. His attempts to get back into the country werent working out.

And when he contacted lawyers, they advised him to cross back in legally and allow himself to be detained.

But whether because the lawyer fees were too high, or because voices in his head told him not to follow the advice (different witnesses gave different accounts of his words in Worcester Superior Court Friday), or for reasons undisclosed, he needed another option.

In the end, he simply walked.

Thats the story mental health professionals testified Asencio gave them while he was incarcerated following the July 3, 2019 death of Dabrowski, at OConnors Restaurant & Bar in Worcester.

16 1 / 16 Carlos Asencio trial

Asencio is on trial for murder after authorities said he returned to the U.S. months after the Ayer attack, in which Dabrowski successfully fought him off, and stabbed her 58 times at OConnors. She died four hours later.

Psychologist Paul Zeizel testified Asencio told him he paid for information on how to cross the border after a lawyer quoted too high a fee to arrange a legal crossing.

Psychiatrist Christina Daou testified Asencio told her when it came to returning to the U.S., the voices started telling him to not do this.

The voices Asencio claimed he had been hearing are central to his defense claim that he lacks criminal responsibility for killing Dabrowski, who witnesses testified was stabbed at the restaurant where she was attending a book club meeting.

Daou said Asencio had also asked taxi drivers how he could cross illegally.

After deciding he didnt want to present himself to be detained, Daou said Asencio told her he took a route, and he did not disclose the exact steps, but he said that he crossed illegally walking by foot and through a river and made it into Texas, and then he took buses to make it to New England.

Documents police testified they found in Asencios wallet included bus tickets from McAllen, Texas, to Houston and Houston to Atlanta. Other items included transit tickets for New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts, as well as transit and bus schedules.

Asencios wallet also included a parking ticket for Union Station dated June 16.

Zeizel testified, consistently with the defenses position that Asencio is not guilty due to lack of criminal responsibility, that Asencio suffers from schizoaffective disorder, based on his claims of commanding voices in his head and hallucinations.

Daou testified Asencio claimed to have blacked out during the stabbing of Dabrowski, who a medical examiner testified suffered 58 stab wounds, as well as during the Easter morning incident. She said in her opinion, Asenscio suffers from borderline personality disorder and no psychotic disorders.

Testimony in the case concluded in the early afternoon Friday, with attorneys set to review jury instructions over the weekend and present closing arguments Tuesday morning.
Dear Annie: Ive been friends with Jessie for several years, but lately, Ive been feeling like the friendship is one-sided. Im always the one reaching out, making plans and putting in the effort. Jessie has been responding to my texts with one-word answers, if at all.

I value our friendship a lot, but Im starting to question whether she feels the same way. How can I address this issue without seeming needy? Should I confront her or let it go and just hope it changes back to what it was like before? Any guidance would be appreciated.

 Friendship on Uneven Ground

Dear Uneven Ground: Friendships are not transactional. There are naturally times when one friend gives more than the other. Perhaps Jessie is going through a difficult season of life and simply doesnt have the capacity to initiate contact.

Reach out to her; tell her that she has felt distant recently and that you miss her; and gently ask how she is doing.

If she brushes you off, and if the blatant imbalance in your relationship continues, then perhaps your friendship has run its course. Not everyone who comes into your life is meant to stay forever; that doesnt mean you cant treasure your friendship for what it was.

Dear Annie: My sister passed away last week at the young age of 63. She was cremated and had served in the military. We had a small military service for her, and at her service, there were a few bunches of flowers sent to the funeral home, only three to be exact. Two were sent to the funeral home from my nephews company that he works for, and one was sent from an aunt and uncle. After the services, my aunt and uncle asked if they could have their flowers back!

I was appalled and caught off guard. My question is, was it OK for them to ask for their flowers back?! I always thought when you sent flowers to a funeral home, it was supposed to be a gift to the family. Im just lost for words. How should I address this? Or should I just let it go? I have never asked for flowers back from any funeral I have sent flowers to.

 Sincerely Appalled

Dear Appalled: Youre not alone; I, too, am surprised by your aunt and uncles request. Sending flowers to loved ones who are grieving is a standard way to express sympathy and offer comfort after experiencing a loss. To ask for them back following the service seems insincere and, frankly, tacky.

While I cant imagine a particularly good reason for them to ask this of you, Id advise that the path of least resistance is your best way forward. I hope you took one of the other two flower arrangements home with you, as a token of your sisters service instead. If she were still with us, I think shed probably agree its not worth fighting over either.

I am so sorry for your loss. Wishing you nothing but peace as you heal during this most difficult time.

How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner? is out now! Annie Lanes second anthology Dear Annie: Ive been friends with Jessie for several years, but lately, Ive been feeling like the friendship is one-sided. Im always the one reaching out, making plans and putting in the effort. Jessie has been responding to my texts with one-word answers, if at all.

I value our friendship a lot, but Im starting to question whether she feels the same way. How can I address this issue without seeming needy? Should I confront her or let it go and just hope it changes back to what it was like before? Any guidance would be appreciated. -- Friendship on Uneven Ground

Dear Uneven Ground: Friendships are not transactional. There are naturally times when one friend gives more than the other. Perhaps Jessie is going through a difficult season of life and simply doesnt have the capacity to initiate contact.

Reach out to her; tell her that she has felt distant recently and that you miss her; and gently ask how she is doing.

If she brushes you off, and if the blatant imbalance in your relationship continues, then perhaps your friendship has run its course. Not everyone who comes into your life is meant to stay forever; that doesnt mean you cant treasure your friendship for what it was.

Dear Annie: My sister passed away last week at the young age of 63. She was cremated and had served in the military. We had a small military service for her, and at her service, there were a few bunches of flowers sent to the funeral home, only three to be exact. Two were sent to the funeral home from my nephews company that he works for, and one was sent from an aunt and uncle. After the services, my aunt and uncle asked if they could have their flowers back!

I was appalled and caught off guard. My question is, was it OK for them to ask for their flowers back?! I always thought when you sent flowers to a funeral home, it was supposed to be a gift to the family. Im just lost for words. How should I address this? Or should I just let it go? I have never asked for flowers back from any funeral I have sent flowers to. -- Sincerely Appalled

Dear Appalled: Youre not alone; I, too, am surprised by your aunt and uncles request. Sending flowers to loved ones who are grieving is a standard way to express sympathy and offer comfort after experiencing a loss. To ask for them back following the service seems insincere and, frankly, tacky.

While I cant imagine a particularly good reason for them to ask this of you, Id advise that the path of least resistance is your best way forward. I hope you took one of the other two flower arrangements home with you, as a token of your sisters service instead. If she were still with us, I think shed probably agree its not worth fighting over either.

I am so sorry for your loss. Wishing you nothing but peace as you heal during this most difficult time.

How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner? is out now! Annie Lanes second anthology  featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation  is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit http://www.creatorspublishing.com for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM
Gun violence was among the first issues raised at a candidate forum on Wednesday afternoon, and Del. Sally Hudson used the opportunity to openly question her Democratic primary opponent state Sen. Creigh Deeds record on gun control.

Senator Deeds should share with us some explanations for some of these past votes which have helped contribute to the gun violence that we now experience, Hudson said, drawing murmurs from the big crowd on Wednesday.

It was not the first time Hudson has challenged her opponent for the Senate District 11 seat on gun control. She has previously referenced Deeds' opposition to a 2020 bill that would have banned assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines in Virginia.

Speaking with The Daily Progress on Thursday, Deeds maintained that the bill "was written so broadly" that it would have been struck down by the courts.

"That broad definition would include some hunting rifles. It just wasn't going to work," Deeds said.

The longtime legislator specifically referred to the Supreme Court's 2008 D.C. v. Heller decision, which ruled that individuals have a right to possess and use a firearm "for traditionally lawful purposes."

"That bill wouldn't have been upheld in federal court. It just wouldn't have," he told The Daily Progress. Deeds voted to have the 2020 bill sent to the Democrat-controlled Crime Commission to "fix" the bill, he said.

At Wednesday's forum, the sitting state senator said his views on gun control have evolved throughout his three decades in Virginia politics.

Whatever my past has been, none of us is perfect. I wasnt born with a perfectly formed set of ideas, Deeds told the crowd. I always reserve the right to be smarter tomorrow than I am today.

Hudson cited Deeds positions from as far back as the 1990s, pointing to a law signed by then-Gov. Doug Wilder which limited Virginians to one handgun purchase a month. Deeds was one of two Democrats who voted to repeal it in 2012. He voted to reinstate the handgun cap in 2020.

Deeds looked straight ahead as she spoke.

When he spoke, Deeds recalled his long history with firearms: as a child in rural Virginia hunting and as someone who lost his own son to gun violence.

I grew up on a farm. I was in the woods every afternoon hunting. I grew up in that culture, he said. My son died to gun violence."

Deeds' son killed himself with a firearm in 2013 after severely stabbing his father multiple times.

The senator defended his credentials by referencing an assault weapons bill he passed this year and argued that his views were good enough to be endorsed by Gabby Giffords, whos had the same gun violence in her past.

Giffords is a former Arizona congresswoman who left office in 2012 after sustaining a severe brain injury during an attempted assassination. She has since dedicated herself to reforming the country's gun laws.

Deeds also mentioned that he was named a Gun Safety Candidate by Moms Demand Action, a gun control advocacy group.

Gun violence was but one of many issues touched on during the substantive, hourlong forum on Wednesday which was hosted by the Senior Statesman of Virginia and attended by so many people that a long line of cars were backed up trying to enter the parking lot. Senior Statesman Board Member Bob Beard told The Daily Progress it was the largest crowd hes seen attend a forum since the before pandemic.

The gathering of 200-plus people on a Wednesday afternoon is an indication of the intense interest in this local race for state office. Some came to the forum hoping it would help them make a final decision between the two candidates.

It made it harder, Chuck St. Clar told The Daily Progress. I was going to vote for Deeds, and I like Hudson. Shes more articulate, and she clearly has things right on the top of her head.

Deeds has done so much and hes worked so long that youd hate to see him lose, St. Clar said, adding that he really values the senators experience.

Hes high up on various committees so that gives him some power to do things too, he said. But does that outweigh her intelligence? I dont know.

Linda, who declined to provide her last name, said she left the forum less decided than she was before.

We both agree they should both be in, she said after discussing the matter with St. Clar.

Over the past few weeks, Ive been going back and forth and thought, OK, this forum will settle it. I will know. But I dont, she told The Daily Progress with a laugh.

And Ive only got a few days to decide.
Primaries in the special election to fill a central Massachusetts Senate seat will be held on Oct. 10.

Secretary of State William F. Galvin announced the primary date in the 22-community district on Friday morning, a day after the Senate adopted an order scheduling a Nov. 7 special election to fill the seat vacated this month by Anne Gobi. The Worcester and Hampshire Senate seat will be filled on the same day as the city election in Worcester and Gardner.

The Senate district includes six precincts in Worcester and all of Gardner. Candidates will have until Aug. 29 to submit nomination papers to local registrars. Nominations for the race require a minimum of 300 certified signatures, and nomination papers are now available.

Gardner is the home of Democrat Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik, who entered the Senate race last month. Two Republicans have announced runs  Spencer Rep. Peter Durant and Rebekah Etique.

Gobi stepped down to take a newly created rural affairs post in Gov. Maura Healeys administration. - Michael P. Norton/SHNS
Worldwide temperatures briefly exceeded a key warming threshold earlier this month, a hint of heat and its harms to come, scientists worry.

The mercury has since dipped again, but experts say the short surge marked a new global heat record for June and indicates more extremes ahead as the planet enters an El Nino phase that could last years.

Researchers at the European Unions Copernicus Climate Change Service said Thursday that the start of June saw global surface air temperatures rise 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels for the first time. That is the threshold governments said they would try to stay within at a 2015 summit in Paris.

Just because weve temporarily gone over 1.5 degrees doesnt mean weve breached the Paris Agreement limit, cautioned Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus program. For that to happen the globe needs to exceed that threshold for a much longer time period, such as a couple of decades instead of a couple of weeks.

Still, the 11 days spent at the 1.5-degree threshold shows how important it is for scientists to keep a close watch on the planets health, not least because previous spikes above 1.5 have all happened during winter or spring in the northern hemisphere, she said. Its really critical to monitor the situation, to understand what implications this has for the summer to come.

As a climate scientist, I feel like I am watching a global train wreck in slow motion. Its quite frustrating, said University of Victorias Andrew Weaver, who wasnt part of the measurements.

Thats because a three-year La Nina phase  which tends to dampen the effects of global warming  has given way to the opposite, an El Nino period, which could add another half-degree or more to average temperatures.

The expectation is that 2024 will be even warmer than 2023 as this El Nino continues to develop, said Burgess.

We know as well the warmer the global climate is, the more likely we are to have extreme events and the more severe those extreme events may be, she said. So theres a direct correlation between the degree of global warming and the frequency and intensity of extreme events.

Stefan Rahmstorf of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research said the Copernicus data are a reminder of how close we are to the 1.5 C global warming limit, beyond which there are major risks for humanity in terms of climate instability and ecosystem system losses.

Read more: Montana youth argue in court that state is failing to protect against climate change

Rob Jackson, a Stanford University climate scientist who like Rahmstorf wasnt involved in collecting the Copernicus data, said its significance is still unclear.

But some time in the next few years we will shatter global temperature records, he said. Its the coming El Nino, yes. But it isnt just El Nino. Weve loaded the climate system. No one should be surprised when we set extended global records. 1.5 C is coming fast; it may already be here.
In Texas, the 10 Commandments will be prominently displayed in public school classrooms, and unlicensed religious chaplains will be allowed to serve as counselors in public schools. In Oklahoma, a Catholic charter school will be fully funded by taxpayer dollars. These actions are a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and an obliteration of the wall separating church and state.

The Founding Fathers were men of the Enlightenment who believed that the ability to reason could free men from ignorance, superstition and tyrannical oppression exercised by a king or a state-sponsored church.

The Founders were aware of the religious wars that devasted Europe in the wake of the Protestant Reformation. In 1572, on St. Bartholomews Day, in Paris, French Catholics massacred French Calvinists. This led to an estimated 5,000 to 30,000 Calvinists being slaughtered across France. During the Thirty Years War, Catholic forces massacred 20,000 inhabitants of the Protestant city of Magdeburg, Germany.
During Gitex Africa , held in Morocco from 31 May  2 June 2023, IR4LAB (http://www.IR4LAB.com/), a Saudi-based company specialized in disruptive technologies such as Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence., announced that it would be expanding its operations into Africa.

The expansion is part of IR4LABs commitment to the African continent and their aim to spur innovation in deep technologies and implement use cases utilizing IR4LABs Blockchain solution, DocCerts as well as other solutions offered.

Mohamed El Kandri, CTO and Co-Founder of IR4LAB, who made the announcement at the event, stated, We are happy to be expanding into the African market. We believe that Africas digital economy will grow and we want to be part of this growth in innovation and digitization, but also building local capabilities right from Morocco to Africa.

According to Mckinsey & Company, Africa digital economy should top $712 billion by 2050 fostered by its youthful population, smartphone adoption, and internet penetration.

Majd AL AFIFI, CEO and Co-Founder of IR4LAB adds, More and more blockchain entities are setting up base in Africa, but we are glad that IR4LAB will be the first from Saudi Arabia to do so with the support of our leadership.

This was not their first participation in Africa. In March at the first World Maintenance Summit 2023, held between 11th-12th May at King Mohamed 6 University in Marrakech (Morocco), organized by Moroccos largest group OCP and its subsidiary OCP MS, IR4LAB presented on the use of Blockchain in industrial maintenance in general and specifically in industrial inspection.

At the event EL KANDRI highlighted the role that Blockchain could play in maintenance 4.0 and the benefits of using Blockchain in industrial inspection, he has also provided real life examples from IR4LABs current projects.

Prior to this During Saudis leading tech event LEAP 2023, held between February 7th-9th in Riyadh KSA, IR4LAB and SGS (Saudi Ground Services), jointly announced the implementation of DocCerts Blockchain management solution for all training related digital documents and ground service equipment licenses issued by SGS at 28 Saudi Arabian airports where SGS provides ground services.

IR4LAB, also recently was accepted into the Ministry of Communications Information Technology tech champions accelerator program powered by Silicon Valleys Plug and play. Plug and Play was an early investor in Google, PayPal, Dropbox, LendingClub, N26, Soundhound, Honey, Kustomer, and Guardant Health.
The Confederate monument on the grounds of the Amherst County courthouse and its plaque drew support from nine speakers during the county board of supervisors June 6 meeting following a recent letter from the Amherst chapter of the NAACP calling its presence problematic.

The local organization recently wrote the monument, which has been at the courthouse for 101 years, is clearly offensive to many and called the plaque with phrase noble cause in reference to the Confederacys role in the Civil War an anomaly.

It is neither right nor reasonable for it to be where it is; its message is out of sync with our times, the letter presented to the board on May 16 reads.

The letter described the noble cause wording as controversial, divisive and a liability and an artifact from another era. The Amherst County Board of Supervisors did not directly address the groups concerns during the May 16 and June 6 meetings and asked that the matter be put on an upcoming meeting agenda for discussion.

Chris McCloud, a Buchanan resident, during the public comments portion of the June 6 meeting said he is completely opposed to changing the monument or the plaque.

It is unfortunate that we live in a time where individuals somehow believe they can fix the problems and woes of the 21st century by attacking monuments that were erected in the first part of the 20th century to honor the men of the 19th century, McCloud said. Leave this memorial alone.

McCloud and other speakers urged the board to put a stop to any effort to remove or alter the monument.

Do not open this Pandoras Box because it will lead to other monuments and memorials from other wars and other conflicts to be targeted, McCloud said. They are trying to erase our history and our past, which will lead us not having a future because you cannot know exactly how far youve come if you do not know where you came from.

Troutville resident Carter Gill said he is retired from the Air Force and flew combat missions in Vietnam, putting his life on the line for his country as his great, great grandfather did for Virginia during the Civil War. Gill said his ancestor did not own slaves and criticized the NAACPs concerns as woke, adding his view that the county government should stay out of the business of branding Civil War heroes as anything other than heroes.

I do not need you or anyone else to tell me what is a noble cause, Gill said. Do not go down that road.

Sam Bryant, an Amherst resident who recently retired as the countys director of public safety, said the sacrifices of the countys men who fought during the Civil War should not be forgotten.

I dont think this monument or the plaque is hurting anyone, Bryant said.

Bryant said as an emergency responder he has cared of people from many nationalities and backgrounds and the only color we have in common is the color of blood and thats red.

The wording on the plaque reads: To the memory of The Sons of Amherst County, who from 1861 to 1865 upheld in arms the cause of Virginia and the South, who fell in battle or died from wounds, and survivors of the war who as long as they lived were ever proud that they had done their part in the noble cause.

Written remarks from Philip Hamilton, the Republican candidate for Virginias Senate 11 District, which includes Amherst County, in the Nov. 7 election, were read during the June 6 meeting stating his opposition to removing historical markers and statues.

This dedication was not done to support racism but rather to honor the men who fought and died in the war between the states, Hamilton said of the monument being erected in 1922, adding his criticism for left-leaning groups who want Confederate statues and those honoring Founding Fathers such as Thomas Jefferson removed. Since 2022 much of our Virginia history has been removed and many of our monuments remain in danger of being removed.

Madison Heights resident Eric Orasi, who serves on the Amherst County School Board, also spoke in favor of the monument staying where it is untouched.

History is what makes us. We have to understand where we came from to understand where we are going, Orasi said, adding: Whats next? Are we going to take the courthouse down and put up a Starbucks?

Orasi said the courthouse is the perfect spot for such a memorial because of its historical significance.

I dont understand why we want to not learn from the past and honor those fallen soldiers, he said.

Bedford resident Isaac Owen said he has ancestors from Amherst County who fought in the Civil War, none of whom owned slaves, and their cause was merely nothing but independence. He said any attempt to remove the monument or plaque is tyrannical and futile.

I want to see us move forward as citizens of the county of Amherst, not rewrite history, Owen said.

Brandon Dorsey, who also has ancestors from Amherst County who fought for the Confederacy, said many of them never came home and answered the states call to fight. He said he is disturbed by attacks on local Confederate history.

The Amherst NAACP's letter said the group's goal is a "solution amenable to our community."

Sandra Esposito, an architectural historian in Amherst County, told the board history is complicated and shouldnt be judged based on current conditions and understandings. She said the monument was put up in 1922 at a time when the South finally recovered from the Civil Wars devastation and the country was freshly removed from World War I.

They wanted to remember those men. Thats why it was erected, Esposito said, comparing it to the current climate of more and more World War II veterans dying each year. At this time [in 1922] these men were dying off in great numbers.

Esposito said some reinterpretation to help the public understand why it is there may be needed and asked the board to keep the monument in place.

We as people need visual reminders of things that happened, Esposito said.
The Global Endoscopes Market size was valued at US$ 13.9 Billion in 2022 and is expected to reach US$ 27.3 Billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period. The growing demand for minimally invasive procedures and technological advancements in endoscopy are also expected to drive the growth of the market.

The global endoscopes market is expected to witness significant growth over the next few years, driven by increasing demand from the healthcare industry. Endoscopes are medical devices used for examining internal organs, tissues, and cavities of the body. They are used for diagnosing and treating various medical conditions, such as digestive disorders, cancer, and respiratory diseases.

The report provides a detailed analysis of the global endoscopes market, including market size, growth potential, key trends, and challenges. The study covers the market segmentation by type, application, and region. The report also profiles the leading players operating in the market, along with their market share, competitive landscape, and business strategies.

Click Here to Get Free Sample Copy of this Report@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/31385

Endoscopes are medical devices that are used for visualizing internal organs and tissues. They consist of a long, flexible tube with a camera and light source attached to one end. The camera captures images of the internal organs and tissues, which are displayed on a monitor for the doctor to examine. Endoscopes are used in various medical procedures, including gastroscopy, colonoscopy, bronchoscopy, and cystoscopy, among others.

The market growth is attributed to the increasing prevalence of diseases that require endoscopic procedures, rising demand for minimally invasive surgeries, technological advancements in endoscopes, and the growing preference for endoscopic procedures over traditional open surgeries. The report also suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the adoption of endoscopic procedures, further driving the growth of the market.

Endoscopes Market Dynamics:

Increasing demand for minimally invasive surgeries: There is a growing trend towards minimally invasive procedures, which has led to an increase in demand for endoscopes. Endoscopes offer several advantages, including reduced pain, faster recovery time, and lower risk of complications, which are driving their adoption in various medical procedures.

There is a growing trend towards minimally invasive procedures, which has led to an increase in demand for endoscopes. Endoscopes offer several advantages, including reduced pain, faster recovery time, and lower risk of complications, which are driving their adoption in various medical procedures. Technological advancements in endoscopic devices: Technological advancements in endoscopic devices have led to the development of more advanced and sophisticated instruments, such as high-definition endoscopes, which provide clearer images and improve diagnostic accuracy. Additionally, advancements in robotic technology have enabled the development of robotic-assisted endoscopic devices, which are expected to revolutionize the field of endoscopy.

Technological advancements in endoscopic devices have led to the development of more advanced and sophisticated instruments, such as high-definition endoscopes, which provide clearer images and improve diagnostic accuracy. Additionally, advancements in robotic technology have enabled the development of robotic-assisted endoscopic devices, which are expected to revolutionize the field of endoscopy. Rising prevalence of gastrointestinal diseases: The rising prevalence of gastrointestinal diseases, such as colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, is driving the demand for endoscopes. Endoscopy is widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions, which is expected to fuel the growth of the endoscopes market.

The rising prevalence of gastrointestinal diseases, such as colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, is driving the demand for endoscopes. Endoscopy is widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions, which is expected to fuel the growth of the endoscopes market. Growing aging population: The growing aging population is expected to drive the demand for endoscopes as older adults are more likely to require medical procedures, such as colonoscopies, to screen for diseases. The increasing prevalence of age-related diseases, such as cancer, is also expected to contribute to the growth of the endoscopes market.

The growing aging population is expected to drive the demand for endoscopes as older adults are more likely to require medical procedures, such as colonoscopies, to screen for diseases. The increasing prevalence of age-related diseases, such as cancer, is also expected to contribute to the growth of the endoscopes market. Stringent regulatory requirements: The endoscopes market is subject to stringent regulatory requirements, which may slow down the development and adoption of new technologies. Additionally, concerns over the safety and efficacy of endoscopic devices, such as the risk of infection associated with reusable endoscopes, may limit the growth of the market.

Buy this Premium Research Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/31385

Segment Insights:

Product Type: Flexible endoscopes are expected to dominate the market due to their flexibility, which allows for easier maneuverability during procedures, and their ability to reach remote areas. However, capsule endoscopes are expected to grow at a faster rate due to their non-invasive nature and ability to capture images of the entire digestive tract.

Flexible endoscopes are expected to dominate the market due to their flexibility, which allows for easier maneuverability during procedures, and their ability to reach remote areas. However, capsule endoscopes are expected to grow at a faster rate due to their non-invasive nature and ability to capture images of the entire digestive tract. Application: Gastrointestinal endoscopy is expected to be the largest application segment due to the high incidence of gastrointestinal disorders such as colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. However, arthroscopy is expected to grow at a faster rate due to the increasing number of sports-related injuries and the adoption of minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Gastrointestinal endoscopy is expected to be the largest application segment due to the high incidence of gastrointestinal disorders such as colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease. However, arthroscopy is expected to grow at a faster rate due to the increasing number of sports-related injuries and the adoption of minimally invasive surgical techniques. End-User: Hospitals are expected to dominate the end-user segment due to the high volume of endoscopic procedures performed in hospital settings. However, ambulatory surgical centers are expected to grow at a faster rate due to their cost-effectiveness and convenience for patients.

Regional Insights:

North America is expected to be the largest market for endoscopes due to the high adoption of advanced endoscopic devices, the presence of key market players, and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as gastrointestinal disorders and cancer. The United States is expected to be the major contributor to the growth of the North American market due to the high healthcare expenditure, favorable reimbursement policies, and increasing geriatric population.

Europe is expected to be the second-largest market for endoscopes due to the increasing number of endoscopic procedures performed in the region and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases. The United Kingdom, Germany, and France are expected to be the major contributors to the growth of the European market due to the increasing healthcare expenditure and favorable reimbursement policies.

Competitive Analysis:

The endoscopes market is highly competitive, with the presence of several global and regional players. Some of the key players in the market include Medtronic Plc., Olympus Corporation, KARL STORZ SE & Co. KG, Johnson & Johnson, Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, Richard Wolf GmbH, Braun Melsungen Ag, Stryker Corporation, PENTAX Medical, CONMED Corporation, Boston Scientific Corporation, Smith & Nephew PLC

Customize this Report As per Your Requirement @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/request-customization/31385

Market Share: Olympus Corporation is the market leader in the endoscopes market, accounting for a significant share of the market due to its broad product portfolio, strong distribution network, and technological advancements. Other key players such as Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG, Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, Pentax Medical Company, and Stryker Corporation also hold significant market shares.

Olympus Corporation is the market leader in the endoscopes market, accounting for a significant share of the market due to its broad product portfolio, strong distribution network, and technological advancements. Other key players such as Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG, Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, Pentax Medical Company, and Stryker Corporation also hold significant market shares. Product Development: Key players in the endoscopes market are focusing on developing technologically advanced and innovative endoscopes to cater to the growing demand for minimally invasive surgical procedures. For instance, Olympus Corporation launched a new endoscope system, EVIS X1, in 2019, which features advanced imaging capabilities and artificial intelligence technology for improved diagnosis and treatment.

Key players in the endoscopes market are focusing on developing technologically advanced and innovative endoscopes to cater to the growing demand for minimally invasive surgical procedures. For instance, Olympus Corporation launched a new endoscope system, EVIS X1, in 2019, which features advanced imaging capabilities and artificial intelligence technology for improved diagnosis and treatment. Partnerships and Collaborations: Several key players in the endoscopes market are entering into strategic partnerships and collaborations to expand their product portfolio and strengthen their market position. For instance, in 2019, Fujifilm Holdings Corporation entered into a strategic partnership with Boston Scientific Corporation to develop and commercialize endoscopic ultrasound systems.

Several key players in the endoscopes market are entering into strategic partnerships and collaborations to expand their product portfolio and strengthen their market position. For instance, in 2019, Fujifilm Holdings Corporation entered into a strategic partnership with Boston Scientific Corporation to develop and commercialize endoscopic ultrasound systems. Mergers and Acquisitions: Key players in the endoscopes market are also engaging in mergers and acquisitions to strengthen their market position and expand their product portfolio. For instance, in 2020, Stryker Corporation acquired Wright Medical Group N.V., a medical device company specializing in extremities and biologics, to expand its product portfolio in the orthopedic market.

Persistence Market Researchs Expertise in Life Sciences and Transformational Health

Our expert team of industry analysts comprising management graduates, medical professionals, engineers, and project managers provides insights on emerging therapy areas, diagnostic tools, medical devices and components, reimbursement and market access, biotechnology, and life science research products and services to equip decision-makers with sound inputs and strategic recommendations. Click here to learn more about how we zero in on the critical aspects of this industry.

For More Related Reports 

https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/uveitis-treatment-market.asp

https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/dural-graft-market.asp

https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/peptic-ulcer-drugs-market.asp

https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/surgical-dental-loupes-camera-market.asp

About us: 

Persistence Market Research is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. Persistence Market Research boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductors and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.

Contact Us:

Persistence Market Research

Address  305 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007 United States

U.S. Ph.  +1-646-568-7751

USA-Canada Toll-free  +1 800-961-0353

Sales  sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
The global market for these disposable devices was valued at US$ 1,056.5 million in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 9.3% during the forecast period (2023-2030).

Epidural anesthesia is a method that primarily provides analgesic relief instead of an anesthetic effect. It is used to alleviate lower back pain during vaginal birth or cesarean delivery by injecting a numbing agent into the spinal nerves. Epidural anesthesia disposable devices are utilized in the spinal region, covering the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions during the anesthesia procedure.

To Understand Business Strategies, Request For a Sample Report @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/2413

The use of epidural anesthesia during childbirth is anticipated to spur demand for disposable epidural anesthesia devices.

The market for epidural anesthesia is anticipated to experience growth during the forecast period due to the increasing use of this method to alleviate pain during cesarean deliveries. As an example, in England, UK, almost 100,000 emergency cesarean deliveries were performed in 2017-2018, and 21% of them used epidural anesthesia to relieve pain, according to the National Health Service (NHS) Maternity Statistics from October 2018.

The market growth is anticipated to be driven by the increasing efforts of major players to expand their production facilities and geographic reach to meet the growing demand for safe and effective pain management during labor and surgeries. For example, in July 2019, Sarstedt Inc. initiated the construction of a medical equipment manufacturing plant in the Maryino industrial park in St. Petersburg, Russia, with commercial production expected to begin in May 2022. Moreover, in December 2016, Sarstedt Inc. invested US$ 6 million in expanding its Newton production facility in the U.S., which helped to increase the companys injection molding and assembly operation capacities.

The epidural anesthesia disposable devices market is expected to witness growth during the forecast period, driven by the launch of new products by key players. For example, Becton, Dickinson and Company launched the BD Pyxis Anesthesia Station ES platform at the American Society of Health-system Pharmacists (ASHP) mid-year meeting held in Orlando, U.S. in December 2017. The platform provides medication safety and anesthesia workflow efficiency in the operating room by controlling access to medication, standardizing medication management, and supporting regulatory compliance.

Market for Disposable Devices for Epidural Anesthesia  Regional Analysis

The North America market for epidural anesthesia disposable devices is expected to hold a significant market share during the forecast period, driven by the increasing adoption of epidural anesthesia for labor pain management and recent product approvals in the region. According to data from the Government of Canada, the use of epidural anesthesia increased from 53.2% in 2006-2007 to 57.8% in 2015-2016. Additionally, in May 2019, Flat Medical, a clinical safety solutions provider, obtained FDA clearance for their EpiFaith syringe which provides secure delivery of epidural anesthesia while preventing accidental dural puncture.

The demand for epidural anesthesia for pain management and rising product approvals are expected to drive the significant market share of Europe in the global epidural anesthesia disposable devices market during the forecast period. The World Health Organization recommended the use of epidural anesthesia for healthy pregnant women seeking pain relief during labor in Europe in 2018. Additionally, in October 2018, Flat Medical, a clinical safety solutions medical technology company, received CE certification for EpiFaith for use in epidural procedures.

Key Players

Leading companies in the worldwide market for disposable devices used in epidural anesthesia procedures comprise VOGT Medical, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Smiths Medical, Teleflex Incorporated, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Flat Medical, Epimed, Egemen International, Vygon, Sarstedt, Inc., and SFM Medical Devices.

Buy-Now this Premium Report @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/2413

    :

 In-depth analysis of the market on the global and regional levels.

 Major changes in market dynamics and competitive landscape.

 Segmentation on the basis of type, application, geography and others.

 Historical and future market research in terms of size, share growth, volume, and sales.

 Major changes and assessment in market dynamics and developments.

 Emerging key segments and regions

 Key business strategies by major market players and their key methods.

Table of Contents with Major Points:

Executive Summary

Introduction

Key Findings

Recommendations

Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Overview

Definition of Epidural Anesthesia Disposable Devices Market 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 Epidural Anesthesia Disposable Devices Market 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!

Ask Here for Customization Report @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/2413

Why Choose Coherent Market Insights?

Our BI-enabled solution for narrative storytelling in this market. Coherent Market Insights provides in-depth anticipated trends and reliable Insights on over 20,000+ growing and specialty sectors, assisting you in making important revenue-impacting decisions for a bright future.

CMI gives a comprehensive overview and worldwide competitive landscape for your markets Region, Country, Segment, and Key Players. Present your Market Report and conclusions using the built-in presentation tool, which saves you up to 70% of your time and resources for Investor, Sales & Marketing, R&D, and Product Development proposals. With more than 15+ Key Market Indicators available for your market, CMI provides data distribution in Excel and Interactive PDF formats.

Explore More Report:

Middle east and asia injectable drugs market

Continuous glucose monitoring market

Digital diabetes management market

Sleep apnea diagnostic system market

Beating heart patch market

Veterinary orthopedic implants market

Degenerative disc disease treatment market

North america scar treatment market

Fetal monitoring market

Cardiac remote patient monitoring devices market
The global Medical X Ray Detectors Market is estimated to grow at the rate of 6.1% in the upcoming period by the year 2024. Integration with virtual reality solutions is expected to rule the roost in the forecast period. Augmented reality could be used for accessing information as well as reports while handling patients or without having to leave their existing operations, that too, in a completely hands-free mode, through voice command, or making supportive data appear automatically. This would be the healthcare vertical in future.

Increasing private and public investment in digital imaging technology particularly in the field of healthcare, the numerous benefits offered by digital detectors, analog X-ray reimbursement cuts, and reducing prices are the main factors driving the medical X-ray detectors market.

Furthermore, technological advancements coupled with strong encouragement by venture capitalists should boost the medical X-ray detectors market throughout the course of the study period. The medical X-ray detectors market is poised to grow with a robust CAGR of 6.1% from 2017-2022.

Get Sample Copy of this Report@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/18580

Digital X-ray systems are twice the size of retrofit X-ray systems in terms of module type and are expected to become even more popular in the days ahead. The digital x-ray systems medical X-ray detectors segment is on track to be worth more than US$ 2 billion by the end of the study period, making it imperative for key stakeholders to target this segment.

Company Profiles:

Agfa-Gevaert N.V.

Onex Corporation

FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation

Analogic Corporation

Canon Inc

DRTECH Corporation

Hamamatsu Photonics k.k

Konica Minolta, Inc.

Rayence Co., Ltd.

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated

Others.

Request for Methodology@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/18580

Retrofit systems are slowly but surely fading in popularity. Nonetheless, this segment still accounts for a revenue share approaching a third of the medical X-ray detectors market in 2017 and companies cannot overlook it entirely in favor of digital x-ray systems

Fixed detectors comprise more than half the medical X-ray detectors market by revenue share. North America alone has a third of the market in 2017 and is expected to be the only region in the medical X-ray detectors market to record a robust CAGR in excess of 6%. Europe is the second largest region in the fixed detector segment of the medical X-ray detectors market but MEA and Latin America are predicted to grow at a higher CAGR.

Portable detectors occupy the balance revenue share in the modality segment of the medical X-ray detectors market. This segment is highly likely to see strong growth and companies can try to target this lucrative segment accordingly.

Access Full Report@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/18580

Large-area flat panel detectors are dominant in the medical X-ray detectors market by panel size segment in 2017 and are estimated to remain so going forward. The large-area flat panel detector segment in both North America and Europe is assessed to be worth more than US$ 600 million by the end of the forecast period, ensuring that all major players can be profitable in such a large market. The small-area flat panel detectors segment is particularly popular in North America with a high CAGR in the APEJ region.

Computed radiography has a revenue share of just over a fifth of the medical X-ray detectors market by product type segment and is likely to lose popularity over the study period. A similar CAGR greater than 4.5% exists in Latin America and APEJ but the latter is considerably larger in terms of market size.

North America is the largest region in the medical X-ray detectors market and the U.S. accounts for the lions share within the continent. The U.S. medical X-ray detectors market is anticipated to grow to more than a billion dollars by end 2022.

Read More Trending PMR Exclusive Article

About Us:

Persistence Market Research is a U.S.-based full-service market intelligence firm specializing in syndicated research, custom research, and consulting services. Persistence Market Research boasts market research expertise across the Healthcare, Chemicals and Materials, Technology and Media, Energy and Mining, Food and Beverages, Semiconductor and Electronics, Consumer Goods, and Shipping and Transportation industries. The company draws from its multi-disciplinary capabilities and high-pedigree team of analysts to share data that precisely corresponds to clients business needs.

Contact Us:

Address  305 Broadway, 7th Floor, New York City, NY 10007 United States

U.S. Ph.  +1-646-568-7751

USA-Canada Toll-free  +1 800-961-0353

Sales  sales@persistencemarketresearch.com

Website  https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com
Thermoregulation is a critical process that helps to maintain body temperature within a normal range by balancing heat production and heat loss. In neonates, this process is especially important and is affected by factors such as physical immaturity, illness severity, and environmental conditions. The average normal axillary temperature for adults is 37C, while the normal temperature range for neonates is about 36.4C (97.5F), with slight variations between 36.7  37.3C. To promote proper thermoregulation, neonates should be kept within their neutral thermal environment (NTE). Hypothermia occurs when a newborns body temperature drops below 36.5C (97.7F), while hyperthermia results from an uncontrolled increase in body temperature beyond the bodys ability to lose heat. Numerous techniques have been developed to assess thermoregulation in infants and provide a thermo-neutral environment to maintain a normal body temperature in neonates.

Request Sample Report + All Related Graphs & Charts:

https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/2419



Top Key Players:

 Koninklijke Philips N.V.

 GE Healthcare

 Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA

 Fisher & Paykel Healthcare

 Atom Medical Corporation

 Fanem Ltda

 Novos Medical Systems

 Pluss Advanced Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

 Weyer GmbH

 Baby Bloom Healthcare BV

 Medical Technology Transfer and Services Asia

Market Drivers:

The growth of the neonatal thermoregulation devices market is primarily driven by the rising incidence of preterm birth, which can cause low body temperature immediately after birth due to the lack of stored body fat. In 2017, the preterm birth rate in the US was 9.93%, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Premature birth and its complications are major contributors to infant mortality in the country. The growth of the neonatal thermoregulation devices market has been propelled by significant advancements in medical technology.The increasing number of admissions to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) and Special Care Nurseries (SCNs) has also driven demand for neonatal incubators to provide early treatment for newborns and premature babies. According to the Australias Mothers and Babies report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in 2014, around 72% of preterm babies are more likely to be admitted to an SCN or NICU than term (10%) and post-term babies (13%), further fueling the demand for neonatal thermoregulation devices.

Market Restraints:

The growth of the neonatal thermoregulation devices market is likely to be restrained by potential hazards associated with the use of warmers in neonates. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reported in 2013 that the most serious complication associated with the use of radiant warmers is extreme hyperthermia, which can occur due to improper use or dislodgement of the sensor probe. This can result in death or permanent neurological damage in infants.

Regional Analysis:

The global market for neonatal thermoregulation devices is categorized into various regions including North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa.

North America is expected to dominate the neonatal thermoregulation devices market due to the rising prevalence of preterm births. As per the Dimes survey conducted in March 2017, one out of every ten babies in the United States was born preterm.

The neonatal thermoregulation devices market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to exhibit substantial growth due to the development of neonatal healthcare facilities in the region. Multinational companies are also targeting the Asian markets to manufacture neonatal care devices, owing to lower manufacturing costs. For example, in 2013, Koninklijke Philips N.V. ventured into the mother and childcare business segment in India and manufactured affordable infant warmers and incubators, in comparison to other players in the market.

We Offer Customized Report, Click:

https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/2419

There are several major players in the neonatal thermoregulation market, including Koninklijke Philips N.V., GE Healthcare, Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Atom Medical Corporation, Fanem Ltda, Novos Medical Systems, Pluss Advanced Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Weyer GmbH, Baby Bloom Healthcare BV, and Medical Technology Transfer and Services Asia. These companies are engaged in the manufacturing and distribution of neonatal thermoregulation devices, and are continuously striving to enhance their product offerings in order to maintain their competitive edge in the market.

Market Taxonomy for Neonatal Thermoregulation Devices

According to Product Type

armers

Incubators

Neonatal Cooling System

By End Users

Hospital

Nursing Homes

Pediatric and Neonatal Clinics

Others (NICU, SCN etc.)

Purchase This Complete Business Report:

https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/2419

Table of Content



Chapter 1 Industry Overview

1.1 Definition

1.2 Assumptions

1.3 Research Scope

1.4 Market Analysis by Regions

1.5 Neonatal Thermoregulation Devices Market Size Analysis from 2023 to 2030

11.6 COVID-19 Outbreak: Neonatal Thermoregulation Devices Industry Impact

Chapter 2 Global Neonatal Thermoregulation Devices Competition by Types, Applications, and Top Regions and Countries

2.1 Global Neonatal Thermoregulation Devices (Volume and Value) by Type

2.3 Global Neonatal Thermoregulation Devices (Volume and Value) by Regions

Chapter 3 Production Market Analysis

3.1 Global Production Market Analysis

3.2 Regional Production Market Analysis

Chapter 4 Global Neonatal Thermoregulation Devices Sales, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2017-2023)

Chapter 5 North America Neonatal Thermoregulation Devices Market Analysis

Chapter 6 East Asia Neonatal Thermoregulation Devices Market Analysis

Chapter 7 Europe Neonatal Thermoregulation Devices Market Analysis

Chapter 8 South Asia Neonatal Thermoregulation Devices Market Analysis

Chapter 9 Southeast Asia Neonatal Thermoregulation Devices Market Analysis

Chapter 10 Middle East Neonatal Thermoregulation Devices Market Analysis

Chapter 11 Africa Neonatal Thermoregulation Devices Market Analysis

Chapter 12 Oceania Neonatal Thermoregulation Devices Market Analysis

Chapter 13 South America Neonatal Thermoregulation Devices Market Analysis

Chapter 14 Company Profiles and Key Figures in Neonatal Thermoregulation Devices Business

Chapter 15 Global Neonatal Thermoregulation Devices Market Forecast (2023-2030)

Chapter 16 Conclusions

Explore More Related Insights:

Spectacle Lens Market

Life Science Tools Market

Ventilator Breathing Circuit Market

U.S. & Asia Pacific Portable Medical Oxygen Concentrators Market

Platelet Aggregation Devices Market

Drug Delivery Device Market

Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Market

Kyphoplasty And Percutaneous Discectomy Market

Ontogenetic Market

Pediatric Medical Devices Market

Handheld Backscatter X-Ray Device Market

Pressure Infusion Bags Market

Cardiovascular Devices Market

Dental Laser Market

Surgical Case Cart Market

Robotic-assisted Surgery Systems Market

Digital X-ray Devices Market

Oxygenators Market

Urology Device Market

About Us:

Coherent Market Insights is a global market intelligence and consulting organization focused on assisting our plethora of clients achieve transformational growth by helping them make critical business decisions. We are headquartered in India, having sales office at global financial capital in the U.S. and sales consultants in United Kingdom and Japan. Our client base includes players from across various business verticals in over 57 countries worldwide. We create value for clients through our highly reliable and accurate reports. We are also committed in playing a leading role in offering insights in various sectors post-COVID-19 and continue to deliver measurable, sustainable results for our clients.

Contact Us:

Mr. Shah

Coherent Market Insights Pvt Ltd,

533 Airport Boulevard, Suite 400, Burlingame

CA 94010, United States

Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com

United States of America: +1-206-701-6702

United Kingdom: +44-020-8133-4027

JAPAN: +81-50-5539-1737

INDIA: +91-848-285-0837
by Richard Whitman , Columnist, June 15, 2023

Effie Worldwide has announced the 2022 Effie Index, the annual ranking of the companies behind the worlds most effective marketing with WPP, Ogilvy, Leo Burnett Middle East, Slap Global, AB InBev and McDonalds named Most Effective Holding Group, Agency Network, Agency Office, Marketer and Brand, respectively.

WPP jumped back into the top spot as Most Effective Agency Holding Group after getting unseated by Omnicom last year for the first time since 2012. WPPs dominance came from some of its major networks: Ogilvy (5 Grand Effies), Grey (5 Grands), and EssenceMediacom (2 Grands), which led the way for the holding company.



Omnicom took second place and Publicis regained third position for the first time since 2013, moving IPG into the fourth spot. Dentsu continued to hold its position in fifth place.



Behind Ogilvy in the Agency Network category, McCann Worldgroup was second followed by Leo Burnett Worldwide, DDB Worldwide and BBDO Worldwide.



Ogilvy has placed number one in the rankings as Most Effective Agency Network for the first time since the 2016 Index. The WPP agency network earned 5 Grand Effies in 2022, including Ogilvy South Africa and Carling Black Label (AB InBev) for Bride Armour and Ogilvy China and KFC (YUM!) for GET CRAZY FOR CRAZY THURSDAYS.



Rounding out the top 5 in Most Effective Agency Offices were Ogilvy India, McCann Tel Aviv, Ogilvy Pakistan, Leo Burnett India.



Leo Burnett Middle East (Dubai, UAE) came out on top as the Most Effective Agency Office, leading with wins for brands including ABAAD, Emirates NBD, Home Box, IKEA, Lebanese Transparency Association, McDonalds, Project Chaiwala, Samsung, and UN Women.



Following Slap Global in the Most Effective Independent Agencies were Dattis Comunicaciones, SUNO United Creators, Interaction, and Jam Session Agency. Slap Global led the pack with Gold Effies for Dove and Doritos. The agency moved to the No. 1 slot from its debut in the 2021 rankings at 13th place.



The 2022 Effie Index rankings reflect the performance of more than 4300 finalists and winning entries from eligible global, regional and national Effie Awards competitions held around the world from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022.

AB InBev was crowned Most Effective Marketer for the second year in a row, with Grand and Gold Effie winning work for 15 brands across eight markets, including three Grand winners Carling Black Label, Cerveza Nativa and Pilsen. Moving up from the fourth spot last year, McDonalds is No. 2 in the rankings, its highest ever Index result in the Marketer ranking.



In the brand category McDonalds was top-ranked for the second straight year, followed by Burger King and KFC.
by Wayne Friedman , June 15, 2023

Christine McCarthy, chief financial officer of Walt Disney Co., is stepping down to take a family medical leave of absence, the company said Thursday.

Longtime Disney executive Kevin Lansberry, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, will be the interim CFO, starting July 1.

McCarthy, who has been with the company for 23 years, will move into an advisory position to assist her successor, said Bob Iger, chief executive officer of Walt Disney, in a statement. McCarthy became CFO in 2015.

Disney currently has had to undergo tough marketplace conditions -- including a difficult advertising market.

Late last year the company started up an advertising option for its highly scrutinized streaming service Disney+. Disney+ is projected to earn $750 million in advertising revenues, according to Insider Intelligence, eMarketer, and Guggenheim Securities.

advertisement advertisement

Recently, Disney reported second-quarter operating losses of $659 million for its direct-to-consumer (D2C) segment -- trimmed from the $1.05 billion in losses in the first quarter of 2023. As part of an overall company-wide restructuring, Disney has planned 7,000 job cuts during several rounds of layoffs this year.

Business at Disney Parks -- of which Lansberry is a senior executive -- has been a continued bright spot for the company, rebounding strongly in the latest quarterly earnings period, rising 17% in revenues to $7.8 billion.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, June 15, 2023

Lawmakers this week introduced a bipartisan bill that aims to prevent TikTok, data brokers and other companies from sending some types of personal data to malign foreign actors, such as China.

The Protecting Americans Data from Foreign Surveillance Act of 2023, introduced by Senators Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), would task the Secretary of Commerce with determining the kinds of personal data that could harm national security, and also which countries should be presumptively blocked from receiving that data.

The legislation aims to turn off the tap of Americans' data being sold to unfriendly nations and stop TikTok from sending Americans personal information to China, Wyden said Wednesday in a Twitter post.

advertisement advertisement

The bill contains language stating that accelerating technological trends have made sensitive personal data an especially valuable input to foreign adversaries, and that it is essential to ensure that the United States Government makes every effort to prevent sensitive personal data from falling into the hands of malign foreign actors.

Senate co-sponsors include Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico) and Marco Rubio (R-Florida).

The proposed law directs the Commerce Secretary to decide which countries to put on a block list by examining their history of hostile foreign intelligence, as well as their privacy controls, and whether their governments can force people in the country to disclose personal data.

The ban on exporting data wouldn't apply to material encrypted with technology approved by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The bill also has an exemption for journalism.

The proposed law comes as the Chinese-owned TikTok continues to face scrutiny over its data practices, including the extent to which Chinese authorities may be able to access users' data. Last month, a former employee of TikTok parent ByteDance alleged that the Chinese government obtained access to information about app users. ByteDance denied those claims.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew told Congress earlier this year that the company doesn't store U.S. users' data on servers located in China. He also said the company intends to store all data about U.S. users on servers owned by Oracle.

A company spokesperson said Thursday that TikTok is "well underway in cutting off access to protected U.S. user data to any employee -- wherever they are."

Last year, concerns about foreign adversaries' access to data spurred Rubio and two other lawmakers -- Representatives Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Illinois) -- to propose a bill that would block transactions in the U.S. by TikTok and other apps under the control of China, Russia and several other countries.

In March, a House committee advanced a different bill that would empower President Joe Biden to ban the app.

The state of Montana recently enacted a bill that bans use of the app in the state. TikTok and users have filed separate lawsuits challenging that bill.

Wyden said last year that banning TikTok wouldn't necessarily stop data flows to China, because data brokers could still obtain the information and send it abroad.

I'm troubled by TikTok, he said at a Punchbowl News event. I just want people to understand that if you ban TikTok, that doesn't mean people's personal data is safe from China.
Sugary Drink Tax Can Lead to 16,000 Fewer Diabetes Cases

Advertisement

Professor Stephen Robson, President, Australian Medical Association - (https://www.npc.org.au/speaker/2023/1188-professor-stephen-robson)

According to Robson, a significant boost in spending on preventative care would reap in benefits for the economy. The speech coincided with the release of a new AMA report showing that public hospital elective surgery waiting lists cost the Australian economy A$4.6 billion ($3.1 billion) annually.The report highlights the growing rate of chronic disease, with almost half the population in the country having one or more chronic diseases and an aging population that is putting the healthcare system under increasing pressure."As the AMA analysis uncovered, we currently have hundreds of thousands of people waiting too long for elective surgery, people waiting too long in emergency departments and general practices struggling to survive," Robson said in a statement."While it's true that investment is needed to tackle these issues, we can also improve efficiency, improve access to care and the quality of care."The AMA report said that addressing hospital exit block could save A$2 billion per year, and modelling estimated that a tax on sugary drinks, which it has long campaigned for, would result in 16,000 fewer cases of type 2 diabetes , 4,400 fewer cases of heart disease , and 1,100 fewer cases of stroke "We need to reframe our thinking and focus more on how the money we invest in healthcare can improve health outcomes and support economic growth," Robson said. "Because the evidence is clear - keeping people healthy reduces the costs and burden on our healthcare system and drives economic growth and productivity."Source: IANS
Kate Webb was the war reporter who came back from the dead.

Sent to cover the Vietnam War, she disappeared, believed to have been captured by the Cambodian Khmer Rouge, who were known to ruthlessly execute prisoners and journalists. Her colleagues feared the worst.

When the burned body of a white woman, killed by bullet wounds, surfaced, the corpse was believed to belong to Webb. Her family hosted a memorial service and The New York Times, among other papers, published Webbs obituary.

Kate Webb (1943  2007)

The 1971 article painted a sensitive portrait of a dedicated but unlikely war correspondent. Webb was, according to the paper,

soft -voiced, friendly and gentle, qualities that masked her reporters toughness. To those who did not know her, she appeared as a waif, plodding the Saigon streets in a striped dress and sandals, her feet almost as dirty as the sidewalks.

The waif manner never disappeared even when she donned green fatigues and awkward combat boots for trips to the field. Her helmet usually slipped off at inopportune moments and, in a heavy flak jacket, she was almost hidden from view.

She was not fearless, but she was brave. She went through mortar and rocket attacks, landings in disabled helicopters, and the common battlefield dangers of bullets and shrapnel, and would emerge shaken yet determined.



How great must have been the writers surprise when, a few weeks later, Webb emerged from the Cambodian jungle  malariastricken and ten pounds lighter  but very much alive. Luckily for her, she had not been captured by the Khmer Rouge, but by a unit of the North Vietnamese Army.

The Unit had marched her through the jungle for 23 days. Webb recalled that, during her captivity, she was interrogated by an older man, who said, Do you realise you are a prisoner of war, and that one shot through the head could finish you, just like that?

Thats up to you now, Webb responded. I can do nothing about it. Besides, I dont consider myself a prisoner of war  Im not a soldier.

Then consider yourself an invited guest, said her interrogator. Everyone laughed, and the tension was broken.

Early life

This was not Webbs first near-death encounter, nor would it be her last. In fact, clues as to why she was so drawn to the danger of the battlefield may lie in Webbs early life experience: she had a troubled childhood, specked with violence and tragedy.

Webb was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1943, but her family soon moved to Australia. Her mother was a feminist activist and her father was a professor of political science at the Australian National University. She was christened Catherine, but preferred Kate.

At the age of 15, Webb was charged with the murder of her friend Victoria Fenner. She had supplied a rifle and bullets to Victoria, who proceeded to shoot herself.

At a childrens court hearing, Webb stated that she had thought her friend was joking when she asked for the gun and bullets, and the charges were dropped.

This traumatic episode must have been hard enough for a teenage girl, but three years later she would lose both her parents in a car crash. Webb was aged just 18. These experiences surely forced Webb to grow a thick skin, furnishing her with the resilience to survive the horrors of the battlefield during her journalistic career.

Initially working as an artist, Webb accidentally broke an expensive pane of stained glass she had been commissioned to paint, and had to get a job as a secretary at the Sydney Daily Mirror to pay back the damage.

Butchers shop in Eden

At the Mirror, Webb developed a taste for reporting, and started working on the womens pages. But the adventure-seeking journalist quickly grew bored of civilian topics, quit her job, and made for Vietnam to report on the war  with only a typewriter and a few hundred dollars to her name.



There, she was hired as a junior reporter for United Press International, covering Vietnamese politics in Saigon, South Vietnam. Webb was in the city when the combined Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces launched the 1968 Tet Offensive. As the offensive took place during the New Years holiday period, Webb was one of the only correspondents left in the city and one of the first to report back from it.

With mortar shells exploding and heavy fire all around, Webb made her way to the American Embassy, the scene of bitter fighting. The ground was littered with the bodies of dead soldiers from both sides of the conflict.

Describing what she had witnessed, Webb wrote vividly that it looked like a butchers shop in Eden, beautiful but ghastly. Webb continued reporting on the war, and, when her boss was killed, was promoted to UPI bureau chief in Phnom Penh. That was when Webb was captured.

US Marines during the Tet Offensive, 1968. Kate Webb was one of the first correspondents to report on it.

After covering the Vietnam War, Webb continued to seek out the worlds deadliest conflicts. She reported on the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, where she was almost scalped by a militiaman who tried to drag her up a flight of hotel stairs by her hair. Before things escalated, she was rescued by a few other reporters in the building.

The militiaman in question was made to attend an apology dinner with her the next evening, to which he turned up with a heroin syringe. Webb did not show up. Webb also reported on the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in India, the conflict in East Timor, the 1968 revolution in the Philippines, and the Gulf War.

Rather than writing polished prose, Webbs focus was on getting scoops quickly and accurately. While she enjoyed the speed of communication brought about by the wire service, she hated the real-time, relentless nature of mobile phones.

Its like were all mosquitoes dancing on the surface of a pond. We have to move so fast that reporting has suffered, she complained. Its nowhere as meticulous as it was.

Eventually, Webb grew too old to serve on the front-line, but reporting from the scenes of the action was the only kind of work she enjoyed. So, in 2001, aged 58, she quit reporting once and for all. She returned to her native Australia, settling just north of Sydney on the Hunter River, and found occasional work as a visiting professor of journalism at Ohio University.

Webb died of cancer in 2007. Her final obituaries were as commendatory as the first.

IN CONTEXT: Kate Webb



Webb worked as a correspondent in the second half of the 20th century, when female war reporters were still a rarity. Though women reporting from the front-line did not have to contend with the same official barriers as they had during and before the Second World War, many cultural barriers remained.



Webb, for instance, got most of her opportunities to report from the scene of battle by filling in for male correspondents who were on holiday.



In her personal life, Webb never married, nor did she have children. However, she was very philanthropic, often giving her support to people in straitened circumstances. For instance, she put up a family of Afghan refugees in her own house, and paid for their children to go to college.



Interestingly, she attributed her resilience as a war reporter to her soft-heartedness. On being called tough, she once responded, No, Im a real softie. Hard people shatter.
Col. John Lehane, who took command of the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment at a Thursday morning ceremony at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, has been getting lots of phone calls since taking over the Kaneohe-based unit.

"So much so that my phone stopped working and bricked for a little bit, " he told attendees at the ceremony. But he said there was one call from a general that called to congratulate him that stuck with him.

"He said, 'you know something John, you're gonna have to have that unit ready for combat, and there's a good chance it's going to happen on your tenure, '" said Lehane. "So I want to take an opportunity to publicly acknowledge that I understand that, and I will do everything I can to make sure these Marines and sailors are ready for that occasion should we be called to do so."

The 3rd MLR officially activated last year and is the first unit of its kind. It is meant to serve as a blueprint for an ambitious Marine Corps plan to restructure its entire force amid boiling geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China. Under an initiative called Force Design 2030, service leaders envision the Corps returning to its roots as a naval fighting force focused on the sorts of coastal and island operations it conducted in the Pacific during World War II, but with a 21st century twist.

Col. Timothy Brady, the outgoing commander, said that his Marines have worked hard at "thinking about what it means to be a Marine Littoral Regiment and how we're going to have to see the fight and flight differently than an infantry regiment."

Brady will be staying on Oahu, taking on a new position at Marine Forces Pacific at Camp Smith as the service continues to refine its vision for the Pacific while Lehane takes over the MLR. Lehane's most recent assignment was aboard the USS Blue Ridge as the Navy 7th Fleet's maritime operations director. Marine Corps leaders believe that experience makes him ideal for weaving the MLR into Navy operations and working with the other services.

Marine Corps brass want to see a leaner force that is more agile and adaptable, moving quickly across island chains while also packing a heavy punch. Among the changes is an ongoing effort to phase out all the Marines' traditional cannon-based artillery on Oahu to replace them with new ballistic missiles that commanders hope to use to sink enemy ships from batteries Marines would set up on islands and coastlines as they support U.S. Navy operations and allied forces.

The new design is geared largely with the Western Pacific in mind. A particular focus is the South China Sea, a busy waterway that nearly one-third of all global trade travels through. China claims nearly the entire sea as its exclusive territory over the objections of neighboring countries, and tensions are mounting over territorial and navigation rights.

In 2016, an international court ruled in favor of the Philippines and found that China's claims have "no legal " basis. Beijing rejected the ruling and has doubled down by building bases on disputed islands and reefs. The Chinese military has harassed and sometimes attacked fishermen and other marine workers from neighboring countries.

For its part, the U.S. and its allies have been sailing warships through the region conducting "freedom of navigation operations." Earlier this month a Chinese navy vessel cut across the path of Pearl Harbor-based Navy destroyer USS Chung-Hoon as it was conducting an exercise in the Taiwan Strait with a Canadian ship, forcing it to slow down to avoid a collision.

Beijing considers self-ruled Taiwan a rogue province, and Chinese leader Xi Jinpeng has vowed to bring it under its control by military force if necessary. The island is a major trade partner for the U.S. and a key provider of semiconductors that many American companies depend on to make their products work.

The 3rd MLR has conducted several training exercises across the region. Maj. Gen. Jay Bargeron, commander of the 3rd Marine Division in Japanof which the 3rd MLR is a partsaid that the unit has gone "from concept to realityfrom the conceptual unit to a combat credible unitin what I consider to be a pretty amazing, incredibly short period of time."

However, not all the pieces Marine Corps leaders want are in place as they push forward with Force Design 2030.

Marines in Hawaii are supposed to be the first to receive new Light Amphibious Warships, which would be crewed by a mixture of Marines and Navy sailors to carry troops and equipment to shore. But Marine Corps and Navy leaders are currently fighting over funding priorities. Marine Corps commandant Gen. David Berger has publicly expressed frustration that ships supporting amphibious operation aren't getting sufficient funding.

Even so, Marine forces in Hawaii are beginning to look a lot different than they did two years ago.

Among the most notable changes has been the departure of all the Marines' traditional helicopters from Oahu to replace them with ones that support long-range flight operations. Last month, outgoing MCBH base commander Col. Speros Koumparakis said that rather than having "aircraft that fly around Hawaii, " Marines on Oahu can now "depart today and, in less than 36 hours, be with our partners and allies in the first and second island chains."

Earlier this year in the Philippines during Exercise Balikatan 2023, troops from the 3rd MLR and the Army's Schofield Barracks-based 25th Infantry Division trained with the U.S. Navy and Philippines marines conducting island operations in the Luzon Strait just south of Taiwan.

During the exercise they also conducted a live-fire coastal defense exercise as well as a ship-sinking exercise off the west coast of the Philippines. Brady said "we brought more than 1, 300, the entirety of the MLR, forward into the first island chain where we are relevant, where we can do our mission, where we can get after (it )."

The seeming breakdown in U.S.- China relations has fueled deep unease in the region. On Monday, the New York-based Eurasia Group Foundation released the results of a survey that found that about 81 % of people in the Philippines and 67 % of South Koreans think rising tensions between China and the U.S. are likely to endanger their own national security.

Regional leaders have urged Chinese and American officials to turn down the temperature on tensions. At a recent international defense and diplomacy summit in Singapore, Chinese officials repeatedly refused to meet with American counterparts, though some reports suggest informal talks between the two did occur. This week U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is set to arrive in China in an effort to stabilize the relationship.

___

(c)2023 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser at www.staradvertiser.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
KYIV, Ukraine  A delegation of leaders and senior officials from Africa sought in Ukraine on Friday ways to end the country's full-scale war with Russia and ensure food and fertilizer deliveries to their continent, though an air raid in Kyiv during their stay provided a reminder of the challenges they face.

The delegation, which included the presidents of South Africa, Senegal, Zambia and the Comoros Islands, first went to Bucha, a Kyiv suburb where bodies of civilians lay scattered in the streets last year after Russian troops abandoned a campaign to seize the capital and withdrew from the area.

The delegation's stop in Bucha was symbolically significant, as the town has come to stand for the brutality of Moscows February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Russian occupation of Bucha left hundreds of civilians dead in the streets and in mass graves. Some showed signs of torture.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said last month that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to separate meetings with members of an African peace mission.

The delegation was set to travel to St. Petersburg later Friday, where Russias top international economic conference is taking place, and meet with Putin on Saturday. It also includes senior officials from Uganda, Egypt and Congo-Brazzaville.

The members of the delegation represent a cross-section of African views about the war. South Africa, Senegal and Uganda have avoided censuring Moscow for the conflict, while Egypt, Zambia and Comoros voted against Russia last year in a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning Russias invasion. Many African nations have long had close ties with Moscow, dating back to the Cold War when the Soviet Union supported their anti-colonial struggles.

While in Bucha, the visitors placed commemorative candles at a small memorial outside St. Andrews Church, near one of the locations where a mass grave was unearthed.

Shortly after, air raid sirens began to wail in Ukraine's capital. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported an explosion in the Podilskiy district, one of the city's oldest neighborhoods.

Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.

The Ukrainian air force said it shot down six Russian Kalibr cruise missiles, six Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles and two reconnaissance drones. It gave no details on where they were shot down.

Germany will deliver another 64 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Friday, to help shield it against Russias relentless aerial attacks.

Officials who helped lay the groundwork for the delegation's talks said the African leaders not only aimed to initiate a peace process but also to assess how Russia, which is under heavy international sanctions, can be paid for fertilizer exports that Africa desperately needs.

They are also set to discuss the related issue of ensuring more grain shipments out of Ukraine amid the war and the possibility of more prisoner swaps.

Life is universal, and we must protect lives  Ukrainian lives, Russian lives, global lives, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema told The Associated Press. Instability anywhere is instability everywhere.

The African peace overture comes as Ukraine launches a counteroffensive to dislodge the Kremlin's forces from occupied areas, using Western-supplied advanced weapons in attacks along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line. Western analysts and military officials have cautioned that the campaign could last a long time.

China presented its own peace proposal at the end of February but it appeared to have few chances of success. Ukraine and its allies largely dismissed the plan, and the warring sides look no closer to a cease-fire.

Ukrainian troops recorded successes along three stretches of the front line in the south and east, Andriy Kovalev, a spokesman for the General Staff of Ukraines armed forces said in a statement Friday.

According to Kovalev, Ukrainian forces moved forward south of the town of Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia province, in the direction of the village of Robotyne, as well as around Levadne and Staromaiorske, on the boundary between Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk province further east.

Kovalev said Ukraine's troops also advanced in some areas around Vuhledar, a mining town in Donetsk that was the site of one of the main tank battles in the war so far.

It wasn't possible to independently verify the claims.

Russian shelling on Thursday and overnight killed two civilians and wounded two others in southern Ukraine's flood-hit Kherson region, where a major dam was destroyed last week, according to the region's governor, Oleksandr Prokudin.

Russian forces over the previous day launched 54 strikes across the province, using mortars, artillery, multiple rocket launchers, drones, missiles and aircraft, Prokudin said.

Floodwaters in the Kherson region have continued to recede, with the average level in flood-hit areas standing at 1.67 meters (about 5 feet). That is down from 5 meters (16 feet) immediately following the breach of the Kakhovka dam last Tuesday, according to the Ukrainian presidential office.

___

Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed,
BRUSSELS  Support mounted on Thursday for NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to have his mandate at the head of the worlds biggest security organization extended yet again as Denmarks prime minister ruled herself out of the running.

Stoltenberg, a former Norwegian prime minister, has been NATOs top civilian official since 2014. His term was due to expire last year but was extended to keep a steady hand at the helm after Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

U.S. President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts are due to choose a successor when they meet for a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11-12. No candidate has been proposed publicly, and leaders usually decide by consensus on who should be appointed.

NATO is keen to name a woman to the top post, and Denmarks prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, was thought to be a favorite after a meeting with Biden earlier this month.

In a televised interview on Thursday, Frederiksen said: No, I am not on my way to NATO. But she did say that she would back Stoltenberg if he was willing to extend his mandate.

Stoltenberg himself has said he will not seek a fourth extension to his mandate. An economist by training, he was due to become the next governor of the Norwegian central bank when the simmering conflict in Ukraine escalated to full-scale war last year.

At NATO headquarters, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius made clear that he would back an extension for Stoltenberg if that became necessary.

If we dont agree on a candidate for successor, NATO wont be able to go without a secretary-general, and of course I am for an extension  particularly as I appreciate our cooperation, he told reporters.

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has also ruled out her candidacy.

Asked Thursday whether he would be willing to stay on in the job, Stoltenberg did not categorically rule it out, but told reporters, I dont have any intention of seeking an extension. Stoltenbergs long-time spokeswoman Oana Lungescu is leaving NATO at the end of August.
A lot of people like to say that the United States is more divided now than it's ever been, but those people are forgetting the four long years of bloody slaughter of the American Civil War. It was the deadliest war in American history, comparable to the deaths of all other major U.S. wars combined.

The death toll was so great, it led to a national day of remembrance for Americans to honor the sacrifices of its war dead, a day eventually known as Memorial Day. To celebrate the end of a conflict that killed more than 600,000 troops, let's remember just how the war finally ended.

1. Lee's Surrender at Appomattox Wasn't the End of the Civil War.

Many people believe that Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's famous surrender to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, was the end of the Civil War. It wasn't; it was technically the end of the war in Virginia. The surrender is so significant because Richmond, Virginia, was the home of the Confederate government.

The Confederates evacuated Richmond to Danville, Virginia, before surrendering later in 1865. The loss of the Army of Northern Virginia forced other, smaller units to surrender throughout the Confederacy, but holdouts remained almost everywhere.

2. The Largest Surrender Could Have Ended Very Differently.

Union Gen. William T. Sherman had finished his famous March to the Sea by the time of Lee's surrender, and he was moving north into the Carolinas. Meanwhile, Confederate President Jefferson Davis wanted to rally the remaining rebel forces to renew the South's hopes of winning. Central to that plan was rebel Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's force of 89,000 men.

Rather than carry on with a war he didn't believe he could win, Johnston ignored the rebel president and instead met with Sherman at Bennett Place, North Carolina. Sherman granted Johnston and his men the same terms Grant gave Lee at Appomattox.

Gen. Joseph E. Johnston negotiating surrender to Gen. William T. Sherman near Bennett Place, North Carolina.

3. The Last Battle Was Fought in Texas.

By May 12, 1865, tens of thousands of rebel troops had surrendered in the East. President Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated, and everyone in the country knew about it. In Texas, which had been cut off from the rest of the Confederate States, the fighting forces began an unofficial truce at the start of 1865. A new Union commander in the area, apparently itching to see combat, decided he would use his force of U.S. Colored Troops to end that truce.

Col. Theodore H. Barrett attacked a rebel camp near Palmito Ranch, Texas, with 500 men. They didn't know the rebels at the camp had secured extra artillery pieces from a French Army garrison in nearby Matamoros. Around 150 men were killed, wounded or captured in the fighting.

4. The Last Rebel General to Surrender Was a Cherokee General.

Confederate Brig. Gen. Chief Stand Watie was a young man when he was forced to move into Indian Territory, what is today Oklahoma. He walked the Trail of Tears with 40,000 other American Indians. By the time the South seceded from the Union, he was a slaveholder, and the majority of the Cherokee Nation voted to support the southern states.

Former Brig. Gen. Stand Watie after the Civil War. (American Battlefield Trust)

Watie became the commander of the 1st Indian Brigade of the Army of the Trans-Mississippi Confederate cavalry, a force consisting entirely of Cherokee, Seminole, Creek, Choctaw and Chickasaw troops, and was successful in combat. The Grand Council of Confederate Indian chiefs voted to surrender on June 15, 1865, but Watie held out until June 23, when he gave up at Doaksville, Oklahoma.

5. The Last Confederate Holdout Was a Naval Vessel.

In 1864, rebel agents purchased a raiding ship from British shipbuilders. Originally built as a merchant vessel, the ship was rechristened the CSS Shenandoah and given armaments that would help it disrupt Union trade. It would circumnavigate the globe on its mission of destruction, and was in the South Pacific when Lee surrendered to Grant in 1865.

Even as land forces across the United States began to surrender and lay down arms, the CSS Shenandoah continued capturing and destroying Union whalers, traders and other ships. By August 1865, it had taken 38 of them. After learning about the end of the war from the British, it sailed for Liverpool, where it finally surrendered.

6. The War Didn't Officially End Until August 1866.

It was in April 1866 that President Andrew Johnson, who had ascended to the Oval Office after Lincoln's assassination, announced that the rebellion in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Florida and Virginia was finally over.

Texas was exempted because it didn't meet the standards of readmission to the Union, although Texas argued that its Constitutional Convention approved an ordinance to nullify its secession on March 15, 1866. Johnson announced the war was finally over in Texas in August 1866.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on LinkedIn.

Want to Learn More About Military Life?

Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox.
Press Release

June 16, 2023 Tolentino proposes open door policy for Afghan refugees MANILA - In light of the persisting humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, Senator Francis "TOL" N. Tolentino favors the Philippine government's initiative to extend help to Afghans who have been tragically affected by war. With a resolute commitment to human rights and international solidarity, Tolentino, vice-chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations calls for swift actions, similar to those undertaken during the Quezon and Duterte administrations, to provide temporary refuge and support to vulnerable individuals seeking safety and stability. The escalating crisis in Afghanistan has resulted in immense suffering, displacement, and uncertainty for countless innocent civilians. Tolentino emphasizes the importance of demonstrating Filipinos' shared humanity by assisting those fleeing violence and persecution. Tolentino notes the dire situation of Afghans affected by war that has lasted for more than two decades, such that any chance to remove innocent lives from conflict and war should be pursued compassionately. As part of the Philippines' unwavering commitment to uphold human rights, Tolentino stresses the country's duty to render assistance to displaced persons under international law and treaties. He mentions three key legal documents the Philippines has ratified and is a signatory to, including the 1) Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR); 2) the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol; and 3) the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Proclaimed in 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly, Article 14 of UDHR safeguards the right to seek and enjoy asylum. In 1981, the Philippines also acceded to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, outlining refugees' rights with the principle of non-refoulement at the cornerstone. Lastly, having ratified the ICCPR in October 1986, the Philippines is bound to uphold and protect a broad range of civil and political rights. Tolentino also mentions Executive Order No. 163, entitled "Institutionalizing Access to Protection Services for Refugees, Stateless Persons, and Asylum Seekers," and dated 28 February 2022. Pursuant to E.O. No. 163, the Philippines has taken steps to strengthen the existing legal framework and institutionalized access to protection services for refugees, stateless persons, and asylum seekers, collectively known as "persons of concern." Tolentino recalls that the Philippines has a proud history of extending humanitarian aid and hospitality to foreign nationals in dire need. The country has welcomed refugees and displaced persons from various corners of the globe, such as Jews, Vietnamese, Syrians, offering them safety and sanctuary. Through the Philippine Open Door Policy primarily led by former President Manuel L. Quezon, Jewish refugees who were fleeing persecution in Europe found shelter in the Philippines. Also, following the Vietnam War, the country provided temporary shelter and assistance to Vietnamese refugees before their resettlement in other countries. Under the administration of former President Duterte, the country recently extended assistance to Rohingya refugees fleeing war and persecution in Myanmar. Drawing upon this legacy, Tolentino urges the government and fellow Filipinos to exhibit the same spirit of empathy and solidarity towards Afghan individuals who have endured immense hardships. Tolentino emphasizes the need for a comprehensive support system during their temporary stay in the Philippines. This includes access to temporary shelter, food supply, and healthcare, among others. According to Tolentino, Filipinos have continuously been welcomed to work and live overseas, whether temporarily or permanently. He assures that the relocation programs extended to Afghan war-affected individuals will be temporary and pre-screened to those most in need. By working in partnership with international organizations and other countries on temporary resettlement programs, the Philippines can amplify its efforts to provide haven to vulnerable individuals. Such cooperation will also strengthen the Philippines' position as an advocate for human rights on the global stage. Tolentino says opening doors to Afghan war-affected individuals, even for a temporary period, will provide golden opportunities to start rebuilding lives.
MTN Group has warned that its operations in Cameroon are in jeopardy over a dispute in which it claims to play no part.

Reuters reports that MTN Cameroons assets were frozen by a local court in September 2022 on the order of local businessman Ahmadou Baba Danpullo, as a result of a dispute between Danpullo and South Africas First National Bank (FNB) regarding a real estate loan.

The bank liquidated several South African properties owned by Danpullo, prompting him to retaliate in part by having a Cameroonian court freeze the accounts of several South African firms  among them MTN. The move was described by Melvin Akam, MTN Cameroons general manager of regulatory and corporate affairs, as being abusive, fraudulent and unacceptable.

MTN Cameroon CEO Mitwa Ng'ambi said that, following a decision by a domestic court on 9th June, these funds would be transferred into an escrow account managed by the court registrar. Ng'ambi described the asset freeze as a miscarriage of justice and noted it had caused numerous issues with paying employees as well as other service providers.
PHOENIX (AP)  Navajo law enforcement teams made contact with several hundred Native Americans from various tribes who are living on the streets in the metro Phoenix area, after the state cracked down on Medicaid fraud and suspended unlicensed sober living homes, Navajo Nation Attorney General Ethel Branch said Monday.

Teams that included Navajo police officers reported making contact with more than 270 Native Americans, the majority of them Navajo, Branch said.

Many tribal members accepted offers to stay in motel rooms or other temporary housing for a few days before moving to legitimate facilities, while others agreed to return home to their reservations, Branch said. The teams worked with local police agencies and Community Bridges, Inc., a nonprofit that provides services for people with addictions.

Unfortunately, many of our relatives when they came out of these facilities didnt have cell phones, Branch said, adding that Navajo police officers allowed the people they found to use their own cell phones to call their families.

While the Navajo law enforcement teams have returned to the reservation for now, the tribe will maintain its presence in Phoenix through an operations center.

In response to Arizonas announcement last month it was cutting off Medicaid funding to more than 100 unlicensed and fraudulent sober living homes, most of them in metro Phoenix, the Navajo Nation launched its Operation Rainbow Bridge. The targeted homes are closing, leaving many people who had sought professional help to overcome their addictions with nowhere to live.

The Operation Rainbow Bridge toolbox includes a Facebook page and a TikTok account now under construction. Theres also a 211 hotline that the tribe is advertising among its members that allows those affected to find a place to stay and get the services they need.

Navajo officials say that in some cases, people who ended up in the homes were picked up in unmarked vans and driven to the Phoenix area from faraway places on the sprawling Navajo Nation that stretches across northern Arizona, and parts of New Mexico and Utah. Its unclear who paid to transport the people to homes.

The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, which oversees the states Medicaid programs, had been paying out money for addiction and other mental health services that state officials say the homes billed for, but never delivered, under the American Indian Health Program.

State officials believe the fake homes have defrauded Arizona out of hundreds of millions of its share of federal Medicaid dollars. Arizona authorities so far have seized $75 million and have issued 45 indictments in the investigation that also includes the FBI and the U.S. Attorney Generals Office.

Arizona officials have said hundreds of fake sober living homes are believed to be currently operating in the Phoenix area and other parts of the state.

 By ANITA SNOW Associated Press
ANN ARBOR, MI - Bike pathways are being built. New water mains are being buried. Road construction projects across Washtenaw County are moving ahead.

Heres a list of road work that could affect commute times and travel across Ann Arbor and the county for the weekend beginning Friday, June 16 and the week ahead.

ANN ARBOR

South State Street: The street is closed between Granger and Dewey avenues, as well as between Hill Street and South University Avenue, as a two-year redesign of State and Hill streets gets underway. State is also shut down in the southbound direction between Hill and Packard Street, and the Packard intersection is closed to through traffic at State.

Read more: State Street overhaul to bring new phase of closures to Ann Arbor streets

The Granger, Dewey, Hill and South U intersections remain open though the blocks in between are fully closed to traffic. This wave of closures will continue until the next phase of the project beginning Wednesday, July 12, bringing modified restrictions.

Downtown, the street is also closed to vehicle traffic between North University Avenue and Huron Street until Friday, Sept. 1, for the second phase of a major overhaul extending curb-less design in the area near the University of Michigan Diag and bringing water and sewer upgrades.

The intersections on either side of the work zone will remain open. Regular updates can be found online from the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority.

Brooks Street and Mixtwood Road: A five-month streets project in the Water Hill neighborhood has shuttered Brooks Street to all through traffic between Miller Avenue and Sunset Road, as well as Mixtwood Road between Brooks and Red Oak Road.

The construction  bringing a mini roundabout, new sidewalk and replacement water mains  is scheduled for completion by Saturday, Nov. 4.

East and South University avenues: Both streets have new traffic restrictions for construction on a 12-story high-rise project.

East University Avenue is closed in both directions between South U and Willard Street. Eastbound South U is closed between Tappan Avenue and Church Street. The closures are set to last until Friday, July 14.

Glen Avenue: The street is closed to all traffic through Friday, July 21 for a utility project.

Geddes Avenue: The street will be closed to through traffic between Observatory and Hill streets for a resurfacing and utility project.

The project will proceed in phases, with the first estimated to conclude on Friday, June 23, when Geddes will reopen to westbound traffic only.

South Main Street: The street is closed between Liberty and Huron streets for the second phase of a major resurfacing project. The Washington and Main intersection is also closed.

Pedestrians can still access the businesses in the Main Street commercial district. Crews will replace a water main, make crosswalk improvements and put new pavement on the crumbling downtown street.

The project is slated to run until July 12 with a third phase in the cards within the Main/Huron intersection, beginning after the Ann Arbor Art Fair, July 20 to 22.

South Main between William and Liberty streets will close from 6 a.m. Thursday, June 22 through 2 a.m. June 23 for the Event on Main, a fundraiser supporting the Little Victors at the University of Michigans C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital.

Broadway Street: The street is closed through Monday, Aug. 21 between the Traver Creek pedestrian crossing island, just south of Jones Drive, and Plymouth Road for a project bringing water main upgrades, sidewalk improvements and pavement resurfacing.

The dead-end section of Broadway southwest of the roundabout next to the Beekman on Broadway development is also closed through Friday, June 16 as crews complete utility installation.

Platt Road: The road on the citys east side is reduced from four lanes to two between Packard Road and Huron Parkway until Friday, Aug. 1.

The restrictions will allow for crews to replace an existing water main, as well as replace curb, sidewalk and ramps while resurfacing Platt Road. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction.

Scio Church Road: A section of the road between South Seventh Street and South Maple Road is closed for a resurfacing project, bringing improvements for pedestrians and cyclists, through June 16.

East Washington Street The street will close between Fletcher and Thayer streets for Top of the Park events from the Ann Arbor Summer Festival between June 4 and Wednesday, June 28.

Long-term projects: North Fifth Avenue from Detroit to Catherine streets will have a lane shift through June 2024 for a new development.

Eastbound South University Avenue traffic between East University Avenue and Church Street is closed long-term for high-rise construction.

The Liberty Road bridge over I-94 is reduced to single-lane traffic, with temporary traffic signals, until further notice after being damaged by a truck on March 13. The Michigan Department of Transportation plans to design and contract for a bridge replacement, officials say, though no timeline has been released for the project.

OTHER WASHTENAW COUNTY PROJECTS:

Pittsfield Township - U.S. 23/Michigan Avenue: A major project widening Michigan Avenue in Pittsfield Township and upgrading the U.S. 23 interchange will cause shoulder closures and lane closures on U.S. 23 south of Ann Arbor.

On Michigan Avenue between Carpenter and Textile roads, a single-lane closure is in place.

The construction is scheduled to run through November. Pittsfield Township is posting regular updates.

Ypsilanti - Hamilton Street: A single lane in the southbound direction is closed between Pearl and Ferris streets through Thursday, Aug. 31.

Ypsilanti - Michigan Avenue: The downtown avenue will also see total closures in the eastbound direction beginning June 13 between Adams and Washington streets for water main installation.

Other downtown Ypsilanti street closures are possible as a major utility and street overhaul project continues. See the citys webpage on the project for updates.

Read more: Construction coming to downtown Ypsilanti as utility, street renovation projects resume

Ypsilanti - Huron Street: Northbound North Huron Street from Michigan Avenue to Cross Street will see a single lane closure through Wednesday, June 21.

Ypsilanti - Washtenaw Avenue: Single lane closures will be in place in both directions from Cross Street to Hamilton Street for construction between Monday, June 19 and Friday, June 30.

Ypsilanti Township - Michigan Avenue/I-94 ramp: A road reconstruction project has closed Michigan Avenue between I-94 and a point just east of Hewitt Road as of Friday, May 12 and running through late June.

A detour map is available online, and north/south traffic on Hewitt will be maintained with lane restrictions.

The westbound I-94 off-ramp at Michigan Avenue is also closed during the project.

York Township - U.S. 23/Willis Road interchange: Willis Road at U.S. 23 is closed in both directions through late June as bridge and ramp construction takes place. The eastbound Willis Road ramp to northbound U.S. 23 also is closed during the project.

The northbound U.S. 23 off-ramp to Willis Road will also close through Wednesday, July 5.

Ann Arbor Township - U.S. 23 lanes and ramps: A single lane of the northbound U.S. 23 ramp to northbound U.S. 23 at the M-14 eastbound junction will close from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays through Sundays until Sunday, June 25.

A single lane of northbound U.S. 23 will close between the two M-14 junctions from 9 p.m. June 16 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 17.

Sylvan Township - M-52: A single lane of the highway in the northbound direction will close between Sager and Prichard roads from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 16.

Ann Arbor/Northfield townships - Joy Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between Earhart and Dixboro roads until June 22 for drainage and forestry work.

Dexter Township - Toma Road: The road will see daytime road closures between North Territorial road and the county line through June 22 for gravel resurfacing.

Dexter Township - Stinchfield Woods Road: The road will see daytime road closures between Toma Road and Dexter-Pinckney Road through June 22 for gravel resurfacing.

Lima/Scio townships - Parker Road: The road will close between Shield Road and Dexter-Chelsea Road from June 15 through August for a culvert replacement. A detour map is available online.

Lodi Township - Brassow Road: The road will see intermittent lane closures between Ann Arbor-Saline Road and Maple Road from June 13 to June 22 for a chip seal. This project has been extended.

Lodi Township - East Clover Drive: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between Harvest Road and the end of the road from June 19 to June 21 for limestone resurfacing.

Lodi Township - West Clover Drive: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between Harvest Road and the end of the road from June 19 to June 21 for limestone resurfacing.

Lodi Township - Harvest Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between Brassow Road and Surrey Drive from June 19 to June 21 for limestone resurfacing.

Lodi Township - Surrey Drive: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between Ann Arbor-Saline Road and the end of the road from June 19 to June 21 for limestone resurfacing.

Lodi Township - Textile Road: The road will close between Alber and Dell roads from Tuesday, June 20 to Tuesday, June 27 for limestone resurfacing.

Lyndon/Sylvan townships - Various roads: Several roads in the townships will see intermittent lane restrictions through July for a Consumers Energy natural gas pipeline replacement project.

Read more: From turtle rescues to trenches: How Consumers Energy is constructing a $550M pipeline in Michigan

Sylvan Township - Sibley Road: The road will be closed between Conway and Bush roads from April 17 to Saturday, July 1 for the Consumers pipeline project. A detour map is available online.

Pittsfield Township - Morgan Road: The road between Carpenter Road and Michigan Avenue is closed for water main and road work until June 30. A detour map is available online.

Pittsfield Township - Platt Road: The road will see intermittent lane closures between Bemis Road and Michigan Avenue through September for construction of a non-motorized pathway.

Pittsfield Township - Crane Road: The road is closed between Textile Road and Michigan Avenue through June 23 for sanitary sewer installation. A detour map is available online.

Pittsfield Township - Moon Road: The road will see intermittent lane closures between Bemis Road and Michigan Avenue through June 22 for a chip seal. This project has been extended.

Pittsfield Township - Textile Road: The road is closed between Carpenter and Crane roads for sanitary sewer installation. The project runs through September. A detour map is available online.

Salem Township - Joy Road: The road will close between Gotfredson Road and a half-mile east of the intersection from through Monday, Aug. 14 for sanitary main work. A detour map is available online.

Scio Township - Huron River Drive: The road will see intermittent lane closures between Zeeb and Delhi roads for Border-to-Border Trail construction through Nov. 15.

Scio Township - Huron River Drive bridge: The bridge over the Huron River between Tubbs Road and Wagner Road will see intermittent lane closures through June 26 for rehabilitation. This project has been extended.

Scio Township - East Delhi Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between the railroad tracks and Huron River Drive from June 19 to Thursday, June 29 for crack sealing.

Scio Township - Park Road: the road will see intermittent lane restrictions between Zeeb Road and the end of pavement headed west from June 19 to June 29 for crack sealing.

Scio Township - Pratt Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between Dexter-Ann Arbor Road and the end of the pavement from June 19 to June 29 for crack sealing.

Scio Township - Rose Drive: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between Wagner Road and the end of the road from June 19 to June 29 for crack sealing.

Sharon Township - Meyers Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions from Bethel Church Road to Pleasant Lake Road through June 22 for drainage and forestry work. This project has been extended.

Superior Township - Geddes Road: The road will see intermittent lane closures between Superior Road and Prospect Road from through June 22 for a chip seal. This project has been extended.

Superior Township - MacArthur Boulevard: The road will see intermittent lane closures between Clark Road and Wiard Road through June 22 for a chip seal. This project has been extended.

Superior Township - Harris Road: The road will see intermittent lane closures between MacArthur Boulevard and Geddes Road through June 22 for a chip seal. This project has been extended.

Superior Township - Leforge Road: The road will see intermittent lane closures between Clark Road and Geddes Road through June 22 for a chip seal. This project has been extended.

Superior/Ypsilanti townships - Wiard Road: The road will see intermittent lane closures between MacArthur Boulevard and Clark Road through June 22 for a chip seal. This project has been extended.

Webster Township - North Territorial Road: The road will close between Huron River Drive and Mast Road from June 16 to June 19 for culvert replacement. A detour map is available online.

Ypsilanti Township - Jay Avenue: The road will see daytime lane closures between Grove Road and Jeffery Street between June and November for DTE Energy gas line replacement.

Ypsilanti Township - Levona Street: The street will see daytime lane closures between Janet Avenue and Service Drive through November for a DTE gas line replacement project.

Ypsilanti Township - Grove Road: The road will see daytime lane closures through November between Arthur and Emerick streets for a DTE gas line replacement project.

Ypsilanti Township - Martz Road: The road will see intermittent lane closures between Tuttle Hill Road and Rawsonville Road through June 22 for a chip seal. This project has been extended.

Ypsilanti/Augusta townships - Intersection of Bemis and Whittaker roads: The intersection will close completely for the construction of a new roundabout beginning June 15 and running through August.

Read more: New roundabout coming to intersection south of Ypsilanti

Ypsilanti Township - Washtenaw Avenue: The road will see a single-lane closure in both directions at Hewitt Road until 5 p.m. June 16.

An updated list of Ann Arbor city street closures, the weekly Washtenaw County Road Commission schedule and the MDOT road closure map are all available online.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.

More from The Ann Arbor News:

Ann Arbor police lieutenant fired for claiming she was too drunk to remember tryst with subordinate

Whats the latest on the Ann Arbor dioxane plume? Dingell hosting update forum

Falsified grading at University of Michigan a potential concern, accreditor says

Whats a meat hammer? Ann Arbor eaterys newest mystery meat is actually an old favorite
ANN ARBOR, MI -- A man has been arrested in connection with two indecent exposure incidents and one sexual assault that occurred near the University of Michigans campus in May.

University of Michigan police have canceled a crime alert issued in late May after several sexual assault incidents near campus.

We have a suspect in custody, Deputy Chief Melissa Overton said in an email. Further information will not be released until he is arraigned.

University of Michigan police issued the warning on Wednesday, May 31, after three different women reported being sexually assaulted within hours of each other.

Read more: Man exposed himself and groped 4 women on University of Michigan campus, police say

A woman reported someone had approached her from behind around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, near a parking lot on University of Michigans North Campus in the area of 2100 Hubbard Street. He groped her through her clothing before she struck him in the face with her umbrella, police said.

Around 4:30 p.m. the same day, a woman was walking near the same parking lot when an unknown man approached her, police said, adding the man was stimulating himself with his genitals exposed and had left the area in a black or dark blue sedan.

Shortly after, another woman reported she was walking in the same area when she saw a man looking at her from a vehicle. When she got closer, the man exited the car with his pants around his knees and approached her with his genitals exposed and stimulating himself, police said, adding he then returned to his vehicle and left the area in a light yellow or silver sedan.

A similar incident was also reported to the Ann Arbor Police Department around the same time.

In that incident, a 23-year-old woman reported that around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, an unknown man walked up behind her and grabbed her left hip while on the 1700 block of Broadway Street, police said, adding the man then walked away and got into a gray sedan that was parked on the street.

Police said at the time they believed the incidents to be connected. The investigation into the incident reported to Ann Arbor police is still active and open, Ann Arbor police said on Friday, June 16.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.

Read more from The Ann Arbor News:

Ann Arbor police lieutenant fired for claiming she was too drunk to remember tryst with subordinate

5 things to know about next years University of Michigan budget

Michigan revokes marijuana companys license after inspectors find illicit, untagged cannabis
ANN ARBOR, MI -- A well-known Italian restaurant in Ann Arbor is changing ownership.

Paesano Restaurant & Wine Bar, 3411 Washtenaw Ave., near Arborland Mall, has been serving authentic Italian food since 1984 when owners Bridget and Mike Roddy opened the restaurant in the former Bimbos on The Hill.

However, Richard Buhr, well known in the Ann Arbor restaurant industry since 1979, and his family are taking over ownership of the eatery.

Bridget said in a press release The Buhr family is planning to maintain Paesanos business model and also retain all of the restaurants current employees, Bridget Roddy said.

We are grateful to be able to turn our operation over to another long-time Ann Arbor family, she said in a statement. The Buhrs have a long-standing reputation in the community and it was very important to us to select a buyer that would maintain the integrity of our restaurant and continue close community ties.

This change in ownership is bittersweet for the couple, Bridget Roddy said, adding that the longtime owners are planning to spend more time with their children and grandchildren now that they can step away from the business.

Forty years in the restaurant takes a toll and we are going to take some time to visit friends and family who are far and wide, Bridget Roddy said. We have made so many friends and have been blessed to have some of our most loyal, long-time employees who are still with us and who will be remaining with the Buhrs.

Paesano has endured through the everchanging economy and the COVID-19 pandemic and experienced a record-breaking year in 2022 and is on track to break its record again in 2023, the Roddys said.

We have been very blessed to have a loyal following of what we call good friends, Mike Roddy said in a statement. They are our frequent followers who see the value of a supporting local, neighborhood business. In turn, we have made it a point to provide the best food, service and events possible.

Beyond offering Italian cuisine, the restaurant has offered Italian language classes, Italian vintner wine dinners, Italian-themed outdoor summer movies and its annual guided trip to Italy each fall.

Weve given our customers as much of a true Italian experience as we can over the years, Mike Roddy said.

Bridget Roddy said the past 40 years have been a wonderful ride for the Roddy family, and she is looking forward to the future.

We arent saying goodbye. Were saying see you later, she said.

Find Paesano Restaurant & Wine Bar online.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.

MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:

Rays Red Hots in Ann Arbor has closed, but it may be sold to new owners

5 great restaurants to check out after hitting the bars in Ann Arbor

Whats that coming to Arbor Brewing Companys former location? 2 new tenants
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - A proposed 400-acre sand and gravel mine would flood rural Washtenaw County with heavy-duty trucks hauling tons of material, and obliterate prime farmland once targeted for conservation, township planning officials have determined.

After a monthslong review, the Sharon Township Planning Commission has found mine operator Michigan Materials & Aggregate Co., also known as Stoneco, has failed to show no very serious consequences would result from the project  a determination that could tee up a denial of the proposal by the township board.
FLINT, MI  Doyle-Ryder Elementary school is back in business after being closed to students since 2021.

The school building officially reopened to the public with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, June 15.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  David Frey, a philanthropist and retired banking executive who cared deeply about Grand Rapids and helped raise money and build partnerships to open Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place and other landmark projects in the community, has died.

He was 81.

Frey, who is survived by his wife, Judy, and six children, died Wednesday, June 14, according to an obituary posted on the Metcalf & Jonkhoff Funeral Service website.

It is with profound sadness that we mourn the loss of David Frey, said Rick Baker, president and CEO of the Grand Rapids Chamber. David embodied all of the values of true leadership. He always believed Grand Rapids could be the best city in the country and took action to make it a reality.

Frey, who lived in East Grand Rapids, earned a bachelors degree in English and a law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He went on to serve in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, and later succeeded his father, Edward J. Frey, as president of Union Bank & Trust Company in Grand Rapids. Freys grandfather, John, founded Union Bank & Trust in 1918.

Frey was remembered for his passion for Grand Rapids.

During his life, Frey served on various boards, including that of the Frey Foundation, which was established by his father.

He was also, along with Dick DeVos and late Old Kent Bank President John Canepa, one of the founding chairs of Grand Action. The private economic development group formed in 1993, and it helped spur public-private partnerships that brought to life projects such as Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Secchia Center and the Downtown Market.

I believe weve lost our citys biggest cheerleader, said Jon Nunn, the former executive director of Grand Action who worked alongside Frey for three decades.

Related: Philanthropist David Frey honored as visionary leader by Grand Action 2.0

Nunn remembered Frey as an optimist who believed that Grand Rapids, through public-private partnerships and philanthropy, could become the best mid-sized city in the United States.

He was not only the optimist, but he got things done along with the rest of Grand Action, he said. He was never a negative guy at all. He truly loved this community.

A private funeral service will be held at Graceland Memorial Park & Mausoleum, according to his obit. On June 28, a celebration highlighting his life and a reception will be held at Kent Country Club, 1600 College Avenue NW.

Following his service in the military, where he was awarded a Navy Commendation Medal, Frey joined Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co. in New York City in 1971. He then went to work at Union Bank & Trust, and served as its chairmen through a merger with NBD-West Michigan through 1998. After NBD merged with Bank One, he became chairmen of Bank One-West Michigan.

Even after retiring, Frey stayed active in philanthropy. He helped launch a second iteration of Grand Action, Grand Action 2.0, in 2020 following Canepas death.

It was his passion, Nunn said, describing Freys community engagement through the years. David loved this city.

Grand Action 2.0, which is co-chaired by Dick DeVos, Carol Van Andel and Fifth Third Bank Regional President Tom Welch, is leading the charge to build a 12,000-capacity riverfront amphitheater on the southern edge of downtown Grand Rapids at 201 Market Ave. SW.

Frey was vice chair when Grand Action 2.0 launched.

Late last month, he stepped away from regular engagement with Grand Action 2.0, and retired as vice chair. In a private gathering with family and colleagues, he was named chairman emeritus of Grand Action 2.0 in honor of his decades of community service.

David was an incredibly successful business leader, but personal success never drove him. What drove him was his vision for a vibrant community here in Grand Rapids, DeVos said in a statement. His generous spirit, his relentless optimism, and his passion transformed Grand Rapids. He was both a mentor and a friend, and I feel blessed to have learned from him and worked alongside him for the past 30 years.

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter.

More on MLive:

James Beard Award winning-chef launches farm-to-table inspired pizza, pasta restaurant

Gotions $2.4B battery plant moves forward after federal review

8 Michigan islands where you can camp overnight
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A law firm with about 40 attorneys in Grand Rapids has reaffirmed its commitment to downtown Grand Rapids by signing a 10-year lease with CWD Real Estate Investment for renovated space on the seventh floor of 200 Ottawa Ave. NW.

This move is part of Honigmans long-term commitment to Grand Rapids and to our 40+ attorneys and professional staff who currently comprise the office, said Tracy Larsen, a lawyer at the firm. And we are far from done growing, with additional attorneys having already committed to join the office in the coming months.

The lease agreement was announced last week. The firm is now based at 300 Ottawa Ave. NW, where it opened its Grand Rapids office in late 2016.

We are excited that Honigman recognizes that downtown Grand Rapids is the center of commerce for West Michigan  and that the amenities and visibility here make it the essential place to be, said Sam Cummings, managing partner at CWD, in the June 12 release.

Its location, literally in the center of our broader community, makes it the perfect spot for their attorneys, employees and locally based clients to converge.

Honigman is a full-service corporate law firm with more than 350 attorneys in Chicago, Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Washington D.C. and Israel.

More on MLive:

David Frey, philanthropist and retired banker who helped transform Grand Rapids, dies at 81

James Beard Award winning-chef launches farm-to-table inspired pizza, pasta restaurant

Gotions $2.4B battery plant moves forward after federal review
KALAMAZOO, MI -- A controversial police surveillance project going before the Kalamazoo City Commission next week has already been quietly tested out in the city.

The proposed system would allow police to connect to live video camera feeds of any business that opts in. It would also streamline the process for residents to share videos with police.

The three-year, $375,000 proposal from Fusus Inc. was considered at the citys June 5 meeting, but pushed back to the June 20 meeting after there were a string of citizen concerns.

The real-time crime center tool has already been in use in Kalamazoo, said Public Safety Chief David Boysen.

The cameras owned by businesses and used by police have already saved time and helped officers recover a gun and apprehend a suspect, Boysen said.

For example, the camera system captured a mans death on April 4, Boysen said. The incident was at Park Street Market on Kalamazoos predominantly Black Northside.

Officers got a call of a person deceased, Boysen said. We went to the scene and found a person with head trauma that was laying on the ground. Fusus allowed us to pull cameras ... and see there was an individual was sitting there on his phone, he had some sort of medical incident and he fell over, hit his head and died.

It would have taken police time to investigate if the death was a homicide or not, Boysen said. Fusus helped determine the cause faster than usual, he said.

The camera system can make police work more efficient, Boysen said.

Fusus also helped police see someone walking around with a handgun, Boysen said, and helped officers apprehend the man and recover the gun.

Citizens shared questions and concerns about the program with commissioners last week.

Weve only had two days to consider this, plus all the ACLU points, I think you should vote no on this, Tom Howes said at the commission meeting. He read some of the concerns shared by an ACLU attorney in an MLive article about the surveillance program. The attorney shared privacy concerns and questions about the use of face scanning.

KDPS did not respond to questions from MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette about which other locations, if any, were a part of the ongoing trial run.

MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette has asked city and police officials questions about the Fusus proposal, including:

How it is decided if images are kept or deleted?

Which business cameras are connected to Fusus and KDPS now, and how many are there?

What is the written policy regarding use of facial recognition and other aspects of the technology?

What are the results or data from the ongoing trial run of Fusus surveillance?

Vice Mayor Don Cooney responded to an email with these questions, saying, These are excellent questions and deserve answers. We should have them by the next meeting (June 20).

The department did not provide answers to all the questions by Thursday afternoon.

However, KDPS did publish a Frequently Asked Questions page that answers some questions.

The FAQ says initial implementation will be concentrated downtown and at liquor stores where there have been gun violence. It will then begin to roll out to other parts of the city.

The video data is stored on a Fusus device that remains at the camera owners location, police said.

Video data will be stored on the Fusus Core device no longer than 48 hours, KDPS said. If a crime occurred and there is video evidence on the Fusus Core device, Public Safety can download the section of video capturing the crime and store it for evidence in the investigation.

Participation from businesses to connect their cameras is voluntary, police said. Fusus gives businesses options on how to share video with law enforcement. For example, one option allows a business to offer footage only after hitting a panic button, Boysen said.

Anyone walking in areas covered by the cameras would be subject to police surveillance.

On June 7, the Kalamazoo City Commission accepted a $100,000 grant from the Hall Foundation Downtown Initiative Fund to support the surveillance expansion. The money comes via the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, Communications Officer Erika R. Whitehead told MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette.

The mission of the Kalamazoo Community Foundation is about mobilizing people, resources and expertise to advance racial social and economic justice, Whitehead said.

The foundation encourages residents to speak out and voice their opinions on issues like this, and hopes to hear more from people on this topic.

We know this is an ongoing development and the Kalamazoo Community Foundation is really all about encouraging that productive dialog to continue, she said.

The Fusus program also allows citizens to share images and video with police more easily from their home security cameras. The residential network would not allow real-time monitoring, but would facilitate faster sharing, police said.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter.

Also on MLive:

Cars are now permanently banned on this Kalamazoo street

Cigarette butts caused fire at $95M courthouse being built, Kalamazoo County official says

Targeting homeless, Kalamazoo bans sleeping bags, bedding in city parks

Michigans Best Local Eats: German brings giant beers, Bavarian fare to Steinspark Biergarten

Cut paper mills toxic gas output or shut it down, $600M lawsuit demands

After string of concerns, Kalamazoo pauses downtown police surveillance project
UPDATE: The story has been updated with additional information about the occupants of the fleeing vehicle.

MUSKEGON, MI  Two Michigan State Police troopers suffered serious injuries but are in stable condition after a crash Thursday evening involving a fleeing vehicle in Muskegon.
Detroit lawmakers are pushing back against a recent decision in Hamtramck to bar pride and other, flags from being flown on city property or government buildings.

Earlier this week, the city council voted unanimously to ban any flag associated with religion, ethnicity, race, politics or sexual orientation from flying on a number of government or city buildings, including libraries, parks, City Hall and schools.
When Brian Drenth toyed with the idea of attending Grand Havens pride event, he first thought of his two children.

Though they didnt attend with him, Drenth thought of the possibility of things somehow going wrong. It was only his second time ever attending a pride event.

But also he didnt want to live a life of fear, instead hoping to show support for the towns fledgling festival.

You can walk into a Meijer, you can walk into church  you walk into anywhere  and something can happen, said Drenth, of Kalamazoo. You cant live in fear ... with everything going on in the world, you just have to live your best life every day and hope you wake up the next morning.

Drenth joins thousands of others across Michigan this month who has, or will, attended a pride festival. And like Drenth, safety is on the minds of many in light of heightened national rhetoric surrounding the LGBTQ communities the events celebrate. There has been record anti-LGBTQ legislation signed into law nationwide, fervent backlash to books and calls for boycotting brands showing support.

RELATED: State of emergency declared for LGBTQ people in U.S.

Most cities do not put on their own prides. Nonprofits do the busy work of planning festivities, typically over the course of a year, with groups needing to account for vendor space, festival layout and security.

Its that last portion which has given some reason for pause when considering attending a pride this year.

Julia Music, executive director of Ferndale Pride, said her organization works with both local law enforcement and the FBI to secure the event. The groups website even hosts an FBI active shooter training video under the heading of frequently asked questions.

Music declined to share specific steps Ferndale Pride took to make its June 3 event safer, saying giving details could jeopardize the safety of the event.

Asked why, she recalled a phone conversation she had 15 years ago when working as part of an AIDS walk. The person on the other end asked about the event layout, which Music gave without thinking twice.

The inquirer responded by hiring a plane to fly over the walk with a homophobic banner attached to the back. Though nothing of this sort happened at Ferndale Pride, it sticks with Music and makes her cautious about revealing too much.

If youre not thinking of devious things, its no big deal. Like, why not have a map of where all the vendors are? ... But if youre thinking of devious things, thats super dangerous, Music said.

Safety was especially on the mind of Rev. Jared Cramer when helping plan Grand Havens first-ever pride festival. His church, St. Johns Episcopal in Grand Haven, sponsored the event as its 501c3 so donations to the festival could be tax-exempt.

Given Ottawa Countys hard-right lean, Cramer said he expected some event pushback. But as more things got out publicly, some of that pushback was really just disappointing and scary, to be frank.

In addition to some pretty violent anti-LGBTQ messages, Cramer said threats to his own life  posts suggesting someone take care of Jared Cramer  were made in a private Facebook group.

RELATED: Hate crime laws are murder prevention: Nessel, Dems argue for statute change

Like Ferndale, though, when Grand Haven Pride came  it went off without a hitch.

It was one of the greatest privileges of my life as a priest, to be honest, Cramer said. " People from the LGBTQ community who have been hateful told these hateful, untrue things  from religion, from family members, from people they thought they loved and trusted  it breaks my heart. And walking around seeing people happily being who they are? I mean, I walked around with a stupid grin on my face all day. Didnt even notice I got sunburned.

Aleecia Contreras, who attended Grand Havens pride with her girlfriend Hailee VanHook, said while safety was a concern while attending the event, it is also a concern of everyday living as a queer person.

Theres been a lot of times, unfortunately, weve just been out and about just holding hands  or even not even holding hands, just walking next to each other  and weve been called a couple of slurs, Conteras said. But, I reached out to (Cramer)  and he reassured that everything was going to be OK, and that there was going to be security, police.

Success of other events has given reassurance to people like Ben Dowd, president of Lansing Pride, which plans to host its event June 17 in Lansing.

Dowd said he was overwhelmed with the number of people who reached out in support of their event to be a volunteer or as a vendor. So many tried to be part of the festival that the group ended up keeping a waiting list.

People were ready to be a part of it, which gives me a sense of hope, Dowd said. Although theres a lot of negative news and stories, and you hear all these things happening in places, that thats pretty siloed. The general feeling around this is one of positivity.

Like Grand Haven Pride, Lansing Pride is a fledgling event in its second year. Dowd, however, has been planning prides across the state for years, and said though security is always a topic of concern, it was even more so this year.

But even with that in mind, Dowd said whether to host the festival was never in question.

Resilience is the thing ... We expect protestors. Were fully prepared for that to happen, and I think combatting an alternative message from folks with love and kindness is going to be the way that we move forward.

More from MLive:

This Pride month, major Michigan brands face a minefield

A heart transplant changed his life. Now he waits for another one.

Quicker results next presidential election could stop chaos, misinformation

Michigan GOP chair, others fined $58K for frivolous election fraud suit

Total gun ban on Michigan Capitol grounds could come as early as September
LANSING, MI  Democratic lawmakers want to repeal two laws signed by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder about a decade ago so they can shift certain labor powers back to local governments from the state.

House Bill 4231 would repeal a 2011 law banning municipalities from entering project labor agreements on publicly funded construction projects. PLAs are collective bargaining agreements negotiated between labor unions and project owners to establish terms and conditions of employment.

Michigan would be the 26th state not to restrict the use of PLAs, which proponents say increase economic mobility with better wages, discourage bad contractors and give workers valuable training.

These training requirements, coupled with fair compensation, save taxpayers money by ensuring the efficient completion of projects, sponsoring Rep. Jenn Hill, D-Marquette, told the House Labor Committee on Thursday.

Repealing the PLA ban doesnt require municipalities to use them, just returns the option to them.

Rep. Tom Kunse, R-Clare, told Hill that lifting the ban eliminates opportunities for trade school students trying to fulfill apprenticeship requirements, but Hill argued apprenticeships can be negotiated into collective bargaining agreements.

HB 4237 would repeal a 2015 law that prevents municipalities from setting wage and benefit requirements for local businesses. Local governments currently, for example, cant set a minimum wage higher than the states, set paid or unpaid leave requirements or regulate strikes and job applications.

We shouldnt be tying the hands of our local units of government, sponsoring Rep. Joey Andrews, D-St. Joseph, told the committee. We should be giving our cities, our townships, our counties the ability to do what is best for the people that live there.

Local government officials testified in support of the bills and were often met with pushback from Republicans on the committee. Rep. Mike Mueller, R-Linden, argued a worst-case scenario that local businesses cant afford the higher minimum wage, leave the city and its tax base, and then the state has to bail-out the city if it files for bankruptcy.

But Warren city councilor Angela Rogensues argued that repealing these restrictive laws can be a driver of economic opportunity, because more people may want to move to or work in that city.

Kalamazoo County commissioner John Taylor added that he finds the GOP argument ironic because local control was the Republicans mantra 20 years ago.

HB 4237, for example, would allow cities to set local sick leave standards. Berrien County commissioner Chokwe Pitchford said that if one of his local governments had even five days of required sick leave, two-dozen people who have come to his office would have been able to keep their jobs.

Its about putting power back into the hands of individuals and taking it out of the hands of state government, which I think benefits everyone broadly, Pitchford said.

Two business groups opposing the repeals are the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce and the Michigan Retailers Association. Their representatives argued to the committee that different regulations city-to-city could lead to complexity for businesses with multiple locations.

Employers would potentially be subject a patchwork of wage and benefit policies that could create a compliance nightmare, said Amy Drumm, a senior vice president for the retailers association.

Labor Committee chair Jim Haadsma, D-Battle Creek, said more testimony on the bills will be heard next week or the week after.

Read more from MLive:

How Michigan prides are handling safety concerns amid anti-LGBTQ backlash

Hamtramcks pride flag ban met with opposition from Detroit lawmakers

Braids, dreadlocks, twists and afros: hair discrimination now illegal in Michigan

Overhaul of Michigan elections moving quickly as Republicans fire back
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is traveling to France and Germany for her third economic mission in six months, looking to again woo companies abroad to invest in Michigan, her office announced Friday.

During the trip she will also visit Michigan National Guard troops in Germany, after visiting troops in Latvia just last month.

Read more: Whitmer to visit Michigan National Guard troops in Latvia during trade mission

I will go anywhere, work with anyone, and compete with everyone to grow Michigans economy, bring supply chains home, and create good-paying, high-skilled jobs across our state, Whitmer said in a statement. We are taking this opportunity to tell Michigans incredible story, build relationships that bring more jobs, investments and the supply chain to Michigan, and spend time with the dedicated servicemembers deployed in the region to protect national security.

Her office declined to specify the companies she would be meeting with, while the release said she will meet with foreign leaders from a diverse set of companies, mentioning aerospace, defense, future mobility and manufacturing.

The governor will also meet foreign dignitaries in Germany to discuss deepening ties between Michigan and regional economies and governments, the release said.

In each of these trips, Whitmer has traveled with leaders from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, including CEO Quentin Messer, Jr. In a statement he said the trips are about taking Michigans message of global leadership in mobility, defense and advanced manufacturing sectors, international business tradition, openness to newcomers and our strong business environment across the globe.

Whitmers predecessor, Republican Rick Snyder, also repeatedly traveled abroad in the hope of landing business investment for the state, but not with the frequency that Whitmer has put in during the first year of her second term in office.

In January, Whitmer appeared on two panels at the World Economic Forums annual conference in Davos, Switzerland. Before the conference she had met with officials at Nel Hydrogen, an alternative energy supplier, about investing in the state. Evidently wooed, in May Whitmer announced they would build a gigafactory in the state to build equipment used to refuel hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Read more: Michigan lands $400 million hydrogen fuel gigafactory, Whitmer announces

This trip is the latest salvo in a barrage of public moves Whitmer and state government have make to depict Michigan as an integral player in they have deemed industries of the future.

Read more on MLive

How Michigan prides are handling safety concerns amid anti-LGBTQ backlash

Braids, dreadlocks, twists and afros: hair discrimination now illegal in Michigan

Snyder-era wage, collective bargaining laws on the chopping block

Staff push back after West Michigan TV station seeks to scale back LGBTQ Pride coverage

Overhaul of Michigan elections moving quickly as Republicans fire back
Yesterday consisted of severe weather for southeast Michigan, including areas like Detroit and Lansing. This included gusty winds, torrential rain, and hail that covered the ground like snow. This weekend looks to be vastly different, with warmer conditions and barely a cloud in the sky.

Cloud cover is expected to dissipate by Saturday morning, which will make for a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

This will quickly drive our temperatures toward the 80-degree mark, allowing for a beautiful day to be outdoors.

This sunny trend continues into Sunday, where temperatures are expected to reach the mid-80s.

Temperatures for Sunday

The abundant sunshine for Fathers Day could bring our temperatures into the high 80s as well, primarily near the Traverse City area.

This brings us to Monday, when cloud cover arrives for the Lower Peninsula by the afternoon hours, keeping our temperatures at bay.

Despite this, temperatures are expected to return to the high 80s in Northern Michigan, with areas south of Traverse City hanging around the 80-degree mark.

We are expected to only get warmer as the week progresses, with potential high temperatures in the 90s by Wednesday.
At the VivaTech trade show in Paris, President Emmanuel Macron promised an extra 500 million of investment to help make France a world leader in artificial intelligence.

The investment, announced by the French president on Wednesday, is an extension of France's 2018 "AI plan", initially endowed with 1.5 billion.

Macron is keen to support projects targeting French speakers, saying that the new package would help "create champions" in the artificial intelligence field.

It comes as concern grows that the dominance of US firms could disadvantage non-English speakers.

New industrial revolution

"In the field of artificial intelligence, I want France to be the champion and position itself at the forefront of this new industrial revolution," Macron tweeted  in French  ahead of the visit.

Competition promises to be fierce in the sector in Europe, with Britain having made a slew of announcements recently.

Macron appeared on stage with the founders of several French startups, including Mistral AI, which announced this week it had raised 105 million  a record for a French AI firm.

More than 2,000 firms are displaying at VivaTech, which runs until Saturday, with products ranging from augmented-reality ski masks to an AI-animated bot that allows you to "chat" with Dutch master Vincent Van Gogh.

EU to step up regulation

Macron has also encouraged the European Union to pass AI regulations as soon as possible, but warned against regulation without investment.

"The worst scenario would be a Europe that invests much less than the Americans and the Chinese but starts by creating regulation," he said. "This scenario is possible but it would not be the one I would support."

European lawmakers on Wednesday passed a draft law known as the AI Act, the first of its kind in the world. However, it still needs final approval from member states and parliamentarians, and will likely not kick in until 2025.

The AI Act is designed to curtail generative AI, requiring content created by systems like ChatGPT to be labelled, and requiring AI makers to reveal more about the data used to create their programs.

While providing a safeguard to society, the act's system of fines for violations is likely to put Brussels on a collision course with US tech companies who are investing billions in the technology.

Macron to meet Musk

The owner of Twitter and Tesla, Elon Musk, is due to meet President Macron at the Elysee palace on Friday before giving a talk at VivaTech.

The French government wants to convince Musk to install a Tesla battery factory in France, a project where France is in competition with Spain.

During his VivaTech appearance, Musk is expected to talk about his company Neuralink, which recently won US approval for human testing of technology that uses implants to link brains with computers.

(with wires)
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on Tuesday, June 13, in Tema, Ghana between the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and Loudoun County in Virginia, United States of America, to begin what was referred to as a sister city relationship.

Phyllis Randall, Chair-At-Large of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, and Yohane Amarh Ashitey, Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) both signed the agreement as representatives of their County and City respectively.

Although the event marks a formal agreement that will promote economic, cultural and student exchange programs between the two regions, but in actual sense, we are really signing an agreement to be family, thats what we [are] doing here today. And Im so proud, so grateful and so humbled to lead this delegation to sign this today, said Chair Randall in her speech.

The supervisors of Loudoun County had previously made an official declaration that Loudoun will be adding new jurisdictions to its sister city partnerships this year, which Chair Randall confirmed at an event in mid-April 2023, explaining the possibility of an existential relationship between Tema and Loudoun. The option for Ghana was agreed on and the Board of Supervisors on February 21 voted to approve Tema as one of the countys new sister cities along with Greater Noida in India and Canelones in Uruguay.

According to Mr. Ashitey who is also the Mayor of Tema, the steps taken to build the sister city relationship between the two cities began when Ghanas president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and American investors met over a discussion related to Loudoun.

The U.S have strongly favoured Ghanas economy and political policies. It has offered assistance to Ghana and consolidated its steps towards a democratic governance. It therefore didnt come to us a surprise when the president of the republic Nana Akuffo Addo at a meeting with investors from the county of Loudoun, U.S. recommended that Loudoun and Tema strike a perfect friendship that can unleash the prospect to transform the Ghanaian economy, said the Mayor of Tema.

At that meeting, the President suggested that Loudoun and Tema have a perfect friendship that might open up opportunities to revolutionize the Ghanaian economy. In her speech, Chair Randall furthered this claim by quoting the President as having said to the group from Loudoun, I want you in Tema, and he told us why.'

Tema offers a prime location for investment for all interested investors since it serves as the industrial centre of Ghana, as well as having the biggest seaport on the west coast of Africa that services landlocked nations like Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso and is home to more than 400 industrial facilities.

The city of Tema is the hub of the Ghanas manufacturing, export-import trade, and is home to the majority of the countrys strategic installations, including thermal power plants, oil refineries, and other facilities. Tema has the closest human settlement to the Centre of the World.

Im inclined to describe Tema as a heartbeat of the nation in terms of ready mobilization, manufacturing and export-import businesses. Tema affords great opportunities for investors affordable housing, tourism development, fish processing and transport systems among others. These references are meant to emphasize that Tema provides an ideal investment destination for all prospective investors, said the Mayor.

Despite considering other countries for the partnership, Chair Randall said they chose Tema because they were convinced it was the best location. She said that they took the relationship highly seriously. Kingsley Obaji suggested Ghana, and we didnt know much about Ghana so we looked into it, but we also looked into many other African countries, and after looking to other countries in Africa for an entire year, we came back to [realize] Ghana is the right place for us, she said.

The truth is, once we heard about the people in Tema we knew we wanted to be in Tema, in Accra and in Ghana. Because all we hear is the people of Ghana are kind, the people of Ghana are welcoming, the people of Ghana are respectable, the people of Ghana will help you. We kept hearing that over and over again.

In addition to being technologically advanced and dealing with agriculture, industries, wineries, and numerous job prospects, Chair Randall indicated that more than 65 percent of the worlds data flow pass through Loudoun County. The Chair emphasized that the two cities would be bridging their differences with the agreement and compliment one another from there onwards.

So today, we open the door of possibility to the world superpower filled with hope and a chance to shine brighter. A possibility of friendship that ignites our minds to prioritize inclusive social and economic development, and investment opportunities. Todays historical signing ceremony shall be a turning point in the annals of both Tema City and Loudoun County.

From today, a lot more is needed to be done to achieve a desired result for our mutual benefits, said Mayor Ashitey.

Under the leadership of Chair Randall, the Loudoun County delegation also comprised the below:

Supervisor Saines

Supervisor Glass

Chief of Staff Mattew Rogers

Chief of Staff Kent

Thaddeus Randall

Buddy Rizer

Bob McCollar (in absentia)

Beth Erickson

Kingsley Obaji

Oral Ofori (friend of the county)

Source: TheAfricanDream.net
Sudan's devastating war raged on into a third month Thursday as the reported death toll topped 2,000 and after a provincial governor was killed in the remote Darfur region.

The army headed by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has since April 15 fought the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

The fighting has driven 2.2 million people from their homes, including 528,000 who have fled to neighbouring countries, says the International Organization for Migration.

"In our worst expectations, we didn't see this war dragging on for this long," said one Sudanese citizen, Mohamad al-Hassan Othman, who has fled his home in Khartoum.

Sudan's army headed by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, pictured on the left, has since April 15 fought the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces commanded by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. By ASHRAF SHAZLY (AFP/File)

Everything in "our life has changed," he told AFP. "We don't know whether we'll be back home or need to start a new life."

The death toll has risen above 2,000, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project's latest figures which cover fighting until June 9.

In long-troubled West Darfur, the violence claimed the life of Governor Khamis Abdullah Abakar, hours after he made remarks critical of the paramilitaries in a telephone interview with a Saudi TV channel.

The United Nations said "compelling eyewitness accounts attribute this act to Arab militias and the RSF", while the Darfur Lawyers Association condemned the act of "barbarism, brutality and cruelty".

Map of Sudan and neighbouring countries as civilians flee the country. By Sophie RAMIS (AFP)

Burhan accused his paramilitary enemies of the "treacherous attack", while the RSF denied responsibility and for its part said it condemned Abakar's "assassination in cold blood".

It said he was killed after being "abducted" from RSF protection, which "the governor had requested".

Sudan analyst Kholood Khair of the Khartoum-based think tank Confluence Advisory said in a tweet that the "heinous assassination" was meant "to silence his highlighting of genocide... in Darfur".

Khair added that it was unclear "what the red lines are anymore" and urged for international "action to protect the people of Darfur and elsewhere".

'Completely devastated'

Children cycle along a street in Khartoum on June 14, 2023. By - (AFP)

US and Saudi mediation efforts are at a standstill after the collapse of multiple ceasefires in the face of flagrant violations by both sides.

"We have been suffering and suffering and suffering the scourge of this war for two months," said a Khartoum resident, Soha Abdulrahman.

A record 25 million people -- more than half the population -- are in need of aid, according to the UN, which says it has received only a fraction of needed funding.

Saudi Arabia has announced an international pledging conference for next week.

"We have nothing left," said another person living in the capital, Ahmed Taha. "The entire country has been completely devastated.

Sudanese wait for a gas truck to arrive to exchange their empty canisters, in Wad Madani, the capital of Sudan's al-Jazirah state, on June 14, 2023. By - (AFP)

"Everywhere you look, you'll see where bombs have fallen and bullets have struck. Every inch of Sudan is a disaster area."

Many of the displaced have lost loved ones as well as "all their belongings and livelihoods", said Anja Wolz of aid group Doctors Without Borders.

The group, which runs mobile clinics for the displaced in Madani, 200 kilometres (120 miles) southeast of Khartoum, noted a "worrying increase" in people escaping the capital.

'Disaster zone'

Sudanese civilians who have sought refuge from the fighting in Darfur gather for an aid distribution in neighbouring Chad. By Gueipeur Denis SASSOU (AFP/File)

Darfur, one of the war's main battlegrounds, was already scarred by a two-decade conflict that left hundreds of thousands dead and more than two million displaced.

Daglo's RSF have their origins in the Janjaweed militias which former strongman Omar al-Bashir unleashed on ethnic minorities in the region in 2003, drawing charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Homes and markets have been burnt to the ground, hospitals and aid facilities looted and more than 149,000 people sent fleeing into neighbouring Chad.

The Umma Party, one of Sudan's main civilian groups, said El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state, had been turned into a "disaster zone", and urged international organisations to provide help.

The Darfur Lawyers Association reported that, in El Geneina, "cross-border militias supported by the RSF" had carried out "massacres and ethnic cleansing".
Average global temperatures in early June were the hottest ever recorded by the European Copernicus service, beating previous records by a "substantial margin".

"The world has just had its warmest start to June on record, after a month of May that was only 0.1C cooler than the record," Samantha Burgess, deputy director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), said in a statement on Thursday.

The European agency, based in Bonn, Germany, has data dating back to 1950.

"Average global surface air temperatures for the first days of June were the highest recorded in the ERA5 dataset for an early June, and by a substantial margin," Copernicus stated in its findings.

The Earth's surface temperature last month tied as the second hottest for May, according to C3S.

These readings come as the El Nino weather phenomenon, generally associated with an increase in global temperatures, has officially begun.

'Every fraction of a degree counts'

"It's not surprising because there is a tendency for temperatures to increase" and "we knew that when an El Nino event develops it tends to raise temperatures by a few tens of degrees," Francois-Marie Breon, deputy director of the Laboratory of Climate and Environmental Sciences (LSCE), told French news agency AFP.

"If a year is particularly hot, it is not necessarily significant, but what is of course is this heavy trend which shows an increase in temperatures of about 2 tenths of a degree per decade," Breon says.

Copernicus also points out that in early June, global temperatures exceeded pre-industrial levels by more than 1.5C, which is the most ambitious warming limit of the 2015 Paris agreement.

This is the first time that this limit was crossed in June, but it has already been crossed several times in winter and spring in recent years.

The Paris agreement aims to keep the increase in the global average temperature "well below 2C" and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5C instead.

"Every fraction of a degree counts to avoid even more serious consequences of the climate crisis," Burgess said.

Climate talks

International climate negotiations are being held this week in Bonn, organised by the UN, before the big COP28 talks scheduled for Dubai at the end of the year.

The question of fossil fuels, the main causes of global warming, will be high on the agenda.

"El Nino years have always been warm, but now they come against a backdrop of warming exacerbated by the use of fossil fuels, decade after decade, which has made extreme temperatures more likely," Richard Hodgkins, professor of physical geography at the British University of Loughborough told AFP.

Heat episodes "have the effect of forest fires, the melting of ice at the poles or an increase in the demand for electricity for air conditioning", all of which only add to the warming, he points out.

The drought hitting Europe and the monster fires are ravaging Canada are just two examples.

Specialists are also currently wondering about a phenomenon of "exceptionally high" temperatures in the North Atlantic, Breon says.

Most of the warmest years on record have occurred during El Nino, and scientists are concerned that this summer and next could see record temperatures on land and in the sea.

(with AFP)
Namibia said on Thursday it would auction off dozens of crocodiles and deliver more permits to hunt the big reptiles, whose growing population is leading to more attacks on people.

Environment Minister Pohamba Shifeta told AFP the move comes as crocodile numbers in parts of the southern African country have grown to a point where they are no longer sustainable.

"We have targeted different areas where the crocodile population exceeds the carrying capacity and moving onto the shore where they start to attack people," Shifeta said.

The ministry had on Wednesday said in a statement that 40 crocodiles would be captured from rivers in the northeastern, wildlife-rich regions of Kavango and Zambezi -- and auctioned off.

The government said they would be sold to anyone who could prove they have suitable habitats for the crocodiles, and who have proper export papers.

"We are also looking at where the human attacks take place in conservancies and will increase their trophy quota, we might double it," said Shifeta.

The decision was based on a study of the reptile population after an increase in reports of crocodiles wading into inhabited areas, Shifeta said.

The ministry has since 2019 paid more than 2.3 million Namibian dollars ($125,000) in compensation to families affected by crocodile attacks, some of which were fatal, it said.

The sum included 14 payouts for injuries to people, as well as compensation for the loss of livestock.

Bidding for the crocodiles is set to begin on July 17 and sales will be repeated periodically to control population numbers.
Few witnessed the building of the young Kenyan state from within as did Ngina Kenyatta, the widow of Kenya's first president, Jomo Kenyatta. Mama Ngina, as she is known, will mark her 90th birthday on 24 June 2023. She was by her husband's side when Kenya won independence 60 years ago and for many turbulent years thereafter. Although Kenyatta was polygamous, it was the younger Mama Ngina who took on the roles of first lady.

Ngina married Jomo Kenyatta in 1952 at the age of 19. That year, Kenyatta was arrested and subsequently jailed on charges of masterminding the anti-colonial Mau Mau uprising. By then, he had spent years abroad (mainly in England), where he embraced anti-colonialist and Pan-African ideas. Back home he was elected president of Kenya African Union, before becoming the front figure of the Kenya African National Union (KANU), the party that would go on to lead Kenya to independence.

Kenyatta's marriage to Ngina was his fourth. He had married Grace Wahu in 1920, Edna Clark in 1942 and Grace Wanjiku in 1946. The last marriage had political significance because Ngina was the daughter of a senior chief , Muhoho wa Gatheca, who held an administrative position of great influence. By then, Kenyatta was expanding his political base, so this marriage secured an alliance with an important clan.

Mama Ngina is to be seen in many official photographs of the early days, protectively herding their young children in State House. The first-born was Christine Wambui-Pratt, who is today an advocate for people living with disability. The second was Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, who became Kenya's fourth president (2013-2022). The third was Nyokabi Muthama, now a businesswoman and philanthropist . Muhoho Kenyatta, the reclusive last-born, is reputedly the engine of the Kenyatta family business empire.

Away from family, Mama Ngina was often involved in supporting various Harambee (community development) projects. Yet very little was known about her and in particular her political influence during this period.

She was, and still is, certainly not uninterested in politics. Though not a frequent public political speaker, she has spoken out in defence of her family. In 2022, she publicly campaigned for Uhuru Kenyatta's preferred presidential candidate, Raila Odinga. She also sought to associate herself with the Mau Mau independence struggle in an apparent attempt to counter popular sentiment against the Kenyattas among the Kikuyu. Mama Ngina Kenyatta (second left) and Jomo Kenyatta (right) host Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, during a visit to Kenya in 1972. (Photo by William Lovelace/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) GettyImages

Kenyatta's death and after

The way she handled the news of Kenyatta's death on 21 August 1978 suggests she was preparing her political survival. At that time, jockeying for succession was fierce and the Kenyan political elite was profoundly divided over it. So as the Mzee (old man)  as he was called  died, Mama Ngina and his stepsons Peter Magana and Peter Muigai informed their political allies with great discretion.

According to a report by the authoritative Weekly Review news magazine, one of the first to be informed was Daniel Arap Moi , then vice-president and constitutionally next in line to act as president. This placed Moi in the lead of the succession battle at a time when some were opposed to his automatic succession. Only thereafter was Peter Mbiyu Koinange , Kenyatta's long-time comrade and a prominent minister, informed, along with Kenyatta's other children.

Mama Ngina took a low profile after the succession. She was inheriting a huge business empire which continued to expand. Today, the holdings include land as well as shares in companies in banking, real estate, hospitality, mining, insurance, airlines, education, energy, dairy farming, transport and telecommunications.

Her role during the political transition was rewarded with political support by President Moi, according to news reports.

Protecting our son

In 2013, the matriarch bounced back to the centre of Kenyan politics, the first woman to have been spouse and now mother of a sitting president. That would not have seemed likely when Uhuru Kenyatta was indicted by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity . The charges stemmed from the 2007-2008 post-election violence, in which Uhuru and William Ruto were on opposite sides. With Mama Ngina's financial muscle behind them , the two formed the unlikely alliance that swept to power in 2013 .

Planning began in April 2011, when Mama Ngina appeared at rallies where prayers were said for the indicted duo. According to the Daily Nation, Mama Ngina brokered the coalition between the two. She also bankrolled the promotion of our son for president in Mount Kenya region, inhabited by her co-ethnics and related tribes.

Uhuru's ICC case was dropped in 2014 and Ruto's in 2016 . They soon fell out. Ngina blamed Ruto for the rift. This in her eyes meant Uhuru was not to blame for breaking his 2013 campaign promise to back Ruto after his own term.

Now, for the first time, Mama Ngina has little or no influence over proceedings in State House. What's more, the Kenyattas are seen as anti-government for the first time since independence.

Mau Mau uneasy legacy

Mama Ngina recently came to the defence of the Kenyattas, who are accused of sidelining freedom fighters and their families. The historical grievance is that they did not benefit from post-independence allocations.

Ngina has sought to realign herself with the Mau Mau. She has claimed that she was among the Mau Mau women fighters . There is no archival evidence to support this, and her husband denounced the movement before independence. The group remained banned under his and the next presidency. It was finally lifted in 2003.

It's more likely that in an election campaign heavy with economic empowerment promises, this claim was her way of identifying with the marginalised, on behalf of the Kenyattas' candidate. She can be counted on to defend the family name, in good times and bad.

Anais Angelo receives funding from the Austrian Science Fund.

Catheline Bosibori consults to Africa politicum. she has previously received funding from KAAD . She is affiliated with The Adam smith Fellowship, Mercatus centre USA.

By Anais Angelo, Elise Richter Fellow, Senior Postdoctoral Researcher, Universitat Wien And

Catheline Bosibori N, Adam Smith Fellow, Mercatus Center, George Mason University
South Africa has created a network of facilities to store hundreds of thousands of samples of biological material from plants, animals, bacteria and fungi. The samples are currently held in biobanks in the country. The aim is twofold: to ensure researchers have access to all available samples, and to establish common policies, procedures and standards for biodiversity biobanks. This is important if the country is to keep pace with advances in research.

The South African National Biodiversity Institute's Professor Michelle Hamer, who heads the Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa project, spoke to The Conversation Africa.

What is a biodiversity biobank and what's stored in it?

The definition can differ according to context. For the Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa project it's defined as a repository of biological material that's not usually of human origin.

That can include reproductive tissues like seeds, eggs and sperm; other tissues (blood, hair, muscle); DNA and other extracts; and environmental samples such as water or soil that contain biological communities. The materials are often cryopreserved (stored at ultra-low temperatures). Some are stored at low or room temperature.

The materials that now fall under the auspices of Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa represent biological communities, species, strains, varieties and breeds present in South Africa. That includes crops and livestock. The samples can be used to support research in a range of disciplines. They could also help in developing new or improved products and practices in several fields: agriculture, human health and wellness, environmental management and conservation biology.

What led to the project being launched?

It's one of the projects under a research roadmap initiated by the national Department of Science and Innovation in 2017. The programme aims to develop infrastructure that's accessible to all researchers.

This infrastructure and the research conducted through biobanks can help to address a number of national challenges like climate change and food security. For instance, work done through the genebanks at the country's Agricultural Research Council has resulted in new maize cultivars. Some are drought resistant ; others are resistant to the fall armyworm . This helps smallholder farmers to increase production and ensure household food security.

Read more: How biobanks can help improve the integrity of scientific research

South Africa is well placed to host biodiversity biobanks because it's one of 17 megadiverse countries (others include Brazil, Mexico, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Madagascar). Collectively these 17 countries hold more than two thirds of the world's biodiversity.

They not only have an exceptionally high number of plant, animal and fungi species ( more than 100,000 in South Africa), but also a high number or proportion of endemic species  these are only found in the country.

Why is creating one network so important?

South Africa has an estimated half a million items in various biobanks. Most of this material has been collected or established over the last 20 to 30 years.

The problem is that the biobanks holding these samples have traditionally operated largely in isolation. There is not an established culture of using biobanks among biodiversity researchers. A researcher will get funding, go into the field and collect material, analyse it and then keep it in a freezer in their laboratory until, too often, it's thrown out to free up space.

When another researcher is working on the same species, they have to get funding to do this all over again. This could be addressed if samples were deposited in a biobank at the end of a study and made accessible to other researchers.

One of the reasons for this fragmentation is that some researchers don't trust the system and fear that if they deposit samples in a biobank they will not be able to access these if they need them later, or they are concerned about the quality of samples that may be supplied by biobanks.

There are no currently no common policies, procedures and standards related to biodiversity biobanks in South Africa, which means that the quality of materials cannot always be assured. While there are international guidelines and standards for biobanks in general, implementation is a common challenge globally.

South Africa also has no established training programme for biobank technicians or curators or managers.

The only way to address these challenges is through working as a cohesive network with a common purpose and shared objectives. The Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa is that network. Creating it solves four problems:

ensures samples aren't stored in isolation and are accessible

ensures samples are stored, and not thrown away

addresses the issue of trust by promoting credible practices in biobanking

creates a collaborative platform for growing the biobanks so that they hold materials that represent the country's biodiversity.

There are currently seven participating institutions and almost 20 different biobanks .

What are the benefits?

If South African scientists are to compete in all areas of research and development, they need access to a range of high quality and well documented biobanked materials.

Take genome sequencing technologies. Genome sequencing involves fragmenting an organism's DNA, studying the composition or sequence of those pieces, then reconstructing it all into the original sequence.

These technologies are being used for an enormous  and ever increasing  range of research and biotechnology applications. That includes understanding the origins and diversification of life on earth, unravelling the functioning of complex ecosystem networks, understanding genetic change and its significance, identifying the genetic basis for adaptive traits that are useful for crop, livestock, fish and wildlife breeding programmes, and much more.

Having access to quality samples representing South Africa's biodiversity saves time and resources needed to collect biological samples. The samples could even serve as a bank of genetic diversity that may be lost in future through climate change, loss of habitats or over-exploitation of natural resources.

Michelle Hamer works for the South African National Biodiversity Institute and is an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. She receives funding for the Biodiversity Biobanks South Africa from the Department of Science & Innovation.

By Michelle Hamer, Director, Collections Management, South African National Biodiversity Institute
15.06.2023 LISTEN

A communication team member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Margaret Ansei has taken a swipe at the continuous blame game by the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Magaret Ansei in an interview with TV3 on Thursday, June 15 said the NPP government is clueless and has nothing new to offer Ghanaians.

This she argues is the reason the ruling government continue to blame ex-President John Dramani Mahama for its failures.

Ghanaians voted for you based on your promises, which of them have you fulfilled, and you have been blaming President Mahama over the 7 years of your governance? This is a very useless government, to call on the opposition for seven years very irresponsible, Roland we did not come to call on President Kufuor, we did not come to call on Acheampong, Busia whatever.

President Mahama said this is a generational problem, I will fix it, how many years did Dr. Osagyefo take to build Akosombo, six good years, you understand, we have got all the benefits, the interest, whatever when you were talking about ESLA and the rest, I dont want to go there, you have worsening everything when you came to meet the money, you have been irresponsible, Magaret Ansei said.

She indicated that NPP has no better solution to the current predicament of Ghanaians.

I want Ghanaians to know that the eight year of the NPP Party is a complete waste of everybodys time because they have nothing in mind, they have no plan, they have no solution, all that they knew were rhetoric. It is such an irresponsible government to complain in eight years or in seven years about your opponents. Very irresponsible.

I have handed something to you and for seven years, you are still calling the name of the party that handed power to you, Magaret Ansei emphasised.
Environmental Health and Sanitation Unit of the Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly (ASEMA) has confiscated some meat products suspected to be infected with anthrax bacteria at Kasoa new market.

The product included legs, ribs, tail, head and other parts of the cow.

Following the outbreak of the disease in the Upper East Region, the Regional Public Health Emergency Management Committee (PHEMC) ordered the ban on sales and transportation of livestock, including cattle, sheep and goat.

This measure is to control and avert the spread of the disease and its devastating impact on the lives of animals and human beings.

Subsequently, through the vigilance of some Environmental officers at the Adam Nana/Kpometey Zonal Council Area, some suspected unwholesome smoked beef displayed on the market on Monday, June 12, were confiscated amid protests from owners.

Mr. John Gavi, Environmental Health Officer in charge of the zone, said upon interrogation they realised that the meat was transported from Bawku and the police had to be called in to confiscate the product.

According to the officer, documents covering the products was dated Wednesday, June 7, the very day the directive was issued with a total quantity of seven small sacks and was expected to be transported to Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

He said a veterinary officer conducted a test on the meat but because it was smoked the toxicity of the product could not be established.

However, he stated in view of the outbreak and subsequent ban on transportation of such meat, the environmental office was mandated to confiscate the product, which would be destroyed by burning.

GNA
Prominent Bangladeshi journalist Golam Rabbani Nadeem, a correspondent for Banglanews24.com and Ekattor Television in the Jamalpur district, was pronounced dead earlier today at the Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, following a severe assault last night.

The incident took place around 10pm local time on June 14 in the Pathatiya region of Bakshiganj, near the Dutch-Bangla Bank booth. Nadeem was reportedly attacked by a group of 10 to 12 people wielding local arms. He was then dragged into a dark alleyway, where the assault continued.

Dr Md Zakiul Islam, deputy director of the hospital, confirmed that Nadeem succumbed to his injuries at approximately 2:30pm today, following excessive blood loss due to a critical head injury.

Nadeem's colleague Al Mujahid Babu, who was present during the attack, has alleged that the assault was linked to a news report they recently published against local Sadhupara Union Chairman Mahmud Alam Babu. According to Babu, this resulted in the chairman filing a case against them under the Digital Security Act (DSA), which was later dismissed by a Mymensingh cyber tribunal.

In response to the incident, the editor of Banglanews24.com, Jewel Mazhar, expressed deep sorrow and called for justice, stating: "We demand punishment for those involved in this heinous incident."

Police have detained four suspects in connection to the attack, although their identities have not been disclosed at this time. Rofiqul Islam, the officer in charge at the Mymensingh Medical College Police outpost, confirmed the arrest.

Nadeem's family and local residents have asserted that the assault was orchestrated by followers of Chairman Babu, in response to Nadeem's recent news reports criticizing the chairman.

Monira Begum, Nadeem's wife, stated that her husband was seriously injured in an attack by Babu's men, and has demanded "exemplary punishment" for those involved. This sentiment was echoed by their son, Abdullah Al Mamun Rifat, who directly attributed his father's death to Chairman Babu and called for justice.

In response to the allegations, Chairman Babu has categorically denied any involvement in the attack, claiming he held no ill will against the deceased journalist.

This is reportedly not the first time Nadeem has faced violence. He was targeted earlier on April 11 this year, allegedly over his news coverage.

The Banglanews family has expressed its deep sorrow and shock at the untimely demise of their colleague.
Overfishing is driving coral reef sharks towards extinction, according to a global study out Thursday that signals far greater peril to the marine predators than previously thought.

That matters to humans because the species act as managers of their marine ecosystems, maintaining delicately balanced food webs on which hundreds of millions of people rely.

The research, published in the journal Science, is the result of the Global FinPrint project, which collected more than 22,000 hours of video footage from reefs across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australasia and the Americas.

A team of more than 100 scientists found that five of the most common coral reef shark species -- grey reef, nurse, Caribbean reef, blacktip reef and whitetip reef -- declined by 70 to 60 percent.

The depletion data was derived from a computer model that estimated what shark numbers would have looked like without human pressures.

Sharks were entirely absent in 14 percent of reefs where they had been previously documented.

Lead author Colin Simpfendorfer of the James Cook University and the University of Tasmania told AFP that prior to the study, coral reef sharks -- unlike their bigger cousins that dwell in deep oceans -- were not thought to be doing badly.

"But when you sat down and looked at the overall results, it was quite stunning," he said.

Ripple effects

A Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) is seen at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve coral reef in the outskirts of San Pedro village, in Ambergris Cay, Belize,. By Pedro PARDO (AFP/File)

The findings should help update the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, with more species qualifying for "endangered" status, an important step towards conservation action.

Simpfendorfer added that the overwhelming factor in the decline was overfishing, both targeting sharks for their fins and meat, and unintentionally killing them as bycatch.

In terms of impacts, the loss of sharks causes ripple effects down the food chain.

The prey they eat increases in number, but the next level down decreases, and so on -- creating unpredictable disruptions that risk human food security.

Reef sharks also keep herbivores in check, said Simphendorfer. When herbivores become more common, they eat more algae, which trap carbon for use in photosynthesis.

"Carbon sequestration on coral reefs without sharks is much lower than it is on reefs with sharks," he said, meaning there is an impact on global warming.

'Hope spots'

Funding for the project came from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, which was responsible for the Great Elephant Census, a pan-African aerial survey of Earth's largest land animals.

In the shark study, scientists used baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS) -- cameras with a small amount of oily fish hung placed on arm -- to draw out and observe sharks in deployments that lasted an hour.

In total, they surveyed 391 coral reefs in 67 nations and territories using 22,756 cameras -- generating three-years-worth of raw video.

Reefs with healthier populations tended to be in high-income countries with stronger regulations and greater levels of democratic participation, while lower-income countries generally had worse outcomes.

But the team also uncovered certain "hope spots" in developing countries, such as Sipadan Island in Malaysia and Lighthouse Reef in Belize.

"In and around them, things are fairly depleted -- but in those areas where you have strong MPAs (marine protected areas) and really good ways to enforce them, you have robust shark populations," co-author Michael Heithaus of Florida International University told AFP.

This, he said, offered hope that heavily depleted areas can be repopulated so long as a source population is intact and careful management programs are followed.
Parliament has clarified that Speaker Alban Bagbins reference to former President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia during his visit to Yagbonwura in Damongo was not a prediction of the 2024 polls.

We wish to place on record that although the speaker made reference to the two politicians at the said event, it was not an exercise of prediction, a statement issued by the Media Relations Department of the Public Affairs Subdivision of Parliament said.

Speaker of Parliament, Kingsford Alban Sumana Bagbin was said to have predicted that the 2024 elections will be between Mr Mahama and Dr Bawumia and that it will be the first time in the history of the Fourth Republic that both major parties in Ghana will have candidates hailing from the northern part of Ghana.

But Parliament said Mr Bagbin instead urged the people of the North to be excited that they will be well represented in the political arena.

He suggested that what should be the focus of interest to the people in northern Ghana, in which context he was speaking, is that they will be well represented at the apex of Ghanas political structure and that should be a source of pride to them.

The Speaker explained that despite political differences, we are one people with a common destiny. Our common goal therefore should be to work towards the common good of all Ghanaians, irrespective of our political differences, Parliament added in the statement.

-Citi Newsroom
Dr Eric Oduro Osae, the Director-General of the Internal Audit Agency (IAA), has advised the Electoral Commission (EC) to publish the 2023 2023 District Level Election (DLE) timetable early enough to whip interest.

He said considering the low turnout experienced in the past years, many forecasters had predicted that the 2023 DLE might not receive more than 35 per cent turnout if something was not done about it.

Dr Osae made the appeal in his address at the Centre for Local Governance Advocacy (CLGA) Stakeholder Consultative Forum in Accra.

Speaking on the topic The 2023 District Level Elections and Matters Arising, Dr Osae said considering the importance of this election to the youth, women, persons with disability (PWDs) and the vulnerable in society, stakeholders could not sit down unconcerned.

Can we consider making the DLE day a holiday or adding it to one of the existing holidays to signify its importance and allow people to participate? He questioned.

This can also be shot down by certain optics who would argue that the general election (Presidential and Parliamentary) days are not holidays, but we always have voter turnout exceeding 50 per cent so this may not be the solution.

So, then I will be tempted to say let us bite the bullet, to amend article 55(3) and allow political parties to sponsor candidate to District and Unit Committee elections so they can join in the mobilization and drive voters to come out in their numbers and vote during such elections.

Dr Osae, who is a Governance and Public Financial Management expert, a Chartered Accountant and a Lawyer, noted that by its non-political nature, associations and the business communities may consider sponsoring persons to champion development in respective communities in which they do business.

He said the Government must intensify sensitization and awareness raising among citizens; stating that civil society organizations (CSOs), opinion leaders and traditional authorities must take interest in preparing their people.

He said political parties must take their hands-off the local level elections and that development partners and CSOs must support Government implement the various activities aimed at promoting women's participation in local governance including development and dissemination of guidelines to promote women into elected and appointed positions.

He urged CSOs to support the Government conduct a study on women representation in local government elections in line with affirmative action.

Dr Osae said the National House of Chief was encouraged to sensitize its members, so they don't lead local boycotts as the nation witnessed in 2019.

He said the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) should be resourced to start its sensitization and civic education activities on the DLE early enough.

The Director-General said Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) were the ultimate beneficiaries in the activities of the Assemblymembers and the Unit Committee members must be interested by working through the district information officer to disseminate information on the upcoming elections.

He said the Government must speed up the process of reviewing relevant legal, policies and constitutional frameworks to local democracy.

He called for strategies to improve women and youth participation in the upcoming DLE since only about 8.1 per cent of candidates who participated in the 2019 elections were females.

Professional bodies should encourage their members to put themselves up for election into the respective assemblies to make their skills available to the MMDAs in dire need of their services such as layers, accountants, engineers, planners, Docters, teachers, businessmen and women.

Our democracy is incomplete without improving turnout in local level elections.

But we need a national conversation on whether or not to amend article 55(3) of the 1992 constitution to allow political parties to sponsor candidates to local government elections including the elections of MMDCEs in lower level.

The decision is in our hands, collectively let us work together to make democracy a reality by helping the process.

Dr Osae said the Government could not do it alone, CSOs, traditional authorities, associations, development partners, Governments and the bossiness must be involved in this crusade; declaring that But there is light at the end of the tunnel.

GNA
Electoral Commission (EC) has picked October 3, 2023, as the date for the election of members into the District Assemblies and as members of Unit Committees across the country.

Mr Samuel Tettey, a Deputy Chairman in charge of Operations, who disclosed this, said the date was, however, subject to change depending on the early approval of the Constitutional Instrument (C.I 91) currently before Parliament.

Speaking at a stakeholder consultative forum organised by the Centre for Local Governance and Advocacy in Accra, Mr Tettey said the elections, should it be held, would take place in all 6,272 electoral areas and 38,622 polling stations nationwide.

Section 6 of the Local Governance Act 2016 (Act 936) (as amended by Act 940) provides that District Level Elections shall be held every four (4) years and the interval between the DLE and the Parliamentary elections shall be held at least six (6) months apart.

Mr Tettey said preparations towards the elections had commenced in earnest, with the Commission in the process of procuring all the necessary electoral materials for smooth kick-off of the exercise.

Some of the activities are internal, you know, like the logistics that we need for the district level elections. The Commission has actually started procuring them, so the only thing left with us is with the approval of the draft C.I. by Parliament, he said.

He indicated that as part of the preparations, the Commission would in the coming days (in July) undertake a voter registration exercise across all its district offices, adding that, the primary identification document for registration would be the Ghana Card.

Mr Tettey said: Previously, what used to be the bane was that we were doing periodic ones (registration), and at times, limited ones at the district level because of the challenges that we have with the periodic registration. For instance, high cost of the registration, high level of confrontations, protestations, long queues, busing of prospective candidates to registration centres and at times some operational difficulties.

So, the Commission, to address this issues has decided to embark on continuous voter registration exercise to be done at all the district offices of the Commission and the Commission will be using the permanent staff to do this, he said.

The Deputy Chairman also said the EC would open nomination for interested persons to file their nomination, explaining that, to minimise financial burden on prospective candidates, the Commission would make available limited hard copies of the nomination forms at its various district offices for pick up and filing.

Mr Tettey urged prospective candidates to abide by the rules and laws of the EC to ensure an incident-free election.

While assuring Ghanaians of the EC's readiness to conduct a free, fair and transparent district assembly elections, he also entreated all stakeholders to assist the Commission to deliver the mandate.

Dr Eric Oduro Osae, a Local Government Expert, urged Ghanaians to allow political parties participation at the district level elections to address issues of low turnout and increase citizens' participation in local governance.

Government, between 2018 and 2019 pursued the amendment of Article 55(3) to enable multiparty participation in the districts and 243(1) for the election of MMDCEs, as part of efforts to reform the local governance system and devolve more power and resources to the local communities.

However, a planned national referendum scheduled for December 17, 2019, was cancelled for lack of adequate public knowledge and broad-based consensus on the reforms.

Dr Osae said: If we think involvement of political parties is not good at the national level, we should ban it but if we continue along those lines, then we should bring it to the local level too because what is good for the goose is good for the gander, he said.

Mr Dan Botwe, Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, said the Government was committed to deepening decentralisation and enhancing development at the local level.

The forum brought together civil society organisations, faith-based organisations, assembly members, NCCE, and youth groups, among others.

Its objective was to among other things, draw the attention of relevant stakeholders to the critical issues related to the district level elections, raise awareness to the 2023 district level elections and strengthen the capacity of CSOs, FBOs, traditional authorities to mobilise citizens for improved voter turnout.

GNA
The state government of Karnataka in India, now under the leadership of the Indian National Congress (INC), has repealed a controversial anti-conversion law, a decision that has sparked relief and expressions of gratitude from the Christian community. The law had been viewed by critics as promoting mistrust and disharmony between religious communities, with reports of an increased number of attacks on Christians in its aftermath.

Archbishop Peter Machado of Bangalore, a leading figure in Karnataka's Catholic Church, lauded the government's decision, stressing its importance as a recognition of the Church's long-standing opposition to the legislation. He underscored that the previous legislation was seen as not just harmful to the principle of religious freedom but as being in direct conflict with Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees every individual the right to freely profess, practice, and propagate religion.

Known formally as the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022, the controversial law was introduced and enacted under the preceding Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. It faced substantial opposition from various factions, including the Congress party and Christian groups, yet was passed nonetheless.

The law made unlawful conversions - those carried out through misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, or any fraudulent means - a crime punishable by imprisonment of up to 10 years and a hefty fine of not less than 50,000 rupees. Furthermore, the law dictated that those found guilty of conversion would have to pay up to 500,000 rupees as compensation to the converted individual. In instances of mass conversion, the punishment increased, carrying a 3 to 10-year prison sentence and fines up to 100,000 rupees.

Human rights and peace activist, Jesuit Father Cedric Prakash, also welcomed the move by the Karnataka government. Father Prakash described the government's decision as a crucial step forward in safeguarding the constitutional rights of Indian citizens. He urged other states governed by the BJP, where similar laws are currently in force, to follow suit or risk the same political fate as Karnataka, where the BJP lost power.

The Karnataka government is set to formalise the repeal in the state legislative assembly's upcoming session starting July 3rd. Additional actions include revising school textbook content, with plans to remove lessons on K B Hedgewar, founder of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and mandating the reading of the Constitution's Preamble in all schools and colleges, whether government or privately managed.

Despite this repeal, anti-conversion laws persist in nine other Indian states, including Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. There have, however, been previous instances of such laws being overturned: In 2002, Tamil Nadu repealed a comparable law, while in Rajasthan, the state governor refused to sign into law a similar bill in 2006.

In conclusion, Archbishop Machado has expressed hope that this progressive step by Karnataka will inspire other states to reassess their stance on such divisive laws. The archbishop stressed the correlation between the existence of these laws and a rise in attacks against Christians, cautioning that the legislation, while possibly well-intentioned, ultimately seeds discord and mistrust among religious communities.
A record-breaking near 3 million children in Haiti need humanitarian assistance due to an extreme increase in violence, alongside growing hunger and malnutrition. The country is battling poverty and a resurgence of deadly cholera, according to the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF).

UNICEF's Haiti Representative, Bruno Maes, expressed concern, stating, "Being a child in Haiti today is harsher and more dangerous than it ever has been in living memory. The threats and hardships children face are simply unimaginable. They desperately need protection and support."

Children are increasingly caught up or directly targeted as armed groups vie for territory and control, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and the neighbouring Artibonite region. Children are losing their lives or getting injured en route to school, while instances of extreme sexual violence against women and girls have surged. Kidnappings for ransom and attacks on schools have skyrocketed, and the violence has displaced tens of thousands.

Concurrently, hunger and life-threatening malnutrition are at an unprecedented high. UNICEF reports a 30% increase in children suffering from life-threatening malnutrition since last year, and nearly one in four is experiencing chronic malnutrition. The crisis is particularly severe in the capitals poorest and most insecure neighbourhoods, where families are essentially trapped and cut off from essential services.

Violence, poverty, and despair are leading children towards armed groups. Many children and young people in Port-au-Prince reported being forced to join these groups either for protection or because it ensures food and income for their families.

In addition to the violence, hunger, and diseases such as cholera, Haiti faces recurring threats from violent storms and earthquakes. June saw deadly flooding triggered by heavy rains at the onset of the hurricane season, followed by a destructive earthquake in Grand Anse.

Despite the escalating humanitarian needs, funding remains inadequate. UNICEFs $246 million funding requirement for Haiti this year has reached less than 15%. However, UNICEF and its partners are scaling up operations and expanding their field presence to deliver lifesaving support.

Maes issued a plea to the international community, stating, "Despite the massive challenges, humanitarian support has helped stave off catastrophic hunger and malnutrition. But far more is needed. The international community cannot turn its back on Haitis children in their hour of most profound need."
GSA official locking up a facility that sold substandard products

16.06.2023 LISTEN

Last year, the government, through Cabinet and Parliament, approved the National Quality Policy (NQP) and passed the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) Bill, which received presidential assent within weeks, and is now fully operational.

While the NQP, is aimed at ensuring that goods traded in the country are designed, manufactured and supplied to respond to the needs, expectations, and requirements of consumers, the Ghana Standards Authority Act, 2022 (Act 1076) establishes the GSA as the authority responsible for the creation and promulgation of standards and its enforcement in the country.

For many in the standards community, these two achievements in a year were unprecedented, clothing the GSA with the powers to deter the trade in substandard goods and encourage quality to directly impact consumer interests.

But standards and legislation alone are not enough. Bold and vigilant enforcement of standards is critical.

Thats the only way to raise quality consciousness among manufacturers, importers and consumers to help maintain a quality culture in public life throughout society.

It is the strict enforcement of standards, hinging on inspection and issuance of citations for violations, and application of penalties that drives compliance in many places.

Periodic rituals

Over the years, the GSA has been conducting pre-market inspections where they offer testing services and carry out conformity assessments to ensure that goods comply with laid down standards before they are made available in consumer markets.

Locally manufactured goods are inspected and certified as meeting required standards.

Certificates of conformity are issued to enable the use of standard marks on certified products to demonstrate that they meet the required standards.

GSA also conducts destination inspections of high-risk goods imported into the country to ensure that they meet the required standards for Ghanaian consumer markets.

Periodically, the authority also conducts market surveillance, including site visits to observe whether market practices are consistent with regulatory requirements.

Yet one needs no orientation to know that our markets are inundated with substandard goods, putting consumers and the economy at risk.

Certificates of conformity are issued to enable the use of standard marks on certified products to demonstrate that they meet the required standards.

GSA also conducts destination inspections of high-risk goods imported into the country to ensure that they meet the required standards for Ghanaian consumer markets.

Periodically, the authority also conducts market surveillance, including site visits to observe whether market practices are consistent with regulatory requirements.

Yet one needs no orientation to know that our markets are inundated with substandard goods, putting consumers and the economy at risk.

In 2017, a nationwide surveillance conducted by the GSA revealed that more than 70 per cent of all imported electrical cable brands on the market were substandard and could cause fires.

This was after several reports broke that in a scheme to rake in profits, several importers of electrical cables were flooding the market with fake products that do not meet critical safety requirements.

Out of 22 electrical cable brands sampled for laboratory testing, only two, which were manufactured locally, passed the critical safety requirement test for conductor resistance at the GSA Cable Laboratory in Accra.

The test showed that 20 of the brands, all imported products, were not designed or test-approved to meet the requirements in safety standards.

Substandard productions

Five years later, the trade in substandard electrical cables has reached an alarming dimension, with makeshift factories in the country manufacturing the fake products locally, with fake labelling to portray the products as coming from abroad.

This is a departure from what was the case five years ago, when almost all fake electrical cables on the market were imported.

On Wednesday, May 10 this year, officials from the GSA and the Ghana Police Service conducted a swoop on one of these cable manufacturing companies within the Nigo-Prampram District based on a tip-off.

The company, Fenice Metal Technology Limited, was manufacturing electrical cables without the required GSA licence and certification.

The company of origin of the packaged products, included Turkey, China and Nigeria although the products where produced locally on the blind side of authorities.

Seven Chinese and a Nigerian, who are workers at the factory, were arrested by the police to assist in the investigation. (Daily Graphic, May 11, 2023, back page).

Take action

Many are still baffled about the thriving trade in substandard goods in the country, despite its negative impact on consumers and the economy, and fingers always point to the seemingly lack of rigorous enforcement of standards to punish non-compliance, as the main incentive that fuels the bad trading practice.

The power to seize and destroy goods which do not meet approved standards is one that has not been exploited enough.

The GSA has the power to, for instance, confiscate improperly labelled products when carrying out its market surveillance activities, and could recall substandard products and ask the producers to carry out remedial actions for the products to meet the requisite standards.

Such products may be forfeited and disposed of under the Ghana Standard (Food Drugs and Other Goods) General Labelling Rules 1992.

The authority could also use administrative fines to drive enforcement.

It can levy administrative fines for regulatory offences committed by non-complying traders or manufacturers.

It can also raise enforcement actions against non-complying traders in court as trade in substandard goods could attract criminal sanctions like fines and imprisonment.

Collective support

So, the legislation may be elaborate and available for deterrence, but if the value of enforcement is zero or close to zero, real change is impossible.

The GSA must be supported by the government to advance its recently revamped enforcement drive, to hopefully rid the markets of substandard goods.

That is a prerequisite for achieving the dreams of building a robust economy and protecting the true interest of consumers.

But in order for enforcement activities to deliver their expected results, they need to be properly resourced  which means that risk-based strategic planning must be conducted to ensure that sufficient resources are available to address key risks.

Fortunately, the GSA seem to have the open support of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) and the Traders Advocacy Group, Ghana (TAGG), two vibrant umbrella organisations pushing for the interest of traders, to strictly enforce standards.

Its as if the GSA has found a way of bringing these rather difficult groups on board its stakeholder engagements and finally found in them a strong supporter and partner of its enforcement drive.

Its a social mark scored that must be utilised before the sacredness hovering over this important partnership runs out, and we return to square one.

In the final analysis, enforcement is everything.
16.06.2023 LISTEN

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.
16.06.2023 LISTEN

It appears public concerns about the arrest and bail of Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) following the latters report into illegal mining (gallamsey) in Ghana forced the Special Prosecutor (SP), Mr Kissi Agyebeng to appear on Joy Fms respected current affairs programme, Newsfile on Saturday June 10, 2023 to explain and defend his actions and omissions. However, in doing so, his explanation and defence raised more questions than answers. This short article is a review of some of the matters arising from the SPs appearance on Newsfile.

First, the SP appeared to give the impression that those of us who questioned the arrest and bail of the former minister and chairman of the disbanded Inter Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) Prof Frimpong-Boateng was above the law and should not be held accountable. That is far from the truth and therefore the SP got it wrong.

Second, his choice of language and words, that no one is a saint was also unfortunate and misguided. No one is claiming that Prof Frimpong-Boateng is a saint and the SPs characterisation of Prof Frimpong-Boateng, was to say the least, in bad taste and disrespectful.

When the programme host, Samson Lardy Anyenini asked why Prof Frimpong-Boateng was not granted self-recognizance bail, the SPs response was that the OSP treats everyone the same. I was shocked by this response because the OSP and the SP must know that both are a creation of the law and must operate within the law. I agree that self-recognizance bail is discretionary, however the discretion must be exercised judiciously and not arbitrary and or capriciously. Therefore, his explanation and justification that the OSP treats everyone the same is unlawful and unconstitutional. Why?

There is no law anywhere on planet earth that says everyone should be treated the same but rather everyone is equal and fair before the law. The OSP therefore cannot and must not treat everyone the same because the same is not equal and fair before the law. Therefore, treating everyone the same is unlawful and unconstitutional. Often, people wrongly assume that treating everyone the same is right and non-discriminatory. That is false.

The law requires everyone to be treated differently but the outcome of that treatment must be equal and fair. This means that what we do (inputs) and how we do it to achieve the equity and fairness in outcome will be different because that will depend on each or specific situation, conditions, environment, time and space. For example, 2x2=4, 2+2=4,3+1=4, 5-1=4 and 6-2=4. The answers are equal but the ingredients or inputs are different and not the same and that is what equality means. How do different inputs to becoming equal and fair really relate to Prof Frimpong-Boatengs case or the action or omission of the SP?

There is no doubt that Prof Frimpong-Boateng is not a flight risk and he is capable of providing surety to the OSP to qualify to be granted self-recognizance bail after his arrest. Therefore, for the SP to say that because the OSP treats everyone the same, so Prof Frimpong-Boateng will not be granted self-recognizance bail is not only arbitrary, unlawful but also unconstitutional. That is why judges consider mitigating circumstances before passing sentence when the accused is found guilty after trial. They do not treat everyone the same by passing the same sentence on everyone convicted of the same crime.

Moreover, the SP was economical with the truth. He told the public on Newsfile that Prof Frimpong-Boateng was arrested and bailed later during the appointment, but we now know from Prof Frimpong-Boateng that he was arrested at the beginning of the appointment. This might be a minor error and can be forgiven because the SP did not do the arrest personally.

What really disturbed me, was the claim by the SP that the OSP is the conscience of the people. What? Is Kissi Agyebeng aware that both the OSP and SP are institutions of political creation to achieve a political objective? How on earth can the OSP be the conscience of Ghanaians is anyone ones guess. It was shocking because the very person who claimed no one is a saint is now pretending to claim that the OSP has gained some form of sainthood status. That is preposterous and ridiculous for anyone to make such claims. Ghanaians are the conscience of the nation and not any state institution of a political creation. Independent media, some NGOs and personalities in Ghana have been trying to act as conscience of the people but not any state institution. The public are the best conscience of Ghana and not the OSP. That was why the SP was forced by public opinion to explain his actions and omissions. It is the same public opinion that has compelled the OSP into action over a report that was gathering dust at the presidency. It is the same public opinion that is also now asking the OSP to also arrest certain individuals such as Gaby Okyere Darko. Therefore, Mr Kissi Agyebeng never claim that the OSP is the conscience of the people. That is never true both in action and in words. Its a lie and deception.

I assumed that I was the only one who was not persuaded by the responses of the SP because the three lawyers who were part of the programme all accepted the SP explanation and defence but I was glad to know that I was not alone because I read an excellent piece by Dr Arthur Kennedy that was also very critical of the SPs responses on Newsfile. I have read views that are also critical of the SP responses from our Senior Perscoba Political Platform and these are from all indications, supporters of the OSP.

I also appreciate that the OSP is not well resourced to do the job expected of the institution. Notwithstanding such problems, my advice to the OSP and particularly the SP, Mr Kissi Agyebeng is to act within the law and not above the law. Treating everyone the same without due regard to specific conditions, situation, environment, time and space is not only arbitrary but also unlawful and unconstitutional because it is not equal and fair before the law.

Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK
Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has offered support to Stephen Koomson, a 17-year-old brilliant but needy boy from Obuasi in the Ashanti Region, who resorted to illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) due to financial difficulties after Senior High School.

He has been offered a life-changing opportunity - a fully-funded scholarship to study Law at the University of Ghana after his story went viral.

Stephen's story garnered national attention after his outstanding WASSCE results - scoring several As in the exams - came to light alongside photographs of him engaging in galamsey.

His family's financial struggles compelled him to abandon his dream of becoming a lawyer.

The story quickly spread on social media, catching the eye of the management of GNPC who decided to offer Stephen a four-year fully-funded scholarship covering tuition, accommodation, stipend, and books.

Stephen now looks forward to starting a new chapter at the University of Ghana where he can focus on his studies and fulfil his dream of becoming a lawyer - thanks to the generosity of the GNPC scholarship.
As a child, Djibril Gueye Marvin dreamed of being a make-up artist, no easy feat in the chronically unstable Central African Republic, where he faced ridicule for doing a "girl's job".

Help came from an unusual source: the make-up tutorials that have flooded YouTube over the past decade, launching influencers across the globe and generating billions of dollars in beauty sales.

"There is no make-up school in Bangui, without YouTube tutorials I would not be where I am now," said the 23-year-old, nicknamed Djibou, who lives in the country's capital.

Today, his services at a small Bangui beauty salon are highly sought after, and his TikTok account has more than 36,000 followers.

Djibou is all smiles, but life has not been easy in what the United Nations says is the world's second-least developed country, gripped by armed rebellion and daily violence.

Today, Djibou's services at his small Bangui beauty salon are highly sought after. By Barbara DEBOUT (AFP)

As he works on the face of a client in the cloying heat, the electricity cuts out -- as it does several times a day -- halting a whirling fan and cutting out the lights.

Unphased, he moves his client towards the entrance to continue applying foundation in natural light.

"I do what I can with what I have, but I always manage," said Djibou.

His client agrees: "He is the best!"

'We all fled'

Djibou charges a minimum of 10,000 CFA francs (15 euros), admitting it is "not within everyone's reach" in a country where the minimum wage is only 44 euros a month.

Getting the make-up brushes, foundations and eye-shadows he needs is also a "struggle."

"I bring my products in from France or Nigeria, you can't do good work without good products," he said.

After growing up amid a brutal civil war, which broke out in 2013 when he was 13 years old, Djibou fell in love with the idea of "people being transformed, beautiful and chic".

The mineral-rich Central African Republic has known little peace, with decades of coups and rebellions since independence from France in 1960.

But the 2013 coup, by mostly Muslim rebels, led to the bloodiest sectarian violence in the country's history as mainly Christian militias sought revenge against their Muslim foes.

"One day, my little brother, little sister and I were almost killed by a rebel on our way to school, so we all fled, to Cameroon," said Djibou.

Despite numerous peace agreements, armed groups and government forces backed by Russian mercenary group Wagner continue to clash,

Prejudice

With his face smeared in greenish-blue powder and gold glitter, Djibou poses in a dilapidated photo studio to show off his artistic make-up skills. By Barbara DEBOUT (AFP)

Djibou also had to battle prejudice from a traditional society in his bid to become a make-up artist, hearing a thousand times: "It is a girl's job."

But he did not give up, and hid his make-up at his friends' houses when he was younger.

"If my parents found it, they would destroy it, but I just kept buying more," he said.

"I had to study for an international business licence and prove myself as a make-up artist for them to accept my job," he added.

Now, when he is criticised, he brushes it off.

"I know they are a little jealous."

Djibou shares his work, inspiration and stories about his daily life on his TikTok channel.

With his face smeared in greenish-blue powder and gold glitter, Djibou poses in a dilapidated photo studio to show off his artistic make-up skills.

Djibril Gueye dreams of studying make-up artistry abroad. By Barbara DEBOUT (AFP)

"For my fans," he said.

Later, he talks about the future, in the modest room he shares with one of his sisters, where a statue of the Virgin Mary, a Bible and rosary lie among the cosmetics scattered on his night table.

"I want to go to a make-up school abroad, but I don't have the means," he said sadly.
Discussions are underway in Thailand as the nation braces for potential impacts of the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) set to become effective by the end of 2024. Key stakeholders in the Thai government met with representatives from the European Union to address these impending changes, as per the announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Led by Mr. Asi Mamanee, the Director-General of the Department of European Affairs, the meeting was attended by multiple Thai government agencies and their counterparts from the European Union (EU). H.E. Mr. David Daly, Ambassador of the EU to Thailand, and Mrs. Astrid Schomaker, Director for Green Diplomacy and Multilateralism, DG ENV, represented the EU in this vital dialogue.

The central focus of these deliberations revolved around how the new EU regulations could affect Thai agricultural exports, particularly rubber and its derivatives, which represent a significant portion of the country's export revenue from the EU.

As per the EUDR, importers in the EU dealing in commodities linked to deforestation, such as wood, cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, soya, and rubber, will be required to submit due diligence statements. These statements must confirm the deforestation-free status of these commodities and their compliance with the laws of their respective countries of origin.

Preliminary findings by the EUD were discussed during the meeting, providing a clearer understanding of the EUDR's potential impact on Thailand. Attendees also engaged in a technical discussion concerning the details of the EUDR and sought EU support in preparing for its implementation. This assistance may include organising technical workshops to equip Thai stakeholders, including smallholders, for the approaching regulatory changes.

The EUDR's impending enforcement signifies the EU's commitment to curbing global deforestation. However, its consequences for Thai agricultural exports underscore the challenges that nations dependent on such commodities might face as they adapt to these new rules. The Thai government's proactive engagement with the EU suggests its commitment to meeting these challenges while also securing the livelihoods of its citizens.
Bangladesh's Deputy High Commissioner, stationed in Karachi, offered an insightful perspective on his country's foreign policy to a large assembly of students and budding legal professionals on 10th June 2023, in Hyderabad. The event attracted an audience of over 200 participants, including students, emerging lawyers, and other eminent personalities.

The diplomat reminded the audience about Bangladesh's history, emphasizing its sovereignty, obtained in 1971 under the inspiring leadership of the nation's founder, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The Deputy High Commissioner highlighted the key moments in the country's post-independence timeline, specifically the adoption of the National Constitution on November 4, 1972. He noted that the enactment of the constitution marked a significant shift in the nation's governance, and it came into effect on December 16, 1972, the first anniversary of Bangladesh's Victory Day.

The Deputy High Commissioner brought particular attention to Article 25 of Bangladesh's Constitution, which he stated, "serves as a blueprint for the country's foreign relations." As per the article, Bangladesh has been fostering its global interactions on principles such as respect for national sovereignty and equality, non-interference in the internal matters of other countries, and peaceful resolution of international conflicts. These principles align with international law and the doctrines enumerated in the United Nations Charter.

Reaffirming Bangladesh's peaceful approach towards international relations, he noted, "Friendship to all and malice towards none" has been the guiding philosophy since the nation's independence, as postulated by its founder. According to the Deputy High Commissioner, this diplomatic outlook, which focuses on peace and development, still informs Bangladesh's international engagements today.

The event allowed young legal aspirants and students to gain a deeper understanding of Bangladesh's diplomatic stance and its influence on global relations.
Traditional chiefs, officials, human rights activists and NGOs have been criss-crossing the vast Tillaberi region of western Niger for several months.

Their mission: to organise forums in a bid to ease community tensions revived by massacres of civilians in the landlocked West African nation.

In the past, disputes between the various ethnic groups were settled in peaceful fashion by traditional or religious leaders.

These rows were often over land or access to water between the settled farming communities, Djerma and Hausa, and the nomadic herders of the Fulani and Tuareg groups.

But since 2015, a permanent climate of mistrust and vendetta has emerged with atrocities and cattle raids committed by jihadist groups linked to the Islamic State (IS), suspected of belonging mainly to the Fulani community.

Tillaberi is located in the flashpoint "three borders" zone of Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, where jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) operate.

The ISGS controls large areas near Burkina and Mali, and its fighters have already come within 100 kilometres (62 miles) of the capital Niamey.

Niger President Mohamed Bazoum met comminuty chiefs last week. By BERTRAND GUAY (AFP)

"For some time, we have been facing another form of insecurity," Moussa Sadou Kalilou, spokesman for the traditional chiefs of Tillaberi, said on public television last week, after talks with Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum.

'Stigmatisation'

The leaders reported to the president on "awareness-raising efforts" to eliminate the ethnic "stigmatisation" that fuels these tensions, he said.

The month of May was particularly bloody in the region.

Early last month violent clashes between Djermas and Fulanis in villages and Niger river islands in the southwest of the country left a dozen people dead and 18,000 displaced.

On May 27, 13 people, including women and children, were killed in the towns of Anzourou and Sakoira. That dispute was sparked by an accusation of cattle rustling.

In mid-May, the UN described the situation as "very volatile and unpredictable," marked by "repeated attacks" and "inter-communal reprisals" leading to population movements.

Landlocked Niger and surrounding nations. By (AFP)

Boubacar Diallo, president of an association of cattle herders in north Tillaberi, told AFP that "inter-communal conflicts have worsened because the stigmatisation" of the Fulani people is growing.

He decried that the whole community was being tarnished by the acts of a much smaller group of "terrorists".

"We are going to criss-cross towns and villages to explain to people the merits of peaceful coexistence," Niger's Interior Minister Hamadou Adamou Souley told Anzourou residents early this month.

Peace agreements

Such forums have already registered successes in solve conflicts peacefully.

In the northern and eastern parts of the Tillaberi region, "community peace agreements", a kind of non-aggression pact, have been signed between the protagonists, under the aegis of the Swiss-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD).

Agreements have notably been reached in Banibangou in January and Tondikiwindi in June.

Both towns were the scene of massacres of hundreds of villagers by Islamic State fighters in 2021.

Before these agreements, villagers had created self-defence militias, resulting in bloody clashes with jihadists and reprisals against herders.

But five months after the Banibangou deal was reached, "not a drop of blood has been shed, no incident has been reported on the main roads" where attacks were frequent, mayor Alhassane Adoum said.

'Farmers 'who had not cultivated their fields for three years started sowing' seeds a few days ago, he told AFP.

"Even herders who fled for fear of reprisals are back with their cattle," said local journalist Adamou Moussa.

By this "human security approach", Niger has "Pulled the rug from under the feet of the (jihadist) movements by establishing an open dialogue involving community leaders", Bakary Sambe, regional director of the Timbuktu Institute think tank, said in televised comments.
A delegation of four African heads of state are headed to Kyiv and Saint Petersburg to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Vladimir Putin, in the latest in a series of mediation efforts aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The presidents of Comoros, South Africa, Zambia and Senegal are expected in Kyiv on Friday morning, having boarded a special train from Poland on Thursday evening.

The heads of state  Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Senegal's Macky Sall, Zambia's Hakainde Hichilema and the president of the Union of Comoros, Azali Assoumani, who is also the current chairperson of the African Union  are also expected to travel to the town of Bucha, devastated by Russian attacks against civilians.

Bilateral talks are on the agenda for Friday afternoon, followed by an official ceremony with Ukraine's president and a press conference.

The African delegation will leave Kyiv on Friday evening for Saint Petersburg, where they are expected to meet Russia's President Vladimir Putin.

The initiative was set up by French businessman Jean-Yves Ollivier, who heads the non-profit Brazzaville Foundation. Ollivier has been working on this project since December 2022, travelling between Kyiv, Moscow, Washington, London and various African capitals.

Knock-on effects

The delegation is short of three presidents who had been expected to join: Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is not travelling and will be represented by his prime minister, while Uganda's foreign minister will stand in for President Yoweri Museveni, who has Covid.

Meanwhile Denis Sassou Nguesso, president of the Republic of the Congo, is no longer part of the delegation because, according to a source close to him, the situation on the ground [Russia and Ukraine] has worsened and the conditions are not ideal for a peaceful and fruitful dialogue.

Africa has a firm interest in working towards an end to this conflict, because as Stanley Kakubo, Zambia's foreign minister, pointed out: The war in Ukraine has a devastating effect on African communities resulting in food insecurity because of the rising costs of grain and fertilisers.

Vital sectors such as energy, security and international finance have also been hard hit.

Scepticism

Some observers questioned how heads of state from smaller countries would succeed in influencing Russia where India and China have failed.

Victor Kgomoeswana, an Africa commentator from the University of Limpopo in South Africa, told RFI that China is not in an ideal position to succeed as a mediator because it shares common interests with Russia over Africa, and both countries are on the opposing side to Europe and the US.

China cannot intervene because it is the real target of the stand-off. Africa-China trade has risen exponentially while trade from the continent with Europe and the United States has stayed much the same.

So the United States is worried about a global shift of power towards China and Russia, he said.

Pressure from US

Early this week, the White House said it had concerns over South Africa's potential security partnership with Russia.

It came after a group of US lawmakers questioned whether South Africa should remain in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which offers duty-free access to the US market for African countries that meet democratic criteria.

In a letter to senior officials, they also called for the AGOA Forum  a trade summit planned to be held in Johannesburg later this year  to be moved from South Africa over what they said was the country's deepening military relationship with Russia.

The US ambassador to South Africa alleged in May that a Russian freighter loaded up weapons and ammunition on a stop at a Cape Town naval base. South Africa also joined Russia and China in joint naval drills in the Indian Ocean in February, in what it called a routine exercise.

The South African government insists it is neutral in the war on Ukraine.

'Not our war'

RFI's listeners on the African continent shared their doubts about the mission on "Appels sur l'actualite", RFI's daily call-in show.

The initiative for the mediation is not even that of the Africans but comes from the Brazzaville Foundation, Levi from Brazzaville said.

Tiburce, from Libreville, told RFI that the African leaders' mediation is ridiculous, as they have had no solutions for the conflicts in Africa.

It is like trying to put out the fire at your neighbour's place when your own house is burning down, he said.

Another listener, Bala Coulibaly, told RFI that this is not our war.

Why are we providing so much effort towards territories which are thousands of kilometres away while our own countries, Mali, Sudan, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, are rife with conflicts, he wondered.

Kgomoeswana told RFI that people underestimate Africans' success in negotiating settlements.

Africans spent much of their history negotiating. South Africa negotiated its way out of apartheid, which is nothing short of a miracle.

Conflicts and stand-offs in Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, Tigray, DRC have been resolved by Africans themselves, he said.

He believes that Africa has leverage others don't.

African leaders have the bargaining chip because the Americans want a bigger portion of trade on the continent, he says.

So on the one hand you have the US-Europe bloc and on the other hand China who are both courting the same lady, and she is Africa and its billion-plus market.
Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffuor Awuah

16.06.2023 LISTEN

The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR) has engaged media stakeholders to seek their input in the development of the Ghana Labour Market Information System (GLMIS).

The stakeholder engagement workshop held on Thursday, June 15, highlighted the transformative capabilities of the GLMIS and its pivotal role in connecting job seekers and employers, as well as providing real-time information on Ghana's labour market.

At the workshop, the Deputy Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Bright Wireko Brobbey, said the Ministry is committed to ensuring the timely implementation of the GLMIS, with plans for full functionality later this year.

He noted that at first, they, in their quest to provide Ghanaians with data on employment, retorts to a tiring process of requesting them from various MMDAs, an issue he is optimistic the new platform will solve.

The Project Consultant, Mr Amoako Bonbi Kakra Asante in a presentation, explained that after the official launch of the GLMIS, job seekers and employers need to register an account which is free.

The Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour Awuah, who wasn't present, said in his message that "this groundbreaking system represents a significant step towards fostering a more efficient and inclusive job market in Ghana."

He asked the media to support with the dissemination of information about the GLMIS to the wider Ghanaian populace and extended his appreciation to the World Bank for their generous support.

Functions:

The GLMIS is an advanced technological platform designed to revolutionize Ghana's formal and informal job market by providing real-time information on the labour market, trends, and skill requirements.

The system will serve as a comprehensive repository of labour-related data and will revolutionize the way labour market information is accessed, analyzed, and disseminated.

It is part of the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project, funded by the World Bank.

The GLMIS will serve as a game-changer in Ghana's labour market, connecting job seekers and employers in real-time, and giving them access to comprehensive labour market data.

The GLMIS heralds a new era of connectivity and opportunity, empowering job seekers and employers alike.

Expected operationalization date:

The technical team behind the project announced that the system's first phase is expected to be operational by the end of September 2023.

With its expected full functionality later this year, the GLMIS will make job search and recruitment processes more efficient, creating a more inclusive labour market for all.

The media's support in disseminating information about the GLMIS to the wider Ghanaian populace is crucial in ensuring its success, the Ministry and the platforms developers pressed.

Cost and unique features:

The advanced technology platform, as earlier stated, was funded by the World Bank with a budget of $30 million.

The platform will offer synchronized data from both state and private entities on Ghana's employment situation, emerging trends, in-demand skills, and training opportunities.

The GLMIS has a quality assurance module installed, which verifies information shared on the platform to ascertain its genuineness and accuracy, including fraudulent job information.

With all these aside, the GLMIS will also have various accessibility features, such as text-to-speech, adjustable font sizes, and keyboard navigation, to provide access to individuals with disabilities.

The initiative aligns with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards, which encourage good practices in developing and utilizing labor market information for human resources development and program planning, as well as suggesting strategies for overcoming barriers to its use.
Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayi-Bonte II has asked the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, to render an apology to the Ga state for allegedly varying the terms of observing the month-long ban on drumming and noise making which precedes the celebration of the 2023 Homowo festival.

It will be recalled that the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs in collaboration with Faith-Based Organizations signed an agreement to allow the use of microphones and public address systems, clapping of hands at reduced volumes in churches during the ban on drumming and noise-making.

This was after a stakeholders meeting between the entities and the Greater Accra Regional Security Council led by Henry Quartey at Dodowa  a move which has since been condemned by the Ga Dangme Council.

Speaking at the Odadao festival celebration to lift the ban on drumming and noisemaking, Gbese Mantse Nii Ayi-Bonte II expressed dissatisfaction over the matter stressing that no one has the right to destroy the traditions of the Ga people.

He thus demanded that Henry Quartey render an apology to the Ga State.

A lot of things have happened. How is it possible that indigenes of the Ga state, Henry Quartey and Elizabeth Sackey together with religious leaders will try to change Ga traditions and customs? They have no right to do such a thing.

I want to pass on a message to the AMA Mayor, Elizabeth Sackey, to be given to Henry Quartey that this should be the first and last time he varies the terms in observing the ban on drumming and noisemaking. We have seen a lot of ministers, and it is not Henry Quartey who will try to destroy our customs and traditions. The Minister has not been able to come here. Elizabeth Sackey should inform Henry Quartey to apologize to the Ga State.
16.06.2023 LISTEN

A joint police-military team has been deployed to Ghana Senior High School following threats by youth of Kukuo in the Tamale metropolis to pull down an ongoing wall project funded by the Old Students Association.

Tension has been brewing between residents and management of the school, nearly resulting in a brawl.

Six suspects were arrested earlier this week following an attack on some security task force by the residents.

Information gathered indicate that the youth have vowed to continuously push down the wall.

For the past 13 years, efforts by the Association to construct a wall around the school has been met with fierce resistance from residents of Kukuo.

The claim of the residents is that the wall, if constructed, will prevent them from accessing the only source of water for the community, hence the resistance.

The security deployment have since taken over the school and monitoring the situation.

The officers have vowed to deal ruthlessly with anyone whose actions or inaction will affect the ongoing project as well as academic activities.

3news.com
Accra, Ghana  June 15, 2023  The Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs has launched the Young Female Entrepreneurs Programme (YoFEP), a transformative initiative aimed at empowering young Ghanaian women in entrepreneurship. With a focus on providing comprehensive support, including training, mentorship, and access to capital, YoFEP seeks to enable the establishment and growth of sustainable businesses.

The virtual launch event, held on June 15, witnessed the presence of distinguished guests, industry leaders, and prominent figures dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship.

Chairperson, Mr Richard Adison of the Chamber's Governing Council opened the event, extending a warm welcome to all participants and highlighting the Chamber's commitment to empowering young entrepreneurs.

Mr Sherif Ghali, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs, presented a comprehensive overview of YoFEP, outlining its objectives and significance in driving economic growth. Ghali emphasized the program's commitment to providing young female entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge, and resources necessary to succeed in their ventures.

The keynote address was delivered by the esteemed Kosi Ayi-Yankey (Mrs), who captivated the audience with her profound statement, "The Future is Female and The Future is Entrepreneurship." Ayi-Yankey, CEO of the Ghana Enterprises Agency, shed light on the government's proactive measures to support women entrepreneurs and expressed her dedication to empowering women in business. She encouraged young females to seek information, grasp opportunities and emphasized the importance of collaboration among partners to maximize impact.

During the event, partners including WUSC Ghana, GIZ, and the Development Bank Ghana congratulated the chamber for initiating YoFEP. These organizations pledged their continued collaboration to empower young female entrepreneurs in Ghana, recognizing the crucial role they play in driving innovation and economic progress.

YoFEP holds immense promise in transforming the entrepreneurial landscape for young Ghanaian women. By removing barriers and fostering a supportive ecosystem, the program aims to elevate the participation of young women in entrepreneurship, creating a vibrant and inclusive business environment.

For more information about the Young Female Entrepreneurs Programme and the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs, please visit yofep.gcyegh.org .

About the Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs:

The Ghana Chamber of Young Entrepreneurs is a leading organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and empowering young entrepreneurs in Ghana. The Chamber provides a platform for networking, capacity building, and advocacy, striving to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurial success.
The DHI College of Health and Education has held its 11th graduation ceremony with a total of 320 students qualifying for various academic certificates and diplomas.

The graduates completed training in diploma and certificate programmes from the various faculties including Medical Laboratory Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Dispensing Technician, Early Childhood Education and Dispensing Assistant.

Sixty-five of the students obtained First Class in their various disciplines with five receiving special awards and commendations for their outstanding academic performance.

The event was held on Thursday, June 15, 2023 at Patasi, in the Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti Region where the school has its main campus.

Addressing the congregants at the ceremony, the Principal of the school, Mrs Agnes Eyiam Mensah said the college remains focused on its vision to become the most outstanding centre for training health and education professionals to deliver quality and excellent services to the nation and the world at large.

She expressed joy in the fact that the school had made great strides in training students to excel in various careers.

"Significantly among the many successes chalked this year is the introduction of Higher National Diploma (HND), in Pharmacy affiliated to the Kumasi Technical University KsTU and with strong collaboration with Kintampo College of Health and Allied Sciences," she said.

She pledged the school's commitment to improving its services for whoever decides to enrol there.

"We in DHI College want to provide the best and quality education and training of our students to help them grow in their preferred professional courses," she stressed.

In recognizing the efforts of stakeholders who have helped the continuous success of the college, Mrs Eyiam said the school's board of directors, teaching staff, non-teaching staff and their partners have contributed immensely to the development of the college.

She thanked them for supporting the school to get the recognition it deserves.

Mrs Agnes Eyiam Mensah however urged the graduands to work hard to make a good impact in their respective fields.
Amnesty International on Thursday urged French President Emmanuel Macron to pressure Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is currently in France, to spare seven young men facing execution for crimes committed while minors.

Activists want Macron to underline the importance of human rights in his talks Friday with Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), who is still believed to be involved in the 2018 murder of the journalist and prominent critic of the Saudi regime, Jamal Khashoggi, in Istanbul.

Amnesty said it is particularly important Macron brings up the case of the young men, most of who come from Saudi's Shiite minority.

They are "at risk of imminent execution" after an appeals court confirmed their punishment, said the group.

The seven men were children under the age of 18, including one who was 12 years old, at the time of the alleged crimes.

"Amnesty International will do everything to ask that this French president - who seems to enjoy the company of this prince - makes an effort and that he asks that these young people are never going be executed," Amnesty's secretary general Agnes Callamard told French news agency AFP.

Six of them were sentenced on terrorism-related charges, the seventh for armed robbery and murder, after unfair trials marred by "torture-tainted" confessions, said Amnesty.

"They may have committed crimes...but you can't condemn people to death for their opinion. It's scandalous. President Macron must intervene to save their lives," she said.

Rise in the number of executions

One of the world's top executioners, Saudi Arabia in 2022 executed 196 people, the highest number of annual executions that Amnesty International has recorded in the country in the last 30 years.

In a former role, Callamard led the UN probe into the killing of Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, which concluded that Riyadh was responsible. The visit by bin Salman left a "very bitter taste", she said.

She lashed out at the welcome given by the French president to the prince.

"He [Macron] is the main architect of the re-legitimisation of the Saudi prince since 2018 and the murder of Khashoggi," she said.

(with AFP)
According to the German Agency for International Cooperation or (GIZ) MSMEs are one of the most important, yet vulnerable, drivers of development in Sub-saharan Africa.

This is due to the fact that while Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) are known to support over 50% of all livelihoods on the continent (both formal and informal), these firms often face a plethora of heterogenous risks that regularly put their survival and continuous operations in jeopardy.

This is equally true of MSMEs in Obuasi and other parts of the country which faced difficulties as a result of the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2019.

To prevent MSMEs operating in Obuasi from succumbing to the shocks of a major pandemic or challenge and improve their resilience, AngloGold Ashanti Ghana Obuasi Mine has partnered with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) to train over 160 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Obuasi on pandemic preparedness and business continuity.

The beneficiaries all drawn from Obuasi were suppliers who have been in business with AngloGold Ashanti.

According to John Arkoh Mensah of the University of Ghana, a facilitator for the program, most MSMEs felt the full brunt of COVID-19 due to lack of plan towards unforeseen contingencies. He said the 2- day program has prepared participants adequately to withstand future crisis situations.

He said "pandemic comes in different forms not only diseases. It could be fire outbreaks or any major setbacks but we believe that with this training, player in the MSMEs in Obuasi will be in a pole position to withstand any predicament. If they can withstand a pandemic, they can equally deal with an epidemic".

Beneficiaries of the training program who spoke with the media lauded AngloGold Ashanti and GIZ for the training program. They revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic wreak havoc on their businesses resulting in several losses and staff layoffs.

Joyce Owusu, a trader said the training program had come at an opportune time where MSMEs are still counting their losses and trying to pick up the pieces. " This training has really helped us, we have been trained on how to plan ahead of any emergency that might befall our businesses," she stated.
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has fined an American Airlines subsidiary after a ground crew worker was ingested into a plane engine on New Years Eve at Montgomery Regional Airport.

According to OSHA records, Piedmont Airlines was fined $15,625 for a safety breach that led to the death of passenger service agent Courtney Edwards.

Edwards, 34, a mother of three, died on Dec. 31, 2022 after investigators said she was ingested into the engine of an American Airlines flight parked at the airport.

Piedmont Airlines can appeal the decision.

According to the Dallas Morning News, a January National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report stated the crew held a safety briefing before the accident where employees were told the airplane should not be approached until the engine was shut off and a beacon light was turned off.

A statement from the Communication Workers of America stated that OSHA found a lack of effective training, clear and unambiguous communication on the ramp, and clear instructions from supervisors.

The union praised members for speaking to OSHA inspectors during the investigation.
16.06.2023 LISTEN

Over the past few decades, remarkable strides have been made to end Africas malaria burden. Frontline tools, including insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) and artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), have played significant roles in saving countless lives by reducing deaths and curbing the spread of the disease over the past two decades.

Between 2000 and 2021, over 11 million deaths and two billion malaria cases were averted, mostly in the African region, through concerted efforts and the implementation of these frontline tools. However, decreased effectiveness of tools, the challenge of climate change, and poor health systems continue to make malaria a threat to the lives of millions of people in Africa, the region that bears the brunt of a gendered disease.

Pregnant women and children under five are the most at risk.

Science has proven that rising temperatures create favourable conditions for the increase in malaria-carrying mosquitoes, which thrive in warm environments. As temperatures increase, their reproduction rates accelerate. Thus, extended seasons of warmth prolong the breeding period, allowing mosquitoes to multiply rapidly, leading to a surge in malaria transmission.

Additionally, higher temperatures accelerate the development of the malaria parasite within mosquitoes. This results in the expanded geographic range of malaria, and regions that were once considered low-risk are now more susceptible.

Altered rainfall patterns resulting from climate change contribute to increased mosquito breeding sites. Areas experiencing increased rainfall may witness the creation of stagnant water bodies, which serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Conversely, areas affected by prolonged droughts may see a decline in mosquito populations. However, when rain falls after a drought, the sudden availability of water can trigger a rapid increase in mosquito populations, leading to malaria outbreaks. These unpredictable shifts in rainfall patterns disrupt traditional malaria control measures, necessitating adaptive strategies to mitigate the diseases impact.

At a webinar on Ending Malaria series hosted by the African Institute of Development Policy (AFIDEP)s Platform for Dialogue and Action on Health Technologies in Africa (Health Tech Platform), recently, Dr James Chirombo, Biostatistician at the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme, argued that it is important for countries to understand local climate patterns and variations, as well as the aftermath of extreme weather events and incorporate climate data in malaria control and elimination efforts.

The Platform for Dialogue and Action on Health Technologies in Africa (Health Tech Platform) is an initiative of the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) established to facilitate informed, objective, transparent, open and balanced discussions on the development and use of emerging tools and technologies to address key health challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Since the World Malaria Day in April, AFIDEP has through the Health Tech Platform been facilitating a series of Webinars on various aspects of malaria and have roped in experts from across Africa who have provided insights into the topic.

According to the experts, the growing resistance of both the Anopheles mosquito and Plasmodium parasite to insecticides and drugs, respectively, is among several threats impeding the achievement of the global goal of a 90% reduction in malaria incidence and deaths by 2030, as noted by Mr Balla Jatta, Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme Manager, Epidemiological and Disease Control Unit at the Ministry of Health-The Gambia in his keynote address. While governments continue to use treated bed nets and indoor residual spraying as primary tools for combating malaria-causing mosquitoes, these mosquitoes can now survive exposure to insecticides, allowing them to continue transmitting malaria.

Further, growing Plasmodium parasite resistance to the effects of drugs used for treatment is leading to treatment failures, necessitating the discovery and development of new chemotherapeutic agents.

This growing resistance has led to the declining effectiveness of insecticides and ACTs. Consequently, countries are 48% off track to eliminating malaria by 2030, according to WHO figures highlighted by Dr Michael Okal, Director of Research and Development at Vector Health International Ltd, as he delved into mosquito and parasite facets of resistance and their implications for elimination efforts.

The challenge towards meeting the global goal in Africa has been compounded by the invasion of the resistant mosquito species, Anopheles stephensi, which is native to Asia.

While speaking on lessons from India on controlling the species, Professor Arti Prasad, Professor and Head of the Department of Zoology at Mohanlal Sukhadia University, noted that key to Indias elimination strategy is a robust case-based surveillance system and early diagnosis and complete treatment.

Case-based surveillance involves actively monitoring and tracking malaria cases at the community level and responding promptly to prevent further transmission.

Effective malaria interventions are dependent on robust health systems. The burden of malaria weighs heavily on Africas fragile healthcare systems. Limited access to quality healthcare services, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient human resources derail timely malaria diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance efforts.

As Dr Chris Barasa, Chief of Party at Amref Health in Kenya, noted, African countries must streamline public health functions, especially primary healthcare, to build resilience in efforts to improve, promote, protect and restore the health of all people.

Resilience, in this context, refers to the capacity of actors, health institutions, and populations to prepare for, respond to, and recover from crises while maintaining core functions.

It involves proactive measures, crisis management, and post-crisis learning to enhance future preparedness. Given the uncertainty of future health threats, resilience becomes a crucial aspect of healthcare planning.

Some measures that countries can put in place include: identifying potential threats and developing strategic health information systems; diversifying primary healthcare services to manage a broad range of health challenges; instituting effective data collection and use to support evidence-based decision-making; and facilitating collaboration and coordination between various healthcare entities to allow for a more comprehensive and effective response to health threats.

The threats faced from drug and insecticide resistance, climate change and fragile healthcare systems highlight the complex web of challenges to address if we are to end malaria in Africa.

By Pauline Soy

The writer is a communication officer at the African Institute of Development Policy.
Mavis Hawa Koomson, the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, has expressed her firm support for Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the ideal candidate to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 general elections.

Hawa Koomson, who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, believes that Bawumia is the only aspirant in the NPP with the vision and capabilities to succeed President Akufo-Addo and effectively govern the country.

During an interview on Asempa FM's Ekosiisen afternoon show in Accra monitored by ModernGhana News, the Minister dismissed claims that there was an established tradition within the NPP requiring the Vice President to wait for older candidates before he can join the party's flagbearership race.

According to her, Dr. Bawumia's candidacy has the backing of a significant number of NPP Members of Parliament. The move demonstrates the widespread acceptance of Dr. Bawumia positioning him as the party's choice to succeed President Nana Akufo-Addo.

She describes the Vice President as "God-sent."

Have you asked yourself why majority members of parliament are supporting Dr. Bawumia? Have you asked yourself this question before? she asked.

It is so because of what they have seen of him. He is the only person who can change this country she explained.

She added that Dr. Bawumia has demonstrated growth, maturity, and a profound understanding of the issues affecting Ghanaians through his speeches and public engagements.

Madam Hawa Koomson stressed that the NPP strongly believes in democracy and will allow any interested and qualified member to participate in the race.

She further clarified that the pursuit of the presidency is a serious endeavor, not for individuals who are merely seeking power without genuine commitment.
aYo Intermediaries Ghana Ltd, a subsidiary of MTN Ghana has announced plans to launch a new insurance product this month.

The new product which will be called aYo Family Cover will be launched on Tuesday, June 20, at the Madina market.

The Chief Executive Officer of aYo Intermediaries Ghana Limited, Mr. Francis Gota made the announcement on Thursday, June 15, during the companys maiden media engagement at the MTN House in Accra.

During the interaction, he confirmed that since starting operation in Ghana in 2017, aYo has paid GHS14 million in claims on over 40,000 policies.

As Ghanas most accessible and affordable insurance provider, aYo has impacted 8 million Ghanaians, translating to almost 25% of the entire population.

While the company continues to grow, it has now decided to introduce its new product, the aYo Family Cover to serve the citizenry in addition to the three existing products; aYo Send With Care, aYo Recharge With Care, and the annual cover plan.

Speaking to Modernghana News on the sidelines of the media engagement, Mr. Emmanuel Gyim, Manager in charge of Strategic and Executions and Projects at aYo said subscribers will be entitled to as much as GHS15,000 on the new product.

So we have the new product which is coming that is the aYo family cover which sits on Mobile Money and we pay a maximum of GHS15,000 for Life Cover and a maximum of GHS300 per night on hospitalization as well.

We have a premium range of GHS10 and GHS15 per month deducted from your MoMo wallet. The beauty of this new product is that you can buy a hospital cover for yourself and your family from age 1-69 years, Mr. Emmanuel Gyim explained.

He admonished Ghanaians who are not insured to contact aYo for a plan that will come in handy in case of any eventualities.

He said this is the sure way to safeguard one's future.

Life is full of uncertainties and because of that, we need to put something down in case of eventualities. We need to get insurance to safeguard our future so that in the event of some of these things happening we will have something to fall on

Choose aYo because we have been able to demystify traditional insurance where you always have to travel to go and buy insurance but not everything is on your phone. Right from your phone, premium payments to even claims and aYo have been able to better the lives of clients,

So long as you use an MTN SIM come and insure with us and be able to safeguard yourself from the eventualities that may come your way, Mr. Emmanuel Gyim urged the public.
Ten days of climate talks wrapped up in Bonn, Germany, on Thursday with negotiators unable to agree on key issues ahead of the Cop28 summit in December. Developing countries that are especially vulnerable to climate change say richer ones are failing to deliver the funding they need to weather the worst effects of global warming.

Climate change is not a North versus South issue, UN Climate Change chief Simon Stiell said at the closing session in Bonn on Thursday.

This is a tidal wave that doesn't discriminate. The only way we can avoid being swallowed by it is investing in climate action.

Last year's UN climate summit in Egypt, Cop27, reached a landmark deal to help vulnerable countries cope with climate-enhanced disasters, but failed to toughen up commitments to tackle emissions, despite backing from more than 80 countries.

This was again the big question among scientists and climate activists who gathered in Bonn over the last two weeks to establish a road map ahead of the Cop28 climate summit in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December.

No room for fossil fuels

They are pleading for a more rapid expansion of renewables, and a phase out of oil, coal and gas, given the significant proportion of climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions produced by these energy sources.

But major oil and gas exporters are keen to shift the focus, arguing the world can reduce carbon emissions without ditching the fossil fuels that generate them.

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg again warned politicians they needed to take more ambitious action.

"It will be impossible for us to stick to the 1.5-degree limit without a rapid, equitable, fossil fuel phase-out," she told a press conference on the sidelines of the Bonn talks earlier this week.

'Death sentence'

She was referring to the 2015 Paris Agreement, at which world leaders pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions enough to prevent the Earth's annual temperature rising by more than 1.5 to 2.0 degrees Celsius, and thus slow runaway global warming.

"It is already a death sentence to countless of people living on the frontlines of the climate crisis," Thunberg said.

Bangladesh is a case in point. It's the seventh most vulnerable nation to climate change, but it produces only a fraction of the world's greenhouse gases.

Shamim Ahmed Mridha, a climate activist from Bangladesh, says his country suffers from up to 14 types of natural disasters a year, and the long-term effects on the population are often ignored or overlooked by wealthy nations.

He says that as sea levels continue to rise as a result of global warming, salinity increases and affects both soil and water, impacting well-being and livelihood, especially for women and girls.

"The salinity is impacting on people's psychology, health, agriculture and lifestyle," he told RFI at the Cop27 climate summit last November.

Women worse affected

Many health problems are linked to salinity, such as hypertension, stroke, dysentery, diarrhoea and skin disease. Women are more exposed because of their greater consumption of water compared to men, especially during menstrual, maternity and postnatal periods, Mrindha explains.

According to him, more young women have begun taking the oral contraceptive pill to avoid having their periods so they don't have to wash in salty water where they run the risk of urinary tract infections or other problems.

Although Bangladesh is to be among the initial recipients of assistance from the Global Shield against Climate Risks, a long-requested financial protection structure for the most climate-vulnerable economies, how it will be implemented remains to be seen.

Although investment from wealthy nations is needed, Mrindha says leaders have to be careful of how this money is spent and learning from locals about what can work on the ground.

Adaptation strategies

Nayma Qayum, a ssociate professor of political science at Manhattanville College in the US, agrees.

"The global shield will speed up disbursement of funds under emergency conditions, which is also extremely important. However, it remains to be seen whether the global North will live up to their promise," she told RFI.

"Climate reparations are only the beginning, and it is important to think about what is next," Qayum insists, adding that is time for the global South to take a lead in climate change action.

"While technological innovations hold some promise, the international community needs to centre the global South in sharing local knowledge. Being at the forefront of climate change, global South countries have long been implementing mitigation and adaptation strategies," she told RFI.

She explains that local action that is driven by the affected countries themselves  for example with geography-specific flood protection mechanisms, saltwater-resistant crops and local knowledge on climate adaptation.

"Climate change cannot have a one-size-fits-all approach  especially one that is driven by the global North," she says, adding that women in particular have solutions that need to be heard.

Women part of the solution

In her book "Village Ties: Women, NGOs, and Informal Institutions in Rural Bangladesh", Qayum describes how informal networks among rural women, supported by organisations on the ground, can step in when government bodies are inefficient.

Climate change reduces access to drinking water, increases food insecurity, and affects peoples' health, she says. "Because women often eat last in rural households, food scarcity means grater malnutrition among women and young girls. Girls leave school early and are married at a younger age as parents struggle financially due to affected livelihoods."

In Bangladesh and across the global South, "w omen's leadership is paramount to social change", she says. Finding solutions to the climate issues will only be possible if they are part of the conversation.
The dumsor debate will never end. It is likely to be intense as we inch towards the 2024 elections, the reason for which is not far-fetched.

Every now and then the issues surrounding power generation and distribution pops up with some especially the NDC and its doomsday collaborators in the media, academia, civil society and some so-called energy experts predicting that load shedding is on the horizon.

These days even routine maintenance work by the ECG, GRIDCo and Ghana Gas is equated to dumsor for political reasons by those who wish that the NPP will be able to equalise the record of NDC from about 2012 to early 2017 when the nation as it were suffocated under dumsor.

During the period, businesses of all kinds; big and small as well as homes experienced economic difficulties as many endeavours were derailed. At the time, the NPP accused the Mahama-led government of lacking the ideas to fix the challenge. The party added that the problem was not about generation but the lack of money to buy fuel to support energy plants powered by gas and petrol.

The NDC went on a wild goose chase to get investors to sign bogus power purchase agreements which did not inure to the interest of the country. The major part of Ghana's debt overhang is as a result of the power purchase agreement that the World Bank finds inimical.

Although we know that the policy of take-or-pay is inimical to our well-being, the NDC will not spare our ear drums with their ugly noises that the Mahama-led government did nothing wrong. The NPP government has so far spent a fortune on these Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and yet the NDC will not spare us their rationalisation of the policy which we can say without contradiction that it is part of our economic challenges today.

And quite strangely the NDC keeps arguing that they resolved the dumsor problem before leaving office in January 2017, but media review at the time point to the contrary. Mention dumsor to the NDC and it will be like mentioning bones to an old lady. The NDC wants dumsor to get missing in our daily conversations but it will not go away so long as dumsor and its aftermaths like power purchase agreements hang on our necks like the sword of Damocles.

No Ghanaian who experienced dumsor wants to hear about that challenge because of the pain it brought to the people. No wonder President Akufo-Addo in inaugurating a Bulk Power Supply Point in Central Accra said his government will not tolerate the phenomenon of dumsor under his watch, as that is the legacy of Mahama.

Although Mahama left dumsor in the record books, President Akufo-Addo said he has willed it to former President Mahama. That garb fits Mahama and his NDC. That is why the NPP government, despite the challenges, is doing everything possible to keep the lights on.

This dumsor must remain with its allies. The NDC is the home of dumsor and in the unlikely event that they come back to power, they will mismanage the power sector again. For now and under President Akufo-Addo, let there be light and the national grid will give us uninterrupted power thanks to the men and women with the know-how.

Source: Daily Guide
Former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor has expressed worry over the integrity crisis of the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana.

According to him, President Akufo-Addos appointment of Dr. Peter Appiahene as a commissioner of the EC is a bastadisation and cripples the integrity of the electoral body.

The integrity of our elections is falling with time because clearly when the managers of the elections are people whose integrity, when it comes to being fair and independent is put into question then you have the case whereby the entire integrity of the electoral process is undermined.

Recently, we have had cause to complain about the mode of appointment to the commission. We are talking about even the permanent staff where the executive has the authority to appoint those officers.

You have the case whereby the appointing authority throws caution to the wind and appoints people who are known as political partisan activists into the office of the Electoral Commission. What you have done is that for starters you have bastardised, you have crippled integrity which is one of the most important ingredients that an elections management body is required to have, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor lamented.

He was speaking at a forum to mark 60 years of the political science department of the University of Ghana, Legon.

Dr. Otokunor is not the only member of the NDC who has raised concerns about the appointment of Dr. Peter Appiahene.

Many political analysts argue that Dr. Appiahene is a known activist of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and has no business serving at the EC.
A flurry of Russian missiles greeted a delegation of African leaders arriving in Kyiv Friday as part of a mission aiming to broker peace between Kyiv and Moscow.

The high-level diplomatic team hopes to bring to the table the voice of a continent that has badly suffered from repercussion of the Ukraine war, including by rising grain prices.

"(Russian President Vladimir) Putin 'builds confidence' by launching the largest missile attack on Kyiv in weeks, exactly amid the visit of African leaders to our capital," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.

The African delegation arrived by train from Poland on Friday morning and began their visit in Bucha, a town outside the capital that has become a symbol of the alleged war crimes carried out by Moscow.

The delegation that was later due to hold talks with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky includes three presidents: South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa, Senegal's Macky Sall and Zambia's Hakainde Hichilema, plus Comoros' Azali Assoumani, who heads the African Union.

A billboard from a campaign by urges South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to arrest Rusian President Vladimir Putin. By Luca Sola (AFP/File)

The leaders of Uganda, Egypt and Congo-Brazzaville pulled out of the visit at the last moment and sent representatives instead.

Shortly after their arrival in the Kyiv region was announced, air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv and across the country, and air defences activated.

The Ukrainian Air Force said it had shot down 12 missiles including six hypersonic Kinzhal missiles.

There were no reported damage inside the city, but three people were wounded in the surrounding region, the Interior Ministry said.

'Russia wants more war'

The South African president "arrived safely in Kyiv" along with other leaders, his spokesman Vincent Magwenya said in a video message on Twitter.

"We are now awaiting the commencement of talks with President Zelensky."

The leaders were set to travel on to the northwestern Russian city of Saint Petersburg and meet Putin.

Yet Ukrainian officials have voiced scepticism over the visit as they say no negotiations with Russia are possible.

Air raid alerts sounded as African leaders were due to visit. By Genya SAVILOV (AFP)

They were quick to highlight that Russia did not cease strikes during the high-profile visit.

"Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace," Kuleba said.

The head of Zelensky's presidential office, Andriy Yermak, wrote that Putin "is ready to disregard the security of foreign leaders, he doesn't really care, because he feels complete impunity."

"We remember that missiles were also flying when US President Joe Biden and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Ukraine," he added.

The African continent has been badly hit by rising grain and fertiliser prices and the wider impact on global trade since Russia invaded Ukraine last year.

'Road to peace'

The African continent has been badly hit by rising grain and fertiliser prices and the wider impact on global trade since Russia invaded Ukraine last year.

Magwenya said the leaders' mission "serves to seek a road to peace that will alleviate the suffering that is being experienced by people in Ukraine."

African countries have been divided over their response to the war, with some siding with Ukraine, while others have remained neutral or gravitated towards Moscow.

Unsold grain in a storage of his farm in Kyiv region. By Sergei SUPINSKY (AFP/File)

Analysts told AFP the African mission's chances to secure a proper peace look incredibly thin, with both Kyiv and Moscow convinced they can win on the battlefield.

Still, analysts said the mediating effort could hope to win some concessions from the Kremlin ahead of a Russia-Africa summit next month.

Both Russia and Ukraine have stepped up their diplomatic initiatives with African countries divided over their response to the war, with Kuleba embarking on two diplomatic tours on the continent.

While invading Ukraine, Putin has portrayed Russia as a bulwark against the West, which he also accuses of blocking Russian exports of fertilisers.

South Africa has drawn scrutiny as it has refused to condemn the offensive launched by Moscow.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Russia has seen "very dynamic development recently of our relations with African states".

"This trajectory in Russia's foreign policy will continue and gain momentum," Peskov told journalists, RIA Novosti news agency reported.

The mission comes as South Africa is looking to burnish its international credentials after the White House voiced concern about its relationship with Russia.
A parent at Teacher Mantey are in shock after learning that their newborn baby has been stolen.

On Monday, the mother of the six-day-old baby left the newborn in the room while asleep to rush to buy baby diapers from a nearby shop.

Upon her return home, she realiaed the baby was nowhere to be found.

The incident happened at Nana Boame, a suburb of Teacher Mantey in the Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region.

The parents, Kwame Amegbetsi and Portia Kemevor inquired from family members and neighbours but no one had knowledge of the whereabouts of the baby

The father Kwame Amegagbetsi subsequently lodged a complaint at Teacher Mantey Police Station to help find the missing baby.

Despite investigations and a community-led search for the missing baby, the baby has still not been found.

The entire family and community are in shock as they fear for the worst.

Some residents who have witnessed such incidents in the past are concerned that there may be criminal elements living among them whose job is to targeted kids.
In a significant move anticipated to bolster its economy, Pakistan has secured approval to increase its rice exports to Russia.

The Department of Plant Protection (DPP), Ministry of National Food Security and Research, confirmed that 15 more Pakistani rice establishments have been approved by Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance. This milestone could serve as a catalyst for strengthening the nation's overall economy through the export sector.

Under the leadership of Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research (NFSR), Mr. Tariq Bashir Cheema, and Secretary MNFSR, Mr. Zafar Hassan, the move is hailed as a significant breakthrough. Their efforts to improve export quality to meet global standards and widen the export base to Russia have been instrumental in achieving this success.

Several years ago, Russia had imposed a ban on Pakistani rice imports due to issues concerning pest interception. The ban was lifted in 2021, allowing only four Pakistani mills meeting Russian quality standards to export rice. The DPP, in coordination with the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), has taken significant steps to upgrade an additional 15 mills to ensure they meet the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) requirements set out by Russia.

This approval indicates that now a total of 19 rice enterprises in Pakistan have been authorised to export to the Russian Federation. The news brings optimism, particularly to the rice farmers in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh, who are set to benefit directly from these developments.

The news also bodes well for Pakistan, an agrarian economy, suggesting potential expansion in exports by improving quality standards to match global markets. The breakthrough is seen as an opportunity to increase Pakistan's international market presence, provided the quality standards are maintained.

Future plans suggest further upgradation of rice processing facilities in collaboration with the DPP. The ultimate aim is to align them with international standards, positioning Pakistan to secure larger shares in the high-end markets of Asia, Europe, the US, and Australia.
Member of Parliament for the North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has lashed out at the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for 'whitewashing' Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

He said some members of the ruling party are trying so hard to make the Vice President appear as though he is innocent of the bad economic decisions taken by government that have landed the country's economy in a ditch.

Despite the NPP party's efforts to exonerate Dr Mahamadu Bawumia from all blame for bad economic decisions, he insisted that the Vice President is still accountable for the suffering of Ghanaians.

The stringent effort, the laborious effort to distance Bawumia from the major decisions of this economy decisions of the Akufo-Addo era, the mismanagement of this economy will not work. He was neck deep, the IMF has exposed him. He approved this agreement together, he cannot distance himself.

So you see lets stop this you know Pontius Pilate attitude. You remember Pontius Pilate from the bible, you know Pontius Pilate from the Bible. You want the crucifixion but you are pretending that you dont really want it but meanwhile, you are part of it. You are neck deep, you know lets stop that attitude, Okudzeto Ablakwa said during a panel discussion on Metro TV's breakfast show on June 16.

According to the North Tongu lawmaker, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has nothing new to offer Ghanaians.

Meanwhile, the Vice President has today submitted his nomination forms to contest the flagbearer election of the NPP scheduled to be held later this year on November 4.
So far this year Indonesia has imported 15 times the rice it did from Vietnam last year and nearly triple the coffee due to unfavorable weather.

It has bought US$181 million worth of rice, accounting for 9.5% of Vietnams exports this year and jumping from eight to third place in the list of its biggest rice buyers, behind the Philippines and China, according to Vietnam Customs.

Indonesias coffee imports from Vietnam have been worth over $76 million, up 185%.

Its vegetables imports rose by 20% at $2.44 million, and seafood imports by 70% to $7.83 million.

Indonesias Ministry of Agriculture said agricultural imports have shot up due to El Nino, which is causing drought between May and July.

The government has decided to import two million tons of rice this year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said global coffee, rice and seafood outputs are going flat due to El Nino and there is a risk of further decline, which would cause countries to increase stockpiles.

The El Nino-Southern Oscillation is a recurring climate pattern caused by changes in water temperature in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
16.06.2023 LISTEN

Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumias silence on Ghana's deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is loud and clear.

He said the Vice President is "embarrassed" after creating the impression that he has the magic wand to take Ghana to the next level of prosperity and growth.

Speaking on Metro TV, the North Tongu MP indicated that Dr. Bawumia has deployed his men who about creating the impression that the Vice President didnt partake fully in the economic decisions of government that landed the country in a ditch.

He is delivering lectures, and talking big, waxing lyrical, and big big economic theory, he is probably the Adam Smith of this era, you know, or the Mantus of our time, and so you know we should give him the chance. He has turned out to be a disaster, total disaster," Okudzeto Ablakwa shared.

The North Tongu MP continued, " This is what they want to present to the Ghanaian people? They should go back to the drawing board. We are not going back to the drawing board, what shows that his advice wasnt taken, what shows, did he ever publicly state Ken Ofori-Atta didnt take his advice, did he ever say that , did you ever hear Bawumia say that, that the things he has told government to do, we are not doing it, did you ever hear that.

"So where from this sudden claim that so we have an economic management team that only performs under advisory role. When you go through this IMF agreement, you will notice that Bawumia hasnt said anything about the IMF agreement because he is embarrassed. I have heard some of his assigns and surrogates saying that Bawumia didnt like it, he wasnt part of the decision making.

Sharing his view on the same platform, CEO of State Transport Company (STC), Nana Akomea argued that Okudzeto Ablakwa and the NDC are the NPP and Dr. Bawumia.

According to him, the Vice President has demonstrated the capacity to beat the NDC in the 2024 elections.
16.06.2023 LISTEN

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has recounted his struggles growing up.

He said those experiences have taught him to respect people irrespective of their social status.

Addressing NPP supporters after filing his nomination to contest the partys presidential primaries, Bawumia said he used to do menial jobs like cleaning in his zeal to access education.

It has not been an easy journey, it has taken a lot of hard work, discipline, and dedication to get here. I have been a by-day worker on farms during the holidays in secondary school, I have been a warehouse boy even after finishing university, and I have been a mini truck driver, he recounted.

Dr. Bawumia said his struggles instilled in him a sense of humility and respect for all people.

My life experience tells me never to take anything for granted and always to have respect for people no matter their stature in life, no matter how big or small they are.

The cleaner or the driver you meet today could be the vice president or the president tomorrow, he noted.

Dr. Bawumia recounted the challenges he faced in his education at the University of Oxford in the UK and in Canada.

I was only able to pay fees for one term during my studies at Oxford University and I had to survive for the rest of my studies without paying fees, thanks to my colleagues. I only settled my fees in arrears after I worked following my completion of my Ph.D. in Canada. I have also been a cleaner of toiletries in my university days in Canada, so I can say I have not had it easy at all, he recounted.

Despite the struggles, the aspiring flagbearer said faith and perseverance have seen him through.

But I have always believed that with hard work, honesty and discipline and faith in God almighty, everything was possible, he said.

Dr. Bawumia has joined several others vying to lead the NPP into the 2024 elections, with the partys presidential primaries set for November 4.
Arusha 15th June 2023 - BirdLife International and its Partnership Network in East Africa, have made the first step towards establishing the East Africa Wildlife Poisoning Response Network (EAWPRN) to tackle wildlife poisoning in the region, following a workshop held in Arusha, from 13th - 14th June 2023.

Wildlife poisoning is a significant threat to vultures and other raptors, in East Africa and elsewhere, accounting for about 61% of vulture deaths across Africa. While vultures play a vital role in our environment keeping it free of decaying carcasses, these majestic birds have experienced catastrophic declines around the world, with populations of all African vulture species plummeting by 70-97% over the last 50 years driven by poisoning, belief-based use, electrocutions, and collision with power infrastructure among others.

The workshop which brought together 21 delegates from Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda. is part of BirdLife and partners work to protect vultures through direct conservation actions, influencing policy and raising awareness about the plight of vultures, where notable progress has been achieved.

The East Africa Wildlife Poisoning Response Network is a crucial initiative in safeguarding wildlife and addressing the threats posed by wildlife poisoning. By promoting collaboration, capacity building, and research, the network will push towards the conservation of vultures and other wildlife and maintain the ecological balance in East Africa, said Fadzai Matsvimbo, Preventing Extinction Programme Coordinator, Africa at BirdLife International.

To combat this threat, BirdLife partners have implemented various measures, including training community volunteers, rangers, and authorities on how to respond to poisoning incidents. In Southern Africa, the BirdLife Partnership network is also facilitating the establishment of Vulture Safe Zones (VSZs) that provide areas free from threats like poisoning and electrocution, specifically designed to protect vultures in their most vulnerable habitats.

EAWPRN brings together a wide range of stakeholders, including BirdLife Partners, raptor conservation experts, species conservation groups, and protected area management organizations in the region.

Due to fragmented efforts and limited coordination between stakeholders, some countries lack the specialized training, resources, and capacity required to effectively respond to wildlife poisoning incidents. Therefore, there is need for a coordinated and effective response to mitigate the impacts of wildlife poisoning incidents in East Africa, said Emmanuel Mgimwa, Executive Director, Nature Tanzania.

Establishing the EAWPRN marks a significant step towards safeguarding the region's rich biodiversity. It is envisaged that the Network will provide a platform for knowledge sharing and foster joint efforts in reducing wildlife mortality resulting from poisoning incidents, in addition to developing a road map on how the network can influence policy and advocacy in relation to wildlife poisoning in the sub-region. Further, it will aim to leverage the diverse expertise and resources of these stakeholders to make a lasting difference.

During the workshop, a draft framework was also created to enhance coordination of the EAWPRN.

About Nature Tanzania

Nature Tanzania is a national Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) with interest in birds and biodiversity conservation, community empowerment and engagement. It is the BirdLife International partner in Tanzania. The mission of the organization is to conserve and restore key biodiversity habitats that are identified as Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) in Tanzania for the benefit of the present and future generations and works with communities, government and private sector. https://www.naturetanzania.or.tz/

About BirdLife International

BirdLife is the worlds largest conservation partnership with over 10 million members and supporters, and over 115 national partners worldwide (26 in Africa) - one per country. The partnership strives to conserve birds, their habitats, and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources. https://www.birdlife.org/
Today, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia made a giant stride towards fulfilling his vision for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Ghana by filing his nomination forms to contest the NPP presidential primaries. Amidst this pivotal event in the history of the NPP which saw an overwhelming support of party grassroot was the resonating sound of the slogan It is Possible coined by Dr. Bawumia. This concise yet impactful slogan summarizes the hopes of Kukrudites and the aspirations of Ghanaians. A slogan coined from three words but powerfully and succinctly reveals the visions and aspirations of Dr. Bawumia for the NPP and Ghana. It is Possible is not merely a collection of words, but a testament to Dr. Bawumias intense belief in the NPPs and Ghanas potential for greatness across various realms. In this regard, join me to explore in this article a brief of what It is Possible means and how the slogan reflects and inspires Dr. Bawumias vision for the NPP and Ghana across different domains.

First, there can never be a more inspiring slogan for members of the NPP at this time than It is Possible. How could there be any better slogan when we are faced with the challenge of breaking the eight-year cycle of power alternation that has characterized Ghanas politics since 1992? It is Possible inspires confidence and hope for the NPP that breaking the 8 is indeed possible especially at a time when the propaganda of the NDC has painted a false and gloomy picture of our achievements in government. This is why a selfless and dedicated patriot Dr. Bawumia instead of using a big forum provided at NPPs International Womens Conference in London to do internal campaigns rather chose to present over hundred keyways in which the NPP Government has delivered on its mandate to Ghanaians. In a unique and inspiring tone, Dr. Bawumia confidently told his fellow patriots that Let nobody tell you that we dont have a message for 2024. He went on to provide evidence of our achievements from sector to sector until it became evidently clear that indeed we have a message for 2024 and that It is Possible to break the 8 for the first time in our nations history. Similarly, he took time to highlight the achievements of our government in his address immediately after filing his nomination forms. This is the hallmark of a true and committed patriot.

For Dr. Bawumia, It is Possible is to transform Ghana into a prosperous, and resilient country that can overcome any form of challenges and attain its potential. Thus, a nation that can stay self-sufficient and compete with high income countries at the global front. This entails empowering the human capital, ensuring transparent and accountable governance to leverage our own resources and capabilities to push an agenda of development. Dr. Bawumias vision to transform Ghana is clearly seen in how he has prioritized strengthening the foundations of any transformative process for a country which is innovatively digitalizing all sectors of government/economy. This transformative process has seen an increase in financial inclusion, seamless banking transactions across different platforms, enhanced data management and reduced identity fraud via the Ghana card, access to essential medicines and medical supplies by way of innovative drones, improved living standards for persons in inner cities via the Zongo development fund, decentralizing development agencies, making sure that no child loses out of high/vocational school due to financial constraints, and many more.

Furthermore, at a time when the world and sub-Saharan Africa are challenged with threats of insecurity due to all kinds of conflicts, Dr. Bawumia inspires us all that indeed It is Possible to unite Ghana as one nation regardless of ethnic, religious, or political differences. Thus, a nation that fosters a culture of respect for diversity and peaceful coexistence among all Ghanaians irrespective of our differences. With this belief, Dr. Bawumia is seen every now and then actively interacting and engaging all segments of the Ghanaian society. In fact, his active engagement with the Christian community earned him the wrath of a journalist from the online news portal thefourthestategh by the name Evans Aziamor-Mensah who after failing to constructively criticize Dr. Bawumia decided to derogatively describe him as a religious nomad. With Dr. Bawumias charisma, humility, and integrity, It is Possible to build a united Ghana with a common goal of ensuring peace, security, and stability for development.

The above are some few dimensions in which Dr. Bawumias It is possible reflects his vision for NPP and Ghana. Dr. Bawumia is not just a slogan-maker, he is a slogan-doer. He has proven himself by words and deed to be a visionary, innovative, responsive, and transformative leader who has the necessary set of skills, and passion to lead Ghana to greater heights. He has shown himself to be a man of the people, who listens to their needs, respects their diversity, and works for their welfare. Dr. Bawumia is the best choice to lead the NPP in the 2024 elections; He is the best choice to be the father of our nation in the 2024 elections and he is the best choice to lead Ghana into a path of prosperity and progress. A Ghana where the economy is flourishing, the citizens empowered, and the nation united under a common destiny of prosperity. With Dr. Bawumias unwavering It is Possible belief, Ghanaians will be inspired to work together for a nation where the challenges of yesterday are surmounted, the prospects of the present are seized, and the great potential of the future is accomplished. Indeed, the Dr. Bawumia sees Ghanaians as active stakeholders in achieving the "It is Possible" agenda and this explains why during his address after filing his nominations he kept on repeating "together with you... " thereby creating a strong connection between his vision for Ghana and the support of patriots and Ghanaians. This is a leader who respects people and appreciates the significant role that his followers and Ghanaians have to play in the achievement of his vision of development and progress.

In conclusion, Dr. Bawumias filing of his nomination forms today is a profound milestone that has a significant connection with his overarching mission to create a Ghana that turns aspirations into reality and where everything good is possible to achieve. This is the beginning to charting a brighter future for Ghana through Dr. Bawumias strong belief and inspiration that It is Possible. I therefore urge delegates to rally behind Dr. Bawumia and vote massively for him to lead the NPP in the 2024 elections to victory.

Written by:

Dr. Issah Imoro

([email protected])

16/06/2023
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has urged Pakistani authorities to halt their harassment of foreign-based journalists Wajahat Saeed Khan, Shaheen Sehbai, Sabir Shakir, and Moeed Pirzada.

Pakistani police are reported to have opened criminal and terrorism investigations against these individuals on allegations of inciting attacks and spreading terrorism.

On 10th June, in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, authorities initiated investigations into US-based journalists Khan and Sehbai, along with two former army officers. They are accused of inciting people to attack military installations, spreading terrorism, and creating chaos following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on 9th May.

In a separate but similar development on 13th June, Shakir, a freelance journalist based outside Pakistan, and Pirzada, US-based editor of the news website Global Village Space, also found themselves under investigation.

The allegations against all four journalists and the ex-army officers centre around unspecified social media posts and videos. These cases refer to sections of the penal code concerning criminal conspiracy and abetting mutiny, along with the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997, which carries a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment.

Beh Lih Yi, CPJ's Asia program coordinator, voiced strong criticism of the investigations: "It is unconscionable that foreign-based Pakistani journalists face potential death sentences under terrorism investigations in retaliation for their critical reporting and commentary."

Tensions have risen in Pakistan since the arrest of the former Prime Minister, which sparked protests across the country. The media have been under significant pressure, with arrests, attacks, and harassment of journalists becoming common. Mainstream Pakistani news channels have been forced to halt coverage of the former prime minister due to military pressure.

Each of the four journalists under investigation has provided critical analysis of these recent events via their social media and YouTube channels. They believe that Pakistani authorities are targeting them in response to their comprehensive critical coverage of the government and army.

CPJ's attempts to contact Islamabad Police Inspector-General Akbar Nasir Khan and Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb have yet to receive a response. As this story unfolds, the international community awaits Pakistan's next steps in these unprecedented cases.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has filed his nomination to contest in the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) upcoming presidential primaries, scheduled for November 4.

Thousands of NPP supporters followed Dr. Bawumia as he filed his nomination forms at the party's headquarters signalling his popularity and momentum on the ground.

I have my own vision to transform Ghanas economy to the next level, Dr. Bawumia asserted after filing his forms.

Reacting to the news, a former member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and now leader of the National Liberation Congress (NLC), Stephen Atubiga said the "stampeding crowded delegates, appointees, and followers" of Dr. Bawumia in a viral video at the NPP headquarters is a sign of victory to lead the NPP in 2024 elections.

Dr. Bawumia's popularity and the momentum on the ground make him look like The First Northern Black political Jesus to have ever surfaced in this country," Atubiga said in a Facebook post.

"We are watching approximately as we can't wait to give them a run for their money come the 2024 elections. Wakefulness nights awaiting The NDC and the NLC if this is how Dr. Bawmia will be moving, he added.

Mr Atubiga suggested that Dr. Bawumia's nomination has galvanized the NPP's base, confident of retaining the presidential seat in 2024.
The Myanmar junta has come under fire for its recent decision to revoke the media license of local news outlet, Ayeyarwaddy Times, a move condemned by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

On June 10, the military authorities reportedly annulled the outlet's license, alleging a breach of Article 8 of the Publishing Act.

The said act prohibits the distribution of information that could disrupt public peace and tranquility. Salai Thant Sin, the editor-in-chief of the Ayeyarwaddy Times, shared this information with CPJ via email.

Since the military coup on February 1, 2021, Myanmar's regime has banned 14 news publications, as reported by the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB). Sin highlighted that the junta had particularly targeted journalists from his website since the coup. Reporter Aung Mya Than had been arrested twice for his work.

CPJ's senior Southeast Asia representative, Shawn Crispin, expressed outrage at the military regime's relentless censorship efforts. "Myanmars military regime will stop at nothing to block, censor, and ban independent reporting about its junta governments rule," Crispin stated, urging a reversal of the Ayeyarwaddy Times ban and a halt to harassment of its reporters.

Despite the ban and threats to its reporters, the Ayeyarwaddy Times continues to operate predominantly from underground. As of June 16, the outlet remained active online and continued publishing.

Sin also reported the recent release of Ayeyarwaddy Times editor Myo Min Tun. The editor was sentenced in October 2022 to two years in prison under the penal codes Article 505(a) that criminalizes incitement and the spread of false news.

A number of Ayeyarwaddy reporters have been questioned by authorities. Some have ceased working as journalists due to concerns about personal safety and potential incarceration.

According to CPJs prison census as of December 1, 2022, Myanmar ranked third-worst globally in terms of jailing journalists, with at least 42 press members behind bars. Myanmar's Ministry of Information has yet to respond to the concerns raised by CPJ.
A team of medical doctors from the Czech Republic has performed a total of seventy obstetrics and gynaecological surgeries in one week.

This was done in conjunction with a team of medical doctors and nurses from the Tamale Teaching Hospital under the MEDEVAC programme.

The leader of the team Prof. Michal Zikan stated that they chose Tamale Teaching Hospital because of the commitment on the part of the staff.

According to Prof. Zikan, "We chose Tamale Teaching Hospital for this program for five years today because we found commitment and dedication from the staff."

Prof. Zikan thanked the management for its support throughout the one-week program.

The Ag. Medical Director Dr. Michael Yelibora on behalf of the management and staff, thanked the TTH and the Czech team for their commitment to the MEDEVAC programme.

Dr. Yelibora expressed hope that the partnership between the MEDEVAC team and the Tamale Teaching Hospital will improve healthcare delivery in northern Ghana. "I am convinced that more people stand to benefit in the coming years. It is evidence that our collaboration over the past five years has benefited many lives."

Dr. Yelibora also mentioned how the collaboration has helped the hospital and the region in several ways. "Our people have benefited from the surgeries, but not only that, medical equipment has been donated to the hospital, and our doctors have the opportunity of traveling to the Czech Republic to further their education."

He urged the hospital and the MEDEVAC to work together.
Artis Real Estate Investment Trust (OTCMKTS:ARESF  Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 496,000 shares, an increase of 51.7% from the May 15th total of 326,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 3,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 134.1 days.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. National Bank Financial reduced their price target on Artis Real Estate Investment Trust from C$8.00 to C$7.75 in a report on Tuesday, May 16th. Scotiabank reduced their price target on Artis Real Estate Investment Trust from C$12.25 to C$10.50 in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on Artis Real Estate Investment Trust from C$9.00 to C$8.00 in a report on Monday, May 15th.

Get Artis Real Estate Investment Trust alerts:

Artis Real Estate Investment Trust Trading Up 1.6 %

ARESF traded up $0.09 during trading on Thursday, hitting $5.49. 1,700 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,668. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $5.27 and a 200 day simple moving average of $6.14. Artis Real Estate Investment Trust has a 1 year low of $4.94 and a 1 year high of $9.80.

Artis Real Estate Investment Trust Cuts Dividend

About Artis Real Estate Investment Trust

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.0372 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a yield of 8.62%. Artis Real Estate Investment Trusts payout ratio is currently 84.74%.

(Get Rating)

Artis is a diversified Canadian real estate investment trust with a portfolio of industrial, office and retail properties in Canada and the United States. Artis's vision is to build a best-in-class asset management and investment platform focused on growing net asset value per unit and distributions for investors through value investing in real estate.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Artis Real Estate Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Artis Real Estate Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of abrdn European Logistics Income plc (LON:ASLI  Get Rating) dropped 2.4% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as GBX 71 ($0.89) and last traded at GBX 71.90 ($0.90). Approximately 1,193,331 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 57% from the average daily volume of 761,512 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 73.70 ($0.92).

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Royal Bank of Canada lowered shares of abrdn European Logistics Income to a sector perform rating and set a GBX 80 ($1.00) price objective on the stock. in a report on Tuesday, May 23rd.

Get abrdn European Logistics Income alerts:

abrdn European Logistics Income Trading Down 2.4 %

The companys fifty day moving average is GBX 73.79 and its 200-day moving average is GBX 73.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 33.97, a current ratio of 4.92 and a quick ratio of 4.22. The company has a market capitalization of 296.35 million, a PE ratio of 599.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 9.27 and a beta of 0.21.

abrdn European Logistics Income Increases Dividend

Insider Buying and Selling at abrdn European Logistics Income

The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 23rd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 1st will be paid a GBX 1.23 ($0.02) dividend. This represents a yield of 1.53%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 1st. This is a positive change from abrdn European Logistics Incomes previous dividend of $1.20. abrdn European Logistics Incomes payout ratio is 4,166.67%.

In other news, insider Caroline Gulliver purchased 17,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 24th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 79 ($0.99) per share, with a total value of 13,825 ($17,298.55). 3.05% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About abrdn European Logistics Income

(Get Rating)

abrdn European Logistics Income plc invests in logistic real estate properties in Europe. Its property portfolio includes mid-box and urban logistics warehouses. As of December 31, 2021, the company's property portfolio comprised 23 assets located across five European countries. The company was formerly known as Aberdeen Standard European Logistics Income PLC and changed its name to abrdn European Logistics Income plc in January 2022.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for abrdn European Logistics Income Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for abrdn European Logistics Income and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Advertisements for mini earphones used for cheating in exams. Photo courtesy of Hanoi police

Both students and their parents have been involved in the trade of recorders and cameras for cheating during exams, the public security ministry said Thursday.

At a conference on the organization of the high school graduation exam by the Ministry of Education and Training, Major General Le Minh Manh, deputy head of the Department of Cybersecurity and Crime Prevention using High Technology, said police officers had performed checks on multiple groups trading recorders and cameras, which could be used to cheat during exams.

Investigators revealed that both students and their parents were involved in the trade, often buying devices like earphones.

Several websites can be found to be selling such devices. Manh said the ministry had been training officers on methods to detect and prevent such activities.

Students mainly cheat by bringing small devices to record sound and images, and communicate with people outside the exam rooms to send the answers in, Manh said. While such activities have been seen every year, they are getting more complex.

He said invigilators should take special notice of devices that could be disguised as watches, clothes, earrings or handheld calculators.

Vietnam's high school graduation examination this year will be held between June 28 and 30, with over 1 million students participating.

Surveys at certain exam sites have revealed vulnerabilities that can be exploited and affect the examination. For example, some devices stored along with the question sheets were connected to Wi-Fi networks, Manh said.

"Local authorities must disconnect all these devices or dismantle them. Exam rooms with internet connections must see network nodes disconnected and sealed, with camera systems being disabled," he added.

Pham Ngoc Thuong, deputy education minister, said the ministry would continue to cooperate with the public security ministry to prevent the use of technology for cheating.
Citigroup lowered shares of Admiral Group (OTCMKTS:AMIGY  Get Rating) from a neutral rating to a sell rating in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday morning, The Fly reports.

A number of other brokerages have also commented on AMIGY. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Admiral Group from GBX 1,700 ($21.27) to GBX 1,650 ($20.65) in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered shares of Admiral Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, March 10th. Finally, Berenberg Bank reduced their price target on shares of Admiral Group from GBX 2,688 ($33.63) to GBX 2,543 ($31.82) in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $2,265.20.

Get Admiral Group alerts:

Admiral Group Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of Admiral Group stock opened at $28.41 on Tuesday. Admiral Group has a 52-week low of $20.70 and a 52-week high of $29.92. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $28.34 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $26.64.

Admiral Group Cuts Dividend

About Admiral Group

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 20th. Investors of record on Friday, May 5th will be given a dividend of $0.6004 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 4th. This represents a yield of 6.23%. Admiral Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 64.83%.

(Get Rating)

Admiral Group plc, a financial services company, provides motor, household, travel, and pet insurance, as well as personal lending products worldwide. It operates through UK Insurance, International Insurance, Admiral Money, and Other segments. The company provides underwriting services, which includes motor, household, pet, and travel insurance, as well as car and home insurance; and provides unsecured personal loans and car finance products primarily in the United Kingdom.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Admiral Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Admiral Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Algoma Steel Group Inc. (TSE:ASTL  Get Rating) traded down 2% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as C$10.27 and last traded at C$10.36. 59,574 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 62% from the average session volume of 158,704 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$10.57.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on shares of Algoma Steel Group from C$17.50 to C$16.00 in a research report on Monday, April 10th.

Get Algoma Steel Group alerts:

Algoma Steel Group Stock Down 1.2 %

The company has a current ratio of 3.67, a quick ratio of 1.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.44. The firm has a market cap of C$1.06 billion, a PE ratio of 3.85 and a beta of 1.49. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is C$10.01 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$9.89.

Algoma Steel Group Company Profile

Algoma Steel Group Inc produces and sells steel products primarily in North America. It provides flat/sheet steel products, including temper rolling, cold rolled, hot-rolled pickled and oiled products, floor plate, and cut-to-length products for the automotive industry, hollow structural product manufacturers, and the light manufacturing and transportation industries; and plate steel products that consist of rolled, hot-rolled, and heat-treated for use in the construction or manufacture of railcars, buildings, bridges, off-highway equipment, storage tanks, ships, and military applications.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Algoma Steel Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Algoma Steel Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
888 reaffirmed their upgrade rating on shares of Ameren (NYSE:AEE  Get Rating) in a research report sent to investors on Monday morning, Benzinga reports.

AEE has been the topic of several other reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Ameren from $84.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on shares of Ameren from $102.00 to $95.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Mizuho decreased their target price on shares of Ameren from $91.00 to $87.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 16th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Ameren from $97.00 to $101.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, April 10th. Finally, KeyCorp upgraded shares of Ameren from a sector weight rating to an overweight rating and set a $90.00 target price for the company in a research report on Monday. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $93.50.

Get Ameren alerts:

Ameren Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:AEE opened at $83.97 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $22.05 billion, a PE ratio of 20.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.44. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $86.16 and its 200-day simple moving average is $86.45. Ameren has a one year low of $73.28 and a one year high of $97.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a current ratio of 0.75.

Ameren Announces Dividend

Ameren ( NYSE:AEE Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, May 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.00 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.94 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $2.06 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.95 billion. Ameren had a net margin of 13.34% and a return on equity of 10.41%. Amerens revenue was up 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.97 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Ameren will post 4.36 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 14th will be paid a $0.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 13th. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.00%. Amerens dividend payout ratio is presently 60.43%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CFO Michael L. Moehn sold 3,080 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $81.12, for a total transaction of $249,849.60. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 164,179 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,318,200.48. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other Ameren news, SVP Fadi M. Diya sold 36,940 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.37, for a total value of $3,042,747.80. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 57,676 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,750,772.12. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Michael L. Moehn sold 3,080 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $81.12, for a total transaction of $249,849.60. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 164,179 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,318,200.48. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.42% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ameren

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of AEE. Penserra Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Ameren in the first quarter valued at $25,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Ameren in the first quarter valued at $27,000. CI Investments Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Ameren by 1,006.5% in the third quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 343 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 312 shares during the period. Optiver Holding B.V. bought a new position in Ameren during the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, New Hampshire Trust bought a new position in Ameren during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.42% of the companys stock.

Ameren Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Ameren Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a public utility holding company in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution, Ameren Illinois Natural Gas, and Ameren Transmission. It engages in the rate-regulated electric generation, transmission, and distribution activities; and rate-regulated natural gas distribution and transmission businesses.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Ameren Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ameren and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Bank of New Hampshire lifted its position in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJH  Get Rating) by 1.2% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 8,696 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 101 shares during the quarter. Bank of New Hampshires holdings in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF were worth $2,175,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of IJH. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. raised its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 1.9% in the first quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. now owns 45,583 shares of the companys stock worth $12,232,000 after purchasing an additional 839 shares during the last quarter. United Bank raised its stake in shares of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 4.6% in the first quarter. United Bank now owns 13,304 shares of the companys stock worth $3,570,000 after purchasing an additional 581 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers grew its holdings in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 3.1% during the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 63,850 shares of the companys stock worth $17,134,000 after acquiring an additional 1,900 shares during the period. Blair William & Co. IL grew its holdings in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF by 11.0% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 40,013 shares of the companys stock worth $10,737,000 after acquiring an additional 3,953 shares during the period. Finally, Dakota Wealth Management acquired a new stake in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF during the first quarter worth about $569,000.

Get iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF alerts:

iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF Stock Performance

iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF stock traded down $0.32 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $257.87. 376,357 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,060,111. The firm has a market capitalization of $68.86 billion, a PE ratio of 13.24 and a beta of 1.12. iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF has a fifty-two week low of $217.39 and a fifty-two week high of $272.95. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $247.04 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $250.34.

iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF Company Profile

Ishares S&P Midcap 400 Index Fund, formerly The iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (the Fund), seeks investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the United States mid-cap stocks, as represented by the Standard & Poors MidCap 400 (the Underlying Index).

Featured Articles

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IJH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:IJH  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Bluebird Merchant Ventures Limited (LON:BMV  Get Rating) shares traded up 2.3% on Thursday . The stock traded as high as GBX 1.25 ($0.02) and last traded at GBX 1.13 ($0.01). 952,761 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 59% from the average session volume of 2,300,914 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 1.10 ($0.01).

Bluebird Merchant Ventures Trading Up 2.3 %

The firm has a market cap of 7.76 million, a PE ratio of 215.00 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a quick ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 0.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.48. The companys 50 day moving average price is GBX 1.38 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 1.68.

Bluebird Merchant Ventures Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Bluebird Merchant Ventures Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in mining and developing of mineral properties. The company primarily explores for gold and silver deposits. It holds interests in the Gubong project and Kochang project located in South Korea. The company was incorporated in 2014 and is based in Road Town, the British Virgin Islands.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Bluebird Merchant Ventures Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bluebird Merchant Ventures and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
B&M European Value Retail S.A. (OTCMKTS:BMRRY  Get Rating) has been assigned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the five research firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation and four have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $472.50.

Several brokerages recently issued reports on BMRRY. Stifel Nicolaus raised B&M European Value Retail from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, June 9th. Royal Bank of Canada raised shares of B&M European Value Retail from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, March 6th.

Get B&M European Value Retail alerts:

B&M European Value Retail Trading Up 0.5 %

BMRRY opened at $28.01 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.49, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a current ratio of 1.59. B&M European Value Retail has a fifty-two week low of $12.74 and a fifty-two week high of $28.10. The firms fifty day moving average is $24.72 and its 200 day moving average is $22.95.

B&M European Value Retail Company Profile

B&M European Value Retail SA operates general merchandise and grocery stores. The company operates a chain of 701 stores under the B&M brand, and 311 stores under the Heron Foods and B&M Express brands in the United Kingdom; and 107 stores under the B&M brand in France. It also provides employment and property management services.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for B&M European Value Retail Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for B&M European Value Retail and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Boliden AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:BDNNY  Get Rating) was the target of a large decline in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,100 shares, a decline of 42.1% from the May 15th total of 1,900 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 26,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.0 days.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on BDNNY. Credit Suisse Group began coverage on Boliden AB (publ) in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. They issued an underperform rating on the stock. Handelsbanken upgraded Boliden AB (publ) from a market perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Monday, March 20th. DNB Markets downgraded Boliden AB (publ) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Boliden AB (publ) from a neutral rating to an underweight rating in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Finally, Berenberg Bank downgraded Boliden AB (publ) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, May 19th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Boliden AB (publ) has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $364.00.

Get Boliden AB (publ) alerts:

Boliden AB (publ) Price Performance

BDNNY traded up $0.14 during trading on Friday, reaching $60.66. 8,805 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,956. Boliden AB has a fifty-two week low of $55.19 and a fifty-two week high of $92.60. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $69.39 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $76.52.

Boliden AB (publ) Cuts Dividend

Boliden AB (publ) ( OTCMKTS:BDNNY Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $1.78 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $1.91 billion for the quarter.

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 26th. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 10th will be given a dividend of $1.8424 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 9th. This represents a yield of 9.63%. Boliden AB (publ)s payout ratio is 22.82%.

Boliden AB (publ) Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Boliden AB (publ) engages in the exploring, extracting, and processing of base metals and precious metals in Sweden, other Nordic region, Germany, the United Kingdom, the rest of Europe, North America, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Business Area Mines and Business Area Smelters.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Boliden AB (publ) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boliden AB (publ) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX  Get Rating)s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $54.60 and last traded at $54.55, with a volume of 2004226 shares. The stock had previously closed at $53.98.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Barclays upped their target price on Boston Scientific from $53.00 to $56.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. TheStreet raised Boston Scientific from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 30th. Truist Financial upped their target price on Boston Scientific from $54.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, April 17th. UBS Group assumed coverage on Boston Scientific in a research report on Tuesday, March 28th. They issued a buy rating and a $57.00 target price on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on Boston Scientific in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $54.00.

Get Boston Scientific alerts:

Boston Scientific Stock Performance

The firm has a 50 day moving average of $52.00 and a two-hundred day moving average of $48.69. The stock has a market cap of $76.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 91.51, a P/E/G ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.40.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Boston Scientific ( NYSE:BSX Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The medical equipment provider reported $0.47 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.43 by $0.04. Boston Scientific had a return on equity of 14.57% and a net margin of 6.91%. The company had revenue of $3.39 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.16 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.39 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Boston Scientific Co. will post 1.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

In other Boston Scientific news, EVP John Bradley Sorenson sold 4,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total value of $200,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 34,403 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,720,150. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP John Bradley Sorenson sold 4,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.00, for a total transaction of $200,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 34,403 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,720,150. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Wendy Carruthers sold 11,671 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.24, for a total value of $621,364.04. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 72,847 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,878,374.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 190,688 shares of company stock worth $10,019,132. 0.71% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Boston Scientific

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of BSX. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Boston Scientific by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 116,886,236 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $4,527,004,000 after purchasing an additional 1,708,496 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Boston Scientific by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 25,329,129 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $1,263,857,000 after purchasing an additional 473,888 shares in the last quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main increased its holdings in Boston Scientific by 7.6% during the 4th quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 23,393,853 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $1,082,436,000 after purchasing an additional 1,659,431 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 112,306.1% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 18,661,660 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $863,475,000 after buying an additional 18,645,058 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 15,093,551 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $584,572,000 after buying an additional 432,709 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 90.23% of the companys stock.

Boston Scientific Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Boston Scientific Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. It operates through MedSurg and Cardiovascular segments. The company offers devices to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal and pulmonary conditions; devices to treat various urological and pelvic conditions; implantable cardioverter and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators; pacemakers and implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers; and remote patient management systems.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Boston Scientific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boston Scientific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Bridgemarq Real Estate Services Inc. (TSE:BRE  Get Rating) declared a monthly dividend on Thursday, June 15th, Zacks reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be paid a dividend of 0.112 per share on Monday, July 31st. This represents a $1.34 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.33%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 29th.

Bridgemarq Real Estate Services Stock Performance

Bridgemarq Real Estate Services stock opened at C$14.40 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of C$14.60 and a 200 day moving average price of C$13.89. Bridgemarq Real Estate Services has a 12-month low of C$12.40 and a 12-month high of C$15.15. The stock has a market cap of C$136.51 million, a P/E ratio of 46.45 and a beta of 1.20.

Get Bridgemarq Real Estate Services alerts:

Bridgemarq Real Estate Services (TSE:BRE  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 11th. The company reported C($0.50) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of C$11.99 million for the quarter.

About Bridgemarq Real Estate Services

Bridgemarq Real Estate Services Inc provides various services to residential real estate brokers and REALTORS in Canada. It offers information, tools, and services that assist its customers in the delivery of real estate sales services. The company provides its services under the Royal LePage, Via Capitale, and Johnston & Daniel brand names.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Bridgemarq Real Estate Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bridgemarq Real Estate Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Rempart Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Brookfield Renewable Co. (NYSE:BEPC  Get Rating) by 68.1% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 72,825 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 29,504 shares during the quarter. Brookfield Renewable accounts for 0.6% of Rempart Asset Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest holding. Rempart Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Brookfield Renewable were worth $2,544,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of BEPC. Y.D. More Investments Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Brookfield Renewable in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc purchased a new position in shares of Brookfield Renewable in the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. Federated Hermes Inc. acquired a new stake in Brookfield Renewable in the 1st quarter valued at about $35,000. CWM LLC grew its stake in Brookfield Renewable by 176.9% in the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,332 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,000 after acquiring an additional 851 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Orion Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Brookfield Renewable during the 4th quarter worth about $94,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.12% of the companys stock.

Get Brookfield Renewable alerts:

Brookfield Renewable Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of Brookfield Renewable stock traded up $0.18 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $33.24. 25,249 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 603,709. Brookfield Renewable Co. has a twelve month low of $27.19 and a twelve month high of $42.97. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $34.11 and a 200 day simple moving average of $31.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.34 and a quick ratio of 0.34.

Brookfield Renewable Announces Dividend

Brookfield Renewable ( NYSE:BEPC Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, May 5th. The company reported ($0.09) earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of $1.33 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.21 billion. Brookfield Renewable had a net margin of 5.75% and a return on equity of 1.88%. Research analysts expect that Brookfield Renewable Co. will post -0.36 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be given a dividend of $0.338 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 30th. This represents a $1.35 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.07%. Brookfield Renewables dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -254.72%.

About Brookfield Renewable

(Get Rating)

Brookfield Renewable Corporation owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy power generating facilities primarily in the United States, Europe, Colombia, and Brazil. It operates hydroelectric, wind, and solar power plants with an installed capacity of approximately 12,723 megawatts. The company was incorporated in 2019 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Renewable Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield Renewable and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
A man in HCMC (L) is summoned to a police station for posting fabricated information on Facebook about attacks in Dak Lak that resulted in nine deaths. Photo courtesy of the police

A man in HCMC was fined VND7.5 million ($318.78) for posting online that the deadly attacks on two Peoples Committee offices in Dak Lak were due to "land disputes."

A 56-year-old man, whose Facebook account is named Dung Dinh, was fined by the HCMC police department on cybersecurity and high-tech crimes on Friday for providing false information that violate the reputation of organizations and individuals.

The man said he had "personal frustration", so when he saw news about armed groups attacking the Peoples Committee offices of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur communes in the Central Highlands Dak Lak Province on Sunday, he posted on Facebook that the incident happened due to "land disputes between the people and local authorities."

Authorities said such information was fabricated and requested the man to remove the content, as well as not making the same violations again.

Previously, five other people in Nha Trang, Ha Tinh and Quang Nam in central Vietnam were fined VND5.5-7.5 million each for similar violations.

Early on Sunday morning an unidentified group of people with guns attacked the Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur commune people's committee offices in Cu Kuin District in the Central Highlands province.

Four police officers, two commune officials and three civilians were killed. Two other officers were injured. It is uncertain whether or not any of the attackers were injured or killed.
Crown Castle (NYSE:CCI  Get Rating) and HG (OTCMKTS:STLY  Get Rating) are both finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, analyst recommendations, earnings, institutional ownership, valuation, profitability and risk.

Volatility and Risk

Crown Castle has a beta of 0.65, suggesting that its stock price is 35% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, HG has a beta of 0.57, suggesting that its stock price is 43% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Get Crown Castle alerts:

Profitability

This table compares Crown Castle and HGs net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Crown Castle 23.81% 22.12% 4.29% HG 23.55% 11.14% 7.83%

Earnings & Valuation

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Crown Castle $6.99 billion 7.25 $1.68 billion $3.86 30.28 HG $14.48 million 1.50 $3.74 million $1.22 6.19

This table compares Crown Castle and HGs revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Crown Castle has higher revenue and earnings than HG. HG is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Crown Castle, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

90.3% of Crown Castle shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 1.7% of HG shares are held by institutional investors. 0.4% of Crown Castle shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 35.4% of HG shares are held by company 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.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for Crown Castle and HG, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Crown Castle 1 3 12 0 2.69 HG 0 0 0 0 N/A

Crown Castle currently has a consensus target price of $155.56, indicating a potential upside of 33.11%. Given Crown Castles higher probable upside, equities analysts clearly believe Crown Castle is more favorable than HG.

Summary

Crown Castle beats HG on 11 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Crown Castle

(Get Rating)

Crown Castle owns, operates and leases more than 40,000 cell towers and approximately 85,000 route miles of fiber supporting small cells and fiber solutions across every major U.S. market. This nationwide portfolio of communications infrastructure connects cities and communities to essential data, technology and wireless service  bringing information, ideas and innovations to the people and businesses that need them.

About HG

(Get Rating)

HG Holdings, Inc. engages in the title insurance and real estate businesses in the United States. It operates through four segments: Title Insurance Services, Reinsurance, Management Services, and Real Estate. The company provides title insurance, closing and/or escrow, and similar or related services in connection with residential and commercial real estate transactions. It also owns and operates a portfolio of single-tenant properties leased for the occupancy by U.S. government tenant agencies and sub-agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Veterans affairs, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration & Customs Enforcement, the Social Security Administration, and the Department of Transportation. In addition, the company provides excess-of-loss reinsurance coverage related to catastrophic weather risk in Texas; and management advisory services, such as formation, operational, and restructuring services. The company was formerly known as Stanley Furniture Company, Inc. and changed its name to HG Holdings, Inc. in March 2018. HG Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in 1984 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Receive News & Ratings for Crown Castle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Crown Castle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
StockNews.com upgraded shares of Embraer (NYSE:ERJ  Get Rating) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report published on Monday morning.

A number of other research analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup raised their price target on Embraer from $11.75 to $17.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, March 23rd. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on Embraer from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 11th. Finally, Bank of America dropped their price target on Embraer from $27.00 to $24.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. 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.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $19.17.

Get Embraer alerts:

Embraer Price Performance

Embraer stock opened at $17.09 on Monday. Embraer has a one year low of $7.91 and a one year high of $17.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 1.75. The business has a fifty day moving average of $15.21 and a two-hundred day moving average of $13.53. The company has a market cap of $3.14 billion, a P/E ratio of -569.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.94 and a beta of 1.28.

Institutional Trading of Embraer

Embraer ( NYSE:ERJ Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The aerospace company reported ($0.48) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.03) by ($0.45). Embraer had a negative net margin of 0.08% and a positive return on equity of 0.65%. The business had revenue of $716.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $701.45 million. As a group, analysts predict that Embraer will post 1.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Embraer by 10.5% in the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 15,106 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $188,000 after purchasing an additional 1,433 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Embraer by 255.2% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 187,140 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $2,360,000 after purchasing an additional 134,452 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Embraer by 61.0% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 33,650 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $424,000 after purchasing an additional 12,750 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. lifted its stake in shares of Embraer by 22.8% in the 1st quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 143,472 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $1,809,000 after purchasing an additional 26,623 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can lifted its stake in shares of Embraer by 3.1% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 75,872 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $975,000 after purchasing an additional 2,316 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 37.89% of the companys stock.

About Embraer

(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.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Embraer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Embraer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of Envista Holdings Co. (NYSE:NVST  Get Rating) traded up 4% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $34.13 and last traded at $33.92. 480,257 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 76% from the average session volume of 1,980,712 shares. The stock had previously closed at $32.63.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, TheStreet downgraded Envista from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Friday, June 9th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $46.00.

Get Envista alerts:

Envista Stock Up 1.4 %

The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $35.33 and a 200-day simple moving average of $36.29. The firm has a market cap of $5.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.19, a P/E/G ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 1.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.23.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Envista

Envista ( NYSE:NVST Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The company reported $0.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.41 by ($0.03). Envista had a net margin of 8.27% and a return on equity of 7.98%. The business had revenue of $627.20 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $632.51 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.47 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down .7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Envista Holdings Co. will post 1.86 EPS for the current year.

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Toroso Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Envista during the first quarter worth $292,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Envista by 0.6% during the first quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 212,283 shares of the companys stock worth $8,678,000 after buying an additional 1,320 shares in the last quarter. American Trust acquired a new stake in shares of Envista during the first quarter worth $226,000. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Envista by 15.9% during the first quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 26,181 shares of the companys stock worth $1,069,000 after buying an additional 3,582 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its holdings in shares of Envista by 6.4% during the first quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 325,914 shares of the companys stock worth $13,324,000 after buying an additional 19,676 shares in the last quarter.

About Envista

(Get Rating)

Envista Holdings Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells dental products in the United States, China, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Specialty Products & Technologies, and Equipment & Consumables. The Specialty Products & Technologies segment offers dental implant systems, guided surgery systems, biomaterials, and prefabricated and custom-built prosthetics to oral surgeons, prosthodontists, and periodontists; and brackets and wires, tubes and bands, archwires, clear aligners, digital orthodontic treatments, retainers, and other orthodontic laboratory products.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Envista Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Envista and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
ETF Managers Group LLC reduced its stake in shares of Green Dot Co. (NYSE:GDOT  Get Rating) by 4.8% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 324,017 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 16,224 shares during the period. ETF Managers Group LLCs holdings in Green Dot were worth $5,126,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. CWM LLC raised its stake in shares of Green Dot by 291.0% during the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,685 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 1,254 shares during the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Green Dot by 543.8% during the 4th quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,290 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $52,000 after buying an additional 2,779 shares during the last quarter. Counterpoint Mutual Funds LLC acquired a new position in shares of Green Dot during the 4th quarter worth $95,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Green Dot during the 2nd quarter worth $114,000. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its stake in shares of Green Dot by 34.1% during the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 7,652 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $121,000 after buying an additional 1,945 shares during the last quarter. 90.42% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get Green Dot alerts:

Analyst Ratings Changes

GDOT has been the subject of several research reports. Truist Financial cut their price target on Green Dot from $24.00 to $22.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 27th. BTIG Research started coverage on Green Dot in a research note on Tuesday. They set a neutral rating for the company. Needham & Company LLC lowered shares of Green Dot from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, May 8th. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of Green Dot from $21.00 to $19.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 27th. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Green Dot in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $23.43.

Green Dot Price Performance

Shares of GDOT stock opened at $19.69 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $1.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.97 and a beta of 1.05. Green Dot Co. has a 1-year low of $14.96 and a 1-year high of $28.91. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $17.61 and its 200-day simple moving average is $17.51.

Green Dot (NYSE:GDOT  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The financial services provider reported $0.84 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.55 by $0.29. The business had revenue of $412.36 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $385.33 million. Green Dot had a net margin of 4.20% and a return on equity of 13.13%. Analysts expect that Green Dot Co. will post 1.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Green Dot Profile

(Get Rating)

Green Dot Corporation, a financial technology and bank holding company, provides various financial services to consumers and businesses in the United States. It operates through three segments: Consumer Services, Business to Business Services, and Money Movement Services. The company offers deposit account programs, including consumer and small business checking account products, network-branded reloadable prepaid debit cards and gift cards, and secured credit programs.

Featured Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GDOT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Green Dot Co. (NYSE:GDOT  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for Green Dot Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Green Dot and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust (TSE:ERE-UN  Get Rating) shares traded down 0.4% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as C$2.81 and last traded at C$2.81. 46,331 shares traded hands during trading, The stock had previously closed at C$2.82.

European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 295.04, a current ratio of 0.10 and a quick ratio of 0.20. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of C$3.15 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$3.27. The company has a market cap of C$263.38 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.19 and a beta of 1.18.

European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust Company Profile

(Get Rating)

ERES is an unincorporated, open-ended real estate investment trust. ERES's REIT Units are listed on the TSX under the symbol ERE.UN. ERES is Canada's only European-focused multi-residential REIT, with a current initial focus on investing in high-quality, multi-residential real estate properties in the Netherlands.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for European Residential Real Estate Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
GATX Co. (NYSE:GATX  Get Rating) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $128.25 and last traded at $127.41, with a volume of 50208 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $127.46.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. Susquehanna lifted their price objective on GATX from $115.00 to $118.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Sidoti began coverage on GATX in a report on Tuesday, March 14th. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on GATX in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, GATX currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $118.33.

Get GATX alerts:

GATX Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $4.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.95 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a current ratio of 2.05, a quick ratio of 2.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.04. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $115.98 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $111.55.

GATX Dividend Announcement

GATX ( NYSE:GATX Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The transportation company reported $2.20 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.76. The firm had revenue of $338.90 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $353.98 million. GATX had a return on equity of 10.53% and a net margin of 12.16%. Sell-side analysts expect that GATX Co. will post 6.8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.55 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.74%. GATXs dividend payout ratio is currently 50.00%.

Insider Transactions at GATX

In other news, SVP Aken Jennifer Van sold 2,600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.43, for a total transaction of $323,518.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 4,649 shares in the company, valued at approximately $578,475.07. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, VP Jennifer Mcmanus sold 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $120.61, for a total value of $120,610.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 1,582 shares in the company, valued at approximately $190,805.02. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Aken Jennifer Van sold 2,600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $124.43, for a total value of $323,518.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 4,649 shares of the companys stock, valued at $578,475.07. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 11,700 shares of company stock worth $1,414,832. 1.80% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On GATX

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of GATX. Orion Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of GATX in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Ellevest Inc. grew its position in shares of GATX by 114.4% in the 4th quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 506 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $54,000 after purchasing an additional 270 shares during the period. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its position in shares of GATX by 489.1% in the 3rd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 760 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $65,000 after purchasing an additional 631 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio acquired a new position in shares of GATX in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $89,000. Finally, Advisory Services Network LLC grew its position in shares of GATX by 125.7% in the 1st quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 844 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $93,000 after purchasing an additional 470 shares during the period. 99.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

GATX Company Profile

(Get Rating)

GATX Corp. engages in leasing and owning railcar and fleets in North America, Europe and Asia. It operates through the following segments: Rail North America, Rail International, and Portfolio Management. The Rail North America segment provides railcars pursuant to full-service leases under which it maintains the railcars and provides other ancillary services.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for GATX Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for GATX and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Bank of New Hampshire grew its stake in Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC  Get Rating) by 11.9% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 5,979 shares of the specialty retailers stock after acquiring an additional 638 shares during the period. Bank of New Hampshires holdings in Genuine Parts were worth $1,000,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in GPC. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Genuine Parts in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $239,384,000. Capital World Investors acquired a new position in Genuine Parts during the 1st quarter worth about $124,130,000. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in Genuine Parts by 2.9% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 17,088,101 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $2,153,442,000 after acquiring an additional 481,039 shares in the last quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. lifted its stake in Genuine Parts by 105.9% during the 3rd quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 715,885 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $106,896,000 after acquiring an additional 368,252 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Genuine Parts by 20,771.1% in the 4th quarter. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC now owns 313,067 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $572,000 after buying an additional 311,567 shares during the period. 78.14% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get Genuine Parts alerts:

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Randall P. Breaux bought 500 shares of Genuine Parts stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 1st. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $149.44 per share, with a total value of $74,720.00. Following the acquisition, the insider now owns 20,523 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,066,957.12. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Genuine Parts news, CEO Paul D. Donahue bought 1,600 shares of Genuine Parts stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 24th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $156.08 per share, with a total value of $249,728.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 59,727 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,322,190.16. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Randall P. Breaux purchased 500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 1st. The shares were bought at an average cost of $149.44 per share, for a total transaction of $74,720.00. Following the acquisition, the insider now owns 20,523 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,066,957.12. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Company insiders own 0.39% of the companys stock.

Genuine Parts Stock Up 0.5 %

GPC stock traded up $0.77 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $162.42. 223,661 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,062,310. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 1.16. Genuine Parts has a 1-year low of $126.95 and a 1-year high of $187.73. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $163.49 and its 200 day simple moving average is $168.72. The company has a market cap of $22.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 0.89.

Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 20th. The specialty retailer reported $2.14 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.03 by $0.11. Genuine Parts had a net margin of 5.50% and a return on equity of 32.53%. The company had revenue of $5.77 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.68 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.86 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts forecast that Genuine Parts will post 9.06 earnings per share for the current year.

Genuine Parts Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 2nd will be issued a $0.95 dividend. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 1st. Genuine Partss payout ratio is currently 43.53%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of Genuine Parts from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report on Tuesday. Truist Financial boosted their price objective on Genuine Parts from $186.00 to $195.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Genuine Parts from a sell rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from $163.00 to $164.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Wedbush reissued a neutral rating and set a $165.00 price objective on shares of Genuine Parts in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Bank of America raised Genuine Parts from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the company from $185.00 to $189.00 in a report on Thursday, June 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Genuine Parts has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $178.25.

Genuine Parts Profile

(Get Rating)

Genuine Parts Company distributes automotive replacement parts, and industrial parts and materials. It operates through Automotive Parts Group and Industrial Parts Group segments. The company distributes automotive replacement parts for hybrid and electric vehicles, trucks, SUVs, buses, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, farm vehicles, small engines, farm equipment, marine equipment, and heavy duty equipment; and accessory and supply items used by various automotive aftermarket customers, such as repair shops, service stations, fleet operators, automobile and truck dealers, leasing companies, bus and truck lines, mass merchandisers, farms, and individuals.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Genuine Parts Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Genuine Parts and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group lifted its stake in shares of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (NYSEARCA:AAAU  Get Rating) by 27.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 595,442 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 128,546 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF comprises about 6.1% of Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Groups holdings, making the stock its 2nd largest position. Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group owned approximately 2.39% of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF worth $10,772,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. purchased a new position in shares of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF in the 4th quarter worth approximately $45,000. UBS Group AG raised its stake in shares of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF by 150.8% during the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 5,551 shares of the companys stock worth $100,000 after purchasing an additional 3,338 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley boosted its holdings in shares of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF by 254.6% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 6,089 shares of the companys stock worth $110,000 after buying an additional 4,372 shares during the last quarter. Signature Securities Group Corporation purchased a new position in shares of Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF in the 3rd quarter worth about $114,000. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC bought a new position in Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF during the third quarter valued at about $163,000.

Get Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF alerts:

Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF Stock Up 0.8 %

Shares of AAAU stock opened at $19.42 on Friday. Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF has a 52 week low of $16.06 and a 52 week high of $20.43. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $19.70 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $18.94.

About Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF

The Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (AAAU) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the LBMA Gold Price index. The fund tracks the gold spot price, less expenses and liabilities, using gold bars held in a vault in Perth, Australia. Investors can redeem their shares for gold coins and small bars. AAAU was launched on Jul 26, 2018 and is managed by Goldman Sachs.

Featured Articles

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AAAU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF (NYSEARCA:AAAU  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Goldman Sachs Physical Gold ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Greencoat Renewables PLC (LON:GRP  Get Rating)s stock price traded down 0.5% on Thursday . The stock traded as low as GBX 1.07 ($0.01) and last traded at GBX 1.08 ($0.01). 128,095 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 67% from the average session volume of 385,771 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 1.08 ($0.01).

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Jefferies Financial Group restated a buy rating on shares of Greencoat Renewables in a report on Tuesday, February 28th.

Get Greencoat Renewables alerts:

Greencoat Renewables Trading Down 0.5 %

The company has a quick ratio of 15.30, a current ratio of 0.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 65.97. The firm has a market cap of 12.28 million, a P/E ratio of 8.29 and a beta of 0.03. The companys 50 day simple moving average is GBX 1.08 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 1.11.

Greencoat Renewables Increases Dividend

About Greencoat Renewables

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 2nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 11th were paid a 0.02 ($0.02) dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 11th. This represents a yield of 1.5%. This is an increase from Greencoat Renewabless previous dividend of $0.02. Greencoat Renewabless dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 4,615.38%.

(Get Rating)

Greencoat Renewables PLC invests in, acquires, operates, and manages wind farms in France, Finland, Sweden, and Spain. As of December 31, 2021, the company operated 25 wind farms with an aggregate generating capacity of 800 megawatts. It also invests in solar generation assets. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is based in Dublin, Ireland.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Greencoat Renewables Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Greencoat Renewables and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shimano (OTCMKTS:SMNNY  Get Rating) and Halma (OTCMKTS:HLMAF  Get Rating) are both large-cap consumer discretionary companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their risk, analyst recommendations, dividends, institutional ownership, earnings, valuation and profitability.

Volatility and Risk

Shimano has a beta of 0.59, meaning that its stock price is 41% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Halma has a beta of 1, meaning that its stock price has a similar volatility profile to the S&P 500.

Get Shimano alerts:

Analyst Ratings

This is a breakdown of recent ratings for Shimano and Halma, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Shimano 2 0 0 0 1.00 Halma 0 1 1 0 2.50

Earnings and Valuation

Given Halmas stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Halma is more favorable than Shimano.

This table compares Shimano and Halmas gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Shimano $4.76 billion 3.14 $969.28 million $1.06 15.56 Halma $2.08 billion N/A $333.80 million N/A N/A

Shimano has higher revenue and earnings than Halma.

Profitability

This table compares Shimano and Halmas net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Shimano 20.29% 18.15% 16.14% Halma N/A N/A N/A

Institutional & Insider Ownership

0.0% of Shimano shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Shimano beats Halma on 6 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Shimano

(Get Rating)

Shimano Inc. develops, produces, and distributes bicycle components, fishing tackles, and rowing equipment. It has operations in Japan, Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America, and Oceania. The company was founded in 1921 and is headquartered in Sakai, Japan.

About Halma

(Get Rating)

Halma Plc is a holding company which engages in the development, production and sale of hazard and life protection products. It operates through the following segments: Process Safety, Infrastructure Safety, Medical, and Environmental and Analysis. The Process Safety segment offers products to protect people and assets at work such as interlocks that control critical processes safely; instruments that detect flammable and hazardous gases; explosion protection and pressure relief systems, and corrosion monitoring products. The Infrastructure Safety segment offers life protection in infrastructure and for save movement such as fire detection systems, smoke detectors, fire suppression, people and vehicle flow solutions, security solutions, and elevator safety products. The Medical segment specializes in devices that assess eye health, assist with eye surgery and primary care applications, critical fluidic components used by medical diagnostic original equipment manufacturers, and laboratories; sensor technologies used in hospitals to track assets and support patient and staff safety. The Environmental and Analysis segment relates to products and technologies for analysis in environmen

Receive News & Ratings for Shimano Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shimano and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Three Chinese men illegally entering Vietnam sent back to their country

Three Chinese nationals (3rd to 5th, L) are returned to China after illegally entering Vietnam, June 15, 2023. Photo by VNA

Border guards at Mong Cai International Border Gate on Thursday coordinated with local forces to return three Chinese nationals who illegally entered Vietnam.

Earlier on June 9 a patrol team from the Tra Co Border Guard Station found the three men at an oyster farm of a local household.

The men showed valid Chinese passports but did not have visas and they entered Vietnam without completing immigration procedures.

They said that an unknown Vietnamese man used a motorboat to pick them up from another Chinese motorboat in the waters bordering the two countries and brought them into Vietnam.

The patrol team took the three Chinese men to Tra Co Border Guard Station for investigation.

Tra Co Border Guard Station, in coordination with Mong Cai International Border Gate's Border Guard Station, informed the border management branch in Fangchenggang, Chinas Guangxi Province on the men and asked the Chinese side to receive them back.
Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras (NYSE:PBR  Get Rating) and Par Pacific (NYSE:PARR  Get Rating) are both oils/energy companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, profitability, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends, risk and earnings.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras and Par Pacifics top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Get Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras alerts:

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras $124.47 billion 0.72 $36.62 billion $5.40 2.55 Par Pacific $7.32 billion 0.20 $364.19 million $12.27 1.98

Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras has higher revenue and earnings than Par Pacific. Par Pacific is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk & Volatility

Analyst Recommendations

Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras has a beta of 1.39, indicating that its stock price is 39% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Par Pacific has a beta of 2.05, indicating that its stock price is 105% more volatile than the S&P 500.

This is a summary of recent ratings and price targets for Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras and Par Pacific, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras 1 5 2 0 2.13 Par Pacific 0 3 4 0 2.57

Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras currently has a consensus price target of $14.67, indicating a potential upside of 6.36%. Par Pacific has a consensus price target of $30.43, indicating a potential upside of 25.22%. Given Par Pacifics stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Par Pacific is more favorable than Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

12.3% of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 92.8% of Par Pacific shares are owned by institutional investors. 4.9% of Par Pacific 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.

Profitability

This table compares Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras and Par Pacifics net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras 28.50% 44.84% 17.84% Par Pacific 9.65% 108.48% 19.74%

Summary

Par Pacific beats Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras

(Get Rating)

Petroleo Brasileiro SA engages in oil and gas exploration, production, and distribution activities. It operates through the following segments: Exploration and Production; Refining, Transportation, and Marketing; Gas and Power; and Corporate and Other Business. The Exploration and Production segment involves crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas exploration, development, and production. The Refining, Transportation and Marketing segment involves refining, logistics, transportation, trading operations, oil products and crude oil exports and imports, and petrochemical investments. The Gas and Power segment includes transportation and trading of natural and liquefied natural gas, the generation and trading of electric power, and the fertilizer business. The Corporate and Other Business segment comprises the financing activities not attributable to other segments including corporate financial management, and central administrative overhead and actuarial expenses. The company was founded on October 3, 1953 and is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

About Par Pacific

(Get Rating)

Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. engages in the operation of energy and infrastructure businesses. It operates through the following segments: Refining, Retail, Logistics, and Other. The Refining segment produces ultra-low sulfur diesel, gasoline, jet fuel, marine fuel, low sulfur fuel oil, and other associated refined products. The Retail segment sells gasoline, diesel, and retail merchandise. The Logistics segment is involved in terminals, pipelines, a single-point mooring, and trucking operations to distribute refined products throughout the islands of Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, Molokai, and Kauai. The company was founded on December 21, 1984 and is headquartered in Houston, TX.

Receive News & Ratings for Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Hudsons Bay Co (OTCMKTS:HBAYF  Get Rating)s stock price passed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $8.19 and traded as low as $8.19. Hudsons Bay shares last traded at $8.19, with a volume of 2,900 shares traded.

Hudsons Bay Trading Down 0.2 %

The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $8.19 and its 200-day simple moving average is $8.19.

Hudsons Bay Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates department stores in Canada and the United States. Its stores offers fashion apparels, accessories, cosmetics, and home products. The company operates its stores under the Hudson's Bay, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Saks OFF 5TH, Find @ Lord & Taylor, Home Outfitters, Galeria Kaufhof, Galeria INNO, and Sportarena names.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Hudson's Bay Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hudson's Bay and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Dr. Martens plc (LON:DOCS  Get Rating) insider Jon Mortimore bought 116 shares of Dr. Martens stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 12th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 130 ($1.63) per share, for a total transaction of 150.80 ($188.69).

Dr. Martens Trading Up 1.6 %

Shares of LON DOCS opened at GBX 129.50 ($1.62) on Friday. The businesss 50 day moving average is GBX 155.18 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 162.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 125.74, a current ratio of 2.39 and a quick ratio of 1.13. Dr. Martens plc has a 1-year low of GBX 124 ($1.55) and a 1-year high of GBX 295.21 ($3.69). The stock has a market capitalization of 1.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 996.15, a PEG ratio of 0.04 and a beta of 0.08.

Get Dr. Martens alerts:

Dr. Martens Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 18th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 8th will be paid a dividend of GBX 4.28 ($0.05) per share. This is a boost from Dr. Martenss previous dividend of $1.56. This represents a yield of 2.74%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. Dr. Martenss payout ratio is presently 4,615.38%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

About Dr. Martens

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on DOCS shares. Numis Securities reaffirmed an add rating and issued a GBX 180 ($2.25) target price on shares of Dr. Martens in a report on Friday, February 24th. Barclays reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a GBX 175 ($2.19) target price on shares of Dr. Martens in a report on Monday, June 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada cut Dr. Martens to a sector perform rating and reduced their price objective for the stock from GBX 230 ($2.88) to GBX 180 ($2.25) in a research note on Tuesday, May 30th.

(Get Rating)

Dr. Martens plc designs, develops, procures, markets, sells, and distributes footwear in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia-Pacific. Its product segments include originals, fusion, kids, and casual, as well as accessories. The company offers its products under the Dr. Martens brand name.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Dr. Martens Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dr. Martens and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
FirstGroup plc (LON:FGP  Get Rating) insider Ryan Mangold sold 816,749 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 139 ($1.74), for a total transaction of 1,135,281.11 ($1,420,521.91).

Ryan Mangold also recently made the following trade(s):

Get FirstGroup alerts:

On Tuesday, June 13th, Ryan Mangold bought 107 shares of FirstGroup stock. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 140 ($1.75) per share, with a total value of 149.80 ($187.44).

FirstGroup Stock Down 1.1 %

Shares of FGP stock traded down GBX 1.45 ($0.02) during trading on Friday, reaching GBX 136.15 ($1.70). The companys stock had a trading volume of 4,692,738 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,479,754. The business has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 117.23 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 109.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 278.49. The company has a market cap of 956.09 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,965.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.21 and a beta of 1.54. FirstGroup plc has a one year low of GBX 89.55 ($1.12) and a one year high of GBX 145.50 ($1.82).

FirstGroup Increases Dividend

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 18th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 13th will be given a GBX 2.90 ($0.04) dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 2.44%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 13th. This is a positive change from FirstGroups previous dividend of $0.90. FirstGroups payout ratio is currently 2,857.14%.

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Citigroup restated an outperform rating and set a GBX 170 ($2.13) price objective on shares of FirstGroup in a report on Wednesday. Liberum Capital reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 165 ($2.06) price target on shares of FirstGroup in a report on Friday, March 10th. Finally, Peel Hunt reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 143 ($1.79) price target on shares of FirstGroup in a report on Monday, March 20th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 150.33 ($1.88).

About FirstGroup

(Get Rating)

FirstGroup plc provides public transport services in the United Kingdom and the United States. The company operates through First Bus and First Rail segments. The First Bus segment offers local bus services with a fleet of approximately 4,900 buses in the United Kingdom. The First Rail segment operates a passenger rail network that provides long-distance, commuter, regional, and sleeper services through a portfolio of Great Western Railway, South Western Railway, TransPennine Express, and Avanti West Coast franchises; passenger rail services; and hull trains and Lumos.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for FirstGroup Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FirstGroup and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima (NYSE:IRS  Get Rating) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 105,500 shares, a growth of 54.7% from the May 15th total of 68,200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 58,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.8 days.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, StockNews.com raised shares of IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, June 2nd.

Get IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima alerts:

IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima Price Performance

IRS traded up $0.40 on Friday, hitting $7.15. 177,266 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 85,682. IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima has a 12 month low of $3.16 and a 12 month high of $7.20. The business has a 50-day moving average of $5.90 and a two-hundred day moving average of $5.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 1.65 and a quick ratio of 1.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $579.79 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 1.01.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima ( NYSE:IRS Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 8th. The financial services provider reported $0.92 earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of $119.94 million during the quarter. IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima had a net margin of 86.42% and a return on equity of 23.85%.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV bought a new position in shares of IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima in the first quarter worth about $77,000. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima in the first quarter valued at approximately $228,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new position in shares of IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima in the first quarter valued at approximately $164,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima in the first quarter valued at approximately $135,000. Finally, Citigroup Inc. acquired a new position in shares of IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima in the first quarter valued at approximately $336,000. Institutional investors own 17.11% of the companys stock.

IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima Company Profile

(Get Rating)

IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones SA engages in the real estate business. It operates through the Operations Center in Argentina and Operations Center in Israel segments. The Operations Center in Argentina segment operates in the following segments: shopping malls, offices and others, sales and developments, hotels, international, and financial operations, corporate and others.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for IRSA Inversiones y Representaciones Sociedad Anonima and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of Jonestown Bank & Trust Co. (OTCMKTS:JNES  Get Rating) shot up 3% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $25.25 and last traded at $25.24. 301 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 60% from the average session volume of 755 shares. The stock had previously closed at $24.50.

Jonestown Bank & Trust Price Performance

The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $26.27 and its 200 day simple moving average is $28.44.

About Jonestown Bank & Trust

(Get Rating)

Jonestown Bank & Trust Co provides banking products and services in Lebanon County and Northern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The company offers deposit products, including checking accounts, statement savings, club accounts, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, and individual retirement accounts.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Jonestown Bank & Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Jonestown Bank & Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Local Bounti Co. (NYSE:LOCL  Get Rating) shares traded down 4.9% on Friday . The stock traded as low as $4.81 and last traded at $4.83. 11,014 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 72% from the average session volume of 39,831 shares. The stock had previously closed at $5.08.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their target price on shares of Local Bounti from $26.00 to $13.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 11th. Roth Mkm decreased their target price on shares of Local Bounti from $78.00 to $39.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. Lake Street Capital decreased their target price on shares of Local Bounti from $130.00 to $45.50 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, Oppenheimer decreased their target price on shares of Local Bounti from $169.00 to $39.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $34.45.

Get Local Bounti alerts:

Local Bounti Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.18. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $6.09 and its 200-day simple moving average is $11.42. The company has a market capitalization of $509.04 million, a PE ratio of -4.05 and a beta of 1.70.

Institutional Trading of Local Bounti

Local Bounti ( NYSE:LOCL Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 29th. The company reported ($3.90) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($3.51) by ($0.39). Local Bounti had a negative return on equity of 90.64% and a negative net margin of 420.34%. The business had revenue of $6.64 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.58 million. On average, research analysts predict that Local Bounti Co. will post -0.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Citigroup Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Local Bounti in the 1st quarter valued at $40,000. IFP Advisors Inc acquired a new position in shares of Local Bounti in the 3rd quarter valued at $60,000. American International Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Local Bounti in the 2nd quarter valued at $28,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of Local Bounti by 732.8% in the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 10,160 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 8,940 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Local Bounti in the 2nd quarter valued at $47,000. 65.27% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Local Bounti Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Local Bounti Corporation grows fresh greens and herbs in the United States. It produces lettuce, herbs, and loose-leaf lettuce. The company sells its products to food retailers and food service distributors. Local Bounti Corporation was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Montana.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Local Bounti Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Local Bounti and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. NY lowered its stake in Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Get Rating) by 5.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 101,469 shares of the companys stock after selling 5,745 shares during the quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. NYs holdings in Altria Group were worth $4,638,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MO. Sei Investments Co. boosted its holdings in Altria Group by 1.6% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 404,894 shares of the companys stock worth $21,248,000 after purchasing an additional 6,324 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 5.2% during the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 18,647 shares of the companys stock worth $974,000 after acquiring an additional 929 shares during the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its stake in shares of Altria Group by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 2,711,773 shares of the companys stock worth $141,690,000 after acquiring an additional 89,334 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Western Trust Bank purchased a new position in shares of Altria Group during the 1st quarter worth $498,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 58.68% of the companys stock.

Get Altria Group alerts:

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on MO. Citigroup dropped their price target on shares of Altria Group from $49.50 to $47.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 17th. StockNews.com cut shares of Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus assumed coverage on shares of Altria Group in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $52.00 price target on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Altria Group has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $44.67.

Altria Group Trading Up 0.5 %

MO stock opened at $44.15 on Friday. Altria Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $40.35 and a 12 month high of $51.57. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $45.54 and a 200 day moving average price of $45.87. The stock has a market cap of $78.81 billion, a PE ratio of 14.20, a P/E/G ratio of 2.21 and a beta of 0.59.

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.18 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.19 by ($0.01). Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 245.43% and a net margin of 22.44%. The firm had revenue of $4.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.89 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.12 earnings per share. Altria Groups revenue for the quarter was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Altria Group, Inc. will post 4.97 EPS for the current year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.94 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $3.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.52%. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 120.90%.

Altria Group Profile

(Get Rating)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company provides cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; cigars and pipe tobacco principally under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco products and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; and on! oral nicotine pouches.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Minera Alamos Inc. (CVE:MAI  Get Rating) Director Doug Ramshaw acquired 50,000 shares of Minera Alamos stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 13th. The shares were bought at an average cost of C$0.33 per share, for a total transaction of C$16,250.00.

Doug Ramshaw also recently made the following trade(s):

Get Minera Alamos alerts:

On Thursday, March 16th, Doug Ramshaw acquired 35,000 shares of Minera Alamos stock. The shares were bought at an average cost of C$0.37 per share, for a total transaction of C$12,775.00.

Minera Alamos Price Performance

Shares of Minera Alamos stock opened at C$0.33 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 5.77, a quick ratio of 3.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. The companys fifty day simple moving average is C$0.37 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$0.40. The company has a market cap of C$152.42 million, a P/E ratio of 33.00 and a beta of 1.14. Minera Alamos Inc. has a 12-month low of C$0.32 and a 12-month high of C$0.56.

Minera Alamos Company Profile

Minera Alamos Inc, a junior mining exploration company, acquires, explores for, and develops mineral properties in Mexico. The company explores for gold, silver, molybdenum, and copper deposits. Its principal property is the 100% owned Santana project consisting of 9 mining claims with an area of approximately 3,100 hectares located in the east-southeast of Hermosillo, Sonora; 100% owned Cerro de Oro project covering an area of 6,500 hectares situated in Zacatecas, Mexico; and 100% owned La Fortuna project covering an area of 6,100 hectares located in Durango State, Mexico.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Minera Alamos Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Minera Alamos and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of Dassault Aviation Societe anonyme (OTCMKTS:DUAVF  Get Rating) in a research note published on Tuesday, The Fly reports. The firm issued an equal weight rating on the stock.

Separately, Berenberg Bank lowered shares of Dassault Aviation Societe anonyme from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $187.50.

Get Dassault Aviation Societe anonyme alerts:

Dassault Aviation Societe anonyme Stock Performance

Shares of DUAVF opened at $184.50 on Tuesday. Dassault Aviation Societe anonyme has a one year low of $108.08 and a one year high of $209.45. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $190.49 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $178.10.

Dassault Aviation Societe anonyme Company Profile

Dassault Aviation Societe anonyme designs and builds military aircraft, business jets, and space systems in France, the Americas, and internationally. It offers Rafale, a multirole fighter aircraft; nEUROn, an unmanned combat air vehicle; and Falcon aircraft for maritime surveillance, intelligence, and medical evacuation missions.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Dassault Aviation Societe anonyme Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dassault Aviation Societe anonyme and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
According to Pawel Herczynski, the EU Ambassador to Georgia, de-oligarchization is recognized as one of the 12 key priorities. Specifically, it holds the fifth position among these priorities, and it was unanimously agreed upon by all 27 EU member states at the highest level, with the participation of heads of state and government, in the previous year.According to the ambassador, the European Union has an expectation that Georgia will address the issue of excessive influence on political and public life.Herczynski highlighted that the problem of oligarchic influence is not exclusive to Georgia but also prevalent in other countries, particularly former Soviet nations. The Venice Commission has expressed concerns about the approach taken by Georgia's ruling majority in the 'Deoligarchization Bill', emphasizing the associated risks.The Ambassador called for a systemic approach, as recommended by the Venice Commission, to strengthen Georgia's state institutions. This includes promoting accountability, transparency, fair financing of political campaigns and elections, safeguarding media freedom, reforming the justice system, and combating corruption at the highest levels. The ultimate aim is to create an environment where wealthy individuals cannot exert undue influence on public and political life.The EU Ambassador stated that the European Union is committed to supporting Georgia with its expertise and experts, based on the chosen path of the country's political elite."This is not only a problem of Georgia, but it is a problem of many other countries, especially in former Soviet countries. The Venice Commission has made it very clear that the approach chosen by the ruling majority, namely in the 'Deoligarchization Bill', is not the right approach, there are many risks. That is why we expect a systematic approach, as the Venice Commission said. A systemic approach means many different things. This should be done to strengthen the state institutions of Georgia. It concerns accountability, transparency, financing of political campaigns, financing of elections, freedom of media, reform of justice, and fighting against corruption at the highest level. So the whole environment should be created so that rich people do not have influence on public and political life. We, the European Union, are here to help you with our expertise, experts, whatever path the political elite in Georgia chooses," Herczynski said."A particular diplomat directly promoted the use of disrespectful and vulgar language and encouraged polarization," responded Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairman of the "Georgian Dream" party, regarding the protest carried out by citizens in front of the parliament on June 2. The protesters displayed banners with inscriptions such as 'Irakli Russian', and "Call Him whatever you want," among others.According to Kobakhidze, it is fundamentally unacceptable for them when specific diplomats in Georgia encourage polarization."At the time, the same group, referred to as these so-called stubborn people, organized a provocation in front of the parliament building, holding banners containing profanity. This incident was justified as freedom of expression by a particular diplomat, who directly encouraged hate speech, profanity, and polarization.It appears that certain individuals, these stubborn people, interpreted this as a green light and organized another provocation in recent days. For us, it is fundamentally unacceptable when specific diplomats encourage polarization in Georgia. They should address the growing polarization within their own country. Let them not exacerbate polarization with us," said Kobakhidze.
National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA  Get Rating) shares crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$97.79 and traded as high as C$98.90. National Bank of Canada shares last traded at C$98.80, with a volume of 4,054,378 shares changing hands.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have weighed in on NA. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on National Bank of Canada from C$111.00 to C$108.00 in a report on Monday, March 27th. CIBC lowered their target price on National Bank of Canada from C$110.00 to C$108.00 in a report on Thursday, June 1st. Barclays lowered their target price on National Bank of Canada from C$93.00 to C$92.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 7th. CSFB lowered their target price on National Bank of Canada from C$116.00 to C$111.00 in a report on Thursday, June 1st. Finally, Cormark lowered their target price on National Bank of Canada from C$113.00 to C$109.00 in a report on Thursday, June 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$105.77.

Get National Bank of Canada alerts:

National Bank of Canada Trading Up 0.3 %

The stock has a market capitalization of C$33.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.69, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a 50-day moving average price of C$99.29 and a 200 day moving average price of C$97.80.

National Bank of Canada Increases Dividend

National Bank of Canada ( TSE:NA Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 31st. The financial services provider reported C$2.38 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$2.40 by C($0.02). The firm had revenue of C$2.48 billion during the quarter. As a group, research analysts expect that National Bank of Canada will post 9.745694 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 1st will be given a dividend of $1.02 per share. This is a positive change from National Bank of Canadas previous quarterly dividend of $0.97. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.09%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 23rd. National Bank of Canadas dividend payout ratio is currently 43.82%.

About National Bank of Canada

(Get Rating)

National Bank of Canada provides various financial products and services to retail, commercial, corporate, and institutional clients in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for National Bank of Canada Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for National Bank of Canada and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:NCLH  Get Rating) had its price target hoisted by Bank of America from $17.00 to $19.00 in a research note issued to investors on Monday morning, The Fly reports.

NCLH has been the subject of several other research reports. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from $20.00 to $17.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Credit Suisse Group reissued an underperform rating and set a $13.00 price objective on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Truist Financial decreased their target price on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from $21.00 to $17.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 23rd. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from $15.00 to $14.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from $21.00 to $22.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 2nd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $16.75.

Get Norwegian Cruise Line alerts:

Norwegian Cruise Line Trading Up 1.2 %

NCLH opened at $19.54 on Monday. The firms fifty day moving average is $14.64 and its two-hundred day moving average is $14.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 184.14, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a current ratio of 0.29. The firm has a market cap of $8.29 billion, a PE ratio of -5.68 and a beta of 2.49. Norwegian Cruise Line has a twelve month low of $10.31 and a twelve month high of $19.68.

Insider Buying and Selling at Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line ( NYSE:NCLH Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, May 1st. The company reported ($0.30) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.51) by $0.21. Norwegian Cruise Line had a negative net margin of 23.54% and a negative return on equity of 448.59%. The company had revenue of $1.82 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.74 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned ($1.90) earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 249.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Norwegian Cruise Line will post 0.52 EPS for the current year.

In other Norwegian Cruise Line news, CEO Rio Frank J. Del sold 300,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.44, for a total value of $5,532,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 926,505 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $17,084,752.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, CAO Faye L. Ashby sold 15,811 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $19.45, for a total transaction of $307,523.95. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 174,619 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,396,339.55. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Rio Frank J. Del sold 300,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.44, for a total transaction of $5,532,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 926,505 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $17,084,752.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 320,511 shares of company stock valued at $5,914,912 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.87% of the companys stock.

Institutional Trading of Norwegian Cruise Line

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,714,581 shares of the companys stock worth $530,678,000 after acquiring an additional 863,553 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in Norwegian Cruise Line by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 23,716,207 shares of the companys stock worth $318,983,000 after purchasing an additional 77,389 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors increased its position in Norwegian Cruise Line by 15.7% during the 1st quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 21,242,007 shares of the companys stock worth $464,775,000 after purchasing an additional 2,875,079 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its position in Norwegian Cruise Line by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 13,503,855 shares of the companys stock worth $181,627,000 after purchasing an additional 169,406 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in Norwegian Cruise Line by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 8,850,121 shares of the companys stock worth $118,885,000 after purchasing an additional 196,978 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 57.17% of the companys stock.

About Norwegian Cruise Line

(Get Rating)

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.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Norwegian Cruise Line Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Norwegian Cruise Line and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH  Get Rating) saw unusually large options trading activity on Tuesday. Traders acquired 37,407 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of 14% compared to the average volume of 32,848 call options.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CAO Faye L. Ashby sold 15,811 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $19.45, for a total transaction of $307,523.95. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 174,619 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,396,339.55. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Rio Frank J. Del sold 300,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.44, for a total value of $5,532,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 926,505 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,084,752.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CAO Faye L. Ashby sold 15,811 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $19.45, for a total transaction of $307,523.95. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 174,619 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,396,339.55. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 320,511 shares of company stock worth $5,914,912. Company insiders own 0.87% of the companys stock.

Get Norwegian Cruise Line alerts:

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Norwegian Cruise Line

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Covestor Ltd grew its holdings in Norwegian Cruise Line by 5,020.8% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,229 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 1,205 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its holdings in Norwegian Cruise Line by 272.7% during the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,856 shares of the companys stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 1,358 shares during the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC grew its holdings in Norwegian Cruise Line by 66.5% during the 4th quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 2,064 shares of the companys stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 824 shares during the last quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Norwegian Cruise Line by 729.9% during the 3rd quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 2,274 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 2,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MADDEN SECURITIES Corp acquired a new position in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. 57.17% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Norwegian Cruise Line Price Performance

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Credit Suisse Group reaffirmed an underperform rating and issued a $13.00 target price on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from $15.00 to $16.00 in a research note on Monday. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from $21.00 to $22.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 2nd. Citigroup dropped their price objective on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from $18.00 to $16.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Finally, Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from $15.00 to $14.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $16.75.

Shares of Norwegian Cruise Line stock traded up $0.24 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $19.54. 12,361,668 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 14,598,727. The stock has a market cap of $8.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -5.68 and a beta of 2.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 184.14, a quick ratio of 0.26 and a current ratio of 0.29. The firms fifty day moving average price is $14.64 and its 200-day moving average price is $14.49. Norwegian Cruise Line has a 12 month low of $10.31 and a 12 month high of $19.68.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:NCLH  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 1st. The company reported ($0.30) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.51) by $0.21. The company had revenue of $1.82 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.74 billion. Norwegian Cruise Line had a negative net margin of 23.54% and a negative return on equity of 448.59%. The firms revenue was up 249.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted ($1.90) EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Norwegian Cruise Line will post 0.52 earnings per share for the current year.

Norwegian Cruise Line Company Profile

(Get Rating)

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.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Norwegian Cruise Line Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Norwegian Cruise Line and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Pensionfund Sabic cut its position in Dover Co. (NYSE:DOV  Get Rating) by 18.2% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 9,000 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 2,000 shares during the quarter. Pensionfund Sabics holdings in Dover were worth $1,367,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Trust Co. of Vermont grew its stake in Dover by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 5,029 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $681,000 after buying an additional 66 shares during the last quarter. Insight Folios Inc grew its stake in Dover by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Insight Folios Inc now owns 2,432 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $329,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its stake in Dover by 4.1% in the 4th quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 1,961 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $266,000 after buying an additional 77 shares during the last quarter. MGO One Seven LLC grew its stake in Dover by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. MGO One Seven LLC now owns 2,400 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $325,000 after buying an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Trust N.A. grew its stake in Dover by 1.6% in the 4th quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 4,992 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $676,000 after buying an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. 85.52% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Get Dover alerts:

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Dover news, CFO Brad M. Cerepak sold 17,769 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $139.03, for a total value of $2,470,424.07. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 54,569 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,586,728.07. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.30% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Dover Trading Up 0.5 %

DOV has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Dover from $175.00 to $184.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, March 6th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Dover from $157.00 to $155.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Bank of America raised their price target on shares of Dover from $180.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 11th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Dover from $141.00 to $138.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group restated an outperform rating and issued a $174.00 price target on shares of Dover in a research report on Thursday, March 9th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $162.31.

Shares of DOV stock opened at $147.75 on Friday. Dover Co. has a 12-month low of $114.49 and a 12-month high of $160.66. The company has a market capitalization of $20.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.61, a P/E/G ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.35. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $142.35 and a 200 day moving average price of $143.55. The company has a quick ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66.

Dover (NYSE:DOV  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The industrial products company reported $1.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.94. Dover had a net margin of 12.51% and a return on equity of 28.27%. The firm had revenue of $2.08 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.08 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.90 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Dover Co. will post 9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Dover Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st were paid a $0.505 dividend. This represents a $2.02 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.37%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, May 30th. Dovers dividend payout ratio is presently 26.93%.

About Dover

(Get Rating)

Dover Corp. operates as a manufacturer and solutions provider delivering innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services. It operates through the following segments: Engineered Products, Clean Energy and Fueling, Imaging and Identification, Pumps and Process Solutions, and Climate and Sustainability Technologies.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Dover Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dover and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Persimmon (LON:PSN  Get Rating) had its price objective lifted by UBS Group from GBX 1,230 ($15.39) to GBX 1,300 ($16.27) in a research note published on Monday morning, Marketbeat reports. The firm currently has a neutral rating on the stock.

A number of other research firms have also recently weighed in on PSN. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut shares of Persimmon to a sell rating in a research report on Monday, February 13th. Citigroup reiterated a sell rating on shares of Persimmon in a research report on Monday, March 13th. Liberum Capital restated a buy rating and set a GBX 1,600 ($20.02) target price on shares of Persimmon in a research report on Monday, February 13th. Peel Hunt restated a hold rating and set a GBX 1,190 ($14.89) target price on shares of Persimmon in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on Persimmon from GBX 1,469 ($18.38) to GBX 1,396 ($17.47) and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and two have given a 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 GBX 1,497 ($18.73).

Get Persimmon alerts:

Persimmon Trading Up 1.2 %

Shares of PSN stock opened at GBX 1,182 ($14.79) on Monday. Persimmon has a 1 year low of GBX 1,113.50 ($13.93) and a 1 year high of GBX 2,102 ($26.30). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 4.16 and a quick ratio of 1.04. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is GBX 1,272.70 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 1,302.50. The company has a market cap of 3.78 billion, a PE ratio of 699.41, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -1.74 and a beta of 1.30.

Insider Activity at Persimmon

About Persimmon

In related news, insider Jason Windsor sold 4,371 shares of Persimmon stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 1,226 ($15.34), for a total value of 53,588.46 ($67,052.63). 3.26% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

(Get Rating)

Persimmon Plc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a house builder in the United Kingdom. The company offers family housing under the Persimmon Homes brand name; executive housing under the Charles Church brand name; and social housing under the Westbury Partnerships brand name. It also provides broadband services.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Persimmon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Persimmon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
American Well Co. (NYSE:AMWL  Get Rating) Director Peter L. Slavin sold 22,670 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2.51, for a total transaction of $56,901.70. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 80,217 shares in the company, valued at approximately $201,344.67. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.

American Well Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE AMWL traded up $0.01 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $2.34. 787,073 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,340,263. American Well Co. has a 1 year low of $1.95 and a 1 year high of $5.43. The companys 50-day moving average is $2.21 and its two-hundred day moving average is $2.86.

Get American Well alerts:

American Well (NYSE:AMWL  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The company reported ($0.24) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.20) by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $64.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $65.31 million. American Well had a negative net margin of 216.13% and a negative return on equity of 26.40%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that American Well Co. will post -0.88 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Well

AMWL has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a hold rating on shares of American Well in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Credit Suisse Group decreased their price target on shares of American Well from $5.00 to $4.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Piper Sandler cut shares of American Well from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $5.00 to $3.50 in a research note on Monday, February 27th. TD Cowen cut shares of American Well from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and decreased their target price for the company from $5.00 to $2.50 in a research report on Thursday, March 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of American Well from $6.00 to $5.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 13th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, American Well presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $4.28.

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in shares of American Well by 24.3% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 302,708 shares of the companys stock worth $715,000 after acquiring an additional 59,209 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its position in shares of American Well by 1.9% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,112,889 shares of the companys stock worth $14,426,000 after acquiring an additional 112,631 shares during the period. Squarepoint Ops LLC increased its position in shares of American Well by 418.7% during the first quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 204,050 shares of the companys stock worth $482,000 after acquiring an additional 164,708 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of American Well by 3.8% during the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,535,206 shares of the companys stock worth $10,703,000 after acquiring an additional 163,979 shares during the period. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of American Well by 672.7% during the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 192,744 shares of the companys stock worth $455,000 after acquiring an additional 167,799 shares during the period. 46.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

American Well Company Profile

(Get Rating)

American Well Corporation operates digital care delivery enablement platform in the United States and internationally. Its platform connects and enables providers, insurers, patients, and innovators to deliver access to care. The company products offer urgent care; scheduled visits; acute behavioral health; telestroke; pediatrics; retail health, school health, and home settings.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for American Well Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Well and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Roots Co. (OTCMKTS:RROTF  Get Rating) was the target of a significant decline in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 9,300 shares, a decline of 20.5% from the May 15th total of 11,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 93.0 days.

Roots Price Performance

Roots stock remained flat at $2.29 during mid-day trading on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $2.27 and a 200 day moving average price of $2.20. Roots has a fifty-two week low of $2.01 and a fifty-two week high of $2.45.

Get Roots alerts:

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on shares of Roots from C$3.50 to C$3.25 in a research report on Friday, June 9th.

Roots Company Profile

Roots Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs, markets, and sells apparel, leather goods, footwear, and accessories under the Roots brand in Canada and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Direct-To-Consumer, and Partners and Other. The Direct-to-Consumer segment sells products through the company's corporate retail stores and ecommerce.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Roots Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Roots and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Santander Bank Polska S.A. (OTCMKTS:BKZHF  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 21,900 shares, a drop of 14.1% from the May 15th total of 25,500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently  days.

Santander Bank Polska Price Performance

OTCMKTS:BKZHF remained flat at 45.48 during midday trading on Friday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is 45.48 and its 200-day moving average price is 45.48. Santander Bank Polska has a 1-year low of 45.48 and a 1-year high of 48.04.

Get Santander Bank Polska alerts:

About Santander Bank Polska

(Get Rating)

Featured Stories

Santander Bank Polska SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services for individuals, small or medium-sized enterprises, corporate clients, and public sector institutions. It offers personal account, deposits and currencies, internet and mobile banking, and mobile contactless payments, and credit solutions.

Receive News & Ratings for Santander Bank Polska Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Santander Bank Polska and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Secom Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:SOMLY  Get Rating) was the target of a significant growth in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 34,200 shares, a growth of 60.6% from the May 15th total of 21,300 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 81,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.4 days.

Secom Trading Down 1.3 %

Secom stock traded down $0.23 on Friday, hitting $16.92. 519,774 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 52,606. The firm has a market cap of $15.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.48 and a beta of 0.39. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $16.35 and its 200 day simple moving average is $15.31. Secom has a 1 year low of $13.34 and a 1 year high of $17.56.

Get Secom alerts:

Secom Company Profile

(Get Rating)

See Also

SECOM CO., LTD. provides security services in Japan and internationally. Its Security Services segment offers static guard, armored car, merchandise, and other services, as well as online security systems; sells security and water-treatment equipment; and operates PFI correctional facilities. The company's Fire Protection Services segment provides building management, automatic fire alarm systems, fire extinguishing systems, other fire protection systems, and related maintenance services to office buildings, plants, tunnels, cultural properties, ships, and residences; and environmental monitoring systems.

Receive News & Ratings for Secom Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Secom and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (NYSE:AWI  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,200,000 shares, a growth of 31.3% from the May 15th total of 914,100 shares. Currently, 2.7% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 462,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.6 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

AWI has been the topic of several research analyst reports. StockNews.com cut Armstrong World Industries from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $77.00 to $78.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Credit Suisse Group reissued an outperform rating and set a $100.00 target price on shares of Armstrong World Industries in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Truist Financial lowered their price target on shares of Armstrong World Industries from $95.00 to $90.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Finally, Bank of America reduced their price objective on Armstrong World Industries from $90.00 to $87.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $83.63.

Get Armstrong World Industries alerts:

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Armstrong World Industries

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Southpoint Capital Advisors LP acquired a new position in Armstrong World Industries in the 1st quarter valued at $121,108,000. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in Armstrong World Industries by 649.0% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 678,011 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $48,303,000 after purchasing an additional 587,484 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its stake in Armstrong World Industries by 59.3% during the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 1,500,752 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $118,905,000 after purchasing an additional 558,365 shares during the period. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Armstrong World Industries in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $35,536,000. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC increased its position in Armstrong World Industries by 103.1% in the 4th quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 13,456 shares of the construction companys stock worth $923,000 after buying an additional 450,050 shares during the period.

Armstrong World Industries Stock Up 1.9 %

Shares of AWI stock traded up $1.32 on Thursday, hitting $70.85. The companys stock had a trading volume of 499,378 shares, compared to its average volume of 423,772. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.85, a P/E/G ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 1.10. Armstrong World Industries has a fifty-two week low of $62.03 and a fifty-two week high of $94.94. The firms fifty day moving average price is $67.22 and its 200-day moving average price is $71.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 2.18 and a quick ratio of 1.49.

Armstrong World Industries (NYSE:AWI  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The construction company reported $1.12 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.06 by $0.06. The company had revenue of $310.20 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $310.86 million. Armstrong World Industries had a return on equity of 41.94% and a net margin of 16.32%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 9.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.02 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Armstrong World Industries will post 4.86 EPS for the current year.

Armstrong World Industries Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 18th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 4th were given a dividend of $0.254 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 3rd. This represents a $1.02 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.43%. Armstrong World Industriess payout ratio is currently 22.82%.

Armstrong World Industries Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Armstrong World Industries, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells ceiling and wall systems in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. It operates through Mineral Fiber and Architectural Specialties segments. The company offers suspended mineral fiber, soft fiber, fiberglass wool, and metal ceiling systems, as well as wood, wood fiber, glass-reinforced-gypsum, and felt ceiling and wall products; ceiling component products, such as ceiling perimeters and trims, as well as grid products that support drywall ceiling systems; ceilings and walls for use in commercial settings; and facade and partition products.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Armstrong World Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Armstrong World Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
The United States and Saudi Arabia continue to work together bilaterally and through several international fora, including the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and the Gulf Cooperation Council, said Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a recent visit to the region.

The recently concluded Global Coalition to Counter ISIS ministerial focused on several key areas of need, said Secretary Blinken:

Those include stabilizing areas liberated from ISIS so that the group cant exploit poor security, economic, or humanitarian conditions that leave people desperate; and also . . . repatriating foreign terrorist fighters and their families from al-Hol and other displaced persons camps. Were also working to keep pace with evolving threats, including ISISs expanding efforts across sub-Saharan Africa and ISIS-Khorasan.

The United States and Saudi Arabia are working together to address other challenges in the region, including Yemen, noted Secretary Blinken:

In Yemen, when President Biden took office, war was raging. The country was experiencing arguably the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Now were working intensively with Saudi Arabia and other partners to further consolidate what has been a 14-month long truce that we helped to achieve.

The United States and Saudi Arabia, together with the [Gulf Cooperation Council], are also focused on Irans . . . support for terrorism and violent militia groups, the seizure of tankers transiting international waters, and nuclear escalation, said Secretary Blinken:

The United States continues to believe that diplomacy, backed by economic pressure, by deterrence, and by strong defense cooperation, is the best way to counter these dangerous actions. We support efforts by Saudi Arabia to de-escalate tension and stabilize relations.

The United States and Saudi Arabia have been leading a diplomatic campaign to get both sides in Sudan to agree to a ceasefire and to allow humanitarian assistance to reach the people of Sudan.

Universal rights and freedoms remain a core priority for the United States. And the U.S.-Saudi partnership can be deepened by progress on human rights, said Secretary Blinken. Thats why we strongly welcome and support historic steps to increase womens participation in public life in the workforce, to expand interfaith tolerance, among other reforms in the countrys ambitious modernization agenda.

The United States is committed to deepening its partnership with Saudi Arabia and the region.
Bunker Hill Mining Corp. (OTCMKTS:BHLL  Get Rating) saw a significant growth in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 92,700 shares, a growth of 43.3% from the May 15th total of 64,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 712,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Bunker Hill Mining Trading Up 2.7 %

OTCMKTS:BHLL traded up $0.01 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $0.19. The company had a trading volume of 175,409 shares, compared to its average volume of 253,966. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $0.12 and a 200-day simple moving average of $0.12. Bunker Hill Mining has a 1 year low of $0.07 and a 1 year high of $0.20. The firm has a market capitalization of $49.45 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.50 and a beta of 2.01.

Get Bunker Hill Mining alerts:

Bunker Hill Mining (OTCMKTS:BHLL  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Monday, April 17th. The company reported ($0.05) earnings per share for the quarter.

About Bunker Hill Mining

Bunker Hill Mining Corp., a mineral exploration company, engages in the acquisition, development, and mining of mineral properties in Canada and the United States. It focuses on exploring for zinc, lead, and silver ores. It holds an option agreement to acquire interest in the Bunker Hill mine located in the Silver Valley, Idaho.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Bunker Hill Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bunker Hill Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Singapore Airlines Limited (OTCMKTS:SINGY  Get Rating)s stock price was up 5.5% on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $11.90 and last traded at $11.90. Approximately 63,940 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 374% from the average daily volume of 13,478 shares. The stock had previously closed at $11.28.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Citigroup raised Singapore Airlines from a sell rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th.

Get Singapore Airlines alerts:

Singapore Airlines Price Performance

The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $9.24 and a 200 day simple moving average of $8.75.

Singapore Airlines Company Profile

Singapore Airlines Limited, together with subsidiaries, provides passenger and cargo air transportation services under the Singapore Airlines and Scoot brands in East Asia, the Americas, Europe, Southwest Pacific, West Asia, and Africa. It operates through The Full-Service Carrier, The Low-Cost Carrier, and Engineering Services segments.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Singapore Airlines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Singapore Airlines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
SpareBank 1 SMN (OTCMKTS:SRMGF  Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 27,500 shares, a decline of 45.3% from the May 15th total of 50,300 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently  days.

SpareBank 1 SMN Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS SRMGF remained flat at $11.50 during midday trading on Thursday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $11.50 and a 200 day moving average of $11.88. SpareBank 1 SMN has a 1-year low of $11.50 and a 1-year high of $11.50.

Get SpareBank 1 SMN alerts:

About SpareBank 1 SMN

(Get Rating)

See Also

SpareBank 1 SMN, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking, accounting, and real estate products and services to private individuals and companies in Norway and internationally. The company offers mortgage, car, boat, other vehicles, and consumer loans; refinancing; and current, savings, billing, business, group, tax deduction, currency, and deposit accounts.

Receive News & Ratings for SpareBank 1 SMN Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SpareBank 1 SMN and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Spheria Emerging Companies Limited (ASX:SEC  Get Rating) insider Christopher (Chris) Meyer purchased 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 9th. The stock was bought at an average cost of A$1.83 ($1.24) per share, for a total transaction of A$36,600.00 ($24,729.73).

Christopher (Chris) Meyer also recently made the following trade(s):

Get Spheria Emerging Companies alerts:

On Wednesday, June 7th, Christopher (Chris) Meyer purchased 4,633 shares of Spheria Emerging Companies stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of A$1.84 ($1.24) per share, for a total transaction of A$8,501.56 ($5,744.29).

Spheria Emerging Companies Stock Performance

Spheria Emerging Companies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a Interim dividend, which was paid on Sunday, May 7th. Shareholders of record on Sunday, May 7th were issued a dividend of $0.022 per share. This represents a yield of 1.13%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, April 19th.

About Spheria Emerging Companies

Spheria Emerging Companies Limited operates as an investment company in Australia. It provides investors with access to a managed portfolio of Australian small-cap securities, as well as New Zealand small and micro-cap companies portfolio. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is based in Sydney, Australia.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Spheria Emerging Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Spheria Emerging Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Squarespace, Inc. (NYSE:SQSP  Get Rating) shares hit a new 52-week high during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $34.38 and last traded at $33.47, with a volume of 372404 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $31.39.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently commented on SQSP. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on Squarespace from $26.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 10th. Robert W. Baird assumed coverage on Squarespace in a research report on Tuesday, April 11th. They set a neutral rating and a $34.00 price target for the company. Citigroup upgraded Squarespace from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $30.00 to $40.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. Mizuho boosted their price target on Squarespace from $26.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 10th. Finally, Piper Sandler boosted their price target on Squarespace from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 8th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Squarespace presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $31.33.

Get Squarespace alerts:

Squarespace Price Performance

The firm has a market cap of $4.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -27.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.99 and a beta of 0.32. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $30.10 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $26.08.

Insider Activity

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Squarespace

In other news, CEO Anthony Casalena sold 34,517 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.13, for a total value of $1,039,997.21. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 4,895,658 shares in the company, valued at $147,506,175.54. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link . Insiders own 47.14% of the companys stock.

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Squarespace by 9.6% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,774,485 shares of the companys stock valued at $101,984,000 after purchasing an additional 419,488 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in shares of Squarespace by 438.4% during the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 3,169,388 shares of the companys stock valued at $100,691,000 after purchasing an additional 2,580,712 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Squarespace by 3.3% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,471,004 shares of the companys stock valued at $78,504,000 after purchasing an additional 79,517 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP purchased a new stake in shares of Squarespace during the third quarter valued at $23,478,000. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in Squarespace by 114.2% during the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 763,081 shares of the companys stock valued at $24,244,000 after buying an additional 406,901 shares during the period. 40.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Squarespace Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Squarespace, Inc operates platform for businesses and independent creators to build online presence, grow their brands, and manage their businesses across the internet. Its suite of integrated products enables users to manage their projects and businesses through websites, domains, e-commerce, marketing tools, and scheduling, as well as tools for managing a social media presence.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Squarespace Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Squarespace and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Stonebridge Capital Management Inc. lowered its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating) by 0.8% in the first quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 29,305 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 250 shares during the period. Bristol-Myers Squibb makes up about 1.0% of Stonebridge Capital Management Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest position. Stonebridge Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $2,031,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of BMY. True Wealth Design LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. GoalVest Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 1st quarter worth about $29,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. purchased a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Live Oak Investment Partners purchased a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, My Personal CFO LLC purchased a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.51% of the companys stock.

Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts:

Insider Transactions at Bristol-Myers Squibb

In other news, EVP Rupert Vessey sold 50,385 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.06, for a total value of $3,378,818.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 47,751 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,202,182.06. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance

BMY has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. 51job restated a maintains rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Friday, April 28th. Barclays reduced their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $66.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. Bank of America increased their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, March 6th. They set a hold rating and a $62.00 target price for the company. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Bristol-Myers Squibb presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $78.62.

NYSE BMY traded up $0.29 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $64.96. The company had a trading volume of 3,553,491 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,984,950. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a fifty-two week low of $63.07 and a fifty-two week high of $81.43. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $67.27 and a 200-day simple moving average of $70.42. The firm has a market cap of $136.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.44.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.05 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.07. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 51.75% and a net margin of 15.95%. The firm had revenue of $11.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.50 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.96 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.06 EPS for the current year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 7th will be given a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is presently 66.47%.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Bristol Myers Squibb Co engages in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of biopharmaceutical products. It offers chemically-synthesized drugs or small molecules and products produced from biological processes called biologics. The company was founded in August 1933 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

Read More

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Stonebridge Capital Management Inc. bought a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG  Get Rating) in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 135 shares of the restaurant operators stock, valued at approximately $231,000.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CMG. FourThought Financial LLC increased its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 350.0% in the 3rd quarter. FourThought Financial LLC now owns 18 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 14 shares during the last quarter. Elequin Securities LLC acquired a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Heritage Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 100.0% in the 4th quarter. Heritage Wealth Management LLC now owns 20 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares during the last quarter. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates acquired a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $44,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.26% of the companys stock.

Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts:

Insider Buying and Selling at Chipotle Mexican Grill

In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, insider Laurie Schalow sold 3,658 shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill stock in a transaction on Monday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,066.73, for a total value of $7,560,098.34. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 1,637 shares in the company, valued at $3,383,237.01. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, insider Laurie Schalow sold 3,658 shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill stock in a transaction on Monday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,066.73, for a total value of $7,560,098.34. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 1,637 shares in the company, valued at $3,383,237.01. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Robin S. Hickenlooper sold 105 shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill stock in a transaction on Friday, May 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,073.08, for a total transaction of $217,673.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 853 shares in the company, valued at $1,768,337.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 12,346 shares of company stock worth $24,704,401. 0.96% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Trading Up 0.4 %

NYSE:CMG traded up $7.41 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $2,059.07. 44,144 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 288,084. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $1,976.95 and a 200 day simple moving average of $1,700.49. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $1,218.07 and a fifty-two week high of $2,139.88. The company has a market capitalization of $56.81 billion, a PE ratio of 55.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 1.34.

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The restaurant operator reported $10.50 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $8.89 by $1.61. The company had revenue of $2.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.34 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 11.49% and a return on equity of 45.01%. Chipotle Mexican Grills quarterly revenue was up 18.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $5.70 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 43.9 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently weighed in on CMG. TD Cowen lifted their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,050.00 to $2,200.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,140.00 to $2,240.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. KeyCorp raised their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,780.00 to $1,870.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Stephens raised their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,970.00 to $2,000.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,050.00 to $2,250.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $2,039.89.

About Chipotle Mexican Grill

(Get Rating)

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc engages in the development and operation of classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. It offers a focused menu of burritos, tacos, burrito bowls, and salads prepared using classic cooking methods. The company was founded by Steve Ells in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, CA.

Featured Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CMG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Nexus Investment Management ULC grew its stake in The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD  Get Rating) (TSE:TD) by 0.6% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 785,891 shares of the banks stock after buying an additional 4,575 shares during the period. Toronto-Dominion Bank accounts for about 5.2% of Nexus Investment Management ULCs holdings, making the stock its 2nd biggest holding. Nexus Investment Management ULCs holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank were worth $47,026,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in TD. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new stake in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank in the first quarter valued at about $26,000. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank by 6.3% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 914,064 shares of the banks stock valued at $72,595,000 after buying an additional 54,121 shares during the period. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank in the first quarter valued at about $200,000. Raymond James Trust N.A. increased its stake in shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank by 1.7% in the first quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 9,868 shares of the banks stock valued at $784,000 after buying an additional 161 shares during the period. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 21.8% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 12,022 shares of the banks stock worth $955,000 after purchasing an additional 2,154 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 49.22% of the companys stock.

Get Toronto-Dominion Bank alerts:

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently commented on TD shares. Barclays cut Toronto-Dominion Bank from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 9th. StockNews.com raised Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday. Scotiabank raised Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. CIBC raised Toronto-Dominion Bank from a neutral rating to a sector outperform rating in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group raised Toronto-Dominion Bank from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, June 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $100.57.

Toronto-Dominion Bank Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of TD stock traded up $0.22 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $61.20. The company had a trading volume of 311,374 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,294,907. The Toronto-Dominion Bank has a 12 month low of $55.43 and a 12 month high of $70.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.99. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $59.99 and a 200-day simple moving average of $63.08. The company has a market cap of $112.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 0.88.

Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD  Get Rating) (TSE:TD) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 25th. The bank reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.52 by ($0.09). The business had revenue of $9.12 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.10 billion. Toronto-Dominion Bank had a return on equity of 15.51% and a net margin of 17.72%. On average, research analysts expect that The Toronto-Dominion Bank will post 6.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Toronto-Dominion Bank Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Investors of record on Monday, July 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.709 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 7th. This represents a $2.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.63%. Toronto-Dominion Banks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.65%.

Toronto-Dominion Bank Profile

(Get Rating)

The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases.

Recommended Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD  Get Rating) (TSE:TD).

Receive News & Ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shares of Tianyin Pharmaceutical Inc Co (OTCMKTS:TPIY  Get Rating) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $0.00 and traded as high as $0.00. Tianyin Pharmaceutical shares last traded at $0.00, with a volume of 88,900 shares trading hands.

Tianyin Pharmaceutical Stock Up 

Tianyin Pharmaceutical Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Tianyin Pharmaceutical Co, Inc is engaged in the development, manufacturing, marketing and sale of modernized traditional Chinese medicines and other pharmaceuticals in China. Its products address significant medical needs in the therapeutic areas spanning internal medicines, gynecology, hepatology, otolaryngology, urology, neurology, gastroenterology, orthopedics, dermatology and pediatrics.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Tianyin Pharmaceutical Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tianyin Pharmaceutical and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:TYTMF  Get Rating) saw a large growth in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 195,400 shares, a growth of 39.3% from the May 15th total of 140,300 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently  days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Tokyo Tatemono from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, May 1st.

Get Tokyo Tatemono alerts:

Tokyo Tatemono Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS:TYTMF opened at $12.27 on Friday. Tokyo Tatemono has a twelve month low of $12.27 and a twelve month high of $12.27.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Tokyo Tatemono Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tokyo Tatemono and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
The United States is seeking to expose and disrupt the growing defense partnership between Russia and Iran.

To date, during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has received hundreds of drones from Iran, which it has used to attack Ukraines infrastructure and kill Ukrainian civilians.

Now, as National Security Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby said in a statement, The Russia-Iran military partnership appears to be deepening.

We have information that Russia is receiving materials from Iran needed to build a UAV manufacturing plant inside Russia, he said. This plant could be fully operational early next year. The White House released an image of the industrial site of the prospective plant east of Moscow.

The defense partnership is a two-way street. Strategic Coordinator Kirby said Russia has offered Tehran unprecedented defense cooperation, including through missiles, electronics, and air defense. We are continuing to use all the tools at our disposal to expose and disrupt these activities, including by sharing this with the public, and we are prepared to do more, said Mr. Kirby.

On June 9, the U.S. Departments of State, Commerce, Justice, and Treasury issued an advisory to industry on Irans UAV-related activities. Strategic Coordinator Kirby explained why in an interview with the Voice of America:

We want to make sure that private entities, certainly, technology companies understand the risks of their products potentially ending up in Iranian hands to be used for the manufacture of Iranian drones, in this case, that can be used to kill innocent Ukrainian people. So the purpose of the advisory was really to make sure that the business community understands our concerns and are taking a look at their own processes and procedures.

In a statement also expressing grave concern over Russia and Irans growing military cooperation, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield noted that Russia and Irans actions violate UN Security Council Resolution 2231. That resolution prohibits all countries  including permanent members of the UN Security Council  from transferring these types of weapons from Iran.

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said, There is an urgent need to respond to calls from the international community to investigate these violations. Doing so could save lives . . . The United States, she declared, will continue working with partners to expose and disrupt these destabilizing activities.
Verity & Verity LLC increased its holdings in MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (NYSE:MSM  Get Rating) by 9.7% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 49,347 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 4,357 shares during the quarter. Verity & Verity LLCs holdings in MSC Industrial Direct were worth $4,145,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in shares of MSC Industrial Direct by 34.8% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,480,861 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $467,024,000 after acquiring an additional 1,414,485 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of MSC Industrial Direct in the 4th quarter worth $38,273,000. Auto Owners Insurance Co purchased a new stake in shares of MSC Industrial Direct during the 4th quarter valued at $28,268,000. WealthPLAN Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of MSC Industrial Direct during the 4th quarter worth $19,998,000. Finally, WealthPlan Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in MSC Industrial Direct in the third quarter worth $19,415,000. Institutional investors own 73.89% of the companys stock.

Get MSC Industrial Direct alerts:

MSC Industrial Direct Trading Up 0.2 %

NYSE MSM traded up $0.22 on Friday, hitting $97.73. The companys stock had a trading volume of 29,125 shares, compared to its average volume of 356,657. The company has a current ratio of 2.04, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. has a 52-week low of $71.32 and a 52-week high of $98.37. The firm has a market cap of $5.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.00 and a beta of 1.02. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $91.28 and its 200 day simple moving average is $85.91.

MSC Industrial Direct Announces Dividend

MSC Industrial Direct ( NYSE:MSM Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 4th. The industrial products company reported $1.45 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.35 by $0.10. MSC Industrial Direct had a net margin of 9.34% and a return on equity of 26.66%. The business had revenue of $961.60 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $934.76 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.29 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. will post 6.3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 25th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 11th were given a $0.79 dividend. This represents a $3.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.23%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, April 10th. MSC Industrial Directs dividend payout ratio is currently 48.62%.

Insider Activity

In related news, SVP Kimberly Shacklett sold 6,442 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.99, for a total value of $586,157.58. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 10,716 shares of the companys stock, valued at $975,048.84. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 28.39% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on MSM shares. KeyCorp upped their price objective on MSC Industrial Direct from $97.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. Stephens reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a $100.00 target price on shares of MSC Industrial Direct in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of MSC Industrial Direct from $80.00 to $86.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Loop Capital raised their price objective on MSC Industrial Direct from $82.00 to $89.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on MSC Industrial Direct in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $94.67.

About MSC Industrial Direct

(Get Rating)

MSC Industrial Direct Co, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes metalworking and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products and services in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Its MRO products include cutting tools, measuring instruments, tooling components, metalworking products, fasteners, flat stock products, raw materials, abrasives, machinery hand and power tools, safety and janitorial supplies, plumbing supplies, materials handling products, power transmission components, and electrical supplies.

Recommended Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MSM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (NYSE:MSM  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for MSC Industrial Direct Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MSC Industrial Direct and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
VNET Group reaffirmed their maintains rating on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL  Get Rating) in a research note released on Monday morning, Benzinga reports.

Several other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Royal Caribbean Cruises from $78.00 to $88.00 in a research note on Friday, May 5th. StockNews.com began coverage on Royal Caribbean Cruises in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Argus upped their target price on Royal Caribbean Cruises from $88.00 to $92.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 31st. Susquehanna upped their target price on Royal Caribbean Cruises from $80.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on Royal Caribbean Cruises from $65.00 to $71.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $87.79.

Get Royal Caribbean Cruises alerts:

Royal Caribbean Cruises Stock Performance

Shares of RCL opened at $95.91 on Monday. Royal Caribbean Cruises has a 1 year low of $31.09 and a 1 year high of $96.62. The company has a market cap of $24.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -23.57 and a beta of 2.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.41, a quick ratio of 0.23 and a current ratio of 0.26. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $75.17 and a 200-day moving average of $67.00.

Insider Transactions at Royal Caribbean Cruises

Royal Caribbean Cruises ( NYSE:RCL Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported ($0.23) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.71) by $0.48. Royal Caribbean Cruises had a negative net margin of 9.72% and a negative return on equity of 25.86%. The firm had revenue of $2.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.82 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned ($4.57) earnings per share. Royal Caribbean Cruisess revenue for the quarter was up 172.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Royal Caribbean Cruises will post 4.71 earnings per share for the current year.

In other Royal Caribbean Cruises news, CEO Jason T. Liberty sold 36,536 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.00, for a total value of $2,922,880.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 147,078 shares in the company, valued at $11,766,240. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, Director Arne Alexander Wilhelmsen sold 318,325 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.97, for a total transaction of $24,819,800.25. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 20,167,507 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,572,460,520.79. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Jason T. Liberty sold 36,536 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.00, for a total transaction of $2,922,880.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 147,078 shares in the company, valued at $11,766,240. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 729,861 shares of company stock valued at $58,020,180 over the last 90 days. 8.70% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Royal Caribbean Cruises

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of RCL. CIBC Asset Management Inc boosted its position in Royal Caribbean Cruises by 9.9% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 34,293 shares of the companys stock worth $1,695,000 after buying an additional 3,077 shares during the period. Pitti Group Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Royal Caribbean Cruises during the 4th quarter worth approximately $285,000. MML Investors Services LLC raised its holdings in Royal Caribbean Cruises by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 25,831 shares of the companys stock worth $979,000 after purchasing an additional 1,106 shares during the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Royal Caribbean Cruises during the 4th quarter worth approximately $301,000. Finally, BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S bought a new position in Royal Caribbean Cruises during the 4th quarter worth approximately $111,000. 74.27% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Royal Caribbean Group is a cruise company, which engages in the ownership and operation of the following global cruise brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Silversea Cruises. The firm also holds interest in TUI Cruises GmbH, which operates the German brands TUI Cruises and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Royal Caribbean Cruises Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Royal Caribbean Cruises and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Investment analysts at StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of WidePoint (NYSE:WYY  Get Rating) in a note issued to investors on Friday. The brokerage set a sell rating on the stock.

WidePoint Stock Performance

About WidePoint

(Get Rating)

WidePoint Corporation provides technology management as a service (TMaaS) to the government and business enterprises in North America and Europe. The company offers TMaaS solutions through a secure federal government certified proprietary portal and secure enterprise portal that provides ability to manage, analyze, and protect communications assets, as well as deploy identity management solutions that provide secured virtual and physical access to restricted environments.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for WidePoint Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WidePoint and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
The newest carrier in Indian aviation, Akasa Air, is eyeing network expansion into Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, and Kerala, officials aware of the airline's plans told Moneycontrol. Akasa Air expects Go First to vacate some prime slots in these four states, even if the latter resumes operations later.



"The plan is to increase flights from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, and Kerala over the next six months to tap into the regional demand in these states, now that an opportunity has arisen," an official said.



The airline will aggressively bid for slots at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Pune Airport, both the airports in Goa -- Dabolim Airport and Manohar International Airport -- Cochin Airport and Thiruvananthapuram Airport in Kerala, and Mangaluru Airport and Bangalore's Kempegowda Airport in Karnataka.



"Akasa Air will look to aggressively bid for any slots that may come up for grabs as part of our expansion plans which align with the future plan to expand internationally as well," a source said.



However, Akasa Air's plans are contingent on the government implementing new changes in the Slot Allocation Guidelines, 2013 soon.



Go First's inability to use its slots at airports due to its voluntary insolvency is expected to put the carrier's slot up for grabs in the upcoming winter schedule, which starts in November.



Go First's slots will remain with the airline until March 2024 under the current laws, until the new guidelines proposed by the ministry are implemented.



The government cannot take away slots of Go First before a year under the current Slot Allocation Guidelines.



Slots were proving to be a hurdle



Another source said that Akasa Air was just waiting for an opportunity to increase flights on some of its most profitable routes out of the southern states but was struggling to get slots for the same.



"Bengaluru-Kochi, Mumbai-Goa, and Pune-Bengaluru are some of Akasa Air's most profitable routes and the airline would love to increase flights on these routes," the second official said.



He added that Akasa Air is also seeing its highest ancillary income for inflight service from its routes catering to southern states. Emails sent to Akasa Air remained unanswered at the time of publishing.



Go First leaves a supply gap



Go First's decision to file for voluntary insolvency on May 2 has left a supply gap in India's domestic aviation as the airline has stopped all operations.



Till now, India's largest airline, IndiGo, has been the biggest beneficiary of the grounding of Go First, as the former gained 390 basis points of market share in May, capturing its highest-ever market share of 61.4 percent.



Most of Go First's market share of 6.4 percent, carrying 8.29 lakh passengers in April, went IndiGos way last month, as the latter carried 7.04 lakh more passengers in May, compared to April.



Go First has a sizable presence in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, and Kerala, and if the airline does not resume operations soon, its slots will be up for grabs in these states.



"Go First has a significant presence in Mumbai, Dabolim, Bengaluru, and Kochi, which will be up for grabs if the airline does not fly again," an industry analyst said.



Slot allocation guidelines



Airport slots in India are currently reviewed after two seasons or a year, but these rules are expected to change soon. The civil aviation ministry in November had proposed changes in the Slot Allocation Guidelines, 2013 which propose that the usage of slots has to be reviewed every season.



Under the new proposed rules, the ministry is looking to use "previous season" instead of "previous equivalent season" when allocating slots to airlines in India.



What this means is that domestic airlines in India will lose their allocated slots at airports if they are not able to fulfill the 80 percent criteria to operate on those slots.



A slot is a permission given by a coordinator for a planned operation to use the full range of airport infrastructure necessary to arrive or depart at an airport on a specific date and time.



The issue of slot allocation is being addressed at a time when major airlines in India are struggling to operate 100 percent of their fleet due to delays in deliveries of engines by Pratt & Whitney.



Akasa Airs network



Akasa Air currently connects eight cities in central and southern India and flies nearly 63 percent of all its flights in these states.



It flies to Ahmedabad, Pune, Mumbai, Bhubaneswar, Kochi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bagdogra, Delhi, Visakhapatnam, Goa, Guwahati, Agartala, Varanasi, Kolkata and Lucknow.



The carriers CEO Vinay Dube has also spoken about placing a significant aircraft order later this year, along with plans to start international operations.



Dube had said that the order will be for narrow body aircraft only. So, one could expect Akasa to continue with its core business strategy of sticking to mainly domestic routes, alongside medium-haul international sectors in the foreseeable future.



Akasa launched operations in August 2022 and operates a growing fleet of Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft. It currently operates 110 domestic flights a day to 17 cities, with a fleet of 19 jets.



Akasa has said that, by March 2024, its fleet will grow to 28 aircraft.
Private sector lender Axis Bank on June 16 appointed former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor NS Vishwanathan as a part-time Non-Executive Chairman. Vishwanathan has been appointed for a period of three years, Axis Bank said in a release. "Subject to approval of the shareholders of the bank and Reserve Bank of India, NS Vishwanathan's appointment will be effective from October 27, 2023 or the date of approval of his appointment by Reserve Bank of India for a period of three years," the bank said in the release. Earlier, in May, the lender had appointed Vishwanathan as an independent director. Other than Axis Bank, Vishwanathan, in April 2023 was appointed as head of the advisory board at Razorpay. A career central banker, Vishwanathan joined the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 1981 as a Direct Recruit Officer and rose through the rank and retired as Deputy Governor in March 2020.

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Trafigura Group is being sued by the billionaire Reuben brothers, as the fallout of a massive nickel fraud reverberates through global metal markets and ensnares some of the industrys best-known figures.



Legal filings seen by Bloomberg News shed new light on the case that shocked the market earlier this year when Trafigura said it expected to lose nearly $600 million in what it called a systematic fraud perpetrated by Indian businessman Prateek Gupta.



In them, Hyphen Trading Ltd., the company owned by the Reuben brothers which is bringing the legal proceedings, alleges that the fraud didnt just involve thousands of tons of missing nickel, but also counterfeit shipping documents  which ended up being used to obtain financing from leading commodity bank ICBC Standard Bank Plc.



It describes how containers supposedly holding nickel were shipped back and forth around the world, apparently to avoid having to open them and reveal their true contents.



Moreover, Hyphen accuses a Singapore freight forwarding company of being involved in Guptas alleged fraud. It also raises questions about Trafiguras own actions, saying that the trading house stonewalled its requests to inspect its cargoes.



Spokespeople for Trafigura and for the Reubens declined to comment.



David and Simon Reuben are some of the best-known figures in the history of commodity trading, having made their first fortune in the take-no-prisoners world of 1990s Russia. Now worth a combined $14 billion, they have not been major players in metals trading for decades, focusing instead on building one of the worlds biggest real estate portfolios. But they have continued to dabble in the sector through entities like Hyphen, which describes itself as a commodities trader and financier focused on refined metals.



The allegation that fraudulent shipping receipts  known as bills of lading  have been circulating in the nickel market will add to concerns among traders and financiers of the metal, which has been hit by a series of recent crises. The documents are central to modern commodity trading: original bills of lading represent legal ownership of a cargo of commodities and are often bought and sold numerous times, as well as being used as collateral for borrowing before the goods are finally delivered to an end user.



The legal filings offer a detailed account of the inner workings of a commodity trade  the mountains of paperwork required to organize a physical shipment of metal around the world, followed by the shock and recrimination when things go wrong. Its a tale as old as trade itself, and one that has played out repeatedly in recent years, as cargoes have been stolen, stuffed with worthless goods, or simply sold multiple times to different buyers.



Nickel Disputes



The Reubens company, Hyphen, is in separate legal disputes with Trafigura over two different cargoes of nickel.



In one case, which is the subject of legal proceedings in Singapore, Hyphen bought just over $10 million of nickel from the London Metal Exchange and loaded it onto several ships  only to find that Trafiguras lawyers had written to the shipping company claiming that the trading house was the rightful owner of the cargo instead.



Both Hyphen and Trafigura claim to have the original bills of lading  an impossibility that suggests at least one set of documents is counterfeit.



Read: How Citi Helped Lift the Lid on Trafiguras Nickel Nightmare



The other case, at the center of a UK High Court claim filed last week, focuses on a cargo of that Hyphen bought from Trafigura in September last year.



For $8.4 million, Hyphen bought just over 404 tons of nickel that had been loaded in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, onto a container ship called the OOCL Jakarta. The plan was for Hyphen to take delivery of the cargo when it arrived in Rotterdam. For a few months, it was financed via a repurchase agreement with ICBC Standard Bank. A spokesperson for ICBC Standard Bank declined to comment.



Things didnt go so smoothly. While the containers did arrive in Rotterdam in mid-November  on a different ship  no one told Hyphen. Instead, they inexplicably remained on the vessel when it set off on its return trip to Asia before the nickel was finally unloaded in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, according to the complaint.



By December, Hyphen was still in the dark about the whereabouts of its cargo, and alarm bells were starting to ring. Together with Argentum, a US hedge fund it was working with, the trader began to press Trafigura for information.



On 16 December, Hyphen asked for information concerning where the Goods had been stored at Kaohsiung (before shipment). Trafigura did not reply, according to Hyphens complaint. Hyphen pressed for a response on 19, 20, 22 December. Argentem itself pressed on 20, 21 and 22 December. Trafigura did not reply.







Finally, on December 27, Trafigura did respond to the demand for an inspection: according to Hyphens complaint, it allegedly refused the request, citing logistical complications.



By that point, unknown to the wider market, Trafigura was in full-blown crisis mode.



While Hyphen executives were becoming increasingly frustrated with Trafiguras lack of answers about their cargo, Trafigura executives were in a similar state of agitation. Two months earlier, Citigroup Inc. suddenly informed the company it would no longer finance any trades with firms linked to Gupta. By December, Trafigura was applying almost daily pressure on Gupta for information, according to an earlier Trafigura court filing.



On February 9, Trafigura publicly accused Gupta of fraud in a jaw-dropping announcement, saying it had spent more than half a billion dollars buying nickel from his companies only to discover when it opened the containers that there was no nickel inside. Guptas spokesperson has said he is planning a robust response to Trafiguras allegations.



After that, Hyphens attempts to try and track down its cargo went into overdrive.



It visited the Singapore offices of the shipping line, OOCL, to present the original bills of lading it had received from Trafigura, in triplicate. But OOCL pointed out a discrepancy  while Hyphens bills of lading just listed Trafigura as shipper, the copy of the documents on OOCLs system also included the name of a Singapore logistics company, Techies Logistics (S) Pte, as forwarding agent.



A month later, Hyphen tried a new tactic: it turned up in Rotterdam and demanded to take physical delivery of its cargo. OOCL refused. Finally, on April 5, OOCLs lawyers finally delivered the bombshell: Hyphen had paid Trafigura $8.4 million and received a bill of lading that was not genuine.



Fraudulent Document



The Trafigura BL is likely to be a fraudulent document, Hyphen concluded.



Since it went public in February, Trafigura has continually insisted that none of its employees were complicit in the alleged fraud.



And it acknowledged, in its lawsuit against Gupta, that it had sold cargoes bought from his companies to several third parties  including Hyphen  and was potentially exposed to a claim by them in the event (which now of course seems likely) that those cargoes did not contain nickel. It even raised the possibility that some of the bills of lading involved might not be genuine.



But Hyphens claim raises some uncomfortable questions for the trading house. It accuses Trafigura of preventing it from inspecting the cargo. And it further alleges that Trafigura was listed as the shipper on the bill of lading it delivered to Hyphen, meaning that the trading house had not just bought the goods from Gupta, but was the party responsible for delivering them to the shipping company.



Hyphen alleges that it was logistics company Techies that ordered the cargo to be sent back to Jeddah after it had already arrived in Rotterdam.



Hyphen infers that Techies actions (whether known or unknown to Trafigura) were motivated by a complicity or other kind of involvement in the Gupta Fraud, it said. Techies did not respond to emails, messages and phone calls seeking comment.



For Trafigura, the case represents yet another headache in the fallout from the alleged fraud. The company continues to pursue Gupta in court, and has made staffing and operational changes in response to the saga.



Hyphen, meanwhile, is seeking the $8.4 million it paid, plus costs and interest from Trafigura.



It still hasnt been able to gain access to its nickel.
Foxconn, the Taiwanese contract manufacturer, is set to venture into electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing in India this year, a report said on June 16, looking to join a booming segment as the government pushes for cleaner transport. India will assist with the setting up of a production line this year to provide two-wheeled EV manufacturing services that will cater to the market in Southeast Asia, the Economic Times said, citing Foxconn's annual report published on May 31. An Indian delegation is reportedly set to visit Taiwan to meet Foxconn's executives to discuss the companys EV plans. During a visit of top Foxconn executives last year, officials from Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh discussed EV manufacturing plans. Vedanta and Foxconn, best known for manufacturing half of the worlds Apple products, announced a joint venture to manufacture semiconductors in India in February 2022. Foxconn chairman Young Liu's first visit to India last year prompted a tweet from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, acknowledging the alignment of Foxconn's EV manufacturing efforts with India's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions.

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Ashok Leyland is likely to be in focus on June 16 morning, a day after an investors meeting saw most analysts raise the target price for the stock as they remain bullish on the automotive company.



The stock has gained nearly 10 percent this year, while advancing nearly 17 percent since March 28 when the rally started in the market. Benchmark indices the Sensex and the Nifty have gained 3.5 percent during the period year and nearly 10 percent in the past three months.



Morgan Stanley has an overweight rating and a target price at Rs 178 a share, a 13 percent upside from the current market price. JP Morgan, too, has stuck with an overweight call, with a target price at Rs 175.



Motilal Oswal has a buy rating and expects the stock to rise up to 14 percent from the current market price to Rs 180 a share. JM Finance and Nuvama have the same call and target.



On June 15, the stock closed at 159.70 on the National Stock Exchange, up 1.49 percent.



In high gear



During its 2023 Investor Meet on June 15, Ashok Leyland said it wanted to achieve profitable growth in the domestic Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicle (M&HCV) segment, accelerate the expansion of non-M&HCV revenue, and highlighted the upcoming potential for switch mobility (electric vehicles).



The Hinduja Group company plans to launch six platforms under switch mobility within the next two years. The management anticipates the positive momentum in the M&HCV sector to persist and aims to increase its market share by 3 percentage points to 35 percent.



The company is also looking to enhance its presence in the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) segment. It has set a target of achieving a double-digit EBITDA margin in FY24 and expects a mid-teens EBITDA margin in the medium term.



Here is what brokerages said after the meeting:



Motilal Oswal Securities



With a stable demand environment and favourable factors such as improving pricing power and steady raw material prices, Ashok Leyland is expected to witness robust earnings growth.



The company has strategically positioned itself to capitalise on the commercial vehicle (CV) growth cycle, making it an attractive investment choice. Though the valuations, at 17.3x FY25E P/E and 9.3x EV/EBITDA, indicate a mid-cycle recovery, they do not fully reflect Ashok Leyland's focus on diversifying revenue streams and expanding profit pools.



The potential to tap into new revenue sources and increase profitability is not fully priced in by the market.



Nuvama Research



Ashok Leyland is expected to witness a growth in market share from 18.8 percent in FY23 to 19.3 percent in FY25E. This growth will be facilitated by the companys expansion of its product portfolio in the small/intermediate CV segment and of its dealership network in regions outside of South India.



The research house expects a revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10 percent between FY23 and FY25E, supported by a favourable industry upcycle, market share gains, and improved realisations.



The EBITDA CAGR is expected to be higher at 25 percent, benefiting from increased scale and improved net pricing. The company is anticipated to generate an average annual free cash flow (FCF) of over Rs 2,300 crore between FY24 and FY25E, enabling a reduction in net debt-to-equity ratio from 0.1x in FY23 to -0.1x by FY25E.



These projections indicate a positive outlook, highlighting the companys potential for market share expansion, financial growth, and debt reduction.



JP Morgan



Ashok Leyland is working on developing its new energy portfolio, which is expected to be ready within the next 24 months. This signifies the company's focus on transitioning to alternate energy vehicles, aligning with the industry's growing demand for sustainable transportation solutions.



Its adoption of modular platforms will play a crucial role in accelerating the shift towards alternate energy vehicles. These platforms allow for greater flexibility and efficiency in manufacturing, contributing to the successful transition to electric and other alternative fuel vehicles.



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.




Investor sentiment shifted in May, with red-hot banking stocks being dumped and information technology firms, which were being sold in the face of an uncertain economic global climate, gaining favour again.



Mutual Funds sold banking stocks worth Rs 11,000 crore during the month, Prime Database's data reveals. Key holdings in Kotak Mahindra Bank, HDFCBank, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, and Bajaj Finance have see significant reductions in holdings.



Mutual funds purchased IT stocks worth Rs 4,500 crore. This includes notable investments in Infosys, Coforge, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, LTIMindtree, Tech Mahindra Ltd, HCL Technologies and L&T Technology Services Ltd, the data shows.



Among banking stocks, mutual funds divested Rs 5,100 crore worth of shares in Kotak Mahindra Bank. Similarly, HDFC Bank witnessed selling of Rs 3,000 crore, Axis Bank Rs 970 crore, while Rs 670 crore worth of shares each in ICICI Bank and State Bank of India were also sold.



Mutual funds sold Rs 440 crore worth of shares in Bajaj Finance, Indias biggest non-banking finance company.



Infosys, which has been hammered in recent months and lost 15 percent this year, seems to be the pick of the IT pack, with mutual funds buying Rs 1,545 crore worth of shares in the IT services company.



Coforge saw buying worth Rs 960 crore, while Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, Indias biggest IT firm, saw buying of Rs 608 crore.



Shares worth Rs 340 crore were bought in LTIMindtree, while rivals Tech Mahindra and HCL Tech saw buying worth Rs 260 crore and Rs 57 crore, respectively, in May.



The switch



The banking sector has been rallying for the past year, with Nifty Bank up over 35 percent during the period. The gains have been due to strong earnings driven by higher net interest income and improvements in asset quality.



A recent S&P Global Ratings report highlighted the strong recovery in the sector, with lenders reporting their best results in a decade. The rating agency foresees the sector's profitability stabilising at a healthy level and further improvements in asset quality.



IT stocks have been under selling pressure due to weak earnings, subdued commentary and lower guidance from major companies like TCS and Infosys, influenced by the US banking crisis. The US is among the biggest markets for Indian IT services firms.



In a recent note, brokerage firm JP Morgan downgraded the Indian IT sector from neutral to underweight, citing a persistently weak demand environment.



The firm expresses concerns about disappointing performance from companies in the sector, particularly Infosys, TCS, and MphasiS, placing them on its "negative catalyst watch list.



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.
India and China, the world's top oil users, continued to lap up heavily discounted Russian crude oil, buying as much as 80 per cent of the oil that Moscow exported in May, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in a report.



"Heavily discounted Russian crude oil has found new buyers primarily in Asia. India has increased purchases from almost nothing to close to 2 million barrels per day, while China has raised liftings by 500,000 barrels per day to 2.2 million barrels per day," the Paris-based energy agency said in its latest Oil Market Report.



Russia-origin seaborne crude exports averaged 3.87 million barrels per day in May, the highest since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.



"In May 2023, India and China accounted for almost 80 per cent of Russian crude oil exports," IEA said. "In turn, Russia made up 45 per cent and 20 per cent of crude imports in India and China, respectively.



With Russia's formerly main crude export markets in Europe banning import and G7 imposing shipping restrictions, more than 90 per cent of Russian seaborne crude is now headed to Asia, up from pre-war levels of 34 per cent.



India's imports of Russian oil were 14 per cent higher than in April and a fresh record high for Russian crude flows into the country.



The incentive to buy cheap Russian crude remains underpinned by deep discounts. Russia's main crude export grade Urals discount to Dated Brent averaged USD 26 per barrel in the first three weeks of May. This compared with USD 3.70 a barrel in January 2022.



IEA projected Indian GDP to grow by 4.8 per cent in 2023, rising to 6.3 per cent in 2024 before recovering to an even stronger 7 per cent in 2025-28.



"Growth will be buttressed by favourable demographics and an expanding middle class," it said. "India is set to overtake China in terms of global year-on-year oil demand growth in 2027.



The fastest-growing economy in the world, surpassed China to become the world's most populous country in 2023.



"Although its rate of expansion has been slowing for decades, population growth will likely not peak until 2065," IEA said. "Further propelled by trends such as urbanisation, industrialisation, and the emergence of a wealthier middle-class keen for mobility and tourism, Indian oil demand will grow by more than 1 million barrels per day between 2022 and 2028.



Diesel, the main fuel by far, will see its share of the product mix climb from 32 per cent to 35 per cent over the forecast period.



Since early 2023, increasing exports from India, the Middle East and China have moved west to European and G7 buyers in the Atlantic Basin to offset Russian cargoes now moving to buyers East of Suez (300,000 barrels per day or roughly one-third of Russian exports), IEA said.
Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) today (June 14) announced changes within the company's senior management team and appointed a new vice president and treasurer.

Todd Jacobs is now senior vice president growth and strategy and Marne Jones is now senior vice president utilities, both effective June 15, 2023. Both report directly to Linn Evans, president and CEO.

"These changes position the company with highly skilled, tenured and energized leaders committed to driving growth," said Evans. "These leadership changes will further focus our team on driving operational efficiencies and supporting the needs of our customers and communities."

New Appointments

Jacobs, who has more than 16 years of investor-owned utility experience, joined the company in 2014. He has served in roles of increasing responsibility in legal, regulatory, corporate services, operations, corporate development and strategy.

In his new role, Jacobs now leads the company's strategic efforts related to growth, strategy, business development, regulatory, government affairs, sustainability, renewable natural gas, communications and community affairs.

Jacobs holds a bachelor's degree from the Virginia Military Institute, a juris doctor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and completed an advanced management program (The Executive Program) at the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business. Jacobs served on active duty for seven years as a U.S. Army officer.

Jones joined the company in 2001 and has advanced through roles of increasing responsibility in finance, accounting, corporate services, regulatory and utility operations, and most recently as vice president electric utilities.

In her new role, Jones has responsibility for electric and natural gas utility operations, transmission and resource planning, customer service and safety.

Jones brings 21 years of utility experience and previous banking experience to her role. She holds a finance degree from the University of Wyoming.

Other Leadership Changes

The company also announced that it appointed Tom Stevens as vice president and treasurer effective June 15, 2023, reporting to Kimberly Nooney, senior vice president and chief financial officer. Stevens joined Black Hills in 2018 as the director of regulatory and finance and served most recently as vice president regulatory.

Stevens brings 15 years of utility industry experience to his new role, including two years with the Arkansas Public Service Commission. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics/finance from Southwest Baptist University and a Master in Business Administration from Southern Methodist University.

Black Hills Corporation

Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) is a customer focused, growth-oriented utility company with a tradition of improving life with energy and a vision to be the energy partner of choice. Based in Rapid City, South Dakota, the company serves 1.3 million natural gas and electric utility customers in eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming.

Jerome E. Nichols

605-721-1171

jerome.nichols@blackhillscorp.com

24-hour Media Assistance

888-242-3969
The new avatar of SGX Nifty, GIFT Nifty, is likely to be available for trading 22 hours a day from July 3 when all dollar-denominated Nifty derivatives contracts will be entirely traded from NSE IFSC at GIFT City.



The proposal being considered is to allow trading in GIFT Nifty  dollar-denominated Nifty futures contracts  from 4 am IST till 2 am IST the following morning, a person part of the discussions told Moneycontrol.



Currently, trading in SGX Nifty takes place for 16 hours between 6:30 am IST to 10:30 pm IST. Traders closely track SGX Nifty as an early indicator of where the Indian market is likely to open.



Many foreign investors, who want exposure to India, but do not trade frequently, use SGX Nifty contracts.



The extended trading hours will allow more global investors, mainly from the US to trade in dollar-denominated Nifty futures contracts, adding to the liquidity.



Now that the settlement of the trades will take place at GIFT City, it is felt that trading hours can be extended, the person said.



The NSE did not respond to a query on the matter.



With instances of financial terrorism on the rise, it is very much possible that some hostile state wanting to destabilise Indias financial markets may do that by hammering Nifty futures before the markets in India open. Till now, it was not possible to respond to such an attempt before the market here opens, but after July, any such eventuality can be tackled better, the person said.



On June 30, 2023, all open positions in SGX Nifty will automatically shift to NSE IFSC as part of the liquidity switch.
The Centre is likely to receive huge earnings in form of dividend from the listed public sector undertakings (PSUs). As per the final dividend proposed by the PSUs, the government is expected to get a net dividend of about Rs 63,056 crore from 67 listed PSUs for FY23, which will be the highest ever dividend, according to a report in the Business Standard.



The amount is approximately 25 per cent more than the dividend of Rs 50,583 crore received in FY22 from listed state-owned companies. More importantly, the total dividend income for FY23 may increase further as PSUs such as GAIL (India), Hindustan Copper and Balmer Lawrie are yet to disclose their final equity dividend.



The dividend for FY23 is, therefore, almost double the Rs 29,049 crore it received from these PSUs in FY2019 before the pre-Covid financial year. Earlier, the Centre had received the highest dividend of Rs 42,150 crore in FY 2014. State-controlled banks and financial institutions are likely to give about Rs 18,000 crore for FY23. That is a hike of 56 per cent over their FY22 contribution of Rs 11,525 crore.



Also Read: Morning Scan: All the big stories to get you started for the day



Non-financial PSUs such as Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Coal India, ONGC, NTPC and PowerGrid Corp are likely to give about Rs 45,000 crore to the government for FY23, up 15.4 per cent from Rs 39,059 crore in FY22, the report mentioned.



The analysis is based on the interim and final dividends proposed by listed PSBs for FY23 as reported in their financial results for the fiscal year. The Centres share in the dividend is based on its shareholding in these companies. The 67 listed PSUs are likely to contribute a total dividend of Rs 1.02 lakh crore for FY2023, which is higher than the Rs 84,665 crore distributed in FY22.



Also Read: LIC Q4 profit surges nearly 6-fold to Rs 13,428 crore; dividend declared



A major part of this dividend payment by the PSUs for FY23 will be reflected in the government's non-tax revenue for FY24. According to the Union Budget 2023-24, the government is expected to earn dividends and profits of Rs 43,000 crore from central non-financial PSUs in FY24.
In the Indian aviation sector, someone's pain has always been another's gain.



The grounding of Wadia-group-backed Go First has now become another opportunity that the country's largest airline, IndiGo, used well, as it managed to record its highest-ever domestic market share of 61.4 percent in May.



IndiGo saw a near-400-basis-point (bps) jump in market share in May compared to April, while all other airlines in India combined saw a 180-bps jump in market share over the same period.



Similarly, IndiGo carried 7.04 lakh more passengers in May compared to April, while all other carriers carried around 2.4 lakh more passengers in May compared to April.



Most of Go First's market share of 6.4 percent carrying 8.29 lakh passengers in April, went IndiGos way last month.



"IndiGo has leveraged its strong position and made the most of the closure of Go First," aviation analyst Ameya Joshi said.



Citing the example of the Delhi-Leh-Delhi sector, where Go First had a sizeable presence, Joshi while referring to data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), said that nearly 25 percent of the seats sold by Indigo on this route belonged to the highest bracket, earning over 30 percent of the revenue from the sector.



Similarly, IndiGo sold 10 percent of its seats in the highest bracket on the Mumbai-Srinagar route, 4 percent on the Bengaluru-Delhi route, and 3.4 percent on the Delhi-Chennai run, clocking 8.8 percent, 8.7 percent, and 6.2 percent of its revenues, respectively, on these sectors, DGCA data shows.



Similarly, Jinesh Joshi, Research Analyst at Prabhudas Lilladher, said that Indigo has been the biggest beneficiary of Go First filing for insolvency.



"Indigo has been the biggest beneficiary of this development, having witnessed a 390 bps MoM (month-on-month) improvement in market share to 61.4 percent. "An improvement in market share and declining crude prices (ATF price is down 9 percent over the last two months) bodes well for Indigo," Joshi said.



But how did IndiGo grab the lion's share of the market after the fall of Go First?



Market experts, insiders, and industry participants attribute IndiGo's market share gain to its large fleet size, extensive domestic network, pilot pool, and quick decision-making.



An industry insider who actively looks at the network of domestic Indian carriers told Moneycontrol that, following the collapse of Go First, IndiGo increased its flights on all routes that Go First was serving.



"IndiGo launched around 30 new weekly flights in total across all the routes, with a significant presence of Go First," the source said.



He added that IndiGo had that first-mover advantage in this case as the airline catered to all routes that were serviced by Go First domestically.



"IndiGo had slots at all airports Go First was flying to and increased its capacity without waiting for new slots to be assigned, unlike other carriers," the source said.



A slot is permission given by a coordinator for a planned operation to use the full range of airport infrastructure necessary to arrive or depart at an airport on a specific date and time.



Similarly, an official from a domestic carrier said that IndiGos fleet is more than twice the size of any other airline in the country.



"IndiGo operates around 260 planes domestically compared to the 90-odd by Air India and Air India Express, the 50-odd by Vistara, the 35 planes of SpiceJet, and the 20 of Akasa Air," the official said.



IndiGo's large fleet gives it the flexibility to restructure its network with a lot more ease compared to other players, he added.



Furthermore, the official said that IndiGo's ability to operate its aircraft for an average of 1214 hours daily due to its large pool of pilots also helps the airline increase the number of flights when needed.



"Most other airlines have an average sweat time of 1112 hours daily for their aircraft, while IndiGo manages to sweat its aircraft for 1214 hours daily. That is where the advantage lies," the official said.



Similarly, another industry insider said that IndiGo is adding aircraft to its fleet faster than any other carrier in India. He added that IndiGo added five new aircraft and also took delivery of five LEAP-1A engines for its grounded fleet in May.



"IndiGo took expedited delivery of five LEAP-1A engines in May which were earlier meant to be supplied to Air China," the second industry insider said.



In comparison, Air India, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and Air Asia India did not add new aircraft to their fleets in May, while Vistara took delivery of one new aircraft.



A market expert working with an investment bank who did not want to be named said that the fact that both IndiGo and Go First operate Airbus A320 aircraft made IndiGo the natural choice to replace Go First on all its routes, especially at smaller airports like Leh and Srinagar.



"IndiGo's pilots were already trained in flying to these locations, which made them the natural successor once Go First flights stopped. Other airlines would have to train their pilots to fly to these spots," he said.
Trends in the commodity market are indicating that metals are eagerly anticipating possibility of further stimulus measures from China. The recent reduction in medium and short-term lending rates in China, along with the anticipated cuts in key loan prime rates next week have boosted optimism. This has led to iron ore and steel prices reaching seven-week highs. Prices this Week Among the metals, copper has experienced a notable increase of 2.9% this week, while zinc has surged by 3.2%. Iron ore and steel have also seen significant gains of 4% and 2%, respectively. Nickel has been the standout performer with a remarkable surge of 9%, while aluminium witnessed a modest 0.2% rise. Zinc prices have reached a one-month high at $2480 per tonne after testing a two-year low of $2233 on May 25th. Boliden is a Swedish mining and smelting company Boliden has announced the suspension of mining operations in Ireland due to financial losses. S&P Global foresees demand for global refined zinc rising 1.4% in 2023. On supply side, the low base effect may mean a 1.9% growth for zinc, as energy costs in Europe ease and power curbs in China limit zinc smelter production. Copper prices have reached a month high and are on track for their best week in three months. Inventories have dropped to a one-month low, standing below 72,000 tonne. Chile, a major copper producer, is estimated to witness a 7% decrease in output in 2023, following a decline of 10.6% in 2022.

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
With the toast of the town being monetisation of PNC Infratechs road assets, analysts are delighted that the stock could be re-rated. Apart from the release of equity capital for future investments, analysts believe fructification of asset divestment would materially de-leverage the consolidated balance sheet. The market buzz is that PNC Infratech is in advanced discussions to sell 12 road assets to KKR's roads platform, Highways Infrastructure Trust, for an enterprise value of about Rs 9,000 crore (about $1.1 billion).



The divestment includes seven operational assets, including one BOT toll asset, and three assets that are due to become operational in the near term. As of end-FY23, the total debt in these assets is Rs 6,900 crore and equity investment is Rs 1,700 crore, Nomura pointed out.



Read more | Textile companies to see a turnaround from Q3FY24: Analysts



The company is targeting an order inflow of Rs 10,000-12,000 crore in FY24. The current order book remains strong at Rs 20,530 crore, which is three times its FY23 revenue and provides strong revenue visibility in the coming years.



The road projects constitute 62 percent of the total order book and 43 percent are for water and canals projects. If the deal materialises, it would be the biggest acquisition of road projects by the private equity firm in India, The Economic Times reported.



The monetisation plan is expected to be closed by FY24-end.



Talking about the deal valuation, Nomura said that the deal EV implies an equity value of Rs 2,100 crore, against a book equity value of Rs 1,700 crore, which leads to a Price to Book value of 1.24 times, which is higher than its current valuation of 1 time Price to Book for these assets.



If the divestment materialises, Nomura thinks a substantial re-rating is on the cards.



Read more | Foreign investors flocked to Varun Beverages, Britannia in past three years



If the deal materialises, re-rating of the stock to 12 times is likely (vs 10 times we currently assign), the foreign brokerage firm said.



The brokerage firm predicts that selling these assets will likely cause the stock's rating to increase to 12 times Price to Earnings.



This is similar to the rating given to KNR Constructions, when it sold its assets in FY22. It is higher than the current rating of 10 times on FY25 EPS, assigned by Nomura to PNC Infratech's business.



At a time when Nomura is negative on the broader roads EPC space, it is confident about PNC Infratech because of the companys strong order book and low-debt balance sheet.



PNC Infratech is an infrastructure construction, development, and management company with expertise in project execution, including highways, bridges, flyovers, airport runways, industrial areas, and transmission lines.



The management has retained its standalone revenue growth guidance of 15 percent YoY for FY24 and operating margin of 13-13.5 percent.



Technical view



PNC Infratech's overall market structure is currently displaying a bullish trend, indicating a positive outlook for the stock, said Santosh Meena, Head of Research at Swastika Investmart.



Read more | Mutual funds invested Rs 62 crore in this multibagger in May. Whats working for this railway stock?



After undergoing a modest correction, the stock is now showing signs of regaining its bullish momentum, and is currently following an upward sloping channel formation, which suggests a continuation of the upward movement, he explained.



At present, the stock faces a key resistance level of Rs 350. Once this hurdle is surpassed, there is a strong likelihood of it reaching the previous all-time high of Rs 395, he said.



Furthermore, the stock has established a robust support level around Rs 300. This support level enhances the risk-reward ratio for investors, providing an advantageous opportunity to potentially capitalise on the stock's upward trajectory, Meena said.



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
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

 Arthur C Clarke (1962)



In the heady days before the advent of computers, young, wide-eyed traders beginning their careers at some of Londons famed stockbroking establishments were given a large blue book and calculator on their first day at work.



But, if the hapless youngsters were caught using the calculator, the blue book would be hurled at them with great force by hardened veteran traders manning the floors.



The lesson? Be razor-sharp with numbers, develop the traders instinct and dont depend on a puny device if you want to make it big in the business.



Alas, these admirable attributes declined the introduction of computerised trading. Suddenly, a computer terminal was able to parse reams of data and execute millions of trades before a stockbroker could even shout "buy General Electric".



Not just the calculator and blue book, computers made even humans obsolete on the trading floor.



A similar, if not bigger, seismic shift may be underway, at least for retail investors, with the rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI).



Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Bard, Dall-E, Midjourney and various others are hogging the limelight with a smorgasbord of innovative applications, inspiring awe and fear in equal measure.



Some early adopters and researchers are also using AI platforms to analyse news reports, US Fed announcements and stock exchange filings. The initial results have been more than encouraging.



But how does AI perform when it comes to stock-picking in the Indian context? And can investors repose faith this digital black box? We decided to dig deeper.



Abracadabra



For the past few weeks, we ran multiple prompts on ChatGPT to find out its top recommendations among Indian stocks. Both the free and paid versions of the OpenAI-developed chatbot were used.



Even though its training data is till September 2021, we figured it would be interesting to see what ChatGPT thinks is worth buying on Dalal Street. And of course, it's not as if the Indian corporate landscape has changed dramatically from end-2021.



However, direct queries on which stocks one should invest in were invariably brushed aside with this anodyne response:







So we decided to get creative with the prompts. In one query, for instance, we asked ChatGPT to imagine it was a world-renowned money manager and at a conference in Mumbai, an audience member posed a question on the best stocks available in India.



Another prompt was:







Much like a genuine conversationalist, ChatGPT perked up in response and began to spew out names (albeit with the usual disclaimers).







It made its preference clear over multiple iterations. Bluechip names like Reliance Industries, TCS, HDFC Bank and Infosys.



The paid version of the chatbot, which has been trained on more parameters than the free-to-use option, too preferred to stick with the market leaders.







Nothing too adventurous. Just limit your exposure to traditional market leaders like TCS, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank HUL, ITC and others.



Often, the answers veered from specifics to platitudinous advice on how to excel at the hazardous art (and science) of stock-picking.







Understand the market trends, consider the financial health of the company, assess its management track record and gauge its ability to adapt to changing conditions. Nothing terribly new, right?



On follow-up questions on which companies met these criteria, it reverted to its risk-averse stance:







In fact, such was ChatGPTs bias towards the largecap universe that we began to wonder whether it was aware of any midcap or smallcap names in India at all.



So, the next queries were limited to smaller companies.



Here, however, it was a lot more difficult to get ChatGPT to recommend names, as it kept on listing general factors to consider while picking stocks.



Finally, after many attempts, it did offer some choices:







Behind the veil



Language processing AI models are trained on humongous amounts of text data scraped from the internet.



ChatGPT-3, for example, was trained on a whopping 570 GB of data, with 300 billion words being fed into its system. Its successor ChatGPT-4 is trained on even more data, though OpenAI has, so far, not revealed the specifics.



So when ChatGPT recommends bluechip stocks, does this mean it is just parroting the names most often mentioned in millions of webpages it has crawled?



Daniel Lemire, a leading voice on AI and a computer science professor at the Data Science Laboratory of the Universite du Quebec (TELUQ) in Montreal, said it is certainly possible.



ChatGPT has not yet shown an ability to quickly adapt to fast-changing information. It makes sense that it would recommend large corporations that have a track record of profitability, but these recommendations could be misleading and potentially dangerous, he told Moneycontrol.



Lemire, however, added that ChatGPT has shown that large language models (LLMs) have the ability for superior text comprehension.



This means that it can be used to scour large volumes of text (press releases, annual reports, government announcements, etc) and even data (stock prices and so forth) to potentially identify quickly patterns faster than most human beings ever could. There are already software doing such processing (eg, doing sentiment analysis on text) but it has generally been much more superficial, he noted.



Which means the tool can be of enormous importance to the common investor, at least for market research.



LLM industry veteran Matt Busigin, who is the co-founder and CTO of Ollie AI and was also an investment advisor in the US, said he uses ChatGPT for household budgeting, corporate budgeting, product management and other tasks.



GPT-4 can be deployed for analysis of data releases and, in particular, natural language such as Fed minutes to make much more rapid post-announcement trading decisions.



This definitely had alpha through most of 2022 (I was paying attention to this), but using that as an edge will probably be eroded quickly in 2023, and it will result in less market volatility post-announcement or data-release, as the information will be more efficiently processed by the markets, Busigin told Moneycontrol.



So what is the takeaway from this experiment? Should you use generative AI tools to pick stocks?



It is only appropriate that we let ChatGPT answer this one:




Micron Technology Inc. is close to an agreement to commit at least $1 billion toward setting up a semiconductor packaging factory in India, according to people with knowledge of the matter, a move to further diversify its geographic footprint at a time of US tensions with China.



An announcement could be made as soon as when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the US next week, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the details are private. The amount of money committed could go as high as $2 billion, one of the people said. The details could change as discussions are in progress, and theres no guarantee an agreement will be finalized.



The deal would mark a win for Modis ambitious Make in India plans, while offering Washington an opportunity to strengthen key supply chains outside of China. Removing barriers to technological trade between the two countries is a key part of Modis state visit, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in New Delhi on Tuesday.



The Indian investment would follow a Chinese ban on the use of Micron chips in what Beijing called critical infrastructure, a move that cast uncertainty over the status of US chipmakers in the worlds largest semiconductor market. On Friday, Micron pledged to invest $600 million more in its Chinese plant to create jobs and support the local market.



Indias Technology Ministry and Ministry of External Affairs didnt respond to requests for comment, while a representative for Micron declined to comment.



The US is pushing to diversify advanced chipmaking as growing Chinese tensions spur concerns about the worlds reliance on Asian manufacturing centers such as Taiwan. Micron, the largest American memory chipmaker, also secured financial support for a $3.6 billion next-generation plant it aims to establish in Japan.



Modi starts his first formal state visit June 21, with President Joe Biden hosting him for a banquet the following day. The Indian leader will also address the US Congress. Modi has pledged $10 billion to woo chipmakers to India, promising his administration will bear half the cost of setting up all semiconductor sites.



The Business Standard newspaper had previously reported Micron was set to get Indian government approval for a $1 billion assembly and packaging facility in India.
Japanese auto parts maker Musashi on Friday announced its entry in the electric mobility space in India in collaboration with BNC Motors and said it will invest Rs 70 crore in the first phase of the business. Musashi India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Musashi Seimitsu Industries, manufactures transmission components for IC engine-powered two and four wheelers. The company said it will use its platform of design and engineering capability to manufacture its new EV unit consisting of a motor, PCU, and gear box, it said. The company said it will manufacture the e-Axle at its Bengaluru plant, starting October. Musashi will spend Rs 70 crore in phase-1 to set up an assembly line for the product at its manufacturing facility in Bengaluru, it said. "We are bringing Musashi's expertise and advanced technology to the electric mobility sector in India. Our focus is to provide components that are essential for the growth and success of electric vehicles," said Toshihisa Otsuka, CEO India and Africa Region, at Musashi Seimitsu Industries. The company said it is expanding into e-mobility through a strategic collaboration with Bharat New-Energy Company (BNC) Motors in India. The company has already signed an initial pact with Strom in Thailand, EV Go in Vietnam, and Arc Ride in Kenya, and will supply them e-Axle manufactured in India.

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
In its first meeting since getting elected last month, a sense of moderation was observed in industry body Internet and Mobile Association's (IAMAI) governing council's approach towards tackling Big Tech.



"Most of the discussion centred around Big Tech, what should be our stance and how we shouldn't go completely anti-big tech... There were no other policy discussions," a person in the know said. The meeting was held on June 14.



The new 24-member governing council of the IAMAI was elected in May following a month-long saga that saw many Indian entrepreneurs accusing the industry body and its previous governing council of "parroting" Big Tech's views.



Also read: All you need to know about the tussle at IAMAI on Big Tech, competition law, and elections



The newly-elected executive council members are Dream11's Harsh Jain as chairperson, Rajesh Magow of MakeMyTrip as vice chairperson, and Satyan Gajwani of Times Internet as the treasurer. The top three companies, in terms of votes received, form the executive council.



Sources said that during the meeting, which also coincided with the industry body's annual general meeting, there also seemed to be a consensus on prioritising start-ups in IAMAI's charter.



"There was also a discussion on what the IAMAI charter stands for... If it is first and foremost for the broader internet sector in India or for startups in the country. It seemed most of them broadly agreed that it should be start-ups first," a second person close to the developments said.



Apart from that members also discussed the road forward on the Google billing issue, sources said, adding that it will be decided at a later date. IAMAI executive council listened to feedback of governing council members, sources added.



Moneycontrol had earlier reported how IAMAI's new governing council members will meet to decide on issues such as Google's 30 per cent billing commission and a framework to deal with anti-competitive agenda.



Also read | Wont allow Big Tech companies to corner or grab policy: Rajeev Chandrasekhar



Google has received widespread criticism for its play store billing system that mandates app developers to use it for in-app purchases. Developers have been complaining about the 15 per cent to 30 per cent commission that Google charges for all in-app purchases made through the Play Store.



Indian start-ups too have been particularly upset with Google regarding the matter, a sentiment which played a major role in Big Tech companies being voted out of the newly-elected IAMAI governing council.
The filing of tax returns has commenced for income earned during the financial year 2022-23, which spans from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023. Salaried employees, however, may still be waiting for their employers to issue their Form 16, which is usually circulated in the first half of June. This means salaried employees can start filing their income tax returns only after June 15.



Form 16 is all that is required of salaried individuals to file income tax returns.



Forms 16, 16A, and 16B are all certifications of tax deducted at source on earnings from various sources. They differ in terms of purpose, eligibility, and where they apply.



What is Form 16?



Form 16 is a certificate of tax deducted at source, also referred to as a salary certificate that the employer provides to the employee. This form includes all the details of deductions made by the employer in a financial year.



Throughout the financial year, the employer pays the employee's salary every month. If an employee's total income is taxable, the employer calculates the tax due and deducts it from the salary that is paid every month.



For salaried people who pay TDS, Form 16 is essential to validate if tax has been deducted from an employee's salary.



Form 16 contains:



1. PAN, TAN, Name & Address of the Employer



2. PAN, Name & Address of the Employee



3. Details of TDS and deposited with the government.



Also read: ITR filing, HRA and Section 80GG: How to claim tax benefits on rent paid



What is Form 16A?



The certificate known as Form 16A applies to TDS on income other than salary. As an example, your bank will deduct tax on any income that is eligible for such deduction, including interest income from fixed deposits, rent, insurance commissions, and other types of income.



Form 16A contains:



a. Name and address of the employer.



b. Employees Permanent Account Number (PAN)



c. Employees Tax Deduction Account Number (TAN)



d. Summary of quarterly tax deducted and deposited.



What is Form 16B?



Form 16B is a certificate for tax deducted at source on the sale of real estate, stating that the buyer's TDS amount has been submitted to the income tax department. The buyer needs to deduct 1 percent TDS on the amount paid to the seller at the time of the sale of immovable property. The buyer is obligated to pay the 1 percent tax to the Income Tax Department and provide Form 16B to the seller.



Form 16B contains:



a. Tax computations



b. Gross amount paid/credited



c. Exemption/deduction claimed



d. Any other income



Also read: Old is gold: Income tax exemptions & deductions that senior citizens can claim



Can a person download Form 16 on their own?



Form 16 must be submitted once TDS has been paid. Every salaried person is qualified to get Form 16 from their employers only.



Things to consider when submitting income tax returns



Form 16 is essential for submitting income tax returns for salaried employees. All the information in it needs to be precise. Ask your employer to give you a Form 16 if they haven't already since failing to submit your income tax returns by the deadline might result in payment of interest of 1 percent every month. Check the IT portal to see if the employer has deposited TDS as well.



Overall, taxes are your duty to pay, not your employers.



Also listen to: Oops...Your Annual Information Statement might have crucial errors | Simply Save
The provincial government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic focused on bilateral co-operation in support of energy innovation and other economic activities.

"New Brunswick is well-positioned to power the world with clean energy as we build a world-class energy cluster," said Premier Blaine Higgs. "I am pleased that we will continue to nurture our relationship with the Czech Republic to support our province's energy-related files and other economic priorities."

The document was signed in Ottawa during a meeting between Arlene Dunn, minister responsible for Opportunities NB, and Jozef Sikela, Czech minister of Industry and Trade, and other government officials.

"New Brunswick is one of the most competitive jurisdictions for investment in Canada and partnerships are integral to everything we do here," said Dunn. "This collaboration is the first step in building a mutually beneficial partnership that positions our province for continued economic growth and prosperity."

From left: Jozef Sikela, Czech minister of Industry and Trade; and Arlene Dunn, minister responsible for Opportunities NB.

Following are the highlights of the memorandum, including, but not limited to the field of energy:

energy industry, including renewables;

gas industry, including especially the production, transportation, and storage of liquified natural gas (LNG) if development occurs in New Brunswick;

carbon neutral and greenhouse gas mitigation technology;

deploy and implementation of small modular reactor (SMR) technology being developed in New Brunswick;

hydrogen, including production, technology, and related products and services; and

other areas following the expression of interest between the participants.

"As Europe continues to experience energy uncertainty, New Brunswick can play an important role in helping countries like the Czech Republic create their own energy future," said Natural Resources and Energy Development Minister Mike Holland. "Together, we will continue to look at the ongoing global transformation of energy development, and how New Brunswick can continue to lead the way for clean energy options, such as SMRs."

The agreement stems from a meeting that took place in May 2023 between Higgs, Dunn and Borek Lizec, ambassador of the Czech Republic to Canada, during which opportunities for collaboration were discussed.

"Canada is one of the key partners for the Czech Republic and the European Union. We do understand the opportunities to strengthen the ties with New Brunswick" said Sikela. "The memorandum of understanding we signed today reflects our willingness to enhance our co-operation across the board, with special focus on energy and related technologies. The timing seems to be just right to face together global energy challenges."

Opportunities NB is a Crown corporation and the lead economic development agency for the province. It seeks to attract and support opportunities to stimulate economic growth and create jobs by providing support services for businesses.
In one of the biggest moves in the Rs 40 lakh crore Indian mutual funds (MF) industry seen in recent times, Rahul Goswami, who is presently the Chief Investment Officer (CIO)  Fixed Income at ICICI Prudential MF, is set to join Franklin Templeton India MF as the head of debt funds.



Presently, Santosh Kamath heads the debt funds in Franklin Templeton India MF. An email sent to Franklin Templeton, seeking comments, did not elicit a response. Goswami didnt answer our phone calls and WhatsApp messages.



Meanwhile, ICICI Prudential AMC has announced that Manish Banthia will take over as the CIO - Fixed Income at the fund house.



Goswamis joining Franklin Templeton underscores the fund houses commitment to the Indian business. It also signals that the fund house is leaving its past behind.



Earlier, this week, the MF paid off Rs 39.27 crore to investors of Franklin India Short Term Income Plan (FISTIP). It also paid Rs 138.79 crore to investors of Franklin India Credit Risk Fund (FICRF). Up until now- and including the latest pay-out- Franklin Templeton has paid a cumulative amount to the tune of Rs 27,109.34 crore.



All six schemes have paid more than 100 percent of the schemes' assets under management at the time of winding it up.



Whats more, Goswamis entry into the fund house marks the closure of all the debts of five of six debt funds that the fund house had suddenly wound up in April 2020 in the wake of the illiquidity crisis that had erupted due to the onset of Covid-19. After this weeks pay-outs, the fund house has extinguished units in five of six debt funds. Only one scheme- FISTIP- would remain.



It is not clear where Kamath is headed. But word on the street is that the fund house would launch a high-risk credit strategy under a PMS (portfolio management services) or AIF (alternate investment funds) division and Kamath would head it.



In an interview that Sanjay Sapre, former President of Franklin Templeton India, had given to Moneycontrol in April 2022, he confirmed the fund houses intentions to explore an AIF / PMS division for such funds.



A lot of wealth and money from family offices and high net-worth individuals has been investing in AIFs and PMSs. The allocations to traditional fixed-income investments have been coming down. There is a demand for credit strategies in the fixed-income space through the AIF structure. We will certainly consider entering this space sometime because obviously, we have credit expertise in-house. Does that mean Santosh (Kamath) will go there? That is a very future structural discussion, Sapre had said at the time.



Moneycontrol couldnt get any official confirmation about Kamaths future with the fund house. But in most likelihood, Kamath would head the AIF divisions debt funds.



Goswamis addition to Templeton MF also signals a turning point in its debt fund strategies. As opposed to the credit strategy (a high-risk fixed-income strategy where the fund manager invests in low-rated but hopefully well-managed companies, in the hope to make a gain when credit ratings get upgraded) that Kamath was used to running across many debt funds, Goswami is conservative and is known to pick high credit rated securities.



ICICI Prudential AMC is also known to take credit risks occasionally but in a measured way. Goswami is an experienced hand in the Indian fixed-income markets. Having worked in Franklin Templeton between October 2002 and July 2004, he came to ICICI Prudential AMC and worked there between July 2004 and November 2009.



He left the fund house to work at Standard Chartered Bank for three years and then came back to ICICI Prudential AMC towards the end of 2012.
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) is looking at strengthening the grievance redressal system for policyholders who have complaints against insurance companies, IRDAI Chairman Debasish Panda said on June 16.



Work is in the progress. There is also a proposal from the government through a new legislation to build a more robust grievance redressal mechanism. We are examining it at our level. The work is on. Going forward, we will have a much better platform for claim settlement, processing and grievance redressal, Panda said on the sidelines of an Insurance Brokers Association of India (IBAI) event in Mumbai.



He said efforts are on to improve the customer protection framework.



Also read: Bima Sugam a UPI moment for insurance space, will not lead to job losses in distribution space: IRDAI chief Panda



We are trying to work with the entire insurance ecosystem to find better solutions so that that the claim journey for customers becomes frictionless. Although the industry has paid out claim worth around Rs 80,000 crore, some do get left out and there are pain points. So how do we resolve (these issues)? The industry is working on it and we are monitoring, said Panda.



He also emphasised the need for the insurance industry to adopt emerging technologies to design products and underwrite risk. For example, all individual financial data is being aggregated by through the account aggregator framework. All the financial data is aggregated at one place to be used by banking companies, insurance companies etc to assess risk and offer products and price," he said. If the customer does not have, say, credit history, entities can explore other avenues to ascertain the risks. "Now suppose a customer does not have financial, digital or credit footprint is new to banking or insurance - then, they can look at alternative data to get an idea of creditworthiness. That is how technology is evolving. So stakeholders should think of (newer) technologies available, which will perhaps lead to better, more prudent underwriting and pricing, he said.



Panda also reiterated the need for insurance companies to focus on newer customer segments such as gig workers, gen Z, millennials and so on and look at designing specialised products for these categories.



Also read: Moneycontrol-SecureNow Ratings: Your guide to picking the right policy



IRDAI is focussing on ensuring efficient capital utilisation by ushering in the risk-based capital (RBC) regime, moving away from the factor-based solvency capital regime.



Traditionally, we have been looking at liquidity risk, capital risktoday, governance risk, management risk, operational risk and more importantly, geopolitical and climate change risks  everything has to be factored in. So, a macroeconomic outlook will have to be adopted to make sure that insurance companies are healthy and safe. We are working with a global agency called the Toronto Centre for a 360-degree risk-based supervision framework, Panda said.



In May, he had said that the regulator would ask insurance companies to adopt the RBC regime over the next 2-3 years.



Work is also on to eventually move towards International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). We are trying to make the industry future-ready, he said.
With regulations in place for execution-only platforms (EOP) to enable direct mutual fund (MF) investments, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has made it possible for more such platforms to flourish.



An EOP is meant for direct MF investors who do not wish to avail of any investment advice from distributors or registered investment advisors (RIA). The new EOP rules allow EOPs to act either as agents of asset management companies (EOP 1), or as a stockbroker (EOP 2).



An EOP 1 would need to be registered with the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI), the industry body for India's mutual fund sector.



An EOP 2 would need to be registered as a stock broker with SEBI and can operate only through the platforms provided by stock exchanges.



Existing platforms that help you buy MFs online and can be called as EOPs (such as Paytm Money, Groww, ET Money, and Zerodha Coin) have time till September 30 to get registered under either of the categories.



Also read | EPF or NPS: Which is the better investment option?



Moneycontrol reached out to most of the existing online platforms, but they are still contemplating which licence to go for. To be sure, most direct platforms currently use BSE StarMF or MF Utilities India for transactions processing.



As per industry estimates, about 35-40 percent of new mutual fund investors are acquired via two or three of the biggest direct platforms.



Charges involved



The first big question that investors would face is what would it cost them to buy or sell MFs on such platforms.



Under the new norms, platforms would have the freedom to charge transaction fees. EOPs registered with AMFI can charge a flat transaction fee, which would be borne by fund houses within the upper limit as specified by AMFI. Also, onboarding fees need to be borne by the asset management companies (AMC).



While broker-based EOPs can also levy a flat transaction fee, this would be borne by investors within the upper limit as specified by stock exchanges. Further, on-boarding fees by this category of EOPs may be borne by the AMCs and / or investors.



Impact on investors



Experts believe things wont change much for investors.



First of all, the fear that AMCs might increase the expense ratio for direct plans to recover the costs they need to bear is unfounded.



Per the SEBI circular, AMCs have been directed that they cannot charge investors any fees or charges paid to EOPs.



Also, the expense ratio for mutual funds is arrived at based on a formula (regular plan TER, less distributor expenses = direct plan TER), which cannot be changed arbitrarily. The cost of managing a mutual fund scheme, expressed as a percentage of its net asset value (NAV), is called its total expense ratio (TER).



I don't think fund houses have the leeway to hike the TER on direct plans without impacting the TER for regular plans, said Santosh Navlani, Chief Operating Officer, ET Money, a wealth management platform.



Further, a marketing head at a mutual fund house said that AMCs picking up the charges levied by EOPs would not hit their bottomlines as theyre already paying such charges to platforms such as BSE. In case of EOP 1, the charges will move from BSE Star MF to either AMCs or Registrar and Transfer Agents (RTA).



Which way will investors lean?



According to experts, as far as investors are concerned, there will be no difference in choosing either of the EOPs.



Also read | Old is gold: Income tax exemptions & deductions that senior citizens can claim



As per Navlani, SEBI has made it clear that stock exchanges will prescribe the upper cap for fees of Category 2 EOPs, while in Category 1, the AMFI will prescribe the upper limit.



It is likely that both these charges will be in sync. For example, if the maximum fee in category 1 Rs X, category 2 would be about 1-1.05 times that. In any case, in case of EOP 1, the investor would not be bearing the charges, he said.



Price sensitivity will ensure that nobody operating as a Category 2 EOP will take the risk of charging higher fees. Besides, EOPs arent allowed to value-add, they are there for mere convenience. Hence, the AMFI-prescribed limit cannot be very different from that of stock exchanges, he said.



Mind the higher charge



According to Dhirendra Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Value Research, an online MF analysis firm, even with the new regulations, EOPs would not be able to charge much.



Also read | Cautious of market highs, these large-caps exit MF portfolio



They will try to get some flat fee from AMCs, but that won't be anything meaningful, and if it becomes meaningful, then investors should be wary of it. Because then platforms would be hawking products that will be in their best interests. Anybody can push things on their homepage, said Kumar.



Once EOPs are aligned with either the AMFI or stock exchanges, it would be interesting to see how EOPs make buying and selling easier, what schemes get hawked, and how they differentiate from one another.



The EOPs are here and they may have varied business models, however, it is not mandatory for the investors to go and transact on one of these platforms. Though such platforms may offer value-added services, small investors content with one or two fund houses may continue to transact on the websites of the mutual funds. For example, a passive investor content with index funds need not necessarily invest across fund houses if one or two fund houses are offering required strategies.
Singapore Airlines on Friday said it has not raised its stake in Air India from the 25.1% which it secured as part of the Tata Group's Vistara merger to create a bigger full-service India's national carrier. Singapore's state carrier's statement was in response to a media report saying it had raised its stake in the Indian airline to about 40%.

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
It seems an interminable wait for pending salaries for the Indian staff of Noon Academy. The Saudi Arabia-based edtech startup has failed to honour the promise of payments over 11 months after it began laying off staff last year across roles in India and eventually discontinued classes on November 16, 2022.



Noon Academy, which entered India in 2019, asked for an extension on March 14, for clearing the dues, citing a delay in closing an ongoing funding round, sources told Moneycontrol.



On March 15, Moneycontrol reported that the company said it planned to pay part of the dues by the end of the month and disburse the remaining amount by the end of May. In another official email earlier, the company had also promised a bonus amount to compensate for the delay.



Teachers received half of their dues on March 23, but the remaining amount, which was to be disbursed in May along with the promised bonuses, have not yet been credited.



Queries sent to Noon Academy did not elicit a response at the time of publishing.



Delay in fundraise



In an email on June 14, the company said that it is unable to process the payments. We apologise to inform you that due to some unforeseen fundraising issues, we are not able to process the payment as of now. However, (we) want to assure you that we are working diligently to resolve this issue as soon as possible, said the mail, a copy of which has been reviewed by Moneycontrol.



Moneycontrol earlier reported that the company had hoped to close the next round of funding by May as it had strong commitments from our investors, it said in an email to staff dated March 14.



Edtech startups, especially in the K-12 space, have been struggling to stay afloat with investor funding drying up and demand for online learning plunging. Since 2022, edtech firms, including biggies Byjus and Unacademy, have laid off over 8,000 Indian employees.



Also Read: Layoffs, restructuring, slowdown: Indias edtech firms are struggling post-pandemic



In the latest email, the company also said that the Noon team will call teachers to clear any questions you may have. Noon Employees had not received any further communication at the time of publishing this story.



At least earlier there was hope of a deadline of May by which payments should come in. In this mail, they have not even given a date by when we can expect it, said an employee.



About Noon Academy



Founded in 2013 by Mohammed Aldhalaan and Aziz Alsaeed, Noon Academy started as a test preparation platform for students in Saudi Arabia. Now, the company calls itself a social learning platform and enables students to attend virtual classes, on-demand tutorials and live study group sessions.



The company has raised $21.6 million over three funding rounds, according to Crunchbase. Its backers include venture capital firm 500 Global, which has invested in Indian unicorn Cars 24 and other edtech companies such as Canada-based foreign education consultancy firm Applyboard, and the US-based coding platform for kids, Tynker.



After raising Series A funding of $8.6 million in June 2019, co-led by Central Asia-based venture capital firms Raed Ventures and STV, the company entered India to strengthen its products and build tech infrastructure to support it. According to its website, Noon Academy caters to over 12 million students globally.



India exit



Moneycontrol earlier reported that before it was made official, former employees of Noon had alleged the company was mulling an exit from India, shutting down its entire operations in the country.



To be sure, after sacking all educators last year, the company discontinued classes abruptly in November 2022.



While Noon Academy claims to be present in over eight countries including India, its website and application currently show it operates only in four  Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq and Pakistan. Former educators confirmed that India was among the options earlier.



The company offered courses for standards 11 and 12, in addition, to test prep courses for competitive exams such as the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for admission to undergraduate medical courses. However, currently, Noon Academy does not have live courses on its platforms for Indian students.



Noon Academys India team, based in Bengaluru, had a strength of about 100 employees, according to Glassdoor and LinkedIn. However, its not clear if the figure includes contractual employees.



The company let go of its 40 contractual teachers in July 2022, months before their agreements were scheduled to lapse. Noon also eventually laid off the majority of its permanent staff by the end of February, Moneycontrol reported earlier in March.



While permanent employees, including those in the sales, tech and operations teams, are said to have been paid in full after being asked to leave, the company has held part of the payments due to its contractual teachers for about 11 months.
CEAT aims to increase its market share in the passenger vehicle segment from 15 percent to 18-20 percent over the next three to four years, the tyre manufacturer said at its annual analyst meeting.



A market leader in the two-wheeler tyre segment, CEAT is looking to expand its passenger vehicle share by selling more premium tyres.



At 10.51 am, the stock, which has gained nearly 50 percent in less than two months, was trading at Rs 2,088.60 on the National Stock Exchange, 0.76 percent up from the previous close.

Catch all the market action on our live blog

Export push



The tyre maker said at the June 15 meeting that is seeing a demand recovery in exports. In FY23, export revenue grew two times to Rs 2000 crore in FY23 in the last three years and CEAT wants to double it to Rs 4000 crore by FY26.



The company is expecting growth in international business, mainly in the agri-radial tyres, from European Union, USA, and Latin American markets.



Motilal Oswal has maintained a buy call on CEAT with a target price of Rs 2,375. Elara has given a accumulate rating at a target price of Rs 2,285.



Nomura, however, remains neutral with a target price of Rs 1,765.



CEAT plans to have a smaller and a fragmented capex ahead. The capex will be smaller and will be done in tranches rather at a single time, Nomura said in its report.



The capex for FY23 was Rs 700 crore, a comfortable position for the company to grow at the current installed capacity, the research house said.



The Mumbai-based company expects EBITDA margins to be affected in the near term on the back of increased marketing spends. CEAT was the official strategic partner for the recently concluded Indian Premium League edition.



Also read This tyre stock rallies over 35% in May but it can still deliver 9% more



The companys sales increased 20 percent in FY23 to Rs 11,315. Operating profit margin was up 100 basis points to 9 percent. Net profit for the year increased 2.5 times to Rs 182 crore.



One basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.



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.
Eureka Forbes shares have been on fire ever since the home appliances company reported a 346 percent year-on-year jump in its consolidated net profit to Rs 20.59 crore for the quarter ended March 2023. The company posted its results on May 30 and the stock has appreciated 30 percent since then. On June 16, the stock gained another 6 percent and was quoting at Rs 565 on the NSE at 11:45 am.



Follow our live blog for all the market action



According to analysts, apart from the triple-digit boost to the net profit, positive management commentary is also a key trigger behind the optimism.



"Execution of specific transformation initiatives helped improve our EBITDA margin to 9.3 percent, up by 300 basis pints YoY. This combined with a 72 percent YoY reduction in our net debt will allow us the headroom to invest for growth," Pratik Pota, MD and CEO, Eureka Forbes had said after the results.



Pota was earlier the chief executive officer of Jubilant Foodworks.



Project Udaan



In its first ever investor call after the company's listing, the management talked about Project Udaan. The company plans to expand the water purifier category by offering affordable, innovative, and premium products, as well as improve customer experience through digital tools.



"Eureka Forbes is planning a structured programmein cost reduction, productivity, and cash optimisation. It also aims to educate Indians and drive awareness on cleaning and air purifiers products," said Elara Capital analysts in a note.



D2C health and hygiene leader



Currently, water purifiers in India have a very low penetration of only 5 percent. In urban areas, it is at 12 percent and in rural it is 3 percent. The management wants water purifier, cleaning, and air to be the three growth pillars for the company.



"This exciting strategy, titled Project Udaan, will propel us towards a vision of transforming into a vibrant D2C health and hygiene leader," said Pota.



During the March quarter, the company took big strides on this front and launched a new range in water purifiers including Aquaguard Superio, Blaze, and Eden. It also launched the latest range of robotic vacuum cleaners.



Elara Capital has a target of Rs 570 on the stock with return on equity estimated at 12 percent in FY24 and FY25.



Shareholding pattern



Construction major Shapoorji Pallonji and Company exited Eureka Forbes in July 2022 after selling its stake to the new owner Lunolux, a firm backed by private equity firm Advent International. Lunolux now holds 72.5 percent in the company.



Foreign institutional investors hold 10.9 percent in the company with India Discovery Fund having 8.3 percent stake and Antara India Evergreen Fund with 2.58 percent stake.



The company has a market capitalisation of Rs 10,935 crore.



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 FSN E-Commerce Ventures, which operates Nykaa, zoomed 5 percent to Rs 144.85 on BSE in late trade after the company talked at length about emerging growth areas on its investor day. The company said it has been working to generate revenue from its innerwear product line Nykd, which is showing signs of promise. In just two years of operation, the product has reached annual revenue of Rs 85 crore and is EBITDA positive. The company said Nykd is among the Top 3 in India in the bras category in less than 18 months on Amazon. It has achieved 100 percent YoY growth in FY23 at 50 percent lower marketing spends. For the brand, UP, Uttrakhand, Delhi-NCR, Haryana, Gujarat, Punjab and Karnataka are existing regions, while Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telengana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, the Northeast and Kerala are the emerging markets. In established markets, the repeats are more than 30 percent. Store count grew from ~350 in FY22 to ~1000 in FY23 and projected to cross ~2000 in FY24. Strong trade team across markets with focus on presence in top pareto stores, Nykaa said. It has set up four exclusive stores and more are coming up. Catch all the market action on our live blog Another product line Kay has also shown promise, it said, adding that gross merchandise value (GMV) grew by 75 percent YoY in FY23 to Rs 128 crore. 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.

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
The time is right for the US-India trade to grow exponentially as the business environment between the countries is improving and India's growth story is attracting a large number of American companies, according to the North America head of Tata Consultancy Services.



"I have not seen a better business-friendly climate from both governments and there is an increasing interest from US companies to deal with India, especially in areas of technology," Suresh Muthuswami, chairman of North America TCS told PTI in an interview.



India-US bilateral trade has been on the rise since 2000, but from 2020 to 2022, it has grown from USD 120 billion to USD 191 billion.



"I think we're just scratching the surface. (There is) enormous interest from the US government. India is a growing economy and(there is) a lot of interest to do business with India. So, the time is right for trade between the two countries to grow exponentially. When it comes to the United States technology has always led the way and it will, it will continue," Muthuswami said.



TCS which has been in the US for more than 50 years has been the growth and transformation partner for America's most valuable companies. TCS has more than 1,000 clients in the US.



"We have a lot of room to grow," he said, noting that every company increases their spending on technology, they all want to be technology companies, irrespective of the industries they are in.



Responding to a question, Muthuswami said there is a need for sharing technology, advanced technology skills and sharing best practices for upskilling.



His comments have come ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the United States from June 20 to 23. The prime minister will meet US President Joe Biden and address a joint sitting of the US Congress during his US visit.



"We hope that Prime Minister Modi and President Biden discuss the importance of elevating technology partnership, strengthening our innovation ecosystems, that includes not only businesses but also governments and economic institutions," he said.



The TCS North America head said the collaboration between the US and India, on game-changing technologies such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, 5G, Internet of Things is very critical for both countries.



"In my discussions with various government officials, it is abundantly clear that that's an area where both countries want to partner," he said.



"Another area is cybersecurity. TCS also has been working with White House initiatives on this. Cybersecurity is an area where there is a lot of focus for collaboration," he said.



The recently launched ICET Dialogue, he said, is a step in the right direction. "We are very excited about its potential to deepen the ties between the US and India," he said adding that both governments can facilitate collaboration.



Noting that the pace of technological advancements is changing rapidly, he said the public-private sector, in both countries, must be positioned to respond with unity.



"To remain competitive, innovative American companies need well-trained employees. We have more than 45,000 people in our workforce in the US. We have been investing in innovation in the US," he said.



In June 2019, TCS launched Pace Port New York on the campus of Cornell Tech in New York City. Pace Port New York is located in the Tata Innovation Center, a building on the Cornell Tech campus that was funded with a USD 50 million TCS investment in the university.



The goal of the Tata Innovation Center is to bring academia and industry together under one roof to share ideas and research on next-generation digital technologies and how to commercialize new areas of collaboration.



In April 2022, TCS opened Pace Port Pittsburgh on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University. Pace Port Pittsburgh is located in TCS Hall, a building funded with a USD 35 million philanthropic gift to CMU.



The 90,000-square-foot building also houses the CMU Master of Science in Computational Finance program, facilities for the School of Computer Science's Institute for Software Research, and its Center for Business Engagement.



In March 2021, TCS announced plans to expand its operations in Ohio by hiring more than 800 local employees at its Seven Hills Park campus. To meet the increasing demand for IT talent and address local community needs, TCS will invest more than USD 518 million in Ohio over the next two years and expects to double participation in its STEM and computer science K-12 education programs by 2022.



Also in December 2020, TCS announced it would expand its business operations in Austin, Texas with the construction of a new facility, doubling its presence to more than 400 professionals in the city and adding to its 5,500-plus employees across the state.



By 2022, TCS will hire an additional 130 new employees in Austin. Over the next seven years, TCS will invest more than USD100 million in Austin.



In July 2021, TCS announced plans to expand its operations in Phoenix, Arizona, investing more than USD300 million by 2026 and hiring more than 220 employees by 2023, to meet the digital transformation needs of its customers.



In February 2022, TCS announced it was expanding its operations in New Jersey by hiring nearly 1,000 additional employees by the end of 2023 to meet the growing needs of customers to digitally transform their businesses.



Responding to a question, Muthuswami said TCS has hired about 21,000 people in the last three years in the US. "We have hired 4,500 people from universities in the last three years in the US. Our talent acquisition strategy has been around these efforts right now. We will continue to double down on our investments in the US and hiring more people in the US.



"It has worked out tremendously well for us. We have a very diverse workforce in the US right now, which looking at our last three years' growth rates in the US, we have grown to 54 per cent of global revenues," he said.
India plays a crucial role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific that is connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient, the Biden administration has said, a week ahead of the Official State Visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States.



The US, India and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military manoeuvring in the region.



"Our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relationships. We look closely with India on...we work closely with India on our most vital priorities. They play a crucial role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific that is connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient," State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference on Thursday.



"Secretary (of State, Tony) Blinken looks forward to seeing Prime Minister Modi and other members of the Indian delegation, while they're here; and working to make progress on all the issues with which we consult with India," Miller said.



Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. They will host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. The visit also includes an address to the Joint Session of the Congress on June 22.



Responding to a question on visa delays in India, Miller said US consular teams have been making a huge push to process as many visa applications as possible in India, including in those visa categories that are key to the bilateral relationship.



"This is a top priority for our government. We know that there is more work that we can do, and we are working hard to do it," he said.



When asked about human rights issues in India, Miller said there are a number of issues with which the US work with India and it also regularly raises with Indian Government officials its human rights concerns.



"We've been clear about that. We speak with them privately we speak about those privately with the Indian Government...," he said.



"I will also say that with respect to protests, we support the right of every American to exercise their First Amendment rights to make their voices heard. We just earlier in this briefing talked about a very vigorous exercise of the First Amendment right that's been happening outside our building for, I don't know, a week or two now, and we continue to support the right of Americans to do so," Miller said.



Responding to a question on US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, he said: "I've heard that the new American ambassador, Ambassador Garcetti, is actually a bit of a celebrity in India, as well."



"Let me just say again that our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relationships. We really look forward to the visit next week. In addition to hosting Prime Minister Modi at the White House, there will be a state lunch here at the State Department, and we're all very much looking forward to it," Miller said.



In March, Garcetti, the former Mayor of Los Angeles, was officially sworn in as the US Ambassador to India by Vice President Kamala Harris during a ceremonial event here.



Garcetti's nomination was pending before the US Congress since July 2021 when he was nominated by President Joe Biden.
If approved, new rates would take effect beginning Sept. 2023 and Sept. 2024

Avista (NYSE: AVA), the Staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, Clearwater Paper Corporation, Idaho Forest Group, LLC and Walmart Inc., parties to the Company's electric and natural gas general rate cases, have reached a settlement agreement that has been submitted to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission for its consideration, and which would resolve all issues in the proceeding. The remaining joint party, the Idaho Conservation League / NW Energy Coalition, did not join in the Settlement.

If approved, the settlement agreement is designed to increase annual base electric revenues by $22.1 million or 8.0%, effective Sept. 1, 2023, and by $4.3 million or 1.4%, effective Sept. 1, 2024. For natural gas, the settlement agreement is designed to increase annual base natural gas revenues by $1.3 million or 2.7%, effective Sept. 1, 2023, and by $.003 million or 0.01%, effective Sept. 1, 2024. The settlement capital structure includes a 9.4% return on equity (ROE) with a common equity ratio of 50% and a rate of return (ROR) on rate base of 7.19%.

"This settlement agreement will provide new rates in Idaho that are fair and reasonable for our customers, the Company, and our shareholders," said Dennis Vermillion, Avista president and CEO. "We view this outcome as being constructive as it provides us with the opportunity to earn a fair return in Idaho and supports Avista's efforts to invest in and maintain our infrastructure so we can continue to provide the reliable energy our customers expect."

Residential Customer Bills

If the settlement is approved, a residential electric customer using an average of 927 kilowatt hours per month would see an 11.9% billed increase of $10.15 per month for a revised monthly bill of $95.55 effective Sept. 1, 2023, and a 2.2% billed increase of $2.06 per month for a revised monthly bill of $97.61 effective Sept. 1, 2024. A residential natural gas customer using an average of 64 therms per month would see a billed 1.6% increase of $1.20 per month for a revised monthly bill of $74.62 effective Sept. 1, 2023, and a 0.0% billed increase of $0.03 per month for a revised monthly bill of $74.65 effective Sept. 1, 2024.

The actual percentage rate change will vary by customer rate schedule and will depend on how much energy a customer uses.

Avista serves more than 141,000 electric and 92,000 natural gas customers in Idaho.

Avista's Original Request

Avista's original request was designed to increase annual electric base revenues by $37.5 million (or 14.7% on a billed basis) effective Sept. 1, 2023, and $13.2 million (or 4.5% on a billed basis) effective Sept. 1, 2024. For natural gas, the rate request was designed to increase annual base revenues by $2.8 million (or 2.7% on a billed basis) effective Sept. 1, 2023, and $0.1 million (or 0.1% on a billed basis) effective Sept. 1, 2024.

The electric and natural gas requests were based on a proposed rate of return (ROR) on rate base of 7.59% with a common equity ratio of 50% and a 10.25% return on equity (ROE).

Customer Resources

To assist customers in managing their energy bills, Avista offers services for customers such as comfort level billing, payment arrangements and Customer Assistance Referral and Evaluation Services (CARES), which provide assistance to special-needs customers through referrals to area agencies and churches for help with housing, utilities, medical assistance and other needs. Avista also provides funding for energy assistance programs Project Share and the company's LIRAP, which are administered through community action agencies.

Avista provides energy efficiency and outreach programs that include rebates and incentives as well as tips and resources to help customers manage their energy use and energy bills. Customers can learn more at www.myavista.com.

About Avista Corp.

Avista Corp. is an energy company involved in the production, transmission, and distribution of energy as well as other energy-related businesses. Avista Utilities is the operating division that provides electric service to 403,000 customers and natural gas to 369,000 customers. Its service territory covers 30,000 square miles in eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and parts of southern and eastern Oregon, with a population of 1.6 million. Alaska Energy and Resources Company is an Avista subsidiary that provides retail electric service in the city and borough of Juneau, Alaska, through its subsidiary Alaska Electric Light and Power Company. Avista stock is traded under the ticker symbol "AVA." For more information about Avista, please visit www.avistacorp.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the company's current expectations. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than historical facts. Such statements speak only as of the date of the news release and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations. These risks and uncertainties include, in addition to those discussed herein, all of the factors discussed in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2022 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023.

Contact:

Media: Lena Funston (509) 495-8090, lena.funston@avistacorp.com

Investors: Stacey Wenz (509) 495-2046, stacy.wenz@avistacorp.com

Avista 24/7 Media Access (509) 495-4174
USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake separate state visits to the United States and Egypt from June 20 to 25, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Friday.



Modi's visit to the US will commence in New York, where he will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the headquarters of the United Nations on June 21.



In December 2014, the UN General Assembly had adopted a resolution proclaiming June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.



"The prime minister will thereafter travel to Washington D.C., where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22, and meet President Biden to continue their high-level dialogue. President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden will host a State dinner in honour of the prime minister the same evening," the MEA said in a statement.



It said Prime Minister Modi will address a joint sitting of the US Congress on June 22 at the invitation of Congressional leaders, including Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Speaker of the Senate Charles Schumer.



On June 23, the prime minister will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Bilnken, according to the MEA.



"In addition to the official engagements, the prime minister is scheduled to have several curated interactions with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders. He will also meet members of the Indian diaspora," it said.



In the second leg of his two-nation visit, Modi will travel to Cairo to pay a state visit to Egypt from June 24 to 25.



The visit is at the invitation of Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the President of Egypt, which he extended to Modi in January when he graced India's Republic Day celebrations as chief guest.



This will be Modi's first visit to Egypt as prime minister.



"Apart from his talks with President Sisi, the prime minister is likely to interact with senior dignitaries from the Egyptian government, some prominent Egyptian personalities, as well as the Indian community in Egypt," the MEA said.



"Relations between India and Egypt are based on ancient trade and economic linkages as well as cultural and deep-rooted people-to-people ties," it said.



During the state visit of President Sisi to India in January, it was agreed to elevate the relationship between the two countries to a strategic partnership.
In post-COVID India, economic and political risks would continue to shape corporate policies regarding cash holding, distribution of earnings, acquisitions and investment. An analysis of S&P BSE 500 companies by proxy advisory firm Institutional Investor Advisory Services Ltd (IiAs) recently identified 45 companies that have the potential to generate an additional Rs 68,900 crore for shareholders. This estimation is based on the financial statements of 2021-22, after adjusting for acquisition requirements and capital expenditures which have been announced after the balance sheet date.

The purpose is to focus attention on the fact that a significant amount of excess cash is available for distribution. How should companies return the excess cash to shareholders is the key question. The standard answer is, if the company cannot earn a return which is more than what the shareholder can get elsewhere, often called the hurdle rate, then it is better to return the money. Normally, this hurdle rate is a little more than the cost of capital.

Distributing Cash

The process of this distribution can differ from one company to another. Dividends are often perceived as some kind of a commitment, a certain degree of stickiness gets attached to it irrespective of the future performance of the company. Lowering the dividend rate in subsequent years is always a difficult proposition. Stable dividend payout with a possible step up is becoming the norm. From that point of view, a special dividend or a share buyback are less sticky options. In the case of share buyback, the financial ratios like Return on Equity (RoE) and Return on Assets (RoA) improve.

The next question which arises is, do high payouts and buybacks hinder innovation and investment? For argument's sake if one assumes that Rs 68,900 crore is given away in the form of payout and buyback, will it not disappear in ostentatious consumption? Cross-country empirical evidence tends to suggest otherwise. Majority of the shareholders are professional investors who switch funds from one sector to another or from one firm to another. There are several shareholder groups in India, these are promoters  both domestic and foreign along with their holding companies and trust, institutional investors  both domestic and foreign, government  both central and state, and finally high net-worth investors and retail investors. The bulk of the equity in India belongs to professional investors, retail investors own around 7 percent of it. Once professional investors get the buyback-related amounts, they can switch from an ageing (mature) industry to investing in a promising growth-oriented industry or innovation-driven startup. There are a number of existing industries where the trend in cash generation is much higher than the rate at which it can be utilised. Buybacks and payouts from industries like IT, pharma and FMCG can help the holding company or promoters to invest in new-age industries which could be cash guzzlers initially.

Buying Back

Some Indian companies have been buying back shares consistently in the recent past, these include TCS, Wipro, Balrampur Chini, Aarti Drugs and Jagran Prakashan. There are other operators too, however, they are less consistent and alternate between high dividend payout and buyback. Tax norms can influence the decision too, the dividend distribution tax has been removed but the payout is taxable in the hand of the recipient shareholder. In the case of buyback, the company is taxed and the shareholder doesnt have to pay. Ownership structure plays an important role in the choice of buyback as a payment option.

Interestingly, PSUs have not been lagging behind in the area of buyback. In 2020-21, Hindustan Petroleum, NTPC, NMDC, Gail India, Nalco and Engineers India participated in the buyback process. The cash transfer through the buyback process helps the government to garner additional non-tax revenue. Further, it also helps the government to meet the disinvestment target.

Managing Uncertainty

Cash holdings have lower returns, so high cash holdings can depress financial ratios like RoE, return on capital employed (RoCE), etc. So, the question that is asked most often is  Why do companies hold cash? Apart from the generic answer that cash is being held for transactional purposes or precautionary purposes, there are some home truths in an emerging economy. The MSME sector often has problems accessing funds, particularly when the availability of liquidity becomes a constraint and rates are high. Secondly, there are some cyclical sectors (e.g., metals, infrastructure and realty) that too have liquidity constraints like MSMEs and prefer to use internal funds when available. Thirdly, given the volatility in the economic environment like the threat of El Nino and recession in advanced countries, the transportation and logistics sectors can get affected adversely in the near future. For these sectors, it is better to use internal funds than pick up a debt obligation.

Excess cash holdings has two theoretical underpinnings (i) precautionary motive and (ii) agency theory. We have discussed the first one earlier. So far as agency theory is concerned, there could be a conflict between the corporate management and shareholders in the area of excess cash holdings. There may not be many opportunities of deploying the excess cash but corporate management, for purely self-serving purposes, can use the cash for value-destroying acquisitions or unwanted capacity creation and not return it to the shareholders. Indian business history is replete with examples where companies have gone for acquisitions at the height of business cycles or commodity cycles. Basically, at a time when stocks are overvalued. Hopefully, with increasing shareholder awareness things would improve in the future.

Siddhartha Roy is the former Economic Advisor of the Tata Group. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Winds of change are blowing at the United Nations headquarters in New York this year. Every year, June traditionally marks the commencement of the busiest season for Indian diplomats, journalists covering the UN and think tanks which focus on the work of the world body. This season normally lasts till the week before Christmas, when the General Assembly wraps up most of its important annual business.



Since May 2009, when Hardeep Singh Puri joined Indias Mission to the UN in New York as Permanent Representative and pulled up the countrys engagement with the world body by the bootstraps, these seven months have been the window when India gets elected to the Security Council and the UNs five other main organs. Until this turnaround, India was down in the dumps in Turtle Bay, home to the UN headquarters for many decades. Its nadir was in 1996, when India got a mere 40 votes against Japans massive 142 votes in the election of five non-permanent members to the Security Council. In a repeat of this election 18 months after Puri went to New York, India got into the Security Council with a whopping 187 votes. In a similar campaign waged in 2020 by TS Tirumurti, successor to Puri, India was again elected to the Council with 184 votes, despite constraints in voting due to the COVID-19 pandemic.



As a founding member of the UN, and as a large country which has made major contributions to the evolution of global specialised agencies and their programmes, the seven-month window is also when India plants its proxies in the UN system, when and where it cannot get its own people into critical positions. This is never publicly acknowledged for reasons of diplomatic propriety, but it is an open secret in the chancelleries that dot Manhattans high-rise skyline that major countries like India, China, Russia, France and the United States of America are constantly attempting to do so.



Yoga at UN



This June, however, Indian diplomats, newspersons and think tankers have new  additional, they would hasten to add  priorities. On June 21, they will be totally preoccupied with Prime Minister Narendra Modis presence, although brief, on the North Lawn of the UN headquarters to lead the ninth International Day of Yoga session in New York. Indias Permanent Mission to the UN has been busy planning this event for weeks because it is a logistical nightmare for them and for the UN Secretariat. The UN headquarters is just about seven hectares in area on land overlooking the East River, gifted by the Rockefeller family. Most of it is built-up office space. It is not a sprawling open area like Rajpath  now Kartavya Path  where yoga sessions with hundreds of practitioners can be held. US President Joe Biden told Modi in Hiroshima last month that his state banquet for the Prime Minister on June 22 was causing the White House a headache. Everyone in the whole country wants to come. I have run out of tickets. Ruchira Kamboj, successor to Tirumurti, has the same problem. Everyone in the tri-states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut wants to attend the yoga session with Modi on the North Lawn, even those who cannot bend for yoga postures. The UN Secretariat has conveniently passed on the task of vetting and approving RSVPs to Kambojs staff and they are still grappling with the challenge.



The importance of the Prime Ministers presence on the North Lawn for an hour from 8 to 9 am should not be underestimated. The International Day of Yoga is Modis initiative. He got the General Assembly to accept it just seven months into his first term as Prime Minister. Until this week, no other Indian resolution in the General Assemblys history had received 177 votes that the yoga commemoration plan had garnered.



Memorial Wall



Such a historic record was overtaken this week when another Indian resolution to build a Memorial Wall for Fallen UN Peacekeepers was adopted with 190 votes. The UN has a membership of 193 countries. Permanent Representative Kamboj said: The resolution in paying its homage, is also a testimony to the importance that the UN bestows on peacekeeping, and on our peacekeepers, and significantly, is an issue that has brought all member states unitedly forward. India has lost 177 peacekeepers on UN duty to date. They will now be memorialised on the proposed Wall.



The most important reason for change in Indias priorities at the UN this year is pragmatic: the landscape in the General Assembly is changing. For close to two decades, India has used the Presidency of the General Assembly (PGA) to move forward, step by step, its case for a permanent seat in the Security Council. It is a slow, but vital, process. The PGA appoints every year, two Co-Chairs of an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for increasing the membership of the Security Council: actions on equitable representation on the Council are taken by this committee. Most recent PGAs, except Turkeys Volkan Bozkir, elected in 2020, have been sympathetic to Security Council reform favouring India. On June 1, the General Assembly elected Dennis Francis of Trinidad and Tobago as the next PGA for a year from September 5. Trinidad and Tobago belongs to the Caribbean group at the UN. As island states, this groups existential challenges are climate change and the environment. The last job Francis had in his country was Senior Advisor to the government on climate change and negotiations for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Security Council reform will take a back seat for at least a year and a half. India is, therefore, prudent to look for new ways to continue its prominence in the UN.



KP Nayar has extensively covered West Asia and reported from Washington as a foreign correspondent for 15 years. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Global manufacturing, over the last two-and-a-half decades had gravitated towards China over the last two-and-a-half decades, turning it into the worlds factory. From sophisticated inventions such as iPhones to the quintessential safety pins; from everyday garments to active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), assembly lines in China were shipping out products to the rest of the world in trillions, both by value and volume. That dependency seems to be changing. Global brands are also beginning to make in India an essential component of their China plus plans. Apple CEO Tim Cook, who recently visited India, has described it as an "incredibly exciting market" and a "major focus" for the company.

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said the entire state cabinet has been called to New Delhi by Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge for a meeting with the party top brass.



They are also likely to meet a host of central ministers separately during the visit to discuss various state projects, he said, and did not rule out the possibility of him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.



There are reports that Siddaramaiah has sought an appointment with the Prime Minister.



Not giving any direct answer regarding him and the Chief Minister meeting the Prime Minister during the visit to the national capital, Shivakumar merely stated, "We are in a federal structure. All of us have to work together."



"On June 21, our party President has called all of us ministers (to Delhi) to (get to) know us as some of them had not met Rahul Gandhi, Kharge. They will also discuss with us on the implementation of the (poll) manifesto and 'guarantees'. They have called us to advise us on how to function as a government," Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief, said while speaking to reporters here.



He added: "During the visit, we will be meeting some central ministers. I'm requesting time with some ministers to discuss some pending projects." Shivakumar said the state cabinet would seek cooperation from everyone and pointed out that many have already assured cooperation in the interest of Karnataka irrespective of political differences."
Senior BJP leaders from Maharashtra on Friday described the Karnataka governments move to revise school textbooks as minority appeasement and asked Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray to clarify his stand on the matter.



The Congress-led Karnataka government on Thursday approved the revision of Kannada and Social Science textbooks of Classes 6 to 10 in the state for this academic year by removing the chapters on RSS founder K B Hedgewar and Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar among others.



While Thackerays Shiv Sena (UBT) is a partner in the Maharashtra opposition bloc of Maha Vikas Aghadi, which also comprises the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), former ally BJP has often accused him of veering away from the Hindutva ideology.



Talking to reporters here, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the revision in school textbooks in Karnataka was expected after the Congress returned to power in the southern state.



The Congress can remove Savarkar and Hedgewar from textbooks but not from the hearts and minds of people. In Maharashtra, the Opposition wants to replicate the Karnataka model. I want to ask Uddhav Thackeray what is his stand on this issue, he asked. It is clear that Thackeray has compromised on his ideology for the sake of power, Fadnavis said.



Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Fadnaviss party colleague and BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said Thackeray should clear his stand on the textbook issue as well as the Karnataka governments decision to repeal the anti-conversion law brought in by the previous government.



Apart from dropping chapters on Savarkar and Hedgewar, the Karnataka government also plans to include lessons on social reformer and educator Savitribai Phule, Jawaharlal Nehrus letters to Indira Gandhi and poetry on Dr B R Ambedkar in the textbooks.
Teachers in Switzerland are facing a concerning trend as an increasing number of students arrive in classrooms wearing diapers. While potty training typically occurs between 18 and 24 months, many children in Switzerland seem to be lagging behind.



Children as old as 11 are going to schools wearing diapers, ringing alarm bells among teachers.



Dagmar Rosler, head of the Swiss Federation of Teachers, expressed her worry about this growing problem, stating, "When 11-year-olds come to school in diapers, that's a worrying trend."



Parents have a responsibility to make sure their school-aged kids arent wearing diapers anymore. Teachers arent there to change their students diapers. Thats crossing a line, Rosler added.



Educational scientist Margrit Stamm suggests that some parents may be letting potty training slide due to the convenience of diapers. Stamm emphasises that parents have a responsibility to ensure their school-aged children are no longer reliant on diapers. The teachers' role should not include changing diapers, as it crosses a professional boundary.



The issue of students wearing diapers in school is not limited to Switzerland. Reports have emerged from Buffalo, New York, where parents have also failed to teach their children proper toilet usage, New York Post reported.



Phil Rumore, president of the Buffalo Teachers Federation, laments the lack of policies or procedures in place to address this problem. He asserts that teachers cannot be expected to change diapers as it diverts attention away from the class, affecting the learning environment.



There is no policy in place, or procedure in place, to work with the child to either potty train them, to clean them when they have an accident, Rumore said. The teacher cant do it because it takes away from the class.



The Buffalo Teachers Federation said 43 children are not potty trained properly, leading to taunts from classmates and other issues at school.



Im not blaming the parents  because in some cases we have an autistic child, or we have a child with emotional problems or physical problems, Rumore added.
An employee of an MNC in Bengaluru was detained on Tuesday for making a hoax bomb threat to his employer. Prasad Navneenth, a 25-year-old employee of BDO Rise, made the bomb call because he was upset about being barred from office, according to Times of India.



Navneenth was not allowed to enter the office premises because of performance issues, as per the police. His company was also contemplating firing him.



On Tuesday, the 25-year-old from Kerala tried to get in touch with some of his seniors in the workplace. He called the firm several times using his mobile phone but his request was denied each time.



After making some futile attempts to get in touch with his seniors and team members, a frustrated Navneenth called up the firm again to say that he had placed a bomb inside the office. He also said the bomb would go off in the next 30 minutes.



A little while after making the call, the BDO Rise employee again called up the firm to confess he had made a false claim. However, the company had contacted police by then, and the office was already swarming with cops.



An anti-sabotage team, bomb disposal squad, local police and sleuths from the city intelligence and Internal Security Division, about 60 personnel in all, scoured the premises and declared it a hoax call by 3pm. By then, another police team had traced the suspect and detained him, a cop told Times of India.



Bengaluru Police have registered a non-cognizable report which will be converted into an FIR with the permission of the court.
Angry residents of an apartment complex in Bengaluru beat up a food delivery agent on the basis of a false complaint made by an eight-year-old girl. The incident unfolded on the morning of June 12, when the girls parents returned to their seventh-floor apartment in Electronics City and found her missing, according to a Times of India report.



A viral thread by a Twitter user named Shweta reveals more details about the incident. According to Shweta, the girls parents panicked and began searching for her when they could not find her. As neighbours joined in the search for the eight-year-old girl, they soon spotted her on the buildings terrace.



An 8-year-old girl child was home alone. Parents had gone to drop her sibling to school. When they came back, the child was nowhere around. Parents raised the panic button and everyone started searching her. They found her on terrace and she was crying, Twitter user Shweta revealed.



The girl informed her parents that a food delivery agent had rang the doorbell and dragged her to the terrace. She said she struggled and managed to bite his hand to free herself.



She informed that 1 delivery guy pulled her out from her home n took her to terrace. She struggled n bit his hand so he ran away. Parents n neighbors were in shock. They somehow lined up all the delivery people in the society present at that time n girl identified the culprit.

 Candid_Shweta (@CandidShweta) June 14, 2023



Alarmed, the girls parents and other residents lined up all the delivery agents in the complex at the time and asked the girl if she could identify the accused. Security guards were asked not let any delivery agents enter or leave the complex.



The girl identified a man who, according to her, had dragged her to the terrace. The angry couple, their neighbours and security guards then banded together to beat him up and locked him in a room, believing that he had tried to molest the minor.



However, the truth about the incident was revealed only two days later, when police checked CCTV footage from a neighbouring paying guest accommodation. The CCTV footage revealed that the girl had gone to the terrace alone, contrary to her claims of being dragged there forcibly.





Police looked for CCTV footage to figure out the actual culprit. What police found was absolutely shocking.

The girl was all alone on the terrace. Playing and wandering around, right after her parents walked out of home. She was enjoying her freedom.



 Candid_Shweta (@CandidShweta) June 14, 2023







It turned out that the girl had gone to the terrace to play and cooked up the story about the delivery agent because she was scared her parents would beat her for playing when she was supposed to be studying.



Upon being questioned, she confessed that she made up the story when she saw the commotion she caused. She is barely 8 yrs. old. She cooked up the story of being kidnapped by a delivery guy. She lied about him taking her to terrace forcefully, the Twitter user wrote.



When she heard n saw worried parents looking for her n all the commotion around, she felt scared of being caught. Yes!!! she is barely 8 yrs. old. She cooked up the story of being kidnapped by a delivery guy. She lied about him taking her to terrace forcefully.

 Candid_Shweta (@CandidShweta) June 14, 2023



Meanwhile, the food delivery agent accused by the girl said he was thankful that Bengaluru police managed to find video evidence proving his innocence. Every person accompanying the couple beat me up, along with the security guards. Don't know why she made the false claim, the 30-year-old food delivery agent told Times of India.



The girls parents could not believe their eyes when they were shown the CCTV footage. They later apologised to the delivery agent, who told them: My daughter is around five years old and I can understand your trauma. I don't have anything personal against you all, but I felt sad when people beat me up even after said I was innocent and the girl is lying.



The unnamed delivery agent declined to file a counter-complaint against the couple, saying that he would soon be moving back to Assam with his family.
Frontera Energy Corporation (TSX: FEC) ("Frontera" or the "Company") announces that it has joined the One Trillion Trees (1t.org) movement launched by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2020, with the global goal of conserving, restoring and growing one trillion trees by 2030.

It is estimated that six trillion trees covered the planet. Now only half remain and an additional 15 billion trees are lost annually. In order to contribute to solving this problem, Frontera Energy has pledged to the 1t.org movement to preserve and restore 2,500 hectares of biological corridors in environmentally strategic areas of influence by 2027, equivalent to approximately 2.6 million trees.

Orlando Cabrales Segovia, CEO of Frontera Energy, stated: "We are dedicated to implementing actions that promote environmental sustainability, including reforestation, and contributing to a positive climate change solution. We are proud to join this global movement as environmentally conscious stewards in our operations."

"We welcome Frontera to the 1t.org community," said Nicole Schwab, Director of 1t.org and Nature-Based Solutions at World Economic Forum. "Trees and forests are a crucial part of the solution to the climate crisis and biodiversity collapse. That's why companies, civil society and governments must continue to work together for the conservation and restoration of our forests."

About Frontera

Frontera Energy Corporation is a Canadian public company involved in the exploration, development, production, transportation, storage and sale of oil and natural gas in South America, including related investments in both upstream and midstream facilities. The Company has a diversified portfolio of assets with interests in 31 exploration and production blocks in Colombia, Ecuador and Guyana, and pipeline and port facilities in Colombia. Frontera is committed to conducting business safely and in a socially, environmentally and ethically responsible manner.

If you would like to receive News Releases via email as soon as they are published, please subscribe here: http://fronteraenergy.mediaroom.com/subscribe.

Advisories

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that Frontera believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding preserving and restoring 2,500 hectares of biological corridors are forward-looking statements). These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of Frontera based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. The Company's annual information form dated March 1, 2023, its annual management's discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2022, and other documents it files from time to time with securities regulatory authorities describe the risks, uncertainties, material assumptions and other factors that could influence actual results and such factors are incorporated herein by reference. Copies of these documents are available without charge by referring to the Company's profile on SEDAR 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, Frontera disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although Frontera believes that the assumptions inherent in the cautionary and forward-looking statements applicable to it are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
Al Pacino, the legendary actor known for his iconic roles in movies such as "The Godfather" and "Scarface," has welcomed a baby boy at the age of 83. The news was confirmed to media houses by a representative for Pacino and his partner, Noor Alfallah, 29.



The couple have named the boy Roman.



In an exclusive statement to DailyMail.com, the representative announced, "I am confirming that Al Pacino and Noor Alfallah have welcomed a son, named Roman Pacino."



The couple made the announcement while enjoying a dinner date in West Hollywood. It was the first time they were seen together since the news of their pregnancy broke. Reports from TMZ also confirmed the birth and stated that both parents were "ecstatic" about the arrival of their son.

The couple was photographed driving to Sunset Tower, with an apparent baby seat in the back of their car.



The journey to parenthood for Pacino and Alfallah has been surrounded by controversy and speculation. Rumours about the circumstances of the conception and the nature of their relationship have been swirling with Pacino even getting a pre-natal DNA test to confirm paternity, expressing disbelief that he could father a child at his age.



However, a close source to the couple dismissed these rumours, telling DailyMail, "She's wanted to have a baby for years and Al could not be happier. He loves Noor and the feeling is mutual."



The source further added that Noor comes from a wealthy family and has also achieved her own financial success. The claims that Noor is dating Pacino for money were strongly denied.



Roman is the first child for Noor Alfallah, but Pacino is already a father to three other children. He has 22-year-old twins, Olivia and Anton, from his previous relationship with Beverly D'Angelo, and a 33-year-old daughter from his ex-partner Jan Tarrant.



Noor Alfallah has been associated with high-profile figures in the past, including rockstar Mick Jagger and billionaire Nicolas Berggruen.
A man from Georgia, US, has emerged victorious in a legal battle against Facebook, with the tech giant being ordered to pay him $50,000 (Rs 40.94 lakh) after denying him access to his account. According to a report, Jason Crawford filed a lawsuit against Facebook when his account was terminated without a valid reason and the company refused to cooperate with him to resolve the issue.



Crawford expressed his frustration with Facebook, telling Fox News, "I just think it's bad business practice. It's a crappy way to treat people. At least tell me what I did wrong."



He described his futile attempts to communicate with Facebook's parent company, Meta Platforms, which oversees Instagram and WhatsApp as well. His pleas fell on deaf ears, leaving him with no other option but to file a lawsuit, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.



According to the news outlet, Crawford had previously received a violation on the platform due to political comments he made. However, this time, his entire Facebook account was completely restricted without explanation.



"I woke up one Sunday morning. I tapped on my Facebook icon, and I was locked out," he recalled. The platform provided a brief and cryptic message stating that he had violated their standards on child sexual exploitation.



One of the most challenging aspects of his ordeal, he said, was the inability to connect with a real person for assistance. Crawford discovered that the only way to appeal a decision was through his own profile, which was now inaccessible.



He described the frustration of being caught in a never-ending loop, comparing it to "a dog chasing its tail." Left with no alternative, he took the legal route.



Crawford, who happens to be a lawyer himself, filed a complaint against Facebook in August 2022, accusing the company of negligence and denying him access based on a violation that never occurred.



"I had, I don't even know how you quantify it, pictures, videos, posts that come up as memories that I like to look at from time to time. You know, all that kind of stuff that I wasn't willing to let a bunch of bullies take away from me for no reason," Crawford expressed.



Despite the lawsuit, there was no response from Facebook's legal team. However, when a judge ordered Meta to pay Crawford $50,000 as a result of their non-response, the tech company finally reached out to him. "I felt a little bit vindicated, and they activated my account again," Crawford shared.



He emphasised that his motivation for taking legal action was not the monetary compensation but rather to hold Facebook accountable for their lack of transparency and failure to provide answers.



Nevertheless, the battle is far from over. Crawford alleges that Facebook is not cooperating with the court's judgment and has not paid a dime.



"Every step of the way Facebook is choosing not to do the right thing," he told Fox News. "It feels like a poke in the eye, and it feels like they're continuing to poke in the eye. Poke the local court system in the eye. Poke me in the eye. Poke other users in the eye, and it's time that they at least respect our legal system."



Facebook has not yet commented on the matter.
MSCHF, the New York-based art advertising collective known for its viral creations such as the Big Red Boots and Lil Nas X's "Satan Shoes," is at it again with a new and even more bizarre design. This time, they have unveiled a microscopic handbag that is smaller than a grain of salt. The fluorescent green bag, modelled after the Louis Vuitton Monogram OnTheGo handbag, measures a mere 657 by 222 by 700 micrometers.



Unlike traditional handbags that serve a practical purpose, MSCHF's tiny handbag aims to comment on the increasing focus on brand promotion rather than functionality.



"Smaller than a grain of sea salt and narrow enough to pass through the eye of a needle, this is a purse so small you'll need a microscope to see it. There are big handbags, normal handbags, and small handbags, but this is the final word in bag miniaturization. As a once-functional object like a handbag becomes smaller and smaller its object status becomes steadily more abstracted until it is purely a brand signifier," MSCHF, aptly pronounced "mischief" wrote on Instagram a day ago unveiling their newest creation.







Kevin Wiesner, the chief creative officer of MSCHF, told The New York Times, "A practical object is boiled down into jewellery, all of its putative function evaporated; for luxury objects, useability is the angels' share." The bag is intended to highlight the transformation of a functional item into a mere brand signifier.



The decision to create such a minuscule bag was driven by MSCHF's desire to take the trend of shrinking luxury handbags to its logical extreme. By stripping away all utility from the bag, MSCHF emphasizes its role as a symbol of luxury rather than a useful accessory.



Wiesner stated, "I think 'bag' is a funny object because it derives from something rigorously functional. But it has basically become jewellery."



MSCHF has not sought permission from Louis Vuitton to use their logo or design for the microscopic handbag, despite Pharrell Williams recently being named the men's designer for the luxury brand.



Wiesner commented, "We are big in the 'ask forgiveness, not permission' school." This approach aligns with MSCHF's history of provocative antics and disregard for traditional boundaries. However, the collective settled a Nike lawsuit in 2021, and a Vans trademark suit is currently under appeal in federal court.



The Microscopic Handbag will be showcased at Pharrell William's auction house JOOPITER in Paris from June 20 to 24. It will be displayed in a sealed gel case mounted beneath a microscope, allowing viewers to observe the intricate details of the bag. Interested buyers will have the opportunity to bid on the bag from June 19 to 27 on JOOPITER.com.



MSCHF's unconventional approach to art and design has garnered attention and controversy. The collective's creations often blur the line between satire and consumer culture commentary.



From turning Birkin bags into "Birkinstock" sandals to incorporating holy water from the River Jordan into customized Nike sneakers, MSCHF consistently challenges societal norms and expectations.



The creation of the Microscopic Handbag required collaboration with specialized industrial manufacturers in the field of biotechnology. The bag was crafted using a process called two-photon polymerization, a form of 3D printing for microscopic objects. Its bright colour and translucence were chosen to enhance visibility when illuminated from below on a microscope slide.



While the tiny handbag may be seen as a bold statement or a playful gimmick, its underlying message about the diminishing practicality of luxury handbags resonates.



In an industry driven by ever-changing trends and brand recognition, the Microscopic Handbag questions the true purpose of these accessories and pushes the boundaries of what can be considered fashion. The creations serve as a commentary on consumerism and the evolving nature of art and design.



Zara trolled for Rs 3,000 shirt with Hindi words that make little sense



As the auction for the Microscopic Handbag approaches, Wiesner expressed a surprising sentiment. He said, "I almost hope somebody eats it."
Starbucks has been ordered by a federal jury in New Jersey, US, to pay $25.6 million (over Rs 209 crore) to a former regional manager, Shannon Phillips, after she alleged that the company fired her because she was white in the aftermath of a highly publicised incident in 2018, which had initially put the coffee chain giant under scrutiny for racial bias.



The incident occurred in a Starbucks store located in the Rittenhouse Square neighbourhood of Philadelphia in April 2018. Two African-American men had entered the store for a business meeting, but before ordering, one of them asked to use the restroom and was denied access.



Eventually, when they refused to leave, an employee called the police, resulting in their arrest. Videos capturing the arrests went viral, leading to widespread accusations of racism, protests, and threats of boycott against Starbucks.



The company's CEO at the time, Kevin Johnson, publicly apologised and described the treatment of the men as "reprehensible." To address the issue of racial bias, Starbucks took the unprecedented step of temporarily closing 8,000 stores to conduct racial bias training for its employees.



In this hearing, the jury found that Starbucks had violated the civil rights of Shannon Phillips, awarding her $600,000 in compensatory damages and $25 million in punitive damages, New York Times reported.



Laura Carlin Mattiacci, Phillips' lawyer, expressed satisfaction with the unanimous verdict, stating that her client had provided "clear and convincing evidence" to warrant punitive damages under New Jersey law.



At the time of the incident, Shannon Phillips was overseeing around 100 Starbucks stores in the Philadelphia area and neighbouring regions. She claimed in her lawsuit that Starbucks, as part of its damage-control efforts, had sought to punish white employees, including herself, regardless of their involvement in the events leading to the arrests.



According to Phillips, she had actively engaged in the company's campaign to restore credibility by supporting hourly workers and coordinating store staffing during protests.



However, she alleged that one of her superiors, an African-American woman, instructed her to suspend a white manager based on false allegations of discriminatory conduct, while no action was taken against the Black manager responsible for the Rittenhouse Square store.



Shortly after refusing to suspend the white manager, Phillips claimed she was fired without prior indication of poor performance, with the explanation given that "the situation is not recoverable." Starbucks, on the other hand, denied that Phillips was terminated due to her race, asserting that she had performed poorly in response to the incident.



'Boycott Starbucks' calls over viral ad on transgender acceptance. Watch



Starbucks had ultimately decided not to press charges against the two men involved in the incident, Donte Robinson and Rashon Nelson, and reached a confidential financial settlement with them. Additionally, the City of Philadelphia committed to investing $200,000 to support young entrepreneurs, as part of an agreement with the men.
Sri Lankan military doctors have removed what is now recorded as the world's largest kidney stone from a 62-year-old retired soldier, the army said Wednesday. The stone removed from ex-sergeant Canistus Coonge weighed 801 grams (28.25 ounces), more than five times the weight of an average male kidney, the army said. Coonge's kidney stone measured 13.37 centimetres (5.26 inches) long, compared to an average kidney which is about 10 to 12 centimetres long. "The removal of the world's largest and heaviest kidney stone through a major surgery occurred on June 1 at the Colombo Army Hospital," the military said in a statement. Coonge told the local Swarnavahini TV that he had abdominal pain since 2020 and oral medication had not helped. "I was told to undergo surgery after a recent scan," he said. "I feel normal now." The Sri Lankan case surpassed the largest kidney deposit previously recorded of 620 grams from a patient in Pakistan in 2008, according to Guinness World Records. Officials announced the finding on Wednesday after Guinness World Records recognised it. "The most important thing for us is that the kidney is functioning normally despite this stone," army surgeon K Sutharshan said. Stones are deposits made when minerals and salts crystallise in the kidney as it filters the blood. Passing the stones can cause excruciating pain, requiring surgery if they are too big and get stuck.

USER CONSENT

We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy.

*We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies.

Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy

*I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age

I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl

I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites

I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS

Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue.

I Accept
Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates met President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday, after his foundation pledged $50 million to help Chinese efforts to battle disease.



Gates -- one of the world's richest men -- is among a number of Western business leaders to visit China since the country ended strict Covid controls that saw it largely closed off from the world for almost three years.



The visit is Gates' first to the country in four years.



Chinese state media said Friday the visit included a rare sit-down between the Chinese head of state and a foreign business leader.



"On June 16, President Xi Jinping met the American Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation co-chairperson Bill Gates in Beijing," state broadcaster CCTV said.



The meeting comes ahead of an expected visit to China by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday.



It also follows a Thursday announcement by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that it would give $50 million to support Chinese efforts to fight malaria and tuberculosis.



The foundation announced it would renew a collaboration with the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI) -- a Beijing-based group set up by Gates, the Beijing municipal government and Tsinghua University.



The $50 million will support "efforts to improve health outcomes worldwide through lifesaving therapies for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, which disproportionately affect the world's poorest", the Gates Foundation said in a statement.



On Thursday, Gates gave a speech at GHDDI, the Gates Foundation said, hailing China's efforts in eradicating malaria and poverty reduction.



"China has made significant gains reducing poverty and improving health outcomes within China," Gates said.



"I'm hopeful China can play an even bigger role in addressing the current challenges, particularly those facing African countries."



Gates last visited China in 2019, where he met with first lady Peng Liyuan to discuss his foundation's work in HIV/AIDS prevention.



During a visit to the country the previous year, he brandished a jar of human waste at a forum in Beijing in a bid to draw attention to the shortage of toilets in the developing world.



A string of American business leaders have visited China this year, talking up their optimism about its vast market and trade ties between the two economic powerhouses.



JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon visited China in recent weeks, as did Tesla CEO Elon Musk, his first visit in more than three years.



Musk, who has extensive business interests in China, met with senior officials in Beijing and visited Tesla's Gigafactory on the outskirts of Shanghai for a late-night meeting with staff.



In March, Apple CEO Tim Cook visited Beijing, saying his company enjoyed a "symbiotic" relationship with China.
Canada is freezing ties with the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) while it probes allegations it is dominated by the Chinese Communist Party, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Wednesday.



Freeland said she did not rule out any outcome of the investigation, a clear hint that Ottawa could pull out of a bank it officially joined in March 2018.



The bank's global communications director, a Canadian, said on Wednesday he had resigned and criticized the bank as "dominated by the Communist Party", allegations which the AIIB said were baseless and disappointing.



"The Government of Canada will immediately halt all government led activity at the bank. And I have instructed the Department of Finance to lead an immediate review of the allegations raised and of Canada's involvement in the AIIB," Freeland told reporters.



She said as the world's democracies worked to limit their strategic vulnerabilities to authoritarian regimes, they must be clear about the ways such governments exercised their influence.



"The review I am announcing today is to be undertaken expeditiously. And I am not ruling out any outcome following its completion," she said.



The Chinese embassy in Ottawa, asked for comment, said in an email that "the claim that 'AIIB is controlled by the Communist Party of China' is nothing but a lie".



Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in power when Canada joined the AIIB. The opposition Conservatives have long demanded Ottawa pull out of the bank, saying it is a tool for Beijing to export authoritarianism throughout the Pacific.



Freeland's remarks mark a new dip in bilateral relations with China, which have been frosty for the last five years.



The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said on Tuesday it was investigating allegations China tried to intimidate a federal Conservative legislator.



Canada has accused China of trying to interfere in its affairs through various schemes, including illegal police stations and the targeting of lawmakers. Beijing denies all such allegations.
India is weighing a proposal to begin barter trade in goods like fertiliser and gas with Egypt as part of a wider deal that could see New Delhi extending a credit line worth several billion dollars to Cairo, sources told Reuters.



An agreement is likely to be announced later this month during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first visit to Egypt, which faces a prolonged foreign currency shortage, a source with knowledge of the matter said.



"The agreement would allow Egypt to make purchases in rupees and bartering is being considered as a means to settle this debt through the sale of Egyptian products that might be of use for India," the source said.



India's foreign ministry is consulting with departments on their appetite for fertiliser and gas from Cairo as part payment for the credit line, an Indian official said.



New Delhi is keen to diversify its fertiliser imports, especially after 2021, when some Indian states faced shortages due to Chinese export restrictions and a record price surge.



As part of the facility, Egypt is keen to take wheat supplies, among other items, but New Delhi is unlikely to ship the grain due to its wheat export ban, the Indian official added.



India, the world's second-largest wheat producer, banned wheat exports in May 2022 to help control rising domestic prices, rescinding a plan to export 3 million tons of wheat to Egypt in the year 2022/23. Egypt now depends mostly on Russia for the grain.



"It's a negotiation. Which companies will be involved and in which commodities? All of that is still in discussion," Egypt's supply minister Ali Moselhy told Reuters.



"There are a lot of discussions but up until now the model is not defined," said Moselhy, who did not specify the size of a possible credit line.



The other sources from India and Egypt did not wish to be identified as they are not authorised to speak to the press.



India's external affairs ministry, finance ministry, trade minister, and Egypt's foreign ministry and trade ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.



India exported $4.11 billion of goods to Egypt in the last fiscal year, while importing $1.95 billion.



Egypt has deferred payments for its large wheat purchases, in some cases by months, due to shortage of funds, Reuters reported last month.



Egypt is trying to stabilize an economy hit by the pandemic and high commodity prices, prompting foreign investors to pull about $20 billion out of its financial markets.
Unexplained gains in Indonesian stocks are fueling calls for tighter regulation in Southeast Asias biggest equity market.



Known as deep fried shares among local traders, they often have concentrated ownership, low trading volume, scant analyst coverage and elevated valuations relative to peers. In the past three years, at least 83 Indonesian companies have swung by 1,000% or more from peak to trough, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Thats about 10 percent of total stocks listed, a higher proportion than in neighboring Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines.



While wild stock swings for illiquid shares are nothing new in emerging markets, the moves have become so extreme in Indonesia that regulators on Monday introduced a new watchlist board to quickly spot what they perceive as troubled companies as a way to protect investors. The list will include firms with no revenue growth, low share prices, thin liquidity and undergoing debt restructuring, among other factors. Some traders are pushing for authorities to do even more, while President Joko Widodo has urged regulators to boost supervision of possible market manipulation.



At stake is investor confidence in a nearly $640 billion stock market thats become so illiquid its forced some companies to resort to higher-cost bank loans as a way to raise capital. The International Monetary Fund said in a report last year that Indonesias shallow financial markets are a longstanding challenge for growth. The ratio of the nations stock market cap to GDP is also the lowest among Southeast Asian peers.



We need the regulators to step in, said Jerry Goh, an investment manager covering Asian equities at abrdn Asia Ltd.



Not all shares that are volatile are considered deep fried stocks, though traders have expressed confusion over the growing levels of big swings. The results of the gains have minted or propelled the wealth of a handful of ultra wealthy tycoons. Low Tuck Kwong, a billionaire who controls PT Bayan Resources, became one of Asias richest men after shares shot up more than 220% over six weeks at the end of 2022. A nearly 14,000% surge in shares of DCI Indonesia in the five months after debuting in early 2021 put majority owners Otto Toto Sugiri and Marina Budiman into billionaire status.







Representatives at both Bayan and DCI declined to comment. Kwong and Sugiri did not respond to a request for comment. Budiman told Bloomberg in a text message that she is not aware of why DCIs shares have experienced such big price moves though she cannot trade the stock. In 2021, both Sugiri and Budiman pledged not to part with their shares, switching their holdings to untradeable stock. Sugiri had told Bloomberg last year the move was to show people they were not trying to influence the market.



Widodo, known as Jokowi, cited the extreme swings in shares of Indian tycoon Gautam Adanis companies when he called for more supervision in a speech to Indonesias financial regulator in February. In a case that has drawn global interest, Adanis flagship company soared by more than 3,300% between March 2020 through the end of last year before losing half its value in the wake of a short-seller report alleging market manipulation and accounting fraud. Adani has repeatedly denied the allegations.



The Indonesia Stock Exchange has already imposed intraday trading limits and automatic rejection of certain bids and offers if they veer too far away from the asking price. Meanwhile, the financial services authority uses monitoring tools like trading halts or suspensions to cool any unusual market activity, according to capital market supervisor Inarno Djajadi. Still, neither the exchange nor the regulator have indicated how they plan to filter and investigate the anomalies among the 800-odd stocks in the country.



Some investors have developed a nickname for stocks that see eye-popping gains after a rush of buying and selling that later dies off. Chinese call it chao gu, or stir-frying stocks  a reference to rapid speculation that keeps shares hot. Indonesians have borrowed the concept, referring to such firms as saham gorengan, or deep-fried stocks. One way to describe this cohort is akin to how food of suspect quality tastes better fried.



The term became synonymous with the spectacular collapse of state insurance giant PT Asuransi Jiwasraya in 2020. The company needed a government bailout after investment into risky stocks, a violation of management guidelines that resulted in a gaping $2 billion financial loss.



One of Jiwasrayas stock investments was a company called PT Hanson International, which saw shares surge more than 1,700% during the lows of the financial crisis through 2016 before a series of swift declines. In late 2020, a court handed a life sentence to Hanson Internationals President Benny Tjokrosaputro for charges related to corruption and money laundering. Indonesias Supreme Audit agency called the company a deep-fried stock, validating investors fears of such rapid-rise shares, according to a report by magazine Tempo. The agency did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Hanson is no longer in operation.



The Indonesian bourse in 2021 investigated DCI on possible transaction manipulation, but did not disclose results of its investigation. The firms corporate secretary told Bloomberg at the time that there was no indication of violations by the company. DCI is trading at more than 200 times price-to-earnings, with a price-to-book ratio based on latest quarterly results at over 50 times, down from a high of 153 during 2021.







When shares of coal miner Bayan Resources surged to a record high at the end of December, shareholder Low Tuck Kwong purchased more of the stock, according to an exchange filing. Prior to the surge, Kwongs net worth was $5 billion, about one-fifth of his total today. Bayan is trading at 16 times price-to-earnings, higher than all of its regional peers. Its free float sits at 2.5%, lower than the exchanges threshold of 7.5%.



The puzzling share price moves are weighing on analysts trying to avoid covering companies that could gain notoriety for being out of sync with reality. We cannot cover stocks if theres not enough information and fundamentals to support our research, said Andrey Wijaya, head of research at RHB Sekuritas Indonesia, in relation to a number of wild price swings.



PT Petrindo Jaya Kreasi, which is involved in coal and gold mining, gained nearly 370% in the first seven weeks after its debut in early March. That was a windfall for its main shareholder and business magnate Prajogo Pangestu. A week after the company debuted, the stock exchange flagged unusual activity in trading of its shares. The company has no analyst coverage, according to Bloomberg data, and its price-to-book ratio based on the latest quarterly results is at 6.6 times, more than three fold of the benchmark JCI Index. A company representative did not respond to a request for comment while Pangestu declined to comment.



Indonesias bourse has worked to increase transparency of its markets, including creating special lists to monitor unusual activity. It also actively talks to companies about significant swings and tries to investigate anomalies. Still, progress appears to be slow and results minimal, according to John Rachmat, senior advisor at Singapore-based Pinnacle Investment. After so many decades, its still a dead end, he said of regulators efforts to curb volatility.



Wild market swings gained notoriety in the US last year after a number of microcap stock debuts gave way into dizzying rallies. Those include Chinese garment manufacturer Addentax Group Corp, which soared 13,000% on its trading debut last year, while Hong Kong financial group AMTD Digital Inc. surged some 32,000%. Representatives at both firms did not respond to a request for comment. China and Hong Kong have at times been known for dramatic price volatilities too. Over the past three years, some 14% of Hong Kong shares have swung more than 1,000%.



But theres potentially more at stake for Indonesia, a market thats still a fraction of Chinas and U.S. and is trying to attract more investors to help boost its economy. Low liquidity can be both a boon and a bane, and investors dont want to be caught holding a low liquid, low quality stock, abrdns Goh added.
Top Nissan executive Ashwani Gupta is leaving the company, the Japanese automaker confirmed Friday, a day after reports of a leadership clash inside the company.



The departure will revive concerns about the stability of Nissan's leadership, which was left in disarray after former chief Carlos Ghosn was arrested over financial wrongdoing in 2018.



Nissan said chief operating officer Gupta had "elected to leave the company to pursue other opportunities effective June 27", without detailing the reasons for his departure.



A new executive line-up will be announced on the same date, the firm added.



The announcement came a day after a source told AFP that 52-year-old Gupta was leaving, citing in part a "rivalry" between the Indian national and Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida.



"He had a very clear ambition to take the top job. He wasn't forced out, but he had understood" that it wouldn't be possible, the source said.



The Financial Times first reported Gupta's surprise departure on Thursday, saying Uchida and Gupta had clashed, with the latter seen as sometimes overstepping his role and undermining the company's chief.



The newspaper also said Gupta faced "multiple internal complaints", though it did not detail their contents.



On Thursday, Nissan declined to comment on reports of Gupta's departure, saying only: "Independent third parties have been retained to verify facts, and carry on appropriate actions."



Earlier this year, Nissan and Renault signed a deal to reboot their rocky 24-year relationship, following months of painstaking negotiations and repeated delays.



Under the agreement, Renault will slash its stake in Nissan, which will in turn take a stake of up to 15 percent in Renault's new electric vehicle venture Ampere.



The Financial Times said Renault executives had long viewed Gupta as "one of the biggest obstacles in negotiations between the alliance partners" because he consistently rejected the French company's demands.



Nissan has struggled to find its feet again after being rocked by Ghosn's arrest, which prompted internal investigations that saw the company's CEO also step aside.



Ghosn fled Japan while on bail and is now an international fugitive in Lebanon. He denies any wrongdoing and says he fled because he did not believe he would get a fair trial.
Stellantis NV will start sales of an affordable electric car priced at less than 25,000 ($27,330) early next year, targeting mass-market customers who may otherwise turn to cheaper vehicles from China.



Citroen, one of the carmakers 14 brands alongside Jeep and Fiat, will make the e-C3 city car in Slovakia to compete with the Dacia Spring thats made in China and Renault SAs upcoming Renault 5 EV. The e-C3 will have a driving range of more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) on a single charge.



Citroen has a history of making affordable cars and its role now is to make electric mobility accessible to all, brand head Thierry Koskas said. There is no equivalent to this car today.



European carmakers are struggling to come up with affordable EVs that generate a sufficient return because of high battery costs. Aggressive price cuts by US rival Tesla Inc. are adding to the pressure while Chinese brands are preparing to push deeper into the European market.



Stellantis Chief Executive Officer Carlos Tavares has warned of plant closures because of the cost of electrification and the push to make affordable EVs for the middle classes.



Volkswagen AG in March unveiled an electric vehicle concept designed to also cost less than 25,000, but the vehicle is a couple years away from production. Stellantis rival Renault plans to introduce a made in France all-electric Renault 5 next year, though the company hasnt so far revealed its price tag.



Planning around the new e-C3 started under the previous Citroen CEO, Vincent Cobee, who left Stellantis this year. Citroen is targeting global sals of 1 million, up from 685,732 last year.



Its aiming for 5% market share in Europe, which it could reach as soon as the second half of this year, up from 3.7% last year, the new CEO said. The brand also will keep on growing in Middle East, Africa, India and Latin America, he said.
Elanor Investors gives an update on its transfer for ADIC mandate as part of its acquisition of CRE, a transaction valued at $3.4 billion in Australian and NZ property assets for the new price of $37.7 million.

The deal between multibillion-dollar company Challenger Group [ASX:CGF] and fund-managing service group Elanor Investors Group [ASX:ENN] has undergone some changes.

Ultimately, the latter is still to acquire Challengers $3.4 billion Australian and NZ real estate funds management business (CRE), albeit for a different price.

ENN was moving up by 2% in share value  less of a reaction to when the idea was first floated  and shares leapt more than 17% at the time.

As for CGF, shares remained flat. The ENN share price was trading for $1.72 at the time of writing while CGFs shares will still set you back a substantial sum of $6.18 each:

Source: TradingView

Elanor forks out $37.7 million for Challengers real estate portfolio

First thing on Friday morning, Elanor Investors posted an update on the transaction details of its acquisition of CRE, with a transaction AUM still confirmed at $3.4 billion.

The purchase price for the allotment of properties has taken a reduction from the original proposed price of $41.8 million, now to the discounted price of $37.7 million.

The lowering of the price was said to have been based on the termination of a third-party advisory contract. This also means that Challengers interest in Elanor will also change to 13.7% once the transfer of securities is put to ADIC  which will hold a 3.0% interest in Elanor by the end of the transaction process.

This reflects Challengers proposed agreement to transfer 4.5 million of the 24.8 million Elanor securities to be issued to Challenger and to ADIC.

Elanor will issue 24.8 million securities as consideration for the 100% acquisition of CRE, representing up to 16.7% of ENN securities that are currently on issue.

The consideration is subject to claw-back from Challenger (of up to 63% over three years) based on certain milestones, including minimum base funds management fee targets.

Elanor says that this acquisition delivers a step-change in size and scale for its company as a whole  increasing AUM from $3.0 billion to $6.4 billion  with a new strategic partnership with Challenger, putting Elanor in a better position for further, stronger growth.

Other reasons listed by Elanor as the rationale behind the decision to acquire CRE, is to gather more solid material FY24 earnings accretion, particularly with CRE having acquired  on a three times one EBITDA multiple (after revised considerations and improved synergies)  an incremental EBITDA of $12 million.

Elanor will also benefit from stronger recurring funds management income, with management fees as income increased by around 57%.

Pro-forma base management fees, post-transaction, represent approximately 74% of total funds management income, and AUM will grow to $6.4 billion.

Tik-Stocks and the mania of 2024

Did you know that previous no-name and inconspicuous unassuming small-cap Stem Cell United [ASX:SCU] catapulted by 8,284% in two days on a medicinal cannabis venture?

It wasnt so insignificant then, and it happened so suddenly.

Also, Cann Group [ASX:CAN] jumped by 30 cents to $4 in a manner of months on another viral explosion.

If you know where the next burst of mania is going to be, you can really take advantage of the hype.

This is why our experts bring you Tik-Stocks, a cousin to meme stocks  you know, those stocks that go through the roof based on social media coverage.

These stocks can become overvalued in the blink of an eye. This means you need to time them right.

Intrigued? Click here for more.

Regards,

Mahlia Stewart

For Money Morning
Look beyond Chinas slowdown to the new global growth engine: Indiawhy the most populous nation in the world is undertaking a unique development approachhow the need for physical infrastructure could lead to a need for Aussie resourcesand why investors should start preparing now for this potential mining boom

Yesterday, I talked about how deflation in China is causing concern.

Investors are worried that the Middle Kingdoms supergrowth era has come to an end. Or worse, that the country may be on the brink of stagnation.

Either way, the short-term blip for China is a major challenge for many investors. Commodities and mining stocks, in particular, will have to face the challenge of easing demand from the biggest buyer.

But, as I want to outline today, that doesnt mean it is time to sell.

In fact, as I suggested, the overly pessimistic outlook on China may have gone too far. This could lead to some great buying opportunities if their economy recovers quicker than expected.

More than that, though, I want to talk again about India

Because, you see, even if Chinas slowdown does prove to last longer than expected, the rest of the world keeps turning. And when it comes to global drivers of economic growth, India is looking a lot like China did before its own meteoric rise.

New growth requires new infrastructure

Ive already spoken at length about Australias potential role in an Indian boom.

You can check out my thoughts on the free trade agreement that is being hashed out, here and here.

For now, though, lets discuss why commodities are likely the best way to leverage this Indian boom

First and foremost, you need to understand that India has an atypical boom. It isnt following the same trajectory that worked for the West or China.

Instead of starting with physical infrastructure first, India opted to focus on digital systems. Here is how The Economist summarises it:

Starting without the legacy systems of the 20th century, such as credit cards and desktop computers, developing countries can leapfrog the West. The digital prize, as India has demonstrated, is a means to accelerate connectedness, social-service provision, growth prospects and, ultimately, the building of a state and civic identity.

India has done this through its unique digital public infrastructure as it is known. As a result, almost everyone across India has access to essential digital systems and information.

Keep in mind that most Indians rely on smartphones rather than laptops or computers too. All this digital infrastructure is centred around a mobile experience, not a personal computer.

For example, their unified payments interface has ensured that digital payments are simple and accessible. It means that their 1.4 billion citizens can easily transact with their phones and know that they will be properly paid.

Then there is similar digital infrastructure in place for documentation, identification, and e-commerce. The government has made sure that it is leading the way in practical digital platforms.

But this isnt the reason you should be excited about India.

As grand as all these digital solutions are, the benefit for investors will come from the physical infrastructure that is now required. Because while smartphones are a vital social tool of todays day and age, so are railroads, ports, and roads.

Thats why Indias logistics industry is set to grow from US$250 billion to US$3.5 trillion by 2047. And the only way that is going to happen is with a lot of raw materials

Follow the money

My point is that, like China, India will need our resources to grow.

The real question is what specific resources will be most in demand and how much. Because while iron ore is undoubtedly the big winner of the China boom, India may be different.

Just look at how Gina Rinehart is positioning her empire to benefit from Indian trade

As of yesterday, she has invested in her first lithium mine with the intention of exporting the output to India. A small $36 million start to a new era for Hancock Prospecting.

I think every investor should see this move as a pivotal moment.

After all, no matter what you think of Rinehart, you cant fault her track record. She knows the mining industry, and she knows how to squeeze returns out of big trends.

In her own words:

Im so pleased that our company group is expanding its ties with Australias important friend and ally, India. Prime Minister Modi has plans to significantly grow the Indian economy, and to do so they will need increased and reliable exports of minerals and energy.

I certainly wont be surprised if we have India to thank for our next mining boom. And I wholeheartedly believe that investors should start preparing their portfolios for such potential right now.

Regards,

Ryan Clarkson-Ledward,

Editor, Money Morning
Its been a tremendous year of growth for Communities In Schools (CIS) in Northeastern Nevada. From last August, when we opened resource room doors on the first day of school, to our ribbon cutting at West Wendover High School giving students first-time access to a fulltime site coordinator inside their new resource room, our wraparound support provided big and small opportunities for students and families.

The growth of CIS inside Elko County didnt stop with West Wendover as we doubled down on our commitment to our students, adding another school to our roster shortly after Christmas break  Grammar #2 Elementary. This years increase in schools has been the biggest year yet, equating to CIS resource rooms and a site coordinator inside nine schools in Elko County and five in Humboldt County.

Stretching far and wide with resources and mentorship inside our schools, CIS is helping our school partners and students achieve milestones for attendance, academics, and behavior. Its a model that we individualize on a level that works for our community. For this year, attendance had been the biggest goal for schools.

A great example of how we improve attendance goals is the work we implemented at West Wendover High School. Our schoolwide goal this year was to increase the Average Daily Attendance (ADA) from 90 percent to 92 percent. To accomplish this, we held a schoolwide event, the Wolverine Attendance War competition. Each grade level tracked their ADA into a monthly and semesterly competition. Every month, a bulletin board reflecting each months grade level ADA results showed which class did the best. At the end of each semester, the class with the highest average percentage ADA won an Ice Cream Sundae Party to celebrate their achievements. Students were abuzz with the prospect of hopefully beating their peers in these class competitions and our first semesters winner was the seniors with an ADA of 92.49%. Our senior class was very surprised that they won and showed appreciation that their school celebrated them for their attendance achievement. This schoolwide event was the cherry on top, allowing us to achieve our goal in a fun and memorable way.

To further support our students, our second annual Prom Closet was a showstopper. Witnessing the excitement from students, we quickly realized the hard work of collecting prom attire, securing venues, and coordinating volunteers was well worth it. This year we had an amazing inventory of prom dresses with support from our community in donating gift certificates for dinners, shopping experiences, and Advisory Council members who donated, set-up and worked the event. Our newest partner was the new AMBI Beauty School who donated the space and talent made our event extravagant. They gave hair tutorials and donated gift certificates for an entire beauty experience so students could have a special Prom night. Ninety-two students from four high schools attended, thanks to the donation of 87 dresses, four slacks and suits, 15 ties, 31 pairs of shoes, and 16 jewelry accessories.

Knowing the need for mental health support doesnt take a summer break, CIS long-standing partnership with UNLV Practice continues to provide access to telecounseling for students ages 12 and older. And for the first time ever, The Nevada Rural Communities Mental Health Outreach Program (RHOP) will be offering free tele-mental health services through the summer months and beyond.

CIS, in partnership with the Food Bank of Northern Nevada and the Nevada Department of Agriculture, will be offering the summer Food Service Program in addition to the Weekend Food Bags. This program would allow each child to receive seven breakfast meals and seven lunch meals every week.

Our students are among the most resilient and determined people we know, and our site coordinators are grateful to work with our youth  encouraging and supporting them on their path through education. For those schools who have CIS (listed on our website), we urge you to ask how our programs make an impact.

The relationships formed between students and site coordinators are transformative and lifelong. What we know from our work with students is that they are appreciative of the ways our site coordinators show up for them. We know our community sees each students potential and opportunity to achieve in school and beyond after graduation. This is why we exist, to bring our community into our school campuses and maintain positive relationships with students.

A huge congratulations goes out to our Class of 2023 graduates! As we cheer on our students who have graduated this school year and get ready for next years students, we thank you  our community, for your commitment to our kids.
At their third in-person Quadrilateral Security Dialogue on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 20, the United States, Japan, India and Australia reaffirmed their commitment to a "free, open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific" region. But no matter how they package it, the "Quad" is nothing more than a typical example of Washington's "clique diplomacy" to contain China and maintain its global hegemony.

The US revived the Quad in 2017 to serve its global strategy, especially its "Indo-Pacific" strategy. In fact, the US launched the "Indo-Pacific" strategy in 2017 with the core objective of containing China by strengthening cooperation with partner countries, shaping a favorable "Indo-Pacific" order, and maintaining its hegemony. In recent years, the Quad's efforts to contain China have become increasingly pronounced.

After the Joe Biden administration took office, the Quad was elevated from the ministerial level to the summit level, and its first (online) Quad Leaders' Summit was held in March 2021.The scope of cooperation within the Quad has expanded from military security to include fields such as the economy, science and technology, and biosecurity.

While its joint statement this year did not directly mention China by name, it was subtly targeted at China. It opposed any attempts to change the region's status quo by force, undermine its stability, or engage in unilateral actions in the Asia-Pacific region. Expressing "serious concern" over the militarization of disputed islets, the dangerous use of coast guard vessels, and actions that could disrupt other countries' maritime resource development activities, the Quad vowed to intensify its countermeasures against China's infrastructure development in the region.

Despite repeated denials from the four countries, the Quad still exhibits a strong "Cold War" undertone. As the leader of the Quad, the US' main goal is to rally allies and partner countries in the anti-China camp, and seek regional advantages through alliances and partnerships.

Similar to the Cold War, military and technology are the two important areas where the US uses the Quad to contain China. Since the revival of the Quad, military and security cooperation among the four countries has been steadily strengthening. For instance, the Malabar naval exercise has evolved from a bilateral military drill between the US and India to a trilateral exercise among the US, India and Japan and a quadrilateral naval exercise with the inclusion of Australia in 2020.

And in 2022, the Quad launched a new maritime security initiative called the "Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness", which currently is in pilot phase.

In the field of technology, the Quad has intensified its efforts to check China's technological advancement, by establishing a "Critical and Emerging Technology Working Group" and launching the "Semiconductor Supply Chain Initiative".The joint statement of the Quad also mentions critical and emerging technologies, meaning the grouping intends to become the leader in innovations and strengthen "supply chain resilience".

Apart from causing disruptions in the "Indo-Pacific" region, the Quad engages with countries outside the grouping in an attempt to lure them into its fold to contain China, thereby creating divisions in the region. The joint statement specifically mentions ASEAN, the South Pacific and the countries around the Indian Ocean, emphasizing the importance of the regional leadership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and pledging to further consolidate the Quad's relationship with ASEAN and expand cooperation.

The statement also promises to expand cooperation with Pacific island countries and the Indian Ocean Rim Association, as well as to increase investment and infrastructure construction, particularly laying submarine cables, in the Asia-Pacific region. Besides, it has announced initiatives such as the Quad Infrastructure Fellowships Program and Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience.

Recent years have also seen the US and Australia repeatedly undermine and disrupt underwater cable cooperation between China and other countries, while the Quad has said it will take measures to counter the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and pressure regional countries into making a "binary choice".

The Quad has been trying to create divisions and raise tensions in the region, posing a serious challenge to the regional order and security. Particularly concerning is the potential escalation of maritime tensions and increased risks of naval clashes due to the US' aggressive military activities in the region. In recent years, Quad member states have conducted frequent military drills and other activities in the South China Sea, with the US carrying out illegal air and naval reconnaissance and patrols.

The Quad has also conducted military activities with some ASEAN members and non-regional countries such as the United Kingdom and France in the South China Sea. These activities are likely to boost the military confidence of the countries that have disputes with China in the South China Sea, increasing the risk of maritime confrontations and undermining the relatively stable security environment in the region.

The establishment of the Quad Infrastructure Fellowships Program and the Quad's intensified efforts to disrupt supply chains and infrastructure projects targeting China make it even more difficult to develop a free, open and prosperous Asia-Pacific region.

And yet the US says it wants to improve relations with China and has no intention of challenging China. This is nothing but an effort to create a smokescreen which it believes will allow it to continue its anti-China activities without being noticed. The US is wrong, because even the dumbest person knows that it is not possible for the US to improve its relations with China while it strengthens its military presence in the region to counter China.

The Quad cannot prevent China's rise. While the four countries share the common goal of containing China, their specific interests and preferences vary greatly. In particular, India lacks the strong motivation needed to contain China and its position is different from the other three countries' on issues such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict. So it is unlikely that the Quad will turn into a solid US-led alliance.

Moreover, the majority of countries in the region are unwilling to take sides between China and the US. While Washington may have grand ambitions of containing China by using the Quad, it is likely to fall short of its objectives.

Therefore, the Joe Biden administration should seize the opportunity of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to China on Sunday and Monday to change its short-sighted China policy, and commit to concrete actions that match the US president's statements that the US desires to cooperate with China for global good.
June 16, 2023 On The Failure Of The Ukrainian Counterattack On June 4/5 the Ukrainian military launched its long announced counteroffensive in southeast Ukraine. Ten days later there is no significant progress.

bigger This is not the outcome the war propagandists expected: [General Petreus] spoke about the situation in Ukraine to BBC Radio 4s Today programme. On the counteroffensive, he said: I think that this counteroffensive is going to be very impressive. My sense is that they will achieve combined arms effects in other words, they will successfully carry out combined arms operations where you have engineers that are breaching the obstacles and diffusing the minefields and so forth; armour following right on through protected by infantry against anti-tank missiles; air defence keeping the Russians aircraft off them; electronic warfare jamming their radio networks; logistics right up behind them; artillery and mortars right out in front of them. And most important of all  is that as the lead elements inevitably culminate after 72-96 hours, physically thats about as far as you can go, and theyll have taken losses  you have follow-on units that will push right on through and capitalise on the progress and maintain the momentum and I think that can get the entire Russian defence in that area moving, then I think you have other opportunities that will open up on the flanks as well. Back in reality the lead elements of the Ukrainian attack got slaughtered. They 'culminated', i.e. lost their ability for further attacks, in less than a day: The men of Ukraines 37th Brigade were freshly trained and armed with Western-supplied weapons, tasked with an initial push through Russian-occupied territory in the early days of a long-awaited counteroffensive. They would pay a heavy price. Within 20 minutes of their June 5 advance south of Velyka Novosilka, in the southeast Donetsk region, mortars exploded all around them, soldiers said. A 30-year-old soldier known as Lumberjack saw two of the men in his vehicle bleeding heavily; one lost an arm as he cried out for his family. Lumberjack crawled into a crater, but the shrapnel from a mortar went through the soil and pierced his shoulder. We were left there in the field, without tanks or heavy armor, said Lumberjack, who spoke to The Washington Post on the condition that he be identified only by his call sign because he was not authorized to discuss the battle. We were shelled with mortars from three sides. We couldnt do anything. There were fewer than 50 men in the unit, he said, and 30 did not return  they were killed, wounded or captured by the enemy. Five of the units armored vehicles were destroyed within the first hour. Whoever trained those units made grave mistakes: For the first hour and a half of the 37ths assault near Velyka Novosilka, the Russians bombarded the unit with nonstop shelling that penetrated their AMX-10 RC armored vehicles, according to Grey, another soldier in the battalion who spoke on the condition that he be identified only by his call sign. The armored vehicles, sometimes called light tanks, were not heavy enough to protect the soldiers, Grey said, and had to be positioned behind them instead of in front. The AMX-10 isn't a tank and can not be used as one. It is a wheeled light reconnaissance vehicle built by France 50 years ago to dominate insurgents in its former African colonies. One of its main features is to have a good speed when in reverse gear. This to bail out as soon as serious counter forces are detected. The Ukrainian counterattack is now stuck in the Russian defense security zone, miles away from the real defense lines. This was predictable. As the U.S. Field Manual 100-2-1 described the Soviet army in defense (pg 93ff): When the defense is established before contact with the enemy, the Soviets establish a security echelon up to 15 kilometers forward of the main defensive area. The elements which make up the security echelon come from the division's second echelon. A security force of up to battalion size may be deployed in front of each first echelon regiment. A detailed and coordinated fire plan is developed. Weapons are positioned so that the maximum amount of fire can be brought to bear directly in front of the [Forward Edge of the Battle Area]. Enemy penetrations are blunted by shifting artillery fire and by conducting counterattacks.

bigger The Ukrainian army used at least four brigades for its attack. At least two of those were from the 12 brigade reserve that had been built up for the counterattack. With losses of some 30% those involved were seriously mauled for little to no gain: The Russians are trying to inflict as many casualties and destroy as many vehicles as possible in a battle zone ahead of the main defensive line, depleting Ukrainian forces before they reach it. In effect, it turns the area in front of the main defense line into a kill zone.

...

If the Russian strategy proves effective, Ukraine could lose too many of its newly trained troops  which number in the tens of thousands  and too many tanks and infantry fighting vehicles to breach the main line. Even if they get that far, the forces might be too weakened to stream south and help accomplish a major objective: severing the so-called land bridge that connects Russia to the occupied Crimean Peninsula. This would be done by reaching the Sea of Azov, about 60 miles away. The Ukrainian forces were obviously not trained for this. They also attacked in too many places. The map at the top shows attack arrows in 7 places and four main directions. One or two attack directions, with more concentrated forces, might have created better results. The Russian President Putin recently described the Ukrainian casualties: I will not give the number of personnel losses. I will let the Defence Ministry do it after it runs the numbers, but the structure of losses is unfavourable for them as well. What I mean to say is that of all personnel losses  and they are approaching a number that can be called catastrophic  the structure of these losses is unfavourable for them. Because as we know, losses can be sanitary or irretrievable. Usually, I am afraid I may be off a little, but irretrievable losses are around 25 percent, maximum 30 percent while their losses are almost 50/50. This is my first point. Second, if we look at irretrievable losses, clearly, the defending side suffers fewer losses, but this ratio of 1 to 10 is in our favour. Our losses are one-tenth of the losses of the Ukrainian forces. Since the start of the counterattack the Russian daily report has listed a total of some 10,500 Ukrainian casualties. A second large attempt to cross the Forward Edge of the Battle Area (FEBA) with the remaining Ukrainian forces is expected, but is unlikely to have a better outcome. The long promoted Ukrainian counterattack is likely to end with high Ukrainian losses and no gains. This then will soon become a huge political problem: As he heads into next years reelection campaign, Biden needs a major battlefield victory to show that his unqualified support for Ukraine has burnished U.S. global leadership, reinvigorated a strong foreign policy with bipartisan support and demonstrated the prudent use of American military strength abroad.

...

A muddled outcome of limited gains in Ukraine would provide grist for all of those critiques and further cloud the already murky waters of NATO and European Union debate over future posture toward both Ukraine and Russia. A less than overwhelming success would probably also increase pressure in the West to push Kyiv to negotiate a territorial settlement that may not be to its liking. There is little the Biden administration can do to change the grim picture. Congress will likely prevent it from openly using the U.S. military in Ukraine. The European NATO allies have now seen what the Russian army can do to its enemies. They will not be eager to see the same done to their own troops. That leaves negotiations as the only way out. The question for Russia is when and with whom. Talks with only Ukraine, a mere U.S. proxy with no real say, would be insufficient. It is the U.S. government that must agree to a new security architecture in Europe. The Russian conditions for peace will be harsh and it will still take a lot of time, and many dead Ukrainians, until the U.S. agrees to them. Posted by b on June 16, 2023 at 14:47 UTC | Permalink Comments next page  next page 
I thought, I need to be able to find a way to carry this grief. I need to somehow figure out how to grieve in a way that is authentic so that when my girls go through other things in life that will break their heart, they will be able to go I saw my Mum falling apart and I saw her picking herself up.
Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai presents a souvenir to Ambassador Dato Tan Yang Thai. (Photo: hcmcpv.org.vn)

During the meeting, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Phan Van Mai expressed his pleasure to welcome Ambassador Dato Tan Yang Thai to Ho Chi Minh City, and affirmed that Ho Chi Minh City is always ready to cooperate with the Ambassador to further promote the cooperation relationship between the two countries.

He expressed his honor and pride to work with the Malaysian Ambassador in organizing activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Malaysia in Ho Chi Minh City. This is an important event, contributing to the well-developed trade, investment and tourism cooperation between the two sides, he said, adding that the city always hopes to contribute more and play a more important role in the relationship between the two countries.

Regarding cooperation, he said that investment and trade turnover between the two sides are at a high level. He expressed his hope that that Ambassador Dato Tan Yang Thai will support to further promote bilateral cooperation in trade, tourism, people-to-people diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, education and health, for mutal development.

Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato Tan Yang Thai shared that this is the second time he has come to Ho Chi Minh City after taking on the role of an ambassador. He affirmed that he will do his best to further develop and tighten the relationship between the two countries. He added that he chose Ho Chi Minh City as the first destination to carry out activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries because there are a large number of Malaysian businesses in the city. I hope that the activities of Malaysia Madani Ho Chi Minh City Week would contribute to further strengthening the relationship between the two countries, as well as between Ho Chi Minh City and Malaysia, he said./.
Consulting session on exporting to Iran market organized by Vietnam Trade Promotion and Trade Office in Iran on April 1, 2022 (Photo: Ministry of Industry and Trade)

Held on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Iran (August 4, 1973 - August 4, 2023), the talk drew the participation of Vietnamese and Iranian scholars and experts on politics, diplomacy and international relations. At the seminar, the scholars discussed the changes in the regional situation; Iran's role in the Middle East and Vietnam's role in Southeast Asia; achievements of Vietnam - Iran relations in 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations and potential areas of cooperation in the future.

According to Dr. Alireza Khodagholipour, Director of the Asia Research Group, Iranian Institute of International and Political Studies, Vietnam - Iran relations have developed well in many fields. The two countries regularly exchange high-level delegations, showing their goodwill to promote the development of friendly relations. Vietnam and Iran have many things in common in terms of culture and history. The two countries play an important role in the region, supporting each other in international forums. He said that Asia and Southeast Asia are among the priorities of Iran's foreign policy. This is an important foundation for the growing Vietnam-Iran relations.

Alireza Khodagholipour suggested that the two countries focus on developing exchanges and cooperation in specific fields such as energy, food and agriculture. In order to promote people-to-people exchanges, the two countries need to strengthen tourism cooperation, and introduce the natural beauty, culture and art of each country to the people of the other country through movies, music and documentary exhibitions.

Dr. Kieu Thanh Nga, Deputy Director of the Institute for Africa and Middle East Studies, said Vietnam and Iran have an important position on the Asian economic and political belt. Exports of the two countries do not compete, but complement each other. Vietnam mainly exports to Iran agricultural products, seafood, textiles and footwear. Iran mainly exports to Vietnam petroleum products and pharmaceuticals. Vietnam can be a gateway for Iran to increase trade and distribution of goods in Southeast Asia, and Iran can support Vietnam to expand its market in the Middle East.

According to Ms. Kieu Thanh Nga, to promote cooperation, the two countries need to strengthen information exchange in potential fields such as investment, trade, energy and agriculture. Besides, the two countries need to strengthen academic cooperation, research, education, exchange of experts, lecturers and students; and strengthen cooperation between scientists and business people to promote the strengths of each country and access the market of each country./.
Build Bigger Legs: Best Exercises Workouts to Become a Quad God

Written by Ron Harris

16 June 2023

Build Bigger Legs: Best Exercises

Workouts to Become a Quad God

By Ron Harris

Tell me this. When its time to put some shorts on either for the gym, beach, or pool party, how long are those bad boys? Do they go down below the knees, effectively obscuring your thighs from view? Or do you own shorts that are cut higher and put your quads proudly on display? Granted, some of you may be the modest type, but for the most part we bodybuilders have an exhibitionistic streak. We live by the motto if you got it, flaunt it. Nine times out of 10 when a bodybuilder constantly wears baggy pants or shorts its because he feels ashamed or insecure about his poor leg development. MD is here to help. Theres no need to go on living life with chicken legs if youre willing to put in work on leg days. With 35 years of leg training under my belt, Ive learned a lot about the most effective exercises and how to get the most out of them for quadriceps growth. Lets run those down now.

Squats

No single leg movement could ever possibly challenge the barbell squat for its well-earned title, The King of Lower Body Exercises, even today when we have so many effective machines to choose from on leg day. That being said, body mechanics and technique will impact which areas of your lower body are targeted more or less. For the purposes of making the quads do a larger percentage of the work, the foot stance shouldnt be too far beyond shoulder width and the forward torso lean should be minimal. A wider stance will bring the glutes and leg adductors further into play, and leaning forward from the waist involves more of the lower back. This is fantastic if your primary goal is merely to squat a heavier weight, but it will rob your quads of the required stimulation for optimal growth. As far as depth, its a controversial topic. I always squatted ass to grass, but many have claimed there is no need to descend below the point where your femur bones are parallel to the ground. Try both styles and go with what feels right for you. Not everyone has the mechanics and ankle flexibility to squat below parallel. For those with lower back issues, you may find a Smith machine is a friendlier alternative.

Front Squats

Front squats are a far more difficult variation for most people to perform, yet they also guarantee better quad stimulation. Because the bar is in front of you across your clavicles, you have no choice but to maintain an upright torso lest the bar rolls right off you. They take a while for most people to figure out proper form on, so be patient and dont give up if they feel incredibly awkward at first. Also, you wont be able to handle as much weight as in a standard back squat, but dont let that discourage you either. Its because you dont have as much help from the glutes and lower back, and the quads are taking more of the load. This is a good thing for our purposes. For most guys who can squat 315 for 10 good reps, 225 for 10 is about right on the front squat. Another option to front squats is the safety bar squat, in which the bar features a yoke that goes around and across your shoulders, removing the need to keep the bar pinned tightly across your clavicles in front of you.

Hack Squats

I actually rank hack squats as a better movement for the quadriceps than the leg press, for many of the same reasons the front squat hits the quads better than the back squat. The body position of the hack squat machine in which you are upright yet tilted back at an angle makes it much easier for most people to feel their quads doing the work more so than their glutes. Hacks have gotten a bad rap over the years as being dangerous to the knees, but thats only the case if you fail to adjust your foot stance and the machine itself to better fit your body mechanics. Most platforms can be adjusted for the angle relative to the ground. I recommend setting the feet closer than shoulder width and lower on the platform to focus more on the vastus lateralis/outer thigh for more sweep, but I am also fully aware that this foot position will cause knee pain and eventual tendinitis for certain people. If thats you, try a more traditional shoulder-width stance smack-dab in the middle of the platform, or keep tweaking your feet until you find that sweet spot that lets you blast the quads but doesnt kill your knees. The great Golden Eagle, Tom Platz, had a unique style of hack squats in which his feet were so low down on the platform that it looked like he was doing sissy squats. Ive done them and they seriously torch the quads with almost zero glute activation. You certainly would not go as heavy in that style.

Leg Press

The leg press is by far the most commonly used piece of equipment around the world for the lower body. Its both more comfortable and safer in some aspects than squats. Youre lying down with solid back support and there is no balancing of a bar required. Its also a nice ego boost because anyone can pile on more plates on a leg press than they could ever dream of squatting with a bar. The most common form error we witness on the leg press is a shortened range of motion, nearly always the result of using more weight than one is capable of doing full reps with. It sure does look cool to put every plate the machine holds on it, but wouldnt it be cooler to get bigger thighs from your efforts? Setting your feet lower and closer together on the platform, as with the hacks, will effectively target the quads better if your knees are OK with it. If not, center platform and shoulder width foot stance is fine too. Just avoid shifting your feet wider and higher up as this will work more glutes and hams than quads. As a side note, there are some who will go the other way and use an exaggerated range of motion where their tailbone curls up as they lower too far back. This can be lead to injury over time, so stop short if you feel that happening.

Pendulum Squats

The pendulum squat, also known as the swing squat, is a fairly new type of machine in the leg-training toolbox. Its essentially a shoulder yoke and back support similar to a hack squat attached to a lever, in which you squat down on a platform set at roughly a 45-degree angle to the ground. Pendulum squats feel different from either hacks or leg presses, and many feel they are comparable to barbell squats. They certainly have a different feel from other types of squat machines.

Belt Squat

To my knowledge, the first commercially produced belt squat machine was made by John Parrillo from Cincinnati in the mid-90s, and it was an enormous contraption that usually required at least one if not two spotters to use correctly. That belt squat was a platform with a trench in the middle where the plates that hung from a belt around your waist would travel. Since then, there have been numerous evolutions of this piece to make them smoother and more user-friendly. The Pit Shark is probably the gold standard at present. The main benefit of belt squats is that there is absolutely no spinal compression since the weight isnt across your back or shoulders but is distributed around your waist. For anyone with lower back pain or injuries, this and the leg press are often the only viable options for a compound movement on leg day.

Squat Machines

There are also a wide variety of squat machines available today, with a plethora of designs to choose from. Some look like perfectly vertical hack squats, while others are lower to the ground. All attempt to simulate the motion of squats, and its debatable if they succeed in this aspect. Still, I urge everyone to try all the leg machines in their gym. Some wont feel right, while you are bound to find at least one that feels perfectly suited to your structure and body mechanics, allowing you to work your quads hard and heavy with only the right type of pain, the agony of momentary muscular failure.

Walking Lunges

Until Ronnie Coleman famously lunged across a dusty parking lot in Texas with 315 pounds on his back in blazing heat in his training DVD, most men considered lunges a girlie exercise. Since then, millions of bodybuilders have used them to build up their thighs. They are not easy, particularly if you challenge yourself with resistance and keep moving rather than pause after each step. If putting a bar on your back doesnt work for you, you can alternatively hold a pair of dumbbells. Slightly shorter steps will ensure the quads dont get eclipsed by the glutes in terms of muscle activation.

Leg Extensions

Finally, we come to the only pure quadriceps movement, the leg extension. This is the only exercise that isolates the quads, as any compound pressing movement inevitably involves the hams, glutes and even the calves to some extent. In my younger years I found I was exceptionally strong on leg extensions and would routinely pin extra plates on to the weight stack to add resistance. Looking back, I now realize this was a big mistake. Extensions are a single-joint movement, and our knees are not designed to move extremely heavy loads in that movement pattern. Over time the patellar tendon will become chronically inflamed, and can eventually snap, resulting in a full quadriceps tear. I usually advocate either using extensions as a warm-up to get blood flowing in the muscle and around the knees, or going a bit heavier later on in the workout when your strength should be somewhat diminished.

Quad-Building Workouts

The following routines are focused on quadriceps, and thus do not include work for the hamstrings or calves. I strongly suggest hitting those areas in a different workout as these routines are meant to produce rapid results in quadriceps growth and are quite demanding. All three routines should be preceded with a 10-minute cardio warm-up to increase core temperature and blood flow in the lower body. Do not skip this critical step in preparing your legs for battle!

Routine A

Leg Extensions

Sets: 3 x 25 (light)

Warm-ups: 2 x 20, 15

Sets: 4 x 12, 12, 10, 10

Leg Press

Sets: 4 x 20, 15, 15, 12

Leg Extensions: 3 x 12

Superset with

Walking Lunges: 3 x 15 steps, each leg

Routine B

Front Squats

Warm-ups: 3 x 20, 15, 12

Sets: 4 x 10-12

Belt Squats or Squat Machine

Warm-up: 1 x 20

Sets: 4 x 15

Leg Extensions

Sets: 4 x 10 + 10

(First 10 reps from stretch to halfway up, second 10 reps from halfway up to full contraction)

Leg Press

Sets: 3 x 20

(Use a very slow negative, then burst out of the bottom of the rep)

Routine C

Leg Press (warm-up): 2 x 20

Leg Extensions: 4 x 20, 15, 15, 12

Superset with

Leg Press: 4 x 15, 15, 12, 10

Warm-up: 1 x 20

Sets: 3 x 12, 2 x 15*

*Come to a complete stop at the bottom of each rep, then burst up.

Walking Lunges: 3 x 20 steps, each leg

(You probably wont need extra weight here)

Ron Harris got his start in the bodybuilding industry during the eight years he worked in Los Angeles as Associate Producer for ESPNs American Muscle Magazine show in the 1990s. Since 1992 he has published nearly 5,000 articles in bodybuilding and fitness magazines, making him the most prolific bodybuilding writer ever. Ron has been training since the age of 14 and competing as a bodybuilder since 1989. He lives with his wife and two children in the Boston area. Facebook Instagram

DISCUSS ON OUR FORUMS

SUBSCRIBE TO MD TODAY

GET OFFICIAL MD STUFF

VISIT OUR STORE

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

ALSO, MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW US ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

YOUTUBE
FILE PHOTO: Members of the Philippine, Japan, South Korea, and U.S. Marines carry national flags during the opening ceremony of the joint military exercises Kamandag or the Cooperation of the Warriors of the Sea, at the headquarters of Philippine Marine Corps, in Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines, October 3, 2022. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David/File Photo
Caught between empires As long as it remains a US territory, Guam is bound to keep its status as the tip of Americas spear
HAGATNA (The Guam Daily Post)  The Office of the Governor will step in and help relocate some residents who are now facing an outbreak of inf
GUAM (Pacific Island Times)  While struggling to restore water and power throughout the island, the government of Guam is now dealing with a 
Overseas Vietnamese youth joined in summer camp 2022 (Photo: hcmcpv.org.vn)

The annual event aims to create an opportunity for young overseas Vietnamese to connect with domestic youth, as well as learn about the traditional culture and history of Vietnam.

During the summer camp, overseas Vietnamese youth will visit popular historical relics and natural attractions throughout HCMC and Binh Thuan province.

In addition, they will have the opportunit to learn about traditional Vietnamese musical instruments, sample traditional cuisine, as well as discovering local life and culture through various activities.

Besides, the organizing board will hold various activities such as a voluntary campaign on environmental protection in Thanh An island commune in HCMCs Can Gio district and hold exchanges with local young people./.
The U.S. Treasury Department said it had imposed sanctions on two China-based North Korean nationals it accused of being involved in the procurement of equipment and materials in support of the country's ballistic missile program. Alex Cohen has more.
Nanki Shirahama Airport (Source: visitwakayama)

This was part of the prefecture authoritys efforts to increase international flights to Nanki Shirahama Airport after more than five years of disruption due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

Accordingly, the first two round-trip flights will be carried out on July 26 and 30 between Nanki Shirahama Airport and Hanoi and Da Nang.

The aircraft used is Airbus 320 with 140 seats, which is expected to bring the delegation from Wakayama prefecture to visit localities of Vietnam and welcome tourists from Vietnam to this prefecture.

In addition, on the flight, there will also be a group of high school students from the two countries to participate in some youth exchange activities.

Nanki Shirahama Airport used to have charter flights from the Republic of Korea, China, and a number of other countries, but had to suspend operations when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

During this time, the Wakayama prefectural government decided to upgrade and build a new 2-storey international terminal with a total usable area of 3,800 square meters.

Although the project has been completed and put into use since 2021, the promotion of international flight connections is still delayed due to strict COVID-19 disease control regulations.

After the Japanese government eased border controls in October 2022, the Wakayama prefectural government has allocated a local budget of JPY150,000 to promote connecting international flights.

The promotion of opening air routes between Wakayama prefecture and Vietnam's international airports has been relatively smooth since last year due to the close relationship between the two sides.

Especially, the Unshu tangerine specialty has been launched at Aeon supermarket chain in Vietnam since December 2021.

Wakayama prefecture is not only famous for Shirahama Beach, which is among the most beautiful in Japan, but also considered the kingdom of many delicious fruits grown on large-scale organic farms and meeting strict quality and safety regulations.

Wakayama is also the place to receive a large number of Vietnamese technical interns to work in agriculture, food processing and seafood processing./.
Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA)

According to the Ulsan Port Authority, a new service operator, Evergreen Korea, plans to operate three trips to Ulsan port weekly.

It predicted that this new shipping route will generate an annual volume of about 24,000 TEUs (1 TEU = one 20-foot container) for the port.

Executive Vice President of the Ulsan Port Authority Jeong Sun-yo said that the operator will make every effort to help the new transport route connecting Ulsan Port with Vietnam in particular and Southeast Asia in general operate stably.

This year, from Ulsan, the RoK has opened two new shipping routes to the port of Penang in Malaysia and Ningbo port in China. By June 2023, the Ulsan Port Authority had operated a total of 37 container shipping routes to Southeast Asia, Japan, and China./.
State Council Information Office holds a press conference on the third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo and economic and trade cooperation between the two sides in Beijing, capital of China, June 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

BEIJING, June 13 (Xinhua) -- The third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo scheduled from June 29 to July 2 in the central Chinese city of Changsha will help advance high-quality economic and trade cooperation between the two sides, building on current achievements, officials said Tuesday.

China is Africa's largest trading partner and its fourth-biggest source of investment, Vice Minister of Commerce Li Fei told a press conference. Over the years, cooperation between the two sides has extended from trade and construction to emerging areas like digital infrastructure, green development, aviation, and space exploration, Li said.

The expo, held every other year in Hunan Province, is a significant economic and trade platform under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation framework. So far, 53 African countries, eight international organizations, and over 1,500 centrally-administered state-owned enterprises, business associations, and financial institutions have applied to attend the event.

APPEALING EXPO

This year's event is expected to be more influential than previous ones as it will cover more topics, said Shen Yumou, head of the Hunan Provincial Department of Commerce.

For the first time in the expo's history, forums and seminars will be held on traditional Chinese medicine cooperation, women's dialogues, and professional education.

The event will be bustling with participants, said Shen. The number of exhibitors alone is up by 55 percent from the last expo to 1,350. The main venue will open its doors to the public from July 1 to 2, while a myriad of African products will be available for sale at secondary locations.

Shen noted that the 100,000-square-meter main venue would house more exhibits than previous events. Also debuting this year are two achievements exhibitions, one for China-Africa high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and the other for women's innovations and entrepreneurship from both sides.

Potential deals and other cooperation projects under discussion at the expo reached 10.7 billion U.S. dollars so far, Shen added.

COMMON DEVELOPMENT

The expo will help foster consensus and enhance confidence for development on both sides, said Jiang Wei, an official with the Ministry of Commerce. It will give play to local governments and enterprises in promoting cooperation.

A series of measures will also be unveiled at the expo to guide future moves on implementing the nine programs on China-Africa cooperation proposed at the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in November 2021, said Jiang.

The nine programs have each yielded fruitful results, said Li. Under the trade promotion program, for example, 21 African countries have each received zero-tariff treatment for 98 percent of their exports to China.

Under the capacity building program, 14 Chinese vocational colleges have established partnerships with 13 African counterparts, while Chinese projects in Africa created 300,000 jobs for the local people in 2022, according to Li.

Official data showed that bilateral trade between China and Africa stood at 282 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, with export to Africa growing 11.2 percent year on year to 164.5 billion dollars and import up by 11 percent to 117.5 billion dollars. In the first four months, China's new direct investment in Africa reached 1.38 billion dollars, up 24 percent year on year. 

Editor: Zhang Zhou
Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office Vehicle View Photo

East Sonora, CA  A traffic stop near a local shopping center resulted in a vehicle search where two guns, one loaded, were uncovered.

Tuolumne County Sheriffs Deputies recently made a traffic stop on a vehicle without a front license plate and an expired registration on Mono Way near the Junction Shopping Center in East Sonora. Inside the vehicle were the driver, 20-year-old Shane Powell of Sonora, and his passenger, 59-year-old Travis Kimbro, a transient. A record check showed Kimbro had three misdemeanor drug-related warrants for his arrest.

While questioning the pair, deputies saw ammunition on the floor and ordered them out of the vehicle. A pat-down of Powell uncovered a loaded pistol magazine in his pocket. Deputies then turned to the vehicle and discovered a loaded 9mm handgun without a serial number and a pistol-grip, pump-action shotgun.

Powell was arrested for felony possession of a loaded handgun not registered to him. Kimbro was arrested on misdemeanor warrants.
Marie Alvarado Gil View Photo

Sacramento, CA  California lawmakers met a constitutional deadline to pass a new state budget by June 15, but it is unlikely to be signed by Governor Gavin Newsom.

The two sides are still negotiating some of the details. The budget vote yesterday came after California voters approved a ballot measure in 2010 requiring lawmakers to pass a spending plan by the middle of June, or they will not receive a paycheck.

The two sides agree there will be a $31.5 billion deficit, but the specifics of how it will be covered, are still being worked out. It will be some mix of delayed spending, cuts, and borrowing.

Mother Lode Senator Marie Alvarado Gil, a Democrat, voted in favor of the initial budget plan approved yesterday. She argues, The budget avoids imposing new taxes and allocates significant funding aimed at providing financial relief, combating crime, and improving public safety.

Alvarado Gil details below what she feels are the highlights of the budget:

Financial relief to Alpine and Mono counties for the shortfalls incurred on the ERAF (Education Revenue Augmentation Fund). These funds will help these counties overcome their economic challenges and ensure the provision of essential education and school funding to their residents.

for the shortfalls incurred on the ERAF (Education Revenue Augmentation Fund). These funds will help these counties overcome their economic challenges and ensure the provision of essential education and school funding to their residents. $7.2 million to combat violent crime, gangs, and organized crime . The priority will be given to disrupting the production, supply, and distribution of fentanyl, opioids, and narcotics, which severely threaten our communities. This allocation will enable law enforcement agencies to strengthen their efforts and protect our neighborhoods from the devastating consequences of these dangerous substances.

. The priority will be given to disrupting the production, supply, and distribution of fentanyl, opioids, and narcotics, which severely threaten our communities. This allocation will enable law enforcement agencies to strengthen their efforts and protect our neighborhoods from the devastating consequences of these dangerous substances. $6 million to support the distribution of fentanyl test strips . In a concerted effort to address the fentanyl crisis, this investment will aid in providing individuals with the means to detect the presence of this deadly drug, allowing them to make informed decisions and potentially save lives.

. In a concerted effort to address the fentanyl crisis, this investment will aid in providing individuals with the means to detect the presence of this deadly drug, allowing them to make informed decisions and potentially save lives. $119 million dedicated to various flood projects in the Central Valley . Overseen by the Department of Water Resources (DWR), these projects will bolster our resilience against flooding events, ensuring the safety of residents and safeguarding valuable resources.

. Overseen by the Department of Water Resources (DWR), these projects will bolster our resilience against flooding events, ensuring the safety of residents and safeguarding valuable resources. $20 million for the Court Appointed Special Advocate Program (CASA) . The budget recognizes the importance of supporting vulnerable populations. CASA plays a critical role in advocating for the rights and well-being of children in the foster care system, providing them with much-needed guidance and support.

. The budget recognizes the importance of supporting vulnerable populations. CASA plays a critical role in advocating for the rights and well-being of children in the foster care system, providing them with much-needed guidance and support. $10 million to the Family Justice Centers . This funding bolsters efforts to provide comprehensive assistance to domestic violence and abuse victims. This investment will help empower survivors and facilitate their journey toward healing and justice.

. This funding bolsters efforts to provide comprehensive assistance to domestic violence and abuse victims. This investment will help empower survivors and facilitate their journey toward healing and justice. $7 million for emergency services for victims of human trafficking . The state aims to address the urgent needs of those affected by this heinous crime and provide them with the support and resources necessary to rebuild their lives.

. The state aims to address the urgent needs of those affected by this heinous crime and provide them with the support and resources necessary to rebuild their lives. $100 million for the California Department of Food and Agriculture. This allocation represents a significant investment in strengthening the states agricultural industry and supporting sustainable farming practices.
House Natural Resources Committee Meeting View Photo

Washington, DC  Mother Lode Republican Congressman Tom McClintock authored legislation that passed through the House Natural Resources Committee this week that would make it easier to log and remove forest fuels throughout the national forest system.

He notes that back in 2016, President Obama signed a categorial exclusion as part of the Winn Act that sped up forest projects around Lake Tahoe. An experimental program, McClintock argues that it has been very beneficial, and should be expanded to all other forestlands. His bill that would do that, H.R. 188, was approved in the Natural Resources Committee by a vote of 23-17.

At the meeting, McClintock highlighted the benefits of the 2016 bill, and stated, That law provided for a categorical exclusion from the National Environmental Policy Act for forest thinning projects up to 10,000 acres under certain conditions within the Tahoe Basin. Now under NEPA, a simple forest thinning project requires an average of four and a half years of environmental studies that produce reports often exceeding 800 pages. They cost millions of dollars to produce, often more than the value of the timber were removing.

McClintock notes that the categorical exclusion in the Tahoe Basin has reduced the time it takes to review projects to just four months.

He says the four-year review process increases the costs to the point where it is no longer feasible to do projects and leads to overgrown forests.

H.R. 188 will eventually go to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

McClintock also argued that the bill will help save communities from future devastating wildfires, and referenced the impacts of the 2021 Caldor Fire.
Assemblyman Heath Flora View Photo

Copperopolis, CA  This weekends Mother Lode Views will feature California Republican Assemblyman Heath Flora.

Flora represents District 9, which includes Copperopolis, Jenny Lind, Knights Ferry, La Grange, Oakdale, and several neighboring valley communities. He was born and raised in Modesto and grew up in an agricultural family. Flora later went into the fire service joining CAL Fire in 2005 (working out of Valley Springs and San Andreas).

In 2015 former Senator Anthony Canella encouraged him to run for state office, and he successfully won an Assembly seat. Following redistricting last year, portions of the Mother Lode were added to his valley-centered district.

This weekend marks his first appearance on Mother Lode Views, as he now represents an expanded Sierra Foothills footprint.

Flora says, If you would have told me a decade ago that politics is what I would be doing with my life, I would have said you are out of your mind, this is not what I thought Id be doing. But it has been a lot of fun, and it is certainly enjoyable to represent our area.

Flora will share opinions on issues like fire, economic development, water, housing, fentanyl, the governors call for CEQA reform, and specific bills he is introducing in this legislative session.
Edward Fredrick Wackerman View Photo

Mariposa, CA  A 71-year-old Mariposa man has been arrested for sparking last years Oak Fire in Mariposa County and now faces multiple felony arson charges.

Edward Fredrick Wackerman was taken into custody this morning by CAL Fire law enforcement officers in Mariposa County.

Through an extensive investigation, Wackerman, a local Mariposa resident, was identified as the suspect responsible for igniting the Oak fire in July 2022, stated CAL Fire officials.

Wackerman faces multiple felony charges, including suspicion of aggravated arson, arson that causes great bodily injury, and arson causing damage or destruction of inhabited structures.

The Oak fire ignited on July 22nd in the Midpines area of Mariposa County and burned 19,244 acres of vegetation, 127 residential structures and 66 outbuildings, as detailed here. State fire officials added, CAL Fire would like to take this opportunity to remind the public to be vigilant and report suspicious activity to authorities. If you see a suspicious person, vehicle, or any other activity prior to, during, or after a fire, take pictures, video recordings, and/or write down detailed information.

Any person with information related to an arson fire is asked to contact the CAL FIRE Arson Hotline at (800) 468-4408, where callers can remain anonymous. This investigation and arrest were a collaborative effort between multiple agencies consisting of CAL FIRE Law Enforcement, Mariposa County Sheriffs Office, United States Forest Service (USFS) Law Enforcement, National Park Service Law Enforcement, Madera County District Attorney Investigators, Mariposa County District Attorneys Office, California Department of Justice Attorney Generals Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Honduran entrepreneurs visit a supermarket in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, June 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiao)

NANJING, June 15 (Xinhua) -- In a cozy cafe on a summer afternoon, a group of customers eagerly placed their orders for iced coffee infused with the rich aroma of wine from Honduras.

As they sipped the refreshing beverage it left a lingering sensation on their palates, enchanting their taste buds.

Huang Qi, the owner of the cafe called Rising Coffee, reminisced about her maiden encounter with this exquisite barrel-fermented Honduran coffee back in 2018.

"I was greatly attracted by its flavor, which properly blended barrel-fermented scent into coffee beans," Huang said, adding that the distinct flavor prompted her to introduce the Honduran coffee in her cafe despite its rarity in the Chinese market.

The coffee soon gained popularity, with many customers coming from far and wide to savor it. "Coffee gave me a better understanding of Honduras, and I hope more high-quality Honduran coffee will be available on the Chinese market in the future," Huang added.

In March, China and Honduras signed a joint communique in Beijing on the establishment of diplomatic relations, making Honduras the 182nd country to have diplomatic ties with China.

With the bilateral relationship off to a good and speedy start, brimming with dynamism and potential, Honduran entrepreneurs are looking forward to exploring lucrative business opportunities in China.

Honduras is one of the world's leading producers of coffee. According to statistics, coffee is the country's main agricultural export, accounting for about 30 percent of its agricultural output. More than 120,000 households in the country are engaged in the coffee plantation industry.

Michel Baradat, a coffee entrepreneur hailing from Honduras, represents the fourth generation of his family engaged in the coffee plantation.

His family has eight coffee plantations that each year produce about 70,000 bags of coffee beans, which are exported to the United States, Italy, Britain, Belgium, Australia and other countries.

In his quest to delve deeper into the vast coffee consumption market in China, Baradat accompanied a cohort of Honduran entrepreneurs on a recent visit to Nanjing and experienced the vitality of China's economic development.

He sensed enormous potential within China's coffee market and noticed a growing trend among Chinese consumers to pay greater attention to the origin, the degree of roasting and the flavor of coffee. Fueled by this realization, he became eager to introduce premium Honduran coffee beans to the Chinese market.

"I'm looking forward to meeting more Chinese coffee professionals at the upcoming international coffee conference in Kunshan in Jiangsu Province, which can promote coffee trade between the two nations," Baradat said.

Besides coffee, Honduras is rich in other items such as shrimp, bananas and melons.

Andrea Sierra runs a fresh export company in Honduras, mainly producing and processing white shrimp, which are currently exported to the United States, Japan and other countries.

Sierra has studied Chinese due to her interest in traditional Chinese culture. During a visit to a supermarket in Nanjing, she carefully checked the origin, color and shape of white shrimp. She also asked the supermarket staff about consumer preferences and selections.

Sierra found that Chinese consumers place a higher value on the origin, flavor and freshness of aquatic products, which made her quite confident that Chinese customers will favor delicious Honduran shrimp.

"Our products are raised in a natural environment without the addition of any chemicals. They have a good and fresh flavor," she said.

According to Melvin Redondo, a senior official with the Ministry of Economic Development of Honduras, China places great emphasis on the quality and efficiency of agricultural development, taking into account the benefits to the economy, society and environment.

He expressed the hope that the two countries can advance their cooperation and carry out exchanges between technical personnel in the agricultural sector, which will benefit more Honduran people in economic and other sectors. 

Honduran entrepreneurs visit an industrial park for cross-border e-commerce in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, June 7, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhu Xiao)

This photo taken on June 12, 2023 shows a cup of coffee made from Honduran coffee beans at a cafe in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Lu Huadong)

Editor: Zhang Zhou
This stitched aerial photo taken on June 6, 2023 shows a corner of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Tourists visit a building in Hankou historical area of Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 6, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Tourists walk on Jianghan Road, a signature pedestrian street of Hankou historical area, in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 15, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Tourists take photos in front of Bagong's House, a century-old historical building, in Hankou historical area of Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 6, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

A tourist visits Jiqing Street of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 6, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Tourists visit Lihuangpi Street of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 6, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

This aerial stitched photo taken on June 6, 2023 shows the Hankow Customs House in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Tourists visit Lihuangpi Street of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 6, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Tourists visit Lihuangpi Street of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 6, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Tourists visit Jiqing Street of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 6, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

This stitched aerial photo taken on June 6, 2023 shows a view of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

A tourist visits Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 6, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

This aerial photo taken on June 6, 2023 shows the Hankow Customs House in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

This aerial photo taken on June 6, 2023 shows a corner of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

This aerial photo taken on June 6, 2023 shows a corner of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Tourists visit Qingdao Street of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, June 6, 2023. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

This photo taken on June 6, 2023 shows a railway station of Hankou historical area in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. Covering an area of 6.02 square kilometers, the Hankou historical area in the heart of Wuhan City's old town, boasts an abundance of historical and cultural heritages.

In recent years, Wuhan City has undertaken many urban renewal projects to revitalize this area's aging buildings. The historical area has seen significant changes through those efforts. (Xinhua/Wu Zhizun)

Editor: Zhang Zhou
THE ZIMBABWE Republic Police (ZRP) has sternly warned women to be wary of rpist prophets and sangomas after receiving several reports about women who are allegedly being rpd during healing sessions.

Last week a self-proclaimed prophet from Kwekwe ran stark nkd after he was busted trying to have x with a mrried woman during a healing session at his shrine.

The prophet only identified as Chikandamina from Amaveni suburb who is now on the run reportedly fled in his birthday suit after he was busted by the womans husband.

More to follow

Breaking News via Email
By Sara Abrahamsson, Postdoctoral researcher at Norwegian Institute Of Public Health, Aline Butikofer , Professor at Norwegian School of Economics (NHH), and Krzysztof Karbownik, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics at Emory University. Originally published at VoxEU.

Around the world, obesity during childhood and adolescence is on the rise. Its causes are complex and multifaceted but environmental factors are often named as a major culprit, with the increased supply of fast food garnering particular press and policy attention in recent decades. Using Norwegian registry data, this column documents that the increased supply of fast food restaurants could be responsible for as much as 35% of the increase in BMI and 27% of the decline in cognitive ability observed across cohorts born during the 1980s. Policies reducing the obesogenic environment could thus be an effective way to reverse the trends observed in recent decades.

Elevated body mass index (BMI) is one of the leading causes of preventable morbidity and mortality in Western countries. It is associated not only with severe health outcomes such as asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular problems, or cancer (WHO 2016), but also with higher health care costs (Cawley and Meyerhofer 2012) and adverse economic outcomes such as lower wages in adulthood (Lundborg et al. 2014). Although various actions are being taken to reduce and reverse the obesity epidemic, it is predicted that by 2035 over half of the worlds population will be overweight or obese, including one in five children and adolescents. The annual economic cost of these trends is expected to reach $4.32 trillion in 2035, or almost 3% of global GDP (World Obesity Federation 2023). For reference, this is similar to the global impact of Covid-19 in 2020, the pandemics worst year (World Bank 2022).

Several countries have tried to take action to curb the upward trend by imposing taxes on sodas (Dubois et al. 2020), changing advertisement practices (Dubois et al. 2018), posting the caloric content of food items (Aranda et al. 2021), or outright banning fast food outlets (Brown et al. 2022) or the sale of junk food in schools (Leonard 2017). The latter set of far-reaching and controversial policies have some support in the medical community. For example, the Royal College of Pediatrics and Childhood Health in the UK advocates for banning fast food operations within 400 metres of schools (RCPCH 2018), the American Medical Association calls for eliminating junk food in hospitals (American Medical Association 2017), while the Australian Medical Association suggests banning junk food ads targeted at children (Australian Medical Association 2018). A call for policy action is further motivated by existing, albeit far from universal, evidence that easier access to fast food increases BMI (Cawley 2015). For example, Davis and Carpenter (2009) and Currie et al. (2010) demonstrate that teenagers attending a school near to a fast food restaurant have elevated BMI and other measures of excess weight. In contrast, Howard et al. (2011) and Asirvatham et al. (2019) find no such relationship. Other papers examine exposure at the place of residence, with results likewise ranging from increases in BMI (Elbel et al. 2020) to no effects (Dolton and Tafesse 2022).

Fast Food Restaurants in Norway

In a recent paper (Abrahamsson et al. 2023), we ask whether the increased supply of fast food leads to worse health and cognitive outcomes among young adult males in Norway. We focus on exposure in tightly defined places of residence during the childhood and adolescence periods. Administrative data allow us to link an individuals location with the location and openings of fast food restaurants. Our proxy for health is BMI, while cognition is assessed using standardised IQ tests. Both are measured at the age of 18/19 for a universe of Norwegian males via mandatory conscription.

Our empirical approach exploits quasi-random variation in changes in the supply of fast food outlets. Thus, we compare the outcomes of individuals residing in narrow geographic locations in Norway where a restaurant has and has not been opened, and before versus after its establishment. Our results should be interpreted as effects of facilitating easier access to, rather than consumption of, fast food. Although not all individuals in these locations consumed fast food meals, prior literature suggests that increased supply leads to higher consumption (Moore et al. 2009). Furthermore, approximately 60% of Norwegian 15- to 24-year-olds reported eating American fast food at least once a month in the early 2000s (Bugge Bahr 2023).

The first (Western) fast food restaurants opened in Norways capital, Oslo, in the late 1970s and marked the arrival of a completely new food concept. Since then, the number of these suppliers has expanded dramatically, and by 2007 (the end of our sample), there were almost 800 of them (Figure 1, Panel A). In parallel, cohorts born during the 1980s  the first children and adolescents to grow up in an environment with a rapidly increasing supply of fast food  experienced 4% increases in BMI and 5% declines in cognitive ability (Figure, Panel B). Outcomes at the upper tail of the weight distribution escalated even more, with overweight rates rising by 30% and obesity rates rising by 75%.

Figure 1 Trends in the number of fast food restaurants, BMI, and cognitive ability

Note: Panel A presents number of fast food restaurants in Norway between 1980 and 2007. Panel B presents average BMI (left y-axis) and average cognitive ability score (right y-axis) measured at ages 18/19 for birth cohorts between 1980 and 1989.

Higher BMI and Worse Cognitive Outcomes from Fast Food Exposure

To verify the aforementioned visual time series correlations, we use a regression analysis. We find that growing up in a neighbourhood that has a fast food restaurant increases BMI and the likelihood of being overweight in young adult males. We calculate that for an average exposure in our data, which is about seven years between birth and age 18/19 when the outcomes are measured, individual BMI increases by 1.4% which is about 35% of the growth in mean BMI between the first and the last cohort considered (Figure 2). Additionally, we find increases of 1.6% and 2.9% per year of exposure to a fast food establishment when considering overweight and obesity likelihoods, respectively.

We document parallel deterioration in cognitive ability. A point estimate suggests 0.56% of a standard deviation (SD) decline per year of exposure, which, given the aforementioned average exposure in the data, could explain about 27% of the cross-cohort downswing. The IQ finding is unaffected by controlling for BMI, which suggests that it is largely orthogonal (and plausibly additive) to any negative health effects.

Across both health and cognitive outcomes, we find surprisingly little heterogeneity. The fast food effects do not appear to be mediated by individual health at birth, paternal BMI, or household socioeconomic status. We do note, however, that cognitive ability is only affected by early life exposure at ages 0-12. In this case, we further find that the effect is halved in families where the father has at least an academic high school degree.

Our findings are robust. Point estimates and statistical significance are not materially affected by the choice of econometric specifications, estimation sample, definition of treatment distance, or transformations of the dependent variable. We also document parallel trends prior to restaurant openings. These tests mitigate concerns that selection or spurious trends are driving our results.

Figure 2 Main results

Note: This figure presents average growth of BMI and decline of cognitive ability between birth cohort 1980 (first birth cohort in our data) and 1989 (last birth cohort in our data) as well as average treatment effects of exposure to fast food restaurants. Navy bars present results for BMI while orange bars present results for IQ scores. Black vertical spikes present 95% confidence intervals based on standard errors clustered at municipality of birth level.

Implications for Policy Response

We show that adverse fast food supply effects could arise even in a Nordic country with a relatively healthy population, high per capita income, high levels of education and nutritional literacy, and universal free healthcare. This is concerning given that many studies on weight reduction find small or no effects and that the penetration of unhealthy food providers keeps increasing. Our findings for the cognitive outcomes increase the stakes of a potential lack of countermeasures even more. They could also help in understanding the decline in cognitive ability in multiple countries in recent decades (Dutton et al. 2016). Finally, the relative homogeneity of our findings suggests that any interventions or campaigns should target a broad population rather than specific groups  for example, those with a history of obesity in their families (Griffith 2022). Without action, the prediction that within a decade more than 30% of the Norwegian adult male population will be obese (Lobstein et al. 2022) could indeed materialise.

References available at the original.
Five planets will be lined up in space Saturday. How to see the planetary alignment USA Today

Catfish Noodling 101: A Beginners Guide Field and Stream

High Inflation is Officially Behind Us Richard Vague, Democracy

Larry Summers Was Wrong About Inflation Eric Levitz, New York Magazine

Joachim Nagel: Ensuring the supply of cash  including in times of crisis Bank of International Settlements

Climate

Water

Drift of Earths Pole Confirms Groundwater Depletion as a Significant Contributor to Global Sea Level Rise 19932010 Geophysical Research Letters

#COVID19

Mandy Cohen, seen as next CDC director, would bring political chops to an agency lacking them Helen Branswell, STAT. Ah. The CDC thinks it has a messaging problem. Association between vaccination rates and severe COVID-19 health outcomes in the United States: a population-level statistical analysis (preprint) medRxiv. From the Abstract: We analyzed the association between time-dependent vaccination rates and COVID-19 severity for 48 states in the U.S. using Generalized Additive Models (GAMs). We used SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance data to model the different COVID-19 variant driven waves separately. Our study revealed a strong and statistically significant negative association between vaccine uptake and COVID-19 severity across each variant wave. Results also showed that booster shots offered additional protection against severe diseases during the Omicron wave. Additionally, higher underlying population immunity based on previous infection rates are shown to be associated with reduced COVID-19 severity. Full-service restaurant visits are associated with increased COVID-19 severity for the pre-Delta and Delta waves, while office of physician visits are associated with increased COVID-19 severity for the Omicron wave. Moreover, the states with higher government policy index scores have lower COVID-19 severity. Regarding static variables, the social vulnerability index, and the proportion of adults at high risk exhibit positive associations with COVID-19 severity, while Medicaid spending per person exhibits a negative association with COVID-19 severity. Despite the emergence of new variants, vaccines remain highly effective at reducing severe outcomes of COVID-19. FDA panel backs monovalent XBB switch for fall COVID vaccines Center for Disease Research and Policy. Im so old I can remember when mRNA vaccines were going to have point releases, like software. NYS working to get rid of unused pandemic materials WKBW

China?

Myanmar

Time Running Out on Indonesias Myanmar Diplomacy Institute for Security and Development Policy. There is no diplomatic solution. The Myanmar junta is no more agreement-capable than the United States. They ignore us on purpose: Cyclone deepens Rohingya suffering Frontier Myanmar

India

Syraqistan

L.A. and other cities are recovering, but not their downtowns. Why? Brookings Institution

European Disunion

Hungarian man pays with fake money with a picture of George Soros in a pub Daily News Hungary

New Not-So-Cold War

South of the Border

Biden Administration

Lina Khan Fires a Crooked CEO Matt Stoller, BIG

Spook Country

Digital Watch

Im a Student. You Have No Idea How Much Were Using ChatGPT. Chronicle of Higher Education. As any former student knows, one of the main challenges of writing an essay is just thinking through the subject matter and coming up with a strong, debatable claim. With one snap of the fingers and almost zero brain activity, I suddenly had one. Hand-written, proctored examinations followed by viva voces would be a start (which would require individualized attention to students, and who wants that? So, on consideration, no). Artificial Intelligence Already Being Used In Transactional Drafting: An Interview With The CEO Of Spellbook Dealbreaker

Supply Chain

Police State Watch

All I am saying is the police will do their job as they see fit. Worcester Sucks and I Love It

Healthcare

Zeitgeist Watch

Imperial Collapse Watch

How the U.S. let EV battery tech born here wind up in the hands of China Autoblog (via Bloomberg, not paywalled). Well worth a read.

Guillotine Watch

Finance Executive Accused of Drugging and Raping Teen in Midtown Hotel NYT

Shedding equity: Housing slowdown leads to first annual drop in US homeowner equity since 2012 AP

Class Warfare

Korean writers picket in solidarity with Writers Guild of America Hankyoreh Strategies of Denial New Left Review. The American lefts blinkered focus on the domestic impact of Bidenomics has echoes of the social imperialism of the European belle epoque, when the Webbs and Bernsteins celebrated an increased share of the cake for their native working class, as inter-imperial rivalries and colonial depredations accelerated towards catastrophe.

Compounding Optimism Collaborative. Pessimism doesnt compound??

Antidote du jour (via):

Bonus antidote:

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Stephensen had me at the feral hogs, Snout being the name of the feral hog introduced here. Page 16 of Termination Shock (TS):

Snout was a cutesy name for a monster, but Adele had been a girly girl, with cute names for everything. When she had started calling him that, she of course hadnt known that one day Snout was going to eat her. In those days, some five years ago, Snout had merely been one piglet in a herd of feral swine that came and went across the stretch of central Texas where Rufus and his lady, Mariel, were trying to make a go of it on fifty acres. Snout had been easily identifiable to little Adele because of a distinctive pattern of spots on his nose, and, later, because he was bigger than the others. The reason Snout was biggeras Rufus and Mariel found out too late was that Adele had got in the habit of feeding him. Snout, no idiot, had got in the habit of coming around to be fed. Rufus blamed the situation on Charlottes Web, a work of fantasy literature to which Marielas always with the best and purest of intentions had introduced Adele before she was ready for it. Though to be fair there was a lot of related material on YouTube tending to support the dangerous and wrong idea that swine were cute, not anthropophagous, and could be trusted. From time to time a moral panic would arise concerning the sort of online content to which unsuspecting children were being algorithmically exposed, but it was always something to do with sex, violence, or politics. All important in their way, but mostly preoccupations of city dwellers. Things might have turned out differently if Rufus had been able to shelter Adele from juvenile pig-related content during that formative year when she had learned her ABCs and Snout had grown from a newborn pigletbasically an exposed fetusto a monstrous boar weighing twice as much as Rufus, who had once played linebacker. Sometimes at breakfast Adele would complain that in the middle of the night she had been awakened by gunshots in the neighborhood. Rufus would lock eyes with Mariel across the table and Mariel would say It must have been hunters, which was not technically a lie. It had been Rufus, out at three in the morning with an infrared scope, blowing away feral hogs. And if it wasnt Rufus, it was one of the neighbors doing the same thing for the same reason.

This is gruesome, and funny, and kinetic, and gun-humpy, and cartoonishly violent, with humor so dry as to be parched, like so much of Stephensons fiction. Rufus is one of several protagonists, the others being the Queen of the Netherlands, truckstop chain baron and oil bidness squillionaire T.R. Schmidt, Laks, a young Sikh, and a ginormous supporting cast of entouragistes, corporate droids, Eurotrash, employees and service people, falconers, and so forth. If I sound a little vague here, its because I dont feel the need to be more precise. For whatever reason, I dont remember any of characters the way I do Y.T., Hiro Protaganist (come on), or Uncle Enzo, from Snow Crash, or Randall Lawrence Waterhouse and Douglas MacArthur Shaftoe from Cryptonomicon. Frustratingly for me, I cant explain why this is; and I should be able to, being a former English major. At this point, I should emphasize that TS is what they call a rollicking good read, and worth your time; I blasted through all seven million 700 pages, half before going to sleep in the morning, and the other half after waking up in the afternoon, and I very rarely do that. If nothing else, TS is immersive.

But where exactly is one immersed? Well, in a built world. And here again my nebulous sense of frustration besets me. The world of TS, exactly like the world of William Gibsons Jackpot Trilogy, is set in the near future, the mid-Twentieth Century. Yet I find Gibsons world infinitely more persuasive (not to mention being a better model of the social systems we confront). I suppose I prefer Gibsons milieu of trashy working class whites, mercs, intelligence operatives, public relations executives, and Russian mobsters to Stephensons milieu of rich folks and their various service providers. I also prefer Gibsons exposition of the central premise of his work, which takes the form of a public relations executive from the future explaining the Jackpot while speaking through a Walmart-level robot (a Wheelie Boy), to Stephensons, where T.R. Schmidt lovingly expounds the workings of the Biggest Gun in the World. Is that a failure in world-building?[1] I dont know. Nebulous, as I keep saying.

The Biggest Gun in the World (Stephenson probably has a MILSPEC-style acronym for it, but I dont remember) is a gun that shoots sulfur into the air on a regular schedule, thereby cooling the atmosphere, and solving our climate problems. In other words, geo-engineering. In some circles, this is well-proven tech. The wee problem is that having made, well, the entire Earth dependent on human machinery, what happens when the machine stops? What happens if T.R. Schmidt throws the switch to Off  or somebody throws it for him?At this point, I just realized that I dont have to include the obligatory, high-level plot summary. You just read it.

Ive also realized, as you no doubt have as well, that Im not going to do anything like a close reading of TS. However, in the course of my useless research (reviews here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here; more serious analysis here, here, and here), I finally floundered through to understanding my nebulous sense of disquiet with TS: Im not sure Stephenson is fully in control of his register in TS; in particular, not in control of the English majors best friend: Irony. And after this absurdly convoluted, Luis Tiant-like wind-up, I will briefly define irony, and show why its an especially appropriate form of rhetoric for our times. I will then give an example of an ironic, real-world outcome in the field of geoengineering, and compare this to the irony of Stephensons somewhat deflating denouement.

My OED has several definitions of irony, but this is the relevant[2] one:

irony [noun] /rni/ noun. e16. [ORIGIN: Latin ironia, Greek eironeia simulated ignorance, from eiron dissembler: see -y3.] 3. Discrepancy between the expected and the actual state of affairs; a state of affairs that seems deliberately contrary to what is expected and is often wryly amusing. m17.

A rhetorical form that draws attention to the discrepancy between the actual and the expected is peculiarly appropriate for the present day, described by Stephenson himself in an interview with Grim Dark (!!) magazine:

[STEPHENSON:] The worlds reaction to COVIDwhich unfolded as I was writing this bookshowed us that its impossible to get many people to believe in the existence of a disease that is placing them and their loved ones in immediate danger and causing hundreds of thousands of people to drop dead all around them. Trying to communicate about human-caused climate change is far more difficult than that, given that the consequences are mostly far away and detectable only by scientific instruments and statistical analysis. It would be difficult to get people to understand these facts even if social media werent pouring highly optimized disinformation into their heads.

Talk about a discrepancy between the actual and the expected![3]

(A no-smoking sign on your cigarette break.) Here is an example of irony in real, material life. The maritime shipping industry, with the best of intentions  some might say this was rare for them  initiated changes in ships fuel with the goal of reducing sulfur in the air (the opposite of what T.R. hoped to achieve with Biggest Gun in the World). And they succeeded! From 2022:

A global standard limiting sulfur in ship fuel reduced artificial ship track clouds to record-low levels in 2020. Pandemic-related disruptions played a secondary role. Ship tracks, the polluted marine clouds that trail ocean-crossing vessels, are a signature of modern trade. Like ghostly fingerprints, they trace shipping lanes around the globe, from the North Pacific to the Mediterranean Sea. But in 2020, satellite observations showed fewer of those pollution fingerprints. Drawing on nearly two decades of satellite imagery, researchers found that the number of ship tracks fell significantly after a new fuel regulation went into effect. A global standard implemented in 2020 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO)  requiring an 86% reduction in fuel sulfur content  likely reduced ship track formation. COVID-19-related trade disruptions also played a small role in the reduction

Unfortunately, their success in reducing sulfur emisssions made global warming worse. Fewer clouds, more sunlight. From 2023:

If this trend continues that could mean that the Northern Hemisphere mid latitudes (where many of us live) will warm much more rapidly. It could also impact global and regional weather systems, like the monsoons. More extreme weather is likely. pic.twitter.com/7JhUEEMBfr  Leon Simons (@LeonSimons8) March 8, 2023

Thats both a termination shock, and a discrepancy between the actual and the expected, although Im not sure that the shipping executives are experiencing wry amusement, any more than climate scientists are. This unexpected outcome is an exact parallel to the central premise of TS: In essence, by cleaning the sulfur out of their fuel, they threw the switch to Off on T.R. Schmidts Big Sulfur-Shooting Gun.

And now to the irony of TS, which operates at the meta-narrative level (i.e., is not expressed by characters in the plot). The irony is this: The switch on T.R. Schmidts Big Sulfur-Shooting Gun is thrown to Off (through a series of unfortunate events it would take too long to describe). And what happens? NOTHING! The book ends! There is no termination shock! Given the books title, Id say that too is a discrepancy between the actual and the expected.d

Now, to be fair, the book doesnt exactly end when T.R. Schmidts Big Sulfur-Shooting Gun falls silent; theres a coda where all the good rich folks and their service providers chat about what comes next. I dont think the word learning was used but it might well have been. Stephenson in his interview frames TSs approach:

The answer to that problem is to show realistic characters having realistic arguments about itwhich is what would actually happen!

As a rhetorical technique, this form of irony  [insert punting sound here]  is called epitrope:

A figure in which one turns things over to ones hearers, either pathetically, ironically, or in such a way as to suggest a proof of something without having to state it. Epitrope can be either biting in its irony, or flattering in its deference.

I guess when I blast through 700 pages in a book called Termination Shock, and then no shock appears  unless you consider the coda shocking  I feel a bit of a letdown.

But let me now employ epitrope myself. Readers, am I being fair to Stephenson? And what do you think of geoengineering?

NOTES

[1] Stephenson has done an awful lot of reading for TS, and seems compelled to share it all with us, albeit in his own inimitable style. But some of his sharing doesnt pass the packthread test. From a review on Reddit:

As a Dutch person, there is some extra fun in assessing how well Stephenson read up on his main character, who happens to be the queen of the Netherlands. At times he is remarkably well researched, at others he is hilariously wrong (Allow me to digress here. The queen lives in Huis ten Bosch, which Stephenson describes as surrounded by ancient forest. Its in the middle of the Hague. Its a park. Hes clearly not been there, but you wonder how he made the mistake. I googled it, and the first hit describes the park as having eeuwenoude bomen (ancient, literally, centuries-old trees. Probably two centuries at most, and no-one in their right mind in the Netherlands would describe that as ancient forest, but you just know Stephenson fell for that).

[2] Irony is often mistaken for sarcasm, but they are distinct. Irony is not personal, and not meant to be cutting.

[3] Ones reaction may not be limited to wry amusement, of course.
A craftsman cleans a wooden dragon head in Shibing county, Guizhou province, on June 10. [Photo by Mo Guibin/Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Craftsmen in Shibing county of Guizhou province are busy making dragon boats to welcome the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival. This year's festival will be celebrated from June 21 to 25.

Shibing is one of the birthplaces of the Miao ethnic group's dragon boats and races in the Qingshui River Basin. The Shibing race is a representative ethnic custom of southeastern Guizhou, and a unique cultural heritage of the province.

The event will be held by the banks of the Wuyang River along with over 10 activities, including the world's longest dragon boat parade, a dragon boat image ambassador competition and a fireworks show.

8

1

Editor: JYZ
Rep. Justin Jones will face Republican Laura Nelson after both were unopposed in primaries
With five weeks until Election Day, we ask eight mayoral candidates for their thoughts on tr
Nearly 15% of Bradley armored vehicles the US sent to Ukraine now DESTROYED over just 3 days

Nearly 15 percent of the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles sent to Ukraine by the Biden administration were destroyed in a span of three days

This is according to the investigative journalism group Oryx, which has been using open-source data to track materiel losses by both Russia and Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict.

According to Oryx, 16 of the approximately 109 Bradley IFVs the U.S. sent to Ukraine have been lost. Five of these have been totally destroyed, while another 11 have either been abandoned or damaged to the point of being unusable.

Moving on tracks rather than wheels, Bradley IFVs are intended to provide armies with more firepower on the battlefield while also allowing for the transportation of up to 10 troops at a time.

Bradleys can also come equipped with BGM-71 TOW anti-armor missiles, which have been described as "tank killers" that Ukrainian troops had hoped to use against enemy armor as a part of "mechanized combined arms" teams.

Military analysts claim that Bradleys are much stronger than the counterpart IFVs in use in the Russian Armed Forces, notably the BMP-1 and BMP-2, and the destruction of a Bradley is less likely to result in the loss of the troops being transported within its hold.

The footage Oryx used to reach its number of 16 Bradleys destroyed or otherwise abandoned appears to date from between Friday to Sunday, June 9 to 11, which is consistent with assessments made by other experts regarding the start of Ukraine's armored push into territory occupied by Russia.

If confirmed by other analysts, the losses would amount to nearly 15 percent of the Bradleys the U.S. has committed to Ukraine, many of which have been in use on the battlefield since April.

Other reports also said that Ukrainian forces have already lost around half of its specially adapted German-made Leopard 2R mine-clearing vehicles donated by Finland. These were intended to pave the way through Russian minefields and help make a breach that other military vehicles can then move through.

"[Ukraine is] burning through high-tech military gear at a rate never intended," warned military and strategic studies analyst Allan Orr. "[Western equipment] can't replenish at this rate  they simply can't be made fast enough."

Retired U.S. Army Gen. James Marks suggested that Ukraine may not know how to use the Bradleys.

"A single piece of equipment like the Bradleys is wonderful, but it needs to be used in conjunction with all those other enablers," he said.

US to keep supplying Ukraine with Bradley IFVs, other equipment in latest military aid package

Kyiv is still calling on its Western allies for more military aid in its fight against Russia  and countries like the U.S. are only too happy to oblige. (Related: National security experts call for peace and end of arms shipments to Ukraine.)

Just as Ukraine announced the beginning of its counteroffensive, the U.S. announced a new $325 million military aid package that will include 15 more Bradley IFVs from America's current stock of about 4,000.

The package will also include 10 Stryker armored personnel carriers, secure communications equipment, additional ammunition for Ukrainian National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, artillery rounds for 155 mm Howitzers, additional handheld Stinger anti-aircraft and Javelin anti-tank weapons munitions as well as over 22 million rounds of ammunition for small arms.

This latest package is the 40th such aid package President Joe Biden is rushing to send to Ukraine using the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows him to transfer military equipment and services from U.S. stockpiles without congressional approval during so-called emergencies.

Following the completion of this military aid package, a spokesperson from the Department of State confirmed that this means the U.S. would have already provided approximately $40 billion in taxpayer-funded military aid to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's special military operation in late February 2022.

"The United States continues to stand with the people of Ukraine, whose enduring courage and solidarity inspires the world," said Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a statement.

"Russia started this unprovoked war against Ukraine. Russia could end it at any time by withdrawing its forces from Ukraine and stopping its brutal attacks against Ukraine's cities and people," Blinken added. "Until Russia does so, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine, for as long as it takes."

Learn more about Ukraine's conflict with Russia at WWIII.news.

Watch this clip of a Ukrainian Bradley IFV being destroyed by a Russian Ka-52 helicopter from a range of over 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

This video is from the channel The Prisoner on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Ukraine launches biggest attack in months as much-hyped counteroffensive begins.

Russia repels attacks on territory orchestrated by what it calls "Ukrainian terrorist formations."

Global military spending hits record-high $2.24 trillion amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine, heightened tension in Taiwan.

US, NATO using discredited domino theory to justify sending even more taxpayer-funded arms shipments to Ukraine.

US military stockpiles at "dangerously low levels" not seen in decades due to military aid shipments to Ukraine.

Sources include:

TheNationalPulse.com

Newsweek.com

BusinessInsider.com

Reuters.com

APNews.com

Axios.com

Brighteon.com
Global warming fanatics claim that TERRORIZING school children improves their climate behavior: Engages them with positive actions

Not enough school-age children are falling for the left wing's climate change propaganda, so some climate fanatics who call themselves professors are now calling for teachers all around the world to embed moreandinto their climate curriculum.

According to left-wing professors Russell Tytler of Deakin University and Peter Freebody of the University of Wollongong, both in Australia, "turbo charging" teacher education will help to induce more climate anxiety into the minds and bodies of today's children, causing them to obey the government's climate mandates and alter their climate behavior.

Tytler and Freebody are both of the persuasion that "[t]he case for action on climate change no longer needs to be laid out," this being the very first sentence in an article they co-wrote for The Conversation about the "need" for the public to respond to it in a "sustained" way.

"Education is crucial for the workforce needed now and for young people who will be increasingly faced with the accelerating realities of climate change," they further claim, adding that there is an "urgency" in training teachers in climate propaganda as many of them have an "insufficient grasp" on climate "science."

(Related: To stop the planet from getting too warm, Scotland recently decided to ban anesthesia.)

Many children unable to cope with psychological trauma of climate propaganda turn to heavy drugs

While some students respond to climate propaganda in stride, accepting the "positive actions" their climate-obsessed teachers want them to take, others do not fare so well.

Climate anxiety is a newfangled disease that is rapidly becoming an epidemic, including in schools where some children, unable to cope with their fear of a warming planet, turn to hard drugs to try to alleviate their pain.

In 2019, Dr. Alex Wodak responded to a New South Wales (NSW) Ice addiction inquiry by revealing that many young Australians feel pessimistic about their lives and futures because of all the climate propaganda being drilled into the heads. Consequently, many of them turn to illegal drugs that, until they are fully decriminalized, will destroy their lives even further in the event they get caught.

"Unless and until young Australians feel optimistic about their future, demand for drugs will remain strong," Wodak stated, emphasizing that "drugs" need to be redefined "as primarily a health and social issue rather than primarily a law enforcement issue."

"Young people, understandably, want more certainty about their future prospects, including climate, education, jobs and housing affordability. Change will be slow and incremental, like all social policy reform."

Up until the early 1900s, "drugs," as the government defines them, were legal. Edible opium was taxed and regulated in Australia until 1906, for example, and Coca-Cola in the United States contained actual cocaine until the year 1903.

Then came the War on Drugs, which accompanied a globalist takeover of the government, including that which sets the curriculum for public schools. Now, students are being bombarded with propaganda about not just the climate but also LGBT perversion and communism, driving some to try to relieve the pain with substances that the globalists have decided should be "illegal."

This is important to consider in light of what children and students today are forced to endure from their teachers, who are more concerned about instilling the fear of global warming into them than about training them to make a proper way in life.

"Many of those kids who don't end up visible destroying themselves may suffer, even if they outwardly lead a normal life, and keep their suffering private," reports Watts Up With That about what climate indoctrination is doing to children.

"Who knows how many of the kids subject to 'turbo charged' climate education will live stunted adult lives filled with psychological pain, a lifetime of struggling with long term psychological trauma from their 'turbo-charged' climate indoctrination."

The latest news about the cult of climate extremism and its hyper-focus on brainwashing youth can be found at Climate.news.

Sources for this article include:

WattsUpWithThat.com

TheConversation.com

NaturalNews.com
There is a sophisticated disinformation campaign targeting the U.S. populace which is extremely unethical and immoral

Highly advanced aircraft of unknown origin have been flying around in our skies for a long time, and now a whistleblower has come forward with claims that the U.S. government has actually been able to retrieve intact and partially intact vehicles. If what he is alleging turns out to be accurate, it has the potential to change everything. But this whistleblower is also warning that there has been a concerted effort by elements inside the intelligence community to keep this information away from Congress and away from the U.S. population as a whole. They dont want us to know the truth, and that should greatly alarm all of us.

(Article by Michael republished from EndOfTheAmericanDream.com)

This week, 36-year-old David Charles Grusch made headlines all over the world when he started telling news outlets what he learned as a member of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and National Reconnaissance Office

David Charles Grusch, a veteran and former member of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and National Reconnaissance Office, has blown the whistle on this information, speaking with several news outlets about the crafts. These are retrieving non-human origin technical vehicles, call it a spacecraft if you will, non-human exotic origin vehicles that have either landed or crashed, Mr Grusch told NewsNationNow.

If the U.S. government really has retrieved non-human exotic origin vehicles that have either landed or crashed, why cant we see them?

What are they trying to hide?

According to Grusch, the recoveries that the U.S. government has made over the years include intact and partially intact vehicles

We are not talking about prosaic origins or identities, Grusch said. The material includes intact and partially intact vehicles. Grusch told the Debrief that analysis determined that this material is of exotic origin  meaning non-human intelligence, whether extraterrestrial or unknown origin. [This assessment is] based on the vehicle morphologies and material science testing and the possession of unique atomic arrangements and radiological signatures, Grusch said.

If we have such vehicles, I would like to see them.

I am sure that you would too.

But these days just about everything is classified, and Grusch claims that even Congress is being kept in the dark

An unclassified version of the complaint provided to us states that Grusch has direct knowledge that UAP-related classified information has been withheld and/or concealed from Congress by elements of the intelligence community to purposely and intentionally thwart legitimate Congressional oversight of the UAP Program. All testimony Grusch provided for the classified complaint was provided under oath.

If I was a member of Congress, hearing this would make me steaming mad.

Grusch also says that a sophisticated disinformation campaign has been targeting the general population for years, because they dont want us to know the truth either

Grusch told NewsNation the American public has been lied to for decades. There is a sophisticated disinformation campaign targeting the U.S. populace which is extremely unethical and immoral, Grusch said.

This confirms what many of us have suspected for a long time.

At times they will give us a little bit of the truth, but the intelligence community is purposely keeping most of what they have discovered away from us.

Grusch has submitted an official whistleblower complaint, and the Intelligence Community Inspectoour General has already determined that his whistleblower complaint is credible

The Intelligence Community Inspector General found Mr Gruschs complaint to be credible and urgent in July 2022 and a summary was given to the Director of National Intelligence, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, according to Mr Grusch.

And a colleague that worked very closely with Grusch says that his character is beyond reproach

Karl E. Nell, a recently retired Army Colonel and current aerospace executive who was the Armys liaison for the UAP Task Force from 2021 to 2022 and worked with Grusch there, characterizes Grusch as beyond reproach.

But that doesnt mean that anything is actually going to happen.

Grusch could be the most credible witness in the history of the world, but that simply is not going to be enough to break the wall of secrecy.

Our officials will deny, deny and deny some more until they are blue in the face.

In fact, the Pentagon has already released a statement that is intended to get us to stop asking any more inconvenient questions

In response to the recent claims, DOD spokesperson Sue Gough released a statement saying, To date, AARO (All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office) has not discovered any verifiable information to substantiate claims that any programs regarding the possession or reverse-engineering of any extraterrestrial materials have existed in the past or exist currently. AARO is committed to following the data and its investigation wherever it leads.

Of course most of the large corporate news outlets here in the United States are either completely ignoring this story or are treating it as an oddity.

Fortunately, there are a few real journalists that are taking this story very seriously. One of them is Tucker Carlson

He continued: In a normal country, this news would qualify as a bombshell: the news of the millennium. But in this country, it doesnt count. 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 whats happening.

He is right.

This story is a massive bombshell, and it should be front page news for both the Washington Post and the New York Times.

But there are certain things that they simply do not want to talk about, and that is because they are directed not to talk about them.

So it is left to independent journalists such as myself to write about these things, and that is one of the reasons why I devoted an entire chapter in my latest book to this topic.

Personally, I am entirely convinced that the stage is being set for a deception of epic proportions.

This really is one of the biggest stories of this century so far, and I believe that this story is going to get a whole lot weirder in the months and years ahead.

Read more at: EndOfTheAmericanDream.com
Trump and Biden camps blame each other over Chinese spy base in Cuba

The Chinese spy base in Cuba that recently came to light has actually been in place since before 2019, according to a Biden administration official. The base is reportedly capable of intercepting electronic signals from American military and commercial buildings.

The official claims that Biden was briefed on the base and China's plans to build similar ones in other locations after he took office. After initially refusing to confirm its existence, the administration is now shifting the blame to Trump, saying it was a problem they inherited from his administration and that the facility was upgraded in 2019.

However, Trump has placed the blame squarely on the Biden administration on his Truth Social accounts. He noted this week: China just, effectively, took over Cuba. Would never have happened under the Trump administration!

His one-time director of national intelligence, John Ratcliffe, also denied the existence of the facility in Cuba while Trump was in office, telling Fox News: Its just absurd, and, just like with the spy balloon situation, youll see Trump administration officials coming out and saying, Its simply not true. The strategy for the Biden administration is to deny it until they cant deny it anymore, then find a way to blame the Trump administration for it.

Last week, the Wall Street Journal broke the news that an agreement between China and Cuba was in place regarding a Chinese spy facility in Cuba that could keep tabs on the U.S. The coastline of Cuba is less than 100 miles from the southern part of Florida, which is a close enough proximity for China to carry out signals intelligence, accessing electronic communications among the many military bases in the American southeast, as well as naval traffic.

The report cited a series of anonymous sources who said Beijing was paying Cuba billions of dollars as part of the agreement.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby initially denied the reports, claiming they were not accurate but failing to elaborate on which details he found fault with. However, he did concede that we have had real concerns about Chinas relationship with Cuba, and we have been concerned since Day 1 of the administration about Chinas activities in our hemisphere and around the world.

However, an American official maintained that Cuba and China recently reached an agreement to enhance the bases capabilities.

Cuban officials also denied the report in the Wall Street Journal, claiming that they are opposed to any type of military presence by foreign countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry claimed to be unaware of such a facility and said America was hypocritical. At a briefing in Beijing, he said, The U.S. is the global champion of hacking and superpower of surveillance.

Kirby has since confirmed the existence of the facility, however, but he is keeping details under wraps. He said the Biden administration is trying to minimize the risks associated with it.

Were confident that we can continue to protect our nations secrets in this hemisphere and beyond and that we can continue to defend the country appropriately, he said.

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Beijing for meetings on June 18, and it is not yet known how the news of the Chinese spy facility in Cuba could affect his plans. He canceled an official trip there earlier this year after the Chinese spy balloon incident. He is set to meet with senior PRC officials but there is no word on whether hell be meeting with the president of China, Xi Jinping.

Sources for this article include:

NTD.com

NYTimes.com

NBCNews.com

Edition.CNN.com
Nuclear war ahead: US to send DEPLETED URANIUM rounds to Ukraine

The U.S. recently announced plans to send depleted uranium (DU) tank rounds to Ukraine in aid of its offensive against Russia. It followed the decision of the United Kingdom to send the aforementioned munitions.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) confirmed this development in a June 13 article, quoting Biden administration officials who shared the update the day before. According to a senior administration official, there appears to be "no major obstacles" to approving the delivery of DU tank rounds to Ukraine. It came amid weeks of debate regarding ammunition for the M1 Abrams tanks Washington is set to give Kyiv. (Related: Biden sends 31 Abrams M1 tanks to Ukraine after previously warning that doing so would lead to World War III.)

According to the WSJ, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has urged President Joe Biden to arm the Abrams tanks with DU rounds  which are regularly used by the U.S. Army. The outlet added that the rounds "are highly effective against Russian tanks," adding: "Fired at a high rate of speed, the rounds are capable of penetrating the frontal armor of a Russian tank from a distance."

However, some officials have opposed the delivery of DU rounds to Ukraine. The opposition centered mainly on the health and environmental risks that come with the tank munitions.

Other DoD officials, meanwhile, have favored sending cluster munitions to Kyiv  a move resisted by the officials at the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. National Security Council. Human rights activists and some allied nations have also raised concerns that unexploded cluster munitions in the ground could lead to civilian casualties long after the conflict is over.

Despite this, it appears that there is no stopping Washington from issuing the lethal rounds alongside the earlier-promised Abrams tanks this fall. SHTF Plan's Mac Slavo observed: "This type of ammo has very high armor-piercing capabilities and could give Kyiv a boost in tank battles with Russia."

UK earlier sent DU rounds to Ukraine

Prior to Washington's announcement, the United Kingdom said it will supply DU tank shells to the Ukrainian Armed Forces alongside the 14 Challenger 2 tanks it promised. According to the British Ministry of Defense (MoD), the DU shells will enable Ukrainian tank crews to fire on enemy targets from greater distances. This increased firepower will also reduce Ukrainian units' exposure to Russian counter-fire.

The Eastern Herald reported that several DU rounds London sent to Kyiv were destroyed when Russian Kalibr missiles hit a warehouse where these were stored on the night on May 13. Residents of the city of Khmelnytsky in western Ukraine, where the warehouse is located, panicked due to a sharp jump in radiation levels caused by the detonation of the DU shells.

DU is naturally occurring uranium that has been stripped of much of its radioactive matter. It is a waste product of the process used to enrich uranium that is then utilized for nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons. The dense DU shells sharpen on impact and ignite after contact.

However, Dr. Marina Miron of Kings College London acknowledged that the DU used in the tank round is mildly radioactive. She elaborated: "The fear is that if DU shells land on the ground, they may contaminate the soil."

According to an RT report, London's decision to send DU rounds to Kyiv infuriated Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described the move as "taking this escalation to a new and very serious stage." The Russian Embassy in London blasted Washington and its allies for their willingness to turn Ukraine into "not only an anti-Russian military shooting range, but also a radioactive landfill."

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin also responded to the U.K.'s announcement. He signaled that Moscow would respond by deploying tactical weapons in nearby Belarus  whose President Alexander Lukashenko is a close ally. According to Putin, Moscow's actions do not differ from Washington's given that the U.S. has nuclear weapons deployed in five European nations.

WeaponsTechnology.news has more stories about military aid sent by the U.S. and the U.K. to Ukraine.

Watch this video about the explosion of the DU shells the U.K. sent to Ukraine following a Russian missile attack.

This video is from the Faniman20 channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

United Kingdom confirms depleted uranium tank ammunition already in Ukraine.

UK to send Ukraine DEPLETED URANIUM tank rounds that could cause irreparable harm to the people and the land.

Russian missile strikes destroy massive Ukrainian ammo dump containing dangerous, environmentally unsound depleted uranium shells.

Sources include:

SHTFPlan.com

WSJ.com

BBC.com

EasternHerald.com

RT.com

Brighteon.com
IAEA head, during visit to ZNPP, notes need to maintain water in its cooling pond at existing level

Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi, during a visit to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia NPP, confirmed the sufficient water level in the plant's cooling pond after the spill of the Kakhovka reservoir, from which it was fed, and stressed the need to maintain it.

"It's important for the plant's safety that the water is kept at the same level... There may be evaporation, certain leaks, but it must be maintained. This will keep the plant in a safe mode for a certain time," he said in a video message on Twitter on Thursday evening.

According to him, the plant will work on replenishing water to comply with safety principles, "which the IAEA will monitor very closely."

At the same time, he noted that the decrease in the water level necessary for cooling the nuclear power plant was one of the most serious consequences of the destruction of the Kakhovka HPP dam.
Former Starbucks regional manager awarded $25.6 million after jury determined she was fired because she was white

Starbucks has been ordered to pay $25.6 million to Shannon Phillips, who a jury determined had been fired because she's White . Phillips was a former regional manager responsible for dozens of Starbucks outlets in Pennsylvania.

The case stemmed from a 2018 incident, wherein two Black men in their 20s were awaiting a third party for a business meeting at a Starbucks in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood in Philadelphia's city center. One of the individuals, Rashon Nelson, was denied permission to use the restroom because neither he nor his companion had purchased anything. (Related: Biden, Dems, left-wing media keep repeating lie about "white supremacy" being the biggest threat: Here's why.)

A store employee then asked Nelson and his companion, Donte Robinson, if they required any assistance. The pair declined. The police arrived shortly thereafter after having been summoned by Starbucks staff, and the two were handcuffed and escorted from the store.

The arrests prompted national uproar. Footage of Nelson and Robinson being led out of the store by police officers in handcuffs were viewed millions of times in a viral video on Twitter, sparking mass outcry and protests in front of the Rittenhouse Square outlet.

The arrests also sparked roundtable discussions about the state of racism in retail, Starbucks itself was levied with many more allegations of racism and Philadelphia was accused of racism in its policing and public safety policies. No charges were filed against Nelson and Robinson.

In 2019, Starbucks also fired Phillips, who wasn't even at the store at the time the incident occurred. The company also closed all of its stores for a day to train all of its more than 175,000 employees on anti-racial bias protocols.

Meanwhile, the manager of the Rittenhouse Square Starbucks, who was Black, kept his job. This prompted Phillips to sue Starbucks, alleging that race had been a determining factor in her termination.

Store manager kept his job because he's BLACK; Phillips lost hers because she's WHITE

Phillips' lawsuit went to trial for six days in front of a federal jury in Camden, New Jersey. The lawsuit argued that Phillips  a Starbucks employee for nearly 13 years at that point who oversaw retail operations in the wider Philadelphia metro area, including stores in New Jersey, Delaware and Parts of Maryland  had nothing to do with the men's arrests.

Rather, the lawsuit argued that Phillips was terminated less than a month after the encounter because she objected to placing the White district manager, the direct superior of the Black store manager, under administrative leave over false allegations of racism.

Furthermore, Phillips' lawsuit argued that Starbucks had declined to punish the district manager who directly supervised the store where the arrest took place because he is Black, while suspending and eventually firing a different district manager, who is White.

The Black district manager in question, Paul Sykes, even stood up for Phillips, telling the jury that she was a well-liked manager who worked tirelessly to solve the crisis and repair Starbucks' relations with Philadelphia's minority communities.

Starbucks lawyers argued that Phillips, as a regional district manager, was fired not because she was White but because she "failed to lead" her team by keeping quiet about the arrests of the two Black men in the store.

"During this time of crisis, Starbucks' Philadelphia market needed a leader who could perform," wrote the company's lawyers. "Ms. Phillips failed in every aspect of that role."

The lawyers further argued that Phillips had to be let go so that she can be replaced by another White regional director who had leadership experience in times of crisis. The person in question was allegedly a "wartime leader" who was very different from Phillips, who they described as "a peacetime leader."

In the end, the jury determined that Starbucks had indeed violated Phillips' federal civil rights, in addition to a New Jersey law that prohibits discrimination based on race. The court ordered the corporation to pay her $25 million in punitive damages and $600,000 in compensatory damages. They agreed that the coffee giant fired Phillips because she was White.

The jury siding with Phillips is seen as remarkable because, as employment attorney Helen Rella puts it, traditionally, anti-discrimination lawsuits protect individuals who fall into minority categories.

"The decision in the Starbucks case, that found Starbucks liable for race discrimination relative to a White employee who was terminated, sends the signal that all races are protected from discrimination  not just those who are considered minorities," said Rella. "It serves as a reminder to employees to carefully consider their actions to ensure that they are compliant with anti-discrimination laws across the board."

Read about other incidents of anti-White racism in the United States at AntiWhite.news.

Watch this video about anti-White racism.

This video is from the Apollo's Artifacts channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

White male workers to be purged from Anheuser-Busch, the parent company of trans-celebrating Bud Light.

Racist city council woman in Denver wants White-owned businesses to be taxed extra; proceeds to go straight to Black-owned businesses.

Biden now trying to ban "racist" DATA, claiming information, by itself, represents White supremacy.

NO MORE WHITE COATS FOR WHITES: Medical industry on cusp of adopting RACIST guidelines that systematically eliminate White medical professionals.

Michigan university to host five different graduation ceremonies that SEGREGATE students by race and sexuality.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

CBSNews.com

Inquirer.com

Brighteon.com
America is gearing up for WAR with China and Russia, the Liberty Man warns

The Liberty Man John Moore has warned that America is gearing up for World War III against China and Russia during his recent appearance on the "Health Ranger Report."

Moore, a former Green Beret turned investigative journalist and radio show host, cited one of his primary sources for this information. The source told him that mothballed aircraft at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona are being reactivated and flown once more. F-16 fighters, C-130 transport planes, AWACS planes and A-10 attack planes are just some of the aircraft being put back into active service, the source added.

The host of "The John Moore Show" also recounted the statement of a former C-130 mechanic who attended the show's monthly meetup. According to the erstwhile mechanic, putting one aircraft back in service within a three-week period requires a team of 260 people and $1 million.

"Now, you multiply that times hundreds of other aircraft and you're looking at some very serious money, to say the least," he told Adams, the founder of Natural News and Brighteon.com. "[However,] an additional complexity is [that] the active-duty Air Force doesn't have the pilots to fly the aircraft. Nor do they have the people to do the maintenance."

To address this shortcoming, Moore disclosed that the Air Force will recruit retired commercial and military pilots. Retired Air Force mechanics who were in the Air Force Reserve will be brought back to active duty to service the reactivated planes. (Related: World War III WARNING - new intel from John Moore raises alarm over Pentagon's war plans.)

In response, Adams warned that restoring thousands of various combat planes to active duty and recalling retired pilots could spell doom for commercial air traffic.

Readying for WWIII or depleting stocks to make room for invasion?

Moore disclosed that the aircraft, specifically the C-130 and AWAC planes, would be used for a training operation. He added that the planes were going to the Philippines and Europe, naming Poland as the likely destination for the latter. The U.S. would leverage the Philippines against China and Europe against Russia, Moore continued.

"They are getting ready for WWIII and they have been doing it. We don't know how long. Probably for most of this calendar year, or maybe half of more of last year because of the complexity, the length of time and the difficulty getting the parts they need," he told the Health Ranger.

"It's a massive logistical undertaking. It's not something that if you were getting ready for war. You wouldn't do these three years or five years before they're related, or even two years. I would say two years or less is the time frame that they anticipate needing these aircraft."

The Health Ranger pointed out to Moore that Americans have already seen the U.S. depleting its domestic supplies of artillery rounds, drones, vehicles and other military supplies with the Biden administration sending them to Ukraine. Previously mothballed aircraft being readied for active service and shipped to the Philippines and Europe would further leave America more vulnerable to an invasion, he continued.

The Liberty Man responded that while an invasion of America is definitely a possibility, he hopes Americans won't see this kind of action taking place in the country. People need to be aware of this possibility so they can make their own preparations, Moore added.

Follow WWIII.news for more stories about the possibility of WWIII breaking out.

Watch the full conversation between the Liberty Man John Moore and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

RED ALERT: Pentagon mobilizing THOUSANDS of aircraft for WWIII confrontations with China, Russia.

The Liberty Man warns the Health Ranger of China's next moves against the US  Brighteon.TV.

RED ALERT: Russia and China planning simultaneous attack to ELIMINATE the United States and occupy North America.

STRATCOM commander sounds the alarm bell, says nuclear war "very real possibility" with Russia or China.

Joe Biden is preparing to provide US F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine  World War III cant come fast enough for these elites.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

RepublicBroadcasting.org
Pfizers partner BioNTech faces LAWSUIT in Germany for alleged harm caused by its COVID-19 vaccines

German vaccine maker BioNTech, which partnered with Pfizer to develop an mRNA vaccine against the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), now faces a lawsuit over its injection's alleged harm.

According to the Epoch Times, a woman in Germany sued the Mainz-based company over bodily harm that allegedly resulted from being injected with the COVID-19 vaccine. The anonymous plaintiff purportedly suffered from swollen extremities, fatigue, sleeping disorder and pain in the upper body following vaccination. She is seeking 150,000 ($162,120) in damages for bodily harm, alongside compensation for unspecified material damage.

The first hearing in the case was held on June 12 at a regional court in the northern German city of Hamburg. Reuters pointed out that "it is not clear who would pay the legal costs or compensation if the plaintiff wins the case."

Tobias Ulbrich, counsel for the plaintiff, told the outlet he wants to challenge an assessment made by authorities in Germany and the European Union showing that its mRNA vaccine has shown a positive risk-benefit profile. (Related: Lawyers say Pfizer and BioNTech still immune from lawsuits despite full vaccine approval.)

"Many COVID vaccination victims suffer from various symptoms such as pain, anxiety, muscle weakness, fatigue and many others," Ulrich stated on the website of his law firm Rogert & Ulbrich. "For some people, these symptoms are so severe that they are no longer able to work and become disabled."

Meanwhile, BioNTech dismissed the case and insisted that it was without merit. It said, "the positive benefit-risk profile [of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine] remains positive, and the safety profile has been well-characterized."

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) insisted in a recent media briefing that COVID-19 vaccines were beneficial, adding that the injected were estimated to have saved almost 20 million people around the world. It nevertheless admitted that the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine posed the risk of cardiac inflammation, especially among young men. Quoting figures from the EMA, Reuters said 1.7 million reports of suspected side effects following COVID-19 vaccination had been reported by May 2023.

Family of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine murder victim sues Biden admin

The German woman's lawsuit mirrors a similar legal action done by the Watts family against the Biden administration. The family sued the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for engaging in "willful misconduct" through their promotion of the COVID-19 vaccines. These same vaccines killed 24-year-old college student George Watts Jr. in October 2021.

According to the family's lawsuit filed May 31 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the DoD wrongly promoted COVID-19 vaccination by repeatedly claiming that the available vaccines were "safe and effective." The complaint seeking damages also noted that the Defense Department "duped millions of Americans, including Mr. Watts, into being human subjects in its medical experiment  the largest in modern history."

Watts received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as the college he was attending mandated vaccination for face-to-face classes. He received both doses in August and September of 2021, experiencing side effects following the injections. The college student suddenly collapsed on Oct. 27, 2021 and was pronounced dead upon arriving at the hospital.

Pathologist Dr. Robert Stoppacher performed an autopsy on Watts' body and determined that the college student died of "COVID-19 vaccine-related myocarditis." California-based physician Dr. Sanjay Verma agreed with the finding after reviewing documents on Watts' case.

Lawyer Ray Flores, an attorney representing the Watts family, told the Epoch Times in an email: "DoD's conduct and the harm caused as alleged within the four corners of the lawsuit speaks for itself. I have no further comment other than to say 'My only duty is to advocate for my client.' If the DoD conveys a settlement offer, I will see that it's considered."

The Defense Department, the Department of Justice and Pfizer all did not respond to requests for comment sent by the Epoch Times.

Visit VaccineDamage.news for more stories about the harms caused by the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

Watch this video about the Watts family's lawsuit against the DoD over the death of George Watts Jr. post-vaccination.

This video is from the Vigilent Citizen channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Damaged patients are suing AstraZeneca over covid jab injuries.

BioNTech, German government pressured Twitter to censor "threats" against Big Pharma.

COVID JAB WARS: Moderna files lawsuit against Pfizer, BioNTech claiming they infringed on its mRNA patents.

HUGE: Federal judge strikes down DOD claim that Pfizer's EUA "vaccine" and Comirnaty are "interchangeable."

Pfizer appears to have committed fraud, and if it can be proven in court then the company will be liable for ALL injuries and deaths caused by its covid vaccines.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com 1

Reuters.com

TheEpochTimes.com 2

Brighteon.com
China continues to threaten Taiwanese airspace, deploying 10 WARPLANES to cross Taiwan Strait median line

Tensions rose once again as China deployed almost a dozen warplanes to cross the sensitive median line of the Taiwan Strait on June 11.

The deployment came just days after 37 Chinese warplanes entered Taiwan's air defense zone. China also deployed four warships for "joint combat readiness patrols" in the area.

According to Taiwanese officials, they detected 24 Chinese fighter jets and bombers in the air, but only 10 crossed the median line. The line has long served as an unofficial sea and air border separating Taiwan and mainland China. But Beijing has grown increasingly belligerent in recent months and has crossed the line multiple times.

As a response, Taipei scrambled its own fighter jets as the Chinese war party crossed the median line. The frequent median crossings come amid a wider Chinese campaign of aggression toward Taiwan, which has seen Chinese forces surround the self-governed island multiple times in the past year as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) simulates invasion plans for the island. (Related: China preparing to launch an invasion of Taiwan, warns Chinese journalist.)

The CCP has long claimed Taiwan as its own territory, but the island split from the mainland in 1949 when the anti-communist forces fled there after losing the Chinese Civil War in the mainland. Beijing asserts that its incursions and drills are to protect China's sovereignty and to stop any "collusion" between Taiwan and the United States, the island's most important international ally and arms provider.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has adopted a policy of "strategic ambiguity" on whether Washington would intervene and support militarily if Beijing invades Taiwan. The president himself announced multiple times that the U.S. would not hesitate to do so. However, his White House staff have retracted his statements each time.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also warned that a war with China around Taiwan would be devastating for the global economy.

"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," he said. "And so does freedom of navigation worldwide. Make no mistake: conflict in the Taiwan Strait would be devastating."

CCP begins another round of live-fire drills just north of Taiwan

As Taiwan's Western allies conduct massive drills in the Western Pacific, China already began military exercises, just two days after its warplanes crossed the median line in a separate area in the seas to the north of the island nation.

In connection with this, China's Maritime Safety Administration sent out a "no-sail zone" warning from late morning to mid-afternoon of June 13, for an area off Taizhou city in Zhejiang province for live fire exercises from warships. The agency further announced that CCP held separate exercises in another northern part of the East China Sea until June 14.

The said exercises were initiated about the same time a quadrilateral naval exercise involving the U.S., Japan, Canada and France was held in the Philippine Sea to Taiwan's southeast. According to a statement from the U.S. Seventh Fleet, the June 9 exercise included two carrier strike groups led by U.S. aircraft carriers USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan jointly operating for the first time since June 2020.

"The credibility of an integrated carrier strike force is the U.S. Navy's greatest deterrent to those who threaten the international rules-based order," said Rear Adm. Jennifer Couture, commander of Carrier Strike Group 11, aboard USS Nimitz. "Together with our allies and partners, we're demonstrating our capability to seamlessly integrate across all domains, our readiness to respond to any contingency, and our commitment to upholding freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific region."

The Seventh Fleet is the Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a "free and open" Indo-Pacific region, the statement included.

Visit WWIII.news to read more about the impending war China is waging against Taiwan, the U.S. and their allies.

Watch this video about the Biden administration plan to evacuate 80,000 people from the island nation ahead of a looming conflict with China.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

America is the BIGGEST THREAT to Taiwan right now, says geopolitical researcher Brian Berletic.

Chinese invasion of Taiwan looms as international leaders take neutral position over the longstanding conflict.

Taiwan to buy 400 American anti-ship missiles as China continues to threaten the island nation.

China increases military budget to $224 BILLION in preparation for invasion of Taiwan.

Sources include:

SHTFPlan.com

Reuters.com 1

FoxNews.com

Reuters.com 2

C7F.Navy.mil

Brighteon.com
Ben Armstrong: Latest Giuliani bombshell proves DOJ, FBI covered for Biden crime family

According to Ben Armstrong of the New American magazine, the recent bombshell evidence dropped by lawyer Rudy Giuliani proves that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) under it have covered for President Joe Biden and his family

"Giuliani drops  multiple bombshells of evidence that the FBI and DOJ covered up for Biden," he said during the June 12 edition of "The Ben Armstrong Show." He continued: "They refuse to even look at some of the evidence because they already knew how guilty Biden was. And many of this  happened before the [2020] elections."

"The amazing thing is it's so bad, the mainstream media can't even cover it up. It's so bad. Everybody knows that [President Joe] Biden sold out his country, and is really a traitor."

The former New York City (NYC) mayor disclosed that his witness, a chief accountant at the Ukrainian energy company Burisma, was willing to give details on all the offshore bank accounts involved in corruption  including those of the Biden family. (Related: Rudy Giuliani drops bombshells revealing massive Ukrainian money-laundering operation involving Bidens, energy company Burisma.)

"I gave them one witness that any investigator would jump through hoops to go," Giuliani told Newsmax host Rita Cosby in an interview. "The witness  who is a woman  was the chief accountant at this crooked company Burisma. She was the wife of the former owner who died under suspicious circumstances."

The erstwhile legal counsel for former President Donald Trump added that the chief accountant "was willing to give up all of the offshore bank accounts" and had "supervised the transfer of a lot more cash to the Bidens and other crooked politicians for Burisma."

Giuliani: DOJ refusing to interview his witness is ABSURD

According to Giuliani, it was absurd on the DOJ's part not to interview his witness. Had it done so, Biden would have been indicted in January 2020 before even running for president.

Meanwhile, Armstrong noted that Burisma had been paying presidential son Hunter Biden to sit on its board despite not having a background in the energy industry. The $10 million bribe from Burisma, coursed through Zlochevsky, was reportedly paid to get Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin fired. Shokin had been investigating the presidential son's links to Burisma prior to his termination.

The elder Biden even bragged about calling then-Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to orchestrate Shokin's dismissal. Giuliani said during the interview that Shokin has expressed willingness to testify against the U.S. president.

Moreover, Giuliani disclosed that the DOJ didn't follow up on the evidence he submitted regarding a $10 million bribe the Bidens received from Ukrainian oligarch and Burisma founder Mykola Zlochevsky. The evidence was given back in January 2020, with the U.S. attorney for Pittsburgh taking an interest in the case.

However, former U.S. Attorney General (AG) Bill Barr interfered and gave the case to the U.S. attorney for Delaware  who did nothing about it. Armstrong remarked that Barr was involved in the cover-up for Biden, adding that the former AG was already a part of the Swamp. Barr had led the DOJ during the presidencies of Trump and George H.W. Bush.

According to the former mayor of the Big Apple, the $10 million bribe that Biden got is just the tip of the iceberg. He also teased of more revelations about the Biden crime family to come.

Watch the full June 12 edition of "The Ben Armstrong Show" where Ben Armstrong comments on Rudy Giuliani's bombshell revelations below.

This video is from The New American channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Giuliani lays out RICO case and allegations of bribery involving Joe Biden, family, and Ukraine.

The Ben Armstrong Show: Biden's interest in Russia-Ukraine conflict peppered with corruption and controversy.

Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna: FBI, DOJ protecting Biden crime family from allegations of illegal dealings.

Rudy drops bomb on Joe Biden  Reveals todays Ukrainian parliament news  Burisma Holdings paid Joe Biden $900,000 for lobbying activities.

Corporate media desperately trying to bury the facts about Joe Biden's corruption, bribery and money laundering.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

Newsmax.com
U.S. government secretly stockpiling dirt on Americans via data brokers: NIGHTMARE SCENARIO

new report has revealed that the United States government has been using taxpayer dollars to purchases troves of private information on American citizens collected from third party data providers.

A "nightmare scenario," according to privacy advocates, the government's secret data accumulation scheme involves the amassment of a "large amount" of "sensitive and intimate information" about American citizens.

More than a year ago, senior advisers informed Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence (DNI), that the size and scope of this data accumulation scheme is vast. Minute details of ordinary Americans' lives were sold to the government by slimy data brokers that handed it over for cash, much like a drug deal.

In late 2021, Haines tasked the advisers who told her about all this with untangling the web of secretive business arrangements that facilitated the transfer of such data between commercial data brokers and U.S. intelligence community members.

"This report reveals what we feared most," said attorney Sean Vitka of the Demand Progress non-profit organization. "Intelligence agencies are flouting the law and buying information about Americans that Congress and the Supreme Court have made clear the government should not have."

(Related: The Censorship Industrial Complex would not even exist without taxpayers unknowingly funding this "vast censorship enterprise.")

U.S. government bypassing privacy rights with "craven interpretations of aging laws"

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) spoke out about this latest revelation, indicating that he has been trying to sound the alarm for quite some time now about the loopholes that seem to exist, allowing the U.S. government to steamroll the Constitution in its quest for data on American citizens.

"I've been warning for years that if using a credit card to buy an American's personal information voids their Fourth Amendment rights, then traditional checks and balances for government surveillance will crumble," Wyden said.

We also now know that the U.S. government has been using "craven interpretations of aging laws" to bypass Americans' privacy rights. Prosecutors are increasingly ignoring the limits that exist on such data collection, or what is more rightfully called domestic surveillance.

On March 8, Wyden pressed Haines about the release of a panel report about what was uncovered, stressing that the general public "absolutely" needs to see it. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) did just this on Friday by releasing the report amid a battle with the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) over various associated documents.

"This report makes it clear that the government continues to think it can buy its way out of constitutional protections using taxpayers' own money," said EPIC law fellow Chris Baumohl.

"Congress must tackle the government's data broker pipeline this year, before it considers any reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act," he added, referring here to the ongoing political battle over the so-called "crown jewel" of the U.S. surveillance apparatus.

What the U.S. government now considers to constitute "publicly available information" is so vast and extreme that it poses a very serious threat to the general public, the ODNI's own panel of advisers warned. Existing policies that automatically conflate the purchase of such private data as if it were "public" must be stopped.

"The information being commercially sold about Americans today is 'more revealing, available on more people (in bulk), less possible to avoid, and less well understood' than that which is traditionally thought of as being 'publicly available,'" one report explained.

"Perhaps most controversially, the report states that the government believes it can 'persistently' track the phones of 'millions of Americans' without a warrant, so long as it pays for the information."

The latest news about the government's illegal and unconstitutional activities against Americans can be found at Corruption.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
Harvard Medical School morgue manager admits to stealing body parts from deceased, selling them with wife from family home in New Hampshire

Cedric Lodge, the morgue manager at Harvard Medical School , is being accused of stealing the heads, brains, skin and other body parts from cadavers and selling them for cash.

A federal indictment filed this week accuses Lodge of stealing the remains of cadavers that were donated to Harvard for scientific research and education. Lodge allegedly dissected body parts and transported them to his home in Goffstown, N.H., where he and his wife Denise sold them to a national network of human remains traffickers.

Some of the remains, the indictment states, were shipped through the United States Postal Service (USPS).

The U.S Attorney's Office believes that Lodge engaged in this illegal activity between 2018 and at least Aug. 16, 2022, while he worked in the morgue as part of the university's Anatomical Gift Program.

Lodge had worked at Harvard in some capacity starting in 1995, and had remained there until May 6 of this year when the university fired him. Now, Harvard is working with federal authorities to determine which donors may have been affected by Lodge's illegal activity, even setting up a hotline for donors' families to access information and support.

(Related: In 2001, Harvard Magazine published an article revealing that self-assembling nanoparticles were already in existence at that time for use in "liquid computing.")

Planned Parenthood isn't the only body parts black market in America

Numerous buyers were also named in the indictment alongside Lodge, including Joshua Taylor of West Lawn, Penn. and Katrina MacLean of Salem, Mass., the latter owning and operating a business called Kat's Creepy Creations in Peabody, Mass.

"At times, Cedric Lodge used his access to the morgue to allow Katrina MacLean, Joshua Taylor and others to enter the morgue and choose what remains to purchase," the indictment reads.

Another person believed to have purchased remains from MacLean is Jeremy Pauley of Enola and Bloomsburg, Penn. In October 2020 at the height of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) "pandemic," MacLean sold two dissected faces and skin to Pauley for $600, who was then hired to tan the skin and turn it into leather before shipping it back to MacLean.

Pauley transferred $8,800 to MacLean for these services, as well as 25 payments totaling more than $40,000 to Taylor via PayPal. Pauley had previously been arrested and charged for abuse of a corpse, receiving stolen property, and dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities. Pauley also purchased body parts that had been stolen from a crematorium in Little Rock, Ark., by Candace Chapman Scott, according to a statement from the Department of Justice.

Scott was accused of taking the corpses of two stillborn babies whose remains were due to be cremated and reselling them, among other crimes.

Pauley, meanwhile, continues to own and operate The Grand Wunderkammer, a shop that sells "odd and unusual" items to the public and to museum exhibits. He is also the executive director and curator at The Memento Mori Museum, according to his Facebook page.

Pauley was arrested last June after police received a tip about Pauley's suspicious activity and collections, which included "several" five-gallon buckets filled with human remains that he was storing in his basements. Investigators later recovered human brains, hearts, livers, skin, and lungs from the buckets.

"Some crimes defy understanding," stated U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam about the indictments.

All of this is reminiscent of the baby body parts racket that Planned Parenthood, America's largest abortion mill, was caught operating. Unlike the criminals mentioned in this article, nobody that we know of at Planned Parenthood has ever been held responsible for their crimes against the unborn.

More bizarre news stories like this one can be found at Twisted.news.

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NaturalNews.com
NUCLEAR ESCALATION: Biden to approve transfer of depleted URANIUM to Ukraine for first time since Russian invasion

For the first time since the Russian invasion, the Biden regime is transferring depleted uranium shells to Ukraine in what appears to be the next step in the escalation of World War III.

For the past several months, the Biden clown car of transgenders and deviants has been debating whether or not to send the nuclear armaments to Volodymyr Zelensky, who continues to receive welfare check after welfare check from American taxpayers.

According to Biden's people, there are "no major obstacles" to sending these depleted uranium shells, so why not? They are to be used to equip M1 Abrams tanks that, like everything else in Zelensky's possession, was procured by Washington, D.C., via American taxpayers.

It was Ukraine itself that requested these nuclear munitions, stating that the Pentagram (Pentagon) "has urged that the Abrams tanks the U.S. is providing Ukraine be armed with depleted-uranium rounds, which are regularly used by the U.S. Army and are highly effective against Russian tanks."

(Related: The Pentagon has been itching for nuclear war with Ukraine since at least last fall, threatening to drop bombs if Putin does not pull out of the country.)

Ukraine and the West are the problem, not Russia

While less radioactive and threatening than actual nukes, depleted uranium rounds are still technically nuclear. There are concerns that the soils they land on will become contaminated in a similar way to nuclear fallout, though less extreme.

Nevertheless, the sending of these munitions represents another escalation in Ukraine and the West's war against Russia, the latter of which is trying to cleanse one of the world's most corrupt nations, Ukraine, of its U.S.-run bioweapons laboratories that continue to threaten the rest of the world.

The United Kingdom has already been providing Ukraine with armor-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium for its Challenger 2 main battle tanks. The British defense ministry first announced this back in late March.

Russia was swift to condemn the UK for this move, stating that it is akin to using a "dirty bomb," given the highly dangerous remnant effects of depleted uranium's use on the battlefield.

"Such rounds are highly effective in defeating modern tanks and armored vehicles," the UK defense ministry said at the time, to which Moscow responded with:

"These shells not only kill, but infect the environment and cause oncology in people living on these lands."

For many years, international watchdog groups have been pressing to get depleted uranium shells banned via international treaty. The European Union (EU) has long pushed for a ban due to the seriousness of what these weapons do both to people and the environment.

"The projectile hits like a freight train," said Scott Boston, a former Army artillery officer and defense analyst at the Rand Corporation. "It is very long and very dense. So it puts a great deal of kinetic energy on a specific point on an enemy armor array."

It is the "chemical toxicity" of depleted uranium rounds that poses the biggest danger, as upon explosion they create toxic dust that gets dispersed all over the battlefield, leaving a permanent toxic presence  because it is nuclear, after all.

"Used as ammunition, it penetrates the thick steel encasing enemy tanks; used as armor, it protects troops against attack," reported Scientific American about how depleted uranium rounds work.

"And when it was used in the Gulf War and later during the Allied bombing of Yugoslavia and Kosovo, depleted uranium (DU) was hailed as the new silver bullet that would solve most of the military's problems."

"After the end of Operation Allied Force, however, several Italian soldiers were diagnosed with leukemia. Politicians and the media soon forged a link between the disease and depleted uranium use. They further drew a parallel with Gulf War Syndrome, and in no time, depleted uranium became the Agent Orange of the Balkan conflict."

The latest news about the nuclear escalation in Ukraine can be found at WWIII.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
RFK Jr. agrees with Alex Jones: Chemical-tainted water supply turning children gay, transgender

Several years back, Alex Jones famously warned that chemicals hiding in the American water supply are "turning the frogs gay." Well, it turns out that 2024 presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy Jr. agrees wholeheartedly  except Kennedy believes these chemicals are also turning children into homosexuals and transgenders.

In an insightful interview with Jordan Peterson the other day, Kennedy discussed the many challenges that today's youth are facing. In addition to crippling anxiety and severe mental health issues, in many cases, young people today are increasingly resorting to extreme behaviors such as body mutilation, which is being pushed on them by LGBT cultists as a way to "be themselves."

There are many reasons why the younger generations are falling for these LGBT deceptions, one of them being the toxic poisons hiding in U.S. water  one of the most prominent being artificial fluoride. These chemicals alter a child's brain function, making him or her more prone to the powers of deception.

A longtime advocate against toxic chemicals in vaccines, Kennedy is also concerned about herbicides like atrazine that are increasingly making their way into water supplies. Watch the interview below to learn more:

Kennedy explaining the link between the chemicals in our water supply and the sexual dysphoria in our youth. Based. Mark my words: this man will shift the Overton Window in America.pic.twitter.com/Wp6ZsPUwI1  SOVEREIGN BRAH ?????? (@sovereignbrah) June 11, 2023

(Related: In case you missed it, Kennedy recently called out the CIA for assassinating his uncle.)

Scientific American agrees: atrazine-contaminated water is turning animals, humans gay

Scientific American reported that upwards of 36 million kilograms, or nearly 80 million pounds, of atrazine in white powder form get dumped on farms every year to control grassy weeds.

"Some 225,000 kilograms of the herbicide fall with the rain each year, sometimes up to 1,000 kilometers from the source," the media outlet reported. "All that atrazine may be having another effect: turning male frogs female."

A study out of California that was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences explains how 40 male African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) that were exposed to 2.5 parts per billion (ppb)  a level well below Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) thresholds, by the way  of atrazine in water for three years ended up losing their masculinity and maleness.

Thirty of the 40 frogs became chemically castrated, meaning they lost their ability to reproduce, while four of them actually turned female, which is almost like becoming transgender except without the "rainbow" flag and TikTok to egg them on in doing such a thing to their own bodies.

Those four male-turned-female frogs ended up mating with other actual males to produce viable eggs, despite being genetically male.

"Whereas another four of the treated frogs apparently resisted atrazine's effects, the rest 'lacked male reproductive behavior, had reduced male features, and severely reduced sperm and low fertility,'" Scientific American reported, citing biologist Tyrone Hayes who worked on the study.

"The key may be aromatase, a protein that spurs the production of the female hormone estrogen, causing originally male gonads to become ovaries and whose production is spurred by atrazine. Plus, the researchers used frogs bearing only the ZZ sex chromosomes of male African clawed frogs."

Hayes stated as part of an earlier study that if researchers ended up with hermaphrodites in such a scenario, there was no way to know if they were males with ovaries or females with testes.

"By using all ZZ males, we were assured that any hermaphrodites or females were indeed sex-reversed males," he further revealed.

The latest news about toxic American water can be found at ChemicalViolence.com.

Sources for this article include:

Revolver.news

NaturalNews.com
Whistleblower exposes Kaiser Permanente for performing genital mutilation procedures on children at its Southern California hospitals

The American hospital chain Kaiser Permanente, which runs many hospitals throughout Southern California, has been busy training its staff in the ways of transgenderism, including how to mutilate the genitals of underage children as part of "gender-affirming care."

A whistleblower from Kaiser shared slides from a recent brainwashing seminar in which staff were informed that many of the chain's hospitals across Los Angeles and Orange County offer mastectomies, hysterectomies, vaginoplasties, and phalloplasties, all of which are available for minors.

The first slide presents what Kaiser has dubbed "The Platinum Rule" as opposed to the more traditional Golden Rule. The Platinum Rule means that when someone claims to be some other gender than what biological sex indicates, Kaiser staff are to agree with whatever the person says "regardless of their transition process."

"Every transition is different and may or may not involve gender affirming surgery or hormones," the slide continues, instructing staff members at Kaiser to just play along and nod their heads to whatever gender insanity a patient starts spewing, or else.

The presentation also includes tips and tricks for how to help patients better "tuck" or "bind" their genitals to appear like some other gender. For girls, this means stuffing their breasts into a tight, damaging seal across their chests, while for boys it means plastering their genitals against their bodies as flat as possible to eliminate their visibility.

(Related: Check out our earlier coverage about what Kaiser Permanente and many other American hospitals did to nurses and doctors who refused to follow the government's official Wuhan coronavirus [Covid-19] protocols.)

Child body butchery being normalized at American hospitals, including at Kaiser Permanente

Even though tucking and binding are dangerous, presenting potentially serious health consequences, Kaiser wants its staff members to do whatever the person or child is asking, even if doing so harms them.

Any woman or girl is eligible for a mastectomy, including children under the age of 18 just so long as they receive parental consent and one letter of recommendation within 12 months of applying. A girl does not need to take any kind of hormone therapy to qualify for a "gender-affirming" mastectomy at Kaiser, regardless of age, even though hormone therapy is required for a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) and orchiectomies (removal of the testicles.)

"Adolescents can also receive 'gender-affirming' estrogen and testosterone therapy, which can affect fertility and sexual function, and might lead to health problems," reported Libs of TikTok about what Kaiser offers.

Boys under the age of 18 can also receive vaginoplasties of they want, just so long as they, too, have parental consent and have been on hormones for at least one year prior to the butchery procedure. Girls, similarly, can get phalloplasties at Kaiser under the same guidelines.

"Many medical organizations, such as the Endocrine Society, advise against genital surgeries for minors, due to the irreversible nature of the procedure," Libs of TikTok warns. "Kaiser Medical believes minors are capable of making life-altering decisions, contrary to the belief of many medical professionals."

Kaiser's West Los Angeles Medical Center, the transgender department of which is run by Dr. Holly Hyokyung Kim, appears to offer the widest array of "gender-affirming" procedures for both adults and children. Kim has no background whatsoever in general surgery, urology, or endocrinology, but was offered the position anyway, to which she "jumped at the chance"  her words  to butcher the bodies of children, calling it "truly an honor."

"We as a culture, as a society have now only started to acknowledge that gender diversity, sexual diversity, is just part of the beautiful mosaic that makes up human kind," Kim said in an "Ask the Expert" conversation on Instagram.

Transgenderism is a raging, out-of-control fad that must be stopped. To learn more, visit Transhumanism.news.

Sources for this article include:

LibsOfTikTok.com

NaturalNews.com
Some 19,000 houses in Nova Kakhovka and three neighboring villages damaged because of destruction of Kakhovka HPP - KSE

As a result of the explosion of Kakhovka hydroelectric power station on June 6, 2023, at least 19,000 houses were damaged in only four settlements of the left-bank Kherson region, Maksym Nefyodov, the head of projects to support reforms at the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), said, referring to the data of the Russia Will Pay analytical project.

"The first data from our team to analyze the flooding of the settlements of Korsunka, Kozachi Laheri, Nova Kakhovka and Raiske after the explosion of Kakhovka hydroelectric power station: about 19,000 houses were affected," he said on Facebook.

According to him, within the framework of a joint project of UNDP Ukraine, VoxUkraine, the Kyiv School of Economics, with the support of the European Union in Ukraine, an analysis of the consequences of flooding of houses in Kherson region and an assessment of losses after the explosion of Kakhovka hydroelectric power station has begun. Data were received on the settlements that took the first blow after the breakthrough of the hydroelectric dam.

"Our team collects data for the Ministry of Economy, which coordinates the damage assessment, and the Ministry of Infrastructure, which forms registers of damaged communities and develops a plan for the restoration of affected areas. This data will allow not only to have an independent analysis of the damage caused by Russia, but also to quickly and efficiently plan the restoration of affected areas," said Nefyodov.

In the mentioned settlements, a different level of risk of flooding of 19,000 houses and structures was found. Some 9,573 houses are completely flooded, 2,189 houses are partially flooded, 7,206 houses are possibly flooded. The total area of flooded houses is 2.532 million sq m.

According to the study, residential buildings of the population of the region were most affected in the disaster zone - 57% of all objects, in second place - small non-residential structures (42%), the rest - public facilities.

Of all the settlements already analyzed, the most flooded is the village of Korsunka, where almost all houses are completely or partially in the flood zone.

The analysis is based on UNITAR satellite images, open sources, including about heights from NASA DEM, and other data.
Worlds largest artificial meat plant is about to be constructed in Spain

There are plans to scale up mass production of artificial meat lines. The news broke at the annual meeting of the Wyoming Stockgrowers Association . The worlds largest artificial meat plant is about to be constructed in San Sabastian, Spain. Brazil-based JBS S.A. is working with Bio Tech Foods to get the new venture up and running by mid-2024. The Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade will be tasked with researching and cultivating new cell lines to produce a new line of artificial meats.

In a press release, JBS confirmed that Bio Tech Foods will conduct research on cell lines, cultured media and biomaterials for their correct bioprocessing to enable the production of cultivated meat. The cultivated meat is referred to as investMEAT. JBS says the new line will allow a highly efficient cultivated meat production line, which will solve the challenges of current technology linked to scalability.

New meat factory to pump out more than 4,000 metric tons of artificial meat annually

The new factory will initially produce more than 1,000 metric tons of cultivated beef annually. As the factory expands, it is projected to pump out more than 4,000 metric tons of artificial meat per year. Bio Tech Foods co-founder and CEO Inigo Charola stated, With the challenges imposed on global supply chains, cultivated protein offers the potential to stabilize food security and global protein production.

Under the guise of saving the world from climate change, central planners at the United Nations and the World Economic Forum are pressuring governments to shut down farms and ranches around the world. By threatening food sovereignty, these globalists are able to engineer and control a fake food supply, while conducting experiments on human genetics.

National Cattlemens Beef Association President Todd Wilkinson is opposed to these fake meat initiatives. On October 19, 2019, Wilkinson testified before a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate. He said that world leaders are now obsessed with eliminating carbon. He said climate radicals are so hysterical, they are willing to destroy the American cattle industry. Back then, he said climate radicals will eventually destroy the cattle industry and pretend to be the savior by introducing fake meat strains. He was right. Today, cattle ranching is being vilified and governments are destroying livestock to reduce carbon emissions.

American beef production is sustainable and environmentally-friendly

Wilkinson believes American beef production is a climate change solution. When animals graze, they naturally sequester carbon. Grazing also helps the prairie grasses build deeper root systems, improving soil health. When healthy soils can retain more water, they can also sequester more carbon, creating a more robust ecosystem and a more resilient farm.

Climate change extremists also claim that cattle are damaging the environment with methane emissions. However, the methane emissions that come from cattle are part of a natural methane cycle. Over time, the methane combines with oxygen in the atmosphere, before converting to CO2. Methane has no long-term impact on climate when emissions and oxidation are in balance. And this balance has been maintained for centuries, Wilkinson said.

Climate policies that unfairly target cattle producers fail to recognize the positive role of cattle and beef in a healthy, sustainable food system, Wilkinson told members of the U.S. Senates Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety. Rather than adopting misguided policies that threaten the viability of farmers and ranchers, we want to shift the conversation.

When he spoke to Northern Ag Network, Wilkinson said, Well gladly compete against that [artificial meats], but the consumer needs to know at the counter what theyre buying. I just dont want the beef industry to go by way of what happened to milk and lose the ability to identify our product as unique and natural. They can say that its designed to feed the world, but its feeding the world a non-natural product and its a product that is going to require more energy to produce, and dont tell me its sustainable.

Sources include:

LeoHohmann.substack.com

JBS.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
According to biologists, with a rise in grey wolves and a drop in moose herds, wildlife populations inside the limits of Isle Royal National Park are on the right track.

Isle Royale National Park Wildlife: Grey Wolves and Moose

Five years after officials launched a last-ditch effort to save the species from extinction on the chain of Lake Superior islands, scientists reported that gray wolves are flourishing in Isle Royale National Park.

The moose population in the park, meanwhile, continues a rapid but necessary fall. Since balsam fir trees, which were the lumbering creatures' main source of food during the lengthy, snow-covered winters, were in short supply, overpopulation was leading to their own famine, Michigan Technological University biologists said.

The researchers said that the patterns appeared to support the federal government's choice to fly mainland wolves to Isle Royale in 2018. They argued that the predators' reintroduction is assisting in rebalancing an ecosystem that was thrown off-kilter when their population plummeted to just two.

Annual Report

According to the scientists' yearly report, which was mostly based on aerial observations made last winter, the rebuilt pack now numbers 31 wolves, up from 28 the previous year. According to the report, three packs of wolves looked to be developing, with the remaining animals alone or in smaller packs. There were around 967 moose, down from 1,346 the year before and a 54% decrease from 2,000 in 2019. Ecologists are happy about a herd that they believe will be healthier.

According to animal biologist and co-leader of the aid study Sarah Hoy, it has been a resounding success.

The issue over whether people should save endangered species at Isle Royale or other wilderness areas, where federal law mandates letting nature take its course, hasn't been resolved by the preliminary findings, though.

The advocacy organization Wilderness Watch's conservation director, Kevin Proescholdt, stated that they have thought and continue to feel that the National Park Service shouldn't have intervened and established this artificial population of wolves.

Also Read: Carnivorous Howling Werewolf Mouse Among 7 Elusive Species Found in Kansas on Wildlife Survey

Wolf-and-Moose Dynamics

Around the start of the 20th century, according to scientists, the first moose on the island swam to Isle Royale. Crossing the frozen lake's surface from Minnesota or the Canadian state of Ontario, wolves first appeared in the late 1940s, according to a study in the National Park Service Scientific Monograph Series. Despite being geographically a part of Michigan, this state's coastline is further away.

Wolves had access to plenty of moose meat, which helped control the population of moose. The numbers of both species fluctuated throughout time in response to weather, sickness, parasites, and other causes. But between 2011 and 2018, the wolf population fell precipitously due to inbreeding.

The two species should be allowed to die out, according to some researchers, much as other species that formerly lived on the island have done, including the Canada lynx along with woodland caribou, which shared a predator-prey dynamic with modern wolves and moose.

The lack of a top-of-the-food-chain predator of moose and beavers, according to park authorities and scientists from Michigan Tech, would have been disastrous for the island's forest. According to the research, the balsam fir trees are still deteriorating due to moose grazing and an infestation of the tree-killing spruce budworm, AP News reports.

The report was accomplished by Hoy, alongside several colleagues, and published by Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale.

Related Article: Most Terrifying Apex Predators in the World That Dominate the Food Chain
Lightning is one of the most terrifying yet magnificent natural phenomena connected with weather, particularly during thunderstorms.

Statistics reveal that the chance of lightning strikes hitting a person is rare. However, they still do occur and any unfortunate human struck by it either ended up injured, incapacitated, or even killed.

In Ireland recently, a woman survived a lightning strike for reasons that seemed strange. According to reports, the lightning strike survivor named Caroline Blake was able to withstand the highly-energized bolt thanks to her sneakers.

Blake's doctor confirmed that it was her rubber shoes that saved her since the material 'rubber' is a poor conductor of electricity, based on reports.

Woman Survives Lightning Strike

The incident occurred on Tuesday, June 13, when Blake was standing at her kitchen sink in Ireland's County Offaly. She told RTE Radio 1 she heard a "massive explosion" and smelled something burning during the event, as cited by Newsweek. She told the radio station the incident set her back on her feet and felt disoriented, saying all she heard was the buzzing of electricity.

Blake was alone at home during the severe weather in Ireland on Tuesday, wherein thunderstorms with lightning strikes, hail, and strong winds covered the western and southwestern parts of the country. The survivor recounted to the station her husband was still on his way home when it happened. However, her daughter arrived shortly after the incident and she was taken to the doctor.

Also Read: Video Footage Shows 4 People Collapse Because of Lightning that Struck a Tree

What is a Lightning Strike?

First, lightning is defined as a discharge of electricity, with a single stroke of it can heat the air of up to 30,000 degrees Celsius. The extreme heating of its surrounding air causes it to expand in a fast, intense manner, resulting in a shockwave that becomes a booming sound wave that we know as thunder, according to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

Described as a "giant spark of electricity in the atmosphere," the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) acknowledges the creation of lightning comes from a "complicated process." However, we know in general the conditions required to produce lightning. Yet, it is still debated as to exactly how a cloud generates electrical charges and form lightning, the NOAA said.

U.S. Lightning Strike Statistics

Although lightning strikes occur in different parts of the world, there are places where they seem to be concentrated and are accounted for several injuries and even fatalities.

In the United States, an average of 28 people die from lightning strikes each year, based on reported cases from 2006 to 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Meanwhile, data from 2013 to 2022 suggests an average of 23 people die every year from lightning strikes in the U.S., according to the Insurance Information Institute.

Some of the deaths involved both direct and direct strikes from lightning bolts. For instance, a person can sustain an injury or die from a fallen tree struck by lightning.

Related Article: Lightning Strikes Kill Over 60 People in India Amid Monsoon Season Affecting South Asia, Middle East
Nutria, an invasive swamp rat, has been spotted in Sacramento County, causing officials to warn of potential million-dollar losses.

Nutria: Invasive Swamp Rat

Nutria, invasive rodents brought by California's rainy winter, have been discovered on Sherman Island in Sacramento County.

When these rodents were discovered in the Central Valley in 2017, California Fish and Wildlife were concerned. The animals known as swamp rats are already migrating to other counties.

Congressman Josh Harder of California's 9th Congressional District stated that an invasion of swamp rats is a significant threat.

According to the Water Education Foundation, the invasive South American aquatic rodent is distinguished by its orange teeth, white whiskers, and propensity to grow up to 40 pounds.

Million-Dollar Damages

According to Andrew Genasci, Executive Director of the San Joaquin County Farm Bureau, the damage to agriculture is secondary to the threat to infrastructure.

The creatures are known to dig through levees, rendering flooding a major concern for crops and people.

According to Genasci, the invasive rodents are costing millions of dollars in flood management, and the only option is to remove the swamp rat.

Meanwhile, according to Harder, locating one swamp rat can lead to the discovery of a swarm of others nearby.

Transported Nutria

Fish and Wildlife's full-scale activities have resulted in a decrease in nutria since 2020, but the agency claimed that the unprecedented rainy winter and flooding moved nutria downstream towards the Delta, according to KTVZ.

According to Genasci, the nutria will travel wherever there is water, but they will follow any rivers that are related to the Delta.

The rodents have spread to new areas, such as Sacramento County, and Sherman Island has detected all 16 of them.

Eradication of an Invasive Species

The task at hand is to capture these aquatic rodents before they breed. Beginning in May, Fish & Wildlife will utilize specially trained dogs to search for and capture nutria.

It carried out its initial nutria detection dog field testing across the project region.

Trials in California were done using skilled handlers and dog teams that gained experience from their involvement in the Chesapeake Bay Nutria Eradication Project.

The goal of these trials was to assess the tool's performance and make any required improvements in order to establish it as a long-term sustainable approach in California.

Also Read: Invasive Nutria Taking Over US Destroys Marshes, Riversides, Ecosystems

During the field experiment, the dogs discovered an additional area with signs and scat of nutria on Sherman Island, according to Fish and Wildlife.

Following the discovery of three nutrias, workers were able to catch and remove them.

According to Fish and Wildlife, the use of nutria detection dogs will become an increasingly important tool as nutria concentrations decline and the surviving animals become more difficult to identify, as well as in places where cameras cannot be placed.

According to Harder, a mother may have 200 offspring every year.

In 2020, the state and federal governments approved $12 million to help eliminate nutria.

He stated that the sum has now been reduced by 60%.

Nutria sightings should be reported to California Fish and Wildlife, CBS News reported.

Related Article: Maryland Eradicates Invasive Rodent Species Nutria at the Cost of $30 Million, Fears of Reinvasion Still Linger
Snow is a vital resource for many regions, especially those that rely on seasonal snowmelt for their water supply.

However, snow is also vulnerable to various factors that can affect its quality and quantity, such as climate change, land use change, and dust deposition.

In this article, we will explore how dust from the Great Salt Lake and other sources impacted the snowpack in the Wasatch Mountains during the 2022 season, and what implications this has for the future of Utah's water resources.

Dust-on-snow: a growing threat to Utah's water security

Dust-on-snow is a phenomenon that occurs when wind-blown dust particles land on the surface of snow, changing its albedo (reflectivity) and thermal properties.

Dusty snow absorbs more solar radiation than clean snow, which causes it to melt faster and earlier, as per the University of Utah.

This can have significant consequences for the hydrological cycle, as it alters the timing and magnitude of snowmelt runoff, affecting water availability, quality and ecosystem services downstream.

According to a new study by University of Utah researchers, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, 2022 was the dirtiest snow-year in the Wasatch since observations began in 2009.

The study analyzed the impact of dust on snow during the 2022 season, using data from field measurements, satellite imagery and atmospheric modeling.

The researchers found that 2022 had the most dust deposition events (12) and the highest snowpack dust concentrations (0.8 g/m2) of any year in their record.

The dust caused the snowpack to disappear 17 days earlier than if no dust had been deposited.

The researchers said that the impact would have been more dramatic if not for the wet spring-frequent snowstorms buried the dusty layers, which delayed the impact on snowmelt.

However, they warn that if dry conditions persist in the future, dust-on-snow events could become more frequent and intense, posing a serious threat to Utah's water security.

Also Read: Developing Storm To Unload Strong Winds, Snow and Rain Before Christmas, Forecast Warns

Dust sources: linking lake levels and snowmelt

To understand if record high dust-on-snow concentrations were linked to record low Great Salt Lake water levels, the authors identified the areas where each dust event originated, as per Phys.org.

They used a combination of satellite imagery, meteorological data and backward trajectory modeling to trace the dust plumes back to their source regions.

They found that the Great Salt Lake contributed 23% of total dust deposition and had the highest dust emissions per surface area.

The Great Salt Lake Desert and the dry lakebeds of Sevier Lake and Tule Lake contributed 45% and 17% respectively, but with lower per area emissions.

The Great Salt Lake is a terminal lake that has no outlet other than evaporation. Its water level fluctuates depending on precipitation, evaporation and diversions for human use.

In recent years, prolonged drought, increased evaporation and sustained agriculture and domestic water consumption have driven the lake to record lows in 2021 and 2022, exposing more than 50% of its lakebed.

This creates a large potential source of dust that can be easily mobilized by strong winds.

The researchers said that reducing water diversions from the Great Salt Lake could help mitigate dust emissions and preserve its ecological and economic value.

They also suggested that restoring vegetation cover on exposed lakebeds could help stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.

However, they acknowledged that these solutions are challenging to implement due to competing demands for water and land use.

Implications for water management and policy

The study by University of Utah researchers highlights the importance of monitoring and understanding dust-on-snow events in Utah, as they have significant implications for water management and policy.

Dust-on-snow accelerates snowmelt by reducing snow albedo and increasing snow temperature, which affects water availability, quality and ecosystem services downstream.

Dust-on-snow also poses a health risk for those living in Utah's most populous region, as it degrades air quality and increases respiratory problems.

The study showed that dust-on-snow events are influenced by local and regional dust sources, especially the Great Salt Lake, which has become a major dust emitter due to historically low water levels.

The researchers suggested that reducing water diversions from the lake and restoring vegetation cover on its exposed lakebeds could help reduce dust emissions and protect Utah's water resources.

However, they also recognized that these solutions require coordination among multiple stakeholders and agencies, as well as public awareness and education.

The study concluded that dust-on-snow is a growing threat to Utah's water security that needs to be addressed by integrating it into hydrological models, water management plans and policy decisions.

Related article: Storm System to Unleash in Central U.S, Causing Heavy Snow and Severe Weather
Papaya is a nutritious and profitable crop that is widely grown by smallholder farmers in Kenya.

However, papaya production is threatened by various pests, especially the papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus), an invasive alien species that can cause severe damage and yield losses.

Papaya mealybug: a devastating pest in Kenya

The papaya mealybug is a tiny sap-sucking insect that feeds on the leaves, stems, fruits and roots of papaya plants, as well as other crops such as cassava, eggplant and tomato, as per Phys.org.

The mealybug infestation causes stunting, wilting, deformation and premature fruit drop, resulting in reduced quality and quantity of papaya production.

The mealybug also produces honeydew, a sugary substance that attracts ants and promotes the growth of sooty mold, a black fungus that reduces photosynthesis and affects the appearance of the fruits.

The papaya mealybug is native to Mexico and Central America, but it has spread to many tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including Africa, Asia and the Caribbean.

It was first detected in Kenya in 2016, and since then it has become a major pest of papaya and other crops in several counties.

The mealybug has no natural enemies in Kenya, and it can reproduce rapidly and disperse easily by wind or human activities.

To control the papaya mealybug, many farmers rely on chemical pesticides, which are readily available and perceived as effective.

However, chemical pesticides have several drawbacks, such as high cost, health risks, environmental pollution and pest resistance.

Moreover, chemical pesticides can kill beneficial insects that can help suppress the mealybug population naturally.

Biological control: a promising alternative for papaya mealybug management

Biological control is a method of pest management that uses natural enemies, such as predators, parasitoids or pathogens, to reduce the pest population to acceptable levels, as per Alpha Galileo.

Biological control is considered a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option than chemical pesticides, as it can provide long-term control, reduce pesticide use and residues, enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services, and improve human health and well-being.

One of the most successful examples of biological control for papaya mealybug is the introduction of a tiny wasp called Acerophagus papayae, which is a parasitoid of the mealybug.

The wasp lays its eggs inside the mealybug body, and the developing larvae feed on the mealybug from within, eventually killing it.

The wasp has been used to control the papaya mealybug in several countries, such as India, Indonesia and Thailand, where it has reduced the mealybug infestation by more than 90%.

In Kenya, a classical biological control (CBC) program for papaya mealybug was initiated in 2018 by CABI and partners, with support from the UK Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through its Action on Invasives program.

The program involved importing Acerophagus papayae from India, rearing it in quarantine facilities in Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), releasing it in selected sites in four counties (Kilifi, Kwale, Makueni and Taita Taveta), and monitoring its establishment and impact on the mealybug population.

Also Read: Three Natural Remedies to Fight Skin Ageing

Papaya farmers' willingness to reduce pesticide use

To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of papaya farmers towards biological control and their willingness to reduce their chemical pesticide use to support the CBC program for papaya mealybug in Kenya, CABI researchers conducted a survey study involving 383 farming households in four counties where Acerophagus papayae was released, as per Mirage News.

The study also included key informant interviews with eight extension agents and thirty agro-dealers, and eight focus group discussions with farmers.

The study results were published in the CABI Agriculture and Bioscience journal1, and they revealed that:

Most farmers (94%) were aware of the negative impacts and risks associated with chemical pesticides on human health and the environment.

Most farmers (86%) had heard of biological control as a concept, but only 29% had used it before.

The main reasons for not using biological control were lack of awareness (46%), lack of availability (28%), concerns over efficacy (15%) and safety (9%).

Most farmers (95%) expressed interest in learning more about biological control for papaya mealybug.

Most farmers (93%) were willing to support the CBC program for papaya mealybug by participating in awareness-raising, capacity building and monitoring activities.

Most farmers (87%) were willing to reduce their chemical pesticide use to conserve Acerophagus papayae, provided that they receive adequate information, training and technical support from extension and agro-dealers.

Most farmers (82%) agreed that collective action among the community is necessary to ensure the success of the CBC program for papaya mealybug.

The study concluded that there is a high level of willingness and potential among papaya farmers in Kenya to reduce their chemical pesticide use and adopt biological control as a more sustainable and environmentally friendly option for papaya mealybug management.

However, the study also identified some challenges and gaps that need to be addressed, such as:

The need for more awareness-raising, capacity building and effective information dissemination on biological control among farmers, extension agents and agro-dealers.

The need for more availability and accessibility of biological control agents and products in the market.

The need for more research and evaluation on the efficacy, safety and socio-economic impact of biological control for papaya mealybug and other pests.

The need for more coordination and collaboration among stakeholders and agencies involved in biological control and invasive species management.

The study recommends that policy makers and practitioners should:

Support the CBC program for papaya mealybug by providing adequate resources, infrastructure and regulatory frameworks.

Promote the awareness, adoption and scaling up of biological control among farmers, extension agents and agro-dealers through education, training, demonstration and incentives.

Facilitate the availability and accessibility of biological control agents and products in the market through quality control, certification and subsidies.

Encourage the collective action and cooperation among the farming community to ensure the conservation and dissemination of biological control agents.

Monitor and evaluate the impact of biological control on the pest population, crop yield, income, health and environment.

Related article: Scientists Document a Case of Dangerous Bacteria in a Common Weed Found Throughout the United States
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the adoption of a resolution in support of the country's integration into the EU and NATO.

The European Parliament has adopted a powerful resolution in support of our nation's European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. There is a concrete call to the leaders of the European Union to define a clear path for our country's membership in the EU, he said in his video address on Thursday.

And on the issue of the Alliance, Zelenskyy noted, the European Parliament sets exactly the meaning of our Ukrainian contribution to Euro-Atlantic security, which envisages that Ukraine's path to NATO and a political invitation to accession should be developed in the context of preparations for the Alliance Summit in Vilnius already.

The time for integration and security certainty has obviously come, and I thank all members of the European Parliament and the President of the European Parliament, Mrs. Roberta Metsola, as well as Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk for the constant and effective work with the parliaments of our partner countries, he said.
An outreach venture has been organised for August 12, by the local branch of the Christian Motorcyclist Association in conjunction with the vicar of St Peter Mancroft Church.

An outreach venture has been organised for August 12, by the local branch of the Christian Motorcyclist Association in conjunction with the vicar of St Peter Mancroft Church.

Where do you rest in Gods presence? Jane Walters is currently seeking rest and refreshment on holiday, but reminds us that lasting peace and contentment can only be found in Gods presence. Read more

Kings Lynn churches Debt Centre crowdfunding appeal Kings Lynn Debt Centre is looking to raise 3000 by August 3 to aid the work it does supporting those with unmanageable debt in the community. Read more

King's Lynn church to stage free music festival The Kings Glory church is planning Manifest - a day filled with powerful performances, uplifting messages, and unforgettable memories at The Walks park in Kings Lynn this Saturday. Read more

Cleaner / Facilities Assistant vacancy Holy Trinity church is looking for an enthusiastic and motivated cleaner/ facilities assistant to join their dedicated staff team. Read more

Norwich minister's personal story of a winning hope Former Norwich church leader Goff Hope, has written a book about the hope in the gospel and the goodness of God, drawing on his personal experience of tragedy, losing his daughter and his own battle with cancer. Read more

Church is at heart of Norwich city centre community St Stephens church, in the heart of Norwich city centre, offers a community cafe, a thriving church fellowship and a summer arts festival. Read more

Sheringham BeachLife family outreach returns Plans are being finalized for this years BeachLife activity week on Sheringham clifftops and beach at the end of August, and the week promises to be enormous fun for the whole family. Read more

Norwich church and league youth football project The Norfolk Christian Football League has teamed up with a Norwich church to provide support and resources to help other local churches launch youth football teams for the coming season. Read more

Bishop of Norwich First Nature Award launched The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Revd Graham Usher, is sponsoring a new award to highlight the health benefits of nature connection for children. Read more

Gorleston Morrisons collection for foodbank Morrisons in Gorleston is inviting customers to support local charity, Yarmouth and Magdalen Foodbank, at its food drive next week. Read more

Yarmouth homelessness charity to shut The Living Room Great Yarmouth, which has supported those who are homeless or vulnerably housed for the last 6 years is set to wind down. Read more

Fireman Dan is also a Sheringham church pastor There was a baptism of fire for Sheringham church pastor Daniel Ward when he decided to take on a role as a retained firefighter during the hottest summer the country has ever seen last year. Read more

Kings Lynn writer publishes 30-day devotional Kings Lynn writer and part-time English teacher, Georgie Tennant has seen her 30-day devotional book, The God Who Sees You, published with Kevin Mayhew. Peter Bending reports. Read more

48 hr Revival prayer walk along N Norfolk coast Walkers from Lighthouse Community Church in Sheringham were praying for Revival this week as they trekked from Hunstanton to Sheringham in 48 hours. Read more

Christ Church in Norwich celebrates 150 years Christ Church in Eaton, Norwich, is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year with a special Fantastic Fish exhibition in the church building. Read more

Ex Norfolk content editor returns to Africa Former Network Norfolk content editor Eldred Willey has just visited Uganda with Christian development charity International Needs to support a safe drinking water project. Read more

Two Catholic priests are ordained in Norwich East Anglia Catholic seminarians, Dcn Mark Ashwood and Dcn Bienn Carlo Manuntag, were ordained as priests on a joyous day at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Norwich, on Saturday July 8, presided over by Bishop of East Anglia the Rt Rev Peter Collins Read more


Senior Methodist leaders are facing investigation Senior Methodist leaders are facing investigation

The president of the Methodist Conference, who was formerly the East Anglia District Chair, and its vice-president, are facing separate investigations into their conduct.
Lenovo is planning a major push into AI with a $1 billion investment in new hardware and software over the next three years. Its AI focus is not only on the data center, where a lot of the action is, but also on the edge. To that end, it announced two new edge servers specifically designed for AI processing.

First up is the new ThinkEdge SE360 V2, an edge server designed to provide advanced computing performance for AI applications such as computer vision, voice AI, and generative AI. The ThinkEdge SE360 V2 is built on Intel and Nvidia processors with support for Nvidia's AI Enterprise software platform and Qualcomm's Cloud AI 100 platform for processing intense workloads at the data source. It features a compact size and ruggedized form factor designed to withstand remote and rugged environments.

Lenovo's second new edge server is the ThinkEdge SE350 V2, designed for hybrid cloud and modern HCI deployments. This product is more storage focused, with high storage capacity coupled with the Intel Xeon D processor, which is more of a midrange performance processor. Its focus is on consolidating workloads, data backup, collaboration, and content delivery.

On the data center front, Lenovo unveiled new servers for high-performance AI processing. The first is the ThinkSystem SR675 V3, an accelerated computing platform tailored for AI with multiple GPU configurations, including four- and eight-way Nvidia GPU processors, in a 3U case.

The ThinkSystem SR675 V3 is optimized for digital twins, combined with AI, to improve business processes and design outcomes. Lenovo also worked with Nvidia to enhance performance for its Omniverse Enterprise workloads, enabling advanced ray tracing and graphics capabilities.

Lenovo is working to certify much of its existing hardware for AI performance. So far, it has worked with 45 partners to build 150 turnkey AI systems and solutions, according to Robert Daigle, senior manager of Lenovo's ISG Global AI business. One of those new partners is Guise, which specializes in anomaly detection and predictive maintenance for use cases such as industrial manufacturing, oil and gas exploration, and monitoring for equipment anomalies. Guise claims it can detect equipment failure up to 14 days in advance.

Another new endeavor is the Lenovo AI Discover Center of Excellence, which provides access to AI architects and engineers and conducts workshops for customers that are looking to get started with technologies such as generative AI and computer vision. The engagements can help customers understand where they can best apply AI within their organization and create a strategy for deploying AI.

What we're really trying to do is reduce the time for these AI projects, because in many cases, AI projects fail because it takes too long to get them in market or because of the risk associated with actually getting a project up and running, said Daigle.
By AFP

TOKYO: A researcher from China was arrested in Japan on Thursday for allegedly leaking information on sensitive technology to a Chinese company, police in Tokyo said.

The 59-year-old man, who worked at a Japanese research institute, has been held on suspicion of violating unfair competition laws, a police spokesman told AFP.

In April 2018, the man allegedly "emailed information about technologies linked to synthesising a fluorine compound from an email account he held at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology to a company in China," said the spokesman, who declined to be named.

ALSO READ | Ex-Samsung executive charged with stealing chip tech for China factory

The United States and its allies, including Japan, have become increasingly wary about the transfer of cutting-edge technology to China.

Last year, Washington imposed restrictions on China's access to high-end chips and chip-making equipment, citing national security concerns.

Washington said it wanted to prevent tech that could help develop advanced military equipment from being acquired by China's armed forces and intelligence services.

It has pressed its allies to do the same, and the Netherlands and Japan recently announced new export restrictions on chipmaking technology, without naming China.

Beijing has sunk billions of dollars into building up its own semiconductor industry over the past decade, and filed a dispute with the World Trade Organization over the US measures.

TOKYO: A researcher from China was arrested in Japan on Thursday for allegedly leaking information on sensitive technology to a Chinese company, police in Tokyo said. The 59-year-old man, who worked at a Japanese research institute, has been held on suspicion of violating unfair competition laws, a police spokesman told AFP. In April 2018, the man allegedly "emailed information about technologies linked to synthesising a fluorine compound from an email account he held at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology to a company in China," said the spokesman, who declined to be named.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ALSO READ | Ex-Samsung executive charged with stealing chip tech for China factory The United States and its allies, including Japan, have become increasingly wary about the transfer of cutting-edge technology to China. Last year, Washington imposed restrictions on China's access to high-end chips and chip-making equipment, citing national security concerns. Washington said it wanted to prevent tech that could help develop advanced military equipment from being acquired by China's armed forces and intelligence services. It has pressed its allies to do the same, and the Netherlands and Japan recently announced new export restrictions on chipmaking technology, without naming China. Beijing has sunk billions of dollars into building up its own semiconductor industry over the past decade, and filed a dispute with the World Trade Organization over the US measures.
Monika Yadav By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has planned a capital expenditure (capex) of more than Rs 5,000 crore for the current financial year, a top government official told this newspaper.

The total outlay could exceed the last years capex of Rs 5,125 crore, he said, while adding that most of the expenditure will be met through internal sources. Post-Covid, there has been a surge in air traffic, and the capex will help those airlines, which are planning to add more planes this fiscal and the next year, the official stated.

We will use the funds for the two Greenfield airports currently being constructed by the AAI- Hirasar, Rajkot and Dholera in Gujarat. We expect the Rajkot project will complete by December 2023, while the one in Dholera will be done by 2025, the official cited above said. He further added that the fund will also be used for the ongoing projects and air navigation services (ANS) which require state-of-art technology like radar, satellite, ATC towers.

Currently, the AAI is revamping the airports in Kanpur, Tezu, Port Blair, Ayodhya, Surat, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Kolhapur, Dehradun Phase II, Pune, Gorakhpur, Darbhanga, Saharanpur, Fursatganj, Trichy, Tuticorn, Rewa, Leh, Goa, Vijayawada, Imphal, Patna and Chennai Phase-II.

Most of the work will be completed by FY24 except the expansionary plans in Vijayawada, Goa, Imphal, Patna and Chennai Phase II by FY25, the official added. We are making this significant investment to bring about transformation in the Indian aviation industry. We aim to enhance passenger experience and increase airport capacity. AAIs sovereign function is air navigation services which require state-of-art technology and huge investments, the official said.

NEW DELHI: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has planned a capital expenditure (capex) of more than Rs 5,000 crore for the current financial year, a top government official told this newspaper. The total outlay could exceed the last years capex of Rs 5,125 crore, he said, while adding that most of the expenditure will be met through internal sources. Post-Covid, there has been a surge in air traffic, and the capex will help those airlines, which are planning to add more planes this fiscal and the next year, the official stated. We will use the funds for the two Greenfield airports currently being constructed by the AAI- Hirasar, Rajkot and Dholera in Gujarat. We expect the Rajkot project will complete by December 2023, while the one in Dholera will be done by 2025, the official cited above said. He further added that the fund will also be used for the ongoing projects and air navigation services (ANS) which require state-of-art technology like radar, satellite, ATC towers. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Currently, the AAI is revamping the airports in Kanpur, Tezu, Port Blair, Ayodhya, Surat, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Kolhapur, Dehradun Phase II, Pune, Gorakhpur, Darbhanga, Saharanpur, Fursatganj, Trichy, Tuticorn, Rewa, Leh, Goa, Vijayawada, Imphal, Patna and Chennai Phase-II. Most of the work will be completed by FY24 except the expansionary plans in Vijayawada, Goa, Imphal, Patna and Chennai Phase II by FY25, the official added. We are making this significant investment to bring about transformation in the Indian aviation industry. We aim to enhance passenger experience and increase airport capacity. AAIs sovereign function is air navigation services which require state-of-art technology and huge investments, the official said.
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Eyewear brand Lenskart has raised $100 million from private equity firm ChrysCapital. With this, the total capital infusion in the company stood at about $850 million in the past year.

The investment will be made through primary and secondary share purchases. This fundraising comes at a time when start-ups are struggling to raise funds. The company said this investment will help the eyewear brand to expand.

A few months ago, the eyewear company managed to raise $500 million from Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). ChrysCapital is excited to back a strong execution-focused management team that has established a dominant market leader in the eyewear segment. Lenskart has been instrumental in developing this market. With the acquisition of Owndays, there is an opportunity for Lenskart to expand across 10+ Asian countries in addition to the already large Indian market, said Rajiv Batra, SVP at ChrysCapital.

Founded in 2010, the omnichannel eyewear retailer has a presence in the UAE, Singapore, apart from other geographies. In June last year, the company acquired a majority stake in Japanese direct-to-consumer eyewear brand Owndays.

Lenskart had said the acquisition will take the groups reach to 13 markets in Asia including India, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan. It has over 2,000 stores of which 1,500 are in India and the rest in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. It said the new factory will play a significant role in manufacturing the 20 million pairs of eyewear that the company plans to ship next year.

BENGALURU: Eyewear brand Lenskart has raised $100 million from private equity firm ChrysCapital. With this, the total capital infusion in the company stood at about $850 million in the past year. The investment will be made through primary and secondary share purchases. This fundraising comes at a time when start-ups are struggling to raise funds. The company said this investment will help the eyewear brand to expand. A few months ago, the eyewear company managed to raise $500 million from Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). ChrysCapital is excited to back a strong execution-focused management team that has established a dominant market leader in the eyewear segment. Lenskart has been instrumental in developing this market. With the acquisition of Owndays, there is an opportunity for Lenskart to expand across 10+ Asian countries in addition to the already large Indian market, said Rajiv Batra, SVP at ChrysCapital. Founded in 2010, the omnichannel eyewear retailer has a presence in the UAE, Singapore, apart from other geographies. In June last year, the company acquired a majority stake in Japanese direct-to-consumer eyewear brand Owndays.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Lenskart had said the acquisition will take the groups reach to 13 markets in Asia including India, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Japan. It has over 2,000 stores of which 1,500 are in India and the rest in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. It said the new factory will play a significant role in manufacturing the 20 million pairs of eyewear that the company plans to ship next year.
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: United States Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, who is on his first official visit to Chennai, presided over the 247th anniversary celebration of US Independence, in Chennai on Thursday. American Independence Day commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

The event highlighted US - India areas of cooperation, including in the Indo-Pacific, gender equity, innovation, space, and climate change, while also recognising robust US - India people-to-people ties and institutional partnerships.

Ambassador Garcetti hailed the strong and growing partnership between the US and India. The ties between the US and India are gaining strength in many key areas and South India has a key role in the partnership.

The upcoming visit to the US by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a prime example of the accelerated collaboration between the two countries. The US - India partnership is one of the most consequential relationships, he said.

Minister for Industries TRB Rajaa wished Americans on the occasion.

CHENNAI: United States Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, who is on his first official visit to Chennai, presided over the 247th anniversary celebration of US Independence, in Chennai on Thursday. American Independence Day commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The event highlighted US - India areas of cooperation, including in the Indo-Pacific, gender equity, innovation, space, and climate change, while also recognising robust US - India people-to-people ties and institutional partnerships. Ambassador Garcetti hailed the strong and growing partnership between the US and India. The ties between the US and India are gaining strength in many key areas and South India has a key role in the partnership.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The upcoming visit to the US by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a prime example of the accelerated collaboration between the two countries. The US - India partnership is one of the most consequential relationships, he said. Minister for Industries TRB Rajaa wished Americans on the occasion.
By Express News Service

KOCHI: In just six years, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd, or KMRL, has established itself as the spine of urban Kochi, guiding the growth of the city and its transport. It is in the process of extending its reach to other parts of the city to put an end to, or at least minimise, the citys traffic woes. Ahead of the Metros sixth anniversary on Saturday, TNIE reporter Aishwarya Prabhakaran sketches the journey so far.

The beginning

In line with the vision of the Union and state governments of modernising transport infrastructure in Kerala, KMRL began in 2012 by commencing the metro rail project in Kochi, a Tier-II city. So far, KMRL has fully commissioned and operationalised the 25.2-km-long phase-1 corridor of the Kochi Metro Rail Project from Aluva to Petta, comprising 22 stations. The network was extended to SN Junction in 2022, and is expected to cover Tripunithura by the end of this year. From about 25,000 per day, the average ridership of Kochi Metro has gone up to 80,000. Once the Tripunithura stretch is operationalised, ridership is expected to cross over a lakh per day.

Test piling at Pathadipalam on the Kalamassery-Edappally stretch

Phase-1 extension up to Tripunithura

Working towards its vision of extending the Metros reach to Tripunithura, the erstwhile capital of Cochin, KMRL has begun work on extending the rail network. Already, phase-1 extension from Petta to SN Junction, a distance of 1.8 km and having two stations, is over and commissioned, while work on the final leg, which terminates at Tripunithura, is progressing fast. It is proposed to develop Tripunithura into a major satellite town of Kochi comprising a mobility hub by commissioning the final Metro station in Phase-1 and linking it with the railway station and proposed terminal.

Sustainable KMRL

KMRL received widespread praise for its thrust on sustainability-driven projects like harnessing solar power and rainwater harvesting. KMRL meets 55% of its power requirements through its solar plants, one of the highest in the country by any standards. KMRL also targets being energy neutral at the earliest and is looking to set up more solar power plants.

Did You Know?

A large quantity of electricity powering the Kochi Metro Rail is generated when the trains simply apply the brakes at each station. According to KMRL officials, almost 40% of the total energy utilised by the trains is produced through the process, called regenerative braking system. The stretch between Aluva and SN Junction has 22 stations. Under regenerative braking system, kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy when the brakes of the trains are applied at each station, a technical officer explained.

Several firsts:

Kochi Metro is the first metro rail system in India to be operated using the Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system, which requires minimum human intervention. It engages nearly 1,000 members of Kudumbashree, Keralas womens self-help group, at its stations. KMRL is also one of the first companies in India to employ members of the transgender community to undertake customer-facing services. At present, seven transgender people are working with KMRL. First metro to meet more than 50% of its power requirements through solar power. First metro to have intermodal connectivity with a water transport system

The plan

It should be mentioned that one of the primary endeavours of KMRL is to integrate all public transport  waterways, taxis, auto rickshaws, KSRTC, and private buses  into a centralised management system. Entering the sixth year of its operation, KMRL is focused on launching a dedicated ride-hiring app, One-Di that integrates the metros feeder network.

Route map

1999: Government led by E K Nayanar moots a metro project

July 21, 1999: Rail India Technological and Economic Services assigned to conduct a feasibility study for a metro rapid transport system in Kochi. Report submitted the same year.

December 22, 2004: Oommen Chandy government assigns Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to prepare a detailed project report for the metro project

2006-2010: Centre expresses doubts on economic viability of the project, puts it on backburner

January 2, 2008: V S Achuthanandan government approves the Kochi Metro rail project in a cabinet meeting, sends it to Centre for ratification

March 28, 2012: KMRL decides to entrust the Kochi Metro rail project work to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation

July 3, 2012: Centre gives green signal

September 13, 2012: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh lays the foundation stone for the project

April, 4, 2013: KMRL signs contract with DMRC

June 7, 2013: Groundwork begins

June 19, 2013: State cabinet approves 22 proposed stations

June 2013: Construction work of Kochi Metro stretch from Aluva to Palarivattom begins

September 30, 2013: Construction of first station at Kaloor starts

December 2013: French Development Agency (AFD) agrees to fund KMRL project

January 23, 2016: Then CM Oommen Chandy flags off first trial run

February 27, 2016: First test run between Muttom Yard depot and Kalamassery

June 17, 2017: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches the Kochi Metros commercial operations

January 2023: Groundwork for Kochi Metro Phase II, connecting city centre to Infopark at Kakkanad, begins

December 2023: SN Junction -Tripunithura stretch to be opened

Gross Income (Approx. in Rs crore)

2017-18 64.08

2018-19 105.75

2019-20 134.95

2020-21 167.46

2021-22 142.30

Loss incurred (Aprox. in Rs crore)

2014-15 19.82

2015-16 20.13

2016-17 14.70

2017-18 167.33

2018-19 281.23

2019-20 310.82

2020-21 334.41

2021-22 339.54

Birthday Offer:

On its sixth anniversary (June 17), passengers can travel to any station at just Rs 20.

KOCHI: In just six years, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd, or KMRL, has established itself as the spine of urban Kochi, guiding the growth of the city and its transport. It is in the process of extending its reach to other parts of the city to put an end to, or at least minimise, the citys traffic woes. Ahead of the Metros sixth anniversary on Saturday, TNIE reporter Aishwarya Prabhakaran sketches the journey so far. The beginning In line with the vision of the Union and state governments of modernising transport infrastructure in Kerala, KMRL began in 2012 by commencing the metro rail project in Kochi, a Tier-II city. So far, KMRL has fully commissioned and operationalised the 25.2-km-long phase-1 corridor of the Kochi Metro Rail Project from Aluva to Petta, comprising 22 stations. The network was extended to SN Junction in 2022, and is expected to cover Tripunithura by the end of this year. From about 25,000 per day, the average ridership of Kochi Metro has gone up to 80,000. Once the Tripunithura stretch is operationalised, ridership is expected to cross over a lakh per day. Test piling at Pathadipalam on the Kalamassery-Edappally stretch Phase-1 extension up to Tripunithura Working towards its vision of extending the Metros reach to Tripunithura, the erstwhile capital of Cochin, KMRL has begun work on extending the rail network. Already, phase-1 extension from Petta to SN Junction, a distance of 1.8 km and having two stations, is over and commissioned, while work on the final leg, which terminates at Tripunithura, is progressing fast. It is proposed to develop Tripunithura into a major satellite town of Kochi comprising a mobility hub by commissioning the final Metro station in Phase-1 and linking it with the railway station and proposed terminal.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Sustainable KMRL KMRL received widespread praise for its thrust on sustainability-driven projects like harnessing solar power and rainwater harvesting. KMRL meets 55% of its power requirements through its solar plants, one of the highest in the country by any standards. KMRL also targets being energy neutral at the earliest and is looking to set up more solar power plants. Did You Know? A large quantity of electricity powering the Kochi Metro Rail is generated when the trains simply apply the brakes at each station. According to KMRL officials, almost 40% of the total energy utilised by the trains is produced through the process, called regenerative braking system. The stretch between Aluva and SN Junction has 22 stations. Under regenerative braking system, kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy when the brakes of the trains are applied at each station, a technical officer explained. Several firsts: Kochi Metro is the first metro rail system in India to be operated using the Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system, which requires minimum human intervention. It engages nearly 1,000 members of Kudumbashree, Keralas womens self-help group, at its stations. KMRL is also one of the first companies in India to employ members of the transgender community to undertake customer-facing services. At present, seven transgender people are working with KMRL. First metro to meet more than 50% of its power requirements through solar power. First metro to have intermodal connectivity with a water transport system The plan It should be mentioned that one of the primary endeavours of KMRL is to integrate all public transport  waterways, taxis, auto rickshaws, KSRTC, and private buses  into a centralised management system. Entering the sixth year of its operation, KMRL is focused on launching a dedicated ride-hiring app, One-Di that integrates the metros feeder network. Route map1999: Government led by E K Nayanar moots a metro project July 21, 1999: Rail India Technological and Economic Services assigned to conduct a feasibility study for a metro rapid transport system in Kochi. Report submitted the same year. December 22, 2004: Oommen Chandy government assigns Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to prepare a detailed project report for the metro project2006-2010: Centre expresses doubts on economic viability of the project, puts it on backburner January 2, 2008: V S Achuthanandan government approves the Kochi Metro rail project in a cabinet meeting, sends it to Centre for ratificationMarch 28, 2012: KMRL decides to entrust the Kochi Metro rail project work to the Delhi Metro Rail CorporationJuly 3, 2012: Centre gives green signal September 13, 2012: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh lays the foundation stone for the projectApril, 4, 2013: KMRL signs contract with DMRCJune 7, 2013: Groundwork begins June 19, 2013: State cabinet approves 22 proposed stationsJune 2013: Construction work of Kochi Metro stretch from Aluva to Palarivattom beginsSeptember 30, 2013: Construction of first station at Kaloor startsDecember 2013: French Development Agency (AFD) agrees to fund KMRL projectJanuary 23, 2016: Then CM Oommen Chandy flags off first trial runFebruary 27, 2016: First test run between Muttom Yard depot and KalamasseryJune 17, 2017: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches the Kochi Metros commercial operationsJanuary 2023: Groundwork for Kochi Metro Phase II, connecting city centre to Infopark at Kakkanad, begins December 2023: SN Junction -Tripunithura stretch to be opened Gross Income (Approx. in Rs crore) 2017-18 64.08 2018-19 105.75 2019-20 134.95 2020-21 167.46 2021-22 142.30 Loss incurred (Aprox. in Rs crore) 2014-15 19.82 2015-16 20.13 2016-17 14.70 2017-18 167.33 2018-19 281.23 2019-20 310.82 2020-21 334.41 2021-22 339.54 Birthday Offer: On its sixth anniversary (June 17), passengers can travel to any station at just Rs 20.
By PTI

KOLKATA: West Bengal Education Secretary Manish Jain on Thursday appeared before the CBI sleuths at the agency's Kolkata office in connection with its investigation into the alleged irregularities in recruitment at state government-aided schools.

Jain was questioned about the documents related to the recruitment, which have his signatures, a senior officer of the central agency said.

"He was cross-checked with the versions given by arrested former state education minister Partha Chatterjee as well as other accused persons. His statements have been recorded," the CBI officer said.

Thursday was Jain's second appearance before the CBI in the same case.

The bureaucrat was summoned and questioned for more than five hours during his last appearance at the CBI office last year.

KOLKATA: West Bengal Education Secretary Manish Jain on Thursday appeared before the CBI sleuths at the agency's Kolkata office in connection with its investigation into the alleged irregularities in recruitment at state government-aided schools. Jain was questioned about the documents related to the recruitment, which have his signatures, a senior officer of the central agency said. "He was cross-checked with the versions given by arrested former state education minister Partha Chatterjee as well as other accused persons. His statements have been recorded," the CBI officer said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Thursday was Jain's second appearance before the CBI in the same case. The bureaucrat was summoned and questioned for more than five hours during his last appearance at the CBI office last year.
Sudhir Suryawanshi By

Express News Service

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday travelled in a helicopter together for an event here as they reaffirmed their commitment to take forward their alliance and spoke about their strong bond after a controversial advertisement.

A war of words had started between the Shiv Sena and the BJP over a newspaper advertisement that projected Shinde as being more popular in the state than his deputy Fadnavis.

The two sounded exuberant about their old ties and called them Fevicol ka jod. Fadnavis referred to the controversial advertisement where he was shown a secondary choice for the chief ministers post, saying the alliance government is no so weak that an ad can break it. Fadnavis was reportedly upset after the ad came out on Tuesday. He skipped two public events with Shinde citing health reasons.

We formed the government to bring a qualitative change in the lives of people of the state and not for the chair or position, Fadnavis said. When we reached Palghar, a friend from the media asked me how I was feeling since the CM and I travelled together in a chopper. I told him that the BJP-Sena journey is 25 years old and in the past year, it has become stronger. No one needs to worry about our journey, he added.

Shinde said his friendship with his deputy went back to at least 15 years. We are close friends and share a strong bond. Yeh fevicol ka jod hai, tutega nahi (it is like a bond joined together by Fevicol, a well-known adhesive brand). It will not break no matter how hard you try. Some also call it Jai Viru ki jodi. Our ties are not meant for the chair, a post or for selfish interests, said Eknath Shinde.

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday travelled in a helicopter together for an event here as they reaffirmed their commitment to take forward their alliance and spoke about their strong bond after a controversial advertisement. A war of words had started between the Shiv Sena and the BJP over a newspaper advertisement that projected Shinde as being more popular in the state than his deputy Fadnavis. The two sounded exuberant about their old ties and called them Fevicol ka jod. Fadnavis referred to the controversial advertisement where he was shown a secondary choice for the chief ministers post, saying the alliance government is no so weak that an ad can break it. Fadnavis was reportedly upset after the ad came out on Tuesday. He skipped two public events with Shinde citing health reasons.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); We formed the government to bring a qualitative change in the lives of people of the state and not for the chair or position, Fadnavis said. When we reached Palghar, a friend from the media asked me how I was feeling since the CM and I travelled together in a chopper. I told him that the BJP-Sena journey is 25 years old and in the past year, it has become stronger. No one needs to worry about our journey, he added. Shinde said his friendship with his deputy went back to at least 15 years. We are close friends and share a strong bond. Yeh fevicol ka jod hai, tutega nahi (it is like a bond joined together by Fevicol, a well-known adhesive brand). It will not break no matter how hard you try. Some also call it Jai Viru ki jodi. Our ties are not meant for the chair, a post or for selfish interests, said Eknath Shinde.
By ANI

KOLKATA: Observing that perpetrators of pre-panchayat polls violence in West Bengal would be silenced and victory in elections should depend on the count of votes, not the count of bodies, Governor C V Ananda Bose on Friday visited Bhangar, in the South 24 Parganas district, to take stock of the situation.

The flare-up between two groups, at the minority dominated pocket, just ended with an array of skeletons of torched vehicles and unexploded crude bombs lying on roads. The death toll in the area rose to three on Friday and the Indian Secular Force, the outfit floated ahead of 2021 Assembly elections, claimed the victims were their workers.

After spending half-an-hour at the trouble-torn area, Bose said, I interacted with the victims of violence and local people. I can assure the people of Bengal that violence will be the first victim in this election. The perpetrators of violence will be silenced permanently under the Constitutions and laws of the land.

Governor Bose further requested all the political parties and the people of Bengal to stand united and defend democracy in the state.

#WATCH | I interacted with the victims of violence and locals. I can assure the people of Bengal that violence will be the first victim in this election. The perpetrators of violence will be silenced in a permanent way under the Constitution and law of the land. Peace-loving pic.twitter.com/U0XKioj77g  ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2023

The final day of filing nominations witnessed continued clashes across various parts of the state, including an outbreak of violence at the Block Development Office in Birbhum's Ahmadpur, where crude bombs were reportedly thrown. However, as per the officials, no casualties have been reported in the incident.

The panchayat polls in West Bengal are likely to see a fierce contest between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress being touted as a litmus test for both parties ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections.

Of the five deaths, three were reported from Bhangar and two from Murshidabad district.

#WATCH | West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose in Bhangar, South 24 Paraganas to assess the impact of recent violence during nominations for panchayat elections pic.twitter.com/rVOdt8HSB6  ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2023

"This game of 'Shaitan' should end, will end. The beginning of the end will be in West Bengal," the Governor had said.

Refuting the allegations of violence, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while addressing a rally in Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas, said one or two stray incidents took place.

Her comment came shortly after Boses Bhangar visit. There is no other state other than Bengal where nominations for panchayat polls is so peaceful. The opposition parties are trying to blame us over one or two incidents during the nomination exercise, Mamata said.

The panchayat polls, which will be held in one phase on July 8, are likely to witness a fierce contest between the TMC and opposition parties as the electoral exercise is being considered a litmus test for all forces to gauge their strength ahead of the 2024 LS elections.

(with inputs from IANS)

KOLKATA: Observing that perpetrators of pre-panchayat polls violence in West Bengal would be silenced and victory in elections should depend on the count of votes, not the count of bodies, Governor C V Ananda Bose on Friday visited Bhangar, in the South 24 Parganas district, to take stock of the situation. The flare-up between two groups, at the minority dominated pocket, just ended with an array of skeletons of torched vehicles and unexploded crude bombs lying on roads. The death toll in the area rose to three on Friday and the Indian Secular Force, the outfit floated ahead of 2021 Assembly elections, claimed the victims were their workers. After spending half-an-hour at the trouble-torn area, Bose said, I interacted with the victims of violence and local people. I can assure the people of Bengal that violence will be the first victim in this election. The perpetrators of violence will be silenced permanently under the Constitutions and laws of the land.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Governor Bose further requested all the political parties and the people of Bengal to stand united and defend democracy in the state. #WATCH | I interacted with the victims of violence and locals. I can assure the people of Bengal that violence will be the first victim in this election. The perpetrators of violence will be silenced in a permanent way under the Constitution and law of the land. Peace-loving pic.twitter.com/U0XKioj77g  ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2023 The final day of filing nominations witnessed continued clashes across various parts of the state, including an outbreak of violence at the Block Development Office in Birbhum's Ahmadpur, where crude bombs were reportedly thrown. However, as per the officials, no casualties have been reported in the incident. The panchayat polls in West Bengal are likely to see a fierce contest between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress being touted as a litmus test for both parties ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections. Of the five deaths, three were reported from Bhangar and two from Murshidabad district. #WATCH | West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose in Bhangar, South 24 Paraganas to assess the impact of recent violence during nominations for panchayat elections pic.twitter.com/rVOdt8HSB6  ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2023 "This game of 'Shaitan' should end, will end. The beginning of the end will be in West Bengal," the Governor had said. Refuting the allegations of violence, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while addressing a rally in Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas, said one or two stray incidents took place. Her comment came shortly after Boses Bhangar visit. There is no other state other than Bengal where nominations for panchayat polls is so peaceful. The opposition parties are trying to blame us over one or two incidents during the nomination exercise, Mamata said. The panchayat polls, which will be held in one phase on July 8, are likely to witness a fierce contest between the TMC and opposition parties as the electoral exercise is being considered a litmus test for all forces to gauge their strength ahead of the 2024 LS elections. (with inputs from IANS)
Ejaz Kaiser By

Express News Service

RAIPUR: The opposition BJP and the Congress are at odds over the names of the state government schemes implemented in Chhattisgarh. The BJP has alleged that the Bhupesh Baghel government has gone ahead by taking over the programmes of the Centre and counting them with different names while executing them.

The allegations of credit snatching have come from BJP state in-charge Om Mathur, who is spearheading the month-long Maha Jansampark Abhiyan the campaign aimed to highlight the nine years of achievements of the Modi government. He said there were several welfare programmes of the Central government but these were being counted as the state government schemes by simply re-christening them.

The BJP accused the ruling Congress of attempting to garner political mileage. The Congress retorted by listing out 51 state government schemes for the BJP with a challenge to prove its argument. The BJP should review and clarify if there is any trace of the programme launched by the Centre among these 51 schemes of the Congress government, said Sushil Anand Shukla, Congress media cell secretary. He affirmed all the 51 state programmes remain funded and executed by the state government.

The Congress contended that most schemes run by the Modi government are actually the programmes of the earlier UPA-led Centre.

The rechristening of names of schemes in Chhattisgarh is not new. In February 2019, the BJP raised the issue when the Congress government renamed five schemes of the previous BJP government identified after Jan Sangh leader Pt Deendayal Upadhyay alleged political vindictiveness. The Congress had then justified the move, saying the earlier BJP government in 2004 had renamed schemes that were named after Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi.

Meanwhile, the BJP has devised its plan of action to corner the state by holding protest marches and demonstrations in the coming months. We have carried out extensive discussions over the ground report that the party has assiduously prepared with feedback from all 90 Assembly seats, said a senior BJP leader.

Earlier last month, caught in the midst of a series of raids by the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax department against officers in his government, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel alleged that Central agencies were pressuring people to take his name and implicate him. With elections in his state less than six months away, Baghel said that the charges had no ground, but expressed confidence that the allegations would have no impact on the polls.

The Assembly polls are due in Chhattisgarh for the 90-member Assembly around November this year. In the current Assembly, the strength of the ruling Congress is 71, BJP has 14 seats and the rest belong to the BSP and Jogi Congress (JCCJ).

Congress dare

The Congress has listed 51 state govt schemes for the BJP. The BJP should review and clarify if there is any trace of the programmes launched by the Centre among these 51 schemes of the Congress government, said Sushil Anand Shukla, Congress media cell secretary.

RAIPUR: The opposition BJP and the Congress are at odds over the names of the state government schemes implemented in Chhattisgarh. The BJP has alleged that the Bhupesh Baghel government has gone ahead by taking over the programmes of the Centre and counting them with different names while executing them. The allegations of credit snatching have come from BJP state in-charge Om Mathur, who is spearheading the month-long Maha Jansampark Abhiyan the campaign aimed to highlight the nine years of achievements of the Modi government. He said there were several welfare programmes of the Central government but these were being counted as the state government schemes by simply re-christening them. The BJP accused the ruling Congress of attempting to garner political mileage. The Congress retorted by listing out 51 state government schemes for the BJP with a challenge to prove its argument. The BJP should review and clarify if there is any trace of the programme launched by the Centre among these 51 schemes of the Congress government, said Sushil Anand Shukla, Congress media cell secretary. He affirmed all the 51 state programmes remain funded and executed by the state government. The Congress contended that most schemes run by the Modi government are actually the programmes of the earlier UPA-led Centre.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The rechristening of names of schemes in Chhattisgarh is not new. In February 2019, the BJP raised the issue when the Congress government renamed five schemes of the previous BJP government identified after Jan Sangh leader Pt Deendayal Upadhyay alleged political vindictiveness. The Congress had then justified the move, saying the earlier BJP government in 2004 had renamed schemes that were named after Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. Meanwhile, the BJP has devised its plan of action to corner the state by holding protest marches and demonstrations in the coming months. We have carried out extensive discussions over the ground report that the party has assiduously prepared with feedback from all 90 Assembly seats, said a senior BJP leader. Earlier last month, caught in the midst of a series of raids by the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax department against officers in his government, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel alleged that Central agencies were pressuring people to take his name and implicate him. With elections in his state less than six months away, Baghel said that the charges had no ground, but expressed confidence that the allegations would have no impact on the polls. The Assembly polls are due in Chhattisgarh for the 90-member Assembly around November this year. In the current Assembly, the strength of the ruling Congress is 71, BJP has 14 seats and the rest belong to the BSP and Jogi Congress (JCCJ). Congress dare The Congress has listed 51 state govt schemes for the BJP. The BJP should review and clarify if there is any trace of the programmes launched by the Centre among these 51 schemes of the Congress government, said Sushil Anand Shukla, Congress media cell secretary.
By PTI

AHMEDABAD: Cyclone Biparjoy, which lashed Kutch-Saurashtra region, has left a trail of destruction as it damaged 5,120 electricity poles and rendered 4,600 villages without power even as the authorities said that no loss of human life has been reported.

Power supply has been restored in 3,580 villages, while more than 1,000 are still without electricity, officials said.

Nearly 600 trees got uprooted and traffic movement on three state highways came to a standstill due to damages and felling of trees, they said, adding that many houses were damaged due to the cyclone.

Biparjoy (meaning disaster or calamity in Bengali) unleashed destructive wind speeds of up to 140 kmph and incessant rains as trees and electricity poles were uprooted, while seawater entered villages located in low-lying areas, officials said.

ALSO READ | Cyclone Biparjoy: Heavy rain in Rajasthan's Jalore, Barmer following its landfall in Gujarat

Heavy rains lashed the entire Kutch district since the cyclone started making landfall near Jakhau Port from 6.30 pm on Thursday and the process continued till 2.30 am, they said.

"No human death has been reported so far due to cyclone Biparjoy. The biggest achievement for the state is that not a single human death has been reported so far.

This was possible because of our collective efforts," state Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey told reporters in Gandhinagar.

More than one lakh people were shifted to safer places before the cyclone's landfall, he said.

ALSO READ | After wreaking havoc in Gujarat, Cyclone Biparjoy heads to Rajasthan

Asked about a cattle-rearer duo of father and son dying on Thursday while trying to save their goats stuck in a flooded ravine in Bhavnagar district, Pandey said that since the district was not cyclone-affected, their deaths were not counted as cyclone-related.

"The cyclone caused extensive financial loss to the state power utility - Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited - with 5,120 electricity poles getting damaged.

They are being restored.

As many as 4,600 villages were rendered without power, but electricity supply has been restored in 3,580 villages," he said.

Work to restore power supply in the remaining villages is underway, but inclement weather is posing hurdles in the task, Pandey said.

ALSO READ | Trees collapse, roofs fly as 'Cyclone Biparjoy ' strikes

"Three state highways were closed as they suffered damages and saw felling of trees. A total of 581 trees were uprooted as per reports.

As many as nine pucca and 20 kutcha houses were razed, and two pucca and 474 kutcha houses suffered partial damages," he said.

Sixty-five thatched houses were destroyed, and the government was preparing an order for immediate compensation to those who have suffered losses due to the cyclone, the official added.

Media, social service organisations, administration of eight affected districts and central and state ministers in-charge for different districts campaigned in their respective districts to ensure that rescue and relief operation was carried out with better coordination, he said.

"Inter-departmental coordination was also very good, with all of us receiving the guidance of the Chief Minister.

He visited the State Emergency Operation Centre, interacted with the media and provided us guidance," he told reporters in Gandhinagar.

It was this collective effort that led to the state achieving one of the highest numbers of over one lakh people relocated to safe places from villages close to the Arabian Sea.

With improvement in the situation, the local district administration will begin shifting back those relocated to safer places, he said.

Pandey said the data received so far is primary in nature and it will be revised when fresh information is received from the administration of affected districts by today evening.

Data from Kutch will take time to reach because of continuing strong wind and heavy rainfall in the ground zero of the cyclone, he said.

The cyclone intensity has reduced from 'very severe' to 'severe' category hours after making landfall.

The cyclone has moved north-eastwards and has weakened into a cyclonic storm and will become a depression by the evening over south Rajasthan, officials said.

AHMEDABAD: Cyclone Biparjoy, which lashed Kutch-Saurashtra region, has left a trail of destruction as it damaged 5,120 electricity poles and rendered 4,600 villages without power even as the authorities said that no loss of human life has been reported. Power supply has been restored in 3,580 villages, while more than 1,000 are still without electricity, officials said. Nearly 600 trees got uprooted and traffic movement on three state highways came to a standstill due to damages and felling of trees, they said, adding that many houses were damaged due to the cyclone.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Biparjoy (meaning disaster or calamity in Bengali) unleashed destructive wind speeds of up to 140 kmph and incessant rains as trees and electricity poles were uprooted, while seawater entered villages located in low-lying areas, officials said. ALSO READ | Cyclone Biparjoy: Heavy rain in Rajasthan's Jalore, Barmer following its landfall in Gujarat Heavy rains lashed the entire Kutch district since the cyclone started making landfall near Jakhau Port from 6.30 pm on Thursday and the process continued till 2.30 am, they said. "No human death has been reported so far due to cyclone Biparjoy. The biggest achievement for the state is that not a single human death has been reported so far. This was possible because of our collective efforts," state Relief Commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey told reporters in Gandhinagar. More than one lakh people were shifted to safer places before the cyclone's landfall, he said. ALSO READ | After wreaking havoc in Gujarat, Cyclone Biparjoy heads to Rajasthan Asked about a cattle-rearer duo of father and son dying on Thursday while trying to save their goats stuck in a flooded ravine in Bhavnagar district, Pandey said that since the district was not cyclone-affected, their deaths were not counted as cyclone-related. "The cyclone caused extensive financial loss to the state power utility - Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited - with 5,120 electricity poles getting damaged. They are being restored. As many as 4,600 villages were rendered without power, but electricity supply has been restored in 3,580 villages," he said. Work to restore power supply in the remaining villages is underway, but inclement weather is posing hurdles in the task, Pandey said. ALSO READ | Trees collapse, roofs fly as 'Cyclone Biparjoy ' strikes "Three state highways were closed as they suffered damages and saw felling of trees. A total of 581 trees were uprooted as per reports. As many as nine pucca and 20 kutcha houses were razed, and two pucca and 474 kutcha houses suffered partial damages," he said. Sixty-five thatched houses were destroyed, and the government was preparing an order for immediate compensation to those who have suffered losses due to the cyclone, the official added. Media, social service organisations, administration of eight affected districts and central and state ministers in-charge for different districts campaigned in their respective districts to ensure that rescue and relief operation was carried out with better coordination, he said. #Gujarat #BiparjoyCyclone Effect in Gujarat #kutch district, on Friday, heavy wind and rainfall continue. @NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard @santwana99 @Shahid_Faridi_ pic.twitter.com/usfzs2PuL4  Dilip Singh Kshatriya (@Kshatriyadilip) June 16, 2023 "Inter-departmental coordination was also very good, with all of us receiving the guidance of the Chief Minister. He visited the State Emergency Operation Centre, interacted with the media and provided us guidance," he told reporters in Gandhinagar. It was this collective effort that led to the state achieving one of the highest numbers of over one lakh people relocated to safe places from villages close to the Arabian Sea. With improvement in the situation, the local district administration will begin shifting back those relocated to safer places, he said. Pandey said the data received so far is primary in nature and it will be revised when fresh information is received from the administration of affected districts by today evening. #BiparjoyCyclone There have been reports of solar panels shattering due to heavy winds in Nadabet of Banaskantha, a border area of #Gujarat.@NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard @santwana99 @Shahid_Faridi_ pic.twitter.com/cFmbo2o2xZ  Dilip Singh Kshatriya (@Kshatriyadilip) June 16, 2023 Data from Kutch will take time to reach because of continuing strong wind and heavy rainfall in the ground zero of the cyclone, he said. The cyclone intensity has reduced from 'very severe' to 'severe' category hours after making landfall. The cyclone has moved north-eastwards and has weakened into a cyclonic storm and will become a depression by the evening over south Rajasthan, officials said.
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: Darul Uloom Deoband, Asias biggest seminary imparting Islamic education, situated in Uttar Pradeshs Saharanpur district, has barred its students from taking English courses from other institutes.

Students violating the order would be expelled from the campus, reads a circular issued by Maulana Hussain Hardwari, the in-charge of the education department of Deoband. The circular, in Urdu, warns students against learning English or any other language secretly.

Two days ago, Maulana Arshad Madni, head of the seminary, had said that the students priority should be to become theologists and not doctors or engineers. The institute sought to clarify that the ban was imposed because students education at the seminary is affected when they peruse other courses outside. It noted that it has an English department, which students can make use of.

The circular has been issued for such students who do not attend classes of Urdu, Arabic and Persian languages and instead get themselves enrolled in English courses outside, said Maulana Abdul Qasim Nomani, the rector. He added that the ban also applies to students who carry out businesses, like running a tea stall, outside after taking admission in Darul Uloom Deoband.

LUCKNOW: Darul Uloom Deoband, Asias biggest seminary imparting Islamic education, situated in Uttar Pradeshs Saharanpur district, has barred its students from taking English courses from other institutes. Students violating the order would be expelled from the campus, reads a circular issued by Maulana Hussain Hardwari, the in-charge of the education department of Deoband. The circular, in Urdu, warns students against learning English or any other language secretly. Two days ago, Maulana Arshad Madni, head of the seminary, had said that the students priority should be to become theologists and not doctors or engineers. The institute sought to clarify that the ban was imposed because students education at the seminary is affected when they peruse other courses outside. It noted that it has an English department, which students can make use of.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The circular has been issued for such students who do not attend classes of Urdu, Arabic and Persian languages and instead get themselves enrolled in English courses outside, said Maulana Abdul Qasim Nomani, the rector. He added that the ban also applies to students who carry out businesses, like running a tea stall, outside after taking admission in Darul Uloom Deoband.
Fayaz Wani By

Express News Service

SRI NAGAR: Five foreign militants were killed in an encounter with security forces near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs border district of Kupwara on Friday.

A police official said on specific information, joint parties of the army and police launched an operation in the Jumagund area of Line of Control (LoC) in the border district of Kupwara on Thursday evening.

During the operation, an encounter started between militants and troops at midnight, he said.

In the firefight, five foreign militants have been killed, ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said.

He said the combing and search operation in the area is going on. Additional troops have been rushed to the area to tighten the siege after the outbreak of the gunfight. Army is also using helicopters and drones for aerial surveillance.

The encounter near LoC in Kupwara took place a day after the army foiled an infiltration bid of militants in the Krishnaghati sector of LoC in the border district of Poonch and recovered arms and ammunition.

The recovered items include one AK-74 Rifle with nine magazines and 438 rounds, two Pistols with four magazines and sixty rounds, six hand grenades, clothing & medicines, Jammu-based defence spokesman Lt Colonel Devender Anand said.

He said by the swift action, an infiltration bid was foiled, which had the potential to disturb peace in the Poonch district.

SRI NAGAR: Five foreign militants were killed in an encounter with security forces near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs border district of Kupwara on Friday. A police official said on specific information, joint parties of the army and police launched an operation in the Jumagund area of Line of Control (LoC) in the border district of Kupwara on Thursday evening. During the operation, an encounter started between militants and troops at midnight, he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); In the firefight, five foreign militants have been killed, ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said. He said the combing and search operation in the area is going on. Additional troops have been rushed to the area to tighten the siege after the outbreak of the gunfight. Army is also using helicopters and drones for aerial surveillance. The encounter near LoC in Kupwara took place a day after the army foiled an infiltration bid of militants in the Krishnaghati sector of LoC in the border district of Poonch and recovered arms and ammunition. The recovered items include one AK-74 Rifle with nine magazines and 438 rounds, two Pistols with four magazines and sixty rounds, six hand grenades, clothing & medicines, Jammu-based defence spokesman Lt Colonel Devender Anand said. He said by the swift action, an infiltration bid was foiled, which had the potential to disturb peace in the Poonch district.
By PTI

HALOL: A court at Halol town in Gujarat's Panchmahal district has acquitted all 35 persons in connection with four different post-Godhra 2002 riots in which three people were killed.

In its order of June 12, which was made available on June 15, the court of additional sessions judges Harsh Trivedi also slammed 'pseudo-secular media and politicians' for claiming that the riots were planned.

The 35 persons were accused of murder and rioting after violence erupted near Kalol bus stand, Delol village and Derol station area on February 28, 2002, a day after the Sabarmati Express train burning incident at Godhra.

While the prosecution claimed that three persons were killed with deadly weapons and then their bodies burnt with the intention to destroy evidence, the court said it failed to produce evidence against the accused.

There were 52 accused in the cases of which 17 died during the pendency of trial that went on for over 20 years.

According to case papers, the police were informed about three missing persons during cops' visits to relief camps set up in the wake of the riots that broke out in the area.

It was alleged that riots broke out between Hindus and Muslims in Kalol town and two other places.

A few days later, the bodies of three missing persons from the minority community were found.

All the 52 accused, booked under charges pertaining to rioting, unlawful assembly and murder, were arrested and sent to sub-jails at Kalol, Halol and Godhra before being released on bail.

A total of 130 witnesses were examined during the trial.

The court said in its judgment that no charge of rioting can sustain against any of the accused persons, and the prosecution even failed to prove recovery and seizure of weapons.

As per the order, it is the duty of the court to see that no innocent persons are implicated along with the guilty because of the tendency of the parties in communal rioting cases to try to falsely implicate as many persons from the opposite community as possible.

"In cases of communal riots cases the police usually prosecute members of both the community. But it is for the court to ascertain in such cases, which of the two versions is correct and the court can not shirk this duty on the ground that the police did not ascertain which of the stories was true," the judge observed.

The court also came down on "pseudo-secular media and politicians" for rubbing "salt into the wound of anguished people" shocked at the February 27, 2002, Godhra train burning incident.

"Peace-loving Gujarati people were shocked and anguished by this incident. We have seen that then pseudo-secular media and politicians rubbed salt into the wound of anguished people," it said.

"Report says that sixteen of Gujarat's 24 Districts were engulfed in communal rioting - post-Godhra riots. Nowhere mobs were less than 2000,-3000, more. Often they were more than 5,000-10,000 strong. There were spontaneous riots in Gujarat. They were not planned ones, as described by pseudo-secular persons," the court observed.

HALOL: A court at Halol town in Gujarat's Panchmahal district has acquitted all 35 persons in connection with four different post-Godhra 2002 riots in which three people were killed. In its order of June 12, which was made available on June 15, the court of additional sessions judges Harsh Trivedi also slammed 'pseudo-secular media and politicians' for claiming that the riots were planned. The 35 persons were accused of murder and rioting after violence erupted near Kalol bus stand, Delol village and Derol station area on February 28, 2002, a day after the Sabarmati Express train burning incident at Godhra.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); While the prosecution claimed that three persons were killed with deadly weapons and then their bodies burnt with the intention to destroy evidence, the court said it failed to produce evidence against the accused. There were 52 accused in the cases of which 17 died during the pendency of trial that went on for over 20 years. According to case papers, the police were informed about three missing persons during cops' visits to relief camps set up in the wake of the riots that broke out in the area. It was alleged that riots broke out between Hindus and Muslims in Kalol town and two other places. A few days later, the bodies of three missing persons from the minority community were found. All the 52 accused, booked under charges pertaining to rioting, unlawful assembly and murder, were arrested and sent to sub-jails at Kalol, Halol and Godhra before being released on bail. A total of 130 witnesses were examined during the trial. The court said in its judgment that no charge of rioting can sustain against any of the accused persons, and the prosecution even failed to prove recovery and seizure of weapons. As per the order, it is the duty of the court to see that no innocent persons are implicated along with the guilty because of the tendency of the parties in communal rioting cases to try to falsely implicate as many persons from the opposite community as possible. "In cases of communal riots cases the police usually prosecute members of both the community. But it is for the court to ascertain in such cases, which of the two versions is correct and the court can not shirk this duty on the ground that the police did not ascertain which of the stories was true," the judge observed. The court also came down on "pseudo-secular media and politicians" for rubbing "salt into the wound of anguished people" shocked at the February 27, 2002, Godhra train burning incident. "Peace-loving Gujarati people were shocked and anguished by this incident. We have seen that then pseudo-secular media and politicians rubbed salt into the wound of anguished people," it said. "Report says that sixteen of Gujarat's 24 Districts were engulfed in communal rioting - post-Godhra riots. Nowhere mobs were less than 2000,-3000, more. Often they were more than 5,000-10,000 strong. There were spontaneous riots in Gujarat. They were not planned ones, as described by pseudo-secular persons," the court observed.
By PTI

Indore/Bhopal: Police lathi-charged a group of Bajrang Dal activists and arrested 11 of them in Indore city of Madhya Pradesh when they held a sit-in protest over the registration of "false" cases against the outfit's members for complaining against those involved in the illegal drug trade, an official said on Friday.

The incident took place late at night on Thursday, he said.

The Bajrang Dal workers were staging a sit-in protest at Palasia Square, a busy junction in the city, which led to a traffic jam, the police said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is ruling the state, alleged that some Bajrang Dal members suffered injuries in the police lathi-charge, while the party-led state government said it has taken cognisance of the protest as well as the police action, and ordered an inquiry into the entire episode.

"A group of Bajrang Dal activists suddenly gathered at the busy intersection without any permission and staged a sit-in protest, leading to traffic jams on all four roads.

When the protesters refused to budge despite repeated appeals by the police, they were moved away from the spot using mild force," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Dharmendra Singh Bhadoria said.

Eleven protesters were arrested under Section 151 (preventive arrest to prevent commission of a cognizable offence) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), he said.

Five police personnel suffered injuries while trying to control the Bajrang Dal activists during their 'chakka jam' protest, while some people also hurled stones at the cops, he added.

The DCP said that appropriate legal action was being taken in this connection.

Eyewitnesses said the hour-long sit-in by the Bajrang Dal activists disrupted the traffic movement and led to long queues of vehicles at the Palasia intersection.

The state's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed that 11 Bajrang Dal workers were injured in the police lathi-charge.

"Bajrang Dal activists were brutally lathi-charged by the police, which led to 11 persons suffering injuries," BJP's Indore unit president Gaurav Randive told PTI.

He demanded that appropriate action be taken against the guilty police personnel after an inquiry into the incident.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters in Bhopal on Friday, state Home Minister and government spokesperson Narottam Mishra said he has taken cognisance of the incident and legal action was also taken on the matter.

"We have also taken cognizance of the police action against the protesters and decided to send an Additional Director General of Police (ADGP)-level officer to probe all issues related to it.

We have also ordered that the in-charge of the police station concerned be line-attached (removed from field duty)," he said.

Indore/Bhopal: Police lathi-charged a group of Bajrang Dal activists and arrested 11 of them in Indore city of Madhya Pradesh when they held a sit-in protest over the registration of "false" cases against the outfit's members for complaining against those involved in the illegal drug trade, an official said on Friday. The incident took place late at night on Thursday, he said. The Bajrang Dal workers were staging a sit-in protest at Palasia Square, a busy junction in the city, which led to a traffic jam, the police said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is ruling the state, alleged that some Bajrang Dal members suffered injuries in the police lathi-charge, while the party-led state government said it has taken cognisance of the protest as well as the police action, and ordered an inquiry into the entire episode. "A group of Bajrang Dal activists suddenly gathered at the busy intersection without any permission and staged a sit-in protest, leading to traffic jams on all four roads. When the protesters refused to budge despite repeated appeals by the police, they were moved away from the spot using mild force," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Dharmendra Singh Bhadoria said. Eleven protesters were arrested under Section 151 (preventive arrest to prevent commission of a cognizable offence) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), he said. Five police personnel suffered injuries while trying to control the Bajrang Dal activists during their 'chakka jam' protest, while some people also hurled stones at the cops, he added. The DCP said that appropriate legal action was being taken in this connection. Eyewitnesses said the hour-long sit-in by the Bajrang Dal activists disrupted the traffic movement and led to long queues of vehicles at the Palasia intersection. The state's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed that 11 Bajrang Dal workers were injured in the police lathi-charge. "Bajrang Dal activists were brutally lathi-charged by the police, which led to 11 persons suffering injuries," BJP's Indore unit president Gaurav Randive told PTI. He demanded that appropriate action be taken against the guilty police personnel after an inquiry into the incident. Meanwhile, talking to reporters in Bhopal on Friday, state Home Minister and government spokesperson Narottam Mishra said he has taken cognisance of the incident and legal action was also taken on the matter. "We have also taken cognizance of the police action against the protesters and decided to send an Additional Director General of Police (ADGP)-level officer to probe all issues related to it. We have also ordered that the in-charge of the police station concerned be line-attached (removed from field duty)," he said.
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: In a shocking incident, a tribal family from the Dindori district, was left with no option, but to carry the body of their low birth weight (LBW) newborn child in a bag, allegedly after being denied a vehicle by the staff at the government medical college in Jabalpur on Thursday.

The newborns family, while saying that the newborn died during medical treatment at the medical college hospital, has alleged that the staff didnt provide them with a hearse vehicle to carry the body home to Dindori district (around 160 km away) forcing them to carry the body in a bag by a private bus.

On the other hand, a senior health department official in Jabalpur district has claimed that the newborn child, which was under treatment at the medical college hospitals special newborn care unit (SNCU) didnt die at the hospital, as the child had been discharged alive at the familys request.

The childs father Sunil Dhurve told journalists in Dindori on Friday that the child was born at the government hospital in the native Dindori district on June 13, but owing to the serious condition, the child was referred to the state government medical college in Jabalpur on June 14.

The baby was subsequently admitted to the medical college in Jabalpur but died on Thursday (June 15). We requested the medical college hospital staff to provide an ambulance/hearse van for taking the childs body home in Dindori district, but they denied any vehicle saying there was no such provision. Were poor labourers and didnt have Rs 4000 to Rs 5000 to hire a private vehicle to take the body home. We subsequently kept our childs body in a bag and came to Dindori by a private bus from Jabalpur, Dhurve alleged.

However, the Jabalpur districts chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr Sanjay Mishra had a different saga to tell. As per what has been told to me by the medical college dean and hospital superintendent, the newborn was LBW, so the baby was referred from the government hospital in Dindori to the government medical college in Jabalpur on June 14. The child was under treatment at the medical colleges hospitals SNCU. However, just six hours after being admitted at the SNCU, despite doctors requests to allow the treatment to go on at a special pediatric care facility, the family insisted on taking the baby home. The doctors subsequently had to discharge the baby on the familys request (leave against medical advice-LAMA). The child died thereafter outside the hospital, possibly due to excessive heat-induced dehydration. No ambulance or vehicle was sought by the family to take the child home, while it was discharged alive on their request.

Dr Mishra, however, added that a probe will be done into the matter following the familys allegations.

This isnt the first time that a hearse vehicle/ambulance has been denied by a public health facility in MP, to any needy family to carry their dead patient home.

Similar incidents of bodies of patients being carried by their kin on cycles, motorbikes, hand-pulled carts and makeshift slings on being denied vehicles by government health facilities have been reported in the past from various other districts, including Shahdol, Sidhi, Singrauli and Morena districts.

BHOPAL: In a shocking incident, a tribal family from the Dindori district, was left with no option, but to carry the body of their low birth weight (LBW) newborn child in a bag, allegedly after being denied a vehicle by the staff at the government medical college in Jabalpur on Thursday. The newborns family, while saying that the newborn died during medical treatment at the medical college hospital, has alleged that the staff didnt provide them with a hearse vehicle to carry the body home to Dindori district (around 160 km away) forcing them to carry the body in a bag by a private bus. On the other hand, a senior health department official in Jabalpur district has claimed that the newborn child, which was under treatment at the medical college hospitals special newborn care unit (SNCU) didnt die at the hospital, as the child had been discharged alive at the familys request.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The childs father Sunil Dhurve told journalists in Dindori on Friday that the child was born at the government hospital in the native Dindori district on June 13, but owing to the serious condition, the child was referred to the state government medical college in Jabalpur on June 14. The baby was subsequently admitted to the medical college in Jabalpur but died on Thursday (June 15). We requested the medical college hospital staff to provide an ambulance/hearse van for taking the childs body home in Dindori district, but they denied any vehicle saying there was no such provision. Were poor labourers and didnt have Rs 4000 to Rs 5000 to hire a private vehicle to take the body home. We subsequently kept our childs body in a bag and came to Dindori by a private bus from Jabalpur, Dhurve alleged. However, the Jabalpur districts chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr Sanjay Mishra had a different saga to tell. As per what has been told to me by the medical college dean and hospital superintendent, the newborn was LBW, so the baby was referred from the government hospital in Dindori to the government medical college in Jabalpur on June 14. The child was under treatment at the medical colleges hospitals SNCU. However, just six hours after being admitted at the SNCU, despite doctors requests to allow the treatment to go on at a special pediatric care facility, the family insisted on taking the baby home. The doctors subsequently had to discharge the baby on the familys request (leave against medical advice-LAMA). The child died thereafter outside the hospital, possibly due to excessive heat-induced dehydration. No ambulance or vehicle was sought by the family to take the child home, while it was discharged alive on their request. Dr Mishra, however, added that a probe will be done into the matter following the familys allegations. This isnt the first time that a hearse vehicle/ambulance has been denied by a public health facility in MP, to any needy family to carry their dead patient home. Similar incidents of bodies of patients being carried by their kin on cycles, motorbikes, hand-pulled carts and makeshift slings on being denied vehicles by government health facilities have been reported in the past from various other districts, including Shahdol, Sidhi, Singrauli and Morena districts.
By Online Desk

IMPHAL: A mob stormed and set Union Minister of State for external affairs RK Ranjan Singh's residence on fire at Kongba in Imphal on Thursday night, two days after the sharpest escalation of violence in the state saw nine people gunned down and another 10 injured.

There were nine security escort personnel, five security guards and eight additional guards on duty at the minister's residence at the time of the incident.

"We couldn't prevent the incident as the mob was overwhelming and we couldn't control the situation. They threw petrol bombs from all directions from the bye lane behind the building and from the front entrance, so we simply couldn't control the mob," L Dineshwor Singh, Escort Commander, said.

This is the second time that the minister's house has been attacked by a mob. During the attack in May, the security personnel fired in the air to disperse the mob.

The recent ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur has resulted in over 100 fatalities and 310 injuries. In response, the army and paramilitary forces have been deployed to restore peace in the state. The clashes initially began on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organized in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

RK Ranjan Singh, who is Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, recently held a meeting with a group of intellectuals from Manipur's Meitei and Kuki communities to discuss how to bring peace in the violence-hit northeast state.

IMPHAL: A mob stormed and set Union Minister of State for external affairs RK Ranjan Singh's residence on fire at Kongba in Imphal on Thursday night, two days after the sharpest escalation of violence in the state saw nine people gunned down and another 10 injured. There were nine security escort personnel, five security guards and eight additional guards on duty at the minister's residence at the time of the incident. "We couldn't prevent the incident as the mob was overwhelming and we couldn't control the situation. They threw petrol bombs from all directions from the bye lane behind the building and from the front entrance, so we simply couldn't control the mob," L Dineshwor Singh, Escort Commander, said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); This is the second time that the minister's house has been attacked by a mob. During the attack in May, the security personnel fired in the air to disperse the mob. The recent ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur has resulted in over 100 fatalities and 310 injuries. In response, the army and paramilitary forces have been deployed to restore peace in the state. The clashes initially began on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organized in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. RK Ranjan Singh, who is Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, recently held a meeting with a group of intellectuals from Manipur's Meitei and Kuki communities to discuss how to bring peace in the violence-hit northeast state.
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: IPS officer Aniruddh Kumar Singh has been indicted for demanding Rs 20 lakh as bribe from the manager of a school to let him off the hook in a rape case.

A probe had been ordered after the police officer, who was then posted in Varanasi, was seen demanding Rs 20 lakh as bribe from the rape accused in a video.

The video of Singh demanding the bribe went viral on March 12 when he was posted in Meerut as Additional Superintendent of Police (Meerut Rural). Taking cognisance of the viral video, the then DGP DS Chauhan ordered a probe to be conducted by the then Varanasi police commissioner Mutha Ashok Jain who entrusted the probe to DIG Santosh Kumar. The probe report was handed over to the DGP's office on May 30.

Initially, Singh had maintained that he himself had got the video shot to trap the accused. However, after the probe, the claim of Singh remained unsubstantiated.

Principal Secretary, (Home), Sanjay Prasad, said that prima facie the probe conducted had found merit in the case following which assent was given for further departmental proceedings against the IPS officer.

The officer had allegedly mentioned in the general diary that he had wanted to trap the accused in the rape case two days later.

LUCKNOW: IPS officer Aniruddh Kumar Singh has been indicted for demanding Rs 20 lakh as bribe from the manager of a school to let him off the hook in a rape case. A probe had been ordered after the police officer, who was then posted in Varanasi, was seen demanding Rs 20 lakh as bribe from the rape accused in a video. The video of Singh demanding the bribe went viral on March 12 when he was posted in Meerut as Additional Superintendent of Police (Meerut Rural). Taking cognisance of the viral video, the then DGP DS Chauhan ordered a probe to be conducted by the then Varanasi police commissioner Mutha Ashok Jain who entrusted the probe to DIG Santosh Kumar. The probe report was handed over to the DGP's office on May 30.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Initially, Singh had maintained that he himself had got the video shot to trap the accused. However, after the probe, the claim of Singh remained unsubstantiated. Principal Secretary, (Home), Sanjay Prasad, said that prima facie the probe conducted had found merit in the case following which assent was given for further departmental proceedings against the IPS officer. The officer had allegedly mentioned in the general diary that he had wanted to trap the accused in the rape case two days later.
Narendra Sethi By

Express News Service

DEHRADUN: The Uttarkashi police on Thursday foiled a mahapanchayat called by Hindutva organisations to press for their specific demand for a complete ban on the social and business activities of a particular community in Purola.

The Nainital High Court has taken a strong stand during the hearing on this matter on Thursday and has sought a reply from the government within 3 weeks. A division bench of Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal directed the state government to take strict action as per law in such cases.

The high court ordered the state government to ban events like Mahapanchayat and register cases against Hindu organisations. The HC directed, No one shall participate in TV or social debates. The High Court also told the government that no poster banners will be put up in the case.

Traders organisations in the Yamuna Valley are furious with Section 144 imposed by the administration to stop the maha panchayat in Purola. Major markets in Barkot, Nagaon, Purola, Mori and Damta remained completely closed on Thursday. Shops have been closed in Purola and adjoining towns since May 26.

READ MORE: Uttarakhand town on edge over communal charges

DEHRADUN: The Uttarkashi police on Thursday foiled a mahapanchayat called by Hindutva organisations to press for their specific demand for a complete ban on the social and business activities of a particular community in Purola. The Nainital High Court has taken a strong stand during the hearing on this matter on Thursday and has sought a reply from the government within 3 weeks. A division bench of Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal directed the state government to take strict action as per law in such cases. The high court ordered the state government to ban events like Mahapanchayat and register cases against Hindu organisations. The HC directed, No one shall participate in TV or social debates. The High Court also told the government that no poster banners will be put up in the case.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Traders organisations in the Yamuna Valley are furious with Section 144 imposed by the administration to stop the maha panchayat in Purola. Major markets in Barkot, Nagaon, Purola, Mori and Damta remained completely closed on Thursday. Shops have been closed in Purola and adjoining towns since May 26. READ MORE: Uttarakhand town on edge over communal charges
Radhika Ramaseshan By

After the Karnataka poll outcome, the political focus has largely been on the BJPs slumping presence in the south because the state was its gateway to an entire region that remains largely untouched by the RSSs core ideology and worldview. In the prelude to the 2024 parliamentary election, the BJP is up against numerous challenges in the east, exemplified by its dogged struggles to sustain the momentum generated in 2019 in West Bengal, its failure to breach BJD-held Odisha and the upheavals in the north-east where it is ensconced. The tremors in Manipur, triggered by the relentless ethnic violence and purges, spilt over into the other states, notably Mizoram. In the west of India, another impregnable terrain for the BJP since 2014, Maharashtra, electorally the largest and weightiest province, could see a resurgent Maha Vikas Aghadi. The Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena still hoped to ride over the sympathy generated for Balasaheb Thackerays legatee after the vertical split it suffered.

The south, east and a major part of the west do not make for a buoyant forecast for the BJP. However, is the north factored in while drawing up a pre-poll scenario? The indomitable north that towers over the rest of the country at the crest? Without counting Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, the norththat runs like a jagged swathe of land across the map from Rajasthan to the south-west to Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi in the north and dips southward to Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh before moving to the east to Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Bihar and shares a broad linguistic identity as Hindi-speaking states (bar Punjab)contributes 240 elected members (approximately 44 per cent) to the 543-strong Lok Sabha. As against this number, the west (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu) brings 78 MPs, the east (West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Tripura, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram and Sikkim) 67 and the south (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep), 131.

The BJP consolidated its grip over the north in 2014. In 2019, it won 181 of the 240 seats, with Punjab being the weak link in a chain of success. In the last five years, the BJP suffered a reversal in the Himachal elections, is up against an invigorated Congress in MP and has been hit by a face-off between the Centre and the Haryana woman wrestlers caused by charges of a sex offence against an Uttar Pradesh MP that alienated its Jat voters in Haryana, UP and Rajasthan. Notwithstanding these problemsthe BJP still thinks these are only pinpricksthe north remains its best insurance against prospective setbacks in the rest of the country.

The Opposition, be it the Congress or the regional parties, is groping for a strategy to counter the BJPs near-hegemony over the north. They strive to level the playing field with a diamond-cut-diamond approach, answering the BJPs dominant Hindutva appeal with their advocacy of majoritarian politics. This approach is best illustrated by the tactics adopted by the Congress in MP, which votes this December.

The Congress ushered in its campaign in a blaze of saffron and religiosity, headed by its CM candidate, Kamal Nath. Hindutva was always a part of Naths toolkit. When he was minding the Gujarat elections, he courted sadhus and babas to rebut the BJPs allegation of minority appeasement against the Congress, but that didnt eventually help. Soon after he was unseated as the CM, he constituted a Dharmik and Utsav Prakosth. He appointed a white-robed katha vachak (narrator of Hindu scriptures and shloka), Richa Goswami, as the head. When Nath promised a monthly aid of Rs 1500 to women and subsidised gas cylinders as part of the Congresss agenda to respect and honour women, Goswami launched the event by reciting the sunder kaand from Ramayana.

On June 9, Nath merged the Bajrang Sena, a right-wing outfit dedicated to cow protection, with the Congress at a function in the party headquarters to the chant of Jai Shri Ram and portrayed himself as a Hanuman votary. On June 12, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra inaugurated the Congresss electioneering by offering prayers on the banks of the Narmada at Jabalpur. So far, Nath and his associates have not uttered a word on the concerted offensive against Muslims in MP, manifest in incidents of lynching and the use of bulldozers to raze their homes and commercial properties in the manner of Yogi Adityanath by the Shivraj Singh Chouhan administration.

In neighbouring Chhattisgarh, Congress CM Bhupesh Baghel lifted the same pages from the Hindutva playbook but modulated their use less overtly not to alienate the Adivasis. On June 1, Baghel organised a National Ramayana festival while the commercial use of cow dung and urine was part of his governments ongoing agenda. In UP, the seedbed of majoritarian politics, the main Opposition party, Samajwadi Party, hosted its workers training camps at Hindu pilgrim sites, the last being at Naimisharanya in the Avadh region, where its leaders, Ramgopal Yadav and Shivpal Singh Yadav, invoked the Hindu scriptures in their speeches to reinforce the message. The Samajwadi leader Akhilesh Yadav generously embedded Hindutva symbols and icons in his past electioneering, but that doesnt seem to have enlarged his Hindu constituency, especially among the upper castes.

Of the states going to polls this year, Rajasthan alone has underpinned its campaign on CM Ashok Gehlots pursuit of welfare policies and measures in his tenure without entangling the Congress in Hindutva. Its debatable what the string of freebies he announced will cost the exchequer, but evidently drawing a leaf from the victories in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, Gehlot appears convinced that his emphasis on health, education, social security, subsidised electricity and the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme could guarantee the Congress a second inning.

The fallout of the Oppositions accent on Hindutva has not been positive. Whether it pays the parties electoral dividends or not is imponderable. But it pushed the BJP to go after a more aggressive form of Hindutva politics. The strategy was recently manifest in the attacks on Muslims in Uttarakhand that spared none, not even an office-bearer of a district BJP minority cell, and the frequent Hindu-Muslim clashes in Maharashtra to keep the pot boiling, as it were.

(ramaseshan.radhika@gmail.com)

Radhika Ramaseshan

Columnist and political commentator

After the Karnataka poll outcome, the political focus has largely been on the BJPs slumping presence in the south because the state was its gateway to an entire region that remains largely untouched by the RSSs core ideology and worldview. In the prelude to the 2024 parliamentary election, the BJP is up against numerous challenges in the east, exemplified by its dogged struggles to sustain the momentum generated in 2019 in West Bengal, its failure to breach BJD-held Odisha and the upheavals in the north-east where it is ensconced. The tremors in Manipur, triggered by the relentless ethnic violence and purges, spilt over into the other states, notably Mizoram. In the west of India, another impregnable terrain for the BJP since 2014, Maharashtra, electorally the largest and weightiest province, could see a resurgent Maha Vikas Aghadi. The Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena still hoped to ride over the sympathy generated for Balasaheb Thackerays legatee after the vertical split it suffered. The south, east and a major part of the west do not make for a buoyant forecast for the BJP. However, is the north factored in while drawing up a pre-poll scenario? The indomitable north that towers over the rest of the country at the crest? Without counting Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, the norththat runs like a jagged swathe of land across the map from Rajasthan to the south-west to Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi in the north and dips southward to Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh before moving to the east to Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Bihar and shares a broad linguistic identity as Hindi-speaking states (bar Punjab)contributes 240 elected members (approximately 44 per cent) to the 543-strong Lok Sabha. As against this number, the west (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu) brings 78 MPs, the east (West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Tripura, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram and Sikkim) 67 and the south (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep), 131. The BJP consolidated its grip over the north in 2014. In 2019, it won 181 of the 240 seats, with Punjab being the weak link in a chain of success. In the last five years, the BJP suffered a reversal in the Himachal elections, is up against an invigorated Congress in MP and has been hit by a face-off between the Centre and the Haryana woman wrestlers caused by charges of a sex offence against an Uttar Pradesh MP that alienated its Jat voters in Haryana, UP and Rajasthan. Notwithstanding these problemsthe BJP still thinks these are only pinpricksthe north remains its best insurance against prospective setbacks in the rest of the country.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Opposition, be it the Congress or the regional parties, is groping for a strategy to counter the BJPs near-hegemony over the north. They strive to level the playing field with a diamond-cut-diamond approach, answering the BJPs dominant Hindutva appeal with their advocacy of majoritarian politics. This approach is best illustrated by the tactics adopted by the Congress in MP, which votes this December. The Congress ushered in its campaign in a blaze of saffron and religiosity, headed by its CM candidate, Kamal Nath. Hindutva was always a part of Naths toolkit. When he was minding the Gujarat elections, he courted sadhus and babas to rebut the BJPs allegation of minority appeasement against the Congress, but that didnt eventually help. Soon after he was unseated as the CM, he constituted a Dharmik and Utsav Prakosth. He appointed a white-robed katha vachak (narrator of Hindu scriptures and shloka), Richa Goswami, as the head. When Nath promised a monthly aid of Rs 1500 to women and subsidised gas cylinders as part of the Congresss agenda to respect and honour women, Goswami launched the event by reciting the sunder kaand from Ramayana. On June 9, Nath merged the Bajrang Sena, a right-wing outfit dedicated to cow protection, with the Congress at a function in the party headquarters to the chant of Jai Shri Ram and portrayed himself as a Hanuman votary. On June 12, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra inaugurated the Congresss electioneering by offering prayers on the banks of the Narmada at Jabalpur. So far, Nath and his associates have not uttered a word on the concerted offensive against Muslims in MP, manifest in incidents of lynching and the use of bulldozers to raze their homes and commercial properties in the manner of Yogi Adityanath by the Shivraj Singh Chouhan administration. In neighbouring Chhattisgarh, Congress CM Bhupesh Baghel lifted the same pages from the Hindutva playbook but modulated their use less overtly not to alienate the Adivasis. On June 1, Baghel organised a National Ramayana festival while the commercial use of cow dung and urine was part of his governments ongoing agenda. In UP, the seedbed of majoritarian politics, the main Opposition party, Samajwadi Party, hosted its workers training camps at Hindu pilgrim sites, the last being at Naimisharanya in the Avadh region, where its leaders, Ramgopal Yadav and Shivpal Singh Yadav, invoked the Hindu scriptures in their speeches to reinforce the message. The Samajwadi leader Akhilesh Yadav generously embedded Hindutva symbols and icons in his past electioneering, but that doesnt seem to have enlarged his Hindu constituency, especially among the upper castes. Of the states going to polls this year, Rajasthan alone has underpinned its campaign on CM Ashok Gehlots pursuit of welfare policies and measures in his tenure without entangling the Congress in Hindutva. Its debatable what the string of freebies he announced will cost the exchequer, but evidently drawing a leaf from the victories in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, Gehlot appears convinced that his emphasis on health, education, social security, subsidised electricity and the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme could guarantee the Congress a second inning. The fallout of the Oppositions accent on Hindutva has not been positive. Whether it pays the parties electoral dividends or not is imponderable. But it pushed the BJP to go after a more aggressive form of Hindutva politics. The strategy was recently manifest in the attacks on Muslims in Uttarakhand that spared none, not even an office-bearer of a district BJP minority cell, and the frequent Hindu-Muslim clashes in Maharashtra to keep the pot boiling, as it were. (ramaseshan.radhika@gmail.com) Radhika Ramaseshan Columnist and political commentator
Even before the Siddaramaiah governments ambitious Anna Bhagya Anna Bhagya scheme  which promises 10 kg of rice per head per month to BPL and Antyodaya card-holding families  could take off, it has run into a barrier. The Union government has directed the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to discontinue the sale of foodgrains to states, with some exceptions, under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic). Instead, it has allowed FCI to offload rice and wheat stocks in the open market to private parties by e-auction, saying it would cool down prices and curb hoarding. The order comes a day after the Karnataka government reached a deal with the FCI to buy 2.28 lakh metric tonnes of rice at Rs 3,400 per quintal and throws a spanner in the works for the Anna Bhagya scheme, set to start on July 1. It also goes against the Centres OMSS policy for 2023, drawn up on January 26, allowing states to buy rice and wheat from the FCI without participating in the e-auction.

This has prompted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to term the development anti-Kannadiga and anti-poor and claim that the Narendra Modi government is playing politics with the peoples food. India has the worlds largest food programme under the National Food Security Act, 2013, or the Right to Food Act, which subsidises grains for about 81 crore people. The Karnataka government is now working the phones with friendly states to make up for the deficit, and this struggle to find the monthly requirement of over 14,000 tonnes of rice at a cheap rate is likely to continue. It threatens to play havoc with Siddaramaiahs budget and could even jeopardise the scheme and anger voters who anticipate an easing of their burdens.

The timing of the order leads to the suspicion that the Centre wants to make it clear who is in charge. Not that Karnataka wasnt warned  during the assembly election campaign, BJP leaders had made it clear that voting against the party would deprive the state of Prime Minister Modis blessings. Instead of displaying a spirit of federal cooperation and compassion and ensuring that states prosper under popularly-elected leaders, the Centre is depriving the target population of this welfare measure. At a time when there is distress among the poor, especially those who are jobless, free grains are a godsend. The Centre cannot be at war with the states over something as basic as rice. The BJP government must realise that such moves smack of pettiness, and those living in Karnataka are also Indians, no matter which party they vote for.

Even before the Siddaramaiah governments ambitious Anna Bhagya Anna Bhagya scheme  which promises 10 kg of rice per head per month to BPL and Antyodaya card-holding families  could take off, it has run into a barrier. The Union government has directed the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to discontinue the sale of foodgrains to states, with some exceptions, under the Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic). Instead, it has allowed FCI to offload rice and wheat stocks in the open market to private parties by e-auction, saying it would cool down prices and curb hoarding. The order comes a day after the Karnataka government reached a deal with the FCI to buy 2.28 lakh metric tonnes of rice at Rs 3,400 per quintal and throws a spanner in the works for the Anna Bhagya scheme, set to start on July 1. It also goes against the Centres OMSS policy for 2023, drawn up on January 26, allowing states to buy rice and wheat from the FCI without participating in the e-auction. This has prompted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to term the development anti-Kannadiga and anti-poor and claim that the Narendra Modi government is playing politics with the peoples food. India has the worlds largest food programme under the National Food Security Act, 2013, or the Right to Food Act, which subsidises grains for about 81 crore people. The Karnataka government is now working the phones with friendly states to make up for the deficit, and this struggle to find the monthly requirement of over 14,000 tonnes of rice at a cheap rate is likely to continue. It threatens to play havoc with Siddaramaiahs budget and could even jeopardise the scheme and anger voters who anticipate an easing of their burdens. The timing of the order leads to the suspicion that the Centre wants to make it clear who is in charge. Not that Karnataka wasnt warned  during the assembly election campaign, BJP leaders had made it clear that voting against the party would deprive the state of Prime Minister Modis blessings. Instead of displaying a spirit of federal cooperation and compassion and ensuring that states prosper under popularly-elected leaders, the Centre is depriving the target population of this welfare measure. At a time when there is distress among the poor, especially those who are jobless, free grains are a godsend. The Centre cannot be at war with the states over something as basic as rice. The BJP government must realise that such moves smack of pettiness, and those living in Karnataka are also Indians, no matter which party they vote for.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); });
Unnikrishnan S By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Organ donation is in news again, but for the wrong reasons. Its feared that the controversy raging over organ donation at Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi will further debilitate the deceased donor transplantation programme of the state government. The number of life-saving donations from the deceased has registered a dip in the past few years after a Malayalam film portrayed the operations of an organ trade mafia, triggering fear and suspicion among the public.

In 2015, as many as 218 transplant surgeries were performed following cadaveric organ donations, but the number plummeted to just 37 in 2022. The number of annual transplantations over last two years comes in at 50. This at a time when more than 3,000 patients await liver and kidney transplants in the state. According to advocates of organ donation, the latest controversy has created more sceptics, besides reinforcing the doubts regarding organ trade.

People have concluded that the doctors have already been punished by the court. This controversy has caused immense damage to the deceased donor programme, said Mathew Philip, chairman of the Liver Foundation of Kerala (LIFOK), a charitable organisation supporting liver transplant surgeries. He himself had received a donor liver eight years ago.

People have publicly announced that they will no longer donate organs. Ironically, this will aid the organ mafia involved in exploiting impoverished patients to sell their organs. When the deceased donor programme is affected, patients will turn to live donors, Mathew added.

One of the key objectives of the cadaver organ donation project is to safeguard the vulnerable poor from organ trafficking. The state government initiated the Mrithasanjeevani (KNOS) programme to coordinate cadaveric organ donation in 2012  three years after the controversial transplantation happened in Lakeshore Hospital. Transparency has since improved and KNOS transformed into the Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplantation Organisation (K-SOTTO).

Clear-cut guidelines have been formulated to avoid confusion and improve transparency. While the Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA) 1994 laid the foundation, the amendment in 2014 gave more clarity on the procedures related to brain death declaration in various states. Despite these changes, the deceased donor programme has suffered due to the allegations, said Dr Noble Gracious, executive director of K-SOTTO. He clarified that no hospital had tried to harvest organs from unidentified bodies.

Under the current protocol, hospitals are required to form a committee of four doctors to certify brain death.

Tw of the doctors must be from the empanelled list of the Directorate of Medical Education. The doctors must provide certification twice, with a six-hour gap, confirming brain death. Normally, the doctors certifying brain stem death inform the patients relatives about the same.

The recent controversy revolves around the death of Abin VJ, a 21-year-old who suffered a severe head injury in a bike accident in November 2009. He was declared brain dead, and his liver was donated to a Malaysian recipient with the consent of the donors mother. On May 29, a court in Ernakulam issued summons to the hospitals doctors based on a private complaint alleging procedural lapses in treatment, death declaration, and organ donation.

The hospital issued a statement clarifying that the court order aimed to verify the truth of the complaint and emphasised that all medical procedures, organ donation laws, and human rights laws were strictly followed during the incident.

Procedures to declare brain death

The hospital forms a four-member committee

Committee comprises medical superintendent and treating doctor, and two doctors empanelled by DME

Four doctors to examine the patient twice with a six-hour gap

Inform patients relatives about brain death

Get consent of relatives for organ donation in presence of two witnesses

Family can ask for stopping of treatment or sign the consent

If there is a consent for organ donation, hospital informs K-SOTTO

K-SOTTO solely responsible for the allocation of organs to hospitals

If there is no consent, the body is handed over to relatives, or for postmortem for medico-legal cases

Who can donate

Near relatives

Any person other than near relatives can donate for the reason of affection

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Organ donation is in news again, but for the wrong reasons. Its feared that the controversy raging over organ donation at Lakeshore Hospital in Kochi will further debilitate the deceased donor transplantation programme of the state government. The number of life-saving donations from the deceased has registered a dip in the past few years after a Malayalam film portrayed the operations of an organ trade mafia, triggering fear and suspicion among the public. In 2015, as many as 218 transplant surgeries were performed following cadaveric organ donations, but the number plummeted to just 37 in 2022. The number of annual transplantations over last two years comes in at 50. This at a time when more than 3,000 patients await liver and kidney transplants in the state. According to advocates of organ donation, the latest controversy has created more sceptics, besides reinforcing the doubts regarding organ trade. People have concluded that the doctors have already been punished by the court. This controversy has caused immense damage to the deceased donor programme, said Mathew Philip, chairman of the Liver Foundation of Kerala (LIFOK), a charitable organisation supporting liver transplant surgeries. He himself had received a donor liver eight years ago. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); People have publicly announced that they will no longer donate organs. Ironically, this will aid the organ mafia involved in exploiting impoverished patients to sell their organs. When the deceased donor programme is affected, patients will turn to live donors, Mathew added. One of the key objectives of the cadaver organ donation project is to safeguard the vulnerable poor from organ trafficking. The state government initiated the Mrithasanjeevani (KNOS) programme to coordinate cadaveric organ donation in 2012  three years after the controversial transplantation happened in Lakeshore Hospital. Transparency has since improved and KNOS transformed into the Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplantation Organisation (K-SOTTO). Clear-cut guidelines have been formulated to avoid confusion and improve transparency. While the Transplantation of Human Organs Act (THOA) 1994 laid the foundation, the amendment in 2014 gave more clarity on the procedures related to brain death declaration in various states. Despite these changes, the deceased donor programme has suffered due to the allegations, said Dr Noble Gracious, executive director of K-SOTTO. He clarified that no hospital had tried to harvest organs from unidentified bodies. Under the current protocol, hospitals are required to form a committee of four doctors to certify brain death. Tw of the doctors must be from the empanelled list of the Directorate of Medical Education. The doctors must provide certification twice, with a six-hour gap, confirming brain death. Normally, the doctors certifying brain stem death inform the patients relatives about the same. The recent controversy revolves around the death of Abin VJ, a 21-year-old who suffered a severe head injury in a bike accident in November 2009. He was declared brain dead, and his liver was donated to a Malaysian recipient with the consent of the donors mother. On May 29, a court in Ernakulam issued summons to the hospitals doctors based on a private complaint alleging procedural lapses in treatment, death declaration, and organ donation. The hospital issued a statement clarifying that the court order aimed to verify the truth of the complaint and emphasised that all medical procedures, organ donation laws, and human rights laws were strictly followed during the incident. Procedures to declare brain death The hospital forms a four-member committee Committee comprises medical superintendent and treating doctor, and two doctors empanelled by DME Four doctors to examine the patient twice with a six-hour gap Inform patients relatives about brain death Get consent of relatives for organ donation in presence of two witnesses Family can ask for stopping of treatment or sign the consent If there is a consent for organ donation, hospital informs K-SOTTO K-SOTTO solely responsible for the allocation of organs to hospitals If there is no consent, the body is handed over to relatives, or for postmortem for medico-legal casesWho can donate Near relatives Any person other than near relatives can donate for the reason of affection
By Express News Service

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday approved a project proposal of Rs 112 crore for transformation of Mahima Peetha at Joranda in Dhenkanal district.As per the proposal, the Samadhi Peetha of Mahima Goswami would be renovated and a prayer hall, boundary wall, bus stand, toilets for the saints and a primary health centre constructed.

The district administration has also proposed renovation of the sacred pond on the shrine premises, reconstruction of Mahima Samaj Peetha and construction of a road from Jagannath temple to school field, besides the internal roads and lighting facilities. The proposal also includes a promenade and plantation of around 200 palm and banyan saplings for ensuring greenery in the area.

All facilities will be created for pleasant stay of saints, devotees and visitors. The place will be developed as a prominent pilgrimage and tourist destination of Dhenkanal district, the Chief Ministers Office said in a statement. Earlier, 5T secretary VK Pandian had visited the shrine and discussed with the saints and followers of Mahima sect. He had asked the district administration to submit a project report on transformation of the peetha.

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday approved a project proposal of Rs 112 crore for transformation of Mahima Peetha at Joranda in Dhenkanal district.As per the proposal, the Samadhi Peetha of Mahima Goswami would be renovated and a prayer hall, boundary wall, bus stand, toilets for the saints and a primary health centre constructed. The district administration has also proposed renovation of the sacred pond on the shrine premises, reconstruction of Mahima Samaj Peetha and construction of a road from Jagannath temple to school field, besides the internal roads and lighting facilities. The proposal also includes a promenade and plantation of around 200 palm and banyan saplings for ensuring greenery in the area. All facilities will be created for pleasant stay of saints, devotees and visitors. The place will be developed as a prominent pilgrimage and tourist destination of Dhenkanal district, the Chief Ministers Office said in a statement. Earlier, 5T secretary VK Pandian had visited the shrine and discussed with the saints and followers of Mahima sect. He had asked the district administration to submit a project report on transformation of the peetha.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); });
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A delegation of AIADMK leaders including CVe Shanmugam, D Jayakumar, C Vijaya Baskar and P Benjamin called on Governor RN Ravi and urged him to advise CM MK Stalin to drop V Senthil Balaji from the council of ministers since he has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate. The delegation submitted a memorandum signed by AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami in this regard.

Senthil Balaji continuing as a minister even after being arrested by the ED is against the law and the Constitution. The chief minister should have dropped him from the council of ministers immediately after his arrest. Since Stalin has not done this so far, the governor should advise him to do so.

Instead of dropping the minister from the Cabinet, the CM, his family members and Cabinet colleagues have been making a beeline for the hospital and trying to create an impression like Balaji has been arrested for a holy cause, Shanmugam told reporters at the Raj Bhavan.

Shanmugam also said Stalin, as leader of the opposition, had demanded action against Balaji (who was then in the ruling AIADMK) on corruption charges, but is now shielding him. Shanmugam also gave a detailed account of how the cash-for-job scam gained momentum after a Supreme Court verdict and that the Union government had no role in the recent searches which were carried out after the apex court directive.

CHENNAI: A delegation of AIADMK leaders including CVe Shanmugam, D Jayakumar, C Vijaya Baskar and P Benjamin called on Governor RN Ravi and urged him to advise CM MK Stalin to drop V Senthil Balaji from the council of ministers since he has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate. The delegation submitted a memorandum signed by AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami in this regard. Senthil Balaji continuing as a minister even after being arrested by the ED is against the law and the Constitution. The chief minister should have dropped him from the council of ministers immediately after his arrest. Since Stalin has not done this so far, the governor should advise him to do so. Instead of dropping the minister from the Cabinet, the CM, his family members and Cabinet colleagues have been making a beeline for the hospital and trying to create an impression like Balaji has been arrested for a holy cause, Shanmugam told reporters at the Raj Bhavan. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Shanmugam also said Stalin, as leader of the opposition, had demanded action against Balaji (who was then in the ruling AIADMK) on corruption charges, but is now shielding him. Shanmugam also gave a detailed account of how the cash-for-job scam gained momentum after a Supreme Court verdict and that the Union government had no role in the recent searches which were carried out after the apex court directive.
R Sivakumar By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The principal sessions court judge S Alli on Friday granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody of Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji, arrested in a money-laundering case, for eight days for further interrogation.

The judge directed the ED to hold the interrogations from June 16 to 23 at the private hospital where he has been undergoing treatment for heart blocks.

Further, the Central agency was ordered to produce him before the court on June 23.

Senthil Balaji was present before the court through videoconferencing and expressed his inability to undergo custody of ED since he had to undergo heart surgery.

The ED, which arrested him on the wee hours of June 14, after searching his premises and grilling him for more than twenty hours, had approached the principal sessions court with a plea for 15 days of custody since the minister had not cooperated during investigations.

ALSO READ | Despite being in thick of controversy, Senthil Balaji rose and rose until ED came knocking

The Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ARL Sundaresan said the agency had to ascertain and trace the proceeds of a crime he had acquired through the cash-for-jobs scam and corroborate his testimony with the other accused persons.

However, senior counsel NR Elango, appearing for Senthil Balaji vehemently opposed granting custody since his client was down with three heart blocks and has to undergo an emergency surgery.

If custody is granted, it will affect the health of the minister, he argued on Thursday when the custody petition came up for hearing.

The principal sessions judge dismissed the bail petition filed by Senthil Balaji.

ALSO READ | Kauvery doctors recommend early bypass surgery for TN Minister Senthil Balaji

It may be noted that he was shifted to Kauvery Hospital on Thursday following an order of a division bench of the Madras High Court. The bench ordered shifting him as it is connected to the life of the individual. The order was passed on a habeas corpus petition filed by Senthil Balajis wife Megala.

However, the court allowed ED to constitute a medical team of its choice to monitor the treatment and conditions of the minister.

CHENNAI: The principal sessions court judge S Alli on Friday granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody of Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji, arrested in a money-laundering case, for eight days for further interrogation. The judge directed the ED to hold the interrogations from June 16 to 23 at the private hospital where he has been undergoing treatment for heart blocks. Further, the Central agency was ordered to produce him before the court on June 23.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Senthil Balaji was present before the court through videoconferencing and expressed his inability to undergo custody of ED since he had to undergo heart surgery. The ED, which arrested him on the wee hours of June 14, after searching his premises and grilling him for more than twenty hours, had approached the principal sessions court with a plea for 15 days of custody since the minister had not cooperated during investigations. ALSO READ | Despite being in thick of controversy, Senthil Balaji rose and rose until ED came knocking The Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ARL Sundaresan said the agency had to ascertain and trace the proceeds of a crime he had acquired through the cash-for-jobs scam and corroborate his testimony with the other accused persons. However, senior counsel NR Elango, appearing for Senthil Balaji vehemently opposed granting custody since his client was down with three heart blocks and has to undergo an emergency surgery. If custody is granted, it will affect the health of the minister, he argued on Thursday when the custody petition came up for hearing. The principal sessions judge dismissed the bail petition filed by Senthil Balaji. ALSO READ | Kauvery doctors recommend early bypass surgery for TN Minister Senthil Balaji It may be noted that he was shifted to Kauvery Hospital on Thursday following an order of a division bench of the Madras High Court. The bench ordered shifting him as it is connected to the life of the individual. The order was passed on a habeas corpus petition filed by Senthil Balajis wife Megala. However, the court allowed ED to constitute a medical team of its choice to monitor the treatment and conditions of the minister.
S Raja Reddy By

Express News Service

ADILABAD: The Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT) Basara, popularly known as IIIT-Basara, finds itself in the spotlight once again as the tragic deaths of two girl students within a span of 48 hours have left parents questioning the safety of their children within the institution.

The shocking demise of first-year PUC student V Deepika by suicide in the hostel bathroom on Tuesday was yet to sink in when Bura Likhita, aged 17 and a close friend of Deepika, fell to her death from the fourth floor of the IIIT Basara hostel building at about 2 am on Thursday.

Alerted by the thud of the body hitting the ground, security guards and students rushed Likhita to the campus dispensary where first aid was administered before she was shifted to Bhainsa Area Hospital and later to Nirmal hospital. However, she was declared brought dead.Upon learning of the incident at around 2:45 am, Likhitas parents rushed to Nirmal Government Hospital.

Overwhelmed by grief upon seeing their daughters lifeless body, they expressed suspicions of foul play. Authorities accompanied the family to RGUKT-Basara, revealing the location where the tragedy unfolded. After a postmortem examination, the police released the body to Likhitas parents, who took it back to their hometown of Gajwel in Siddipet district.

Tension escalated outside Nirmal hospital as students from RGUKT Basara engineering college congregated alongside family members, expressing grave concerns about the number of student deaths. Responding to the issue, Congress and BJP activists staged a protest in front of the hospital, demanding accountability for the series of tragic incidents. They demanded the appointment of a regular Vice-Chancellor. Subsequently, the police arrested the protesting political activists and shift them to the police station.

Meanwhile, following a thorough analysis of the reconstructed scene, Likhitas parents and relatives said that they were convinced that her death may have been an accident. They also mentioned this in their formal complaint filed with the Basara police.

Meanwhile, RGUKT Vice-Chancellor V Venkat Ramana visited Nirmal hospital to offer condolences to the grieving parents. However, BJP and Congress activists attempted to obstruct his meeting with the bereaved family. The VC explained that Likhitas demise resulted from an accidental slip and fall. He suggested that the use of earphones at the time of the incident may have diverted her attention, leading to a fatal spinal cord injury.

Report on Deepikas death concludes

The inquiry committee assigned to investigate Deepikas death has reportedly submitted its findings. The report indicates that she rushed into the bathroom after officials advised her and several other students against carrying cell phones to the examination centre. Stress is also cited as a potential factor in Deepikas tragic death.

Recent student deaths at IIIT-Basara

Suresh Rathod, a first-year civil engineering student, died by suicide on August 24, 2022.

Bhanu Prasad, a PUC-II student, hanged himself in the hostel on December 19, 2022.

Vadla Deepika, a first-year PUC student, died by suicide on June 13, 2023.

Bora Likhita, a first-year pre-university course student, fell to death fourth floor of the building

ADILABAD: The Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT) Basara, popularly known as IIIT-Basara, finds itself in the spotlight once again as the tragic deaths of two girl students within a span of 48 hours have left parents questioning the safety of their children within the institution. The shocking demise of first-year PUC student V Deepika by suicide in the hostel bathroom on Tuesday was yet to sink in when Bura Likhita, aged 17 and a close friend of Deepika, fell to her death from the fourth floor of the IIIT Basara hostel building at about 2 am on Thursday. Alerted by the thud of the body hitting the ground, security guards and students rushed Likhita to the campus dispensary where first aid was administered before she was shifted to Bhainsa Area Hospital and later to Nirmal hospital. However, she was declared brought dead.Upon learning of the incident at around 2:45 am, Likhitas parents rushed to Nirmal Government Hospital.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Overwhelmed by grief upon seeing their daughters lifeless body, they expressed suspicions of foul play. Authorities accompanied the family to RGUKT-Basara, revealing the location where the tragedy unfolded. After a postmortem examination, the police released the body to Likhitas parents, who took it back to their hometown of Gajwel in Siddipet district. Tension escalated outside Nirmal hospital as students from RGUKT Basara engineering college congregated alongside family members, expressing grave concerns about the number of student deaths. Responding to the issue, Congress and BJP activists staged a protest in front of the hospital, demanding accountability for the series of tragic incidents. They demanded the appointment of a regular Vice-Chancellor. Subsequently, the police arrested the protesting political activists and shift them to the police station. Meanwhile, following a thorough analysis of the reconstructed scene, Likhitas parents and relatives said that they were convinced that her death may have been an accident. They also mentioned this in their formal complaint filed with the Basara police. Meanwhile, RGUKT Vice-Chancellor V Venkat Ramana visited Nirmal hospital to offer condolences to the grieving parents. However, BJP and Congress activists attempted to obstruct his meeting with the bereaved family. The VC explained that Likhitas demise resulted from an accidental slip and fall. He suggested that the use of earphones at the time of the incident may have diverted her attention, leading to a fatal spinal cord injury. Report on Deepikas death concludes The inquiry committee assigned to investigate Deepikas death has reportedly submitted its findings. The report indicates that she rushed into the bathroom after officials advised her and several other students against carrying cell phones to the examination centre. Stress is also cited as a potential factor in Deepikas tragic death. Recent student deaths at IIIT-Basara Suresh Rathod, a first-year civil engineering student, died by suicide on August 24, 2022. Bhanu Prasad, a PUC-II student, hanged himself in the hostel on December 19, 2022. Vadla Deepika, a first-year PUC student, died by suicide on June 13, 2023. Bora Likhita, a first-year pre-university course student, fell to death fourth floor of the building
IVCAs 2nd Edition of #VC101 in Bengaluru, Educates FTFMs on Fundraising Skills for Success

NewsVoir, Bengaluru, June 15: After successfully kicking off #VC101 in Mumbai, India's apex industry body for alternative assets, the Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA), held its second in-person learning session for #VC101 in Bengaluru on June 15:.

IVCA's 2nd Edition of #VC101 in Bengaluru, Educates FTFMs on Fundraising Skills for Success

#VC101 is an industry-led knowledge-sharing programme for first-time fund managers (FTFMs) organised by IVCA in collaboration with knowledge partners - Price Waterhouse and Co LLP and IC Universal Legal.With over 100 registrations the Bengaluru edition covered themes such as fundraising from global and domestic pools of capital, India's investment potential, FTFMs to better navigate LP-GP relationships, LPs' key considerations for investments, and strategies that should be adopted by FTFMs when pitching to investors.Spearheading the Bengaluru edition Manish Kheterpal, Co-founder and Managing Partner, WaterBridge Ventures, and VC Council member, IVCA, said, "The Venture Capital asset class in India has matured enough to attract a diverse range of investors, including global LPs, domestic institutional LPs, corporate investors, government-sponsored fund-of-funds, and family offices who are taking a more structured approach to managing their wealth."Manish further adds, "In the current environment of increased focus on building sustainable and profitable businesses, fund managers will need to equip themselves with superior portfolio construction and fund sizing skills. More tact is therefore required in navigating LP-GP negotiations, fundraising processes as well as full cycle investments-to-exit excellence. IVCA's #VC101 programme aims to bridge gaps born out of this need and will eventually help build a new crop of successful fund managers in India."Other lead mentors who joined the Bengaluru edition of #VC101 were - Anil Joshi, Managing Partner, Unicorn India Ventures; Anand Lunia, Founding Partner, India Quotient; Jayshree Kanther Patodi, Co-founder and Partner, Enzia Partners; Anjali Sosale, Partner, WaterBridge Ventures; Himanshu Mandavia, Partner, Price Waterhouse and Co LLP; Leelavathi Naidu, Partner, IC Universal Legal; Sushreet Pattanayak, Partner, IC Universal Legal; Siddharth Jhunjhunwala, Head Waterfield Fund of Funds, Waterfield Advisors; Ankur Nishar, Director - Deals (Tax), Price Waterhouse and Co LLP; Chirantan Patnaik, Director - Venture Capital, British International Investment (BII); KC Ganesh, President, Pratithi Investments; Krupa Shankar, Principal, NIIF; Naganand Doraswamy, Managing Partner and Founder, Ideaspring Capital; Rohit Bhayana, CEO and Co-founder, Oister Global; Ruchira Shukla, South Asia Regional Lead for Disruptive Technology Investments, IFC.Through #VC101, IVCA aims to advance India's venture capital environment and amplify the "India opportunity." With multiple investors raising their largest-ever India-focused funds in 2022, India currently sits on a vast dry powder reserve. Moreover, recently, limited partners and sovereign wealth funds have demonstrated increased commitment to India, as India's strong fundamentals are expected to comfortably offset the compression in funding brought on by global macroeconomic uncertainties. Thus, India continues to shine as a beacon of steady growth, and it is this India opportunity that #VC101 aims to push FTFMs to leverage.Himanshu Mandavia, Partner, Price Waterhouse and Co LLP, said, "Amidst the ever-evolving economic landscape and dynamic regulatory framework, aspiring participants venturing into the fund industry often face overwhelming challenges. The #VC101 programme organised by IVCA, is an excellent opportunity for first-time fund managers to grasp crucial aspects and glean insights from seasoned venture capital industry experts who have successfully paved the path for the next generation of fund managers."Tejesh Chitlangi, Senior Partner, IC Universal Legal, said, "I am delighted to serve as a mentor in the VC101 program, an initiative by IVCA designed to guide first-time fund managers. As a knowledge partner for VC101, IC Universal Legal, intends to cover fund structures for family offices in the Bengaluru edition of VC101, and walk first time fund managers through the considerations that they may need to keep in mind while creating AIFs to manage capital from family offices or while raising capital from other institutional investors such as fund-of-funds, development finance institutions and other global investors. This should help first time fund managers tap into growing pool of investors looking to add Indian AIF investments as a part of their portfolio."The next edition of #VC101 will take place in New Delhi on July 6. Participating FTFMs can look forward to mentorship from Rajan Anandan (Managing Director, Peak XV Partners), Priyanka Chopra (Chief Operating Officer, Managing Partner, Seed Investing, , IIM Ahmedabad, and Venture Partner, Bharat Innovation Fund), and Sehraj Singh (Managing Director, India, Prosus Ventures), among others.Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA) is a not-for-profit, apex industry body promoting the alternate capital industry and fostering a vibrant investing ecosystem in India. IVCA is committed to supporting the ecosystem by facilitating advocacy discussions with the Government of India, policymakers, and regulators, resulting in the rise of entrepreneurial activity, innovation, and job creation in India and contributing towards the development of India as a leading fund management hub. IVCA members are the most active domestic and global VCs, PEs, funds for infrastructure, real estate, credit funds, limited partners, investment companies, family offices, corporate VCs, and knowledge partners. These funds invest in emerging companies, venture growth, buyout, special situations, distressed assets, and credit and venture debt, among others.(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI15 June 2023

Shared Recently!
Kovida Sahrudaya Foundation sets wonderful records ahead of International Yoga Day

PNN, Hyderabad, June 15: In anticipation of the upcoming International Yoga Day on June 21, 2023, the Kovida Sahrudaya Foundation, based in Hyderabad, Telangana State, has achieved a remarkable feat that has left the world in awe.

Kovida Sahrudaya Foundation sets wonderful records ahead of International Yoga Day

On May 27, 2023, at the serene Parade Grounds in Secunderabad, the foundation successfully brought together over 1,000 talented classical and traditional artists specializing in Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Perini, and Kolatam dances, creating a mesmerizing spectacle that has now entered the international records.Under the distinguished presence of esteemed guests, including Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, the Governor of Telangana State; G. Kishan Reddy, the Union Minister; Sarbananda Sonowal, the Ayush Minister; Bhupender Yadav, the Labour Minister; and Dr Munjpara Mahender Bhai, the Minister of Ayush and Women and Child Development, the event was a grand success.The Kovida Sahrudaya Foundation, led by its founder, Kalabandu Dr G. Anuhya Reddy, the Organizing Secretary, sponsored and organized this remarkable event. The Parade Grounds in Secunderabad, with its tranquil ambience, served as the perfect venue for this pre-International Yoga Day extravaganza.Not only did the foundation showcase the diverse classical dance forms of Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Perini, and Kolatam, but they also included the expertise of renowned yoga practitioners. From 6 am to 10 am, the participants immersed themselves in a spiritual discipline aimed at relieving daily stress and improving overall health.This extraordinary achievement by the Kovida Sahrudaya Foundation has garnered attention from various prestigious organizations. The records set during this event are expected to be recognized by the 'Genius Book of Records,' 'Bharat World Record,' 'Kohinoor World Book of Records,' 'Wonder Book of Records,' and 'Telugu Book of Records.'Dr G. Anuhya Reddy, renowned for her unwavering dedication to serving the underprivileged, including children, adults, and couples, as well as athletes and individuals with special needs, aims to make this event a resounding success and a world record. Participants will not only have the opportunity to contribute to this noble cause but will also receive a certificate of participation and be provided with a healthy breakfast and yoga essentials on the day of the event.As the world prepares to celebrate International Yoga Day, the Kovida Sahrudaya Foundation invites everyone to adopt a new perspective and embrace the immense benefits of yoga and spiritual discipline. Together, let us make this year's Yoga Day a memorable milestone in our quest for holistic well-being.(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI15 June 2023

Shared Recently!
UniversityHub forges exclusive partnership with the prestigious Adelphi University of New York

PNN, Hyderabad, June 15: UniversityHub ( ) founded by Hyderabad-born Dr Anil Palla has today announced an exclusive partnership with the prestigious Adelphi University of New York.

UniversityHub forges exclusive partnership with the prestigious Adelphi University of New York

Following this collaboration, all admissions into Adelphi University across various streams will now be routed through UniversityHub. Various Master's degree programs, including the highly sought-after MS in Computer Science, MS in Business Analytics, MS in Supply Chain Management, and MS in Health Informatics, will be promoted under this partnership.Commenting on this collaboration, Dr Anil Palla, Founder, UniversityHub said, "At the forefront of UniversityHub's mission is the unwavering commitment to student-centered education. We firmly believe in providing accessible and affordable, high-quality learning opportunities to students worldwide. In line with this vision, UHUB is delighted to offer an extraordinary 50 per cent scholarship to all Adelphi applicants who apply through our platform. This scholarship program is a testament to UHUB's dedication to empowering students and making education more attainable.""Furthermore, UniversityHub understands the financial challenges that students often face when pursuing their academic dreams. To alleviate this burden, UHUB has eliminated the requirement for an I20/enrollment deposit, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder students from accessing their desired educational programs. Recognizing the importance of a seamless application process, UHUB along with Adelphi has partnered with Span Tran, a renowned transcript evaluation service provider, to offer their services at a significantly discounted price. With a swift turnaround time of 2 to 4 days, students can have their transcripts evaluated efficiently, ensuring a smooth transition into Adelphi University's programs," added Dr Anil Palla.Moreover, UniversityHub believes in transparency and fairness when it comes to facilitating the application process. With this in mind, UHUB proudly declares that there are no processing fees imposed on applicants, eliminating any financial barriers that might deter prospective students from pursuing their educational aspirations. UniversityHub also recognizes the significance of language proficiency exams such as IELTS for international students. To assist students in their preparation, UHUB offers free IELTS preparation, equipping them with the necessary skills to excel in their language proficiency exams and successfully gain admission to Adelphi University.Through this exclusive partnership with Adelphi University, UniversityHub aims to create a supportive educational ecosystem where students can thrive academically, regardless of their financial circumstances. By offering scholarships, waiving deposits, providing discounted transcript evaluation services, and facilitating free IELTS preparation, UniversityHub is committed to fostering an inclusive and empowering environment for students to pursue their educational dreams. Together, UniversityHub and Adelphi University are opening doors to a brighter future for aspiring scholars.UniversityHub has the experience of helping 85000+ students achieve their dream of studying at various prestigious institutions across the United States of America. It is with this expertise and experience we simplified the admissions process for aspiring students. UniversityHub services are free and only aid students in the process of selecting the course and college of their interest. Based on the interests of the students and their abilities, certain suggestions are provided to help them make the right decision. From the selection of a university of interest to traveling to the US, to pursuing MS, getting a job, and even applying for Green Card, UniversityHub extends support all through. We also offer free training for IELTS examination, which will be beneficial to students from economically weaker sections.Nearly 40-50 per cent of students going to the US for higher studies do not complete the course they seek admission into first. This is because they would have selected a course with high tuition fees and ended up migrating to a different university to cut course costs. And many students, unfortunately, suffer in the latter stages due to these moves. Hence, it is important that students and their family members are fully aware of all facets of the admission process, the University/College they are seeking admission into, and other related aspects. The most important aspect while preparing for admissions is, students opt for well-recognized courses from reputed institutions. Seeking the right information and doing proper research is important, and UniversityHub helps make an informed decision.(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI15 June 2023

Shared Recently!
Around 16 million Afghan children require humanitarian aid: UNICEF

Kabul, June 15: The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, on Thursday, said that nearly 16 million children in Afghanistan need urgent humanitarian aid, warning of a children's crisis, Khaama Press reported.

Around 16 million Afghan children require humanitarian aid: UNICEF

"In a country with almost 16 million children in need of protection and humanitarian assistance, in a country in which way too many kids are burdened with responsibilities way beyond their age, in a country where the children's rights are eroded every day, having a space like this offers the kids a respite, a safe and secure space where the kids can rest, can relax, can play and can make friends," UNICEF representative in Afghanistan, Fran Equiza said.In a video message, he further stated that many children have become responsible way before their age of maturity. Children's rights are constantly being degraded in Afghanistan.He further stated that the children even don't have clean water to quench their thirst or blankets to sleep, according to Khaama Press.Equiza also pointed out that the condition of children in the country is disastrous, as some children are breadwinners for their families."Children as young as six are in dangerous conditions to help their parents put a little food on the table," he said.On the other hand, children are the most vulnerable section of society, including violence, early marriage and a huge responsibility."Too many live in fear of violence or early marriage. Too many are burdened by the weight of dual responsibility," he said. "Too many people have forgotten that Afghanistan is a children's crisis," Equiza added.The organization also reiterated that nearly 2.3 million children are expected to face acute malnutrition in 2023, according to Khaama Press.Since the Taliban's control of the country, following the sanction by the international community, the country has faced financial, acute humanitarian, and human rights crises.ANI15 June 2023

Shared Recently!
MANA acquires nine acres of prime land in Sarjapur, aims to develop premium and luxury living spaces

NewsVoir, Bengaluru, June 15: MANA, a renowned real estate firm headquartered in Bengaluru, has acquired a sprawling 9 acres of prime land in Sarjapur Road where it aims to come up with designing premium and luxurious living spaces that would be decidedly unequaled.

MANA acquires nine acres of prime land in Sarjapur, aims to develop premium and luxury living spaces

This strategic move aligns with the company's vision to broaden its horizons in East Bengaluru, where it has already established a commanding presence.With this latest acquisition, MANA is poised to create premium and luxurious residential properties in Sarjapur that embrace an eco-friendly lifestyle and exceed customer expectations, which is the cornerstone of the company's core values. The procurement of this expanse of land follows MANA's recent other land acquisitions. The goal is to strengthen its market position and meet the demands of its discerning clientele while delivering unparalleled value and fostering sustained growth.With a vision to expand its footprint in Bengaluru, MANA has set its sights on developing the most premium and luxurious apartments in the heart of the city, providing residents with a unique blend of sophistication, style, and living comfort. At the heart of the company's mission is a dedication to enhance the standard of living of its residents. To fulfill this goal, MANA places a strong emphasis on crafting nature-driven projects that nestle within expansive, sylvan landscapes. The upcoming Sarjapur apartments are set to boast an exquisite architectural design that seamlessly blends green living, proximity with nature, unrivaled comfort, supreme luxury, and unparalleled convenience.Over the past 23 years, MANA has gained wide acclaim for its tagline 'Live Brilliantly'. Speaking about the acquisition, Kishore Reddy, CMD and Founder, MANA, said, "We are excited to announce MANA's acquisition of nine acres of prime land in Sarjapur, which represents a significant milestone in our efforts to deliver exceptional living experiences to our customers. The project aims to retain the existing flora and fauna around the property and provide a unique living experience that builds a deep connection with nature. With this acquisition, we can serve our new customer base that is eagerly waiting for MANA properties in this region as it is an IT Hub. We are committed to leveraging our expertise in designing space with a high element of nature, and project management, to deliver world-class living spaces that meet the needs and aspirations of modern-day homebuyers."MANA is a cutting-edge real estate brand that has cemented its position as a pivotal force in the realm of property in Bengaluru and beyond. Its unwavering focus on superior quality and excellence has been instrumental in establishing its reputation as a leader in the real estate industry. Recently, MANA has made significant strides in its expansion and growth initiatives. The procurement of this expanse of land in Sarjapur follows MANA's other land acquisitions, reflecting the brand's uninterrupted north-bound course of business. Recently, MANA acquired 4.9 acres of premium land in Jakkur, leveraging advanced technologies and data-driven strategies to expand its reach further in North Bengaluru. The location of these luxurious apartments is strategically positioned to offer unparalleled convenience and accessibility, providing easy access to some of the city's leading employers and business centers, making it a top choice for tech-savvy young professionals looking to optimize their daily routine and pursue their personal passions.Apart from its strategic location, the new luxury apartments also boast of unparalleled design and top-of-the-line amenities. "We have spared no expense in ensuring that every aspect of these homes exudes luxury and sophistication," Kishore Reddy added.MANA, founded in 2000 by D. Kishore Reddy, has evolved over the past two decades to become a revolutionary force in the real estate market. Headquartered in Bengaluru, the company is expanding across business verticals, including property development and construction, with plans to expand its footprint to Hyderabad.With a commitment to green living, MANA has built a wealth of expertise in design, construction, and development, spanning across a spectrum of entry-level homes (through its brand, MACASA) to premium and luxury homes. The company's mission is to provide future-forward living that blends nature with dream spaces, using imagination to engineer homes for the next generation of homebuyers.MANA's tagline, 'Live Brilliantly', encapsulates the company's multidisciplinary approach to design, blending tomorrow's technologies with today's reality. With more than 8 million sq. ft developed to date, MANA consistently delivers innovative, high-quality homes that exceed customer expectations.(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI15 June 2023

Shared Recently!
Gabons First Agri SEZ Project flag off event by AOM Group in partnership with Centurion University- A Resounding Success

GLOBAL PR CONNECT (GPRC), New Delhi, June 15: AOM Group, a renowned multinational conglomerate committed to sustainable development, proudly announces the successful completion of the flag off event for Gabon's First Agri Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project.

Gabon's First Agri SEZ Project flag off event by AOM Group in partnership with Centurion University- A Resounding Success

Implemented in partnership with Centurion University, Odisha as the Knowledge and Technology Partner, the event marks a momentous milestone in Gabon's agricultural sector and reinforces the nation's dedication to economic diversification and knowledge exchange.The Flag Off Event, took place on 14th June, at Lodhi Hotel in New Delhi, which marked the official launch of Gabon's First Agri SEZ Project. The event commenced with an auspicious inauguration ceremony, featuring distinguished speakers who shed light on the project's objectives and the immense potential it holds for transforming Gabon's agricultural landscape. Some of the notable dignitaries included Dharmendra Pradhan Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Hugues Mbadinga Madiya Minister of Investment, Government of Gabon, MveEllah Charles Minister of Agriculture, Government of Gabon and MouguiamaDaouda Patrick Taofick Minister of Higher Education, Government of Gabon.Talking about the event, Minister of Education and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dharmendra Pradhan said, "I congratulate the AOM Group, Centurion University, and the Government of Gabon on the launch of Gabon's first Agri Special Economic Zone Project. I am confident that this endeavour will contribute to Gabon's journey towards self-sustainability, food security, and economic prosperity. Let us work together to empower the youth, foster entrepreneurship, and build a brighter future for Gabon and its people."The Agri SEZ project, a collaborative endeavour between AOM Group and Centurion University, Odisha, duly recognized as a Skills University and renowned for its knowledge and technology prowessaims to establish a state-of-the-art agribusiness hub in Gabon. By leveraging advanced knowledge and technology transfer, the project seeks to enhance productivity, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and foster economic growth in the region.The partnership with Centurion University, Odisha, as the Knowledge and Technology Partner, brings invaluable expertise and innovative solutions to the project. Centurion University's vast experience in the field of agriculture, coupled with its focus on sustainable development and community empowerment, ensures the Agri SEZ project's success and long-term impact.Prof. D N Rao, Vice President and Co-founder of Centurion University of Technology and Management, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating, "We are honoured to be selected as the Technology, Knowledge, and Agri Training Partner for Gabon's First Agri SEZ Project. This collaboration presents a unique opportunity to leverage our expertise in technology-enabled education and agribusiness training to contribute to the growth and development of the agricultural sector in Gabon. We look forward to working closely with AOM Group and other stakeholders to drive innovation, empower local communities, and create a sustainable future."The project is headed by Monalisha Ghosh, Associate Director - International Relationships and Government PartnershipsCenturion University of Technology and Management. She is in charge of the bilateral meeting and discussions between both the countries.Rajesh Parikh, Managing Director of AOM Group, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, saying, "We are delighted to have Centurion University as our Technology, Knowledge, and Agri Training Partner for this momentous event. Their proven track record in technology-driven education and agribusiness training will undoubtedly enhance the success of Gabon's First Agri SEZ Project. Together, we are confident in our ability to foster innovation, empower local farmers, and position Gabon as a leading hub for agricultural excellence."The flag off event marked the beginning of an exciting journey toward transforming Gabon's agricultural sector and building a prosperous and sustainable future. AOM Group and Centurion University, Odisha, remain committed to the project's successful implementation and look forward to collaborating with stakeholders to create a thriving agribusiness ecosystem in Gabon.Centurion University of Technology and Management is a renowned institution dedicated to providing quality education and promoting sustainable development through technology integration and skill enhancement. The university offers a range of programs focused on technology, agribusiness, and entrepreneurship, equipping students and stakeholders with the tools to create positive change in their communities.For this project, faculty members of Centurion University are already in Gabon for the past three months. You will be happy to know that in the 1st phase 30 farmers and 15 students from Gajapati district will be travelling together as agri-technical consultants to Gabon for the agriculture SEZ which is being developed under this project.Over next five years we will not only handhold the Gabonese famers and make them self-reliant and self-sustainable but also will generate livelihood by creating jobs in the sector of Smart and IoT based Agriculture for more than 5000 Oriya framers and students (majorly focusing on women employability) in different countries like Gabon, Togo, Tanzania, Muscat and Abu Dhabi. This event will be the signature event for our International Agri and related projects.AOM Group is a leading company focused on promoting agricultural development and innovation. Committed to transforming the agricultural sector, AOM Group works closely with various stakeholders to implement sustainable solutions, enhance productivity, and drive economic growth in the agricultural domain.We will be grateful if you can bless us with your presence anytime between 14th June and 15th June.(Disclaimer The above press release has been provided by GLOBAL PR CONNECT (GPRC). ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)ANI15 June 2023

Shared Recently!
Rajnath Singh pays tribute to Galwan heroes, says their bravery will inspire coming generations

New Delhi, June 15: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday paid homage to soldiers who lost their lives in the Galwan Valley clashes three years ago in 2020 and said their sacrifice will continue to inspire coming generations.

Rajnath Singh pays tribute to Galwan heroes, says their bravery will inspire coming generations

Taking to his official Twitter handle, Rajnath Singh wrote, "Today, we pay homage to those brave soldiers who made supreme sacrifice while protecting our nation in Galwan Valley. Their courage, bravery and sacrifice will continue to inspire coming generations".India lost 20 troops while causing heavy damage to the Chinese Army in the clashes.Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India does not get swayed by coercion, inducements and false narratives, however, he added that India and China must find a way to step back from potential confrontation in the western Himalayas.Following the clash with the Chinese troops in June 2020, Indian Army formations deployed near the Galwan Valley, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh, have undertaken a range of activities such as surveying border areas to stop a "possible" Chinese aggression, an officer of the Indian Army said."The fact is the relationship is impacted, and the relationship will continue to be impacted. If there is any expectation that somehow we will normalise while the border situation is not normal, that's not a well-founded expectation," he said.Explaining the Galwan clashes, Jaishankar said that the India-China position is "very complicated." He also said that normally, the army is not deployed at LOC but after 2020, it was changed and both sides have done "forward deployment.""We have to resolve this forward deployment issue," he added."These mechanisms continue to do the work because, at the end of the day, disengagement is a very detailed process... all of this would continue to happen," he said.On the third anniversary of the Galwan Valley clashes, top military officers deployed along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh held operational discussions to further strengthen the preparedness in the region."Commander Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen Rashim Bali and One Strike Corps Commander Lt Gen Sanjay Mitra along with other formations deployed there," Army sources said here.The meeting will discuss the preparedness of the force in the sector bordering China.The Northern Army Command is in charge of the Ladakh sector and has been provided with a new formation in the form of the One Strike Corps headquartered in Mathura which has its elements spread across the Northern parts of the country.The Indian and Chinese troops clashed at Galwan in 2020, the same year the pandemic started.In September 2022, the Indian troops and their counterparts in the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) completed the disengagement process in the Gogra Heights-Hot Springs area near Patrolling Point-15 in the eastern Ladakh sector, government sources had said.Delhi and Beijing reached an agreement in February 2021 to disengage from the 135-km Pangong Lake, creating buffer zones until all outstanding border issues are resolved, Sputnik, a Russian-based media agency reported earlier.Over 50,000 Indian soldiers had been stationed since 2020 at forward posts along the LAC, with advanced weapons to prevent any attempts to change the status quo unilaterally on the LAC.ANI15 June 2023

Shared Recently!
Defence ministry signs Rs 500 cr contract for communication system

New Delhi, June 15: In a further boost to indigenous manufacturing of defence equipment, the Ministry of Defence inked a contract on Thursday with ICOMM Tele Limited - Hyderabad for procurement of 1,035 numbers of '5/7.5 Ton Radio Relay Communication' equipment containers.

Defence ministry signs Rs 500 cr contract for communication system

The ministry in a release said the value of the contract is about Rs 500 crore. The delivery of the containers is scheduled to commence from the current financial year 2023-24 itself.The radio relay containers will address a long overdue requirement of mobile communication detachments of the Indian Army, the Ministry of Defence said."These containers will be utilized to provide a protected environment for communication equipment to function in a failsafe and reliable manner. The containers would be mounted on authorized specialist vehicles and moved as per operational requirements," the ministry's release said.The company ICOMM Tele Limited would produce the containers with all equipment and sub-systems sourced from indigenous manufacturers."This will give a further boost to the indigenous manufacturing of defence equipment and stimulate the private sector to actively engage in realizing the vision of Aatmnirbhar Bharat. The development of such state-of-the-art equipment will also help in boosting exports to friendly countries," the ministry added.ANI15 June 2023

Shared Recently!
Yogi govt devising new Pharmaceutical Industry Policy-2023 to make UP a pharma hub

Lucknow, June 15: In an effort to make Uttar Pradesh a hub of pharmaceutical products in the country, the Uttar Pradesh government is preparing the draft of the Pharmaceutical Industry Policy-2023, the state government's official said on Thursday.

Yogi govt devising new Pharmaceutical Industry Policy-2023 to make UP a pharma hub

The new policy will be valid for the next five years after its implementation.Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, at a recent meeting, discussed the important changes required in the Pharmaceutical Industry Policy 2018 to implement proposals received during the Uttar Pradesh Global Investors Summit to the ground.According to the Uttar Pradesh government, the Global Investors Summit-23 held in Lucknow attracted investment of Rs 28,402 crore from 212 companies in the pharmaceutical and medical equipment sector which will create 57000 new employment opportunities.GN Singh, the Chief Minister's Advisor, said, "The new policy aims to improve the state's pharmaceutical and medical device industry by encouraging local production, promoting research and development, and improving the availability of affordable medicines to citizens.""The upcoming policy will focus on creating a conducive environment for the development of the pharma sector in the state and providing subsidies, incentives and land to promote the pharmaceutical industry," he added.He further informed that the main objective of the policy is to create a strong ecosystem for research and development by setting up state-of-the-art facilities and collaborating with academic institutions."The new policy is being prepared to boost the local economy, focusing on the need for specialized technology, quality control system and specialized ecosystem for the pharmaceutical and medical device sector," he said.According to the policy, the Yogi government would provide a 50 per cent interest for a maximum of 7 years on the loan received from a bank for the purchase of land to establish the industry, which will not exceed Rs 1 crore per year. Pharma and Medical Device Park are receiving special focus.The goal of the policy is to identify plots and develop parks for bulk manufacturing of allopathic, AYUSH products, medical devices and key ingredients used in bulk drug manufacturing.ANI15 June 2023

Shared Recently!
Haryana govt forcibly giving solar pump connections to 20K farmers: Hooda

Chandigarh, June 15: Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda on Thursday said the state government is forcibly giving solar pump connections to 20,000 farmers who applied for 10 BHP electric tubewell connections.

Haryana govt forcibly giving solar pump connections to 20K farmers: Hooda

"Giving solar pumps has led to widespread anger among farmers as they are not effective in many areas. Farmers will remain deprived of irrigation, especially in winter. Not only this, the government has also imposed a condition on farmers to adopt micro-irrigation system in areas with groundwater below 30 metres, which is completely illegal," the Congress leader said."We, along with farmers, demand instead of imposing new rules on the farmers, they should be given options," he said.The Leader of Opposition said 40,000 farmers have deposited the entire amount for the connection with the government. "There are so many more farmers who have applied for the connection, but from the very first day, the government is making excuses."Hooda reminded the BJP-JJP government that during the Congress stint 1.74 lakh tubewell connections were given to farmers without any waiting period.He said the government has no moral right to talk about groundwater conservation as the government had closed the Dadupur Nalvi canal, spread across 125 villages of Yamunanagar, Ambala and Kurukshetra districts."Not only this the Congress during its tenure encouraged the farmers to do drip irrigation for groundwater conservation. To encourage them, they were given subsidy of up to 100 per cent on drip irrigation, but now the farmers are not getting the benefit of the scheme," he added.Hooda said the policies of the government have always been against the farmers and the common man and that is why the government "doesn't want to give any kind of relief to them"."The Congress government had waived the electricity bills of Rs 1,600 crore of the farmers and the common man. Along with this, farmers' loans of Rs 2,136 crore were waived off, but the present government has never given a single paisa relief to any section," he pointed out.IANS16 June 2023

Shared Recently!
HomeLane raises 75CR in bridge round

BusinessWire India, Bengaluru, June 15: HomeLane, a leading provider of personalized home interior solutions recently announced the successful completion of a bridge round, raising INR 75CR from its current investors.

HomeLane raises 75CR in bridge round

The funding will help accelerate HomeLane's growth trajectory and support its expansion plans. The bridge round reiterates the confidence of HomeLane's investors in the company's vision and also highlights its potential to become the first profitable company in the home interior space. HomeLane is on track to achieve profitability in FY24. The capital infusion significantly strengthens HomeLane's financial position, empowering the company to aggressively pursue growth opportunities in the 22 cities it has a presence across India. Additionally, the funding also enables the scale-up of HomeLane's recently launched affordable segment brand, Doowup, which has received a very positive response since its introduction. "We are absolutely stoked that our investors have reiterated their belief in HomeLane's vision," stated Srikanth Iyer, Co-Founder and CEO, and Tanuj Choudhry, Co-Founder and COO of HomeLane. "This bridge round represents an important milestone for HomeLane, providing us with the resources to further scale the delivery of exceptional home interior solutions to our customers. We are excited to enter this next phase of growth and expansion." Though the specific terms and conditions of the bridge round remain undisclosed, it is worth noting that the funding has been structured in a manner that aligns with HomeLane's long-term goals.(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)ANI16 June 2023

Shared Recently!
IndiGo plane suffers tail strike while landing at Ahmedabad airport, probe ordered

Ahmedabad, June 15: An IndiGo aircraft was grounded after encountering a tail strike during its landing at Ahmedabad Airport on Thursday, officials said.

IndiGo plane suffers tail strike while landing at Ahmedabad airport, probe ordered

This incident marks the second occurrence of tail strikes reported on IndiGo flights within a span of three days. No injuries were reported in both incidents."IndiGo flight 6E6595 operating from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad experienced a tail strike while landing in Ahmedabad. The aircraft was declared grounded at Ahmedabad airport for necessary assessment and repairs. The incident is under investigation by relevant authorities," the airline stated.IndiGo has ordered a detailed investigation into the matter. Recently another flight from Kolkata to Delhi experienced a similar tail strike while landing in Delhi.A tail strike occurs when the tail or empennage of an aircraft hits the ground or any other stationary object during take-off or landing.ANI16 June 2023

Shared Recently!
May use nuclear weapons only for defence: Russia Foreign Ministry

Moscow, June 15: Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry told a news briefing on Thursday that Russia's hypothetical use of nuclear weapons may happen exclusively and will be possible only for defensive purposes, reported TASS.

May use nuclear weapons only for defence: Russia Foreign Ministry

The hypothetical use of nuclear weapons by Russia comes after Ukrainian forces are claiming some success in their offensives in the south and east, while Russia said its troops repelled Ukrainian offensive operations in the Zaporizhzhia region.The Russian Foreign Ministry has claimed of using nuclear weapons in extraordinary circumstances like for defensive purposes, reported Russia's news agency.Zakharova said, "Russia's nuclear deterrence policy is strictly defensive. The hypothetical use of nuclear weapons is clearly limited by extraordinary circumstances within the framework of strictly defensive purposes."She also noted that Moscow was fully committed to the principle of the inadmissibility of nuclear war.Zakharova stressed, "There can be no winners in it. It must never be unleashed. We consistently call on all other parties to the joint statement of the leaders of the five nuclear states on the prevention of nuclear war and the inadmissibility of an arms race to adhere to these postulates."Meanwhile, a senior Ukrainian military commander has claimed that more than 100 square kilometres of territory have been regained in its counteroffensive against Russia, reported CNN.Ukraine's Brigadier-General Oleksii Hromov told a media briefing, "We are ready to continue fighting to liberate our territory even with our bare hands."Military officials also said that the Ukrainian army has moved forward by 3km (1.9 miles) near the village of Mala Tokmachka in the Zaporizhzhia region and by up to 7km (4.3 miles) near a village south of Velyka Novosilka in the Donetsk region, as per CNN.Moreover, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Denmark have joined hands to deliver "high priority" air defence equipment to Ukraine.In a joint statement, on Thursday, these nations announced that hundreds of short- and medium-range air defence missiles and associated systems would be delivered to Ukraine.The statement added that the delivery of the equipment has begun and "should be complete within several weeks."The help was declared before the meeting of the US-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels, Belgium, TASS reported.ANI16 June 2023

Shared Recently!
India-US partnership crucial for fostering peace in Indo-Pacific: Congressman ahead of PM Modis visit

Washington, June 15: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US, Congressman from Georgia, Drew Ferguson, has emphasised that the India-US ties are important for peace, prosperity and stability around the globe, especially in the Indo-Pacific region.

India-US partnership crucial for fostering peace in Indo-Pacific: Congressman ahead of PM Modi's visit

PM Modi is set to travel to the US on an official visit from June 21 to 25. He will be hosted by President Joe Biden at the White House.The Indian Embassy in the US released a video of Congressman Ferguson articulating his views on PM Modi's historic state visit."The India-US partnership is crucial for fostering peace, prosperity and stability around the globe, especially in the Indo-Pacific region -- Rep. Drew Ferguson," read a post on the official Twitter handle of the Indian embassy in the US."I wanted to take a moment to recognise Prime Minister Modi's upcoming visit to Washington, DC. The relationship between the United States and India is strategic and global. It's a partnership guided by strong political will on both sides. It's built on the shared values of democracy, freedom, and respect for the real with law," the Congressman said in his short video address.He added, "This partnership is crucial for fostering peace, prosperity and stability around the globe, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. In 2022, India celebrated 75 years of independence and marked the anniversary of the United States-India diplomatic relations."Ferguson stated further that the India-US partnership has made significant progress in the last few years and New Delhi continues to be a strategic trading partner for the latter."As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade policy, I look forward to continuing to work on growing this important global partnership. Thank you to Prime Minister Modi for your continued leadership, and I hope you have a productive visit," the Congressman stated in his video address.Top lawmakers in the United States had earlier invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the US Congress when he visits Washington DC on June 22, a rare opportunity granted only to the country's closest allies.Many political leaders in the US had earlier voiced their excitement around PM Modi's state visit while lauding the burgeoning bilateral ties between the two countries.US Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee said the US was looking forward to PM Modi's upcoming address to the Congress."The Congress will look forward to the state address that he will make in the United States Congress. That will be both houses of Congress. That's a very important position to be in. We will be attentive," Lee told ANI earlier.Dr Bharat Barai, a popular community leader and organiser of Prime Minister Modi's event at the Ronald Reagan Center, was effusive in his praise for the latter, calling him the "most popular public figure and leader in the world, not just in India"."PM Modi is the most popular public figure, and leader in the world, not just in India. The Prime Minister is extremely popular. He's perceived as a visionary leader for India who is working tirelessly for the growth of India," Barai said earlier.US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said Prime Minister Modi's upcoming visit to the US will serve as an opportunity to enhance the commercial and strategic technology partnerships between the two nations. She specifically mentioned sectors such as defence, semiconductors, and clean energy as areas of focus.PM Modi will be the first Indian premier to address a Joint Meeting of the US Congress twice.Globally, as a head of government, PM Modi is second only after Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to address a joint House of the US Congress more than once. The Israeli PM has done it thrice.House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries had earlier said in a message to PM Modi, "During your address, you will have the opportunity to share your vision for India's future and speak to the global challenges both our countries face."PM Modi will visit the US from June 22-25 at the invitation of President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.ANI16 June 2023

Shared Recently!
Over 1000 Delhi Govt students clear NEET, girls outshine boys

New Delhi, June 15: Over 1,000 students from Delhi government schools qualified for the medical entrance exam NEET-UG this year, the Delhi government official said on Thursday.

Over 1000 Delhi Govt students clear NEET, girls outshine boys

"1,074 students from Delhi Government Schools have successfully qualified the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET)," the official statement said.Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal shared a list of qualifying students from Delhi government schools in the past few years."Wow! More than 1000 students from Delhi Govt Schools qualify NEET. This could not even be imagined just a few years back; congrats to all students, parents, and teachers for their relentless efforts and dedication," Kejriwal said in his tweet.In the exam, girls outshone boys by a notable margin.Out of the 1,074 successful candidates, an impressive 695 were girls, while 379 were boys.One student, Piyush Jha from RPVV Paschim Vihar has secured a 100 per cent percentile in the exam and achieved an outstanding All India Rank (AIR) of 3 in the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category.The number of students qualifying NEET has shown a steady increase over the past few years, with 569 students qualifying in 2020, 496 in 2021, 648 in 2022, and an impressive 1,074 in 2023.Congratulating the students, Education Minister Atishi stated, "The Delhi Government under the leadership of CM Arvind Kejriwal remains committed to fostering a holistic educational ecosystem that nurtures the talents and aspirations of every student.""By focusing on quality education, innovative teaching methodologies, and comprehensive student support, the government aims to empower the youth of Delhi to realise their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society" she added.ANI16 June 2023

Shared Recently!
Cyclone Biparjoy: 22 injured, 940 villages plunge into darkness as storm makes landfall in Gujarat

Gandhinagar, June 16: At least 22 people were injured, while electric poles and trees were uprooted as 'very severe' cyclonic storm Biparjoy made landfall in Gujarat's coastal areas on Thursday evening, officials said.

Cyclone Biparjoy: 22 injured, 940 villages plunge into darkness as storm makes landfall in Gujarat

In addition to this, 23 animals have also been killed and heavy rains coupled with gusty winds brought down over 524 trees and electric poles at various places in Gujarat, snapping the supply of power to around 940 villages, they said.As the storm's landfall process started, gusty winds at over 120 kmph and heavy rains lashed the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts of the state.Officials said that several relief and rescue teams are on alert as tens of thousands of people were evacuated to safe locations in Gujarat."Around 22 people have been injured due to the storm. So far, there is no news of anyone's death. 23 animals have been killed, 524 trees have fallen, and electric poles have also fallen in some places due to which there is no electricity in 940 villages," Alok Singh, Relief Commissioner of Gujarat, said.As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the landfall is expected to continue for a few hours as the storm's eye (which is around 50 km in diameter) will cross into the land.IMD officials said that Cyclone Biparjoy is moving ahead of Saurashtra and Kutch region as a very severe cyclone."Cyclone Warning for Saurashtra and Kutch Coasts RED MESSAGE. VSCS BIPARJOY at 2230IST near lat 23.25N and long 68.5E, close to Saurashtra and Kutch Coasts, 10km west of Jakhau Port (Gujarat), 120km NNW of Devbhumi Dwarka. LANDFALL PROCESS IS CONTINUING," IMD tweeted.Cyclone Biparjoy, which had been brewing over the Arabian Sea for several days, has made landfall on Gujarat's coastal area and has also affected the train services. Due to this, around 99 trains running through, originating or terminating in Biparjoy-affected areas of Gujarat, will remain cancelled or short-terminated, Western Railway said."The landfall process of extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Biparjoy' has begun and it will continue till Thursday midnight," a senior weather scientist at India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.After cyclone Biparjoy made landfall on Gujarat's coastal area on Thursday, trees were uprooted and hoardings fell in Dwarka, as strong winds hit the district.Earlier in the day, IMD had said that Cyclone Biparjoy is moving ahead of Saurashtra Kutch as a very severe cyclone."Till 11, its centre will come towards the land. The tidal waves will slowly decrease in the next 3 to 6 hours. On the 16th, heavy to very heavy rainfall activity may occur," IMD said.Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel chaired a review meeting at the State Emergency Operation Center in Gandhinagar on Thursday morning.Earlier on Wednesday, the IMD issued a Red alert for the Saurashtra and Kutch coasts, saying that VSCS (Very Severe Cyclonic Storm) 'Biparjoy' will cross Saurashtra and Kutch and adjoining Pakistan coasts, between Mandvi and Karachi near Jakhau Port, by Thursday evening.Warnings about extensive damage to temporary housing structures and falling of trees and branches due to high-speed winds, high tides and heavy rainfall have already been issued by India Meteorological Department.ANI16 June 2023

Shared Recently!
US, India united through shared democratic values: Ohio Senator ahead of PM Modis visit

Washington D.C., June 16: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the United States, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown said that the two nations are united through shared democratic values. He said that the US looks forward to finding all kinds of ways to strengthen its relationship with India.

US, India united through shared democratic values: Ohio Senator ahead of PM Modi's visit

In a video posted by Indian Embassy in the US, Sherrod Brown said, "Prime Minister Modi, welcome to the United States of America. Ohio has a strong Indian American community virtually everywhere in our state. Business owners, entrepreneurs, educators, students, doctors, workers, advocates, and leaders in the community. Indian Americans serve our nation honourably in the military. They're part of the fabric of our state."While sharing the video on Twitter, Indian Embassy in the US wrote, "We look forward to find all kinds of ways to strengthen relations between our two countries. Enjoy your visit to the #UnitedStates, PM @NarendraModi!' Appreciate your message of welcome, Senator @SherrodBrown!!"PM Narendra Modi is set to travel to the US for a state visit from June 21-24. During his visit, he will address the joint meeting of the US Congress for the second time. PM Modi recently said he is honoured to accept the invitation and looks forward to addressing a joint meeting of the US Congress on June 22.In a video message, Sherrod Brown noted that Cleveland is the only city in the world with a statue of Mahatma Gandhi on a street named for Martin Luther King Jr. He called India's democracy the "largest.""I go to work for these Ohioans every day, just as I know you do for the Indian people. Our countries are united through our shared democratic values. Ours is the oldest, yours is the largest. We look forward to looking to finding all kinds of ways to strengthen relations between our two countries. Enjoy your visit to the United States," Sherrod Brown said.On June 22, more than 7000 Indian Americans are planning to be on the South Lawns of the White House when President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcome the PM amidst a 21-gun salute. The White House will close the registration shortly for those attending the welcome ceremony.A group of Indian Americans are planning to go to Andrews Air Force Base when the Prime Minister's Air India One lands on June 21 afternoon from New York and over 600 community members are planning to gather at Freedom Plaza in front of the Willard Intercontinental in Washington located near the White House where the PM will be staying during his visit.At the Freedom Plaza, the community has planned to showcase the cultural fabric of India through cultural events representing India spanning from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and from West to East, Adapa Prasad, President of Overseas Friends of BJP-USA, told ANI."It is India's diverse cultural show and growth story. We have roughly 25 programs representing Kashmir to Kerala and Maharashtra to the northeast with 160 artists participating," Prasad said."The Indian American community feels that they are part of this historic story. They're proud that this momentous occasion is happening. That too when India became the fifth largest economy and the third largest, so the community itself is very proud about their country of origin," Prasad further noted.ANI16 June 2023

Shared Recently!
DMCC sees 24pc yearly increase in Chinese businesses

Dubai, June 15: Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) has announced a major 24 per cent year-to-date increase in the number of Chinese companies setting up in its free zone. The announcement comes as DMCC concludes a series of roadshows in China that took place in the commercial and trade hubs of Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing.

DMCC sees 24pc yearly increase in Chinese businesses

This was the first physical DMCC roadshow held in China after three years, during which DMCC showcased Dubai's thriving business environment and how DMCC acts as a central platform and business district of choice for Chinese companies to expand in Dubai and internationally.As part of the roadshow, DMCC signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (LGSAC).The MoU will see both entities cooperate in areas such as innovation, commerce, logistics and trade. The agreement will allow both parties to establish and explore dedicated services for companies in Dubai and Shanghai, streamlining the requirements and processes for companies looking to setup in both regions.The roadshows in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing saw DMCC executives briefing over 600 business leaders across various sectors on the benefits of doing business in Dubai through DMCC, one of the most well-connected business districts in the world. Earlier in the year, DMCC hosted over 200 Chinese business leaders in a dedicated China Business Day to celebrate growing economic relations and further strengthen ties between both nations.Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC, added, "With over 770 Chinese companies in our free zone, a figure which is growing all the time, China is one of the most strategically important markets for DMCC. We are delighted to be back in China at such a vibrant and exciting time for our countries where bilateral trade outside of oil last year grew to over USD72 billion. This MoU with LGSAC is the latest statement of intent as we aim to further the ease of doing business for greater trade flows and mutual economic prosperity."Zhao Yihuai, deputy director of Lin-gang Special Area of China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, said, "We consider the UAE as a valuable trade and commercial partner, with Dubai playing a significant role as an enabler of international trade. Our partnership with DMCC comes at a strategic time when the leadership in China and the UAE have set a target to increase bilateral trade to USD200 billion by 2030. We are confident this agreement will further strengthen the ties between the two nations by granting businesses improved access to both markets."DMCC has made it a priority to attract Chinese businesses to Dubai by creating a customised ecosystem, including the Yingtian Chinese Business Centre DMCC and a Mandarin version of its website. To further assist Chinese companies, DMCC opened a China Service Centre in Almas Tower with Mandarin onboarding support across all client touchpoints. In 2020, DMCC opened a representative office in Shenzhen to facilitate the setup process for Chinese businesses. (ANI/WAM)ANI16 June 2023

Shared Recently!
Coordinated multi-lateral actions crucial to address growing menace of antimicrobial resistance in India: Health secretary

New Delhi, June 15: Union Health Secretary on Thursday said that coordinated multi-lateral actions will be needed to address the growing menace of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the country.

Coordinated multi-lateral actions crucial to address growing menace of antimicrobial resistance in India: Health secretary

"AMR cannot be tackled in a linear and singular manner. As the issues and action points are multi-agency across the government and non-government sectors, the action plan to address it requires the joint efforts of all stakeholders through a unified mission mode approach," Rajesh Bhushan said.He further urged the partner ministries and departments to work in a convergent mode with the whole of government approach to bring together the expertise and domain knowledge for a comprehensive action plan with key performance indicators that can be periodically monitored."Representatives from the partner ministries and departments also presented the steps taken by them towards prevention and control of AMR," the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said.The status of the implementation of the National Action Plan was discussed in the Inter-Sectoral Coordination Committee on Anti-Microbial Resistance chaired by Rajesh Bhushan in New Delhi.The Inter-sectoral Coordination Committee on AMR (ISCC-AMR) is a high-level committee chaired by the health secretary with active participation from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR); Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries; Department of Biotechnology; CSIR; CDSCO; FSSAI; AYUSH; NMC; DGHS; Ministry of Food Processing Industries; and Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change.Lav Agarwal, additional secretary, of the health ministry said the Centre has identified anti-microbial resistance as a key priority in its National Health Policy, 2017, and India's National Action Plan for Containment of AMR (NAP-AMR) was released in April 2017.The Delhi Declaration on AMR, an inter-ministerial consensus, was signed at the launch of NAP-AMR by the ministries concerned pledging their whole-hearted support in AMR containment.AMR is also one of the three key priorities of India's G20 Health Working Group, reflecting its importance at the global level.The strategic objectives of NAP-AMR include enhancing awareness and understanding among people through communication and IEC activities.It also entails increasing knowledge and evidence through enhanced surveillance of AMR in humans, animals and the environment through the National AMR Surveillance Network (NARS-Net) and state surveillance networks.The third strategic objective is infection prevention and control, the ministry said.Towards this, National Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control in healthcare facilities were issued in January 2020. Anti-microbial stewardship constitutes the fourth strategic objective of NAP-AMR.The fifth objective is bringing innovative research and development in new medicines and technologies, while national, sub-national and international collaborations constitute the sixth and final strategic objective of NAP-AMR.The meeting also discussed the ongoing initiatives, including an Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) unit being established at NCDC to draft the National IPC programme and linkages with IPC under other vertical health programmes, the need for developing a digital platform to collect and collate national and state level data on antimicrobial consumption and duly converging human, animal, environment and food sector, focus on the creation of state-specific action plans on AMR, and involvement of research agencies to develop an integrated research agenda on AMR.It was decided that based on the learnings from the implementation of the ongoing NAP-AMR, the health ministry will prepare the National Action Plan on AMR 2.0, duly converging ongoing initiatives under different ministries so that concerted efforts towards control of AMR could be strengthened.ANI16 June 2023

Shared Recently!
Jammu: Lt Governor makes surprise check of shelter home for urban homeless

Jammu, June 16: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday arrived for a surprise inspection at a shelter home for the urban homeless at Boria Basti, Bahu Fort, Jammu.

Jammu: Lt Governor makes surprise check of shelter home for urban homeless

The Lt Governor reviewed facilities being provided to the dwellers while also listening to their grievances during an interaction.He directed the officials to ensure round-the-clock availability of all basic amenities, sufficient water supply, proper sanitation and cleanliness in the premises.The shelter home is being run by Jammu Municipal Corporation, through an NGO, Jagriti Mahila Udyog Kendra.The Lt Governor was accompanied by senior civil and police officials during his visit.ANI16 June 2023

Shared Recently!
UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy visits Argentina as part of Latin America, Caribbean tour

Buenos Aires, June 16: Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, led a senior UAE delegation to the Argentine Republic on 12 June 2023 aimed at enhancing ties between the two nations across various fields.

UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy visits Argentina as part of Latin America, Caribbean tour

The UAE delegation was welcomed by Santiago Cafiero, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Worship of Argentina. During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to strengthen economic exchange and foster cooperation in key sectors such as food security, renewable energy, and technology.Highlighting the importance of economic ties, the UAE-Argentina Business Forum was held, providing a platform for UAE companies, such as Mubadala and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), to explore business opportunities and forge new partnerships with companies in Argentina. Al Hashemy delivered opening remarks in which she emphasized the potential for mutual growth and investment between the two countries.The delegation also discussed with Fabiola Yanez, the First Lady of Argentina, the UAE's humanitarian efforts in Latin America. They also discussed the impact of climate change on the most vulnerable of the society and ways in which both the UAE and Argentina could partner together to address global challenges, in specific, those pertaining to the empowerment of young people.Al Hashemy attended a meeting hosted by Anahi Costa, President of the UAE-Argentine Parliamentary Friendship Committee. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the bilateral relationship, including on the parliamentary level.Furthermore, Al Hashemy participated in a panel discussion at the National Foreign Service Institute of Argentina, addressing diplomats and scholars, to discuss the UAE's foreign policy based on building bridges of dialogue and cooperation.Al Hashemy also met HE Cecilia Nicolini, State Secretary of Climate Change, Sustainable Development and Innovation, to highlight the UAE's commitment to sustainability and renewable energy.The minister further discussed the UAE Presidency of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) that will be hosted at Expo City Dubai in November. Recognizing the need for collective action on climate change, both officials explored ways to strengthen bilateral Cooperation in the field of sustainability both bilaterally and multilaterally.Al Hashemy also met with Cristina de Kirchner, the Vice President of Argentina and the President of the Senate who recalled with great fondness her state visit to the UAE in 2013.During the visit, the UAE and Argentina signed three Memorandums of Understanding a MoU on technical cooperation, an MoU in the field of food security, and a framework agreement for cooperation in the field of banknotes. (ANI/WAM)ANI16 June 2023

Shared Recently!
Karisma shares throwback picture with Kareena, fans want to know who Bebo was stalking

Mumbai, June 15: Actor Karisma Kapoor took to Instagram to share a throwback photo with her sister and actor Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Karisma shares throwback picture with Kareena, fans want to know who Bebo was stalking

On Thursday, Karisma raised the temperature with a bikini photo, capturing the attention of netizens on social media. She wrote, "Pouting while the sister is Scrolling. #rolereversal #throwback #sistersquad."In the photo, Karisma Kapoor can be seen taking a selfie on a beach. She wore a blue bikini with black sunglasses. Kareena can be seen lying on a swing while scrolling on her phone.Karisma's post tickled fans' curiosity in no time."Behind this girl zooming his crush photo", one of the users wrote.Another fan commented, " She zooming in.""Haha just sibling things!", a social media asked.Recently, Karisma dropped a video with Madhuri and captioned it, "Dance of Envy Friendship."In the video, Karisma and Madhuri can be seen grooving to Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone's 'Balam Pichkari' from the film 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani'.Meanwhile, on the work front, Karisma will be next seen in an upcoming series 'Brown'. Helmed by Abhinay Deo of 'Delhi Belly' fame, 'Brown' is based on Rita Brown, a suicidal alcoholic, and Arjun Sinha, a widower with survivor's guilt. The protagonists need to deal with an unstoppable serial killer on the loose. Apart from that, she also has director Homi Adajania's next 'Murder Mubarak' alongside Sara Ali Khan.On the other hand, Kareena will share the screen with Tabu, Kriti Sanon, and Diljit Dosanjh in the film 'The Crew'. The shoot of the film commenced last week.Helmed by Rajesh Krishnan, the film is a story of three women. It is touted as a laugh-riot, set against the backdrop of the struggling airline industry. However, their destinies lead to unwarranted situations and they get caught in a web of lies. She also has Sujoy Ghosh's next thriller film which is based on the book The Devotion Of Suspect X. It also stars Vijay Varma and Jaideep Ahlawat.ANI16 June 2023

Shared Recently!
Movate expands its delivery footprint; launches a new state-of-the-art facility in Colombia

BusinessWire India, Barranquilla [Colombia]/ Bangalore, June 16: Movate (formerly CSS Corp), a digital technology and customer experience (CX) services provider, announced the opening of a new global delivery center at Alkarawi Plaza Centro Commercial, Barranquilla, Colombia.

Movate expands its delivery footprint; launches a new state-of-the-art facility in Colombia

The center will help strengthen its presence in Colombia and leverage highly skilled local talent with multilingual capabilities to deliver high-tech and high-touch services in digital customer experience management, enterprise product support, and digital infrastructure services.The new state-of-the-art facility, located north of Barranquilla, is a 400-seat workspace spread over 25,000 square feet. It will open new doors for Movate's global customers to benefit from the operational and technical capabilities available in the region in languages like English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. The nearshore center will also offer deep local insights and time zone advantages to the company's growing roster of customers globally, especially in the USA.Movate started its operations in Colombia in late 2021 in a work-from-home model to provide multilingual support for its first client, Ingenico, a global leader in payment services. Today, it has almost 200 employees here working in a hybrid model. With the addition of new client portfolios and the opening of a new delivery facility, Movate plans to employ an additional 300 professionals in the next one year.Sunil Mittal, CEO, Movate, said, "Post the launch of our operations in Colombia in 2021, we have seen Barranquilla emerge as a strong delivery hub with outstanding multilingual service delivery capabilities that drive robust business impact for our global customers, especially in the cybersecurity, networking and fintech arena. We are thrilled to launch this new world-class facility in Barranquilla which further strengthens our ability to continue to deliver innovation and transformation with greater operational efficiencies. It also reflects our commitment to continue to provide significant opportunities for skilled local talent and contribute to the country's economic development. We are thankful to the Colombian government and the local educational institutions for their support and look forward to continuing the collaboration as we scale our operations in the region."Alfredo Carbonel, Mayor-in-charge of Barranquilla, said, "The hiring of professionals by companies like Movate helps in the upliftment of lifestyles for the individuals as well as their families. We are working hard to attract foreign investment so that more organizations can set up their facilities, tap into the bilingual human talent that's available in the Barranquilla region and generate more employment opportunities."Jayagopi Andhoor, Senior Vice President and LATAM Head, said, "Barranquilla has grown at a rapid pace, and is one of the most prominent nearshore locations to deliver technology and customer experience services today. With a high growth rate, favorable business climate, a strong pool of highly skilled talent, and government-backed initiatives like "Barranquilla Bilingual," this is a perfect location for doing business with ease. Our new delivery center will also offer French and Portuguese support in addition to Spanish and English."Movate inaugurated this new delivery center in the graceful presence of the mayor-in-charge of Barranquilla, distinguished industry leaders, government officials, prominent figures from the business, and the media.(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)ANI16 June 2023

Shared Recently!
No merit in hue and cry by academicians regarding NCERT textbooks revision: UGC chairman

New Delhi, June 16: The chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar came out in support of the latest textbooks rationalisation by the NCERT.

No merit in hue and cry by academicians regarding NCERT textbooks revision: UGC chairman

Taking to Twitter, he wrote NCERT has been revising textbooks from time to time in the past too and protests by some of the "academicians" were unwarranted.According to him, there was no merit in the "hue and cry of these academicians". The objective behind protests seems to be other than academic reasons, he added."In the recent past, the attacks by some "academicians" on NCERT for revising the textbooks are unwarranted. The current textbook modifications are not the only ones carried out. NCERT has been revising textbooks from time to time in the past too," UGC Chairman tweeted.National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) recently dropped the full chapter on Periodic Classification of Elements, a full chapter on Democracy and Diversity, a full chapter on Challenges to Democracy, and a full page on Political Parties from the newly released textbooks of Class 10 students.NCERT, according to him, is fully justified in carrying out the rationalization of its textbook contents.NCERT stated that the revision of textbooks was based on suggestions and feedback from various stakeholders."NCERT has also confirmed that it is developing a new set of textbooks based on the recently launched National Curriculum Framework for School Education and that current textbooks in which the contents have been rationalized to reduce the academic load are only a temporary phase," he tweeted.Amid the row over the removal of certain portions of syllabi by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), as part of its exercise to reduce the content load among students, dozens of academicians have registered their protest.ANI16 June 2023

Shared Recently!
Universal donor stem cell therapy to help treat degenerative brain diseases

New York, June 16: US scientists have developed universal donor stem cells that could one day provide lifesaving therapy to children with lethal brain conditions, such as Canavan disease, as well as to people with other degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis.

Universal donor stem cell therapy to help treat degenerative brain diseases

The team at Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope in California used a technique that allowed engineered hypoimmunogenic cells from a healthy donor to be transplanted into a humanised disease model without activating the immune system to kill the foreign therapeutic."The off-the-shelf approach can easily be extended to improve the quality of life of cancer patients who are experiencing cognitive impairment or impaired motor function as a side effect of chemotherapy or radiation," said Yanhong Shi, chair of the Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Professor in Neuroscience at the Institute.This is the first time stem cells have been engineered to become universal donors for cell therapy targeting diseases of the central nervousAsystem, said Shi who has been working on this research for 12 years.This "off-the-shelf" approach can provide patients who need cell therapy with lifesaving treatments three to six months earlier.In the study, recently published in the journal Advanced Science, the researchers engineered healthy human skin cells containing the functional aspartoacylase (ASPA) gene into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and then differentiated the iPSCs into oligodendroglial progenitor cells, the precursor cells that produce myelin, an insulating sheath that wraps around nerve fibres.Like a bullet train, myelin sheaths facilitate the light-speed transport of information along neuronal axons.The treated Canavan disease animal models exhibited increased ASPA activity compared to the control mice and had a reduction in the toxic accumulation of the metabolite N-acetyl-L-aspartate (NAA) in the brain.Too much NAA has been linked to impaired motor function, mental deficiencies and premature death.As a result, the treated mice exhibited increased myelination and vastly improved motor function. Importantly, the universal donor cells were able to evade immune attack from the recipient mice.IANS16 June 2023

Shared Recently!
PM Modi to visit US, Egypt from June 20-20

New Delhi, June 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a visit to the US and Egypt from June 20 to 25.

PM Modi to visit US, Egypt from June 20-20

Modi's state visit to the US is at the invitation of President Joseph Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.The visit will commence in New York, where Modi will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the UN headquarters on June 21.In December 2014, the UN General Assembly had adopted a resolution proclaiming June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.Modi will thereafter travel to Washington D.C., where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22, and meet President Biden to continue their high-level dialogue, according to a statement issued by the external affairs ministry said.The Bidens will host a state dinner in honour of the Prime Minister the same evening.At the invitation of Congressional leaders, including the Republican House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Democratic Senate Speaker Charles Schumer, Modi will address a joint sitting of the US Congress on June 22.The next day, the Prime Minister will be hosted at a luncheon jointly by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.In addition to the official engagements, Modi is scheduled to have several curated interactions with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders.He will also meet members of the Indian diaspora.After wrapping up the US trip, the Prime Minister will then head to Egypt for a state visit from June 24-25.The visit is at invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which he extended to Modi in January 2023 when he had graced the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest.This will be Modi's first visit to Egypt.Apart from his talks with President Sisi, the Prime Minister is likely to interact with senior dignitaries from the Egyptian government, some prominent personalities, as well as the Indian community in the African nation.Relations between India and Egypt are based on ancient trade and economic linkages as well as cultural and deep-rooted people-to-people ties, according to the External Affairs Ministry statement.During the state visit of President Sisi in January, it was agreed to elevate the relationship to a 'strategic partnership'.IANS16 June 2023

Shared Recently!
Aus state deploys new tech to reduce powerline-ignited bushfires

Melbourne, June 16: The government of Australia's Victoria state announced on Friday that 44 cutting-edge Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiters (REFCLs) will be ready before summer to reduce the risk of bushfires caused by powerlines.

Aus state deploys new tech to reduce powerline-ignited bushfires

"The final REFCL, in the Australian Energy Regulator-approved A$682 million ($469 million) program, will be complete ahead of summer 2023," the Victoria government noted in a statement.According to the statement, a REFCL is a giant "safety switch" that can shut off power and significantly limits the energy flow when the powerline comes into contact with vegetation, reports Xinhua news agency.During the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires, some REFCLs were activated 57 times on total fire ban days, of which 33 were triggered by faults that could have led to catastrophic bushfires.The state government noted that the utilization of REFCL for bushfire prevention is one of the world's first practices and the technology has been put to test in some fire-prone parts of the US.The Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiter technology is proven technology and will increase public safety and power reliability while driving Victorian and international innovation in powerline fault mitigation, said Lily D'Ambrosio, Victoria's minister for energy and resources."We live in one of the most bushfire-prone regions of the world and we know climate change is driving greater bushfire risk - investment in REFCL technology will reduce bushfire risk and keep communities safe," D'Ambrosio added.IANS16 June 2023

Shared Recently!
We are repealing those provisions..., G Parameshwara on repeal of anti-Conversion Bill

Bengaluru, June 16: Defending his government's decision on revoking the anti-conversion law brought in by the previous Bommai-led BJP government, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday said that the previous government had brought an amendment to that effect which is against the provision of the Constitution.

We are repealing those provisions..., G Parameshwara on repeal of anti-Conversion Bill

"What we are doing now is repealing those provisions...We will repeal it by amending those provisions," he told reporters in Bengaluru."...The previous Government (BJP) brought an amendment to that effect which is against the provision of the Constitution," G Parameshwara said.Former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday slammed the Siddaramaiah government over its decision to repeal the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2022, (popularly called the anti-conversion Bill) and said that the Congress government is jeopardizing the interests of the people of the state.This comes after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamiah on Thursday decided to repeal the Anti-Conversion law.Bommai said that it seems like the Karnataka CM who is ruling the state at the mercy of the high command is jeopardizing the interest of the people in favour of the high command."Who does the Government think it is appeasing by deciding to repeal the Anti-Conversion Bill that has been plaguing our society? It seems that Siddaramaiah, who is ruling the state at the mercy of the high command, is jeopardizing the interests of the people of the state in favour of the high command," Bommai said in his tweet on Thursday."Ever since the Congress government came to power in the state, it has been resorting to politics of hatred and appeasement, and it is acting as if just cancelling the decisions of the previous government is only its achievement," Bommai attacked Congress govt in another tweet on Thursday.ANI16 June 2023

Shared Recently!
Ali Fazals entry shot for Kandahar was one of his most difficult scenes

Mumbai, June 16: The Gerard Butler and Ali Fazal starrer Hollywood action-spy thriller movie, 'Kandahar' has various action sequences featuring a lot of elaborate stunt work. Ali had many stunt scenes and one of these stunts turned out to be a very difficult one, which surprisingly was his opening shot.

Ali Fazal's entry shot for 'Kandahar' was one of his 'most difficult scenes'

Explaining the shooting of the stunt, Ali Fazal said "So while shooting Kandahar I remember shooting one of the most difficult scenes and I suppose the most iconic shot for me was my entry. A very cool chopper flying over a seabed. And just before it lands I open the door and I have to jump out, get into a running van. And we scoot off. And then the van goes into the valley, I get on a bike. The van stops and the back door is opened and the bike is there and then I have to ride off on the bike. But the declining railing, I had to get off while taking a turn on off a moving bike on the sand and then rush off in the opposite direction."He further mentioned "And that was probably one of the hardest shots I'd been part of in the film. Because it was all so back to back, keeping a straight path on a moving bike on sand was the toughest because I was constantly trying to maneuver, but trying to keep my balance and keep the bike steady because the sand is like in waves. So these things were really cool. On the big screen it just looks beautiful and I'm happy with the way it turned out."A major Hollywood production made on an estimated budget of $70 million, the film stars Gerard Butler, Travis Fimmel, Ali Fazal, Tom Rhye Harries, Farhad Bageri, Olivia-Mai Barret and Navid Nagahban.The movie is directed by Ric Roman Waugh and released on May 26, 2023 receiving mixed reviews. Ali Fazal played the character of the villainous Pakistani agent and Taliban ally Kahil Nasil in the movie.IANS17 June 2023

Shared Recently!
By "welcoming" African leaders in Kyiv with missile attacks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown his real intentions to seek peace, European Commission Lead Spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy Peter Stano has said, commenting on the visit of African leaders to the capital of Ukraine, which was subjected to yet another missile attacks by ruschists.

African leaders will not only visit Moscow this weekend, they are staying in Kyiv now. And they were greeted in a very special way  with more missile attacks from Putin, he said. He said that this will help them realize very clearly who the aggressor is, how he is behaving and what are his real intentions, he said in Brussels on Friday, commenting on the visit of African leaders to the capital of Ukraine, which was a target for another missile attack from Russia.

Stano reminded that the EU commends any significant efforts aimed at achieving peace. No one wants peace more than Ukrainians and Europeans. But for this to happen, one need to talk to the victims of aggression, he said. Therefore, it is very good that African leaders are now in Kyiv, one year and four months after the full-scale invasion. It is very good to hear and see from first-hand position, perspective and experience of the victims. As he said, Putin prepared (for African leaders) a very similar greeting, similar to those he made many times before during foreign visits to Kyiv. For example, in April 2022, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres arrived to Kyiv, and again Kyiv was under fire from missiles and drones sent by the Kremlin. Peace can come immediately when Putin stops terrorizing the Ukrainian people and withdraws his troops who kill, torture and loot from Ukrainian territory, the European Commission representative said, explaining his position.

He reiterated that the EU sincerely hopes that African leaders are aware of this and that they will see it. Once again, the EU applauds all efforts that are sincerely aimed at achieving peace. But again, what happened today and it is very clear also to African leaders in terms of how truthful Putin is to stop the war, and how he regards all international efforts to stop this war, Stano said.
Father's Day, Juneteenth and Dobbs Decision Coincide for Transformation by Dr. Alveda King

Please click here to view this press release with images



NEWS PROVIDED BY

Alveda King Ministries

June 16, 2023



WASHINGTON, June 16, 2023 /Standard Newswire/ -- The following is submitted by Dr. Alveda King, she is available for comment:

It's no coincidence that the anniversaries of Father's Day, Juneteenth and the overturn of Roe v Wade coincide in the month of June. When peripherals collide, convergence is imminent.



Admittedly America and indeed the world seem to be teetering on the brink of disaster in the midst of a June-filled season of anniversaries. Meanwhile, there is a cry of repentance sweeping America and the globe. Indeed, as my AFPI colleague Jack Brewer points out, there is truly an awakening to a fatherhood crisis in America.



On the wings of awareness there are solutions stirred by prayers of repentance. Having been raised by God-fearing patriarchs and matriarchs, I can't say enough about the importance of honoring our parents; Fathers in particular during this season.



On the heels of Father's Day this year, Juneteenth is celebrated. Officially, Juneteenth National Independence Day is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Deriving its name from combining June and nineteenth, it is celebrated on the anniversary of the order, issued by Major General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for slaves in Texas; eighteen months after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. In Bible terms, Juneteenth is closely aligned with Jubilee, a form of repentance, healing and restoration sorely needed in these times.



Gratefully, just days after Father's Day and Juneteenth, America will bear witness to the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade and held that there is no constitutional right to abortion. Sadly, and not surprisingly, some continue to respond with an apocalyptic tone. Fearful, false and alarmist claims of fascism, a war on women, and systematic inequality due to the Supreme Court's decision still attempt to lead to dozens of violent attacks on pro-life groups across the country.



As it turns out, the anti-life propaganda is false. Thankfully there is a solution to calm the storm. Speak truth to power in a united voice of agape love.



Dobbs didn't lead to a catastrophe for women's rights across the country at all; instead, it merely returned the contentious issue of abortion to the states, where the people could debate the merits of the issue for themselves and elected representatives to reflect their beliefs.



Members of the true pro-woman movement know that the life issue doesn't stop at restricting abortion. Therefore, our goal is to reduce the number of women seeking abortions; and make abortion unthinkable. Moving forward, our work must be to provide unconditional love and support for all parties involved in the abortion debate: the unborn baby, the mother, and yes, the father.



That's why investment in opportunities such as foster care, adoption, maternal healthcare, and resources for mothers facing unwanted pregnancy is so essential in the days ahead. Thank God, we have tens of thousandsif not hundreds of thousandsof new lives which will be saved every year going forward. Like they are doing at Auntie Angie's House, many also need to be prepared to step up and meet the needs of so many new mothers.



Now, a year after the Dobbs decision, we can celebrate the most significant win for life in generations, and the supposed "right" to abortion is no longer enshrined as a substantive right in our Constitution.



Nonetheless, our work is far from over. My uncle, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., famously said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." While some states have moved boldly to protect life in the past year, there remains much work for us to do to build a comprehensive culture of life and show our love for unborn babies and their vulnerable mothers. Watch our new celebratory music video, NIA Song.



As we embrace the blessings of Father's Day, Juneteenth and the Dobbs decision, our goal as believers is to cherish all life, in every stage, from the unborn baby to the vulnerable mother, to the elderly and infirm, and all humanity. When we live this truth in our lives fully, we can then be said to be a culture, as the one blood human race, that values all its children, from the womb to the tomb; into eternity.

Our ministry is funded by generous individuals like yourself. We have many ongoing projects that help us to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a world much in need of His message. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Alveda King Ministries.



About Alveda C. King:

As founder of Alveda King Ministries (www.alvedaking.com), Alveda C. King, PhD, uses her God-given talents and abilities to glorify God and uphold the sanctity of life from the womb to the tomb, and beyond. She currently serves as a Board Member and Senior Advisor to Priests for Life, and as Chair of the America First Policy Institute's Center for the American Dream. She is also a voice for the Silent No More Awareness Campaign, sharing her testimony of two abortions, God's forgiveness, and healing.



Alveda is the daughter of the late slain civil rights activist Rev. A. D. King and Mrs. Naomi King; the granddaughter of Rev. M. L. King, Sr. and Mrs. Alberta King; and the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.



As a Christian Evangelist, author of the best sellers KING RULES and WERE NOT COLORBLIND, she is also founder of Speak for Life and currently serves as a Fox News Channel contributor and is the host of "Alveda King's House" on Fox Nation.



She is a NEWSMAX opinion contributor; a member of Optimist International; former college professor; and a film and music veteran; creating uplifting "conversation starting content" to advance life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness from the womb to the tomb and beyond.



Alveda is also a graduate of Aidan University and a member of SHE LEADS AMERICA, and CHRISTIAN WOMEN IN MEDIA. She is a former Georgia State Legislator, and a twice assigned Presidential appointee. While living a "lifetime of serving God and humanity," she has been honored with many awards, including a (2021) Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and the Cardinal John O'Connor Pro-Life Hall of Fame Award (2011).







SOURCE Alveda King Ministries



CONTACT: Brian Mayes, 615-771-2040, brian@nashvillepublicity.com


The United States is providing the people of Ukraine with additional $205 million in humanitarian assistance in support of victims of Russian aggression, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

According to the State Department website, U.S. humanitarian assistance includes food, safe drinking water, protection services, education, livelihoods, legal assistance, accessible housing, healthcare, and more through international and non-governmental partners.

"Since the onset of Russias invasion, more than six million refugees have fled the country and more than five million have been internally displaced inside Ukraine. Millions more Ukrainians have been impacted by Russias attacks inside Ukraine," according to the statement.

The funding, which brings the total humanitarian assistance provided to Ukraine in Fiscal Year 2023 to more than $605 million, provides further support for humanitarian organizations responding to the crisis.

Since February 2022, the United States has provided more than $2.1 billion in humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people.

"We continue to call for an immediate end to Russias war of aggression and for Russia to facilitate unhindered access to providers of humanitarian assistance in Ukraine and safe passage for those who seek to move to safer areas," according to the statement.
In one incident, Danville police said they responded to the 0-100 block of South State Street about 3:24 p.m. Friday in response to a report of a victim with a gunshot injury and found an 18-year-old Danville man with a gunshot wound to his leg.
Download Now

The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print.




Researchers at the School of Science at IUPUI will lead two grants totaling $11.7 million from the U.S. Department of Defense to fund research on discovering a drug treatment for hydrocephalus, a condition commonly associated with complications from traumatic brain injury that causes cerebrospinal fluid to accumulate in the brain.

Using funds from a $7.8 million Department of Defense Focused Program grant, Bonnie Blazer-Yost and Teri Belecky-Adams, both professors in the Department of Biology, will team up with scientists from Johns Hopkins University to test the effectiveness of treatments for three types of hydrocephalus -; genetic, post-hemorrhage and post-traumatic hydrocephalus -; either individually or as a "triple co-therapy."

While most people are familiar with hydrocephalus in children, the prevalence is higher in adults because of things like traumatic brain injury and stroke. The impact of this research will move us further in understanding the process of hydrocephalic development and hopefully also move us closer to finding a drug to treat hydrocephalus." Bonnie Blazer-Yost, Professor, Department of Biology, IUPUI

Due to the absence of effective drug treatments, she added, surgery to add a drainage shunt in the brain is currently the only viable treatment for hydrocephalus -; a process that must repeat every two years in some patients. The condition is estimated to affect nearly 1 in 1,000 births; in adults with head injury, studies have shown incident rates ranging as high as 1 in 2. The medical cost of hydrocephalus is estimated at over $1 billion annually.

A second award -; a $3.9 million Department of Defense Expansion Award -; is a collaboration between Blazer-Yost and researchers from Purdue University. The group intends to test an oral drug candidate -; a molecular compound known as TRPV4 antagonist -; in a model of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus, a common complication of brain hemorrhage or traumatic brain injury due to the disturbance in the flow or absorption of cerebrospinal fluid.

The Department of Defense is funding the awards in part due to the agency's interest in new treatments for conditions that affect active personnel, as well as veterans, Blazer-Yost said.

The work supported under the second grant builds upon previous research from Blazer-Yost's lab that has shown strong pre-clinical evidence that a TRPV4 antagonist may effectively relieve pressure on the brain from hydrocephalus. In 2019, Blazer-Yost was issued a patent for this compound with assistance from the IU Innovation and Commercialization Office.

Both projects will form the basis of a new Hydrocephalus Research Center at the School of Science at IUPUI. The center will serve as a focal point for collaboration and communication between researchers involved in discovering solutions to this debilitating condition. Together with the established relationships with Johns Hopkins and Purdue, it will encourage collaboration in hydrocephalus research locally and internationally.

"These grants are a shining example of the tremendous contributions that School of Science faculty provide to the science of health care for the state of Indiana and beyond," Dean John F. DiTusa said. "This work will shape a brighter future for Hoosiers and is a great example of the benefits of Indiana's leading urban research university. The addition of a center for hydrocephalus research is an incredible way to inspire passion and scientific collaboration not only among students and faculty researchers in Indianapolis, but also on a national and global level."

The Hydrocephalus Research Center is expected to open as early as this fall. The combined grants will provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students who will shape the next generation of hydrocephalus research and become tomorrow's health science leaders.

The research partners on the grants are Shenandoah Robinson and Lauren Jantzie at Johns Hopkins University and Tim Bentley, Robyn McCain and Greg Knipp at Purdue University.
Exposure to dioxins can negatively impact thyroid function, according to a study presented Thursday at ENDO 2023, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Chicago, Ill.

Dioxins are highly toxic compounds that are primarily produced by industrial processes, and their persistence in the environment makes them a significant public health concern. They are produced through a variety of incineration processes, including improper municipal waste incineration and burning of trash. They can be released into the air during natural processes, such as forest fires and volcanoes. Strict regulatory controls on major industrial sources of dioxin have greatly reduced emissions into the air.

Today people are exposed to dioxins primarily by eating food, in particular animal products, contaminated by these chemicals. Dioxins are absorbed and stored in fat tissue and, therefore, accumulate in the food chain. More than 90 percent of human exposure is through food, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Recently, scientists have begun to study the potential impact of exposure to environmental chemicals, such as dioxins, on thyroid function. Thyroid dysfunction affects a significant portion of the population and can have a range of adverse health effects.

Previous studies of the relationship between dioxin exposure and thyroid function have produced inconsistent results, according to researcher Cheng Han, M.D., of the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine in Boston, Mass.

In the new study, the researchers used three different statistical methods to investigate the combined effects of 20 environmental dioxins on thyroid function. They used data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007 to 2010.

A total of 20 dioxins and levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured in the blood of 2,818 adults. The researchers found that dioxins were significantly associated with high TSH. A high TSH level indicates that the thyroid gland is not making enough thyroid hormone.
Bioterrorism could significantly affect public health across the globe and cause major disruption in society. Even though the risk of bioterrorism is substantially low, a significant attack could significantly affect society at large. Therefore, the risk of bioterrorism must not be neglected. Some recent incidences related to bioterrorism include the ricin attack in 2018 by an extremist from Tunisia in Cologne, Germany, and a ricin letter sent to the President of the United States in 2020.

At the Munich Security Conference of 2018, the Dutch Minister of Defense addressed the risk of bioweapons. Pathogens categorized as potential bioterrorism agents emerge naturally but rarely. These pathogens cause travel-related diseases. A recent Emerging Infectious Diseases study provided an overview of the incidence of such pathogens in the Netherlands.

This study aimed to raise awareness of biosafety at laboratories and highlighted the need for biosecurity regulations to prevent access to such pathogens. Such awareness and regulations could reduce the risk of bioterrorism.

Report: Epidemiology of Pathogens Listed as Potential Bioterrorism Agents, the Netherlands, 20092019. Image Credit: kittirat roekburi / SHutterstock

Background

Many pathogens could be used as bioweapons based on various factors, such as pathogenicity, characteristic features, route of transmission, infectious dose, and stability in the environment. The risk of misuse of these pathogens, biological or toxic weapons could be reduced by limiting their synthesis, stockpiling, and regulating means of delivery.

A selection and prioritization of the potential bioterrorism agents were made, by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a couple of decades ago, which resulted in the Bioterrorism Agents/Diseases classification. This classification is based on Cold War-era military experiments and public health experience. The CDC list was restructured by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which led to the Biologic and Chemical Threats list. Here, three different categories were created from a medical point of view, and they were backed up by treatment guidelines.

About this Study

The pathogens categorized in the highest risk category by either EMA or CDC were included in this study. The CDC category A comprised Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, Bacillus anthracis, Clostridium botulinum toxin, and hemorrhagic fever viruses. Additionally, the EMA list includes Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei, Brucella spp., and Coxiella burnetiid.

The observation period was from 2009 through 2019. In 2008 the Netherlands implemented the Public Health Act, because of which the start date was set at January 2009. December 2019 was set to be the end date to rule out confounding effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The average annual incidences per 10 million persons were calculated to aid in the international comparison. The average incidence per year was first calculated, followed by the average annual incidence.

Key Findings

C. burnetii, a zoonotic, gram-negative bacterium, was the most common pathogen found in the Netherlands. Its main reservoirs are goats, sheep, and other herbivores. Q fever is endemic to the Netherlands and is associated with intensive goat farming. The disease could be mild or severe, such as pneumonia or endocarditis. Its incidence was seen to reduce significantly after 2010, and Doxycycline was stated to be the first-choice treatment.

The incidence of B. anthracis ranged between 0 and 2 cases per year during 20092019. Brucellosis was seen to occur only as an imported disease (19 cases per year). The average annual incidence of Brucella spp. was 2.5 cases/10 million persons.

No B. mallei were detected in patient samples or cultured isolates, and the disease it causes (Glanders) is not a notifiable disease in the Netherlands. Similarly, Melioidosis is also not notifiable in the Netherlands, and the incidence of B. pseudomallei was 1.1 cases/10 million persons. The incidence of C. botulinum ranged between 0 and 2 cases per year, equivalent to an average annual incidence of 0.2 cases/10 million persons. Further, for F. tularensis, the annual average incidence was 1.3 cases/10 million persons.

With regard to hemorrhagic fever viruses, one military peacekeeper from Nigeria who was diagnosed with Ebola was transferred to the Netherlands in 2014. Yellow fever was diagnosed in a woman returning from Suriname in 2017. Two further cases of yellow fever were imported to the Netherlands in 2018. Lassa fever was diagnosed in 2 physicians from Sierra Leone in 2019, one of whom died. Overall, concerning hemorrhagic fever viruses, the average annual incidence was 0.3 cases/10 million persons.

Conclusion

Despite the low probability of a biological agent attack, it is crucial to maintain preparedness. The incident in Cologne in 2018 demonstrated the continual interest in the use of biological agents by terrorists. Medical microbiology laboratories and hospitals should have up-to-date protocols to respond to biothreat agents.
What could healthcare look like in 10, 20, or 30 years? What will be the future of healthcare? Will medical professionals make diagnoses with the aid of artificial intelligence? Will doctors use big data analytics to predict the course of diseases? Will we stay healthy for longer thanks to state-of-the-art screenings and preventive care? Today in London, Charite  Universitatsmedizin Berlin assumed the presidency of the European University Hospital Alliance (EUHA) for the coming months. Right at the top of the health policy agenda: sustainably shaping health systems in Europe to reflect demographic changes, advances in digitalization, and the significant shortage of skilled professionals.

In London, managers and experts from the EUHA came together to attend the alliance's biannual general assembly and a symposium entitled "Rethinking European Health Systems: Creating the Sustainable Health Workforce of the Future," all motivated by the urgent need for reform. Almost every country in Europe is facing the challenge of looking after an aging population, while struggling to cope with staff and resource shortages. At the same time, new concepts for patient care are emerging every day, particularly in university hospital settings, and insights and findings from biomedical research are contributing to innovative therapeutic approaches.

So, how can European health systems be future-proofed under these conditions? How can personnel be attracted and optimally trained? Could new preventive concepts for long-lasting health be the key to the best possible healthcare for everyone? "These pressing questions need to be addressed," says Professor Heyo K. Kroemer, Chief Executive Officer of Charite. "The COVID-19 pandemic once again highlighted how much needs to be done. We need to establish harmonized healthcare standards throughout Europe, strengthen collaborations in biomedical research, and develop a concept for training the physicians and healthcare professionals of tomorrow. At the same time, consolidating resources is essential, because it is the only way for us to develop innovative approaches which are capable of addressing these challenges."

Given their responsibility for patient care, research, and training, university hospitals play a special role in the necessary transformation process. Starting today, Charite will preside over the EUHA and thus lead this process over the coming months, replacing the London-based King's Health Partners university hospital. Since the current issues are of considerable importance, Charite will tackle them together with Sweden's Karolinska University Hospital, which will take over the presidency in November.

The goal of our presidency is to use and expand the EUHA platform so that we're better prepared for future challenges in Europe, for example new infectious diseases or crisis situations, and are also able to learn from each other to make our health systems viable for the future." Professor Heyo K. Kroemer, Chief Executive Officer of Charite

That particularly applies to the field of digital health and the creation of a common European Health Data Space, which will allow health data to be leveraged across countries for the purposes of healthcare provision and research. It's about enhancing the systems and structures on a Europe-wide basis and developing intelligent tools: "In our digital age, the healthcare sector must be enabled to systematically process and thus also utilize large amounts of clinical data in order to support innovations in the field of medical technology and patient-centered medicine," the Charite CEO adds. The EUHA Digital Health and Data Network, a working group that was established four years ago and is led by Charite, is exploring how to achieve that.

Along with other working groups, the EUHA Nursing Network  launched in 2021 and coordinated at Charite  is tackling the challenges currently being faced as a result of the shortage of skilled professionals. In addition to representing the interests of nurses at the European level, it is focusing on developing shared training and further education programs and an exchange program for employees. Alongside several other activities, the European Center for Gene & Cellular Cancer Therapies (EUCCAT), in which Charite and the Berlin Institute of Health at Charite (BIH) are heavily involved, is one of the innovative forces at EUHA. The virtual institute aims to make new cancer treatments affordable and accessible by bringing together basic research, drug manufacturing facilities, capacities for clinical trials, and implementation expertise. The intention is to make Europe more competitive in the field of research and development and in the clinical use of cell and gene therapies.

Kroemer concludes: "Digitalization aside, developing innovative therapies, or what we call advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), placing a greater emphasis on the interests of patients by collecting patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), and implementing new approaches to attract and retain excellent personnel are key factors that will shape the future of European university hospitals. The EUHA is an excellent platform for sharing information and best practices. As part of its presidency, Charite is committed to contributing to the success of these activities and will further forge and foster relationships with institutions in the European Union and other international organizations."
A Tennessee doctor has lost his medical license for issuing covid-19 vaccine waivers to patients he never met in at least three states. One, it turned out, was a dog named Charlie Kraus.

Robert Coble, 76, of Goodspring, Tennessee, agreed to surrender his license in a May settlement with the Tennessee Department of Health that was announced by the agency on June 15.

Coble issued the vaccine waivers in August and September 2021 while working for MedChoice, a company that sold waivers online for $139, according to a health department document summarizing the case. The MedChoice website offered "handwritten medical waivers personally reviewed and signed by a licensed physician," and let customers choose from preset reasons for a waiver, including "I have an autoimmune disease" and "I am very anxious about getting the vaccine."

Coble then issued a waiver to those customers despite "the absence of any patient/physician relationship," according to the health department document. The document does not say how many waivers MedChoice sold or Coble signed, but it does say waivers were sent to people in at least Tennessee, Maine, and Washington.

Coble's waivers were issued in the second year of the covid-19 pandemic, when vaccine hesitancy was rampant but some employers, college campuses, and events had begun to require proof of vaccination. Some MedChoice customers submitted Cobles waivers to their jobs or schools, and if those waivers were rejected, Coble would contact the department that rejected the waiver to try and convince them to reverse their decision, according to the document.

The MedChoice waivers were exposed in a November 2021 investigation by Nashville's NewsChannel 5, which purchased a waiver for a dog owned by investigative reporter Jennifer Kraus, a black Labrador retriever named Charlie, by saying he had "an irrational fear of needles."

Although Charlie was not examined by a medical professional, MedChoice mailed the dog a waiver signed by Coble and a laminated waiver card saying he was "certified medically exempt from the COVID vaccination, NewsChannel 5 reported.

The health department document made public in Coble's case makes no mention of NewsChannel 5 or Charlie. Coble could not be reached for comment. No attorney is listed for the doctor in the document. MedChoice has been dissolved, according to Tennessee business records.
In 2021 the U.S. surgeon general called on physicians and public health scientists to combat misinformation on social media. Many answered the plea, and many have faced unprecedented levels of harassment on social media as a result.

A new research letter published yesterday (June 14) in the journal JAMA Network found doctors and scientists are experiencing alarming rates of personal attacks on social media.

Two-thirds (66%) of survey respondents reported harassment on social media, compared to an earlier pre-COVID 19 survey conducted in 2020 by the same group of scientists, which found 23.3% of physicians reported receiving personal attacks on social media.

Women and other gender-expansive respondents were more likely than men to report harassment based on gender (67% and 58% versus 13%) and 82% of Black respondents reported harassment based on race or ethnicity, compared to 52% of Asian respondents, 15% of white respondents and 69% of Hispanic respondents.

First author Dr. Regina Royan, a research fellow at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a Northwestern emergency medicine physician, said the results may indicate a connection between burnout and online patterns.

This study highlights that physicians and scientists changed the way they used social media during the pandemic. Sadly, those that use social media to share public health messages are more likely to face harassment. These are the people that we can't afford to lose in this conversation, especially at a time when trusted messengers for public health information are essential." Dr Regina Royan, Study First Author and Research Fellow, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University

The survey included 359 physicians, scientists or trainees in the United States. Doctors and scientists identified advocacy around topics such as vaccination, masks, firearms, reproductive rights and gender-affirming care as topics that fueled harassment. Respondents also were given a platform to share personal experiences of online attacks that sometimes spilled over into professional and physical threats.

"When I posted a picture of myself with my badge in my white coat after my COVID-19 vaccination I received hundreds of harassing anti-vax messages including death threats," one respondent said.

Others detailed the impact on their mental health: "I use social media less. I found it was too draining for me, and my mental health was suffering."

Dr. Tricia Pendergrast, a recent Feinberg School of Medicine graduate who led the pre-COVID-19 study on harassment, recalled several responses from people who feared for their safety.

"The 2020 study was the first to examine the prevalence of harassment among physicians who use social media," Pendergrast said. "Everyone on the team involved in the study -; including physicians, scientists and medical trainees -; has personal experiences in which they've felt uncomfortable or unsafe.

"We want physicians who are being harassed to feel less alone, and if they are being targeted or feel unsafe or if their mental health is being affected negatively, they are not the only one who has felt like that," she said.

Royan added that physicians and biomedical scientists play an essential role in combatting misinformation on social media -; and it's especially important that underrepresented communities see themselves reflected in the authorities sharing information.

"We need physicians of every race and ethnicity in the field and on social media," Royan said. "At the end of the day, harassment of physicians and biomedical scientists on social media is a health equity issue."
Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reported study results showing that the targeted therapy fruquintinib significantly improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer.

Findings from the global FRESCO-2 trial, published today in The Lancet, were first presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2022.

The OS was 7.4 months with fruquintinib versus 4.8 months in the placebo arm, while the median PFS was 3.7 months with fruquintinib compared to 1.8 months in the placebo arm. These results represent a statistically significant improvement relative to controls.

Patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer have very limited treatment possibilities and poor outcomes. These results are very encouraging and confirm that fruquintinib may be a novel treatment opportunity for patients who previously had no other options." Arvind Dasari, M.D., Principal Investigator and Associate professor of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

The randomized Phase III FRESCO-2 clinical trial was conducted at 153 sites in the United States, Europe, Japan and Australia. The double-blind study evaluated treatment with the novel oral therapy fruquintinib -; a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) -; plus best supportive care compared to placebo plus best supportive care in heavily pre-treated patients with treatment-resistant metastatic colorectal cancer. The primary endpoint was OS.

According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in men and in women, and the second most common cause of cancer death for men and women combined. Despite treatment advances, patients with metastatic colorectal cancer still have poor long-term survival rates. After patients progress through several lines of therapy, they typically live only four to five months. Therefore, there is a large need for treatment alternatives after current therapies are exhausted.

In the original Phase III FRESCO study, which led to the drug's approval in China in September 2018, fruquintinib given as third-line therapy or later improved median OS in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer compared with placebo (6.6 months versus 9.3 months). At that time, standard of care for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in China differed from the U.S., the European Union and Japan.

In June 2020, the Food and Drug Administration granted fast track designation to fruquintinib for the treatment of some patients with previously treated colorectal cancer.

The FRESCO-2 trial randomized 691 patients with advanced refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. Patients were eligible for treatment if they had documented metastatic colorectal cancer and were previously treated either with chemotherapy, anti-VEGF therapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors (if their disease was microsatellite instability-high or mismatch-repair deficient). Patients had an ECOG performance status scale score of 0 or 1, measurable disease and expected survival of 12 weeks or more.

Patients received either fruquintinib or placebo daily for three weeks, followed by one week off, in 28-day cycles. Subsequent anti-cancer therapies were given to 29.4% in the fruquintinib arm and 34.3% in the placebo arm. The disease control rate was 55.5% for fruquintinib versus 16.1% for placebo.

Grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 62.7% of patients in the fruquintinib group and 50.4% in the placebo group. The most frequent events seen in those receiving fruquintinib were hypertension (13.6%), asthenia (7.7%) and hand-foot syndrome (6.4%).

"This study supports the meaningful survival improvement and manageable safety profile of fruquintinib," Dasari said." I am excited that this treatment could extend the lives of advanced colorectal cancer patients and preserve their quality of life."

The investigators will continue to review quality of life data from trial participants, as these patients have high tumor burden and residual side effects from multiple therapies that are known to reduce quality of life measures. Ongoing and future studies will explore additional fruquintinib treatment combinations for patients with colorectal cancer.
University of Sydney and Fudan University scientists have discovered human brain signals traveling across the outer layer of neural tissue that naturally arrange themselves to resemble swirling spirals.

The research, published today in Nature Human Behaviour, indicates these ubiquitous spirals, which are brain signals observed on the cortex during both resting and cognitive states, help organize brain activity and cognitive processing.

Senior author Associate Professor Pulin Gong, from the School of Physics in the Faculty of Science, said the discovery could have the potential to advance powerful computing machines inspired by the intricate workings of the human brain.

The discovery opens up new avenues for understanding how the brain works and provides valuable insights into the fundamental functions of the human brain. It could help medical researchers understand the effects of brain diseases, such as dementia, by examining the role they play.

Our study suggests that gaining insights into how the spirals are related to cognitive processing could significantly enhance our understanding of the dynamics and functions of the brain." Pulin Gong, Associate Professor, School of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney

"These spiral patterns exhibit intricate and complex dynamics, moving across the brain's surface while rotating around central points known as phase singularities

"Much like vortices act in turbulence, the spirals engage in intricate interactions, playing a crucial role in organizing the brain's complex activities.

"The intricate interactions among multiple co-existing spirals could allow neural computations to be conducted in a distributed and parallel manner, leading to remarkable computational efficiency."

PhD student Yiben Xu, the lead author of the research from the School of Physics, said the location of the spirals on the cortex could allow them to connect activity in different sections, or networks, of the brain  acting as a bridge of communication. Many of the spirals are large enough to cover multiple networks.

The cortex of the brain, also known as the cerebral cortex, is the outermost layer of the brain that is responsible for many complex cognitive functions, including perception, memory, attention, language and consciousness.

"One key characteristic of these brain spirals is that they often emerge at the boundaries that separate different functional networks in the brain," Mr Xu said.

"Through their rotational motion, they effectively coordinate the flow of activity between these networks.

"In our research we observed that these interacting brain spirals allow for flexible reconfiguration of brain activity during various tasks involving natural language processing and working memory, which they achieve by changing their rotational directions."

The scientists gathered their findings from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scans of 100 young adults, which they analyzed by adapting methods used to understand complex wave patterns in turbulence.

Neuroscience has traditionally focused on interactions between neurons to understand brain function. There is a growing area of science looking at larger processes within the brain to help us understand its mysteries.

"By unraveling the mysteries of brain activity and uncovering the mechanisms governing its coordination, we are moving closer to unlocking the full potential of understanding cognition and brain function," Associate Professor Gong said.
Stoltenberg: At NATO summit in Vilnius, issue of inviting Ukraine to membership not to be discussed, but issue of how to bring Kyiv closer to alliance

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says that at the NATO summit to be held July 11 and 12 in Vilnius, the issue of inviting Ukraine to membership will not be discussed, but the question of how to bring Ukraine closer to the alliance will be considered.

He said this at a press conference that took place at the end of the meeting of defense ministers of NATO member states in Brussels on Friday, answering a question from journalists about the prospect of Ukraine's membership in NATO.

Stoltenberg said there are "three elements" in this issue. "First of all, we agreed that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance. We will not discuss the invitation at the Vilnius summit, but (we will discuss how) we are bringing Ukraine closer to NATO. I am confident that we will find a good solution at the Vilnius summit," he said. Moreover, the Secretary General attributed this justification to the third element. First and second, he named, respectively, the practical and political aspects of the issue of future membership.

"One (element) is to move Ukraine closer to NATO in practical terms, and this is an all-encompassing assistance package and a multi-year program that will help them move from Soviet-era doctrines to NATO standards doctrine and equipment, to achieve full interoperability with NATO. That takes time. We have been working on this for many years, but the more we succeed in making Ukrainian forces fully interoperable with NATO, the closer they come to NATO in practical military terms," Stoltenberg said about the first element.

The second he called the political path. "And here we are now very close to finalizing the agreement to establish the NATO-Ukraine Council, that will be something different from the Commission, where 31 allies meet Ukraine. This will be a body of 32: 31 allies and Ukraine equal sitting at the table with the same rights and the same possibilities to consult and make decisions together, if we find that there are things to do. That is a different type of working together politically, and we will bring Ukraine closer to NATO in political terms," the Secretary General said.
A University of Kansas researcher who developed the first screening tool for eating disorders in veterans has been awarded a four-year, $4.2 million grant by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to address eating disorders in active-duty members of the military.

Kelsie Forbush, senior scientist at the KU Life Span Institute, professor of clinical child psychology and director of the University of Kansas Center for the Advancement of Research on Eating Behaviors, is leading the research -; the only eating-disorders grant the DOD funded this year.

We have an excellent opportunity to help military members with eating disorders through this work." Kelsie Forbush, senior scientist, KU Life Span Institute

As part of the project, Forbush and her team will test a screening tool that they developed for use in veterans -; called the Brief Assessment of Stress and Eating (BASE) -; among active-duty servicemembers.

The project aims to identify the risk of eating disorders in military members, including factors that contribute to onset and progression, and examine the potential for links between eating disorders and alcohol and harmful substance use and mood, anxiety and trauma symptoms. Forbush said a screening tool designed specifically for use in the military is critical.

"Screening is a critical first step for providing intervention," Forbush said. "If we understand what factors are promoting eating disorders, or what factors help promote resiliency, then we might be able to develop novel prevention and treatment programs that are well-suited to this group."

Eating disorders are one of the deadliest mental disorders and are among the main causes of suicide- related mortality in the U.S., with suicide rates comparable to depression, opioid use disorders or schizophrenia. Veterans have been found to have higher rates of disordered eating compared to civilians, with around 5% of male and around 16% of female veterans with a current eating disorder.

The Eating Disorder Coalition (EDC), a national advocacy group, has helped call attention to the problem of eating disorders within the military and has supported Forbush's research.

"The EDC did important advocacy work that helped promote awareness of eating disorders in military- relevant populations, to the ability to obtain funding in order to better understand and treat eating disorders in this at-risk population," Forbush said.

Despite the seriousness of the disorder, a 2019 study by the Government Accountability Office found that the military's screening does not accurately identify servicemembers with eating disorders. One reason is that the military has a larger male population that may not identify with stereotypical eating disorder screening, which tends to focus on a female perspective.

"Asking about dissatisfaction with hips and thighs or a desire to avoid weight gain may miss people with eating disorders who want high muscularity and low body fat," Forbush said. "If a screening tool is highly gendered, then we might miss someone with an eating disorder who is dissatisfied, but in a different direction."

There is evidence to show that military servicemembers are at risk for developing disordered eating due to increased stress, focus on weight and physical appearance and food restriction while someone is on a mission, leading to binge-eating or other unhealthy eating behaviors.

"Studies show that eating disorders have increased in the military as much as 44% between 2013 and 2016, suggesting an urgent unmet military health care need," Forbush said. " "However, most studies that have looked at the prevalence of eating disorders in the military only included a limited number of eating disorders. As a result, there is almost no information on some of the most common forms of eating disorders, such as 'other specified feeding or eating disorders.'

"Our study is important because not only will it result in improved eating disorder screening tools, it will also contribute to improved information on the full scope and impact of eating disorders in the military."

Other KU researchers participating in the study, titled "Assessment of Eating Disorder and Comorbidity Risk and Resilience in a Nationally Representative Sample of Recent Military Enlistees," include Alesha Doan, professor and associate dean in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, CARE lab postdoctoral fellow and statistician Yiyang Chen and Mike Denning, director of KU's Office of Graduate Military Programs.

Other team members include Karen Mitchell (VA Boston), Mary Oehlert (Leavenworth VA), Kara Christensen (University of Nevada, Las Vegas), David Watson (University of Notre Dame), Chelsea Song (Indiana University), Alcia Wendler (Topeka VA) and Joanna Weise (psychologist with the 20th Medical Group).
Today, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)-;an alliance of leading cancer centers-;convened a policy summit to examine how geography impacts cancer outcomes.

NCCN Chief Executive Officer, Robert W. Carlson, MD, opened the event with a focus on equity.

NCCN's work is guided by the idea that where you live should not impact whether you live. NCCN Guidelines are one free resource to make sure everyone, everywhere, has access to cancer care based on the latest evidence and expert consensus. They can be used as guardrails to standardize treatment-;preventing under or overtreatment-;while still enabling freedom for personalized care." Robert W. Carlson, MD, Chief Executive Officer, National Comprehensive Cancer Network

Advocates, providers, lawmakers, and others shared diverse perspectives on how location, policies, culture, and built environment can all impact cancer incidences and outcomes.

"Broadly, 'built environment' refers to all human-made surroundings, and includes various cancer-relevant factors, such as: reliable internet access; accessible high-quality cancer care and public transportation; level and continuous sidewalks; nearby parks and recreational facilities, nutritious foods, and tree-cover; clean air and water; and safe and supportive housing and neighborhoods," explained panel member Jesse John Plascak, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Division of Cancer Prevention & Control, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center  James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. "Investing in improving the built environment translates to better health outcomes, including cancer."

The program featured a fireside chat with Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26), who shared an overview of the policy landscape and a look at how different regions can be better served.

"Early detection is our best protection against cancer of all types, but many Americans, especially those living in underserved communities, lack access to regular screenings which puts them at a greater risk," said Congressman Higgins. "As Co-Chair of the Cancer Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, I am committed to advancing efforts that address equity in cancer care, improve access to routine screenings, and increase funding leading to breakthroughs and advancements in treatments. Together, we can reach the communities in greatest need and achieve the goals set forth by President Biden's Cancer Moonshot to end cancer as we know it."

Elisa Rodriguez, PhD, MS, Vice President & Associate Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, provided the keynote address.

"Our nation's cancer centers are uniquely positioned to address cancer health disparities and inequity in access to cancer services," noted Dr. Rodriguez, who also serves as Director of the Community Engagement Resource for Roswell Park and is a Member of the NCCN DEI Directors Forum. "The populations and regions we serve are diverse in many ways-;they are rural, urban, and suburban, and the people living in these distinct geographic regions reflect every dimension of humanity and need. Our experiences at Roswell Park can serve as a model for how cancer centers can enlist partners in their work to enhance infrastructure and develop effective strategies to address the cancer burden, increasing access to cancer care for all patients."

There was a focus on the rural/urban divide throughout the summit, with speakers identifying how various regions can face very different challenges which require thoughtful solutions. They noted that cancer incidence rates tend to be higher in urban areas, but mortality rates are higher in rural communities. In urban areas, there may be more environmental and behavioral stressors contributing to cancer incidences, such as less access to safe places for physical activity or affordable fruits and vegetables. In rural areas, there are numerous barriers to accessing medical care providers-;particularly specialists-;including staffing shortages and transportation concerns.

"Access to innovative oncology treatments and clinical trials for patients-;regardless of where they live-;has long been a challenge in oncology and clinical development," said Sara Kulwicki, MS, Associate Vice President, Clinical Development-Oncology Clinical Design, Delivery & Analytics, Lilly. "In addition to barriers that exist for all patients, those in rural areas face increased obstacles to receiving optimal care. We must continue educating, advocating, and deploying solutions that remove financial, transportation, and other barriers, bringing care closer to patients."

"A substantial number of rural patients often prefer or need to receive cancer care locally, yet many community hospitals are too under-resourced to offer the continuum of comprehensive and supportive cancer services included in evidence-based standards of care," agreed Mary Charlton, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology, The University of Iowa, and Director Iowa Cancer Registry. "In order to provide quality care across varying locales, we must develop a multi-faceted, collaborative cancer network approach that extends the resources and expertise from larger cancer centers out to rural hospitals and providers. This must be done in a way that capitalizes on everyone's strengths while fostering trust and engagement between providers. This strategy has worked well in states like Kentucky and Kansas, and our research aims to develop a rigorous implementation strategy to adapt these network approaches throughout rural America."

The speakers offered many insights on leveraging technology to serve more patients. They acknowledged the massive expansion in telehealth was one positive thing to come from the Covid-19 pandemic. However, panel members pointed out that there is still more work to be done to harness technology effectively and equitably. Speakers also spotlighted how interpersonal interactions play an outsized role in finding solutions for the many challenges that prevent rural patients from getting high-quality care.

"The key to delivering specialized cancer care to rural patients is to make that care accessible through a multifaceted approach, collaborating with community oncologists and primary care providers with bidirectional trust and communication," commented Ursa Brown-Glaberman, MD, Associate Professor, Hematology/Oncology, Medical Director, Clinical Research Office, University of New Mexico Cancer Comprehensive (UNM CCC).

"While issues of policy, technology and geography are important, we can't forget that a community's culture must be considered and understood when working to increase access to cancer screenings and treatments," agreed Keith Argenbright, MD, Director, Moncrief Cancer Institute, UT Southwestern Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. "We must always keep in mind the cultural differences that make our targeted populations unique and work to create policies and partnerships that are embraced by those communities."

Alma McCormick, BS in Health and Human Performance, Health and Wellness, Executive Director, Messengers for Health, Crow Nation, and Member, PCORI Advisory Panel on Patient Engagement, shared stories of successful community-based participatory research addressing the cancer needs among Crow Indian people. She had a suggestion for one way to gain trust in marginalized communities: "Do what you say you are going to do."

She continued: "Go to where the people are and let them know you care."

International radiation oncology head and neck expert Waleed Mourad, MD, Professor of Radiation Oncology, Medical Director, Morehead Cancer Center at The University of Kentucky is doing exactly that on a global scale. Dr Mourad is both the Radiation Oncology physician founder of sub-Saharan Cameroon Oncology Cancer Center and the current medical director of an academic rural practice in Appalachia. He discussed the A to Z challenges of ground up establishment of a cancer treatment facility as well as ongoing challenges in prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance in both settings..

"Working toward the World Cancer Day goal to 'Close the Care Gap' takes a village," said Dr. Mourad. "With the increased globalization of society, we are all citizens of the world. I cannot underscore enough how important it is to address and mitigate care gaps by delivering culturally-appropriate, team-oriented, competent care."
Musashi India, a subsidiary fully owned by Musashi Seimitsu Industries, Japan and a renowned manufacturer of transmission components for two-wheelers and four-wheelers in India, has taken a momentous leap into the E-mobility sector.

The companys new venture aims to leverage its exceptional design and engineering capabilities to manufacture an innovative EV unit comprising a motor, PCU, and Gear Box.

Musashi, a company committed to building high-performance and secure automotive components, will start producing the E-Axle at its Bengaluru plant in October 2023. Musashi will invest 70 crores in phase 1 of this ground-breaking project to set up an assembly line for the product inside its current manufacturing facilities in Bengaluru.

Furthermore, Musashi has established a strategic partnership with Bharat New-Energy Company (BNC) Motors in India as part of an effort to increase its presence in the e-mobility space. Additionally, the business has already signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with Strom in Thailand, EV Go in Vietnam, and Arc Ride in Kenya, reaffirming its commitment to providing these prestigious organisations with Indian-made E-Axles.

Also Read: SMEV Urges Niti Aayog to Address Concerns Related to FAME 2 Policy, Details Inside

Musashi Indias 2-wheel E-Axle has accomplished a great feat by integrating the engine and gearbox to create a small and lightweight design. Musashi has revolutionised the driving experience by ensuring the highest gearbox efficiency and lowest noise levels by utilising its unique knowledge in gear processing.

The governments attempts to encourage electric vehicles and reduce the countrys carbon footprint are completely in line with Musashi Indias debut into the electric mobility sector. The firm seeks to accelerate the adoption of EVs, address environmental issues, and improve the entire driving experience for Indian consumers with a focus on offering cutting-edge electric mobility solutions supported by substantial research and development.

Toshihisa Otsuka, a key spokesperson for Musashi India, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, With our new venture into electric mobility, Musashi India aspires to be a frontrunner in the electric revolution in India, while also becoming a trusted partner for automakers, thus driving the transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable transportation ecosystem."

While Musashi has already established a strong presence in key markets such as Japan, China, North America, and Europe, the company is particularly optimistic about the Indian market. Anticipating a substantial surge in the EV sector, Musashi envisions capturing an ever-growing market share in Indias burgeoning electric mobility business.

As Musashi India embraces the electric mobility revolution, it spearheads a transformative era in the automotive industry, ushering in a greener and more sustainable future not just for India but the world at large.
Stocks To Watch June 16: The Nifty futures contract traded on the Singapore Exchange indicates a positive start to domestic equities. The contract was trading at 18,810.50, up 50.5 points or 0.27% from the previous close.

IKIO Lighting: The stock is likely to debut with a gain of 30-35 per cent today as per cues from the grey market. The Rs 607 crore IPO was subscribed almost 66 times, with high net individuals subscription at 63 times, and retail at 14 times.

Reliance (RIL): The company is in talks with lenders for a foreign-currency loan of up to $2 billion to fuel the ongoing expansion of its oil-to-telecoms business, according to people familiar with the matter. Lenders involved in the discussions include Bank of America, Citigroup and Standard Chartered.

Hero MotoCorp: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has ordered an investigation to assess the two-wheeler majors relationship with a third-party vendor in a case related to alleged diversion of funds, two government sources told Reuters on Thursday.

IndiGo, SpiceJet: IndiGo registered its highest-ever domestic market share of 61.4 per cent in May, capitalising on Go First suspending flights. Domestic airlines flew over 13.2 million passengers in May, up over 3 per cent sequentially. However, SpiceJets market share declined to 5.4 per cent from 5.8 per cent in the previous month.

Ramkrishna Forgings, Titagarh: A consortium between Ramkrishna Forgings and Titagarh Rail Systems has been awarded the contract to manufacture and supply 15,40,000 forged wheels over a span of 20 years, under the AatmaNirbhar Bharat Initiative by Ministry of Railways, Government of India. The contract will see the consortium delivering 40,000 forged wheels during the first year, 60,000 wheels in the second year and 80,000 wheels every subsequent year thereafter, with the total contract valued at Rs 12,226.5 crore.

UTI AMC: Sponsors of UTI Mutual Fund, including State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), have initiated the process to dilute their stake in Indias oldest fund house. The three collectively hold 45.21 of the paid-up capital in UTI.

Ashok Leyland: The commercial vehicle manufacturer in association with Aidrivers, a specialist in AI-enabled autonomous solutions, will produce autonomous electric terminal trucks to address the net zero emissions needs of the port industry.

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals: The drug maker has slashed the price of breast cancer drug Trastuzumab by bringing its brand Trumab at Rs 15,749 for a 440 mg vial from Rs 54,000 earlier. This price reduction will bring the per mg cost of Trumab to around Rs 35, making it the most affordable treatment option for HER2-positive breast cancer, Glenmark said in a statement.

Axis Bank: Private investment firm Bain Capital has sold partial stake in private lender Axis Bank via block deal on Thursday, while many domestic and foreign funds lapped up the shares.

GAIL: Sanjay Kumar has assumed charge as director (marketing) of GAIL (India). Prior to his new role, Kumar was the MD of Indraprastha Gas.
Sustained high gold prices are likely to hike revenues of organised gold jewellery retailers by 16-18 per cent this fiscal, a report said on Thursday. However, volume growth will remain modest due to elevated prices this fiscal.

This comes after a stellar compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35 per cent logged during FY22 and FY23, mainly due to strong volume growth, driven by pent-up demand and increased consumer spending. Average realisations during the previous two fiscals increased at a CAGR of 5 per cent, Crisil Ratings said in a report.

We expect a low single-digit volume growth for the organised players during FY24, given elevated gold prices. That said, organised players will continue to see modest market share gain, compared with unorganised players. While revenue will grow by 16-18 per cent on sustained high gold prices," Crisil Ratings Senior Director Anuj Sethi said.

The organised sector accounts for slightly more than a third of the market, with the unorganised sector making up the rest.

The report said the operating margin is expected to moderate by up to 30 basis points to 7.8-8 per cent, led by increasing promotional and store-related expenses.

Still, the margin will remain above the pre-pandemic level of 6.8-7 per cent, it added.

Working capital debt requirement will continue to rise as jewellers keep expanding stores, though at a slower pace than in the past two fiscals.

Credit profile for the players will remain stable, Crisil Ratings said.

Domestic prices of gold increased by 10 per cent last fiscal, averaging Rs 52,700 per 10 grams and reaching Rs 60,000 by the end of March 2023.

The price further inched up to an all-time high of Rs 61,500 per 10 grams during May 2023, as gold kept its shine as one of the safest investment options amid an uncertain global economic outlook.

High demand during the marriage season in India and a gradual recovery in gold buying in China also contributed to the high prices, said the report.

An increase in penetration of goods and services tax (GST), mandatory hallmarking, rising disposable income, and diversification in consumer preference in terms of jewellery designs are nudging market share towards organised players, it stated.

According to the report, store expansion, which grew 25-30 per cent last fiscal after two consecutive fiscals of subdued growth, will see a mid-double-digit growth this fiscal.

This will lead to higher inventory requirements, leading to increased working capital debt, it added.

Gross bank credit to the sector had declined 3 per cent over the 12 months through March 2023 as players rationalised inventory across stores and generated healthy cash, it said.

The marginal moderation in operating profitability, along with higher working capital borrowings and finance cost, will lead to a slight moderation in debt metrics this fiscal.

Nonetheless, the credit profile of gold jewellery retailers will remain stable with total outside liabilities to tangible net worth ratio and interest coverage expected at 1-1.1 times and 8.2-8.4 times, respectively, compared with 1.2 times and 9.6 times, respectively, last fiscal," Crisil Ratings Director Aditya Jhaver said.

However, sharp volatility in gold prices, changes in government regulations and import duties, as well as consumer sentiment, will need to be watched, the report added.
The Consortium Of National Law Universities has revealed the syllabus and format for CLAT 2024. In the next academic session, the number of questions are reduced from earlier 150 to now 120. The governing body held a meeting on May 20, 2023 to make Common Law Admission Test more student friendly and an accessible examination. The decision will be implemented in the academic year 2024- 2025.

Candidates will have two hours to complete the entrance examination which will be divided into five sections. The five sections will include English Language, Current Affairs Including General Knowledge, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. These changes are a part of Undergraduate CLAT 2024 examination. The pattern and format for Post Graduate CLAT 2024 is still same. Further, the Consortium of NLUs will strive to make every effort to assist candidates in preparing for CLAT 2024.

The Consortium of National Law Universities has declared the official date for the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) 2024. According to the latest updates, the CLAT 2024 will be held on December 3. The date was confirmed in the Executive Committee and Governing Body meeting of the Consortium of National Law Universities in Bhopal, an official notice reveals. All admissions to the 5-year integrated Bachelor of Legislative Law (Ll.B) and Master of Laws (Ll.M) courses that start in the Academic Year 2024-2025 will be through the CLAT 2024.

For the undergraduate programme, students who have passed/cleared their Class 12 with a minimum of 45 per cent marks (40 per cent marks for SC and ST categories) can apply for admission to law courses in 22 NLUs. For postgraduate courses, a candidate should have completed an undergraduate degree in law (either 3-year or 5-year LLB course) with at least 50 per cent aggregate scores can appear for the exam. While for SC and ST candidates, it is 45 per cent.

CLAT is a national-level entrance exam for students seeking admission to undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) law courses offered by 22 national law universities (NLUs) across India. The entrance test is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities, including representative universities. CLAT scores are also used for recruitment purpose in many reputed organisations.
The Delhi University will hold webinars from June 19 as part of a support system to help prospective students during the admission process to undergraduate programmes, officials said on Thursday.

The admission process for 78 undergraduate programmes for the academic year 2023-24 was started on Wednesday.

The Delhi University (DU) is also planning to set up a website to handle and resolve grievances related to admissions, officials said.

Dean of Admission Haneet Gandhi said a list of frequently asked questions is already available on the website of the university. Helpdesk facilities have also been established at the admission branch for candidates, the official said. To help candidates, we have arranged all sorts of information. Information is available in all formats: text  bulletins of information; visuals: infographics and flowcharts illustrating the eligibility; and videos: webinars and video recordings of filling the form," Gandhi said.

Online support is being provided through ChatBots and emails. Students can write to ug@admission.du.ac.in for queries related to undergraduate admission, pg@admision.du.ac.in for queries related to postgraduate admissions and at phd@admision.du.ac.in for information related to Ph.D admissions," she said.

The admission branch has also announced that it will be holding a series of webinars beginning Monday. Details will be shared on the admission website  admission.und.ac.in  of the university, it said.

These webinars will cover aspects related to filling the Common Seat Allocation System forms, uploading of correct certificate or document, reservation policies and other important things that candidates must keep in mind before selecting a programme and a college. The webinars will be conducted in a bilingual mode.

The admission branch has advised all prospective students to keep checking the admission website of the university and its dashboards for updates, schedules and guidelines.

Candidates must be cautious and trust only the information published on the official website of the University of Delhi. For all authentic notifications, announcements, and schedules, candidates must visit the official website and social media platforms of the University of Delhi only: University of Delhi www.du.ac.in," Gandhi said.
The Jadavpur University Teachers Association (JUTA) on Thursday called a protest rally on the campus on June 21 to press for the demand for appointing a permanent Vice-Chancellor of the varsity as soon as possible.

JUTA general secretary Partha Pratim Roy said in a statement the rally by teachers of the higher educational institution will converge before the administrative building to demand appointment of a permanent vice chancellor.

The term of the Jadavpur university VC Suranjan Das ended on May 31.

JUTA is the largest representative body of teachers in JU.

Governor C V Ananda Bose, who is also the Chancellor of state universities, had on June 1 appointed interim VCs in 14 state universities where the terms of previous ones had expired in May, but West Bengal Education minister Bratya Basu described these appointments by Raj Bhavan as legally not valid and called upon the VCs not to take over charges.

In a related development, the state government on June 12 declared all 14 vice-chancellors of state universities, appointed by the Governor in early June, will continue to draw the salaries that they were getting as professors, and not as per their new assignment by the governor as interim VC as it did not have the sanction of the higher education department.

Senior professor Amitabha Datta had been appointed interim VC of JU by the governor after the term of Suranjan Das, who had helmed the varsity since 2015, expired.

Since Datta had been the pro-VC of the same university earlier, the tussle between the higher education department and governor apparently did not affect his functioning and he has been discharging his responsibility, a university source said.

Our protest is against such unhealthy tussle between government and chancellor which is humiliating for teachers and in the June 21 rally at campus we will demand the restoration of respect and honour for the teaching community," Roy said.

JUTA said the rally has also been called for appointing a permanent nominee of the chancellor in JU for better coordination between the varsity on issues pertaining to recruitment and promotion and induction of elected university representative in the Search Committee for VC.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has predicted that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may for early Lok Sabha elections as the efforts of opposition unity are gaining momentum.

The Janata Dal (U) leader has met several opposition leaders in the past few weeks in a bid to form a front to take on the BJP in 2024. A number of political parties opposed to the BJP will meet in Patna on June 23 for a conclave.

I may have spoken about early polls in jest but it is also a strong possibility. Those in power at the Centre may sense that there is a lot of movement in the opposition camp," said Kumar.

About his remark on early polls made at an official function, Kumar said, A government at the Centre always has this option. Early polls took place in 2004 too even though the then Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee was not in favour of the same".

What I said was in jest (aise hi kah diya tha), but the possibility cannot be ruled out. The current dispensation may feel that if our opposition unity bid gathered momentum, it would inflict on them bigger losses. So they could take recourse to early polls", asserted Kumar, who had snapped ties with BJP about a year ago.

Jitan Ram Manjhi Was Spying on Oppn for BJP: Nitish

The CM also defended the ouster of former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi from the states ruling Mahagathbandhan, alleging that the Hindustani Awam Morcha founder was virtually spying on opposition parties at the BJPs behest.

The JD(U) supreme leader was talking to reporters at the Raj Bhavan, after the swearing-in of party MLA Ratnesh Sada into the cabinet, which follows the resignation of Manjhis son Santosh Suman, who was holding the SC and ST Welfare portfolio.

A cabinet notification confirming allocation of SC and ST welfare department to Ratnesh Sada came shortly after the swearing in.

Apparently miffed by Manjhis recent statement that Kumar had helped him become the CM in 2014 to cover up the embarrassment over JD(U)s drubbing in Lok Sabha polls, Kumar underscored that he had stepped down against the wishes of party members.

Nobody wanted me to resign. But I stood my ground. There was no consensus among party men as to who should succeed me. So I had to intervene and I chose Manjhi thinking let there be a Scheduled Castes person in the chair", said Kumar.

Kumar, who is till date criticised by his detractors for the unceremonious removal of Manjhi within less than a year of becoming the CM, said he started making a mess of everything within two months. I was left with no choice but to step in." Kumar insisted that despite the bad blood between Manjhi and himself, he always treated the HAM chief with respect, and ahead of the 2020 assembly polls, When he expressed the desire to join hands, the BJP was not ready to make any adjustments with him on seats, so we parted with a few from our quota".

The chief minister also chided Manjhi for crying hoarse over his loyalty" never being respected, pointing out that when he decided to come to Mahagathbandhan with me, Sumans ministerial berth was protected".

Nitish Kumar Asked Me to Merge HAM With JD(U) or Leave: Manjhi

Manjhi had, after the doors of the Mahagathbandhan were slammed on him, alleged that Kumar had asked him to merge" HAM with JD(U) or leave, which the chief minister did not deny but gave his side of the story.

Of late he had begun to hobnob with the BJP people", said Kumar, apparently referring to Manjhis meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in April.

I had received inputs that he was informing on Mahagathbandhan and its plans. He was very insistent on being a part of the June 23 meeting as well", said Kumar.

Notably, Manjhi has made no secret of the slight that he felt over not being invited to the meeting. His son Suman, interestingly, had said well after his resignation that HAM would like to be represented at the meeting even if it got a belated invitation.

Kumar said, I was apprehensive that he might be thinking of leaking to the BJP whatever deliberations would be held on June 23 when so many leaders from across the country will be sitting together".

Leaders who are expected at the meeting include Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal, Sharad Pawar, M K Stalin, Uddhav Thackeray, Akhilesh Yadav, Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.

Kumar said he tested the waters by asking Manjhi, again, to merge ahead of the meeting but he said no. So I said then you leave. It is good riddance".

(with PTI inputs)
Electoral violence flared in West Bengal over the filing of nominations for the upcoming Panchayat Polls leaving at least three dead and several others injured. Thursday was the last day for filing nomination papers. Incidents of violence were reported from Bhangar of South 24 Pargana and Chopra of North Dinajpur.

Following Thursdays violence, the Calcutta High Court directed the West Bengal State Election Commission (SEC) to send a requisition to the Centre for the deployment of forces within 48 hours.

The HC further expressed that its June 13 order for earmarking sensitive areas and deployment of central forces was not followed and no appreciable steps were taken in this regard by the SEC.

No appreciable steps have been taken ever since the order was passed in the earlier writ petitions and to date no effective steps have been taken to identify sensitive areas from a law and order point of view and in the light of the submission on behalf of the commission that it may take a couple of more days to do so, we are of the view that waiting any longer will cause more damage to the situation and will not aid in protecting the purity of

the election process," the Calcutta HC stated.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose also reacted to the violence and said this game of Shaitan should end." Bose is expected to visit Bhangar today.

According to police, one ISF party worker identified as Moinuddin and one TMC party worker named Rashid Mollah died in the violence at Bhangar.

Congress and CPIM claimed that one person died and two others were severely injured in Chopra. Police, however, have not confirmed the death in Chopra.

ALSO READ: Bengal: Violence Over Panchayat Poll Flares Up; 3 Dead, Several Injured

Late Thursday evening news of another death still not confirmed surfaced from Murshidabad where TMC worker Anchal Sabhapathi allegedly got killed while campaigning.

On June 9, the first day of nominations, one death of a Congress worker was reported in Khargram Murshidabad, though police are yet to confirm whether it was related to the nomination or not.

Political Reaction to Bengal Poll Violence

BJP left, Congress, and ISF reacted strongly and even staged a protest outside the Election Commission office on Thursday against the electoral violence.

West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari took to Twitter and slammed the ruling TMC over violence in the state saying Celebration of Democracy has been turned into funeral of democracy by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee".

Bengal Bleeds. Celebration of Democracy" has been turned into Funeral of Democracy" by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her puppet; State Election Commissioner Rajiv Sinha," Adhikari tweeted.

Bengal Bleeds.Celebration of Democracy" has been turned into Funeral of Democracy" by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee & her puppet; State Election Commissioner Rajiv Sinha. Mamata Police be like . pic.twitter.com/jT9SHJO3Xy  Suvendu Adhikari    (@SuvenduWB) June 15, 2023

While the Opposition welcomed the Calcutta High Courts decision to deploy Central Forces, TMC General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee stated the deployment of Central Forces will only increase the partys vote share.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee painted the poll violence as a tiff over local issues".

Across West Bengal, there are around 73,000 - 74,000 booths. Among these booths, we have seen sporadic reports of violence from just three Aanchals. The tiff was primarily over local issues. I would like to state in clear terms that Trinamool Congress is not involved in these incidents of violence," she said.

Over 2 lakh nominations were filed on Thursday.
Missile attacks demonstrate that Russia has not given up in its aim to subjugate Ukraine, willing to go to awful lengths to achieve that goal  U.S. ambassador

Missile attacks against Ukrainian cities and their residents demonstrate that Russia has not given up in its aim to subjugate Ukraine and is willing to go to awful lengths to achieve that goal, Ambassador of the United States Bridget Brink has said.

"Again today, Russia launched ballistic and cruise missiles at Kyiv  a continuation of its daily attacks against people living in Kryvyi Rih, Odesa, and across Ukraine. These missile attacks against cities and their residents demonstrate that Russia has not given up in its aim to subjugate Ukraine and is willing to go to awful lengths to achieve that goal. As was clear from the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, the United States and our allies and partners remain laser-focused on meeting Ukraine's urgent needs for air-defense systems," she said on Twitter on Friday.
Read more

snapped and poles got uprooted due to the cyclone, an official said. After the landfall process got over, the intensity of the cyclone reduced from very severe to severe category.

It has moved north-eastwards and weakened into a cyclonic storm. It will become a depression by the evening over south Rajasthan, he said.

A cattle-rearer duo of father and son died while trying to save their goats stuck in a flooded ravine in Bhavnagar district on Thursday.Kutch collector Amit Arora said no report of any fatality caused due to the cyclone has been received so far from the district.

The severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy, which made landfall near Gujarats Jakhau port, was centered over Saurashtra-Kutch region, 30 km north of Naliya, at 2:30am, the India Meteorological Department said. It is expected to move northeastwards and weaken into a cyclonic storm by early morning on June 16, and into a depression by the same evening over south Rajasthan, the IMD added late night.

Biparjoy or Biporjoy, which packed high wind speeds and brought heavy rains, caused complete disruption of normal life in Gujarats Kutch district on Thursday as trees were uprooted in large numbers, power failure was reported in many areas, and low-lying areas near the sea were flooded.

J C Goswami, executive engineer of Morbis Paschim Gujarat Vij Company, said that strong winds broke electric wires and poles, causing a power outage in 45 villages of Maliya tehsil. We are restoring power in nine villages, while electricity has already been restored in the remaining villages, he added.

An IMD official said that Cyclone Biparjoys eye is towards Pakistans Karachi. Elaborating on the damages in Gujarat, a state government said that more than 20 electricity poles fell in 940 villages, 22 people were injured and 23 animals died. He added 524 trees fell due to the storm, however, no loss of life was reported in Kutch.

The Gujarat district administration will conduct a damage survey from today. Heavy rain has been forecast in Gujarats Patan and Banaskantha.

According to Western Railways chief PRO Sumit Thakur, 23 trains have been cancelled, three trains short-terminated and seven trains short originated. With this, 99 trains have been cancelled, 39 trains have been short-terminated, while 38 trains short-originated as a precautionary measure, in view of safety of passengers and train operations with respect to onset of Cyclone Biparjoy, the WR said in a statement.

Mumbai too witnessed a pleasant weather as the cyclone made a landfall in the neighbouring state. While the monsoon is yet to hit the financial capital, the city and its neighbourhood witnessed significant rains between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Conditions are becoming favourable for further advancement of the southwest monsoon over some more parts of the southern peninsula and eastern India and the adjoining areas between June 18 and 21, the IMD said, forecasting light rainfall in Mumbai, Thane and Palghar till June 17.
Cyclone Biparjoy, (pronounced Biporjoy, which means disaster" in Bengali) left a trail of destruction in the Kutch and Saurashtra regions of Gujarat, as it moved towards Rajasthan on Friday. The cyclone moved northeastwards after landfall along the Saurashtra-Kutch coasts near Jakhau and weakened into a cyclonic storm, and is expected to become a deep depression over south Rajasthan around midnight today.

However, in its trail, Biparjoy left over 1,000 villages without power with hundreds of electric poles getting damaged, while several coastal villages were flooded by the incoming seawater and heavy rains that followed.

As per the latest reports, the eye of the cyclone near Gujarats Dholavira with a windspeed still at 80-90 kmph.

Cyclone Biparjoy Top 10 Points:

The cyclone is weakening and moving over Rajasthans Barmer, Jalore, Jaisalmer, Sirohi, Jodhpur, Pali, and nearby places, where the India Meteorological Department has sounded an Orange alert predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall till Saturday.

The cyclonic storm damaged thousands of electricity poles, rendering 4,600 villages without power in Gujarat, even as authorities maintained that there was no loss of human life due to Biparjoy. Electricity supply was restored in 3,580 villages, while more than 1,000 are reportedly still without power.

Amid the tense moments, authorities evacuated over a lakh people from coastal areas of Gujarat as a precautionary measure. Despite the strong winds and heavy rains, a total of 709 pregnant women were successfully rescued and transported to hospitals. Two babies were even delivered inside the state governments 108 ambulances.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) reported two casualties preceding the cyclones arrival. A father-son cattle-rearing duo died while attempting to save their trapped goats from a flooded ravine in Bhavnagar district the same day. One woman was also killed in a separate incident when a wall collapsed in Dhaniyavi village in Vadodara taluk due to strong winds.

As cyclone Biparjoy landed" in Gujarat, the Western Railway (WR) trains schedules were hit with cancellations or partial operations of around 180 services in the Gujarat sector, With this, 100 trains have been cancelled, 40 trains have been short-terminated, while 40 trains short-originated as a precautionary measure, in view of the safety of passengers & train operations, in view of cyclone Biparjoy," said Sumit Thakur, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway.

The Gujarat government had deployed more than 200 teams in Gir forest and Kutch district to respond to emergencies related to Asiatic lions and other wildlife during the landfall of cyclone Biparjoy, an official said on Friday. One of the teams rescued two lion cubs that had fallen into an open well in Jasadhar Range of Gir East division during the cyclones landfall on Thursday evening, the official said.

NDRF teams have been deployed in Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka. As the storm weakens and turns into a deep depression, it is likely to rain over South Rajasthan. At the request of the Rajasthan government, we have sent a team to Jalore. Apart from this, we have four teams deployed in Karnataka and five teams in Maharashtra," said Atul Karwal, NDRF DG.

A sprightly shower accompanied by gusts of wind provided a much-needed succour to the national capital which had been reeling under sweltering heat for days. The pre-monsoon rain came under the influence of Cyclone Biparjoy and a western disturbance active over the northwest Himalayan region, inundating low-lying areas of the city and disrupting traffic flow.

The remnant of cyclone Biparjoy is expected to bring rain over parts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh starting Sunday, and help the monsoon advance over east India currently in the grip of a severe heat wave, meteorologists said on Friday. The monsoons progress has remained sluggish since May 11 in the absence of any weather system over the Bay of Bengal. Cyclone Biparjoy impacted the southwest monsoon current, and its remnant is likely to move north-eastwards and give rainfall in central and east Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, they said.

 Meanwhile, Pakistan was largely spared from the full impact of Biparjoy as it weakened into a cyclonic storm on Friday after making landfall in Gujarat. People in Sindhs coastal areas, who left their homes amid cyclone threat and a warning of monsoon rains, are now returning.

(With inputs from PTI, IANS)
The recent Mumbai Police recruitment exam has turned out to be a major test for the personnel as probe has revealed that several candidates used Chinese technology based gadgets to cheat in the written test.

Last month, Mumbai Police held a written exam for 7,076 posts of constable. A total of 5.81 lakh candidates appeared for the exam and after the physical test, two lakh candidates qualified for the written exam. Considering the number of vacancies and eligible candidates for the written test, Mumbai Police worked out a formula through which only 83,743 candidates were eligible for the final written test. Of these, 78,522 candidates appeared on May 7 for the written exam at 215 centres across Mumbai. Mumbai Police also deployed 1,246 officials at the centres for smooth functioning of the exam as well as 5,975 personnel to ensure security.

However, at one of the exam centres, the supervisor observed that a candidate was busy writing answers without referring to the exam paper. Upon inspection, police recovered a mobile phone shaped like a debit card, a button camera on the candidates shirt and an electronic earbud.

To dig deeper into the racket, Mumbai Police deployed three teams and arrested 25 people, including aspirants, from different parts of the state.

According to Mumbai Police, a few of those arrested were not genuine candidates but their main job was to click pictures of the question paper and send it to an accomplice who would then solve the questions and relay the answers to candidates who had paid them money for the job.

Police said the accused hid the debit card-sized phone in their pocket and the mini earbud with Bluetooth connectivity was kept deep inside the ear due to which they were not caught during frisking at the exam centre. The scamsters then placed the question paper in front of them at the correct angle and used the button camera attached to their shirt to click perfect pictures. The camera was also equipped to send the pictures to the backend team.

On Day One of the exam, five FIRs were registered in Goregaon, Meghwadi, Kasturba Marg, Bhandup and Dahishar police station.

The accused were mainly operating from three districts of Maharashtra  Beed, Jalna and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The investigation revealed that candidates paid between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 8 lakh to the scamsters for the job. Probe also found that a few arrested accused were involved in similar cheating rackets for other government exams.
On the tenth anniversary of the massive flash flood that killed thousands in Kedarnath, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami Friday offered prayers at the Himalayan temple and paid homage to the victims.

Accompanied by Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee chairman Ajendra Ajay and a host of priests, Dhami offered prayers inside the sanctum sanctorum of the Kedarnath temple in Rudraprayag district.

He also greeted the Char Dham pilgrims and took part in a yagna performed outside the temple by teerth purohits (pilgrimage priests).

A devastating deluge hit Kedarnath on June 16-17 in 2013, when the Chorabari Lake collapsed due to a cloudburst, triggerring a flash flood and landslides.

The disaster took place when the pilgrimage to the temple was in full swing. It rendered thousands homeless, while over 3,500 people went missing and nearly 5,000 were killed.

The skeletal remains of people killed in the disaster continued to be recovered from areas near the temple even years after the tragedy which is also known as the Himalayan Tsunami because of the scale of damage to life and property.

The disaster did not just wash away roads and bridges but entire human settlements on its way to the Himalayan temple, including the bustling hamlet of Rambara which used to be the most popular resting place for pilgrims en route to Kedarnath.

It has taken the authorities years to rebuild the lost infrastructure in Kedarnath and develop improved facilities for pilgrims.
The security forces killed five foreign terrorists near the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday morning.

The encounter started early morning after security forces launched an operation based on a specific input in Jumagund area near the LoC in the north Kashmir district.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, said on Twitter, Five (05) foreign #terrorists killed in #encounter. Search in the area is going on".

(More details awaited)
Father of a 22-year-old woman from Kannur has filed a habeas corpus in Kerala high court alleging that his daughter has been forcefully converted and married". Benita Grace Varghese, a student of audio and speech language at Chennais SRM College, has been missing since June 8, the petition read.

The father has alleged that a man named Fahad had befriended her. The petition mentions that through a mobile application, the Varghese family found out that Fahad is a resident of Kannurs Mattannur.

The father, 54-year-old Varghese Abraham, however, does not know the mans complete address. He had claimed that his daughter used to call him up two-three times in a day. But after 7:45 pm on June 8, he has not heard from here and her phone is also switched off.

Not being able to get in touch with his daughter, Abraham immediately contacted the hostel authorities who informed him that she had left the hostel on June 8 citing that she is going to her cousins home".

At 9:37pm on June 9, the father received a voice note from Benita stating that she was going with a person unknown to me". The number from which the voice note was sent was of one  Fahad, the petition mentioned.

The petitioner suspects that the man took Benita to Mattannur, without her will. He suspects that Benita will be converted from her community forcefully and married to him against her will, the plea read.

The petition states that the petitioner is an NRI in Kuwait. His daughter too was in Kuwait but moved to Chennai for higher education.

(details to follow)
The house of Union minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh was set ablaze by a mob at Kongba in Manipurs Imphal late Thursday night. Officials said that the junior minister of the external affairs minister was not at home at the time of the incident. He is in Kochi, an official added.

Speaking to News18, Singh said, We are in the process of peace-making. It was yesterday only when I had approached the central government regarding fresh violence in Manipur. Then I went to Kolkata for a meeting, following which I flew to Kochi for another meeting. And that night only I got the news that my house has been set ablaze. I dont know whats the reason. I am only making peace."

Some people do not like this process of peace-making, and are continuing to disturb normalcy. People have to understand peace is the only solution. But I will continue to work for peace and will try my level best to bring down violence," the minister added.

He further said, Thankfully, nobody got injured last night at my Imphal home. The miscreants came with petrol bombs and the damage has been done to the ground floor and first floor of my house."

Last month too, a mob, which comprised of Meitei men and women, attacked the MPs house  who is from the same community  over the deaths in the Manipur violence that claimed dozens of lives in recent weeks.

The northeast state has been witnessing clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities over the demand for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category.

While this time the MP was at Delhi at the time of the incident, during last months attack, the minister was inside the house when the mob attempted to burn his residence. Reports said that three other members of his family were present in the building.

Earlier, Manipur minister Konthoujam Govindass house in Bishnupur was attacked during the ongoing ethnic violence that has claimed over 75 lives.

Singh, a BJP MP from Inner Manipur constituency, had on Thursday said that repeated clashes show that the security needs to be tightened and the monitoring agency should monitor the situation.

His remarks came after nine people were killed and 10 others injured in a fresh flare-up of violence in Manipur which witnessed ethnic clashes on Wednesday.

MoS Rajkumar Ranjan Singh speaking on the violence in Khamenlok area, Imphal East said, There are about 14 designated camps. Let the monitoring agency should monitor whether all of those activists are in their designated camp and whether their weapons are deposited or not" Imphal East SP Shivkanta Singh said that firing was heard in the area late on Tuesday night.

Nine people have been killed and 10 others injured in fresh violence this morning in Khamenlok. Those killed were all men. The post-mortem is being done. Treatment has also been provided to those injured," Singh was quoted by ANI.

Rajkumar Ranjan Singh further told the news agency that the situation in Manipur needs to be normalised through peace committees.

(With inputs from Kamalika Sengupta)
A 53-year-old Mumbai man who sold his flat for Rs 1.27 crore, lost the money to cyber fraudsters while looking for investment opportunities. The fraudsters reportedly promised him sky-high returns in a part-time job they offered him.

According to a complaint filed with the police, the man received a message from a woman on messaging app Telegram about a part-time job on February 9. The woman said she would share links to movies and hotels and he would have to rate them, take a screenshot and send it back to the same number.

According to a TOI report, the man earned Rs 7,000 initially from the work but lost Rs 1.27 crore by transferring it to the fraudsters account over a span of many days.

When the man showed interest in the job, the woman sent a link and asked him to share his bank account details with her. Afterwards, she shared credentials for his e-wallet and asked him to deposit Rs 10,000 in an account.

The woman sent him a link to a website that specialises in having information in the hotel industry. He gave a rating to the website content, took a screenshot and sent it to the accused. Soon, he received Rs 17,372 in his account," a police officer was quoted by TOI as saying.

The police officer further said that the woman again sent him a link to give a rating to a movie and asked him to deposit Rs 32,000 in her account. The man complied and earned Rs 55,000 as profit in his e-wallet.

He then again sent Rs 50,000 to her account. However, this time, the woman said that due to some technical glitch in the link, he would have to pay again and so he made a payment of Rs 55,000 to her account once again.

On May 17, he deposited Rs 48 lakh in bank account numbers provided by the woman and completed all tasks given by her through the links. The profit in his wallet was shown as Rs 60 lakh. The woman told him that if he wanted to get Rs 60 lakh from his wallet to his account he would have to pay an additional Rs 30 lakh. On May 18, the man in various transactions, transferred Rs 76 lakh to accounts given by the woman," the police said.

However, when the man did not receive any money after making all payments, he confronted the woman, who, in turn, demanded more money from him. It was then he approached the police and lodged an FIR.

During the investigation, the police found that the money was transferred to eight accounts of banks in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.

Total cheating amount as per FIR is around Rs 1.27 crore The crime took place between February and May this year. We have frozen eight bank accounts used by the accused," the police officer stated.

Police said that the fraudsters lure people by transferring small amounts of money into their accounts and later dupe them after making them invest big amounts and vanishing.
PM US Visit: Biden, First Lady to Host State Dinner in Honour of Modi; Egypt Travel Also On Cards

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to the United States on his first official state visit to the country, where he will attend a host of events- including a state dinner at the White House and a bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden. READ MORE

Cyclone Biparjoy LIVE: Gujarats Rupen Bandar Flooded as Water Rises Precariously, NDRF on Toes; Bhujs Main Highway Shut Amid Heavy Rain

Biparjoy (meaning disaster or calamity in Bengali) unleashed destructive wind speeds of up to 140 kmph and incessant rains as trees and electricity poles were uprooted, while seawater entered villages located in low-lying areas. READ MORE

Kerala Woman Goes Missing from Chennai Hostel, Father Fears She Was Forcefully Converted, Married

The Father of a 22-year-old woman from Kannur has filed a habeas corpus in Kerala high court alleging that his daughter has been forcefully converted and married". Benita Grace Varghese, a student of audio and speech-language at Chennais SRM College, has been missing since June 8, the petition read. READ MORE

Tamannaah Bhatia Goes Topless for Sex Scenes In Jee Karda, Sparks Major Controversy

Tamannaah Bhatia sparked controversy after she went topless and performed bold scenes in Jee Karda. The actress broke her no-kiss policy for the first time in her 18-year career and did not shy away from performing intimate scenes in her web series debut. The photos and videos of her sensual scenes from the series have now surfaced online and have left her fans, especially in the South in a state of shock. READ MORE

Senthil Balaji Arrested, Tamil Nadu Governor Returns Govt Proposal to Change Portfolios, Seeks ED Details

In what can be termed as a fresh face-off in Tamil Nadu, Governor RN Ravi on Thursday returned the state governments proposal to reallocate the portfolios held by Senthil Balaji who has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a job scam. READ MORE

I Am Also Human Being And: Naveen-ul-Haq Blames Virat Kohli For On-field Spat in IPL 2023

Afghanistan paceman Naveen-ul-Haq has reacted to his on-field spat with Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli during IPL 2023. Naveen, who played for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2023, had an ugly altercation with Kohli during the high-octane clash against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Ekana Stadium, Lucknow. READ MORE

Ola Electric Car: Patent Images Leaked Online, Resembles Tesla Models

Ola Electric, the Indian EV start-up, made headlines last August when it announced its plans to launch an electric four-wheeler in 2024. However, since then, there has been little information about the highly anticipated vehicle. READ MORE
Alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, lodged in Delhis Mandoli jail in the Rs 200 crore money laundering case, has offered Rs 10 crore for Odisha train accident. In a letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Chandrasekhar had sought permission to make the donation, mentioning that the amount is his legit and taxed income".

The contribution is from my personal funds which is from my legitimate source of earning, which is, completely taxed, and the documentation along with returns filings shall be furnished along with the said demand draft of Rs Ten Crores (Rs 10,00,00,000)," the letter read.

ALSO READ | Saw Dead Child Holding Doll: News18 Speaks to IG, SP Who Responded to Odisha Train Crash

Earlier, the alleged conman had written a letter to the DG Prisons offering to make a Rs 5 crore contribution for the welfare of undertrials on the occasion of his birthday on March 25.

A report in Indian Express quoted his letter to the DG Prisons on March 22. Through the letter, he sought the officers permission to donate Rs 5,11,00,000 towards the welfare of jail inmates who are not able to pay for their bail bonds, even after securing their bail or inmates who are lodged in jail for many years as undertrials and their families, mainly children, not having means to pay for their education and running of their house as the breadwinner is lodged in jail.

Delhi Polices Economic Offences Wing (EOW) had last year filed an FIR against Chandrasekhar for cheating and extorting money from Japna Singh and Aditi Singh, wife of the former promoter of Religare Enterprises.

Both Chandrasekhar and his actor wife Leena Maria Paul were arrested by the Delhi Police in September last year for their alleged role in the duping case.

The names of Bollywood actors Jacqueline Fernandez, Nora Fatehi and several others surfaced during the investigation of the Economic Offence Wing of Delhi Police and Enforcement Directorate.

While he had called Nora Fatehi a gold digger", it has been alleged that Jacqueline received over Rs 7 crore in proceeds of crime from Chandrasekhar.

The alleged conman had written a letter to Jacqueline in April sending her Easter wishes. He showered her with compliments, including that there was no one as pretty as her on the planet".

ALSO READ | Conman Sukesh Sends Jacqueline Fernandez Special Letter, Says Next Easter Will Be the Best Ever

My bunny rabbityou and me forever come what may mine forever, Chandrasekhar wrote in the letter, assuring that assured the actress that the next Easter will be the best ever she has celebrated in her life.

Sukesh Chandrasekhar also mentioned Jacquelines television advertisements of the Lux Cozy brand. Baby I was thinking about us yesterday while I watched your latest ad Lux Cozy..that ad was so about us, he wrote.

The alleged conman also said he was constantly reminded of Jacqueline every time he heard the latest version of classic Bollywood song Tu mile, dil khile. Referring to her as his heartbeat, Chandrasekhar wrote at the end of the letter, Love you my baby, not just love, but verithanam love, my Jacky Bomma.
The decision to rename the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) as the Prime Ministers Museum and Society, according to a report in the Indian Express, started a war of words between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief JP Nadda and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday.

ALSO READ | Legacies Dont Get: Fresh Row as Nehru Memorial Museum Renamed, But Without 1st PMs Name

The move comes almost a year after the Prime Ministers Museum was inaugurated at the Teen Murti complex, which served as the official residence of Indias first PM. The IE report stated that the decision was taken at a special meeting of the NMML Society on Thursday, presided over by defence minister Rajnath Singh, who is the vice-president of the society.

     ,         ! Nehru Memorial Museum & Library       ,         ,               BJP-RSS    Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) June 16, 2023

Kharge tweeted: Those who do not have any history, they have gone to erase the history of others. The ill-fated attempt to change the name of the Nehru Memorial Museum & Library cannot belittle the personality of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the architect of modern India and fearless guardian of democracy. This only shows the low mentality and dictatorial attitude of BJP-RSS. The dwarf thinking of the Modi government cannot reduce the huge contribution of Jawahar of Hind towards India!

Classic example of political indigestion- the inability to accept a simple fact that there are leaders beyond one dynasty who have served and built our nation. PM Sangrahalaya is an effort beyond politics and Congress lacks the vision to realise this. https://t.co/jmyNzJPB9a Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) June 16, 2023

Quoting his tweet, Nadda responded on Twitter: Classic example of political indigestion- the inability to accept a simple fact that there are leaders beyond one dynasty who have served and built our nation.

The empowering speech of our Prime Minister, still echoes amidst the walls of the museum. https://t.co/0Xm5657K4b pic.twitter.com/8ZckUBbiaa Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya (@PMSangrahalaya) April 14, 2023

PM Sangrahalaya is an effort beyond politics and Congress lacks the vision to realise this. Congress approach to this issue is ironical considering their partys only contribution is to erase the legacies of all previous PMs to ensure that only the legacy of one family survives, he wrote.

Nadda tweeted: In PM Sangrahalaya, every PM has got respect. Section relating to Pandit Nehru hasnt been altered. On the contrary, its prestige has been enhanced. For a party which ruled India for over 50 years, their pettiness is really tragic. Its also the reason people are rejecting them.

#Congress fumes as centre decides to remane Nehru Memorial Museum and Library as Prime Ministers Museum and Library SocietyCNN-News18's @Elizasherine shares more updates | @aayeshavarma pic.twitter.com/Q5x6e7RsBi  News18 (@CNNnews18) June 16, 2023

Earlier in the day, former Union minister and senior Congress leader Manish Tewari launched an indirect attack on the Centre, asking those trying to erase Jawahar Lal Nehrus contribution" to read Discovery of India and Glimpses of World History. He added that legacies dont get erased by renaming buildings.

Congress veteran Jairam Ramesh launched a scathing attack on one of the countrys top leader and called him a small, small man overburdened by his insecurities, and is a self-styled Vishwaguru".

The NMML Society has 29 members with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its chairman. Other key members of the society include Union Ministers Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmendra Pradhan, G Kishan Reddy and Anurag Thakur.
Averting a major threat ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra, security forces killed five heavily armed foreign terrorists belonging to an outfit commanded by an Afghan war veteran along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday.

It was the biggest infiltration bid to have been foiled since 2021, when India and Pakistan effected a ceasefire understanding, officials said.

The operation in the Jumagund area in the Keran sector was launched Thursday night based on intelligence input gathered by the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Srinagar-based Defence PRO Col Emron Musavi said the terror groups in Pakistan are using the facade" of ceasefire to perpetrate terror in the Union territory.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) of Kashmir Vijay Kumar said the slain terrorists were affiliated to the Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force, which has Rafiq Nai and Shamsher Nai alias Zafar Iqbal  both residents of Poonch but presently settled in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK), as handlers.

The JKGF has Murtaza Pathan alias Ghaznvi, a resident of Faislabad in Pakistan who is an Afghan (war) veteran affiliated with Deoband School of thought, as operational commander supervising tactical aspect from POJK, Kumar said.

Briefing the media here, the general officer commanding of the armys 28 Division, Major General Girish Kalia, said that based on the input, multiple ambushes were set up along the expected routes of infiltration.

Simultaneously, the entire area, the LoC fence or the anti-infiltration obstacle system (AIOS), was kept under surveillance," he said.

Around midnight, the movement of terrorists was picked up by the alert troops who braved challenging terrain and weather conditions.

The infiltrating terrorists were engaged with precise and accurate fire, and in the ensuing firefight, five unidentified terrorists were neutralised," Maj Gen Kalia said, adding there was no collateral damage.

He said the terrorists were heavily armed and appeared to be very well trained.

During a search of the site Friday morning, a large amount of arms and ammunition, including five AK series rifles, 15 magazines and grenades, and equipment such as night vision devices and binoculars were recovered, he said.

Maj Gen Kalia said while there is a ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan, the security forces have been getting a large number of intelligence inputs of likely infiltration from across the LoC in the recent past.

The army officer said the operation is a reflection of the high level of synergy between the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police who have been working tirelessly to ensure that our beloved J-K remains peaceful and continues to progress on the path of development and prosperity".

He complimented the officers and jawans who took part in the operation, and assured everyone that the security forces shall remain steadfast in our resolve to defeat the evil designs of inimical elements".

The ADGP Kashmir also appreciated the role of the joint forces for neutralising the terrorists without any collateral damage.

Appreciate the joint teams for displaying the highest degree of synergy and coordination which led to the elimination of five foreign terrorists and averted a big threat for forthcoming yatra," he said. The Amarnath pilgrimage is scheduled to commence on July 1.

Meanwhile, Col Musavi, in a statement, said the terror groups in Pakistan are using the facade" of ceasefire to perpetrate terror in Jammu and Kashmir.

The operation clearly establishes the evil design of terrorist groups which are determined to disrupt peace in Kashmir. It also exposes the facade of false commitment to the ceasefire understanding by Pakistan which has repeatedly been exploited to perpetrate terror in Jammu and Kashmir," the PRO said.
A wedding ceremony turned into a brawl on Tuesday after the grooms side misbehaved with the brides family over the issue of dowry in Uttar Pradeshs Pratapgarh. An argument broke out between the families of the boy and the girl during the jai mala" ceremony.

According to an India Today report, the groom, Amarjeet Vermas demand for dowry was the reason behind the brawl, during which, he was held captive and tied to a tree for several hours by the brides family.

Some reports claim that Amajeets friends asked the bride for a selfie with black shades during the jai mala" ceremony and misbehaved with her when she didnt comply. It led to a skirmish between the families and the situation became worse when the groom started making dowry demands from the brides family, following which, he was held captive.

Later, cops from the Mandhata police station reached the spot, intervened and freed the groom and took him into custody.

Both sides are present in the police station, but no compromise has been reached yet. Friends of the groom misbehaved, which led to an argument between the two sides. In the meantime, the groom, Amarjeet, made demands for a dowry," SHO Mandhata was quoted by India Today as saying.

A deliberation was underway between the two families to reach a settlement and compensate the brides side for their expenses in the marriage ceremony, SHO further said.
As one of the most decorated wings of the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police  the Special Task Force (STF)  recently celebrated its 25 years, founding member and retired Indian Police Services (IPS) officer Rajesh Kumar Pandey revisited its initial days.

He recounted how the UP STF was formed to eliminate then dreaded gangster Shri Prakash Shukla.

ALSO READ | UP STF Got Whiff of Asad Ahmads Presence in Jhansi Last Month, Then Followed Leads | Fresh Details

I am perhaps the happiest person to see the growth of one of the most decorated wings of the UP Police. There is a huge difference between todays STF and that of the 1990s, when it was constituted. Indeed, it is like a flashback to me, said Pandey, who retired as the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DSP), Bareilly range, and is a native of UPs Prayagraj district.

THE BEGINNING

It all began in the 1990s, when Shuklas terror peaked. The force was first formed on May 4, 1998 just to eliminate Shukla, who, by then, had become an eyesore for the UP Police, he said.

WHY ONLY SHUKLA?

Its the modus operandi that made Shukla different from other gangsters, Pandey was quick to respond.

Shukla was unlike other gangsters, as he used to enjoy killing. Although he was well aware that one bullet is enough to kill his enemy, he used to keep pumping more bullets for publicity and to create more terror.

 STF    ,               ! Keshav Prasad Maurya (@kpmaurya1) April 13, 2023

DILEEP HOTEL SHOOTING

The incident at Dileep Hotel in Lucknow on August 1, 1997 was one of the deadliest, as Shukla barged into room no. 102 and opened fire at a railway contractor from Gorakhpur. He used an AK-47. It was perhaps the first time when the use of AK-47 was reported. Prior to this, the UP Police had once recovered an AK-47 from Varanasi, said Pandey.

SHAHI KILLING

The killing of mafia-turned-politician Viren Pratap Shahi, another gangster from Gorakhpur, was another incident that shook the UP government to the core.

ALSO READ | To Gather Info on Motive & Arms, UP STF to Seek Remand of Three Who Shot Dead Atiq Ahmed, Brother

I still remember it was the day the results were being declared at a local school in Lucknows Indiranagar. Shukla peppered Shahi with bullets from his AK-47 in full public view. It was not a regular murder. It was executed in the presence of some 300 parents and children. Shukla shot at Shahi and after he fell to the ground, he fired bullets in his eyes, face, then confused over the position of the heart, he first fired to the left of the chest and then to the right to make sure he died. This was not all. He then turned the body and emptied the entire magazine, said Pandey.

SUPARI TO ASSASSINATE THEN UP CM

The killing of Lucknow-based lottery dealer Vivek Srivastava was another gruesome murder in the list of killings carried out by Shukla. An alleged supari (contract) worth Rs 6 crore to assassinate the then UP Chief Minister Kalyan Singh turned out to be the last nail in Shuklas coffin. It was then that the STF was formed, said Pandey.

Pandey said the fact is also mentioned 1966 batch IPS officer Ajay Raj Sharmas book Biting the Bullet.

It was then that the CM called Sharma, who was posted in Sitapur. He posted him as the ADG law and order and told him to form a unit to eliminate Shukla. Initially, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Arun Kumar, Additional SP Satyendra Veer Singh and I, who was posted as the Circle Officer Hazratganj, Lucknow, was roped in. With drivers and other staff, there were a total of 17 people in the unit, said Pandey.

The STF was formed on a temporary basis for six months.

COMPUTER: THE ALIEN THING

There was a dire need for resources. Arun Kumar somehow managed to get a computer. But we were not computer literate. A trainer was hired from a local computer institute to teach us how to use it. It was an alien thing for all of us. The computer teacher used to teach us in the evening, he recalled.

FIRST PHONE TAPPING IN INDIA

That was not enough to crack the nexus. We also needed other resources to tap Shuklas phone calls. We then roped in an IITian from Kanpur who had developed a device that was capable of taping and transferring phone calls. It was the first time in the history of the country that any phone was tapped.

ACTOR SUNIL SHETTYS POSTCARD TO THE RESCUE

Another problem was Shuklas photograph was not available anywhere. Shukla was so sharp that he used to make sure his pictures were not leaked. He had killed a photo studio owner for circulating his photo. Since then, none of his photos were available. We managed to get his picture from one of his relatives. The photo was of a birthday party Shukla had attended. But his relative said that Shukla will kill them if he learned that he had leaked the photo. We had to save our source, so we decided to morph the picture to hide the background. At a book stall in Lucknows Hazratganj, I found some postcards of Bollywood actors and actresses. I decided to put Shuklas face on the image of Bollywood actor Sunil Shetty. We got it done and got the morphed picture of Shukla made from a photocopy shop in Hazratganj published in the newspapers, he said.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police got another technology to tap phones and Shukla was tracked down with the help of electronic surveillance. The Arun Kumar-led team left for Delhi where Shukla was hiding. The gangster was gunned down in a fierce encounter on September 23, 1998.

After the encounter, the talks of disbanding the STF reached its peak, but the UP government decided to give it an extension of six months and later made it a permanent wing of the UP Police to crack down on organised crime and mafia.

YOGI GOVT TO STRENGTHEN STF, FOUR MORE UNITS TO COME UP

The UP STF recently was in the limelight after CM Yogi Adityanath-led UP government launched a campaign against the mafia and dreaded gangsters. It also played a crucial role in demolishing the empire of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari and Atiq Ahmed.

Taking note of its success, the UP government recently decided to strengthen the STF by establishing its units in four more districts and filling up vacant posts, said a state government spokesperson.

ALSO READ | Asad Ahmed Encounter: How CM Yogis Pledge, STFs 50-Day Chase Made UPs Most Wanted Bite the Dust

In a review meeting, Adityanath gave approval to the budget for the acquisition of land and construction of buildings for the units in Agra (Rs 2.84 crore), Gorakhpur (Rs 2.53 crore), Prayagraj (Rs 2.58 crore) and Bareilly (Rs 2.28 crore). A transit hostel will also be constructed for the STFs Noida unit at a cost of Rs 9.62 crore, while the construction of buildings has started, he said.

The government has approved an amount of Rs 20 crore and ordered the release of the funds.
In a first, all interfaith marriages in Uttarakhand, since 2018, will be examined to check any possible violation of the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act (Amendment) 2022, the police said.

The police will examine all the interfaith marriages and take appropriate legal action in case of violation, ADG (Law & Order) V Murugesan told The Times of India.

For this, the police has written to all SSPs and SPs of all the 13 districts in the state.

Action will be taken by concerned district police units in case of violation, and irrespective of the faiths of those involved, TOI said.

What is the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Act?

The Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was approved by the Uttarakhand Assembly in November this year in order to strengthen the 2018 Anti Conversion Law.

The amendment increased the maximum sentence for forcible conversion from five years to ten years in jail and also made conversion a cognizable and non-bailable crime.

The offender will also be imposed with a fine of Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000.

No person shall convert, either directly or otherwise, any other person from one religion to another by use or practice of misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means. No person shall abet, convince or conspire such conversion," the draft of the bill said.

Stating the objects and reasons for the bill, State Minister for religious affairs Satpal Maharaj said under articles 25,26, 27 and 28 of the Constitution of India, under Right to Freedom of Religion, to equally strengthen the importance of every religion, the amendment in Uttarakhand freedom of religion Act, 2018 is necessary to remove certain difficulties in the Act.
Pragya Jaiswal, one of the most beautiful actresses ever, continues to charm Tollywood. This Akhanda" beauty makes sure that her social media profiles are brimming with spicy dosages despite recently scaling back her beautiful treat on the big screen. Her level of hotness has truly astounded us.

She occasionally receives significant offers in Tollywood, but if given the perfect character and a luxurious setting, she is one woman who has the power to stun audiences. This actress turned lawyer is currently competing for numerous big roles, including one with Superstar Chiranjeevi, as her Akhanda has captured the attention of everyone. She also hopes to make a name for herself in Tamil.

Meanwhile, lets looks at 6 times the actress really stunned her fans in super hot bikini looks:

Despite the stifling heat already present, actress Pragya Jaiswal is here to welcome summer in a monokini, raising temperatures even higher on a May 1st. Pragya Jaiswal greeted the summer as she posed in a black monokini. She had damp hair along with it. Pragya Jaiswal uploaded pictures of herself in a flowery bikini on the Costa Brava in Spain.

Recently, Pragya added a few Instagram updates from her vacation, which left her followers in awe. Pragya appears in the photos relaxing on the sands of the beach. She looks hot in a bikini with several colours. She chose bare makeup, parted her hair, and added sunglasses to finish off her appearance. Pragya posted the images, which are being widely shared on social media, and captioned them, One step closer to summer."

Pragya Jaiswal is raising the bar for hottiness on Instagram by posting a photo of herself wearing black bikini. In the picture, Pragya Jaiswal is displaying her flawlessly toned physique while wearing this super hot bikini. In this picture, she has a scorching hot display of curves. She looks nothing less than a golden angel in Black Pearl.

Pragya Jaiswal recently went on vacation, and while there, she enjoyed spending time at the pool. As the sun touched Pragya Jaiswal, she slid into a pink bikini. Pragya titles the photographs, Summer feels in the winter sun," and they certainly enticing.

Pragya Jaiswal has the ideal balance of attractiveness and sex appeal. The Kanche lady just posted a photo of herself on Instagram in a white monokini and captioned it, The eyes chico, they never lie." Fans of Pragya Jaiswal are responding favourably to her swimsuit shot, which has received 109k likes so far. She looks absolutely stunning in this picture. She is lying on a bed that has been set up outside, showing off her incredibly toned thighs.

Pragya Jaiswal was born and raised in the Madhya Pradesh city of Jabalpur. After relocating to Pune with her family, she attended a reputable university to complete her graduation in corporate law. She began participating in inter-campus dance competitions and modelling because her institution was so rigid in order to get some breathing room. She followed it up with competitions like Miss Pune and a wild card entry in Miss India, winning accolades from all angles.
Adipurush, Kriti Sanons film, has hit the theatres on June 16, 2023, today. In this one, the actress will appear with Prabhas. Undoubtedly, we cant wait to witness Kriti in her stunning traditional Indian persona for the film. But what has really captured our attention are the stunning ethnic ensembles she chose to wear while promoting the film. We have seen Kriti in everything from elegant sarees to glam anarkali, and we adore her collection.

Lets have a look at all of her ethnic looks for the promotion right here-

Kriti began the Adipurush promotions in an ivory Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla ensemble. She wore a double-drape saree with an off-white silhouette, a zardosi border, and a 24-carat gold Khadi block pattern to the premiere of the movies trailer. She certainly had a divine appearance.

Kriti chose a pastel green anarkali ensemble from the designer brand Rimple & Harpreet Narula that had beautiful threadwork and gold embroidery when she started the promotions in Hyderabad. The full-sleeved ensemble had a lovely flare, and Kriti complemented it with a translucent pastel dupatta and a sleeveless jacket with peach embroidery.

The diva chose a traditional with a touch of modern drape in chocolate brown from the designer line Arpita Mehta. Beautiful brown drape with golden patti borders and subtle shimmering accents was carefully pleated around Kriti. She paired it with a backless, full-sleeved blouse in the same brown colour.

Anjula Bhandaris lavender chikankari sharara set for Kriti had a kalidaarkurta with a keel and jaalidar border that was adorned with pearls and sequins. Her chikankari transparent dupatta added elegance to the flawless pastel ensemble.

ALSO READ: Adipurush Release LIVE Updates: Prabhas Film Declared Blockbuster In First Review; Fans Chant Jai Shri Ram As Monkey Enters Theatre

Sukriti, a clothing company, lined up Kritis embellished dress especially for her, and Aakriti looked simply breathtaking. The elaborate red and yellow patti borders and fine zari work on the full-sleeved beige anarkalis hemline. Along with that, she wore a stunning lehenga bottom. Her shawl from Shaza, which was printed with Ayodhya legends, gave her appearance some edge.

Are we the only ones intrigued by Kriti Sanons ethnic appearance or do you also agree that Kriti, is indeed the perfect one as Janaki?
Actress Alia Bhatt took a plane out of Mumbai yesterday to go to Brazil for a Netflix event for her movie Heart of Stone. Videos of Alia arriving at the airport wearing a trendy, casual, yet adorable jet-set outfit, including a crocheted cardigan and denim pants, were uploaded on paparazzi websites. As always, Alia looked lovely as she posted images of her attire on Instagram. We have wonderful news if you adored Alias cardigan.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani)

When Alia Bhatt travelled to Brazil to attend a Netflix event for her upcoming movie Heart Of Stone, she wore a multicoloured crochet heart cardigan. Anderson Crochet Heart Cardigan is the name of the top, which is available on the racks of the clothing retailer Alice And Olivia. It will cost you 59,202 rupee ( 660) to add it to your wardrobe.

Alia Bhatts hand-embroidered cardigan features a variety of colours, including beige, orange, blue, red, green, yellow, and dark blue. It is inspired by old patterns. It has a casual fit, a cropped length, scalloped trimmings, heart-shaped buttons in various colours, and a crocheted construction with heart details.

Alia wore it over a ribbed white tank top and high-rise, loose-fitting denim pants with side pockets and a long hem length. She completed her airport outfit with a white Gucci over-the-body purse and large white trainers. Alia finished off her carefree style with flowing silky tresses, flushed cheeks, dewy skin, glossy nude lips, and a makeup-free appearance.

Check out Alias post here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alia Bhatt  (@aliaabhatt)

At Netflixs Tudum event, where the streaming service presents first glimpses at returning and future films, Alia Bhatt is currently on her way to Brazil. Alia will attend the event with Gal Gadot. Alias eagerly anticipated Hollywood first picture is titled Heart of Stone. Also included is Jamie Dornan.
Increased risk of chronic illnesses, depression, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and heart diseases- insufficient sleep can negatively impact emotions and potentially damage parenting abilities. Decreased productivity, slower reaction times, and persistent feelings of daytime drowsiness and exhaustion are a given too.

We know as new parents, your priority is to get your child to sleep well, however, your health and energy levels are equally important. And needless to say, fathers too as caregivers require adequate sleep to feel their best and manage their new responsibility. New dads need to adopt healthy habits to take care of themselves.

Dr. Sibasish Dey, Head of Medical Affairs, South Asia, ResMed shares some suggestions for new fathers on how to sleep better:

Incorporate grounding and unwinding activities into your day

The activities that are done during the day may have an even greater impact on you than what you do shortly before or at bedtime. Establishing an unwinding space and establishing a dependable bedtime routine will help you maintain a comfortable, healthy sleeping environment. Strategies for relaxation can help new fathers unwind while enhancing their sleeping habits.

Diagnosing sleep disorders

Sleep is one of the most basic human needs. The quality of sleep is substantially impacted for many people when they are unable to consistently get adequate sleep because of various illnesses or sleep disorders. The ability to perform both during the day and at night can be hampered by sleep issues. Understanding whether sleep disorders are affecting your sleep health is crucial.

Keep your anxiety and nervousness under check

It may be challenging to fall asleep if you are stressed from the day. To prevent yourself from worrying, especially about things you have no control over, learn to regulate your thinking. Examine your concerns to determine if they are reasonable, and then replace unreasonable anxieties with constructive ideas.

Daytime naps are recommended

The amount of sleep a new born needs throughout the day and night time, this length of the various sleep phases alters over the course of the first year of life. If you need to make up for a few lost hours of sleep, which typically happens in the first months of new born care, consider taking naps when you find time. By doing this, you can repay the sleep debt to a certain extent without interfering with your regular cycle of sleep and wakefulness. However, REM sleep is usually never compensated.

Balance the responsibilities

Balance the duties such that both parents are taking care of the child, and neither is overburdened. Focusing on overall health and wellness will help you sleep better. It is important to take turns taking care of the babys feeding, changing, and needs at night.

While caring for a baby can make it difficult to take care of oneself, obtaining enough sleep should be of the first importance. There is nothing wrong with asking for assistance when you need it, therefore do not feel ashamed to ask friends, family, or even hire help if necessary to assist in taking care of the newborn.

By developing appropriate sleeping patterns, one can obtain the sleep they need after having a kid. Talk to your doctor if you have difficulties sleeping in the weeks and months after the baby is born. The full scope of your healthcare requirements can be determined by your physician.
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FAMILY REMITTANCES 2023: Remittance refers to the amount of money that is given as a payment or gift. Migrant workers, mostly from rural areas, make meagre wages, far away from their native place to help sustain their families. They suffer the most during disasters or economic downturns. The International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR) is a global celebration that takes place on June 16, every year. The day recognises the importance of migrant workers and the efforts needed to help sustain and uplift their families. Below, we look at the theme and significance of the day and share a few quotes.

International Day of Family Remittances 2023: Theme

Digital remittances towards financial inclusion and cost reduction, is the theme for the 2023-2024 IDFR campaign, shared with the hashtag #FamilyRemittances across social media. The theme puts special emphasis on the benefits of digital remittances. Emerging digital technologies and growing digitisation has helped to lower costs of monetary transfer.

Recent technologies such as mobile payments have benefited senders and recipients belonging to the most vulnerable sections of society. As noted on the IDFR website, average remittance transfer costs are at 6.3 per cent worldwide, while mobile money transfer is at 3.73 per cent and is the least costly transfer rate at the moment.

International Day of Family Remittances 2023: Significance

IDFR was adopted by the UN General Assembly on June 12, 2018. The initiative began with the aim to meet the basic needs of migrant workers and their families and reduce poverty as per the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Payment through remittances helps such workers sustain their families back home.

As noted by the United Nations, last year, more than 200 million migrant workers sent money back home to low-and middle-income nations. The initiative celebrates the resilience of such workers and creates better financial inclusion for them, strengthens their communities and helps create a better future for their children.

International Day of Family Remittances 2023: Quotes
Ukrainian Red Cross providing humanitarian aid to residents of Kherson region affected by flooding due to explosion of Kakhovka HPP

The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) has been providing humanitarian assistance to the residents of Kherson region affected by the flood since the first days of the ecological disaster caused by the undermining of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant (HPP) by the Russian occupiers.

More than 57,000 liters of drinking water, 5,135 hygiene kits, 4,141 grocery and 1,367 sleeping kits were delivered to the victims. URCS also provided blankets, mattresses, kitchen sets, dishes, baby food, pet food, chargers to those in need, the URCS reported on its official Facebook page.

In addition, 1,000 units of marking signs warning of mine danger have been delivered and installed.

The Ukrainian Red Cross Society has also established the work of mobile medical teams in Kherson region to provide the first aid.

Volunteers of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society provided 500 citizens with first psychological aid.

URCS has also installed a water disinfection station.
For a majority of us who spend our day tethered to chairs, - be it at work, at home, in cafes or anywhere else, there is some bad news from health researchers. In 2017, a study of 7,985 adults in America found that participants who spent most of their waking hours sitting down were more likely to die during the following four-year period.

Interestingly, the concept of sitting down while working wasnt that common in our lives until a couple of centuries ago. While at the start of the 19th century, there were just one per cent of people who sat down for a living, today three quarters of us work in offices and sit most of our working day. In fact, chairs with a back rest werent common until the Industrial Revolution, since most people had stools or sat on the floor. Sitting on the floor or on stools meant that you have to use your back muscles constantly in order to support yourself.

Today, of course, the picture is entirely different. People sit for very long hours while working. Professionals in Mumbai, Indias business capital, are known to work the longest hours, clocking more than 10 hours a day. This means they usually sit for 10 hours a day!

Sitting for a major part of the day has detrimental effect on our posture and increases the likelihood of getting back pain.

The need to stand up

Some studies show that prolonged sitting, for anything from 30 minutes to 12 hours, can be bad for health. This is because most of us tend to hunch over our chairs peering at computer screens. This puts uneven pressure on the spine and tends to shrink the chest cavity. Additionally, fat is not burnt half as fast when you are sitting as it is when you move. So, it is recommended to take a five to 10-minute break every hour of continuous screen use.

Of course, many may point out that our jobs today require us to sit down. Most jobs do not involve physical activity which means we have to make a special effort to exercise. Several studies, such as an ICMR-INDIAB, have found that a large percentage of people in India are inactive, with fewer than 10% engaging in recreational physical activity. This has led to an increase of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in the country.

The exercise element

There is enough evidence about the importance of exercise in our lives. A study of sedentary behaviour of 150,000 Australian adults by the University of Sydney, Australia and Loughborough University in the UK, found that premature mortality and cardiovascular disease was an issue in the least physically active groups  those who were putting in less than 150 minutes of exercise a week. However, some scientists found that irrespective of exercise habits, the risk of death grew in line with total sitting time for durations in excess of 30 minutes.

The relation between sitting and health and safety

In the UK, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to protect their employees from risks to their health, which would include sedentary work.

In February this year, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), a UK government agency, commissioned the Workplace Health Expert Committee (WHEC), which advises it on emerging risks, to provide scientific evidence that could inform its policy around sedentary working. The WHEC found that people who sit for long periods are at greater risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, colon, endometrial, lung and breast cancers and depression.

What to do then?

According to the HSE, approximately 507,000 workers have experienced work-related musculoskeletal disorders. This means that it is now more important than ever for employers to intervene if they want their workforce to remain fit. Companies need to advise staff that prolonged sitting may significantly increase the risk of cardiometabolic diseases and premature mortality. In some countries, sitstand (or standup) desks are coming in as a solution for integrating more movement and standing into the office environment. These adjustable sit-stand desks allow workers to alter the height and work while sitting down or standing up as required.

However, not all health experts are happy with them. Professor Karen Walker-Bone is director at Arthritis Research UK/MRC centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work. She says it is true that prolonged sitting puts pressures on the discs in the back. However, pressure levels have not been shown to be any higher compared to prolonged standing. She considers the static posture to be a danger, whichever one  sitting or standing!

Some organisations in the UK like the Lambeth Council are using a new hot-desk set up in their offices. This has meant that employees are moving regularly to different desks and unfamiliar set-ups. The equipment is flexible with fully adjustable chairs and PCs on movable arms. However, staff is often found to forget to make the adjustments they need to work comfortably. The Council is handling the issue proactively. They are constantly educating their employees about the need to adopt good posture and take regular breaks.

Whether you invest in a sit-stand desk or decide to take the stairs when possible, we should remember that our bodies need exercise. They are meant to move and that is what we should all be doing rather than lounging in our chairs for hours on end!
Prabhas, Saif Ali Khan and Kriti Sanon starrer Adipurush was one of the most awaited films of this year. Even though the teaser that was released last year was met with a poor response and the makers had taken a backseat to work on the VFX, the avid fans were excited to see the film on the big screen, especially after the trailer of the same was launched. That wait is finally over now for Prabhas fans as several of them thronged to theatres all across the country. However, at one such theatre, there was a skirmish post screening when a cine-goer was beaten up for giving a negative review to the film.

For more: Adipurush: Prabhas Fans Thrash A Cine-Goer After He Compares Films VFX With PlayStation; Watch

Kiara Advani is joining Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR-led War 2. The actress, who has proved that she is one of the biggest stars with back-to-back hits to her credit, is said to have signed the dotted lines as will be joining Yash Raj Films spy universe. It was previously reported that Ayan Mukerji will be helming War 2. A source revealed, Kiara Advani fits the bill to a T as far as YRF Spy Universe and War 2 is considered.

For more: Kiara Advani To Star With Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR in War 2? Heres What We Know

Now, thats a sight you dont see everyday! Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal were spotted together at Mumbai airport in videos and photos circulating online. Alia Bhatt was seen arriving solo at the airport around the same time. A video of the three engaged in conversation inside the airports premiere lounge is now going viral. As Alia took off for Brazil to attend Netflixs TUDUM 2023 event, Katrina and Vicky Kaushals holiday destination remains a matter of speculation among fans. There were no awkwardness between the actors given that Katrina dated Alias now-hubby Ranbir Kapoor for six years before settling in with Vicky.

For more: Alia Bhatt Chilling With Katrina Kaif And Vicky Kaushal At Airport Sparks Ranbir Kapoor Memes; Watch

Project K is one of the most anticipated films of Prabhas which will see him share the screen with Deepika Padukone as well as Amitabh Bachchan. The film which is scheduled for release next year has been grabbing eyeballs due to exciting updates. As such, the latest one has gotten the fans even more excited. Earlier this week, it was revealed that Disha Patani will also feature in Project K. However, it was not clear in what capacity. But if the recent reports were to be believed, the actress has been roped in for a sizzling dance number.

For more: Project K: Disha Patani To Feature In A Sizzling Dance Number With Prabhas? Heres What We Know

Bigg Boss OTTs second season has been grabbing all attention. Fans are eagerly waiting for the reality show which will be hosted by Salman Khan. Already the makers have revealed contestants names but with a twist. And now there is speculation that former adult star Mia Khalifa may be entering the highly anticipated show.

For more: Former Adult Star Mia Khalifa Entering Salman Khan Hosted Bigg Boss OTT 2?
Much-awaited mythological drama, Adipurush, based on the epic Ramayana, is finally scheduled to be released in theatres on Friday, today. The film stars the Prabhas as Lord Ram or protagonist Raghava, and is directed by the National award-winning filmmaker Om Raut. Kriti Sanon portrays the character of Sita, also known as Janaki, in the film.

Catch all the updates here: Adipurush Release LIVE Updates: Early Morning Shows Houseful for Prabhas Film; Fans Declare It Blockbuster

With a few hours left for Adipurushs worldwide release, more photos of seat dedicated to Lord Hanuman have surfaced online. In a photo that has come in from Mumbai, where students of a school are catching the morning show of the film, a woman can be seen placing Lord Hanumans idol on a seat in the first row as part of the sthapana" planned for each show. Check out the video right here:

Theatre owners decided to reserve a seat for Hanuman upon Adipurush director Om Rauts request. During a trailer event for the film in Tirupati, Raut requested films producers to reserve an empty seat in every theater where the film is screened as a gesture of honour to Lord Hanuman. The act symbolises the reverence and acknowledgment of Lord Hanumans spiritual presence during the showcasing of the film Adipurush," he had said.

Prior to the worldwide theatrical release of the film, the films producers organised a special screening event in Mumbai on Thursday night, June 15. The event was exclusively for the films cast, crew, and their families. However, the films lead actor Prabhas and the antagonist Saif Ali Khan, who portrays the character of Lankesh, were unable to attend due to their hectic schedules.
Much-awaited mythological drama, Adipurush, based on the epic Ramayana, is finally scheduled to be released in theaters on Friday, today. The film stars the Prabhas as Lord Ram or protagonist Raghava, and is directed by the National award-winning filmmaker Om Raut. Kriti Sanon portrays the character of Sita, also known as Janaki, in the film.

Initially planned for a January 2023 release, Adipurush was later rescheduled to June due to audience criticism of the initial trailers special effects. However, the recently unveiled trailer suggests that director Om Raut and his team have extensively improved the CGI and special effects over the past six months, promising a better version of the film.

Catch all the updates here: Adipurush Release LIVE Updates: Early Morning Shows Houseful for Prabhas Film; Fans Declare It Blockbuster

Prior to the worldwide theatrical release of the film, the films producers organised a special screening event in Mumbai on Thursday night, June 15. The event was exclusively for the films cast, crew, and their families. However, the films lead actor Prabhas and the antagonist Saif Ali Khan, who portrays the character of Lankesh, were unable to attend due to their hectic schedules.

Kriti Sanon graced the screening and looked stunning in a blue anarkali suit. She complemented her ensemble with minimal accessories, a sleek, straight hairdo, and natural makeup. Accompanying her to the screening were her parents, Rahul Sanon and Geeta Sanon, her younger sister Nupur Sanon, and her boyfriend Stebin Ben. Kritis parents beamed with pride as they arrived at the venue with their daughters and posed for the paps.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manav Manglani (@manav.manglani)

Adipurush is said to be an adaptation of the Indian epic that centres around the victory of good over evil. In Hindu mythology, Lord Ram is also known as Adi Purusha.
Much-awaited mythological drama, Adipurush, based on the epic Ramayana, is finally scheduled to be released in theaters on Friday, today. The film stars the Prabhas as Lord Ram or protagonist Raghava, and is directed by the National award-winning filmmaker Om Raut. Kriti Sanon portrays the character of Sita, also known as Janaki, in the film.

Catch all the updates here: Adipurush Release LIVE Updates: Early Morning Shows Houseful for Prabhas Film; Fans Declare It Blockbuster

There was a delay in releasing the film in Nepal because the Nepal Censor Board objected to a dialogue that said Goddess Sita was Indias daughter. The board claimed that Sita was born in Nepal. However, the film will now be allowed to screen in Nepal after the makers decided to remove the dialogue. The news hit headlines when Rahul Raut took to Twitter and wrote, The Nepal government has objected to the scene where the film claims Goddess Sita was the daughter of India, whereas she was actually BORN IN NEPAL. The Censor Board has decided not to release it there until the makers correct the error!

Minutes later, he posted another tweet that read, UPDATE!! #Adipurush is now releasing in Nepal The Nepal censor board has passed the film after the controversial dialogue which claimed Sita is Indias daughter was removed from the movie.. The film, however, is still expected to face some backlash in Kathmandu tomorrow!

UPDATE!! #Adipurush is now releasing in Nepal The Nepal censor board has passed the film after the controversial dialogue which claimed Sita is Indias daughter" was removed from the movie.. The film, however, is still expected to face some backlash in Kathmandu tomorrow! Rahul Raut (@Rahulrautwrites) June 15, 2023

Prior to the worldwide theatrical release of the film, the films producers organised a special screening event in Mumbai on Thursday night, June 15. The event was exclusively for the films cast, crew, and their families. However, the films lead actor Prabhas and the antagonist Saif Ali Khan, who portrays the character of Lankesh, were unable to attend due to their hectic schedules.
Adipurush Movie Review: Yes, its that time of the year. Adipurush has finally hit the screens.

It wouldnt be wrong to say that back in the day, mythology used to be a favourite genre among filmmakers. And then came the 2000s that saw a plethora of modern-day screen interpretations of the two epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata. Return Of Hanuman (2007), Rajneeti and Raavan (both 2010) are a few examples. Filmmaker Ayan Mukerjis Brahmastra Part One: Shiva (2022) might not have been inspired by the epics but it was heavily rooted in Indian mythology. Filmmaker SS Rajamouli had also revealed that his Baahubali series was inspired from Mahabharata along with Chandamama and Amar Chitra Katha comics.

But Adipurush happens to be a true-blue retelling of Maharishi Valmikis Ramayana. Through the song Ram Siya Ram, were given a background of how Ayodhyas prince Raghava gets married to Janaki and then sent to a fourteen-year exile by his father, King Dasharatha, on the demand of the formers stepmother Kaikeyi. While in the forest, Janaki gets kidnapped by Ravana, the demon king of Lanka on the request of his sister Surpanakha as a revenge as her nose gets cut off by Lakshmana. Soon, Raghava and Lakshmana travel to the island of Lanka with the help of Bajrangs army with an aim to rescue Janaki. Now, this is a plot that is largely familiar. The challenge for the makers lied in keeping the audience engaged throughout its almost three-hour runtime. Have they been able to achieve so? Well

National Award winning director Om Raut deserves applause for his vision and larger-than-life dream of bringing Ramayana alive on the screen for the millennials and the Gen-Z. He has mounted the film on a massive and opulent scale. Many reports claim that Adipurush has been made with a staggering Rs 500 crore. Though we dont know the real numbers, looking at the canvas of the Prabhas and Kriti Sanon starrer, one wouldnt question its three-digit figure budget. The art direction by Sagar Mali is spectacular. Each frame and vignette looks like an oil painting.

The credit for the same also goes to its VFX team, who has diligently reworked the special effects after the first teaser of Adipurush was widely slammed by many on social media. To all those waiting to catch a show, we strongly recommend them to experience the magnum opus in 3D. But mind you, most parts of it may make it look like an amateurish live-action animation piece. If you manage to keep that aspect aside, it shouldnt disappoint you much.

What becomes a weak link in the film is its runtime. At a time when our attention spans are fast dwindling, helming a three-hour film becomes a tricky idea. Adipurush turns out to be a long-drawn and extremely stretched-out affair. This is exactly where our biggest fear comes true. The familiarity of the event-heavy plot coupled with its duration test your patience many a times. A two-part storytelling much like Ponniyin Selvan would have definitely helped the film. What makes up for it is its music composed by Ajay-Atul and Sachet-Parampara. Ajay-Atul, particularly, is in their element and with Jai Shri Ram, they once again prove that orchestral music is still very much a part of Indian storytelling. Adipurush, indeed, makes for an interesting addition to their oeuvre.

The dialogues, on the other hand, make the screenplay a bumpy ride. While credit goes to Manoj Muntashir for not resorting to Sanskritised Hindi for the dialogues that can be easily deciphered by the audience, some of Raghavas lines are extremely didactic and intellectualised. In a few other scenes, the dialogues are so unintentionally colloquial that you end up cracking up. In a key scene, one of Ravanas henchmen is seen hurling yeh tera bua ka bageecha nahi hai to Bajrang who is sent by Raghava to check on Janaki in Ashoka Vatika.

Prabhas perfectly embodies Raghava. The dignity, heroism and stoutness he brings to the table is commendable. It might just become the next iconic character he will be known for, following Baahubali. He ably carries the film on his shoulders and is sure to win the hearts of his fans - who already deify him - all over again. Prabhas seems to be just the right fit to play Raghava. He does his best to adopt Raghavas characteristics and yet makes the character his own. When hes not defying gravity and flying in the air and dishing out pearls of wisdom, the profound stillness in his eyes adds a lot of weightage, especially to the intense sequences. However, there are far too many low-angle, slow motion shots of him, which gets repetitive after a point of time.

Kriti as Janaki looks stunning. She embodies a rare blend of vulnerability and strength, remains an integral force to drive Raghavas actions and delivers a class act. She complements the larger-than-life quotient of Prabhas with her restrained performance and excels in it. Their chemistry, particularly, in the song Tu Hai Sheetal Dhaara hits the right note.

Coming to Saif Ali Khan, his Ravana is written and portrayed through the lens of naivety. He gets reduced to mere mockery and in most of the scenes, he is either scene grumbling loudly or randomly consulting with nine other of his alter-egos. He is demonised to such an extent that he is given the most bizarre gait as a personality trait and made to wear black at all times. For an actor of Saifs calibre and who has time and again challenged the status quo, fearlessly experimented and set new norms, his Ravana is disappointing. The scene where he kidnaps Janaki looks heavily inspired from Game Of Thrones when Viserion, the Night King, rode a dragon. And when his pisaca-like creature is seen fighting Jatayu mid-air, it reminds you of Vhagar and Arrax locking horns in The House Of Dragons.

For Sunny Singh, Lakshmana is a major departure from the regular boy-next-door image that he has become synonymous with, thanks to the Pyaar Ka Punchnama series and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018). Though with this part, he could defy the image attached to him, he doesnt have much to do and in most scenes, appears confused and blank. Devdatta Nage as Lord Hanuman draws attention with his comic timing and bravado.

But has Om managed to live up to Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior (2020)? Maybe not. Is it a game-changer? No. But Adipurush is a visual extravaganza that entertains and enlightens you. The film marks the beginning of an era where mythology seems to have once again captured the imagination of filmmakers. Were definitely looking forward to seeing what Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatts Ramayana, Kangana Ranauts Sita: The Reincarnation and Deepika Padukones Draupadi have in store for us!
Now, thats a sight you dont see everyday! Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal were spotted together at Mumbai airport in videos and photos circulating online. Alia Bhatt was seen arriving solo at the airport around the same time. A video of the three engaged in conversation inside the airports premiere lounge is now going viral. As Alia took off for Brazil to attend Netflixs TUDUM 2023 event, Katrina and Vicky Kaushals holiday destination remains a matter of speculation among fans. There were no awkwardness between the actors given that Katrina dated Alias now-hubby Ranbir Kapoor for six years before settling in with Vicky.

In the video, Vicky warmly hugs Alia, and the three of them look deeply engaged in a conversation. They are seated in the airports waiting lounge. Fan speculated in the comments that Alia and Katrina might be discussing their roles in Farhan Akhtars upcoming film Jee Le Zaraa where they feature alongside Priyanka Chopra. However, many took the opportunity to drop Ranbir Kapoor memes. Check out the video here:

In a video shared by paparazzo Yogen Shah, Vicky and Katrina were seen arriving at the airport on Thursday night, twinning in a pair of black hoodies and black pants. They paired it with sunglasses and Vicky sported a black cap.

On the work front, Alia Bhatt is gearing up for Karan Johars Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, slated for release on July 28. She will be sharing the screen with Ranveer Singh, Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi, and Jaya Bachchan in the film. That apart, Alia will be making her Hollywood debut in August with Netflixs Heart of Stone, co-starring Gal Gadot from Wonder Woman. Katrina, who has been away from the spotlight for a while now, was last seen in Phone Bhoot and will now star in Merry Christmas with Vijay Sethupathi. On the other hand, Vicky Kaushal will be seen in Meghna Gulzars Sam Bahadur. On the other hand, Sara will be seen in Homi Adajanias Murder Mubarak and Ae Watan Mere Watan.
Dharmendra was seen joining Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, and other family members at Karan Deol and Drisha Acharyas sangeet ceremony. The veteran actor was seen pulling out his best suit for the special night and even made an appearance for the paparazzi before he stepped into the ceremony.

For the special night, Dharmendra was seen wearing a beige suit and looked dapper as ever! The Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani actor was seen blowing kisses at the paparazzi and interacting with them before making his way to the sangeet ceremony venue.

It was previously reported that Dharmendra was going to give the pre-wedding festivites a miss and directly attend the wedding ceremony. The veteran actor had confirmed the news with ETimes as well. Explaining why he took this decision, he told the publication, Let the children have fun. If I am around, they are likely to get inhibited. I do not want them to miss out on any of the fun.

However, it seems like Dharmendra decided to make an exception for tonight.

Karan is getting married to his long-time girlfriend Drisha Acharya. As per a report by India Today, Karan-Drishas Sangeet, Mehendi, and Haldi will take place between June 15 and June 17, and the couple will tie the knot on June 18. The Deol family have also planned a reception for the couple post the wedding for the industry friends to attend.

A few weeks ago, a Times of India report further claimed that Karan and Drisha have known each other for long and were in a longterm relationship for nearly six years. While Karan Deol made his acting debut with 2019 film Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas, he has also worked with uncle Abhay Deol in 2021 film Velle. Karans soon-to-be wife Drisha Acharya is a fashion designer and great-granddaughter of Bimal Roy.
The release date of the upcoming K-drama Heartbeat is drawing closer and the makers are leaving no stone unturned to brace viewers. On Friday, yet-another thrilling teaser of the show was unveiled leaving fans equal parts intrigued and excited. The anticipation for Heartbeat kicks in right from the start of the opening scene wherein the lead protagonist Seon Woo-Hyul (Played by 2AMs Taecyeon) reunites with his vampire friends. For those unaware, the last teaser of the K-drama disclosed how the female lead Joo In-Hae (Played by Won Ji-An) finds Woo-Hyul inside the casket of a house she inherited from her father.

The latter, who is a half-vampire and half-human, is utterly enraged after watching his 100-year plan of becoming a full human break into shreds. Now, the new teaser shows a continuation of the scene where In-Hae is adamant about not believing Woo-Hyuls confession of being a supernatural entity. She throws him out of the house warning him to stop the nonsensical talks. Their bickering continues at a convenience store, where the male lead appears to be completely drunk.

What adds an interesting flavour to the enemies-to-lovers plot is the return of In-Haes college friend. It appears to be a coincidence but the old friend is now steadfast about confessing his love for her. This brings a romance triangle twist to Woo-Hyul and In-Haes story. Though, theyre living together and have convinced the neighbours of being newlyweds, their squabbles, screaming, and chaotic dynamics remain unchanged.

Until Woo-Hyul realises he is in real trouble when a whispering voice asks him to make In-Hae fall in love with him. The old friend is not ready to back down, while the male lead is confused about his feelings. Watching In-Hae get close to another man looks like a heavy burden Woo-Hyul but how their story unfolds in between the supernatural chaos is unclear. Watch the new teaser here:

If the teaser is anything to go by, Heartbreak appears to be a promising and fresh fantasy romance tale just like Goblin, The King: Eternal Monarch, and Tale of the Nine Tailed. The first episode of the upcoming K-drama releases on June 26.
Suhana Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Agastya Nanda, Yuvraj Menda, Vedang Raina, Mihir Ahuja, Aditi Dot starrer The Archies has been in the news ever since the announcement was made. The makers have recently shared a new poster which has further increased the excitement. Well, the lead actors and director Zoya Akhtar are currently in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to attend the Netflix Tudum 2023 event. All are having a good time as seen in the video shared by Netflix.

Netflix shared a video montage that shows a compilation of multiple Polaroid images that give a glimpse of The Archies gangs outing in Sao Paulo. It begins with Agastya and Mihirs goofy expressions, followed by a set of polaroids that feature five pictures showing Khushi, Suhana, Aditi Dot, Yuvraj, Zoya Akhtar, Agastya, Vedang and Mihir. The caption of the post read, Iss gang ke adventures cant be contained in a picture, so we clicked plenty! Coming soon, only on @netflix_in!

Watch the video here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Archies On Netflix (@archiesnetflix)

Ahead of leaving for the event, they were spotted at Mumbai airport in matching jackets. On Thursday Khushi Kapoor shared a set of pictures, giving fans a sneak peek into the fun time.

Many celebrities including Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar congratulated the team. Karan Johar took to his social media handle to cheer for the entire cast. He wrote an emotional note, Go Zo!!!! The kids look incredible !!!!! I cant believe how the kids grow up so fast !! Have literally held Aggy and @suhanakhan2 in my arms And to all the supremely talented kids in this special film! This one is going to rule pop culture (red heart emoticons).

The Archies is a live-action musical film set in 1960s India. It is a true adaptation of the comics of the same name, and will release on Netflix this year. The Archies is produced by Zoya and her longtime collaborator Reema Kagti under their production house Tiger Baby.
details added, first published at 16:33

BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. An agreement was signed between the 'Discover Azerbaijan' travel company of Azerbaijan and the 'Transavia' express airline company of Tajikistan, Trend reports.

The signing of the memorandum was held at the Embassy of Tajikistan in Baku with the participation of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tajikistan to Azerbaijan Rustam Soli.

"This is the first cooperation agreement between an Azerbaijani travel company and a Tajik airline. The goal of this cooperation is to attract tourists from Azerbaijan to Tajikistan," Rustam Soli said at the signing ceremony.

According to him, Tajikistan has a significant tourism potential due to its picturesque mountains and lakes, thereby attracting people who are fond of active recreation.

The ambassador said that Azerbaijan is of interest to tourists from Tajikistan due to its diverse natural and cultural sights that attract travelers from all over the world.

Moreover, Rustam Soli noted the importance for both countries of the first direct flight from Azerbaijan to the capital of Tajikistan, Dushanbe, which the Azerbaijani Buta Airways airline performed in May 2023.

The number of tourists from Tajikistan to Azerbaijan amounted to 2,736 people in 2022. In 2020 a total number of 1,483 tourists traveled to Azerbaijan from Tajikistan, and only 820 tourists visited the country in 2021.
Diversity and inclusion are two key pillars of Indias public diplomacy efforts, contributing to its global standing. Examples such as Droupadi Murmu, Indias first indigenous tribal woman president, receiving the highest civilian honour from Suriname, the Academy Awards wins for films like RRR and The Elephant Whisperers, and the United Nations marking Dr Ambedkars birth anniversary with a theme on artificial intelligence for social justice highlight Indias contributions to diversity and inclusion.

While some may dismiss these achievements as Western propaganda or woke culture, a careful understanding of Indias history until now reveals that diversity and inclusion are indeed strengths in Indias public diplomacy arsenal. India has its own unique definition of these concepts, and it effectively communicates them to the world through its culture, values, and policies. In recent times, Sri Lankas High Commissioner to India, Milind Moragoda, and Germanys Ambassador to India, Dr Philip Ackerman, have both reiterated the value of diversity in India and how it continues to attract and amaze them, in some of the podcasts they have done separately with mainstream and social media channels.

One notable aspect of Indias approach to diversity and inclusion is aligning its domestic policy goals with its foreign policy. Initiatives such as poverty elimination, complete sanitation, access to water, and financial inclusion for all demonstrate Indias commitment to turning diversity and inclusion into action. This directly contributes to India pivoting back to the importance and attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We are exactly at the halfway point in the implementation of these goals globally.

India understands that invoking diversity and inclusion is not just about mentioning these ideals rhetorically; it is about implementing them through concrete measures. This is a work in progress and no doubt that these policies will need evaluation. However, as a result of such a laser-sharp focus, diversity and inclusion have emerged as strategic assets for India in its international engagements.

India has successfully positioned itself as the voice of the Global South, as highlighted by Dr S Jaishankar, the Minister of External Affairs, during the press briefing on the achievements of the present Union government. There is continuing commentary and analysis that states the necessity for a cohesive framework for the Global South that reiterates reformed multilateralism. Today, Indias development cooperation mechanisms extend beyond its immediate neighbourhood to encompass the broader Global South. By prioritising the use of the term Global South and directing its development cooperation efforts toward this region, India demonstrates its commitment to inclusivity in governance. Although the concept of the third world has become obsolete since the end of the Cold War, it continues to linger in public discourse and intellectual discussions. Indias emphasis on the Global South reflects its inclusive approach to international relations. From a medium to long-term perspective, India can look to engage the Global North in healthy, pragmatic communication that can truly be representative of the Global South, by defending and protecting its interests.

In Samuel Huntingtons work, The Clash of Civilizations, Africa was not given significant attention. Huntington only mentioned the possibility of African civilisation. However, in contemporary times, Indian diplomats are actively studying in African universities, such as in Ghana, and India is extending developmental assistance to the continent. While there is room for improvement, it is evident that Indias engagement with Africa is moving in the right direction. It is worth noting that China and the United States have been dominant players in Africa, according to Gallup surveys. However, India is steadily increasing its engagement and seeking to establish stronger ties with the continent. This being a regular feature of Indias global strategic communication is also a testament to this fact.

In the realm of technology, India is making strides in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for the common good. As debates and discussions on AI proliferate worldwide, India is taking nascent steps through public-private partnerships to ensure that AI is used as a global public good. The AI4Bharat initiative, spearheaded by Nandan Nilekani and IIT Madras, aims to harness AI and machine learning technologies to address Indias unique challenges and contribute to societal development. By focusing on domains such as agriculture, healthcare, education, and governance, this mission seeks to ensure that AI benefits men and women across Indias diverse linguistic landscape, encompassing 22 languages. India is actively communicating this initiative to both domestic and international audiences. This model, along with other India stack initiatives shared with countries like Singapore, holds promise for the globe.

Indias Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has played a pivotal role in communicating Indias diversity and inclusion as strengths. Modi has unequivocally stated that Hindus and Muslims should not fight each other but fight poverty together. He has also emphasised the importance of fairness and protecting the rights of all religions and communities. These statements demonstrate the prime ministers commitment to eradicating discrimination based on caste, creed, and religion. Indias public diplomacy and strategic engagement with the Gulf is also a sound foreign policy win in this regard.

Indias public diplomacy history is not derived from Western sources but is rooted in its indigenous traditions. India draws lessons from its rich past when addressing contemporary challenges such as climate change. From Hanuman to Hansa Mehta, throughout history, India has assimilated ideas and thoughts, showcasing its openness and adaptability. One of the most important contributions of the MEA is to document the writings and speeches of Dr Ambedkar across 17 volumes digitally. The volume section is education-expansive and gives many insights into the man and his vision. Indias spiritual thought enunciating the value of interconnection towards its public diplomacy orientation cannot be missed. Be it Thiruvalluvar, Adi Shankaracharya or Sri Aurobindo, each of these towering philosophers continue to contribute to this. Irina Bokova, former Director General of UNESCO, once described Sri Aurobindo as someone whose life was inspired by deep devotion to human dignity and whose work ensured unity through diversity.

While progress has been made, there is still much more to be done. Numerous individuals within India and abroad are working to promote diversity and inclusion from an Indian perspective. Their efforts can be effectively utilised by Indian High Commissions, embassies, and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations Centres to advocate for diversity and inclusion in their communication with foreign publics and the Indian diaspora. Indian diplomats in the past have also urged governments to appoint women diplomats to leadership positions, as they can lead dialogues and discussions while effectively communicating Indias stance on womens issues. Generative AI debates continue to focus on the lack of diversity in language models. India can also aim to shape this from the medium to the long term and globally communicate this.

India continues to lay a solid foundation to communicate its strengths in diversity and inclusion as part of its public diplomacy efforts. The time has come to effectively and consistently convey these values to the world. By highlighting its achievements, initiatives, and commitment to diversity and inclusion, India can bolster its reputation as a global leader in promoting inclusivity, and societal progress and enhance its global footprint through public diplomacy.

The writer is author and researcher. Views expressed are personal.
Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Friday said his partys doors were shut for Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, and hinted that there was no possibility of reconciliation with him.

He was speaking to reporters at the Nagpur airport.

All doors of the BJP are closed for Uddhav Thackeray. We are neither discussing anything with him nor will we do so in future," Bawankule said in response to a query.

The Bharatiya Janata Party and undivided Shiv Sena fought the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections together but parted ways following the poll results after differences over sharing the chief ministers post. The Sena then teamed up with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

The three-party MVA government, however, collapsed in June last year after Eknath Shinde and 39 other MLAs of the Sena rebelled against Thackeray and joined hands with the BJP to form a government. While Shinde became the chief minister, senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was appointed as his deputy.

When asked about Telangana Chief Minister and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) president K Chandrasekhar Raos allegation made in Nagpur on Thursday that Maharashtra witnesses most suicides by farmers, Bawankule said that the BJP will soon release a video about the flaws in the Telangana model and what KCR was saying and doing.

On former MLA Ashish Deshmukh, who is set to join the BJP on June 18, Bawankule said, Deshmukh told the BJP that he is not keen on fighting the upcoming polls to the Maharashtra Assembly or the Lok Sabha and he wants to do the work of expanding the party base. He does not want to remain in the Congress as that party is anti-OBC." Deshmukh, who was the BJP MLA from Katol in Nagpur district, had quit the saffron party and joined the Congress some years ago. Recently he was suspended from the Congress.
The Congress on Friday hit out at the double engine" BJP governments in Manipur and at the Centre and asked when will Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak out on the situation in the violence-hit state and make an appeal for peace.

Congress leader P Chidambaram said the double-engine formula failed in Karnataka and the BJP was shown the door by the people of the southern state and the double-engine government is failing the people of Manipur".

One engine (the state) has run out of fuel. The other engine (the Centre) has decoupled itself and is hiding in the loco shed. It is obvious that Mr Biren Singh has lost the confidence of all sections of the people of Manipur. It is also obvious that Mr Narendra Modi is not willing to talk to the people of Manipur nor even make an appeal for peace," he said in a tweet.

The former union minister said since May 3  that is in the last 45 days  the Honble Prime Minister has not uttered a word on Manipur; nor visited the state that is burning. This is the Government that boasts of Sabka Saath." Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also shared the remarks made by Union minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh from Manipur whose house was burnt in the state by miscreants.

Here is a Union Minister from Manipur lamenting the prevailing situation in his state. But the PM is still silent, too busy preparing for his visit to the US while Manipur continues to burn," Ramesh said.

He also shared a previous speech by the prime minister where he was heard saying that there was a time when governments had left Manipur to fend for itself.

The Prime Minister should listen to himself regarding Manipur," the Congress leader also said.

The Opposition parties from the state are still awaiting an audience with him, Ramesh said.

In another tweet later, Ramesh said, The self-anointed VishwaYogi has just shared various asanas for his devotees to practice. But when will he come out of his Maunasana as far as burning Manipur is concerned. His silence has gone beyond being pathetic." Another senior Congress leader K C Venugopal wondered if Modi will finally speak up after Union minister Singhs residence was attacked.

Manipur is burning for the last 40 days and the conflict is spiralling out of control. There is no semblance of rule of law and those in power are themselves spearheading massacres and helping militants with arms and ammunition. The PM has maintained a stone-cold silence, and his govt has taken no concrete action so far.

Why is the Union govt allowing this to continue? Who is accountable for this disastrous situation? The PM must immediately call for an all-party meeting because the country is demanding answers. Will he finally speak up after a Union Ministers residence has been attacked?" he asked.

The Congress has been blaming the BJP for the current situation in Manipur and alleged that its divisive policies are responsible for it. Over 120 people have lost their lives in the violence-hit state.

Meanwhile, sources said all-out efforts have been made by the Centre to bring back normalcy in Manipur through a number of initiatives that include enhanced area domination in fringe areas and higher reaches by security forces, mobilisation of additional troops and close monitoring by senior officials.

The Union home ministry has also rushed Director General of CRPF S L Thaosen to Manipur to assess the situation and for better utilisation and coordination of central forces, the sources privy to the development said.

The central governments urgency to check continuous violence in Manipur comes after the killing of nine youths in a single incident and torching of the private residence of Union minister Singh, they said.
Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jairam Thakur and state BJP president Rajiv Bindal were on Friday stopped from entering Salooni town in Chamba to meet the family of a murder victim, prompting the party to announce state-wide rallies in protest. The BJP leaders were stopped at Chamera Dam in Salooni sub division, about 380 km from the state capital, by the police who had erected barricades and were deployed in large numbers.

In a statement, Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla said strict action should be ensured against those involved in the heinous crime. The ruling Congress, meanwhile, hit back at the BJP accusing it of hindering the investigation by disobeying prohibitory orders imposed in the area, and said the police was doing a thorough probe in the case.

Section 144 of CrPC was imposed in Salooni on Thursday when a mob burned down the house of Musafir Hussain, accused of killing 28-year-old Manohar over an affair with his niece. The chopped body of Manohar was found in a drain in Bandal panchayat of Salooni on June 8, two days after he went missing. Police have arrested three persons, including Hussain. The others are Hussains wife Farida, and Shabir.

After being denied permission to meet Manohars family, the BJP leaders addressed a public gathering in Dalhousie, announcing that the party will organise rallies on the issue in all 12 district headquarters on Saturday. Addressing the gathering, Bindal and Thakur slammed Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for not visiting the family of the victim.

We had come to console the family of the deceased and instil confidence in them. And had Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visited the family, this situation could have been avoided," Thakur said, reiterating his demand for a probe by the National Investigation Agency into the case. We knew that our visit would not bring back Manohar but the family members would have got some consolation," Thakur said. Thakur, also the Leader of Opposition, said the Congress government had dithered in ordering a probe by an appropriate agency into the Gudia rape case of 2017 and said the investigation was speeded up only after the BJP came to power.

BJP state chief Bindal said the party would submit a memorandum after the Saturday rallies to the Governor through the Deputy Commissioners. The episode has tainted the image of the state, often called Dev Bhoomi and Veer Bhoomi," Bindal said. The brutal killing in the case indicates that the accused is a habitual offender, he added.

He also called for an investigation into Hussains background, raising suspicion about his alleged land encroachments and illegally acquired assets, likening him to recently slain Uttar Pradesh gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad.

Responding to BJPs charges on the issue, Cabinet ministers Jagat Singh Negi, Rohit Thakur and Anirudh Singh issued a joint statement in Shimla, accusing the BJP of politicising the incident. The ministers said the police promptly lodged an FIR in the case and have also arrested the accused. The BJP, they said, was hindering the police probe by gathering in large numbers in the area despite the imposition of prohibitory orders there.

Meanwhile, Governor Shukla said in a statement that such incidents in the peace-loving state of Himachal Pradesh were highly condemnable and appealed to the people to maintain peace and avoid taking law and order into their hands. The Vishva Hindu Parishad, too, has issued a statement on the incident calling for death penalty for the killers.
Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday sought to target his former ally and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray over the decision of the Congress government in Karnataka to drop chapters on RSS founder K B Hedgewar and Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar from textbooks.

Speaking at a rally in Osmanabad, Fadnavis said while the Congress government has removed the names of the heroes who participated in the nations freedom struggle from school textbooks, their names can not be erased from our minds".

When the BJP lost elections in Karnataka, MVA leaders Sharad Pawar and Nana Patole said they will implement the `Karnataka pattern in Maharashtra. Now Karnataka has decided to remove the names of freedom fighters from books and withdraw a law against forced conversions," he said.

I ask Uddhav Thackeray, is this the Karnataka pattern they are going to bring to Maharashtra? Will Uddhav Thackeray tolerate all this? Or he should declare that he has given up Hindutva ideology," Fadnavis added.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde (who rebelled against Thackeray last year) and the BJP were rejuvenating the Hindutva of Bal Thackeray, he further said.

Earlier, speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Fadnavis said the revision of school textbooks in Karnataka was expected after the Congress returned to power in the southern state.

The Congress can remove Savarkar and Hedgewar from textbooks but not from the hearts and minds of people," the BJP leader said.

Speaking at the rally in Osmanabad, Fadnavis also said that various schemes of the BJP-led Union government such as the PM Kisan Bima Yojana, Ayushyaman Bharat, Ujjwala gas scheme, PM Swanidhi yojana and Mudra scheme have benefitted Maharashtra a lot.

Earlier, the (Maha Vikas Aghadi) government did not give a single rupee for Solapur-Tuljapur-Osmanabad railway though the Centre was ready to fund 50 percent of the project.As the government changed in the state, we wrote another letter, stating that we are ready to contribute for these projects, we have also sanctioned funds for this railway project," he said.

Ten lakh houses will be constructed for people from OBC communities under the Modi Awas scheme and three lakh of these houses will be constructed this year itself, Fadnavis announced.

Indias economy is growing when many countries are facing recession and neighbouring countries are facing financial crises, he said.

Indias economy was in the eleventh position earlier. Now it is among the top five. We have also left behind the economy of Britain which ruled us for 150 years," Fadnavis said.ele
A day after his house was set ablaze by miscreants in Imphal, Union minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh on Friday said he was shocked" with his fellow citizens who are behind the incident and that the law and order situation in BJP-ruled Manipur is a total failure."

Using strong words against the Biren Singh government to express his concern over violent clashes in Manipur since May 3, the Minister of State for External Affairs said the existing government in the state could not maintain peace.

Law and order condition in Manipur is a total failure. The existing government could not maintain peace thats why the central government has sent a lot of protections and Rapid Action Force.. I dont know the state mechanism is failure, I feel like that," Singh told reporters.

Singh, a BJP MP from Inner Manipur constituency, also informed that this was the second time, a mob has tried to attack his house. Earlier it happened during the day and hence security intervened.

#WATCH | I am shocked. The law and order situation in Manipur has totally failed," says Union Minister RK Ranjan Singh, whose residence at Kongba in Imphal was torched by mob on Thursday late night. pic.twitter.com/ECHNiKkdjm ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2023

The first time, I anyhow convinced them and security protected. This time yesterday it was late night, around 10:30. Everything was normal, suddenly crowds of people came and attacked, I was told," he said.

There is no reason I am trying to bring peace.. this kind of unwanted thing happened. If my sons and daughters and family happens to be there.. that burning and throwing of petrol, seems to attempt on my life too," Singh added.

While this time the MP was at Delhi at the time of the incident, during last months attack, the minister was inside the house when the mob attempted to burn his residence. Reports said that three other members of his family were present in the building.

Last month, a mob, which comprised of Meitei men and women, attacked the MPs house  who is from the same community  over the deaths in the Manipur violence that claimed dozens of lives in recent weeks.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi reacted to Singhs comments and questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah over it.

Taking to Twitter, Chaturvedi shared Singhs comments and said The law and order situation in Manipur has totally failed Thats a sitting minister in the government, not an opposition MP. Is his colleague in the cabinet - the Home Minister listening?

 The law and order situation in Manipur has totally failedThats a sitting minister in the government, not an opposition MP. Is his colleague in the cabinet - the Home Minister listening? https://t.co/qM0FJQBMOY  Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) June 16, 2023

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also reacted and said Here is a Union Minister from Manipur lamenting the prevailing situation in his state. But the PM is still silent, too busy preparing for his visit to the US while Manipur continues to burn."

Here is a Union Minister from Manipur lamenting the prevailing situation in his state. But the PM is still silent, too busy preparing for his visit to the US while Manipur continues to burn. https://t.co/rnp1R6OWVA Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 16, 2023

Singh had on Thursday said that repeated clashes show that the security needs to be tightened and the monitoring agency should monitor the situation.

His remarks came after nine people were killed and 10 others injured in a fresh flare-up of violence in Manipur which witnessed ethnic clashes on Wednesday.

The northeast state has been witnessing clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities over the demand for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category since May 3. Singh has been advocating peace amid the violence.
Former Union minister and senior Congress leader Manish Tewari on Friday launched an indirect attack on the Centre, asking those trying to erase Jawahar Lal Nehrus contribution" to read Discovery of India and Glimpses of World History. He added that legacies dont get erased by renaming buildings.

This reaction came after a report in Indian Express stated that the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) will now be called Prime Ministers Museum and Society. The move comes almost a year after the Prime Ministers Museum was inaugurated at the Teen Murti complex which served as the official residence of Indias first PM.

I wish those who want to erase Jawahar Lal Nehrus contribution to freedom struggle & building of Modern India would once read Discovery of India & Glimpses of World History to fathom the depth of Nehru. Legacies dont get erased by renaming buildings," Tewari tweeted.

Congress veteran Jairam Ramesh launched a scathing attack on one of the countrys top leader and called him a small, small man overburdened by his insecurities, and is a self-styled Vishwaguru".

Pettiness & Vengeance, thy name is Modi. For over 59 years Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML) has been a global intellectual lamdmark and treasure house of books & archives. It will henceforth be called Prime Ministers Museum & Society. What wont Mr. Modi do to distort, Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 16, 2023

Congress leader Udit Raj told News18, I condemn it strongly. Nehru ji was not just the first PM of India, but was also a freedom fighter. He was also a great literary person, a great historian. So the way BJP is changing the name shows that they are supporting the British. They dont want freedom; they dont want democracy; they dont wan the Constitution. Nehru ji struggled for Indias freedom. He went to jail for it. And this is how the present government is paying for all the sacrificies of Nehru ji?"

Some others supported the decision and asked whats the problem in renaming if the museum contains the life of other prime ministers along with Nehru?"

Whats the problem with renaming the Nehru Memorial Museum and Society as Prime Ministers Museum, Library Society, if it contains the life of other prime ministers along with Nehru? Why must JLN monopolise the place? Mohan Sinha  (@Mohansinha) June 16, 2023

The IE report stated that the decision was taken at a special meeting of the NMML Society on Thursday, presided over by defence minister Rajnath Singh, who is the vice-president of the society.

#Congress fumes as centre decides to remane Nehru Memorial Museum and Library as Prime Ministers Museum and Library SocietyCNN-News18s @Elizasherine shares more updates | @aayeshavarma pic.twitter.com/Q5x6e7RsBi  News18 (@CNNnews18) June 16, 2023

The NMML Society has 29 members with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its chairman. Other key members of the society include Union Ministers Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmendra Pradhan, G Kishan Reddy and Anurag Thakur.
The arrest of Tamil Nadu minister V Senthil Balaji has yet again brought the Enforcement Directorate in the eye of a storm. The senior cabinet minister was arrested after 18 hours of interrogation, which was followed by high drama as he reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest.

Even as the hearing related to the arrest is on before the Madras High Court, chief minister MK Stalin dared the BJP not to mess with the DMK. With the political slugfest continuing, Balaji happens to be one of many such arrests of influential people after 2019.

A dozen senior bureaucrats, including eight IAS officers, an IPS officer, an IRS officer, as well as 15 senior politicians from opposition parties  former union finance and home minister P Chidambaram, former J&K CM Farooq Abdullah, Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia, six ministers (of different states), an influential MP, and host of MLAs across states: this is the list of Indias powerful ED arrests since 2019, as per ED records accessed by News18.

A top ED official said out of 726 cases that the central agency is probing, 181 are related to political leaders. The official added that 191 important cases related to massive scams, political or bureaucratic corruption or bank frauds or money laundering, are now on trial.

Apart from arrests, the ED has summoned, interrogated, and raided at least 115 senior politicians and around two dozen senior IAS, IRS and IPS officers. The bureaucrats under investigation include eight IPS officers, at least three senior IAS officers from West Bengal in connection with the coal, cattle and recruitment scams, four IRS officers in income tax and at least five senior IAS officers from Jharkhand in connection with the coal scam, said the official.

The ED, which was almost non-existent before 2014, has now become Indias fiercest central law enforcement and investigating agency with sweeping power. Under the current director, Sanjay Mishra, the agency is probing Indias major corruption and national security cases. He served at a senior position in the finance ministry, when Chidambaram was finance minister in 2013, and was later moved to the home ministry. However, in 2019, after Mishra was appointed as the director, Chidambaram was arrested in connection with money laundering and corruption cases followed by other politicians arrests.

Mishra is known to be a reclusive officer, who refuses to meet any politician or accused, and stresses on speedy investigation and zero tolerance for corruption during internal meetings, said his colleagues at the ED. His term as the director was extended thrice by the central government and his third term is scheduled to end in November.

Across governments, the CBI has been called names by the opposition parties  from Congress Bureau of Investigation to BJP Bureau of Investigation and to caged parrot. But the ED is now called Modis new CBI.

Politicians, policy makers and corruption

Apart from national security cases, the ED is investing its time in major corruption cases across states. The cases include liquor scam and illegal coal and stone mining cases in Chhattisgarh; excise irregularities case in Delhi; coal and stone mining cases in Jharkhand; coal, cattle, teacher recruitment and municipality employee recruitment scams in West Bengal; and land for job scam in Bihar. Senior IAS officers have been arrested in the Jharkhand mining lease cases, Chhattisgarh coal levy cases, and Kerala gold smuggling cases.

Even though the political opponents of the BJP allege that the EDs action is only against states run by the opposition parties, a senior ED official told News18, There is evidence and FIRs lodged against politicians who call the ED politically motivated. Many cases are now in the trial phase. Can they deny the cases and the evidence? We have nothing to do with politics, and no politician talks to us. Law takes its own course.

From where does the ED draw power?

Unlike the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the ED is a multidisciplinary organisation not bound by the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The agency is entrusted with the enforcement of various laws and draws its powers from the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. It has quasi-judicial powers under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, to investigate alleged violations of the exchange control laws and regulations, as well as the authority to impose fines on those found guilty.

With the last amendment in 2013, the PMLA emerged as one of the strong laws in the country. In 2018, the government made the ED even more powerful by passing the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, which the agency enforces from April 21, 2018.

There are at least 130 predicate offences that the ED can probe. Unlike the CBI, it does not need the Centres or any states recommendation or the courts direction to pick up a case for investigation. It can investigate any case if there is an FIR. The agency is under the finance ministry and not the home ministry.

While introducing the Prevention of Money Laundering (Amendment) Bill, 2012, in the Rajya Sabha on December 17, 2012, Chidambaram as the finance minister delivered a speech on strengthening the PMLA and explained the concept of money laundering and predicate offence.

Firstly, we must remember that money laundering is a very technically defined offence. It is not the way we understand money laundering in a colloquial sense. It is a technically defined offence. It postulates that there must be a predicate offence and it is dealing with the proceeds of a crime. That is the offence of money laundering, he had said. It is more than simply converting black money into white or white money into black. That is an offence under the Income Tax Act. There must be a crime as defined in the schedule. As a result of that crime, there must be certain proceeds  it could be cash, or property. And anyone who directly or indirectly indulges or assists or is involved in any process or activity connected with the proceeds of crime and projects it as untainted property is guilty of the offence of money laundering. So, it is a very technical offence. The predicate offences are all listed in the Schedule. Unless there is a predicate offence, there cannot be an offence of money laundering.

Five years later, in 2019, he was arrested by the ED and under the same law.
In what can be termed as a fresh face-off in Tamil Nadu, Governor RN Ravi on Thursday returned the state governments proposal to reallocate the portfolios held by Senthil Balaji who has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a job scam.

To make matters worse, the Raj Bhavan also allegedly leaked the letter sent to Chief Minister MK Stalin on May 31, soon after he had landed in Chennai from his visit to Japan and Singapore. As per the letter, the Governor wanted Stalin to drop Balaji due to his involvement in the scam when he was a minister in the AIADMK government led by J Jayalalithaa in 2015.

Soon after the Governors letter was leaked, the government fielded higher education minister K Ponmudy to lead its defence.

The Governor has suppressed the June 1 reply of the chief minister explaining how a chief minister alone had the prerogative to appoint or remove a minister and that the Constitution of India does not bestow any power on the Governor to offer his recommendation, said Ponmudy.

He added: Our chief minister had cited the example of present Union home minister Amit Shah, who continued to remain in the Gujarat state cabinet though several cases were registered against him. Stalin has taught a basic lesson to the Governor on who shall be and who should not be in the cabinet.

The Governor is indulging in cheap politics by supressing the June 1 reply of the chief minister and selectively leaking his own letter, said Ponmudy.

On the Governors criticism that the Tamil Nadu government failed to mention the ED proceedings against Balaji, Ponmudy said the chief minister alone had the constitutional power to appoint or remove or reallocate portfolios of his ministers.

The Governor returning the recommendation and seeking details of ED proceedings is unconstitutional and would tantamount to interference in the administration of the state. Explaining these legal constitutional points, the chief minister has replied to the Governor letter once again and called upon him to act on the earlier recommendations and give approval for reallocation of portfolios, said Ponmudy.

Meanwhile, a press release on the changes in the state cabinet following the arrest of Balaji is likely to be issued by the government on Friday, said Secretariat sources.
On the recommendations of Chief Minister MK Stalin, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi re-allocated the portfolios held by arrested state Minister V Senthil Balaji on Friday among Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu and Housing Minister S Muthusamy. However, the Governor has not agreed" to Balaji continuing as a minister in the cabinet, the Raj Bhavan said in an official statement.

With Balaji now becoming a minister without any portfolio, Ravi has opposed his continuing in the Stalin-led cabinet as he was facing criminal proceedings.

The Governor has not agreed to Thiru V Senthil Balaji continuing any longer as a Member of the Council of Ministers, as he is facing criminal proceedings for moral turpitude and is currently in Judicial custody," the statement said.

Senthil Balaji: From Jayalalithaas Slave to Minister with Two Solid Portfolios in Stalin-led DMK Govt - News18

Reacting to Ravis move, DMK leader TKS Elangovan raised questions about Governors say in the matter and said the allegations against Balaji may turn out to be false.

Does the Constitution permit him to say who should continue as Minister in the Cabinet? The Constitution does not say that. It is not his prerogative, it is the Chief Ministers prerogative to appoint ministers. He (V Senthil Balaji) is just an accused. There is no judgement as to his charge. He is not a convict. The accusation may be false," the DMK leader said.

Portfolio Allocation

The portfolio reallocation comes a day after the ruling DMK accused Ravi of not accepting Stalins recommendation to do so.

On Stalins recommendations, Balajis Electricity, Non-Conventional Energy Development portfolio has been allocated to Finance Minister Thangam Thennarsu, while his subjects Prohibition and Excise, Molasses portfolio has been allocated to Housing and Urban Development Minister S Muthusamy.

Thennarau and Muthusamy will hold the new portfolios in addition to their existing ones.

Balajis Arrest

Balaji had been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday in a cash-for-jobs scam and is currently hospitalised. He appeared before the Chennai Metropolitan Session court via video conferencing today.

The court rejected his bail petition and remanded him to EDs custody till June 23. ED also summoned Balajis brother RV Ashok Kumar, among others for questioning next week in a money laundering case.

Senthil Balaji 15th Powerful Arrest: Why ED Has Emerged as Indias Fiercest Law Enforcement Agency - News18

The case against 47-year-old Balaji, who is the first member of the Stalin Cabinet to be arrested by a law enforcement agency, and his aides relates to his tenure as the state transport minister in the AIADMK government during 2011-15.

The arrest followed multi-city searches by the ED on Tuesday on the premises linked to Balaji in Tamil Nadu as part of the probe into money laundering. The move by the ED came after the Supreme Court issued an order on May 16 allowing investigations in the case by the police as well as the ED.

The ED filed a case of money laundering in 2021 to probe these allegations and its complaint is based on three Tamil Nadu Police FIRs filed during 2018.

(With PTI inputs)
Subscription to paid content

Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday took on former ally Shiv Sena (UBT) for maintaining silence over the Congress-led Karnataka governments move of removing RSS founder KB Hedgewar and Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar from the school textbooks and asked former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to clarify his stand on the matter.

Describing the Karnataka governments move as minority appeasement, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis has sought Thackerays opinion of the move and asked if has made a compromise on his ideology for power.

While Thackerays Shiv Sena (UBT) is a partner in the Maharashtra opposition bloc of Maha Vikas Aghadi, which also comprises the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), former ally BJP has often accused him of veering away from the Hindutva ideology.

Talking to reporters, Fadnavis said the revision in school textbooks in Karnataka was expected after the Congress returned to power in the southern state.

The Congress can remove Savarkar and Hedgewar from textbooks but not from the hearts and minds of people. In Maharashtra, the Opposition wants to replicate the Karnataka model. I want to ask Uddhav Thackeray what is his stand on this issue, he asked.

It is clear that Thackeray has compromised on his ideology for the sake of power, Fadnavis said.

The BJPs attack on Thackeray on his ideology came two months after the Shiv Sena leader had cautioned senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi about making direct attacks on Savarkar. Thackeray had said Savarkar was akin to God for Shiv Sena and any insult to him will not be acceptable to his party. He had also warned of cracks" in the opposition alliance if Savarkar was demeaned.

Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Fadnaviss BJP colleague and BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule also took a swipe at Shiv sena and said Thackeray should clear his stand on the textbook issue as well as the Karnataka governments decision to repeal the anti-conversion-law, brought in by the previous government.

Bawankule also blamed Rahul Gandhi for the move and said, It is Rahul Gandhi who asked the Karnataka government to remove the chapters on Veer Savarkar and withdraw the anti-conversion law. This is what happens in Karnataka if you vote for Congress."

Savarkars Grandson on Karnataka Govts Decision

The decision of the Congress government in Karnataka to drop a chapter on Savarkar from school textbooks will have a reverse effect, said his grandson Ranjit Savarkar on Friday.

Talking to PTI on the sidelines of an event in Goa, Ranjit Savarkar said the Congress may think that by deleting the chapter they might deprive students of the opportunity to learn about Savarkar but students are very sharp.

A lot of material on Savarkar is available on social media. The Savarkar Smarak has published his literature on their website. We are publishing them even in Kannada, he said.

Ranjit Savarkar said it wont make any difference if the chapter is deleted.

In fact, I will say that if you suppress more, it will rebound more. That is a natural reaction. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, he said.

Karnataka Govts Move

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led government in Karnataka on Thursday approved the revision of Kannada and Social Science textbooks of Classes 6 to 10 in the state for this academic year by removing the chapters on Hedgewar and Savarkar among others.

Apart from dropping chapters on Savarkar and Hedgewar, the Karnataka government also plans to include lessons on social reformer and educator Savitribai Phule, Jawaharlal Nehrus letters to Indira Gandhi and poetry on Dr B R Ambedkar in the textbooks.

(With PTI Inputs)
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk expects his brain-chip startup Neuralink to start its first human trial this year, he said on Friday in France.

Speaking at the VivaTech event in Paris, co-founder Musk said Neuralink plans to implant a tetraplegic or paraplegic patient during a webcast monitored by Reuters.

While Musk didnt specify how many patients his company would implant or for how long, its looking like the first case will be later this year," said Musk, who is also CEO of electric carmaker Tesla, social media platform Twitter and the SpaceX rocket launch company.

Last month, Neuralink said it received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for its first-in-human clinical trial, a critical milestone for the startup as it faces U.S. probes over its handling of animal experiments.

The FDA acknowledged in an earlier statement to Reuters that the agency cleared Neuralink to use its brain implant and surgical robot for trials but declined to provide more details.

If Neuralink can prove its device is safe in humans, it would still take several years, potentially more than a decade, for the start-up to secure commercial use clearance, experts earlier told Reuters. The company is also competing with other neurotech companies which have already implanted their devices in people.

Musk has missed timelines on his public pronouncements about Neuralink before, however. On at least four occasions since 2019, Musk predicted that Neuralink would soon start human trials.

The company, founded in 2016, first sought permission from the FDA in early 2022, and the agency rejected the application, citing dozens of safety concerns, Reuters has reported.

Some of the issues involved the lithium battery of the device, the possibility of the implants wires migrating within the brain, and the challenge of safely extracting the device without damaging brain tissue.

Neuralink also faces federal scrutiny following Reuters reports about its animal experiments.

Last year, Neuralink employees told Reuters the company was rushing and botching surgeries on monkeys, pigs and sheep, resulting in more animal deaths than necessary, as Musk pressured staff to receive FDA approval. The animal experiments produced data intended to support the companys application for human trials, the sources said.

In one instance in 2021, the company implanted 25 out of 60 pigs with the wrong-sized devices. All the pigs were subsequently killed - an error that employees said could have been easily avoided with more preparation.

In May, U.S. lawmakers urged regulators to investigate whether the makeup of Neuralinks panel overseeing animal testing contributed to botched and rushed experiments after Reuters reported on potential financial conflicts on the board.

The Department of Transportation is separately probing whether Neuralink illegally transported dangerous pathogens on chips removed from monkey brains without proper containment measures. An agency spokesperson said on Friday the investigation is ongoing.

Neuralink has also been under investigation by the U.S. Department of Agricultures Office of Inspector General for potential animal-welfare violations. This probe has been looking at the USDAs oversight of Neuralink. An agency spokesperson didnt immediately respond to a comment request.

Meanwhile, the companys valuation has shot up in recent months. The start-up was valued at close to $2 billion in a private fundraising round two years ago and is now worth around $5 billion based on privately executed stock trades, Reuters reported this month.

Neuralink employees who sat on the companys animal board, which has come under federal scrutiny for potential financial conflicts, stood to benefit from the implants quick development.

Neuralink stock that some of the employees hold has jumped around 150% in value in just two years, based on the secondary trades, Reuters reported.
Samsung is bringing a new health-related feature on its next smartwatch that will help people with crucial alerts. The company has got the nod to offer an irregular heart rate tracking feature, which could help people with warnings related to their health and asking them to visit a doctor right away.

The feature will be enabled via the Samsung Health app but you will need the hardware to work in tandem, which will be possible with the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 series.

Samsungs approval comes via the FDA and the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Samsung will be offering this feature in a total of 13 markets later this year, which includes Argentina, US, Hong Kong, Indonesia, UAE, Korea, Georgia and Costa Rica among others. No sign of India in this list, and even most parts of Europe are missing, which suggests this is just a phase 1 release for Samsungs new health feature.

From the looks of it, the new heart rate tracking tool will be available for Samsung users only, which is hardly surprising. Samsung will be hoping to have an Apple-like impact with its new health feature that could become the norm for Android devices as well in the years to come.

The biggest advantage of this new feature is that anyone wearing the watch compatible with the tool can be alerted about possible risk of stroke or heart failure. Apple Watch has been playing the role of saviour for many years, helping people avoid mishaps with its unique health tool, and now Samsung could help people with such issues as well.

The irregular heart rate tracker will be paired with the ECG function on the Galaxy Watch 6 series, which will monitor your heart rhythm and alert the user when it receives an irregular heart beat. Devices like these are handy to have but doctors will be your main source of treatment and consultation, so if you do catch any irregular activity with your heart, consult your doctor right away.

Well be hearing more about this feature and its compatibility when the Galaxy Watch 6 series rolls out next month at the Galaxy Unpacked event.
Adipurush, the highly anticipated film of 2023 starring South superstar Prabhas, has finally made its way to theaters. The movie, which features Kriti Sanon as Sita, Saif Ali Khan as Ravana, and Sunny Singh as Laxman in prominent roles, offers a modern interpretation of the Hindu epic Ramayana. Although the initial teaser received a lukewarm response and the filmmakers took a step back to refine the visual effects, devoted fans remained enthusiastic about experiencing the film on the big screen, particularly after the release of the trailer. The wait has now ended for Prabhas fans as they flocked to theaters nationwide on June 16th. However, despite high expectations, Adipurush fell short of the publics expectations, with users expressing their disappointment through memes and critical commentary on Twitter, particularly regarding the portrayal of mythological characters and the quality of VFX.

Some fans have humourously compared a sequence of Prabhas appearance in the film to that of Jesus Christ instead of the expected portrayal of Lord Rama, leading to playful trolling. Similarly, Saif Ali Khans depiction of Ravana has also faced criticism, with fans commenting that his portrayal resembles an Afghan invader rather than the iconic King Ravana. Additionally, the inclusion of unconventional tattoos on Indrajeets body has left fans dissatisfied. Above all, it was the poor quality of VFX came as the major target for criticism and was subjected to harsh roastings.

Overall, fans reactions have sparked a wave of memes and jokes on social media, as they creatively express their opinions and give reviews in a light-hearted manner.

Also Read: Black Mirrors Return to Netflix With Season 6 Has Twitter Binging on Memes

Check Out How Adipurush Release Inspired a Memefest on Twitter

Modern hair-cuts, tattoos, cheap animations and cringe dialogues. Adipurush is an All India TikTok association meeting#AdipurushReview  Sagar (@sagarcasm) June 16, 2023

Watched Adipurush fdfs, very disappointed that theres no rap song from MC stan in the movie. (@firki07) June 16, 2023

Even Allu Arjun couldnt save Adipurush to be a disaster pic.twitter.com/Edu2bFZNLd Brle-G (blue tick) (@Hero_Zumour) June 16, 2023

Indrajeet hai ya ..South Delhi ka Tattoo artist pic.twitter.com/eeNwpTKIRV BekaarAaadmi (@BekaarAaadmi) June 16, 2023

Why they didnt show Raavan in the trailer. Whatta beauty pic.twitter.com/tOByYsdeu8 Bob (@Bobby_almost) June 16, 2023

Mom Can I have Jesus ??No we have Jesus at home.Jesus at home pic.twitter.com/f1V6xwpQFL  Vaibhav Joshi (@joshiisenough) June 16, 2023

Meanwhile, a delightful incident unfolded at a theatre, capturing the hearts of many as a video of the moment went viral. In the footage, a monkey was spotted peeking out from a wall, surprising and delighting the audience. The unexpected appearance of the monkey elicited joyful reactions from the spectators, who enthusiastically cheered and chanted Jai Hanuman Ji as a tribute to the revered deity as they watched Adipurush.

Also Read: What Era Are You in Right Now? Desis Share Memes to Express Bittersweet Mood in Viral Twitter Trend

On its first day, Adipurush has already sold over 62,000 seats in popular cinema chains, setting an impressive start. As anticipation continues to build, the upcoming weekend has already seen more than 1.12 lakh tickets booked by eager moviegoers. By Thursday night, the film is projected to achieve a remarkable sale of 2.5 lakh tickets, establishing new records in Hindi cinema bookings.
In what comes as a shocking incident, a 25-year-old employee, working at a private firm in Bengalurus Eco Space was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly making a bomb threat at his workplace. According to a report by Times of India, Prasad Navneenth made the bomb call because he was upset about being barred from office. Due to performance issues, Prasad was not allowed to enter the office. His company was also thinking about firing him.

He tried to get in touch with his colleagues. Not only this but Prasad also called the firm several times but his request was denied. Frustrated about the same, he called up the firm again to say that he had placed a bomb inside the office. He further threatened the people by saying that the bomb would go off in the next 30 minutes.

Also Read: Man Attends Meeting on Bike While Stuck in Traffic in Peak Bengaluru Moment

However, after a while, he called again to admit that he had made a false claim. But it was too late by then as the company had already contacted the police.

As of now, the police has registered a non-cognizable report which will be converted into an FIR with the permission of the court. While speaking to the Times of India, a cop explained, An anti-sabotage team, bomb disposal squad, local police and sleuths from the city intelligence and Internal Security Division, about 60 personnel in all, scoured the premises and declared it a hoax call by 3pm. By then, another police team had traced the suspect and detained him.

Meanwhile, earlier, in another Peak Bengaluru incident, an image went viral which showed a bike rider equipped with a mobile holder on his vehicle as he was busy with a meeting on Microsoft Teams. Amidst the chaos of the usual Bengaluru traffic, he fearlessly decided to tackle both his commute and work.

Also Read: Peak Bengaluru: Woman Stuck in Traffic Works on Scooter, Viral Pic Shows Her With Laptop on Rapido
All over the world, certain expressions are more popular than others in corporate settings. Most of them come from English, which doesnt always make office communication any easier for workers around the world. FYI, I need feedback on your call with the VP ASAP." From acronyms to idioms, office workers can be confronted will all kinds of jargon. This can be tricky enough to navigate for native English speakers, but many other global business cultures now borrow this office lingo directly, which can lead to even more confusion.

The extensive use of such terms in the professional context often leads to a lack of clarity, as revealed by a recent Duolingo-LinkedIn survey. The two companies questioned over 8,000 employees in eight different countries  India, Vietnam, Colombia, Brazil, Japan, Australia, the UK and the USA  about the use of English buzzwords in the workplace. The majority found that their coworkers overused workplace jargon.

Using these terms indiscriminately irritates workers, and hampers the quality of their conversations. In fact, 60% of those surveyed admit that they dont always understand the meaning of these expressions. But theres no question of asking their peers for explanations: office jargon newbies learn on the job, which causes them stress and hampers their productivity.

So its hardly surprising that almost half of all respondents would like to eradicate office jargon. Hope Wilson, expert in linguistics and intercultural communication at Duolingo, sees this rejection of workplace lingo as a desire to break free from the shackles of the corporate world. People typically use jargon in the workplace to project an identity of business-related authority. By knowing and using specialized lingo, you (in theory, at least!) show the people around you that youre sophisticated and in-touch with the latest business trends."

Borrowing from English

English terms are so much in vogue in workplaces that some of them have become part of everyday language. French workers, for example, are now used to hearing words like coworking," overbooked" and burnout." But some Anglicisms are not so widespread, or at least not everywhere in the world. Brazilians, for example, struggle to understand and use the terms feedback," networking" and ASAP." Workers in Colombia and Japan share the same aversion to the acronym ASAP (as soon as possible). The expressions FYI (for your information), KPI (key performance indicator) and by EOD (by the end of the day) are equally incomprehensible to most non-English-speaking workers.

But this can also be the case for workers with a good command of English. Many British, Indian, American and Australian employees are at a loss when it comes to certain English expressions in the workplace. This is all the more paradoxical given that corporate language should be accessible to all employees, not just a few insiders  or happy few," as corporate world would say.
Many museums use robots to offer their visitors a more immersive and interactive experience. While some choose humanoids based on artificial intelligence, Madrids Coleccion SOLO has opted for a robot dog.

This robot dog is called A.I.C.C.A, or Artificially Intelligent Critical Canine. It takes the form of a plush terrier with one eye replaced by a camera. Its inventor, the German artist Mario Klingemann, has mounted it on a kind of electric skateboard to enable it to explore the rooms of the Coleccion SOLO like any other visitor.

And just like them, A.I.C.C.A. can choose to stop in front of the painting or sculpture of its choice to better admire it but also to analyze it. Thats what makes this robot dog so unique. Complex algorithms, including ChatGPT, enable it to write critiques of the works that catch its eye. It then prints these on thin sheets of paper, which emerge from its hindquarters  a bold choice that makes it look like A.I.C.CA is pooping them out.

But these excretions arent destined to be poop scooped. According to Beaux Arts magazine, which attended the official presentation of A.I.C.C.A. on June 7, the robot dogs art reviews really arent as dumb as you might expect. The Spanish street artist Grip Face was even surprised by what the canine had to say about his painting I am a victim of social labels" (2022). A technical feat that owes much to the tens of thousands of pieces of knowledge that A.I.C.C.A. has acquired through machine learning, making it a very well-trained pooch.

Museums as a new playground for robots

This is not the first time that Mario Klingemann has used artificial intelligence in his artistic practice. He previously drew on this technology to create Memories of Passersby I" (2019), a work that sold for 40,000 (approx. $51,200) at Sothebys in London the same year. The German artist has conceived A.I.C.C.A as a performative work of art that will travel the world, sharing its reflections at exhibitions and art fairs.

While A.I.C.C.A. is a great way to shine the spotlight on Coleccion SOLO, the Madrid museum is not alone in its interest in robots. These machines are increasingly making their way into the hushed galleries of art establishments to enhance the visitor experience and, above all, to attract new audiences. For example, the Musee Jean-Claude-Boulard-Carre Plantagenet in Le Mans, France, recently welcomed Temi, a humanoid with a passion for the medieval period. Designed through a partnership between Les Musees du Mans, Le Mans Innovation, Symbioide and Le Mans Universite, the robot acted as a tour guide at the museum between March and May.

Prior to Temi, a number of other robots have temporarily performed similar functions in international museums. These include Ameca, the humanoid at Dubais Museum of the Future, and Berenson, the art-loving robot that roamed the aisles of Pariss Musee du Quai Branly in 2015 and 2016 as part of a research project led by the ETIS robotics laboratory (ENSEA-Universite de Cergy-Pontoise).
Australian foreign minister Penny Wong appointed Philip Green as Australias next High Commissioner to India on Friday. She also announced that Hilary McGeachy has been appointed as Australias first Consul-General in Bengaluru.

Highlighting how India and Australia are working together for a peaceful Indo-Pacific region, Wong said both countries are working together through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as well as partners of the Quad grouping.

The Australia-India relationship has never been closer. Australia and India share perspectives, challenges and a democratic heritage. We are working together, through our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and as Quad partners, to promote a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, where sovereignty is respected, Wong said in a release from the Australian external affairs ministry.

Philip Green will also serve as High Commissioner to the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Along with our deepening defence and security cooperation, Australia and India have a mutually beneficial economic partnership, which will expand as we work towards finalising an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, Wong further added.

Green served as Australian ambassador to Germany and is a senior career officer with the Australian department of foreign affairs. He also served as Australian High Commissioner to Singapore, to South Africa and to Kenya, the press release said.

Wong thanked Barry OFarrell for his contribution to advancing Australias interests in India. Barry OFarrell has served as Australian high commissioner to India since 2020.

Bengaluru Consulate-General

Wong also announced Hilary McGeachy appointment as Australias first consul-general in Bengaluru. The Bengaluru Consulate-General will be Australias fifth diplomatic mission in India and it will undertake the consular responsibilities for the states of Karnataka and Telangana.

Bengaluru is a leading centre of innovation and the heart of Indias technology industry with a vibrant business community and a booming digital economy. (It) will deepen Australias trade, investment and people-to-people ties and strengthen our technology partnership with this dynamic part of south India, Wong said in a separate press release.

McGeachy also is a career officer with the Australian department of foreign affairs and trade and previously served overseas in India and Germany.
In 2018 Paul Wang left his home in Beijing to start a new life in Australia, investing A$1 million ($680,000) in a food processing business in the hopes of qualifying for permanent residency under the countrys investment visa scheme.

Five years on, his hopes for his family of three remain on hold as the government has put the controversial Golden Visa" programme on the back burner, causing processing times to blow out, leaving wealthy migrants like Wang in limbo.

We were not expecting it would take this long," said Wang, 44. And our life is a mess because of that. We simply cannot plan ahead with all of the uncertainty."

When Australia introduced the Business Innovation and Investment Programme (BIIP) in 2012, the hope was that wealthy business owners, investors and entrepreneurs would boost the economy by bringing in capital and driving innovation.

The results, though, have been underwhelming. A government review published in March found BIIP migrants contributed less to the economy than the average Australian, as the cohort, despite their wealth, tended to be older and earned lower incomes through capital returns on passive investments.

The review estimated the lifetime economic contribution of BIIP holders at A$600,000, less than half the $1.6 million of Australians.

After coming to power 13 months ago, Australias Labor government shifted priority to easing shortages of critical skilled workers. Partly as a result, most BIIP permanent visas are taking nearly three years to process, up from a previous average around 12 months, and in addition to an investment cycle of four to five years.

Wang has been waiting 21 months.

Similar investment visa schemes have been scrapped in Canada, Britain and Singapore as governments conclude they do not create jobs and could be a means to park speculative money.

Every category of Australian visas experienced a backlog during COVID-19. As the pandemic has eased, the government has cut processing times overall, but the wait for more than 3,000 BIIP holders and their families - many Chinese - has only lengthened.

PEOPLE WONT SYMPATHISE

Some BIIP applicants plan to protest in Sydney on Friday against the governments policy shift, a rarity as Chinese migrants largely avoid public dissent.

Asked about the visa delays, the Department of Home Affairs said in an emailed statement the government would process all visas in line with priority and planning levels, declining to comment on the complaints from BIIP holders.

It said a new migration strategy would be released later this year, which would include radically reshaping" the BIIP programme.

The delays have raised concern that the government might scrap the BIIP programme, said Tony Le Nevez, managing director at residence and citizenship planners Henley & Partners Australia, whose clients have invested at least A$5 million each in the country.

I just dont think the investor programme is on their radar at the moment - they might overhaul it down the track. In the meantime, I think they might just keep a small window open.

The government plans to shrink its BIIP allocation from 5,000 visas last financial year to 1,900 this year - less than 20% of the level of earlier years.

BIIP holders say they are curtailing business investment given the uncertainty, postponing life decisions and in some cases selling properties in Australia. Some say they must hold on to loss-making businesses to keep their visa prospects alive, missing out on investments with greater returns.

The forever wait means that even if Im running my business at a loss, I cannot just close shop and move on," said Tan, a Chinese investor who owns a furniture shop in Melbourne and asked to be identified only by his surname due to privacy concerns. He has been waiting for 33 months.

Wang, who gave up on plans last year to buy more land for his factory because of the uncertainty of his visa status, said he was prepared to offload his assets in Australia and move to the United States for his daughters education next year.

I know a lot of people wont sympathise with us - were a small group of people," Wang said. But were not being treated fairly."

($1 = 1.4691 Australian dollars)
President Xi Jinping told his old friend" Bill Gates on Friday that China had always placed its hopes in the American people, after the Microsoft co-founders foundation pledged $50 million to help Chinese efforts to battle disease.

Gates  one of the worlds richest men  is the latest in a string of Western business leaders to visit China since the country ended strict Covid controls that largely closed it off from the world for almost three years.

The visit is Gates first to China in four years, and included a rare sit-down between the Chinese head of state and a foreign business leader.

You are the first American friend I have met in Beijing this year," Xi told Gates in Beijing, according to the state-run Peoples Daily.

We have always placed our hopes on the American people, and hoped for continued friendship between the peoples of the two countries," Xi added.

Gates, in turn, said he was very honoured to have this chance to meet", according to a recording shared by state broadcaster CCTV.

Weve always had great conversations and well have a lot of important topics to discuss today," he said.

I was very disappointed I couldnt come during these last four years, and so its very exciting to be back."

A state media readout also quoted Gates as praising Chinas efforts in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, setting a good example for the world".

$50 million

The meeting comes ahead of an expected visit to China by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday, during which Beijing said the two countries will exchange views on China-US relations and major international and regional issues of common interest".

China will state its position and concerns on China-US relations and resolutely safeguard its interests," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a regular briefing on Friday.

The tete-a-tete also follows an announcement by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on Thursday that it would give $50 million to support Chinese efforts to fight malaria and tuberculosis.

The foundation announced it would renew a collaboration with the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI)  a Beijing-based group set up by Gates, the Beijing municipal government and Tsinghua University.

The $50 million will support efforts to improve health outcomes worldwide through lifesaving therapies for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, which disproportionately affect the worlds poorest", the Gates Foundation said in a statement.

On Thursday, Gates gave a speech at GHDDI, the Gates Foundation said, hailing Chinas efforts in eradicating malaria and poverty reduction.

China has made significant gains reducing poverty and improving health outcomes within China," Gates said.

Im hopeful China can play an even bigger role in addressing the current challenges, particularly those facing African countries."

Gates last visited China in 2019, where he met with first lady Peng Liyuan to discuss his foundations work in HIV/AIDS prevention.

During a visit to the country the previous year, he brandished a jar of human waste at a forum in Beijing in a bid to draw attention to the shortage of toilets in the developing world.

A string of American business leaders have visited China this year, talking up their optimism about its vast market and trade ties between the two economic powerhouses.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon visited China in recent weeks, as did Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who made his first trip there in more than three years.

Musk, who has extensive business interests in China, met senior officials in Beijing and visited Teslas Gigafactory on the outskirts of Shanghai for a late-night meeting with staff.

In March, Apple CEO Tim Cook visited Beijing, saying his company enjoyed a symbiotic" relationship with China.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. The Czech Republic is eager to conclude mid-term and long-term agreements with the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) on the gas supply from Azerbaijan, Jozef Sikela, Czech Minister of Industry and Trade, told Trend.

"Primarily, the Czech Republic is interested in getting access to Azerbaijani gas. Your country is already known in Europe as a reliable energy supplier. And, now, when we have managed to reduce our supplies from Russia down to zero within 10 month, we are rebuilding our supply chain. Here Azerbaijan can be of great contribution, considering the positive cooperation we have already had," he said.

Minister Sikela also noted that Azerbaijan has great potential in production of green hydrogen and green ammonia. Here Czech companies can also highly contribute with their experience.

"During our talks with Azerbaijani officials we have agreed to hold the next steering committee meeting in Baku, and we plan to bring a big delegation of Czech businessmen with us to discuss future opportunities for cooperation," the minister added.

As the minister pointed out, in general, the business volume between the two countries has increased significantly over recent years.

"There was a huge increase observed in exports from Azerbaijan to the Czech Republic  145 percent. Czech exports to Azerbaijan, in turn, were slightly lower  increasing by around 50 percent. During our talks with Azerbaijani officials we have agreed to hold the next steering committee meeting in Baku, and we plan to bring a big delegation of Czech businessmen with us to discuss future opportunities for cooperation," the minister noted.

Meanwhile, Czech imports from Azerbaijan consist of oil (nearly 25 percent of all oil import to the Czech Republic), cotton, dry fruits, and nuts. In the first quarter of this year, trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $293 million, of which $270.78 million (5.49 percent) fell on export to the Czech Republic, and $22.8 million - imports (2.81 percent).
The head of the UN atomic energy agency said on Thursday that ensuring water for cooling was a priority of his visit to the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine, adding that the station could operate safely for some time".

Rafael Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was inspecting the state of Europes largest nuclear plant following last weeks breach in the Kakhovka dam downstream on the Dnipro River.

What is essential for the safety of this plant is that the water that you see behind me stays at that level," Grossi said in two tweets issued from near the station, including next to a pond that supplies water for cooling.

With the water that is here the plant can be kept safe for some time. The plant is going to be working to replenish the water so that safety functions can continue normally."

Grossi said the visit, his third to the plant in southern Ukraine since Russian forces occupied it in the first days of their February 2022 invasion, had gathered a good amount of information for an assessment".

Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly accused each other of shelling near the plant, endangering its safe operation. The stations six reactors are now in shutdown.

An IAEA spokesman said that gunfire briefly halted Grossis convoy as it headed back to Ukrainian-held territory following the visit, but the delegation was in no immediate danger.

A Russian energy industry official was earlier cited by Tass news agency as accusing Ukraine of opening fire at the convoy.

FIGHTING COMPLICATES SECURITY

Earlier in the day, Grossi said it was unrealistic to expect Moscow and Kyiv to sign a document on the sites security while fighting raged nearby.

The Kakhovka reservoir was normally used to refill the cooling pond adjacent to the plant, but cannot do so now because of its falling water level following the breach, officials say.

Instead, the pond, which is separated from the reservoir, can be replenished using deep underground wells, they say.

Grossi was earlier quoted by Russian news agencies as saying the situation at the site was serious" but that the level of cooling water was sufficient.

He also said that IAEA inspectors would remain at the site.

We have a political agreement which was formulated at the (United Nations) Security Council. Reaching a written agreement would be unrealistic at this stage because, as we know, there are no peace or ceasefire negotiations between the parties," TASS quoted Grossi as saying.

Grossis trip was delayed by a day for security reasons amid heavy fighting.

Russian forces captured both the nuclear plant and the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam shortly after President Vladimir Putin sent them into Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.

Grossi has repeatedly called for an end to fighting in the vicinity of the facility to avoid any catastrophic accidents.

Power lines have been repeatedly cut. There are diesel generators at the plant, which also has alternative water sources.
A multi-million-dollar deal between a media group run by Britains Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, and streaming giant Spotify is to end, a report said Thursday.

The couple have produced just one series under their Archewell Audio podcast imprint since inking the agreement in 2020 for a reported $20 million.

That show, Markles Archetypes," has topped podcast charts for the outlet in a number of markets, with listeners flocking to her discussions with influential women.

But trade title Variety, citing an unnamed source, reported Thursday that Spotify had been expecting more material.

Harry and the Duchess of Sussex were looking to find a new home for their content, Variety said, citing another source.

There was no immediate response from Spotify or Archewell when AFP approached for comment.

Harry, the younger son of Britains King Charles, married glamorous former US television actress Meghan, who is mixed race, in 2018 in a blaze of positive coverage that looked set to help bring the tradition-bound monarchy into the 21st century.

But relations between the couple and the family soured over the following years, with accusations Markle was subjected to racism.

Harry and his wife stepped back from royal life and relocated to California, from where they have continued to lob brickbats at the institution.

Most explosively there has been a tell-all autobiography from the 38-year-old prince, a Netflix docu-series, and a high-profile interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Since quitting royal duties, the couple have sought to make money through media ventures.
Indian-American politicians, Democrats, Republicans and prominent members of the Indian diaspora including the Indian diaspora itself is preparing to accord a grand welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his state visit to the United States next week.

The atmosphere and the energy among US politicians, Indian-American lawmakers and the Indian-American diaspora resembles that of a festival as there is less than one week left for Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the US.

Read: PM Modi In US: Prez Biden, First Lady to Host State Dinner; Egypt Visit On Way Back

A plethora of reactions came from the US from American lawmakers as well before PM Modis visit. Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India and the US is united by shared democratic values.

#WATCH | We welcome PM Narendra Modi to the United States of America. Ohio has a strong Indian-American community. We are looking forward to strengthening the relations between the two countries: Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown speaks on the upcoming state visit of PM Narendra Modi to pic.twitter.com/IEUvcgfodp ANI (@ANI) June 15, 2023

Prime Minister Modi, welcome to the United States of America. Ohio has a strong Indian American community virtually everywhere in our state. Business owners, entrepreneurs, educators, students, doctors, workers, advocates, and leaders in the community. Indian Americans serve our nation honourably in the military. Theyre part of the fabric of our state, the Ohio Democrat said in a video posted by the Indian Embassy in the US.

Our partnership with #India illustrates the power of shared values and cooperation. #USWelcomesModi #ModiUSVisit2023Appreciate @RepJeremyGrays message underscoring Prime Minister @narendramodis #HistoricStateVisit2023 reflecting the depth of our bilateral relationship and pic.twitter.com/Kb1DEhodTM  India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) June 16, 2023

Alabama House Democrat Jeremy Gray said PM Modis visit to the US underscores the depth of the bilateral relationship while highlighting the Prime Ministers contribution towards raising awareness on the benefits of yoga. Gray said he and Alabamans believe that the International Yoga Day will foster a deep understanding between both nations.

Florida Republican Bill Posey pointed out that the strong relationship between India and the US contains China and prevents it from threatening peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. This is a relationship to be celebrated as we welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington next week, Posey told lawmakers in the US Congress as per a video shared by the Indian embassy.

Americans of Indian descent are an important fabric of Indian life, Posey said.

On behalf of all #Missourians, I want to welcome Prime Minister @narendramodi to our great country. Thank you, Governor @GovParsonMO for highlighting our shared interests in promoting security, stability & economic prosperity. #USWelcomesModi #IndiaUSAPartnership pic.twitter.com/1pFOejaRmZ India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) June 15, 2023

Republican Governor of Missouri Mike Parson also extended a warm welcome to Prime Minister Modi. On behalf of all Missourians, I want to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi to our great country. Missouri has a strong tie with India. Over 20,000 Missourians were born in India and Missouri and India have a robust relationship and it regards India as a strong partner, Parson said.

#WATCH | Washington DC, US: It's an important visit considering the geopolitical challenges & as India is rising as an economic power. It is an opportunity to work on US-India trade relationships. There is a real opportunity for the two countries to grow together: pic.twitter.com/m9KN5DpaIw ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2023

California Democrat Ami Bera said India and the United States will grow together and India is rising as an economic powerhouse. Its an important visit considering the geopolitical challenges & as India is rising as an economic power. It is an opportunity to work on US-India trade relationships. There is a real opportunity for the two countries to grow together, Bera was quoted as saying by ANI.

Republican congressman Rich McCormick representing Georgias 6th congressional district said the visit will increase the goodwill between both nations.

I am excited that (Prime Minister @narendramodi) is coming to #America to extend goodwill between our two nations in one of the most strategically important relationships we have in the world. Thank you Congressman @RichMcCormick_ for your enthusiastic welcome of pic.twitter.com/H39nMc0OVQ  India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) June 16, 2023

I am excited that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming to America to extend goodwill between our two nations in one of the most strategically important relationships we have in the world, McCormick said.

Looking forward to the arrival of Prime Minister Modi in Washington DC next week.India is a key partner in our efforts to strengthen democracy in the U.S. and around the world. @IndiainNewYork pic.twitter.com/3ptzn5YgU5  Congressman Greg Landsman (@RepGregLandsman) June 16, 2023

Congressman Greg Landsman, an Ohioan Democrat, said he is looking forward to PM Modis state visit. India is a key partner in our efforts to strengthen democracy in the US and around the world, Landsman said.

Jai Hind !! And God Bless America !!I look forward to hearing from Prime Minister @narendramodi during our Joint Meeting of #Congress on his vision for #India, relationship with the #USA and our shared work together to advance #Peace #Prosperity #DemocraticValues & #Stability pic.twitter.com/H8b3tWdOBF  India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) June 17, 2023

I look forward to hearing from Prime Minister Modi during our Joint Meeting of Congress on his vision for India, relationship with the USA and our shared work together to advance peace, prosperity, democratic values and stability in the Indo-Pacific, Gregory Meeks, senior Democrat representing 5th Congressional District of New York said.

Republican congressman Don Bacon, representative for Nebraskas 2nd congressional district, said the visit will allow both nations to strengthen the bonds between both nations.

Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting America on June 22nd, and will speak to Congress. The largest and oldest democracies will have great opportunity to strengthen our bonds. We share common threats and believe in common values. https://t.co/jh2kqPjtMy Rep. Don Bacon  (@RepDonBacon) June 16, 2023

Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting America on June 22nd, and will speak to Congress. The largest and oldest democracies will have great opportunities to strengthen our bonds. We share common threats and believe in common values, Bacon said in a tweet.

The US & India have an important relationship and collaborate in diverse fields like medicine, technology, & sustainable growth. I am happy that @POTUS & @FLOTUS have invited @PMOIndia to visit our great nation & I look forward to hearing the Prime Minister's address to Congress. Congressman Troy A. Carter (@RepTroyCarter) June 16, 2023

Democrat Troy Carter, representing Louisianas 2nd congressional district in the US House of Representatives said: The US & India have an important relationship and collaborate in diverse fields like medicine, technology, & sustainable growth. I am happy that the President and First Lady of the US have invited the Prime Minister of India to visit our great nation & I look forward to hearing the Prime Ministers address to Congress.

The #HistoricStateVisit2023 will serve as another way for  and the  to strengthen our #Economic and #Cultural relationship Welcome #Delaware Governor @JohnCarneyDEs meaningful message and thank him for sharing his experiences from the #India trip#IndiaUSAFriendship pic.twitter.com/sq6cVtVuKh  India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) June 17, 2023

Delaware governor and Democrat John Carney said PM Modis visit will strengthen economic and cultural ties between both nations. The historic state visit 2023 will serve as another way for India and the US to strengthen our economic and cultural relationship, Carney said.

Arvind Panagariya, the former vice chairman of NITI Aayog, who is currently teaching at the Columbia University said everyone is eagerly waiting for PM Modis visit as well as his address to the US Congress. He pointed out that he will be the third leader after former UK PM Winston Churchill and Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu to address the US Congress on more than one occasion.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Pawan Sinha said that India and the US form a strong team and are committed to solve global problems together. In a video shared by the Indian embassy, the professor of neuroscience Sinha pointed out that both nations are working together to ensure healthcare reaches in an equitable manner to all sections of the society.

This #HistoricStateVisit2023 is going to unleash even more potential and escape velocity in #USA #India relations, says @USAmbKeshap as he welcomes Prime Minister @narendramodi on behalf of @USIBC member companies and their millions of dedicated employees around the world. pic.twitter.com/eCEuw6CS9J India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) June 15, 2023

The US India Business Council President chief Atul Keshap extended a warm welcome to the Prime Minister and said the visit will unleash even more potential and escape velocity in US-India relations.

New York-based chef Vikas Khanna said he is excited for PM Modis state visit. He has been a bridge between two greatest democracies in the world. He has given us the voice and pride to represent our country in the US. I am looking forward to the visit, Khanna said.

VIDEO | "India is one of our most important markets around the world, it's really our second home. We are very excited about India and its trajectory," Karan Bhatia, Global Head, government affairs and public policy, Google, tells PTI ahead of PM Modi's visit to the USA. pic.twitter.com/0sPtJedvCu Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 17, 2023

The Prime Minister will be in the US from June 21 to June 24.

The upcoming visit by Prime Minister Honble @narendramodi will provide an impetus to #iCET and will help establish a long-term and strong relationship between the scientific communities. Professor Gurdip Singh @GeorgeMasonU welcomes the #HistoricStateVisit2023 on behalf of pic.twitter.com/pBUFU9zbis  India in USA (@IndianEmbassyUS) June 17, 2023

He will kick off his tour with an International Yoga Day event on June 21 with UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi at the UN headquarters in New York and then on June 22 he will hold a bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

He is expected to meet the Indian diaspora as well. He will also visit Egypt after he completes his trip to the US, marking his first visit to the North African nation.
A longtime producer for Tucker Carlson is out at Fox News after he was deemed responsible for the on-air headline that referred to President Joe Biden as a wannabe dictator" because of the indictment of former President Donald Trump.

The producer, Alex McCaskill, confirmed his exit in an Instagram post. Fox News did not comment on Friday.

He had remained at Fox after Carlson, the networks most popular personality, was fired on April 24.

The reason for Carlsons sudden ouster, less than a week after Fox agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems $787 million to end a defamation case, has never been publicly explained.

It was during the last minutes of Carlsons former time slot on Tuesday when the message appeared under separate onscreen boxes that showed Biden and Trump talking.

It read: Wannabe dictator speaks at the White House after having his political rival arrested.

Carlson, in a Twitter monologue posted Thursday, said the women who run the network panicked about the post and scolded the person responsible.

Carlson didnt name the producer, but said he was considered one of the most capable persons in the building.

The producer offered to resign with two weeks notice, but was told to clean out his desk and leave immediately, he said.

Fox, in a statement on Wednesday, said the chyron had been taken down and the issue addressed, without further explanation.

In an Instagram message posted on Twitter by Justin Baragona of The Daily Beast, McCaskill is pictured outside of Foxs Manhattan office holding a box.

Today was my last day at Fox, read the message under his picture. Its been a wild 10 years and it was the best place Ive ever worked because of the great people I met. But the time has come. I asked them to let me go, and they finally did. To all my friends there: I will miss you forever.

A call and text message to a phone listed as McCaskills was not immediately returned.

Plenty of Biden critics have suggested politics was behind Trumps indictment by special prosecutor Jack Smith on charges of hoarding classified documents and resisting government attempts to retrieve them. Biden has not commented on the case.

McCaskill was named this spring in a lawsuit filed by a former Fox producer, Abby Grossberg, who also worked on Carlsons staff. Her lawsuit said McCaskill habitually belittled female employees at Fox.

He said that a room at Fox set aside for employees to pump breast milk was a waste of space and should be replaced with a room for men to tan their testicles, according to the lawsuit.

Fox has denied allegations in Grossbergs lawsuit.
Pakistan finance minister Ishaq Dar claimed that global institutions wanted Pakistan to default like Sri Lanka and then enter negotiations, Pakistan-based newspaper the Dawn said in a report.

Dars comments came while he was testifying before the Pakistan senates standing committee on finance. He also appeared to contradict himself as he insisted negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were ongoing and the ninth review would be done within June.

READ: Pakistans New Budget is a Dud as Political Instability Repels IMF, Saudi, UAE

Dar said the IMF is not giving any reason for unnecessary delay behind the ninth review. IMF or no IMF, Pakistan will not default, Dar said and later telling the press that everything is arranged and in order.

He accused the IMF for demanding a $6bn guarantee on external resources and accused the lender of pushing a political agenda. He claimed that guarantees for $3bn from friendly bilateral partners, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, were met and the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have assured disbursement of the remaining $3billion.

However, this week people familiar with the developments told the Dawn that bilateral donors, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), are reluctant to help Pakistan, despite claims made by cabinet ministers of Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

They also said that the governments claims on the budget being in line with the expectations of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could be misplaced.

Dar said China realised the political agenda due to which its commercial banks agreed to roll over loans to Pakistan. He argued that Pakistans financing gap was projected at $6 billion when the staff-level talks were concluded earlier this year based on a $7 billion current account deficit, as per IMF estimates.

Dar claimed that the assurance of $3 billion was given by the Saudi Arabia and UAE to the IMF and the lender is also aware of the $400 million World Bank RISE project and $250 million by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

A Pakistani official this week said that economic stability is linked to political stability and another official said that focus should lie on long-term reforms which will help Pakistan get more funds from the IMF in the future. The person mentioned above also mentioned IMF and World Bank officials share the same sentiments but they are silent given the sensitivity of the issue.
Pakistani social media influencer Shayan Ali, now based in the United States, recently announced that he has decided to do ghar wapsi by leaving the Islamic faith and embracing Hinduism.

In an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18, Shayan said that because of persecution and threats from Pakistani authorities, he had to flee the country around September 2019.

It all started in 2018, when I was accused of being a Jew and a RAW agent by the ISI. It was a very tough time for me. In 2019 I had to leave Pakistan because of all the threats, he said. They figured out that I had different beliefs than them. We all know what ISI does to people who do not follow their rules or orders.

Shayan said that in December 2019, Pakistani authorities saw his Facebook post against the army and ISI. They thought I was still in Pakistan. So what they did was they raided my house and my relatives house to find out where I was so that they could arrest me and torture me. Thankfully, I had left Pakistan two months before that. They still tried to silence my voice, he told CNN-News18.

At the root of the matter was a music video Kashmir Hun Mein, Shayan said. Pakistani authorities contacted all the influencers there to push it. But when they approached me, I said this was fake propaganda. The video wanted to portray that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was persecuting the people of Kashmir. But viewers would have realised that this was propaganda. When I turned them down, they filed FIRs against me, saying I was an ISI agent and a Jewish agent, he said.

The social media influencer said that in 2020-21 he was introduced to ISKCON in the United States. As a kid, I used to watch Krishna and Hinduism-related things on TV. When I came to the US, I started going to ISKCON. It helped me come out of depression. I felt a connection, I felt like they were my people, he said.

Shayan said that he would not be able to participate in programmes connected to Prime Minister Narendra Modis US visit this month because he has to organise kirtan events for ISKCON.

I plan to come to India by the end of the year. My family has always been very supportive. My cousin still lives in Moradabad. My grandfather made a blunder and moved to Karachi in 1947, he said.

Shayan said he thought this was the right time to announce my ghar wapsi. Ill give 50 per cent credit for it to the Pakistan army and ISI. Had they not threatened and persecuted, I wouldnt have gone into depression and come into contact with ISKCON, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to the United States on his first official state visit to the country, where he will attend a host of events- including a state dinner at the White House and bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden.

PM Modi will be flying to New York on June 20, where he will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations Headquarters on June 21. In December 2014, the UN General Assembly had adopted a resolution proclaiming June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.

Prime Minister will then travel to Washington DC, where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22 and meet President Biden to continue their high-level dialogue.

Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host a State Dinner in honour of PM Modi on the same evening.

The prime minister will also address a Joint Sitting of the US Congress on June 22 (Thursday) at the invitation of Congressional Leaders, including Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Senate Speaker Charles Schumer.

He will be addressing the US Congress for the second time, becoming the first Indian PM to do so.

Prime Minister Modi will also attend a lunch hosted at the State Department by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken on June 23. (Friday)

In addition to the official engagements, Prime Minister is scheduled to have several curated interactions with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders. He will also meet members of the Indian Diaspora.

PMs First Visit to Egypt

PM Modi will subsequently travel to Cairo to pay a State Visit to Egypt from 24-25 June 2023. Egypt President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi had invited the Prime Minister in January 2023 when he visited India on the Republic Day celebrations as the Chief Guest. This will be Prime Ministers first visit to Egypt.

Apart from his talks with Sisi, Modi is likely to interact with senior dignitaries of the government and prominent personalities and the Indian community in Egypt as well.

Relations between India and Egypt are based on ancient trade and economic linkages as well as cultural and deep-rooted people-to-people ties, a government statement said.

During President Sisis visit to India in January this year, it was agreed to elevate the relationship to a Strategic Partnership.
Ukrainian fighter pilots are being trained to fly the US-made F-16 jets, NATOs secretary general has revealed, as Kyiv prepares to boost its counteroffensive against Russian forces in the east and south of the territory.

Although the NATO allies are yet to agree on the delivery of F-16s fighter jets to Ukraine, but Jens Stoltenberg said that the training of Ukrainian personnel was underway.

The fact that training has started provides us with the option to also decide to deliver the planes and then the pilots will be ready to fly them, Stoltenberg said as he arrived at a meeting of defence ministers in Brussels.

The announcement comes months after there is a debate among the US and Western allies over delivering F-16s to Ukraine and the risk of deploying it against Russia as it can escalate the conflict.

The US has control over the aircraft re-export from any country that has them in its arsenal.

Earlier in February, US President Joe Biden declined Ukrainian requests for the lightweight fighter aircraft.

The US is sceptical of providing the jet as it requires considerable training and Russia has anti-aircraft systems that could easily shoot them down.

Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly tried to assure the US that the planes would be used to target Russian forces within Ukraine.

The Ukrainian pilots would require months of training to fly the F-16s as they have previously flown mainly in Soviet-standard aircraft.

Ukraine doesnt even have the runway suitable for the American fighter jet even if NATO countries agree to provide it with the aircraft.

The US, however, worked with the Ukrainian pilots and conducted a familiarization event to determine how long would it take them to train to fly F-16 fighter jets, according to a report published in March.

Last month, Russia warned Western nations of playing with fire" by agreeing to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, adding that it would lead to an unacceptable escalation of the conflict.

Kyivs military has launched its offensive in the east and south of the country, asserting it is moving forward" while Russia claims Ukraine has suffered catastrophic" losses.

Ukrainian forces have pushed 2 to 4 miles into formerly occupied lands. The Kyiv army is said to have advanced by 2 miles in the Zaporizhzhia region and by up to 4 miles in Donetsk.
The US on Thursday said that journalists in Pakistan should be allowed to do their work freely and the role of media should be respected.

US Department of State official spokesperson Matthew Miller, during a press briefing in Washington, said that all the governments to respect the role of journalists and media.

The statement comes amid a crackdown against journalists in Pakistan following May 9 violence, that resulted after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Many journalists and anchors were booked in Pakistan for their alleged involvement in the violent protests.

In response to a question regarding the Pakistan government and military imposing a ban on the media coverage of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Matthew Miller said, We generally urge all governments to respect the role of journalists and media. We believe the press performs a critical function in democratic societies.

Two prominent Pakistani journalists living in the United States, Wajahat Khan and Shaheen Sehbai, were charged over the protests and the two were accused a conspiracy against the military and in support of terrorism.

He said that the press plays an important role in helping democratic forces evolve if they are allowed to function without restrictions.

We expect that journalists covering the events in Pakistan should all be allowed to do their work. A free and independent press is a vital, core institution that undergirds healthy democracies by ensuring that electorates can make informed decisions and holding government officials accountable, Miller said.

The report comes after Pakistan recently blacked out former Prime minister Imran Khan from the television and Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has issued directives to not cover May 9 arsonists and abettors.

Earlier PEMRA banned the speeches of Imran Khan from satellite channels.

At least 42 journalists have been killed in Pakistan during the last four years. Out of the total figure, 15 journalists were killed in Punjab, 11 in Sindh, 13 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and three in Balochistan.

Moreover, at least 4 journalists have been reported missing and over 15 journalists are facing cases, while many others have left Pakistan fearing arrest and torture.
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday picked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the partys president while Maryam Nawaz was chosen as the senior vice president.

The decision was taken in a meeting of the PML-N general council, which also chose several office bearers, including Ahsan Iqbal as secretary general.

Among other party leaders, Marriyum Aurangzeb was picked as the secretary of information, Ataullah Tarar as the deputy secretary, and Ishaq Dar as the secretary of finance and overseas affairs.

The elections were uncontested, apparently indicating a show of unity within the PML-N, but actually an indication of the iron grip by the Sharif family members who virtually hand-picked every office holder of the party.

Shehbaz was elevated in 2018 to hold the reins of the party after his elder brother as well as former premier Nawaz Sharif was first disqualified as prime minister and later barred by the countrys apex court to lead the party as the president.

It is believed that Nawaz Sharif, who is living in London since 2019 when he went there for treatment, actually calls the shots in the PML-N by working in the shadows and every decision in the party is taken with his consent.

Insiders say that he even makes top appointments in the government and was instrumental in the elevation of Ishaq Dar as finance minister last year in place of Miftah Ismail.

Prime Minister Shehbaz speaking after the election as president expressed his earnest desire to work as a soldier of his elder brother who, he said, would come back before the election to lead the party.

The political and economic landscape of the country will see a major change once he (Nawaz) returns to Pakistan, he said.

The prime minister talked about the economic challenges and the efforts to fulfil the conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to get a stalled loan and said the effort was to make a short-term agreement with the global lender.

He also praised Dar for improving the economic conditions of the cash-strapped country.

Maryam Nawaz, who is considered the real heir of Nawaz Sharif, in her address said Shehbaz never made any decision without consulting his brother, highlighting their close partnership and the overarching role of the self-exiled former premier.

She also condemned the May 9 violence and said those responsible would be punished.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. Throughout the past three decades, Azerbaijan and Pakistan have nurtured a robust and amicable interstate relationship, which has evolved into a strategic alliance. This alliance rests on a foundation of mutual comprehension and collaboration on diverse global matters.

High-level visits between the two nations have been frequent, which has further strengthened their bilateral relations. Thus, the visit of Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif to Azerbaijan on June 15 is a remarkable milestone that is poised to greatly expedite the advancement of bilateral relations across diverse domains, highlighting its profound significance.

The relationship between Azerbaijan and Pakistan is characterized by strong political, economic, and cultural ties. The two countries enjoy a warm and friendly relationship, which is based on shared values, common interests, and mutual respect.

As President Ilham Aliyev pointed out, while making press statements with Pakistani PM, the relations between the two countries are relations, which are based on mutual history, culture, traditions, religion, solidarity and mutual support.

We are very grateful to Pakistan for support to Azerbaijan during the times of occupation and during the 44 days of Patriotic War of 2020. People of Azerbaijan know very well, who was with us during the times of 44 days war - it was Turkiye and Pakistan, which expressed a strong political support to us, President Ilham Aliyev said.

Political relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan have been cordial and cooperative. Both countries have supported each other on various international issues and have maintained close diplomatic ties. One important aspect of the Azerbaijan-Pakistan relationship is their shared support for each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty. For instance, Azerbaijan has been supporting Pakistan in regard with the Kashmir issues, while Pakistan has always expressed its solidarity with Azerbaijan by not establishing diplomatic relations with Armenia.

Economically, Azerbaijan and Pakistan have been exploring opportunities for trade and investment. They have signed several agreements to enhance economic cooperation, particularly in sectors such as energy, agriculture, and infrastructure development. Trade relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan have witnessed steady growth in recent years. Bilateral trade has expanded, encompassing a range of goods such as textiles, pharmaceuticals, machinery, and agricultural products.

Both countries are also keen on expanding their trade relations and have been exploring avenues for increased bilateral trade. In this regard, the two countries plan to sign a mutual agreement to diligently strengthen the bilateral trade. As a first step, Azerbaijan and Pakistan will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding to initiate this process and begin compiling a comprehensive list of items to be included in the preferential trade arrangement.

Energy cooperation is a significant aspect of the economic partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan. Azerbaijan, as an energy-rich country, has the potential to export oil and gas to Pakistan. The two countries have explored avenues for energy collaboration, including the possibility of pipeline projects and LNG imports.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Pakistani Cabinet has already granted approval for a framework agreement concerning the import of LNG from Azerbaijan. The agreement will be executed through government-to-government trading, facilitated by Pakistan LNG Ltd (PLL), a state-owned company.

To ensure a consistent supply of LNG, the ECC has instructed the Ministry of Petroleum to assess Pakistan's LNG requirements on an ongoing basis, providing at least three months' prior notice.

Initially, the agreement will be valid for one year, with the option of a one-year extension. Azerbaijan's state oil company, SOCAR, will supply one LNG cargo per month under this agreement. The offer for each cargo will be made 45 days before the relevant delivery window, and PLL will have a specified period to accept or reject the offer. The pricing of LNG will be denominated in US dollars and determined by SOCAR, that will present the pricing details to PLL.

As PM Shahbaz noted in his press statement, Azerbaijan is rich in natural resources, including major oil and gas resources.

Azerbaijan has this wealth, and we want to cooperate with Azerbaijan also in the field of petrochemicals. We are currently negotiating with Saudi Arabia's Aramco, and we would be very happy if Azerbaijan could join this issue and take over a part of the money we are spending on this field as investment, he added.

Furthermore, Azerbaijan and Pakistan have also focused on enhancing connectivity and transportation links. As President Ilham Aliyev noted in his joint press statement with Pakistani PM, the two countries have agreed on increasing the number of flights between the cities, including between the capital cities  Baku and Islamabad. This step is set to particularly increase trade and tourism cooperation between the two countries.

Azerbaijan and Pakistan share a deep bond of friendship and cooperation, which continues to grow stronger with time. Their relationship is characterized by mutual trust, collaboration, and a shared vision for regional peace and development. Under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan has successfully captured the attention of numerous stakeholders within the broader region. With a focus on the oil and gas sector and the establishment of crucial transport corridors, the country has leveraged these factors to reap substantial economic and political benefits from ongoing geopolitical developments, both regionally and globally. In pursuing these benefits, Pakistan does not stay aside. Both the two countries continue to strengthen their economic cooperation through various initiatives and joint endeavors. They recognize the importance of expanding trade, fostering investments, and exploring new avenues for economic collaboration, ultimately aiming to deepen their economic ties and mutual prosperity.
The Talibans acting governor of the Afghan central bank met Chinas ambassador this week to discuss banking relations and business, the banks spokesperson told Reuters on Friday.

Afghanistans banking system has been severely hampered by sanctions, a drop in liquidity from frozen central bank assets and a cut in development spending. Regulatory risk concerns of international banks have also largely cut off the countrys formal banking sector from the global financial system.

China does not have formal diplomatic ties with Afghanistan but has continued to maintain an embassy in Kabul since the Taliban took over the country in 2021. Beijing has recently signalled economic interest in its neighbour, and although some Chinese business executives have raised security concerns, they have said they are looking into investment opportunities, especially in mining.

In this meeting, economy, banking relations, business and some related topics were discussed, the banks spokesperson Hassibullah Noori told Reuters, adding the meeting took place on Thursday in Kabul between Ambassador Wang Yu and acting governor Mullah Hidayatullah Badri.

Chinas foreign ministry did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Badri is a senior Taliban figure who became acting head of the central bank in March after stepping down as acting finance minister. He was head of the economic commission of the Islamic Emirate, as the Taliban refer to their government, as they conducted a 20-year insurgency against the former Western-backed government of Afghanistan, according to Taliban officials, and he ran most of the Talibans fundraising operations at the time.
The presidents of Iran and Cuba vowed Thursday to jointly confront the aggressive imperial policy" of the United States, which has sanctions in place against both countries.

Hosting his counterpart Ebrahim Raisi in Havana, President Miguel Diaz-Canel said both nations have had to face heroically, with tenacious resistance, the sanctions, the pressures, the threats, the blockades and the indifference of US imperialism and its allies."

Apart from sanctions, the United States also has Cuba and Iran on its list of state sponsors of terrorism."

The men presided over the signing of memoranda on cooperation in areas including customs, telecommunications and justice.

In the morning, Raisi had attended a business forum where he said Iran would work with communist Cuba in science and technology, on hydroelectric and thermoelectric plants, and mining.

The Iranian presidents official visit to Cuba closed a tour of friendly countries" that also included US-sanctioned Nicaragua and Venezuela, that share what he called common enemies."

All are allies of Russia, which is waging a war on Ukraine.

In Venezuela, Raisi and Nicolas Maduro said they had signed 25 accords in sectors ranging from education and health to mining.

Deepening trade and exchange was also on the agenda in Nicaragua, whose President Daniel Ortega said the leaders had signed a basic memorandum" that will seek to boost economic, commercial and scientific-technical cooperation.

Ortega has said that Tehran has a right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and in February questioned the moral authority of Western powers to ban Iran from having nuclear weapons.
UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi is set to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 9th International Day of Yoga celebrations taking place at the UN headquarters in New York next week.

I am looking forward to participating in the 9th International Day of Yoga celebrations @UN with Prime Minister @NarendraModi at the UNHQ North Lawn next week," UNGA President tweeted.

Prime Ministers participation in the Yoga Day celebration is part of his much-anticipated visit to the US starting June 21.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also responded to Csaba Korosis invitation for the International Yoga Day event by highlighting how yoga brings the world closer.

Looking forward to seeing you at the International Day of Yoga celebrations at the UNHQ. Your participation makes the programme even more special. Yoga brings the world together towards furthering good health and wellness. May it keep getting more popular globally. https://t.co/QjPUZemOeo  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 16, 2023

Looking forward to seeing you at the International Day of Yoga celebrations at the UNHQ. Your participation makes the programme even more special. Yoga brings the world together towards furthering good health and wellness. May it keep getting more popular globally, PM Modi said in a tweet.

Yoga holds profound benefits for both body and mind, fostering strength, flexibility, and tranquility. Let us make Yoga a part of our lives and further wellness as well as peace. Sharing a set of videos depicting the various Asanas. https://t.co/Ptzxb89hrV Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 16, 2023

He also urged people to make yoga a part of their lives while sharing a video depicting the various Asanas. Yoga holds profound benefits for both body and mind, fostering strength, flexibility, and tranquillity. Let us make Yoga a part of our lives and further wellness as well as peace. Sharing a set of videos depicting the various Asanas, the Prime Minister said.

I am looking forward to participating in the 9th International Day of Yoga celebrations @UN with Prime Minister @NarendraModi at the UNHQ North Lawn next week.https://t.co/yzK5GLusFb pic.twitter.com/YxE4zdkHp2 UN GA President (@UN_PGA) June 15, 2023

On Tuesday, UN Resident Coordinator in India Shombi Sharp said that PM Modi will be leading a yoga session at the United Nations Secretariat on June 21 to mark International Yoga Day.

Interacting with PTI on the sidelines of a seminar held here to mark 75 years of the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping, he also said since 2015, the world has truly embraced International Yoga Day".

Recognising its universal appeal, in December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed June 21 as the International Day of Yoga by a resolution. The day aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.

Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi will be leading a yoga session at the United Nations, at the Secretariat, on June 21," Sharp said.

The Secretariat carries out the substantive and administrative work of the United Nations as directed by the General Assembly, the Security Council and the other organs.

Everyone understood and 175 member states signed it very quickly. It is one of those popular international days, and really embodies so many things. It is about mindfulness, mental health," he said.

He said yoga helped people in difficult times like the Covid-19 pandemic.

Yoga is about staying fit and staying comfy, and International Yoga Day has struck a resonance with the international community", Sharp said.

And, having PM Modi at the UN will be special", he added.

The draft resolution establishing the International Day of Yoga was proposed by India and endorsed by a record 175 member states, says the UN website.

The proposal was first introduced by PM Modi.

During his address at the opening of the 69th session of the General Assembly, he said, Yoga is an invaluable gift from our ancient tradition. Yoga embodies unity of mind and body, thought and action"

(With PTI inputs)
The United States and Iran are close to an informal understanding under which Tehran would release American prisoners and limit its nuclear program in exchange for Washington lifting sanctions against the country, a report has claimed.

The agreement between the two countries was possible after negotiations through intermediaries in Oman and on the sidelines of United Nations meetings, according to a report in Bloomberg.

The initial deal stipulated that the US would release payments owed to Tehran that were frozen due to sanctions while Iran would release US prisoners, the report said.

Meanwhile, the American diplomats are also pushing Iran to voluntarily limit its uranium-enrichment levels and boost its cooperation with international monitors while the West would in turn allow Iran to ship more crude.

There is some diplomacy in play. There will at least be a cease-fire put in place, they wont escalate more," Mark Fitzpatrick, a former US State Department official, reportedly said.

The development marks the signs of progress between the two global rivals amid heightened tensions in several months over Irans nuclear program and detection of uranium particles just below weapons grade.

Having failed to revive a 2015 Iran nuclear deal, US hopes to restore some limits on Iran to keep it from getting a nuclear weapon that could threaten Israel and trigger a regional arms race. Tehran says it has no ambition to develop a nuclear weapon.

Amid the initial agreement, the US is already making substantial arrangements to waive sanctions that prohibited Iraq from paying about $2.7 billion to Tehran for natural gas shipments.

Similarly, Tehran is also expected to receive $7 billion payment from South Korea for oil purchases. Iran will free at least three US prisoners in return.

The US government has dismissed reports it is seeking an interim deal, using carefully constructed denials that leave open the possibility of a less formal understanding".

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller declined to comment on the issue and denied any nuclear deal was in the works.

Rumors about a nuclear deal, interim or otherwise, are false and misleading. Our position on the question has not changed. We believe our number one policy is ensuring that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon. So of course, weve been watching Irans enrichment activities," Miller said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. Armenia committed a provocation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border in the direction of Azerbaijan's Zangilan on June 15, Trend reports.

The Armenian armed forces first opened fire at the Azerbaijani border guards from small arms and then used mortars and loitering ammunition.

In response to these actions, the border guards destroyed the post from where the provocation was carried out by the Armenian military servicemen.

VIDEO:
The cases US District Judge Aileen Cannon typically has handled have concerned "reentry of deported aliens," almost all of which were resolved by plea deals and brought sentences up to 1 years in prison. They would seem to not be much preparation for presiding over the first federal prosecution of a former president in US history. She's overseen just four criminal trials, the longest of which took three days, in her less than three years on the bench. But Cannon has one case before her that could have parallels to the upcoming trial of Donald Trump, Politico reports.

For more than a year, Cannon has brought a health care fraud case close to trial, a complex criminal prosecution of 10 defendants. It has involved battles over attorney-client privilege and motions to suppressissues that could surface in the prosecution of Trump. She's decided pretrial motions while handling the Trump case last fall. Cannon has been criticized for not distinguishing herself in that case; a federal appeals court overturned a couple of her decisions benefiting Trump and generally sounded skeptical about her reasoning. So far in the health care case, however, Cannon regularly has issued rulings in the prosecution's favor.

One was a rejection of the defendants' claim that the government had failed to turn over exculpatory material. She agreed with prosecutors on access to grand jury transcripts and on a motion to dismiss charges. Cannon also backed prosecutors on defendants' claim about taking action based on attorneys' advice, an argument Trump has made. In sentencing, she has leaned toward imposing prison sentences consecutively, per Politico, so defendants receive no break for concurrent terms. In a carjacking and firearms trafficking case, for example, in which the defendant pleaded guilty, Cannon gave him 91 months on the first count and 84 on the second, so he received a total of 175 months in prison. (Read the full story.)
Twitter is getting kicked out of its office in a building in Boulder, Colorado, after failing to pay rent for months. The Denver Business Journal reports that according to court documents, a Boulder County judge has ordered the sheriff to evict Twitter from four office suites following a complaint from the landlord. The "writ of restitution" filed May 31 gives the sheriff 49 days to evict Twitter. Court documents state that when it rented the offices in 2020, Twitter set up a letter of credit for $968,000 that the landlord could draw on if rent wasn't paid, the Denver Post reports. The landlord filed a complaint in May after Twitter didn't pay rent and failed to replenish the letter of credit as required.

Twitter once had around 300 employees at the site but the number has been sharply reduced since Elon Musk took control of the company, TechCrunch reports. Some 87 workers lost their jobs in Musk's initial round of layoffs and 38 more quit after the CEO demanded a commitment to working "long hours at high intensity," per the Business Journal.

Twitter has faced similar complaints about unpaid rent at offices around the world. The Business Journal reports that the company is being sued for $93,504 in unpaid cleaning fees at its other site in Boulder, where there is reportedly also a dispute about rent. The Post says "Twitters press email auto-replied to a request for comment with a poop emoji." (Read more Twitter stories.)
At least 15 are dead in Canada after a tractor-trailer collided with a bus carrying senior citizens to a casino Thursday. The details of the accident, including which vehicle had the right of way, aren't yet clear, but officials are warning the death toll could rise. About 25 seniors were in the bus, and 10 were taken to the hospital with injuries, the CBC reports. "To all those waiting, I can't imagine how difficult it is not knowing if the person you love the most will be making it home tonight. I'm so sorry we cannot get you the definitive answers you need more quickly," said the commanding officer of the RCMP in Manitoba, the province where the tragedy took place. Officials from the province all the way up to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were publicly mourning and offering condolences, CTV News reports.

Witnesses described a shocking scene, with a "massive fire" devouring the bus until there was "nothing left," and multiple tarps covering bodies on the ground in the rural area. One man says both his parents were on the bus and only his mother, who is hospitalized, has been accounted for so far. "So [my] family's just basically waiting for word," he said. "It's just very difficult." The crash took place on the Trans-Canada Highway near the town of Carberry, where the destination of the Sand Hills Casino is located, around 11:43am. Both drivers survived, and officials are vowing to "get the answers" and determine whether there was any wrongdoing. The bus was at an intersection on the highway, crossing the eastbound lanes, when it was hit by the truck, which was heading east, the AP reports. Day & Ross, the trucking company involved, offered condolences and said it will cooperate with the investigation. (Read more Canada stories.)
A Washington state father and his three children are dead after, police say, his 17-year-old daughter fell asleep behind the wheel as the family drove to see a dying relative in Idaho. Police say Spokane man Calvin "CJ" Miller and his children Dakota, 17, Jack, 10, and Delilah, 8, were 36 miles north of the small fishing town of Riggins, Idaho, Friday night when Dakota apparently nodded off, USA Today reports. She then, according to the accident report, "drove off the highway, striking a large pile of rocks sending the vehicle airborne. The vehicle struck another large pile of rocks, flipping the vehicle over end." It fell 30 feet over a cliff and into the Salmon River, where it landed upside down. Cold water streamed in through a broken driver's side window and the family drowned, authorities say.

The family was reported missing Saturday after they failed to reach their destination, and a fisherman found the car partially submerged in the river that morning, the Spokesman-Review reports. "I would give up anything for the rest of my life just to have them here with me," Zella Blair, the mother of Jack and Delilah as well as a 4-year-old brother they leave behind, tells Fox 28. Miller's current partner is also grieving, her stepdad tells KHQ. "They were just the best kids, he says of the three children. They were just too good, too good for this place. GoFundMe campaigns have been set up for her as well as for Blair. KTVB reports that locals say the road the family was on can be dangerous: "It can be quite taxing. Especially on your eyes. Fall asleep, you'll go right off the canyon," says one. (Read more Idaho stories.)
MEDIA ADVISORY: An Iowa Townhall Meeting for Life

Post Roe: Is Protecting Life Now a State Matter?



NEWS PROVIDED BY

Family Research Council (FRC)

June 16, 2023



WASHINGTON, June 16, 2023 /Standard Newswire/ -- Ahead of the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Bob Vander Plaats, president of The Family Leader, Mayra Rodriguez, former Planned Parenthood director and whistleblower, along with Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, will host a townhall event in Des Moines, Iowa to discuss the role of federal and state policymakers in the wake of the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade.



Did the overturning of Roe make protecting the unborn solely the responsibility of the states? How will pro-life voters respond to candidates who sidestep the protection of the unborn? The Iowa Townhall for Life will explore these questions and more.

WHO: Tony Perkins, Family Research Council president



U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)



Marjorie Dannenfelser, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America president



Bob Vander Plaats, The Family Leader president and CEO



Mayra Rodriguez, former Planned Parenthood director and whistleblower



WHAT: Townhall Meeting for Life



WHEN: Wednesday, June 21st at 7:00 p.m. Central Time



WHERE:



In-Person: Experience Church



2559 E. Euclid Ave



Des Moines, IA 50317



Online: Streaming live at: https://prayvotestand.org/townhall

NOTE:

A press availability with the townhall hosts will be held immediately following the event. On-site media contact: Emily Osment: 202-578-7399.



For media credentials to cover this townhall, please email: media@frc.org.



SOURCE Family Research Council (FRC)



CONTACT: Alice Chao, media@frc.org


BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. At the Lachin border checkpoint on the Khakari Bridge, fire was opened on Azerbaijani border guard servicemen while they were raising the Azerbaijani flag on their sovereign territory yesterday, Trend reports via the tweet of Press Secretary of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Aykhan Hajizade.

"Azerbaijan has recently built this bridge. Armenia's statement that the Azerbaijani flag was raised on their territory is unfounded," Aykhan Hajizade said.

In order to prevent the transportation of manpower, ammunition, mines, as well as other military equipment from Armenia for illegal Armenian armed groups on the territory of Azerbaijan (which weren't withdrawn contrary to the trilateral statement signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the 2020 Second Karabakh War), and as an adequate response to the unilateral establishment of a checkpoint by Armenia on the border with Azerbaijan on April 22 at the entrance to the Lachin-Khankendi road contrary to the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020, on April 23 at 12:00 (GMT+4), the units of the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan set up a border checkpoint in its sovereign territories, on the border with Armenia, at the beginning of the Lachin-Khankendi road.
The COVID-19 vaccines are on track for a big recipe change this fall, the AP reports. Todays vaccines still contain the original coronavirus strain, the one that started the pandemiceven though that was long ago supplanted by mutated versions as the virus rapidly evolves. Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration's scientific advisers said the next round of shots in the US should only include protection against the newest variants that are now dominant worldwidea branch of the omicron family tree named XBB. The FDA will make the final decision. Vaccine makers said during the meeting that they could have updated vaccines available within months, depending on the strain.

While infections have declined, the virus could be a real concern next winter, FDA's vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said as the daylong meeting began. Were concerned that we may have another wave of COVID-19 during a time when the virus has further evolved, immunity of the population has waned further, and we move indoors for wintertime, he said. The FDA had told Americans to expect an updated fall vaccine against COVID-19, just like they get a new flu shot every fall. Even though most of the population has either been infected or had at least one round of vaccinations, the coronavirus keeps churning out new varieties. (The AP rounds up what you need to know here.)
Pope Francis was discharged Friday from the Rome hospital where he had abdominal surgery nine days earlier to repair a hernia and remove painful scarring, with his surgeon saying the pontiff is now "better than before" the hospitalization. Francis, 86, left through Gemelli Polyclinic's main exit in a wheelchair, smiling, waving, and saying "thanks" to a crowd of well-wishers, then stood up so he could get into the small Vatican car awaiting him. In the brief distance before he could reach the white Fiat 500, reporters thrust microphones practically at his face, and the pontiff seemed to bat them away, good-naturedly, the AP reports.

"The pope is well. He's better than before,'' Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the surgeon who did the three-hour operation on June 7 told reporters after he said goodbye to Francis as the pontiff got into the car. Following the surgery, Francis will be a "strong pope,'' said Alfier. Instead of going straight back to the Vatican, Francis stopped to pray for 10 minutes before an icon of the Virgin Mary at the famous St. Mary Major Basilica, where he often stops by after trips abroad to give thanks. Francis stayed in his wheelchair as he prayed. He also went there to pray after his discharge on April 2 from the same hospital following treatment for bronchitis.

Hours after the surgery, Alfieri said that the scarring, which had resulted from previous abdominal surgeries, had been increasingly causing the pope pain. There was also risk of an intestinal blockage, if adhesions, or scar tissue, werent removed, according to the doctors. Francis is expected to have audiences with the presidents of Cuba and Brazil at the Vatican next week. Other upcoming commitments that have officially been announced include pilgrimages to Portugal in early August for a Catholic youth jamboree and a trip to Mongolia beginning on Aug. 31, a first-ever visit by a pontiff to that Asian country. (Read more Pope Francis stories.)
"Are you ready? Food for everyone!" shouted former President Trump as he visited Miami's Versailles restaurant following his arraignment on Tuesday. The cheers that followed signaled the crowd interpreted his words as a promise. Except that it didn't work out that way. Trump's 10-minute stop at the Cuban restaurant left "no time for anyone to eat anything, much less place an order," reports the Miami New Times .

A Trump spokesperson tells Insider that the former president "offered to buy food" for his supporters but they "followed him outside" as he departed "and did not place orders themselves." The rep claims the campaign's advance team did pay for to-go meals. But "it turns out no one got anything. Not even a cafecito to-go," per the New Times. Trump himself ate food from McDonald's on his flight to New Jersey, the New York Times reported. (Read more Donald Trump stories.)
Japan has passed what campaigners say is a long overdue overhaul of its sex crime laws. The new laws broaden the definition of rape and raise the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16, though a person who has sex with a minor between 13 and 15 will only be prosecuted if they are at least five years older than the victim, the BBC reports. Before the change, the age of consent was among the lowest in the developed world, reports the Washington Post . It is 16 in most American states and Canada, and 14 in Germany and Italy. The new laws follow numerous controversial acquittals that led to activists gathering to demand change at "flower demonstrations" on the 11th day of every month, starting in April 2019.

The new laws define rape as "nonconsensual intercourse," removing a requirement for physical force to be involved before a crime can be prosecuted as rape, the New York Times reports. The laws describes eight "forced sexual intercourse" scenarios when it would be difficult for a victim to "form, express, or fulfill an intention not to consent," including intoxication, threats, or abuses of power. The new laws also crack down on "photo voyeurism," bringing in a nationwide law against taking or distributing sexually exploitative photos taken without a person's consent. The law replaces a patchwork of inconsistently enforced local laws, the Post reports.

Campaigners welcomed the new laws, though they said more needs to be done to deal with "distorted ideas" about sex and consentand to change a culture in which only 6% of victims of sexual violence report the attack, according to a 2021 government survey. Lawyer Kazuko Ito, who has represented sexual assault victims, called the overhaul a "great step forward." "It is highly significant that the victims who have been excluded from justice are now within the scope of legal remedies and punishments," she said, per the Times. (Read more Japan stories.)
A 911 caller in Ohio told authorities that a young girl was running down the street, screaming that "her father was killing everyone," before police found three young boys lying unresponsive in their yard, with their father seated nearby. The three brothers aged 3, 4, and 7, had each suffered gunshot wounds, per ABC News . "All life saving measures were unsuccessful and all three gunshot victims succumbed to their injuries while on scene," according to the Clermont County Sheriff's Office, which responded to the Monroe Township home roughly 25 miles southeast of Cincinnati on Thursday afternoon.

The 34-year-old mother of the boys was also found outside the home with a single gunshot wound to her hand. She'd called 911 at 4:15pm, three minutes before the other caller, screaming that "her babies had been shot," per ABC. She was taken to a hospital where Clermont County Sheriff Robert Leahy told her that her three sons had died. Meanwhile, the man seated on the front step of the homeidentified as the boys' father, 32-year-old Chad Doermanwas detained without incident. After questioning, he was charged with three counts of aggravated murder.

A neighbor who arrived home to find a large police presence in the usually quiet neighborhood describes the alleged crimes as "horrible" and "uncalled for." "I don't know what's going on in this world," the man adds, per WXIX. Doerman, held in jail without bond, is due to be arraigned Friday morning. "The investigation remains ongoing and will be reviewed in its entirety with the Clermont County Prosecutor's Office for presentation to the Grand Jury for consideration of additional charges," police said. "Additional information will be released as it develops." (Read more mass killing stories.)
Daniel Ellsberg, the history-making whistleblower who by leaking the Pentagon Papers revealed longtime government doubts and deceit about the Vietnam War and inspired acts of retaliation by President Richard Nixon that helped lead to his resignation, has died at age 92. Ellsberg, who announced in February that he was terminally ill with pancreatic cancer, died Friday morning, according to a letter from his family released by spokeswoman Julia Pacetti, per the AP .

Until the early 1970s, when he revealed that he was the source for the stunning media reports on the 47-volume, 7,000-page Defense Department study of the US role in Indochina, Ellsberg was a well-placed member of the government-military elite. He was a Harvard graduate and self-defined cold warrior who served as a private and government consultant on Vietnam throughout the 1960s, risked his life on the battlefield, received the highest security clearances and came to be trusted by officials in Democratic and Republican administrations. He was especially valued, he would later note, for his talent for discretion.

The Pentagon Papers had been commissioned in 1967 by then-Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara, a leading public advocate of the war who wanted to leave behind a comprehensive history of the US and Vietnam and to help his successors avoid the kinds of mistakes he would only admit to long after. The papers covered more than 20 years, from Frances failed efforts at colonization in the 1940s and 1950s to the growing involvement of the US, including the bombing raids and deployment of hundreds of thousands of ground troops during Lyndon Johnsons administration. Ellsberg was among those asked to work on the study, focusing on 1961, when the newly-elected President John F. Kennedy began adding advisers and support units.

First published in the New York Times in June 1971, with the Washington Post, the Associated Press, and more than a dozen others following, the classified papers documented that the US had defied a 1954 settlement barring a foreign military presence in Vietnam, questioned whether South Vietnam had a viable government, secretly expanded the war to neighboring countries, and had plotted to send American soldiers even as Johnson vowed he wouldnt. (Read more Daniel Ellsberg stories.)
President Biden made a passionate call for increased gun restrictions on Friday in Connecticut, celebrating the one-year anniversary of the first significant piece of federal firearms legislation in nearly three decades but declaring it was only an "important first step." He urged voters to defeat lawmakers who resist, the AP reports. "Prayers are fine. They're important ... but it's not going to stop it," Biden said, pressing Congress to take more aggressive steps to restrict access to guns. "You have to take action. You have to move. You have to do something," the president said, adding, "If this Congress refuses to act, we need a new Congress."

At a gun safety summit in West Hartfordfull of survivors of gun violence and family members of victimsBiden applauded attendees for turning "your pain into purpose" and vowed not to let up on his advocacy. He spoke on the anniversary of last year's approval of legislation that tightened gun access, signed a few weeks after a gunman took the lives of 19 elementary school children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. A decade earlier, 26 children and staff were killed in the Sandy Hook school massacre less than an hour's drive from Hartford. The 2022 law toughened background checks for the youngest gun buyers, sought to keep firearms from domestic violence offenders, and aimed to help states adopt red flag laws that make it easier to take weapons away from people judged to be dangerous.

Biden ticked off ways that he said the law has made an impact. Stepped-up FBI background checks have blocked more than 200 purchases by people under 21. Prosecutions have increased for unlicensed gun sellers, and new gun trafficking penalties have been charged in more than 100 cases. Prosecutions for selling firearms without a license have doubled. "If this law had been in place a year ago, lives would have been saved," Biden said, per the AP. He also pointed to increased funding for mental health services. Yet since that bill signing, the tally of mass shootings has only grown. As of Friday, there have been at least 26 mass killings in the US this year, leaving at least 131 people dead, not including shooters, according to a database maintained by the AP and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

(Read more President Biden stories.)
Sorry!

This content is not available in your region
SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 16. The visit of 35 foreign travelers from 14 countries to Shusha city has ended, Trend reports from the scene.

During the visit, a group led by the Founder of the MTP (Most Traveled People) Organization, Charles Veley got acquainted with the ancient fortress gates of the city after being informed about the monuments of prominent Azerbaijani cultural figures Khurshudbanu Natavan, Uzeyir Hajibayov and Bulbul, which were vandalized during the city's occupation by Armenia.

Then the travelers, having visited the Jidir Duzu [plain in the southern part of Shusha], got acquainted with the reconstruction work carried out in the city.

This trip was of exceptional importance for the promotion of the territories liberated from occupation within the framework of dark tourism".

Over the past two years, Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur have been visited seven times by representatives of international travel networks - ETIC (Extreme Traveler International Congress), MTP, TCC (Travelers' Century Club), Nomadmania, the Turkish Travelers Club, and the UK Piki Reels club. One trip was organized in 2021, four - in 2022 and two - in 2023. This trip is already the eighth in a row.

The visit of international travelers to Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur demonstrates a high interest in the large-scale construction and restoration work carried out by Azerbaijan in a short time on the lands liberated in just 44 days of the second Karabakh war.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has rejected the absurd statements made on June 16 by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at a government meeting about the alleged creation of a "tense humanitarian situation", following the establishment of a checkpoint in Lachin by Azerbaijan, Trend reports citing the ministry.

The ministry also resolutely rejected Pashinyan's statements that Azerbaijan allegedly "impedes the provision of Armenian residents with everyday goods and medical products", "pursues a policy of ethnic cleansing", and his statements about the alleged "provocations of Azerbaijan" in the border areas.

"Once again, we want to remind that Armenia's any interference in the establishment of a border checkpoint by Azerbaijan on its own sovereign territory is a claim to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and such actions are contrary to all norms and principles of international law," the ministry said. "It seems that Armenia, which committed aggression against Azerbaijan and kept our lands under occupation for almost 30 years, is concerned that since the establishment of this checkpoint, it has been unable to take further aggravating steps and engage in illegal activities using this road."

According to the ministry, appropriate conditions exist for the transparent, safe and orderly travel of the Armenian residents of Karabakh in both directions, and hundreds of residents have freely used this road since the establishment of the checkpoint.

"The purpose of the provocation committed by Armenia on June 15 against this checkpoint and our border guards is to cast a shadow on the successful operation of the checkpoint and prevent its safe and free use," the ministry noted.

Besides, the ministry noted that it's unacceptable to regard as a "blockade" the adoption of appropriate measures by Azerbaijan to ensure security at the checkpoint and the passage through it after the attack, during which a serviceman of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan was injured.

"We demand from Armenia, which is voicing unfounded statements, to refrain from committing provocations, to take a responsible and constructive approach to the negotiations on a peace agreement and the issue of opening communications in the region, to comply with the obligations arising from the trilateral statement [signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war], including the complete withdrawal of Armenian forces from the territories of Azerbaijan, to refrain from taking steps against territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country," the ministry concluded.

On June 15, 2023, at 08:45 (GMT +4), as a result of opening fire from the territory of Armenia, a serviceman of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan Elshan Rustamov, who served at the Lachin border checkpoint, was injured.

The Armenian armed forces' firing point was suppressed by return fire, the combat situation is under the control of Azerbaijani units.

In order to prevent the transportation of manpower, ammunition, mines, as well as other military equipment from Armenia for illegal Armenian armed groups on the territory of Azerbaijan, and as an adequate response to the unilateral establishment of a checkpoint by Armenia on the border with Azerbaijan on April 22 at the entrance to the Lachin-Khankendi road contrary to the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020, on April 23 at 12:00 (GMT+4), the units of the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan set up a border checkpoint in its sovereign territories, on the border with Armenia, at the beginning of the Lachin-Khankendi road.
Bahrain retains Tier 1 Status in US Trafficking In Persons Report for sixth year

Bahrain retains Tier 1 Status in US Trafficking In Persons Report for sixth year

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain yesterday achieved a significant milestone by retaining its Tier 1 position for the sixth consecutive year in the Trafficking In Persons Report released by the United States.

Tier 1 is the highest classification for countries that have taken steps to prevent human trafficking. The report published by the Department of State was released by the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in the Dean Acheson Auditorium at the US Department of State.

As the only Middle Eastern nation featured, the report also stands as a testament to Bahrains commitment to combating human trafficking and protecting victims. In contrast, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates are listed in the Tier 2 category, while Egypt, Iraq, and Kuwait are under Tier 3.

The report also sheds light on the issue of fraudulent recruiters exploiting vulnerable young women in sub-Saharan Africa through social media platforms for Gulf.

These recruiters, the report say, deceives them by promising employment opportunities as teachers, charging hefty recruitment fees for fake passports and visas.

The victims incur debts for airline ticketsoften preventing them from leaving their trafficking situationare forced to work for long hours in inhumane conditions, and experience physical and sexual abuse by their traffickers.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. Armenia, which has committed aggression against Azerbaijan and has held Azerbaijani lands under occupation for almost 30 years, is concerned with the establishment of the Lachin border checkpoint, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan told Trend.

According to the ministry, Armenia has lost the opportunity to take steps that aggravate the situation and carry out illegal activities using this road.

The MFA notes that there are appropriate conditions for the transparent, safe and orderly passage of the Armenian residents of Karabakh in both directions, and it is known that hundreds of residents have freely used this road since the establishment of the Lachin border checkpoint.

The purpose of the provocation committed by Armenia on June 15 against the Lachin border checkpoint and Azerbaijani border guards is to ruin the successful work of this checkpoint and prevent its safe and free use.
Details added: first version posted on 15:14

BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has rejected the absurd statements made on June 16 by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at a government meeting about the alleged creation of a "tense humanitarian situation", following the establishment of a checkpoint in Lachin by Azerbaijan, Trend reports citing the ministry.

The ministry also resolutely rejected Pashinyan's statements that Azerbaijan allegedly "impedes the provision of Armenian residents with everyday goods and medical products", "pursues a policy of ethnic cleansing", and his statements about the alleged "provocations of Azerbaijan" in the border areas.

"Once again, we want to remind that Armenia's any interference in the establishment of a border checkpoint by Azerbaijan on its own sovereign territory is a claim to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and such actions are contrary to all norms and principles of international law," the ministry said. "It seems that Armenia, which committed aggression against Azerbaijan and kept our lands under occupation for almost 30 years, is concerned that since the establishment of this checkpoint, it has been unable to take further aggravating steps and engage in illegal activities using this road."

According to the ministry, appropriate conditions exist for the transparent, safe and orderly travel of the Armenian residents of Karabakh in both directions, and hundreds of residents have freely used this road since the establishment of the checkpoint.

"The purpose of the provocation committed by Armenia on June 15 against this checkpoint and our border guards is to cast a shadow on the successful operation of the checkpoint and prevent its safe and free use," the ministry noted.

Besides, the ministry noted that it's unacceptable to regard as a "blockade" the adoption of appropriate measures by Azerbaijan to ensure security at the checkpoint and the passage through it after the attack, during which a serviceman of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan was injured.

"We demand from Armenia, which is voicing unfounded statements, to refrain from committing provocations, to take a responsible and constructive approach to the negotiations on a peace agreement and the issue of opening communications in the region, to comply with the obligations arising from the trilateral statement [signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war], including the complete withdrawal of Armenian forces from the territories of Azerbaijan, to refrain from taking steps against territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country," the ministry concluded.

On June 15, 2023, at 08:45 (GMT +4), as a result of opening fire from the territory of Armenia, a serviceman of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan Elshan Rustamov, who served at the Lachin border checkpoint, was injured.

The Armenian armed forces' firing point was suppressed by return fire, the combat situation is under the control of Azerbaijani units.

In order to prevent the transportation of manpower, ammunition, mines, as well as other military equipment from Armenia for illegal Armenian armed groups on the territory of Azerbaijan, and as an adequate response to the unilateral establishment of a checkpoint by Armenia on the border with Azerbaijan on April 22 at the entrance to the Lachin-Khankendi road contrary to the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020, on April 23 at 12:00 (GMT+4), the units of the State Border Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan set up a border checkpoint in its sovereign territories, on the border with Armenia, at the beginning of the Lachin-Khankendi road.




Igbimo Agba Osun (Elders Caucus) of the All Progressives Congress, APC Osun State have called on the former governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola to apologise to the Leadership of the party for his actions.





The APC, Igbimo-Agba Osun Chairman, Sola Akinwumi made this known in a press release signed by him.





In the statement, Akinwumi stated that the decision to ask the ex-governor to apologise was arrived at, after a wide consultation with the members of the caucus





The caucus in the statement said  the All Progressives Congress (APC) Osun State Chapter remains intact while the leadership is exploring all avenues towards ensuring a united and focused Party.





It has come to the knowledge of this body about comments made by the Fmr Gov/Minister of Interior H/E. Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola during his recent event in Osun State and wish to inform the public that our Partys door is open to any member who is ready to apologize genuinely for his/her misdeeds.





Finally, this body deeply appreciates all committed and loyal members for their unwavering and firm support for the Party despite all odds.




A member of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Advisory Council, Prof Gregory Ibe, has enjoined President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to give the Igbos a sense of belonging in his administration through appointments into critical national positions.





This, he said, would dispel the perceived sense of imbalance in the minds of the Igbos concerning the scheme of things in Nigeria.





Ibe, who made this call while speaking on recent events in the country, advised that the composition of both elected and appointed officials at the federal level should reflect and encourage religious and tribal equilibrium for the nations progress.





The Ohanaeze chieftain, who earlier called for the zoning of the Senate President to the South East, stressed that the nation could only prosper in an atmosphere of fairness, peace, equity and justice.





He commended Senator Godswill Akpabio and Hon Tajudeen Abass on their elections as Senate President and Speaker of the House, respectively but advised them to urgently enact laws that would promote inclusiveness and support national unity.





Ibe, who also commended the Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps, Benjamin Kalu, urged him to use his position to attract dividends of democracy to Abia State in the spirit of Akuruoulo.





He equally charged Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe to sustain his tradition of delivering tangible value addition to the nation by constantly speaking truth to power, emphasizing that Abaribe must remain a worthy ambassador and shining light of his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.





On the victory of Emmanuel Emeruwa as the Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Ibe called for a solid partnership between the executive and legislative branches of government to revive Abia States economy, which he said is in an ailing condition.




President Bola Tinubu is currently having a meeting with a former leading agitator in the oil-rich region, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, at the State House.





According to Channels Television, Dokubo is likely to be part of the Presidents ongoing consultations with opinion leaders from the Niger Delta region.





The president had last week reiterated his commitment to halting crude oil theft in the country.





Tinubu had also met with other key figures from the region, including the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Timi Alaibe, as well as the former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dakuku Peterside.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. Armenia will continue to commit provocations against Azerbaijan in order to destabilize the situation in the South Caucasus, well-known Russian expert on international conflicts, investigative journalist Yevgeny Mikhailov told Trend.

He said Armenia is trying to light up another local conflict with its actions.

As a result of shelling from the territory of Armenia, a serviceman of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan, who was serving at the Lachin checkpoint, was wounded on June 15. The enemy's firing point was suppressed by return fire, the situation is under the control of Azerbaijani units. The wounded serviceman was treated.

"Despite the fact that Baku and Yerevan signed a trilateral statement with the mediation of Moscow, its conditions are still not fully fulfilled due to the opposition of the Armenian side," he said.

We see that Pashinyan says one thing in Brussels, then he says another thing in Moscow. Meanwhile, he has declared that he recognizes Karabakh as the territory of Azerbaijan in Washington," he added.

Mikhailov pointed out that while Azerbaijan is always focused on diplomacy and achieving its goals peacefully, Yerevan is doing the opposite and is blind to Azerbaijan's reasonable arguments.

Following over a month of military action to liberate its territories from Armenian occupation from late Sept. to early Nov. 2020, Azerbaijan has pushed Armenia to sign the surrender document. A joint statement on the matter was made by the Azerbaijani president, Armenia's PM, and the president of Russia. A complete ceasefire and a cessation of all hostilities in the zone of the Karabakh conflict were introduced on Nov. 10, 2020.




Ifeanyi Ejiofor says he and Mike Ozekhome have not been dismissed as counsels to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB).

In a tweet on Thursday, Kanunta Kanu, younger brother of the IPOB leader, said the services of Ozekhome and Ejiofor are no longer required.

I hereby formally notify Mike Ozekhome and Ifeanyi Ejiofor that their services are no longer required in Mazi Nnamdi Kanus case pending before the Supreme Court of Nigeria and all (cases) concerning him, Kanunta wrote.

Among several allegations, Kanunta claimed that Ozekhome has refused to see Kanu at the detention facility of the Department of Security Services (SSS) since May 11, despite the IPOB leaders several requests.

He also accused Ozekhome of preventing doctors sent by the family from carrying out a medical examination on the IPOB leader.

Responding in a statement issued on Thursday, Ejiofor countered Kanunta, saying the dismissal notice is false, baseless, defamatory, mischievous, insulting, and unauthorised.

Ejiofor said Kanunta lives in Germany and does not even know anything about Onyendus case, adding that he and Ozekhome have been visiting the IPOB leader and that the latest took place on June 15.

Biafrans should note and be assured that Onyendus legal team ably led by the legal iroko of our time  Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, is closely monitoring every situation about and around Onyendu, the statement reads.

We are not resting on our oars to get him freed and released from his illegal and unconstitutional detention after his discharge by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division, which also prohibited his further detention or trial on the charges he was standing trial for before his extraordinary and forceful rendition from Kenya to Nigeria on 27th June 2021.

There is, therefore, no cause for alarm as the Supreme Court is set to finally decide the matter on the 14th of September, 2023, immediately after the annual vacation.

We are thousands of miles and steps ahead of the evil plans of the enemies both from within and from without. Onyendu will be out of the DSS gulag strong and unbroken by the grace of God.

Let it be on record and be known to the whole world that neither Kingsley Kanu nor Emmanuel Kanu had at any point in time briefed me to handle Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanus case or even IPOB matters.

My letters of engagement issued to me in 2015 by Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB are still firmly with me to date.

Neither Kingsley Kanu nor anybody acting on his behalf ever engaged Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, to represent Onyendu in any matters affecting him.

Biafrans and members of the public are aware that Onyendu specifically requested to see Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, upon his forceful abduction and extraordinary rendition from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2023.




Manchester United on Friday confirmed that the club has retained Mason Greenwood despite the players suspension while also announcing the departure of seven players.





Recall that Man United recently suspended Greenwood after he was charged with attempted r@pe, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.





But the Crown Prosecution Service withdrew those charges on February 2, after key witnesses decided to withdraw their involvement.





Despite no longer facing charges, Greenwood remains suspended by Man United, pending the outcome of an internal investigation into whether the 22-year-old brought the Red Devils into disrepute and was in breach of his contract.





Meanwhile, Man United confirmed the departure of seven players, with defenders Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe among those leaving the club.





In addition to those two, Man United added: Ethan Galbraith and DiShon Bernard are seeking new opportunities elsewhere after loan spells at Salford City and Portsmouth, respectively. Both made their first-team debuts for United in a 2019 Europa League clash against Astana in Kazakhstan.





Eric Hanbury, Charlie Wellens and Manni Norkett are leaving the Academy after the end of their current terms. The Academy is proud of all our departing young players and their achievements while at the club. They will all be supported in securing professional contracts at new clubs, provided with a bespoke aftercare programme, and will always have a lifelong association with Manchester United.




The Acting Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Caroline Adepoju, on Friday, announced a state of emergency on Passport issues in the country.





Adepoju said during her working visit to Lagos that there was an urgent need to address the challenges faced by Nigerians in obtaining international passports.





A statement by the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Mr Tony Akuneme, said that the acting CGI inaugurated a state-of-the-art Visa-on-Arrival Lounge at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.





The NIS boss used the event to announce a comprehensive plan of action to tackle the issues effectively.





She said that the facility demonstrated the NISs commitment to improving the overall travel experience for visitors entering Nigeria.





According to her, the state of emergency declaration on Passport issues signifies the renewed commitment of NIS to resolve the challenges faced by Nigerians seeking to obtain passports, NAN reports.





It represents a call to action for all stakeholders to prioritise efficiency, transparency, and excellence in service delivery, she said.





Adepoju directed all Passport Control Officers, relevant units and personnel, including Missions abroad, to eliminate all hindrances preventing Nigerians from accessing Passports promptly.





NIS is leveraging technology and instituting robust administrative measures to enhance the Passport application and issuance process.





We urge all Nigerians to remain patient and cooperate with the service as it takes decisive steps to address the Passport crisis, she said.
Muhammad Sanusi II, a former Emir of Kano, has commended President Bola Tinubu on the removal of petrol subsidy and ending multiple exchange rate regimes.

Sanusi, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), spoke to journalists on Thursday after meeting with the president.

According to the economist, his meeting was to show solidarity with his friend who he was confident was taking all the right steps as a Nigerian leader.

The first reason was to come and congratulate him formally, but also because I wear many caps, I wear the cap of an economist so I came to thank him for the steps he has taken to put this economy on course, Sanusi said.

As you know, many of the issues that weve talked about; the subsidy that has caused a haemorrhage on the fiscal, the multiple exchange rates regime and on.

These are issues that I have personally been talking about for a long time and Im happy that on his very first day, he addressed these issues and the markets are happy.

Its important when the government does the right thing for us to give them feedback. Its not always when they do the wrong thing that we complain.

So he has started on such a strong footing and as far as the economy is concerned, we have to come and support and encourage that we continue along that path and be advocates for the policies he has pursued.

Speaking further on the outcome of his meeting, Sanusi said Tinubu promised that the federal government will take a closer look at the Airforce raid that killed at least 37 herders in Nasarawa earlier this year.

Im concerned with the issue of herdsmenfarmer clashes. He (Tinubu) is also concerned. And we discussed steps that need to be taken to begin to look at some of those issues,  he said.

But in particular, I came to appeal to him on the case of the 37 herdsmen who were bombed by the Airforce in Nasarawa state a few months ago which we wrote a letter to President Buhari on.

And we have now written a reminder because it was a matter we didnt want to be swept under the carpet. The president has asked me to send him that letter and Im sure that he will look into the matter.

The airstrike that occurred in Doma, a community that connects Nasarawa and Benue states on January 24, 2023, claimed the lives of about 37 persons (herders) who were waiting to transport their cattle.

However, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) denied allegations that the airstrike struck civilians.




Former leader of the defunct Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Asari Dokubo has accused the military high command of being behind oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region.

Dokubo who met with the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday at the Presidential Villa Abuja, said ordinary citizens cannot garner the resources and technology to engage in oil bunkering, especially connecting pipes directly to oil heads to tap crude.

Asari who denied having a private security force, said he has been instrumental in the quelling of crisis in the Niger and Kaduna axis.

He said he was happy with the firmness of Tinubu in handling national issues but needs all the support he can get from good-spirited Nigerians.
The state Attorney Generals Office said Thursday that it has closed its investigation into the March 10 shooting that left a Deptford police officer and a pedestrian dead, saying only that the case would not be presented to a grand jury because both people involved in the incident are deceased.

The office released body camera footage of the incident, but the video which cuts out leaving only audio left it unclear as to how the officer and the man he chased both ended up shot.

That video shows the incident began with Deptford Officer Robert J. Shisler stopping Mitchell O. Negron Jr. because he said the man was walking along the wrong side of Delsea Drive and putting himself in danger.

Body camera footage released Thursday in response to an Open Public Records Act request begins with Shisler pulling over his police vehicle on Delsea to speak with Negron. He gets out of his vehicle and approaches Negron in a friendly manner.

Whats up man. Howre you doing? Shisler asks.

OK and you? Negron responds.

I dont know if you know this or not, but youre supposed to walk on the other side of the street, Shisler tells him. God forbid you get blasted coming up the back.

The area doesnt have sidewalks, so pedestrians walk on the shoulder of the roadway.

Negron indicates he walks in that area every day.

Just so youre aware, it actually is, like, a ticket, Shisler says. People drive like crazy up and down Delsea. If youre walking with your back turned to traffic, man somebodys gonna nail you.

Negron agrees.

Youre right about that, he says. I appreciate you.

Then, Shisler asks for the mans name and date of birth.

Im not gonna write you a ticket or anything like that, I just gotta make sure you dont have any warrants, Shisler tells him.

Negron gives him someone elses name and the officer returns to his vehicle to contact the dispatcher.

As hes reading off the name to dispatch, Shisler indicates that Negron has run off.

Hes running. Hes taking off on me, he reports, before pulling his car forward briefly, then getting out and running.

The foot chase lasts for nearly a minute as they run through several yards. Shisler yells, stop, police, but Negron keeps going before Shisler closes the gap and tackles Negron.

They struggle on the ground and the video is obscured for the rest of the recording. It appears as if the body camera may have fallen off of the officer.

A few expletives can be heard, along with someone grunting.

Im in the back yard, I need help, Shisler says, radioing to dispatch.

Do you know the house number? a dispatcher asks. No response is heard.

A document detailing the initial investigation revealed that Negron had a Taurus .38 special revolver in his possession. The visual section of the video released Thursday did not show a weapon in Negrons hands.

Dispatch chatter continues as the sound of sirens can be heard in the distance.

About two minutes and 40 seconds after Shisler tackled Negron, a single gunshot is heard.

Someone can be heard groaning and saying, help me.

Turn the f--- around, someone says. Roll the f--- over. Roll the f--- over.

About 15 seconds after the gunshot, a man is heard saying, You shot me.

Shots fired, another voice says.

Thirty seconds later, seven gunshots are heard in rapid succession and the video soon ends.

Exactly what happened and who fired the shots remains unclear.

Another body camera video shows Deptford cops tending to the wounded officer. Get him in my car, one yells.

A home surveillance video also released Thursday shows a portion of the foot chase from a distance.

Negron died at the scene and Shisler was rushed to a hospital with a leg wound. The 27-year-old officer never recovered from the injury and died May 7.

Victoria Negron, Mitchells brother, said Thursday that the family spoke with the Attorney Generals office and watched the videos.

Im just not ready to talk. Im sorry, she said.

She confirmed the family is in the process of contacting a lawyer.

Shisler was laid to rest May 17 following a public funeral service attended by thousands at Rowan University. He served four years on the Deptford police force and was recalled as a dedicated officer with a promising future in law enforcement.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Staff writer Ted Sherman contributed to this report.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.
In a place thats become known for its sky high rents and cost of living, Jersey City finally has a free program in place that will help tenants facing illegal evictions, funded by the landlords themselves, developers in the city.

The city council voted unanimously Wednesday night in adopting a right-to-counsel program, in which the city will provide free legal representation for tenants facing evictions, and a 1.5-2.5% fee on new developments that would fund its budget.

You would be hard-pressed to find another city that is doing more on this front than Jersey City, as we have made meaningful policy changes when it comes to affordability and protecting our most vulnerable populations, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop said of the new program.

The program, which will be housed under the Department of Housing, Economic Development and Commerce, will allow tenants who are at 80% or below the area median income to seek representation in court if they are served an eviction notice. Attorneys will be either staff employees or a contracted firm.

It will also require the programs director to compile a tenants rights and resources document, which must then be presented to tenants during a leasing, rent demand, or eviction, as well as to tenants of the Jersey City Housing Authority and affordable housing units.

Its a huge step for Jersey City working families, said Councilman James Solomon, who was one of the sponsors of the legislation. Its going to level the playing field and ensure thousands of tenants stay in their home when facing illegal and unfair eviction.

The developer fees are expected to generate $20 million annually, with $16 million of it going to the citys Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and $4 million going to the right-to-counsel program.

Proponents of the right-to-counsel program have said that it will help tenants  roughly 70% of residents are renters  in a city besieged by some the highest rents in the nation. A recent study by the National Low Income Housing Coalition reported that the Jersey City area is the most expensive in all of New Jersey.

This was really a community demand that was advanced by working people and brought to the city, and (were) so excited (that the city) accepted it, said Jake Ephros, co-chair of the Right To Counsel campaign formed by the North Jersey Democrat Socialists of America. Were really grateful for that.

On average, just 3% of tenants are represented in evictions while 82% of landlords have attorneys when there is no intervention, according to the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel.

Solomon said that hes expecting the program to begin in 2024 and will be fully funded by 2026.

Wendy Paul, the executive director of the Jersey City Apartment Owners Association, criticized the legislation because its supporters could not show ... a crisis of evictions and that New Jersey has the strongest tenant protections of any state in the union.

The most common reason for an eviction is failure to pay rent, she said in a statement. To address this supposed eviction crises, the city wants to hire lawyers, but lawyers dont pay the rent. Tenants facing eviction need emergency rental assistance, not a lawyer.

The council also adopted, by a 7-0-1 vote, a new licensing requirement for all of the citys smoke and tobacco stores and limit the amount of licenses issued to 45. Councilman Daniel Rivera abstained from the vote, while Council President Joyce Watterman was absent at the time.

The requirements are being added because of what was described as a huge proliferation of vape shops in the city, particularly those that illegally sell flavored vapes to minors. A study by drugwatch.com revealed that in 2021, 27.8% of minors in New Jersey had vaped or used an e-cigarette at least once in the 30 days prior to being polled.

Also approved unanimously by the council is a $6.95 million police brutality settlement for a man injured in a 2017 fiery crash that occurred while police were involved in a high-speed pursuit of another motorist.

The council also approved an additional $75,000 for legal representation in a lawsuit filed by the driver police were chasing.

Lastly, the council voted 8-1 to introduce an authorization for the city to acquire the property at 50 Journal Square Plaza, formerly the site of the JSQ Lounge, either by purchase or condemnation via eminent domain, to turn it into a new park. Councilman Rich Boggiano was the sole no vote.
A Secaucus man has been charged with viewing and uploading numerous videos of child pornography, town Police Chief Dennis Miller said.

Johan Marte Genao, 35, was arrested by members of the Secaucus Police Detective Division Thursday after a seven-month probe led by Detective Kristen Bronowich.

Genao was charged with separated counts of endangering the welfare of a child and he was released on a summons, pending his appearance in court.

In 2022, detectives from the Secaucus Police Department joined the ranks of Internet Crimes Against Children [I.C.A.C.] Task Force  New Jersey, which is spearheaded the New Jersey State Police.

The Secaucus Police Department continues to take part in initiatives to protect our most vulnerable population, our children, Miller said. The tireless work and determination exhibited by Detective Bronowich is what directly led to this arrest. Once again, I am frustrated and disappointed that criminal justice reform allowed this predator to walk free without conditions, while awaiting his court appearance.
One of the most powerful members of the Hudson County Democratic Organization is pushing hard the idea of former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey as Jersey Citys next mayor. But other influential members of the group that hasnt lost an election in nine years arent sold on the idea.

At least not yet, say insiders.

As senator of a district (the 33rd) that includes Jersey City and arguably the No. 1 get-out-the-vote guy in the county, Brian Stack has been front and center extolling the virtues of a McGreevey candidacy in 2025.

Only Thursday afternoon did McGreevey publicly acknowledge the possibility of succeeding Steve Fulop in City Hall.

Im honored by the consideration of the people of Jersey City and Im seriously considering running, said the 65-year-old who is chairman of the New Jersey Reentry Corp., a nonprofit that provides services statewide, mostly second-chance programs for people coming out of prison.

Sounding more like a evangelist preacher than a politician Wednesday, Stack revved the crowd into a McGreevey! McGreevey! chant for the former governor at an event for his own civic association.

There is nobody who will work harder for that city and truly raise up this county, not only Jersey City but raise up this county and work day in and day out, Stack said, with McGreevey by his side.

Although this is not a Jim McGreevey event, Jim McGreevey exemplifies what it is to be a public servant and what it is to be for the people, Stack said said in the minute-long video posted on Twitter by NJGlobe.coms David Wildstein.

In what was seen by some as a dig at the current mayor, Stack said and truly bring fairness to Jersey City where it is not only about rich people and building fancy buildings, it is about helping the people of Jersey City.

The five-term senator first touted McGreevey in May, telling the Globe he would devote any resources or assistance I can provide for a mayoral run. But four Hudson County insiders said he has failed to gain the support from other senior members like North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco, U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez and his son, Rep. Rob Menendez.

(The HCDO is) not backing him yet, with the operative word yet,  one insider said, explaining that despite the public displays, Stacks support is still short of saying I endorse him. And that is everything.

I am very confident he is not going to say those words until he knows other people are on board with him. (Hes) not waiting for their approval, but he is waiting for their partnership  when Stack says it they are OK with it, theyre a team. They are not quite there yet.

Nobody is anointed the mayor in Jersey City, another insider said. We certainly dont want people deciding our fate who are not from our town 

While insiders disagree over the reason Stack is backing McGreevey, three at least see it as a f--- you to Fulop, who fired McGreevey in 2019 from the Jersey City Employment and Training Program, a now-closed nonprofit that had provided job training and prisoner re-entry services.

Brian Stack has never stuck his nose into a Jersey City election in his life, then all of a sudden two and a half years before the election who the mayor should be, an insider said. There is no good blood between those guys.

But while the HCDO as a group has publicly endorsed Fulop in the gubernatorial 2025 run, its telling that many of the senior officials in the group have not made individual endorsements publicly, one insider said. If Fulop wants the support of senior members of the HCDO, he will have to get in line if they decided to endorse McGreevey.

They dont like (Fulop), its that simple, an insider said. They are pretty sure they can win (a mayoral race) without Fulops support and that is what they want. They want Fulop to come begging I want to be on this team.

The friendly relationship between Fulop and McGreevey turned sour during the mayors aborted run for governor in 2017 and was sealed the mayor made unsubstantiated allegations that McGreevey mismanaged millions of dollars in JCETP money to benefit the New Jersey Reentry Corp.

One insider also noted that in some circles, McGreevey, who has lived in Jersey City for some time is still considered an outsider. Jersey City Council President Joyce Watterman, who is also considering a run for mayor, took a shot Thursday.

The people in Jersey City really want people who live here, she said.

Other possible candidates for mayor include Councilman James Solomon, Hudson County Board of Commissioners members Bill ODea and Jerry Walker, and former Jersey City school board President Mussab Ali. Councilman Yousef Saleh and Frank Gilmore have also been mentioned as planning potential runs.

Waterman, first elected in 2013, is giving heavy thought to running for mayor, but when asked about McGreevey being HCDOs potential choice, she responded I live here. I believe Jersey City should have someone who really knows the city.

McGreevey , who boasts that he was born at the Margaret Hague Maternity Ward in Jersey City, does currently live in Jersey City, but he hasnt always. He served as mayor of Woodbridge from 1992 to 2002 and also served as an assemblyman and state senator in Middlesex County.

Saleh, appointed in 2020 and elected in 2021 to his first full term, is definitely considering running for mayor and welcomed the additional challenger in the race.

The more, the merrier  I think he has done a tremendous amount of work in the community, Saleh said.
The wealthy Jersey Shore town of Deal is charging $400 more this year to register and store catamarans on its beach, raising concerns among some beach-access advocates.

The boroughs commissioners raised the price of boat registration from $100 to $500  a 400% hike  in November, according to borough records. However, the increase did not attract public attention until mid-June, when this seasons updated membership fees for the Deal Casino Beach Club, which is open to residents and non-residents, were posted on the borough website.

Deal also doubled its fee for kayak registration and storage from $50 to $100. Its unclear why the borough decided to increase the fees.

Catamarans and kayaks are the only type of watercraft Deal allows on its beach, municipal officials said.

Borough clerk and administrator Stephen Carasia and Alan Roussell, superintendent of beaches, referred questions about the increased fees to the boroughs administration.

Deal Mayor Sam Cohen did not respond to email or phone inquiries about the rate increases.

Deal is a 1.3-square-mile community of multi-million dollar homes with a population of 900, according to the latest census data. It is located between Loch Arbour and Long Branch.

The Monmouth County borough has a beach with relatively low crowds that draws locals, surfers and fishermen. Deal officials have drawn criticism over the years for allegedly not making the beach welcoming to those who live outside the borough.

Some critics say the boroughs new fees for boats could unfairly limit public beach access.

It just seems like its exorbitant, said John Weber, mid-Atlantic regional manager at the Surfrider Foundation, an environmental nonprofit dedicated to the protection and public enjoyment of oceans and beaches.

I think the higher fee could inhibit access, Weber said.

Deal has faced criticism in the past for controversial fees critics said were designed to reduce access to public beaches.

In April 2017, the boroughs commissioners crafted an ordinance that would have required beachgoers to purchase seasonal parking passes for $100 or monthly parking passes for $50 on sections of five borough streets close to the beach  Monmouth Terrace, Monmouth Drive, Hathaway Avenue, Sydney Avenue and Neptune Avenue.

Following a protest from residents, officials pulled the controversial beach plan.

In June 2017, the borough instead passed an ordinance creating a new municipal beach and established a $150 seasonal badge and daily fees.

In 2021, Deal officials proposed a plan to make several streets permit-only parking available to residents. However, opposition to the plan was swift and the proposal was tabled by the boroughs commissioners.

Several Jersey Shore towns charge a fee for allowing kayaks and boats on their shores. And Deal is not the only municipality increasing rates.

After the Belmar Marina reached capacity earlier this year, the mayor and council passed a resolution raising rental fees for dock slips.

Belmar also charges more for kayak storage than Deal, with a rate of $150 for Belmar residents and $200 for non-residents, according to a borough employee.

Not every Jersey Shore town allows catamarans, a type of sailboat with two parallel hulls. Towns that permit catamarans on their beaches typically require annual registration.

Ocean City issues permits for catamarans for $250 for non-residents and $225 for residents, plus an additional $5 for an operators tag, according to the city website.

Brigantines permit for catamarans is $150 per year, according to the citys website. However, in order to obtain a permit an applicant must have proof of liability insurance, the city says. The average cost of boat insurance ranges from about $200 to $500 per year, according to MarketWatch.

Private boat clubs may also offer catamaran storage, but those options are often more expensive. Launch privileges, boat and dinghy storage at the Sandy Hook Bay Catamaran Club in Atlantic Highlands will run members more than $400, according to the clubs membership application.

MORE:

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. The Armenian side resorted to provocation and started firing during the raising of the Azerbaijani flag on the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan, serviceman Elshan Rustamov said, Trend reports.

He was injured as a result of the provocation committed by Armenia yesterday in the direction of the Lachin border checkpoint.

"We were unarmed at that time. When the enemy side resorted to provocation, we quickly began to take up a position, and at that time I was wounded in my left leg," he said.

VIDEO:

The shelling took place at 08:45 (GMT+4) on June 15, 2023. The enemy's firing point was suppressed by return fire.

The passage of cars through the Lachin checkpoint is stopped at the moment. It will not work until a full investigation of what happened is carried out, or until Armenia assumes full responsibility for the committed provocation.
A man has admitted that he robbed three New Jersey pharmacies at gunpoint and stole prescription medications including oxycodone, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.

Charles Johnson, 28, of Irvington, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to three counts of Hobbs Act Robbery and one count of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, prosecutors said.

The Hobbs Act prohibits actual or attempted robbery or extortion affecting interstate or foreign commerce, according to the Department of Justice.
A Phillipsburg woman has been charged in a hit-and-run crash Thursday that left a 77-year-old man dead in Easton, Pennsylvania, police said.

Michelle Mackey, 61, faces involuntary manslaughter, accidents involving death or serious injury and careless driving in the case, police said in a news release. Information on bail was not immediately available.

Easton police said the 77-year-old man was hit by a vehicle at about 10:45 a.m. on Larry Holmes Drive south of Northampton Street, near Scott Park. The driver fled the area.

The man later died at the hospital, police said. Authorities said his identity would be released pending notification of his family.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Officer Justin Liguori atjliguori@easton-pa.gov or Sgt. Ryan Celia at rcelia@easton-pa.gov.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
A loosely organized group of smash-and-grab car burglars who target vehicles parked at gyms, parks and recreation areas has ratcheted up criminal activities across much of the state this month, authorities said.

Since the beginning of June, the central and northern New Jersey areas have been hit by a group known as the Felony Lane Gang, Toms River police said in a statement Friday morning.

Police warned people again not to leave valuables in vehicles, especially in plain sight.

Toms River police and the Ocean County Prosecutors Office couldnt be reached Friday for specifics about the thefts. The Ocean County Sheriffs Office referred questions to State Police who didnt immediately respond.

Brick, which borders Toms River, issued a more cautious statement.

At this time we dont have anything that we could definitively say is connected to the Felony Lane Gang, a department spokesman said in an email.

Several other law enforcement agencies contacted by NJ Advance Media also didnt immediately reply to questions.

Toms River police said the thieves are based in Florida and drive to coastal states to commit the burglaries, often in rental cars.

They look for purses hoping to find bank checks, debit cards, and driver licenses. They then pass the checks at banks using the stolen IDs.

Typically, one of the thieves exits the car and moves around the parking lot on foot. The bandit attempts to use spring-loaded center punch to pop the vehicle side windows, according to Toms River police.

They are very fast, usually in and out of a parking lot in only a few minutes, Toms River police said, adding that they are often armed.

Last month, two Fort Lauderdale, Florida men suspected of being Felony Lane Gang members were arrested in Montville after crashing a vehicle, police said. Cops found identification and a credit card in the vehicle that were stolen from a Wayne resident.

Earlier this spring, authorities said thieves suspected of being part of the Felony Lane Gang smashed the front passenger window of a vehicle parked at Wood Dale County Park in Woodcliff Lake. They stole a New York drivers license, credit cards and bank checks before trying to fraudulently cash one of the checks at a TD Bank in Roselle the following day.

The thieves that cashed the check were in a 2019 or 2020 Hyundai Elantra, which had a New Jersey license plate registered to a Toyota.

Earlier this year, Old Bridge and Tinton Falls police were looking for two women who tried to pass bad checks at several TD Banks.

It is believed that these women are part of what is known to law enforcement as the Felony Lane Gang, Old Bridge police said in January. It is reported that the Felony Lane Gang employs drug addicts who are in need of money and drugs.

The women were in a car with an unregistered license plate when they passed the checks in November, according to police.

Clinton Township police said that they were investigating three smash-and-grab burglaries that took place on the same day in December as Felony Lane Gang-related.

Two took place at in the parking lot of a YMCA and another involved a vehicle parked at a racquet club. Nine days later, someone tried to cash a check stolen from outside the racquet club a PNC Bank in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. The license plate on the vehicle was fake, authorities said.

Authorities said in 2018 that they suspected the Felony Lane Gang was responsible for a series of car burglaries in Monmouth County.

Burglars hit five cars in Freehold Township, three in Wall and three more in Howell in one week according to police in those towns. Freehold Township police at the time referred to the group as a very sophisticated group of thieves.

Earlier in 2018, Asbury Park police arrested an Arizona woman who tried tried to cash checks stolen from cars at banks up and down the Jersey Shore.

A day earlier, Toms River police said they were looking for a woman who tried to cash checks at Ocean First banks in Hammonton, Little Egg Harbor and the Mays Landing section of Hamilton as as well as two Manasquan Bank branches in Howell.

Weeks earlier, police in Burlington and Mercer counties said they were on the lookout for a group of transient thieves from the Felony Lane Gang. In 2016 and 2017. Felony Lane members were suspected in break-ins in Morris and Bergen counties.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Just years ago, Tameika Minor did not celebrate Juneteenth  the day commemorating the end of slavery in America that in 2021 became a federal holiday. Now, the Voorhees resident and founder of Achim Sheli, a group that encourages ethnic and cultural diversity, tells me shes busy prepping for a community-wide Juneteenth celebration at her local synagogue on Monday.

Im from the South, Tameika, 39, says. I was born and raised in Virginia. But growing up, I was never taught about Juneteenth in school. I didnt learn about it until much later when I went to college. And even then, I knew the history but it wasnt celebrated. Back then, it was mostly celebrated in Texas.

Particularly in Galveston. In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation freed all the Souths enslaved. But its enforcement was uneven until the end of the Civil War in 1865. Masters on Southern plantations, continued to make enslaved people work for six months without telling them that they were free.

It wasnt until June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived at Galveston, that the enslaved there learned the truth. The following year, the newly-free people in the area began celebrating Juneteenth. And its observance has continued there and elsewhere since.

But not like in the last three years, Tameika notes. Since [Juneteenth] became federally recognized, its quickly become very commercialized, she says. Its kind of exploded. There was that whole mess with Walmart and the ice cream ... and other huge companies jumping in too, just trying to profit off selfishly, without giving anything back to Black communities.

Last year, Walmart released a Celebration Edition: Juneteenth Ice Cream, under its Great Value label. Needless to say, the branding did not go over well with thousands on social media who criticized the companys move as inappropriate and foolish. Shortly after, the company apologized and removed the product from its shelves.

On Twitter, Black people encouraged shoppers to buy Black-owned Creamalicious Ice Cream instead.

Angela Branch, 40, a Newark esthetician who owns skincare business Angela Branch Skin Care, says thats exactly what people of other races wanting to celebrate Juneteenth should do. Use this opportunity to support Black-owned businesses, engage in Black community initiatives and make sure that your actions are aligned with recognizing and honoring the struggles and triumphs of Black people.

Take the time to educate yourself [by going to the library or researching online] about the historical significance of Juneteenth and its impact on Black communities, she said. Approach the day with respect, understanding and a commitment to learning and educating others.

She says people wanting to join in on Juneteenth celebrations should look to have meaningful conversations with Black people and listen to our experiences. And advises them to avoid cultural appropriation and to stop trying to make [their participation] trendy just for likes on social media.

What she told me should be centerstage is an acknowledgement of what the day represents, the painful history of Black people in America, the celebration of freedom, and the remembrance of the struggles we continue to face.

Many of the Black New Jerseyans I spoke with shared their mixed feelings about Juneteenth, a day that for so long was solely about us and for us and akin to our Independence Day, now being open to all. They welcome the increased awareness of Black history and Black resiliency in America, of course, but rightly frown upon those who dishonor that same history by exploiting Black communities for capital gain.

Femi Otuyelu, left, and Nazish Otuyelu, a married couple, who co-own events company Pop Up Next Door, celebrated Juneteenth at a themed event they hosted last Saturday. Nazish says the event, which featured Black-owned businesses, "had it all": food, desserts, music, a variety of products on sale, and fun activities for kids. "We always have a great turnout with a lot of people that come out and support," she says. Julian Leshay | For NJ Advance Media

Spouses Nazish Otuyelu, 32, and Femi Otuyelu, 40, owners of events business Pop Up Next Door, want dollars spent on Juneteenth to flow to the Black community. Thats why for the past five years, their company has hosted a Juneteenth event in Elizabeth that features a wide array of Black-owned businesses.

Nazish, whos Pakistani and has two children with Femi, whos Nigerian but grew up in New Jersey, told me this years event featured a long list of Black vendors and artists from across the state. We had it all, she says. People who sold clothes, fashion accessories, jewelry, soaps and body scrubs ...foods, desserts, you name it.

Similarly, the Juneteenth event Tameikas organizing in Voorhees will feature food, live music, spoken word poetry, crafts for kids and about a dozen Black entrepreneurs she says are excited to showcase their businesses  and without having to pay a vendors fee because we waived it. Tickets for event-goers are $19.

Nazish told me Saturdays celebration included an educational component for children. We had activities for kids about the history of Juneteenth and showed them a video about its origin and meaning, she said. She tells me that for her, Juneteenth is both a time to gather with family and friends and to reflect on the work that remains to be done to address racism and systemic inequality in America.

Tameika says she couldnt agree more. At the event Monday, shell be handing out booklets about Juneteenth to attendees. Itll be an informative, happy and fun day, she laughs. And tells me shes glad to know that the next generation, at least here in New Jersey, wont grow up not knowing about and not celebrating Juneteenth. I mean, isnt that just wonderful? Indeed, it is.

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.
Four New Jersey residents were shot and wounded early Friday in Clifton, according to the Passaic County Prosecutors Office.

Police responded about 2:45 a.m. to the area of 39 Harding Avenue on a report of shots fired and found a 32-year-old Clifton woman who had been wounded by gunfire, according to the prosecutors office.

Around the same time, Clifton police were alerted that three more shooting victims had arrived at St. Marys General Hospital Passaic, according to police and prosecutors.

The additional victims were a 35-year-old man from West Orange, a 30-year-old man from Burlington, and a 27-year-old Newark man, according to the prosecutors office.

All of the victims are expected to survive, authorities said.

A spokesman for the prosecutors office on Friday declined to say if the shootings were related or if the victims knew who attacked them.

Anyone with information is asked to call the prosecutors office at 877-370-PCPO or Clifton police at 973-470-5908. Tips can be emailed to tips@passaiccountynj.org

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
UPDATE: Small tornado landed in N.J. town during intense thunderstorms, weather service says

The National Weather Service has canceled its severe thunderstorm watch for 13 New Jersey counties, as the main line of intense thunderstorms that rocked parts of the state Friday afternoon continues to move out over the Atlantic Ocean as of 3 p.m.

The weather services Mount Holly forecast office had issued a series of severe thunderstorm warnings earlier in the afternoon, along with a tornado warning for parts of Burlington and Ocean counties.

All of those warnings are no longer active, and so far the weather service has not received confirmation of any tornadoes that touched down. The weather service said it also hasnt received reports of widespread damage  just sporadic reports of strong wind gusts, downed trees and damaged utility lines.

However, the agency is planning to send a team of meteorologists out to the Pemberton area of Burlington County to inspect the storm damage there.

The tornado warning was activated at 12:55 p.m. Friday, when a squall line of very strong thunderstorms swept across parts of Burlington and Ocean counties and the weather service detected cloud rotation  one of the key signatures of a possible tornado  on weather radar.

The weather service received preliminary reports of a funnel cloud spotted near Country Lakes in Pemberton, but so far there has been no confirmation of any funnel clouds landing on the ground.

Pemberton police told NJ Advance Media that there is sporadic tree damage in their town, but no major damage.

This scary-looking shelf cloud, photographed by Rutgers meteorology student Collin Gross, was hovering over the Forked River section of Lacey Township in Ocean County as strong thunderstorms were sweeping across New Jersey on Friday, June 16, 2023.Collin Gross

The weather service received reports of large tree limbs knocked down on a power line, with smoke coming from the line, near New Lisbon in Burlington County shortly before 1 p.m. Trees were also reported to be toppled in Pemberton Heights, and a wind gust of 61 mph was clocked at Joint Base Fort Dix at about 1:05 p.m.

A wind gust of 58 mph was reported in Lower Alloways Creek Township in Salem County, and a gust of 55 mph was reported in Lakehurst in Ocean County.

Homes and other property were spared damage, but trash bins were blown around after straight-line winds from a thunderstorm moved through the area of Ongs Hat Road and Stockton Bridge Road in Pemberton, on Friday, June 16, 2023.Dave Hernandez | For NJ Advance

Current weather radar

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local weather news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com.
UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm watch is canceled, no widespread damage confirmed

ALSO: Small tornado landed in N.J. town during intense thunderstorms, weather service says

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for 13 counties in New Jersey, alerting the public about the potential for strong thunderstorms packing large hail and damaging winds.

In addition, the weather service has started to issue some thunderstorm warnings with intense storms pushing their way from eastern Pennsylvania into parts of Atlantic and Cape May counties in South Jersey late Friday morning.

The watch  which is not as urgent as a warning  was issued at 11:05 a.m. and covers Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Salem and Somerset counties. It will be active through 6 p.m. Friday.

A tornado warning issued in Burlington and Ocean counties expired at 1:30 p.m.

The Barefoot Country Music Festival in Wildwood announced a delayed opening to its gates on Friday afternoon due to severe weather in Cape May County.

UPDATE (1:50 p.m. Friday): The severe thunderstorm watch has been canceled for Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Salem and Somerset counties. However, severe thunderstorm warnings remain active for parts of Central New Jersey until 2:15 p.m., including Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean.

Latest weather warnings in N.J.

Special Marine Warning including the Waters from Cape May NJ to Fenwick Island DE out 20 to 40 nm, Waters from Great Egg Inlet NJ to Cape May NJ out 20 to 40 nm and Coastal waters from Great Egg Inlet to Cape May NJ out 20 nm until 3:30 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/EadslDhaET  NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) June 16, 2023

Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Toms River NJ, Lakewood NJ and Atlantic City NJ until 2:15 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/0W0W84aBvc  NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) June 16, 2023

Special Marine Warning including the Waters from Manasquan Inlet NJ to Little Egg Inlet NJ out 20 to 40 nm, Coastal waters from Manasquan Inlet to Little Egg Inlet NJ out 20 nm and Coastal waters from Great Egg Inlet to Cape May NJ out 20 nm until 3:15 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/BFZxUyPTQR  NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) June 16, 2023

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for 13 New Jersey counties.National Weather Service

Forecasters say a cold front moving across the region will trigger scattered thunderstorms throughout the day. Although they can pop up in almost any part of New Jersey, the highest probability of strong or severe storms will be in the southern half of the state.

The primary threat will be between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Friday, the weather services regional office in Mount Holly said. Primary impacts will be damage to trees, downed power lines, and large hail. The tornado potential is low.

Showers and thunderstorms should wind down by late Friday evening, followed by additional threats of rain showers and scattered thunderstorms on Saturday as a low pressure system sparks a series of small storms, the weather service says.

Looking ahead to Fathers Day, on Sunday, forecasters are calling for mostly sunny skies, with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s. But theres a slight possibility of an isolated shower or thunderstorm in some areas, especially north of Philadelphia, the weather service said.

Current weather radar

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local weather news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Jeff Goldman contributed to this report.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com.
UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm watch issued for 13 counties. Warnings already popping up.

The weather Friday afternoon could turn nasty in New Jersey with thunderstorms, strong wind gusts and even potential large hail lashing much of the state, forecasters say.

South Jersey is at the greatest risk for strong storms with a lesser threat in central counties and little to no threat of severe storms in North Jersey, the National Weather Service says. Thunderstorms are still possible across the northern part, of the state, though.

Storms are most likely to sweep across New Jersey anytime from 11 a.m to 5 p.m. and rain may linger through the evening. Tree damage and scattered power outages are both possible, the weather service said.

UPDATE: At 10:40 a.m. Friday, the National Weather Service said a strong thunderstorm was moving into parts of south-central Atlantic County and northeastern Cape May County, with wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea-size hail.

A special weather statement has been issued for Ocean City NJ, Somers Point NJ and Northfield NJ until 11:15 AM EDT pic.twitter.com/Wr5NEMiA9e  NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) June 16, 2023

Flooding shouldnt be much of an issue except in urban and poor drainage areas, where it it would likely be of the nuisance variety, forecasters say. Afternoon highs will reach the upper 70s and low 80s before overnight lows dip into the 50s.

Saturday wont be a washout, but its not looking like the best day for outdoor activities with rain chances for most of the day.

A mostly cloudy and unsettled, day with periodic showers and a thunderstorm or two rotating through, the weather services New York office said in its morning forecast discussion. The New York office covers Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Union and Passaic counties.

Scattered showers and possible thunderstorms are in the forecast for northeastern New Jersey on June 16, 2023.National Weather Service

The weather services Mount Holly office, which covers the rest of the state didnt strike a much more optimistic tone.

Saturday looks to be another showery day along with potential for some thunderstorms, the weather service said. Showers and a few thunderstorms look likely especially during the afternoon.

Highs will be in the 70s.

The weather for Fathers Day on Sunday and the Juneteenth holiday on Monday are shaping up to be very pleasant June days with dry conditions, sunny skies and highs in the upper 70s to low 80s.

Current weather radar

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm watch issued for 13 counties. Warnings already popping up.

MORE: Tornado warning issued for 2 counties as fierce thunderstorms hit region

If youve noticed the sky over New Jersey is looking a little darker than usual Friday morning, its not from the storm clouds that are looming out to our west. Weather forecasters say some smoke from the still-burning wildfires in Canada is once again drifting in our direction.

Unlike the choking smoke that lingered near the ground and created record levels of unhealthy air quality last week, the smoke thats in the sky on Friday is expected to remain higher up in the atmosphere, forecasters say.

While it will make the sky look hazy, the smoke likely wont cause the air quality to plummet to dangerous levels, according to the latest forecast maps from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

As of Friday morning, some pockets of New Jersey had moderate levels of air pollution (areas shaded in yellow on the EPAs Air Now maps). The EPA is predicting moderate levels to linger across most of the state on Friday and across all of the state on Saturday.

Smoke from the still-burning wildfires in Canada is expected to drift into the upper atmosphere over New Jersey on Friday and Saturday, causing "moderate" air quality, according to weather forecasters and forecast maps from the EPA. Pictured here is Friday's air quality forecast map.AirNow | EPA

If the air quality deteriorates worse than moderate, then the state Department of Environmental Protection would issue a code orange air quality alert.

Code orange indicates Air Quality Index readings ranging from 101 to 150, which is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, such as children, older adults, people with lung disease and people who are active outdoors.

On June 7, AQI readings in New Jersey spiked to record levels, with some parts of the state getting as high as 467 to 486. Anything above 300 is considered hazardous, the worst possible rating on the air quality index, and means everyone should stay inside with the doors and windows shut, according to the EPA.

Current weather radar

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local weather news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com.
Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost.

If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below.
Title changed

Details added: first version posted on 15:13

BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. A meeting of the Board Session of Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry on the results of the first half of 2023 was held on June 16 under the leadership of the Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov, Trend reports.

The meeting was attended by deputy ministers, heads of main departments, departments and services, as well as commanders of military units and formations.

First, the memory of the National Leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev, and martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, was honored with observing a minute of silence.

In his introductory speech, Hasanov emphasized the statement of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev that the development of the Azerbaijan Army according to the model of the Turkish Armed Forces is an indicator of the positive results of the reforms carried out in the field of army development.

It was noted that certain achievements have already been gained in this field thanks to the work done in the first half of the current year.

At the meeting, the service and combat activities of all types of troops (forces) in the first half of 2023 were analyzed, detailed reports on improving the potential and capabilities of the Azerbaijan Army, operational and combat training, engineering activities, intelligence activities, recruitment of professional personnel, moral-psychological training of personnel, the development of military education, construction works carried out in military units, improvement of social and living conditions of the military personnel and measures implemented in other areas were delivered.

Then the current operational situation on the Azerbaijani-Armenian conditional border and in Azerbaijan's Karabakh economic region was analyzed.

In order to prevent the intensive fire on the Azerbaijan Armys positions by the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed detachments [which weren't withdrawn from Karabakh contrary to a trilateral statement signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war], as well as illegal military transportation and attempts to install long-term fortification facilities in the territory of the Karabakh economic region, Hasanov gave instructions on taking further necessary retaliatory measures by Azerbaijan Army Units, constant surveillance of the activities of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian armed detachments and being always ready to decisively suppress any provocation.

Delivering a closing speech, the minister delivered to the meeting participants the tasks assigned by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief to the Azerbaijan Army for the next half of 2023, and ordered them to pay special attention to the protection of the health and the safety of military personnel, further improve the professionalism and combat readiness, as well as maintain the combat capability of troops at a high level.

At the end of the meeting of the Board Session, the award orders of the minister of defense were announced.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. "Anatolian Phoenix-2023" International Search and Rescue Exercises, held in Turkish Konya, has ended, Trend reports, citing the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan.

Speakers at the closing ceremony talked about the analysis of the activities carried out in the international exercises.

It was noted that the tasks set in the exercises were successfully accomplished by the military personnel of the participating states.

At the end of the event, the exercise participants exchanged presents and took photos.

It should be noted that in the "Anatolian Phoenix-2023" International Search and Rescue Exercises Azerbaijan is represented by the pilots, technical personnel and aircraft of the Azerbaijan Air Force, as well as servicemen of the Azerbaijan Naval Forces and Special Forces.
Her breakfast was done, but Wendy Walker wasnt ready to leave. She was soaking up every moment at her favorite restaurant, Brothers Ole New Orleans Cafe in Harvey. And she had some words for Risha and C.J. Abadie, the restaurant owners.

Youre wrong for what youre doing to me, youre wrong, said Walker, before turning to the side and adding, But Im happy for them though.

Thats been in the prevailing emotion around the restaurant since word got around that this West Bank stalwart since 1975 will close. The last day of business will be June 24. C.J., now 76 and with nearly half a century logged at the restaurant, is ready to retire.

The Abadie family is selling the property on Lapalco Boulevard to their tenant, Ray Jaber, who runs Jaba Rays Food Store next to the restaurant.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. The Armenians, who committed a provocation yesterday by firing at the Lachin border checkpoint of Azerbaijan, for some reason expressed their sharp dissatisfaction with Russia, Trend reports.

So, today Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin was summoned to the Armenian Foreign Ministry.

"During the meeting held today at the Foreign Ministry with the Ambassador of Russia, Armenia's sharp dissatisfaction with this incident was expressed. The Foreign Ministry urged to take all necessary measures to clarify the circumstances of the incident," the Armenian MFA said in a statement.

The accusation of Yerevan against Russia, despite the fact that the provocation was committed by the Armenian Armed Forces, only causes bewilderment.

On June 15, 2023, at 08:45 (GMT+4), as a result of shelling from the territory of Armenia, a serviceman of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan, who served at the Lachin border checkpoint, was wounded.

The enemy firing point was suppressed by return fire, the situation is under the control of Azerbaijani units.
For days after Hurricane Ida, Chandra Straws New Orleans neighborhood was choked by waves of thick, black smoke. She stopped going outside, preferring the dark and stifling heat of her home, one of thousands that lost power after the 2021 storm. She shut the windows and stuffed blankets under the doors, but the fumes crept in, eventually forcing her to do what Idas winds and torrential rains hadnt.

Thats when we had to evacuate, she said. We could not breathe.

Across the Mississippi from Straws Algiers home, the blackouts had triggered emergency flares at the Chalmette Refinery, a collection of pipelines, storage tanks and smokestacks that sprawls along a mile of riverbank. The flames, which ease the buildup of flammable gases when power is lost, roared for two weeks, releasing an unknown quantity of sulfur dioxide and other toxic chemicals.
Louisiana is threatened by an increasing number of severe storms and is also home to a vast number of industrial sites housing toxic chemicals.

To explore these threats, The Times-Picayune and The Advocate analyzed the risk of flooding at chemical facilities across the state. The analysis, using projections from First Street Foundation, a non-profit that often helps the federal government to assess risks, provides a new level of detail.

The analysis found a quarter of the states population lives within a mile of a chemical site that is at risk of 25 centimeters  about 10 inches  of flooding or more from a so-called 100-year storm. Poor and minority communities are particularly vulnerable: More than a third of Black Louisianans live near an at-risk facility, while low-income residents are more than twice as likely to live in those areas as wealthy households.
South Africa: Eskom, trade unions sign 7% salary increase agreement

Eskom and its recognised trade unions have signed a three-year wage agreement.

According to Eskom, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) and Solidarity, agreed on a 7% salary hike for all non-managerial employees over three years, effective from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2026.

In addition, the parties settled on a 7% increase in the housing allowance over the three years and a once-off taxable payment of R10 000 for the first two years.

The collective agreement will go a long way in stabilising our organisation by providing Eskom with sufficient space and time to collaboratively work together to urgently address our most pressing challenges

It is worth noting that this is the first time in more than a decade that the parties have reached an agreement in the room, said Eskoms Acting Group Chief Executive, Calib Cassim.

In a statement on Thursday Eskom expresses gratitude to all the parties for their commitment to this process and for placing Eskom and the interests of all South Africans first.

NUMSA General Secretary, Irvin Jim, said this agreement is a sign of an improvement in the relationship with Eskom.

And part of our contribution is the signing of a multi-year agreement so that there is labour stability. This will allow workers at Eskom to focus on quality maintenance, without interrupting that process with annual wage talks.

He promised South Africans that the union would do everything to prevent a repetition of last year when workers protested at power stations.

We have upheld that promise. We managed to secure an agreement without deadlocking, and we did it before the end of June, which is when the old agreement expires.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2023-06-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has visited the Embassy of the Italian Republic in the country to offer condolences over the death of former President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic Silvio Berlusconi, Azernews reports.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev arrived at the Embassy of Italy.

Italian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Claudio Taffuri welcomed the head of state.

President Ilham Aliyev signed a book of condolence.




Details added: first version posted on 11:28

BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. Servicemen of the Horadiz border detachment of the Border Troops under the Azerbaijani State Border Service on the territory of the border outpost, located near Mughanly village (Zangilan district), prevented the smuggling of drugs from Iran to Azerbaijan, Trend reports via the service.

As a result of searches and operational measures carried out by border guards, 3.2 kilograms of marijuana were found and confiscated in one bundle, hidden in bushes on the banks of the Araz River.

Operational and investigative measures on the fact are ongoing.

Previously, on May 28 residents of Azerbaijan's Shahseven village Ibrahim Guliyev and Jeyhun Ahmadov were detained by servicemen of the Horadiz border detachment of the Border Troops under the State Border Service on the territory of the border outpost located near a village of Beylagan district of the country while attempting to violate the state border in order to smuggle drugs from Iran.
To promote regional peace and cooperation, the United States partnered with the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA), the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF), and the international community to launch a project training and equipping four 14-person demining teams, two of which will be funded by the U.S. State Department.

It is continuation of the U.S. support for humanitarian demining operations in Azerbaijan. Landmines and unexploded ordnance across the conflict zone continue to kill and maim civilians, block economic development, and impede the safe return of displaced communities.

The United States is honored to work with Azerbaijani and international partners who are united in support to the ANAMA and its courageous deminers. Speaking at the event Phillip Tissue, Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy Baku, said that I stand with admiration and respect for these brave Azerbaijani women and men, here with us today, about to begin their training to serve as Azerbaijans newest deminers.

MAG Country Director Jeanette Dijkstra said the new teams will allow us to promote gender inclusion by establishing the first female demining teams and introduce women into mixed demining teams. MAG also aims to increase the participation of NGOs in the humanitarian demining work in Azerbaijan. We will continue to work with ANAMA to strengthen and enhance Azerbaijans institutional capacities to address the important work of demining.

With $500,000 in funding announced in November 2021 and $2,000,000 in funding announced in September 2022, U.S assistance will strengthen the technical capacity of demining organizations to clear deadly landmines and unexploded ordnance. These efforts play a critical role bolstering human security and enabling displaced communities to return to their homes and rebuild their lives safely.

The United States is the worlds largest single financial supporter of conventional weapons destruction, investing over $4.6 billion in more than 120 countries since 1993 to promote international peace and security by addressing the threats that landmines and unexploded ordnance pose to civilians.
Flamin Hot Cheetos get an origin story worthy of any Marvel superhero with Hulus totally engrossing Flamin' Hot. It's the tale of how a struggling Mexican American janitor came up with the idea of adding spice to the cornmeal, forever saving after-school snacking.

Is it true? Probably not. Don't let that stop you.

You'll wish Flamin' Hot" was accurate because it's a winning tale of perseverance, family love, proud heritage and blue-collar success, told with a wink, some Cheetos dust and a ton of love by Eva Longoria, in her directorial debut.

Jesse Garcia stars as Richard Montanez, a one-time Frito-Lay floor-sweeper in southern California who convinced his bosses to make a snack that celebrates the flavors of Mexico despite a seven-layer dip of sceptics.

"New products take years to develop, cost millions to launch and they do not get created by blue-collar hoodlums, who probably cant spell hoodlum, our hero is told.

Nevertheless, Montanez persists, cracking the Latino market and repairing his relationship with his abusive father along the way. Im the guy who helped bring the world the most popular snack it's ever seen, he says in a voice-over.

It's an unlikely story, for sure. No, really. It's unlikely. The Los Angeles Times has published allegations that Montanez fabricated his role in the snacks creation and Frito-Lay says he was not involved.

But Longoria and the screenplay by Lewis Colick and Linda Yvette Chavez  based on Montanez memoir  will have you cheering when the gnarled red snacks finally zip along on an assembly line and you'll be ready to gleefully fist-bump Montanez, played understatedly but with deep soul by Garcia.

This is more than just a snack-version Rocky story, with the filmmakers exploring the insecurity of factory shift workers, the stress of integrating into white culture, how hard it is for corporations to innovate and the ability to silence the voices in your head that urge you to quit.

In one heartbreaking early scene, Montanez  so poor he waters down the milk for his kids and uses chewing gum to seal holes in their shoes  is wide-eyed at the Frito-Lay factory until he notices all the overcooked chips are tossed. People are always trying to throw away the brown ones, he says.

The filmmakers enliven their story with wonderful flights of fancy, like when we see Montanez lose it and beat up a manager with a mop after being called Paco. Nah, just kidding, he says in the voice over. What you think? It was my first week on the job."

To show the passage of time during the Reagan administration, they've also cleverly got a man on the factory floor holding a box reading 1985, the extruder pumps out 1986 and forklifts carrying boxes that read 1987 and 1988.

There are a few references to Frito-Lay scientists in the Midwest also working on a spicy flavor, but this is strictly a fist-in-the-air portrayal of Montanez alone, set to a soundtrack of Latin artists like Santana, Los Lobos and Ozomatli.

His heroic arc is more than a little unbelievable, especially when he taps his former drug-dealing pals to start handing out free bags of chips like pushers, and for the many times he jumps up on a piece of factory equipment to deliver a Dead Poets Society-like speech.

Dennis Haysbert as a gruff engineer, Annie Gonzalez as Montanez's loving wife and Tony Shalhoub as the CEO of Frito-Lay all add welcome flavor notes.

It's the montages that really shine, like the moment in a park when Montanez, eating elote and watching everyone put hot sauce on their food, gets a vision of a spicy snack. I had been searching for an answer. Or a door to open. And there it was all around me. It had been there the entire time, he says.

There's also the sequence when he and his family try every chile combo  poblano, pasilla, serrano, guajillo and habanero included  until they find the right formula, often hovering around their youngest kid as he samples a chip and gives them the green light.

The final product is credited with opening the door to cool new convenience store flavors and for U.S. corporations to finally respect the Latino market. That's a lot of stuff to put in a bag of chips, even if it's all made up. But it's so fun to watch. It burns so good.

Flamin Hot, a Searchlight Pictures release, is rated PG-13 for strong language and brief drug material. Running time: 190 minutes. Two and half stars out of four.

MPAA Definition of PG-13: Parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
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."
HAMMOND  A Crown Point man is pleading guilty to a federal charge he defrauded insurance companies.

Marlon Underwood appeared Thursday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge John E. Martin to admit he stole money from one East Coast insurance firm.

A federal grand jury indicted the 49-year-old criminal defendant two years ago on allegations he tricked insurance companies into paying him for insurance policies he sold to Northwest Indiana residents.

Federal prosecutors allege Underwood wasnt licensed to sell insurance in Indiana, but did anyway by working with a licensed insurance agent who isnt named in the terms of Underwoods plea agreement.

The government accuses Underwood of visiting and calling area residents to gather enough information to submit insurance policy applications to insurance firms, including one in Maryland.

The government alleges that while some of the applications were legitimate, Underwood also submitted applications for customers who never authorized him to do so.

The government alleges Underwood exploited insurance firms who paid insurance agents cash commissions even before receiving premium payments from policyholders.

Underwood had previously pleaded not guilty to federal fraud and identify theft charges and was scheduled to stand trial next month.

Underwood gave up his constitutional right to a jury trial under an agreement negotiated between his defense attorney, Darnail Lyles of Gary, and the U.S. Attorney, in return for leniency at sentencing.

Under the terms of his plea agreement, Underwood admits he went to the East Chicago home of a senior couple in September 2018 and talked them into applying for an insurance policy.

The government alleges Underwood used the couples information to illegally apply for an additional policy months later with a different insurance firm without the couples knowledge or consent.

The government alleges Underwood received an $842 commission through his misrepresentation.

The U.S. Attorney has agreed to recommend Underwood receive a more lenient sentence and has dropped two charges against him of mail fraud and aggravated identify theft.

The federal magistrate is recommending Chief Judge Jon DeGuilio accept Underwood guilty plea as voluntary and that he understands the rights he is giving up in exchange for the deal.

Underwoods sentencing is now set to take place Sept. 27.

Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail Matthew Roggenkamp Ruben Vega III Jordan Picotte Rakeem Pippins Victor Odgen Matthew Moses Thomas Murray Kurt Gonzalez II Anthony Green Robert Hollis Johnny Jones Kenny Flagg Jr. Howard Geib Jr. Keith Cales Daniel Dillman Robert Allison Lavonya Banks Jacob Pritt Joshua Pritt Danny Serrano Jr. Michael Valdez Mary Powers Bryan Oparka Vishad Patel Latrice McNeil Edwin Negron Oscar Martinez Ocampo Devonte Gipson Bryne Manns Edgar Martinez Martin Cruz Jr. Bianca Dominguez Anthony Combs Jr. Cachun Combs Jr. Dameka Ali William Alms Jesse Argandona Ryan Vaughn Allan Triplett David Roper Louwon Scott Lamont Murdaugh Delvin Perkins Timothy Pettis Matthew Midkiff Christopher Lanman Christopher Hedges Misti Harbison Kenneth Babiarz Shawntina Beatty Timothy Brown Marcos Gutierrez Shannon Alelunas Gabriel Washington Keorra Wilson Jesus Salas Jr. Clarence Sistrunk Richard Vinet Jr. Sadat Wade Lavell Nylon David Pitts Robert Moore Asia Munford-Winters George Lowe Jr. Michael Malkowski Raul Mendoza Carlos Larrea Jessica Hegwood Jerome Kusbel Llewain Hardin Keith Gardenhire Yancey Gray Lorenzo Crooks Marko Duric Carlos Castillo Brandon Cramer Brayan Benavides Acevedo Erica Brooks Daniel Castaneda Jr. Cordaryl Bell William Barnes
Snyder found guilty Portage Mayor James Snyder talks to reporters after his trial in 2019 at the U.S. District Court in Hammond.

CHICAGO  The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit has denied former Portage Mayor James Snyders appeal of his 2021 convictions of bribery and tax violations.

In a 42-page document filed Thursday, Judges David F. Hamilton, Candance Jackson-Akiwumi and John Z. Lee determined that none of Snyders Fourth and Sixth Amendment rights were violated during the course of the investigation into his conduct, despite arguments made by his attorneys.

Snyder, 45, was found guilty of soliciting and accepting a $13,000 bribe in 2014 in return for steering a $1.125 million contract for the purchase of garbage trucks for the city of Portage to the local Great Lakes Peterbilt company. Additionally, federal prosecutors said he obstructed the Internal Revenue Services efforts to collect unpaid taxes on a private mortgage company he ran.

He was tried and found guilty in February 2019. When Snyders attorneys moved for a judgment of acquittal or a new trial, the district court denied the motion for acquittal but granted Snyder a new trial on the bribery charge. He was convicted for a second time in March 2021.

In an appeal argued before the court in January, Snyders defense team said his rights were violated when the government seized email communications between him and his attorney as part of the discovery of evidence in the case. The government maintained the integrity of its investigation through a filtering process in which federal agents determine which emails are considered privileged communications that should not be disclosed to the prosecution.

The emails had been seized and the filter process completed before Snyder was indicted in November 2016, and only at that time did his Sixth Amendment right to counsel attach, the court wrote. The court also concluded that seizure of Snyders emails under the warrant did not violate the particularity requirement of the Fourth Amendment.

His team argued that his conviction was not supported by sufficient evidence, which the judges did not find to be legitimate.

The evidence here was sufficient to support the jurys verdict, the judges said. Evidence at trial established that Snyder owed personal and payroll taxes and that the IRS had taken specific, targeted steps to collect by levying Snyders personal and business bank accounts.

Snyders legal team took additional action in March, suing the city of Portage, Democratic Mayor Sue Lynch and city attorney Dan Whitten. In the federal lawsuit, Snyder accuses the two of instructing city employees, including case witness Randall Reeder Jr., to not meet with Snyder and his legal team as they prepared for his second trial. Attorneys for the city, Lynch and Whitten filed a motion in May to dismiss. Snyders legal team has five days to respond to the motion, according to federal court records.

While Snyder was permitted to remain out of prison during the appeal, a 21-month sentence looms.
SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, June 16. The infrastructure of Azerbaijans Shusha is developing very quickly, roads and residential buildings are being built, and such rapid development is really impressive, Editor in Chief of the Philippine Global Explorers, traveler Aimee Paragas told Trend.

"This is my first visit to Azerbaijan. It is a great honor for me to visit the city of Shusha and see how the city is being restored," Paragas, who arrived in Azerbaijan within the MTP (Most Traveled People) delegation, said.

She also spoke about the recent provocation committed by the Armenian side on the Azerbaijani-Armenian border.

"This is very tragic news. Such incidents are alarming and upsetting. I would like these incidents to stop and for the countries to come to peace and harmony," she said.

The delegation of MTP (Most Traveled People), a world travel network representing 14 countries (the US, the UK, Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, Ukraine, Russia, Turkiye, Romania, Philippines, Australia, South Africa and Saint Lucia) has made the trip to Azerbaijans Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur.

The delegation traveled along the Aghdam-Tartar-Kalbajar-Lachin-Gubadli-Zangilan-Jabrayil-Fuzuli-Khojavend-Shusha highway for four days.

This trip was of exceptional importance for the promotion of the territories liberated from occupation within the framework of dark tourism".

Over the past two years, Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur have been visited seven times by representatives of international travel networks - ETIC, MTP, TCC, Nomadmania, the Turkish Travelers Club, and the UK Piki Reels club. One trip was organized in 2021, four - in 2022 and two - in 2023. This trip is already the eighth in a row.

The visit of international travelers to Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur demonstrates a high interest in the large-scale construction and restoration work carried out by Azerbaijan in a short time on the lands liberated in just 44 days of the second Karabakh war.
MERRILLVILLE  Officials who inspected the Hickory Ridge Lake Apartments discovered numerous flaws Tuesday that have rendered the building uninhabitable for the near future, according to a news release Thursday from the Town of Merrillville.

In addition to structural concerns, Merrillville Fire Marshal Robert Pillman cited mold in occupied and unoccupied units, electrical hazards, inaccessible fire extinguishers, missing or inoperable smoke detectors, inoperable fire alarms and a large accumulation of trash.

Two of the buildings in the 5600 block of Hayes Street were evacuated June 7, leaving 12 families displaced.

Signs posted Tuesday by the health department deem the buildings uninhabitable and must be evacuated within 10 days of the posting. The signs have since been taken down. The Town of Merrillville previously posted signs prohibiting occupancy and warning of possible fines if inhabitants choose to stay in the area.

George ODonnell, environmental sanitarian with the Lake County Health Department, said he was at Tuesdays inspection. He said the health department discovered a high volume of mold and trash in the apartments, requiring him to post the signs on the door. The health department subsequently received an influx of calls asking if the agency was evicting the tenants. The department has no plans to evict any of the tenants, nor do they have the power to do so.

The health departments Number 1 goal is to make sure it gets cleaned up, ODonnell said. All were trying to do is make sure mold, garbage and high grass is taken care of.

The property is set to be purchased by another company that has offered to provide crews to clean the units as an act of good faith. The signs have been removed while the company cleans.

The [potential] new owner called us Wednesday and said, We want to get in there and work, he said.

In an assessment by the fire marshal in March, Pillman found many of the same safety issues that are in the most recent report. However, the inspection focused on common areas in the apartment complex.

A lack of cooperation from on-site property management made it unfeasible to inspect vacant units at the complex in March, according to the release. Pillman will re-inspect the site in 30 days to determine whether the building meets compliance with fire codes.

It is unclear how the Hickory Ridge Lake Apartments became derelict. Former property owners at Friedman Communities have not responded to multiple requests for comment.

Minnie Sabati, who has lived at Hickory Ridge for 4 years, said she had no issues with the apartments until she started smelling mold in the complex about two years ago. Its become a huge issue during the past year, so she said she contacted the health department and the Town of Merrillville for help.

The health department took her name and phone number but did not follow up on her call, she said, and the town told her there wasnt much they could do because the company is privately owned. She has tried to reach out to the management company but has not had much success.

After last weeks incident, she is packing her things and moving out: Its very frustrating and time consuming to be on the phone all the time and just be given the runaround.

Within the past six months, trash pickup hasnt been consistent, Sabati said. Weeks would go by without trash being picked up.

Were paying for services were not receiving, she said.

Antiqua Austin, chief of staff for Ross Township Trustee Eric Blackmon, said his office will offer assistance to any of the families who were displaced by the evacuation. The office has collaborated with Bayshore Properties to offer living arrangements and discounted rates for the residents. More information is available on the Town of Merrillvilles Facebook page. Anyone who is interested in donating to help affected residents can visit rosstownshipin.org.

This is what weve pulled together in collaboration with Bayshore, Austin said. Anything we can do, were on it.

GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week
CEDAR LAKE  The 82-foot blue-and-white dredge barge wasnt hard to spot.

A trail of bobbing buoys led the way Thursday as Bob Gross navigated his boat across Cedar Lake. He watched as the barges red cutter head spun steadily, digging up the lakes sediment.

Gross has waited nearly three decades for this view.

Its kind of like a dream, he said. Is this real? Is it really happening?

The barge, operated by Dredge America, will likely call Cedar Lake home for the next three summers. Cedar Lakes Ecosystem Restoration Project has finally set sail.

Cedar Lakes Pinecrest Marina Boat Dealership has been in Grosss family since 1948.

When I was a kid we used to (water) ski, and (the algae) was this thick, Gross said, holding his thumb and index finger about 5 inches apart. Me and my neighbor, we would go out and ski and wed spray each other, and whoever came back the greenest lost.

In 1996 Gross helped found the Cedar Lake Enhancement Association. The nonprofit has been conducting shoreline stabilization projects around the lake for years; theyve also raised about $350,00 for the dredge project.

The lakes water quality has improved with stricter stormwater regulations, but Gross said the lake has about a foot of visibility on a good day.

Once the restoration project is complete, the lakes bottle-green color will change to blue, with 3 to 4 feet of visibility.

The Cedar Lake Restoration Project will be a lengthy undertaking.

The Dredge America crew will spend the entire summer focused on the northeast quadrant of the 790-acre lake. Crews will be on the lake 12 hours a day, seven-days a week until early winter. Dredging will continue next summer, with completion scheduled by December 2025. The town hopes to dredge about 500,000 cubic yards.

The town broke ground on the first phase of the project last spring, for construction of the dewatering facility. The structure, off Parrish Avenue between 151st and 155th streets, occupies about 45 acres of a 114-acre parcel. The dredged material will be pumped from the lake into the facility using a slurry pipeline. Once at the facility, the sediment and the water will be separated and the water will run back into the lake.

The sediment will be tested regularly. Once the sediment is dry enough, Town Manager Chris Salatas said, it will likely be spread and used on site. Once the dredging is complete, the town plans on removing the dewatering facility and using the land for a sportsplex.

To restore native fish and wildlife populations, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources will be completing a fish kill after the lake is dredged. The water is filled with carp and white perch, invasive species eat the eggs of the native game fish before they hatch.

The DNR will restock the water with native species, such as crappy, perch and bass. However, before the fishery is restored, the lake will undergo an alum treatment. According to the Wisconsin DNR, alum is a nontoxic material used to reduce the amount of phosphorous in water. The treatment will essentially make any phosphorous that remains in the lake insoluble; it will also collect suspended particles and bring them to the bottom of the lake, making the water clearer.

Salatas said Cedar Lake does not have much plant growth because all the sediment blocks sun from reaching the lake bottom. So when the dredging is complete, water quality should steadily improve, causing the lakes natural plant life to return and begin to filter the water.

Cedar Lakes past and present are forever entwined with the glacial body of water that is its namesake.

The town became a popular resort community in the late 1800s when the Monon Railway was created. Chicago residents built summer cottages around the lake and a number of hotels popped-up. Today, Cedar Lake is known for its boating, fishing and lakefront restaurants.

I grew up right there, Police Chief William Fisher said, pointing toward the shoreline. When we were kids, we spent our whole summer on the lake.

Thats why restoring the lakes health is so important. Salatas said the goal is to get the lake back to its original state.

Even though Gross has been working to get Cedar Lake dredged for more than two decades, he said its actually the towns second-most important project.

Number 1 was the sewers, he said.

Cedar Lake didnt have a sewer utility until the 1970s. Before that, septic tanks and leach fields would contaminate the lake. On top of that, when the area surrounding the lake was made up of farm fields instead of housing, agricultural fertilizer would run off into Sleepy Hollow Ditch, eventually reaching Cedar Lake.

The dredging project is estimated to cost $9.2 million. The town has received money through grants, fundraising, a $3.6 million TIF bond and $4 million from the sewer utility. The town hopes to raise an additional $1 million so it can fill the dewatering facility with an additional 100,000 cubic yards of material.

The town is called Cedar Lake. If this lake isnt in good condition and safe for people to enjoy, what do you have? Crown Point Community Foundation President Mary Nielsen said as Grosss boat cut through the water.

PHOTOS: Dredging of Cedar Lake begins Dredging Cedar Lake Dredging Cedar Lake Dredging Cedar Lake Dredging Cedar Lake Dredging Cedar Lake Dredging Cedar Lake Dredging Cedar Lake Dredging Cedar Lake
VALPARAISO  Gender equality may not be achieved for 286 years, according to a 2022 Sustainable Development Goals report.

Just because your body is shaped a certain way doesnt mean your mind is conformed to what you look like, Dot Nuechterlein said. We have a world that has both male and female. We cant leave one behind.

Nuechterlein, 85, has advocated for gender equality through the Valparaiso Chapter of Together Women Rise. She says its in her DNA to be of service and accomplish things.

Too often in the past women have been left behind in culture, Nuechterlein said at FLUID Coffee Roasters in Valparaiso Tuesday morning. Were helping overcome some stereotypes and difficulties.

Rise is celebrating 20 years of assisting women and girls around the world to become independent across 350 chapters in the U.S.

Our 20-year history is a testament to the collective power of people coming together to end inequality and oppression of women all over the world, said Beverly Francis-Gibson, CEO of Rise. Millions of women have benefited from the work of Together Women Rise over the past two decades, but theres still work to be done.

Rise, formerly known as Dining for Women, was co-founded by Marsha Wallace and Barb Collins in Greenville, South Carolina, in 2003. Since its inception, Rise has invested more than $11 million in over 60 low-income countries around the world through grants and strategic partnerships, Wendy Frattolin said.

When we come together, we can make change happen, said Frattolin, Rise communications and membership director. It is all about supporting women and girls, and making sure they can reach their full potential. The name reflects that.

The organizations mission is to award grants and increase awarness about issues girls and women experience internationally, Frattolin said. Grants are awarded to organizations that have a fiscal sponsor or are a 501c3 based in the U.S. (For more information visit togetherwomenrise.org.)

For the month of June, Rise is partnering with Educate2Envision International for the project, Increasing Agency and Education Access of Rural Honduran Girls. Rise is granting Educate2Envision $50,000, to address issues preventing girls full participation in their rural communities including lack of female role models, and an ill-equipped education system, according to its website.

Members from the Valparaiso chapter gathered the first week of June at the Lutheran Diaconal Association to discuss the relevancy of the current project. This chapter was co-founded by Anna Schoon in 2013. Schoon learned about Rise after reading Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, a book describing how womens rights are being violated around the world.

I was so moved. I had no idea what women and girls were experiencing in other countries, Schoon said. It was a way for me to do something concrete with the issues I was learning about.

Though Rise is targeted toward women, the diverse organization incorporates men into its grant projects. In April, Rise partnered with The MoonCatcher Project to provide girls in Kenya, Malawi and Uganda with washable menstrual pads. Boys were included in educational workshops to learn how to be more caring toward their sisters, moms and future girlfriends, Nuechterlein said.

"This organization gives people an easy way to make a difference by coming together with others who share the same passion," Frattolin said. "It's a feel good way to help create change in the world and make friends."

PHOTOS: LaPorte hosts Class 4A Regional finals games
Its unsigned opinion, in which six justices concurred, simply quoted from two other decisions (Any system of prior restraints of expression comes to this court bearing a heavy presumption against its constitutional validity  the government thus carries a heavy burden of showing justification for the imposition of such a restraint) before reaching this understated conclusion:

The District Court for the Southern District of New York, in The New York Times case, and the District Court for the District of Columbia and the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, in The Washington Post case, held that the government had not met that burden. We agree.

Joyful editors in New York ordered the immediate resumption of publication, which had been on pause since June 15, under court order. The Times had managed to print three installments of the series, which it called the Vietnam Archive, before the government effectively shut it down, leaving much of the expose unpublished.

Image Neil Sheehan at his desk in the newsroom. Credit... Barton Silverman/The New York Times

What distinguished the Pentagon Papers was that The Times was not only providing interpretive articles, but also presenting the documents themselves, which had been leaked by Daniel Ellsberg, a military analyst who had worked on the history. These included cablegrams, memorandums, drafts of policy papers, instructions, transcripts and the like.

The documents are the written words of the men who set the armies in motion and launched the warplanes, Neil Sheehan, the chief reporter of the series, said. The written words are immutable, engraved now in the history of the nation for all to examine.

But publishing classified documents about the prosecution of a war, even though they were at least three years old at the time, was bound to rouse the government.

The Joint Chiefs are likely to believe that, for the integrity of the security of their procedures, they must act, Harding F. Bancroft, the executive vice president of The Times, cautioned Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, the publisher, in a memo on June 10.
But when Mr. Sheehan arrived in Cambridge intending to collect the documents, he recalled, Mr. Ellsberg had changed his mind. He told Mr. Sheehan he could read them but make no copies  because, as Mr. Sheehan described it, once he turned loose of it, The Times would assume ownership of it, and theyd do what they wanted with it.

Hed lose control.

In his 2002 memoir, Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers, Mr. Ellsberg wrote that he was skeptical that The Times would publish the documents in full, as he had wanted. He feared, too, he added, that if he handed over the papers before The Times had committed to publishing, someone there would inform the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or the bureau would somehow get wind of it and come after my other copies.

To Mr. Sheehan, however, it seemed that Mr. Ellsbergs reservations were about going to jail.

Because when The Times got it, he said, The Times would go ahead with it. And when it came out, he might get caught. And he didnt have a politician yet to protect him.

He was, Mr. Sheehan said, totally conflicted.

Mr. Ellsberg was also taking serious risks, Mr. Sheehan said. He had made multiple copies and had paid carelessly with personal checks. He had approached members of Congress about holding hearings. Theres no way The Times can protect this guy, Mr. Sheehan remembered thinking. His ostensibly secret source had left tracks on the ceiling, on the walls, everywhere, he said.

Sooner or later, I was afraid he was going to run into a politician whod go right to the Justice Department, Mr. Sheehan said. That person would get on the phone to the attorney general and say, Hey, The New York Times has got some kind of big secret study, they got it from Dan Ellsberg. 
I have friends who farm conventionally, he said. No one wants to harm Mother Earth.

But he found education was not enough. The primary objections, he said, were that organic farming cost more and required far more tractor use, which caused a different set of environmental problems.

While the challenge failed, he said, it was the genesis of a new idea.

He wondered whether an electric tractor could overcome the objections. He began talking to people in the tech industry and teamed up with three like-minded veterans of the electric car and artificial intelligence industries to found Monarch in 2019.

Mr. Mondavis role in the development was to offer the farmers point of view, assessing each design idea for its practical appeal. With headquarters in Livermore, Calif., and a manufacturing arrangement with Foxconn in Lordstown, Ohio, the first tractor was delivered in late 2022 to Constellation Brands, the corporation that now owns Robert Mondavi. This year, Monarch hopes to build 1,000 tractors and to scale up to 25,000 by 2026.

With the design phase complete, Mr. Mondavi now acts as a sort of roving ambassador for Monarch, trumpeting its virtues to all who will listen, while continuing with his brother at RAEN, and spending time in Italy at Sori della Sorba, a project with his wife, Giovanna Bagnasco, whose family produces Brandini Barolo.

This is the hardest work Ive ever done  seven days a week, day and night, he said.

He described the frequent air travel as both one of my greatest pleasures and greatest guilts.
In Milan, theres one unofficial but very important entertaining rule: Never throw a party on a Saturday night. Monday through Friday, the city is brimming with creative people  the quiet engines running the design and fashion industries  but, when the weekend rolls around, they tend to leave for the nearby Swiss Alps or the Mediterranean coast. Weekdays are when the Milanese gather and the aperitivo, a postwork, pre-dinner cocktail hour, defines the citys social life. The Milanese are very busy, says the fashion designer Damir Doma, 42, a native of Croatia who was raised in Germany and has been living in the northern Italian city since 2016. Aperitivo brings everyone together for a short moment to have a drink and a chat.

But for Doma, an aperitivo can also be a celebration. That was the case on a brisk Thursday evening earlier this year, when he invited friends and collaborators to his apartment in the vibrant Porta Nuova neighborhood to toast the success of his two-year-old label, Diomene. Many of the 30 or so guests are also members of what he calls his Aperto group  a network who meet regularly for early evening events he organizes in local bars with his friend Stephanie Barth, a creative director.
Francis X. Suarez, the two-term mayor of Miami who formally announced his entry into the 2024 presidential race on Thursday, is presenting himself as a fresh face for the Republican Party: a 45-year-old in a field led by a septuagenarian, and a Cuban American in a party whose elected officials are overwhelmingly white.

In a speech at the Reagan Library in California on Thursday evening, brimming with callbacks to decades-old Republican catchphrases like George H.W. Bushs thousand points of light, Mr. Suarez declared his candidacy with a reference to one more  and to his own catchphrase from a Twitter post he made in 2021 in response to a venture capitalist who suggested moving Silicon Valley to Miami.

I believe America is still a shining city on a hill whose eyes of the world are upon us and whose promise needs to be restored, he said, a day after filing paperwork for his run. And I believe the city needs more than a shouter or a fighter. I believe it needs a servant. It needs a mayor. My name is Francis Suarez, and I am here to help.

Here are five things to know about Mr. Suarez.

His current job is largely ceremonial.

Mr. Suarez was elected as mayor in 2017 with 86 percent of the vote and re-elected in 2021 with 79 percent of the vote  striking margins made possible by the fact that he faced only token opposition. (Miamis mayoral elections are officially nonpartisan.)
A Russian ransomware group gained access to data from federal agencies, including the Energy Department, in an attack that exploited file transfer software to steal and sell back users data, U.S. officials said on Thursday.

Jen Easterly, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, described the breach as largely opportunistic and neither focused on specific high-valuable information nor as damaging as previous cyberattacks on U.S. government agencies.

Although we are very concerned about this campaign, this is not a campaign like SolarWinds that poses a systemic risk, Ms. Easterly told reporters on Thursday, referring to the massive breach that compromised several U.S. intelligence agencies in 2020.

The Energy Department said on Thursday that records from two entities within the department had been compromised and that it had notified Congress and C.I.S.A. of the breach.
Its not unusual for officials in Texas to issue heat advisories around this time of year, said Monte Oaks, a meteorologist at the Weather Services San Antonio office. They typically do so when high temperatures combine with other factors, including high humidity and westerly winds that blow hot air from high-altitude deserts, he added.

In this case, Mr. Oaks said, the humidity is high because Texas had a wetter and stormier spring than usual. That has left parts of the state looking lusher than they normally do in June, he said. But it also means that the hot ground is cooking a lot of the moisture and releasing it into the air.

Electricity demand is expected to rise because of the hot weather, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which manages about 90 percent of the states electricity load, said in a statement on Wednesday. But there is enough supply to meet the demand, the company added, and it does not expect an energy emergency.

Global warming is making dangerously hot weather more common, and more extreme, on every continent. In Texas and neighboring Mexico, it is making excessive heat forecast over the next few days at least five times more likely, according to an analysis on Wednesday by Climate Central, a nonprofit research collaboration of scientists and journalists.

In the Perryton area on Thursday, the Texas Department of Public Safety was assisting with traffic control and other needs, Cindy Barkley, a spokeswoman for the department, said by phone. The Ochiltree County Sheriffs Office said it could not provide information about the extent of the damage, or whether anyone had been injured.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. In accordance with the instructions of Head of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan, Deputy Head of the State Border Service, Lieutenant General Javid Abdullayev visited serviceman Elshan Rustamov, who was serving at the Lachin border checkpoint and was wounded as a result of a provocation committed by Armenia, the State Border Service of Azerbaijan told Trend.

The treatment of the serviceman currently continues at the Clinical Medical Center.

According to doctors, his condition is stable at the moment, there is no threat to his life.

Elshan Rustamov expressed gratitude to the leadership of the State Border Service and the medical staff of the Clinical Medical Center for their high attention and care and noted that after the end of the treatment and recovery period, he will continue to serve to protect Azerbaijani borders.
The American Medical Association voted to adopt a new policy on Tuesday encouraging doctors not to rely only on body mass index, a long-used but potentially misleading metric, when assessing weight and health. The policy officially recognizes the historical harm of B.M.I. and states that the metric has been used for racist exclusion.

Its a pretty big shift, said Dr. Cynthia Romero, director of the M. Foscue Brock Institute for Community and Global Health at Eastern Virginia Medical School, who was involved with the development of the new policy. Now we have to be truly more mindful and more holistic when it comes to patient care.

The policy could be a first step in moving away from a model of medicine that urges people above a certain B.M.I. to lose weight, without accounting for the toll those weight loss measures may take, said Dr. Scott Hagan, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Washington who has studied obesity and was not involved with the decision. Its a really big deal, he said. While the A.M.A. is influential in the medical community, the new recommendation is just a suggestion to doctors, not a strict rule they must comply with.

The association, one of the largest medical groups in the country, will now recommend that doctors not use B.M.I. alone to assess whether a patient is at a healthy weight. The A.M.A. suggested that physicians also consider factors like someones visceral fat (the fat stored in the abdominal cavity and around the organs), body adiposity index (a calculation that uses hip circumference and height), the percentage of fat, bone and muscle in ones body and genetic and metabolic factors, like abnormal blood sugars or thyroid tests.
The United Nations chief nuclear energy watchdog, Rafael Mariano Grossi, ventured into the war zone on Thursday to visit the endangered Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, held since last year by Russian forces.

Mr. Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, cited new safety fears because the destruction last week of the Kakhovka dam had drained the reservoir that supplies water to keep the plants nuclear fuel from melting down. After crossing the front line to reach the plant, he explained the concern in posts on Twitter, but did not say what he had found.

Russia, which invaded Ukraine almost 16 months ago, has recently stepped up its missile and drone attacks on targets far from the front line, often civilian ones, focusing for weeks on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, but this week it has turned its sights on other cities. Ukraines air defenses have become very robust in and around Kyiv, able to shoot down the great majority of attacking munitions, but they are spread thin elsewhere.

On Thursday, a missile struck Kryvyi Rih, a city in central Ukraine, damaging an industrial area and injuring one man, but no deaths were reported. On Tuesday, a strike in the same city hit an apartment block and a warehouse, killing at least 12 people and wounding dozens of others. A day earlier, a missile destroyed apartments and a warehouse in Odesa, on Ukraines southern coast, killing three people and displacing hundreds, officials said.
When a pipe burst in the warehouse that contained the artworks of the painter Nachume Miller, flooding the storage facility with pools of water and destroying hundreds of drawings and paintings, it was a wake-up call for Millers son, Danny Miller. He jolted into action.

Miller, who died in 1998 of a brain tumor at the age of 49, was a prolific painter  for many years creating a painting a day  with an output rivaling that of artists whose careers were far longer. About 600 works were destroyed in the flood in January 2018  a fraction of his left-behind artistry.

Danny, the middle child of three sons, recovered as many soggy boxes as he could and stuck them in the trunk of his car. It wasnt until more than two years later he would return to them.

When the pandemic hit it was like, OK, I actually have time, Danny, 41, who runs a creative design agency, said in a recent interview. Theres breathing room in my days, he said. I thought, this is a sign. It all happened very quickly.
Dear listeners,

One day when I was 14, I stayed home sick from school and watched a weird little movie called Rushmore on Comedy Central. When it was over, I thought to myself, Oh, so thats what a director does.

I had never before encountered a movie that so distinctly seemed to come from a single persons perspective. The filmmaker Wes Anderson had created his own alternate reality, with its own color scheme, its own vernacular, and  perhaps most crucially  its own killer music. I wanted to live inside of that world. I bought the soundtrack as soon as I could.

For aspiring aesthetes, Andersons movies can be gateway drugs. Eager to catch all of his cinematic references and influences, his films led me to the work of directors like Francois Truffaut, Yasujiro Ozu and Satyajit Ray. But the songs in his films are vehicles of discovery, too. Id never heard the Creations Making Time, that garage-rock classic with guitars that rev like a souped-up engine, or the Whos gloriously bombastic rock opera A Quick One, While Hes Away until I saw Rushmore. I learned about Nico from The Royal Tenenbaums and Seu Jorge from The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou. Andersons carefully curated soundtracks felt, to me, like eclectic, handmade mixtapes.

As I got deeper into movies, I realized that even the most personal-seeming film is the result of collaboration with countless others: cinematographers, production designers, wardrobe stylists, and, of course, music supervisors. The needle drops in most of Andersons films are the result of his longtime working relationship with the music supervisor Randall Poster. In more recent movies, like the Oscar-winning The Grand Budapest Hotel and the underrated The French Dispatch, hes also worked with repeatedly with the composer Alexandre Desplat, who has composed intricate and appropriately quirky scores that help bring Andersons worlds to life.
Holding a top hat, Reese paced among the audience members and asked some of them to pick a card from inside it. A card might carry one of Braxtons language music organizational prompts (like intervallic formings), paired with a genre of joke from Composition No. 279 (like Republican/Democrat jokes.)

While Wooley and Sankaram worked with strident, leaping intervals, Reese delivered a joke that tended toward the school of the one-liner king Henny Youngman (to whom Braxton dedicated Composition 282). I roughly transcribed one of the jokes this way: Why are Democrats always in favor of gun control? Because they keep shooting themselves in the foot.

On the page, this may not seem like much. But set against a duet of wildly leaping figures, it all produced a dazzling novelty that also reinvigorated a vintage form; the borscht belt never sounded so endearingly strange.

Reese, who collaborated with Sankaram on her imaginative opera Miranda, also improvised some scenic work at the front of the stage with her. Some of their material was less obviously connected to the Braxton compositions as previously recorded but felt in the right spirit  as did Wooleys improvisations away from his horn. In the background of one scene between Reese and Sankaram, the trumpeter sat against the brick wall at the stages rear. While lit with the penumbra of a spotlight aimed elsewhere, he coolly mimed the smoking of a cigarette with a kazoo.

And since Braxton has written that all compositions in my music system can be executed at the same time/moment, the troupe reveled in that possibility. At one point, Wooley relished the languid, bop-tinged opening theme of Composition No. 23D, originally recorded on the album New York, Fall 1974.
Carol Higgins Clark, who as a young woman retyped manuscripts by her mother, the famed mystery writer Mary Higgins Clark, before going on to become a best-selling suspense novelist herself, died on Monday in Los Angeles. She was 66.

Her family said in a statement that the cause was appendix cancer.

Ms. Higgins Clark wrote more than a dozen novels on her own, beginning with Decked in 1992, and several others with Christmas themes in collaboration with her mother, who died in 2020.

She started out aspiring to be an actress, and she eventually accumulated a handful of credits in movies, several of them based on her mothers books. But in 1975, while she was home for the summer from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, another career possibility began to take shape when she bailed her mother, who was just beginning her suspense-writing career, out of a jam.

She had her first suspense novel coming out, and had to get her second one in to her agent, Carol Higgins Clark told NPR in 2008. It was before computers, and she didnt know how she was going to get it retyped in time, so I did it. And thats really what got me into it, because I had talked to her about the characters and the plot. And I did that for a number of her books, which was great for me to learn about how to write.
Robert Plunket was living in a trailer park in Englewood, Fla., with his pug, Meatball, when an email interrupted his life of quiet retirement.

An editor in New York wanted to publish his debut novel. The message struck Plunket as odd: The novel, first published in 1983, had long been out of print, and Plunket, after a brief moment in the spotlight, had fallen off the literary map.

I did feel like an obscure has-been, Plunket said, because thats what I was, technically.

Now, Plunket is relishing his new status as a former has-been. This month, the independent publisher New Directions reissued his novel, My Search for Warren Harding, a biting comedy about a scholar who goes to extreme, morally questionable lengths to access letters Warren Harding sent to his mistress. The new edition includes a rapturous introduction from the novelist Danzy Senna, who writes that the novel anticipated and influenced much of what the culture would begin to find funny.

Its rare for a long-forgotten writer into his eighth decade to get rediscovered. Whats even more unusual about Plunket, and his unlikely return, is how stealthily influential his fiction has been over the decades. His admirers include writers like the novelist Ann Beattie and the journalist Frank Rich, comedians like Amy Sedaris and Larry David. Madonna once sent him a note telling him his writing was brilliant, but depressing  it was one of the documents, along with his vaccine card, that Plunket grabbed when he fled his trailer during Hurricane Ian last year, he said.
George Floyd died more than three years ago at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis, igniting nationwide protests against discriminatory policing and spurring a federal investigation into the citys police force. Today, the Justice Department released its findings in a scathing 89-page report that found systemic abuses by the police in Minneapolis.

The report laid out repeated instances of unlawful discrimination by police officers against Black and Native American people. It described a police force impervious to accountability whose officers beat, shot and detained people without justification and patrolled without the trust of residents.

The patterns and practices we observed made what happened to George Floyd possible, Attorney General Merrick Garland said.

Among the several examples of discrimination contained in the report was an episode in which an officer said his goal was to wipe the Black Lives Matter movement off the face of the earth.
In a rare encounter with an American business figure, Xi Jinping, Chinas leader, met Friday with Bill Gates as officials from Washington were set to arrive in Beijing in an effort to restart bilateral discussions.

Mr. Xi told Mr. Gates that he was the first American friend I met in Beijing this year, according to Peoples Daily, the Communist Party newspaper. Mr. Xi also said he wanted to build stronger ties with Mr. Gatess philanthropic organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to help with aid to developing countries.

The Gates Foundation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mr. Gatess trip to China, his first since 2019, overlaps with a visit by Antony J. Blinken, his first since he became secretary of state. It was unclear if Mr. Blinken, who arrives Sunday, would meet with Mr. Xi.

Mr. Blinken had intended to go to China in February, a visit canceled after a Chinese spy balloons incursion into U.S. airspace set off a diplomatic crisis in Washington.
United Parcel Service workers have authorized their union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, to call a strike as soon as Aug. 1, after the current contract expires, the Teamsters announced Friday.

The Teamsters represent more than 325,000 UPS employees in the United States, where the company has nearly 450,000 employees overall. The union said 97 percent had voted in favor of strike authorization.

Many unions hold such votes to create leverage at the bargaining table, but a much smaller percentage end up following through. The results do not mean a strike is imminent and do not impact our current business operations in any way, UPS said in a statement, adding that it was confident that we will reach an agreement.

A UPS strike could have significant economic fallout. The company handles about one-quarter of the tens of millions of parcels shipped each day in the United States, according to the Pitney Bowes Parcel Shipping Index. And while UPSs competition has grown in recent years, rivals would be hard-pressed to replace that lost capacity quickly, leaving some customers in the lurch and others facing higher costs.
On June 16, 2023, representatives of the U.S. Embassy, Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, ADA University, and North Carolina State University inaugurated a two-day workshop and conference for more than 500 Azerbaijani secondary school English teachers. The conference, titled Strategies and Innovation in English-Language Teaching is a culmination of the third iteration of the 14-week, online Masters-level English Language Training Certificate Program for Azerbaijani teachers of English administered by North Carolina State University and funded by the U.S. Department of State. The event brought together teachers from several regions of Azerbaijan and was an opportunity for participants to learn about pedagogical best practices while fostering techniques to build a professional network of peer educators. They also discussed topics such as communicative instructional methods, using technology in the classroom, and curriculum development.

Approximately 200 Azerbaijani teachers of English completed the initial years of the program from 2020 to 2022, and another 100 finished this years program. Several other English teachers from secondary schools across Azerbaijan, many of them beneficiaries of other U.S. Embassy English language programming, also participated in the event. U.S. Embassy expressed their delight for the opportunity to support English language programming in Azerbaijan, contributing to the U.S.-Azerbaijan bilateral relationship and people to people ties, and underlined the motivation towards these professional development opportunities amongst the nations teaching corps.

In his opening remarks, Cultural Affairs Officer Salman Haji applauded the graduates of the program and commended the efforts of participants to enhance the English language instruction in Azerbaijani schools: I am delighted that so many of the 100 teacher-students who completed the North Carolina State course are here today. Knowledge of the English language is an essential skill, and your role is vital for advancing the future generation of Azerbaijan onto the global stage. Completing a Masters-level course from an American university is also a tremendous achievement and you should be proud of your great work.

Director of the Institute of Education Rufat Azizov added: We have approximately 10,000 English language teachers in Azerbaijan's general education system. Presently, the Institute of Education is engaged in the updating of English language textbooks, incorporating invaluable international expertise. Ensuring that our teachers possess the necessary skills to effectively deliver the new content is also of absolute necessity. That is why, the work accomplished over the past three years in terms of these teacher trainings you have organized, bears significant importance. We deeply value the collaborative efforts aimed at enhancing the professional competencies of our English language teachers.

Vice Rector of Academic Affairs of ADA University Vafa Kazdal also noted: As an institution that always supports educational development in the country, we are delighted to host the Second English Language Training conference at ADA University. The enhanced language knowledge, methodology and research skills teachers have acquired through this training will have a tremendous impact on thousands of students in their classrooms.

Michael Bustle, the associate vice provost of global education and engagement at NC State applauded the efforts of all the participants: Thank you to all the Azerbaijani teachers for your passion, your creativity, and your tireless energy in teaching the next generation in Azerbaijan. When young people learn to speak English and speak it well, it opens up the world to them. We at NC State are grateful for the opportunity to help contribute to the hard work you all put in to making your society and our world a better place.

The U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan and North Carolina State University, with the support of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, intends to continue this successful project for its fourth iteration from 2023 to 2024. This partnership has resulted in significant advancements to the teaching of the English language across Azerbaijan and supporting Azerbaijans goal of increasing English-language fluency throughout the education sector. Several graduates of this and other English-language programs of the U.S. Embassy have successfully participated in international conferences, exchange programs, and achieved other noteworthy milestones.
Next week in Paris, a critical diplomatic meeting begins on how to enable low-income, climate-vulnerable countries to grow their economies while reducing their dependence on fossil fuels.

It reminds me of my recent conversation with Wanjira Mathai, managing director for Africa and global partnerships at the World Resources Institute, and Rebekah Shirley, the Africa deputy director.

Can Africa leapfrog? I asked them.

What they said edified my thinking on a difficult, unresolved subject that animates much of the global discussion on whether countries of the global south can prosper without using and burning the same polluting resources that countries of the industrialized world have for 150 years: namely, coal, oil and gas.

We spoke for two hours over lunch on the terrace of a restaurant in Nairobi as marabou storks squawked and flew across the sky. Our conversation made me think in fresh ways, which is what I hope Climate Forward occasionally does for you. So I want to share with you my takeaways from that conversation.
It was a sad day in Brooklyn when Ample Hills Creamery closed its doors. Just before last Christmas, the beloved ice cream parlor in Prospect Heights  and all 12 of its remaining scoop shops across the country  shut down after a decade-long roller-coaster ride of brand-building, bankruptcies and heartbreak.

As summer has approached, a constant stream of neighbors has peered hopefully into the darkened flagship on Vanderbilt Avenue, where the holiday lights are still up and the case is still labeled with last years Hanukkah flavor: cream-cheese ice cream swirled with chunks of locally baked raspberry rugelach.

We made every mistake it is possible to make, said Brian Smith, who founded Ample Hills with his wife, Jackie Cuscuna, in 2011. The couple were forced by bankruptcy to sell the business in 2020.

To their own great surprise, they will reopen that original store on Wednesday, followed over the summer by three others in New York City. Last month, the couple bought the shops back for $150,000 from the company they had sold to for $1 million: Schmitt Industries, an Oregon machine parts company that struggled to make the enterprise work. Schmitt put the company in receivership and sold off its assets, including a factory in Red Hook that cost nearly $7 million to build.
The largest study ever done to evaluate the safety of hormone replacement for men has reassuring news for a limited group of patients whose bodies dont produce enough testosterone, finding that the hormone does not increase heart attacks, strokes and cardiac deaths.

The new results, which come from a large clinical trial of the kind considered the gold standard in medicine, do not put all concerns to rest. But they appear to resolve decades of contradictory findings about the heart safety of testosterone treatment for men who have a medical condition called androgen deficiency, or hypogonadism.

The authors emphasized that the results did not apply to the many men who are middle-aged and older who take testosterone offered at anti-aging centers in hopes of building muscle or boosting their energy and sex drive, often without being properly evaluated. Instead, it pertains only to the small percentage of the countrys male population, believed to be in the low single digits, with a true medical diagnosis of hypogonadism, or with consistently low testosterone levels and symptoms that may include osteoporosis and anemia as well as low libido.

We have never had a study of more than 5,000 men followed up to four years, with their heart attacks and strokes carefully tracked, said Dr. Bradley Anawalt, an endocrinologist and professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine who was not involved in the trial.
From the Ethicist:

Compromise starts with communication. When you say you retired in the hope that your spouse would do likewise, you dont say that you discussed the matter with him at the time. If he assured you that he would join you in retirement, you would have written about a broken promise. Perhaps you anticipated prevailing in the argument youre now making. In a loving relationship of equals, though, it would have been better to talk things through in advance  even if it simply meant that you retired knowing that he didnt plan to follow.

You present two reasons that he should quit his job. One is that his workplace is toxic: His boss is tyrannical and doesnt value his contributions. What you report does sound awful. Yet you also say your spouse thrives at his job. Maybe he lacks the self-respect to insist on proper treatment. Or maybe he doesnt see the situation the way you do.

A second reason you present is that your spouse owes it to you, and perhaps to himself, to free up time so that you can spend your remaining years doing things together. Its certainly understandable that you would want him to make your relationship a priority at this point. But his reluctance to give up his role in his company is understandable, too. Many people derive so much of their sense of worth from work that they are scared by the prospect of a life without it. Depression is more common among retirees than among people of the same age who still work, and retirees are depressed at significantly higher rates than the overall population.

Give some thought, too, to how retirement will affect your relationship. You have spent half a century living together but working separately. That means you arent used to having quite so much time with each other. (Even though your husband has been working remotely, he is presumably spending hours in something like a home office, interacting with colleagues.) However devoted you are to each other, your spouse may not be drawn to a prospect of long, unbroken days together.

Yes, any successful relationship will involve compromise. What we properly call compromise, though, isnt a matter of one spouse simply doing what the other spouse wishes. Compromise might be planning a vacation together where he agrees to leave those calls from the boss unanswered. Retirement is likely to seem more attractive to your husband if you can show him that he would enjoy the activities youre imagining doing together.
The Assistant

Stream it on Netflix.

Theres a twist in the Malaysian director Adrian Tehs The Assistant thats so outlandish you cant help but love the sheer force of its swing. The timid Zafik (Iedil Dzuhrie Alaudin) has recently been released from prison. Ten years prior, a mystery man planted cocaine in his car. Two years after that, the same person, presumably, killed his wife and son. Now, he wants answers. For help, he first turns to his best friend, Dato Sam Lee (Henley Hii), a wealthy frontman for a local gangster. Then he links up with his wifes cousin, Feroz (Hairul Azreen), who also wants to find the culprit behind the murders.

Together, Zafik and Feroz investigate the cold case, but the latter runs by a different set of rules: Feroz, played with zeal by Azreen, is a sociopath who doesnt hesitate to kill. In fact, he giggles whenever he delivers a death blow. The balance between Zafik and Feroz represents a vicious psychological struggle of the grief felt by the two men. The ensuing twist seemingly arises from nowhere, blurring the line between intent and spontaneity for a wellspring of kinetic, jagged violence that slyly invites the possibility of more stories to come.

Crossfire

Rent or Buy it on Amazon and Vudu.
Lee, of course, lived a life unlike most mortals. He seemed to get younger the older he got (with help from sunglasses and a toupee). From his gateway job as the office boy at Timely Publications in 1939 up until his death in 2018, Lees decades in the comics industry ticked by at a pace that seems to bend the time-space continuum. According to his own archival audio that narrates the film, he didnt respect his career until 1961, possibly still holding out hope that hed reclaim his real name  Stanley Martin Lieber  when he wrote the great American novel.

Its disappointing, yet inevitable that the creation story of Lee gives way to the characters he helped create. The doc awkwardly alludes to the ownership squabbles between Lee and his star illustrators Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, whose heirs have waged a copyright battle against the company. (Marvel also produced this film.) Thats about as dark as Gelb is willing, or able, to get  although fans taking sides in the cultural cock fight between DC and Marvel will light up like the Human Torch at a clip of the former DC editor Julius Schwartz insisting his readers dont wanna be educated, while Lee visibly snickers.

Stan Lee

Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 26 minutes. Watch on Disney+.
The Flash, the much-delayed Warner Bros. superhero film about a speedster who travels back in time to try to prevent his mothers murder, is finally, actually, for real hitting theaters on Friday. Based on the DC Comics character, the new blockbuster has survived three director changes and, most recently, the legal troubles of its star superhero, Ezra Miller.

Miller, 30, who is nonbinary, made headlines after three separate incidents in spring 2022 in which they were accused of harassment and yelling obscenities at a bar in Hawaii, hurling a chair and injuring a woman, and breaking into a Vermont home and stealing bottles of alcohol.

With most of those cases now resolved, heres a look at what happened, the films thorny development history and how Millers controversies might shape the future of the franchise.

When did Ezra Miller get involved in The Flash?

Miller, then 22, was cast in 2014. At the time, the actor was known primarily for a standout turn in the 2012 adaptation of Stephen Chboskys young-adult novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower. They have since played the Flash in several films and TV series in the DC Extended Universe, including the 2016 blockbusters Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, as well as 2017s Justice League.
In previous Transformers movies, fans have seen their beloved robots Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Arcee battle their way out of plenty a dilemma. But have they ever seen an Autobot kick butt to the rhymes of LL Cool J? Thats the energy of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (in theaters), with its director Steven Caple Jr. giving the franchise an inclusive spin.

The down on his luck Brooklyn native Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos) is recruited by the Autobots to retrieve an artifact held by the museum researcher Elena Wallace (Dominique Fishback) that could transport the stranded Autobots back to their home planet, Cybertron.

Robot fights ensue (mainly with a rival faction called the Terrorcons), but apart from the dazzling effects and globe-trotting backdrops, what gives Caples film its singular identity is the 1990s New York City hip-hop it takes inspiration from.

The 90s was a specific era, in general, that is definitely what we wanted to tap into with the film, Caple said in an audio interview. A sense of Black cultural spirit  the fashion, music, and community  was one that Caple felt was missing from many big budget movies of that decade. He said that it was only present if you were watching films by Black directors like John Singleton and Ernest Dickerson, major influences for Caple.
Did the voting system help Eric Adams become mayor?

Maybe.

Mr. Adams had expressed doubts about ranked-choice voting, but it might have helped him win  even if the process was messy.

Initially, early unofficial results showed Mr. Adams with a narrow lead. But then election officials announced they had miscounted the ballots. A new tabulation still found that Mr. Adams had collected the most first-round votes, but he was not declared the winner until weeks later, when voters secondary choices were tabulated.

Under the old system, Mr. Adams would have faced a runoff because he did not receive at least 40 percent of votes. In a runoff, he would have faced his closest first-round rival in the 2021 Democratic primary: Maya Wiley, a lawyer and MSNBC contributor. Voters would have faced a clear choice between two candidates, and it is not clear who might have won.

But after voters ranked choices were considered, Ms. Wiley was eliminated, and in the last round, only Mr. Adams and Kathryn Garcia, the citys former sanitation commissioner, remained.

Mr. Adams won the primary by a slim margin: only 7,197 votes. The ranked-choice system also aided Ms. Garcia; she was in third place after the initial count of first-place votes, but moved up to second as other candidates were eliminated, and their supporters votes were reallocated.
If convicted, the couple could face life in prison or the death penalty.

The Orsinis denied Krafts family  including Krafts children with Jamie  the dignity of having a proper burial, Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in a statement.

Dean Kraft, Mr. Krafts father, said in an interview on Friday that his family had been waiting for this moment for three years, but that they were still searching for answers.

Steven would never have been the type of person to leave his daughters, so we have always assumed the worst, that something terrible happened to him, the elder Mr. Kraft, who lives in Illinois, said. He added that after the Orsinis arrests, some people have said, Oh, great, now you can have closure. That may be true for some people, but I still have a son that is out there missing somewhere. Where is he? Where is his body at? What did they do with him?

In the days leading up to Mr. Krafts death, the Orsinis began preparing to kill him and cover their tracks, according to the complaint.

They made several trips to a Walmart and a Home Depot in Fishkill, N.Y., where they bought burner phones, a 10 foot by 100 foot tarp, duct tape and a Tyvek suit and boots. They paid for it all with cash, the complaint says.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. Baku hosted the 52nd meeting of the permanent joint commission of Azerbaijan and Iran on the use of water and energy resources of the Araz River, Trend reports.

The meeting, held by the Azerbaijani side under the chairmanship of the co-Chairman of the Azerbaijani-Iranian joint commission and Deputy Chairman of Melioration and Water Management JSC of Azerbaijan Zakir Guliyev, was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources JSC of Azerbaijan and relevant organizations of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

A number of issues were discussed regarding the operating mode of the Araz Reservoir and the distribution of water between the two countries, appropriate distribution tables were developed and a protocol on the joint use of water and energy resources on the Araz River was signed.
In his speech at the Republican convention in 2016, Donald Trump spoke of the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, where a man with jihadist sympathies murdered 49 people. As your president, I will do everything in my power to protect our L.G.B.T.Q. citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology, he said.

At the time, this sort of rhetoric was common among Trump and his allies, who fashioned themselves in the mold of European right-wing populists, demonizing Muslims as a threat to hard-won Western sexual freedoms. Perhaps the hottest ticket at that years Republican National Convention was an L.G.B.T.Q. party called Wake Up! where the Dutch politician Geert Wilders warned about Shariah in front of a photo exhibition featuring skinny, shirtless boys in MAGA hats, called Twinks for Trump. The photographer behind that exhibition, a reactionary libertine named Lucian Wintrich, briefly served as the White House correspondent for the far-right website The Gateway Pundit.

Seven years later, as the battle against wokeness has supplanted the war on terrorism in the right-wing imagination, conservative sympathies are reversing. Republicans are wooing Muslim voters by promising to protect them from L.G.B.T.Q. rights advocates whose demands conflict with their faith, David Weigel reported in Semafor this week. The Fox News host Laura Ingraham, who once called for banning Muslim immigration from the Middle East, recently ran a sympathetic segment about Muslim parents in Maryland who want their kids to be exempt from reading books with L.G.B.T.Q. characters or themes. Us Catholics and other Christians, other people of faith, have been waiting for the Muslims to step up on this issue, Ingraham told her guest, a Muslim father and activist named Kareem Monib.

On Wednesday, a Gateway Pundit article celebrated the all-Muslim City Council in Hamtramck, Mich., which voted to ban all but five flags from flying on city property  a move widely seen as targeting Pride flags. The revolt against the radical L.G.B.T.Q.I.+ takeover of the U.S. won another battle this week, the article crowed.
[MUSIC PLAYING]

ezra klein

So Joe Biden is starting his 2024 campaign with a problem, which is that most people dont want him to run again. Even Democrats, when you just poll them, they are split on whether they want to see his name on the ballot. If you do head-to-head polling, Trump and DeSantis, theyre often running ahead of him, sometimes behind him, but definitely competitive. So not a great place for Biden to begin. I think particularly not a great place against Trump, who has certainly had a rough couple of years, but also not completely unusual if you take the Trump weirdness out of it. I mean, we went back in polling. And around this point in their terms, Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan, they also looked pretty unsteady in the polls. And they won re-election pretty easily. So is Biden following their footsteps? Is he in a uniquely bad spot? How does age play into this? How does Trump play into this? I wanted to spend an episode digging into the case for and against Biden. I wanted to try to get both sides of it. I wanted to do it with somebody who knows him and knows his team pretty well. So I want to have Jon Favreau on  Jon Favreau, of course, whos Barack Obamas chief speechwriter. Hes now, of course, one of the hosts of Pod Save America and one of the founders of Crooked Media. As always, my email: ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. [MUSIC PLAYING] Jon Favreau, welcome to the show.

jon favreau

Thanks for having me.

ezra klein

So I want to do this by going through the questions and then the challenges Biden faces in running for re-election and then looking at the strengths he has.

jon favreau

OK.

ezra klein

And so I guess the obvious place to begin is that most Americans dont want him to run for re-election. So there was a recent AP-NORC poll, found only 26 percent want him to run again  pretty standard from the polls Ive seen. A Washington Post poll found Democrats are split 47-47 on whether he should run. So what do you make of why so few Americans and even Democrats want to see his name on the ballot in 2024?

jon favreau

So I think theres a few reasons for that. I think the question, do you want an incumbent to run again? Should an incumbent run again? The numbers you get from that tend to be lower than approval ratings, horse race numbers, et cetera. So thats just an overall thing that happens in polling. The next sort of level of this is as polarization has increased over the last decade or so, voters tend to be unhappier with the state of affairs in politics, with incumbents, with their choices in both parties. So theres a general crankiness among voters that seeps into most politicians approval ratings. And then I think specific to Joe Biden, there are, of course, concerns about his age. I did a bunch of focus groups in 2022, and its not necessarily the criticism that you hear from Republicans, which is, like, hes completely senile, and someone else is running the government, and hes just a puppet and all that kind of stuff. Its more they thought when they elected Joe Biden the first time that he was going to be a bridge to the next generation, that even though he didnt say it, that the implication was that he was going to serve one term. And now they think hes getting up there in age, and they are a little uncomfortable about that.

ezra klein

Lets do age directly. I had this for a little later in the conversation. We were going to work up to it. But when I talk to people and when Ive looked at focus groups, this is the thing I hear the most about. So I mean, obviously, Biden  oldest president. You knew his history. Hed be 86 at the end of a second term. Two-thirds of Americans in a Quinnipiac poll thought he was too old to run. And one of the particular things I hear from Democrats is that you dont have to buy any of the Republican senility arguments or insinuations to worry that hes got this terrible vulnerability, which is that there is this lurking fear about him, and that if during the campaign he gets a bad flu, and hes got to be off the trail for a week, something like his recent stumble over a sandbag happens in a more dramatic way  think back to Bob Dole falling off the stage in 96. And it crystallizes fears of his age in a way that his campaign then cant answer, because people already felt this, and now you have this memeable moment that makes them certain of it.

jon favreau

Yeah. Its hard to separate. Does what you just laid out concern voters and Democrats because him tripping over a sandbag makes them think that hes not fit for the job, or that they think that that will become memeable and that other people, and other voters, will worry that hes not fit for the job, and that will hurt him politically? And I talk about that difference, because when you really push people on this, and you push voters on this, a lot of it is punditry. And Im not saying thats not fair, because voters act like pundits now, and because theyre  especially those who consume a lot of news. And I think theres a difference between worrying that his age will be a political factor and actually worrying about his age as you go to cast a vote and say, oh, can he actually do this job? And I do think that you could have one of those moments in the campaign. But I also think theres plenty of them that have been flying all over TikTok and everywhere else. So its like I dont actually know that another stumble or something like that is going to change the equation. I think its baked in to a lot of the media that people are consuming and a lot of the understanding that people already have about Bidens age.

ezra klein

I think that the deeper fear is the other one you get at, that maybe theres something there  not that hes senile, but just that the rigors of a campaign at this age are going to be too much for him in a way thats going to make him less effective, that he actually just would be less effective as president. I mean, I think this is a genuinely fair concern. The Times did a focus group recently. When people were asked who were Biden voters if they thought hed be up to the job at 86, which would be how old hed be at the end of his second term, not a single hand went up. And I do get the sense that there is a kind of resentment among many Democrats at feeling a little bit forced into this position, like they thought hed serve a term. They think this is getting too old to run again. And while theyre not going to vote for Trump over him, theyre mad and genuinely concerned about whether or not this is the right choice.

jon favreau

So the White House, whenever theyre asked about this  and I think there was a story recently in The New York Times that Peter Baker wrote about Bidens age. And the White Houses case is his schedule is still quite busy. He is still doing multiple events per day. He goes on these foreign trips, and hes up at all hours. He did that surprise trip to Ukraine where hes on the train for many hours, and hes barely sleeping. And so they talk about all this. I had wondered for a while how much of that was spin from the White House and how much of it was real. And then I went to the White House in December. And I was there to interview Ron Klain for Pod Save America. And I brought my family because my family was in town. And so my wife was there with me and our son and my wifes parents. And I come back from interviewing Ron. And in my old speechwriting office, because the Biden speechwriter now we all know very well, is my whole family, and Joe Biden is sitting there, because he runs into my mother-in-law at the White House mess, sees her, and said, I remember you. He remembered meeting her in 2018 at an event, knew who she was, clocked that she was related to me through marriage, remembered my father-in-law  my father-in-law, federal judge appointed by Obama  and then decided to spend an hour with us in the middle of the day. Took us up to the Oval. Started pointing out pictures. Told a whole bunch of stories. And what I took from the whole episode was its so very Joe Biden and that on one hand, he was incredibly kind, gracious with his time, very sharp, like remembered everything, was talking about stuff. And then he was also telling us stories about the Robert Bork confirmation to my father-in-law that just lasted a long, long time. But for me, and what I think this gets to the age thing, which is like hes always been like that. When he was vice president back in 2009, 10, when I first got to the White House, he was telling long, long stories, right? The stutter that he deals with has always been there. His tendency to gaffe has always been there. I think as he gets older, and now that age is an issue, all of these other sort of issues that he has had over the years as a politician  sometimes being long-winded, the stutter, saying things that hes not supposed to say  those all get magnified by the age. But I came away thinking, the guys still pretty sharp. He didnt seem like he lost a step. He does shuffle a little more. Theres a little bit of a shuffle there. His voice is a little quieter. But as far as mental acuity, I did not see any reason for concern. Now the question is, how do you communicate that to the rest of the electorate? Because thats quite difficult to do. Its not like everyones going to get to meet Joe Biden and spend some time with them.

ezra klein

Well, there is this interesting other side of it that I feel like Ive seen play out a few times for him, which is Biden does not lean forward that much into a dominant public persona, not in the way Trump did, not in the way Obama did. And so that leaves more room for narratives about him to be out there. Joe Biden has not done even one interview with a major newspaper, not done any interviews with, say, interview podcasters from major newspapers  ahem, ahem. And 

jon favreau

Same man.

ezra klein

Yeah, right?

jon favreau

And weve been trying on Pod Save America for a while.

ezra klein

And obviously he could put all these questions to rest if he would come on The Ezra Klein Show. But I think theres a suspicion on the one hand that one reason thats going on is they dont trust him, or he doesnt trust himself to be out, mixing it up. And if he was mixing it up, and it was going well, people wouldnt feel this way. On the other hand, it has created this constant exceeding of a low expectation for him, I suppose very clearly during the State of the Union. I feel like theres a sense that  not really based on anything, because he keeps giving tons of totally normal speeches. But he went up. He gave a good State of the Union. He mixed it up with Republicans on Medicare and Social Security in an impromptu way. And you could almost feel not just the relief, but the sense that he had way cleared the bar people had in their head for him. And so there is this way in which so long as he actually is fine, which is the reports I get from the people who work with him, that  I dont want to call it an advantage. But because Republicans keep trying to suggest the guy is actually senile, and hes not, it allows him to continuously vault over the expectations in a way that is politically useful for him.

jon favreau

Yes, they have drawn the caricature in such an exaggerated way that he doesnt have to do much to show people that he is not that caricature. Im glad you mentioned the State of the Union. I was just about to say that. I thought that was interesting, because if you go back and watch that State of the Union, he does stumble a few different places in that speech. But that was not the story. The story was him mixing it up with Republicans, ad-libbing, showing some fight, showing some energy. And, look, I think that there is a risk. If youre the White House, and Joe Bidens your guy, theres, of course, a risk putting him out. Is he going to make a gaffe? Is he going to stumble over something? Is there going to be a memeable moment here? So thats always a risk. But I also think that he is at his best when he is off the cuff, showing energy, showing some fight, talking with people one on one, because hes really good with people. And I think youve got to weigh the risks of having the occasional gaffe or stumble against the risks of not ever letting him go out there and mix it up, because then, as you mentioned, I think the narrative about him takes hold. And, yes, it sets a low bar for him to clear. But how many people are going to tune in when he finally steps out and gives a speech or does the interview? And so I would find opportunities to  I dont want to do the very cliche let Biden be Biden. But let him mix it up and have a little fun and show some fight, because, yeah, that will definitely lead to a gaffe or two. But I think I would rather have the gaffe or two but then also have people see him and be like, oh, yeah, thats the Joe Biden I know. He was funny there. He was taking it to Republicans there. Or he was really kind to that lady he met in line. Those moments are so much more valuable than dealing with the occasional gaffe.

ezra klein

So one thing about the Biden age concerns is they make Vice President Kamala Harris very  maybe even unusually important. But polls find her to be more unpopular than Biden, not less. Shes had  I think its fair to say, and this is very widely reported  a pretty challenging run of it. Shes had a ton of staff turnover. Theres a sense shes not found a strong footing as vice president and would be a weaker candidate than Biden. And so theres this fear. And I hear it from Democrats, that voters who like Biden fine, but worry about his age, they dont look at her and are comforted. So how do you think about her role in this campaign?

jon favreau

This is whats really tough, right? Is because so often, the presidential candidate picks a vice president  or at least in recent times, whether its Dick Cheney or Joe Biden, you pick a vice president who  youre a little less experienced as the candidate. And so the vice president is this very experienced politician, official, elected official, whos been around a long time. And so you feel safe, if something happens, that they could step in.

ezra klein

In a way, even Pence was that.

jon favreau

Yes, thats right. Even Pence was that. And this was really flipped on its head with Biden choosing Kamala Harris. And he also chooses her after her campaign does not do as well as it was expected, right? So she already has run this campaign that either people did not really remember it, she didnt really break through, or to the extent that she did, people were not that impressed. And then she goes into a job which is designed to hide you, frustrate you, keep you out of the spotlight. You end up doing the shitty jobs. And if you dont have a profile that pre-exists your job as vice president, and you dont have name I.D., and people dont have a good sense of who you are, then I think its really difficult in that job to introduce yourselves to voters in a way thats going to make them feel comfortable. I always think about Kamala Harris, there are things that she can control and things that she cannot. She cannot control that she is the first Black woman to serve as vice president. And I imagine that to become the highest-ranking Black woman in the United States to ever serve in office, that is a tightrope to walk that I think, by design, makes you cautious, that you deal with sexism and racism that others have not had to deal with. So these are all things that she cannot control. In the category of things that you can control is what your message is, what you care about, what your passion is. I would expect that as she gears up for this campaign, theyre going to want her to have a message that helps her stand out as an individual. So already, shes been out there talking about choice. Thats the issue that shes trying to make her mark on as an advocate. And then I think traditionally, the vice president in a re-election campaign tends to draw the contrast with the other ticket. And I think shes quite good at that when she goes on the offense against Republicans. So I would expect that she would get out there more as a bit of a fighter, trying to draw a contrast to Trump or whoever the Republican nominee is, and get a higher profile that way.

ezra klein

If you want to take the dark Brandon approach on this, for people familiar with that reference, I sometimes think it helps Biden in terms of that intraparty tension and pressure that his vice president is rightly or wrongly perceived as politically weaker than he is. I mean, if you imagine a world where his V.P. was extremely well-liked  like Joe Biden, but younger and better now  I think that would be leading to a much louder calls and a lot more pressure for him to step aside. But the fact that there isnt a consensus or even a belief in the party that Harris could outdo him in 2024 has really muted that. So on the one hand, hes not facing a primary, which well talk about at some point. But on the other, hes also not facing this kind of pressure to do that generational turnover.

jon favreau

Well, and by the way, if you are the Biden White House  and Im sure that the V.P. and her staff feel this, too. Thats part of the reason that they dont want to put her out there all the time, because  and thats true of every president-vice president relationship, right? You never want the vice president to outshine the president, I think for the reason that you just mentioned. Especially in this case, they didnt want  at least when they started, when they got to the White House, they didnt want Kamala Harris looking like this rising star, because it starts raising questions about, OK, well, then why is Joe Biden going to run again?

ezra klein

So FiveThirtyEight has him at 41.2 percent approval as were talking. And its not a great rating. But something we were doing in preparation for this episode was going back and looking at other presidents. And you go back to 1982. Only 36 percent of voters in one poll we found wanted Ronald Reagan to run again. At about this point in his presidency, Reagan was at 43 percent. Barack Obama was bouncing around the mid to low 40s for much of his third year. Im old enough to remember in Obamas third year when there was so much concern about his re-election campaign that there were endless stories about how he should drop the dead weight of Joe Biden and bring the political juggernaut of Hillary Clinton in as his vice president to shake things up. You might have some recollection of that as well.

jon favreau

I do. I do, yeah.

ezra klein

And so Im curious how you think about this historically, as maybe the third year is just this doldrums year quite often.

jon favreau

Yeah, no, the same thing happened with us in 2011. Obama was dealing with the debt ceiling negotiations. And his approval rating after that was at its low point in the eight years he served in office. But thats why when we were thinking about the re-elect, from the very beginning, our theory was, of course, we got to turn it into a choice and not a referendum. And we got to have a theory of the case. And we got to have a message. And that became Barack Obama going out there and talking about defending the middle class as the defining issue of our time. And it worked even better for us because Mitt Romney was the nominee. But whoever was the Republican nominee, we were going to still have that same message. And it was a message about Barack Obama in the middle of a fight for people against powerful interests. That was the core of our re-election message. And I could actually imagine Joe Bidens message along those lines with some additions that we can talk about later.

ezra klein

So I want to get to the Biden message in a sec. But as the bridge there, I think if I am looking at Bidens numbers, and Im Joe Biden campaign person, I think the one that worries me the most is that he is not trusted on the economy, that voters dont think hes doing a good job on the economy, that Donald Trump is significantly more trusted on the economy when you match them up. Trump is doing much better in terms of who people trust on the economy, even than hes doing in the head to head race with Joe Biden. Biden has had a  I mean, theres been inflation, but its coming down. Theyve had a very tight labor market the whole time. They got through the debt ceiling pretty smoothly. Theyve got a lot of policy that they actually passed on economics, particularly long-term policy. How do you think about why he is not polling higher there?

jon favreau

I think inflation is probably the biggest explanation. Even though its coming down, its still high for people. But I think beyond inflation, its sort of the same anxiety that we have seen from voters as far back as when Barack Obama was president and was  we were recovering from the Great Recession. The cost of living for so many people is so high right now. When I did focus groups in 22, when I did all kinds of different demographics, different parts of the country, different ages, I asked everyone to start, whats the most pressing issue for you? Just open-ended question. And I did hear a lot about inflation, but specifically I heard about housing and the cost of housing, rent. Im never going to own a house. Im going to have to live with my parents. Im gonna have to live with roommates. And I bring that up because these are cost of living issues that have been with us for quite a while, before inflation hit. And I think when you talk to voters about whats on their mind, they will complain that theyre working harder and not getting ahead. We have heard that complaint, like I said, as far back as when Barack Obama was president. And I think whoever the incumbent is, that blows back on them. Why Trump gets those high numbers is I do think that there was a little bit of Trumps an asshole, but hes a business guy. And so at least he knows the economy. And maybe the economy was doing fairly well before Covid came. And so his  Trumps whole story that hes going to tell, which was everything was wonderful in the economy until Covid hit, will probably ring true to more voters than we might expect, partly because memories are short, and partly just because it makes sense to people to think, oh, well, before Covid, everything was great. [MUSIC PLAYING]

ezra klein

So now I want to turn to the case for Biden, the strengths he actually has. And maybe a good place to begin is a case hes begun making for himself. So you listened to his announcement video for 2024.

jon favreau

Yeah.

ezra klein

Youre hearing the way hes framing the race. How would you describe where theyre starting out on their message?

jon favreau

Theyre starting out right where they left off in the midterms, in 22, which was interesting. If you remember, there was this debate right before the midterms. Biden is talking a lot about democracy. Hes talking a lot about abortion. Is he not talking about inflation enough? Is he not talking about kitchen table issues enough? And as someone who came of age during the Obama years, when the central issue was the size and role of government and the economy and all that, I wondered that myself. And especially I had talked to voters, and voters top concern is inflation and the economy. But  and I know you have talked to Lynn Vavreck before, the political scientist at UCLA. And she did this very huge survey of voting behavior in 2020. And the main finding there is that when you ask voters  when you make them rank which issues are most important to them vis-a-vis other issues, issues related to identity rise to the top of the list. Even though those voters might say they care a lot about economic issues, when theyre actually voting, they are thinking about issues related to identity, cultural issues, social issues, much more than you might think. And so this is all to say that in 22, I think one of the reasons that Democrats, and especially Biden, hit so hard on democracy and abortion and voting rights and all of these issues is because I think they know that for whatever reason  and we can talk about some of the possibilities why  people are not necessarily just voting on pocketbook issues, even though those pocketbook issues are super important to them, that when theyre making their choice between Democrats and Republicans, and especially this Republican Party thats so extreme, they are thinking about issues related to identity, all of these culture wars, and a lot of these social issues, because thats where they see the biggest difference between the parties right now.

ezra klein

Lets talk about that in context of 2022, because when I talk to people involved in the Biden campaign and planning out the Biden 2024 race, I will do the thing I did with you at the beginning of this conversation. And I will read them these numbers they already know about how people dont want Biden to run, and his approval rating is bad, and hes not trusted on the economy. And the first thing they will say to me is that was true last year, too. And yet, while everybody was predicting a Democratic wipeout, we performed historically well for a governing party in a midterm. And we did so despite those numbers being rough. Theyll say that the historical trend does not hold for one reason or another for Biden, where a soft approval rating leads to poor performance for him or his party. So how do you read 2022 from that perspective?

jon favreau

Yeah, I do think that in 22 what you had was Dobbs being a gigantic issue for people, because they actually saw that the Republicans are trying to take something away, trying to take a benefit away, in this case, the right to make your own health care decisions. And when I asked people about inflation in these focus groups, theyd complain a lot about inflation. And then I would say, whose fault is this? And they actually wouldnt say its all Joe Bidens fault. They would not blame Joe Biden necessarily for the inflation. They were grumpy about it. They were grumpy about him, but they didnt blame him for it. Then you start talking about abortion. And there, they understand the differences between the parties in a much clearer way. When you talk about Jan. 6 and you talk about overturning elections and you talk about election deniers, they understand the difference between the parties there in a much clearer way. When you talk about the economy and you talk about different economic plans, people tend to support the Democratic plans for the economy over the Republican plans. But they also dont think that either party is going to fix anything when it comes to the economy. They dont know that the Democrats are actually going to get their plans through. Or if they do get their plans through on the economy, theyre not necessarily convinced that its going to improve their life. And they dont think that the Republicans plans are going to improve their lives, either. So if the economy then is like a wash, then they go to some of the cultural and social issues, where they can see the difference every day when theyre consuming news about politics.

ezra klein

So we just got this really big report from Catalist, which is this firm that has really deep voter files and can  it takes them some time, but can really see what happens in an election in very granular detail. And the main thing they found was really interesting to me, which is that if you looked at it nationally, Republicans did have the advantage. It wasnt quite a wave, but actually it kind of looked like it would have been, except  except  that Democrats way outperformed what you would expect in competitive races. And they particularly outperformed when you had a very Trumpy candidate, right? They find a 1 to 4-point penalty for an election-denying candidate, which I think they take correctly as a correlate of being very Trumpy. So what does that weird overperformance in competitive races tell you?

jon favreau

Well, it tells me that campaigns actually matter. Candidates actually matter. Of course, in a very calcified electorate, they matter on the margin. But in a divided electorate, the margin means everything. And I think that the Democrats did a very good job of selecting candidates who were mainstream Democratic candidates. They werent necessarily centrists. They werent necessarily super progressive. But they were mainstream Democratic candidates  good resumes, good bios, particularly in these competitive districts. And Republicans, they had these Republican primaries. And in almost every instance, the more extreme MAGA candidate wins. And Ill just use the flip side of this as an example of why this mattered so much. In Georgia, Stacey Abrams runs against Brian Kemp. And Brian Kemp by all accounts is as conservative as any of these other Republicans running. In terms of issues, he signs a six-week abortion ban. Theres all kinds of voting issues from Abrams-Kemps 2018 race, right? But because he stood up to Donald Trump and didnt let Donald Trump steal the election in Georgia, he was perceived by that electorate as more moderate than he actually is. So what happened is these Republicans who ran as unabashed Trump fans, proud election deniers  of course there was a penalty there, because voters could see that they were more extreme than the typical Republican. Now fast forward to what were about to face in 2024 and what Joe Biden and his team have been doing. If you look at the debt ceiling fight we just had, part of the Biden strategy there was to say, look, I can negotiate with Speaker McCarthy and some reasonable Republicans who did not want the country to default, even though they certainly threaten that. But then there were these other extreme Republicans, these extreme MAGA Republicans, that did want the country to default, that did want to do all these extreme things. And so what I did as president is I both fought the extremism and negotiated the bipartisan deal voters say they want. They want parties to get together, and they dont want extremes. And Joe Biden is fighting the extreme MAGA, but hes also giving Republicans and independents who also think that MAGA is extreme a place to come home to.

ezra klein

This is a thing that I think is a quiet advantage for him. And I suspect its going to be a pretty big part of Biden 2024 storytelling. So if you go back to State of the Union, he says  he brags  I signed over 300 bipartisan laws since becoming president. And he gives a couple of examples  reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, which was a big original accomplishment for him; the Electoral Count Reform Act. But he does get through the debt ceiling fairly smoothly. The bipartisan infrastructure bill is a big deal. The CHIPS Act and the CHIPS and Science Act is a big deal. These are bipartisan achievements. I think hes got a case to make here.

jon favreau

I do, too. And I dont  Im not quite sure how much that will matter with voters, because I dont know how much voters are paying attention to all the bipartisan deals and bipartisan legislation that has come out of Washington. The CHIPS Act doesnt have a very high name I.D. But as far back as 2020, and even before, voters saw Joe Biden and see Joe Biden as someone who is willing to negotiate and willing to be bipartisan. And he certainly has proof points on that. And so I do think that that will help him. I also think this is by necessity a  the Democratic coalition necessitates this kind of politics because of how big it has to be in a country where the institutions are counter-majoritarian. And so in order to win the Electoral College, in order to win in the Senate, you need a coalition that spans from fans of A.O.C. to fans of Joe Manchin and probably Never Trumpers and all kinds of people like that. And that is the only way that Democrats can actually win just because of the Electoral College and because of the way the Senate is. And so Republicans dont have that. And so Republicans dont necessarily need to be talking about bipartisanship because they have a more conservative, more right wing base that they can depend on to win. Theyre not worried about as much trying to get those voters in the middle. We need more people, and we need more people  we need a much more heterodox coalition than they do.

ezra klein

So when I think back to 2012, and I think back to the Democratic Convention that year, a huge amount of effort goes in to having not just Obama but other key messengers in the Democratic Party  Bill Clinton is a huge player in that convention  tell this story of what Obama faced and then this narrative of the policy he actually passed. And it works, right? Obama has a big win in 2012. So lets say youre doing the speech here. And youre trying to narrativize the Biden policy agenda, because as you mentioned a second ago, people arent paying that much attention to the CHIPS and Science Act passing. But it did pass, and a lot has passed, and a lot that people dont really know about because these bills are so big has passed. So youre the speechwriter. Youre writing for Joe Biden, or youre writing for Barack Obama to come and make the case for Joe Biden. What is your accomplishments narrative?

jon favreau

Its funny you mentioned 2012 and that convention, because when I was working on Obamas speech, we very intentionally didnt want to just talk about accomplishments and just have accomplishments, because what we had been struggling with since we got to the White House was, OK, were recovering from this Great Recession. And Obama has achieved a lot. But people are still feeling pretty bad about the economy. Its still a lot of job loss. And so if you go out there and start touting accomplishments when people arent really feeling that in their lives, theres going to be a disconnect there thats going to redound to the Republican benefit. So we were very careful in how we talked about the accomplishments. Bill Clinton goes out there and basically just explains why Barack Obama has been great and all the accomplishments that he has done and all that kind of stuff. And the chattering classes, the press, pundits, Democratic activists loved it. They thought it was great because they had been thirsting for that. They wanted someone to just be boasting about what Barack Obama actually did. I dont think that works with voters as well. And I still dont think that, because you go and talk to people who tell you that theyre struggling, tell you that they cant afford housing, tell you that they cant afford health care. And you say, yeah, but what about the CHIPS Act? And what about the infrastructure bill? And what about this? And it doesnt register with them because theyre not seeing that in their own lives. Now I dont think that means you dont talk about accomplishments. To the extent that you talk about accomplishments, you dont frame them as a report card that shows you deserve the job. You frame them as proof points that youre taking on the fights that matter to people. And you promise that youll keep taking those fights on and, as Biden has been saying, finish the job, right? So there was this great line I thought in the Oval Office Address that Biden recently gave about the debt ceiling deal. And he goes through. He talks about it, talks about all the things that he stopped from happening, all the things weve been able to protect, Social Security, Medicare, et cetera. And then at one point, he says there were all these loopholes, these tax loopholes for the wealthy, for big oil and for crypto and hedge fund managers. And Republicans wanted to protect everyone, and I dont. And then he said, but Im going to be coming back. And with your help, Im going to win. And I think that if I were Bidens speechwriters and Bidens campaign, I would frame the accomplishments and frame the entire message as, we are in the middle of this fight. And on the other side is a group of people who want to take away your right to choose how many kids you have and when. They want to tell your kids which books to read. They want to take away your health care. They want to materially harm your life. And if you give them the chance, if you put them in power so theyre controlling Washington, these are the things that they will do. And heres what I will do. And you know that Ill do it. You know that Ill fight hard because Ive been doing it for the last four years. And Im not done yet, and we havent finished. But were making progress. And if you put me back in there, I will keep fighting these fights on behalf of you.

ezra klein

I mean, this gets to the other side of it, which is that theres a question of can you get people to vote for you because they like you? They think youve done a great job. And can you get people to vote against the other side because theyre frankly terrified of what theyll do if they come into power? One thing Ive heard about Biden and the Democrats in 2022 is that there are a lot of voters who somewhat disapproved of Joe Biden. They didnt think he was doing a great job. And an unusual number of them voted for Democrats, voted for Biden and Democrats to have more power. And Catalist data shows that Democrats did particularly well among young voters. And if you want to think about a class of voters that Biden does not connect to that well  young voters, right? Young voters, they like Elizabeth Warren. They like Bernie Sanders. They did not connect to Joe Biden  different generation, different kind of Democrat from them a lot of the time. But they turned out in huge numbers. I mean, they really were the difference for Democrats in 2022. And I suspect a lot of that is because theyre pretty terrified of the Republicans, of Dobbs, of Jan. 6, of what just Republicans represent and want to do. And this feels like something that Biden understands pretty deeply, that even more so, I think, than in 2012 say. You dont have to like Joe Biden to vote for him. He doesnt have to be your dream presidential candidate. But hes a tool against letting Trump and Republicans like Trump back into power, and that thats fundamentally the choice here. And the young voter performance in 2022 strikes me as some evidence that theyre right about that.

jon favreau

Yeah. I mean, I did one focus group of a diverse group of college-age voters in Orange County. And then 

ezra klein

Orange County, California?

jon favreau

Orange County, California.

ezra klein

My hometown.

jon favreau

There you go. And then I did one in Atlanta with young Black voters in their 20s and 30s. And those two groups, out of all the groups, the view of Joe Biden was quite bleak. They did not think he was doing a great job. They were upset about the idea that he was going to run again. They thought he was too old, he doesnt understand their issues, all that kind of other stuff. Then you start talking about the Republicans, and they were all terrified. This was right around Dobbs. And they were terrified about Dobbs. They were terrified about election deniers. They were terrified about what was going to happen with climate change. They were angry. They were scared. And even, I remember, in the Atlanta group, it was probably the most negative group about Biden that I had heard and Kamala Harris. And they werent even that excited about Stacey Abrams, which really surprised me. And then at the end I said, OK, well, is anyone voting for Herschel Walker? And they all said, no, are you crazy? Of course Im not voting for Herschel Walker. Are you voting for Brian Kemp? No, Im not going to vote for  not as much as Herschel Walker, which should tell you something. But they werent quite as negative towards Brian Kemp. But in every single focus group I did, the same thing happened. It was the same pattern  unhappiness with Biden, disappointment. But as soon as you bring up Trump, and as soon as you bring up Trump-like Republicans, and the choice is there, they automatically go back with Biden and go with the Democrats.

ezra klein

So I have a theory about this and Biden that I want to try out on you, which is that I think Bidens kind of soft approval ratings  and you can tell me if you think this is wrong. But just experientially, I dont think Democrats like Joe Biden the way they liked some of the other Democratic presidents or standard-bearers in my lifetime. But that that is actually the flip side of something he does that has helped make him successful, which is that he doesnt really create all that much for Democrats to rally around. Hes not trying to take up that much political space. As we mentioned earlier, doesnt give a ton of interviews. But he doesnt take a bunch of shots in his speeches. I mean, there are ways  you know this much better than me as a former speechwriter. If you want to get the president to be the person leading the news, there are ways to do it. And Biden lets those pitches go by, day after day. They just dont try to do that. But what that means is they create and leave a lot of open space for Republicans to be the headline figures in the news and for Republicans to, over and over again, so to speak, show who they are  for Trump to continue being a headline figure in the news, and for Republicans to motivate Democrats against them. In many ways, one of Bidens strengths as a politician, I think, is that he doesnt get in the way of Republicans motivating Democrats. Biden is  hes often a kind of pretty broad canvas on which a lot of kinds of opposition Republicans can operate through him. He doesnt turn off that many Democrats for the same reason he doesnt light them up, because hes letting Republicans be the energy in his own coalition.

jon favreau

I think thats definitely part of what hes doing. I also think it is just the political context that were all living in right now and that I think that Biden and his team recognize, which is the Republican Party is now so extreme, has gone so far to the right, so far outside the mainstream, that they have left a broad, broad middle of fundamentally American values that a Democratic candidate like Joe Biden can easily embrace and stand for and reclaim. And so in Bidens announcement video, it was a very patriotic video. I believe the first ad that ran was called The Flag. And its very, We claim this flag, and we believe in freedom and opportunity. And what the Republicans have done by going so far to the right is that they have left open to the Democratic party this very large, broad coalition where you can appeal to a lot of people and a lot of different kinds of voters by just not being as crazy as they are. [LAUGHS] And I think Biden understands that and is actually a good fit for this moment because hes never been the kind of politician that has embraced those kinds of extreme tactics or rhetoric or even tried to get himself in the news with potshots like the kind that youre talking about. [MUSIC PLAYING]

ezra klein

So lets talk a bit about some of the possible matchups here because were beginning to see the Republican field take shape. So, front-runners  Trump, polling in the 50s in the Republican field. If you get a Biden-Trump rematch, how does that differ, in your view, from 2020?

jon favreau

So the advantage for Trump, I think, in that rematch is that Trump goes back to being a challenger, where hes always more comfortable. So the whole pitch in 2016 was all these politicians screwed everything up, especially the Democrats. Im an outsider. I can take on the establishment. If youre pissed about the way things are going, vote for me. Thats the nicest version of Trumps message. Obviously, there was a lot of other stuff thrown in there. In 2020, he was the incumbent. And so he was saddled with peoples dissatisfaction with the state of the country, the state of the economy, the pandemic. And he had to deal with all of that. Now he gets to go back to saying, oh, it wasnt so bad when I was in office. And now Im the challenger, and Im the outsider again. And so put me in there, and I can fix things again. So thats what the advantage of Trump is. I think the advantage for Biden  and sort of an obvious one  is Trump didnt leave on great terms. And most people in this country have formed an opinion of Donald Trump. And the opinion is not good. And most people dont want him to run again. And he is an extremely polarizing figure. And he still does poorly with independents. And he still does poorly with a lot of the voters who cast a ballot for him in 2016 and then decided to vote for Joe Biden in 2020. And he is still losing among voters who are dissatisfied with both Joe Biden and Donald Trump. People who dont like both of them  Biden is still winning those voters. He won them in 2020. Trump won those voters in 2016 when it was people who didnt like Trump or Hillary Clinton. Trump won those voters by a lot. So I think the advantage that Biden has in a Trump-Biden rematch is, look, were rerunning the last race. He won the last race. How many people who voted for Joe Biden over Donald Trump in 2020 are going to say, yeah, you know what? Im going to go back to Trump now. And now, again, it could happen. It could be a small number of people that just tip the race in those key states. But if Im the Biden folks, thats why I probably like that match-up.

ezra klein

So behind Trump on the Republican side is DeSantis. And DeSantis is a place where one of the Biden teams best arguments, which is that Democrats performed really well in 2022, falls apart, because they did get crushed in Florida. And DeSantis is not going to let anybody forget that, correctly so if youre on his political team. So what do you make of a DeSantis-Biden match?

jon favreau

So if youd asked me this six months ago, I would tell you that it concerns me. It concerns me a lot more than the Trump-Biden match-up. After DeSantiss  not just his performance, but the press hes gotten, what people have gotten to know about him over the last several months, its now for me a toss-up whether Im worried more about a DeSantis-Biden match-up or a Trump-Biden match-up. Because you see this in focus groups now  you see it in polling. Independent voters, swing voters, the middle-of-the-road voters that Biden will need to win, they now see DeSantis as an extreme Republican. There was a moment, I think, where they thought, oh, hes conservative and all, but hes not quite as right wing as Trump, or hes not as scary as Trump, or hes not  all that. And I think whether its him going after Disney, whether its the six-week abortion ban, there is a perception of DeSantis now in the electorate to the extent that people know him that he is fairly extreme and very, very Trumpy. And so I dont think that serves him well in general. And then I think the other problem is for DeSantis, if hes the nominee, I dont think that if Trump loses the primary that he just endorses DeSantis and rides off into the sunset and says good luck. I think he tries to burn down the party on the way out. And so DeSantis would have to deal with that. And I think back to those  talking about those non-college-educated voters  I think some of those voters, a good portion of those voters, they turn out for Donald Trump and no one else. They didnt turn out in the midterms. They havent turned out for other candidates. They are Trump voters. Thats who they like. And if Trump is not on the ticket, maybe you dont get quite that level of turnout on the Republican side. So I think those are problems for DeSantis.

ezra klein

But then how do you take the Florida results in 2022?

jon favreau

I think we had a weak candidate on the Democratic side. I also think that the way 

ezra klein

Democrats, for people who dont know, reran Charlie Crist, who had already 

jon favreau

Reran Charlie Crist 

ezra klein

 lost.

jon favreau

Yeah. I also think that the way DeSantis governed, he did a lot of the culture war stuff for the national media, for the right wing media. Thats how we got to know him. When he first started as governor, he passed enough policies and did enough things that made him seem, if not moderate, at least like a traditional Republican  stuff around the economy. I think he proposed teacher pay increase, right? He did enough things as governor that, I think, within Florida, which also has gotten redder over time as well, and where the Democratic party has just sort of fallen apart over the last couple of years, he did enough to make sure that voters were not perceiving him as extreme as I think the national electorate perceives him today.

ezra klein

So this is obviously now getting to less likely, but I dont think impossible territory at all. You can imagine a world where Republicans are getting nervous that neither Trump nor DeSantis, after mauling each other across debates and rallies and whatever else, are the right candidate. And in 2020, Democrats ultimately acted very strategically. They looked at the situation. They decided Joe Biden, who they didnt all liked the most, was going to be the best candidate to beat Trump. And they went with Joe Biden. And there are candidates in the Republican Party who are more strategically positioned, I think, to take advantage of where the country is and what Bidens weaknesses are  a Tim Scott, a Nikki Haley. So on the more off-chance  but you can imagine something. One of them wins Iowa, and all of a sudden, things begin to balloon. On the more off-chance that one of these more long-shot candidates wins, how do you think about that?

jon favreau

Ive gone over this many times in my mind, because I dont want to make such a bold prediction, since I havent been good at that in the past. But I find it extremely unlikely that one of these candidates who is not Ron DeSantis or Donald Trump is going to be able to pull through, and heres why. They all seem to me like they would be decent candidates in a Republican primary that was taking place in 2008 or 2012. And they all  like Tim Scott, Nikki Haley  Nikki Haley was at her town hall the other day. And shes hitting DeSantis and Trump on not being honest on entitlement reform. And is it going to hurt? Is it going to cause some pain? Yes, its going to cause some pain. And then, by the way, now Im going to start talking about what a hawk I am on Russia. And thats fine, but thats a Republican Party that just doesnt exist anymore, at least in terms of the electorate. And the Republican electorate now is a very MAGA-like electorate. And they have embraced populism, cultural populism, to an extent, economic populism, cutting Social Security and Medicare  extremely unpopular with the general electorate, also very unpopular with Republican voters right now. And so I just dont know that  I cant think of the candidate running who could be ready to step into the role of MAGA king or queen if Trump or DeSantis falters, because to me, it seems like Nikki Haley is doing a poor MAGA impression. Tim Scott isnt even trying, because hes trying to run as a kinder, gentler Republican, which theres been no evidence that Republican voters want that kind of Republican. Mike Pence has the highest unfavorable ratings of any candidate running in the Republican Party because he decided not to commit treason on Jan. 6. I mean, and then you have someone like Chris Christie, who is just going to go right at Donald Trump. And Hes going to take it to Donald Trump and make an argument that I think we would all find quite compelling. And recent poll shows 60 percent of Republican voters wont even consider supporting Chris Christie for president. And thats before he started taking on Donald Trump as strong as he has been since he announced.

ezra klein

So I think thats basically right. But I do think its interesting, and it gets a bit to this lack of fear somehow Republicans have toward Biden  or maybe just what the Republican Party is  that nobody thinks the Republican Party is going to act strategically here.

jon favreau

Yeah.

ezra klein

I mean, look, I know people who voted for Joe Biden and dont like Joe Biden, right? He was not their second choice, not their third, not their fourth, not their fifth if they were actually getting down to it. Thats true for a lot of very young liberal voters. And Democrats? They really sat there, thinking, god, we got to get this back, and came to Joe Biden as the answer to that problem. Its just remarkable to me how that conversation just does not exist on the right. And nobody thinks it is going to exist on the right. Theyre going to do the thing they feel like doing, like they like Trump, or they like DeSantis, and hope for the best. Its just a genuine difference between the parties right now.

jon favreau

Yeah, and I let myself believe that at the outset of this Republican primary, is that Republican voters have to care about electability. They have to now because they  even if they think that Donald Trump won the last election, theyre still pissed that they dont have a Republican in power. So they got to focus on electability. But there is a segment of that party that is still thinking a lot about electability and being strategic. But its like the Republican consultants and strategists and Republicans living in blue areas on the coasts and this small segment of college-educated Republicans in that party, which is, again, a minority of the party. And I think the vast majority of Republican voters, theyre not making that strategic decision. And theyre looking around to say, look, I like Trump. And I dont think everything he says is great. I dont think his tweets are good. Maybe they think his character is bad. But I dont know. I dont know if I trust this DeSantis guy. He seems kind of weird. Or, I like DeSantis plenty, but lets give Trump four more years, and then well give DeSantis eight years after that. You know theres that thought as well. And then I think when they look at everyone else, theyre just like, eh, those people remind me of Paul Ryan or Mitch McConnell or the RINOs, right? Trump has done such an effective job at marginalizing so many of the Republican politicians serving today as the RINO establishment that I really do think it has trickled down to most of the Republican base. And that has poisoned a lot of these candidates for them.

ezra klein

So one thing that Trump, DeSantis, anyone will have is that they all will go through this primary and be out there campaigning and out there doing speeches and out there doing debates. And presidents can get out of practice on this. Very famously, Barack Obama did not perform terribly well in his first debate with Mitt Romney. And widely, I think thats considered because he was just out of practice for that kind of campaigning and that kind of debate stage. I think this is more of a fear with Biden, given some of the age issues that they dont want to activate in the voters minds. So what do they have Biden do? I mean, I dont get the sense hes going to be out there campaigning super hard in the Democratic primary against Marianne Williamson and Robert F Kennedy, Jr. So what do they do to have him be prepared here?

jon favreau

I think hes got to be out there quite a bit, actually. I dont know that a sort of Rose Garden strategy  and Im not saying that this is what they want to do. But I dont know that a Rose Garden strategy necessarily works because that vacuum gets filled with everything that Republican candidates are saying every single day on the trail. And theyre getting media attention for it. And theyre saying it at debates all the time. So I think they got to get him out there in front of bigger crowds with some energy. I think they got to give him a stump speech that shows some fight. I think theyve got to use humor to diffuse the age question. And also, just  when we were in the White House, and he was Uncle Joe, sometimes people roll their eyes. And again, he committed gaffes. But people liked him, you know? And it showed him having fun. And I think they need to have a little fun, too, especially  Ive heard you talk about this. They need a theory of attention here and how youre going to break through when you are the incumbent president, youre in the White House, youre governing, and then there is a complete circus on the other side in the Republican primary. And I think getting him out there in town halls, meeting people one on one, showing them how great he is with voters when he meets them and how compassionate he is, I think all of that is going to be really important. And I would worry about, again, feeling like getting him out there too much is taking a risk, and its not worth it. And so we should just keep his schedule light. And again, I dont think theyre going to do that. But I would get him out there more because I would be worried about Republicans filling the vacuum.

ezra klein

The other thing is Joe Biden is actually president, and he doesnt have a Democratic Congress anymore. But he does have that office and the ability  I mean, theres a reason incumbents tend to get re-elected. And its not just fundraising. Its that they can actually do things. And the things they do can shape the stories they can tell and what they can bring to voters. So what should they actually substantively do? I mean, they have the problem of legislation has to go through McCarthy. But if you were in there, what would you be trying to achieve?

jon favreau

I mean, I think its tough for this next year, right? Theyve almost exhausted every executive action that I think they think is possible, legally possible, already. I dont think theres any chance for additional legislation at this point. And so what does that leave them? Well, all the legislation theyve passed, whether its the Inflation Reduction Act or the CHIPS Act or the infrastructure bill. Sure, there are plenty of projects that are starting that he can go to ribbon cuttings and all that. And I think that they will  they have been doing that, and theyll continue to do that. But I would look for  again, back to how you handle the accomplishments. Even when Im at an event celebrating some shovel-ready project or some grant or a climate investment and the Inflation Reduction Act, I would be pushing the message forward so that youre  the context is a fight that youre waging. And send me back, and Ill finish this fight. I would also look at the Republican House. And every time they have a message vote or a show vote or try to do something unpopular, Id go out there and whack the shit out of them. And just youve got to get people in the mind-set over the next year that this is a choice, that there are two visions, there are two paths. And if you do not return me to office, these people will take over. And they will do all of these things that seem horrific right now and will materially harm your life. And they will do that the second they get into power. And I think his most important job is to remind people of that every single day between now and the election.

ezra klein

And then always, a final question. What are three books youd recommend to the audience?

jon favreau

Oh, three books? Well, on another podcast I do that youve been on called Offline, we have been doing a challenge where we are trying to help our screen time, reduce our screen addiction. And so I just finished Katherine Prices, How to Break Up With Your Phone, which has been fantastic and very helpful. What else am I reading?

ezra klein

Im embarrassed, because as you were saying that, I actually glanced at my phone. I want to admit this in full view of the audience and god.

jon favreau

Im telling you, Im  all of those kinds of books now Im reading. All the 

ezra klein

It was barely conscious, too. It just sort of happened.

jon favreau

It is. As Im breaking it with my phone, Ive reacquainted myself with my Kindle, because I famously do not read that much, because Im on Twitter all the time. And Im finally reading A Visit From the Goon Squad, by Jennifer Egan, which is fantastic. And also, Im reading Patricia Lockwood, No One is Talking About This, which is a fantastic little weird book about the internet, of course.

ezra klein

Jon Favreau, thank you very much.

jon favreau

Thanks, Ezra. This was fun. [MUSIC PLAYING]

ezra klein
To the Editor:

Donald Trump never apologizes, acknowledges a mistake or appears to reflect on his role in the creation of his recurrent difficulties.

As a practicing mental health professional for over 40 years, I believe that people can change, but I also know it is often difficult and painful work, sometimes requiring a therapist to help illuminate why one keeps finding oneself in the same kind of quandary.

This is the central problem that other mental health experts and I addressed in our 2017 book The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump and is what makes him unfit to hold high office. He has to be right, never needs to learn from his mistakes, and must protect his inflated and fragile self-image above all else, including the nations security.

He is always the victim, never having had a hand in the creation of his own dilemmas.

Leonard L. Glass

Newton, Mass.

The writer is an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.
Sometimes the stories we tell to win the war help us lose the peace. After the 9/11 attacks, the United States decided the Taliban government in Afghanistan was as culpable as the Qaeda terrorists who struck America. It then spent 20 years trying to keep the Taliban entirely out of power, only to cede the whole country to them.

The story we are telling ourselves today about the war in Ukraine runs its own risk. Since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, the debate in Western capitals about the origins of the conflict settled on one leading cause: Russia took up arms exclusively out of aggressive and imperialistic drives, and Western policies, including the yearslong expansion of NATO, were beside the point.

When NATO weighs Ukraines prospects for membership at its summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, next month, it must recognize that the war has more complex causes than this popular narrative suggests. Without question, Russia is committing horrific, inexcusable aggression against Ukraine, and imperialist attitudes in Moscow run deep. But partly because of those attitudes, Russias leaders are also reacting to NATOs expansion. Folding Ukraine into the alliance wont end that impulse, even with U.S. backing and the nuclear guarantee it brings. Ukraines best path to peace is to be well armed and supported outside NATO.

Since the invasion, a chorus of current and former U.S. officials has insisted that, as a former ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, tweeted, This war has nothing to do with NATO expansion. In their account, the invasion emanated chiefly from motives internal to Russia. In one version, Putin the Autocrat seeks to destroy the democracy on his doorstep, lest ordinary Russians demand freedom themselves. In another, Putin the Imperialist wants to restore the Russian empire by annexing territory. Either way, the Wests actions played little part.
The proliferation of state programs has been sparked by the temporary expansion of the federal child tax credit during the pandemic. The credit, created in the mid-1990s, reduces the amount that families with children owe in federal income taxes. In 2021, Congress raised the maximum credit per child to $3,600 from $2,000. For the first time, it also authorized payment of the entire amount in cash to households that didnt owe enough in taxes to fully benefit. It was a watershed moment. Until then, families that earned less money had received less help.

The change didnt last. Republicans refused to extend the program. But for that one year, the government offered the same assistance for every eligible child.

Life became much more manageable when we began receiving the monthly child tax credit payments for our oldest daughter, Melissa Lester, a social worker from Columbus, Ohio, who has become a proponent for permanent expansion, testified on Wednesday at a Senate Finance Committee hearing on using the tax code to support families. It gave us a little bit of breathing room. Each month I was able to use the payments to help with various things like my daughters second-birthday party, holiday gifts, and when we took our first-ever family vacation, to Kitty Hawk, I was able to use the $300 toward some of those expenses. It helped relieve the constant stress over finances.

Since then, Democratic majorities in seven states  often with support from Republican legislators  have created their own refundable child tax credits, the technical term for the policy of paying benefits in cash to families that cant use the full value of a credit because they owe less than that amount in taxes. The only two states that had created refundable child tax credits before the pandemic, New York and California, both significantly increased eligibility.

The states hand out less money than did the federal government. The largest credit, which Minnesota created in May, offers up to $1,750 per child for households with incomes below $35,000 per year  roughly half the lapsed federal credit. But unlike the federal expansion, the state credits are meant to be permanent.
On June 7, the skies were hazy and gray as smoke and ash billowed into New York from wildfires in eastern Canada. Despite the end days are nigh gloom of the city, Deanna Marie Arthur and Grey Noah Cohen were strutting through the downtown streets in formal wedding attire  Ms. Arthur in an off-the-shoulder Jenny Yu gown and Mx. Cohen, who uses they/them pronouns and a gender-neutral courtesy title, in a gray tuxedo  and recording the rapidly darkening day with a hand-held video camera.

It was their wedding day. There was not much panic in the city when they walked out of the Manhattan Marriage Bureau after their 9:45 a.m. City Hall appointment, so afterward they went to Harrys Bar & Restaurant in the Financial District for lunch with four family members. However, when they stepped out of the restaurant at about 1:30 p.m., the sky had turned orange.

You couldnt even breathe, said Ms. Arthur, 31. It was so sharp and so sudden. It felt like the world rapidly changed in two hours.

The two took the subway home, and Mx. Cohen, 28, waved the camera around, recording the apocalyptic wedding day, as they described it: the eerily empty streets, the couple in their wedding outfits and neon green KN95 face masks and Ms. Arthurs bouquet of flowers, that wilted because of the poor air quality.
Andrew Douglas Ousley and Fay Eva Leshner met through mutual friends on Aug. 9, 2014 while having cocktails at the now-closed Portuguese restaurant Pao! in SoHo. They bonded instantly, as creative New Yorkers often do.

Ms. Leshner, 35, is a freelance fashion stylist and designer from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Mr. Ousley, 40, who is from Midtown Manhattan, owns Unison Media, a publicity and branding agency for classical musicians. He also runs Death of Classical, a New York-based nonprofit group that presents classical music concerts in crypts, catacombs and cemeteries.

Fay was charismatic, had a fun presence and a passion for life that came out immediately, Mr. Ousley said.

Ms. Leshner said she was so comfortable being with him, I became my inappropriate silly self.

A first date took place four days later at the Amor y Amargo, Mr. Ousleys favorite cocktail spot in the East Village. Although Ms. Leshner arrived an hour late, Mr. Ousley remained unfazed. The pair had a drink, then went to Raouls bistro in SoHo for dinner.
While living in New York, she had previously crossed paths with Mr. Murray while performing at venues like the Muse and House of Yes  but the two knew each other only casually.

However, something clicked when they connected in Montreal. One night, after eating the famous poutine at La Banquise, Mr. Murray unexpectedly kissed Mx. Cardenas.

It was a nice surprise, she said. Because in regular life, hes a very shy and polite, sweet being. They enjoyed several more passionate days together in Montreal, but neither expected their romance to lead anywhere.

I didnt think he wanted a girlfriend on tour, Mx. Cardenas said. Thats not fun.

Since Mr. Murrays touring duties as an acrobat in Cirque du Soleil took him around the globe, the two gradually fell out of touch. Then, just before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, their touring schedules overlapped in Australia.

Mx. Cardenas was in a relationship with someone else at the time, but she and Mr. Murray were still thrilled to reconnect. It was special but not flirty, she recalled.
He is now an editorial and celebrity hairstylist represented by the Wall Group. His clients have included Kate Hudson, Michelle Williams, Dove Cameron and Karlie Kloss.

Mr. Baran, who graduated with distinction in American studies from Yale before receiving a law degree from N.Y.U., is now a lawyer at Kakalec Law, a workers rights law firm based in Brooklyn.

I was impressed that he wanted to go into labor law to help working people, and was not in it for the money, said Mr. Rozenberg, whose late mother, a social worker, had brought home the Jewish concept of tikkun olam, repairing the world.

After Mr. Rozenberg hugged him goodbye, Mr. Baran surprised him with a big kiss on the lips.

But when Mr. Rozenberg called the next day, Mr. Baran wanted to be clear: I dont want to waste your time, he said. I think youre looking for something serious.

Mr. Rozenberg insisted he was not.

Id be fine with just being friends with benefits, he said, and they began seeing each other casually a couple of times a week.
In its blog post, Meta said it was making the age change to the Quest headset to give families even more ways to use and enjoy Meta Quest. It added that it was committed to building safe, positive experiences for young people.

Technology use by teenagers and children has long been a contentious issue. Last month, the United States surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, issued a public warning about the risks of social media to young people, urging a push to fully understand the possible harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. He also called on policymakers to limit young peoples access to social media to help protect children and their privacy.

Virtual reality is a relatively new field and its risks are still emerging. But harassment, assaults, bullying and hate speech already run rampant in virtual reality games, which are part of the metaverse, and there are few mechanisms to easily report the misbehavior, researchers have said.

As concerns have heightened, regulators have taken action. The Federal Trade Commission recently intensified its crackdowns on tech companies for violating a federal childrens privacy law. That law, called the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act, requires sites and apps directed at young people to obtain consent from a parent before collecting personal details  like an email address or precise location  from a child under the age of 13.

Meta and its platforms have been of particular concern to regulators. Last month, the F.T.C. said it was considering action to bar Meta from profiting off the data of young people on all of its platforms  including Instagram and Horizon Worlds  and that the companys recklessness had put young users at risk. Meta subsequently asked a federal court to block the agencys proposed action.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. Revenues and expenses of the State Social Protection Fund under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Azerbaijan have been proposed to be increased, Trend reports.

This issue was submitted for discussion at today's extraordinary meeting of the Azerbaijani Parliament.

According to the amendments, the revenues and expenditures of the fund's budget will amount to 6.26 billion manat ($3.68 billion) with an increase of four million manat or $2.35 million (0.1 percent).

After discussion, the document was put to the vote and adopted in the third reading.

The revenues of the State Social Protection Fund in the first quarter of 2023 amounted to 1.5 billion manat ($882 million), which is increase by seven percent, or 100 million manat ($58.8 million) compared to the forecast.

The fund's expenses, in the reporting quarter, also amounted to 1.5 billion manat ($882.3 million), which is 15 percent, or 194 million manat ($114 million) more than in the same period of 2022.
Wearing a T-shirt that read Free Bird, an Arizona man who spent nearly 28 years on death row was freed on Thursday after a judge overturned his conviction on charges that he had sexually assaulted and murdered his girlfriends 4-year-old daughter.

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a bid by the man, Barry Jones, for relief. But his lawyers entered mediation with prosecutors, who agreed this month that the conviction should be overturned and that he should plead guilty to a lesser charge.

Mr. Joness lawyers had argued that he had been wrongfully convicted because his trial lawyer was ineffective and failed to uncover medical evidence that he was not responsible for the injuries that caused the death of the girl, Rachel Gray.

At a hearing on Thursday, an Arizona Superior Court judge overturned Mr. Joness conviction on charges of child abuse, sexual assault and felony murder, and vacated his death sentence.
Daniel Ellsberg, a military analyst who after experiencing a sobbing antiwar epiphany on a bathroom floor made the momentous decision in 1971 to disclose a secret history of American lies and deceit in Vietnam, what came to be known as the Pentagon Papers, died on Friday at his home in Kensington, Calif., in the Bay Area. He was 92.

The cause was pancreatic cancer, his wife and children said in a statement.

In March, Mr. Ellsberg, in an email message to Dear friends and supporters, announced that he had recently been told he had inoperable pancreatic cancer and said that his doctors had given him an estimate of three to six months to live.

The disclosure of the Pentagon Papers  7,000 government pages of damning revelations about deceptions by successive presidents who exceeded their authority, bypassed Congress and misled the American people  plunged a nation that was already wounded and divided by the war deeper into angry controversy.

It led to illegal countermeasures by the White House to discredit Mr. Ellsberg, halt leaks of government information and attack perceived political enemies, forming a constellation of crimes known as the Watergate scandal that led to the disgrace and resignation of President Richard M. Nixon.
The Justice Department said on Friday that the Minneapolis police routinely discriminated against Black and Native American people, used deadly force without justification and trampled the First Amendment rights of protesters and journalists  damning findings that grew out of a multiyear investigation and may lead to a court-enforced overhaul.

The federal review was touched off by the murder of George Floyd, a Black man, by a Minneapolis officer in 2020, a crime that led to protests and unrest across the country. But the Justice Departments scathing 89-page report looked well beyond that killing, describing a police force impervious to accountability whose officers beat, shot and detained people unjustly and patrolled without the trust of residents.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, speaking at a news conference in Minneapolis, said Mr. Floyds death has had an irrevocable impact on the Minneapolis community, on our country and around the world, and that the patterns and practices we observed made what happened to George Floyd possible.

The murder of Mr. Floyd, who was captured on video saying I cant breathe while he was pinned to the ground by Officer Derek Chauvin, focused international attention on the Minneapolis Police Department. But to many people in the city, where protesters had complained for years about police excesses, Mr. Floyds death, as horrifying as it was, was not entirely surprising. The Justice Department investigators described numerous incidents in which officers responded to a persons statement that they could not breathe with a version of, You can breathe; youre talking right now.
The News

A legal attempt to ban abortion in Iowa after six weeks of pregnancy failed on Friday, after the State Supreme Court deadlocked over whether to vacate a lower courts injunction and allow the ban to take effect. That means abortion will remain legal in Iowa through 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Why It Matters

As one state after another banned or sharply limited access to abortion after Roe v. Wade was overturned, Iowas status as a place where abortion remained accessible was at stake.

The Iowa ban was dangerous, cruel and unconstitutional when the district court blocked it four years ago, and its still dangerous, cruel and unconstitutional today, said Rita Bettis Austen, legal director of A.C.L.U. of Iowa, a civil liberties advocacy group. Many Iowans were depending on the outcome of the case today, and we are celebrating the preservation of our freedom, health and safety.

Chris Schandevel, senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, which represented Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa in the case, said, Iowans will surely be disappointed by todays result, and rightly so. He added, Its time for the Legislature to act  once again  to protect life.

Background

The case revolved around a law signed in 2018 by Ms. Reynolds, a Republican, four years before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the national right to abortion that was codified in the Roe v. Wade decision.

Iowas 2018 law was blocked by a district judge, who cited an Iowa Supreme Court decision holding that the State Constitution provided a fundamental right to abortion  a decision that was later reversed.

In light of that and the end of Roe, Ms. Reynolds asked the district court to lift its permanent injunction against enforcing the 2018 law. But the district court said no, setting the stage for the Iowa Supreme Court to hear the case.

The higher court, whose members are all Republican appointees, deadlocked 3-3 on Friday, letting the lower courts injunction stand.

In a sharply worded opinion, the three justices who opposed lifting the injunction called the states request a poor vehicle to overrule the district court, writing, Nothing like this case has come up in Iowas legal history before or is likely to come up again.
Its a Monday evening in Minneapolis. Police respond to a call about a man who allegedly used a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes. Seventeen minutes later, the man they are there to investigate lies motionless on the ground, and is pronounced dead shortly after. The man was 46-year-old George Floyd, a bouncer originally from Houston who had lost his job at a restaurant when the coronavirus pandemic hit. Crowd: No justice, no peace. Floyds death triggered major protests in Minneapolis, and sparked rage across the country. One of the officers involved, Derek Chauvin, has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder. The other three officers have been charged with aiding and abetting murder. The Times analyzed bystander videos, security camera footage and police scanner audio, spoke to witnesses and experts, and reviewed documents released by the authorities to build as comprehensive a picture as possible and better understand how George Floyd died in police custody. The events of May 25 begin here. Floyd is sitting in the drivers seat of this blue S.U.V. Across the street is a convenience store called Cup Foods. Footage from this restaurant security camera helps us understand what happens next. Note that the timestamp on the camera is 24 minutes fast. At 7:57 p.m., two employees from Cup Foods confront Floyd and his companions about an alleged counterfeit bill he just used in their store to buy cigarettes. They demand the cigarettes back but walk away empty-handed. Four minutes later, they call the police. According to the 911 transcript, an employee says that Floyd used fake bills to buy cigarettes, and that he is awfully drunk and not in control of himself. Soon, the first police vehicle arrives on the scene. Officers Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng step out of the car and approach the blue S.U.V. Seconds later, Lane pulls his gun. We dont know exactly why. He orders Floyd to put his hands on the wheel. Lane reholsters the gun, and after about 90 seconds of back and forth, yanks Floyd out of the S.U.V. A man is filming the confrontation from a car parked behind them. The officers cuff Floyds hands behind his back. And Kueng walks him to the restaurant wall. All right, whats your name? From the 911 transcript and the footage, we now know three important facts: First, that the police believed they were responding to a man who was drunk and out of control. But second, even though the police were expecting this situation, we can see that Floyd has not acted violently. And third, that he seems to already be in distress. Six minutes into the arrest, the two officers move Floyd back to their vehicle. As the officers approach their car, we can see Floyd fall to the ground. According to the criminal complaints filed against the officers, Floyd says he is claustrophobic and refuses to enter the police car. During the struggle, Floyd appears to turn his head to address the officers multiple times. According to the complaints, he tells them he cant breathe. Nine minutes into the arrest, the third and final police car arrives on the scene. Its carrying officers Tou Thao and Derek Chauvin. Both have previous records of complaints brought against them. Thao was once sued for throwing a man to the ground and hitting him. Chauvin has been involved in three police shootings, one of them fatal. Chauvin becomes involved in the struggle to get Floyd into the car. Security camera footage from Cup Foods shows Kueng struggling with Floyd in the backseat while Thao watches. Chauvin pulls him through the back seat and onto the street. We dont know why. Floyd is now lying on the pavement, face down. Thats when two witnesses begin filming, almost simultaneously. The footage from the first witness shows us that all four officers are now gathered around Floyd. Its the first moment when we can clearly see that Floyd is face down on the ground, with three officers applying pressure to his neck, torso and legs. At 8:20 p.m., we hear Floyds voice for the first time. The video stops when Lane appears to tell the person filming to walk away. Get off to the sidewalk, please. One side or the other, please. The officers radio a Code 2, a call for non-emergency medical assistance, reporting an injury to Floyds mouth. In the background, we can hear Floyd struggling. The call is quickly upgraded to a Code 3, a call for emergency medical assistance. By now another bystander, 17-year-old Darnella Frazier, is filming from a different angle. Her footage shows that despite calls for medical help, Chauvin keeps Floyd pinned down for another seven minutes. We cant see whether Kueng and Lane are still applying pressure. Floyd: [gasping] Officer: What do you want? Bystander: Ive been  Floyd: [gasping] In the two videos, Floyd can be heard telling officers that he cant breathe at least 16 times in less than five minutes. Bystander: You having fun? But Chauvin never takes his knee off of Floyd, even as his eyes close and he appears to go unconscious. Bystander: Bro. According to medical and policing experts, these four police officers are committing a series of actions that violate policies, and in this case, turn fatal. Theyve kept Floyd lying face down, applying pressure for at least five minutes. This combined action is likely compressing his chest and making it impossible to breathe. Chauvin is pushing his knee into Floyds neck, a move banned by most police departments. Minneapolis Police Department policy states an officer can only do this if someone is, quote, actively resisting. And even though the officers call for medical assistance, they take no action to treat Floyd on their own while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Officer: Get back on the sidewalk. According to the complaints against the officers, Lane asks him twice if they should roll Floyd onto his side. Chauvin says no. Twenty minutes into the arrest, an ambulance arrives on the scene. Bystander: Get off of his neck! Bystander: Hes still on him? The E.M.T.s check Floyds pulse. Bystander: Are you serious? Chauvin keeps his knee on Floyds neck for almost another whole minute, even though Floyd appears completely unresponsive. He only gets off once the E.M.T.s tell him to. Chauvin kept his knee on Floyds neck for over eight minutes, according to our review of the video evidence. Floyd is loaded into the ambulance. The ambulance leaves the scene, possibly because a crowd is forming. But the E.M.T.s call for additional medical help from the fire department. But when the engine arrives, the officers give them, quote, no clear info on Floyd or his whereabouts, according to a fire department incident report. This delays their ability to help the paramedics. Meanwhile, Floyd is going into cardiac arrest. It takes the engine five minutes to reach Floyd in the ambulance. Hes pronounced dead at a nearby hospital around 9:25 p.m. Preliminary autopsies conducted by the state and Floyds family both ruled his death a homicide. The widely circulated arrest videos dont paint the entire picture of what happened to George Floyd. Crowd: Floyd! Floyd! Additional video and audio from the body cameras of the key officers would reveal more about why the struggle began and how it escalated. The city quickly fired all four officers. And Chauvin has been charged with second degree murder. Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao were charged with aiding and abetting murder. But outrage over George Floyds death has only spread further and further across the United States.
The courtroom was silent as U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Colville read the verdicts. Survivors of the attack and relatives of those who were killed locked hands. One woman, who had hidden in a closet as Mr. Bowers hunted worshipers in the synagogue, nodded her head each time the judge read out the verdict on a charge that involved her.

There was little doubt what the outcome would be in this first phase of the trial. Mr. Bowerss defense team questioned few of the prosecutions witnesses and did not call a single witness of their own. His lawyers have not disputed that he planned and carried out the massacre, which is considered to be the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.

The primary objective for the defense, as conveyed in court filings before the trial, has been to avoid a death sentence. Lawyers for Mr. Bowers made offers to have him plead guilty to all counts in exchange for a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, but the Justice Department rejected those offers.

In the first phase of the trial, defense lawyers raised questions about Mr. Bowerss motives and intent, and whether the evidence presented by the government satisfied the elements of some of the federal charges. They also suggested that his state of mind may be a key part of their arguments in the penalty phase.

How and why did this man, who up until Oct. 27, 2018, had lived a solitary and law-abiding life, wreak the havoc and destruction that he did? Elisa Long, a federal public defender who is representing Mr. Bowers, said in her closing argument.
The Justice Department accused the Minneapolis Police Department of rampant discrimination, unlawful conduct and systemic mismanagement in a scathing 89-page report released on Friday.

The federal investigation, launched in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis officer, found that the systemic problems in M.P.D. made what happened to George Floyd possible.

Here are some of the key allegations in the report, which echoes complaints that some Minneapolis residents have made for years, and which could lead to a court-enforced consent decree:
Even with majorities in both houses of Congress during Mr. Bidens first two years in office, Democrats could not pass a ban on assault weapons. Any effort now is almost certain to fail in the Republican-controlled House, as the party has largely united against new gun control measures.

But Mr. Biden said on Friday that Congress must find a way to tighten the laws.

If this Congress refuses to act, Mr. Biden said, we need a new Congress.

One year ago, a bipartisan group of lawmakers struck a narrow compromise, galvanized by a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 children and two teachers.

The bill expanded background checks for gun buyers and set aside millions of dollars so states can pay for intervention programs, such as mental health and drug courts, and carry out red flag laws that allow authorities to temporarily confiscate guns from any person found by a judge to be too dangerous to possess them.

Mr. Biden said Friday that the Justice Department has provided more than $230 million for states to expand such laws, and the Department of Health and Human Services has also provided more than $1.5 billion to states to hire 14,000 mental health professionals for schools.
Why It Matters: The mission had cost tens of millions of dollars each year.

The withdrawal of the Coast Guard unit is likely to save money on what has been an expensive enterprise of the war against terrorism. In 2019, the operation cost more than $13 million per prisoner a year.

In a report to Congress, the Department of Homeland Security said it spent more than $50 million in 2021 to deploy and maintain 180 Coast Guard members to Guantanamo Bay.

The decision likely also signals an intelligence assessment that fears have ebbed about Al Qaeda or other enemies attacking the base from the sea.

Background: The deployment was a response to post-9/11 fears.

The Defense Department scrambled the first Coast Guard port security unit to Guantanamo in January 2002, before the first detainees arrived.

Thirty-nine U.S.-based Coast Guard or Coast Guard Reserve security units deployed in succession to the detention operation, starting and ending with the same Virginia unit, which shut down the military mission this week.

The special teams, with gunners equipped with .50 caliber machine guns, were a consistent security presence on the bay as U.S. forces ferried detainees from the base airstrip to the prison.

Detention operation commanders said through the years that no enemy forces were ever encountered, though from time to time the units intercepted would-be migrants approaching the base.

Whats Next: Existing base forces will cover their duties.

The Coast Guard said in a news release that the harbor patrol and Marine security forces on the base would handle the antiterrorism force protection duties. Those units do not work for the detention operation, but rather they answer to the Navy base commander.

The Coast Guard made the announcement this week as hearings resumed at Guantanamo in a death penalty case against a Saudi prisoner who is accused of orchestrating Al Qaedas suicide bombing of the U.S.S. Cole warship off Yemen on Oct. 12, 2000. Seventeen sailors were killed.



This month, the military will install its 22nd commander of the Guantanamo detention mission. An Army colonel will take charge after two decades of command by one- and two-star generals or admirals.
Why It Matters

The clash reflects two divergent approaches to dealing with a rising China, and could influence forthcoming debates over military spending. Republicans have accused the Biden administration of responding fecklessly to Chinese provocations, like the spy balloon that flew over the United States earlier this year, and argue it would be more prudent to make displays of military solidarity with Taiwan than pursue a diplomatic thaw.

Engagement disconnected from a robust military deterrent? Im not sure what it will actually achieve, said Representative Mike Gallagher, Republican of Wisconsin and the chairman of a House panel focused on strategic competition with China.

But Democrats argue that engagement is crucial. Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said he hoped that during the summit, we can create some level of communication, particularly on the defense side, so that we can deconflict with Beijing.

Background

Beijing cut off a series of diplomatic, military and energy engagements with the United States last year, in the wake of then-Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan over the objections of China. Relations between the two countries experienced another setback earlier this year, when the Chinese spy balloon floated over the United States, hovering near sensitive military sites. Mr. Blinken canceled a planned trip to Beijing in the aftermath of the balloon incident.

Last week, revelations that China has operated spy facilities in Cuba since at least 2019 and recently improved their ability to monitor electronic communications inside the United States threatened to disrupt Mr. Blinkens travel plans once again. They also inspired a round of vitriol from the G.O.P. lawmakers against Mr. Blinken for continuing to pursue high-level talks with Beijing.

Whats Next

Mr. McCaul is trying to prove that State Department officials intentionally dragged their feet on punishing China by demanding to see the departments so-called competitive actions calendars. The documents would show how long it took the department to implement certain measures, such as sanctions or export controls, after they were announced, if at all.

The State Department was not expected to meet the 6 p.m. deadline Mr. McCaul set for producing the documents.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. Tax and customs benefits for the production of equipment for de-mining and armored clothing have been proposed to be introduced in Azerbaijan, Trend reports.

This issue has been reflected in the amendment to the Tax Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, submitted for discussion at today's extraordinary meeting of the Azerbaijani Parliament.

As part of the clearance of liberated territories, as well as other territories affected by war and hostilities, from mines and unexploded ordnance, explosive devices and other explosive residues, the import of all types of machinery, equipment, technical means and devices, their spare parts, individual armor protection clothes, tools, equipment for the creation and (or) production of explosives and pyrotechnics, their components and raw materials, as well as sapper dogs, has been proposed to be exempted from tax from March 1, 2023 for a period of five years.

After discussion, the amendment was put to the vote and adopted in the third reading.

Following the liberation of its lands in the Second Karabakh War, Azerbaijan from Nov. 2020 started carrying out operations on clearing its lands of mines, booby traps, and various weapons left behind by the Armenian troops.
The federal prosecutors overseeing the classified documents case against former President Donald J. Trump said in court papers on Friday that the evidence they are poised to give the defense as part of the normal process of discovery contained information about ongoing investigations that could identify uncharged individuals.

The court papers  a standard request to place a protective order on the discovery material  contained no explanation about what those other inquiries might be or whether they were related to the indictment detailing charges against Mr. Trump of illegally retaining dozens of national defense documents and obstructing the governments efforts to get them back. The papers also did not identify who the uncharged people were.

Still, the reference to continuing investigations was the first overt suggestion  however vague  that other criminal cases could emerge from the work that the special counsel Jack Smith has done in bringing the Espionage Act and obstruction indictment against Mr. Trump in Miami last week.

Mr. Smith is also overseeing the parallel investigation into Mr. Trumps efforts to reverse his election loss in 2020 and the ensuing assault on the Capitol by a mob of his supporters on Jan. 6, 2021.
Jonathan Goodman, the magistrate judge assigned to handle Donald J. Trumps arraignment, did something of a double take during the proceeding on Tuesday, when the Justice Department offered the former president a bond deal that was not merely lenient but imposed virtually no restrictions on him at all.

Jack Smith, the special counsel overseeing the prosecution for the department, opted not to request conditions routinely imposed on other defendants seeking to be released from custody, like cash bail, limits on domestic travel or turning in his passport.

But Judge Goodman, tasked with hashing out a bond agreement during a one-day cameo appearance on the case, was not entirely on board. He suggested that Mr. Trump be compelled to avoid all contact with co-defendants, victims and witnesses except through counsel. Mr. Smiths deputy, David Harbach, joined Mr. Trumps lawyers in opposing that idea  but the judge imposed a version of it anyway.

The first courtroom skirmish in United States v. Donald J. Trump underscored the legal perils the former president faces and his determination to make the indictment a centerpiece of a 2024 presidential campaign fueled by grievance and retribution.
An owner of a Northern California taqueria was the target of a federal wage theft investigation in November 2021 when he brought in a strange guest to talk to his employees.

Eduardo Hernandez told workers at Taqueria Garibaldi in Sacramento that the man, who claimed to be a priest, was there to hear confession and help with mental health, according to an account that one employee gave federal regulators.

But the employee, Maria Parra, found her interaction with the man to be more like an interrogation than a confession. Ms. Parra said that he told her he would ask her questions to get the sins out of me. But when the questioning began, the man mostly had work-related questions, she said.

The priest asked if I had stolen anything at work, if I was late to my employment, if I did anything to harm my employer and if I had any bad intentions toward my employment, Ms. Parra said in a sworn declaration.
Just over a year before the attack on Pearl Harbor, 15 sailors assigned to the U.S.S. Philadelphia wrote a letter to a Black newspaper detailing the abuse and indignities they had faced on the warship solely because of the color of their skin.

When they enlisted, the Navy had promised training and assignments that would lead to advancement, but the Black sailors soon found that those opportunities did not exist for them. They were forced to be servants for the ships officers, limited to waiting on tables and making beds as so-called mess attendants, they wrote.

For daring to speak out, a few of the men were jailed and all of them were kicked out of the Navy with discharges that forever labeled them as unfit to serve.

The plight of the group, which became known as the Philadelphia 15, faded from public attention as World War II erupted. But the injustice they faced, and the stigma their discharge papers carried, lived on for more than 80 years.
Two summers ago, an insurgent group of ultraconservative Southern Baptists branded themselves as pirates, vowing to take the ship of the nations largest Protestant denomination and steer it farther to the right on issues like sexuality and race.

They were determined to halt what they saw as rising liberalism and drift from biblical truth. Many were outraged that one of their most prominent churches had ordained three women. Opponents pushed back, arguing that a spirit of welcome could help stem declining membership.

Now, the ultraconservatives are seizing power, and the ship is beginning to turn.

The dramatic fight that played out this week in New Orleans at the Southern Baptists annual convention, where delegates moved to purge women from church leadership, provides an early look into the psyche of much of evangelical America and the cultural direction of a key Republican voting bloc ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

The crackdown on women is, on its face, about biblical interpretation. But it also stems from growing anxieties many evangelicals have about what they see as swiftly changing norms around gender and sexuality in America.
The Justice Department and Minneapolis officials on Friday said they had agreed to negotiate toward a deal for overhauling the Police Department that could be enforced by a court.

Such agreements are known as consent decrees, and typically, a federal judge, along with an independent monitor, is appointed to oversee the changes and ensure they are carried out.

Consent decrees can last for years, since federal oversight is removed only when the judge has determined that the department has met the goals and made the changes outlined in the agreement. The Los Angeles Police Department, for example, was under a consent decree for 11 years, until it was deemed fully compliant in 2013. The Detroit Police Department emerged from a consent decree in 2016 after 13 years.

In a 2021 memo outlining principles of consent decrees, Merrick B. Garland, the attorney general, said that consent decrees ensure that agencies will be under an independent review and that the agreement can be promptly enforced if its terms are broken.
When, in mid-April, heavy fighting broke out between the countrys army and the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, Mr. Pagoulatos cooped up in the hotel with his sister-in-law Eleonora, three staff members and four guests, and waited. Makis was in Greece at the time, and the hotels 50 rooms were mostly unoccupied, in part because of security concerns.

We thought, It will pass, it always does, he said in a recent interview in Athens, where he reluctantly evacuated to join the rest of his family.

Losing his beloved brother George, Eleonoras husband, months earlier had already made this a terrible period for the Pagoulatoses. How much worse could it possibly get?

It turned out, quite a lot.

For the first few days of the fighting, encouraged by Mr. Pagoulatos, the group  one Sudanese and two Philippine staff members, two German tourists, and a Brazilian and an Italian archaeologist  stayed calm.

They had no running water or electricity, but the kitchen had a basic stock of food and drinking water. Mr. Pagoulatos couldnt fully fathom the chaos that was spreading across his beloved city, but he did know that it was at his doorstep.
More broadly, Mr. Xi has been fixated on national security during his decade in power, emphasizing the need for self-reliance and suggesting that threats to the Chinese Communist Partys rule are ubiquitous. Rising nationalist sentiment in China  often stoked by the authorities  cheers on Beijings hawkish foreign policy.

Washington faces its own domestic pressures not to appear soft; a tougher approach to China has become a rare area of bipartisan consensus. President Biden, even as he has declared his desire for dialogue, has described China as Americas greatest geopolitical challenge. The United States has issued a barrage of sanctions on Chinese officials and companies, and tried to cut off Chinese access to critical technology globally. Some in Congress have accused the administration of still being overly accommodating to China, such as when it downplayed recent reports that China was building a spy station in Cuba.

With both sides staking out seemingly intractable positions, few officials and experts harbor hope of any major breakthroughs from Mr. Blinkens visit, the first by an American secretary of state since 2018. It was unclear whether he would meet with Mr. Xi.

At the heart of Beijings chilly posture toward Mr. Blinkens visit is its claim that American overtures are insincere, and its treatment of China unjust. When Mr. Blinken postponed his previously scheduled visit in February, over a Chinese spy balloon, Beijing called it an overreaction. China has also dismissed American accusations that it was considering arming Russia in its war in Ukraine, and cited American efforts to rally allies to restrict technology exports to China as proof of a containment campaign.
Japan changed its definition of rape and raised the age of consent to 16, from 13, on Friday, bringing the countrys sex crimes laws closer in line with those in the United States and Europe.

The new law  passed unanimously by the Upper House of Parliament and therefore now fully adopted  defines rape as nonconsensual sexual intercourse and removes a previous requirement that the crime include physical force. Until now, Japans laws on sexual assault did not mention consent, reflecting skepticism that anyone could be forced into sex without violence.

Japan previously had one of the lowest ages of consent among wealthy countries, leaving children vulnerable to sexual abuse by adults. Still, under the new law, for victims between the ages of 13 and 15, sex would be considered a crime only if the partner is five or more years older than the child. The new law, which had been approved by the House of Representatives in May, is the first time Japan has changed its age of consent in more than 100 years.

The new law outlines various conditions under which a person might be afraid to say no to sex, even if not directly threatened with violence. Those situations include when a victim has consumed alcohol or drugs or when an offender frightens or startles them.
Boris Johnsons image was splashed across the front pages of London newspapers on Friday, a day after a parliamentary committee condemned him for misleading lawmakers about parties during the coronavirus pandemic. But it was conspicuously absent from The Daily Mail, the biggest and most influential British tabloid.

That is  until one looked above the headline about Mr. Johnsons latest woes to a curiously familiar silhouette of a figure with a generous head of hair. Next to it was a headline that said, Starting tomorrow: Our erudite new columnist, wholl be required reading in Westminster  and across the world!

A spokesman for The Mail, Sean Walsh, confirmed that the mysterious new writer was Mr. Johnson, the former prime minister. Shortly before 5 p.m. local time, his first weekly column was posted on The Mails website  a breezy essay about his misadventures with an appetite-suppressing drug. Mr. Walsh said it would appear as a full page in print on Saturday.

Image Fridays cover of The Daily Mail, promising a new columnist.

Mr. Johnsons maiden effort seemed counterintuitively gentle. He wrote about his yearning to become an ex-glutton, a person of moderation and grace and restraint with no more raiding the fridge at 11:30 p.m. for the cheddar and chorizo washed down with half a bottle of wine and lamented that the drug he was injecting ultimately failed to work.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. Azerbaijani citizens purchased 336 real estate objects in Turkiye from January through May 2023, which is 43 objects less compared to the same period last year, Trend reports.

According to the Turkish State Body for Land Inventory and Sale of Real Estate, Azerbaijani citizens purchased 336 real estate objects in Turkiye in April of this year, which is 181 objects less in comparison with April 2022.

A total of 113,276 apartments were purchased in Turkiye in May 2023, which is 7.7 percent less than in May 2022. While 482,143 apartments were purchased there from January through May 2023.

These figures are 16.3 percent lower compared to the same period of 2022.

As many as 3,167 apartments were sold to foreign citizens in Turkiye in May 2023, which is 46.9 percent less in comparison with the same period of 2022. Foreign citizens purchased 16,650 apartments in Turkiye from January through May of the same year, which is 37.8 percent less than in the same period last year.
At the end of a long stretch of sandy beach, a weathered warehouse in the Greek port of Kalamata held the survivors of one of the worst shipwrecks in Europe in a decade.

Inside, dazed men from Syria, Egypt and Pakistan, all with numbered badges around their necks, languished on tightly packed corridors of thin mattresses. Outside, relatives who had flown in from around Europe pressed the authorities for information. They then found a crack on the side of the building between an aluminum shutter and a concrete wall, peered through and consoled the loved ones they could see and inquired about the fates of all those they could not.

I have two brothers, said Odai Altalab, a 35-year-old Syrian who had rushed down from his home in Manchester, England. One of them, Mohammed, sat on the other side of the wall. The other, I dont know. We need to know who is dead. Who is dead?
Pope Francis returned to the Vatican on Friday after he was released from a Rome hospital following abdominal surgery for a hernia, the third time in two years that the 86-year-old pontiff has been hospitalized.

Francis left the Policlinico A. Gemelli hospital on Friday morning, nine days after surgeons operated on what is known as an incisional hernia, typically the consequence of previous operations, that had been causing painful intestinal blockages. When he arrived at the Vatican he entered through a side gate, not stopping to speak to the reporters crowded outside.

The pope smiled as he left the hospital in a wheelchair along a sidewalk lined with dozens of well-wishers. Reporters and photographers jostled for his attention, but the pope did not stop. Before getting into the front seat of his car, he shook hands with Sergio Alfieri, the surgeon who had operated on him, and waved to the crowd.
President Vladimir V. Putin on Friday rejected suggestions that Russia had become isolated over its invasion of Ukraine, telling an audience in St. Petersburg that the Russian economy was resilient and that Moscows ties with other nations had grown.

The Russian leader spoke at the annual international economic forum in St. Petersburg, which long was the countrys premier event for attracting Western investors. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year and Western economic sanctions imposed as a result, the forum has transformed into a shadow of its former self.

Mr. Putin has repeatedly sought to reassure his domestic audience that Russia can sustain its economy despite the sanctions by pivoting to Asia and other regions. He struck a similar tone on Friday, telling the forum that Russia has not been on a path of isolationism but rather has expanded contacts with what he described as reliable partners.

In his speech, Mr. Putin barely mentioned the war, referring to it only indirectly in terms of the economic challenges brought by Western sanctions that he suggested were ultimately making Russia stronger. The very fabric of economic life was being rewoven, he said.
A Russian activist has died in prison days after describing being tortured and expressing fear for his life, according to his lawyer, in what is believed to be the first known death in custody of a Russian opponent of the war in Ukraine.

Anatoly Berezikov, 40, died about a month after he was detained by the police in his home in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and charged with misdemeanors, which he denied. A local human rights activist said Mr. Berezikov told her in his last court appearance that he put up posters around the city promoting the antiwar initiative called I Want to Live, which helps Russian servicemen in Ukraine to surrender, and that it had made him a target.

The Rostov region police told local news media that Mr. Berezikov was found without signs of life in his cell on Wednesday, an account that tried to portray his death as a suicide. The police declined to provide additional details when contacted by The New York Times, and no other official has commented on Mr. Berezikovs death.

Mr. Berezikov is believed to be the first person in Russia to die in police custody after being jailed for opposing the invasion of Ukraine. Tens of thousands of Russians have been detained since the start of the war under draconian laws that criminalize dissent, but most were released soon after.
At night, she had looked at the twinkling lights of her home city, just a mile or so away but a world apart. For months, she had been kept away by the dangers of Russias war in Ukraine, stranded on a river island, after the front line shifted while she was on vacation.

To feed her children, she fished in the Dnipro River and scavenged for canned goods in abandoned summer homes. She hid from Russian soldiers who sometimes patrolled the island, and listened in fear as artillery streaked overhead.

Only by the chance of a massive flood washing over the island  and washing away some Russian positions  was Kateryna Krupych able to escape Russian-occupied Ukraine in the south.

The destruction of a dam along the Dnipro River and the flood that followed brought devastation to tens of thousands of people in southern Ukraine. To Ms Krupych and dozens of others, it brought freedom, a chance to reunite with their loved ones.
This week, the head of the United Nations atomic watchdog, Rafael Mariano Grossi, was so concerned about a new risk at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant that he flew to Ukraine and crossed the front line in the countrys war with Russia to see the situation for himself.

Mr. Grossi had been to the plant before and had also expressed grave concerns about the potential for nuclear catastrophe, but this threat was different: The recent destruction of a dam on the Dnipro River had deprived the plant of the main source of water used for the critical task of cooling its six reactors and spent fuel rods.

But on Friday, after his visit to the plant, Mr. Grossi presented some good news, saying that the existing stored water at the plant would support the reactors for a few months and that the authorities there had started to take other steps to replenish the supply.
One American woman was killed and another was injured on Wednesday when a man pushed them down a cliff near Neuschwanstein Castle, the popular German tourist site at the foot of the Alps, the local police said.

The police in Bavaria  the state containing the castle, which is said to have been the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland in California  said they had arrested a 30-year-old American suspect after a manhunt that included a helicopter and search dogs. They appealed for any witnesses who may have seen or filmed the deadly episode, in which the man was also said to have tried to sexually assault one of the women.

Its a very rare and noteworthy thing to happen there, said Holger Stabik, a police spokesman. We very rarely have any crime there at all.

The police did not release the victims or the suspects names or home states.

The two women, friends age 21 and 22, were visiting the site as tourists, the police said in a statement. On Wednesday, the women were near the castle when they met an American man, who persuaded them to join him on a little-used unofficial hiking trail that led into a forest and toward the picturesque cliffs surrounding the castle, the police said.
The reactions from Republicans in Congress to former President Donald J. Trumps indictment on charges related to his handling of sensitive documents have ranged from rare acknowledgments that the former president may have, in fact, committed a crime to more extreme  and more common  statements comparing the United States under the Biden administration to a banana republic or a dictatorship.

Of the 271 Republicans in the House and Senate, more than half have issued formal statements or posted comments on social media about the new charges facing Mr. Trump.

Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Brian Fitzpatrick Pa. 1st Ken Buck Colo. 4th Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Mitt Romney Utah Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Brian Fitzpatrick Pa. 1st Ken Buck Colo. 4th Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Mitt Romney Utah Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Brian Fitzpatrick Pa. 1st Ken Buck Colo. 4th Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Mitt Romney Utah SEN. HOUSE Ken Buck Colo. 4th MORE conservative Mitt Romney Utah Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative SEN. HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Doug LaMalfa Calif. 1st Mike Kelly Pa.16th Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Ted Budd N.C. Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Doug LaMalfa Calif. 1st Mike Kelly Pa. 16th Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Ted Budd N.C. Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Doug LaMalfa Calif. 1st Mike Kelly Pa. 16th Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Ted Budd N.C. SEN. HOUSE MORE conservative Doug LaMalfa Calif. 1st Mike Kelly Pa. 16th Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative SEN. HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Kevin Calvert Calif. 41st George Santos N.Y. 3rd Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Roger Wicker Miss. Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Kevin Calvert Calif. 41st George Santos N.Y. 3rd Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Roger Wicker Miss. Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Kevin Calvert Calif. 41st George Santos N.Y. 3rd Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Roger Wicker Miss. SEN. HOUSE MORE conservative George Santos N.Y. 3rd Kevin Calvert Calif. 41st Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative SEN. HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Lauren Boebert Colo. 3rd Tom Emmer Minn. 6th Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Ted Cruz Texas Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Lauren Boebert Colo. 3rd Tom Emmer Minn. 6th Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Ted Cruz Texas Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Lauren Boebert Colo. 3rd Tom Emmer Minn. 6th Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Ted Cruz Texas SEN. HOUSE Lauren Boebert Colo. 3rd Ted Cruz Texas MORE conservative Tom Emmer Minn. 6th Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative SEN. HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Byron Donalds Fla. 19th Eli Crane Ariz. 2nd Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Ron Johnson Wis. Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Byron Donalds Fla. 19th Eli Crane Ariz. 2nd Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Ron Johnson Wis. Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Byron Donalds Fla. 19th Eli Crane Ariz. 2nd Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Ron Johnson Wis. SEN. HOUSE Byron Donalds Fla. 19th Ron Johnson Wis. MORE conservative Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative SEN. HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Paul Gosar Ariz. 9th Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Josh Hawley Mo. Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Paul Gosar Ariz. 9th Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Josh Hawley Mo. Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Paul Gosar Ariz. 9th Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Josh Hawley Mo. SEN. HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative Less conservative HOUSE MORE conservative Less conservative SENATE MORE conservative SEN. HOUSE MORE conservative According to an analysis by The New York Times, a small number of Republicans have made statements about the indictment that did not immediately dismiss the investigation. I am shocked at the alleged callousness of how these documents were handled, read part of a statement from Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska. They should not have been stored in his home and should have been completely handed over when the government requested. At least 100 Republicans, from across the partys ideological spectrum, have questioned the circumstances around the indictment, the timing of its release or a perceived unfairness in how the law has been applied. Many of these statements mention accusations against President Biden. Some stop short of attacking the content of the indictment itself. Many officials, from Secretary Hillary Clinton to then-Senator Joe Biden, handled classified info after their time in office & were never charged, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy wrote in a tweet. Now Bidens leading political opponent is indicteda double standard that must be investigated. A similar number of lawmakers have attacked the motivation behind the special counsels investigation, saying that the Justice Department has been weaponized to pursue Mr. Trump or that the indictment represents political persecution. This indictment is yet another unprecedented move by Bidens Department of Justice, and the American people know that it is weaponization of the federal government at the highest level, a statement from Representative Daniel Webster of Florida read in part. Almost two dozen of the officials went further, calling either the investigation or the indictment phony, garbage, a hoax, a sham, a farce or a witch hunt. This sham indictment is the continuation of the endless political persecution of Donald Trump, Representative Steve Scalise, the House majority leader, tweeted. In at least 19 cases, legislators have claimed that the indictment amounts to election interference on behalf of Mr. Biden. Mr. Trump is currently the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. President Bidens DOJ is attempting to put his political opposition behind bars - this is election interference at the highest level and an attack on our justice system, Representative Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee wrote on Twitter. And at least 33 members have wielded even more extreme rhetoric, comparing the United States to an autocratic or otherwise undemocratic country with terms like banana republic, third world and authoritarian. The Biden administrations actions can only be compared to the type of oppressive tactics routinely seen in nations such as Venezuela, Bolivia, and Nicaragua, which are absolutely alien and unacceptable in America, read part of a statement that Senator Mike Lee of Utah posted on Twitter.

The Justice Department has traditionally operated independently from the White House, and Mr. Biden has said he will never interfere with that independence. The special counsel behind the indictment, Jack Smith, was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland, and President Biden said last week that he had not spoken with Mr. Garland about the investigation and would not do so.

Mr. Garland also appointed a special counsel to investigate classified documents found in Mr. Bidens possession late last year and early this year, as well as another prosecutor to look into the financial dealings of Mr. Bidens son Hunter.

Though Mr. Bidens handling of documents was frequently compared to Mr. Trumps by Republicans seeking to downplay Mr. Trumps indictment, significant differences exist between the two cases. Mr. Trump worked to conceal boxes of sensitive documents from investigators, according to the indictment, while Mr. Bidens own lawyers found the classified papers and reported their discovery to officials.
Videos show a view looking up at a building in Russia and then zooming down to a small antiwar figurine there.

Videos show a view looking up at a building in Russia and then zooming down to a small antiwar figurine there.

With Putins crackdown on protests of the Ukraine war, people have found ways to express their opposition through small displays of resistance.

Fish, asterisks, blank messages and the crossed out Z letter: All of these are symbols of opposition to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. In a country where public criticism of the war comes with the threat of incarceration, protesters have taken to social media to remain anonymous and adopted a secret language to convey dissent for the Kremlin.

Last year in St. Petersburg, an artist uploaded a few images of tiny clay figurines in a public space to Instagram under the account Malenkiy Piket, meaning Small Protest. In a separate post, he invited others to join him in his silent demonstration.

One of Malenkiy Pikets first posts.

Since that post, he has received almost 2,000 images containing homemade figurines, many holding posters of protest with curious symbology. Contributors are able to preserve their anonymity by sending private messages in the app to the artist, who then posts their images. At its peak, the account received around 60 images daily, the artist told The Times.

Sending such pictures, even privately, carries enormous risk: Sharing antiwar messages can be a cause for imprisonment. Hiding figurines in public spaces could be captured by surveillance cameras. Police used CCTV footage to track and arrest one contributor in 2022.

Dont be silent

Using strategic ambiguity to protest authoritarian governments is not unique to Russia: pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong held up blank signs as a form of protest, and social media users in China used the candle emoji to commemorate the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

The artist told The Times that its important for people to see that Russians oppose the war, too. Not everyone is with Putin. We know how the media just skips this, cuts out everything that shows people against it.

The messages in the images

FISH

In 2022, a woman was arrested for writing  ***e in graffiti in a public square, putting asterisks instead of letters in some places. The police believed she had intended to write the word  for war, but the woman said she had written , a fish native to the Caspian Sea that Russians traditionally eat with beer or vodka.

The story went viral, producing tons of memes and even a song. The woman was eventually fined, but by then, her story had already turned the vobla fish and asterisks into symbols of protest.

Next to a road. At the base of a sculpture. Three asterisks, followed by five more. A code among protesters meaning   (No to War). In a bush.

BLANK POSTERS

Blank posters underscore how Russia has criminalized free speech. During the first months of 2022, after Russia invaded Ukraine, many Russians took to the streets with blank posters, and the police arrested them.

A mouthless monk sitting on a fence. A sticker attached to a lamp post on Bolotnaya Naberezhnaya, Moscow. By a river. By a road.

ANTIWAR FLAG

Recognized as an antiwar symbol, the white flag with a blue stripe in the middle was created by Russians who opposed the invasion of Ukraine and disapproved of Putins government.

A Ukrainian flag is sometimes paired with an antiwar flag. Paper figurines stuck to a graffitied wall. Both flags are again represented in the embrace of these crying figurines, atop a memorial stone. A fence outside of a Russian government building.

The crossed out Z

Members of the Russian army emblazon their tanks and trucks with the letter Z to differentiate themselves from Ukrainians in the field. Many of Malenkiy Pikets images show the letter Z crossed out.

This figurine wears Ukraines colors. On a park bench. Attached to a wall.

Peace

About a hundred images shared by Malenkiy Piket show the peace sign.

At the foot of a statue in a public square. On the ground. At the Moskva River, across from Moscows Red Square. At a bus stop.

Messages in Russian

Most of the figurines hold messages written in Russian. Malenkiy Piket said that most of the images he received were from people living in Russia, but many were sent from Ukraine and other former Soviet states.

As long as Putin is here, there will be war, reads a poster held by a paper doll on a supermarket shelf. NO No to war PEACE TO THE WORLD!

Down with the autocracy Russia = Putin Putin = War Stop killing children Peace to Ukraine, freedom for Russia, reads this poster just outside of the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces.

International support

Hundreds of images show the Ukrainian flag. Hundreds more have messages written in English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and other languages.

A doll on a mailbox in the U.K. holding a Ukrainian flag. The unprovoked invasion A doll whose location is tagged as Argentina holds a poster with the inscription peace in Spanish. At the Colosseum in Rome.

These little men did what it became impossible for us to do openly. And I saw that there are people who, like me, are against this war, said a contributor, an activist who lives in Russia.

She explained that she searches for a public place where there are no cameras and waits for the moment when no one is around. I take a photo and quickly leave. It's like a game sometimes, she said. And it would be fun if not for the context.

Another contributor said she was inspired to send images to Malenkiy Piket because she said her images can last longer than the street protests, which were broken up by the police long ago.

Its important also for people like myself to see that Im not alone, she said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. The private sector (especially non-energy), should play a key role in a new growth model to boost Azerbaijan's per capita income, the World Bank (WB) Chief Economist for the South Caucasus Arvind Nair told reporters, Trend reports.

One of the key findings of the Global Economic Prospects report is that Azerbaijan has the opportunity to increase its per capita income by 40 percent over its baseline trajectory by 2050, and we have considered some of the key aspects for this new growth model or new approach to growth," Nair said.

According to him, the first point is that this growth must be led by the private sector, especially the non-energy private sector, and significant reforms need to be made to increase its productivity.

"So, we have considered three key reforms. The first is to improve access to finance, the second is to improve access to skills for the private sector, and the third is to improve the conditions for competition," he noted.

Besides, according to the expert, another key element in addition to improving the productivity of the private sector is the sphere of human capital.

Even on a global scale, human capital is the key to long-term growth, and in the Global Economic Prospects report, we consider options for how to do this by investing more and better in education. Our report is fully consistent with the strategy of socio-economic development and the growth model proposed in accordance with it," Nair added.

In the first quarter of this year, income per capita in Azerbaijan amounted to 1,823 manat ($1,072), which is growth of 14.4 percent year on year.
The StockCam is an unusual camera cage for photography enthusiasts who need multiple mounting points for various accessories, as well as stability and better camera handling. Its also shaped like an assault rifle

If youre a photographer whos also into guns, youll probably love the design of the StockCam. It combines the functionality and convenience of a high-quality camera cage, with the aesthetics of a modern assault rifle. It even features a trigger to activate the shutter or lock the cage to ensure that the shutter doesnt accidentally get pressed. You actually use it by pressing the stock against your shoulder and looking into the camera display as you would in a gun scope, and then press the trigger to shoot, as in take a picture. But can you imagine using one of these things around police?

The first time I stumbled upon a video of the StockCam on an obscure Japanese website, I was convinced it was some sort of a joke, as the idea of disguising a camera cage as a realistic assault rifle seemed, well, dangerous. But then I studied the product a bit, and it looked a bit too well-thought-out to be a spoof. It does offer plenty of functionality, with multiple mounts for things like microphones, lights, and spare camera lenses, and the trigger is designed to work like an actual camera shutter, with light presses used for focusing, and hard presses for taking shots.

The thing is that whoever designed the StockCam wanted it to look like a real gun. They could have simply made it bright yellow or orange, but instead, they went for the gun black which only enhances its similarity to a real firearm. Even the guy in the promotional photos and videos is wearing a military-type vest  albeit one with the Rockstar logo on it  so the military look is intentional.

If youre going to use something like the StockCam to take photos of birds in the wilderness, maybe youll be fine, but if you bust something like this out in a US city, youre asking for trouble. This thing looks way too realistic not to be confused with an assault rifle, and do you really want to get shot? And I dont mean photographed.



For more information on the StockCam, check out the official website. They actually have a 50% early bird discount, if youre considering getting one.


Riverside Co. Wants Vaccination PR Wed., Jul. 19, 2023 Riverside County, which is home to 2.4M southern Californians, is looking for a firm to develop a public health campaign that emphasizes the importance of getting COVID-19 and flu vaccinations.
OFFALY will gain an extra TD if the commission reviewing the Dail constituencies follows advice given to it in the last couple of months.

The Electoral Commission has received numerous submissions recommending that Laois-Offaly, currently a five-seat constituency, become instead two separate three-seaters.

In the 2020 election voters elected three TDs in Laois, Charlie Flanagan (Fine Gael), Sean Fleming (Fianna Fail) and Brian Stanley (Sinn Fein) but just two in Offaly, Barry Cowen (Fianna Fail) and Carol Nolan (Independent).

All five had also been elected in the 2016 general election when Offaly and Laois were split in two and had three TDs each. The sixth winner that year, Offaly's Fine Gael candidate, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, lost her seat in 2020.

The candidate who finished sixth in the last count in 2020 was the Green Party's Pippa Hackett and though she was subsequently elected to the senate and then appointed a junior minister, she will be under pressure to perform as well in the next election, which is due in early 2025 at the latest.

While opinion polls point to a Green collapse nationally they also indicate a record vote for Sinn Fein but its former TD in Offaly, Deputy Nolan, is no longer a member because of her anti-abortion position. Both of Sinn Fein's two council area poll toppers, Brendan Killeavy in Tullamore and Martin O'Reilly from Daingean, resigned their seats before the 2019 local elections and the party now has no councillors in Offaly.

Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and non-party representatives will also target the third seat. On a very good day for Fine Gael, the party could repeat its success of 2016, an election which was unusual in that it saw two TDs returned from the south of the county, Deputy Nolan and Ms Corcoran Kennedy. Kinnitty councillor John Clendennen might seek a nomination.

Despite the party's poll ratings, Fianna Fail will see Barry Cowen as their racing certainty for a return to the Dail but they will have to decide on a running mate. Geographical and population considerations would again make a north Offaly candidate the most likely choice, with Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick the front runner for a place on the ballot paper. He was only 170 votes behind Deputy Nolan in the last count in 2016. That said, Shinrone councillor Peter Ormond may still have ambitions for a Dail run.

A guaranteed three seats in Offaly might also influence the pre-election thinking of some previously unsuccessful Dail candidates who are still members of the County Council, the Independent representatives John Foley, John Leahy and Ken Smollen.

Banagher Social Democrats councillor Claire Claffey has indicated she may seek a seat too.

Because of continuing population growth, the Electoral Commission is conducting a review of all constituencies in Ireland and the Dail will have to increase from its current compliment of 160 seats to between 171 and 181.

The five-seat constituency of Laois-Offaly was a near constant in the electoral arrangements from the foundation of the State but population increases in recent decades put that tradition under pressure and Aghancon, Barna, Cangort, Cullenwaine, Dunkerrin, Ettagh, Gorteen, Mountheaton, Shinrone, Templeharry in south Offaly moved to three-seat North Tipperary for the 2011 election.

Laois-Offaly was divided for the first time in the general election of 2016 but the three-seat constituency of Offaly comprised the entire county, plus the Tipperary electoral divisions of Aglishcloghane, Ballingarry, Ballylusky, Borrisokane, Carrig, Cloghjordan, Cloghprior, Clohaskin, Finnoe, Graigue, Kilbarron, Lorrha East, Lorrha West, Mertonhall, Rathcabban, Redwood, Riverstown, Terryglass, Uskane, Ardcrony, Ballygibbon, Ballymackey, Knigh and Monsea.

An independent councillor from north Tipperary, the Kilbarron publican Joe Hannigan, decided to run in the expanded Offaly constituency and was third in the first count but missed out on taking a seat. The teacher and councillor from Cadamstown, Carol Nolan, at the time a Sinn Fein representative, was the new TD elected.

The transfer of part of Lower Ormond to Offaly caused uproar in Tipperary at the time and for the 2020 election the constituency of Laois-Offaly was reinstated. All six outgoing TDs sought re-election but there were only five seats available.

Also, Portarlington North was moved from Offaly to Kildare South and from Laois, Ballybrittas, Jamestown, Kilmullen and Portarlington South were transferred out.

The final 2022 census figures were published recently and they show Offaly with a population of 83,150 while Laois stands at 91,877.

The Constitution states that the population per TD nationally must not exceed 30,000 (or be under 20,000). A variance level of about 5% either side of the national average is usually permitted in individual constituencies.

Therefore it is clear that with 175,027 people residing in both counties, a five-seat Laois-Offaly comprising all of both counties is out of the question. Two separate three-seaters is the next obvious option but the calculations the Constituency Commission make will depend on the total size of the Dail.

In a 180-seat Dail the average population per TD would be 28,606. If the Dail increases to just 172 seats, the average would be 29,936.

The scenarios if Offaly and Laois were both to become three-seat constituencies are -

A 172-seat Dail  Laois would be 2.25% above the average, Offaly would be 7.4% under

A 174-seat Dail  Laois: 3.5% above the average, Offaly: 6.3% under

A 176-seat Dail  Laois: 4.7 % above the average, Offaly: 5.3% under

A 178-seat Dail  Laois: 5.9% above the average, Offaly: 4.2% under

A 180-seat Dail  Laois: 7% above the average, Offaly: 3.1% under

Therefore, it appears that two three-seat constituencies, without any additions or subtractions of territory in either county, might be permitted if the Dail is increased to 176 seats. Indeed, the argument has been made in many submissions that the commission should recommend a larger Dail on this occasion and therefore future-proof further population surges. Laois is comfortably within the range in most scenarios but Offaly is falling short and if the commission shies away from permitting a variance, it must breach county boundaries again, something the Constitution advises it to avoid as far as practicable.If it decides to bring in voters to Offaly from a neighbouring county, Laois is the obvious donor.

As Carol Harte put it in her submission to the review (written based on preliminary census figures from the CSO which were lower than the recently announced correct total): Including approximately 4,500 people from county Laois in an Offaly constituency would give a very similar population in both constituencies. Based on 176 TDs, there would be no variance from the national average per TD of 29,111. Based on 181 TDs, there would be a minor variance from the national average per TD of 28,306.

I believe this is the most practical way to look at the current constituency of Laois/Offaly and this would involve minimal change in the county boundaries.

In his submission Brendan Fleming suggests the answer lies in Portarlington: The most obvious area where this can be achieved is in the town of Portarlington. The county boundary between Laois and Offaly already runs through the town of Portarlington, with Portarlington North DED [district electoral division] on the Offaly side and Portarlington South DED on the Laois side. The population of Portarlington South DED is 7,856. If all of this DED was transferred to the new Offaly constituency, this would result in an imbalance whereby the new Offaly constituency would have a population in excess of 30,000. The Commission would then have to consider transferring other parts of Offaly back into Laois. This can readily be avoided by transferring just part of the Portarlington South DED to the new Offaly constituency and leaving the remainder of the Portarlington South DED in the Laois constituency.

Miriam Ui Cheallachain, Offaly Fianna Fail, calls for an Offaly three-seat constituency in her submission and says the following about breaches of county boundaries: The situation where the local representational base differs with that of the national representational base is problematic and militates against local democracy. It is imperative that the integrity of the county boundaries be adhered to in the interest of living the philosophies of a democracy.

Not everyone agrees with the two three-seat constituency approach for Laois and Offaly.

Bryan Corrigan, Laois/Offaly Labour Party argued for the status quo, telling the commission: In the event that your findings conclude that it is necessary to indeed make changes to the Laois/Offaly Boundaries then we ask that you first consider the following: 1. That the Constituency of Offaly (Circa 83,000) is declared as a three-seat constituency to accommodate its past, current and projected growth in population over the next years until another review is undertaken. 2. That the Constituency of Laois (Circa 92,000) forms the basis as a four-seat constituency to accommodate its past, current and projected growth in population over the next years until another review is undertaken.

And Ciaran Fallon made the following point about Portarlington: Over the [last] three elections, we have been moved around to make up the numbers with each election... Coupled with this, we have the fact that the town is bisected for county council elections leading to what I believe might be the worst per capita representation for any town in Ireland - where 9,000 Laois residents have a single county councillor. Coupled with this once more, we were added to the South for the 2019 European elections. This has caused a total disillusionment with politics in one of the fastest growing towns in Ireland and immense frustration. No TD could realistically listen to the concerns of residents and act on those concerns when they know the town will not be able to reward them or vote for them in the following election.

Patrick Matthews has a different recommendation for Offaly: The electoral divisions of Carbury, Carrick, Drehid, Kilrainy, and Windmill Cross in the former rural district of Edenderry No. 2 currently form part of the Kildare South constituency and are adjacent to the town of Edenderry with a combined population of 4,899. Transferring them to the Offaly constituency produces a 3-seat Offaly constituency with a population of 87,567, giving a population/TD ratio of 29,189, a value of 2.0% below the national average under a 172-seat scenario.

In her submission, the Fianna Fail Kildare senator, Fiona O'Loughlin, says Portarlington and Ballybrittas should be moved out of Kildare South because it does not need them for four seats.

Return of three-seat North Tipperary constituency likely

Meanwhile Tipperary, two three-seaters North and South until the elections of 2016 and 2020 when it returned just five TDs as a single constituency, has seen its population climb too, raising the possibility of it reverting to two separate constituencies and gaining the sixth seat it lost.

A radical proposal for change comes from James Doyle. He suggests that a new four-seat constituency called Offaly-Tipperary North could be created by transferring the following from Tipperary to Offaly - Aghnameadle, Aglishcloghane, Ardcrony, Ballingarry, Ballygibbon, Ballylusky, Ballymackey, Borrisnafarney, Borrisnoe, Borrisokane, Bourney East, Bourney West, Cappagh, Carrig, Cloghjordan, Cloghprior, Clohaskin, Clonbeg, Clonoulty East, Clonoulty West, Cullen, Curraheen, Drom, Finnoe, Graigue, Kilbarron, Killavinoge Killea, Kiltinan, Knigh, Lorrha East, Lorrha West, Mertonhall, Monsea, Nenagh East Urban, Nenagh Rural, Nenagh West Urban, Rahelty, Rathcabban, Rathnaveoge, Redwood, Riverstown, Roscrea, Templemore, Terryglass, Timoney, Uskane.

He says the total population of that constituency would be 123,431 resulting in a population per TD of 30,858. The remainder of the county, with 122,224 people, could become a four-seat constituency of Tipperary South.

Darina Duffy Kelly, former chair of Rathcabbin Development Association, opposes moving her area from a Tipperary constituency again, saying: I felt that the normal chain of communication from councillor to TD to government did not function properly during 2016-2020, as the Offaly TDs were not heeded by Tipperary county council on several matters raised in our village such as proper street lighting and construction and repair of wheelchair accessible footpaths.

She says the Lower Ormond area is significant for tourism, agriculture and culture and borders the river Shannon which she maintains will be a key source of water to the Dublin area in the future.

She added: Rathcabbin is the site of a former illegal dump currently being decommissioned by Tipperary County Council. The completion of this project and subsequent use of this site will require close cooperation between Government representatives and Tipperary County Council. The people of Rathcabbin, in my opinion, will need to be represented by a Tipperary TD who is familiar with the history of this problem and to the Council decision makers.

The total population of Tipperary is now 167,895. In the 2020 election Birdhill, Kilcomenty and Newport were moved to the Limerick City constituency.

In both 2016 and 2020, North Tipperary elected three of the five constituency TDs, Jackie Cahill (Fianna Fail), Alan Kelly (Labour) and Michael Lowry (Independent). Another North Tipp politician, Cllr Noel Coonan (Fine Gael), was a TD until 2016 and he was not a candidate in the 2020 election.

In a reestablished North Tipperary constituency, all three sitting TDs would be favourites to return to the Dail, if they seek re-election.

If Sinn Fein's strength in national opinion polls is replicated in North Tipp the party could take a seat but the strongest potential candidate, Nenagh councillor Seamus Morris, resigned from the party in 2017 after claiming he was bullied by other members.

Kilbarron councillor Joe Hannigan, also a candidate in Offaly previously (see above) may decide to fly his independent flag again.

The commission must make its recommendations by September at the latest.
HERDWATCH, the market-leading farm software company in Ireland and the UK, have announced the acquisition of Kingswood Computing Ltd in a deal believed to be worth seven figures.

Herdwatch expects the acquisition to grow its customer base, meaning more than a third of Irish dairy farms will now be on its platform, further strengthening its position as the number one farm software in Ireland and the UK.

Founded over 35 years ago by Gerry and Nora Lynskey, Kingswood supply herd management and accounting software to farmers and agribusinesses, as well as software solutions for veterinary practices and farm contractors across Ireland and the UK. Kingswood were the first and best-known Irish farm software provider, attracting a client base of over 5,000 farmers, with a particular focus on dairy operations and a wide range of solutions such as Kingswood Herd, VetLink, farm accounts, as well as Kingswood Mobile (HerdHub), a field app and a billing app for farm contractors.

Herdwatch was co-founded by Fabien Peyaud and FRS Network (Farm Relief Services) in 2012 and provide software to over 20,000 farms, including dairy, beef and suckler farmers as well as sheep farmers with their Flockwatch solution, which is now available in over 170 countries, with plans to launch their cattle solution globally by the end of the year.

With this latest acquisition, Tipperary-based Herdwatch continues its rapid expansion just two weeks after the company announced its acquisition of Farmplans livestock software customers in the UK and six months after securing a multi-million investment led by Renatus Capital Partners, backed by the Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF). The company say they are planning further announcements in the coming months.

The deal will see Kingswood employees join Herdwatchs growing team of more than 60 people. There are no changes for Kingswood customers in Ireland and the UK, who will be able to continue using their existing software products and get full support from the Kingswood team. New developments will incorporate the best features of both software platforms over time, giving Kingswood customers access to the continuous innovations Herdwatch is known for, including its advanced cloud technology and the Buy & Sell platform, which allows their members to advertise and buy cattle online commission-free. Herdwatch members will themselves benefit from advanced technology and integrations developed by Kingswood such as links with milking parlours, marts, co-ops, factories, vets and more.

Gerry Lynskey, Kingswood founder, said I wanted to put Kingswood in the best possible position for future success and growth while at the same time promising exceptional customer experience as well as a vibrant work environment, which is why Herdwatch is such a great fit. says Lynskey. Im so proud of what weve accomplished and will be watching closely and celebrating future success with pride. Really this is the perfect match for our businesses and our customers and Im really excited to see how the larger business evolves and thrives, delivering even better service for farmers in Ireland and far beyond, he said.

Fabien Peyaud, CEO and co-founder of Herdwatch said: Gerry has been a pioneer in the agtech field, and his innovative leadership resulted in some of the earliest tech solutions for farmers. For this reason, we are proud that Herdwatch is the new home for Kingswoods great products, dedicated team, and thousands of loyal customers, and look forward to taking them and their legacy to the next level within the Herdwatch platform.

The Herdwatch app for cattle and sheep can be downloaded in the App Store or at www.herdwatch.com.

Advisors to the acquisition included Wallace Corporate Counsel, Hogan and Associates as well as Noel Kelly of Creva International.
A HOMELESS woman who slashed the face, head and body of another homeless woman with a broken glass bottle has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that at 3.20 am on September 20, 2022, at a Spar on Dame Street in Dublin, an altercation between two homeless women took place.

Julie Ann Stokes (43) of Booterstown Halting Site, Rock Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm against another female and the production of a weapon at the above location and date.

Stokes has 212 previous convictions, including convictions for theft, assault, threats to kill, possession of a knife, misuse of drugs and public order offences.

Passing sentence this Friday, Judge Orla Crowe said this is a very serious assault with the injured party being slashed to the face, head and torso 35 to 40 times.

Judge Crowe said, The attack happened in a public place at night and was captured on CCTV. She said the accused went and got a large broken glass bottle with jagged edges.

The judge said Stokes has a drug problem, and the probation report before the court was not as favourable as one would want. The report also highlighted that Stokes is at high risk of reoffending but that the Probation Service is willing to work with her in the future.

Letters were handed into the court outlining the progress that Stokes has made while in prison, which Judge Crowe said were positive and noted Stokes is addressing her issues.

Judge Crowe sentenced Stokes to two years and nine months in prison and suspended the final six months under strict conditions.

Stokes must also remain under the supervision of the Probation Service and carry out all actions as directed by them.

The judge backdated this sentence to September 2022, when Stokes went into custody on this matter.

Garda Sean Gordon told Derek Cooney, BL, prosecuting, that gardai were called when two women got into a heated argument in the doorway of the Spar shop.

Stokes grabbed the injured party, who kicked out to defend herself. The injured party was then chased into the shop by Stokes.

Garda Gordon said Stokes left the shop but returned about 40 seconds later holding a large broken glass bottle with jagged edges. Stokes chased the woman into a corner of the shop and struck her with the bottle between 35 to 40 times in the face, head and torso.

Stokes then left the shop.

The court heard that gardai and paramedics arrived, but the injured party refused to go to hospital. She had slashes to the face and upper body and was bleeding.

CCTV was obtained, and Stokes was identified. Both Stokes and the injured party were homeless, and they knew each other.

The injured party did not wish to make a victim impact statement and did not cooperate with gardai.

Garda Gordon agreed with Luigi Rea, BL, defending, that the guilty plea by his client was beneficial and that his client needs to deal with her addictions.

The garda agreed with counsel that Stokes had drug addiction problems, and her drug of choice was crack cocaine.

Mr Rea said his client is taking steps to address her alcohol and drug abuse and handed documents into court to support this.

Counsel said his client is a 43-year-old woman who once lived in a caravan beside her father. Her father has been unable to maintain the caravan for his daughter, but she hopes to resume this living arrangement in the future.

He asked the court to take into account the positive steps his client has taken while in custody.
Concerns raised by the DUP over post-Brexit trading arrangements have been addressed effectively by the Windsor Framework, Michael Gove has claimed.

Mr Gove said his cabinet colleague Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris would be continuing to engage with the unionist party in an effort to offer them reassurance and encouragement to return to the Stormont assembly.

Mr Gove was representing the Westminster government at a summit meeting of the British-Irish Council in Jersey.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was also in attendance but there were no representatives from Northern Ireland political parties due to the ongoing Stormont suspension.

The DUP is blocking the devolved institutions in Belfast in protest against the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol, which created trade barriers between the region and the rest of the UK.

The Government agreed the Windsor Framework with the EU earlier this year in an attempt to alleviate those concerns but the DUP has insisted it will not return to Stormont until it secures further legislative assurances around sovereignty and trade.

Mr Gove, the Levelling Up Secretary, said the council members regretted the absence of Northern Ireland politicians at the summit.

He added: The overwhelming majority of people in Northern Ireland want to see the institutions working for them.

Whether it is housing or health, whether we can get devolution fully restored, the executive operating effectively, ministers from every party and tradition playing their part, then Northern Ireland citizens will benefit.

I respect the concerns that the DUP have expressed in the past.

The Windsor Framework, I believe, addresses those concerns effectively.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will continue to listen respectfully to their points and we will seek to provide them with both the reassurance and the encouragement necessary in order to take their place once again around the ministerial table.

Mr Varadkar said discussions taking place at the moment about restoring Stormont are largely between the UK Government and the DUP.

The Taoiseach added: I think above all we need to redouble our efforts to ensure that the Northern Ireland executive and Northern Ireland assembly are up and running.

The next meeting of the British-Irish Council is in Dublin in November.

It is really important that we have these meetings.

The British-Irish Council is one of only two institutions of the Good Friday Agreement that is operating.

The absence of the first minister and deputy first minister of Northern Ireland is really sorely felt by us. I hope by November this body will be whole.

At the moment there are a lot of discussions under way between the DUP and the UK Government about re-entering the institutions and we are working to do anything we can to help that, and work with all five parties in Northern Ireland to bring that about.

Mr Varadkar said there had not been discussions about what role Dublin would play in the oversight of Northern Ireland if Stormont did not return.

He added: We havent really had any discussions  or any concrete discussions  about what our role is if that (restoring Stormont) cant be done, our focus has to be on making sure that happens.
The Eco Showboat Mayfly - a vibrantly coloured solar powered boat touring

Ireland's inland waterways for two years - will be moored in Pullough over the weekend

of June 17. Join artists Anne Cleary and Denis Connolly for a fascinating afternoon

of events hosted by the Pullough Heritage Group.

Join the Eco Showboat team at St Mary's school at 2.30 pm where you can meet Anne

and Denis to hear about their two-year solar journey on the islands waterways, the

extraordinary people they have met, and the challenges they have faced as the first solar

boat to navigate the entire country using sustainable energy.

At 3 pm the Eco Showboat team will welcome artist Fiona McDonald, who has

been working with scientists from the National Parks and Wildlife Services who use

sensors to measure an ecosystems breathing or/andGreenhouse Gas Flux, to get a sense

of the annual carbon cycle of ecosystems. Meet Fiona to hear more about this exciting

technology and what it can tell us about global warming. Then join the team for a chat over

tea and some locally produced culinary offerings.

Following tea with the artists, you are invited to a screening of Pilgrim Road Movie,

at 4 pm, a short film shot by Anne and Denis with photographer Kevin ODwyer in

July 2022 exploring what remains of the medieval roadway used by pilgrims for centuries

as they travelled along the Esker Riada - a continuous raised glacial ridge on the

landscape formed over 12,000 years ago - on their way to Clonmacnoise.

Anne Cleary, one of the founder of the Eco Showboat project said: ''We are very grateful to Pollagh Heritage Group and St Marys School for welcoming us so warmly to Pullough.

The Eco Showboat aims to bring people together around ecology in a way that is enjoyable and fun, combining climate science with art to give people engaging moments where we can imagine solutions to the climate crisis together. The Pullough Community has really bent over backwards to help us realise this vision in County Offaly.''

The Eco Showboat Journey to the East is a five month arts expedition from Askeaton to

Dublin aboard the solar powered Mayfly, flagship of the Eco Showboat project. Brain child

of artists Anne Cleary and Denis Connolly, the project is supported by the Arts Council,

SFI, Creative Ireland, Waterways Ireland, and LAWPRO (full list of partners here ).
Turkiye is already a prime hub for foreign investments and will further strengthen its position in the coming years, according to Burak Daglioglu, head of the Turkish Presidencys Investment Office, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

With a strong commitment to reforms and concerted efforts to create an investor-friendly environment, Turkiye will build on its successes of the past two decades, he told Anadolu in an interview in London.

He said there is growing interest from international investors after the recent elections, placing the country in a position where it can surpass previous inflow records.

Following his reelection, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has refreshed his financial team, bringing in prominent figures such as Mehmet Simsek, the new finance minister, and Hafize Gaye Erkan, the first woman to lead the countrys Central Bank.

The government is also pursuing reforms to improve regulatory frameworks, streamline bureaucratic processes and enhance transparency.

Our current share in global investments is around 1% and our goal is to increase this to 1.5%, said Daglioglu.

Looking at data for the first four months of this year, we are talking about an investment of nearly $4 billion. Personally, I prefer a more long-term analysis, and the figure for the past 12 months has exceeded $14 billion.

He said Turkiyes geographical location as a gateway between Asia, Europe and Africa is a major advantage, along with the extensive human resource talent pool in the country.

Another key factor is Turkiyes position in the global green energy sector, according to Daglioglu.

Apart from transitioning its own energy production to renewable and green sources, Turkiye has also become a critical equipment producer in the worldwide supply chain, he explained.

Turkiye features in any discussion about green energy equipment around the world, he said.

Economic relations with UK

Regarding the UK, Daglioglu said the two countries have longstanding trade and investment ties.

The trade volume between the two nations, valued at approximately $19 billion, shows our existing economic cooperation, he said.

Since 2003, Turkiye has received over $250 billion in foreign direct investment, with around $13.5 billion coming from British investment companies. Additionally, there are approximately 3,200 UK-based companies operating in Turkiye.

Investments from the UK are spread in diverse sectors and have made a significant impact, he added.

Financial investments and venture capital flows in technology are particularly important areas, while manufacturing, with a particular focus on telecommunications and energy, also offers promising opportunities for UK-based companies in Turkiye, according to Daglioglu.

We think that the UKs strong industrial background and its status as a financial center in its region will contribute to our country. In technology entrepreneurship, we can gain significant investments and obtain important financing from the UK in terms of the supply chain, he said.

We also see that investors recognize the increasing importance of the green economy in Turkiye, and the UK stands out as one of the leading countries providing financing for these projects, he added.

Daglioglu cited recent examples, including a credit agreement for UK financing for a high-speed electric rail line between the Turkish capital Ankara and the western port of Izmir, as evidence of rising interest and support from international investors for Turkiyes sustainability efforts.???????




BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. Kazakhstan is Canadas largest commercial partner in the Central Asia region, particularly in natural resources and agriculture, Jason Kung, Spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada, told Trend.

"In 2022, bilateral trade between Canada and Kazakhstan surpassed a billion Canadian dollars ($750.1 million). In recent years, bilateral trade has mainly been driven by an increase in Canadian imports," he said.

According to the spokesperson, when it comes to exports, machinery, and vehicles accounted for about 80 percent of Canadian exports to Kazakhstan. This can be attributed to the applicability of Canadian equipment and technology to Kazakhstans extractive industries and agriculture.

"The Kazakhstan-Canada Business Council, created in 2015 and co-chaired by Saskatoon-based uranium miner, Cameco, has been a testament to the economic ties between countries," he added.

Furthermore, the spokesperson elaborated on the local Canadian institutions aimed at facilitating cooperation with international organizations and markets.

"The Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) provides Canadian companies with market information and assistance in finding local buyers and partners; organizes various value-added events with participation from industry and government stakeholders from both sides. The TCS also plays an advocating role for Canadian companies in international markets and negotiates various trade agreements to facilitate and protect Canadian investments," Kung said.

He went on to add that Canadas Embassy funds a number of projects through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) and continues to encourage Kazakhstans commitment to democratic reforms notably by contributing to the OSCEs election observation mission to parliamentary elections in March 2023 and presidential elections in November 2022.

"The Government of Canada will continue to work with international and domestic partners to achieve our ambitious climate and international development commitments, and establish Canada as the global supplier of choice for clean energy in a net-zero world," he said.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. Kazakhstan, having successfully hosted the Astana International Forum (AIF 2023) on June 8-9, has unveiled a new diplomatic endeavor focused on promoting dialogue among global leaders. With the aim of amplifying voices for peace, progress, and solidarity, this initiative is particularly significant in a time characterized by heightened polarization and unprecedented geopolitical divisions across the globe.

The agenda of the forum was extensive, encompassing a wide range of topics including food security, water management, capital flows, the role of the United Nations, and economic integration.

As the leading economy of Central Asia, Kazakhstan, is strengthening its economic connections with various nations, implementing numerous domestic reforms, and positioning itself as a pragmatic international player that seeks friendly relations with all countries. It is also actively working on multiple fronts to consolidate its position as a significant hub for trade, transportation, and finance, strategically located between the East and the West.

Despite geopolitical upheavals Kazakhstan keeps serving as an economic engine in and for Central Asia. We continue to attract significant foreign investment and provide exceptional conditions to do business in Kazakhstan, President Tokayev said in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the AIF 2023.

With numerous countries developing sustainability and decarbonization strategies to achieve climate goals, Kazakhstan, a major energy producer, aims to actively contribute to the global solution. The country is committed to attracting foreign investors to assist in the implementation of a new green portfolio, demonstrating its dedication to environmentally friendly initiatives.

It may be considered overly simplistic to assume that green energy has already become a significant component of global energy security. However, it would be even more shortsighted to perceive this as a passing fad that will soon lose its relevance. The truth is that the energy landscape has already undergone a transformation, and any nation reliant on oil and gas exports that fails to acknowledge this shift will find itself falling behind.

In his keynote speech, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has also touched upon this issue as well, noting that Kazakhstan has signed the Paris Agreement, committing to become carbon neutral by 2060. The first milestone is to achieve 15-percent capacity of renewables by 2030. Furthermore, in order to reach carbon neutrality, Kazakhstan has set a target to produce 10 GW of clean energy by 2035. For this, the country is carrying out various projects, mainly in solar and wind power, taking into account the vast potential it has in these fields, with such energy giants as the UAE's Masdar, Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power, TotalEnergies, China Power and others.

"Kazakhstan could offer tremendous green economy opportunities and finally emerge as a renewable energy hub. However, time is not on our side. To decarbonize and build green economies at the necessary speed, we need resources and partnerships," President Tokayev noted.

In this regard, both Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have embarked on a significant shift in their energy policies, positioning themselves as energy-exporting nations rather than simply relying on hydrocarbon exports.

Azerbaijan stands out from other countries due to its proactive approach in implementing green energy projects across the region. While being recognized as a dependable provider of traditional resources, Azerbaijan's aspirations extend beyond that. The country's ambitious endeavors to export green energy are gaining traction and are being translated into tangible initiatives.

The inclusion of green energy as a crucial aspect on the agendas of Baku and Astana facilitates the establishment of long-term cooperation in this field. The main point to emphasize is that the energy cooperation between Baku and Astana remains ongoing and holds great potential for growth.

For instance, Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan Parviz Shahbazov has invited Kazakhstani companies to participate in green energy projects in Azerbaijan, as he spoke at the the panel discussion within the Astana International Forum, also noting that Azerbaijan will put 1.8 GW of solar and wind power capacities into operation by 2026.

At the same time, as his Kazakhstani colleague Almassadam Satkaliyev pointed out while speaking at the same panel, both Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan pay great attention to the development of renewable energy projects and are striving to launch exports of green energy to the West.

"In this regard, with our Azerbaijani colleagues, we have already launched the implementation of a high voltage cable project through the bottom of the Caspian Sea. This line will connect Kazakhstan with Turkiye, and then further with Europe," he said.

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan established a solid groundwork for fostering long-term partnerships several years ago, allowing both countries to sustain their cooperation and progress into the future. Despite the achievements thus far, there remains substantial untapped potential that Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan can explore in the coming years. And platforms like the Astana International Forum play a crucial role in facilitating the development of new business connections and embarking on fresh economic opportunities, making a significant contribution to these endeavors.
Karunanidhi once said if it wasnt for Periyar, he would have become a communist

Chennai

oi-Oneindia English Desk

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) head office has announced its plan to celebrate former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's centenary year. For the same reason, it has formed committees under the leadership of various ministers to talk about the department-wise contributions of Karunanidhi. Ahead of the centenary celebrations many are researching and analyzing his contributions.

We too talked to some people on the subject. We first approached A.S. Panneerselvan, who is the author of Karunanidhi's biography "Karunanidhi: A Life" published by Penguin publications. He made the book captivating by comparing Karunanidhi's political life with the historical incidents of the world.

Karunanidhi in Panneerselvan's words

The astonishing fact about Karunanidhi is that he had always been with people who were highly privileged as compared to him. For instance, all the early leaders of DMK were university graduates. Karunanidhi was never a university graduate. But this factor never created a divide between him and the other leaders. Nedunchezhian, Anbazhagan and even Annadurai -- all were MA graduates. Karunanidhi never did MA but this did not make him any lesser than his counterparts in knowledge base.

One such instance happened when he went to work in Salem. Ellis R. Dungan and Sundaram were in Salem Modern Theatres Ltd when Karunanidhi went there to work. They were regarded as renowned film technicians with knowledge from world tour experiences regarding film technology. On the other hand, Karunanidhi's travel experience comprised his travel from Thiruvarur to Puducherry and again from Puducherry to Salem. Inspite of this shortcoming, Karunanidhi displayed his exceptional skills in befitting manner.

"Karunanidhi is such a personality who fills the gap of privilege with hardwork and intelligence. To me, he is a fountain of hope," says Panneerselvan. Literary skills and pen were his only properties. With his most valued properties, he proved countless number of times that he is not inferior to anyone. "This admiration served as a stimuli for me to write his life history," says the writer.

Karunanidhi's prose got published for the first time in the form of 'secular' Tamil. Prior to this, prose lines of the author will easily reveal their caste background. But Karunanidhi created a general form of prose which doesn't have any background identification signs. The credit for creating simple and easily understandable prose goes to Karunanidhi and Annadurai. Prior to them Vallalar, Bharathiyar, Bharathidasan already created and utilised a general style of Tamil in their poems. This style contributed to the non-complex nature of their poems. Apparently, they did not use the style in prose. The credit for using the general style of Tamil goes to Karunanidhi and Annadurai. They presented prose in a democratic form without compromising the quality. "According to me, it is a major breakthrough," said Panneerselvan, who is also a journalist.

Next we spoke to writer Imayam. He is a great scholar and the recipient of prestigious awards like Sahitya Akademi award. Even though he is a writer, basically he is a DMK proponent.

Karunanidhi in Imayam's words

In today's scenario women are represented in all departments, be it local government or municipality or corporation. Women were given 33% reservation and property inheritance rights. The sole reason behind this is Karunanidhi. He transformed Tamil Nadu into a modern State and made it an example for India in many fields. All the bridges and flyovers from Chennai to Kanyakumari were built during his reign.

Even now most of the roads in Sriperumbudur and East-coast were the brainchild of Karunanidhi. He became the industrial face for Tamil Nadu. Without mentioning his name, one cannot list the welfare schemes of Tamil Nadu. "Karunanidhi had been the root for all developments in Tamil Nadu," said writer Imayam.

We then talked to Leftist writer Arunan. He shared with us the memories of Karunanidhi by quoting one of his life incidents.

Karunanidhi in Arunan's words

One of Arunan's books titled "Thamizhakathil Samooga Seerthirutham Iru Nootrandu Varalaru" was published by Karunanidhi in 1999 when he was the Chief Minister. "In the book, I expressed my opinions about the Dravidian movement, the self-respect movement and Justice Party, said the writer. During the book launch function, Karunanidhi told Arunan that he had read the book line by line. Karunanidhi once told Arunan that "if I hadn't met Periyar, probably I would have become a communist." His speech in the book launch function hogged the newspaper headlines. "It is an unforgettable life incident for me," said the writer.

Arunan also said that before the reign of Annadurai, Transport department was in private hands. Karunanidhi became the sole reason for the nationalization of buses, eradication of hand-pulled rickshaws and the establishment of Slum Clearance Board. "All these welfare measures reflect the communist principles only. This is a known fact for me as well as the people of Tamil Nadu," says the Leftist writer.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, June 16, 2023, 16:41 [IST]
OPINION: Indo-US Bonhomie Towards Evolution

Feature

lekhaka-Jagdish N Singh

Relations between India and the US have progressed from strength to strength in the post-Cold War landscape. PM Modi's upcoming US sojourn is sure to lead to its further growth. President Biden's main objective is likely to be to use India for countering China's growing influence over the global marketplace.

Speculation is rife as to how Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming three-day State visit (June 21-23) to the United States would go about to impact the ties between New Delhi and Washington.

Observers say the ties between India and the United States have progressed from strength to strength in the post-Cold War landscape. The current bonhomie between the two nations is highly remarkable. Prime Minister Modi's upcoming US sojourn is sure to lead to its further growth.

In the contemporary world, the United States is considered as the leader of freedom and democracy. India is the most populous democracy with ancient roots. Relations between India and the United States are grounded in the values of democracy, pluralism tolerance, openness and respect for human rights their peoples share with each other.

Looking Forward To Meet Prez Biden, PM Modi Tells US NSA

Relations between the two countries can be traced as far back as 1790 when George Washington sent his consul Benjamin Joy to India. Quite early in the 20th century, anti-British sentiments found expressions in the United States. In 1910 there was formed an organisation called Hindi Association in California. Later on, it converted into Ghadar Party with its headquarters in San Francisco.

During the Second World War, there was witnessed a surge of opinion in favour of India's struggle for freedom in the United States. In a confidential letter to then British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill, then American President F.D. Roosevelt exhibited much sympathy for India's nationalist cause.

In the post-Cold War landscape, relations between the two nations have consistently strengthened in almost all sectors of international relations. The United States has backed inclusion of India in the international fora, including the UN Security Council, the World Bank, the IMF and APEC, MTCR, Wassenaar Arrangement, Australia Group and the Nuclear Suppliers Group. In 2016, India and the United States signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement. The United States declared India its Major Defence Partner.

The United States today is India's largest trading partner. Last year, the trade between the two nations stood at around $191 billion. It has nearly doubled since Prime Minister Modi took over the reins of government in New Delhi in 2014. US energy exports to India have risen significantly from almost zero. American companies have invested over $54 billion in India.

US defence sales and supplies to India have grown. Defence co-production has increased between the two nations over the years. Many large US defence companies are now sourcing products or services from Indian suppliers.

Today there are various strategic dialogues involving the United States and India. They include the Quad (along with Japan and Australia), I2U2 (along with Israel and the United Arab Emirates), the 2+2 Dialogue involving the Indian and American defence and foreign ministers, the Defence Policy Group (DPG) and a National Security Advisor (NSA)-led initiative on critical and emerging technologies (ICET).

There are military-to-military engagements -- including staff talks, exchanges, and exercises -- between India and the United States. They have increased the ability of the two militaries to operate together. Also, the two nations have agreements to facilitate logistics and communication with each other.

Prime Minister Modi's upcoming sojourn in the United States is likely to boost the ties between the two nations in all these areas. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to address the Joint Session of the US Congress on June 22. Almost the entire enlightened policy community is looking forward his address with a lot of interest.

Biden Family To Host Intimate Dinner For PM Modi On June 21; Hot Ticket State Dinner On June 22

The observers say there is little personal chemistry between President Biden and Prime Minister Modi. The forces aligned with President Biden and his Democratic Party in the United States have been highly critical of Prime Minister Modi. They have been alleging around that since coming to power in India in 2014, Prime Minister Modi has been steadily pushing the country towards autocracy. He is seeking to establish in India one-party rule under his thumb by sidelining his political rivals and bending the judicial system to his will.

President Biden and his supporters in the United States generally seem to view Prime Minister Modi as a representative of right-wing populism, a kind of kindred soul to former US President Donald Trump. They have not forgotten that during a 2019 political tour through the United States, Prime Minister Modi spoke glowingly of Trump in front a 50,000 Americans at a Houston stadium. Modi said, "I admire him (Trump) for something more: his sense of leadership, a passion for America, a concern for every American, a belief in American future and a strong resolve to make America great again."

However, President Biden is highly unlikely to let his personal chemistry with Prime Minister Modi adversely affect his diplomacy towards India. In his interaction with Prime Minister Modi, President Biden is likely to be focused on India's importance as a critical economic ally of the United States today. He will be meeting Prime Minister Modi on June 22. It will be his third State dinner to a foreign leader. Earlier, he has hosted the leaders of France and South Korea.

President Biden's main objective is likely to be to use India for countering China's growing influence over the global marketplace. His government is trying to encourage chip manufacturers and others to move their facilities to places like India, rather than continue to be reliant on China.

(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.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, June 16, 2023, 9:20 [IST]
Caught On Camera: Teacher Shot At By Former Students in Madhya Pradesh's Morena

Andhra Shocker: 15-Year-Old Student Burnt Alive By Unidentified Persons

India

oi-Prakash KL

A class 10 student was burnt alive by some unidentified persons in Andhra Pradesh's Bapatla district on Friday, the IANS reported.

The incident occurred in Rajavolu village of Cherukupalli mandal (block) on Friday morning. The victim, identified as 15-year-old Amarnath, was going to tuition on his bicycle when he was stopped by assailants near Redlapalem.

The attackers poured petrol on him and set him afire. As the boy cried, the locals rushed to douse the fire and took him to GGH Guntur. However, he succumbed to the injuries.

Before his death, the boy told police that Venkateshwar Reddy and a few others torched him.

The Back Story

Reddaiah, the grandfather of the victim, has held the harasser of Amarnath's sister responsible for his murder. He claimed that Amarnath had confronted the boy for harassing his sister and questioned why he was roaming around his sister in the college where she was studying.

Meanwhile, police filed a case and launched a hunt for the assailants.
Conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar Offers Rs 10 Crore Donation For Odisha Train Accident Victims

India

oi-Deepika S

Alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekar, who has been accused of extorting over Rs 200 crore from the wives of former Fortis promoters, has offered Rs 10 crore for the Odisha train tragedy in which 288 people lost their lives.

In a letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Chandrasekhar sought to donate Rs 10 crore as a contribution towards Odisha train accident victims and mentioned that the said amount is from his personal funds earned by legitimate sources.

"The said contribution is from my personal funds which is from my legitimate source of earning, which is, completely taxed, and the documentation along with returns filings shall be furnished along with the said demand draft of Rs 10 crore," Chandrashekhar, who is currently lodged at the Mandoli Jail, read the letter.

"As our government is already providing all the needful to the affected, I, as a responsible and good citizen, am contributing this fund of Rs 10 crore to be used specifically for those families/children, our future youth, who have lost their loved one/ breadwinners of their family towards their education expenses," the letter added.

"The contribution to be specifically used for that every child of the deceased for their education expenses, be it school, high school, college education," Sukesh mentioned in the letter.

Weeks Before Odisha Train Accident, Railway Board Flagged 'Shortcuts' By Signalling Staff

"As per this very minimum on a daily basis my organisation namely Sharadha Foundation, Chandrashekhar Cancer Foundation, LS Education, has been contributing to sections of health care, education and mainly food contribution, for the needy, to make sure no one goes hungry, across five states of Southern India," he added.

"Sir I humbly, as mentioned, request to accept the contribution for the said purpose, specifically and kindly direct us the details of the concerned department. The Demand Draft should be prepared so that the same shall be prepared immediately and submitted by us on priority," he further said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, June 16, 2023, 16:20 [IST]
You Have No Power To Dismiss My Minister: TN CM Stalin Tells Guv Ravi

Don't Talk Like A Platform Speaker: Tamil Nadu BJP Chief To Stalin For Remarks Against BJP

India

oi-PTI

Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Friday lashed out at Chief Minister M K Stalin for his critical remarks against the BJP, saying he spoke like an "ordinary platform speaker".

Annamalai, a former IPS officer, also questioned the Tamil Nadu government withdrawing the general consent given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), reminding Stalin's numerous demands made as an opposition leader for the agency probe on many issues.

Annamalai was responding to Stalin's strident attack against the BJP on Thursday, in a video, over the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arresting his cabinet colleague V Senthil Balaji in a money laundering case.

Stalin, president of the DMK, had said provoking the party and its workers could have its own repercussions, telling the BJP it was not a threat but a warning.

Gentle Reminder: Annamalai Posts Old Video Of Stalin Criticising Senthil Balaji's Corruption

Annamalai said words like "daring someone" are used by ordinary platform speakers to keep the crowd engaged.

"But respected Stalin, ponder over whether your speaking like this suits the chief minister post being held by you," the BJP leader said in a statement.

The DMK, founded in 1949, has been in the ruling saddle and the opposition over the years, he pointed out.

"As someone well aware of all laws and probe procedures and with a 30 year legislative experience, is it fair for you to talk like a second-level (platform) speaker to protect someone (Balaji) who has shifted five parties," Annamalai asked.

He wondered why Stalin was batting for a man accused in a particular case and sought to remind him he had not made any statement when Income Tax officials were allegedly assaulted when they came to conduct searches at some places linked to Balaji's brother and acquaintances last month.

In fact, the ED searches against Balaji was pertaining to allegations raised by Stalin in 2016 against Balaji, who was not in DMK then, seeking action.

"What has changed in seven years. Now, that action has been taken on your plea, shouldn't it have been welcomed on behalf of your party," Annamalai asked.

On the issue of TN withdrawing general consent to the CBI, the BJP leader said the decision has been taken in "haste".

AIADMK Hits Out At BJP Chief For Remarks Against Jayalalithaa, Calls Annamalai 'Irresponsible Immature'

As an opposition leader during the AIADMK regime, Stalin had sought a CBI probe into matters including the death of then CM J Jayalalithaa, a building collapse in the city, investigation against then ministers, the gutkha scam, Tuticorin police firing on anti-Sterlite protesters.

"You had sought CBI probe in May 2016 during elections regarding money distribution at Aravakurichi and Thanjavur. You had made the allegations against this very Senthil Balaji at Aravakurichi then," Annamalai said.

"Now you asking the CBI to get prior approval of the state government to conduct a probe shows the sad state of affairs of this regime," he said.

Questioning Stalin's choice of words in his video, Annamalai asked who were they aimed at and asked him "how are you leading your party workers." "Using such words don't befit our state known for many specialities," he said.

"You have to decide if you are chief minister for 8.5 crore Tamil people or for your family and a small circle around you." "When you sought CBI probe for the mistakes committed by others, what wrong did you see in us doing the same for your mistakes. Why are you charging in panic like this," he asked Stalin.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, June 16, 2023, 15:36 [IST]
US Offers To Help India To Deal With Manipur Violence, Congress Reacts Sharply

Can't Take Law And Order Apparatus In Our Hands: SC On Manipur Violence

Why SC Refused To Give Directions To Indian Army On Manipur Violence

Failed Law And Order In Manipur: Union Minister After Mob Sets His House On Fire

India

oi-Deepika S

Union Minister of State for External Affairs R K Ranjan Singh, whose house in Imphal was set on fire by a mob on Thursday, has said the law and order situation in the state has totally failed.

"I am shocked. The law and order situation in Manipur has totally failed," RK Ranjan Singh told news agency ANI on Friday.

The development comes after the burning of two houses, and clashes between the Rapid Action Force of Manipur and a mob in the heart of Imphal town on Thursday afternoon.

Reacting to the developments, RK Ranjan Singh told PTI Video, "There was an incident at my residence in Manipur last night."

Manipur Violence: Union Minister Ranjan Singh's Residence Set On Fire

"I am trying to bring peace and stop violence since May 3 (when ethnic clashes began in the state) ... this is all a misunderstanding between two communities. The government has set up a peace committee, the process is on. Civil society leaders are sitting together," he said.

Singh said the government will talk to all communities and find a way out.

Sound of firing could be heard in Imphal East district till the early hours of Friday as security forces fired numerous rounds of tear gas shells and mock bombs to disperse angry locals protesting the killing of nine civilians on Wednesday.

Two protesters and one Rapid Action Force personnel were injured during the confrontation. The RAF constable was hit by a stone on his head, said officials.

Protesters at Nongmeibung and Wangkhei blocked the main streets by piling up stones and construction materials and engaged in pitch battles with security forces, they said.

More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence, including 9 in the Khamenlok area on Wednesday, between Meitei and Kuki community people in Manipur that broke out a month ago.

Violence Will Not Be Tolerated: Bengal Governor on Pre-Poll Violence At Bhangore

The state has imposed a curfew on 11 districts and banned the internet in a bid to stop the spread of rumours in the state.

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.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, June 16, 2023, 15:00 [IST]
Five jawans killed in encounter with terrorists in Rajouri, J&K

Who Was Mohammed Gufran? Wanted Criminal Killed In UP Encounter

Five Foreign Terrorists Killed In Encounter With Security Forces In J&K's Kupwara

India

oi-Deepika S

Five foreign terrorists were gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara on Friday.

The encounter started early morning after security forces launched an operation based on a specific input in Jumagund area near the LoC in the north Kashmir district.

This is reportedly the first major attempt of infiltration this year in Kashmir from the Kupwara sector.

"Five foreign terrorists were killed in the encounter. A search operation is underway," Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, said on Twitter.

Recommended Video

Kupwara: 5 terrorists neutralised in an encounter with Indian army | Oneindia News

"An encounter has started between terrorists and joint parties of Army & Police on a specific input of Kupwara Police in Jumagund area of LoC of Kupwara district. Further details shall follow," Kashmir Zone Police had earlier tweeted.

Five jawans killed in encounter with terrorists in Rajouri, J&K

On June 13, two terrorists were killed in a joint operation of the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police in the border area of Kupwara district.

"Two terrorists have been neutralised in a joint operation of Army and Kupwara Police in Dobanar Machhal area (LoC) of Kupwara district. Search still continues," Kashmir Zone Police said in a tweet on Tuesday.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, June 16, 2023, 10:19 [IST]
Govt To Develop Human Index For Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups

India

oi-Sanjeev Nayak

The Centre is now looking to design a survey that can gauge the human development index (HDI) specifically for about 28 lakh people belonging to the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) living in over 22,544 villages across the country.

Speaking on the first-ever such attempt, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda said, "We will collect information about the changes in their lives and document it, or simply put, make a database from it at the village-level. We basically want to draw up an HDI for primitive tribal groups. This will also be able to quantify how government policies are changing their lives."

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had in this year's budget speech announced a Rs 15,000-crore expenditure outlay for the Pradhan Mantri Primitive Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PM-PVTG) Development Mission, to be spent over the next three years. The program envisions connecting all the PVTG villages to basic government services like communications, electricity, public education, healthcare, water supply and connectivity.

The said HDI survey will be conducted as a part of this mission. "Such a policy with such an allocation has never been made before. With a holistic approach, we will document their lifestyle, their culture, so that we can show the world as to how they proudly and happily live their lives despite being in remote regions," Munda said while speaking to the media in New Delhi on completion of 9 years of Modi government.

Speaking about the other initiatives taken by his ministry, Munda infromed that a similar programme to test and collect data of tribespeople on sickle cell disease. For this initiative too, the government is trying to bring interventions to decrease prevalence of the disease among the tribal populations.

It has embarked upon a mass testing drive for this, with a target of screening around 9 crore people by 2025-26. About reports that the mission by March this year had achieved just 1% of its target of 1 crore people for 2022-23, the minister claimed that work on this front is now progressing rapidly and that the mission for "eliminating" the desease from India by 2047 is achievable.

Munda also spoke of the rapid pace at which Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) for tribal students had been sanctioned by the PM Modi-led government. The number of sanctioned schools has gone up from 167 to 690 since 2014, with over 3 lakh students enrolled at the schools. But only 401 of the schools are functional, many in buildings not their own.

The Minister also said that the government had solved teacher shortages at EMRSs by creating the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) to centrally monitor their administration and now recruit teachers as well. The government has already announced this and said 38,800 teachers and support staff will be hired for EMRSs soon.

Munda highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana as another achievement. He said that under this scheme, over 36,000 tribal villages are being developed to become model villages. He also spoke of the overall increase in budget allocation for tribal affairs in the last nine years, emphasising that the allocation, put together with the Scheduled Tribe Component Fund (STCF), was the highest it has ever been at over Rs 1.3 lakh-crore.

"We are not looking at development from a political lens. This clearly shows our government's commitment to bring public facilities even to the most marginalised among us who are yet to secure participation in our democratic processes," the minister concluded.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, June 16, 2023, 16:24 [IST]
Dont Take Selfies Or Swim In Flooded Areas, Threat Not Over Yet: Kejriwal Warns Delhiites

Help People Affected By Cyclone Biparjoy: Kejriwal To AAP Workers

India

oi-PTI

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday urged AAP workers to help people affected by Cyclone Biparjoy. Cyclone Biparjoy, which ripped through Kutch and parts of Saurashtra region of Gujarat, left a trail of destruction as gusty winds and rains wreaked havoc, officials said.

Heavy rains lashed the entire Kutch district since the cyclone started making landfall near Jakhau Port from 6.30 pm on Thursday and the process continued till 2.30 am, an official said on Thursday.

In a tweet in Hindi, Kejriwal said, "There has been a huge loss due to the cyclone. I appeal to all AAP workers to get involved in relief work and help people."

The chief minister also expressed concern over the situation in Manipur. More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur that broke out a month ago.

Cyclone Biparjoy Batters Gujarat Coast; 2 Dead, 23 Injured, 900 Villages Without Power

The state government has imposed curfew in 11 districts and banned internet in a bid to combat the spread of rumours.

"Situation in Manipur is a cause of concern for the whole country. Perhaps, much more needs to be done to restore peace," Kejriwal tweeted.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) will assist the Mayor's Office of the capital of Kyrgyzstan through public-private partnership in the implementation of the "Bishkek 2026 Development Programme. A Comfortable and Green Capital", Trend reports.

According to the bank, the corresponding memorandum was signed during the Eurasian Congress 23 in Sochi (Russia) by Denis Ilin, Vice Chairman of the EDB Management Board, and Emilbek Abdykadyrov, Mayor of Bishkek.

At the moment, the parties are already discussing a number of specific infrastructure projects of public-private partnership.

Meanwhile, the EDB and the municipality of the capital of Kyrgyzstan agreed to implement and scale the best practices of public-private partnership through the preparation of projects, financing the preparation of pre-project documentation, including in the solid waste management sector.
Amit Shah Says No Loss Of Lives During Cyclone Biparjoy In Gujarat

How Gujarat Is Protecting Gir Lions During Cyclone Biparjoy

India

oi-Deepika S

Cyclone Biparjoy, a rare and extremely severe storm that ripped through Kutch and parts of the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, left a trail of destruction as gusty winds and rains wreaked havoc on the Indian coastline.

The cyclone with powerful winds reaching up to 125 miles per hour blew off roofs, damaged power lines, and uprooted countless trees.

Despite the circumstances, Gujarat was very successful in keeping the losses of lives (animal and human) to a minimum. This was the result of a very effective strategy of disaster preparation and timely response.

As Cyclone Biparjoy approached, the Gujarat government come up with a zero-casualty approach to protect its extensive wildlife. The Asiatic lions, known as the pride of Gujarat are getting a great deal of attention, with 184 teams under nine divisions and 58 control rooms mobilized for them.

In a press release, the Gujarat forest department said that 184 teams have been deployed for action in the Asiatic lion zone to rescue wild animals which are likely to be affected due to the very severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy.

Additionally, special rescue teams were deployed in the Gir forest of Junagadh for Asiatic lions, at Narayan Sarovar sanctuaries in Kutch and Barda.

Cyclone Biparjoy Batters Gujarat Coast; 2 Dead, 23 Injured, 900 Villages Without Power

"Apart from Asiatic lions of Junagadh's Gir forest, rescue teams have been strategically deployed at Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary in Kutch, Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in Porbandar, among other places," it said.

The forest department said that teams will be monitoring the situation with the help of 58 control rooms.

While some radio-collared lions are being tracked through satellite signals, others are being tracked by the forest staff. The movement of 40 lions living near the coastal areas is also being closely monitored, said the release.

Teams have been placed at locations along seven rivers and reservoirs inhabiting the lions for rescue work. Similarly, four rescue teams have been dispatched to Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary and 13 teams consisting of five members deployed in Kutch circle in the Great Rann of Kutch.

"We are fully prepared and equipped to meet the challenges of this cyclone. Since the government informed us in advance, we have our SOP ready. We have created diverse teams to tackle the challenges," Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Nityanand Srivastav said.

Gujarat is the sole abode of Asiatic lions, which are declared as endangered because of its small population size and area of occupancy. There are nearly 600 Asiatic lions left in the Gir Forest, their last remaining natural habitat.
It Is Not Governor's Prerogative: DMK Questions Tamil Nadu Governor's 'Reallocation' Move

India

oi-Prakash KL

The DMK on Friday questioned Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi's move to reallocate the portfolios held by arrested state Minister V Senthil Balaji.

"It is not his (Governor) prerogative. It is the Chief Minister's prerogative to appoint ministers," DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan told ANI.

It comes after R N Ravi re-allocated the portfolios held by arrested state Minister on the recommendations of Chief Minister M K Stalin. However, he has "not agreed" to the minister continuing in the cabinet, the Raj Bhavan said.

Reacting sharply to the Governor's decision, he said, "Does the Constitution permit him to say who should continue as Minister in the Cabinet? The Constitution does not say that," the DMK leader said. "He (V Senthil Balaji) is just an accused. There is no judgement as to his charge. He is not a convict. The accusation may be false," Elangovan, a senior DMK leader said.

With Balaji now becoming a minister without portfolio, Ravi opposed his continuing in the Stalin-led cabinet as he was facing criminal proceedings, a Raj Bhavan press release said.

Ravi "has not agreed to Thiru V Senthil Balaji continuing any longer as a Member of the Council of Ministers, as he is facing criminal proceedings for moral turpitude and is currently in Judicial custody," it said.

On Stalin's recommendations, the Electricity, Non-Conventional Energy Development portfolio held by Balaji has been allocated to Finance Minister Thangam Thennarsu, the release said.

Further, the subjects Prohibition and Excise, Molasses held by Balaji has been allocated to Housing and Urban Development Minister S Muthusamy.

Thennarau and Muthusamy will hold the new portfolios in addition to their existing ones.

AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan said, "We genuinely believe that the continuation of him (Balaji) as a minister will impede the ongoing proceedings. Maybe that could be the reason why Governor would have taken that moral high ground...Senthil Balaji has no moral grounds to continue as a minister. He has to be sacked".

"If proceedings were initiated in the right direction, this Govt (DMK) is on its way to being dismissed very soon on corruption charges...," Sathyan said.

Balaji had been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday in a cash-for-jobs scam and is currently hospitalised.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, June 16, 2023, 21:46 [IST]
US Offers To Help India To Deal With Manipur Violence, Congress Reacts Sharply

Can't Take Law And Order Apparatus In Our Hands: SC On Manipur Violence

Manipur Violence: Union Minister Ranjan Singh's Residence Set On Fire

India

oi-Deepika S

A mob stormed and set Union minister of state for external affairs RK Ranjan Singh's residence on fire, in the latest incident of violence in Manipur which has been witnessing clashes between two groups over the demand for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category.

The junior minister of the external affairs minister was not at home at the time of the incident.

This is the second time that the minister's house has been attacked by a mob. In May, a mob attacked the MP's house over the deaths in the Manipur violence that claimed dozens of lives. The security personnel had to fire in the air to disperse the mob.

Recommended Video

Manipur Violence: Union Minister Ranjan Singhs house torched by mob in Imphal | Oneindia News

Notably, RK Ranjan Singh recently held a meeting with a group of intellectuals from Manipur's Meitei and Kuki communities to discuss how to bring peace in the violence-hit northeast state.

More than 100 people have lost their lives in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki community people in Manipur that broke out a month ago. The state has imposed a curfew on 11 districts and banned the internet in a bid to stop the spread of rumours in the state.

Manipur: Security Forces Clash With Mob In Imphal, Houses Set On Fire

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.
NCERT Fully Justified In Carrying Out Rationalisation Of Its Textbooks Contents: UGC Chief

India

oi-PTI

UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar on Friday slammed academicians objecting to the rationalisation of NCERT textbooks, saying there is no merit in their "hue and cry", and asserted that carrying out revisions in content is justified.

His remarks come a day after a group of academicians, who were part of the textbook development committees of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), wrote to the council demanding their names be dropped from books as their "collective effort is in jeopardy".

A couple of days ago also, a number of academicians and political scientists Yogendra Yadav and Suhas Palshikar had asked the NCERT to drop their names from textbooks over "several substantive revisions of the original texts".

Drop Our Names From Textbooks Too: 33 Academicians To NCERT

"In the recent past, the attacks by some 'academicians' on the NCERT for revising the textbooks are unwarranted. There is no merit in the hue and cry of these academicians. The objective behind their grumbling seems to be other than academic reasons," University Grants Commission (UGC) chief Kumar said.

He said the NCERT is fully justified in carrying out rationalisation of its textbooks' contents.

"The current textbook modifications are not the only ones carried out. The NCERT has been revising textbooks from time to time in the past too. The NCERT has repeatedly stated that the revision of textbooks originates from various stakeholders' feedback and suggestions," Kumar said.

"The NCERT has also confirmed that it is developing a new set of textbooks based on the recently launched National Curriculum Framework for School Education and that current textbooks in which the contents have been rationalised to reduce the academic load are only a temporary phase," he said.

As many as 73 academicians, including vice chancellors of central universities, NIT directors and IIM chairpersons, on Thursday termed the withdrawal of names over the NCERT textbook row a "spectacle" by some "arrogant and self-interested" people. They also alleged that it was disrupting the much needed curriculum updation process. The dropping of several topics and portions from NCERT textbooks last month triggered a controversy, with the Opposition blaming the BJP-led Centre of "whitewashing with vengeance".

Can't Be Forced To Introduce Textbooks We No Longer Recognise: Advisors Reply To NCERT

At the heart of the controversy was while the changes made as part of the rationalisation exercise were notified, some of the controversial deletions were not mentioned. This led to allegations about a bid to delete these portions surreptitiously.

The NCERT had described the omissions as a possible oversight but refused to undo the deletions, saying they were based on the recommendations of experts. It had also said the textbooks were anyway headed for a revision in 2024, the year when the National Curriculum Framework kicks in. However, it subsequently changed its stand and said "minor changes need not be notified".

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, June 16, 2023, 16:06 [IST]
Prabhas Starrer 'Adipurush' May Not Release In Nepal: Here's Why

India

oi-Deepika S

Kriti Sanon-Prabhas starrer, 'Adipurush', has hit theaters across the world. The movie has created a lot of hype amongst the audience despite being surrounded by controversies.

However, 'Adipurush' got involved in yet another controversy after Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah announced that no Indian film will be showcased within the capital if the movie does not correct the mistake about the birthplace of Goddess Sita.

"Until the line 'Janaki is a daughter of India' contained in the South Indian film 'Adipurush' is removed not just in Nepal but also in India, no Hindi films will be allowed to run in Kathmandu Metropolitan City," Shah wrote on his Facebook wall.

In the 'Adipurush' trailer, Sita is mentioned as the daughter of India. According to the mythology Sita was born in Nepal's Janakpur.

Reportedly, Nepal's Censor Board has passed the film after the controversial dialogue claiming Sita as India's daughter was removed from the film.

Why Prabhas And Kriti Sanon's 'Adipurush' Has Run Into Trouble?

The movie 'Adipurush' narrates the epic story of Rama aka Raghav, who embarks on a defining journey from Ayodhya to Lanka, in a bid to rescue his kidnapped wife Sita aka Janaki. He has to defeat the mighty king of Lanka, Ravanasura aka Lankesh with the help of his disciple Hanuma aka Bajrang. The movie is based on the mythological depiction of the same by Valmiki in the Ramayana, a Hindu mythological scripture.

Recommended Video

Adipurush: Makers remove controversial 'Sita' dialogue, Nepal mayor ask for ban | Oneindia News

'Adipurush' controversy

When the teaser of 'Adipurush' was released, the appearance of Saif Ali Khan, who plays Lankesh in the film did not go well with netizens. Some even said that he looked more like Taimur AKA Timur, the Mughal invader.

"This movie is an insult to Ramayan Firstly why are Ravan and Hanuman not wearing Mukut? What kind of haircut is Saif given?he's looking like Khilji Ravan was one of d wisest Bramhin can't see his Janva Pls stop hurting our sentiments #DisappointingAdipurish #AadiPurush (sic)," a Twitter user commented.

Mural in new Parliament building

The controversy comes at a time when the mural in the new parliament building has drawn angry responses from opposition parties in Nepal.

Former Prime Ministers of Nepal Baburam Bhattarai and K.P. Sharma Oli have spoken out against the Akhand Bharat mural in the new Parliament building.

Taking to Twitter, Bhattarai wrote, "The controversial mural of 'Akhand Bharat' in the recently inaugurated new Parliament building of India may stoke an unnecessary and harmful diplomatic row in the neighborhood including Nepal. It has the potential of further aggravating the trust deficit already vitiating the bilateral relations between most of the immediate neighbours of India."

"It would be prudent for Indian political leadership to unravel and communicate in time the real intent and ramification of this mural episode," he added. Similarly, Nepal's leader of the main opposition CPN-UML party Oli also aired his disagreement. "That is not fair. If a country like India that sees itself as an ancient and strong country and as a model of democracy puts Nepali territories in its map and hangs the map in Parliament, it cannot be called fair," he was quoted as saying by The Kathmandu Post.

The mural in the new Parliament building, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28, marks important kingdoms and cities of the past and shows the influence of ancient India in the then Taxila, which is in present-day Pakistan. Likewise, areas of Bangladesh and Nepal have also been placed on the map of Akhand Bharat.
US Offers To Help India To Deal With Manipur Violence, Congress Reacts Sharply

Can't Take Law And Order Apparatus In Our Hands: SC On Manipur Violence

Violence Will Not Be Tolerated: Bengal Governor on Pre-Poll Violence At Bhangore

India

oi-PTI

West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose on Friday said that political violence in the state must come to an end, after visiting Bhangore, where supporters of two political parties clashed a day before leaving three dead.

The Governor said he has already discussed the situation with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the situation.

''Some undesirable incidents have happened in some parts of Bengal. I have made my inferences of them. No violence will be tolerated and we will have to end it,'' Bose told reporters after taking stock of the situation at Bhangore. Clashes on Thursday between political workers had left two dead and several injured of whom one died in a hospital this morning.

The semi-rural area of Bhangore in South 24 Parganas district, was also the scene of political clashes earlier between Indian Secular Front (ISF) a party floated by a Muslim cleric and the ruling TMC.

Manipur Violence: Union Minister Ranjan Singh's Residence Set On Fire

After starting that he had discussed the situation arising from recurring political violence, Bose said, ''The CM is my constitutional colleague. What we discussed cannot be revealed outside.''

He added, ''Certainly, whatever is expected of the Governor under the Constitution will be done.'' Besides Bhangore, violence had marred the nomination filing process on Thursday in several other districts in clashes between political parties.

In all five people died as a result of the violence.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, June 16, 2023, 14:47 [IST]
Why Nitish Kumar Was Not Keen On Naming Opposition Bloc As INDIA?

Lok Sabha Elections 2024 To Be Preponed? Here's What Nitish Kumar Thinks

India

oi-Deepika S

Days after his big claim that the Lok Sabha elections may be preponed, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has revealed the reason behind his prediction.

The Janata Dal (United) chief claimed that the ruling BJP can opt for early LS polls to curtail the spread and strength of a united opposition.

"The central government has the majority and can obviously prepone the Lok Sabha elections. They (BJP) might think that the opposition unity may affect them in the coming time, so it can get the (Lok Sabha) polls preponed," Nitish Kumar told reporters.

Nitish Kumar further clarified he wasn't predicting the 2014 Lok Sabha polls to happen early, but merely suggesting the possibility of early elections.

Jitan Ram Manjhi Was Spying On Mahagathbandhan Allies: Nitish Kumar

"I have been told pending works will be complete by January, 2024. I would say, try completing these before that. You never know when elections may be announced, Nitish told reporters earlier this week.

"Elections may not necessarily take place next year. These could be held earlier," he added, as per PTI.

Nitish Kumar's efforts to forge opposition unity have resulted in leaders opposed to the BJP agreeing to visit Patna next week and chalk out a common strategy.

The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held on June 12, but was put off after some of the parties, including the Congress and the DMK, requested a change in date.

Nitish Kumar had said he was opposed to parties sending any leader except their respective heads to the meeting where the anti-BJP players will chalk out a strategy for the Lok Sabha polls next year.

Opposition meet will include Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and DMK head MK Stalin.
Chinese President Xi speaks to Ukrainian counterpart, offers to mediate to end war with Russia

Chinese President Meets 'Old Friend' Bill Gates, Says 'China Always Placed Hopes In American People'

Ahead Of PM Modi's Visit To US, Xi, Blinken Agree To Stabilise Tense US-China Relations

Bill Gates set to meet China's President Xi Jinping: reports

International

dwnews-DW News

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday, China's state media has reported.

Gates will meet President Xi in Beijing, reported the broadcaster CCTV. This will be his first visit in four years.

The head of the Gates Foundation is one of the first few Western business leaders to visit China since the country ended its strict COVID controls.

Gates to help China fight malaria, tuberculosis

On Thursday, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said that it would give $50 million (45 million) to support Chinese efforts to fight malaria and tuberculosis.

The Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI) is a Beijing-based group set up by Bill Gates, the Beijing municipal government and Tsinghua University.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates praises India's progress in different sectors

The Gates Foundation has announced that it will renew its collaboration with the GHDDI.

The objective is to help "improve health outcomes worldwide through life saving therapies for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, which disproportionately affect the world's poorest," said the foundation in a statement.

Gates will also meet global health and development partners in Beijing.

Western business leaders visit China again

Speaking at GHDDI on Thursday, Gates said that China "has made significant gains reducing poverty and improving health outcomes within China."

"I'm hopeful China can play an even bigger role in addressing the current challenges, particularly those facing African countries," he added.

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase and Tesla's Elon Musk visited China last month.

Musk, who has extensive business in China, met officials in Beijing and Tesla staff members on the outskirts of Shanghai.

CEO of Apple Tim Cook spent time in Beijing in March and said that his company enjoyed a "symbiotic" relationship with China.

Source: DW
Chinese President Meets 'Old Friend' Bill Gates, Says 'China Always Placed Hopes In American People'

International

oi-Prakash KL

Amid simmering tensions between the US and China, Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, met Chinese President Xi in Beijing on Friday.

During their meeting, the Chinese President asked Gates to help promote US-China relations. "I am very happy to see you. We haven't seen each other for more than three years ... and you are an old friend of ours," Xi said, according to Chinese state media. Xi claimed that Gates was "the first American friend I've seen this year."

"I always believe that the foundation of the US-China relationship is in the people. I am placing my hope in the American people," the Chinese leader was quoted as saying.

This is the first visit to China by the world's fifth-richest man since 2019.

In the meeting, the Chinese President appreciated the works carried out by the Gates' foundation on global poverty reduction, health, development as well as public welfare and charity work.

President Xi also told Gates that China is willing to work with him and his foundation to continue strengthening cooperation in relevant fields, and provide support and help to other developing countries, the Global Times reported. Gates said that he is visiting China for the first time since 2019. Gates is the latest high-profile business titan to visit the country in recent months, Fox Business reported.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates praises India's progress in different sectors

On Wednesday, the Microsoft co-founder tweeted: "I've just landed in Beijing for the first time since 2019, where I'm excited to visit with partners who have been working on global health and development challenges with @gatesfoundation for more than 15 years."

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on Thursday announced a renewed collaboration with the Beijing Municipal Government and Tsinghua University to support the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI) in its efforts to improve health outcomes worldwide through lifesaving therapies for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, which disproportionately affect the world's poorest.

"Over the next five years, the Gates Foundation will provide US$50 million to GHDDI, which will be matched by the Beijing Municipal Government, in order to bolster the institute's drug discovery capacity. Tsinghua University will also continue to support GHDDI in areas such as building and sharing research platforms, translating research discovery, and developing talent. The commitment was announced after today's visit by Bill Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation, to GHDDI, where he delivered a speech titled, "The Power of Innovation to Solve Global Challenges," a press release from the organisation said.

This comes at a time when relations between the countries have hit new lows in recent days after a Chinese balloon travelled across the US.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, June 16, 2023, 17:08 [IST]
Greece: Capsized Boat Had 100 Children In Hold As It Sank

International

oi-Deepika S

Survivors from an overcrowded fishing boat that capsized on Wednesday off the Greek coast in one of Europe's worst migrant disasters say up to 100 children may have been on board.

When asked by a reporter from Greece's ANT1 channel if there were 100 children onboard, one survivor replied: "Yes."

The UN's International Organization for Migration has estimated that the boat carried 700 to 750 migrants onboard. Only 104 people have been rescued so far, sparking fears that many more are dead.

The Greek coastguard said nine survivors of the tragedy had been arrested on suspicion of human smuggling and stand accused of forming a criminal organization, state radio ERT reported.

Loss of children's lives is an atrocity: UNICEF

UNICEF is deeply saddened by multiple reports of up to a hundred children being among those trapped in the hold of a ship which capsized and sank off the coast of Greece yesterday, in the Mediterranean's largest sea tragedy in recent years.

"We can assume that many of these children will have lost their lives, as reports of survivors are so far limited. Our deepest sympathies are with the children's families, and all those affected by this horrendous event," said UNICEF Special Coordinator for the Refugee and Migrant Response in Europe, Philippe Cori.

Fiery Greece train collision kills 26, injures at least 85

"These are migrant and asylum-seeking children who have fled conflict, violence and poverty. They are children who are likely to have endured exploitation and abuse on every stage of their journey. Most of them will have attempted to make the perilous crossing alone, at the hands of traffickers and smugglers.said Philippe Cori.

UNICEF is ready to respond to the immediate needs of children and women who may have survived the shipwreck, in coordination with national authorities and partners.

"Any loss of life is a tragedy. The avoidable loss of so many children's lives in the Mediterranean Sea is an atrocity that will haunt these shores for years to come. Enough is enough," said Cori.

Survivors under psychological distress

UNHCR employee Erasmia Roumana told AFP news agency that many of the rescued migrants mostly from Syria, Egypt and Pakistan were in a very bad psychological situation.

"Many are under shock, they are so overwhelmed," Roumana said. "Many of them worry about the people they traveled with, families or friends."

Greece mourns

Greece has announced three days of mourning following the tragedy, with a special prosecutor tasked to look into the catastrophe.

The Greek coast guard said Europe's border agency Frontex discovered the boat on Tuesday afternoon, but migrants had "refused any help." The coastguard said the boat could have sunken earlier if Greek authorities took action to intercept the vessel.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, June 16, 2023, 12:46 [IST]
There Is Now A Strong Front Against Dictatorship: Uddhav Thackeray On INDIA Coalition

India, Not China, Better Suited For Resolving Ukraine Crisis: US Congressman

International

oi-PTI

India is much better suited than China to play a leading role in resolving the war in Ukraine because of New Delhi's old relationship with Moscow, a top Indian American Congressman has said.

Congressman Ami Bera said he would love to see the Indian administration use its full diplomatic capacities to help end the conflict in Ukraine.

He said he was not sure if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden will discuss the conflict in Ukraine in their meeting in the Oval Office next week.

"I am not sure (talks on this issue) will happen, but I certainly think India can play a leading role in helping us resolve the Russia-Ukraine crisis. India obviously has an old relationship with Russia," Bera told PTI on Thursday.

"The Prime Minister can have conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin that we're not going to be able to have. I think it's in everyone's interest to see some resolution to this conflict. So, you see (Chinese President) Xi Jinping trying to negotiate some sort of ceasefire or resolution. I actually think India is much better suited for this role, because of the relationship that they have with Vladimir Putin," Bera said.

India Set To Buy MQ-9B Drones: Things To Know About Armed Predator

During the White House meeting next week, he said Biden and Modi will talk about economic partnerships.

"There'll be some conversations around trade relations. I think they'll talk about supply chains. India can be a critical supplier of raw ingredients. They certainly have a mature pharmaceutical sector, but also on the technology side," he said.

There will be a discussion around geopolitical security, Bera said, adding that it will involve what is happening on India's northern border with China and those border incursions.

"It will also be in maritime space. I think there'll be conversations about the defence relationship, some of the opportunities for co-production," Bera said.

Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. They will host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. The visit also includes an address to the Joint Session of the Congress on June 22.

Bera said Modi's state visit to the US is a recognition of the strength of the India-US relationship.

"The fact that he's invited by a Democratic President for a State Visit and by a Republican Speaker of the House for a joint session of Congress emphasises the bipartisan nature of the US-India relationship; how Congress and the administration see the importance of this relationship," he said.

Bera, who is in his sixth consecutive term, is the senior most and the longest serving Indian American Congressman in the House of Representatives.

He is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Select Committee on Intelligence.

"(The address to the joint session of the Congress) gives Prime Minister Modi an opportunity to lay out how India is viewing the relationship to members of Congress; those important opportunities both in the economic space and supply chain, but also in regional security in Asia.

"I think it's a platform that the prime minister can use to emphasise the importance of the relationship from the Indian side," Bera said.

He said the US-India relationship could be the most important partnership of the 21st century.

"Coming out of the pandemic, the opportunity for stronger partnerships in vaccine development in the pharmaceutical space, defence relationship has been very strong.

"I anticipate you'll see some announcements in the defence space that come out of the State Visit. So, I think President Biden has been a leader in this space and continues to be," Bera said.

The pandemic was a challenge for the US and India, he said, asserting that Modi and Biden should look at opportunities around supply chains, co-production technologies and how to work together on artificial intelligence.

10 Women From India Chosen For Research Program Under IGSTC

Under President Biden, the Quad coalition has been elevated to the leader's level, he said.

"That has placed an emphasis. Often people will say, this is about China, and certainly, China looms large in the conversation. But it's about more than that. It's about economic cooperation.

"It's about working together as leading democracies. It's about maritime security and freedom of navigation. I think you will continue to see the Quad take on more and more importance," he said.

Bera also said the diaspora is starting to play a role in moving the US-India relationship into a positive direction.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, June 16, 2023, 9:40 [IST]
Who Is Geeta Rao Gupta? New Ambassador-At-Large For Global Womens Issues In US

US SC Finds No Racial Bias, Upholds Native American Adoption Law

International

oi-Sanjeev Nayak

In a significant ruling, the US Supreme Court upheld the decades-old federal standards that give preferences to Native Americans and tribal members in the adoption or foster care placements of Native American children, rejecting a challenge that claimed that parts of the law were racially biased against non-Native Americans.

The 7-2 ruling threw out a lower court's decision that had struck down as a violation of the US Constitution's guarantee of equal protection under the law a requirement that "other Indian families" receive preference in adoption and foster care after members of a child's extended family or tribe members, reported Reuters.

The justices found that the plaintiffs -- the Republican-governed State of Texas and three non-Native American families -- lacked the necessary legal standing to bring the case. The justices also rejected some specific challenges to the law, known as the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, on other grounds.

The decision came a week after the court ruled against a challenge to another federal law aimed at protecting racial minorities, with the justices rejecting a Republican-drawn electoral map in Alabama found to dilute the clout of Black voters.

Congress passed the Indian Child Welfare Act to end a longstanding practice in the United States of removing many Native American children from their families and placing them with non-Native Americans. At the time the law was passed, 25% to 35% of Native American children were removed in States with large Native American populations, according to court papers.

India, Not China, Better Suited For Resolving Ukraine Crisis: US Congressman

President Joe Biden, whose administration defended the law, said the decision keeps in place a vital protection for tribal sovereignty and Native American children. "Our Nation's painful history looms large over today's decision," Biden said in a statement.

"In the not-so-distant past, Native children were stolen from the arms of the people who loved them. They were sent to boarding schools or to be raised by non-Indian families -- all with the aim of erasing who they are as Native people and tribal citizens. These were acts of unspeakable cruelty that affected generations of Native children and threatened the very survival of Tribal Nations."

Native American groups have cheered the decision. "We are overcome with joy," the Reuters reported quoting a statement of a coalition of Native American organisations, including the Indian Child Welfare Association and the National Congress of American Indians.

The lawsuit, first filed in 2017, was brought against the US Interior Department and federal officials by Texas and the three families who sought to adopt or foster Native American children. They included Texas couple Jennifer and Chad Brackeen, who in 2018 adopted a child whose mother is a member of the Navajo Nation.

Among other claims, the plaintiffs said the statute violated the Constitution both by racially discriminating against non-Native Americans and by having the federal government direct the actions of State agencies in adoption matters.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, June 16, 2023, 17:15 [IST]
 2008-2023 One News Page Ltd.

All rights reserved.

One News is a registered trademark

of One News Page Ltd.
African leaders were greeted in Kyiv by air raid sirens as they arrived on a peace mission. Meanwhile, Russian troops have been promised bonuses for destroying Western tanks. Follow DW for the latest.
England's Zak Crawley's innings come to an end as he is dismissed for 61 and Australia take their third wicket of day one of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
Rumble 13 Jul 2023

THE NATO SUMMIT IN LITHUANIA TURNED OUT TO BE A COMPETITION OF GLOBALIST WORLD LEADERS VYING TO BE VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYYS #1 SUGAR..
The US Justice Department accused the Minneapolis police of discriminating against Black and Native American people. Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murdering George Floyd in April 2021.
Congressman Ami Bera said he would love to see the Indian government use its full diplomatic capacities to help end the conflict in Ukraine. He said he was not sure if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden will discuss the conflict in Ukraine in their meeting in the Oval Office next week.
Macron attempts to convince Musk of a French Tesla factory, while Meloni would talk with Musk about AI, among other things.
Newsy 16 Jun 2023

ViewA truck driver who expressed hated of Jews was convicted Friday of barging into a Pittsburgh synagogue and shooting everyone he..
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. In Turkmenistan, the plan for the development of investments in the agro-industrial complex from January through May 2023 was fulfilled by 283.3 percent, Trend reports.

This was announced by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Annageldi Yazmyradow at a government meeting held on June 10, 2023.

According to him, during the reporting period, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan increased production by 105 percent, the State Committee of Water Management  by 104.1 percent, and the Turkmen Atlary State Association  by 101.6 percent.

Furthermore, the Deputy Chairman noted that production in the agro-industrial complex of Turkmenistan in the first five months of this year increased by 104.9 percent compared to the same period last year

Agriculture holds a significant position in the economy of Turkmenistan, being one of its most vital sectors. The primary agricultural crops cultivated in Turkmenistan encompass wheat, cotton, rice, sugar beet, forage, vegetables, melons, fruits, and berries.
President Cyril Ramaphosa visited a railway station near Bucha, in the Kyiv suburb, an area synonymous with war crimes after hundreds were killed by Russian forces.
As the indictments have begun in earnest, and the potential trials approach, it seems to some as if we have been drowning in a barrel-full of Trumpism. But if you somehow think we have achieved as much of this Trump Fatigue as we are going to see, I am sorry. You have another think coming. It is going to get far worse before it ever approaches a stage of "getting better." You thought Trump getting walloped by Biden might be the end of this. Nope. No such luck. Here we go again. Very few Republicans are grumbling about having a multiply-indicted Trump at the top of their ticket. And the Trumpers in the electorate are no smarter now than they were in 2016. Indictments? Convictions? Who cares? Trump is their guy, no matter what. Besides, he still hasn't shot that guy on Fifth Avenue.

As we hear the constant analyses by the media, and as we start forming our own opinions based on what evidence has already been revealed in the documents case, it does seem as if that particular case is quite solid against Trump. It looks like he is in a world of trouble for the first time in his low life. And this is before we even hear from the authorities about the other cases that Trump is soon to face. It is, of course, too early to say what the eventual outcomes will be. But this case, and the Georgia case, as well as the January 6 case, all seem pretty well thought out and damning, just based on what little we already know in the latter two cases. So, are there any signs of trouble in converting these accusations into successful prosecutions? Just judging from the documents case, there do seem to be some barriers to reaching a conviction, as well as a few other peripheral problems. The media have discussed many of these already.

First, Trump is, of course, claiming innocence. Of course. But that is his right: Innocent until proven guilty. However, this does bring to light one of the difficulties these prosecutions present. Trump has called into question the viability and fairness of the entire legal system, claiming this is a [insert favorite word number one here] WITCH-HUNT. And now we have been told that a federal judge Trump appointed has been designated to hear and render decisions in the documents case. Not only is this judge a Trump appointee, she is also the judge who earlier rendered very favorable (to Trump) decisions, and was heavily criticized for unprofessional behavior because of these rulings. At first blush, this looks like a significant barrier to successful prosecution. A Trump-favored bias is a distinct possibility from this judge. But hold on a minute. That is not the whole problem with this.

Remember that one of his rants is about how unfair all of this is, and how he is being treated much differently than anyone else would be. Okay, we have a persecution complex to add to the man's faults and personality disorders. I have lost count. But never mind. Let's take a closer look at the documents case. Some in the media have already pointed out that this judge could be more than just the random-chance appointment it was characterized to be. If the legal system is being called "unfair" and "biased" against Trump, what would be the best way to subvert that unfounded criticism? One thing you could do, is bend over backwards and appoint a judge already known to make decisions favorable to the Trumpsterfire. Bending over this far would certainly dampen much if not all of the unfounded negative bias claims. But it also could result in the culprit getting off despite undeniable evidence proving his guilt. One problem solved, and another promoted. Bending over backwards far enough could conceivably result in a broken back. So, in effect, if this all comes to pass, Trump may have influenced the judicial system in negative ways, assisted in this BY THE LEGAL SYSTEM, ITSELF. You just thought you had already seen a lot of Trump Fatigue".

Here is one more problem. As pointed out, the evidence in the documents case seems to be rock solid. But one of the legal talking heads pointed out that, yes, the facts seem pretty damning. But this case is not going to be about the facts, he said. The facts are clear enough, but the case is going to be decided on the basis of presidential authority and vulnerability. I happen to disagree with that assessment. But if this particular Legal Eagle sees that as a possibility, other Legal Eagles might see it the same way. That's a problem.

The last problem is timing. One talking head recently said that Trump's best defense in all of these cases, at this point would be winning the presidency. Yup. So when can we expect trials to begin? It seems that the three most important ones are unlikely until after the election. Oops. But there is one state case set for March of next year. It is the so-called hush money payment case, involving the adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump, himself, signed several of the eleven checks paid to Trump's lawyer and "fixer," Michael Cohen. The payments were re-imbursement for the money Cohen had given Ms. Daniels, to ensure her silence in the lead-up to Trump's first election, silence about an alleged romantic relationship. The payments to Cohen were earmarked incorrectly in official records as payment of other legal fees, which is a cover-up and a violation of the law. So there apparently will be at least that one case that goes to trial before the November election, and when its trial date was announced in a court hearing, Trump appeared noticeably agitated. Will that one trial be damaging enough to Trump's attempt to regain the White House? Trumpers have not cared about any negative news, so far. His popularity has even increased. But we will see.
"Poor planning on your part does not necessitate an emergency on mine."



- Bob Carter



The LACCD Trustees

(Image by LACCD) Details DMCA



With the 2022-23 school year coming to a close, the North Valley Military Institute (NVMI) currently has nowhere to hold classes next year. With time running out to come up with a plan, "Superintendent" Mark Ryan went before the Los Angeles Community College District's (LACCD) Board of Trustees on June 7, 2023, with the hope of getting approval to rent space on the Los Angeles Mission College campus. He hoped to get this done quickly as the Los Angeles County Office of Education must approve any change in the charter schools operating plans before classes can start.

Unfortunately for Ryan, the members of the LACOE Board did not feel that they had enough information to make an appropriately informed decision. They, therefore, tabled their consideration of the lease until it can be discussed further at the next meeting of the trustees on June 21. This delay will make it difficult for the school to get the needed approvals from LACOE in order for the next school year to start on time.

After hearing some of the concerns expressed by the Trustees I sent them the following letter detailing some of the circumstances that make NVMI a risky tenant for the Community College District:

Thank you for voting to delay consideration of the proposed lease agreement with the North Valley Military Institute at your meeting yesterday. As noted, this board did not have all of the information that was needed to fulfill their fiducial responsibilities in determining if this lease was in the best interests of the students of the Los Angeles Community College District.



ongoing audit of NVMI by the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) and how it was initiated. In the attached letter dated March 7, 2023, the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) requests this "extraordinary audit" after it found evidence of "fraud, misappropriation of funds, or other illegal fiscal practices" and suspicion that "NVMI mismanaged and misappropriated over $90,000 of public funds due to imprudent fiscal practices, gifting of public funds, and by misappropriating Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) monies and Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding."





If FCMAT's audit confirms LACOE's suspicions, then it is reasonable to expect that a revocation of the charter is a possibility. If this occurs, the school would be forced to end its operations. Perhaps it would be best to wait for the outcome of this investigation to be released before proceeding with a lease term of two years that NVMI would not be able to fulfill.





It should also be noted that when offered the opportunity, NVMI's Mark Ryan did not offer a defense of the accusations made by LACOE. This could be due to the fact that he has already admitted to his authorizers that "ESSER funds were used to pay for well-being activities," a use for which the County has questioned legality.





This Board also needs to look into whether NVMI has the financial stability to fulfill the obligations of the proposed lease. One of the reasons the school's charter renewal was rejected by the LAUSD was poor financial stability, a finding that was confirmed by LACOE staff. A letter dated April 28, 2020, stated that "NVMI is financially insolvent." Another on April 12, 2023, expresses concern about a "Violation of Law and Memorandum of Understanding" regarding the school's failure "to respond to all reasonable inquiries," as LACOE tried to investigate its financial condition. Mark Ryan reported to Daniel Villanueva and the rest of the NVMI Board of Trustees in May that the school will only have $18,000 in cash on hand at the end of this school year.





While this item was presented to you as an ordinary lease agreement, NVMI is not simply just renting space; it is relying on Los Angeles Mission College to provide services to keep it operating. It was stated that most classes will be taught by Mission College staff, but this arrangement is not approved under NVMI's operating charter. What will students do between classes or will Mission College ensure that there are no breaks in students' schedules? ROTC was mentioned as a class that Mission College cannot provide. Are there other classes needed to conform to high school requirements? What will happen to students who cannot handle a college course load? Will they simply be abandoned by NVMI, a publicly funded school that is supposed to accept all students who seek to enroll, regardless of ability?





There are also important questions to be answered about how the 20.8% of NVMI's student body who have Special Education needs will be served. While colleges are not required to abide by Individual Education Plans (IEPs), NVMI's students are enrolled in a publicly funded high school that is required by law to serve these students. What are the plans for students who require special day classes and are not capable of following a college curriculum? The LACCD may not be an authorizing agency, but they do have a moral obligation to not facilitate the neglect of society's most vulnerable children.





As Mark Ryan spoke yesterday, he tried to push you to make a decision based on his timeline requirements of having a new facility by July 1. While the LACCD staff was assessed blame for bringing this to the board at the last second, the truth is that this is a crisis of Ryan's own making. Until just a few weeks ago, Ryan was trying to move the school to the facility occupied by the California National Guard in the Sepulveda Flood Control Area. It was only after that plan failed that he settled on relocating to Mission College. The plan was so last minute that NVMI's Board approved the lease agreement that you are considering even though they did not have the document available for review.





The accusation yesterday that the LAUSD caused this crisis is incorrect as the school district did make an offer on NVMI's PROP-39 demand for space. Ryan says that this was not an affordable plan for the school based on the fact that it was spread out over three campuses. However, the charter school has already stopped accepting enrollment for the middle school. While they have yet to make this official by submitting the required material revision, it is clear that they would not have needed the space for these students, bringing them down to a single site. Therefore, they could have demanded less space from the LAUSD and not required this Board to act on an expedited basis. Instead, NVMI rejected the LAUSD's offer.





When this item is brought to you again in two weeks, I hope that you will consider the information that I have presented as I think that it makes it clear that it is not in the LACCD's interest to rush this process. Please let me know if you have any questions.





Sincerely,

Carl Petersen



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.
Duluth, Minnesota (OpEdNews) June 16, 2023: Recently I read the American journalist and biographer Jonathan Eig's new massively researched, lucidly written, fast-paced 2023 biography King: A Life (Farrar, Straus and Giroux). The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968; Ph.D. in theology, Boston University, 1955) was still pursuing his graduate studies in theology at Boston University when the U.S. Supreme Court issued its unanimous decision of Brown v. Board of Education in Topeka, Kansas, in May 1954.

The Brown case against the Topeka school board was brought by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and argued by Thurgood Marshall. Today, when Trump and his white MAGA supporters imagine an idealized time in the 1950s when America was great, I suspect that they imagine that idealized time as being before the supreme Court ruling in May 1954.

America had emerged from World War I victorious, and America also emerged from World War II victorious. A grateful nation even elected General Dwight D. Eisenhower president in 1952. Consequently, it fell to President Eisenhower initially to enforce the 1954 Supreme Court ruling ending public school segregation.

Now, young Dr. King did not begin his life in political activism until December 5, 1955, in preaching about Rosa Parks (pp. 147 and 510). Eig says, "It was the day, at the age of twenty-six, that King found his voice, preaching a mixture of political agitation and gospel, making the radical seem reasonable, perhaps inevitable" (p. 147).

In Eig's fast-paced biography, he moves us quickly through the major landmarks in King's life, including how he was named as Time magazine's Man of the Year in 1963 (pp. 351-365) and how he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 (pp. 385-391). However, as time moved on, King appeared to fade. Overworked and exhausted, King went of a working vacation in Ocho Rios in Jamaica (pp. 513-514) -- where he worked on a new book titled Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? (Harper & Row, 1967; but I am using the 2010 3rd edition published by Beacon Press).

In Eig's Chapter 44: "A Revolution of Values" (pp. 522-530), he reports that a congressional investigation reported that "[b]etween 1965 and 1967, 118 civilians and 12 law enforcement officers had been killed in unrest, while almost 29,000 people, the vast majority of them Black men, had been arrested" (p. 526). Eig also says, "King's new book bore the perfect title for these days of rage: Where Do We God from Here: Chaos or Community?" (p. 527).

As Eig reports, the white liberal Andrew Kopkind wrote a scathing review of King's book in The New York Review of Books (dated August 24, 1967). In it, among other things, Kopkind said that King's book "sounded as if it were meant to be 'read aloud in suburban synagogues.' That was meant as the ultimate insult" (p. 527).

Now, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of King's assassination, the prolific American Protestant theologian Gary Dorrien contributed the essay "The Radical King: Democratic Socialism, Personal Idealism, Anti-Militarism, and Black Power" to the special issue of Telos, serial number 182 (Spring 2018): pp. 47-65, on the theme "Martin Luther King, Jr.: Fifty Years On." In it, Dorrien says, "Where Do We Go from Here was King's best book: eloquent, practical, timely, judicious, and visionary" (p. 62).

In these five ways, King's last book resembles Pope Francis' widely read 2015 eco-encyclical - which is also eloquent, practical, timely, judicious, and visionary. (The pope's visionary 2015 eco-encyclical is available in English and other languages at the Vatican's website.)

In addition to papal encyclicals, there is a category of papal documents known as apostolic exhortations. Just as encyclicals may be addressed not only to practicing Catholics but also to all people of goodwill, so too apostolic exhortations may also be addressed to all people of goodwill. Granted, King was never the pope. Nevertheless, his last book could be categorized as an apostolic exhortation by a Baptist minister to all people of goodwill.

Also on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of King's assassination, Michele Moody-Adams contributed the essay "The Path of Conscientious Citizenship" to the book To Shape a New World: Essays on the Political Philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr., edited by Tommie Shelby and Brandon M. Terry (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2018, pp. 269-289). In it, she says, "I contend that, for King, conscientious citizenship is a way of living that seeks to give substance to the idea that justice is indivisible, aspiring to an ideal that (adapting a notion from Josiah Royce) King called the 'beloved community' - by which he meant a world that would allow reconciliation between the former oppressed and their former oppressors, and embody an all-embracing love for humanity" (p. 270).

To back up her parenthetical claim that King borrowed the notion of a beloved community from Royce, Moody-Adams references (p. 399) two articles: (1) Gary Hernstein's "The Roycean Roots of the Beloved Community" in The Pluralist, volume 4, number 2 (Summer 2009): pp. 91-107; and (2) Rufus Burrow's "The Beloved Community: Martin Luther King, Jr. and Josiah Royce" in Encounter, volume 73, number 1 (2012): pp. 37-64.

In any event, King's last book is also prescient in his discernment of chaos as the alternative to the visionary beloved community. We Americans have certainly not achieved a viable sense of the visionary beloved community. Indeed, Trump and his white MAGA supporters represent chaos.

King's last book unfolds in the following six chapters, followed by the lengthy "Appendix: Programs and Prospects" (pp. 203-214; "Notes" (pp. 215-216); and an "Index" (pp. 217-223):

Next Page 1 | 2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
Apache Mill Tailings USA, Inc. and 777 International Holdings, Inc. mutually determined that a March 18, 2020 press release submitted by former Apache Senior Director Lawrence Madoff, M.D., did not accurately represent the facts or the association between the two companies. Apache Mill Tailings USA Inc. hereby corrects the press release made by its senior director, Lawrence Madoff, M.D. regarding the beginning of clinical testing for a potential cure for 
Ellips hair vitamin is a well-known hair care brand that provides a variety of products for hair nourishment and protection. The brand has gained immense popularity globally, owing to its exceptional quality, and high efficacy of its products. Ellips hair vitamin is a perfect solution for people who want to maintain healthy and strong hair, while also enhancing its natural shine and volume. The Ellips hair vitamin range includes hair masks, 
The Clackamas County clerk is now conducting marriage ceremonies  including for gay couples  for the first time since 2014, when the countys former embattled clerk, Sherry Hall, refused to conduct marriage ceremonies of any kind after the state legalized same-sex marriage in 2014.

Voters elected Clackamas County Clerk Catherine McMullen in November over Hall after missteps in the May 2022 primary under Hall led to the largest election debacle in state history.

To now be able to offer a similar affordable, respectful, and inclusive service to all couples  no matter who they love or what their religious beliefs are  is both gratifying and humbling, McMullen, a former public librarian, is quoted saying in a statement Thursday by the county.

McMullen has instituted Wedding Fridays, adjusting her schedule to conduct civil ceremonies every Friday afternoon at her Oregon City office for $117 a pop, according to the countys statement. Couples can apply for marriage licenses and schedule civil ceremonies on the countys website.

McMullens move towards inclusivity comes as Clackamas County faces scrutiny after its board of commissioners May 24 vote to consider defunding the countys six-figure budget for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives  a move the countys former diversity manager called racist, sexist and politically motivated.

A federal judge struck down Oregons ban on same-sex marriages on May 19, 2014. Under Hall, all Clackamas County residents could obtain marriage licenses, but Hall stopped performing civil ceremonies after the ruling.

Sanford Fox and John Erich  the first same-sex couple to obtain a marriage license in Clackamas County the day the ban was overturned  called McMullens decision a victory for equality, inclusivity and common sense.

Fox and Erich were married in Multnomah County instead.

Especially at this time, we appreciate this step and the message it sends to all citizens, the couple is quoted saying in the countys statement.

Another couple, Meg Elston and former Oregon state Rep. Karin Power of Milwaukie, was also able to get a marriage license nine years ago, the same day as Fox and Erich.

Oregonians strongly support equal rights, and the day that we got married was among the happiest in our lives, the couple is quoted saying in the countys statement. Families like ours belong here.

-- Catalina Gaitan, cgaitan@oregonian.com, @catalingaitan_

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe.
A 19-year-old Damascus woman is accused of selling a variety of drugs to other teenagers on social media under the moniker, Kikis Delivery Service.

She began one message, writing, Happy Holiday my Loves. Then amid admonitions to make the best out of any situation, she directed her more than 1,000 followers to hit me up, using the shorthand hmu, for orders of $100+, according to a federal complaint.

Averi Rose Dickinson, dressed in blue jail garbs, made her first appearance in federal court in Portland Thursday afternoon.

Assistant Federal Public Defender Chandra Peterson entered not guilty pleas on Dickinsons behalf to federal drug charges, including the distribution and possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm in a drug-trafficking crime.

Dickinson is accused of advertising cocaine, acid, ecstasy, Xanax and a variety of real and counterfeit oxycodone pills for sale on Telegram, Snapchat and Instagram social media, according to a federal affidavit.

After taking orders, Dickinson either delivered the drugs herself, sent others to do drop offs or arranged for customers to pick up their goods at her home, according to a federal affidavit. Two teenagers, ages 16, were among the drug runners distributing the goods for her, according to prosecutors.

She slept with a loaded Glock under her pillow, kept an assault rifle tucked behind her washing machine and left a ballistic vest in her car for good measure, the affidavit said.

The FBI initiated an investigation after a Clackamas County task force suspected she was the source of the drugs that resulted in several juvenile overdoses, according to Bobby Gutierrez, a FBI agent.

The defendant was an armed drug dealer who had been selling drugs to kids for almost three years - not only did she market and sell drugs to kids, but she also employed minors as runners to help deliver her drugs, Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Kerin wrote to the court.

Dickinson told investigators that she advertised to everyone but estimated that about 50% of her customers were juveniles, the FBI agent wrote in the affidavit.

She denied providing any drugs that led to overdoses, contending shed test the pills ahead of her sales to check if they were laced with fentanyl, according to the affidavit.

Investigators conducted an undercover drug buy from Dickinson, ordering up to 100 Xanax pills and bars, and alleged oxycodone pills for $340. Once the deal was done, agents had the pills tested and found the purported Xanax pills sold contained a drug called Bromazolam, which is an unscheduled benzodiazepine that is not approved for medical use and can lead to serious adverse effects, including death, according to the prosecutor.

Dickinson apparently left jade-colored hearts in the bag of drugs she sold, according to court records.

Dickinson was aware that the Xanax bars were counterfeit and, in a social media post, noted that her Xanax bars were Definitely the strongest benzodiazepine press in Oregon, according to Kerin.

FBI agents, working with Clackamas County sheriffs deputies, Portland police and Homeland Security Investigations officers, searched her home Wednesday and found a loaded 9mm Glock under her bedroom pillow, an extended magazine of ammunition tucked under her mattress and a loaded assault rifle in the laundry room behind the washing machine, Gutierrez wrote in the affidavit.

They located eight grams of cocaine, two grams of ketamine, marijuana and about 25 counterfeit Xanax bars in her closet and $3,190 in cash in her bookshelf, the affidavit said.

A ballistic vest was seized from her car, with the ballistic plates for the vest found in her bedroom, the agent wrote in the affidavit.

Dickinson told investigators she had bought the Glock pistol for $600 from a 16-year-old who she said had stolen it from his parents, according to Kerin. The gun, she said, was for protection because people knew she was moving product, Kerin said.

Drug dealing was Dickinsons main source of income for at least the past three years, according to the prosecutor. She told investigators shed make one to 10 drug deliveries a day, and use other drug runners to make additional sales about once a week, Kerin wrote in a motion to the court. Her only other legitimate job was a six-month stint at a fast-food restaurant, according to the prosecutor. She lived with her mom in the Damascus home that was searched, according to the prosecutor.

Kerin urged Dickinson to be held as a danger to the community and risk of non-appearance for her next court date.

Dickinson did not challenge her continued detention as she appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge John V. Acosta. Peterson, her assistant federal public defender, said her client may return to ask for release once she can propose a suitable release plan. The 19-year-old is set to return to court on July 13.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. Turkmenistan and Tajikistan discussed topical issues and prospects of cooperation on a wide range of issues of political, diplomatic, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian partnership, Trend reports.

According to the official source of Turkmenistan, these issues were discussed between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tajikistan Farrukh Homiddin Sharifzoda.

Meredov stated that the bilateral relations between Turkmenistan and Tajikistan are at a high level of partnership.

In this context, he stressed the importance of the state visit of President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov to Tajikistan in May this year, which gave a new impetus to the further development of constructive dialogue between the two countries.

At the end of the meeting, the Ambassador expressed gratitude to the Turkmen side for the comprehensive support and assistance in the implementation of his diplomatic mission aimed at strengthening and expanding mutually beneficial ties between Turkmenistan and Tajikistan.

Cooperation between Turkmenistan and Tajikistan is an important aspect of bilateral relations between the two countries. Both states are actively developing cooperation in various fields, including politics, economy, energy, transport and culture.

In the field of economic cooperation, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan are striving to strengthen trade ties and mutual investments. They are holding talks on expanding trade and cooperation in the energy sector, including gas and electricity supplies.
The Oregon Senate Thursday approved a gutted House gun control bill, which leaves only a ban on the possession or sale of guns without a serial number.

The amended House Bill 2005 eliminated two other significant provisions, which would have prohibited people under 21 from buying semi-automatic guns and allowed cities or counties to bar people licensed to carry concealed handguns from doing so in public buildings and on adjacent grounds.

The watered-down bill was part of the deal Democratic lawmakers made to draw Senate Republicans back to work after a six-week walkout as the legislative session nears its June 25 adjournment.

Two other major gun bills, which incorporated many of the gun control regulations that voters approved under the now-stalled Measure 114, also appear to have died as part of the deal. They set out a procedure to apply for a permit to purchase a gun, and sought to increase the waiting period before a gun can be sold. A state judge has blocked the measure from taking effect. A group of gun rights groups have also challenged the measure in federal court.

Gun control advocates blasted Republicans for holding the Senate hostage.

The Oregon Alliance for Gun Safety, which spent last week defending Measure 114 in federal court, said the amended House Bill 2005 banning so-called ghost guns is not enough.

We are extremely frustrated. Republican Senators again abandoned their jobs in extreme obstructionism and in the deal-making process, community safety took a painful hit. Oregonians deserve more from our elected leaders, Jess Marks, the alliances executive director, said in a statement. Partisan divisions and the gun lobby won out over community safety.

The alliance argued that the age limitation for buying semiautomatic weapons was broadly supported by Oregonians.

Nearly 7 in 10 Oregon voters support increasing the age to purchase semi-automatic weapons from 18 to 21. That includes support from 63% of gun-owning households. Additionally, research shows that individuals ages 18 to 20 years old commit gun homicides at a rate nearly three times greater than adults 21 and over.

On Thursday afternoon, the Senate Rules Committee passed the amended House Bill 2005, which restricts the possession and sale of firearms that have no serial numbers. While the original bill was to become effective upon passage, any penalties for possessing an unserialized gun wont take effect until Sept. 1, 2024, under the amended bill.

Ghost guns are untraceable, with their parts typically bought online and assembled at home. They also lack commercial serial numbers.

People convicted of possessing an untraceable firearm would face a misdemeanor on the first offense, which carries up to 364 days in jail and a $6,250 fine. Second offenses and beyond would carry up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The Senate then voted 17 to 3 to pass the bill hours later, with nine lawmakers absent and one excused. Those who voted against it were Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp, R-Bend, and Sens. Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, and Lynn Findley, R-Vale.

The bill now goes to the House floor for a vote, where its expected to be approved and then signed into law by Gov. Tina Kotek. Oregon would become the ninth state in the nation to ban ghost guns.

Ghost guns are dangerous to our communities safety and are notoriously the weapon of choice for people who commit crimes. As a law enforcement officer, my goal every shift was to make it home safely at the end. As a legislator, my goal is to make sure all of our law enforcement officers are able to make it home safely at the end of theirs. House Bill 2005 keeps our peace officers and the neighborhoods they serve safer, said Sen. James Manning Jr., D-Eugene, who carried the bill on the floor.

Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, who pushed for the ghost gun ban, thanked the Senate for advancing the legislation. Oregonians can sleep a little better tonight knowing the end of untraceable and undetectable guns is in sight, she said.

House Republican leader Vikki Breese-Iverson, R-Prineville, applauded the deal she helped broker in an email, calling it a victory for law-abiding gun owners, saying Republicans held the line and amended the worst parts of House Bill 2005.

The Oregon Firearms Federation, though, called the deal a cowardly surrender by Oregon Republicans, as it staunchly supports Oregonians rights to build or possess a personally made firearm that does not have an approved serial number.

Hilary Uhlig, a volunteer with the Oregon Chapter of Moms Demand Action, said the group is celebrating the movement of the ghost gun bill.

This is a crucial step in tackling gun violence in our state, she said in a statement.

Yet she said she wanted to remind Oregon voters that Republicans held this chamber hostage to gut this and other important measures.

Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, said in a statement Thursday that a workgroup will be established to study policy solutions to gun violence and suicide prevention and $10 million will be invested in community violence prevention in the states 2023-25 budget.

Marks, of the alliance for gun safety, said the nonprofit is thankful the ghost gun ban remained intact and expects additional funding for community intervention to have an impact. But as a whole, she said those steps wont be sufficient to address the harm from gun violence.

We will continue to press all our elected officials to take bold action to reduce gun violence, she said. Oregonians deserve nothing less.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
Authorities looking for a car sought in connection with a drive-by shooting in Vancouver Thursday afternoon found it hours later, setting off a wild chase that ended in Portland when the car crashed into a MAX train.

It all began about 3 p.m. when police were sent to the Alder Creek Apartments, 11614 N.E. 49th St., to investigate a drive-by shooting, the Vancouver Police Department reported. Police, given descriptions of the car and the suspects, kept an eye out.
The City of Gresham determined six police officers did not violate any laws or police policies when they repeatedly Tased a 59-year-old homeless man inside a local business on March 9, sending the man to the hospital.

The city did not name the six officers in its statement Thursday about the use of force investigation.
Gov. Tina Kotek and Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson will direct a combined $2.5 million toward a program that gives people experiencing homelessness jobs cleaning up trash in Portland.

Kotek announced the investment during the Portland Business Alliances annual meeting Thursday.

While there are some who only want to fixate on or exploit the challenges facing the city, Im focused on how we can move forward to solve problems and elevate the people, businesses, and communities that make Portland such a special place, Kotek said at the business groups meeting Thursday. Im focused on taking action, forming partnerships and making things work.

Kotek is tapping into the Governors Strategic Reserve Fund to provide $1 million for the program while Vega Pederson is proposing to spend $1.5 million in unspent homeless service funds.

The county already provides funds to the clean up program and other employment opportunities for people experiencing homelessness from its portion of Metros supportive housing fund, a 10-year tax meant to boost the areas social service programs and address gaps in housing. But Vega Pedersons proposal would direct even more supportive housing money to the clean up program.

The city-county Joint Office of Homeless Services has struggled badly to deploy that money, spending only about $40 million in the first three quarters of the 2023 fiscal year  less than half of the $83.4 million it had intended to spend, according to its most recent quarterly report. During the third quarter, from Jan. 1 through March 31, the joint office spent $18 million in tax revenue, even though it had planned to spend $36 million in those three months, according to the report.

Litter and discarded items proliferated across Portlands roadsides, commercial districts and neighborhoods at the onset of the pandemic, fueled in part by homeless encampments and illegal dump sites left largely untouched by sanitation crews.

Despite a dramatic increase in public funding for clean ups throughout the city, as well as local volunteer efforts, the problem continues to persist.

The longstanding Clean Start program, an initiative of Central City Concern that has operated since 1996, provides trash and needle removal, graffiti abatement and other cleaning services in the Portland metro area while simultaneously working to help people experiencing homelessness overcome barriers to obtaining jobs. Workers prioritize their clean-up efforts in downtown, the Central Eastside and at campsites within the city.

People generally work for the program for six months, but their contracts can be extended for up to a year, said Jay McIntyre, Central City Concerns director of social enterprises.

Prior to the announcement from Kotek and Vega Pederson, Central City Concern had planned for a $6 million budget for the Clean Start program in fiscal year 2024, enabling it to employ 100 people, according to McIntyre. The $2.5 million investment will allow the program to employ an additional 26 people experiencing homelessness in the upcoming fiscal year, along with two additional managers, McIntyre said.

This expansion of Central City Concerns Clean Start program will put Multnomah Countys unspent dollars into the pockets of people who need them most  those currently living without housing  to help them develop the skills to stabilize and stay that way, Vega Pederson said in a statement.

At the meeting Thursday, Vega Pederson also said she was proposing that the county spend $4.6 million to support Mayor Ted Wheelers plans to create mass outdoor shelter sites in Portland to combat homelessness. Vega Pederson said the proposed funding from the county could support capital investments for two of the alternative shelter sites to ensure the city can build weather-safe tiny homes instead of rely on tents at the sites.

She also announced that the county had hired a team led by James Schroeder, who briefly served as the director of the Oregon Health Authority before resigning earlier this year, to evaluate the countys performance in deploying new resources to meet the demand for supportive housing, specifically its performance utilizing money from the Metro Supportive Housing Services measure. The group will then make recommendations for improvement, according to its scope of work.

On Thursday, the Portland Business Alliance also announced that it was rebranding as the Portland Metro Chamber.

Shane Dixon Kavanaugh of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report.

 Jamie Goldberg; jgoldberg@oregonian.com; 503-221-8228; @jamiebgoldberg

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe
Dory, a German shepherd dog, fell from a cliff in Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach at around 7 p.m. Wednesday. A helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Astoria was dispatched to rescue the injured dog.

The dog fell more than 300 feet down a nearly vertical cliff from a hiking trail in the park, according to a Twitter thread from USCGPacificNorthwest.

The part of the beach where Dory was trapped is only accessible by rappelling from a hiking trail, according to the Coast Guard.

After a rope rescue team failed to reach Dory from land, they requested assistance from a Coast Guard helicopter to try to reach the dog from the air.

The five-person crew of the MH-60 Jayhawk based in Astoria was able to rescue Dory about an hour after she fell.

Upon arriving, the crew decided that the best way to reach the dog was to deploy a rescue swimmer.

The waves were starting to lap at her, and she was sitting and just waiting, said Lt. Jake Mullins, 36, pilot of the MH-60 Jayhawk.

Aviation Survival Technician Second Class Clayton Maidow, 32, was the rescue swimmer dispatched to rescue Dory. After swimming to the beach where the dog was, Maidow determined she was injured but conscious and could be hoisted to the helicopter in a rescue basket.

The crew was able to hoist both Dory and Madiow to safety.

The dog was scared, cold but very friendly and very docile, Mullins said, noting that she remained calm while being hoisted in the rescue basket.

Once in the helicopter, Maidow continued to sit in the rescue basket with the dog to keep her calm.

She put her head down in his lap, Mullins said.

Ive been at this air station for nearly five years and have never seen anything like this, Mullins said.

In the past year, Air Station Astoria has rescued at least five people from the spot where Dory was stranded  but never a dog without a person accompanying it.

In all, the USCG crews in Astoria have rescued 17 people since October 2022  and now they can add one dog to that total.

Dory was reunited with her owner in the parking lot at Ecola State Park.

The owner was extremely thankful, Mullins said.

After reuniting with Dory, her owner took her to the emergency vet. On Thursday, Dorys owner told the Coast Guard that she had no broken bones and would make a full recovery.

An #update from the owner.

After a visit to the emergency vet, the dog's owner reports that his pup is doing just fine! Thanks to the work of our great first responders in Astoria and Cannon Beach! https://t.co/OWkwTYl1o7  USCGPacificNorthwest (@USCGPacificNW) June 15, 2023

The fact that she was conscious and able to move under her own power was miraculous, Mullins said, noting that it was remarkable that Dory had only minor injuries after such a significant fall.

Other members of the MH-60 Jayhawk crew who assisted with the rescue were pilot Lt. Luke Montion and Aviation Maintenance Technician First Class Justin Bergman.

The rescue was captured on video.

--Reporting by Julie Evensen and Mark Graves
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. Turkmenistan and France are discussing the agenda of bilateral relations covering various areas of interstate cooperation, Trend reports.

According to official information, these issues were discussed between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov and French Ambassador Philippe Merlin, who presented copies of his credentials.

During the meeting, Meredov expressed the readiness of the Turkmen side to provide assistance and support in the implementation of the diplomatic activities of the French side.

The sides discussed the agenda of the Turkmen-French relations, covering various areas of interstate cooperation, and also stated that cooperation between Turkmenistan and France is developing on the basis of the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutually beneficial partnership.

The Minister stressed the constructive cooperation between the two countries in the international arena, in which the parties provide mutual support and act as co-authors of important international initiatives.

The diplomats expressed a common opinion on the importance of expanding trade and economic ties in such areas as energy, logistics and "green" technologies, and also noted effective cooperation in the field of culture, archeology and the study of the French language.
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Thursday calling on warring parties in Sudan to end violence and return to the negotiating table
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - The US has strongly condemned the ongoing human rights violations and abuses and horrific violence in Sudan, especially reports of widespread sexual violence and killings based on ethnicity in West Darfur by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias
Intel announced on Friday that it has selected an area near Wroclaw, western Poland, as the site of a new cutting-edge semiconductor assembly and test facility.

The investment of up to USD 4.6 billion by Intel will create approximately 2,000 jobs and thousands of indirect supplier and temporary construction jobs.

Intel pointed out Poland was chosen as the location for the new site for several reasons, "including its infrastructure, strong talent base and excellent business environment." According to the company, the investment "will help create a first-of-its-kind end-to-end leading-edge manufacturing semiconductor value chain in Europe."

Intel, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, is a leading American brand and manufacturer of semiconductor computer circuits.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in a speech during his visit to Wroclaw on Friday said: "We are pleased that the largest greenfield investment in the history of Poland is being led by Intel, a Silicon Valley legend known for its innovation.

"Chips and semiconductors are critical technologies in the 21st century and we are excited to expand Poland's role in the global semiconductor supply chain and help to establish the country as an economic trendsetter," he added.

Last October, the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security announced sweeping revisions to its export controls. The Center for Strategic and International Studies, an American think tank based in Washington, stated that the controls were "aimed at restricting China's ability to obtain certain high-end semiconductor devices with potential military applications, develop and maintain supercomputers, and manufacture advanced semiconductor devices."

According to Intel, "the recent global disruptions show the critical need to build a more resilient supply chain for semiconductors."

"Intel supports the European Union's goal to reclaim 20 percent of global semiconductor manufacturing capacity by 2030 and is investing in a global semiconductor supply chain that is resilient and geographically balanced.

"Intel's investments in Poland and in Europe can act as a catalyst for further investments by ecosystem companies and for building and attracting the talent needed to support a thriving European semiconductor industry," the company pointed out. (PAP)



jch/jd
Photo: (Photo : Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Johns Hopkins University's decision to remove an online glossary definition of the word "lesbian" has sparked significant controversy, leading to accusations of attempting gender-neutral identities and drawing backlash from various quarters.

The university faced criticism after the glossary's definition used the term "non-men" to refer to women and some nonbinary individuals.

The move has ignited a heated online debate about the inclusion of gender-neutral language and the understanding of sexual identities.

Johns Hopkins University's Glossary Definition of Lesbian

According to The Messenger, Johns Hopkins University took action on Tuesday in response to the controversy surrounding its website page, which defined the term "lesbian" as "a non-man attracted to non-men" within its recently introduced inclusive glossary of LGBTQ terms.

Jill Rosen, the school's director of media relations, expressed the university's commitment to fostering an inclusive and accepting environment on campus that embraces diverse gender identities, sexual orientations, experiences, and perspectives.

However, screenshots of the glossary circulated before its removal.

While previous definitions traditionally referred to lesbians as women who are sexually attracted to other women, this updated definition aimed to include nonbinary individuals who identify with the label.

However, this redefinition stirred a wave of backlash and outrage, particularly among women, including lesbians, who deemed it misogynistic.

They pointed out that the glossary did not use similar language, such as "non-women," when defining "gay man."

As per NBC News, in response to the uproar, Megan Christin, the university's director of strategic communications, issued a statement clarifying the purpose of the LGBTQ glossary and addressing the controversy.

Christin further explained that the definitions featured on the website were not reviewed or approved by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) leadership.

As a result, the university promptly removed the contentious language pending a thorough review.

Christin acknowledged the concerns raised by the community and affirmed that the language used in the definition of "lesbian" would undergo a comprehensive evaluation to ensure alignment with the university's commitment to inclusivity and accurate representation.

However, she did not provide details about the initial upload date of the online glossary, leaving the timeline of events unclear.

Read Also: England's NHS Delays Routine Offering of Puberty-Blocking Drugs To Minors, Calls for More Evidence

Gender-Neutral Language Debate Continues

The controversy surrounding Johns Hopkins University's LGBTQ glossary is just the latest episode in an ongoing battle over the integration of gender-neutral language.

As an increasing number of individuals worldwide identify as nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, or gender-fluid, discussions about inclusive terminology and representation have gained prominence.

According to The Baltimore Banner, the debate surrounding gender-neutral language has witnessed notable figures expressing their opinions. J.K. Rowling and others have previously mocked gender-neutral terms such as "people who menstruate," "pregnant people," or "chestfeeding."

These instances have further fueled the ongoing discussions about inclusivity and the acceptance of gender diversity.

As Johns Hopkins University reviews the language used in its LGBTQ glossary, the outcome of the evaluation and subsequent revisions will likely play a significant role in shaping the understanding of sexual identities and the use of gender-neutral terminology in educational institutions and broader society.

The university faced criticism for using the term "non-men" to define "lesbian," leading to accusations of attempting gender-neutral identities.

With gender-neutral language becoming a prominent topic of discussion, the outcome of the university's review will influence the understanding and representation of sexual identities in academic settings and beyond.

Related Article: Unsecured Firearm Tragedy: 2-Year-Old Killed in Michigan Due To Accidental Shooting
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. Turkish companies have expressed their interest in investing in various projects implemented in Bukhara region of Uzbekistan, Trend reports.

The issue was discussed during the visit of a delegation of Turkish companies, led by the General Director of the Turkish "Ostim" industrial zone Adem Arzi in the Bukhara region.

During the visit, bilateral B2B meetings took place between Uzbek-Turkish entrepreneurs, with the participation of representatives from the Turkish business community in the construction, energy, healthcare, education, and other sectors.

Representatives of Turkish companies expressed their interest in developing cooperation with Uzbek partners and their readiness to invest in the region's economy. The parties discussed the prospects of establishing joint ventures and expanding cooperation in the industrial sector.

The latest data shows that, during the first four months of 2023, the bilateral trade between the two countries reached little over $1 billion. In 2022, Turkiye's trade turnover with Uzbekistan amounted to $3.2 billion, which is a decrease of 5.4 percent, compared to the figure for 2021 ($3.4 billion).

This visit serves as another step towards strengthening friendly relations between Uzbekistan and Turkiye and expanding economic cooperation between the two countries.
Photo: (Photo : Michael A. McCoy / Getty Images)

The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure voted in favor of raising the mandatory retirement age for commercial airline pilots from 65 to 67.

The decision comes as the aviation industry continues to grapple with a persistent shortage of pilots.

The proposal, included in the legislation to reauthorize Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs for the next five years, has garnered both support and opposition, with concerns raised about its potential impact on safety and labor agreements.

Pilot Retirement Age Increase Aims to Address Pilot Shortage

The House committee's decision to raise the pilot retirement age is seen as a potential solution to the ongoing pilot shortage issue faced by the aviation industry.

Representative Troy Nehls, a Republican, highlighted that while commercial airline pilots are currently mandated to retire at 65, they can continue to fly corporate and charter jets beyond that age, according to Reuters.

The proposed change seeks to retain experienced pilots and alleviate the shortage that has been further exacerbated by the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Regional Airline Association (RAA), which represents smaller carriers feeding major airlines, has praised the move, emphasizing that raising the pilot retirement age would help keep experienced pilots, particularly captains, in service.

The RAA has noted that numerous airports have experienced a significant reduction in air service, with over 400 airplanes grounded due to a lack of pilots.

They argue that increasing the retirement age would help address this issue and maintain the necessary workforce to meet the growing demands of the industry.

Opposition from Unions and Safety Concerns Surround Proposal

Despite the perceived benefits, the proposal to increase the pilot retirement age faces opposition from the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the largest pilot labor union in the country.

The ALPA, which represents aviators at major carriers such as Delta and United, has expressed concerns about potential scheduling and training issues that could arise if the retirement age is raised, according to The Wall Street Journal.

They also point out that international regulations would still restrict pilots older than 65 from flying in most countries outside the United States.

The ALPA released a statement, criticizing the decision as a "politically driven choice" and claiming that it undermines the understanding of airline industry operations, the pilot profession, and safety.

They argue that careful consideration should be given to the potential impacts of changing the statutory pilot retirement age, including consultations with agencies responsible for safety and a thorough study of the proposal's implications.

Read Also: Arizona Mother Falls Victim To AI Voice Cloning Scam That Faked Her Daughter's Kidnapping

Uncertain Fate in the Aviation Industry

As reported by CNBC, while the House committee approved the inclusion of the pilot retirement age increase in the FAA reauthorization bill with a unanimous vote of 63-0, its fate remains uncertain.

The bill will now proceed to a vote in the full House, and it remains to be seen whether the retirement age provision will be part of the final version or if it will successfully pass both chambers of Congress.

The upcoming U.S. Senate committee's consideration of their version of the FAA measure, which currently does not include the pilot age hike, adds further uncertainty to the future of the proposal.

The differing positions between the House and the Senate will need to be reconciled during the legislative process, raising questions about the ultimate outcome of the pilot retirement age increase.

As the debate continues, the aviation industry closely watches these developments, recognizing the potential implications for pilot recruitment, labor agreements, and overall safety standards.

Stakeholders from both sides will continue to advocate for their respective positions, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive and informed approach to address the pilot shortage while ensuring the highest levels of safety within the industry.

The fate of the proposal remains uncertain as it progresses through the legislative process, prompting stakeholders to closely monitor the developments that will shape the future of the pilot retirement age in the United States.

Related Article: Mother-Daughter Duo Make History as First To Co-Pilot International Flight for FedEx
Photo: (Photo : Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

The House Republicans are introducing the FAIR Act to counter Biden's student loan forgiveness plan.

Millions of Americans with student debt find themselves in a state of uncertainty as they await the Supreme Court's ruling on President Joe Biden's student-debt relief program.

In the midst of this anticipation, House Republicans have stepped forward with their own proposal to address the soaring costs of college education.

The Federal Assistance to Initiate Repayment (FAIR) Act, introduced by Republican lawmakers, aims to provide targeted relief to borrowers and streamline existing repayment plans.

With the Supreme Court decision looming, both sides present their plans to tackle the pressing issue of student loan forgiveness.

House Republicans Present the FAIR Act to Tackle Student Debt

According to NBC News, as the nation grapples with the escalating burden of student loan debt, House Republicans have put forth their proposed solution with the introduction of the Federal Assistance to Initiate Repayment (FAIR) Act.

Led by Republicans from the House Education and Workforce Committee, the FAIR Act intends to address the flaws in the existing student loan system.

The legislation seeks to offer targeted relief to borrowers who have already repaid more than their original debt amount, streamline income-driven repayment plans, and provide defaulted borrowers an opportunity to rehabilitate their loans.

According to the bill's sponsors, Representatives Burgess Owens of Utah, Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, and Lisa McClain of Michigan, the FAIR Act takes crucial steps toward fixing the broken student loan system.

The Republican lawmakers assert that the proposed legislation will provide borrowers with clear repayment guidance while shielding taxpayers from the economic consequences of what they describe as the Biden administration's radical free college agenda.

Contrasting Approaches: House Republicans vs. President Biden

While House Republicans champion the FAIR Act, they remain critical of President Biden's approach to student loan forgiveness.

The lawmakers contend that the Biden administration's extensions of the payment pause during the height of the pandemic have cost taxpayers billions of dollars, transforming a temporary relief measure into a prolonged three-year hiatus.

They argue that such extensions have left schools, loan servicers, and students uncertain about the future, emphasizing the need for clear guidance and direction.

In response to the Republican proposal, President Biden's student loan forgiveness program awaits a crucial ruling by the Supreme Court.

The program, which aims to provide up to $20,000 in student debt relief for certain borrowers, has faced opposition from Congress.

Read Also: How to Apply for Student Loans: The Ultimate Guide to Navigating the Application Process

The Supreme Court Decision and Impending Loan Repayments

As the Supreme Court prepares to make its ruling on the fate of President Biden's student loan forgiveness program, millions of Americans with student debt anxiously await a resolution.

The decision holds significant implications for borrowers, who may potentially benefit from significant debt relief.

Simultaneously, as per CBS, college loan repayments are set to resume on September 1, following a three-year hiatus.

The escalating costs of college education further compound the urgency of finding a viable solution.

With some Ivy League schools charging nearly $90,000 annually for tuition and fees, the financial strain on students and families continues to rise.

Against this backdrop, House Republicans and President Biden's divergent plans for addressing the student debt crisis capture the attention of the nation.

In this critical moment, Senate Republicans have also entered the fray, introducing their own legislation focused on student debt.

According to The Hill, led by Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the Republican senators aim to increase transparency regarding college costs, streamline repayment plans, and exert downward pressure on tuition expenses.

Senator Cassidy asserts that their plan addresses the root causes of the student debt crisis, differentiating it from President Biden's approach.

As the debate surrounding student loan forgiveness unfolds, the House Republicans' FAIR Act presents an alternative path to tackling the student debt crisis.

Related Article: Harvard Medical School Controversy: Manager Charged With Selling Stolen Body Parts Donated By Families
Photo: (Photo : Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash)

Former Charlotte Secondary School teacher Markayle Gray has filed a civil lawsuit against the charter school in Charlotte, North Carolina, alleging wrongful termination after parents complained about his teaching of the young adult novel "Dear Martin." Gray, an English teacher, claims that he received permission from the school to teach the book but faced backlash from white parents who deemed it divisive and politically charged. According to ABC, the lawsuit was filed on Wednesday, detailing the events leading to Gray's termination on February 2.

"Dear Martin" at the Center of Lawsuit

Published in 2017, "Dear Martin" is a New York Times bestselling novel by Nic Stone. The story follows the experiences of a black teenager who is unjustly subjected to police brutality. The protagonist writes imaginary letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., reflecting on how the civil rights leader would respond to the racial injustices he faces.

According to the lawsuit, Gray faced complaints from white parents in January who objected to the book's content, claiming that it injected unwelcome political views on systemic racial inequality into their children's classroom. However, Gray asserts that he had received permission from the school to teach "Dear Martin."

Artur Davis, Gray's attorney, stated that his client was never provided with a detailed explanation for his termination. While the school referenced complaints about the book being taught, Gray was not given a written explanation. Davis argues that the termination violated the school's own protocols, as Gray had no history of corrective action or evidence of violating school policies.

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has not yet provided any comment on the matter. Keisha Rock, the principal of Charlotte Secondary School, referred all questions to the attorneys representing the school. In a statement, attorney Katie Weaver Hartzog stated that Gray's termination was based on legitimate, nondiscriminatory, and non-retaliatory reasons. The school denies all allegations of wrongdoing and intends to vigorously defend itself against the lawsuit.

Read Also: Mixed-Race Girl Uses Talcum Powder to Look White After Being Bullied at School, Mother Shocked

Lawsuit Seeks Compensation for Fired Teacher's Reputational Damage

"Dear Martin" has faced controversy in other school districts as well. In Augusta, Georgia, the book has been banned due to similar objections. However, prior to Black History Month, Gray had a conversation with Principal Rock about appropriate curriculum. According to Gray's attorney, Rock specifically suggested that "Dear Martin" would be a suitable book to teach.

Gray assigned the book for students to read in January and had intended to incorporate it into his lessons during Black History Month in February. Surprisingly, Gray was terminated during a brief meeting with Principal Rock, where she referred to alleged parental complaints.

The lawsuit highlights the school's failure to follow proper termination protocols, including dismissing an employee mid-year without a history of corrective action or evidence of policy violations. Gray is seeking compensation for back pay, lost benefits, and other relief.

Since his termination, Gray has transitioned to a career in real estate. The abrupt dismissal in the middle of the school year has had a damaging effect on his reputation. Davis emphasizes that Gray joined Charlotte Secondary School with a sense of mission, motivated to inspire black teenagers.

The lawsuit Markayle Gray filed raises significant issues with regard to academic freedom and the fine line between addressing parental concerns and promoting inclusive education. As the case unfolds, it will provide insights into the responsibilities of educators, the boundaries of classroom discussions, and the rights of teachers to engage students in critical conversations about social issues.

Related Article: Is Racial Bias Present Among Teachers As Early As Preschool? Yale University Study Claims It Is
This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions
In the 11 June 2023 episode of the Interpreter Radio Show, Terry Hutchinson, John Gee, and Kevin Christensen discussed Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 28, the Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood, the Joseph Smith Papers project and recent book titles and Interpreter articles.

The New Testament in Context portion of the 11 June 2023 show, for the Come, Follow Me New Testament lesson 28, Ye Shall Be Witnesses unto Me, covering Acts 15, will be posted separately on Tuesday, 27 June 2023.

The Interpreter Radio Show can be heard live on Sunday evenings from 7 to 9 PM (MDT), on K-TALK, AM 1640, or you can listen live on the Internet at ktalkmedia.com.

We spent several hours in Oxford the other day, and doing so put me in mind of a column that I published in the Deseret News back in 2020. Since its been a long day today and Im very tired, Im going to reproduce that article here:

Although struggling recently to cope with the global COVID-19 pandemic, universities have long been important institutions not only in the West but internationally. How long? No direct link exists between todays universities and either the Academy of Plato or the Lyceum of Aristotle. Instead, the origins of the modern university lie in the medieval period. The term universitas itself seems to have been coined in Italy, in connection with the establishment of what is still known today as the University of Bologna. Focused initially on civil and canon law and featuring teachers recruited from the areas lay and ecclesiastical schools, Bologna is often considered the oldest continuously-functioning degree-granting institution of higher education in the western world. Its official seal features not only its name and the traditional year of its founding (1088) but the motto Alma mater studiorum (Nourishing mother of studies)  and, of course, we still use the phrase alma mater in connection with schooling to this day. Basic studies at Bologna and at subsequent medieval universities focused initially on the arts, and specifically upon the threefold Trivium  from which we derive our word trivial  of rhetoric, grammar and dialectic (or logic). Thereafter followed the quadrivium of astronomy, arithmetic, geometry and music. Together, these were regarded as the seven liberal arts  liberal because mastery of them was thought to equip a person to be free. But the real glory of the medieval university came in the specialized higher studies of medicine, theology and law  by which was intended both civil law and ecclesiastical or canon law. The overtly religious character of the second oldest Western university, the University of Paris, is clearer than that of Bologna. Perhaps already in the sixth century, monks and nuns taught classes in so-called monastic schools or cathedral schools. Founded in 1150, the University of Paris appears to have grown directly out of the cathedral school of Notre Dame, and it was officially recognized by Pope Innocent III in 1215. For many generations, it has also been called the Sorbonne, which is, strictly speaking, the name of its medieval theological college. The oldest institution of higher learning in what is today the English-speaking world is the University of Oxford. Its founding date is unclear  teaching in Oxford is attested at least as early as 1096  perhaps because there wasnt a single, specific founding. But when, in 1167, King Henry II banned English students from attendance at the University of Paris because of his war with Louis VII of France, Oxford really took off. Its Latin motto, visible on its arms or seal, is the opening words of Psalm 27, Dominus Illuminatio Mea (The Lord is my light). In the midst of violent altercations between students and ordinary citizens in Oxford, though  town and gown frictions were common wherever medieval universities were established, and often still are  a number of faculty and students found refuge in Cambridge, where Englands second-oldest university was founded in 1209. Astonishingly, Oxford and Cambridge became so powerful that no additional English universities were permitted to compete with them or even to exist until the early 19th century. The University of St. Andrews was established in 1413  but St. Andrews is a city in Scotland. The oldest institution of higher education in the United States was founded in 1636 and named after an English-born Cambridge-trained minister named John Harvard (1607-1638) who had been serving in the Colonies and whose will bequeathed half of his money and his entire library to the newly-founded school. Newtowne, Massachusetts, accordingly (and ambitiously) changed its name to Cambridge. In its early years, Harvard College served principally to train Unitarian and Congregational clergymen. Yale University, founded in 1701, was also intended to train Congregational ministers; initially, its curriculum focused entirely on theology and the biblical languages (such as Latin, Greek and Hebrew). Its seal still reflects its roots, with the motto Lux et Veritas (Light and Truth) displayed beneath a book bearing the Hebrew words Urim ve-Tummim (roughly Lights and Perfections). Like Harvard, Yale has an important divinity school. Established by Presbyterians in 1746, Princeton University was, once again, initially created to train men for the ministry. And still today, the very influential Princeton Theological Seminary  autonomous but closely related, having been founded by the Universitys eighth president in 1812  sits nearby. Some question whether religiously oriented colleges and universities are fully legitimate. For most of the history of higher education, however, there was no other kind.

I share with you a few milestones along the inevitable road to Science, Love, and Progress:

This important and very disturbing article showed up recently in the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File: Latter-day Saint Enigma: Their Unexpected Troop Abuse Rates: Are Latter-day Saints more likely to abuse kids? Through statistical analysis of the BSA abuse case, we have our first data-supported answer to the question.

Trigger Warning: If exposed to this article, some critics of the Church may want to take immediate refuge in the nearest accessible safe space.

Posted from Wokingham, Berkshire, England
Reply to a Protestant who criticizes Catholics crawling on their hands and knees across stone

Im not certain at all that this person you mention had zero knowledge of the Gospel. Portions of the Gospels are read every week at Mass. In one reading that is cyclical every year, John 3:16 is featured. I always chuckle about that to myself because supposedly Catholics never hear the gospel. John 3:16 [For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life: RSV] certainly is that! Prayers to the saints arent superstitious, either. Jesus explicitly teaches it in Luke 16. You mention Mexicans crawling on their hands and knees across stone. This is, of course, penance (bodily mortification, in particular), and it has massive biblical support as well. Here are a few examples:

The well-known Protestant reference work, New Bible Dictionary (edited by J. D. Douglas, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1962, Sackcloth, p. 1112), describes biblical sackcloth:

A coarse cloth . . . usually made of goats hair . . . Sackcloth was worn as a sign of mourning for the dead . . . , or of mourning for personal or national disaster . . . or of penitence for sins (1 Ki. 21:27; Ne. 9:1; Jon. 3:5; Mt. 11:21), or of special prayer for deliverance . . . The form of the symbolic sackcloth was often a band or kilt tied around the waist . . . it was usually worn next to the skin (2 Ki. 6:30; Jb. 16:15; 2 Macc. 3:19), and was sometimes kept on all night (1 Ki. 21:27; Joel 1:13) . . . Sometimes the sackcloth was spread out to lie on (2 Sa. 21:10; Is. 58:5) . . . Prophets sometimes wore it as a symbol of the repentance which they preached (Is. 20:2; Rev. 11:3).

Isaiah the prophet, speaking on behalf of God (as prophets are wont to do), recommends (prescribes?) the wearing of sackcloth (Is 32:11). Jeremiah does the same (Jer 4:8; 6:26). Ahabs use of sackcloth, fasting, etc., is seen by God Himself as evidence of his humility before God (1 Ki 21:27-29), as is the similar behavior of the Ninevites, when they repented (Jonah 3:5-10). Isaiah reports (Is 22:12; RSV, as throughout) that God Himself prescribed sackcloth and other similar customs: In that day the Lord GOD of hosts called to . . . baldness and girding with sackcloth. Likewise, Jeremiah has God proclaiming, Gird yourselves with sackcloth (Jer 49:3). The prophet Joel brings the following word of the LORD (Joel 1:1): Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth . . . Gird on sackcloth and lament, O priests (Joel 1:8, 13). The prophet Amos quotes God in the same vein: I will bring sackcloth upon all loins (Amos 8:10). This all sounds awful prescriptive (not just permissive). Moreover, it is God (not mere Babylonian or Assyrian or Persian custom) Who commands the prophet Ezekiel to lay on his left side for 390 days, so as to bear the punishment of Israel (Ezek 4:4-5), and then on his right side for another 40 days, to bear the punishment of Judah (Ezek 4:6). Then God tells him: I will put cords upon you, so that you cannot turn from one side to the other (Ezek 4:8). Even much later, at the outset of the new covenant, our Lord casually refers to sackcloth in association with repentance, with no hint of condemnation (Matt 11:21; Lk 10:13). Jesus knew that the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Joel had all prescribed and thoroughly condoned the practice, as had God the Father, as reported by Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Amos. Finally, St. John reports in inspired Scripture that God proclaims in the period near the end of the age: I will grant my two witnesses power to prophesy for one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth (Rev 11:3). God again prescribed or sanctioned the ancient custom, several thousand years after it began.

Fasting is also obviously an example of bodily deprivation for a spiritual purpose. See: Ex 34:28 and Deut 9:9 (Moses went forty days without even water); Deut 9:18 (Moses again fasts forty days without bread or water on behalf of the Israelites, after the sin of the idolatry of the golden calf); 1 Sam 30:12 (three days without water); 1 Sam 31:13 (seven days); 2 Sam 1:12; 1 Ki 19:8 (forty days); 1 Chron 10:12 (seven days); 2 Chron 20:3; Ezra 8:21-23; 10:6; Neh 1:4; 9:1; Esther 4:3; 4:16 (three days without food and water); 9:31; Ps 69:10 (humbled my soul with fasting); Ps 109:24 (My knees are weak through fasting; my body has become gaunt); Jer 36:9; Dan 6:18; Joel 1:14; 2:12, 15; Jon 3:5, 7; Zech 7:3, 5; 8:19; Matt 4:2 (Jesus forty days of fasting in the wilderness); Matt 6:16-18; 9:14-15 (cf. Mk 2:18-20; Lk 5:33-35; 18:12); Lk 7:33 (cf. Matt 11:18; Lk 1:15); Acts 13:2-3; 14:23.

So, granted, the people you refer to would likely not even know about all this biblical support (which is true of all Christians, especially those who never read apologetics or many theological books at all, including the Bible, didnt go to Bible studies or Sunday School, etc.), but Protestants who know the Bible relatively much better ought to (and there is much more). Paul even ties willingness to suffer directly to salvation and glorification:

Romans 8:16-17 (RSV) it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, [17] and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

Paul repeatedly teaches the notion of suffering with Christ (a form of penance), that he practiced himself (and he often said that his followers should imitate him):

1 Corinthians 9:27 but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

2 Corinthians 1:5-7 For as we share abundantly in Christs sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. [6] If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. [7] Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

2 Corinthians 4:10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; . . .

Galatians 6:17 Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks [Gk., stigma] of Jesus.

Philippians 3:10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christs afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,

2 Timothy 2:11 . . . If we have died with him, we shall also live with him;

How often do Protestants highlight these passages? Have you ever pondered them? I sure didnt hear much about them in sermons. So Im not so sure at all that the people crawling on their knees and whipping themselves on the back are so far from the Bible and the gospel, or that they are being merely superstitious. I think they are very close to the spirit of the above verses from Paul, and that Protestants who see this as superstitious are in fact the ones being insufficiently biblical and spiritual, and misinformed about the place of penance and suffering in the Christian life.

*

I used to fast as a Protestant. Thats a variation of penance: the idea that some form of self-imposed (in this case, bodily) suffering can advance one in the spiritual life. It was a great practice. I had to stop because of my low blood sugar. But I wish I could do more of that. Im not inclined to crawl on pavement (with my often sore knees), but I cant say that its an unbibical practice, per all of the above, and much more. *

I think this is a case where Protestants havent delved into the Bible deeply enough. Thats hard for informed Protestants to admit (it was for me; I was an apologist for nine years and thought I knew the Bible very well), but Catholicism truly incorporates all the themes in Scripture that God wishes for us to learn and live out in our discipleship. We dont pick and choose what we like and dont care for, and what we want to highlight, to the exclusion of other equally important verses (the Catholic verses: as I refer to them in one of my book titles).

*

Once again, then, Im all for understanding relative emphasis, and what Vatican II taught about Marian excesses. Thats all well and good and very important. But I am opposed with equal vigor to Protestant casual dismissal of things like penance, because its utterly biblical. Ironically, I think this is a case where Protestants are being quite unbiblical, in the very act of criticizing Catholics for supposedly being so, and I must defend my Catholic brothers and sisters  at least to a certain degree  from this charge of being so ignorant and unaware of the gospel and the Bible, etc. They are following Catholic teachings which themselves are grounded  indeed, soaked  in the Bible. Both sides of that debate are routinely unacquainted with the biblical rationale for penance (part of which I demonstrated above). Thats why apologetics are so necessary and one of 200 reasons why I have devoted my life to it. *

Lastly, you keep mentioning this church with an icon or stained glass window of Mary over the altar. This is very unusual. I dont recall ever seeing such a thing in any Catholic church I have attended these past 32 years. So it cant be used as an example of the experience of most Catholics at Mass. But there are certainly statues of Mary on side altars, and there is nothing wrong with them, once Catholic Mariology is correctly understood. In my own parish, there is a huge carving / sculpture of Jesus on the cross, front and center. I dont know if there even is a statue of Mary. If there is, its so inconspicuous that Im not even sure it is there, after 2 1/2 years.

*

Two sides to every story, I always say! Once I heard the Catholic side myself, it was all over. I never would have predicted that in a hundred years, but it happened! I came to conclude that Catholicism is not only much more in line with Church history, but also with the Bible.

*
Catholicism: The Elect Are Predestined; Reprobate in 1 Peter 2:8; Gods Providence (We Agree!); False Prophet as Gods Tool; Good Ol Romans 9

The late Steve Hays (1959-2020) was a Calvinist (and anti-Catholic) apologist, who was very active on his blog, called Triablogue . His 819-page self-published book, Biblical Calvinism has graciously been made available for free. On 9 September 2006, Hays was extraordinarily charitable towards me (seeing that almost all anti-Catholics have treated me like Vlad the Impaler). He wrote then:

*****

Romans 8:28-30 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he chose beforehand he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. [pp. 35-36] Romans 11:2 God has not rejected his people whom he chose beforehand. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? [p. 36] 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. [p. 45] Ephesians 1:3-12 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. [pp.45-46] Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. [p. 48] 2 Timothy 1:9 who saved us and called us to[a] a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, [p. 50]

As I noted previously, Catholics believe in the predestination of the elect (as well as salvation by grave alone). We hold human free will choices in harmony with predestination. Its a paradox and ultimately mysterious exactly how they work together (and we have different schools of thought on it: Thomist and Molinist; I am the latter), but Scripture teaches both things, so we hold to both of them. The difference in our differing opinions  both allowed in Catholicism  lies in how much God takes into account in predestining individuals, what He knew from all eternity would be our free choices and how we would react to His grace, justification, and salvation.

Romans 8:35-39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. [pp. 37-38] Ephesians 1:13-14 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. [p. 46] 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. [p. 51] Revelation 13:8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. [p. 52]

The elect will not fail to be saved, by definition. Its obvious and a truism. But there can be such a thing as a disciple / believer in Jesus Christ, who has various gifts and is in Gods grace, who then spurns these gifts and grace and becomes separated from God, up to and including damnation, if they dont repent.

1 Peter 2:8 They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. [p. 51] John Wesley: They who believe not, stumble, and fall, and perish for ever; God having appointed from all eternity, he that believeth not shall be damned. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary: not that God ordains or appoints them to sin, but they are given up to the fruit of their own ways according to the eternal counsel of God. The moral ordering of the world is altogether of God. God appoints the ungodly to be given up unto sin, and a reprobate mind, and its necessary penalty. . . . God, in the active, is said to appoint Christ and the elect (directly). Unbelievers, in the passive, are said to be appointed (God acting less directly in the appointment of the sinners awful course) [Bengel]. God ordains the wicked to punishment, not to crime [J. Cappel].

The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble (Prov 16:4).

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps (Prov 16:9).

I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps (Jer 10:23).

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father (Mt 10:29). [p. 55]

Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back? (Isa 43:13).

Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose (Isa 46:10).

So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it (Isa 55:11).

The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. 11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. (Ps 33:10-11)

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand (Prov 19:21).

No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord (Prov 21:30). [p. 56]

Catholics wholeheartedly believe in Gods providence, as I emphasized in Reply #3, because its an explicitly biblical doctrine.

If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, Let us go after other gods, which you have not known, and let us serve them, 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. 5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst (Deut 13:1-5).

i) Isnt this a clearcut example of divine solicitation to sin? God, through the instrumentality of the false prophet, is testing the covenant community. [p. 97]

No its not. The text never says that God caused false prophets to teach falsehoods and blasphemies. But He allows them in his free will to sin, and then utilizes that sin to (in one sense) in this instance test the Israelites, to see if they would follow the ideas and ways of the false prophet, just as He utilized the sin of Josephs brothers selling him into slavery, to bless Egypt and the very brothers who sinned (God meant it for good). Hays and Calvinists confuse Gods permissive will and providential plans with His perfect will and eternal decrees of predestination.

The false prophet is a tool. God is using the false prophet to test the allegiance of his people. [p. 97]

Yes, hes a tool. Thats more like it. It doesnt follow that God predestined His sin; He is simply using it. Likewise, Nebuchadnezzar wasnt a saint because God called him his servant (Jer 25:9; 27:6; 43:10) and used him to judge Israel when he destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC. Hays alluded to this on page 116: He uses them [the Babylonians] as executors of divine judgment against wayward Israel.

Hays brings up the beloved Calvinist prooftext Romans 9 many times (e.g., pp. 144-155), but usually responding to someone else. I have my own argument, that has been posted on my blog for over thirteen years now: Romans 9: Plausible Non-Calvinist Interpretation.

This concludes my four-part examination of Hays book.

***

Practical Matters: Perhaps some of my 4,300+ free online articles (the most comprehensive one-stop Catholic apologetics site) or fifty-three 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!

***

Photo credit: Portrait of John Calvin by Titian (1490-1576) [public domain / Wikimedia Commons]

***

Summary: This is one of my many (often point-by-point) replies to the Exegetical Considerations section (pp. 20-186) of Steve Hays Biblical Calvinism book on Calvinism.
Nvidias glorious GeForce RTX 4090 wowed reviewers and set a new bar for just how stupidly fast a graphics card could be. Unfortunately, the launch of the $1,600 GPU has been marred by multiple reports of melting 12VHPWR connectors used in the cards damaging both the connector and the GPUs at times.

The new 12VHPWR connector is a compact power connector that combines the capability of multiple older 6- and 8-pin connectors into one tiny plug. It was originally adopted with the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti Founders Edition and is now used in the GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition as well as custom versions of the RTX 4090 built by the likes of Asus, MSI, et cetera. The 12VHPWR connector was also used in newer RTX 40-series graphics cards like the RTX 4080 and RTX 4070 Ti, though not in AMDs Radeon RX 7000-series GPUs.

Updates:

Reports of melting connectors had largely subsided but a spate of melted adapters using third-party CableMod has cropped with the company saying it has received 20 reports with the majority of the problem likely being improperly inserted adapters.

The GeForce owner who sued Nvidia claiming the cards are defective has asked the court to dismiss his suit with prejudice.

While most melted connectors have occurred on the GPU, one Reddit poster is reporting a melted PSU this time.

GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition Read our review Best Prices Today:

With this fast-moving, confusing, and also very serious situation, PCWorld has decided to round up the facts you need to know to help separate fact from fiction. Nvidia officials have declined to comment while it investigates, but the latest development seem to point to bad 12VHPWR adapter cables. Theres also the possibility that not fully inserting the cable may cause increased resistance and enough heat to melt the connectors. Well update this story as new information is released.

Sept. 10 Hassan Mujtaba of WCCFTech reports of an alert issued from PCI-SIG to members of a thermal variance, which could result in safety issues under certain safety conditions. The member alert advises vendors to work closely with their connector vendors and exercise due diligence in using high-power connections

Sept. 14 The full email and additional details from the PCI-SIG are reported by Stephen Burke of Gamers Nexus and notes that failures have been observed in certain cable routing conditions from PSUs and test boards that generate side load on the interface. Burke said the reportapparently created by Nvidiafrom PCI-SIG showed three different manufacturers have been tested with 10 sample assemblies with failures manifesting from 10 hours to 30 hours with melting. Its worth pointing out that the internal report seems to refer to the connection on the PSU sidenot the GPU side. In general, however, ATX 3.0 power supplies PCWorld have seen indicate the cables to be identical on both ends.

Brad Chacos/IDG

Sept. 22 VideoCardzs editor WhyCry reports that GPU maker Zotacs guidance on the new 12VHPWR connector is rated for 30-insertion cycles which raises alarms as to the lifespan and durability of the new connector. VideoCardz later amends its report to say that while 30 cycles appears very low, many Molex connectors introduced over the last 20 years have had similar mating cycles.

Oct. 24 The first report of a melted 12HPWR connector is posted on the Nvidia sub-reddit. The GPU appears to be a Gigabyte 4090 Gaming OC using an Nvidia-branded 12VHPWR adapter cable. Both Nvidia and Gigabyte reach out to the owner who reports a replacement card has been received. A second report of a melted dongle is received as well on that day with damage to the adapter cable and an Asus RTX 4090 TUF Gaming OC Edition occurring. The Reddit post immediately goes viral on the high-profile graphics card with many assuming the new connector to be at fault.

Oct. 24 A few hours after the initial melting report on Reddit, renowned power supply reviewer and the principle behind PSU certification company Cybenetics, Aristeidis Bitziopoulos, attempts to replicate the melting 12VHPWR connector by subjecting it to 600 watt loads for more than 90 minutes. He is unable to damage the cable while seeing only a small thermal variance. It should be noted that the test used a native 12VHPWR cable on an ATX 3.0 power supply rather than Nvidias adapter. Bitziopoulos concludes the 12VHPWR connector doesnt seem to be an issue in his testing.

Oct. 24 Overclocker Buildzoid of Actually Hardware Overclocking, posts a video criticizing the new 12VHPWR connector noting that the new connector drastically reduces the number of pins and wires carrying power.

Oct. 25. With failures now reported at three, Nvidia officials tell the Verges Tom Warren that we are investigating the reports and are in contact with the owners of the impacted cards.

Oct. 25 Former HardOCP editor Kyle Bennett reports AMDs upcoming RDNA3 GPUs will not use the 12VHWPR connector in its reference designs. Neither Bennett, nor his sources at AMD indicate when the design decision was made to skip 12VHPWR.

Oct. 25 Showing what a distraction the 12VHPWR has become, AMDs Scott Herkelman publicly confirms the new Radeon cards will skip 12VHPWR and receives responses such as That is a HUGE relief, happy with that news.

Oct. 26 The official Reddit megathread listing showing documented failures now numbers five damaged 12VHWPR connectors.

Oct. 26 Jason Langiven, aka JayzTwoCents, who has long been critical of the connector being dangerous, attempts to replicate the failure on a native 12VHWPR cable and is unable to induce a failure on the cable under heavy loads.

Nvidias 12VHPWR adapter needs to connect to three or four 8-pin power cables. Brad Chacos/IDG

Oct. 27 Igor Wallossek of IgorsLab.de conducts a tear down and failure test of a 12VHPWR power adapter and concludes that the issue doesnt appear to be the 12VHPWR design itself nor the much-touted insertion cycle concern raised previously. Instead, Wallossek concludes it is the design of Nvidias adapter itself, which he describes as inferior quality (and) can lead to failures and has already caused damage in single cases. Wallossek said he believes bending and kinking of the adapter can cause weak solder joints and bridges to break and increase the resistance causing the melting.

Oct. 28 Ronaldo Buassali of TecLab.net.br posts his own failure tests, including swinging a power supply using just the connector and subjecting to a stress test of 1,532well beyond its rated sustained wattage of 600 watts.

Oct. 29 The number of confirmed damaged connectors on Reddit now numbers 15.

Oct. 30 Stephen Burke of Gamers Nexus attempts to replicate the melting failure by intentionally damaging a 12VHPWR adapter similar to what IgorsLab.de had reported and subjected it to a 99 percent load for 8 hours with no melting observed. Burke also notes that his five adapters all appear to be constructed the sameand yet differently than the adapter IgorsLab had. Burke said his five 12VHWPR adapters use wires labeled for 300 volts versus the 150 volts the adapter Wallossek had. Burke concludes that we just dont know what the issue is, but it is a real problem on some adaptersbut not all of them. He also mentions a theory being floated that the smaller connector may not easily seat as well as the larger traditional power connectors. He also points out that contrary to what many consumers believe, a native connector that plugs directly into a power supply may also fail the same way if the native cable is constructed the same as the failed adapters. Burke also asks owners of RTX 4090 cards to report which cable adapters they have.

Just keeping everyone updated: Out of about 130 emails so far to the 4090cable inbox, we've received 7 that are 150V rated wires (and therefore potentially indicative of different supply), so 5%. That rating doesn't instantly mean it's bad. Replying to a few for info  GamersNexus (@GamersNexus) October 31, 2022

Oct. 30 With news that there appear to be different 12VHPWR adapters being provided, Stephen Burke of Gamers Nexus reports via Twitter that of the 130 emails he has received, 7 percent of owners report they have the 150V cabling that was used in IgorsLabs adapter cable. Burke notes that while the cable marking may say 150V, that only means it uses the same apparent spec cablesand does not indicate they are may have the low-quality solder joints that IgorsLab found. Burke also notes that of the 130, not many are burned.

Oct. 30 Andreas Schilling of Hardwareluxx.de conducts his own poll of forum members who have purchased RTX 4090 cards. He reports that 12 have a 4-pins-to-12VHPWR adapter marked 300V. One has a 3-pins-to-12VHPWR marked 150V, and two people have 4-pins-to-12VHPWR marked 150V.

Nov. 1 Ronaldo Buassali of TecLab.net.br posts a longer video of testing from the original live stream with additional explanations of how he tested the 12VHPWR. Unlike most of the testing so far, which used actual GeForce RTX 4090 cards, Buassali physically removes the 12VHPWR connector from the GPU and wires it up for stress testing. This lets Buassali push the connector assembly well past the 600 watts called for, including loads of 900 watts, 1,200 watts and 1,500 watts. Buassalis conclusion? The 12VHPWR connector itself is well sized, so much so that it supported much more than its specification. However, Buassali concludes that even though the connector can handle more than its rated for, a poorly inserted connector that creates resistance could indeed be behind the melting of the connector. Buassali also doesnt rule out a batch of bad cables, but that implies a manufacturing issue, not a design problem.

Nov. 2 Jon Gerow, director of R&D at Corsair and formerly of Jonnyguru.com, posts results from intentionally damaged 12VHPWR cable adapters under load and is unable to induce melting as well. Gerow was able to source multiple 12VHPWR adapter cables for destructive testing, and despite breaking off solder joints, he was unable to induce melting or a failure. He did note that some of the adapters werent constructed very well but even the worst of the batch passed stress testing without failing. Gerow concludes that some of the problems may have occurred when the owners didnt fully seat the 12VHPWR adapter cables and also posts images of installed PCs where even a small gap of 1 mm could result in increased resistance.

Nov. 3 AMD formally announces its RDNA3-based Radeon 7900XT and Radeon 7900XTX and proudly notes that it did not use 12VHPWR connections. However, the company points out that the general perception that it changed its designs only after the melting problems cropped up a few weeks ago is not correct. AMD made the decision to stay with conventional 8-pin power connectors more than a year ago.

Nov. 4 A new post in the Nvidia subreddit, taken from a Facebook post of a Hong Kong-based RTX 4090 owner, is the first reported damaged 12VHPWR cable from a native cable plugged directly into a power supply. Previous to this report, all of the reported issues had only occurred in 12VHPWR adapter cables, not native cables. The following day, another person reports a melted connector using a native 12VHPWR cable from an ATX 3.0 power supply. This appears to dash hopes that a native plug would solve the problem.

Nov 7 The number of confirmed failed connectors now numbers 23 on the Reddit megathread, with issues spread among many graphics card makers. Oddly, there are no Nvidia Founders Edition cards listed with failures. There are also five unconfirmed cases listed from other board makers as well.

Nov. 7 VideoCardz editor WhyCry reports that a person on Reddit has been told his or her Gainward GeForce RTX 4090 will be delayed until the middle of November as it waits for replacement 12VHPWR adapter cables. The email, sent from Australian PC company Techfast to a customer, said While investigations are still continuing and Nvidia has not released a public statement, Gainward has told us that cables shipped with their cards will (are) being replaced. As a result, they are holding shipping of all cards until this has taken place. We also understand this cable replacement will not be limited to Gainward alone. PCWorld reached out to Techfast who confirmed the authenticity of the email.

Nov. 8 Despite Australian PC builder Techfast confirming an email sent to customers saying some RTX 4090 cards would be delayed while Gainward ships replacement cables and implying other GPU makers would do the same, Gainwards EU Facebook page says that is not the case and has issued a clarification. There is incorrect information suggesting Gainward is delaying the RTX 4090 shipment to replace the cables lately. Here we would like to clarify thatGainward is not holding any RTX 40 shipment to replace the cables, and has no plan to do so. The cables Gainward currently used on the RTX 40 have been inspected by NVIDIA team and found no issues. All Gainward shipment is being made as usual. Please dont hesitate to grab the Gainward graphics cards if you plan to buy one!

Nov. 11 UK hardware site KitGuru receives an update from Nvidia that it is continuing to investigate the situation. We continue to investigate the reports, however we dont have further details to share yet. NVIDIA and our partners are committed to supporting our customers and ensuring an expedited RMA process for them, KitGuru says via Twitter.

Nov. 13 There are now 26 confirmed GeForce RTX 4090 GPUs with melted connectors documented in the Nvidia subreddit including for the first time, a report of an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition with a melted connector.

Nov 14 Igor Wallossek of Igorslab.de confirms there are at least two manufacturers of the Nvidia supplied adapter plugs with one of the adapters seemingly using a rougher casting making insertions more difficult. Wallossek, who said he has spoken with Nvidias director of engineering Gabriele Gorla, doesnt blame end users, but does believe the rougher castings may possibly have lead some customers to to rock the 12VHWPR connector into the socket which may be why so many reports show melted connectors starting from one side of the connector with few to none melting from the center. The solution, Wallossek said, may indicate the PCI SIG needs to issue guidance on keep out zones to give consumers better access to the socket to directly inserting it rather than rocking the connectors in from one side. Wallossek also notes that of the two adapter cables used supplied by Nvidia, one design only grabs pins on two sides while the other design grabs pins on all four sides.

Nov. 16 In an exhaustive investigation relying on third-party failure analysis using X-ray examination as well as electron microscope exam, as well as reproducing the failures, Gamers Nexus EIC Stephen Burke concludes debris inside the connectors from manufacturing or from insertion as well as improperly seating the cables is largely behind most of the failures seen. Burke also cites numbers from a vendor that the risk of failure is from 0.05 to .1 percent at this point. Although improperly seating the cables while putting it under strain seems to get most of the blame, Burke also wonders if the design of the connector shouldnt have anticipated the issues.

Nov. 16 Toms Hardware reports that a GeForce RTX 4090 owner has filed a class-action in the US District Court for the Northern District Court of California over the melting connectors. Filed by Lucas Genova on Nov. 11, the suit alleges Nvidia marketed and sold the RTX 4090 with a defective and dangerous power cable plug and socket, which has rendered consumers cards inoperable and poses a serious electrical and fire hazard for each and every purchaser, according to the Toms Hardware report.

Nov. 17 Looking to pour a little salt into the wounds of its competitor, AMD officials have been touting their fortune of not implementing the new 12VHPWR connector in its upcoming Radeon 7000-series of cards.

Nov. 18 After weeks of mostly silence, Nvidia finally issues a statement that it has received 50 known reports of melted connectors and after analyzing the returned cables, has largely found improper insertion to be the likely cause, according to a report by Gamers Nexus. The company also poured cold water on building concern that use of third-party 12VHPWR cables would void warranties. The company told Gamers Nexus EIC Stephen Burke that it would honor warranties related to the issues and would expedite the RMA process. While improper insertion would indicate user error during installation of the the cards is to blame, Nvidia also told Gamers Nexus it is looking at ways to improve the connectors that was homologated by the PCI-SIG.

Nov. 18 The official Nvidia Reddit megathread closes out its logging of reported incidents which appear to drop off after Gamers Nexus video and Nvidias official notice. However, one Reddit user posts an image of a melted RTX 4090 12VHPWR connector in the PCMR subreddit on Nov. 24.

Dec. 1 With concern over melting 12VHPWR connectors greatly subsiding after reports that improper insertion is likely the primary cause, the PCI SIG releases a statement reminding people that its spec addresses interoperability, not safety, and each member is responsible for their own products. PCI-SIG wishes to impress upon all Members that manufacture, market or sell PCI-SIG technologies (including 12VHPWR connections) of the need to take all appropriate and prudent measures to ensure end user safety, including testing for the reported problem cases involving consumers as alleged in the above-referenced lawsuit. Members are reminded that PCI-SIG specifications provide necessary technical information for interoperability and do not attempt to address proper design, manufacturing methods, materials, safety testing, safety tolerances or workmanship. When implementing a PCI-SIG specification, Members are responsible for the design, manufacturing, and testing, including safety testing, of their products.
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has warned Ghanaians against the patronization of some online loan applications. According to the BoG, the apps, totaling ninety-seven (97) in number, are without authorization.



In a statement copied to the media, the central bank said Ghanains should be wary in their dealings with the companies listed.



The Bank of Ghana reiterated that the activities of these entities significantly breach customer data and privacy laws as well as consumer protection requirements and norms with unfavorable implications on the integrity and wellbeing of their patrons, according to a statement from the Central Bank.



"The general public has been advised to consult the Banks website for the approved list of licenses institutions, before transacting any business with an institution."



Bank of Ghana Public Notice: Lending Activities by Unlicensed Entities pic.twitter.com/lqqPJF62ng  Bank of Ghana (@thebankofghana) June 14, 2023

Source: BoG









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
Dr Ignatius Awinibuno Achor (right), Chief Programme Officer, Allied Health, Ministry of Health, delivering the keynote address at the event. Picture: EDNA SALVO-KOTEY

Commemoration of Blood Donor Day: Health Ministry calls for more advocacy on blood donation



Chris Nunoo Jun - 15 - 2023 , 11:16

The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, has called for more advocacy on safe blood donation across the country.



He said there was the need for stakeholders to support the Health Ministry in its blood donation promotion drive to achieve its objective of ensuring the availability of blood in health facilities across the country.



Like the fight against illegal mining (galamsey), there must be a continuous public outcry on blood donation to meet our targets.



Collectively, we need to walk the talk when it comes to matters of blood availability and the ministry will lead this walk, Mr Agyeman-Manu said.



The call was contained in a speech read on behalf of the minister at an event to commemorate this years World Blood Donor Day in Accra yesterday on the theme:



We live because you give, give blood, give plasma, share life, share often.



Blood Donor Day

The day was set aside by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to celebrate and appreciate voluntary blood donors for their contribution to stocking blood banks and by extension, saving lives.



The event is observed on June 14 across the globe every year.



Mr Agyeman-Manu congratulated all blood donors on their continuous support and said that the demand for blood was growing faster than its supply, thus, making safe blood or plasma more precious than ever.



He, therefore, urged the National Blood Service to come up with laudable initiatives that would encourage more people to voluntarily donate blood to save lives.



The minister also urged them to streamline their system to ensure conformity in standards in the collection, processing and distribution of blood products across the country.



He further called for the building of strong institutional partnerships and collaboration with relevant institutions for support in the discharge of their duties.



Significance

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Blood Service, Dr Shirley Owusu-Ofori, described the event as significant in mobilising support at the national, regional and global levels for the sustenance of their programmes.



She said it also highlighted the critical role of unpaid regular blood and plasma donors in ensuring access to safe blood and blood products for all people.



In partnership with Global Blood Bank, a UK-based organisation, the service launched a story contest for participants to share their experiences on blood donation or as recipients.



Registration for the contest, which started yesterday, ends on August 31, 2023.





Dr Owusu-Ofori encouraged interested individuals to check the website and social media handles of the service to participate in the contest.



In a speech read on his behalf, the WHO Representative to Ghana, Dr Francis Kasolo, said in spite of the significant progress made, blood services in some countries still faced challenges in getting sufficient blood and ensuring the quality and safety of blood.



He, therefore, urged governments to increase investment in the health sector to build sustainable and resilient blood systems, including the establishment of institutions and infrastructure to increase the collection of blood.



For her part, a senior specialist of radiation oncologist at the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Centre (NRONMC), Dr Hannah Naa Gogwe Ayettey, stressed the need to demystify misconceptions about blood donations in the country.





Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. Chinese companies are capable of making a significant contribution to the development of machinery industry in Uzbekistan, the Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) of Uzbekistan told Trend.

The creation of an Uzbek-Chinese joint venture for the production of geophysical equipment, instruments, drilling and exploration rigs with such Chinese companies as Sany and XCMG will contribute to the development of the machinery industry in the country, the analysts say.

"The launch of electrical equipment production in Uzbekistan in collaboration with the China Electrical Equipment Industry Association, as well as production with Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, Hua Hong Semiconductor, and Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp, will lead to a decrease in imports of electrical products," the Center said.

Experts also emphasized that China is among the TOP-3 countries with the highest number of operating enterprises in Uzbekistan with Chinese capital.

"As of January 1, 2023, there are 2,141 enterprises with Chinese capital operating in Uzbekistan, accounting for 15 percent of the total number of foreign-capital companies present in the country. In 2022, 275 newly established enterprises with Chinese capital were registered," the CERR added.
In a bid to promote and support the growth of the automobile industry and address challenges facing trade facilitation in Ghana, the Chamber of Automobile Dealership Ghana (CADEG) has issued a rallying call for the creation of a thriving ground conducive to the industrys prosperity.



The President of CADEG, Nana Adu Bonsu, made the call during a stakeholders meeting at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kumasi. It was organised by CADEG in collaboration with the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).



The National Chairman of CADEG, Mr Eddie Kusi Ankomah; Executive Secretary of CADEG, Mr. George Dumenu; among a host of other national executive members of CADEG, also addressed the conference.



Similarly, they called on stakeholders, particularly the Customs Division of GRA to put in quick measures to facilitate trading on the various corridors in the country, especially on the Accra  Kumasi corridor to boost trading activities in the Ashanti Region where several complaints were coming from.



Nana Adu Bonsu further stressed the need to facilitate a conducive business environment that fosters innovation, investment, and job creation within the automobile sector.



He emphasised the importance of establishing a favorable ecosystem for the automobile industry since it plays a critical role in the economic development of any nation.



He reiterated the need for streamlined government policies and regulations to promote growth and investment in the industry. He, therefore, called for a reduction in import duties on automobiles and spare parts, as well as the implementation of favorable tax systems.



Significance



These measures, according to him, will attract more investors and encourage local production, leading to increased employment opportunities and a boost to the economy.



Today, I have the privilege of standing before you not just as the President of the Chamber of Automobile Dealership Ghana (CADEG), but as a passionate advocate for the growth and prosperity of our industry. Lets collectively address the pertinent challenges that are impeding our progress. The automobile industry in Ghana holds immense potential. It has the power to drive economic growth, create employment opportunities, and contribute to the development of our great nation, he stressed.



The CADEG President, however, bemoaned that the automobile industry finds itself at crossroads, facing obstacles that threaten to stifle its growth and progress.



Are we truly fostering an environment that nurtures the potential of our industry? Are we removing the roadblocks that stand in our way? These questions demand our attention and require us to come together in unity and determination, he indicated.



Time



Nana Adu Bonsu further indicated that it is time to take a step back and reflect on the path the industry is currently treading.



The challenges we face are multifaceted, ranging from cumbersome trade procedures and complex regulations to corrupt practices that erode trust and hinder progress. We cannot afford to ignore these issues any longer. We must confront them head-on, armed with innovative ideas, collaborative efforts, and an unwavering commitment to change, he emphasised.



The CADEG President also revealed that the chamber is actively engaging with government officials, policymakers, and other stakeholders to advocate for these measures.



With collaborative efforts and actions, he believes, the automobile industry can flourish to contributing significantly to Ghanas economic development and positioning the country as a key player in the Regional automotive sector.



Let us challenge the status quo, embrace new ideas, and foster an environment where innovation flourishes. The success of our industry hinges on our collective will to effect change and surmount the challenges that lie before us. Let us not only identify the hurdles that obstruct our path but also envision a future where the automobile industry thrives, where our businesses flourish, and where our contributions to the nation are celebrated, Nana Adu Bonsu stated.

Appeal



The President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Dr. Joseph Obeng, also appealed to the Attorney General and Interpol International to find an international arbitration and legal system to help victims of stolen vehicles to retrieve their moneys.



According to him, such a legal system would help keep the victims, who were mostly third party buyers, in business.



There is, therefore, the need to find an effective mechanism that will help dealers to identify and make stolen cars difficult to be shipped. It will also save a dealer unnecessary cost of shipment, duty payments and other inconveniences only for the cars to be seized on arrival, which does not augur well for the economies of the business community and the nation at large, he said.

Source: dailystatesman.com.gh









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
Access to electricity is expected to reach 90 per cent by the close of next year, the Minister of Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has said.



He explained that the current level of access was 88.75 per cent and by next year, the country would hit the 90 per cent mark, making it possible for the nation to achieve universal access by 2025.



Speaking on powering a Sustainable and Digital Future for West Africa, using the pioneering cases of Bui Power Authority, Ghana, Dr Opoku Prempeh said the country was also on course to achieve 10 per cent contribution of renewable sources to the generation mix by 2030.



The country's renewable energy installed capacity is 160 megawatts (MW), representing 3.1 per cent of total installed generation capacity.



In absolute or nominal terms, Ghana should be having close to 1,350MW of installed renewable energy in the generation capacity by 2030, Dr Opoku Prempeh stated in a speech read on his behalf by his Technical Assistant, Kwame Agyapong, at a roundtable in Accra last Wednesday evening.



The minister indicated that the Bui Hydro Solar project was an integral part of the vision to ensure universal access to electricity by 2025.



Showcase

The event was aimed at showcasing the progress that has been made in achieving the objectives set out in the power generators Renewable Energy Masterplan to the international community and Ghanaians.



The event attracted top global, regional and local media, including specialists in information and communication and technology, and renewable energy industrialists.



Bui Power Authority (BPA) organised the programme in collaboration with Huawei, a leading global provider of ICT infrastructure and smart devices, and MEI Energy Ghana Limited, with the support of the Ministry of Energy.



Long-term approach

Dr Opoku Prempeh stated that the benefits of digital technology in the provision of energy included its ability to optimise operations.



Ghana stands on the brink of a very exciting future and with access to electricity already at 88.75 per cent, we are poised to achieve universal access to electricity by 2025, making the country a beacon of hope for Africa," the Energy Minister pointed out.



The Deputy Director of Power in charge of Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy, Seth Mahu, explained that the Energy Ministry had put together an Energy Transition Framework as a long-term approach to develop the energy mix of the country.



He said within that framework, three key energy sources would play leading roles in the supply of energy for the country.



We first of all have to expand renewable energy to about 20,000 MW by 2070.



That will mean that renewable energy will account for about 20 per cent of the total generation mix of the country, the Deputy Director of Power said.



Mr Mahu mentioned the second source of power generation that the country was pursuing vigorously as nuclear energy, with the third energy source being natural gas.



So in summary, the current mix is hydro, thermal and renewable energy. Going into the future, we see a mix that will be tilting towards renewables, nuclear energy and natural gas, he added.



Mr Mahu pointed out that at that point the country's economy would be largely driven by the energy sector.



Energy storage project

The Chief Finance Officer of Mei Energy, Xiao Shumei, said her outfit was set to undertake a new project in collaboration with BPA.



The project includes completing a 100 MW Photovoltaic (PV) power station and a 30MW hour PV energy storage project.



Our bit is to improve power generation consistency, enhance energy storage management and reduce operational costs.



In the spirit of cooperation, we have partnered Huawei to create a string inverter solution which, in fact, has become the ideal solution for sites with logistics issues, Ms Shumei stated.









Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC ) has offered full scholarship to Stephen Koomson, a 21-year-old Senior High School graduate who resorted to illegal mining [galamsey] due to financial constraints to further his education.



Koomson attended Mpohor Senior High School and had 5As and 3Bs in the 2021 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).



He was forced to engage in 'galamsey' due to economic difficulties but will now have the opportunity to study law at the University of Ghana which will be fully funded by GNPC.



In a post on Twitter GNPC said the pathetic story of Koomson caught its attention when it went viral.



Koomson, the post added, was invited together with his guardians to meet officials of GNPC where he was told the good news.



According to GNPC, it will work together with other stakeholders to ensure that Koomson gets admission to study law at the University of Ghana next year.





A future salvaged: GNPC Offers Full Educational Scholarship to Brilliant Galamsey Boy.

*********************************************************************************



From shattered dreams of endless possibilities to finding his hopes restored and aspirations rekindled, the pic.twitter.com/mgC9mXunnZ  GNPC Ghana (@GNPCGhana) June 15, 2023

Source: graphic.com.gh









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Former New Patriotic Party Director of Communications, Yaw Adomako Baafi has subtly taken a swipe at the partys flagbearer hopeful, Kennedy Agyapong, stating that despite his wealth, he cannot boast of the vision that Vice President Bawumia possesses.



In an awe-inspiring endorsement of the Vice President's candidature, Yaw Adomako Baafi called on Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, to reflect on his surroundings before bragging about his acquired wealth.



You can brag about your money before delegates as followers of Bawumia we might not have money, but Bawumia has the vision, he said.



During an interview on the Wontumi Morning Show, Adomako Baafi advised Ken Agyapong not to forget his past when he also faced hardship.



Adomako Baafi expressed his disappointment that Agyapong did not consider the impoverished individuals around him before bragging about his riches. He stated, "you were standing before the poor and needy, and you were bragging about your riches... please excuse my language; only a fool can be given a proverb and have its meaning explained to them."



While emphasising his admiration for Ken Agyapong, Adomako Baafi disclosed that he had been barred from making appearances on Ken Agyapong's radio station.



He sadly shared, "As we speak today, he has sacked me from making an appearance at his radio station. I have worked at Oman FM, especially on the Boiling Point show, but didn't receive a dime."



Adomako Baafi was responding to Kennedy Agyapongs allegation against him.



Speaking to NPP members at the Agortime Ziofe Constituency in the Volta Region over the weekend, Ken Agyapong accused Adomako Baafi of deliberately lying to the party folks just to gain support for the candidate he is supporting in the NPP flagbearer race.



He said that he bought a car for the former NPP national executive and even gave him money to go to the hospital when he was sick, but today he is spreading lies because of politics.



According to Kennedy Agyapong he is able to speak the truth because he is rich and does not fear anyone.



However, Adomako Baafi in his response emphasized that although Agyapong may boast of his wealth, Vice President Bawumia possesses the vision that sets him apart.









Source: Ghanaweb.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
Greater Accra Regional youth wing of the New Patriotic Party has dissociated themselves from their Youth Organizer's decision to openly declare support for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the lead-up to the party's presidential election.



According to a statement signed by the youth wing, Dr. Bawumia's quest to contest the NPP flagbearer race is his "sole decision and must be seen as such".



They denied throwing their weight behind the Veep saying "there was no consensus made between the Youth Wing and the Regional Youth Organizer to openly declare support for DMB".



"...we are the party officers and the rules and regulations of the party is against any party officer to openly support any candidate. We will like to use this opportunity to advice our regional boss to take a second look at the party rules and regulations and advice himself accordingly", the statement further said.



The party's Regional youth is therefore calling on their "national executives to call The Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer Hon. Moses Abor and his Deputy Hon. Mandela Wiafe to order since his action goes against the guidelines and codes of conduct outlined by the General Secretary which was approved by the National Council".



Read full statement below:



THE GREATER ACCRA CONSTITUENCY YOUTH ORGANIZERS DISASSOCIATE THEMSELVES FROM ABOR'S SOLE DECISION



The Greater Accra regional youth wing disassociates itself from our regional youth organizers' decision to openly declare support for His Excellency Dr. Mahmood BAWUMIA.



His decision is a sole decision and must be seen as such. We will like to state with no fear and Favour as follows;



1. That there was no consensus made between the Youth Wing and the Regional Youth Organizer to openly declare support for DMB.



2. That, we are the party officers and the rules and regulations of the party is against any party officer to openly support any candidate.



3. We will like to use this opportunity to advice our regional boss to take a second look at the party rules and regulations and advice himself accordingly.



4. That the party has a crucial election in 2024, and the youth wing wants to break the eight even more than anyone else.



However, our Regional boss should thread cautiously and not do things that will toil our chances and Jeopardize the future of the Youth Front.



We believe that openly declaring support for any candidate is not good for the party at this moment and we wish to state emphatically that Hon. Moses Abor is doing this for his own personal interest and not for the Youth Wing.



We humbly call on our national executives to call The Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer Hon. Moses Abor and his Deputy Hon. Mandela Wiafe to order since his action goes against the guidelines and codes of conduct outlined by the General Secretary which was approved by the National Council.



In conclusion, all the aspirants contesting for the elections are our fathers and we cannot openly support any of them, however, the Greater Accra Youth Organizers are ready to work with whoever is elected as flagbearer of our dear party to help win the 2024 General Elections which is our ultimate goal.



Signed

Greater Accra Region Youth Organizers.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
NDC Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu constituency, John Abdulai Jinapor says former President John Dramani Mahama is widely known for solving the excessive power fluctuation in Ghana, 'Dumsor' before leaving office.



According to him, claims that the NPP government inherited 'dumsor', a persistent, irregular, and unpredictable electric power outage and managed to solve it in their first term is untrue.



Ghanas national power outages reached a crescendo between 2014 and 2015 during the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama era.



To arrest the situation, the then Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration entered into several Take-or-Pay contracts that have compelled Ghana to pay GH12 billion for power.



However, the PPA appears to be now biting the countrys economy harder.



Recently, the World Bank reported that these PPAs have contributed significantly to the economic woes of Ghana.



Currently, Ghana has an installed power capacity of about 5,000 megawatts and dependable capacity of about 4,700MW with the all-time high peak demand of 2,700MW.



John Jinapor, who served as deputy Minister for Power during Mahama's era, said there are documents to back former President Mahama's interventions in completely solving the situation.



He said in NEAT FM's morning show, Ghana Montie that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has admitted that Mr. Mahama solved the infamous 'dumsor'.



"Bawumia even agrees that President Mahama solved Dumsor," John Jinapor said.



Listen to interview below





Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Featured Video
MONROE TOWNSHIP, Ohio  A Clermont County man is charged with three counts of aggravated murder after authorities say he shot and killed his three young sons Thursday in the yard of their home in southwest Ohio.

Chad Doerman, 32, is being held in jail without bond, accused of killing his three sons, ages 7, 4 and 3 years old, according to a news release from the Clermont County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies were called to the home at around 4:15 p.m. after a woman made a 911 call and yelled at the dispatcher that her babies had been shot, the sheriffs office says. Just minutes later, a second 911 call was received from someone who said they had seen a girl running down the road yelling that her father was killing everyone.

When deputies arrived, Doerman reportedly was sitting on a step outside the home and was taken into custody without incident. Deputies found the three wounded boys in the yard, but efforts to resuscitate them were unsuccessful. All three died at the scene, the sheriffs office says.

The 34-year-old mother of the boys was found in the home with a gunshot wound to her hand. She was taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center for treatment.

Investigators say there were no signs of forced entry into the home and there are no other suspects in the shooting. No details were released on a possible motive for the shooting.

Doerman is scheduled to appear at 10 a.m. Friday in Clermont County Municipal Court. Monroe Township is just southeast of Cincinnati.

More:

Husband admits to killing wife, wounding man in Pa. park shooting: police

Parking dispute led to shooting that killed 3 in Maryland: police

Children injured on playground slide that had been doused with acid
By Alexandra Skores, The Dallas Morning News (TNS)

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined American Airlines regional carrier Piedmont Airlines for a breach of safety after a worker was ingested into the engine of an aircraft in Alabama on New Years Eve.

Piedmont Airlines passenger service agent Courtney Edwards was killed on Dec. 31 after she walked too close to a jet engine as it was parking at the gate at Montgomery Regional Airport and was pulled in by the force.

The agency issued a general duty clause violation, penalizing the airline $15,625, the maximum allowed by law for a serious violation.

OSHA determined the airline was not creating a place of employment which were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees that were exposed to ingestion and jet blast hazards, according to the Communication Workers of America Local 3645 that covers ground workers at for Piedmont.

The OSHA fine is at odds with a National Transportation Safety Board preliminary report released in January that said the crew held a safety briefing before the accident and that employees were told that the airplane should not be approached until the engine was shut off and a beacon light was turned off.

Safety is always our top priority for our team members, said Crystal Byrd, spokesperson at Piedmont Airlines. We appreciate the recommendations from OSHA and will ensure that a thorough review is accomplished.

OSHA issued the citation on June 7 and the company has 15 business days from receiving the citation and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA or contest the findings.
LAS VEGAS (AP)  Nathan Chasing Horse has been charged in Alberta, Canada, with new sex crimes in the latest criminal case to be brought against the former Dances With Wolves actor, who remains jailed in Las Vegas as he awaits trial in a sweeping sexual abuse case that stunned Indian Country and has helped law enforcement in two countries corroborate long-standing allegations against him.

At a virtual news conference Wednesday, Sgt. Nancy Farmer of the Tsuutina Nation Police Service acknowledged that the Alberta case is largely symbolic. Chasing Horse  who faces not only decades in a Nevada prison if convicted in the Las Vegas case but criminal prosecution in five jurisdictions  might not ever return to Canada to answer to these charges.
On June 16 at 09:15, units of the Armenian armed forces from positions in the direction of the settlement of Arazdeyen of the Vedi region fired on the positions of the Azerbaijani army in the direction of the settlement of Heydarabad of the Sadarak region of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic from different-caliber small arms, Azernews reports, citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

The units of the Azerbaijani army are taking retaliatory measures.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. No deal with respect to Irans nuclear program, Spokesman for US State Department Matthew Miller said during a briefing, Trend reports.

"The reports that there are a deal or some agreement or some other description  however you want to describe it  are not true," he stressed.

Miller added that it continues to be a top priority for the US to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

"We continue to believe diplomacy is the best path to achieve it. That has been our belief since the beginning of this administration. Unfortunately, the previous administration left the [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] JCPOA and allowed Iran to continue marching forward in pursuit of a nuclear weapon. We have tried to pursue diplomacy to constrain their efforts to acquire a nuclear weapon, but we have also made clear that all options remain on the table," he added.

Meanwhile, it was reported that the US and Iran have been having indirect talks recently, with mediation of such countries as Oman in regard with the JCPOA.

After the withdrawal of the US from the JCPOA in 2018, the Iranian side has repeatedly stated that no discussions with the US have been held, and will not be held if the US does not return to this plan.
The state of Pennsylvania is under a drought watch, as officials are encouraging residents and businesses to conserve water.

Officials with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection made the announcement Tuesday. Residents and businesses are asked to reduce their individual water use by 5-10 percent. According to DEP, the statewide average for individual water use is 62 gallons per person per day.
Authorities are searching for a group of men who stole 25 cars  and committed five robberies at gunpoint  from the lots of car rental agencies at Philadelphia International Airport over several months, said Philadelphia police.

Among the companies victimized were Avis, Budget, National, Alamo and Hertz.

The thefts began in January, according to NBC10. Initially, two to six people would sneak onto the rental car lots protected by fences, gates or barriers and steal the cars through various methods. That included using the keys that were left inside the cars by some of the rental companies.

But when the rental companies enhanced their security, the group adopted new tactics. According to police, the thieves would get into 3 or 4 cars, line them up and drive them to the exit booth, where they pointed a gun at the parking lot attendant. They threatened to shoot the attendant unless he opened the gate.

This surveillance video shared by Philadelphia police shows the thieves in action:

The suspects appear to be teens between 16 and 22 years old who often wore dark clothing, hooded sweatshirts and masks during the robberies, according to reports.

Anyone with information regarding the suspects or thefts are asked to contact the Philadelphia Police Departments Major Crimes Unit at 215-685-9130.

Read More:
A 27-year-old subway security guard is recovering after he was shot and wounded on a Philadelphia-area train Thursday afternoon, according to news sources.

He was on board a Market-Frankford Line train at the Arrott Transportation Center in northeast Philadelphia when the shooting happened at 3:10 p.m., said Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority spokesperson Andrew Busch. He was shot at the first stop, both WPXI and KYW News Radio reported.

The security guard, who authorities did not identify, was is in stable condition as of Thursday evening after suffering one gunshot wound. No other details surrounding the shooting are available at this time.

The guard is an employee of Scotlandyard Security Services, which provides security personnel who work in outreach roles for the transportation authority. To help curb an uptick in violence, SEPTA in May 2022 deployed more than 80 of these guards, called outreach specialists, to act as eyes and ears for the police, discourage crime and help riders feel safer, according to reports.

They dont have weapons but have cell phones to alert SEPTA transit police to activity when they see it.

Police have not indicated if they have any suspects or any witnesses, but a weapon was recovered, KYW News Radio reported.

Read More:
Two men have pleaded guilty and were sentenced to probation for their part in abusing animals at multiple farms in Pennsylvania.

Juan Turi Baeza, 38 of McSherrystown, and Jose Turi Beaeza, 30 of New Oxford, both pleaded guilty in Cumberland County court in June to one count of misdemeanor cruelty to animals and were sentenced to 12 months probation.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has announced that the contractor is set to begin milling and paving operations on a pavement preservation project on Route 230 (Cameron Street/Front Street) in Dauphin County.

The project limits extend from Sycamore Street in the City of Harrisburg to Chambers Street in Steelton Borough, a press release said.

Weather permitting, work will begin Monday, June 19, and is expected to continue for the next several weeks. There will be lane restrictions with flaggers providing traffic control during daytime hours. Parking restrictions will be in place at locations where the contractor will be working.

Work includes milling, base repairs, paving, minor drainage work, sign updates, new pavement markings, and other miscellaneous construction items. New ADA ramps will be constructed at the intersections of Route 230 and Franklin, Eleanor, Conestoga and Swatara streets.

Travelers are reminded to be alert for these operations, to obey work zone signs, and to slow down when approaching and traveling through work zones for their safety as well as for the safety of the road crews.

New Enterprise Stone and Lime Company, Inc., of New Enterprise, Pennsylvania, is the prime contractor on this $2,149,770 project. Work is expected to be completed by Aug. 24.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties at PennDOT District 8.

More:

Expect early morning stops on several Route 30 ramps in Lancaster County: PennDOT

PennDOT driver license, photo centers closed for Juneteenth holiday

PennDOT announces Route 322 lane restrictions ahead of construction project
By WILL WEISSERT and SEUNG MIN KIM, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP)  Joe Biden opened his 2020 presidential run at a Pittsburgh union hall, declaring, Im a union man. Period.

As he gears up for reelection, the presidents first political rally is being held at a union gathering on the other side of Pennsylvania, punctuating just how much Biden is counting on labor support to carry him to a second term  especially in a critical battleground state.

The symmetry is no accident. Rallying labor activists on Saturday at Philadelphias convention center can help Bidens campaign spark enthusiasm and tap early organizing muscle. That may eventually boost Democratic voter turnout in the citys suburbs and other key parts of Pennsylvania, which in 2020 helped him flip the state where Biden was born from Donald Trump.

It speaks to this presidents visceral understanding that, when the labor movement in the United States is strong, the economy and our democracy are strong, said Mary Kay Henry, international president of the 2-million-member Service Employees International Union. He sees the role that working people and unions play in everything that hes trying to make happen.

Biden has used executive actions to promote worker organizing, personally cheered unionization efforts at corporate giants like Amazon and authorized federal funding to aid union members pensions. Hes also traveled the country, trumpeting how union labor is building bridges, widening highways, improving train tunnels and expanding rural broadband access as part of the bipartisan $1.1 trillion public works package Congress passed in 2021.

Though the number of workers belonging to a union has risen, overall union membership rates nationwide fell to an all-time low in 2022. The countrys largest unions have nonetheless built sprawling get-out-the-vote efforts, which Biden is counting on to help turn out his supporters in Pennsylvania, as well as other swing states like Michigan and Nevada.

Still, the White Houses relationship with labor has occasionally been tested, such as in December when some union activists criticized Biden for signing legislation preventing a nationwide rail strike.

The United Auto Workers said last month that it wasnt immediately endorsing Bidens reelection campaign due to concerns over the administrations efforts to transition the U.S. into a nation reliant on electric vehicles. Biden supporters believe the holdout is due to the unions new leadership that is taking a more confrontational posture ahead of bargaining sessions with the major auto companies.

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., who leads the Senate Democrats campaign arm, said we still have a lot of time right now between now and the election, and that he believed that the auto worker union will endorse Bidens reelection bid in due time.

Hes clearly, probably, the most pro-union president weve had in a very long time, if ever, Peters said. His record certainly speaks for himself and for itself.
NEW YORK (AP)  Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was ordered Thursday to pay $475,000 by a city ethics board that found he misused public funds on a police security detail during his failed presidential bid.

The hefty fine is the largest ever handed out by New Yorks Conflicts of Interest Board, capping off a yearslong investigation into the two-term mayors use of taxpayer dollars to cover the travel costs of NYPD officers who accompanied him on cross-country campaign stops.
Geoff Bruce of Osoyoos chows down on some ribs and sides at the Penticton Rotary Ribfest at Skaha Lake Park, Saturday. This year, the three-day festival changed venues to Skaha Lake Park. They also invited the Angry Vegan to participate by offering non-meat options to visitors.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. The US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, and the Israeli Minister of Defense, Yoav Galant, held a bilateral meeting in Brussels on Thursday, where they exchanged views on developments in regard with Iran's nuclear program, Trend reports.

During the talks, as the US Department of Defense reported, the heads of the defense departments of the two countries agreed to continue working together to address a wide range of threats emanating from Iran, including its nuclear program, as well as destabilizing activities in the region, proliferation of unmanned aerial systems, and other types of weapons and military equipment in the Middle East.

Earlier, Spokesman for the US State Department Matthew Miller during a briefing once again pointed out that there is no deal with respect to Irans nuclear program.

Miller added that it continues to be a top priority for the US to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

"We continue to believe diplomacy is the best path to achieve it. That has been our belief since the beginning of this administration. Unfortunately, the previous administration left the [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] JCPOA and allowed Iran to continue marching forward in pursuit of a nuclear weapon. We have tried to pursue diplomacy to constrain their efforts to acquire a nuclear weapon, but we have also made clear that all options remain on the table," he added.
Workers watch as nursing union members show their support at the Orchard Villa Long-Term Care in Pickering, Ont. on Monday June 1, 2020. Ontario has used its powers to push through the redevelopment of three long-term care homes run by a company that was devastated by deaths during the pandemic.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 16. Indian investors are gearing up to enter Saudi Arabias real estate sector, which they say will boom over the next few years and overtake the UAE, Trend reports.

With major policy and fiscal initiatives, as well as ongoing megaprojects in non-oil industries under Vision 2030, the Kingdom is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for investors, also in real estate.

There are big-time opportunities in Saudi Arabia in the real estate sector, Confederation of Indian Industry senior director, Manish Mohan, told Arab News.

Investment in the sector is likely to yield big returns and Indian investors are expecting returns similar to or even higher than those that investment in Dubai property brought decades ago.

And Mohan expected it to happen in the very near future.

Saudi Arabia would be a different story in the next five years. Property prices would be skyrocketing, thats why investment in property makes sense, he said.

Indians are not only seeing good returns but also a good opportunity, its a profitable business for them.

One of the Indian pioneers eyeing Saudi property is Strata, a fractional investment fund in premium real estate assets, which plans to invest $500 million over the next five years.

Everyone has only one thing to say  if you want to put money, you need to put money in Saudi Arabia, the companys chief executive officer, Sudarshan Lodha, told Arab News after a recent visit to Saudi Arabia.

We took a trip and understood that there are opportunities to have an exponential return, he said.

Maybe the initial years might be a smaller deployment of about $20 million to $50 million ... a five-year plan would be close to half-a-billion dollars.

Lodha was planning to focus on offices and warehousing in the beginning and returns of between 12 percent and 18 percent at least.

Anything lower than that is not attractive to us, so if any of the markets today are going to offer us less than that percentage then we will not be there, he added.

Lodha noted that Saudi Arabia could emerge as a market bigger than the UAE where, he pointed out, the property market, especially in Dubai, had already stabilized.

Its been 20 to 30 years of constant development et cetera, its predictable growth in my view as of today, he said. But for Saudi, with the kind of vision they are sitting on today, there is a bigger scope to overachieve what Dubai has built in the last three decades.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 17. A key focus area of the India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) is to remove barriers to collaboration on both sides and maximise the full potential of bilateral relationship, including on defence corporation, said US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan in New Delhi Tuesday, Trend reports.

Speaking at a business event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Sullivan said Washington and New Delhi are poised to lead in clean energy transformation, diversify global semiconductor supply chains and also those in other critical goods and lead the revolution in artificial intelligence (AI), advanced computing, biotech and quantum.

Sullivan, who is on a two-day visit to India, met his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on 13 June when the two held the second round of iCET talks. The first dialogue was held in January in Washington DC.

Also present at the CII event was US Ambassador Eric Garcetti, who referred to Doval as an international treasure.

Garcetti stressed on the need to translate the vision of iCET into human terms and use technology to build on the strong people-to-people ties between India and the US.

Sullivans visit comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis much-anticipated visit to the US.

Last week, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra travelled to the US for the strategic trade dialogue, during which both sides agreed to share best practices with regard to export control regimes, and on other issues.

Positive momentum under defence, space pillars

Speaking at the CII event Wednesday, Doval said India and the US continue to have in-depth discussions on biotech, semiconductors and AI under iCET. There is positive momentum under the defence and space pillars, he said.

He also expressed optimism that more specific and tangible results would be achieved in the near future.

Under the iCET, India and the US have so far kick-started a Quantum Coordination Mechanism, signed an MoU on semiconductors and were engaging with various stakeholders to further collaboration in Open RAN, 5G, 6G and other critical tech.

Meanwhile, Sullivan said the iCET had the potential for building trust and confidence between the two societies and governments and deepening defence cooperation.

The iCET was launched by PM Modi and US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Quad Summit in Tokyo last May.
Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Email

Print

Gov. Ron DeSantis is accused of lashing out at Florida state legislators who endorsed Trump by vetoing funding for their projects.

A state senator that endorsed Trump accused DeSantis of punishing the states Trump endorsers:

Sen. Joe Gruters accused Gov. DeSantis of punishing the people of his Sarasota district because he endorsed Donald Trump for president. No one should be surprised that the same governor who tried to go to war with Disney and used his power to attempt to punish one of the biggest brands in the world would seek revenge on members of the legislature in his state who endorsed Donald Trump.

DeSantis vetoed $511 million from the state budget, with almost $30 million coming from the district of a state senator who endorsed Trump.

The governor has not commented on why he vetoed the projects.

It doesnt matter how many felony charges Trump piles up, DeSantis continues to lose ground to him. DeSantis and his super PAC promised that the American people would see him go after Trump once the Florida governor was officially in the race, but all that has happened is that Ron DeSantis has lost even more ground to Trump.

Ron DeSantis looks small, and like he doesnt have what it takes to challenge and defeat Donald Trump. DeSantis is the new Scott Walker. Gov. DeSantis will last longer in the Republican primary than Scott Walker did, but his pettiness and thin skin are two reasons he appears destined to fail.

It looks like DeSantis is throwing a fit because his campaign is flopping, and he is taking it out on Republican legislators in Florida.
Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Email

Print

Donald Trump is demanding that the 37 count federal felony count against him be dropped and that the DOJ apologize to him.

Trump posted on Truth Social, Indictment must be immediately withdrawn by the Injustice Department, with apology!

Trumps friends at Judicial Watch continue to give him terrible legal advice, by claiming that the president gets to decide which records he can keep at the end of his presidency, which is not what the Presidential Records Act states.

CNN fact-checked Trumps claims about the Presidential Records Act and wrote:

The key sentence from the Presidential Records Act is unequivocal: Upon the conclusion of a Presidents term of office, or if a President serves consecutive terms upon the conclusion of the last term, the Archivist of the United States shall assume responsibility for the custody, control, and preservation of, and access to, the Presidential records of that President.

Jason R. Baron, former director of litigation at NARA, said in a Sunday email: Under the Presidential Records Act, not a single document pertaining to the official business of the White House  classified or unclassified  should have been carted off to Mar-A-Lago. President Trump might consider such records to be his, but they are not.

Not a single document belongs to Trump and the former president does not get to decide what to keep.

Everything that Trump has been arguing is not true.

Donald Trump has gone full Karen and is demanding to speak to the manager of the Department of Justice to get an apology.

Trump isnt going to get the indictment dropped or an apology, but he could end up with a federal felony conviction for his trouble.
COLUMBIA  Spc. Jayson Reed Haven, a South Aiken High School graduate, was laid to rest Thursday afternoon at Fort Jackson National Cemetery.

Haven, 20, died at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, as the result of a non-combat vehicle rollover accident while serving in the South Carolina Army National Guard. The accident is still under investigation. S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster ordered flags at state buildings to be flown at half-staff Thursday in tribute to Haven.

Haven's father, Jeff Haven, summed him up as a brilliant, funny, loyal and gentle son.

A machine gunner, Haven was assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 118th Infantry Regiment, 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, South Carolina Army National Guard.

He was deployed with Task Force Rattler in 2022 in support of U.S. Operation Spartan Shield in southwest Asia.

Luna Ledbetter, who was Haven's best friend, joined the military with Haven in high school and planned to leave the military at the same time as him.

He was a very kind and caring person. Very soft on the inside, stubborn on the outside, Ledbetter said. He would do anything for his friends.

Army Spc. Jonathan Cristofoletti, who was in the same squad as Haven, said he was very kind and cared for everyone besides himself.

He was a great dude. He was a smart kid. He always had big goals, always, Christofoletti said. He loved his games. He loved his books. He just loved the people around him.

Christofoletti said Haven was very opinionated and would always challenge his friends, and even his superiors, for the better.

Any word that came out of your mouth, he would challenge you, Christofoletti said. It didnt matter who it was.  I could tell this man was smarter than me just from talking with him.

Staff Sgt. Paul Leavens knew Haven through the Army and gave advice to him as he joined the military and attended college at USC.

He was super opinionated but not to a fault, Leavens said. He was a fantastic soldier, and I wish I had 100 like him.

Leavens said Haven was unique and had a great plan for how he was going to get to where he wanted to be thanks to the military.

He did the best he could, Leavens said. For him to get taken, being born after 9/11 and dying in that war in more or less a training accident is what hurts me.
A New Jersey woman has sued the operator of a Windsor business, alleging that she negligently, carelessly, maliciously, intentionally, wantonly, willfully and recklessly disregarded the safety of a horse.

According to Sarah Mennens lawsuit, which was filed in the South Carolina 2nd Judicial Circuits Court of Common Pleas in May, her Irish Sport Horse gelding, Cobain, was found hanging dead in a stall at Shannon Eckels Hat Trick Sporthorses by a friend of an employee of the defendant in July 2021.

Reached by telephone June 13, Eckel declined to comment.

The legal action alleges that Eckel tied Cobain in the stall with his head and neck extended upwards into an unnatural, stretched-out, upright and vertical manner, and then left the gelding there for several hours while she was at a horse competition.

After he refused to load onto a horse trailer to go to the competition, Cobain was tied to the highest rail on the stall wall by a rope halter and a leadline which was permanently attached to the rope halter and he didnt have access to food or water, according to the suit.

In addition to the friend of an employee of the defendant, someone who worked for Eckel witnessed Cobain hanging dead and immediately notified the defendant of Cobains demise, the legal action states.

Eckel had agreed to provide board, care, training and promotional services in accordance with customary industry standards for Cobain for a monthly fee of $1,100-$1,300, according to the suit.

The legal action also accuses Eckel of breach of contract and breach of bailment (failing to uphold her duty of care) along with intentional infliction of emotional distress for several reasons, including refusing to inform [the] Plaintiff of the true facts and circumstances surrounding Cobains death on the date of his death.

In addition, the suit alleges that Eckel violated the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act.

Mennen is seeking compensatory, special, general and punitive damages in an appropriate amount to be determined by jury trial as well as pre- and post-judgment interest at the highest legal rate until paid, the lawsuit states.

In addition, Mennen is seeking injunctive relief requiring [the] Defendant to be barred from offering professional equine services to the community, according to the legal action.

Greg Collins of Savage Royall & Sheehan LLP in Camden is Mennens attorney.
Two members of Congress representing South Carolina are looking to help America's burgeoning elder population.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-Charleston and Hilton Head, along with U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., introduced Wednesday the Protecting Older Americans Act, which would prevent the enforcement of arbitration clauses when an employee alleges age discrimination.

Some employers include a clause in employment contracts requiring an employee to submit any potential dispute to binding arbitration as a condition of employment and these clauses are known as arbitration clauses.

Graham said he supports arbitration as a means for resolving disputes, the idea of employees signing away their legal rights in employment contracts, and other situations where there is an imbalance of power, is unacceptable.

"Age discrimination is real, and I believe people should have access to courtrooms in such situations," Graham said at a news conference.

Mace said justice, fairness and accountability should extend to everyone, regardless of age.

"The Protecting Older Americans Act is a crucial step towards ensuring older Americans are not denied their right to seek justice and hold perpetrators of age discrimination accountable," Mace said. "Invalidating forced arbitration clauses is essential in allowing victims to have their day in court and fostering transparency in addressing age-related injustices. We must stand together to protect the rights and dignity of our older citizens."

The bill has been endorsed by the AARP, Lift Our Voices, American Association for Justice, National Employment Law Project, Lifespan of Greater Rochester, Hamilton-Madison House, VNS Health, Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging  Hunter College, Encore Community Services and Association on Aging in New York.
In response to some of the letters concerning the lack of inclusion of sexual orientation by some Christian clergy, once again the extreme positions are noted. Read moreLetter: There must be a middle ground
FLORENCE - A new $100 million behavioral health hospital and crisis intervention service is just the beginning of how South Carolina addresses a growing need in mental health, Gov. Henry McMaster and state officials said.

Medical University of South Carolina, McLeod Health and the state Department of Health and Human Services are leading a public-private collaboration that should serve as a model that can be replicated in other areas of the state, said HHS Director Robby Kerr.

"The Pee Dee is the perfect spot to serve as a model in South Carolina that we can replicate in other areas of the state," he said.

The new facility in Florence would have 63 psychiatric beds, including 23 that would transfer from McLeod Behavioral Health Center in Darlington; a 20-bed Crisis Stabilization Unit to provide short-term intensive treatment, including four beds for adolescents; plus outpatient and telepsychiatry services and a rapid access center for walk-in assessments. The City of Florence is also providing $5 million to the effort.

A red-bricked facility in downtown that is owned by MUSC, which served as the backdrop to the event June 15, would be torn down and the gleaming new "hub" hospital that replaces it would be open in about two years after construction begins in 2024, said MUSC President David Cole. The area around it already has behavioral health clinics and services so "this is ideal for this facility," Cole said as he surveyed the surrounding neighborhood.

McMaster set in motion an overhaul when he declared in his State of the State address in 2022 "a mental health crisis exists in South Carolina, especially among our young people" and directed Kerr and his department to look into it. After they found inadequate resources in schools and a fragmented system for crisis services, the legislature appropriated $65 million to address it and a state taskforce took up the cause.

The facility in the Pee Dee is among the first fruits of that effort, along with increasing school mental health counselors by 66 percent and offering $35 million for hospitals to create their own mental health crisis units.

It began in the Pee Dee because the Florence area was especially bereft, with one mental health bed for every 7,000 people, compared to one for 2,600 for the rest of the state.

The region "has one of the biggest gaps in behavioral health care in the state," said Speaker of the House Murrell Smith, R-Sumter.

While McLeod has been providing services in the area for nearly four decades, "23 beds can't meet the needs of this community," said President and CEO Donna Isgett.

The new collaboration is also due to the work of the late Sen. Hugh K. Leatherman, who represented the area for decades and was a champion for improving mental health, several speakers noted.

"This was his idea, and this was his creation," Smith said.

It also begins to address a real lack of Crisis Stabilization Units in South Carolina, with the only full-time facility in Charleston, and that unit operating at half-capacity. The Department of Mental Health is working with a Spartanburg coalition to create a crisis diversion program for children and adolescents that can find them services without having to go to an Emergency Room. Other efforts have focused on creating facilities in Columbia and Greenville, but those have yet to come to fruition.

Mental health needs were increasing in South Carolina and nationally even before the pandemic, particularly in kids, but those skyrocketed during and afterward. According to the American Psychological Association, 79 percent of its members have seen increases in anxiety and two out of three saw increases in depression; six out of 10 of those providers say they can no longer take new patients.

Nonprofit Mental Health America says there are 50 million adults in the U.S. with mental illness, including 862,000 in South Carolina or 21.7 percent of the state's adult population. Nearly half of high school students nationally felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021, including six out of 10 girls and seven out of 10 LGBTQ students, according to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One out of 10 girls and 20 percent of LGBTQ students attempted suicide, the survey found.

The state is facing a "tsunami of anxiety and depression" among its youth, Cole said, and many families have already felt the lack of access to good mental health services.

"Now is the time for us to come together to change that dynamic," he said. Mental health issues affect one in five in the state, said Isgett of McLeod Health.

"Look around the table and you'll see them," she said.

The new facility was funded through the General Assembly and by an increased match in federal funding that HHS received during the pandemic, Kerr said. Future projects would need to come through the General Assembly again, he said.

"We'll run with as much money as we can and do as much good as we can," Kerr said.

But it is not just beds and facilities  the state also has a shortage of providers, Cole said. Every day, there are 15-20 more people in the Emergency Department at MUSC than can be cared for in its units.

"There aren't enough people to meet the acute need," Cole said.

Francis Marion University in Florence, which is part of the collaboration, already has a psychiatric nurse practitioner program but will begin a Doctor of Psychology degree program in January 2024 that should help add to the workforce, said Anna Todd, vice president of communications.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a brief news conference Tuesday as part of a shift in strategy for his presidential campaign, but the governor took only four questions, almost all of which centered on the partys front-runner Donald Trump. DeSantis attempt to change the conversation came while campaigning in South Carolina and underscored the challenges he faces to try to overtake the former president and his command of the spotlight in the GOP presidential race. Shortly before DeSantis event was scheduled to start, Trump broke the news on his social media network that hed been informed he is a target of the Justice Departments investigation into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Read moreTrump and his legal problems overshadow DeSantis campaigning in South Carolina
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., wants Congress to be told if Iran begins to approach the production of weapons-grade uranium.

Graham, U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J. and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., introduced Wednesday the Iranian Enrichment Monitoring Act of 2023 which would require the Director of National Intelligence to notify Congress within 48 hours if Iran has produced or possesses any amount of highly enriched uranium containing more than 60% uranium 235.

Weapons-grade uranium contains 85% or more of uranium 235.

"This bipartisan legislation requires Congress be notified within 48 hours if Iran produces or possesses highly enriched uranium, above 60 percent purity," Graham said in a news release. "There is no legitimate civilian purpose for Iran to have uranium enriched to this level  the only reason is for military purposes. This legislation will ensure that Congress is informed in a timely manner of advancements by Iran regarding their desire to build a nuclear weapon. I believe there is tremendous bipartisan support for this idea, and hope it becomes law as soon as possible."
A 10-story building near the city's medical district, regarded by some as an eyesore in its current state, is on its way to being transformed into a modern hotel.

Charleston-based Bennett Hospitality proposed an updated plan to convert the former MUSC Harborview Office Tower at 19 Hagood St. into a nearly 250-room lodging.

Rather than razing the site, the developer is planning a major retrofit.

The Board of Architectural Review gave the project conceptual approval June 14 in a 4-1 decision, with James Meadors casting the sole vote against it. The project can now move on to further site reviews.

The existing vacant 1970s-era building is near the Septima P. Clark Expressway, the mixed-use WestEdge development, the Medical University of South Carolina and The Citadel. Bennett Hospitality bought the property in from MUSC for $18.6 million in 2018.

During the first BAR review of the proposal in March, members were supportive of the idea to repurpose the existing building. Since then, the project has undergone structural and facade changes to address concerns over design and seismic bracing.

The previous renderings were considered too static by some BAR members. Richard Ellison of Georgia-based Raybun Architects said the design was revised to give the building more depth. Two columns of balconies divide what once was a single mass building into three distinct sections.

It becomes a more complex and more interesting skyline as we meet the sky, Ellison said. We've got places where we're carving into the building and also we're adding on.

He said that the seismic bracing needed to retrofit the structure will not affect the proposed design.

The board shared a general consensus that the improved architectural vision was on the right track, and an enhancement to the area compared to what exists now.

BAR Chairman John Robinson called the proposal a creative way of reworking the building, and he commended Bennett Hospitality for trying to improve the building.

The company owns multiple hotels on the peninsula and elsewhere, and it has other local real estate projects in the works, namely Patriots Annex and Ferry Wharf, both in Mount Pleasant.

Ian Duncan, development director for Bennett Hospitality, said that the firm looks forward to "becoming an integral component of the contemporary WestEdge."

He added that the architects "have done an incredible job with the challenge of this adaptive reuse project that has been long overdue."
Two Swiss-made models complete the successful lineage of Chapter 3

Since 2019, each launch orchestrated by Thomas Baillod, the founder of BA111OD, via LinkedIn and private events, has been eagerly anticipated by its Afluendors (a contraction of "Ambassadors, inFLUENcers and venDORS"). Each time, the same recipe is used: presenting watches with a strong DNA and design, clear positioning, and attractive prices to a growing and engaged community.

Chapter 3

Featuring a generous 42mm steel case (with or without PVD treatment), and a signature 4 o'clock crown, these elegant Swiss-made timepieces are equally appealing to both men and women. Displaying hours, minutes, and seconds on a sunray dial with a smoked anthracite or blue gradient, and faceted, polished indexes, the Chapter 3 models have a unique feature that allows for a glimpse into the heart of the watch, with an opening on the balance-spring - a vital organ that regulates the watch's timekeeping through its oscillations - and the semi-skeletonized automatic movement with 38 hours of power reserve.

All Chapter 3 watches also come with a leather strap and a deployant buckle, fitted with two NFC-connected chips, one for storing contact information (or any other file one would like to share), and the other providing direct access to the owners personal BA111OD store. Afluendors can share a direct link to purchase the brand's watches and earn rewards for doing so.

Chapter 3.5 ZEST and Chapiter 3.6 AZUR

The two new Spring releases are now available: The Chapter 3.5 ZEST is available in a gunmetal PVD-treated steel version with an anthracite dial featuring electric orange accents, a black Saffiano strap with orange stitching, and NFC technology. The Chapter 3.6 AZUR, on the other hand, is more classic, with its steel case, blue dial, brown leather strap, and NFC technology.
It seems Charleston's Italian connection runs deeper than the Spoleto Festival, which just wrapped up in early June.

A bright orange Italian refresher has been and remains the drink of the summer in Charleston, according to local food and beverage operations managers.

Brooks Reitz, restaurateur, designer and entrepreneur behind Melfi's, Little Jack's and Leon's, said the drink is easily in the top 10, if not top 5, cocktails ordered at his establishments, especially in the summertime.

For the month of May, there were 899 sales, he calculated, and that's without the drink even being featured on the menu at Leon's.

The Italian drink, unsurprisingly, is most popular at Italian restaurant Melfi's.

"The Spritz is typically a Venetian drink," Reitz explained. "In Venice, it's a drink you would have at a regular old dive bar for very cheap. But there, they don't use Aperol; they use a similar product called Select and just call it a Spritz. It's light, refreshing and a great thing to stimulate your appetite before dinner."

Here, it's made with Aperol, Prosecco and a splash of soda water.

"It's crispy, bright, nice and fruity and easy to quaff, and because its a little lower in alcohol, you can have a few Spritzes and be in much better shape than if you had three gin and tonics, for example," said Reitz.

Reitz said the drink really caught on and took hold locally about five years ago. But it's been on his radar for more than a decade.

"I mean, 12 years ago, you couldnt just walk into any restaurant and order (an Aperol Spritz)," said Reitz. "When I moved to Charleston 15 years ago, nobody knew what Aperol was. I remember doing a staff training and introducing Aperol to the team. And now there are very few restaurants in Charleston that arent stocking Aperol."

Aperol's national marketing push certainly has something to do with that, said Reitz, as well as bartenders' and industry folks' growing interest in Italian bitters, from Campari to Amaro to the Negroni.

Though sales spike in the summer for the Aperol Spritz, it's really popular year-round, offered Reitz.

"Its not like its a trend that comes and goes," he said. "It seems like the drinking appetites in Charleston are pretty consistent."

Adam Doar, general manager at Doar Bros., said the Aperol Spritz is quite desirable during the warm months at the downtown cocktail bar owned by his Italian family.

"We usually see it being ordered starting in May all through the summer," said Doar. "It's popular at Doar Bros. and throughout Charleston."

Another similar popular drink on the menu is the Mary Moultrie, basically an Aperol Spritz elevated with Vodka, that has been offered since the bar's inception in winter of 2018.

Described as "very refreshing and not overly sweet," this spinoff is served in a tall Tom Collins glass with crushed ice and topped off with fresh pomegranate.

Variations on the spritz are trending locally, like Indaco's Summer Spritz menu that features five different takes that all include Prosecco and soda water.

Outside of Italian establishments, the drink holds strong as well.

At Parisian restaurant and cocktail bar Felix, the Aperol Spritz is a favorite throughout the year, though it sells more in the summertime.

"It's even more popular than a French 75, which certainly speaks to its popularity," said Felix Beverage Director Hailey Knight.

Knight encourages patrons to sit on one of the sidewalk bistro chairs with an Aperol Spritz in hand and take a little European summer holiday, at least mentally. Maybe that's the real reason Charlestonians are so eager to sip this drink  a staycation of sorts.
CONWAY  Working on his family's old International tractor in rural Williamsburg County, Henry Williamson learned the value of a good, swift repair.

If the farm equipment stops, his father told him, so does the money.

He also told me to go find something else besides being a farmer," Williamson said. "So, I just decided I wanted to try this.

"This" would be fixing airplanes. That's what Williamson has done for more than half a century, mostly at Conway's tiny airport off U.S. Highway 378 just west of the city. And the quality of his work earned Williamson a national honor this month.

Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration stopped by the Conway airport on June 6 to present Williamson of H & H Air Service with the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award, which recognizes senior aviation mechanics for their lifetime accomplishments in the aeronautics field.

Named for Taylor  who designed and built the engine for the Wright brothers' first aircraft the Wright Flyer  this award's recipients must have 50 years in aviation maintenance as an accredited mechanic or repairman and be FAA-certified for a minimum of 30 years.

The prestigious award has been bestowed to fewer than 40 South Carolinians and a little more than 3,000 aviation mechanics nationwide.

He has worked on airplanes for 50 years and you cant have anything against your record at all, said Hilda Williamson, Henrys wife of nearly 40 years. You are required to have a clean record 30 out of 50 years, yet he has done it all 50.

But while the 72-year-old Williamsburg County native  raised on a farm in rural Indiantown near Hemingway  said he appreciates the accolades, the humble husband and father of five is not one to boast.

Keeping his customers safe in the blue skies, according to Williamson, is more important than the national and other statewide awards he has been honored with over the years.

The enjoyment is when you get through working on a plane, push it out, run it and everything works, Williamson said. It makes you feel good. You want to do it right.

Williamsons career began shortly after he received a degree in aircraft maintenance from Florence-Darlington Technical College in 1971.

"I wanted to be in electronics, Williamson said. In high school we took the Air Force test and I scored really high on the electronics part. Thats what I wanted to do. They said I might be an MP, or toting a gun. I said youll have to draft me ... if you cant guarantee me that [I can work on electronics]. So here I am.

After an eight-year stint in Florence, Williamson joined the North American Institute of Aviation at its director of maintenance. However, he had a big influence at the former flight school located at the Conway airport.

The last count we had 330,000 hours flying time out of the school, Williamson said. Most people dont realize how much that is. When the school was operational, we had three shifts of mechanics, working seven days a week.

But the school closed in 2008, seven years after the terrorist events of September 11, 2001  when it was not allowed to put a plane in the sky for six weeks  and the NAIA filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy at a federal court in Columbia in 2009.

NAIAs closure gave Williamson the opportunity to open the Conway-based H&H Air Service, where he still reports daily at seven oclock each morning, sometimes working six days a week.

That half-century career in the state aviation industry has afforded Williamson many opportunities, including getting his pilots license in 1976, seeing customers from states as far away as New Jersey and Pennsylvania and setting into motion his gradual retirement.

In the last year I havent flown as much, Williamson said. I used to fly a lot. I would come out here in the morning and go fly before everybody got here even if it was for a half-hour. Its kind of relaxing, really.

Williamson learned to fly because of a customer.

I was in Florence working one day, Williamson said. "A guy came in there. I was working on a mans airplane and he said, OK, if you work on my airplane, when I get ready to go fly, Im going to ask one of you to go with me. If I do, you gotta go or Im going to find someplace else to work on it. I flew with him one day and I didnt like the way he flew at all. If something goes wrong, I want to know it. It made me a better mechanic.

These days Williamson is dedicated to his aviation mechanic business in the Conway airport hangar. He does engine repairs, electrical upgrades and oil changes. He swaps out tires, makes annual inspections and takes care of everything else in between.

Despite his sturdy 6-4 frame, he's never struggled navigating small planes. He can even contort his body over the seats to work underneath a dash. In some ways, he doesn't have a choice. The demand is high.

We have more work than we can do, Williamson said. "I have a new guy who started nearly two years ago. Before, I did most of it myself. I really like doing it myself but I have too much work.

One of Williamsons friends is Horry County Councilman Al Allen, who owns a crop-dusting operation located in a hangar next door. Allen said he has owned nearly 12 planes since he opened at the Conway airport in 2008 and Williamson has worked on most of them.

Henry helped me learn about them and trained me to where I can now work on them, Allen said. I appreciate that because he is always willing to share knowledge. He is very honest and trustworthy and has a very big heart. It is a most deserving award for him to get.

Williamson had plans to semi-retire in April, but then three of his customers purchased airplanes and each one required work. But he now has local native and U.S. Air Force veteran Henson Chad Cox working by his side. Cox will take on more responsibilities when Williamson does slow down more.

I try every day to keep up, Cox said. He is 100 percent go-getter and the knowledge he has is just tremendous.

Williamson plans to gradually slow down by coming into the shop two or three days a week. He and his wife own rental properties and one of their hobbies is traveling  they only need Maine, Oregon and the state of Washington to complete a bucket list of visiting every state in the continental United States.

The nearly 4,500-foot-long runway at the Conway-Horry County Airport is scheduled to be repaved this fall, which will shut it down for two months.

Ill get to go on vacation then, Williamson said. Its hard to pick up my hangar and move it somewhere else to work. I feel really good that Ive lasted this long.

Ive had a lot of people tell me to give them a six-month heads up before I retire so they can sell their plane. They said if you cant work on it, I dont want anyone to work on it.
Two South Carolina organizations have received grants from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, a program meant to assist with the preservation of key sites and their histories by elevating the stories and places of African American resilience, activism and achievement.

The Slave Dwelling Project, based in the Lowcountry and run by Joseph McGill, is getting $50,000 to support its programming and historical interpretation.

The project, founded in 2010 when McGill decided to draw attention to the experiences of enslaved people at Magnolia Plantation, has expanded its reach nationwide. McGill regularly spends the night in various slave cabins and other domiciles, organizes conferences and speaks publicly about his work.

He is co-author with Herb Frazier of the newly-published book about his project called Sleeping with the Ancestors.

Morris College in Sumter, a historically Black school, is receiving $155,000 from the Action Fund for project planning.

The school will undertake a comprehensive study to determine a campuswide stewardship plan to define how the physical buildings and the history of the college can best be preserved.

Since the start of the Action Fund in 2017, 10 South Carolina organizations have received financial support: The Slave Dwelling Project; Historic Mitchelville Freedom Park on Hilton Head Island; the Edisto Island Open Land Trust, which is restoring the old Hutchinson House; Emanuel AME Church in Charleston; The First African Baptist Church in Beaufort; Daufuskie Island Gullah Heritage Society; the South Carolina African American Heritage Foundation in Hartsville; Morris College; Benedict College; and Voorhees College.

A request for comment from McGill went unanswered.

Brent Leggs, executive director of the Action Fund, said his project got started in the aftermath of the August 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, a bursting forth of racist, anti-Semitic and white supremacist sentiment.

It was an opportunity for us at the National Trust to demonstrate the important role of historic preservation to have a positive (impact) on society, Leggs said.

The fund initially was envisioned to be a five-year campaign with a fundraising goal of $25 million to be used to support the preservation of 100 Black heritage sites nationwide. Those plans quickly changed.

The fund will continue to operate. Nearly $97 million has been raised to date. About $20 million has been disbursed overall to 242 grantees, with no end in sight, Leggs said.

The program has received support from the Ford, Mellon, Getty Foundations and the Lilly Endowment. It has two grant cycles each year, one in January with a focus on Black churches ($4 million was distributed to 33 churches this year), and the national grants, which typically are announced in June.

The Action Fund and the local preservationists it supports across the nation are leading crucial work to protect and promote undervalued places and stories that are an essential part of our shared American history, Justin Garrett Moore, program officer for the Humanities in Place program at the Mellon Foundation, said in a statement. Grants supporting projects designed by Black architects and at HBCUs will better acknowledge the power and creativity of those who have shaped and stewarded spaces and experiences that build more just communities.

By supporting these projects and institutions, the fund can help stewards tell a more complete story about the United States and the African American experience, Moore said.

Leggs said support goes to a variety of historical sites: hotels, churches, theaters, cemeteries, swimming pools and beaches, historic homes and more  representing the fullness of what it means to be Black in America.

Our hope is that by preserving these sites and telling their stories we will spark curiosity among the public, he said. The announcement of the grant awards is purposefully associated with the Juneteenth holiday because this list is really a demonstration of the pursuit of equality, opportunity and freedom, he added.

Grant awards are a result of an application process. Since the beginning of the initiative in 2017, the Action Fund has received 5,638 funding proposals requesting $655 million. The program has provided support to 242 grantees, investing $20 million.
A 4-year-old child. A tourist from China. A woman from Norway. A teenager helping another kid struggling on a boogie board. And a man who jumped from a boat to help a child in distress.

All drowned in the two weeks since the unofficial start of summer at some of the Palmetto State's most popular waterways and beach destinations.

Last weekend, two separate drownings were reported in Berkeley and Charleston counties, where water is always close by.

Around 12:45 p.m. June 10, a 4-year-old from Bonneau, near Lake Moultrie, was found in a pond near the child's home. The death is being investigated as an accidental drowning, according to Berkeley County Coroner Darnell Hartwell.

Drowning is the fifth leading cause of accidental death in the United States, according to the U.S. Lifesaving Association. It is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The child's death marks the third drowning so far this year in Berkeley County, matching last year's total, Hartwell confirmed.

Around 3:30 p.m. June 11, lifeguards notified Folly Beach police they were performing CPR on a man they'd pulled from the ocean, according to an incident report.

Chuyang Wang died about an hour later at the Medical University of South Carolina, according to the Charleston County Coroner's Office.

A witness, who was with the 27-year-old, told police they were visiting the area from China. He was only wading in shallows because he didn't know how to swim, the witness told police. He didn't know if Wang could swim.

It was Charleston County's second drowning this year; there were eight last year, according to the Coroner's Office.

Two recent drownings in the state involved victims trying save others struggling in the water.

On June 6, a 16-year-old drowned at Huntington Beach State Park near Murrells Inlet along the Grand Strand.

TreSean Snow of Fayetteville, N.C., was swimming with friends when he noticed another child struggling on a boogie board, according to friends and the Georgetown County Coroners Office.

While trying to help the child, Snow was overtaken by the ocean current. He was later pronounced dead at Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital.

Snow's death is the first drowning this year in Georgetown County, according to Coroner Chase Ridgeway.

Around 3 p.m. June 5, a woman was found floating in the surf at Edisto Beach, according to a statement from the town's police chief. A "good Samaritan" pulled her from the water and a nurse who happened to be nearby started CPR.

The woman, who died shortly after, was identified as 26-year-old Live Andersen, from Norway, Colleton County Coroner Richard Harvey told The State newspaper. Harvey did not respond to a Post and Courier request for information.

Around 4 p.m. June 3, Caleb Cohen was on a boat on Lake Keowee in the Upstate when a child swimming nearby appeared to be in distress, according to Oconee County Coroner Karl Addis.

The 35-year-old from Moore jumped into the water and didn't resurface. His body was found several hours later beneath 42 feet of water, according to an incident report.

No other injuries were reported, and the child was pulled back to safety by another adult in the boat.

It is the first drowning in Oconee County so far this year, Addis said. At this point last year, the county had seen four drownings. By the end of 2022, eight drownings were reported, three of which occurred at Lake Keowee.
MONCKS CORNER  The Freedom from Religion Foundation is requesting the Berkeley County School Board take action to stop a group of constituents from leading a prayer during the moment of silence at school board meetings.

FFRF attorney Chris Line wrote in a letter to the board that the prayer, led by former board member Ann Conder, is unconstitutional and is imposing the Christian prayer on others at the meeting.

The Board has chosen to host a moment of silence to allow those who wish to pray prior to meetings to do so without violating the constitutional rights of its students and community members by imposing prayer on everyone, Line wrote. "If the board chooses to allow a person to speak during the moment of silence, it would be required to allow anyone to speak during that time."

A small group of attendees have been saying the Lord's Prayer aloud during the moment of silence  recognized after the meeting starts  during the last three meetings. A woman left the June 5 meeting after interrupting the prayer and speaking out against those who were praying, pointing out the moment of silence is not meant to be a time for people to speak.

Show some respect for non-Christians here, the woman said.

A security and emergency management officer approached her and asked if she needed to step outside. None of the people praying out loud were approached by the officer.

After the moment of silence ended, another man across the room called out to the board, asking why they werent enforcing the moment of silence. No one on the board gave a response.

The woman who spoke up during the moment of silence left the meeting. A man who accompanied the woman left the meeting with her; he took the time to make an obscene hand gesture and direct a (expletive) you, McQuillin to board Chairman Mac McQuillin before leaving. A chorus of "ooh's" followed.

It is unclear if the woman left on her own or was removed. Line's letter states she was removed, but BCSD chief communications and community engagement officer Katie Tanner said they chose to leave after the security and emergency management officer told her and the man with her if they didn't settle down they would have to leave the room. Tanner said the officer had first asked everyone to settle down after the moment of silence ended, and the two indicated they would not.

Line said this is the third time the foundation has reached out to BCSD.

The last time the FFRF reached out to the district was in 2016 when South Carolina passed the Public Invocation Act: Any prayer at public meetings must not advance any one, or ... disparage any other faith or belief, or coerce participation. The school board changed its routine prayer into a moment of silence as a result.

Line said if the board did not take any action, he would consult with people who are negatively affected by this and see if there's any interest in pursuing it, as well as if the foundation is able to take any legal action. He added there are several different factors that make this case a little more difficult to navigate, like separation of church and state, freedom of speech and possible discrimination.

"It's a little bit of a confusing situation because of the fact that it's not the board members leading the prayer themselves," Line said. "But they are clearly allowing these people to co-opt the meeting in order to lead prayer."

Brandon Gaskins, attorney for BCSD, confirmed they have received the letter from the foundation.

McQuillin told The Post and Courier the board would temporarily remove the moment of silence from the agenda while they analyze their options starting with the June 19 meeting. He said he could not provide a timeline of when the board would take further action.

The Charleston County School Board recently began holding a prayer before board meetings start.

Line said the FFRF wrote CCSD a letter back in January about the legal issues regarding having a prayer before the meeting starts. The school district's attorney responded, saying they believe the prayer would be constitutional.
After facing months of opposition, the South Carolina Ports Authority now says it will take more time  possibly a year  to review and likely overhaul its plan to redevelop Union Pier, its cruise ship hub in historic downtown Charleston.

On June 16, port officials said they will work with the Joe Riley Center for Livable Communities at the College of Charleston to create the new plan for Union Pier, taking that responsibility away from real estate development firm Lowe.

The decision marks a sharp departure from the port's strategy for redeveloping the site until now. For the past year, they worked with Lowe to draw up a development plan known as a Planned Unit Development, or PUD, for the property. They were working quickly to get various city approvals so they could sell the property by the end of 2023. Now, the port plans to sell the 64-acre property along the Cooper River by the end of 2024.

It remains our shared goal to transform Union Pier into a beautiful neighborhood that blends with the city and offers significant public assets for Charlestonians. We now have a new agreement that puts the city and community at the forefront of the planning process, said Barbara Melvin, president and CEO of the Ports Authority. We listened to the community, and with this new process, we believe we will have a new plan that we can all embrace.

When asked why the Ports Authority was willing to pivot on its original timeline, Melvin said the end result will be better.

We think value is created by more community engagement and city engagement, Melvin said. This is going to create a lot of value for the port and the city.

The deal with Lowe had raised eyebrows from the start. Since last year, the developer was paid about $50,000 a month to come up with a design plan for Union Pier ahead of its sale. The deal also gave Lowe a right of first refusal to match any offers from other potential buyers once the property hit the market. If Lowe did not match the winning offer, Lowe would have been paid 9.5 percent of the final price that someone else paid as an incentive fee on top of its monthly payment for getting the property ready for sale.

Though its role will be changing, Dan Battista, head of Lowe's Charleston regional office, said the company is still committed to the "shared vision of a vibrant new neighborhood" at the site.

With a more-than 30-year history in the Lowcountry, Lowe supports the collaborative planning and development of Union Pier," Battista said.

Mayor John Tecklenburg celebrated the decision to take the planning process in a new direction.

"This agreement is a huge win for everyone who loves Charleston," he said. "I want to thank the port for listening when our residents spoke, and our residents for speaking so clearly. Now, let's get to work and make sure that this is the kind of project our whole city can be proud of."

New timeline

Two major critiques of the current planning process centered on the lack of city involvement in what should and should not be allowed on the waterfront site. When Charleston last adopted a comprehensive plan for the city in 2021, the 10-year land-use plan labeled the Union Pier site as a "future planning area." Advocates who spoke against the Union Pier proposal said the city should update its comprehensive plan to include more specific guidelines for the property before approving any development plans.

They also said the site also should be analyzed by the same team that Charleston is currently paying to draw up a comprehensive water plan for the city. That plan dictates how land should be used to best limit flooding and how future stormwater management projects should be approached.

Another gray area of the plan was the proposed public financing portion. The Ports Authority proposed creating two special taxing districts called a Tax Increment Finance, or TIF, district and a Municipal Improvement District, or MID. Both would put public funds towards infrastructure improvements on the site such as roadwork and stormwater management plans. But the details of such proposals were only made public last week, leaving little time for review by the public and the governing bodies responsible for approving the proposals.

Port and city officials took those and other concerns, including those from the local advocacy groups, into account and laid out the following timeline, which is subject to change:

June 2023: Ports Authority requests Planning Commission defer its decision on Union Pier.

June 2023-March 2024: Ports Authority and city officials will proceed with the Comprehensive Plan amendment process and use community feedback to adopt an amendment that creates a "Waterfront District" label for the Union Pier site.

January-March 2024: City will work to complete a coastal resiliency compatibility study for the Union Pier site with other flood mitigation measures.

January-March 2024: Ports Authority and city officials continue the process for adoption of the TIF/MID ordinance.

April-June 2024: Ports Authority and city officials will develop a park/recreation programming plan with community input for the district.

April-July 2024: Ports Authority and city proceed through the Planning Commission and City Council review, with the goal of adopting by July 2024 a new designation for the Future Land Use for the Union Pier property, revised PUD and any relevant zoning amendments. Depending on the extent of changes to any pending applications, the deferred applications may require another hearing prior to any Planning Commission action.

A coalition of local advocacy groups including the Historic Charleston Foundation, the Preservation Society of Charleston and the Coastal Conservation League praised the new process.

We are optimistic that this shift is a good faith effort that will result in a civic-minded plan that puts community values first," said Brian Turner, president and CEO of the Preservation Society of Charleston.

The new process also drew support from the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.

How we got here

Residents and members of local advocacy groups have spent months pleading with the Ports Authority to slow down its planning process for the redevelopment of Union Pier.

Port officials initially said that because they planned to sell the property by the end of the year, they needed to get a Planned Unit Development designation approved by the city as soon as possible. Proceeds of the sale are expected to fund ongoing work on expanding the Leatherman port terminal in North Charleston as well as other capital improvements under the port's purview.

The PUD would have set the standard for what can and cannot be built on the site, including park space, affordable housing and hotel use. It would also determine height limits for buildings and design guidelines a future developer would have to follow.

The Ports Authority solicited ideas from the public beginning in August, two months after announcing it would transition away from using the Union Pier property for homeport cruises. But when a design plan was revealed at the beginning of the year, several groups criticized the lack of features that had been requested from the public.

Since then, the proposal has been altered multiple times, but its overall design did not changed substantially.

Over the last several weeks, local advocates have rushed to parse through and communicate their opinions on the nearly 400-page planning document. The most recent version was made available two weeks ago, shortly before the Planning Commission was scheduled to review it.

The updated proposal called for 500,000 square feet of retail and office space, 1,600 residential units and buildings no taller than seven stories.

It reached the Planning Commission June 7 despite the fact that city staff had requested more changes earlier in the review process that had gone unaddressed. Nearly 500 people submitted online comments about the proposal ahead of the meeting, and nearly 100 more spoke about it in person. Many opposed the plan in its current form.

Preservation groups such as the Preservation Society of Charleston and the Historic Charleston Foundation were critical of the scale of the development saying that the seven-story height limits were too high for the historic area and that the design standards were not strict enough to keep future development in check with the city's overall look and feel. Leaders with the Coastal Conservation League, which teamed up with the preservation groups to oppose the project, said the stormwater management plans were not binding enough to ensure that the property would not have negative affects on flooding in the surrounding area. Because the property is in the 100-year floodplain, the proposal called for bringing in fill dirt to elevate it.

A main sticking point from city staff in the original proposal was the number of onsite hotel rooms, which the plan called for 600. Staff called for that to be reduced to 300 rooms, with no individual hotel exceeding 150. The most recent plan took the room limit out of the document altogether.

The city was successful in getting port officials to alter requirements for affordable housing in the plan. What started as a requirement of 50 affordable units out of 1,600 residences increased to 290 units. The plan defines affordable as attainable for those earning up to 120 percent of the citys median family income. It also requires investments in affordable housing nearby and a real estate transaction fee that would create a permanent source of revenue for affordable housing efforts throughout the city. The 290 units built on site could be reduced down to 10 percent of total residences via a credit system based on paying for additional affordable housing off site.

The Planning Commission delayed taking a vote on the proposal for one month, saying it needed more time to review the document as well as the opposition to it.

A week later, the port decided to start over with a blank slate.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Low around 75F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Low around 75F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
FLORENCE  The city of Florence is applying to a program that could help accelerate infrastructure projects for it and other local entities.

If the city is successful, it would host a federal Regional Infrastructure Accelerator that would aid in finding and applying for federal funding  the first office of its kind in the Southeast.

We are in a time and a place where we got to start using some creative programs to get some things done, said District 1 City Council member LaShonda NeSmith-Jackson, who told Mayor Teresa Myers Ervin and city staff about the program and helped push the application to the finish line.

The Mayor and NeSmith-Jackson said hosting an accelerator would be a boon to a number of projects the city has planned and help it work toward more equitable development in neighborhoods that have been historically overlooked.

I think this will address all the issues of our city to make our whole city a valuable part of our future so everyone can share in the prosperity that will come to Florence, Ervin said.

The RIA program, part of the Build America Bureau that oversees transportation infrastructure improvements in the U.S., helps regions accelerate local projects by providing access to federal funding and resources.

There are 10 accelerators across the country, from Chicago, Ill., to Dona Ana County, N.M. The Southeast is the only region without an accelerator, but more are being added this year.

Evaluation criteria listed by the agency includes an entity's readiness to begin work, its ability to partner with a range of other organizations, the effect the project would have on rural and underserved communities and the self-sustainability of the project in the future.

In its application, Florence highlights its position as the economic hub of the Pee Dee at the intersection of two interstates. AESCs $810 million electric vehicle battery plant, it wrote, will be the building block for the city of Florence RIA proposal to conduct projects throughout the city and Southeast region, emphasizing projects that offer growth and fair equity to all its citizens.

Ervin and NeSmith-Jackson said theyre optimistic that the city will receive an accelerator, saying the citys status in the rural South gives it a leg up over other applications. They also pointed to the multiple transportation options as factors on its side.

It was like it was actually designed for us, Ervin said.

Florences proposal involves transportation and broadband improvements on Oakland Avenue, Roughfork Street and Maxwell Street  roads the application highlights as key routes to the electric vehicle battery plant and to Florences minority communities. The proposed projects on those streets include adjusting the turning radius, installing crosswalks and pedestrian signage and making public transportation more accessible.

Other projects referenced are extending route enhancements to Interstate 20 and Interstate 95, redeveloping the citys main corridors and exploring the development of rail intermodal.

Ervin and NeSmith-Jackson said the goal would be to increase the walkability and livability of the city, particularly in underserved areas in north Florence, which is predominantly low income and Black. By addressing long-standing infrastructure issues in those neighborhoods they hope to encourage homeownership, which will in turn increase stability.

Those projects are already a priority for the city, but funding has been elusive.

We've done the research, we've done the studies, we know what's needed. Now it's just waiting on funding, NeSmith-Jackson said.

The proposed budget for the RIA would be $2.3 million, which would come from the federal government. The city would provide the facilities for the office and its three- to five-person staff, which could offer help to entities across the region for the next two years.

Ervin and NeSmith-Jackson said they hope to hear back from the federal government in the fall.
KINGSTREE  Kingstree will host a two-day grand opening ceremony on June 23 and June 24 for the Williamsburg Historical Societys African American Archives.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. June 23. A Juneteenth and Black Music Month celebration will start at 1 p.m. and go until the ribbon-cutting.

Saturday will feature speakers including Judge Clifton Newman, who is from Kingstree and most recently presided over the trial of Alex Murdaugh, and author George Rhea, who wrote a book about Stephen Swails, the first Black officer in the Army to be commissioned by the United States government, who died in Kingstree in 1900.

Music performances and storytelling by local groups will also be held June 24.

The archives, which cost $600,000, will take up one of the three buildings that make up the Williamsburg Historical Museum. The building, which used to be an office building for Santee Electric, was damaged after a storm and it fell into disrepair. Wendell said 73 people can be in the building at one time and that it was as big as a small grocery store.

A matching grant through the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism helped fund the repairs.

The museum will be comprised of different exhibits ranging from pre-colonial Williamsburg County to the present day. A matching grant from the United States Department of Agriculture also helped create the exhibits in the museum.

There will also be a recording booth where anyone can schedule an appointment to come and share a story or any information of historical significance to Williamsburg County. The recordings will be made available online.

Years to come if their great-great-great-great-great grandchild decides they want to come back and hear what their ancestors said about growing up in Kingstree, they can access that interview, Director of the Williamsburg Historical Society Museum Wendell Voiselle said.

Another goal of the museum is to teach African Americans how to trace their genealogy past 1870, the year African Americans were first counted in the census by name. Prior to this, people could trace their ancestry through what few slave census records were taken before 1870 or through deeds and wills.

The museum has examples of two families who have been able to trace their lineage to before 1870. Voiselle said he hoped others can learn from these experiences.

Some artifacts in the museum were contributed by the community. They include a Distinguished Service Cross from World War I, the second highest military honor, and creations from local artists.

Williamsburg County is over 60 percent Black as of 2022, according to data from the Census, and it has been throughout its history, Billy Jenkinson, a member of the board of the Historical Society, said. However, the museum at the time of its formation in the 1960s focused primarily on the White population in the county.

I wanted to help make sure that we were meeting the needs of the African American community in Williamsburg, Voiselle said. Not just telling one side or one story, I wanted to tell the whole story.

The interest in creating this exhibit started for Jenkinson, who considers himself an amateur historian, when in 1990 he found an obituary for Stephen Swails published in 1900 on the front page of the Kingstree newspaper, the County Record.

It was a front page dedicated to an African American during the time of Jim Crow.

I mean thats just pretty unheard of, Jenkinson said.

Swails served in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment during the Civil War, which was one of the first African American fighting groups in the United States. The groups attack on Fort Wagner on Morris Island was put to the big screen in the movie Glory.

Swails portrait now hangs in the state Senate chambers, where he served as a senator for 10 years starting in 1868. He also became president pro tempore of the senate.

Jenkinson found the society had many copies of documents on Swails. One of the documents he found when he started his research was a copy of Swails commission. The original documents are at the University of South Carolina.

Jenkinson was also on the board of the African American Historical Society in Charleston when Swails unmarked grave was found in the Humane and Friendly Society Cemetery in Charleston in the 1970s.

Swails was considered a key piece of history the society wanted to include in the exhibit, Jenkinson said.

The International African American Museum in Charleston will also be opening on June 27. Jenkinson said the development of African American history is a new frontier for historians.

We need to research it and bring it out, Jenkinson said. Its just been latent.
The WorldTempus court summons Mr Thomas Baillod, founder of BA111OD. Will the defendant please take the stand?

Thomas Baillod has openly expressed what many have thought, but chose not to say out loud. In Geneva, this is a crime. And yet, unexpectedly, Baillod became BA111OD, and the concept became a brand. Have you no remorse, Thomas Baillod? Following our previous trials in which Frank Huyghe of Ralf Tech, Yvan Arpa from ArtyA, and Mario Peserico from Eberhard & Co. took the stand, its now the turn of Thomas Baillod to respond to WorldTempuss accusations.

With BA111OD, youre accused of undermining the profit margins of the watchmaking industry  an industry you rely on for your livelihood.

Not guilty. The production cost of a watch accounts for only a small fraction of the final price. The majority goes to distribution and marketing. Traditionally, a multiplier of 7 is applied, a significant proportion of which is absorbed by intermediaries and marketing.

E-commerce, on the other hand, operates on a multiplier of 4. It relies heavily on marketing since it no longer maintains direct contact with the customer. I look for where the margins are highest  in distribution and marketing  and give that money back to our customers. This means I can achieve a base multiplier of 2, which has never been seen before in the industry. Im more Robin Hood than Sheriff of Nottingham.

Thomas Baillod, youre accused of restructuring the distribution model solely for your own benefit, throwing retailers to the wolves.

Not guilty. Retailers were already in trouble before I arrived on the scene. The first issue is pricing. Its clear that, for any brand you care to mention, pricing is chaotic, with different prices on different websites, in different stores and on different continents.

The second issue is selective distribution. Brands struggle to maintain long-term partnerships, and to a large extent they dont really understand distribution. My business model solves this problem.

The final issue is what I call showrooming, which refers to the tremendous efforts invested in creating a customer experience. Customers visit the store, enjoy the experience, decide which watch they want to buy, then go away and buy it online, for cheaper.

Im not against retailers; on the contrary, I return value to the point of sale, not for the sale itself but for the experience it offers. I set up experience points, and they are compensated for that. This solves all three issues.

Thomas Baillod, its impossible to produce high-quality timepieces, especially with a tourbillon, at your price point. Guilty or not guilty?

Not guilty. It comes back to the perpetual question: Is it too good to be true? If you look at our watches, youll notice that weve named our tourbillon TVD, The Veblen Dilemma, in reference to the Veblen effect.

Named after economist and sociologist Thorstein Veblen (1857-1929), it describes the snobbery that assumes a luxury products high price makes it more desirable. Conversely, an affordable price generates suspicion. Our tourbillon presents a genuine exception to this rule; its base price of CHF 5,000 could lead people to believe the quality would be inferior, which is obviously not the case. We work with the industrys finest subcontractors! We achieve this price through our business model, not by cutting corners on product quality.

Thomas Baillod, you attempted to sell your model to 25 brands, all of which rejected it. Why? The floor is yours.

Guilty. Perhaps I was a bit too early, attempting to present a slightly too disruptive model to a somewhat conservative audience! I was probably the first person in Switzerland to use the term phygital, and no one understood. They were also too invested in their existing business model to pivot quickly. When youve been riding a big wave for an extended period, you cant just jump off and get ready for the next one. In fact, you may not even see it coming...

With BA111OD, youre accused of capitalising on digital technology at the expense of traditional craftsmanship, particularly with bracelets that are equipped with electronics.

Not guilty. We make 100% mechanical watches. The technology we incorporate is non-invasive and even invisible, as demonstrated by the chip we integrated directly into the sapphire glass  possibly a world first. The technology complements the mechanical beauty, but if we hadnt mentioned it, no one would have noticed. Its like the genie in the lamp: it only appears if you rub it. If you do nothing, nothing happens.

Thomas Baillod, youre accused of wanting to disrupt the watchmaking industry while producing traditional designs yourself, such as three-hand, skeleton and tourbillon models. How do you plead?

Guilty and not guilty. Yes, I do create elegant watches for people who appreciate fine watchmaking. Im not going to swap a tourbillon for pixels  thats not what Im about.

At BA111OD, were constantly exploring ways to enhance the customer experience. I believe we already have a slight edge. Thats why we positioned our crown at 4 oclock. The entire industry traditionally places theirs at 3 oclock, but at Baillod, its at 4 oclock. Were an hour ahead of the rest of the market...
COLUMBIA  Democrats are calling what didn't happen on the Legislature's last day in session a win, as their threatened filibuster prevented a former state schools' chief and a leading advocate for K-12 vouchers from taking seats on South Carolina's college oversight board.

Temporarily, anyway.

Former Superintendent Mick Zais and Oran Smith, who's well known at the Statehouse for promoting private school choice and other conservative causes, will almost certainly become the newest members of the Commission on Higher Education at some point over the next seven months. Both were nominated by Gov. Henry McMaster to replace members with expired terms.

But it did not happen as planned June 14. And that is a win on principle, said Sen. Mike Fanning, D-Great Falls.

"It was the first time the General Assembly has said 'no' to polarizing political attacks on public education, K-12 and higher," said Fanning, a former teacher. "This was a bold statement that enough is enough."

Republicans who dominate the Senate intended to confirm Smith and Zais to the college board as their last votes before going home for good this year. (Barring some unforeseen emergency, legislative leaders in both chambers don't intend to be back in session until January.)

But then Sen. Vernon Stephens, D-Bowman, took the podium to protest, making clear he had lots to say and that other Democrats were prepared to talk after him.

The threatened filibuster never started. With 13 senators absent  including seven Republicans  the chamber's ruling party lacked the votes necessary to sit Stephens down. So with no ability to force a confirmation vote anytime soon, Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, moved to simply adjourn.

"Im disappointed," Massey told reporters afterward. "I think Dr. Zais and Dr. Smith would be great additions to the CHE board. We need strong people of faith and of conservative philosophies serving in higher education positions, and I think both of those gentlemen would do a great job in that capacity."

As a member of Coastal Carolina's board since it became a stand-alone university in 1993, Smith has been confirmed by senators for that role nine times over the past three decades, most recently in 2021.

But Democrats don't want the senior fellow of Palmetto Promise Institute, a conservative think tank founded by former U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, on the oversight board for all colleges. The board itself decided not to hire Smith four years ago, when he was among three finalists to be the agency's executive director, following a public interview that focused on his decade working for the neo-Confederate "Southern Partisan" magazine.

He explained then that his viewpoints have changed, as well as his understanding of why the Confederate flag is offensive, since he left the magazine in 1999 and moved on from the way he was raised.

Massey said that shouldn't be an issue this time, saying "that was a long time ago" and Smith has proven himself by his work at the Statehouse and Coastal Carolina. Democrats who talked to The Post and Courier after delaying Smith's confirmation did not cite the magazine as a reason for their opposition.

"We all know the neo magazine is out there," Fanning said. But the opposition is over his general "connection to folks leading culture-war attacks."

Similarly, Sen. Darrell Jackson, D-Hopkins, said the problem is that Smith has advocated for controversial GOP measures. He didn't name specific ones. But the blocked vote comes a month after McMaster signed a bill creating South Carolina's first broad K-12 private school choice program, culminating a two-decade effort.

"Education should be strongly bipartisan and should be something that brings people together, not something that could divide us," said Jackson, who also intended to speak after Stephens. "Perhaps there were better options of people out there who can do more to unite us."

The delay is a win, he said, and shows senators "take appointments seriously."

Stephens said his problem was more with Zais than Smith.

Zais, state superintendent from 2011 to 2015, has also been a public proponent of school choice, including during his tenures both in South Carolina and later as U.S. deputy secretary of education under Betsy DeVos. Before his single term as superintendent, the retired U.S. Army brigadier general was president of private Newberry College and previously served on the CHE board as Gov. Mark Sanford's appointee.

Stephens was a school board member in Orangeburg County while Zais was superintendent.

"His days as state superintendent of education were not good ones for public education in South Carolina. He was arrogant. He was not a team player. Administrators feared him," Stephens told The Post and Courier. "I cant believe in him serving on that commission knowing how he felt about public education."

Zais counters that he's never been anti-public education. He notes that his three granddaughters currently attend public schools, and his daughter-in-law is a public school teacher in South Carolina.

"If supporting parents' control over the education of their children is controversial, I'll sign up for that," he told The Post and Courier after the non-vote. "One size does not fit all. I'm not anti-traditional school. I'm pro choice."

Massey fully expects the Senate to confirm both Smith and Zais after the legislative session resumes in January.

It's possible they could take their seats earlier if McMaster decides to make an interim appointment. Normally, the governor doesn't have that option. But he does this year because the Legislature let the regular session end without passing a temporary law governing the off-session.

Whether he will is unknown. Massey said he'd prefer the governor not do that, "but I can't get upset with him if he does." Regardless, the Senate would still need to vote to get them out of interim status.

Smith chalks up the delay as part of the "legislative sausage-making process.

"So, Im very positive," he said. "I'm looking forward to taking my seat eventually."

For now, McMaster's saying only that he expects the Senate will confirm his nominees.

"With years of unparalleled experience, Mick Zais and Oran Smith have established themselves as some of the state's top leaders in higher education," McMaster told The Post and Courier in an email. "Their expertise will greatly benefit the commission and higher education throughout the state."

Alexander Thompson contributed to this report.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 16:05:07

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 967 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

Organizations support over 1,200 Families with Hunger Relief throughout SpringATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Americold, Feed the Children and the Mayor's Office of International and Immigrant Affairs - Welcoming Atlanta wrapped up a series of community resource events on Wednesday, June 14. Through the four-month initiative, the organizations provided nearly 80,000 pounds of food and essentials valued at more than $400,000 to families across Atlanta as well as supported Atlanta Public Schools. The goal of these efforts was to alleviate the stress of food insecurity families face daily.The program launched on March 1 to help bring awareness to the need for additional resources in the community. An increasing number of children - including 1 in 7 - in Georgia do not have consistent access to enough food. This can lead to growth and developmental issues over time.Volunteers from Americold gathered at each event helping to distribute items to families including 25-pound boxes of shelf-stable food, 15-pound boxes of essentials such as soaps and self-care items and action boxes that contained fun and healthy activities for children.Communitypartners including CORE, were on site at events to provide COVID and flu vaccines and public benefit application assistance. Additionally, Second Helpings provided meal kits from HelloFresh, and representatives from the Atlanta Public Schools Multilingual Services & Programs, Fulton County Library, Philadelphia College of Medicine Georgia, Latino Community Fund, Edens, Operation Hope, and The Latin American Association, PAD Initiative, Center for Global Health Innovation, Helping Mamas,Tahirih Justice Center, Department of Parks & Recreation, Cherokee Family Violence Center, and Children's Museum Atlanta participated at various events to share information with families.The program also directly supported Atlanta Public Schools, providing more than 20 schools throughout the district, with items to stock resource rooms so students have access to food and essentials.The fourth event was held at Sara J. Gonzalez Memorial Park and provide children and their families with much-needed food and essentials along with access to additional community resources. Atlanta's Sara J. Gonzalez Memorial Park, is the first park named for a Latinx individual in the state of Georgia, and honors inclusiveness and cultural diversity while providing all-abilities accessible child and family oriented greenspace to the growing Atlanta Westside community it serves.In observance of National Immigrant Heritage Month this June we are proud to partner together to support the diverse immigrant communities in Atlanta sharing values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Two of the community events were held at the park, established to uphold Atlanta's diverse communities while commemorating the legacy of Ms. Gonzalez - a devoted mother and Cuban immigrant whose faith in the American Dream propelled her from small business owner to revered Latino, immigrant and minority-rights leader who served all in her community with joy and compassion.Additional events were held at a residential community located at 3200 Lenox Rd. NE in Atlanta to support families nearby.Americold has a passion for defeating hunger, they recently partnered with Feed the Children to distribute 8,000 ready-to-eat meal kits to students throughout the month of December 2022 to help support students with access to food during the holiday when families struggle to provide enough food without free, or reduced cost meals available while schools are closed winter break. These meals were distributed at Community Resource events across Atlanta neighborhoods including Adamsville, Morningside, Lindbergh, Orchard Knob, Lenox, Virginia Highlands, Perkerson, Bolton and Underwood Hills."Our partnership with Feed the Children is incredibly meaningful because it is one way that we show our commitment to fighting hunger and to giving back in the communities where we live and work. We're especially proud of these events in Atlanta because our company headquarters are here. We also own and operate a dozen cold storage facilities in the area to deliver on our mission to help our customers feed the world," said George Chappelle, CEO of Americold.During the five-year partnership, Americold has donated critical funds to Feed the Children as well as travelled hundreds of thousands of miles providing complimentary temperature-controlled transportation services of chilled and frozen goods. Together, the organizations have helped feed hundreds of thousands of families across America.Feed the Children believes it takes everyone - the nonprofit sector, corporations, community organizations, government officials and food suppliers - to come together to do good for those who need it. When efforts are combined, a greater impact is achieved."We welcome partnerships because we know our work would not be possible without collaborative relationships. Feed the Children is proud to join efforts with Americold and Welcoming Atlanta to support children and their families with access to food and essentials. Together, we are stronger than any one of us is alone." said Travis Arnold, president and CEO of Feed the Children.About AmericoldAmericold is the world's largest publicly traded REIT focused on the ownership, operation, acquisitions and development of temperature-controlled warehouses. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Americold owns and operates 250 temperature-controlled warehouses, with approximately 1.5 billion cubic feet of storage, in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and South America. Americold's facilities are an integral component of the supply chain connecting food producers, processors, distributors, and retailers to consumers. Visit www.americold.com for more information.About the Mayor's Office of International & Immigrant Affairs - Welcoming AtlantaThe Mayor's Office of International & Immigrant Affairs - Welcoming Atlanta is committed to positioning Atlanta as a welcoming City-a connected, inclusive community that uplifts our foreign-born population and provides an opportunity for all-and a global hub for diplomacy, business, innovation, education, culture, and sports. MOIIA's mission is to develop and foster relationships between Atlanta's international communities, City departments, and external partners to empower our foreign-born population through access to information, to identify economic opportunities, and to address local and global challenges. Visit www.welcomingatlanta.com for more information.About Feed the ChildrenAt Feed the Children, we feed hungry kids. We
PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 12:00:22

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 473 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

Crunch, the beloved mascot of the Minnesota Timberwolves, will be present to join in the celebration and help pass out information to guests who drive by and grab breakfast the morning of July 7th.PLYMOUTH, MN / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / CARE Counseling, a leading mental health organization, is thrilled to announce the ribbon cutting for their new clinic in Plymouth, Minnesota. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on July 7th at 8 a.m., marking a significant milestone in the organization's commitment to providing accessible and compassionate mental health services to the local community.Ribbon Cutting for New Mental Health Therapy Office in Plymouth, MinnesotaCARE Counseling invites the community to drive through their parking lot on the morning of July 7th, say hi, and grab breakfast that morning. CARE Counseling's new clinic, located at 4100 Berkshire Lane, in Plymouth, has been thoughtfully designed to create a welcoming and serene environment for individuals seeking mental health support. Staffed by a team of highly qualified professionals, the clinic aims to serve as a sanctuary where individuals can find solace, healing, and the support they need to overcome life's challenges.To commemorate this momentous occasion, CARE Counseling is hosting a unique and inclusive breakfast drive-through event as part of the grand opening celebration. Attendees will have the opportunity to drive through the parking lot and grab a delicious breakfast and coffee while saying hi to some of the staff. The breakfast drive-through will provide a convenient way for community members to participate in the opening festivities and learn more about the comprehensive mental health services offered by CARE Counseling.In a delightful addition to the event, CARE Counseling is honored to announce that Crunch, the beloved mascot of the Minnesota Timberwolves, will be present to join in the celebration. With his infectious energy and captivating personality, Crunch will bring an extra dose of joy and excitement to the occasion, making it an unforgettable experience for attendees of all ages. CARE Counseling is a proud partner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx.CARE Counseling is dedicated to delivering personalized mental health care to individuals of all ages. By focusing on individual needs and tailoring treatment plans, CARE Counseling strives to empower individuals and help them navigate life's challenges with resilience and strength.For more information about the grand opening ceremony or to learn about the mental health services provided by CARE Counseling, please visit www.carecounseling.com or contact call them at 612-223-8898.About CARE Counseling:CARE Counseling is a leading outpatient mental health organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and compassionate care to individuals in need. With a team of highly qualified professionals, this will be CARE Counseling's eighth Minnesota location.###Media Contact:Elliot BorgstahlAssociate Director of Brand AwarenessContact InformationNicole DahlVP of Marketing6122238898SOURCE: CARE Counseling
PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 16:01:06

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 359 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

Recognized with the Commercial Elite Award, this is the highest achievement a brokerage affiliate can receive.ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers was named the No. 1 CBC office nationwide during the recent 2023 Coldwell Banker Commercial Global Conference. Recognized with the Commercial Elite Award, this is the highest achievement a brokerage affiliate can receive. The honor is based on production and gross income generated by a firm.COLDWELL BANKER COMMERCIAL METRO BROKERS NAMED NO. 1 CBC OFFICE IN THE NATION "Among hundreds of brokerages, Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers ranked number one," said Metro Brokers President and CEO Kevin Levent. "Our agents continue to be leaders in commercial real estate throughout metro Atlanta and nationwide." Keith Graham was named No. 1 CBC agent in Georgia among all agents nationwide as well, and Kurt Cooper, Keith Graham, Mannie Maddox, Jelani Linder and Ben Choi were all recognized with the Circle of Distinction Award at various levels. The accomplishments of these individual CBC Metro Brokers sales professionals were applauded during the annual conference.CBC Metro Brokers also celebrated the achievements of its team locally during the annual Metro Brokers Awards Celebration held at the Cobb Galleria Centre in March. A complete list of the top agents and Century Club Award winners is included below. Century Club members are agents with gross commission income of $100,000 or more.Top Commercial Agent Companywide: Keith GrahamTop Leasing Agent Companywide: Kurt CooperTop Business Brokerage Agent Companywide: Alkesh Limbachia2022 Top Century ClubKeith GrahamJelani LinderKurt CooperMannie MaddoxBen ChoiGreg NoblesAlkesh LimbachiaWill ColleyAndrea PaulinelliMark BansavageColdwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers is a commercial real estate brokerage that operates in metro Atlanta and north Georgia. The company has over 100 commercial real estate professionals who specialize in a variety of commercial sectors including office, retail, industrial, multifamily, hospitality and land as well as business brokerage. In 2023, the company celebrated 44 years of business. To contact a commercial specialist, call 678-320-4800 or visit www.cbcmetrobrokers.com Contact InformationTyler BrennerMarketing Director404.257.2381Related FilesCBC Press Release - CBC Metro Brokers Named No. 1 in CBC Nationwide (2).docxSOURCE: Coldwell Banker Commercial Metro Brokers
PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 13:01:20

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 354 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against Trinseo PLC ("Trinseo" or "the Company") (NYSE: TSE) for violations of 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.Investors who purchased the Company's securities between May 3, 2021 and March 27, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the firm before June 20, 2023.If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com , or by email at bschall@ schallfirm.com The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. Trinseo's plant in Bristol, Pennsylvania, suffered from a troubled history of safety problems under its previous ownership, which continued to be plagued with safety problems after it was acquired. The Company failed to disclose the specific risks involved in this plant's normal operations. The Company was at risk of chemical spills and other problems due to its operation of an unsafe plant. Based on these facts, the Company's public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about Trinseo, investors suffered damages.Join the case to recover your losses.The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation.This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.CONTACT:The Schall Law FirmBrian Schall, Esq.Office: 310-301-3335info@ schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm
PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 04:25:38

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 305 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

HOPEWELL, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / June 15th, 2023 / DeepTide, a software development company founded in New Jersey in 2016, is proud to announce the highly-anticipated release of ArcticMyst Security, an open-source Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tool for Windows, with an option for enhanced, fee-based threat-hunting services, with an option for enhanced, fee-based threat hunting services. Boasting an array of cutting-edge features, ArcticMyst Security offers users an unparalleled level of protection against emerging cyber threats. ArcticMyst Security is now available on DeepTide's website and all major software platforms. Additionally, DeepTide has released an optional fee-based threat hunting/crash assessment service for DeepTide customers, ensuring that users have access to advanced threat detection and elimination strategies."DeepTide is so excited to share this revolutionary EDR tool with the world. We firmly believe that this new software is going to be a game-changer in the tech world," stated Avery Tarasov, a representative of DeepTide. "Our team has worked hard to ensure this security tool is the best of the best. Customers who download ArcticMyst Security will be able to simplify the process of threat-hunting and crash assessment. Stay one step ahead of cyber threats with ArcticMyst Security from DeepTide, the epitome of advanced security solutions." DeepTide's comprehensive software suite, including ArcticMyst Security, is conveniently available on DeepTide's website as well as major software platforms such as the Microsoft Store, Softpedia, and majorgeeks.com . In addition to threat hunting, built-in XLL file blocking, and RunDLL32 network blocking, DeepTide provides a unique Crash Detection & Assessment service to customers. Software crashes can be silent, yet may affect critical security tools or result in loss of business productivity.To learn more about DeepTide or to download ArcticMyst Security software, go to www.deeptide.com Media DetailsWebsite URL: www.deeptide.com Company Name: DeepTideEmail address: avery@ deeptide.com SOURCE: DeepTide
PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 18:55:54

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 1035 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

KELOWNA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Diamcor Mining Ltd (the "Company" or "Diamcor")(TSXV:DMI)(OTCQB:DMIFF)(FRA:DC3A) is pleased to announce that it has engaged Investor Cubed Inc. ("Investor Cubed") to provide additional investor relations and shareholder communications services in Canada for the Company.Diamcor is focused on increasing awareness within various investment communities on the Company's various efforts, and the addition of Investor Cubed is aimed at furthering this objective. "Investor Cubed is an established company with 20 years' experience, and we look forward to their team providing us with additional introductions and awareness within the Canadian advisor community, as well as institutional investors and dealers" said Dean Taylor, CEO of Diamcor."Investor Cubed is excited to begin working with Diamcor, as we see the Company as having significant potential for revenue growth and expansion of their project in the near-term through the drilling and bulk sampling efforts over the greater areas recently announced", said Neil Simon, CEO of Investor Cubed. "We believe the current market metrics do not accurately reflect this growth potential, the existing assets, or how well positioned the Company is at a key time in the rough diamond sector", added Neil Simon, CEO.The terms of the Investor Relations/Consulting Agreement with Investor Cubed (the "Agreement"), will commence on June 15th for a one-year term (terminable at Diamcor's option after three months), and provide for cash compensation of $7,500.00 per month payable by Diamcor to Investor Cubed for services rendered pursuant to the terms of the Agreement. Subject to the approval of the Diamcor Board of Directors and applicable TSX Venture Exchange policies, Diamcor has also agreed to grant Investor Cubed options to purchase 300,000 shares to be priced at $0.15. The options will vest in accordance with the TSX Venture Exchange vesting requirements as follows: 75,000 options may be exercised on September 15, 2023, 75,000 on December 15, 2023, 75,000 options on March 15, 2024, and the final 75,000 options on June 15, 2024. All options expire three years from the date of issue and are subject to the required hold periods pursuant to applicable securities laws and TSX Venture Exchange policies. Investor Cubed's engagement is subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange.About Diamcor Mining Inc.Diamcor Mining Inc. is a fully reporting publicly traded Canadian diamond mining company with a well-established history in the mining, exploration, and sale of rough diamonds. The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (V.DMI), and trades on the OTC QB International (DMIFF). The Company's primary focus is on the development of its Krone-Endora at Venetia Project which is co-located and directly adjacent to De Beers' Venetia Diamond Mine in South Africa. The Venetia diamond mine is recognized as one of the world's top diamond-producing mines, and the deposits which occur on Krone-Endora have been identified as being the result of shift and subsequent erosion of an estimated 1,000 vertical meters of material from the higher grounds of Venetia to the lower surrounding areas in the direction of Krone and Endora. The Company focuses on the acquisition and development of mid-tier projects with near-term production capabilities and growth potential and uses unique approaches to mining that involves the use of advanced technology and techniques to extract diamonds in a safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible manner. The Company has a strong commitment to social responsibility, including supporting local communities and protecting the environment.About the Tiffany & Co. AllianceThe Company has established a long-term strategic alliance and first right of refusal with Tiffany & Co. Canada, a subsidiary of world famous New York based Tiffany & Co., to purchase up to 100% of the future production of rough diamonds from the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project at market prices. In conjunction with this first right of refusal, Tiffany & Co. Canada also provided the Company with financing in an effort to advance the Project as quickly as possible. Tiffany & Co. is now owned by Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (LVMH), a publicly traded company which is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange (Euronext) under the symbol LVMH and on the OTC under the symbol LVMHF. For additional information on Tiffany & Co., please visit their website at www.tiffany.com About Krone-Endora at VenetiaIn February 2011, Diamcor acquired the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project from De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited, consisting of the prospecting rights over the farms Krone 104 and Endora 66, which represent a combined surface area of approximately 5,888 hectares directly adjacent to De Beers' flagship Venetia Diamond Mine in South Africa. On September 11, 2014, the Company announced that the South African Department of Mineral Resources had granted a Mining Right for the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project encompassing 657.71 hectares of the Project's total area of 5,888 hectares. The Company has also submitted an application for a mining right over the remaining areas of the Project. The deposits which occur on the properties of Krone and Endora have been identified as a higher-grade "Alluvial" basal deposit which is covered by a lower-grade upper "Eluvial" deposit. The deposits are proposed to be the result of the direct-shift (in respect to the "Eluvial" deposit) and erosion (in respect to the "Alluvial" deposit) of material from the higher grounds of the adjacent Venetia Kimberlite areas. The deposits on Krone-Endora occur with a maximum total depth of approximately 15.0 metres from surface to bedrock, allowing for a very low-cost mining operation to be employed with the potential for near-term diamond production from a known high-quality source. Krone-Endora also benefits from the significant development of infrastructure and services already in place due to its location directly adjacent to the Venetia Mine, which is widely recognised as one of the top producing diamond mines in the world.Qualified Person Statement:Mr. James P. Hawkins (B.Sc., P.Geo.), is Manager of Exploration & Special Projects for Diamcor Mining Inc., and the Qualified Person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 responsible for overseeing the execution of Diamcor's exploration programmes and a Member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta ("APEGA"). Mr. Hawkins has reviewed this press release and approved of its contents.On behalf of the Board of DirectorsMr. Dean H. TaylorPresident & CEODiamcor Mining Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 14:30:24

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 714 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

Former Atlanta and Louisville Police Chief will lead organizational growthATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / InVeris Training Solutions, Inc., the leading provider of technology-driven training solutions for defense forces, law enforcement agencies and commercial shooting range owners around the globe, has expanded its executive leadership team with the hire of former Atlanta and Louisville Police Chief Erika Shields as Chief Commercial Officer.Erika Shields - InVerisErika Shields, Chief Commercial Officer, InVeris Training Solutions Shields brings decades of management experience to InVeris, along with a focus on using InVeris' simulation technology to help law enforcement officers across the country make better decisions in their field. Shields will work with leadership in the military and law enforcement agencies as they leverage the company's virtual reality and augmented reality products to improve split-second decision-making and protect our communities."The technology InVeris has is superb, and it brings to the table what police chiefs across the country are looking for," said Shields. "This product allows law enforcement and military personnel to train on a regular basis in real-life scenarios with feedback focused on de-escalation and improving outcomes." Shields began her law enforcement career in 1995 with the Atlanta Police Department, ultimately serving as Chief of Police from 2016 to 2020. She became Louisville (Ky.) Chief of Police in 2021 and led the Louisville Police Department until earlier this year."Erika shares our mission, which is focused on solving our customers' essential training needs in ways that ultimately foster a safer environment on the job and in the communities they serve," said InVeris CEO Clyde Tuggle. "Throughout her law enforcement career, she has embraced and leveraged technology solutions to train officers, track crime trends and, ultimately, keep our cities safer. We are excited to welcome Erika to InVeris and will rely on her vast leadership experience to ensure we continue to provide innovative and cutting-edge training products and services that best support the military and law enforcement industries." Shields joins InVeris Training Solutions at a vital time in its 95-year history, as the company expands its virtual training solutions to better meet the needs of a rapidly-changing industry. In late 2022, InVeris introduced SVR 3.3, which enhances trainees' performance and judgment skills through providing instructors with biometric insight into a trainee's stress levels during these training scenarios, which can be used to further understand trainees' mental and emotional abilities to cope and interact during various real-world events."Erika has a depth of experience that makes her perfectly suited to understand the needs and challenges of leaders in this industry," said InVeris Board Chair and former U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss. "Her voice will resonate with those who are charged with directing the nation's preeminent law enforcement agencies, as well as our dedicated members of the military, who work tirelessly to build safer communities." Shields has seen the value of this technology-driven approach, which leverages virtual reality, augmented reality and projection systems for law enforcement training."The ability to re-create the stressors that go into every scenario where officers have to shift gears so quickly, that is so crucial to every officer on a beat," she said. "You really have to get an officer conditioned to understand they have to take so many factors into account - most importantly, their stress level - to make the correct decision."Developing this level of understanding leads to fewer incidents and a safer community and country." To download a high-resolution headshot of Erika Shields, please click here.About InVerisInVeris Training Solutions, a Pine Island Capital Partners company, is the leading provider of technology-driven training solutions for defense forces, law enforcement agencies and commercial shooting range owners around the globe. Building off nearly a century of experience, InVeris technology powers live fire and virtual weapons training systems that have been proven to improve speed, accuracy, judgment in the use of force, and overall combat ability while reducing training time, logistics, and cost. Headquartered in Suwanee, Georgia, InVeris employs nearly 400 people at facilities in the United States, Australia, Canada, Netherlands, Qatar, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.inveristraining.com or call (800) 813-9046.Contact Information:Bryan HarrisInVeris Media Relationsmedia@ inveristraining.com 706-369-3589SOURCE: InVeris Training Solutions, Inc.
BA111OD launches its first manufacture complication

Developed and produced with the help of the highly renowned watchmaker from La Chaux-de-Fonds, Olivier Mory, CHPTR_ (pronounced Chapter Delta) brings a duality between the circular time of the minutes and the hypocycloidal time of the hours, enclosed in a triangle, in the foreground of the dial. This asymmetrical reading of time, which slows down and starts again, like a choreography, is part of another temporality, symbolizing the carousel of life.

A hypocycloidal reading of time

This project, initially imagined by the designer Diego Bottger-Zevallos, turns out to be complex to realize. Thomas Baillod takes on the challenge. To ensure its technical development and production, he once again calls upon the brilliant watchmaker Olivier Mory, who is already responsible for the paternity of the BA111OD Chapter 4 Tourbillon. "There is hardly anything but the transcendent beauty of mathematics to obtain a triangle using only things that rotate in circles! And it is a discreet tribute to the several centuries-old use of the cycloid in watchmaking. Galileo, Newton, Huygens, Euler, Cantor or Roberval, to name but a handful, have all worked on the amazing properties of these curves," says Olivier Mory.

Rather than simply rotating a hand around a central axis, the movement was designed to "roll" a satellite hour wheel around a fixed central hour wheel. When a wheel is rotated around another wheel, the trajectory described by any point on this satellite wheel is a cycloid. There are several types of cycloids, some of which have particular trajectories, depending on the size ratio between the fixed wheel and the satellite wheel, as well as whether the satellite wheel rotates inside or outside the fixed wheel.

In this new chapter for BA111OD, the chosen cycloid is a deltoid (with a ratio of 1/3), and as a result, the trajectory described by the tip of the hour hand is... a triangle.

A particular shape highly appreciated by BA111OD is the triangle. With its three legs, this geometric shape that rises up represents direction and determination. It symbolizes stability and balance. This balance echoes the brand's business model, which is based on three letters, BAC (Business  Afluendors  Clients), breaking with the linearity of traditional distribution (B2B, B2C). Even the name BA111OD incorporates the number 3, with its three 1's.

Swiss made NFC Technology  the watch industrys first connected glass

BA111OD is proud to be the first watch brand to offer models with an NFC (Near Field Communication) connected sapphire glass, which allows for contactless communication between two devices in close range, within 1 cm. This technology provides a link between the physical watch and the digital world, but only if the customer desires. By scanning their watch, the NFC glass allows them to transmit their business card or any other predetermined link directly to the phone of their interlocutor.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 21:32:59

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 900 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / On June 16, Groundswell, in partnership with Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church, SunLight General Capital, Working Power, and the Office of the People's Counsel, celebrated the newest DC Solar for All community solar array, which will bring the number of income-qualified DC residents receiving free solar electricity to more than 6,000 households, as a part of the DC Department of Energy and Environment's (DOEE) Solar for All program.The new 222 kWdc community solar array at Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church will provide 73 local, income-qualified households with up to $500 a year in clean energy savings through DC Solar for All. Since DC Mayor Muriel Bowser launched Solar for All in 2016, the program has saved its 6,000 community solar subscribers more than $5 million - in addition to savings to participants in the program's rooftop solar option - with the goal of improving energy affordability and progressing environmental goals within the District.Energy bill affordability is a major concern for many households, and DOEE analysis shows that 64% of low-income households across Metro DC face high energy burdens."The DC Solar for All program sets a national standard for how to build a clean energy future that embraces justice as a core value," said Groundswell CEO Michelle Moore. "Our team is so grateful that DC is Groundswell's hometown, and that we're able to work with this team of purposeful partners to get good things done to serve our neighbors." SFA solar arrays are located throughout the District, and Rev. Juan Guthrie of Sargent Memorial Presbyterian said the church decided to host the solar array as part of their ongoing service to the surrounding community, and the congregation felt blessed by the opportunity to serve the community through every ray of sun that shines on the church."We are called by Christ to care for one another. Through this solar array, our congregation at Sargent Memorial is able to share God's gifts with our neighbors in the surrounding community," said Rev. Guthrie."Too often, the savings solar affords don't reach the people who need it most," said Erika Smith, SunLight General Capital's Director of Project Development and Operations. "SunLight felt honored to work with Groundswell and its team to develop and finance an important project bringing savings and clean energy to the broader DC community." "Sargent Memorial solar shows what real climate leadership looks like by demonstrating that clean energy can build wealth and broaden opportunity," said Bracken Hendricks, co-founder of Working Power and Urban Ingenuity. "This project is an inaugural investment of the Working Power Impact Fund, which generates dedicated income for community groups to fund their social and economic justice work nationally. We're honored to join with Groundswell, Sargent, and the rest of this powerful team of leaders." "DOEE is committed to an equitable clean energy future. Programs like Solar for All help our residents stay in the District and thrive in their communities while actively participating in the city's clean energy transition," said DC DOEE Economist/Senior Program Analyst, Dr. Lance Loncke."Energy equity is critical if our communities are to thrive; not every consumer has the resources or a home that allows them to have energy independence. Programs that aggregate energy resources provide basic benefits to many more consumers. It is our mission to bring together the experts, those who can host, and consumers who can share cooperatively in the energy created," said Sandra Mattavous-Frye, People's Counsel for the District of Columbia.Solar is one of the fastest-growing industries in the US, and community solar installations like the one at Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church have improved access to career opportunities within the communities they serve."I was fortunate to grow up in a family of contractors, and my grandfather was always passionate about extending second chances to people. I have extended that practice into the way I do business, and I have seen these new opportunities change lives," said Brad Boston, SunCatch Energy Founder and President.The project was constructed by Maryland Black-owned solar engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firm, SunCatch Energy; was completed in partnership with the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU), which manages construction for the Solar for All program in partnership with DOEE; was financed by SunLight General Capital, a woman-led clean energy investment firm; and was developed by Groundswell, a DC-based nonprofit.About GroundswellGroundswell is a 501c3 nonprofit that builds community power through equitable community solar projects and resilience hubs, clean energy programs that reduce energy burdens, and pioneering research initiatives that help light the way to clean energy futures for all. Groundswell leads clean energy programs and projects in five states, including the District of Columbia, serving more than 5,500 income-qualified customers with more than $2.75 million per year in clean energy savings. Learn more at Groundswell.org Groundswell, in partnership with Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church, SunLight General Capital, and the Office of the People's Counsel, held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of the solar array at Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church on Friday. The completion of the community solar project marks a major milestone for affordable clean energy in the District. (Photo by Alicia B. Hill | Groundswell)View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Groundswell on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: GroundswellWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/groundswell Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Groundswell
PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 18:15:51

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 502 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges SentinelOne, Inc. (NYSE:S) investors who suffered substantial losses submit your losses now.Class Period: June 1, 2022 - June 1, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Aug. 7, 2023Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/S Contact An Attorney Now: S@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895SentinelOne, Inc. (S) Securities Fraud Class Action:The complaint alleges Defendants made false and misleading statements and failed to disclose that: (1) SentinelOne lacked effective internal controls over accounting and financial reporting; (2) as a result, the company's key reported business metric annualized recurring revenue or "ARR" was overstated; and (3) as a result, the company's guidance was overstated.Investors learned the truth on June 1, 2023, when after the market closed, SentinelOne published a press release titled "SentinelOne Announces First Quarter Fiscal Year 2024 Financial Results." Therein, the Company disclosed that "[a]s a result of a change in methodology and correction of historical inaccuracies, which we further describe in our letter to shareholders, we made a one-time adjustment to ARR of $27.0 million or approximately 5% of total ARR." The Company also revised its fiscal year 2024 revenue guidance downward to a range of $590 million to $600 million from a range of $631 million to $640 million.In a shareholder letter published the same day, SentinelOne further explained that "we . . . discovered historical upsell and renewal recording inaccuracies relating to ARR on certain subscription and consumption contracts, which are now corrected" and that "[w]e are applying a comparable estimated adjustment to the remaining quarters in fiscal year 23, which we believe is a reasonable approximation of the impact in those periods." On this news, SentinelOne's stock price fell $7.28 per share, or more than 35%, to close at $13.44 per share on June 2, 2023."We're focused on investors' losses and proving SentinelOne first became aware of the historical inaccuracies in ARR and the decline in customer usage well before the company's disclosures," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in SentinelOne and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding SentinelOne should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email S@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens BermanHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 20:16:29

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 1031 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

Originally published on principal.com NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / When McKenzie Kerry graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a leadership position in a financial services company was very much on her mind. A business management major, Kerry had long sought out extra opportunities and activities, such as DECA, a leadership prep group for high schoolers and college students. "It was my thing in high school. I competed for three years and was president," Kerry says. "I knew when I graduated, I wanted to find a leadership development program." Lots of familiar corporate names entered the post-college job search in her hometown of Charlotte. Then she happened upon a LinkedIn job posting for Principal Financial Group. "I had never heard of Principal," Kerry says. "But I did some research and liked what I saw." That feeling, along with insights from key people along the way, helped Kerry navigate the Principal interview, job offer, and eventual relocation halfway across the country to Des Moines. "There was a connection I felt with people I had already met, and the culture felt different," she says. "I knew I didn't want to miss out on it." As Principal has discovered, nurturing those connections helps support diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, not just in communities and with customers, but also with employees. Those connections are multifaceted: support for Black-owned businesses, measurement of leadership representation, and celebrations old and new, such as the designation of Juneteenth as a Principal holiday.DEI: From global to localDEI isn't a goal with an end point: It's always on. Principal is continuing the work to increase diversity while making strides in areas such as gender. For example, women first received a seat on the board at Principal in 1980, and a Black woman joined the board two decades ago. Today, 46% of the management team are women.At Principal, inclusion translates into a work environment that's:based on integrity, respect, trust, and belonging,attracts and retains diverse talent, increases employee engagement, and develops the next generation of leaders, andis flexible so employees can integrate life and work.Lofty goals indeed, but how do we know we're making progress? Measurements can help.Inclusion: The Global People 2022 inclusion index, a measurement of authenticity and feeling valued among other factors, of 82% exceeds the goal of 80%.Leadership: 62% of Board of Director members are diverse in their gender, race, or national origin.Business support: In 2021, Principal committed to doubling the diverse small and midsize businesses it supports by 2025. In just its second year, we met 68% of the stated goal.Global employment: Currently, women make up 54% of the Principal global workforce; 16% in the United States are people of color.Outside recognitions: Principal was recognized as best place to work for LGBTQ+ Equality on the 2022 Corporate Equality Index by the Human Rights Commission Foundation.Those high-level initiatives become actionable in a variety of ways, including engaging employees through employee resource groups. Internally, the Principal African American/Black employee resource group (AABERG) hosted a virtual discussion reflecting on the history of Juneteenth and sharing practical steps to commemorate the meaning of the day.The origin of JuneteenthWhen the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863,1 the Southern states still under control of successionists scoffed.Over the next two years, state by state, however, Union forces had an opportunity to put force behind law- except in Texas. It wasn't until June 19, 1865, that enslaved people in Texas would learn that they too, had gained their freedom.2Since 1979, Texas has celebrated the anniversary of that momentous day as Juneteenth. In 2021, it became a federal holiday. That same year, Principal marked Juneteenth as an official corporate holiday, and to celebrate the occasion, the Juneteenth flag flew above the headquarters in Des Moines as employees and community members commemorated the day together.Principal Foundation also funds a number of external initiatives such a grant to the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, which helps entrepreneurs and small business owners improve personal finances, and 1863 Ventures, a national business development non-profit for entrepreneurs that have been historically marginalized.Nationally, Black individuals3 and specifically Black women4 are becoming first-time entrepreneurs and business owners at one of the fastest rates in the country. Buying from these businesses on, before, and after Juneteenth helps.Dannie Patrick, another transplant to Des Moines and global inclusion specialist, has volunteered at a past local Juneteenth event. "At Principal, we know that simply observing Juneteenth as a holiday is not enough for our employees. They want to be involved and actively volunteer to make an impact within the communities we serve," Patrick says."Volunteering at Juneteenth Neighbor's Day is so important to me because it gives me and others the opportunity to see ourselves reflected back in the mirror, which happens less frequently here in Iowa," Patrick says. "It's empowering and helps me keep going. Having an employer that acknowledges and supports that is why I am proud to say I'm a Principal employee." Candid conversations for a more inclusive futureDuring Kerry's formal interviews, "the tone was much different than other companies-very conversational and friendly," Kerry says. "Everyone gave me the impression they wanted what was best for me. Principal did a great job during the process of making sure I was interviewed by people of color who work here, so we were able to talk about diversity and leadership." Kerry started in April 2021 as a leadership development program associate. The early career program rotates associates in months-long assignments across Principal, helping them develop skills for an eventual placement as a leader with direct reports. Kerry relocated to Des Moines in September 2021, leaving behind family and her hometown. There have been challenges. There have been connections. There is still more work to be done.Fellow employees have helped her acclimate to Des Moines-hard in any situation, harder still when moving to a state that isn't as diverse as the community you've left behind. "It's taken adjusting, but there are great things this time in my life has to offer," Kerry says.That includes
PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 17:01:06

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 331 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

JUPITER, FL / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Marchetti Brands, the parent company of Lina's Crema di Limoncello, is pleased to announce its new sales agreement to expand distribution in Georgia.Lina's Crema di Limoncello, a majority woman-owned, family-run premium cream limoncello, was launched in 2018 and has quickly become a favorite among wine and spirits enthusiasts. Inspired by founder and CEO Lynn "Lina" Reisigl's family recipe from the Abruzzo region of Italy, Lina's Crema di Limoncello offers a delicious and versatile taste experience.James Reisigl, President of Marchetti Brands, expressed his excitement and confidence in expanding into Georgia, stating, "We are thrilled to bring Lina's Crema di Limoncello to Georgia in partnership with Savannah Distributing Company Inc. Lina's offers a perfect balance of delicate creaminess and tangy lemon flavors that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, from sipping it straight up to using it as an ingredient in cocktails or desserts. We are confident that the people of Georgia will embrace the versatility and deliciousness of Lina's Crema di Limoncello." Distributed by Savannah Distributing Company in Georgia, a locally owned, family-operated premium beverage company that has served Georgia beverage retailers since 1938, Savannah is a leader in connecting the most sought-after brands of craft beer, domestic and imported wines, and premium spirits with the retailers serving Georgia's consumer market.We are excited to partner with Savannah Distributing in Georgia," added Reisigl. "Their expertise and strong distribution network will enable us to bring Lina's Crema di Limoncello to even more consumers in the state." For more information about Lina's Crema di Limoncello, please visit www.linaslimoncello.com . Lina's is a registered trademark of Marchetti Brands LLC. Jupiter, FL 14% Alc./Vol . Please enjoy responsibly.About Marchetti Brands:Founded in 2013, Marchetti Brands is a woman-owned, family-run wine and spirits company based in Jupiter, Florida. For additional information about Marchetti Brands and Lina's Crema di Limoncello, please visit www.linaslimoncello.com CONTACT:James Reisigljames@ linaslimoncello.com SOURCE: Marchetti Brands, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 17:45:34

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 574 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Merck & Co., Inc.In underserved and under-resourced communities across the globe, from the U.S. to Rwanda, our company is helping patients at risk for and living with cancer access the care they need to stay well and lead fulfilling lives.We have a global-to-local approach, where we support programs and initiatives that help advance health equity directly in communities around the world by addressing barriers that people may face when accessing high-quality, equitable health care.Advancing patient-centered cancer care in every communityOur company collaborates with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to address high disparities in cancer care. In the U.S, we partnered with ACS on its Get Screened Initiative, which encourages people to schedule regular cancer screening tests. Through this initiative:~497K vulnerable community members enabled to be screened in 2021 and 2022 combined~11,200 incidences of breast, cervical and colorectal cancer foundWe're also helping the ACS bring its expertise in patient navigation to resource-limited settings in sub-Saharan Africa as well as develop a toolkit to help low- and middle-income countries adopt navigation programs as part of delivering comprehensive cancer care.Our global partnerships at workIn addition, we've partnered with City Cancer Challenge to implement a Patient Navigation Program in Kigali, Rwanda. With our support, City Cancer Challenge has trained nurses to become patient navigators. They help patients understand health information more easily, identify and assess cancer care gaps and barriers, help to accelerate the path to health care options, and mitigate the risk of patients falling out of the care continuum.Olivier Habimana, a cancer patient navigator with City Cancer Challenge, said he witnessed first-hand how this program has given his team the ability to effectively communicate, share and exchange information so that vital data can be used for the benefit of cancer patients."Before the implementation of this project, patients faced all sorts of challenges. If they were referred to a hospital for cancer care, sometimes they'd go to the wrong hospital, while others missed their follow-up visits." - Olivier HabimanaThe Patient Navigation Program has created an impact in the east African country:1,220+ patients supported by the programBuilding on our legacy for high-quality, equitable care now and in the futureWe continue to forge new partnerships to help reach underserved and under-resourced communities. This includes:Partnering to improve access to cancer care to under-served communities in Georgia.Supporting solutions like MedHaul that can help to address transportation barriers to accessing care.Providing access to educational and advocacy resources on the unique challenges faced by Black womendiagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).Working with Go Further, a partnership that aims to reduce cervical cancer incidence in HIV positive women in eight African countries with the highest rates of HIV prevalence and cervical cancer deaths in the world."Building on our foundational principles of innovation and putting patients first, we're committed to discovering new ways of enabling access to high-quality, equitable cancer care," said Carmen Villar, vice president of social business innovation. "I couldn't be more proud to be one of many in this effort." Learn more about Merck's Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) approach by visiting merck.com/company-overview/esg View original content hereView additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Merck & Co., Inc. on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Merck & Co., Inc.Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/merck-co-inc Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Merck & Co., Inc.
PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 18:40:13

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 974 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

CLEVELAND, OH and BANGKOK, THAILAND / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / NovAccess Global Inc. (OTCQB:XSNX), a biomedical company developing novel immunotherapies for brain tumor patients, today announced a partnership with Thailand-based CKN Ventures Limited, a multifaceted clinical and commercial healthcare platform, to expand clinical data set access in Southeast Asia to enhance and accelerate personalized therapeutics and treatment protocols. This partnership supports NovAccess Global's new Precision Medicine Division, launched earlier this month, to develop the most comprehensive collection of personalized therapeutics and treatment protocols using artificial intelligence (AI), Big Data and Predictive technologies.Using advances in AI, image recognition and predictive data science, NovAccess Global and CKN Ventures will collaborate to expand access to relevant data sources in Asia that will improve the quality and impact of licensed databases to identify patient data (phenotypic, clinical, and genomic) for analysis relating to therapeutic drug development and therapeutic treatment purposes. Therapeutic and treatment protocol data will be marketed to external pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, private payers, national/international health agencies and healthcare providers and insurers.According to Market.us , the global precision medicine market size was $83.4 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $254 billion by 2032, exhibiting a compounded annual growth rate of 12.1% in the forecast period (2023-2032). Asia is the fastest growing market in the world for the delivery of innovative care in oncology and immune oncology therapeutics, all of which depend upon management of robust, high-quality data sets to discover new treatment pathways.Commenting on the latest development to expand the Company's new Precision Medicine Division, NovAccess Global's Chief Executive Officer Dr. Dwain K. Irvin said, "We are very excited to publicly announce our partnership with CKN Venture Limited's world-class team of physicians and data scientists to expand access to critical data streams in Asia to better serve patients facing cancer and other diseases, globally. As part of the initial contributions from CKN, we expect to accelerate and expand our collection of patient data primarily through their glioblastoma database from multiple southeast Asian countries. Furthermore, CKN offers a wide variety of other support services and collaborative opportunities through their basic science and clinical laboratories. Together, we will also have opportunities to bring our technology to Asia and collaborate and develop novel therapeutics and diagnostics." "Joining forces with NovAccess Global will not just expand the quality of data sources available to both companies and improve our combined geographical reach, but will allow for CKN Ventures to drive a generation of new and enhanced targeted data sets by providing molecular and genomic sequencing capabilities from its Bangkok-based laboratory and wholly owned subsidiary, Phoenix Molecular," said CKN Ventures Director Supornchai Kongpatanakul, MD. "We view CKN's strengths in bioinformatics, molecular diagnostics, and the development of digital health systems to be complimentary to NovAccess Global's assets in therapeutics and precision medicine. Together, the two companies will leverage their combined talents to identify new breakthroughs in cancer and chronic disease management through this unique collaboration." NovAccess Global intends to also use AI within these data sets to identify the most optimal antigens to use for dendritic cell vaccines. Antigens are the molecules that trigger the immune response, and they need to be specific for the tumor cells and not the normal cells. AI can analyze the genomic and proteomic data of tumor cells and find the most suitable antigens for each patient.It is NovAccess Global's belief that AI can help to optimize the dose and timing of dendritic cell vaccines. The dose and timing of the vaccine can affect the efficacy and safety of the treatment. AI can use mathematical models and machine learning algorithms to predict the optimal dose and timing based on various factors such as the patient's characteristics, the tumor type and stage, and the immune status.In partnering with NovAccess Global, CKN Ventures is positioned to support trials of the Company's therapeutic candidate in glioblastoma patients in both North America and Asia. Dr. Supornchai added, "Our proven capabilities in genomics and bioinformatic analysis will help to support NovAccess Global's trial design and assist in measuring patient response to this groundbreaking therapy while providing research and pharmaceutical entities with data on various variables such as biomarkers and clinical outcomes." About NovAccess GlobalNovAccess Global is a biomedical company accelerating novel cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. Our goal is to discover, develop and bring to market novel and innovative medicine and medical devices to improve the quality of care for cancer and neurological patients.NovAccess Global is currently developing a cancer vaccine therapy that enhances the patient's immune response against brain tumors. Our Company has a novel immunotherapeutic approach to treating brain tumor patients with glioblastoma, the most common adult brain tumor with a 15-month median survival after diagnosis. Our patented technology is designed to combine a dendritic cell-based immunotherapeutic approach with a unique combination of toll-like receptor (TLR) adjuvants, TLR-AD1, to help promote an enhanced immune response against the patient's tumor. Our platform technology focuses on enhancing the patient's immune cells to fight their unique cancer by utilizing the antigens specific to the patient's tumor. It is a meaningful technology that could significantly improve the quality of life and prognosis for the many people who suffer from brain tumors. For more information, please visit novaccessglobal.com Follow us on social media and stay up to date on all of our developments:ABOUT CKN VENTURES, LTD.CKN Ventures is a group of technology companies based in Thailand with offices and facilities in Thailand and Singapore and serving both ASEAN and international regions. We focus on advanced diagnostics and technology-based precision medicine that enables physicians to deliver personalized care to patients with Cancer and other chronic or infectious diseases. Founded in 2019 we apply advanced technologies and
PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 14:00:12

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 577 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

Path Social Reviews, a division of the Los Angeles, California-based digital marketing firm Path Social Digital Media Services, LLC, lent its expertise to help craft an essay explaining the best ways for companies and individuals to increase their online following.LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Early in the spring of 2023, Path Social Reviews, a division of the acclaimed Los Angeles, California-based social media marketing firm Path Social Digital Media Services, LLC, was approached by freelance journalist Christian Nordqvist to consult on a new essay detailing some methods companies and individuals can use to enhance their digital marketing efforts. The result of this collaboration was an article titled Boosting Your Business's Social Media Presence: Effective Strategies for Success, which was published by an online periodical that focuses on matters relating to business, science, and technology on April 27, 2023.Early in the essay, the co-authors emphasize the merits of clearly and consistently defining a brand's identity in the digital sphere, stating, "Your social media presence should reflect your brand identity and values. Consistency is key-your branding should be recognizable across all social media channels. This includes using the same profile picture, cover photo, bio, and color scheme. Consider your tone of voice-is it professional, playful, or something in between? Your content should align with your brand persona, and any social media interactions should be handled with professionalism and care." Later in the article, Path Social Reviews and Christian Nordqvist extol the virtues of one of social media's most fundamental guiding principles; that of creating engaging content. "Social media is all about engagement-likes, comments, shares, and retweets," they write, before elaborating on how to achieve the desired outcome. "To increase engagement, you need to create content that resonates with your audience. This could include educational blog posts, entertaining videos, inspiring quotes, or behind-the-scenes glimpses of your business. High-quality visuals are a must-use eye-catching images or videos to grab attention in the crowded social media landscape. Experiment with different content formats and monitor which ones perform best." Anyone interested in reading this article in its entirety will find it located here, while anyone curious to learn more about Path Social Reviews or Path Social Digital Media Services, LLC is encouraged to visit the company's official website.About Path Social Digital Media Services, LLC:Created in California in 2021, Path Social Digital Media Services, LLC was founded by a group of digital media entrepreneurs who wanted to offer a more affordable and more precise way for brands and individuals to grow their social media presence. With a special concentration on the platform of Instagram, Path Social harnesses the talents of its expert team, as well as an AI-targeting algorithm to locate organic social media followers who are most likely to engage with the unique content and niche of each of their clients.The company has now helped over 24,000 brands, gaining millions of followers for them and saving them the thousands of man hours that would otherwise be needed to grow their social media followings. Path Social's focus has always been and continues to be creating the industry's easiest to use and manage platform, allowing social media account managers to grow their following automatically and freeing them to focus on what's most important-creating the best content possible.Media Contact:Path Social Digital Media Services, LLC1150 S Olive StLos Angeles, CA 90015Email: hello@ pathsocial.com Phone: 1-310-848-1269Website: pathsocial.com SOURCE: Path Social Digital Media Services, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 13:45:10

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 975 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

Planting Hope's team showcased menu solutions featuring RightRice Veggie Rice, Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk, and Mozaics Real Veggie Chips to hundreds of Foodservice channel decision makers during the 2023 DOT Foods Innovations ShowDOT Foods is the linchpin to opening up the Foodservice channel, a major focus for Planting Hope for expanded growth and profitabilityDOT Foods provides direct access to more than 4,500 distributors and 200,000 Foodservice end user locationsMenu concepts showcased to DOT customers include RightRice in bowl formats (as featured on CAVA restaurant menus nationwide, Chicken + RightRice Bowl), as well as in burritos and wrapsNow appearing on nearly 25% of menus nationwide, bowls are one of the fastest growing menu trends in Foodservice, offering customers both easy customization and portabilityRightRice is the only bowl base that also provides complete proteinCHICAGO, IL and VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / The Planting Hope Company Inc. (TSXV:MYLK)(OTCQB:MYLKF)(FRA:J94) ("Planting Hope" or the "Company"), a plant-based food and beverage company focused on producing the world's most nutritious and planet-friendly products, is proud to announce that Planting Hope was invited to showcase its product lines at the DOT Food Innovations show, June 13-15 in St. Louis, Missouri. All three brands, RightRice Veggie Rice, Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk, and Mozaics Real Veggie Chips are newly listed in DOT Foods, making them available to more than 4,500 distributors and 200,000 Foodservice end user locations nationwide. The DOT Foods Innovations Show brings together DOT customers, suppliers, and national account operators, to make meaningful connections, discover industry insights, and explore trending products-all available through DOT."Achieving distribution through DOT Foods across our brands has been a major milestone achievement for the Company, and we're proud to be invited to showcase our products to DOT Foods Partners at the annual DOT Foods Innovations Show," says Julia Stamberger, CEO and Co-Founder, Planting Hope. "DOT's reach and reputation in the Foodservice channel is unparalleled, and they're truly a company that their partners enjoy working with, from vendors to end customers. We're thrilled to bring our own Planting Hope innovation to DOT customers at the show and are showcasing a variety of menu solutions across our products that speak to some of the fastest-growing trends in Fast-Casual, Quick Service Restaurant, and Campus Foodservice." At DOT Innovations, Planting Hope offered samples of a RightRice Pad Thai- style bowl prepared by Planting Hope's Michelin Star Chef Henry Hill. Menu solutions on display included a RightRice Vegetarian Burrito and a RightRice Mediterranean Bowl, similar to the bowls at CAVA Restaurants (NYSE: CAVA), where RightRice is offered by name as a Grain Bowl base.The Bowl menu trend now appears on more than 25% of restaurant menus nationwide and is continuing to scale rapidly. As Bleu Zones put it (Super Bowls: Why This Healthier Food Trend is Here to Stay), "the Bowl Boom emerged from fast-casual restaurants almost by accident, an ad hoc solution for meeting off-menu special requests from customers. Seen this way, it's clear that bowls are the food format we'd long wanted, rather than some clever marketing ploy foisted upon us." Bowls are now a fixture on the menu of Fast-Casual Restaurants, which fill the gap between fast-food and casual table-service restaurants; today there are more than 40,000 Fast-Casual restaurant outlets in the United States, and annual revenues are anticipated to grow by $55.4 billion between 2022-2027, a CAGR of 12%.To build a Bowl, typically a consumer selects a Base, then a Protein, then a variety of Veggies, wet Toppings (beans, guacamole, hummus), dry Toppings (seeds, croutons, cheese), and Dressing. Popular bowl bases on menus include Salad Greens, Grains (rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, lentils), and Noodles (zucchini noodles, rice noodles, ramen)."The great thing about RightRice is that it is far more than a rice alternative," said Planting Hope Product & Culinary Development Chef, Henry Hill. "RightRice is the only bowl base that is ALSO a complete protein. Now operators can garnish and build up the bowl without having to add additional protein on top. With 11g of compete protein per serving, ounce for ounce RightRice has comparable complete protein to salmon, 3x the protein in tofu, and 25% more protein than most alternative meats, like Beyond Meat or Impossible Burger." Ounce-for-ounce, RightRice Foodservice bulk product is priced comparably to quinoa, and less than animal protein sources, also providing opportunities for operator cost savings across the finished product as additional protein is not required to complete the meal.For Beverage menu solution ideation, Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk was featured in a Toasted Black Sesame Nitro Latte and in a Vanilla Matcha Latte.The Planting Hope 2023 Foodservice Catalog, including DOT Foods item numbers, is available here.RightRice on display at DOT Innovations 2023 Show with Mediterranean bowl; Chef Henry dishes out a RightRice sample bowl to a show attendee Planting Hope Vice President of Foodservice Becky Harrison and Product & Culinary Development Chef Henry Hill open Day 3 of the 2023 DOT Foods Innovations Show About DOT FoodsDot Foods, Inc. carries 125,000 products from 1,020 food industry manufacturers, making it the largest food industry redistributor in North America. Through Dot Transportation, Inc., an affiliate of Dot Foods, the company distributes foodservice, convenience, retail, and vending products to distributors in all 50 states and more than 55 countries. Dot Foods operates 12 U. S. distribution centers, which are located in Bullhead City, Arizona; Modesto, California; Bear, Delaware; Vidalia, Georgia; Burley, Idaho; Mt. Sterling, Illinois; University Park, Illinois; Cambridge City, Indiana; Williamsport, Maryland; Liverpool, New York; Ardmore, Oklahoma; and Dyersburg, Tennessee. Dot's 13th U.S. location will be located in Manchester, Tennessee. Dot Foods' Canadian operations are located in Toronto, Ontario and Calgary, Alberta. A new Dot Foods Canada distribution center is currently under construction in Ingersoll, Canada.In November 2022, Planting Hope announced that the Company had become a vendor to Dot Foods, initiating listings through Dot with Original RightRice Veggie Rice
PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 07:30:16

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 772 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LRGENEVA, SWITZERLAND / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA (SIX:RLF)(OTCQB:RLFFD)(OTCQB:RLFTD) (Relief Therapeutics, or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company committed to delivering innovative treatment options with the potential for transformative outcomes to benefit those suffering from select specialty and rare diseases, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement for the sale and purchase in a private placement of 1,500,000 ordinary shares of Relief Therapeutics (or common stock equivalents in lieu thereof) and warrants to purchase up to 1,500,000 ordinary shares at a purchase price of CHF 3.33 per share (or common stock equivalent in lieu thereof) and associated warrant. The warrants will have an exercise price of CHF 3.40 per share, will be immediately exercisable upon issuance, and will expire five years from the date of issuance. The aggregate gross proceeds from the private placement are expected to be approximately CHF 5 million, before deducting the placement agent fees and offering expenses payable by Relief Therapeutics.H.C. Wainwright & Co. is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the offering.The private placement is expected to close on or about June 21, 2023, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Relief Therapeutics plans to use the net proceeds from the private placement for working capital and other general corporate purposes.The private placement shares and, upon exercise, the shares underlying the warrants, will be traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange and rank pari passu (carrying the same rights) with Relief Therapeutics' ordinary shares, and will be delivered from Relief Therapeutics' treasury shares previously issued out of its authorized share capital under exclusion of the existing shareholders' pre-emptive rights.This news 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 jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent registration under U.S. federal and state securities laws or an applicable exemption from such U.S. registration requirements.ABOUT RELIEF THERAPEUTICSRelief Therapeutics is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to advancing treatment paradigms and delivering improvements in efficacy, safety and convenience to benefit the lives of patients living with select specialty and rare diseases. Relief Therapeutics' portfolio offers a balanced mix of marketed, revenue-generating products, our proprietary, globally patented Physiomimic and TEHCLO drug delivery platform technologies and a highly targeted clinical development pipeline consisting of risk-mitigated assets focused in three core therapeutic areas: rare metabolic disorders, rare skin diseases and rare respiratory diseases. In addition, Relief Therapeutics is commercializing several legacy products via licensing and distribution partners. Relief Therapeutics' mission is to provide therapeutic relief to those suffering from rare diseases and is being advanced by an international team of well-established, experienced biopharma industry leaders with extensive research, development and rare disease expertise. Relief Therapeutics is headquartered in Geneva, with additional offices in Balerna, Switzerland, Offenbach am Main, Germany and Monza, Italy. Relief Therapeutics is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the symbol RLF and quoted in the U.S. on OTCQB under the symbols RLFFD and RLFTD. For more information, please visit our website www.relieftherapeutics.com or follow Relief Therapeutics on LinkedIn and Twitter.CONTACT:RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SACatherine DayVice President, Investor Relations & Communicationscontact@ relieftherapeutics.com DISCLAIMERThis press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including market and other conditions, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Relief Therapeutics to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, Relief's expectations regarding the completion of the offering and the anticipated use of proceeds therefrom. A number of factors including those described in Relief Therapeutics' filings with the SIX Swiss Exchange and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) could adversely affect Relief Therapeutics. Copies of Relief Therapeutics' filings with the SEC are available on the SEC EDGAR database at www.sec.gov . Relief Therapeutics does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date, except as required by law.SOURCE: Relief Therapeutics Holdings AG
PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 22:00:14

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 483 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

Book honored for his legal career and a lifetime of service.AVENTURA, FL / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Ron L. Book, a renowned Florida attorney and a powerhouse in the state's political landscape, was recently inducted into the 2023 Tulane Law School Hall of Fame. Book was honored for his legal career and decades-long pro bono work and advocacy for low-income and homeless communities, as well as for victims of child abuse."Induction into our Hall of Fame is the highest honor that Tulane Law School can bestow, and there is no one more deserving of that recognition than Ron Book," said Dean David D. Meyer, Tulane Law School. "Ron is a lawyer and advocate of formidable talent, yet he pairs that power with a heart larger than anyone I know. Ron is passionate about using his talents and time selflessly to serve those who are most vulnerable in our society and most in need. He is the perfect exemplar for what we hope our graduates will become, and we are intensely proud to count Ron as one of our own." "Ron has been an active member of the legal community for many years, and his contributions to the field have been widely recognized," Meyer added. "His election to the Tulane Law School Hall of Fame is a prestigious honor that reflects his exceptional legal skills as well as his deep commitment to helping others." "I am deeply honored to be elected to the Tulane Law School Hall of Fame," said Book, a graduate of the University of Florida and Tulane Law. "Tulane has played a significant role in my career as a lawyer, and I am grateful for the opportunities it has provided me. I look forward to continuing to serve the legal community and making a positive difference in the lives of those around me." Book's successful lobbying work has led to millions of dollars in funding for organizations such as Best Buddies, which provides mentoring for individuals with unique abilities; Casa Familia, an affordable housing opportunity for adults with unique abilities; the Children's Home Society Foundation of Florida; the Alonzo Mourning Family Foundation; and others. In honor of his tireless work in helping local organizations, Book received the Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award in early 2023.Book graduated from Tulane Law School in 1978 and is the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Ronald L. Book, P.A. He is also Chairman of the nonprofit Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust and most recently was instrumental in the acquisition and reopening of Mia Casa, a former assisted living facility that will now provide permanent housing to members of Miami's rapidly growing senior homeless population. Book is also the father of State Senator Minority Leader Lauren Book (D).CONTACT:Ron BookRonald L. Book, P.A.(305) 935-1866SOURCE: Ronald L. Book
Sudan's devastating war raged on into a third month Thursday as the reported death toll topped 2,000 and after a provincial governor was killed in the remote Darfur region.

The army headed by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has since April 15 fought the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

The fighting has driven 2.2 million people from their homes, including 528,000 who have fled to neighbouring countries, says the International Organization for Migration.

"In our worst expectations, we didn't see this war dragging on for this long," said one Sudanese citizen, Mohamad al-Hassan Othman, who has fled his home in Khartoum.

Everything in "our life has changed," he told AFP. "We don't know whether we'll be back home or need to start a new life."

The death toll has risen above 2,000, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project's latest figures which cover fighting until June 9.

In long-troubled West Darfur, the violence claimed the life of Governor Khamis Abdullah Abakar, hours after he made remarks critical of the paramilitaries in a telephone interview with a Saudi TV channel.

The United Nations said "compelling eyewitness accounts attribute this act to Arab militias and the RSF", while the Darfur Lawyers Association condemned the act of "barbarism, brutality and cruelty".

Burhan accused his paramilitary enemies of the "treacherous attack", while the RSF denied responsibility and for its part said it condemned Abakar's "assassination in cold blood".

It said he was killed after being "abducted" from RSF protection, which "the governor had requested".

Sudan analyst Kholood Khair of the Khartoum-based think tank Confluence Advisory said in a tweet that the "heinous assassination" was meant "to silence his highlighting of genocide... in Darfur".

Khair added that it was unclear "what the red lines are anymore" and urged for international "action to protect the people of Darfur and elsewhere".

'Completely devastated'

US and Saudi mediation efforts are at a standstill after the collapse of multiple ceasefires in the face of flagrant violations by both sides.

"We have been suffering and suffering and suffering the scourge of this war for two months," said a Khartoum resident, Soha Abdulrahman.

A record 25 million people -- more than half the population -- are in need of aid, according to the UN, which says it has received only a fraction of needed funding.

Saudi Arabia has announced an international pledging conference for next week.

"We have nothing left," said another person living in the capital, Ahmed Taha. "The entire country has been completely devastated.

"Everywhere you look, you'll see where bombs have fallen and bullets have struck. Every inch of Sudan is a disaster area."

Many of the displaced have lost loved ones as well as "all their belongings and livelihoods", said Anja Wolz of aid group Doctors Without Borders.

The group, which runs mobile clinics for the displaced in Madani, 200 kilometres (120 miles) southeast of Khartoum, noted a "worrying increase" in people escaping the capital.

'Disaster zone'

Darfur, one of the war's main battlegrounds, was already scarred by a two-decade conflict that left hundreds of thousands dead and more than two million displaced.

Daglo's RSF have their origins in the Janjaweed militias which former strongman Omar al-Bashir unleashed on ethnic minorities in the region in 2003, drawing charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Homes and markets have been burnt to the ground, hospitals and aid facilities looted and more than 149,000 people sent fleeing into neighbouring Chad.

The Umma Party, one of Sudan's main civilian groups, said El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state, had been turned into a "disaster zone", and urged international organisations to provide help.

The Darfur Lawyers Association reported that, in El Geneina, "cross-border militias supported by the RSF" had carried out "massacres and ethnic cleansing".

Search Keywords:

Short link:


PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 14:00:19

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 531 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

Recent activities honored teachers and school employees with special events, gifts, and recognition.TUSTIN, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union serving school employees and their families in the U.S., announced that the organization has wrapped up another successful school year with a series of appreciation events honoring teachers and school employees during School Employee Appreciation Month in May. Events and activities were held throughout Teacher Appreciation Week and Classified School Employee Appreciation Week, and included tickets to sporting events, sweepstakes, gifts, and support of various employee recognition programs in local school districts throughout California. SchoolsFirst FCU currently serves over 436,000 school employees in its Membership.This year's activities included:School Employee Appreciation Night at Angel Stadium: On May 5, the Credit Union sponsored a special night to honor teachers and school employees at the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Texas Rangers game, offering discounted tickets for 12,075 school employees, family members and friends who attended.In-Branch Gift and Treat: During Teacher Appreciation Week May 1 - 6 and Classified School Employee Appreciation Week May 22 - 27, the Credit Union offered a branded cooler bag gift and custom chocolate cookie bar for all school employees who visited SchoolsFirst FCU branches.School Employee Appreciation Sweepstakes: In April, SchoolsFirst FCU announced a sweepstakes for school employee Members, with a grand prize package featuring an exclusive culinary experience with renowned chef Trevor Perkins for 10 teachers and 10 classified school employees, and additional prizes of $100 Mastercard prepaid cards for 20 teachers and 20 classified school employees.School Employee Recognition Programs: SchoolsFirst FCU also supports and sponsors numerous local recognition programs and activities throughout California, including:Sacramento County Office of Education District Teachers of the Year and Classified Employees of the Year recognition games at the Sacramento River Cats.ABC10 Sacramento's Teacher of the Month and Teacher of the Year programs.Orange County Classified Employee of the Year and Teacher of the Year programs."Teachers and classified school employees are the backbone of our education system. School employees help shape the lives of children and empower them to be their best selves," said Josh Smith, vice president, school and community relations for SchoolsFirst FCU. "Each year, it is an honor to recognize their hard work and celebrate their many contributions by sponsoring these annual activities." During School Employee Appreciation Month, and all year round, SchoolsFirst FCU is honored to serve school employees and their families.# # #Link to Recap Video: 2023 School Employee Appreciation Month with SchoolsFirst FCUAbout SchoolsFirst Federal Credit UnionSchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is the fifth largest credit union in the country. Serving school employees and their families, the organization is dedicated to providing World-Class Personal Service and improving the financial lives of its Members. Today they serve more than 1.3 million Members with a full range of financial products and services. SchoolsFirst FCU was founded in 1934, when 126 school employees pooled $1,200 and established a Member-owned cooperative to help improve each other's lives. In 2022, the Credit Union reported nearly $28 billion in assets and remains the largest credit union in California. For more information about SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, visit schoolsfirstfcu.org Media Contact: Ann Bouchardann@ bouchardcommunications.com Mobile: (916) 521-7440SOURCE: SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union
PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 04:50:46

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 424 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / June 15, 2023 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until August 7, 2023 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against SentinelOne, Inc. (NYSE:S), if they purchased the Company's securities between June 1, 2022 and June 1, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of SentinelOne and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-s/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by August 7, 2023.About the LawsuitSentinelOne and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On June 1, 2023, the Company disclosed that "[a]s a result of a change in methodology and correction of historical inaccuracieswe made a one-time adjustment to ARR of $27.0 million or approximately 5% of total ARR" and that the Company had slashed its fiscal year 2024 revenue guidance from a range of $631 million to $640 million to a range of $590 million to $600 million, due to the discovery of "historical upsell and renewal recording inaccuracies relating to ARR on certain subscription and consumption contracts, which are now corrected." On this news, shares of SentinelOne fell $7.28 per share, or more than 35%, to close at $13.44 per share on June 2, 2023.The case is Johansson v. SentinelOne, Inc., et al., No. 23-cv-02786.About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCKSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients - including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey.To learn more about KSF, you may visit http://ksfcounsel.com/ CONTACT:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2023-06-16 12:00:51

Press Information





Published by

ACN Newswire

+65 6304 8926

e-mail

https://www.acnnewswire.com/







# 411 Words

ACN Newswire+65 6304 8926

BANGKOK, June 16, 2023 - (ACN Newswire) - Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL (SET: STA), the world's leading fully integrated green rubber company and Thailand's largest producer of rubber gloves, has opened the Company's first raw material procurement center in Ivory Coast, aiming to expand its sources of raw material as well as providing agricultural knowledge to local rubber plantation farmers. The plan is to establish a total of five procurement centers in the country within next year. Ivory Coast is projected to have a production capacity of over 1.3 million metric tons of rubber this year, surpassing Vietnam and becoming the world's 3rd largest rubber exporter.Mr. Veerasith Sinchareonkul, Managing Director and Executive Director of Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL revealed that it had established a subsidiary last year in Ivory Coast, or Cote d'Ivoire, to support business expansion through procurement of raw materials from new sources, most recently on June 1. The Company commissioned the first center to assess raw material sources with high growth potential, while planning to open five procurement centers by 2024, expanding its capability and coverage in sourcing raw materials.The primary driver behind the subsidiary and procurement centers in Ivory Coast is the suitable climate and environment or cultivating rubber trees, resulting in continuous increases in production. Therefore, the country holds significant potential for rubber production and export. The International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) estimated that by 2023 Ivory Coast is projected to have a total rubber production capacity of 1.31 million tons, an increase of 23 percent from 2021, with projections of 1.37 million metric tons and 1.42 million metric tons in 2024 and 2025, respectively.At present, Ivory Coast is the world's 4th largest exporter of rubber, following Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. However, IRSG forecasts that Ivory Coast's rubber production will surpass Vietnam's and become the world's 3rd largest rubber exporter within this year."We recognize that accessing new supplies in Ivory Coast will greatly support the Company's business in terms of expanding the sources of raw materials. In addition, our on-ground team is also providing agricultural knowledge on rubber cultivation to rubber plantation farmers in Ivory Coast, further enhancing the country's capability as one of the world's top producers of high-quality raw materials," Mr. Veerasith added.Released by Public Relations Dept., MT Multimedia Co., Ltd. for Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCLFor additional information, please contact: Wasana "Jeab" WongsiriTel: +66 84 359 0659, +66 2 612 2081 ext.131; E: wasana.w@mtmultimedia.com Sri Trang Agro-Industry PCL, www.sritranggroup.com/en/home [SET: STA] [SGX: NC2] [FRA: YTAA] [OTCPK: SLJUY]
The National Economic Council (NEC) on Thursday said it is considering crucial recommendations from the National Salaries Income and Wages Commission on a proposed cost of living allowance amounting to N702bn for civil servants as part of its intervention plans to alleviate the impact of the discontinuation of petroleum subsidy.

President Bola Tinubu had, at his inaugural address at Eagle Square, Abuja, declared that there would no longer be a petroleum subsidy regime as it was not sustainable.

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who informed State House correspondents about the deliberation, revealed that the proposed intervention measures include a monthly petroleum allowance for civil servants, ranging from N23.5 billion to N45 billion.

This announcement comes just two weeks after the President urged governors to develop concrete palliative measures to alleviate the hardships resulting from the discontinuation of petrol subsidy.

The proposed N702 billion cost of living allowance and the petroleum allowance demonstrate the governments commitment to supporting civil servants during this transitional period.

These measures aim to mitigate the effects of the subsidy discontinuation and provide relief to workers nationwide.

Various scenarios were given by the presenter on the issue of national salaries, income and wages and this 702 billion-plus was suggested as an allowance for the cost of living adjustment allowance by the organised Labour and the other one is a petroleum allowance, the governor said.

The cost of living adjustment allowance constitutes a significant portion of the suggested amount and is intended to address the rising costs of living in the country. The remaining portion is allocated to the petroleum allowance, which aims to compensate workers for the potential fluctuations in fuel prices.

While presenting the recommendations, Mr Mohammed acknowledged that other allowances exist, but the focus of the discussion centred on the specific allowances proposed by organised labour and the petroleum sector.

The governor of Ogun has told you that there are other allowances here and there, but with regard to Labour, these are some of the few allowances that they have suggested, and that of petroleum, they said will range from 23.5 billion to 45 billion per month, depending on what is in the kitty for distribution or for sharing, he said.

He clarified that the suggested N702 billion allowance is not a single lump sum but a collective figure encompassing the cost of living adjustment allowance and the petroleum allowance.

Committee

Mr Mohammed also announced the formation of a committee tasked with addressing the potential impact of the removal of fuel subsidy on workers and vulnerable groups across Nigeria.

He expressed the councils commitment to safeguarding the interests of workers and ensuring their well-being amidst the subsidy removal.

In addition to the palliative, the government looked at all the issues, challenges and problems holistically and set up a small committee of the council to review and come up with a term of reference to organise areas specifically where this palliative can come from and how it will be dispensed to alleviate the problem of workers and other vulnerable groups, he explained.

Members of the committee included the Governor of Kebbi State as chairman; Anambra representing the South-East geopolitical zone; Governor of Benue, North-Central; Governor of Kaduna, North-West; Governor of Cross River, South-South; Oyo, South-West; and the Bauchi State Governor representing the North-East.

Other relevant agencies in the committee are the Budget Office, representatives of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria and the Nigeria Labour Congress.

The committee has been given a timeline of two weeks to complete its review and submit its recommendations to the NEC. The goal is to facilitate a prompt and comprehensive decision-making process that will alleviate the potential challenges of removing the petroleum subsidy.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


President Bola Tinubus Policy Advisory Council has proposed the merger of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigerian Customs Service, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) into the Nigerian Revenue Service.

The merger, according to the council, will aid the collection of all direct and indirect taxes and levies on behalf of the federal government. The council therefore advised the passage of an emergency economic reform bill to grant the president special powers to drive the economic reform agenda.

The advisory council, put together by Mr Tinubu to support the delivery of sustainable and inclusive economic growth, consists of Tokunbo Abiru (chair), Yemi Cardoso, Sumaila Zubairu and Doris Anite, with KPMG listed as consultant.

The council recommended improved tax collection by restructuring and automating key revenue-generating agencies within the next three to four years and improve tax collection in the country.

One of the key suggestions is to identify, map, and consolidate the revenue collection function across crucial revenue generating agencies with the implementation of end-to-end automation for all taxes and levies, coupled with the utilisation of advanced big data analytics for improved tax collection.

To ensure transparency and accountability, the council called for the institutionalisation of independent revenue assurance and audit systems.

Multiple taxation has been a persistent challenge in the Nigerian economy, hampering compliance and burdening taxpayers, with multiplier effects on businesses and households. To address this issue, the council recommended the importance of tax harmonisation and mobilisation of political will to combat tax evasion.

In addition to improving existing tax collection mechanisms, the council also emphasised the need to expand the tax net by incentivising the informal sector to transition into the formal economy, design and implement balanced incentive-linked performance measures to drive the desired behaviour in revenue generating agencies.

It called for the implementation of a new social contract framework to encourage voluntary tax compliance, with emphasis on the need to aggressively grow Personal Income Tax (PIT) revenues at both the federal and sub-national levels.

Other recommendations on the economic reform agenda include the declaration of a state of emergency in revenue generation and national security, reform of the Central Bank of Nigeria, implementation of the civil service reform documented in the Oronsaye report.

Targets

In its economic reform roadmap, the council highlighted targets to be achieved in short (100 days), medium (12-18 months), and long (3-4 years) terms for the Tinubu administration.

The removal of fuel subsidy, transitioning to a unified forex rate window, and resolving the cash shortage situation were categorised as short-term targets.

For the medium term, the targets include addressing oil theft and pipeline vandalism and substantially growing oil and gas production; establishing a coordinating body for fiscal and monetary policy; optimising operating expenditure to reduce cost and leakages; and reforming the CBNs operating model.

For the long term plans, the council recommended that the government should unlock the potential of the solid minerals sector; rationalise select government assets; deepen tax collection by restructuring and automating key revenue-generating agencies; reform the regulatory environment to enable business and investment; transform Nigeria to become Africas most efficient trading nation; grow non-oil export and manufacturing contribution to GDP; and become the leading investment destination of choice among the MINT economies.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on Friday said it had signed four significant agreements related to the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project.

The NNPCL in a statement by Garba Deen Muhammad, the chief corporate communications officer of the company, said the four memoranda of understanding (MoU) were signed on Friday in Abuja as part of the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project.

It said these tripartite MOUs were signed between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and the Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines (ONHYM) of Morocco on one hand; then the Societe Nationale des Operations Petrolieres of Cote dIvoire (PETROCI), the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), the Societe Nationale des Hydrocarbures of Benin (SNH-Benin), and the Societe Nationale des Petroles of the Republic of Guinea (SONAP) on the other hand.

NNPCL explained that these agreements were similar to those signed with ECOWAS on 15 September 2022, Mauritania and Senegal on 15 October 2022, and The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Ghana on 5 December 2022, reaffirming the commitment of the parties to this strategic project.

The NNPCL had last year signed agreements on the gas pipeline project with the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines of Morocco and the ECOWAS Commission.

The Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline was proposed in a December 2016 agreement between the NNPCL and the Moroccan Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines.

The Federal Executive Council in June last year authorised the NNPCL to enter into an agreement with ECOWAS for the construction of the pipeline.

The government says the gas pipeline, designed to be 7,000km long, will contribute to accelerating access to energy for all, improving the living conditions of the populations, integrating the economies of the sub-region, and mitigating desertification.

It will further achieve these goals through the provision of a sustainable and reliable gas supply that aligns with the continents new environmental commitments while providing Africa with a new economic, political, and strategic dimension.

Once completed, the project will enhance the monetisation of the natural gas resources of the affected African countries and also offer a new alternative export route to Europe.

Today, another important milestone was achieved at the headquarters of the Economic Community of West African States as four significant Memoranda of Understanding related to the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project were signed. Additionally, the projects steering committee convened to discuss the progress of the project and its strategic direction, NNPCL said Friday.

The signings took place on the sidelines of the steering committee meeting of the Nigeria-Morocco Gas pipeline project, which was attended by representatives from ECOWAS and all the participating countries, including Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Cote dIvoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, The Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco, the statement added.

In his remarks, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, thanked President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian government for entrusting the company with the strategic project as the national energy company.

As a commercial enterprise, NNPCL sees this project as an opportunity to monetise Nigerias abundant hydrocarbon resources, by expanding access to energy to support economic growth, industrialization, and job creation across the African continent and beyond, Mr Kyari said.

Also speaking, the Director General of ONHYM, Amina Benkhadra, said that the gathering represents a progressive step in ensuring social and economic development through energy security and accessibility geared towards attaining total development of Africa by Africans.

Sediko Douka, the ECOWAS commissioner for infrastructure, energy and digitisation, said the gas pipeline project is significant as it will help strengthen the regions electricity production/generation capacity, stimulate industrial and agricultural development, and contribute to the energy transition by using a source of energy that is cleaner than other fossil fuels.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


A former minister of Aviation Femi Fani Kayode and the mother of his four sons, Precious Chikwendu, may be on their way to reconciliation.

The speculation rent the air as the couple were spotted at a Dinner party in honour of Benjamin Kalu, the newly-elected Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Ordinarily, it would have been a case of estranged lovers getting invited for the same event, except they sat beside each other and cosied up together.

Also, the former minister under the Obasanjo administration seemingly made a fuss about it when he posted about their outing on his Instagram page.

He wrote, Precious and I had the honour and privilege of attending a dinner in honour of our brother, the newly-elected Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu and his beautiful wife yesterday evening.

It was a wonderful and well-attended occasion, and we wish Ben a successful tenure in office. I do not doubt that he will do us proud and help to move our nation forward.

Precious, on her part, posted a close-up photo of herself at the event.

She captioned it; Ayomi, which means my joy in the Yoruba language.

The couple were also spotted exchanging pleasantries with guests, sending signals to onlookers about their state of affairs.

To further add fuel to the reconciliation rumours, Mr Fani-Kayode made a post on his Instagram page welcoming his niece, Nana from Ghana.

He then posted photographs of the reception she was treated to in his home. Joining them at the dinner table was none other than Precious.

While some Nigerians believe that a reconciliation is on the way, others think that Precious is back so she can be close to her kids.

Divorce, Custody battle

In 2020, the couple was engaged in a brutal battle that ended in messy media and court battles.

At some point, she was docked in a Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, for the attempted murder of her ex-husband, following charges of attempted culpable homicide, before Justice Inyang Ekwo.

In 2021, Precious opened up about the nature of her relationship with the ex-minister.

The former beauty queen said that he physically and emotionally abused her when she was pregnant with her first child.

She said she received punches in her protruded belly, and other parts of her body.

Following their separation, the couple were engaged in a messy custody battle that began after they split in 2020.

They however resolved their differences in 2022.

Precious, who petitioned the United Nations (UN), Amnesty International, United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), seeking justice and custody of her children, finally gained access to them

The mother-of-four appreciated her estranged partner for allowing her to reunite with her children after a lengthy custody battle.

She also said Mr Fani-kayode now has a change of mind and is working out a process for peaceful co-parenting as wars always have a long-lasting effect on both parties regardless.

Renewed hope

Talks of a reunion between the couple did not just begin.

In 2022, after two years of living apart, the couple was spotted at a house party hosted at Senator Sani Musas home.

It gave rise to the speculations that they are fine-tuning plans to reconcile their differences and get back together.

A source close to the couple FFK wants Precious back and the two are currently working on their marriage.

Precious however vehemently denied the speculation.

The latest outing by the couple has however lent credence to that report.

Reactions

There have been many reactions to the photos of the estranged couple together at the event, but the majority seem to agree that shes in it only for her kids.

She wants to stay with her kids.  Luca (@WorldFamousLuca) June 14, 2023

Of a truth, I've come of age. I wanted to make a brutal joke about FFK but then maturity restrained me. It wouldn't be fair on his wife either considering that they just got back. Let me see if I'd hold it for the next six months. pic.twitter.com/I29Rsk5I1J  Ijele Speaks II (@IjeleSpeaks2) June 15, 2023

I No dey put mouth for love matter  VinofIdanre (@VinOfIdanre) June 14, 2023

https://twitter.com/LambertOzone01/status/1669251231217246209?s=20

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The National Judicial Council (NJC) has dismissed complaints of wrongdoing against 32 judges of various courts, while it remains silent on the recent scandalous confession of a senator confirming a widely-held perception of entrenched corruption in the Nigerian judiciary.

A viral video recorded by Channels Television showed the former senator, Adamu Bulkachuwa, confessing during the 9th Senates valedictory session on Saturday.

In the widely-condemned confession, Mr Bulkachuwa bragged about how he helped many of his colleagues to secure favourable court decisions through his wife, Zainab Bulkachuwa, while she was the President of the Court of Appeal.

The revelation was still generating shockwaves when the NJC held its latest periodical meetings, the 102nd in the series, on Wednesday and Thursday.

At the meeting presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and chairperson of the NJC, Olukayode Ariwoola, the council cleared 32 judges, including a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Mary Odili, of wrongdoings levelled against them by various petitioners. But the council shied away from the shocking confessions of the former senator.

The confession by Mr Bulkachuwa to obtaining favourable court decisions through his wife, who only retired as the President of the Court of Appeal in 2020, is one of the most devastating assaults the crisis-ridden integrity of the Nigerian judiciary has suffered of late.

It further erodes the confidence of the public in the Nigerian judiciary, many analysts have said.

Expressing shock about the issue, the president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau, also a member of the NJC, said he raised the issue for deliberation at the councils meeting on Wednesday.

Mr Maikyau, who described Mr Bulkachuwas comments as a direct attack on the integrity of the judiciary, said the NJC similarly condemned the actions of the former senator.

He announced on Thursday that he had written the police authorities and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate and prosecute Mr Bulkachuwa for his confession to perverting the course of justice.

Silence on confession, deals with other issues

But nothing concerning the issue was in the NJCs statement detailing the deliberations and resolutions of the councils two-day meeting, which ended Thursday.

The NJC, a statutory body concerned with the recruitment and disciplining of judges and Nigerian judiciarys policy matters, ignored the senators confession despite being a nagging issue that has dominated public comments since the beginning of the week.

PREMIUM TIMES, on Friday, phoned the NJC spokesperson, Soji Oye, over the glaring omission from the statement he signed but said he was not authorised to speak on the issue.

The NJCs statement, posted via its Twitter handle on Friday, touched on other issues, including the dismissal of petitions against some judges, including Mrs Odili, a retired judge of the Supreme Court, for lacking in merit.

The statement also listed 37 candidates recommended for various judicial positions during the meeting.

It also touched on a new policy agreed on at the meeting barring High Court judges from switching from High Court bench to the Court of Appeal.

Why the petitions were dismissed

The NJC, in the statement, said its investigative committees dismissed some of the petitions filed against some judges.

Although the details of the allegations were missing from the statement, the NJC said it dismissed the petitions for lack of merit, lack of diligent prosecution, withdrawal of the petition, being subjudice and for the subject judge having retired from service.

According to the NJCs Preliminary Complaint Assessment Committee rule, it may advise dismissing a complaint if it is about a person who no longer holds any judicial office.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported details of a petition sent to the NJC against Mrs Odili, who falls into the category of retired judges.

But the NJC also agreed with the committees recommendations to empanel Investigation Committees against seven Judges of different states.

The 32 judges that were cleared are as follows:

Supreme Court

1. Hon. Justice Mary Peter Odili, retired Justice of the Supreme Court

Court of Appeal

1. A. R. Barka

2. James G. Abundaga

3. O. O. Olasumbo Goodluck,

4. Ibrahim A. Andetur-Yangsto

Federal High Court

1. F. O. Liman,

2. A. R. Mohammed,

3. H. A. A. Dashen,

4. Peter Lifu

5. F. O. G. Ogunbanjo

6. A. Lewis Allagoa

7. D. E. Osiagor

Delta State High Court

1. Theresa O. Diai, Chief Judge, Delta State

FCT High Court

1. S. B. Belgore

2. K. N. Ogbonnaya

3. Jude Onwuegbuzie

4. Edward Okpe

Edo State High Court

1. Joseph I Acha,

2. Vesty O. Eboreime

Ebonyi State High Court

1. Thelma Adanna Achom

2. Elvis A. Ngene

Bauchi State High Court

1. A. B. Usman

2. M. M. Abubakar

Lagos State High Court

1. O. A. Opesanwo

Oyo State High Court

1. Oladiran Akintola of Oyo State High Court,

Kwara State High Court

1. Gegele A. Hammed of Kwara State High Court,

Akwa Ibom State High Court

1. K. N. Udobong of Akwa-Ibom State High Court,

Imo State High Court

1. B. C. Iheka, Imo State High Court,

Borno State High Court

1. M. A. Zandai High Court, Borno State,

Zamfara State High Court

1. Mohammed Shinkafi of Zamfara State High Court,

Kaduna State High Court

1. R. S. Ladoja of the Kaduna State High Court

Niger State High Court

1. M. S. A. Mohammed of the High Court of Niger State.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


A former Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari, said he was defeated by a gang up of some top government officials when he contested for the position of the senate president against Godswil Akpabio on Tuesday.

Mr Yari, who represents Zamfara west senatorial district, stated this in an interview with BBC Hausa service on Friday.

In the election for the senate president held on during the inauguration of the 10th Senate, Mr Akpabio defeated Mr Yari by 63 to 46 votes. The senate is made up of 109 senators.

Mr Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, was the anointed candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the President Bola Tinubu.

Mr Yari said he could have won the contest if there was no gang up against him led by Mr Tinubu.

He said if he had known he would not win, he would not have contested the election but insisted he would have won if not for the gang up against him.

I never dreamt of not winning. From the day we started taken count of those with us, we had a number that showed we were in the majority. But you should not forget that I didnt contest against Akpabio because if I knew I would not be up against Akpabio, I would not have joined the race, he said.

When asked who he contested against, he said it included the president, the vice president and other top government and political officials.

Everyone was involved. The president was involved, the vice president was involved, the secretary government of the federation was involved, the governors all against me alone and those that supported me.

I hope that in his second tenure, the president will allow democratic process to take centre stage in the parliament. He said he has a preferred candidate but the right thing for him as a leader was to accept everyone as his own. He shouldnt show difference. He said during his swearing in that he would do right to all manner of people. I should be among those he was referring to but with this outcome, it shows there is betrayal and inducement whether to scare (some senators) or some other ways, he said.

Mr Yari, who was also a former House of Representatives member, however, said he has accepted the outcome of the election in good faith.

You know National Assembly election is not the type of youll say there is rigging. Theyre 109 senators and these are matured people in their own rights who have their own decisions and convictions. So, as a Muslim Ive accepted the outcome of the election in good faith, he said.

Ive nothing against Tinubu

Mr Yari, who was the chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), said he has nothing against Mr Tinubu because he believed it was Gods decision that he wouldnt be the senate president.

From that day, to me I know that its God that decides everything. I know thats not Bola (the president) that decides things. Its God. If God wishes otherwise, I would have emerged and not even Bola or anyone could stop it, he said.

He said the 10th Senate would look into issues critically for the development of the country.

Mr Yari said he would pay more attention to the economy and would offer advice where necessary.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


A former senator, Dino Melaye, on Friday, appeared before the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja as a witness in the petition filed by Abubakar Atiku and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to challenge the outcome of the February presidential poll.

Mr Melaye, dubbed as a star witness of the petitioners, told the court that the final result of the presidential election announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was wrongly computed.

The former senator, who is also the PDP candidate in the forthcoming Kogi State governorship election, is the 23rd witness the petitioners have called so far to challenge the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the disputed election.

Led in evidence by the petitioners lead counsel, Chris Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Melaye, who told the court that he was PDPs National Collation Agent, identified himself as a businessman and a politician.

The witness said he refused to sign the final result announced by INEC chairman, Yakubu Mahmood, because of the wrongly computation of the figures.

The results were wrongly computed and announced. That was why I refused to sign. I dont endorse fraud, Mr Melaye re-echoed his grouse that he had expressed during the collation of the results in February.

Under cross-examination by INECs lawyer, Mr Abubakar Mahmoud, a SAN, Mr Melaye said most PDP agents across the country did not sign the Form EC8As which were the result from the polling units.

It is not true that all the agents signed results of the election across the federation. Not all of them signed. I may not give you the actual number of our agents that did not sign the results in protest, he told the court.

Giving another reason for rejecting the outcome of the poll, the witness said that the results brought to the national collation centre by state electoral officers were at variance with the results recorded in the state.

Mr Melaye added that the results declared by INEC were also at variance with the ones computed from copies of the result sheets uploaded on IReV, an online portal designed to receive polling units result sheets real-time.

My lords, exhibits have shown that result on the IReV was at variance with what was announced.

What was brought to Abuja by State Returning Officers was totally different from what transpired in the states, he added, Mr Melaye said.

The witness also said he became aware of a third-party device deployed to manipulate votes in Mr Tinubus favour through an INEC press statement prior to the election.

Under cross-examination by INECs lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud, Mr Melaye said he voted at his polling unit in Kogi State, but returned to Abuja thereafter.

He added that he walked out of the national collation centre before the end of the process as the national collation agent of the petitioners when he discovered the fraudulent activities going on at the centre.

Three grouses

Mr Melaye said that he had three major grouses with the conduct of the election one of which was the refusal of INEC to transmit the election results electronically to its portal.

He said the Electoral Act 2022 mandates INEC to electronically transmit election results from polling stations to INECs IReV portal.

The electoral commissions inability to electronically transmit the presidential election results in real-time from the polling units across Nigeria forms one of the grounds upon which Atiku and other petitiners are challenging Mr Tinubus victory.

Under cross examination by President Tinubus counsel, Akin Olujinmi, also a SAN, Mr Melaye said that the failure of INEC to transmit results from Form EC8As to its IReV was an infringement of the law.

He, however, said that the result captured in Form EC8A could not be changed even where it was not transmitted electronically.

The witness further told the court that as a contributor to the drafting of the Electoral Act, the conduct of the presidential election was not done according to the law.

He said electronic transmission of results from the polling units unto the IReV was a very important aspect of the election process, adding that without that, the election circle could not be said to have been completed.

Result is transmitted from polling units before you move to the ward collation center, the PDP stalwart said.

He said his depositions in his statements were based on his personal experience at the national collation centre and information from the party agents across the country who reported to him as the national collation agent of the party.

He also said that some of the reports given by the agents were live feeds of what was happening at their locations real time through the use of technology.

When asked to give the actual scores of Atiku in the election since he claimed the scores were wrongly computed, the witness said that he did not calculate them directly but that they were calculated through his statistician.

The five-member panel led by Haruna Tsammani then discharged Mr Melaye from the witness box after all the respondents had questioned him.

Exhibits tendered

The petitioners also tendered two sets of documents acquired from INEV via a subpoena issued on May 26 at Fridays proceeding.

The documents are the certified true copies of Forms EC8A series from 13 local government areas of Nasarawa.

The second set of documents are Forms EC40G and Form EC40G(2), which were summaries of polling units where elections were cancelled or disrupted.

All the respondents objected to the admissibility of the documents saying they would advance reasons for their objection at the final address stage.

The documents were, however, admitted in evidence.

The court subsequently adjourned proceedings until 19 June.

Labour Partys Peter Obi and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) also filed separate petitions to challenge the victory of President Tinubu.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday hosts Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for talks in Paris, seeking to nudge the Saudi PM of the oil-rich kingdom into more full-throated support of Ukraine against the Russian invasion.

The visit of the 37-year-old Crown Prince comes less than a year after his last visit to the Elysee Palace and underlines the warm relationship between Paris and Riyadh.

Over their lunch at the Elysee Palace from 1115 GMT, Macron is also expected to seek support from Bin Salman to find a solution in the search for a new president in Lebanon, a stalemate that is causing increasing exasperation for France.

His stay in France appears set to be a long one, with the crown prince due to attend a Paris summit on a New Global Financing Pact hosted by Macron on June 22-23.

On Monday, he will also attend an official Saudi reception for Riyadh's candidacy to host Expo 2030, a bid for which Saudi wants strong French support.

The prince can reside comfortably in France, given he owns the opulent Chateau Louis XIV near Versailles outside Paris, a modern building that seeks to replicate the look of French imperial palaces.

A French presidential official, who asked not to be named, said Paris wanted Saudi PM to understand the scale of the Ukraine conflict and "help us speed up the final outcome of the war, which means a victory for Ukraine on the ground".

"We are going to tell him how important the Ukraine issue is and how Saudi Arabia can exert influence, including on Russia," added the official.



Cautious on Ukraine

Saudi Arabia has maintained a cautious stance throughout the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, stopping short of condemning the assault while emphasising the importance of Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Saudi Arabia hosted President Volodymyr Zelensky last month in Jeddah during an Arab League summit, the Ukrainian leader's first visit to the Middle East since the invasion began, and won his praise for supporting Ukraine's "territorial integrity".

But Saudi also retains close ties to Russia, particularly through Moscow's involvement in the expanded OPEC+ format of the oil cartel that includes 10 non-OPEC members.

Macron is also likely to encourage the Crown Prince to use Saudi Arabia's influence among the Sunni community in Lebanon to break the deadlock that has seen the country repeatedly fail to choose a new president.

The French leader last month named his former foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian as his personal envoy for Lebanon in a new bid to end the political crisis. The veteran politician is due to visit soon.

Saudi Arabia and its regional rival Iran are also in the throes of an unexpected rapprochement -- brokered by Beijing -- that has caused huge interest among Western governments still seeking to revive a 2015 deal on the Iranian nuclear programme.

"In Saudi Arabia's normalisation with Iran, there is potential for easing tensions in the region," said the French official, expressing hope it could also smooth the path to an election of a Lebanese president.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


A Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, on Tuesday, sentenced a fraudster to 10 years in prison for advance fee fraud.

The convict, Otede Meyeoghene, was prosecuted by the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on three separate charges of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Acts 2006.

The crime is punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act, the anti-graft agency stated in a statement posted on Twitter.

According to the commission, the convict, in 2015 in Warri, Delta State, defrauded and induced Eyinoloma Demeyin (complainant) to deposit the sum of N2,000,000 into his account under false pretence that the money was for investment in a waste management contract with Rivers State Government.

The convict, the commission said, promised Mr Demeyin a daily dividend of N25,000 as a return on investment which he (the convict) knew was false.

Delivering judgment on the matter, the Judge, Okon Abang, said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and therefore convicted Mr Meyeoghene on the three charges.

This offence of obtaining under false pretence is an endemic disease that needs an urgent diagnosis and treatment, and it is important to put a punitive sentence that would serve as a deterrent to others, Justice Abang stated.

The judge sentenced Mr Meyeoghene to 10 years on each of the three charges without an option of a fine. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Justice Abang further ordered the convict to return the nominal complainant the outstanding sum of N2,095,000 with 21 per cent interest per annum from 2015 until fully liquidated.

The anti-corruption agency said the convict in 2015 got N2.5 million from Mr Demeyin on the pretext that he was investing it to purchase a truck for waste management in Rivers State.

Mr Demeyin told the commission that he did not hear from the convict again after making the payment and all efforts to recover his money were fruitless.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The immediate past Chairperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Akin Oke, has commended President Bola Tinubu over the appointment of Zaccheus Adedeji as his Special Adviser on Revenue.

Mr Oke gave the commendation in a statement he issued on Friday in Ibadan.

The president had on Thursday announced Mr Adedeji, a former commissioner for finance in Oyo State, as one of his eight special advisers appointed so far.

Mr Adedeji is also the immediate past Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC).

According to Mr Oke, Mr Adedejis appointment is a pointer to the fact that the Tinubu administration will take Nigeria out of the woods in no time.

He urged the president to remain focused and optimistic in his mission to rescue the country from its many challenges since the attainment of independence in 1960.

The new breeze which Nigeria now experiences is that of economic growth, peace and stability made possible by a new president who has convinced the whole world that he is prepared for the job.

We have no doubt in our minds that Tinubus presidency is a prayer answered, and it is imperative for all Nigerians and friends of Nigeria to support the president, he said.

The former party chair said it was clear that Nigeria needs a crack economic team to drive its affairs at the moment.

He said the choice of Mr Adedeji and others would give the country the desired results, adding that lots of energy, expertise and passion would be brought into governance.

Mr Oke also acknowledged the supportive role of former Osun governor and pioneer APC national chair, Bisi Akande, and other party members.

He appealed to the president to consider more competent and suitable members of Oyo APC for federal appointments.

He congratulated Mr Adedeji on his appointment and wished him a successful tenure of office.

(NAN)

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Ifeanyi Ejiofor, a counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has reacted to a statement indicating that he and his colleague had been sacked as lawyers to the IPOB leader.

Kingsley Kanunta, a younger brother to Mr Kanu, had, in a statement on Thursday, said Mr Ejiofor and his colleague, Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had been dismissed by their family as Mr Kanus lawyers.

Kanunta claimed the familys decision followed Mr Ozekhomes alleged refusal to visit Mr Kanu at the State Security Service (SSS) facility, since 11 May, despite the IPOB leaders several requests.

He also accused Mr Ozekhome of conspiring with Mr Ejiofor to stop medical doctors sent by the family from carrying out a medical examination on the IPOB leader on 5 June at the SSS facility where he is being detained.

Ejiofor reacts

Reacting in a statement on Thursday night, Mr Ejiofor denied the allegations, describing it as a highly defamatory and very disappointing publication.

He added that Kanunta, who made the announcement, only lives in Germany and does not even know anything about Mr Kanus case.

The lawyer said Kanuntas claim that Mr Ozekhome refused to visit Mr Kanu since 11 May was false, saying it was Mr Ozekhome who actually led him (Ejiofor) to have over two hours meeting with the IPOB leader and SSS officials on 3 June.

He said he and Mr Ozekhome also visited the IPOB leader at the SSS facility on Thursday to brief him on matters relating to his cases in court.

Mr Ejiofor also denied stopping the medical doctors who came for a medical examination of the IPOB leader.

The lawyer said the doctors were not there to conduct any surgical procedure but to first meet and interface with Mr Kanu on a preliminary basis.

He said the doctors were expected to consult with Mr Ozekhome before proceeding with other administrative engagements and that every agreement was unanimously reached during an over one-hour meeting of 3 June 2023, led by Prof Ozekhome, which was held with the SSS in the presence of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who participated in and approached all the decisions reached the meeting.

Mr Ejiofor vowed that the legal team would not be distracted from securing the release of the IPOB leader from SSS detention, maintaining that they are thousands of miles and steps ahead of the evil plans of the enemies both from within and from outside.

He said that given the desperate attempt by enemies to break our ranks, the legal team would not be giving regular updates anymore, except when there is a compelling situation that demands it.

Kanu hired us, and hasnt disengaged us

Mr Ejiofor said Kanunta had no right to issue the statement because it was Mr Kanu who hired him to handle his legal cases.

My letters of engagement issued to me since 2015 by Onyendu Mazi, Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB are still firmly with me to date, he said.

The lawyer said Mr Kanu hired his colleague, Mr Ozekhome, by himself and not Kanunta.

Biafrans and members of the public are aware that Onyendu specifically requested to see Prof. Mike Ozekhome upon his forceful abduction and extraordinary rendition from Kenya to Nigeria in June 2021.

It was not until 22nd December 2022 that Ozekhome finally accepted the brief. During that first meeting between him and Onyendu, which details are already in the public domain, Onyendu personally briefed Prof. Mike Ozekhome to head his legal team, he stated.

Against the backdrop of the foregoing, I wish to unequivocally state that Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu never at any time ever dismissed, disengaged, nor has he ever expressed any intention of dismissing his legal team ably led by Prof. Mike Ozekhome.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


A 21-year-old man has allegedly raped a 16-year-old girl to death inside a bush in Enugu State, south-east Nigeria.

The suspect, Augustine Akor, allegedly dragged the victim, Faith Akuji, inside the bush, where he raped and then strangled her to death.

The incident happened on 8 June in Mpole-Ubere, Ette, a community in the Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of the state.

The police spokesperson in the state, Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement Thursday night.

Arrest

Mr Ndukwe, a deputy superintendent of police, said the suspect was later arrested at about 9:30 a.m. on 12 June by operatives serving in Igbo-Eze North Police Divisional Headquarters with assistance from Neighbourhood Watch Group in the area.

The police spokesperson said the victim had gone missing on the evening of 8 June after her grandfather sent her to grind cassava in the community.

Efforts by the family to trace her were fruitless, he said.

Mr Ndukwe said the victims body was later found in the bush after the arrested suspect confessed that he had dragged her to the bush, where he raped her until she died in the process.

The victims remains, found without any lower-body cloth, were evacuated to hospital and confirmed dead by doctors on duty, he said.

The police spokesperson said the case was under investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department of the police.

The suspect will be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigation, the police said.

The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Ahmed Ammani, has commiserated with the victims family and friends over the loss, Mr Ndukwe said.

Mr Ammani described the act as atrocious and unthinkable.

The police commissioner directed that the case be meticulously handled and concluded within record time and charged to court for justice to be dispensed accordingly.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Shirin Marker, a UK lawyer, has given why the British governments silence on the extraordinary rendition of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), may affect other UK citizens.

Ms Marker, a solicitor from Bindmans LLP, the law firm representing Mr Kanus family in UK court, stated this in a post on the firms website on Wednesday.

Background

Mr Kanu, a Nigerian-British citizen, was first arrested in 2015 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria.

The IPOB leader was later granted bail in April 2017. He fled the country after an invasion of his home in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, Abia State, by the Nigerian military in September of that year.

He was re-arrested in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria in June 2021, about four years after he fled the country.

The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on 13 October, held that the IPOB leader was extra-ordinarily renditioned to Nigeria and that the action was a flagrant violation of the countrys extradition treaty and a breach of Mr Kanus fundamental human rights.

The court, therefore, struck out the terrorism charges filed against Mr Kanu by the Nigerian government and ordered his release from the custody of the State Security Service.

But the government refused to release the IPOB leader, insisting that he could be unavailable in subsequent court proceedings if released and that his release would cause insecurity in the South-east.

The government, through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, later appealed the court ruling and subsequently obtained an order staying the execution of the court judgement at the Supreme Court.

Since his alleged extraordinary rendition to Nigeria, successive UK Foreign Secretaries  Dominic Raab and Liz Truss (before she became prime minister) had refused to state if Mr Kanu was a victim of extraordinary rendition despite overwhelming evidence, Mr Kanus family said.

The family, consequently, applied to challenge the UK government over its failure to state her position.

The application was filed at the High Court of Justice, Queens Bench Division, by the IPOB leaders brother, Kingsley.

It sought permission for a judicial review of the UK governments silence on Mr Kanus detention and trial in Nigeria. It was later granted around September last year.

The case was heard before Justice Swift at the High Court on 15 November 2022, and judgment was handed on 23 March 2023.

In his ruling, Mr Swift called for Mr Kanus release because his ongoing detention was severe and arbitrary wrongs were committed against him, including being subjected to degrading treatment and rendition.

The court, however, held that Mr Kanu had no legitimate expectation that the British government should reach a firm view for itself on what had occurred or its seriousness.

It also held that it was rational for the foreign secretary to maintain a provisional view on whether Mr Kanu has been subjected to extraordinary rendition.

The IPOB leaders family, dissatisfied, appealed the ruling, which would be heard on 22 June.

UK lawyer speaks

Ms Marker said UK citizens travel to other countries with the assumption that their countrys authorities would assist them in the event of maltreatment and harm in foreign countries.

She argued that the decision which the UK court will take on 22 June would put those assumptions to the test.

Nnamdi Kanus case, which is awaiting a hearing in the UKs Court of Appeal on 22 June this year, is set to put each of these assumptions to the test.

That is because, if the High Court was right to reject his familys judicial review claim earlier this year, the UK government has what amounts to a right to remain indifferent and passive when British citizens rights are grossly abused abroad, Ms Marker said.

Indeed, that right would mean the government can avoid ever making a decision about what has happened or is happening to its citizens when they are abroad and desperately seeking its help.

The legal practitioner said Mr Kanu, as a British Citizen, travelled with the same expectations of protection by the British state as any other British citizen who may be mistreated abroad, but that the protection has been conspicuously lacking.

The British governments inadequate approach to Mr Kanus case is symptomatic of a wider failure to protect its citizens abroad, she stated.

She said Mr Kanus upcoming case would set an important precedent on whether the British government has the right to avoid making a decision on whether a British citizen is subject to fundamental breaches of international law, in spite of overwhelming evidence of violations of their rights.

Anyone travelling with a British passport should look out for the ruling and hope that the court will firmly restate and apply the principles in Abassi so that they can be confident that their government will properly consider what protection they need abroad, should such a need ever arise.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


No fewer than 341 members of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) converged on Owerri, the Imo capital, on Friday, for the 2023 National Biennial Convention.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for the conference is Post 2023 Election: Promoting Professionalism for enhancement of Democracy and good governance.

In an opening remark, the Chairman of the convention and former Managing Director of the Sun Newspaper, Tony Onyima, expressed concern over the growing threats of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the media.

As we reflect on how we grapple with the post-election challenges, I urge us to begin to look at the threats of AI to our profession.

I have discovered an App that is like AI reporter, which can report stories without reporters in the newsroom, he said.

In an address, the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Chris Isiguzo, called on media practitioners to recommit themselves to the highest standards of professionalism, ethics and integrity.

According to him, Our commitment to professionalism will shape the narratives, influence public opinion and help forge a society that thrives on transparency, inclusivity and justice.

We must be the vanguards of truth, holding those in power accountable while providing a platform for diverse voices and perspectives.

To achieve this, we must prioritise continuous professional development and capacity building, he further said.

In a goodwill message, former Governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, commended the Nigeria media for their role during the 2023 General Elections.

Mr Osoba, the veteran journalist, said he was delighted that, despite political differences, Nigerians could overcome the issues of religion and ethnicity.

He, however, said that the outcome of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal would determine the depth of the nations democracy.

Also, the Chairman of the National Media Complaints Commission, Emeka Izeze, who Lanre Idowu represented, appealed for the cooperation of the guild in achieving the commissions mandate.

The Nigeria media, in general, subscribe to a guiding philosophy of journalism that is free, strong and responsible.

The challenge has always been to marry the interest of the government, the media and the public in such a way that the attending tensions and conflicts are managed in a way that does not destroy the binding social force.

He urged the NGE to support the commission by ensuring that it complies with the invitation of the ombudsman, publicising its decisions and by keying-in public trust in its processes.

Since the adoption of the new Code of Ethics on November 14, 2022, and the inauguration of the ombudsman on April 3, we have commenced work.

With your help, we are determined to represent the best interest of the Nigeria people, Mr Izeze said.

Uzodimma canvasses developmental journalism

Meanwhile, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has charged the members of the NGE to embrace developmental journalism and provide constructive criticism of government policies and programmes.

Mr Uzodinma gave the charge on Friday while declaring open the NGE National Biennial Convention 2023 in Owerri.

He urged journalists in the country to be circumspect in criticising the government at all levels in order not to pose any threats to national unity and development.

The governor commended the editors for creditably discharging their duties during the 2023 General Elections and urged them to work for the sustainability of the nations democracy.

He, however, advised them to be wary of the information they feed the public with to avoid the information that can mar Nigerias democracy.

According to him, no democracy is perfect; we should be patient and work to encourage the populace to be patient in their expectations.

We have a huge complex population, and story ideas published by the media readily become a point of reference, he said.

Mr Uzodinma underscored the need to improve the media reportage because Nigerias democracy is a work in progress, with its transformative ingredients being refined daily.

Furthermore, he assured the group of the continued commitment of the All Progressives Congress (APC) toward encouraging constructive journalism to strengthen democracy.

APC will never impede the work of journalists.

We need the media to strengthen our democracy and work together to ensure its protection and survival.

President Bola Tinubu needs your support, encouragement and constructive criticism.

And we must manage post-election reactions and grow our democracy together, the governor said.

He commended the outgoing President of the Guild, Mustapha Isah, for graciously serving the group and humbly stepping aside after a single term in office.

(NAN)

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Thursday, arraigned a former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dibu Ojerinde, on charges of official corruption and abuse of office.

Mr Ojerinde, a professor, was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja, alongside four of his children  Mary Ojerinde, Olumide Ojerinde, Adebayo Ojerinde and Oluwaseun Ojerinde  among other defendants.

The rest of the defendants are six companies linked to him, namely: Doyin Ogbohi Petroleum Limited, Cheng Marbles Limited, Sapati International Schools Limited, Trillium Learning Centre Limited, Standout Institutes Limited and Esli Perfect Security Printers Limited.

The case, marked FHC//ABJ/CR/119/2023, is the latest of the legal proceedings ICPC has, so far, filed against Mr Ojerinde over corruption allegations.

Multiple criminal cases

ICPC said in a statement capturing highlights of Thursdays proceedings that its case against the former JAMB registrar involved multiple layers of fraudulent identities and conspiracies designed by the defendants to conceal crimes.

The statement was signed by ICPCs spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua.

ICPC had arraigned him before another judge of the court, Obiora Egwuatu, in July 2021 on 18 counts involving the diversion of funds during his time as the registrar of NECO till his time as JAMBs chief executive.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how ICPC opened its case in February after the breakdown of plea-bargain talks Mr Ojerinde had with the anti-graft agency.

The former JAMB Registrar is also standing trial at the Niger State High Court on alleged corruption and other ancillary offences.

ICPC had also secured a forfeiture order on some landed assets linked to Mr Ojerinde.

Fresh charges

In the fresh 17 charges, ICPC, through its counsel, Ebenezer Shogunle, alleged that the former JAMB boss conspired with three of his children (Oluwaseun Ojerinde, Olumide Ojerinde, and Adebayo Ojerinde) to sell off property worth $150,000 after it had been forfeited to the federal government by a court order.

The property is located at House No. 4 Ahomko Drive, Achimota Phase 2, Accra, Ghana.

The prosecution also accused Mr Ojerinde of incorporating companies and taking up simultaneous appointments as Chairman and Director, while being a public officer on full-time appointment as Registrar/Chief Executive of National Examinations Council (NECO), Minna and the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Bwari, Abuja.

ICPC said this was despite that Mr Ojerinde knew very well that the Code of Conduct for Public Officers forbids public officers from engaging in private business other than farming or participating in shareholding of joint stock companies.

The commission also alleged that Mr Ojerinde, in order to avoid various anti-corruption and anti-money laundering policies of government, notably Know Your Customer (KYC) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) policies, took measures to conceal his ownership and active participation in the management of some of these companies by using forged documents, stolen identities and synthetic names.

According to ICPC, some of the alleged offences are contrary to and punishable under sections 17, 19, 22 and 24 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Some of the offences were also said to be contrary to, and punishable under Section 1 of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act, 2006.

The commission also said the rest of the alleged offences were contrary to and punishable under Section 1 of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, CAP M17 of the Revised Laws of the Federation, 2007.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to them.

Bail

The judge, Inyang Ekwo, granted bail to Mr Ojerinde on terms earlier granted to him by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

His four children were each admitted bail in the sum of N20,000,000 and a surety in like sums.

Each of their sureties must have landed properties not below the value of the bail sum and within the jurisdiction of the court.

The trial judge also ordered the other defendants to surrender their passports to the court and must not travel outside the country without recourse to the court. He ordered that the Nigeria Immigration Service be notified of the development.

The judge fixed 13, 14, 15, and 16 November for hearing.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Kano State government has revealed the real reason for demolishing a cultural monument at a popular roundabout in the city.

The structure commissioned by the immediate past government of Abdullahi Ganduje was designed in 2017 by Kaltume Bulama, a virtual artist, to mark the states golden jubilee.

According to the government the monument showcased the culture, commercial history and cosmopolitan nature of the city.

Responding to the outrage that followed the demolition of the monument on Wednesday, the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Baffa, said the monument was pulled down because it carried the Christian symbol of the cross sign.

Mr Baffa, who is the former Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, said it was wrong for such a Christian symbol to appear on a public structure in Kano, which is a majority Muslim state.

He told local radio stations that the state government is also planning to redesign the Muhammadu Buhari flyover constructed by the past administration in the state because it also formed a cross from the air.

The design in the roundabout is blocking road users front view because of its size. Secondly, if you use a drone shot of the aerial view of the monument you will see a sign of a cross and in Kano we are 99.9 per cent if not 100 per cent Muslims (and) you cannot put a cross sign in the front of a government house.

Photos showing Kano State has two big crosses, big ones! The one in front of the government house and the one built on the Muhammadu Buhari Interchange flyover at the Hotoro area. The flyover, also from its aerial view you will see a big cross and we now planning to redesign it and remove the cross sign, Mr Baffa told Freedom Radio.

He said the demolition exercise will continue and all government properties within and outside Kano sold by the former administration were illegal because the government sold them to their cronies and they shall be reclaimed by the incumbent administration.

The state government has demolished several structures mostly in commercial areas it claimed were illegally sold by the immediate past administration.

The demolition began last Saturday. So far the government has demolished a three-storey building with 90 shops on a race course at the Nasarawa GRA, and the 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 Campa sold to private individuals by the immediate past administration of the state.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Mixed reactions have trailed Nigerias Access to Tertiary Education Act, otherwise known as Student Loan Act, as recently assented to by President Bola Tinubu.

The Act, according to the Nigerian government, is aimed at providing interest-free loans to Nigerians seeking higher education.

But one of the conditions set in the Act limits beneficiaries to children or wards of parents whose annual income is not more than N500,000 (less than $1,000).

Another condition also limits the loan to payment of tuition fees which, as of now, is non-existent across many tertiary institutions owned by the federal government.

But speaking on PREMIUM TIMES Twitter Space on Wednesday, representatives of university workers unions and social rights campaign organisations condemned the law, describing it as a recipe for disaster.

There were, however other panellists, including the representative of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), who welcomed the initiative but kicked against any attempt to jerk up fees in tertiary institutions.

ASUU, SSANU officials kick

The National Treasurer of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Olusiji Sowande, a professor, who clarified that no federal government-owned university currently charges tuition as part of their fees, hinted at the possibility of introducing tuition by the new administration.

Mr Sowande, who said his unions opposition to the Act has not changed, however, noted that if the people welcomed it, ASUU would have no choice but to await the consequences of their action.

We have continued to maintain our stance that the Act is discriminatory, and that except the government wants to introduce tuition, students in public universities in Nigeria dont pay tuition but sundry fees, Mr Sowande said.

Also, the National Vice President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Abdussobur Salaam, said the government only imposed the Act on Nigerians without due consultations.

Mr Salaam, a senior staffer at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, said the new Act will not only impose an additional burden on Nigerians but also open doors for corruption.

He said the requirements to access the loans, as highlighted in the Act, would make it difficult for Nigerians to benefit and that those who may benefit are also threatened to begin payment two years after graduation.

We need to review this Act before accepting with open arms. But as far as I am concerned, it is a recipe for disaster, Mr Salaam said.

Official defends Act

Kunle Somoye, former Special Assistant to the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila (sponsor of the bill), explained the rationale behind the law.

Speaking on the space as a panellist, Mr Somoye said the law is a product of a rigorous process which he noted involved the convocation of an education summit by the parliament.

He said apart from the summit and the public hearing conducted ahead of the passage of the bill; the lawmaker also ensured that fees currently charged by various public tertiary institutions across the country were considered and the average measured before setting the rules.

READ ALSO:

He said: We moved round the country and prepared memos on fees obtainable across the country in various schools. We didnt stop at that; consultations were made. All these efforts were geared towards ending the perennial strikes by workers in our tertiary institutions.

It is common knowledge that the former speaker and now the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu is a lover of education and has always been at the forefront of any efforts towards ameliorating the pains of students and their parents. So I strongly believe that the law can be improved, but you can agree with me that the intent and purpose behind it are noble.

Fee increment looms

Other speakers on the panel including an executive committee member of the Campaign for Workers and Youths Alternative (CWA), Akinkunmi Olawoyin; National Coordinator of Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Hassan Soweto; a medical practitioner and human rights activist, Goke Akinrogunde, and another social rights campaigner, Isiaka Oyegbile, described the law as a precursor to increasing fees in the nations tertiary institutions.

According to Mr Olawoyin, the law has only provided the government with a weapon to abdicate its responsibility of funding education and transfer the burden to the students and their parents.

He listed the budgetary allocations to the nations parliament within the last few years, noting that the budget rose from an average of N130 billion in the past years to more than N200 billion in the current parliamentary calendar year.

If they are truly thinking of the masses, the huge resources allocated to only 469 members of the National Assembly would have been redirected to funding education and public health services in the country. The law is anti-poor, and it is aimed at scamming the people, Mr Olawoyin said.

On his part, Mr Soweto said his organisation would convene a public briefing on the development in the coming days, even as he reiterated his opposition to the Act.

Proponents of this law argue that Nigeria doesnt have enough resources to fund education, so they introduced the loan. Nigeria has the resources to fund education; we only need to stop the waste by the political class, he said.

Endorsement

Meanwhile, the National Vice President, External Affairs of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Akinteye Babatunde, and a Social Change Campaigner, Amaka Osita, applauded the bill but opposed the likely increase in tuition fees.

Mr Babatunde, who admitted that the Act would benefit many students in this country that are struggling because of fees, noted that the students body would not accept any move by the government to increase existing fees in the universities.

He said: Before it was signed into law, we had always advocated for a student loan programme, and now that the government has established it, we are interested in it, even though we still have some questions.

The process of implementation is also looking good. We want them committed to making sure it succeeds. We have presented our queries and we are talking with the government to ensure they resolve our concerns.

But Mr Soweto urged the students to study the law properly before rushing to embrace it.

Students bodies must oppose this act, study it very well and make sure it is not one to put your members in danger in the next few years, he said.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government announced Wednesday that the implementation of the student loan will commence in September.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Kaduna State High Court on Thursday ordered the Nigerian Army to allow host communities of Jaji Military Cantonment access to their farmlands.

The judge, Hannatu Balogun, also ordered the army to pay each 260 members of the communities N1,000 cost. She ordered the army to present evidence of payment by 10 July.

The plaintiffs counsel, Kimi Livingston, filed a contempt suit against the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, and some senior officers of the Nigerian Army.

They alleged that the army refused to obey the court order, which stopped the construction of a perimeter fence around Jaji barracks.

Also, they alleged that the army blocked the plaintiffs access to their farmland, villages and communities during the pendency of the case.

READ ALSO:

The respondents were not in court, but sent a letter stating that officers occupying the offices had been transferred to other places.

The judge refused to accept the letter.

The defendants counsel, Aliyu Ibrahim, told the court that he would ensure that the officers were in court personally by 10 July.

He also denied the allegations of stopping communities from accessing their farmlands.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that host communities of the Jaji Military Cantonment had in November 2020 sued the military at the state High Court over alleged encroachment on their ancestral land.

Some community representatives, including Wusono, Ungwan Auta, Labar, and Ungwan Alhassan, were in court. They said the military had started fencing the community into the cantonment while the settlement was ongoing.

(NAN)

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The fire-fighting helicopter Nefes (Breath), bought by Turkiyes Forestry Directorate from its maker Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), is ready to do its job to protect the nations forests in the countrys southwestern Mugla province, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

The cruising speed of the copter, which was named by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, can reach 222 kilometers/hour (138 miles/hour), and its maximum speed is up to 358 kph (222 mph).

The Nefes is able to drop up to 2.5 tons of water at a time and is equipped to take part in search and rescue efforts as well as firefighting.

Nefes is the first-ever firefighting helicopter in the inventory of the Forestry Directorate.
Egypt has made significant strides in fulfilling the rights of differently abled people, announced President of the National Council of Human Rights (NCHR) Moushira Khattab at the 16th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP16) on Thursday.

The conference was held 13-15 June at the United Nations Headquarters in New York with the participation of state representatives, human rights organizations and non-governmental organizations.

The NCHR presented Egypts experience and achievements in implementing the conventions mandates.

Egypts dedication to the rights of people with disabilities per standards of the convention is supported by presidential commitment, Khattab assured.

Egypts commitment is also evidenced by Law 10/2018 that ensures the full human rights and fundamental freedoms of differently abled people, he added.

Such commitment has increased workforce participation, alleviated stigma and raised awareness on their rights, the NCHR president added.

While there is no legal discrimination against differently abled people, many of them still face difficulty in accessing digital services and reproductive health services, Khattab clarified.

Khatab added that much of this is due to the countrys limited resources, which sidelines the most vulnerable groups such as differently abled, especially the women and children among them.

Global crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian-Ukrainian War and climate change have also contributed to exacerbating current challenges and future threats, the NCHR president.

Hence, it is necessary to mobilize funding through international cooperation to better implement people with disabilities rights, she added.

Additionally, facilitating public transportation and making buildings and residences accessible to differently abled people is a top priority to the NCHR, Khattab asserted.

Finally, the NCHR recommended at the conference that member countries continue to harmonize domestic laws with convention mandates and empower relevant national entities with adequate financial and institutional resources, Moushira said.

Additionally, they urged all concerned parties to raise awareness and build the capacity of professionals working with and for persons with disabilities, empower national human rights entities established in accordance with the Paris Convention Principles and finally strengthen international cooperation to mobilize resources towards improving differently abled peoples lives.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Some anti-corruption crusaders have urged Nigerians to reject the bill passed by the Senate to whittle down the powers of the chairman of ICPC.

They also urged President Bola Tinubu to withhold assent on the amended bill.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the senate had, on 4 June, passed a bill to amend the law establishing the ICPC, which steeply cuts down on the power of the commissions chairperson.

The Centre for Journalism and Innovative Development (CJID) and other civil society organisations have similarly criticised the bill.

Speaking in separate interviews with NAN, they posited that signing the bill into law would undermine the war against corruption in the country.

Anti-corruption agencies need protection

A former Executive Secretary, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Sadiq Radda, said that passage of the bill by the senate was an issue of corruption fighting back

My take is that Nigeria should reject it; it is corruption fighting back. Most of these legislators are not happy with ICPC because it is doing an excellent job.

The implication is that ICPC cannot perform as it is performing, and Nigerians should know that is very dangerous.

It is our duty as academics, anti-corruption agencies, as media to help anti-corruption agencies to be very strong, he said.

Mr Radda, a professor at the Department of Sociology, Bayero University, Kano, said that instead of whittling down the powers, efforts should be made to strengthen the office of the chairperson to be independent and vibrant

We have a problem. So, we should reject what the National Assembly is doing. We should give protection to all anti-corruption agencies because they are doing a wonderful job, he said.

Wrong procedure

Similarly, Sola Akinrinade, former Vice Chancellor of Osun State University, faulted the procedure of the bill, saying it would not serve a good purpose in the anti-corruption war.

The professor said: The only thing I will say is that they did not comply with all the normal processes  there was no public hearing  and when you are doing that kind of amendment, there should be a public hearing.

It doesnt serve any purpose if you whittle down the power of anti-corruption agencies, particularly the chairperson, because they are doing so much risky work.

What purpose does it serve if we whittle down the power of the ICPC chair; we are actually not helping the fight against corruption

And, it sends the wrong signal to the international community on the importance attached to the anti-corruption agencies. Instead of strengthening them; we are reducing their power to fight corruption.

What message does that send to the international community? We need to watch out and guard against such so that we dont end up shooting ourselves on the foot

What I would suggest is that when it gets to the president, he should refer it to the Ministry of Justice, which will take a holistic look at what is being recommended, whether it serves the purpose of its creation.

Its a shame

Hamzat Lawal, Chief Executive of CODE, said: It would be a shame to water down the powers of the chairman. What we need is an institutional framework to strengthen the operation of the ICPC in the fight against corruption.

If the lawmakers hands are clean they have no reason to be afraid of the operation of the ICPC, the commission has been doing a great job under the present leadership.

If it has been passed, I call on Mr President to withhold assent to the bill.

Mixed feelings

A constitutional lawyer, Adegbite Adeniyi, however, said that the amendment has its positive sides.

For instance, it will encourage and engender robust discussions by the commission before sensitive and far-reaching decisions are taken. This will prevent or at least reduce hasty and or arbitrary use of power by the chairman.

He, however, posited that this may slow down the speed of actions expected as the chairman needs consultation with the board of the Commission before taking some sensitive decisions.

He also expressed reservation about the bill, especially the provision of the new Section 22(3) which alters the seven years jail term and a fine of one million naira hitherto specified for bribery or official corruption.

The section also recommends a lesser fine of N500,000 without the terms of imprisonment for public officials who inflate prices or the cost of contracts during procurement processes.

He said that the details of the amendment were still sketchy and it might be too early to fully and impartially critique the same.

I think the speculation about whittling down the powers of the chairman of the Commission is being fueled by the mutual suspicion that exists between the members of parliament and the anti-graft agency, he said. (NAN)

PREMIUM TIMES had reported some of the controversial provisions of the bill here.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The police in Osun State have arrested 28-year-old Kehinde Adekusibe for allegedly inciting inter-ethic violence.

Mr Adekusibe allegedly posted on Twitter a call to Lets kill all the Igbos.

The Osun State Police Command has arrested one Kehinde Adesogba Adekusibe 'm' 28years for posting hateful content calculated to incite ethnic violence in the country via his Twitter account on May 18, 2023. The suspect will be arraigned in court upon completion of investigation. pic.twitter.com/9We4GlDQml  Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG) June 16, 2023

Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi announced the arrest through a statement posted on his verified Twitter handle, @Princemoye1, on Thursday.

The statement, titled Osun Police Arrests Social Media User Who Tweeted Lets Kill All The Igbos, reads: The Osun Police Command has arrested one Kehinde Adesogba Adekusibe, m, 28 years who violated the social media policy on hate speech.

It could be recalled that, on 18th May 2023, the suspect, Kehinde Adekusibe, on his Twitter handle, tweeted, Lets kill all the Igbos. Lets flush them out of Yoruba lands.

I hate these people with passion. They are violent people. They are the worst. They hate us. Lets hate them without holding back.

The police spokesperson said immediately after law enforcement became aware of the hateful act, detectives from the cybercrime section at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Osogbo, swung into action.

He said Mr Adekusibe was arrested in Ilesa.

The suspect has confessed to the crime, and he will be charged to the court after the completion of the investigation.

We have done what is needful on this matter. It can only take some time; every offence committed leaves a trace, and culprits will surely face the music.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Justice Sale Musa Shuaibu of the Federal High Court, Kaduna, on Thursday, 15 June, convicted a former member of the House of Representatives, Mansur Ali Mashi, on eight counts of conspiracy and obtaining by pretences.

Mr Mashi, who represented Mashi Dutsi federal constituency, was convicted alongside three bank officials: Abdulmumini Mustapha, Shehu Aliyu and Muazu Abdu, in a trial that lasted 12 years.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission prosecuted Mr Mashi for using fictitious companies to fraudulently obtain a loan facility to the tune of N212,439,552 (Two Hundred and Twelve Million, Four Hundred and Thirty-nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Fifty-two Naira) only from Sterling Bank, which he diverted to personal use.

Upon arraignment, the defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them, and the case proceeded to trial. During the trial, the matter suffered several setbacks due to the elevation or retirement of the trial judges. But the prosecution called six witnesses and tendered several exhibits to prove the case against the defendants.

At the last adjourned date, counsel for the parties adopted their final written addresses and the matter was subsequently adjourned till 15 and 16 June for judgement.

However, when the matter was called on Thursday, 15 June, the 1st defendant was absent from court. But the court, in a well-considered judgement, pronounced him guilty on counts 1 to 8 and was convicted accordingly.

The 4th defendant was also absent, but the court found him guilty on all counts.

The court, however, reserved sentencing for the two absentee defendants until they were arrested and brought before the court.

The 2nd defendant, Abdulmumin Mustapha, the former branch manager of Sterling Bank, was convicted on counts 1 to 15 and sentenced to five years imprisonment on each count without the option of a fine. The court further ordered the 2nd defendant to restitute Sterling Bank in N40,000,000 (Forty Million Naira).

The 3rd defendant, the former Head of Operation of the bank, was discharged on counts 1-8 but convicted on counts 9 to 15 and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment on each count without an option of fine.

The 1st defendant, Mr Mashi, is also awaiting judgement in a case of contempt of court before the same court. The judgment is slated for today, 16 June.

In this particular case, Mr Mashi is alleged to have sold the properties that were confiscated from him by the Court through an interim forfeiture order.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated Aminat Yusuf, a Lagos State University (LASU) student, for being the first undergraduate to obtain a cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0 in 40 years of the universitys establishment.

The university on Wednesday announced Ms Yusuf from the Faculty of Law as the best-graduating student, who will be rewarded with a N500,000 cash prize.

This is truly commendable! Your dedication and hard work have paid off, Mr Sanwo-Olu in a tweet posted on his verified Twitter handle Friday.

The governor also acknowledged the outstanding academic achievements of other university students who achieved first-class honours in the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 sessions.

As a state, we will continue to reward and support academic excellence, he added.

While the governor is yet to state his reward for Ms Yusuf, he had in 2020 awarded a post-graduate scholarship and N5 million cash prize to the best student with a score of 4.95 CGPA.

More first-class graduates, other details

The Vice Chancellor of LASU, Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, in her address at a pre-convocation press briefing, disclosed that the 26th convocation would feature those who graduated during the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 academic sessions.

Mrs Olatunji-Bello noted that the university would graduate 10,183, of which 282 students obtained First Class in different fields.

The professor of Physiology also explained that while Ms Yusuf tops the first-class graduates for the 2021/2022 academic session, Feyisayo Lopez from the Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, emerged as the best for the 2020/2021 session with a 4.91 CGPA.

She further noted that apart from the 121 postgraduate students, who will be awarded doctorates, the university will confer honorary doctorates on the wife of the Lagos State governor, Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, and seven other eminent Nigerians who have made contributions to the development of LASU and the nation at large.

Other awardees include the former governor, Babatunde Fashola; Oba of Ikate land in Lagos, Saheed Elegushi; the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; former Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi; Suleiman Ashade, Daniel Olukoya and Victoria Orelope-Adefulire.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court at Maitama, Abuja, has ordered the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), Yusuf Bichi, to grant lawyers access to the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

Mr Emefiele was arrested at his home in Lagos on 10 June, a Saturday, and flown to the secret polices headquarters where he is believed to be facing interrogation.

The SSS had previously accused him of terrorism financing, but no formal charges have been filed against him.

He was taken into custody a day after he was suspended from office by President Bola Tinubu.

Worried by his continued incarceration by the spy agency, Mr Emefieles lawyer, Joseph Daudu, approached the court, praying it to compel the secret service to grant him access to his client.

Mr Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), filed a fundamental rights suit before Hamza Muazu, a judge of the FCT High Court, Abuja.

When the suit came up on Friday, the lawyer informed the court that he had written letters to the SSS on the 14 June, seeking an audience with Mr Emefiele, but SSS did not respond to his request.

But the lawyer to the SSS, I Awo, informed the judge that the service was open to granting such requests.

Mr Awo noted that the SSS granted access to listed lawyers and family members of Mr Emefiele to see him.

After listening to the lawyers in the suit, the judge ordered the SSS to allow Mr Emefieles lawyers and family members access to him.

The suit was adjourned until 19 June for further hearing.

In December last year, the SSS approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to issue an order for the arrest of Mr Emefiele.

But the judge, John Tsoho, who is also the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, declined the request.

Mr Tsoho had said there was no sufficient information to warrant the court issuing an order for Mr Emefieles arrest.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how SSS accused Mr Emefiele of funding the activities of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as well as sabotaging the Nigerian economy, among other heinous crimes.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


President Bola Tinubu on Monday signed into law a bill that provides interest-free education loans for Nigerians willing to acquire tertiary education.

The Access to Higher Education Act, 2023, otherwise known as students loan Act, establishes an Education Loan Fund to help Nigerians fund their higher education, while they pay in instalments two years after completing their participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.

The bill, first introduced in 2016 by Femi Gbajabiamila, the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, was reintroduced in 2019 and received more attention from the National Assembly in November 2022. It was barely a month after the end of an eight-month-long industrial action by the nations university workers union who had protested poor working conditions, among other demands.

Here are some key information about the Act:

Education Loan Fund

The Act establishes the Nigerian Education Loan Fund which is expected to handle all loan requests, grants, disbursement and recuperation of the loans provided.

The Fund, according to the Act, is to be funded from multiple streams and will engage in other productive activities.

Its sources of funding as dictated by the Act include; one per cent of all profits accruing to the federal government from oil and other minerals; one per cent of taxes, levies and duties accruing to the federal government from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Nigerian Customs Service (NCS); education bonds and education endowment fund schemes.

The Education Loan will also be funded through donations, gifts, grants, endowment and revenue accruing to the fund from any other source.

Management, administration of the fund

The fund is to be domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and managed by an 11-person special committee chaired by the CBN governor, the law stipulates in Section 5.

The special committee consists of the CBN governor as chairperson and a secretary to be appointed by the chairperson.

Members of the committee as dictated by the law includes; the ministers responsible for education and finance, or the latters representatives, and the Auditor-General of the Federation.

Other members are; the Chairman, National Universities Commission (NUC), a representative of the forum of university vice-chancellors, a representative of the forum of polytechnic rectors and forum of provosts of all colleges of education in the country.

Also, a representative of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), a representative of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and a representative of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), are also members.

This committee would decide the broad modalities including the process of application for the loan, who is qualified to get the loan and when they should pay back among other details.

the Committee shall establish regulations and guidelines for the management, administration, disbursement and recoupment of students loans under this Act, and all stakeholders including parents, students applicants, beneficiaries of the students loans and deposit banks shall comply with the regulations and guidelines, Section 5(5) states.

Section 5(2) of the Act also states that the fund shall be domiciled with, managed and administered by the Central Bank of Nigeria through the money deposit banks in Nigeria for the purpose set out under section 6 of this Act,

Meanwhile, the tenure of each member lasts through the time they hold their positions. As soon as they are replaced or retired, their successor takes their position in the special committee, Section 8 states.

A member also ceases to continue being a part of the committee when they become bankrupt, convicted of a felony or any offence involving dishonesty or fraud or becomes of unsound mind or is incapable for any reason of discharging their duties.

Who can apply?

Sections 14 and 16 of the Act explained eligible applicants and the procedures of submitting applications to the selection committees.

According to the Act, only students of government-owned tertiary institutions can apply for the loan when it finally takes off.

Subject to the provisions of any other enactment, all students seeking higher education in any public institution of higher learning in Nigeria shall have an equal right to access the loans under this Act without any discrimination arising from gender, religion, tribe, position or disability of any kind, Section 2 states.

Section 23 of the Act further clarifies that institutions of higher learning means public universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and vocational schools established by the government.

Also, to be eligible, an applicants income or family income must be less than N500,000 per annum.

Students must also provide at least two guarantors, each of whom must either be a civil servant of at least level 12, a lawyer with at least 10 years post-call experience, or a judicial officer, or a justice of peace.

Also, Section 15 of that act states that a student will be disqualified from taking the loan if they have been found guilty of examination malpractice by any school authority, or convicted of a felony or any offence involving dishonesty or fraud.

An applicant will also be disqualified if they or their parents have defaulted in respect of a student loan or any loan granted to the person, or has been convicted of drug offences.

Repayment plan

The Act did not put a cap on the amount students can access or within a period of which they must conclude repayment.

It, however, states that the repayment of the loan begins exactly two years after the completion of the participation in the NYSC programme.

A beneficiary shall remit 10 per cent of their income to the Fund at the end of every month. For self-employed individuals, 10 per cent of their total monthly profit shall be remitted as part of the repayment plans.

Meanwhile, defaulters risk a N500,000 fine, two years jail term or both when they fail to repay their loans.

Application

The Act also stipulates the mode of application.

To apply for the education loan, candidates are required to submit applications to the chairperson of the CBN-governor-headed committee through their respective banks.

The application is to be accompanied by a cover letter signed by the head of their institutions (vice-chancellors for university students, rector for polytechnic students and provost for students of colleges of education) and students affairs officer of the institution.

Students also submit a copy of their admission letter, at least two guarantor letters addressed to the chairperson of the committee, two passport photographs from each of the guarantors, their employer and evidence of employment. In cases where the guarantor is self-employed, their business registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) or any other appropriate authority and their bankers, will be required.

The Committee shall communicate to the applicant on the status of his application within 14 days of the receipt of any application, the act states, adding that disbursement shall be on the availability of funds.

Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Very few Nigerians would have been surprised to learn that such behaviour happens. What the episode did was to confirm what people already knew. It was not for nothing that the joke during the recent election season was that after you had been rigged out, you would be told go to court to get justice. It is not just a joke but one of the deepest concerns of Nigerian citizens about the sharp decline in the delivery of justice in the nations judicial system.

In his valedictory address to the Senate, distinguished former member, Adamu Bulkachuwa, confessed to influencing the decisions of his wife, Zainab Bulkachuwa, while she was serving as a judge and president of the Court of Appeal. Mr Bulkachuwa, an 83-year old chieftain of the ruling APC, who represented Bauchi North senatorial district in the Ninth Senate, confirmed infringing on: My wife, whose freedom and independence I encroached upon while (she) was in office, and she has been very tolerant and accepted my encroachment and extended her help to my colleagues, he said. The former Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on realising the old man was making dangerous revelations of their secret practices in public, stopped him saying: Distinguished, I dont think this is a good idea going this direction. It is not a good idea, please. It would have been great to hear the examples he might have given on how they perverted the course of justice.

Very few Nigerians would have been surprised to learn that such behaviour happens. What the episode did was to confirm what people already knew. It was not for nothing that the joke during the recent election season was that after you had been rigged out, you would be told go to court to get justice. It is not just a joke but one of the deepest concerns of Nigerian citizens about the sharp decline in the delivery of justice in the nations judicial system. The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Yakubu Maikyau, in his comments on the matter, correctly asserted that the statements were clearly admissions by the Senator, that he did attempt to, and/or actually perverted the course of justice, which makes him liable to be investigated and prosecuted, on the basis of his own admission. That this came with a huge negative impact on the integrity and independence of the judiciary can only be an understatement.

Unfortunately, the National Judicial Council (NJC), which met on 14 June, did not take a stand on the matter, arguing through an official that the judge in question has already retired, as such no disciplinary measures can be taken against her. They are yet to understand the basic issue that the integrity and independence of the judiciary is in question due to the widespread belief, based on credible allegations, that very many judicial officers soil the reputation of the judiciary through decisions based on pecuniary rewards, political, ethnic and religious influences, making nonsense of the entire judiciary. In such a context, lame excuses to justify inaction is not the way to go.

The 2023 elections were contentious and acrimonious. Many citizens believe, for whatever reasons, that the elections were not free and fair. A lot of Nigerians are therefore looking up to the judiciary to deliver justice in the election tribunals currently sitting. The Bulkachuwa confession would shake their belief. It is for this reason that it would be unwise for the National Judicial Council to remain aloof on the matter.

A senior lawyer and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba, has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to immediately invite Senator Bulkachuwa for interrogation and proceed to prosecute him accordingly. It is indeed important that strong action should be taken on the basis of this confession.

Premium Times reported that in the waning days of her headship of the appellate court in February 2020, Justice Bulkachuwa shared her four-decade experience with journalists in Lagos. Specifically, she denied an allegation that she took a N6 billion bribe: There was a time when allegations were flying around that I was given N6 billion, and I laughed. So, if I was given N6 billion, do you think I would still be here?, she wondered. The jurist went on to distance her judicial duties from her husbands political life. After her husbands comments, it is now difficult to believe her, because if she indeed betrayed the ethics of her profession on the basis of spousal influence, then why not for financial reasons?

The 2023 elections were contentious and acrimonious. Many citizens believe, for whatever reasons, that the elections were not free and fair. A lot of Nigerians are therefore looking up to the judiciary to deliver justice in the election tribunals currently sitting. The Bulkachuwa confession would shake their belief. It is for this reason that it would be unwise for the National Judicial Council to remain aloof on the matter.

Perverting the course of justice cannot remain our sociological reality. There are still judicial officers with integrity in the system. They must become more active and denounce and expose the corrupt ones amongst them. The National Judicial Council itself must become more proactive in seeking out and expelling the bad eggs within the system. That would be a big step in re-establishing confidence in the system.

On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu suspended the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, from office for weighty allegations of abuse of office levelled against him. It would be recalled that last month, the immediate past governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, accused Mr Bawa of demanding $2 million as a bribe from him, which is an allegation the EFCC chief has denied. He, in turn, accused Mr Matawalle of organising a N70 billion fraud as governor. In 2021, Mr Bawa took over the helms of affairs at the Commission under similar circumstances, when his predecessor, Ibrahim Magu, was suspended from office by then President Muhammadu Buhari, over allegations of corruption. This is the predicament of Nigerians  are there public officials who are not corrupt? Indeed, some commentators attribute Mr Bawas suspension to his previous efforts to investigate the current president for corruption three years ago.

In Nigerian parlance, jankara judgement refers to a judicial outcome that has been procured illegally. It draws its meaning from a market in Lagos that was notorious at one time for selling fake products. Sad is the country where law enforcement and judicial decisions are assumed to be for the most part based on injustice  bribes, corruption, influence peddling and/or blackmail. Perverting the course of justice cannot remain our sociological reality. There are still judicial officers with integrity in the system. They must become more active and denounce and expose the corrupt ones amongst them. The National Judicial Council itself must become more proactive in seeking out and expelling the bad eggs within the system. That would be a big step in re-establishing confidence in the system.

A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


From all indications, President Tinubu is planning to introduce tuition fees in Nigerian universities. I have nothing against this. I have always advocated for it. It is the way to go if we are sincere about rescuing our education system from its current state of rot. But this process should be well-thought out. Existing laws that provide for free tertiary education in Federal Government owned public institutions should be amended. Also, the tuition should be reasonable. Education is a public good.

Even the worst of President Bola Tinubus critics will admit that he has proved to be a man on a mission. Within two weeks of assuming duty, he has removed subsidy on fuel, causing its price to rise by over 150%. He has announced the unification of foreign exchange (FX) windows, putting an end to multiple exchange rates. The President has also suspended the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and signed into law the Student Loan Bill, among others.

The Student Loan Act is worthy of attention because it is the first major policy targeted at Nigerian youths, whom the President claimed to have heard loud and clear, following the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, in which the younger generation pushed their political advocacy beyond the social media to the polls.

In his acceptance speech after emerging as President-elect, Tinubu promised to grant education loans to Nigerian students and ensure that university lecturers no longer go on strike. Four years course will be four years, no more strikes. Education loan will be available, he had said, among others. So, signing the student loan bill into law on Monday was indeed a promise fulfilled.

Tagged Access to Higher Education Act, the law makes provision for interest-free loans to indigent Nigerian students. It is also available to all students seeking higher education in any public institution in Nigeria, provided they meet the criteria for qualification. The loan, according to the document on it in the public space, is only for the payment of tuition fees.

The Act provides for the establishment of a Nigerian Education Bank to be funded by the Federal Government. The Bank is expected to start with a share capital of N1 billion at N1/share, with the Federal Government holding 100% of the shares.

Beneficiaries are expected to start paying back two years after their compulsory National Youth Service. Payments will be 10% direct deductions from their salary accounts. Self-employed graduates are expected to document their incomes, for deductions within 60 days. They will also remit 10% of their monthly profits towards offsetting the loan. Defaulters will face two years imprisonment or a N500,000 fine.

To be eligible, applicants must have secured admission into any tertiary institution, either belonging to the Federal Government or state governments. This could be universities, polytechnics or colleges of education. The student must also come from a family with an annual income of less than N500,000 and provide at least two guarantors, who must either be civil servants above Level 12 or a lawyer with at least 10 years post-call experience.

The Education Bank will get its supplies from education bonds, and interests arising from deposits in bank and education endowment fund schemes. Also, 1% of taxes, levies and duties to the Federal Government through the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Nigerian Customs will go to the bank. It will also be funded by 1% of profits from oil and other natural resources, as well as grants, gifts and any other endowments.

Applications for the loan are to be made through the Students Affairs Offices of the respective institutions, to be forwarded to the Chairman of the Education Bank in their territories. These applications will thereafter be forwarded to the Minister of Education for approval within 30 days of submission and disbursement made immediately after the Ministers approval.

Students are disqualified from applying if they have defaulted on any loan before; have proven cases of examination malpractice; have been convicted for any offence of dishonesty or fraud; have been convicted for drug abuse; or their parents have any history of previous default on any loan.

as big as the concern over repayment is, it is just a minute part of a bigger issue. The real question is how this loan is going to ensure that lecturers are well paid when due, and that they do not go on strikes. The government has always complained of inadequate funds to honour the different agreements it signed with university lecturers. How is a students loan scheme intended to boost the revenue base of Nigerias public institutions?

President Tinubu believes this loan is capable of ensuring that every Nigerian has access to higher education. Considering its multifaceted sources of revenue, the Education Bank is not likely to suffer a draught. Afterall, other Federal Government initiatives with lesser funding channels still run successfully today. Take, for instance, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), whose major source of funding is the 2% education tax paid from the assessable profits of companies registered in Nigeria. With this, TETFUND has done incredibly well in uplifting essential physical infrastructure for teaching and learning in many tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

If not for TETFUND, perhaps many public institutions in Nigeria may not have new structures. I was once at the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro in Ogun State, and all the new buildings there were built by TETFUND. The story is similar in many institutions. The fund has also helped in training many Nigerian academics abroad, though many of these lecturers have also been lost to foreign countries, no thanks to the unconducive learning and employment environments at home. Perhaps, the only area where Nigeria is yet to feel the worth of TETFund is in the area of research and development.

Likewise, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has been sustained over the years, despite being funded solely by 2% of Nigerias Consolidated Revenue. In fact, UBEC has so much money in its kitty that it is always begging state governments to come and access this. The management of the Commission recently lamented that about N110 billion of the intervention funds for the 2021 financial year was yet to be disbursed in 2023. So, we can imagine the amount of funds that will come to the education loan bank through all the government agencies and other sources that have been mandated to contribute towards it.

But money is not enough. There should be a clear definition of what the scheme aims to achieve and how it intends to succeed. Right now, the first major threat to its survival is the non-repayment of loans. An average Nigerian graduate earns between N30,000 and N50,000 a month. This is less than $100. These are the fortunate ones. Many of them are unemployed. Unfortunately, this problem is not ending soon. Unemployment rate is projected to reach 40.6% in 2023. Without jobs, the loans may end up as students own share of Nigerias national cake. Besides, what happens to student dropouts who could have enjoyed the loans for years and but never get employed or engaged in business.

Yet, as big as the concern over repayment is, it is just a minute part of a bigger issue. The real question is how this loan is going to ensure that lecturers are well paid when due, and that they do not go on strikes. The government has always complained of inadequate funds to honour the different agreements it signed with university lecturers. How is a students loan scheme intended to boost the revenue base of Nigerias public institutions?

Secondly, Nigerias public tertiary institutions are currently tuition free. Agreed, students pay for course registration, accommodation, etc. but that is not tuition fees. So, what is the purpose of this loan? Is it to help students pay registration fees? Or is it a precursor to the introduction of tuition fees in Nigerias tertiary institutions? If students will pay tuition fees, how much is the government projecting this to be?

The Act says that the loan will ensure access to education for all Nigerians. How? Currently, less than half of about 1.5 million candidates who sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination yearly, gain admission into tertiary institutions. While some candidates dont meet the cut-off marks for admission, majority are left out due to lack of space in the institutions they applied to.

In 2019, over 1.8 million candidates sat for the UTME, but only 612,098, representing 33.7%, were admitted. A report shows that about 367,499 candidates applied for the 43,717 slots available in Medical departments in Nigerian universities in 2022. Likewise, 231,907 applied for social science courses that had only 93,277 slots while 204,734 applied for science-related courses that had just 132,796 vacancies.

Interestingly, the loan act states that students can only benefit from the scheme if their family income is not more than N500,000 per annum. In other words, a family where both parents are minimum wage earners are automatically exempted from the scheme, since their total income is more than N500,000. If children of people earning less than $100 a month cannot benefit from a loan, who then can, or who should?

In similar vein, 81,653 candidates applied for Law-related courses that had 8,529 vacancies; 103,891 students applied for technology-related courses with 60,199 vacancies; 72,014 applied for courses in the Arts and Humanities, despite the 48,744 vacancies in these programmes.

For now, the only courses that have lesser candidates than available slots are Agriculture and Education. For Agriculture, 21,568 applied, despite the 31,217 vacancies that were available, while only 53612 applied to fill the 111,601 vacancies existing for education courses.

When it comes to accessing tertiary education, the real problem is the limited carrying capacity of our institutions, which limits the number of students that can be admitted per time and the lack of students interests in certain courses, which result in the undersubscription of such courses.

Solving this problem requires boosting the carrying capacity of our institutions and making courses like Agriculture and Education more attractive to students. This means employing more lecturers to boost the student-lecturer ratio; constructing more lecture theatres; investing in teaching aids; and enlarging accommodation spaces on campus for students among others. Giving students loan will not solve any of these problems.

Interestingly, the loan act states that students can only benefit from the scheme if their family income is not more than N500,000 per annum. In other words, a family where both parents are minimum wage earners are automatically exempted from the scheme, since their total income is more than N500,000. If children of people earning less than $100 a month cannot benefit from a loan, who then can, or who should?

The law also says guarantors should be above Level 12 or lawyers who have over 10 years post-call experience. How easy will it be for people who earn less than $100 a month to get senior civil servants as guarantors?

The Act is silent on both the minimum and maximum amount of money that can be drawn by a beneficiary. Maybe these details will be provided when the law is gazetted.

From all indications, President Tinubu is planning to introduce tuition fees in Nigerian universities. I have nothing against this. I have always advocated for it. It is the way to go if we are sincere about rescuing our education system from its current state of rot. But this process should be well-thought out. Existing laws that provide for free tertiary education in Federal Government owned public institutions should be amended. Also, the tuition should be reasonable. Education is a public good. It cant be funded with tuition fees alone. Studen

Olabisi Deji-Folutile is the editor-in-chief, Franktalknow.com and director at AF24NEWS.COM. Email bisideji@yahoo.co.uk

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Given the age of the US establishment and its increasing inability to come to terms with the unfolding global reality, it is certain that it is suffering from a recurring diplomatic memory loss. Let me demonstrate this with facts of interactions between the Biden and Maduro governments in 2022 alone In March 2022, President Joe Biden despatched a top level US diplomatic delegation to Caracas, which held meetings with the Maduro government.

Four archenemies of the United States (USA) met variously in its Latin American backyard this week. It was the five-day Iranian President Ebrahim Raisis visit to Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba. No, the quartet did not make themselves enemies of the US, it was the latter which at various times had dictated to those countries, that designated them as such.

All four are under the unilateral sanctions of the US, which punishes any country that dares to befriend them. So, only the independent-minded and strong countries maintain trade relations with them.

The US also punishes the quartet when they dare to trade among themselves. In 2020, the US ordered the seizure of four Iranian vessels with 1.1 million barrels of fuel bound for Venezuela. The US said the ships must be seized because they violated the unilateral sanctions it had imposed on both countries. It was a show of might over right.

As such, the defiant visit this week by the Iranian President and the various sanction-bursting agreements the four countries signed, is a declaration that they are not ready to abide by the dictates of the US.

Raisi was defiant throughout his tour. At the start of his 12 June visit, he said the four countries have a common enemycommon interests and we have common enemies. He added in reference to the US and its allies: They do not want the two countries, Iran and Venezuela, to be independent.

To these declarations, Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro responded: We are on the right side of history and together we will be invincible. Both sides signed agreements on various fields, including oil, defence, technology, energy, maritime and medicine.

Raisi, on Wednesday, told Nicaraguans: There is a great geographical distance between Nicaragua and Iran and the Latin American region, but our hearts are very close and our goals are also very close. (We) share a common history of struggle, of resistance, of revolutions, of combat against a common enemy.

 Saab is a moral burden on the US. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when virtually all countries in the world, including the US, needed aid, Saab was on a mission to Iran to buy urgently needed food and medicines for Venezuelans. On 12 June, his plane touched down in Cape Verde to refuel. He was abducted by the authorities on the instigation of the USA for the crime of trying to buy food for his starving compatriots

In Nicaragua, both countries signed agreements, including one on a bi-national commission, before the Iranian President flew to Cuba, the country that gave the world unforgettable international radical leaders of the 20th Century like Ernesto Che Guevera and Fidel Castro.

A common thread between Venzuela and Iran, with its ends flapping in the US, is the case of Alex Saab, a Venezuelan ambassador currently on trial in Miami, USA.

First, Saab is a moral burden on the US. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when virtually all countries in the world, including the US, needed aid, Saab was on a mission to Iran to buy urgently needed food and medicines for Venezuelans. On 12 June, his plane touched down in Cape Verde to refuel. He was abducted by the authorities on the instigation of the USA for the crime of trying to buy food for his starving compatriots, when the almighty US had ordered that no country carries out any transaction with Iran.

The ECOWAS West African Court was ashamed of the role of Cape Verde in not only detaining an ambassador with diplomatic immunity but one on an urgent humanitarian mission. It ordered its member country not just to effect the immediate release of Ambassador Saab, but also pay him a $200,000 compensation. But Cape Verde betrayed the African brotherhood and the spirit of its biological son, Amilcar Cabral, who fought for the brotherhood of humanity before being murdered by Portuguese security agents. Under US pressure, Cape Verde handed over the ambassador to the US, which flew him to Miami for a controversial trial.

Yet, the US is part of the human race that accepts and enjoys diplomatic immunity. In its Diplomatic and Consular Immunity: Guidance for Law Enforcement and Judicial Authorities, the Department of State, in accepting diplomatic immunity as sacrosanct, wrote that: International law, to which the United States is firmly committed, requires that law enforcement authorities of the United States extend certain privileges and immunities to members of foreign diplomatic missions and consular posts. Its reference is to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

Hence, Ambassador Saabs case was ordinarily a straight forward one: All he needed was to tell the American court that he is an ambassador, which under the American constitution and obligations, grants him immunity from prosecution in any US court.

After long delays, including denying Saab medical treatment for his post-cancer treatment, family and consular visits, he had his day in court. That he had been an ambassador of Venezuela since 2018 could not be controverted but the US Government said it does not recognise the Venezuelan Government headed by President Nicolas Maduro, which had appointed Saab an ambassador. For the US, the Maduro government does not exist!

Then on Saturday, 26 November, 2022, President Biden eased some of the oil sanctions against the Maduro government. Under it, the US Treasury authorised Chevron to resume limited oil production in Venezuela under the supervision of the Maduro administration These are facts. But the Biden government could not seem to recall these events and the US court concurred. It ruled that: At the time he was arrested, Saab Moran truly was no diplomat at all.

This submission of the Biden administration exposes the American government as either being utterly dishonest or suffering from dementia.

Given the age of the US establishment and its increasing inability to come to terms with the unfolding global reality, it is certain that it is suffering from a recurring diplomatic memory loss. Let me demonstrate this with facts of interactions between the Biden and Maduro governments in 2022 alone.

In March 2022, President Joe Biden despatched a top level US diplomatic delegation to Caracas, which held meetings with the Maduro government. The White House Delegation comprised Juan Gonzalez, the National Security Council Director for the Western Hemisphere; Roger Carstens, the special presidential envoy on hostage affairs; and Ambassador James Story, the US Ambassador to Colombia, who oversees the American Venezuelan Affairs Unit.

In June 2022, President Biden again sent a special delegation, which included Roger Carstens and Ambassador James Story, to meet with the Maduro government. President Maduro confirmed the presence of the US delegation and directed it to meet National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez. Maduro had said the meeting was to give continuity to the bilateral agenda between the government of the United States and the government of Venezuela.

Then on Saturday, 26 November, 2022, President Biden eased some of the oil sanctions against the Maduro government. Under it, the US Treasury authorised Chevron to resume limited oil production in Venezuela under the supervision of the Maduro administration.

These are facts. But the Biden government could not seem to recall these events and the US court concurred. It ruled that: At the time he was arrested, Saab Moran truly was no diplomat at all.

Venezuelan Congress head, Jorge Rodriguez, said of the ruling: If the United States, or in this case, this judge, takes that decision, which is an atrocity, no diplomat in the world will be safe from now on.

But who cares; at least not the American establishment that is striving so hard to stand the world on its head.

Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Not too long ago, I found myself immersed in a profoundly thought-provoking encounter that ignited a cascade of reflections on the intricate interplay between truth, faith, and the very essence of what we hold dear as our ultimate truth.

It was a casual evening spent with a group of friends, a mix of familiar faces and some new acquaintances. Our host, a genuinely compassionate man had inadvertently sparked an impassioned conversation on the topic of religion. As the dialogue unfolded, I found myself taking a different stance on certain issues and challenging established beliefs. Differing opinions clashed that tested the boundaries of open-mindedness and expectedly, not everyone took kindly to my perspective.

The prevailing sentiment among the group, primarily consisting of devout Roman Catholics, seemed to emphasize that Catholicism alone held the ultimate truth. They regarded other faiths as mere imitations or potentially misguided paths. Being a Roman Catholic myself, I could empathize with the origins of such perspectives, as some teachings within the Church, not unlike other faiths can inadvertently foster such narrow-mindedness.

I have often expressed my serious disagreements with certain religious teachings, particularly the notion that salvation is exclusive to Christians, Islam or any other religion for that matter. If I were born in a certain tribal region of Pakistan, for instance, circumstances beyond my control might prevent me from ever encountering Christianity. In such a scenario, my beliefs and perceptions about faith and religion would undoubtedly be different. How then could it be fair to condemn me to eternal damnation for not following Christ?

During the 17th century, Galileo Galilei, a famous scientist, had a conflict with the Catholic Church. He made discoveries using a telescope that showed the Earth revolves around the Sun, which was different from what the Church taught at the time. The Church believed the Earth was the center of the universe. Because Galileos ideas went against the Churchs teachings, he was condemned and punished. He had to take back his discoveries and was not allowed to talk about them anymore.

Over time, however, and despite the condemnation and punishment he faced, Galileos heliocentric model of the solar system gained acceptance and became widely recognized as the accurate representation of our planetary system. In 1992, more than three centuries after his trial, the Catholic Church acknowledged its errors and admitted that Galileos heliocentric views were correct, reconciling its position with modern scientific understanding.

Truth, like a shifting kaleidoscope, is a dynamic and ever-evolving concept. It is not a fixed entity but a kaleidoscope of perspectives, interpretations, and understandings that change as we navigate through life. This metaphor captures the fluidity and complexity inherent in our search for truth, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of reality and the subjective lenses through which we perceive it.

Just as a kaleidoscope reveals an array of vibrant patterns by recombining colorful fragments, truth unfolds through the interplay of diverse viewpoints, experiences, and knowledge. Each person holds a unique piece of the puzzle, contributing their individual fragments to the ever-changing mosaic of truth. No single perspective can capture the entirety of truth, but rather, it emerges from the collective understanding.

What we perceive as truth is influenced by our cultural, societal, and personal backgrounds. Our beliefs, values, and experiences shape the filters through which we interpret reality. As we grow and learn, our kaleidoscope of truth shifts, revealing new patterns and challenging old assumptions. The acquisition of knowledge, exposure to new ideas, and encounters with different perspectives act as catalysts for this transformation, causing our understanding of truth to evolve over time.

Unveiling the layers of truth requires a willingness to critically examine our assumptions, address our biases, and embrace the complexities inherent in understanding the world. By recognizing the influence of hidden assumptions and biases, we can approach truth with greater humility and open-mindedness. The pursuit of a comprehensive truth necessitates engaging with diverse perspectives, challenging dominant narratives, and fostering inclusive dialogue. In this journey, we move closer to a more nuanced and inclusive understanding of truthone that acknowledges and values the multiplicity of human experiences and perspectives.

On May 12th of last year, Deborah Emmanuel, a 200-level student in the Department of Early Childhood Education at Shehu Shagari College of Education in Sokoto, was stoned to death and her body was set on fire. This horrifying act was carried out in response to an accusation of blasphemy against Muhammad, a prophet of Islam.

Regrettably, the philosophical stance of those who believe in the exclusive authority of Catholicism or nothing else aligns with that of Deborahs killers. The killers firmly held their own truth, emphasizing the supremacy of Prophet Muhammad, while disregarding the perspectives of others.

In the comedic masterpiece The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde, the character Algernon Moncrieff expresses his view on the nature of truth in a delightful exchange. The circumstances leading to his statement unfold as Algernon engages in a witty and humorous conversation with his friend Jack Worthing. As they discuss matters of identity, relationships, and social conventions, Algernon boldly asserts that the truth is a complex entity, far from being pure and simplistic. His words encapsulate the underlying theme of the play and the multifaceted nature of truth in all its glorious complexities.

For a significant portion of my formative years, I firmly embraced the notion that salvation could only be found within the confines of Catholicism. Yet, just as the papacy, guided by the remarkable insights of Galileo, dared to challenge age-old truths about our planet, so too has my own truth evolved. No longer bound by the limitations of my past convictions, I have embarked on a transformative journey that recognizes other truths and perspectives that extend beyond the boundaries of my world. May the soul of Deborah continue to find peace in the world beyond. Amen!

Osmund Agbo writes from Houston, Texas. Email: Eagleosmund@yahoo.com

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The United Nations called Thursday for the killers of a state governor in Sudan to be held to account, and said the paramilitary forces holding him had been responsible for his safety.

"All those responsible for this killing must be held to account including those who bear command responsibility," Jeremy Laurence, spokesman for the UN rights office, told reporters in Geneva.

Since April 15, the regular army headed by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has been locked in fighting with paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

The death toll from two months of fighting has topped 2,000, while the violence has driven 2.2 million people from their homes, including 528,000 who have fled to neighbouring countries, according to the International Organization for Migration.

In long-troubled West Darfur state, Governor Khamis Abdullah Abakar was killed hours after he made remarks critical of the paramilitaries in a telephone interview with a Saudi TV channel on Wednesday.

UN rights chief Volker Turk "is appalled by the killing", Laurence said.

He pointed out that the killing on June 14 happened "just hours after he was arrested by the Rapid Support Forces in El Geneina capital of West Darfur, where the conflict has taken on an ethnic dimension."

"Alongside liability of the direct perpetrator, Governor Abakar was in the RSF custody, and it was RSF's responsibility to keep him safe," Laurence said.

He pointed out that the governor was the second high-profile person killed in El-Geneina in a matter of days, after the older brother of the traditional chief of the Masalit, Tariq Abdelrahman Bahreldin, was killed.

Laurence also voiced deep concern at rising hate speech in the region, warning "it could further inflame tensions."

The UN rights office, he said, had reviewed video clips recorded by members of Arab militia boasting about "victories" and killing and expelling members of other groups.

"We call for justice and accountability for extra judicial killings, and all other violations and abuses that have occurred during this ongoing conflict," Laurence said.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


A few weeks back, a friend drew my attention to an upcoming campaign of calumny in the media, allegedly orchestrated by people who think I might be standing in their way of achieving some ambition.

I did not think it was anything serious until I saw reports attacking my personality and service at the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). Even then, I ignored these splinters of reports, mainly because the authors did not have the courage to mention my name directly.

However, on Thursday, June 15, 2023, LEADERSHIP and Blueprint Newspapers published online reports which mentioned my name. At that point, I considered the importance of giving an appropriate response.

While the headline in LEADERSHIP reads: Dont appoint ex-public servants with records of sleaze, CSO cautions Tinubu, that of Blueprint reads: Dont appoint ex-public servants with sleaze records, CSO advises Tinubu.

The reports, quoting a statement issued by a supposed Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Centre for Leadership Legacy Intl (Centre LLI), then cited me, Hadiza Bala Usman, as an example of ex-public servants eased out of office following allegations of sleaze, high-handedness, and abuse of office.

In the case of Blueprint, the paper went ahead to cite self-serving and fallacious narratives about how I allegedly severed NPAs relationship with Intels after the company had done the NPA so much favour.

It accused me of allegedly mismanaging the dispute between Ladol and one of its tenants, Messrs Samsung Ltd. It after that said: There are reports that there are plans to impose certain persons whose track records are tainted on the President for appointments into his cabinet. The need for the President to appoint individuals of unblemished character is more urgent now than ever.

By the foregoing, the report insinuated that I am one of the blemished people of whom President Tinubu should be wary.

Let me start by reminding this CSO and their cowardly sponsors that power and appointments into public office are only granted by Almighty God. They should, therefore, not hope to attain public office on the back of assailing the character of a fellow human being who has done them no wrong.

Contrary to allegations, I was not eased out of office for sleaze or any related reason.

Although the story is already in the public space, to the knowledge of everyone who is after the truth, I should restate the facts to educate mischief makers like this faceless CSO.

The Management of the NPA under my leadership was falsely and wrongly accused of the non-remittance of the sum of N165 billion Operating Surplus into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) account of the Federation by the former Minister for Transportation (FMOT), Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi.

He then got approval from President Muhammadu Buhari for me to step aside on the strength of this accusation, pending investigations by an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to be constituted by him.

After eight months of work, the Ministers Administrative Panel of Inquiry could not establish this alleged non-remittance of N165 billion, which was the basis for which the former Minister sought the Presidents approval for me to step aside.

It was also not part of the query entitled, Allegations of infractions arising from the report of the administrative panel of inquiry into the activities of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) 2016 -2021., issued to me by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transportation, Dr Magdalene Ajani, following the conclusion of the investigation by the Panel on January 28, 2022.

On the contrary, the Panel  the report of which the Minister refused to make public  discovered that I had remitted over N182 Billion into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) within the period in question, during its investigations.

Honest stakeholders in the industry will laugh at the narrative concocted by Centre LLI about Intels and Ladol.

For instance, to say that I severed NPAs relationship with Intels, when what happened was the expiration of only one of the eight contractual relationships NPA had with Intels, which is the Service Boat Operations Management Agency contract, is to show the ignorance or mischief of this group of people.

Intels had operated that contract since 1997, and before its expiration in 2020, the NPA had a running battle with the company over its refusal to obey the Federal Governments directive that all government revenue must be remitted into the Treasury Single Account (TSA). When I exited NPA, INTELS had a total of USD$264,932,666.91 of NPA funds with it, which it refused to remit.

The dispute with Intels was about a company carrying about as if it was bigger than the laws of the country, and the NPA, under my management, fought to correct that.

In the same vein, Ladol breached a fundamental provision of its agreement with the NPA, and we acted in line with this agreement. My intent in all that we did was to ensure that all parties, including the Authority itself, followed the regulations.

Details of what transpired, and the query issued by the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMOT) at the end of the eight-month Administrative Panel of Inquiry investigation, are in my book, Stepping on Toes: My Odyssey at the Nigerian Ports Authority. I wrote this book to set the record straight and encourage organisations like this so-called CSO from propagating false narratives like the one in the newspaper reports.

Blueprint Newspaper also claimed I am being paraded before the President. This is a laughable suggestion.

Let me serve as a reminder to the CSO and the newspaper that I worked closely with President Tinubu as Deputy-Director General, Administration, of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, so my being in his presence is a natural fallout of my ongoing working relationship with him and cannot be construed as some orchestrated parade.

Finally, with this statement, I hereby put individuals, organisations like Centre LLI (and their sponsors), and media organisations on notice to desist from publishing defamatory reports, like the one under question, about me.

If this does not stop, I will have no choice but to exercise my rights under the law to institute legal action against any publication that lends itself to the propagation of falsehood against my person and my service at the NPA.

Hadiza Bala Usman

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


On Thursday in Maiduguri, terrorists suspected to be members of the Islamist group, Boko Haram, decapitated seven farmers in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

The farmers were working on a farm in Molai, a village, approximately 5 kilometres from Maiduguri, when the terrorists attacked them.

Sainna Buba, a former commissioner for youths and sports, who now supervises the security and protection of local farmers, confirmed the killings to PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Buba said the farmers were buried on Friday morning after an Islamic funeral service.

A member of the vigilante group, Civilian-JTF, Abudulmumeen Bulama, said despite being shot at, one farmer managed to escape and raise an alarm.

We could only mobilise and reach the scene late on Thursday. Upon arrival, we were met with a horrifying sight: some victims had their throats slit from behind, while others were completely beheaded, said Mr Bulama, as he struggled to hold back the tears welling in his eyes.

Farmers in the area said the killing has caused renewed concern for their safety.

Despite our efforts to produce our food, safety in the bush remains a concern. It seems that not a day goes by without an attack on either farmers or lumberjacks, expressed Bagoyin Adam, a farmer.

To support local farmers, the Borno State government recently launched a large-scale return-to-farm programme, providing around 300 tractor trucks on Tuesday.

The programme aims to improve food security and reduce dependency on food aid in an area heavily impacted by the ongoing insurgency.

The incident is the latest in a series of violent attacks by the terrorist group in the region.

Over the past decade, Boko Haram has caused the deaths of thousands of people and the displacement of millions more.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Niger State Police Command has arrested Nuhu Mohammed, 26, and Sani Usman, 22, of Izom town, Gurara Local Government, for alleged criminal conspiracy and killing of a 14-year-old secondary school pupil, Ubaida Surajo.

The States Police Public Relations Officer Wasiu Abiodun, in a statement on Friday, said the girl was killed at her parents residence on 5 June, when her mother went to the market.

Mr Abiodun said one of the suspects, Mr Mohammed, who was a tenant in the same house, confessed during the police interrogation that in the early hours of the same day, the deceased mother accused him of stealing her N90,000, saying that the accusation got him angry, and he decided to kill the girl.

He said the suspect explained that he invited his friend, Sani, to the house to assist him, and they both attacked the girl when she returned from school by strangling her to death.

The suspects reportedly left the scene and locked the house gate from the outside. When the girls mother came back, he found the victim lifeless.

Mr Abiodun said six knives, two cutlasses, a digger and a suspected blood-stained shirt belonging to Mr Mohammed were discovered when police searched his room.

Similarly, police in the state have arrested one 54-year-old Mohammed Bande ((aka Kachalla) of Saminaka Village, Lapai Local government, who is suspected of kidnapping while procuring arms and ammunition in Lambata, Gurara Local Government.

Mr Abiodun said the suspect was nabbed based on intelligence received about his activities.

Mr Abiodun said the sum of N1.7 million was recovered from the suspect during his arrest, adding that during interrogation, the suspect confessed that the money was given to him by one Gora of the same village, who is presently at large, to meet a yet-to-be-identified arms dealer at Lambata to procure AK-47 ammunition.

READ ALSO:Police arrest man over alleged hate speech in Osun

He further said that the purpose of the intended procurement was to boost their arms capacity for continued kidnapping and cattle rustling activities around Saminaka, Lapai, Lambata and its environs. He also said he was promised N250,000 for the transaction, the statement added.

Mr Abiodun said the effort was ongoing to apprehend the Gora, who is on the run, and other accomplices.



Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


A Niger Delta activist, Asari Dokubo, has said that some personnel of the Nigerian Army and Navy were responsible for oil theft in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Mr Dokubo stated this on Friday while addressing State House Correspondents after meeting President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Army and Navy are behind oil theft. They intimidate civil defence, who are by law expected to protect installations. They tap directly from the oil head. What has been happening in the last eight years is unprecedented anywhere in the world, he said.

Mr Dokubo alleged that officers and men of the army and navy deployed to protect oil installations instead of that set up facilities they call local refineries. This is a crime against humanity.

The livelihood of the people is being destroyed. The main culprits are the army and navy. There are notorious army commanders who are known to be the ones behind oil bunkering.

Mr Dokubo, however, said with the election of Mr Tinubu and the support he enjoys from people like him and many others, there will be zero oil theft in the Niger Delta.

He stated that there are powerful persons based in Abuja that are behind it, but in President Tinubu, they have met their match. Many people will find their way to Kuje.

Mr Dokubo said he has been very close to the president for over 30 years and that he received assurances that Mr Tinubu will take decisive action to make sure that this does not continue.

The Niger Delta activist said he had already been offering services to the Nigerian government, which led to the relative peace being enjoyed along the Abuja/Kaduna expressway.

I have volunteered to assist to do the things that are necessary to stop the evil going on. There are full-scale wars going on in different parts of this country.

The blackmail of the Nigerian state by the military is shameful. They are lying to say that they dont have equipment. I am a participant in this war; I side with the government of Nigeria.

Kaduna-Abuja is free now not because of the army; it is my men stationed in Niger State.

We dont even have 1 per cent armament deployed by the Nigerian Army, and we have resounding success. This blackmail must stop. They have enough armaments; instead of fighting, they are busy making money.

Where is the Dogo today, he has been served the dish that he has been serving others.

One individual is carrying two magazines of AK 47 ammunition and succeeding. The Army carry 20 to 30 in their vehicles. On slight attacks, they will abandon these ammunition to the bandits, he said.

Mr Dokubo said that things would return to normal under Mr Tinubu.

We have never had anyone like him running for this position. All the forces of evil and darkness came together to make sure that Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not become the president of this country.

If Tinubu fails, hold me responsible. I can take a bullet for him. He is going to succeed, he said.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Tuesday sentenced a fake bureau de change operator to two years imprisonment.

The convict, Felix Chiwendu was prosecuted by the Port Harcourt zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for obtaining money under false pretences.

The offence, the anti-graft agency said, contravenes Section 57 (1) of Banks and other Financial Institutions Act, 2020 and punishable under Section 57 (5) (b) (i) (ii) & (iii) of the same Act.

This is contained in a statement posted on Facebook by the anti-corruption agency.

Justice E.A. Obile sent the Mr Chiwendu to jail after he pleaded guilty to the offence.

He has an option of paying N1 million fine.

According to the EFCC, a case of illegal operation of a bureau de change and obtaining money under false pretences was reported to it by the victim in 2016.

The anti-graft agency said the victim engaged the services of the convict to remit the sum of $300,000, an equivalent of N95, 400,000 at an exchange rate of N318 to a dollar, for the purchase of Aluminum Coil but the convict transferred only $130,650 being the naira equivalent of N41, 546,700 only to their Chinese counterpart, leaving a balance of $169,350 an equivalent of N53, 853, 000.

The EFCC said the convict did not have the license to carry out banking services, and that the victim made unsuccessful effort to get back his money.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Chike Olemgbe, a 40-year-old lawmaker, has been elected the new speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly.

Mr Olemgbe, a first-timer lawmaker, representing Ihitte/Uboma State Constituency, was elected unopposed on Friday during the inauguration of the 10th assembly in Owerri, the Punch reported.

He was the immediate past transition committee chairperson of the Ihitte/Uboma Local Government Area of the state.

Vitalis Azodo, the lawmaker representing Ideato South State Constituency, nominated Mr Olemgbe for the position and was seconded by Ugochukwu Obodo, the lawmaker representing Owerri State Constituency.

The Clerk of the House, Chinelo Emeghara, who presided over the inaugural session and election, subsequently declared Mr Olemgbe the new speaker when there was no further nomination.

In his brief speech, Mr Olemgbe promised to collaborate with the executive arm of government in Imo State to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

The Deputy Speaker of the previous House, Amara Iwuanyanwu, was reelected unopposed as the new deputy speaker of the 10th assembly.

Mr Iwuanyanwu, who represents Nwangele State Constituency, was immediately sworn in as the deputy speaker in the state.

All the 27 legislators are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The ruling APC won all the state assembly seats during the 18 March general elections amidst allegations of rigging by the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, is a member of the APC, under which he is seeking a reelection in the 11 November governorship election in the state.

He hails from Imo West District, which he represented between 2011 and 2019 in the Senate. The incumbent Deputy Governor of the state, Placid Njoku, hails from Imo East District.

The new speaker, Mr Olemgbe, comes from Imo North District while the new Deputy Speaker, Mr Iwuanyanwu, hails from Imo West District.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


The police in Osun State, South-west Nigeria, have arrested a social media user who made an anti-Igbo tweet.

A statement posted on Twitter by the force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Friday said the suspect, Kehinde Adekusibe, 28, was arrested on Thursday by police operatives in the state.

The police quoted the suspect, Mr Adekusibe, as tweeting, Lets kill all the Igbos. Lets flush them out of Yoruba lands. I hate these people with passion. They are violent people. They are the worst. They hate us. Lets hate them without holding back.

The police said the Twitter post violated social media policy on hate speech and that the suspect posted the tweet on his handle on 18 May.

The statement said the police, on receipt of information about the Twitter post, immediately drafted police detectives from the Cyber Crime Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department in Osogbo, the state capital.

The detectives, the statement added, quickly swung into action, which led to the suspects arrest at Ilesa, where he had hidden.

The suspect has confessed to the crime, and he will be charged to court after completion of the investigation, the police said.

Thanks to Osun State Police Command for its painstaking efforts on this singular case. Kudos. Ire o, Mr Adejobi, a chief superintendent of police, wrote

Connecting the Dots

During the 2023 general elections, there were clashes between some Yorubas and Igbos in some South-western states, mainly Lagos.

The face-off between the two ethnic groups followed the perceived support of Igbos for the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, against his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart, Bola Tinubu, now Nigerias president.

While Mr Obi, the LP candidate, hails from Anambra State, an Igbo-speaking part of the South-east, Mr Tinubu is of Yoruba extraction.

Some thugs attacked some Igbos in Lagos, which has a predominantly Yoruba population and destroyed their properties for allegedly voting for Mr Obi during the election.

Although Mr Obi did not win the presidential election, he was declared winner in Lagos State, where Mr Tinubu, the then APC candidate, served as governor between 1999 and 2007.

READ ALSO:

Mr Obi, like others, subsequently filed a petition at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja to challenge Mr Tinubus victory at the election.

In May, when Mr Tinubus inauguration as president drew closer, speculations were rife that some unnamed political elites were plotting to thwart the inauguration and usher in an interim government after the then President, Muhammadu Buhari, would have exited office on 29 May.

The people behind the alleged plot were said to have argued that Mr Tinubu could not be sworn in as president while the court case against his election victory had not been decided.

The speculation worsened the face-off between Igbos and Yorubas, with accusations that some Igbos who supported the failed presidential bid of Mr Obi were behind the plot.

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

Telegram

LinkedIn

Email

Print


Nine Egyptians have been arrested on suspicion of being people smugglers after a migrant boat disaster off the coast of Greece claimed at least 78 lives, a port source told AFP Thursday.

Among the detainees is the captain of the overloaded and dilapidated vessel, the source said.

The source said the fishing boat left Egypt empty before taking on the migrants at the Libyan port city of Tobruk and heading towards Italy.

Greek news agency ANA reported that the Egyptians were arrested in the Peloponnese port of Kalamata on suspicion of illegal trafficking of human beings. Kalamata is where survivors of the disaster are being cared for.

The International Organization for Migration has said it fears hundreds of more people drowned in one of the worst tragedies in the Mediterranean for a decade.

Government spokesman Ilias Siakantaris on Wednesday said there were unconfirmed reports that up to 750 people had been on the boat.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


QUANTRON and Goldstone Technologies Limited (GTL) form a joint venture to build a unique transaction platform with various digital solutions for meeting the needs of zero-emission fleets

Their new AI-driven mobility solution to be presented at the Greentech Festival from 15th to 16th June in Berlin

The targeted market for fleet management up to 2032 is estimated to be around 70 billion US dollars

BERLIN, June 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The clean tech company Quantron AG, a specialist in sustainable passenger and goods transport, is presenting a new line of business at the Greentech Festival from 15th to 16th June in Berlin.

Indo-German cooperation between QUANTRON and GTL From left: Michael Perschke, CEO Quantron AG, and Pavan Chavali, Managing Director GTL

Together with Goldstone Technologies (GTL), a leading Indian company for business intelligence, data and analytics, Quantron AG from Augsburg is entering into a joint venture known under the name ROQIT. The aim of the joint venture is to develop a digital transaction platform that will serve as the digital backbone of Quantron-as-a-Service (QaaS) in the future. In addition, AI-driven software solutions will be developed for the rapidly ramping up zero-emission fleet management market, that can be used independently of the manufacturer.

Minister of State Dr. Florian Herrmann, Head of the Bavarian State Chancellery, sees great opportunities with AI in the mobility sector: "Mobility of the future will only become a reality through the broad application of AI. It is only through AI-based efficiency and optimization solutions that we will be able to implement zero-emissions solutions globally. With the High-Tech Agenda, the Free State of Bavaria is investing a total of 5.5 billion Euros in future fields such as AI, quantum technology or CleanTech. In this way, we are creating a unique ecosystem; the best conditions for the forward-looking joint venture between QUANTRON and Goldstone Technologies and for the broad roll-out of AI in the mobility sector."

The joint venture will operate from Augsburg and Hyderabad, India. A US facility is to follow by the third quarter of 2023 in order to address the global market for zero-emission solutions.

Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary of the Industries & Commerce (I&C) and Information Technology (IT) Departments of the Telangana government, stated: "This joint venture between Goldstone Technologies and Quantron AG is a testament to the global potential of Hyderabad's IT industry and the state's commitment to sustainable growth. We are confident that this collaboration will lead to the development of innovative zero-emission solutions that will address the growing demand for clean and efficient transportation in India and around the world. The collaboration between GTL and Quantron AG is an excellent example of how international cooperation can lead to innovative solutions that address global challenges."

The integrated platform will consist of five digital pillars, namely fleet management, insurance-as-a-service, hydrogen economy, greenhouse gas accounting (GHG quotas) and data insights. The software offers a fleet overview dashboard, driver management, journey information, geo-fencing, charging or refuelling infrastructure management, smart navigator, carbon credit tracking, roadside assistance, reporting module and a mobile driver app. No other active digital solution offers a greater range of services and transparency.

"The factors that distinguish this Digital Platform are that it is Partner Agnostic, Modular and OEM Independent. Data Insights, which is a crucial pillar, is estimated to reach a global market value of $71 Bn (INR 5.9 Lakh Crores) by 2032. Our contribution to this partnership will be to help customers drive impactful change through data-backed analytics to enhance their business through BI and Analytics Full Stack capabilities and Service Offerings", according to Pavan Chavali, Managing Director of GTL.

The joint venture of GTL and QUANTRON can already offer AI-supported solutions for fleet management for ensuring vehicle fleets can be operated more sustainably and efficiently.

The demand for software-based efficiency and optimisation solutions is particularly noticeable in Europe, USA, India and Middle East. The first customers of the joint venture are QUANTRON AG and ETO Motors from Hyderabad, India.

Michael Perschke, CEO of Quantron AG: "We are looking forward to this Partnership with GTL in a bid to address the Fleet Management markets which is projected to exceed $70 Billion by 2032, combined with the Hydrogen Economy markets that anticipates over $320 Billion in global investments by 2030. The Indian ecosystem also present a huge opportunity in this area, which would provide us the necessary expertise to make inroads into the global marketplace."

Images are available in both high and low resolutions here: Press releases from Quantron AG (https://www.quantron.net/en/q-news/press-releases/)

Quantron AG

Quantron AG is a platform provider and specialist in sustainable mobility for people and goods; in particular, for trucks, buses and vans with all-electric drive trains and H 2 fuel cell technology. As a high-tech spin-off of the renowned Haller GmbH, the Augsburg/Bavaria-based company combines more than 140 years of commercial vehicle experience with the very latest e-mobility know-how, and positions itself globally as a partner to existing OEMs.

With the Quantron-as-a-Service Ecosystem (QaaS), QUANTRON offers an overall concept that includes all facets of the mobility value-added chain: QUANTRON INSIDE includes a wide range of new vehicles as well as conversions for existing and used vehicles from diesel to battery and hydrogen-electric drives with the highly innovative QUANTRON INSIDE technology. With a Europe-wide network of 700 service partners,QUANTRON CUSTOMER SOLUTIONS guarantees digital and physical after-sales solutions along with a range of services for maintenance, repairs and spare parts, telematics and in-cloud solutions for remote diagnosis and fleet management. Customers receive individual advice on, among other things, tailored charging and tank solutions, rental, financing and leasing offers. Training courses and workshops are also offered in the QUANTRON Academy. In future, QUANTRON ENERGY & POWER STATIONS will realise the production of green hydrogen and electricity as a platform. To this end, Quantron AG has teamed up with a number of strong global partners. At the same time, this Clean Transportation Alliance is also an important building block for supplying vehicles with the required green charging and H2 tank infrastructure.

QUANTRON stands for the core values RELIABLE, ENERGETIC, BRAVE . The team of experts at the innovation driver for e-mobility is making a significant contribution to sustainable, environmentally friendly passenger and freight transport.

Visit Quantron AG on our social media channels on LinkedIn and YouTube . More informationen available at www.quantron.net

Goldstone Technologies Limited

Goldstone Technologies Limited (GTL) is a specialist Full-Stack Business Intelligence, Data Analytics and IT Services Consulting firm. While we are very good at integrating and consolidating data to produce insights and building/managing/optimising Cloud Infrastructure, applications and platforms, we pride ourselves on how we help our customers use data and technology to make a difference.

In addition to the focused Client Solutions we offer, the market specific Industry Solutions and the Software Platforms we recommend, we also offer a host of Strategic Services to drive improved planning, reduced costs and greater adoption and utilisation, enabling clients to greatly reduce their time to value.

Our focus is on the value our clients get from our solutions, not just the solutions themselves.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2102971/Indo_German_cooperation_QUANTRON_GTL.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1867778/Quantron_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Quantron AG
VIENNA, June 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The municipality of Madinah, in Saudi Arabia, has achieved what many other municipalities have sought, not always successfully: the perfect combination of identity, sustainability and progress. And has shared the secret in Vienna, where Madinah Region Development Authority (MDA) participated throughout Raseel Plaform as a keystone sponsor in the 9th FIWARE Global Summit, from Data to Value, on 12-13 June 2023.

Madinah official, keynote speaker at Fiware Summit 2023

Powered by the FIWARE Foundation, the non-profit organization that encourages the adoption of open standards using open source technologies, for the development of smart solutions, Raseel Platform is the first smart cities platform in Saudi Arabia.

This is not just about technology: designed for the city of Madinah, the second holy city in the world for Muslims, the platform was conceived with the aim of improving the quality of life of its inhabitants and visitors, more than 9 million each year.

"Adopting open-data and open-source technologies, Madinah Smart City Program shifted from supply-driven to demand-driven implementation of technological solutions. We strongly believe that smart cities are about people, not technologies", says Abdulrahman Ibrahim, Chief Data and Innovation Officer at Madinah Regional Development Authority.

The platform focuses on facilitating the integration of city management for the governmental departments, improving the residents' quality of life, enriching experiences for visitors, guaranteeing low business entry cost for SMEs, and simplifying coding for solution developers.

As the brain ensures the functioning of all body parts, Raseel works as an innovative, interoperable platform that provides centralized solutions for smart cities. It focuses on enabling seamless exchange of data and essential delivery of services, covering both public and private needs for informed insight and optimized efficiency.

"Technically, we selected FIWARE as a partner for the interoperability, scalability, openness, security, community support and modular architecture", explains Ibrahim.

In Vienna, the Madinah Smart City Program (MSCP) presented the most prominent smart solutions and current projects of Madinah's Raseel platform, advance the development and implementation of existing solutions, and participate in the creation and dissemination of open-source technologies.

Madinah City has become the first city in the world to hold FIWARE platinum membership, and to obtain a seat in the Foundation's Board of Directors.

Raseel is an Arabic noun derived from the word "Messenger". It also means "Fresh Water" that flows seamlessly.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2102055/Madinah_City_Fiware_Summit.jpg

SOURCE Madinah City
The Group Calls on the NYC Buildings Department to Take Immediate Action to Protect Residents

NEW YORK, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, local financier and SoHo resident Federico Pignatelli and architect Richard Donald held a press conference at Pier59 studios, sounding the alarm regarding what is believed to be an illegal and unsafe construction by Pignatelli's neighbor billionaire Ray Dalio in SoHo that is in serious danger of collapsing and harming local residents and passersby, as it is built resting on a 140-year-old wooden structure.

Richard Donald, President, RSD Engineering, discusses the structurally unsound additional floor built on the roof of 468 West Broadway Federico Pignatelli, SoHo resident since 1991 living next the dangerous construction, gives a presentation on the unsafe construction

As reported in the New York Times, an illegal additional penthouse floor, the 7th floor, built atop a SoHo co-op apartment by billionaire hedge fund manager Ray Dalio, poses a substantial risk to the community, and has forced neighbor Federico Pignatelli, the owner of Pier59 studios, out of his apartment since May 2021 due to the unsafe conditions that continue worsening.

During a presentation on the state-of-the-art LED MegaWall at Pier59 studios, Mr. Pignatelli and Mr. Donald explained the clear threats posed by the approximately 200,000 pound additional floor that Dalio constructed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and towards Dalio's efforts to falsify documents with the New York City Department of Buildings and the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission.

"In my professional opinion, the construction built by Mr. Dalio and his team is structurally unsound," shared Richard Donald, President, RSD Engineering. "After conducting a close examination, the structure is not compliant with the NYC Building Code and lacks adequate lateral stability. Furthermore, multiple steel connectors holding up the newly constructed penthouse are resting on timber columns within Mr. Pignatelli's apartment that cannot structurally bear that weight with the required margin of safety."

Pignatelli declared: "The same conclusions regarding the lack of support strength of the antique wooden building structure came from an engineering report issued by Howard L. Zimmermann Architects commissioned back in 2012 by the very co-op but that later they blatantly ignored, as by Dalio's professionals, by allowing during the chaos of the 2020 pandemic this large illegal construction of an entire 7th floor penthouse."

"This is not just a dispute between neighbors; this is about a building that is on the verge of a potential collapse, endangering not only myself, but all of the residents in this building and around it, in the heart of SoHo," said Federico Pignatelli, SoHo resident since 1991 living next the dangerous construction. "The added floor that Mr. Dalio has built weighs the equivalent of 50 SUVs, resting on 140-year-old wooden columns which are now tilting and cracking. It is sure an unsafe condition and potentially a catastrophe waiting to happen."

"I have been happy to work with Mr. Pignatelli, and grateful that he brought attention to this issue before it got worse," shared New York City Councilmember Christopher Marte. "This is a systemic enforcement problem, and we cannot let reckless construction projects lead to conditions that jeopardize people's lives and livelihoods. Seeing what happened at the parking garage on Ann Street, our City needs to do better to enforce code and ensure that approved plans are followed at every site and every stage."

Please click here to download the presentation from the event

SOURCE Federico Pignatelli
Discover the perfect wedding space for your memorable, once-in-a-lifetime experience!

PORTSMOUTH, N.H., June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Is that the sound of wedding bells we hear? If so, we should share a little secret about the region's most breathtaking wedding venue. Perched atop scenic downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire  in a spectacularly restored, circa 1905 gathering space  Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club is the perfect place to host the wedding of your dreams.

"Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club is a spectacular, full-service wedding venue with a personality and charm unlike any other" Tweet this Perched atop scenic downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire  in a spectacularly restored, circa 1905 gathering space  Jimmys Jazz & Blues Club is the perfect place to host the wedding of your dreams. Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club is a breathtaking wedding venue with a high-touch hospitality team dedicated to delivering everything you need to host the most elegant, unforgettable wedding you can imagine.

The high-touch hospitality team at Jimmy's is dedicated to delivering everything you need to host the most elegant, unforgettable wedding you can imagine. We invite you to explore the features and amenities that make Jimmy's a one-of-a-kind wedding venue for up to 300 guests.

The Wow Factor

Located in the heart of historic Portsmouth, New Hampshire this architecturally stunning local landmark is built to bring people togetherand set your wedding apart with a rare, one-of-a-kind "wow factor."

A towering glass-and-steel atrium. Intimate rooms with fireplaces and bay windows. Balconies overlooking the grand main stage. Opulently appointed rooms with captivating artwork. Original arched stained-glass features. And so much more.

The flexible, high-ceilinged spaces  alive with the vibrations of such world-class musical artists as Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, Mavis Staples, John Scofield, Taj Mahal, Robert Cray and Wynton Marsalis  can be configured to meet your needs.

Extraordinary Culinary Experience

Wedding dinners are also memorable at Jimmy's, where our team works with you to design a delectable culinary experience that lives up to their flavorful motto, "The Pursuit of Deliciousness."

At Jimmy's, we cultivate personal connections with the local farmers and fishermen who supply the fresh local ingredients used to create a unique New England-inspired cuisine. That same personal touch extends to coordinating with you to create your ideal wedding day menu.

Wired to Inspire

Engineered with the leading-edge sound and lighting systems required to showcase world-class musical artists, Jimmy's also offers in-house theater and projector capabilities, plus a seven-camera video system to capture key moments or record your entire ceremony for future viewing and sharing.

Making Your Special Day "Extra Special"

Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club is a singularly spectacular, full-service wedding venue with a personality and charm unlike any other  a place where the hospitality team puts heart and soul into curating a truly memorable wedding day experience for you and your guests.

To start a conversation about hosting your special wedding event at Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club, please fill out our Event Request Form. Or contact 888-603-JAZZ.

ABOUT JIMMY'S JAZZ & BLUES CLUB

The mission of Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club is to provide guests a one-of-a-kind, world-class experience featuring serious jazz and blues music served with exceptional cuisine. Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club features a spectacular and visually breathtaking environment engineered to deliver the highest quality acoustics while utilizing state-of-the-art production, sound and lighting technologies. Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club is located within a beautifully restored 1905 building at 135 Congress Street in the heart of historic downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire. For more information visit www.jimmysoncongress.com or follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/JimmysJazzBlues and on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/jimmysjazzblues/. Sign-up for Jimmy's Email Newsletter to stay informed on Upcoming Shows, New Artist Announcements, Promotional Offers, Ticket On-Sale Dates, Special Performances, and Jimmy's Sunday Jazz Brunch.

PRIVATE EVENTS AT JIMMY'S

An architecturally breathtaking center of arts and culture in the heart of historic Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club offers a rare and spectacular venue to host important corporate functions, weddings, intimate or large-scale social gatherings, private parties, and memorable celebrations. The team at Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club put heart and soul into creating a stunning full-service event space with new state-of-the-art production, sound & lighting technologies delivered with outstanding next-level culinary experiences. Our high-touch approach with professional and experienced event staff ensures that everything is tailored to exceed your expectations. To start a conversation about hosting your event at Jimmy's Jazz and Blues Club, please call us at 888-603-5299, or fill out Jimmy's Private Event Request Form.

JOIN THE TEAM AT THE LABRIE GROUP FAMILY OF RESTAURANTS

Motivated by a commitment to culinary and hospitality excellence, founders Michael and Peter Labrie and their leadership team understand it is essential to seek out talented team members for each of The Labrie Group family of restaurants  Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club, The Atlantic Grill, The River House, and Rio Tequila Cantina  all in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Career opportunities and current job openings can be found at www.TheLabrieGroup.com.

Website:

http://www.jimmysoncongress.com

Contact:

Rachel Huddleston

[email protected]

888-603-JAZZ

SOURCE Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club
BANGKOK, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The key mission of AIS Aunjai Cyber has been to build awareness of the dangers and impacts from going online, by developing solutions and digital services to protect users and promote safety. The aim is to build up knowledge to promote intelligence and skills among digital citizens. Today this is being taken to a new level by building Thailand's first measure of digital skills, the Thailand Cyber Wellness Index, which measures digital knowledge, abilities and skills of each segment of the population.

AIS partners King Mongkuts University of Technology Thonburi to launch the First Thailand Cyber Wellness Index.

AIS Chief Executive Officer Somchai Lertsutiwong commented, "AIS operates its business on the basis of sustainability. We have been at the centre of the network to address the issue of cyber threats for over four years. Our ongoing work has given us the insight to remedy the issues efficiently. This is how we came to develop an index of digital knowledge and skills for each segment of the public. This will enable every agency involved to deploy tools and knowledge targeted at each segment of Thai society, and which are appropriate for the issues arising. We prepared the Thailand Cyber Wellness Index, the first of its kind in Thailand, in collaboration with King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) and a range of experts in technology, health, mass communication, education and evaluation to design a framework for the study. The survey methodology covered a range of age cohorts and occupational groups from every province all over Thailand, a total sample size of 21,862. The results are processed and analyzed to generate the Thailand Cyber Wellness Index."

The survey found that overall, Thai people's cyber wellness was at the "basic" level, while 44.04% were at the level of "must improve". This shows that Thailand needs to boost its learning and understanding of using digital among the people.

The company will continue to join forces to bring this index to the network of cyber-security That includes both the government and the private sector. This index is the property of the Thai public and is a compass showing the path to develop Thai digital skills safely and responsibly, with efficiency and sustainability in the future.

SOURCE AIS - Advanced Info Service
Josep Borrell, the European Union's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, is set to embark on a two-day visit to Cairo starting on Saturday, the European Delegation to Egypt announced.

During his visit, Borrell, who is also the vice-president of the European Commission, will meet with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

He will also meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Defense Mohamed Zaki, Director of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service Abbas Kamel and Secretary General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Abul-Gheit.

The EU Delegation's statement emphasizes that the visit presents an opportunity to review and strengthen the partnership between the EU and Egypt.

Additionally, discussions will include cooperation between the EU and the League of Arab States, addressing common global and regional challenges such as migration, energy, counterterrorism and food security.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


The Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act would expand the Dog and Cat Meat Prohibition Act passed in the 2018 Farm Bill to include equines, permanently protecting American horses from slaughter

WASHINGTON, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, animal welfare groups commended a bipartisan group of U.S. senators for reintroducing the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act (S.2037/H.R.3475)  federal legislation that would permanently protect American horses from commercial slaughter. This legislation would expand the Dog and Cat Meat Prohibition Act  which passed as part of the 2018 Farm Bill  to include equines, prohibit the commercial slaughter of horses in the U.S., and end their export for that purpose abroad.

Sponsored in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and many bipartisan cosponsors, and in the House of Representatives by U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), the SAFE Act is supported by leading animal welfare groups, including the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), the Humane Society of the United States, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, and Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation. The SAFE Act has also received strong support from industry groups, including The Jockey Club, the U.S. Trotting Association, the Stronach Group, the Breeders' Cup, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, The Jockeys' Guild, the New York Racing Association, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, and the Maryland Horse Council. Last year, these organizations partnered with animal welfare groups to form the "Final Stretch Alliance to End Horse Slaughter," a collaborative effort urging federal lawmakers to pass a permanent ban on slaughter.

"The gruesome practice of horse slaughter for food consumption has no place in the United States. It is well past time for Congress to act decisively in putting an end to this cruelty," said Sen. Menendez. "Horses are routinely treated with drugs that are dangerous for human consumption and should not be a part of our nation's food supply or export of goods. Our bipartisan legislation will help put an end to the cruel and inhumane slaughter of horses while protecting families from toxic horse meat and safeguarding the reputation of the U.S. food industry worldwide."

"The practice of slaughtering horses to meet foreign demand simply does not reflect the admiration we as a nation have for these animals," said Sen. Collins. "This bipartisan legislation would prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption, which is the same prohibition we enacted for dogs and cats during the consideration of the 2018 Farm Bill."

"I have long opposed the cruel and inhumane slaughter of horses for human consumption. I am proud to co-sponsor the SAFE Act, which would permanently ban this practice and protect our horses from this horrific fate," said Sen. Rubio.

"Horse slaughter is a cruel and inhumane practice that must finally be put to an end," said Sen. Booker. "That is why I am joining my colleagues in introducing this bill that will permanently end the practice of slaughtering horses in the United States and will stop the shipment of thousands of American horses to slaughter across our borders."

"Any mistreatment of horses is simply unacceptable. I am joining this bipartisan bill to protect our animals, our farmers, and consumers everywhere," said Sen. Fetterman.

"Horses simply should never be slaughtered for humans to eat. These cherished, iconic animals should be protected, not butchered and shipped abroad for profit," said Sen. Blumenthal. "Our measure ends this despicable practice and prioritizes the welfare and safety of these animals. We can and must protect our nation's horses."

"More than 80 percent of Americans oppose horse slaughter for human consumption, and despite robust partnerships between the equine industry and animal welfare groups to support rehoming horses, a legal loophole still allows tens of thousands of American horses to be shipped to other countries for slaughter each year," said Nancy Perry, senior vice president of Government Relations for the ASPCA. "We are working resolutely to solve equine welfare issues on the ground, but the threat of horse slaughter contributes significant harm to industry, horse owners, and adoption organizations, and we cannot fully succeed while the slaughter pipeline remains open. By including the SAFE Act in the 2023 Farm Bill, Congress can start a new chapter for America's equines and finally end the cruel, unnecessary practice of horse slaughter."

"The horse slaughter industry has claimed the lives of millions of American horses over the last few decades, producing unsafe food, likely tainted with residues of dangerous drugs, for foreign consumers. These equines suffer incredible abuse even before they arrive at the slaughterhouse, often transported for long distances without food, water or rest, in overcrowded trailers where the animals are often seriously injured or even killed in transit," said Susan Millward, executive director and CEO of the Animal Welfare Institute. "The overwhelming majority of Americans are vociferously opposed to butchering horses for human consumption, so we are grateful to Senators Menendez and Graham for leading the SAFE Act to spare horses from this brutal fate."

"Even one horse sent to slaughter is too many. We have been fighting horse slaughter for years not only because it disregards the special connection that humans share with horses, but also because there is simply no way to kill horses humanely in a slaughterhouse," said Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. "Congress must pass the SAFE Act so no horse from the U.S. is ever subjected to a grueling trip that only ends with a terrifying and inhumane death."

"The pipeline to slaughter is an open grave for the horses it carries off, not just a terrible cruelty but a national heartache. It's time to saddle up and end their journey to hell. No animal more deserving of our kindness has ever suffered such a rotten fate," said Sara Amundson, president, Humane Society Legislative Fund. "Horse slaughter for human consumption is a ruinous policy not merely for its callous indifference to a faithful species but for its blight upon our national character. We hope that legislators in both chambers and both parties will lend their support to Senators Menendez and Graham in their efforts to pass the Save America's Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, and vote this appalling practice out of existence."

"We are grateful to Senators Menendez and Graham for their continued, unwavering leadership," said Neda DeMayo, president of Return to Freedom. "Polls show that the vast majority of Americans find it abhorrent that any horse, wild or domestic, suffers the road to slaughter. Congress must not allow itself to be undermined by a self-serving few on a measure with overwhelming support."

Research shows that 2.3 million Americans have the interest and resources to adopt a horse, demonstrating that there are more than enough homes for the approximately 20,000 American horses who were exported for slaughter last year. America's equine adoption community is working swiftly to match the horses in their care with foster and adoptive families, increasing the number of adoptions every year. This means that every horse who might have been sent to slaughter could have a home waiting, if given the opportunity to find it, or compassionate end-of-life care provided by a veterinarian close to home. As long as the financial incentive for slaughter exists, it will continue to hamper the lifesaving efforts of rescue and welfare groups to provide humane care to equines.

The horse slaughter industry not only exploits horses who must endure grueling journeys to slaughter plants and an inhumane death, it also harms the broader equine community, including horse owners, riders, and rescues, who fear that their horses will end up in the slaughter pipeline despite their best efforts to keep them safe. Kill buyers  those who buy horses to ship to slaughter in Canada and Mexico  attend auctions and often outbid rescue groups trying to help vulnerable equines. Kill buyers have also been known to pose as good homes in response to ads from horse owners who can no longer care for their animals. Many owners are so fearful that they may even keep their horses beyond the point that they can afford basic care to prevent their animals from being sold to slaughter, causing further suffering. There is no reason to continue this abhorrent practice that 83 percent of Americans oppose.

The SAFE Act received strong bipartisan support last Congress, with more than half of the U.S. House of Representatives signing on as cosponsors and the full House voting in favor of an amendment to ban horse slaughter. Members of the public are encouraged to contact their U.S. senators and representatives to urge them to cosponsor the SAFE Act and secure its swift passage to protect horses, their caregivers, and consumers.

About the ASPCA 

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was the first animal welfare organization to be established in North America and today serves as the nation's leading voice for vulnerable and victimized animals. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA assists animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources. For more information, visit www.ASPCA.org, and follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About AWI

The Animal Welfare Institute (www.awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to reducing animal suffering caused by people. AWI engages policymakers, scientists, industry, and the public to achieve better treatment of animals everywherein the laboratory, on the farm, in commerce, at home, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates and other important animal protection news.

About the HSUS

Founded in 1954, the Humane Society of the United States fights the big fights to end suffering for all animals. Together with millions of supporters, we take on puppy mills, factory farms, trophy hunts, animal testing and other cruel industries. With our affiliates, we rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals every year through our animal rescue team's work and other hands-on animal care services. We fight all forms of animal cruelty to achieve the vision behind our name: A humane society. Learn more about our work at humanesociety.org. Subscribe to Kitty Block's blog, A Humane World. Follow the HSUS Media Relations department on Twitter. Read the award-winning All Animals magazine. Listen to the Humane Voices Podcast.

About HSLF

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at hslf.org/blog, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.

About RTF

Return to Freedom Wild Horse Conservation (RTF) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to wild horse preservation through sanctuary, education, conservation and advocacy since 1998. It also operates the American Wild Horse Sanctuary at three California locations, caring for 500 wild horses and burros. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates about wild horses and burros on the range and at our sanctuary.

SOURCE ASPCA
CHICAGO, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The autonomous last mile delivery market is valued at USD 0.9 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 4.2 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 22.7% according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The market for autonomous last mile delivery has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, driven by several key factors. One of the primary drivers is the rapid growth of e-commerce and online shopping. With the increasing popularity of online retail, there is a growing demand for efficient and timely delivery of goods, especially in urban areas where congestion and traffic can significantly impact delivery times.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=41240862

Browse in-depth TOC on "Autonomous Last Mile Delivery Market" 600  Tables

100  Figures

400  Pages

Autonomous Last Mile Delivery Market Report Scope:

Report Coverage Details Market Revenue in 2023 $0.9 billion Estimated Value by 2030 $4.2 billion Growth Rate Poised to grow at a CAGR of 22.7% Market Size Available for 20182030 Forecast Period 20232030 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered By Platform, Solution, Application, Type, Payload Weight, Range, Duration and Region Geographies Covered North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of World Key Market Challenge Issues related to traffic management of aerial delivery drones Key Market Opportunities Rise in technological advancements in delivery drones Key Market Drivers Rapid growth and expansion of the e-commerce industry

Autonomous last mile delivery offers a solution to these challenges by leveraging advanced technologies to streamline the delivery process. Another factor contributing to the market growth is the advancements in autonomous vehicle technologies. Significant progress has been made in the development of self-driving vehicles, with major players in the automotive industry investing heavily in research and development. These vehicles are equipped with a range of sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning capabilities, enabling them to navigate and interact with the surrounding environment autonomously.

Delivery drones in the aerial segment and Self-driving vans & trucks in the ground segment are projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Based on the platform, the aerial segment market is categorized into Cargo Drones and Delivery Drones, while the ground segment market is divided into Delivery Bots and Self-Driving Trucks and Vans. The market for delivery drones in the aerial segment and self-driving vans & trucks in the ground segment is expected to witness substantial growth, reflecting a higher CAGR. This growth is driven by the growing demand for autonomous delivery solutions. Drones, self-driving vans, and trucks present notable advantages as last mile resources, characterized by enhanced delivery speed and reduced dependence on human involvement. These technologies offer expedited delivery capabilities while minimizing the need for human intervention.

Long-range segment (>20 Kilometers) expected to lead both the aerial and ground autonomous last mile delivery markets during the forecast period.

Based on range, aerial and ground segments comprise Short Range (< Kilometers) and long-range segment (>20 Kilometers). The long-range segment (>20 Kilometers) is expected to lead both aerial and ground autonomous last mile delivery markets, with a higher CAGR during the forecast period. This is due to the high portability, increased efficiency, and low operating costs of aerial delivery drones and ground delivery vehicles, which have contributed to their increased use in conducting autonomous last-mile delivery of packages. These drones/autonomous vehicles enable cost-effective and quick delivery of packages.

For the Aerial Section, 5-10 Kilograms Payload Weight segment is expected to grow with the highest CAGR, and for the ground segment >10 kilograms segment is expected to grow with the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

The Aerial and Ground segments are categorized based on payload weight, including segments for payloads below 5 kilograms, between 5 and 10 kilograms, and above 10 kilograms. Within the Aerial segment, the 5-10 kilograms payload weight segment is projected to experience the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR). This growth can be attributed to the increasing utilization of aerial delivery drones with a load-carrying capacity between 5 and 10 kilograms for autonomous last-mile delivery of various goods, such as metal products and medicines, among others. The growing adoption of drones in the metal sector is expected to drive the growth of the aerial segment. On the other hand, within the Ground segment, the >10 kilograms payload weight segment is anticipated to exhibit the highest CAGR. This is primarily due to the use of ground delivery vehicles with a load-carrying capacity exceeding 10 kilograms, which are primarily employed for delivering heavy parcels ordered by online shoppers. The growth of the logistics industry is expected to propel the expansion of the ground segment.

For both aerial and ground segments retail & food segment is expected to grow with the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Based on application, the market for aerial delivery drones has been divided into logistics & transportation, healthcare & pharmacy, and retail & food. Similarly, the market for ground delivery vehicles has been segmented into logistics & transportation and retail & food. In both the aerial and ground segments, the retail & food segment is projected to experience the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The rapid growth of e-commerce, driven by the demand for faster one-day delivery, is a significant driver behind the expansion of the drone delivery and ground vehicle application market. This trend has created a need for efficient and speedy delivery services, which has positively impacted the market for both aerial delivery drones and ground vehicles.

For both Aerial and Ground segments, the infrastructure solution segment is going to have the highest growth.

Based on the solution, The aerial delivery drone/ground delivery vehicle market is categorized into hardware, software, and infrastructure. In both the aerial and ground segments, the infrastructure solution segment is expected to witness the highest growth. The continuous advancements in technology have significantly contributed to the development of infrastructure solutions for drone and ground vehicle operations. The technological upgradation in the drone and ground vehicle market has opened up new opportunities for enhancing the infrastructure supporting their operations. With the integration of advanced sensors and AI technology, infrastructure solutions can enable better navigation, obstacle avoidance, and overall operational efficiency. The utilization of cutting-edge infrastructure solutions allows for seamless communication and coordination between aerial delivery drones and ground delivery vehicles. This integration enhances the overall logistics and supply chain management processes, ensuring smooth and efficient operations from end to end.

Inquiry Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=41240862

North America is expected to hold the highest market share in 2023.

North America is projected to take the lead in the autonomous last mile delivery industry. The region's dominance can be attributed to several factors. North America has a robust and mature e-commerce ecosystem, with a high adoption rate of online shopping and a strong customer base. The demand for efficient and timely last mile delivery solutions has been on the rise, creating a favorable environment for the growth of autonomous delivery technologies. North America has witnessed significant advancements in autonomous vehicle technology, particularly in the areas of self-driving cars and drones. This technological expertise, coupled with favorable regulatory frameworks and infrastructure development, has paved the way for the deployment of autonomous last mile delivery solutions. Additionally, North America boasts a well-developed logistics and transportation network, providing a solid foundation for autonomous delivery operations. The presence of major retail and e-commerce players in the region further accelerates the adoption of autonomous last mile delivery solutions.

Winners of the autonomous last mile delivery companies are Starship Technologies (US), JD.com (China), Nuro (US), Amazon (US), Kiwibot (US), Zipline (US), United Parcel Service (US), Wing (US), Flirtey (SkyDrop) and Matternet, Inc. (US). These key players offer drones applicable for various sectors and have well-equipped and strong distribution networks across North America, European, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Latin America, and Africa.

Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=41240862

Browse Adjacent Market: Aerospace and Defence Market Research Reports &Consulting

Related Reports:

Cargo Drones Market by Solution (Platform, Software, Infrastructure), Industry (Retail, Healthcare, Agriculture, Defense and Maritime), Range (Close-Range, Short-Range, Mid-Range, Long-Range), Payload, Type and Region - Global Forecast to 2030

UAV Market by Point of Sale, Systems, Platform (Civil & Commercial, and Defense & Government), Function, End Use, Application, Type (Fixed Wing, Rotary Wing, Hybrid), Mode of Operation, Mtow, Range & Region - Global Forecast to 2027

Drone Logistics and Transportation Market by Solution (System, Software and Infrastructure), Platform (Freight Drone, Passenger Drone and Air Ambulance Drone), Application (Logistics and Transportation), Range, User - Global Forecast to 2027

Drone Services Market by Type (Platform Service, MRO, and Training & Simulation), Application, Industry, Solution (End-to-End, Point), and Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Row) - Global Forecast to 2026

Drone Inspection and Monitoring Market by Solution (Platform, Software, Infrastructure And Service), Type (Fixed Wing, Multirotor, Hybrid), Applications (Constructions & Infrastructure, Agriculture), Mode Of Operations & Region - Global Forecast to 2027

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Contact:

Mr. Aashish Mehra

MarketsandMarkets INC.

630 Dundee Road

Suite 430

Northbrook, IL 60062

USA: +1-888-600-6441

Email: [email protected]

Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/

Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/autonomous-last-mile-delivery-market.asp

Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/autonomous-last-mile-delivery.asp

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
NEW DELHI, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Azure Power Global Limited (the "Company" or "Azure") (NYSE: AZRE), an independent sustainable energy solutions provider and renewable power producer in India, today announced two changes to its Board of Directors.

Azure Power announces changes in Board of Directors

Mr. Richard Payette, FCPA, GCB.D, will join the Board as an Independent non-executive Director on the Company's Board effective July 1, 2023. Mr. Payette is a business leader with over four decades of experience in management of global companies and accounting and audit matters. He currently serves as a director of Export Development Canada (EDC), Canada's export credit agency wholly owned by the Government of Canada and the Canadian Public Accountability Board (CPAB), a regulatory body charged with overseeing audits of Canadian reporting issuers. Earlier, he served as Chair of the boards of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Federation de chambres de commerce du Quebec. From 2016 until 2020, he served as President and CEO Quebec of Manulife and was the CEO for the Americas region at BDO International between 2010 and 2015. He worked with Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton since 1982 until 2009, lastly as the President and CEO. Mr. Payette is also a member of the advisory boards of Lemay and LexRockAI. His area of expertise includes organisational transformation, international market development, finance, audit, governance and risk management. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada and holds an ESG Certification and designation.

Mr. Payette will take over as Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee and will also join the Board of Azure Power India Private Limited, a subsidiary of the Company.

Christine McNamara, Independent non-executive Director and current chair of Audit & Risk Committee has decided to resign from the Company's Board effective June 26, 2023. Her decision to step down from the Board is necessitated due to her commitments towards family health matters. Christine's decision to resign was not the result of any disagreement with the Company's operations, policies, or procedures.

Speaking on these board changes, Alan Rosling, Chairman of the Board, said, "Christine's resignation is a sad moment for all of us on the Board. She led the board and committee commitments during a tough year for the Company even while attending to family health issues. The Board joins me in thanking Christine for her unwavering efforts during this period and her professional guidance to the Board. We wish her all the best as she and her family address their current health issues."

"I warmly welcome Richard to the Board. His vast experience will be crucial at this juncture for Azure. He is a versatile professional with deep financial expertise including in governance, audit, control and compliance. We look forward to working closely with him on the Board."

Richard Payette said, "Azure is an important player in the sustainable energy sector in India. It is an exciting opportunity for me, and I am looking forward to contributing at the Board and help in the cause of long term sustainable journey at Azure. I am delighted to work with the team in further growth and success of the Company. I also thank Christine for her tenure on the Board and wish her all the best."

Christine McNamara said, "It has been a great privilege to serve on Azure Power's board. I'm sad to be leaving the Company at this stage due to personal family health issues. I wish the Board and the Company all the very best."

About Azure

Azure is a leading independent sustainable energy solutions provider and renewable power producer in India. Azure developed India's first utility scale solar project in 2009, and since then has grown rapidly to become a leader in developing and operating large utility-scale renewable energy projects in the country.

For more information about Azure, visit: www.azurepower.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the bringing of a fresh perspective and valuable guidance, driving growth and success, driving the Company forward, and achieving Company goals. Words such as "may," "will," "should," "likely," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "outlook" and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements in this press release. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

For more information:

[email protected]

[email protected]

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2103887/Azure_Power.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/819565/Azure_Power_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Azure Power
DALLAS, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ben E. Keith Beverages announces an initiative to strengthen its market presence and enhance customer service by implementing the All Aboard program. Key members of leadership and executives will accompany drivers and sales representatives in the field as part of our efforts to continually strengthen the customer experience and foster stronger relationships. Over 80 employees, including all division vice presidents, general managers, directors, and their teams, will join our sales and service representatives in calling on over 1000 across Texas the week of June 19th.

Ben E. Keith is dedicated to providing exceptional products and services to our retail partners and valued customers. This initiative aims to achieve the objectives of strengthening team collaboration, enhancing customer engagement, and empowering field representatives. The All Aboard enables our teams to work closely together, learning from other's unique skills and experiences to deliver exceptional service and achieve our common goals.

This hands-on approach allows for a better understanding of customer needs and provides a tailored approach to their business expectations. Our overall goal is to further strengthen our market position, drive growth, and remain at the forefront of the industry. "Bridging the gap between leadership and field operations will benefit both our team members and customers," said Beverage Division President Kevin Bartholomew. "It is a testament to our commitment to delivering excellence in all aspects of our business."

ABOUT BEN E. KEITH BEVERAGES

Ben E. Keith Company, established in 1906, began selling Anheuser-Busch products in 1928. Today, Ben E. Keith Company's Beverage Division is the third largest independent beer wholesaler in the country. With fourteen Sales & Distribution Centers, the company operates throughout the state of Texas and distributes import beers, craft beers, seltzers, spirits, wine products, and nonalcoholic beverages. For more information, please visit www.benekeith.com. Follow us on Facebook @benekeith and on Instagram @benekeithbevs.

SOURCE Ben E. Keith Beverages
BOSTON, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Triverus Consulting has been named by The Boston Business Journal to its 2023 Best Places to Work  the BBJ's exclusive ranking of the Massachusetts companies that have built outstanding work environments for their people.

The 80 companies honored in 2023 range in size and industry, with winners from the technology sector, retail industry, health care space, commercial real estate and more.

"We are thrilled to be honored for the fourth consecutive year," said the Founding Partners Laura Harriman, Chris Jennings and Zach Slayton. "We are grateful to work with passionate and talented people who are fun to work with."

Triverus Consulting is a Boston based Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) technology consulting firm that helps clients transform their information into business value. From roadmap through execution, the company provides technology solutions, information asset management and Agile enablement services for Life Sciences and Public Sector organizations.

"The companies that comprise this year's Best Places to Work are among the most diverse in the decades we've been doing this program," said Carolyn Jones, Market President and Publisher of the Boston Business Journal. "Their commitment to teamwork, employee engagement, flexibility and trust are the model to which the region's businesses look for inspiration."

The 215 businesses that met criteria for office location and size participated in employee-engagement surveys distributed by Business Journal partner Quantum Workplace. Employees were asked to rate their work environment, work-life balance, job satisfaction, advancement opportunities, management, compensation, and benefits.

Based on the results of those surveys, businesses were assigned a score out of 100 percent and ranked by Quantum. The top-rated companies are listed in five size categories  extra small (20 to 49 employees), small (50 to 99 employees), medium (100 to 249 employees), large (250 to 499 employees) and extra-large (500 or more).

The Best Places to Work special publication appears in the June 16th weekly edition of the Boston Business Journal.

The Boston Business Journal is the region's premier business media organization, one of 45 markets owned by American City Business Journals. For marketing and sponsorship opportunities, contact the Business Journal today.

SOURCE Triverus Consulting
LOS ANGELES and SAN DIEGO, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Emjay, the leading California-based cannabis retailer and delivery service, proudly announces the launch of a one-of-a-kind Father's Day product bundle, tailored exclusively for cannabis connoisseur dads in the state of California.

Introducing the "Blunts & Beverages Bundle," which includes a custom cooler, a premium preroll from the cult-favorite brand Presidential , and a THC-infused beverage by Lagunitas . This exciting bundle debuts at Emjay's Los Angeles and San Diego stores on Friday, June 16, 2023.

"We've always recognized the ability of cannabis to bring people together..." said Chris Vaughn, Emjay CEO. Tweet this Emjay's Blunts & Bevs Father's Day Cooler Bundle

As part of this special release, Emjay is offering an additional promotion to customers. In the spirit of Father's Day, patrons who visit Emjay's stores accompanied by their fathers will receive an exclusive 10% discount on their purchase throughout the weekend leading up to the occasion.

Chris Vaughn, CEO of Emjay, expressed the company's deep appreciation for the unifying power of cannabis, stating, "We've always recognized the ability of cannabis to bring people together. With this unique Father's Day offering, we aim to foster a sense of togetherness between fathers and their adult children through the shared enjoyment of cannabis."

Emjay's mission extends beyond mere cannabis retail. By offering innovative products like the "Blunts & Beverages" bundle, the company strives to provide cannabis-positive families with alternative ways to celebrate traditional holidays. Priced at an affordable $30, this bundle ensures an unforgettable and elevated Father's Day experience.

The Emjay team eagerly anticipates welcoming more fathers into their stores this Father's Day, creating cherished memories and fostering deeper connections between generations.

For more information about Emjay's offerings in the Los Angeles area, please visit https://heyemjay.com/dispensary-los-angeles . For their San Diego location, visit https://heyemjay.com/dispensary-san-diego .

About Emjay:

Emjay, the premier California-based cannabis delivery and retail platform, was launched in early 2019 with a mission to redefine the cannabis shopping experience for consumers. Boasting retail locations in West Hollywood and La Mesa, California, Emjay distinguishes itself by offering an unparalleled selection of products that surpasses its competitors. Emjay's commitment to customer satisfaction is exemplified by their immediate and scheduled delivery services, providing customers with convenience at prices that surpass those offered by competing dispensaries and services.

SOURCE Emjay
SHANGHAI, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Cholesgen (Shanghai) Co.Ltd. ('Cholesgen') today announced an exciting new collaboration to advance research and development in hypercholesterolemia and related metabolic diseases with AstraZeneca. This three-year collaboration aims to validate genetic drug targets and progress therapeutic molecules into clinical development. The joint research effort will leverage complementary strengths and focus on selected targets from Cholesgen's early-stage portfolios. Cholesgen will be entitled to receive an initial payment, as well as a pre-defined license package for each qualified drug candidate nominated by AstraZeneca to progress into clinical development.

This programme establishes a new collaboration model with a Chinese biotech, starting from first-in-class targets and mechanisms originally identified by Chinese researchers. Under the governance of a Joint Research Committee, scientists from AstraZeneca and Cholesgen will work closely on target validation and hit generation for the delivery of selected drug candidates, with the priority option for AstraZeneca to bring them into clinical development.

High levels of cholesterol are a major risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). ASCVD remains a leading cause of death worldwide, despite advances in preventive interventions.

"This is an important collaboration for AstraZeneca, led by deep scientific expertise and a shared ambition to address the key drivers that contribute to hypercholesterolemia and related metabolic diseases. We look forward to working together to accelerate target discovery and preclinical research in this area of high unmet need." said Mene Pangalos, EVP, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca.

"As a young Biotech with deep understanding of target biology and a focused pipeline, Cholesgen is thrilled to start this strategic collaboration with AstraZeneca and hope to accelerate the delivery of innovative medicines for patients with hypercholesterolemia or related metabolic diseases," said Dr. Bao-Liang Song, Chair of SAB Cholesgen.

About "Cholesgen"

Cholesgen (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. is a biotech pioneering in the biomedical research, innovative target identification and first-in-class drug discovery in the field of cholesterol-related diseases, such as hyperlipidemia, obesity, atherosclerosis, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

SOURCE Cholesgen (Shanghai) Co.Ltd.
BOISE, Idaho, June 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Clearwater Analytics Holdings, Inc. ("Clearwater Analytics" or the "Company") (NYSE: CWAN), a leading provider of SaaS-based investment management, accounting, reporting, and analytics solutions, today announced the pricing of its underwritten secondary public offering of its Class A common stock priced at a price to the public of $16.05 per share. The offering consists of 10,000,000 shares of Class A common stock to be sold by certain affiliates of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (collectively, the "Selling Stockholders"). The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Company's Class A common stock by the Selling Stockholders. The Company's Class A common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CWAN." The offering is expected to close on June 20, 2023, subject to customary closing conditions.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as the underwriter and sole book-running manager for the offering.

The shares of Class A common stock in this offering are being offered pursuant to an automatically effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 8, 2023. A prospectus relating to and describing the terms of the proposed offering will be filed with the SEC and may be obtained from: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, by telephone at 1-866-471-2526, or by email at [email protected]; or by accessing the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. Any offers, solicitations or offers to buy, or any sales of securities will be made in accordance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

About Clearwater Analytics

Clearwater Analytics (NYSE: CWAN), a global, industry-leading SaaS solution, automates the entire investment lifecycle. With a single instance, multi-tenant architecture, Clearwater offers award-winning investment portfolio planning, performance reporting, data aggregation, reconciliation, accounting, compliance, risk, and order management. Each day, leading insurers, asset managers, corporations, and governments use Clearwater's trusted data to drive efficient, scalable investing on more than $6.4 trillion in assets spanning traditional and alternative asset types.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Forward-looking statements include information concerning the closing date of the public offering, the Company's possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, technology developments, financing and investment plans, dividend policy, competitive position, industry, economic and regulatory environment, potential growth opportunities and the effects of competition. Forward-looking statements include statements that are not historical facts and can be identified by terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "seek," "should," "will," "would" or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, that may cause the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC on March 3, 2023, and in other periodic reports filed by the Company with the SEC. These filings are available at www.sec.gov and on the Company's website. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Also, forward-looking statements represent management's beliefs and assumptions only as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as representing the Company's expectations or beliefs as of any date subsequent to the time they are made. The Company does not undertake to and specifically declines any obligation to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company.

SOURCE Clearwater Analytics, LLC
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CND Life Sciences, a medical technology company pioneering the development of skin-based tests to help clinicians diagnose neurodegenerative diseases and other neurologic disorders, has been awarded accreditation by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). Recognized for rigorous and robust standards, CAP accreditation elevates quality in important ways so that laboratories can contribute to improved patient outcomes.

Ronald J. Paler, MD, CND's Chief Pathologist and Medical Director, was advised of this recognition and congratulated for the excellence of the services being provided. CND is one of more than 8,000 CAP-accredited facilities worldwide.

"As an innovative and growing anatomic pathology laboratory, CND is committed to the highest level of quality to meet our patient mission," said Dr. Paler. "We are proud to attain accreditation from the College of American Pathologists and look forward to driving continuous quality programs well into the future."

During the CAP accreditation process, designed to ensure the highest standards of care for all laboratory patients, inspectors examine the laboratory's records and quality control procedures. CAP inspectors also examine laboratory staff qualifications, staff competency, equipment, facilities, safety program and records, and overall management. These reviews help verify that the lab's activities reflect the most recent best practices and meet regulatory guidelines.

"Accreditation by the College of American Pathologists is an important milestone for CND," said Theresa Rosov, CND's Senior Quality Manager. "Meeting the CAP's rigorous laboratory performance standards reflects our dedication to quality processes and our commitment to patient care."

With over 23,000 laboratory participants, in addition to accreditation, the CAP offers proficiency testing/external quality assessment (PT/EQA) programs, quality improvement tools, and protocols and guidelines to ensure excellence in all areas across the laboratory. Built on a foundation of pathologist expertise, CAP partners with laboratories worldwide to elevate the quality of laboratory medicine with best-in-class solutions designed to drive operational excellence, achieve diagnostic confidence, and ensure the best patient care.

About CND Life Sciences

CND Life Sciences is on a mission to help transform the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Operating a CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratory in Scottsdale, Arizona, CND launched the Syn-One Test in 2019 as the world's first commercially available test that detects and visualizes phosphorylated alpha-synuclein in cutaneous nerves with high accuracy to aid the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and related disorders. The company has scientific collaborations with biopharmaceutical companies and has been awarded three NIH SBIR grants to advance the clinical utility of the Syn-One Test. For more information visit www.cndlifesciences.com.

About the College of American Pathologists

As the world's largest organization of board-certified pathologists and leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide. For more information, read the CAP Annual Report at cap.org.

CONTACT:

Kendall Swanson

[email protected]com

SOURCE CND Life Sciences
HENDERSON, Nev., June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Daiso is pleased to announce that it will open a new store at Whitney Ranch Shopping Center in Henderson, Nevada on June 24. This opening marks the 5th Daiso location in Nevada.

As a value driven company, Daiso's retail stores provide customers the opportunity to shop a wide range of quality products at a great price. "Our mission is to create joy through a fun shopping experience with unique products at an extraordinary value. Daiso's expansion into new markets aligns with our vision to create an opportunity for everybody to Discover Daiso!" says Lance Twitty, Chief Merchandising and Supply Chain Officer for Daiso USA.

The Daiso store at Whitney Ranch Shopping Center encompasses 5,000 square feet, and features items that include products from stationery, kitchen, cosmetics, home goods and more. This will be Daiso's 99th store in North America. Across the globe, the retailer has more than 5,500 stores and 3,300 stores in Japan alone. John Clarke, Chief Development Officer for Daiso USA says, "Expanding in Nevada is just the next step in our growth strategy. We currently operate 98 units in 7 states with more states opening in 2024. Nevada based Daiso customers have shown us through our online business and social media their desire for us to have more stores in the state. That certainly influenced our timing of expanding within Nevada early in our growth strategy."

Daiso will celebrate its soft opening at Whitney Ranch Shopping Center on Wednesday, June 21, beginning at 2 p.m. The official grand opening of the Whitney Ranch Shopping Center store is on Saturday, June 24. The first 100 customers that make a minimum purchase of $30 on June 24th and 25th will receive a free goodie bag.

The Whitney Ranch Shopping Center Daiso store is anchored by neighboring tenant Ross and is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Daiso was founded in 1977 in Japan and entered the US market in 2005. The Daiso US headquarters is located in La Mirada, CA.

SOURCE Daiso USA
The National Dialogues Board of Trustees approved on Thursday the agenda for the dialogues fourth week of sessions, which will take place in Cairo starting Sunday, General Coordinator of the Dialogue Diaa Rashwan announced.

The general coordinator said that a series of specialized mini-meetings are being held to formulate conclusions and proposals from the general sessions. These will be presented to the board of trustees for discussion and final approval before they are submitted to President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.

These meetings will represent the perspectives of all participants during the general sessions, Rashwan added.

On Sunday, according to the general coordinator, the fourth week of the dialogue will kick off with two consecutive sessions on the 2019 law regulating the work of civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

There will also be a discussion session on encouraging interaction between the Egyptian academic community and its counterparts abroad, including the requirements for freedom of academic research. There will be another session on the local administration law and the discussion on the law of local councils will be completed.

On Tuesday 20 June, the economic axis discussions will include two consecutive sessions on reforming public financial management and two other consecutive meetings on industrial policies (joint session between the Industry and Private Investment Committees).

On Thursday 22 June, the social axis discussions will include two consecutive sessions on institutions and cultural policies.

The discussions will also include a session on the causes and means of addressing domestic violence as well as another session on cyber risks.

The general coordinator clarified that the sessions will be held at their usual times, starting at 12:00pm at the Cairo International Convention Centre in Nasr City.

Board thanks Sisi



Rashwan also announced on Thursday that the board of trustees thanked President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi for his commitment to implementing the agreed-upon outcomes of the national dialogue.

On Wednesday, during his during his visit to Abadiyya village in Beheira governorate to inaugurate several projects under the Decent Life initiative, El-Sisi affirmed his commitment to endorse the outcomes of the national dialogue, be it in the political, economic or social axes, as long as they fall within his authority.

Matters outside his authority will be submitted to the parliament, the president said, emphasizing the ongoing need for the National Dialogue to continue.

The general coordinator added that the board of trustees considers the president's statements consistent with his previous positions, given that he initiated the dialogue in April 2022.

Rashwan emphasized that the board of trustees sees the president's reaffirmation as a strong incentive for the dialogue to seek further consensus on various issues and topics that concern the Egyptian people.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


HOUSTON, June 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DeerRun is a treadmill brand designed specifically for women, with careful research and optimization for height, weight, and exercise habits of women in Europe and America. Recently, DeerRun launched a new smart under-desk treadmill - BA02, which can be remotely controlled by mobile phone and is suitable for use in the office or at home to save space and facilitate exercise.

DeerRun believes that every woman has her own unique way of exercising and goals, with no fixed standards or patterns. DeerRun hopes to help every woman discover and achieve her fitness dreams through its products and services, becoming better, happier, and more confident.

The BA02 smart under-desk treadmill is an innovative product designed by DeerRun for women who lack exercise time and space in their work and life. This treadmill features an ultra-thin, ultra-quiet, ultra-light design that can be easily placed under a desk for exercise anytime, anywhere. Users only need to download the DeerRun exclusive APP-PitPat on their mobile phones to remotely control the treadmill, including on/off, speed adjustment, and viewing exercise data. In addition, this treadmill also has intelligent sensing capabilities that automatically adjust speed based on the user's foot position for safety and comfort.

DeerRun says that the BA02 smart under-desk treadmill is a product suitable for women of all ages and physical conditions. Whether you want to lose weight and shape up, improve your physique, relieve stress or enjoy the fun of exercise, you can achieve it through this treadmill. DeerRun also offers a variety of exercise modes and courses for users to choose from, including walking, jogging, running, interval training and more. Users can also interact with other DeerRun users through the APP-PitPat to share their exercise experiences and achievements.

DeerRun says that the BA02 smart under-desk treadmill is the best embodiment of its brand philosophy. DeerRun not only provides high-quality treadmill products but also provides comprehensive exercise services and support. DeerRun hopes that through this treadmill, more women will enjoy the health and happiness brought by exercise.

About DeerRun

DeerRun focuses on women's fitness and is committed to meeting overlooked needs

In the field of fitness products, female users are often overlooked. There are no fitness products that serve female users, and there is a lack of professional fitness brands that are suitable for the physiological structure of women.

DeerRun noticed this phenomenon and immediately launched a survey of women's fitness activities, obtaining some uncommon answers in terms of equipment size, shape, and color matching. These needs should not be forgotten. We decided to make some products that are more suitable for female users, such as women's exclusive treadmills. This was unanimously approved by all members of our team, who provided a lot of suggestions, which also allowed us to bring forward the estimated time for our product to go on the market.

Our products are designed based on the results of our survey of female users and try to meet common needs as much as possible, making them more suitable for female users in all aspects. We believe that this will be a great exercise experience and a change for DeerRun. We will pay attention to more diverse user groups and maximize the satisfaction of needs that are overlooked by the mass market.

SOURCE DeerRun
11th annual program recognizes African American leaders and their contributions to the Commonwealth

This year's honorees include an Air Force Pilot, a Nuclear Engineer, a CEO, and a Farmer

Four high school student winners of creative contest also recognized

RICHMOND, Va., June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion Energy and the Library of Virginia are pleased to announce the 2023 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History honorees and Student Creative Expressions Contest winners.

This annual program recognizes notable African American business and community leaders who have overcome obstacles to make significant impacts across the state.

"Each generation builds on the achievements of the one before. That's why we are proud to honor Strong Men & Women in Virginia History who have used their talents and efforts to improve communities for the present and future generations," said Bill Murray, Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications at Dominion Energy.

Members of the armed forces, engineers, authors, community leaders, educators, journalists, judges, and politicians have been celebrated throughout the program's history.

"These amazing men and women have proven that hard work and determination can shape one's destiny and the world. Throughout time, African American leaders have used their unique skillsets and unwavering passion to mentor leaders of the future. It's important to honor their efforts and their legacy," said Sandra G. Treadway, Librarian of Virginia.

The 2023 honorees:

Kendall Holbrook

CEO and Mentor, Fairfax County

Ora Scruggs McCoy

Farmer and Community Activist, Appomattox County

Wendell Oliver Scott (honored posthumously)

Stock Car Driver, Danville

Col. Quentin Joseph Smith Jr. (Ret)

Air Force Pilot and Mentor, Hampton

Sheila Bowen Taylor

Nuclear Engineer and Mentor, Norfolk

Rev. Raymond Rogers Wilkinson (honored posthumously)

Baptist Minister and Civil Rights Leader, Roanoke

The leaders were celebrated at a gala on Thursday in Richmond. Each honoree was provided the opportunity to choose a non-profit to receive a $5,000 grant from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation. Along with the event, the Library of Virginia will host a traveling exhibition featuring each of the honorees and their biographical information. The exhibition will be on display at various community, business, and educational institutions throughout the year so that Virginians can learn about these outstanding leaders and their contributions to the Commonwealth.

In 2013, Strong Men & Women in Virginia History was born when Dominion Energy and the Library of Virginia began a new educational initiative that merged two phenomenal Black History Month programs: Dominion Energy's 22yearold series, Strong Men & Women: Excellence in Leadership and the Library of Virginia's eightyearold program, African American Trailblazers in Virginia History.

As part of the initiative, high school students from each region of Virginia are invited to participate in a contest to honor outstanding African Americans and share stories they feel may be missing from the mainstream narrative.

The 2023 Student Creative Expressions Contest winners:

Jonah Burton

Henrico High School, Richmond

Alexa Koeckritz

Grafton High School, Yorktown

Lily Vietmeyer

Washington-Liberty High School, Arlington

Maria Turner

Patrick County High School, Stuart

The student winners will each receive an Apple MacBook Air laptop and $1,000 for their schools.

For more information on Strong Men & Women in Virginia History, photos and full honoree biographical information, go to the Library of Virginia's website: Strong Men & Women in Virginia History - Library of Virginia Education.

View the Spanish version of this press release.

About the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation About 7 million customers in 16 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D). Through its Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, as well as EnergyShare and other programs, Dominion Energy contributed $45 million in 2022 to community causes. The Foundation supports nonprofit causes that meet basic human needs, protect the environment, promote education, and encourage community vitality. Please visit www.DominionEnergy.com to learn more.

About the Library of Virginia The Library of Virginia is the state's oldest institution dedicated to the preservation of Virginia's history and culture. Our online offerings attract nearly 4 million website visits per year, and our resources, exhibitions and events bring in nearly 100,000 visitors each year. The Library's collections, containing more than 130 million items, document and illustrate the lives of both famous Virginians and ordinary citizens. The Library is located in downtown Richmond near Capitol Square at 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Learn more at www.lva.virginia.gov.

SOURCE Dominion Energy
DUBLIN, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Extended Release Injectable Drugs" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Chronic conditions require drug administration over long periods of time, placing a greater emphasis on self-administration. With the shift away from caregiver interaction, drug safety and compliance/adherence become prominent concerns. These concerns, which are not new, are becoming magnified as the number of powerful new drugs reaching the market increases.

For healthcare managers and public health officials, one way to address these issues is less frequent dosing. Using formulation technologies designed to modulate the effect of therapeutic substances, drug developers are creating formulations that exhibit extended-release profiles.

These chemistries include polymers such as polyethylene glycol-complexed (PEGylated), which are used to produce APIs. The goal is to address the requirement for patient-dependent, and therefore compliance-sensitive, drug treatment protocols such as multiple dosing through controlled release formulations that provide the desired therapeutic effect with dosing of once-a-day or less.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Executive Summary

2. Injectable Drug Market Dynamics

The Trend toward Self-Administration

3. Injectable Drug Formulation Technology

Innovation in Injectable Device Designs

Therapeutic Demand Drivers

4. Market Factors

Patient Compliance and Ease of Use

Healthcare Regulations

Managed Care Initiatives

Competitive Landscape

Risk Factors

5. Extended-release Formulation Technologies

Biodegradable Polymers

PEG

PLA/PLGA

Polyether ester

6. Extended-release Formulation Platforms

BEPO (MedinCell)

ChroniJect (Oakwood Laboratories/PharmaSophia)

CriticalMix (Critical Pharmaceuticals)

Depofoam (Pacira)

FluidCrystal (Camarus)

LinkeRx (Alkermes)

Medisorb (Alkermes)

Medusa (Recipharm/Avadel)

Nanocrystals (Alkermes)

Optisomes (Talon/Spectrum)

PolyActive (Octoplus)

Q-Sphera (Midatech Pharma)

SABER/SAIB (DURECT)

SynBiosys (Innocore)

TransCon (Ascendis)

7. Physical Process Control Methods

Supercritical Fluid

SCF for Nanoparticle Formulations

Formulplex (Supercritical Solutions)

Ferro

SCF extraction of emulsions (SFEE)

8. Extended-release Injectables - Development Factors

Formulation Factors

Stability

Administration Factors

9. Extended Release Injectables - Product Analysis

Aripiprazole

Aripiprazole lauroxil

Bupivacaine

Buprenorphine

Cytarabine

Cytarabine & Daunorubicin

Doxorubicin

Estradiol

Exenatide

Fluphenazine decanoate

Goserelin acetate

Granisetron

Interferon

Irinotecan

Lanreotide acetate

Leuprolide

Leuprolide Depot

Medroxyprogesterone

Naltrexone

Octreotide acetate

Olanzapine Pamoate

Paliperidone palmitate

Pasireotide

Pegvaliase-pqpz

Risperidone

Testosterone

Triptorelin

Triamcinolone acetonide

Vincristine sulfate

Glycemic Control

AB101 (Rezolute)

Hormone Deficiency

Human Growth Hormone/Ascendis

Addiction

CAM2038 (Camurus)

Pain Management

Posidur/Durect

Cardiology

Treprostinil/Ascendis Pharma

Neurology

Relday/Risperidone (DURECT/Zogenix)

Oncology

CAM2032 (Camurus)

10. Extended-Release Injectables - Selected Sector Analysis

Addiction

Glycemic Control

Infectious Disease

Hepatitis

Neurology

Schizophrenia

Bipolar Disorder

Oncology

Pain Management

Reproductive Health

Fertility

Endometriosis

Vasomotor Symptoms associated with Menopause

11. Company Profiles

Alkermes

Amylin

AntriaBio

Ascendis Pharma

AstraZeneca

Aurobundo

Avadel

Biomarin

Camurus

Critical Pharmaceuticals

DURECT

Eli Lilly

Enzon

Ipsen

Janssen

NanOlogy

Novartis

OctoPlus

Oakwood Laboratories/PharmaSophia

Pacira

PhaseBio Pharmaceuticals

Recipharm AB

Roche

Sanofi

Taiwan Liposome Company (TLC)

Xbrane Bipharma

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/wbugpj

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
MADISON, Wis., June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation is running a provocative full-page ad picturing a bible and the Book of Mormon with a headline saying "BAN THESE BOOKS" in Sunday's Salt Lake City Tribune (June 18).

The national state/church watchdog is campaigning to compel Utah to treat so-called "holy books" the same as other literature school districts are removing from school libraries in the wake of a book-banning law.

Freedom From Religion Foundation is the largest national association of freethinkers, atheists, agnostics, and others. Tweet this The Freedom From Religion Foundation is running a provocative full-page ad picturing a bible and the Book of Mormon with a headline saying BAN THESE BOOKS in Sundays Salt Lake City Tribune (June 18).

"If the state of Utah and its school boards insist on censoring 'sensitive' material in our public schools," the FFRF ad states, "then they must start with the bible and Book of Mormon."

The bible is "replete with violent, graphic, degrading descriptions as well as age-inappropriate stories," including descriptions of "sperm, menstruation, intercourse, rape, incest, masturbation, homosexuality, fornication, adultery, sadism, sexual mutilation and 'harlots' and 'whores,'" says FFRF. Sordid tales of incest, rape, voyeurism, pimping, plural marriages and concubinage are related, often approvingly.

Passages such as Ezekiel 23:2021 and Revelation, Chapter 17 "cannot even be printed in a family-friendly newspaper." FFRF offers documentation at ffrf.org/X-rated and unpleasantgod.ffrf.org. Book of Mormon passages on concubines, polygamy and raping and killing war prisoners are likewise unsuitable.

Although FFRF states, "Thoughtful people abhor the banning of books, as does the Freedom of Religion Foundation," it adds: "Utah cannot adopt one standard for so-called 'holy books' and another for all other books." Instead, the legislature should stop the "folly" of book banning and repeal its misguided law, H.B. 374, thereby striking a blow for the freedom to read and the First Amendment.

FFRF bolstered the complaint of a parent whose request to ban the bible in light of numerous book removals in Davis County Schools ended in a controversial vote May 31 to remove the King James Version from lower-grade libraries. FFRF maintains the district did not go far enough and is prodding Davis County Schools to remove bibles from all school libraries.

The Davis County Schools vote created statewide consternation by religionists, who held a rally at the state Capitol.

"This is a case of being careful what you wish for," comments FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. "The bible ban is a logical if unintended consequence of this very bad bill. We hope this consequence will lead to the rational conclusion of repealing H.B. 374."

SOURCE Freedom From Religion Foundation
The fibromyalgia treatment market is experiencing growth due to several key factors, such as the significant prevalence of fibromyalgia among the population, a surge in awareness regarding fibromyalgia and its treatment, and enhanced access to generic medications for fibromyalgia treatment.

PORTLAND, Ore., June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report titled, "Fibromyalgia Treatment Market by Drug Class (Antidepressants, Anticonvulsants, Muscle Relaxants, and Others), by Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Drug Stores and Retail Pharmacies, and Online Providers): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2023-2032." According to the report, the global fibromyalgia treatment market was valued at $3.1 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach $4.6 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4.0% from 2023 to 2032.

Download Sample Copy- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/13726

Prime Determinants of Growth-

The fibromyalgia treatment market is experiencing growth due to several key factors, such as the significant prevalence of fibromyalgia among the population, a surge in awareness regarding fibromyalgia and its treatment, and enhanced access to generic medications for fibromyalgia treatment. On the other hand, alternative treatment options are available, and underdeveloped nations have a lack of knowledge about fibromyalgia, which limits market growth. On the contrary, a robust pipeline of medicine for the treatment of fibromyalgia offers remunerative opportunities for the expansion of the fibromyalgia treatment market.

Report Coverage and Details-

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20232032 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2022 $3.1 Billion Market Size in 2032 $4.6 Billion CAGR 4.0 % No. of Pages in Report 233 Segments covered Drug Class, Distribution Channel, and Region Drivers Significant prevalence of fibromyalgia among the population Surge in awareness regarding fibromyalgia and its treatment Enhanced access to generic medications for fibromyalgia treatment Opportunity A robust pipeline of products for fibromyalgia treatment Restraints Availability of alternate treatment options Lack of awareness about fibromyalgia in underdeveloped countries

COVID-19 Scenario-

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the healthcare industry and influenced various aspects of patient care, including the treatment of chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia. One of the factors that impacted the growth of the market was the shortage of medicines and the disruption in the supply of raw materials used to manufacture the medications.

Furthermore, clinical trials investigating new treatments for fibromyalgia were temporarily halted or delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moreover, during the pandemic, fibromyalgia syndrome patients, who are already susceptible to stress-related symptom exacerbation, experienced heightened pain, fatigue, and other fibromyalgia syndrome symptoms due to increased stress and anxiety. This led to an increase in demand for medications to manage fibromyalgia, which has positively impacted the growth of the fibromyalgia treatment market.

Procure Complete Report at 20% Discount (233 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures)

https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/fibromyalgia-treatment-market

The anticonvulsants segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period-

Based on drug class, the anticonvulsants segment held the highest market share in 2022, accounting for around three-fifths of the global fibromyalgia treatment market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. Healthcare providers are increasingly prescribing anticonvulsants for fibromyalgia treatment as they are known to be effective in managing neuropathic pain conditions, which acts as a key driving force in the segment. On the other hand, the antidepressants segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 4.8% from 2023 to 2032. Due to their low cost, generic antidepressants are easily accessible to people all over the world.

The drug stores and retail pharmacies segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period-

Based on distribution channel, the drug stores and retail pharmacies segment accounted for the major share in 2022, contributing to nearly three-fifths of the global fibromyalgia treatment market revenue and is projected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. Drug stores and retail pharmacies provide a large selection of pharmaceuticals, including both branded and generic drugs from various producers. Customers will have a variety of options to choose from, which promotes market expansion. Additionally, the accessibility of medications for the treatment of fibromyalgia is made more convenient for patients by the widespread presence of retail pharmacy stores. However, the online providers segment would portray the highest CAGR of 5.6% from 2023 to 2032. Online healthcare providers make it easy to get access to medical services while relaxing in one's own home. The comfort of getting consultations, prescriptions, and treatment plans online can be helpful for people with fibromyalgia who might experience pain, fatigue, and mobility issues.

For Purchase Inquiry- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/13726

North America to maintain its dominance by 2032-

Based on region, North America held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2022, accounting for more than two-fifths of the global fibromyalgia treatment market, and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to the well-developed healthcare infrastructure, consumer awareness of fibromyalgia, and surge in demand for effective medications in this region. However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 4.9% from 2023 to 2032, owing to the large population base in countries such as China and India, rising healthcare expenditure, developing healthcare infrastructure, and a rise in people's knowledge regarding fibromyalgia in this region.

Leading Market Players: -

Novartis AG

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.

Eli Lilly and Company

AbbVie Inc.

Abbott Laboratories

Lupin Ltd.

Viatris Inc.

Zydus Lifesciences Limited

Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global fibromyalgia treatment market. These players have adopted different strategies such as agreements, product approval, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant positions in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolios, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

Trending Research Reports of Healthcare Industry:

3D Printed Drugs Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030

Molecular Diagnostics Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030

Digital Pathology Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030

Acne Medication Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030

Gene Therapy Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030

AVENUE- A Subscription-Based Library (Premium on-demand, subscription-based pricing model):

AMR introduces its online premium subscription-based library Avenue, designed specifically to offer cost-effective, one-stop solution for enterprises, investors, and universities. With Avenue, subscribers can avail an entire repository of reports on more than 2,000 niche industries and more than 12,000 company profiles. Moreover, users can get an online access to quantitative and qualitative data in PDF and Excel formats along with analyst support, customization, and updated versions of reports.

Get an access to the library of reports at any time from any device and anywhere. For more details, follow the link: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access

About Allied Market Research:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domains. AMR offers its services across 11 industry verticals including Life Sciences, Consumer Goods, Materials & Chemicals, Construction & Manufacturing, Food & Beverages, Energy & Power, Semiconductor & Electronics, Automotive & Transportation, ICT & Media, Aerospace & Defense, and BFSI.

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

Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285

UK: +44-845-528-1300

Hong Kong: +852-301-84916

India (Pune): +91-20-66346060

Fax: +1-855-550-5975

[email protected]

Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/3950895/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Allied Market Research
NEW YORK, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WHP Global, a leading global brand management firm and owner of the fashion brand Bonobos, today announced that Andy Dunn, founder of Bonobos, will be joining WHP Global in an advisory role for the newly acquired Bonobos brand.

A well-known entrepreneur, author and investor, Andy Dunn co-founded Bonobos in 2007 and served as Founding CEO for its first ten years pioneering the digitally native brand movement. His appointment as brand advisor follows the joint acquisition of Bonobos by WHP Global and fashion apparel retailer, Express, Inc. (EXPR).

Bonobos logo Andy Dunn, co-Founder of Bonobos. Image Courtesy Brian McConkey.

Andy Dunn and WHP Global will be working in partnership with EXPR CEO Tim Baxter, Bonobos President John Hutchison, and the entire Bonobos team to help drive the future of the brand.

"Getting back into the mix at Bonobos is a magical, full-circle moment," said Andy Dunn. "Yehuda, Tim and the teams at WHP Global and EXPR are wonderful people and will be exceptional brand stewards. In partnership with John and the strong leadership team at Bonobos, we're going to do great things on behalf of current and future Bonobos customers."

"As the co-Founder of Bonobos and a retail innovator, Andy has a unique perspective that we are fortunate to have access to as we work with WHP Global to begin the next chapter of growth for Bonobos," said Tim Baxter, CEO of EXPR.

Bonobos pioneered the use of e-commerce as a scalable platform for an American brand, while simultaneously introducing Guideshop locations that served as the brand's experiential store model. Today, Bonobos continues to lead the digitally native menswear category and deliver double-digit sales growth.

"The future of the Bonobos brand is incredibly exciting as we welcome back Andy Dunn and focus on activating the brand's potential by leveraging the combined platforms of WHP Global and EXPR," said Yehuda Shmidman, CEO and Chairman of WHP Global. "With Andy Dunn's extensive expertise and unwavering passion for the brand, we are confident that he will play a vital role in guiding the Bonobos brand through its next phase of growth."

About Andy Dunn

Andy Dunn is the co-founder of menswear ecommerce brand Bonobos, where he served as CEO for a decade and pioneered the digital brand movement. Last year, Dunn released a memoir titled Burn Rate: Launching a Startup and Losing My Mind, revealing his previously hidden journey with bipolar. Dunn is now the founder and CEO of Pie, a new social app designed to bring people together in real life. As an angel and VC investor at Red Swan Ventures, he has backed more than 120 startups, including Warby Parker and Coinbase.

About WHP Global

WHP Global is a leading New York based firm that acquires global consumer brands and invests in high-growth distribution channels including digital commerce platforms and global expansion. WHP owns ANNE KLEIN, JOSEPH ABBOUD, JOE'S JEANS, BONOBOS, ISAAC MIZRAHI, LOTTO, TOYS"R"US, BABIES"R"US, and a 60% interest in the EXPRESS brand. Collectively the brands are approaching $7 billion in global retail sales. The company also owns WHP+, a turnkey direct to consumer digital e-commerce platform, and WHP SOLUTIONS, a sourcing agency based in Asia. For more information, please visit www.whp-global.com.

Media Contacts :

WHP Global

Jaime Cassavechia

EJ Media Group

[email protected]

646-701-7041

Andy Dunn

Josh Kipnis

CultureSpeed Communications

[email protected]

EXPR

Investors

Greg Johnson

[email protected]

614-474-4890

SOURCE WHP Global
PUNE, India, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dataintelo, a leading global market research and consulting firm, has released a new comprehensive market study on the Global Medical Imaging Technologies Market. The report covers market forecast, dynamics, trends, and detailed insights by type, application, end-user, region, and product, offering valuable insights and predictions for the industry through 2031. The study aims to provide in-depth understanding and analysis of the market landscape to guide stakeholders, investors, and industry participants in their decision-making processes.

The global medical imaging technologies market is expected to witness significant growth over the next decade due to advancements in healthcare technology, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, and the need for early diagnosis and improved treatment outcomes. The market is segmented by type, application, end user, product, and region.

Download PDF Sample here: https://dataintelo.com/request-sample/?reportId=425565

Market by Type: X-ray, MRI, Ultrasound, CT, Nuclear Medicine, PET

With advancements in technology, key market players are focusing on the development of innovative and advanced imaging techniques, such as X-ray, MRI, ultrasound, CT, nuclear medicine, and PET scans, to gain a competitive edge and address the increasing demand for improved diagnostic and monitoring solutions. The rapidly growing market for medical imaging is driven by an aging population, growing healthcare expenditure, and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases worldwide.

Market by Application: Oncology, Cardiology, Neurology, Orthopedics, Gynecology, Internal Medicine

The global medical imaging technologies market caters to various applications, including oncology, cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, gynecology, and internal medicine. Oncology and cardiology applications are expected to register high growth rates due to the increasing prevalence of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Early detection and accurate diagnosis are vital for the successful treatment of these chronic conditions, which drives the demand for advanced medical imaging solutions.

Market by End User: Hospitals, Diagnostic Centers, Research Institutes, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Clinics

The end users of medical imaging technologies include hospitals, diagnostic centers, research institutes, ambulatory surgical centers, and clinics. Hospitals account for the largest share of the market owing to the rising patient footfall and the subsequent need for accurate diagnostic and monitoring services. In addition, hospitals are becoming increasingly active in imaging research and development to create novel imaging solutions for various medical applications.

Market by Region: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa

Geographically, the market has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. North America and Europe currently dominate the medical imaging technologies market due to the presence of sophisticated healthcare infrastructure, investments in advanced technologies, and a high prevalence of chronic diseases. However, the Asia-Pacific is expected to register the highest growth rate in the coming years, driven by rapidly developing healthcare infrastructure and increasing investments in the healthcare sector. Furthermore, the growing aging population in the region is also expected to contribute to the growth of the market.

Market by Product: Standalone, Integrated, Services

Based on product, the market is categorized into standalone, integrated, and services. The standalone segment is projected to maintain its market dominance over the forecast period, as standalone imaging systems provide greater flexibility and adaptability for various clinical applications. However, the integrated and services segments are expected to witness substantial growth, owing to the rising demand for integrated solutions and professional services to maintain and operate medical imaging equipment.

Get Full Access to this Report: https://dataintelo.com/checkout/?reportId=425565

Key Market Players

Major players operating in the global medical imaging technologies market include GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, Philips Healthcare, Canon Medical Systems Corporation, Hitachi Medical Corporation, Shimadzu Corporation, Carestream Health, and FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, among others. These companies are focusing on strategic initiatives such as product development, mergers and acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships to maintain their competitive position and expand their presence in the global market.

Future Market Outlook

The global medical imaging technologies market is expected to witness steady growth over the forecast period, driven by technological advancements, the growing burden of chronic diseases, and increasing healthcare expenditure. The adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning in medical imaging is expected to offer lucrative opportunities for market players in the coming years. Moreover, the market promises substantial growth in emerging economies, providing ample opportunities for market players to expand their presence in untapped regions.

Related Reports:

Medical Imaging Market- Segments - by Products (X-ray [Modality, Mobility, Products, and Applications], Ultrasound [Products, Portability, and Applications], Computed Tomography [Technology and Application], Magnetic Resonance Imaging [Architecture, Field Strength, and Applications], and Nuclear Imaging [Products and Applications], End User (Hospitals, Diagnostic Imaging Centers, Ambulatory Imaging Centers, and Others), Regions (Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East & Africa) - Global Industry Analysis, Growth, Share, Size, Trends, and Forecast 2021  2028

North America Medical Imaging Software Market- Segments - by Types (2D Imaging, 3D Imaging, and 4D Imaging), Applications (Dental, Orthopedic, Cardiology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mammography, Urology and Nephrology), By North America (The US, Canada, Mexico, and Rest of North America) - North America Industry Analysis, Growth, Share, Size, Trends, and Forecast 2021  2028

Medical Imaging Reagents Market- Segments - by Products (Nuclear Reagents, Optical Reagents, and Contrast Reagents), Technology (Nanoparticles, Fluorescent Proteins, Quantum Dots, Probes, Radiopharmaceuticals, and Fluorescent Dyes), and Regions (Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa) - Global Industry Analysis, Growth, Share, Size, Trends, and Forecast 2021  2028

About Dataintelo:

Dataintelo is a global market research and consulting firm offering syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. We help businesses to compete and plan strategically in an evolving marketplace. With our expertise in various industries, including Chemicals & Materials, Healthcare, Information & Communication Technology, Energy & Power, and Food & Beverages, we cater to a wide range of clients from small startups to Fortune 500 companies.

Contact Us:

Phone: +1 909 414 1393

Email: [email protected]

Web: https://dataintelo.com/

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2099960/Dataintelo_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Dataintelo
WASHINGTON, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Strat View (GSV) hosted an event on the US-India Strategic Partnership, focusing on trade, security, and defense cooperation. The panel consisted of Col. John Mills (US Army Ret.), fmr. Director of Cybersecurity Policy, Strategy, and International Affairs at the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Christopher Roper Scholl, Contributing Editor at Fair Observer and fmr. Congressional Liaison for the Pentagon. Se Hoon Kim, GSV's Senior Correspondent for East and South Asian Affairs, moderated the discussion.

Col. Mills emphasized the importance of strengthening US-India Relations to deter China's global malign influence. Commenting on the ongoing border conflict with China, Col. Mills said, "We should side with India, it's as simple as that" recognizing so-called "disputed territories" by China as sovereign territories of India.

Scholl expressed that the private sectors of India and the US are figuring out a closer form of economic partnership with the steady increase of global investments in the Indian market. He alluded to the US visit of Prime Minister Modi. He explained that the GE deal is expected to be formalized, further attesting to the ever-increasing US-India trade relations.

Notwithstanding India's long-standing relations with Russia, Scholl noted that the upcoming visit presents a rare opportunity for the US to partner with India because "India is looking for friends, and frankly, so are we."

The panelists also discussed ongoing efforts to derail India's development by China and Pakistan. Col. Mills commented that, due to its own actions, Pakistan has essentially become a tributary state to China. The panelists emphasized that the malign efforts to derail India's growth will not succeed, as India is on its way to becoming the third, potentially second, largest economy by 2027. The panelists emphasized that the US needs to support the protection of India's IP and Patents on top of its ongoing efforts to combat IP and Patent theft by China.

Col. Mills and Mr. Scholl expressed that the timing of Secretary Blinken's sudden upcoming visit to China on the eve of the visit of PM Modi to the US is confusing.

The Panelists concluded that the US should not be lecturing India but rather focus on things that are in our mutual interest and move forward on those factors.

Media Contact: Poonam Sharma at 202-679-8771, [email protected]com

SOURCE Global Strat View
BOSTON, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Bo Bennett, founder of BookMarketing.pro and acclaimed author of over a dozen books, including the bestseller "Logically Fallacious," announced the release of his latest book "Artificial Intelligence, Real Profits: Mastering ChatGPT-4 for Business Marketing." Notably, this book is a testament to the revolutionary power of AI, as Bennett wrote it almost exclusively with artificial intelligence, even crafting the marketing materials and the audiobook in his voice using AI technology.

Bo Bennett, PhD. Artificial Intelligence, Real Profits: Mastering ChatGPT-4 for Business Marketing.

Bennett's background spans programming and technology, and he holds a PhD in Social Psychology. His diverse background and deep understanding of technology, human behavior, and self-publishing have uniquely positioned him to explore AI's potential to transform business marketing. Bennett has used AI for various aspects of writing and marketing his new book, including creating the book description, keywords, selecting the categories, and even writing this press release.

"Artificial Intelligence, Real Profits" is a comprehensive guide designed to demystify AI-driven business marketing, providing actionable techniques and real-life examples. It aims to help entrepreneurs and marketers leverage the power of AI to maximize their profits and success. It's not just about AI but about leveraging AI in a way that augments human creativity and productivity, as Bennett has demonstrated in creating this book.

Bennett demonstrates how AI can be a powerful tool, even transforming the publishing industry more profoundly than the internet has. "AI is going to change the publishing industry more than the Internet has. Mark my words," said Bennett.

In this groundbreaking book, Bennett employed AI to assist in creating the topics and, through carefully crafted prompts, got the AI to write the book he envisioned. This innovative approach makes "Artificial Intelligence, Real Profits" stand out among other books in the field. "As an industry professional and a prolific author, it not only blows my mind that I created this book, all marketing materials, and audiobook (in my own voice) in about 8 hours, but that with the help of AI, this is probably better than anything I have written on my own," Bennett added. "After all, who is more qualified to write about AI than AI?"

Bennett's primary goal with this release is not just to sell more books, but to raise awareness about AI's transformative potential in the publishing industry and to inspire other authors to explore the possibilities. He encourages readers to read the book and the media to contact him for interviews.

Company / Source: BookMarketing.pro

Contact Person Name: Bo Bennett

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 1 978 522 6530

Website/URL: https://www.BookMarketing.pro/

About Bo Bennett: Bo Bennett is the founder of BookMarketing.pro, a business that has been helping self-published authors for over a decade. He is also an author of over a dozen books, including the bestseller "Logically Fallacious." His latest book, "Artificial Intelligence, Real Profits: Mastering ChatGPT-4 for Business Marketing," explores the revolutionary potential of AI in business marketing and the publishing industry.

SOURCE BookMarketing.pro
CHAMPAIGN, Ill., June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Communications Data Group (CDG) is pleased to announce that Home Telecom, a fiber-focused service provider headquartered in Moncks Corner, SC, has selected CDG's cloud-based BSS/OSS solutions for subscriber management and billing, MBS, and carrier access and interconnect, BDS-I.

"Home Telecom and PRTC have been close neighbors here in the South Carolina low country for more than 70 years, so it is very special to welcome them to CDG's BSS/OSS client community," noted CDG and PRTC CEO, Jason Dandridge. "Home is a FTTP technology leader, delivering the latest fiber network services to homes and businesses in their region. We look forward to their insights and engagement in partnering with us to create the best BSS/OSS solutions in the market."

Home Telecom selects CDG's cloud-based BSS/OSS solutions for subscriber management and carrier access and interconnect. Tweet this

In making this announcement, Anthony Douglas, COO for Home Telecom, commented, "We are excited by CDG's operator-driven vision and their dual provider and partner leadership structure. We believe their future road map and the resources of their client community will help assist us in achieving our current and future business objectives."

About CDG:

CDG has been providing scalable, accurate (B/OSS) billing and operational support solutions for voice, video, and data for retail and wholesale telecommunications carriers and service providers since 1970. Options include: BDS, Interconnect, CABS, Mediation, MBS Customer Care, Network Elements, Ticketing, Service Provisioning, E-Care, Workflow, CRM / Prospects, and integrated third-party financial, accounting, mapping, and facilities management products.

About Home Telecom:

As one of the largest independently owned telecom companies in South Carolina, Home Telecom provides internet and internet powered solutions over a fiber-rich network to Berkeley County, and portions of Dorchester and Charleston counties. Over 230 local employees serve customers from multiple local offices in the communities Home Telecom supports.

Source: Communications Data Group

Contact: Ryan Travaille

Phone: 217 402-3445

[email protected]

Related Links

http://www.cdg.ws

SOURCE Communications Data Group
The Czech president's office on Friday watered down his claim that Russians living in the West should be monitored, likening them to Japanese Americans who were interned in the United States during World War II.

President Petr Pavel told US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFERL) Thursday that Russians living in Western countries should be closely monitored by security services, given Moscow's "aggressive war" in Ukraine.

He used the example of the Japanese diaspora in the US during World War II, who he said were put under "a strict monitoring regime as well" after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

In fact the US put more than 125,000 people of Japanese descent in internment camps between 1942 and 1945.

But Pavel's spokeswoman insisted Friday that he never suggested such measures should be followed now.

"In no way did he (Pavel) mean internment or any persecution," Marketa Rehakova told AFP.

She said Pavel used the example to show that "restrictive security measures towards the citizens of an enemy state are nothing new and were implemented in the past, even though in a much harsher way."

She added security services should pay "increased attention" to the Russian community living in the Czech Republic as Moscow threatens Prague and western allies with retaliation for their support of Ukraine.

"Of course not to every individual but to potential risk factors," she said.

Pavel's statements angered the Russian community in the EU and NATO member.

"Honestly I just cannot get over the fact that the president of Czechia quite blatantly suggests that all Russian nationals should be kept at concentration camps," journalist Maria Pevchikh wrote on Twitter.

She added local security services should target wealthy Russians with property in the Czech Republic, not independent journalists and activists.

Pavel, a former NATO general, told Prague-based RFERL that "when there is an ongoing war, the security measures related to Russian nationals should be stricter than in normal times.

"All Russians living in Western countries should be monitored much more than in the past because they are citizens of a nation that leads an aggressive war," Pavel said.

"That's simply the cost of war."

Prague has provided Kyiv with substantial humanitarian and military aid since the Russian invasion and received almost half a million refugees from Ukraine.

Pavel visited Ukraine in April, a month after taking office.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


PHILADELPHIA, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by Kroll Settlement Administration regarding the Respondus Settlement.

A Settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit claiming that Respondus violated an Illinois law called the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act ("BIPA") by collecting biometric identifiers and/or biometric information through the use of its Respondus Monitor application without complying with BIPA's requirements. Respondus denies it did anything wrong, or that it ever collected or possessed any biometric data that could be subject to BIPA. The Court has not decided who is right or wrong.

Who is included?

You are included in the Settlement if you took an exam using Respondus Monitor while physically present in the state of Illinois at any time between November 11, 2015 and June 2, 2023 (the "Class Period").

If the Court approves the Settlement, members of the Class who submit Approved Claims will receive one payment of an equal, or pro rata, share of a $6,250,000 Settlement Fund that Respondus has agreed to establish, after all Settlement Administration Expenses, Service Awards, and Fee Award have been paid. Individual payments to Class Members who submit a valid Claim Form are estimated to be $50.00, depending on the number of Approved Claims submitted.

What are my options?

If you are an eligible Class Member, the only way to receive a payment is to submit a Claim Form either online or by mail before August 30, 2023. Claim Forms can be submitted online at BIPA-examsettlement.com, or you can download a Claim Form and mail it to: Veiga, et al. v. Respondus, Inc. c/o Kroll Settlement Administration, P.O. Box 5324, New York, NY 10150-5324.

If you do nothing, you will not receive a payment under the Settlement and you will give up your rights to sue Defendant about the issues in this case.

If you want to exclude yourself from the Settlement, you will receive no payment, but you will keep the right to participate in another lawsuit against Defendant about the claims at issue in this case. You must send a written request to be excluded by July 31, 2023.

If you do not like the Settlement you can Object. You may file a written objection no later than July 31, 2023, to tell the Court why you believe the proposed Settlement is unfair, unreasonable, or inadequate and may appear and object at the Final Approval Hearing if you provide notice of your intent to do so in your written objection.

The Court will hold the Final Approval Hearing at 9:00 a.m. (Central Time) on August 31, 2023, before the Honorable Timothy J. McJoynt in Room 2008 at the DuPage County Courthouse and Administration Building, 505 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, or via remote means as instructed by the Court. The Court will determine whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable, adequate, and in the best interests of the Class. At the hearing, the Court will hear any objections and arguments concerning the fairness of the proposed Settlement, including those related to the amount requested by Class Counsel for Fee Award and the Service Awards to the Class Representatives. You may attend the hearing at your own expense, but you do not have to.

This is only a summary. For more information about the settlement and benefits, visit BIPA-examsettlement.com or call toll-free 1-833-747-6499.

SOURCE Kroll Settlement Administration
WASHINGTON , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 12th, 2023, the International GR Professionals Association (IGAPA) organized the International Leadership Forum at the Capitol Hill Club. This forum brought together leaders from government relations, lobbying, advocacy, and related professions.

The event commenced with an opening address by Kateryna Odarchenko, a renowned political consultant, who emphasized the significance of the IGAPA Leadership Forum for professionals in the fields of GR, advocacy, and lobbying. Odarchenko also highlighted the diverse international representation at the event, with professionals from eight countries including the United States, Slovenia, Bulgaria, France, Japan, Ukraine, Nigeria, and Israel. Additionally, she had the privilege of sharing her company's experience in social engineering, strategic marketing, public relations, and government relations through "SIC Group USA," which operates in Ukraine, the European Union, and the United States.

Throughout the IGAPA Leadership Forum, attendees had the opportunity to learn about best practices in government relations, lobbying, and advocacy while addressing the challenges faced by professionals in these fields. Sarah Pierce acknowledged the increasing involvement of women as GR and lobbying specialists in recent years while emphasizing the need for continued progress. Deborah Skolnick-Einhorn presented compelling advocacy cases for independent schools, particularly regarding the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, showcasing her leadership in advocating for the autonomy of educational institutions.

The forum facilitated engaging discussions on fostering dialogue between government, businesses, and society, exploring the role of companies and associations in this context. Distinguished speakers included Viktoria Spartz, a Congresswoman representing the state of Indiana, advocating for healthcare and education initiatives, highlighted the importance of transparency in the dialogue between the state, business, and society, as it enables governmental representatives to make decisions that benefit the people and establish effective communication. Other notable speakers included Ejike Edward Okpa, James Davis, Mihael Cigler, and Thaddeus Walls.

An important focus of the forum was advocacy for Ukraine and the current international and geopolitical dynamics. Esteemed speakers in this panel included Stephen Blank, Peter Huessy, Jay Townsend, Leif Larson, Galyna Petrushka, and Julia Gershun.

About IGAPA:

IGAPA is the leading international association for GR, lobbying, advocacy, and public affairs professionals that unites specialists from over 10 countries. Together with "SIC Group USA" and Institute for Democracy and Development "PolitA," IGAPA develops practices of transparent dialogue between state, business, and society on an international scale.

SOURCE SIC Group USA LLC
Among the outdoor displays presented by INFiLED was its latest EZ2.6 series for DOOH, featuring energy-saving technology, with a maximum power consumption of only 210W/panel; and a high contrast ratio of 26,700:1, ensuring that bright areas were not overexposed and details in shadows were rendered well when playing content.

Also on exhibit was the Atlas-X series, recently co-developed by INFiLED and PRG. This series supported 10concave-convex screen settings, and the connection angle between its cabinets can be quickly changed through cassettes and curving connectors (optional accessories) that can be arranged flexibly; besides, the cabinets were equipped with hidden suspension hooks and vertical locking systems to facilitate screen installation.

In addition to Atlas-X, another incredible LED display for events, the Titan-X series screen, INFiLED's innovative visual solution for outdoor events also appeared at this exhibition. With up to 70% transparency, it can present stunning visual effects without obstructing the scenery behind the screen; moreover, it featured an extremely stable frame that can withstand winds of 20 m/s.

As for indoor displays, above booth 1624, a 5m*2m XII series curved screen was installed. It had a pixel pitch of only 2.6mm, a high refresh rate of 3840Hz, and excellent color representation. The series can be used in retail stores, houses of worship, airport terminals, and other indoor spaces, as to provide an enjoyable viewing experience for viewers.

At the booth, there was also a curved screen with a resolution of 2880*1152 consisting of the XII series and the EZ series. Its flat-to-arc transition was smooth, and the display parameters of the two series used in it could be adjusted to the same. This screen was designed to show visitors unexpected great display solutions achieved by combining different INFiLED products.

In terms of indoor fine-pixel-pitch products, INFiLED exhibited an impressive DB1.5 Pro series screen. It was a great choice for virtual production studios and beyond. With 16-bit grayscale and HDR technology, it can accurately present content details of extremely bright and dark scenes, realizing natural and realistic image output.

The indoor screens on display also included a WT0.9 series screen. The product adopted COB encapsulation technology, which ensured its LED panels have good heat dissipation and minimum light decay; besides, it had excellent surface protection as well, to prevent its LED beads from being damaged during transportation or installation.

Aside from the above-mentioned exhibits, other quality products exhibited by INFiLED comprised WP series screens applicable for meeting rooms, as well as single panels including AR 3.9, HR1.56, DB2.6.

About INFiLED

INFiLED is an international high-tech enterprise specializing in the R&D and manufacturing of large-scale LED displays. INFiLED's products were exported to 87 countries and applied in various fields including DOOH, live events, sports, retail, corporate, and so forth. Focusing on independent innovation and continuous improvement, INFiLED is striving to be the best in the LED screen industry to enlighten the world with a visual feast.

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE INFiLED

 Modal title

PRN Top Stories Newsletters Sign up to get PRNs top stories and curated news delivered to your inbox weekly! Enter Your Email Select Country Select Country Submit Thank you for subscribing!



Our newsletters contain tracking pixels to help us deliver unique content based on each subscriber's engagement and interests. For more information on how we will use your data to ensure we send you relevant content please visit our By signing up you agree to receive content from us.Our newsletters contain tracking pixels to help us deliver unique content based on each subscriber's engagement and interests. For more information on how we will use your data to ensure we send you relevant content please visit our PRN Consumer Newsletter Privacy Notice . You can withdraw your consent at any time in the footer of every email you'll receive.



Unsere Newsletter enthalten Zahlpixel, die die Lieferung einzigartiger Inhalte in Bezug auf das Abonnement und die Interessen der einzelnen Abonnenten ermoglichen. Weitere Informationen uber die Verwendung Ihrer Daten im Hinblick auf die Zusendung von relevanten Inhalten, finden Sie in unserer Mit Ihrer Anmeldung erklaren Sie sich damit einverstanden, Inhalte von uns zu erhalten.Unsere Newsletter enthalten Zahlpixel, die die Lieferung einzigartiger Inhalte in Bezug auf das Abonnement und die Interessen der einzelnen Abonnenten ermoglichen. Weitere Informationen uber die Verwendung Ihrer Daten im Hinblick auf die Zusendung von relevanten Inhalten, finden Sie in unserer PRN Consumer Newsletter Privacy Notice . Ihre Zustimmung konnen Sie jederzeit in der Fuzeile jeder erhaltenen E-Mail widerrufen.



Notre newsletter contient des pixels espions nous permettant la fourniture a chaque abonne, dun contenu unique en lien avec ses souscriptions et interets. Pour de plus amples informations sur lutilisation faite de vos donnees en vue de lenvoi des contenus concernes, nous vous invitons a consulter la politique de confidentialite disponible a partir du lien suivant En vous inscrivant a la newsletter, vous consentez a la reception de contenus de notre part.Notre newsletter contient des pixels espions nous permettant la fourniture a chaque abonne, dun contenu unique en lien avec ses souscriptions et interets. Pour de plus amples informations sur lutilisation faite de vos donnees en vue de lenvoi des contenus concernes, nous vous invitons a consulter la politique de confidentialite disponible a partir du lien suivant PRN Consumer Newsletter Privacy Notice . Vous pouvez a tout moment revenir sur votre consentement par le biais des informations situees au bas de chaque e-mail recu.
NEW YORK, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IPwe, Inc. ("IPwe") and Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation ("Toshiba Digital Solutions") have agreed to begin collaboration to build an intellectual property (IP) information platform that will support IP strategy. The platform will support the realization of IP Digital Transformation (DX), using IP to enhance corporate value.

In recent years, IP has become an important source of competitive advantage. As incorporated in Japan's revised Corporate Governance Code, companies are now required to disclose their IP investments and strategies.

IPwe and Toshiba have agreed to begin collaboration to build an IP information platform that will support IP strategy. Tweet this

Toshiba Digital Solutions boasts a wealth of experience and expertise in the introduction of IP management solutions to companies in Japan. IPeakMS, Toshiba Digital Solutions' flagship SaaS-type IP management service, has a function to flexibly expand and efficiently collect information that is useful for analysis and utilization and enables centralized management of IP information, including know-how, human resources, evaluation information, contracts, and expense information in the cloud. The service is provided together with Toshiba Group's expertise in IP management and has been well received for its high security and ease of implementation with low initial investment.

IPwe is a global provider of Smart Intangible Asset Management (SIAM), AI and blockchain-based IP analytics and financial valuation solution. SIAM is a cloud-based SaaS solution for strategic data management, objective asset valuation, benchmark analysis, and more, enabling IP owners to efficiently and accurately capture, develop, and manage IP data, including the asset's transaction history and the value of their portfolio, alongside competitors' valuations.

Shunsuke Okada, President and CEO of Toshiba Digital Solutions, said, "By collaborating with IPwe, we will support companies that seek to digitally transform their IP and contribute to the promotion of the utilization of intangible assets such as IP and know-how."

Leann Pinto, CEO of IPwe said, "This collaboration with Toshiba is the first of many major initiatives for IPwe Japan that will transform IP management for the Digital Web 3.0 world."

*IPeakMS is a registered trademark or trademark of Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation in Japan and/or other countries.

*IPwe, Smart Intangible Asset Management and IPwe Digital Assets are registered trademarks or trademarks of IPwe, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

Contact: Mia Mixan, [email protected]

SOURCE IPwe, Inc.
MUNICH, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jackery, a global leader of innovative portable power and green outdoor energy solutions, is proud to bring its solar generator Plus flagship product  the brand new Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus  to Intersolar Europe, which will take place from June 14 to 16, 2023, at Messe Munchen.

4f94cf53cb28d2609d93938cf456f03

Under the motto "Connecting Solar Business", Intersolar Europe, the world's leading exhibition for the solar industry, brings together industry stakeholders and professionals from around the world to meet in Munich. In the showcase, Jackery's booth and its products with innovative technology attracted about 500 customers and agents to the scene for detailed information. At the showcase, Jackery welcomed European technology media for interviews about the brand and the new product. The innovative and impeccable performance of Jackery SG 2000 Plus left a deep impression among attending media outlets.

Empowering users to experience energy independence on their own terms

Today, consumers demand a seamless and hassle-free product experience. Jackery's product line covers a wide range of scenarios, from home backup to outdoor use.

The newest Jackery SG 2000 Plus, with five charging packs, can be expanded to 12 kWh. With innovative IBC technology integrated into its design, it can reach a solar conversion efficiency rate of up to 25%. Its improved spectral response makes it function effectively even in cloudy or hazy weather. It can serve as an excellent backup power source during natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, or wildfires, outdoor exploration, or emergencies with its large capacity and high-power output capable of powering a typical household for weeks.

Jackery's patented intelligent ChargeShield technology addresses safety concerns related to lithium precipitation caused by high current charging at low temperatures. These features prevent battery overheating during the charging process due to electrodeless ear lithium battery technology, which reduces short circuiting risks, extends battery life, and more.

Jackery's commitment to bring green energy for all

Jackery aims to make green energy accessible anytime and anywhere, focusing on optimizing users' carbon balance and improving the ecological footprint throughout the product life cycle. Jackery is the first portable power brand to be verified on its carbon footprint by TUV SUD, a global leader in testing, inspection, and verification, which further establishes Jackery as a trusted green energy brand worldwide.

For more information, please visit Jackery, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Tiktok.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2103069/4f94cf53cb28d2609d93938cf456f03.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1877275/Jackery_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Jackery Inc.
The community hub's mission is to foster a thriving community envisioned and realized by its residents

SAN DIEGO, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in the heart of Southeastern San Diego, invites residents to attend its second event of the year  a health resource fair at the Joe & Vi Jacobs Center Celebration Court.

The free community event, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., will have accessible health resources such as blood pressure screenings, nutrition education, mental health materials, limited diabetes testing, mammograms and dental exams for those who are uninsured, and assistance with applying or renewing Cal-Fresh, Medi-Cal and Medicare.

Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation Senior Vice President of Operations Selena Ellis-Vizcarra says, "Community engagement is one of our organization's three pillars, so we're excited to have an event like this not only to bring the community together but to provide awareness for health resources that many residents may not know are available to them  all in one location."

Various organizations focused on physical and mental health are participating in this event, including La Maestra Community Health Centers, Home Start, Mental Health of America, Community Health Access Department and People's Produce Market.

The Jacobs Center 2023 Health Resource Fair is made possible by the generous sponsorship of Wheelhouse Credit Union, California Coast Credit Union, U.S. Bank and Cox Communications.

About Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation

Founded in 1995, the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation is focused on building communities and lifting lives. As a creative catalyst and incubator, the Jacobs Center works with the community to revitalize Southeastern San Diego's Diamond Neighborhoods. This means transforming nearly 60 acres into sustainable developments that provide residents with greater access to resources and amenities that improve their quality of life. Additionally, the Jacobs Center works with community organizations and partners to increase residents' economic opportunities, leadership skills and educational success. Learn more at jacobscenter.org and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.

Media Contact:

Deidra Brown

619-527-6161

[email protected]

SOURCE Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation
QINGDAO, China, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hisense, the leading consumer electronics and home appliances company, has once again ranked within the Top 10 of Kantar BrandZ Chinese Global Brand Builders. This is the 7th consecutive year that the company has featured in the prestigious list.

Released yesterday (June 15th, 2023), Google and Kantar selected Hisense for demonstrating its high-quality capabilities in globalization.

The two keywords that test the quality of a brand's global expansion are self-owned brands and high-end brands going overseas. The fact that it has been named as one of the top 10 global brands for seven consecutive years is due to Hisense's long-term commitment to developing the Hisense International Brand, as well as manufacturing cutting-edge products. Over the years, it has always insisted on the "localization" of R&D, production, and marketing to meet local market demand with high efficiency. In 2022, the overseas revenue of Hisense was RMB 75.7 billion, accounting for 41% of its overall revenue, with Hisense International Brand accounting for over 83%.

"To be a top-tier brand, we must jump out of low-level competition towards the high-end of the industry and expand high-end industries", said Shaoqian Jia, Chairman of Board and CEO, who also believes that high-end is the only right way to become a name brand worldwide.

Unlike previous years, the report this year shows that consumers in 11 overseas markets around the world, including the UK, US, Japan, France, Germany, and Australia, obviously demonstrate a new trend: consumers are looking for brands that can be trusted for both functional and aspirations. Only by moving from brands that offer price-friendly to user-friendly will we be able to capture the market and win new consumers.

From manufacturing to creation, from price-friendly to user-friendly, Hisense continues to launch high-quality products to meet the needs of global consumers through technological innovation, achieving the enhancement of the brand's global influence and sustainable development, and accelerating its progress towards becoming a world-class brand and first-class enterprise.

About Hisense

Hisense is a leading global home appliance and consumer electronics brand. Hisense's business covers multimedia products (with a focus on Smart TVs), home appliances, and IT intelligent information. Recently, Hisense has grown rapidly and is now operating in more than 160 countries.

SOURCE Hisense
SEOUL, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AUTOMATE 2023, renowned as the largest automation trade show in North America, was held from May 22nd to 25th in Detroit, Michigan. According to A3, organizer of AUTOMATE 2023, the show featured more than 750 exhibits, covering more than 300,000 square feet, with 25,000 registrants from all over the world.

Korea Pavilion organized by Korea Association of Robot Industry(KAR) participated in this show, and received an overwhelmingly positive response; 9 companies in Korea Pavilion made their successful debuts at the show by presenting their flagship products and cutting-edge technologies.

DOGU Co., Ltd., is a company specializing in autonomous mobile robots. The company demonstrated "Patrover", its outdoor patrol robot designed to detect obstacles to avoid collision and drive well regardless of road conditions. It also introduced "Iroi", its indoor guide robot designed to serve various purposes  providing guidance and delivery services during the day and patrolling at night. The company held a meeting with 'MGM', a global resort and casino company which expressed a significant interest in adopting "Iroi" that can be utilized for not only guidance but also advertising and disinfection. They both agreed to continue discussion on mutual cooperation after the show.

HCNC Co., Ltd., with more than 20 years of expertise in manufacturing IT and facility automation, has supported manufacturers to improve their productivity and strengthen their competitiveness. The company introduced its soft gripper and Hyundai Robotics' small handing robot at the exhibition. The gripper and the robot displayed by HCNC Co., Ltd., captured attention of major companies such as 'Amazon', 'Effecto', 'Ford', 'General Motors', 'Schmalz' and 'Universal Robots'. Its soft gripper specially developed to handle random objects and delicate products impressed show attendees, and the company is now reviewing the agreement with 'Schmalz', a leading automation company in Germany and 'Effecto', a leading end-effector company in Italy.

Neuromeka Co., Ltd., one of the leading cobot manufacturers in Korea, introduced its own robot model, the "Indy" series and collaborative robot-centered welding automation solutions. The company had numerous meetings with System Integrators on site, and 'Onyx Engineering(Windsor, Canada)' expressed strong interests in the laser cutting solution using a 3D vision camera that can be easily applied to welding wire extraction. Neuromeka Co., Ltd. had in-depth discussions with 'AP COM', a retailer based in Chicago. AP COM had a strong interest in Neuromeka Co. Ltd.'s frying solution and bubble tea solution, and also suggested signing a lease agreement for franchise stores in North America.

Rainbow Robotics Inc., is a company which develops a wide variety of robots, including cobots, autonomous mobile robots, humanoid robots and 4-legged mobile robots. The company introduced five different models of 'RB Cobot Series' at Automate 2023 and made its maximum efforts to recruit distributors in North America. The company had meetings with more than 30 companies including System Integrators(S.I.) during the exhibition and will continue to proceed agency contracts through continuous communication. Some of the meetings have already been proven successful : the company will sign a NDA(Non-Disclosure Agreement) with a U.S. System Integrator, 'P'(the company name not disclosed as agreed) and sign the agency contract later.

RS Automation Co., Ltd., as a specialist in the automation industry, has been providing smart factory solution, PLC, Motion controller and other automation products to over 500 customers for 30 years. At the show, the company introduced "MMC-EtherCAT", a real-time motion controller based on network which supports various motion profile and functions. It is able to control up to 64 axes of Servo drives and 5,440 points of I/Os at every 1 msec in position loop. The company conducted 14 successful consultations and the managing director stated "Due to COVID-19, global supply chain has collapsed and manufacturers are still having hard time getting the components as required. In this case, our products can be an ideal alternative because we can provide products that show high performance at reasonable price and deliver them in a timely manner." He added, "We are willing to provide samples and actively engage in technical support and training for customers in North America."

Taeha Co., Ltd., a manufacturer specializing in liquid dispensing systems and facilities to various industries such as electronics, automotive, pharmaceuticals, machinery, semiconductor in the world. The company featured various pneumatic dispensing valves and "PRO CAN PUMP" facilities that boast accuracy and precision and essential accessories for the facility such as cartridges, barrels and needles. Taeha Co., Ltd. was one of the companies that received the most attention from the visitors on site. The manager from Taeha Co., Ltd. stated "We had 40 meaningful meetings at the show, and we expect to have sales worth $700,000. In addition to this, we have already accomplished one of our main goals of participating in AUTOMATE 2023 : to enter Mexican market. We met 'ERAT', Mexican manufacturer of automation equipment, and discussed technology exchange and cooperation for mutual benefit."

Twinny Co., Ltd., is a company which develops and supplies autonomous mobile robots for warehouse order picking and factory automation. At AUTOMATE 2023, the company introduced "Nargo Order picking", an autonomous mobile robot that performs advanced autonomous driving technology to resolve the strenuous labor of searching for goods. Twinny's advanced technology enables autonomous driving in broad indoor and outdoor environments such as factories and distribution centers without additional infrastructure and structural change. It is also possible fto interconnect any WMS(warehouse management system) . According to the sales manager from the company, it had meetings with 10 companies including logistics service providers in North America and computer manufacturers in Taiwan, and the consultations taken place on site are worth approximately $700,000.

UND Co., Ltd. is a venture company that was awarded as 'Robot Company of the Year' in Korea in 2022 and as a 'Super Gap Start-up 1000+' by Korean Ministry of SMEs and Startups. It is also well-known for commercializing "Magbot", the world's first fully wireless robot automatic tool changer which received UR+ certification from 'Universal Robots'. The company's robot automatic tool changer and the ultra-power-saving robot magnetic gripper successfully captured the attention of many leading companies from all over the world : it had meetings with 'Ford', 'General Motor', 'Utec', 'Thyssenkrupp', 'Yushin America', 'Kawassaki USA', 'Gimatic', 'Effecto', 'Mindman', 'Techman Robot', etc., to count a few. The CEO, Chul-Soo Lee, stated that the company will proceed 15 PoC(Proof of Concept)s in the second half of 2023, and is expected to achieve sales worth more than $1 million in 2024 and $5 million in 2025.

Throughout the exhibition, the Korea Pavilion along with 9 Korean companies witnessed an impressive outcome. 181 successful consultations worth $5 million took place at AUTOMATE 2023. An official from the Korea Association of Robot Industry(KAR) expressed enthusiasm about the huge response received from North American buyers who demonstrated keen interests in Korean robot companies. The official viewed Korean companies' participation in AUTOMATE 2023 as a significant milestone towards successful entry into the North American market. Furthermore, KAR pledged to continue supporting Korean robot companies in their pursuit of opportunities in North America, with plans to expand participation at renowned exhibitions as well as to host export promotion activities in the coming days.

SOURCE Korea Association of Robot Industry(KAR)
MUNICH, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Intersolar Europe 2023, one of the world's leading exhibition for the solar industry, kicked off in Munich, Germany on June 14, 2023. At the exhibition site, LONGi announced the new conversion efficiency of 33.5% for silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells based on commercial CZ silicon wafers.

According to the European Solar Test Installation (ESTI), LONGi has achieved conversion efficiency of 33.5% for silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells, an increase of 1.7% from the previous 31.8% published on the 16th International Photovoltaic Power Generation and Smart Energy Conference & Exhibition (SNEC) in Shanghai. Currently this is the 2nd highest efficiency record in the world and there is a possibility of continuous improvement in the future.

LONGi R&D team is one of the earliest in China to carry out research on tandem solar cells. In the face of mass production development, the LONGi R&D team has achieved successive breakthroughs in key technologies. These include perovskite thin-film crystal growth on textured silicon substrates, effective bulk passivation and light management, and these advancements have led to rapid improvements in the efficiency of silicon-based tandem cells.

"Improving cell conversion efficiency and reducing the cost of electricity remain the perpetual theme driving the development of the photovoltaic industry." Says Li Zhenguo, President of LONGi during the speech. From April 2021, LONGi has broken the world record for solar cell efficiency 14 times, and currently holds the title of achieving the highest conversion efficiency for silicon solar cells at 26.81%. Since listing in 2012, LONGi has invested over 20 billion yuan in R&D and has obtained 2,132 patents of various types.

"The photovoltaic power generation is 'born from light' and the light from the sun is just fair to everyone. As a global inclusive energy source, photovoltaic is sending light and well-being to various countries and regions around the world. Over the past decade, because the cost of electricity has dropped by more than 90%, photovoltaic has become the most economical energy type in most countries in the world." Li Zhenguo emphasized.

At this year's Intersolar Europe, LONGi brought its world-record-holding conceptual product 2681 to the audiences. This conceptual product named 2681 weighs 31.8 kg and has a size of 2278 mm  1134 mm. Its ultra-high efficiency is based on the advanced technology of 26.81% crystalline silicon solar cell efficiency achieved last year, and its ultra-high performance comes from high cell development. It also has other features like voltage and symmetrical cell structure, and power generation of over 600 W.

According to the company, the LONGi R&D team managed to transform laboratory data into a conceptual product within a mere six-month timeframe. The development of the conceptual product brings it one step closer to achieving mass production.

Every technological breakthrough of LONGi is not solely based on the advancement of laboratory data but is driven by the goal of industrialization. LONGi swiftly incorporates advanced and cutting-edge technologies from around the world into mass production, thereby facilitating the technological advancement of the entire industry.

In the future, LONGi seeks to participate in the development of the global PV industry through investment, technical cooperation and other forms, so that more countries can see that Chinese enterprises in the high-end manufacturing industry also have the ability and willingness to carry out global cooperation.

SOURCE LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd.
A purpose-driven womenswear brand in Asia marks global expansion in the United States

NEW YORK, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Love, Bonito, an omnichannel womenswear brand making waves in Asia, proudly announces the grand opening of its inaugural U.S. pop-up store in the vibrant SoHo neighborhood of New York City. With doors wide open to greet U.S. fans, the launch of the pop-up store signifies a major step towards Love, Bonito's global expansion outside of Asia.

Love, Bonito Launches First U.S. Pop-Up Store in New York City

"I started Love, Bonito because I struggled to find clothes that fit my body type. More than a decade ago, when I shopped for available options amongst popular brands, the proportions were off or the pockets were non-existent. It was disheartening to feel misrepresented by the styles and outfits marketed to me," said Rachel Lim, Co-Founder of Love, Bonito. "So, I decided to change the narrative by creating a brand that represented me and my community. With our official U.S. launch, we hope our message connects with diverse, Asian American women who celebrate their own unique journeys and feel empowered by what they wear."

The brand aspires to empower women with their message of Come Into Your Own - a mantra meant to celebrate every woman's journey of self-discovery and finding her community.

For more information and to stay up-to-date with weekend events and experiences, please visit the Love, Bonito website and follow us on Instagram and TikTok @lovebonitousa.

The Love, Bonito pop-up experience is located at 465 Broadway New York, NY 10013 and will operate now until December 31, 2023.

About Love, Bonito

Designing for the key moments and milestones of a woman's life, Love, Bonito's comprehensive assortment features stylish and comfortable pieces for the modern Asian woman at home, work and play. Love, Bonito is the largest vertically integrated, omnichannel women's fashion brand in the region today. We remain committed to relationship building and nurturance, imbuing soul into innovation with thoughtful design and dedicated community outreach.

SOURCE Love, Bonito
With Ukraine's counter-offensive against Russian troops ramping up, Western allies face the challenge of replacing lost equipment and supplying the vast quantities of ammunition Kyiv needs -- without undermining their own defence capabilities.

Russia claims to have destroyed up to 30 percent of NATO-supplied weaponry in recent days, showing off videos of destroyed or abandoned German tanks and US armoured vehicles.

Analysts say Moscow's figures are inflated, although independent verification is impossible.

But there is no doubt about the fact that Russia's extensive minefields, large numbers of loitering munitions and intense artillery bombardments will take a toll on Ukraine's forces as they try to pierce defensive lines.

Most analysts believe Kyiv has yet to commit its full strength to the assault, remaining in a phase of probing enemy positions.

"The fighting will likely get tougher," wrote Jack Watling of Britain's RUSI defence think-tank in an analyst note.

"For Ukraine's international partners, the summer is likely to be deeply uncomfortable. Losses will mount and success will take time."

Already, open-source intelligence website Oryx, which tallies equipment losses based on battlefield imagery, has counted four lost German Leopard tanks, two French AMX-10 RC light tanks and more than 70 infantry fighting vehicles.

"It is vital... that there is no diminution in the strengthening of the training programmes allowing Ukraine to continue to generate combat units, or the mobilisation of defence industry to put supply to the Ukrainian military on a sustainable basis," Watling said.

Some European countries have already flagged up limits to the speed at which they can keep up or increase deliveries.

"We will not be able to replace every tank that is now out of action," German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Monday.

Members of the US-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group met in Brussels Thursday to talk supplies for Kyiv, ahead of a NATO defence ministers' meeting.

'Multi-year programme'

"We're looking at how we can keep up our aid to Ukraine while preserving our own defence capability," one European government source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

On Tuesday, the US announced an additional $325 million of aid including armoured vehicles and air defence systems.

Further pledges could come at NATO's summit in Lithuanian capital Vilnius on July 11-12.

"There is an urgent need to support" Ukraine during the summer offensive, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told broadcaster France 5.

"Most likely, (Vilnius) Summit will make a pledge for a multi-year program to provide support to Ukraine," he added.

The European Commission said in early May it would spend 500 million euros ($545 million) ramping up EU production of artillery shells to one million per year.

At German arms maker Rheinmetall, "we are pulling out all the stops when it comes to production of ammunition for tanks," Harald Weismueller, head of a factory in Unterluess, Lower Saxony state, told AFP recently.

Europe's top producer of shells for tanks and artillery is working Germany's biggest arms factory hard, aiming to send armoured vehicles and their ammunition to the front in Ukraine as well as rebuilding NATO stocks.

Unterluess' top product is 120mm shells for the main gun of the Leopard 2 main battle tank, which Berlin agreed early this year to supply to Kyiv under intense pressure from allies.

Output is now running at a rate of 240,000 annually, up from 60,000 before Russia's invasion.

NATO's other major task is to maintain Western equipment that Ukraine has put through its paces on the front line.

Weapons have to be swiftly brought up to standard and sent back out to the front.

Ukrainian media reports suggest Berlin and Warsaw will soon reach a deal for a Poland-based maintenance centre for Leopard tanks damaged in fighting across the border.

Such facilities already exist in Slovakia and Romania.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945

Phil Witherington Appointed President and CEO, Manulife Asia

Colin Simpson to Succeed Mr. Witherington as Manulife's Chief Financial Officer

TORONTO and HONG KONG , June 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Manulife announced today leadership changes across its executive leadership team to accelerate Asia growth and financial performance globally.

Phil Witherington, Manulife's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), is now appointed President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Manulife Asia, effective July 1, 2023. Mr. Witherington will continue reporting to Roy Gori, President and CEO of Manulife, and remain on Manulife's Executive Leadership Team. Mr. Witherington replaces Damien Green, who will now chair Manulife Financial Asia Ltd. (MFAL), working with Mr. Witherington to ensure a smooth transition.

As Manulife's CFO, Mr. Witherington helped the organization transition to the new IFRS 17 and IFRS 9 accounting standards and contributed significantly to financial performance. Prior to his appointment as Manulife's CFO in 2017, Mr. Witherington served as Manulife Asia's CFO. Before joining Manulife in 2014, Mr. Witherington was the Asia-Pacific head of finance for retail banking and wealth management at HSBC. He also held finance roles at AIA and was a financial services specialist at KPMG.

Colin Simpson, CFO for the US and General Account, succeeds Mr. Witherington and is appointed Manulife's CFO, also effective July 1, 2023. Mr. Simpson will report to Mr. Gori and join Manulife's Executive Leadership Team. Mr. Simpson joined Manulife in November 2022 to help deliver on US Segment strategic priorities, including portfolio optimization, expense efficiency, and capital efficient growth. He joined Manulife from Aviva plc, where he held the position of Interim Group CFO, having previously served as CFO for Aviva Canada, and Director of Investor Relations. Prior to his roles at Aviva, Colin was Vice President, Equity Research at Goldman Sachs International.

"Phil has helped strengthen our solid financial foundation as we enter the next stage of our journey," said Mr. Gori. "We have bold ambitions for Asia and Phil's deep appreciation of our team, market, and opportunity across the region will help accelerate our growth agenda for this critical part of our business. As our new Chief Financial Officer, Colin's experience and perspective will allow us to build on our solid foundation and continue to drive financial performance."

"I'd like to thank Damien for his leadership of Manulife Asia this past year and our Hong Kong business before that. Throughout his tenure, his commitment to our customers, team and agents has helped secure our competitive position across the region."

About Manulife

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. With our global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, we provide financial advice and insurance, operating as Manulife across Canada, Asia, and Europe, and primarily as John Hancock in the United States. Through Manulife Investment Management, the global brand for our Global Wealth and Asset Management segment, we serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. At the end of 2022, we had more than 40,000 employees, over 116,000 agents, and thousands of distribution partners, serving over 34 million customers. We trade as 'MFC' on the Toronto, New York, and the Philippine stock exchanges and under '945' in Hong Kong.

Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com .

SOURCE Manulife Financial Corporation
Up to Nine Flex/Light Industrial Buildings to be Built at Former General Motors Facility

BALTIMORE, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Merritt Properties announced today that it has begun construction on White Marsh Interchange Park in Baltimore County, Maryland. Merritt intends to develop up to nine, one-story buildings that will total approximately 750,000 square feet to meet the growing demand for light industrial space across the region.

Conceptual Site Plan of White Marsh Interchange Park

Three buildings offering a total of 235,900 square feet will be built during the first phase of construction. Those properties will feature 20- to 32-foot clear heights, spacious truck courts with rear-loaded docks and drive-in capabilities, and ample parking with trailer storage.

"We are excited to develop this project and support the local business community," said Scott Dorsey, chief executive officer of Merritt Companies. "Our team is seeing a surge in demand from businesses that want to locate to this area, while the supply is extremely limited. The park will have a dramatic impact on job creation and economic growth."

Located off Interstate 95 near Interstate 695 at 10301 Philadelphia Road in White Marsh, the 56-acre project sits within Merritt's Baltimore County east portfolio, which is currently 95 percent occupied.

"Our first phase will provide flex/light industrial spaces and bulk opportunities for businesses searching for 3,000 square feet to 167,000 square feet," said Whit Levering of Merritt's leasing team. "We believe White Marsh Interchange Park will help companies with their employee recruitment and retention efforts due to its sought-after location and outdoor tenant amenities, such as seating areas, a walking path and lawn games."

According to a recent report by NAIOP Research Foundation, the outlook for industrial real estate remains bright as supply chain conditions steadily improve. Specifically, total net absorption for 2023 is forecast to be approximately 310 million square feet nationwide, and full-year absorption in 2024 is forecast to be around 323 million square feet.

"Merritt Properties' investment in this dynamic redevelopment project will welcome dozens of new businesses, creating jobs for working families and bringing new opportunities to our communities," said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. "We're excited about Merritt Properties' clear vision for the future of this site that will support economic growth in eastern Baltimore County for years to come."

Once a General Motors Baltimore Global Propulsions Systems site that opened in 2000 to produce transmissions and electric motors before it closed in 2019, the land was acquired by Merritt in 2021.

"The repurposed area is in the heart of the White Marsh business community, and this project will continue to position White Marsh as a leading commercial and industrial center along the Interstate-95 corridor," said Councilman David Marks. "I appreciate Merritt Properties' close communication with my office, their investment in our area and their ongoing commitment to jobs in Baltimore County."

Construction will be managed by Merritt Construction Services, the construction division of Merritt Companies. The first phase is expected to deliver in spring 2024.

To learn more about White Marsh Interchange Park, visit www.merritt-wmi.com.

About Merritt Properties

Established in 1967, Merritt Properties is a full-service commercial real estate firm with over 21 million square feet of office, flex, warehouse, industrial, retail and build-to-suit throughout Maryland, Florida, North Carolina and Virginia. Our company is committed to "Creating Homes for Businesses" and providing the highest quality service to our customers. Merritt is unique in that we build for the long-term and manage all of our properties internally. Therefore, we value trust, integrity, respect, and lasting relationships over short-term gain. And, because every Merritt employee is also an owner of the company, we each have a vested interest in the success of our customers. That's why we are responsive and committed to honest and fair business dealings that grow customer relationships into long-term partnerships. For more information, visit www.merrittproperties.com.

About Merritt Construction Services

Merritt has been providing site development, general construction, redevelopment and interior build-outs for over 50 years. Whether serving as a general contractor, construction manager or design-builder, Merritt Construction Services offers full-service construction capabilities through all phases of development, from feasibility to commissioning. Merritt's highly skilled construction team has completed a comprehensive roster of customized projects, including corporate campuses, food processing facilities, LEED-certified green buildings, schools, manufacturing facilities and retail centers. For more information, visit www.merrittconstruction.com.

SOURCE Merritt Properties, LLC
OAXACA, Mexico, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mezcal Verde Amaras is proud to announce the launch of their new 'Artist Series', a bi-annual project commissioning six artists to create works of art inspired by specific themes important to Mezcal Verde. Each work will be featured on the front of the brand's iconic labels.

An extension of Mezcal Verde's philosophy of creating a BETTER WORLD, the series will serve as a blank canvas for artists from all backgrounds to express themselves and share their creative vision.

The inaugural theme of the Artist Series will explore: 'the celebration and preservation of Mexican traditions of art and culture in pursuit of a BETTER WORLD'. Each of the six works will be featured on the labels of Mezcal Verde's iconic bottles, making them a must-have for collectors, mezcal lovers, and art enthusiasts alike. The AndArt agency was commissioned to create the project, which was overseen by Elliot Safra, Partner.

Mezcal Verde's DNA upholds the belief that creativity is the catalyst for change, and the 'Artist Series' is a celebration of the power of art to empower, inspire, and stir emotion.

The six creatives were selected for their unique artistic language and vision. Their artworks showcase a range of traditional to contemporary mediums  from wood etching to poetry  each reflects the vibrant and diverse culture of Mexico. For the first series, the creatives include: Luvia Lazo, Curiot Tlapazotl, Melissa Avila (M.A Studio), Sergio Sanchez Santamaria, Jose Olivarez, and Ananas Ananas. This new series evolved as a more structured way to continue working with artists, an effort the brand has supported since its inception ten years ago.

"Mezcal Verde Amaras is a rebel with a cause. A brave project that takes a stand for diversity, and embraces love and respect in the pursuit of a better world. Verde wants to give a voice to people of all cultures, races, and genders - undivided - embracing all human beings for who they are. Embracing diversity, Verde reaches beyond fixed labels. Our love is emblazoned on each bottle, with custom labels designed by artists from across Mexico and around the world. Not one label, but many. #NoLabel," says Santiago Suarez, Mezcal Amaras Founder and President. This new program firmly establishes Mezcal Amaras Verde as a supporter of the arts. A full 360-degree program incorporating social media, pr, and events will promote the artists and their work, Suarez continued.

"The artists selected are amongst the best in their crafts, and all resonate deeply and authentically with Mezcal Verde's brand philosophy. The decision was made to try to highlight Mexico's rich culture in as many forms as possible; we are privileged to have worked with masters in photography, graffiti, tapestry, poetry, installation, and engraving. We welcome these artists (and future ones) as part of our Mezcal Verde family."  Elliot Safra, Partner at AndArt Agency

The limited-edition 'Artist Series' bottles will be available for purchase online and at select retailers worldwide in May 2023.

To find out more about Mezcal Verde and to see the label designs from the 'Artist Series', visit www.mezcalverde.com .

About Mezcal Verde Amaras

A leading sustainable and artisanal mezcal made in Oaxaca, Mezcal Verde stands for a BETTER WORLD, one without prejudice, encouraging everyone to be truthful to themselves, and empowering all to explore whomever they want to be. With a soft smoky character, Mezcal Verde is the perfect drink to enjoy wherever, however, and with whomever.

Mezcal Verde is part of the Mezcal Amaras family, a portfolio of organic artisanal mezcal brands for every occasion. Committed to sustainability, the Amaras philosophy stems from a love for our roots, from caring consciously for the earth, for our environment, and for the people who make each drop of mezcal possible. For more information about Mezcal Amaras' sustainable initiatives, visit www.mezcalamaras.com .

About the creatives

Luvia Lazo is a Zapotec photographer from Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca. She aims to capture reality from the perspective of the contemporary Zapotec woman, creating a constellation of images through time and spaces in Oaxaca, documenting the generational gaps and the transformation of identities across ages. Her photograph depicts Roberto Ramos, a man from Oaxaca, who decided to follow in his father's footsteps and continue the family business of selling traditional Mexican nieves. Roberto has been selling nieves for over forty years, infusing the tradition with a burst of vitality and contemporary energy by introducing colored cones. @luvialazo

Jose Olivarez is an award-winning writer and poet. His debut book of poems, Citizen Illegal, was a finalist for the PEN / Jean Stein Award and a winner of the 2018 Chicago Review of Books Poetry Prize. For the series, he created a poem inspired by the theme. "I wrote this poem knowing I wanted to incorporate the refrain of 'ARRIBA, ABAJO, AL CENTRO, PA' DENTRO'. I wanted to see if I could transform this popular refrain through the alchemy of poetry. The images I chose to incorporate into the poem are images typical of Mexican culture: maize, rosary beads, agave, chanclas and images indicative of the Mexican American hustle I grew up in: hustling multiple jobs and throwing parties for the whole block. My hope is that when you arrive at the last line, it feels a little holy and fully triumphant". @_joseolivarez

Founded by Melissa Avila, M.A Studio is a studio born out of a love for artisanal heritage. Dedicated to the preservation of traditions, the promotion of artisanal processes, Mexican trades, and collaborative projects. For the project, the studio created a handmade wool wall tapestry: "The hands with the agave and the water ripples represent the master mezcaleros who dedicate themselves to this work, which we celebrate with great respect. The lower part of the piece has to do with the ground, fertility, and its work. We also have the sun, which is not only a representative symbol of our country but also the one who allows the sowing and growth of life." @_ m.a____

In 2008, the creative project Curiot Tlapazotl was born in the city of Morelia, Michoacan. His project explores intuitive expression through various media. He has achieved widespread recognition and has exhibited works and painted murals across the world. "One of my favorite things about Mexican culture is the crafts with their respective characteristics such as their bright colors, imagination, and what is done by hand. Taking that into account, I designed a mask that takes me back to the dance of the Tlahualiles from Sahuayo Michoacan." @curiotli

Sergio Sanchez Santamaria is a printmaker, muralist, illustrator, and scratchboard artist. He works in the tradition of printmaking infusing the technique with a modern sensibility and contemporary take. "Employing my signature scratchboard technique in this piece, you can see an allegory of the Mexican spirit of aguardiente and mezcal; pre-Hispanic Mexico next to the agave in memory of those fields with furrows full of agaves growing and becoming strong for one day, giving life to that mystical and mysterious liquid." @grabador1976

Ananas Ananas is an artist duo working with food as a medium. Veronica Gonzalez and Elena Petrossian focus their work on creating edible installations and dining experiences that encourage their audience to interact with food in a multi-sensory and experimental way. "I Am Another Yourself," captures the movement of hands coexisting together, sharing, splitting and participating with food, and wrapping tortillas which is a gracious and joyful act for Mexican culture. As a Mayan wisdom statement on oneness, we are pieces of each other, and cultural separateness links us because this act of hand-meets-food is a universal language." @ananas____ananas

For more information:

Katie Rubino | Autumn Communications

212-206-9780

[email protected]com

SOURCE Mezcal Amaras
MELVILLE, N.Y. and DAVIDSON, N.C., June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MSC INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CO. (NYSE: MSM), "MSC," "MSC Industrial" or the "Company," a leading North American distributor of a broad range of metalworking and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products and services, today announced that Ryan Mills will join the Company as Head of Investor Relations effective June 19, 2023. In this role, he will manage and coordinate communication of the Company's financial results and serve as the primary point of contact to the analyst and investor communities. Mr. Mills will report to Kristen Actis-Grande, Executive Vice President, and Chief Financial Officer. He succeeds John Chironna, who has retired after 11 successful years with MSC.

Mr. Mills brings 10 years of financial and industry experience through various investor relations roles at Kennametal and American Electric Power, as well as at KeyBanc Capital Markets where he supported coverage of the industrial distribution industry. Mr. Mills joins the Company from an investor relations advisory firm, where he served as a lead advisor developing best-in-class IR programs and providing strategic guidance across all areas of communication for capital markets. Mr. Mills holds a BS degree in Business Administration from Youngstown State University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). He will be based out of the Davidson, North Carolina office.

Ms. Actis-Grande commented, "We are thrilled to have Ryan join the MSC team. He has a proven track record of applying his extensive financial and industry experience to effectively communicate and develop relationships with new and existing investors. MSC has a long history of delivering value for shareholders and we are fortunate to have a professional of Ryan's caliber leading our investor relations efforts going forward."

About MSC Industrial Supply Co.

MSC Industrial Supply Co. (NYSE:MSM) is a leading North American distributor of a broad range of metalworking and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products and services. We help our customers drive greater productivity, profitability and growth with approximately 2.3 million products, inventory management and other supply chain solutions, and deep expertise from more than 80 years of working with customers across industries. Our experienced team of approximately 7,000 associates works with our customers to help drive results for their businesses - from keeping operations running efficiently today to continuously rethinking, retooling and optimizing for a more productive tomorrow. For more information on MSC Industrial, please visit mscdirect.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

Statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that we expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including statements about the future impact of COVID-19 on our business operations, results of operations and financial condition, expected future results, expected benefits from our investment and strategic plans and other initiatives, and expected future growth, profitability and return on invested capital, are forward-looking statements. The words "will," "may," "believes," "anticipates," "thinks," "expects," "estimates," "plans," "intends," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements which refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, statements involving a discussion of strategy, plans or intentions, statements about management's assumptions, projections or predictions of future events or market outlook and any other statement other than a statement of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements. The inclusion of any statement in this press release does not constitute an admission by MSC or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material. In addition, new risks may emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict such risks or to assess the impact of such risks on our business or financial results. Accordingly, future results may differ materially from historical results or from those discussed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, the reader should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: general economic conditions in the markets in which we operate; changing customer and product mixes; volatility in commodity and energy prices, the impact of prolonged periods of low, high and rapid inflation, and fluctuations in interest rates; competition, including the adoption by competitors of aggressive pricing strategies and sales methods; industry consolidation and other changes in the industrial distribution sector; our ability to realize the expected benefits from our investment and strategic plans, including our transition from being a spot-buy supplier to a mission-critical partner to our customers; our ability to realize the expected cost savings and benefits from our restructuring activities and structural cost reductions; the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our sales, operations and supply chain; the retention of key personnel; the credit risk of our customers, higher inflation and fluctuations in interest rates; the risk of customer cancellation or rescheduling of orders; difficulties in calibrating customer demand for our products, which could cause an inability to sell excess products ordered from manufacturers resulting in inventory write-downs or could conversely cause inventory shortages of such products; work stoppages, labor shortages or other business interruptions (including those due to extreme weather conditions) at transportation centers, shipping ports, our headquarters or our customer fulfillment centers; disruptions or breaches of our information technology systems, or violations of data privacy laws; the retention of qualified sales and customer service personnel and metalworking specialists; the risk of loss of key suppliers or contractors or key brands or supply chain disruptions, including due to import restrictions or global geopolitical conditions; changes to governmental trade or sanctions policies, including the impact from significant import restrictions or tariffs or moratoriums on economic activity with certain countries or regions; risks related to opening or expanding our customer fulfillment centers; our ability to estimate the cost of healthcare claims incurred under our self-insurance plan; litigation risk due to the nature of our business; risks associated with the integration of acquired businesses or other strategic transactions; financial restrictions on outstanding borrowings; our ability to maintain our credit facilities or incur additional borrowings on terms we deem attractive; the interest rate uncertainty due to the London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR) reform; the failure to comply with applicable environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, and other laws applicable to our business; the outcome of government or regulatory proceedings or future litigation; goodwill and intangible assets recorded resulting from our acquisitions could be impaired; our common stock price may be volatile due to factors outside of our control; and the significant control that our principal shareholders exercise over us, which may result in our taking actions or failing to take actions which our other shareholders do not prefer. Additional information concerning these and other risks is described under "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual and Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, respectively, and in the other reports and documents that we file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.

SOURCE MSC Industrial Supply Co.
LOS ANGELES, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, Animal Equality, an international animal protection organization, released a new undercover investigation into dairy production. The investigation features celebrated actress and activist Richa Moorjani, who presents the findings as a look inside the global dairy industry.

The actress, who has been vegan now for several years, notes that the issues uncovered during this investigation extend far past India's borders where the footage was captured.

Actress Richa Moorjani poses in her Animal Equality t-shirt

"A few years ago, I watched a documentary about the dairy industry in this country, and it changed my life. My eyes were opened that day to how cows, and all animals, suffer from unimaginable cruelty and horrific living conditions in the animal agriculture/factory farming industry," shared Moorjani in a statement. "These are not just isolated instances of abuse. This is evidence of an unsustainable and powerful global industry trying to hide how it exploits and abuses animals for profit, all behind false 'humane' marketing and images of happy cows."

As reported by Animal Equality, the practices uncovered during their investigation are likely being supported by unsuspecting consumers, including Americans. As the world's largest producer of dairy, India produces over 20% of the world's dairy products.

"I'm asking you not to ignore the cruelty or disturbing reality behind every glass of milk or dairy product," Moorjani pleads with the viewer at the beginning of the video released yesterday. Animal Equality deems the findings among the most "shocking evidence of cruelty endured by animals used for dairy."

Moorjani describes how, "like humans," cows and buffaloes only produce milk after giving birth. A few hours after birth, the calf is separated to preserve the mother's milk. Footage reveals how male calves are then sold for slaughter or starved to death.

After being separated from their calf, female cows begin to produce less milk. Farm workers resort to extreme methods to increase production: "To continue taking the milk from these mothers, workers stuff calf carcasses with hay, trying to make the animals believe they need to continue nursing," describes Moorjani.

Animal Equality filmed farm workers administering injections of oxytocin, a hormone that stimulates milk production. This drug was banned in 2018 by India's Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act due to its effects on the animals and the humans who consume products laced with it. Oxytocin remains legal for use on U.S. farms, including use on "organic" farms.

Moorjani goes on to explain how animals who are no longer able to produce milk are sent to markets to be sold for slaughter.

"This investigation is simply a glimpse into a larger reality where millions of animals suffer for dairysuffering that Animal Equality has documented extensively around the world," Moorjani shares with the viewer before going on to present evidence captured by the organization on dairy farms in the United States, U.K. and Mexico.

"There is no humane way to forcibly impregnate a cow and then separate her from her baby right after giving birth, to then send her for slaughter after repeating this cycle until she can barely stand up anymore," Moorjani added in a statement. "I hope with the undercover investigations by organizations like Animal Equality, the whole world will wake up to the cruel reality behind every glass of milk and demand justice for these intelligent, emotional and innocent animals."

"The cruelty towards the animals in this new investigation is shocking but not abnormal when you look at the global dairy industry, including here in the United States," shares Animal Equality's President Sharon Nunez in a statement. "It is more critical than ever that consumers are aware of who exactly is behind dairy products and make responsible choices that protect animals."

MEDIA CONTACT:

Claire Roberson

Communications Manager

(424) 902-2122

[email protected]

ABOUT ANIMAL EQUALITY:

Animal Equality is an international organization working with society, governments, and companies to end cruelty to farmed animals. Animal Equality works effectively for animals through investigations, corporate campaigns and legal advocacy in the United States, UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, and India.

SOURCE Animal Equality
#Dadication PSAs for Father's Day

WASHINGTON, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A new series of public service announcements (PSAs) in English and Spanish have been created for this Father's Day to highlight fatherhood involvement. The PSAs were developed by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with the Ad Council and the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC).

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9094552-ad-council-fathers-day-dadication-psas/

Dadication - Oscar :60 | Fatherhood Involvement Dadication - Oscar :60 Spanish | Fatherhood Involvement

These latest installments to the annual #Dadication PSA campaign aim to showcase, encourage and celebrate the efforts of fathers to overcome parenting challenges so they can be active and present in their children's lives.

"This national fatherhood media campaign reminds us that fathers come from all walks of life," said ACF Assistant Secretary January Contreras. "Fathers are essential, and they play a critical role in ensuring their children thrive, which is why our office works hard on these national public service announcements to reach dads around the country."

The new #Dadication PSAs showcase Oscar, a Mexican American father of three, who shares his experiences as a parent, complimented with home footage and family photos. Oscar talks about the challenges and joys of parenting while reflecting on the lessons he learned from his father. He emphasizes the significance of expressing emotions to his children during happy and challenging moments, as it helps them learn and grow together.

"These are challenging times. It's important that fathers know it's okay to struggle and they can share how they're doing with their children," said Heidi Arthur, chief campaign development officer at the Ad Council. "This new creative will build on our efforts to support and empower fathers to recognize their important role in their children's lives."

According to the #Dadication campaign's tracking survey fielded by Ipsos in March 2023, fathers who were aware of the Fatherhood Involvement campaign PSAs were significantly more likely to have sought out information about increasing their involvement with their children over the past six months compared to fathers who were not aware of the PSAs (61% of ad-aware fathers versus 26% of not aware fathers). The new PSAs seek to build on this positive momentum and continue inspiring fathers to pursue resources that facilitate active engagement with their children, even in the face of struggle.

"Like with past campaign efforts, we are seeking to inspire a renewed commitment among fathersto reignite the flame of responsible fatherhood," said Kenneth Braswell, Project Director at the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse and Chief Executive Officer for Fathers Incorporated. "We know these past few years have been extra challenging for everyone, including dads, and we want to encourage them to keep going no matter how hard it might seem because their involvement matters a great deal."

The Fatherhood Involvement media campaign has been incredibly successful, receiving an impressive $334 million in donated media and generating over 27.1 billion audience impressions nationwide since 2013. The campaign's central concept, "#Dadication," highlights the unwavering commitment of fathers to their children. Thanks to donated time and space, the new PSAs will be widely available in TV and online video formats and broadcast nationwide.

To view the new fatherhood PSAs, click here to view the English version and click here to view the Spanish version.

MEDIA CONTACT

Ben Dorf

[email protected]

ABOUT THE AD COUNCIL

The Ad Council convenes creative storytellers to educate, unite and uplift audiences by opening hearts, inspiring action and accelerating change around the most pressing issues in America. Since the non-profits founding, the organization and its partners in advertising, media, marketing and tech have been behind some of the countrys most iconic and impactful campaigns  Smokey Bear, A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Waste, Love Has No Labels, Tear the Paper Ceiling and many more. With a current focus on mental health, racial justice, gun violence and other critical issues, the Ad Councils national campaigns encompass advertising and media content, ground game and community efforts, trusted messenger and influencer engagement, among other innovative strategies to move the needle on the most important issues of the day.

To learn more or get involved, visit AdCouncil.org, join the Ad Council's communities on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter, and view campaign creative on YouTube.



ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (ACF)

ACF, a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, promotes the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities. ACF programs aim to:

Empower families and individuals to increase their economic independence and productivity.

Encourage strong, healthy, supportive communities that positively impact children's quality of life and development.

Create partnerships with front-line service providers, states, localities, and tribal communities to identify and implement solutions that transcend traditional program boundaries.

Improve access to services through planning, reform, and integration.

Address vulnerable populations' needs, strengths, and abilities, including refugees and migrants.

ABOUT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS)

HHS supports responsible fatherhood in diverse ways. Because engaged fathers strengthen families and contribute to healthy outcomes for children, many HHS programs integrate support for fathers. These include Head Start, child support programs, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD CLEARINGHOUSE (NRFC)

The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC) is a program of the Office of Family Assistance (OFA) under the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The NRFCs mission is to provide, facilitate, and disseminate current research, evidence-informed practices, resources, and tools, including timely information on fatherhood issues and access to print and electronic publications that will encourage and strengthen fathers as parents and the capacity of practitioners who serve them. The NRFC also encourages policymakers, practitioners, fathers, families, and the general public to promote and support the essential need for responsible fatherhood. Visit www.fatherhood.gov for more information.

SOURCE The Ad Council
VANCOUVER, BC, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - NexGen Energy Ltd. ("NexGen" or the "Company") (TSX: NXE) (NYSE: NXE) (ASX: NXG) is pleased to announce the voting results from its Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders ("Meeting"), held on June 15, 2023.

Shareholders voted in favour of all matters of business before the Meeting. Each of those matters is set out in detail in the Management Information Circular published in connection with the Meeting, which is available at www.nexgenenergy.ca.

A total 329,424,392 common shares, representing approximately 67.60% of the Company's outstanding common shares, were voted in person and by proxy at the Meeting. Shareholders voted in favour of (a) reappointing KPMG LLP as auditors of the Company (99.68% in favour), and (b) setting the number of directors at ten (99.28% in favour).

Shareholders also voted on the following matters at the Meeting.

Election of Directors

The following nominees listed in the Management Information Circular were elected as directors of the Company until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until their successors are elected or appointed, with the voting results being as follows:

Nominee Votes For % For Votes Withheld % Withheld Leigh Curyer 300,430,103 98.85 % 3,488,795 1.15 % Christopher McFadden 237,509,529 78.15 % 66,409,369 21.85 % Richard Patricio 178,733,702 58.81 % 125,185,196 41.19 % Trevor Thiele 193,744,239 63.75 % 110,174,659 36.25 % Warren Gilman 242,955,438 79.94 % 60,963,460 20.06 % Sybil Veenman 208,521,968 68.61 % 95,396,930 31.39 % Karri Howlett 299,962,069 98.70 % 3,956,829 1.30 % Brad Wall 267,978,119 88.17 % 35,940,779 11.83 % Don Roberts 298,283,399 98.15 % 5,635,499 1.85 % Ivan Mullany 302,016,174 99.37 % 1,902,723 0.63 %

Continuation of the Company's S hareholder Rights Plan

The continuation of the Company's amended shareholder rights plan was approved, with the voting results being as follows:

Votes For % For Votes Against % Against 301,471,796 99.19 % 2,447,101 0.81 %

About NexGen

NexGen Energy is a Canadian company focused on delivering clean energy fuel for the future. The Company's flagship Rook I Project is being optimally developed into the largest low cost producing uranium mine globally, incorporating the most elite standards in environmental and social governance. The Rook I Project is supported by a NI 43-101 compliant Feasibility Study which outlines the elite environmental performance and industry leading economics. NexGen is led by a team of experienced uranium and mining industry professionals with expertise across the entire mining life cycle, including exploration, financing, project engineering and construction, operations and closure. NexGen is leveraging its proven experience to deliver a Project that leads the entire mining industry socially, technically and environmentally. The Project and prospective portfolio in northern Saskatchewan will provide generational long-term economic, environmental, and social benefits for Saskatchewan, Canada, and the world.

NexGen is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "NXE" and on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker symbol "NXG" providing access to global investors to participate in NexGen's mission of solving three major global challenges in decarbonization, energy security and access to power. The Company is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, with its primary operations office in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Forward-Looking Information

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable United States securities laws and regulations and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, the 2021 Arrow Deposit, Rook I Project and estimates of uranium production, grade and long-term average uranium prices, anticipated effects of completed drill results on the Rook I Project, planned work programs, completion of further site investigations and engineering work to support basic engineering of the project and expected outcomes. 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. Statements relating to "mineral resources" are deemed to be forward-looking information, as they involve the implied assessment that, based on certain estimates and assumptions, the mineral resources described can be profitably produced in the future.

Forward-looking information and statements are based on the then current expectations, beliefs, assumptions, estimates and forecasts about NexGen's business and the industry and markets in which it operates. Forward-looking information and statements are made based upon numerous assumptions, including among others, that the mineral reserve and resources estimates and the key assumptions and parameters on which such estimates are based are as set out in this news release and the technical report for the property, the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the price and market supply of uranium, the cost of planned exploration activities, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors, equipment, supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct NexGen's planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse 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 in the future.

Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, performances and achievements of NexGen to differ materially from any projections of results, performances and achievements of NexGen expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others, the existence of negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of the availability of additional financing, the risk that pending assay results will not confirm previously announced preliminary results, conclusions of economic valuations, the risk that actual results of exploration activities will be different than anticipated, the cost of labour, equipment or materials will increase more than expected, that the future price of uranium will decline or otherwise not rise to an economic level, the appeal of alternate sources of energy to uranium-produced energy, that the Canadian dollar will strengthen against the U.S. dollar, that mineral resources and reserves are not as estimated, that actual costs or actual results of reclamation activities are greater than expected, that changes in project parameters and plans continue to be refined and may result in increased costs, of unexpected variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates or other risks generally associated with mining, unanticipated delays in obtaining governmental, regulatory or First Nations approvals, risks related to First Nations title and consultation, reliance upon key management and other personnel, deficiencies in the Company's title to its properties, uninsurable risks, failure to manage conflicts of interest, failure to obtain or maintain required permits and licences, risks related to changes in laws, regulations, policy and public perception, as well as those factors or other risks as more fully described in NexGen's Annual Information Form dated February 24, 2023 filed with the securities commissions of all of the provinces of Canada except Quebec and in NexGen's 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and Edgar at www.sec.gov .

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 statements or implied by forward-looking information or statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements due to the inherent uncertainty thereof.

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.

SOURCE NexGen Energy Ltd.
MIAMI, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) and International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) have recognized Nicklaus Children's Hospital for excellence in lactation care. Nicklaus Children's received the IBCLC Care Award in recognition of its commitment to staffing the hospital with professionals who hold the prestigious International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) certification and providing a lactation program for breastfeeding families. In addition, the facility demonstrated that it has recently completed activities that help protect, promote, and support breastfeeding.

Mona Sakr, MBBS, MSc, IBCLC, Chair of the Board of Directors of IBLCE recently shared, "IBCLCs and the hospitals and health care facilities who employ them provide invaluable care to breastfeeding families as well as advance global public health. These skilled lactation professionals and the healthcare institutions with which they are affiliated are demonstrating a commitment to excellence. Thank you for your dedication."

"We are immensely honored to be recognized by the IBLCE and ILCA for our excellence in lactation care," said Shannon Odell, vice president and chief nursing officer at Nicklaus Children's. "This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality of care to our pediatric patients and their families. At Nicklaus Children's, we strive to create a supportive environment that empowers and guides breastfeeding mothers, ensuring optimal health outcomes for both mothers and infants. This accolade is one more example of why Nicklaus Children's is the hospital 'where your child matters most.'"

IBCLCs focus on preventive care, so they are available during pregnancy to assess and provide information on how to successfully initiate breastfeeding. They continue that assistance after the baby is born by helping families overcome breastfeeding challenges, providing accurate information, and continuing to support them as their baby grows. They assist families returning to work or school, help families in more unusual situations such as breastfeeding more than one baby or nursing a sick or premature infant, and help train nursing staff to manage basic breastfeeding care.

Iona Macnab, BA (Hons), LLB, IBCLC, President of ILCA added, "IBCLCs are the global professional standard in the clinical management of breastfeeding and lactation across diverse settings. Recognizing the facilities that invest in IBCLCs on staff with the IBCLC Care Award highlights the significant impact IBCLCs have on improving health outcomes in communities across the world." As allied health care professionals with the leading internationally recognized certification for professional lactation services, IBCLC professionals work in hospitals and birthing centers, clinics, public health agencies, private practice, community settings, government agencies, and in research. There are currently nearly 36,000 such professionals in 131 countries worldwide who are IBCLCs (www.iblce.org). The IBCLC certification program is accredited by the NCCA, the accreditation arm of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence. NCCA accreditation represents a mark of quality for certification programs. In addition to finding IBCLC professionals at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, families can also find an IBCLC near them by visiting www.ilca.org. Follow the "Find a Lactation Consultant" link and search for an IBCLC by postal code, city and state, or country. For more information about the IBCLC Care Award program, contact IBLCE at [email protected].

About Nicklaus Children's Hospital

Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children's Hospital is South Florida's only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with approximately 800 attending physicians, including more than 500 pediatric subspecialists. The 309-bed hospital, known as Miami Children's Hospital from 1983 through 2014, is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with many specialty programs routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. In the 2022-2023 ranking, the hospital tied with two other hospitals as the number one children's hospital in Florida. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and since 2003 has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession's most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org

For more information:

Rachel Bixby

305-898-9165

SOURCE Nicklaus Children's Health System
OSU/A&M Regents approve FY 2024 budget for Oklahoma State University System

OKLAHOMA CITY, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The OSU/A&M Board of Regents has approved a $1.7 billion operating budget for the Oklahoma State University System for fiscal year 2024.

The budget, which the board approved Friday during its regular meeting held on the OSU-Oklahoma City campus, includes a significant funding increase from the state. General university state appropriations for FY 2024 are just over $221 million. That's up $26.5 million over the previous year  an increase of 13.76% for the state's largest university system.

OSU's FY 2024 budget will see tuition and mandatory fees remain flat for both in-state and out-of-state undergraduate and graduate students at the Stillwater and Tulsa campuses for the second straight year.

As part of OSU President Kayse Shrum's vision to enhance employment opportunities and growth, a faculty and staff merit-based raise program will be implemented starting July 1, following similar merit-based raise programs implemented in 2021 and 2022.

"This year's budget aligns with our mission to meet the needs of students by providing a high-quality and affordable experience," said Jarold Callahan, OSU/A&M Board of Regents chair. "We recognize the importance of faculty and staff as the foundation of our success. The budget reflects our commitment to operational efficiency and responsible stewardship."

Led by an enrollment of 24,692 students at its Stillwater and Tulsa campuses  representing a 4% increase over the previous year's enrollment  enrollment across the OSU System is over 33,000 students. The student body includes representation from all 50 states; Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; and 113 countries. In the fall, OSU reported its largest freshman class in history  4,668 first-time freshmen enrolled  and early indications forecast a large incoming freshman class for the upcoming academic year.

In the fall, OSU unveiled a comprehensive strategy to become the nation's preeminent land-grant institution. The plan includes specific targets for increasing student access, affordability, retention and enrollment, all while promoting an efficient OSU System with a focus on addressing society's most pressing challenges.

"Oklahoma State is on a positive trajectory with the systemwide strategy that will increase student enrollment, help address the state's workforce challenges, expand research capabilities and improve access for students," Dr. Shrum said. "A key part of making these things possible is our commitment to financial stewardship as reflected in the budget accepted by the OSU/A&M Board of Regents.

"On behalf of OSU's faculty, staff and students, I want to thank both the Board of Regents and the Oklahoma Legislature, particularly Sens. Roger Thompson and Greg Treat, Rep. Kevin Wallace and Speaker Charles McCall, for their ongoing support of Oklahoma State University. There are opportunities ahead to work together and make a difference for the state, industry and our students. We look forward to continuing our partnership and our remarkable momentum."

OSU Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance Joe Weaver echoed Shrum's gratitude for the Legislature's support. He said fiduciary stewardship has been a consistent focus for OSU leadership  one which has allowed OSU to maintain its "high grade" credit rating and robust financial health.

"Visionary leadership and our commitment to sound budgeting have ensured the financial health of the OSU System, which will continue to open doors for sustainable expansion of campus facilities and future growth," Weaver said.

PHOTOS: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAD7UP

MEDIA CONTACT: Mack Burke | Associate Director of Media Relations | 405-744-5540 | [email protected]

Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant university that prepares students for success. OSU has more than 33,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 25,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and more than 100 nations. Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 275,000 students to serve the state of Oklahoma, the nation and the world.

SOURCE Oklahoma State University
President Vladimir Putin on Friday confirmed Russia had sent nuclear arms to its ally Belarus which borders Ukraine.

"The first nuclear warheads were delivered to the territory of Belarus... This is the first part," Putin told an annual economic forum, where AFP and media of other countries Russia deems "unfriendly" were not accredited.

The Russian leader had announced the plans to send tactical nuclear weapons -- less powerful than strategic ones -- in March.

"By the end of summer, the end of the year, we will complete the process," of transferring tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, Putin said.

Tactical nuclear arms are battlefield weapons that, while devastating, have a smaller yield compared to long-range strategic weapons.

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has allowed his territory -- which borders Ukraine as well as EU and NA members Poland and Lithuania -- to serve as a launch pad for Russia's Ukraine offensive.

Putin's announcement had spurred fears of nuclear conflict, but experts and governments said it was unlikely it would change the course of the conflict.

Putin said the weapons were meant as deterrence to "those who are thinking of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia".

Belarusian troops began training on nuclear-capable Russian missile systems in April.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


This summer, the Class of 2023 graduate will launch her career as an external operations planner, working with Japanese skincare manufacturer Shiseido's contractors to ensure that products reach stores. She will also be responsible for managing any disruptions that occur in the process. "I am very excited about starting my career with Shiseido," she said.

Perez discovered supply chain after a friend invited her to come along to a Rutgers University Supply Chain Association (RUSCA) information session. Why not, she thought.

"I was a pretty quiet and reserved first-year," she said. "At the information session, I met kind, confident, and capable seniors who explained the association and the engaging world of supply chains."

The student group provided her with an introduction to supply chain management, including such things as forecasting retailer inventory needs months or years out, and contingency planning for inevitable supply disruptions.

Perez knew she had found the career she was looking for when she realized she could have a job planning how to get organizations what they need, when they need it even if the initial plan fell apart. She joined RUSCA and declared supply chain management as her major. She decided on a second major in marketing because it paired well with supply chain.

After completing the RBS core courses and working through the required major courses, her future career plan was finalized with a demand planning and fulfillment course. "Apparently, people who love planning are not that common. I love planning," she said.

Learn more about how Rutgers Business School-New Brunswick helps students launch their careers.

During college, she continued to achieve the same high grades that got her into Rutgers University-New Brunswick Honors College. She was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the International Business Honor Society that invites the top 10 percent of undergraduate business students to join the organization. She made the Dean's List eight times, earning a 3.95 GPA.

During the summer between junior and senior year, Perez interned at Ulta Beauty in merchandise planning and inventory. She advanced her knowledge of inventory forecasting and product lifecycle management, organization skills, and problem-solving.

Just as the demand planning and fulfillment course stands out among all of Perez's supply chain courses, hosting the Rutgers University Supply Chain Association banquet is one of her favorite student leadership accomplishments.

"I built my leadership skills with RUSCA and was voted president for the last two years. I was an introvert entering RBS and became a 'people person' with the confidence to enjoy public speaking," she said. "I've developed interpersonal skills for communicating with different people from other backgrounds and perspectives in different time zones."

"I like full-circle moments," she said. "I have become one of the confident and capable seniors I met at my first RUSCA information session."

Her involvement in RUSCA and her role as a student leader earned Perez the Distinguished Leadership Award for the undergraduate Class of 2023 at Rutgers Business School-New Brunswick.

SOURCE Rutgers Business School-Newark and New Brunswick
WASHINGTON, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Philos Project concluded a three-day trip that introduced American Christian and Jewish thought leaders to Armenia's rich history and the existential threats that face this Christian country from its neighbors. The trip, which comes nearly six months after Azerbaijan initiated a blockade of Armenian Christians in the adjacent Nagorno-Karabakh region was led by Philos Project President Robert Nicholson and former Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback.

Participants included leaders of Christian advocacy groups, like David Curry, President and CEO of Global Christian Relief; Carlos Duran, Founder and President of the National Association of Hispanic Pastors of America; Travis Weber, Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs at Family Research Council; and Denise Bubeck, Deputy Director of the Church Ambassador Network at THE FAMiLY LEADER, among others. They were joined by Jewish leaders and experts from several think tanks, including Michael Ruben, Greg Schaller, and Gregg Roman, as well as journalists from both secular and religious publications.

Since December 12th, Azerbaijan's blockade of the Lachin Corridor has cut the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, largely Armenian Christians, off from the outside world. The siege has created a humanitarian disaster that may soon become untenable for the 120,000 residents, precipitating what some have warned may be a Second Armenian Genocide. Constant, aggressive rhetoric from Azerbaijan's president Ilham Aliyev, a self-proclaimed ally of the United States, seems to lend credence to such warnings.

That same month Nicholson began examining the challenges Armenians face in an in-depth series on his podcast, The Deep Map. In January he stepped up his advocacy, sending a letter to President Biden urging his administration to help lift the blockade, provide humanitarian aid, and work toward a lasting and just resolution of the long-standing dispute. In May, he appealed to the House Committee for Foreign Affairs, yet the blockade remains.

Nicholson and Brownback co-led this trip to help American thought leaders better understand the crisis in the region and consider how Christian and Jewish communities might contribute to potential solutions. Participants visited medieval monasteries, conversed with local residents affected by Azerbaijani aggression in the city of Jermuk, and met with Armenia's President, Vahagn Khachaturyan. In a video statement, Ambassador Brownback expressed his gratitude to the president for spending "a huge amount of time" with the delegation discussing the "breadth of the issues," confiding that "central to all of this is the building of the relationship" between Armenia and American Christians that so far "hasn't been fully actualized."

"We cannot allow the crisis in Armenia to be dismissed as a simple territorial dispute," said Philos Project Founder Robert Nicholson. "This is a dispute about values." Adding further, Nicholson said. "Advocates for human rights, Christians concerned about preserving their historic roots, and Jews who know all too well the struggle against genocidal forces, all have a stake in advocating for Armenia's Christians. "

SOURCE Philos Project
The new restaurant enjoys a sweeping view of the sea. Not only does it provide a contemporary dining experience, but also showcases advanced sustainability solutions, including an IoT-based intelligent energy management system and outdoor solar lamps. The restaurant also incorporates renewable and recycled materials in its decoration and layout, aiming to inspire consumers to embrace low-carbon and sustainable living.

"The opening of Pizza Hut 3,000th store is more than a landmark moment for store expansion. It demonstrates Pizza Hut's strength as a "pizza expert" and reaffirms our commitment to growing the brand in China. This milestone also underscores our focus on continuous innovation, from menu innovation and digitalization, to a range of new store formats," said Joey Wat, CEO of Yum China. "We believe the brand holds tremendous growth potential in China, and we are committed to actively pursuing expansion opportunities to further grow the brand."

Since opening its first location in Beijing in 1990, Pizza Hut has grown into the largest casual dining restaurant brand in China, both in terms of system sales and number of restaurants.

"Pizza Hut is extremely proud of its heritage as the first restaurant chain to introduce pizza and Western-style casual dining to China," said Jeff Kuai, General Manager of Pizza Hut China. "From our first store in Beijing to now 3,000 stores nationwide, we have always grown together with our customers. We'll continue to expand our store portfolio, while staying true to our commitment to innovating great food and experiences for our customers."

Pizza Hut China offers an extensive range of pizzas, steaks, pasta, rice dishes and other delectable entrees, along with appetizers, beverages, and desserts. Through relentless food innovation, Pizza Hut has strengthened its leadership in the pizza category while also establishing itself as one of the leading steakhouses in China. Pizza Hut launched its new 2023 menu in May and introduced 24 brand new items, covering 9 categories, such as Neapolitan-style meatball pizza and Cheese and pineapple roll. Pizza Hut is dedicated to fueling growth across different dayparts and through diverse channels, encompassing dine-in, delivery, takeaway as well as offering packaged foods such as read-to-cook steak and pasta.

Pizza Hut China has also transformed its digital capabilities over the past few years. This includes notable achievements in establishing a robust digital ecosystem, expanding its membership base, and enhancing the overall customer experience. As of the end of March 2023, Pizza Hut had more than 135 million members in China, nearly doubling the count at the end of 2019. During the first quarter of 2023, digital orders accounted for approximately 91% of company sales, representing a substantial increase from 31% in 2019.

On the restaurant front, Pizza Hut China also leverages its digital capabilities to drive sales and operational excellence. Pizza Hut rolled out i-Kitchen, the Back of House operation management system, at all Pizza Hut stores across China. The system uses AI, IoT and machine learning algorithms to help restaurant managers effectively manage inventory levels and automate the order sequence and production process. The system also helps to perform food safety and quality assurance checks, reinforcing Pizza Hut's firm commitment to deliver high standards to customers.

Over the past 33 years, Pizza Hut China has built on its rich brand heritage, while constantly innovating and adapting to evolving customer demands. Moving ahead, strong branding, great food, and customer experience, will continue to be the three key catalysts for Pizza Hut China's long-term growth.

Forward-Looking Statements

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, including under "2023 Outlook." We intend all forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and by the use of forward-looking words such as "expect," "expectation," "believe," "anticipate," "may," "could," "intend," "belief," "plan," "estimate," "target," "predict," "project," "likely," "will," "continue," "should," "forecast," "outlook," "commit" or similar terminology. These statements are based on current estimates and assumptions made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable under the circumstances, but there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the future strategies, growth, business plans, investment, dividend and share repurchase plans, earnings, performance and returns of Yum China, anticipated effects of population and macroeconomic trends, the expected impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, pace of recovery of Yum China's business, the anticipated effects of our innovation, digital and delivery capabilities and investments on growth and beliefs regarding the long-term drivers of Yum China's business. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and could cause our actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by those statements. We cannot assure you that any of our expectations, estimates or assumptions will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release, and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law. Numerous factors could cause our actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: whether we are able to achieve development goals at the times and in the amounts currently anticipated, if at all, the success of our marketing campaigns and product innovation, our ability to maintain food safety and quality control systems, changes in public health conditions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, our ability to control costs and expenses, including tax costs, as well as changes in political, economic and regulatory conditions in China. In addition, other risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe to be immaterial could affect the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. You should consult our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the information set forth under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q) for additional detail about factors that could affect our financial and other results.

About Yum China Holdings, Inc.

Yum China is the largest restaurant company in China with a mission to make every life taste beautiful. The Company has over 400,000 employees and operates over 13,000 restaurants under six brands across 1,800 cities in China. KFC and Pizza Hut are the leading brands in the quick-service and casual dining restaurant spaces in China, respectively. Taco Bell offers innovative Mexican-inspired food. Yum China has also partnered with Lavazza to develop the Lavazza coffee concept in China. Little Sheep and Huang Ji Huang specialize in Chinese cuisine. Yum China has a world-class, digitalized supply chain which includes an extensive network of logistics centers nationwide and an in-house supply chain management system. Its strong digital capabilities and loyalty program enable the Company to reach customers faster and serve them better. Yum China is a Fortune 500 company with the vision to be the world's most innovative pioneer in the restaurant industry. For more information, please visit http://ir.yumchina.com .

SOURCE Yum China Holdings Inc.

 Modal title

PRN Top Stories Newsletters Sign up to get PRNs top stories and curated news delivered to your inbox weekly! Enter Your Email Select Country Select Country Submit Thank you for subscribing!



Our newsletters contain tracking pixels to help us deliver unique content based on each subscriber's engagement and interests. For more information on how we will use your data to ensure we send you relevant content please visit our By signing up you agree to receive content from us.Our newsletters contain tracking pixels to help us deliver unique content based on each subscriber's engagement and interests. For more information on how we will use your data to ensure we send you relevant content please visit our PRN Consumer Newsletter Privacy Notice . You can withdraw your consent at any time in the footer of every email you'll receive.



Unsere Newsletter enthalten Zahlpixel, die die Lieferung einzigartiger Inhalte in Bezug auf das Abonnement und die Interessen der einzelnen Abonnenten ermoglichen. Weitere Informationen uber die Verwendung Ihrer Daten im Hinblick auf die Zusendung von relevanten Inhalten, finden Sie in unserer Mit Ihrer Anmeldung erklaren Sie sich damit einverstanden, Inhalte von uns zu erhalten.Unsere Newsletter enthalten Zahlpixel, die die Lieferung einzigartiger Inhalte in Bezug auf das Abonnement und die Interessen der einzelnen Abonnenten ermoglichen. Weitere Informationen uber die Verwendung Ihrer Daten im Hinblick auf die Zusendung von relevanten Inhalten, finden Sie in unserer PRN Consumer Newsletter Privacy Notice . Ihre Zustimmung konnen Sie jederzeit in der Fuzeile jeder erhaltenen E-Mail widerrufen.



Notre newsletter contient des pixels espions nous permettant la fourniture a chaque abonne, dun contenu unique en lien avec ses souscriptions et interets. Pour de plus amples informations sur lutilisation faite de vos donnees en vue de lenvoi des contenus concernes, nous vous invitons a consulter la politique de confidentialite disponible a partir du lien suivant En vous inscrivant a la newsletter, vous consentez a la reception de contenus de notre part.Notre newsletter contient des pixels espions nous permettant la fourniture a chaque abonne, dun contenu unique en lien avec ses souscriptions et interets. Pour de plus amples informations sur lutilisation faite de vos donnees en vue de lenvoi des contenus concernes, nous vous invitons a consulter la politique de confidentialite disponible a partir du lien suivant PRN Consumer Newsletter Privacy Notice . Vous pouvez a tout moment revenir sur votre consentement par le biais des informations situees au bas de chaque e-mail recu.
WASHINGTON, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement from Eileen O'Reilly, president of the National Press Club, and Gil Klein, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, on the guilty verdict of journalists Matilda Bliss and Veronica Coit issued by a North Carolina jury on Friday. Bliss and Coit were charged with misdemeanor trespassing in connection with their coverage of the eviction of a homeless encampment on December 25, 2021, and were found guilty at a bench trial in April. They appealed the ruling to a jury trial that took place this week.

"While we respect the important work that juries do in our democratic system, we strongly feel this was the wrong decision. We remain deeply disappointed by the prosecution of Matilda Bliss and Veronica Coit of the citizen journalism news outlet, The Asheville Blade, on misdemeanor trespassing charges. Bliss and Coit were simply doing their jobs on December 25, 2021, when they were reporting on the clearing by local police of a local homeless encampment. Police body camera footage shows Bliss and Coit did not endanger anyone or obstruct any police activity.

"Newsgathering is not a crime, and this is a case that never should have been brought by prosecutors in the first place. Criminalizing journalism threatens the public's ability to access the information they need in a democratic society. We condemn the prosecution of journalists for doing their jobs in Asheville, North Carolina, and we applaud Bliss and Coit for the courage they showed in fighting these spurious charges."

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. The Club has 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization and is a leading voice for press freedom in the United States and around the world.

The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged, global citizenry through an independent and free press and equips journalists with the skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy. The NPCJI is the nonprofit affiliate of the National Press Club.

Press Contact: Eileen O'Reilly, [email protected], 202-662-7517

SOURCE National Press Club
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PYA is honored to announce its induction into The University of Kansas Health System Hall of Fame, the highest honor bestowed by the health system.

PYA is recognized as a 2023 Hall of Fame Partner in Excellence Award recipient, which honors organizations that partner with the health system to make a lasting impact on the people of the region.

Professional services firm PYA has been inducted into the University of Kansas Health System Hall of Fame Tweet this

"A partner creates a relationship with us, believes in us, and answers the call anytime we call, and that's what PYA has done throughout the years," said Bob Page, The University of Kansas Health System President and CEO.

"We are deeply honored by the recognition from The University of Kansas Health System," said Marty Brown, PYA President and CEO. "The induction into the Hall of Fame is truly a remarkable reflection of the core values PYA holds dear. Above all, we work every day to serve our clients with a focus on building relationships, and our work with The University of Kansas Health System reflects that passion. We are honored and privileged to have been able to partner with this incredible health system for 13 years."

PYA's partnership with The University of Kansas Health System began in 2010 when the firm helped the system acquire Kansas City Cancer Center. Since then, PYA has served the system with valuation, transaction, and integration services related to several strategic growth initiatives, such as the 2022 opening of the Proton Therapy Center, the affiliation with Olathe Health, and the development of the Kansas Heart and Stroke Collaborative, which now provides resources for more than 80 rural communities within the state.

The University of Kansas Health System has grown to become one of the most recognized health systems in the country, being honored nationally by Forbes, Newsweek, Fortune, and others. The health system has continually been honored for its clinical achievements, earning many honors and accolades including recognition as one of the top 50 programs in eight adult medical and surgical specialties by U.S. News & World Report.

"The University of Kansas Health System has plans to keep expanding our services and providing robust careand you can bet PYA will continue to be one of our first calls," said Steve Stites, MD, Executive Vice President, Clinical Affairs, and Chief Medical Officer.

The 2023 induction took place on June 8. Watch a video prepared by The University of Kansas Health System recognizing PYA's induction into the Hall of Fame.

About PYA

For 40 years, PYA, a national professional services firm providing management consulting and accounting, has helped its clients navigate and derive value amid complex challenges related to regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions, governance, business valuations and fair market value assessments, multi-unit business and clinical integrations, best practices, tax and assurance, business analysis, and operations optimization.

PYA's steadfast commitment to an unwavering client-centric culture has served the firm's clients well. PYA consistently is ranked among the Top 20 healthcare consulting firms in the U.S. by Modern Healthcare. PYA was named one of America's Best Tax and Accounting Firms of 2023 in the Forbes annual list. PYA also is ranked by INSIDE Public Accounting as one of the Top 100 largest accounting firms in the U.S. Additionally, PYA has been consistently voted a "Top Workplace."

PYA assists clients in all 50 states from offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, Helena, Kansas City, Knoxville, Nashville, and Tampa. For more information, please visit pyapc.com.

SOURCE PYA
MUNICH, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Qn-SOLAR, a global PV manufacturer, recently attended the three-day Intersolar Europe 2023 in Munich, Germany. They showcased their key product lineup to global audiences and hosted a cocktail party on June 15th, bringing together the three co-founders, key clients, and the local sales team from across Europe to relax and unwind after the exhibition.

Jack Ren (eighth from left) and Stephen Cai (seventh from left), the two co-founders of Qn-SOLAR, with the European local team.

The party gathered the three co-founders of Qn-SOLAR: Stephen Cai, Jack Ren, and Aaron Wu, along with key clients including distributors, installers, EPCs, business developers, and the local sales team from across Europe. The event was held at the Qn-SOLAR booth and offered cocktail services and Q&A for their brand and key products: N-type TOPCon 182mm 16BB cell, QNN182-HS585-72, and QNM182-HS410-54 modules.

"Tonight, we celebrate not only the success of our products and our presence at Intersolar, but also the strength of our partnerships with our clients and the dedication of our team. We are committed to delivering innovative and sustainable solutions to meet the energy needs of our global community, and we look forward to continuing to work together towards a brighter and greener future," said Stephen Cai, co-founder of Qn-SOLAR.

Since its inception, Qn-SOLAR has quickly risen to the top of the Chinese PV manufacturing industry. The senior team of Qn-SOLAR has over 15 years of comprehensive expertise in PV technology and PV solutions. From 2014 to present, the installed capacity of signed projects has reached 15GW, and its own asset of PV power stations has exceeded 1.5GW. In 2022, Qn-SOLAR officially launched its global PV business.

Qn-SOLAR currently offers four main product categories: PERC182, 210, TOPCon 182, and 210, ranging from 410W to 705W specifications. Their products can meet the needs of various applications. The company specializes in creating customized products for different customers and projects, providing professional photovoltaic integrated solutions tailored to meet their specific needs.

Earlier this year, Qn-SOLAR formed a localized management team outside of China, with locations in Europe, North America, South America, and the Asia-Pacific region. The sales structure has been reorganized to include regional and country-specific management, along with supporting departments, allowing for a more comprehensive and efficient approach to addressing customer needs.

About Qn-SOLAR

Qn-SOLAR is a professional and fully-integrated photovoltaic manufacturer with over 15 years of experience in EPC project development. Our commitment to providing customers with comprehensive and value-driven solutions is matched by our unwavering dedication to rigorous product quality control and refined management practices that drive cost efficiency. With expanding footprint in the Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, and South America, the business landscape of Qn-SOLAR has already marked the entire photovoltaic supply chain. By 2023, our production capacity for photovoltaic cells and modules will reach 69 GW and 39 GW, respectively, solidifying our position as a leading player in the industry.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2103985/Jack_Ren__eighth_left__Stephen_Cai__seventh_left__co_founders_Qn_SOLAR.jpg

SOURCE Qn-SOLAR
MUNICH, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- REPT BATTERO, a leading energy storage solution provider, participated in the industry-leading event, Th the European Smart Energy Exhibition, which took place from June 14th to 16th. The company showcased its latest innovation, the Wending battery series, at booth C3-220 during the event, known commonly as The Smarter E Europe.

REPT BATTERO's new product 320Ah Battery of Wending technology. REPT BATTERO's new product 320Ah Battery of Wending technology.

The main objective of REPT BATTERO's participation was to introduce and promote its Wending battery 320Ah and 340Ah products. The 320Ah model successfully met rigorous TUV Rheinland certification standards, confirming its position as a leading energy storage solution. By showcasing these innovative products, REPT Battero aimed to expand brand visibility and nurture industry partnerships while exchanging knowledge with key players in the industry.

"We are honored to be a part of the exhibition and are delighted to present our latest technical achievement, the Wending battery series," said Jason Hong, Overseas Sales Director. "These products represent a significant upgrade in product availability, with a remarkable increase in spatial utilization efficiency of over 7%, which means the same volume will have a higher energy capacity."

The Wending series' standout feature is their inclusion of REPT BATTERO 320Ah high-capacity battery cells, the first in the industry to meet UL 9540A certification standards for cells that go above 300Ah. This certification provides a guarantee to users regarding the superior quality and reliability of REPT BATTERO products.

REPT BATTERO has partnered renowned brands like Powin, a leading energy storage system manufacturer. These links validate the company's dedication to excellence and the industry's recognition of its cutting-edge technology.

REPT BATTERO will increase production to meet high demand for its 320Ah battery cells. This makes it the first company in the sector to scale up production, marking a key milestone. This achievement underscores the company's commitment to innovation and their position as a global leader in battery technology.

Data from Gao Gong Industry Institute (GGII) shows that REPT Battero 320Ah battery cells will be the first to be globally available for sampling, which also forms a significant milestone for the industry as it progresses toward advanced energy storage solutions.

The company aims to increase battery production capacity to over 150GWh by 2025. They plan to expand globally by setting up production facilities in Indonesia, France, and North America. These moves will help the company meet the growing demand for energy storage solutions while staying committed to sustainable and reliable power solutions for a greener future.

About REPT Battero

REPT BATTERO was founded in 2017 as Tsingshan Industrial Group's first foray into new energy investment. It specialize in lithium-ion batteries used in power and energy storage systems, and have a registered capital of CNY2.1 billion yuan. Its R&D centers are located in Shanghai, Wenzhou, and Jiaxing. The main products include square aluminum shell-blade lithium-iron-phosphate batteries and ternary batteries for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, engineering machinery, and energy storage solutions. In 2022, Battero REPT ranked among the top ten domestic battery companies by installed capacity.

Follow REPT BATTERO on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reptbattero

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2104000/REPT_BATTERO_s_product_320Ah_Battery_Wending_technology.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2104001/REPT_BATTERO_s_product_320Ah_Battery_Wending_technology_1.jpg

SOURCE REPT BATTERO
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni have arrived in Saudi Arabia today amidst celebrations and an official welcome home. They have accomplished the country's successful and historic scientific mission to space aboard the ISS. They have finished their quarantine and conducted all the medical tests required to evaluate the effects of microgravity on the human body.

H.E. Al Swaha (Minister of Communications, Space & Technology) and H.E. Al Tamimi (Governor of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Communications, Space, & Technology Commission) welcomed the Saudi Arabian astronauts at King Khalid International Airport. Rayyanah and Ali returned to their homeland with the results of 14 scientific pioneering experiments conducted at the ISS which will contribute to science globally and enhance the Kingdom's global position within the field of space exploration, inspiring future generations.

Three of the experiments were educational awareness experiments involving 12,000 Saudi students on the ground across 47 different locations in the Kingdom via a live feed. A team of Saudi Scientists and researchers will receive the 92 sample results of the 14 experiments.

The Saudi Space Agency (SSA) congratulated Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni on their safe return to homeland and praised their accomplishments. It stated that the two astronauts are now an example to follow for the next Saudi generation, they have set the pace for the growth and development of the nation's position in the space sector. The trip's global scientific accomplishments will be remembered as a historic moment of national pride and a milestone that would have not been possible without the support of the Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Space Council, thanks to whom, the Kingdom has now set foot into the realm of space.

SSA underlined the importance of the astronauts' mission to space and the astronaut program - both now a source of inspiration for the Kingdom's future generation and the whole Arab world. With Rayyanah Barnawi as the first ever Arab woman to fly into space, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is now one of the few countries to have had two astronauts from the same nationality simultaneously on board the ISS.

The two Saudi astronauts, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni, and the AX2 space mission crew, returned to earth on 31st of May, when their space craft splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean.

Notes to Editors

About The Saudi Space Agency (SSA):

The Saudi Space Agency was established by the royal order in December of 2018 (Rabi II 1440). This bold step serves a future that is innovative and looks forward to the latest technologies and opportunities in the Saudi Space Industry.

With the Kingdom moving towards a progressive quality of life, SSA demonstrates the aligned vision of creating better, secure environments for its citizens while actively enabling prospects of lucrative economic and monetary inventions.

The SSA has strategized to create primary objectives that serve national security interests against space related risks and encourage cumulative growth and advancement.

https://saudispace.gov.sa/en/about-us/

SOURCE Saudi Space Agency (SSA)
MILWAUKEE, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ademi LLP is investigating Eneti (NYSE: NETI) for possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law in its transaction with Cadeler.

Click here to learn how to join the action https://www.ademilaw.com/case/eneti-inc or call Guri Ademi toll-free at 866-264-3995. There is no cost or obligation to you.

In the transaction, Eneti shareholders will receive only 3.409 Cadeler shares for each Eneti share. Following the completion of the transaction, Cadeler and Eneti shareholders will own approximately 60% and 40% of the combined company. The transaction agreement unreasonably limits competing bids for Eneti by imposing a significant penalty if Eneti accepts a superior bid. Eneti insiders will receive substantial benefits as part of change of control arrangements.

We are investigating the conduct of Eneti's board of directors, and whether they are (i) fulfilling their fiduciary duties to all shareholders, and (ii) obtaining a fair and reasonable price for Eneti.

If you own Eneti common stock and wish to obtain additional information, please contact Guri Ademi either at [email protected] or toll-free: 866-264-3995, or https://www.ademilaw.com/case/eneti-inc.

We specialize in shareholder litigation involving buyouts, mergers, and individual shareholder rights throughout the country. For more information, please feel free to call us. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Contacts

Ademi LLP

Guri Ademi

Toll Free: (866) 264-3995

Fax: (414) 482-8001

SOURCE Ademi LLP
Vermont's Governor allowed free school meals to all students to become law without signature

BURLINGTON, Vt., June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Vermont Governor Phil Scott on Wednesday allowed free school meals to become law without his signature, saying that a veto would likely be overridden because of overwhelmingly strong support in the legislature. Vermont is now the 6th state to decide to permanently feed all kids breakfast and lunch for free, every single day, joining California, Maine, Colorado, Minnesota, and New Mexico. It goes into effect on July 1.

Tusk Philanthropies' Solving Hunger has partnered with Hunger Free Vermont in the past three legislative sessions and helped Vermont pass free school meals in 2022, which made breakfast and lunch free for all public school students for the 2022-2023 school year. This legislative session, Solving Hunger and Hunger Free Vermont, worked together to run a successful lobbying, communications and public relations and paid media services campaign to make that program permanent.

"Any day where 84,000 kids getting fed permanently in schools becomes law is a fantastic day," said Bradley Tusk, the founder of Tusk Philanthropies' Solving Hunger. "This has been a multi-year fight, and I'm grateful for our partners on the ground, Hunger Free Vermont, who have been in the trenches fighting this fight for kids for over a decade, and for our key legislative champions: Rep. Erin Brady, Rep. Esme Cole, and Sen. Brian Campion who brought this all the way to the finish line. No kid should have to go hungry. The end. That's now a reality in Vermont, and we'll continue this fight in other states going forward."

"This has been a decade in the making," said Anore Horton, the Executive Director of Hunger Free Vermont. "At long last, we can say no child in Vermont will have to learn what hunger feels like at school, and we never could have achieved this great victory without the thousands of people in Vermont who stepped up and made this cause their own  our many coalition partners and our committed funders who jumped in and took the risk to make permanent systemic change."

"Across all income levels, children are attuned to distinctions between themselves and other students  that's a basic tenet of child development, said Representative Erin Brady, the lead sponsor of H.165, a Democrat representing Williston and the Vice Chair of The House Education Committee. "When meals are not universally free for all students, the students who qualify often skip the meal to avoid any sense of labeling, particularly as they get older. School nutrition staff told legislators that they used to routinely see students in their schools who didn't access free/reduced-price meals because of the stigma felt by students and as a public high school teacher for 17 years, I certainly know this to be true. Students may come to school hungry for many, many reasons beyond economic need including family stress, parents working multiple jobs or high school students often starting very early in the morning. I'm so proud to see Vermont take this important step to make Universal Meals permanent."

"The implementation of permanent universal school meals will unlock unprecedented opportunities in relationships between local producers and schools," said Representative Esme Cole, H.165's co-sponsor, a Democrat representing Hartford and a first-term legislator on the House Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry Committee. "This program provides the level of predictability necessary for farmers to provide local foods at institutional scales. School food administrators will have greater bandwidth to invest time into nourishment rather than separating children based on family income status and chasing down payments for outstanding meal bills. Universal school meals is a four-tiered win for our schools, students, local producers, and the economy. This investment in both Vermont farms and students' health and well-being will have a noticeable impact for years to come."

"Stable, predictable school environments are essential to students' mental and physical well-being," said Senator Brian Campion, H.165's lead champion in the Senate, a Democrat representing Bennington and the Chair of The Senate Education Committee. "Universal school meals are part of this equation. Being hungry is unacceptable and puts up an unnecessary barrier to learning and social and emotional growth for Vermont students."

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.

About Hunger Free Vermont

Hunger Free Vermont is a statewide nonprofit organization that works with state agencies and community groups to develop sustainable hunger solutions. Since 1993 Hunger Free Vermont's outreach programs and advocacy have substantially enhanced Vermont's nutrition safety net and increased access to nutritious foods. To learn more about Hunger Free Vermont, visit www.hungerfreevt.org , and to learn more about the Universal School Meals Campaign, visit www.universalschoolmealsvt.org .

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Tusk Philanthropies
President Vladimir Putin hailed Russia's ties with the United Arab Emirates on Friday as he met the leader of the oil-rich nation, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, in Saint Petersburg.

"The Emirates are a very good partner," Putin said in televised comments at the start of the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of an economic summit in Russia's second city.

Putin thanked Al-Nahyan for the role the UAE has played in prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine and Russia and the United States.

Al-Nahyan said he was in favour of "de-escalation" and a "political solution" to the Ukraine conflict during the talks, in which the pair discussed their countries' "strategic partnership", according to the UAE official news agency WAM.

Russia and UAE have closely cooperated as members of the OPEC+ oil alliance and Dubai is one of the rare world capitals to have maintained direct flights to Moscow following the start of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Vienna Court rules on full review of case against Dmytro Firtash

Dmytro Firtash's extradition suspended, court case sent to first instance

CHICAGO and WASHINGTON, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- We applaud the June 16, 2023, decision of the Vienna High Land Court to recognize the need for a new review, based on new evidence and additional legal considerations and to cancel the previous decision to extradite. We hope that the US authorities will reevaluate the strength of the case brought against Mr. Firtash 10 years ago, which never had any factual basis. Justice was served in Vienna. Now we hope justice can be served in the US.

Today, on June 16, 2023, the Vienna High Land Court decided to review the extradition case of Dmytro Firtash and return the case for consideration in the court of first instance. Thus, the Vienna Land Court in criminal cases will reconsider the admissibility of extradition, taking into account new evidence and facts provided by the parties in the case.

"The decision of the District Court of Vienna of February 2017 (on the extradition of Dmytro Firtash  approx.) is cancelled," the court said in a press release.

DMTRYO FIRTASH. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT THE US DEPT OF JUSTICE, WASHINGTON, D.C.

Contact: Lanny J. Davis, 202-744-2792

SOURCE Lanny Davis
MUNICH, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sungrow, the global leading PV inverter and energy storage system supplier, won ees AWARD 2023 with its liquid cooled energy storage system PowerStack, which caters specifically to the commercial and industrial (C&I) energy storage market. The renowned trophy honours Sungrow's advanced technology and competitiveness in technical innovation.

Sungrow PowerStack Wins ees AWARD 2023

The ees AWARD is presented by the organizer of international exhibition series for batteries and energy storage systems - ees (electrical energy storage). The energy award pays tribute to pioneering products and solutions for stationary and mobile electrical energy storage systems. The range of innovations encompasses the entire value-added chain of innovative battery and energy storage technologies -- from components to concrete applications and business models.

The PowerStack was also showcased at the world's most extensive exhibition for the solar industry Intersolar Europe 2023, in Munich, Germany. The system boasts flexibility, high-spec safety features, and maximum ROI for customers.

The PowerStack battery capacity range is from 537 kWh to 1146 kWh, available for two to four-hour applications. The solution combines lithium-ion batteries, a power conversion system (PCS), an energy management system (EMS), and a fire suppression system (FSS). The system is designed for seamless integration from transportation to installation, and operation and maintenance (O&M).

Compared to a traditional air-cooling product, the PowerStack features efficient liquid-cooling technology. This delivers the advantages of low temperature difference and long battery life.

Andrey Yang, ESS Sales Director of Sungrow Europe, introduced the PowerStack. He said:

"The C&I energy storage market will be the next big thing in Europe. Sungrow's liquid-cooled ESS PowerStack exceeds the demand for flexibility and outstanding performance and is an ideal solution for more communities and facilities. Europe is poised for growth in the C&I energy storage market. As an early entrant in the energy storage sector, Sungrow is excited for what is to come as we work towards maximizing our customers' ROI through industry-leading products and services."

As with all Sungrow products, the PowerStack adheres to strict safety procedures and rigorous standards. It features comprehensive safety design at every level including cell, electrical, and system design. In addition, AI-assisted cell monitoring technology performs high-precision online computing of the cell status and provides early-stage warnings to prevent thermal runaway. Four layers of overcurrent protection and anti-arc protection mitigate electrical hazards, while patented pipe connectors, IP65 module design, one-way breather valve, and drip collectors ensure complete system safety.

It's anticipated that the growing number of European businesses using renewables to power their operations will further drive demand in the C&I energy storage market.

The increased share of renewable energy comes with potential risks such as grid instability and operational challenges. But energy storage systems like the PowerStack contribute to the security of the grid while scaling renewable energy. ESS also offers a viable backup power solution during power outages caused by extreme weather or electricity supply-demand imbalances.

Similarly, demand for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and renewable energy in Europe, and the increasing costs of managing the network to accommodate them, is levied onto C&I electricity users in the form of demand charges. C&I battery storage could effectively lower electricity costs for the facilities where they are installed, while also helping manage the cost of power for consumers.

Find out more about the PowerStack, at www.sungrowpower.com

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.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2102797/EU_website_002_edited.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1344575/Logo.jpg

SOURCE Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd.
FREDERICK, Md., June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Texcell is pleased to announce the opening of their newest testing facility in North America, representing a significant milestone in Texcell's commitment to advancing the viral safety of biotherapeutics and medical devices. Designed to support simultaneous viral clearance and biosafety studies, this 27,000 sq ft facility is built with a modular design that enhances the flexibility required in today's contract testing environment. Texcell  North America's dedicated teams are ready to support biosafety studies for monoclonal antibodies, gene therapies, and medical devices coming to the market.

Texcell's New Viral Clearance Suite

The unveiling event was preceded by an exclusive luncheon attended by esteemed international and local dignitaries, exemplifying the company's dedication to bridging the gap between the regional community and global awareness. In attendance at the inauguration was Laurent Bili, Ambassador of France to the United States, Frederick Mayor Michael O'Connor, Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce, Signe Pringle, Executive Director of Economic and Workforce Development for Frederick, Lara Fritts, President of Texcell's parent company, Soparbiotech International, Celine Saint Olive Baque, CEO of Soparbiotech International and President of Texcell SA, Dr. Eric B. Henriet, as well as other executive Texcell Group employees. April Schubert, Deputy CBO & Director of Sales and Marketing at Texcell Group and one of the original employees at the Frederick location, spoke with the dignitaries about Texcell's key role in ensuring the safety of biotherapeutics. In addition to the exclusive luncheon, Texcell hosted an open ribbon cutting ceremony that included current and former Texcell team members, as well as local clients and vendors to celebrate the inaugural opening, with certificates presented by Maryland's Department of Commerce and County Executive Fitzwater's office. Alysia Birkholz, Texcell  North America's Deputy CEO, led a toast that spoke to Texcell's ongoing mission to prioritize patient safety as embodied in the company's new slogan, "Protecting Tomorrow's Medicines, Today".

Ambassador Bili and Celine Saint Olive Baque cut the ribbon, held by Dr. Akunna Iheanacho, PhD, Texcell's Chief Scientific Officer and Dr. Matt Dickson, Director of Viral Clearance and Viral Safety, officially marking the opening of Texcell's newest facility. The Ambassador spoke on the great addition and focus on patient safety world-wide. Dr. Eric Henriet addressed the crowd with a summary of Texcell's growing capacities and capabilities in the US, Europe, and China. "We are proud to open this beautiful and modern testing facility in Frederick to better serve our growing roster of US clients," said Henriet. Beyond the Frederick expansion, Texcell continues to evolve their service offering; they recently announced a partnership with renowned CDMO GTP Bioways and are additionally preparing to open a new testing facility in Shanghai, China later this year.

Today marks a momentous occasion for Texcell as they expand their Frederick site. Mayor O'Connor followed with a speech that lauded the growth of the local biotech community that an expanded Texcell will be even better equipped to support. As such, Texcell  North America was recently nominated as one of Maryland's life science companies of the year, a nomination that follows years of steady development supporting the local community. The company's expansion in Frederick signifies an exciting time for the regional biotech hub as Texcell bridges the local community and the global biopharmaceutical industry. As Texcell continues to expand their footprint in Europe and Asia, Texcell-North America remains excited about their future growth prospects locally in Maryland  echoed by the local saying "there's no place like Frederick County!"

About Texcell

Texcell is a contract research organization that specializes in viral testing, viral clearance, bioassays, in vivo testing, and GMP cell banking, for R&D, GClP, GLP and GMP projects.

The Texcell group employs 140 people in France, in the United States, in Germany and in Asia (China and Japan) and counts customers worldwide. To sustain its continuous growth, Texcell will inaugurate in 2023 two new laboratories, in the United States and in China.

SOURCE Texcell
FREDERICK, Md., June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, James Oberman is acknowledged as a Top Pinnacle Professional for his contributions to the field of Otolaryngology and service in the US Navy.

James Oberman

Dr. Oberman pursued higher education at Boston College where he was an exceptional student earning the designation of summa cum laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Sigma Nu. He then attended Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA in 1996 where he received his medical degree and completed his Executive Master's in Business Administration (EMBA) degree in 2022 from Quantic University. A dedicated leader in both the medical field and military, the doctor completed training at the Naval Undersea Medical Institute (NUMI) In Groton, CT and the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, FL in 1997. His operational tours for the US Navy include Submarine Squadrons SIX; EIGHT in Norfolk, VA; and the Senior Diving. Dr Oberman completed his Pediatrics Internship/General Surgery Internship/and Otolaryngology residency training at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, VA. And completed two tours as a staff Otolaryngologist in both Okinawa, Japan and Jacksonville, FL.

While in the military, Dr. Oberman served as a medical officer for Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group TWO in Little Creek, VA. He also served as the Tidewater Regional Diving Casualty and Clinical Hyperbaric Expert Consultant, and also covered for the SUBLANT Senior Medical Officer. He also established a SCUBA training program for submarines on the waterfront; was deployed on the USS Narwhal submarine receiving his submarine medical officer qualification; and performed underwater explosive surveillance during OPSAIL 2000 in NYC harbor, summer 2000.

A leader in his field, the doctor has chaired numerous hospital committees and served a two-year term as the President of the Medical Staff from 2010-2012 at Naval Hospital Jacksonville, FL. He also served as their Communication in Healthcare Course Director. Board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Oberman was an Associate Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences from 2011-2017 and was selected by the USN Surgeon General to be the US Navy Otorhinolaryngology Specialty Leader, responsible for all decisions affecting the 100 ENT surgeons across the globe. Earning the rank of Captain, Dr. Oberman also received a scholarship grant in September 2013 from the American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO/HNSF) recognizing his as a "young physician leader." He was also recognized by Jacksonville Magazine as "Best of Otolaryngology in 2011."

In addition to his exceptional civilian career, Dr. Oberman was named National Capital Region Medical Directorate's Inaugural Clinical Quality Officer. While in this position, Dr. Oberman authored the five-year quality action plan for the National Capital Region, which included piloting a communication in healthcare curriculum. The doctor notes that the success of the program ultimately lead to market-wide expansion in 2016 and he continued to serve as the Clinical Champion and Course Director for the program. This program is cited often as an innovation/best practice throughout the entire Military Health System.

A testament to his elite experiences and education, Dr. Oberman was hand-selected in 2015 by the Navy Admiral to serve on her staff in the USN Medical Corps Chief's Office as the Medical Corps Career Planner serving as the principal mentor and advisor to over 3,700 Navy Medical Corps Officers. Part of his responsibilities included providing counsel on all aspects of professional development and career progression. During his two-year tenure, he focused on talent management and served as a staunch advocate for USN physicians.

The doctor was also Region Otolaryngology Product Line leader from 2015-2016 and was clinical faculty at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Fort Belvoir Community Hospital from 2014-2017. Recognized for his expertise, he serves as a national faculty member for the Institute for Healthcare Excellence (IHE). He recently collaborated with national healthcare leaders generating a white paper targeting physician burnout and provider resiliency.

Retiring from the US Navy in 2017, Dr. Oberman joined the Becker ENT practice, an affiliate of the University of Pennsylvania System in Princeton, NJ, and was appointed the inaugural Medical Director for the Patient Experience at the Princeton health system campus of the University of Pennsylvania. He transitioned closer to family in 2018 and joined the Frederick Health Medical Group where he was instrumental in establishing their inaugural Otolaryngology department. He is co-owner of the Frederick Breathe Free ENT Center, an affiliate of the National Breathe Free Sinus and ENT Centers and operates as the only surgeon, supervising three Physician Assistants and a staff of 16 personnel, and credentialed at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital in Germantown, MD.

A highlight of his career, the doctor was honored by ZocDoc as a TOPDOC for 2022 and 2023 based upon top 1% national google patient satisfaction surveys. He was also recognized as the USN-wide "Undersea Medical Officer-of-the-Year for 1999." He retired from US Naval Service after 25 years in 2017.

Dr. Oberman is married to Margaret (Meg) Ann Perusse Oberman, MD, MPH, FACP of Litchfield, CT. They currently reside in Poolesville, MD and have three children Connell (age 23), Aidan (age 21), and Bridget (age 17).

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
FALLS CHURCH, Va., June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IntelliDyne, LLC, a market-leading Government Information Technology Organization has been named one of The Washington Post's 2023 Top Workplaces in the Washington, D.C. area. Selection is based solely on employee feedback gathered through an anonymous third-party survey administered by research partner Energage, LLC, which measured several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, execution, and connection. This year's honorees include government contractors, real estate firms, consulting groups, and tech companies.

"We are proud to be recognized as one of The Washington Post's Top Workplaces in the Washington Metro area, especially as they celebrate their 10th anniversary of highlighting companies that prioritize employee wellbeing," said Chief Human Resources Officer, Marisa Krafsig. "This honor underscores our unwavering commitment to fostering a thriving and positive culture at IntelliDyne. We believe that a strong workplace culture is the foundation of our success, driving employee engagement and collaboration. Our focus on cultivating a supportive and inclusive environment empowers our employees to excel, innovate, and make a meaningful impact. We are grateful to our exceptional team for their commitment and contributions. We remain dedicated to nurturing our vibrant workplace culture as we continue to evolve and thrive," Krafsig concluded. IntelliDyne has earned the designation of Top Workplace USA for the past three years and was named a Washington-Area Top Workplace by The Washington Post in 2022 as well.

"For the past ten years, the Top Workplaces list has been a credible guide to companies, old and new, in the D.C. region where employees feel valued," said Washington Post Top Workplaces editor Bronwen Latimer. "As a new generation enters the workforce, the Post is more committed than ever to highlighting the changing landscape of work and how these companies are thriving in it."

The Washington Post hosted an awards ceremony on Thursday, June 15 to recognize the top-ranked companies. Learn more about The Washington Post's Top Workplaces and see the full list of this year's honorees here.

About IntelliDyne

IntelliDyne is a market-leading Government Information Technology Organization enabling better mission performance through innovative technology solutions. We manage public sector programs that deliver higher operational efficiency and measurable value to clients. We advise, develop, and execute effective solutions in IT Infrastructure Management, Data Automation, Analytics, Cyber Security & Information Assurance, Application Development, and Cloud Computing. Learn more at intellidyne-llc.com

About The Washington Post

The Washington Post is an award-winning news leader whose mission is to connect, inform, and enlighten local, national and global readers with trustworthy reporting, in-depth analysis and engaging opinions. It combines world-class journalism with the latest technology and tools so readers can interact with The Post anytime, anywhere.

About Energage

Making the world a better place to work together.

Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 16 years of culture research and the results from 27 million employees surveyed across more than 70,000 organizations, Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.

SOURCE IntelliDyne
WARRANTS MAY BE EXERCISED WITH CASH UNTIL 5:00 P.M. EDT ON JULY 5, 2023

RADNOR, Pa., June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Triumph Group, Inc. ("TRIUMPH" or the "Company") (NYSE: TGI) is hereby issuing an irrevocable notice of redemption for all the outstanding warrants (CUSIP 896818 119) it previously issued (the "Warrants"). The redemption date shall be July 6, 2023, (the "Redemption Date") and the redemption price shall be 1/10 of $0.01 per Warrant (the "Redemption Price"). On the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price with respect to each Warrant will become due and payable to the respective Warrant holder.

Warrant holders may exercise their Warrants with cash until 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time ("EDT") on July 5, 2023, which is the business day immediately preceding the Redemption Date. After the close of business at 5:00 p.m. EDT today, June 16, 2023, Warrant holders will no longer have the right to exercise their Warrants with Designated Notes (currently, the only Designated Notes are TRIUMPH's 7.750% Senior Notes due August 15, 2025) or exercise the Over-Exercise Option (as defined in the warrant agreement dated December 19, 2022). Any exercise notices validly submitted by 5:00 p.m. EDT today indicating that Designated Notes will be used to pay the exercise price for the Warrants will be considered a timely exercise of such Warrants using Designated Notes so long as the Designated Notes are surrendered through DTC's deposit and withdrawal at custodian (DWAC) system as promptly as practicable (as determined by the Company).

The Warrants currently trade on OTC and are expected to be delisted from OTC on July 3, 2023 to allow for settlement of trades prior to the Redemption Date. Subject to the below, the settlement date for any exercises of warrants will be two business days after the date of exercise.

Warrant holders who exercise any Warrants beginning on June 20, 2023, through 5:00 p.m. EDT on July 5, 2023, may also subscribe for additional Warrants pursuant to the terms of the Over-Subscription Privilege (as defined in the warrant agreement dated December 19, 2022). All Over-Subscription Privilege requests submitted will settle two business days after the Redemption Date.

On June 7, 2023, the Company announced that it intended to issue this notice of redemption.

About TRIUMPH

TRIUMPH, headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania, designs, engineers, manufactures, repairs, and overhauls a broad portfolio of aerospace and defense systems, subsystems, and components. The Company serves the global aviation industry, including original equipment manufacturers and the full spectrum of military and commercial aircraft operators through the aircraft life cycle.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this release which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "anticipate(s)," "expect(s)," "intend(s)," "plan(s)," "believe(s)," "plan(s)," "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "seek(s)," "forecast(s)," and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the delisting and settlement of the Warrants. These statements are not guarantees of future performance, condition or results, and involve risks and uncertainties which could affect the Company's actual results and could cause its actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Further information regarding the important factors that could cause actual results to differ from projected results can be found in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023.

More information about TRIUMPH can be found on the company's website at www.triumphgroup.com .

SOURCE Triumph Group
Venus Aerospace specifically applauds the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation for their work on FAA Reauthorization.

HOUSTON, June 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Venus Aerospace applauds and expresses its gratitude to the House and Senate Committees for their forward-looking and hard work on FAA Reauthorization legislation. FAA Reauthorization legislation, which is passed approximately every 5 years, provides the public policy blueprint for the U.S. aviation and aerospace industries which support millions of well-paying jobs and creates billions of dollars of economic value for the United States. "The House and Senate bills show that Congress recognizes the importance of hypersonic aviation, and allows the United States to maintain its long history of leadership in aviation" stated Venus CEO and co-founder Sarah "Sassie" Duggleby.

Venus Aerospace applauds the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee for its incredibly hard work on passing the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, H.R. 3935 out of Committee yesterday. We thank Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Larsen for their collegial and bipartisan leadership and look forward to working with them in the days ahead.

Venus Aerospace wishes to express its sincere appreciation to Congressman Mike Collins (GA-10) for his strong bipartisan leadership on hypersonic aviation. Together with Congresswoman Emilia Skyes (OH-13) and Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36), Mr. Collins led a successful effort to further strengthen H.R. 3935's hypersonic aviation policy through an amendment.

Mr. Collins explained, "hypersonic technology is the future, and America must lead and not fall behind China and Russia in this new arena of aviation. My amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill achieves that goal by requiring the FAA to provide a clear framework so that hypersonic manufacturers can design and test aircraft that will one day fly passengers across the globe. I thank my colleagues for their support and look forward to continuing to champion the development of hypersonic technology."

Ms. Sykes stated, "as a member of the House Aerospace Caucus, I'm proud to co-lead this bipartisan amendment to ensure the United States remains a leader in hypersonic technology. This amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill creates clear guidelines so hypersonic manufacturers can easily design, test, and develop the aircraft of the future. I will continue to support innovative and cutting-edge aerospace technologies which will create good-paying jobs and pave the way for a new generation of flight."

Dr. Babin, Chairman of the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, stated, "ensuring the U.S. remains in the driver's seat for the future of aviation is essential to our success and security. Our amendment guarantees the FAA provides a roadmap  not a roadblock  for innovative American companies pushing boundaries and pursuing hypersonics. As a senior member of both the House Science, Space, and Technology and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committees, I will continue supporting this industry and holding the torch on this issue. I appreciate Rep. Collins' work on this matter and look forward to collaborating with him again in the future."

As a company based in the 36th district of Texas, Venus is grateful for Dr. Babin's steadfast encouragement and support of Venus since our founding.

Venus Aerospace applauds the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science on Transportation for introducing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2023 earlier this week. The Senate legislation thoughtfully lays out a robust and well-constructed policy foundation for the U.S. hypersonic industry. The legislation would ensure that the FAA is prepared to certify and regulate hypersonic aircraft in the years ahead as foreign regulators and companies also make strides in hypersonic technology. We express our gratitude to Chair Cantwell and Ranking Member Cruz for their bipartisan leadership on this important issue and look forward to seeing the legislation progress.

Venus has been awarded contracts with NASA and US Defense Agencies to accelerate the development and transition of its RDRE (rotating detonation rocket engine) technology to enhance existing government missions. The company's advancements can also enable more efficient travel in and through space. Venus has developed the world's first liquid-propellant rotating detonation rocket engine with a double-digit percentage increase in efficiency over standard engines, making the hypersonic economy possible.

In Spring 2022, the company raised its $20M Series A, led by Prime Movers Lab, to fund engine development and subscale initial flight testing for building its Mach 9 hypersonic drone and Mach 9 spacecraft, both capable of one-hour global travel. Venus recently announced the addition of Airbus Ventures to its team of investors.

About Venus Aerospace

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Venus Aerospace is a startup aerospace company focused on engineering the future of hypersonic flight. An expert team of PhD's, rocket scientists, and engineers taking on the biggest challenges in aerospace at Mach 9 speed, Venus is making one-hour global transport possible to connect the world and make it safer.

Media Contact :

Stephanie Gracia

Director of Communications

[email protected]com

SOURCE Venus Aerospace
FRANKFORT, Ky., June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS), a non-profit organization that provides resources, research, and advocacy for veterans struggling with addiction and other mental health conditions, today applauded the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission (KYOAAC) for announcing its intent to explore the possible creation of partnerships to conduct clinical trials with ibogaine in Kentucky for treatment of opioid use disorder. Anecdotal evidence suggests that Ibogaine can reverse the chemical effects of opioid use disorder while simultaneously resolving opioid withdrawal disorder.

If the commission decides to commit resources, it will aim to set aside millions of dollars to help fund clinical trials over the next six years. These dollars would come from settlements Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron has negotiated with a number of opioid manufacturers and distributors. The goals are to get ibogaine therapeutic through the FDA approval process while creating the platinum standard for ibogaine-based opioid recovery.

This program would be the first time opioid settlement funds have been used to advance the development of emerging therapeutics.

VETS co-founder Marcus Capone, a former Navy SEAL, spoke at the May 31, 2023, press conference alongside Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Chair and Executive Director of the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, Bryan Hubbard, and other advocacy organizations.

"This is a groundbreaking day for veterans and people struggling with opioid addiction," said Capone. "Ibogaine has the potential to be a game-changer in the fight against addiction, and we are grateful to the KYOAAC for their leadership in funding this research."

Ibogaine is a naturally occurring psychedelic used for centuries in West Africa for spiritual and medicinal purposes. In recent years, there has been growing research interest in ibogaine as a potential treatment for opioid addiction.

A 2018 study published in the journal Addiction found that ibogaine effectively reduced opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms. The study also found that ibogaine was well-tolerated by participants, with few side effects.

"Over 700 Special Operators have been through the VETS program, the vast majority choosing to access ibogaine, many of whom were struggling with opioid addiction after injuries sustained in combat," said Capone. "For this reason, VETS has led support for a Stanford University study about the safety of ibogaine treatment, for which we're anxiously awaiting results. We hope Kentucky's research program will lead to greater knowledge about ibogaine's capacity to save the lives of veterans and so many others."

VETS appreciates the efforts of the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission, Executive Director Bryan Hubbard, and Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron.

We look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers and other stakeholders to expand access to psychedelic-assisted therapies and ultimately end veteran suicide.

About VETS

Founded in 2019, Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization leading the fight to END the veteran suicide epidemic by providing resources, research, and advocacy for U.S. military veterans seeking psychedelic-assisted therapies for traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, and other health conditions. VETS envisions a world where our veterans have access to the most advanced healthcare options to heal from the mental and physical wounds of war.

Contact:

Pace Public Relations

724-825-3484

[email protected]com

SOURCE Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS)
HONG KONG, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 11, 2023, Viva Biotech Holdings Group (1873.HK) announced that Viva Shanghai, the primary entity for Viva Biotech's CRO business, successfully raised nearly US$ 150 million through the transfer of approximately 24% of its equity interest to Temasek, HLC, and True Light. Furthermore, the listed entity of Viva Biotech secured a proceed of approximately US$ 60 million through such financing. The transaction also unveiled the Company's future plan to spin off its CRO business for separate listing in the A-shares market.

Based on its SBDD strategy, Viva Biotech has achieved remarkable growth in its CRO drug discovery and development business through its continuous effort throughout the years. In particular, Viva Biotech has established its global leading position in the biopharmaceutical industry with its development in the field of protein structural analysis. Since its listing, Viva Biotech has successfully completed the mergers and acquisitions of SYNthesis and Langhua Pharmaceutical, and achieved synergy effects in the construction of an integrated platform for the research, development and manufacturing of CRO and CDMO products. Through the concerted effort of internal expansion and external partnerships, Viva Biotech's revenue hit a record-high, from approximately RMB 323 million in 2019 to approximately RMB 2.38 billion in 2022, representing a compound annual growth rate of approximately 94.57% during this period. And its gross profit increased from approximately RMB 156 million to approximately RMB 816 million in 2022, representing a compound annual growth rate of approximately 73.61%. This financing will contribute to Viva Biotech in its introduction of strategic investors, as well as in its future A-shares listing plan. This proved Viva Biotech's effective integration of its intrinsic advantages and capital empowerment, demonstrating its forward-thinking approach and ambitious goals.

Dr. Cheney Mao, Chairman and CEO of Viva Biotech, stated, "It is our great honor to introduce renowned strategic investors who will furnish and enhance our key strategic decisions and long-term investment and financing plans. Despite the recession in investment and financing, we are able to secure investment from established institutions, by virtue of our pioneering spirit and continuous innovation in the past. This demonstrates the market's recognition of our business foundation and confidence in our development prospect. Furthermore, the commitment to our goal of A-shares listing and the valuation premium from A-shares compared to HK stock market will facilitate the financing needs for our future development. in addition, our plan to increase executive share ownership and provide Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) to the core team members will revitalize Viva and open up new opportunities for our long-term growth."

Furthermore, HLC stated, "Based on a thorough analysis of the development features of the biopharmaceutical industry, the operation rules of the capital market, and the unique attributes of Viva Biotech, upon our in-depth and sincere discussion and research with Viva Biotech's management team, the investment in Viva Biotech is a transaction for the enhancement of overall development and realization of value of the Company, as well as an improvement plan on corporate governance system. We hope that through our joint efforts, Viva Biotech will further unleash its value through its world-leading structure-based new drug discovery service platform and other business segments, meet global customers' needs by providing integrated 'CRO+CDMO' services and realize stable and long-term growth."

Introduction of Relevant Investors:

About TEMASEK

Temasek is an investment company with a net portfolio value of S$403 billion (RMB1.89t) as at 31 March 2022. Headquartered in Singapore, it has 12 offices in 8 countries around the world. Temasek's Purpose "So Every Generation Prospers" guides it to make a difference for today's and future generations. The Temasek Charter defines its three roles as an Investor, Institution and Steward, and shapes its ethos to do well, do right and do good. Sustainability is at the core of all that Temasek does. It is committed to catalysing solutions to global challenges and activating capital  financial, human, social and natural  to bring about a better and more inclusive world for all.

About HighLight Capital (HLC)

HighLight Capital (HLC) is dedicated to creating long-term values through the promotion of technology innovations. Empowered by deep knowledge in chemical, biological and material sciences, and leveraging proprietary industry research and comprehensive enablement services, HLC strives to create sustainable value over the long term by investing in companies that boost manufacturing efficiency.

HLC has invested in over 100 leading companies, including Mindray, United Imaging, Yuwell, Wuxi Biologics, Tigermed, Baheal Pharma, Pharmaron, BrightGene, Hongene, BABO, XINGYUN Group, CHOWSING Nourse, Nayuki. HLC manages USD and RMB dual currency funds, with operations in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Shenzhen.

SOURCE Viva Biotech Holdings
Donations to be used for projects geared toward sustainable economic future for disadvantaged communities

NEW YORK, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- International non-profit organization Wildlife Conservation International (WCI) has announced the public launch of Forests for People, a new charitable entity in New Zealand to support and enhance the welfare of indigenous communities in Southeast Asia.

The new charity can receive tax-deductible donations from individuals, businesses and philanthropic organizations in New Zealand and direct them to projects that will provide a sustainable economic future for disadvantaged communities at the forefront of the environment crisis.

In partnership with the Frankfurt Zoological Society, Forests for People runs a Mobile Education Unit in the Bukit Tigapuluh Ecosystem to educate students and local farmers on the importance of protecting this fragile and ecologically significant ecosystem.

"Our planet is facing a global extinction crisis that is not only threatening the fragile biodiversity of our rainforests, but also the welfare of indigenous communities who have been dependent on rainforest resources for centuries," said Leif Cocks, founder of WCI. "Ongoing and rapid destruction of rainforest ecosystems across Southeast Asia by multinational corporations has resulted in the loss of ancestral land, making the once sustainable way of life of indigenous communities unsustainable, while at the same time placing them in direct competition with Critically Endangered wildlife for what little rainforest resources remain."

"To survive this extinction crisis, it is imperative that we empower indigenous communities to become stewards of their own forest resources and help them transition to new forms of sustainable agriculture to replace traditional practices, made unsustainable through the reduction of their lands," Cocks continued.

"Through Forests for People, we fund and manage community engagement and education programs to empower local people with knowledge - both of the dire environmental consequences of further deforestation and of the sustainable farming practices that will be of so much greater benefit to the region's future."

While WCI has been supporting a range of humanitarian projects across Southeast Asia for the past 25 years, the establishment of Forests for People as a separate entity not only provides a tax benefit for supporters in New Zealand, but it also opens up the door for individuals and organizations to specifically support the humanitarian aspects of the work.

The projects supported by Forests for People address the Sustainable Development Goals developed by the United Nations in 2015 that aspire to end poverty, improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth, all while tackling climate change and working to preserve rainforests and their biodiversity.

Projects include:

Forest Community School Food Program : Improving the living standards of the Indigenous Talang Mamak community in the Bukit Tigapuluh Ecosystem in Sumatra by incentivizing education through offering nutritious meals to students who attend classes.

: Improving the living standards of the Indigenous Talang Mamak community in the Bukit Tigapuluh Ecosystem in by incentivizing education through offering nutritious meals to students who attend classes. Mobile Education Unit : Engaging local students and farmers in the Bukit Tigapuluh Ecosystem in Sumatra to build acceptance and support for conservation and alternative farming techniques with the long-term vision of developing a "Green Economy."

: Engaging local students and farmers in the Bukit Tigapuluh Ecosystem in to build acceptance and support for conservation and alternative farming techniques with the long-term vision of developing a "Green Economy." Reforestation & Sustainability : Providing employment and training opportunities for local communities in the reforestation of degraded rainforest areas to support sustainable agriculture.

: Providing employment and training opportunities for local communities in the reforestation of degraded rainforest areas to support sustainable agriculture. Community Education and Conservation Program : Delivering formal and informal education programs to schools and villages and works with local farmers near Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP) to reduce human-wildlife conflicts by enhancing agroforestry techniques that improve productivity on existing farm and community forestland.

: Delivering formal and informal education programs to schools and villages and works with local farmers near Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP) to reduce human-wildlife conflicts by enhancing agroforestry techniques that improve productivity on existing farm and community forestland. University Scholarships: Supporting Indonesian students to undertake studies in biology, forestry and veterinary science programs and empowering graduates to make positive change and be strong advocates for the conservation of Indonesia's rainforests.

"A donation to Forests for People is a win-win for both indigenous communities and for the environment," Cocks said. "Addressing the humanitarian issues impacting on indigenous communities will, in the long run, support our vision for a sustainable future where all species can thrive and live harmoniously."

To find out more about Forests for People and how you can support, visit www.forests4people.org.

About Wildlife Conservation International

Wildlife Conservation International (WCI) is a registered charity in Australia, Canada, The Netherlands (EU), New Zealand and the United States, managing the following projects: The Orangutan Project, International Elephant Project, International Tiger Project, and Forests for People. Forest for People is a registered charity in New Zealand.

The projects funded by WCI not only include direct species conservation, such as rescue, rehabilitation and release programs, but also forest habitat protection and regeneration, education, research and local community partnerships. Tying funding into direct outcomes for individual species, people and ecosystems, WCI partners with the majority of conservation projects operating on the ground today in Borneo and Sumatra.

Media Contact

[email protected]

Media Contact

Heather Ripley

Orange Orchard

(865) 977-1973

[email protected]

SOURCE Wildlife Conservation International
Under the slogan "Freedom, Future, History," the embassy of the Philippines in Cairo celebrated the 125th anniversary of its independence on Monday in Zamalek.

At the beginning of the party, Philippine Ambassador to Egypt Ezzedin H Tago welcomed his guests that included Egyptian diplomats, especially representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Also in attendance were diplomats from a number of countries, including: the ambassadors of Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Azerbaijan, Singapore, Cambodia, Panama, Brunei, Sri Lanka, and the Vatican and the charge d'affaires of the Dominican Embassy.

In his speech, Ambassador Tago confirmed that, since his arrival in Cairo in September 2021, he has been keen to expand commercial and diplomatic relations between the two countries. During his time in Cairo, he added, he as discovered that Filipinos and Egyptians are very similar.

"We have the same population of 100 million, the average youth population is between the ages of 22 and 24, and both of our peoples have this ability to harness opportunities for economic growth through our youth.

He observed that despite the differences between the two countries  the Philippines is an archipelago consisting of 7,640 islands, for example  the two peoples share the same family values and have love and pride for their respective countries.

I try to find ways we can increase the common similarities."

We have developed projects and initiatives that will help build bridges between our people, and we invite Egyptian officials, travelers and businessmen groups to visit the Philippines in order to explore opportunities for cooperation. Likewise, we invite Filipinos to visit 'Mother of the World' [Egypt] and discover its potential.

Ambassador Tago thanked Egypt for allowing the entry of more than 550 Filipinos who were fleeing the ongoing violence in Sudan. He also thanked the Honorary Consul of the Philippines in Sudan, Tariq Al-Nafidi, for his sacrifices and efforts to ensure the safety of Filipino citizens in Sudan.

75 years of cooperation

For his part, Ambassador Hazem El-Tahri, Egypts deputy assistant foreign minister for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Affairs (ASEAN), pointed out that over the past 75 years, Egypt and the Philippines have cooperated on issues ranging from economic development to politics.

"We have strengthened people-to-people relations, and as a result our friendship has grown and we look forward to supporting our economic and political relationship as well," he added.

Egypt was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the Philippines in 1955. The two countries have the same interest in strengthening their economies and improving the standard of living of the people, El-Tahri said.

The past two years have witnessed many political and economic challenges all over the world, he pointed out, adding that "we need to confront them." He further explained that cooperation in all fields, especially trade, is one of the tools to overcome these challenges.

Both countries work together to enhance high-level visits, he concluded.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


BEIJING, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- An interview with Sun Wanlu, editor of China.org.cn, on the international cooperation on Pandas:

We're with pandas! Got some panda stories for you!

Yaya, China's friendship envoy panda that traversed the Pacific to America 20 years ago, recently came back to China. Along with her return, pandas have once again become a viral hit around the world. In the past few decades, every panda that has lived outside China has captured the attention of countless people. These envoy pandas are a carrier of love for the animal from people all over the globe, and also lay witness to the communication and cooperation between China and other countries.

Just right here in the Dujiangyan Base of China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda (the Center), many pandas live their own stories.

In 1996, Baiyun and her male companion Shishi left for San Diego Zoo in the U.S. They were among the first batch of pandas that China sent to other countries for science and research cooperation. Back then, the two countries carried out many cases of interesting and cutting-edge research based on the programs China launched, supported by America's experience in animal nutrition and animal behavior studies. For example, in some online video clips, we can sometimes hear pandas baaing like sheep or chirping like birds, meaning they are rutting  that's just an example of one takeaway from the two countries' cooperation back then.

There is also gossip about Baiyun. It is said, when Baiyun was younger, she had a fiery temper. One time when she was in rutting season, her male companion Shishi was totally frigid, sitting there idly eating his food. So Baiyun went right on and gave Shishi a punch Fortunately, later on, some Chinese experts went to America with artificial insemination techniques for pandas which enabled Baiyun gave birth to her cub Huamei.

Huamei is the first giant panda that survived her birth in America, as well as the first panda born outside China that returned to her home country later. Her name Huamei, meaning China and America, bears the goodwill of China-U.S. cooperation.

In these years, research staff from China have conquered "the trinity" of challenges for captivated pandas, namely challenges for rutting, for mating and conception, and for cub survival. Techniques to tackle these problems were introduced to other countries, and further integrated with local studies and techniques, enabling considerably more pandas to breed outside China.

We just mentioned that Baiyun wasn't satisfied with Shishi, so in 2003, the Center selected another Mr. Right for Baiyun and sent him to America, and that is Gaogao. The couple ended up breeding five cubs in America, all by spontaneous mating.

Every year or two, a new zoo would appear on the list of zoos that partnered with China on the conservation and research of giant pandas. Currently, China is working with 22 zoos in 19 countries. Dialogue and collaboration in behavioral studies, breeding and deliveries, and rearing management are all important elements in giant panda conservation.

Six years ago, I talked about the giant pandas' special contribution to China's diplomacy in a previous episode. Today, I learned more about cooperation on pandas' conservation and research, offering me a peek into the changes and developments in cooperation on pandas between China and other countries. For both China and the receiver countries, giant pandas are beyond a symbol of friendship  it is more of an icon of rare species, and a kaleidoscope that epitomizes humanity's joint efforts for protecting the ecological environment and building a community of life for man and nature.

China Mosaic

http://chinamosaic.china.com.cn/index.htm

We're with pandas! Got some panda stories for you!

http://www.china.org.cn/video/2023-06/16/content_87775022.htm

SOURCE China.org.cn
No registration, no reroute, no payment, and no delay

LAGOS, Nigeria, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As World Sickle Cell Awareness Day approaches, the management of African Sickle Cell News & World Report (Sickle Cell News) has approved the provision of free seamless access to editions of the news-magazine. The aim of this seminal approach to sickle cell awareness is to raise the bar of public education about the world's most-commonly inherited (but largely neglected) blood disorder. By this means, individuals and families directly or indirectly affected, estimated to be more than 100 million worldwide, will have the opportunity to download and share the free editions provided.

Coming without the need for registration, confirmation, or reroute, the download of each edition is effective within 15 seconds of landing on the customized webpage at https://education.sicklecellnews.com/free-download/

Sickle Cell News is meant as much for folks with SCD as for the 'healthy' legions out there who harbour the sickle cell trait 100% unaware.

Ignorance of sickle cell status - or inattention thereof - is rife worldwide, irrespective of educational level, income level or geographical location. One would find equal levels of ignorance/inattention in so-called advanced countries as in Less Developed Countries.

Geographical Distribution of SCD

It is estimated that 20% of the world's population carries an abnormal hemoglobin. Sickle Cell and its variant hemoglobinopathies affects all races but is more prevalent among Africans and tribal Indians at home or abroad. To a lesser extent SCD also affects Arabs, Jews, Hispanics, and southern Europeans.

With an estimated 3 to 5 million citizens living with sickle cell anaemia and more than 50 million with Sickle Cell Trait (SCT), the West African country of Nigeria is the world's SCD capital. In close trail are other countries such as Tanzania, DR Congo and India.

About World Sickle Cell Day

June 19 of every year was designated World Sickle Cell Day by the United Nations/WHO in 2008 and the first celebrations took place in 2009.

Dubbing SCD a 'global public health priority', the UN encourages robust SCD awareness activities worldwide, particularly in countries more severely impacted. It encourages governments at all level, corporate institutions and charities to support efforts to accentuate research, public education as well as help alleviate the impact of SCD on individuals and families.

About African Sickle Cell News & World Report (formerly The Sickle Cell Journal)

Established in 2007, the African Sickle Cell News & World Report is the world's foremost news-magazine dedicated to SCD. Better known as Sickle Cell News, it's Founder/Editor, Ayoola Olajide once stated the magazine was, outside drug development and research, Africa's contribution to global SCD awareness/education.

https://education.sicklecellnews.com

SOURCE Sickle Cell News
DUBLIN, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "The Worldwide Market for Point-of-Care (POC) Diagnostic Tests, 10th Edition" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The geographic scope is global, with information for specific geographical regions, world demographics, and other general issues affecting the market.

The market summary includes total market values, market analysis by product, test usage, technology, region, end-use and a competitive analysis of leading providers. Additionally, key company profiles are included.

All market data pertains to the world market at the manufacturers' level. The market includes manufacturer tests excluding services. The base year for data was 2022, including updates and reexaminations stemming from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Forecast data is provided for 2022 through 2026.

Compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) are provided for 2022-2026 periods for each segment covered. Competitive analysis is provided for the year 2022 along with regional breakdowns. The forecasted market analysis for 2022-2026 was largely based on demographic trends, new developments, innovative technology and global expansion.

While tests run on lab-based analyzers in hospitals and reference labs remain the bedrock of IVD revenues, point of care has always been seen as the growth area. For as long as the analyst has covered point of care diagnostics, and this now spans 2 decades, point of care tests are the opportunity area. Point of care as implied in the name is defined as tests that can be meaningful in a provider visit, or in the patient's home.

How can diagnostics promote wellness? How can diagnostics improve patient-provider encounters? How can tests promote better selection and stewardship of drugs? How can tests facilitate patient homes or nursing homes of the future? How can diagnostics ensure the next pandemic, if and when it arrives is appropriately handled? The answers to these questions in many ways rely on the success of point-of-care solutions.

And because of this contribution, Point of Care diagnostics can earn a higher pricing and larger revenue growth than economized lab-based tests. The tests covered in this report tend to grow at higher rates than the overall IVD market.

As discussed in the previous edition of this report, POC testing has skyrocketed in the last 20 years as demand for accurate and rapid testing has blossomed both inside and outside the hospital setting. An in-depth look at the global POC testing market yielded several interesting facts that are explored in this study.

Emerging technological innovations in smartphones, biosensors, lab-on-a-chip and wearable devices are influencing the POC landscape. The driving force behind these innovations in the health arena is to provide expedited diagnosis where the patient is seen or in the patient's home.

Venue Market Analysis

POC testing may be performed by laboratory personnel, but often it is performed by non-laboratory personnel such as physicians, nurses, assistants in medical offices, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), medics, pharmacists, and the patients themselves (self-testing).

Some POC tests are manual tests, often performed with technologies based on dipsticks or strips, lateral flow cassettes, or other manual tests. There are also many small, portable instruments that have been developed for use in POC settings. With the advances in miniaturization and microfluidics that have occurred in recent years, a growing number of small, handheld devices are reaching the POC market for a range of different testing applications.

Corporate Profiles

Moreover, POC test devices have contributed significantly to the growth of the overall diagnostics market over the past 10 years. More diagnostic manufacturers have pursued CLIA waiver status for their POC devices and CE Mark for POC or self-use. At the same time, more decentralized test venues invest in non-waived rapid tests and instruments. POC testing appears to be headed for an even bigger role in diagnosis and monitoring patient care.

New technologies are allowing POC devices to produce quantitative lab-quality test results that can be transferred automatically to an information system, a remote caregiver service for consultation or an electronic medical record. Rapid tests are beginning to fold into the point of care arena because they allow the physician to treat the patient before they leave the clinic or office.

Market Conclusions

POC market transformed by technological progress

POC Molecular Diagnostics continue making inroads

Prevention and early detection at nexus of POC development

Wearables continue to influence POC market

Test cost will continue to be an issue worldwide

Rising demand will drive POC market in RoW markets

New venues - urgent & retail care

COVID-19's positive effect

Insurance coverage for OTC COVID-19 testing

New Opportunities in POC Infectious Disease Testing

Supply Chain Delays

Multiplex Testing Explodes

AI Making Inroads into POC

Issues and Trends

Overview

Wearables

Mobile Healthcare Technologies

Telehealth

Telehealth eMed to Implement Home Test to Treat Program

Patient-centered Healthcare

Breath Test Advances

Regulatory Hurdles

Reimbursement Challenges

PAMA

Competition

POC and Molecular Diagnostics

POC Biosensors and Microfluidics

China as a POC Market

as a POC Market Emerging POC Technologies

POC Connectivity

COVID-19 Impact

Multiplexed POC Testing

The Emergence of Non-invasive Technologies

Saliva and Swab

Optical Techniques

Near-infrared Scanning

Volatolomics

POC and Antibiotic Resistance Concerns

Artificial Intelligence in POC

POC Future in Infectious Disease Diagnostics

Supply Chain Delays

Insurance Coverage for OTC Diagnostic Tests

Key Topics Covered:

Chapter 1: Executive Summary

Chapter 2: Introduction and Overview

Chapter 3: POC Blood Glucose Tests

Chapter 4: POC Blood and Electrolytes Testing Market

Chapter 5: POC Rapid Coagulation

Chapter 6: POC Rapid Cardiac Markers

Chapter 7: POC Substance Abuse

Chapter 8: POC Pregnancy and Fertility Testing

Chapter 9: POC Colon Cancer Screening/Fecal Occult Blood Testing

Chapter 10: POC Infectious Disease Testing

Chapter 11: POC Lipid Testing

Chapter 12: POC Cancer Tumor Marker Testing

Chapter 13: POC Urine Testing

Chapter 14: Miscellaneous POC Testing

Chapter 15: Issues and Trends

Chapter 16: Total Global POC Testing Market and Competitor Analysis

Chapter 17: Corporate Profiles

1 Step Detect Associates, Llc

Abbott Laboratories

Abingdon Health Ltd.

Accessbio, Inc.

Accubiotech Co, Ltd.

Acon Laboratories, Inc

Aerscher Diagnostics, Llc

Alfa Scientific Designs, Inc

American Bio Medica Corporation

Arkray, Inc.

Artron Laboratories, Inc

Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings Ag

Atlas Link Biotech Co., Ltd

Autobio Diagnostics Co., Ltd

Beckman Coulter , Inc

, Inc Becton Dickinson (Bd)

(Bd) Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy Enterprise Co., Ltd.

Bhat Bio-Tech India Private Ltd. (Bbi)

Binx Health

Biolytical Laboratories

Biomedomics, Inc

Biomeme, Inc

Biomerica, Inc.

Biomerieux Sa

Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc.

Biosensia Ltd.

Biotron Diagnostics, Inc.

Boditech Med Inc

Boson Biotech Co. Ltd

Btnx Inc.

Calypte Biomedical Corporation

Cepheid, Inc

Chembio Diagnostics, Inc.

Church & Dwight Co. Inc

Clarity Diagnostics, Llc

Confirm Biosciences

Ctk Biotech, Inc.

Cue Health

Danaher Corporation

Dexcom, Inc

Dialab Gmbh

Diasys Diagnostic Systems Gmbh

Diazyme Laboratories, Inc.

Dna Electronics Ltd. (Dnae)

Fooke-Achterrath Laboratorien Gmbh

Dxgen Corp.

Eiken Chemical Co Ltd.

Ekf Diagnostics Holdings Plc

Elitechgroup S.A.S.

Enterix, Inc. (Clinical Genomics)

Eurobio Scientific

Everlywell

Exact Sciences

Ey Laboratories

First Check Diagnostics Llc

Genbio

Genedrive Plc

Getein Biotech Inc.

Glysby Diagnostics

Helena Laboratories

Hemosure, Inc.

Horiba, Ltd.

Immune Iq

Immunosciences Lab, Inc.

Immunostics, Inc

Jal Innovation Pte Ltd

Jant Pharmacal Corporation

Mitra & Co Pvt. Ltd

Lamdagen Corporation

Lifescan, Inc

Lifesign, Llc

Lightdeck Diagnostics

Lumiradx Uk Limited

Macherey-Nagel Gmbh & Co. Kg

Medix Biochemica

Medmira, Inc

Medtronic, Inc.

Menarini Diagnostics Srl.

Meridian Bioscience, Inc

Mico Biomed Usa

Nano-Ditech Corporation

Ng Biotech

Noble Medical, Inc

Nova Biomedical Corp.

Oasis Diagnostics Corporation

Operon S.A.

Opko Health, Inc

Orasure Technologies, Inc.

Polymedco, Inc

Polymer Technologies, Inc (Pts Diagnostics)

Preventis Gmbh

Princeton Biomeditech Corporation

Quantumdx Group Limited

Quidelortho Corporation

Radiometer Medical A/S

Randox Laboratories Limited

Response Biomedical Corp

Reszon Diagnostics International Sdn. Bhd.

Rheonix, Inc

Roche Diagnostic Corporation

Savyon Diagnostics

Sekisui Diagnostics Llc

Siemens Healthineers Gmbh

Sysmex Corporation

Techlab, Inc.

Trinity Biotech Plc

Trividia Health

Tulip Diagnostics Ltd (Tulip Group)

Vedalab

Veredus Laboratories Pte Ltd

Werfen

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/v2ytkt

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Research and Markets
BEIJING, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A delegation from Shenzhen City in south China's Guangdong Province Wednesday launched a presentation at the Intersolar Europe, the world's leading exhibition for the solar energy industry held in Munich, Germany, to promote the upcoming International Digital Energy Expo 2023 (IDEE 2023).

The photo taken on June 14, 2023 shows the delegation from Shenzhen City promoting the upcoming International Digital Energy Expo 2023 at the Intersolar Europe held in Munich, Germany.

The IDEE 2023 will be held in Shenzhen from June 29 to July 2. Themed "Creating Green Future with Digital Energy," the event is slated to host a slew of activities, including professional exhibitions, symposiums, and themed activities, according to Yu Jing, vice director of the development and reform commission of Shenzhen.

This year's IDEE highlights research, development and application of cutting-edge technologies, especially digital technology, in the energy sector so as to boost transformation into a data-centered new production mode and build a green, highly efficient, flexible, intelligent and sustainable modern energy system.

With an exhibition area of nearly 60,000 square meters, the large gathering has attracted guests from more than 100 countries and regions, as well as the participation of over 400 leading enterprises at home and abroad and research institutes, including the China Southern Power Grid, Huawei Digital Power, BYD, Tencent, ZTE, Sunwoda, Siemens Energy, Cargill China, the Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, University of Macau and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

It's learned that over 400 Chinese photovoltaic enterprises attended the three-day Intersolar Europe, in which about 130 enterprises are based in Shenzhen, one of China's major technology and innovation centers.

Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/334620.html

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2103530/pic.jpg

SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road
ALMATY, Kazakhstan, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Yerkin Tatishev, a renowned business leader and Chairman of Kusto Group, has been appointed as the Chairman of Almaty Management University (AMU), the oldest private university in Kazakhstan. This prestigious appointment marks a significant milestone for AMU, as it seeks to further its reputation as a pioneer of business education in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region.

Yerkin Tatishev is an accomplished entrepreneur and philanthropist and brings a wealth of expertise and a visionary approach to his new role. As the Chairman and Founder of Kusto Group, a diversified international investment group with a strong presence in the CIS region, Tatishev has demonstrated exceptional leadership in driving growth and transformation across various industries. His strategic vision and commitment to social development make him an ideal candidate to lead AMU into a new era of success.

AMU, established in 1988, holds the distinction of being the first business school in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The university has played a pivotal role in shaping the country's educational landscape and has emerged as a beacon of excellence in business education. The appointment of Yerkin Tatishev as Chairman solidifies AMU's commitment to fostering an environment of innovation and strategic leadership.

Expressing his gratitude for the appointment, Yerkin Tatishev stated, "I am deeply honored to assume the chairmanship of Almaty Management University, an institution that has long been at the forefront of business education. I look forward to working closely with the esteemed faculty and dedicated staff to strengthen AMU's position as a center of excellence, producing highly skilled professionals equipped to navigate the challenges of the global business landscape."

Under Tatishev's leadership, AMU aims to further enhance its academic programs, foster international collaborations, and promote entrepreneurship among students. By leveraging his extensive network and industry connections, Tatishev intends to attract leading global experts, renowned faculty, and prominent guest speakers to contribute to the university's mission of producing future business leaders.

The appointment of Yerkin Tatishev as Chairman reinforces the AMU's commitment to providing a world-class business education that empowers students with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in a rapidly evolving global economy. As the university builds upon its illustrious history, it will continue to set new standards for business education in Kazakhstan and the wider CIS region.

SOURCE Kusto Group
Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centre opened its Elements Artisanal Bakery, an offsite venue that prepares and sells baked goods from a storefront setting at Mercato -Via Riyadh, the newly opened shopping destination.



Bread and pastries are so much more than carbs to our bakers, and were excited to offer an array of internationally inspired specialities in the hottest new retail setting in Riyadh, said Senior Executive Chef Lucas Glanville. Elements Artisanal Bakery presents a wonderful opportunity to spread Four Seasons culinary creativity and invite local residents and visitors to enjoy it.



Celebrating culinary craftsmanship and fashioning every offering  indeed, every bite  with care, love and artistry, Elements Artisanal Bakery is about good health as well as great taste. The Hotels team of master bakers and fermented dough experts tap only the purest ingredients and classic, traditional recipes to create healthful, fully fermented breads to satisfy cravings on the spot as well as to go.



Imagine loaves of onion, mixed seed, and multi-grain German rye, high in fibre and dark in colour; sourdough and multi-grain French baguettes, perfect for picnics or sliced thin for toppings; sourdough Italian focaccia with an unmistakably chewy texture; and Arabic flatbread ready for filling and serving.



Elements Artisanal Bakerys pull apart breads are available in sourdough, rosemary & EVOO focaccia, and sea salt & EVOO pull-apart. Prefer something sweet? Choose from brioche plait with rock sugar and vanilla berliner; gluten-free muffins in blueberry, chocolate, and carrot & zucchini; and viennoiserie  from pain au chocolat to buttery, lighter-than-air traditional, cheese, and zaatar croissants. There is also a tasty range of pretzels, the very definition of a handy snack for shoppers to savour while perusing luxury goods at Via Riyadh.



Key to the goodness pulled fresh from the oven at Elements Artisanal Bakery is Sven Mostegl, Consultant Baker of Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh, who trained the Hotels bakers and conceived the offerings on the menu. Hailing from the Black Forest region of Germany, a certified Master Baker since age 18, Mostegls passion is to use only the finest whole-wheat organic flour and grains and recipes with a long fermentation process to ensure the baked goods of Elements Artisanal Bakery have low or even no natural and agricultural toxins.



The breads and pastries of Elements Artisanal Bakery are great additions to any occasion as well as to the culinary scene in Riyadh, said Mostegl, who notes that chemical additives, preservatives, and artificial colourings typically found in processed bread have no place on the bakerys menu. Rest assured, these are not breads one would find on shelves of grocery stores  far from it. Every item we serve is carefully crafted for people to eat well and eat better.



Elements Artisanal Bakery is the second offsite culinary offering from Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh in as many years, following the 2022 launch of Le Carre, which provides world-class catering for events and celebrations throughout the capital city and across The Kingdom.  TradeArabia News Service
As a child, Djibril Gueye Marvin dreamed of being a make-up artist, no easy feat in the chronically unstable Central African Republic, where he faced ridicule for doing a "girl's job"

Help came from an unusual source: the make-up tutorials that have flooded YouTube over the past decade, launching influencers across the globe and generating billions of dollars in beauty sales.

"There is no make-up school in Bangui, without YouTube tutorials I would not be where I am now," said the 23-year-old, nicknamed Djibou, who lives in the country's capital.

Today, his services at a small Bangui beauty salon are highly sought after, and his TikTok account has more than 36,000 followers.

Djibou is all smiles, but life has not been easy in what the United Nations says is the world's second-least developed country, gripped by armed rebellion and daily violence.

As he works on the face of a client in the cloying heat, the electricity cuts out -- as it does several times a day -- halting a whirling fan and cutting out the lights.

Unphased, he moves his client towards the entrance to continue applying foundation in natural light.

"I do what I can with what I have, but I always manage," said Djibou.

His client agrees: "He is the best!"

- 'We all fled' -

Djibou charges a minimum of 10,000 CFA francs (15 euros), admitting it is "not within everyone's reach" in a country where the minimum wage is only 44 euros a month.

Getting the make-up brushes, foundations and eye-shadows he needs is also a "struggle."

"I bring my products in from France or Nigeria, you can't do good work without good products," he said.

After growing up amid a brutal civil war, which broke out in 2013 when he was 13 years old, Djibou fell in love with the idea of "people being transformed, beautiful and chic".

The mineral-rich Central African Republic has known little peace, with decades of coups and rebellions since independence from France in 1960.

But the 2013 coup, by mostly Muslim rebels, led to the bloodiest sectarian violence in the country's history as mainly Christian militias sought revenge against their Muslim foes.

"One day, my little brother, little sister and I were almost killed by a rebel on our way to school, so we all fled, to Cameroon," said Djibou.

Despite numerous peace agreements, armed groups and government forces backed by Russian mercenary group Wagner continue to clash,

- Prejudice -

Djibou also had to battle prejudice from a traditional society in his bid to become a make-up artist, hearing a thousand times: "It is a girl's job."

But he did not give up, and hid his make-up at his friends' houses when he was younger.

"If my parents found it, they would destroy it, but I just kept buying more," he said.

"I had to study for an international business licence and prove myself as a make-up artist for them to accept my job," he added.

Now, when he is criticised, he brushes it off.

"I know they are a little jealous."

Djibou shares his work, inspiration and stories about his daily life on his TikTok channel.

With his face smeared in greenish-blue powder and gold glitter, Djibou poses in a dilapidated photo studio to show off his artistic make-up skills.

"For my fans," he said.

Later, he talks about the future, in the modest room he shares with one of his sisters, where a statue of the Virgin Mary, a Bible and rosary lie among the cosmetics scattered on his night table.

"I want to go to a make-up school abroad, but I don't have the means," he said sadly.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Many who supported him in 2020 are catching on to his lunacy.

The former president of the United States, now running for reelection, assails the Thugs from the Department of Injustice, calls Special Counsel Jack Smith a deranged lunatic, and casts his prosecutions and his bid for the White House as parts of a final battle for America.In a Saturday speech to the Georgia GOP, Trump characterized the entire American justice system as deployed to prevent him from winning the 2024 election. These people dont stop and theyre bad and we have to get rid of them. These criminals cannot be rewarded. They must be defeated.Trump is demanding once again that Americans choose sides. But in his deranged mind, this final battle is not just against his normal cast of ill-defined villainsDemocrats, communists, socialists, Marxists, the Deep State, the FBI, and any Republican politician who dares cross him.It is between those who glorify him and those who detest him.It will be a final battle over  himself.SEE YOU IN MIAMI ON TUESDAY!!! he told his followers Friday night in a Truth Social post , referring to his arraignment today in Florida.It was a chilling reminder of his December 19, 2020, tweet, Be there, will be wild!which inspired extremist groups to disrupt the January 6 electoral vote certification. Calls are already circulating online for a gathering outside the federal courthouse in downtown Miami.At the Georgia Republican Party convention on Friday night, Arizona Republican Kari Lakewho will go to Miami to support Trumpsuggested violence. If you want to get to President Trump, youre going to have to go through me and youre going to have to go through 75 million Americans just like me, Lake exclaimed to roaring cheers and a standing ovation. Most of us are card-carrying members of the NRA, the National Rifle Association gun lobby. Thats not a threat, thats a public service announcement.Most Republicans in Congress are again siding with Trump rather than standing for the rule of law. A few are openly fomenting violence. Louisiana Rep. Clay Higgins tweeted, This is a perimeter probe from the oppressors. Hold. rPOTUS [a reference to the real president of the United States] has this. Buckle up. 1/50K know your bridges. Rock steady calm. That is all, suggesting guerilla warfare.Most other prominent Republicanseven those seeking the Republican presidential nominationare criticizing President Biden, Merrick Garland, and Special Counsel Jack Smith for weaponizing the Justice Department.All this advances Trumps goal of forcing Americans to choose sides over him.Violence is possible, but there will be no civil war.Nations dont go to war over whether they like or hate specific leaders. They go to war over the ideologies, religions, racism, social classes, and/or economic policies these leaders represent.But Trump represents nothing other than his own grievance with a system that refused him a second term and is now beginning to hold him accountable for violating the law.In addition, the guardrails that protected American democracy after the 2020 electionthe courts, state election officials, military, and Justice Departmentare stronger than before Trump tested them the first time.Many of those who stormed the Capitol have been tried and convicted. Election-denying candidates were largely defeated in the 2022 midterms. The courts have adamantly backed federal prosecutors.Third, Trumps advocates are having difficulty defending the charges in the unsealed indictmentthat Trump threatened Americas security by illegally holding (and in some cases sharing) documents concerning United States nuclear programs; potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack; and plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack, as well as sharing a plan of attack against Iran.Many Republicans consider national security the highest and most sacred goal of the Republic. A large number have served in the armed forces.Bill Barr, Trumps own former attorney general, said on Fox News Sunday: I was shocked by the degree of sensitivity of these documents and how many there were, frankly  If even half of it is true, then hes toast. I mean, its a very detailed indictment, and its very, very damning. And this idea of presenting Trump as a victim here, a victim of a witch hunt, is ridiculous.None of this is cause for complacency. Trump is as dangerous as ever. He has inspired violence before, and he could do it again.But I believe that many who supported him in 2020 are catching on to his lunacy.Trump wants Americans to engage in a final battle over his own narcissistic cravings. Instead, he is likely to get a squalid and humiliating last act.
Lucknow, June 16 : In yet another major rescue operation within a week, nine boys -- all aged between 12 and 17 years -- were rescued at Lucknow's Aishbagh railway station.

Some of these rescued children were being taken to Ludhiana (Punjab) and the remaining to Chhapra (Bihar) in search of work.

The rescue operation, carried out on Thursday, was led by a joint team of rescue workers from Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), anti-human trafficking unit, and the Railway Protection Force.

The team intercepted the group of children, who were being accompanied by four adults. This comes just a week after 11 boys were rescued from the same railway station. The minors rescued then are currently awaiting a CWC (Child Welfare Commission) order to return home.

Interestingly, in both the rescue operations, the minors were found to be on-board the Amrapali Express (15707), which runs between Katihar and Amritsar.

Sharing further details on the latest rescue, Krishna Pratap Sharma, assistant project manager with BBA Lucknow, said, "We got a tip-off from Bihar itself that these children were being transported. Acting on the input, we carried out the rescue operation. A few small groups active in all districts inform the main BBA office in Delhi as soon as they get to know about children being moved somewhere." During the interrogation, the four men, who were transporting the children, confessed that they were taking the children to Jalandhar, Ambala and Govind Nagar, to make them work at chicken farms, a maize factory and an iron factory.

They revealed that they would pay the boys Rs 9-10,000 monthly, for 14-16 hours of work daily. Further probe is underway.

The rescued children are currently at the Government Bal Griha on Mohan Road.
Roger Payne, the scientist who spurred a worldwide environmental conservation movement with his discovery that whales could sing, has died. He was 88.

Payne made the discovery in 1967 during a research trip to Bermuda in which a Navy engineer provided him with a recording of curious underwater sounds documented while listening for Russian submarines. Payne identified the haunting tones as songs whales sing to one another.

He saw the discovery of whale song as a chance to spur interest in saving the giant animals, who were disappearing from the planet. Payne would produce the album Songs of the Humpback Whale in 1970. A surprise hit, the record galvanized a global movement to end the practice of commercial whale hunting and save the whales from extinction

Payne was cognizant from the start that whale song represented a chance to get the public interested in protecting an animal previously considered little more than a resource, curiosity or nuisance. He told Nautilus Quarterly in a 2021 interview that he first heard the recording in the loud engine room of a research vessel and knew almost instantly that the sounds were indeed whales.

In spite of the racket, what I heard blew my mind. It seemed obvious that here, finally, was a chance to get the world interested in preventing the extinction of whales, he told the magazine.

Payne died of pelvic cancer. He lived in South Woodstock, Vermont, with his wife, the actress Lisa Harrow. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made, Harrow said.

Payne had four children from a previous marriage to zoologist Katy Payne, with whom he collaborated. The two used primitive equipment in the late 1960s to record the sounds of humpback whales, which sometimes sing their eerie, complex songs for longer than a half-hour at a stretch.

The impact of the whale song discovery on the nascent environmental movement was immense. Many anti-war protesters of the day took on saving animals and the environment as a new cause, and the words save the whales became ubiquitous on tote bags and bumper stickers.

Whale songs would enter the popular imagination via everything from a 1971 episode of The Partridge Family to a 1979 issue of National Geographic that included a flexi disc with excerpts from Songs of the Humpback Whale. It remains the best-selling environmental album in history.

Payne founded Ocean Alliance in 1971 to advocate for the protection of whales and dolphins. The organization operates to this day in Gloucester, Massachusetts. It has played a role in watershed moments in the history of whale protection, such as the 1972 passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act by the U.S. Congress and the 1982 commercial whaling moratorium passed by the International Whaling Commission.

The world has lost a giant of environmental conservation with Paynes death, said Iain Kerr, the chief executive officer of Ocean Alliance and a longtime collaborator with Payne. Payne retired two years ago.

He had a presence and a way of connecting to people that led them to dedicating their lives to protecting whales and our planet Earth, Kerr said.

Payne was born in New York City and educated at Harvard University and Cornell University, where he received his doctorate. Early in his career as a biologist, he studied bats and birds.

He met Harrow, his widow, in 1991 at a rally for whale protection at Trafalgar Square in London. They married within 10 weeks of meeting.

The way his mind worked was a constant joy, Harrow said. He was constantly seeking answers, to seemingly constant questions.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Kiev, June 16 : Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov has voiced his hope that the 13th Ramstein meeting will help create a fighter jet coalition for Ukraine.

"I am absolutely sure that we will have a 'Bird Coalition' for the armed forces of Ukraine," Reznikov told reporters after the meeting, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

The partners told Ukraine about the start of the training for Ukrainian pilots and voiced their intent to build the "consortium of fighters" together, Reznikov said.

"It will start with F-16 jets with the Netherlands and Denmark, and will be joined by other countries," he noted.

The 13th meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine in the Ramstein format took place earlier in the day in Brussels, Belgium.
Ankara, June 16 : Turkey has summoned Jean-Daniel Ruch, the Swiss ambassador to Ankara over a demonstration in Zurich, Switzerland against its President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in which protesters burned Erdogan's effigy.

Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozbay said these acts were unacceptable, calling on Swiss authorities to launch an investigation into the incident and identify those involved as soon as possible, Xinhua news agency reported.

Omer Celik, the spokesperson of the ruling Justice and Development Party, concurred with Bozbay's comments by denouncing the demonstration.

"We condemn the heinous attack by supporters of the terrorist organization PKK (the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party) in Switzerland, which targeted the Turkish flag and our President Erdogan," Celik said on Twitter.

The spokesperson also strongly condemned "the connivance of the Swiss authorities to these despicable acts", asking Switzerland to be determined in the fight against terrorism and hate crimes.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the US and the European Union, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for over 30 years.
Singapore, June 16 : The body of a 20-year-old Indian national, who died after a part of a building collapsed in Singapore, was pulled out of the rubble in rescue operations lasting for more than six hours, a media report said.

The Indian worker was pinned under two meters of debris after part of the Fuji Xerox Towers building in Tanjong Pagar collapsed on Thursday during demolition works, The Straits Times reported.

The weight of the concrete slab, estimated to be at least 50 tonnes, complicated the rescue efforts, which involved cutting, breaking and digging through the rubble.

The body was recovered at about 9.45 p.m. local time on Thursday.

"Following an intensive search operation, a worker who was earlier reported missing was sighted to be pinned under a collapsed reinforced concrete structure at about 6 p.m. The worker had no pulse and was not breathing," The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said in a statement.

SCDF officers arrived at the site earlier in the day after being alerted to the incident at about 2 p.m.

Eleven emergency vehicles and 70 officers were deployed to find the worker, including firefighters, rescue workers and emergency medical workers.

The worker was the employee of Aik Sun, the firm which was carrying out the demolition works.

A representative from Aik Sun told The Times that it needed time to find out what caused the collapse.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Building and Construction Authority (BCA), in a joint statement earlier on Thursday night, said a reinforced concrete wall on the second storey -- measuring about 10m long and 3.8m high -- collapsed onto the street during demolition.

"BCA (Building Construction Authority) has instructed the project parties to stop all construction activities and will revoke the permit for all works while investigations are ongoing. MOM has also instructed the employer of the worker to stop all works at the site," the MOM statement read.

It added that the rest of the building has been assessed to be stable, and there are no concerns over its structural integrity.

Demolition firm Aik Sun said in a Facebook post, which now stands deleted, that the structural demolition of Fuji Xerox Towers began in February 2022.

Office workers in the area said they felt tremors when the building structure collapsed.
Kiev, June 16 : International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General Rafael Grossi has arrived at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) in Ukraine, state-run nuclear energy operator Energoatom said in a Telegram post.

Grossi's visit on Thursday, initially scheduled to begin on Wednesday, was delayed for security reasons, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Ukraine's Energy Minister German Galushchenko.

The IAEA chief said earlier he will travel to the ZNPP to assess the situation after the Kakhovka dam breach.

The Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam was destroyed on June 6, with Ukraine and Russia trading accusations over the attack on it.

The ZNPP, which has been controlled by Russian forces since March 2022, is located some 140 km northeast of the Kakhovka plant.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Los Angeles, June 16 : 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse' will not be released in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after failing to pass the country's censorship requirements, 'Variety' has confirmed.

A scene featuring a poster in the background of the frame that depicts the transgender flag and reads 'Protect Trans Lives' is said to be one of the concerns that prevented a release from being approved, sources told 'Variety'.

The UAE ban comes only a week ahead of the Sony Pictures film's intended release date in the region of June 22. It isn't uncommon, says 'Variety', for the country's censorship board to axe the imminent release of films featuring LGBTQ+ content.

Another animated film faced a similar predicament last summer, when Disney and Pixar's 'Lightyear' was not released in the UAE due to a scene depicting a same-sex kiss between two lesbian space rangers. The 'Toy Story' spinoff was also banned from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Malaysia.

It remains unclear whether 'Across the Spider-Verse' will receive a release in Saudi Arabia, though the country's censorship requirements often align with those of the UAE.

Along with its presentation of a 'Protect Trans Lives' poster, 'Variety' reports, 'Across the Spider-Verse' has drawn attention for how it explores the arc of Gwen Stacy (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld), who some viewers have interpreted as a trans-coded character.

In the film, Stacy conceals the secret of her true identity from her father. Scenes set in the character's dimension also prominently feature the colours of the transgender flag. Stacy, though, is not explicitly identified as transgender in the film.
Washington, June 16 : Lawmakers came and held forth. On Mahatma Gandhi. On the Taj Mahal. And Indian-Americans, their riches and their achievements. Anything but Hindu-Americans.

The problem: The lawmakers had been invited to an event hosted by a combination of Hindu-Americans -- Americans for Hindus and the Hindu American Foundation -- in Capitol Hill on Wednesday to support and bless a move to launch a religion-specific Hindu Caucus in the US congress, which, in the words of the hosts, would take care of the Hindus, protect their interests and, most urgently, combat Hinduphobia.

Four of the five Indian-Americans in the US congress, including the three Hindus Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal. did not attend.

The fourth, Ami Bera, is not Hindu, he is Unitarian. Shri Thanedar, the fifth and newest member of the group that calls itself the "Samosa Caucus" attended and promised to shepherd the caucus.

But the other lawmakers? They did not know what they were doing.

"I love the thought of, as I am looking at Mahatma Gandhi and the Statue of Liberty," said Joe Wilson, a Republican member of the House of Representatives, nodding at a large poster in front, and there was the same poster behind him and the speaker's lectern.

"They deserve to be together." It was not Mahatma Gandhi on the poster. It was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel; actually, an image of his statue in Gujarat that's known as the Statue of Unity.

Wilson had crossed a line. And he did not know it.

The difference between the two men -- Gandhi and Patel -- go far deeper for subscribers of the muscular brand of Hinduism promoted by the RSS-BJP combine, which venerates Gandhi's assassin.

"They really do not know or understand the difference between the two men," said one of the organisers, adding "because they don't know what Gandhi did".

Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives, hadn't been briefed on the Gandhi-Patel dynamic either.

"I'm the kind of member who has been to India many times. I had the pleasure of walking through the house of Gandhi when I visited with the late John Lewis (a longtime member of the House of representatives and a civil rights leader who was close to the Martin Luther King)," she said, adding, unknowingly crossing another redline: "I've been everywhere, to the Taj Mahal more times than I can count." She was met with a deafening silence. Her attempts to connect with her Indian-American constituents, using the usual pitch points -- the Taj Mahal that had always worked -- failed.

Barely a minute before, the Congresswoman was greeted with a long and loud applause when she brought up Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit later this month and said that she was looking forward to his address to the joint session of Congress.

Modi will arrive in Washington D.C. on June 22 for a state visit, which includes a state dinner -- which is only the second for an Indian Prime Minister in decades -- and a joint address to the US congress.

Indians -- and by extension Indian-Americans -- were proud of the Taj Mahal once. And then it became a disputed territory in the revisionist history of India promoted by the RSS-BJP combine and their governments.

Despite missing the regular pitch points, Congresswoman Jackson Lee took a thinly veiled shot at the current political situation in India. "I think democracy is an issue that we can join together on because there is no doubt India is the largest, and we are the oldest and we've all had our challenges, have we not? We have all had our challenges," she said.

For a Democrat like herself, the threat to democracy in the US comes from supporters of the former President Donald Trump, a Republican, who is facing investigations for trying to subvert the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

The threat to democracy in India, on the other hand, is seen by Democrats to come from the party in power there.

Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat who heads the India Caucus in the upper chamber, on Tuesday called for Prime Minister Modi to show "commitment, or recommitment" to democracy.

His surprisingly blunt remarks came at an annual celebration of the bilateral relationship hosted by the US-Indian Business Council, a wing of the powerful US Chamber of Commerce.
Ayodhya: Thousand of earthen lamps lit up during 'Deepotsav' celebration on the eve of Diwali festival in Ayodhya on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Ayodhya: Thousand of earthen lamps lit up during 'Deepotsav' celebration on the eve of Diwali festival in Ayodhya on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Lucknow, June 16 : The Deepotsav celebration in Ayodhya this year will be the grandest ever with a target to light 21 lakh earthen diyas.

This year's Deepotsav comes just before Ram Lalla is enthroned at the sanctum-sanctorum of the Ram Temple.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that this Deepotsav would set a new record as last year 15.76 lakh diyas illuminated Ayodhya.

According to a state government spokesman, "this year 21 lakh diyas (earthen lamps) will be lit. Each ghat, mutt, temple, Surya Kund, Bharat Kund and every house will be lit up with diyas".

The Yogi Adityanath government has been organising Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya on the eve of Diwali every year since it came to power in March 2017.

Stressing on Ayodhya's importance for his government, the Chief Minister said: "At present, projects of around Rs 32,000 crore are underway in Ayodhya. In no city across the country are projects in such a large number underway." He added that the entire world would be attracted to Ayodhya when Prime Minister Narendra Modi enthrones Ram Lalla at the sanctum-sanctorum of Ram Temple after 500 years.

The Chief Minister listed the ongoing development projects in Ayodhya. He mentioned upcoming international airport, railway station and other projects.

Yogi also took the opportunity to attack the opposition and said: "Earlier, there was no road, no train (connectivity) in Ayodhya. It used to take five -six hours to reach Ayodhya from Gorakhpur and Lucknow. Now, this journey is covered in one hour. People avoided taking Ayodhya's name six years ago. But this government is striving to ensure its overall development."
Thiruvananthapuram, June 16 : The Kerala government is likely to move the Supreme Court against the Centre's decision of slashing the state's borrowing limit from three per cent to two per cent of the state GDP.

Indications regarding the decision were given by former two-time CPI(M) State Finance Minister Thomas Isaac Isaac in his Facebook post saying the only option left is going the legal way as all other options have been exhausted.

"A letter regarding this was sent to the Prime Minister and the response is in no way acceptable and hence decks are getting cleared for one of Independent India's legal battles concerning the concept of federalism," said Isaac.

As per the Finance Commission's guidelines, the state can take up to three per cent loans, but for some "strange reason" it has been pegged at two per cent and the "question that arises is can the Centre do this," pointed out Isaac.

The state has now asked the State Advocate general to seek a legal opinion from one of the country's top most legal brains K.K.Venugopal.

The present thought of going forward for a legal tiff with the Centre comes at a time when the total debt of Kerala was Rs 1,86,453.86 crore in 2016-17, has risen to Rs 3,35,641.15 crore in A2021-22, registering an increase of 80.01 per cent.

Isaac points out that the Centre is behaving in an inappropriate manner and that has to be set right and for that the only way now out is a legal battle.
Lucknow, June 16 : The 18-month-old baby, who had sustained a bullet injury below her shoulder in the Lucknow courtroom shootout that killed gangster Sanjeev Maheshwari Jeeva on June 7, has been discharged from the King George's Medical University.

"The girl is absolutely fine now. We have called her after five days for a follow-up and if things are alright, then she may not be called again," said Sandeep Tiwari, head of the trauma surgery department at KGMU where the toddler was brought shortly after the shootout in which two constables were also injured.

Doctors said her recovery after the bullet was taken out had been satisfactory and she will lead a normal life now.

The bullet had entered the girl's body from behind apparently due to the ricochet effect.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had visited the baby in hospital.
United Nations, June 16 : UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi is looking forward to celebrating the 9th International Day of Yoga with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the world body's headquarters in New York on June 21 as the latter will begin his visit to the US.

Korosi tweeted on Thursday: "I am looking forward to participating in the 9th International Day of Yoga celebrations @UN with Prime Minister @NarendraModi at the UNHQ North Lawn next week." A UN announcement said that the event will be held from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on June 21 (5.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. IST) and will be broadcast live on the UN network (webtv.un.org).

Modi made the suggestion in his address to the Assembly in September 2014 to celebrate June 21 -- the Summer Solstice which is the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere -- as the International Day of Yoga.

Calling yoga "an invaluable gift of our ancient tradition", he said: "It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature." It could lead to "changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change", he added.

Asoke Mukerji, who was then India's Permanent Representative, worked feverishly to mobilise support for it and got it unanimously approved in a record time of less than three months in December.

The first Yoga Day was celebrated in 2015 and has been held every year, even in the middle of the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020 and 2021 when it was held virtually.

Following the UN lead, Yoga Day has become an international celebration around the world with group practices and asana demonstrations across the globe.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)
Korea and China on Tuesday protested against Japan's decision to release over 1 million tons of radioactive water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean, but the U.S. expressed support.

The Japanese government in a Cabinet meeting the same day approved a plan to discharge the contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean in two years' time, when the plant's storage tanks become full. Some 1.25 million tons are currently stored in these tanks, increasing at a rate of 140 tons a day.

Korean government officials expressed "strong regret." One said the government is putting the safety of Koreans first and "take all necessary measures" to get Japan to share information about the released water.

The Foreign Ministry here summoned Japanese Ambassador Koichi Aiboshi to lodge a formal protest.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry in a statement said Japan "unilaterally" decided to release the water without discussing the matter with neighboring countries and accused Tokyo of being "highly irresponsible."


Seoul, June 16 : A US nuclear-powered guided missile submarine (SSGN) arrived in South Korea on Friday for the first time in six years, amid heightened tensions after North Korea's launch of two ballistic missiles, Seoul's Defence Ministry said.

The Ohio-class SSGN, USS Michigan, entered a key naval base in Busan, 320 km southeast of Seoul, after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Thursday in apparent protest against the massive live-fire drills that ended earlier in the day, reports Yonhap News Agency.

It marks the first time the US has sent an SSGN to South Korea since October 2017.

The submarine is scheduled to remain in the country until June 21, a South Korean defence official told reportersy.

The arrival of the submarine also came after the US pledged to further enhance the "regular visibility" of strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula through the Washington Declaration issued by President Yoon Suk Yeol and his American counterpart Joe Biden during their summit in April.

"The US SSGN's visit to South Korea is intended to substantively implement the agreement in the Washington Declaration made in April to enhance the regular visibility of strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula," ROK Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Kim Myung-soo was quoted as saying. ROK stands for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.

"(It) demonstrates the overwhelming capabilities and posture of the South Korea-US alliance to realise 'peace through strength'." During the submarine's visit to the country, the South Korean and US navies plan to conduct combined special operations drills to strengthen their inter-operability and capabilities in such operations as responding to advancing North Korean threats, according to the Defence Ministry.

Commissioned in 1982 as a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, the USS Michigan was converted into an SSGN in 2007. The submarine is able to conduct strike missions using Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The 18,000-tonne SSGN is 170 meters long and can be armed with over 150 Tomahawk missiles, which have a range of 2,500 km,.
Kochi, June 16 : Kerala High Court has dismissed a plea that sought directions for the state government to enact a law to curb superstitious practices like sorcery and black magic.

The petition was moved by an organisation called Kerala Yukthi Vadi Sanghom.

The plea came to be filed in light of an incident of human sacrifice in the state in which two women were killed and their bodies dismembered.

A division bench of Chief Justice S.V. Bhatti and Justice Basant Balaji dismissed the plea.

According to the petitioner, this was not the only such incident.

"Several cases of human sacrifices and other types of assaults in connection with the superstitious belief of black magic and witchcraft have come to light. For the purpose of God's grace, financial gains, getting jobs, resolving family problems, the birth of children, and for several other desires, some people are practicing black magic and witchcraft of which people belong to the downtrodden, and the children and women are mostly the victims," the petition stated.

The petitioner-organisation claims to have approached both Central and state governments and submitted model bills for the statute, seeking an adequate enactment of a law to combat the issue.

However, since no action was seen to be taken, the plea was moved.

The plea also sought directions to the government to consider and make a decision on the recommendation of the Law Reforms Commission report of 2019, submitted by Justice K.T. Thomas with regard to the enactment of The Kerala Prevention of Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery and Black Magic Bill, 2019.

The plea also pointed that there are many films, telefilms, and advertisements on television, YouTube and OTT platform that advertise superstitious practices that prompt people to indulge in such activities and hence appropriate actions must be taken.

The petitioner further prayed that advertisement of books with regard to black magic on internet sites be declared illegal.

In October last year, the state government had informed the Court that it is actively considering enacting an anti-superstition legislation.

However, since no one appeared on behalf of petitioner when the case was posted for hearing, the Court decided to dismiss it for default.
Imphal, June 16 : Violating curfew, a mob vandalised and set ablaze Union Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh's house in Imphal town of Manipur, officials said on Friday.

According to police officials, a mob of 200 men and women attacked the Central Minister's residence late Thursday night. Singh, who is also the Minister of state for Education, is currently in Delhi.

Though a portion of the minister's house got burnt, the security guards and firefighters managed to control the arson and saved most parts of the minister's house from being burnt down.

The incident took place after the burning of two more houses belonging to locals and clashes between the Rapid Action Force of Manipur and a mob in the heart of Imphal town the same afternoon.

The mob which roamed the capital city also clashed with security forces in different places.

Singh's house was also targetted on May 25 when thousands of people attempted to assemble in front of the residence of the Central Minister in Imphal but the security forces prevented them from doing so.

Police said the mob, comprising men and women, demanded an early solution to the ethnic conflict between Meitei and Kuki communities.

The mob accused all the ministers and MLAs that they are not doing enough to end the Manipur crisis.

On Wednesday, assailants burnt the official residence of Manipur's Industry Minister Nemcha Kipgen in the Lamphel area in Imphal West district.

The officials said that Kipgen, the lone woman minister in Manipur, was not at home when the attackers burnt down her official bungalow.
New Delhi, June 16 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a visit to the US and Egypt from June 20 to 25.

Modi's state visit to the US is at the invitation of President Joseph Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

The visit will commence in New York, where Modi will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the UN headquarters on June 21.

In December 2014, the UN General Assembly had adopted a resolution proclaiming June 21 as the International Day of Yoga.

Modi will thereafter travel to Washington D.C., where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22, and meet President Biden to continue their high-level dialogue, according to a statement issued by the external affairs ministry said.

The Bidens will host a state dinner in honour of the Prime Minister the same evening.

At the invitation of Congressional leaders, including the Republican House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Democratic Senate Speaker Charles Schumer, Modi will address a joint sitting of the US Congress on June 22.

The next day, the Prime Minister will be hosted at a luncheon jointly by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

In addition to the official engagements, Modi is scheduled to have several curated interactions with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders.

He will also meet members of the Indian diaspora.

After wrapping up the US trip, the Prime Minister will then head to Egypt for a state visit from June 24-25.

The visit is at invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which he extended to Modi in January 2023 when he had graced the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest.

This will be Modi's first visit to Egypt.

Apart from his talks with President Sisi, the Prime Minister is likely to interact with senior dignitaries from the Egyptian government, some prominent personalities, as well as the Indian community in the African nation.

Relations between India and Egypt are based on ancient trade and economic linkages as well as cultural and deep-rooted people-to-people ties, according to the External Affairs Ministry statement.

During the state visit of President Sisi in January, it was agreed to elevate the relationship to a 'strategic partnership'.
New Delhi, June 16 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged Agriculture Ministers from the G20 nations to deliberate on how to undertake collective action to achieve global food security.

In his virtual address to the G20 Agriculture Ministers' meet, Modi said that ways must be found to build sustainable and inclusive food systems, focussed on marginal farmers.

"We must find ways to strengthen global fertiliser supply chains. At the same time, adopt agricultural practices for better soil health, crop health and yield. Traditional practices from different parts of the world may inspire us to develop alternatives for regenerative agriculture," he said.

The Prime Minister emphasised on empowering farmers with innovation and digital technology.

"We must also make solutions affordable for small and marginal farmers in the Global South. There is also an urgent need to reduce agricultural and food waste, and instead, invest in creating wealth from waste." In the Global South, agriculture accounts for almost 30 per cent of the GDP, and over 60 per cent of jobs, Modi noted.

"Today, this sector faces several challenges. The supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic have been worsened by the impact of geo-political tensions. Climate Change is causing extreme weather event more and more frequently. These challenges are felt most by the Global South," he highlighted.

Focussing on the Indian farmers, he said that the country is promoting natural farming as well as technology-enabled farming.

"Farmers all over India are taking up natural farming now. They are not using synthetic fertilisers or pesticides. Their focus is on rejuvenating the mother earth, protecting soil health, producing 'per drop, more crop', and promoting organic fertilisers and pest management solutions. At the same time, our farmers are proactively using technology to boost productivity," he concluded.
United Nations, June 16 : With staggering levels of violence in Haiti exacerbating hunger and malnutrition, the Unicef said that nearly 3 million children, the highest on record, need humanitarian support.

In its latest update, the Unicef said children face staggering levels of violence that have exacerbated hunger and malnutrition in a country already mired in poverty and a resurgence of cholera.

Children find themselves in the crossfire, or directly targeted, as armed groups terrorise the population in their fight for territory and control, mainly in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and increasingly in the neighbouring Artibonite region.

Children are being killed or injured on their way to school. Women and girls face extreme sexual violence. Kidnappings for ransom -- including of students, teachers, and health workers -- have skyrocketed, as have attacks on schools, the statement said.

Tens of thousands have been displaced by the violence.

At the same time, hunger and life-threatening malnutrition are at record levels across the country, concentrated in the capital's poorest, most insecure and congested neighbourhoods, where some families are virtually entrapped and cut off from essential services, according to the Unicef.

The number of children suffering from life-threatening malnutrition shot up by 30 percent since last year, and nearly one in four children across the country suffers from chronic malnutrition.

"Being a child in Haiti today is harsher and more dangerous than it ever has been in living memory," said Unicef Haiti representative Bruno Maes.

"The threats and hardships children face are simply unimaginable. They desperately need protection and support." The statement further said that in addition to the violence, hunger and disease such as cholera, Haiti faces the constant threat of violent storms and earthquakes.

Earlier this month, heavy rains caused destructive and deadly flooding. Days later the deluge was followed by an earthquake centered in Grand Anse, a region still scarred by a 2021 earthquake.

Despite limited funding, the agency said it is scaling up its operations and expanding its presence in the field.

However, Haiti's $246 million unding requirement is less than 15 per cent funded this year.
Amaravati, June 16 : In a horrific incident, a 10th class student was burnt alive by some unidentified persons in Andhra Pradesh's Bapatla district on Friday.

The attackers poured petrol on U. Amarnath (15) and set him afire when he was on his way to tuition. He was rushed to a Government General Hospital at Guntur in a critical condition, where he succumbed.

The incident occurred in Rajavolu village of Cherukupalli mandal (block) on Friday morning.

Amarnath, a student of 10th class in a local school, was going to tuition on his bicycle when he was stopped by some youth near Redlapalem. They poured petrol on him and set him afire.

Hearing the cries of the boy, locals rushed to douse the fire and shifted him to GGH Guntur. He, however, succumbed to the injuries. In his dying declaration, the boy told police that Venkateshwar Reddy and a few others torched him.

Meanwhile, Amarnath's grandfather Reddaiah said a boy who was harassing Amarnath's sister was responsible for the killing. Amarnath had pulled up the boy for harassing his sister. He had questioned the boy for roaming around the college where his sister was studying.

Police registered a case and launched a hunt for the assailants.
Kolkata, June 16 : The Trinamool Congress has demanded an immediate meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs on the continued violence in Manipur.

Trinamool Congress leader in the Rajya Sabha Derek O'Brien has written a letter to the Committee's chairperson Brijlal, requesting him to convene a meeting immediately.

In the letter, O'Brien said that as a result of of ethnic violence in Manipur, the people of the state are facing a tremendous financial crisis.

"Prices of essential commodities have shot up and there are long queues in front of ATMs," he added.

According to O'Brien, holding the meeting would provide first hand insights into the prevailing situation in the violence-hit state.

The Trinamool Congress leadership h been vocal about the Manipur violence since the ethnic clashes first broke out on May 3.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee even compared the Manipur violence to the ongoing Kurmi movement in West Bengal in demand of Scheduled Tribe status.

She accused the BJP and the Centre of creating a Manipur-like caste violence situation in West Bengal by instigating the Kurmis against the people from other tribal communities in the state.

She also slammed Union Home Minister Amit Shah, as well as the Centre, of being reluctant to solve the Manipur crisis.

The Manipur matter has even cropped over the debate on deployment of central armed forces in West Bengal in view of the July 8 panchayat polls.

Trinamool Congress state spokesman Kunal Ghosh has questioned the inability of the forces to bring the situation in Manipur under control.
Patna, June 16 : An intense search was launched in JayPrabha Medanta hospital in the Kankarbagh area in Patna after Medanta, Gurugram received a call threatening to explode the medical facility, and it alerted its branches across the country.

The Gurugram's Medanta hospital received a threat call around 10 p.m. on Thursday to explode the hospital. Following that, Medanta hospital alerted all its other bracnhes in the country including the Medanta hospital, Patna.

Following the alert, a dog squad, bomb squad and ATS team reached the hospital and intensively searched in and outside of the hospital. After two hours of search, no suspicious object was found on the Medanta hospital premises.

"As soon as we received the alert, our bomb squad, dog squad and ATS team teached there. They carried out a thorough search in the hospital but nothing suspicious was found. Then our teams returned," said Ravi Shankar Singh, SHO of Kankarbagh, Patna.

The Gurugram police are investigating the case and the offender has made the phone call from somewhere in Himachal Pradesh.
Helsinki, June 16 : Negotiators from the four parties aiming to form a coalition government in Finland announced that they have reached agreement on the government program.

The coalition government will consist of the conservative National Coalition Party, the right-wing Finns Party, the Finnish Christian Democrats, and the Swedish People's Party, reports Xinhua news agency.

Petteri Orpo, leader of the National Coalition Party, will serve as the Prime Minister.

The remaining ministers and portfolio distribution have yet to be announced.

The government program is referred to as a "negotiation result" and provides a roadmap for the coalition's actions during the four-year parliamentary term.

Further details of the program will be disclosed on Friday.

"We have thoroughly addressed the details. We wanted to reach extensive agreements on various matters," said Orpo.

The coalition will replace the left-centre cabinet led by Prime Minister Sanna Marin of the Social Democratic Party.

The specific date for the government transition has not yet been announced.
Total divorces decreased from 114,300 to 101,700 over the period, but divorces among senior citizens increased from 7,900 to 17,900.

According to Statistics Korea, splits among couples who were married for more than 30 years accounted for 17.6 percent of all divorces last year, up from just seven percent a decade ago.

A growing number of elderly couples are getting divorced. In the past, they used to stay together despite conflict for the sake of the family, but now more elderly people are prioritizing personal happiness.

One woman in her 70s looked for a counseling after decades of verbal abuse from her husband. She said she had no choice but to endure the abuse, since her husband had control over the household's finances. "My health has deteriorated recently yet I still have to care for my husband," she said. "I want to go my separate way now and get some peace."

Another factor is increasing understanding from their children. A counselor at the Korea Legal Aid Center for Family Relations said, "Even until the 2000s, many children were unwilling to accept their parents' divorce. But now there's an increasing perception that individual rights outweigh family unity and seven out of every 10 elderly people who come for counseling say they have the support of their children."

The Institute for Social Development and Policy Research at Seoul National University polled 1,786 people on the question, and six out of 10 respondents in their 20s and 30s said they can understand why elderly couples split up.

That was especially true among women, with 70.8 percent in their 20s and 67.9 percent in their 30s compared to 50.6 percent and 55.3 percent of their male peers.

Women are also encouraged to go their own way by a more favorable legal climate. Many courts now recognize a wife's household labor in contributing to the couple's accumulation of wealth, which helps split their assets more equally. A growing number of housewives have been awarded half their husbands' pension.

Jeon Young-soo at Hanyang University said, "As the average lifespan increases, skepticism about the traditional need to maintain a patriarchal family structure is growing."
Seoul, June 16 : South Korea's current ban on imports of seafood from Japan's Fukushima area will remain in place regardless of Tokyo's planned release of contaminated water from its crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, a senior government official said here on Friday.

South Korea has banned all seafood imports from eight Japanese prefectures near Fukushima since 2013 on concerns over their radiation levels in the wake of the meltdown in 2011, reports Yonhap News Agency.

Some worry the planned discharge of radioactive water from the plant into the sea may ultimately lead to South Korea's lifting of the ban.

Japan plans to begin releasing it as early as this month.

"The main source of concern about Japan's water release is its potential negative impacts on our sea and our seafood. But the ban on seafood from Fukushima is about the safety of items being caught in the waters off Fukushima. So the planned discharge has nothing to do with the import ban," Vice Oceans Minister Song Sang-keun said during a press briefing.

Even though the released water is proven to be safe scientifically, that does not guarantee the safety of seafood from the area, Song said, pointing to some cases of seafood from the area being radioactively contaminated.

"The government will not review any lifting of the ban until the Fukushima region is proven to be safe and our people feel safe enough," he added.

The Seoul government launched a daily press briefing Thursday to keep the public updated on the planned release in response to heightened public concern as the nuclear power plant began the trial operation of its discharge facility.
Lucknow, June 16 : In the past one year, the Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force (STF) has arrested two dozen youths, belonging to six gangs, who were procuring drugs online through the dark web and supplying the narcotics foreign countries.

STF sources said that some 24 more youngsters, involved in such acts in Lucknow, are under their scanner and will be arrested soon.

The sources said that following a crackdown on an online drug syndicate by the NCB and the Delhi Police, the gang members shifted their focus towards southern states as well as Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

An officer of the STF said that tramadol is the most common drug smuggled from the city to the US and Canada as they are banned in many countries, but are easily available here and are not included in the 1971 UN convention schedule on psychotropic substances.

Besides, ayurvedic tablets containing opium like Kamini Vidrawan Ras and Barshasa are also being illegally routed to western countries from the city.

Gangs involved in supplying these drugs to foreign countries are thriving in almost all the parts of the city, including Wazirganj, Aishbagh and Bijnore.

The STF, earlier this week, had busted a gang of techies who sold prohibited drugs and psychotropic substances from the dark web and charged the money through e-wallets or bitcoins.

Deputy SP, STF, Deepak Kumar Singh, who has unearthed several such gangs from the city, said that the STF was working to nail other persons involved in the racket.

Singh said that the syndicate uses 'ToR', an anonymous network that hides your identity as you browse the web, share content or engage in other online activities and further create bitcoin to escape the money trail.

"A drug network which was busted by the STF in the city recently had smuggled these drugs to the US, over 150 times. The gang members used to put a label on the drug consignment, stating that the box contained herbal immunity booster, a mixture of 14 herbs and ayurvedic medicines. Once the consignment reached their destination they were paid through bitcoin, PayPal," he said, adding that two main operators linked with this busted gang are now under lens and will be arrested soon.

Meanwhile, the STF sources said that the mastermind of a gang busted in Lucknow on December 26 used to attract customers by advertisements on Instagram, Telegram and Skype.
New Delhi, June 16 : Congress on Friday slammed the Centre over the deteriorating law and order in violence-hit Manipur after a mob set Minister of State for External Affairs R.K. Ranjan Singh's house on fire in Imphal.

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not speaking up on the issue, the grand-old party said the PM is too busy preparing for his US visit.

In a tweet, Congress General secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Here is a Union Minister from Manipur lamenting the prevailing situation in his state. But the PM is still silent, too busy preparing for his visit to the US while Manipur continues to burn." His remarks came after Ranjan lamented the burning of his house and said that he was shocked as to how the law and order situation has deteriorated in Manipur.

The Union Minister's house at Kongba in Imphal was torched by a mob late on Thursday night.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said, "Manipur is burning. People are getting killed but the Prime Minister is too busy to talk on the issue.

"On one hand Manipur is burning but the Prime Minister is silent. We demand that the government take immediate action over the law and situation in the north eastern state. A government which cannot handle the situation has no right to remain in power," Vallabh added.

The Union Minister's house was earlier targeted on May 25 when thousands of people attempted to assemble in front of the residence, but were prevented by security forces.

Police said the mob, which was demanding an early solution to the ethnic conflict, accused all the ministers and MLAs that they were not doing enough to end the crisis.

On Wednesday, in a fresh incident of violence, assailants burnt the official residence of Manipur's Industry Minister Nemcha Kipgen in the Lamphel area in Imphal West district.

Kipgen, the lone woman minister in the state, was not at home when the attackers burnt down her official bungalow.

At least 11 people were killed and 23 others injured after suspected militants attacked the Khamelock village in Imphal East district late on Tuesday night.

Officials said the death toll is likely to increase as several of the injured are said to be critical.
Kolkata, June 16 : West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Friday visited Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, the epicentre of the recent violence clashes over nomination for the July 8 panchayat elections.

Just an hour before the Governor reached the violence-hit area, the police recovered seven bags full of crude bombs.

However, none of the top police officials from the district or the state were there while the Governor reached the spot.

In fact, the Governor was briefed by a junior officer in the rank of a sub-inspector of police.

Bose first reached the Block Development Office of Bhangar Block-II, which was epicentre of the clashes on Thursday that killed three people.

He was seen interacting with the local people, who described the situations that prevailed in the region for the last couple of days.

Earlier the Governor had issued a strongly worded statement condemning the massive violence during the nomination phase taking a total of five since the first day of nomination on June 9.

Of the five deaths, three were reported from Bhangar and two from Murshidabad district.

"This game of 'Shaitan' should end, will end. The beginning of the end will be in West Bengal," the Governor had said.

In response, Trinamool Congress state spokesman Kunal Ghosh said such comments from the Governor based on certain stray incidents are totally unwarranted.

"On what basis does the Governor say such things? He never speaks of the situations in Manipur and Uttar Pradesh. Even though he is the Governor of West Bengal, he could have issued a Twitter message over the situation there as an Indian citizen," Ghosh said.
Patna, June 16 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday said he suspected his former ally Hindustani Awam Morcha's chief Jitan Ram Manjhi of being a BJP's spy to extract information on Mahagathbandhan's moves.

This is the reason why he pressured Manjhi to merge his party with JD(U) or leave the Mahagathbandhan, the JD(U)chief stated.

Manjhi, he said, may have turned into a spy for BJP to know the plans of Mahagathbandhan especially the mega meeting of 17 opposition parties scheduled to be held in Patna on June 23.

"The HAM leader (Manjhi) was in touch with Amit Shah and other BJP leaders and he was waiting for the invitation to participate in the mega meeting of Opposition parties on June 23.

Had he attended the meeting, all our strategies discussed during the meeting would have been leaked to the BJP. Hence, we strictly asked him either to merge his party or leave the Mahagathbandhan. He left us and we have also accepted the resignation of his son," Kumar said after the swearing-in ceremony of Ratnesh Sada as a cabinet minister.

"I was the one who made Jitan Ram Manjhi the chief minister of Bihar. Despite getting such a honourable post he was meeting BJP leaders. I knew about his activities and hence took a tough stand.

"When Manjhi's son tendered his resignation from the cabinet, I accepted it and recommended it to the governor. The governor was not present on June 13 but he accepted it. We also named Ratnesh Sada as the new cabinet minister," Kumar said.

Ratnesh Sada is a third time MLA of the party and I have known him since long. So, I called him on the same day on June 13 and asked him to take over the new responsibility," Kumar said.
Kalaburagi, June 16 : A police head constable, who was trying to stop illegal transportation of sand, was crushed to death in Narayanapura village in Karnataka's Kalaburagi district, police said on Friday.

Acting on a tip-off about illegal transportation of sand, head constable Mysuru Chouhan and constable Pramod Dodmani went to Narayanpura village on bike at 10 p.m. on Thursday.

The policemen chased tractor in which sand was being transported illegally and asked its driver to stop the vehicle, who did not stop and ran over their bike.

Chouhan was crushed to death while Dodmani managed to escape with minor injuries.

The accused had escaped from the spot after the incident.

The Nelogi police have registered an FIR and are investigating the case.

The police have taken accused Siddappa into custody and launched a hunt for another accused Sayibanna.

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (RDPR), Information Technology and Biotechnology (IT and BT) Minister Priyank Kharge said: "I have spoken to the District Commissioner and Superintendent of Police and ordered an inquiry." Karnataka Minister M. C. Sudhakar said: "It is very shocking and we need to take serious action against those behind it. Justice will be served." Preliminary investigation revealed that the sand was illegally mined from river Bhima.

Books are written in Kannada about the notoriety in the Kalaburgi region and revenge killings are reported very often from there.

Before the Assembly polls in the state, an audio clip of an individual seeking "protection" of then MLA Priyank Kharge to carry out sand business had gone viral on social media. Priyank Kharge had flatly refused to help him and told him that he doesn't mind losing elections rather than supporting him.

Sand from basins of the Bheema, Kagina, Mullamari, Bennethora and Kamalavathi rivers in Kalaburagi district's is in demand and its price is skyrocketing day by day. Main supply is made to Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh from the bordering district of Kalaburagi.
Bengaluru, June 16 : Amid loggerheads with the Centre over the latter's alleged refusal to provide rice for a free distribution scheme, the Congress government in Karnataka on Friday called for a protest to condemn the move.

Addressing a press conference, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the Food Corporation India (FCI), which had earlier promised to supply the rice, has now written a letter refusing it.

"This is an example of the practising of hate politics by the Central government. BJP has snatched the food of the poor. BJP is a party which indulges in betrayal of poor masses," he said.

"The FCI had promised to provide 2.28 lakh metric tonnes of rice. They have gone back on their words.

"The Congress party was voted to power by the poor people and the BJP wants to pursue hate towards them. We are being threatened by the Central government and we will fight it. The protest will get attention of the Central government and people towards the issue," he said.

The Congress party has promised five guarantees. The debate is on whether the party will be able to fulfil these promises.

"We have shown our commitment by giving in-principle consent to all the schemes in the first cabinet meeting," he said.

When asked about the Chief Minister and cabinet ministers trip to New Delhi, Shivakumar stated that AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge had called them to the national capital on June 21.

"Rahul Gandhi had also invited them. During the tour, the appointment of central ministers are sought. Let the BJP MPs cooperate with the Congress government and help the state to get the rice. We will seek their cooperation over the matter," he said.

BJP National General Secretary C.T. Ravi had slammed the Congress government over its allegation and asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to show the FCI's commitment letter.

Ravi stated that "if not a liar, then he should show the letter by FCI promising rice to Karnataka".

"Let them stop making false allegations and provide the money to the people, they will buy the rice. The Centre has not sent a letter that they will send the rice so that the Congress government will project it as its scheme and then distribute it to the people." The Congress wants to provide 10 kg of rice to every member of a BPL card holder's family free of cost under the Anna Bhagya scheme.

Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had stated that if the free rice is not given by July 1 as promised by the Congress government, the BJP will stage a protest across the state.

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies K.H. Muniyappa stated that the state government is contacting the Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Chattisgarh governments to purchase the required amount of rice.

He maintained that the first choice would be to make purchases from Central agencies as the cost will be less.
Phnom Penh, June 16 : Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday ordered authorities to beef up border security after recent fatal shootings in Vietnam.

Addressing a gathering here, Hun Sen said an armed gang simultaneously attacked two commune headquarters in Cu Kuin district of Vietnam's Dak Lak province on June 11, leaving several commune officials and police dead, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Now, this armed gang's members are on the run, and I'm concerned that they will possibly flee to Cambodia," he said.

He ordered the Cambodian armed forces in Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri and Kratie provinces to increase cooperation with the Vietnamese side to prevent the fugitives from crossing the border illegally.

Branding the armed gang members as terrorists, the Prime Minister added that the fugitives who fled to Cambodia would be arrested and sent back to Vietnam if discovered.

He also warned to shut down any international organisations in Cambodia if they granted refuge to those fugitives.

Cambodia and Vietnam share a 1,158 km border which runs from the tripoint with Laos in the north to Gulf of Thailand in the south.
New Delhi, June 16 : Google on Friday launched the 'Indian Languages Programme' under its News Initiative to support local news publishers in India.

According to the company, the Indian Languages Programme is a comprehensive initiative designed to empower publishers through various components, including access to training, technical support, and funding, to help them improve their digital operations and reach more readers.

With support for a total of nine languages, including English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Malayalam, Gujarati, and Marathi, this programme stands as Google's most diverse technology programme for news publishers.

Applications for the programme are open for submission till June 30.

The GNI (Google News Initiative) Indian Languages Programme follows a structured format that includes various components to support and empower publishers, which includes a range of activities, including scaled inspiration series and virtual workshops.

Selected publishers will also undergo a diagnosis process to assess their page speed, core web vitals performance, and other relevant parameters.

This evaluation will provide unified guidance on quality signals that are essential to delivering a great user experience on the web, the company said.

In addition, publishers will receive personalised guidance and support in addressing the identified areas for improvement, including remediation of issues related to Core Web Vitals, schema, site manifests, mobile usability, content formats, and additional revenue enhancement solutions.

Applications for the programme will be examined by both the Google Project team and external advisors.
Mumbai, June 16 : The Gerard Butler and Ali Fazal starrer Hollywood action-spy thriller movie, 'Kandahar' has various action sequences featuring a lot of elaborate stunt work. Ali had many stunt scenes and one of these stunts turned out to be a very difficult one, which surprisingly was his opening shot.

Explaining the shooting of the stunt, Ali Fazal said: "So while shooting Kandahar I remember shooting one of the most difficult scenes and I suppose the most iconic shot for me was my entry. A very cool chopper flying over a seabed. And just before it lands I open the door and I have to jump out, get into a running van. And we scoot off. And then the van goes into the valley, I get on a bike. The van stops and the back door is opened and the bike is there and then I have to ride off on the bike. But the declining railing, I had to get off while taking a turn on off a moving bike on the sand and then rush off in the opposite direction." He further mentioned: "And that was probably one of the hardest shots I'd been part of in the film. Because it was all so back to back, keeping a straight path on a moving bike on sand was the toughest because I was constantly trying to maneuver, but trying to keep my balance and keep the bike steady because the sand is like in waves. So these things were really cool. On the big screen it just looks beautiful and I'm happy with the way it turned out." A major Hollywood production made on an estimated budget of $70 million, the film stars Gerard Butler, Travis Fimmel, Ali Fazal, Tom Rhye Harries, Farhad Bageri, Olivia-Mai Barret and Navid Nagahban.

The movie is directed by Ric Roman Waugh and released on May 26, 2023 receiving mixed reviews. Ali Fazal played the character of the villainous Pakistani agent and Taliban ally Kahil Nasil in the movie.
Albanese said that presence would continue "just as Australia has a diplomatic presence in Moscow."

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Thursday that a new Russian Embassy so close to Parliament House would pose a threat to national security. His government has proposed emergency legislation that would terminate the Russian Federation's lease on the land. The move doesn't affect Russia's existing embassy in suburban Canberra, which is about a 10-minute drive to Australia's Federal Parliament.

Australia is blocking Russia's plans to build a new embassy near the Australian Federal Parliament, citing unspecified national security concerns. There has been no response so far from Russia's diplomatic staff. Australia has imposed broad sanctions on Russia and sent military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since Russia's invasion of its neighbor.

The Australian leader has not specified what sort of security threat a proposed new Russian Embassy, less than 2 kilometers from Parliament House, would pose but he told reporters in Canberra the risk was too great.

"The government has received very clear security advice as to the risk presented by a new Russian presence so close to Parliament House," he said. "We're acting quickly to ensure the leased site does not become a formal diplomatic presence. The government condemns Russia's illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine. To be clear today's decision is one taken in the national security interests of Australia."

Media reports earlier this year said that Australian intelligence agencies had uncovered a so-called hive of Russian spies who were posing as diplomats. At the time, security chiefs said that Australia was facing an "unprecedented" spy threat but did not name the country or countries involved.

Albanese has rejected suggestions that Australia wasn't doing enough to support Kyiv's war effort. Australia is among the largest non-NATO contributors to Ukraine, supplying missiles and armored personnel carriers.

Since the February 2022 invasion began, Canberra has imposed sanctions on hundreds of Russian politicians, including President Vladimir Putin, military commanders and businesspeople. They are the most sweeping penalties Australia has ever put on another country.

Canberra has also banned the import of Russian oil, petroleum, coal and gas.
New Delhi, June 16 : The GST Council in its meeting next month, is likely to discuss measures to ensure strict provisions for preventing fake generation of Input Tax Credit (ITC), aiming to prevent tax evasion, a senior official said on Friday.

The GST Council is scheduled to meet on July 11.

Chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), Vivek Johri said this while speaking to reporters at the sidelines of an event.

He further informed that the finance ministry may consider imposing countervailing duty on steel imports from China.

Johri added that a recommendation for the same has been received by the ministry and is under consideration.

Meanwhile the GST Council, headed by Nirmala Sitharaman, is also likely to consider the report of the Group of Ministers on online gaming, casinos and horse racing.

The report would be circulated to the states soon.

The ministerial panel had submitted its report to the GST Council in December last year, but the council is yet to take it up for consideration.
Mumbai, June 16 : Actor Manohar Pandey, who is best known for his work in films like 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' and 'Super 30', plays the role of Angad, son of Bali and the nephew of the Vanar king Sugriv in Om Raut's mythological film 'Adipurush'.

The actor initially faced difficulty because the scenes were being shot through motion capture.

Speaking of the difficulties he faced whilst playing Angad, Manohar said: "Yes, it was a big challenge because first time in India I think motion capture has been done by director Om Raut and I am part of it, so I didn't know about how motion capture is going to be shot. We did intense workshops before shooting to understand the technicalities of motion capture." He continued: "I worked on how Angad will walk and behave. Ashish Pathode guided and trained to approach the character of Angad differently because in motion capture while performing there is helmet and camera is held just in front of eyes. So to understand the character with all the technical aspects was really fun to learn and explore." Angad is sent by Rama as a messenger to Lanka's king Ravana, to give him one last chance of returning Sita to her husband, an offer which the proud king refused. Possessing incredible strength and martial prowess, in the war which followed, Angad battled and slayed many warriors in Ravana's army, including his son Narantaka and one of his generals.

Giving the backstory of his character, the actor said: "I am playing Angad in Adipurush, Bali Putra Angad who is prince of Kishkindha. Kishkindha's king Bali banished his brother Sugriva, who had assumed his throne. Sugriva sought the assistance of Raghav. In a dual between the brothers, Bali was slain by an arrow of Raghav, shot in his chest. Angad follows the command of Ram Raghav and accepts Sugriva as king of Kishkindha who is his uncle and joins the army of Raghav to get Janki Mata back from Lankesh (Saif Ali Khan)." He also spoke about the pressure on performing well considering people know Ramayana and have high expectations.

He shared: "People have high expectations with Adipurush because it is based on Hindu epic mythology and everyone's mind is pre-occupied with characters. They see characters in a certain way what they have in their mind so it is tough to accept today's Ramayana but not impossible because Om sir as a director, his vision is far ahead and I believe eventually people will accept it, like it and enjoy Om Raut's epic.

Based on the classical Hindu epic Ramayana penned by the great sage and poet Valmiki thousands of years ago, the character of Angad is instrumental in the epic, becoming one of the commanders in prince Rama's army and leading the search of Sita in Lanka alongside Hanuman and Jambhava.

Made on a budget of Rs 700 crore, 'Adipurush' is one of India's most expensive films and stars Prabhas, Kriti Sanon and Saif Ali Khan, Sunny Singh and Devdutta Nagein the lead.

The film is currently playing in cinemas.
San Francisco, June 16 : Google Maps has rolled out Immersive View in four new cities -- Amsterdam, Dublin, Florence and Venice -- and also expanded the feature to over 500 iconic landmarks around the world, from Prague Castle to the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Android and iOS.

Google launched the Immersive View feature earlier this year using AI to fuse together billions of images and create a multidimensional view of the world with trusted information layered on top.

"If you're planning a trip to Boston and want to see the historic Faneuil Hall, you can get a jump start on familiarising yourself with the area before you visit. Just search for it in Google Maps and tap on the first video to virtually soar over the building and find places nearby," Google said in a blogpost.

Moreover, the company said that with the time slider on Google Maps, users will be able to see what the weather will be like at different times of day and how crowded it will be so they can plan their trip accordingly.

The tech giant also launched a glanceable directions feature in Maps, helping users easily track their trip progress right from their lock screen or route overview.
Panaji, June 16 : Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik on Friday reviewed the preparations for the fourth G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Goa, an official said.

The Union Ministry of Tourism is organising the fourth G20 Tourism Working Group meeting and Tourism Ministerial Meeting from June 19 to 22 in Goa.

During the meeting, Shripad Naik highlighted the significance of each delegate serving as an ambassador for their respective countries.

Sources said that Tourism Ministers from 13 nations will be in attendance, and they will have the chance to experience the rich tourism offerings and vibrant Goan culture.

As part of the itinerary, a special excursion to the Old Goa church and Mangueshi Temple has been arranged for the G20 delegates.

The Tourism Working Group meeting and Tourism Ministerial Meeting provide an excellent opportunity to showcase Goan traditions and cultures to the world.

Venkatesan Dhattareyan, Regional Director of the Western and Central region at India Tourism's Mumbai Office, and Sanjit Rodrigues, G20 Nodal Officer of the Goa government, were also present on the occasion.
Bengaluru, June 16 : War over supply of rice in Karnataka escalated on Friday with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah posting the commitment letter in the public domain as challenged by BJP National General Secretary C.T. Ravi.

The development is being seen as a setback to BJP, which had decided to take up protest from July 1 regarding the matter.

"C.T. Ravi had challenged us to show the commitment letter by the Food Corporation of India (FCI). Here it comes. The intelligent voters have defeated the BJP in the elections for their irresponsible statements, lies and false propaganda," Siddaramaiah slammed.

BJP leaders, including Ravi, should not support the central government's anti-people's stand which aims at snatching the food of the poor. They should pressure the central government to provide rice for the Anna Bhagya scheme. The scheme intends to provide 10 kilograms of free rice to all members of BPL card holders, he said.

Notably, Ravi had slammed the Congress government for accusing the Centre of not providing rice to the state despite having sufficient stocks. He had asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to produce the commitment letter in this regard by the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

Speaking to reporters, the BJP reporters had stated if he is not "lying", then he should show the letter by FCI promising rice to Karnataka state. Let them stop making false allegations and provide money to people to buy the rice. The Centre has not sent a letter that they will send the rice so that the Congress government projects it as its scheme and then distributes it to the people.

"You point fingers at the Centre for the task which you are unable to do. I expected Siddaramaiah to start making allegations after four or five months. But, he has begun already. You declared that the free rice scheme would be implemented from July 1 and now you blame the central government. You debit money into the accounts of BPL holders, they will buy the rice," he had reiterated.

Congress has given a call for a state-wide protest against the Centre' move of refusing rice to the state.
Gurugram, June 16 : A team of Gurugram police has arrested a gang of three people for allegedly extorting Rs 50,000 from a person, posing as a fake police officer and fake journalist, police said.

One of the gang members was arrested on June 6, and is identified as Sunil.

The accused duo has been identified as Mohit Kumar Tonk (29), the fake journalist, and Devkinandan (37) the fake police officer, a resident of Jaipur Rajasthan, who was arrested from Jaipur, Rajasthan.

According to the police, the victim filed a complaint on June 4, 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 journalist 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 police probe, the accused revealed that Mohit used to work as a tourist guide in Jaipur about 09 years ago, he went to work in a disco, where he met Ibrahim Sheikh, the owner of Tehelka channel.

Due to his good command of the English language, he along with Ibrahim Shaikh started conducting sting operations on people of good status in Mumbai. It returned to Jaipur after the lockdown due to Covid in the year-2020, police said.

Thereafter he made a plan along with Devkinandan and Sunil for extortion through various websites (Rentman, Scoca, LockEnto, Gigello, Massage-Republic, etc.), targeting their victim and calling them to take service.

They would stay in one city for about 1 month and after committing the crime, they would go to another city and commit a crime there.

"The accused have revealed that they have carried out hundreds of incidents in different cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Belgaum, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, etc. The suspect also revealed that when the victim came to know about the fraud done by them and fearing police complaints the accused used to compromise the matter after giving them some amount to the victims," Varun Dahiya, ACP (crime) said.
New Delhi, June 16 : After a brief exchange of fire, the Delhi Police's Special Cell has nabbed a key member of infamous Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu Gang, involved in dozens of cases including murder, dacoity, assault, among others, an official said on Friday.

The gangster is identified as Ravinder Ramdhari alias Kalu, a resident of village Juddi near Haryana's Rewari and he sustained a gunshot injury on his right foot during the exchange of fire.

According to police, information was being received through reliable sources for the past few months that the members of Nandu gang are indulged in extortion, land grabbing and are collecting protection money in border areas of west, southwest, and south Delhi.

It was also found by police that the syndicate is quite active in these areas and they are running a well-oiled extortion network.

"On Thursday, specific input was received that Ravinder Ramdhari would come near Pandwala Mod in Chhawla area at around 10 p.m to meet his associate. Consequently, a raiding team was constituted and a trap was laid at and around Pandwala Mod," Special Commissioner of Police, Special Cell, H.G.S. Dhaliwal, said.

At around 10.05 p.m., Ramdhari was spotted by police on a black bike. However, when police signalled him to stop, he immediately accelerated towards Kanganheri Link road from Pandwala Road, but his bike got skidded and he fell down.

"Thereafter, he started running and also opened indiscriminate fire on the police team and continued to do so despite warnings. Thus, the police team also fired in self-defence, aiming at his legs and during the brief exchange of fire, Ramdhari sustained gunshot injury on his right foot and he was overpowered," said Dhaliwal.

A bullet fired by the accused also hit the bulletproof jacket of Sub-Inspector Rishi Kumar Jha during the encounter.

A semi-automatic pistol loaded with two bullets was recovered from Ramdhari.

"He was immediately rushed to the Indira Gandhi Hospital for treatment and a case under relevant sections of law was lodged at Special Cell police station," said Dhaliwal.

The official said that Ramdhari's crime life started at a very early age when he was involved in a gruesome daylight robbery which shocked the entire city of Rewari.

"The dreaded acts of Ramdhari could be ascertained through a brutal murder in which he killed the victim with bricks and stones at village Bhagi in order to spread his terror. Further, he demanded a huge ransom from an affluent businessman of Dadri and threatened to kill him if the amount is not paid," said the official.

During his stay in Bhiwani Jail, he came into the contact with Kapil Sangwan, who inducted him into his gang.

"Recently, gangster Sangwan gave him the responsibility of Delhi-NCR extortion racket and he was tasked to collect protection money and to teach lessons to those who do not pay the amount," the official added.
Mumbai, June 16 : Actor Dino Morea, best known for his roles in films such as 'Kandukondain Kandukondain', 'Raaz' and 'Solo', recently found himself in a difficult spot when he was stranded at the Mumbai Airport with no battery in his phone.

The actor was rescued at the last moment by the paparazzi, when one of the media photographers handed Dino his phone and helped him get in touch with the actor's driver.

Thanking the media for their assistance, Dino took to his social media and said: "Thank you for the phone." Known to have a typically friendly demeanour and a good relationship with the media and paparazzi, his post began doing rounds on social media, and quickly gained traction, receiving an outpour of likes, comments, and shares from his fans and followers.Most recently, Dino Morea was seen in the Telugu spy action flick 'Agent' and is currently scheduled to shoot the Malayalam film 'Bandra'.
San Francisco, June 16 : Security researchers have said that China-backed hackers are likely behind the mass-exploitation of a recently discovered security flaw in Barracuda Networks' email security gear, allowing attackers to remotely gain access to affected devices.

As a result, Barracuda has warned customers to remove and replace all affected devices.

According to a report by cybersecurity firm Mandiant, the hackers used the flaw to compromise hundreds of organisations, most likely as part of a Chinese government-backed espionage campaign.

Almost a third of identified affected organisations were government agencies.

According to the report, the security flaw was discovered in Barracuda's Email Security Gateway (ESG) appliances last month, which sit on a company's network and filter email traffic for malicious content.

Barracuda released patches and warned that hackers had been taking advantage of the flaw since October 2022, however, the company later advised customers to remove and replace affected ESG appliances regardless of patch level, implying that the patches failed or were unable to prevent the hacker's access.

The researchers attributed the hacks to UNC4841, an unclassified threat group that shares infrastructure and malware code with other China-backed hacking groups.

According to the researchers, the threat group used the Barracuda ESG flaws to deploy custom malware that allows the hackers to maintain access to the devices while exfiltrating data.

Moreover, the report said that the threat actor UNC4841 "searched for email accounts belonging to individuals working for a government with political or strategic interest to (China) at the same time that this victim government was participating in high-level, diplomatic meetings with other countries".

Further, the researchers stated that the large proportion of government entities among the targets supports their assessment that the threat group has an intelligence-gathering motivation, rather than conducting destructive data attacks.
Kolkata, June 16 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Friday that there is no question of supporting the Congress in the state since the latter has joined hands with the CPI(M).

"Congress has formed governments in several states. Now they are seeking our support against the BJP in the Parliament. We are ready to extend support to them to resist the BJP. But they should not seek our support in West Bengal, where they have joined hands with the CPI(M)," the Chief Minister said while addressing a rally at Namkhana in South 24 Parganas district on Friday.

She also alleged that CPI(M), Congress and BJP have a clandestine understanding in West Bengal.

"Their common goal is to finish all understanding and hence they have joined hands in a clandestine manner," Banerjee said.

Without naming him or his party, the Chief Minister also accused All India Secular Front (AISF) legislator Naushad Siddique of working as a clandestine agent of the BJP.

"Funded by the BJP, a breakaway minority group has created tension at Bhangar over nomination filing during the last couple of days. I am surprised by their audacity with just one legislator. They are trying to malign the image of West Bengal. It is because of Trinamool Congress that people from the minority community are safe in Bengal," Banerjee said.

The Chief Minister also claimed that barring some stray incidents of violence, the overall process during the nomination filing phase for the panchayat polls had been quite peaceful.

"Those who are claiming that there is no peace in West Bengal now, I want to ask them to recollect how it was during the CPI(M) rule," she said.

Talking about her nephew and Trinamool Congress national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, the Chief Minister said: "I want to tell them that Abhishek has been involved in politics since the time when he was two years old. I had just returned home from the hospital with a bandage on my head after being beaten up by CPI(M) goons. I was narrating the entire incident to my mother and Abhishek, who was two years old then, was listening to the entire incident minutely."
Pope Francis will be discharged from hospital on Friday morning, nine days after he underwent surgery to repair an abdominal hernia, the Vatican said in a statement.

Earlier on Thursday the Vatican released the first pictures of the 86-year-old pontiff since his admission to Rome's Gemelli hospital on June 7, showing him in a wheelchair visiting its cancer ward for children.

The pope's engagements have been canceled until June 18.

Francis rested well during the night, his recovery is proceeding normally, and his blood tests are in line with expected parameters, the Vatican statement said.
San Francisco, June 16 : Google Domains business is "winding down following a transition period," with Squarespace, a design-driven platform helping entrepreneurs build brands and businesses online, taking over the business and assets.

Squarespace announced on Thursday that it "entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement with Google, whereby Squarespace will acquire the assets associated with the Google Domains business".

This purchase includes "approximately 10 million domains hosted on Google Domains spread across millions of customers".

The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2023.

While the majority of the benefits of this transaction will be realised in 2024 and beyond, Squarespace believes it will be significantly accretive to its business in terms of revenue and free cash flow over time.

"In keeping with our efforts to sharpen our focus, we have entered into a definitive agreement with Squarespace for the acquisition of customer accounts of the Google Domains registrar business," Matt Madrigal, Vice President and General Manager, Merchant Shopping of Google, said in a statement.

Moreover, Google on its support page mentioned that the domain name registration and DNS delegation users will not be affected by the migration to Squarespace.

Once they are a Squarespace customer, they will be able to manage additional services (as available) through their management console.
New Delhi, 16 June : Swedish political scientist and author of Pakistani origin, Ishtiaq Ahmed, said on Friday that as a democracy, Pakistan offers voting rights to its citizens, but the opposition rarely gets a chance to criticise the policies of the government.

Ahmed was speaking at IIM Rohtak, where he was invited as a guest faculty for a panel discussion on 'Why good relationship is important for Pakistan for regional and global stability'.

"There are certain laws that are against human rights which should change. Till these things continue to happen in Pakistan, the problems will persist," Ahmed said.

Talking about forced conversion of minorities, the author said that the plight of minorities in India is better than Pakistan. However, he argued that India must strive hard to continue its tradition of openness.

He also said that Pakistan must try to normalise its relationship with India. India's decision to go forward with the Non-Align Movement and its subsequent slow growth was a better alternative in the long run, he said.

On the importance of language and culture in international relations, the author said: "Language along with culture is one of the most important aspects of international relations, and the relations built with language cannot be divided." He said that Pakistan had forced the use of Urdu on people, which resulted in confused social identity.

"There is multiple news of China funding Pakistani infrastructure, but most of the internal details are not shared with people. China is giving loans to Pakistan at 8-16 per cent interest, which is very high. The relationship between Pakistan and China is not as good as it seems. Had the relations been good, China would have helped Pakistan given the crisis it is faced with now," Ahmed said.

He also said that neither China, the US nor Saudi Arabia are offering any assistance to Pakistan to pull it out of the present crisis. Once the disputes between India and China are solved, supporting and helping Pakistan will become irrelevant for China.

China helped Pakistan to support its own agenda -- trade -- and to have a second front open against India, he claimed.

"India and Pakistan should together recognise the Line of Control as the official international border," Ahmed said.

"Four wars have shown that this border cannot be altered drastically. The border should be opened, especially in Kashmir, and trust should be built between the two countries, he added.

"India's leadership in the world is well established. It is emerging as a great power. India has all the potential to play an important role in world politics. It has a great opportunity with the G20 Presidency to go forward for peace and growth," Ahmed said.
Situation in Himachal tense over murder of man for loving woman from another community Image Source: IANS News

Situation in Himachal tense over murder of man for loving woman from another community Image Source: IANS News

Shimla, June 16 : Situation in Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district remained tense on Friday after the murder of a 21-year-old man for loving a woman from another community.

Protesters demanded the probe into the crime be handed over to the National Investigating Agency (NIA), saying they have no faith in the state police. The victim's family has been demanding capital punishment.

The body of the victim, Manohar Lal, a mule owner, was brutally cut into eight pieces and thrown into a drain allegedly by the woman's kin.

The crime took place in the Bhandal panchayat of Salooni sub-division, located some 75 km from the district headquarters of Chamba, bordering Jammu and Kashmir.

The man went missing on June 6 and his body was discovered on June 9.

The police have taken into custody 10 people, including four minors, for the murder, all belonging to a Muslim pastoral family.

The convoy of former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur and state BJP chief Rajeev Bindal was stopped by the police as they tried to enter Chamba district.

Accompanying a large number of BJP supporters, they were heading to meet the victim's family.

The administration on Thursday imposed prohibitory orders across the district as the preventing step as a mob set afire the house of the accused.

"My son was hacked to death. He was our only son, we want justice," the victim's father told the media and demanded capital punishment.

The BJP leaders and workers later gathered at Dalhousie town where Bindal called for a state-wide protest on Saturday against the incident.

"We stand firm with Manohar Lal's family and won't stop till justice is delivered. The government has stopped us from meeting the aggrieved family and tomorrow, we will hold a protest in all district headquarters," Bindal told the media.

"We demand strict action in the murder case," added former chief minister Thakur, who was on a sit-in protest at the spot where he along with others were stopped by the police.

"After sitting on dharna for an hour, we came back as the government did not allow us to proceed further. In such a situation, either Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu or his Cabinet colleagues should have visited the spot," Thakur said.

He said the BJP has been demanding an NIA probe as there were alleged financial transactions in an account of one of the accused that raised suspicion about the motive of the crime.

A similar protest was also held outside the Deputy Commissioner's office in Chamba, some 450 km from the state capital, to demand justice for the victim.

Official sources said tempers flared when activists of a Hindu outfit met the victim's family four days after the recovery of the body. A protest started on June 14 that turned violent a day later with the burning of the house of the accused.

Deputy Inspector General Abhishek Dullar along with Chamba Superintendent of Police Abhishek Yadav have been monitoring the situation.

Expressing grief over the incident, Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla said strict action should be ensured against those involved in the heinous crime.

In a statement issued here, the Governor said such incidents in the peace-loving state of Himachal Pradesh were highly condemnable.

He appealed to the people to maintain peace and avoid taking law and order into their hands. The Governor also expressed his condolences to the family members of the deceased.
Srinagar, June 16 : The police on Friday arrested five Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorists responsible for the killing of a civilian in J&K's Anantnag district.

Rayees Mohammad Bhat, DIG (South Kashmir), told reporters that five JeM terrorists responsible for killing a circus performer named Deepu Kumar on May 29 near Janglat Mandi in Anantnag town have been arrested.

Speaking to reporters, the DIG said, "Two persons belonging to Anantnag town were missing and our suspicion was focused on them. Based on technical evidence and human intelligence, we have finally been able to arrest the five terrorists involved in the murder of Deepu Kumar, who belonged to Udhampur district."
Hyderabad, June 16 : Actor Manoj Manchu has joined hands with NGOs to organise a special screening of Prabhas starrer 'Adipurush' for underprivileged children in the Telugu states.

He announced the initiative to create a memorable experience for 2,500 underprivileged children in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Actors Manoj Manchu and Prabhas are colleagues and friends. Through this initiative, Manoj Manchu aims to show his unwavering support to the project and create a meaningful experience for children.

Several NGOs have come together for a special screening of the much-awaited movie. The special screening will take place from Saturday. The event promises to be an unforgettable experience for the children, filled with excitement, inspiration, and the magic of cinema.

'Adipurush', a mythological drama based on the epic Ramayana, features Prabhas in the lead role. It also stars Saif Ali Khan and Kriti Sanon and is helmed by director Om Raut.

Manoj aspires to create a magical experience and help the children feel a deep sense of connection with the cultural heritage depicted in the film.

Additionally, his wife, Bhuma Mounika will be actively participating in this initiative to ensure its success.

Manoj Manchu said: "I am overwhelmed by the support and enthusiasm shown by everyone who has come together for this cause. It is a small step towards spreading happiness and love among these children who deserve all the happiness in the world. I am thrilled to extend my support to my friend Prabhas and his extraordinary film 'Adipurush', which will undoubtedly leave an indelible mark in Indian cinema." Prabhas said: "Adipurush is a project close to my heart, and it's incredibly special to have Manoj's support on it. I hope this film not only entertains but also inspires the young minds watching it." "As a mother, I understand the importance of providing happiness and support to children. This initiative is an opportunity for us to create a magical experience for these children and show them that they are loved and cared for. 'Adipurush' is a film that carries a powerful message, and I believe it will leave a lasting impact on the kids who watch it," said Mounika.

Manoj and Mounika have also partnered with Namasthe World, a toy brand which will distribute some goodies post screening.
New Delhi, June 16 : The passenger count in domestic airlines from January-May 2023 reached an impressive milestone of 636.07 lakh, reflecting a significant annual growth rate of 36.10 per cent compared to the corresponding period in the previous year (Jan-May 2022) when it stood at 467.37 lakh, said an official on Friday.

According to traffic data shared by various airlines, in May 2022, the passenger count stood at 114.67 lakh, and in May 2023, it rose to 132.41 lakh, indicating a month-on-month growth of 15.24 per cent.

Furthermore, the overall passenger number in May 2023 increased by 3.26 lakh (2.52 per cent) compared to April 2023.

"This notable surge in passenger volume demonstrates the strength and resilience of India's aviation sector, highlighting continuous efforts to enhance connectivity and provide convenient travel options for citizens," said the official, adding that the higher load factor of 636.07 lakhs passengers during January-May 2023 indicates a growing demand for air transportation, underscoring the positive trajectory of the aviation industry.

Moreover, the number of passenger complaints decreased in May 2023 compared to May 2019.

In May 2019, scheduled domestic airlines received a total of 746 passenger-related complaints, whereas in May 2023, they received 556 such complaints.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said that the continuous expansion of the domestic airline industry, along with the emergence of regional airlines, contributes to the strengthening of the economy, connecting people across the nation and ensuring last-mile connectivity through the UDAN Scheme.

"The Ministry remains committed to creating a favorable environment for the aviation industry to thrive, promoting sustainable growth while upholding the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and passenger satisfaction," he said.
Mumbai, June 16 : The upcoming episodes of the television show 'Ek Mahanayak Dr. B.R Ambedkar' will follow the events that took place in the graduation phase of the architect of the Indian Constitution.

B.R. Ambedkar was a proponent of equality and stressed the role of education in creating an equitable society.

His legacy encouraged individuals to fight for the right to education and strive for an equal society.

On graduating, he received a scholarship from Sayajirao Gaikwad of Baroda to complete his studies at Elphinstone College, Bombay.

The forthcoming track in the show will present the journey of Babasaheb's graduation, starting June 20.

Talking about B.R. Ambedkar's inspiring journey to obtain a graduation degree, Atharva, who essays Bhimrao in the show, said: "This track in the show is quite significant, and I feel extremely fortunate to have been given a chance to portray such an inspirational leader. We are confident that the viewers will be deeply inspired by it. Babasaheb was a highly skilled academician who achieved great success, attaining numerous degrees, including a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics from Columbia University." He further mentioned, "He utilised his knowledge to champion the cause of marginalised communities, striving for social justice and equality. Babasaheb emerged as a vocal proponent for education for all, particularly focusing on communities that were unjustly denied education opportunities due to social discrimination. He worked tirelessly to establish educational institutions, ranging from schools to colleges, while combating discriminatory practices within existing educational systems".

'Ek Mahanayak Dr. B.R Ambedkar' airs Monday to Friday on &TV.
Chandigarh, June 16 : Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit has written to the External Affairs Ministry (EAM) urging it to open a US Consulate in Chandigarh.

The Governor said the Punjabis are adventurous who travel all over the world. They also form a sizeable segment of the Indian diaspora in the US.

"The specialty of this segment is that its members are conscious of their roots and are in constant touch with their people back home in India. This makes a good case for a US consulate in Chandigarh, which is the nerve centre of Punjabi culture," Purohit wrote.

The Governor, who is also the Administrator of Chandigarh, referred to the demand for an additional consulate in India, which is being pressed for even in the US by influential Congressmen, which further bolsters the demand.

The letter mentions that India has five consulates in the US, while the US has only four in India.

The Governor said if a US Consulate is opened in Chandigarh, it will serve the purposes to tap the social, economic and cultural dimensions of the state, as he requested the External Affairs Ministry to pursue the matter with appropriate US authorities.
Imphal: A worker sprays water to cool down burnt items after a fire broke out at Union Minister of State for External Affairs R K Ranjan Singhs residence in Imphal, Friday, June 16, 2023. (Photo: Anuwar hazarika/IANS) Image Source: IANS News

Imphal: A charred vehicle at Union Minister of State for External Affairs R K Ranjan Singhs residence in Imphal, Friday, June 16, 2023. Security guards and firefighters managed to control arson attempts by the mob and save the ministers house f Image Source: IANS News

Imphal, June 16 : Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, whose house in Imphal was vandalised and set on fire by a mob, said that despite the presence of central forces, the law and order situation in Manipur has totally collapsed.

Singh, who is currently in Kerala as part of BJP's Jansampark programme, said: "I have failed to understand why people attacked my house for the second time. I am doing my best and negotiating with the central government to normalise the situation in Manipur.

"I am shocked over this incident. The law and order situation in Manipur has totally failed. The existing state government could not maintain the law and order situation despite the Centre providing a large number of forces. I do not know why the state mechanism has failed.

"If me or my family members were at home at the time of the attack, it would have posed serious threat to our lives. Union Home Minister Amit Shah called me after the incident." While talking to mediapersons at Angamaly near Kochi, Singh said the mob on Thursday night hurled petrol bombs at his residence and even the fire fighters could not enter the house in time due to the obstacles put up by the attackers.

The minister has also cut short his visit to Kerala and is returning to Manipur.

The Police have arrested 17 persons in connection with the attack on the minister's residence.

Appealing for cessation of violence in the larger interest of the nation, the minister called upon the violent groups to shun hostilities immediately and find an amicable solution.

Singh said the violence erupted due to some misunderstanding between communities and there were no religious or communal overtone to it.

Singh also said that Art of Living pioneer Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will visit Manipur soon as part of the efforts to restore communal harmony and peace in the state.

Noting that the places of worship of different communities have been attacked, the minister said that more than 70,000 people have been displaced after the violence erupted on May 3.

Singh also said that the Union government has constituted a peace committee, besides providing a special package for the affected families.

Pertinently, the minister had earlier said that the demand for a separate state for the tribals was made under tremendous pressure from various quarters.

Singh and Naga People's Front (NPF) MP Lorho S. Pfoze had earlier urged the people to maintain peace and ethnic harmony and keep their faith and trust in the government to control the situation.

Defying curfew on Thursday night, a mob of about 200 men and women attacked the Union minister's residence. Though a portion of the house was burnt, security guards and firefighters managed to control the blaze from spreading further.

Singh's house was earlier targeted on May 25 when thousands of people attempted to assemble in front of his residence, but security forces prevented them from doing so.
Mumbai, June 16 : Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, who will be seen hosting 'Bigg Boss OTT' Season 2, is promising more swag and attitude than ever, and his fiery and grand entry for the show is a testament to the same.

Making the entry, the 'Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan' actor was seen standing on the top of a black double-decker bus driving in the middle of a forested road, with the banners of 'Bigg Boss OTT' Season 2, with the bus showing the sign in bold letters "ISS BAAR JANTA HAI BOSS".

The superstar donned an orange shirt for the occasion complete with his stylish goggles and a beard that screams swag.

Taking OTT to the next level, the actor went all 'Dabangg' with his look with the beats of the show's electrifying anthem 'Lagi Bagi' playing in the background as he posed for the shutterbugs in his inimitable charm and swag.

Bigg Boss OTT Season 2 promises to be a larger-than-life experience, with the introduction of unique elements and unexpected twists with a decor that looks trippy and exciting. This season, viewers have the power to directly engage with the show and influence its ultimate outcome, adding an extra layer to the immersion.

'Bigg Boss OTT' season will be available to stream on Jio Cinema from June 17.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a letter and a basket of flowers for Chinese President Xi Jinping's 70th birthday on Thursday.

According to North Korean state media, Kim's letter pays tribute to the Chinese leader's efforts to bolster China's national power and to build a prosperous society.

Kim also shared his conviction that China's agenda will ultimately bear fruit while voicing hopes for continued success of the Chinese leader's "ambitious plans."
Amaravati, June 16 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has claimed that the opposition parties in the state are no match for the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).

Stating that the YSRCP is the "heartbeat of the poor", he said that the threat from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Jana Sena Party (JSP) in the next elections is not worth considering.

Addressing a public meeting at Mallayapalem in Krishna district on Friday, the Chief Minister said that the opposition parties, which do not have even candidates to contest all 175 seats in the state, should not be equated with the YSRCP, which took birth from the aspirations of the people.

The politics of YSRCP is linked with the people, while TDP and Jana Sena are depending on political gimmicks and mischievous and malicious campaign of their friendly media, he said, adding that YSRCP will take on the pack of political wolves alone in the next elections due in 10 months.

"I do politics for the sake of people without depending on support from any other political party, whereas you do it to gain power to pursue the policy of plunder, stash and devour with the support of foster son, and friendly media," Reddy said while referring to TDP President and former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

He also came down heavily on Jana Sena President Pawan Kalyan, who recently launched a Yatra on his special campaign vehicle 'Varahi'.

Dubbing Pawan Kalyan as a package star, the Chief Minister said that the actor has dedicated his life to serving the TDP and is drawing immense pleasure from his Varahi vehicle.

The YSRCP chief also mocked the actor-politician for his statement that he will enter the Assembly this time.

"Fifteen years after forming his political party, the Jana Sena leader is unabashedly claiming that he would enter the Assembly after the next elections and no one can stop him," said the Chief Minister.

He also made fun of Chandrababu Naidu's appeals to the people to give him another chance.

"Naidu can't dare to seek votes for what he had done to the people as he has no achievements to his credit. Instead, he is seeking one more chance by giving false assurances and promising a golden future to them," he said, adding that Naidu has no morality to seek votes.

"While Naidu didn't implement welfare schemes during his term and also opposed distribution of house sites to the poor in the CRDA region as he is anti-poor, the YSRCP government began introducing reforms in every sector within six months of coming to power," the Chief Minister said.

He claimed that the YSRCP government has spent Rs 2.16 lakh crore on various welfare schemes in the last four years and brought revolutionary changes in most sectors.

"Take the welfare benefits you have received as the yardstick and stand by me in the next elections as a sister, mother, father, grandfather and brother and ensure victory for YSRCP as I depend on you fully," he urged the people, saying they should not be misled by the false propaganda unleashed by the opposition.

The Chief Minister also formally handed over to the beneficiaries 8,912 TIDCO (Township and Infrastructure Development Corporation) houses built in a single layout of 77 acres in the Gudivada Municipal limits at a cost of Rs 800 crore.

He said the government is fulfilling its promise of handing over 300 sq ft TIDCO houses to the beneficiaries for just Re 1 each.

Adjacent to the TIDCO houses, 7,728 house sites were allotted in an area of 178.63 acres for the poor and construction of 4,500 houses in the Jagananna colony is in progress, leading to habitation of around 16,240 families.

Across the state, the government is giving away 300 sq ft TIDCO houses to 1,43,600 beneficiaries for just Re 1 each, spending a total amount of Rs 9,406 crore, while in the TDP rule, similar beneficiaries were asked to pay Rs 3,000 per month for 20 years, the CHief Minister said.
London, June 16 : The 31-year-old suspect in Nottingham attacks, which saw three people including a British-Indian teen, stabbed to death on Tuesday, has been identified as a mechanical engineering graduate from the University of Nottingham.

Valdo Amissao Mendes Calocane, presently in police custody, is a dual Guinea-Bissau/Portuguese national, and had settled status in the UK through his Portuguese citizenship, the BBC reported on Friday. He graduated in mechanical engineering from the University of Nottingham in 2022.

Police have been granted another 36 hours to question Calocane, held in connection with the murder of students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley Kumar, both 19, and school caretaker Ian Coates.

The Nottinghamshire police said in a statement that a team of detectives is continuing to question the suspect and building up a strong picture of what happened on June 13.

"This has included CCTV gathering, forensics, eye-witness accounts and searching a number of properties in the city," the police said, adding that the families of all victims are being supported by specially trained officers.

"We are still working alongside Counter Terrorism Policing and keeping an 'open mind' on the motives behind these attacks," a Nottinghamshire police statement read.

Meanwhile, mothers of Webber and O'Malley Kumar urged the city to "hold no hate" at an emotional vigil on Friday. Thousands of people gathered in Nottingham's Market Square to pay their respects to the two students and Coates.The vigil came a day after thousands of students paid tributes at the University of Nottingham, where Grace and Barnaby studied.
Agartala, June 16 : Tripura Police said on Friday that they have arrested nine Bangladeshi nationals, including two children, and four Rohingyas (Myanmarese) after they illegally entered into the northeastern state.

A police officer said that the Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas were detained at Kailashahar in Unakoti district on Thursday night when they are moving towards Karimganj in southern Assam in three vehicles.

The police have also arrested the drivers of the three vehicles along with three touts, who helped the foreign intruders enter Tripura from Bangladesh.

The detainees told the police that they intended to go to Delhi via Assam in search of livelihood.

Tripura shares 856 km border with Bangladesh, most parts of which are fenced.
Bengaluru, June 16 : The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Friday protested against the Congress government in Karnataka, condemning the recent Cabinet decision to withdraw the anti-conversion law introduced by the previous BJP government.

The protest was held at the Freedom Park in Bengaluru in which Hundreds of VHP supporters raised slogans against the Congress government and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The VHP had called upon all the Hindus to take part in the protest.

Peaceful protests were also held at all the district headquarters across the state.

District Secretary of VHP, Jayaram, said that it is not even a month since the Congress has taken over the administration, but it is changing the anti-conversion law.

He said that cases of religious conversion and 'love jihad' are being reported in large numbers in the state. If they are not prevented, it is going to be a big crisis not only for the state, but for the entire country, Jayaram added.

Working President of VHP, M.B. Puranik, said that India is a Hindu country and the Constitution has allowed peaceful coexistence of different religions.

"The people of other faiths can practise their religion and customs, and we agree to that. We only condemn forceful religious conversions. India is a Hindu country and Karnataka is a part of it. To save every Hindu from conversion is the duty of every member of the Hindu religion," he said.

"The Congress government was voted to power mainly by the Hindus along with people from other religions. It did not come to power because of minority votes. The move of the Congress is a great betrayal to all Hindus. The Hindus of Karnataka demand that the proposal should be taken back," he said.

Puranik also said that the Congress government is stooping low by removing texts of national leaders like Veer Savarkar only to appease the minorities.

"We hope the government stops taking anti-people decisions that can disturb peace in the society," Puranik said.

The Congress-led Karnataka government had on Thursday announced to amend the anti-conversion law introduced by the previous BJP government.

"All the aspects introduced by the previous BJP government will be dropped. The act will be taken up for amendment in the Assembly session scheduled in July," state minister H.K. Patil said.

The BJP had imposed stringent conditions on religious conversions and also prescribed punishment for the offence.

Patil said the government will cancel the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021 and introduce the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2023.

In the Congress poll manifesto, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had promised to repeal all the acts enacted by the BJP government once the party comes to power in the state.
Mumbai, June 16 : The animated romantic comedy film 'Elemental', which brings to life the mesmerising world of elements in a story of two strikingly opposite elements Ember Lumen (Fire) and Wade Ripples (Water), is work of people from several diasporas as more than 100 first and second-generation immigrants.

The producer of the film, Denise Ream, shared that it is a work of many immigrants who spoke with the makers during the making. She also said that it is a "story about relationships between fire and water, and between parents and their kids".

Set in a city that brings elements of different backgrounds together, 'Elemental' is demonstrative of the statement that opposites do indeed attract.

Denise Ream, who is known for her work in Academy Award-winning films like 'Up', 'Cars 2' and 'The Good Dinosaur', the creation of the world of 'Elemental' was a work of people from several diasporas as more than 100 first and second-generation immigrants from Pixar came together to speak with filmmakers about their experiences.

The 26th film from Pixar Animation Studios is creating fiery waves of recognition since its global premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival.

The creation of this mystical world of elements was a big challenge for the movie's creative heads, particularly when personifying the elements and the details in animation that follow, such as the transparency of water or the burning of fire and the resulting light.

Dishing on the emotional stories and elaborating on the behind-the-scenes situation, Denise said: "It's a story about relationships -- between fire and water, between parents and their kids and between all of us and our neighbours who might not look like us. It's part comedy, part family journey and part culture clash.

"Most of us, wherever we are, come from somewhere else. There were so many emotional stories about what people went through to come here... their families' experiences. I don't think you can really explain the impact of something like that on a story," she added.

Directed and co-written by Peter Sohn, 'Elemental' is set to release in Indian theatres on June 23, 2023 in English and Hindi.
Bengaluru, June 16 : A special CBI court in Karnataka has acquitted, for want of evidence, the accused in the sensational 2012 rape and murder case of college student Soujanya that took place in Ujire town in Dakshina Kannada district.

Special judge C.B. Santhosh has pronounced the judgment acquitting accused Santhosh Rao.

Daughter of Chandrappa Gowda and Kusumavathy, who resided at Pangala near Dharmasthala, Soujanya was a student of the SDM College in Ujire town. She went missing on October 9, 2012 while returning from the college to the house.

The next day, her body was found near Mannasanka. The preliminary investigations suggested that she was kidnapped and gang raped. The Belthangady police had arrested 38-year-old Santhosh Rao on October 11, 2012.

Huge protests were staged against the investigation of the case by the state police, who were alleged to be protecting the sons of powerful persons of the region. The case was handed over to the CID and on November 6, 2013, to the CBI.
Jaipur, June 16 : A list released recently by the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee announcing the appointment of 85 state secretaries has now been withdrawn by the party.

According to sources, the names of 85 Congress state secretaries were released on May 27, after the approval of the party's Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. However, it has now been put on hold till further orders from the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

It is being said that the list was not cleared by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, but state Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra went ahead and appointed the secretaries on his behalf.

Now after the revocation of the list, Dotasra has said that it had to be approved by the Congress President.

"It was a mistake from our side as we released the list without it being approved by the Congress President. So, we have revoked it now and it will be released after the approval of the Congress President," he said.
Chennai, June 16 : Tamil Nadu Minister V. Senthil Balaji who is in judicial custody following the arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged cash for jobs scam matter, has been stripped of his cabinet portfolio, an official said on Friday.

The Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan said that based on the recommendations of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, the subjects of Electricity and Non-Conventional Energy Development with by V. Senthil Balaji, has been allocated to Thangam Thennarasu, Minister for Finance and Human Resource Management, in addition to the portfolios held by him.

The subjects Prohibition and Excise, Molasses hitherto held by Senthil Balaji were allocated to S. Muthusamy, Minister for Housing and Urban Development.

The statement said: "The Governor, however, has not agreed to V. Senthil Balaji continuing any longer as a member of the council of ministers, as he is facing criminal proceedings for moral turpitude and is currently in judicial custody." Senthil Balaji was arrested following the raids by the ED.
Bengaluru, June 16 : A delivery boy has been thrashed by the people after an eight-year-old claimed that she was kidnapped by him -- an accusation that eventually turned out false.

The police said on Friday the incident happened on July 12 in an apartment on Neeladri Road in the Electronics City area.

The residents of the apartment who thrashed the delivery boy have landed in soup as he has filed an FIR against them.

The girl went missing from the residence and later, her parents and friends found her on the terrace of the apartment.

When she was questioned, she said she was kidnapped and "managed to escape from the clutches of the kidnapper by biting his hand".

She had pointed towards the delivery boy who was passing through a pathway in front of the apartment.

The parents and residents of the apartment had caught the delivery boy, thrashed him and handed him over to the police.

The delivery boy was identified as Akhil Ranjan Das. He, however, did not budge, and did not accept the charge. He maintained that he was innocent and the girl had falsely accused him. But the police got suspicious as he had bite marks on his hand.

However, after consulting the doctor and verifying the CCTV footage, it emerged that the girl was lying, and the "bite marks" in question formed on Das' hand due to an old injury.

The girl had gone to the terrace on her own and was playing there alone.

When questioned, fearing punishment by her parents, she scripted a kidnap story.

Das has filed a complaint against the residents of the apartment for assaulting him.

He is currently being treated at a private hospital.
Srinagar, June 16 : The police in J&K's Anantnag district made a significant breakthrough in the case of the killing of a labourer from Udhampur on May 29 by apprehending five terrorists belonging to Kashmir Freedom Fighters (KFF), an offshoot of proscribed terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), officials said on Friday.

On the evening of May 29, unknown terrorists on a two-wheeler reached the amusement park near GMC Anantnag and fired upon a non-local labourer named Deepak Kumar alias Deepu, a resident of Udhampur, and fled from the spot. Deepak was shifted to the hospital where he was declared brought dead.

"Following a probe, five terrorists have been arrested who were associated with the self-styled terror group Kashmir Freedom Fighters (KFF), an offshoot JeM. We also recovered one AK-47, one magazine, 40 rounds of ammunition, two pistols, seven live rounds, seven empty cartridges, three hand grenades, seven mobile phones, and the Scooty used in the crime from their possession," the police said.

The arrested terrorists have been identified as Sehran Bashir Nadaf, Ubaid Nazir Laigroo, Umer Amin Thoker, Huzaif Shabir Bhat and Nasir Farooq Shah.

"The prime accused, Sehran Bashir, received weapons training via WhatsApp video from a terrorist handler code alias Khalid Kamran. They had been instructed to find and attack soft targets from the minority community.

"The entire conspiracy of how weapons were sourced, passed on and routed to the actual trigger puller and how to maintain communication discipline as well as how to cover tracks and hide evidence has been uncovered. More leads are under investigation and some further developments in the case are expected," the police said.
North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea from Sunan in Pyongyang on Thursday, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff here.

The missiles were apparently fired in protest against large-scale South Korea-U.S. live-fire drills staged from May 25 - June 15.

They were fired between 7:25 p.m. and 7:37 p.m., an unusual time. "We have stepped up vigilance to prepare for another possible provocation," the JCS said. Japanese media reported that both missiles fell inside Japan's exclusive economic zone. "We speculate that North Korea fired the missiles in time for the end of the live-fire drills," a military spokesman here said.
New Delhi, June 16 : Moving ahead with its probe, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday said that it has filed a charge sheet against 13 persons, including Sr Lankan nationals, in the India-Sri Lanka illegal drugs and arms trade case relating to attempts to revive the LTTE in India and Sri Lanka.

The anti-terror probe agency said the charge sheet was filed on Thursday against the arrested accused for the illegal drug trade to fund, amass, and stash weapons for the revival of LTTE in India and Sri Lanka.

The agency has named three Indians in the charge sheet -- Selvakumar M., Vigneshwara Perumal alias Vicky, and Iyyapan Nandhu, while the accused Sri Lankan nationals include C. Gunashekharaan alias Guna, and Pushparajah alias Pookutti Kanna, who allegedly ran a drug syndicate in the island nation and have been accused of working with Pakistani drugs and arms supplier Haji Salim, the man behind the narcotics trafficking in India and close to Dawood Ibrahim and the ISI.

As per the agency sources, Salim mostly controls the drug syndicate from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan's Baloch areas.

"The drugs were being sourced from Salim, who is suspected to be residing in Pakistan. The accused persons were using foreign WhatsApp numbers to carry out the clandestine trade," the NIA said in a statement.

It also said that its probe had also exposed conspiracy to fund the revival of LTTE through drug trade. They were arrested at the Trichy Special Camp, the agency said.

"Investigations had further revealed that the accused were using the proceeds of crime to live a lavish life. Several mobile phones with pre-activated Indian SIM cards were also seized from them along with various digital devices, documents relating to drug transactions, cash to the tune of Rs 80 lakh and nine gold bars.

"The cash and gold were proceeds from the sale of narcotics and were being channelled through hawala networks between Chennai and Sri Lanka. Several transactions using Crypto platforms were also unearthed," the NIA added.

Besides Guna and Kanna, the NIA has named eight other Sri Lankans in the charge sheet - Mohammad Asmin, Alahapperumaga Sunil Ghamini Fonseka, Stanly Kennady Fernando, Dhanukka Roshan, Ladiya, Vella Suranga, Thilipan, and Danarathnam Nilukshan.

While Vicky and Nandhu were arrested in April this year, the others were arrested in December 2022.
New Delhi, June 16 : One of the three armed robbers was overpowered and handed over to the police when they tried to rob a money exchange shop at Scindia House here on Friday, an official said.

While Narender, a resident of Sonipat district in Haryana, was overpowered by the people, two others managed to flee the spot.

A police officer said information regarding a "robbery attempt" was received at Barakhamba Road police station.

"On reaching the spot at the shop at Scindia House it was revealed that three armed persons entered the office of one Raju Sharma, a money changer, and tried to rob cash," the police officer said.

However, they were intercepted by the shopkeeper and other people present there.

"Narender was caught by the public and handed over to the police. Legal action is being taken in the matter," the police officer added.
New Delhi, June 16 : The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Friday issued an advisory urging people not to shoot videos while travelling in the Metro.

The moves comes after several videos, including of people dancing and doing some objectionable acts were doing rounds on social media.

Taking to Twitter on Friday, DMRC said, "Open your camera, Na Na Na".

"Johnny Johnny! Yes Papa? Making reels in the metro? NO PAPA!" said the advisory attached in the tweet.A "Any such activity that may cause inconvenience to the passengers is strictly prohibited inside the Delhi Metro," read the text in advisory.

In March, the DMRC in its notification had clearly said, "Filming reels, dance videos or any other such activities that may cause inconvenience to the passengers is strictly prohibited inside the Delhi Metro." The Delhi Metro governing body had also urged passengers to not cause inconvenience to the fellow passengers.
Chennai, June 16 : In more troubles for arrested Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has now summoned his brother R.V. Ashok Kumar, personal assistant B. Shanmugam and others for questioning next week in an alleged cash-for-jobs linked money laundering case, sources said on Friday.

The minister was arrested by the ED early on Wednesday in connection with the case after 18 hours of quizzing at his official residence. The ED sleuths had also raided his office in the Secretariat after questioning him .

A financial probe agency source here said that the agency has summoned Balaji's brother and his personal assistant for questioning next week as well as one woman, who is said to be linked to an alleged benami land deal.

Since his arrest on Wednesday, Balaji is currently in hospital and is undergoing treatment.

The ED had dubbed the minister as "prime suspect" in the cash-for-jobs case, and claimed in in its custody papers that alleged unaccounted cash deposits worth about Rs 1.60 crore were made in the bank accounts of Balaji and his wife.

The case against Balaji and his aides pertains to his tenure as the state Transport Minister in the AIADMK government during 2011-15.
Kolkata, June 16 : The All India Secular Front (AISF), which was formed just before the 2021 Assembly elections in West Bengal, has now become the toughest challenger to the ruling Trinamool Congress in the minority-dominated hamlet of Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district.

Founded by religious leader Abbas Siddique a.k.a. 'Bhaijaan', AISF contested the 2021 Assembly polls as an alliance partner of Left Front and Congress. In the elections, Abbas Siddique's brother Naushad Siddique emerged as the lone AISF representative in state Assembly after winning from Bhangar.

Since then, Naushad Siddique has not only kept AISF's voice loud inside the House, but at times he also personally led protest demonstrations against the alleged attacks on the AISF workers by the ruling party members in Bhangar.

In February this year, the otherwise soft-spoken Naushad Siddque led a protest march in Kolkata against alleged attacks on his party workers by Trinamool members, during which parts of the city turned into virtual battlefields AISF supporters clashed with the cops.

Siddique was arrested and had to spend several days behind the bars. However, his days in jail could not tone him down as after coming out, he became more vocal against the ruling party and state government.

His leadership quality was felt again over the last two days when Bhangar turned into a battlefield following violent clashes between AISF and Trinamool supporters over nomination filing for the July 8 panchayat elections, with the ruling outfit often pushed to the backfoot by the party with just one MLA.

In the midst of the chaos, Naushad Siddique displayed the qualities of both a party leader as well as a responsible elected public representative.

Amid the clashes, Siddique suddenly turned up at the state secretariat seeking an appointment with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to discuss the situation in Bhangar.

After being denied appointment, Siddique went back claiming that he came to meet the Chief Minister, who is the guardian of the state, to find a solution to the Bhangar crisis.

"But probably because of her pre-occupations, she could not give me time," Siddique said.

Political observers find this act as a masterstroke on the part of Siddique, who gave a subtle message that despite being a greenhorn in state politics, AISF took the first step to find a solution to the Bhangar crisis, while the administrative head of the state did not even respond to it.

Probably realising that the AISF is making a dent in the minority vote-bank of the Trinamool, Mamata Banerjee on Friday launched a scathing attack against Siddique and AISF, without naming either of them, at a public rally in Namkhana in South 24 Parganas district.

"Funded by the BJP, a breakaway minority group has created tension at Bhangar over nomination filing during the last couple of days. I am surprised by their audacity with just one legislator. They are trying to malign the image of West Bengal. It is because of Trinamool Congress that people from the minority community are safe in Bengal," Banerjee said.

According to political analyst Sabyasachi Bandopadhyay, although it is yet to be proved as to how long Siddique will be able to continue with his party's stubborn resistance against the Trinamool and how the Congress-Left-AISF trio will benefit from it, Siddique has emerged as the "man of the match" during the nomination filing period.
New Delhi, June 16 : Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to US, the Congress on Friday took a swipe at him with a 'vishwayogi' jibe, saying he has shared 'asanas' for his devotees to practice but has not indicated when he will come out of his 'maunasana' (silence) over the violence in Manipur.

Congress General secretary Jairam Ramesh, in a tweet, said: "The self-anointed VishwaYogi has just shared various asanas for his devotees to practice. But when will he come out of his Maunasana as far as burning Manipur is concerned. His silence has gone beyond being pathetic. The Opposition parties from the state are still awaiting an audience with him." Earlier in the day, Congress leaders slammed the Centre over the deteriorating law and order in violence-hit Manipur after a mob set Minister of State for External Affairs R.K. Ranjan Singh's house on fire in Imphal.

Taking a dig at the Prime Minister for not speaking up on the issue, the party said the PM is too busy preparing for his US visit.

"Here is a Union Minister from Manipur lamenting the prevailing situation in his state. But the PM is still silent, too busy preparing for his visit to the US while Manipur continues to burn", Ramesh said.

His remarks came after Ranjan lamented the burning of his house and said that he was shocked as to how the law and order situation has deteriorated in Manipur.

The Union Minister's house at Kongba in Imphal was torched by a mob late on Thursday night.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said: "Manipur is burning. People are getting killed but the Prime Minister is too busy to talk on the issue.

"On one hand Manipur is burning but the Prime Minister is silent. We demand that the government take immediate action over the law and situation in the northeastern state. A government which cannot handle the situation has no right to remain in power." The Union Minister's house was earlier targeted on May 25 when thousands of people attempted to assemble in front of the residence, but were prevented by security forces.

Police said the mob, which was demanding an early solution to the ethnic conflict, accused all the ministers and MLAs that they were not doing enough to end the crisis.

On Wednesday, in a fresh incident of violence, assailants burnt the official residence of Manipur's Industry Minister Nemcha Kipgen in the Lamphel area in Imphal West district.

Kipgen, the lone woman minister in the state, was not at home when the attackers burnt down her official bungalow.

At least 11 people were killed and 23 others injured after suspected militants attacked the Khamelock village in Imphal East district late on Tuesday night.

Officials said the death toll is likely to increase as several of the injured are said to be critical.
Hyderabad, June 16 : Human rights activist and former University of Hyderabad professor, G. Haragopal, who, along with 151 others, were booked by the Telangana Police under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for alleged links with Maoists, said on Friday that they had no information why the action against them was taken.

Haragopal, who served as Dean of School of Social Sciences at University of Hyderabad, wants Telangana society to respond as all those booked under UAPA fought for civil liberties and for statehood to Telangana.

The activist also reminded Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao of his word during the Telangana movement that after the formation of Telangana, he will be in the forefront for civil liberties.

"Doesn't he know about our work," Haragopal asked. He demanded that KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, rein in the police which "acts recklessly" and cautioned that if police is not controlled it would not be good for the Telangana government, which may have to pay a price in the next elections.

The former professor of political science was reacting to the booking of a case under UAPA by Tadvai police of Mulugu district last year.

The FIR, which was registered in August 2022, came to light on Thursday during the hearing of a bail petition of People's Democratic Movement's Chandramouli in another case.

While opposing the bail plea, the police had told Ranga Reddy district court that Chandramouli was involved in several other cases. When the court sought the details, the police submitted the FIR, which has names of 152 people including Haragopal.

University professors, students, women, farmers and civil rights activists have been named in the FIR. Police alleged that they were trying to overthrow the government at gunpoint by associating themselves with Maoists.

The FIR alleged they were planning attacks on officials, destruction of government property, recruitment of tribal youth, terrorising innocent people and raising funds for the Maoists.

Tadvai police claimed that their names were found in a diary seized on August 19, 2022 from a place where Maoists were holding a meeting. The police asked them to surrender but they fled into the dense forest. Kit bags, solar plates, water bottles, rope and a diary were recovered by the police.

"Entire society knows who writes these names. There is no need for Maoists to write. Police include whatever names they want," said Haragopal, who was the interlocutor from the Maoists side when the rebels kidnapped Odisha's then Malkangiri District Collector Vineel Krishna in 2012.

He doubted the police version about the Maoist meeting and wondered how all 11 Maoists could escape despite heavy presence by police.

He pointed out that the police also included the name of Padmaja Shaw, former Professor of Journalism at Osmania University, who is not even present in public life.

"Look how ridiculous this is. Justice Hosbet Suresh, who passed away two years ago, has also been named," the activist said, adding that the Maharashtra government had not named Suresh in the Bhima Koregaon case out of respect for the former judge of the Bombay High Court.

Calling the police action of including the names a work of fiction, he said it was for the Telangana government to explain why the UAPA case was booked against them.

"Can you book UAPA case just because names are there in a diary," asked Haragopal, who had also mediated during the hostage crisis in 1993 involving a Congress MLA, a IAS officer and four employees of Girijan Cooperative Corporation in Visakhapatnam.

"Telangana government knows our work. I have been a teacher and working for civil liberties for 55 years but till now there was not a single case against me. People also know the work we have done during the Telangana movement," he added.

"Those booked are all living with honesty. They are not corrupt and not degenerated. They are a moral asset for the society," he said urging the society to respond by demanding the government to withdraw the case.

Haragopal said they all will sit together and decide their course of action in this case.
Kalaburagi, June 16 : A head constable, who was trying to stop illegal sand transportation, was crushed to death in Karnataka's Kalaburagi district on Friday, the police said.

Acting on a tip-off about illegal transportation of sand, head constable Mysuru Chouhan and constable Pramod Dodmani went to Narayanapura village on a bike at 10 p.m. on Thursday.

The policemen chased a tractor in which sand was being transported illegally. The cops had asked the driver to stop the vehicle, who did not stop and instead ran over the bike.

Chouhan was crushed to death, while Dodmani escaped with minor injuries.

The accused identified as Siddappa, who had fled from the spot, was soon arrested by the police. A hunt is on to arrest another accused named Sayibanna.

Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwar has announced Rs 30 lakh compensation for the victim's family, besides promising job for a family member.

"It is unfortunate that a policeman has died on duty. We have already arrested one person and very soon the other accused will be nabbed. This is always a challenge for the police force. Similar incidents have happened in Udupi and other places. With the cooperation of the Revenue, Mining and PWD departments, we will take action to prevent such incidents," Parameshwar said.

State minister Priyank Kharge said: "I have spoken to the District Commissioner and Superintendent of Police and ordered an inquiry into the matter." Another state minister M.C. Sudhakar said: "It is a shocking incident, and we need to take serious action against those behind it. Justice will be served." Preliminary investigations have revealed that the sand was illegally mined from Bhima river in Kalaburagi district.

Before the Assembly polls in the state, an audio clip of an individual seeking "protection" of then MLA Priyank Kharge to carry out sand business had gone viral on social media. Kharge had flatly refused to help him and told him that he doesn't mind losing elections rather than supporting him.

Sand from the basins of Bhima, Kagina, Mullamari, Bennethora and Kamalavathi rivers in Kalaburagi district is in demand and its price is skyrocketing each passing day. The main supply is made to Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh from the bordering district of Kalaburagi.
Jaipur, June 16 : Around 300 people fell ill due to food poisoning after eating at a religious programme in Rajasthan's Dausa, officials said on Friday.

The incident took place at around 9 p.m. on Thursday at Pakhar Chowdaki village under Mandawar police station area of Dausa with the participants complaining of vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain.

As per information, Mahendra Bairwa, a resident of Pakhar village, got a government job as a teacher in Delhi recently and hence, organised a religious programme of Savamani in the village on Thursday.

Villagers were invited for a mass feast but shortly afterwards, they complained of vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain and were rushed to hospital in private vehicles and ambulances.

On getting information of the food poisoning, Dausa CMHO Dr Subhash Bilonia also reached Mahuva Hospital where sick people were being treated.

A medical department team also reached the spot to treat the sick and also sent food samples, including laddoos, puris, vegetables, and pulses, for examination.

Mahuva MLA Omprakash Hudla also reached Mahuva and Mandawar hospitals to know the well-being of the patients.

At present, the health of most of the sick people is said to be improving.
New Delhi, June 16 : The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to intervene in the arrest of Basant Bansal and Pankaj Bansal, directors of Gurugram-based realty company M3M Group, in connection with a bribery case involving a judge.

Their arrest was made on Thursday by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as part of a money laundering investigation connected to an alleged bribery case involving a former judge and others.

The M3M directors argued that their arrest violated the high court order that had previously granted them protection from coercive action in another money laundering case.

However, the court stated that it lacked jurisdiction to decide on the legality of their arrest since the order was issued by a court in Panchkula, Haryana.

"I am of the view that once an order of remand has been passed by a court of competent jurisdiction in Panchkula, the appropriate remedy is to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court," said Justice Jasmeet Singh.

The court granted the ED 10 days to respond to the main petition challenging the arrest and issued a notice.

The judge orally said: "We will issue notice. My territorial jurisdiction restricts me. I won't be able to say this order (by the Panchkula trial court) is bad." The court then listed the matter for next hearing in July.

On June 9, the high court had granted Bansals interim protection from arrest till July 5 in a money laundering case linked to real estate firm IREO.

During the hearing, the senior advocates representing the petitioners argued that the arrest was arbitrary and that the ED had disregarded the high court order.

On the other hand, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju representing the ED opposed the petition and claimed that the present case (bribery case) was a "gross case" which pertained to the independence of the judiciary.

He said that the arrest has been tested by a competent court, resulting in ED custody.

The money laundering case for which the Bansals were arrested stems from an FIR filed by the Haryana Police Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) against Sudhir Parmar, a former special judge for ED and CBI cases, who was posted in Panchkula, his nephew and a third M3M group director, Roop Kumar Bansal.

The FIR alleged that Parmar showed favouritism to the accused individuals in the criminal cases of the ED and CBI pending in his court.

The ED said that it has gathered incriminating evidence, such as bank statements and a money trail, to support the allegations mentioned in the FIR.
South Korea has retrieved part of a North Korean space rocket that sank in the West Sea, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday.

The wreckage was raised at around 9 p.m. Thursday after about two weeks of salvage operation that were hampered by strong currents and poor visibility.

The JCS hopes that analysis of the wreckage will make it possible to figure out North's level of satellite and intercontinental ballistic missile technology.
New Delhi, June 16 : The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) on Friday said it will organise a programme 'Behtar Bharat ki Buniyaad' in Bengaluru from July 10 to 12, which is likely to be attended by more than 3,000 of its office bearers from across the country.

Addressing a press conference at its headquarters here, IYC national president Srinivas B.V. said: "Today, every section of society is troubled. The list of promises made by the Narendra Modi government to the people of the country is long. However, the public is suffering. That's why the Indian Youth Congress is going to start a nationwide campaign 'Behtar Bharat Ki Buniyaad', a youth convention for 2024." He said the event is going to be the biggest organisational youth convention programme of the Youth Congress since Independence.

"The list of promises made by the Modi government to the people of the country is long, but the result is that the public is suffering and the Prime Minister and all the leaders of his party are happy," Srinivas said.

Meanwhile, National in-charge of IYC and All India Congress Committee (AICC) joint secretary Krishna Allavaru said the programme will be a conference of 'Mann Ki Baat' of the youth of the country.
Patna June 16 : Months after Bihar Education Minister Chandra Shekhar Yadav triggered a controversy by saying that Ramcharitmanas "spreads hatred in the society", another RJD leader and MLA from Danapur, Ritlal Yadav, sparked a row on Friday by claiming that the epic poem was written by Tulsidas in a mosque.

Attacking BJP, Ritlal Yadav said: "BJP leaders are always talking about Ram temple, but do they know where Ramcharitmanas was written? If you go back in history, you will find that the writer sat in a mosque and wrote Ramcharitmanas. Was Hindutva not under threat at that time? When the Mughals ruled India for many years, was Hindutva not under threat? "An 11-year-old daughter of a Muslim family recited Bhagavad Gita and won a prize. People should learn from her." Following his remarks, BJP leaders accused the RJD leader of appeasement politics.

"Tejashwi Yadav's closest MLA Ritlal Yadav says Ramcharitmanas was written in a mosque. The RJD MLA is ready to become a Muslim by abusing Hinduism. Hindutva is definitely under threat from those Hindus who wear caps and offer namaaz," said Nikhil Anand, national General Secretary of BJP's OBC wing.

BJP spokesperson and senior leader Arvind Kumar Singh said: "RJD and Mahagathbandhan leaders have only one job, which is to insult Ramayana, Hindu people and Hindu culture. They are the people who opposed the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

"Everyone knows that Valmiki wrote Ramayana, and Tulsidas wrote Ramcharitmanas. Those who are making derogatory remarks on Ramcharitmanas must have passed out of Charwaha school of which Tejashwi Yadav was the headmaster. RJD leaders are busy doing Muslim appeasement." Reacting to the Ritlal Yadav's remarks, RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwari said, "I don't know under what circumstance or context he made the remark. But our leader Tejashwi Yadav and the RJD believe that the Constitution is the biggest holy book of the country."
Mumbai, June 16 : Karan Deol and Drisha Acharya made their first official appearance as groom and bride at their pre-wedding sangeet ceremony at the Deol residence in Mumbai on Friday night.

They are raring to tie the knot on June 18 and the celebrations were in full flow with the entire Deol clan in attendance, starting with Dharmendra, enjoying every moment of the evening; a turbaned Sunny Deol, who looked every bit a Punjabi gentleman farmer from his Lok Sabha constituency, Gurdaspur; Bobby Deol, looking very much a Yash doppelganger with his thick black beard, wife Tania and son Aryaman, who was also celebrating his 26th birthday; and Abhay Deol.

Drisha was wearing an ornate black lehenga with an off-shoulder blouse and Karan arrived in a heavily embroidered sherwani. The couple stepped out to greet the media and posed for the paparazzi.

Karan and Drisha have been dating for a while; she works in Dubai. The wedding will be an intimate affair, only family and close friends have been invited to it. It will be followed by a grand reception, which promises to be yet another big Bollywood bash.
New Delhi, June 16 : Hours after Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi on Friday opposed arrested state minister V. Senthil Balaji continuing as a member of the council of ministers as "he is facing criminal proceedings for moral turpitude and is currently in judicial custody", the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) dubbed it as yet another case of "tyranny of the unelected".

In a series of tweets, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha said, "Another case of tyranny of the unelected. Tamil Nadu Governor has unilaterally remarked that an MLA can't continue as a minister - something which is unheard of. Constitutionally, council of ministers is CM's sole prerogative, not Governor's." He said the recent events in Punjab, Delhi, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu have shown that some Governors are excessively overstepping their bounds.

"In Punjab, the Governor had refused to summon the budget session of the Assembly and rejected the cabinet's resolution to this effect. In Delhi, the L-G has consistently and systematically paralysed governance and crippled the elected government. What we are witnessing across non-BJP states is a dangerous trend. Governors are not above the law," he said.

"The people of India elect their governments and Governors are bound by the aid and advice of the council of ministers. The tyranny of the unelected Governors must not go unchecked," Chadha added.

His remarks came after the Tamil Nadu Governor approved the re-allocation of the portfolios of Balaji, who was arrested by the Enforcement Direcrorate (ED) in a money laundering case on Wednesday.

However, the Governor did not agree to Balaji continuing as a member of the council of ministers as "he is facing criminal proceedings for moral turpitude and is currently in judicial custody", according to a Raj Bhavan release.

Balaji is presently admitted to a Chennai hospital following complains of heart ailment.
Patna, June 16 : A notice warning of attachment of property was pasted on the houses of fugitive BJP MLA Raj Kumar Singh aka Raju Singh and six of his aides in their native village in Mokama village under Paro police station in the Muzaffarpur district on Friday, police said.

Raju Singh, the MLA from Sahibganj Assembly constituency, was allegedly involved in kidnapping of RJD leader Tulsi Rai on May 25 and an FIR in this regard was registered in Paro police station.

Following this, Raju Singh and six of his aides have been absconding. The district police have raided several places but have not managed to find any of them.

On Friday, a team headed by a SDPO rank officer reached his village with a band and pasted notices on their houses.

"The notice was issued from a special judge of MLA-MLC court Muzaffarpur to surrender before the police or the court. If they does not surrender before police or court, we will approach a court with a request to issue the warrant of property attachment," said Kundan Kumar, SDPO of Paro range, Muzaffarpur.

As per the FIR lodged by Tulsi Rai, he claimed that he went to a marriage function in Rasoolpur village in the district on May 25 where Raju Singh was also present. While he was returning, Raju Singh and his men kidnapped him, took him to an undisclosed location, and beaten him up. He also alleged that Raju Singh and his men tried to kill him as well but he escaped.

Following the incident, Tulsi Rai lodged named FIR against Raju Singh and 6 others and also mentioned 12 more unidentified persons involved in his kidnapping cum attempt to murder.

Raju Singh has been absconding since then. He has applied for anticipatory bail from a sessions court but his plea was rejected.
Imphal, June 17 : Former Army Chief Ved Prakash Malik said on Friday that the law and order situation in Manipur needs "urgent attention at highest level".

Gen Malik (retd), refferring to a tweet by Lt Gen L. Nishikanta Singh (retd), tweeted: "An extraordinarily sad call from a retired Lt Gen from Manipur. Law & order situation in Manipur needs urgent attention at the highest level." Gen Malik, who served as the 19th Chief of Army Staff from September 30, 1997 to September 30, 2000, tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah in his tweet.

Earlier, Lt Gen Singh (retd) tweeted: "I'm just an ordinary Indian from Manipur living a retired life. The state is now 'stateless'. Life and property can be destroyed anytime by anyone just like in Libya, Lebanon, Nigeria, Syria, etc. It appears Manipur has been left to stew in its own juice. Is anyone listening ?" Referring to the tweet of Lt Gen Singh (retd), former Union Minister and Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted: "The PM is certainly not. He has time for all other things except reaching out to the distressed people of Manipur in thought, word and deed." The devastating ethnic violence, which so far killed over 120 people and injured more than 400, began in Manipur on May 3 after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised by a tribal student body in the hill districts of the state to protest against the Meitei community's Scheduled Tribe (ST) status demand.
New Delhi, June 17 : The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday claimed that Nakul Kashyap, the key complainant against senior IAS officer Y.V.V.J. Rajasekhar, was arrested by the Delhi Police prior to his scheduled statement in the case.

Deputy Delhi Assembly Speaker Rakhi Birla expressed her concern, stating, "The complainant was supposed to provide his statement to the Delhi Police at 2 p.m. today (Friday). However, in a shocking turn of events, the Delhi Police arrested him at 10 p.m. last night, jeopardising the pursuit of justice." Addressing the media, Birla said, "Nakul Kashyap had filed a complaint directly with the Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly on June 2. In response, the SC/ST Committee of the Delhi Legislative Assembly promptly convened a meeting on June 6, summoning Y.V.V.J. Rajasekhar. However, the accused failed to attend the meeting and requested a two-week extension in a letter to the committee." "Concerned about the threat posed by the accused, Nakul Kashyap filed a second complaint with the Delhi Legislative Assembly on June 10, reporting these incidents. Recognizing the seriousness of the allegations, the SC/ST Committee swiftly organised another meeting on June 13, requiring both the accused and the complainant to be present." "Nakul Kashyap was present on June 13 and even provided a written oath/affidavit detailing the threats, intimidation, and surveillance he has been subjected to in an attempt to withdraw his complaint, as he also expressed during his statements to the committee," she said.

The Deputy Speaker added that acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the committee "urgently sent a letter to the Commissioner of Delhi Police on June 14, requesting security for the complainant and a conducive environment for him to speak freely and safeguard his rights. However, he (Kashyap) was arrested before he could present his statement."
The Passive House Network is announcing a growing number of building tours across the US as part of the global event International Passive House Open Days. Listings for American projects open to tour can be found on the PHN event page.

Organized globally by the International Passive House Association, the International Passive House Open Days are a great opportunity to learn about Passive House buildings of all kinds around the US and the world. Get in contact with current owners and learn first-hand what living and working in a Passive House is like and what the building or retrofitting process was like. Some will have professionals on hand with the knowledge and tools to explain the technical details of Passive House projects.

If youre interested in finding out more about Passive House, there is no better way to do it than visiting one, says PHN Executive Director, Ken Levenson. Speak to owners and professionals, get the inside scoop, and feel the difference. It will change your expectation of what a quality sustainable building should be.

A growing list of locations include:



17 Mile Haus, Pebble Beach, CA

Sebastopol Passive, Sebastopol, CA

Millhaus Passive, Fort Collins, CO

The Enclave Passive House, Louisville, CO

Park Place Passive, Somerville, MA

Energy Retrofit Open House, Glen Rock, NJ

Park Slope Passive House, Brooklyn, NY

The Passive House, Hudson, NY

The Catskill Project, Livingston Manor, NY

Six & Kane, Kane, PA

More project listings are coming. Event information and registration links are on the event page.

# # #

About PHN:

The Passive House Network (PHN), is a national nonprofit, 501(c)3, that provides Passive House high-performance building education and resources to professionals across the U.S. that transform how they think and work with buildings. PHN provides professionals with a complete skill set to reliably produce new and renovated buildings that use dramatically less energy, for effective and affordable climate action.https://naphnetwork.org/ https://passivehousenetwork.org/

About PHRM:

Passive House Rocky Mountains is a chapter of PHN. PHRM serves professionals and enthusiasts with community and education in the great states of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico,

About PHI:

The Passive House Institute (PHI) is an independent research institute that has played an especially crucial role in developing the Passive House concept - the only internationally recognized, performance-based energy standard in construction. https://passivehouse.com/

About Passive House:

Passive House is an international building standard and methodology, applicable to buildings of all kinds, from office buildings to hospitals, new-build, and renovations, that results in a dramatic drop in operational energy use and more comfortable and healthy occupants - meant to mitigate our climate crisis while providing resilient adaptation aggressively.

The Passive House Standard was developed by the Passive House Institute (PHI), an independent scientific research organization located in Darmstadt, Germany, and includes specific requirements for energy use and the comfort of occupants. The Passive House Standard is being successfully applied to thousands of buildings and millions of square feet around the world, from Boston to Beijing.

The Passive House methodology starts with reducing cooling, dehumidification, and heating loads by focusing not on gadgets and active technology but instead on fully integrated durable passive building components, such as proper continuous thermal-bridge-free insulation, continuous airtightness, high-performance windows and doors, and ventilation that includes a high-efficiency heat/energy recovery core, carefully calculated, and all integrated with the entire architectural process of design and construction. http://www.passivehouse.com http://www.passipedia.org

The International Passive House Association is a membership, communications, and global community-building arm of the Passive House Institute with over 30 affiliated regional Passive House organizations worldwide. https://passivehouse-international.org/
Gammaplex gives us more treatment options for our IG patients and prescribers, said Justin Dent, National Director of Pharmacy Operations. Having both concentrations gives us more options to manage side effects and tailor each patients therapy to their specific needs.

AvevoRx, a national, independent provider of specialty infusion pharmacy services, has announced a limited distribution agreement for Gammaplex, an immune globulin (IG) product from Bio Products Laboratory (BPL). AvevoRx currently stocks Gammaplex and is dispensing to qualified patients.

Our top priority as a company is ensuring our patients have safe and streamlined access to the treatments they need. Expanding our portfolio helps us meet that need and adding Gammaplex to the mix is a great step for us, said Eric Hill, co-founder of AvevoRx. We appreciate the trust that partners like BPL have in us to deliver that care.

Our experience with Gammaplex, and its high degree of tolerability, gives us more treatment options for our IG patients and prescribers, said Justin Dent, National Director of Pharmacy Operations for AvevoRx. Additionally, having both a 5- and 10-percent concentration gives our clinicians more options to manage side effects and tailor each patients therapy to their specific needs.

Gammaplex is an IG product for patients with primary humoral immunodeficiencies (PI), a group of disorders that limit the bodys ability to produce antibodies and fight infections. It harnesses human antibodies, derived primarily from human plasma, to help boost the immune system and prevent infections. Multiple IG products are available in the U.S. The agreement with BPI allows AvevoRx to dispense a larger portfolio of IVIG products.

Gammaplex is a registered trademark of Bio Products Laboratory Limited, a Kedrion company.

Visit AvevoRx.com for more information.

About AvevoRx

AvevoRx is a bespoke, independent provider of specialty infusion pharmacy services. The company focuses on the highest-quality, personalized care customized to patients facing various complex, chronic disorders. Treatments are made available via specialized pharmacy locations, field nurses, and additional support staff throughout the United States. AvevoRx also provides acute infusion therapies for patients with short-term therapeutic needs on a regional basis. Privately held, the company was founded in 2021 by a small group of industry veterans with a combined experience of more than 130 years. AvevoRx is headquartered in North Carolina. To learn more, visit http://www.AvevoRx.com or follow us on Instagram or LinkedIn.
Palihotel San Diego is Dovetail + Co's first property in California. As Palihotel San Diego, the storied Saint James Hotel retains its historic elements with an infusion of preppy-meets-nautical design. Saint James French Diner, the new on-site restaurant, nods to the hotels past while marrying diner and bistro cuisine.

Hospitality company Dovetail + Co, as owner and developer, announces the opening of Palihotel San Diego and Saint James French Diner, its first California property and restaurant. Dovetail acquired the 122-room full-service hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter of Americas Finest City in 2022 and brought in Palisociety as a brand and operating partner.

Originally opened in 1913 as the St. James Hotel, the eleven-story building soared over San Diego as the citys tallest building and a beacon of Victorian architecture.

Today, the stately structure maintains its original two-story neon sign, intricate tin ceilings, stained glass windows, hexagon tile floors, and marble staircases, all hailing from the early 1900s. As Palihotel San Diego, the property retains its historic charm with an infusion of preppy-meets-nautical design.

The guest-exclusive roof deck offers daily social hour and dazzling city views. Saint James French Diner, the new on-site restaurant, nods to the hotels past while marrying diner and bistro cuisine.

In room amenities include Bellino fine linens, Diptyque bath amenities, a Nespresso coffee machine, SMEG mini fridge, a fully stocked minibar, complimentary Wi-Fi, and more. With the Pawlisociety program, the hotel is pet friendly, too.

In San Diegos Gaslamp Quarter, Dovetail + Co saw an opportunity to develop a property in a dynamic growth market. The buildings storied character was a perfect fit for Dovetails portfolio of boutique hospitality, highlighting its expertise in bringing creative solutions to historic and complex real estate.

Dovetail is actively growing and looking for opportunities through a multi-disciplinary, collaborative, and results-driven approach.We are excited to bring new life to the historic Saint James Hotel and introduce Palihotels brand of authentic hospitality to San Diego, says Dovetail + Co founder and CEO Phil Hospod. We have confidence in California as a beloved travel destination and hope to expand our California portfolio.Palihotel San Diego joins Dovetail + Cos portfolio of unique properties in storied locations. Dovetail most recently opened Wayfinder Waikiki in Honolulu, Hawaii, the second outpost of is original Wayfinder brand.

Earlier in 2023, Dovetails reimagined Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa in Bermuda was named to Conde Nast Travelers Hot List and Travel + Leisures It List of the best 100 new hotels in the world.

Other critically acclaimed Dovetail hotel projects include Urban Cowboy Lodge in the Catskill Mountains of New York and Wayfinder Newport in Rhode Island. Dovetail properties have received accolades from Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, Afar, Architectural Digest, Vogue, Domino, Food & Wine, Harpers Bazaar, Glamour, National Geographic, Forbes, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and more.

About Dovetail + Co

Led by Phil Hospod, Dovetail + Co is an owner and creator of hotels, bars, and restaurants that promote exploration and discovery. Industry veterans in investment, development, branding, and operations, Dovetail + Co believes that new experiences can shift perspectives, spark friendships, and redefine what is possible. Dovetail + Cos critically acclaimed hotel projects include Urban Cowboy Lodge in the Catskills Mountains of New York, Wayfinder hotels in Newport, Rhode Island and Waikiki, Hawaii, Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa in Bermuda, Palihotel San Diego and an upcoming micro-hotel in the heart of Noho New York.
Attendees walk past an electronic display showing recent cyberattacks in China at the China Internet Security Conference in Beijing, in 2017.

Suspected state-backed Chinese hackers used a security hole in a popular email security appliance to break into the networks of hundreds of public and private sector organizations globally, nearly a third of them government agencies including foreign ministries, the cybersecurity firm Mandiant said Thursday.

This is the broadest cyber espionage campaign known to be conducted by a China-nexus threat actor since the mass exploitation of Microsoft Exchange in early 2021, Charles Carmakal, Mandiants chief technical officer, said in an emailed statement. That hack compromised tens of thousands of computers globally.

In a blog post Thursday, Google-owned Mandiant expressed high confidence that the group exploiting a software vulnerability in Barracuda Networks Email Security Gateway was engaged in espionage activity in support of the Peoples Republic of China. It said the activity began as early as October.

The hackers sent emails containing malicious file attachments to gain access to targeted organizations devices and data, Mandiant said. Of those organizations, 55% were from the Americas, 22% from Asia Pacific and 24% from Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and they included foreign ministries in Southeast Asia, foreign trade offices and academic organizations in Taiwan and Hong Kong, the company said.

Mandiant said the majority impact in the Americas may partially reflect the geography of Barracudas customer base.

Barracuda announced on June 6 that some of its email security appliances had been hacked as early as October, giving the intruders a back door into compromised networks. The hack was so severe the California company recommended fully replacing the appliances.

After discovering it in mid-May, Barracuda released containment and remediation patches, but the hacking group, which Mandiant identifies as UNC4841, altered their malware to try to maintain access, Mandiant said. The group then countered with high frequency operations targeting a number of victims located in at least 16 different countries.

Word of the breach as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken departs for China this weekend as part of the Biden administrations push to repair deteriorating ties between Washington and Beijing.

His visit had initially been planned for early this year but was postponed indefinitely after the discovery and shootdown of what the U.S. said was a Chinese spy balloon over the United States.

Mandiant said the targeting, at both the organizational and individual account levels, focused on issues that are high policy priorities for China, particularly in the Asia Pacific region. It said the hackers searched for email accounts of people working for governments of political or strategic interest to China at the time they were participating in diplomatic meetings with other countries.

In an emailed statement Thursday, Barracuda said about 5% of its active Email Security Gateway appliances worldwide showed evidence of potential compromise. It said it was providing replacement appliances to affected customers at no cost.

The U.S. government has accused Beijing of being its principal cyberespionage threat, with state-backed Chinese hackers stealing data from both the private and public sector.

In terms of raw intelligence affecting the U.S., Chinas largest electronic attacks have targeted OPM, Anthem, Equifax and Marriott.

Earlier this year, Microsoft said state-backed Chinese hackers have been targeting U.S. critical infrastructure and could be laying the technical groundwork for the potential disruption of critical communications between the U.S. and Asia during future crises.

China says the U.S. also engages in cyberespionage against it, hacking into computers of its universities and companies.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Dr. Murphy It was shocking to me that our veterans don't typically have these opportunities to select their treatment modalities and increase their changes for improvement for a better life. We have to stand shoulder-to-shoulder to see that this issue becomes a reality.

The horrific statistics of veteran suicides and the ten years plus of unchanged veteran suicide deaths were brought to light during this presentation. Mr. Spagnola pointed out that the vast majority of veterans do not understand the side effects or that treatment options are available to them. He added that this was in large part due to a misunderstanding, that verbal consent is adequate to apply to Black Box Medications such as Antidepressants, Stimulants, and Opioids, "That's fine for Aspirins or Tylenol but not the highest risk medications", Spagnola stated. "We must take every conceivable step imaginable to protect and fully inform our veterans", he added.

Written Informed Consent should improve their health outcomes and make it more likely for the veterans to be involved in their treatment plans. The conference then played a short clip of a NewsMax interview Mr. Spagnola had with John Bachman, which provided statistics and solutions to help these warriors.

It was shocking to Dr. Murphy that our veterans don't typically have these opportunities to select their treatment modalities and increase their chances for improvement for a better life. This was also the consensus of his peers at the conferences. The need for Written Informed Consent was so obvious that they all stood shoulder-to-shoulder to ensure that this issue becomes a reality.

The support provided to Mr. Spagnola assisted his work with veterans, including his work with the American Legion. One result was a resolution in support of Written Informed Consent being approved by the National Executive Committee of the American Legion, May 10-11 2023, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Resolution No. 18: Written Informed Consent.

Dr. Murphy point out to his colleagues that it is up to us to demonstrate the leadership needed to improve the health and welfare of our communities. These veterans are willing to give all for us -- so we can at least support causes that support them

About

Dr. Murphy graduated from SIU Dental School in Alton, IL in 2002. He did his undergraduate at Bradley University graduating in 1998. His practice is located in Batavia, IL where he has been practicing since January 2005. He resides in Batavia with his wife and three young girls. During dental school, Dr. Murphy went to Jamaica on a humanitarian trip where a team of doctors and students performed extractions, cleanings, and basic restorative procedures. Furthermore, when he graduated from SUI Dental School, he received an award from The Academy of Operative Dentistry.

He is currently a member of the American Dental Association, Illinois Dental Society (http://www.isds.org), Fox Valley Dental Society, and the Academy of General Dentistry. He received an award for Top Doc organization in 2011.

Dr. Murphy enjoys spending time within the community. He has been a member of Batavia Rotary since 2005 and severed as Secretary of the club for 2 years. Furthermore, he is a member of the Batavia Chamber of Commerce and served on Batavia Access Fireworks Committee.

Dr. Murphy likes to spend his free time traveling to warm places. Furthermore, he enjoys deep-sea fishing. He is still looking for the blue marlin that got away from him on his honeymoon in 2002. In addition, Dr. Murphy enjoys spending time with his family. The three little girls keep him hopping.

Dr. Murphy listens to patients needs and answers all questions. He enjoys providing quality and personalized health care to each patient.
Photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Steven M. Colvin via Alamy Valcor has extensive experience with customized fuel shut-off valves for demanding applications, stated Leo Loiacono, VP, Business & Product Development. Our V14500 series valve is a highly reliable economical valve that is an excellent fit for Ground Combat Vehicles.

Valcor Engineering Corporation, a world-class designer and manufacturer of custom precision fluid and motion controls for space, aircraft, ground vehicles, nuclear, and scientific/industrial industries, has just released a new white paper entitled Customized Fluid Controls for Demanding Ground Vehicle Applications.

This paper discusses the uses of fuel shut-off valves in Ground Combat Vehicles where operation at low temperatures is required.Valcor has extensive experience with customized fuel shut-off valves for demanding applications, stated Leo Loiacono, VP, Business & Product Development. Our V14500 series valve is a highly reliable economical valve that is an excellent fit for Ground Combat Vehicles.

The full paper can be found here: https://www.valcor.com/customized-fluid-controls-demanding-ground-vehicle-applications/.

About Valcor

Valcor Engineering Corporation (http://www.valcor.com), founded in 1951, designs and manufactures solenoid valves and other fluid control components, as well as subsystems, clutches, brakes and OBIGGS systems in critical applications in the aerospace, nuclear, light industrial and scientific industries. Headquartered in Springfield, New Jersey, Valcors world-class staff of engineers, designers, and technical support personnel utilize fully equipped, modern test facilities to test the most precise and exacting standards.

With a library of more than 18,000 designs, Valcors design team can modify existing technology to suit practically every hard to handle application. Valcor specializes in custom applications and can create an entirely new product to meet your needs.
Washington Connections Academy Celebrates The Class of 2023 Ive been able to work at my own pace and get ahead on lessons when needed. The teachers are incredibly helpful and Ive been able to participate in some cool field trips with my peers as well.

Washington Connections Academy, a fully-accredited, tuition-free online public school, honored the schools 265 graduating high school seniors on June 15. The graduation ceremony was held at the Tacoma Convention Center where the Class of 2023 gathered in-person to celebrate alongside school staff, teachers and family members.

Washington Connections Academys Class of 2023 consists of graduates from many cities and towns including Tacoma/Seattle area and Eastern Washington. Among the graduating class, 53% plan to attend a two- or four-year college or university, 11% plan to receive vocational training and 11% plan to join the workforce. Other graduates are joining the military, taking a gap year or pursuing other opportunities.

It has been a pleasure to watch the graduating Class of 2023 grow as theyve set goals for themselves and accomplished them one by one, said Jenn Francis, executive director at Washington Connections Academy. Their hard work and commitment to their education is truly inspiring. I know they have a strong foundation to achieve success in their post-graduation endeavors.

Among this years graduates is Tacoma resident, Jazzmin Lane. Jazzmin joined Washington Connections Academy for her senior year and is grateful for the flexibility in her schedule. Ive really enjoyed my time at Washington Connections Academy, said Jazzmin. Ive been able to work at my own pace and get ahead on lessons when needed. The teachers are incredibly helpful and Ive been able to participate in some cool field trips with my peers as well. Jazzmin received early acceptance to Washington State University, where she will study Zoology.

Washington Connections Academy currently serves approximately 3,000 students in grades K-12 throughout the state with the continuous support of highly skilled teachers and a curriculum that emphasizes both academics and building fundamental life skills. This combination fosters an environment where students can gain the confidence they need to thrive in todays world. The schools teachers are specially trained to bring their skills and personality to the virtual classroom, highlighting the importance of developing meaningful connections with both students and their families. Flexible learning plans can be tailored to students individual needs.

At Washington Connections Academy, students have access to advanced courses, extracurricular activities and flexible scheduling that empowers ownership of their individual educational journey. Students who enroll in the school join a collaborative community of their fellow students and educators that provides a welcoming, distraction-free learning environment.

Enrollment for Washington Connections Academys 2023-2024 school year is currently open. Families are encouraged to attend an online information session to learn more, ask questions and discover if virtual school is the right fit for their student. For more information on Washington Connections Academy schools or to begin the enrollment process, please visit http://www.WashingtonConnectionsAcademy.com or call 1-800-382-6010.

About Washington Connections Academy

Washington Connections Academy is a tuition-free online public school delivering a meaningful, high-quality online learning experience that keeps students engaged and motivated. The combination of state-certified quality teachers, a proven, student-centric school curriculum, unique electives, technology tools, and community experiences empowers students to gain the skills and confidence they need to thrive in a changing world. Washington Connections Academy in partnership with the Mary M. Knight School District serves grades K-8 and Washington Connections Academy in partnership with Goldendale School District serves grades K-12. For more information, call 1-800-382-6010 or visit http://www.WashingtonConnectionsAcademy.com.
"Disarming the IRS will make us all feel safer, and were delighted Sen. Ernst is willing to do something about it.

The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms today promptly applauded Iowa Sen. Joni Ernsts introduction of legislation to prohibit the Internal Revenue Service from arming its agents

Ernst is calling her measure the Why Does the IRS Have Guns Act.

Thats really a very good question, said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb. Why has the IRS spent millions of dollars on weapons and ammunition since the start of the coronavirus pandemic three years ago? According to a published report (https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/irs-spent-10-million-weaponry-gear-2020-report-says), the agency spent $2.3 million on ammunition, another $1.2 million on ballistic shields, $243,000 on body armor, nearly $475,000 on Smith & Wesson rifles and $463,000 on Beretta tactical shotguns.

One has to wonder whether IRS agents are working for the taxpayers, or preparing to go to war against them, he mused. The worst thing people should ever face from the IRS is an audit, not a firing squad.

Ernsts legislation will prevent the IRS from buying, selling or storing firearms and ammunition 120 days after enactment, and require the IRS commissioner to transfer guns and ammunition to the General Services Administration where it would be auctioned off to federally-licensed firearms dealers to help bring down the federal deficit.

Unfortunately, Gottlieb quipped, contributions to the Citizens Committee to support this legislation are not tax deductible. On the plus side, this means making a donation wont trigger an IRS audit.

American taxpayers feel intimidated enough by the IRS without facing the prospect of armed agents coming to our doors, he observed. What is truly alarming is that this has been going on for years, at the cost of more than $35 million since 2006. However, over the past couple of years, it appears the Biden administration has literally weaponized the agency, and the American public should not be amused. Disarming the IRS will make us all feel safer, and were delighted Sen. Ernst is willing to do something about it.

CONTACT: Jerry McGlothlin at: geraldmcg@outlook.com or 919-437-0001.
From the latest projection technologies to our economical and proven Xenon products, Vive Audio, service options, and more, we deliver the best performing, most reliable solutions.

Christie will present its latest industry-leading cinema solutions from across its broad portfolio at CineEurope, June 19-22, at CCIB Barcelona. At booth #301 and meeting room #134, Christie will showcase its latest innovations in media playback systems and theatre management utilities, and CineEurope debuts of the Christie CP4420-RGB and CP4455-RGB pure laser cinema projection solutions.

From the latest projection technologies to our economical and proven Xenon products, Vive Audio, service options, and more, we deliver the best performing, most reliable solutions, says Adil Zerouali, senior sales director, Cinema EMEA, Christie. We look forward to meeting with partners old and new at CineEurope. With more than 60 years in the cinema business, we strive to deliver the Christie edge to exhibitors by providing solutions that are economical, energy-efficient, easy to use, and excel in performance.

RGB pure laser performance and efficiency

Christies RGB pure laser projection line-up is the widest range of environmentally responsible projectors on the market, with best-in-class lumen-to-watt efficiency, low CO2 emissions, washable filters, and hundreds of projector and lens combinations. The Christie CP4420-RGB provides an advanced, yet affordable high-performance projection solution for medium-sized auditoriums, while the CP4455-RGB is ideal for large-format screens up to 114 feet. Both models are DCI-compliant, feature Real|Laser illumination technology, and excel in image quality, operational lifetime, and onscreen brightness.

Refining Xenon

The tried-and-true Xenon illuminated projection solutions have graced many theatres over the years, screening some of the most well-known films of our generation. Delivering outstanding value and flawless performance with low TCO, Xenon projection is used widely in cinema theatres and events around the world including the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Christie manufactures the only Xenon projector capable of displaying 4K content up to 120fps. Christies Xenolite Ultimate Performance lamps now offer longer-lasting brightness as part of an economical package.

Christie Series 4 IMB media server compatible with all major TMS brands

The new Christie media block for the Christie CineLife+ Series 4 pure laser and CineLife+ Xe cinema projectors is also compatible with all major brands of Theatre Management Systems (TMS). This budget-friendly yet premium solution enables playback of 4K resolution up to 96fps, allowing content such as Avatar: The Way of the Water to be played as the director intended in 4K at 48 fps-per-eye in 3D. In addition, the IMB-S4 is integrated with the intuitive CineLife+ web user interface for a seamless IMB experience and comes with 1.8TB of onboard SSD storage that can be expanded.

Cinergy Command Station puts you in control

Command Station is launching at CineEurope as a new application to Cinergy, an advanced remote monitoring and management software platform for both Christie and non-Christie equipment. Cinergy provides exhibitors and service providers with robust tools to monitor system health and track assets, automate key delivery, and drive informed decision-making with comprehensive reporting. The new Command Station application allows theatre managers to perform booth operations and control equipment from anywhere in their theatre. Subscribers can start and stop playlists, adjust lighting, audio, and more  quickly and effortlessly, all from a tablet.

Power with CINITY for PLF theatres

Christie is proud to once again enable CINITY Cinema System presentations to be showcased at CineEurope. For exhibitors looking for the ultimate premium large format (PLF) experience, drop by Christie booth #301 for an invitation to an exclusive peek at what this system can achieve. The system offers a creative blend of 4K, 3D, high brightness, high frame rate, enhanced contrast, and wide color gamut display capabilities, paired with immersive sound. Christie provides high-performance digital projection technology and services to CINITY Cinema Systems as a CINITY projection system partner and authorized reseller. You can also learn more about the Cinity projection system and see it on display at booth #301.

Delivering the complete cinema experience

Rounding out Christies offering will be a range of solutions to support the big screen action. Christie Vive Audio technology  including LA4, BKT-LA4 and S215 models  will be on show, along with the Quattocanali 4804 amplifier from audio leader Powersoft.
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP joined the Barristers Association of Philadelphia to celebrate the end of their 2022-2023 meeting season, which was hosted by Greenberg Traurig.

Greenberg Traurig has enjoyed supporting the Barristers Association and has appreciated the opportunity to participate in discussions critical to the legal profession in the city and commonwealth, said Alexander L. Scarola, managing shareholder of the firms Philadelphia office. Our continued relationship with the organization only strengthens the goals and values that the firm was built around, and I welcome the chance to collaborate further in the future.

President Jahlee Hatchett opened the final meeting which included the panel discussion Youth & Violence in Philadelphia: The Intersection Between Criminal Justice and Education. The discussion was moderated by Hermionne Cadet, Esq., senior trial attorney at Allstate Insurance Company and featured panelists DeAngelo Harris, deputy director for the Philadelphia Office of Violence Prevention, Natasha Felder, Esq., assistant general counsel for the School District of Philadelphia, Tracie Johnson, youth ombudperson for the City of Philadelphia, and Zoraida Cordero, MSW, social worker and founder of Impactful Solutions, LLC. After a conversation and question segment, the group closed the meeting with networking and a cocktail reception.

Founded in 1950 to address the developmental and professional needs of African American attorneys in the city, the Barristers Association of Philadelphia hosts educational seminars, forums addressing important issues in the city, and cultural events to support their membership.

About Greenberg Traurigs Philadelphia Office: Founded in 1997, the Philadelphia office provides multidisciplinary legal services with a team of more than 60 attorneys in Real Estate; Litigation; Public Finance & Infrastructure; Labor & Employment; Environmental; Government Law & Policy; Restructuring & Bankruptcy; White Collar Defense & Investigations; Corporate; Institutional Banking & Investment Services; Investment Management & Regulation; Immigration & Compliance; and Tax practices. The Philadelphia office represents a broad range of clients in real estate, manufacturing, health care, higher education, financial, and insurance industries, as well as state and local governments, professional services, and energy firms. The office also is known for its pro bono work and community service/social action initiatives in the Philadelphia region.

About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2650 attorneys in 45 locations in the United States, Europe and the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. The firm is a 2022 BTI Highly Recommended Law Firm for superior client service and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law Global 100 and NLJ 500. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab. The firm is recognized for powering its U.S. offices with 100% renewable energy as certified by the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e Energy program and is a member of the U.S. EPAs Green Power Partnership Program. The firm is known for its philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com.
Infinity Pool at Parnas Hotel Jeju Digital transformation has become an even more pressing matter for the hotel industry after COVID-19. H2O will make maximum use of its technologies and know-how for customers seeking to be on the cutting edge of the eras trends," John Lee stated, CEO at H2O

H2O Hospitality (H2O, CEO John Lee), a tech-based global hospitality management company, signed a contract with Parnas Hotel (CEO Inchang Yeo), one of Koreas leading hotel brands, on the full-scale digital transformation of hotel operations.

Parnas Hotel plans to further enhance hotel services by integrating H2O Flow, a digital transformation solution independently developed by H2O, into all its branches.

Digital transformation will begin with the adoption of KakaoTalk chatbot by Parnas Hotel Jeju and will be completed by the end of this year at nine hotels owned by Parnas Hotel, including Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas and InterContinental Seoul COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul as well as Nine Tree Hotels.

Once the transformation is complete, customers will be able to use the KakaoTalk chatbot service to make a reservation, check-in by mobile, and inquire into and book subsidiary facilities.

H2O Flow increases membership subscriptions by transforming the guest journey of hotel experience into mobile, including booking and check-in to support data-based hotel digital transformation. It also helps increase opportunities for direct customer services and target marketing, through an integrated brand booking system and membership program. The purpose is to raise the level of hospitality by directly communicating with guests.

H2O CEO John Lee said, Digital transformation has become an even more pressing matter for the hotel industry after COVID-19. H2O will make maximum use of its technologies and know-how for customers seeking to be on the cutting edge of the eras trends.

H2O is a hospitality tech company that focuses on raising work efficiency and customer satisfaction through the digital transformation of all processes in the hotel and tourism industries, including booking, operation, and management. H2Os room portfolio covers a total of 120 thousand rooms in Korea, Japan, Southeast Asia, and other regions. H2O became the first in Asia to connect its service to the worlds top-ranking OPERA Property Management System (PMS). In addition, it signed an operating system Digital Transformation (DX) agreement with renowned hospitality companies in Korea, including LOTTE HOTEL and the IHG Group Alpensia Resort.

About H2O Hospitality

Founded in 2015, H2O Hospitality (CEO: Mr. John Lee), a hospitality tech company is the key to a true digital transformation for the hospitality industry.

H2O revolutionizes hospitality facilities operational flow and value chain. H2O enables smart check-in & check-out, 100% automatic reservation, and optimizes the funnel and processing of valuable data to increase direct sales volume. The company is growing fast as Asias largest Digital Transformation leader in the hospitality industry while expanding our business in 34 major cities including South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and UAE. In recognition of its technology, it was named as Forbes Asia 100 to Watch in 2021 and Asia's first validated integration to Oracle OPERA.

H2O has attracted $45 million dollars from leading investment firms such as Kakao Investment, KDB Bank, and Samsung Venture Investment.

Press release inquiry:

Redhill Korea https://redhill.world/korea

Dennis Park, Senior Account Executive, dennis.park@redhill.asia, 010-6766-5305

Sunny Kim, Director, sunny.kim@redhill.asia, 010-9072-5415
Minnesota Connections Academy Honors Class of 2023 Graduates We got where we are today because we advocated for ourselves and found a place where we could learn and thrive. As you all move on, I encourage you to stay determined and keep advocating for yourselves and others.

More than 400 graduating seniors from communities across Minnesota recently received their high school diplomas as members of Minnesota Connections Academys Class of 2023. The tuition-free, online public school recently celebrated the students during an in-person commencement ceremony at the Minneapolis Convention Center on June 10th.

The faculty and staff at Minnesota Connections Academy are so proud of this years graduates for their hard work and determination to reach this milestone, said Minnesota Connections Academy principal Brad Swanson. These students came to our school in search of a learning environment that met their individual needs, and we know that when given the opportunity to learn in a way that works best for them, they thrive. Our Class of 2023 is ready to move on with the skills they learned to take on whatever challenges lie ahead.

During the ceremony, several of the graduates gave remarks to their classmates including Sophie Stiles of Eagan. Sophie came to Minnesota Connections Academy prior to her junior year to be in a more nurturing learning environment. Sophie reminded the Class of 2023 they all came to the online school because they were determined to find a school setting that met their needs. She urged the graduates to never lose that determination that helped them reach this milestone.

"We got where we are today because we advocated for ourselves and found a place where we could learn and thrive, Sophie said. As you all move on, I encourage you to stay determined and keep advocating for yourselves and others. I know we can make things better.

Sophie plans to attend Crown College in St. Bonifacius to study Youth Social Ministry.

The Class of 2023 is the 15th graduating class for the virtual school that serves students in grades K12. Many of Minnesota Connections Academys Class of 2023 plan to attend a two or four-year college or university including the University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin, University of Northwestern  St Paul, Itasca Community College, Minnesota State and St. Cloud State. Others are entering the workforce, joining the military, taking a gap year, or pursuing other exciting opportunities. During the ceremony 93 members of the graduating class were presented with their silver cords in recognition of their academic excellence in specific areas of study.

Minnesota Connections Academy is an established online school that provides students with the continuous support of highly-skilled teachers and curriculum that focuses on both academics and helping to build fundamental life skills. The schools teachers are specially trained to bring their skills and personality to the virtual classroom and emphasize the importance of fostering meaningful connections with students and their families. Learning plans are flexible and can be tailored based on a students specific needs.

Enrollment for the 2023-2024 academic year is currently open. Minnesota Connections Academy is hosting online information sessions for families interested in learning more about virtual education. For more information about Minnesota Connections Academy or to begin the enrollment process, please visit http://www.MinnesotaConnectionsAcademy.com or call (800) 382-6010.

About Minnesota Connections Academy

Minnesota Connections Academy is a unique, tuition-free, online public school for K-12 students. Every day, we create a high-quality educational experience that keeps students motivated and engaged in a safe, virtual learning environment. In addition to academics, teachers focus on emotional well-being and social development, working closely with families to help students learn how they learn best. Here, students gain the skills and confidence they need to direct their own educational journey, learning to thrive in the real world by first learning how to be resourceful and resilient. For more information, call 1-800-382-6010 or visit http://www.MinnesotaConnectionsAcademy.com.
For too long, Big Tech has profited from using news content on their platforms, without paying the creators of that content. The JCPA will give small & local publishers a seat at the table and channel critical revenue to help sustain the high-quality journalism Americans need and depend on."

The Senate Judiciary Committee has favorably voted 14-7 for the bipartisan Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA) (S. 1094), which would allow digital journalism providers to collectively negotiate with Google and Facebook for fair compensation for use of their valuable content. The tech platforms are the dominant distributors of news content, reaping tremendous financial benefit without compensation to those who create the content. They also capture the majority of U.S. digital ad revenue, leaving local publishers with little to reinvest in the production of high-quality journalism.

For too long, Big Tech has profited from using news content on their platforms, without paying the creators of that content. The JCPA will give small and local publishers a seat at the table and channel critical revenue to them to help sustain the high-quality journalism Americans need and depend on, said News/Media Alliance President & CEO Danielle Coffey. We applaud Chairwoman Klobuchar and Senator Kennedy for their enduring commitment to preserving journalism and their ongoing support of the JCPA. We applaud the Senate Judiciary Committees passage of this monumental legislation for journalism publishers across our country.

The JCPA has broad support, not only in Congress in both the House and the Senate (16 co-sponsors in the 118th Congress to date, on both sides of the aisle, with 90 total co-sponsors in the previous Congress), but also from over 300 consumer interest groups, unions, conservatives, advocacy groups and third-party organizations that have sent letters of support for the JCPA to the bill sponsors.

In January, seven leading journalism, media, and pro-consumer antitrust advocacy organizations  including the News/Media Alliance, National Newspaper Association, Americas Newspapers, Authors Guild, American Economic Liberties Project, Inter American Press Association, and the Radio Television Digital News Association  sent a joint letter to President Biden urging him to call on Congress to advance the JCPA. The letter outlines the plight of local news, in which news publishers have been forced to play by Big Techs rules of the digital advertising playing field for years, resulting in the loss of more than a quarter of U.S. newspapers since 2005 and the spread of news deserts across the country. In their letter, the groups underscore the importance of passing the JCPA as the best solution to ensuring news publishers are compensated fairly for use of their content by the dominant tech platforms.

In addition, over 24,000 individuals have signed a Change.org petition for the bill and over 1,000 editorials and op-eds in support of the JCPA have been published in newspapers in 48 states across the country. In a poll of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted last spring by Schoen Cooperman Research for the News/Media Alliance, 70 percent of Americans said they support Congress passing the JCPA.

Claims made about the bill by the opposition are unfounded and not supported by the text of the legislation. Under the JCPA, jobs will be created; news outlets will publicly disclose funds received and how it is spent; payment will not be required for links; and platforms will not be forced to carry extreme content. The JCPA will lead to open and vetted compensation for digital journalism outlets for the fair market value the platforms receive. The Myths and Facts around these claims are important to honest and productive discourse.

The Alliance thanks Senator Klobuchar, Senator Kennedy, and all of the co-sponsors of this bill for their leadership in pursuing this legislation and for their commitment to a free press.

The markup proceedings can be viewed here.

###

The News/Media Alliance is a nonprofit organization representing more than 2,000 news and magazine media organizations and their multiplatform businesses in the United States and globally. Alliance members include print and digital publishers of original journalism. Headquartered just outside Washington, D.C., the association focuses on ensuring the future of journalism through communication, research, advocacy, and innovation. Information about the News/Media Alliance can be found at http://www.newsmediaalliance.org.
The stakes are high. The need to balance commercial imperatives with legal, commercial, and stewardship sensitivities is not easy, and companies need all the help they can get to make sound, informed decisions.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are attracting global legal, regulatory, commercial, and litigation attention as no other emerging contaminant has. Companies producing, processing, distributing, and/or using these substances must be aware of these global legal developments and take steps now to minimize legal, regulatory, and commercial risk.

In the United States and globally, the number of bans, restrictions, and reporting requirements for PFAS increases seemingly daily. The European Union (EU) is currently considering a proposal to restrict more than 10,000 PFAS under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. This would be the most extensive regulatory restriction on PFAS to date, in one of the worlds largest markets.

The stakes are high. Companies must ascertain which legal requirements apply in the jurisdictions in which they operate and determine how each may impact business operations and risk profiles. The need to balance commercial imperatives with legal, commercial, and stewardship sensitivities is not easy, and companies need all the help they can get to make sound, informed decisions.

The Acta Group (Acta) and EPPA are pleased to offer this one-hour complimentary webinar providing companies with the information needed to develop a PFAS game plan. Register now to join Meglena Mihova, Managing Partner, EPPA; Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Director of Chemistry, Acta; and Lynn L. Bergeson, President, Acta, as they present how best to respond to U.S., UK, and EU PFAS developments influencing market access, supplier continuity, product sustainability, and reputation management.

Topics Covered:



Overview of PFAS regulation in the United States

Overview of PFAS regulation in the UK

Overview of the EU restriction proposal and the listed (potential) derogations

Identifying PFAS in the supply chain

Identifying PFAS alternatives; developing justifications where alternatives are not currently an option

Effective stakeholder input to agency processes

Speakers Include:

Meglena Mihova, Managing Partner of EPPA, a Brussels-based regulatory and public affairs consultancy. She brings deep insight into the role and functioning of the EU Member States, the deal making among them, and the resulting challenges and opportunities for business. Ms. Mihova has over 20 years of experience in EU chemicals and environmental legislation. She served as a Member of the Board and prior to that as a Chair of the Environment Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU.

Richard E. Engler, Ph.D., Director of Chemistry, Acta, a chemical regulatory consultancy with offices in Washington, D.C., Manchester, England, and Brussels, Belgium. He is a 17-year veteran of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and one of the most widely recognized experts in the field of green chemistry. Dr. Engler has participated in thousands of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) substance reviews at EPA, as well as pre-notice and post-review meetings with submitters to resolve complex or difficult cases, and he draws upon this invaluable experience to assist clients as they develop and commercialize sustainable products.

Lynn L. Bergeson, President, Acta. She counsels corporations, trade associations, and business consortia on a wide range of issues pertaining to chemical hazard, exposure and risk assessment, risk communication, minimizing legal liability, and evolving regulatory and policy matters pertinent to conventional, biobased, and nanoscale chemicals. Ms. Bergeson is Chair of the International Bar Association (IBA) Agriculture and Food Section, Immediate Past President of the Product Stewardship Society (PSS), and a past Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources.

Register now.
A TV screen shows a report of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, on June 15, 2023.

North Korea launched two short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters on Thursday, its neighbors said, in a resumption of weapons tests to protest just-ended South Korean-U.S. live-fire drills that it viewed as an invasion rehearsal. The launches are the first by North Korea since it failed to put its first spy satellite into orbit in late May.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles were launched from North Koreas capital region and traveled about 780 kilometers (480 miles) before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. It called the launches a grave provocation and said South Koreas military will maintain a firm readiness in close coordination with the United States.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the missiles landed inside Japans exclusive economic zone. He called the launches a violent action that threatened international peace and safety.

The chief nuclear envoys from South Korea, Japan and the U.S. held a three-way telephone call and agreed to continue efforts to get North Korea to halt weapons activities and return to talks, according to Seouls Foreign Ministry.

The launches came hours after South Korean and U.S. troops ended a fifth round of large-scale live-fire drills near the Koreas heavily fortified border earlier Thursday. About 30 minutes before the launches, North Koreas military vowed an unspecified response to the drills, which it called provocative and irresponsible.

Our response to (the South Korean-U.S. drills) is inevitable, an unidentified spokesperson of the North Korean Defense Ministry said in a statement carried by state media. Our armed forces will fully counter any form of demonstrative moves and provocation of the enemies.

Tensions have risen in past months as the pace of both North Korean weapons tests and U.S.-South Korea military exercises has increased in tit-for-tat actions. North Korea has test-fired about 100 missiles since the start of 2022. Experts say North Korea may be using the U.S.-South Korean exercises as a pretext to conduct test launches to develop more powerful missiles and increase its leverage in future diplomacy.

On May 31, a North Korean long-range rocket carrying its first spy satellite crashed off the Korean Peninsulas west coast. North Korea admitted the failure and vowed to push for a second launch. A spy satellite is among a slew of high-tech weapons that leader Kim Jong-un wants to develop to cope with what he calls U.S. hostility.

This launch is not to make up for the recent failure, because North Korea will almost certainly make another attempt later to put a spy satellite into orbit, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. The message of todays missiles is more likely Pyongyangs protest against South Koreas combined defense exercises with the United States, as well as a demonstration of North Koreas own military capabilities and readiness.

Thursdays South Korean-U.S. exercises were the fifth and last round of live-fire drills that began last month. This years drills were the biggest of their kind since they started in 1977. Each of the five rounds involved 2,500 South Korean and U.S. troops and about 610 military assets including stealth fighter jets, attack helicopters, tanks and drones from both countries, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and other senior South Korean and U.S. military officials observed Thursdays drills.

Only a strong military  which can fight and defeat the enemy and which the enemy cant even dare to challenge  can guarantee the freedom, peace and prosperity of the Republic of Korea, Yoon said at the training site, using South Koreas official name.

North Koreas state media have accused South Korea and the U.S. of using the firing drills to master military threat and blackmail and war tactics against North Korea.

On Thursday, top security officials from the United States, South Korea and Japan met in Tokyo for talks on North Korea and other issues. During the meeting, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan reiterated Washingtons commitment to the defense of South Korea and Japan, the White House said in a statement.

North Korea was slapped with international economic sanctions over its past nuclear and ballistic missile tests, which are banned by U.N. Security Council resolutions. But it has avoided new U.N. sanctions over its recent series of missile tests because China and Russia, embroiled in separate confrontations with the U.S., blocked attempts by the U.S. and others to toughen the sanctions.

Whether North Korea has functioning nuclear missiles is a source of outside debate. The last time it tested a major nuclear-capable ballistic weapon was April 13, when it launched what it described as a newly developed intercontinental ballistic missile powered by solid propellants. Such missiles are easier to move and fire quickly than ones with liquid propellants, making them harder to detect and intercept.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
We know providing personal hygiene-related products isnt the answer to the homelessness and mental health crises. But it is a small way to reach out to people struggling in the communities where we work and live to let them know we are here and care, not only in May but year-round.

To highlight Mental Health Awareness Month, ServiconCares, the philanthropic arm of Servicon, Southern Californias leading hospital environmental services (EVS) provider and commercial cleaning services company, filled and donated 200 bags of personal products. The bags were donated through nonprofits to help people in the community who are homeless or otherwise struggling through a transitional phase of life.

Hygiene for Improved Mental Health

35 Servicon staff volunteered on May 15, filling bags with products donated by Servicon. The bags included items nonprofits cited as most useful for people who are homeless and others in need, such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap, feminine hygiene products, hydration pads, socks, and even some long-lasting, allergen-free snacks. Servicon volunteers stuffed and delivered 200 bags. The donations were split between Maple Counseling Center and the LGBTQ Center in South Los Angeles, two nonprofits that serve the local communities.

Mental health is essential to overall well-being and can be negatively impacted by a persons physical circumstances, says Servicon President and CEO Laurie Sewell. We know providing personal hygiene-related products isnt the answer to the homelessness and mental health crises. But it is a small way to reach out to people struggling in the communities where we work and live to let them know we are here and care, not only in May but year-round.

The company has implemented several programs recently aimed at safeguarding the mental health of its employees, including providing an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that goes beyond mental health insurance benefits, free access to trained therapists, childcare and eldercare assistance, and time management and financial literacy courses.

Help Throughout the Year

ServiconCares acts on its purpose, to elevate the industry and create healthy environments for people to thrive, by giving back to the community in May and throughout the years. In recent months, the company has partnered with local nonprofits, sponsoring several events in the last few months, including the Food Finders annual Stomp Out Hunger, a tree planting event with the TreePeople, the Walk for Kids to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities, and a womens networking brunch held at Servicons headquarters in honor of Womens History Monthto name but a few.

About Maple Counseling

The mission of Maple Counseling is to provide low-cost comprehensive mental health services to individuals of all ages, couples, and families and training of graduates and postgraduates for licensure in the mental health field. For more information, visit maple4counseling.org.

About the Los Angeles LBGT Center

The Los Angeles LBGT Center provides services for more LGBTQ people than any other organization worldwide, offering programs, services, and global advocacy spanning four broad categories: health, social services and housing, culture and education, and leadership and advocacy. The center provides housing for homeless youth and affordable housing for seniors, helps transgender people find employment, and offers legal support for asylum seekers. For more information, visit lalgbtcenter.org.

About Servicon, Californias Leading EVS and Commercial Cleaning Services Provider

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Servicon is a leading hospital EVS and commercial services cleaning company specializing in hospital EVS, life sciences, aerospace, and facility maintenance. At Servicon, we live by our purpose to elevate the industry and provide healthy environments for people to thrive. As a privately held, women-owned and operated company, we work and live by our vision of creating a better working future, which includes a more sustainable one. To learn more about Servicon, including our sustainability efforts and services, visit servicon.com or contact us.
"It is a great honor to be listed among America's best eye doctors by newsweek. Thank you to all of my patients, colleagues and to the staff at SightMD. Without you, this achievement would not be possible!" said Dr. John Mauro.

SightMD is excited to announce that its doctors have earned a few spots on Newsweeks prestigious list of Americas Best Ophthalmologists 2023. Dr. Jeffrey Martin, Dr. James Gordon and Dr. John Mauro have all been included on this years list. With the publication of Newsweeks Americas Best Ophthalmologists 2023, our doctors were honored to rank among the 175 best professionals in their field, nationwide. This prestigious award is presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. The awards list was announced on June 14th, 2023 and can currently be viewed on the Newsweek website.

Data collected in the Newsweek rankings came from other eye care professionals who were surveyed directly. Respondents included ophthalmologists, optometrists, clinic managers, and other eye care professionals, all of whom were asked to weigh in on the most respected and accomplished optometrists and ophthalmologists in their area. After surveying more than 10,000 professionals from the nation's eye care field, the results are in for this year's top 175 ophthalmologists.

James R. Gordon, MD, is a board-certified ophthalmologist and oculofacial surgeon with over 20 years of experience. He has particular expertise in the handling of challenging and complex cases. Dr. Gordon has published numerous papers and given extensive lectures on ocular disease and eyelids as well as facial cosmetic procedures which include innovative techniques for fillers and injectables. Dr. James Gordon was ranked 3rd in New York and 22nd in the nation.

I am humbled and honored to be recognized by my peers as one of Americas Top Ophthalmologists. It is such a privilege to serve patients every day along with the support of my dedicated team. Im so fortunate to love my job and look forward to providing the best care to all my patients. said Dr. James Gordon.

Jeffrey Martin, MD, is the co-founder and president of SightMD. His father founded the practice in 1962, and Dr. Martin is proud to have helped it become the leading eye care organization that it is today with more top doctors than any other practice in New York. Dr. Martin is a board-certified ophthalmologist who specializes in cataract and laser vision correction (LASIK) eye surgery in Smithtown. Dr. Jeffrey Martin was ranked 4th in New York and 23rd in the nation.

"Working with so many great ophthalmologists and staff members, an honor like this is appreciated but certainly belongs to the team at SightMD. I am thrilled to be included on a list with so many excellent eye doctors." said Dr. Jeffrey Martin.

John Mauro, DO, is a board certified ophthalmologist specializing in cataract and laser vision correction surgery. He is driven to provide exceptional eyesight to his patients and make them feel as comfortable as possible throughout their eyecare journey. Although Dr. Mauro specializes in the latest techniques of Laser Cataract Surgery and LASIK surgery, he also sees and treats patients with common eye conditions providing comprehensive exams. Dr. Mauro was ranked 19th in New York while also ranking nationally.

"It is a great honor to be listed among America's best eye doctors by newsweek. Thank you to all of my patients, colleagues and to the staff at SightMD. Without you, this achievement would not be possible!" said Dr. John Mauro.

More than 5,500 health care professionals participated in the national surveyimplemented by Statistawhich asked them to recommend the best ophthalmologist in their state and in the US. Additionally, participants were asked to rank certain specifics that influence the quality of eye doctors, which include the sophistication of technical equipment and continuity of care as well as overall quality of care. The recommendations and quality score were analyzed to determine the 2022 list of Americas Best Ophthalmologists.

About SightMD

SightMD is a rapidly-growing integrated ophthalmic provider group that offers patients access to over 80 eye care providers through the convenience of 40 locations across New York. SightMD's track record of providing clinically-excellent care spans over 50 years, and its services include general eye exams, laser cataract surgery and lens implantation, glaucoma management, retinal disorder treatment, corneal services, neuro-ophthalmology, LASIK laser vision correction, oculoplastic surgery, pediatric ophthalmology, and audiology. Sight Growth Partners is the administrative services provider for SightMD. For more information about SightMD, please visit https://www.sightmd.com/sightmd-ny/


Data from new study, Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in the US in 2021 study shows estimated 9.6 million people in the United States had eye disease diabetic retinopathy. The number of diabetes cases in America continues to grow, and with that, so are the damaging effects on vision. It is our hope that this new data will guide us to successful interventions and improved outcomes for those with diabetes and their families.-Jeff Todd, Prevent Blindness.

A new study published today in JAMA Ophthalmology, Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in the US in 2021, found that in 2021, an estimated 9.6 million people in the United States (26.4 percent of those with diabetes) had diabetic retinopathy (DR), and 1.84 million people (5.1 percent of those with diabetes) had vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy (VTDR). The number of people aged 40 years and older living with diabetes-related eye disease more than doubled since prevalence was last estimated in 2004. VTDR has also almost doubled since last estimated in 2004.

The study is the first of its kind to estimate the prevalence of DR and VTDR in people younger than 40 years. In the youngest age group, ages 0 to 24 years, more than 1 in 10 people with diabetes had DR, which increased to nearly 1 in 5 among people with diabetes ages 25 to 39 years.

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when small blood vessels leak and bleed in the retina. The retina is the layer of cells lining the back wall inside the eye that senses light and sends signals to the brain for vision. Early detection and treatment can reduce the risk of vision loss from this potentially blinding eye disease.

The Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in the US in 2021 study was authored by researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) Vision Health Initiative, NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC), and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington (Seattle), with support from Prevent Blindness, the nations oldest eye health and safety nonprofit organization.

The national increase of diabetes over the last two decades has likely impacted the number of people living with serious complications like diabetic retinopathy, said CDC epidemiologist Elizabeth Lundeen, PhD, MPH. This study provides new state and county level prevalence estimates that the health care and public health communities can use to inform screening and early interventions for optimal vision health.

Abraham Flaxman, PhD, added: In this work, we brought together data from all the relevant sources in the CDCs Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System to triangulate between multiple measurements and make estimates that no single source could provide alone.

Additional key findings from the study include:



Approximately 1 in 4 Americans ages 40 and older with diabetes have DR.

These new estimates include the prevalence of DR and VTDR in people younger than age 40 years. Past prevalence estimates were only for the US population aged 40 and older.

VTDR prevalence rates are higher for Black (8.7 percent) and Hispanic (7.1 percent) individuals than White individuals (3.6 percent). Thus, a higher percentage of Black and Hispanic individuals with diabetes are at risk for vision loss compared to their White counterparts.

The prevalence of both DR and VTDR varied widely by U.S. state and county. After standardizing by age, sex/gender, and race/ethnicity, rates of DR among persons with diabetes ranged from a low of 21.2 percent in Nevada to a high of 34.2 percent in Hawaii.

Prevalence of DR and VTDR among people with diabetes increased substantially with age but then decreased in the older age groups, likely because DR and VTDR are markers for more severe diabetes, which can lead to early mortality.

This study demonstrates the value of vision surveillance, which allows us to monitor emerging trends in vision threatening conditions like diabetic retinopathy, said David B. Rein, Ph.D., Program Area Director for NORC at the University of Chicagos Public Health Analytics Program and one of the studys co-authors. The information provided in this study can be used at the national, state, and county level to understand the burden of diabetic retinopathy and to design interventions to help people living with the condition preserve their vision.

Study estimates were developed using data from CDCs Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System (VEHSS). The VEHSS leverages new and existing data sources to help health professionals, researchers, policy makers, and patients understand the scope of vision loss, eye disorders, and eye care services in the United States. Detailed estimates of DR and VTDR at the national-, state-, and county-level stratified by age group, sex/gender, and race/ethnicity can be accessed online at the VEHSS website (https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/vehss/estimates/index.html).

Prevent Blindness serves as an education and communications partner for the VEHSS. For diabetes patients and their care partners, Prevent Blindness offers a wide variety of user-friendly resources in English and Spanish, including downloadable fact sheets, patient educational videos, and a listing of eye care financial assistance resources.

For healthcare professionals, community health educators, and diabetes educators, Prevent Blindness provides the newly redesigned Diabetes + The Eyes educational toolkit. This free program includes an educator course with PowerPoint presentations and scripts, fact sheets, and social media graphics.

The number of diabetes cases in America continues to grow, and with that, so are the damaging effects on vision, said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness. It is our hope that this new data will guide us to successful interventions and improved outcomes for those with diabetes and their families.

For more information on the The Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in the United States In 2021 study or the VEHSS, visit https://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth/vehss/. Or visit the Prevent Blindness page at https://PreventBlindness.org/DR-prevalence-vehss.

For information on diabetes-related eye diseases, please visit https://preventblindness.org/diabetes/.

About the Vision Health Initiative

CDCs Vision Health Initiative (VHI) works to improve vision health in the U.S. through collaborations with state and national partners to strengthen science and develop interventions that promote eye health and prevent vision loss and blindness in groups at high risk. VHI also seeks to address risk factors like glaucoma, reduce disparities in vision loss and eye disease, and improve health and quality of life for people with vision loss. VHI designs and implements public health surveillance at the state and national level, supports applied public health research, and promotes the dissemination of evidence-based vision health interventions. In collaboration with state and community partners, VHI works to integrate vision health activities into broader public health strategies and interventions. For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/visionhealth.

About NORC at the University of Chicago

NORC at the University of Chicago conducts research and analysis that decision-makers trust. As a nonpartisan research organization and a pioneer in measuring and understanding the world, we have studied almost every aspect of the human experience and every major news event for more than eight decades. Today, we partner with government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world to provide the objectivity and expertise necessary to inform the critical decisions facing society.

http://www.norc.org

About the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is an independent global health research organization at the University of Washington School of Medicine that provides rigorous and comparable measurement of the worlds most important health problems and evaluates the strategies used to address them. IHME is committed to transparency and makes this information widely available so that policymakers have the evidence they need to make informed decisions on allocating resources to improve population health.

About Prevent Blindness

Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, certified vision screening and training, community and patient service programs and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, Prevent Blindness is committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, visit us at PreventBlindness.org, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

###
Title Alliance provides a family-oriented culture while having a corporate infrastructure that allows for stability and strength, and we want people who want to immerse themselves in us as an organization. said Lindsay Smith, Chief Strategy Officer.

Title Alliance, a national real estate title & escrow company specializing in joint ventures, has launched a free ebook as part of its ongoing 75th-anniversary celebration this year. It can be accessed on The Title Report by clicking on the link; https://www.thetitlereport.com/Articles/Title-Alliance-shares-its-secret-sauce-for-success-88575.aspx.

This published piece is written by Lindsay Smith, who serves as Title Alliances Chief Strategy Officer. The book focuses on how the company has built its respected team culture and uses that internal foundation in recruitment and training to set up all team members for success. Title Alliances leadership wants readers to take away lessons from the text that they can apply to their own operations.

Culture is paramount in the TA recruiting process. Yes, we want people who understand the expectations of a position and have the skills to get the job done. However, its just as important to find people who fit what we do here at Title Alliance and will be great members of the team, Smith writes in the book. Title Alliance provides a family-oriented culture while having a corporate infrastructure that allows for stability and strength, and we want people who want to immerse themselves in us as an organization.

It also shares some of the companys secret sauce by covering Title Alliances commitment to its core values, fostering a connected work environment across multiple states, being a good community partner and the importance of having a VividVision. Its a topic Smith has previously shared on various national stages in the title industry. She is a popular presenter at national conventions and often speaks on how Title Alliance utilizes its core values and culture to cast a clear vision for the future.

We love sharing the Title Alliance story with our partners, customers and even strangers, she said. When you give the right people the tools and opportunities they need to succeed, it benefits everyone involved. Weve been lauded for what we do  including being named a top workplace in Greater Philadelphia  and we want to keep that momentum going into our next 75 years.

Founded in Pennsylvania in 1948, Title Alliance started exclusively focusing on joint ventures in 1983. In 2022 alone, Title Alliance expanded operations to Alaska and Nevada and operates in 12 states.

The ebook, titled Committed to Today, Invested in Tomorrow is available for download by clicking on the link found here: https://www.thetitlereport.com/Articles/Title-Alliance-shares-its-secret-sauce-for-success-88575.aspx.


Yellow Bird logo

Yellow Bird Estate is excited to host a three-day estate sale from Thursday, June 22 to Saturday, June 24. This local Dawsonville home will be selling a wide variety of interesting antiques that will be worth your while.

They have everything from antique brass beds to a Larry McHan cowboy hat in its original box. For those who love vintage furniture, they have a beautiful farmhouse pine table and slant front desk with a hutch top. They also have a variety of antique and vintage tools, including wood planes and a Craftsman band saw. And if you're looking for collectibles, there will be vintage dolls like Barbie, a Lionel train set, and stuffed animals.

For those in the market for some larger items, theyve got a Ford 2003 F-150 pick-up truck, an Eagle Jayco 264 pull-behind camper that's always been parked indoors, and even a canoe. There are also five brand new Hampton Bay 52" ceiling fans, sewing machines, and even musical instruments. This is just a small glimpse of what will be available, so go see them for more great antiques, yard furniture, aged wood and beams, stuffed animals, and much more!

With all the high-quality antiques, youll want to make sure to bring a truck or a trailer, especially if you are planning on purchasing furniture. Be prepared with bags and boxes to carry your new items, and consider bringing a helping hand if you're worried about carrying heavy loads. As there is limited parking available, please be mindful of where you park. Take care not to block driveways or mailboxes.

There are no presales, but all credit and debit cards will be accepted.

On Thursday and Friday, our doors will be open from 10 am to 4 pm. On Saturday the hours are 10 am to 3 pm. The property is in Dawsonville, but the address will not be disclosed until Wednesday, June 21st. Be sure to check estate sales Dawsonville or Yellow Birds website as updates come in.

About Yellow Bird

Yellow Bird Antiques & Interiors, LLC was founded in 2010 by Michael Adamson, a North Georgia Native. With his passion for helping families and his expertise in estate liquidation, Adamson decided to start Yellow Bird. Now a family-owned business run by two talented teams, Yellow Bird is highly sought after by families who need assistance in liquidating the estates of their deceased loved ones. Reach out to them today to learn about how Yellow Bird can help you with your estate sales.
PTI Fact Check: Claim of Bahanaga Bazar station master belonging to minority community and absconding after triple train crash is false and baseless

New Delhi, June 7 (Abhinav Gupta / Pratyush Ranjan PTI Fact Check): A Twitter user shared a photo claiming that he was station master at Bahanaga Bazar Railway Station in Odishas Balasore, where the triple train crash took place on June 2, who was a Muslim and absconding since the accident happened. The user also claimed that also claimed that the train crash had claimed over 300 lives. The PTI Fact Check Desk found in its investigation that the station master at Bahanaga Bazar railway station was neither a Muslim, nor he was absconding. The social media post was shared with a false communal spin.

At least 289 people died in the triple train crash involving three trains  two passenger and a goods train  at the Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Odishas Balasore on June 2.

Claim

A Twitter user shared a photo of a man inside a railway station control room and claimed he was the station master at Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Odishas Balasore, where the triple train crash took place on June 2. The user claimed he was a Muslim who was absconding after the accident. It was also claimed that the crash involving two passenger and a goods trains had claimed over 300 lives.

  300          900                    *        *  *        , read the June 5 post, which has garnered 1.2 million views so far.

An English translation of the post read: The name of the station master at the railway station, where the Odisha train accident took place  in which over 300 people were killed and more 900 were injured  is Mohammad Sharif Ahmad. He is absconding since an investigation was ordered into the accident.

Here is the link and archive link to the post and below is a screenshot of the same:

Investigation

Starting the investigation, the Desk conducted a Google Reverse Image Search on the photo shared in the Twitter post. The search results led to a Facebook post, carrying the same photo with an identical claim.

Here is the link and archive link to the post and below is a screenshot of the same:

The Desk the conducted a customised Google search with the keyword Bahanaga Station Master, Odish train accident. The search results led us to a video news report by India Today, which identified the station master as one SB Mohanty.

According to the report, Mohanty had been shunted following the train crash. It further quoted the current station master saying that Mohanty was not guilty for the crash that happened on June 2.

Here is the link to the June 5 video report and below is a screenshot of the same:

The search results further led to another report by Odisha Bhaskar, published on June 5. The headline of the report read: Odisha Train Tragedy: Bahanaga Station Master Grilled By Railway Safety Commissioner Team.

Here is the link to the report and below is a screenshot of the same:

The Railway Safety Commissioner team is currently interrogating the Bahanga Bazar Station Master SB Mohanty over the Coromandel train accident near the Bahanaga station of Balasore district. According to reports, the Station Master SB Mohanty is being interrogated about the status of the signal, read a portion of the report.

In the next part of investigation, the Desk contacted South-Eastern CPRO Aditya Kumar Choudhary, who confirmed that neither the station master at Bahanaga Bazar Railway Station, at the time of the accident, was a Muslim, nor he was absconding.

The station masters name is PS Mohanty, and not Mohammad Sharif Ahmad. No one in the regions railway division goes by this name. Also, Mohanty is not absconding, he joined the investigation as it started, Choudhary told PTI.

The Desk then conducted a Google search to get the latest death toll figures on the Odisha train accident and came across a tweet shared by PTI on June 13.

Toll in Odisha triple train accident increases to 289 after an injured passenger succumbs to injuries: Officials, read the tweet.

Here is the link to the Twitter post and below is a screenshot of the same:

Subsequently, the Desk concluded that neither the station master, deputed at Bahanaga Bazar railway station at the time of Odisha train crash on June 2, was a Muslim nor he was absconding. The social media post also exaggerated the death figures in the mishap.

The Desk tried to find more on the man in the photo shared in the social media posts. The earliest origin could be traced back to a blog titled Kottavalasa Kirandul KK Line. In the blog, the author detailed about his visit to the Kottavalasa Kirandul KK line in March 2004. However, we could not find any more information on the photo.

Claim

The station master at Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Odishas Balasore, where the triple train crash took place on June 2, was a Muslim, who has been absconding following the accident, which claimed over 300 lives.

Fact

The name of the station master, who was shunted following the accident, is SB Mohanty, and not Mohammad Sharif Ahmad. Also, Mohanty did not abscond, but joined the investigation into the train crash incident. Furthermore, the number of deaths in the crash was exaggerated in the social media post.

Conclusion

Several social media users shared a photo of a man inside the control room of a railway station and claimed he was the station master of Bahanaga Bazar railway station in Odisha, where the fatal train crash took place on June 2. The users claimed that the station master was a Muslim, who was absconding since the accident. The users also claimed that over 300 people had died in the triple train crash. In its investigation, the Desk found that the station master  identified as SB Mohanty  was neither a Muslim nor he was absconding. The social media posts were shared with a false communal spin. The Desk also found that the number of deaths claimed in the social media posts was exaggerated.

You can contact PTI Fact Check on WhatsApp Number +91-8130503759 and share any claim or social media post you think is essential to fact-check and want us to verify.
Africa is going to foot the bill for the energy transition of the global north, according to social collectives that say the current system regarding the extraction of so-called critical minerals, such as cobalt, lithium, nickel or zinc, considered key to this transition, benefits mainly companies and countries in the developed world, while triggering a negative ecological impact that will only intensify in the coming decades. If we dont change the way the industrys profits are distributed, Africa will get the crumbs from these minerals and will remain in poverty, says Brice Mackosso, a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), which met this week in Dakar.

Lake Nzilo, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is a favorite recreation and fishing spot for the inhabitants of Kolwezi. However, its waters have an increasingly high concentration of arsenic and other harmful chemicals due to its proximity to several cobalt mines, according to researcher Zelie Pelletier Hochart from the NGO Global Witness. The communities located near these mines suffer a higher rate of cirrhosis, miscarriages, congenital malformations, and cancer, along with other diseases, and, despite living so close to the extracted wealth, they remain in misery. In her thesis The Dark Side of The Energetic Transition: Cobalt Mining, dated 2021, Hochart notes, The poverty that pushes households into mining is exacerbated by the very industry that fails to create wealth locally.

The World Bank estimates that demand for critical minerals such as cobalt, copper, lithium and zinc will increase 500% by 2050

The DRC exports about 70% of the worlds cobalt, according to the United Nations. Along with copper, lithium, zinc, manganese, nickel and chromium, it forms part of the family of so-called critical minerals that are key to the construction of electric cars, wind turbines, solar panels and batteries. In other words, they form the material basis of the so-called energy transition that will enable the world to abandon fossil fuels and move towards other more sustainable sources, thereby slowing down global warming. These minerals are not particularly common and the majority of their reserves can be found in Africa, Latin America, Australia and Southeast Asia. However, the World Bank estimates that demand will increase by 500% by 2050.

Most of these minerals are on land that belongs to indigenous communities who depend on it for their survival, says Solange Bandiaky-Badji, director of the Rights and Resources Group (RRG). Extractive activity has an enormous negative impact, such as water pollution and deforestation. The Congo River Valley is the worlds second lung after the Amazon and we see more and more investors coming in from China, the Gulf countries, South Africa and India, who are attracted by the mining. It is urgent to adopt clear mechanisms that set environmental limits to this industry, ensuring that the benefits are shared equitably and that the decisions of local communities are respected.

In order to move in this direction, representatives of more than 50 countries met this week in Dakar as part of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), almost all from the global south with the notable absence of a large number of European powers as well as economic giants such as the U.S. and China. The EITI is a global initiative launched in 2003, bringing together governments, companies and civil society to push for financial transparency and performance protocols for the global extractive industry. We have approved a new standard that puts even more emphasis on the need to report on environmental impact, and for the data to reach the public, says Vanessa Cueto La Rosa, Latin American civil society representative at the EITI. But we also want to see that the social benefits have an impact on women, who are often the worst affected by this industry.

In the Republic of Congo, only 27% of oil profits stay in the country, the rest goes abroad and mainly to extractive companies Brice Mackosso, member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)

The 2023 EITI Standard, adopted this week in Dakar, sets out transparency requirements to address anti-corruption, gender, social and environmental issues, revenue collection and energy transition. But the question is whether companies and governments will provide all the necessary information and respect what has been agreed. We have come a long way, but there is still a long way to go, explains Diana Kaissy from Lebanon, EITIs Middle East and North Africa representative. In Bandiaky-Badjis view, more forceful policies should be adopted, including sanctions. Environmental activists are being killed all over the world, especially in Brazil and Colombia, and that is unacceptable, she says. Environmental crimes must be prosecuted.

As recognized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the minerals at the root of the clean energy transition have a social and environmental cost and, paradoxically, their own carbon footprint from extraction to final use. The Kolwezi cobalt mines, for example, use diesel engines for much of the process. Mining areas are almost always located in remote, ecologically sensitive areas, and the risk of deforestation, population displacement and generation of discharges into ecosystems is very high.

Its a huge environmental cost, but the most painful thing is how little it gives back to Africa, says Mackosso. Before we intensify the production of critical minerals, we have to change the model. After a study carried out in the Republic of Congo, we discovered that only 27% of the oil profits stay in the country. The rest goes abroad and mainly to extractive companies. Are we going to continue like this, allowing others to take our wealth? That is the big question. And finally, what energy transition are we going to have in Africa if 60% of the population has no access to electricity now? In the end, we are going to be left with very little through footing the environmental bill that allows others to move to a greener model. I dont get it.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Claudia Cravens debut novel, Lucky Red, is an exceptional historical tale of sex work and queer desire on the American frontier. Recently orphaned Bridget Shaughnessy, 16, lands in Dodge City, Kans., in 1877. Her innocent look and flaming red hair catch the attention of Lila and Kate, madams of the refined Buffalo Queen brothel. There, Bridget discovers unlikely romance with Spartan Lee, a gender-bending outlaw chaser. Spartan, meanwhile, is working a con that sweeps up Bridget and the rest of her colleagues at the Buffalo Queen. Cravens peppers the thrilling plot with delicious language (Bridgets clients are a series of hats and mustaches) and her sensitive portrayal of Bridgets uncertainty over her sexuality resonates. It's a western for the modern era.

Few genres are more tightly defined than the western, with a very short list of traditional tropes. We have our frontier setting, consisting of saloons, homesteads, dusty streets, and the open range. We have our characters: the man in the black hat, the man in the white hat, the good-hearted woman, the arm of the law, and, if were lucky, one or two surprising frontier weirdos. And we have our plot points: a stranger comes to town, someone tries to take what isnt theirs, and through a series of gunfights and chases on horseback, one man must stand up for whats right. This formula has its charmsgalloping over the prairie can be gorgeous and exhilarating, and those wacky side characters can be an awful lot of funbut its also very limited, traditionally centering a white, straight, morally-upright man, and sparing no thought for the perspectives or experiences of the characters around him.

With such a wealth of unexplored perspectives and a ridiculously entertaining menu of settings, props, and action sequences (Canyon shootout, anyone? Moonshine-soaked barn dance? Or how about a cattle-roping lesson gone hilariously awry?), non-traditional westerns are just begging to be written. Despite what mid-century Hollywood would have us believe, the West was an incredibly diverse place, where minorities, misfits, and outcasts of all stripes could find a fresh start. Economic opportunity, a highly demanding environment, and looser social rules than back east or in the old country offered many people new paths, paved with fresh choices for how to make their way in the world.

In these 11 subversive works, people who are often denied agency in traditional westernswomen, people of color, LGBTQ peopleinsist on telling their own stories. Letting people usually treated as background characters speak for themselves makes the whole genre not just truer to life, but richer, deeper, and all the more unique.

1. True Grit by Charles Portis After her father is killed by the coward Tom Chaney, 14-year-old Mattie Ross sets out to bring Chaney to justice by whatever means necessary. She hires Marshal Reuben Rooster Cogburn for the job, and they set out from Ft. Smith with Texas Ranger LaBoeuf to track down Chaney and his gang. Mattie is a truly remarkable protagonist: she arrives in town alone and utterly confident in her mission; she handles money with great skill, driving hard bargain after hard bargain against grown men who consider it their right to get one over on a young girl; though Cogburn and LaBoeuf try to leave her behind multiple times, she catches up to them again and again. Her insistence on being part of the mans world of outlaw-catching, along with her hard-bitten, highly pragmatic narration, make Mattie Ross a truly subversive heroine.

2. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown At no time in our history was the romantic myth of the West more powerfuland more totally disinterested in anyone who wasnt a white manthan in the decades leading up to the publication of this nonfiction classic. Browns chronicle delivers a resounding refutation of this myth of the West as a place where plucky heroes made their way with nothing more than good, old-fashioned grit. Instead, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee reframes the story of the West by centering the experiences of Native Americans who were displaced by westward expansion, suffering at the hands of many of these so-called heroes of American history. Brown asks us to reexamine our history fromquite literallythe opposite direction, saying of this book, Americans who have always looked westward when reading about this period should read this book facing eastward.

3. "Brokeback Mountain" by Annie Proulx No one does bittersweet quite like Proulx, and Brokeback Mountain is a masterpiece of hurts-so-good, melancholic ache. Ennis del Mar and Jack Twist are two ranch hands who come together one summer as they tend a flock of sheep high up on the eponymous mountain. Sharing a tent in this isolated setting, their attraction starts out casual, little more than a way to pass the long nights, but it soon becomes something much deeper. The two men marry and start families, as is expected of them. But they cant keep away from each other, stealing moments here and there over the course of two decades, the agony of longing and loneliness culminating in the all-time heartbreaking line, I wish I knew how to quit you.

4. I Await the Devils Coming by Mary MacLane Diarist Mary MacLane was a genius and she knew it. She wished everyone else knew it too, but the people of Butte, Mont. simply could not recognize the depth and brilliance of her philosophy. In this confessional work, written in 1902, the 19-year-old MacLane promises herself to the Devil over and over again, begging him for happiness, understanding, and relief from a dull life spent wandering the plains while she works on her philosophy. The prose is raw and daring, as is MacLanes bald-faced assertion of her own intelligence, sexuality, and right to live life to the fullest and entirely on her own terms.

5. Whiskey When Were Dry by John Larison When 17-year-old Jessilyn Harney finds herself orphaned on her familys homestead and in danger of starvation and harm from her predatory neighbors, she takes matters into her own hands. She cuts off her hair, binds her chest, and sets out to find her outlaw brother, Noah, and bring him home. A talented sharpshooter determined to outwit those who underestimate her, Jessilyn must reckon with her brothers outlaw activities and questions of her own identity to become the hero of her own story.

6. Outlawed by Anna North Married to a man she loves and devoted to her work as an apprentice to her mother, a respected midwife, 17-year-old Adas future looks bright. But in this alternate-historical United States, a womans fertility is her highest virtue; when a year of marriage passes with no pregnancy for Ada, she must flee town or risk being hanged as a witch. She joins the Hole in the Wall Gang, led by a charismatic former preacher known as The Kid, and they set out to change the future for women like her. While the setting gives Outlawed a bit of Handmaids Tale flavor, it also throws the disposability of women in typical westerns into sharp relief. Adas faith in herself and her own intelligence pushes back hard against typical tropes of homesteaders wives as meek helpmates, placing womens experiences of their own bodies front and center.

7. Inland by Tea Obreht Obreht weaves together two voices rarely heard in a traditional western: a woman left behind, and a Muslim immigrant from the Ottoman Empire. Nora is waiting for her husband, who has set out into the Arizona desert in search of water for their homestead. In a typical western, a woman left without male protection provides the impetus for a male protagonists adventure; her role is to suffer great violence so that he may redeem them both through vengeance. But Obreht isnt interested in using Nora as a prop in someone elses story, instead focusing on her rich inner and spiritual life. Meanwhile, Lurie, a former outlaw haunted by ghosts, travels with the U.S. Camel Corps. On the run from a marshal, Lurie forms an unexpected relationship with a dromedary named Burke. Obrehts western is a mosaic of unexpected perspectives and experiences, drawn from true but little-known history of the West.

8. Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey This speculative western begins when Esther Augustus runs away from home with the Librarians to escape a marriage her father arranged for her to the man who had previously been engaged to Esthers lover, Beatriz, before she was executed for the possession of resistance propaganda. The Librarians are an ostensibly nun-like organization charged with distributing government-approved books in small towns throughout the West. When Esther joins their order, however, she discovers that the Librarians are far more than meets the eye: queer, subversive, and committed to making sure that women are kept safe in a hostile world.

9. How Much of These Hills Is Gold by C. Pam Zhang In the twilight of the California Gold Rush, newly orphaned siblings Sam and Lucy journey through the hills searching for a burial site for Ba, their recently deceased father. What was supposed to be a land of abundance for this immigrant family becomes a treacherous landscape haunted by buffalo bones, tiger paw prints, and specters of the past they shared and the future Sam and Lucy should have had. With densely lyrical prose, Zhang brings to life the particular struggles of Chinese immigrants in the West, encompassing both a longing for home and the question of where immigrants are allowed to belong.

10. Book of the Little Axe by Lauren Francis-Sharma When Trinidad changes from Spanish to British rule, Rosa Rendon and her family must flee in order to maintain their freedom as Black property owners. By 1830, Rosa is living with the Crow Nation in Bighorn, Mont.; she is married to chief Edward Rose, and her son Victor is ready to set out on a vision quest to become a man. To help him complete his journey, Rosa must retrace her own story and take Victor back to his roots. Book of the Little Axe centers a multilingual Trinidadian womans quest to understand and come to terms with her own roots within the violent landscape of colonialism.
Javier Gutierrez Becerril, former director of Operations of CFE International (CFEi) and Guillermo Turrent, former director of CFEi (known in Mexico as CFEnergia). Mexico Infrastructure Forum / Cuartoscuro

Two ex officials at Mexicos state electricity company, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), are set to stand trial by jury in a court in Texas as part of an ongoing civil case for alleged corruption. Guillermo Turrent, who led the companys private subsidiary abroad, CFE International (CFEi), and Javier Gutierrez, former head of operations at CFEi, are accused of granting billions of dollars of unnecessary and overpriced natural gas contracts to Whitewater Midstream between 2016 and 2018. At the time it received the contracts, Whitewater was a small, unknown startup in Austin, Texas founded by friends and former colleagues of Turrent.

According to a transcript of a May 4 hearing obtained by EL PAIS, a judge in Houston, Texas scheduled for Turrent and Gutierrez to appear in a jury trial in October 2024, a date that could change should there be adjustments to the courts timeline. The legal team for CFEi alleges that the Whitewater contracts benefitted the Texas company and its executives and inflicted substantial, long-lasting harm on CFEi, as well as CFEand ultimately the Mexican people.

In 2021, the CFE opened an investigation into the contracts awarded to Whitewater, a recently formed energy company with no previous track record in the industry, following an investigation by EL PAIS that exposed the long-standing ties between Turrent, Gutierrez and the founders of the Texas company.

Turrent and Gutierrez have invoked their fifth amendment rights as U.S. citizens, which protects them from self-incrimination as it relates to interrogatories, according to a public record. Both have dual citizenship in Mexico and the U.S.

In preparation for the jury trial, the legal team for CFEi has issued a subpoena to Matthew Calhoun, a founder of Whitewater Midstream who has a long-standing relationship with Turrent dating back to their time as colleagues at Royal Dutch Shell in California in the early 2000s. The subpoena requests that Calhoun disclose any documents or electronic communications between him, Turrent and Gutierrez. It also commands Calhoun to produce all information concerning any payments, funds, [or] compensation from 2013 to the present that were linked to Turrent, Gutierrez or their private consulting companies. Calhoun was previously the Chief Executive Officer of a company known as Antaeus Group, which received contracts from the CFE during the time Turrent and Gutierrez were executives at the state company.

In the transcript obtained by EL PAIS, the defense team for Turrent and Gutierrez has issued a motion to dismiss the case in the U.S., arguing that the proceedings should be held in Mexico. The CFEi legal team disagrees, given that all of the contracts in question were signed in the U.S. and fall under U.S. jurisdiction.

CFE is a state-owned company implicitly backed by Mexican taxpayers. Its subsidiary, CFEi, was constituted as a private company in the U.S., even if it is wholly owned by a government-run firm in Mexico. The contracts between CFEi and Whitewater are governed by U.S. law and pertain to pipelines in the state of Texas.

Given the proposed timeline for the case, the October 2024 jury trial would commence following the conclusion of the Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador administration, which has spearheaded the investigation into possible corruption related to the Whitewater contracts awarded by the CFE. Mexico will elect a new president in July 2024. In Mexico, the Anticorruption Prosecutor in the Attorney Generals office is conducting a criminal investigation against Turrent and has an ongoing case open against Gutierrez.
Property details:

Are you searching for a peaceful investment opportunity? Look no further! Explore this gorgeous 1.28-acre raw land in the serene town of Graceville, Florida. This property is located on Forest Drive with access to power and water. Graceville offers a tranquil countryside setting, perfect for those seeking a slower pace of life. Invest in vacant land and immerse yourself in the peaceful ambiance of rolling hills, lush green fields, and the gentle whispers of nature. It's an idyllic escape from th...

Price: $ 20,500 Seller State of Residence: Arizona Property Address: 0 Forest Drive Type: Homesite, Lot Zip/Postal Code: 32440 Zoning: Residential City: Graceville State/Province: Florida Location: 324**, Graceville, Florida

You will be redirected to eBay



Nearby Florida
Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale

Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada.

Search Real Estate
More than 48 hours after an old fishing boat capsized in Greek waters, leaving a trail of hundreds of missing migrants and at least 78 corpses in the sea, it is getting harder to reconstruct what happened. The main question is whether a rescue operation activated in time by the Greek authorities would have prevented the deaths. Rescuers saved 104 people, all men, but it is suspected that numerous women and children were trapped in the ships hold as it sank, and nobody knows for sure how many people were traveling in the trawler. Nine people were arrested Thursday on suspicion of smuggling, AP reported. Based on the accounts of the survivors, the International Organization for Migration calculated that between 700 and 750 people were traveling on the ship. The estimate includes a minimum of 40 children. These figures suggest it could become one of the greatest tragedies ever recorded in the Mediterranean.

Official information is scarce and the Greek Coast Guard has evaded any responsibility for the disaster. In an official statement, the agency insisted that the migrants refused help, that they only requested food and insisted on continuing their journey to Italy, their destination. Rescue operations, however, are not governed by negotiations with the ships occupants, but are regulated by law. Aid is never a contract. If an authority, for whatever reason, cannot intervene, it must ask for the intervention of others, explains Vittorio Alessandro, a retired admiral of the Italian Coast Guard. The elements to intervene provided for in European regulations were there: an overloaded boat, absence of lifeguards, no captain and poor seaworthiness, he adds.

The story of this shipwreck is reminiscent of the one that occurred in Cutro, southern Italy, on February 26, when a ship carrying almost 200 people sank 40 meters off the Italian coast. At least 94 refugees died, including 35 children. Both the European border agency, Frontex, and the Italian authorities had located the overcrowded fishing boat, which was caught in the middle of a storm. The Italian Coast Guard did not launch a rescue operation until the ship had already broken into pieces.

The following is a partial reconstruction of this latest shipwreck through the information provided by NGOs, Greek authorities, Frontex and survivors, who will be transferred to the Malakasa refugee camp, 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Athens, from the port of Kalamata, where they have spent their first hours on dry land.

The departure. The old trawler departed on June 9 from Tobruk, in eastern Libya, 150 kilometers (93 miles) from the border with Egypt. There are no certainties about its occupants and the number varies between 400 and 750, depending on the source. Their nationalities are also unclear, although Greek sources said the majority were Syrians, Egyptians and Pakistanis. Two of those passengers were cousins of Tarek Aldroobi, a Syrian living in Germany, who traveled to the port of Kalamata, where the survivors were disembarked, only to discover to his distress that his cousins were not among them. According to Aldroobi, each of the passengers paid between 4,000 and 6,000. Thats 14 times what it would cost to fly a traveler with a visa from Tripoli to Rome.

The sharp increase in the departures of large trawlers capable of transporting up to 500 people from eastern Libya was already a phenomenon verified by Frontex, according to a confidential report from the European Commission. Departures from Cyrenaica, the region where Tobruk is located, have increased this year by 531% compared to 2022, according to the document. It is no accident. Since June 1, Libyan National Army (LNA) forces have detained more than 1,000 migrants in Tobruk and Musaid, both in the east of the country. When I came to Europe from Libya, the boats left from the west and the trip lasted one day. But since the controls and the pressure increased, the ships set sail more and more to the east and now it takes six days to sail to reach Italy, says Aldroobi.

Alerts. After four days of travel, on Tuesday, June 13 at 9:35 a.m., the activist Nawal Soufi posted the following message in Italian on her social networks: I am managing the SOS of a ship with 750 people on board, which sailed from Libya and is in trouble right now. The people on board are in danger from drinking seawater, the water has run out after four days of navigation.

The statement from the Greek Coast Guard says it received a notice from the Maritime Coordination Center in Rome at 11:00 a.m. about a fishing boat with a large number of migrants. At 12:47 p.m. Frontex spotted the ship and notified Italian and Greek authorities. The fishing vessel was 87 kilometers (54 miles) from the Greek coast.

The Greek strategy. Almost three hours after the official warning, at 1:50 p.m., Greek authorities sent a helicopter in search of the ship. Barely 10 minutes later, the fishing boat was contacted for the first time. According to the Greek authorities, it did not request any assistance from the Coast Guard or Greece.

At 3:17 p.m. in Greece, the Alarm Phone organization, which manages an emergency telephone number for migrants embarking for Europe, says that it received the first call from the ship. In a later call, at 5:13 p.m., one of its occupants assured them that the boat was not moving, that they lacked water and food and added a disturbing fact: The captain has fled in a small boat. Please, we need a solution. According to their statement, they received the ships GPS coordinates at the time of that second call and, after trying to obtain more information to no avail, at 5:53 p.m. they sent an email to the Hellenic authorities and other agents, including Frontex, to alert them.

The helicopter sighted the vessel at 2:35 p.m. and the aerial images were published by the local media. In them it is possible to see dozens of people on the deck, crowded together, raising their hands to the sky. According to the Hellenic authorities, it was sailing with a constant course and speed and with a large number of people on its outer decks.

As the Greek Coast Guard directed one of its frigates into the area, the maritime authorities radioed nearby vessels to change their course and report on the movements and general condition of the fishing vessel.

This undated handout image provided by Greece's coast guard on Wednesday shows scores of people covering practically every free stretch of deck on a battered fishing boat that later capsized and sank off southern Greece. Associated Press/LaPresse (APN)

Food and the alleged refusal of aid. At 6:00 p.m. a second Coast Guard helicopter took off to monitor the fishing boat and Greek authorities contacted its occupants for the second time. On the other side of the satellite phone, a voice in English assured, according to the official statement, that the ship was not in danger and that they only wanted food and water because their wish was to continue towards Italy.

The version that the migrants refused help does not coincide with the information provided by the NGO and the activist who had contact with the passengers. The ship is crowded and moving from one side to the other, Alarm Phone heard in one of its communications.

Two boats with Maltese and Greek flags came to bring food to the fishing boat at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., respectively. The activist Nawal Soufi has provided her version of events on Facebook: The situation became even more complicated when one boat came right up to the other, tied ropes to two points and began to throw bottles of water. The migrants felt in extreme danger because they feared that the ropes could capsize the boat and that the fights for the water could cause a shipwreck [] The situation became even more dramatic: the migrants were confused and did not understand if it was a rescue operation or a way to put their lives in even more danger.

Anabel Montes, who until two months ago was responsible for rescue operations aboard the humanitarian ship Geo Barents and has more than eight years of experience in the field, questions the actions of the Greek Coast Guard. For her, the approach to the fishing boat is a very dangerous maneuver that can cause a sudden movement that destabilizes the ship. Montes explains that the ships stability was highly compromised. The more people and higher up, the easier it is for the metacenter to rise and for the ship to capsize, she said.

Surveillance without rescue. According to the Greek statement, maritime authorities monitored the ship from 3:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. from its operations room. At 10:40 p.m., a Coast Guard boat approached the fishing vessel, observing it from a distance. No problem was found in its navigation, since it had a constant course and speed, says the official version. Then at 1:40 a.m. a call from the ship warned that the engine had failed and that they had stopped moving. The Coast Guard vessel then approached and verified the alert. According to Greek authorities, 24 minutes later the fishing boat began to sway sharply and capsized. In 15 minutes the ship sank completely and its occupants were submerged in one of the deepest areas of the Mediterranean. Only then did the authorities activate a rescue operation.
Jiomart B2B is the latest among organised supply-chain companies to bite the bullet, shutting down its warehouses, and asking its employees to leave.

Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

Why are companies finding it difficult to sustain the supply-chain business?

Experts point out that gross margins in supplying fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) are very low.

While it does look attractive because it is the largest part of the consumption market, the last-mile supply chain and retailer are not making money.

FMCG brands have ensured high margins for their businesses by streamlining and smoothing their supply chains over decades and making them cost-efficient, said Anshuman Singh, founder and managing director, Stellar Value Chain Solutions.

Singh said in rural markets, the costs of supply chains were proportionately high due to lower volumes.

He added: The low margins in the last leg of the FMCG rural supply chain make it difficult for new-age rural distribution players to offset the high costs.

Devangshu Dutta, chief executive officer, Third Eyesight, a consultancy firm, said modern B2B (business-to-business) players had tried to step in to replace the traditional links in supply chains with price incentives and a large selection of products.

Traditional distributors and wholesalers dont just add costs but also add value, including aggregating demand for brands, disaggregating supplies for small retailers, providing market intelligence to both ends of the chain, and giving credit to retailers and a sort of financial guarantee for manufacturers, Dutta said.

He said for their business models to work  online or offline  B2B businesses needed a significant concentration of demand, which had been tough to get in many locations.

On July 6, 2022, the Competition Commission of India (CCI), in the dispute between biscuit manufacturer Parle and B2B player Udaan, upheld the plea of the former, saying it did not violate competition laws. Parle had refused to sell its products directly to Udaan.

Udaan was the first B2B start-up to have a run-in with a well established brand, which was not interested in moving away from the traditional distribution model.

What has that meant for Udaan? It has meant tweaks to its business.

It further diversified its product portfolio so that its access to the market was not impacted.

It forayed into the mobile accessories segment as local brands tapped into its network of over 3 million retailers.

Earlier, this year it expanded its reach in the miller segment, which supplies staples like pulses, grains, wheat, rice, and oil.

Udaan aims to take on board about 100 miller partners per quarter.

It works with over 500 miller partners, supplying over 10,000 SKUs (stock-keeping units) to retailers and kirana owners, according to the company in an interaction with Business Standard.

The other company that recently had to tweak its business or go back to its focus on rural India is Pune-based ElasticRun.

B2B start-up ElasticRun has decided to focus on the core business and wind up its new expansion plans.

Backed by SoftBank and Prosus Venture, ElasticRun, which typically runs distribution for FMCGs in rural areas, decided to expand and also cater to retailers within city limits, i.e. tier 1 and tier 2 markets that had a strong distribution owing to companies having direct distribution in those areas.

We initiated a pilot for urban markets.

"But through the year, as the macro changed, we decided not to pursue the urban pilot and focus on our core of rural business  we have to part ways with almost 2 per cent of our employees, said Sandeep Deshmukh, co-founder and chief executive officer, ElasticRun, in an earlier interaction with Business Standard.

ElasticRun extends the reach of the brands direct distribution networks to deep rural markets. It enables access to a set of net new stores and customers, who were not accessible through traditional distribution networks.

The need to spend in order to get market share has caused well-entrenched players like Amazon to pull out of some of its distribution business.

Amazon India has decided to shut down Amazon Distribution, according to sources.

This follows its recent decision to close down its food delivery and edtech offers.

The moves are part of the annual operating planning review process amid global macroeconomic uncertainties.

The e-commerce giant is looking to focus on its core businesses, sources said.

Amazon Distribution operates a platform where sellers sell FMCGs and apparel products from companies and distribute them among kiranas and small neighbourhood stores.

However, this unit operated in only three cities of Karnataka  Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Hubbali.
If Cyrus's protestations of having no knowledge of his imminent dismissal are to be taken at face value, he was extraordinarily naive and insulated from the ground reality.

There were enough straws in the wind to suggest that his relations with Ratan were fast deteriorating to a point of no return.

A fascinating excerpt from Coomi Kapoor's The Tatas, Freddie Mercury & Other Bawas: An Intimate History of the Parsis, which has just been reissued in paperback.

IMAGE: Cyrus Mistry died tragically in a road accident two months after his 54th birthday, September 4, 2022. Photograph: PTI Photo

It remains an enigma as to why Ratan Tata named Cyrus Mistry as his successor, given that the Tatas had long been suspicious of the intentions of the Mistry family.

A prominent Parsi businessman recalled that 'The Tatas considered themselves saintly and noble and the Mistrys mere real estate people. Many of us suspected privately that this arrangement would come to grief at some point.'

Besides, the businessman added, 'Cyrus was only 44 and not quite experienced enough for the job.'

Cyrus initially declined the offer. His brother Shapoor, however, egged him on to accept, chiding him that as usual he was overanalysing things.

When an opportunity came his way, he should be ready to jump in.

Cyrus conceded that he does have a tendency 'to think things through in depth which gives everyone a hard time effectively'.

A friend describes Cyrus as 'serious, focused, meticulous and extremely well-read. He applied himself assiduously, but perhaps he didn't have the entrepreneurial spirit.'

Ratan retired in December 2012, leaving his successor to settle into the chairperson's job. But before he retired, Ratan ensured that the trusts had tightened their grip over Tata Sons.

The Articles of Association relating to the appointment and removal of future chairpersons were revised with Nusli Wadia's guidance, so that all appointments and removals of directors had to be cleared by the trusts.

The two main trusts, the Sir Ratan Tata Trust and the Sir Dorab Tata Trust, had the right to nominate one-third of the directors to Tata Sons.

Cyrus would become the first Tata Sons chairperson in the group's history who, during his tenure, was never made chairperson of the Sir Dorab Tata Trust, which together with the Sir Ratan Tata Trust holds 66 per cent of the shares of Tata Sons, giving the trusts near-absolute control of the group's holding company.

Ratan retained his position as chairperson of the trusts, and thus sowed the seeds for potential discord.

Mistry did not really have the powers a normal chairperson of the board would have had.

Nusli Wadia recalls that when Ratan asked him for his views on choosing Cyrus as chairperson, his cynical response was that Ratan had not really retired: 'All you have done is move the power centre from the board to the trusts.'

For the first year, Ratan remained in situ to mentor Cyrus, just as JRD had been there for Ratan.

Although Ratan claimed he had no intention of constantly looking over Cyrus's shoulder after that year of apprenticeship, this was not how things panned out.

The honeymoon was short-lived.

IMAGE: Ratan Tata with Cyrus Mistry in happier times.

Cyrus consciously tried to keep a low profile.

'For three and a half years,' Cyrus told me, 'I never gave a press interview. I never tried to project myself as the face of Tatas. I didn't come to overshadow anyone. I came to make sure the group was put on an even keel.'

He worked overtime, poring over company reports and data. He was slow to take action, but gradually, as a meticulous and conscientious chairperson, he raised uncomfortable questions about individual companies.

This was not to the liking of the old guard, all of whom were close to Ratan.

Equally, it irked Ratan's confidants that Tata Sons board members and trust members were no longer automatically appointed as directors on individual Tata companies. This was seen as evidence of Cyrus trying to cut them out.

Another minefield on which Cyrus stepped was trying to set in order the expensive acquisitions in steel and telecom that his predecessor had made.

He was veering round to the view that it was in the company's best interest to exit from the European steel sector and to sell off the telecom company.

Cyrus also wanted to wind up the Nano -- Ratan's dream project. These decisions were seen as casting aspersions on Ratan's business judgement and legacy.

IMAGE: Cyrus Mistry, left, with Ratan Tata. Photograph: PTI Photo

Cyrus was keen on institutionalising the Tata group so that it was not run by any single individual.

He suggested that a corporate governance framework be drafted to clearly spell out the role of Tata Sons, the role of the trusts and the role of the operating companies.

His fear was that 'after some years the trusts could be lost to the wrong people.'

He asked Nitin Nohria, dean of Harvard Business School, an academic whom Ratan relied on, to take responsibility for working out the framework.

Nohria has been a member of the Tata Sons board since 2013.

Though he sent several drafts to Nohria, Cyrus received no response.

Attempts to meet Ratan and discuss the issue also failed.

Finally, Cyrus decided to make a preliminary draft that could be put before the board at its meeting on 24 October 2016. That draft was never to be discussed.

A few minutes before the meeting, Ratan and Nohria walked into Cyrus's office. Nohria came straight to the point.

He told Cyrus, out of the blue, that he knew that relations between Ratan and Cyrus were not great and that the trust had taken a decision that morning to replace him.

It was suggested that he resign gracefully or prepare to be removed. A shaken Cyrus, who was given no reason for his sacking, is reported to have responded, 'You do what you have to do, I will do what I have to.'

Ratan's only comment was, 'Sorry that things have reached this stage.'

Cyrus's protests that the sacking was clearly illegal -- it was not even on the meeting agenda, but included in the clause of 'any other business' -- were ignored.

If Cyrus's protestations of having no knowledge of his imminent dismissal are to be taken at face value, he was extraordinarily naive and insulated from the ground reality.

There were enough straws in the wind to suggest that his relations with Ratan were fast deteriorating to a point of no return.

The move to oust him was systematically planned for over two months.

The trusts obtained legal opinion from two eminent jurists about whether the sacking would stand up in a court of law.

Most of India's leading senior counsels were engaged on retainers to ensure that they could not appear for the opposite side.

Three members from the trusts were actively involved in planning the ouster.

IMAGE: Cyrus was replaced by Ratan Tata as interim chairman of the group, October 24, 2016.

When Cyrus entered the boardroom, the cards were clearly stacked against him. The move to remove him was put to vote.

The directors, all Ratan appointees -- Ishaat Hussain, an old Tata hand and group finance director; Ronen Sen, former Indian ambassador to the USA; Vijay Singh, former defence secretary; Nohria; Amit Chandra; Ajay Piramal and Venu Srinivasan -- voted against Cyrus.

The only director who broke ranks and abstained was Farida Khambhata, a global strategist and the only Parsi on the board, apart from Ratan and Cyrus.

Ironically, the board had, earlier, given Cyrus a glowing annual evaluation as chairperson of the group, not once indicating its unhappiness with his performance.

Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of the Tata group, right, and Ratan Tata, emeritus chairman, at the opening of the newly refurbished Bombay House at Fort, south Mumbai, July 29, 2018. Photograph: Hitesh Harisinghani/ Rediff.com

Cyrus, an introvert who had shied away from publicity all his life, was thrown unceremoniously into the limelight in an ugly, no-holds-barred fight.

He was badly shaken by the whole affair, and unable to conceal the shock and hurt he felt.

Within a day of his ouster, he wrote an explosive letter to the board, which was leaked to the media.

He accused Ratan of creating an alternate power centre in the group, questioned some of his past business decisions and even pointed out what he considered corporate malpractices.

Ratan's men hit back, suggesting that Cyrus was making excuses for his poor performance as chairperson, which was the reason the trusts were compelled to get rid of him. (In fact, Tata shares fared better during Cyrus's tenure than average on the Bombay Stock Exchange.)

IMAGE: Then Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry pays tribute to a bust of Jamsetji Nusserwanji, the founder of the Tata group, in Jamshedpur, March 3, 2016. Photograph: PTI Photo

If he was hurt by the accusation that he could not fill the shoes of his eminent predecessor, Cyrus can now feel vindicated.

His successor, N Chandrasekaran, would go on to implement most of the measures Cyrus had already conceived in his recovery plan.

Many wondered why Cyrus continued to remain entangled in a long, messy legal battle, when he had his own businesses to look after.

His father-in-law, the leading lawyer Iqbal Chagla, would surely have warned him against what is perhaps a dead-end litigation.

But could Cyrus really afford to walk away from a legal battle when he had to protect his family's 18.37 per cent shares in Tata Sons?

The trusts seem determined to make the Mistry family's shareholding irrelevant.

Tata Sons has been converted into a private company, and the present rules, formulated after Mistry's removal, do not permit the Mistry family to sell its shares without the consent of the board.

Respected economic commentator Swaminathan A Aiyar wondered whether the entire debate on majority versus minority shareholders' rights misses the elephant in the room: 'Why trusts set up for charitable purposes given tax exemption status should be allowed to control one of India's greatest industrial empires.'

IMAGE: Ratan Tata, then chairman of the Tata Group, and then Tata Sons deputy chairman Cyrus Mistry with the new Tata Safari-Storme at the Auto Expo in New Delhi January 5, 2012. Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Critics of the sacrosanct Tata Trusts point out that their value today is highly disproportionate to the amount they spend on charitable activity.

In 2016, the Tata Trusts were valued at around Rs 350,000 crore, making it the third-largest trust in the world after the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Welcome Trust.

But according to official figures, it spent only Rs 750 crore on charities in 2016.

In contrast, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donates some $3 billion annually. So are the trusts really functioning for the purpose for which they were intended?

Financial analysts agree that the trusts should be spending far more for charitable purposes, instead of creating fixed assets for earning more profits.

In 2013, the Comptroller and Auditor General had also questioned the ratio of the trusts' earnings and charitable works.

The Ratan-Cyrus clash once again put the spotlight on the trusts.

An over-riding concern is: Who gets to control the trusts in the future?

On 4 September 2022, Cyrus Mistry died in a tragic accident when the speeding Mercedes in which he was travelling crashed into a culvert on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai highway at Palghar.

Cyrus and his school friend Jehangir Pandole, a former national squash champion, who were sitting in the backseats, were not wearing seat belts and died instantly.

The driver of the car, well known gynecologist Anahita Pandole, and her husband Darius Pandole who were in the front were seriously injured.

The Mistry family was flooded with messages of sympathy. Commiseration from the business community, media and people from all walks of life affectionately recalled Cyrus as soft-spoken, highly intelligent and extremely humble.

From Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the chairman of the Tata group, Natarajan Chandrasekaran, the who's who of India condoled with the shattered family on their loss.

The public silence from Ratan Tata on Cyrus's death was noticeable. It seemed to indicate that Ratan was not yet ready to forgive or forget the embittered relationship.

Excerpted from The Tatas, Freddie Mercury & Other Bawas: An Intimate History of the Parsis by Coomi Kapoor, with the kind permission of the publishers, Penguin Random House India.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Despite the hope that lessons will be learnt, the next accident invariably shows that nothing has been learnt -- or if learnt, they have been ignored, observes Prosenjit Datta.

IMAGE: The aftermath of the June 2, 2023 train accident site in Balasore, Odisha, two days later, June 4, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

India has just witnessed its most horrific train accident in over two decades.

Initial reports suggested a signalling and switching error/malfunction as the probable cause, though the investigation has now been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

If this tragic accident was not bad enough, a bus carrying some of the injured persons from the train accident site in Balasore to a hospital had a head-on collision with a van in Bengal's Medinipur district.

Finally, even as this column is being written, videos of the collapse of an under construction bridge in Bihar are going viral on social media.

Investigations will eventually give the reasons behind the tragic train accident, the bus mishap and the bridge collapse.

They are not linked by anything other than the fact that the issue of safety and quality in India has never been a high priority -- either for various governments or for citizens.

There has been little effort to analyse and then find ways to reduce the accidents while improving the safety of citizens.

To be fair, train accidents have been decreasing over time and the number of consequential (or serious) accidents has reduced over the years.

But given our large railways network -- the fourth-largest in the world at 68,043 km -- and the 3.5 billion people who travel on this network annually, the number of railway accidents and the number of people who die because of these mishaps make for grim statistics.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, an average 23,000 people died every year between 2010 and 2021 in railway accidents.

Deaths due to road accidents are far more numerous. A report by the ministry of road transport and Highways in 2021 put the total number of road accidents that year at 412,432, claiming 153,972 lives while causing injuries to 384,448 persons.

Meanwhile, when it comes to bridge collapses, a study which came out a few years ago, counted 2,130 bridges that had collapsed between 1977 and 2017.

If one were to take roads and highways that have simply sunk because of bad construction, it would run into hundreds, if not thousands, every year.

There are four primary reasons for accidents -- and deaths and injuries due to accidents.

They are faulty design, poor maintenance and wear and tear, improper safety protocols and regulations, and finally human error, sometimes compounded by fatigue and boredom.

A fifth, wilful flouting of safety regulations and norms, merits a separate discussion because it has to do with both societal attitudes as well as law enforcement.

India scores poorly in all the areas listed above. Examples of faulty/bad design in our highways and bridges and other infrastructure are abundant.

Every highway, modern or old, has several well-identified "death traps" -- spots where the majority of bad accidents take place primarily because of bad design.

These death traps are rarely ever rectified, even though the body count keeps mounting.

Poor maintenance and wear and tear are common in every piece of public and even in privately maintained infrastructure and there are plenty of examples.

The Morbi Bridge tragedy in Gujarat a few months ago is just one example, but there are hundreds of others.

In the Indian Railways itself, a 2022 report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India had pointed to a host of lapses -- shortfalls in inspection, low utilisation of the dedicated railway fund for the specific purpose of safety, and even the failure to submit or accept inquiry reports.

Unsuitable safety and quality protocols are something that every Indian citizen experiences daily -- from cars that would not meet crash test regulations in a developed country to the tardy implementation of seat belts in automobiles, as well as poor safety standards and implementation in food and drug specifications and labelling.

Finally, there is the human error -- sometimes because of long hours and fatigue.

This in turn can be traced back to not hiring and training enough people for the safety functions.

The 2022 CAG report had also pointed to the huge shortfall in staffing, especially in the safety category of the Indian Railways.

The CAG report on railways is not the only one highlighting these issues. There are over a dozen studies on problems that ail our highways, railways, and bridges when it comes to safety measures and quality issues.

Why weren't these issues addressed? Perhaps, it is because consumer and citizen safety has never been a priority for successive governments.

Or, perhaps because Indian citizens after each tragedy tend to blame their fate, instead of holding the authorities responsible for poor safety and quality enforcement.

Despite the clamour for accountability and hope that lessons will be learnt, the next accident invariably shows that nothing has been learnt -- or if learnt, they have been ignored.

One can only hope that this time it will be different, though one fears it will not be the case.

Prosenjit Datta is former editor Business Today and Businessworld, and founder of Prosaic View, an editorial consultancy

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'I was put in an anda cell. No window, light or air. Only grills.'

'During the monsoon, water would seep. There were rats running around all the time.'

'We were forced to sleep under bright lights all the time. Those bright lights are never switched off.'

IMAGE: Shiv Sena (Uddhav Bal Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut addresses the media after the Supreme Court verdict in the Maharashtra political crisis case. Photograph: ANI Photo

After Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji was arrested in Chennai on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, allegations about the DMK leader being assaulted in the Enforcement Directorate's custody surfaced. The Tamil Nadu Human Rights Commission said it would look into Balaji's allegations of ill-treatment at the ED's hands during his arrest. The ED has denied the allegations.

Sanjay Raut, the Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP and executive editor of Saamana, the Shiv Sena's daily newspaper, was arrested by the ED last year.

In the second of a multi-part interview with Rediff.com Senior Contributor Neeta Kolhatkar, Raut reveals how he was treated after his arrest.

"They have no lock-up facilities (in the ED office). They only have a conference room where we were kept. We sat there and were made to sleep on the table there. I told the court I am a heart patient and have seven stents; the room I was kept in has no light or ventilation."

Part 1 of the Interview: 'They barged into my mother's prayer room'

What was the entire process of your arrest, if it was done at midnight? What did the ED do from 5 pm till midnight?

They picked me from Bhandup (north east Mumbai, where he lives) at 5 pm and took me to their office at Ballard Pier (south Mumbai).

They did clerical work -- filling name and other information.

I had answered all their questions twice before in my house. The same was repeated.

I told them categorically I had appeared for every summon they made, my wife too has appeared and we have answered every question.

Now what more information do you want from me?

I was told a senior officer from Delhi was expected, he was to sign the arrest warrant.

Till then they kept me with them, telling me I was arrested, but it was endorsed only after midnight when the officer came.

I was kept in that ED office for eight days, I could do absolutely nothing.

How are the conditions in the ED office? Is there a lock-up? How were you treated?

They have no lock-up facilities. They only have a conference room where we were kept.

We sat there and were made to sleep on the table there.

This place has nothing and is the epitome of inhuman, merciless (nirghrun) that breaches every human right of a citizen.

I told the court I am a heart patient and have seven stents; the room I was kept in has no light or ventilation.

While questioning me, they showed me some stupid paper. I told them outright this has been brought from elsewhere, it is not from my house and I would just throw it in the dustbin.

They would wave silly papers and say this has been found in the search of your premises.

They didn't stop there. They took my younger daughter with them and brought her to our Dadar house (north central Mumbai) and made her open it.

There wasn't even a lady police who accompanied her.

They instructed her to sit while they searched the premises.

Afterwards, the court slammed them and the judge clearly stated it was an illegal arrest.

IMAGE: Sanjay Raut being taken for a medical check-up by Enforcement Directorate officials, before being produced in a special court, in connection with a money laundering case, August 1, 2022. Photograph: Kunal Patil/PTI

When you were shifted to prison later, which cell were you kept in? Which jail were you shifted to?

After the ED custody tenure was completed, they shifted me to jail. In fact an interesting thing happened.

The ED didn't ask to extend my custody after their eight days custody. This may have been the first time that the ED told the court they didn't want me in their custody. I was sent to the Arthur road jail.

How was your first day in jail? How humiliating was it?

Your human rights are never protected in jail. That is the place where every human right of a citizen is breached.

There were many important people in Arthur road jail when I was there. Privileged people of our society. Every single person told me they were wrongly arrested.

Anil Deshmukh was there. Sanjay Chhabria, Avinash Bhosale and Nihar Garware met me. I also met Peter Kerkar and Satish Uke. I went through the entire drill which every prisoner has to undergo.

IMAGE: Sanjay Raut waves to Sena workers and the media outside the Arthur Road jail before being produced in a court in Mumbai, September 19, 2022. Photograph: Sahil Salvi

Were you mentally prepared for the treatment in jail that you would have to endure?

Once you know you are going to be arrested, you have to mentally prepare yourself.

I never collapsed mentally and this is what I urged fellow inmates to follow.

I wasn't allowed to meet people often, but whenever I did, I would boost their spirits and tell them, this is a battle and we have to fight.

I was put in an anda cell. Anil Deshmukh was also in an anda cell. It is a small cell. No window, light or air. Only grills. During the monsoon, water would seep. There were rats running around all the time.

We were forced to sleep under bright lights all the time. Those bright lights are never switched off.

The only leeway given to me was home cooked food because of my heart condition.

But by the time that food is brought to your cell, it is presented in a condition that puts you off from eating it.

It is first opened, checked by police at 10 different points. They rummage, press, to see if a blade or a pair of scissors or something pointed has been smuggled in it.

There are other security drills you have to endure.

Let me remind you, every single political prisoner in this country is enduring these excesses in different jails across the country.

We are not terrorists, goondas, dacoits or anti-nationals, we are political prisoners who have been framed under false charges by this government and sent to jail to serve their vested political interests.

Some may have buckled under pressure and joined their party, like some of our legislators have gone.

Most of all, (Maharashtra Chief Minister) Eknath Shinde is a victim of the ED, his personal assistant has been arrested.

The only difference between them and us is they are scared while we are not afraid. Some of us have faced the agencies fearlessly.

In which barrack was your cell? Were you allowed to meet and speak with fellow inmates?

My conversations or interactions were only when I used to be taken for the mulaqats.

Most of the time I was in my cell. I was kept in the same barrack where (26/11 terrorist Ajmal) Kasab was kept.

Next to his barrack, Anil Deshmukh was kept.

The authorities have prepared a cell in anticipation that Nirav Modi will be brought here; he, of course, hasn't come to India as yet.

I was put in the same yard where (26/11 handler) Abu Jindal was kept in high security, a bullet proof, bomb proof cell.

IMAGE: Sanjay Raut after his release from the Arthur Road jail, November 9, 2022. Photograph: PTI Photo

What was your routine every day? Could you exercise?

When I was kept with the ED, there was no scope to do anything. In the Arthur road jail I kept a routine.

I would wake up early, take walks in the barrack for an hour, read and write.

I have written all my experiences and I will publish them in a book.

I used to read a lot. I would go to the library. It is quite small, but has a few books.

There were times when I'd meet my family, my staff from Saamna and they would bring me books to read. Yes, the court permitted to take notebooks and pens.

My office staff came to meet me, to take instructions for the news to carried and especially for editorials to be carried.

This would, of course, be over the telephone and it has its own limitations.

Then people would come to the court to meet me, a large number of people would come to meet me.

At that time, the ED complained to the court that many people come to meet me.

The court slammed them and asked why does it bother them?

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Five Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists have been arrested from Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir in connection with the killing of a circus worker, Deepak Kumar, last month, police said on Friday.

IMAGE: Jammu and Kashmir police arrest five Jaish-i-Muhammed terrorists behind the killing of circus worker Deepak Kumar, in Srinagar, June 16, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

Kumar (27), a resident of Udhampur district, was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne militants from a close range when he had gone to the market to buy milk on the night of May 29.

He worked at a circus in the Janglat Mandi area in the south Kashmir district.

Addressing a press conference in Anantnag, deputy inspector general, South Kashmir Range, Rayees Mohammad Bhat said five JeM terrorists have been arrested in connection with Kumar's killing.

"Investigations and searches were launched after the incident. During the investigations, we got some technical leads and some clues. In the meantime, we zeroed in on some suspects and they were interrogated," Bhat said.

He said the investigations pointed at two people, Sehran Bashir Nadaf and Ubaid Nazir Laigroo, both residents of Anantnag town who had gone missing.

"We launched a massive search operation to nab them. Based on technical and human intelligence, we were ultimately able to arrest these two accused after which the whole conspiracy was revealed," he said.

Apart from Nadaf and Laigroo, three other terrorists -- Umer Amin Thoker, Huzaif Shabir Bhat and Nasir Farooq Shah -- have been arrested, the DIG said.

So far, one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, 40 AK-47 rounds, two pistols, two pistol magazines, seven pistol rounds and empty cartridges each, three hand grenades, seven mobile phones and a scooty have been recovered.

Further leads are being followed, he said.

Bhat said this group of terrorists had been working in south Kashmir for some time.

"We expect more arrests and further revelations. This a classic example of a hybrid terrorist module," he said.
A seat bedecked with flowers and a picture of Lord Hanuman, another wrapped in saffron with a garland framing a photograph of the god and the words Jai Shri Ram in Hindi.

That is how it was in many theatres across the country as crowds streamed in to watch Adipurush, a retelling of the Ramayana.

Some were seen offering prayers, others pausing for a moment and there were, of course, those clicking mandatory selfies of the unusual sight before they settled down to watch the film.

There were also incense sticks and coconuts seen in videos from some cinema halls.

In one incident at a Hyderabad theatre, an audience member was beaten up for sitting in the seat reserved for Hanuman.

The video of the incident is also circulating on social media platforms.

Also in Hyderabad, fans of actor Prabhas, who plays Lord Ram in Adipurush, beat up a moviegoer outside a theatre for criticising the movie.

In an unverified video going viral on social media, a man can be seen being thrashed by a group of people after he pointed out flaws in Om Raut's direction and Prabhas' performance as Raghav in the movie, which released on Friday.

"Prabhas did not suit in the (Ram) get up. He was like a king and there was royalty in the Baahubali movie. He was taken for this (Ram) role by seeing his performance. Om Raut failed to show Prabhas properly," the viewer said, adding that he didn't like the film much apart from a few scenes featuring Hanuman and the background score.

His comments led to a heated argument between him and other fans of the Telugu star. It soon turned into a physical altercation.

The multilingual 3-D spectacle, which released on Friday amid much fanfare, is directed by Om Raut and stars Prabhas as Raghav, Kriti Sanon as Janaki and Saif Ali Khan as Lankesh.

A video showed a fan dressed as Hanuman greeting movie-goers outside a theatre.

At a promotional event in Tirupati ahead of the film's release, director Raut requested the producers T Series to reserve one seat in every screening of Adipurush as a mark of respect for Lord Hanuman.

"Everywhere in the world, wherever there is an Adipurush show, I request the producer and distributor to keep one seat for Hanuman ji; he will come to see Ramayan," Raut said.

Theatres in Kathmandu halt Adipurush screening

Meanwhile, screening of Adipurush has been put on hold in cinema halls across Kathmandu after City Mayor Balendra Shah asked the makers to rectify the mistake about the birthplace of Sita.

'Until the line 'Janaki is a daughter of India' contained in the South Indian film 'Adipurush' is removed not just in Nepal but also in India, no Hindi films will be allowed to run in Kathmandu Metropolitan City (sic),' Mayor Shah wrote on Facebook on Thursday.

Nepal's film certification board also said that the permission to screen the film in theatres will be granted only after changing the dialogue that describes 'Sita as India's daughter'.

According to mythological books, Sita is believed to have been born in Janakpur, which is located in Nepal.

In his Facebook post, Shah asked the makers to change the dialogue within three days.
Averting a major threat ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra, security forces killed five heavily armed foreign terrorists belonging to an outfit commanded by an Afghan war veteran along the Line of Control in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday.

IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI on Twitter

It was the biggest infiltration bid to have been foiled since 2021, when India and Pakistan effected a ceasefire understanding, officials said.

The operation in the Jumagund area in the Keran sector was launched Thursday night based on intelligence input gathered by the Jammu and Kashmir police.

Srinagar-based defence PRO Col Emron Musavi said the terror groups in Pakistan are using the "facade" of ceasefire to perpetrate terror in the Union territory.

Additional director general of police of Kashmir Vijay Kumar said the slain terrorists were affiliated to the Jammu and Kashmir Ghaznavi Force, which has Rafiq Nai and Shamsher Nai alias Zafar Iqbal -- both residents of Poonch but presently settled in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, as handlers.

The JKGF has Murtaza Pathan alias Ghaznvi, a resident of Faislabad in Pakistan "who is an Afghan (war) veteran affiliated with Deoband School of thought, as operational commander supervising tactical aspect from POJK, Kumar said.

Briefing the media in Srinagar, the general officer commanding of the army's 28 Division, Major General Girish Kalia, said that based on the input, multiple ambushes were set up along the expected routes of infiltration.

"Simultaneously, the entire area, the LoC fence or the anti-infiltration obstacle system, was kept under surveillance," he said.

Around midnight, the movement of terrorists was picked up by the alert troops who braved challenging terrain and weather conditions.

"The infiltrating terrorists were engaged with precise and accurate fire, and in the ensuing firefight, five unidentified terrorists were neutralised," Maj Gen Kalia said, adding there was no collateral damage.

He said the terrorists were heavily armed and appeared to be very well trained.

During a search of the site Friday morning, a large amount of arms and ammunition, including five AK series rifles, 15 magazines and grenades, and equipment such as night vision devices and binoculars were recovered, he said.

Maj Gen Kalia said while there is a ceasefire understanding between India and Pakistan, the security forces have been getting a large number of intelligence inputs of likely infiltration from across the LoC in the recent past.

The army officer said the operation is a reflection of the high level of synergy between the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir police who have been working tirelessly to ensure that "our beloved J-K remains peaceful and continues to progress on the path of development and prosperity".

He complimented the officers and jawans who took part in the operation, and assured everyone that the security forces shall remain steadfast in our resolve to defeat the evil designs of inimical elements".

The ADGP Kashmir also appreciated the role of the joint forces for neutralising the terrorists without any collateral damage.

"Appreciate the joint teams for displaying the highest degree of synergy and coordination which led to the elimination of five foreign terrorists and averted a big threat for forthcoming yatra," he said. The Amarnath pilgrimage is scheduled to commence on July 1.

Meanwhile, Col Musavi, in a statement, said the terror groups in Pakistan are using the "facade" of ceasefire to perpetrate terror in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The operation clearly establishes the evil design of terrorist groups which are determined to disrupt peace in Kashmir. It also exposes the facade of false commitment to the ceasefire understanding by Pakistan which has repeatedly been exploited to perpetrate terror in Jammu and Kashmir," the PRO said.
A court at Halol town in Gujarat's Panchmahal district has acquitted all 35 persons in connection with four different post-Godhra 2002 riots in which three people were killed.

IMAGE: A policeman points his gun at rioters to scare them away in Ahmedabad, on March 1, 2002. Photograph: Arko Datta/Reuters

In its order of June 12, which was made available on June 15, the court of additional sessions judge Harsh Trivedi also slammed pseudo-secular media and politicians for claiming that the riots were planned.

The 35 persons were accused of murder and rioting after violence erupted near Kalol bus stand, Delol village and Derol station area on February 28, 2002, a day after the Sabarmati Express train burning incident at Godhra.

While the prosecution claimed that three persons were killed with deadly weapons and then their bodies burnt with the intention to destroy evidence, the court said it failed to produce evidence against the accused.

There were 52 accused in the cases of which 17 died during the pendency of trial that went on for over 20 years.

According to case papers, the police were informed about three missing persons during cops' visits to relief camps set up in the wake of the riots that broke out in the area.

It was alleged that riots broke out between Hindus and Muslims in Kalol town and two other places. A few days later, the bodies of three missing persons from the minority community were found.

All the 52 accused, booked under charges pertaining to rioting, unlawful assembly and murder, were arrested and sent to sub-jails at Kalol, Halol and Godhra before being released on bail.

A total of 130 witnesses were examined during the trial.

The court said in its judgment that no charge of rioting can sustain against any of the accused persons, and the prosecution even failed to prove recovery and seizure of weapons.

As per the order, it is the duty of the court to see that no innocent persons are implicated along with the guilty because of the tendency of the parties in communal rioting cases to try to falsely implicate as many persons from the opposite community as possible.

"In cases of communal riots cases the police usually prosecute members of both the community. But it is for the court to ascertain in such cases, which of the two versions is correct and the court can not shirk this duty on ground that the police did not ascertain which of the stories was true," the judge observed.

The court also came down on 'pseudo-secular media and politicians' for rubbing salt into the wound of anguished people shocked at the February 27, 2002, Godhra train burning incident.

"Peace-loving Gujarati people were shocked and anguished by this incident. We have seen that then pseudo-secular media and politicians rubbed salt into the wound of anguished people," it said.

Report says that 16 of Gujarat's 24 Districts were engulfed in communal rioting post-Godhra riots. Nowhere mobs were less than 2000,-3000, more. Often they were more than 5,000-10,000 strong. There were spontaneous riots in Gujarat. They were not planned ones, as described by pseudo-secular persons, the court observed.
A local court in Chennai on Friday granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) eight days custody of Tamil Nadu Minister V Senthil Balaji, who was arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the agency on June 14.

IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji being taken to a private hospital in Chennai. Photograph: ANI on Twitter

Balaji's counsel A Saravanan said the court has made it clear to the ED that Balaji cannot be shifted out of the hospital where he is currently undergoing treatment for heart-related issue.

Balaji appeared before the court through video conferencing.

Saravanan told reporters the court granted eight days custody of Balaji to ED and told the agency that he shall not be shifted out of the Kauvery hospital where he is undergoing treatment now.

The court was informed that Balaji was set to undergo a bypass surgery in "3-5 days," and certain drugs he has been prescribed have been stopped to facilitate the procedure.

The next course of action will be taken based on consultations with senior advocates, he added.

Balaji was arrested by the ED on Wednesday in connection with a cash for jobs scam dating back to the earlier Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK regime where he was transport minister.
Grim, filthy and dilapidated, many buildings constructed in Ukraine during the Soviet era hold basement shelters that were originally built to protect people from possible attacks. But one of these shelters, below a supermarket in Kharkiv, now contains a spotless white space, and is the only bunker of its kind in the country. Inside, some 6 million ($6.56 million) of medicines are stored under strictly maintained conditions. Almost all of them are destined for cancer patients who will continue receiving attention in the middle of the war. Behind the initiative is Rostislav Filippenko, a 32-year-old Ukrainian mathematician residing in Spain. The war caught up with him in his home city, where he was preparing his final project for his masters at the Autonomous University of Madrid by the warmth of his grandparents fireplace.

Moved by the tsunami of solidarity toward Ukraine from the beginning of the Russian invasion, Filippenko went to a hospital to ask what was needed. Within just four days, encouraged by his friends and contacts in Spain, he founded the NGO Mission Kharkiv to facilitate the distribution of medicine. Behind the deaths, the wounded, those who have lost their homes, who are hungry and thirsty and displaced, there are a series of forgotten victims: those who, as a result of the armed conflict, have seen the medical treatment that their lives depend on interrupted. Some dont even have their documentation because a missile destroyed their homes, Filippenko says.

In the city of Kharkiv, the second-largest in the country, 30 cancer patients a day, from Monday to Friday, can be treated. Each one arrives at their appointment with an insulated bag so that the medicines cold storage chain is not disrupted. The distribution takes place in the National Institute of Medical Radiography. From there, the patients go to other hospitals to receive treatment. All of our countrys resources are redirected to the army because we want to survive, acknowledges Arman Kacharian, head of cancer control in Ukraines Health Ministry, in declarations during a visit to the United States published on Friday by HealthDay.

Since February of last year, Mission Kharkiv has delivered more than 180 tons of medication, mostly from Spain, and directly attended to over 60,000 people. Their database includes more than 1,200 cancer patients. This box here is equivalent to a persons salary, Filippenko says, holding up a container of Rituximab, a cancer medication that is stored in one of the refrigerated chambers at between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius (35F-46F).

Some of the programs beneficiaries live in areas far from Kharkiv and in some cases close to the front lines. In total, Filippenko calculates, there are some 70 patients spread around those rural areas. That is the hardest thing for us, because we are an NGO that directly attends to the patient. The most complicated part is to get someone in the town with medical knowledge. The established protocol, he explains, obliges them to prepare individualized packages with the name of the patient, who must receive the medication in their own hands. Coordinating that process in a war zone is not simple. In the case of oncology, we need eight documents, seven from the patient and one from the doctor, he explains.

His mathematicians soul  he had no previous experience with medicine or pharmaceuticals  led Filippenko to gather the data of cancer patients in the region of Kharkiv, which was occupied by the Russian army early in the invasion and is still one of the main battlefronts of the war. He says that he has better information than the government itself, but that the organizations objective is to collaborate with the authorities, never to substitute them, to save as many lives as possible.

One of the objectives, he says, is to improve that collaboration and put down roots beyond Kharkiv, developing long-term plans. Filippenko does not hide that he doesnt currently plan to finish his masters program or work as a mathematician. The NGO now has a team of a dozen people, some working from abroad.

We collaborated with other NGOs like Doctors Without Borders, Doctors of the World and others from the United States. Well see if we can replicate this in other countries when this war ends, he says. Although first we need to replicate it in other Ukrainian cities, and for that, we need funding. Before the arrival of patients from other cities in the country, the employees of Mission Kharkiv had driven an ambulance full of cancer medication to Lviv, some 1,100 kilometers (680 miles) from Kharkiv. The ideal would be to have another bunker there. With $30,000 we can do it in any city, he adds, citing the growing necessities in the capital, Kyiv, and in other cities like Lviv, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia.

He stresses that what they need most are cancer medicines, because there were problems in that area before the war and there will continue to be problems afterwards. But he is constantly thinking of new needs to be met. The organization has developed a program to distribute first aid kits for hemorrhages to employees in critical infrastructure sectors such as power plants, which are frequently bombed by the Russians. Surprisingly, they are also needed for emergency services. We are already covering the three most important power plants in Kharkiv, and we have demand from Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia. They have their first-aid kits, but they are not suitable for wartime, says Filippenko as he closes the door of the refrigerated bunker.

In stark contrast to the facilities he has just left behind, his shadow moves through the corridors of the unrenovated old basement, and the narrow passages amplify his voice. Most of these shelters today have huge rusty iron gates and locks with a big wheel that barely turns. They do not provide adequate insulation in case of nuclear emergency. Nevertheless, many of them have served  and continue to serve  as shelters for the population in the current Russian bombing campaign.

The founder of Mission Kharkiv prefers not to refer to the high levels of corruption in Ukraine and that are often noted as one of the obstacles to its integration into the European institutions. But, at the same time, he stresses that transparency and a good reputation are two essential pillars that have contributed to the NGOs growth. Transparency is one of the most important aspects in the humanitarian world, he stresses. He has set up a system in which donors can access information at all times, except for each patients personal data, for which special permissions are required. We are a very tiny organization, but they trust us because we are raising the standards of other Ukrainian NGOs, he adds.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
India is much better suited than China to play a leading role in resolving the war in Ukraine because of New Delhi's old relationship with Moscow, a top Indian American Congressman has said.

IMAGE: Rescuers work at the site of the residential building destroyed by a Russian missile strike in Kryvyi Rih. Photograph: Alina Smutko/Reuters

Congressman Ami Bera said he would love to see the Indian government use its full diplomatic capacities to help end the conflict in Ukraine.

He said he was not sure if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden will discuss the conflict in Ukraine in their meeting in the Oval Office next week.

I am not sure (talks on this issue) will happen, but I certainly think India can play a leading role in helping us resolve the Russia-Ukraine crisis. India obviously has an old relationship with Russia, Bera told PTI on Thursday.

The Prime Minister can have conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin that we're not going to be able to have. I think it's in everyone's interest to see some resolution to this conflict. So, you see (Chinese President) Xi Jinping trying to negotiate some sort of ceasefire or resolution. I actually think India is much better suited for this role, because of the relationship that they have with Vladimir Putin, Bera said.

Since the Ukraine conflict began in February last year, Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a number of times during which he insisted that the conflict should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.

"We have said from the beginning, that dialogue and diplomacy is the only way. And to solve this situation, we will try as much as possible, whatever can be done from India," Modi said in his address at a G7 session in Hiroshima, Japan in May.

During the White House meeting next week, Bera said Biden and Modi will talk about economic partnerships.

There'll be some conversations around trade relations. I think they'll talk about supply chains. India can be a critical supplier of raw ingredients. They certainly have a mature pharmaceutical sector, but also on the technology side, he said.

There will be a discussion around geopolitical security, Bera said, adding that it will involve what is happening on India's northern border with China and those border incursions.

It will also be in maritime space. I think there'll be conversations about the defence relationship, some of the opportunities for co-production, the 58-year-old Democratic Party lawmaker said.

Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. They will host Modi at a state dinner on June 22.

The visit also includes an address to the Joint Session of the Congress on June 22. Bera said Modi's state visit to the US is a recognition of the strength of the India-US relationship.

The fact that he's invited by a Democratic President for a State Visit and by a Republican Speaker of the House for a joint session of Congress emphasises the bipartisan nature of the US-India relationship; how Congress and the administration see the importance of this relationship, he said.

Bera, who is in his sixth consecutive term, is the senior most and the longest serving Indian American Congressman in the House of Representatives.

He is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Select Committee on Intelligence.

(The address to the joint session of the Congress) gives Prime Minister Modi an opportunity to lay out how India is viewing the relationship to members of Congress; those important opportunities both in the economic space and supply chain, but also in regional security in Asia.

"I think it's a platform that the prime minister can use to emphasise the importance of the relationship from the Indian side, Bera said.

He said the US-India relationship could be the most important partnership of the 21st century.

Coming out of the pandemic, the opportunity for stronger partnerships in vaccine development in the pharmaceutical space, defence relationship has been very strong.

"I anticipate you'll see some announcements in the defence space that come out of the State Visit. So, I think President Biden has been a leader in this space and continues to be, Bera said.

The pandemic was a challenge for the US and India, he said, asserting that Modi and Biden should look at opportunities around supply chains, co-production technologies and how to work together on artificial intelligence.

Under President Biden, the Quad coalition has been elevated to the leader's level, he said.

That has placed an emphasis. Often people will say, this is about China, and certainly, China looms large in the conversation. But it's about more than that. It's about economic cooperation.

"It's about working together as leading democracies. It's about maritime security and freedom of navigation. I think you will continue to see the Quad take on more and more importance, he said.

Bera also said the diaspora is starting to play a role in moving the US-India relationship in a positive direction.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday charged Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular party founder, Jitan Ram Manjhi, of "spying on Mahagathbandhan allies" for the benefit of the Bharatiya Janata Party and claimed his exit was good riddance.

IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asked Jitan Ram Manjhi to leave the Grand alliance. Photograph: ANI Photo

Kumar admitted that Manjhi, a former chief minister himself, wanted to be a part of the June 23 Opposition parties meet but he was apprehensive that the latter might leak details of the conclave to the BJP.

"He (Manjhi) was in constant touch with BJP leaders. He recently met several BJP leaders He wanted to be part of the June 23 meeting of opposition leaders but I had apprehensions that he might leak issues/matters that will be discussed on June 23.

"I, therefore, asked him to merge HAM-S with the JD-U. He said he could not do so, on this, I asked him to leave the Grand alliance it is good that he has gone away", Kumar told reporters after the swearing-in of JD-U MLA from Sonbarsa assembly seat, Ratnesh Sada, in the state cabinet.

Sada, a three-time MLA from Sonbarsa seat belongs to 'Musahar' (rat catcher) caste, was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Raj Bhavan in Patna.

Santosh Kumar Suman, who is the son of Manjhi, recently resigned from the state cabinet, saying, "I quit the minister's post to protect the party after Nitish Kumar's JD-U gave a proposal to merge the HAM-S with the JD-U".

Kumar said, "Our party has given a lot to Manjhi. His party was given a ministerial berth in the state cabinet from JD-U's quota. Despite all these... he was in touch with BJP leaders."

The CM further asserted that the possibility of early Lok Sabha polls could not be ruled out.

"There is a strong possibility that general elections may not necessarily take place next year. These could be held earlier. Therefore, all opposition parties must come together to defeat the BJP in the coming Lok Sabha polls. We must start preparations after June 23 meeting", said the CM.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US next week is expected to be high on substance as both sides are looking at concrete outcomes in a range of key areas such as defence and critical technology and ways to simplify regulatory framework for deeper industrial cooperation.

IMAGE: In the second leg of his two-nation trip, Modi will pay a state visit to Egypt from June 24 to 25. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

People familiar with the preparation for the trip said a major aspect of Modi's state visit to Washington will be to lay a ground for forging a strong technology partnership and enhance economic engagement between India and the US.

There is a "very genuine and widespread interest" on both sides to use the visit to take the relationship to the next level, they said.

"In terms of focus areas of discussions, it would perhaps be a very forward leaning visit," said one of the people cited above.

The ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Friday formally announced Modi's two-nation state visit to the US and Egypt from June 20 to 25.

Following Modi's talks with US President Joe Biden, the two sides are expected to firm up a number of arrangements and deals, including one for India's procurement of 30 armed drones.

Both the leaders are also likely to deliberate on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the situation in the Indo-Pacific, China's aggressive behaviour in the region and other pressing regional and global issues of mutual interests.

Modi's visit to the US will commence in New York, where he will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the headquarters of the United Nations on June 21.

From New York, he will travel to Washington, DC, where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22, and meet President Biden to continue their high-level dialogue.

The prime minister will address a joint sitting of the US Congress on June 22, according to the MEA.

Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host a state dinner in honour of Modi the same evening.

On June 23, he will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, it said.

In addition to the official engagements, the prime minister is scheduled to have several curated interactions with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders, the MEA said.

He will also meet members of the Indian diaspora.

The people cited above said Modi's visit will be "high on substance".

"Even the symbolism would also be very highly substantive in terms of the political messaging," said one of them, adding there is a "deep, genuine, strong and widespread interest" on the visit by both sides.

In the second leg of his two-nation visit, Modi will travel to Cairo to pay a state visit to Egypt from June 24 to 25.

The visit is at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which he had extended to Modi in January when he graced India's Republic Day celebrations as the 'chief guest'.

This will be Modi's first visit to Egypt as prime minister.

"Apart from his talks with President Sisi, the prime minister is likely to interact with senior dignitaries from the Egyptian government, some prominent Egyptian personalities, as well as the Indian community in Egypt," the MEA said.

"Relations between India and Egypt are based on ancient trade and economic linkages as well as cultural and deep-rooted people-to-people ties," it said.

During the state visit of Sisi to India in January, it was agreed to elevate the relationship between the two countries to a strategic partnership.
Two officers, including a deputy commissioner of police, were on Friday removed from field posting within 24 hours of a lathi-charge on Bajrang Dal activists staging an anti-drug mafia protest at a busy intersection in Indore.

IMAGE: Indore police lathicharge Bajrang Dal activists, June 15, 2023. Photograph: ANI on Twitter

The action took place after leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in the state took strong objection to the baton charge that took place late Thursday night at Palasia intersection.

Indore Police Commissioner Makrand Deoskar told PTI DCP Dharmendra Singh Bhadoria has been relieved of his current duties and is posted as commandant at the Rustomji Armed Police Training College (RAPTC) in the city, while Palasia police station officer-in-charge Sanjay Singh Bais has been attached to the police line.

An FIR has been registered against "unknown persons" under Sections 147 (rioting), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 332 (causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code in connection with the Bajrang Dal protest, he said.

"Bajrang Dal activists were brutally caned by the police, which led to 11 persons suffering injuries. The action against the protestors is totally unjustified," BJP's Indore unit president Gaurav Randive told PTI.

VHP's Malwa region (Indore-Ujjain division) secretary Sohan Vishwakarma alleged "some police officers selectively beat up Bajrang Dal activists with sticks due to old grudge".

"We demand that DCP Bhadoria, who ordered the lathi charge, as well as an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and three station house officers be dismissed from service within 48 hours," he said.

He said if the state government did not sack these police officers within 48 hours, the VHP would launch a "violent agitation" in Indore and Ujjain divisions.

The police lathi-charged a group of Bajrang Dal activists and arrested 11 of them when they held a sit-in protest over registration of "false" cases against the outfit's members for complaining against those involved in illegal drug trade, Bhadoria had said earlier.

"A group of Bajrang Dal activists suddenly gathered at the busy intersection without any permission and staged a sit-in protest, leading to traffic jams on all four roads. When the protesters refused to budge despite repeated appeals by the police, they were moved away from the spot using mild force," Bhadoria said.

Eleven protesters were arrested under Section 151 (preventive arrest to prevent commission of a cognizable offence) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), he said.

Five police personnel suffered injuries while trying to control the Bajrang Dal activists during their 'chakka jam' protest, while some people also hurled stones at the cops, he added.

However, VHP leader Vishwakarma said Bajrang Dal activists, who were demanding action against the drug mafia, gathered at Palasia intersection when the police asked them to leave Palasia police station."

"The purpose of these activists was not to harass the public by blocking traffic. They did not pelt stones at the police," he claimed.

Talking to reporters in Bhopal on Friday, state Home Minister and government spokesperson Narottam Mishra said he has taken cognisance of the incident.

"We have also taken cognisance of the police action against the protesters and have decided to send an additional director general of police (ADGP)-level officer to probe all issues related to it, he said.
University Grants Commission chairman Jagadesh Kumar on Friday slammed academicians objecting to the rationalisation of National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) textbooks, saying there is no merit in their "hue and cry", and asserted that carrying out revisions in content is justified.

His remarks come a day after a group of academicians, who were part of the textbook development committees of the National Council of Educational Research and Training, wrote to the council demanding their names be dropped from books as their "collective effort is in jeopardy".

A couple of days ago also, a number of academicians and political scientists Yogendra Yadav and Suhas Palshikar had asked the NCERT to drop their names from textbooks over "several substantive revisions of the original texts".

"In the recent past, the attacks by some 'academicians' on the NCERT for revising the textbooks are unwarranted. There is no merit in the hue and cry of these academicians. The objective behind their grumbling seems to be other than academic reasons," UGC chief Kumar said.

He said the NCERT is fully justified in carrying out rationalisation of its textbooks' contents.

"The current textbook modifications are not the only ones carried out. The NCERT has been revising textbooks from time to time in the past too. The NCERT has repeatedly stated that the revision of textbooks originates from various stakeholders' feedback and suggestions," Kumar said.

"The NCERT has also confirmed that it is developing a new set of textbooks based on the recently launched National Curriculum Framework for School Education and that current textbooks in which the contents have been rationalised to reduce the academic load are only a temporary phase," he said.

As many as 73 academicians, including vice chancellors of central universities, NIT directors and IIM chairpersons, on Thursday termed the withdrawal of names over the NCERT textbook row a "spectacle" by some "arrogant and self-interested" people.

They also alleged that it was disrupting the much needed curriculum updation process.

The dropping of several topics and portions from NCERT textbooks last month triggered a controversy, with the Opposition blaming the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre of "whitewashing with vengeance".

At the heart of the controversy was while the changes made as part of the rationalisation exercise were notified, some of the controversial deletions were not mentioned. This led to allegations about a bid to delete these portions surreptitiously.

The NCERT had described the omissions as a possible oversight but refused to undo the deletions, saying they were based on the recommendations of experts.

It had also said the textbooks were anyway headed for a revision in 2024, the year when the National Curriculum Framework kicks in. However, it subsequently changed its stand and said "minor changes need not be notified".
The mass marriages in Srinagar were organised by the We The Helping Hands Foundation to curb dowry in society.

All photographs: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com IMAGE: Kashmiri brides head to the venue.

IMAGE: Witnesses sign the register during the marriage ceremony.

IMAGE: 61 Kashmiri couples tied the knot on Thursday, here and below.

IMAGE: Dates and sweets are distributed among guests.

IMAGE: Kashmiri chefs or Wazas prepare the traditional Kashmiri Wazwan for the post-marriage feast.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
It is important for the Congress not to be complacent after defeating the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka since voters can change their behaviour between state and national elections, says Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi being welcomed by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on his arrival in Thiruvananthapuram, April 25, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo

He cited the Congress' poor performance in the 2019 general election after victories in assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh the previous year to buttress his point.

The party, the author-politician said, cannot assume that because it worked in one state, it can work nationally.

In 2018, we not only came out as the largest single party in Karnataka but also had victories in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. And yet, when the Lok Sabha elections came around in the same states, the BJP trounced us... and even in Karnataka, they left us with just one seat in the Lok Sabha, Tharoor told PTI on the sidelines of the recent Valladolid edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival.

So if the voters can change their behaviour in a matter of months, between state elections and national elections, it's important for us to not be complacent.

The Congress won 135 seats out of 224 in the Karnataka assembly elections, leaving BJP with 66 seats in the elections held in May this year.

According to the Thiruvananthapuram MP, having a strong and effective local leadership and emphasising on local issues helped the Congress win in Karnataka.

The (Congress) president, Kharge, is himself from Karnataka, Gandhi siblings came and campaigned, but the lead was taken very much on the ground by local leaders. The emphasis on local issues, local preoccupations, economic issues, infrastructure issues in Bangalore all of these. The things that matter to voters is what the Congress focussed on, the 67-year-old said.

On the other hand, the BJP's campaign was very much top-down and centre-driven.

At the local level, they were much more disempowered and so people know Mr Modi and Mr Shah are not going to come and live in Karnataka and run the government. Whatever they had to say was discounted by the voters, whereas when you think in terms of who is going to actually be in charge in Karnataka and you look at what BJP was offering the previous four and a half years, people thought this isn't enough for us, we need a change, he added.

In Tharoor's view, it is evident that issues such as the hijab, halal, Tipu Sultan and demonising Muslims" have a shelf life and limited use.

Discussing the rift between various leaders of the Congress, he said differences between party ranks are natural.

Over the last few years, schisms within the Congress have repeatedly captured headlines -- between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, for instance.

The Karnataka elections were also fraught with tension over who would be chief minister, Siddaramaiah or DK Shivakumar.

It's natural in politics for people to have individual ambitions. They can be committed to the ideology of the party and to the overall agenda of the party but individuals can feel that they are better suited to drive that agenda forward, Tharoor said.

The Congress, I am pleased to say, has a relatively more democratic culture in a sense that people feel free to speak up to the leadership and speak frankly and so on. I think it is a question of having the freedom to express one's views, though ideally it should be done privately and within the party and not in public space, he said.

Last year, Tharoor contested the election for party president against senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge.

There are people who have expressed strong views and disagreements. In my own case, I have conducted a presidential election and lost but at least the party offers scope for that. Mrs Sonia Gandhi said to me that it had strengthened the party and I will take her word for it, the Congress leader said.

Tharoor attended the literary festival to talk about his book The Inglorious Empire.

He also attended sessions to discuss topics ranging from India's colonial past to international relations and Ukraine-Russia crisis.
Barely a week after his two-month-old daughter Dana died, Jose Luis Parra stumbled across some news that shook him to the core. Another baby had succumbed to the same respiratory virus that had killed Dana as she waited in an overburdened hospital for a transfer to a pediatric intensive care unit. Dana had tragically passed away under seemingly preventable circumstances in Quilpue, Chile, near the port city of Valparaiso. The Parras, a Venezuelan family, had only recently arrived in Chile when tragedy struck. The similarities between the two cases were uncanny and convinced the Parras that it wasnt normal to wait so long for a hospital transfer. Just when everything was finally ready for the babys move, she succumbed to a second cardiac arrest.

EL PAIS met Parra and his wife, Yessenia Sanchez, one evening after he returned home from a construction job two hours away by bus. Nothing is going to give us back our daughter, said Parra, but we want to tell her story so other children dont die from a lack of hospital beds. Yessenia told us, At first I didnt know it was a case of neglect and I didnt know about this [syncytial] virus. I just thought her little body gave out. Now I think she could have been saved. Martin, their four-year-old son, plays nearby in the modest home, decorated only by his drawings that still include Dana.

Dana Parra's brother, Martin, plays with a tablet near the drawings he made for his sister. Cristobal Venegas

In the first week of June, four infants lost their lives to respiratory viruses, including Dana, bringing the total number of infant fatalities to six. Criticism of how one of the largest respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) outbreaks in Chile was managed prompted the resignation of Fernando Araos, who served as the undersecretary of Health Care Networks in the Ministry of Health. On June 12, President Gabriel Boric appointed a person whose sole task is to ensure the availability of critical care beds. Boric also announced a remarkable 58.9% increase in pediatric hospital beds across the countrys integrated healthcare system, which includes public and private institutions.

After Danas death, her parents began questioning the decision they made three months earlier. The couple hails from a modest neighborhood in Valencia (northern Venezuela), and are the first university graduates in their families. They decided to leave their homeland during the severe food shortages of 2017. To raise money for a ticket to Peru, Yessenia sold the gold ring given by her mother for graduating from college. Jose Luis, who lost his parents when he was only 14, stayed behind a few more months to care for the beloved grandmother who raised him. By the end of the year, the couple was reunited in Lima and decided to have a baby. I was 30 years old, and we had been together for seven years. I didnt want to wait any longer, but it was a very tough year, said Yessenia.

Jose Luis took to the streets to sell arepas, empanadas and coffee. He tells us about those days in words that reflect his higher education. My feet were cracked from so much walking. The sun was so strong it felt like a rope around your neck pulling you to the sky. Terrible. The heat waves made the streets all blurry. Once they got their immigration documents in order, both found good jobs. Yessenia quit when Martin was born, while Jose Luis relational skills served him well at his sales job with a telecommunications company. While most of his coworkers would launch straight into their sales pitches, Jose Luis liked to spend time getting to know potential customers. By the end of the conversation, they always said yes.

Jose Luis Parra and Yessenia Sanchez tell the story of their infant daughters death. Cristobal Venegas

Jose Luis did so well that he was earning $300 a week in commissions in addition to his base salary. But then they changed the rules and started deducting all sorts of things from my pay, he said. He quit angrily, and the couple set up a street kiosk to sell mobile phone products. In 2022, Yessenia found out she was pregnant again. I wanted to have my daughter in Chile, because I knew things were better there. I had no problems in the hospital when Martin was born, but many of my friends did, she said. They learned from a Facebook group of Venezuelans in Chile that getting an entry visa was no longer easy, but salaries were better than in Peru, a country where they never felt like they fit in.

Yessenias sister who lived in Quilpue told them that Martin would get residency because he was a minor and the baby would automatically have Chilean nationality at birth. But the two parents would be irregular migrants. The important thing was the children, said Yessenia. So they went to Tacna, a Peruvian city on the border with Chile, intending to cross over into Arica without documents. Yessenia was eight months pregnant by then. They told Martin they were going on an adventure and would have to do a lot of walking. They tried to cross four times in two weeks, but the Chilean border officials caught them every time. They finally made it through by paying a few hundred dollars.

The family rented a place in Quilpue with a single bedroom, small living room and kitchen. Dana was born at 36 weeks and immediately began suffering from mucus build-up in the lungs, a condition that worsened when she was diagnosed with rhinopharyngitis. Two days after being admitted to the hospital, her health took a sharp downturn. She stopped crying every time her sinuses were cleared, and her coughing became listless. She no longer wanted to breastfeed. The doctors told the family that Dana would be transferred to an ICU, but 12 hours later, nothing had happened. Paramedics finally arrived to transport Dana to the ICU, but left when they learned no bed was available.

Martin has been struggling since the loss of his sister. His school noticed and assigned a child psychologist to counsel him. Martin is much more fidgety now and talks about his sister often. His parents recently found him hiding in the living room, attempting a magic trick to bring Dana back.

Neighbors took up a collection that helped the family pay for Danas $440 funeral at San Carlos Borromeo parish cemetery. The Parras are in touch with other parents who have lost babies to the virus, and buried their little ones in grassy cemeteries. Thats what Yessenia and Jose Luis wanted, but it cost $1,200, more than they could afford. No government officials came to Danas burial.

Martin's drawings for his sister. Cristobal Venegas

Since their babys death, the Parras have been approached by several legislators of different political stripes. The family says only Hotuiti Teao, a center-right congressman elected as an independent, has done something on their behalf. Teao organized a press conference for the family and urged them to request a meeting with Health Minister Ximena Aguilera. On June 14, the Parras and other families who lost babies met with Aguilera.

Irritated that politicians just call us, make us tell the whole story again and leave, the Parras are considering a lawyers offer to represent them in a lawsuit against the hospital and others for culpable homicide. The lawyer would only get paid if they win and receive financial compensation. Health Minister Aguilera said a congressional investigation would conclude in two weeks and the families would be given access to the report.

On June 15, a representative from the Ministry of Health called them to confirm their agreement with Minister Aguilera. Yessenia told him that they didnt have any agreement, but would like to speed up the Chilean residency permit process. The couple is on an emotional roller coaster and now regret leaving Peru. Theyve thought about returning to Venezuela and even discussed starting over in the United States or Canada. But they simply cant bear the thought of leaving Dana behind.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
You are the owner of this article.
Dogs have always had the distinction of being called mans best friend. They are the favorite animal of many and the most common house pet. However, an aggressive dog can represent a problem for its owner, or whoever has a conflict with it. In that regard, the journal Scientific Reports published Thursday an article that claims that on days with higher temperatures and higher ultraviolet (UV) radiation, the probability of getting bitten by a dog increase.

The researchers analyzed data on dog bites in eight U.S. cities from 2009 to 2018, with nearly 70,000 reported bites. What they found is that the incidence of bites increased 4% on hot days, 11% when UV radiation was highest and 3% when ozone levels rose. The relationship between high temperatures and aggressiveness had already been confirmed in humans, rhesus macaques, mice and rats.

Although they have not established causality, Clas Linnman, the main author, states that the explanation could be related to the stress that the heat entails for these animals, besides the fact that it can also influence the behavior of humans towards them. Stefania Pineda, a specialist in animal behavior and professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), who did not participate in the study, agrees with Linnman. She also points out that on hot days, people go outside more and want to interact with dogs, which in turn may stress them more and result in an attack. Heat-stress causes them anxiety and translates into aggression, she remarks.

As for the UV radiation, although the causes have not been fully established, Linnman cites several investigations indicating that ultraviolet rays affect the levels of dopamine in the striatum of the brain (which is related to cognitive functions and regulation of movement). There may be a link with the sensitivity of the systems of rewards for short-term actions, explains the researcher.

Pineda states that aggressiveness is regulated by serotonin and dopamine. If UV radiation is shown to reduce dopamine levels, this would produce signs of anxiety, which can become aggression.

The researchers also observed a lower incidence of bites during the weekends. Linnman attributes it to both dogs and people being more relaxed and having more time to interact in peace. Pets spend a lot of time alone during the week and can get bored, which can stress them out; while on weekends they generally spend more time with their owners, do different activities and relax, explains the UCM professor.

Why does a dog bite?

One of the limitations that the authors found is that the records consulted did not include data on the dogs (breed, gender, castration or sterilization status) or the victims (severity of the attack, age, gender, familiarity with the animal or previous interactions). However, Pineda explains that the breed does not influence the risk of bite: Many times, aggression is more common in small dogs than in large dogs. In addition, she emphasizes that there is a lack of data on these incidents, because when the attack comes from a small dog, medical attention is not usually sought.

A dog bite can have consequences such as physical injuries, infections and even the transmission of zoonotic diseases that can be fatal, including rabies, says Monica Boada, a veterinarian and predoctoral researcher at the Faculty of Psychology of the UCM, who is also not related to the study. In addition, it can psychologically affect the victim, adds Pineda.

The dangerousness of a dogs bite depends on its size, explains the ethologist. If the breed is small there is risk of a bite, but the wound will not be comparable to what a Rottweiler can do, for instance. The large dog has more developed jaws, stronger teeth and a more muscular neck; due to all this, when it bites it keeps its mouth closed and a tear occurs. If the animal is small it bites and releases, so the wound will be milder, concludes Pineda.

When such an incident occurs, the victim is likely to know the animal. We dont usually interact with unfamiliar dogs, so the risk is greater with those of family or friends, says Linnman. Also, they dont just attack for no reason; it generally is a sign that something else is going on. A pathology must be ruled out and, if it is a behavioral problem, the owners should get in touch with an animal behavior specialist to work with the pet, both experts from the UCM agree. They can also be possessive and bite if a person tries to take their food or a toy they are protecting, explains the ethologist.

Dogs warn before biting. However, humans are very bad at reading animals; we dont understand their language, says the UCM professor. Some signs that should be paid attention to are if it appears tense, if its hair is standing on end or if it is showing its teeth, says Boada. After the signals comes the growl and then the bite, concludes Pineda.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Plants may seem defenseless against insects, having neither hands nor tail to brush them away. But many produce potent repellent chemicals, ranging from ones that just taste or smell bad to ones that can kill.

These disgusting compounds work well against nibbling and sap-sucking insects that feed on a wide range of plant types, as well as grazing and browsing mammals. Yet inevitably, over the course of evolution, certain animals specialized to the point that theyre now attracted to even the most repulsive stuff that plants have come up with. In fact, many of the crops our own species grows for consumption, from tobacco to coffee to coriander, appeal to us precisely because of the compounds they produce to discourage herbivores. So, whats a poor plant to do?

Some, through natural selection, have evolved a different strategy aimed at dispatching unwelcome visitors: They send out odor signals to attract their enemies enemies. Depending on the signal, various members of a motley crew of self-interested creatures may respond. Some devour the plant eaters, while some simply deposit their eggs in them and let their larvae finish the job. Others bring in deadly bacteria.

Chemical ecologist Ted Turlings of the University of Neuchatel in Switzerland has been studying this bag of tricks for over three decades, in various spots around the world. A better understanding of these natural solutions, he believes, may help us to reduce our use of chemical pesticides, which are a threat not only to many potential insect allies, but also to human health.

Turlings and coauthor Matthias Erb of the University of Bern described the intriguing chemistry between plants and the organisms that protect them from pests, and how we might use it to our advantage, in the Annual Review of Entomology. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

How did you first get interested in these kinds of rather unexpected interactions?

After finishing my studies in the Netherlands, I did a PhD in the United States, at the University of Florida  I actually worked at the facilities of the United States Department of Agriculture. My supervisor at the time asked me to find out how specific parasitic wasps find their hosts. These are tiny wasps that lay their eggs in other insects, and out of each egg comes a larva that will then eat the host insect.

I was specifically studying wasps that attack caterpillars that feed on corn plants, and we initially thought the wasps must be using odors and visual cues that come from the caterpillars. But we found out rather quickly that it was the plants that actively emit volatiles that attract these wasps. And it turned out that they were producing a blend of very specific compounds in response to an attack by caterpillars, ones that they normally do not emit.

Just damaging the plant does not induce these same emissions. But if you damage the plant and then smear some caterpillar spit on the damaged site, you get the same reaction. That was very intriguing to us, as it suggested that the plants can recognize what is attacking them and respond accordingly.

Some compounds are emitted immediately from the damaged site  we call those green leaf volatiles; theyre what you smell when you mow the lawn. But in addition to that, the plant will synthesize these new compounds in response to the spit, ones it only produces when attacked by caterpillars. And these arent just emitted from the damage site, but also from the undamaged leaves of a plant that is under attack.

Much later it was found that its not just parasitic wasps that can pick up these odors, but neighboring plants as well. And other researchers have discovered that the response is stronger in plants that are more closely related to each other. Scientists are still debating whether other plants are just eavesdropping on this signal, or whether plants under attack are communicating and may benefit from alerting the neighbors. I was actually discussing this with a colleague yesterday.

How does this work from the wasps point of view? Is there a wasp species for every combination of plant and pest?

Not quite. The wasps we work with are generalists, so they can attack many different caterpillar species on many different kinds of plants. These plants all emit different volatiles. It has been shown that wasps have to learn to associate these odors with the presence of insect hosts for them to lay their eggs in.

So the wasps are confronted with different signals all the time, and its not always predictable which signal will be the most beneficial. You can imagine that a naive wasp that has just emerged from its cocoon will start off using general signals, like the green leafy volatiles that Ive mentioned before, which are emitted by plants when attacked.

This way, they may find a plant under attack from beetles, and since they can definitely not lay their eggs in those, they will learn to avoid the specific odors associated with that situation. But as soon as they find a plant under attack from a caterpillar and identify it as the right host, they will remember the surrounding odors as something to focus on.

Would it be possible to train wasps to be attracted to a certain smell, say strawberry, and spray it on plants wed like them to protect against herbivorous insects?

It certainly makes sense, if you are trying to fight one specific pest, to train wasps on the odors associated with that pest. But I wouldnt go with the strawberry approach you propose, because what would happen, I think, is they will fly around, look for hosts wherever it smells like strawberry, and not find anything. And eventually, theyll start avoiding that odor. It might be a good way to keep them in your field for a while, but it may not work for very long.

It seems to me it would be more useful to train the wasps, before you release them, on an odor that is likely to get them to the pest you want them to kill. This might be done by combining an odor typically emitted by a plant under attack with caterpillar feces, which the wasps get very excited over, but can only smell when they get very close.

Caterpillar feces is almost odorless, which makes sense: The caterpillars have evolved to minimize any possible signal for their enemies. For the plants, it is the opposite: They release very large amounts of the volatiles they produce to attract the wasps and other natural enemies of the caterpillars.

The widespread use of pesticides in agriculture to get rid of crop pests has contributed to drastic declines in insect populations. Might these pesticides have reduced the numbers of natural enemies available to help us control crop pests, and do you think there is a way to bring them back?

Yes. In Switzerland, there are efforts to have flower strips alongside cropping fields, which already helps to keep natural enemies around.

But if you think about how corn is grown in the US, that will be quite tricky. In much of the Corn Belt, where 40 percent of all the corn in the world is produced, there is nothing but cornfields. Well  and plenty of western corn rootworm, a beetle larva that feeds on the nutrient-rich crown roots that support the stem.

There currently are relatively effective ways to control that pest by using pesticides and genetically modified plants, the Bt plants, that produce a toxin that kills the larvae. But in all cases, Im afraid the beetles will eventually develop resistance.

The only way to avoid that, I think, is to use living organisms to control the pests.

Given that these larvae are underground, I imagine wasps will not be very helpful.

Thats right. But in fact, there are some very similar mechanisms operating underground. When under attack, the roots of most corn varieties outside the US produce a compound called caryophyllene, which attracts a number of species of tiny worms called nematodes that have a really intriguing life cycle.

Juvenile nematodes use signals like caryophyllene to find beetle larvae, then they penetrate into the larvae through any opening they can find. There they release the bacteria they always carry with them. These bacteria produce toxins that kill and digest the insects very quickly, and then they rapidly multiply. The nematodes then feed on these bacteria and the digested insides of the insect.

They go through several life cycles, producing thousands of new nematodes that will eventually burst out of the cadaver and go looking for a new host.

Intriguingly, though caryophyllene repels many herbivorous insects, the beetle larvae referred to as corn rootworm are, in fact, attracted to low amounts of it. Perhaps for this reason, in the US the ability to produce caryophyllene has been selected out of the local corn varieties.

We have shown in a field trial that if we restore this ability by inserting a gene from oregano, a plant that produces plenty of caryophyllene, we can reduce the damage from corn rootworm significantly because their roots were highly atractive to the nematode. Yet because the role of caryophyllene is twofold  it attracts the rootworm-killing nematode but also the corn rootworm itself  I am not sure this will ever be commercialized.

We are now exploring methods to apply the nematodes more directly to pest insects. These efforts are focused on the fall armyworm, which is actually a caterpillar, a major pest in Africa and Asia that is also very likely to show up in Europe in the next few years. Since it attacks the plant aboveground, it would not normally come into contact with nematodes that attack insect larvae belowground. So it has no defenses against nematodes.

We have found that the nematodes are very effective at killing the caterpillars if we inject them in a gel into the center of the plant or apply them to its surface. We have done field trials in Rwanda showing this is just as effective as using a pesticide, and we are running a field trial in Vietnam this year to test it there as well.

And in each case, we use locally occurring nematodes, to avoid the risks associated with the introduction of new species.

Where do these rapidly spreading pest species like the fall armyworm suddenly come from?

From the Americas, possibly from Mexico, where many of our crops originate. In its native range, the fall armyworm is less of a problem, probably because it is quite effectively eliminated by parasitic and predatory insects. But elsewhere in the world, it appears that such natural enemies are far less effective.

The fall armyworm was first detected in Africa in 2016, and within three years, it spread all across sub-Saharan Africa, causing billions of dollars of damage. Then, in 2018, it was reported in Asia, and now its spread all over Asia and even Australia, creating incredible damage. That has resulted in an enormous increase in pesticide use, which has extremely negative effects not just on the environment, but also on the health of the people that are applying it, who often dont have the means to protect themselves.

So it is very important to look for alternatives, with local partners, which is where the nematodes come into play.

What do you think is the chance that pests will become resistant to the nematodes as well?

Never say never, but I think it is unlikely, because unlike pesticides or toxins, the nematodes and the bacteria they carry can adapt to any changes the pests might evolve to avoid being killed. There are so many nematodes that there will likely always be a few with a genetic mutation to overcome the pest species resistance. And if that nematode doesnt evolve by itself, we can also give it a hand, by selecting the nematodes that continue to be effective in the lab, even switching to a different species. That is the advantage of working with living organisms: We can select, and they can evolve. And the better we understand them, the more possibilities will open up.

We are working on sensors now that can detect which plants are under attack, and even distinguish between different caterpillar species, on the basis of the odors the plants produce. We hope that in a couple of years, we could have a robot going through a field, smelling the plants, and not only giving the farmer real-time feedback on which plants are under attack, but perhaps also spraying some nematodes on them.

Robots that can detect weeds and spray them with herbicide already exist, and in August we will be testing if these robots can also be used to spray the insect-killing nematodes.

This article originally appeared on Knowable Magazine, a non-profit publication dedicated to making scientific knowledge available to everyone.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Humans can be unpredictable; let the robot make your coffee is the slogan of the Botbar coffee shop chain, which opened its first store in New York on June 10 in the trendy neighborhood of Greenpoint, at 666 Manhattan Avenue, a number that for the more esoteric could portend the dawn of a dystopia where dehumanization prevails. But for the bars founder, Denise Chung, the robots are here to help us and contribute to improving the quality of life for both baristas and customers. I will still have some employees who will have to fill the machines with coffee beans and greet the customers. The mechanical part will be taken care of by the robot. The Botbar has several tables and three machines where customers can place their order on a touch screen. Adam, a robot, is in charge of preparing their coffee (he can rustle up 50 per hour). Its an improvement for the community; instead of being served by a waiter who is tired of making 500 coffees a day, they will have a robot that ensures the coffee is made quickly and perfectly, Chung adds.

Chungs arguments are nothing new. According to Maria Jose de Abreu, a professor of anthropology at Columbia University, technological progress has always generated deep anxieties, not only because of the idea of machines replacing humans, but also, on a more metaphysical level, because of the myth of perfection associated with the machine, which would equate it with a kind of god, or even a beast. But according to a recent study by economists at Deutsche Bank Research, in the long run, AI will create more jobs than it will destroy. Furthermore, according to the thinking of American historian Louis Hyman, automation is not leading us toward the end of work, but toward the end of boring work. In an article in The New York Times, Hyman emphasizes: Everyday automation says the opposite: that the way to be more productive and earn more money is to use our technology to become more human.

This example is not unique. In California, the birthplace of Silicon Valley, similar initiatives have already been launched, such as Artly the Barista Bot (which also has outlets in Seattle and Portland), the creation of a start-up that has already raised around $10 million. Also noteworthy are Monty Cafe, which has franchises in six Russian cities and Dubai, and Tokyos Henn Na Cafe, where a robot named Sawyer has been serving coffees since 2018 and interrogating customers with the question: Would you like a delicious coffee? I can make you a better one than the humans around here. Adam, the Botbar barista, brings new elements to the counter. He has two long articulated arms  not just an automated arm  looks like R2-D2 from Star Wars, and waves and dances to entertain customers. The songs vary, but currently the Village People classic Y.M.C.A. is programmed.

However, in the view of Ethiraj Gabriel Dattatreyan, a professor of anthropology at New York University, the Botbar is problematic. It takes advantage of the opportunity for dehumanized, frictionless work. There is no need to tip, the robot can be insulted without consequence, and the employer saves the cost of a salary. Automation relieves owners of responsibility toward the classes that depend on wage labor to exist within our economic system, Dattatreyan notes. And with the beginning of the demise of the human bartender, the idea of the bar or coffee shop as a social redoubt also comes into question.

The rise of freelancers and remote work is changing the face of coffee shops, with many young people now using them as offices. Ankit Sah (Getty Images)

Quiet please, millennials at work

In recent years, the growth of immaculately designed franchises has been replacing traditional establishments. The rise of freelancers and remote work is contributing to bars and coffee shops becoming workplaces where a conversation can disturb those doing their jobs. This is already happening in the U.S. No more jokes, no more smiles, no more personalized recommendations, no more gossip. In this context of alienation, the figure of a robot waiter makes sense by contributing to efficiency and productivity.

Equanimity exercised by entrepreneurs endowed with moral qualities is the key. Progress has to be integral; it belongs not only to the techno-scientific field, but also to morality, says Jose Luis Mora Garcia, professor emeritus of history of thought at the Autonomous University of Madrid, who considers robots useful in 24-hour premises as long as their use does not impose an infernal logic of consumerism in order to make the apparatus economically profitable. If [Spanish scholar and humanist] Luis Vives appealed to judges as interpreters of the laws, let us appeal to the equanimity of those who have the technology so that robots occupy very limited spaces in our bars, when there is no other choice.

Bars and cafeterias have traditionally been meeting places; to watch a game, to meet friends, for dates, political debates, and cultural presentations. But people also go to these places on their own, to sit at the bar and chat with the bartender and other customers. They are spaces for socializing. According to psychologist Susan Pinker, the secret of longevity lies precisely in our social lives. And bartenders play a fundamental role in creating that feeling of comfort: according to a study conducted by Sondea for Coca-Cola, for example, 30% of Spaniards would leave the keys to their home with the bartender at their favorite haunt.

According to Spains National Institute of Statistics, no country in the world has more bars per inhabitant. In 2020, a campaign was launched for the Spanish hospitality industry to be put forward as a candidate to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pouring a good beer is an art and The tradition of preparing a coffee is more than 350 years old were among the arguments put forward in the candidacy. What happens if tradition and art become mechanized and controlled processes?

Jose Antonio Gonzalez Alcantud, a professor of social anthropology at the University of Granada, points out the atmosphere surrounding a bar promotes sociability. Thanks to drunkenness and food, modified states of consciousness are produced that facilitate enlightenment and free speech from its subjections. The French Revolution began in taverns. All its poets, from Baudelaire to Verlaine, or writers, from Balzac to Sartre, had their favorite taverns. In Spain or Italy, it wont fly. Robots serving people? Its not implausible, but its not going to succeed, he says. And if it does, we will be on the definitive road to dystopia, a sordid environment. Even so, we would have to humanize the robots and give them liturgical functions. We would anthropomorphize them, giving them nicknames and joking with them. The bar will remain the last trench of humanity.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
Canada has frozen ties with Chinas Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank after the banks Canadian communications head resigned, explosively accusing the organization of having one of the most toxic cultures imaginable on his personal Twitter account.

Chrystia Freeland, Canadas finance minister and deputy prime minister, told reporters on Wednesday, the Canadian government would immediately halt all government-led activity at the bank, while it reviewed the allegations and Canadas involvement with the AIIB.

Bob Pickard, the Canadian director-general for communications of the Beijing-headquartered AIIB, said he flew to Tokyo on Wednesday, two days after formally resigning, out of concern for his personal security.

Ive been advised not to set foot in China anytime soon. From a country where the two Michaels were kidnapped by the government, were maybe a little more sensitive or concerned about such things, he said in a phone call to Reuters, referring to two Canadians arbitrarily detained in China for nearly three years from 2018 to 2021.

The Party holds the cards

The Communist Party hacks hold the cards at the Bank. They deal with some board members as useful idiots. I believe that my Government should not be a member of this PRC instrument. The reality of power in the bank is that its CCP from start to finish, Pickard wrote in a tweet.

He added, I saw with my own eyes the extent to which Communist Party hacks occupy key positions in the bank, like an in-house KGB or Gestapo or Stazi.

The AIIB said in a statement, Mr. Pickards recent public comments and characterization of the Bank are baseless and disappointing.

The Wall Street Journal reported having seen an email by Jin Liqun, the banks president and a former Chinese deputy finance minister, which said to staff on Wednesday, We acknowledge the uncertainty these comments can cause for all of us that work at AIIB. We hope that you will join us in wishing Bob well for the future.

Jin has been busy burnishing the AIIBs reputation, distancing the bank from the likes of Beijings Belt and Road Initiative, which is seen by many critics as simply an extension or a tool of Chinas foreign policy.

We are proud of our multilateral mission and have a diverse international team representing 65 different nationalities and members at AIIB, serving our 106 members worldwide, many of whom have been with us since our formation in 2016, the AIIBs official statement on Pickards resignation said.

The allegations and the reaction by the Canadian government are likely to be an embarrassment to the AIIB, which has been representing itself as a transparent alternative to multilateral organizations such as the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

It also underscores tensions between the West and China over international development lending, with China frequently being forced to deny accusations of debt diplomacy involving its Belt and Road initiative.

But Austin Strange, a specialist in Chinas international-development finance at the University of Hong Kong, told the Wall Street Journal in a separate report that unless further member-states raise similar concerns it is unlikely there will be any major consequences for the bank.

Nothing but a lie

The Chinese embassy in Ottawa told Reuters in an email: "The claim that 'AIIB is controlled by the Communist Party of China' is nothing but a lie".

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Canada said in a statement that Pickards comments were purely a sensational publicity stunt.

Meanwhile, Pickard told the Financial Times from Tokyo, These people are like an invisible government inside the bank and this is what I cant be part of.

Although the response from the AIIB has been measured, Pickard claims that Chinas wumao bots  state-sponsored internet commentators  have been accusing him online of variously being an Imperialist and a spy, but nobody has suggested that such messages are coming from the AIIB itself.

Zichen Wang, a senior Beijing-based reporter for Xinhua, in his widely read Pekingnology blog on Friday noted inconsistencies in Pickards statements about the inner workings of the AIIB, and also noted that some AIIB employees said in media reports that Pickards claims came as a surprise.

Wang further cited the fact that India is AIIBs biggest beneficiary despite the fact that China-India ties have dived after the unfortunate 2020 border clash, which killed 20 Indians and 4 Chinese soldiers, as evidence of the banks independence from Chinas foreign policy.

Edited by Mike Firn.
Residents say officials sold their grazing lands out from under them

A mechanical digger moves toward protesters during a clash in China's northern region of Inner Mongolia.

An ethnic Mongolian herder has been sent to hospital after being hit by heavy machinery amid clashes over the sale of collectively owned grazing land in China's northern region of Inner Mongolia.

A video clip shared to Twitter showed a mechanical digger plowing into a group of people on grassland near Ar-Hundelen (in Chinese, Arikunduleng) township in Inner Mongolia's Zaruud banner, a county-like administrative division, as onlookers shout.

The incident comes amid ongoing migration of majority Han Chinese to the region, as well as repeated land grabs by government-backed corporations, whose shift towards large-scale industrial farming in the region has turned huge swathes of the ecologically sensitive grassland to desert.

The digger was hired by the company that had recently bought the land from the township government in the face of widespread opposition from herding communities over the loss of their grazing lands, rights activists told Radio Free Asia.

Some of the herders were also beaten up as they tried to block access to the land, they said.

"On June 12, ethnic Mongolian herders were severely beaten and suppressed in Ar-Hundelen ... as they were protecting their pastures," Japan-based Mongolian rights activist Khuubis said. "This happened because township officials ... unilaterally sold the land to Han Chinese buyers without consulting the herders or getting their consent."

"When the Han Chinese who claimed to have bought the land tried to force their way onto the land, the herders resisted, and [the buyer] ran into them with heavy machinery, seriously injuring one person," Khuubis said.

Chinese invaders

In the video clip, the digger is also shown crushing some of the herders' motorcycles and scooters, as onlookers rush to surround the injured man and call an ambulance to take him to hospital.

Herders told Radio Free Asia that a livestock breeding farm under collective ownership had sold off one area of grazing land to a Han Chinese businessman from outside the region for two million yuan, in the face of strong local opposition.

The New York-based Southern Mongolian Human Rights and Information Center quoted a statement from the herders as saying: "The Chinese buyer is now bringing truckloads of cows and other animals to the land, attempting to graze them in disregard of our protest."

It quoted one herder as saying in a WeChat group that local officials "are ganging up with violent Chinese invaders ... The lives of Mongolians are worthless here."

Repeated calls to two local herders rang unanswered on Tuesday and Wednesday.

An official who answered the phone at the Ar-Hundelen government offices didn't deny the incident had taken place.

"I don't know -- you can ask the propaganda officer," the official said when asked how the injured herder was doing, then hung up.

Ecological damage

The Southern Mongolian Human Rights and Information Center quoted the local police department as saying that the violence was "a dispute that escalated to a conflict between a herder and the bulldozer driver, Mr. Lu, and the accountant Ms. Lu, resulting in an injury to the herder Mr. Wu."

Overseas-based ethnic Mongolian activist Xi Haiming said heavy machinery and vehicles driving on the grassland can do serious ecological damage to the grasslands.

"This causes huge harm to the Mongolian herders," Xi said. "This incident being reported today is the latest in a string of similar incidents that have been going on for a long time."

"In this case, the Chinese officials were claiming that grazing the land put too much of a strain on the grassland, and was accelerating its degradation, even desertification," Xi said, adding that local people have been herding cattle on the land sustainably for thousands of years.

He said the spread of large-scale pig farms in the region -- owned by Han Chinese investors -- had actually caused far more ecological damage, as the effluent from the farms poisons the grasslands.

In 2016, hundreds of residents of Ar-Hundelen protested over pollution from alumina plants near their traditional grazing lands they said had left local people with higher cancer rates, herders with piles of dead livestock and poisoned the soil and water.

Police later detained Ar-Hundelen herder Nasanulzei, who goes by one name, after he spoke out about the pollution and shot video of poisoned sheep.

Ethnic Mongolians, who make up almost 20 percent of Inner Mongolia's population of 23 million, increasingly complain of widespread environmental destruction and unfair development policies in the region.

Clashes between the authorities or Chinese state-backed mining or forestry companies and herding communities are common in the region, which borders the independent country of Mongolia.

But those who speak out about the loss of their grazing lands are frequently targeted for harassment, beatings, and detention by the authorities.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
The clip shows older rural residents asking for tolls on a highway in the northern province of Hebei.

On the road from the northern Chinese city of Tangshan to Malanzhuang township in Hebei province, trucks are being charged an unofficial toll by local residents along the route.

Faced with rising living costs and a tanking economy, residents of Chinas rural areas turn to unofficial toll booths to supplement their incomes, according to a recent video clip uploaded to social media.

In a video clip filmed from a truck driving from the northern city of Tangshan to Malanzhuang township in the northern province of Hebei and posted by several Twitter users, the truck slows as a tall figure blocks a road, before an older man with a cell phone gestures briefly indicating the price to pass through the unofficial toll booth.

Whats that? the truck driver says. Talk to me! One yuan?

A woman then holds out a phone with a QR code on it, as the driver says: So we take WeChat Pay here, do we?

While Radio Free Asia was unable to verify the video independently, commentators said the phenomenon isnt new, but has likely seen a resurgence amid growing economic hardship in the wake of the three-year restrictions of Communist Party leader Xi Jinpings zero-COVID policy.

A long-distance truck driver on the route from Tangshan to Malanzhuang township in Hebei province says that he met more than a dozen farmers who stopped him along the way and asked for road money ranging from 1 to 10 yuan. Credit: RFA screenshot from video





Further along the same route, the truck pulls up again, to address an elderly woman in a burgundy blouse.

What is it? Money you want? the driver calls. The woman nods.

How much? Five yuan?

The process is repeated further down the highway, with two older women approaching his cab, waving cell phones and asking for payments of 10 yuan and 5 yuan respectively.

Things are going from order to disorder

Jiangsu-based current affairs commentator and former migrant worker Zhang Jianping said unofficial tolls are more commonly found in central and western China, where people are generally poorer.

These farmers only make 107 yuan a month ... What can you buy with 100 yuan? Zhang said. At the same time, retired officials get tens of thousands of yuan a month, while staying in hospital for an entire year, at a cost of several million.

Meanwhile, these farmers whove spent their lives knee-deep in the soil with their backs bent in the service of their country, what are they supposed to do?

Last October, ruling Chinese Communist Party censors removed a film about the struggles of a poverty-stricken farming couple from streaming sites ahead of the party congress, prompting a public outcry on social media.

Return to Dust, a love story about a couple who marry and eke out a living for themselves from farming despite being rejected by their own communities, has a bleak ending that is out of keeping with government public opinion policy, which views media and cultural products as a tool to advance positive stories about China.

A scene from the Chinese rural romance film Return to Dust. Credit: Return to Dust





China declared in November 2020 that it had eliminated extreme poverty, claiming success for one of Xis key policy goals ahead of the party centenary the following year.

Yet as government-backed employment schemes have focused on getting younger people to seek jobs in cities, elderly people in rural areas have been left to eke a meager living from government subsidies, without the younger generation around to help, and without enough money for decent medical care.

Many are deciding such a life isnt worth living any more.

New research published in July 2022 and cited by state news agency Xinhua showed that the suicide rate among elderly people in rural areas has risen fivefold over the last two decades

U.S.-based commentator Ma Ju said he first ran into unofficial toll booths in the 1990s, when Chinas economic boom had just gotten started.

The fact that they are making a comeback suggests peoples incomes are falling again.

People dont have enough for their lives to be sustainable, Ma said. The income of officials at the lowest level is limited, and there isn't much effort to maintain social order.

This sort of thing will happen more and more in future, he said. Things are going from order to disorder.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Matt Reed.
Others say they have no confidence authorities will address problem

Laos Ministry of Home Affairs has launched a hotline that citizens can call for government assistance, but many are afraid to use it because callers must reveal personal information.

After dialing 1526 to report an issue, callers must also provide their names, phone numbers and addresses so that police or officials can contact them if they require more information.

If they call asking authorities to solve a particular problem, the police can call them back easily after the issue is investigated and solved, a related government official, who like all sources in this report requested anonymity for security reasons, told RFAs Lao Service.

The official said since the hotline was launched on June 1, many have called asking for the ministry to solve problems and others have called to comment on the work of the ministry, but she was not at liberty to discuss how many people have called or what any of their requests were.

The Lao government has been using hotlines for public engagement since 2016. The countrys National Assembly also has an open hotline where people can raise issues for it to address.

But several Lao residents said they were reluctant to use the new hotline because they doubt the ministry can do anything to solve the problem, and they do not want to get in trouble for reporting problems.

If you ask for help from the government in a one-party country, and ask them too many times, its not good for you, a resident said. You have to reveal all your personal information so everybody is afraid to call.

Another resident said he was not interested in using them because hotlines in the past were ineffective in solving problems.

A third villager said that usually nobody answers government hotlines so it is useless to call them.

A Lao resident who identified as a Christian said that Christians have used hotlines once in a while to inform the ministry when they are harassed by local authorities.

Sometimes officials come to try to solve the problem but most of the time the complaints are ignored, the person said.

The good part of using the hotline is that we can inform the ministry of problems that we are concerned about and need them solved, the Christian said. However, many problems are still not solved  they always say they are still working on it

A Lao intellectual told RFA that most people do not trust government hotlines because they are afraid of retribution. For example, if they were to reveal government corruption, the responsible officials could use the power of their positions to punish them.

Translated by Sidney Khotpanya. Edited by Eugene Whong.
Russia blatantly supporting and advocating for the terrorist regime is prolonging the suffering, it says.

Myanmar junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing [center] oversees the signing of a nuclear cooperation agreement between Myanmar and Russias Rosatom State Corp. in Russia, July 11, 2022.

An advisory group of political parties and civil society organizations opposed to Myanmars military junta have condemned the Russian governments political support and continued sale of weapons to the regime.

The statement compared Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine to the mass killings and atrocities in Myanmar that followed the juntas seizure of power in a Feb. 1, 2021, coup detat.

Russia blatantly supporting and advocating for the terrorist regime is prolonging the sufferings of the people of Myanmar, the June 10 statement from the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC) said. The support and advocacy for the terrorist regime by Russia is not to solve Myanmars political issues but only to further Russias geopolitical interest.

The NUCC includes representatives of the National Unity Government, or NUG, civil society groups, ethnic armed organizations and civil disobedience groups. The NUG is the parallel civilian government of Myanmar made up of opponents to the junta.

Since the coup, junta chief Sr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing has visited Russia three times, purchasing modern Russian-made jet fighters, helicopters and military equipment. The two countries have also signed an agreement to build a small-scale nuclear reactor in Myanmar.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Myanmar junta leader Min Aung Hlaing on the sidelines of the 2022 Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Sept. 7, 2022. Credit: Valery Sharifulin/Sputnik/AFP





In February, Min Aung Hlaing wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he appreciates Russias support for Myanmar. The message was sent to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In a message sent in response, Putin said he believes the relationship between Russia and Myanmars junta will help the security and stability of the Asia-Pacific region.

NUCCs statement called for the immediate end of Russias support for the reactor project, saying it would create political instability for Myanmar and the region.

The diplomatic and military support provided by Russia is the basis for the terrorist Min Aung Hlaing group to totally disregard the agreements developed within the ASEAN, and also creates difficulties for other nations to work on solving Myanmars political issues, the statement said.

Russia cooperation likely to continue

Radio Free Asia called junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for his comment on the NUCC's statement, but his phone rang unanswered.

Simply condemning Russia, which apparently doesnt even care about international sanctions, wont work, said Aung Thu Nyein, a Thailand-based researcher of Myanmar issues.

Russias veto power at the U.N. Security Council, its military assistance and the recent visit to Myanmar of the Russian parliaments deputy chairman show that cooperation with the junta will continue  with or without criticism, he said.

But NUCCs statement needed to be made, and similar objections should also be made against China, political analyst Than Soe Naing said.

NUCC needs to reveal and condemn Russias blatant support and assistance to the Myanmar military junta, he said. That is what it is supposed to do.

Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.
In mid-May, along with her cat Cyrus, Sassan Darian visited the ruins of her home. Her house was consumed by flames, along with others, in a fire that lasted six days and burned 80 hectares in a residential area of Orange County. The worst nightmare of homeowners in Southern California became her reality. Last month, a month after the disaster, Darian returned to the zone to prepare the reconstruction of the home built by her father. The project would be almost impossible without the insurance payout. Now it will be more difficult for residents to find protection in a complex real estate market greatly affected by climate change.

Two giants of the insurance industry in the United States have announced that they are reducing their services in California, which suffers from a wildfire season that lasts at least six months. State Farm, a company that has been in business for more than a century, said that it has stopped selling accident protection to individuals and small businesses in the largest market in the country. The company justifies the decision based on the historic increases in construction costs, greater and more rapid exposure to catastrophes and the difficult industry environment.

After that announcement, Allstate informed the local regulator that since last November it has stopped selling new coverage for homes in California, which has at least 1.2 million homes in zones at risk of fire. The cost to insure new home customers in California is far higher than the price they would pay for policies due to wildfires, higher costs for repairing homes, and higher reinsurance premiums, a company spokesperson wrote in a message.

Allstates disclosure came along with a request. The company, the fourth largest in the state, was seeking authorization to increase its prices by 40%, some $720 million, for those who are still customers, despite offering the highest deductibles in the market. California is now the only state where the company does not issue new contracts. Proposition 103, a local law passed in 1988, prohibits insurers from changing their rates without the approval of the state insurance commissioner. State Farm is also seeking a 28% increase in the cost of policies for homeowners and a 20% increase for renters.

The Dixie Fire (2021) consumes a home in the town of Janesville, California. Ethan Swope (AP)

The changes made by these two companies do not put buyers of new residences at risk, but they do impact a hot real estate market. There are a hundred insurance companies working in the region. In addition, the state government offers a plan that provides affordable protection to those living in high-risk areas. As of last year, it covered some 272,000 homes.

The fact begs the question of whether this points to a national trend, as is often said when it comes to California. It may be a signal that some areas will become uninhabitable, a bad omen for residents, says Lisa Dale, a Columbia University professor and author of the book Climate Change Adaptation, published by the New York University. Dale believes that continued coverage for homeowners in high-risk areas can be a bad thing. The danger may become less visible, and people may not understand the threat they face.

Fires are not the only things putting Californians at risk. Rising sea levels threaten the existence of coastal towns, which are vulnerable to powerful storms. The state is also located in a highly active seismic zone. In addition, cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles have documented an increase in property crime. If companies are using timely information in their algorithms to conclude that its no longer profitable to do business in California, its a very important signal to the market, Dale adds.

Climate change is, among other things, the biggest problem in decades for the insurance market, says Dr. Marco Tedesco. The Columbia Climate School expert believes that the model currently employed by insurers is unsustainable and destined for failure, as there is no historical information from regions that have recorded unexpected weather events.

Things can change very quickly once large corporations get the ball rolling on market transformation, Tedesco adds. In Colorado, 76% of insurers reduced their number of clients in order to cope with wildfire damage. This reduced competition and strengthened the dominant role of five large companies.

Some Louisiana insurance companies became insolvent as claims accumulated from customers following hurricanes Delta, Laura, Zeta and Ida, which occurred between 2020 and 2021, despite the fact that hurricane damage is easier to estimate because of weather forecasts. The behavior of fires and floods is more difficult to anticipate.

Consumer organizations in California have asked local authorities to order State Farm to reverse its decision. If the commissioner lets the company get away with this, others will follow. The result will be an artificial lack of coverage and increased pressure on the regulator to approve huge premium increases without scrutiny, said Harvey Rosenfield, president of Consumer Watchdog. The group says State Farm has increased rates at a rate of 6.9% per year over the past five years for existing customers. The payout they make after claims is also lower than in other parts of the country, according to Rosenfield. While in other regions they pay 66 cents for every dollar they take in, in California its 45 cents.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
U.S. will be able to stage and deploy troops and vessels from 6 key facilities.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and Papua New Guineas Defence Minister Win Bakri Daki (R) shake hands after signing a security agreement as Prime Minister James Marape looks on in Port Moresby on May 22, 2023.

The United States military has been given unrestricted access to deploy forces from and develop key Papua New Guinea bases, according to details of a defense cooperation agreement signed last month.

The full text of the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA), which has been reviewed by RFA-affiliated news service BenarNews, shows that U.S. forces will be able to station troops and vessels at six ports and airports, including the Lombrum Naval Base and Port Moresby Jacksons International Airport.

Washington will have unimpeded access to the facilities, which may be used for mutually agreed activities such as training, transit, maintenance and refueling of aircraft, including aircraft conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activities.

The bases may also be used for staging and deploying of forces and material, bunkering vessels, security assistance, humanitarian and disaster relief. Some facilities, or parts of them, can be used exclusively by U.S. forces, which have permission to refurbish them, according to the document.

U.S. authorities have also been given exclusive rights to exercise criminal jurisdiction over American personnel in the country  a contentious provision that is likely to cause concern among certain groups in the Pacific island nation.

Papua New Guinea retains civil and administrative jurisdiction over U.S. personnel for acts and omissions outside the official course of duty.

The agreement signed on May 22 is part of Washingtons efforts to counter Beijings growing influence in the Pacific and experts say it significantly expands U.S. strategic capabilities in the region.

As far as I know, the US doesnt have a similar agreement already in place with other South Pacific countries  this would be the most forward-leaning, said Mihai Sora, director of the Aus-PNG Network at the Australia-based Lowy Institute.

He said a useful comparison would be the US-Philippines DCA, which grants a similar level of access for the U.S. there.

Changing security environment

In a statement to Parliament tabled with the DCA on Monday, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said the agreement with the U.S. would in no way compromise PNGs bilateral relations with any other country.

Papua New Guinea maintained its foreign affairs policy of friends to all and enemies to none, but traditional security alliances were inadequate to deal with current regional and global security challenges, he said.

He reiterated the DCA does not grant immunity for breaches of any law of Papua New Guinea.

Marape said the agreement validates the presence of U.S. forces to conduct defense related activities. It did not include or promote defense commitments or military intervention, he said.

The U.S. has stepped up its engagement in the Pacific under the Biden administration, underscoring increased geopolitical competition in the vast ocean region where Chinas diplomatic relations have burgeoned.

U.S. President Joe Biden had planned to travel to Papua New Guinea to sign the DCA, but canceled the visit at the last moment to focus on negotiations to raise the U.S. governments debt limit.

China, over several decades, has become a substantial source of trade, infrastructure and aid for developing Pacific island countries as it seeks to isolate Taiwan diplomatically and build its own set of global institutions.

Last year, China signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands, alarming the U.S. and its allies such as Australia. The Solomons and Kiribati switched their diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taiwan in 2019.

Sora said the regional security environment was changing rapidly and the view of traditional security partners was that existing arrangements needed to adapt.

What were seeing is an effort from traditional security providers in the Pacific, such as the United States, Australia and New Zealand to both elevate and formalize their roles as security partners of choice for Pacific countries through bilateral agreements, he said.

These security agreements sat uneasily with some Pacific stakeholders, and individual states  both larger powers and Pacific countries themselves  need to consider carefully how bilateral arrangements work alongside regional architecture established by the Pacific Islands Forum, he said.

BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news service.
Authorities say raids were carried out by young people with delusions and extremist attitudes.

Vietnamese security personnel continue their search for suspects in the attacks on the headquarters of two peoples committees in Dak Lak province on June 11, 2023.

Vietnamese security forces have arrested more than 50 people accused of being involved in last weekends deadly attacks on two commune offices in central Dak Lak province, a Ministry of Public Security spokesman told state media on Friday.

The June 11 attack left nine people dead.

Those involved in the attacks were young people who harbored delusions and extremist attitudes and had been incited and abetted by the ringleaders via the internet, according to the ministry.

But officials didnt say who or which organizations had incited or assisted the attackers.

The attacks occurred in an area that is home to about 30 tribes of indigenous peoples known collectively as Montagnards.

Vietnamese state media have reported that the attackers were Montagnards, but the ministry did not identify those arrested as such.

Religious and civil organizations advocating for the Montagnard people told Radio Free Asia in an earlier report that they werent involved in the armed attacks and condemned the violence.

Anger and frustration in the Central Highlands has built up after decades of government surveillance, land disputes and economic hardship, RFA reported earlier. In recent months, there have been a number of land revocation incidents by local authorities, police and military forces.

Sought to steal weapons

In the ministrys description of what transpired, about 40 people wearing camouflage vests and equipped with knives and guns split into two groups for a dawn attack on the offices in Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur communes.

Members of the two groups also had broken into Special Forces Brigade No. 198s barracks in Hoa Dong commune in Dak Lak province to steal weapons, but failed, the ministry told state media.

Those arrested said they sought to steal weapons so as to make news headlines, which they hoped would give them the opportunity to immigrate to other countries, according to the ministry. In their preliminary statements, those arrested said they had been incited by others to kill police officers.

Four police officers, two commune officials and three civilians were killed.

The attackers also kidnapped three civilians, though one of them managed to escape, and the others were rescued later, the ministry said.

The ministry said it would use all necessary measures to hunt down and arrest all suspects still in hiding and seize their weapons and explosives.

Vietnamese police officers escort a suspect arrested in Dak Lak province. Credit: Vietnamese State media

Vietnams one-party government has strictly controlled news about the shootings, heightening peoples curiosity about the incident, but Channel VTV1 of Vietnam Television and many newspapers have published the statements and photos of some of those arrested.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hun Sen of neighboring Cambodia ordered armed forces in Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri and Kratie provinces to increase security along the border to prevent fugitives involved in the attacks from crossing the border illegally, Chinas official Xinhua News Agency reported Friday.

Hun Sen said that anyone arrested would be returned to Vietnam if discovered.

Slapping social media

In the past days, police have fined people who share news about Dak Lak shootings via social media.

At least five Facebook users have been slapped with administrative fines for sharing the news and their comments, deemed to be harmful to the state.

Police in Dak Lak as well as authorities in Kontum and Binh Phuoc  two other provinces in the countrys Central Highlands  have fined businesses that sell imitation camouflage military outfits.

Two human rights lawyers told RFA on Thursday that state media should not have publicly disclosed information from the suspects statements to police or their photos, though authorities often take advantage of their power and privilege to provide news organizations with unappealing photos of suspects.

Publishing citizens photos without their permission or without blurring their faces, even if they are suspects or defendants, is a violation of their rights in terms of their image and could cause many consequences, especially when they are in high positions or are influential people, said one attorney from Ho Chi Minh City, who asked not to be identified.

A human rights lawyer from Hanoi said the Penal Code or the Criminal Procedure Code clearly states that statements from suspects should be kept secret.

Attorney Ha Huy Son, a member of the Hanoi Bar Association, said the countrys 2015 Civil Code contains a provision on the rights of an individual with respect to his image, stipulating that he must give his consent for its public use.

But he also pointed to another article stating that a persons photo can be used without consent from the individual or his legal representative in cases where it serves national or public interest.

The attorneys also said those arrested should be given immediate access to lawyers to ensure fairness and avoid injustice.

Neither the Ministry of Public Security nor Dak Lak provincial police have opened cases against the suspects, or provided information about their charges.

Translated by Anna Vu for RFA Vietnamese. Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led the Russian private Wagner mercenary group's aborted mutiny last month, has appeared in a video purportedly filmed in Belarus welcoming his fighters and saying they would be headed to Africa as the company was halting its involvement in Russia's war with Ukraine for the foreseeable future.

In the dimly lit video, posted by his press people on Telegram on July 19, Prigozhin is shown in front of a large number of armed men, greeting them "on the land of Belarus."

Since the Wagner leader was last seen pulling away in a vehicle in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on June 24, his whereabouts have been a mystery as rumors swirled about the man cast as a traitor by President Vladimir Putin, once a close friend of Prigozhin. What Wagner would do next with its thousands of soldiers was also a question mark.



"You have done a lot for Russia. What is happening now on the front line [in Ukraine] is a shame we do not need to take part in. We need to wait until the moment when we are able to fully express ourselves," Prigozhin says in the video, the date of which remains unknown, adding that "the decision was made that we will stay here in Belarus for some time.



"During that time, we will turn, and I am fully confident about that, the Belarusian Army into the second-best army in the world, and if need be, protect them.... We must get trained further...and then head to a new destination, to Africa, and then, probably, we will get back to the special military operation [in Ukraine] when we are sure that we will not be forced to shame ourselves and our experience," Prigozhin says.

The fate of Wagner troops has been unclear since Prigozhin led a short-lived mutiny on June 23-24, the biggest threat to Putins 23 years in power.



The authoritarian ruler of Belarus and Putin's close ally, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, was reportedly involved in talks to end the mutiny by agreeing with Prigozhin and Putin to host the Wagner troops, and their leader, in Belarus.



Days after Lukashenkas statement, a tent camp began to appear in the eastern village of Tsel, a former garrison for members of a Belarusian missile brigade.



An analysis of satellite images by Schemes (Skhemy), an investigative project run by RFE/RL, estimates there are at least 485 vehicles near the tent camp in total.



The images from Planet Labs show almost all the equipment is located near warehouse-like buildings, as well as the parking lot of the military camp. No heavy military equipment can be seen.



The Belaruski Hayun Telegram channel that monitors the movement of military equipment on the territory of Belarus said it had registered at least six columns of military vehicles and equipment with Wagner and Russian national flags in the countrys eastern region of Mahilyou since July 11.



In the Wagner video released on July 19, Dmitry Utkin, a former Russian military officer known for his ultranationalist stance, is also shown.



"It is not the end; it is just a beginning. It is our new phase. It is the beginning of the biggest work in the world that will be performed very soon," Utkin, who chose the name for the Wagner Group and has been one of its commanders, says, ending his statement in English by adding, "Welcome to hell!"



Wagner troops played a key role in Russias invasion of Ukraine, helping take main parts of the town of Bakhmut after nearly 10 months of intense fighting. Prigozhin said earlier that he lost 20,000 men during the Bakhmut operation.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Belarusian Service
Welcome back to The Azadi Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that unpacks the key issues in Afghanistan. To subscribe, click here.



I'm Mustafa Sarwar, a senior news editor at RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. Here's what I've been tracking and what I'm keeping an eye on in the days ahead.

The Key Issue

The Pakistani authorities have arrested hundreds of Afghans in the capital, Islamabad, and the nearby city of Rawalpindi in recent weeks for allegedly living in the country illegally.

But Afghan migrants who spoke to Radio Azadi said many of the Afghans targeted had valid documents and were unlawfully arrested.

"I've been arrested by the police, and even though I have UNHCR documents, they won't accept them," Arzoo Ahmadi, an Afghan migrant who was briefly detained in Pakistan, told Radio Azadi.

The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan said around 250 Afghans have been arrested in recent weeks. It is unclear how many have been freed or deported.

The Taliban also called on Islamabad to "cease the arrest of Afghan refugees," warning that the detentions could "adversely impact bilateral relations."

Why It's Important: The arrests appear to be part of a broader crackdown on the millions of Afghan refugees and migrants residing in Pakistan.

Late last year, Pakistani law enforcement arrested around 1,500 Afghan refugees and migrants, including women and children, in the southeastern province of Sindh. Some were later freed, while others were deported.

The authorities said the Afghan nationals in Sindh were charged with violating the Foreigners Act, a Pakistani law amended in 2016 that empowers authorities to deport foreigners lacking proper documentation. Courts can also fine or imprison foreigners for violating the law.

Islamabad warned foreigners that they would be deported or imprisoned for up to three years if they failed to renew their visas by the end of 2022.

Over 600,000 Afghans have fled to Pakistan since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, joining the several million Afghan refugees and migrants already residing in the country for decades.

Some of the new arrivals have remained in Pakistan because of delays in getting visas to Western nations. Most have said they cannot afford the hundreds of dollars needed to renew their Pakistani visas.

Moniza Kakar, a local attorney assisting Afghan refugees in Sindh, said the Pakistani police are stepping up their arrests of Afghans. "Even now, there are more than 200 Afghan prisoners in Sindh prisons," she recently told Radio Azadi.

What's Next: Despite repeated calls by the Taliban, Pakistan has continued to arrest Afghans in recent days. Islamabad has also been criticized by international NGOs for its treatment of Afghans fleeing Taliban persecution and a devastating humanitarian crisis.

Observers have said Pakistan is using the issue of Afghan refugees to put pressure on the Taliban. Islamabad has repeatedly called on the Taliban to expel the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an extremist group that is based in Afghanistan. The group has intensified its cross-border attacks on Pakistani security forces since the Afghan Taliban gained power.

The Week's Best Stories

Deadly attacks targeting Taliban officials in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan Province have left residents fearful of even stepping out to go to the mosque. The fresh attacks have raised questions about the Taliban's ability to impose its authority and the potential for Afghanistan's northeast to become a recruiting ground for the Islamic State-Khorasan (IS-K) extremist group.

Zhwandoon TV is the latest independent media outlet to come under pressure in Afghanistan, where the Taliban has tried to stamp out any form of dissent. The owner of the private Pashto-language station recently accused the militant group of trying to close down the channel. The Taliban has intensified its crackdown on independent reporters and media outlets over the past year, according to Afghan media watchdogs.

What To Keep An Eye On

An Iranian official in the holy Shi'ite city of Qom has said members of Iran's sizeable community of Afghan refugees and migrants risk being deported if they fail to comply with the countrys hijab law.

Ali Akbar Zarei, an immigration official in Qom, told state TV on June 13 that Afghan nationals would first receive a warning. Repeat offenders, he said, would be cut off from "all social services and could be forced to leave the country.

Why It's Important: The Iranian authorities have intensified their efforts to enforce the hijab law as more women flout the law.

Iranian women have been emboldened by the monthslong antiestablishment protests that erupted in September following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini soon after she was arrested by Irans morality police for improperly wearing the head scarf.

Afghans in Iran told Radio Azadi that scores of their compatriots were arrested for participating in the nationwide protests.

Afghan refugees and migrants have come under growing pressure in Iran after last months deadly border clashes between Iranian border guards and Taliban fighters.

That's all from me for now. Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have.



Until next time,



Mustafa Sarwar



If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Friday.
SOFIA -- The reappearance of the word "Jude" alongside a Star of David in downtown Bulgaria has alarmed the country's Jewish community and the owner of a local store following a stormy weekend scrape with supporters of a parliamentary party whose fortunes have risen alongside scapegoat populism.

On the morning of June 12, employees of the Cosmic Craft Beer shop found the anti-Semitic message scrawled on its front window in an ugly echo of the Nazi-led campaigns to identify Jews during the Holocaust throughout Central and Eastern Europe, including on these same streets in 1942.



No suspects have been identified.



But the vandalism followed tense standoffs with thugs from the far-right, nationalist Revival party, whose pugilistic leader and heavy-handed stunts have propelled it from also-ran to nearly 14 percent support nationally and 37 seats out of 240 in the current parliament during two years of deep political malaise.



"We have no intention of allowing ourselves to be intimidated and pressured," said a statement on the beer shop's Facebook page after the initial confrontation thanking the public after a "wave of support and empathy" that included texts, calls, and comments, as well as people turning up in person to push back against Revival's harassment.



The establishment's troubles began with a tense visit during an anti-government protest on June 10, when Cosmic Craft Beer's owner said a trio of Revival supporters in party T-shirts came in and demanded the internationally minded shop remove foreign flags hanging inside, along with other alleged harassment. Customers helped evict the men, who didn't purchase anything.



The same day, Revival supporters reportedly including lawmaker Slavcho Krumov broke into a nearby cinema to sabotage the planned screening of a film that was due to be part of the Sofia Pride film festival on June 17.

In response to the encounter at Cosmic Craft Beer, the owner taped up a printed sign that read: "We don't serve supporters of Revival," a photo of which was widely shared on social media.

A day later, on June 11, Revival supporters including Krumov blocked the beer shop's entrance demanding to be served, while the party boasted about its intimidation on its Facebook page, sharing the picture of the sign with the tag, "No bad publicity." It also encouraged followers to trash Cosmic Craft Beer's ratings on social media.



Neighbors arrived to try to help break up the Revival blockade before police finally arrived at the scene. There were no reports of injuries or material damage.



In its June 11 Facebook post, Cosmic Craft Beer acknowledged it was uneasy with its impromptu ban but decided to keep the sign up in light of the ongoing harassment by Revival supporters. "Regarding the sign that stirred up spirits so much," it said, "we intended to remove it in order to avoid petty quarrels, but after yesterday's incident and the numerous threats sent through various channels, we decided to leave it up for a while."



In its post, the shop added, "We believe that we live in a lawful state where everyone has the right to express their opinions and positions without fear of repression or their business being ruined."



The anti-Semitic messages on the shop window then appeared sometime between its 11 p.m. closing time on June 11 and the next morning.



Police said on June 14 that they had launched investigations into the cinema and beer-shop incidents.

Bulgaria has had a less problematic history with respect to its Jewish community than many of its neighbors.

Its political and religious elite earned widespread recognition for their actions in helping to protect tens of thousands of Bulgarian Jews from deportation to Nazi concentration camps during World War II. But the deportation of around 11,000 Jews to Nazi camps from other Bulgarian-held lands in 1943 remains a more sensitive topic.



Sofia has also hosted one of Europe's most prominent annual neo-Nazi events, known as the Lukov March to honor collaborationist wartime leader Hristo Lukov, which the local Jewish community has described as a "huge embarrassment."



Bulgarian officials are currently under EU and other international pressure to follow through on a 2021 pledge to enact a National Action Plan to Combat Anti-Semitism in line with an EU strategy adopted at around the same time.



The head of Shalom, a national Jewish group, expressed outrage at the vandalism but also at the ensuing silence that he suggested indicated growing "institutional support" for anti-Semitism.



"We are very disturbed, not only by the manifestations themselves, but also by the lack of condemnatory reactions and by the fact that in the last one year these people who are behind these manifestations have found their institutional support," Shalom President Alexander Oscar said.



Party Chairman Kostadin Kostadinov steered Revival into parliament on an ultranationalist, anti-Western, anti-vaxxer platform in 2021, with successive gains in subsequent elections during Bulgaria's two-year political stalemate.

Ukraine has barred him from the country over his outspoken backing for Russia since President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Kostadinov has also spoken disparagingly of Roma, and Jewish leaders have criticized him in the past for comparing pandemic measures to Holocaust-era restrictions on Jews.



Up to around 1,500 people were estimated to have joined the downtown demonstration organized by Revival on June 10 to protest parliament's approval last week of a new centrist government led by Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov, following five elections in just over two years.



After the vandalism, the shop posted another message of gratitude to like-minded opponents of Revival's views and actions, including an "organized troll attack to lower our ratings" on the search engine Google.



"What you did was far more than raising stupid ratings. You have shown that thinking people exist, they are here and will not simply kneel to aggression!" it said. "There are no words to describe how grateful we are and most of all how much hope you have inspired not only in us, but we believe in many others!"

Written by Andy Heil based on reporting by RFE/RL Bulgarian Service correspondent Georgi Angelov
Los Angeles County Public Health Emergency Operations officials leave St. Anthony's Croatian Catholic Church after evaluating the newly arrived migrants being housed in Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 14, 2023.

A group of migrants who arrived by bus in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday were sent from Texas in a move the citys mayor called a despicable stunt by a Republican governor.

Forty-two people, including some children, were dropped off at Union Station around 4 p.m. and were being cared for by city agencies and charitable organizations, Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de Leons office said.

They left yesterday and it was 23 hours on the bus and they did not have a chance to eat or to have water, said Jorge Mario Cabrera of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, who spoke to several migrants.

They are being fed; theyre taking shelters; theyre talking to attorneys, he said. These are migrants that have been allowed by the U.S. to enter because they have credible fears. They have not yet received asylum.

Many were from Latin American countries, including Honduras and Venezuela, and one person had an immigration appointment in New York, he said.

Mayor Karen Bass said she had instructed city departments to prepare to accept migrants from out of state, after GOP governors began sending asylum-seekers to Democratic states in recent months.

This did not catch us off guard, nor will it intimidate us, Bass said in a statement. Los Angeles is not a city motivated by hate or fear and we absolutely will not be swayed or moved by petty politicians playing with human lives.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the migrants were sent to Los Angeles because California had declared itself a sanctuary for immigrants, extending protections to people living in the country illegally and allowing them to apply for some state benefits.

Our border communities are on the frontlines of President Bidens border crisis, and Texas will continue providing this much-needed relief until he steps up to do his job and secure the border, Abbott said in a statement.

Last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis flew groups of migrants from border states to Sacramento, California, at taxpayer expense. Last fall, Florida flew 49 Venezuelans to the upscale Massachusetts island of Marthas Vineyard.

The migrants in Los Angeles were receiving help at St. Anthonys Croatian Catholic Church near downtown.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition
The UN nuclear watchdog said on June 16 after a visit by its chief to the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine that it was unclear whether water from the Kakhovka dam's reservoir can still be pumped to the plant.

There are indications that some water from the reservoir remains available, but it is unclear if the level is high enough to pump it for use at the plant, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on June 16 in a statement.

The pumps, which were last in operation about a week ago, might be replaced with new ones "that can potentially continue to access water at lower reservoir levels," the IAEA said.

The reservoir was a main source of water for cooling the six reactors and filling ponds at the plant before the dam on the Dnieper River ruptured last week. Kyiv has accused Moscow of mining the dam and deliberately causing its destruction. Moscow denies any involvement and blames Ukraine.

The bursting of the dam has further complicated an already difficult situation at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya plant, which has repeatedly been affected by downed external power lines that are also vital to ensuring the cooling necessary to prevent a nuclear meltdown.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi led a delegation to the plant on June 15 and issued a detailed statement a day later.

"The breach of the dam has identified vulnerable points in the plant's water supply chain and there is a need to adapt the entire system to the new situation," he said. "But I could also see that the plant is taking concrete steps to address these challenges, stabilize the situation, and enable the plant to ensure sufficient cooling water also in the future."

The situation requires continuous close monitoring, but for now it is being controlled, and there are measures being implemented to buy some time to prepare additional back-up water-supply options, Grossi added.

Grossi observed how the level of the reservoir has declined since the dam ruptured on June 6. He could see that the plant's large cooling pond and different channels at or near the site hold sufficient reserves to provide cooling water in the short to medium term in case the reservoir can no longer be used, the statement said.

Water from the discharge channel of the nearby Zaporizhzhya thermal power plant currently supplies the nuclear power plant's ponds, which cool the six shutdown reactors and spent fuel, he said. The water also keeps a separate cooling pond full.

Together, the discharge channel and the large cooling pond can provide cooling water for some months provided they stay intact, the statement said.

Plant officials informed Grossi that additional cooling water can be pumped from an underground water system and on-site wells, but it is not yet known whether these wells can provide all the water needed.

Grossi's visit was already scheduled before the dam burst as a follow-up to his proposal to the UN Security Council on May 30 of five principles for the protection of the plant. The principles include no attacks at or from the site and no storage of heavy weapons at the site.

"From now on, we will be monitoring compliance with these principles, which are designed to prevent a nuclear accident during the armed conflict, which is showing clear signs of intensifying in the region where the plant is located. This requires a strengthened IAEA presence," Grossi said.

With reporting by Reuters
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on Ukraine and Russia to de-escalate their conflict after talks in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as an African delegation launched a mission to broker peace.

"This war must be settled and there should be peace through negotiations," Ramaphosa told reporters on June 16. "We argue that there must be de-escalation on both sides."

Ramaphosa added that African countries were prepared to participate in further engagement and "share the African perspective" on finding peace in Ukraine.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

Zelenskiy reiterated that any talks with Russia now would be in Russia's advantage.

"To allow any negotiations with Russia now while the occupier is on our land is to freeze the war, to freeze everything: pain and suffering," Zelenskiy told a joint press conference with the African delegation.

"We need real peace, and therefore, a real withdrawal of Russian troops from our entire independent land," he said.

Zelenskiy added that he conveyed this message several times during his meeting with the African delegation.



The Ukrainian president said later that he invited the African leaders to take part in a global peace summit that Ukraine is preparing.



"Ukraine will be heard all over the world, and we will involve the whole world in the implementation of the Peace Formula," he said on Twitter.

The African delegation, led by Ramaphosa, is scheduled to continue its mission in St. Petersburg for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said Russia had "never closed the door" on the idea of Ukraine peace talks.

Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin touted the destruction of Western tanks on the battlefield and threatened to destroy military equipment provided by Western countries even if it's located outside Ukraine.

"If they are located outside Ukraine and are used in hostilities, we will have to look at how and where we can hit those weapons used in hostilities against us," he said.

He also claimed the Ukraine will soon run out of its own arms and will be unable to fight with equipment brought in from the outside.

Moscow has stepped up its air attacks on Ukraine as Kyiv launched its long-anticipated counteroffensive to reclaim territory occupied by Russian forces.

Moscow has stepped up its air attacks on Ukraine as Kyiv launched its long-anticipated counteroffensive to reclaim territory occupied by Russian forces.

Even with the arrival of the African delegation -- which includes officials from South Africa, Senegal, Zambia, the Comoros, and Egypt -- the Ukrainian capital was targeted by fresh Russian air strikes.

Ukraine's air defense said it shot down 12 missiles -- six hypersonic Kinzhal (Dagger) missiles and six Kalibr cruise missiles -- above the capital.

Two children and an elderly woman were injured as a result of the attack in the Kyiv region, local police chief Andriy Nebytov said, adding that more than 30 houses were damaged.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the air strikes on Kyiv on June 16 were a "message" to the delegation that Russia was not serious about any peace talks.

"Putin 'builds confidence' by launching the largest missile attack on Kyiv in weeks, exactly amid the visit of African leaders to our capital. Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace," Kuleba said on Twitter.

Peter Stano, a spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, also commented on the attack.

"With what happened today, it's very obvious also to the African leaders how sincere Putin is about stopping the conflict," Stano said.

Overnight, Russia attacked several Ukrainian regions with missiles and drones, the Ukrainian military reported. Deaths and injuries were reported in the Kherson region, the Donetsk region, and the Zaporizhzhya region.

Russian shelling also caused damage to civilian infrastructure in the Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions, local officials reported.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 20 drones, two of them in the southern Mykolayiv region, the military said. Russia launched five cruise missiles and numerous salvoes from rocket launchers on military and civilian targets, it added.

The command of the Ukrainian Air Force reported the downing of a Russian helicopter in the Donetsk region around 9 p.m. local time. The command said the destroyed aircraft was a Ka-52 attack helicopter.

The Ukrainian military's General Staff said that Russian forces during the day on June 16 carried out 24 air strikes and about 35 attacks from rocket salvo systems.

"The enemy continues to focus its main efforts on the areas of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, and Maryinka, where 21 combat clashes took place during the day," the evening report stated.

The report said the air force carried out 14 strikes on concentrations of Russian military personnel, and the Ukrainian military also destroyed three reconnaissance drones.

The General Staff's earlier report made no concrete mention of the progress of Ukraine's counteroffensive in various part of eastern and southeastern Ukraine, saying only that in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions, Russian forces were on the defensive.

But a military spokesman said separately on June 16 that the Ukrainian offensive was under way in the directions of Bakhmut, Mariupol, and Russian-occupied Berdyansk, in the Zaporizhzhya region, where heavy fighting is ongoing.

Ukrainian forces also had some success in the Vuhledar area of Donetsk, spokesman Andriy Kovalev said.

"Just today, literally, we received information about the successful offensive and the repulse of the enemy in the Vuhledar area. Ukrainian units are conducting successful offensive operations in the area east of the settlement of Stupochki in the Donetsk region, where they pushed the Russian occupiers out of their positions," Kovalev said.

Kovalev's statements could not be independently confirmed.

With reporting by Reuters and AP
For over 20 years, the Imam Ali's Popular Student Relief Society has worked on combating poverty and helping vulnerable children in Iran.

But the charity, which has over 10,000 volunteers across Iran, has come under mounting pressure from the authorities in recent years. In 2021, an Iranian court ordered the independent NGO be dissolved, a ruling that was upheld by an appeals court last year.

In July 2021, the charity's founder, Sharmin Meymandinejad, was arrested and charged with insulting Iran's leaders. He was kept in detention for months, during which he alleges he was tortured.

In an interview with RFE/RL's Radio Farda, Meymandinejad, who recently fled Iran, said the clerical establishment saw his grassroots organization as a threat.

He said his organization's interpretation of Islam clashed with what he called the intolerant and violent version promoted by the authorities.

"Our path was different than the one taken by the establishment, our reading of the religion was an attempt to promote self-sacrifice, mercy, and altruism," said the 53-year-old, who now resides in the United States with his wife and three children.

"But the reading promoted by the establishment is based on violence, which the authorities claim comes from above, they even say from God," he added.

The crackdown on the charity, which is widely known as the Imam Ali's Society, came after years of state pressure and a smear campaign by hard-liners, who have branded the organization a cult, Meymandinejad said.

One of the NGO's biggest critics has been the ultra-hard-line daily Kayhan, whose editor in chief was appointed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

"We didn't want to challenge the establishment. We were doing social work based on real [Islamic] principles," said Meymandinejad.

"They saw that a [nongovernmental] group was doing the work [of the government] and that comparisons could be made," he said.

The Imam Ali's Society has been credited with helping alleviate poverty and aiding marginalized Iranians. In comparison, large state charities with extensive funds are often seen as corrupt and ineffective.

The Imam Ali's Society, one of the largest NGOs in the Islamic republic, was launched in 1999 by a group of students led by Meymandinejad at Tehran's Sharif University of Technology. The organization originally focused on poverty alleviation but has since expanded its activities to include providing education, medical care, and social and cultural events for vulnerable children and campaigning against the death penalty for offenders who committed crimes as minors. The group has been credited with saving around 50 minors on death row.

Rights groups criticized the 2021 court order to disband the Imam's Ali Society as an assault on independent NGOs and said the ruling had been "made in apparent coordination with Iran's abusive intelligence and security apparatus."

It is unclear if the charity is still active or has been dissolved.

The original court order was issued following a complaint by the Interior Ministry, which said the Imam Ali's Society had "deviated" from its mission. As evidence, the court cited the group's "questioning of Islamic rulings," including the principle of qisas, or retributive justice, as well as "promoting falsehood by publishing statements against the Islamic republic of Iran."

The move came amid a wider crackdown on civil society and dissent. Scores of activists, lawyers, and journalists have been arrested in recent years.

The Oslo-based Iran Human Rights reported last year that two other NGOs, including the Society For the Protection of Children, have also come under pressure by the authorities.

'I Broke'

In his interview with Radio Farda, Meymandinejad also accused the authorities of sending children from poor Iranian families to fight in the war in Syria, where Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) deployed military advisers and fighters to prop up the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

Meymandinejad also accused the authorities of using minors to help crush nationwide antiestablishment protests that erupted in September.

Photos appeared on social media in October that purportedly showed children and adolescent boys wearing uniforms and holding batons. They appeared to be wearing the uniforms of the Basij paramilitary forces, a branch of the IRGC.

Members and supporters of the Imam Ali's Society said the authorities had recruited children from impoverished families to help "suppress" the street protests. In exchange, the minors received a "few bags of food," the charity said.

The Imam Ali's Society was among several groups that warned that the use of child soldiers was against international law.

Meymandinejad said he will continue to hold Iran's clerical establishment accountable for its actions even from exile.

He said state pressure and the alleged torture he suffered during his time in detention forced him to leave his homeland.

"I was weak, I wasn't strong like [prominent jailed rights activist] Narges Mohammadi. I was concerned that my children will pay the price for my activities," he said.

"After four months of torture I broke and signed whatever they wanted. I broke because of my children," he added.
I'm Steve Gutterman, the editor of RFE/RL's Russia/Ukraine/Belarus Desk.

Welcome to The Week In Russia, in which I dissect the key developments in Russian politics and society over the previous week and look at what's ahead. To receive The Week In Russia newsletter in your inbox, click here.

Twenty years ago, an important part of President Vladimir Putin's agenda for an oil-fueled Russian resurgence was building ties with the West. His war on Ukraine has destroyed them instead.

Here are some of the key developments in Russia over the past week and some of the takeaways going forward.

Obsession

On a hot August day in 2003, Putin and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi boarded the missile cruiser Moskva, the flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet that was moored near the site of a summit of the two leaders on Sardinia.

As the local media outlet L'Unione Sarda pointed out last year, the Moskva now lies "at the bottom of the Black Sea, torn apart by two Neptune missiles" -- an unseen symbol of what, for Putin, has gone wrong with the invasion he launched in a bid to subjugate Ukraine.

On a broader level, it's a symbol of the stark and in many ways disastrous path Putin has pulled Russia down over his years in power and the way Moscow's relations with the West, once promising, have become adversarial, confrontational, and increasingly tense, in large part due to what seems to be his obsession with controlling Ukraine.

On one level, the meeting with Berlusconi aboard the Moskva in the Mediterranean 20 years ago was part of a push by Putin, still in his first term, to portray post-Soviet Russia as a resurgent naval power by sending warships to distant locations.

'Language Of Peace'

But it was also part of his effort to build up relations with the West. U.S. ships moved away from the Sardinian mooring to make room for the Moskva, and the NATO-Russia Council, a forum that fostered cooperation and raised Russia's status in relations with the Western alliance to that of an equal partner, at least on paper, had been established in 2002.

Putin "spoke a language of peace" at the meeting, L'Unione Sarda said.

Twenty years later, he speaks a language of war, repeatedly casting the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine as a defensive war against the U.S.-led effort to tear Russia apart and impose its will on the world.

And 20 years later, with Russian-NATO ties in tatters, it is Ukraine that's expected to have its relations with the alliance elevated to the council level -- amid increasing discussion about "when and how" it might join the alliance.

Putin's decision to unleash the large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has clouded Russia's future and cast a shadow over his time in power -- a period that covers close to a quarter-century, since President Boris Yeltsin made him prime minister, and tapped him as his favored successor, in August 1999.

For some, it's tempting to see these developments as inevitable, or at least predictable, pointing to a long Russian history of conquest and colonialism, not to mention oppression at home.

But while there was plenty of tension with the West and some with Ukraine during the Yeltsin era, the future of Russia and its foreign relations was still undetermined in 2003.

"You have sense of a real missed opportunity on the part of the current Russian leadership," Jonathan Elkind, who was the Russian, Ukrainian, and Eurasian director on the U.S. National Security Council in the later years of Bill Clinton's 1993-2001 presidency, told RFE/RL this week.

Putin has repeatedly blamed the United States for the deterioration of ties, while U.S. officials and others in the West say Putin rejected good-faith efforts to foster increased cooperation and forge better ties.

"My sense is that Mr. Putin has benefited from being able to have an external enemy to blame, and that's played as big or a bigger role than any other factor out there," Elkind said.

Moscow's ties with the United States and Europe had their highs and lows in the years after 2003, but with the exception of a short-lived "reset" under U.S. President Barack Obama it was mostly downhill.

Out The Window

The start of the downturn can arguably be dated to 2004, when Putin laid part of the blame for a series of deadly terrorist attacks in Russia on Washington and the West. He also responded to the Beslan school attack and two nearly simultaneous airliner bombings by rolling back progress on rights and democracy at home, adding to animus in relations with the United States and Europe.

In 2003, those developments had not yet occurred. Three months before the Sardinia visit, Putin hosted world leaders in his hometown for another gathering that reflected both his effort to portray himself and his country as just that -- world leaders -- and his apparent desire to increase cooperation with the West: a celebration marking 300 years since the founding of St. Petersburg.

The symbolism could hardly have been more obvious. For Tsar Peter I, or Peter the Great, the grandiose city he had built with the help of European architects, builders, and engineers was Russia's "window on the West" -- and Putin, three centuries later, was casting a country emerging from decades of Cold War confrontation with the West as part of Europe.

For many years, Putin has also hosted the annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, an event that in the past drew Western business leaders and promoted Russia as a key player in the world economy.

This year, no prominent figures from the West were present at the June 14-17 event, and journalists from what the Kremlin deems "unfriendly countries" were barred from attending.

The contrast between this year's forum and those in the past, as well as the 300th anniversary event in St. Petersburg in 2003, is glaring.

Even back then, though, Putin may have focused more on Peter I's legacy of conquest and expansion than on the importance he placed on ties with the West.

Peter conceived St. Petersburg, "put it on its feet and made it great," Putin said during the anniversary ceremonies, asserting that it was built "with an imperial shine and a broad scale" that were "worthy of a city that aspired to worldwide importance."

Since he launched the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Putin's public comments on the tsar have focused on territorial expansion, not modernization or international cooperation.

In December 2022, hailing Russia's capture of the Ukrainian shores of the Sea of Azov -- the main accomplishment of his forces in the war, and one in which they have razed cities and towns and killed thousands of the Russian speakers he has falsely claimed to be protecting -- Putin said that Peter had sought access to the sea.

Last June, he likened himself to Peter, saying that in an early 18th-century war against Sweden, the tsar had returned lands that were rightfully Russian and strengthened the country, and suggesting he was doing the same today in Ukraine.

Battlefield Report

As Ukraine mounts a long-anticipated counteroffensive, it's unclear whether Russia will maintain control over any of the Ukrainian territory it has seized since 2014, when Russian forces occupied the Crimean Peninsula. And when the war is over or grinds to a standstill, Russia may be weaker, not stronger, than it has been in a long time.

Despite that risk, Putin seems likely to keep his war against Ukraine going for years if he can, analysts say. He will "stick to his selective perception of reality, looking for reasons for and ways to further escalate his addictive crusade against the current world order," Maxim Samorukov, a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin, wrote in an article for Foreign Policy magazine .

In Ukraine, that means a long slog. Putin himself has little to gain from stopping the war anytime soon, especially if the Ukrainian counteroffensive proves successful.

In an interview with RFE/RL's Georgian Service, historian and author Orlando Figes said Putin may end up being seen as less similar to Peter than to Nicholas I, who "went to war against the whole of Europe in order to defend what he saw as the Greater Russia stretching to the Balkans, and indeed in a metaphysical sense to the Holy Lands, where he went to war to bully the Turks into giving the Orthodox the rights over the holy shrines, and that involved what we now know as the Crimean War, which went disastrously badly for him."

Nicholas "lost the Crimean War and went down in late-19th-century history as the worst tsar of all time, really," Figes said. "It looks increasingly like Putin might end up with that destiny rather than any great stature he wants for himself.... I doubt very much at this point [that] he's going to get that."

That's it from me this week. The next edition of The Week In Russia will appear on June 30.

If you want to know more, catch up on my podcast The Week Ahead In Russia, out every Monday, here on our site or wherever you get your podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts).

Yours,

Steve Gutterman
KYODO NEWS - Jun 16, 2023 - 18:20 | All, Japan, World

A recently arrested Chinese researcher at Japan's national institute of industrial technology has denied allegations he leaked confidential data to a Chinese firm, investigative sources said Friday.

Quan Hengdao, 59, sent an email containing data on fluorine compounds to the Chinese firm but said the contents "did not constitute trade secrets," according to the sources.

The suspect played a central role in a research team at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Ibaraki Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, they said.

Quan, who was sent to prosecutors on Friday, is said to have had privileges to handle data at the institute.

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating whether Quan received any reward from the Chinese firm and how the institute managed its data.

Quan was arrested Thursday for allegedly emailing the data on April 13, 2018, to a Chinese company in violation of the Unfair Competition Prevention Act.

Fluorine compounds are used as insulating gas and employed as an insulator in electrical equipment such as transformers.

The suspect also taught at the Beijing Institute of Technology, which is believed to have links to China's military.

Related coverage:

Industrial researcher arrested for data leak to Chinese firm
KYODO NEWS - Jun 16, 2023 - 10:55 | All, Japan

Japan's parliament on Friday enacted a law to create a pool of funds to cover part of a substantial increase in defense spending to protect the country against security threats from its neighbors.

The bill cleared the House of Councillors despite attempts by major opposition parties to block it, enabling the government to set aside nontax revenues for multiyear use. The legislation is an integral part of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's plan to spend a combined 43 trillion yen ($305 billion) through fiscal 2027 to bolster defense capabilities.

Under the current plan, the government will secure the necessary funding by selling government assets or tapping surplus funds in some special accounts of the state budget.

It will also conduct spending reform and then raise corporate, income and tobacco taxes to partly fund the defense budget increase, though Kishida is yet to decide on the exact timing.

The rise of an assertive China and nuclear-armed North Korea, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have led to calls in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party for more spending to strengthen Japan's defense posture, a sensitive topic for the pacifist nation committed to an exclusively defense-oriented policy under its alliance with the United States.

Japan's defense budget has been capped at around 1 percent of gross domestic product, but defense-related spending will likely rise to 2 percent in fiscal 2027.

Last year, the Cabinet approved a plan to raise the taxes in fiscal 2024 or later, but the government appears to be tilting toward a delay to fiscal 2025 or later as Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki has said a decision will be made "flexibly."

Opposition party lawmakers have criticized Kishida for focusing on the size of defense spending rather than its substance. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan is among the major opposition parties against the tax hike plan.

The bill's passage by the ruling coalition-controlled upper house came after a parliamentary committee vote was delayed earlier in the week as the opposition bloc demanded more time for deliberation.

It cleared the more powerful House of Representatives in late May after Suzuki survived a no-confidence motion submitted by opposition party lawmakers.
VILLAGERS are bringing one of their favourite bands back for a welcome return this month  and are inviting you to join them.

Boy On A Dolphin have built up a special relationship with fans in the village of Letwell  performing at the village hall every summer for at least the last 15 years.

The band, who played major stadiums in Canada and the US in the early 90s and went on to fill Sheffield City Hall countless times, rarely get together these days, but frontman John Reilly, lead guitarist Pete Hiley, bass player Andy Needham and drummer Darren Ford are bound for Letwell later this month for two shows on June 27 and 28 as part of their 30th anniversary celebrations.

Parish councillor Martyn Sharpe says the annual visit from the Dolphins was the highlight of the musical year in the quiet farming village.

We put on eight or nine quality shows each year at the hall with top class performers appearing from all over the country, but nothing quite measures up to the annual appearance of Boy On A Dolphin, he said.

The village hall has become a home from home for the boys.

The band dont appear very often these days so the concerts are even more special than ever.

Not many bands get to celebrate 30 years together, but their music really does stand the test of time.

The songs John and Andy wrote in the 90s sound just as great today, and are just as relevant as ever.

Over the years the Dolphins have filled major stadiums in North America and played at the City Hall many times, but they keep coming back to our dinky little hall, and its now become a tradition.

Limited tickets priced 15 are available from concert organisers Martyn and Matt on 07909 960422 or 01909 731626.
Johnsonville, LLC is recalling around 42,062 pounds of ready-to-eat or RTE "Beddar with Cheddar" pork sausage links, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service or FSIS announced. The recall was due to possible contamination with extraneous materials, specifically very thin strands of black plastic fibers.

The recall involves 14-oz. vacuum-packed packages of "Johnsonville BEDDAR with CHEDDAR Smoked Sausage links MADE WITH 100% PREMIUM PORK" with a Best By 07/11/2023 C35 code date.

The affected products bear establishment number "EST. 34224" inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The RTE pork sausage links were produced on January 26, 2023, and shipped to retail locations in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas.

The recall was initiated after the Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin-based firm received one consumer complaint about the product containing very thin strands of black plastic fibers.

However, there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products to date.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers, and urged them to throw away them or return to the place of purchase.

In similar recalls citing extraneous materials, J.T.M. Provisions Co. in early June called back around 22,530 pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat beef chili with beans products distributed to schools specifically due to white plastic.

In April, Forest Park, Illinois-based Weinstein Wholesale Meats, Inc. called back approximately 2,122 pounds of raw ground beef burger products that may be contaminated with pieces of white neoprene.

For More Such Health News, visit rttnews.com

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. has announced that it will launch its first commercial space flight later this month.

Virgin Galactic plans to kick start its commercial space line operations on June 27. The four-day maiden commercial spaceflight is titled 'Galactic 01'. The second commercial spaceflight, 'Galactic 02,' is planned to fly during early August.

It will be followed by monthly spaceflights by Sir Richard Branson's space tourism company.

Galactic 01 will be a scientific research mission. The three-member crew from the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy will conduct microgravity research.

Virgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers with its advanced air and space vehicles.

Virgin Galactic's spaceflight system is gearing up for its debut voyage after confronting a series of accidents and technical glitches.

In May, Virgin Galactic mission specialists Jamila Gilbert, Christopher Huie, and Luke Mays successfully completed its Unity 25 mission to space to evaluate the end-to-end astronaut training and spaceflight experience.

Billed as the vehicle's final test flight, the Virgin Galactic's rocket plane climbed high over the New Mexico desert to the outer space before flying back down.

More than 800 people have booked tickets to fly aboard the spaceflight for a distance of 80 kilometers above Earth at a cost of $450,000.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
In Australia, Mahindra XUV700 is the only petrol monocoque vehicle, while Scorpio and Pik-Up get ladder-frame with diesel engines

XUV700 and Scorpio N have been a runaway success for Mahindra owing to their new-age appeal, distinctive design and road presence. Potent engines, tech-savvy interiors and advanced driver aids (with XUV700) seal the deal further. Mahindra is expanding its global presence and in a calculated move, launched XUV700, Pik-Up and Scorpio in Australia recently.

These two models join Mahindra Pik-Up Ute which was already on sale since January 2023. Surprisingly, prices of these Mahindra cars are lower in Australia as compared to the prices in India. This is amusing as these Mahindra cars are made in India and exported to Australia. Lets take a look at detailed price conversions.

Mahindra XUV700 is up to Rs. 1.8 lakh inexpensive in Australia

In Australia, Mahindra has launched AX7 and AX7L trim levels with petrol automatic versions only. So, AX7 petrol automatic costs AUD 36,990 and AX7L petrol automatic costs AUD 39,990 which roughly translates to Rs. 20.83 lakh and Rs. 22.54 lakh (ex-sh) in Indian currency respectively.

In India, AX7 petrol automatic costs Rs. 22.37 lakh and AX7L petrol automatic costs Rs. 24.34 lakh (both ex-sh). AX7 is Rs. 1.57 lakh and AX7L is Rs. 1.8 lakh cheaper than in India.

Scorpio N doesnt get any price benefits in Australia

Scorpio N (India-spec) is called Scorpio in Australia. Mahindra is only offering Z8 and Z8L trims in Australia, coupled with a sole 2.2L diesel engine, 6-speed automatic transmission and 4WD.

Z8 costs AUD 41,990 and Z8L costs AUD 44,990, which roughly translates to Rs. 23.66 lakh and Rs. 25.35 lakh (both prices ex-sh) respectively. In India, Z8 diesel automatic 4WD costs Rs. 23.06 lakh and Z8L diesel automatic 4WD costs Rs. 24.51 lakh, which is Rs. 60K and Rs. 84K less expensive than Australian pricing (both prices ex-sh).

It is to be noted that XUV700 is the only one with mandated ADAS tech in Australia. Mahindra has managed to acquire a sales permit for Scorpio due to provisions under ADR 98/00 standard. In effect, Mahindra has up to March 1st, 2025 to implement ADAS tech in Scorpio.

Mahindra has also launched its new Pik-Up ute in Australia in January 2023, which is a pickup truck version of Scorpio Classic in India. Prices start from AUD 37,990 (Rs. 21.41 lakh) for just the cab and AUD 38,500 (Rs. 21.70 lakh) for cab and tub. A sole turbo diesel engine with an automatic transmission and 4X4 transfer case powers this Pik-Up ute.
By Caroline Tam, KYODO NEWS - Jun 20, 2023 - 13:55 | World, All, Feature

Determined to bring "boys' love" romantic fiction into the mainstream, four fans in Hong Kong recently joined hands to open a small bookstore cafe where like-minded folk can freely explore their love of the genre without prejudice.

Boys' love, or BL, is a niche genre of fiction themed on amorous relationships between male protagonists. Initially created in the 1970s by female Japanese manga artists seeking to challenge gender stereotypes and sexual norms, it has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, gaining a large following in Japan and elsewhere.

In October 2020, Diane Chow, 26, banded together with three friends to open the store as a dedicated space where fans can gather and connect with others who share their enthusiasm for BL.

"In the past, people would give you strange looks if you picked up a BL manga in the corner of a bookstore," says Chow. "I wanted to create a space where fans can be free."

Located in the busy district of Mong Kok, the Fu Court, whose name is a reference to "fujoshi," or female fans of the genre, is lined wall-to-wall with BL-related paraphernalia.

Described by its founders as a "project" rather than a cafe, the Fu Court offers an array of manga and BL merchandise from local and overseas creators. The store contains a space where people can sit to read or watch their favorite works.

At an affordable HK$20 ($2.50) per half-hour, or HK$110 for the entire day, the small bookstore cafe attracts a broad demographic of customers, appealing to people from all walks of life irrespective of age, gender or nationality.

"We call our customers 'little angels' to avoid using gendered pronouns and to create a sense of common identity," Chow explains.

The cafe often organizes community-building events where fans can talk about their BL-related interests.

Topics range from movie screenings of popular works to philosophical seminars on BL classics. The cafe even holds workshops on the art of Japanese rope bondage, known as "shibari," and holds events themed on other kink-related subjects.

For frequent customer Kenna Lau, the Fu Court is more than just a place to read BL anime and hang out. It is also a place of self-discovery, free expression and compassion.

"(The Fu Court) is a place where I can take refuge, where I can always go whenever I feel suffocated from life's hardships," Lau says. "I've brought up all kinds of problems in my life with them (fellow BL fans) and they have never been judgmental about me or my feelings."

In 2021, Hong Kong broadcaster ViuTV released its remake of the hit Japanese comedy series "Ossan's Love," the first BL drama to be televised in the city, leading to wider recognition of same-sex relationships in the mainstream media. Ossan refers to a middle-aged man in Japanese.

The show, which stars members of the famous Hong Kong boy band Mirror, received positive reviews, becoming the network's highest-rated drama series since its launch in 2016.

Chow believes the release of the show, which explores themes such as love, identity, and acceptance through the lens of sexual minorities, has further contributed to changing perceptions of homosexual relationships in the city.

Despite the growing acceptance of gay and lesbian people in Hong Kong, sexual minorities continue to struggle with widespread prejudice in most parts of mainland China, particularly in rural areas where traditional values remain deeply rooted.

In recent years, the Chinese government has taken measures to crack down on the portrayal of same-sex relationships in the mainstream media, including introducing a regulation that banned the portrayal of "abnormal sexual relationships" in television shows and online content in 2016.

Chinese Communist Party-affiliated media has been critical of BL, claiming it has been "disrupting public morals."

According to Konnie Lee, 31, one of the store's four owners who also writes for a BL coterie magazine, many of the genre's manga titles are banned or heavily censored in mainland China, which has led to many mainland Chinese fans flocking to Hong Kong to visit the local store.

"I want people to freely immerse themselves in the world of BL in our store, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity," she says.

To keep the cafe open and running, the four friends have worked in shifts to lower labor costs while all holding full-time jobs.

Nevertheless, they have maintained their original zeal for the project, which has not gone unnoticed by their customers.

Speaking to Kyodo News, Lau said that they will continue to share their joy and love for the genre with the cafe's visitors.

"The owners...spread a sense of happiness to everyone, which influences people to promote BL culture and fearlessly fight for what they love," she says. "They didn't keep their love to themselves, they extended it toward society and transformed it into support for the LGBTQ+ community."

Beyond managing the store, the four owners have made their own BL stories and characters through screenwriting and film production.

With a pooled budget of HK$100,000, they set out after opening the store to independently produce the original BL drama "The Love that Dare Not Speak Its Name," comprising six 5-minute-long episodes.

The show was eventually picked up by a Taiwanese LGBTQ streaming site in 2021, enabling them to recover some of their original investment.

Since the show became a success, the four friends have continued working on independent BL productions, releasing the third and final episode of their newest series, "My Colleague at BL Shop Might be the Meant-to-be," on YouTube in April this year.

In the future, they plan to collaborate with mainstream television networks to produce a full-fledged original BL drama rooted in Hong Kong culture to share with BL fans worldwide, and hope to make an impact in Japan in particular, which Chow calls the "birthplace of BL."

Chow points to the liberating aspects of the genre, where men can be vulnerable and women can freely discuss their sexual desires without fear of being objectified. It has also become a way for her to imagine new possibilities beyond traditional gender stereotypes and explore new stories without boundaries, she says.

"(BL) explores various topics such as those surrounding LGBTQ rights, as well as body type issues and sexual harassment in the workplace. With such a broad range of subjects, I will never run out of interest."
KYODO NEWS - Jun 16, 2023 - 15:47 | All, World, Japan

The Japanese government said Friday it plans to implement a new law that regulates smartphone app stores to promote easier market access for third-party developers and spur competition amid the Apple Inc. and Google LLC duopoly.

The envisaged law would make it mandatory for the dominant smartphone operating system providers to allow the entry of third-party app stores if they are deemed safe, government officials said.

After hearing of the government plan, Apple's Japan office said in a statement that it "objects" to many of the proposals, noting they "put at risk" the company's ability to support app developers and protect the privacy and security of the users. It said it will continue discussions with the government.

The strengthening of regulation also came after Google urged the government to take a cautious stance in light of consumers' interests and to not discourage developers' incentive to innovate.

Google's Japan office said in a statement, "We will deepen constructive discussions with related parties in the industry and the government."

At present, Google's Android and Apple's iOS dominate the operating system market, with customers having little choice but to use their respective Google Play and App Store portals.

Similarly, app developers have few options but to adhere to the policies and rules enforced on the two IT giants' selling platforms.

Due to the duopoly status, fees that app developers pay to app store operators remain inflated and the screening process is not sufficiently transparent, the officials said.

The situation also hinders innovation in mobile device apps and restricts consumer choice, they said.

However, the prospect of the development of new app stores has also raised safety concerns, with the protection of personal data and the spread of malicious apps a worry, they said.

The envisaged law would also ban operators from requiring app developers to use the platforms' payment infrastructure, the officials said, adding the imposition of penalties is being considered.
 Browser Compatibility

Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.

We recommend switching to one of the following browsers:
The Quest to Save the Starlight Bowl

A local nonprofit looks to restore the historic Balboa Park venue to its former glory
Articles Sorry, there are no recent results for popular articles.

Images Sorry, there are no recent results for popular images.
A respected banker and accountant in San Diego for several decades, Mary Louise Freddie Frederick-Olbrich didnt talk much about her 1960s television appearances..

On the CBS TV series Route 66, which ran from 1960-64, Ms. Frederick-Olbrich worked as a stunt woman with actor Martin Milner. She used her background as a track athlete and her discipline as a judo master for her parts on the hit show.

She might have mentioned the show once or twice but never really said much about it, said longtime co-worker John Schoonhoven of El Cajon. Freddie was much more concerned about the people around her rather than bragging about herself. She always made me feel at home in the office and made all of us feel like part of her family.

Advertisement

Ms. Frederick-Olbrich died at her La Mesa home July 12 from metastatic lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. She was 87.

She was born July 26, 1929, in Rocky River, Ohio, the oldest of four children to John Earl and Eleanor M. Frederick.

She moved from Ohio to San Diego in 1971, settling in Jamul from 1975-96, before moving into a cottage in La Mesa. She was married twice and had six children.

Freddie was a strong, independent woman, who sought gender equality in the workforce and refused to be bound by the 1950s societal norms of being a housewife, said her daughter, Constance Lee Sandvick. Her motto was, Never look back. 

Sandvick said her mother became an accomplished accountant who rose through the ranks in the financial world and was highly respected by many in the 1970s and 80s.

Ms. Frederick-Olbrich was a vice president for Crocker Mortgage Co. and eventually moved onto the director of accounting position for Freddie Mac.

After she retired from the corporate world, she became an accounting consultant, ultimately spending full time working and helping her sons in their various business ventures, Sandvick said.

In her younger years, she worked tirelessly not only in raising her six children but in pursuing a career, Sandvick said.

She passed onto her children her considerable artistic, intellectual and financial talents, as her children practice in architecture, law, college academia, business finance and art, she said.

Sandvick said her mother loved nature, especially being by the water, be it a lake, river, bay or ocean. She enjoyed working on home improvement projects, playing volleyball and being challenged by word and numbers games.

An avid reader, with a keen interest in science fiction, Ms. Frederick-Olbrich read at least one book a week, sometimes finishing a book in just one day.

Most of all, she enjoyed being of service to her family, Sandvick said.

Ms. Frederick-Olbrich is survived by four sons and two daughters: Jonathan Sandvick (Ann) of Cleveland; Ronald Sandvick (Jamie) of La Mesa, Gayle Ann Sandvick of La Mesa; Constance Lee Sandvick of San Diego; Frederick Sandvick of San Diego; and John Olbrich of La Mesa; by nine grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Two sisters (Loretta and Norma) preceded her in death. She is survived by her brother, John Frederick.

Donations can be given to her favorite organizations: Helen Woodward Animal Center, the Humane Society or St. Josephs Indian School.

A celebration of her life will be held for family and friends on Saturday, Aug. 19. For more information, email Constance Lee Sandvick at PacBch92109@aol.com

karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com
KYODO NEWS - Jun 16, 2023 - 17:49 | All, Japan

Japan's parliament on Friday enacted laws to criminalize nonconsensual sexual acts even in the absence of physical violence or coercion, and to raise the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16 to protect children from abuse.

The laws, which include amendments to the country's Penal Code, passed the House of Councillors with unanimous consent after being approved by the House of Representatives. "Upskirting" and other forms of capturing sexualized images of people without their consent will also be criminalized.

The revisions are partly intended to better clarify the illegality of nonconsensual sexual offenses such as rape. Rape was renamed "forcible sexual intercourse" when Japan revised its Penal Code in 2017.

Sexual acts conducted in situations where a person may struggle to "form, express or fulfill the intention to resist" will also be subject to potential punishment, the revised laws said.

Examples cited were situations involving assault, the victim being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or the perpetrator abusing their economic or social power.

The move comes amid concerns over inconsistencies in the verdicts reached by courts and investigative authorities in a series of sexual offense cases, leading to the supporters of victims in such cases to call for legal reform.

The revised laws also criminalize sex with children under the age of 16, raising the legal age of consent from 13, which had remained unchanged for more than a century and was one of the lowest among developed nations.

While the changes will make sexual intercourse with a person under 16 illegal regardless of consent, an exception will be made for cases in which an individual aged 13 to 15 has consensual intercourse with a person less than five years older than them.

The statute of limitations for prosecution of nonconsensual intercourse will be extended from 10 to 15 years.

If a victim is below the age of 18, the statute of limitations will not commence until the victim turns 18 -- the legal age of adulthood in Japan.

A supplementary provision was included when the legislation passed through the lower house, stipulating that a further review of the statute of limitations will be considered five years after the laws come into force, apparently to heed calls for a further extension, as it can take time for victims to decide to report sexual crimes.

The new criminalization of upskirting and taking images of people's genitalia, buttocks or breasts without people's consent means perpetrators could face imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to 3 million yen ($21,000).

Related coverage:

Japan lower house passes bill to reform law on sex crimes

Japan OKs bill to reform sexual offense charge, raise age of consent
Photo taken on April 7, 2021 shows the China-funded solar energy panels installed at a children's hospital in Gaza city. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)

China has long been a pivotal and balanced country committed to international resolutions regarding the Palestinian question and the Palestinian people's rights.

BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Beijing on Wednesday, where both announced a strategic partnership between China and Palestine.

Abbas, who kicked off his four-day state visit to China on Tuesday, is the first Arab head of state hosted by China this year.

During their meeting on Wednesday, Xi put forward a three-point proposal for the settlement of the Palestinian question and voiced China's support for Palestine in becoming a full member state of the United Nations. He said China stands ready to play a positive role in assisting Palestine in achieving internal reconciliation and promoting peace talks.





SIGNIFICANT MEETING

This year marks the 35th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between China and Palestine. China is among the first countries to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization and the State of Palestine.

China has all along firmly supported the Palestinian people's just cause of restoring their legitimate national rights and worked for a comprehensive, just and durable solution to the Palestinian question at an early date, Xi said on Wednesday.

Workers transfer Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines in Salem village, east of the West Bank city of Nablus, March 29, 2021. China handed over a batch of donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines to Palestine to support its nationwide fight against the pandemic. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

Underscoring the significance of the meeting between the two leaders, Sun Degang, director of Center for Middle Eastern Studies at China's Fudan University, said China carried out the head of state diplomacy with Palestine in an effort to promote peace and development in the Middle East.

If peace between Palestine and Israel cannot be reached, the Middle East will not have sustainable peace, and regional reconciliation will be gravely jeopardized, he said.



Because of significant disagreements over security, Israeli settlement expansion and establishing a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, U.S.-sponsored peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine have stalled since March 2014.

"After years of marginalization and the Israeli government's refusal to sit at the negotiating table to revive the peace process, the Palestinians are looking for a different approach from the international community towards finding a serious and quick solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict," said Mazen Shamieh, former assistant minister for the Palestinian Foreign Ministry.

Strengthening ties with China will help Palestinians internationalize and mobilize more support for their cause, Shamieh said.





FREQUENT HIGH-LEVEL EXCHANGES

China and Palestine are good friends and good partners who trust and support each other, Xi said on Wednesday.

Over the past several years, high-level exchanges between China and Palestine have been frequent.

For 10 consecutive years, Xi has sent congratulatory messages to the special commemorative meeting in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, and more than once he put forward China's proposals for resolving the Palestinian question, stressing the need to resolutely advance a political settlement based on the two-state solution and intensify international efforts for peace.

In July 2017, Abbas awarded the highest Palestinian medal to Xi for China's support for the just cause of Palestine and to pay homage to Xi himself.

This week's visit by Abbas is the Palestinian leader's fifth to China. The Palestinian leader also met Xi during the first China-Arab States Summit held in the Saudi capital of Riyadh in December last year.

In addition to high-level exchanges, China has often spoken up for Palestine, championed justice, and provided assistance to help ease humanitarian difficulties and reconstruction in Palestine.

Over the past years, China has completed dozens of assistance projects in Palestine, helping the latter build schools and roads. After the outbreak of COVID-19, China sent medical personnel and vaccines to Palestine to aid in the fight against the pandemic. China also frequently donated to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

A Chinese teacher speaks with Palestinian students in the Confucius Institute at Al-Quds University in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Feb. 22, 2020. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)

Palestine, meanwhile, has adhered to the one-China principle and supported China's position on issues concerning its core interests.

Ahmed Rafiq Awad, a Ramallah-based political analyst, told Xinhua that China has long been a pivotal and balanced country committed to international resolutions regarding the Palestinian question and the Palestinian people's rights.

China has firmly supported Palestinian causes at the United Nations and provided selfless support to the Palestinian people, said Abbas Zaki, a Palestinian Fatah Central Committee member and commissioner for relations with Arab countries and China.
Earths rotational pole has drifted toward 64.16E at a speed of 4.36 cm per year during 1993-2010 due to groundwater depletion and resulting sea level rise, according to new research.

Melting of polar ice sheets and mountain glaciers has been understood as a main cause of sea level rise associated with contemporary climate warming.

It has been proposed that an important anthropogenic contribution is sea level rise due to groundwater withdrawal resulting from irrigation.

A climate model estimate for the period 1993-2010 gives total groundwater depletion of 2,150 gigatons, equivalent to global sea level rise of 6.24 mm.

Earths rotational pole actually changes a lot, said Dr. Ki-Weon Seo, a geophysicist at Seoul National University.

Our study shows that among climate-related causes, the redistribution of groundwater actually has the largest impact on the drift of the rotational pole.

Waters ability to change the Earths rotation was discovered in 2016, and until now, the specific contribution of groundwater to these rotational changes was unexplored.

In the new study, Dr. Seo and colleagues modeled the observed changes in the drift of Earths rotational pole and the movement of water  first, with only ice sheets and glaciers considered, and then adding in different scenarios of groundwater redistribution.

The model only matched the observed polar drift once the researchers included 2,150 gigatons of groundwater redistribution.

Without it, the model was off by 78.5 cm, or 4.3 cm of drift per year.

Im very glad to find the unexplained cause of the rotation pole drift, Dr. Seo said.

On the other hand, as a resident of Earth and a father, Im concerned and surprised to see that pumping groundwater is another source of sea-level rise.

The location of the groundwater matters for how much it could change polar drift; redistributing water from the midlatitudes has a larger impact on the rotational pole.

During the study period, the most water was redistributed in western North America and northwestern India, both at midlatitudes.

Countries attempts to slow groundwater depletion rates, especially in those sensitive regions, could theoretically alter the change in drift, but only if such conservation approaches are sustained for decades, Dr. Seo said.

The next step for the teams research could be looking to the past.

Observing changes in Earths rotational pole is useful for understanding continent-scale water storage variations, Dr. Seo said.

Polar motion data are available from as early as the 19th century.

So, we can potentially use those data to understand continental water storage variations during the last 100 years.

Were there any hydrological regime changes resulting from the warming climate? Polar motion could hold the answer.

The results were published today in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

_____

Ki-Weon Seo et al. 2023. Drift of Earths Pole Confirms Groundwater Depletion as a Significant Contributor to Global Sea Level Rise 1993-2010. Geophysical Research Letters 50 (12): e2023GL103509; doi: 10.1029/2023GL103509
A group of scientists and engineers that includes researchers from The University of Texas at Austin have created a new class of materials that can absorb low energy light and transform it into higher energy light. The new material is composed of ultra-small silicon nanoparticles and organic molecules closely related to ones utilized in OLED TVs. This new composite efficiently moves electrons between its organic and inorganic components, with applications for more efficient solar panels, more accurate medical imaging and better night vision goggles.

The material is described in a new paper in Nature Chemistry.

"This process gives us a whole new way of designing materials," said Sean Roberts, an associate professor of chemistry at UT Austin. "It allows us to take two extremely different substances, silicon and organic molecules, and bond them strongly enough to create not just a mixture, but an entirely new hybrid material with properties that are completely distinct from each of the two components."

Composites are composed of two or more components that adopt unique properties when combined. For example, composites of carbon fibers and resins find use as lightweight materials for airplane wings, racing cars and many sporting products. In the paper co-authored by Roberts, the inorganic and organic components are combined to show unique interaction with light.

Among those properties are the ability to turn long-wavelength photons -- the type found in red light, which tends to travel well though tissue, fog and liquids -- into short-wavelength blue or ultraviolet photons, which are the type that usually make sensors work or produce a wide range of chemical reactions. This means the material could prove useful in new technologies as diverse as bioimaging, light-based 3D printing and light sensors that can be used to help self-driving cars travel through fog.

"This concept may be able to create systems that can see in near infrared," Roberts said. "That can be useful for autonomous vehicles, sensors and night vision systems."

Taking low energy light and making it higher energy also can potentially help to boost the efficiency of solar cells by allowing them to capture near-infrared light that would normally pass through them. When the technology is optimized, capturing low energy light could reduce the size of solar panels by 30%.

Members of the research team, which includes scientists from the University of California Riverside, University of Colorado Boulder and University of Utah, have been working on light conversion of this type for several years. In a previous paper, they described successfully connecting anthracene, an organic molecule that can emit blue light, with silicon, a material used in solar panels and in many semiconductors. Seeking to amplify the interaction between these materials, the team developed a new method for forging electrically conductive bridges between anthracene and silicon nanocrystals. The resulting strong chemical bond increases the speed with which the two molecules can exchange energy, almost doubling the efficiency in converting lower energy light to higher energy light, compared with the team's previous breakthrough.

The research was funded by the National Science Foundation, The Welch Foundation, the W.M. Keck Foundation, and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

Kefu Wang and Ming Lee Tang of University of Utah, R. Peyton Cline and Joel D. Eaves of University of Colorado Boulder, Joseph Schwan and Lorenzo Mangolini of University of California Riverside and Jacob M. Strain of UT Austin also contributed extensively to the research.
Despite steady improvements in quantum computers, they're still noisy and error prone, which leads to questionable or wrong answers. Scientists predict that they won't truly outcompete today's "classical" supercomputers for at least five or 10 years, until researchers can adequately correct the errors that bedevil entangled quantum bits, or qubits.

But a new study shows that, even lacking good error correction, there are ways to mitigate errors that could make quantum computers useful today.

Researchers at IBM Quantum in New York and their collaborators at the University of California, Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report today (June 14) in the journal Nature that they pitted a 127-qubit quantum computer against a state-of-the-art supercomputer and, for at least one type of calculation, bested the supercomputer.

The calculation wasn't chosen because it was difficult for classical computers, the researchers say, but because it's similar to ones that physicists make all the time. Crucially, the calculation could be made increasingly complex in order to test whether today's noisy, error-prone quantum computers can produce accurate results for certain types of common calculations.

The fact that the quantum computer produced the verifiably correct solution as the calculation became more complex, while the supercomputer algorithm produced an incorrect answer, provides hope that quantum computing algorithms with error mitigation, instead of the more difficult error correction, could tackle cutting-edge physics problems, such as understanding the quantum properties of superconductors and novel electronic materials.

"We're entering the regime where the quantum computer might be able to do things that current algorithms on classical computers cannot do," said UC Berkeley graduate student and study co-author Sajant Anand.

"We can start to think of quantum computers as a tool for studying problems that we wouldn't be able to study otherwise," added Sarah Sheldon, senior manager for Quantum Theory and Capabilities at IBM Quantum.

advertisement

Conversely, the quantum computer's trouncing of the classical computer could also spark new ideas to improve the quantum algorithms now used on classical computers, according to co-author Michael Zaletel, UC Berkeley associate professor of physics and holder of the Thomas and Alison Schneider Chair in Physics.

"Going into it, I was pretty sure that the classical method would do better than the quantum one," he said. "So, I had mixed emotions when IBM's zero-noise extrapolated version did better than the classical method. But thinking about how the quantum system is working might actually help us figure out the right classical way to approach the problem. While the quantum computer did something that the standard classical algorithm couldn't, we think it's an inspiration for making the classical algorithm better so that the classical computer performs just as well as the quantum computer in the future."

Boost the noise to suppress the noise

One key to the seeming advantage of IBM's quantum computer is quantum error mitigation, a novel technique for dealing with the noise that accompanies a quantum computation. Paradoxically, IBM researchers controllably increased the noise in their quantum circuit to get even noisier, less accurate answers and then extrapolated backward to estimate the answer the computer would have gotten if there were no noise. This relies on having a good understanding of the noise that affects quantum circuits and predicting how it affects the output.

The problem of noise comes about because IBM's qubits are sensitive superconducting circuits that represent the zeros and ones of a binary computation. When the qubits are entangled for a calculation, unavoidable annoyances, such as heat and vibration, can alter the entanglement, introducing errors. The greater the entanglement, the worse the effects of noise.

In addition, computations that act on one set of qubits can introduce random errors in other, uninvolved qubits. Additional computations then compound these errors. Scientists hope to use extra qubits to monitor such errors so they can be corrected -- so-called fault-tolerant error correction. But achieving scalable fault-tolerance is a huge engineering challenge, and whether it will work in practice for ever greater numbers of qubits remains to be shown, Zaletel said.

advertisement

Instead, IBM engineers came up with a strategy of error mitigation they called zero noise extrapolation (ZNE), which uses probabilistic methods to controllably increase the noise on the quantum device. Based on a recommendation from a former intern, IBM researchers approached Anand, postdoctoral researcher Yantao Wu and Zaletel to ask their help in assessing the accuracy of the results obtained using this error mitigation strategy. Zaletel develops supercomputer algorithms to solve difficult calculations involving quantum systems, such as the electronic interactions in new materials. These algorithms, which employ tensor network simulations, can be directly applied to simulate interacting qubits in a quantum computer.

Over a period of several weeks, Youngseok Kim and Andrew Eddins at IBM Quantum ran increasingly complex quantum calculations on the advanced IBM Quantum Eagle processor, and then Anand attempted the same calculations using state-of-the-art classical methods on the Cori supercomputer and Lawrencium cluster at Berkeley Lab and the Anvil supercomputer at Purdue University. When Quantum Eagle was rolled out in 2021, it had the highest number of high-quality qubits of any quantum computer, seemingly beyond the ability of classical computers to simulate.

In fact, exactly simulating all 127 entangled qubits on a classical computer would require an astronomical amount of memory. The quantum state would need to be represented by 2 to the power of 127 separate numbers. That's 1 followed by 38 zeros; typical computers can store around 100 billion numbers, 27 orders of magnitude too small. To simplify the problem, Anand, Wu and Zaletel used approximation techniques that allowed them to solve the problem on a classical computer in a reasonable amount of time, and at a reasonable cost. These methods are somewhat like jpeg image compression, in that they get rid of less important information and keep only what's required to achieve accurate answers within the limits of the memory available.

Anand confirmed the accuracy of the quantum computer's results for the less complex calculations, but as the depth of the calculations grew, the results of the quantum computer diverged from those of the classical computer. For certain specific parameters, Anand was able to simplify the problem and calculate exact solutions that verified the quantum calculations over the classical computer calculations. At the largest depths considered, exact solutions were not available, yet the quantum and classical results disagreed.

The researchers caution that, while they can't prove that the quantum computer's final answers for the hardest calculations were correct, Eagle's successes on the previous runs gave them confidence that they were.

"The success of the quantum computer wasn't like a fine-tuned accident. It actually worked for a whole family of circuits it was being applied to," Zaletel said.

Friendly competition

While Zaletel is cautious about predicting whether this error mitigation technique will work for more qubits or calculations of greater depth, the results were nonetheless inspiring, he said.

"It sort of spurred a feeling of friendly competition," he said. "I have a sense that we should be able to simulate on a classical computer what they're doing. But we need to think about it in a clever and better way -- the quantum device is in a regime where it suggests we need a different approach."

One approach is to simulate the ZNE technique developed by IBM.

"Now, we're asking if we can take the same error mitigation concept and apply it to classical tensor network simulations to see if we can get better classical results," Anand said. "This work gives us the ability to maybe use a quantum computer as a verification tool for the classical computer, which is flipping the script on what's usually done."

Anand and Zaletel's work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under an Early Career Award (DE-SC0022716). Wu's work was supported by a RIKEN iTHEMS fellowship. Cori is part of the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), the primary scientific computing facility for the Office of Science in the U.S. Department of Energy.
Researchers from the UvA Institute of Physics and ENS de Lyon have discovered how to design materials that necessarily have a point or line where the material doesn't deform under stress, and that even remember how they have been poked or squeezed in the past. These results could be used in robotics and mechanical computers, while similar design principles could be used in quantum computers.

The outcome is a breakthrough in the field of metamaterials: designer materials whose responses are determined by their structure rather than their chemical composition. To construct a metamaterial with mechanical memory, physicists Xiaofei Guo, Marcelo Guzman, David Carpentier, Denis Bartolo and Corentin Coulais realised that its design needs to be 'frustrated', and that this frustration corresponds to a new type of order, which they call non-orientable order.

Physics with a twist

A simple example of a non-orientable object is a Mobius strip, made by taking a strip of material, adding half a twist to it and then gluing its ends together. You can try this at home with a strip of paper. Following the surface of a Mobius strip with your finger, you'll find that when you get back to your starting point, your finger will be on the other side of the paper.

A Mobius strip is non-orientable because there is no way to label the two sides of the strip in a consistent manner; the twist makes the entire surface one and the same. This is in contrast to a simple cylinder (a strip without any twists whose ends are glued together), which has a distinct inner and outer surface.

Guo and her colleagues realised that this non-orientability strongly affects how an object or metamaterial responds to being pushed or squeezed. If you place a simple cylinder and a Mobius strip on a flat surface and press down on them from above, you'll find that the sides of the cylinder will all bulge out (or in), while the sides of the Mobius strip cannot do the same. Instead, the non-orientability of the latter ensures that there is always a point along the strip where it does not deform under pressure.

Frustration is not always a bad thing

Excitingly, this behaviour extends far beyond Mobius strips. 'We discovered that the behaviour of non-orientable objects such as Mobius strips allows us to describe any material that is globally frustrated. These materials naturally want to be ordered, but something in their structure forbids the order to span the whole system and forces the ordered pattern to vanish at one point or line in space. There is no way to get rid of that vanishing point without cutting the structure, so it has to be there no matter what,' explains Coulais, who leads the Machine Materials Laboratory at the University of Amsterdam.

advertisement

The research team designed and 3D-printed their own mechanical metamaterial structures which exhibit the same frustrated and non-orientable behaviour as Mobius strips. Their designs are based on rings of squares connected by hinges at their corners. When these rings are squeezed, neighbouring squares will rotate in opposite directions so that their edges move closer together. The opposite rotation of neighbours makes the system's response analogous to the anti-ferromagnetic ordering that occurs in certain magnetic materials.

Rings composed of an odd number of squares are frustrated, because there is no way for all neighbouring squares to rotate in opposite directions. Squeezed odd-numbered rings therefore exhibit non-orientable order, in which the rotation angle at one point along the ring must go to zero.

Being a feature of the overall shape of the material makes this a robust topological property. By connecting multiple metarings together, it is even possible to emulate the mechanics of higher-dimensional topological structures such as the Klein bottle.

Mechanical memory

Having an enforced point or line of zero deformation is key to endowing materials with mechanical memory. Instead of squeezing a metamaterial ring from all sides, you can press the ring at distinct points. Doing so, the order in which you press different points determines where the zero deformation point or line ends up.

This is a form of storing information. It can even be used to execute certain types of logic gates, the basis of any computer algorithm. A simple metamaterial ring can thus function as a mechanical computer.

Beyond mechanics, the results of the study suggest that non-orientability could be a robust design principle for metamaterials that can effectively store information across scales, in fields as diverse as colloidal science, photonics, magnetism, and atomic physics. It could even be useful for new types of quantum computers.

Coulais concludes: 'Next, we want to exploit the robustness of the vanishing deformations for robotics. We believe the vanishing deformations could be used to create robotic arms and wheels with predictable bending and locomotion mechanisms.'
A team of physicists, including University of Massachusetts assistant professor Tigran Sedrakyan, recently announced in the journal Nature that they have discovered a new phase of matter. Called the "chiral bose-liquid state," the discovery opens a new path in the age-old effort to understand the nature of the physical world.

Under everyday conditions, matter can be a solid, liquid or gas. But once you venture beyond the everyday -- into temperatures approaching absolute zero, things smaller than a fraction of an atom or which have extremely low states of energy -- the world looks very different. "You find quantum states of matter way out on these fringes," says Sedrakyan, "and they are much wilder than the three classical states we encounter in our everyday lives."

Sedrakyan has spent years exploring these wild quantum states, and he is particularly interested in the possibility of what physicists call "band degeneracy," "moat bands" or "kinetic frustration" in strongly interacting quantum matter.

Typically, particles in any system bump into each other, and in so doing they cause predictable effects, like billiard balls knocking into each other and then reacting in a predictable pattern. In other words, the effects and the particles are correlated. But in a frustrated quantum system, there are infinite possibilities that stem from the interaction of particles -- perhaps the billiard ball levitates or zooms off at an impossible angle -- and some of these infinite possibilities can lead to novel quantum states.

What Sedrakyan and his colleagues have done is to engineer a frustration machine: a bilayer semiconducting device. The top layer is electron-rich, and these electrons can move freely. The bottom layer is filled with "holes," or places that a roving electron can occupy. Then the two layers are brought extremely close together -- interatomic close.

If the number of electrons in the top layer and holes in the bottom layer were equal, then you would expect to see the particles acting in a correlated manner, but Sedrakyan and his colleagues designed the bottom layer so that there is a local imbalance between the number of electrons and holes in the bottom layer. "It's like a game of musical chairs," Sedrakyan says, "designed to frustrate the electrons. Instead of each electron having one chair to go to, they must now scramble and have many possibilities in where they 'sit'."

This frustration kicks off the novel chiral edge state, which has a number of surprising characteristics. For instance, if you cool quantum matter in a chiral state down to absolute zero, the electrons freeze into a predictable pattern, and the emergent charge-neutral particles in this state will all either spin clockwise or counterclockwise. Even if you smash another particle into one of these electrons, or you introduce a magnetic field, you can't alter its spin -- it's surprisingly robust and can even be used to encode digital data in a fault-tolerant way.

advertisement

Even more surprisingly is what happens when an outside particle does smash into one of the particles in the chiral edge state. To return to the billiard-ball metaphor, you would expect to send the eight-ball flying when the cue ball smacks into it. But if the pool balls were in a chiral bose-liquid state, all 15 of them would react in exactly the same way when the eight-ball was struck. This effect is due to the long-range entanglement present in this quantum system.

It is difficult to observe the chiral bose-liquid state, which is why it has remained hidden for so long. To do so, the team of scientists, including theoretical physicists Rui Wang and Baigeng Wang (both of Nanjing University) as well as experimental physicists Lingjie Du (Nanjing University) and Rui-Rui Du (Peking University) designed a theory and an experiment that used an extremely strong magnetic field that is capable of measuring the movements of the electrons as they race for chairs.

"On the edge of the semiconductor bilayer, electrons and holes move with the same velocities," says Lingjie Du. "This leads to helical-like transport, which can be further modulated by external magnetic fields as the electron and hole channels are gradually separated under higher fields." The magneto-transport experiments therefore successfully reveal the first piece of evidence of the chiral bose-liquid, which the authors also call the "excitonic topological order" in the published paper.

This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Program for Innovative Talents and Entrepreneurs in Jiangsu, the Xiaomi Foundation, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the National Science Foundation.
192 countries and 125 different foods: A recent study by the Complexity Science Hub reveals interdependencies in the global food supply. Here, the researchers have uncovered the profound -- also indirect -- effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

At the latest, the Russia-Ukraine conflict revealed loud and clear that the global food supply chain acts as a complex network, connecting nations and facilitating the spread of disruptions from local to distant regions. "However, previous studies often focus on direct dependencies and overlook indirect dependencies resulting from the unavailability of essential inputs, making a comprehensive assessment of the global food system difficult," emphasizes research director Stefan Thurner of the Complexity Science Hub.

INDIRECT EFFECTS OFTEN EXCEED DIRECT EFFECTS

To bridge this gap, the research team developed a dynamic global food system model, incorporating data from 192 countries and territories and encompassing 125 food and agricultural products. "This model enabled us to simulate shocks to specific products and countries, closely monitoring the subsequent effects across the entire supply chain," explains Moritz Laber of the Complexity Science Hub. By quantifying the relative reduction in product availability compared to a baseline scenario (without the shock), the researchers gained valuable insights into the magnitude of these shocks. Remarkably, they found that indirect effects often exceeded direct effects. For example, a shock to Ukrainian corn production led to a 13% decline in pork availability in Southern Europe. In comparison, a shock to Ukrainian pork production had a negligible effect of less than 1%.

UP TO 85% LOSS OF MAIZE

In a worst-case scenario simulation, where agricultural production in Ukraine was completely lost due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the study unveiled diverse effects on products and regions worldwide. "The loss of grains, particularly maize, reached up to 85%, while edible oils, especially sunflower oil, experienced losses of up to 89%. Additionally, certain meat types, such as poultry, suffered losses of up to 25% in various countries," says Laber. The number of products for which a region is dependent on Ukraine varies greatly: Southern Europe is the most affected, with 19 out of 125 products with losses of more than 10%, followed by West Asia and North Africa, where this is the case for 15 and 11 products respectively.

These findings emphasize that localized production disruptions have far-reaching implications, extending beyond geographic boundaries through trade relationships and the entire production chain. Consequently, it is imperative to consider both direct and indirect effects when estimating losses and formulating effective interventions.

advertisement

RISK NOT ONLY FROM WARS

As the Russia-Ukraine conflict enters its second year, food prices are still above 2021 levels, according to the European Council. In addition, various events, including extreme weather events, economic crises, and geopolitical tensions, can trigger similar disruptions. This underscores the importance of exploring interdependencies within global food supply chains and gaining a comprehensive understanding of the direct and indirect impacts of local shocks to raise awareness among policymakers and stakeholders of otherwise overlooked risks within the global food system.

These research findings are a valuable first leap in understanding the complex dynamics of global food supply chains and their vulnerability to local shocks. Further research is needed to map them at a more granular level considering individual products and subnational scales at a higher temporal resolution. Moreover, at present, the model assumes that countries do not change their trading partners after a shock. However, restructuring trade relations may exacerbate existing inequalities, as wealthier countries may secure remaining resources at higher prices from alternative suppliers.

In March, the CSH co-founded the Austrian Supply Chain Intelligence Institute (ASCII) to contribute even more to making supply dependencies visible in the future.
LANZHOU, June 16 (Xinhua) -- On the southern fringes of Badain Jaran and Tengger, two large deserts covering 85,000 square km in China, Qin Zhaoping is testing the spray device for the fast-growing sand plants.

For Qin, a farmer in Hengliang Township, Wuwei City, northwest China's Gansu Province, such luxuriant vegetation was once beyond imagination.

Gansu, home to over 12 million hectares of sandy land, has been exploring a variety of new measures to bring a verdant look to the formerly barren land.

In today's desert area, photovoltaic panels provide shade for the plants, while efficient water-saving spraying facilities keep them thriving.

"The photovoltaic industry has been deeply integrated with local ecological protection endeavors," said Li Zhenhai, deputy director of the Wuwei development and reform commission.

Li added that over 1,300 hectares of desert plants have been grown in the photovoltaic sand control demonstration park in Wuwei, building up a solid green barrier to boost sand control.

In the eyes of local residents, harnessing photovoltaic panels for sand control is killing two birds with one stone and benefiting future generations. "It not only generates electricity and greens the sandy land but also increases our income," said Qin.

Placing straw checkerboard barriers has also proved an effective method to battle desertification, as they help reduce wind speed and can hold water used to help plants grow.

Yet as labor costs continue to rise, so do the costs of combating desertification. In response, Gansu has turned to technology for assistance.

In late 2020, a team led by Xu Xianying, a researcher at Gansu Desert Control Research Institute, developed a new generation sand barrier laying machine.

The efficiency is four to six times that of traditional manual operation, and the cost per hectare is reduced by 3,750 yuan (about 526 U.S. dollars), Xu explained.

In the meantime, multiple giant sandstorm observation towers have been erected along the Hexi Corridor. "The towers can monitor data on wind and sand flow, vegetation, soil and hydrology, and send them simultaneously to researchers," said Wang Duoze, an engineer at the institute.

Thanks to the government's decades of desertification control efforts, a once dried-up lake in Minqin County, administered by Wuwei, has been revived and several desert zones are now lush and green.

Results of a new round of national monitoring of desertification unveiled late last year showed that desertified and sandy land in Gansu decreased by 2,627 square km and 1,045 square km, respectively, compared with figures published in 2015. 
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced settled charges against a convertible note dealer, BHP Capital NY, Inc., and its managing member, Bryan Pantofel, for failing to register with the SEC as securities dealers. As part of the settlement, Pantofel and BHP Capital agreed to pay more than $2.5 million in monetary relief and have BHP Capital surrender for cancellation the securities it allegedly obtained from its unregistered dealer activity.

The SEC's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleges that, between December 2017 and mid-2022, BHP Capital purchased more than 100 convertible notes and associated warrants from 47 microcap issuers, and converted the notes into approximately four billion newly issued shares of stock at a large discount from the market price. It then allegedly sold the newly issued shares into the market at a significant profit. As alleged, neither BHP Capital nor Pantofel was registered as a dealer with the SEC or associated with a registered dealer, as their activities required them to be.

Without admitting or denying the allegations, BHP Capital and Pantofel agreed to be permanently enjoined from further violations of Section 15(a)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, to pay disgorgement and prejudgment interest of $2,353,073.44 and a civil penalty of $200,000, and to five-year penny stock bars. BHP Capital also agreed to surrender all conversion rights in its currently held convertible notes, surrender for cancellation all unexercised warrants that it acquired in connection with convertible notes, and surrender for cancellation any shares it holds that were acquired by converting notes or exercising related warrants. The settlement is subject to court approval.

The SEC's investigation was conducted by Cecilia B. Connor and Matthew B. Homberger in the Philadelphia Regional Office, assisted by Robert Nesbitt, and supervised by Kingdon Kase and Scott A. Thompson. The litigation will be led by Karen M. Klotz and supervised by Gregory R. Bockin.
SEOUL, June 16 (Xinhua) -- South Korea was expected to be one of the world's oldest countries in 2070 due to the fastest population aging, statistical office estimate showed Friday.

The proportion of South Korean people aged 75 or higher to the country's total population stood at 7.7 percent in 2023, according to Statistics Korea.

It was forecast to rise to 16.0 percent in 2037 and 30.7 percent in 2070.

The South Korean figure in 2070 was estimated to be the highest among members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the statistical agency said, citing the United Nations World Population Prospects 2022.

The 2070 estimates for Japan, Spain, Italy, Poland and the United States came in at 25.6 percent, 24.8 percent, 24.1 percent, 22.6 percent and 16.0 percent respectively.

The proportion of South Korean people aged 65 or higher was forecast to climb from 18.4 percent in 2023 to 31.9 percent in 2037 and 46.4 percent in 2070.

Among those aged 65-74, 59.6 percent expressed hope in 2022 to get a job in the future. It was up 11.9 percentage points from 10 years earlier.

The reading for those aged 75-79 advanced 11.8 percentage points to 39.4 percent in the cited period.

In 2021, 59.3 percent of those aged 65-74 said their income was insufficient compared to their average living cost.

The corresponding figure for those aged 75 or higher was 63.8 percent in 2021. 
Situation "explosive" a Koutal Malick Ndiaye : La population reclame le depart des "Yalla-Yalla" qu'elle accuse de detourner les eleves

La situation au village de Koutal Keur Malick Ndiaye, situe au centre de Kaolack, fort de plus de 9 000 ames, est explosive. Une bagarre d'une rare violence a oppose une partie de la population a un groupe communement appele les "Yalla-Yalla". Un mouvement spirituel fonde par Cheikh Moussa Cisse dit "Ndiame Darou". La doctrine des "Yalla-Yalla" est sortie des flancs du mouridisme. Ils se distinguent aussi par leur mode vestimentaire en noir et blanc.





La population reproche au groupe de detourner les eleves. Beaucoup de mineurs rejoignent cette communaute au detriment de leurs etudes. Une eleve de 15 ans avait ete perdue de vue durant des jours. Lorsqu'elle est reapparue, elle a annonce avoir integre le groupe des "Yalla-Yalla". Ce qui revulse et choque les villageois.





Ils ont ainsi decide de chasser ce groupe religieux de leur village. D'ou cette bagarre dans laquelle plusieurs blesses ont ete notes.





Plusieurs arrestations ont ete operees par les forces de l'ordre. Les habitants de Koutal Malick Ndiaye reclament la liberation des leurs et le depart de cette communaute "etrangere" avant que le pire ne se produise.








People look at an EL6 electric vehicle launched by Chinese electric car manufacturer NIO in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, June 15, 2023. NIO unveiled two new models, the EL6 and ET5 Touring, for the European market on Thursday. (Xinhua/Wang Xiangjiang)

ROTTERDAM, the Netherlands, June 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese electric car manufacturer NIO unveiled two new models, the EL6 and ET5 Touring, for the European market on Thursday.

The EL6 is a mid-sized SUV with a range of up to 529 kilometers while the ET5 Touring is an electric station wagon offering a range of 560 kilometers.

Tristan Hamelink, head of User Operations at NIO Netherlands, expressed his excitement about the launch at the Rotterdam NIO House, a showroom and user experience center.

He mentioned that the first-generation EL6 had been one of the best-selling models in China and highlighted the new and exciting features of the second-generation platform.

Hamelink referred to the EL6 as an "everyday hero" balancing versatility, size, and value for money. Regarding the ET5 Touring, he emphasized its design catering specifically to European users and its maximized trunk capacity.

Both models feature rechargeable and upgradeable battery technologies.

NIO is renowned for its power swap stations and currently has five stations in five Dutch cities. Hamelink also mentioned the upcoming introduction of a sixth station.

In addition, NIO has established a countrywide partnership with KwikFit, one of Europe's largest car service chains, offering up to 40 service points throughout the Netherlands.

Hamelink said that following the first NIO House in Rotterdam, the company plans to open the second in Amsterdam by the first quarter of 2024.

The company remains committed to expanding its power swap network and building more NIO Houses in the future, he added. 

People look at an EL6 electric vehicle launched by Chinese electric car manufacturer NIO in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, June 15, 2023. NIO unveiled two new models, the EL6 and ET5 Touring, for the European market on Thursday. (Xinhua/Wang Xiangjiang)

People look at an ET5 Touring electric vehicle launched by Chinese electric car manufacturer NIO in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, June 15, 2023. NIO unveiled two new models, the EL6 and ET5 Touring, for the European market on Thursday. (Xinhua/Wang Xiangjiang)
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in Beijing, capital of China, June 16, 2023. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in Beijing on Friday.

Xi applauded Gates and the Gates Foundation for their long-term work to promote poverty reduction, health, development and philanthropy around the world.

"At present, momentous changes unseen in a century are accelerating across the world. I put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative to provide Chinese solutions to global challenges," Xi said.

Xi said that China is first and foremost focused on solving its own problems. He said that as a large country with a population of over 1.4 billion, China's long-term stability and sustained development are major contributions to world peace, stability and prosperity.

China will consolidate its achievements in poverty alleviation, realize rural revitalization, and constantly improve rural health, Xi said.

Stressing that China is committed to advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, Xi said China will never fall into a pattern of seeking hegemony, and will instead work with other countries to achieve common development and build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Xi said that China is ready to carry out extensive cooperation with all countries on scientific and technological innovation, and actively participate in and promote the response to global challenges such as climate change, the fight against the pandemic and public health.

China will continue to strengthen cooperation with the Gates Foundation in relevant fields, and will provide support and assistance to other developing countries within its capacity, he said.

"You're the first American friend I've met in Beijing this year," Xi told Gates, noting that people should travel and communicate more to increase their understanding as the world emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The foundation of China-U.S. relations lies in the people. We have always placed our hope on the American people and wish all the best for the friendship between the two peoples," Xi said.

Gates spoke about the progress of cooperation with China and his vision for the future. He said that China has made remarkable achievements in poverty reduction and COVID-19 response, setting a good example for the world.

He said that in recent years, the Gates Foundation's cooperation with China has made remarkable progress, and that accelerating innovation and development in China is good for China, developing countries and the world.

The Gates Foundation is committed to strengthening cooperation with China in the fields of innovation, global poverty reduction, public health, research and development of drugs, rural areas and agriculture, and spreading successful practices and technologies to other developing countries, Gates said. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in Beijing, capital of China, June 16, 2023. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
KIEV, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will closely monitor the water level at the cooling pond of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) in southern Ukraine, IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi said Thursday.

"With the water that is here the plant can be kept safe for some time," Grossi said in a video message on Twitter after visiting the ZNPP.

The destruction of the Kakhovka dam has caused a decrease in the water level, which is needed to cool the nuclear facility, but the plant will work to replenish the water so that the safety functions can continue normally, Grossi said.

Grossi arrived at the ZNPP earlier on Thursday to assess the situation after the Kakhovka dam flooding.

The Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam was destroyed on June 6, with Ukraine and Russia trading accusations over the attack on it.

The ZNPP, which has been controlled by Russian forces since March 2022, is located some 140 km northeast of the Kakhovka plant. 
Intellectual property investor Tekcapital announced on Friday that its subsidiary Guident had been awarded funding from Space Florida, as part of the Florida-Israel Innovation Partnership programme.

The AIM-traded firm said the grant would support the development of a safer remote monitoring and control centre (RMCC) for terrestrial autonomous vehicles.

Guident would collaborate with its Israeli partner NOVELSAT on the project.

The company said the primary goal of the project was to create a robust monitoring and control system for autonomous vehicles, incorporating satellite communications to ensure redundancy and continuous surveillance.

By leveraging satellite technology, the project aimed to address challenges such as limited terrestrial mobile wireless network coverage and provide alternative mobile network connectivity options.

Guident is privileged to have the invaluable support and guidance of Space Florida with their unrivalled experience and strategic location for this new initiative, said Dr Gabriel Castaneda, Guident's vice-president for AI and research.

This funding will help propel us forward as we embark on the development and scale of an effective Remote Monitoring and Control Solution with enhanced vehicle safety, together with our Israeli Partner NOVELSAT.

At 1006 BST, shares in Tekcapital were up 3.26% at 11.49p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.
Li Hongzhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with outgoing Cuban ambassador to China Carlos Miguel Pereira in Beijing, capital of China, June 16, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese legislator Li Hongzhong met with outgoing Cuban ambassador to China Carlos Miguel Pereira in Beijing on Friday.

Li, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the special friendly relations between China and Cuba have continued to deepen in the new era.

The NPC of China attaches great importance to friendly cooperation with Cuba's legislature and is willing to strengthen exchanges of experience in fields such as legislation and supervision, support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, promote practical cooperation in various fields and promote friendly exchanges between the two parties, two countries, and peoples, Li said.

Pereira said that Cuba firmly abides by the one-China principle and is willing to actively promote cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries. 
The rally in European markets stalled on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve paused rate rises, but said more could be on the way.

That was followed by data that appeared to show that China's economic recovery was sputtering and another 25 basis point rate hike by the European Central Bank.

The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was down 0.12% to 464.38 and the German Dax drifted lower by 0.13% to 16,298.55.

Spain's Ibex 35 was off by just 0.02% to 9,430.80.

Worth highlighting, in her post meeting presser, ECB chief Christine Lagarde all but pre-announced an additional rate hike for July's meeting.

Fed chairman Jerome Powell had also suprised some market participants in his own way, suggesting two more rises could be on the way before 2023 was out.

Data released overnight meanwhile showed China's economic recovery was stalling.

And the Peoples Bank of China cut a key benchmark, its medium-term loan rate, by 10 basis points and the yuan hit a six-month low of 7.1783 per dollar.

Data on industrial output and retail sales fell short of market forecasts.

In equity news, shares in Swedish clothing giant H&M gained 4% as the company said June sales had started well despite weaker-than-expected second quarter sales.
The Competition and Markets Authority has given the green light for Amazon s planned $1.7bn acquisition of iRobot , the maker of the Roomba vacuum cleaner.

The regulator said on Friday that it has concluded the deal would not lead to competition concerns in the UK.

In particular, the CMA found that iRobots market position in the supply of robot vacuum cleaners in the UK is modest and already faces several significant rivals. On this basis, the CMA considered that the loss of potential competition from Amazon wouldnt have a substantial impact on market outcomes.

In addition, it found that while Amazon could use its position as a major retailer to disadvantage rival robot vacuum cleaner manufacturers, it would lack the incentive to do so.

"This is because the benefits of such a strategy would be limited, given that the UK market for robot vacuum cleaners is small (and not expected to grow significantly in the future) and of limited strategic importance, and pursuing this strategy would have significant costs for Amazon (including from lost sales commission and reduced advertising revenues)," the CMA explained.

Finally, it argued that acquisition of iRobot would not disadvantage Amazons rival smart home platforms, mainly because robot vacuum are generally not considered to be an important input to the emerging smart home market in the UK.

Colin Raftery, senior director of mergers at the CMA, said: "More people are choosing to use smart tech in their homes - whether thats listening to the radio through a smart speaker, answering the door using a video doorbell, or keeping floors clean with robot vacuum cleaners.

"Thats why its important to ensure tech firms that already benefit from powerful positions arent able to use those positions to undermine competitors at the expense of UK consumers and businesses.

"Here, after a thorough investigation, were satisfied that the deal would have no impact on competition in the UK."
ITV is in talks about the possible acquisition of All3Media , the independent production company behind The Traitors, it confirmed on Friday.

Responding to press speculation, the broadcaster said in a brief statement that it was "actively exploring" a potential deal.

It provided no further detail, other than to note there was no certainty that a transaction would take place, nor what the terms might be.

All3Media, which also makes Midsomer Murders and Fleabag, is jointly owned by Warner Bros Discovery and Liberty Global and is thought to be valued at around 1bn.

According to Reuters, which first reported the talks, ITV wants to combine the business with its ITV Studios unit, which makes Love Island. Citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, Reuters added that Liberty Global could retain a stake in the merged entity.

Liberty Global is already a long-term shareholder in ITV, with a stake of around 10%.
MPs have urged the government to set out its plans to protect households from high energy bills this winter as they said about 1.7 million people, including some of the most vulnerable groups, had been left waiting too long to receive previous support. The public accounts committee (PAC) said that although schemes were introduced quickly, the government did not have the bandwidth to make sure help reached all groups in a timely fashion.  Guardian

The UK is in danger of being left behind in the global race to decarbonise the economy with potentially disastrous consequences for jobs and communities, according to the TUCs general secretary. In an interview, Paul Nowak said the UK was limping towards a green future and he called for a national collective effort involving employers, workers and the government to ensure a quick and fair transition to a net zero economy.  Guardian

Three million middle class homeowners are at risk of having their savings wiped out by the recent surge in mortgage costs, a leading think-tank has warned. Analysis from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) suggests 2.9m middle income mortgage holders would exhaust their savings and be forced to ask for help to meet an unexpected expense of around 2,000.  Telegraph

American regulators are investigating Goldman Sachs over its dealings with Silicon Valley Bank in the days before the regional US lenders collapse this spring. Both the US Federal Reserve and the Securities and Exchange Commission are looking at the investment banking groups role in the weeks before Silicon Valley Banks failure, according to The Wall Street Journal, which reported that it had also been issued with a subpoena by the US Department of Justice.  The Times

The chief executive of the soda ash supplier WE Soda has suggested that the company might opt for New York instead of London if he resurrects the flotation plans that were abruptly shelved this week. In a double blow for London, WE Soda first dropped plans for a landmark 6 billion initial public offering on Wednesday. It then rubbed salt in the wound yesterday by saying that the US might be a better place to float next time.  The Times
Google launched the 'Indian Languages Programme' under its News Initiative to support local news publishers in India. According to the company, the Indian Languages Programme is a comprehensive initiative designed to empower publishers through various components, including access to training, technical support, and funding, to help them improve their digital operations and reach more readers.

With support for a total of nine languages, including English, Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Malayalam, Gujarati, and Marathi, this programme stands as Google's most diverse technology programme for news publishers. Applications for the programme are open for submission till June 30.

The GNI (Google News Initiative) Indian Languages Programme follows a structured format that includes various components to support and empower publishers, which includes a range of activities, including scaled inspiration series and virtual workshops.

Selected publishers will also undergo a diagnosis process to assess their page speed, core web vitals performance, and other relevant parameters. This evaluation will provide unified guidance on quality signals that are essential to delivering a great user experience on the web, the company said.

In addition, publishers will receive personalised guidance and support in addressing the identified areas for improvement, including remediation of issues related to Core Web Vitals, schema, site manifests, mobile usability, content formats, and additional revenue enhancement solutions. Applications for the programme will be examined by both the Google Project team and external advisors.
Bilateral trade of India with Africa grew by 9.26 percent in 2022-23, reaching almost $100 billion, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said while addressing the CII-EXIM Bank conclave on "India-Africa Partnership". Goyal expressed confidence in achieving the goal of doubling bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2030.

"Blessed with demographic dividend, India-Africa partnership can drive the global progress in this century," the minister said further. Goyal said that the exports and imports were approximately balanced with exports being $51.2 billion and imports being $46.65 billion in 2022-23. The minister said that 27 least developed countries of Africa benefit from the duty-free tariff preference on a non-reciprocal basis already and free trade agreements (FTAs), and comprehensive economic partnership agreements (CEPA) can be explored with other African countries as well.

He added that the India-Africa relationship has the potential to help fulfill the dreams and aspirations of around one-third of the worlds population. Goyal stated that both India and Africa are blessed with demographic dividends and with skill development and education of youth, this partnership can drive global progress in this century.

The minister highlighted how India can be the voice of the global south and take their voice at multilateral forums. Goyal stressed upon the creation of a powerful voice of the global south to influence the geopolitics of the world, ensuring equitable and inclusive growth. The minister said that India strongly believes that Africas rise globally is an absolute necessity in present times and is working together in a fast-track manner to achieve this ambition.

He said that Indias startup revolution and digital public infrastructure like unified payment interface (UPI), CoWIN and one nation one ration card (ONORC) have been helpful in enhancing ease of doing business and ease of living and can be replicated successfully for the benefit of Africa. Goyal also suggested exploring further cooperation in the field of logistics like roadways, railways and ports and a diverse, robust and resilient supply chain between Africa and India.
The CFO NEXT conference is set to take place on 23 June at Conrad, Bnagalore. The theme for this year's event is 'Technology and Strategy meets Business' and it will address the elements that combine the collective learning of CFOs & Finance leaders from across industries to discuss their best learning in the recent times and share the most promising practices to prepare for the unprecedented.This conference will bring together 150+ CFOs, VP Finance, Head of Finance from various industries in the region.

The CFO NEXT conference will provide a platform for industry leaders to discuss the evolving role of the finance leaders and their contribution in the digital strategy of the organization. The conference will be led by industry leaders like - Raghava Rao - India CFO - Amazon, Swati Biswas - Sr. Director Finance - Flipkart, Neelesh Talathi - CFO - Mensa Brands, Ramesh Bafna - CFO - Zepto , Sameer Agarwal - Group CFO - Manipal Hospitals and many others.



One of the key topics that will be discussed at the conference is The CFO's Evolving Role as a Strategic Business Partner This session will focus on how in today's rapidly changing business landscape, the role of CFOs has evolved beyond traditional financial management. This keynote will delve into the shifting responsibilities and highlight CFOs transformation into one of a key strategic decision-maker.



Some of the other key topics that will be covered at the conference include Transforming Finance Through Digital Innovation - This panel will cover ground on defining the digital strategy, overcoming challenges and critical role played by CFOs in managing the change associated with digital transformation. This includes engaging stakeholders, communicating the benefits of digitization, and providing training and support to staff.

The CFO's strategic role in contributing to the valuation of an organization- This session will cover ground on the overall strategic role of how CFOs can improve intrinsic value within their teams and organization which in turn translates into value creation and better valuation.

Data-Driven Forecasting and Planning -This topic will cover ground how CFOs can use data to create more accurate financial forecasts and plans, including topics such as predictive analytics, scenario modeling, and sensitivity analysis. It will also explore how data-driven planning can help CFOs better understand potential risks and opportunities for their organizations.

The CFO NEXT is supported by DBS Bank as an Exclusive Banking Partner, Policybazaar for Business as a Gold Partner, Clear as a Silver Partner, Practus as a Transformation Partner and JSS Pro as a Networking Partner. This conference is an opportunity for CFOs and Heads of Finance who are decision makers looking to learn, explore and enhance their digital capabilities, streamline the finance function and optimize business outcomes.

For more information on the CFO NEXT conference, please visit the official website at [https://cfostratech.com/cfonext2023/]. Register today to enquire to secure your spot at this exciting and informative event.
The Bollywood actor has been signed as the brand ambassador for global confectionery company Mars Wrigleys brand, Galaxy Chocolates. The company made the announcement in collaboration with the actor via her official social media pages and put out a teaser video. The announcement was followed by a television commercial where the actor is seen in a setting indulging in chocolates in Istanbul. The commercial has been conceptualised by the brand's creative agency, DDB Tribal.

Varun Kandhari, marketing director of the company in India, said, We are really delighted to have Kiara Advani as the face of our chocolate brand in the Indian market. Her charm compliments the brand's persona. Through our associations and portfolio, we have been continuously driving relevance for our Galaxy chocolates in the minds of the Indian consumer. We intend to further strengthen affinity towards the chocolates through this." The chocolate brand was launched in 2013 in India.

The film highlights how mundane moments in life can be made better with chocolate. In the ad film, Advani is seen doing a playful hide-and-seek gesture between her and the moon as the latter casts a spotlight on the chocolate. Advani said, The only sweet craving I have is for chocolate, I love indulging, even if its a small piece of chocolate after every meal. Chocolate has a far deeper place in all our hearts as it denotes our childhood memories. It brings me happiness to be part of such an iconic and globally loved brand."

Iraj Fraz, creative head, DDB Tribal, "Kiara Advani is here to lend her charm for the smoothest chocolate ever. The campaign was shot in the streets of Istanbul and features an original blues soundtrack. This is a film to be watched, consumed, and enjoyed. The Indian chocolate market was valued at $2.4 billion in 2022, as per research firm IMARC Group.
Micron Technology Inc. is near to an agreement to commit at least $1 billion toward setting up a semiconductor packaging factory in India, according to people with knowledge of the matter, a move to further diversify its geographic footprint at a time of US tensions with China. An announcement could be made as soon as when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the US next week, said the people, who asked not to be recognized because the details are private. The amount of money committed could go as high as $2 billion, one of the people said. The details could change as discussions are in progress, and theres no guarantee an agreement will be finalized.

The deal would mark a win for Modis ambitious Make in India plans while offering Washington an opportunity to strengthen key supply chains outside of China. Removing barriers to technological trade between the two countries is a key part of Modis state visit, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in New Delhi.

The Indian investment would follow a Chinese ban on the use of Micron chips in what Beijing called critical infrastructure, a move that cast uncertainty over the status of US chipmakers in the worlds largest semiconductor market. On Friday, Micron pledged to invest $600 million more in its Chinese plant to create jobs and support the local market.

Indias Technology Ministry and Ministry of External Affairs didnt respond to requests for comment, while a representative for Micron declined to comment. The US is pushing to diversify advanced chipmaking as growing Chinese tensions spur concerns about the worlds reliance on Asian manufacturing centers such as Taiwan. Micron, the largest American memory chipmaker, also secured financial support for a $3.6 billion next-generation plant it aims to establish in Japan.

Modi starts his first formal state visit June 21, with President Joe Biden hosting him for a banquet the following day. The Indian leader will also address the US Congress. Modi has pledged $10 billion to woo chipmakers to India, promising his administration will bear half the cost of setting up all semiconductor sites.
ISTANBUL, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police have detained 96 illegal immigrants in Istanbul in a major operation, local media reported on Friday.

The police carried out raids across the country's largest city, Istanbul, targeting addresses believed to be "illegal immigrant houses," the Ihlas news agency reported.

They held the illegal immigrants whose countries of origin were not known. But most of them came from Asia and the Middle East, according to the agency.

Turkiye is a popular destination for illegal immigrants and a transit country for those who hope to reach European Union member states.

The illegal immigrants were sent to the city's migration directorate for deportation procedures. The houses used as "safe haven" for the immigrants were sealed off, it added.

Approximately 43,000 irregular migrants have been deported since the beginning of this year, indicating a 29 percent increase compared to the same period of last year, according to official data from Turkiye's Ministry of Interior. In Istanbul alone, nearly 6,000 illegal immigrants were held over the last month. 
IT services business Tech Mahindra announced that former Infosys President Mohit Joshi has been appointed as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the firm and key managerial personnel under the Companies Act, 2013 for a period of 5 (five) years with effect from 20 December 2023 to 19 December 2028 (both days inclusive). Mohit Joshi will take over the charge from C P Gurnani after his retirement on December 19 this year.

Mohit Joshi will replace Gurnani who has been one of the longest-serving chief executive officers of the Indian IT sector. The Appointment of Mr. Mohit Joshi, as Managing Director (Designate) of the Company effective his date of joining the Company up to 19 December 2023," according to a company statement.

Mohit Joshi joins Tech Mahindra from Infosys, where he is currently the President. Mohit has over two decades of experience in the Enterprise technology software and consulting space and has worked with the largest corporations in the world in driving digital transformation and building thriving businesses," the statement further said.

At Infosys, Mohit is head of the Global Financial Services & Healthcare and Software businesses, which include Finacle (the banking platform) and the AI/Automation portfolio. Mohit also led Sales Operations and Transformation for Infosys and took executive responsibility for all large deals across the company. He is also responsible for the Internal CIO function and the Infosys Knowledge Institute.

Mohit has been a Non-Executive Director at Aviva Plc since 2020 and is a member of its Risk & Governance and Nomination committees. In 2014, Mohit joined the prestigious Young Global Leader program at the World Economic Forum, Davos and is also a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). Previously, Mohit has also held the office of the Vice Chair of the Economic Growth Board of the CBI (Confederation of British Industry).

Prior to joining Infosys in 2000, Mohit worked with ABN AMRO and ANZ Grindlays in their Corporate and Investment bank. Mohit has lived and worked in Asia, America and Europe and currently lives with his wife and two daughters in London.
Ustraa, a men's grooming startup, was acquired by Carlyle-owned wellness and beauty company VLCC at a roughly 40 percent discount from its previous valuation, but co-founder Rahul Anand is unfazed by this. Speaking to media after the acquisition, Anand claims there is potential to earn 6X more in the next 3-4 years.

While Anand did not comment on the specifics of the deal, sources told that VLCC bought Ustraa for about Rs 250 crore, after the company commanded a valuation of Rs 400 crore during its last fundraise in August 2022. Since Anand and Rajat Tuli, co-founders of Happily Unmarried, the company that runs Ustraa, are now shareholders in VLCC, they are eyeing a handsome exit when VLCC goes public in about three years, thereby translating to a larger payout.

With a regular strategic deal, we would get only an upfront payout and give up control of the company. But Carlyle has plans to merge us with VLCC and then go for an IPO exit 2-3 years down the line, which means there is potential for us to earn about five or six times more as VLCCs valuation grows, Anand said. In fact, VLCC had filed its Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) in August 2021, but the plans were shelved after Carlyle, the private equity giant, acquired a controlling stake in the New Delhi-based beauty and wellness chain. The PE firm bought VLCC for around $250-$300 million, as per reports, and was likely to revive VLCCs IPO goals in the coming years.

VLCC's potential IPO is believed to be the key reason behind Ustraa choosing the lowball offer for now, despite it translating to a revenue multiple of just 2.5x pertinent in an industry where large companies command anywhere between 4-6x. Further, Ustraas Rs 250 crore deal with VLCC also took some by surprise because The Good Glamm Group had put around Rs 490 crore on the table to acquire Ustraa around April last year, sources told. The deal did not materialise because of internal reasons, they added.

Before VLCCs deal around December last year, PE giant KKR & Co had also initiated talks to buy Ustraa. The mens grooming company had also garnered interest from the likes of Hindustan Unilever (HUL), but the conversation did not advance beyond a point. When asked why he didnt opt to sell Ustraa to an FMCG company, just as his competitor Beardo was sold to Marico in 2020, Anand said, Most traditional FMCG majors have actually forgotten the art of creating a new brand in todays day and age. I don't even remember when Unilever came and launched a new brand and made a big success out of it. Its a very similar story with other brands as well. There are of course instances, but they are very few.

Ustraa competes with the likes of The Man Company, and Beardo, a D2C startup that Parachute oil maker Marico fully acquired in 2020. In terms of revenue, Ustraa is the smallest player, with a topline of around Rs 66 crore and a loss of around Rs 28 crore in FY22, the latest available data showed. The Man Company is the next biggest company in the space with revenue of Rs 74 crore and a loss of Rs 31 crore. Beardo was the largest among the three with a topline of Rs 95 crore and a profit of about Rs 75 lakh during the same period.

Anand is confident Ustraa will turn profitable in the current financial year, after scaling to reach revenue of around Rs 100 crore in FY23 but remaining in the red. At the same time, Anand and Tuli along with their existing team of around 140 people are sure that VLCC will benefit from the acquisition. In a company statement, Vikas Gupta, Group CEO of VLCC, and former CEO of Nykaa SuperStore, had said after the merger that VLCC will make further investments to accelerate the growth of Ustraa. That could be upwards of $50-60 million, Anand said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  An alleged Colombo crime family associate from Staten Island charged in connection with the assault and robbery of a Dongan Hills restaurant owner over two years ago tried to obstruct law enforcement agents in their investigation into him, federal prosecutors allege.

Federal agents on May 23 attempted to interview Vincent (Vinnie Mercedes) Salanardi, 31, regarding the Nov. 22, 2021, robbery of the restauranteur, identified by a law-enforcement source as the owner of Baci, located at 1657 Richmond Road.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The death of a 2-month-old baby from New Jersey who was found unconscious in a home in Arden Heights on an afternoon in March has been deemed a homicide by the medical examiner.

The cause of death for Paulie Khan of Barnegat was acute methamphetamine intoxication, according to source with the city Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Khan was found unconscious and unresponsive with no obvious signs of trauma when police responded to a 911 call at 15 Arden Ave. near Arthur Kill Road on March 8 at about 12 p.m., according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

EMS responded to the location and transported the baby to Staten Island University Hospital in Princes Bay, where the child died.

No arrests have been made and the investigation continues, police said.

The baby was found unresponsive and lying on his back in a bed before his 30-year-old mother called 911, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

The mother, a man and the baby all went to sleep together in a bed around midnight and the adults initially told police that they slept for about 12 hours, the source said.

Police have not yet provided any information about how the baby came into contact with the drug.

Methamphetamine is a stimulant that commonly is referred to as meth and is sold illegally in forms that include powders, crystals or pills. The drug typically is swallowed, snorted, injected or smoked, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

In 2021, the DEA warned the public about the alarming increase in the lethality and availability of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Methamphetamine and other psychostimulants were linked to 23% of all drug overdose deaths in 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta.

2ND TRAGIC DEATH OF BABY DUE TO DRUGS

Drugs have been linked to the demise of other babies on Staten Island.

The death of a 16-month-old boy in Stapleton was ruled a homicide in May after it was determined that the baby fatally overdosed on illegal drugs, according to authorities.

Sakani Kamagate was found unconscious and unresponsive on a bed in a bedroom at 53 Hamilton St. by police who responded to a 911 call regarding the childs condition on Feb. 20 just after 4 a.m., according to an NYPD statement issued at the time.

The manner of death for Kamagate was listed as homicide and the cause of death was acute intoxication by the combined effects of fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl and cocaine, a source at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner told the Advance/SILive.com.

A man told police that he put the Kamagate baby down in a bed around midnight on that Monday. The man was sleeping next to the baby when he woke up around 4 a.m. and noticed that the child was unresponsive and called 911, according to a source with knowledge of the investigation.

The child had a nose bleed, but no obvious signs of trauma, the source said.

EMS responded and transported the baby to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, where the child died.



RELATED COVERAGE: Recent Staten Island news

>> One of these pills is authentic oxycodone. The other is laced with fentanyl. The difference is killing people on Staten Island.

>> From China to Mexico to Staten Island: The fentanyl pipeline and how concierge system delivers poison to a users doorstep.

>> We are the infantry. A look at how law enforcement is striking back in NYCs war on fentanyl
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A woman reportedly from Staten Island is facing aggravated assault and multiple other charges after she allegedly shot a central Pennsylvania district attorney, Pennsylvania state police said in a statement Thursday.

Porice Diamond Mincy, 31, who media outlets are reporting to be from Staten Island, was taken into custody following the shooting that occurred Wednesday at the law office of Paul Malizia, who serves as the district attorney for Cameron County in Emporium, Pennsylvania, police said.

Malizia suffered a leg wound and was taken to an area hospital where he was treated and released in stable condition.

Troopers were called to Malizias office at around 3 p.m., but Mincy had allegedly left the scene in a vehicle, police said.

The circumstances of the shooting are still being investigated, but it appears to be an isolated incident, the police statement said.

Malizia thanked residents in a Facebook post for their concern and said he would continue to serve as district attorney.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The Staten Island Rotary Foundation, chaired by long time Rotarian John Amodio, awarded several scholarships totaling $14,000 to further education.

Members of the review committee included Rotarians Oluremi Cole, Matthew Scamardella and Mark Weg.

Awards were presented to St. Johns University in memory of Rotarian Gladys Schweiger, the College of Staten Island in memory of Borough President Albert Maniscalco and to Wagner College in memory of Rotarian Dr. William Smith.

High School students also were presented with awards and scholarships.

The Dr. Norbert H. Leeseberg Service Above Self Scholarship was presented to Staten Island Tech graduating senior Gabriela Javier for exemplifying academic excellence and outstanding community service. Javier will be attending Cornell University this fall.

The Lou DeMartino Community Service Award was presented to Notre Dame Academy High School student Nadiya Crisano for her volunteer efforts on Staten Island.

The Staten Island Rotary Foundation is the giving arm of the Rotary Club of Staten Island.

Rotarians attend the 102nd Charter Night at Taverna on the Bay in Stapleton. (Courtesy/Marylee Montalvo/MLM Public Relations)Staten Island Advance

Since 1962 the Staten Island Rotary Foundation has awarded nearly $3 million in grants and scholarships to individuals, organizations and relief efforts.

The Rotary Club of Staten Island was organized under the sponsorship of the New York Club in 1921. Its the 916th Club of the Rotary International and the first to be chartered on Staten Island. Since that time, four other clubs have been established here.

In 1962, the club became incorporated and established its own charitable foundation known as the Staten Island Rotary Foundation.

The club, through the Staten Island Rotary Foundation, has funded hospitals, foster care agencies, youth education, and agencies that assist the aged, the homeless and those living with cancer, HIV/AIDS and other diseases.

The club also has assisted when disaster has hit. In the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, the members collected and delivered water, food and supplies to recovery workers.Theyve responded to hurricanes, tsunamis and other disasters, and the club also has assisted refugees of war-torn countries.

The Rotary Club was there after Hurricane Sandy, helping neighbors while they were impacted personally and professionally.The Rotary Club of Staten Islands Hunger Hurts initiative supports the need for food in the Staten Island community by purchasing and delivering food to local food pantries.

During the pandemic, the Rotary Club stepped up its effort to deliver supplies and food to its local community by partnering with Amazon to distribute hundreds of pallets of goods to those in need.
A former manager at the Harvard Medical School morgue, his wife and three other people have been indicted in a black market body-part-selling scheme, federal prosecutors in Pennsylvania announced Wednesday, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Cedric Lodge, 55, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, stole dissected portions of cadavers that were donated to the esteemed university in a scheme that began in 2018, according to the AP.

The school was unaware the body parts were being stolen, the report quoted authorities as saying.

Lodge took heads, brains, skin and bones  back to his home, where he lived with his 63-year-old wife Denise, the AP said. Some of the stolen remains were allegedly picked out at the morgue and sent through the mail to buyers, according to the outlet.

Bodies donated to Harvard Medical School are used for education, teaching or research purposes. Once they are no longer needed, the cadavers are usually cremated and the ashes are returned to the donors family or buried in a cemetery.



RELATED COVERAGE: Staten Island news

>> Staten Island mans door cam showed person in his car. Woman with long rap sheet arrested.

>> WATCH: Dramatic video shows moment man armed with rifle robbed Rossville deli

>> Neighbors upset, terrified after kind Manor Road deli co-owner was shot to death in Staten Island store

>> Man armed with rifle swipes cash from Rossville convenience store, says NYPD

>> NYPD: Annadale man accused of stealing car, having loaded gun

>> Travel alert: Bayonne Bridge and Outerbridge Crossing lane closures planned this week

>> Staten Island nurse, who served community during the pandemic, dies at 43
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The St. Christopher School in Grant City is the latest casualty in a long line of Staten Island Catholic schools that have closed their doors for good in recent years leaving students and alumni alike heartbroken by the decision.

This week on the From the Scene Podcast, SILive/Advance Education reporter Annalise Knudson discusses the recently announced closing of the St. Christopher School and the many catholic schools that the Island has lost over the past decade.

I think for a lot of people when schools close, especially Catholic schools, its always that small knit community very close all the kids grow up together, commented Knudson. This was the same with St. Christopher school. You had spoken with a parent who went there herself and her kids go there and I think thats something that is probably the hardest for those families because they wanted their kid to have the same experience they did.

SILive.com has been the go-to source for St. Christopher Schools closing including its announcement in early February, follow-up articles heloing parents with finding new schools, reactions from the community, as well as a look back at some of photos from yesteryear.

***

Youve read the articles. Youve seen the photos. Now, were bringing you behind the scenes for an in-depth look at the reporting process and how we cover the biggest stories on Staten Island.

Staten Island Advances From the Scene features insightful interviews with our knowledgeable reporters, audio snippets from elected officials and prominent members of the Staten Island community, and interesting factoids from throughout the boroughs storied history.

MORE ST. CHRISTOPHER CLOSING COVERAGE:

Listen now, on Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Google, Spotify and visually on Youtube. New episodes are posted biweekly on Fridays.

Catch up with some of the most recent episodes:
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Over three dozen veterans, political leaders and locals gathered at a press conference this morning to condemn an incident involving the burning of the American flag on Staten Island earlier this week.

The individual who allegedly torched the American flag has not yet been found, but the voices at the press conference, which took place at the corner of Midland and Nugent avenues in Midland Beach near the vicinity where the burning took place, echoed one sentiment -- this will not be tolerated.

This is an attack on not only that homeowner, but an attack on every single person that puts on a uniform to protect our city, our state and our nation, Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R-East Shore/Brooklyn) said.

Federally, the desecration of the American flag is not illegal, which comes from a controversial Supreme Court ruling from the 1989 Texas v. Johnson case. The court upheld the rights of protesters to burn the American flag as a form of symbolic speech that is protected by the First Amendment.

Obviously, destroying property that belongs to someone else is already under the crime of criminal mischief, Tannousis said, referring to last Wednesdays flag burning incident, in which a residents flag hanging outside of their home was set ablaze. I want to add an additional crime that would make the actual act of burning an American flag a crime in New York State.

Assemblyman Tannousis announced that he will introduce legislation this summer that makes the actual burning of a flag a crime on the state level.

If it didnt happen in Midland Beach, we would still be angry, but because it happened to one of our residential families, it makes us twice as mad, Debi White Vadola, president of the Midland Beach Civic Association, said.

We, in this community, are going to stand up and speak out against it, were gonna support those who continue to fly the flag on their homes and their properties, and make sure they can do so proudly and in safety, City Councilman David Carr (R-Mid-Island) said.

Borough President Vito Fossella recounted incidents of similar nature happening across the city. He noted there there is typically no consequence.

On Staten Island, when things like this happen, there needs to be a consequence, Fossella said. Were also a borough that understands what the flag stands for. The flag represents freedom, liberty [and] sacrifice

Standing among the local politicians were veterans who fought in the Vietnam War, neighborhood residents, and Bob Ollis -- the father of Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis, a life-long New Dorp resident who died in Aug. 2013 at age 24 while saving a Polish soldier from a suicide bomber during a raid on Forward Operating Base Ghazni in Afghanistan.

Bob Ollis, the father of he father of Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis -- a life-long New Dorp resident who died in Aug. 2013 at age 24 while saving a Polish soldier from a suicide bomber -- raises the American flag at a press conference that addressed last weeks flag burning incident in Midland beach. (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)

This flag might not mean anything to you, but to me and a whole bunch of people, it means the world, Ollis said. It means my son Michael died for this flag.

Assemblyman Tannousis showcased a new flag that a family in the area donated to the family who had theirs destroyed.

Luis Naua, a local deli worker in the neighborhood, agreed with the sentiment that burning the American flag is no good.

Many people come here for their dreams to come true. This country needs respect from all people, Naua said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- An emotional mix of cheers and tears marked the last ever day at the St. Christopher School in Grant City on Friday as students and parents bid farewell to their beloved school.

Students and staffers exited the building to a rousing round of applause from dozens of parents and alumni in celebration of the last day of classes.

But the excitement that usually accompanies the last day of school was mixed with an immense sadness that this would be the last time students set foot inside the St. Christopher School, the latest casualty in a long line of Catholic school closures seen across the borough over the past decade-plus.

Many of the students were visibly distraught, crying as they exited the building and hugging their teachers tightly one last time.

Antoinette Macri, mother of two St. Christopher students, got choked up discussing the bonds that she and her children have formed within the school community and the devastation they felt upon learning of its permanent closure.

This school has been a family to us, said Macri. The principal, the teacher, not only are they staff, but theyre like close family to us. Theres a special bond.

With COVID and everything we lost some time here, and as we come back, now weve lost it forever, she added. The kids are taking it very hard.

Maria Baggs, mother of three students and member of the St. Christopher School Class of 95, said her close personal connections to the school and to principal Catherine Falabella have made the closure incredibly difficult.

Mrs. Falabella, the principal, was my 3rd grade teacher so there are some teachers in here who have taught me, which is why this is very emotional, Baggs said, adding that she grew up across the street. My kids have been here since Pre-K 3 and you cant find a better community, a better set of teachers. They love these kids like theyre their own.

Jennifer Pisani, mother of two students and another member of the St. Christopher Class of 95, spoke glowingly of Mrs. Falabella and the calming presence that accompanied her love and care for each and every student.

When you drop them off in the morning and Mrs. Falabella is outside, you have this immediate peace that comes over you. Im a nervous mother so a lot of times when you pull away you get nervous, but when I would pull away every day here I never felt anxious because I knew that she was here, said Pisani.

Mrs. Falabella heaped praised onto the school community when speaking to the Advance/SILive.com earlier this school year on the first day of classes.

I have nothing but greatness in this school, Falabella said at the time. Its a beautiful little school... This is a family. The parents really know one another. The kids know one another across the grades. The teachers work together for the kids. Its an unusual school, because its more like a family... Its a special school, were a mighty little building.

For some, like Christina Salcido, whose children previously attended St. John Villa Academy, this wasnt the first time they were forced to come to grips with the closure of their school.

The first time it was a very traumatic experience, it was something we were not expecting... We tried to fight to keep the school open but were met with a lot of resistance, Salcido said.

While changing schools can be a nerve-racking experience, the tight-knit community at the St. Christopher School quickly made her kids feel at home.

This school embraced my children, embraced me, and for that I will always be grateful for Mrs. Falabella because she understood our circumstance, she understood our situation, said Salcido.

ABOUT SCHOOL CLOSURE

In February, the Office of the Superintendent of Schools of the Archdiocese of New York announced that 12 Catholic schools across the city will close at the end of the school year, including the St. Christopher School.

According to a press release from the Archdiocese, extensive community research, detailed studies, and careful deliberation and analysis went into the final determination of which schools would not reopen. The Archdiocese also attributed the closures to shifting demographics and lower enrollment made worse by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic  leading to a detrimental impact on the financial stability of the schools.

It is never a good day when we announce closures to any of our beloved schools, but the goal is always to strengthen the remaining institutions and preserve Catholic education in New York for decades to come, said Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, in a press release.

Michael J. Deegan, superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of New York, said in the press release that it was a sad day for everyone in the Catholic school community.

I personally mourn the loss of every one of our great schools, he said. However, as we process this news, we must resolve that the great tradition of Catholic education in New York will continue, and we will assist all students who are seeking to carry on their Catholic education to find a seat at another excellent school in the Archdiocese.

PAST CATHOLIC SCHOOL CLOSURES

Staten Island is no stranger to Catholic school closures, with over a dozen either closing their doors for good or merging with other schools over the past two decades.

A string of Staten Island Catholic schools closed in 2011, including: St. Marys School in Rosebank; St. Rochs School in Port Richmond; St. Sylvesters School in Concord; St. Margaret Marys School in Midland Beach, and St. Peters Girls High School in New Brighton.

In 2013, St. Josephs School in Rosebank and Immaculate Conception School in Stapleton were shuttered.

In 2018, there was the closure of St. John Villa Academy elementary and high school, despite overwhelming efforts to keep it open by the school community.

Our Lady Help of Christians in Tottenville was one of seven Catholic schools across the Archdiocese that closed at the end of the 2019-2020 school year. The Archdiocese cited the buildings were underutilized or in need of significant repairs.

The Our Lady Help of Christians building was converted into the Staten Island Preparatory School for school-age and preschool students with autism and other disabilities in the 2020-2021 school year.

In February 2020, the Archdiocese announced that four Catholic elementary schools on Staten Island would merge to form two separate academies.

St. Rita School in Meiers Corners merged with St. Teresa School in Castleton Corners, forming the St. Teresa-St. Rita STREAM Academy, the Archdiocese said, while St. Adalberts School in Elm Park merged with Holy Rosary School in South Beach to become the Father Vincent Capodanno Catholic Academy. The new academies operate out of the school buildings in Castleton Corners and South Beach, respectively.

A few months later in July 2020, St. Peter-St. Paul School, New Brighton; St. Joseph-St. Thomas School in Pleasant Plains; and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel-St. Benedicta School, West Brighton, were among an additional 20 schools in the Archdiocese that closed before the start of the 2020-2021 school year.

The remaining Staten Island Catholic schools are: Academy of St. Dorothy School, Grasmere; Blessed Sacrament School, West Brighton; St. Teresa-St. Rita STREAM Academy, Castleton Corners; Father Vincent Capodanno Catholic Academy, South Beach; Notre Dame Academy, Grymes Hill; Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Tompkinsville; Our Lady Queen of Peace School, New Dorp; Our Lady Star of the Sea School, Huguenot; Sacred Heart School, West Brighton; St. Ann School, Dongan Hills; St. Charles School, Oakwood; St. Clare School, Great Kills; St. Joseph Hill Academy, Grasmere; and St. Patrick School, Richmond.
CAIRO, June 16 (Xinhua) -- As the first Arab head of state hosted by China this year, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas wrapped up his four-day state visit to China on Friday. His visit testifies to China's commitment to further enhancing its relations with Arab countries, particularly since it brokered the rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March.

Arab analysts hold that China's peace-oriented diplomatic efforts and increased practical cooperation with Arab countries will contribute to restoring peace and prosperity in the Middle East.

TRADITIONAL FRIENDSHIP

During their talks in Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Abbas announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and Palestine.

Hailing China as a trustworthy friend and partner, Abbas, on behalf of the Palestinian people, thanked China for its long-term strong support and selfless assistance for the Palestinian people's just cause of restoring their legitimate national rights.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of China-Palestine diplomatic relations. China is among the first countries to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization and the State of Palestine. Over the past 35 years, China has spoken out for Palestine on international occasions and continued providing humanitarian and development assistance to Palestine.

Nowadays, under the guidance of the two presidents, China-Palestine relations have maintained a good momentum, featuring solid political mutual trust.

Abbas said Palestine supports China's position on issues concerning its core interests and follows the one-China principle, adding that Palestine will work with China to promote the Belt and Road Initiative, strengthen bilateral cooperation and build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Describing China and Palestine as "friends closer than brothers," Abbas Zaki, a Palestinian Fatah Central Committee member and commissioner for relations with Arab countries and China, said that China firmly supports the cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate rights and establish an independent State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital and based on 1967 borders.

Omar Awadallah, an aide to the Palestinian foreign minister, told Xinhua that during the past 35 years, China's firm support for the just cause of the Palestinian people has never wavered.

"China now is a basic partner for countries of the world, especially Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe. Therefore, strengthening Palestine-China relations will help and contribute to mobilizing international support for the Palestinian cause in all forums," said Mazen Shamieh, former assistant minister for the Palestinian Foreign Ministry.

PRACTICAL COOPERATION

Experts believe that Abbas's visit, also the first by an Arab head of state to China after the first China-Arab States Summit in December, will accelerate the implementation of the summit's outcomes.

During the summit held in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, three significant outcome documents were issued, and eight major cooperation initiatives were proposed, drawing up a blueprint for deepening cooperation between the two sides.

As a result of the summit, the 10th Arab-China Business Conference took place in Riyadh earlier this month. During the conference's opening ceremony, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said that Arab countries were glad for the achievements in their partnership with China.

"China is the largest trading partner of Arab countries, and the volume of trade exchange between the two sides reached 430 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, a 31-percent increase from 2021," the minister said.

In recent years, China has signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with 21 Arab countries and the Arab League. Together, they have implemented more than 200 large-scale cooperation projects in various fields including energy and infrastructure. Such cooperation has benefited nearly 2 billion people.

"The Chinese initiatives are very important for paving the way for stability in the Middle East. Economic development will lead to political stability," said Abdel Mohdy Motawe, an expert in Palestinian affairs and researcher with the Cairo-based Middle East Forum for Strategic Studies and National Security.

Samer Khair Ahmed, a Jordanian writer and expert on Arab-China relations, told Xinhua that after the first China-Arab States Summit, relations between both sides have been lifted to a new level, and that President Abbas's visit again reflects the importance of relations between Arab countries and China.

PEACEFUL SOLUTION

During their talks in Beijing, Xi put forward a three-point proposal for the settlement of the Palestinian question. Xi stressed that the Palestinian question has caused great sufferings to the Palestinian people and that justice must be done to Palestine as soon as possible.

China has consistently maintained a fair and distinguished stance on the Palestinian question and the rights of the Palestinian people for many years, said Ahmed, the Jordanian writer.

"I believe that China can make a significant contribution to the peace process, given its vision for resolving conflicts in the world, based on finding fair solutions," he said. "The Palestinian issue needs this Chinese contribution, which achieves balance and opens up real opportunities for establishing peace."

The Middle East is witnessing a wave of reconciliations as countries are seeking greater strategic independence, especially after the resumption of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and Syria's return to the Arab League.

Moreover, Abbas said that Palestine backs the Global Security Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi, and speaks highly of the China-mediated talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

In Motawe's view, "the success of Chinese diplomacy in gathering both Saudi and Iran ... is a parameter that the Chinese role now in the Middle East is essential."

There is growing hope that China play a greater role in settling the Palestinian and Israeli issue, which is of special relevance to the peace and stability in the region, particularly in the Arab community, he added.

Abdulaziz Alshaabani, a Saudi journalist and researcher on China affairs, said that the three China-proposed initiatives concerning security, development, and civilization are important public goods, which provide Chinese wisdom and solutions for tackling security dilemmas, development challenges, and clashes of civilizations. 
The wildfire smoke that recently darkened the skies above New York City often looked frighteningly similar to the dust cloud from Ground Zero after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Though the smoke and the dust cloud contained very different contaminants, each presented serious threats to human health.

And both the smoke and the dust cloud demonstrate that we must focus on protecting our air quality and limiting the risks of toxic exposure, particularly for people at risk of respiratory problems and other illnesses.

The wildfire smoke, for example, increased New York Citys air quality index (AQI) to 413  the worst on record  nearly doubling asthma-related visits to local emergency rooms, according to the New York City Health Department. Normally, the city has an AQI below 50.

When air pollution of any kind threatens the public heath, all levels of government must advance a coordinated response to protect the populations at risk.

That response should include the free distribution of protective equipment such as high-quality face masks, stay-at-home advisories, and, in extreme situations, mandates.

As global warming worsens, I hope New York City will preemptively distribute masks at locations across the five boroughs, including major business districts, residential neighborhoods, and public institutions such as libraries.

Yet, too often the government has ignored hazardous air quality conditions.

Consider how the situation was mishandled after 9/11:

Despite officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claiming that the air in Lower Manhattan was safe to breathe, both first responders and people working, living, and studying in the area below Canal Street were exposed to pulverized glass and concrete, asbestos, chromium, benzene, and many other known carcinogens.

Regardless of the serious health risks, the government wanted to re-open Wall Street and demonstrate that the business as usual would continue.

Within a few days, office workers were back at their desks. A few weeks later, students and teachers returned to their classrooms.

Responders to the World Trade Center site were provided with minimal protective equipment, if any, and wore their regular uniforms.

We are still living with the tragic consequences of the decision to allow half a million people to remain near Ground Zero, which burned for 99 days

Nearly 85,000 claims have been submitted to the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund by responders and survivors diagnosed with 69 types of cancer and many respiratory illnesses, as well as families that have lost a parent or a spouse.

There are also more than 124,000 9/11 victims enrolled in the free, nationwide World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program for treatment of 9/11-related illnesses and injuries.

Sadly, even these figures fail to reflect the full harm of illnesses resulting from Ground Zero exposure. Though 85% of 9/11 responders are enrolled in the WTC Health Program, fewer than 10% of survivors (people working, living, or studying in the exposure zone) have enrolled.

The federal government and Lower Manhattan businesses and other institutions must expand their efforts to inform 9/11 responders and survivors who have been diagnosed with cancer or respiratory illness of their right to access free health care and compensation  and the many people who are now healthy but remain at risk.

This tragedy was not inevitable.

The government could have provided responders with breathing equipment to prevent toxic exposure, as well as Hazmat suits to protect their skin.

People living below Canal Street could have been temporarily relocated, and local businesses and schools operated remotely until the air was safe.

The cost of these precautions, though substantial, cannot compare to the needless loss of life and the enormous suffering of 9/11 victims and their families  suffering that will continue for decades in the future as more 9/11 community members are diagnosed with cancer.

As an advocate for more than 35,000 9/11 responders, survivors, and family members, I know from personal experience the devastation that has resulted from the failure to take adequate precautions.

We cannot afford to ignore the threat of toxins in the air we breathe. Our health depends upon it.

(Michael Barasch is the managing partner of Barasch & McGarry, which represents 9/11 responders and survivors who have been diagnosed with cancer or respiratory illnesses.)
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.  New York City reached a tentative five-plus-year contract agreement with the largest teachers union, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), which will cover about 120,000 employees.

The agreement, announced on Wednesday, includes several raises and annual retention payments if ratified by its members. It also includes plans to expand a virtual learning program to schools citywide, offering more opportunities for students to learn.

The total cost of the tentative agreement through 2027 will be $6.4 billion  funded in the labor reserve in the proposed Fiscal Year 2024 Executive Budget.

Here are five things you need to know.

When will the agreement begin and end?

The tentative agreement between New York City and the UFT is retroactive beginning on Sept. 14, 2022, and expires on Nov. 28, 2027.

The agreement covers approximately 120,000 municipal employees.

What are the raises?

Members of the UFT will receive annual raises of 3% for each of the first three years of the contract, 3.25% in the fourth year, and 3.5% in the fifth year. It also includes a $3,000 lump sum ratification bonus for all UFT members and a first-of-its-kind annual retention payment to be paid in May of each year, beginning with $400 in 2024, $700 in 2025, and $1,000 in 2026 and every year thereafter.

According to the city, these payments will help retain valuable educators, especially those earning lower annual salaries.

With the annual bonuses, the compounded value over the length of the agreement ranges from 17.58% to 20.42%, according to the UFT.

UFT members will receive the following compounded wage increases:

Sept. 14, 2022: 3.00%

Jan. 18, 2024: 3.00%

Jan. 18, 2025: 3.00%

Sept. 14, 2025: 3.25%

Sept. 14, 2026: 3.50%

What would new salaries look like?

Additionally, the new top salary for the most experienced teachers would be $151,271, including the bonus, by the end of the proposed contract. The proposed contract also cuts in half  from 15 to eight years  the length of time it takes most teachers to reach a salary of $100,000.

The new starting salary for new teachers would be $72,349, including the bonus, by the end of the proposed agreement  up from $61,070.

The top salary for paraprofessionals would be $56,761, including the bonus.

What is the new virtual learning program?

New York City plans to offer an expansive voluntary virtual learning program to all public high school students and some middle school students. While not a substitute for in-person learning, it would give students access to a much broader set of course offerings across the city, and the ability to take classes at non-traditional times, like evenings and weekends. It would also give an opportunity for educators to teach virtually.

The initiative will allow public schools to expand course offerings to students who dont currently have access to the full range of accelerated courses and to reach students for whom traditional in-person schedules dont work, such as students who work full-time jobs.

A tentative agreement was reached. Now what?

The tentative agreement must be ratified by UFTs membership and would apply to teachers, paraprofessionals, school secretaries, guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, staff nurses and supervisors of school security.

The unions 500-member Negotiating Committee, the Executive Board and Delegate Assembly will decide whether to send the tentative agreement to the full UFT members for a ratification vote. While generally referred to as one contract, there are a dozen different contracts covering different titles, from classroom teachers and paraprofessionals to nurses and guidance counselors.

Once approved, the contracts are sent to each school with a list of eligible voters  and to the home of workers who have no permanent school assignment  in the form of a two-envelope secret ballot. The ballots are collected by the schools UFT chapter leader, checked off against a master list of eligible voters, and then forwarded by prepaid Express Mail to the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Completed ballots are expected to be returned to AAA by the end of the school year.

Since 1991, DOE contracts have been approved by the UFT membership at rates ranging from 63% to 94%.

School Zone: An education newsletter with the updates you need throughout the school year and beyond. Enter your email address here and hit "subscribe" to receive this weekly newsletter:



FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
There are going to be some pretty big moments in The Grand Tour: Eurocrash.

The Grand Tour: Eurocrash, a new special, is the latest global release set to air on Friday, June 16, 2023 on Prime Video.

According to Amazons website, The Grand Tour: Eurocrash is the latest motoring special from James May, Jeremy Clarkson, and Richard Hammond, which will see them touring Central Europe.

The ex-Top Gear trio will take on a 1400-mile journey in the Prime Video special, where theyll see some Soviet-style Formula 1 and recruit a famous racing driver, as well as being attacked by deadly archers and taking part in a spectacular climax, so theres plenty to look forward to!

Specific details are under wraps, but the newest Grand Tour special, was filmed in Poland and Slovenia.

HOW TO WATCH GRAND TOUR

If youre not already a subscriber, Amazon Prime video offers a free trial.

>> Sign up for Amazon Prime >>

This is sixth special presentation of The Grand Tour made exclusively for Amazon. Originally a talk show format with audience and studio segments, the stars have now been adventuring all over the world.

Specials have been filmed in Cambodia and Vietnam, Madagascar, Norway and Sweden and the United Kingdom.

PREVIEW GRAND TOUR: EUROCRASH

The video preview of the show starts with an expletive flourish, as a car drives up underneath a plane: Holy ***t, are you kidding?

Fourteen hundred miles to go across four countries, the characters promise. Were looking behind what used to be the Iron Curtain.

Graphics flashing in the video promise, This year... Europe... gets a culture crash.
Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal.

Please purchase an Enhanced Subscription to continue reading. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.



We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.



A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
If youve taken out a mortgage with ANZ Bank, theres a decent chance some processing of the loan occurred in the fast-growing city of Bengaluru in India.

The banking giant has close to 8000 staff in the city, who work on everything from helping to process applications for some loans or credit cards, to developing payment platforms, to conducting checks on new business clients.

ANZ has close to 8000 staff in Bengaluru (also known as Bangalore). Credit: AP

In the past, these sorts of hubs were largely call centres for foreign businesses such as ANZ. But these days, the banks offices in Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) focus on higher-skilled technology work. And key rivals to ANZ have followed it into the worlds most populous nation, saying it gives them access to a talent pool that will help them compete.

ANZ and Commonwealth Bank even have outposts with several thousand employees in the same location, which also hosts global giants such as IBM and Phillips. While Westpac does not have staff in the country, National Australia Bank last year opened a centre in Gurugram, a city near New Delhi.
AMMAN/SANAA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Negotiations started in Jordan's capital Amman on Friday between the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebel group under the patronage of the United Nations.

In the two-day talks, the delegations from the two sides will discuss the issue of exchanging prisoners and seek solutions to the obstacles to the implementation of a previous agreement in this regard, a well-informed Yemeni source told Xinhua.

The source, who asked not to be identified, said both sides discussed the visit to each other's prisoners after the planned visit in May was postponed.

The source described the atmosphere of the meeting as positive but did not provide any further details.

Majid Fadail, the spokesperson for the government negotiating delegation, expressed optimism for the success of the talks in a tweet, emphasizing the objective of securing "the release of all prisoners and abductees" on the basis of reciprocity.

In April, the two sides exchanged about 880 prisoners. However, the second round of prisoner swap talks has been postponed after they traded accusations over delays of visiting prisoners. 
The priciest of the pair is at 11-27 Tavistock Place  a two-storey building off Flinders Lane between Queen and Market streets  which is expected to sell for more than $30 million. It was built in 1927 by the Melbourne City Council electricity supply department, and is one of several substations constructed at that time to supply power to the city. The 1446 sq m building is on an 840 sq m parcel of land. Cushman & Wakefields Oliver Hay, Daniel Wolman and Leon Ma are handling the sales campaign. On the other side of the city, deep in the Little Lonsdale Street precinct, is a substation at 1-3 Evans Lane. It is on a 210 sq m land parcel. The property is expected to sell for more than $4 million. Cushman & Wakefields Anthony Kirwan and George Davies, along with Hay and Ma, are running expressions of interest for the property.

Both sites are co-owned by CitiPower and Powercor. Hong Kong Stock Exchange-listed Hutchison Whampoa owns a 51 per cent stake in CitiPower. Meanwhile, at the other end of Little Lonsdale Street, among the high-rise apartment towers, a 576 sq m three-storey building is on the market in the rare sub-$10 million range. The ground floor of 395-397 Little Lonsdale Street is rented to Dao Noodle restaurant on a five-year lease, returning $170,000 a year. Levels one and two are vacant and there is also a caretakers cottage on the roof. The building will go to auction on July 21 through Cushman & Wakefields Kirwan, Ma, Hay and Wolman, along with Tiga Commercials David Sia and Martin Leong. It is expected to realise for between $6.5 million and $7 million  a good guide to the decline in CBD freehold values since the pandemic. A year ago, a similar property sold at 365 Lonsdale Street for $10 million.

Kilmore school The British Virgin Islands-based owner of the property housing the former Kilmore International School  also known as the Colmont School  is offloading the 5 hectare site for more than $15 million. The International Kilmore School, established in 1990 for local and international students, was later renamed Colmont before being placed into the hands of liquidators in July last year owing more than $6.5 million to creditors and school families. More than 350 students were given just two days notice that the school would close. The Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority told administrators on August 30 they were cancelling Colmonts registration as a school and boarding premise.

Records show the propertys owner Skywriters, which had the rights to the Kilmore International School name, is held by British Virgin Islands-based Chang Mao International Education Investment Holdings. The property at 32-42 White Street includes a primary school, high school classrooms, a library, sporting facilities, separate boarding facilities for boys and girls, a commercial kitchen and dining room. Savills agent Julian Heatherich, who is marketing the property with Tanya Su, said parts of the school were originally built for the Marist Brothers in 1887. It is not Heatherichs first dealings with schools. In 2012, he sold Mowbray Colleges in Caroline Springs, Brookside and Melton and Acacia College to other education providers. The 5 hectare site of the former Colmont School.

Industrial sale The Hargrave family has sold a large Noble Park industrial property for about $20 million. The Hargraves, whose fortune derives from the Skilled Engineering labour-hire business, held 440 Princes Highway since at least 2001 through Larkfield Property Holdings. The 13,502 square metre warehouse is on a large 19,469 sq m Commercial 2 zoned site and returns $986,946 a year in rent. It is leased to packaging manufacturer Oji Fibre Solutions. The deal was struck by Lemon Baxters Paul OSullivan and Chris Chartres, who declined to comment on the vendor but noted there were six bids for the property.

The sale follows Lemon Baxters recent acquisition of rival agency Dixon Kestles, which effectively doubles the size of the South Melbourne city fringe specialist. The agency, co-owned by OSullivan, Chris Curtain and Justin Clinch, now has more than 400 properties and 500 tenants on its rent roll. Plenty of opportunity A neighbourhood shopping centre in Reservoir is up for grabs, with expressions of interest closing on Wednesday. Anchored by boutique supermarket Marco Fine Foods, the 3686 sq m centre at 830 Plenty Road includes 17 shops and is on 1 ha of elevated land looking out to the east and north.

The property once had a permit for four 12-storey towers and hundreds of apartments, but this has since lapsed. Further up the hill, connected by the No.86 tram, are La Trobe and RMIT universities. The centre returns $1.08 million a year in rent and is expected to sell for more than $20 million. Cushman & Wakefield agents Marcus Neill, Wolman, Hay and Ma, and LAWDs Lukas Byrns and Peter Sagar handling the sales campaign. Next door is the LaSalle-owned Coles-anchored shopping centre and, to the south, at 810 Plenty Road, is a cleared 4434 sq m parcel of land that is for private sale for $6.75 million. It has a permit for a six-level, mixed-use project, including aged care and retail.
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 The redevelopment of a city block to create a University of Melbourne student precinct  with hopes of enticing students back to campus after the pandemic  has won Victorias top architecture award. The ambitious project, designed by a team of architectural firms led by Lyons, includes two new buildings and five refurbished buildings around a large amphitheatre. It was the most awarded project at the 2023 Victorian Architecture Awards, announced on Friday night, and took out the top gong, the Victorian Architecture Medal. Nightingale Village, a residential precinct in Brunswick, also won a major architecture award. Credit: Tom Ross Another multiple award-winning project was Nightingale Village, a residential precinct of 203 apartments across six buildings in Brunswick, which have limited car parks, no gas, and  notably  communal laundries on rooftops. Each of the buildings was designed by a different architect, using the Nightingale principles of social, environmental and financial sustainability. The states regional prize was awarded to Warrnambool Library and Learning Centre, which combines old and new elements, with a contemporary three-storey extension to the Gun and Orderly Room, which was built in 1868.

Advertisement

Sixteen major awards, 23 architecture awards and 25 commendations were announced on Friday night from 130 shortlisted projects. Australian Institute of Architects state president David Wagner said the standard of architecture entered had soared. Warrnambool Library and Learning Centre won the states regional architecture prize. Credit: Derek Swalwell Part of that is our interest in sustainability, our interest in livability, having floors that people can roll into if they cant walk, consideration of not having gas, photovoltaics on the roof, water retention. There are so many different aspects to it, Wagner said. Building and architecture is getting more complex, but its getting richer as well. The University of Melbourne student precinct also won the major educational architecture and urban design categories. The precinct reads like a visual essay of the past 150 years of architectural history, according to Architecture Australia, the journal of the Australian Institute of Architects.

Advertisement

The precinct includes the art deco 1930s Frank Tate building, the renovated 1888 building for graduate students, Lyons cutting-edge new $70 million arts and cultural building and the mesh-scaffolded student pavilion, which was designed as a neighbourhood hang-out. The student pavilion building in the University of Melbourne student precinct. Credit: Peter Bennetts The precinct was designed by Lyons with Koning Eizenberg Architecture, NMBW Architecture Studio, Greenaway Architects, Architects EAT, Aspect Studios and Glas Urban. When you look at the buildings there arent principal elements, Wagner said. Its not like the Beaux-Arts approach to design, such as Versailles, where the principal orientation is towards the main entry, the big courtyard. This approach is much more pluralistic, its in the heritage of Robert Venturi, the famous American architect who wrote Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture, which is about this idea that actually its the complexity and the contradiction which actually makes the interest. The precinct is on the land of the Wurundjeri people and is the site of the former Bouverie Creek, a migration path for eels on their journey from the Coral Sea. Indigenous students and communities were consulted in the design of the Welcome Ground, which re-establishes the lost creek to create a dramatic new entry to the university.

Advertisement

Wagner said the university wanted to provide a precinct that encouraged students to get together, with gathering spaces, cafes and quiet corners. The University of Melbourne student precinct was designed to encourage students to get together. Credit: Peter Bennetts COVID and the pandemic has taught everybody that there is a great richness to be gained in our community by physical engagement rather than just virtual discussions, he said. Nightingale Village, which won the Dimity Reed Melbourne Prize and the major award for sustainable architecture, was designed by Architecture architecture, Austin Maynard Architects, Breathe, Clare Cousins Architects,

Hayball and Kennedy Nolan. Wagner said the Nightingale project explored how to deal with the sustainability crisis by building on brownfield sites, which are close to public transport, and providing few car parks to reduce peoples reliance on driving. The apartments dont have washing machines  which saves space and money  and a communal rooftop laundry provides a chance to meet neighbours. The Nightingale Village rooftop is a place neighbours can meet. Credit: Tom Ross

Advertisement

The collective of architects behind this project began their journey seeking to redefine the expectations of developers, architects and what it means to provide housing, the Dimity Reed Melbourne Prize jury said. The Warrnambool Library and Learning Centre, designed by Kosloff Architecture, won the regional prize. The library last month also won two international awards in the Architizer A+ Awards, the worlds largest awards for architecture and spaces. I had a great conversation where someone remarked, If Id had this during VCE or HSC I might have had a different trajectory, and I think its testament to the potential for public architecture to really provide positive change within a community, Kosloff Architecture director Julian Kosloff said at the time. Wagner said the new library integrated with the 1860s building, showing all of the war wounds and the character of the old building but then has a glazed staircase and circulation space. He said there had been some excellent architecture developed in regional areas in recent years, including the Bendigo Law Courts, which won the major public architecture award. The Queen Victoria Market sheds. Credit: Dianna Snape

Advertisement
Bruce Pascoes bestselling book Dark Emu challenged thinking about Indigenous history  and sparked a fierce culture war  by arguing that Aboriginal people engaged in agriculture, irrigation, construction and baking rather than just being hunter-gatherers before European settlement.

Now the author, academic and farmer has gone even further in a documentary that argues there is new evidence of Aboriginal mining and trading of the grinding stones that were produced.

Bruce Pascoe in The Dark Emu Story. Credit: ABC

Writer-director Allan Clarkes The Dark Emu Story, which has a world premiere at Sydney Film Festival on Saturday, refers to a recent archeological site on Mithaka country in south-west Queensland that Pascoe believes reveals a new level of sophistication to Aboriginal land use.

The people there were engaged in a massive mining operation to extract mining stone cores and dressed them and faced them so that they would be a product for other communities, he said on the way to Sydney for the screening.
The compulsive intrusion of musical theatre can grate, though. Before five minutes are out, the ensemble has broken into Song of the Volga Boatmen and Aquas Barbie Girl, and the hits keep coming. Doris Day. Nancy Sinatra. Talking Heads. Sea shanties. The aria O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi. Some of these add to the dialogue on gendered oppression, but some dont, and their sheer number runs afoul of the law of diminishing returns. Whether the central premise of man creates woman without fear works as a coherent feminist reading  recall Simone de Beauvoirs remark that one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman  is debatable. But as the play meanders into a schlocky reanimation sequence, it knows the gender struggle is always primed for a sequel, and its certainly not over yet.

Reviewed by Cameron Woodhead THEATRE

Exiles 

James Joyce, fortyfivedownstairs, until June 25 James Joyces only play, Exiles, is rarely staged, and its a fascinating work to see performed, more than a century after it was written. Social and sexual mores have been utterly transformed in that interval, but Joyces imagination (and experience) of sexual behaviour aspired to a radical honesty, and this play defies convention in a way that gives a shrug and a plus ca change to contemporary sensibilities.

Sex is inextricably bound up in Joyces biography and art. It is fundamental to Ulysses. The day the novel is set, celebrated annually as Bloomsday on June 16, also marked the authors first liaison with future wife Nora Barnacle, and the way Nora talked about sex is the conscious template for Molly Blooms famous final soliloquy. Private erotic correspondence between Nora and Joyce wouldve been too scandalous to publish. Letters to my little f---bird prefigure sexting by generations, and the great Irish modernist would have loved the rich lode of linguistic invention that flourishes in our sexually adventurous age. Lucy Payne and Linda Cookson in a scene from a new production of James Joyces Exiles. Credit: Jody Jane Stitt Polyamory now has an entire lexicon devoted to it  from polycules and sweet throuple situations to men who fetishise being cucked  and all these concepts are explored, if not yet named, in Exiles. Autobiographical elements are emphasised through period costume and performance, with Richard Rowan (Doug Lyons) and Bertha (Lucy Payne) human palimpsests of Joyce and Barnacle.

Their partners in the dance of free love are Robert Hand (Soren Jensen), a journalist and old friend of the couple whos smitten with Bertha, and his cousin Beatrice (Mary-Agnes OLoughlin), whose skittish repression leaves her reciprocal desire for Richard unconsummated. The action can seem like Polyamory for Beginners to a modern audience, and it isnt wholly satisfying drama. (Exiles feels incomplete and was rushed to press before Joyce wanted it to be.) But it is funny and turbulent and alive and wrestles with intricacies of power and vulnerability, sketching characters who rationalise their behaviour  and their ideals  in the face of jealousy, doubt, and desire. Soren Jensen as Robert and Doug Lyons as Richard in a scene from Exiles. Credit: Jody Jane Stitt Some dialogue sounds brazenly modern, and its forthrightness makes contemporary glances at historical polyamory  Anthony Weighs Sunday, for instance  look tame in comparison. Paynes Bertha is a force to be reckoned with  plainspoken, radiant, possessed of an indomitable vitality  and this production sets a few extra crumbs on the trail to the present, such as emphasising homoeroticism merely gestured at in the script.

Director Carl Whiteside delivers an indie production that Joyce fans can happily attend to complete their love affair with the author.

Reviewed by Cameron Woodhead MUSIC

Michael Buble | Higher Tour 

Rod Laver Arena, June 16 Accompanied by a spirited live orchestra, Michael Buble dances his way through a joyous two-hour performance composed of covers and original favourites. Michael Buble danced his way through a joyous two-hour concert at Rod Laver Arena. Credit: Rick Clifford The 47-year old Canadian crooner rescheduled his 2022 Australian tour due to logistical issues, but tonight cheers erupt as the orchestra plays the first few bars of Nina Simones Feeling Good. Buble rises from beneath onto the smoke-filled stage, winking at the audience with cheeky familiarity.

His catalogue draws from the Great American Songbook, a canon containing the most influential pop and jazz hits from the early 20th century to now. He acknowledges the likes of Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and Dean Martin as significant influences on his albums as well as stage presence, telling the packed arena: I stole from them all but cherishing that he gets to play a small part in keeping these songs alive. Originals Everything, Its a Beautiful Day and Havent Met You Yet fill the air with romance. Dramatic big band crescendos accompany the title track of his new, Grammy-award winning album, Higher. A sentimental, pared-back piano rendition of Nat King Coles Smile elicits attentive silence from the crowd. The cover of Elvis Presleys Fever turns up the heat as red flames engulf the digital screen behind the band. Michael Buble at Rod Laver arena last night. Credit: Rick Clifford Joking with his crowd across the night, Buble mimics the Australian accent, a southern preacher and the king of rock n rolls distinguishable thank you, thank you very much. Hes quick-witted, poking fun at the audience for singing lyrics incorrectly and bantering about his concerts simulating foreplay due to his too sexy and dangerous persona.

A wholesome and slightly naughty evening that felt a little bit like a cheesy karaoke night in the best of ways, Bubles opening promise rings true: This is not a concert, this is not a show, this is a celebration of life.

Reviewed by Vyshnavee Wijekumar MUSIC

Donny Benet 

Corner Hotel, June 16 Donny Benet is simultaneously a joke and not a joke. The record sleeves at the merch table show a man fully committed to the bit. Benet, born Ben Waples, dons lounge suits and a Bill Bailey haircut to play saxophone-soaked songs with titles like Sophisticated Lover and Shes Too Much; songs that paint pastel pictures of movie montage lives full of impossible luxury, sex, success, and sports cars with butterfly doors. Donny Benet performs at The Corner Hotel. Credit: Rick Clifford On Friday, Benet and band played two sets of the greatest hits to a sold-out crowd, covering over a decade of Benets career in smooth yacht funk, with a heavy focus on the Mr Experience and The Don albums. But those who have seen Benets live show know that the radio slickness of those records does not do this material justice. The retro facade disguises an incredibly good live band, maybe it even holding it back at times. Benets bass whips everything into thick liquid, and sax and guitar solos are plentiful when was the last time you heard a genuinely great guitar solo? The sustained sax note in the chorus of Mr Experience holds more face-melting power than entire hours of most contemporary pop radio.
Of all the worlds leaders, it is the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who has come to speak with the most force on our failure to rise to the threat of climate change, and so it was when he spoke as the Bonn Climate Change Conference came to a close this week.

I see a lack of ambition, a lack of trust, a lack of support, a lack of co-operation and an abundance of problems around clarity and credibility, he said in a speech made in New York on Wednesday that was aimed directly at Bonn, where 8000 people had gathered for the last major climate talks before this years COP28 conference in the United Arab Emirates.

The Statue of Liberty shrouded in smoke from Canada wildfires in New York last week. Credit: Bloomberg

Countries are far off track in meeting climate promises and commitments.

The climate agenda is being undermined. At a time when we should be accelerating action, there is backtracking. At a time when we should be filling gaps, those gaps are growing, he said.
Clam Bar and Le Foote kick off an impressive list of new restaurant openings in super fine style. But were just getting started.

Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share

The Sydney Good Food Guide mid-year dining review See all stories .

The bulk of the years hottest openings may be behind us, but there are still plenty of upcoming restaurant launches to file away for later. Le Foote Finally. A reason to visit The Rocks besides the eclairs at La Renaissance and Quay. The Restaurant Huberts teams long-awaited Mediterranean grill is all about cheese, charcuterie and wine up front, and long lunches out the back. A Roman holiday-channelling dining room is made for lazy afternoons that start with two-sip negronis, end with rum baba, and involve a lot of roasted lamb belly and calamari skewers in between. 101 George Street, The Rocks Good Food hat 15 / 20 Review Does the Hubert teams decadent new grillhouse Le Foote live up to the hype? Manjimup marron, curry butter and fried bread at Petermen. James Brickwood Petermen

Advertisement

Advertisement

Spatchcock and scarpinocc (pasta) at Palazzo Salato. Edwina Pickles Palazzo Salato The group which founded Surry Hills wine bar Love, Tilly Devine (now in its 13th year) just keeps growing, and the vino-loving crew now operates Redferns La Salut, Potts Points Dear Sainte Eloise and CBD handmade pasta hotspots Fabbrica, Ragazzi and Palazzo. The latter is Love Tilly Groups most ambitious venue to date, featuring a dynamic marble-heavy dining room, 600-bottle wine list, and a mafaldine pasta with spanner crab and sea urchin ready to transport you straight to Campania. 201/203 Clarence Street, Sydney CBD Good Food hat 15 / 20 Review Love Tilly teams buzzy new Palazzo Salato serves up proper pasta and candlelit glam El Primo Sanchez Ive been saying it for years  every bar should have a two-person karaoke booth with a button that orders beers and tequila shots on demand. Kudos to the team also responsible for CBD cocktail bar Maybe Sammy for making that karaoke and cerveza dream a reality. Its only some of the fun you can have at Sammy Groups swanky Mexican bar and restaurant, pumping high-fidelity booze and tunes inside a colourfully refurbished corner pub. Tacos, margarita and Prince singalongs, ahoy.

Advertisement

27-33 Oxford Street, Paddington 14.5 / 20 Review El Primo Sanchez is not a bar for everyone, but gee, it is fun Gildas and fino sherry at Vermuteria. Christopher Pearce Vermuteria Love what youve done with the place, Dave Spanton and Mike Delany. With Spanton on cocktail and concept duties, and Delany leading the interior design, the Kings Cross site once home to Cafe Hernadez reopened in February as a vermouth-fuelled bolthole for tinned seafood, charcuterie and damn fine sherry cobblers. Delany has gussied up the place to look like its straight out of 1970s Barcelona, and theres no leafier spot for an aperitif than Vermuterias streetside seats on a Saturday afternoon. You can find similar vibes and stiffer drinks at Spantons other boozer, Piccolo Bar, just up the road. 60 Kings Cross Road, Rushcutters Bay Armorica Grand Brasserie

Advertisement

Oysters, lobster, caviar, wagyu, foie gras  what cost of living crisis? Taking over the old Toko digs on Crown Street, Sydneys latest and greatest brasserie is unapologetically lavish, with a reported $3 million fit-out of Italian marble and leather banquettes, and a massive oven to charcoal-grill rib-eyes and king prawns with snail XO. It could have collapsed under the weight of its ambition and buttery emulsions, but chef Jose Saulog (who also leads the kitchens of Potts Points two-hatted Franca and Parlar) has a sharp eye for details, and sharper technique. 490 Crown Street, Surry Hills Good Food hat 15.5 / 20 Review Chocolate treasure chest a must-try at Surry Hills new brasserie Armorica Zaatar manoush at Nomads younger sibling, Beau & Dough. Petrina Tinslay Beau The pitch: your local Surry Hills manoush and wine bar. The chef: Jacqui Challinor, who also cooks marvellous things inspired by Spain and Morocco a block away at Nomad. That manoush is terrific  hand-stretched, baked to order and buzzing with zaatar  but the moody laneway spot comes into its own at night, with a line-up of Middle Eastern-inspired share plates starring golden-skinned spatchcock with preserved lemon and roasted grapes. 52 Reservoir Street, Surry Hills
Treatment for mastitis  an excruciating ailment that affects up to 20 per cent of breastfeeding mothers  is undergoing a dramatic shift.

For decades, the routine medical advice given to women battling the condition was to feed or pump more frequently on their sore breast, massage out lumps and to apply heat to their chest. If they developed a fever or redness on their chest, women were told to see a doctor immediately where antibiotics might be prescribed.

Mastitis is rarely an infection, it is just inflammation. If we can manage the inflammation, we can calm it down and calm down the mother. Credit: Louise Kennerley

But new guidelines by the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, an international organisation of medical doctors who support breastfeeding, say these strategies may have been exacerbating mastitis.

Women are now advised to use ice instead of heat, avoid vigorous massage of their breasts and to feed normally.
Robert and I started working on songs together. Weve got different tastes, but we allow for each others differences. I wasnt into disco as much as him; I liked local prog-rock groups. We did a Medibank ad that ran for 20 years and we earned more money from that than we ever did from our bands. Wed laugh about it.

Stephen: About 40 years ago, I had a radio show on Triple R and Robert was in a group called Essendon Airport. We used to play their songs and make fun of them. I got Robert to play guitar on my [1984] solo album Senso, and I helped his band Im Talking get a record deal. We started to get to know each other in a more personal way when I lived in Elwood near the canal and there was the occasional rat in the flat. I rang up Robert and said, Sorry, but what do I do? He came around and set a trap in a bag. That was very bonding.

Melbourne musicians Robert Goodge, 67, and Stephen Cummings, 70, have been writing and recording together  and helping each other with everything from rat infestations to episodes of ill health  since the 1980s.

My career has been up and down, but Ive managed to keep doing it. The continuity in our friendship is part of that. Roberts a very gentle, kind, generous person. Hes not competitive at all, but I am, so hes been good at calming me down a bit. Of all the people Ive worked with, I find him to be the most musical. We get on well, but we dont talk about personal things; we just gossip about the music business. Ive got some incredible stories out of him, like how his mum made him a pair of underpants out of pencil-case material.

Beforehand, I didnt think everyone was batting on my side. It was wrong thinking by me. When its good like this, its a real kick playing music. Stephen Cummings

I was going to retire in 2020. I was doing a farewell tour. When my plane landed in Brisbane, I went to stand up and thought Id fall over. Id had a stroke and didnt know it. We even played a gig that night. My wife met us at the airport back in Melbourne. Straight away, she asked, What the hell happened to you? She rushed me to hospital.

When I got out, I worried I wouldnt be able to play guitar or write songs or sing as I couldnt move my left hand. I had to learn to walk again. A stroke can also affect your breathing. Even though I was supposed to be retired, I hated the idea of not being able to sing if I felt like it. I found that depressing. What kept me sane was practising my walking and trying to sing again.

Robert noticed and said, We could just make a record here in your room. Well do it for the hell of it. He might have vaguely known how I felt because hed had stomach cancer. I couldnt play guitar, but I wrote the words and sang. Robert was tough on me but in a friendly way, encouraging. Hes fussy and knows how he wants things. I was unsure, but it ended up working really well. I thought, It must sound good if Robert is spending all this time catching the train over here. Hes not flippant with his time.
For years, Byron Bay has been divided over what to do with its old railway tracks, part of the Sydney to Murwillumbah line that snakes its way through the hinterland and down to the sea.

Many in the shire want their train back, to see it again ferry people from Lismore to the coast for a day at the beach, or help people in more far-flung places get into town.

Cyclists enjoy the Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail.

But others say such dreams are just that, and theyre stopping the community from turning an abandoned, decaying railway line into a multimillion-dollar bike and cycling path that would connect the towns and villages of the Northern Rivers.

In a way, Byron is the jewel in the crown, thats why [the rail trail supporters] are so keen on it, Byron Shire mayor Michael Lyon says.
Former Hillsong leader Brian Houston did not cover up his fathers sexual abuse of a child and actually told tens of thousands of people, including an annual church conference attended by the police commissioner, a court has heard.

Houston, 69, is accused of concealing a serious indictable offence over failing to report the crime to police between learning of it in 1999 and his fathers death in 2004. He has pleaded not guilty.

Brian Houston leaves Downing Centre Local Court on Friday. Credit: Rhett Wyman

In closing submissions on Friday, defence barrister Phillip Boulten, SC, told Downing Centre Local Court his client had a reasonable excuse for not making a police report  that the victim, Brett Sengstock, did not want police involved.

The court heard Houston confronted his father in November 1999 and the older man confessed to molesting Sengstock in the 1970s. Houston then informed his father he was no longer welcome to attend Hillsong.
The eternal tussle between housing and infrastructure, repetitive and tedious as it can be, does occasionally cough up an a-ha moment when you marvel at the strength of an idea  and then immediately despair at why it was ignored.

I cannot understand why theyre not putting one more station in that big stretch: Federal Labor member for Sydney Tanya Plibersek wants a Zetland metro station. Credit: Rhett Wyman

Such is the case in the suburb of Zetland  five kilometres south of the Sydney CBD  where for the past couple of weeks Ive been following community opposition to developer Meritons plan to build 814 apartments on a former car yard.

Its the usual hodgepodge of grumbles, though they are mostly lobbed from the adjacent suburb of Kensington, not the immediate neighbours. And their complaints are futile  the site is zoned for dense housing; like it or lump it, thats what theyre going to get.

Much of their concern about traffic and parking arises from the fact the site is just over a kilometre from Green Square train station and this is apparently too far to walk, meaning people will drive.
Public primary schools in Sydneys east, north shore and inner city have lost more than 4700 students in the past four years, with more children being clustered in composite classes to manage shrinking enrolments.

The decline in public sector enrolments  intensified in more affluent suburbs  comes as more families move suburbs, switch catchments, or leave to secure a place in year 5 at private schools.

In a letter to parents last month, Clovelly Publics principal Matt Jackman made an impassioned appeal to parents urging them to push back against the pressure and marketing the private sector places on families and keep children enrolled through to year 6.

Morag Bond with her children Jonah and Hannah, who attend Coogee Public School. Credit: Nikki Short

As with most public schools in the eastern suburbs, we are seeing an even greater increase in students leaving the public education system at the end of year 4, he wrote.
Sydney Anglicans are in the middle of a global ecclesiastical stand-off over sexuality and colonialism after the bishop of Uganda, an ally of the Sydney Diocese, praised his countrys new laws that punish homosexual acts with life imprisonment and the death penalty.

Sydney, one of the most conservative Anglican dioceses in the English-speaking world, sits with Uganda in an alliance of mostly African churches that have split from the Archbishop of Canterbury over theological differences, including the British primates refusal to take a stance against same-sex marriage.

Ugandan bishop Stephen Kaziimba (left) with Sydney Archbishop Kanishka Raffel. Credit: Twitter

Sydney Archbishop Kanishka Raffel joined Ugandan Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba at a meeting of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) in late April, just weeks before Kaziimba praised his countrys laws and claimed homosexuality was being forced on the country by foreign actors against our will.

The laws, passed in late May, would send those convicted of homosexual acts to prison for 20 years. So-called aggravated cases, which include gay sex with anyone younger than 18, could attract the death penalty. They have drawn condemnation from around the world. However, Kaziimba said the laws were good but stopped short of endorsing the death penalty.
Community activists, united under the broad Stop the Great Wall of Frankston campaign, say the tower proposals are a stark departure from historic council plans for Frankston which, back in 2005, set 26-metre height limits for building in the Kananook Creek precinct, and planned to push higher buildings east towards the train station. But a slim majority of councillors, who this week voted five to four to approve a new blueprint for the city taking in non-mandatory preferred height limits of 41 metres (or 12 storeys), say progress must be made on the Nepean stretch blighted by empty shops, dated facades and little foot traffic. Things have changed over the last 20 years, said Frankston Mayor Nathan Conroy. He said developers were not interested in creating lower-rise apartments, and that past council and VCAT decisions had set precedents for high buildings in the waterfront area. The viability of making an apartment building [in that area] thats two or three storeys high ... its not the case any more.

Developer interest For a bayside suburb with lush bushland, a clean and popular beach, a metro train connection and quick access to the Mornington Peninsula, Frankston has been long underestimated, according to RMIT Professor of Planning Michael Buxton. Its been below the radar for a long time. Its at that critical juncture of that dividing line between the city and country, said Buxton, who supports the Stop the Great Wall campaign. Kananook Creek in Frankston, which runs between Nepean Highway and Frankston Beach. Credit: Eddie JIm Its economic performance has not been great, and now its time has come  its been discovered by developers.

Marked as one of Melbournes nine designated metropolitan activity centres in Plan Melbourne  the Victorian governments official planning blueprint  Frankston has long been earmarked as a secondary city that requires a greater density of housing in its downtown area. A turning point came when developer Urban DC secured approval for a nine-storey luxury apartment building on Ploughman Street, overlooking the town and beach, in April 2020. Construction is yet to finish but the apartments have sold out, with 80 per cent reportedly sold to Frankston residents. Members of the Stop the Great Wall of Frankston community campaign outside the site of one of the proposed towers. Credit: Eddie Jim Urban DC, which did not respond to repeated requests for comment to The Age, has previously told real estate media that Frankston is entering a golden age, and launched plans for a second site: one of the Nepean Highway developments now in contest. When we had too many people who had $2 [million] and wanted a penthouse, we realised we needed another project, Urban DC executive director Danny Ciarma was quoted saying last year.

Soon after Urban DC submitted its application for a Harbour apartment tower on the site of a former Forty Winks retailer at 446-450 Nepean Highway, the Pace Development Group submitted its application for a 16-storey building on the former site of the Frankston cinema, at number 438-444. The council approved the Harbour development by one vote in November after the developer offered to shave off one storey to appease concerns about overshadowing. But that approval will be challenged by the Great Wall campaigners in the VCAT hearing scheduled to start on Monday. A second VCAT matter will be heard next month for the Pace application. The developer applied to the tribunal for a decision after council planning officers failed to make a recommendation within a prescribed 60-day time limit, although councillors passed a unanimous motion registering their symbolic rejection of the plan for being too high. Pace Development Group did not respond to requests for comment.

There are also submitted plans for a 13-storey residential development on the 300-metre stretch between Kananook Creek Boulevard and Wells Street, and if that is approved it would leave only four small allotments undeveloped on the block. The Great Wall An artists impression of a 16-storey proposal for 438-444 Nepean Highway, Frankston, by Pace Development Group. Its future will also be determined by VCAT. Since late last year, posters and petitions have been put up in Frankston cafes, local media and in front yards accompanied by photoshopped images of Nepean Highway littered with high-rise apartment towers on the coastline. The community activists slogan has drawn the ire of some councillors who support the developments, but it has attracted the support of high-profile residents including the Reverend Tim Costello, who as St Kilda mayor in the 1990s fought that suburbs push for foreshore high-rise developments.

Great Wall campaigners have gathered 5000 signatures for a petition that was handed by Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke to Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny last month. The group says attempts to meet the minister have failed. The major concerns of residential groups are the visual bulk and shadowing over nearby homes, the creek and pedestrian areas, the commodification of the bay views for commercial purposes and worries the waterfront buildings will deter other developments in the city centre. Loading Thurley said some in his group were residents in the immediate vicinity of the sites but denied they were anti-development NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) activists. He said the campaign supported apartment buildings along the strip that were no higher than the four storeys set out in Frankstons first structure plan. We were all really rapt when they came up with the original plan and the vision back then, he said. The principles were that the dominant purpose of our waterfront is for the public, and it shouldnt be dominated by private interests.

Those heights are what you see in Manly, Noosa and many other parts that are long right along the bay. So the idea of a cool-climate Surfers Paradise is ridiculous. Loading Those concerns were echoed by the four councillors  Steven Hughes, Liam Hughes, Sue Baker and Claire Harvey  who opposed both proposed developments in November and the new structure plan ratified at the council this week. Conroy and councillors David Asker, Kris Bolam, Suzette Tayler and Brad Hill supported the strategic plan and the Harbour development, after considering arguments ranging from the housing crisis to the limits of the councils powers to stop proposals considering Frankstons status as a nominated activity centre.
The Albanese government says it is unable to send Hawkei protected mobility vehicles to Ukraine in the near future despite increasingly desperate pleas from Kyiv, citing braking issues and a lack of spare parts.

Ukraine has been requesting a fleet of Australian-made Hawkeis since September and the countrys Ministry of Defence has taken to social media in recent months to declare the vehicle its new military crush.

The Hawkei protected mobility vehicles have been designed and manufactured at Thales Bendigo site in Victoria.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is to announce a new package of support for Ukraine during or just before his visit to the NATO summit in Lithuania in July, but Ukraines top request for assistance looks unlikely to feature in the announcement.

In a letter sent to a member of the public earlier this month on behalf of Defence Minister Richard Marles, a senior Department of Defence official said: We are aware of calls to provide [the] Hawkei to Ukraine.
Anger at what, exactly? And is it directed against any particular person or party? The threshold question is why was federal parliament gripped by sexual abuse this week to start with? Loading Last week, Murdochs The Australian published text messages retrieved from the phone of Brittany Higgins, the former Liberal staffer who alleged in 2021 that shed been raped by another Liberal staffer, Bruce Lehrmann. She said hed raped her late at night in the office of the Liberal minister who employed both, Morrisons defence minister, Linda Reynolds, who remains in parliament. Lehrmann maintains his innocence. The messages, the authenticity of which have not been challenged, appear to show Higgins and her partner, David Sharaz, chatting in the days immediately before the bombshell news of Higgins rape claim was first published. In their chat, they are seen organising the media and political treatment of the forthcoming news. The messages implicate Labors Senator Katy Gallagher. Specifically, the leaked messages show that, four days before the news broke, Sharaz texted Higgins: Katy is going to come to me with some questions you need to prepare for  Shes really invested now ha ha.

Later that day, Sharaz messaged Higgins: Katy Gallagher messaged me. Shes angry and wants to help. Shes got the context. When Higgins asks to see the message from Gallagher, Sharaz replies: Yep! I gave her [Channel Tens The Project] interview for context. I hope thats okay? Shes not doing anything with it. But Im also happy to step out and let her talk to you if you want. Basically, I wanted her to get all the context because its so complicated. Higgins: Thats fine. Itll all be public pretty soon anyway haha. Other material from Higgins phone was published in recent days by Seven News and The Daily Mail. But its the Gallagher-related texts published in The Australian that became the centre of the weeks political recriminations. This is the first source of the anger Hendry is channelling  the leaking. The leak of the private text messages, says Hendry, is abuse of Higgins all over again. The leaking of Brittanys texts is particularly worrying because its linked to political gain and no regard for her wellbeing.

Who leaked the messages, and from where? Its unknown. But the contents of Higgins phone had been downloaded for the criminal trial of Lehrmann. So it had been given to the ACT police, the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions, and lawyers for Lehrmann, at a minimum. None of the messages was used in the rape trial, so they were not disclosed as evidence or released publicly in any way. Loading Theres a real question of morality here, says Hendry. How far will these people go for political gain? The journalists who published it are equally complicit as the leakers for the bigger play  to damage the Labor government. This is precisely what the Liberal Party set about doing this week, all week. The Liberals seized upon the leaked messages to attack Gallagher, now Albaneses finance minister and the minister for women. Two years ago, Gallagher had told a Senate committee that no one had any knowledge of the Higgins accusations before the story broke publicly. She had misled parliament, the opposition claimed. And it had a case. Gallagher this week sidestepped the accusation by splitting hairs. She admitted she did indeed have a few days advance notice of the Higgins story. But, she said, that was not the accusation shed been denying two years ago. On that occasion, the Liberals said shed had two weeks notice. And that was the claim shed denied.

The pursuit of a minister for misleading parliament is standard scrutiny. The Liberals leadership argues that alls fair in love, war and politics. Labor, two years ago, used the Higgins case energetically against the Morrison government; the Liberals were merely returning the favour, they say. Loading The Coalition repeatedly pointed out this week that Gallagher, from opposition, had peppered the Morrison government with hundreds of questions over the Higgins case in question time, that Labors barrage against Linda Reynolds was so intense that, at one point, she collapsed on the Senate floor and had to take sick leave. So fairs fair, no? Janine Hendry says: I recognise Katy Gallaghers role and I recognise the accusation that she misled parliament. But I also respect her response that she felt the need to be a confidant of the information shes received. In terms of the treatment of the information, the weaponisation of the texts for political point-scoring, I lay that at the feet of the Liberal Party. There are lots of ways of scoring political points; but abusing women to do that is inappropriate.

The leak of Brittanys texts, and the response to those leaks, is abuse. There was zero respect for what she has gone through. Then opposition leader Anthony Albanese with March4Justice organiser Janine Hendry in Canberra. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The rape trial of Lehrmann was abandoned because of juror misconduct. Then prosecutors dropped the charges this year out of concern for the effect that another trial might have on Higgins health and welfare. The Liberals fired question after question over Gallagher and the Higgins case this week. And they were astonished when the attack backfired. The independent senator Lidia Thorpe accused a Liberal senator, David Van, of sexually assaulting her. Within 24 hours, two former Liberal legislators had phoned Peter Dutton to make similar complaints against Van. Dutton unhesitatingly expelled him from the Liberal party room. The Liberals had been hunting Labor scalps and were amazed to be handed one of their own.

On Friday morning, Van released a statement saying he was stunned that my good reputation can be so wantonly savaged without due process or accountability. Senator David Van is stunned that my good reputation can be so wantonly savaged. Credit: Nine News Hendry gives credit to Dutton for his decisiveness. But, on balance, she overall blames the Coalition for a disgusting fortnight. In that case, the Liberals have only managed to self-harm politically. Will that deter them from pursuing future advantage from cases of womens abuse? Hendry says that, on the evidence she sees, the people angered by these two weeks are not blaming only the Coalition but Labor as well. Anecdotally, from what I see, its been really damaging to politics in general. I cant help but wonder  will we see a mass exodus from the major parties to the independents and so-called teals? This is an effect that, in the commercial world, is known as a category killer. When one major firm attacks its competitor, both lose. The whole category suffers brand damage, with no winners.
The embattled workers compensation insurer icare will need a state government top-up of more than $660 million within the next two weeks to ensure it can continue to pay injured frontline public servants.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the one-off payment was needed to guarantee injured public sector workers had access to financial support, but acknowledged the funding injection would add to the governments gross debt, which is projected to reach $187 billion by 2026.

An increase in workers compensation claims, a rise in medical malpractice and historical child sex abuse liabilities, as well as property damage from last years northern rivers floods, have contributed to the need for the top-up.

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said a $669 million top-up to icare would add to the states gross debt levels. Credit: James Alcock

Icare manages the Treasury Managed Fund and Insurance for NSW, which cover the states insurance risks, including payments for NSW public sector workers compensation and property damage.
A French mayor has become the most hated man in France after he authorised the destruction of prehistoric stones seen as part of the French Stonehenge to make way for a DIY shop.

Olivier Lepick, mayor of Carnac in Brittany, western France, said he had received death threats after giving the green light to bulldoze around 40 menhirs thought to be 7000 years old. The colossal rocks have been immortalised in the Asterix comic books.

The Alignement de Carnac are said to predate the Roman Empire by at least 3000 years.

He claims it was down to an administrative error as he hadnt realised they were of archeological value.

The stones were between 0.5m to 6 metres tall, with an average-sized menhir weighing between five and 10 tonnes, and stood around 1.5 kilometres, from the main Alignement de Carnac, a vast archaeological site that predates Stonehenge by 1000 years and encompasses thousands of standing stones spread across 27 communes - one of the largest collections of their kind in the world.
PHILIPSBURG:---Over 21 per cent of St. Maarten's residents who are presently unable to obtain a basic bank account are likely eager to have the Parliament of St. Maarten pass the draft "Right to a Bank Account" law brought by United People's UP Party leader and Member of Parliament the honourable Rolando Brison.

Brison said Thursday he also looks forward to Parliament handling the "Right to Bank Account" law now that the Council of Ministers of St. Maarten's has approved the draft. Brison explained that the CoM's approval is significant in getting the draft law approved. It will go through one final stop in the legislative process before it returns to Parliament for debate and can then be voted into law.

The law will provide financial inclusion for local businesses and residents of St. Maarten, which, according to MP Brison, the United People's Party has been championing this entire term. "The financial inclusion of our Citizens and their right to access necessities such as a bank account where they can safely keep their hard-earned money is a responsibility of any Government," said MP Brison. He said the Government could not continue to ignore the unchecked and, at times, reckless tactics used by banking institutions when determining who has the right to a bank account or how long it should take for a bank to issue a new bank account. "The draft law is a major step to empowering our citizens to achieve financial security," said MP Brison.

MP Brison has been working on the draft law for almost three years. He finalized the draft on January 24, 2022, then brought a Motion forward during a Public Meeting of Parliament shortly after that to have the law vetted by the Government and the Central Bank of Curacao and St. Maarten (CBCS).

Citing the Supreme Court Verdict (NL-HR: 2021:1652), which confirmed a Court of Appeals position that banks "may also be obliged to offer a payment account for both consumers and legal entities", and the European Directive 1942, the motion called for the Minister of

Finance and CBCS to vet proposed Legislation to enshrine the right to a bank account into law.

The draft law is now in the final stage of the legislative process, giving hope to over 21 per cent of people and legal businesses in St. Maarten who still today do not have access to an account, according to a survey done by the CBCS.

The Council of Ministers approved the draft on May 16 this year and was sent to the Council of Advice.

"We have hard-working legal residents on St. Maarten and owners and operators of businesses who were given a license to do business by the Government but cannot get a bank account. Our people are not allowed the basic right to a bank account to secure their money. They can also not transact properly with vendors and perform other basic services because they cannot access a bank to transact their business. Those granted accounts must go through enormous amounts of undue scrutiny and red tape before they are allowed to store their legally obtained earnings. If we are serious about creating a secure and safe community, our citizens cannot hide their money under mattresses and risk being robbed," said MP Brison.

MP Brison said he championed such Legislation to help those in society who, for whatever reason, do not or have been refused a current account. "Far too often, we hear the horror stories of people not being able to open accounts, waiting months for their bank accounts or having their accounts closed by the bank without any regard for the importance of everyone needing a bank account in this day and age. Finally, all citizens and businesses legally established in St. Maarten will have the right to a bank account."

Once the draft law gets passed in Parliament, Banks will legally be obligated to provide all residents with a bank account. MP Brison also mentioned that the draft Legislation introduces access to a bank account without the heavy-handed requirements banking institutions have made the norm lately.

The Central Bank acknowledged that none of St. Maarten's existing Legislation sufficiently provides the right to a basic bank account opened in a fair amount of time. The Central Bank pointed out in a letter sent to the Parliament of St. Maarten on May 7 that existing Legislation does not provide the rules by which a bank can terminate an account. There is also no provision for publication, transparency, and limitations related to bank charges or for establishing a consumer banking protection bureau. "Once the draft Banking Law is passed in Parliament, these challenges our citizens face will become a thing of the past," said MP Brison. MP Brison has also ensured that the local banks were consulted when drafting the proposed law.
PHILIPSBURG:---The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labor, Omar Ottley, led a high-level delegation to the 111th International Conference held in Geneva. The delegation included Secretary-General Joy Arnell, Department Head of Labor Linda Froston, Cabinet Members Alissa Rios and Johnnie Richardson, as well as representatives from the employers Ms. Edna Evans and employees organization Mr. Stuart Johnson. During the conference, St. Maarten was called in front of the Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) to defend its case against allegations regarding Convention 87. Minister Ottley presented a compelling argument on behalf of the country on Monday, June 12, 2023.



On Thursday, June 15th, a decision was rendered, bringing great pride to St. Maarten in efforts to increase collaborations between the Government and its Social partners. The efforts of Minister Omar Ottley and his support staff successfully saved the country from international embarrassment by not having St. Maarten placed on the international provisional list.

The committee expressed willingness to assist the Government of St Maarten, in implementing the recommendations provided. One of its main points is to ensure in law and practice the ability of workers and employers organizations to establish higher-level organizations in full freedom, and to engage in dialogue with the organizations and ensure that public sector workers are able to fully exercise the rights and guarantees protected under the convention in law and practice

The team eagerly anticipates engaging in open dialogue with all social partners to find an amicable solution.



In addition to participating in the 111th International Conference, Minister Ottley took the opportunity to meet with fellow ministers, Glenbert Cruz from Aruba and Karien van Gennip, from the Netherlands delegation. Productive discussions were held regarding the possibility of forming a vier landen overleg committee focusing on labor and social development.



Minister Omar Ottley expressed his gratitude for the support and dedication as he emphasized the importance of collaboration with international partners to ensure a prosperous and fair labor environment for the people of St. Maarten. The successful outcome at the 111th International Conference in Geneva marks a significant milestone for St. Maarten's commitment to upholding international labor standards.



As Minister Omar Ottley stated in his presentation to the committee members at the CAS, which represents the tri-partite, he views this not as a combative moment but an opportunity to come to amicable solutions for the sake of the country. He reiterated his request to the ILO to provide technical assistance for implementing the recommendations.

Minister Ottley remains dedicated to fostering positive relationships with all stakeholders and aims to implement the conference's recommendations in a manner that promotes social harmony and economic growth.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday, June 15, 2023, the Honorable Minister of Justice, Anna E. Richardson, met with the Dean of the School of Law of the University of Curacao, Professor Ms. Flora Goudappel.

Ms. Goudappel informed Minister Richardson about the initiative taken by the University of Curacao to create a Master's Program in Notary Law to stimulate the growth of qualified notaries and candidate notaries in the Caribbean part of our Kingdom.

Minister Richardson was pleased to learn that the master's program will also be available for the law students in Sint Maarten and wholeheartedly supports this new opportunity for our local residents.

During this fruitful meeting, Ms. Goudappel and Minister Richardson also discussed possibilities for further collaboration between the Ministry of Justice Sint Maarten and the School of Law of the University of Curacao, focusing on potential training courses for Justice personnel.
PHILIPSBURG:--- Mr. Beaujon joined the board shortly after the founding of the foundation in 1997. Following the sudden passing of Mr. Joe Vliegen in 2000, who was one of the founding fathers of the organization, Mr. Beaujon took on the post of Chairman.

With a long career within the banking world and private sector, the Nature Foundation has prospered from Jan Beaujons financial background and leadership in guiding the organization to carry out its commitment to conservation, management, and education regarding the natural resources and environment of Sint Maarten. Further, his perception and solution-oriented mindset have been instrumental in overcoming critical periods when funding for executing the work of the foundation was not available.

Until his retirement in 2013, Jan Beaujon was the General Manager of the Windward Island Bank and he has since remained active in efforts to heighten the economic, social, cultural, and environmental well-being of Sint Maarten. In past years, he has been awarded Person of the Year at the Crystal Pineapple Awards by Sint Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association SHTA and received the royal decoration of Knight in the Order of Oranje-Nassau.

Binkie van Es succeed Jan Beaujon as the new chairman. Binkie is well known in the community for his engagement in nature conservation and bird expertise, and a long career on the island. Currently, the Board of the Nature Foundation consists of five members: Binkie van Es (Chairman), Ellinger Paul (Treasurer), Rikke Bachmann Speetjens (Secretary), Gianne de Weever-Wilson and Eudoxia Williams-James.

On behalf of everyone within the Nature Foundation, I want to thank you whole-heartedly for all you have done for the foundation through the many years of voluntary work on the board as chairman, said incoming chairman Binkie van Es, during an appreciation event held for the outgoing chairman. The foundation will continue to work towards strengthening conservation efforts in all aspects, by working with educators, policymakers, and the public. Conservation is a state of harmony between man and land, added an Es.

Jan Beajon was awarded a token of appreciation, an artwork made by local artist Laurey-Ann Fairbairn, representing the brown pelican. The brown pelican is the national bird of Sint Maarten and is seen as an epitome of the importance of the natural environment on the island.

The Nature Foundation has been a part of my life and it makes me very emotional to retire from the board. I would like to thank all, current and past dedicated board members, managers, and staff for where the foundation is today. I wish the best for the continued work and new projects for the foundation and will remain available as an external advisor who knows the organization from the inside, said Jan Beaujon.

The Nature Foundation Sint Maarten manages the marine park Man O War Shoal and is recognized as the organization to assist the government on issues related to the management of the environment and its preservation. The foundation is led by manager Leslie Hickerson, and has three core staff members, as well as four temporary project-based staff members. The foundation is part of the regional network, the DCNA (Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance).
Gold Terra Announces 2023 Annual General and Special Meeting Results

Gold Terra Resource Corp. (TSX-V: YGT; Frankfurt: TX0; OTCQX: YGTFF) (aGold Terraa or the aCompanya)  https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/gold-terra-resource-corp/  announces that all matters submitted to the shareholders for approval as set out in the Company\-s Notice of Meeting and Information Circular which were mailed to shareholders in connection with the meeting, were approved at the Company\-s Annual General and Special Meeting held in Vancouver, BC, on June 14, 2023.

The shareholders elected Gerald Panneton (Chair), Patsie Ducharme, Laurie Gaborit, and Hellen Siwanowicz as directors of the Company for the forthcoming year.A

Louis Dionne has stepped down as a director but will continue as a Senior Technical Advisor for Gold Terra on an as-needed basis. Mr. Dionne, a seasoned mining engineer, brings a wealth of expertise to the Company with many achievements over his career span. Mr. Dionne was director at Detour Gold Corporation (Detour) from 2006 to 2014 and an instrumental part of the team that helped build the Detour Lake mine into the largest Canadian gold mine. Prior to his involvement with Detour, he was mine manager at Camflo Mines in Quebec, under the late Bob Smith, which eventually became Barrick Gold Corporation (Barrick). Mr. Dionne spent over 20 years in the operations, development, mergers, and acquisitions of gold properties as Senior Vice President, Underground Operations for Barrick. He developed the high grade Meikle mine and Rodeo project in Nevada and the Holt-McDermott Mine in Ontario. Following his tenure at Barrick, Mr. Dionne became President and CEO of Richmont Mines Inc. (2002 -2005), a junior gold producer with operations in Quebec and Newfoundland. During his tenure, he was instrumental in the acquisition of the Island Gold mine, now owned by and operated by Alamos Gold Inc. Mr. Dionne was also a director of Aurizon Mines from 2006-2013.

Chairman and CEO Gerald Panneton stated, aThank you Louis for many years of excellent counselling, and mentoring. Louis has contributed greatly to our technical success, and we look forward to his ongoing technical support in his new role as Senior Technical Advisor. A We thank all our shareholders for their support over the years, and on the last successful financing, as we continue to focus on our quest to define more ounces at the Con Mine Option property.a

Shareholders approved the reappointment of Dale Matheson Carr-Hilton Labonte LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as the auditor of the Company for the ensuing year with their remuneration to be fixed by the board of directors.

Con Mine Option Property Deep Drilling Update

Drilling is progressing well with drill hole GTCM23-055 targeting high grade gold mineralization beneath the mine workings on the northern end of the Campbell Shear. The hole is over half-way to its target depth of 2,400 metres with the hole currently at approximately 1,300 metres down-hole, with no issues on dip and or azimuth objectives.

About Gold Terra

The Yellowknife Project (YP) encompasses 918 sq. km of contiguous land immediately north, south and east of the City of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories. Through a series of acquisitions, Gold Terra controls one of the six major high-grade gold camps in Canada. Being within 10 kilometres of the City of Yellowknife, the YP is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power, and skilled tradespeople. Gold Terra is currently focusing its drilling on the prolific Campbell Shear, where 14 Moz of gold has been produced, and most recently on the Con Mine Option (CMO) property claims immediately south of the past producing Con Mine which produced 6.1 Moz between the Con, Rycon, and Campbell shear structures (1938-2003).

The YP and CMO properties lie on the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering nearly 70 kilometres of strike length along the main mineralized shear system that hosts the former-producing high-grade Con and Giant gold mines. The Company\-s exploration programs have successfully identified significant zones of gold mineralization and multiple targets that remain to be tested which reinforces the Company\-s objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada.

Visit our website at www.goldterracorp.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 Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements made and information contained in this news release constitute \forward-looking information\ within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (\forward-looking information\). Generally, this forward-looking information can, but not always, be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as \plans\, \expects\ or \does not expect\, \is expected\, \budget\, \scheduled\, \estimates\, \forecasts\, \intends\, \anticipates\ or \does not anticipate\, or \believes\, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, conditions or results \will\, \may\, \could\, \would\, \might\ or \will be taken\, \occur\ or \be achieved\ or the negative connotations thereof.

All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information regarding the current drilling on the Campbell Shear, potentially adding ounces to the Companya?s current YCG mineral resource, and the Company\-s objective of re-establishing Yellowknife as one of the premier gold mining districts in Canada.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as the Company\-s actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of the factors discussed in the \Risk Factors\ section in the Company\-s most recent MD&A and annual information form available under the Company\-s profile at www.sedar.com.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would 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. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as of the date of this news release. 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. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Except as required under applicable securities legislation and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information.
CAIRO, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's visit to China indicates that the Arab world welcomes "active and influential" Chinese involvement in the Palestinian cause, an Arab League (AL) official has said.

"The visit comes at a time of great importance for the Palestinian cause, for the development of China-Palestine relations, as well as for the progress and development witnessed by China-Arab relations in general in various fields," Saeed Abu Ali, AL assistant secretary-general for Palestine and occupied Arab territories affairs, said Tuesday in an interview with Xinhua.

The Palestinian president is on a state visit to China until Friday.

The official said that the Palestinian cause faces grave challenges amid the continuous and prolonged stalemate in the peace process. He added that these challenges have significantly undermined the hope of the region and the Palestinian people toward establishing an independent state of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders and with east Jerusalem as its capital.

Abu Ali said these challenges require a Chinese position that equals the role China plays in the world.

China has well-known positions on the Palestinian issue with its historical depth, which are viewed by the Palestinian people and the entire Arab nation with respect, he said.

"Everyone knows that Chinese support for the State of Palestine does not stop at the limits of multiple political support, and there is also material and economic support through many projects that China offers to the Palestinian people," he added.

"China has presented many initiatives to resolve the Palestinian question, including the initiative previously put forward by President Xi as the foundation for the peace process and achieving the establishment of a Palestinian state. China also appointed a special envoy for the peace process to follow up on developments," Abu Ali said.

He hopes that China's initiatives will play a significant role in the country's vast network of relationships and global visions.

In Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Abbas, during which the two leaders announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and Palestine.

Xi put forward a three-point proposal to settle the Palestinian question, saying, "China stands ready to play a positive role in assisting Palestine in achieving internal reconciliation and promoting peace talks."

Abbas thanked China for its long-term strong support and selfless assistance for the Palestinians' just cause of restoring their legitimate national rights, calling China a trustworthy friend and partner. 
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during the General Debate of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York, on Sept. 23, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

"Everyone knows that Chinese support for the State of Palestine does not stop at the limits of multiple political support, and there is also material and economic support through many projects that China offers to the Palestinian people," said an Arab League official.

CAIRO, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's visit to China indicates that the Arab world welcomes "active and influential" Chinese involvement in the Palestinian cause, an Arab League (AL) official has said.

"The visit comes at a time of great importance for the Palestinian cause, for the development of China-Palestine relations, as well as for the progress and development witnessed by China-Arab relations in general in various fields," Saeed Abu Ali, AL assistant secretary-general for Palestine and occupied Arab territories affairs, said Tuesday in an interview with Xinhua.

The Palestinian president is on a state visit to China until Friday.

The official said that the Palestinian cause faces grave challenges amid the continuous and prolonged stalemate in the peace process. He added that these challenges have significantly undermined the hope of the region and the Palestinian people toward establishing an independent state of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty on the basis of the 1967 borders and with east Jerusalem as its capital.

Abu Ali said these challenges require a Chinese position that equals the role China plays in the world.

China has well-known positions on the Palestinian issue with its historical depth, which are viewed by the Palestinian people and the entire Arab nation with respect, he said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas lays a wreath at the Monument to the People's Heroes on Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, June 15, 2023. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

"Everyone knows that Chinese support for the State of Palestine does not stop at the limits of multiple political support, and there is also material and economic support through many projects that China offers to the Palestinian people," he added.

"China has presented many initiatives to resolve the Palestinian question, including the initiative previously put forward by President Xi as the foundation for the peace process and achieving the establishment of a Palestinian state. China also appointed a special envoy for the peace process to follow up on developments," Abu Ali said.

He hopes that China's initiatives will play a significant role in the country's vast network of relationships and global visions.

In Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Abbas, during which the two leaders announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and Palestine.

Xi put forward a three-point proposal to settle the Palestinian question, saying, "China stands ready to play a positive role in assisting Palestine in achieving internal reconciliation and promoting peace talks."

Abbas thanked China for its long-term strong support and selfless assistance for the Palestinians' just cause of restoring their legitimate national rights, calling China a trustworthy friend and partner. 
by Burak Akinci

ANKARA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Turkiye and Syria have engaged in diplomatic efforts to repair their broken relations, but reconciliation requires time and patience as long as Turkish troops are present in northern Syria, experts said.

With the mediation of Russia which is militarily supporting Syria, Ankara and Damascus are edging toward rapprochement with several trilateral meetings held in the past year in Moscow.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he could meet his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad and "reset" relations with Damascus which were cut in the wake of the Syrian civil war in 2011.

Following his re-election on May 28, Erdogan is doubling down on efforts to mend frayed ties with Damascus.

The appointment of former Turkish intelligence chief Hakan Fidan as foreign minister is widely seen as a positive development, as Fiden, being present in recent key meetings with Syrian officials, was seen instrumental in Turkiye's normalization drive.

"The Turkish-Syrian normalization will take time, probably months or years, but there is increasing hope in this regard," Selcuk Colakoglu, the founding director of the Ankara-based Center for Asia-Pacific Studies, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

However, Syria's demand for a withdrawal of Turkish forces from its territory is not going to be met any time soon even though Damascus has made it a precondition for further normalizing steps, Colakoglu noted.

Since 2021, the Turkish leader has been on a dovish track in its Middle East foreign policy, first achieving rapprochement with Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and then inching closer to normalization of ties with Egypt and Syria.

While ties with Egypt are on the mend, Turkiye and Syria still have fundamental barriers to overcome before a mutually acceptable agreement can be reached.

The Syrian leader said in mid-March during a visit to Moscow that he will only meet Erdogan if Turkiye withdraws its troops from Syria.

"What significance would any kind of meeting have ... if it doesn't lead to a conclusion of the war in Syria? " Assad, who described Turkiye as an "occupying state," told Russia's state-run RIA Novosti agency.

Since 2016, Turkiye has carried out four military operations in northern Syria, targeting Kurdish-controlled areas and the Islamic State militants. It currently controls swaths of land and has set up several small military bases in Syria's Idlib and other northern provinces.

A new operation threatened in 2022 by Erdogan has not materialized following opposition by Russia, the United States and Iran.

Speaking of Syria's recovered membership in the Arab League last month, a Turkish diplomatic source told Xinhua on the condition of anonymity that "with a shared border of 911 km, Turkiye differs from Arab nations that have welcomed Syria."

"It is not realistic to ask for a withdrawal of Turkish forces as long as Turkiye's security concerns (Kurdish militants) persist in northern Syria," the source pointed out.

"But in time differences can be overcome," the source added.

Hasan Unal, a foreign policy analyst and scholar from Istanbul's Maltepe University, believes that a progressive withdrawal should be considered despite all the concerns.

"It's normal that the Syrian president demands a withdrawal, but we have gone there to neutralize terrorists and not to occupy this land," he argued in a flood of tweets.

"A gradual retreat should be set in motion," Unal noted.

In addition to the withdrawal issue, Ankara's support for some opposition forces against the Damascus government is considered an equally sharp thorn in the path toward reconciliation.

Despite that, reconciliation is seen as crucial for Turkish domestic politics as this would help to alleviate anti-Syrian sentiment in society when 3.7 million Syrian refugees and hundreds of thousands of other migrants and refugees are present in Turkiye, which is experiencing serious economic woes.

It is worth noting that the issue of a "voluntary repatriation" of refugees has for the first time figured in the communique of the National Security Council held on June 8 under his leadership.

"Turkiye has around 5 million refugees or migrants in the country. So, in times of economic hardships, the Turkish public increasingly demands the government send back refugees," said Ankara-based analyst Colakoglu. 
E xactly a year ago, on a similar scorching June day, I interviewed the editor of The Kyiv Independent, 34-year-old Olga Rudenko, and her CEO, Daryna Shevchenko, at the Founders Forum tech conference in Soho House, Oxfordshire. The luxury of our surroundings made only starker the separation between what was happening to them in Ukraine and the sheltered lives of those attending.

Their English-speaking digital news organisation had only launched a few months before, but as Russian forces tried to advance on Kyiv that February, they soon gained millions of followers.

Another year on, and on this day, we British are stuck obsessing over our former political leader. Ukraine regards the UK and Boris Johnson as great allies and saviours  Ukrainians have endured rape and torture; millions of civilians are still displaced as refugees (163,000 are living in this country); 19,000 of their children are missing across the Russian border, and thousands of young Ukrainian men are wounded or dead. And despite Europe and American support, new weapons and financial aid being sent every day, there is no end in sight. The same sense of separation between her world and mine remains.

I ask her how she feels, what has changed since. Lithe and softly spoken, with braces and pale, fine skin, she approaches each question with the same measured intelligence Id noticed before. I was more shocked, less tired a year ago, she answers. Now I am less shocked, but much more tired. We got through 2022 on adrenalin. Now we need to keep finding the strength to keep going. We dont want to miss a crucial story but this level of exhaustion takes a toll. In our human relationships, everyone is traumatised in different ways. As we talk, I notice the bone-deep tiredness etched across her forehead, and around her eyes.

In autumn last year the attacks from Russian forces ramped up again. We often only had three hours sleep a day; we worked by candlelight, as they went after our infrastructure. It was a long, cold, dark winter. May was then insane, Kyiv under constant attack. We believe they wanted to bring down the US Patriot missile system guarding Kyiv. But they failed.

Life regardless in Kyiv goes on. Many Ukrainians have returned from Poland, others moved to the relative safety of the city now that Patriot is guarding them. Restaurants are opening; she shows me footage of soldiers getting married in their uniforms. People really want to live, to enjoy their little pleasures. Our economy is holding, our banking system is working. Her boyfriend is a well-known television news reporter. He is raising money for pick-up trucks. They can fetch the wounded from the frontline, but they often only last a few trips, they are essential for moving troops as well. We need more all the time.

Everyone in Ukraine knows someone who has been injured or killed. You learn early on reporting on this war, whether you will break or not. I personally have a very high threshold for what I can ingest. You need to look at the evidence, stay focused, we need to report war crimes. Only one video was posted online of Russian soldiers slowly decapitating a young Ukraine soldier with a knife, while he screamed She stops. I had to take a small break. I had seen a lot of cruelty by then.

She smiles wanly. We must document and report. They have a new war crimes Investigative unit. Not just for the Hague, Rudenko says emphatically, but for the court of public opinion, to keep what is happening here fresh in peoples minds. Because Russia is waiting for the world to look away. We want to show how systematic the rape is; the torture,the scale of it. Its not the odd bad Russian soldier going rogue. Its part of their war plan. Their first film coming in July investigates the Ukrainian children taken across the border to Russia. Only 361 have returned.

What do they want from the West? More weapons, more quickly, she says echoing their president. The fighter jets, too. Every day more lives are lost. We need more sanctions against Russians and those that are supplying the Russians with western weapon components.

The future? I am planning for one week off in July. Everything else is about focusing on the work aside from that, what can we plan?

The counter-offensive has begun but it is going to be painfully slow.

Im tired of the endless Tory drama

If anyone reading this on a hot sweaty Underground ride home was hoping  whether a fan of one Boris de Pfeffel Johnson or not  the psychodrama between him and Rishi Sunak was over, think again. Johnson and his shrinking band of acolytes blame Sunak for bringing down his premiership, and tomorrow the bets are on that the Daily Mails loudly trumpeted columnist will be our former prime minister, who joins his most loyal of pals, Nadine Dorries.

Conversations with the Mail have been ongoing for some time. What a coup for the editor, it will generate constant headlines. What fresh hell for Number 10. From the Mails pages, Johnson  who turns 59 on Monday  will be able to loudly defend his policies, his parliamentary record and rage against the deranged kangaroo court that is the cross-party committee that concluded he had misled Parliament, that also had four Tory MPs, including committed Brexiteers (facts, what facts?).

Johnsons former spin doctor Guto Harri was on the airwaves last night, lambasting Westminster and Harriet Harman for ruining a mans career with no judge or jury. Except that Johnson frequently took this route himself. Allegra Strattons brutal exit springs to mind, or the 21 MPs Johnson sacked from the Tory party for defying him on Brexit. This is politics. Certainly, in Johnsons world. I personally feel exhausted by the constant siege.
Review at a glance









Y ou get the point of the title of the Whitechapels latest show with the first work that you see. Immediately as you enter you find an untitled work by the late, great Susan Hiller, from 1999. A wooden luggage trolley, stacked with parcels wrapped in brown paper, its unassuming at first, as if left there as the show was installed.

But then a plaintive voice emerges from within it, a recording of a prayer sung by one Josef Rosenblatt, from around 1920. The prayer was recited, we learn from a label attached to one of the parcels, on awakening from sleep, thanking God for the gift of a soul.

Other labels tell us whats in the paper: an altar cloth in blue velvet, with gilt trim and fringing; an oval, teal blue bag, also in velvet, with six-pointed star, Hebrew text and flowers; a curtain; and two books. The labels are like handwritten museum notes, detailing the condition of objects within: theyre torn, worn and stained; they were damp or wet when found.

The items were gathered after the demolition of an East End building which housed a shopfront synagogue. In concealing them and describing them, Hiller calls to our imagination not just of the things themselves, but of the people that used them, the East Ends historic Jewish communities evoked in that song.

Mark Wallinger, Threshold to the Kingdom, 11 min, 12 seconds / Mark Wallinger

So back to the title: its a quote from the US writer James Baldwin  crucially he followed Life is more important than art with thats why art is so important. In other words, its because we value life that art is so crucial. And the two, as is evident here, are inextricably bound. It is a show about the movement of people, about memory, personal and collective, and about human vulnerability. It was assembled in just three months. And while there are some weaker moments, its inexplicably excellent given its short gestation.

And thats because the artists are so strong. From different generations and with diverse heritages, they are (or were in Hillers case) based in London. And the capital is a setting that moves in and out of focus through the show. Its centre stage in John Smiths Citadel (2020), which he filmed from his window in lockdown  over the homes of his captive neighbours, whose lives we glimpse through windows, and over the almost hallucinatory skyscrapers of the City  the citadels of the title, perhaps.

Alarmingly, given the events of recent days, we hear Boris Johnsons empty, bullish and excruciating rhetoric about economics as Covid reared its head  seemingly voiced by the glass and steel towers  alongside his later, more sheepish lockdown advice. Smith highlights the gap between the seats of power, political and economic, and the daily existences dependent on their responsible stewardship.

William Cobbing, Written in Water / William Cobbing

Elsewhere, Mitra Tabrizians powerful Film Stills photographs (2017-18), relating to her feature film Gholam, capture Londons urban or suburban wastelands  twilit car garages under railway arches, corrugated iron, painted bricks and graffitied doors. Mile End flats appear through a window behind a baby lying on the bed in Matthew Krishanus Elephants (2010), a tiny, jewel-like picture of Pearl, the artists daughter with the writer Uschi Gatward.

The painting is part of In Sickness and In Health, a beautifully rendered yet devastating group of 12 small paintings that encapsulate Krishanu and Gatwards shared rites of passage: marriage, parenthood and, tragically, death  Gatward died of cancer in 2021. The paintings of Gatward in hospital and on her sick bed at the end of her life manage at once to be unsentimental and unflinching, yet full of feeling.

Almost unbearably, the strains of Allegris Miserere, can be heard from another gallery as we contemplate the unimaginable loss that Krishanu records. The music belongs to Mark Wallingers video installation Threshold to the Kingdom, made in 2000, during Wallingers imperial phase around the turn of the millennium. The premise is deceptively simple: a static shot of travellers walking through the International Arrivals doors at City Airport. Theres a joke there, in that theyre literally crossing the threshold to a kingdom  the United Kingdom. But by slowing the film down and adding the music, were suddenly seeing the gates of the afterlife. It is  every time  a lump-in-the-throat work.

An Immigrants Room of Her Own / Osman Yousefzada

Perhaps this is the shows ultimate strength  while addressing geopolitics, capitalism, community and individuality, it does so through numerous emotional registers. In one of the shows finest works, Osman Yousefzadas An Immigrants Room of Her Own (2018), we see a bedroom scene, informed by Yousefzadas Pakistani mothers domestic spaces, rituals and habits in Birmingham.

A chest of draws is filled with earth, a reference to the Muslim tradition of burying hair. A rope, evoking long hair, trails from a mannequin display head, around the carpeted floor of the installation, leading to a wall-based textile. It looks bodily, like an umbilical cord framing the tableau, perhaps linking it to Yousefzadas own identity. On the floor are a bed, a tower of saucepans wrapped in clingfilm, a makeshift wardrobe and stacked laundry bags in which an immigrants whole life might be contained.

All around them are concealed objects, like those packages in Hillers work, only this time, they are sculpted ceramic vessels and candlesticks and such, wrapped in black PVC. The wrapping is an act that conceals a life, yet also protects it. Yousefzada based these items directly on his mothers practice of swathing household objects. His work is both symbolic of the precarious nature of immigrants lives, but also a tender and complex portrait of a loved one and, by extension, himself.

Whitechapel Gallery, to Sep 17; whitechapelgallery.org
B est known for directing films about real-life people and monarchs, Stephen Frears has been given a knighthood in the birthday honours.

Among his most famous films is The Queen, which won Dame Helen Mirren an Oscar and landed him a directing nod.

He has also been lauded for My Beautiful Laundrette, Dangerous Liaisons, Victoria & Abdul, Philomena and The Grifters, for which he was also Oscar nominated.

His work in television has also been celebrated, with credits including A Very English Scandal, Quiz and The Deal, about the friendship and rivalry between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

Born in Leicester in 1941 and educated at Cambridge, Frears worked in theatre and at the BBC before making his feature film debut with Gumshoe in 1971.

He first made his mark with the 1985 interracial drama My Beautiful Laundrette, based on a Hanif Kureishi story and starring Daniel Day Lewis.

Since then his career has been peppered with stories of real people, including Mrs Henderson Presents starring Dame Judi Dench; Victoria & Abdul, in which Dame Judi revives her portrayal of Queen Victoria; The Program, starring Ben Foster as disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong; Florence Foster Jenkins, starring Meryl Streep as the deluded soprano and Philomena, with Dame Judi back with Frears, this time playing an Irish woman on a quest to find out what happened to the baby boy taken away from her in the 1950s.

He also made a documentary entitled Muhammad Alis Greatest Fight, about the boxers refusal to fight in Vietnam.

But it is The Queen that is arguably his most significant and acclaimed work, with Dame Helen playing the late monarch in the days after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997. It also stars Michael Sheen as Tony Blair, reprising his role from The Deal.

Dame Helen took home the best actress Oscar and the film was nominated for best picture, best screenplay and best costumes, while Frears was nominated for his direction.

His most recent film, The Lost King, was released in 2022 and told the story of the amateur historian who found King Richard IIIs long-missing remains in a Leicester car park.

He has been given a knighthood for services to film and television.
H ans Zimmer has proposed to his partner on stage in London, telling the audience: This is the woman I love, apparently she loves me.

The Oscar-winning composer, 65, made the public declaration on Thursday night during his performance at Londons O2 arena which caused roaring applause from the audience.

As his Hans Zimmer Live show was drawing to a close, he brought his partner on stage, telling the audience: Theres one more thing. So this is the woman I love, apparently she loves me.

Addressing her directly he said: Why did I bring you up here? I was going to ask you something really important. Did you lock the back door? Is the milk in the fridge? Do we have any sorbet in the freezer?

Will you marry me?

The audience then erupted into applause and rose to their feet as the couple embraced once another after she appeared to accept.

He added: Things are working out well, The backdoor is locked. Everything is good.

Ive got this one little number left. Its intimate in its insignificance but maybe not so insignificant and maybe I quite like it, before performing his classic song Time which featured in the 2010 mind-bending thriller Inception to end the show.

Zimmer played the piano for the piece as his partner sat beside him.

At one stage during the concert, he took to the floor with one of his musicians to play guitar amongst the crowds with Zimmer pausing briefly near the front rows to share a hug and kiss with his partner.

He later clarified that it was not just some random woman in the audience he was embracing.

Throughout the show, he led his band and the Ukrainian Odessa Orchestra as they treated fans to a host of songs which he has composed for hit films including Gladiator, Pirates Of The Caribbean, The Dark Knight, Interstellar and the James Bond film No Time To Die.

The show also featured a carefully curated routine of laser lights and beams to create an orchestral show like no other.

Zimmer spent time throughout the night introducing and praising his musicians and stage crew, including paying a special tribute to the Ukrainian orchestra.

I would really to thank our orchestra because our orchestra is special, our orchestra is from Odessa in Ukraine, he said.

I think it takes enormous courage to sit here, smile at you, play without flaw for three hours while you do not know whats going on at home and everything is going on at home.

One of the performers also waved a Ukrainian flag on stage as the musicians took their final bows.

The German composer, who has spent many years living and working in the UK, showed great affection to the London crowd on the night saying at point: Its nice to be home.

In his closing speech after performing songs from The Lion King including the Circle Of Life, which received a standing ovation, Zimmer became emotional as he said: You were an incredible audience. Im really sorry but tonight Im really moved, youve really moved me and thats amazing.

The musician has been nominated for 12 Oscars and won two for best score for the classic 1994 Disney film as well as the 2021 sci-fi blockbuster Dune, which also featured in the show.

The composer divorced his first wife model Vicki Carolin, with whom he has a daughter, in 1992 and in 2020, Zimmer reportedly filed for divorce from his second wife Suzanne, with whom he shares three children.

His tour, Hans Zimmer Live, continues in the UK and Europe until June 25.
T he National Theatre has partnered with a string of London venues, including Young Vic, Royal Court and the Kiln to create a groundbreaking production centre.

The large-scale initiative in central London is being created in a bid to make the industry more sustainable by enabling the venues to share costumes, props and scenery.

This week, National Theatre director Rufus Norris revealed the plans for the epic new project as he spoke about his latest work at the South Bank site.

He said his organisation was currently in talks with the Greater London Authority about a large-scale theatre industry initiative that pulls together all of our collective resources.

Norris explained that the new location was being developed in a way that would allow the theatre to pool its resources and share them.

Going forward, theatre actors, as pictured here in The Motive and the Cue at the National Theatre, will have a hub to share props and costumes / Photo by Mark Douet

He said: As a first step from 2024, the NT will be housing all our production assets, costumes and props and recyclable scenery under one roof in central London.

Our aim is to have an electric fleet, which will take those assets back and forth on that small journey from the South Bank, making a significant reduction in our existing carbon impact.

We are working with Young Vic, Royal Court and the Kiln to consider how we combine efforts to put us on the path to net zero, he continued.

It is the beginning of what I hope will be a truly game-changing sector-wide initiative that will require significant private and public support. But its an essential step as we strive to protect the health of the theatre ecology.

Norris also insisted that the National Theatre is always questioning our impact on the environment and does all productions according to standards in the Theatre Green Book, a set of guidelines for the industry to minimise environmental impact.

Rufus Norris, Artistic Director and Joint Chief Executive of the National Theatre, has laid out plans for the new initiative / Dave Benett

The plans for the centre, which were first raised in early 2022, will also allow theatres to access skills training and workshop space and could save approximately 1,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Additionally, the National Theatre is organising an event for stage directors with the National Theatre of Scotland and National Theatre Wales, with the aim of discussing the theatrical worlds response to the climate crisis.

Norris described this as the largest ever meeting of directors and artistic directors from across the British Isles.

We hope it will facilitate a sector-wide conversation about making theatre in the context of the climate crisis, he added.

The NT has also shared its commitment to sustainability on its site, where it states: Like any business, our operation has an environmental cost: we create work that is inherently temporary; we make use of raw materials; we ask people to travel to a particular location at a particular time.

We are committed to reducing our carbon impact, and have set ourselves ambitious targets to achieve carbon neutrality as an organisation by 2030.
Review at a glance









Loading....

This magnificent revival of Arthur Millers study of real and allegorical witch hunts has grown in stature since it opened at the National Theatre nine months ago.

Its partly recast, with Brian Gleeson adding haggard toughness to the central role of John Proctor, a free-thinking farmer in the theocratic town of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692.

Milly Alcock, breakout star of House of the Dragon, is an intriguingly different but equally stunning replacement for Erin Doherty as Abigail Williams, the spurned girl who is prepared to destroy the world if she cant have Proctor.

Lyndsey Turners stirring production and Es Devlins claustrophobically narrowing set somehow sit better in the Gielgud than the National. The religious keening, rising to a shriek or a yell, from the young girls accusing their elders of satanism, hits harder. Above all, this now seems an acute study of the way dishonesty poisons public discourse, so that even those who have been duped end up perpetuating a lie. I liked it at the National. Now it seems nigh-on perfect.

Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

If endless relevance is the sign of a stone-cold classic, Millers play  written in 1953 to critique mass hysteria over communist influence in America, and to indict his fellow showbiz liberals who denounced friends to save themselves  certainly qualifies. Admittedly, the sexual politics have dated.

Proctor is our hero: a decent man, religious but intolerant of hollow priests, and a good provider. When his wife Elizabeth (Caitlin FitzGerald, another fine addition to the sturdy original ensemble), becomes sick and cold after the birth of their third son, Proctor is tempted by the teenage harlot Abigail, their servant.

If you can get over the moral hump of this power imbalance, the play and the production proceed with a remorseless force. Millers idea of 17th century dialogue still sounds ringingly fresh and direct. You took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart, Abigail tells Proctor.

Its a richly detailed play, alert to what happens to crops, cattle and children when large swathes of a tiny, agricultural community are accused, imprisoned or hanged for witchcraft.

Fisayo Akinade in The Crucible / Brinkhoff-Moegenburg

Theres a nice balance between Gleeson and FitzGerald. Hes outwardly authoritative, shes austere and withheld but rules the roost. Abigail is a marital obstacle they cant get over. And Alcock is sublimely terrifying as the teenage victim/temptress.

At times she seems like a child, earnestly biting her upper lip when interrogated by priestly prosecutors. But she can also manifest an insolent carnality and a fearsome, manipulative rage. When she and her girlish acolytes exhibit demonic possession in the courtroom its chilling. One of the strengths of this transferred production is that you are never really sure how much Abigail is controlling developments, or opportunistically responding to them.

There are sterling supporting performances here from Karl Johnson as pugnacious old farmer Giles Corey, Nia Towle as Abigails friend and foe Mary Warren, and Fisayo Akinade as the troubled Reverend John Hale.

Courtroom scenes are framed at the back of Devlins receding floor and its mirroring overhead slab, as if they were 17th century paintings. I still dont get the point of the sporadic curtain of rain that dominates her set, but apart from that, this is an important and satisfying show, which has benefited from a commercial transfer.

Yes, it runs for three hours. Yes. Its worth it.

Gielgud Theatre, to September 2; buy tickets here
B AFTA award-winning actor Lenny Rush has joined the cast of Doctor Who, the BBC has announced.

The 14-year-old will star in the sci-fi show as Morris alongside Ncuti Gatwas new Doctor and his companion, played by Coronation Streets Millie Gibson.

Rush, who bagged the Best Male Performance in a Comedy award at this year's Baftas for his role in Daisy May Cooper's Am I Being Unreasonable, said of his new role: Its an absolute honour to be part of Doctor Who. It's one of the most iconic shows on television and, wow, what a dream come true.

Showrunner Russell T Davies added: This is what Doctor Who's all about, brand new talent from the next generation, and no ones more talented than Lenny.

The 14-year-old will play new character Morris in the sci-fi series, which kicks off at the end of the year / BBC

He joins the Tardis team just in time for the Doctors greatest nightmare, so hold on tight.

Rush has starred in a string of shows, including Dodger and A Christmas Carol, but it was his scene-stealing performance as the formidable Ollie in last year's offbeat sitcom Am I Being Unreasonable? that made him an award winner.

As well as the BAFTA, he also won at the National Comedy Awards and the Royal Television Society Programme Awards for the role.

This news of his Doctor Who casting comes as David Tennant, who will reprise his role as the Doctor for the shows 60th-anniversary specials, admitted that he wanted to play the character again before he became too old.

Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson as Doctor Who and his sidekick Ruby / BBC

The specifics of coming back to Doctor Who took a bit of wrangling, he told Radio Times. But we were always receptive to the notion. Initially, it was a casual conversation going, Wouldnt it be fun to do a one-off?

Then Russell was back running the show and suddenly it could be something bigger. But theres really no pressure. Its a victory lap, in a way  you get to enjoy something that had meant so much to you, one last shot before you get too old to do it again.

Doctor Who returns in November 2023 with three special episodes with Tennant to coincide with the 60th anniversary.

Gatwas first episode as the 15th Doctor will also air over the festive period.

David Tennant will reprise his role as Doctor Who at Christmas / PA Media

Also joining Gatwa and rounding off the cast are EastEnders' Anita Dobson, It's a Sin's Michelle Greenidge, RuPaul's Drag Race two-time winner Jinkx Monsoon, Frozen's Jonathan Groff, Dunkirk's Aneurin Barnard, Mindhunter's Jonathan Groffand and Game of Thrones' Indira Varma.

Jemma Redgrave, who first appeared as Kate Stewart in 2012's The Power of Three' will reprise the role in the upcoming season in a recurring capacity, while Bonnie Langford will return as Mel Bush.
A starlet is hunted by the paparazzi. Two men adrift in space send their consciousnesses back to Earth to be with their families. A woman in 1979 Yorkshire goes on a killing spree.

What connects these disparate stories? Turns out, its the latest season of Charlie Brookers Black Mirror.

On the go since 2011  it originally started life as a Channel 4 show  Black Mirror is now a Netflix behemoth capable of pulling some serious star power. This season alone features performances from Salma Hayek, Michael Cera, Aaron Paul and Annie Murphy, requiring actors to get creative in their pursuit of a coveted role.

I was a massive fan of the show, as everyone should be. And so I found out somebody leaked that there was going to be a season six, Danny Ramirez (who plays photographer Hector in Mazey Day) says. I basically just tweeted, I would do an episode of Black Mirror for free, and I thought I sent it out into the abyss.

A few days later, his tweet was seen by Netflix. I was stepping out [onto] Top Guns London premiere; onto the red carpet. And my manager basically whispered, Hey, you got a Black Mirror episode. And its about paparazzi, and she sent me out onto the red carpet and the flashes of light bulbs.

The people who get roles are aware of how lucky they are. Theres a combination of Black Mirror being like, an already established thing, [so] people want to do it, so its not hard to get good people, Paapa Essiedu says. And people are willing to go the extra mile to make it work.

From left, Anjana Vasan as Nida, Janie Booth as Sweet Gran and Paapa Essiedu as Gaap / Nick Wall/Netflix

It helps when you have good castmates to bounce off, of course  and Essiedu has just that with his co-star Anjana Vasan, who plays meek shopgirl Nida to his demon character, Gaap. During the episode, Nida is visited by Gaap, who tells her she has to commit three murders in three days, or the apocalypse will happen. The twist? Its a comedy.

There is something ridiculous and funny about the premise, says Vasan, who recently starred in A Streetcar Named Desire in the West End. I just thought there was something really clever about Bisha [K. Ali] and Charlies writing that it was very natural and believable.

I feel like we have an easy chemistry. We get on and were quite silly in real life. So that translates to our dynamic on screen. I was trying hard not to like laugh most of the time.

One thing thats new this season is that many of the shows episodes  such as Demon 79 and Mazey Day  are set in a version of the past. As far as Demon 79 went, it involved wearing a lot of shades of brown (as Vasan puts it, How many shades of brown were there?); in the case of Mazey Day, it involved revisiting a time when tabloid newspapers reigned supreme and paparazzi stalked celebrities in search of scoops.

I think its I always find it really interesting to play characters that I guess are the opposite of your point of view, Zazie Beetz says: her character, Bo, is a paparazzo who spends most of the episode trying to find missing star Mazey Day.

For an actor, its perhaps not the easiest role to play, but to research, she watched documentaries especially 2010s Smash His Camera, about celebrity photographer Ron Galella.

Danny Ramirez as Hector / Nick Wall/Netflix

He had such an infectious personality. You really felt like, Oh, you love this. This is like your art and your craft, she says. It gave me perspective around the idea of the contracts between celebrities and paparazzi and how we keep each other afloat with each others work and all the implications around that.

Inevitably, talk turns to Brooker, the mastermind behind the show  who popped up on the shows many sets occasionally to oversee proceedings.

I thought he was just like a supercomputer, Ramirez says admiringly. From season one to season six every single [episode] has such a unique perspective. Its the hyper specificity, folded with the comments on humanity some people live their whole lives trying to find like one guy, one idea, that deals with these topics in such a way.

Hes been throwing out banger after banger after banger. Its just like, hes so fluent in it. Hes brilliant.

Though some of this seasons episodes swerve as far away from traditional Black Mirror fare as possible, everybody I spoke to insisted that Brooker, while pivoting away from tech dystopias, has stayed true to the spirit of the show.

The core of the show is really just an exploration of humanity and our true selves and our true fears and our flaws, and where were fallible, Beetz says. So I think in that way, yeah, I do believe that it adheres to what the shows trying to do: [show] our shadow selves, our black mirror.

For Beetz, Mazey Days focus on the exploitation of celebrity and its critique of the media is what makes the show stand out  something that Industry star Myhala Herrold, who plays Pia in the episode Loch Henry, agrees with.

Though tonally different to Mazey Day, Loch Henry also revolves around what happens when the search for a story goes wrong; in this case, two students making a documentary stumble onto some unwelcome truths that are then sensationalised in the press.

Samuel Blenkin and Myhala Herrold as Pia and Davis / Netflix

I think it absolutely is a critique. Charlie is really good at that. Its called Black Mirror for a reason, she says. People want to consume this type of art. So thats why people make it.

I think the point that Charlie is making in the episode is the fact that we are on a road with our algorithmic streaming, her co-star Samuel Blenkin (who plays her boyfriend, Davis) says.

Were being led down paths that I dont think we understand. I love the fact that theres not so much technology in our episode.

Instead, for him, its an examination of the way that we consume media, and how the publics hunger for stories inspires content creators to take more and more risks: as he puts it, what price do we pay for commercialising someone elses trauma?

So viewers should put away their mobile phones and settle in, because this season is just as dark and insightful as its predecessors.

Its still the twisted mind of Charlie, Herrold says. And just because it doesnt have tech in it doesnt mean its not interrogating the things that are relevant to us now, instead of what might be relevant to us in five or ten years. Its whats relevant to us right now.

Black Mirror is streaming now on Netflix
I ts been called the steamiest show on television, and a time-travelling Game of Thrones. Yes, Outlander is back for its seventh epic season.

The show, based on the best-selling books by Diana Gabaldon, stars the Irish actress Caitriona Balfe as Claire Fraser, a 1940s English nurse with front line war experience, who finds herself accidentally travelling back in time (via an innocuous-looking stone circle, so, beware, ramblers) to the 18th century, where life is pretty grim.

Its here that she meets and begins a sweeping romance with Scottish landowner and soldier Jamie (played by Sam Heughan), with whom she enjoys an eye-popping sex life.

People tell us they had kids because of this show, Balfe laughs, wondering if some of her and Heughans most erotic scenes could be in part responsible for the baby-boom increase during lockdown, when many discovered the show for the first time.

Yet theres a darker side to the show. Central too is the depiction of sexual violence towards women in an era where misogyny dominated. Balfes character was raped by several men in an earlier season, while several other key characters have also experienced sexual assault on screen too.

Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe in Outlander / Starz 2023

The show received criticism for its early portrayals of such scenes  much like Game of Thrones  both for the number of attacks, and the way they were depicted. Balfe says theyve since worked with sexual assault charity RAINN and an intimacy coordinator to ensure such scenes are handled sensitively.

Were always trying to evolve and I think as a society, were in a huge moment of evolution in terms of how we deal with different issues, how we discuss them, and who we give the power to. Were not immune to that, individually or collectively, on the show. The [scenes] were in the book  it was something we had to cover  but there was a real desire to do it in a sensitive way, she says.

We came up with the idea of Claire disassociating of her going to a safe place within her own psyche. [We] came up with something that was very honest and very sensitive and didnt give any power to these attackers.

Previously, the show had been accused of failing to show the lasting trauma a devastating assault can bring. What was really important to me was the follow up after [Claires assault], the repercussions of something like that, Balfe says. It continues for a very long time, and it doesnt just affect the person in the centre but everyone theyre connected [to]. I think the show did a really good job with giving Claire the space to unravel in her own way but also heal in her own way.

Balfe says while part of the show may be set in the 18th century, the male violence depicted is still depressingly prevalent today  and for that reason, its an important topic to cover. One in four women in the UK, in America, have experienced sexual assault or sexual violence. These statistics are horrendous and weve also seen in the last two decades that the actual prosecutions of rapes has significantly dropped in the UK. Its not going away.

Balfe recently saw Jodie Comers Tony-award winning performance Prima Facie in New York, about a barrister who is sexually assaulted, and finds herself up against an unsympathetic legal system. Thats an incredible conversation we have to have, she says. What is the legal justice system? How does it treat the victims? Who has it been designed for? Art  be it TV, theatre, film  this is how a society sometimes has a collective conversation about things as long as youre trying to be responsible with what your input into that conversation is, and youre trying to be sensitive about it, then I think we cant shy away.

The next season of Outlander is being released in two parts and Balfe says we can expect to see Claire still trying to cope and heal from her attack. She also starts to find herself again as the impending war, which has been talked of for some time, finally arrives.

Weirdly, Claire kind of thrives in that environment, Balfe says. Its not like it doesnt take a toll on her, but shes someone whose been through war multiple times. She has the [medical] skills that are very useful. She enjoyed playing Claire in this situation after the harrowing stuff of the last two seasons, and thinks season seven is the most ambitious to date.

Balfe has often drawn on her own experiences to help her with characterisation  her grandmother was a nurse in the Second World War, and Balfes own time growing up during The Troubles in Ireland prepared her for her other high-profile role of recent years, in Kenneth Branaghs autobiographical coming-of-age drama Belfast, in which she plays the mother of central character Buddy.

Caitriona Balfe in Outlander / Starz 2023

She remembered the devastating impact political division had on her home. We lived about six miles from the border, she says. We would go shopping weekly to the north and I remember going through a lot of the British Army checkpoints. It seemed normal to us, but I remember my cousins coming to visit from Dublin and I remember how scared they were by guns, people checking your license, people checking your car.

Balfe says she worries about a return to this as the dispute over the Northern Ireland protocol continues in the wake of Brexit, with the Northern Ireland Assembly locked in a stalemate over power-sharing. There hasnt even been a sitting parliament in Northern Ireland because they cant come together and figure out whats happening, she says. And so you think about how disenfranchised the people of Northern Ireland are at the moment because their representatives are not working for them as theyve been chosen to do. Its heart-breaking.

Before the peace process, she says, the little roads would all have concrete bollards over them youd have lane checkpoints everywhere. It decimated my town, economically. It decimated all the border towns, and to think we could ever go back to that, is just so sad.

I have such dear friends who live all over the north. I think people sometimes in politics choose being right or getting their own way over how that affects people in their daily life.

It was a no-brainer to say yes to Belfast when the offer came in, but Balfe says she was a little intimated meeting Branagh, plus a cast that included Jamie Dornan and Judi Dench. On her first day on set, I was scared shitless, she laughs. But Branagh got the actors, all of whom had Irish roots, to bond by asking them to tell a story about their Irish heritage.

He would ask us all these things about our lives, Balfe recalls. It levelled the field and it brought us together. All of a sudden, we were talking about what we were like when we were little kids, she says. Dench recounted tales of her Irish grandmother.

For now, Balfe is looking to the future, as programme makers have announced that Outlander will end after its eighth season. What will she do with so much time on her hands? The whole show has been such an adventure, she smiles. I was like a young thing when I got this job. Sam and I talk about it quite often, how our lives have changed and how weve grown up with this show and now were old, she laughs. I dont know whats happened. Its like a decades gone like that, she smiles, clicking her fingers.

She is looking forward to spending some time with the son she has with her husband, music producer Tony McGill, before filming on season eight starts, and she has a part alongside Rami Malek in new thriller Amateur, coming soon. Would she ever consider a move into another epic saga, like Marvel? God, I dont know! If Marvel came calling, Im sure I wouldnt say no. I havent had any phone calls from them yet, she laughs.

Whatever comes next, it all comes back to the storytelling. In Ireland, we grow up on stories, she smiles. Were a country of storytellers and its in our DNA.

Outlander season 7 is streaming now on Lionsgate+
SUVA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Two Fijian scholars have expressed their disappointment with Japan's ongoing trial operation of nuclear-contaminated water discharge equipment at the Fukushima plant.

"It is very unfortunate that Japan is doing this," said Keshmeer Makun, a lecturer at the University of the South Pacific (USP) based in the Fijian capital Suva, adding that "the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders need to take action."

He told Xinhua in a recent interview that Pacific island countries have made their objections very clear that Japan should not release radioactive wastewater into the ocean.

"Experts and scientists are telling us that it is going to be dangerous to the marine ecosystem and human health," Makun said.

He quoted PIF Secretary-General Henry Puna's words as saying that "Pacific Islanders are people of the ocean. Anything that prejudices the health of the ocean is a matter of serious concern."

Kalinga Seneviratne, a consultant with the journalism program at USP, said Japan should respect the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty, inked by PIF members in 1985, which prohibits testing, manufacturing, and stationing nuclear explosive devices and dumping nuclear waste within the zone.

He said the contamination will do significant transboundary harm to the territories of the Pacific, including the treaty zone.

Tokyo Electric Power Company, the operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, was reported to begin trialing the equipment on Monday to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the Pacific.

The test run of the discharge facility is expected to last for around two weeks. 
W hen it comes to booking a holiday in Greece, theres one thing that can make deciding on a specific destination complicated, and thats the sheer volume of amazing locations to choose from.

While On the Beach  the award-winning travel company known for its great-value holidays, low deposits and FlexiPay options  is there to make the practicals work, its down to you pick just where you want to go. However, with the many Greek holiday spots to choose enjoying an impressive combination of rich history, gorgeous architecture, crystal clear water, delicious food and buzzing nightlife spots, narrowing down your favourite can feel tricky.

For a guide on what to expect from six of Greeces most beloved summer spots, look no further.

Zante

The pine-lined islet of Agios Sostis, across a small bridge from Laganas beach / On the Beach

Zantes party credentials are well known, and for those who want a gorgeous beach with a lively atmosphere, its hard to go wrong with a visit to Laganas. The areas main beach is over a mile long and sprinkled with bars, restaurants and activities, so theres plenty to keep you busy in the sun.

Great reasons to book your Greek getaway with On the Beach Great value all-inclusive packages

Pay your way: low deposits from 30 per person and FlexiPay options

Dedicated customer service and in-resort team to ensure you have a great holiday

PriceWatch: monitoring thousands of deals to keep costs down for customers

Package holiday experts who know the ins and outs of hotels and destinations

But dont be fooled into thinking Zante is just good for a party: there are lots of great opportunities to relax too. On the family-friendly Kalamaki beach, keep an eye out for nesting sea turtles (Caretta caretta) in between dips into the beachs shallow waters. For a touch of culture in between sunbathing sessions, dont miss the islands historical gems, from the Museum of Solomos on St Marks Square to the 17th-century Venetian Castle.

Rhodes

Step back in time in the Old Town in Rhodes / On the Beach

Theres nothing quite like wandering historic streets while youre on holiday, and Rhodes offering is one that youll remember for years to come. On a visit to the medieval old town  a Unesco World Heritage site  youll feel transported to another era. Wander the quaint and quiet streets for long enough and you might just expect to see a knight on horseback.

As youd expect with a Greek island, naturally youll find plenty of stunning beaches too. From the bustling Prasonisi, a popular watersports hub, to the Instaworthy Elli beach, theres no shortage of places to take a dip.

Kos

Swim in the crystal clear waters of Koss beautiful coastline / Shutterstock

Whether you want to take in the islands beautiful coastline on a boat trip or make the most of the mostly flat terrain by bike, Kos is the perfect place for explorers. Stop by the medieval Neratzia Castle and take a trip to see the breathtaking Asklepieion ruins for a taste of the islands storied past. Or why not try out the therapeutic benefits of the Therma Hot Springs?

Of course, if all this sounds a bit hectic, gorgeous stretches of sand beaches are just waiting to be reclined upon.

Corfu

The storied streets of Corfus old town are steeped in history / Shutterstock

As well as around 50 beaches  think crystal clear waters lined with lush greenery  Corfu is home to a wide selection of fascinating historic gems, from Byzantine churches to Venetian fortresses.

In the Ionian islands old town, another Unesco World Heritage Site, you can wander its charming winding streets, stopping off for a bite to eat along the way. Its also a great base for day trips to other islands  the neighbouring Paxos and Antipaxos are great ones to tick off the bucket list.

Crete

For natural beauty, Crete is hard to beat / On the Beach

For a holiday where you can truly get amongst nature, Greeces largest island, blessed with olive grove-lined beaches, might be your best bet.

Hikers should make sure to visit the Samaria Gorge to experience stunning green vistas and wildlife aplenty, while Voulismeni  Agios Nikolaos salt water lake once thought to be where goddesses Artmeis and Athena bathed  is a great spot to kick back and relax.

Inland, in Cretes Lasithi district, youll find the spellbinding Dikteon Cave, often described as the birthplace of Zeus.

Stress-free booking

Once youve made your decision, On the Beach makes booking  and paying for  your holiday as simple and stress-free as it can be.

Offering all-inclusive holidays to help you keep your spending down whilst youre away, the holiday provider also monitors prices to make sure customers are getting the best deals.

To find out more about On The Beachs many holiday packages and FlexiPay options, visit onthebeach.co.uk
T hey rattle their bottles of capsules, share before and after photos in gym gear and talk to camera about the pounds theyve shed. TikTok users are currently in thrall to beberine  a natural substance dubbed natures Ozempic, with almost 68 million people viewing the hashtag. A quick browse finds users claiming to have shed three, four, sometimes five pounds a week by taking the supplement.

Like many TikTok trends, berberine is nothing new  its a natural supplement widely available in health food outlets across the world but, its currently being lauded as an organic alternative to Ozempic, the injectable drug beloved of Hollywood A-listers that causes dramatic weight loss and has been making headlines since late last year.

But is there any truth to the claims that this miracle powder can shift weight  or is it just a fad? And either way, is it safe?

What is berberine?

Its a naturally occurring bioactive compound found in the bark, leaves and roots of plants including barberry and goldenseal. When in powder form it is bright yellow and looks a little like ground turmeric.

It has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. Aside from weight loss, berberine is said to help with other health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, liver disease and burns.

/ Sam Moghadam Khamseh/Unsplash

How does it work in relation to weight loss?

In basic terms, berberine controls hormones that regulate fat cells, having been taken orally and entering the bloodstream via the small intestine.

It also helps keep blood sugar levels on the lower end of the healthy range which is, according to geneticist Tony Pemberton critical for metabolic health. By having stable blood sugar, energy is maintained and you wont experience extreme cravings. Lowering blood sugar also helps to reduce visceral fat  that is stored deep in the stomach and notoriously hard to shift.

Pemberton also explains that berberine is often used by healthy individuals to offset the blood sugar spike (the conversion to fat) from a cheat meal.

How is it taken?

Available in capsules or powders, berberine is taken orally, before or with meals. How much depends on the specific product and what you aim to achieve: recommendations range from between 100mg a day to 1500mg a day. There seems to be no standard dose.

What research has been done on berberine for weight loss?

There is plenty of research into how berberine impacts blood sugar (the stabilising of which is widely accepted as a way of keeping hunger at bay and therefore a valuable tool for anyone wanting to lose weight) but in 2020 a study found that taking between 100mg and 500mg of berberine a day was the most effective dose for lowering obesity risk.

I Yunmai / Unsplash

Is it safe?

Experts are in agreement that berberine for weight loss has not been subject to enough long term research to make any hard and fast conclusions about safety. It hasnt been studied enough long term, says Pemberton. But using for up to three months has been shown to not have any toxic effect on the liver or kidneys.

If taken in the recommended doses, berberine is generally harmless. However, there are groups of people who should not take berberine at all including those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive, those on blood thinners, anti-diabetes drugs, anti-hypertensive drugs or sedative medications.

Nutritonist Sophie Trotman is also at pains to point out that there is not enough scientific or clinical evidence to conclude with any sort of finality that berberine is safe or effective. She also points out that even if something is natural, consumers still need to do research before investing. Natural products can be really beneficial and exert positive effects  but you dont have to get a prescription for natural products which mean they are not aligned with other health concerns or medication they are currently on. I see people in clinic who put themselves on lots of different supplements and in many cases are doubling or trebling up [on a particular ingredients] but because its not regulated by a doctor and they can just get it over the counter they dont realise supplements can have a negative effect.

Nutritionist Sophie Trotman says there havet been enough clinical trials to show conclusively that berberine is effective in terms of weight loss / Sophie Trotman

What are the downsides?

If you take too much, your digestive system is going to know about it: prepare for cramps, constipation or diarrhoea. Also, some users experience nausea.

Pemberton also details another side effect sporty users might want to consider. Its thought Berberine can blunt the positive effects of exercise, as it can influence AMPK, an important enzyme that controls cell growth and proliferation, he explains. This is of course is much needed after that strenuous gym session. By having [berberine] only on rest days, you can minimise an impact on physical performance.

Is it expensive?

Sixty capsules of berberine can cost anywhere between around 8.99 to over 30  making it a snip of the price of Ozempic which is about 175 for four doses.

Does it work?

There havent been enough large scale clinical trials to show that berberine is properly effective in terms of weight loss, says Trotman. There have been small studies but nothing is conclusive at the moment.

Trotman also points out that Ozempics efficacy is not permanent: As soon as people stop taking it they are very likely to put the weight back on. The same could well be true if and when users stop taking berberine.

Is it worth it?

I would tell my clients that I think theyre wasting their money [on berberine for weight loss], says Trotman. We just dont know enough about it at the moment.

Exercise, eating well and perhaps intermittent fasting are other strategies Id recommend instead.
T heres a saying in Vancouver: the west coast is the best coast. Join the locals strolling along the citys iconic seawall and youll soon agree. Theres a special kind of magic where the towering forests of Stanley Park meet the sparkling waters of English Bay and the North Shore Mountains beckon just beyond Alaska-bound cruise ships sailing under the Lions Gate Bridge.

Its time to take advantage of British Airways new Summer flights to Vancouver, flying up to six times per week from London Gatwick, and youll uncover a side of Canada you never expected. Embrace the incredible diversity of a city surrounded by natures playground. Pack your hiking gear, your swimming costume and your best going-out shoes. In just a few days, youre sure to use them all  and when you book a package with British Airways Holidays youll benefit from 23kg checked baggage allowance, meaning youll have plenty of room for souvenirs.

Immerse yourself in woodland wonder

Stanley Park is a must for nature lovers / www.coastphoto.com

You dont need to leave the downtown peninsula to experience the wild side of Vancouver. Stanley Parks 400 hectares are crossed with 27 kilometres of walking trails through ancient cedars, Douglas firs  and, of course, maple trees.

One of the top activities to do is cycle the 8.8km, scenic Seawall, which takes approximately an hour.

Benefits of booking with British Airways British Airways flies year-round to Vancouver, now including summer flights from London Gatwick

British Airways offer new flights from London Gatwick up to six times per week across Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy on all flights

All British Airways Holidays are ATOL protected, keeping you and your money safe

You can secure your package holiday with a low deposit from just 60 per person and pay off the rest in as many instalments as you like. Final payment is due seven weeks prior to travel on long haul

With a dedicated 24-hour holiday helpline, British Airways Holidays have got you covered for any issues whilst youre away, if your plans change or the unexpected happens

23kg checked baggage allowance per person is included as standard on all British Airways Holidays bookings, not as an add on

British Airways Holidays offers quality accommodation options to suit every budget, from 3* to 5* luxury

Partnering with Avis, British Airways Holidays offers fly-drives across Vancouver. When booking flights and car hire together, all mandatory charges are included, and youll benefit from roadside assistance and 24-hour customer support

And for a deeper understanding of this place and its importance to the original inhabitants of this land, join a First Nations-led walking tour to explore the parks totem poles and Indigenous history.

From the city straight onto the beach

Spectacular fireworks at the Celebration Of Light / Destination Vancouver

Under the summer sun, theres plenty happening at the many city beaches  from beach volleyball at Jericho and stand-up paddle-boarding in False Creek to the gourmet ice cream trucks near Sunset Beach.

In late July, the skies over English Bay light up with the world-class fireworks competition known as the Celebration of Light, while the first weekend in August brings more than 100,000 people to Beach Avenue for the citys spectacular Pride Parade.

For a base within easy reach of these events, the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre in trendy Robson Street is a great hotel option, located just a five-minute drive from English Bay.

Spectacular mountains within easy reach

Theres no shortage of hiking with incredible mountain backdrops / Destination Vancouver/Kindred &

Vancouvers North Shore Mountains are just a 20-minute drive from downtown. At Cypress, pose with the Olympic Rings  a reminder of the mountains role as a host venue for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games  before hiking through wild flowers up to the spectacular views over the Gulf Islands along the Howe Sound Crest Trail.

To get your blood pumping, tackle the Grouse Grind, a 2.5km trail featuring more than 2,800 stairs climbing 800 metres of elevation. Or take the easy way out by riding North Americas largest aerial tramway system to the top, getting all the views with none of the sweat.

For the ultimate West Coast mountain experience, book a fly-drive holiday with British Airways Holidays and Avis, and take the scenic two-hour drive along the Sea-to-Sky Highway from Vancouver to Whistler. This world-renowned resort town welcomes adventurous travellers from around the world.

In summer, Whistler is an international draw for outdoor adventure. Get your thrills in the worlds premier mountain bike park, ogle the turquoise waters of a glacier-fed lake, or get above it all in the glass-bottomed Peak 2 Peak Gondola that connects Whistler and Blackcomb mountains for a truly unforgettable sightseeing experience.

Whistler Village is the beating heart of the valley, from the cultural to the culinary; the educational to the entertaining. With its boutique shops, museums, events and festivals, there are countless options for all, and there are plenty of stylish hotels to choose from, too. The Crystal Lodge, for instance, is moments away from the Whistler and Blackcomb gondolas, as well as being positioned close to the inviting array of shops and restaurants in the village.

Eating and drinking in style on the town

Sample the acclaimed Ramen at Nikkei Ramen-Ya / Destination Vancouver

In the long summer evenings, head to a beachside patio, a secret speakeasy, or one (or more) of the many craft breweries in East Vancouver. Take it up a notch by dining in one of Vancouvers eight Michelin-starred restaurants, or head to Denman Street to explore hole-in-the-wall local favourites serving up everything from queue-worthy ramen and Chinese dumplings to tacos to donairs (thats Canadian for kebab, since you ask).

Explore Vancouver and Whistler this summer with British Airways
A ny journalist will tell you about the unbearable wait of those final few minutes before an interview. A liminal loophole where two minutes can feel more like two hours. They will also tell you that the wait only grows more surreal when you are about to interview someone you are a fan of, and on this occasion, thats exactly the situation Im in.

Having just landed following a flight from Mexico, birdsong provided the backing track to our conversation, their tune travelling to me here in London from Murphys native Ireland. "Where are you from then?" she asks me seconds into the call, echoing a pitch-perfect imitation of my own Northern accent. Very rarely do people get the Leeds lilt quite right, but Murphy nails it, dropping in and out of the accent throughout our conversation.

"I am a natural mimic," she explains when I ask whether its her voice that can be heard at the start of her latest single The Universe, which she confirms is. The Universe joined CoolCool as our introduction to her forthcoming sixth studio album Hit Parade, set to drop on September 8th.

"I do think its very close to singing, mimicry. If you are good at copying a sound with your voice, thats pretty much what singing isWhen I started in Moloko, thats all I was doing. I was just doing stupid voices and characters. I even signed the record deal before I started singing, so its funny that I have developed a voice for singing.

A constant figure on the scene since the nineties as one half of electronic duo Moloko, Murphy has carved out a unique spot in the pages of music history. Never one to shy away from experimentation, from strings and synths to record spins, Murphy has created a legacy of universe-building - which has earned her maverick status with an army of dedicated fans to match.

I signed the record deal before I started singing, so its funny that I have developed a voice

Her previous albums, as well as the one on the way, play with Ibiza sun-tan grooves, feel-it-in-your-stomach techno rhythms, dance floor beats for daydreamers and effervescent electro thrills. She keeps the beat (and your feet) moving, through sound, styles and time. Speaking on her forthcoming album, she says, "It came together at a point after Roisin Machine, which was my last record cycle it was like a little magic fairytale, honestly."

When we speak, she is preparing for a soon-to-be-released music video. "I am going to shoot this very big video here [in Ireland] and put a parade on in the town I grew up in. Its a bit like an Irish parade, but the song is quite hip hopits a big thing, a big thing, I am involving the whole town."

Hit Parade has been six years in the making and crafted in collaboration with DJ Koze, who Murphy describes as having the "best ear shes ever known". They worked on the album together remotely; the intimate, reflective and "hobbyish" approach allowed Murphy much room to play.

Keeping in mind that collaboration is integral to Murphys lore (get it?), she explains: Its everything to an artist like me, she says, whats wonderful, as a solo artist, is that you can move on to another set of collaborators, into another world, and take essentially what I do every fucking time, talking about freedom and vulnerability. Pushing the boundaries is part and parcel of her process, and shes firm on sticking to that recipe. I allow that, and I allow myself to be out of my comfort zone. I always work with people who I dont understand.

Roisin Murphy

Murphys music undoubtedly goes hand in hand with the visuals. And from what we have seen so far and whats still left to come, Hit Parade will be nothing short of a visual feast. This is Roisin Murphy we are talking about after all.

A fanatic of the visual arts herself, from album covers to costume changes (her most recent shows see nine changes in total), Murphy is an immersive performer cloaked in fantastically fun, musically addictive and often surreal joy.

The visuals from her new album came from one of those moments of complete creative synergy: "I was like everyone else in that moment, on the internet and seeing this mad AI imagery starting to burst out everywhere. I found this artist whilst browsing. A real artist. She was playing with AI, shes called Beth Frey."

"There was something about the world she was making that was like the world of Hit Parade. It was just magic. Like it was pure magic to find this world that had that synesthesia about it, that touchability, ASMR  whatever, just a temptingly weird thing. So I asked if I could use the images and did a photoshoot with myself to fit.

I allow myself to be out of my comfort zone. I always work with people who I dont understand

Now, on to what a typical start to the weekend looks like for Murphy, its all about unforgettable food and great music. "My Friday night would be about good food," she tells me, "I live in Ibiza now, so there are plenty of options on a Friday night."

She recalls one of her favourite Friday night memories, following a Moloko gig: We had DJs called Krust & Die, who were drum and bass guys, part of the original wave of drum and bass, but at this party, they only played rare groove disco  it was the best rare groove set I have ever heard.

As for what Murphy wants you to feel when you no doubt add Hit Parade to your own Friday night playlist, "Theres never really a singular message when youre writing individual tracks, but when it comes together at the end, then the message reveals itself to me. I think the message is just enter this universe, go in there, listen and feel. Its a feeling, the sound of synesthesia. Go in, and let go.

Listen to Roisin Murphys full Friday night playlist here.

Chronixx and Free Nationals - Eternal Light

Not just Friday night but any night is better started with this evergreen, modern classic!

OutKast - Liberation

This one features Cee-Lo Green and Erykah Badu with the funkiest and perhaps the most important group of our generation, what more do you want? Sublime.

Jitwam - Enchante

Friday evening can be a romantic evening, with a twist of sophistication of course.

Keinemusik (&ME, Rampa, Adam Port) - Confusion feat. Ali Love

Its Friday so you dont want to peak too early. This will plant the seed for Saturday in a subtle way.

Lady Wray - Through It All

Dance down to the pub with this pure and positive mood in your headphones, and dare I say, you got your weekend started right!
I t is a fathers duty to embarrass his kids, a tradition I have done my bit to keep up over the past thirty-something years. My own contribution to inter-generational mortification has been carting my girls around to often unremarkable spots to take snaps of shops and houses and walls that many wouldnt think noteworthy  let alone photo-worthy. I am a ghost sign hunter.

A what? No, nothing paranormal, no Ouija boards required. Rather, ghost signs are the decades-old, now redundant painted wall advertisements youll spy all over the capital (and the country). You might have noticed them, you might not; you probably will now. Maybe you even have one on your own street.

My passion began in the 1960s, when I passed one I loved every day on the way to school that was advertising Masters matches and Mazawattee Tea. Years later, in the early 1980s, I returned to photograph it. I was hooked and today have an archive that contains hundreds of photographs.

From then on I rapidly became a ghost sign detectorist. Every street corner across the country and abroad offered me the possibility of encountering my own Sutton Hoo hoard. In my pursuit of capturing them I knew I was often operating against the ravages of time, erosion and redevelopment. I admit its an odd, nerdy passion (I was also a trainspotter in my childhood), but these signs and fragments take us back generations and introduce us to a skilled trade now largely defunct, to products and services long forgotten and to places  and times  that were different.

London is a treasure trove of signage (some of it is now appreciated enough to be the stuff of heritage walks. Great!). The city silently offers from its walls services and products that have disappeared. These are survivors of the Blitz and post-war reconstruction, gentrification and vandalism; sentinels of an everchanging London.

Alamy Stock Photo

Some are funny, some are moving, all are interesting. There are ones telling us which cigarette is kindest to our throats (Craven A, For your throats sake!); extolling the benefits of bread (Daren bakers, Best for health); and the virtues of Nettles Tonic (The best pick-me-up). In Hampstead a pre-nationalisation advert for rail travel still exists: LNER Kings Cross to Scotland Shortest and Quickest.

Down in New Cross there is an advert for Brymay Safety Matches. Behind this simple sign lies a story of an industry that witnessed so much suffering. Fourteen-hour days, low pay and health risks led to the matchgirls strike at Bryant & May in 1888. A relic of the war, there are ones identifying emergency water supplies.

Two of my favourite finds have been in Clapham. In 2003, on Clapham High Street, to my joy I spotted the words The Music Roll Exchange, a proud reference to a different age. Nearby a few years later, I recorded a Peterkin Custard advert.

These are survivors of the Blitz and post-war reconstruction, gentrification and vandalism; sentinels of an ever-changing London

Peterkins products were not a huge success but they were still being sold in 1926. That year a grocer was summoned at Marylebone Police Court by the Hampstead Borough Council for having sold to the prejudice of the purchaser, egg custard not of the nature, substance and quality demanded. The case was dismissed on the grounds that there was no established standard for custard powder and that given the price of Peterkins (1d for a pint packet), customers should not expect too much. A fantastic story preserved in one sign.

Those two signs met different fates. Peterkin Custard is still there, its survival having rested in part on local community support. Unfortunately, Music Roll Exchange has gone, wiped out under a coat of white paint in 2007, a little bit of local history erased in the pursuit of tidiness. That sign was appreciated but its demise came before local authorities had the power to list this as an asset of community value. The price of ghost sign preservation is eternal vigilance. (The advert that started it all for me? I went to see it in 2018 and sadly it was gone.)

Finding these signs and the stories that lie behind them is why I want as many as possible to survive. They are our history. More than just artefacts, they are a flash of surprise, and sometimes beauty, in the most ordinary environs. And they are reminders that the history worth documenting and preserving doesnt just belong to kings and queens, behind velvet ropes and in stately homes.

And my daughters? Now past their years of teenage awkwardness, they have joined in the hunt. Because just as it is a parents prerogative to embarrass their kids, it is a rite of passage for the child to realise that maybe, just maybe, we were right all along.
London Tech Week is one of the key moments in the UK tech calendar. Centred around the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre, 500 events are held at venues around the capital, attracting more than 30,000 visitors.

Many entrepreneurs have been eager to do an interview with perky event co-hosts Oli Barrett and Sonya Barlow as they and their camera teams take interviewees outside  problems with the venues air conditioning system have meant attendees have sweltered in the unseasonably warm weather, with reports of some people fainting on exhibitor stands while trying to sell their startups.

Its not just the conference calls that are hot: London as a tech destination is hotter than its ever been. The capital has become a global hub for UK innovation, with exponential growth in the citys ecosystem from $70 billion in 2014 to $621 billion in 2023.

Its not just homegrown cash funding Londons tech startups and unicorns (companies valued over $1 billion, of which London has created more than 100). The capital has attracted more than 1,700 tech foreign direct investment projects: London has matured from a burgeoning start-up hub to a place where you can also scale an international tech business, says Janet Coyle, managing director for Grow London at London & Partners. Little wonder, then, that both prime minister Rishi Sunak and leader of the opposition Keir Starmer felt it necessary to stop by the event, as did the Mayor of London, six British MPs, the Malaysian minister of communications and digital, and Ukraines deputy minister for digital transformation.

Demis Hassabis of Google Deep Mind / Matt Writtle

The Malaysian minister is part of the largest contingent of investors from the Asia Pacific region ever to attend Tech Week, according to Claire Trachet, CEO of business advisory company Trachet. The UKs status as a tech superpower and top investment hub has begun to solidify with several deals already established between APAC investors and UK tech firms, she says. Including a partnership between Malaysias Sunway Group and Cambridge-based Deeptech Labs. S

So, what went down? From headline-making speeches and new innovations to the rise of AI, here were the main talking points from Londons 10th annual Tech Week

The biggest innovations

The global audience of investors descend on the event to try and find, fund, then reap the benefits from the next big thing. Winning the unofficial award for the quirkiest innovation among those the Standard spoke to was Freeaim Technologies, who were demonstrating a pair of shoes that allow the wearer to walk in virtual reality without clattering into the wall or coffee table. Theyre a bit like rollerskates in that when you take a step forward, they roll you backwards roughly the same distance. Theyll come in handy if Apples Vision Pro mixed-reality goggles manage to drag the metaverse so beloved by Mark Zuckerberg kicking and screaming into relevance.

Apple Vision Pro23 / Apple

Ukrainian entrepreneur Olga Kravchenkos startup Musemio, a smartphone app which allows you to build a personalised museum based on your childs interests, may also help bring make the metaverse A Thing. Beyond the dystopian future, Olivia Simpsons company Symbiotex won a startup competition run by Elevating Founders on Tuesday, a major fillip for the company, which repurposes seaweed into sustainable packaging for medical and cosmetic use.

London as a tech destination is hotter than its ever been

The headline-making speeches

The award winners have won plenty of plaudits  plus that all-important interview with Barrett for social media, where theyll invite interest from investors  but most of the headlines came not from who was attending, but what was said at the event.

The week got off to a good start with the announcement on Monday that Andreessen Horowitz, one of big techs biggest bankrollers, would be opening its first office outside the United States  in the capital. The venture capital firm is one of the most recognisable names in the world of tech, and chose to open an outpost in the UK because of its business-friendly regime and openness to crypto firms at a time when the United States is cracking down on them. Rishi Sunak understandably said he was thrilled by the news.

Andreessen Horowitz is just the latest name in the tech funding space to open up an office in London in the last three years, signifying a resurgence in the UK tech sector and a sort of reverse British invasion akin to our exporting pop music to the US in the 1990s. In 2021, US VCs invested 10.6 billion in London startups  more than any other year on record.

London has become a major hub for US venture capital investment, says Lloyd Price, the CEO of Hive Health, a London-based health-focused cybersecurity firm. This trend is likely to continue in the years to come, as US VCs continue to look to London as a source of investment opportunities.

The reasons London  and the wider UK  are proving so attractive is the capitals strong ecosystem, lower valuations for companies that mean investors get more bang for their buck, access to European markets despite Brexit, and a comparatively welcoming regulatory environment.

VR shoes / Freeaim VR Shoes

This makes it easier for startups to raise funding, hire employees, and grow their businesses, says Price. The UK government has also been supportive of the tech industry, providing funding and tax breaks to startups. But the Andreessen Horowitz news was only the second-biggest thing to happen as the jamboree kicked off. The lions share of column inches on the first day was reserved for the prime minister and his comments on tech  and far beyond.

Rishi Sunak took the opportunity at the summit to hit back at former prime minister and mayor of London Boris Johnson over the latters claims about nominations for the House of Lords as he quit the Commons. The fighting talk from Sunak somewhat overshadowed his on-stage comments about the future of AI in the UK.

Rishi Sunak / PA

Sunak was in conversation with Demis Hassabis, the co-founder of DeepMind, which was bought by Google, and has become one of Londons buzziest companies by dint of the AI revolution. But his fireside chat was overshadowed by Sunak slapping down Johnson over his resignation.

While there have been clear, if predictable, interventions on topics like AI from Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer, it has been notable that their most significant comments have been about politics not, tech, says Charlotte Henry, who writes the tech and media newsletter The Addition. Industry leaders and investors may be left a little frustrated.

Nevertheless, Sunaks bold backing of artificial intelligence in the UK was welcomed by Azeem Azhar, who writes the Exponential View newsletter, tracking tech. It was absolutely brilliant, he says. You couldnt really have asked for more from a tech perspective. If there is muscle behind the announcements, he nailed it.

The biggest concerns for the future

Not everyone is as bullish as Azhar on the future of AI and its beneficence to the world. Hassabis and Sunaks fireside chat was full of warnings about the potential risks of the technology, with the DeepMind boss saying: We need to understand and research those systems a lot more over the next few years to have a better handle on what the boundaries are of these systems, including the risks, and then we can put the right guardrails in place.

Sunak was keen to trumpet Londons power and prowess on the global stage, and gave a full-throated defence of his governments support for tech. Quick action was needed, the prime minister said, if we want not only to retain our position as one of the worlds tech capitals, but to go even further and make this the best country in the world to start, grow and invest in tech businesses.

Londons thriving tech scene

/ Gerd Altmann/Pixabay

London does appear to be in the ascendancy, thanks in part to bold, eye-catching announcements from Sunak  some of which dont always stand up to scrutiny (his declaration of 54 million to develop secure and trustworthy AI research, for instance, is half the amount OpenAI spent training GPT-4 alone, which powers the paid-for version of ChatGPT).

But there were areas for improvement  beyond the need for better aircon. Diversity was a major topic of discussion midway through the week, with Londons tech sector not always matching the diversity within Londons population.

Still, there was no sign of Londons momentum in tech slowing down  and no smart investor would bet against Tech Week reaching its 20th anniversary.
A pensioner has been found guilty of strangling a young woman nearly 50 years ago following a DNA breakthrough.

John Apelgren, now 80, hit sex worker Eileen Cotter, 22, in the face and throttled her before throwing her body out of his car in 1974, the Old Bailey heard.

The manslaughter in Islington, north London, came two years after Apelgren indecently assaulted an 18-year-old guest at his own wedding, it was alleged.

The case was reopened in 2012, when DNA was extracted from samples from Ms Cotters body and compared with a then-prime suspect, who was ruled out.

The trail went cold for seven more years until 2019, when former minicab driver Apelgren came to the attention of police for attacking his third wife.

He accepted a caution for the assault and his DNA was flagged as a match to the historic killing, which happened just six weeks after the birth of his first child with his ex-wife Ann.

She went on to reveal to investigators he had mistreated her too  and once applied force to her neck with both of his hands.

The mother-of-two also told officers she felt he had been seeing other women within months of their marriage in 1972 and later discovered he was having an affair with her brothers wife.

Apelgren, from Sydenham, south London, declined to give evidence in his trial and was found guilty of manslaughter and indecent assault after a jury deliberated for 11 hours and 24 minutes.

He was found not guilty of Ms Cotters murder, with the jury instead finding him guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter.

Detective Chief Inspector Laurence Smith, Specialist Crime, said: Eileen tragically died at a young age after being raped and badly beaten, with her body then discarded on the street.

Unfortunately, they did not have the science available to us now and although he should have been in prison decades ago, her killer has now been brought to justice.

John Apelgren / via Metropolitan Police

Prosecutor Alexandra Healy KC said during the trial that Ms Cotter was seen on the night of her death at a hotdog stall in Finsbury Park where she would sometimes go for a cup of tea.

Her partly nude body was found on June 1 1974 outside garages known to be a sex worker haunt.

She was lying on her front with her buttocks exposed and her underwear and tights pulled down. Her handbag, glasses and shoes were missing.

One resident described seeing what she thought was a bundle of rags, while another realised it was a body and asked her father to call the police.

Post-mortem tests found Ms Cotter died from manual strangulation and had a black eye and bruising after being hit in the face.

Her death went unsolved despite police speaking to 92 potential suspects and carrying out an extensive operation to identify local kerb crawlers.

The case was reopened after advances in DNA testing and samples taken from the body in 1974 were tested, the court was told.

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.

John Apelgren in 1972 / via Metropolitan Police

After the DNA match in 2019, Apelgren was interviewed by police and denied knowing the victim or paying for sex.

He admitted having affairs with four women, initially saying Ms Cotter could have been one of them, but later denied it.

The jury was also told South African Apelgren attacked a young woman at his wedding to second wife Ann Apelgren 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 pushed her against a wall and indecently assaulted her, it was alleged.

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 had previously been married in South Africa to a woman with whom he also had two children.

He will be sentenced on 23 June.
A former police watchdog boss has been charged with a string of rapes and indecent assaults on a teenage girl nearly 40 years ago.

Michael Lockwood, 64, stood down as director general of the Independent Office for Police Conduct in December last year, after shock revelations that he was facing a criminal investigation into child sex allegations.

The Crown Prosecution Service announced on Friday that Lockwood, a former London council chief executive, has now been charged with nine offences.

The allegations date back to 1985 and 1986, when Lockwood was in his mid-20s, and relate to allegations of sexual abuse of a girl under the age of 16.

After carefully considering all of the evidence provided to us by Humberside Police, we have authorised charges against Michael Lockwood, 64, for nine offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956, said Rosemary Ainslie, Head of the Special Crime Division at the CPS.

Mr Lockwood has been charged with six counts of indecent assault and three offences of rape against a girl under the age of 16, alleged to have been committed during the 1980s.

The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Lockwood are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.

Lockwood is due to appear to face the charges for the first time at Hull magistrates court at 2pm next Wednesday (June 28).

His shock resignation from the IOPC came after he had privately disclosed to the Home Office that he was under investigation.

I have accepted Michael Lockwoods resignation as director general of the Independent Office for Police Conduct, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said at the time.

I took immediate action upon being made aware that Mr Lockwood was the subject of a police investigation into an historic allegation, and instructed my officials to ask him to resign or face immediate suspension from his role.

An IOPC probe into the handling of the case and Lockwoods continued role at the head of the watchdog was also launched.

Former Director of Public Prosecutions Sir David Calvert Smith has been brought in to head-up the review.

Lockwood was appointed as the IOPCs first director general in 2018 when the body was created to replace the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Previously he headed a government taskforce in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower disaster, to help bereaved families, and has also previously worked as chief executive to Harrow Council.

In a statement at the time of his resignation from the IOPC, Lockwood said: It is with great sadness that I have decided to resign as director general of the IOPC for personal and domestic reasons, and this will be effective from today.

It has been an enormous privilege to serve as the first director general of the IOPC and to have led the organisation for the past five years. I am proud of the progress we have made and I am grateful to all our staff, the unitary board and external stakeholders for all their support.

The unitary board will now work with the Home Office to put in place new leadership arrangements as quickly as possible.
C omedian Omid Djalili was caught speeding through central London and told police he was in rush  as he was desperate for the toilet, a court heard.

The 57-year-old actor and stand-up comic was stopped on the edge of Regents Park after a PC spotted him flying along the road in his luxury Lexus.

As he was questioned at the roadside, Djalili was keen to get his brush with the law over as soon as possible.

As soon as I stopped the driver he said he needed a wee, PC Ayyaz Gul told Bromley magistrates court.

The officer said he questioned Djalili, a star of films including Gladiator, The Infidel, and The Mummy, to see if he knew that the road - Albany Street  was a 20mph limit.

Djalili replied: I havent been down here for many years. Speed 30, 40. I must be doing 45 or something.

In his statement, PC Gul continued: I showed him the speed gun and said he was doing 47mph.

I informed him that I could see him that he was flying towards me.

I asked for his driving licence and he was yes and asked me to be quick as he needed to go to the toilet.

Djalili has now been prosecuted over the incident, which happened at 11.19am on Saturday, November 26, 2022.

On Tuesday a magistrate fined him 660, ordered him to pay a 264 victim surcharge plus 100 in costs, and imposed six penalty points on his licence.

It is by no means the first time the TV funnyman has run into trouble with the police over his conduct behind the wheel.

He was given a 200 fine in March last year for speeding near to Gatwick Airport and received a 1,300 penalty in 2013 for another bout of speeding on the M4, when he joked to a court: Comedian humbly asking for leniency.

In 2008, Djalili lost his licence after racking up more than 12 penalty points, and he received a second ban in 2012 after being caught driving without a valid licence or insurance.

The award-winning comedian told a podcast last year how his driving has landed him in hot water in court.

You should never do jokes in court, he said.

The judge said to me Mr Djalili, you have 36 points on your license and another 18 pending, which takes you to up to 54, which is a UK record currently, were going to ban you from driving for six months, do have anything to say?

I said, Could you give me a lift to the station, your honour?

The judge said, Thats not funny."

Djalilis latest prosecution came through the Single Justice Procedure, with a magistrate deciding on the case behind closed doors based on written evidence.

A court official said Djalili did not enter a plea to the charge of speeding, having been written to at his home in Ipswich.

A representative for the star has been contacted for comment.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a fatal stabbing in Camberwell on Friday.

A 38-year-old man was found with stab wounds on Southampton Way, near to the junction with Coleman Way, just before 1.30am.

Despite efforts from police officers and the London Ambulance Service he died at the scene, Metropolitan Police said.

The mans next of kin have been informed.

A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder at a home on Southampton Way where the incident happened, the Met said.

He remains in custody at a south London police station.

The victim and the suspect are believed to be known to each other.

As the investigation continues, detectives will remain gathering evidence in the area over the coming days. Police understand there is no wider risk to the community.

Detective Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, local policing commander in Southwark and Lambeth, said: This is a tragic incident, and my thoughts are with the mans family as they come to terms with this awful news.

We will do everything we can to bring those responsible to justice.

An extensive investigation is under way and specialist detectives will remain in the area over the coming days as they gather evidence.

We believe this was an isolated incident with no wider risk to the community. We will also ensure local officers are visible in the area to respond to any local concerns.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 494/16Jun. You can also message @MetCC on Twitter.

To remain anonymous contact the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
YANGON, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar authorities have seized 900,000 stimulant tablets in the commercial city of Yangon, according to a statement from the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control on late Thursday.

Acting on a tip-off, anti-narcotics police raided a house in Kamayut Township of Yangon on June 11, and confiscated the drugs, the statement said.

The seized narcotics are worth approximately 900 million kyats (about 428,571 U.S. dollars), it said.

An initial investigation showed that the drugs were being distributed and sold to young people at the KTVs, clubs, bars and restaurants in Yangon.

Two suspects were charged in the case as further investigation was underway. 
A beloved charity worker from London took his own life following a lengthy battle with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) - igniting calls for better awareness of the debilitating condition.

Conrad Colson, 34, died by suicide last March after suffering from severe BDD, primarily concerning the appearance of his skin.

Experts say as much as two per cent of the population could be living with BDD, which leaves sufferers preoccupied by one or more perceived flaws in their appearance - which are unnoticetable to others, or not as prominent as they believe.

Mr Colsons battle with the illness began when he was a teenager and pervaded his adult life.

He was not receiving any mental health support when he died, but was paying for private skin treatments at a London clinic.

In a statement read at Mr Colsons inquest, his father, Richard Colson, told how his very dear, kind and loving son - a successful charity worker and music producer - was plagued by body image problems.

He accepted these mental health problems and sought help from a number of professional bodies, he said.

He spent thousands of pounds at a number of skin clinics in Harley Street where he tried to find a treatment to bring him relief regarding his own facial skin problems. These were in fact very slight but he was beyond any persuasion of this.

Mr Colson said working from home during the pandemic made things worse for his son, as he was forced to see his own image on the computer screen during video calls.

Mr Colson was also left unhappy with the skin treatment he had received, and repeatedly raised concerns with the clinic in the run-up to his death.

On March 2 last year, Mr Colsons friends grew worried when they could not reach him.

Emergency services visited his home, where they tragically found him dead.

Calls for better awareness

Following an inquest into Mr Colsons death, coroner Nadia Persaud has now written to his local NHS trust, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, and the skin clinic at which he was receiving treatment before his death.

The inquest heard that there is a need for training to be provided to step-down service teams in relation to the diagnosis of BDD and the risks associated with it, she wrote.

There is a lack of national resources for BDD.

Mr Colson had made a previous serious suicide attempt in early 2020. After months on a waiting list, he received specialised BDD therapy which helped him make significant progress, and following his own request was later discharged from mental health services.

At the time, he had been accessing aesthetic dermatology treatment at the skin clinic, but this was not taken into account in his discharge risk assessment.

Ms Persaud raised concerns in her letter about the way he was discharged from mental health services without any robust risk assessment and without the safety net of a fully considered risk management/relapse plan.

Her calls for better awareness of BDD are echoed by Kitty Wallace, a spokesperson for Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation and a friend of Mr Colson, who supported and was supported by the charity, said

Ms Wallace told the Standard the number of people turning to the charity for help is at a record high, yet the condition is still very misunderstood and underdiagnosed.

We cannot say if BDD is on the rise as not enough large-scale research studies have been done, but we do know that there are more people reaching out to us for support than ever before, she said.

This could be due to a rise in awareness or the increased societal pressure towards an idealised body image.

More awareness and early intervention is vital. We know that with the right help and support BDD is treatable but too many individuals are finding it difficult to access the right help, not being taken seriously and getting stuck on waiting lists.

She described Conrad as a highly valued volunteer and friend at the BDD Foundation.

Close friends of Mr Conrad, who formerly studied with him at City of London School remember him as so loved by his friends and family. He is remembered as a tremendous artist and music producer, with a gentle charm who built a successful career in the charity sector.

He was that rarest thing: curious about the lives of others, and humble about his own achievements, they wrote on a memorial page. He was always there for us, lending an ear as we grew from teenage angst to near-middle age moaning.
T he pre-school classroom roof of an east London nursery collapsed on Thursday evening just hours after children had left for the day.

The roof of the Crossharbour Montessori Day Nursery caved in at around 8.40pm. Nobody was injured or in the building at the time.

Kendra, a mother who sends her two children to the nursery, told the Standard: I was at dinner when I found out and I burst into tears because of the shock of What if it had happened earlier?

My husband picked them up three hours earlier, and I was thinking, What if it had happened earlier, I couldve lost my entire family.

She added: All the parents are now in limbo: do we get another nursery, do we get a nanny, were all asking these questions all while we were struggling to sleep last night.

Another mother said: I dont want to think about if there was any children. Its horrible to imagine.

Harp Lakhan, the director of the nursery, told the Standard: Im a little bit in shock, we have limited information. Weve sent out a briefing to parents to say weve closed but once Ive gathered some more information, Ill be relaying that further to them.

Fortunately nobody was injured, thats the good news.

He said the nursery was working closely with the authorities to support staff and parents and to understand what had gone wrong with the third-floor roof of the building, which the nursery leases.

Weve immediately told all the staff and obviously well make sure theyre OK in terms of not to come in today and well pay them, and well also make sure parents and nobody else comes in, he said.

We just want to make sure all the processes are complete and absolutely everything is safe before we allow them back in.

Structural engineers are due to visit the site to understand the cause.

Andrew Wood, a former councillor who runs a Facebook forum for the area, said: It was one of the classroom areas, but fortunately the building was empty.

There would have been serious injuries to staff and children if it had happened earlier in the day.

Councillors have now called on Tower Hamlets council to reassure residents who live close to the nursery in the wake of the roof collapse.

Peter Golds, a councillor in the Isle of Dogs, said it was fortunate that the collapse had not happened during the daytime when the building was in use.

He added: What concerns me though is that this took place within a residential block. They must be worried so the council must look at their safety. The residents need to be absolutely secure in their homes.

The nursery, which has around 40 children up to age four, is situated close to Crossharbour DLR station.

A Tower Hamlets Council spokesperson said the council was shocked and that a Dangerous Structure Notice would be issued ovr the roof.

We are expecting the building freeholder to arrange for a Structural Engineer to investigate the cause of the collapse and advise us of their conclusions and plan for remedial works to be undertaken, said the spokesperson.

The councils Early Education team will work with the nursery to support parents and carers who need to seek alternative childcare, whilst the nursery is closed.
A yellow thunderstorm warning has been issued for London this weekend - as the recent heatwave is expected to be broken by heavy rain.

London is due to stay very warm and dry on Saturday before being hit by thunderstorms on Sunday, which the Met Office says could bring torrential downpours.

Despite the stormy conditions, the capital is expected to stay very warm, with an increasingly humid feel, says the Met Office.

Much of next week will then see the chance of more showers, though temperatures are temperature expected to stay in the mid-20s.

It comes after a recent heatwave has left Londoners basking in dry, sunny weather and temperatures soaring to above 30C.

UK Hot Weather | June 2023 1 / 45 UK Hot Weather | June 2023 Early bird swimmers cool off at Hampton Pool this morning before another hot day in the capita Chris Gorman/ Big Ladder Early Morning Swimmers at Brockwell Lido In Herne Hill , Londo Sonja Horsman PA REUTERS PA Early bird swimmers cool off at Hampton Pool this morning before another hot day in the capita Chris Gorman/Big Ladder REUTERS PA REUTERS PA REUTERS PA REUTERS PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA

Parts of Kent and Sussex have been left with little or no water this week amid the hot weather, forcing schools to shut and residents to get drinking water from bottled water stations, and leading to a hosepipe ban introduced on Friday.

Sundays heavy rain and thunderstorms could cause sudden flooding and power cuts on Sunday, the forecaster warned, issuing a yellow weather warning covering all of England and Wales.

There is a small chance homes and businesses could be flooded quickly and buildings could be damaged from floodwater, lightning strikes, hail or strong winds, it warned.

There could also be delays or cancellations to trains and buses where flooding or lightning strikes happen and there is a slight chance some communities may be cut off by flooded roads.
P arents and children in Barnet mounted a protest on Thursday outside their local MPs office, in support of plans to expand Londons Ultra low emission zone (Ulez).

Theresa Villiers, Chipping Barnets Conservative MP, had spoken out against the expanded Ulez in Parliament on Wednesday, garnering agreement from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

But in a protest mounted 24 hours later, on Clean Air Day, members of the campaign group Mums for Lungs, along with Mothers CAN [Climate Action Network] and Barnet Friends of the Earth, turned up outside her office to show support for the London-wide Ulez.

What were asking our MP Theresa Villiers to do is to work with us, and help us clean up the air in Barnet, said organiser and local mother Sara Hall.

Its really bad [the air quality]. My son has to cross the North Circular to go to school every morning and on his way back and he says to me its really awful - the smell, the air, its so bad.

Theres all this scientific evidence to show how it harms childrens health, and really for us the expansion of the Ulez cant come soon enough.

The zone, which requires non-compliant vehicles to pay a 12.50 daily charge, is expanding to cover the whole of Greater London on August 29.

Ms Hall added that she was concerned to see Ms Villiers host an anti-Ulez protest on May 20, at which she posed for a photograph with someone holding a sign which read STOP THE TOXIC AIR LIE.

Ms Hall said: I really think clean air is universally popular, but somehow this one policy intervention, the expansion of the Ulez, has galvanised a lot of conspiracy theorists.

What we need our MP Theresa Villiers to do is to work with us, talk to members of the public, talk to the constituents, [about] what is actually happening with the Ulez, what support is available, and then really lobby for more funding [for the scrappage scheme] to ensure no small business or low-income family, or charity in Barnet is penalised by the expansion of the Ulez.

The group of parents and children gave a letter urging support for the Ulez to a staff member at Ms Villiers office, who accepted it on her behalf, along with an air purifying plant.

Parents and children held a protest outside Theresa Villiers MPs office on Thursday / Jonathan Goldberg/Mums for Lungs

Speaking at Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday, Ms Villiers had said the Ulez expansion was completely wrong particularly given worries around the cost of living.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Ms Villiers was absolutely right to raise the issue.

He told MPs: While we are getting on providing significant support to families with the cost of living, the Labour Mayor of London, to whom transport is devolved, is busily putting it up, imposing the Ulez charge against the overwhelming views of residents and businesses.

Approached for a response to the protest, Ms Villiers told the Standard: "Of course I want to clean up air quality in my constituency, but Ulez expansion will not deliver that.

The independent impact assessment published by the Mayor concluded that expanding the zone would have only a negligible impact on pollution.

This is the wrong scheme at the wrong time, hitting my constituents in the pocket without delivering any significant environmental or health benefits.

Addressing the poster she was seen standing next to, she said: "This was not a poster I provided at the event I organised.

I have never asserted that problems with air quality do not exist. It is just that I do not believe Labour's Ulez expansion is an effective way to address those problems.

It was a public protest at which people expressed a range of views on why they opposed the Mayor's plan for new charges on driving."

Conservative MP Theresa Villiers / PA Wire

Ms Villiers claim that the expanded Ulez will have a negligible impact on pollution is in reference to an official assessment report on the impact of the expanded Ulez, carried out by the firm Jacobs.

It said that the "Proposed Scheme is modelled to result in a minor reduction (-1.3%) in the average exposure of the population of Greater London to NO2 [nitrogen dioxide] and negligible reductions (-0.1%) in average exposure to PM2.5 [particulate matter]".

City Hall has previously responded to that point by saying it is "important to understand the impact of this [the expanded Ulez] policy in absolute terms".

"For example, although NO2 concentration reductions are smaller in percentage terms than for the central London Ulez, in absolute terms there is a much larger volume of NOx emissions saved equating to 362 tonnes. This is in comparison to the 240 tonnes saving we saw in central London," a City Hall spokesperson has said.
R ishi Sunak may be spared a vote that could enflame the row in the Tory party after Boris Johnson called his supporters off from opposing the investigation that found he lied to MPs over partygate.

The Prime Minister was agonising over his response to the damning Privileges Committee report which will be debated in the Commons on Monday as he seeks to unite his fractious Conservatives.

The report recommended that Mr Johnson should have faced a 90-day suspension had he not already resigned in advance of its judgment.

Though he cannot now serve that, the cross-party group of MPs also recommended that he should be banned from holding a pass to access Parliament for a series of offences.

Tory MPs will be given a free vote, but allies of Mr Johnson warned they could face battles with their local parties to remain as candidates at the next election if they back the motion.

However, Mr Johnson was privately urging his supporters not to oppose it, arguing the sanctions have no practical effect. He was aware that he would get his pass back if re-elected as an MP.

If the report is not opposed then it could just be nodded through the Commons, saving Mr Sunak from having to chose between further riling Mr Johnson by backing it, voting against the report and risking public anger, or avoiding the action altogether and facing allegations of being weak.

Labour and other opposition parties could try to force a vote in order to push Tory MPs into putting on record whether they support or oppose the report.

The sanctions proposed by the Tory-majority committee are expected to pass regardless, with only a relatively small group of Johnson loyalists who would oppose the reports findings.

Senior Conservative MP Damian Green told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that deliberately abstaining is not really rising to the importance of the occasion.

The former de facto deputy prime minister said he intends to vote to approve the report with a heavy heart.

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former Cabinet minister who is a staunch ally of Mr Johnson, told LBC he believes Mr Sunak will abstain on the basis that it is a parliamentary matter.

He described the 90-day recommendation for Mr Johnson as vindictive and suggested the severity may have helped his return, rather than hindered it.

Liz Truss, who spent 49 days in No 10 after succeeding Mr Johnson as Tory leader, told GB News that preventing him holding a parliamentary pass would be a very harsh decision.

But she is not expected to vote on the report, with a source close to the MP pointing to her speaking at an event in Dublin on Monday morning.

Sir Jake Berry, a former Tory party chairman who is a close ally of Mr Johnson, conceded he was almost certain that Parliament will vote in favour of the report.

But he told ITVs Good Morning Britain he will certainly be one of those in the no lobby opposing this report, because I think both the conclusions and, to some extent, the way the committee was made up in terms of this report are wrong.

Despite the Privilege Committees report being published early on Thursday, Downing Street said Mr Sunak hasnt fully had time to consider the report.

The Prime Minister takes these processes very seriously, which is why he intends to take the time to study the report closely, a spokesman added.

The sanctions proposed by the Tory-majority committee are expected to pass, with only a relatively small group of Johnson loyalists set to oppose the reports findings.

Mr Sunak will be hosting a foreign leader in No 10 on Monday, which could give him an excuse not to take part.

On Friday the Daily Mail announced that its erudite new columnist who will be required reading in Westminster will be Mr Johnson.

The role will give Mr Johnson, who used to receive a 275,000 salary to write for the Telegraph, a powerful platform to take shots at the Prime Minister with whom he has been publicly clashing.

But Mr Johnson was accused of committing a clear breach of the rules by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) by only seeking advice half an hour before the announcement.

Former ministers who have left the Government in the last two years must apply to the anti-corruption watchdog for advice before taking up a new appointment or role.

An Acoba spokeswoman told the PA news agency: An application received 30 mins before an appointment is announced is a clear breach.

We have written to Mr Johnson for an explanation and will publish correspondence in due course, in line with our policy of transparency.

Mr Johnsons exit from Parliament has also left Mr Sunak facing a tricky by-election in Uxbridge and South Ruislip on July 20, with Labour hopeful of gaining the west London seat.

Another by-election on the same date, triggered by Tory Nigel Adams who was denied a peerage in Mr Johnsons resignation honours list, will take place in Selby and Ainsty.

Former Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries, who had also announced she was going to resign, is staying on while she seeks to investigate how she was denied a seat in the Lords as part of the former prime ministers honours list.

She warned that any Tory MPs who endorsed the Privileges Committees report were not true Conservatives and would be held to account by members and the public.

Deselections may follow. Its serious, she said.

The committee found Mr Johnson deliberately misled the House with his partygate denials before being complicit in a campaign of abuse and intimidation against the MPs investigating him.

Branding him the first former prime minister to have ever lied to the Commons, the Privileges Committee said the offences merited a 90-day suspension which would have paved the way for a by-election if he had not preemptively resigned in protest.

Mr Johnson was furious at what he called a deranged conclusion, claiming the 14-month investigation had delivered what is intended to be the final knife-thrust in a protracted political assassination.

The committee, made up of four Tories, two Labour MPs, and one from the SNP, found many aspects of Mr Johnsons defence were not credible, allowing them to conclude he intended to mislead MPs.
T he fallout from a scathing report which found Boris Johnson lied to MPs over partygate has left Rishi Sunak with a battle to hold his warring Tory party together.

The Commons will vote on Monday on the Privileges Committees report, which recommended that Mr Johnson should have faced a 90-day suspension had he not already resigned in advance of its judgment and be banned from holding a pass to access Parliament.

MPs will be given a free vote, but allies of Mr Johnson warned Tories they could face battles with their local parties to remain as candidates at the next election if they back the motion.

The sanctions proposed by the Tory-majority committee are expected to pass, with only a relatively small group of Johnson loyalists set to oppose the reports findings, although many more Conservatives could simply not turn up.

Liz Truss, who spent 49 days as prime minister after succeeding Mr Johnson as Tory leader, told GB News that preventing him holding a parliamentary pass would be a very harsh decision.

But she is not expected to vote on the report, with a source close to the MP pointing to her speaking at an event in Dublin on Monday morning.

Downing Street is yet to say whether the Prime Minister will vote.

Senior Conservative MP Damian Green told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that deliberately abstaining is not really rising to the importance of the occasion.

The former de facto deputy prime minister said he intends to vote to approve the report with a heavy heart.

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the former Cabinet minister who is a staunch ally of Mr Johnson, told LBC he believes Mr Sunak will abstain on the basis that it is a parliamentary matter.

He described the 90-day recommendation for Mr Johnson as vindictive and suggested the severity may have helped his return, rather than hindered it.

Westminster was in anticipation of a mystery new columnist billed for Saturday by the Daily Mail, with it widely expected to be Mr Johnson, who used to receive a 275,000 salary to write for the Telegraph.

Mr Johnsons office has not denied he is taking the job, which would give him a powerful platform to take shots at the Prime Minister with whom he has been publicly clashing.

Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba) chairman Lord Eric Pickles will be writing to Mr Johnson to seek clarification on whether he is taking the job.

Former ministers who have left the Government in the last two years must apply to the anti-corruption watchdog before taking up a new appointment or role.

An Acoba spokeswoman said: We havent had an application and we will be writing to Mr Johnson.

Mr Johnsons exit from Parliament has also left Mr Sunak facing a tricky by-election in Uxbridge and South Ruislip on July 20, with Labour hopeful of gaining the west London seat.

Another by-election on the same date, triggered by Tory Nigel Adams who was denied a peerage in Mr Johnsons resignation honours list, will take place in Selby and Ainsty.

Former Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries, who had also announced she was going to resign, is staying on while she seeks to investigate how she was denied a seat in the Lords as part of the former prime ministers honours list.

She warned that any Tory MPs who endorsed the Privileges Committees report on Monday were not true Conservatives and would be held to account by members and the public.

Deselections may follow. Its serious, she said.

Former MEP David Campbell Bannerman said: Any Tory MP who endorses this report does not respect democracy and must face deselection.

Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt called for calm, saying all of us must do what we think is right and others must leave us alone to do so.

Downing Street said Mr Sunak would take the time to fully consider the report, but officials were unable to say whether he would take part in Mondays vote.

Cabinet minister David Davies said he believed the report had killed off Mr Johnsons hopes for a political comeback.

Asked if Mr Johnsons career was now over, the Welsh Secretary told BBCs Question Time: I think it probably is. Im not saying whether thats a good thing or a bad thing.

I dont really see any way back for Boris.

Sir Jake Berry, a former Tory party chairman who is a close ally of Mr Johnson, conceded he was almost certain that Parliament will vote in favour of the report.

But he told told ITVs Good Morning Britain he will certainly be one of those in the no lobby opposing this report, because I think both the conclusions and, to some extent, the way the committee was made up in terms of this report are wrong.

The committee found Mr Johnson deliberately misled the House with his partygate denials before being complicit in a campaign of abuse and intimidation against the MPs investigating him.

Branding him the first former prime minister to have ever lied to the Commons, the Privileges Committee said the offences merited a 90-day suspension which would have paved the way for a by-election if he had not preemptively resigned in protest.

Mr Johnson was furious at what he called a deranged conclusion, claiming the 14-month investigation had delivered what is intended to be the final knife-thrust in a protracted political assassination.

The committee, comprised of four Tories, two Labour MPs, and one from the SNP, found many aspects of Mr Johnsons defence were not credible, allowing them to conclude he intended to mislead MPs.

They dismissed Mr Johnsons argument that mid-pandemic staff leaving dos in Downing Street were essential to maintain staff morale, noting they attracted police fines while the rules would have been clear to him.

A workplace thank you, leaving drink, birthday celebration or motivational event is obviously neither essential or reasonably necessary, the MPs wrote.

That belief, which he continues to assert, has no reasonable basis in the rules or on the facts.

The committee said his public criticism was a cynical attempt to manipulate the opinions of MPs and the public.

Meanwhile, further evidence of Mr Sunaks problems with managing his own party came as Telford MP Lucy Allan announced she would step down at the next election.

The Shropshire town is where Mr Johnson launched his 2019 manifesto, but Ms Allan said: Todays Conservative Party is just not interested in seats like Telford anymore.
H undreds of activists were set to join three by-election battles this weekend in Uxbridge, Mid Bedfordshire and North Yorkshire.

The Conservatives picked local councillor Steve Tuckwell as their candidate for the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election triggered by Boris Johnson resigning as the local MP.

He immediately launched an attack on Sadiq Khans Ulez extension to Londons suburbs.

Labours candidate Danny Beales stressed the ultra low emission zone is not a binary issue for local people given air quality issues and also highlighted the cost-of-living crisis.

The Tories won the Uxbridge seat with a majority of 7,210 in 2019.

There is also a by-election in Selby and Ainsty, North Yorkshire, where the Conservative majority was 20,137, after close Johnson ally Nigel Adams quit there.

Ex-Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, another close ally of Mr Johnson, has said she would resign as MP for Mid-Beds, where the Tories have a majority of 24,664, but is yet to do so.

The Liberal Democrats are targeting Mid-Beds, having overturned a similar majority to win the Tiverton and Honiton by-election from the Tories last year.

Conservative peer and pollster Lord Robert Hayward told The Standard: All three of these by-elections are in play.

All parties will treat them as very serious contests.
A proposed ban on trophy hunting imports is at risk of being thwarted by Conservative peers who claim it harms efforts to protect endangered animals.

The Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill cleared its first hurdle in the House of Lords by receiving an unopposed second reading on Friday.

But a group of Conservative peers expressed reservations about the proposals, with amendments expected to be tabled which could derail the planned legislation.

The Bill, sponsored by Conservative MP Henry Smith and party colleague Baroness Fookes, would ban the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern and is supported by the Government, Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

It has already been approved by the House of Commons, but peers heard that the limited parliamentary time set aside for Private Members Bills means any amendments approved by the Lords will have the practical effect of killing the Bill.

This simple amendment ... will turn this Bill from one that will do much more harm than good into one that will genuinely advance the conservation of vulnerable species

Conservative former minister Lord Swire said the Bill has a somewhat high-handed and neocolonial tone as he argued the UK should work with the countries that will be affected by it, not against them, in order to put in place the best possible protocols which enhance conservation.

Conservative Lord Mancroft outlined that he will table a conservation amendment to introduce a small but hugely important tweak to the Bill.

He said: This would allow that if there was a demonstrable conservation benefit from the hunting, a trophy could be imported.

Lord Mancroft added: This simple amendment will address the concerns of those scientific conservationists who have been critical of this Bill and I believe will also satisfy the African, Eastern European and Asian governments who have been unanimous in voicing their concerns.

It will turn this Bill from one that will do much more harm than good into one that will genuinely advance the conservation of vulnerable species.

Lord Mancroft said he looks forward to working with Lady Fookes and environment minister Lord Benyon to get this Bill on the statute book in a way we can all support.

But Liberal Democrat Lord Rennard said he had seen other Private Members Bills thwarted as a result of unnecessary amendments being tabled.

Any amendments passed in the Lords will have the practical effect of killing the Bill

He said: We should all be aware that any amendments passed by the Lords will also need to be agreed by the House of Commons and that no more sitting Fridays are scheduled in the Commons for such business to be considered.

Therefore, any amendments passed in the Lords will have the practical effect of killing the Bill.

Others to express concerns over the Bill included Conservative Lord Lucas, who said: We may not like trophy hunting, but the proceeds of trophy hunting flowing into a well-managed conservation effort are immensely beneficial to wildlife.

Were asking African people to live alongside lions and elephants, and yet if you look at the debates in this country of the (Eurasian) lynx  a little baby cat  we really ought to understand what it is were asking of these people.

Conservative former minister Lord Hamilton of Epsom criticised the very bad Bill before noting: Id love to be able to say Im not a trophy hunter and this has never appealed to me as something I want to do.

Well actually, Ive shot a significant number of red stags in Scotland and have on occasion taken their horns down to England where I live.

So, therefore, I suppose I have to qualify as a trophy hunter but its quite difficult to say that Im not one, but certainly its never been in any way something thats appealed to me to shoot a magnificent beast in Africa but it does bring significant income into those countries.

It's also right that we listen to the British public and there's a clear and strong message to bring an end to the import of endangered animals taken for the purpose of trophies

Shadow environment spokeswoman Baroness Hayman of Ullock reiterated Labours support for the Bill, saying: The economic benefits generated from trophy hunting have also often been overstated with only a small proportion of the revenue actually reaching local communities or conservation programmes.

For the Government, Lord Benyon said: Its also right that we listen to the British public and theres a clear and strong message to bring an end to the import of endangered animals taken for the purpose of trophies.

The Bill before us will, therefore, fulfil our manifesto commitment to do just that, and in doing so it will help us better protect some of the worlds most endangered species.

On whether there will be extra time to consider the Bill if amendments are made by peers, Lord Benyon said: I cant give him an assurance, I dont know, I havent spoken in detail about that.

Concluding the debate, Lady Fookes said: I have been called many things in my time but to be referred to as a neocolonialist is a new one for me. I would have thought it would apply more appropriately to those who wish to perpetuate the trophy hunting culture.

The Bill is expected to undergo further scrutiny at committee stage at a later date.

Earlier this year environment minister Trudy Harrison declared that Cecil the lion had not died in vain when the Bill cleared the Commons.

Cecil was a 13-year-old male African lion living in a national park in Zimbabwe, who was killed in 2015 by an American big game hunter.

The killing resulted in international outrage, with criticism from UK MPs at the time from across the political spectrum.
U niversity staff are on strike after a union claimed their employer said wages will be cut by half in response to a boycott.

Staff at Edinburgh University taking part in the University and College Unions (UCU) marking and assessment boycott will have their wages deducted by 50%, though management could deduct 100% of earnings, the union said.

Workers on strike on Friday staged demonstrations in Edinburghs Bristo Square, George Square in Glasgow, and outside the universitys Nucleus building.

The UCU also announced there will be more strikes throughout the new academic year, with 10 days of walkouts to take place in September.

In April, the UCU renewed its industrial action mandate, allowing strikes to be called for another six months.

The last thing staff want to do is take industrial action, but over 10 years of pay being held down and worsening conditions has left us with no option

The marking and assessment boycott began on April 20, as the UCU hit out at what it described as a real-terms pay cut, working conditions including increasing casualisation, pay gaps and unmanageable workloads.

Edinburgh UCU branch spokeswoman Sophia Woodman said: Edinburgh University has just under 2.5 billion worth of reserves.

This university and the sector can afford to pay staff enough to support themselves through this cost-of-living crisis.

The last thing staff want to do is take industrial action, but over 10 years of pay being held down and worsening conditions has left us with no option.

Edinburgh principal Peter Mathieson should stop trying to circumvent lawful industrial action short of strike and join the increasing number of vice-chancellors calling for new, meaningful talks to resolve the dispute.

Our branch is ready and willing to issue a joint statement with our employer calling for the reopening of negotiations.

The university said it intends to pay full pension contributions for the staff on strike, meaning that although wages will be deducted, they will still maintain full pension benefits.

A University of Edinburgh spokesperson said: Participation in the marking and assessment boycott is considered partial performance of contract, particularly at this time of year, and varying deductions are being made by institutions across the UK impacted by this action.

Disappointingly, our efforts to seek a local resolution with UCU leadership have been rejected.

Last month, we appealed directly to colleagues participating in this action and offered to return any withheld pay and cancel planned salary deductions if they agree to mark and assess all boycotted work by the end of July, prioritising students due to complete their programme this year.

We are frustrated that UCUs response has been to continue targeting students with further strike action.

Pay and pensions are nationally negotiated, which is the system preferred by UCU.

We are not able to make decisions in isolation without national compromise, though we endeavour to influence these negotiations where we can.

We will continue to engage in conversations with UCU Edinburgh on other employment matters which are within our local control and where we can make improvements in the ways we support our staff at the University of Edinburgh.
PHNOM PENH, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has welcomed a newborn Irrawaddy dolphin, bringing the total number of newborn dolphin calves to four so far this year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) said in a news release on Friday.

The fourth dolphin calf was spotted on Thursday at the Kampi dolphin pool in northeastern Kratie province while swimming alongside five adult dolphins, the news release said, adding that the new calf was about five days old.

According to the news release, six dolphin calves were registered in 2022, and the same number was also reported in 2021.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in Cambodia congratulated the joint efforts of the MAFF's Fisheries Administration and WWF for this important newborn dolphin calf record in 2023.

"The research team of the Fisheries Administration and WWF are conducting photo identification surveys along the Mekong habitats in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces in order to monitor the dolphins' situation and estimate their population number for 2023," the WWF said in a news release.

The Irrawaddy dolphins have been listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species since 2004.

The Fisheries Administration estimated that there are approximately 90 Irrawaddy dolphin populations in the Cambodian portion of the Mekong River in the Kratie and Stung Treng provinces. 
T his Saturday Trooping the Colour is set to celebrate King Charles birthday.

The 260-year-old tradition is a remarkable display of pageantry to commemorate the new Sovereign.

More than 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians will be united for the display of military precision and fanfare.

The parade will begin at Buckingham Palace before moving down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, with members of the royal family on horseback and in carriages.

The flypast will take place following the Trooping of the Colour.

Heres everything you need to know.

What are the Red Arrows?

The Royal Air Force (RAF) Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, is one of the worlds premier aerobatic display teams.

They represent the speed, agility and precision of the RAF.

They assist in recruiting to the Armed Forces, act as ambassadors for the United Kingdom at home and overseas and promote the best of British.

The Red Arrows fly distinctive Hawk fast-jets, and the team is comprised of pilots, engineers and vital support staff with frontline experience.

They typically have a trademark Diamond Nine shape, which combines close formations and precision flying.

The Red Arrows have been flying displays since 1965.

When is Trooping the Colour?

For more than 260 years, the Trooping the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign.

2023 will mark His Majesty King Charles IIIs first Trooping the Colour as Sovereign.

It will take place on Saturday 17th June, by Regiments of the Household Division, on Horse Guards Parade, with His Majesty The King attending and taking the salute.

His Majesty King Charles III will hold the appointment of Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiments of Household Division.

Each Regiment has a Colonel who is normally either a member of the Royal Family or a senior officer.

How can I watch the flypast?

Although a set time is still to be confirmed, flight restrictions indicate the display will start at approximately 1pm.

The Red Arrows will be joined by some familiar aircraft including Spitfires and the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial flight, which includes the Hurricanes.

Its expected that after flying through Essex, the flypast will be seen over London between 12:40pm and 1:15pm before dispersing over Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

Its thought to be similar to the Kings Coronation, which did not happen due to the weather.

You can watch the flypast by heading down to The Mall or visiting the edges of St James Park overlooking the Horse Guards.

Highlights will also be shown on BBC One from 6.15pm.
M artin Amis, the British literary giant who who died last month, has been knighted.

After publishing his first novel at the age of 24, he went on to write 13 more  as well as a memoir, two collections of stories and eight collections of non-fiction works.

The author was given a knighthood before his death from cancer at the age of 73 in May. The title has been given as part of the Kings first Birthday Honours list.

Amis was awarded the honour for services to literature and it is dated May 18, the day before his death, as honours cannot be given posthumously.

His best-known works included the novels Money and London Fields, and he was longlisted twice for the Booker Prize.

Born in Oxford in 1949, Amis was the son of the late Booker Prize-winning writer Sir Kingsley Amis, who also died aged 73 in 1995, and Hilary Ann Bardwell.

Martin Amis in his New York apartment. / AP

He was educated at schools in the UK, Spain and the US before later graduating from Exeter College at Oxford University where he read English.

In 1973, he published his first novel aged 24, The Rachel Papers, while working as an editorial assistant at the Times Literary Supplement.

He joined the New Statesman as their literary editor at age 27 and was appointed as a professor of creative writing at the University of Manchester in 2007, before stepping down in 2011.

In his work he explored current events and the contemporary world as well as key periods in history, notably the Holocaust, which he wrote about in novels such as Times Arrow and The Zone Of Interest.

Times Arrow was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, while his 2003 novel Yellow Dog was also longlisted.

He was also awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his memoir Experience.

Amis death in late May 2023 prompted tributes from fellow authors, as well as other high profile figures including Rev Richard Coles, professor Brian Cox and former prime minister Boris Johnson.

His publisher Vintage Books described him as stylist supreme and said it had been a profound privilege and pleasure to have worked with him.

Amis is survived by his wife, writer Isabel Fonseca, and his children Louis, Jacob, Fernanda, Clio and Delilah.
T he biggest archaeological dig on a section of Hadrians Wall since the 1990s is continuing and experts hope it will reveal more secrets of life on a northern outpost of the Roman Empire.

Historic England and Newcastle University are running a five-year excavation programme at the Birdoswald fort, Cumbria, which is part of the Hadrians Wall World Heritage Site.

The current project is examining houses, communal buildings and workplaces beyond the fort walls  giving researchers a glimpse of frontier life for people living beside the military base.

Since the five-year project began in 2021, more than 200 archaeology students will have joined the dig, using the latest high-tech equipment.

To the east, work will continue on a well-preserved bathhouse, first discovered in 2021.

The area to the west has never before been explored, with data from geophysical surveys hinting there was once an open area surrounded by structures.

It is hoped the summers work will give more answers about its significance.

And to the north, a large expanse will be systematically examined.

Findings to date suggest that the settlement beyond the fort walls was carefully planned, and that specific activities related to everyday life took place in designated zones.

Rather than being a shanty town on the edge of the fort, experts believe the settlement outside the wall shows people had confidence in their security living beside the fortifications.

Tony Wilmott, Historic England senior archaeologist and project co-director said: One of the strengths of this project is that the military area within the fort was excavated extensively with modern techniques in recent decades, so the evidence were gathering right now outside the walls can be directly compared.

This means that Birdoswald is incredibly well-placed to provide insights into the relationship between civilian and military life on the Roman frontier.

Ian Haynes, Newcastle University professor of archaeology and project co-director said: The archaeology (at) Birdoswald always has something surprising to teach us. Our staff and students are in for what will be a career highlight this summer.

Visitors to the English Heritage site of Birdoswald are able to view ongoing excavation until July 7 by booking free guided tours.
A nna-Maria Helsing has been announced as the first female chief conductor of BBC Concert Orchestra.

The Finnish conductor, who was made principal guest conductor at the corporations orchestra in 2020, said she was thrilled and very excited.

She will officially become chief conductor on October 1 2023 and is contracted to be in the role until 2026.

Helsing said: During our years together we have established a warm connection, which on my part makes working with this orchestra a true pleasure.

In the years to come I would love to further expand the symphonic repertoire of the orchestra as well as presenting it to audiences outside of London.

I have the greatest respect for this fine group of musicians and I look forward to us making a lot of fantastic music in the future.

Helsing, who began her career as a violinist, previously served as the first female chief conductor of Finlands Oulu Symphony Orchestra from 2010 to 2013.

Other conductors in roles at the BBC Concert Orchestra include Bramwell Tovey and Barry Wordsworth, who is currently conductor laureate, as well as Keith Lockhart.

Helsing, who is the artistic director of the chamber music festival Rusk in Jakobstad, Finland, will work closely with the BBC orchestras director, Bill Chandler.

Chandler said Helsings deep connection with the team along with her superb music making will mean the orchestras future will be expertly led.

He added: Already the UKs most versatile orchestra, Anna-Marias hope is to further expand the orchestras repertoire, and with her passion and her openness for connecting with new audiences in new ways, it promises to be a meaningful and dynamic musical relationship that will place the Concert Orchestra at the heart of the BBCs vision to make exciting, relevant and impactful content.

Helsing will next conduct the orchestra on Monday June 19 at Alexandra Palace for saxophone player Jess Gillams This Classical Life: Live!

The conductor is also set to take the lead at one of this years BBC Proms, where she will conduct soundtracks from film, TV and gaming in the Fantasy, Myths And Legends concert on August 28 at the Royal Albert Hall.
A new species of dinosaur with an armoured body has been discovered on the Isle of Wight for the first time in 142 years.

Belonging to a group of plant-eating dinosaurs known as ankylosaur, its remains were found in the islands Wessex Formation  a fossil site dating back to somewhere between 145 to 66 million years ago.

The new species has been named Vectipelta barretti  after Professor Paul Barrett who has worked at the Natural History Museum in London for 20 years.

It is the second armoured dinosaur to be found in the island, the first one being Polacanthus foxii  which was unearthed in 1865.

Stuart Pond, a researcher at Natural History Museums Department of Earth Sciences, said: For virtually 142 years, all ankylosaur remains from the Isle of Wight have been assigned to Polacanthus foxii, a famous dinosaur from the island, now all of those finds need to be revisited because weve described this new species.

I'm flattered and absolutely delighted to have been recognised in this way

V barretti differs from its predecessor P foxii in its neck and back bones.

Analysis also shows both species have different pelvic structures and V barretti has a more blade-like spiked armour.

Although both ankylosaurs originated from the same island, the researchers found they were not very closely related.

In fact, they said, V barretti is mostly closely related to some Chinese ankylosaurs, suggesting these dinosaurs moved freely from Asia to Europe in the Early Cretaceous period (145 to 66 million years ago).

Mr Pond said: This is an important specimen because it sheds light on ankylosaur diversity within the Wessex formation and Early Cretaceous England.

The researchers said rocks from the Wessex Formation and the Isle of Wight are hugely important in understanding more about how dinosaurs went extinct.

Speaking of the honour, Prof Barrett said: Im flattered and absolutely delighted to have been recognised in this way, not least as the first paper I ever wrote was also on an armoured dinosaur in the NHM collections.

Im sure that any physical resemblance is purely accidental.

The findings are described in the Journal of Systematic Palaeontology.
A man has been arrested after a police officer was stabbed in Kent.

Police were attending an address in Albion Place, Maidstone, at around 8pm on Thursday when the assault took place, Kent Police said.

The officer, a police constable in his 50s, was airlifted to a London hospital with injuries consistent with stab wounds.

The force said he has since been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home.

A 48-year-old man from Maidstone was arrested and remains in custody while enquiries continue.

Kent Police deputy chief constable Peter Ayling said: This horrific assault shows us once again that policing can, at times, be dangerous and unpredictable.

In Kent Police any assault on a police officer going about their duty is entirely unacceptable and will be met with the full force of pursuit and investigation.

Our thoughts are with the officer and his family at this time.
A woman who was diagnosed with incurable cancer more than five years ago has been made an MBE for her work campaigning to bring a life-prolonging drug to patients in Scotland.

Jen Hardy, 56, from Edinburgh, is recognised in the Kings Birthday Honours for her services to cancer support, which has also included setting up the charity Cancer Card to help others in need.

She said of her royal honour: Receiving this award is more than I could have ever dreamed of. It consolidates the importance and purpose of what we do every day.

In October 2017 she was diagnosed with incurable stage four breast cancer following a CT scan to find the cause of a paralysed vocal cord.

But despite the shattering news, she became a campaigner and pioneer for cancer support services.

She was the face of a campaign to make the drug Pertuzumab (Perjeta) available on the NHS in Scotland.

It was too late for her to benefit from the drug, but because of the campaign thousands of people in Scotland now have access to the life-extending medication.

It had been available in England and Wales and patients in Scotland were given access to it in September 2019.

Despite having to deal with her own diagnosis, along with many hospital visits, Ms Hardy founded Cancer Card in 2020, which she describes as more than a charity.

She said: It is a labour of love inspired by my own journey and driven by the desire to bring hope and support to others battling cancer.

Jen is truly one of the most inspiring individuals I know and there is nobody more deserving of this prestigious award

We understand that cancer affects more than the patient and are focused on providing access to the support needs of partners, families and friends too as they try to come to terms with the world of cancer.

The charity is a one-stop-shop designed to easily guide cancer patients and their loved ones to services that will best support them.

Its online support hub also allows them to connect with a community of people who are going through similar experiences.

Ian Pirrie, chief executive of the charity, said: Jen is truly one of the most inspiring individuals I know and there is nobody more deserving of this prestigious award.

Conservative Lothian MSP Miles Briggs offered his wholehearted congratulations to Ms Hardy on her royal honour.

Jen has put in a power of work to help create a one-stop information portal for others who have been diagnosed with cancer and their families, he said.

Her tireless work, along with that of her team and countless volunteers, has been an inspiration to all of us and the success of Cancer Card is a testament to this.
A campaigner for victims of historical abuse who witnessed two teenagers being injured on Bloody Sunday has declined the chance to be made an MBE in the Kings Birthday Honours.

Jon McCourt is the chairman and co-founder of Survivors North West, a campaign group that advocated for a formal inquiry into historical abuse in institutions in Northern Ireland.

The Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry (HIAI) went on to reveal sexual, physical and emotional abuse at state, church and charity-run homes from 1922 to 1995.

Mr McCourt said his experience working with victims of state abuse, as well as his personal experience, informed his decision to decline the MBE title.

He stated he was alongside Joseph Mahon and Micheal Quinn, two teenagers who were injured on Bloody Sunday in Londonderry.

Thirteen civil rights protesters were shot dead by British soldiers and 15 injured in the Bogside area of the city on January 30 1972.

Another man shot by paratroopers that day died four months later. While many consider him the 14th victim of Bloody Sunday, his death was formally attributed to an inoperable brain tumour.

Mr McCourt added: I remember not too long ago, one of the soldiers actually involved in Bloody Sunday got an MBE.

I mean, for me, theres absolutely no equivocation at all. Theres nothing at all that would make me want to accept that.

Certainly with all of the HIA (historical institutional abuse) stuff, and the child migrants and the propagation of empire and all of that, but Bloody Sunday particularly.

Other campaigners from the HIA inquiry have accepted MBE titles, and Mr McCourt stressed that his decision was a personal one.

He also stated that the true recognition for him was the establishment of a redress board under the Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Act 2019 that would allow victims to claim compensation.

Since its establishment in March 2020, the Historical Institutional Abuse Redress Board has received more than 3,700 applications and made award determinations totalling some 68.8 million.

People can make their own choices, you know, what I mean, my personal history, my political history and my involvement with the HIA inquiry, I mean, quite succinctly, for me the recognition was being in Westminster the day the redress legislation was passed, and for me, that was a recognition that what weve done was the right thing and the fact that it was worth doing, he said.

He added: Having spoken with the commissioner for victims and survivors last week, the fact that thousands of people have now reaped the benefit of what it was that we fought for.

That theres people there who have a voice now, who had a voice, who needed their voice heard, and at least have acknowledgement in some form from the government, that what happened them when they were in institutions was wrong, and it should never have happened.

Despite declining the MBE title, Mr McCourt said he was pleased for the recognition of his work and that of other campaigners.

I am pleased that the work we have been engaged in on behalf of Victims and Survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse has been recognised by the Government, he said.

It was a privilege to work with many representatives across the political spectrum to ensure that the long search for justice for some of the most vulnerable children in our society, abused while in the care of the State and religious institutions.

Mr McCourt stated that his activism for survivors of abuse was not party political.

The campaign for justice for victims and survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse crossed the religious and political divide in this country, he said.

We were clear at the outset that we were not seeking an Inquiry into solely Catholic run institutions. Victims and survivors came from a broad section of state and religious Institutions each with their own traumatic experience to recall.

We stayed away, I believe successfully, from anything political that would have detracted from our cause.
T hree current and former Police Scotland officers have been recognised for their dedication to public service in the Kings Birthday Honours list.

Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham and retired assistant chief constable Kenny MacDonald were awarded the Kings Police Medal.

Retired detective inspector Simon Broadhurst becomes an MBE for his service to the police force.

Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone, who was previously awarded the Queens Police Medal, said: I warmly congratulate Malcolm, Kenny and Simon and thank them for their outstanding service to policing and the people we serve.

These awards are tribute to their dedication to public service and the communities of Scotland. I am hugely grateful for their professionalism and quality.

Mr Graham, 50, began his career with Lothian and Borders Police in 1995.

He worked his way through the ranks, becoming detective chief superintendent and head of CID in 2009, and took on his current role in 2019.

He was a key leader in steering Operation Unicorn, Police Scotlands response to the death of the Queen, and also provided leadership for the policing response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Mr Graham, from East Lothian, said: I feel deeply grateful and honoured to receive this recognition.

It is truly a reflection of the relentless dedication and collaborative efforts of Police Scotlands fantastic people, serving our communities every day to make life safer and better for our fellow citizens.

I extend my sincere thanks to all colleagues past and present, and to my family for their ongoing encouragement and support throughout my career.

Mr Graham led the development of a new strategy tackling violence against women and girls for Police Scotland, and is also the service lead for sex, equality and tackling misogyny.

Mr MacDonald, 52, joined Strathclyde Police in 1994 and retired in November last year after almost 29 years with the police.

During Operation Unicorn he took on the role of gold commander, meaning he held overall command.

Mr MacDonald, of Perthshire, said: I am truly honoured and humbled to receive this award. I accept it on behalf of all of the officers and staff working throughout the service, across Scotland.

It was a true privilege to serve as a police officer, and my most sincere thanks go to my family, friends and colleagues who have supported me throughout my career.

Mr Broadhurst, 54, began his career with the police in 1992 with Lancashire constabulary, transferring to Lothian and Borders in 1996.

He retired after serving for more than 30 years in February last year, after a nine-year tenure working in counter-terrorism.

Mr Broadhurst, of East Lothian, said: I am extremely surprised but also massively grateful to have been honoured for my police work in this way.

My career was shaped by my family, colleagues and the partners I worked alongside through the years, and I very much feel this award is as much for them as it is for me.

Policing is truly a team effort and I have been lucky to be part of some amazing teams, and they are owed a great deal of credit.
E ncouraging prisoners to read books behind bars can help them turn their lives around, a volunteer becoming an OBE has said.

Jenny Hartley and Sarah Turvey, who founded Prison Reading Groups (PRG), which sets up book sessions for inmates, have been made OBEs in the Kings Birthday Honours.

Both spoke of being delighted at the recognition the charity has received.

Ms Turvey told the PA news agency: I think what it helps prisoners do more than anything is connect, prisons for the most part are places of isolation and purposelessness.

By definition, prisons separate prisoners from the outside world, from their families, and in many ways from themselves, theres also in most prisons not enough to do and very little reason for doing it.

What we wanted to try to do was to help prisoners turn their lives around, but it seemed to us that crucially important to that project was to help give prisoners a sense of connection and a sense of purpose. I think thats what our groups do, they connect prisoners with each other within the group.

They help connect prisoners with their families, in terms of being able to talk about books with their families, they connect prisoners with the outside world with a sense of having an interest in the outside world having a stake in it and the larger culture.

In many ways, were finding a new kind of pro-social identity for themselves, a sense of themselves as something more than a failure with a number, so I think thats more than anything what we hope our groups do, and, of course, that they increase pleasure and enjoyment of reading itself.

The charity works with prisoners across the spectrum, from maximum security inmates to those in young offender institutions.

There are now 60 groups in 51 prisons across the UK, supported by library staff and volunteers, which meet on average once a month, reaching hundreds of people every year.

Books range from James Patterson blockbusters to Charles Dickens classics, Ms Turvey said.

She added: One of the things someone said that sticks in my mind always is this is the most grown-up discussion I have in prison.

Many other people have said its the one time in my prison life where I feel people listen to and respect what I have to say.

People have talked about the ways in which its connected them with their own families, I remember a prisoner saying that he had a 13-year-old daughter, but hed been inside for a long time, and it had become very hard for them to connect in phone calls or visits.

And he said now I can tell her Im a member of the reading group and we can talk about the book Im reading and its made the difference.

So I think it fills a space and I think it helps prisoners to rethink themselves in terms of who they are, of what they might have to offer of what they can be and do.

All of it sounds like very grand claims and a reading group doesnt do those things on its own, but I think its part of the process that really needs to go on if prisoners are going to leave and turn their lives around.
T ributes have been paid to a Holocaust survivor who tirelessly campaigned for greater awareness of the genocide and represented Britain at the Olympics.

Sir Ben Helfgott, 93, survived Buchenwald concentration camp and was one of 732 child survivors who came to the UK to rebuild their lives, known as The Boys.

Just eleven years after being liberated from Nazi concentration camps, Sir Ben captained the British weightlifting team at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and also represented Britain in the 1960 Rome Olympics.

He settled down in north-west London and is remembered as a major driving force behind Holocaust remembrance in the UK.

Karen Pollock, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said Sir Ben was a giant amongst men.

Despite all he endured, Ben taught us all about resilience, tolerance and the crucial importance of educating future generations, she said.

He was our friend and mentor and we mourn his loss deeply.

Sir Ben Helfgott / Holocaust Educational Trust

Ephraim Mirvis, the Chief Rabbi, said Sir Ben was one of the most inspirational people I have known.

He was a charismatic and passionate leader, who promoted the values of compassion, understanding, love and peaceful coexistence, he said.

His own horrific experiences inspired him to work tirelessly for a more peaceful and unified world and he inspired us to do likewise.

Sir Bens family were forced to leave their home and live in the Piotrkow Ghetto when the Nazis occupied Poland in 1939.

In October 1942, when Sir Ben was 12, the Nazis sent 22,000 of the Ghettos 24,000 inhabitants to death camps in the east.

Sir Bens younger sister and mother were murdered. Sir Ben was sent to Buchenwald in 1944, while his other sister Mala was sent to Ravensbruck.

Sir Ben was separated from his father in Buchenwald and later discovered that only days from the end of the war, his father had been shot dead as he tried to escape from a death march leaving the camp.

After arriving in the UK, he was able to find his sister Mala via the Red Cross, and they reunited.

He is survived by his wife Arza, and their three sons. His sister Mala also survives him.
A Syrian teenager who survived the shipwreck that has killed at least 78 people off Greece had an emotional reunion with his brother, as the UN warned up to 500 people could still be missing following the tragedy.

A massive search and rescue operation continued on Friday but hopes of finding more survivors were dwindling.

The UN refugee agency said hundreds of people were still missing, including large numbers of women and children. Spokesman Jeremy Laurence said the horrific tragedy underscored the need to bring people smugglers to justice and that search and rescue at sea was a legal and humanitarian imperative.

Witness accounts suggested between 400 and 750 people had packed the fishing boat that capsized and sank early on Wednesday morning in the Mediterranean Sea.

In the immediate aftermath of the disaster 104 survivors and 78 people who drowned were rescued by Greek authorities, but no one has been found since.

Most of the people on board were from Egypt, Syria and Pakistan, government officials have said.

Early on Friday survivor Mohammad, 18, from Syria, burst into tears as he spotted his elder brother Fadi, who had travelled from the Netherlands searching for him.

They wept and hugged through metal barricades, erected by Greek police around a warehouse in Kalamata where survivors had been sleeping for the past two days.

Thank God for your safety, Fadi said, repeatedly kissing his younger sibling on the head.

About 25 other relatives gathered outside the Kalamata shelter, hoping for news, showing screenshots of their loved ones on mobiles phones.

REUTERS

Most of the survivors were transferred on Friday by bus to the migrant camp of Malakasa 25 miles outside Athens. They were expected to apply for asylum.

Anwar Bakri, Secretary General of the Syrian Association of Greece said he had received hundreds of calls from people in Germany, in Turkey and other countries, who feared their Syrian relatives were on the sunken boat.

Its a tragedy, he said. I have numerous photos, at least 15 photos until now, of missing people, young children, 16 year-olds, 20 year-olds, 25 year-olds, whose parents are looking for them, Bakri said.

From what I was told, there are no women. All the women died, they sank, they drowned with their children in their arms.

The fishing vessel was thought to have departed from Egypt, then picked up passengers in the Libyan coastal city of Tobruk on June 10.

Greek authorities say survivors have told them they paid $4,500 each to go to Italy.

The exact circumstances of the vessel sinking while it was being shadowed by the Greek coastguard are still unclear.

HELLENIC COASTGUARD/AFP via Gett

Authorities, who were alerted by Italy on Tuesday and subsequently monitored the vessel over a period of 15 hours before it sank, say occupants on the vessel repeatedly refused Greek help, saying they wanted to go to Italy.

An advocacy group that had been in communication with the vessel said that on at least two occasions persons on board pleaded for help. The group, Alarm Phone, said it had alerted Greek authorities and aid agencies hours before the disaster unfolded.

Greek officials h denied a series of reports that suggest the migrant boat capsized 50 miles off the countrys south coast because a rope was attached by coastguards.

Nine Egyptians, aged between 20 and 40 years, were arrested over the shipwreck on Thursday evening.

Authorities said they faced charges of negligent manslaughter, exposing lives to danger, causing a shipwreck and human trafficking.

They were expected to appear before a judge and respond to the accusations in the coming days.
M ost of the 108 people who drowned after a boat broke apart in Nigeria on Monday were women and their children, survivors and local authorities have said.

The wooden boat was carrying more than 250 people across the Niger River in Kwara state, north-central Nigeria, as they returned home from a late-night wedding when the craft reportedly hit a log and split.

Search efforts were called off on Thursday.

One of the survivors, Ibrahim Mohammed, said they carried some little children to shore, but some of the women did not want to leave their children behind and they drowned.

Most of the women in that boat had children, (and a) majority of the people dead are women and small children, said Mr Mohammed. He said he rescued three children but lost nine child relatives.

Villagers ended the search operation on Thursday afternoon, with the victims all buried near the river in accordance with local customs, he added.

At least 144 people survived the accident on the Niger River, which is one of Africas longest at about 4,100 kilometers (2,500 miles).

The boat was meant to carry about 200 people but was holding at least 250, said Mohammed Ibrahim Liman, chair of the Pategi district where the accident happened.

People rushed to render help, but it was difficult to see the passengers considering how large the river was, Mr Liman told AP news agency. As many as 68 of the dead were from one village, he said.

Boats are commonly used for transportation in Pategi and many other communities surrounded by water across Nigeria. Accidents involving them are common and are usually blamed on overloading and the use of poorly maintained vessels. A boat capsizing in May killed 15 people, including children.

Mondays accident was one of the deadliest in Nigeria in recent years, authorities said.

As the villagers mourned, they called on authorities to improve the roads in the area as the preferred means of transportation.

The lives lost are already gone. The government should do whatever it can do to help us, said Muhammed Alhassan, who lost six family members in the accident.

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has promised that his administration will look into the challenges of inland water transportation to ensure compliance with safety standards.

After visiting the Pategi district Wednesday, Kwara state Governor Abdul Rahman Abdul Razaq said the state would roll out more safety guidelines for water transportation.

Our immediate step is to deliver at least 1,000 life jackets to support safe travel on water, the governor said, according to a statement issued by his office.

The tragedy came just days before another boat disaster off the Greek coast on Wednesday, which saw a vessel carrying migrants sink leaving hundreds missing, feared dead.
P ope Francis was discharged from hospital on Friday morning, nine days after surgery to repair an abdominal hernia.

Leaving Romes Gemelli hospital in a wheelchair, the 86-year-old pontiff smiled and waved to well-wishers as he was taken to his car.

Asked how he was as he left hospital, the pope responded, still alive.

The pope is well. He is in better shape than before, Dr Sergio Alfieri, the chief surgeon who carried out the three-hour operation on June 7, said.

Although Francis will skip his general audience in the square next Wednesday to safeguard his post-operative recovery, he will recite the noon prayer on Sunday in St Peters Square.

REUTERS

He will be able to carry out his duties better than before because he no longer will have the discomfort. He will be a stronger pope, Dr Alfieri said.

He already has resumed working. We asked him to rest a bit and I am certain that this time he will listen to us a bit more because he has some important commitments, which he told us he would respect.

As he was being taken to the car, Francis was asked about the latest migrant tragedy off the coast of Greece, where at least 79 people drowned early on Wednesday and hundreds more were missing and feared dead.

So much pain, so much, Italian media quoted him as saying.

In July 2021, Francis spent 10 days at Gemelli to remove a section of his large intestine. He had suffered what the Vatican said was a severe inflammation and narrowing of the colon.

In an interview with The Associated Press in January, Francis said the diverticulosis, or bulges in his intestinal wall, that prompted the 2021 surgery, had returned.
A gunman charged with killing 11 worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue has been found guilty on by a jury in the US state of Pennsylvania.

Truck driver Robert Bowers, 50, is yet to be sentenced but could face the death penalty.

The attack on October 27 inside the Tree of Life synagogue was the deadliest antisemitic attack in US history.

Bowers pleaded not guilty to all 63 charges against him. The jury found him guilty on all counts.

During the three-week trial prosecutors called 60 witnesses as they tried to prove the gunman carried out his attack because of a hatred for Jews.

Bowers defence team did not call any witnesses and did not deny that he carried out the attack, but said it was due a delusional hatred for immigrants and a Jewish non-profit group, not Jewish people.

Under US federal law, in order for the jury to impose the death penalty, prosecutors must prove that Bowers was motivated by race hate or killed to stop people from exercising their religious beliefs.

he jury deliberated about five hours over two days before reaching a verdict.

Bowers turned a sacred house of worship into a hunting ground, targeting his victims because of their religion, a prosecutor told jurors on Thursday. Reading the names of each of the 11 victims he killed, prosecutor Mary Hahn asked the jury to hold this defendant accountable ... and hold him accountable for those who cannot testify.

Bowers, who was armed with an AR-15 rifle and other weapons, also shot and wounded seven, including five responding police officers.

Prosecutors presented evidence of his deep-seated animosity toward Jews and immigrants. Over 11 days of testimony, jurors learned that Bowers had extensively posted, shared or liked antisemitic and white supremacist content on Gab, a social media platform popular with the far right, and praised Hitler and the Holocaust. Bowers told police that all these Jews need to die, Hahn said.

Survivors testified about the terror they felt that day, including a woman who recounted how she was shot in the arm and then realized her 97-year-old-mother had been shot and killed right next to her. Andrea Wedner, the trials last witness, told jurors she touched her mothers lifeless body and cried out, Mommy, before SWAT officers led her to safety.

A further hearing will be held to determine whether Bowers will receive a death penalty sentence.
E xplosions have rocked Kyiv as African leaders arrived in Kyiv on Friday in a bid to mediate between Ukraine and Russia.

The blasts came as a delegation of leaders from South Africa, Senegal, Zambia, Egypt and others travelled to Ukraines capital before talks with Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Saturday.

The Reuters news agency reported that there were at least two explosions but said that it was not immediately clear if those missiles had been fired by Russia or Ukrainian air defences.

However, South Africas President Cyril Ramphosa said via a spokesman that the report was deliberate misinformation.

We were all perplexed when we were taken back to the hotel and passed streets where people were going on about their day as normal, said the spokesman.

Its very strange and is, in a way, deliberate misinformation.

The all-clear was later issued for Kyiv, and the South African presidency tweeted that the trip was going ahead as planned".

The delegation visited a commemoration ceremony in Bucha / AP

Ukraines air force said it had downed six ballistic missiles, six cruise missiles and two drones.

Kyiv city officials said they had received no reports of deaths or serious damage so far, but police said there were an unspecified number of casualties.

The air attack was the latest in a long line of attacks since Russia launched its invasion in February last year.

Moscow has increased their frequency since Ukraine began preparations for the counteroffensive that is now under way.

Putin builds confidence by launching the largest missile attack on Kyiv in weeks, exactly amid the visit of African leaders to our capital," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said. Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace."

Russia has not immediately commented on the missile attacks.

The African leaders had begun their trip by visiting Bucha, a town outside Kyiv where Russia carried out war crimes, although Russia denies doing so.

The peace mission could propose a series of confidence building measures during initial efforts at mediation.

Suggested measures could include a pullback of Russian troops, removal of Russian tactical nuclear weapons from Belarus, and suspension of implementation of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant targeting Putin.

However, Ukraine says the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine must be the basis for any settlement of the war.
S ome 150 children have been illegally taken from the occupied Luhansk region to Russia, Ukraine said on Friday.

They were abducted from Starobilsk district on June 8 and taken to two centres in the Prikuban district of Russias Karachay-Cherkess republic, the National Resistance Centre said.

The centre, set up by Special Operations Forces of Ukraine, a branch of the countrys military, said 750 children from Luhansk were expected to arrive this month at the two centres in Karachay-Cherkess.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that more than 19,000 children have been illegally taken to Russia from Ukraines occupied territories since the war began last year.

The international criminal court in March issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for overseeing the abductions.

Russias childrens rights commissioner, Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, was also named by the court as bearing responsibility for the unlawful deportation of the children.

It comes as the British Ministry of Defence confirmed one of Putins most senior generals has been killed in southern Ukraine.

General-major Sergei Goryachev / Telegram

General-major Sergei Goryachev is the highest ranked Russian military commander confirmed dead in the brutal war this year.

UK defence chiefs believe he was likely to have been acting as commander of Russias 35th combined arms army at the time of his death.

Goryachev, the CAAs chief of staff, was almost certainly killed in a strike on a command post, the MoD said on Friday.

Parts of the army were present during the massacre of civilians in Bucha in March 2022.

Vladimir Rogov, a Russian-installed official in part of the Zaporizhzhia region, confirmed Goryachevs death earlier this week, saying the army had lost one of its brightest and most effective military commanders.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is continuing with its counter offensive. Kyivs troops have regained control of almost 40 square miles of territory, senior Ukrainian military commander Brigadier General Oleksii Hromov has said.

Deputy defence minister, Hanna Maliar, said there was a gradual but steady advance.

However Russian forces have put up a powerful resistance on the southern front.

Britain and its allies will send more vital air defence systems to Ukraine, the UK Defence Secretary has said.

Ben Wallace met his Nato counterparts at the alliances HQ in Brussels this week to agree a new package of support.
C heese is arguably one of the trickiest things to give up when transitioning away from dairy, and its certainly one of the hardest products to replicate in vegan form. But fear not.

From major supermarket offerings to small-batch specialists, from big brands to local independents - the selection of vegan cheeses is now mind-boggling.

After years of enduring the chalky, rubbery vegan cheeses of yesteryear, the ultimate dairy-free cheese was pleasingly hard to decide. This line-up is full of fantastic, inventive new products which are changing the vegan dining scene rapidly, and Id encourage everyone to explore them.

Whether youre looking for cream cheese, parmesan, camembert or just a solid cheddar alternative to fill your sandwiches, Ive tasted a plethora of vegan cheese offerings so you can sample only the best.

Honestly Tasty - Veganzola Blue Honestly Tasty Rich, creamy and moreish, Honestly Tastys Veganzola Blue packs a brilliant punch. Made with coconut oil and almonds, this cheese is salty, tangy and delicious. Similarly, Honestly Tastys Bree provides a fantastically authentic texture - from the tender external rind to the rich, creamy interior. In my experience, this is one of the toughest vegan cheeses to crack, and Honestly Tasty achieves it brilliantly. Buy now  5.50 , GreenBay {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Julienne Bruno Superstraccia Ocado After trying a small dollop of this vegan, fermented soya milk-based stracciatella on a salted cracker, we were immediately hooked. Most vegan cheeses, despite tasting fantastic, are very cleary made with vegan substitutions. This is evident through either the cheeses texture, the addition of a nutty taste or in some cases a little bit of separation within the cheese itself. This is not the case with Superstraccia. Deliciously creamy, this vegan creation tastes like melty centre of the most expensive burrata on the menu. We can imagine adding a big dollop of this into a homemade tomato pasta sauce for some creamy, marscapone-esque goodness. Buy now  4 , Ocado {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Violife - Le Rond, Camembert flavour Violife One of the first to grace UK supermarkets with dairy-free cheeses, Violife was a trailblazer. The camembert-flavoured Le Rond is its brand new offering. At first inspection the cheese lacks the look or feel of a classic camembert, but once baked in the oven Le Rond has a fantastic melt and a great cheesy flavour. Delicious enjoyed with a baguette for dipping, and it only takes five minutes to cook, I was extremely impressed. Buy now  3.40 , Waitrose {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Boursin Plant Based Garlic and Herbs Boursin Ill admit I was excited for this release. Ive long missed the garlic kick of a thick slather of Boursin on a slice of crusty bread, and the plant-based version did not disappoint. Thick, creamy and with that same familiar herbaceous flavour, I could find no fault with Bourisns first - and hopefully not last - impressive foray into the vegan sphere. Buy now  3 , Sainsburys {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} M&S Plant Kitchen Greek Style Cubes M&S Marks & Spencer were fast out the gates with their fantastic Plant Kitchen vegan range, spanning from spicy puppy hot dogs to dairy-free pizzas. The brands vegan cheese range is no expectation. Most recently I sampled the Greek Style Cubes (aka feta), which are deliciously salty, creamy, and fantastic tossed on a salad. A shout-out too to the grated Notzarella - arguably the best supermarket option for the melt factor in cooking. Buy now  3.20 , Ocado {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Mouses Favourite - Camblue Mouses Favourite Mouses Favourite is an artisan vegan cheese producer with a huge range of camembert-style wheels. Cashew-based, the look and feel of these cheeses is incredibly authentic, and the variety in flavours is inspired. Best enjoyed cool and creamy opposed to baked, the Camblues interior is spiked with blue streaks offering a mild and indulgent flavour. For a harder cheese, the Aged Dulse is also an excellent choice. Buy now  111 , Abel & Cole {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Babybel Plant-Based Babybel The 2022 introduction of the new plant-based Babybel feels like a watershed moment for veganism, with no cheese we now cannot eat. I was excited to try this, and gleeful to see the packaging exactly the same as the Babybels I remember from my childhood. Same wrapper, same satisfying wax exterior to peel from the cheese - but this time all in green, and all recyclable. The taste too was just as I remembered it - slightly waxxy, a little rubbery, and oddly moreish. Babybel have stuck to what theyve always done with this release - if you love a Babybel but want it dairy-free - youll love it. Buy now  2.15 , Sainsbury's {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Nush Creamy Almond Chive Spread Nush Thick and creamy, Nushs chive almond spread is a decadent addition to the vegan cream cheese market. Made with Nushs own UK-produced artisan almond milk, this spread has a taste and texture which far exceeds most supermarket stocked vegan spreads. Made with live vegan cheese cultures, and 60 almonds per pot, Nush is also a great source of protein. Fantastic on crackers, and bagels, Id highly recommend Nushs range of creamy spreads which are all fantastic value for money. Buy now  2.75 , Ocado {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} IamNutOK - Nerominded Black Truffle IAMNUTOK Nerominded from I am Nut OK is as striking in its taste as in its all-black appearance. With rich notes of truffle and a delicious accent of garlic, this is best enjoyed atop a cracker to let its flavours sing. I am Nut OK is a London vegan favourite, produced by hand, in small batches in Hackney. The brands signature block Minerthreat (6.99) is a stalwart, achieving a bold cheddar-style taste from its creamy cashew base. And the Rigotta in garlic oil (5.99) is as indulgent as vegan cheese gets with a beautiful texture and sharp tang, hard to achieve outside of dairy. With a broad product range, the brand is a cheese board must. Buy now  7.29 , Healthy Supplies {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Sheese - Smoked German Style Sheese The Smoked German Style block from Sheese has a fantastic smoky taste and depth of flavour. With an authentically crumbly texture, its great on crackers as well as in sandwiches. Sheese also sits at a significantly lower price point than many others on this list, and provides great value for money. The range also includes cheddar, grated mozzarella and a fantastic selection of spreadables. The chive cream cheese was a personal favourite of mine enjoyed on a bagel with faux smoked salmon. Buy now  2.99 , Healthy Supplies {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}}
S ir Ben Okri says to be honoured means helping the human race to be better and more civilised after being made a Knight Bachelor.

The renowned Nigerian-born writer and cultural activist, considered to be one of the foremost African authors in the post-modern and post-colonial traditions, said he was delighted by the honour.

His best-known work includes The Famished Road novel trilogy, the first of which  The Famished Road  won the Booker Prize in 1991.

Sir Ben has been made Knight Bachelor in the Kings Birthday honours for services to literature, having previously been made OBE in 2001.

Im delighted to be given this honour. I think of the illustrious writers who have preceded me and the gifted writers to come, he said, in a statement shared with the PA news agency.

The writer does not write for honours but for truth, the mysterious truth of the human condition.

For me the main value of this honour at this moment is necessity to remind my fellow human beings that we are living on the cusp of a world wide environmental crisis.

If we dont do something radical about it now, within ten years nothing will be the same.

Art is a reminder that the human destiny has to go upwards. This is the moment to reverse our backward thinking and create a new future.

If being honoured means anything it means helping the human race to be better, more civilised, more beautiful.

Sir Ben was born in Nigeria and came to England as a child, growing up in London, but later returned to his home country with his parents on the eve of the Nigerian Civil War  which had a defining impact on his life.

Originally set for a career as a scientist, he found his true vocation in writing and began producing poetry and articles about the living conditions in the slums of Lagos.

Art is a reminder that the human destiny has to go upwards. This is the moment to reverse our backward thinking and create a new future. If being honoured means anything it means helping the human race to be better, more civilised, more beautiful.

He then turned his hand to short stories and eventually what was to become his first novel, Flowers And Shadows in 1980, two years after he returned to London.

Over the next decade, despite a period of homelessness, he wrote a second novel and two collections of short stories.

His most well-known and successful novel, The Famished Road, was published in 1991 and was awarded the prestigious Booker Prize.

The book was the first Booker Prize winner to go straight to number one in the paperback bestseller lists and has been highly influential in the decades since its release.

The Famished Road is the first book in The Famished Road Trilogy, which also includes Songs of Enchantment and Infinite Riches.

Despite his success as a novelist, Sir Ben thinks of himself primarily as a poet having produced multiple collections.

In 2009 he invented a new form called a Stoku, a cross between a short story and Haiku, which first displayed in his book Tales of Freedom, now re-titled The Comic Destiny.

Sir Ben is also an influential essayist and has written multiple film scripts and plays.

He was a Fellow Commoner in creative arts at Trinity College, Cambridge from 2001 to 2003 and is an honorary Fellow at Mansfield College, Oxford.

In 2019, Sir Bens novel Astonishing the Gods, first published in 1995, was selected as one of the BBCs 100 novels that shaped our world.

Other writers to be recognised on the Kings birthday honours list include William Dalrymple and Sally Magnusson.

Historian, author and art curator Dalrymple was made CBE for services to literature and the arts.

Broadcaster and author Magnusson was made an MBE for services to people with dementia and their carers.
L ate actress Glenda Jackson gave her two Oscars to her mother  who used them as bookends.

Jackson, who died on Thursday aged 87, won two Academy Awards for her roles in Women in Love in 1970 and A Touch of Class in 1973.

Since her death, an interview from 2021 has re-emerged where Jackson  who was also a former Labour MP  told The Times her mother used her two trophies as bookends.

Jackson, who didnt attend either of the Academy Awards ceremonies when she won, said: It always sounds so ungrateful, and Im not, but once youve got it, what do you do with it?

On Thursday, the worlds of showbiz and politics paid tribute to the star, who died peacefully at her home in Londons Blackheath following a brief illness.

Sir Michael Caine said it was a privilege to star opposite Jackson for their upcoming film The Great Escaper, 48 years after their screen debut in The Romantic Englishwoman.

The double Oscar-winner, 90, said: Glenda was one of our greatest movie actresses. It was a privilege to work with her on The Great Escaper recently, our second film together.

It was as wonderful an experience this time as it was 50 years ago. I shall miss her.

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party where she served for more than 20 years, said: She leaves a space in our cultural and political life that can never be filled.

She played many roles with great distinction, passion and commitment.

Glenda Jackson - In pictures 1 / 24 Glenda Jackson - In pictures Glenda Jackson accepts the Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress in partnership with Christian Louboutin from Cate Blanchett attends the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2017 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane Dave Benett Women In Love (1969) Handout A Touch of Class (1973) with Gweorge Segal Handout Glenda Jackson, Labour Transport Minister in 1997 Evening Standard Sunday Bloody Sunday UNITED ARTISTS Glenda Jackson with her mother Joan Jackson, her husband Roy Hodges, her son Dan Hodges, and the Oscar which she won for her role as Gudrun in Women in Love in 1971 Getty Images Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise rehearsing with British actress Glenda Jackson for a sketch on their television show Julius Caesar in 1971 Getty Images Director Charles Jarrott giving notes to actresses Vanessa Redgrave (centre) and Glenda Jackson, on the set of the film Mary Queen of Scots at Shepperton Studios in 1971 Getty Images Glenda Jackson holding the Oscar which she won for her role as Gudrun in Women in Love in 1971 Getty Images Glenda Jackson holding her Academy Award for Best Actress, for her role in the 1973 film A Touch of Class Getty Images Austrian actor Helmut Berger and British actress Glenda Jackson posing during the 29th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France in 1976 AFP via Getty Images Glenda Jackson, US actress Faye Dunaway and Austrian actor Helmut Berger during the Cannes Film Festival in 1976 AFP via Getty Images Glenda Jackson in costume for the title role in Phedra at the Old Vic in 1984 Getty Images Olivier Awards 2017 PA Archive The Critics Circle Theatre 2017 Dave Benett London Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2017 Dave Benett Glenda Jackson, winner of the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for Edward Albees Three Tall Women in 2018 Getty Images for Tony Awards Glenda Jackson and Ruth Wilson attend The 2019 Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion at Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2019 Getty Images for The Met Museum/

From award-winning actor to campaigner and activist, to Labour MP and government minister, Glenda Jackson was always fighting for human rights and social justice.

As a fellow north London MP, I know how much she was loved and respected by her constituents.

Sir Keir also evoked her famous appearance on Morecambe and Wise as Cleopatra, with a play on her line, All men are fools, and what makes them so is having beauty like what I have got.

We will never see talent like what she has got again, he added.
BEIJING, June 16 (Xinhua) -- "This (Xinjiang) is a tool, unfortunately, to misrepresent not only regarding Xinjiang," said Stephen Brawer, chairman of the Belt and Road Institute in Sweden.

"It's also being used as a tool to provoke conflict on the development, on Taiwan, on the issue of Hong Kong," the Swedish expert told Xinhua on the sidelines of the Forum on Global Human Rights Governance held in Beijing on Wednesday and Thursday.

Stephen said there is no substance of either "forced labor" or "genocide," and the living conditions of Xinjiang people "are actually being lifted upwards by the input of the Chinese leadership and government."

Xinjiang has entered its best period in history with social harmony and stability, and happy, peaceful life for local people. Over the past 60-plus years, the region's average life expectancy has increased from 30 to 74.7 years. Human rights in the region are well protected and developed.

"The U.S. doesn't really care about the truth, and they use all kinds of dirty tricks to achieve their goals," he said.

Talking about the recent U.S. sanctions on two Chinese companies related to Xinjiang, Brawer said "it's a losing strategy, but obviously it has a negative effect on the people."

"The sanctions policy generally is being used to force or attempt to force the world into submission," Brawer said, adding that "it represents no one's interest ... not even the interests of the United States and its people."

As an expert on China and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), he hoped more Western countries could recognize the importance of the BRI for global interests.

"China is a great nation that is promoting this idea. This is an idea for all humanity and it's a win-win proposition. I hope that the rest of the world will begin to recognize this," he said.

In 2013, China put forward the BRI to foster new drivers for global development. To date, more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations have signed documents under the BRI framework, bringing an economic boon to participating countries.

"To talk about human rights when people are not having enough to eat, not having clean water and not having the necessary modern infrastructure. This has no substance," Brawer said.

The BRI "has a direct bearing on the ability to establish a foundation for global human rights," he said. 
H annah Pearl Davies, known online as Pearl, is an anti-feminist social media personality who thinks divorce should be banned and that women shouldnt have the right to vote.

Her conservative opinions have seen her gain hundreds of thousands of followers on YouTube and TikTok, with her popularity spiking following the arrest of Andrew Tate.

Clips of Davis sharing her controversial opinions have been circulating on TikTok and Twitter in recent months.

Like Tate, she has tapped into creating controversial, misogynistic content as a way to grow her audience.

So who is Pearl, and how did she achieve notoriety?

Who is Hannah Pearl Davis?

Hannah Pearl Davis, who goes by Pearl, is a 26-year-old YouTuber known for her anti-feminist content, with her misogynistic viewpoint even earning her the nickname the female Andrew Tate.

She has gained a large number of followers in recent months, since Andrew Tate was jailed in late December (shortly before his arrest, Tate appeared as a guest on Daviss YouTube channel).

On December 31, Pearl had 960,000 YouTube subscribers, but at the time of writing, she had 1.5 million, according to Social Blade . In addition, she had 930,000 followers on TikTok before being banned.

Ironically, her mother previously served on the board of directors for UN Women USA, which supports the United Nations gender-equality programs, as per Insider .

Davis has previously credited right-wing political commentators Ben Shapiro and Thomas Sowell as her inspiration for wanting to enter a career in media.

Davis is from Chicago, Illinois, and has nine siblings. She currently lives in London.

Controversial comments

Daviss videos have gone viral on TikTok, including one in which she questions if a woman could be a good wife if she gains 100 pounds after getting married.

As well as Daviss own videos, clips of her appearing on podcasts are also circulating on the app. One sees her questioned by YouTuber Ethan Klein over a previous claim that stories of slavery have been embellished.

Another viral clip sees Davis tell Klein that she believes divorce should be banned and that the majority of divorces nowadays occur when the girl just feels like leaving.

She also told Klein she believes women shouldnt have the right to vote.
J eremy Clarkson has given an update on when fans can expect the next season of Clarksons Farm, admitting theyll be waiting longer than they expected for it.

The hit Prime Video series, which began in 2021, follows the former Top Gear presenters attempts to run a 1,000-acre farm in the Cotswolds, Diddly Squat Farm, alongside his farmhand Kaleb Cooper.

The series has been a runaway success  with the second season, which aired in February, becoming Primes most-watched original show in the UK.

Back in October, it was confirmed that the show had been renewed for a third series but fans were left fearful it wouldnt return following outrage over his vile comments about Meghan Markle in The Sun.

The column, which has since been removed online, became Ipsos most complained-about article, receiving more than 25,100 complaints. In light of the backlash, Clarkson apologised for the piece, describing his language as disgraceful.

While its unclear whether Clarksons Farm will continue for a fourth series after Amazon reportedly cut ties with the broadcaster over the remarks, he has now confirmed that season three is on its way  but warned viewers that theyll have to wait longer for it to air.

The presenter gave fans an update about Clarksons Farm season three / Instagram/Clarkson Farm Fans

Instagram fan account, Clarksons Farm Fans, had shared the promotional poster for season 3 on their page and captioned it: Whos excited?

Clarkson, however, commented underneath: We actually wont finish filming it till October.

Theres something we are trying which wont be resolved till then. So its a while off yet.

The latest series centres around Clarksons battle with Oxford Council which refused to give him permission to open his Diddly Squat Restaurant.

Notably, the update comes as the Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? host won partial success against his local authority regarding expansion to his Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington.

The TV presenter has been granted permission to extend the car park at the farm but has not been given permission to open a restaurant.

The Planning Inspectorate at West Oxfordshire District Council granted permission for the extension, and for changes to use of the land, but it did not allow for the addition of a restaurant.

Inspector RJ Perrins report said the council objected to Mr Clarkson adapting the land to a mixed agricultural and leisure attraction use, comprising cafe, restaurant, gift/farm shop, parking and lavatory facilities, the BBC reports.

Clarkson won partial success against his local authority regarding expansion to his Diddly Squat Farm in Chadlington / PA Archive

The report highlighted how the farm has proved popular, leading to many visitors parking on adjacent fields, roads and verges.

I am in no doubt that this has caused a huge inconvenience for those who live nearby, he wrote.

He also said the addition of signage, outdoor seating, a catering van, toilet block and restaurant would affect the character and appearance of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

He confirmed that the farm had contributed to local employment and the economy.

The permission granted is for three years, requiring restoration of the site following that period.

Previously villagers defended Mr Clarksons farm shop and described it as the crown jewel of sustainable living as they pleaded with the council to allow his expansion plans.

But reports emerged that workers as young as 16 were needing to wear cameras after receiving abuse.
J ohn Boyega has revealed that hes been trying to get in touch with his co-star Jamie Foxx after the American actor sustained a medical issue in April.

Boyega, 31, stars opposite the Oscar winner in the forthcoming Netflix film They Cloned Tyrone.

The 55-year-old was notably absent from the films premiere in Miami Beach on Thursday as he continues his recovery from an undisclosed health issue.

Speaking about Foxx on the red carpet, the British actor shared his support for Foxx and wished him a speedy recovery.

As reported by Deadline, the Star Wars actor shared: I wanted him to show up here, but you know, I know hes dealing with what hes dealing with, and we just wish him all the best.

The London native also explained how he has been trying unsuccessfully to get in touch with Foxx, insisting that he wont stop calling until Foxx answers.

The pair star in new film They Cloned Tyrone / Getty Images for Disney

He added: Ive been calling, Im just gonna keep on calling. He better pick up. Come on, Jamie!

Their co-star Teyonah Parris, best known for her role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Monica Rambeau, also paid tribute to Foxx, who she said brought such an energy to the set.

The 35-year-old said: I wish Jamie all the recovery and healing, she said. Hes just so amazing. It was such an honour to work with him. Hes so generous as an actor and as a human, along with John.

I got lucky to be able to work with such dope men on this project, and dope men of colour, that it was just so much fun.

In April, it was revealed that the actor had experienced an unspecified medical incident on set of his new film with Cameron Diaz, Back In Action.

Foxx had convinced Diaz to come out of retirement for the project after she had paused her acting career in 2014. His medical issue arose two weeks before the project ended. As such, the production team had to use body doubles to complete the remaining scenes.

Last month, his daughter, Corinne Foxx, confirmed that her father was out of hospital.

My Dad has been out of the hospital for weeks, recuperating, the statement read. In fact, he was playing pickleball yesterday! Thanks for everyones prayers and support!

Foxx had previously shared a message to his fans on social media saying he appreciated all the love and was feeling blessed.
L ove Island star Maxwell Samuda has revealed he wont be looking for a career in showbusiness following his stint on the winter edition of the dating show.

The finance student and restaurant host, 24, has confirmed he will be looking for work in the same field as his studies, rather than looking to become famous.

But speaking to Secure The Insecure with Johnny Seifert podcast, Samuda said he wouldnt totally turn his back on the profile starring on the show had given him.

Right now the way that I see things is if I can have a bit of a combination with both of these areas at the moment then that would be amazing, he said.

I worked too hard throughout my undergrad and my masters to say that Im going to have nothing to do with that now.

But then I have an opportunity with like the show and social media, theres a small bit of influence if theres things that I want to create, it makes it a bit more easier to do that now.

I got an offer for a graduate job the day that I went to go on Love Island that I accepted so I will still be doing that later in the year.

Love Island returned with a batch of new contestants set last Monday.

The 10th series of the ITV dating show will see broadcaster Maya Jama present her first eight-week summer series after taking over from Laura Whitmore for the last winter series in South Africa.
A lmost a week on, victims of the cyberattack carried out by Russian cybercriminal gang Clop continue to be revealed.

The data was stolen by the hackers exploiting a vulnerability in the MOVEit file transfer tool, either used by the companies themselves, or by UK firm Zellis, which provided payroll services to some of the firms.

Heres the latest on what we know: On Thursday night the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency told CNN that several US federal agencies have also experienced intrusions in their networks due to the Clop cyberattack.

In the UK, it is now known that confidential personal data pertaining to tens of thousands of employees working for the BBC, Boots, British Airways, Shell, Aer Lingus, EY, and Ofcom has been stolen, as well as data relating to 13,000 drivers on Transport for Londons Ulez and Congestion Charge databases.

In the case of the BBC, the hackers now have access to full-time, freelance, past and present employees data, specifically their full names, date of birth, the first line of their address, and their National Insurance numbers.

However, according to Recorded Future News, the type of confidential data taken differs from organisation to organisation.

Clop promised on its website on the dark web that it would begin releasing data dumps relating to its victims on June 14 for anyone to download if victim companies did not contact it to negotiate a ransom payment.

Global cybersecurity firm ReliaQuest previously told The Standard that there were potentially so many victims that the hackers would have to sift through a whole treasure trove of data and that the gang would likely go after large organisations that have the money to pay.

So far, on Thursday, Clop has named 27 victim organisations, which include US, Canadian, Dutch, and Swiss financial institutions, universities, insurers, and manufacturers. But the gang has not yet leaked any of their data on its website, according to ReliaQuest.

Victims should take action now

A sim card being inserted into an LG Nexus 5X Android mobile phone / Tony Webster / Wikimedia Commons

While we hope that Clop will not release private data relating to UK victims, the sad reality is that the hackers might have already shared valuable customer data with other cybercriminals.

According to David McClelland, resident technology and telecoms consumer champion on the BBCs Rip Off Britain TV series, being forewarned is forearmed.

It is The Standards and Mr McClellands position that cyberattack or data-breach victims should expect their data to have already been compromised.

It is untrue that hackers are not interested in going after individuals  like this BBC article claims  hackers make a lot of money by selling data to other cybercriminals, who can perform social-engineering attacks impersonating you to service providers.

I do feel that consumers are being let down by mobile network operators who are letting fraudsters through the front door

One very popular social-engineering attack is sim swap fraud  when an attacker rings up the customer service call centre for a mobile network and pretends to be either you or a third party company that typically works with a mobile network.

The attacker impersonates you and tries to convince your network provider that you need a replacement Sim card for your phone. Once they have the replacement sim card, they can take control of your mobile number and potentially use it to access any one-time pins or multi-factor authentication codes sent by your bank and other online services.

Given the volume of sim swap fraud victims that have come forward and continue to come forward to us [on Rip Off Britain], there is definitely a problem here. Another one of the problems is, very often, we dont know how the scammers were able to get through that line of defence  the customer agent at the call centre, explains Mr McClelland.

So what should you personally do now if you are an employee who has been notified that your data has been compromised by a cyberattack or data breach?

Stay calm and follow these steps:

1) Apply for Cifas protective registration

The Standard has been advised that the best thing to do if you are worried your personal details have been stolen is to apply online for a protective registration from UK non-profit fraud prevention service Cifas.

When you request protective registration, a warning flag is placed against your name and other personal details in the Cifas National Fraud Database. This tells any organisation that uses Cifas data to pay special attention when your details are used to apply for their products or services.

Knowing youre at risk, theyll carry out extra checks to make sure its really you applying, and not a fraudster using your details.

The service is not free  you have to pay an admin fee  but it does not affect your credit rating in any way and you can continue to apply for credit as usual, including store finance like pay in three.

The only difference is that when you apply for a loan, there are more checks just to verify your identity.

2) Inform your mobile provider and your bank

Two-factor authentication is commonly used to access online services / Firmbee.com / Unsplash

When sim swap fraud occurs, there are several warning signs, according to Natwest:

You lose the ability to make calls or texts

You are notified that your phone is being used elsewhere

Your login credentials for online banking and other services no longer work

But you dont want to wait for this to happen. Be proactive  ring up your mobile provider and your bank now, tell the automated service you want to discuss security, and inform them that you have been the victim of a cyberattack or data breach and what information has been taken from you.

To make sure you ring the right call centre for your bank, dial 159. The Stop Scams UK service will put you through to genuine call centre numbers.

To contact your mobile provider, go to the Contact Us page on the official website for your mobile network and do what it says.

I spoke with a victim of sim swap fraud last year whose phone went offline on a Sunday. Often this [attack] happens at inconvenient times, like Sunday evening when call centres are closed, so the victim cant get in touch with the mobile operator to report it for several hours, Mr McClelland tells The Standard.

She tried to get in touch with her mobile operator on the website Live Chat chatbot the next day and it was confused, because it seemed to have a record that shed asked for a new sim. Then she started to look at her bank accounts, and she saw transactions both coming in and going out.

Our mobile are the keys to unlock all the different parts of our online and financial lives.

3) Ask your mobile operator and bank what they do to protect you from fraud

The security department of your mobile operator or bank should be able to tell you what they are doing to prevent sim swap fraud / Tech Daily / Unsplash

Now you know how sim swap fraud works, ask the security department at your mobile operator and bank how they will protect you if someone does ring them up impersonating you.

Lloyds Bank and HSBC both confirmed to The Standard that they ask all customers to record a Voice ID clip for additional security.

Voice ID analyses over 100 different characteristics of a voice which, like a fingerprint, are unique to the individual. This includes how someone uses their mouth and vocal chords, their accent, and how fast they talk, a Lloyds Bank spokeswoman said.

All the banks we spoke to mentioned that they had multiple 24/7 security and monitoring technologies in action that they couldnt discuss. However they would also be asking a selection of security questions to anyone who rings up to verify their identity.

And remember most importantly  neither your bank nor mobile operator will ever ring you up or ask for any payment details on a Live Chat chatbot.

Think before answering any unknown phone calls or replying to emails from unknown senders. Hackers using emotive tactics are often overly persuasive in requesting information, as they can use this tactic to commit their cyberattack, Steve Wilson, senior director for north Europe at antivirus software firm Norton said.

O2 told The Standard that if a customer calls and orders a sim card to a new address, they have to pass security and also enter a one-time authorisation code (OTAC) which is sent via text to the phone number connected with the account.

Even if a fraudster was able to pass the first stage of security due to their personal data and password being compromised in a data breach, without entering the correct OTAC number or attending in-store with matching photo ID, they would not be able to proceed with ordering a new sim to a new address, an O2 spokeswoman said.

Importantly, if you receive an OTAC code by text and suddenly someone unexpectedly rings you up and asks you what it is, do not read it out to them.

You should only give it to the customer service representative whom you call from your mobile phone.

The Standard asked EE, Three, and Vodafone how they prevent scammers from tricking their call centres. None of the mobile operators replied in the seven days they were given to respond.

I do feel that consumers are being let down by mobile network operators who are letting fraudsters through the front door, said Mr McClelland.

All too often, its the victims of fraud who appear to be being blamed.

4) Swap to an authenticator app

Rather than have one-time codes sent via text message to your phone when you do two-factor authentication, it is a good idea to use an authenticator app for online services and your webmail.

Instead of using SMS-based authentication, I recommend using an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Authy. This will make your account immune to sim swap attacks. Unfortunately, such alternatives are not as widely available as SMS and email authentication, said Paul Bischoff, consumer privacy advocate at Comparitech.

5) Change all your passwords

Even if you think your passwords are hard to guess, change them all again anyway.

And make sure that none of the passwords correspond to any private information about you, such as your date of birth, the name of your pet, your mothers maiden name, or home town  all things hackers can find out about you on social media.

Most importantly, put some numbers, some capital letters, and at least one symbol in your passwords.
S ir John Bell, a leading scientist who served as Boris Johnsons Covid-19 testing tsar during the pandemic, has spoken of his delight as he was elevated to a Companion of Honour for his services to medicine and life sciences.

The special award, granted to those who have made a major contribution to the arts, science, medicine or government, was founded in 1917 by George V.

Sir John is among three additions to the Order of the Companions of Honour, which is limited to just 65 people at a time.

He was joined by Dame Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine, and novelist Sir Ian McEwan.

In a statement to the PA news agency, the Canadian-born immunologist said: I was delighted to hear that I had been recognised with a Kings Honour for the work I have done in medicine and life sciences.

It reflects the efforts of the very large number of people across the sector who have made this one of the UKs strongest disciplines.

A regius professor of medicine at the University of Oxford, Sir John held several high profile roles that helped shape the UK Governments response to the Covid-19 pandemic, including enabling the development of the testing platforms for lateral flow tests and helping to initiate the Covid-19 PCR testing programme nationally.

He was also a member of the expert advisory group to the Governments Vaccine Taskforce, which was created to speed up research to produce a coronavirus vaccine.

Sir John was among those who helped broker the deal with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to produce the Oxford vaccine  which is estimated to have saved more than six million lives globally in the first year of its roll-out.

A familiar face and voice of reason for many during the coronavirus pandemic, he was often sought out for his medical expertise.

When the news broke in November 2020 that the world was on the verge getting its first Covid-19 vaccine  developed Pfizer and BioNTech  he was was asked on BBC Radio 4 whether life would return to normal by spring of 2021.

His response was a resounding yes, yes, yes  which echoed around the world and lifted spirits.

I am probably the first guy to say that but I will say that with some confidence, he said at that time.

Sir John was born in Edmonton, Alberta, to a family of scientists.

His mother taught pharmacy at university while his father was a professor of haemotology and his grandfather a professor of anaesthetics.

Sir John studied medicine in Canada before heading to Oxford on a Rhodes scholarship  one of the worlds most prestigious international scholarship programmes.

He eventually became a regius professor  a chair first created and sponsored by King Henry VIII in 1546  in medicine at Oxford.

Outside of Covid-19, Sir John has been involved in a number of research programmes and sits on a wide range of advisory panels for public and private sector organisations in the UK and abroad.

He is also the founder of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, a research institute investigating the role genetics play in human diseases, and is chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Global Health Advisory Board.

In 2011, Sir John was appointed one of two UK Life Sciences Champions by then prime minister David Cameron.

He was knighted for services to medicine in 2009 and in 2015, was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE).

Sir John has dual citizenship and currently lives with his wife in Wallingford, near Oxford.
Border policemen within the Nadlac II apprehended on Friday a number of 48 people from Nepal, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan, who were attempting to illegally cross the border hiding in a truck carrying glasses.

The driver of the truck, who is a Turkish citizen, transported the goods on Turkey-the Netherlands route.

"Based on the risk profile, a thorough check of the means of transport was conducted and the border policemen discovered 48 foreign citizens in the cargo compartment. The persons in question were taken in to the border police headquarters for investigation. Within the checks, our colleagues established that the persons are citizens from Nepal, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan who intended to cross the border fraudulently to reach Western European countries," the Arad Border Police conveyed.

The driver has been placed under investigation for migrant trafficking, while the clandestine travelers are under investigations for fraudulent attempt to cross the state border. AGERPRES
Romania is a country with significant natural gas resources, a strategic transit point and an important regional player, and can contribute, thanks to its operational transmission infrastructure, to enhanced regional security, Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja stated.

He participated on Friday, at the Victoria Palace, in the signing ceremony of the Order for the start of works on the Tuzla-Podisor gas pipeline.

"Romania is not just a country with significant natural gas resources, but also a strategic transit point and an important regional player, being able to contribute, thanks to its operational transmission infrastructure and the geostrategic position we all enjoy, to a strengthened regional security. I believe that the challenges of the past years, from the war in Ukraine to the energy crisis, underscore once again the size, importance and relevance of this project for all Romanians," the Energy minister said.

He underscored that the gas pipeline project is part of Romania's fundamental objectives in the energy sector and, "if we keep up the good work, all Romanians will benefit."

The Minister mentioned that it's about a strategic investment that will allow the gas exploited by OMV Petrom and Romgaz from the Black Sea to reach the national transmission system.

He added that it is a 300 km gas pipeline, an investment of 478 million EUR, which will cross the counties of Constanta, Calarasi and Giurgiu, and a large number of administrative-territorial units and will link the "considerable" resources which Romania has in the Black Sea and the national transmission system.

Furthermore, the Energy Minister said that the Neptun Deep project in the Black Sea is progressing rapidly, with good news expected soon.

"I am convinced that Romgaz and OMV Petrom will take all the necessary steps so that the production of natural gas from this vein, so important for national and regional energy security, will start as soon as possible," Sebastian Burduja pointed out.

The "Black Sea-Podisor natural gas transmission pipeline" project included in Transgaz's Development Plan for the next 10 years, is included in the list of EU projects of common interest and has been submitted for financing through the Modernisation Fund, according to the national gas transporter. AGERPRES
Anheuser-Busch, in an effort to soften the blow from a more than two-month boycott of Bud Light, on Thursday announced it would provide financial assistance to its distributors, wholesalers and other partners.

In a securities filing, the company said it would offer sales incentives, boost marketing and help cover the costs of fuel and freight.

We recognize that over the last two months, the discussion surrounding our company and Bud Light has moved away from beer, CEO Brendan Whitworth wrote in a letter posted on the companys website. And this has impacted our consumers, our business partners, and our employees.

In April, Bud Light partnered with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, who also received a promotional can of the beer with her face on it. Some people were offended by the brand using a transgender person in its marketing, and the ire of many was raised further when its vice president of marketing said that the branding of Bud Light has been kind of a fratty, kind of out-of-touch humor.

National retail sales of Bud Light have been down more than 25% since the controversy began. In May, the brand lost its long-held spot as the top-selling beer in America, for that month  though it still has sold the most beer by far in both volume and dollars to date this year, said Bump Williams of Bump Williams Consulting, which specializes in alcoholic beverages.

Whitworths letter promises to make investments that will protect the jobs of their frontline employees and to provide financial assistance to independent wholesalers.

A filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday briefly detailed some of the ways the company will provide assistance.

Where it is legal, the filing states, the company will provide sales incentive payments to wholesalers for beer sold throughout 2023. The company will also extend extra credit to wholesalers for the rest of the year, where legal, and will additionally reimburse wholesalers for freight and fuel surcharges for the rest of the year.

Breweries and distributors typically split the cost of fuel and freight evenly between them. As the cost of shipping rose significantly in the past few years, so did the amount of these surcharges. This move will roll back the cost of those surcharges for the year.

The filing also pledges to incrementally increase investments promoting its brands in local markets.

Benj Steinman, president of Beer Marketers Insights, said A-Bs moves will help.

Its an important step, Steinman said. You could argue it could have been more. But clearly theyre addressing a need that was arising loud and clear from their wholesaler community. They needed help, and this is significant.

Anheuser-Busch products including Bud Light are distributed by Grey Eagle Distributors in all or part of 14 counties in the St. Louis area, but not St. Louis itself or Jefferson County.

Grey Eagle President and CEO David Stokes said, I am pleased with the substantial commitment to our partnership. This support will go a long way towards helping our employees and our company as we work together to restore our collective business in our home town.

Part of A-B CEO Whitworths letter is directed toward Bud Light consumers who were unhappy about the marketing effort that included Mulvaney.

We hear you. Our summer advertising launches next week, and you can look forward to Bud Light reinforcing what youve always loved about our brand  that its easy to drink and easy to enjoy, it says.

The current Bud Light marketing slogan is Easy to drink. Easy to enjoy.
THURSDAY, June 15, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- An advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration voted unanimously on Thursday to recommend that COVID-19 booster shots be updated for the fall to protect solely against one of the three XBB variants that have taken hold in the United States.

Those three XBB variants, which are all sublineages of the omicron variant, are XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16, and XBB.2.3, CNN reported. What will be dropped from the updated vaccines will be protection against the original strain of the virus because experts believe it could contribute to lower vaccine efficacy against newer strains.

"Your immune response likes to react to what it's seen before," David Ho, M.D., a professor of microbiology and immunology at Columbia University whose research was cited in FDA briefing documents, told CNN. "That's why we made the recommendation that if you want to broaden out your antibody responses, it's best to remove the ancestral spike in future vaccines."

Although the FDA will make the final decision on the updated vaccines, it typically follows the advice of its advisory panels.

While infections have declined across the United States, the virus could be a concern next winter, the FDA's vaccine chief Peter Marks, M.D., said as the daylong meeting began, the Associated Press reported. "We're concerned that we may have another wave of COVID-19 during a time when the virus has further evolved, immunity of the population has waned further, and we move indoors for wintertime," he told the panel.

A big question will be who should get the updated boosters, Paul Offit, M.D., a vaccine scientist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of the advisory committee, told CNN before Thursday's meeting. "What's the goal of the vaccine?" he asked. "If the goal of the vaccine is the stated goal, which is protection against severe disease, do you really need a yearly vaccine for otherwise healthy people less than 75? I mean, is this the flu model? Because I would argue it shouldn't be."

It is important to have evidence about whether protection from the COVID-19 vaccine against hospitalization and death is waning and, if so, in which groups, Offit added. In a presentation at the advisory panel meeting, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said there is evidence of waning protection from bivalent boosters against hospitalization, CNN reported.

COVID-19 boosters will likely be offered this fall, once they are redesigned by vaccine makers.
THURSDAY, June 15, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists say they have created the first synthetic human embryo models, not actual human embryos but models meant to simulate and better understand early human development.

These embryo-like structures were created from single human embryonic stem cells, without eggs and sperm, by scientists in the United States and United Kingdom, CNN reported.

Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, a professor of biology and biological engineering at California Institute of Technology and the University of Cambridge in England, told CNN that the cells were coaxed to develop into three distinct tissue layers.

They are the first to have germ cells that would go on to develop into egg and sperm, but they do not have all the features of a human embryo, Zernicka-Goetz noted.

The structures also are at the earliest stages of development, without a beating heart or brain.

I just wish to stress that they are not human embryos, Zernicka-Goetz said. They are embryo models, but they are very exciting because they are looking very similar to human embryos and [are a] very important path towards discovery of why so many pregnancies fail, as the majority of the pregnancies fail around the time of the development at which we build these embryo-like structures.

The discovery is not without controversy: The United States, along with many countries, does not have laws that govern creation or treatment of synthetic embryos, despite the pace of discoveries expanding rapidly, CNN reported.

Unlike human embryos arising from in vitro fertilization [IVF], where there is an established legal framework, there are currently no clear regulations governing stem cell derived models of human embryos. There is an urgent need for regulations to provide a framework for the creation and use of stem cell derived models of human embryos, James Briscoe, associate research director at the Francis Crick Institute in London, said in a statement.

Zernicka-Goetz presented the research Wednesday to the International Society for Stem Cell Researchs annual meeting, in Boston. It has not been published in a scientific journal, so the findings are still preliminary. But Zernicka-Goetz said the research has been accepted at a well-regarded scientific journal.

The hope is that the model embryos will help researchers understand what happens between fertilization and the first 14 days. This is the agreed limit for growing and studying embryos in a lab, CNN reported.

The model embryos are in test tubes -- it is illegal to implant them into a womb.

Past research in mice and monkeys has shown that synthetic embryos dont survive after being moved. In research on embryo-like structures from mouse cells, about eight days after creation the structures showed the beginning of brain, heart and intestinal development, CNN reported.

The goal of the research is to understand why embryos sometimes dont develop even after implantation.

We know remarkably little about this step in human development, but it is a time where many pregnancies are lost, especially in an IVF setting, Roger Sturmey, senior research fellow in maternal and fetal health at the University of Manchester in the U.K., told CNN.

Currently, we can say that these synthetic embryos share a number of features with blastocysts, but it is important to recognize that the way that synthetic embryos are formed is different to what happens when a normal embryo forms a blastocyst, he said. There is much work to be done to determine the similarities and differences between synthetic embryos and embryos that form from the union of an egg and a sperm.

More information

The U.S. National Institutes of Health has more on stem cell research.

SOURCE: CNN
THURSDAY, June 15, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists say they have created the first synthetic human embryo models, not actual human embryos but models meant to simulate and better understand early human development. These embryo-like structures were created from single human embryonic stem cells, without eggs and sperm, by scientists in the United States and United Kingdom, CNN reported.

Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, Ph.D., a professor of biology and biological engineering at California Institute of Technology and the University of Cambridge in England, told CNN that the cells were coaxed to develop into three distinct tissue layers. They are the first to have germ cells that would go on to develop into egg and sperm, but they do not have all the features of a human embryo, Zernicka-Goetz noted. The structures also are at the earliest stages of development, without a beating heart or brain.

"I just wish to stress that they are not human embryos," Zernicka-Goetz said. "They are embryo models, but they are very exciting because they are looking very similar to human embryos and [are a] very important path towards discovery of why so many pregnancies fail, as the majority of the pregnancies fail around the time of the development at which we build these embryo-like structures."

Zernicka-Goetz presented the research Wednesday to the International Society for Stem Cell Research's annual meeting, in Boston. It has not been published in a scientific journal, so the findings are still preliminary. But Zernicka-Goetz said the research has been accepted at a well-regarded scientific journal.

The hope is that the model embryos will help researchers understand what happens between fertilization and the first 14 days. This is the agreed limit for growing and studying embryos in a lab, CNN reported. The goal of the research is to understand why embryos sometimes do not develop even after implantation.

"We know remarkably little about this step in human development, but it is a time where many pregnancies are lost, especially in an IVF setting," Roger Sturmey, senior research fellow in maternal and fetal health at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, told CNN. "Currently, we can say that these 'synthetic embryos' share a number of features with blastocysts, but it is important to recognize that the way that synthetic embryos are formed is different to what happens when a normal embryo forms a blastocyst. There is much work to be done to determine the similarities and differences between synthetic embryos and embryos that form from the union of an egg and a sperm."
THURSDAY, June 15, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- In 2022, there was an increase in meningococcal disease among persons with HIV, with 29 cases reported, accounting for 9.8 percent of all meningococcal disease cases, according to research published in the June 16 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Noting that persons with HIV have low coverage of quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccination (MenACWY), Amy B. Rubis, M.P.H., from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues used preliminary data for 2022 to describe meningococcal disease cases among persons with HIV in the United States.

The researchers found that there were five to 15 meningococcal disease cases reported each year among persons with HIV during 2017 to 2021, representing 1.5 to 4.3 percent of all meningococcal disease cases annually. In 2022, 29 meningococcal disease cases were reported based on preliminary data, accounting for 9.8 percent of all cases. When reporting is complete, this case count could increase. Of the 29 meningococcal disease cases, 22 had not received MenACWY vaccine, six had unknown vaccine history, and one had received MenACWY vaccine (unknown number of doses).

"Health care providers should ensure that all persons with HIV are up to date with MenACWY vaccination per Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations, as well as other vaccines recommended for this population," the authors write.
THURSDAY, June 15, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Menopause, a natural stage of a woman's life marking the end of menstruation, can bring many physical and emotional changes that may leave her feeling bewildered and alone. Hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings can disrupt her daily routine and affect her overall well-being.

Sound familiar? Think you might be starting menopause? Heres how to identify the most common menopause symptoms.

Menopause symptoms

The menopausal transition typically begins between 45 and 55 years of age, marking a significant time in a woman's life. This phase usually spans around seven years, although it can extend up to 14 years, according to the U.S. National Institute on Aging (NIH).

Menopause is no [menstrual] period for one year, said Dr. Adi Davidov, associate chair and director of obstetrics and gynecology at Staten Island University Hospital in New York.

And the duration of this transition can be influenced by factors such as lifestyle choices, including smoking, the age at which it begins, as well as race and ethnicity. As women journey through menopause, they may grapple with various physical and emotional changes that can disrupt their daily lives.

These symptoms can vary in intensity and duration, from irregular periods to hot flashes. The most common symptoms of menopause are hot flashes and vaginal dryness, Davidov said.

The Cleveland Clinic lists these as the symptoms most often experienced:

Irregular periods

During menopause, hormonal fluctuations can lead to irregular menstrual cycles. Periods may become shorter or longer, lighter or heavier, and the time between them may vary. Some women may miss periods altogether. These changes occur due to the decline in estrogen and progesterone levels.

Hot flashes

Dr. Wen Shen, a gynecologist specializing in perimenopause and menopause at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, describes hot flashes as quick bursts of hot skin and drenching sweat that last anywhere from 30 seconds to about five minutes. Your face and neck may turn red, your heart rate may increase, and you will most likely break out in a sweat," she said on a Hopkins site. "Night sweats are the same thing, only youre asleep and are jolted awake by the heat and sweat sensation consuming your body.

Vaginal dryness and discomfort

Declining estrogen levels can cause thinning and drying of vaginal tissues, leading to vaginal dryness. This can result in discomfort, itching and pain during intercourse. It may also increase a woman's risk for urinary tract infections.

Mood swings and emotional changes

Hormonal fluctuations during menopause can impact a woman's emotional well-being, leading to mood swings, irritability, anxiety and depression. Some women may also experience difficulty concentrating or memory lapses, commonly called "brain fog."

Sleep disturbances

Many women experience sleep disturbances during menopause. This can include difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up too early. Night sweats, caused by hot flashes during sleep, can further disrupt sleep patterns, leading to fatigue and daytime drowsiness. The NIH suggests some women with trouble sleeping related to menopause try over-the-counter sleep aids such as melatonin. Others may opt for prescription medications to help them get a good nights sleep.

Changes in sexual function

Menopause can affect a woman's sexual health and function. Decreased estrogen levels can reduce libido, cause vaginal dryness and make it more difficult to achieve orgasm. These changes can impact a woman's sexual satisfaction and intimacy.

Early and premature menopause symptoms

The Office on Womens Health notes that premature menopause refers to the occurrence of menopause before age 40, while early menopause typically happens between the ages of 40 and 45. About 5% of women experience early menopause.

This transitional phase brings about unique challenges for these women as they navigate the physical and emotional changes associated with menopause at a relatively younger age.

Some symptoms to look out for include:

Irregular or missed periods

Hot flashes

Mood swings

Vaginal dryness

Sleep disturbances

Changes in sexual function

By understanding and recognizing the common early menopausal symptoms and signs of menopause, women can better navigate this phase of life. Seeking support from health care providers, exploring various treatment options, and leveraging insights from online resources such as the Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Womans Empowerment Guide from the Society for Womens Health Research, can help manage symptoms effectively, improving overall well-being and quality of life.

Transitioning through menopause can be a complex and transformative journey for women. Whether experiencing irregular periods, hot flashes or emotional changes, women must prioritize self-care and consult health care professionals who can provide guidance, empathy and tailored treatment options to help manage symptoms effectively.

Remember, you are not alone on this journey, and with the proper support, menopause can be embraced as a new chapter of growth and empowerment.

SOURCE: Adi Davidov, MD, associate chair and director of obstetrics and gynecology, Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, N.Y.
ST. LOUIS  A former co-owner of a Clayton construction company was sentenced Thursday to 1 years in federal prison for avoiding minority contractor requirements on a project that received city tax breaks.

Brian Kowert, 72, the former chief operating officer and project manager at HBD Construction Inc., admitted earlier this year to falsifying documents that claimed a project to build new headquarters for home and wellness product distributor Greater Goods complied with city tax break requirements to use a certain number of subcontractors owned by racial minorities or women.

Kowerts fraud caused Greater Goods to lose out on nearly $40,000 a year in city tax incentives, and officials from the citys economic development arm said in a letter that Kowerts actions eroded public trust and hurt minority-owned firms that the program was designed to encourage.

Mr. Kowert must be held accountable for his actions, said Neal Richardson, the CEO of the St. Louis Development Corporation. The social and economic injury his behavior has caused must not be understated.

Kowert and his attorney, Joel Schwartz, argued that Kowerts actions were part of a larger problem with a flawed incentive program that doesnt achieve its goals. Still, Kowert said he took responsibility for his actions and wrote a restitution check to Greater Goods for nearly $330,000.

I should not have done it, he said. I did not need to do it.

Kowert was indicted in March 2022 with five counts of wire fraud. He pleaded guilty in January to two of those counts and admitted to hiring three non-minority subcontractors to supply custom cabinets, appliances, doors and stairs for the Greater Goods project and then submitted false reports showing the work had been done and materials obtained by a certified minority-owned firm.

To conceal the scheme, he transferred roughly $220,000 to the minority-owned firm, which then paid the actual subcontractors. The firm received $2,000 from Kowert for being the pass-through, prosecutors said.

On Thursday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith asked Judge Henry Autrey to sentence Kowert to 27 to 33 months in prison as outlined in federal sentencing guidelines.

Pure racism  thats what this is about, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith on Thursday. And that is what this program was set up to repair.

Schwartz asked for a deviation from the sentencing range for a year and a day or some kind of probation. He said many firms in the city have been credited with using minority-owned subcontractors on projects but only used them to order supplies or perform minimal work, and Kowert said he worked hard in his career to foster more qualified minority-owned firms and tradesmen. He even won awards and accolades for his efforts, he said.

To say I am entirely a criminal is baloney, Kowert said.

But Judge Autrey said it wasnt his job to weigh the past in considering his sentence. Instead, Autrey had to consider the criminal conduct to which Kowert pleaded guilty.

The program was designed to correct racial inequities, Autrey said, and Kowert took advantage of it.

You have, at least in part, used the good feeling you have about yourself ... to shield the dark part of your heart to allow you to engage in what you engaged in, he said.
JEFFERSON CITY  Despite facing the same staffing issues plaguing state government and some local law enforcement agencies, Missouris state police force is again helping to enforce traffic laws on St. Louis-area highways.

While the city has historically patrolled interstates within its jurisdiction, a Missouri Highway Patrol spokesman said Wednesday that state troopers have been deployed to interstates in the city in recent weeks as part of an operation with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments traffic unit.

The efforts are part of our continued periodic enforcement assistance to the City of St. Louis, said Capt. John Hotz.

Earlier this month, during a saturation patrol on Interstate 70, troopers made numerous arrests and issued tickets on the busy roadway.

The patrols are part of the states on-again, off-again involvement in the urban area, an effort first launched by Gov. Mike Parson in 2019 to combat violent crime.

Along with dedicating some patrol officers to various task forces, four to six troopers periodically conduct patrol surges on I-70.

The surges are intended to apprehend violent criminals, remove them from the interstates, and free up local officers to patrol other high-crime areas, Parson said in 2019.

The surges come as the highway patrol, like other state agencies, has faced staffing issues in recent years.

In the upcoming state budget, lawmakers are giving troopers a 20% pay increase in hopes of boosting recruiting. Parson is expected to sign the spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1 later this month.

Staffing levels continue to be an issue, Hotz said.

The patrol has 146 trooper and 126  civilian vacancies statewide, and 27 trooper and 55 civilian vacancies in the patrols St. Louis area division.

Hotz said troopers are paid overtime when on city duty to minimize the impact on other parts of the agency.

The enforcement projects are not set for a certain number of hours per day. They occur as funding and staffing levels allow, he added.

In 2017, the highway patrol issued more than 1,000 tickets after former Gov. Eric Greitens called for an increase in policing in the city.

At the time, former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardners office said it could not handle the increased workload. Gardner has since left the job and was replaced by attorney Gabe Gore, who is working to rebuild the depleted office.

In March, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones signed legislation assigning more than $40 million in federal pandemic aid for street improvements across the city, including efforts to reduce speeding and reduce deadly collisions.

A total of 78 people were ultimately killed by traffic violence in the city last year, making it the second-deadliest year on record.
ST. LOUIS  A group of prominent area attorneys are looking to turn a convenience store owners quest for a permit into a larger debate on aldermanic influence over the citys bureaucracy.

A new nonprofit named after former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Joseph Holy Joe Wingate Folk, who crusaded against the citys corrupt political machine at the turn of the 20th century and rode the progressive reform wave to the Missouri governors mansion, has taken up the plight of a Bevo Mill convenience store owner who claims he was denied a permit to reopen his Double AA Market based solely on the alderwomans opposition.

The Holy Joe Society is promising to lend financial and legal support to the lawsuit filed by the business owner seeking a city permit, a lawsuit that has been expanded from typical arguments made during zoning litigation to one alleging that aldermanic influence in executive branch functions breaches the constitutional separation of powers.

This case certainly has the classic St. Louis city fact pattern, that if you didnt have the blessing of the aldermen you were not going to get whatever it is you were seeking from the city, said Dan Emerson, the businesss attorney and a former lawyer in the city counselors office.

Its the latest swipe at the St. Louis tradition of aldermanic courtesy, where civil servants and regulatory boards defer to individual members of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen on issues within their wards. Federal prosecutors put the practice in the spotlight last year when they sent several aldermen to prison for accepting bribes in exchange for letters supporting a business owners applications for tax breaks and purchase of city-owned property.

The Board of Adjustment, though it may have some discretion, is a quasi-judicial agency that is supposed to make decisions based on the evidence presented in the record. In his clients case, Emerson said Double AA Market presented evidence including witnesses and a petition, while the alderwoman didnt even testify at the hearing against the permit.

Thats exactly what aldermanic courtesy can do, is cause a board to act arbitrarily, Emerson said.

But Carol Howard, the former alderwoman who represented the Bevo Mill area and opposed the reopening of Double AA Market, said this case is about nothing more than a problem property opposed by her constituents.

Turning this particular instance into a debate about aldermanic courtesy is a stretch, she said. The business, across the street from the landmark Bevo Mill, drew persistent resident complaints about trash, single-sale cigarettes and underage liquor sales. The neighborhood association opposed the business reopening, she said, as did the area business association.

I followed my constituents wishes and tried to stand up for the neighborhood, Howard said Friday. If those people cannot be listened to and the neighborhood has no say as to who comes in and operates a business, then we have another nail in the coffin for the city.

Permit request and appeal denied

This case hinges on the St. Louis Board of Adjustments October denial of a conditional use permit for Double AA Market at 4743 Morganford Road. The business owner, Ahmed Awad, acquired the convenience store in 2020 but had his operating permit revoked by the city in June 2021.

He reapplied for a permit after enduring the required one-year closure. He complied with city requirements, including removing bars from the windows, and he pledged to properly dispose of trash.

But the citys Board of Public Service denied his request for a new conditional use permit in August. Awad appealed to the Board of Adjustment, presenting a petition with nearly 100 signatures of support (Howard contended most didnt live in the neighborhood) and bringing several witnesses who testified in support of Double AA Market reopening. The citys planning department found the permit would be consistent with the citys land use plan.

Awad testified at the Board of Adjustment in October that he has inventory he cannot sell and his next-door restaurant, City Fish and Chicken, has had no issues with the city. His lawyer at the time, Jay Kanzler, said the alderwoman, Howard, refused to even meet with them about reopening the business.

More businesses, more traffic is 1,000 times better than another vacant building, Kanzler told the Board of Adjustment in October.

Howard, along with the president of the neighborhood business association, the Bevo Community Improvement District, filed letters in opposition. The Board of Adjustment denied the permit, and Double AA Market sued a month later.

People have a right to make a living, but you have to follow the rules, Howard said Friday. Calling it aldermanic courtesy is a complete misrepresentation. I call it doing your job you were elected to do.

Yet thats not how several prominent area attorneys, including Bevis Schock and longtime former Circuit Judge and associate city counselor Robert Dierker, view it.

They are among the founding members of the Holy Joe Society. Schock, well-known for his successful lawsuit overturning the states red-light camera laws and an ongoing suit challenging the citys collection of its earnings tax during pandemic remote work, said this case is the nonprofits first, and it would likely tackle other issues it views as government malfeasance or overreach.

We intend on bringing many cases, Schock said. We have raised money. We will hire private attorneys.

As for aldermanic courtesy, Schock likened it to medieval feudalism and argued the city struggles economically because of such backward political practices.

Almost every project requires a variance of some kind, Schock said. And the alderman is in charge. If the alderman doesnt support, it it doesnt go forward.

The Post-Dispatch has documented issues at the Board of Adjustment where it declined to grant a variance before builders obtained letters of support from aldermen. But it wasnt that an alderman was opposed to the project  those developers said they simply couldnt get the elected official to return their calls or emails.

Some have since suggested that the recent halving of the number of wards and aldermanic seats may make it more difficult for aldermen to micromanage their wards as they used to, and thus lead to the natural decline of aldermanic courtesy.

Dont be Pollyannaish, Schock said. That wont last.
Children injured or killed by gunfire in the St. Louis area in 2023

Below is the St. Louis Post-Dispatch coverage of children who have been injured or killed by gunfire across the St. Louis metropolitan area in 2023. The children are 17 years old or younger.

Through July 17, at least 41 children were injured or killed by gunshots. Fourteen people 17 or younger were killed in shootings.

These are not all the homicides involving children. For more details on local homicides, check the homicide tracker.
JEFFERSON CITY  A bill to freeze taxes for seniors in Missouri would cost counties millions if it went into effect, according to an analysis released this week by the state Legislatures research division.

In May, the Legislature approved a plan to stop property tax increases for eligible seniors. Counties would have the option to adopt the measure if Gov. Mike Parson signs it into law, but they would face losing millions of dollars in tax revenue depending on the number of senior homeowners.

Under the Legislatures proposal, a senior could get the tax break if they are eligible for Social Security retirement benefits, own a home and are required to make tax payments on that home. A county can put it in place with an ordinance or by voter approval.

The analysis by the Committee on Legislative Researchs Oversight Division includes information from more than 70 counties on how the plan would impact them.

St. Charles County officials estimate the revenue losses would amount to more than $78 million over five years, according to the analysis. The county estimates losses would go up annually, and it could cost the county as much as $155,000 for new software and personnel to implement the program.

County officials also believe the bill violates the Hancock Amendment in the Missouri Constitution. The amendment prohibits the state from requiring local governments to begin a new mandated activity unless the General Assembly covers the cost, according to the analysis.

The Hancock Amendment allows local governments to replace missing funds by increasing the tax rate. But under SB 190, counties would have to report the tax credit as revenue collected  meaning they couldnt roll up their tax levies to make up for the lost revenue, according to the analysis.

Officials in Jefferson County estimate the bill would have cost them $4.2 million were it in place over the past five years.

St. Louis County Councilman Mark Harder, a Republican from Ballwin, introduced a bill in May that would put the plan in place in St. Louis County. He says its an obvious way to keep seniors in their homes.

But the county estimated if the plan had been in place for the last four years, it would have missed out on nearly $34 million in revenue, according to a memo from county leaders. The county estimates it could cost $125,000 a year on new personnel, too.

Opponents of the bill also question whether full-time teachers would be eligible for the tax credit because they arent entitled to Social Security coverage in Missouri. Railroad workers are also exempt from Social Security benefits.

The state researchers couldnt estimate how many counties might put the plan in place. The cost for each county differs depending on how many seniors live there. In St. Louis, for instance, 10% of homeowners are over 65, according to the analysis. But in Morgan County, in central Missouri, 44% of homeowners are.

As of 2021, the median home price in Missouri was $163,600 with average real estate taxes paid totaling about $1,600.

Seniors in Missouri paid roughly $874 million in property taxes that year.

Missouri school and county groups push to stop tax break for seniors The measure could prevent pay raises for teachers and present a logistical nightmare for counties wanting to implement it, the associations said.

Seniors to get tax break under St. Louis County bill. Losses would be in the millions, county says. St. Louis County seniors favor a bill that would freeze their property taxes, but county revenue experts say it would reduce funding for education and other public services by millions.

Missouri Legislature approves tax breaks for seniors The bill, sent to the governor, would freeze property taxes and also exempts all Social Security benefits from the states income tax.
Despite what you often see in astronomy dioramas, the planets arent usually in a neat, little line. However this week, most of the planets in
Is Missouri trying to drive good teachers away from public schools here? Not only did the Legislature this year once again fail to permanently address Missouris shamefully low teacher salaries, but the school districts themselves are increasingly using punitive and retaliatory policies against teachers who try to leave before their contracts are up.

As the Springfield News-Leader reports, districts are fining departing teachers hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and going after their teaching certificates under a 2016 state law that gives them that power.

Yes, a contract is a contract  but how does that kind of hardball, in addition to low pay and legislative interference in curriculum, attract more teachers to Missouri?

Public school teachers typically work under annual contracts in which they agree to teach for the entire school year. The idea is to ensure the districts have continuity in the classroom and arent scrambling to hire new teachers midyear or have to rely on substitutes if the teacher leaves earlier than agreed. In that instance, the teacher is in breach of contract.

Theres no question that puts districts in a bad position, and suing over that or any other contract breach is and always has been an option.

But in Missouri, the consequences for teachers who leave can be even more onerous. The 2016 statute allows districts to bring charges against the teachers with the state Board of Education, which can suspend their teaching certificates based on the contract breach.

The News-Leader reports that after initially using that extreme remedy just a few times a year, such cases increased during the pandemic  a time when, of course, the entire concept of teaching was turned on its head as classes went online.

The elevated number of certificate-suspension cases has continued post-pandemic. The newspaper found there have been 11 filings since last July.

Meanwhile, districts are being increasingly aggressive in assessing fines against teachers who break their contracts, charging them as much as $10,000 under the terms of the contracts. Its one thing to use fines to recover, say, a signing bonus, but thats not what its about. The districts say those fines are necessary to recoup the administrative costs of getting new teachers in place midyear.

Teachers unions balk at that math. There is no teacher in the state of Missouri who would cost $10,000 to replace, Missouri State Teachers Association attorney Kyle Farmer told the newspaper. It is absolutely being used as a punishment.

There are all kinds of reasons a teacher might decide two months into the school year that this inherently difficult job is untenable. Thats especially true in Missouri, where in addition to the familiar specter of low pay, Republican legislators this year put teachers in the culture-war crosshairs with threats to micromanage curriculum regarding race and gender.

None of this is to defend breaches of contract. The districts absolutely have the legal  and, it could be rationally argued, the moral  right to do what theyre doing.

But our question is a pragmatic one: In an era of employee shortages generally, and a specific Missouri teacher shortage that qualifies as a genuine crisis, how helpful is it to signal to potential new teachers that if it doesnt work out, they wont merely be out of a job, but possibly out of a career and facing bankruptcy? Its a question school districts should ask themselves as they struggle to hire and retain teachers.
UN officials insist that the current force of 16,000 UN peacekeepers will withdraw from Congo "as quickly as possible", but responsibly in that the withdrawal must not create a security void. UN peacekeepers first arrived in Congo in the 1960s but left after about four years. UN peacekeepers returned in 1999 and are finally departing, at the request of Congo, sometime in 2024.

The peacekeepers will leave behind a lot of unresolved problems. For example, over 80,000 people have recently fled North Kivu province and are now seeking refuge in South Kivu province. The surge has created an emergency refugee crisis, one of several in Congo caused by several armed and angry rebel, Islamic terrorist or tribal groups.

Most of Congo is at peace and because of that the government has made progress in dealing with several lingering problems. For example, the government said it is about to settle a five-decade old oil rights dispute with Angola. The dispute involves an offshore drilling block in the Atlantic Ocean. Congo has a very small coastline at the mouth of the Congo River. Highly productive oil fields lie off Angolas shore to the south and off Angolas Cabinda exclave to the north. The government indicated Congo and Angola will each receive a 30 percent royalty from the disputed block. The oil company handling production gets the other 40 percent.

Other countries in the region are also seeking to settle old problems. For example, Malawis (a small landlocked nation in southeast Africa) government reported that neighboring Rwanda has asked for help in arresting 55 people wanted in connection with the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Rwanda believes the genocidaires are living in Malawi. On May 25 South African police arrested Fulgence Kayishema, an extremist Rwandan Hutu accused of massacring over 2,000 people. Rwanda and South Africa reported Kayishema used a fake Malawian passport with a pseudonym to travel between South Africa from Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). Kayishema was living in Eswatini. (Austin Bay)

In eastern Congo (North Kivu and Ituri provinces) the army soldiers claim to have killed over a thousand ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) Islamist rebels since May 2021 when President Tshisekedi declared a state of siege (martial law) in North Kivu and Ituri provinces. Tshisekedi argued the rampant, daily violence justified his decision. The army focused on its own actions but the Ugandan Army has participated in joint operations against the ADF in North Kivu. The army report said it used body count numbers and over 1,000 ADF rebels died in anti-ADF operations. Note the Congolese usually refer to ADF fighters as terrorists. The press statement also claimed FARDC had arrested (captured) 702 ADF rebels. Men identified as Jordanian, Pakistani, Kenyan and Afghan nationals were among the captured ADF fighters.

June 10, 2023: In eastern Congo (Ituri province) CODECO militiamen attacked an army unit guarding civilians. No soldiers were hurt, but CODECO killed seven civilians.

June 8, 2023: In eastern Congo (North Kivu province) ADF terrorists hacked twelve people to death in a remote village.

Angola announced that it has signed an agreement to share military intelligence information with Egypt.

June 7, 2023: In eastern Congo (Ituri province) ADF rebels attacked three towns, looted them and killed at least 18 people.

June 6, 2023: In Burundi, the CNL (National Council for Freedom), the main political opposition coalition, claimed Burundis Interior Ministry has forced it to suspend political activities. The CNL said the government has violated Burundis constitution.

June 5, 2023: In Angola, leaders from ICGLR (International Conference of Great Lakes Region) praised SADCs decision to deploy peacekeeping troops in eastern Congo

June 3, 2023: Uganda confirmed that 54 Ugandan peacekeepers were killed in an attack by al Shabaab Islamic terrorists on an AU (African Union) peacekeeper base in Somalia. The base was 120 kilometers southwest of the Somali capital Mogadishu. Ugandan forces counterattacked and retook the base. Al Shabaab used a car bomb and several suicide bombers to lead the surprise attack.

June 1, 2023: In eastern Congo (North Kivu province) the M23 rebels withdrawals from some occupied areas has not convinced many refugees to return home. That are still about a quarter-million of these displaced people in refugee camps. Since October 2021 M23 militiamen have killed nearly three hundred people in eastern Congo.

At a meeting of East African Community (EAC) senior leaders Rwanda insisted representatives from the M23 rebel group participate in peace talks regarding eastern Congo. The meeting was held in Burundi.

In Congo the government confirmed that in late 2022 it granted a firm from the UAE (United Arab Emirates) an exclusive 25-year deal to export artisanal gold. The government said it hopes the deal will curb the smuggling of artisanal (informally mined) gold. An organization that monitors resource sales said the contracts time span was too generous. The UAE firm also received tax advantages. The announcement comes as Congo continues to renegotiate the China Deal. This is what the media call the unfair minerals and resource-for-infrastructure agreement with China. The China Deal dates back to 2007-2008 and was negotiated by the thoroughly corrupt government of President Joseph Kabila. The deal definitely shortchanges Congo.

May 31, 2023: Congos Ministry of Mining issued a study of national mineral production and sales during 2022. Fifty percent of diamonds exported went to the United Arab Emirates while 46.3 percent went to Belgium. India purchased around 3.5 percent. The other 0.2 percent was divided among Israel, Canada and the U.S. These are legal diamond exports. Congo produced 2,516,000 tons of copper. It also produced 115, 371 tons of cobalt.

May 30, 2023: The CAR (Central African Republic) announced that CAR will hold a national referendum sometime in July. The referendum will address proposed changes to the constitution as well as an end of term limits. For the record, the CARs highest court ruled that these proposals are unconstitutional. If the CAR ends term limits the current president could run for a third term in 2025.

Burundi reaffirmed its "neutrality" in the Russo-Ukraine war. The Burundian government made the statement while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was visiting the country.

May 29, 2023: In Russia, the CAR ambassador said that CAR needs a Russian military base with 5,000 to 10,000 soldiers. The base would promote military-technical cooperation.

May 28, 2023: In southeastern Congo (Virunga National Park) poachers ambushed and killed two park rangers. Another six rangers and guards were wounded in the incident. A Congolese conservation organization blamed a Mai-Mai militia for the murders. The poachers were in the park hunting a hippopotamus.

May 27, 2023: Uganda reported its forces had suffered heavy casualties when Al Shabaab Islamist rebels in Somalia attacked a military base manned by Ugandan Army peacekeepers.

May 23, 2023: Congo formally requested the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigate and prosecute M23 rebels and Rwanda Army (Rwanda Defense Forces) personnel who have engaged in systematic pillaging of natural resources in Congo. TO government asked the ICC to focus on 2022 and 2023. Congo accuses Rwanda of backing M23. Rwanda denies the allegation.

May 19, 2023: Russia announced that its foreign minister has signed a bilateral declaration with Ugandas foreign minister that commits both countries to refrain from initiating the deployment of weapons in outer space. Uganda has a satellite program.

May 18, 2023: Mai-Mai militiamen ambushed a vehicle convoy in Virunga National Park and killed three rangers. Another individual in the convoy was also slain. Six people were wounded.

May 15, 2023: In southwestern Congo (Kwango province) there has been a n upsurge in tribal violence during the last week. The Yaka tribe Mobondo militia attacked several villages in Kwango province.. The army is trying to clear the militiamen from National Route 1, the main highway to the national capital Kinshasa. At least 11 civilians have been killed this time. In nearby Mai-Ndombe province (north of Kwango province) there has also been intermittent violence between the Yaka and Teke tribes for at least four years.

May 10, 2023: Congo and Uganda are discussing shipping Congolese oil through Ugandas planned crude oil pipeline. The EACOP (East African Crude Oil Pipeline) will run from the Lake Albert oil fields to Tanzanias Indian Ocean seaport of Tanga. Thats about 1,445 km (900 miles). Uganda estimates the pipeline will cost $3.5 billion. Uganda will start oil production and oil exporting in 2025.

May 9, 2023: In Botswana (north of South Africa) the government supported the possible deployment of Southern African forces to replace the EACRF. He said there are problems with the East African force. He said his government believes there is a cohabitation between some EACRF contingents and the M23 terrorists.

May 6, 2023: The East African Community praised its East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) peacekeeping contingent for forcing the M23 rebel group to withdraw from villages. The EAC is referring to the M23 rebels as occupiers, which implies the peacekeepers are liberators. Residents in these areas began returning to their homes around May 1. Despite the success, EAC leaders are not pleased with Congolese president Tshisekedis recent call for a regional force that will target armed rebel groups, especially M23 Tshisekedi seems to want the EAC to deploy a unit like MONUSCOs Force Intervention Brigade (FIB, or FBDE). The UN gave that unit a mandate to conduct offensive operations. Tshisekedi wants a force that can impose peace in the region. (Austin Bay)
PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE: FAX) announced today that its Board of Directors has elected to terminate, effective June 16, 2023, the designation of Fitch Ratings, Inc. (Fitch) as the rating agency for each series of the Fund's Senior Notes and the Fund's Mandatory Redeemable Preferred Shares (MRPS). Each has replaced Fitch with Kroll Bond Rating Agency LLC (KBRA), a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (NRSRO).

KBRA has assigned each series of the outstanding Senior Notes a rating of AAA' and the MRPS a rating of 'AA-'.

In 2020, Fitch adopted changes to their closed-end fund rating methodology which negatively impacted 311 closed-end funds, noting that "any potential rating changes are solely the result of the criteria change and that the underlying fundamentals of the closed-end funds have not changed". As recently as January 2023, Fitch affirmed a rating of A' to both Senior Notes and MRPS however in light of numerous closed-end fund managers transitioning to KBRA we believe the new ratings are more reflective of the current credit risk and financial strength of the company.

Important Information

In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, abrdn Australia Limited, abrdn Asia Limited, Aberdeen Capital Management, LLC, abrdn ETFs Advisors LLC and abrdn Alternative Funds Limited.

The information in this press release is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to or in connection with the proposed transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

https://www.abrdnfax.com

For More Information Contact:

abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds

Investor Relations

1-800-522-5465

[email protected]

SOURCE: abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:
SOUTHAMPTON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Claim Assist, a leading provider of innovative solutions in forgery prevention and data protection, is revolutionizing the landscape of digital security. With a suite of services designed to combat business email compromise (BEC), enhance data protection, recover investments lost to Forex con, and provide objective financial consulting, Claim Assist is empowering businesses and individuals to safeguard their assets and achieve greater financial success.

In today's increasingly digital world, conning is becoming more sophisticated, posing a significant threat to individuals and organizations alike. BEC (Business Email Compromise), in particular, has seen a rise in complexity and elusiveness. Claim Assist understands the gravity of this issue and has developed a comprehensive approach to combat such compromise tactics. By leveraging advanced technology and a deep understanding of social engineering techniques, Claim Assist assists companies in positively identifying and authenticating customers before payment, ensuring that funds are directed to the rightful recipients.

Protecting data is of paramount importance in the digital age. Claim Assist recognizes this and takes analytical thinking to new heights in the context of data protection. By closely examining clients' needs, gathering information from relevant sources, and developing a profound understanding of the challenges they face, Claim Assist offers tailored solutions to enhance productivity and drive success. Their team of experts works diligently to implement innovative strategies, continuously analyzing, testing, and reviewing the effectiveness of the newly implemented solutions.

"We are thrilled to offer our cutting-edge solutions to businesses and individuals seeking to combat fraud and protect their assets," mentioned on the website of Claim Assist. "At Claim Assist, we are committed to staying one step ahead of fraudsters and providing our clients with the tools they need to thrive in the digital age."

Claim Assist's comprehensive suite of services, including their BEC prevention, data protection strategies, Forex forgery recovery, and objective financial consulting, positions them as an industry leader in the fight against online stealing. Their dedication to innovation, integrity, and customer success sets them apart, earning the trust and loyalty of their ever-growing client base.

For more information about Claim Assist and their suite of services, please visit their website at claimassist.pro.

About Claim Assist:

Claim Assist is a leading provider of innovative solutions in imposter prevention and data protection. With a focus on combating business email compromise, enhancing data protection, recovering investments lost to Forex treachery, and providing objective financial consulting, Claim Assist empowers businesses and individuals to safeguard their assets and achieve greater financial success.

Company Details

Organization: Claim Assist

Contact Person: Emily Rush

Website: https://www.claimassist.pro/

Email: [email protected]

Contact Number: +44 7537 106631

City: Southampton

State: Hampshire

Country: United Kingdom

SOURCE: Claim Assist

View source version on accesswire.com:
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / The Concerned Shareholders (the "Concerned Shareholders") of Tenet Fintech Group Inc. (CSX:PKK) ("Tenet" or the "Company") wish to remind the shareholders of Tenet to please vote only on the BLUE form of proxy or voting instruction form ("VIF"). However, even if you have already voted using a Tenet proxy or VIF, you have every right to change your vote and support the election of the Concerned Shareholders' nominees. A later-dated BLUE form of proxy or VIF automatically revokes any and all previously submitted Tenet forms of proxy or VIF. Please vote the BLUE form of proxy or VIF before 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 22.

The Concerned Shareholders believe their three highly-qualified nominees will provide industry-specific expertise, capital market, and business execution experience all while being vigilant on costs and the capital share structure to the Board of Directors. The three nominees that the Concerned Shareholders are putting forward are Johnson Joseph, Liang (Golden) Qiu, and Mayco Quiroz. Mr. Joseph and Mr. Qiu are familiar to shareholders as the founders of Tenet and the main drivers behind the Company's vision while Mr. Quiroz has extensive private and public company experience, including in the fintech industry.

The annual general meeting of shareholders will be held on June 27 at 10:00 am EDT.

If you do not receive the Concerned Shareholders' Information Circular, the BLUE form of proxy, or VIF, or you would like to speak to any of the Concerned Shareholders, including the Concerned Shareholders' nominees, please contact the Concerned Shareholders by email at [email protected].

INFORMATION IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC BROADCAST SOLICITATION

The Concerned Shareholders are relying on the exemption under section 9.2(4) of National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations and section 150(1.2) of the Canada Business Corporations Act to make this public broadcast solicitation. The following information is provided in accordance with securities and corporate laws applicable to public broadcast solicitations.

This solicitation is being made by the Concerned Shareholders, who are Kelong Chen, Changsheng Zhuo, Pierre Lalonde, Barbara Hickson and Joseph Zenha, and not by or on behalf of the management of Tenet.

The registered and mailing address of Tenet is 705 - 119 Spadina Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2L1.

The Concerned Shareholders have filed an information circular containing the information required by Form 51-102F5 - Information Circular in respect of the Concerned Shareholders' nominees, which is available under Tenet's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

A registered shareholder who has given a proxy may revoke it by depositing an instrument or act in writing executed or, in Quebec, signed by the shareholder or by the shareholder's personal representative authorized in writing or, where the registered shareholder is a corporation, a duly authorized officer or attorney of the corporation and delivered to the registered office of the Company or to TSX Trust Company at P.O. Box 721 Agincourt, ON M1S 0A1 at any time up to and including the last business day preceding the day of the Meeting, or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof, or to the Chairman at the Meeting or any adjournment(s) or postponement(s) thereof, or in any other manner provided by law.

If you are a non-registered shareholder (Beneficial Shareholder), you must follow the instructions on your voting instruction form to revoke or amend any prior voting instructions.

Proxies for the Special Meeting may be solicited by mail, telephone, email, or other electronic means as well as by newspaper or other media advertising, and in person by associates, agents, representatives, and employees of the Concerned Shareholders, who will not be specifically remunerated therefor. In addition, the Concerned Shareholders may solicit proxies in reliance upon the public broadcast exemption to the solicitation requirements under applicable Canadian securities laws, conveyed by way of public broadcast, including through press releases, speeches, or publications, and by any other manner permitted under applicable Canadian laws. All costs incurred for any solicitation will be borne directly by the Concerned Shareholders. Any solicitation of shareholders will be conducted by mail and may be supplemented by telephone or other personal contact to be made without special compensation by the Concerned Shareholders and their affiliates and associates. The Concerned Shareholders will seek reimbursement from Tenet for fees incurred in connection with a successful reconstitution of the Board.

Proxies may be solicited by mail, facsimile, telephone, telegraph, Internet, in person, and by advertisements.

To the knowledge of the Concerned Shareholders, neither they nor any of their associates or representatives, or their respective associates or affiliates, has (i) any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the beginning of Tenet's most recently completed financial year or in any proposed transaction that has materially affected or would materially affect Tenet or any of its subsidiaries; or (ii) any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter currently known to be acted upon at the Meeting, other than the election of directors of Tenet.

For more information on this news release, please visit our website at www.tenetagm2023.com or contact us by:

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +1 705-887-6331

SOURCE: Cavalcanti Hume Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:
KELOWNA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Diamcor Mining Ltd (the "Company" or "Diamcor")(TSXV:DMI)(OTCQB: DMIFF)(FRA:DC3A) is pleased to announce that it has engaged Investor Cubed Inc. ("Investor Cubed") to provide additional investor relations and shareholder communications services in Canada for the Company.

Diamcor is focused on increasing awareness within various investment communities on the Company's various efforts, and the addition of Investor Cubed is aimed at furthering this objective. "Investor Cubed is an established company with 20 years' experience, and we look forward to their team providing us with additional introductions and awareness within the Canadian advisor community, as well as institutional investors and dealers" said Dean Taylor, CEO of Diamcor.

"Investor Cubed is excited to begin working with Diamcor, as we see the Company as having significant potential for revenue growth and expansion of their project in the near-term through the drilling and bulk sampling efforts over the greater areas recently announced", said Neil Simon, CEO of Investor Cubed. "We believe the current market metrics do not accurately reflect this growth potential, the existing assets, or how well positioned the Company is at a key time in the rough diamond sector", added Neil Simon, CEO.

The terms of the Investor Relations/Consulting Agreement with Investor Cubed (the "Agreement"), will commence on June 15th for a one-year term (terminable at Diamcor's option after three months), and provide for cash compensation of $7,500.00 per month payable by Diamcor to Investor Cubed for services rendered pursuant to the terms of the Agreement. Subject to the approval of the Diamcor Board of Directors and applicable TSX Venture Exchange policies, Diamcor has also agreed to grant Investor Cubed options to purchase 300,000 shares to be priced at $0.15. The options will vest in accordance with the TSX Venture Exchange vesting requirements as follows: 75,000 options may be exercised on September 15, 2023, 75,000 on December 15, 2023, 75,000 options on March 15, 2024, and the final 75,000 options on June 15, 2024. All options expire three years from the date of issue and are subject to the required hold periods pursuant to applicable securities laws and TSX Venture Exchange policies. Investor Cubed's engagement is subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Diamcor Mining Inc.

Diamcor Mining Inc. is a fully reporting publicly traded Canadian diamond mining company with a well-established history in the mining, exploration, and sale of rough diamonds. The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (V.DMI), and trades on the OTC QB International (DMIFF). The Company's primary focus is on the development of its Krone-Endora at Venetia Project which is co-located and directly adjacent to De Beers' Venetia Diamond Mine in South Africa. The Venetia diamond mine is recognized as one of the world's top diamond-producing mines, and the deposits which occur on Krone-Endora have been identified as being the result of shift and subsequent erosion of an estimated 1,000 vertical meters of material from the higher grounds of Venetia to the lower surrounding areas in the direction of Krone and Endora. The Company focuses on the acquisition and development of mid-tier projects with near-term production capabilities and growth potential and uses unique approaches to mining that involves the use of advanced technology and techniques to extract diamonds in a safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible manner. The Company has a strong commitment to social responsibility, including supporting local communities and protecting the environment.

About the Tiffany & Co. Alliance

The Company has established a long-term strategic alliance and first right of refusal with Tiffany & Co. Canada, a subsidiary of world famous New York based Tiffany & Co., to purchase up to 100% of the future production of rough diamonds from the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project at market prices. In conjunction with this first right of refusal, Tiffany & Co. Canada also provided the Company with financing in an effort to advance the Project as quickly as possible. Tiffany & Co. is now owned by Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (LVMH), a publicly traded company which is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange (Euronext) under the symbol LVMH and on the OTC under the symbol LVMHF. For additional information on Tiffany & Co., please visit their website at www.tiffany.com.

About Krone-Endora at Venetia

In February 2011, Diamcor acquired the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project from De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited, consisting of the prospecting rights over the farms Krone 104 and Endora 66, which represent a combined surface area of approximately 5,888 hectares directly adjacent to De Beers' flagship Venetia Diamond Mine in South Africa. On September 11, 2014, the Company announced that the South African Department of Mineral Resources had granted a Mining Right for the Krone-Endora at Venetia Project encompassing 657.71 hectares of the Project's total area of 5,888 hectares. The Company has also submitted an application for a mining right over the remaining areas of the Project. The deposits which occur on the properties of Krone and Endora have been identified as a higher-grade "Alluvial" basal deposit which is covered by a lower-grade upper "Eluvial" deposit. The deposits are proposed to be the result of the direct-shift (in respect to the "Eluvial" deposit) and erosion (in respect to the "Alluvial" deposit) of material from the higher grounds of the adjacent Venetia Kimberlite areas. The deposits on Krone-Endora occur with a maximum total depth of approximately 15.0 metres from surface to bedrock, allowing for a very low-cost mining operation to be employed with the potential for near-term diamond production from a known high-quality source. Krone-Endora also benefits from the significant development of infrastructure and services already in place due to its location directly adjacent to the Venetia Mine, which is widely recognised as one of the top producing diamond mines in the world.

Qualified Person Statement:

Mr. James P. Hawkins (B.Sc., P.Geo.), is Manager of Exploration & Special Projects for Diamcor Mining Inc., and the Qualified Person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 responsible for overseeing the execution of Diamcor's exploration programmes and a Member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta ("APEGA"). Mr. Hawkins has reviewed this press release and approved of its contents.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Mr. Dean H. Taylor

President & CEO

Diamcor Mining Inc.

www.diamcormining.com

For further information, please contact:

Diamcor Mining Inc.

Dean H. Taylor,

President & CEO

Email: [email protected]

Investor Cubed Shareholder inquiries:

Investor Cubed Inc.

Neil Simon, Chairman & CEO

[email protected]

647-258-3310

About Investor Cubed:

Investor Cubed provides specialized services to small cap & mid cap private & public companies. With over 20 years' experience Investor Cubed has built relationships with Canada's top advisors, dealers, institutions, and investors. As a trusted partner to our clients, our objective is to help take them to the next level of development and recognition in the capital markets. We provide multiple services including Investor relations, financial consulting, dealer intros, research, going public assistance and access to capital. Through accomplishing this, we help create value for our clients' shareholders. For more information go to www.investor3.ca. Investor Cubed can trace its success to our core values: Integrity + Insight + Intelligence = I3

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. While these forward-looking statements represent our best current judgement, they are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict and which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Further, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

WE SEEK SAFE HARBOUR

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.

SOURCE: Diamcor Mining Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:
Former Atlanta and Louisville Police Chief will lead organizational growth

ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / InVeris Training Solutions, Inc., the leading provider of technology-driven training solutions for defense forces, law enforcement agencies and commercial shooting range owners around the globe, has expanded its executive leadership team with the hire of former Atlanta and Louisville Police Chief Erika Shields as Chief Commercial Officer.

Erika Shields - InVeris

Erika Shields, Chief Commercial Officer, InVeris Training Solutions

Shields brings decades of management experience to InVeris, along with a focus on using InVeris' simulation technology to help law enforcement officers across the country make better decisions in their field. Shields will work with leadership in the military and law enforcement agencies as they leverage the company's virtual reality and augmented reality products to improve split-second decision-making and protect our communities.

"The technology InVeris has is superb, and it brings to the table what police chiefs across the country are looking for," said Shields. "This product allows law enforcement and military personnel to train on a regular basis in real-life scenarios with feedback focused on de-escalation and improving outcomes."

Shields began her law enforcement career in 1995 with the Atlanta Police Department, ultimately serving as Chief of Police from 2016 to 2020. She became Louisville (Ky.) Chief of Police in 2021 and led the Louisville Police Department until earlier this year.

"Erika shares our mission, which is focused on solving our customers' essential training needs in ways that ultimately foster a safer environment on the job and in the communities they serve," said InVeris CEO Clyde Tuggle. "Throughout her law enforcement career, she has embraced and leveraged technology solutions to train officers, track crime trends and, ultimately, keep our cities safer. We are excited to welcome Erika to InVeris and will rely on her vast leadership experience to ensure we continue to provide innovative and cutting-edge training products and services that best support the military and law enforcement industries."

Shields joins InVeris Training Solutions at a vital time in its 95-year history, as the company expands its virtual training solutions to better meet the needs of a rapidly-changing industry. In late 2022, InVeris introduced SVR 3.3, which enhances trainees' performance and judgment skills through providing instructors with biometric insight into a trainee's stress levels during these training scenarios, which can be used to further understand trainees' mental and emotional abilities to cope and interact during various real-world events.

"Erika has a depth of experience that makes her perfectly suited to understand the needs and challenges of leaders in this industry," said InVeris Board Chair and former U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss. "Her voice will resonate with those who are charged with directing the nation's preeminent law enforcement agencies, as well as our dedicated members of the military, who work tirelessly to build safer communities."

Shields has seen the value of this technology-driven approach, which leverages virtual reality, augmented reality and projection systems for law enforcement training.

"The ability to re-create the stressors that go into every scenario where officers have to shift gears so quickly, that is so crucial to every officer on a beat," she said. "You really have to get an officer conditioned to understand they have to take so many factors into account - most importantly, their stress level - to make the correct decision.

"Developing this level of understanding leads to fewer incidents and a safer community and country."

To download a high-resolution headshot of Erika Shields, please click here.

About InVeris

InVeris Training Solutions, a Pine Island Capital Partners company, is the leading provider of technology-driven training solutions for defense forces, law enforcement agencies and commercial shooting range owners around the globe. Building off nearly a century of experience, InVeris technology powers live fire and virtual weapons training systems that have been proven to improve speed, accuracy, judgment in the use of force, and overall combat ability while reducing training time, logistics, and cost. Headquartered in Suwanee, Georgia, InVeris employs nearly 400 people at facilities in the United States, Australia, Canada, Netherlands, Qatar, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.inveristraining.com or call (800) 813-9046.

Contact Information:

Bryan Harris

InVeris Media Relations

[email protected]

706-369-3589

SOURCE: InVeris Training Solutions, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:
CHEYENNE, WY / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Mighty Fire Breaker is pleased to announce that its CitroTech Products and Application Cannons are heading to Canada to Support our new distribution partner, Okanagan Garages in Kelowna, BC, Canada. We are excited to be working with Laurence Waidmann, the business principle to support and teach Proactive Wildfire Defense, with Certified EPA Safer Choice fire chemistry. In the news today, many are saying that disasters often bring politicians, policymakers, researchers, and the public to the discussion table. They are saying that this focus often exposes the operational, coordination and governance deficiencies and weaknesses of current emergency management systems. This should help Laurence Waidmann gain headway with his efforts to achieve better and safer ways to deal with wildfire.

As Canada is enduring its most destructive start to wildfire season, Mighty Fire Breaker will be working to find others in the building trade like Laurence to set up other distributor locations throughout Canada and the U.S. to make our products and equipment readily available to property owners, thereby supporting a proactive wildfire campaign with MFB's safe fire chemistry.

In addition, Mighty Fire Breaker was just featured as a lead supporter and exhibitor at the Placerville, CA Fair, a four- day event which drew over 70,000 people last year. The MFB booth is in place now as the show just opened and people are already liking our Do-It-Yourself Wildfire Defense System display.

For technical product information: [email protected]

Contact Information

Twitter: @GEVIOfficial

Website: https://generalenterpriseventures.com/

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements. The words 'believe,' 'may,' 'estimate,' 'continue,' 'anticipate,' 'intend,' 'should,' 'plan,' 'could,' 'target,' 'potential,' 'is likely,' 'will,' 'expect' and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company has based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Some or all of the results anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not be achieved. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

SOURCE: GENERAL ENTERPRISE VENTURES, INC. ("GEVI")



View source version on accesswire.com:
Originally published on principal.com

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / When McKenzie Kerry graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a leadership position in a financial services company was very much on her mind. A business management major, Kerry had long sought out extra opportunities and activities, such as DECA, a leadership prep group for high schoolers and college students. "It was my thing in high school. I competed for three years and was president," Kerry says. "I knew when I graduated, I wanted to find a leadership development program."

Lots of familiar corporate names entered the post-college job search in her hometown of Charlotte. Then she happened upon a LinkedIn job posting for Principal Financial Group. "I had never heard of Principal," Kerry says. "But I did some research and liked what I saw."

That feeling, along with insights from key people along the way, helped Kerry navigate the Principal interview, job offer, and eventual relocation halfway across the country to Des Moines. "There was a connection I felt with people I had already met, and the culture felt different," she says. "I knew I didn't want to miss out on it."

As Principal has discovered, nurturing those connections helps support diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, not just in communities and with customers, but also with employees. Those connections are multifaceted: support for Black-owned businesses, measurement of leadership representation, and celebrations old and new, such as the designation of Juneteenth as a Principal holiday.

DEI: From global to local

DEI isn't a goal with an end point: It's always on. Principal is continuing the work to increase diversity while making strides in areas such as gender. For example, women first received a seat on the board at Principal in 1980, and a Black woman joined the board two decades ago. Today, 46% of the management team are women.

At Principal, inclusion translates into a work environment that's:

based on integrity, respect, trust, and belonging,

attracts and retains diverse talent, increases employee engagement, and develops the next generation of leaders, and

is flexible so employees can integrate life and work.

Lofty goals indeed, but how do we know we're making progress? Measurements can help.

Inclusion: The Global People 2022 inclusion index, a measurement of authenticity and feeling valued among other factors, of 82% exceeds the goal of 80%.

Leadership: 62% of Board of Director members are diverse in their gender, race, or national origin.

Business support: In 2021, Principal committed to doubling the diverse small and midsize businesses it supports by 2025. In just its second year, we met 68% of the stated goal.

Global employment: Currently, women make up 54% of the Principal global workforce; 16% in the United States are people of color.

Outside recognitions: Principal was recognized as best place to work for LGBTQ+ Equality on the 2022 Corporate Equality Index by the Human Rights Commission Foundation.

Those high-level initiatives become actionable in a variety of ways, including engaging employees through employee resource groups. Internally, the Principal African American/Black employee resource group (AABERG) hosted a virtual discussion reflecting on the history of Juneteenth and sharing practical steps to commemorate the meaning of the day.

The origin of Juneteenth

When the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863,1 the Southern states still under control of successionists scoffed.

Over the next two years, state by state, however, Union forces had an opportunity to put force behind law- except in Texas. It wasn't until June 19, 1865, that enslaved people in Texas would learn that they too, had gained their freedom.2

Since 1979, Texas has celebrated the anniversary of that momentous day as Juneteenth. In 2021, it became a federal holiday. That same year, Principal marked Juneteenth as an official corporate holiday, and to celebrate the occasion, the Juneteenth flag flew above the headquarters in Des Moines as employees and community members commemorated the day together.

Principal Foundation also funds a number of external initiatives such a grant to the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, which helps entrepreneurs and small business owners improve personal finances, and 1863 Ventures, a national business development non-profit for entrepreneurs that have been historically marginalized.

Nationally, Black individuals3 and specifically Black women4 are becoming first-time entrepreneurs and business owners at one of the fastest rates in the country. Buying from these businesses on, before, and after Juneteenth helps.

Dannie Patrick, another transplant to Des Moines and global inclusion specialist, has volunteered at a past local Juneteenth event. "At Principal, we know that simply observing Juneteenth as a holiday is not enough for our employees. They want to be involved and actively volunteer to make an impact within the communities we serve," Patrick says.

"Volunteering at Juneteenth Neighbor's Day is so important to me because it gives me and others the opportunity to see ourselves reflected back in the mirror, which happens less frequently here in Iowa," Patrick says. "It's empowering and helps me keep going. Having an employer that acknowledges and supports that is why I am proud to say I'm a Principal employee."

Candid conversations for a more inclusive future

During Kerry's formal interviews, "the tone was much different than other companies-very conversational and friendly," Kerry says. "Everyone gave me the impression they wanted what was best for me. Principal did a great job during the process of making sure I was interviewed by people of color who work here, so we were able to talk about diversity and leadership."

Kerry started in April 2021 as a leadership development program associate. The early career program rotates associates in months-long assignments across Principal, helping them develop skills for an eventual placement as a leader with direct reports. Kerry relocated to Des Moines in September 2021, leaving behind family and her hometown. There have been challenges. There have been connections. There is still more work to be done.

Fellow employees have helped her acclimate to Des Moines-hard in any situation, harder still when moving to a state that isn't as diverse as the community you've left behind. "It's taken adjusting, but there are great things this time in my life has to offer," Kerry says.

That includes competing in Miss Iowa and placing third; Kerry had never competed in a pageant before. It's also taking advantage of the doors that the leadership development program opens-and working to open more doors for others. "I've had people advocate for me, and I want that for everyone," Kerry says. "Hopefully some of the candid conversations we've had can make sure that we can continue to increase and then keep diversity in Iowa."

Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. ("Principal Foundation") is a duly recognized 501(c)(3) entity focused on providing philanthropic support to programs that build financial security in the communities where Principal Financial Group, Inc. ("Principal") operates. While Principal Foundation receives funding from Principal, Principal Foundation is a distinct, independent, charitable entity. Principal Foundation does not practice any form of investment advisory services and is not authorized to do so.  2023 Principal Foundation.

2925739-062023

1National Archives

2UC Denver

3Bloomberg

4USA Facts

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: [email protected]

SOURCE: Principal Financial Group

View source version on accesswire.com:
Planting Hope's team showcased menu solutions featuring RightRice Veggie Rice, Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk, and Mozaics" Real Veggie Chips to hundreds of Foodservice channel decision makers during the 2023 DOT Foods Innovations Show

DOT Foods is the linchpin to opening up the Foodservice channel, a major focus for Planting Hope for expanded growth and profitability

DOT Foods provides direct access to more than 4,500 distributors and 200,000 Foodservice end user locations

Menu concepts showcased to DOT customers include RightRice in bowl formats (as featured on CAVA restaurant menus nationwide, Chicken + RightRice Bowl ), as well as in burritos and wraps

Now appearing on nearly 25% of menus nationwide, bowls are one of the fastest growing menu trends in Foodservice, offering customers both easy customization and portability

RightRice is the only bowl base that also provides complete protein

CHICAGO, IL and VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / The Planting Hope Company Inc. (TSXV:MYLK)(OTCQB:MYLKF)(FRA:J94) ("Planting Hope" or the "Company"), a plant-based food and beverage company focused on producing the world's most nutritious and planet-friendly products, is proud to announce that Planting Hope was invited to showcase its product lines at the DOT Food Innovations show, June 13-15 in St. Louis, Missouri. All three brands, RightRice Veggie Rice, Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk, and Mozaics" Real Veggie Chips are newly listed in DOT Foods, making them available to more than 4,500 distributors and 200,000 Foodservice end user locations nationwide. The DOT Foods Innovations Show brings together DOT customers, suppliers, and national account operators, to make meaningful connections, discover industry insights, and explore trending products-all available through DOT.

"Achieving distribution through DOT Foods across our brands has been a major milestone achievement for the Company, and we're proud to be invited to showcase our products to DOT Foods Partners at the annual DOT Foods Innovations Show," says Julia Stamberger, CEO and Co-Founder, Planting Hope. "DOT's reach and reputation in the Foodservice channel is unparalleled, and they're truly a company that their partners enjoy working with, from vendors to end customers. We're thrilled to bring our own Planting Hope innovation to DOT customers at the show and are showcasing a variety of menu solutions across our products that speak to some of the fastest-growing trends in Fast-Casual, Quick Service Restaurant, and Campus Foodservice."

At DOT Innovations, Planting Hope offered samples of a RightRice Pad Thai- style bowl prepared by Planting Hope's Michelin Star Chef Henry Hill. Menu solutions on display included a RightRice Vegetarian Burrito and a RightRice Mediterranean Bowl, similar to the bowls at CAVA Restaurants (NYSE: CAVA), where RightRice is offered by name as a Grain Bowl base.

The Bowl menu trend now appears on more than 25% of restaurant menus nationwide and is continuing to scale rapidly. As Bleu Zones put it (Super Bowls: Why This Healthier Food Trend is Here to Stay), "the Bowl Boom emerged from fast-casual restaurants almost by accident, an ad hoc solution for meeting off-menu special requests from customers. Seen this way, it's clear that bowls are the food format we'd long wanted, rather than some clever marketing ploy foisted upon us."

Bowls are now a fixture on the menu of Fast-Casual Restaurants, which fill the gap between fast-food and casual table-service restaurants; today there are more than 40,000 Fast-Casual restaurant outlets in the United States, and annual revenues are anticipated to grow by $55.4 billion between 2022-2027, a CAGR of 12%.

To build a Bowl, typically a consumer selects a Base, then a Protein, then a variety of Veggies, wet Toppings (beans, guacamole, hummus), dry Toppings (seeds, croutons, cheese), and Dressing. Popular bowl bases on menus include Salad Greens, Grains (rice, quinoa, cauliflower rice, lentils), and Noodles (zucchini noodles, rice noodles, ramen).

"The great thing about RightRice is that it is far more than a rice alternative," said Planting Hope Product & Culinary Development Chef, Henry Hill. "RightRice is the only bowl base that is ALSO a complete protein. Now operators can garnish and build up the bowl without having to add additional protein on top. With 11g of compete protein per serving, ounce for ounce RightRice has comparable complete protein to salmon, 3x the protein in tofu, and 25% more protein than most alternative meats, like Beyond Meat or Impossible Burger."

Ounce-for-ounce, RightRice Foodservice bulk product is priced comparably to quinoa, and less than animal protein sources, also providing opportunities for operator cost savings across the finished product as additional protein is not required to complete the meal.

For Beverage menu solution ideation, Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk was featured in a Toasted Black Sesame Nitro Latte and in a Vanilla Matcha Latte.

The Planting Hope 2023 Foodservice Catalog, including DOT Foods item numbers, is available here.

RightRice on display at DOT Innovations 2023 Show with Mediterranean bowl; Chef Henry dishes out a RightRice sample bowl to a show attendee

Planting Hope Vice President of Foodservice Becky Harrison and Product & Culinary Development Chef Henry Hill open Day 3 of the 2023 DOT Foods Innovations Show

About DOT Foods

Dot Foods, Inc. carries 125,000 products from 1,020 food industry manufacturers, making it the largest food industry redistributor in North America. Through Dot Transportation, Inc., an affiliate of Dot Foods, the company distributes foodservice, convenience, retail, and vending products to distributors in all 50 states and more than 55 countries. Dot Foods operates 12 U. S. distribution centers, which are located in Bullhead City, Arizona; Modesto, California; Bear, Delaware; Vidalia, Georgia; Burley, Idaho; Mt. Sterling, Illinois; University Park, Illinois; Cambridge City, Indiana; Williamsport, Maryland; Liverpool, New York; Ardmore, Oklahoma; and Dyersburg, Tennessee. Dot's 13th U.S. location will be located in Manchester, Tennessee. Dot Foods' Canadian operations are located in Toronto, Ontario and Calgary, Alberta. A new Dot Foods Canada distribution center is currently under construction in Ingersoll, Canada.

In November 2022, Planting Hope announced that the Company had become a vendor to Dot Foods, initiating listings through Dot with Original RightRice Veggie Rice in bulk 5lb bags and Hope and Sesame Barista Blend Sesamemilk in 32 oz shelf-stable cartons. An additional three RightRicei SKUs and six Hope and Sesamei SKUs were added to Dot warehouses in March 2023.

For more information, visit DotFoods.com.

About CAVA

CAVA is the category-defining Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant brand, bringing together healthful food and bold, satisfying flavors at scale. Rooted in rich Mediterranean heritage, CAVA bring a timeless approach to modern wellness through authentic cuisine and vibrant brand experience. Guided by its mission, CAVA believes food is a unifier for a more diverse and inclusive world for their guests, team members, and grower and rancher partners, where all are welcome at their table. CAVA believes that consumers should not have to choose between taste and health - their innovative cuisine appeals to a wide variety of preferences, satisfying the modern consumer's desires for flavorful, craveable, and nutritious food without compromise.

About RightRice

RightRice is a vegetable-based, protein-rich, lower carbohydrate alternative to white rice that's packed with fiber and complete plant-based protein. RightRice is the first of its kind: a shelf-stable grain that's 90% vegetables (lentils, chickpeas, green peas), and delivers on taste, functionality, and nutrition. With more than 9g of complete protein and 5g of fiber per 50g serving, RightRice provides almost four times the protein and 40% fewer net carbohydrates than traditional white rice, plus it can be prepared in 12 minutes. RightRice is available in Original (unflavored) and pre-seasoned flavor varieties, including Garlic & Herb, Spanish, and Cilantro Lime. RightRice Risotto provides a protein-rich, easy-to-cook alternative to traditional risotto. All RightRice products are made using real herbs and spices, and are plant-based, non-GMO verified, gluten-free certified, and kosher certified. RightRice products are currently sold in more than 8,500 doors in leading retailers across North America, including Whole Foods Market, Wegman's, Kroger, Sprouts, and Publix, and in Canada can be found at Walmart stores. RightRice is ideal for foodservice applications, and is featured on restaurant menus, including CAVA locations nationwide. RightRice has received awards and acclaim since its launch in 2019, including People Magazine's Best Plant-Based Food Award, NOSH's Best New Product, and Sunset Magazine's 2021 Pantry Award, in addition to being highlighted as the Best Alt Grain Grocery Store Swap by goop. RightRice Risotto was awarded Best Sauce/Store Cupboard Product in FoodBev's 2021 World Plant-Based Taste Awards and received the 2021 Eco Excellence Award for Best Gluten Free Product, in addition to being chosen as a 2021 Editors' Pick for Best New Product by Progressive Grocer. For more information visit: www.rightrice.com.

About The Planting Hope Company Inc.

Planting Hope develops, launches, and scales uniquely innovative plant-based and planet-friendly food and beverage brands. Planting Hope's award-winning and cutting-edge products fill key unmet needs in the skyrocketing plant-based food and beverage space. The Planting Hope brand family includes Hope and Sesame Sesamemilk, Barista Blend Sesamemilk, and Sesamilk" creamers, RightRice Veggie Rice, Mozaics" Real Veggie Chips, and Veggicopia Veggie Snacks. Planting Hope products are currently found in more than 15,000 retail doors and 70,000 total distribution points across North America. Founded by experienced food industry entrepreneurs, Planting Hope is a women-managed and women-led company focused on nutrition, sustainability, and representation.

For more information about Planting Hope please visit plantinghopecompany.com, sign up for Planting Hope news emails HERE and follow on LinkedIn.

An informational webinar on The Planting Hope Company from CEO and Co-Founder Julia Stamberger is available HERE.

To follow the brands on Instagram and Facebook, please visit: @hopeandsesameco, @rightrice, @mozaicschips, @veggicopia.

To find Planting Hope products at a store near you in the United States or Canada, please visit the store locator. Planting Hope products are also available at plantinghopebrands.com and ecommerce retailers including Amazon.com and Amazon.ca.

The 2023 Planting Hope Product Catalog is available here. The Planting Hope Foodservice Catalog, including item codes to order Planting Hope products through DOT Foods, is available here.

Contacts

Company Contact:

Julia Stamberger

CEO and Co-Founder

(773) 492-2243

[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact:

Glen Akselrod, Bristol Capital

(905) 326-1888 ext. 1

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Alex Jessup, Jessup PR

(323) 529-3541

[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.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively referred to hereafter as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements that address activities, events, or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will, or may, occur in the future, including statements about the Company's ability to execute on its goals, the timing pertaining to these goals the potential demand for the Company's products, the timing and success of anticipated product launches and distribution of the Company's products, and the Company's business prospects, future trends, plans and strategies. In some cases, forward looking statements are preceded by, followed by, or include words such as "may", "will," "would", "could", "should", "believes", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "continues", or the negative of those words or other similar or comparable words. In preparing the forward looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, the assumption that demand for the Company's product will be sustained or increase in accordance with management's projections, that the Company's internal research and analysis is indicative of broader market trends and the Company's anticipated future demand for its products, that changes in consumer preferences in the plant-based food industry will continue in accordance with the Company's expectations, that the Company's current business objectives can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected, and that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner. Although the management of the Company believes that the assumptions made and the expectations represented by such statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement herein will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. Risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company, as well as trends identified by the Company affecting its industry can be found in the Company's annual information form dated December 31, 2022 and the Company's continuous disclosure record available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Such cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements made in this news release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

SOURCE: The Planting Hope Company Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:
In this in-depth article, we'll research the largest barite producing countries in the world to see where is barite found in the world and which countries are the biggest players in global barite production. If you want to skim through and find the main barite cobalt producers, read 5 Largest Barite Producing Countries in the World.

The largest barite producing countries in the world are India, China, and Morocco, which collectively make up over 73% of global barite production. India's Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh regions are rich in barite resources, as is Morocco in North Africa, which is emerging as a significant producer. In the Middle East, Iran is known for its biggest barite reserves, currently amounting to 100 million metric tons. Additionally, Kazakhstan, Mexico, and Turkey contribute to the global availability of Barite, where it is extracted through open-pit mining and is predominantly used in the oil and gas industry as an essential property in drilling mud.

The global barite market is expected to grow from $1.95 billion in 2022 to $2.19 billion in 2023. Furthermore, we have already covered a detailed barite/baryte global market report; give it a read to understand this mineral better.

Where Is Barite Found In The World?

Since the largest barite producing regions are characterized by sedimentary rocks such as limestone and dolomite, or hydrothermal ore veins, they offer ideal conditions for barite formation.

Hydrothermal veins form when mineral-rich hot water flows through cracks in the earth's crust and results from tectonic or volcanic activities. As this fluid cools down, the minerals' precipitates accumulate to make veins where barite concentrate thrives.

Moreover, the presence of barium in the fluid is important in the case of barite as it combines with sulfate, usually supplied by the oxidation of sulfides or from the surrounding saline waters, to create barium sulfate  the mineral form known as barite.

Likewise, the sedimentary deposits of barite accumulate in marine environments where high concentrations of barium exist. Barium-rich waters come from deep-sea hydrothermal vents and flow into the oceans. Consequently, when the barium-rich waters meet with sulfate-rich seawater, barite precipitates out to settle along the seafloor. These deposits make layers of sedimentary rocks from which barite is later mined.

Therefore, the most favorable conditions for barite to form and grow are hydrothermal vents/veins and rock, which are abundantly present in India, China, and other largest barite producing countries around the world.

Who Mines Barite?

Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) is among the most recognized corporations in the barite sector that hosts multiple product service lines, among which, Baroid Industrial Drilling Products (IDP) is a supplier of drilling fluid additives. Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) overarching mandate involves modeling of oil and natural gas fields and reservoirs.

At the Rossi Mine, which dates back to 1947, Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) uses open pit mining techniques to extract barite ore, and the extracted ore undergoes an initial processing phase on-site through a jig plant. The concentrated ore is then transported to a specialized plant of Halliburton Company (NYSE:HAL) located in Dunphy, Nevada, where it undergoes further stages of crushing, packaging, and shipping.

Another big mining company that mines barite is Newpark Resources, Inc. (NYSE:NR), which functions as a provider of eco-conscious commodities. However, in 2022, Newpark Resources, Inc. (NYSE:NR) announced a strategic shift as the company declared to sell a significant portion of enduring assets, operational functions, and inventories associated with its Excalibar mineral grinding subsidiary.

As per the financial data available up until September 30, 2022, the Excalibar division had roughly $65 million of net capital employed. Cimbar, the purchasing entity in the agreement, aims to broaden its market share within the mineral grinding industry by acquiring Excalibar of Newpark Resources, Inc. (NYSE:NR).

One of the oldest barite mining companies is Baker Hughes Company (NASDAQ:BKR), a prominent entity in the American oilfield services sector. Baker Hughes Company (NASDAQ:BKR) systematically extracts barite mineral from numerous mining pits, which is then transported, primarily via trucking methods, to Argenta Mill.

It's noteworthy to mention that the current permittee of record for the Argenta Mine and Mill, where the barite processing occurs, is Baker Hughes Drilling Fluids, a subsidiary of Baker Hughes Company (NASDAQ:BKR).

What Are 4 Important Uses Of Barite?

Barite is used in multiple crucial industries because of its high specific gravity, chemical inertness, and nontoxicity. Its most important role is in the oil and gas industry as a weighting agent in drilling mud. As barite's high specific gravity allows the drilling mud to counterbalance the pressure in oil and gas wells, it prevents the explosive blowouts. It is ground to a small, uniform size to meet the mud specification requirements in drilling and to ensure efficient control of pressure.

Another notable application of barite is in the construction industry, where it works as an aggregate in the production of heavy cement. Barite's density makes this variant of cement ideal for constructing radiation-shielding structures like medical facilities and nuclear power plants. Here, crushed and screened barite is added to the cement mixture, providing enhanced radiation resistance.

Barite also works as a filler or extender in industrial products, owing to its chemical stability and white color. For instance, it is mixed in paint, plastics, and rubber to improve product durability to enhance resistance to harsh weather conditions, among other things.

The pharmaceutical industry utilizes barite in X-ray and computerized tomography (CT) machines. It's a radiographic contrast agent that helps provide clear, detailed images of a patient's internal structure to improve diagnostic accuracy.

Where Is The Largest Barite Deposit?

Iran is known to possess the greatest cumulative reserves of barite, with deposits summing up to approximately 100 million metric tons. When it comes to India, if we discuss the single largest barite deposit, the Mangampet deposit, situated in Andhra Pradesh, is the biggest in the country. Barite deposits can also be found in the United States, with Nevada showcasing the highest concentration in the nation. Similarly, Pakistan also lays claim to significant barite deposits; the country's major barite deposits are situated in the Hazara district. This region boasts one of the most productive barite belts in the country, which is also a valuable asset for the national mining sector.

With that out of the way, let's move on to the list of the largest barite producing countries in the world.

12 Largest Barite Producing Countries in the World

Pixabay/Public Domain

Our Methodology

We analyzed mining production data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Mineral Commodity Summaries for the years 2023, 2022, and 2018 to rank the largest barite producing countries in the world. Since USGS is a government scientific agency that provides annually updated, comprehensive data pertaining to all mineral and metal commodities worldwide, it is a credible source of the most current, internationally validated information.

Based on USGS barite mining data from 2022, 2021, and 2018, here are the largest barite producing countries in the world:

12. Pakistan

Barite Mine Production in 2021: 50,000 metric tons

Pakistan extracted 50,000 metric tons of barite in 2021, which corroborated its position on the top 12th spot among the largest barite producing countries in the world. Pakistan's estimated barite reserves also aggregate to 40 million metric tons and present a considerable opportunity for further exploitation. The country's chief barite reserves are concentrated in three principal regions: Hazara, Khuzdar, and LasBela. Pakistan's largest single barite deposit is called Ehuzdar, estimated to contain 1,100,000 short tons of barite. When paired with the 2nd largest coal and 5th largest gold deposits, Pakistan is surely a solid name when it comes to mineral reserves.

11. Laos

Barite Mine Production in 2021: 0.11 million metric tons

Laos is another considerable barite producer, owing to its favorable conditions for this mineral. The country mined 0.11 million metric tons of this vital non-metallic mineral in 2021, most of which is exported. However, barite exports from Laos were inhibited because of border closures with neighboring countries, since it is a landlocked country.

10. Russia

Barite Mine Production in 2022: 0.15 million metric tons

Russia's mining industry reported a yield of 0.15 million metric tons of barite in 2022, a significant percentage of which is used in oil and gas drilling operations. However, this output represents only a fraction of Russia's considerable Barite reserves. Russia's substantial barite reserve is estimated to be 12 million metric tons, which explains how Russia's mining strategy could influence worldwide market dynamics.

9. Thailand

Barite Mine Production in 2017: 0.15 million metric tons

Thailand's mineral industry extracted 0.15 million metric tons of barite in 2017, but its latest mining stats are unclear. As per the USGS Minerals Yearbook 2017-2018, Thailand's gold and silver mining was suspended because of environmental concerns. The unclear data on Thailand's barite extraction could be a result of that since its barite reserves are reported to be 18 million metric tons. Most of these barite deposits are in the Bo Hin Khao region, which is a 25-meter-thick zone containing barite and zinc.

8. Iran

Barite Mine Production in 2022: 0.22 million metric tons

In the MENA region, Iran is a leading name in the barite mining industry because of its diverse geology. Iran extracted a total of 0.22 million metric tons of barite in 2022. Most of this barite extraction originates from the southwestern region of Mahabad town, an integral part of the Sanandaj-Sirjan metamorphic zone (SSZ). SSZ is a geo-structurally significant area that hosts seven extensive barite-base metal deposits. The most notable thing about Iran in this aspect is its 100 million metric tons of barite reserves, which are the highest in the world. So while its barite mining is lower than Turkey, US, and Morocco, it surely has the capacity to outrank these countries.

7. Turkey

Barite Mine Production in 2022: 0.30 million metric tons

Turkey excavated 0.3 million metric tons of barite in 2022; most of this output is drawn largely from deposits located in the Konya, Maras, Mus, Antalya, and Kutahya regions of Turkey. Moreover, the estimated reserves of Turkey are 35 million metric tons, which underlines the nation's rich barite endowment and potential for future extraction.

6. Mexico

Barite Mine Production in 2022: 0.32 million metric tons

Mexico's barite mine yield reached a significant 0.32 million metric tons in 2022. Reports say that a significant portion of this mineral was extracted from the Chicomuselo district in Chiapas. This region is known for its rich barite deposits, often associated with Pb-Zn veins in Late Cretaceous to Tertiary sedimentary and volcanic rocks.

Click to continue reading 5 Largest Barite Producing Countries in the World.

Suggested Articles

Disclosure: None. 12 Largest Barite Producing Countries In The World is originally published on Insider Monkey.
CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Southern Energy Corp. ("Southern" or the "Company") (TSXV:SOU)(AIM:SOUC)(OTCQX:SOUTF) is pleased to announce that at the annual general and special meeting (the "Annual Meeting") held on June 15, 2023, all of the nominees listed in the Company's management information circular dated May 1, 2023 (the "Information Circular"), were elected as directors of the Company until the next Annual Meeting of shareholders or until their successors are elected or appointed.

The Company also announces that Mr. Michael Kohut and Mr. Paul Baay, who both decided not to stand for re-election at the Annual Meeting, have retired from the Company's board of directors. The Company's board of directors and management team would like to thank Mr. Kohut and Mr. Baay for their leadership and valuable contributions made during their respective tenures as directors of Southern.

All other items of business put forward to shareholders at the Annual Meeting were approved. For further details, please review the Information Circular of Southern dated May 1, 2023 under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.

For further information, please contact:

Southern Energy Corp.

Ian Atkinson (President and CEO)

Calvin Yau (CFO) Strand Hanson Limited - Nominated & Financial Adviser

James Spinney / James Bellman Canaccord Genuity - Joint Broker

Henry Fitzgerald-O'Connor / James Asensio Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited - Joint Broker

Callum Stewart / Ashton Clanfield Tennyson Securities - Joint Broker

Peter Krens / Pav Sanghera Camarco

Owen Roberts / Billy Clegg / Hugo Liddy +1 587 287 5401

+1 587 287 5402 +44 (0) 20 7409 3494

+44 (0) 20 7523 8000

+44 (0) 20 7710 7600

+44 (0) 20 7186 9033

+44 (0) 20 3757 4980

About Southern Energy Corp.

Southern Energy Corp. is a natural gas exploration and production company. Southern has a primary focus on acquiring and developing conventional natural gas and light oil resources in the southeast Gulf States of Mississippi, Louisiana, and East Texas. Our management team has a long and successful history working together and have created significant shareholder value through accretive acquisitions, optimization of existing oil and natural gas fields and the utilization of re-development strategies utilizing horizontal drilling and multi-staged fracture completion techniques.

SOURCE: Southern Energy Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:
NEW CFO APPOINTMENT

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Troy MineralsInc. ("Troy"or the "Company") (CSE:TROY)(OTCQB: TROYF) is pleased to inform its shareholders and investors that, while the company's common shares continue to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol TROY, they can also be traded in the United States under the symbol TROYF.

"Increasing our reach into the United States equity market offers the Company increased visibility through exposure to a broader range of investors which will assist in increasing the liquidity and convenience of trading of the Company's common shares," said Rana Vig, President and CEO of Troy Minerals.

The OTCQB, which is a U.S. trading platform operated by OTC Markets Group Inc., offers investors, transparent high-quality trading in entrepreneurial and development-stage companies. The OTCQB Venture Market is recognized as an established public market by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. To be eligible, companies must be current in their reporting and must undergo an annual verification and management certification process.

The company also recently completed its eligibility requirements with the Depository Trust Company (DTC) for electronic settlement and clearing of its common shares in the United States. This electronic method of clearing securities speeds up the receipt of stock and cash and accelerates the settlement process for investors trading on the OTC marketplace.

U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and real-time quotes for the company on the OTC Markets website.

NEW CFO APPOINTMENT

The Company also announces that effective immediately, Regina Lara Yunes will assume the role of the Company's new chief financial officer (CFO). The board of directors has accepted the resignation of Alex McAulay as the company's CFO and wishes to thank Mr. McAulay for his contributions since the inception of the Company.

Regina Lara Yunes is a designated Chartered Professional Accountant with a Bachelor's of Technology in Accounting with Distinctions from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. As a Financial Reporting Manager at Treewalk, she provides accounting, financial reporting, and compliance services to publicly listed companies. Prior to her time at Treewalk, Regina worked as an accountant with Smythe LLP, a public accounting firm, providing audit and tax services to private and public companies.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD,

Rana Vig | Presidentand Director

Telephone: 604-218-4766

Email: [email protected]

About Troy Minerals Inc.

Troy Minerals is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. The Company currently holds interest in three assets;

The SW2 project is a highly perspective Vanadium, Titanium and Iron ore rich project that consists of 91 mineral claims located approximately 50km southwest of Laramie, Wyoming USA. The property is a one billion tonne plus target in a Proterozoic Layered Mafic Intrusive host with strong magnetite-rich cumulates and accompanying V/Ti and Pt/Pd/Au/Rh-bearing sulfide horizons.

The Green Gold project, in which the Company has the right to acquire 100% interest, is comprised of fourteen (14) mineral claims with an aggregate area of 11,238 hectares, is located in central British Columbia in the Cariboo Mining Division, approximately 34 kilometers (km) southwest of the city of Prince George.

The Ticktock project, a 1,065-hectare property located within the prolific Golden Triangle region of British Columbia, Canada, lies 23km northwest of the historic Eskay Creek Mine and sits between the Enduro Metals Newmont Lake property and the Aben Resources Forrest-Kerr property.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information: This release includes certain statements that may be deemed"forward-looking statements". All statements in this release,other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that Troy Resources Inc. (the "Company") expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always,identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include results of exploration activities may not show quality and quantity necessary for further exploration or future exploitation of minerals deposits, volatility of commodity prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, permitting and other approvals, and general economic, market or business conditions.Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs,estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs,estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

SOURCE: Troy Minerals Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 16, 2023 / Zimtu Capital Corp. (TSXV:ZC)(FSE:ZCT1) (the "Company" or "Zimtu") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase three separate mining claims generally known as the Eagle Lake claims (the "Eagle Lake Claims"), the Grove Lake claims (the "Grove Lake Claims") and the Whitefish Lake claims (the "Whitefish Lake Claims" and, together with the Eagle Lake Claims and Grove Lake Claims, the "Claims"), located approximately 350 km northwest of Thunder Bay, Ontario (the "Acquisition").

Northwest Ontario Lithium Prospects

The Claims are comprised of a large-scale land package consisting of 89,120ha (891.2 sq km) across 17 claim groups prospective for spodumene-bearing lithium pegmatites in an underexplored area of Northwestern Ontario with multiple existing lithium deposits within a 100km radius. Recent digitization of historical maps from the Ontario geological survey shows dozens of pegmatites outcrops across the properties hosted within several rock units. Each property contains 99th percentile and above lithium in lake sediments values from the entire Ontario government database (>50,000 lake sediment samples analyzed for Lithium in the Ontario provincial database). Geophysical (airborne magnetic) anomalies crosscut the properties which are evidence of structural pathways that may have provided room for lithium bearing pegmatites to form.

Figure 1: NW Ontario Claim Group locations, Bedrock Geology

Figure 2: NW Ontario Claim Group Locations, Bedrock Geology with Lithium in Lake Sediment analyses and land tenure

Figure 3: NW Ontario Claim Group Locations, Bedrock Geology with Historic Pegmatite Notations

Whitefish Lake Claims

The Whitefish Lake Claims are comprised of 1,584 claims covering 30,791 hectares.

This claim group lies directly northeast of Dryden, Ontario, a city with population 7,500 located on the trans-Canada highway. CP rail lines pass through the claim groups. All claim blocks are road accessible.

The Whitefish Lake Claims were staked over several anomalous populations in lake sediment samples in Li, Cs, and Rb. (Each claim block contains >99th percentile samples for Li). E-W and ENE magnetic trending lineaments crosscut the properties.

Property is underlain by gneissic and foliated tonalite, massive granodiorite to granite, with minor mafic metavolcanic rocks. Recent digitization of historic Ontario geological survey maps shows dozens of mapped pegmatite occurrences in and around the properties. Historic mapping has been at low resolution (or wide spacing) as these units have been classically overlooked as prospective units for mineralization.

30 of 75 of Lake sediment samples in the properties are >99th percentile for Li (>28.1ppm, max 43.7)

22 of 75 of Lake sediment samples in the properties are >99th percentile for Cs (>2.4ppm, max 84.05)

28 of 75 of Lake sediment samples in the properties are >99th percentile for Cs (>37.1ppm, max 63.07)

Figure 4: Whitefish Lake Group Claim Blocks, Bedrock Geology, Lithium in Lake sediment analyses, mapped pegmatites, land tenure

Grove Lake Claims

The Grove Lake Claims are comprised of 1,520 claims covering 25,027 hectares.

This claim group lies directly North of Sioux Lookout, Ontario, a town with population 5,500. CP rail lines pass through the town. All claim blocks are road accessible.

The Grove Lake Claims were staked over several anomalous populations in lake sediment samples in Li and Rb. (Each claim block contains >99th percentile samples for Li). Dominantly E-W magnetic trending lineaments crosscut the properties.

Property is underlain by gneissic and foliated tonalite, massive granodiorite to granite, crosscut by metasedimentary and greenstone (mafic metavolcanic) units. Recent digitization of historic Ontario geological survey maps shows dozens of mapped pegmatite occurrences in and around the properties within all geologic units.

14 of 102 of Lake sediment samples in the properties are >99th percentile for Li (>28.1ppm, max 40.12)

3 of 102 of Lake sediment samples in the properties are >99th percentile for Cs (>2.4ppm, max 2.48)

21 of 102 of Lake sediment samples in the properties are >99th percentile for Cs (>37.1ppm, max 45.66)

Figure 5: Grove Lake Group Claim Blocks, Bedrock Geology, Lithium in Lake sediment analyses, mapped pegmatites, land tenure

Eagle Lake Claims

The Eagle Lake Claims are comprised of 1439 claims covering 30,302 hectares.

This claim group lies directly southeast of Dryden, Ontario, a city with population 7,500 located on the trans-Canada highway. CP rail lines pass through Dryden. All claim blocks are road accessible.

The Eagle Lake Claims were staked over several anomalous populations in lake sediment samples in Li and Cs. (Each claim block contains >99th percentile samples for Li). NW-SE and ENE magnetic trending lineaments crosscut the properties.

Properties are underlain by mafic, intermediate, and felsic volcanic rocks, gneissic and foliated tonalite, massive granodiorite to granite, with minor ultramafic rocks. On one of these properties, over 50 pegmatite occurrences have been mapped. No historical mapping data is available for most of these properties.

21 of 165 of Lake sediment samples in the properties are >99th percentile for Li (>28.1ppm, max 35.92)

66 of 165 of Lake sediment samples in the properties are >99th percentile for Cs (>2.4ppm, max 6.48)

4 of 165 of Lake sediment samples in the properties are >99th percentile for Cs (>37.1ppm, max 43.6)

Figure 6: Eagle Lake Group Claim Blocks, Bedrock Geology, Lithium in Lake sediment analyses, mapped pegmatites, land tenure

Terms of the Acquisition

Pursuant to sale agreement dated June 15, 2023, among the Company and six arm's length vendors, including prospector Shawn Ryan (the "Vendors"), the Company has agreed to acquire a 100% interest in the Claims for the following consideration:

an aggregate cash payment of $315,000 to be paid to the Sellers upon closing of the Acquisition (" Closing ").

"). an aggregate of 9,000,000 common shares in the capital of Zimtu (" Zimtu Shares ") to be issued to the Sellers upon Closing; and

") to be issued to the Sellers upon Closing; and an aggregate cash payment of $315,000 to be paid to the Sellers within four months of Closing.

As additional consideration for the Acquisition, the Company will grant to one of the Sellers a 1% net smelter returns royalty interest in the future minerals produced from the Claims upon achieving commercial production.

The completion of the Acquisition is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). The Zimtu Shares to be issued on Closing will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day following Closing.

About Zimtu Capital Corp.

Zimtu Capital Corp. is a public investment issuer that aspires to achieve long-term capital appreciation for its shareholders. Zimtu Capital companies may operate in the fields of mineral exploration, mining, technology, life sciences or investment. The Company trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "ZC" and Frankfurt under symbol "ZCT1". For more information, please visit https://www.zimtu.com.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

ZIMTU CAPITAL CORP.

"Sean Charland"

Sean Charland

President & Director

Phone: 604.681.1568

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE.

This news release contains forwardlooking statements, which include any information that addresses activities, events, or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future. Forward looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to: that the Closing will occur, including the payment of the cash and share consideration and the grant of the net smelter royalty; and that the Zimtu shares comprising the share consideration will be subject to a four-month hold period.

These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed, implied by, or projected in the forwardlooking information or statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forwardlooking statements include, but are not limited to: risks associated with the business of the Company or the businesses of the companies that the Company has invested in, including, without limitation, the natural resource exploration industry; changes in commodity prices as the Company has investments in natural resource exploration issuers; changes in interest and currency exchange rates; geopolitical risk and social unrest; changes in general economic conditions or conditions in the financial markets; and economic, competitive, governmental, environmental and technological factors which may affect the Company's operations, investments, markets, products and share price; the inability of the Company to complete the proposed Acquisition; and the TSXV not approving the Acquisition on the terms announced or at all.

Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forwardlooking statements after the date of this document or to revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events.

SOURCE: Zimtu Capital Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:
Deutsche Bank reiterated a Buy rating and $13.00 price target on NIO Inc. (NYSE: NIO) after meeting with management following the automakers 1Q earnings report.

Deliveries for the first quarter were already reported at 31,041 units, leading to revenue of 10.7bn RMB, missing the consensus estimate of 11.7bn RMB, hurt by lower ASP. Gross margin of 1.5% also missed consensus, driven by downside in vehicle margin, but partially offset by "other" margin.

Analyst Edison Yu wrote in a note, Our main takeaway following 1Q earnings and hosting NIO management (CFO inperson in NYC this week) is that the urgency to capture volume and cut back spending is finally here. Underlying demand for premium BEVs has been disappointing this year with customers opting for BBA gasoline models and Li Auto EREVs. With NIO's broad-based price cut and rapid roll out of new NT2.0 models, we think 2H sales can rebound considerably, paving the way for 20k monthly volume. Furthermore, opex and capex should be much more controlled going forward as NIO dials back spending on non-core initiatives. Our unit sales forecasts go up for 2023/24E given incremental demand from the price adjustments while gross margin naturally comes down. Positioning-wise, we believe investors are shifting to a less negative view given volume and cash burn trajectory appear to be reversing. Depending on how the 2H plays out, the stock will likely remain volatile until sales show clear upward trajectory.

Management provided its outlook for 2Q23, calling for 23,000-25,000 deliveries, implying that June will be up materially QoQ (~11,000 at mid-point vs. just 6,155 in May). Beyond that, NIO is targeting +20,000 deliveries per month in the 2H. To help achieve this, the company initiated a 30,000 RMB price reduction across its entire line-up on Monday, bringing the starting price of its cheapest model (ET5) to just under 300,000.

To offset margin difficulties, NIO also removed their free lifetime e battery swap perk (4 per month) and reduced its warranty/service coverage terms.

On vehicle margin, NIO anticipates 2Q will still be under pressure (roughly flat QoQ) with 3Q recovering back to double digits and 4Q >15%. R&D is officially expected to still trend around 3-3.5bn per quarter but management is clearly exploring ways to reduce spend on non-core initiatives such as the Firefly brand, battery cell insourcing, and European expansion.

Following the price cut, Deutsche Bank raised 2023 volume forecasts by 15k to 170k (+39% YoY), translating into 60bn RMB in revenue. However, they took gross margin estimates down 220bps to 7.0% (vehicle margin of 10%), reflecting lower OH absorption, price cuts, and less benefit from lithium carbonate price savings.

Shares of NIO are up 3.98% in pre-market trading on Friday.

By Michael Elkins | [email protected]
Honour recognizes Prof. Jacksons contributions to biological research, including foundational work in DNA damage repair and the invention of synthetic lethality drugs

Adrestia science founded on Prof. Jacksons translation of synthetic lethality approaches into a synthetic rescue platform to create new drugs for genetic diseases

Prof. Jackson also notable for scientific entrepreneurship in founding Mission Therapeutics, KuDOS Pharmaceuticals and Adrestia Therapeutics

CAMBRIDGE, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Adrestia Therapeutics, a leader in synthetic rescue therapies for genetic diseases, today announced its co-founder, Professor Steve Jackson FRS FMedSci, has been named a Knight Bachelor in the 2023 Birthday Honours List, which announces the bestowing of various awards and designations on the Kings Birthday in the United Kingdom. Professor Jackson is a noted scientist-entrepreneur and holds several academic positions in addition to being the Chief Scientific Officer of Adrestia. The Knights Bachelor are appointed by the British sovereign and have existed as an order since the Middle Ages.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616268448/en/

Professor Steve Jackson FRS FMedSci (Photo: Business Wire)

It is humbling to join a group with such a long history, said Professor Jackson. I see this as a recognition of the important contributions the biological research community make to medicine and our understanding of life, and I thank the many collaborators and members of my teams who have supported my research over the years.

Our team congratulates Steve on this wonderful recognition of his pioneering work in foundational aspects of biology that play important roles in many diseases, said Rob Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Adrestia. He is an inspiring leader and we are incredibly fortunate to have his expertise and guidance inform Adrestias scientific strategy and the development of our platform for developing new therapies for genetically defined diseases.

Professor Jacksons work has provided key insights into cellular processes that respond to DNA damage; processes fundamental to life and whose defects cause various diseases, particularly cancer.

Latterly, one part of his research agenda has been the development of new drug discovery techniques for genetic diseases in an area called synthetic rescue. As many directly causative gene mutations are not amenable to being targeted by drugs, synthetic rescue can involve screening the entire genome to identify compelling drug targets in a much wider network of related genes. The aim is to correct the effects of the causative mutations and rescue health. Professor Jackson used a related approach, synthetic lethality, to co-originate a new class of drugs for cancer and subsequently translated his experience into synthetic rescue tools and technologies focused on finding new treatments for genetic diseases. He co-founded Adrestia to progress this work for patients.

Professor Jackson is the University of Cambridge Professor of Biology and Senior Group Leader at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute. After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh, he carried out four years post-doctoral training at UC Berkeley in the United States. He founded and served as CSO for the companies Mission Therapeutics and KuDOS Pharmaceuticals, the latter of which developed the blockbuster anti-cancer drug olaparib, the first of a new family of drugs called PARP inhibitors. KuDOS was acquired by AstraZeneca in 2005. Professor Jackson is a fellow of the Royal Society and the Academy of Medical Sciences UK, and he has received multiple national and international awards for his research leadership.

As a Knight Bachelor, Professor Jackson may use the prefix Sir and will formally be presented with this honour in the coming months.

About Adrestia

Adrestia is a leader in synthetic rescue therapies for genetically defined diseases. As many directly causative gene mutations are not druggable, synthetic rescue identifies drug targets in a much wider network of functionally connected genes. The aim is to correct the effects of the causative mutations and rescue health. Adrestia is creating a synthetic rescue Atlas of the human genome and advancing a portfolio of first-in-class oligonucleotide or oral small molecule therapies, initially for neurologic, neuromuscular and cardiomyopathic diseases. Adrestias platform and in-house programs are complemented by a target discovery alliance with GSK and a Huntingtons disease collaboration with noted researchers including Dr Sarah Tabrizi at University College London.

Adrestia was co-founded by Professor Steve Jackson and the deep technology investment fund Ahren Innovation Capital, which co-led Adrestias Series A financing along with GSK. Jackson co-originated the first synthetic lethality drug, olaparib, which was the first drug approved to treat cancers caused by inherited mutations. For further information, visit: www.adrestia.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616268448/en/

Adrestia

Investors

Robert Johnson

[email protected]adrestia.com

Media

Tom Donovan

[email protected]

+ 44 7498 152764

Source: Adrestia Therapeutics
Protest Friday, June 16th will target drug company CEO at companys Foster City HQ

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- On Friday, June 16th, advocates and mobilizers affiliated with AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) will host a protest targeting HIV and Hepatitis C drug giant Gilead Sciences over the Bay Area companys drug pricing and policies. The protest will take place in front of Gileads headquarters in Foster City, CA. The action is part of a yearlong aggressive advocacy campaign by AHF hammering Gilead and Daniel ODay, its multimillionaire CEO, over his and the companys drug profiteering.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230614213003/en/

Advocates and mobilizers affiliated with AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) will host a protest targeting HIV and Hepatitis C drug giant Gilead Sciences and its CEO Daniel O'Day over the Bay Area companys drug pricing and policies. O'Day was the 4th highest-paid CEO in the healthcare industry in 2022 with total compensation of $21,621,253.

WHAT: Protest at Gilead Sciences HQ WHEN: Friday, June 16 - 12:00 p.m. WHERE: Gilead Sciences, Inc. Headquarters 333 Lakeside Dr., Foster City, CA 94404 WHO: 20 health advocates & mobilizers

AHF Onsite Foster City Media Contact: Jesse Brooks, +1.510.575.8245 cell [email protected]

According to CEO World Magazine, Daniel ODay, Chairman and CEO of Gilead Sciences, was the 4th highest paid CEO in the healthcare industry in 2022 with total compensation of $21,621,253.

Advocates are protesting Gileads tone-deaf greed, particularly illegal restrictions the company placed early last year on access to 340B drug pricing for its branded hepatitis C treatments for certain pharmacies. Gilead now is one of more than 15 major drug companies that illegally have placed such restrictions on drugs.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.7 million individuals in 45 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth, follow us @aidshealthcare or subscribe to our AHF podcast AHFter Hours.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230614213003/en/

Ged Kenslea, AHF Senior Communications Director

323.791.5526

[email protected]

Source: AIDS Healthcare Foundation
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a- (Excellent) of Al Ahleia Insurance Company S.A.K.P. (Al Ahleia) (Kuwait). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Al Ahleias balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

Al Ahleias balance sheet strength is underpinned by its consolidated risk-adjusted capitalisation, which is assessed at the strongest level, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Al Ahleia has maintained a robust consolidated liquidity position; however, AM Best views the companys holdings in private equity and real estate funds as an offsetting factor, increasing asset risk and exposing its capital base to potential volatility. In addition, a further offsetting factor is Al Ahleias elevated debtor balances and slow collection periods, which creates uncertainty over the company's ability to recover its receivables.

Al Ahleias operating performance track record remains commensurate with a strong assessment. The company has reported improving pre-tax profits in each of the past five years, reaching KWD 18.7 million in 2022. Over this period, Al Ahleia generated a five-year (2018-2022) weighted average return-on-equity of 10.6%. Profitability has been underpinned by underwriting results, with Al Ahleia achieving a five-year (2018-2022) weighted average consolidated combined ratio of 91.8%, as calculated by AM Best. This reflects strong performance arising from Al Ahleias direct non-life operations in Kuwait, as well as the improving combined ratios reported by its subsidiary, Kuwait Reinsurance Company K.S.C.P. (Kuwait Re returned a five-year (2018-2022) weighted average combined ratio of 94.8%).

Al Ahleias business profile reflects its established position as a top four insurer in Kuwaits direct market, where it has a leading position in the commercial insurance segment. The group achieves geographical diversification through its reinsurance operation, Kuwait Re, which provides proportional and non-proportional cover to cedants in the Middle East and North Africa, Asia-Pacific and Central and Eastern Europe. On a consolidated basis, Al Ahleia underwrote gross written premium of KWD 126.0 million (USD 412.8 million) in 2022, with Kuwait Re contributing KWD 74.2 million (USD 243.2 million).

Al Ahleia and Kuwait Res risk management frameworks are considered appropriate for their individual risk profiles. As the groups risk profile continues to develop, it will become increasingly important for Al Ahleia to enhance its ERM capabilities at a group level, particularly in areas such as capital management and regulatory compliance. AM Best notes that Al Ahleias first quarter 2023 interim financial information includes an adverse conclusion from its auditor related to reporting requirements under IFRS 17 and IFRS 9, and expects the company to address and re-issue the interim results in the near term.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616298984/en/

Katharine Campkin, ACA

Financial Analyst

+44 20 7397 4383

[email protected]

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

[email protected]

Alex Rafferty, ACA

Associate Director, Analytics

+44 20 7397 0312

[email protected]

Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

[email protected]

Source: AM Best
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of a- (Excellent) of Kuwait Reinsurance Company K.S.C.P. (Kuwait Re) (Kuwait). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Kuwait Res balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. The ratings factor in no rating enhancement or drag arising from the companys ownership by Al Ahleia Insurance Company S.A.K.P. (Al Ahleia).

Kuwait Res balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which is assessed at the strongest level, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Capital consumption under BCAR is predominantly driven by underwriting risks, due to the companys high premium retention and generally conservative investment allocation. The companys balance sheet strength is supported by a track record of internal capital generation, along with prudent reserving practices and sufficient liquidity to support operations. Partially offsetting factors include Kuwait Res holding of higher risk investments, including real estate, equating to approximately 14% of its total invested assets at year-end 2022, which exposes its capital base to potential volatility.

Kuwait Re has a track record of adequate operating performance. In 2022, the company reported net income of KWD 8.0 million (2021: KWD 6.3 million), which was equally generated by technical and non-technical operations. Kuwait Res operating performance has trended positively in recent years, and results for 2022 translated to a return-on-equity of 12.0% (2021: 10.5%), compared with the five-year (2018-2022) weighted average of 9.9%. Enhanced underwriting selection and discipline has resulted in solid underwriting performance, with the company reporting a five-year (2018-2022) weighted average combined ratio of 94.8%. The companys technical results in recent years have outperformed historic averages, with increases in earned premium and continued robust loss ratio experience contributing to a combined ratio of 92.3% in both 2021 and 2022 (as calculated by AM Best).

Kuwait Res business profile assessment reflects its good diversification by geography and product offering. Operations span the Middle East, North Africa, Asia-Pacific and Central and Eastern Europe, where the company provides proportional and non-proportional cover to its cedants. Kuwait Re reported gross written premium of KWD 74.2 million in 2022, equivalent to USD 243.2 million, representing a combined (non-life & life) growth in premiums of 4% compared with 2021, driven in part by favourable reinsurance market conditions in its core markets.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616936384/en/

Katharine Campkin, ACA

Financial Analyst

+44 20 7397 4383

[email protected]

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

[email protected]

Alex Rafferty, ACA

Associate Director, Analytics

+44 20 7397 0312

[email protected]

Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

[email protected]

Source: AM Best
MEXICO CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of a (Excellent) of Lion Reinsurance Company Limited (Lion Re) (Bermuda). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

Lion Re is a subsidiary of ASSA Compania Tenedora, S.A. (ASSA Tenedora) and is owned ultimately by Grupo ASSA, S.A. (Grupo ASSA), a financial services holding company publicly traded on the Panama Stock Exchange.

The ratings reflect Lion Res balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

Lion Re is a Bermuda-based reinsurer assuming risks from ASSA Tenedora and affiliates for property, liability, marine, group life (short term), health and miscellaneous businesses. AM Best recognizes the strategic role that Lion Re aims to achieve in the groups overall regional strategy; however, Lion Res business profile is considered limited given its accessibility to markets when compared with other commercial reinsurers.

Lion Res capital base is supportive of risk-adjusted capitalization being assessed at the strongest level, as measured by Bests Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), while it continues to perform an important role in ASSA Tenedoras strategy as it consolidates operations in the Central American region, by providing reinsurance capacity.

Lion Res adequate operating performance results from its affiliated insurance companies in the Central American region, as well as its affiliation to Grupo ASSA, which provides synergies, operating efficiencies and guarantee support. The company consistently reviews its underwriting guidelines to improve the performance of business segments that are deviating from targets. Investment income, based on a conservative strategy, continues to support Lion Res results; however, the company is not dependent on this revenue to achieve positive bottom-line results.

AM Best does not foresee any positive rating actions; however, Lion Res strategic role within the group as well as the guaranteed support of its parent, remains paramount for the current ratings, along with the maintaining of its strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization. Factors that could lead to negative rating actions include a material loss of capital that reduces risk-adjusted capitalization to a level that does not support the ratings, or if the strategic importance of Lion Re to the group diminishes.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Bests website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Bests Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Bests Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Bests Credit Ratings, Bests Performance Assessments, Bests Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Bests Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

Copyright  2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616796594/en/

Salvador Smith

Senior Financial Analyst

+52 55 1102 2720, ext. 108

[email protected]

Christopher Sharkey

Associate Director, Public Relations

+1 908 882 2310

[email protected]

Eli Sanchez

Director, Analytics

+52 55 1102 2720, ext. 107

[email protected]

Al Slavin

Senior Public Relations Specialist

+1 908 882 2318

[email protected]

Source: AM Best
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Covenant Physician Partners (Covenant), a leading physician services company that partners with providers across the country, is pleased to announce the appointment of James (Jim) Moake as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective June 1, 2023.

Jim is a highly accomplished executive with a proven track record of effectively guiding and scaling leading healthcare organizations, said Goran Dragolovic, CEO of Covenant. His deep healthcare finance background, strategic acumen, and experience in driving both organic and acquisition-oriented growth make him the ideal CFO of Covenant. We are excited to welcome him to the team.

I am honored and eager to join the Covenant team and contribute to their mission of delivering best-in-class clinical care to patients and communities, said Jim Moake. In todays dynamic healthcare environment, the importance of outpatient, specialist-led care delivery has never been more pronounced. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team at Covenant to continue to drive exceptional value for physicians, the Company, and most importantly, the patients we serve.

About James Moake

Jim Moake has more than 25 years of experience in healthcare finance, with strong capabilities in financial planning and analysis, revenue cycle management, and strategic financial initiatives. Jims keen focus on value creation has allowed him to excel in navigating complex situations, particularly in integrating new acquisitions and turnaround scenarios.

Prior to joining Covenant, Jim was most recently the CFO of the Central Division at LifePoint Health, where he was responsible for all financial operations of 20 hospitals across six states, with more than $2.0 billion in net revenue.

Prior to LifePoint, Jim held CFO positions at prominent healthcare organizations, such as Steward Healthcare in Dallas, TX and IASIS Healthcare in Franklin, TN, where he previously led a period of 22 consecutive quarters of uninterrupted earnings growth. Jim has established a strong reputation for fostering financial excellence, enhancing operational efficiency, and instilling a culture of accountability to consistently achieve and exceed financial targets. Jim holds a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Michigan Technological University in Houghton, MI.

About Covenant Physician Partners

Founded in 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee, Covenant Physician Partners is a physician services company that partners with leading providers across the country to grow thriving practices and surgery centers while advancing clinical excellence. Covenants national network of leading practices and surgery centers across the outpatient care continuum brings operational expertise, financial backing and clinical best practices to fuel growth. Please visit CovenantPhysicianPartners.com for more information.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616464320/en/

Henry Artime

[email protected]

Source: Covenant Physician Partners
12 Major Cities Where You Still Can Buy a Home for $300K

benedek / Getty Images

The average home value in the United States is $346,270, according to Zillow -- but many prospective buyers are optimistic that they can do much better.

See: 15 Cities Where Houses Are the Best Bargains Right Now

Find Out: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000

A new GOBankingRates survey of more than 1,000 adults found that 19% of the country has no plans to buy a home. But 40% of those who do intend to spend $300,000 or less -- 23% are shopping in the sub-$200,000 range.

Typically, sparsely populated towns in rural America offer the best bang for the homebuyer's buck. But people with big-city dreams aren't necessarily priced out of the country's major metros if their budgets max out at $300,000.

The following is a list of 12 major American cities where the average home is still valued at less than that -- in fact, five of them have average home values under $200,000.

Keep reading to learn about the big cities that are open to you on a budget of $299,999 or less.

Mlenny / Getty Images

Chicago

Average home value: $286,482

$300,000 won't get you very far in America's two biggest cities, but New York and Los Angeles aren't the only games in town. Home to more than 2.6 million people, the Windy City is the country's third-largest urban center.

I'm a Real Estate Agent: Here Are the 5 Best Cities To Buy a Home This Summer

Check Out: 10 Places To Live Abroad So Cheap You Could Quit Your Job

dszc / Getty Images

San Antonio

Average home value: $267,060

With a population of over 1.4 million, San Antonio is the No. 7 largest city in America. It ranks just after Philadelphia and just before San Diego. With 0.95% annual growth, it's one of only three of the top 10 cities that gained residents last year.

Be Aware: 7 Florida Cities That Could Be Headed for a Housing Crisis

Shutterstock.com

New Orleans

Average home value: $266,537

The No. 53 largest city in the country, the Big Easy is home to 364,659 people. It has more residents than Anaheim, California; Cleveland and Honolulu, but fewer than Tampa, Florida; Arlington, Virginia; and Wichita, Kansas. New Orleans is currently shedding residents, with a population loss of 1.65% last year.

aceshot / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Columbus, Ohio

Average home value: $244,756

Columbus is home to 907,865 people, making it the No. 14 largest city in the country. It gained a negligible number of residents last year and sits just behind San Jose, California, but before Charlotte, North Carolina, in terms of population.

Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Indianapolis

Average home value: $228,305

One of the most populous urban centers in the Midwest, Indianapolis has more residents than all but 15 other cities in America. It lost 0.6% of its population last year and is now home to 871,449 people.

Find Out: Why Home Prices Are Plummeting in These 6 Cities

SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Philadelphia

Average home value: $221,987

Despite losing 1.55% of its population last year, Philadelphia is still one of America's six largest cities. With 1.5 million residents, it's bigger than San Antonio but smaller than Phoenix.

Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com

Oklahoma City

Average home value: $201,512

Oklahoma City is America's No. 20 largest city, behind Denver and ahead of El Paso, Texas. It became one of only eight cities in the top 20 to gain residents last year when its population grew by 0.73% to 697,763.

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Milwaukee

Average home value: $196,080

After experiencing a 1.21% population loss, Milwaukee is now home to 555,640 people. It's the No. 32 largest city in the country, just ahead of Fresno, California, but just behind Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Housing Market 2023: Prices Are Now So High That Banks Are Losing Money on Mortgages

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Wichita, Kansas

Average home value: $192,491

Two spots ahead of New Orleans is Wichita, the No. 51 biggest city in America. Last year, it lost 0.36% of its population and is now home to 392,878 Kansans.

sborisov / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Baltimore

Average home value: $178,704

Baltimore, the No. 30 most populous city in the country, is two spots ahead of Milwaukee and is home to 563,455 Marylanders. It lost roughly 20,000 residents last year, or 1.14% of its population.

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Memphis, Tennessee

Average home value: $149,868

With 621,777 residents, Memphis is the No. 25 biggest city in America. Last year, it suffered a population loss of 0.51%, leaving it with slightly more people than Louisville, Kentucky, and slightly fewer than Washington, D.C.

Read More: 2023's Housing Correction Could Be The Largest Since Post-WWII

DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com

Detroit

Average home value: $64,414

Despite decades of population decline, Motor City is still one of America's 30 largest population centers. It ranks No. 27 between Louisville, Kentucky, and Portland, Oregon -- and you can buy the average house there for the price of a Lexus.

More From GOBankingRates

All home values are from Zillow and all population numbers are from World Population Review.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 12 Major Cities Where You Still Can Buy a Home for $300K
Lawsuit seeks justice for the Walker family and to hold the city and police officers accountable for killing Jayland Walker, an unarmed young, black man in a barrage of gunfire on June 27, 2022

AKRON, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today the family of Jayland Walker filed a lawsuit in Ohio federal court against the City of Akron and the eight officers that brutally shot and killed him last summer. The suit, filed by the family through their legal counsel at DiCello Levitt, claims the officers used excessive force in their encounter with the unarmed Walker on June 27, 2022. It also notes that the violent behavior of the eight shooters was made possible by a culture of violence and racism within the Akron Police Department.

The case, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, seeks not less than $45 million in damages, $1 million for each bullet that struck Jayland Walker. In addition to the City of Akron and the officers involved in the shooting, the lawsuit also names as defendants Akron Mayor Daniel Horrigan and Chief of Police Stephen Mylett.

The Walker family legal team will host a press conference to discuss the lawsuit today, Friday, June 16, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. EDT outside the First Congregational Church of Akron (292 E. Market St., Akron, Ohio). The familys attorneys, Bobby DiCello and Kenneth Abbarno of DiCello Levitt will be joined by Jayland Walkers mother, Pam Walker, his sister, Jada Walker, and Akron community leader, Pastor Robert DeJournett. For members of the media who are unable to attend, the press conference will be streamed live HERE.

On June 27, 2022, eight Akron police officers pursued Walker for a minor traffic violation. The pursuit ended as he ran from the officers unarmed, and they fired more than 90 rounds at him. He was struck at least 45 times and died as some of the officers attempted to reload their empty magazines. Walker was not under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or any other substance, according to a toxicology report. As Walker lay on the ground already deceased, the officers handcuffed his hands behind his back.

The incident made national headlines for its excessive use of lethal force and the unethical handling of the subsequent investigation by the City of Akron and the Akron Fraternal Order of Police. The FOP repeatedly inserted itself into a supposedly independent probe, gained access to confidential details of the investigation that it should not have had, and leaked inflammatory information to the media in an apparent attempt to influence public sentiment in favor of the officers. The officers responsible for killing Walker were allowed to return to police duty while still under criminal investigation, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations process was weighted in the officers favor, with a Fraternal Order of Police lawyer allowed to testify on the officers behalf at a grand jury proceeding in place of the officers themselves. The grand jury ultimately declined to deliver criminal indictments.

A year has passed since Jayland Walker was violently ripped away from his family, and still they have not been able to achieve justice and accountability, said Bobby DiCello, a DiCello Levitt partner and legal counsel to the Walker family. The City of Akron and its police department have been given every opportunity to participate in a fair process to address what went wrong last June 27. At every turn, they protect their officers from accountability. Now we must engage the judicial process to accomplish what the city was unwilling to dohold these officers accountable for their actions. We will use the judicial system to ensure that Jayland Walker and his family get the justice they deserve.

In describing the culture of violence and racism within the Akron Police Department, the complaint points to an unofficial, satirical newsletter maintained by City of Akron employees titled Signal 44 (PBS to Air a New Wildlife Documentary), which repeatedly likened Akron citizens to wild animals and contained violent and overtly racist content. The newsletter was discovered in 1998 and was the subject of an Internal affairs inquiry. As part of the inquiry, several currently employed veteran Akron police officers were interviewed by investigators:

Officer Clay Cozart, currently an Akron police detective and president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #7, said at the time that he was not offended that his name was in the newsletter and that publicity about it was unfair.

Officer Brian Simcox, currently a Lieutenant in the Akron Police Department, said he thought the newsletters contents were hilarious.

Officer Brian Harding, currently a Deputy Chief in the Akron Police Department, said he felt the newsletter had no adverse effect on the shift, and thought the contents were funny.

The newsletters author, Terry Pasko, remained employed as a City of Akron police officer until he retired as a Captain in 2019.

Its shocking that not only was no officer fired for his involvement in the Signal 44 newsletter, nobody was even disciplined and many of the officers who had no issue with the violent and racist content were allowed to advance to the leadership positions they hold today, said Ken Abbarno, a DiCello Levitt partner and legal counsel to the Walker family. While the Walker family must be compensated for the unimaginable trauma it has endured over the last year, more than anything, this lawsuit seeks meaningful change that will hopefully end the culture of violence and racism that the City of Akron has long allowed to poison its police department.

The case is Jada Walker, et.al. v. City of Akron, et.al. in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Case: 5:23-cv-01205. A copy of the complaint is available upon request, and the attorneys are available for media interviews.

About DiCello Levitt

At DiCello Levitt, were dedicated to achieving justice for our clients through class action, business-to-business, public client, whistleblower, personal injury, civil and human rights, and mass tort litigation. Our lawyers are highly respected for their ability to litigate and win caseswhether by trial, settlement, or otherwisefor people who have suffered harm, global corporations that have sustained significant economic losses, and public clients seeking to protect their citizens rights and interests. Every day, we put our reputationsand our capitalon the line for our clients.

For more, visit our website: dicellolevitt.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616098433/en/

Luke Allingham

[email protected]

312.286.1317

Source: DiCello Levitt
Claim alleges school district ignored repeated calls for help to end violence against the student

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- While school districts across the state celebrate Pride Month, one 13-year-old student in Everett has been forced to leave school after the Everett School District failed to stop a group of classmates from physically attacking and targeting him with racial and homophobic slurs throughout the school year.

Nicole Stanford, mother of the seventh-grade student at Evergreen Middle School, this Wednesday filed a claim against the school district in hopes that officials will change their policies and practices to prevent other children from suffering the same type of abuse her son has endured.

Students captured some of the attacks on the child and posted them to Instagram, along with dozens of other fights that have occurred at Evergreen Middle School. The page featuring Stanfords son has since been removed, yet many other Instagram pages featuring fights at the middle school remain online.

According to Sim Osborn, the attorney for Stanford, the school was abundantly aware of the torment the child was enduring.

Nicole reached out to the school dozens of times, pleading for help, explaining that her son would return home from school, bloodied and battered, often hysterical, Osborn said. At every turn, the school would make claims that they would step in and create a safe environment for the boy, and at every turn, they would fail.

Words are cheap, and deeds are precious  the district is long on words and short on deeds when it comes to this issue, Osborn added.

According to Stanford, the trouble began the first day of the 2022-2023 school year, when a classmate physically threw her son off the bus while spewing homophobic vulgarities at him. As others learned about the incident and that her son had recently come out, the verbal abuse by other students began almost immediately.

My son would come to me and ask me what certain words meant  all off them vivid descriptions of sex acts and related vulgarities. My son is barely 13  no child should have to hear these things and no mother should be forced to explain why other kids could be so cruel, Stanford said.

As the year progressed, the verbal taunting escalated and had a profound effect on her son, Stanford said. He began to withdraw into himself; my happy, outgoing son became quiet, sullen and fearful, she noted. We immediately sought counseling for him, but that can only help so much.

Stanford also noted that on top of the anti-gay verbal abuse that her son endured, he also fell victim to racial epithets aimed at his Asian ethnicity.

What he needs is a safe school environment that allows him to learn, grow and be a normal 13-year-old boy, not worried about what will happen when he turns a corner, she added.

According to Stanford, the verbal abuse turned to violence in December, when her son was attacked by a group of students on the school grounds; the assault was captured on video and posted online.

My son came home, hysterical. It took me an hour to calm him down enough to get him to tell me what happened, Stanford said. Every parent is wired to protect their children  at that moment I felt so helpless and so incredibly frustrated in my inability to get the school to put an end to this behavior.

Stanford said a second beating occurred just last month, which caused injuries to her son that required medical attention and the involvement of the Everett Police Department. Actions by the police or the prosecutor are pending.

Stanford added that after the most recent attack, she and her husband made the decision to remove her son from Evergreen Middle School, fearing that the attacks would escalate.

It was abundantly clear that Evergreen either did not want to protect her son or was completely ill-equipped to create a safe learning environment for him, attorney Osborn added. Nicole had no other recourse but to remove him from this chronically unsafe environment.

Since pulling her son from school, the district has offered to let her son attend school remotely, something she is loath to do.

My son  like many of his classmates  had a horrendous COVID experience. Forcing him back into isolation again is punishing our son, who has done nothing wrong, she added.

I have a hard time wrapping my head around the districts thinking  lets take a 13-year-old victim and make him sit in an empty room with a computer, while his attackers are allowed to continue school unfettered, Osborn said. We simply wont let that happen.

We put our trust in the schools faculty to protect our child from being savagely beaten, at the very least. They failed us too many times over the last year, Stanford added.

Nicole absolutely did not want to file this case, said Osborn. She wanted the district to stand up and do their job in protecting her son, giving him the ability to go to school without fear. The district repeatedly failed to so despite numerous promises, so we intend to hold the district accountable through the court.

This claim is the first step for Stanford to use her legal rights to hold the district accountable. Washington law mandates that before any public agency can be sued, a plaintiff must first file a claim against the institution, wait for 60 days and then move forward with filing a lawsuit  in this instance, in Snohomish County Superior Court.

About Osborn Machler

The attorneys at Osborn Machler represent plaintiffs in a wide range of cases including discrimination, personal injury, products liability, and professional malpractice cases. Osborn Machler is noted for taking difficult cases and successfully taking them to settlement or trial. The firm has extensive experience representing injured persons against federal, state, and local governments. You can learn more about the firm, its cases and expertise at www.osbornmachler.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616461732/en/

Sim Osborn (206) 441-4110

Osborn Machler [email protected]

Mark Firmani

Firmani + Associates Inc. [email protected]

Source: Osborn Machler
EDINBURGH, Scotland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- From its origins over drinks in a local pub- to leading independent risk and safety consultancy- the Abbott Risk Consulting (ARC) story was celebrated this week when the company brought all its people from Australia and the UK together for a conference in Edinburgh, Scotland.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616980492/en/

From Start-Up to Global Leader- ARC Celebrates Its 20th Birthday in Style (Photo: Business Wire)

Colleagues from the engineering consultancys Melbourne, Sydney and Perth offices are pictured here at the Norton House Hotel, where ARC hosted two days of activities and events for its people.

ARC is now a global leader in risk and safety engineering, providing a suite of services to the defence, transport, civil nuclear and oil and gas industries with a reputation for providing an outstanding service. In the past 20 years ARC has seen its go from turnover $18m Aus. to more than $54m- and its people - from 80-150 in the last 10 years, 30 of them in Australia.

Managing Director John Abbott is justifiably proud of ARCs people and what they have achieved together. He said: When we met in that pub all those years ago, we had all had enough of the politics and bureaucracy of large corporates. We wanted to create a working environment where people were supported to deliver for clients- with high levels of independence and autonomy. We offered- and continue to offer- industry-leading terms and conditions- and a workplace culture that supports social interaction, community engagement and employee health and well-being.

ARCs ethos and values are the core of its success as the leading independent consultancy in most of its sectors in Australia, the UK, and many other parts of the world. It is employee-owned, with share allocations, enabling the company to pay an annual share dividend to its employees based on its financial performance.

Co-founder and Managing Director John Abbott said: My ties with Australia are deep and personal. It is a matter of pride that we have been able to build a presence here, recruiting Australians to work on some of the largest rail, oil and gas, nuclear and defence projects here in Australia and around the world. I am delighted that so many of my Australian colleagues are making the journey to Scotland to celebrate being part of a team which is not divided between our two countries but is truly one great team.

It is a matter of pride that we have been able to build such a strong independent company and provide so many opportunities for young people to develop their careers in science and engineering. Weve also been recognised along the way by The Sunday Times as one of the best companies to work for in the UK.

Note to editors:

ARC are extremely proud to support Yalari, a charity focusing on educating and empowering indigenous children in Australia. It is their belief that education is the key to generational change and a brighter future for indigenous children. https://www.yalari.org/

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616980492/en/

Further information: [email protected] (00) 44 07813 6048

Source: Abbott Risk Consulting
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Generational Equity, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client Dixie Cullen Interests, Inc. to Briarwood Partners. The transaction closed June 7, 2023.

Dixie Cullen Interests (DCI), located in Houston, Texas, is a temporary and long-term storage facility for large industrial equipment, machinery, and materials, with heavy lift capacity. The Company can customize storage facilities to meet a customer's specific needs. DCI operates with a philosophy that the Company is an extension of its customers operations.

DCI operates from six separate locations within Houston. Five are located within a three-mile radius of the Houston ports and another location is sixteen miles away with access to the ports by rail. DCI has over one million square feet of indoor storage space with over 150,000 that is climate controlled, and it has additional storage capacity outdoors. The Company has heavy lift capacity to accommodate over 400,000 pounds and also offers several value added services to complement storage for its customers which include transloading, grounding, crating, unloading, and reloading.

Briarwood Partners (BWP), headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a private investment firm that invests in middle-market companies across the United States. Briarwood has specific expertise in industrial services, waste, infrastructure, transportation, logistics, light manufacturing, aviation, midstream and downstream service businesses. Since launching in January 2021, Briarwood has been building a diversified portfolio of businesses that, over time, are expected to generate outsized returns on capital for its investors.

Briarwood seeks to partner with successful entrepreneurs and assist them in increasing the value of their business over time. Given the profile of its investor base, BWP has the ability to hold investments forever or sell opportunistically. DCI represents Briarwoods third platform investment since launching in January 2021.

Generational Equity Executive Managing Director of M&A  Central Region, Michael Goss, and his team led by Senior Managing Director, Cory Strickland with the support of Vice President, M&A, Vanessa Christian successfully closed the deal. Executive Managing Director, Rick Buchoz established the initial relationship with DCI.

We congratulate Dixie Cullen on their pioneering the FTZ Industrial Storage and Heavy Equipment Handling industry in the Port of Houston, said Strickland.

Strickland added, What a pleasure it has been to represent Cathy James and Elizabeth Perez, the President and CFO of DCI in the transition of such a uniquely successful business. I know that Briarwood Partners will continue to build on their outstanding legacy.

About Generational Equity

Generational Equity, Generational Capital Markets (member FINRA/SIPC), Generational Wealth Advisors, Generational Consulting Group, and DealForce are part of the Generational Group, which is headquartered in Dallas and is one of the leading M&A advisory firms in North America.

With more than 350 professionals located throughout 16 offices in North America, the companies help business owners release the wealth of their business by providing growth consulting, merger, acquisition, and wealth management services. The Generational suite of advisory services includes strategic and tactical growth consulting, exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A services, and wealth management.

The M&A Advisor named Generational Equity Investment Banking Firm of the Year three years in a row, Valuation Firm of the Year in 2020, and North American Investment Bank of the Year in 2022 as well as Consulting Firm of the Year. The Global M&A Network named Generational USA Investment Bank of the Year in 2023. For more information visit https://www.genequityco.com/ or the Generational Equity press room.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616452428/en/

Carl Doerksen

972-342-0968

[email protected]

Source: Generational Equity
For contributions to the betterment of humanity: More than $2 million in awards honor University of Hawaii reproductive biologist Ryuzo Yanagimachi, Princeton mathematician and physicist Elliott Lieb, and international artist Nalini Malani

KYOTO, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Inamori Foundation today announced the latest laureates of its Kyoto Prize, Japans highest private award for global achievement, in the categories of Advanced Technology, Basic Sciences, and Arts and Philosophy. Complete details are online: https://www.kyotoprize.org/en

Each laureate will receive a diploma, a 20-karat gold medal, and a monetary award of 100 million yen (more than US$700,000) during the 38th annual Kyoto Prize ceremony, Nov. 10 in Japan. Laureates will subsequently convene for the 23rd annual Kyoto Prize Symposium in San Diego, Calif. in March 2024, and the Kyoto Prize at Oxford events in Oxford, UK, in May 2024.

The 2023 Kyoto Prize Laureates

In Advanced Technology, the 2023 Kyoto Prize laureate is reproductive biologist Ryuzo Yanagimachi, D.Sc., professor emeritus, University of Hawaii at Manoa, who has made revolutionary contributions to both obstetric medicine and mammalian embryology through his research and development of assisted reproductive technologies. In particular, Prof. Yanagimachis work has led to practical methods of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) at a time of declining birthrates in many nations  offering new possibilities to couples who would otherwise be unable to have children.

In Basic Sciences, the 2023 Kyoto Prize laureate is mathematician and physicist Elliott Lieb, Ph.D., professor of mathematics and Higgins Professor of Physics emeritus, Princeton University. Prof. Lieb established a foundation for mathematical research in fields such as physics, chemistry, and quantum information science using many-body physics, while making significant contributions to mathematical analysis as well. Among many other applications, his research supports next-generation technologies in quantum computing which will harness the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems too complex for todays computers.

In Arts and Philosophy, the 2023 Kyoto Prize laureate is Nalini Malani, an international artist specializing in a broad range of visual genres including video, projection, painting and drawing installations. Her childhood experience as a refugee during the partition of India and Pakistan gives her art unique power to elevate the oppressed and express the voices of the voiceless, contributing to a decentralization of art. Her works have been shown worldwide, most recently in a solo exhibition that concluded June 11, 2023 at The National Gallery, London.

About the Inamori Foundation and the Kyoto Prize

The Kyoto Prize is an international award bestowed by the non-profit Inamori Foundation to honor those who have contributed significantly to the scientific, cultural, and spiritual betterment of humankind. The Foundation was established in 1984 by the late Dr. Kazuo Inamori, who served as founder and chairman emeritus of Kyocera Corporation; founder and honorary adviser to KDDI Corporation; and chairman emeritus and honorary adviser to Japan Airlines. Inamori created the Kyoto Prize in line with his belief that a human being has no higher calling than to strive for the greater good of humanity and the world, and that the future of humanity can be assured only though a balance of scientific progress and spiritual depth.

Counting the 2023 recipients, the Kyoto Prize has honored 121 laureates worldwide  120 individuals and one group (the Nobel Foundation). Individual laureates range from scientists, engineers and researchers to philosophers, painters, architects, sculptors, musicians and film directors. For more information, see: https://www.kyotoprize.org/en.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616065311/en/

For photos, more information:

(U.S.) Kyoto Symposium Organization

Jay Scovie

+1-858-576-2674

[email protected]

(JAPAN) The Inamori Foundation

Takeshi Nakajima, Megumi Smith

+81-75-353-7272

[email protected]

Source: Inamori Foundation
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Institutional Investor (II) today announces the appointment of Rip Reeves as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective July 3, 2023.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616055892/en/

(Photo: Business Wire)

Rip joins Institutional Investor with nearly 40 years of industry experience and has been a trusted partner to IIs institutes for 15 years. Rip served as Chief Investment Officer and Treasurer at AEGIS Insurance Services for over a decade and was the Global Chief Investment Officer of the Argo Group in Pembroke, Bermuda. Prior to that he was a Senior Portfolio Manager and Asset Allocation Specialist for insurance and pension clients at BNY Mellon Asset Management and JP Morgan Investment Management. Rip started his career on the mortgage trading floor at Salomon Brothers in 1985.

Along with Cynthia Steer, Rip is an Emeritus Co-Chair for the Institutional Investor Institute (III) and the Alternative Investor Institute (AII). Both have been instrumental in driving product realignment for improved quality and growth.

Commenting on the appointment, Fran Cashman, Portfolio CEO at Delinian, said:

With Rips deep understanding of our asset manager members and allocator audiences and under his seasoned leadership, we will further strengthen Institutional Investor's commitment to delivering exceptional experiences for the communities we serve across the globe.

Rip Reeves, CEO Institutional Investor, added:

"I am truly honored to step into the role of CEO for Institutional Investor. The dedication and passion displayed by the talented teams at II have made a lasting impression on me, and our association over the years has been an invaluable contribution in my time as a CIO. Working closely with them in this new capacity is truly a privilege and an opportunity of a lifetime. I look forward to collaborating with our employees, clients, and audiences as we navigate this growth journey together.

The new appointment reinforces the brand-led growth strategy implemented for the portfolio of business under the Delinian Group, formerly known as Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC and owned by Epiris.

Andrew Pinder, CEO of Delinian, said: We extend our warmest welcome to Rip and look forward to him developing and driving Institutional Investor forward with a client-centric mindset and by leveraging his extensive strategic leadership and industry experience.

About Institutional Investor:

Institutional Investor (II) has been providing a range of unique experiences connecting the asset management community to exclusive events, competitive intelligence, commercial exposure, and peer insights for over 50 years. II is the worlds foremost financial publication and convener of global institutional investors via exclusive memberships, forums, industry benchmarks, and award-winning content. II also offers highly respected thought-leadership products as well as proprietary benchmark rankings and ratings of buy-side and sell-side research, hedge fund activity, and asset and wealth management.

About the Institutional Investor Institute (III) and the Alternative Investor Institute (AII)

III and AII are private membership organizations for investment management executives responsible for overseeing institutional business development at leading asset management firms. Members come together with the institutional clients and prospects they serve in exclusive settings that foster idea exchange while working to achieve common goals. The environment is collegial and collaborative, with overt marketing strictly prohibited.

About Delinian

Delinian, formerly known as Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC, was acquired by private equity firm Epiris in November 2022. Delinian is a portfolio of highly specialized global businesses focused on critical insights. The Delinian businesses deliver highly targeted data, research, insights and connections, along with profiling and predictive analytics. Delinian brands service customers across the world, and its teams are based in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong, India and Bulgaria.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616055892/en/

Media:

Dave Galan

[email protected]

Cell: +12122243737

Source: Institutional Investor
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- KBRA Europe (KBRA) releases a Day 3 recap of the 27th annual Global ABS conference.

The final day of the conference consisted of many interesting panel discussions on wide-ranging topics including opportunities outside of Europe, before quickly returning to focus on green bonds, social bonds, and regulation. David Wright, a senior advisor at Flint Global, provided a keynote address, covering the development of European capital markets and potential changes.

Click here to view a quick recap of the days panel discussions.

Related Publications

About KBRA

KBRA is a full-service credit rating agency registered in the U.S., the EU and the UK, and is designated to provide structured finance ratings in Canada. KBRAs ratings can be used by investors for regulatory capital purposes in multiple jurisdictions.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230615578868/en/

Gordon Kerr, Head of European Research

+44 20 8148 1020

[email protected]

Christopher Noonan, European Structured Finance

+353 1 588 1225

[email protected]

Gianfranco Di Paolo, European Structured Finance

+353 1 588 1205

[email protected]

Stacy Gross, European CMBS

+44 20 8148 1058

[email protected]

Yee Cent Wong, European Ratings

+353 1 588 1260

[email protected]

Business Development

Mauricio Noe, Co-Head of Europe

+44 20 8148 1010

[email protected]

Miten Amin, Managing Director

+44 20 8148 1002

[email protected]

Source: KBRA
Foundation to Remain a Long-Term Mastercard Stockholder

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Mastercard Foundation, in consultation with Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE: MA), today filed an application with the Ontario Public Guardian and Trustee for a court order to modify its Deed of Gift. Once the order is granted, the changes are expected to deliver greater flexibility in the Foundations long-term investment and operational strategy to support its philanthropic mission.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616204081/en/

Mastercard and its then shareholders created the independent foundation in 2006 through a gift of company stock as part of its initial public offering. The performance of Mastercards stock over the past 17 years has led to the Mastercard Foundation developing into one of the largest charitable foundations globally with assets of approximately US$37 billion.

Since the Foundations formation, its stockholdings in Mastercard have served as its sole source of funding. The original Deed of Gift restricts the Foundation from selling its shares of Mastercard except as required to meet the Canadian disbursement quota and related operational needs until May 1, 2027. At that point, the Foundation is permitted to diversify its holdings and scale charitable programming spending, provided it does so in a structured and orderly way so as not to unreasonably disrupt the market for Mastercard stock. Todays filing seeks permission to commence the diversification process on January 1, 2024, and is part of the Foundations operational growth and investment strategy.

"The creation of an independent Foundation through a significant gift of stock was an unprecedented act of generosity of Mastercard and its shareholders. The growth of the value of the Mastercard stock has enabled the Foundation to pursue its mission and create lasting impact. We believe a diversified portfolio sets us on the path to further expand our work and impact, investing in the people and programs necessary to deliver on our mission  a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper," said Reeta Roy, President and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation.

The Foundation has consulted with Mastercard on the diversification of its endowment if its application is successful. The Foundation maintains confidence in the strength of the Mastercard stock and will retain its name and branding, reinforcing the shared values with Mastercard of doing well by doing good and promoting financial inclusion. In addition, the Foundation and Mastercard have entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Intention and Understanding (MOI) to document the Foundations commitment to an orderly sell-down and the ongoing belief in the strength of the stock. The Foundation currently plans to sell the Mastercard stock over seven years and retain a significant overweight holding of Mastercard in its portfolio. The relevant excerpts from the MOI are provided in the enclosed Appendix.

The Foundation and its ability to thrive for the long-term is a lasting legacy of our company, said Tim Murphy, Chief Administrative Officer of Mastercard. Even as we have operated independently, our respective work has helped to expand financial inclusion and inclusive growth around the world. We believe the steps outlined in the filing provide for an orderly diversification of the Foundations holdings and look forward to a continued relationship with the Foundation team for years to come.

About the Mastercard Foundation

The Mastercard Foundation is a Canadian Foundation and one of the world's largest foundations, with a mission to advance education and financial inclusion. It works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. The Foundation was established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company. The Foundation is an independent organization. Its policies, operations, and programs are determined by the Foundation's Board of Directors and senior leadership.

www.mastercardfdn.org

About Mastercard (NYSE: MA)

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

www.mastercard.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements by Mastercard that are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words believe, expect, could, may, would, will, trend and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations, include, but are not limited to, whether the parties obtain court approval in a timely manner and the market impact of the Mastercard Foundations diversification of its shares of Mastercard common stock, as well as additional factors detailed in Mastercards filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Mastercard undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this press release or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in the companys expectations.

Appendix

The following excerpts are taken from the Non-Binding Memorandum of Intention and Understanding (MOI) entered into between Mastercard Foundation and Mastercard Incorporated on June 15, 2023. The MOI confirms that, with the exception of certain provisions (including section 4, quoted below), the MOI does not constitute an enforceable agreement between the parties, but is a non-binding statement of the present intention and understanding of the parties based on their consultations to date.

NB: The Unlimited Alienation Period referenced in the excerpts below is a defined term in the Deed of Gift between the Mastercard Foundation and Mastercard. It refers to the period beginning on May 1, 2027, and continuing indefinitely thereafter, when the Foundation is permitted to diversify its endowment. The Foundation has applied to vary its Deed of Gift so that the Unlimited Alienation Period begins on January 1, 2024.

4. Adherence to Requirements in Deed of Gift. In carrying out the sale of Mastercard shares, the Foundation confirms its commitment to adhere to the requirements in Section 5.01(c) of the Deed, which provides that all sales of Mastercard shares during the Unlimited Alienation Period shall be conducted in an orderly and structured manner so as not to unreasonably disrupt the market for Mastercard shares. Section 5 of this MOI reflects the plan approved by the Foundation to implement the orderly sell-down of the Mastercard shares and the Foundations commitment to do so in a manner that does not unreasonably disrupt the market for Mastercards shares.

The parties acknowledge and agree, consistent with the Deed, that nothing in this MOI shall prevent the Foundations directors from performing their fiduciary duties with respect to the Mastercard shares, which requires them to act in the best interests of the Foundation and its charitable purposes.

5. Plan for Sales of Mastercard Shares. Conditional upon the granting of the said Order and after the new commencement date of the Unlimited Alienation Period, the Foundation has approved the following plan with respect to the ordered and structured sales of the Mastercard shares:

(a) The Foundation will proceed with the sell-down of the Mastercard shares into the public market to diversify its investment portfolio over a seven-year period, ending when the Foundation notifies Mastercard that it has reached the target investment described in paragraph 5(b) (the Sell-down Period).

(b) The Foundation intends to maintain a target investment in Mastercard shares that represents approximately 10% of the Foundations investment portfolio (which portfolio shall consist of the Mastercard shares plus other investments in the diversified portfolio including the Perpetual Endowment Fund) at the end of the Sell-down Period. This target is approximate, and the Foundations investment in Mastercard shares may fluctuate following the Sell-down Period.

(c) The Foundation will sell between 13-15% of its initial Mastercard shares (i.e., the total Mastercard shares held by the Foundation at the beginning of the Unlimited Alienation Period) annually during the Sell-down Period.

(d) The Foundation will limit daily sales of Mastercard shares to not more than 5% of the average daily trading volume for the previous two weeks.

(e) The parameters in paragraphs 5(a), (b), (c) and (d) are subject at all times to prevailing market conditions, applicable securities laws, and the Foundations fiduciary duties. This may result in periodic adjustments to aspects of the plan above over the course of the Sell-down Period.

6. Mastercard Acknowledgement and Agreement: Mastercard acknowledges and agrees with the Foundations intended actions to seek the Order allowing earlier diversification, on the basis of the Foundations expressed commitment and intentions as set forth in Sections 4 and 5 of this MOI. Mastercard will provide its written consent to the [application to vary the Deed].

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616204081/en/

Mastercard Foundation Media Relations:

Wariko Kabuga-Waita

[email protected]

+1 416-992-9089

Mastercard Investor Relations:

Devin Corr or Jud Staniar

[email protected]

+1 914-249-4565

Mastercard Media Relations:

Seth Eisen

[email protected]

+1 914-249-3153

Source: Mastercard Investor Relations
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Clinical laboratories across the nation are scrambling to meet a looming August 1 deadline that requires them to include Z-Codes with certain molecular and genetic test claims they submit to the nations largest health insurer. Labs that fail to comply may experience a major disruption in cash flow after implementation of this new requirement.

Announced last month by UnitedHealthcare, effective Aug. 1, genetic test claims associated with about 250 CPT codes must include a Z-Code issued by the MolDx Diagnostic Exchange (DEX) registry, operated by Palmetto GBA, a Medicare Administrative Contractor. This announcement surprised many clinical labs and left them with only weeks to apply for the Z-Codes they need when submitting molecular test claims to UHC.

To help clinical labs meet their needs for swift Z-Code registration of their genetic tests, The Dark Report and DarkDaily are presenting a free, 90-minute webinar, Essential Guide to Obtaining Z-Codes for Molecular and Genetic Tests Thursday, June 29, at 1:00 PM EDT.

Keynote speaker is Gabriel Bien-Willner, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer of Palmetto GBA, as well as Medical Director of the Molecular Diagnostic Services Program (MolDx). He will provide an up-to-the-minute picture of the DEX MolDx Z-Code registry, including the application and documentation processes needed to register a molecular test and obtain a unique Z-Code for that test.

Second to speak is Valerie Collier, MS, CGC, Genetic Counselor at ARUP Laboratories. She has been directly involved in helping ARUP Laboratories and its clients obtain Z-Codes for their new molecular and genetic tests. Colliers insights and recommendations are based on four years of submitting applications to DEX MolDx, responding to the documentation requirements, and receiving Z-Codes for these new genetic tests.

Next to present is Kyle Fetter, Chief Operating Officer at XiFin, Inc. Since the inception of the MolDx and Z-Code programs more than a decade ago, Fetter and his team have worked with client laboratories to help them register their molecular and genetic tests and obtain Z-Codes. Fetters team also interacts regularly with other private health insurers and is tracking their plans to follow UHCs lead and issue their own requirements that molecular test claims include Z-Codes.

Full details on the speakers, content, and how to register for this valuable, free webinar are at https://www.darkdaily.com. XiFin provided an Educational Grant in support of this webinar.

For additional information, contact Amanda Curtis, 512-264-7103

About The Dark Intelligence Group

Since 1995, The Dark Intelligence Group has been the leading source of exclusive and reliable business intelligence about clinical laboratories, pathology groups, and laboratory diagnostics. The Dark Intelligence Group is the publisher of Dark Daily and The Dark Report, and each spring The Dark Intelligence Group hosts the renowned Executive War College on Diagnostics, Clinical Laboratory and Pathology Management.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230615793787/en/

Amanda Curtis

[email protected]

Source: The Dark Intelligence Group
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- To mark the start of Developmental Services Appreciation Week on June 19, workers from across Ontario will hold a rally at the office of the Minister of Children, Community, and Social Services. Representing over 20,000 developmental service workers across the province, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE Ontario) have launched a campaign to raise awareness about this overworked and unacknowledged sector. The campaign  Its Life Changing Work  calls for Minister Michael Parsa to ensure that these skilled and dedicated frontline workers have the resources needed to provide the quality services Ontarians deserve.

SPEAKERS: JP Hornick, President, OPSEU/SEFPO Fred Hahn, President, CUPE Ontario Sara Labelle, OPSEU Regional Vice President Jaison Parayil, Developmental service worker and CUPE Local 2191 member Pam Frache, Justice for Workers WHEN: Monday, June 19, 11:30 a.m. WHERE: 13085 Yonge St. #201, Richmond Hill, ON L4E 3S8

JM:lf/cope491

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616683831/en/

Jesse Mintz

CUPE Communications Representative

416 704 9642

[email protected]

Justin Stayshyn

OPSEU/SEFPO Communications Officer

416 557 2853

[email protected]

Source: CUPE
GOLDEN, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Golden Minerals Company (Golden Minerals, Golden or the Company) (NYSE American: AUMN and TSX: AUMN) is pleased to announce that Pablo Castanos will be joining the Company on July 1, 2023, serving in a newly-created role of executive vice president.

Mr. Castanos brings to the Company more than 20 years of global and strategic leadership expertise, including twelve years in the mining industry, in positions focusing on strategic planning, finance, compliance, sustainability, government affairs and risk management. Since 2017, he has served as managing partner of Integra QRO Hold and Magnolia OneZero Investments, LLC, real estate development and construction companies located in Queretaro, Mexico and Austin, Texas, respectively. Between 2013 and 2016, he worked at Goldcorp Inc. (now Newmont Corporation) in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, initially serving as director of environmental compliance and subsequently serving as vice president of corporate social responsibility. From 2009 to 2013, he worked at Golden Minerals, serving as director of corporate affairs and later as vice president of corporate affairs. Between 2007 and 2009, he held the role of director of investor relations with Apex Silver Mines, and from 2004 to 2007 he served as corporate manager of Minera San Cristobal, the largest silver, zinc and lead mine in Bolivia.

Mr. Castanos attended a graduate program conducted jointly by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Gabriela Mistral University in Santiago, Chile, where he earned a Master of Business Administration in finance, with honors.

Mr. Jeffrey Clevenger, Chairman of the Board of Golden Minerals, commented on Mr. Castanos appointment, Goldens board is delighted with the return of Pablo to our organization. He is very familiar with Golden, brings significant bench strength to the team and his experience brings hands-on knowledge to our activities in Mexico.

About Golden Minerals

Golden Minerals is a gold and silver producer based in Golden, Colorado. The Company is primarily focused on producing gold and silver from its Rodeo Mine, advancing its Velardena and Yoquivo properties in Mexico and, through partner-funded exploration, its El Quevar silver property in Argentina, as well as acquiring and advancing selected mining properties in Mexico, Nevada and Argentina.

Follow us at www.linkedin.com/company/golden-minerals-company/ and https://twitter.com/Golden_Minerals.

For additional information please visit http://www.goldenminerals.com/ or contact:

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616411337/en/

Golden Minerals Company

Karen Winkler, Director of Investor Relations

(303) 839-5060

Source: Golden Minerals Company
MECHANICSBURG, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pennsylvania American Water is encouraging customers statewide to voluntarily reduce their water consumption in response to the drought watch declaration announced yesterday by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). While the company always encourages wise water use, Pennsylvania American Water is asking residents and businesses to voluntarily reduce their nonessential water use by 5-10 percent (a reduction of 3-6 gallons per day) in accordance with DEPs guidance.

Were asking our customers to observe the DEPs request and be mindful of their nonessential water use during this drought watch, while we vigilantly monitor our drinking water sources, said Jim Runzer, vice president of operations for Pennsylvania American Water. Our sources of supply are currently adequate to meet the needs of our customers, but we want to mitigate the potential for more severe conditions that could lead to stricter conservation measures later this summer.

DEP issued the drought declaration on June 15 following a meeting of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force, based on public water supply levels and data related to four indicators: precipitation, surface water flow, groundwater level and soil moisture. According to DEP, a drought watch declaration is the first and least severe level of the states three drought classifications. Learn more on DEPs drought information webpage.

Pennsylvania American Water offers multiple water conservation resources in the Wise Water Use section of its website. It also is a member of the Alliance for Water Efficiency, which developed an online Water Use Calculator that allows you to input water use information specific to your household and offers tips on where you can save water and energy based on that data. The company will be sharing summer water conservation tips and reminders with customers through upcoming email campaigns, bill enclosures and social media posts.

Below are tips for conserving water inside and outside your home this summer:

Run dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are full. If you have a water-saver cycle, use it.

Regularly check your toilet, faucets, and pipes for leaks with our free leak detection kits. If you find a leak, have it fixed as soon as possible.

Install water-saving showerheads, toilets and faucet aerators.

Consider water and energy-efficient appliances. Products and services that have earned the WaterSense label have been certified to be at least 20 percent more efficient without sacrificing performance.

Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or washing dishes in the sink.

Water your lawn only when it needs it. When you do, water in the early morning or evening to reduce evaporation.

Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your sidewalk, driveway or patio.

Set up a rain barrel to be ready to repurpose rain when it does fall. For information, see this Penn State Extension guide.

About Pennsylvania American Water

Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and wastewater services to approximately 2.3 million people.

About American Water

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs approximately 6,500 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to an estimated 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable, and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and diversityataw.com. Follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616259564/en/

Northeast PA: Susan Turcmanovich, External Affairs Manager

C: 570-332-6726 E: [email protected]

Central PA: David Misner, External Affairs Manager

C: 717-261-7525 E: [email protected]

Southeast PA: Kara Rahn, Sr. Manager, External & Government Affairs

C: 484-238-5216 E: [email protected]

Western PA: Gary Lobaugh, Sr. Manager, External & Government Affairs

C: 724-873-3674 E: [email protected]

Source: Pennsylvania American Water
PsiQuantums latest paper describes a more efficient method to break Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) which is widely used for secure communications. This approach uses techniques especially applicable to photonic architectures, and reduces the number of gate operations required to break an ECC key by up to 80% as well as a 700x reduction in computation time relative to the state-of-the-art quantum algorithms.

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- PsiQuantum announced today in a new publication, a thorough resource count for how large a quantum computer is needed to impact a commonly used cryptosystem  namely Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) - considering a novel fault-tolerant quantum computing architecture that the company recently introduced1. This active volume architecture leverages long-range connections within the quantum computer and results in a 700x reduction in the computational resource requirements for breaking ECC keys relative to state-of-the-art quantum algorithms. This is also orders of magnitude less time to compute than the billions of years required by conventional computers to perform the equivalent task for a 256-bit ECC key.

Secure digital communications, which underpin our modern use of the internet, rests on the success of public-key cryptographic systems. These cryptographic systems work by allowing a user to provide a public key, with which anyone can securely encode messages to them. These messages can then only be decoded with a secret private key held by the user. These keys for encoding and decoding are built from mathematical operations which are easy to apply (for the encoding), but hard to reverse (for the decoding). The difficulty of the decoding relies on the fact that reversing these mathematical operations is an impractically time-consuming task for conventional computers.

Two prominent such schemes are RSA and elliptic curve cryptography (ECC). In RSA, the mathematical operation used to provide the public and private keys centers around the ease of multiplying two prime numbers, compared with the difficulty of the inverse process  recovering these prime factors. The approach taken by ECC is a little more obscure, but the concept is similar. Public key encoding can be performed using a mathematical operation known as elliptic curve point multiplication, and reversing this process to decode the messages is hard without information contained in a private key.

Both RSA and ECC keys could be easily broken using large-scale quantum computers. Algorithms have been discovered for quantum computers that can, unlike conventional computers, efficiently reverse the mathematical operations at the heart of RSA and ECC. Several research papers have explored quantum algorithms for the generation of RSA and ECC keys in the past decades. Surprisingly, although it involves more mathematically complex operations, breaking 256-bit ECC keys is easier than breaking 2048-bit RSA keys, thanks to the shorter keys needing fewer resource-intensive arithmetic operations.

In this paper, PsiQuantum uncovered architecture-independent improvements to existing ECC quantum algorithms that reduce the number of gates required for breaking ECC keys by up to 80%. The team also conducted a resource estimate for implementing ECC quantum algorithms using PsiQuantums newly unveiled active volume architecture technique (read more) which led to a reduction in the number of quantum operations needed to crack an ECC key by up to 700x.

The active volume compilation technique is especially applicable to photonic architectures, like that of PsiQuantums. This is because the technique relies on the ability to have long-range connections within the quantum computer and currently only photonic architectures have this feature. Unlike matter-based qubits such as ion traps or superconducting qubits, photons have the ability to be easily non-locally connected using conventional optical fiber, as widely used in the telecommunications industry.

So, are all our secrets at immediate risk of being stolen? Not yet. Despite these breakthroughs, cracking 256-bit ECC keys still requires quantum computers having millions of physical qubits. Even though photonic quantum computers can reduce the size of the required system, this still requires a machine much larger than what we have today. Nevertheless, researchers are actively preparing for that eventuality with the development of post-quantum cryptography schemes such as lattice cryptography, and the recommendation of using longer RSA or ECC keys in the meantime. These approaches are suspected to be secure against quantum algorithms, and moreover other developing technologies can actually offer encryption schemes that are provably secure against quantum algorithms.

Prof. Terry Rudolph, Chief Architect and Co-Founder at PsiQuantum, said:

These results illustrate a characteristic property of the field of quantum computing, which is that while much progress is made through slow and painful incremental development, it is also not surprising to see huge leaps forward by an order of magnitude or more. Because of this unpredictability, as well as the high potential impact of the technology, companies and organizations which are developing quantum computers carry a serious responsibility to ensure that quantum computing is deployed in a responsible and appropriately transparent way. This is why we are choosing to publish our methods in the public domain.

VADM (Ret.) Robert D. Sharp, former Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, said:

I applaud and am comforted by PsiQuantums relentless commitment to ensuring that we maintain our competitive edge in strategic technologies like quantum computing; one with such widespread applications and  arguably  some of the most profound national security implications the US and our allies will face this century. Beyond being impressed by what the company is doing, I appreciate how thoughtfully and strategically theyre doing it  learning rapidly and iteratively, and approaching the technology as a committed and transparent partner to the US and allied governments as they reach critical milestones.

About PsiQuantum

Powered by breakthroughs in silicon photonics and fault-tolerant quantum architecture, PsiQuantum is building the first utility-scale quantum computer to solve some of the worlds most important challenges. PsiQuantums approach is based on single-photon qubits, which have significant advantages at the scale required to deliver a fault-tolerant, general-purpose quantum computer. With their photonic chips manufactured in a world-leading semiconductor fab, PsiQuantum is uniquely positioned to deliver quantum capabilities reaching the scale needed to drive advances in climate technologies, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, finance, energy, agriculture, transportation, communications, and beyond. To learn more, visit www.psiquantum.com.

Follow PsiQuantum: LinkedIn

Link to paper: https://arxiv.org/abs/2306.08585

 2023 PsiQuantum. PsiQuantum and the PsiQuantum logo are registered or pending registration trademarks of PsiQuantum, Corp., in the United States and other countries.

1 https://arxiv.org/abs/2306.08585

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230615648314/en/

[email protected]

Jacqueline Tame

Tel: +1 (512) 554-9718

Source: PsiQuantum, Corp.
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regis Corporation (NYSE: RGS), a leader in the haircare industry, today announced their participation in the 2023 Jefferies Consumer Conference to be held June 20-21, 2023 in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Matthew Doctor, CEO, and Kersten Zupfer, CFO, will meet in-person with investors throughout the conference and hold a breakout session on June 21, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

About Regis Corporation

Regis Corporation (NYSE: RGS) is a leader in the haircare industry. As of March 31, 2023, the Company franchised, owned or held ownership interests in 5,203 locations worldwide. Regis' franchised and corporate locations operate under concepts such as Supercuts, SmartStyle, Cost Cutters, Roosters and First Choice Haircutters. Regis maintains an ownership interest in Empire Education Group in the U.S. For additional information about the Company, including a reconciliation of certain non-GAAP financial information and certain supplemental financial information, please visit the Investor Information section of the corporate website at www.regiscorp.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616226113/en/

REGIS CORPORATION

Kersten Zupfer

[email protected]

Source: Regis Corporation
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Shapeways Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SHPW) (Shapeways or the Company), a leader in the large and fast-growing digital manufacturing industry, announced today that its Board of Directors approved a 1-for-8 reverse stock split of its common stock that will become effective at 4:01 p.m. Eastern Time on June 22, 2023 (the Effective Time). The Companys common stock is expected to begin trading on a split-adjusted basis on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) when the markets open on June 23, 2023, under the existing trading symbol SHPW and new CUSIP number 81947T201.

The reverse stock split was approved by the Companys stockholders at its 2023 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, held on June 15, 2023, with the final ratio determined by the Companys Board of Directors. The Company will file an amendment to its Certificate of Incorporation to implement the reverse stock split as of the Effective Time. The primary goal of the reverse stock split is to increase the per share market price of the Companys common stock to meet the minimum $1.00 average closing price requirement for continued listing on the NYSE.

At the Effective Time, every eight issued and outstanding shares of the Companys common stock will be converted automatically into one share of the Companys common stock without any change in the par value per share. Once effective, the reverse stock split will reduce the number of shares of common stock issued and outstanding from approximately 50.9 million to approximately 6.4 million. The reverse stock split will not reduce the number of authorized shares of the Companys common stock.

No fractional shares will be issued in connection with the reverse stock split. Instead, each stockholder will be entitled to receive a cash payment in lieu thereof at a price equal to the fraction of one share to which the stockholder would otherwise be entitled multiplied by the closing price per share of the Companys common stock on the NYSE on June 22, 2023. The reverse stock split will affect all stockholders uniformly and will not alter any stockholders percentage interest in the Companys equity, except to the extent that the reverse stock split would result in any stockholders receiving fractional shares. In addition, the terms of all outstanding options, warrants, and restricted stock units are being proportionately adjusted, in accordance with the terms of the applicable agreement.

The Company currently has warrants listed to purchase a total of 18,410,000 shares of common stock, with each whole warrant being exercisable for one share of common stock at $11.50 per share. Upon the effectiveness of the reverse stock split, every 8 shares of common stock that may be purchased pursuant to the warrants immediately prior to the reverse stock split will represent one share of common stock that may be purchased pursuant to such warrants immediately following the reverse stock split. Correspondingly, the exercise price per share of common stock attributable to such warrants immediately prior to the reverse stock split will be proportionately increased, such that the warrant price immediately following the reverse stock split will be $92.00, which equals the product of 8 multiplied by $11.50, the exercise price per share immediately prior to the reverse stock split. The number of shares of common stock subject to the warrants will be proportionately decreased by 8 times, to an aggregate of 2,301,250 shares. The terms of Shapeways outstanding warrants do not permit issuance of fractional shares upon exercise of such warrants. Instead, the number of shares issuable shall be rounded up or down to the nearest whole number upon exercise of the warrants. The redemption trigger price of the warrants will also be correspondingly proportionately increased, such that the redemption trigger price immediately following the reverse stock split will be $144, which equals the product of 8 multiplied by $18.00, the redemption trigger price immediately prior to the reverse stock split.

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company is acting as transfer and exchange agent for the reverse stock split, and is also the Companys warrant agent. Registered stockholders who hold shares of the Companys common stock are not required to take any action to receive post-reverse split shares. Stockholders owning shares via a broker, bank, trust or other nominee will have their positions automatically adjusted to reflect the reverse stock split, subject to such broker's particular processes, and will not be required to take any action in connection with the reverse stock split.

Additional information regarding the reverse stock split can be found in the Companys definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 1, 2023, as supplemented on May 15, 2023, which is available free of charge on the SECs website at www.sec.gov and on the Companys website at https://www.shapeways.com.

About Shapeways

Shapeways is a leader in the large and fast-growing digital manufacturing industry combining high quality, flexible on-demand manufacturing powered by purpose-built proprietary software which enables customers to rapidly transform digital designs into physical products, globally. Shapeways makes industrial-grade additive manufacturing accessible by fully digitizing the end-to-end manufacturing process, and by providing a broad range of solutions utilizing 12 additive manufacturing technologies and approximately 120 materials and finishes, with the ability to easily scale new innovation. To date, Shapeways has delivered over 24 million parts to 1 million customers in over 180 countries. To learn more, please visit https://www.shapeways.com.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements included in this press release are not historical facts and are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "should," "would," "plan," "predict," "potential," "seem," "seek," "future," "outlook," and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding the reverse stock split and timing thereof and Shapeways intention with respect to compliance with the price requirements for maintaining its listing on the NYSE are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of the Company. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Shapeways most recent Form 10-K, most recent Form 10-Q, and other documents Shapeways has filed, or will file, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or the Companys assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that the Company does not presently know, or that the Company currently believes are immaterial, that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect the Companys expectations, plans, or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its assessments to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Companys assessments of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616791951/en/

Investor Relations

[email protected]

Media Relations

[email protected]

Source: Shapeways Holdings, Inc.
Sierra Space to work closely with NASA on key capabilities vital to unlocking the next generation of space travel

LOUISVILLE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sierra Space, a leading, pureplay commercial space company building the first end-to-end business and technology platform in space, today was awarded a Space Act Agreement (SAA) by NASA under the second Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities (CCSC-2) initiative.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230615828732/en/

Sierra Space is collaborating with NASA for the development of the companys commercial low Earth orbit ecosystem, including next-generation space transportation, in-space infrastructure, and expandable and tailorable space facilities. (Photo: Business Wire)

Through the agreement, Sierra Space will provide NASA with valuable insight and collaboration into its crewed Dream Chaser spaceplane; new commercial space station architectures; and in-space logistics, refueling and servicing systems. NASA will advance deployment of Sierra Spaces platform and ecosystem by providing access to facilities and support for environmental and crew systems testing, tools and software.

This SAA award by NASA provides support to a pathfinder space station, which serves as a technology demonstration for key elements of commercial space stations. Such demonstrations are vital steps to ultimately designing objects intended for sustained commercial habitation in orbit. The SAA is set to begin while the systems are in the design and development phases and last for five years  through on-orbit deployment later this decade.

Sierra Space is building the in-space infrastructure and end-to-end business platform to accelerate the new space economy, said Tom Vice, CEO of Sierra Space. This agreement with NASA enables active collaboration to share our expertise and findings as we conduct the formative work that will open the door to extended human missions to space.

Sierra Space is building the technology, business platform and ecosystem to power the new space economy, providing products and services to both government and commercial customers, ensuring a robust and competitive U.S. commercial space economy vital to long-term U.S. interests. This agreement provides collaboration and knowledge sharing from NASA to a new generation of space pioneers building our low Earth orbit (LEO) ecosystem.

Sierra Spaces open architecture enables the creation of a robust LEO commercial ecosystem and the catalyst for the next breakthrough innovations in biotechnology, human health, telecommunications, computing, advanced materials, and clean energy.

About Sierra Space

Sierra Space is a leading, pureplay commercial space company at the forefront of innovation and the commercialization of space in the Orbital Age, building an end-to-end business and technology platform in space to benefit life on Earth. With more than 30 years and 500 missions of space flight heritage, the company is enabling the future of space transportation with Dream Chaser, the worlds only commercial spaceplane, and is bringing LIFE (Large Integrated Flexible Environment) to low-Earth orbit with its modular, three-story commercial habitation and science platform. Both Dream Chaser and LIFE are central components to Orbital Reef, a mixed-use business park in LEO being developed by principal partners Sierra Space and Blue Origin, which is expected to be operational by the end of the decade. Sierra Space also builds and delivers a host of systems and subsystems across solar power, mechanics and motion control, environmental control, life support, propulsion and thermal control, offering myriad space-as-a-service solutions for the new space economy.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230615828732/en/

Alex Walker

Sierra Space

(303) 803-2297

[email protected]

Mike Curie

Griffin Communications Group

386-478-8234

[email protected]

Source: Sierra Space
EDINBURGH, Scotland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- From its origins over drinks in a local pub- to leading independent risk and safety consultancy- the Abbott Risk Consulting (ARC) story was celebrated this week when the company brought all its people from Australia and the UK together for a conference in Edinburgh.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616108429/en/

Start-Up to Global Leader- 20 Years in the Making of ARC (Photo: Business Wire)

Colleagues from ARC offices across the UK and Australia are pictured at Edinburghs Norton House Hotel, where the company hosted two days of activities and events for its people.

ARC is now a global leader in risk and safety engineering, providing a suite of services to the defence, transport, civil nuclear and oil and gas industries with a reputation for providing an outstanding service. In the past 20 years ARC has seen its go from turnover 10m to more than 30m- and its people - from 80-150 in the last 10 years.

Managing Director John Abbott is justifiably proud of ARCs people and what they have achieved together. He said: When we met in that pub all those years ago, we had all had enough of the politics and bureaucracy of large corporates. We wanted to create a working environment where people were supported to deliver for clients- with high levels of independence and autonomy. We offered- and continue to offer- industry-leading terms and conditions- and a workplace culture that supports social interaction, community engagement and employee health and well-being.

ARCs ethos and values are the core of its success as the leading independent consultancy in most of its sectors in Australia, the UK, and many other parts of the world. It is employee-owned, with share allocations, enabling the company to pay an annual share dividend to its employees based on its financial performance.

John Saunders, Engineering Manager at Dounreay Fast Reactor, said: As a client, I can say that working with ARC has been a tremendously satisfying experience and one which, sadly, is not often matched by other companies. The combination of understanding the clients requirements, ability to adapt as circumstances change, willingness to be proactive, consistently high standard of work and competitive pricing has led to ARCs well-deserved reputation in my industry.

John Abbott added: It is a matter of pride that we have been able to build such a strong independent company and provide so many opportunities for young people to develop their careers in science and engineering. Weve also been recognised along the way by The Sunday Times as one of the best companies to work for in the UK.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616108429/en/

Further information from: [email protected].com 07813 604830

Source: Abbott Risk Consulting
Features the Music of 2X GRAMMY- and BAFTA-Nominated Composer Benjamin Wallfisch

Preorders Now Available: Triple LP, Two Color Vinyl and Double CD

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- WaterTower Music is elated to announce todays release of the soundtrack to Warner Bros. Pictures film The Flash. Directed by Andy Muschietti (the IT films, Mama), The Flash is now in theaters.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616652198/en/

THE FLASH Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Graphic: Business Wire)

The Flash serves as the DC Super Heros first-ever standalone feature film, and sees Director Muschietti reunite with noted collaborator, two-time GRAMMY- and BAFTA-nominated composer Benjamin Wallfisch (the IT films, Shazam, Blade Runner 2049 [with Hans Zimmer]), who created all of the music found on The Flash (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). Fans got an enthusiastic taste of the highly anticipated soundtrack over the past few weeks with the early release of four tracks: Worlds Collide, Run, I Am Batman and Sounds About Right, Bruce, and can now hear the entire, 43-track soundtrack, which is currently available for digital purchase and streaming, and available as a preorder for Triple LP, Two-Color Vinyl and Double CD.

Benjamin Wallfisch discussed working with Andy Muschietti: Andy has created something truly incredible with this movie, and as always I was honored to have been invited to be a part of his creative family. Its not only one of the most spectacular and exciting superhero films ever made, everything is drawn together by a powerful emotional core which motivated the earliest sketches Andy and I worked on together, all the way back in 2020.

Wallfisch further reflected on the film and the music of The Flash. The movie is also of course a love letter to the legacy of DC, right back to its earliest origins, and one of the most exciting challenges for me was to celebrate that history, whilst still looking to the future with completely new material. Id also like to highlight the incredible musicians who performed this music with such unbelievable virtuosity, fire and commitment. The movie challenged us to attempt the near-impossible, and at every turn our orchestra not only met but exceeded what we might have imagined. A huge thank you to Andy, Barbara and everyone at DC and Warner Bros. for this amazing journey.

The Flash (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) with music by Benjamin Wallfisch, is now available digitally and as a Triple Vinyl and Double CD preorder, and the track list is as follows:

1. Are You Actively Eating That Candy Bar? 23. Escape from Siberia 2. Sounds About Right, Bruce 24. Now We Try Not to Die 3. Collapsing East Wing 25. Supergirl 4. Baby Shower 26. Want Some Help? 5. Nora 27. I Gave You a Warning 6. Run 28. What Could Go Wrong? 7. Not This Time, Kid 29. Let's Get Electrocuted 8. Can of Tomatoes 30. I've Got You 9. See You Soon 31. You Wanna Get Nuts? 10. Please Work 32. Let's Get Nuts 11. Today's the Day 33. Cyclonic Diversion 12. Phasing 34. I'm Not Going Alone 13. Escape from the Lab 35. We Can Fix This 14. Zod 36. Inevitable Intersection 15. What Is This Place? 37. We Can Save Her 16. Spaghetti 38. The Dark Flash 17. Into the Batcave 39. Worlds Collide (Superman Version) 18. I Loved You First 40. You're My Hero 19. Fate 41. Into the Singularity 20. I Am Batman 42. Call Me 21. Batdoneon 43. Worlds Collide 22. Kal-El?

ABOUT THE FLASH

Warner Bros. Pictures presents The Flash, directed by Andy Muschietti. Ezra Miller reprises their role as Barry Allen in the DC Super Heros first-ever standalone feature film. Worlds collide when Barry uses his superpowers to travel back in time in order to change the events of the past. But when his attempt to save his family inadvertently alters the future, Barry becomes trapped in a reality in which General Zod has returned, threatening annihilation, and there are no Super Heroes to turn to. That is, unless Barry can coax a very different Batman out of retirement and rescue an imprisoned Kryptonian albeit not the one hes looking for. Ultimately, to save the world that he is in and return to the future that he knows, Barrys only hope is to race for his life. But will making the ultimate sacrifice be enough to reset the universe?

The Flash ensemble also includes rising star Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon, Ron Livingston, Maribel Verdu, Kiersey Clemons, Antje Traue and Michael Keaton. It is produced by Barbara Muschietti and Michael Disco. The screenplay is by Christina Hodson, with a screen story by John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein and Joby Harold, based on characters from DC. The executive producers are Toby Emmerich, Walter Hamada, Galen Vaisman and Marianne Jenkins.

Warner Bros. Pictures presents a Double Dream/a Disco Factory Production of an Andy Muschietti Film, The Flash will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures and is set to open in theaters in North America on June 16, 2023 and internationally beginning 14 June 2023.

ABOUT BENJAMIN WALLFISCH

Golden Globe, BAFTA, two-time Grammy, Emmy and five-time World Soundtrack Award nominee, composer Benjamin Wallfisch has worked on over 80 feature films, collaborating with directors including Ron Howard, Ted Melfi, Andy Muschietti, Christopher Nolan, David F. Sandberg, Leigh Whannell, Gore Verbinski and Denis Villeneuve. His latest project is Andy Muschiettis The Flash for DC / Warner Bros.

A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in Londonand mentored by Dario Marianelli and Hans ZimmerBenjamins notable projects include It and It Chapter Two, Blade Runner 2049 (with Hans Zimmer), Shazam!, The Invisible Man, Mortal Kombat, Thirteen Lives, A Cure For Wellness, Annabelle: Creation, King Of Thieves, Hidden Figures (with Pharrell Williams and Hans Zimmer), and music based on Elgars Enigma Variations for Dunkirk.

Benjamin has performed live in over 100 concerts worldwide, conducting orchestras such as the London Philharmonic, Philharmonia, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Sydney Symphony at venues including the Hollywood Bowl, Sydney Opera House and Royal Festival Hall. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and BAFTA, and is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music. In 2019 he founded The Scoring Lab, a state-of-the art scoring production company and Dolby Atmos Certified mix studio in the heart of Santa Monica, California.

ABOUT WATERTOWER MUSIC

WaterTower Music, the in-house label for the Warner Bros. Discovery companies, releases recorded music as rich and diverse as the companies themselves. It has been the soundtrack home to many of the worlds most iconic films, television shows and games since 2001.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616652198/en/

SOUNDTRACK INQUIRIES

WaterTower Music

Joe Kara

[email protected]

Source: WaterTower Music
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News:

In accordance with Article 5 of EU Regulation n 596/2014 (Market Abuse Regulation), detailed information is available on the website of Tikehau Capital (Paris: TKO): https://www.tikehaucapital.com/fr/shareholders/regulatory-information

Name of the issuer Issuer Identity Code (LEI) Trading Day ISIN Aggregated

volume per day

(number of shares) Weighted

average price

per day Market (MIC Code) TIKEHAU CAPITAL 969500BY8TEU16U3SJ94 09/06/2023 FR0013230612 2,000 23.9826 XPAR TIKEHAU CAPITAL 969500BY8TEU16U3SJ94 12/06/2023 FR0013230612 2,000 23.9988 XPAR TIKEHAU CAPITAL 969500BY8TEU16U3SJ94 13/06/2023 FR0013230612 2,000 24.0135 XPAR TIKEHAU CAPITAL 969500BY8TEU16U3SJ94 14/06/2023 FR0013230612 2,000 23.7430 XPAR TIKEHAU CAPITAL 969500BY8TEU16U3SJ94 15/06/2023 FR0013230612 2,000 23.6067 XPAR TOTAL 10,000 23.8689

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616287549/en/

Tikehau Capital

Source: Tikehau Capital
CAMZYOS is the first and only FDA-approved cardiac myosin inhibitor that specifically targets the underlying source of obstructive HCM

VALOR-HCM is the second Phase 3 trial in which CAMZYOS demonstrated significant improvement in symptoms of obstructive HCM

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to add positive data from the Phase 3 VALOR-HCM study to the U.S. Prescribing Information for CAMZYOS (mavacamten, 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg capsules). Data added to the label showed that treatment with CAMZYOS significantly reduced the composite endpoint of guideline-based eligibility for septal reduction therapy (SRT) at Week 16 or the decision to proceed with SRT prior to or at Week 16. This approval follows last years FDA approval of CAMZYOS, based on results from the Phase 3 EXPLORER-HCM trial, for the treatment of adults with symptomatic New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-III obstructive HCM to improve functional capacity and symptoms.

At Bristol Myers Squibb, we are committed to delivering innovative medicines to help improve the lives of patients living with serious diseases, said Catherine Owen, Senior Vice President and General Manager, U.S. Commercial, Bristol Myers Squibb. CAMZYOS is the first and only FDA-approved cardiac myosin inhibitor that specifically targets the underlying source of the disease and is redefining the treatment landscape for symptomatic NYHA class IIIII obstructive HCM. Results from the Phase 3 VALOR-HCM study reinforce the data from the Phase 3 EXPLORER-HCM trial and further strengthen the clinical profile of CAMZYOS. We are proud to offer this important therapy to patients.

The full U.S. Prescribing Information for CAMZYOS includes a Boxed WARNING for the risk of heart failure. CAMZYOS reduces left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and can cause heart failure due to systolic dysfunction. Echocardiogram assessments of LVEF are required prior to and during treatment with CAMZYOS. Initiation of CAMZYOS in patients with LVEF Boxed WARNING below.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most commonly inherited heart disease, impacting between an estimated one in 200* and one in 500 people in the U.S. Obstructive HCM, which is the most common type of HCM and represents about two-thirds of all cases, is largely caused by dysfunction in the sarcomere which leads to a thickened heart muscle that obstructs or reduces blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body.1 Patients who are experiencing severe symptoms and have a dynamic LVOT gradient at rest or with provocation  50 mmHg, despite receiving the maximally tolerated medical therapy, may be eligible for SRT to reduce the thickness of the septal wall and alleviate obstruction.2

SRT is an invasive surgical or catheter-based procedure and is typically available at comprehensive HCM treatment centers. In order to provide broader access to treatment for those patients whose obstructive HCM becomes so advanced that guidelines recommend SRT, more treatment options are needed, said Anjali T. Owens, M.D., Medical Director of the Center for Inherited Cardiac Disease, Associate Professor of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and VALOR-HCM trial investigator and executive committee member. The VALOR-HCM study supports CAMZYOS as an oral treatment for obstructive HCM patients who are recommended for SRT.

In the VALOR-HCM study, patients with symptomatic obstructive HCM (NYHA class III-IV or class II with exertional syncope or near syncope) who met the 2011 ACC/AHA Guideline criteria and were referred for SRT were randomized 1:1 to CAMZYOS (n=56) or placebo (n=56) for 16 weeks. At baseline, approximately 7% of the randomized patients were NYHA class II and 93% were NYHA class III+. The mean LVEF was 68%, and the mean post-exercise left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) gradient was 84 mmHg. The baseline mean Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionaire-23 (KCCQ-23) Clinical Summary Score (CSS) was 68.

Results showed that CAMZYOS significantly reduced the primary composite endpoint of patient eligibility for SRT or the decision to proceed with SRT, with 82% of patients no longer eligible for the surgical procedure and deciding not to proceed with SRT after 16 weeks of treatment. Ten patients (18%) treated with CAMZYOS vs 43 patients (77%) in the placebo group decided to proceed with SRT prior to or at Week 16 or were SRT-eligible at Week 16; treatment difference (95% CI), 59% (44%, 74%); P

Results also showed CAMZYOS met secondary endpoints (change from baseline to Week 16) vs the placebo group of:

Mean post-exercise LVOT gradient (-39 mmHg for the CAMZYOS group vs -2 mmHg for the placebo group; difference [95% CI] of -38 mmHg [-49, -28], P

Proportion with NYHA class improvement of at least 1 class (63% for the CAMZYOS group vs 21% for the placebo group; difference [95% CI] of 41% [25, 58], P

KCCQ-23 CSS**, mean (+10 points for the CAMZYOS group vs +2 points for the placebo group; difference [95% CI] of 9 points [5, 14], P

Mean change in baseline in KCCQ-23 Total Symptom Score (TSS) (+10 vs +2)

Mean change in baseline in KCCQ-23 Physical Limitations (PL) (+10 vs +2)

**The Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionaire-23 Clinical Summary Score (KCCQ23 CSS) is derived from the Total Symptom Score (TSS) and the Physical Limitations (PL) score of the KCCQ23. The CSS ranges from 0 to 100 with higher scores representing less severe symptoms and/or physical limitations.

There were no new adverse reactions identified in VALOR-HCM. In the EXPLORER-HCM trial, adverse reactions occurring in >5% of patients and more commonly in the CAMZYOS group than in the placebo group were dizziness (27% vs 18%) and syncope (6% vs 2%). Mean (SD) resting LVEF was 74% (6) at baseline in both treatment groups. Mean (SD) absolute change from baseline in LVEF was -4% (8) in the CAMZYOS group and 0% (7) in the placebo group over the 30-week treatment period. At Week 38, following an 8-week interruption of trial drug, mean LVEF was similar to baseline for both treatment groups. Additionally, 7 (6%) patients in the CAMZYOS group and 2 (2%) patients in the placebo group experienced reversible reductions in LVEF to

Bristol Myers Squibb offers various programs and resources to address the needs of patients and caregivers, and provide support that allows for access to therapies, including CAMZYOS. For additional information, visit CAMZYOS.com or call 855-CAMZYOS (855-226-9967) 8 am to 11 pm ET, Monday through Friday.

About VALOR-HCM

VALOR-HCM (NCT04349072) was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter Phase 3 study of patients with symptomatic, obstructive HCM (NYHA class II-IV) who met guideline criteria for septal reduction therapy (SRT; LVOT gradient of  50 mmHg and NYHA class III-IV, or class II with exertional syncope or near syncope) and had been referred or under active consideration (within the past 12 months) for an invasive procedure. Patients were required to have LVOT peak gradient 50 mmHg at rest or with provocation, and LVEF 60%. The study enrolled 112 patients (mean age of 60 years; 51% men; 93%  NYHA class III) randomized on a 1:1 basis to receive mavacamten or placebo. At baseline, ninety-five percent of patients were on background therapies of a beta blocker, calcium channel blocker, disopyramide or a combination. The primary endpoint was a composite of the proportion of patients who decided to proceed with SRT prior to or at Week 16 or who remained SRT-guideline eligible (LVOT gradient of 50 mmHg and NYHA class III-IV, or class II with exertion induced syncope or near syncope) at Week 16. Key secondary endpoints included the change from baseline on post-exercise LVOT gradient, NYHA class, Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ-23) Clinical Summary Score and cardiac biomarkers (NT-proBNP and Cardiac Troponin I) at Week 16.

About CAMZYOS (mavacamten)

CAMZYOS (mavacamten) is the first and only cardiac myosin inhibitor approved in the U.S., indicated for the treatment of adults with symptomatic New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-III obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) to improve functional capacity and symptoms. CAMZYOS is an allosteric and reversible inhibitor selective for cardiac myosin. CAMZYOS modulates the number of myosin heads that can enter on actin (power-generating) states, thus reducing the probability of force-producing (systolic) and residual (diastolic) cross-bridge formation. Excess myosin actin cross-bridge formation and dysregulation of the super-relaxed state are mechanistic hallmarks of HCM. CAMZYOS shifts the overall myosin population towards an energy-sparing, recruitable, super-relaxed state. In HCM patients, myosin inhibition with CAMZYOS reduces dynamic left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction and improves cardiac filling pressures.

About CAMZYOS REMS Program

CAMZYOS is only available through a restricted program called the CAMZYOS REMS Program because of the risk of heart failure due to systolic dysfunction. Notable requirements of the CAMZYOS REMS Program include the following:

Prescribers must be certified by enrolling in the REMS Program.

Patients must enroll in the REMS Program and comply with ongoing monitoring requirements.

Pharmacies must be certified by enrolling in the CAMZYOS REMS Program and must only dispense to patients who are authorized to receive CAMZYOS.

Wholesalers and distributors must only distribute to certified pharmacies.

Further information is available by telephone at 1-833-628-7367.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: RISK OF HEART FAILURE

CAMZYOS reduces left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and can cause heart failure due to systolic dysfunction.

Echocardiogram assessments of LVEF are required prior to and during treatment with CAMZYOS. Initiation of CAMZYOS in patients with LVEF

Concomitant use of CAMZYOS with certain cytochrome P450 inhibitors or discontinuation of certain cytochrome P450 inducers may increase the risk of heart failure due to systolic dysfunction; therefore, the use of CAMZYOS is contraindicated with the following:

Moderate to strong CYP2C19 inhibitors or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors

Moderate to strong CYP2C19 inducers or moderate to strong CYP3A4 inducers

Because of the risk of heart failure due to systolic dysfunction, CAMZYOS is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the CAMZYOS REMS PROGRAM.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

CAMZYOS is contraindicated with concomitant use of:

Moderate to strong CYP2C19 inhibitors or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors

Moderate to strong CYP2C19 inducers or moderate to strong CYP3A4 inducers

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Heart Failure

CAMZYOS reduces systolic contraction and can cause heart failure or totally block ventricular function. Patients who experience a serious intercurrent illness (e.g., serious infection) or arrhythmia (e.g., atrial fibrillation or other uncontrolled tachyarrhythmia) are at greater risk of developing systolic dysfunction and heart failure.

Assess the patients clinical status and LVEF prior to and regularly during treatment and adjust the CAMZYOS dose accordingly. New or worsening arrhythmia, dyspnea, chest pain, fatigue, palpitations, leg edema, or elevations in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) may be signs and symptoms of heart failure and should also prompt an evaluation of cardiac function.

Asymptomatic LVEF reduction, intercurrent illnesses, and arrhythmias require additional dosing considerations.

Initiation of CAMZYOS in patients with LVEF

CYP 450 Drug Interactions Leading to Heart Failure or Loss of Effectiveness

CAMZYOS is primarily metabolized by CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 enzymes. Concomitant use of CAMZYOS and drugs that interact with these enzymes may lead to life-threatening drug interactions such as heart failure or loss of effectiveness.

Advise patients of the potential for drug interactions, including with over-the-counter medications (such as omeprazole, esomeprazole, or cimetidine). Advise patients to inform their healthcare provider of all concomitant products prior to and during CAMZYOS treatment.

CAMZYOS Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) Program

CAMZYOS is only available through a restricted program called the CAMZYOS REMS Program because of the risk of heart failure due to systolic dysfunction. Notable requirements of the CAMZYOS REMS Program include the following:

Prescribers must be certified by enrolling in the REMS Program.

Patients must enroll in the REMS Program and comply with ongoing monitoring requirements.

Pharmacies must be certified by enrolling in the REMS Program and must only dispense to patients who are authorized to receive CAMZYOS.

Wholesalers and distributors must only distribute to certified pharmacies.

Further information is available at www.CAMZYOSREMS.com or by telephone at 1-833-628-7367.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity

CAMZYOS may cause fetal toxicity when administered to a pregnant female, based on animal studies. Confirm absence of pregnancy in females of reproductive potential prior to treatment and advise patients to use effective contraception during treatment with CAMZYOS and for 4 months after the last dose. CAMZYOS may reduce the effectiveness of combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs). Advise patients using CHCs to use an alternative contraceptive method that is not affected by CYP 450 enzyme induction or to add nonhormonal contraception. Advise females of reproductive potential about the potential risk to the fetus with maternal exposure to CAMZYOS during pregnancy.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

In the EXPLORER-HCM trial, adverse reactions occurring in >5% of patients and more commonly in the CAMZYOS group than in the placebo group were dizziness (27% vs 18%) and syncope (6% vs 2%). There were no new adverse reactions identified in VALOR-HCM.

Effects on Systolic Function

In the EXPLORER-HCM trial, mean (SD) resting LVEF was 74% (6) at baseline in both treatment groups. Mean (SD) absolute change from baseline in LVEF was -4% (8) in the CAMZYOS group and 0% (7) in the placebo group over the 30-week treatment period. At Week 38, following an 8-week interruption of trial drug, mean LVEF was similar to baseline for both treatment groups. In the EXPLORER-HCM trial, 7 (6%) patients in the CAMZYOS group and 2 (2%) patients in the placebo group experienced reversible reductions in LVEF

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Potential for Other Drugs to Affect Plasma Concentrations of CAMZYOS

CAMZYOS is primarily metabolized by CYP2C19 and to a lesser extent by CYP3A4 and CYP2C9. Inducers and inhibitors of CYP2C19 and moderate to strong inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A4 may affect the exposures of CAMZYOS.

Impact of Other Drugs on CAMZYOS:

Moderate to Strong CYP2C19 Inhibitors or Strong CYP3A4 Inhibitors: Concomitant use increases CAMZYOS exposure, which may increase the risk of heart failure due to systolic dysfunction. Concomitant use is contraindicated.

Moderate to Strong CYP2C19 Inducers or Moderate to Strong CYP3A4 Inducers: Concomitant use decreases CAMZYOS exposure, which may reduce CAMZYOS efficacy. The risk of heart failure due to systolic dysfunction may increase with discontinuation of these inducers as the levels of induced enzyme normalizes. Concomitant use is contraindicated.

Weak CYP2C19 Inhibitors or Moderate CYP3A4 Inhibitors: Concomitant use with a weak CYP2C19 inhibitor or a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor increases CAMZYOS exposure, which may increase the risk of adverse drug reactions. Initiate CAMZYOS at the recommended starting dose of 5 mg orally once daily in patients who are on stable therapy with a weak CYP2C19 inhibitor or a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor. Reduce dose of CAMZYOS by one level (i.e., 15 to 10 mg, 10 to 5 mg, or 5 to 2.5 mg) in patients who are on CAMZYOS treatment and intend to initiate a weak CYP2C19 inhibitor or a moderate CYP3A4 inhibitor. Schedule clinical and echocardiographic assessment 4 weeks after inhibitor initiation, and do not up-titrate CAMZYOS until 12 weeks after inhibitor initiation. Avoid initiation of concomitant weak CYP2C19 and moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors in patients who are on stable treatment with 2.5 mg of CAMZYOS because a lower dose is not available.

Potential for CAMZYOS to Affect Plasma Concentrations of Other Drugs

CAMZYOS is an inducer of CYP3A4, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19. Concomitant use with CYP3A4, CYP2C19, or CYP2C9 substrates may reduce plasma concentration of these drugs. Closely monitor when CAMZYOS is used in combination with CYP3A4, CYP2C19, or CYP2C9 substrates where decreases in the plasma concentration of these drugs may reduce their activity.

Hormonal Contraceptives: Progestin and ethinyl estradiol are CYP3A4 substrates. Concomitant use of CAMZYOS may decrease exposures of ethinyl estradiol and progestin, which may lead to contraceptive failure or an increase in breakthrough bleeding. Advise patients to use a contraceptive method that is not affected by CYP 450 enzyme induction (e.g., intrauterine system) or add nonhormonal contraception (such as condoms) during concomitant use and for 4 months after the last dose of CAMZYOS.

Drugs That Reduce Cardiac Contractility

Expect additive negative inotropic effects of CAMZYOS and other drugs that reduce cardiac contractility. Avoid concomitant use of CAMZYOS in patients on disopyramide, ranolazine, verapamil with a beta blocker, or diltiazem with a beta blocker as these medications and combinations increase the risk of left ventricular systolic dysfunction and heart failure symptoms and clinical experience is limited.

If concomitant therapy with a negative inotrope is initiated, or if the dose of a negative inotrope is increased, monitor LVEF closely until stable doses and clinical response have been achieved.

SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

Pregnancy

CAMZYOS may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant female. Advise pregnant females about the potential risk to the fetus with maternal exposure to CAMZYOS during pregnancy. There is a pregnancy safety study for CAMZYOS. If CAMZYOS is administered during pregnancy, or if a patient becomes pregnant while receiving CAMZYOS or within 4 months after the last dose of CAMZYOS, healthcare providers should report CAMZYOS exposure by contacting Bristol Myers Squibb at 1-800-721-5072 or www.bms.com.

Lactation

The presence of CAMZYOS in human or animal milk, the drugs effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production are unknown. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mothers clinical need for CAMZYOS and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from CAMZYOS or from the underlying maternal condition.

Females and Males of Reproductive Potential

Confirm absence of pregnancy in females of reproductive potential prior to initiation of CAMZYOS. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with CAMZYOS and for 4 months after the last dose. Use of CAMZYOS may reduce the effectiveness of CHCs. Advise patients using CHCs to use an alternative contraceptive method or add nonhormonal contraception.

Please see US Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING and Medication Guide.

About Bristol Myers Squibb

Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding, among other things, the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. All statements that are not statements of historical facts are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives and involve inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including internal or external factors that could delay, divert or change any of them in the next several years, that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. These risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors include, among others, that future study results may not be consistent with the results to date, whether CAMZYOS (mavacamten) for the indication described in this release will be commercially successful, that any marketing approvals, if granted, may have significant limitations on their use, and that continued approval of such product candidate for such indication described in this release may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many risks and uncertainties that affect Bristol Myers Squibbs business and market, particularly those identified in the cautionary statement and risk factors discussion in Bristol Myers Squibbs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document and except as otherwise required by applicable law, Bristol Myers Squibb undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

corporatefinancial-news

References

* The 2015 Semsarian publication identified that the prevalence of HCM gene carriers could be as high as 1 in 200.

 The 1995 CARDIA studya multicenter, US-populationbased echocardiography study of 4111 subjects (aged 2335)identified the prevalence of HCM as 1 in 500 people in the general population.

Ommen SR, Mital S, Burke MA, et al. 2020 AHA/ACC Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2020;142(25):e558-e631. Desai, M., Owens, A., Geske, J., Rihal, C. S., Nishimura, R. A., & Ommen, S. R. (2022). Myosin Inhibition in Patients With Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Referred for Septal Reduction Therapy. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 80(2), 95-108. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2022.04.048. CAMZYOS [package insert]. Princeton, NJ: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; 2023.

Dr. Owens is a consultant and on advisory boards for Bristol Myers Squibb.

corporatefinancial-news

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230615624893/en/

Bristol Myers Squibb

Media Inquiries:

[email protected]

Investors:

[email protected]

Source: Bristol Myers Squibb
Hong Kong: CE's expert group holds 1st meeting

The Chief Executive's Policy Unit (CEPU) Expert Group today held its first meeting to discuss achieving high-quality development for Hong Kong.

Chaired by CEPU Head Stephen Wong, the meeting was held in three sessions according to the streams members belong to, namely the Economic Advancement Expert Group, Social Development Expert Group and Research Strategy Expert Group.

High-quality development is the top task of building China into a modern socialist country in all aspects, and it is a new theme in the new development stage.

The expert group agreed that high-quality development was important for Hong Kong to progress from stability to prosperity. Hong Kong and the country were inextricably linked in terms of high-quality development, and the city should leverage its unique position and strengths to contribute to the countrys high-quality development.

Members also noted that the new term of Government has been committed to serving the people better and charting a brighter tomorrow for Hong Kong, which brings a fresh atmosphere to the city. In recent years, Hong Kong has transitioned from chaos to order, and now embarked on a new journey from stability to prosperity.

The experts also expressed full confidence in Hong Kong's future prospects, and as long as the city could fully play its role as the gateway between the country and the world under the principle of "one country, two systems" and pursue high-quality development, economic prosperity will be attained and people's livelihood and well-being will be enhanced, despite the different social problems and complicated geopolitical situations facing Hong Kong.

Mr Wong thanked members for their insights, adding that the meeting marks a good start to the group's work.

As the important research partners of the CEPU, they will offer their views and suggestions that can definitely enrich the perspectives and connotations of our policy research, especially in strengthening our capacity in conducting strategic and forward-looking research internally in accordance with the Chief Executive's priorities and policy objectives.

We will carefully collate and analyse the valuable views and suggestions put forward by the members at the meeting, and interact closely with them through the pre-established liaison mechanism, including at least quarterly engagements as well as further discussions on various issues with a view to pooling collective wisdom and making concerted efforts to provide quality policy research results for Hong Kong to achieve high-quality development in economic development, social progress and other various aspects.

This story has been published on: 2023-06-16. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Abra Kadabra! And it's gone.

Cryptocurrency investment company Abra has been issued an emergency cease and desist order by Texas securities regulators.

Authorities claim the cryptocurrency company, also known as Plutus Financial, and Chief Executive Officer Bill Barhydt have engaged in securities fraud. The enforcement order also states it offered investment products to unaccredited investors and that the company has been at least partially insolvent since March 31, 2023.

According to the Texas Securities State Board, on May 12, 2021, the Texas Enforcement Division issued a warning to Barhydt that Plutus Financials products appeared to constitute investment contracts or securities. The state set up a working group to further investigate the cryptocurrency company.

Abra has tried to argue against that characterization in its marketing.

Earn users take no investment-like risks when they deposit digital assets into Interest accounts, the company said last year. Rather, Earn users are simply moving or placing their existing assets into their Interest Accounts with the possibility of receiving interest, but notably, no risk of an investment-type loss.

Investigations reveal, however, that Plutus Financial has been touting their risk management strategy as compared to the now-defunct Voyager Digital and Celsius Network.

The order also states that despite a letter from CEO Bill Barhydt, claiming the company had no exposure to the FTX collapse, a subsidiary of Plutus Financial did have more than $12 million in assets on the platform run by Sam Bankman-Fried.

Babel Finance Mulls New Token Launch to Repay Creditors

Abra also allegedly held or currently holds nearly $30 million on Babel Finance, $30 million (or more) on Genesis, and roughly $10 million on Three Arrows Capital (3AC). All three of those companies have been touched by bankruptcy in the past year.

Last, but certainly not least, Texas state authorities claim that Abra has been winding down their Earn product, and transferring assets to Trade accounts. The company has been secretly transferring these funds to Binance, according to authorities. As of February this year, balances for Abra on the platform are valued at roughly $118 million.

Despite the warning, the company continued to offer and sell investment productsthrough Abra Earn and Abra Boostuntil roughly October 3, 2022, regulators said.

Abra did not immediately reply to a request for comment from Decrypt.

Alongside offering and selling investment contracts that resemble securities, the working group also alleges that Abra made offers containing statements that are materially misleading or otherwise likely to deceive the public.

Abra states Prime Trust as their main custodian, which according to Texas authorities, does not operate with a money transmitter license in the state.

Prime Trust Partner Banq Files for Bankruptcy Following BitGo Deal

As of May 17, 2023, Abra claims $49 million in assets under management (AUM) on behalf of 229 Boost investors, of which 23 are Texas-based. The company also claims to hold $66 million on behalf of 9087 Earn investors, of which 827 reside in the lone star state.

This is not the first time federal charges have been brought against Abra. In July 2020, the SEC charged the company with selling security-based swaps without registration. Similarly, the CFTC charged the company with engaging in illegal off-exchange swaps with overseas customers, namely from the Philippines. The company paid $300,000 for these two penalties.

Texas state authorities have not set a date for an official hearing, but have allowed customers to withdraw funds from the platform, for the time being.
FENYESLITKE, Hungary--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, the Intelligent Rail & Logistics Forum 2023 was held in Fenyeslitke, Hungary. During the forum, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) announced that it would establish the Global Alliance on Artificial Intelligence for Industry and Manufacturing with Huawei and international partners in July. This alliance will be committed to building a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing to promote the innovation and application of AI technologies in industry and manufacturing and boost the digital economy.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230615322685/en/

The Intelligent Rail & Logistics Forum 2023 was held in Fenyeslitke, Hungary (Photo: Business Wire)

In his speech, UNIDO Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director, Ciyong Zou stated, We are witnessing how mobile connectivity and industrial innovation come together. 5G combined with AI and cloud computing bring many benefits to transport and logistics sectors. The efficiency and quality of jobs have been upgraded greatly. The safety of the site has improved. Participation of women in a previously male-dominated working environment has increased.

As the benefits of AI solutions become increasingly visible across industries, it is important to help businesses go digital. The objective of the Alliance is to serve as a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and showcase best practices, added Zou.

Janos Talosi, CEO of East-West Intermodal Logistics Plc., explained, "The East-West Gate (EWG) intermodal terminal began operations in October 2022. At the terminal, 1 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) can be quickly loaded and unloaded between widegauge and standard-gauge railways each year, meaning high requirements for both efficiency and safety. As 5G enables the interconnection of all internal communications and technical equipments, the terminal's highly automated cranes can be controlled remotely and are capable of subtle movements. This greatly improves productivity while providing a more comfortable working environment for operators."

"The project marks a key milestone in the development of 5G technologies in Hungary and the digitalization of railfreight, and enables EWG to become an intermodal railway logistics hub in the digital era," Talosi added.

Radoslaw Kedzia, Vice President of Huaweis CEE & Nordic Region said, "East-West Gate Intermodal Terminal is a story of creating social value with excellent collaboration of different partners and dedicated investors. The facilitys digitalized, high-tech solutions attracts many young locals to stay in the area. The average age of the employees are 23-25 years. There is high safety, there is healthy and clean environment for workers, no harsh conditions anymore. The solution proves that 5G has been truly applied in Europe's smart railway sector using next-generation digital technologies and they solve common problems, promote digital transformation."

The Intelligent Rail & Logistics Forum 2023 took place in East-West Gate (EWG) intermodal terminal is located in Fenyeslitke, Hungary, covering an area of 5 million square meters, including the terminal, warehouses, and development zones. It is the largest and most modern inland intermodal terminal of its kind and the first private 5G-supported container railway port in Europe.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230615322685/en/

[email protected]

Source: Huawei
Innovative Food Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: IVFH) today announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Department of Agricultures Business & Industry Program (the USDA B&I Program) of an 80% loan guarantee on the Companys existing loans with MapleMark Bank (the USDA Guarantee). The USDA Guarantee enabled the refinancing of the companys existing term loans with Maple Mark, extending the terms to 10 and 25 years respectively and provided IVFH access to additional commercial borrowing capacity. From a financial perspective, todays announcement enabled IVFH to 1) reclassify $5.4 million of current liabilities to non-current liabilities, 2) gain access to $1.3 million of additional infrastructure capital, 3) add $1 million in additional revolver capacity, and 4) increase its working capital by $2.4M.

Approval of the USDA Guarantee and incremental credit from Maple Mark is a transformational milestone that strengthens our balance sheet and provides IVFH with additional long-term growth capital. In addition, with a stronger financial profile and improving cash flow, we believe we have the financial strength and flexibility to support the current and future needs of our business. I am pleased with the progress we are making and view this transaction as an important step forward as we focus on creating long-term value for our shareholders, stated Bill Bennett, CEO of IVFH.

The Companys credit facility was offered through MapleMark Bank, and Oak Hill Securities advised IVFH on the transaction. Additional details on the credit facility may be found in the Current Report on Form 8-K which will be filed shortly with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC).
The company logo is seen on the Micron Technology Inc. offices in Shanghai, China May 25, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song/File Photo

(Reuters) -Micron Technology on Friday warned of a bigger hit to revenue from a Chinese ban on sale of its chips to key domestic industries, sending the memory chipmaker's shares down about 2%.

The company said it now expects an impact on about half of its revenue from China-headquartered firms, which equates to a low-double-digit percentage of its total revenue. It had earlier flagged a hit in the low-single to high-single digit percentage.

Micron was the first U.S. chipmaker to be targeted by Beijing after Washington imposed a series of export controls on certain American components and chipmaking tools to ensure that they are not used to advance China's military capabilities.

The Cybersecurity Administration of China said in May that Micron failed its security review and barred operators of key domestic infrastructure from purchasing the biggest U.S. memory chipmaker's products. It had neither provided details on what risks it had found nor what Micron products would be affected.

The company said on Friday that the conclusion by the Chinese regulator "continues to remain uncertain and fluid."

It also added that several customers, including mobile manufacturers, were being contacted by Chinese government representatives about the future use of Micron products.

Micron's revenue from companies headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong, including direct sales as well as indirect sales through distributors, accounts for about a quarter of its total revenue.

The company earlier in the day said it would invest 4.3 billion yuan ($603.8 million) over the next few years in its chip packaging facility in the Chinese city of Xian, a move that CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said demonstrated the company's "unwavering commitment to its China business and team."

($1 = 7.1218 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
The Company Vended its Debt and Equity Interest in Propagation Services Canada Inc. for an aggregate of $250,000 and Nick Kuzyk has Resigned as an Officer & Director of the Entity, Among Other Closing Terms and Conditions

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Agra Ventures Ltd. (AGRA or the Company) (CSE: AGRA) (OTCPK: AGFAF), a company focused on the cannabis industry, announces that it has mutually agreed to effectively terminate and amicably exit the Propagation Services Canada Inc. (doing business as Boundary Bay Cannabis) joint venture (BBC or the JV) by way of executing a series of agreements (the Agreements) with its JV partner and related entities. Effective today, the Company has settled its debt receivable and sold its equity interest in BBC to its JV partner for an aggregate of $250,000 and Nick Kuzyk, CEO and Director of AGRA, has resigned as an officer and director of the JV.



In addition, a mutual release has been executed between AGRA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGRA, and their respective directors and officers; and BBC, the landlord, the JV partner and their respective directors and officers. By exiting BBC, the Company has taken a significant step toward stemming its tide of financial losses and, therefore, is now better positioned to preserve its current cash balance, pursue the collection of its remaining receivables, vend other non-core assets, and consider a strategic pivot in a more promising direction within the cannabis industry.

Over time, the JV partners talented team proved that it was able to successfully grow and process the high-potency Mimosa strain of cannabis using approximately 130,000 square feet of the 2.2 million square foot greenhouse complex. Despite selling essentially all of the bulk cannabis that was produced within the greenhouse facility in Delta, British Columbia, with the added assistance of an adept third-party wholesale cannabis brokerage firm in order to attract the best purchasers, high levels of supply resulting in declining market prices, combined with high operating costs, prevented the JV from being profitable at any time.

Since inception, BBC had accumulated approximately $25 million in losses and was not expected to record net income in the foreseeable future, due to unfavourable industry conditions, an onerous regulatory framework, and unattractive competitive dynamics as a Licensed Producer of cannabis in Canada. Therefore, AGRA and its JV partner amicably agreed to terminate the growing of cannabis after the 2022 growing season and exit the JV pursuant to the recently executed Agreements.

Management Commentary

"Continuing to lose significant amounts of money through BBC was not a viable option for AGRA or for its JV partner. Ceasing cannabis growing operations to stop the financial losses was a difficult but necessary joint decision, which is one that is also being made by management teams in other segments across the Canadian cannabis industry, even quite recently in a significant way at the retail end of the value chain," said Nick Kuzyk, Director and CEO & Director of the Company.

I understand that many of AGRAs shareholders were hopeful that BBC would become a national leader in cannabis production. Unfortunately, the recreational cannabis industry has not been set up for success and significant changes are needed to the Cannabis Act and other tax-related improvements in order for the plant-touching aspects of the industry to become economic at a reasonable scale. However, exiting the JV gives AGRAs board of directors the opportunity to consider a new direction for the Company, based on its collective areas of expertise and more attractive alternatives currently available in the market, added Mr. Kuzyk.

About Agra Ventures Ltd.

Agra Ventures is a company focused on the cannabis industry. The companys wholly owned subsidiary, Farmako GmbH, is focused on becoming Europes leading distributor of medical cannabis as well as its proprietary CBD and THC test kits. Farmako currently has active product distribution operations in Germany and is fully licensed in the United Kingdom.

For more information about Agra Ventures, please visit www.agraventures.com and its profile page on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Nick Kuzyk, CEO & Director

E: [email protected]

T: (800) 783-6056

The CSE and Information Service Provider have not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release.

Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement

Except for statements of historic fact this news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as plan expect project intend believe anticipate estimate and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions may or will occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals including that of the CSE. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information including factors beyond the Companys control. There are no assurances that the business plans for Agra Ventures described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or managements estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Companys filings with Canadian securities regulators which are available at www.sedar.com.

SOURCE: Agra Ventures Ltd.
TORONTO, June 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AmmPower Corp. (CSE: AMMP) (OTCQB: AMMPF) (FSE: 601A) (the Company or AmmPower) announces that Rene Bharti has tendered his resignation from the AmmPower Board of Directors effective May 18, 2023. However, Mr. Bharti will continue on as President and an officer of the company.

We would like to thank Mr. Bharti for his contributions to the company in his role as a member of AmmPowers Board of Directors, said Dr. Gary Benninger, AmmPowers Executive Chairman. We are happy that he has consented to remain on as President of the company.

On Behalf of the Board of DirectorsGary N. BenningerCEO and Executive Chairman

About AmmPowerAmmPower is a clean energy company focused on the production of green hydrogen feedstock for green fuel and green derivatives. The Company is based in Toronto, Ontario, with a research and manufacturing facility in Southeast Michigan. The Company is active in all facets of green hydrogen feedstock and green fuel production, including the production of green fertilizers, carbon free shipping fuel, and the cracking, or moving of green hydrogen derivatives. The Company is working on the development of proprietary technologies to produce green hydrogen at scale, including the investigation of unique catalytic reactions to bring down costs and to take advantage of carbon credits in the renewable energy space. AmmPower currently holds several LOIs with ports in Brazil, the United States, and is currently completing its IAMMTM prototype to create green hydrogen feedstock for fertilizer for the agricultural industry. The Company also holds a lithium exploration property in the James Bay/Eeyou Istche region of Quebec and an option on the Titan Property located in Klotz Lake area in Northwestern Ontario.

For More Information please visit:www.ammpower.comOr Contact AmmPower Investor Relations:+1 248-662-5565[email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including with respect to repayment of the Loan. The Company provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections, or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct, and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited those identified and reported in the Companys public filings under the Companys SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such 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 unless required by law.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.

Source: AmmPower Corp
At its annual general meeting, Solutions30 presents the results of its transformation, which has put it on track to reach 1 billion in revenue in 2023 and 2.5 billion in the medium term





Milestone of 1 billion in revenue in 2023

Completion of the 2018-2023 corporate transformation and structuring plan

Governance changes

New medium-term revenue target of 2.5 billion





The annual general meeting of Solutions30 was held in Luxembourg on June 16, 2023, and Chaired by its Chief Executive Officer, Gianbeppi Fortis.

Shareholders approved all the resolutions they were called upon to vote.

At this years meeting, Solutions30 management presented the results of its 5-year strategic plan, which has seen the company expand into 10 countries and achieve 1 billion in revenue in 2023.

Looking back on five years of continuous growth, Gianbeppi Fortis said: Over the past five years, our plan has had two priorities: first, to grow the company by replicating its historic model across Europe and diversifying its portfolio, especially in France, and second, to restructure the company through a transformation plan whose implementation accelerated in 2021.

The company has demonstrated its ability to replicate its methods and expertise and has built a solid reputation among some of Europes biggest corporations. We just passed the milestone of generating more than 50% of our revenue outside France. At the same time, we have developed new expertise in the energy industry  smart meters, charging stations, and solar panels  and began offering new services in France under major European investment plans. Our growth model and financial strength have allowed us to grow steadily and weather crises while preserving the companys business.

Solutions30 managed this growth by constantly strengthening its internal control processes. Starting in 2019, we launched a far-reaching overhaul of both the companys standards and the internal organization of risk control and compliance. In 2022, an in-depth external audit helped us complete this process.

Finally, under the responsibility of our Group Head of ESG, Risk and Compliance, we are now fully committed to our CSR approach. We will soon present our objectives, focusing on our societal role with young people, our safety and diversity commitments for employees, and our carbon reduction targets.

During this general meeting, to prepare for the groups expansion in the medium term, we have broadened the skills and expertise of our supervisory board and reorganized our management board. With its more diverse skill set, our supervisory board will be better equipped to fulfill its advisory and oversight roles. Our management board is now more agile and surrounded by an enlarged executive committee of experts. This reorganized team will soon be charting the course that will bring us to 2.5 billion in revenue in the medium term.





Five years of transformation that have brought Solutions30 to 1 billion in revenue

In 20 years, Solutions30 has grown from a small business to an international corporation that is on track to reach 1 billion in revenue in 2023. To support such fast-paced growth, Solutions30 has strengthened its compliance, risk management, and ESG standards:

Strengthening of the risk management, internal control, and compliance policy

Starting in 2022, Solutions30 began defining new control processes and creating a risks and internal control system manual. To ensure that these procedures are properly implemented, and more broadly to reinforce group compliance, Solutions30 has appointed Nathalie Duchesne as Group Head of ESG, Risk and Compliance. She has begun training and raising the awareness of all employees about these topics, implemented control processes in each country and department, and gathered relevant information to better inform the decisions of the Management Board. She works with a dedicated network of local contacts in the departments of each country.

Simplification of the legal organization chart

In less than five years, Solutions30 has carried out a comprehensive legal simplification program to facilitate its internal control, eliminating nearly 50 legal entities, mainly through intra-group restructuring.

Systematic control of the companys subcontractors

Solutions30 has implemented a new third-party verification policy and appointed a dedicated team of eight people to carry out systematic checks on its subcontractors. This approach relies on the subcontractor sourcing platform the group set up in 2021, mySupplace, which currently includes 3,000 partner companies. This collaborative platform also serves as the groups compliance tool, allowing documents supplied by these companies to be verified, analyzed, and archived.

New governance

Over the past five years, Solutions30 has strengthened and broadened the skills of all its management bodies (Supervisory Board, Management Board, and Executive Committee), with more than 50% of their members being newly appointed. In recent years, the Supervisory Board has welcomed five new members, out of seven, each bringing to the table extensive expertise in finance, auditing, compliance, ESG, and corporate strategy.

At the same time, Solutions30 has strengthened its codes of conduct and anti-corruption policy, while focusing on team training and awareness. A whistleblowing platform, which has proven its effectiveness at resolving situations, ensures that all weak signals, misconduct, non-compliance, or internal risks get reported.

Building a CSR approach

Since 2019, Solutions30 has been committed to CSR (corporate social responsibility) that is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In 2022, the group stepped up this commitment by changing the Strategy committee to the Strategy and ESG committee, making ESG a core part of the groups roadmap. The ESG strategy, objectives, and performance indicators were overhauled to make them more transparent, and the group is currently working on a carbon footprint project using the GHG Protocol to improve how it measures CO2 emissions. The results of this work will be communicated in the near future.

In terms of employee safety, Solutions30 has initiated a review of procedures aimed at preventing work-related accidents and illnesses, raised awareness among employees on how to reduce their exposure to risk, and trained teams in ethics and compliance.

For its social commitments, Solutions30 has a yearslong recruitment, skills development, and vocational training policy designed to help young people, some of whom have dropped out of school, to land their first job. The policy also helps people in the process of changing careers by training them for positions in the digital and energy professions of the future. In 2022, Solutions30 recruited 924 young people under the age of 30, representing 40% of new hires and up to 21% of the entire workforce. More than 180,000 hours of training, or 25 hours per employee, were provided in 2022 in promising technical fields or in training modules on interpersonal skills and customer service.

The group is also working towards gender equality by giving women a more central role, with the aim of increasing the number of women in managerial positions by more than 10% in 2023 and achieving equal pay for men and women. The addition of Paola Bruno to the Supervisory Board brings the proportion of women on this governance body to 43%.

Solutions30 enters a new phase of growth and changes dimension

With its solid structure and strengthened governance, Solutions30 is poised to enter a new phase in its history and is ready to scale accordingly.

To meet the markets needs, customer expectations, and the challenges of its ongoing transformation, Solutions30 now relies on three complementary bodies: (i) a Supervisory Board with enhanced powers to fulfill its oversight role, (ii) a Management Board limited to four members, which keeps the group agile, streamlines decision-making, and conserves its strong growth momentum, and (iii) an expanded Excom that includes support functions and country heads, all of whom work in close collaboration with the Management Board.

A Supervisory Board with strengthened and diversified competences to meet the demands of its oversight role

With todays approval of Paola Brunos nomination, the Supervisory Board now comprises 7 members, all of whom are independent:

Three long-standing members, who joined before the 2018-2023 period, to guarantee the stability of the groups governance: Alexander Sator, Caroline Tissot, and Jean-Paul Cottet. Their intricate knowledge of Solutions30 and its objectives for the next 5 years puts them in an ideal position to offer strategic advice for the companys future.

Three recently appointed members, who have brought new ideas to the board and broadened its expertise in finance, audit, risk and compliance: Thomas Kremer, appointed in 2022, who brings his legal and corporate governance expertise as well as his knowledge of data protection, compliance, and risk management; Yves Kerveillant and Pascale Mourvillier, who bring their expertise in corporate finance and auditing.

One new member, Paola Bruno, with 30 years experience in investment banking, who once again strengthens the diversity and skills of the Supervisory Board with her background in market finance, corporate finance and strategy, investor relations, and compliance, especially in times of crisis. Her experience in both Italy and the United Kingdom, two key markets for the group, is an important asset and preserves the complementarity of international experience among Supervisory Board members.

Forty-three percent of the Supervisory Board members are now female, which brings the group into compliance with the European Women on Boards Directive, ahead of its transposition into Luxembourg law.

To help the Supervisory Board oversee the groups commitments, the audit and strategy committees have been expanded to cover risk management, compliance, and ESG. These committees have been renamed the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee and the Strategy and ESG Committee.

A smaller Management Board with an expanded Excom for agile, streamlined performance

Comprising four members with in-depth knowledge of the company, the Management Board continues to be headed by Gianbeppi Fortis, Solutions30s founding CEO, who defines and steers the groups strategy. Luc Brusselaers, Chief Revenue Officer, coordinates the groups sales force to maximize synergies, standardize processes, and grow sales across Europe.

Wojciech Pomykaa, who joined the Management Board last February, has been named Chief Operations Officer. He will be responsible for managing the groups operations, including information systems and Solutions30s ongoing transformation. His role will be to keep operations in sync with promising areas of development for the group, specifically its strong growth in the telecom market outside France.

Amaury Boilot will take over as General Manager of the French entity. After three years running one of the French business units, which he successfully transformed and grew, Amaury was then put in charge of the groups Finance Department in 2017 and joined the Management Board. Drawing on his operational and financial experience, his mission will be to improve profitability in France and continue the transition to new energy activities. He has also been appointed Secretary General, with responsibility for the groups financial, compliance, and legal support functions. His term of office as a member of the Management Board has been renewed for four more years.

Joao Martinhos term was not renewed. Joao Martinho will leave Solutions30 at the end of July. Solutions30 thanks him for his commitment and hard work.

This agile structure will streamline decision-making, allowing the company to quickly seize market opportunities.

The Management Board is supported by an Executive Committee whose members manage the companys support functions, including finance, human resources, risk, compliance and ESG, communications and investor relations, information systems, and legal. The head of each country is also part of this committee, reflecting the groups international strategic ambitions and the growing share of revenue generated outside France, now over 50%.

Nomination of a new Chief Financial Officer to prepare for the new phase of growth

Reporting to Amaury Boilot, Jonathan Crauwels has been named CFO and will also be a member of the Executive Committee. His role will be to support the groups businesses as their fast-paced growth continues. Before stepping into this role, he successfully drove the profitable and cash-generating growth of Solutions30 Belgium, doubling revenue at Unit-T and playing a key role in setting up the joint venture with Telenet in 2018.

A new dimension: Solutions30 targets revenue of 2.5 billion in the medium term

With this new organization and its solid positioning in businesses driven by Europes massive digital and energy investment plans, management confirms that Solutions30 is embarking on a new period of growth with a medium-term revenue target of 2.5 billion and double-digit EBITDA margins. A new strategic plan will be announced at the end of 2023.





Upcoming event

2023 Q2 Revenue Report July 25, 2023

About Solutions30 SE

The Solutions30 group is the European leader in solutions for new technologies. Its mission is to make the technological developments that are transforming our daily lives accessible to everyone, individuals and businesses alike. Yesterday, it was computers and the Internet. Today, its digital technology. Tomorrow, it will be technologies that make the world even more interconnected in real time. With more than 65 million call-outs carried out since it was founded and a network of more than 15,000 local technicians, Solutions30 currently covers all of France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Iberian Peninsula, the United Kingdom, and Poland. The share capital of Solutions30 SE consists of 107,127,984 shares, equal to the number of theoretical votes that can be exercised.

Solutions30 SE is listed on the Euronext Paris exchange (ISIN FR0013379484- code S30). Indexes: MSCI Europe ex-UK Small Cap | SBF 120 | CAC Mid 60 | NEXT 150 | CAC Technology | CAC PME.

Visit our website for more information: www.solutions30.com

Contact

Individual Shareholders:

Investor Relations - Tel: +33 1 86 86 00 63 - [email protected]

Analysts/Investors:

Nathalie Boumendil - Tel: +33 6 85 82 41 95 - [email protected]

Press - Image 7:

Charlotte Le Barbier - Tel: +33 6 78 37 27 60 - [email protected]

Leslie Jung - Tel: +33 6 78 70 05 55 - [email protected]

Attachment
TORONTO, ON, June 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chiba Capital Financial Group has promoted Mr. Seth Atkinson's to the position of Head of Analytical Research. Seth Atkinson's promotion is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and contributions to the company.

As Director of Investment Research, Mr. Atkinson will be responsible for leading a team of analysts in conducting in-depth research and analysis of various financial markets, including equities, bonds, and precious metals. He will provide critical insights to the firm's investment decisions, ultimately helping to maximize returns for the company's clients.

Mr. Atkinson has a wealth of experience in the financial services industry. He joined Chiba Capital Financial Group in 2015 as an analyst and quickly worked his way up the ranks, consistently demonstrating his talent and expertise. Throughout his tenure at the company, Mr. Atkinson has played an instrumental role in developing the firm's investment strategies, and his research has been instrumental in driving the company's success.

In his new role, Mr. Atkinson will be working closely with the company's executive team to ensure that the company's research is aligned with its investment goals. He will be responsible for setting research priorities and ensuring that the team is delivering high-quality research to support the company's investment decisions.

"I am thrilled to have been promoted to Head of Analytical Research," said Mr. Seth Atkinson. "I am honored to be leading such a talented team of analysts, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to the company's continued success."

The promotion to Director of Investment Research shows us how important Chiba Capital Financial Group's commitment to investing in its employees and promoting from within. The company recognizes the importance of nurturing talent and providing opportunities for career advancement.

"We are thrilled to have seth as our Director of Investment Research," said Mr. Miyaguchi Naofumi, CEO of Chiba Capital Financial Group. "His extensive experience and expertise in financial analysis make him the perfect candidate for this position. We are confident that he will provide invaluable insights that will help us continue to grow and succeed as a company."

The promotion is an exciting development for Chiba Capital Financial Group, and the company is looking forward to continued growth and success under his leadership.

About Chiba Capital Financial Group

Chiba Capital Financial Group is a leading financial services company that provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management services to clients across the world. With a team of experienced advisors and cutting-edge technology, Chiba Capital Financial Group is committed to helping clients achieve their financial goals with confidence.

Mr. Seth Atkinson CHIBA CAPITAL FINANCIAL GROUP seth.atkinson at ccf-group.com

Source: Chiba Capital Financial Group
COMBINED GENERAL MEETING ON 16 JUNE 2023



_____

Dividend of 0.88 per share, to be paid out on 23 June 2023

Board renewal



Paris, 16 June 2023 (6:30pm) - ADLPartners Combined General Meeting, chaired by Mr Bertrand Laurioz, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, was held today.

Approval of the full-year accounts for 2022

The general meeting approved the corporate and consolidated financial statements for 2022.

Dividend pay-out

The general meeting decided to pay out a dividend of 0.88 per share for fiscal year 2022, in accordance with the Board of Directors proposal. Its ex-dividend date has been set for 21 June 2023 and it will be released for payment on 23 June.

Board renewal

The general meeting decided to renew the terms of 9 directors for a period of three years, through to the end of the ordinary general meeting convened in 2026 to deliberate on the accounts for the year ending 31 December 2025.

The general meeting also noted the end of Ms Robin Smith's term of office as director, and decided not to appoint a replacement, the number of Board members now being set at 9 (4 women and 5 men). All shareholders warmly thanked Ms Robin Smith for her support and involvement in the Group's development over several decades.

Lastly, the general meeting decided to renew Mr Dinesh Katiyar as an observer for a three-year term of office.

Other resolutions

The Companys shareholders adopted all the other resolutions, including:

Approval of regulated agreements and the compensation policy for the Companys corporate officers and Board members for 2023, as well as all the elements making up the compensation and benefits paid or awarded during or for the 2022 fiscal year to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,

Authorization for the Board of Directors to implement a share buyback program.

Boards decisions

The Board of Directors met following the general meeting and renewed Mr Bertrand Lauriozs term as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

The Board has also redefined the composition of its advisory committees:

Audit Committee, made up of Ms Delphine Grison and Mr Roland Massenet, its chairman.

Appointments and Compensation Committee, made up of Ms Delphine Grison and Mr Xavier Gandillot, its chairman.

Development Committee, made up of Mr Stephane Treppoz, Mr Roland Massenet, Mr Dinesh Katiyar and Mr Bertrand Laurioz, its chairman.

CSR Committee, made up of Ms Caroline Desaegher, Ms Isabelle Vigneron-Laurioz and Ms Claire Vigneron-Brunel, its chairwoman.

The quorum conditions and the detailed voting results are available on the French version of DEKUPLEs website (www.dekuple.com).

About DEKUPLE

Founded in 1972, DEKUPLE is a major player for cross-channel data marketing. The Group designs, markets and implements customer acquisition, loyalty and relationship management services on its own behalf or for its partners and clients across all distribution channels. Its expert capabilities enable it to support brands with their marketing needs, and to create, on its own behalf, portfolios that generate recurrent revenues. The Group works with two-thirds of the companies from the CAC 40 and large numbers of mid-market firms.

DEKUPLE recorded net sales of 181.2m in 2022. Present in France, Spain, Portugal and China, the Group employs more than 1.000 people.

DEKUPLE is the commercial brand of ADLPartner, a French limited company (societe anonyme) with a Board of Directors, listed on the regulated market Euronext Paris  Compartment C.

ISIN: FR0000062978 - DKUPL

www.dekuple.com

Contacts



DEKUPLE

Investor Relations & Financial Information

tel: +33 (0)1 41 58 72 03 - [email protected]



CALYPTUS

Cyril Combe - tel: +33 (0)1 53 65 68 68 - [email protected]

Attachment
MADRID, SPAIN, June 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EverMoon, a crypto project built on the Ethereum blockchain, is proud to announce its mission of establishing the most influential community in the Web3 space. EverMoon envisions a future where individuals from diverse backgrounds can come together, connect, and unleash their creativity in a collaborative and learning-driven atmosphere. With its unique tokenomics and a commitment to community engagement, EverMoon aims to break down barriers and create opportunities for all to access the exciting world of blockchain technology.

EverMoon aims to create an environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds can connect, collaborate, and unleash their creativity. EverMoon strives to foster a supportive atmosphere that encourages continuous learning, collaboration, and personal growth. Every member of the EverMoon community is valued, and their contributions are instrumental in shaping the collective wisdom of the community.

By enabling inclusivity and promoting the democratization of blockchain, EverMoon seeks to revolutionize the way communities interact and thrive in the Web3 space.

Tokenomics

The heart of the EverMoon ecosystem lies in its native token, $EVERMOON. Designed with a focus on sustainability and rewarding contributions, the tokenomics of EverMoon align with the values and goals of the community. The team is committed to creating a thriving and dynamic economy where members' participation and contributions are recognized and incentivized.

The tokenomics of EverMoon are as follows:

Total Supply: 1,000,000,000 $EVERMOON

With every transaction, whether it's a buy or sell, a 5% tax is imposed, and the funds are allocated to various aspects of the EverMoon ecosystem.

The tax and distribution breakdown is as follows:

1% BUYBACKS: One percent of each transaction will be used to buyback $EVERMOON tokens, highlighting the team's long-term vision for the project. This strategy aims to support the growth and value appreciation of the token.

1% MARKETING: One percent of each transaction will be allocated to marketing efforts, ensuring the project receives the visibility and exposure it deserves. This investment will enhance all marketing activities and create awareness among potential investors and enthusiasts.

One percent of each transaction will be allocated to marketing efforts, ensuring the project receives the visibility and exposure it deserves. This investment will enhance all marketing activities and create awareness among potential investors and enthusiasts. 1% DEFLATIONARY: One percent of each transaction will be automatically burned, effectively reducing the EverMoon token supply forever. This deflationary mechanism contributes to the scarcity of $EVERMOON tokens and potentially increases their value over time.

One percent of each transaction will be automatically burned, effectively reducing the EverMoon token supply forever. This deflationary mechanism contributes to the scarcity of $EVERMOON tokens and potentially increases their value over time. 1% LIQUIDITY PROVISION: One percent of each transaction will be added to the liquidity pool, ensuring the stability and liquidity of the $EVERMOON token. This strategy enhances trading efficiency and provides a solid foundation for the token's market presence.

One percent of each transaction will be added to the liquidity pool, ensuring the stability and liquidity of the $EVERMOON token. This strategy enhances trading efficiency and provides a solid foundation for the token's market presence. 1% REDISTRIBUTION MECHANISM: One percent of each transaction will be reflected back to holders, promoting long-term engagement and loyalty within the EverMoon community. This redistribution mechanism rewards holders and encourages them to continue supporting the project.

To further incentivize holders, EverMoon has introduced the Diamond Hand Tax. This tax applies a 5% charge on all transfers, including buys and sells. The allocations from this tax mirror those of the buy and sell taxes, creating additional tokenomics and encouraging holders to maintain their positions.

EverMoon welcomes both experienced blockchain enthusiasts and newcomers to the Web3 world to join its growing community. By cultivating a space where ideas flourish, connections thrive, and innovation knows no bounds, EverMoon offers an opportunity to shape the future of Web3. Whether you are a creator, developer, innovator, or simply someone passionate about blockchain technology, EverMoon provides a platform for collaboration, learning, and personal growth.

Join EverMoon today and become part of the revolution in the Web3 space. Visit the official project website at https://evermoonerc.com/ for more information and to connect with the vibrant EverMoon community.

About EverMoon

EverMoon is a crypto project built on the Ethereum blockchain. With a mission to establish the most influential community in the Web3 space, EverMoon aims to empower individuals from diverse backgrounds, foster collaboration, and break down barriers to access blockchain technology. EverMoon's unique tokenomics create a sustainable and rewarding economy, incentivizing participation and contributions from community members.

Website | Twitter | Telegram | Medium | DEXTools

###

https://evermoonerc.com/

Disclaimer:

The information provided in this release is not investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is recommended that you practice due diligence (including consultation with a professional financial advisor) before investing or trading securities and cryptocurrency.

Andres Javier EverMoon contact at evermoonerc.com

Source: EverMoon
TORONTO, June 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ontario unions will hold a media conference on Bill 124 in front of the Court of Appeal, Osgoode Hall on Tuesday, June 20 at 9:00 a.m. The Court will be hearing the appeal of the Superior Court of Justices decision to strike down Bill 124 last November.

Unions have called Bill 124  which caps public sector compensation at one per cent  an attack on workers right to free and fair collective bargaining. When the Ford government announced they would appeal the Superior Courts decision to strike down the Bill, Patty Coates, Ontario Federation of Labour President said, Right now, the Ford government should be focused on taking meaningful action to address the simultaneous cost-of-living and health care crises in this province. Instead, they are choosing to spend public dollars to fight workers in court.

Date: Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Location: Court of Appeal, Osgoode Hall, 130 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON

Speakers:

Patty Coates, President, Ontario Federation of Labour

Fred Hahn, President, CUPE-Ontario

JP Hornick, President, OPSEU/SEFPO

Sharleen Stewart, President, SEIU Healthcare

Sue Wurtele, President, OCUFA

For more information, please contact:Melissa PalermoCommunications DirectorOntario Federation of Labour[email protected] | 416-894-3456

cj/COPE343

Source: Ontario Federation of Labour
When we invest, we're generally looking for stocks that outperform the market average. And the truth is, you can make significant gains if you buy good quality businesses at the right price. To wit, the Aevis Victoria share price has climbed 51% in five years, easily topping the market return of 18% (ignoring dividends). On the other hand, the more recent gains haven't been so impressive, with shareholders gaining just 4.6% , including dividends .

So let's assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 5 years and see if they've moved in lock-step with shareholder returns.

View our latest analysis for Aevis Victoria

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just 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 the last half decade, Aevis Victoria became profitable. That's generally thought to be a genuine positive, so we would expect to see an increasing share price.

The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.

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. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. In the case of Aevis Victoria, it has a TSR of 72% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

Aevis Victoria provided a TSR of 4.6% over the last twelve months. But that was short of the market average. On the bright side, the longer term returns (running at about 11% a year, over half a decade) look better. It's quite possible the business continues to execute with prowess, even as the share price gains are slowing. 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. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with Aevis Victoria (at least 1 which is significant) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Of course Aevis Victoria 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 Swiss exchanges.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
Dallas, June 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) received an additional $100,000 from Starbucks in support of the equitable food access grant to continue to help increase access to nutritious food among households with individuals who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and residing in communities experiencing high food insecurity rates in North Texas. In 2021, Starbucks provided an initial $100,000 investment in support of the food banks efforts. NTFB will use this grant to build on the work it completed during the first year and will continue to engage local communities to better understand the barriers to accessing food and support new or expand existing interventions that can help overcome these obstacles.

The North Texas Food Bank is very intentional in our efforts to reach and support communities that historically have faced greater barriers to equitable representation, access, and resources, and who are twice as likely to experience food insecurity, said Trisha Cunningham, President and CEO of the North Texas Food Bank. We are so grateful to have received an additional $100,000 from Starbucks in support of the equitable food access grant to continue to help increase access to nutritious food among communities experiencing high food insecurity rates in North Texas.

One newer area of focus that the Starbucks grant is helping support within the NTFBs equitable food access work focuses on the concept of culturally familiar foods for the diverse cultural representation across the North Texas communities.

We know when a family goes to one of our food pantry partners, it is because they need food. But if they can access food that they are familiar with, that perhaps they recognize from their childhood and know how to make into a meal and that represents love for their family, it becomes more than food. It lets the family know they belong and boosts their chances of using that food to improve the health and nutrition of their family, continued Cunningham.

Starbucks believes it is our role and responsibility to help support thriving, resilient and sustainable communities. In partnership with Feeding America, we are tackling hunger with a focus on equity, said Michael Kobori, vice president of social impact and chief sustainability officer at Starbucks. The equitable food access grants are a unique opportunity to increase access to nutritious food for people that need it most.

The North Texas Food Bank, a member of the Feeding America network, is one of 16 food banks to receive this second grant from Starbucks. NTFB was identified based on the location of a Starbucks Community Store which is committed to economic development and opportunity in historically under-resourced communities. Since 2016, Starbucks has helped to provide more than 50 million meals* to people facing hunger through its FoodShare program in partnership with Feeding America.

To learn more about how you can join the fight to end hunger, visit North Texas Food Bank (ntfb.org).

###

About North Texas Food BankThe North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a top-ranked nonprofit hunger-relief organization that sources, packages and distributes food through a diverse network of more than 400 feeding partners including food pantries and community organizations across 13 North Texas counties. The organization also provides food to children, seniors and families through various direct-delivery programs, including mobile pantries.

In its last fiscal year, the NTFB provided access to nearly 137 million nutritious meals, a 9% percent increase over the prior year. In response to the ongoing elevated hunger crisis, the organization has launched a $500 million campaign, Nourish North Texas, to provide more food for today and hope for tomorrow by addressing the barriers to food security that our neighbors face.

Jeff Smith North Texas Food Bank 469-891-7022 [email protected]

Source: North Texas Food Bank
Summary:

A communication has been issued by the Ministere des Ressources naturelles et des Forets advising the restrictions on forest access at the Corvette Property due to the fire situation have been lifted effective June 14, 2023.

The Company has commenced remobilisation of the field exploration operations and the camp construction activities. Conditions will be closely monitored during remobilisation and operations to ensure the safety of all personnel.

The fires in Quebec were over 80 kilometers away from the operations and did not impact the Company properties.

The Company anticipates remobilisation and resumption of all activities at site by the end of June.

The Company remains on target for a July 2023 announcement for the initial mineral resource estimate at CV5, which will include all drill holes completed through April 17, 2023 (i.e., the recently completed winter drill program).

VANCOUVER, British Columbia and SYDNEY, Australia, June 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Patriot Battery Metals Inc. (the Company or Patriot) (TSX-V: PMET) (ASX: PMT) (OTCQX: PMETF) (FSE: R9GA) provides this update on its work programs and the lifting of the fire ban on the Companys operations. The fires were more than 80 kilometres away from the Companys properties and did not impact the properties. The Company commenced the 2023 summer-fall drill and surface exploration programs in late May at its wholly owned Corvette Property (the Property or Project), located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec.

The 2023 summer-fall exploration includes both a drill and surface exploration program which commenced at the Property in late May. The multi-rig drill program is targeting further delineation of the CV5 and CV13 pegmatites, as well as drill testing of other previously identified spodumene pegmatite clusters (i.e., CV4, CV8-12, CV9, and CV10). The surface program comprises mapping of the known spodumene pegmatite clusters and local trends as well as prospecting and rock sampling across a large portion of the remaining 20+ km of prospective lithium pegmatite trend.

About Patriot Battery Metals Inc.

Patriot Battery Metals Inc. is a hard-rock lithium exploration company focused on advancing its district-scale 100% owned Corvette Property located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec, Canada. The Corvette Property is one of the largest and highest-grade hard rock lithium projects being explored, with over 50 kilometres of strike length over a 214 square kilometre land package and over 70 lithium bearing pegmatite outcrops identified to date.

The Corvette Property is situated proximal to the all-weather Trans Taiga Road and Hydro-Quebec power line infrastructure in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay region of Quebec. The Property hosts significant lithium potential highlighted by the CV5 Pegmatite, which has been traced by drilling over a strike length of at least 3.7 km with spodumene pegmatite encountered as deep as 425 m vertical depth.

For further information, please contact us at [email protected] or by calling +1 (604) 279-8709, or visit www.patriotbatterymetals.com. Please also refer to the Companys continuous disclosure filings, available under its profile at www.sedar.com and www.asx.com.au, for available exploration data.

This news release has been approved by the Board of Directors,

BLAIR WAYBlair Way, President, CEO, & Director

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements 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, including without limitation statements with respect to potential continuity of pegmatite bodies, and mineral resource estimate preparation. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Companys expectations include the results of further exploration and testing, and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators, available at www.sedar.com and www.asx.com.au. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.

No securities regulatory authority or stock exchange has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release.

Source: Patriot Battery Metals
DALLAS, June 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Permex Petroleum Corporation (CSE: OIL) (OTCQB: OILCF) (FSE: 75P0) ("Permex" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the extension of its early warrant exercise program (the Program), as initially announced by the Company in its news release dated May 18, 2023 (the Initial News Release).

The Program was announced with the intention to encourage the exercise of up to 1,015,869 unlisted common share purchase warrants of the Company (the Eligible Warrants). Pursuant to the Program, the Company amended the exercise price of the outstanding Eligible Warrants to USD$2.86 per Eligible Warrant, from May 18, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) until June 16, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. (Vancouver time). The Company now wishes to extend the Program until June 30, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. (the Extended Exercise Deadline).

As part of the Program, the Company will also offer, to each holder of Eligible Warrants (the Warrant Holders) who exercises any Eligible Warrants until the Extended Exercise Deadline, the issuance of one additional common share purchase warrant for each such exercised Eligible Warrant (each, an Incentive Warrant). Each Incentive Warrant entitles the Warrant Holder to purchase one common share of the Company (each, a Share) for a period of 5 years from the date of issuance, at a price of USD$4.50 per Share. The Company may also issue pre-funded common share purchase warrants (each, a Pre-Funded Warrant) in lieu of Shares, upon the exercise of Eligible Warrants, to certain Warrant Holders. Each Pre-Funded Warrant will allow the holder thereof to acquire one Share at a nominal exercise price of USD$0.01 and will not expire.

The Eligible Warrants which remain unexercised following the completion of the Extended Early Deadline will continue to be exercisable, on the terms existing immediately prior to the implementation of the Program, and no further Incentive Warrants will be granted on the exercise of the Eligible Warrants following the Extended Exercise Deadline.

For additional information on the Program, please refer to the Initial News Release.

The Incentive Warrants, and any securities issuable on the exercise thereof, will be subject to a four-month hold period from the date of issuance pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws, in addition to such other restrictions as may apply under applicable securities laws of jurisdictions outside of Canada. None of the securities issued in connection with the Program will be registered upon issuance under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), and none of them may be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act. The Company has agreed to file a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to register the Shares within 30 days of the end of the Extended Exercise Deadline. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state where such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

Contact Information

Permex Petroleum CorporationMehran EhsanPresident, Chief Executive Officer & Director469-804-1306

Gregory MontgomeryChief Financial Officer 469-804-1306

Or for investor relations, please contact:Renmark Financial Communications Inc.Steve Hosein: [email protected]Tel.: (416) 644-2020 or (212)-812-7680www.renmarkfinancial.com

Forward Looking Statements

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as intends or anticipates, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should, would or occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forwardlooking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things: the anticipated timing and completion of the Program.

These forwardlooking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required regulatory approvals for the Program from the CSE; market uncertainty; and the inability of the Company to raise proceeds pursuant to the Program.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that: the Company will obtain the required CSE approval for the Program; and the Company will be able to raise proceeds under the Program.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.

Source: Permex Petroleum Corporation
DALLAS, June 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Permex Petroleum Corporation (CSE: OIL) (OTCQB: OILCF) (FSE:75P0) (Permex" or the Company) announces that it has retained Renmark Financial Communications USA Inc. (Renmark), an arms length party to the Company, to provide investor relations services (the Services) to the Company.



Renmark was engaged to heighten market and investor awareness for the Company and broaden the Companys reach within the investment community. In implementing its investor relations program, Renmark employs a number of different communication methods, including live phone calls and emails. To reach new potential investors, for an additional set-up fee, Renmark will organize virtual non-deal roadshows for senior management in zones across the USA, Canada, and Europe. Additionally, Renmark will ensure the timely disclosure of Company information to existing and potential shareholders and electronically send documents and factsheets to prospective shareholders.

Renmark has been engaged by the Company for an initial 7-month period (the Initial Term) which commenced on May 1, 2023; the term will automatically continue after the Initial Term on a monthly basis, unless terminated in accordance with the investor relations agreement (the Agreement) among the parties.

As consideration for the Services, the Company will pay Renmark a monthly fee of USD$9,000, (the Monthly Service Fee) during the Initial Term. The Monthly Service Fee becomes payable on the first day of each month during the Initial Term. Renmark is also entitled to reimbursement for all expenses reasonably incurred, subject to the terms of the Agreement.

The Company and Renmark act at arms length, and Renmark has no present interest, directly or indirectly, in the Company or its securities, or any right or present intent to acquire such an interest.

About Permex Petroluem Corporation

Permex Petroleum is a uniquely positioned junior oil & gas company with assets and operations across the Permian Basin of West Texas and the Delaware Sub-Basin of New Mexico. The Company focuses on combining its low-cost development of Held by Production assets for sustainable growth with its current and future Blue-Sky projects for scale growth. The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Permex Petroleum US Corporation, is a licensed operator in both states, and owns and operates on private, state and federal land. For more information, please visit www.permexpetroleum.com .

About Renmark Financial Communications USA Inc.

Renmark Financial Communications is a full-service investor relations firm representing small, medium, and large cap public companies trading on all major North American exchanges. Renmark facilitates connections between their clients and key stakeholders in order to assist their clients in efficiently achieving their milestones. Renmark has offices in Toronto, Montreal, New York, and Atlanta.

Contact Information

Permex Petroleum Corporation

Mehran Ehsan

President, Chief Executive Officer & Director

469-804-1306

Gregory Montgomery

Chief Financial Officer

469-804-1306

Or for Investor Relations, please contact:

Renmark Financial Communications Inc.

121 King Street West

Suite 1140

Toronto ON M5H 3T9

Steve Hosein: [email protected]

Tel.: (416) 644-2020 or (212)-812-7680

www.renmarkfinancial.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to Renmark heightening the market and investor awareness of the Company and broadening the Company's reach within the investment community, fees payable to Renmark, and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include those relating to the ability of Renmark to heighten the market and investor awareness of the Company and broaden the Companys reach within the investment community, and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward- looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.
LONDON, Ontario, June 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sernova Corp. (TSX: SVA) (OTCQB: SEOVF) (FSE/XETRA: PSH), a clinical-stage company and leader in cell therapeutics, today announced it will be participating in the upcoming symposia-cel Truist Securities Cell Therapy Symposium being held June 27, 2023 in New York City. Company management will also be participating in one-on-one investor meetings at the conference.

symposia-cel - A Truist Securities Cell Therapy Symposium

Format: Fireside Chat Date: June 27, 2023, 2:15pm Participant: Dr. Philip Toleikis, President & CEO, Sernova Corp Location: Lotte New York Palace

Please contact your representative at Truist to schedule a one-on-one meeting with the management team during the conference.

ABOUT SERNOVA CORP. AND THE CELL POUCH SYSTEM PLATFORM FOR CELL THERAPY

Sernova Corp. is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that is developing therapeutic cell technologies for chronic diseases, including insulin-dependent diabetes, thyroid disease, and blood disorders that include hemophilia A. Sernova is currently focused on developing a functional cure for insulin-dependent diabetes with its lead asset, the Cell Pouch System, a novel implantable and scalable medical device with immune protected therapeutic cells. On implantation, The Cell Pouch forms a natural vascularized tissue environment in the body for long-term survival and function of therapeutic cells that release essential factors that are absent or deficient in the bodies of patients with certain chronic diseases. Sernovas Cell Pouch System has demonstrated its potential to be a functional cure for people with T1D in an ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical study at the University of Chicago. Sernova is also advancing a proprietary technology in collaboration with the University of Miami to shield therapeutic cells from immune system attack with the goal to eliminate the need for chronic, systemic immunosuppression. In May 2022, Sernova and Evotec entered into a global strategic partnership to develop an implantable off-the-shelf iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cells) based islet replacement therapy. This partnership provides Sernova a potentially unlimited supply of insulin-producing cells to treat millions of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes (type 1 and type 2). Sernova continues to progress two additional development programs that utilize its Cell Pouch System: a cell therapy for hypothyroid disease resulting from thyroid gland removal and an ex vivo lentiviral factor VIII gene therapy for hemophilia A.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This release contains statements that, to the extent they are not recitations of historical facts, may constitute forward-looking statements that involve various risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including, without limitation, statements regarding the prospects, plans, and objectives of the company. Wherever possible, but not always, words such as "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential for" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur are used to identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect managements beliefs with respect to future events and are based on information currently available to management on the date such statements were made. Many factors could cause Sernovas actual results, performances or achievements to not be as anticipated, estimated or intended or to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Such factors could include, but are not limited to, the companys ability to secure additional financing and licensing arrangements on reasonable terms, or at all; ability to conduct all required preclinical and clinical studies for the companys Cell Pouch System and/or related technologies, including the timing and results of those trials; ability to obtain all necessary regulatory approvals, or on a timely basis; ability to in-license additional complementary technologies; ability to execute its business strategy and successfully compete in the market; and the inherent risks associated with the development of biotechnology combination products generally. Many of the factors are beyond our control, including those caused by, related to, or impacted by the novel coronavirus pandemic. Investors should consult the companys quarterly and annual filings available on www.sedar.com for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statements. Sernova expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Source: Sernova Corp.
PARIS, June 16, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Constellium SE (NYSE: CSTM) (Constellium or the Company) announced that the voting results for its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders have been published on the Companys website (https://www.constellium.com/investors/shareholder-meetings).



The Annual General Meeting resolved inter alia to re-appoint Mr. Jean-Marc Germain, Mr. Michiel Brandjes, and Mr. John Ormerod to the Companys Board of Directors for a term of three years.

About Constellium

Constellium (NYSE: CSTM) is a global sector leader that develops innovative, value added aluminium products for a broad scope of markets and applications, including aerospace, automotive and packaging. Constellium generated 8.1 billion of revenue in 2022.
"Hes turned Goldman Sachs into Bear Stearns. He doesnt understand the difference between a dictatorship and a partnership" - an insider source says of Goldman Sachs' (NYSE: GS) CEO David Solomon in recent comments made to the New York Post.

Solomon, the bank's head since 2018, is reportedly facing internal backlash over "skimpy bonuses, his costly, botched venture into consumer banking, and a slew of high-level executive departures" and is now "vulnerable to getting the boot if business takes a bad turn."

Solomon lifestyle and public image have reportedly also been a hot topic for critics within the company who cite "his DJing, his use of the corporate jet, and his frequent trips to the Bahamas."

"The board is starting to re-evaluate. David may have a problem with the board room. No one wants to see someone is at war with their senior execs" - one of the sources reportedly said, adding "the board no longer has plausible deniability about whats going on.

Despite the seeming uproar, the "major problem with ousting Solomon" is that "the bench of potential successors isnt deep, with many having left over the last few years."

The piece names John Waldron, the GS' president and COO, and Dan Dees, co-head of global banking & markets as potential successors should a change at the helm take place.

The current CEO also reportedly still maintains a strong base of allies, as "some Goldman insiders believe tales of Solomons demise are exaggerated and say it is just a disagreement of style over substance."

The NYP article follows a similarly toned piece the Wall Street Journal published earlier this week, claiming a "civil war" is raging inside the bank.

By Vlad Schepkov
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 15, 2023) - American Aires Inc. (CSE: WIFI) (OTCQB: AAIRF) ("Aires" or the "Company"), a leader in scientifically-proven EMF modulation technology, announces a proposed non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of up to $3,000,000 through the issuance of up to 3,000 units (the "Units") at a price of $1,000 per Unit. Each Unit shall consist of (i) one (1) $1,000 principal amount secured convertible debenture (a "Debenture" or "Debentures") of the Company, and (ii) and 20,000 common share purchase warrants (the "Warrants"). The Debentures shall bear interest at a rate of 12.0% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on the last day of June and December in each year, with the first interest payment payable on June 30, 2023, and mature on June 30, 2025 (the "Maturity Date"). The Debentures will be convertible into common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Common Shares") at the market price of the Common Shares at the time of conversion, subject to the approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") in the event such price is below $0.05, determined by the most recent closing price of the Common Shares on the day of conversion, at the option of the holder at any time prior to the close of business on the earlier of: (i) the last business day immediately preceding the Maturity Date, and (ii) the date fixed for redemption. Each Warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.05 until June 30, 2025. In addition, the Debentures are secured by all of the assets of the Company.

In connection with the Offering, the Company will pay registered dealers or finders a cash commission equal to 6% of the aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of the Units to a subscriber referred to the Company by such registered dealer or finder.

The Company also announces the completion of the first tranche of the Offering. The Company has raised gross proceeds of $325,000 through the issuance of 325 Units. Pursuant to the first tranche of the Offering, the Company paid a finder's fee of $19,500. All securities issued pursuant to the Offering are subject to a four month hold period from the date of issue. Proceeds from the Offering will be used by the Company for working capital purposes and to further the business objectives of the Company.

About American Aires Inc.

American Aires Inc. is a Canadian-based nanotechnology company committed to enhancing well-being and environmental safety through science-led innovation, education, and advocacy. The company has developed proprietary silicon-based microprocessors that reduce the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Aires' Lifetune products target EMR emitted by consumer electronic devices such as cellphones, computers, baby monitors, and Wi-Fi, including the more powerful and rapidly expanding high-speed 5G networks. Aires is listed on the CSE under the ticker 'WIFI' and on the OTCQB under the symbol 'AAIRF'. Learn more at www.airestech.com .

On behalf of the board of directors

Company Contact:

Josh Bruni, CEO

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: (415) 707-0102

Website: www.airestech.com

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements may be discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.

No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of any person 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 any common shares in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. We seek safe harbour.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/170225
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2023) - Canuc Resources Corporation (TSXV: CDA) (OTCQB: CNUCF) ("Canuc" or the "Company") is pleased to announce closing of a first tranche of a non-brokered private placement financing ("Private Placement"), raising gross proceeds of $1,285,000 CAD through the issuance of 16,062,500 units at $0.08 per unit. Each unit consists of one common share ("Common Share") priced at $0.08 per Common Share, and one half of one common share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). Each whole Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional Common Share at $0.25 for a period of two years from the closing of the Private Placement.

Each whole Warrant has an early exercise provision that allows the Company to trigger exercise of the Warrant when the 10-day average price of Common Shares traded on the TSX Venture Exchange exceeds $0.50 per share. Thirty days (30) after the trigger date, any unexercised Warrants will be deemed to be null and void. All securities issued under this Private Placement will be subject to a hold period expiring four months and one day from the date of closing.

Proceeds will be used for exploration on the Company's San Javier Silver-Gold Project in Sonora State, Mexico and for developing the Company's MidTex Energy Assets in Central West Texas.

No finder fees or commissions are payable in connection with this first tranche closing. This Private Placement does not result in any new insiders or control persons of the Company, and closing is subject to final approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.

About Canuc

Canuc is a junior resource company focusing on its San Javier Silver-Gold Project in Sonora State, Mexico. The Company also generates cash flow from natural gas production at its MidTex Energy Project in Central West Texas, USA where Canuc has an interest in eight (8) producing natural gas wells and has rights for further in field developments.

For further information please contact:

Canuc Resources Corporation

(416) 525 - 6869

[email protected]

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information. All information, other than information of historical fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" and includes any information that addresses activities, events or developments that the Corporation believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including the Corporation's strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance.

When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and other indications of future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is based on current expectations and applies only as of the date on which they were made. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Corporation to fund the exploration expenditures required under the Agreement. Other factors such as uncertainties regarding government regulations could also affect the results. Other risks may be set out in the Corporation's annual financial statements, MD&A and other publicly filed documents.

The Corporation cautions that there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/170339
Featuring Critical Metals Day on June 20, 2023

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2023) - Dor Copper Mining Corp (TSXV: DCMC), a junior exploration company focused on copper and gold, is pleased to announce that it will be participating in THE Mining Investment Event of the North, June 19-21, 2023, (THE Event) at the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac and Voltigeurs de Quebec Armoury in Quebec City, Canada.

Ernest Mast, President and CEO, will be presenting at 2:30 p.m. ET on June 19th. Management from Dore Copper Mining Corp will also be holding one-on-one investor meetings throughout the three-day conference. Interested parties should contact Jennifer Choi at [email protected] to inquire about registering to attend.

Information regarding THE Event including investor registration details, a list of participating companies, panelists and keynote speakers and a preliminary agenda can be found here https://vidconferences.com/conferences-events/tier-1-mining-conference/.

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 mill. 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 gold. 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.

THE Mining Investment Event of the North is Canadas only tier 1 Global Mining Investment Conference and hosted annually in Quebec City, Canada. THE Event is invitation only and is independently sponsored by the Government of Quebec, and financial and mining communities at large. THE Event is designed to specifically facilitate privately arranged meetings between mining companies, international investors, and various mining government authorities. THE Event is committed to promoting sustainability in the mining industry through education and innovation through unique Student Sponsorships, She-Co Initiatives, highlighting ESG and equality issues and by providing a platform for some of most influential thought leaders in the sector. The agenda, brochure, participating companies, speakers & panelists, initiatives and registration applications for issuers and investors may be found here: https://vidconferences.com/conferences-events/tier-1-mining-conference/.

Interested parties please contact Jennifer Choi, [email protected].

Joanne Jobin

Principal & Founder

IR.INC & VID Media Incorporated

[email protected]

Jennifer Choi

Vice President, Operations

IR.INC & VID Media Incorporated

[email protected]

Brhett Booker

Associate

VID Media Incorporated

[email protected]

Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|LinkedIn|YouTube
Airbus reveals jet orders and says the supply chain is more stable

By Tim Hepher

PARIS (Reuters) - Airbus has signed orders this month including 60 A320-family jets with a lessor and 10 A350s with a major airline, said the planemaker's Chief Commercial Officer Christian Scherer.

The deals come on top of any business to be announced at next week's Paris Airshow and will be booked at end-June, though the buyers will not disclosed, he also told reporters.

He said next week's event would bring evidence of a strong recovery in terms of demand.

"Business is back with a vengeance and the show will be proof of that," said Scherer on Friday, whose company's main competitor is Boeing.

Earlier on Friday, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury had said that supply chains had stabilised although the industry still faced pressing labour shortages.

(Reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2023) - Los Andes Copper Ltd. (TSXV: LA) (OTCQX: LSANF)("Los Andes" or the "Company") is pleased to report that on June 15, 2023, the Second Environmental Court in Chile ruled that Los Andes has complied with all the conditions imposed on July 20, 2022 and is now authorized to restart drilling.

On March 18, 2022, the Second Environmental Court in Chile issued a preliminary injunction suspending the drilling program of the company. On July 20, 2022, the Court decided that the company's drilling program was compatible with the presence of the Andean cat, and that drilling could resume subject to certain conditions. The Company and its consultants worked to obtain certain government agencies' filings and approvals required by the Court as conditions, which the Court have now declared met, authorizing the Company to return to drilling.

Santiago Montt, CEO of Los Andes, said: "We are delighted to have received this positive ruling. Having fully complied with all the conditions imposed by the Court we are now able to return to drilling in order to pursue the optimisations highlighted in the Pre-Feasibility Study published earlier this year.

In addition to the technical work required to lift the injunction, we have also continued to be very active reinforcing our relationship with the community. We have implemented various community programs and have developed a strong communications plan, particularly in regional radios and social media, aimed at improving the knowledge and understanding of the future Vizcachitas Project and of the multiple opportunities that a sustainable mining project like Vizcachitas will bring to families and communities."

About Los Andes Copper Ltd.

Los Andes Copper Ltd. is a development company with an 100% interest in the Vizcachitas Project in Chile. The Company is focused on progressing Vizcachitas, which is located along one of Chile's most prolific copper belts. Vizcachitas is one of the largest copper deposits in the Americas not controlled by the majors and the Company believes it will be Chile's next major copper mine.

The Project is a copper-molybdenum porphyry deposit, located 150 kilometers north of Santiago, in an area of very good infrastructure. An independent technical report for the PFS, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, is available on the Company's SEDAR profile.

Los Andes Copper Ltd. is listed on the TSX-V under the ticker: LA.

For more information please contact:

Santiago Montt, CEO

[email protected]

Tel: +56 2 2954 0450

Elizabeth Johnson, Investor Relations

[email protected]

E-Mail: [email protected] or visit our website at www.losandescopper.com.

Follow us on Twitter: @LosAndesCopper.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/170265
Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2023) - Gallagher Security Corp. (CSE: GLL) announces that, subject to Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") approval, the Company will raise up to $500,000 through a non-brokered private placement. The financing will consist of of up to 10,000,000 units at $0.05 per unit.

Each unit will consist of one common share and one share purchase warrant with each warrant exercisable into one additional common share at a price of $0.06 per share for a 3-year period. All shares issued under the private placement will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance. Finders' fees may be paid in accordance with securities regulations. Certain Common Shares may be issued separate from Units for the settlement of bona fide debt owed by the Company.

Gallagher's will use the proceeds targeting generative AI technologies related to the remote monitoring and validation of carbon offsets derived from improved forest management practices. Building the world's first SMART forests.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Dev Randhawa"

Dev Randhawa

President and Director

For further information, please contact:

Jamie Bannerman

Phone: 1-778-484-8028

This Press Release may contain statements which constitute 'forward-looking' statements, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities and operating performance of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities or performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Such risks, uncertainties and factors are described in the periodic filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including quarterly and annual Management's Discussion and Analysis, which may be viewed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements.

Neither the CSE 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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/170409
Featuring Critical Metals Day on June 20, 2023

Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2023) - Minex West Africa, a junior gold exploration company owning tenements in Cote d'Ivoire at both early and advanced stage, is pleased to announce that it will be participating in THE Mining Investment Event of the North, June 19-21, 2023, (THE Event) at the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac and Voltigeurs de Quebec Armoury in Quebec City, Canada.

Management from Minex West Africa will be holding one-on-one investor meetings throughout the three-day conference. Interested parties should contact Jennifer Choi at [email protected] to inquire about registering to attend.

Information regarding THE Event including investor registration details, a list of participating companies, panelists and keynote speakers and a preliminary agenda can be found here https://vidconferences.com/conferences-events/tier-1-mining-conference/.

THE Mining Investment Event of the North is Canadas only tier 1 Global Mining Investment Conference and hosted annually in Quebec City, Canada. THE Event is invitation only and is independently sponsored by the Government of Quebec, and financial and mining communities at large. THE Event is designed to specifically facilitate privately arranged meetings between mining companies, international investors, and various mining government authorities. THE Event is committed to promoting sustainability in the mining industry through education and innovation through unique Student Sponsorships, She-Co Initiatives, highlighting ESG and equality issues and by providing a platform for some of most influential thought leaders in the sector. The agenda, brochure, participating companies, speakers & panelists, initiatives and registration applications for issuers and investors may be found here: https://vidconferences.com/conferences-events/tier-1-mining-conference/.

Interested parties please contact Jennifer Choi, [email protected]

Joanne Jobin

Principal & Founder

IR.INC & VID Media Incorporated

[email protected]

Jennifer Choi

Vice President, Operations

IR.INC & VID Media Incorporated

[email protected]

Brhett Booker

Associate

VID Media Incorporated

[email protected]

Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|LinkedIn|YouTube
Fujian, China--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2023) - JOMOO and Porsche Design Studio recently launched the MX Collection Intelligent Bathroom Space, marking a significant collaboration in the Chinese sanitary ware industry. The aim of this partnership is to provide a new, luxurious experience of intelligent bathroom spaces to global consumers. The launch event took place on June 8th at the Porsche Experience Center in Shanghai and was attended by various industry leaders and partners of JOMOO Group.

The collaboration between JOMOO and Porsche Design Studio is based on their mutual recognition and appreciation of each other's values. Porsche Design Studio is known for setting industry trends and meeting functional, aesthetic, and commercial needs. JOMOO, as a leading high-end sanitary ware brand in China, has a reputation for producing top-quality products that offer a visually appealing and intelligent home environment. The alliance between the two brands is expected to empower each other in terms of branding and revolutionize the design approach in the sanitary ware industry.

The launch event also featured speeches from industry experts, emphasizing the importance of industrial design in driving innovation and global brand competition. JOMOO's MX Collection Intelligent Bathroom Space represents cutting-edge innovation and a commitment to user experience. By integrating global design concepts, JOMOO aims to lead the way in the global sanitary ware industry and export a new industrial civilization.

The MX Collection Smart Bathroom Space redefines the aesthetics of smart sanitary ware by combining technology and art. It incorporates technologies like artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and big data to create a digitally intelligent bathroom space that offers an unprecedented experience. The collection includes features such as smart mirrors, concealed faucets, magnetic control knobs, smart toilets, and remotely controllable bathtubs. These innovations aim to provide a seamless integration of bathroom aesthetics and functionality.

JOMOO's collaboration with Porsche Design Studio showcases its pioneering strength in the smart bathroom industry. The launch event coincided with the 27th China International Kitchen and Bathroom Expo, where JOMOO was honored as the "2023 China Smart Bathroom Aesthetic Pioneer." The MX Collection further demonstrates JOMOO's commitment to global expansion and delivering high-quality product experiences to consumers worldwide.

The MX Collection Smart Bathroom Space has garnered praise from high-net-worth consumers globally. Rupert Hoogewerf, Chairman and Chief Researcher of Hurun Report, attended the launch event and expressed admiration for the integration of technology and design in JOMOO's bathroom solutions. He commended the efforts of Chinese brands in enhancing their reputation and delivering lifestyle enjoyment to global consumers.

JOMOO's collaboration with top-tier international design, including Porsche Design Studio, highlights its commitment to internationalization. The company has established research and development centers in Germany and formed partnerships with renowned German companies and designers. This has resulted in numerous German design awards, including the prestigious Red Dot Design Award.

The collaboration between JOMOO and Porsche Design Studio represents a fusion of technology, design, and lifestyle aesthetics. The MX Collection Intelligent Bathroom Space embodies JOMOO's vision for a global, technology-oriented future and ideal home living.

Company Name: JOMOO GROUP CO., LTD.

Contact Person: Wu Meiling

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.jomoo.com.cn/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/169954
My Tooth Media recently announced a range of content marketing services created for dental practices across Los Angeles looking to reach more patients.

Marina Del Rey, California--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2023) - Following the announcement, "My Tooth Media" creates multimedia content that helps dentists enhance their online visibility and expand their reach. The marketing agency leverages its connections with major media sites to promote clients' services, empowering them to build credibility and raise awareness about their practices.

More information is available at https://mytoothmedia.clientcabin.com.





My Tooth Media Announces Content Marketing Solutions For LA Dental Practices

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/170253_5649c813944e5b21_001full.jpg

"My Tooth Media's" new content marketing strategies have been developed to drive targeted traffic to the websites of general dentists, cosmetic dentists, pediatric dentists, and orthodontists. The agency creates content in several media formats, providing information about practices and showcasing the quality of their services.

Every piece of content that the agency's team of professional writers, advertising professionals, and creatives curates has a hyper-local focus to target prospective patients in their immediate vicinity. "My Tooth Media's" service encompasses the creation of news releases, blogs, podcasts, infographics, slideshows, and videos, containing information about the practice's specialism. With this multimedia marketing approach, the agency helps dental practices achieve omnipresence and enhance their organic Google ranking.

Each campaign starts with a consultation where the agency and the client identify and analyze relevant keywords. This is crucial for SEO-friendly content, with "My Tooth Media" using its expertise to select the words and phrases that potential patients utilize when searching for dental services online. The marketing agency also strives to identify opportunities to differentiate the client's dental practice and capitalize on any unmet needs or gaps in the market.

As part of its content marketing service, "My Tooth Media" also measures the success of each campaign its team creates, providing clients with a regular overview of the traffic that goes to their websites, as well as their Google ranking. This analysis provides a baseline to measure future progress and identify areas for improvement.

About "My Tooth Media"

Founded in 2021, "My Tooth Media" is a digital marketing agency that specializes in promoting dental practices. With advanced SEO strategies, quality content creation, and innovative marketing techniques, the agency helps dental professionals improve their online visibility, attract new patients, and establish themselves as authorities in their field.

Additional details can be found at https://mytoothmedia.clientcabin.com.

Contact Info:

Name: Damien Gallow

Email: [email protected]

Organization: DJG Global Investments, LLC DBA My Tooth Media

Address: 578 Washington Blvd Unit 203, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292, United States

Website: https://mytoothmedia.clientcabin.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/170253
OPPO joins a number of technology start-ups at VivaTech to show how innovation can create a better future for all

Paris, France--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2023) - Viva Technology - the biggest startup and tech event in Europe, which brings together business leaders, startups and investors each year -took place over four days from June 14. OPPO returned for the second consecutive year to announce the final call for entries to the 2023 OPPO Inspiration Challenge and showcase some of the success stories from last year's inaugural Inspiration Challenge.





VivaTech 2023

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7958/170273_figure1.jpg

During the event, OPPO Technology Strategic Planning Expert, Rabinovich Adi, delivered a speech on how technology can be used to create a better future for all. He also introduced the latest updates from the 2023 OPPO Inspiration challenge and invited a number of technology startups specializing in sustainability and accessible technology to demonstrate their innovations at the show.

"The overwhelming response to the first OPPO Inspiration Challenge last year showed us the great potential and possibilities for Virtuous Innovation in startups," said Adi. "For the second Inspiration Challenge this year, we have introduced two new entry categories focusing on Inspiration for People and Inspiration for the Planet. Improving health and the environment are shared goals of everyone on this planet. By combining our own resources with the ingenuity of the start-up community, we hope that we can use innovation to lead real changes in these two crucial areas."





Rabinovich Adi, OPPO Technology Strategic Planning Expert



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7958/170273_figure2.jpg

OPPO Empowers Last Year's Inspiration Challenge Winners to Turn Inspiration into Impact

A total of 536 proposals from 39 countries and regions around the world were submitted to the 2022 Inspiration Challenge. Of these, OPPO has since gone on to support 18 teams to further implement their ideas. At this year's VivaTech, OPPO invited the winner of last year's Inspiration Challenge, Alango Technologies, and the Europe & Israel Regional Challenge winner, Sign Now, to share their experiences participating in the 2022 Inspiration Challenge.

Alango Technologies, a leader in the field of digital sound enhancement technologies for voice communication and immersive audio experiences across real-life scenarios, won last year's OPPO Innovation Challenge with their proposal, BeHear line of concept consumer electronics products. This visionary hearing solution seamlessly integrates Bluetooth earpieces with state-of-the-art digital audio algorithms, delivering a range of exceptional assistive hearing devices that redefine the hearing-impaired users' experience across diverse real-life scenarios.

Dr. Alexander Goldin, Founder and CEO of Alango Technologies, expressed immense pride in claiming the title of the 2022 Inspiration Challenge winner, stating, "Winning the competition was an exceptional moment for us." He further added, "Since our victory, we have enjoyed a fruitful collaboration with OPPO, joining forces to create a captivating promotional video. Moreover, we have utilized the prize money to refine our algorithms and expand the scope of our applications. Participating in the OPPO Inspiration Challenge proved to be a rewarding journey, allowing us to forge a close partnership with one of the world's top consumer technology companies and seamlessly integrate our innovative solutions into mainstream electronic devices."





Dr. Alexander Goldin, Founder and CEO of Alango Technologies



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7958/170273_figure3.jpg

"Taking part in the Inspiration Challenge has helped us to raise our profile at the global level," said Hila Almog, Head of Community of Sign Now. "After winning the regional competition, we received a lot of media coverage and now have the opportunity to share our innovations here at VivaTech. By providing on-demand sign language interpretation through real-time video calls, our app serves as a bridge between the deaf community and service providers. Together with OPPO's support and influence, we hope to improve accessibility and create equal opportunities for the deaf community."





Hila Almog, Head of Community of Sign Now, speaking with sign language



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7958/170273_figure4.jpg

The Startups Working with OPPO to Build a Better Future with Technology

With the startup community being the source of some of the world's most cutting-edge innovation, OPPO invited SolCold -- a world leader in outdoor cooling coatings research and development -- to share their experiences in innovation at VivaTech.

"Given the pressing issue of global warming, where the sun's heat cannot be dissipated by our planet, our innovative solution can achieve outdoor cooling with zero carbon emissions by reflecting, converting, and releasing heat," said Yaron Shenhav, CEO and Co-founder of SolCold. "Together with OPPO, we are now working on discovering additional uses for this innovative coating on mobile devices."





Yaron Shenhav, CEO and Co-founder of SolCold



To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7958/170273_figure5.jpg



In addition to giving a broader platform for startups to share their ideas, OPPO also takes the opportunity at VivaTech to share more about its own mission to create a better future for all. Through the annual Inspiration Challenge, OPPO is driving virtuous innovation by empowering technology professionals around the world to develop new solutions for people and the planet.

Last Call for Entries to the 2023 OPPO Inspiration Challenge

VivaTech 2023 is also the final stop in the recruitment stage for this year's OPPO Inspiration Challenge. Many promising proposals covering new technologies and concepts have already been received since entries opened for the 2023 Challenge in May, and many more proposals are expected over the coming weeks as the submission period enters its final phase.

The deadline for submitting proposals is June 30, 2023. Applicants will be assigned to one of three regional challenges and the top five teams from each region will progress to the final global event. A total of 5 teams will be selected as global winners of the 2023 OPPO Inspiration Challenge, each of whom will receive a US$50,000 (pre-tax) grant, as well as potential partnership and funding opportunities from OPPO and its partners.

To learn more about the OPPO Inspiration Challenge and submit a proposal, please visit the official website at oppo.com/en/proposal.

Hashtag: #OPPO

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About OPPO

OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone - "Smiley Face" - in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find X and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO also provides its users with ColorOS operating system and internet services such as OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO has footprints in more than 60 countries and regions, with more than 40,000 employees dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/170273
Featuring Critical Metals Day on June 20, 2023

Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2023) - Power Nickel Inc. (TSXV: PNPN), Canadas next high-grade carbon-neutral Nickel mine, is pleased to announce that it will be participating in THE Mining Investment Event of the North, June 19-21, 2023, ("THE Event") at the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac and Voltigeurs de Quebec Armoury in Quebec City, Canada.

Terry Lynch, CEO, will be presenting at 2:00PM ET on June 20th. Management from Power Nickel Inc. will also be holding one-on-one investor meetings throughout the three-day conference. Interested parties should contact Jennifer Choi at [email protected] to inquire about registering to attend.

Information regarding THE Event including investor registration details, a list of participating companies, panelists and keynote speakers and a preliminary agenda can be found here:https://vidconferences.com/conferences-events/tier-1-mining-conference/

About Power Nickel Inc.

Power Nickel is advancing the High Grade Nisk Nickel Sulfide Deposit near Nemaska Quebec. It has a Historical Resource of 3.1 Million Tonnes of about 1.6% NIEQ and is updating the resource in early Q3 after 15,000 metres of a very successful drill program in which 60% of the holes graded over 1% Nickel with widths up to 40 metres.

THE Mining Investment Event of the North is Canadas only tier 1 Global Mining Investment Conference and hosted annually in Quebec City, Canada. THE Event is invitation only and is independently sponsored by the Government of Quebec, and financial and mining communities at large. THE Event is designed to specifically facilitate privately arranged meetings between mining companies, international investors, and various mining government authorities. THE Event is committed to promoting sustainability in the mining industry through education and innovation through unique Student Sponsorships, She-Co Initiatives, highlighting ESG and equality issues and by providing a platform for some of most influential thought leaders in the sector. The agenda, brochure, participating companies, speakers & panelists, initiatives and registration applications for issuers and investors may be found here: https://vidconferences.com/conferences-events/tier-1-mining-conference/

Interested parties please contact Jennifer Choi, [email protected]

Joanne Jobin

Principal & Founder

IR.INC & VID Media Incorporated

[email protected]

Jennifer Choi

Vice President, Operations

IR.INC & VID Media Incorporated

[email protected]

Brhett Booker

Associate

VID Media Incorporated

[email protected]

Facebook|Instagram|Twitter|LinkedIn|YouTube
MUNICH , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The annual Solar energy technology Fair in Munich, Germany -- InterSolar, which is also a playing field for outstanding PV companies in the world, was held in June this year, at which Aikosolar (600732.SH) with its N-type ABC (all-back contact) series products gained a lot of favorable attention, almost comparable to a large order signed with its overseas customer. On June 14 local time, the very first day of InterSolar exhibition, Aikosolar officially concluded a GW-level contract for in-depth cooperation with German Memodo Group.

Two major players joined together to tap the European PV market

Founded in 2013, Memodo Group has been the fastest growing and industry-leading distributor of photovoltaic, energy storage, charging stations and heat pump systems in Europe , with a focus on contributing to the high-tech new energy industry, and committed to driving the energy transition and shaping a sustainable future, and providing customers with customized solutions.

As a global leader in PV technology innovation, Aikosolar has won high recognition from Memodo in terms of product quality, product efficiency, production scale and R&D level, and the two sides will carry out long-term cooperation in the high-end distributed PV market in Europe . From experiment to implementation, in the spirit of continuous innovation and improvement, Aikosolar has been promoting and leading the cutting-edge PV technology iteration. Its self-developed ABC module, which ranks first in the world for its high-efficiency crystalline silicon modules, has passed the TUV SUD test certification, with the highest efficiency reaching 24.27% and the delivery efficiency reaching 24.0%, meaning its higher capability of power generation within the same area, especially its all-black contact gridless quality aesthetics that has won the favor of high-end European customers.

"We are proud to have established a strong partnership with an excellent local partner like Memodo and supply high-quality PV products to customers in the European market, so as to accelerate the process of carbon neutrality in Europe . This collaboration will bring a long-term impact and help realize a zero-carbon society." Said by Chen Gang , Aikosolar Chairman & GM, at the signing ceremony.

Tobias Wenleder , Memodo Group CEO and Founder, expressed that "Based on the continuous exploration of market development and the relentless pursuit of innovative technologies and products, Memodo has chosen Aikosolar to enter into a long-term partnership and distribute high-quality ABC modules throughout Europe . Our collaboration in the field of clean energy will be strengthened and more innovative and, together we'll deliver more value to our customers on the journey to the energy future."

An industry leader in conversion efficiency for mass production

Founded in 1991, each year the InterSolar attracts well-known PV companies from all over the world with the latest technologies and products to present. Being widely recognized and signing large order contracts with well-known overseas customers during the exhibition against the strong competition, it is the result of Aikosolar's long-term focus and deep cultivation in PV energy field, as well as its long-established leadership in terms of product deliverables and mass production conversion efficiency.

Public information shows that Aikosolar pioneered the ABC battery and module technology with complete independent intellectual property rights, which is due to the following multiple advantages of the technology: high conversion efficiency, low power attenuation, excellent temperature coefficient performance, and excellent low light response, because the system using ABC modules has higher installed capacity per unit area and higher power generation efficiency per unit area, plus the lower system cost.

"In the context of 'dual carbon' reduction, the global demand for new installed PV capacity is strong, PV is a hot track, it's also a fierce competition track, therefore, further reduce costs and improve the conversion efficiency as high as possible, is not only the key to higher downstream profitability, but also the key indicator for upstream competition." As told by market players, the industry has been constantly trying new paths and new processes to improve conversion efficiency and reduce production costs. However, for the downstream players, the conversion efficiency that can be commercialized for mass production and delivery shall be more realistic. For M10, Aikosolar is the first manufacturer in the world with deliverable modules and its conversion efficiency exceeding 24% for mass production.

Public information shows that after setting the world record of 23.6% conversion efficiency in TaiyangNews PV module mass production in March 2023 , Aikosolar has made a new record in N-type ABC module conversion efficiency in May 2023 , and in June 2023 , Aikosolar once again ranked first in the list of TaiyangNews modules (at 24%), which was the fourth consecutive month that Aikosolar's ABC module "topped the list", continuously showing its technical strength to the market.

A team of progressive technocrats

With more than a decade's perseverance, Aikosolar has been focusing on the research and development of mass production technology in the field of PV energy since its establishment in 2009, making it not only an important promoter of technological progress in the industry, but also the leader of technology iteration among its peers.

In 2021, Aikosolar launched the industry's first ABC battery, and in 2022, it launched high-efficiency modules based on ABC batteries. To date, the company's ABC battery mass production efficiency is higher than 26.5%, and the module deliverable efficiency has maintained a level of 24.0%. In the era of N-type production, Aikosolar has entered the technical "zone of zero competitors".

It is understood that Aikosolar's ABC products have six core advantages, namely: full-life-cycle hot spot risk control and module-level automatic optimization technology, full-area light exposure and all-silicon power generation technology, all-back contact electrode technology, all-back passivation contact technology, silver-free metal coating technology, and whole-industry-chain end-to-end technological innovation. The front side of the ABC battery is not shielded by electrode grid lines, meaning 100% reception of sunlight, an effective reduction of optical loss and great improvement of aesthetic degree; In addition, Aikosolar pioneered the use of silver-free technology for mass production of ABC batteries, which has eliminated the barrier of "silver consumption" for large-scale development of the PV industry.

The aforementioned market players believe that the signing of this supply agreement is a further recognition of the company's ABC series products by the industry. Aikosolar's unique understanding of the future development trend of solar cell technology, its mastery of the new generation ABC solar cell and module technology with high conversion efficiency, not only means its leading position in the PV industry chain's new round of technological iterations, but also means the expected performance with a driving force from the continuous release of its new production capacity.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-1-3gw-supply-agreement-between-aikosolar-and-memodo-group-just-signed----joining-hands-for-deep-tapping-of-the-european-market-301853063.html
Award-winning line of premium distilled nonalcoholic spirits and aperitifs expands to eight vibrant offerings

OAKLAND, Calif. , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Abstinence Spirits USA  sophisticated, delicious, nonalcoholic botanical spirits and aperitifs  announces the launch of alcohol-free ready-to-drink (RTD) Sparkling Blood Orange Aperitivo Spritz and Sparkling Lemon Aperitivo Spritz in beautiful 750 ml bottles at the 2023 Summer Fancy Food Show, June 25-27, 2023 in New York City (Booth #5957). The award-winning young brand's new pre-mixed spritzes provide a quick and easy option for a mouthwatering aperitif that's simply chilled, poured over ice, and garnished with a fresh citrus slice.

The new spritzes join Abstinence Spirits' fast-growing product line, which became available in the United States in September 2022 after launching in South Africa in 2020. Alcohol-free, low sugar, and made with natural color and no artificial flavors, they provide the richness, complexity and flavor of a classic aperitivo without the alcohol and consequences.

"We're taking our customer favorites and making them available in an accessible, ready-to-drink format," said Abstinence Spirits USA CEO Ranwei Chiang. "Ready to take to parties, events, or to spend an evening at home. We're excited to introduce our great tasting, sophisticated, balanced flavors in this new line!"

Abstinence Spirits co-founder Stefan Coetzee added, "Due to popular demand by large retailers and clients around the world, we've made a guilt-free, 0.0% Sparkling Aperitivo Spritz with low calories, low sugar and natural flavors that have been married with small-batch distilled botanicals and authentic flavor profiles from South Africa's Cape Floral Kingdom ."

Abstinence Sparkling Blood Orange Aperitivo: A classic Italian-style aperitivo bitter with a dominant blood orange citrus note, supported by an infusion of natural, distilled botanicals and a medley of spice elements and a unique South African spin with the addition of African Wormwood. Botanicals: Artemisia Afra "African Wormwood," Cinchona Bark and Quinine, Blood Orange, Botanical Spice Distillate.

Abstinence Sparkling Lemon Aperitivo: A vibrant, citrus-forward aperitif made with club soda and a dash of tonic. There's a dominant lemon and blackcurrant (South African buchu) backbone, supported by an infusion of natural botanicals and a faint bitterness from the aloe and quinine. Botanicals: Artemisia Afra "African Wormwood," Buchu, Aloe, Cinchona Bark and Quinine, Lemon, Botanical Spice Distillate.

The spritzes ( $18 ) join Abstinence Spirits' line of four nonalcoholic spirits and two aperitifs. Abstinence Spirits are perfect for mixing into no- and low-alcohol cocktails. Signature recipes are posted on the website, and new recipes are featured on the Abstinence Spirits Instagram page.

About Abstinence Spirits

Owned by Curated Beverages Ltd., Abstinence Spirits is an award-winning line of sophisticated, delicious, alcohol-free spirits and aperitifs. Featuring the finest ingredients and botanicals from South Africa's Cape Floral kingdom, the premium distilled non-alcoholic beverages are perfect for mixing into festive no- and low-alcohol cocktails. Abstinence Spirits was founded in 2020 in South Africa by Pierre Strydom and Stefan Coetzee and quickly expanded into 13 international markets, including the United Kingdom and Australia . The products are small-batch distilled through a hydro-distillation process. The brand's flavors and artwork are inspired by the diverse flora of South Africa's Cape Floral Kingdom . Abstinence Spirits commits a portion of its sales to environmental conservation efforts to protect the region's biodiversity that brought this product to life. For more information, visit www.abstinencespirits.com and follow @abstinence_spirits on Instagram.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/abstinence-spirits-usa-announces-the-debut-of-new-ready-to-drink-alcohol-free-spritz-at-the-2023-summer-fancy-food-show-301852742.html

SOURCE Abstinence Spirits
LAKELAND, Fla. , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Polytechnic University is taking a large step forward in its international presence with a growing role within the lauded Charlemagne Prize Academy.

Dr. Randy K. Avent , the University's president, began a role on the academy's advisory committee in 2022. The academy awards the Charlemagne Prize Fellowship to Ph.D. candidates, early career researchers, professionals, and career researchers each year for work supporting European unification.

"The fellowship recognizes top European scholars and professionals who are poised to lead the rapid development of high-tech innovations to continue moving society forward," Avent said. "We are privileged to enjoy a strong relationship with the Charlemagne Prize Academy, and I am excited to see the outstanding work we'll do together."

Dutch systems engineer Sabine Kerssens is one of three fellows for the 2022-2023 year. She is pursuing research in collaboration with Florida Poly about how effective European research institutes are at commercializing advances in knowledge and using them for economic, social, and environmental impact. She is the first Charlemagne Fellow to work with the University.

Kerssens is working on her research with support from Dr. Rei Sanchez-Arias , assistant chair of Florida Poly's Department of Data Science and Business Analytics.

" Europe is known for its very high quality of products, and we have incredible products to sell, but we are still new to this world of selling yourself like they do in Silicon Valley ," Kerssens said. "I am very happy with Rei's extra eyes on the research and his insights on how to find the necessary data and look at the challenges in a different way."

Kerssens is completing her fellowship remotely from Amsterdam in the Netherlands . Her aim is to research and support deep tech startups for a changing world. Deep tech is a type of startup business developing new technology solutions based on engineering innovations or scientific advances and discoveries.

"We are delighted to establish a lasting relationship with Florida Poly," said Dr. Thomas Prefi, the academy's chairman of the Charlemagne Prize Academy. "The essence of the Charlemagne Prize Academy is to evolve a new generation of young elite capable of shaping the prosperous future of Europe with cutting-edge perspectives."

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/florida-poly-supports-international-advancement-with-charlemagne-prize-academy-301853070.html

SOURCE Florida Polytechnic University
BANGKOK, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The key mission of AIS Aunjai Cyber has been to build awareness of the dangers and impacts from going online, by developing solutions and digital services to protect users and promote safety. The aim is to build up knowledge to promote intelligence and skills among digital citizens. Today this is being taken to a new level by building Thailand's first measure of digital skills, the Thailand Cyber Wellness Index, which measures digital knowledge, abilities and skills of each segment of the population.

AIS partners King Mongkuts University of Technology Thonburi to launch the First Thailand Cyber Wellness Index.

AIS Chief Executive Officer Somchai Lertsutiwong commented, "AIS operates its business on the basis of sustainability. We have been at the centre of the network to address the issue of cyber threats for over four years. Our ongoing work has given us the insight to remedy the issues efficiently. This is how we came to develop an index of digital knowledge and skills for each segment of the public. This will enable every agency involved to deploy tools and knowledge targeted at each segment of Thai society, and which are appropriate for the issues arising. We prepared the Thailand Cyber Wellness Index, the first of its kind in Thailand, in collaboration with King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) and a range of experts in technology, health, mass communication, education and evaluation to design a framework for the study. The survey methodology covered a range of age cohorts and occupational groups from every province all over Thailand, a total sample size of 21,862. The results are processed and analyzed to generate the Thailand Cyber Wellness Index."

The survey found that overall, Thai people's cyber wellness was at the "basic" level, while 44.04% were at the level of "must improve". This shows that Thailand needs to boost its learning and understanding of using digital among the people.

The company will continue to join forces to bring this index to the network of cyber-security That includes both the government and the private sector. This index is the property of the Thai public and is a compass showing the path to develop Thai digital skills safely and responsibly, with efficiency and sustainability in the future.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ais-partners-king-mongkuts-university-of-technology-thonburi-to-launch-the-first-thailand-cyber-wellness-index-301852962.html

SOURCE AIS - Advanced Info Service
$19 million Internet for All project receives funding to expand broadband technologies to underserved central and southeastern NC communities

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK , N.C. , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MCNC today announced it has successfully secured federal funding to expand its flagship broadband network once again throughout North Carolina .

MCNC received $11.2 million from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for the High-speed Economies for Rural Opportunity, or HERO Project. Funded through the federal "Internet for All" initiative, the HERO Project will directly support improvements to broadband access and affordability in central and southeastern North Carolina . The total HERO Project is estimated at approximately $19 million . No state tax dollars will be used for this expansion.

"It is great to see the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law I supported is providing funding for MCNC's HERO Project, which is essential to keep the state's technology economy flourishing," said United States Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC). "By providing businesses, health care, educational institutions, and government agencies with access to advanced technologies and cybersecurity solutions, MCNC is helping to create jobs, grow the economy, and improve the quality of life for all North Carolinians. This important project shows what we can do together to build a stronger and better North Carolina ."

"High-speed internet access is essential in today's digital age," said North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper . "This funding will connect critical community anchors like schools and health care facilities across the state while helping tens of thousands of North Carolinians access new high-speed service in their communities."

On May 16, 2022 , U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo was in Durham to launch Internet for All, a federal investment of $45 billion to provide affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet for everyone in America by the end of the decade. The initiative is being administered and implemented by NTIA.

MCNC applied for Internet for All funding in September 2022 to extend its network, the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN), by 209 fiber miles via two strategic routes. Those routes include Albemarle to Winston-Salem (74 miles) in central North Carolina , and between Sanford via Fayetteville to Jacksonville (135 miles) in southeastern North Carolina . The 11 total counties to benefit from this project currently have more than 16,000 unserved and 12,000 underserved housing units, including many substantially unserved local communities. In total, HERO would impact over 350,000 housing units and 696 community anchor institutions, bringing new opportunities to these rural and economically-challenged areas.

"MCNC continues to be the organization whose bold technology solutions can bring equity, inclusion and security to the digital landscape through the development of robust broadband," said Keith Werner , Vice President for IT Strategy and Cybersecurity at UNC System Office and current chairman of the MCNC Board of Directors. "Broadband technologies are an essential economic asset for communities all throughout North Carolina , and MCNC has been consistent and persistent for many years in leveling the digital playing field."

MCNC has been recognized as a White House Champion of Change and has been a celebrated steward of funding, including the successful completion of the $144 million Golden LEAF Rural Broadband Initiative through the NTIA's Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) in 2012-13. That project expanded broadband infrastructure more than 2,600 miles through 82 counties across the state. MCNC's network today is nearly 4,500 miles while the organization continues to provide technology services in all 100 counties. The Golden LEAF Foundation again is supporting MCNC's efforts and awarded $1,382,782.18 in August 2022 to be used as matching funds towards the southeastern North Carolina portion of the project.

"This is our moment to make sure every North Carolina community is among the most connected in the nation. MCNC is ready to support this mission," said MCNC President and CEO Tracy Doaks .

The Internet for All initiative will build new internet infrastructure, teach digital skills, and provide necessary technology to ensure everyone in America  including communities of color, rural communities, and older Americans  have the access and skills they need to fully participate in today's society. It has three different funding components: the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program; the State Digital Equity Act Program; and the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program, which saw more than 235 applications submitted nationwide, including MCNC's. The middle-mile refers to the portion of network infrastructure that connects the core backbone network to a local access network that serves end-users such as homes and businesses. In telecommunications this includes fiber-optic cables, data centers, and other network facilities that transmit data over long distances.

As MCNC's HERO Project gets underway and progresses, this webpage will be updated with photos, videos, and more from the people making the project possible. Additionally, Request for Proposals (RFPs) released for the project also will be added to the page. To register for notifications when a new RFP is released, click here.

About MCNC

MCNC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit client-focused technology organization. Founded in 1980, MCNC owns and operates the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN), one of America's longest-running regional research and education networks. With over 40 years of innovation, MCNC provides high-performance services for education, research, libraries, healthcare, public safety, and other community anchor institutions throughout North Carolina . NCREN is the fundamental broadband infrastructure for over 850 of these institutions including all public K-20 education in North Carolina . As one of the nation's premier middle-mile fiber backbone networks, MCNC leverages NCREN to customize protected Internet, cybersecurity services, and related applications for each client while supporting private service providers in bringing cost-efficient connectivity to rural and underserved communities in North Carolina . Visit www.mcnc.org . MCNC Social: Facebook , Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn .

Keywords & Tags

MCNC, NCREN, NTIA, Internet for All, HERO Project, Broadband, Digital Equity, Networking, NC, News

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/high-speed-internet-has-a-hero-in-rural-north-carolina-301853419.html

SOURCE MCNC
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Communications Data Group (CDG) is pleased to announce that Home Telecom, a fiber-focused service provider headquartered in Moncks Corner, SC , has selected CDG's cloud-based BSS/OSS solutions for subscriber management and billing, MBS, and carrier access and interconnect, BDS-I.

Home Telecom selects CDG's cloud-based BSS/OSS solutions for subscriber management and carrier access and interconnect.

"Home Telecom and PRTC have been close neighbors here in the South Carolina low country for more than 70 years, so it is very special to welcome them to CDG's BSS/OSS client community," noted CDG and PRTC CEO, Jason Dandridge . "Home is a FTTP technology leader, delivering the latest fiber network services to homes and businesses in their region. We look forward to their insights and engagement in partnering with us to create the best BSS/OSS solutions in the market."

In making this announcement, Anthony Douglas , COO for Home Telecom, commented, "We are excited by CDG's operator-driven vision and their dual provider and partner leadership structure. We believe their future road map and the resources of their client community will help assist us in achieving our current and future business objectives."

About CDG:

CDG has been providing scalable, accurate (B/OSS) billing and operational support solutions for voice, video, and data for retail and wholesale telecommunications carriers and service providers since 1970. Options include: BDS, Interconnect, CABS, Mediation, MBS Customer Care, Network Elements, Ticketing, Service Provisioning, E-Care, Workflow, CRM / Prospects, and integrated third-party financial, accounting, mapping, and facilities management products.

About Home Telecom:

As one of the largest independently owned telecom companies in South Carolina , Home Telecom provides internet and internet powered solutions over a fiber-rich network to Berkeley County , and portions of Dorchester and Charleston counties. Over 230 local employees serve customers from multiple local offices in the communities Home Telecom supports.

Source: Communications Data Group

Contact: Ryan Travaille

Phone: 217 402-3445

[email protected]

Related Links

http://www.cdg.ws

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/home-telecom-selects-cdgs-bssoss-solutions-301853244.html

SOURCE Communications Data Group
PHILADELPHIA , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by Kroll Settlement Administration regarding the Respondus Settlement.

A Settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit claiming that Respondus violated an Illinois law called the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act ("BIPA") by collecting biometric identifiers and/or biometric information through the use of its Respondus Monitor application without complying with BIPA's requirements. Respondus denies it did anything wrong, or that it ever collected or possessed any biometric data that could be subject to BIPA. The Court has not decided who is right or wrong.

Who is included?

You are included in the Settlement if you took an exam using Respondus Monitor while physically present in the state of Illinois at any time between November 11, 2015 and June 2, 2023 (the "Class Period").

If the Court approves the Settlement, members of the Class who submit Approved Claims will receive one payment of an equal, or pro rata, share of a $6,250,000 Settlement Fund that Respondus has agreed to establish, after all Settlement Administration Expenses, Service Awards, and Fee Award have been paid. Individual payments to Class Members who submit a valid Claim Form are estimated to be $50.00 , depending on the number of Approved Claims submitted.

What are my options?

If you are an eligible Class Member, the only way to receive a payment is to submit a Claim Form either online or by mail before August 30, 2023 . Claim Forms can be submitted online at BIPA-examsettlement.com, or you can download a Claim Form and mail it to: Veiga, et al. v. Respondus, Inc. c/o Kroll Settlement Administration, P.O. Box 5324, New York, NY 10150-5324.

If you do nothing, you will not receive a payment under the Settlement and you will give up your rights to sue Defendant about the issues in this case.

If you want to exclude yourself from the Settlement, you will receive no payment, but you will keep the right to participate in another lawsuit against Defendant about the claims at issue in this case. You must send a written request to be excluded by July 31, 2023 .

If you do not like the Settlement you can Object. You may file a written objection no later than July 31, 2023 , to tell the Court why you believe the proposed Settlement is unfair, unreasonable, or inadequate and may appear and object at the Final Approval Hearing if you provide notice of your intent to do so in your written objection.

The Court will hold the Final Approval Hearing at 9:00 a.m. (Central Time) on August 31, 2023 , before the Honorable Timothy J. McJoynt in Room 2008 at the DuPage County Courthouse and Administration Building , 505 N. County Farm Road , Wheaton, Illinois 60187, or via remote means as instructed by the Court. The Court will determine whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable, adequate, and in the best interests of the Class. At the hearing, the Court will hear any objections and arguments concerning the fairness of the proposed Settlement, including those related to the amount requested by Class Counsel for Fee Award and the Service Awards to the Class Representatives. You may attend the hearing at your own expense, but you do not have to.

This is only a summary. For more information about the settlement and benefits, visit BIPA-examsettlement.com or call toll-free 1-833-747-6499.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/if-you-took-an-online-exam-in-illinois-using-respondus-monitor-you-may-be-entitled-to-compensation-as-part-of-a-class-action-settlement-301852733.html

SOURCE Kroll Settlement Administration
NEW YORK , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IFF Master Perfumer Anne Flipo has received the highly coveted Lifetime Achievement Award from the Fragrance Foundation, at a ceremony held at New York's Lincoln Center. The award recognizes Flipo's extraordinary contributions to the perfume industry throughout her illustrious 30-year career. Flipo's talent and dedication have positioned her as a trailblazer within the fragrance world, having created or co-created some of the world's leading perfume successes, such as La Vie est Belle for Lancome, Libre for YSL, Invictus for Paco Rabanne, L'Interdit for Givenchy, Synthetic Jungle for Frederic Malle and many more.

"She exudes an unwavering optimism and vibrant energy that infuses every one of her fragrance creations," said Christophe de Villeplee , president, Scent, IFF. "Not only is she an exceptional perfumer, but also a remarkable mentor dedicated to imparting her artistry to aspiring perfumers of tomorrow. Her leadership is characterized by curiosity, open-mindedness, unwavering focus and an indomitable will to succeed."

The Lifetime Achievement Award stands as a testament to Flipo's remarkable achievements and profound impact on the perfume industry. By pushing boundaries and consistently redefining olfactory artistry, she has left an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of fragrance connoisseurs worldwide.

Flipo's dedication extends beyond her own accomplishments, as she has demonstrated deep commitment to nurturing emerging talent within the industry. Her mentorship has paved the way for current and future perfumers, ensuring a vibrant and innovative future for the art of fragrance.

"I'm just a girl from a small village in the North of France ," said Flipo. "Being a perfumer is not a job; it is a daydream. Every scent I've created is a story I tell of the encounters I have made along the way. My sole goal when I create a scent is to generate pleasure and well-being."

Welcome to IFF

At IFF (NYSE: IFF), an industry leader in food, beverage, health, biosciences and scent, science and creativity meet to create essential solutions for a better world  from global icons to unexpected innovations and experiences. With the beauty of art and the precision of science, we are an international collective of thinkers who partners with customers to bring scents, tastes, experiences, ingredients and solutions for products the world craves. Together, we will do more good for people and planet. Learn more at iff.com, Twitter , Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

2023 International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (IFF). IFF, the IFF Logo, and all trademarks and service marks denoted with , SM or  are owned by IFF or affiliates of IFF unless otherwise noted. All Rights Reserved.

Contact:

Judith Gross

VP, Scent Communication and Branding

+33630097462

[email protected]

SOURCE IFF
NEW YORK , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Labor Organization (ILO) has adopted a new international labor standard, in the form of a recommendation, on apprenticeships, according to USCIB Director for Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Ewa Staworzynska.

Staworzynska is currently on the ground in Geneva representing U.S. employers at the 111th annual International Labor Conference (ILC). USCIB is the U.S. national committee of the International Organization of Employers (IOE).

The Standard-Setting Committee on Apprenticeships is a two-year process. This is the second year of the Standard-Setting Committee. USCIB has participated in both years, partnering and collaborating with the IOE to ensure that business needs and realities are reflected in the text. We had great success in reaching a balanced approach, with special emphasis on the promotion of quality apprenticeships.

USCIB was represented by Ryan Larsen , senior director for International Labor Relations Walmart, and vice-chair of the USCIB Corporate Responsibility and Labor Affairs Committee (CRLA), taking part of the U.S. Employers delegation. Larsen participated throughout the Standard-Setting process.

In his remarks at the Plenary, where the draft text was submitted to the Conference for adoption, he noted that, "In this unique tri-partite system, we have developed a strategy, program, and approach to continually enhance Apprenticeships, ensuring that they provide workers with the necessary skills to attain full, productive and freely chosen employment. Additionally, we have emphasized the importance of lifelong learning opportunities; promoting continuous skilling, reskilling and upskilling, which in turn contributes to the promotion of decent work and full employment."

Larsen added that, "The promotion and development of quality apprenticeships not only lead to decent work but also provide effective responses to the challenges of the ever-changing world of work. These apprenticeships offer lifelong learning opportunities, enhancing productivity, resilience, transitions and employability."

"USCIB has often advocated the critical role of quality apprenticeships," said Staworzynska. "Quality apprenticeships support the development of business-ready skills, help realize the goals of inclusive economic growth and can advance the transition to the formal economy." This new ILO standard provides non-binding guidelines for Member States to ensure quality apprenticeships.

According to the ILO, a glance around the world shows that an increasing number of countries are focusing on the development or improvement of apprenticeship systems and programs to address the challenges of changing labor market trends and the need for workers to retrain and upskill.

The ILC is currently taking place in Geneva June 5-16 . Delegates from the ILO's 187 Member States along with employers and workers have gathered to tackle a wide range of issues. In addition to apprenticeships, delegates have discussed a just transition towards sustainable and inclusive economies as well as labor protection.

About USCIB: The United States Council for International Business (USCIB) advances the global interests of American business. We do so through advocacy for an open system of world trade, finance, and investment, where business can flourish and contribute to economic growth, human welfare, and environmental protection. More at www.uscib.org.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ilo-adopts-new-international-labor-standard-on-apprenticeships-301853355.html

SOURCE United States Council for International Business
Up to Nine Flex/Light Industrial Buildings to be Built at Former General Motors Facility

BALTIMORE , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Merritt Properties announced today that it has begun construction on White Marsh Interchange Park in Baltimore County, Maryland . Merritt intends to develop up to nine, one-story buildings that will total approximately 750,000 square feet to meet the growing demand for light industrial space across the region.

Three buildings offering a total of 235,900 square feet will be built during the first phase of construction. Those properties will feature 20- to 32-foot clear heights, spacious truck courts with rear-loaded docks and drive-in capabilities, and ample parking with trailer storage.

"We are excited to develop this project and support the local business community," said Scott Dorsey , chief executive officer of Merritt Companies. "Our team is seeing a surge in demand from businesses that want to locate to this area, while the supply is extremely limited. The park will have a dramatic impact on job creation and economic growth."

Located off Interstate 95 near Interstate 695 at 10301 Philadelphia Road in White Marsh , the 56-acre project sits within Merritt's Baltimore County east portfolio, which is currently 95 percent occupied.

"Our first phase will provide flex/light industrial spaces and bulk opportunities for businesses searching for 3,000 square feet to 167,000 square feet," said Whit Levering of Merritt's leasing team. "We believe White Marsh Interchange Park will help companies with their employee recruitment and retention efforts due to its sought-after location and outdoor tenant amenities, such as seating areas, a walking path and lawn games."

According to a recent report by NAIOP Research Foundation, the outlook for industrial real estate remains bright as supply chain conditions steadily improve. Specifically, total net absorption for 2023 is forecast to be approximately 310 million square feet nationwide, and full-year absorption in 2024 is forecast to be around 323 million square feet.

"Merritt Properties' investment in this dynamic redevelopment project will welcome dozens of new businesses, creating jobs for working families and bringing new opportunities to our communities," said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski . "We're excited about Merritt Properties' clear vision for the future of this site that will support economic growth in eastern Baltimore County for years to come."

Once a General Motors Baltimore Global Propulsions Systems site that opened in 2000 to produce transmissions and electric motors before it closed in 2019, the land was acquired by Merritt in 2021.

"The repurposed area is in the heart of the White Marsh business community, and this project will continue to position White Marsh as a leading commercial and industrial center along the Interstate-95 corridor," said Councilman David Marks . "I appreciate Merritt Properties' close communication with my office, their investment in our area and their ongoing commitment to jobs in Baltimore County ."

Construction will be managed by Merritt Construction Services, the construction division of Merritt Companies. The first phase is expected to deliver in spring 2024.

To learn more about White Marsh Interchange Park , visit www.merritt-wmi.com.

About Merritt Properties

Established in 1967, Merritt Properties is a full-service commercial real estate firm with over 21 million square feet of office, flex, warehouse, industrial, retail and build-to-suit throughout Maryland , Florida , North Carolina and Virginia . Our company is committed to "Creating Homes for Businesses" and providing the highest quality service to our customers. Merritt is unique in that we build for the long-term and manage all of our properties internally. Therefore, we value trust, integrity, respect, and lasting relationships over short-term gain. And, because every Merritt employee is also an owner of the company, we each have a vested interest in the success of our customers. That's why we are responsive and committed to honest and fair business dealings that grow customer relationships into long-term partnerships. For more information, visit www.merrittproperties.com.

About Merritt Construction Services

Merritt has been providing site development, general construction, redevelopment and interior build-outs for over 50 years. Whether serving as a general contractor, construction manager or design-builder, Merritt Construction Services offers full-service construction capabilities through all phases of development, from feasibility to commissioning. Merritt's highly skilled construction team has completed a comprehensive roster of customized projects, including corporate campuses, food processing facilities, LEED-certified green buildings, schools, manufacturing facilities and retail centers. For more information, visit www.merrittconstruction.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/merritt-properties-begins-construction-on-white-marsh-interchange-park-301853184.html

SOURCE Merritt Properties, LLC
GILBERT, Minn. , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MagIron LLC ("MagIron" or the "Company) is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed an extensive campaign of metallurgical test work at laboratory level ("Test Work") for its 100% owned Plant 4 iron ore project. The results have confirmed a new process flowsheet that demonstrated the potential to double the historical iron recovery achieved at Plant 4 and to produce Direct Reduction ("DR") grade iron concentrate.

Test work has demonstrated potential to double historical iron recovery rates and to produce DR grade iron concentrate.

The Test Work was performed under MagIron's direction by independent experts at the Natural Resources Research Institute ("NRRI") of the University of Minnesota with assistance from Canadian based Soutex Inc.

The new Plant 4 process flowsheet has been designed to achieve DR grade concentrate with combined SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 levels below the steel industry's DR grade standard of 2.5%.

The Test Work demonstrated the potential to produce high-grade concentrate at Plant 4 that, if used to produce DR pellets using a silica-free binder and a low amount of flux, as is customary, could produce a pellet chemistry with an Fe content in excess of 67.5% Fe and a combined silica and alumina content equal or below 2.5%. Furthermore, the Test Work results produced final concentrates at iron recoveries ranging from 82% for DR grade to 88% for Blast Furnace grade.

Upon demonstration of the results at scale, the MagIron product would represent very high-quality concentrate which once pelletized could be suitable feedstock for DRI shaft furnaces that feed Electric Arc Furnaces ("EAF").

Larry Lehtinen , CEO of MagIron said, "The indicative results of this extensive test work program support the attractive economics for our proposed restart of Plant 4. This significant advancement of the Plant 4 flow sheet together with the high iron content of feed stock, short crude ore haul distances, and lack of traditional mining steps of stripping, drilling, blasting, and primary crushing suggest that Plant 4 concentrate could be very competitive globally. Together with the NRRI and Soutex, we have completed rigorous testing which has demonstrated Plant 4's potential to produce DR grade pellet feed which are needed to support the burgeoning EAF market striving to decarbonize the global steel industry."

He added, "We now will work towards plant level testing of the new flowsheet using existing equipment in Plant 4 to replicate these lab-based results at scale. In parallel, we continue to make advancements in financing, engineering, permitting and minerals licensing and we look forward to providing further updates on our progress shortly."

About MagIron

MagIron was established to support and accelerate the decarbonization of the steel industry by becoming a key supplier of high quality, low carbon iron units which will be critical for the future success and decarbonization of the US steel industry. The Company is focused on the restart of Plant 4, a modern, past-producing iron ore concentrator benefiting from over $170 million of prior investment. The facility has previously operated at an annualized run-rate of approximately 2.0 million tonnes per annum ("mtpa") of BF grade concentrate and was designed to expand to 3.0 mtpa relatively quickly and at low capital intensity. Plant 4 is designed to process previously discarded waste materials from historical mining operations and convert such feed materials into high grade, low impurity iron ore concentrate. Given the significant historical mining operations across the Mesabi Iron Range in northern Minnesota , there are vast amounts of waste material close to Plant 4, which are suitable as feedstock to support a multi-decade business plan.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/metallurgy-test-work-demonstrates-significant-flow-sheet-improvements-and-dr-grade-concentrate-potential-301853587.html

SOURCE MagIron LLC
WASHINGTON , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Philos Project concluded a three-day trip that introduced American Christian and Jewish thought leaders to Armenia's rich history and the existential threats that face this Christian country from its neighbors. The trip, which comes nearly six months after Azerbaijan initiated a blockade of Armenian Christians in the adjacent Nagorno-Karabakh region was led by Philos Project President Robert Nicholson and former Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback .

Participants included leaders of Christian advocacy groups, like David Curry , President and CEO of Global Christian Relief; Carlos Duran , Founder and President of the National Association of Hispanic Pastors of America; Travis Weber, Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs at Family Research Council; and Denise Bubeck , Deputy Director of the Church Ambassador Network at THE FAMiLY LEADER, among others. They were joined by Jewish leaders and experts from several think tanks, including Michael Ruben , Greg Schaller , and Gregg Roman , as well as journalists from both secular and religious publications.

Since December 12 th, Azerbaijan's blockade of the Lachin Corridor has cut the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, largely Armenian Christians, off from the outside world. The siege has created a humanitarian disaster that may soon become untenable for the 120,000 residents, precipitating what some have warned may be a Second Armenian Genocide. Constant, aggressive rhetoric from Azerbaijan's president Ilham Aliyev , a self-proclaimed ally of the United States , seems to lend credence to such warnings.

That same month Nicholson began examining the challenges Armenians face in an in-depth series on his podcast, The Deep Map. In January he stepped up his advocacy, sending a letter to President Biden urging his administration to help lift the blockade, provide humanitarian aid, and work toward a lasting and just resolution of the long-standing dispute. In May, he appealed to the House Committee for Foreign Affairs, yet the blockade remains.

Nicholson and Brownback co-led this trip to help American thought leaders better understand the crisis in the region and consider how Christian and Jewish communities might contribute to potential solutions. Participants visited medieval monasteries, conversed with local residents affected by Azerbaijani aggression in the city of Jermuk, and met with Armenia's President, Vahagn Khachaturyan . In a video statement, Ambassador Brownback expressed his gratitude to the president for spending "a huge amount of time" with the delegation discussing the "breadth of the issues," confiding that "central to all of this is the building of the relationship" between Armenia and American Christians that so far "hasn't been fully actualized."

"We cannot allow the crisis in Armenia to be dismissed as a simple territorial dispute," said Philos Project Founder Robert Nicholson . "This is a dispute about values." Adding further, Nicholson said. "Advocates for human rights, Christians concerned about preserving their historic roots, and Jews who know all too well the struggle against genocidal forces, all have a stake in advocating for Armenia's Christians. "

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/philos-project-leads-delegation-to-armenia-amid-crisis-301853298.html

SOURCE Philos Project
Consulting firm recognized for inclusive recruiting

MENLO PARK, Calif. , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global consulting firm Protiviti has again been named to the Seramount list of Best Companies for Multicultural Women. The annual list, which is based on in-depth demographic data gathered from participating organizations via an application comprised of nearly 600 questions, honors 80 top companies in the United States that create and use best practices in hiring, retaining and advancing multicultural women.

We understand the importance of providing an equitable and supportive workplace that offers opportunities for all.

"We understand the importance of providing an equitable and supportive workplace that offers opportunities for all people within our firm to learn, express their individual perspectives and grow in their careers," said Susan Haseley , Protiviti's executive vice president, global diversity, equity and inclusion. "This recognition validates our focus on fostering long-lasting positive change through our commitment to strengthening diversity, equity and inclusion via a growing number of initiatives focused on education; communication; recruitment, retention and advancement; mentorship and sponsorship; and community outreach."

According to Seramount, multicultural women make up 25% of the U.S. workforce. Seramount's Best Companies for Multicultural Women tracks corporations' progress in creating cultures that encourage multicultural women to join and rise through the ranks. Its questionnaire assesses progress for women by specific racial/ethnic group as well as factors influencing that progress, including mental health and anti-racism initiatives, corporate culture, and mentoring and sponsorship participation.

"Protiviti's multiple employee network groups for women and our multicultural communities provide a nurturing and growth-oriented workplace for women from diverse cultures," said Shelley Metz-Galloway , a Protiviti managing director and leader of the firm's Multicultural ENG (employee network group) and Racial Equity Council. "Led by our employees, our ENGs are an integral part of our culture and provide our people with the chance to make a meaningful impact in their jobs and communities."

Protiviti also has alliances with diversity related professional organizations, including the Ascend global network for Pan-Asian professionals, Association of Latino Professionals for America, and the National Association of Black Accountants, to expand its pool of diverse candidates.

"Corporations continue to make progress in recruiting, retaining and promoting multicultural women," said Subha V. Barry , president of Seramount. "While there is still work to be done to increase representation numbers, we applaud the efforts made in building inclusive workplaces through the implementation of strong career pathing initiatives and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. These policies will enable organizations to attract this critical talent pool."

In 2022, Protiviti was recognized by Seramount as a Best Company for Dads and one of the 75 Top Companies for Executive Women. Additionally, Protiviti was named one of the 2022 PEOPLE Companies That Care.

To learn more about Protiviti's focus on DEI and workplace culture, visit its Diversity, Equity & Inclusion site.

About Protiviti

Protiviti ( www.protiviti.com ) is a global consulting firm that delivers deep expertise, objective insights, a tailored approach and unparalleled collaboration to help leaders confidently face the future. Protiviti and its independent and locally owned Member Firms provide clients with consulting and managed solutions in finance, technology, operations, data, analytics, digital, legal, HR, governance, risk and internal audit through its network of more than 85 offices in over 25 countries.

Named to the 2023 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list, Protiviti has served more than 80 percent of Fortune 100 and nearly 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies. The firm also works with smaller, growing companies, including those looking to go public, as well as with government agencies. Protiviti is a wholly owned subsidiary of Robert Half (NYSE: RHI). Founded in 1948, Robert Half is a member of the S&P 500 index.

Protiviti is not licensed or registered as a public accounting firm and does not issue opinions on financial statements or offer attestation services.

All trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Editor's note: Protiviti photos available upon request.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/protiviti-named-to-2023-best-companies-for-multicultural-women-list-301852918.html

SOURCE Protiviti
KNOXVILLE , Tenn. , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- PYA is honored to announce its induction into The University of Kansas Health System Hall of Fame, the highest honor bestowed by the health system.

Professional services firm PYA has been inducted into the University of Kansas Health System Hall of Fame

PYA is recognized as a 2023 Hall of Fame Partner in Excellence Award recipient, which honors organizations that partner with the health system to make a lasting impact on the people of the region.

"A partner creates a relationship with us, believes in us, and answers the call anytime we call, and that's what PYA has done throughout the years," said Bob Page , The University of Kansas Health System President and CEO.

"We are deeply honored by the recognition from The University of Kansas Health System," said Marty Brown , PYA President and CEO. "The induction into the Hall of Fame is truly a remarkable reflection of the core values PYA holds dear. Above all, we work every day to serve our clients with a focus on building relationships, and our work with The University of Kansas Health System reflects that passion. We are honored and privileged to have been able to partner with this incredible health system for 13 years."

PYA's partnership with The University of Kansas Health System began in 2010 when the firm helped the system acquire Kansas City Cancer Center. Since then, PYA has served the system with valuation, transaction, and integration services related to several strategic growth initiatives, such as the 2022 opening of the Proton Therapy Center, the affiliation with Olathe Health, and the development of the Kansas Heart and Stroke Collaborative, which now provides resources for more than 80 rural communities within the state.

The University of Kansas Health System has grown to become one of the most recognized health systems in the country, being honored nationally by Forbes, Newsweek, Fortune, and others. The health system has continually been honored for its clinical achievements, earning many honors and accolades including recognition as one of the top 50 programs in eight adult medical and surgical specialties by U.S. News & World Report.

"The University of Kansas Health System has plans to keep expanding our services and providing robust careand you can bet PYA will continue to be one of our first calls," said Steve Stites , MD, Executive Vice President, Clinical Affairs, and Chief Medical Officer.

The 2023 induction took place on June 8 . Watch a video prepared by The University of Kansas Health System recognizing PYA's induction into the Hall of Fame.

About PYA

For 40 years, PYA, a national professional services firm providing management consulting and accounting, has helped its clients navigate and derive value amid complex challenges related to regulatory compliance, mergers and acquisitions, governance, business valuations and fair market value assessments, multi-unit business and clinical integrations, best practices, tax and assurance, business analysis, and operations optimization.

PYA's steadfast commitment to an unwavering client-centric culture has served the firm's clients well. PYA consistently is ranked among the Top 20 healthcare consulting firms in the U.S. by Modern Healthcare. PYA was named one of America's Best Tax and Accounting Firms of 2023 in the Forbes annual list. PYA also is ranked by INSIDE Public Accounting as one of the Top 100 largest accounting firms in the U.S. Additionally, PYA has been consistently voted a "Top Workplace."

PYA assists clients in all 50 states from offices in Atlanta , Charlotte, Helena , Kansas City , Knoxville , Nashville , and Tampa . For more information, please visit pyapc.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pya-inducted-into-the-university-of-kansas-health-system-hall-of-fame-301853382.html

SOURCE PYA
Amazon (AMZN) officially opened up its second headquarters, called HQ2, in Arlington, Va., on Thursday.

It's been in the making for the better part of a decade when the plan for a second HQ was first made public in 2017  back when Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was still the company's CEO.

The opening, though, comes at a time of turmoil for America's second largest company. Amazon has pushed through 27,000 layoffs in its corporate workforce as it negotiates a difficult post-pandemic boom economic period.

The company, which has its first headquarters in Seattle, isn't thinking about HQ2 as an expansion, though, said Amazon Vice President of Economic Development Holly Sullivan. "I would think about HQ2 as us living up to our commitmentsand, today, we delivered on our commitment," she said, adding that HQ2 will fundamentally make Amazon more efficient.

"It improves workflow, especially across time zones, and the ease of doing business is no longer dependent on time zones," she told Yahoo Finance.

The new facility, called Metropolitan Park, features 2.1 million square feet of office space, a 2.5 acre park, and 50,000 square feet of retail space, which will be occupied by local businesses like a dog day care and a taqueria, said Sullivan. The campus includes two 22-story buildings, Jasper and Merlin, that were built to highlight sustainability.

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, center, with Holly Sullivan, Vice President of Economic Development at Amazon, center right, cut the ribbon during a grand opening ceremony at Amazon's second headquarters, HQ2, in Arlington, Va., Thursday, June 15, 2023. From right, Christian Dorsey, Chair of the Arlington County Board of Directors, Lieutenant Gov. of Virginia Winsome Earle-Sears, John Schoettler, Vice President of Global Real Estate and Facilities at Amazon, Holly Sullivan, Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Brian Huseman, Vice President of Public Policy and Community Engagement at Amazon, and Youngkin's wife Suzanne Youngkin. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Though Thursday marked the official opening, Metropolitan Park has been opening in phases over the last few weeks. Merlin, for instance, has been open for about three weeks, and on Thursday, the company welcomed 3,000 employees to the offices, Sullivan told Yahoo Finance.

HQ2 was conceived in a pre-pandemic world, some time before COVID-19 popularized remote work. In recognition of how working environments have shifted, Amazon in its HQ2 design was "looking to meet the need for increased collaboration space," said Sullivan. The buildings feature a series of central floors and an emphasis on breakout rooms in the planning, she added.

In February, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced that employees would be required to return to office at least three days a week, a position he doubled-down on in April. In May, about 2,000 Amazon employees walked off the job citing concerns about "company leaderships decision making," and emphasizing the company's return-to-office and environmental policies.

The company is bringing 8,000 employees in total to HQ2, all of whom are locally hired from the areas surrounding Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

"Hiring is ahead of schedule," said Sullivan.

Allie Garfinkle is a Senior Tech Reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter at @agarfinks and on LinkedIn.

Click here for the latest trending stock tickers of the Yahoo Finance platform.

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance.

Download the Yahoo Finance app for Apple or Android.

Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
FREDERICK, Md. , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Texcell is pleased to announce the opening of their newest testing facility in North America , representing a significant milestone in Texcell's commitment to advancing the viral safety of biotherapeutics and medical devices. Designed to support simultaneous viral clearance and biosafety studies, this 27,000 sq ft facility is built with a modular design that enhances the flexibility required in today's contract testing environment. Texcell  North America's dedicated teams are ready to support biosafety studies for monoclonal antibodies, gene therapies, and medical devices coming to the market.

The unveiling event was preceded by an exclusive luncheon attended by esteemed international and local dignitaries, exemplifying the company's dedication to bridging the gap between the regional community and global awareness. In attendance at the inauguration was Laurent Bili , Ambassador of France to the United States , Frederick Mayor Michael O'Connor , Deputy Secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce, Signe Pringle , Executive Director of Economic and Workforce Development for Frederick , Lara Fritts , President of Texcell's parent company, Soparbiotech International, Celine Saint Olive Baque , CEO of Soparbiotech International and President of Texcell SA, Dr. Eric B. Henriet , as well as other executive Texcell Group employees. April Schubert , Deputy CBO & Director of Sales and Marketing at Texcell Group and one of the original employees at the Frederick location, spoke with the dignitaries about Texcell's key role in ensuring the safety of biotherapeutics. In addition to the exclusive luncheon, Texcell hosted an open ribbon cutting ceremony that included current and former Texcell team members, as well as local clients and vendors to celebrate the inaugural opening, with certificates presented by Maryland's Department of Commerce and County Executive Fitzwater's office. Alysia Birkholz , Texcell  North America's Deputy CEO, led a toast that spoke to Texcell's ongoing mission to prioritize patient safety as embodied in the company's new slogan, "Protecting Tomorrow's Medicines, Today".

Ambassador Bili and Celine Saint Olive Baque cut the ribbon, held by Dr. Akunna Iheanacho , PhD, Texcell's Chief Scientific Officer and Dr. Matt Dickson , Director of Viral Clearance and Viral Safety, officially marking the opening of Texcell's newest facility. The Ambassador spoke on the great addition and focus on patient safety world-wide. Dr. Eric Henriet addressed the crowd with a summary of Texcell's growing capacities and capabilities in the US, Europe , and China . "We are proud to open this beautiful and modern testing facility in Frederick to better serve our growing roster of US clients," said Henriet. Beyond the Frederick expansion, Texcell continues to evolve their service offering; they recently announced a partnership with renowned CDMO GTP Bioways and are additionally preparing to open a new testing facility in Shanghai, China later this year.

Today marks a momentous occasion for Texcell as they expand their Frederick site. Mayor O'Connor followed with a speech that lauded the growth of the local biotech community that an expanded Texcell will be even better equipped to support. As such, Texcell  North America was recently nominated as one of Maryland's life science companies of the year, a nomination that follows years of steady development supporting the local community. The company's expansion in Frederick signifies an exciting time for the regional biotech hub as Texcell bridges the local community and the global biopharmaceutical industry. As Texcell continues to expand their footprint in Europe and Asia , Texcell-North America remains excited about their future growth prospects locally in Maryland  echoed by the local saying "there's no place like Frederick County !"

About Texcell

Texcell is a contract research organization that specializes in viral testing, viral clearance, bioassays, in vivo testing, and GMP cell banking, for R&D, GClP, GLP and GMP projects.

The Texcell group employs 140 people in France , in the United States , in Germany and in Asia ( China and Japan ) and counts customers worldwide. To sustain its continuous growth, Texcell will inaugurate in 2023 two new laboratories, in the United States and in China .

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/texcell-unveils-state-of-the-art-viral-clearance-testing-facility-301852416.html

SOURCE Texcell
FREDERICK, Md. , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle , James Oberman is acknowledged as a Top Pinnacle Professional for his contributions to the field of Otolaryngology and service in the US Navy.

Dr. Oberman pursued higher education at Boston College where he was an exceptional student earning the designation of summa cum laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Sigma Nu. He then attended Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA in 1996 where he received his medical degree and completed his Executive Master's in Business Administration (EMBA) degree in 2022 from Quantic University. A dedicated leader in both the medical field and military, the doctor completed training at the Naval Undersea Medical Institute (NUMI) In Groton, CT and the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center in Panama City, FL in 1997. His operational tours for the US Navy include Submarine Squadrons SIX; EIGHT in Norfolk, VA ; and the Senior Diving. Dr Oberman completed his Pediatrics Internship/General Surgery Internship/and Otolaryngology residency training at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, VA. And completed two tours as a staff Otolaryngologist in both Okinawa, Japan and Jacksonville, FL.

While in the military, Dr. Oberman served as a medical officer for Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group TWO in Little Creek , VA. He also served as the Tidewater Regional Diving Casualty and Clinical Hyperbaric Expert Consultant, and also covered for the SUBLANT Senior Medical Officer. He also established a SCUBA training program for submarines on the waterfront; was deployed on the USS Narwhal submarine receiving his submarine medical officer qualification; and performed underwater explosive surveillance during OPSAIL 2000 in NYC harbor, summer 2000.

A leader in his field, the doctor has chaired numerous hospital committees and served a two-year term as the President of the Medical Staff from 2010-2012 at Naval Hospital Jacksonville, FL. He also served as their Communication in Healthcare Course Director. Board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Oberman was an Associate Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences from 2011-2017 and was selected by the USN Surgeon General to be the US Navy Otorhinolaryngology Specialty Leader, responsible for all decisions affecting the 100 ENT surgeons across the globe. Earning the rank of Captain, Dr. Oberman also received a scholarship grant in September 2013 from the American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO/HNSF) recognizing his as a "young physician leader." He was also recognized by Jacksonville Magazine as "Best of Otolaryngology in 2011."

In addition to his exceptional civilian career, Dr. Oberman was named National Capital Region Medical Directorate's Inaugural Clinical Quality Officer. While in this position, Dr. Oberman authored the five-year quality action plan for the National Capital Region, which included piloting a communication in healthcare curriculum. The doctor notes that the success of the program ultimately lead to market-wide expansion in 2016 and he continued to serve as the Clinical Champion and Course Director for the program. This program is cited often as an innovation/best practice throughout the entire Military Health System.

A testament to his elite experiences and education, Dr. Oberman was hand-selected in 2015 by the Navy Admiral to serve on her staff in the USN Medical Corps Chief's Office as the Medical Corps Career Planner serving as the principal mentor and advisor to over 3,700 Navy Medical Corps Officers. Part of his responsibilities included providing counsel on all aspects of professional development and career progression. During his two-year tenure, he focused on talent management and served as a staunch advocate for USN physicians.

The doctor was also Region Otolaryngology Product Line leader from 2015-2016 and was clinical faculty at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Fort Belvoir Community Hospital from 2014-2017. Recognized for his expertise, he serves as a national faculty member for the Institute for Healthcare Excellence (IHE). He recently collaborated with national healthcare leaders generating a white paper targeting physician burnout and provider resiliency.

Retiring from the US Navy in 2017, Dr. Oberman joined the Becker ENT practice, an affiliate of the University of Pennsylvania System in Princeton, NJ , and was appointed the inaugural Medical Director for the Patient Experience at the Princeton health system campus of the University of Pennsylvania. He transitioned closer to family in 2018 and joined the Frederick Health Medical Group where he was instrumental in establishing their inaugural Otolaryngology department. He is co-owner of the Frederick Breathe Free ENT Center, an affiliate of the National Breathe Free Sinus and ENT Centers and operates as the only surgeon, supervising three Physician Assistants and a staff of 16 personnel, and credentialed at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital in Germantown, MD .

A highlight of his career, the doctor was honored by ZocDoc as a TOPDOC for 2022 and 2023 based upon top 1% national google patient satisfaction surveys. He was also recognized as the USN-wide "Undersea Medical Officer-of-the-Year for 1999." He retired from US Naval Service after 25 years in 2017.

Dr. Oberman is married to Margaret (Meg) Ann Perusse Oberman , MD, MPH, FACP of Litchfield, CT . They currently reside in Poolesville, MD and have three children Connell (age 23), Aidan (age 21), and Bridget (age 17).

Contact: Katherine Green , 516-825-5634, [email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-inner-circle-acknowledges-james-oberman-as-a-top-pinnacle-professional-for-his-contributions-to-the-field-of-otolaryngology-and-service-in-the-us-navy-301853305.html
Venus Aerospace specifically applauds the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation for their work on FAA Reauthorization.

HOUSTON , June 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Venus Aerospace applauds and expresses its gratitude to the House and Senate Committees for their forward-looking and hard work on FAA Reauthorization legislation. FAA Reauthorization legislation, which is passed approximately every 5 years, provides the public policy blueprint for the U.S. aviation and aerospace industries which support millions of well-paying jobs and creates billions of dollars of economic value for the United States . "The House and Senate bills show that Congress recognizes the importance of hypersonic aviation, and allows the United States to maintain its long history of leadership in aviation" stated Venus CEO and co-founder Sarah "Sassie" Duggleby.

Venus Aerospace applauds the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee for its incredibly hard work on passing the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, H.R. 3935 out of Committee yesterday. We thank Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Larsen for their collegial and bipartisan leadership and look forward to working with them in the days ahead.

Venus Aerospace wishes to express its sincere appreciation to Congressman Mike Collins (GA-10) for his strong bipartisan leadership on hypersonic aviation. Together with Congresswoman Emilia Skyes (OH-13) and Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36), Mr. Collins led a successful effort to further strengthen H.R. 3935's hypersonic aviation policy through an amendment.

Mr. Collins explained, "hypersonic technology is the future, and America must lead and not fall behind China and Russia in this new arena of aviation. My amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill achieves that goal by requiring the FAA to provide a clear framework so that hypersonic manufacturers can design and test aircraft that will one day fly passengers across the globe. I thank my colleagues for their support and look forward to continuing to champion the development of hypersonic technology."

Ms. Sykes stated, "as a member of the House Aerospace Caucus, I'm proud to co-lead this bipartisan amendment to ensure the United States remains a leader in hypersonic technology. This amendment to the FAA reauthorization bill creates clear guidelines so hypersonic manufacturers can easily design, test, and develop the aircraft of the future. I will continue to support innovative and cutting-edge aerospace technologies which will create good-paying jobs and pave the way for a new generation of flight."

Dr. Babin , Chairman of the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, stated, "ensuring the U.S. remains in the driver's seat for the future of aviation is essential to our success and security. Our amendment guarantees the FAA provides a roadmap  not a roadblock  for innovative American companies pushing boundaries and pursuing hypersonics. As a senior member of both the House Science, Space, and Technology and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committees, I will continue supporting this industry and holding the torch on this issue. I appreciate Rep. Collins' work on this matter and look forward to collaborating with him again in the future."

As a company based in the 36th district of Texas , Venus is grateful for Dr. Babin's steadfast encouragement and support of Venus since our founding.

Venus Aerospace applauds the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science on Transportation for introducing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2023 earlier this week. The Senate legislation thoughtfully lays out a robust and well-constructed policy foundation for the U.S. hypersonic industry. The legislation would ensure that the FAA is prepared to certify and regulate hypersonic aircraft in the years ahead as foreign regulators and companies also make strides in hypersonic technology. We express our gratitude to Chair Cantwell and Ranking Member Cruz for their bipartisan leadership on this important issue and look forward to seeing the legislation progress.

Venus has been awarded contracts with NASA and US Defense Agencies to accelerate the development and transition of its RDRE (rotating detonation rocket engine) technology to enhance existing government missions. The company's advancements can also enable more efficient travel in and through space. Venus has developed the world's first liquid-propellant rotating detonation rocket engine with a double-digit percentage increase in efficiency over standard engines, making the hypersonic economy possible.

In Spring 2022, the company raised its $20M Series A, led by Prime Movers Lab, to fund engine development and subscale initial flight testing for building its Mach 9 hypersonic drone and Mach 9 spacecraft, both capable of one-hour global travel. Venus recently announced the addition of Airbus Ventures to its team of investors.

About Venus Aerospace

Headquartered in Houston, Texas , Venus Aerospace is a startup aerospace company focused on engineering the future of hypersonic flight. An expert team of PhD's, rocket scientists, and engineers taking on the biggest challenges in aerospace at Mach 9 speed, Venus is making one-hour global transport possible to connect the world and make it safer.

Media Contact :

Stephanie Gracia

Director of Communications

[email protected]com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/venus-aerospace-applauds-new-faa-legislation-that-elevates-boosts-us-hypersonic-aviation-industry-301852741.html

SOURCE Venus Aerospace
BEIJING , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- An interview with Sun Wanlu, editor of China.org.cn, on the international cooperation on Pandas:

Yaya, China's friendship envoy panda that traversed the Pacific to America 20 years ago, recently came back to China . Along with her return, pandas have once again become a viral hit around the world. In the past few decades, every panda that has lived outside China has captured the attention of countless people. These envoy pandas are a carrier of love for the animal from people all over the globe, and also lay witness to the communication and cooperation between China and other countries.

Just right here in the Dujiangyan Base of China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda (the Center), many pandas live their own stories.

In 1996, Baiyun and her male companion Shishi left for San Diego Zoo in the U.S. They were among the first batch of pandas that China sent to other countries for science and research cooperation. Back then, the two countries carried out many cases of interesting and cutting-edge research based on the programs China launched, supported by America's experience in animal nutrition and animal behavior studies. For example, in some online video clips, we can sometimes hear pandas baaing like sheep or chirping like birds, meaning they are rutting  that's just an example of one takeaway from the two countries' cooperation back then.

There is also gossip about Baiyun. It is said, when Baiyun was younger, she had a fiery temper. One time when she was in rutting season, her male companion Shishi was totally frigid, sitting there idly eating his food. So Baiyun went right on and gave Shishi a punch Fortunately, later on, some Chinese experts went to America with artificial insemination techniques for pandas which enabled Baiyun gave birth to her cub Huamei.

Huamei is the first giant panda that survived her birth in America, as well as the first panda born outside China that returned to her home country later. Her name Huamei, meaning China and America, bears the goodwill of China - U.S. cooperation.

In these years, research staff from China have conquered "the trinity" of challenges for captivated pandas, namely challenges for rutting, for mating and conception, and for cub survival. Techniques to tackle these problems were introduced to other countries, and further integrated with local studies and techniques, enabling considerably more pandas to breed outside China .

We just mentioned that Baiyun wasn't satisfied with Shishi, so in 2003, the Center selected another Mr. Right for Baiyun and sent him to America, and that is Gaogao. The couple ended up breeding five cubs in America, all by spontaneous mating.

Every year or two, a new zoo would appear on the list of zoos that partnered with China on the conservation and research of giant pandas. Currently, China is working with 22 zoos in 19 countries. Dialogue and collaboration in behavioral studies, breeding and deliveries, and rearing management are all important elements in giant panda conservation.

Six years ago, I talked about the giant pandas' special contribution to China's diplomacy in a previous episode. Today, I learned more about cooperation on pandas' conservation and research, offering me a peek into the changes and developments in cooperation on pandas between China and other countries. For both China and the receiver countries, giant pandas are beyond a symbol of friendship  it is more of an icon of rare species, and a kaleidoscope that epitomizes humanity's joint efforts for protecting the ecological environment and building a community of life for man and nature.

China Mosaic

http://chinamosaic.china.com.cn/index.htm

We're with pandas! Got some panda stories for you!

http://www.china.org.cn/video/2023-06/16/content_87775022.htm

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/were-with-pandas---got-some-panda-stories-for-you-301853078.html

SOURCE China.org.cn
BEIJING , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Under Jiangxi Yichun intangible cultural heritage experience program, recently, Serik Korzhumbayev, editor in Chief of Kazakh business newspaper Delovoy Kazakhstan took a five-day in-depth experience trip in Yichun, to make close contact with unique folk culture here.

Serik Korzhumbayev visited Mingyue Mountain Scenic Area, Gao'an Ruizhou Prefectural Government Office, the Yuan Blue and White Porcelain Museum, Fengcheng Hongzhou Kilnandand etc. He experienced intangible cultural heritage items such as Wentang hot spring and sponge cake, Wanzai Victory Drum, Fengcheng Yue Family Lion Dance , Zhangbang Chinese medicinal materials processing skills.

Serik Korzhumbayev first came to the Mingyue Mountain Hot Spring Scenic Area. " Yichun Mingyue Mountain has a moving legend of Chang'e running to the moon, and the selenium-rich hot spring in Wentang township is hailed as the most wonderful hot spring in China ", Yuan Chengyu , member of the Party Working Committee and director of the Party and Mass Work Department, introduced the legend and history of Mingyue Moun tain.

The production of sponge cake of Yichun began in the Song Dynasty, and every time there were banquets such as weddings, birthday wine, locals would invite cooks to make sponge cakes in advance as snacks and gifts. Peng Ming , general manager of Jiangxi Haocai Food Co., Ltd. introduced while making sponge cake for guests. In 2021, the technique of making sponge cake became an intangible cultural heritage of Yichun.

Walking into the ancient city of Wanzai, the national intangible cultural heritage Wanzai Victory Drum performance attracted attention of the visiting delegation. "I have never seen such an oriental dance, both ancient and mysterious." Serik Korzhumbayev marveled while taking pictures.

Coming to Fengcheng, the delegation admired another national intangible cultural heritage project, Yue Family Lion Dance . Yue Family Lion Danceis a kind of folk art activity created by the local people of Fengcheng to commemorate the national hero Yue Fei , which originated in the Song Dynasty and was formed in the Ming Dynasty, with a history of more than 400 years.

Chinese culture is broad and profound, porcelain culture and traditional Chinese medicine culture are very famous among countries along the Belt and Road routes. This is an unforgettable trip, and I can't wait to share the folk customs and culture of Yichun to more people, Serik Korzhumbayev said after his trip.

https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/334595.html

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xinhua-silk-road-foreign-journalist-explores-unique-folk-culture-and-charm-in-yichun-e-chinas-jiangxi-301852850.html
By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - Adore Me, an online lingerie retailer recently purchased by Victoria's Secret, agreed to pay $2.35 million and offer refunds to settle charges by 31 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., that it deceptively marketed its VIP Membership program to consumers.

The states said Adore Me made enrollment the default selection when consumers made purchases, without properly disclosing they would be charged $39.95 a month unless they made additional purchases or decided to "skip" the charge before the sixth day of the month.

Adore Me was also accused of making it "extremely difficult" to cancel memberships, forcing consumers to forfeit store credits when they canceled, and using a fake "countdown clock" to mislead consumers into believing that discounts would expire when the clock struck zero.

No one should be surprised by a recurring charge or forced to jump through endless hoops to cancel a subscription, yet this is precisely how Adore Me's business model operated," Washington, D.C., Attorney General Brian Schwalb said.

The settlement negotiated by Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and Texas requires Adore Me to offer refunds of unused credits to people with active VIP memberships, make enrollment "opt-in" instead of "opt-out," and improve disclosures.

Based in New York, Adore Me denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle. Its alleged wrongdoing occurred from 2012 to at least 2016.

"Adore Me strongly values our customer relationships and takes our responsibilities to our customers and subscription management practices very seriously," the company said in a statement.

Victoria's Secret, based in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, bought Adore Me at the end of December for $391 million in cash, plus additional payments depending on Adore Me's performance.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
FILE PHOTO:Airbus Chief Commercial Officer Christian Scherer is interviewed by Reuters at the International Air Transport Association's Annual General Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., October 4, 2021. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/FILE PHOTO

By Tim Hepher

PARIS (Reuters) - Airbus has signed orders this month including 60 A320-family jets with a lessor and 10 A350s with a major airline, said the planemaker's Chief Commercial Officer Christian Scherer.

The deals come on top of any business to be announced at next week's Paris Airshow and will be booked at end-June, though the buyers will not disclosed, he also told reporters.

He said next week's event would bring evidence of a strong recovery in terms of demand.

"Business is back with a vengeance and the show will be proof of that," said Scherer on Friday, whose company's main competitor is Boeing.

Earlier on Friday, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury had said that supply chains had stabilised although the industry still faced pressing labour shortages.

(Reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)
By Timour Azhari, Amina Ismail and Ahmed Rasheed

BAGHDAD (Reuters) -Helped by buoyant oil prices and a period of political calm at home and in the region, Iraq appears more stable than any time since the U.S.-led invasion, although the government's bid to cement gains with a budget splurge may prove a shaky foundation.

In office since October, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has launched a programme to rebuild infrastructure and attract foreign investors, but analysts say the plans are at risk from an uncertain oil price outlook and face the challenge of maintaining delicate diplomacy in a volatile region.

"We are positive in the short-term outlook but medium to longer-term there are major challenges," said one Western diplomat.

Brought to power by Shi'ite Muslim groups backed by neighbouring Iran, Sudani passed his first major test this week by getting the state budget through parliament.

He has also performed a tricky diplomatic balancing act in handling relations with archrivals Iran and the United States.

Sudani won Washington's praise by implementing demands to stop dollars being smuggled to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions, yet has kept Tehran's allies in Iraq happy with a state hiring spree and plans for major projects to create new work opportunities for militiamen, many from Iran-backed groups, now that their fight against Islamic State has been won.

A lawmaker from Iraq's majority Muslim Shi'ite community, who backs Sudani, said the prime minister was working "as a successful diplomat who can keep good relations with the West and Americans and at the same time make sure to send positive messages to Tehran."

The lawmaker, who declined to be named so he could speak freely about the prime minister, said Sudani's Iran-aligned backers saw him as a man who would act as a manager to improve basic services while shielding their interests.

UNRESOLVED PROBLEMS

Government foreign affairs adviser Farhad Alaaldin said Sudani served all Iraqis not just those allied to Iran.

"It's been a long while since we enjoyed this sort of political stability where the crises we face are dealt with in meeting rooms and under the roof of parliament and not outside," Alaaldin said.

It is a dramatic shift from last year, when rivalry between Shi'ite groups blocked the formation of a government, leading to violence and stoking fears of civil war in a nation that has suffered from conflict and chaos since the 2003 invasion.

The calm is mirrored in other areas of the Middle East where predominantly Shi'ite Iran and mainly Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia have reestablished ties, easing a rivalry that has often played out across the region.

Yet, analysts say many of Iraq's problems remain unresolved, ranging from its heavy dependence on oil revenues and the volatile global energy market to graft and sectarianism.

"The system of corruption and political patronage is entrenched and has stifled any reform attempts for the past 20 years," said Renaud Mansour, director of the Iraq Initiative at London's Chatham House think tank, adding that a state hiring spree was not a "sustainable fix".

He said Iraq could easily be destabilised by problems beyond its borders, calling the country a "playground for regional and global problems". However, he said detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran "potentially gives Iraq some space to breathe."

Iraq remains vulnerable to geopolitical shocks, including in the Kurdish-controlled north, where rival parties are feuding. Turkey and Iran have mounted military operations against Kurdish militant groups there, saying they threaten their national security.

FINANCIAL LARGESSE

Challenges abound elsewhere too. Last year's fears about civil war only abated when populist Shi'ite cleric Muqtada Sadr stepped back from politics and his huge number of followers moved off the streets. But he has stepped back before and analysts say could fire up the street again if he sought a return.

Nevertheless, Sudani has had successes. His budget was passed after tough negotiations to win the backing of Shi'ite, Kurdish and Sunni Arab factions.

But the budget, Iraq's biggest, forecasts spending of 198.9 trillion dinars ($153 billion) with plans to add more than 500,000 workers to an already bloated bureaucracy, flying in the face of recommendations from the International Monetary Fund.

Most families rely on income from relatives with state jobs - difficult to cut if oil prices fall and state revenues slide.

Seeking to strengthen the economy, Sudani has courted foreign investment, including reviving a $27 billion deal with France's TotalEnergies and QatarEnergies to develop oil and gas output.

His diplomatic initiatives, meanwhile, have included visits to Germany, France and Saudi Arabia. But notably he has secured support from the United States, which has 2,500 soldiers in Iraq to advise and assist in fighting remnants of Islamic State.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf said the government's agenda of economic reform and the drive against corruption was "exactly what the doctor ordered".

"We will support this government working through those steps," she said in Baghdad in May, calling Iraq a place for cooperation rather than a "battleground".

(Reporting by Timour Azhari, Amina Ismail and Ahmed Rasheed in Baghdad; writing by Timour Azhari; Editing by Tom Perry; Editing by Edmund Blair)
FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Binance logo is seen in this illustration taken March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo

(Reuters) -Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange, said on Friday that it was leaving the Dutch market because it had been unable to meet registration requirements to operate as a virtual asset service provider.

It is the latest in a string of setbacks for Binance including the June 5 decision by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to charge the company with evading securities laws. Binance disputes the SEC charges.

A spokesperson for Binance, which had been operating in the Netherlands without permission from regulators, said that the company had tried "many alternative avenues" to meet Dutch registration requirements.

"While Binance is disappointed that this has become necessary, it will continue to engage productively and transparently with Dutch regulators," they said.

The company said that starting July 17, trading in the Netherlands will be halted and existing Dutch users will only be able to withdraw assets from its platform.

The Dutch Central Bank (DNB), which registers financial service providers in the Netherlands said it had previously warned the company it was operating in the Netherlands without proper registration, and then fined it for the same reason in January.

Binance has also recently announced plans to leave Cyprus, Canada and Australia.

The company said on Friday however that it has received registration in other European Union countries, including France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden and Lithuania, and will continue to operate there.

(Reporting by Lavanya Ahire in Bengaluru and Toby Sterling in Amsterdam; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Dhanya Ann Thoppil, Elaine Hardcastle)
By Anna Mehler Paperny

TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's Supreme Court on Friday upheld an asylum-seeker pact between Canada and the United States but sent the case back to a lower court to determine whether the contested agreement violates equality rights.

The verdict is a partial victory for the Canadian government, keeping the pact in place even as it sets it up for further judicial scrutiny.

Last year, almost 40,000 people crossed into Canada between formal crossings to file refugee claims - the vast majority crossing at Roxham Road in Quebec, at the border with New York state. That influx has strained Canada's resources and prompted changes to the agreement.

Asylum seekers told Reuters they believe Canada has a swifter and more inclusive asylum system than the United States.

Under the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement, which came into effect in 2004, asylum seekers crossing the land border between the two countries are sent back on the grounds they should apply for asylum in the first "safe" country they arrived in.

Built-in safety valves such as public policy exemptions that allow some asylum seekers to remain in Canada mean the agreement does not violate asylum seekers' right to life, liberty and security of the person, the Supreme Court ruled. Refugee advocates argue these remedies are not practically available.

The court sent the case back to federal court for a ruling on whether the agreement breaches asylum seekers' right to equal treatment under the law. Refugee advocates argue the agreement violates that right because they say the U.S. is less receptive to refugee claims based on gender.

Gauri Sreenivasan, co-executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees, which brought the case, called on the government Friday to withdraw from the agreement.

"This is not the refugee system Canadians want," Sreenivasan said.

Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said Canada has no plans to suspend the agreement, now that the Supreme Court has affirmed its validity.

Refugee advocates told Reuters they were heartened by the equality rights directive but disappointed in the court's decision to keep the agreement in place on the other Charter ground.

"This means that the border remains closed and it's not a good day for refugees," said Jamie Chai Yun Liew, who represented a party intervening in the case.

The U.S. and Canada amended the agreement earlier this year, applying it to the entire length of the border as opposed to only at formal crossings.

Since the amendment, the number of asylum seekers crossing irregularly into Canada has plummeted. Between March 25 and May 28, 618 asylum seekers crossed between ports of entry and were referred to the Canada Border Services Agency, according to agency figures.

But the number of people caught crossing into the U.S. spiked in March to 992 from 630 in February and stayed high in April, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol figures show.

Twice, Canadian federal courts have struck down the agreement and, twice, appeals courts have upheld it. This was the first time the Supreme Court had heard the case.

(Reporting by Anna Mehler Paperny; Editing by Mark Porter, Denny Thomas and Jonathan Oatis)
Michigan State Broad College of Business Dean Sanjay Gupta unexpectedly stepped down in August 2022, just two years into his second term, over what Michigan media described as an alleged failure to report an allegation of sexual misconduct that was made against one of his subordinates; Gupta later claimed to have been forced out. In February he sued the school, and a judge this week ruled the lawsuit can go forward. Michigan State photo

The story of the dramatic ouster of Michigan State Universitys business school dean has taken another turn, this time in the former deans favor.

Sanjay Gupta, who stepped down in late summer 2022 for what was initially reported as a failure to properly report a professors inappropriate behavior, is suing school officials, saying his due process rights were violated and his character defamed. The school had asked a U.S. district court judge to dismiss the lawsuit, but on Wednesday (June 14) the judge ruled that Guptas lawsuit can proceed.

In the suit, Gupta claims that he wasnt forced to resign over the clumsy handling of a scandal involving sexual misconduct by a professor at an end-of-year, off-campus MBA student party, as the school had claimed. Instead, he says, he was the victim of a power struggle, forced out by then-Provost Teresa Woodruff after he expressed interest in becoming Michigan States president  the job she wanted and currently holds on an interim basis.

A TIMELINE OF EVENTS

Interim Michigan State University President Teresa Woodruff

Gupta joined Michigan State as an accounting and information systems professor in 2007 after 17 years as a professor at Arizona States W.P. Carey School of Business. He became interim dean at the Broad College in 2014, then ascended to the deanship in July of the next year. He was appointed to a second five-year term in 2020. That same year, Teresa Woodruff came to MSU as provost after serving as dean of the graduate school and associate provost for graduate education at Northwestern University, where she had spent 25 years as a professor and administrator.

The cascade of events leading to the end of Guptas deanship began in April 2022, according to a timeline in an independent review commissioned by the universitys Board of Trustees. At an off-campus Gatsby Gala for MBA students on April 22, then-Associate Dean Charles Hadlock became intoxicated and danced in a sexually suggestive manner with female students, behavior that was documented in a brief video taken by another person at the party. Hadlock is now a chaired finance professor at the University of Pittsburghs Katz Graduate School of Business.

Over the course of four days after the gala, Hadlocks behavior was reported to the schools Office of Institutional Equity by students and faculty members who heard about it from students. Sometime between April 26 and April 29, a Broad administrator informed Gupta about Hadlocks actions; around the same time, Gupta heard about the incident from a second administrator. Meanwhile, more reports about the incident continued to come in to OIE. On May 2, Hadlock met with Gupta and admitted to the offense, saying he drank too much and was very sorry. The next day, Hadlock announced his resignation, effective June 30, 2022.

Michigan State, one-time employer of the notorious Larry Nassar, has a fraught history with sexual misconduct. The universitys mandatory reporting policy requires that, unless identified as a confidential source, all university employees must report sexual harassment, sexual violence, sexual misconduct, stalking, and relationship violence incidents if they observe it themselves or learn about it in their professional capacity, if it involves a member of the university community, if it occurred at a university-sponsored event or on university property.

However, Hadlocks resignation did not end the matter. Woodruff, who as provost had the power to fire and hire deans, told investigators that she gave five reasons for asking for Guptas resignation: his alleged violation of the policy requiring employees to report relationship violence and sexual misconduct; his own failure to investigate an instance of alleged sexual misconduct of a business school leader; that his delay in reporting caused a two-month delay in an Office of Institutional Equity investigation; his failure to notify Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs of the misconduct and the accused leaders request to retire; and failure to prevent an Outside Work for Pay Policy violation for the accused leader.

Gupta resigned as dean in August. In November 2022, when MSU President Samuel Stanley left the school, Woodruff was named interim president.

Gupta  who had completed university-mandated training on sexual harassment in 2021  says he complied with all university rules and was pressured to step down. Amid outcry from students and faculty, the universitys Board of Trustees commissioned the independent review of Woodruffs decision to dismiss Gupta. The 104-page report by Los Angeles-based firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, including interviews with 11 individuals and a review of more than 9,300 documents, was released publicly in late March 2023. It found that Woodruffs justification for removing Gupta was severely flawed, and that among her five reasons for getting rid of the dean, only one allegation was valid: his initial failure to report Hadlocks behavior.

7 NAMED IN GUPTAS DEFAMATION & WRONGFUL TERMINATION LAWSUIT

Guptas lawsuit states that The facts establish that Gupta did not violate any mandatory reporting policy, promptly acted to protect students and complied with published MSU Title IX policies  and acted with integrity, transparency and professionalism at all times as Dean of the Eli Broad College of Business. All told, Gupta is accusing Woodruff and six other university leaders  Interim Provost Thomas Jeitschko, Title IX Coordinator Nicole Schmidtke, Senior Title IX investigator Allison Towe, interim Associate Provost Ann Austin, former university President Stanley, and Emily Guerrant, vice president of communications  of playing a role in a scheme to oust him.

That scheme took shape in June 2022, Gupta alleges in his lawsuit, when Woodruff discovered during a performance review that Gupta aspired to the university presidency, a job he claims she wanted. He says she drummed up a reason to demand his resignation two months later and then publicly promoted a false narrative for pushing him out, with the help of the others named in the suit. Defendants  (orchestrated) the process behind the scenes in an effort for Woodruff to smear and stigmatize Guptas good name and thereby eliminate her competitor, the lawsuit says. The amended suit adds the eight university trustees as defendants.

Michigan State officials named in Guptas lawsuit asked U.S. Western District Court judge Paul Maloney to dismiss what they called a desperate, last-ditch plea to be reinstated as Broads dean, but this week, Maloney agreed that Guptas lawsuit could go forward. Gupta is requesting a trial by jury and asking the court to reinstate him as dean; he also seeks an undisclosed amount in damages and an acknowledgement that his due process rights were violated.

STILL A PROF  AND STILL CALLING HIMSELF DEAN

Even as he has been forced out of the deans office, Gupta has remained a professor at the school. His faculty page is still live at the MSU website  and his LinkedIn profile still describes him as the business schools dean.

His hopes for reinstatement may be dwindling with time: The university has been conducting a search for his replacement since last fall, and reports say school officials hope to conclude it by July.

DONT MISS: WORTHY OF A JUICY SUCCESSION EPISODE: THE IGNOMINY OF A B-SCHOOL DEANS OUSTER or MICHIGAN STATE B-SCHOOL DEANS RESIGNATION EVOKES MEMORIES OF PAST SCANDAL

The post Another Twist In The Saga Of Michigan State Broads Ousted Dean appeared first on Poets&Quants.
FILE PHOTO: A Cargill logo is pictured on the Provimi Kliba and Protector animal nutrition factory in Lucens, Switzerland, September 22, 2016. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

By Ana Mano

SAO PAULO (Reuters) -The Brazilian unit of U.S. grains merchant Cargill has asked a bankruptcy court to halt the auction of two plants owned by soy crusher Imcopa, scheduled for June 27, the latest twist of a running legal saga involving rival Bunge.

In court documents seen by Reuters, Cargill expressed interest in bidding for the assets but sought clarification about the liabilities attached to the plants.

Geraldo Gouveia Jr, Imcopa's attorney, told Reuters the bankruptcy judge has made no decision yet related to the request to suspend the court-supervised auction.

He declined to name other potential bidders but said the company welcomes Cargill's interest.

Cargill confirmed filing a petition with the bankruptcy court regarding the sale of Imcopa's assets. It said the company and other prospect bidders would benefit from additional time and more information on the conditions of the transaction.

"Cargill is always on the lookout for investment opportunities that add value to its business strategy," the firm said.

Cargill's move is another sign of likely consolidation in Brazil's soy crushing industry at a time of healthy margins and cheap soybean supplies after a bumper crop.

Imcopa's crushing plants are located in the southern state of Parana and are currently processing soy supplied by Bunge under an agreement with a brewing company leasing the assets for almost 10 years.

Bunge, which has long sought to acquire Imcopa's assets, signed a contract to buy the Araucaria and Cambe plants in May 2020. However, the deal came undone in a still-unresolved legal battle involving the brewer and foreign creditors of Imcopa.

Bunge did not immediately comment.

Citing bankruptcy court filings, Imcopa's Gouveia Jr said Bunge has publicly reiterated interest in buying Imcopa's plants.

The assets remain attractive because they produce high value soy byproducts for export and the domestic market. One plant is also close to Paranagua, a key port in southern Brazil.

(Reporting by Ana Mano; editing by David Evans and David Gregorio)
FIL PHOTO: British Foreign Minister James Cleverly looks on as he answers questions during a joint press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (not pictured) at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, U.S., May 9, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has urged Britain to stop "political manipulation" and interference in its internal affairs, according to a foreign ministry fax sent to Reuters on Friday.

The comments came after British foreign minister James Cleverly earlier this week called China's sanctioning of British parliamentarians "deplorable".

"The British side unlawfully sanctioned Chinese personnel based on false information in the first place, and China took counter-measures which were entirely justified and reasonable," the ministry said in the fax.

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel)
By Roberto Samora

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - A Brazilian coffee research institute has started a decisive stage in a two-decade project to develop arabica coffee varieties that are naturally decaffeinated, a development the researchers think could have significant commercial potential.

The program is being developed at the Instituto Agronomico de Campinas (IAC), a leading coffee research center that has provided many of the high-yield coffee plants that have helped Brazil become a powerhouse in the global coffee market, supplying more than a third of the trade.

Researchers at the IAC said they are starting regional field trials of some of the varieties they have been developing for several years by crossing different coffee plants that naturally have very low caffeine content, using the germplasm bank at their facilities.

If successful, the resulting varieties could find a market niche in large consuming regions such as Europe and the United States among consumers that would prefer them instead of current decaffeinated brands that are the result of chemical or industrial processes.

Companies selling decaffeinated coffee as well could benefit with reduced costs, since they could skip the industrial processes to remove caffeine from regular coffee varieties.

"The results we had so far look promising, we are upbeat," said Julio Cesar Mistro, a researcher overseeing the project at IAC.

Some of the clones developed in the center are being planted in different regions in Brazil. Coffee trees usually take two to three years to produce the first fruits, so there are still some years ahead until the researchers can harvest that coffee and test it.

Consumption of decaffeinated coffee accounts for around 10% of the market in the United States, according to data from the National Coffee Association (NCA).

Although many drink coffee specifically seeking the energy boost provided by caffeine, some people are intolerant to it, or prefer to have "decaf" when later in the day to avoid potential sleeping disruptions.

(Reporting by Roberto Samora, writing by Marcelo Teixeira in New York, editing by Sandra Maler)
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Mondelez International is seen on an office building in the Glattpark district in Opfikon, Switzerland October 2, 2018. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Mondelez International's Europe president said Thursday that the Milka chocolate bar-maker was being "singled out and treated differently" from rival companies that are also continuing to sell food and drinks in Russia, according to a memo seen by Reuters.

In the memo titled "A note on Nordics/Russia" sent to employees Thursday, Vinzenz Gruber wrote about the boycotts initiated against Mondelez by Scandinavian companies over its decision to remain in Russia where it is legally permitted to operate. He described the pressure in the Nordics as "challenging," and that he was "deeply saddened by what's happening" to its brands there. Marabou is popular in Sweden, and Freia is Norwegian.

"It is hard for all of us to see our company singled out and treated differently from other peers despite the realities of the situation," Gruber said in the memo, which was distributed internally at Mondelez. "If you look in most kitchen cupboards, you will see many products from food and beverage companies that have not exited Russia." Gruber didn't refer to any specific brands.

"If there were boycotts on all brands that have parent companies with activity in Russia, there would be a food supply issue," Gruber said, without specifying any brands.

The boycotts, initiated by companies including airline SAS, began last week in Sweden and Norway. The backlash stemmed from Ukraine's National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption naming Mondelez an "international sponsor of war" last month for continuing to sell its goods in Russia. Mondelez did not comment on the designation.

It is not entirely uncommon for companies to boycott another company. For example, hundreds stopped advertising on Facebook, now Meta, in 2020 after U.S. civil rights groups enlisted multinationals to pressure the company into taking concrete steps to block hate speech.

After boycotts of Mondelez's Freia and Marabou chocolate brands in the Nordic region this week the company said on Thursday that it was working to make its business in Russia stand-alone with a "self-sufficient supply chain" before the end of the year. The company did not supply details on its plans for Russia. Food does not fall under any international sanctions.

As Putin's war enters its second year, companies that continue to operate in Russia after its invasion of Ukraine have drawn criticism from human rights groups, customers, employees and investors, according to numerous media accounts.

A representative at the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mondelez did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the memo. Mondelez rivals in chocolate including Nestle still operate in Russia as do many other consumer products companies. Nestle said in its latest annual report that it had six factories in Russia including confectionary. Nestle didn't respond to requests for comment.

Mondelez pledged March 9, after the invasion, it was "scaling back" non-essential activities in the country and focusing on "basic offerings." On Thursday, Mondelez said it has "scaled down our activities, discontinuing new capital investment, new product launches and our advertising media spending in Russia."

But it has continued business in Russia and boosted shipments of some of its products to the country, customs data covering from January 1, 2021 through March 31, 2023 shows.

Shipments to Russia of products with descriptions that specifically mention Milka chocolate bars rose 131% to 22.4 million kilograms in the year after the war, starting in April 2022 through the end of March, from 9.7 million kilograms in the prior 12 months, according to records Reuters obtained from a commercial provider of customs data.

Shipments of all Mondelez products to Russia jumped to 45 million kilograms from 28.7 million kilograms in the same time periods, according to the data.

A Mondelez spokeswoman, contacted multiple times, did not comment on the customs data.

In a statement, Mondelez said that since January, the company's overall volumes in Russia have "declined double digits," and both its import volumes and market share have significantly decreased.

The company did not provide further details on the figures. It also said it does not disclose country-level sales, import and export data.

Mondelez also said Thursday it was continuing to reduce its activities in Russia and expects further volume and sales declines.

So far, Mondelez's Russian business has been more profitable in recent months than in the past because the company suspended advertising in the country, a cost savings, and increased prices, according to an April filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) covering the first three months of 2023. Currency changes also helped the business, the quarterly SEC filing shows.

Jan Kraa Rasmussen, head of environmental, social and governance (ESG) and sustainability at Mondelez investor PensionDanmark, said the Danish pension fund considers the "downscaling of their business in Russia a progression.

"We see potential for further steps from the company," Rasmussen said. "We are skeptical about the need for most companies to be present in Russia and encourage them to reconsider their operations in the country."

(Reporting by Jessica DiNapoli in New York; Additional reporting by Maurice Tamman and Terje Solsvik; Editing by Anna Driver)
FILE PHOTO: Thailand's Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai attends the 29th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting (AELM) during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Bangkok, Thailand on November 19, 2022. Jack Taylor/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

By Panu Wongcha-um, Poppy McPherson and Ananda Teresia

BANGKOK (Reuters) -Thailand's caretaker government is proposing to "fully re-engage" Myanmar's military rulers and has invited ASEAN foreign ministers to an informal meeting on Sunday to discuss a stalled peace plan, according to a letter seen by Reuters and sources aware of the invitation.

The proposal was made in a June 14 letter to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) counterparts from Thailand's Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, which was seen by Reuters on Friday and confirmed by three sources with knowledge of the planned meeting.

In a summit last month, ASEAN leaders called for an immediate end to the violence in Myanmar, which began after the military deposed the elected civilian government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in a 2021 coup.

Frustration has mounted among some members of the 10-country bloc over how to handle Myanmar and its bloody political turmoil and Thailand's latest move will raise fresh questions about the group's unity.

Two sources with knowledge of Sunday's meeting told Reuters that Myanmar's junta-appointed foreign minister had been invited. Myanmar's military spokesman did not respond to phone calls on Friday night.

ASEAN chair Indonesia has declined to attend the proposed meeting, according to three sources. Indonesia's Foreign Ministry told Reuters it "hasn't heard" about the invitation.

Asked about the Thai proposal on a visit to Washington, Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan told reporters that since there had been no improvement in the situation in Myanmar, "it would be premature to re-engage with the junta at a summit level or even at a foreign minister level".

The foreign ministry in Thailand declined to comment. Thailand is expected to have a new government by August following an election last month that saw the ruling pro- military coalition trounced by progressive and populist parties.

Myanmar's ruling generals for nearly two years have been barred by ASEAN from its high-level meetings over its failure to honour a 2021 agreement, known as the "5-point consensus", which included calls for an cessation of hostilities, dialogue between all parties and the granting of full humanitarian access.

The government of Thailand - whose current prime minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha, himself first came to power in a army coup - has previously sought to bring Myanmar's military officials back into informal talks with ASEAN counterparts - at times putting it at odds with efforts by Indonesia.

A source in Jakarta said Indonesia's rejection of the invitation included the fact that Thailand's initiative contradicted the recent ASEAN agreement at the May summit.

Foreign Minister Don's letter said the proposed meeting would be "part of the initial steps" of the peace process and cited the summit where "a member nation" made an unequivocal statement that ASEAN should fully re-engage with Myanmar at the leadership level.

"A number of members supported the call and some were willing to consider, there was no explicit dissenting voice," Don said in the letter.

"Should this informal ministerial engagement make substantial positive progress, we would like to suggest that a carpe diem back-to-back meeting of leaders be convened thereafter."

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said the Thai foreign minister had shown "arrogance" by inviting his junta counterpart who other regional neighbours have shunned.

"No wonder ASEAN's efforts have been stymied at every step to resolve the Myanmar crisis," he said.

Thailand's progressive Move Forward Party, which won most seats in the May election, has signalled that if it is able to form a government, it intends to follow a different policy on Myanmar from the current pro-military coalition that was soundly defeated at the polls.

Indonesia last month cited progress in its own behind-the-scenes efforts to engage multiple parties in Myanmar's conflict in a bid to advance a peace process agreed by ASEAN leaders and Myanmar's military in April 2021.

Myanmar has been roiled by violence since the Feb. 1, 2021 coup, with the military battling on multiple fronts to try to crush an armed pro-democracy resistance movement formed in response to the crackdown.

Human rights and some United Nations experts have accused the military of committing widespread atrocities. The junta says it is fighting terrorists who aim to destroy the country.

(Ananda Teresia reported from Jakarta. Additional reporting by Devjyot Ghoshal and Kay Johnson in Bangkok, Stanley Widianto in Jakarta, Simon Lewis in Washington, and Shoon Naing; Writing by Martin Petty and Devjyot Ghoshal, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland's incoming coalition government said on Friday it had agreed to cut refugee quotas, raise the bar for work-based immigration and make it more difficult for foreigners to obtain citizenship, key priorities for the nationalist Finns Party.

"In recent years Finland has been the only Nordic country with a more lenient immigration policy. This changes now," Finns Party leader Rikka Purra told a news conference, calling the new policy a paradigm change.

The government will also reject the use of any further joint European Union economic recovery plans like the one implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, which the National Coalition and the eurosceptic Finns, Finland's two biggest parties, opposed.

The government, which will be led by Petteri Orpo, head of the conservative National Coalition, also plans to improve public finances by cutting spending, reducing taxes and helping create an estimated 100,000 new jobs over the next four years.

By getting the NCP, the eurosceptic Finns, minority-language Swedish People's Party and the Christian Democrats to agree on a common platform, Orpo shifts Finnish politics to the right and sends left-wing Prime Minister Sanna Marin into opposition.

The NCP won 48 seats in the April 2 election, ahead of the Finns with 46, while outgoing Prime Minister Marin's Social Democrats came third with 43 elected members of the 200-seat parliament.

To secure a majority, Orpo included the Swedish People's Party, which holds nine seats, and the Christian Democrats with five, bringing the total support to 108.

(Reporting by Essi Lehto, editing by Terje Solsvik)
Suhaila and Jia Ahmad, mother and youngest brother of Mohammad Ahmad, who went missing after a shipwreck on June 14, 2023, that killed people off Greece, sit together at their house in Kobani, Syria June 16, 2023. REUTERS/Orhan Qereman

ATHENS (Reuters) - Italy on Friday alerted Greece to a vessel holding dozens of migrants sailing off the southern coastal town of Pylos, two sources said, just two days after an overcrowded fishing boat sank nearby killing at least 78 people.

"It is sailing about 100 miles west of Pylos, it was located by an Italian aircraft," a Greek government official told Reuters, adding that the alert was received around 1500 GMT.

The vessel appeared to be sailing towards Italy, a second official said, adding that it was located in Greece's search and rescue jurisdiction but was very close to Italy's jurisdiction. The official said an estimated 40-45 people were on board.

Greece had deployed two vessels and a helicopter in the area.

At least 78 people died when a fishing boat packed with hundreds of migrants capsized and sank in international waters 50 miles (80 km) off Pylos on Wednesday morning.

Greek authorities were alerted by Italy about that boat too. Greece rescued 104 people but hundreds are missing, with some witnesses saying up to 750 people were on board when it sank.

(Reporting by Lefteris Papadimas and Renee Maltezou; Editing by Nick Macfie)
FILE PHOTO: Travelers wait in front of a FlixBus bus at Bercy bus station in Paris during a strike by train guards at France's state-owned railway operator SNCF with major disruption for Christmas holidays in France, December 23, 2022. REUTERS/Noemie Oli

By Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro and Emma-Victoria Farr

(Reuters) - German bus services firm Flix, owner of the Greyhound brand in North America and FlixBus in Europe, has stepped up preparations for a possible stock-market listing, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Flix has invited investment banks to pitch to manage its share sale in recent weeks, said the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. U.S. corporate finance house Evercore is advising Flix on the process, the sources said.

Flix declined to comment. Evercore did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

An Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Flix, which began its bus services in Germany ten years ago, would give hope to capital markets after rising rates and the economic turbulence caused by the Ukraine war have led many companies to defer plans to list.

Flix, set up in 2011 by three entrepreneurs in Munich to try to make bus travel cheap, runs bus and train services across 40 countries. Its revenues have rebounded as the public appetite for travel has surged following the lifting of lockdown restrictions.

Last year, the company posted a 185% jump in revenues to more than 1.5 billion euros ($1.64 billion).

Flix's investors, which include General Atlantic, Permira and BlackRock, supported the firm most recently in June 2021 raising $650 million in equity and debt.

So far this year, only one stock market listing has taken place in Germany, raising $479 million, according to Refinitiv data. In a sign of continued investor caution, the web-hosting company IONOS fell roughly 5% on its stock market debut in February.

Nevertheless, later in February, media reports said Flix was also considering an IPO.

The mood remains wary. Natural soda ash producer WE Soda withdrew plans this week to list in London.

A number of other European firms, including German hydrogen firm Nucera and Romanian energy producer Hidroelectrica, have said they are working on IPOs.

(Reporting by Emma-Victoria Farr and Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, editing by John O'Donnell and Barbara Lewis)
FILE PHOTO: Police patrol the streets after gang members tried to attack a police station, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti April 25, 2023. REUTERS/Ralph Tedy Erol

By Robertson Henry

KINGSTOWN (Reuters) - Humanitarian aid to Haiti will need to take into account the influence of heavily armed gangs who control large parts of the country, the president of a regional bloc said ahead of planned talks with the European Union next month.

"If anybody wants to deliver humanitarian assistance to Haiti, they have to come to terms with the gangs," Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and current president of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), said in an interview.

He did not give more details on how the gangs should be addressed.

Gonsalves will travel to Brussels for an EU-CELAC summit on July 17-18, expected to cover the volatile security situation in Haiti, where powerful gangs are driving a crisis that has displaced over 160,000 people, according to United Nations estimates.

Local activists are among those who have fled the violence while international aid organizations such as Medecins Sans Frontieres have shut down operations saying they cannot guarantee the safety of their patients or staff.

"There are gang leaders who are also political operatives, who control important communities," said Gonsalves, warning that "you have to be careful you don't set about to engage with gangs in Haiti and provide some legitimacy to them."

Gonsalves said people with ties to gangs were likely present at talks between representatives of Haiti's civil society and government in Jamaica this week, at which Prime Minister Ariel Henry pledged to broaden the country's transition council to make the government more inclusive.

Henry has since October called for an international force to help police restore security and establish conditions for long-awaited elections, but no country has offered to lead such a force.

Meanwhile, Gonsalves said, Haitian migration is threatening security in neighboring Caribbean countries.

Gonsalves said his country could help Haiti run eventual elections, and once stability is established, countries would need to coordinate a "Marshall Plan" of foreign aid.

This would involve serious talks about reparations from France, Gonsalves said.

Haiti spent over a century paying France a costly "debt" as plantation owners demanded payment for property - including slaves - lost in the Haitian Revolution, often described as the world's first and only successful slave rebellion.

(Reporting by Robertson Henry in Kingstown; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
FILE PHOTO: A man passes by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., July 11, 2016. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

By Lewis Krauskopf, Saqib Iqbal Ahmed and David Randall

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A few months ago, most investors feared having too much exposure to equities. Now many are worried they may not have enough.

The 15% year-to-date rally in the S&P 500 is pulling once doubtful investors back into the market. Many who had whittled down stock holdings during 2022's painful decline are shifting gears.

The National Association of Active Investment Managers' exposure index last week hit its highest level since late 2021, while cash levels among global fund managers surveyed this month by Bank of America fell to their lowest point since January 2022.

Positioning among discretionary investors, a cohort that includes fund managers to individual investors, moved above neutral earlier this month for the first time since February, Deutsche Bank data showed.

Meanwhile, options investors are buying calls - bets on upside in stocks - at levels not seen in years. A record 1.8 million S&P 500 calls traded on Thursday, helping lift the one-month moving average of calls-to-puts to the highest in at least four years, Trade Alert data showed.

"If you've been fighting this market, you're very likely exhausted," said Emily Roland, co-chief investment strategist at John Hancock Asset Management, who has been increasing overall equity allocations.

The latest gains are fueled by factors ranging from a U.S. economy that has so far avoided recession despite the Federal Reserve's aggressive monetary policy tightening to growing buzz over advances in artificial intelligence.

Some Wall Street banks are revising forecasts for how high stocks can go. Among the latest is Goldman Sachs, whose strategists raised their year-end S&P 500 target to 4,500 from 4,000, citing expectations the economy is likely to avoid a downturn in the next 12 months. The index ended on Friday at 4,409.59, up 23% from its October lows.

Willie Delwiche, investment strategist at Hi Mount Research, said improving sentiment is poised to support stocks, provided it does not become too extreme.

"Shifting from pessimism to optimism is actually what gives lifeblood to bull markets," he said. "You run into trouble when you get to excessive levels, but ... we're not there."

One measure of sentiment that Delwiche studies, the American Association of Individual Investors survey, showed bullish sentiment outpacing bearish sentiment in the latest week by the widest margin since November 2021.

Continued strength in stocks would be consistent with previous periods when pessimism began unwinding while optimism accelerated, Delwiche said.

History also shows stocks tend to keep rallying after rising 20% above their lows. The S&P 500 has posted a median gain of 18% in the 12 months after clearing the 20% threshold, LPL Financial data showed.

Still, some worry stocks are already getting overheated.

Brent Kochuba, founder of options analytic service SpotGamma, said that while extreme levels of call option buying can support markets, it also warrants caution in the near term.

"The trend is probably higher ... but in the very short term we have gotten over our skis," he said.

Matt Stucky, senior portfolio manager of equities at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, believes sentiment - as evidenced in the AAII survey - has soared too quickly. He believes the Fed's rate hikes are likely to bring on a mild recession late this year or in early 2024. The Fed left rates unchanged earlier this week but said more increases may be necessary this year.

"You're starting to see quite a bit of evidence that investors are chasing this rally," he said. "We're starting to take a little bit off the table."

Others, however, believe the rally has room to run. One encouraging signal is that a greater number of S&P 500 stocks are heading higher, in addition to the handful of megacap growth names such as Microsoft and Nvidia that led gains this year.

Small caps and industrial shares - long-time laggards - have outperformed so far this month, for example, while the number of S&P 500 stocks trading above their 200-day moving average rose to two-month highs this week.

Ken Mahoney, CEO of Mahoney Asset Management, has been adding to positions in Microsoft and Nvidia in recent sessions. Massive call buying, fear of missing out and bearish investors reversing their bets are likely to continue taking markets higher for now, he said.

"The market is overheated and everyone and their grandmother can see it, but it may take some time before we see a blow off top," he said.

(Reporting by Lewis Krauskopf, Saqib Iqbal Ahmed and David Randall; Editing by Ira Iosebashvili and Richard Chang)
With the U.S. Security and Exchange Commissions crackdowns on two of the worlds largest crypto exchanges, theres now a major opening for Asia, a region thats already been touted for harnessing blockchain and digital assets for economic growth. Despite the giant global market share of the U.S. economy, the SECs enforcement approach is likely to push crypto firms abroad, as the East offers more incentives and regulatory certainty for crypto firms to thrive.

US regulatory landscape is increasingly challenging

Months ago, it was assumed that U.S. regulators were still figuring out their stance. But its becoming increasingly clear that the U.S. would rather stonewall crypto firms than risk undermining investor protections.

Take for example SEC Chairman Gary Genslers comments to CNBC: The crypto markets are undermining that trust, and I would say this: It undermines our overall capital markets. And: Look, we dont need more digital currency. We already have digital currency. Its called the U.S. dollar. Its called the euro. Its called the yen. Theyre all digital right now. We already have digital investments.

Regulatory activities around crypto continue to escalate in the U.S., and there is no sign of the authorities backing down. Since the FTX meltdown last year, the SEC has made allegations that major exchanges Kraken, Bittrex, Binance and Coinbase have all violated various laws.

Why crypto firms should look abroad

While the increased scrutiny may be a way to set a clear legal precedent to classify crypto as securities, bringing litigation could do more harm and obstructive impact to the markets, even the wider economy. The debate around whether crypto assets, especially altcoins, should be security remains one of the biggest concerns. And the turf war between different authorities has added yet another layer of complexity. As the U.S Congress is still figuring out new legislation, crypto firms are finding it harder to navigate the U.S. landscape amid a lack of clear guidelines on how to register, as prominently pointed out by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong.

While it is inarguably important to make investor protection a priority, it remains to be seen whether the SECs enforcement approach could backfire and cause more collateral damage at this stage. We have seen significant news like this lead to unnecessary run risks before. It was reported that within a day after SEC filed a lawsuit against Coinbase, Blockchain data by crypto intelligence firm Nansen showed that Coinbase saw net outflows totaling US$600 million over a 24-hour period.

The impact of this enforcement approach also inevitably spreads, preventing traditional companies from taking part in this nascent industry until the regulatory landscape becomes clearer. Ultimately, this presents yet another obstacle for crypto to gain mass adoption. Crypto firms will need to consider if its worth waiting for regulatory clarity in the U.S., or if its better to start exploring alternatives.

The answer to this should be a no-brainer. Crypto firms are well along their way in identifying opportunities and diversifying risks by uprooting to other regions, such as Asia and Europe. Such a move allows projects to shift their focus towards building, rather than managing regulatory risks.

Asia offers support and regulatory clarity

Compared to the U.S., Asian economies are recognizing the benefits of cryptocurrency adoption and the opportunities presented for increasing economic competitiveness.

For instance, Hong Kong has been taking a decidedly pro-crypto stance, aiming to harness Web3 for its potential for economic growth. Earlier this year, the city announced it would allow crypto firms and exchanges to apply for licenses starting June 1. By March, more than 80 crypto firms expressed interest in opening an office in Hong Kong, including my own company.

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission has even extended cryptocurrency trading to retail investors, who will be able to trade Bitcoin and Ethereum in a fully compliant sandbox. That stands in stark contrast to the U.S. issuing warnings to banks about crypto-related risks.

Not only are Asian regulators embracing crypto with welcoming rules and policies, but also supporting the industry by even advocating better integration with the traditional finance community. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority also takes a forward-looking approach, recently calling on banks to provide services to cryptocurrency firms.

A shift away from the U.S. is also seen in other Asian countries. For example, after the FTX collapse last year, Thai crypto investors turned to local exchanges such as Bitkub, which now covers 75% of crypto trade in Thailand as competitors falter.

Most recently, Binance and its Thai partner Gulf Innova have also secured digital asset operator licenses in Thailand to launch a new crypto exchange. However, the SEC allegations against Binance may now have implications on how these exchanges will be treated in other jurisdictions, such as their license application process.

Elsewhere, Circle, the stablecoin issuer, also just received an MPI license in Singapore; whereas the SEC in February sent a Wells warning to Paxos, accusing the company of selling unregistered securities when it issues the Binance USD (BUSD) stablecoin.

Geographic shifts are already happening

The U.S. economys share of global GDP will be hard for crypto exchanges to ignore, regardless of the regulatory environment. But the U.S.s share of the crypto market is already showing signs of a decline after the recent SEC actions. This could imply that the U.S. market is not considered irreplaceable. Crypto startups will begin to shift their focus to other jurisdictions for balance. This regulatory arbitrage is already happening. U.S. crypto market share remains dominant but has fallen from 85% at the start of 2023 to 70% on the day after the SEC announced its lawsuits.

Similarly, the divergence between U.S. and Asian Bitcoin supplies held or traded has also widened. According to Glassnode on-chain data reported by BeInCrypto, American entities now hold 11% less Bitcoin than in June 2022, while the supply held by Asian entities has increased by almost 10% over the same period.

If cryptocurrencies are classified as securities in the U.S. but not in other jurisdictions, no doubt crypto firms will favor these places and offer their services there. Altcoins being named securities would create issues for users who trade these tokens on centralized exchanges, and CEXs operating within the U.S. will have no choice but to move their operations.

For example, Coinbase recently announced that it had received a license to offer its services in Bermuda, with plans to set up a crypto-trading platform targeting regions outside of the U.S. Even though the exchange has noted that it would continue to focus its efforts on the U.S. markets, its already exploring other possibilities offshore. In turn, trading opportunities might be lost in the U.S. and for U.S. citizens.

Technological progress will happen  with or without the U.S. The future of crypto looks bright in Asia and many other jurisdictions in the world, from the Middle East to Europe and elsewhere. If crypto companies want to become leaders in their industry, they undoubtedly will want to move to friendlier shores that support their goals.
FILE PHOTO: A participant holds a sign as they march during the Tokyo Rainbow Pride parade, celebrating advances in LGBTQ rights and calling for marriage equality, in Tokyo, Japan April 23, 2023. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo

By Elaine Lies

TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan enacted a law on Friday meant to promote understanding of the LGBT community that critics say provides no human rights guarantees, though some conservative lawmakers said the measure is too permissive.

Japan, the only Group of Seven (G7) nation that does not have legal protection for same-sex unions, had originally pledged to pass the law before hosting a G7 summit last month.

However, wrangling over the bill meant it was only submitted to parliament for consideration on May 18, the day before the summit began.

The initial draft stipulated that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity should "not be tolerated" but was changed to "there should be no unfair discrimination", which critics say may tacitly encourage some forms of discrimination.

Despite the bill being watered down, some members of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's ruling Liberal Democratic Party still broke ranks with party directives, boycotting or walking out of Tuesday's vote in the lower house and the final vote in the upper house.

"There have been crimes committed by impersonators in women's restrooms," former upper house president Akiko Santo told reporters after boycotting the vote in that chamber. "It would be a very serious problem if this bill passed and the trend became that it was normal to accept anything."

Japan has come under pressure from other G7 nations, especially the United States, to allow same-sex marriage.

Business leaders say they fear Japan will not be able to remain internationally competitive without greater diversity, including representation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people - especially as Tokyo seeks to promote itself as a global financial centre.

"As a financial institution, in order to achieve sustainable growth, it is essential to create an environment in which people with diverse backgrounds and values can play an active role," Masahiko Kato, chairperson of the Japan Bankers association and president of Mizuho Bank, told a press conference this week.

Japan's public broadly supports same-sex marriage, according to opinion polls, while local governments in most of the country allow same-sex partnership agreements that fall short of the rights guaranteed by marriage.

"Some 70% of the nation allows same-sex partnerships, and surveys have found more than 70% of people are in favour of same-sex marriage," the activist group Marriage for All Japan said in a tweet after the bill passed.

"Even business leaders are on our side. Now, parliament and the government must move."

Kishida in February sacked an aide who had sparked outrage by saying people would flee Japan if same-sex marriage was allowed and that he did not want to live next to LGBT couples.

The premier, however, has remained noncommittal on same-sex marriage, saying circumstances in each nation are different and discussion had to proceed "carefully".

In five court cases on same-sex marriage over the last two years, four courts ruled either that not allowing it was unconstitutional or nearly so. One said not allowing it was in line with the constitution.

(Additional reporting by Ritsuko Shimizu; Editing by Lincoln Feast and William Mallard)
AMMAN (Reuters) - The Jordanian army shot down a drone carrying weapons from Syria on Friday, the military said, the second time this week Jordan has downed an unmanned aircraft flying into its territory from neighbouring Syria.

A statement reported by state news agency Petra said the drone was shot down in Jordanian territory and was found to be carrying weapons, without giving further details.

The army said on Tuesday it had downed a drone carrying drugs from Syria. Jordan has blamed pro-Iranian militias, who it says are protected by units within the Syrian army, for smuggling drugs across its borders towards Gulf markets.

Damascus says it is doing its best to curb smuggling and continues to bust smuggler rings in the south. It denies complicity by Iranian-backed militias linked to its army and security forces.

(Reporting by Jana Choukeir; Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Louise Heavens)
FILE PHOTO: The logo of Israeli cyber firm NSO Group is seen at one of its branches in the Arava Desert, southern Israel July 22, 2021. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo

By Raphael Satter

(Reuters) - The widow of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi says in a lawsuit that surveillance software built by the Israeli surveillance company NSO Group was used to spy on her messages in the months leading up to her husband's death.

In a civil suit filed Thursday in the Northern District of Virginia, Hanan Elatr Khashoggi said that NSO "intentionally targeted" her devices and "caused her immense harm, both through the tragic loss of her husband and through her own loss of safety, privacy, and autonomy."

NSO initially said it had not seen the lawsuit. When the firm was sent a copy, it did not immediately respond. The company - which markets surveillance technology to intelligence agencies and law enforcement around the world - has previously denied that its technology was used to hack Khashoggi. He was a Washington Post columnist who was murdered on the grounds of Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul in 2018.

U.S. intelligence concluded in 2021 that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved an operation to capture or kill Khashoggi. The Saudi government has denied any involvement by the crown prince and has maintained that Khashoggi's killing was a heinous crime by a rogue group.

Saudi use of the Pegasus spying tool has come up in other controversial cases. Last year, Reuters reported that an attempt by Saudi authorities to wield Pegasus against Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul backfired, allowing researchers to uncover thousands of other victims and triggering a cascade of legal and government action.

The U.S. government has imposed restrictions on doing business with NSO over human rights concerns, and the company faces a barrage of legal action over its spy services, including from Apple Inc and WhatsApp owner Meta Platforms Inc.

(Reporting by Raphael Satter; Editing by Frances Kerry)
MANILA (Reuters) - An earthquake of magnitude 6.3 struck the Philippines' main island on Thursday, authorities said, halting some railway operations in the capital Manila.

No casualties or major damage were reported after the quake, which struck out at sea at a depth of 10 kilometres (6.21 miles) and was felt in nearby provinces, the Philippine seismology agency said.

Operations of the three elevated railway lines in Manila were stopped due to the earthquake, the transport ministry said.

"Railways and airports had suspension in operations. So far, no report of major effect of the quake and we hope it remains this way," Civil defence spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro, told GMA news channel.

Ceiling lights were seen shaking at a hotel in one of Manila's business districts where President Ferdinand Marcos Jr was speaking to reporters after attending an international trade forum, according to a Reuters witness.

Peter Oliver Palacio, mayor of Calatagan, a town just 5km from the epicentre, told DZMM radio the quake was dizzying and added the town's engineering department had been instructed to check for damage.

The seismology agency initially recorded a magnitude 6.2 earthquake, but later revised it to 6.3. It said it expects damage and aftershocks.

(Reporting by Jahnavi Nidumolu in Bengaluru, Enrico Dela Cruz and Neil Jerome Morales in Manila; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor)
KYIV (Reuters) - A married couple were killed by Russian shelling of the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson overnight, the regional governor said on Friday.

Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said Russian forces had shelled the Novoberyslav settlement on the right bank of the Dnipro River from a Russian-occupied position on the opposite side of the river.

"A couple died as a result of a hit on one of the houses. The woman died on the spot. Doctors tried to save the man, but he died of his wounds on the way to hospital," Prokudin said on the Telegram messaging app.

Reuters was unable immediately to verify the report.

Ukraine recaptured parts of the Kherson region in November after months of Russian occupation, but Russian forces regularly shell the city of Kherson and other parts of the region that are controlled by Ukraine from the opposite side of the Dnipro.

The Kherson region have also been affected by flooding following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam and a hydroelectric power station on the Dnipro that unleashed a torrent of water.

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
FILE PHOTO: Hedge fund manager Crispin Odey sits in a vehicle departing Westminster Magistrates' Court, after being found not guilty of indecent assault, during a three-day long trial in London, Britain, March 11, 2021. REUTERS/John Sibley//File Photo

By Nell Mackenzie

LONDON (Reuters) -Odey Asset Management has suspended further funds after increased investor redemptions, letters posted on the fund's website showed.

The hedge fund, once run by one of Britain's best known star managers, Crispin Odey, has grappled with investor flight after the founder became the focus of sexual misconduct allegations in media reports last week.

The Financial Times and Tortoise Media, in a joint publication on June 8, reported allegations by 13 women that Odey - one of Britain's best-known hedge fund managers - had sexually assaulted or harassed them over a 25-year period.

The firm suspended trading in the Odey Special Situations and LF Odey Portfolio funds, after investors sought redemptions, two letters dated June 15 on the firm's website said.

A spokesperson for OAM on Friday declined to comment on the suspended funds.

Odey last week told Reuters that the report was a "rehash of an old article and none of the allegations have been stood up in a courtroom or an investigation." Odey has since declined calls and messages.

Within hours of that report being published, Wall Street firms including Goldman Sachs (GS.N), JPMorgan (JPM.N) and Morgan Stanley (MS.N) began reviewing financing ties with Odey Asset Management (OAM), which they then went on to cut.

OAM is now breaking up its funds and employees are moving to rivals following the allegations.

Bloomberg first reported the news.

(Reporting by Nell Mackenzie; edited by Dhara Ranasinghe and Louise Heavens)
(Reuters) - The U.S. Air National Guardsman accused of leaking top-secret military intelligence records online will appear in a federal court in Massachusetts on Wednesday for his arraignment on some of the most serious security breach charges, a court notice showed on Friday.

Jack Douglas Teixeira, 21, of North Dighton, Massachusetts, has been indicted on six counts of willful retention and transmission of classified information relating to national defense, the Justice Department said on Thursday.

Each charge of unauthorized retention and transmission of national defense information provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

Teixeira is accused of committing one of the most serious U.S. security breaches since more than 700,000 documents, videos and diplomatic cables appeared on the WikiLeaks website in 2010.

His in-person arraignment is set for June 21 at 3:45 PM (1945 GMT) in a courtroom in Worcester, Massachusetts, before federal Magistrate Judge David Hennessy, according to the U.S. District Court notice.

(Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
FILE PHOTO: Flowers and other items have been left as memorials outside the Tree of Life synagogue following last Saturday's shooting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., November 3, 2018. REUTERS/Alan Freed/File Photo

By Jonathan Allen and Joseph Ax

(Reuters) -A jury on Friday found Robert Bowers guilty of dozens of federal hate crimes for the killing of 11 worshippers at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue in 2018, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.

Bowers, 50, now faces the penalty phase of his trial at the U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh in which the 12 jurors must weigh whether he deserves the death sentence.

Federal prosecutors charged Bowers with 63 counts, including 11 counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death.

The jury found him guilty on all counts in what was a foregone conclusion, after defense lawyers did not dispute that he planned and carried out the attack. Instead, Bowers' attorneys are focused on avoiding a death sentence in the trial's next phase, scheduled to begin on June 26.

During the trial, which began on May 30, jurors heard testimony from some of the survivors of the attack and evidence of Bowers' antisemitism, including multiple posts attacking Jews made on a far-right website in the months leading up to the attack.

In a statement, Jeffrey Myers, the Tree of Life synagogue's rabbi who survived the attack, thanked God, law enforcement and prosecutors.

"Today I'm focused on being with my congregation and praying, singing and clapping in praise of God as we do each Shabbat," he said. "In the face of the horror our community has experienced, I can think of no better response than practicing my Jewish faith and leading worship."

In the sentencing phase, prosecutors will try to show that aggravating factors were involved, making a case that Bowers carefully planned the attack and that he targeted vulnerable victims. Most of the victims were elderly.

Defense lawyers for Bowers have argued that a death sentence would violate the Constitution on the grounds that he suffers from major mental illness, including schizophrenia.

All 12 jurors must vote unanimously in order to sentence Bowers to death. Otherwise, he will face life in prison.

(Reporting by Jonathan Allen and Joseph Ax; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden, seated with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, holds a videoconference with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss Russia's war with Ukraine from the

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. rights groups plan protests next week against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Washington over what they call India's deteriorating human rights record, even though experts do not expect Washington to be publicly critical of New Delhi.

The Indian American Muslim Council, Peace Action, Veterans for Peace and Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition plan to gather near the White House on June 22 when Modi is due to meet President Joe Biden.

Washington hopes for closer ties with the world's largest democracy, which it sees as a counterweight to China, but rights advocates worry that geopolitics will overshadow human rights issues. The United States has said its human rights concerns related to India include the Indian government's targeting of religious minorities, dissidents and journalists.

The protesting groups prepared flyers that said "Modi Not Welcome" and "Save India from Hindu Supremacy."

Another event is planned in New York featuring a show titled "Howdy Democracy," a play on the name of the 2019 "Howdy Modi!" rally in Texas featuring the Indian prime minister and then-U.S. President Donald Trump.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have invited policy makers, journalists and analysts next week to a screening in Washington of a BBC documentary on Modi that questioned his leadership during the deadly 2002 Gujarat riots.

In a letter to Biden, Human Rights Watch's Asia Division director Elaine Pearson urged the White House to raise concerns, both publicly and privately, about human rights in India during Modi's visit.

"We strongly urge you to use your meetings with Prime Minister Modi to urge Modi to move his government and his party in a different direction," she said in the letter shared with Reuters.

All of this is unlikely to change the Biden-Modi discussions, said analysts.

"My guess is that human rights will not be much of a focus of the conversation," said Donald Camp, a former State Department official and part of Washington think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Camp said that for the Modi trip to be seen as successful on both sides, there would be a reluctance from Washington to raise human rights issues.

The U.S. State Department has said it regularly raises human rights concerns with Indian officials and respects the free speech rights of U.S. residents to demonstrate against Modi.

A spokesperson for India's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

CIVIL LIBERTY CONCERNS

Since Modi took office in 2014, India has slid from 140th in the World Press Freedom Index, to 161st this year, its lowest ever, while also topping the list for the highest number of internet shutdowns globally for five consecutive years.

Advocacy groups have also raised concerns over alleged human rights abuses under Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

They point to a 2019 citizenship law that the U.N. human rights office described as "fundamentally discriminatory" by excluding Muslim migrants; anti-conversion legislation that challenged the constitutionally protected right to freedom of belief; and the revoking of Muslim-majority Kashmir's special status in 2019.

There has also been demolition of properties owned by Muslims in the name of removing illegal construction; and a ban on wearing the hijab in classrooms in Karnataka when BJP was in power in that state.

The Indian government dismisses the criticism, saying its policies are aimed at the welfare of all communities and that it enforces the law equally. Modi remains India's most popular leader and is widely expected to remain in office after next year's elections.

The administration of then-President George W. Bush denied Modi a visa in 2005 under a 1998 U.S. law barring entry to foreigners who have committed "particularly severe violations of religious freedom." In 2002, when Modi had just become Gujarat's chief minister, at least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in sectarian riots.

Modi denied wrongdoing. An investigation ordered by India's supreme court found no evidence to prosecute him. When he became prime minister, the U.S. ban was lifted.

Under Biden, Washington has raised some muted concern, including by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and by the State Department in its 2023 reports on human rights and religious freedom.

"The China factor is certainly a prime reason why the U.S. treats rights and democracy issues in India with kid gloves, but it goes further than that," said Michael Kugelman, the director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center think tank in Washington.

"The U.S. views India as an important long-term partner."

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; additional reporting by Simon Lewis and Shilpa Jamkhandikar;Editing by Don Durfee, Heather Timmons and Alistair Bell)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 16, 2023) - Atacama Copper Corporation (TSXV: ACOP) ("Atacama Copper" or, the "Company") is pleased to announce that on June 15, 2023 (the "Closing Date"), it closed a non-brokered private placement of 1,567,332 common shares in the capital of the Company ("Common Shares") at a purchase price of $0.18 per Common Share for gross proceeds of $282,119.76 (the "Offering"). The gross proceeds of the Offering will be used for general corporate purposes.

A finder's fees consisting of an aggregate cash commission of $5,249.99 and 29,167 warrants to purchase Common Shares ("Finder's Warrants") was paid by the Company in connection with the Offering. The finder's fee represents 7.0% of the proceeds from and 7.0% of the Common Shares issued to certain subscribers introduced to the Company by the finder. Each Finder Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price of $0.30 for a period of 24 months from the Closing Date.

The securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four months plus one day from the Closing Date, being October 16, 2023, in accordance with applicable securities legislation.

Insiders of the Company participated in the Offering. Pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101  Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), the Offering constitutes a "related party transaction" given the fact that insiders of the Company subscribed for Common Shares. The Company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements of MI 61-101, specifically: (i) the valuation requirement of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemption contained in Section 5.5(a) of MI 61-101, and (ii) the minority shareholder approval requirement of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemption contained in Section 5.7(b) of MI 61-101.

A material change report was not filed by the Company at least 21 days before the closing of the Offering, as the Company was seeking to close expeditiously to confirm funds for the Offering. In the view of the Company, this approach is reasonable in the circumstances.

The Company has requested final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange in connection with the Offering.

For more information concerning Atacama Copper, please refer to the Company's profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com.

About Atacama Copper Corporation

Atacama Copper Corporation is a resource company focusing on acquiring, exploring, and developing copper properties in Chile and elsewhere in the Americas. It is committed to advancing the exploration and development of the Placeton and El Cofre projects while looking to increase its asset portfolio through the acquisition and development of other high-value copper exploration, development, and production opportunities. Atacama Copper's Placeton project is a large porphyry copper target located between the Relincho and El Morro Copper-gold deposits of the Nueva Union joint venture between Teck and Newmont Mining.

Additional Information  Please Contact

For more information, please contact:

Tim Warman

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Atacama Copper Corporation

Email: info@atacamacopper.ca

Cautionary Statements

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.

In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the anticipated use of proceeds from the Offering and receipt of final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. The material facts and assumptions include the intended use of proceeds remaining in the best interests of the Company. The Company cautions the reader that the above list of risk factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Due to the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein.

Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of U.S. Securities Laws.

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 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.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/170280
By Andrew Osborn

(Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that his deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, something he confirmed for the first time had already happened, was a reminder to the West that it could not inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.

Speaking at Russia's flagship economic forum in St Petersburg, Putin said Russian tactical nuclear warheads had already been delivered to close ally Belarus, but stressed he saw no need for Russia to resort to nuclear weapons for now.

"As you know we were negotiating with our ally, (Belarusian President (Alexander) Lukashenko, that we would move a part of these tactical nuclear weapons to the territory of Belarus - this has happened," said Putin.

"The first nuclear warheads were delivered to the territory of Belarus. But only the first ones, the first part. But we will do this job completely by the end of the summer or by the end of the year."

The move, Moscow's first deployment of such warheads - shorter-range nuclear weapons that could potentially be used on the battlefield - outside Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union was intended as a warning to the West about arming and supporting Ukraine, the Russian leader said.

"...It is precisely as an element of deterrence so that all those who are thinking about inflicting a strategic defeat on us are not oblivious to this circumstance," said Putin, using a diplomatic term for a defeat so severe that Russian power would be diminished on the world stage for decades.

Lukashenko, a staunch ally of Putin, said late on Tuesday his country had started taking delivery of Russian tactical nuclear weapons that included some three times more powerful than the atomic bombs the U.S. dropped on Japan in 1945.

The Russian leader announced in March he had agreed to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, pointing to the U.S deployment of such weapons in a host of European countries over many decades.

PUTIN SAYS WEST WANTS STRATEGIC DEFEAT

The United States has criticised Putin's decision but has said it has no intention of altering its own stance on strategic nuclear weapons and has not seen any signs that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon.

The Russian step is nonetheless being watched closely by Washington and its allies as well as by China, which has repeatedly cautioned against the use of nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine.

Putin said the West was doing everything it could to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia in Ukraine where Moscow is locked in the biggest land war in Europe since World War Two after invading its neighbour last year in what it called "a special military operation."

But Russia had no need to resort to nuclear weapons for now, said Putin, signalling no change in Moscow's nuclear posture which only envisages such a move if the existence of the Russian state is threatened.

"Nuclear weapons have been made to ensure our security in the broadest sense of the word and the existence of the Russian state, but we...have no such need (to use them)," Putin said.

But he said talks with the West to reduce Russia's vast nuclear arsenal, the world's largest, were a non-starter.

"Just talking about this (the potential use of nuclear weapons) lowers the nuclear threshold. We have more than NATO countries and they want to reduce our numbers. Screw them," said Putin.

Sounding defiant as he addressed his country's political and business elite, he said a Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russian forces in Ukraine had so far not had any meaningful success. Kyiv's forces were suffering heavy losses and had "no chance" against Russia's military, he said.

Ukraine would soon run out of its own military equipment, making it totally reliant on hardware supplied by the West, undermining its ability to fight for long, he suggested.

Recalling his stated objectives at the start of the war to "demilitarise" and "denazify" Ukraine, Putin said:

"As for demilitarisation, soon Ukraine will stop using its own equipment altogether. There's nothing left. Everything on which they fight and everything that they use is brought in from the outside. Well, you can't fight like that for long."

PUTIN GIVES WARNING ON F-16S

Independent military analysts say Ukraine has outperformed Russia's much larger army in nearly 16 months of war, forcing it into major retreats around the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Kherson.

Ukraine's military chiefs said on Friday that advancing Ukrainian troops were facing "desperate resistance" from Russian forces around the city of Bakhmut, which Russia captured last month after the longest battle of the war.

Ukraine says it has recaptured seven villages and 100 square km (38 square miles) in the early stages of its counteroffensive.

But Russia's Defence Ministry said on Friday its forces had repelled numerous attempted counterattacks by the Ukrainian army at different frontline locations in the last 24 hours, inflicting severe losses on Kyiv's forces.

Putin said Western-supplied hardware such as German-made Leopard tanks was regularly destroyed and if Kyiv got U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets from its allies, they would go up in flames too.

"F-16s will also be burning, there is no doubt. But if they will be stationed outside Ukraine and used in combat operations we will have to look at how to engage and where to engage those assets being used in combat operations against us."

That, he said, represented "a serious danger" of dragging NATO further into the conflict.

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Ukraine would soon run out of its own military equipment, making it totally reliant on hardware supplied by the West which would undermine its ability to fight for long.

Putin told an economic forum in St Petersburg that Ukraine had failed to make progress in its counteroffensive and said its army had "no chance" against Russia's.

Recalling his stated objectives at the start of the war to "demilitarise" and "denazify" Ukraine, Putin said:

"As for demilitarisation, soon Ukraine will stop using its own equipment altogether. There's nothing left. Everything on which they fight and everything that they use is brought in from the outside. Well, you can't fight like that for long."

Independent military analysts say Ukraine has outperformed Russia's much larger army in the nearly 16 months of the war, forcing it into major retreats around the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Kherson.

Ukraine's military chiefs said on Friday that advancing Ukrainian troops were facing "desperate resistance" from Russian forces around the city of Bakhmut, which Russia captured last month after the longest battle of the war.

Ukraine says it has recaptured seven villages and 100 square km (38 square miles) in the early stages of its counteroffensive.

Russia's Defence Ministry said on Friday its forces had repelled numerous attempted counterattacks by the Ukrainian army at different frontline locations in the last 24 hours, inflicting heavy losses on Kyiv's forces.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
Russian President Vladimir Putin and President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attend a meeting at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia, June 16, 2023. Sputnik/Ilya Pitalev/Hos

By Andrew Osborn

(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday thanked the president of the United Arab Emirates for his efforts in freeing prisoners of war in Ukraine and hailed what he said were expanding economic ties between Moscow and Abu Dhabi.

Putin made the comments during talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan on the sidelines of Russia's annual economic forum in St Petersburg, where UAE companies are prominent unlike many Western counterparts who have stayed away because of the Ukraine conflict.

The UAE, like Saudi Arabia, is a member of the OPEC+ oil alliance that includes Russia and it has maintained good ties with Moscow despite Western pressure to help isolate and punish it for sending tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

The UAE has not joined Western sanctions against Moscow, while Dubai, long popular with Russian tourists, has become a magnet for Russian business people over the past 16 months, with busy direct flights to Moscow and expanding economic ties.

"I know that the Emirates' economy and the social sphere are developing really actively under your leadership and, in this sense, for us of course the Emirates is a very good and comfortable partner," Putin told the UAE president.

"Relations between Russia and the Emirates are developing really successfully," he added.

PRISONER EXCHANGE

The UAE has helped mediate at least one sensitive prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine.

"(The exchanges) matter to specific people, and that is always the most important thing, so thank you very much for that as well," Putin said.

Sheikh Mohammed, who called Putin "my friend" according to a Kremlin transcript, said his nation was ready to help further on Ukraine.

"... if you think that the Emirates can play a role in the stabilisation of the situation there, in humanitarian issues - we are ready to assist in every way possible," it cited him as telling Putin.

"The UAE continues to support all efforts aimed at reaching a political solution through dialogue & diplomacy...," he tweeted separately after the meeting.

Sheikh Mohammed said he hoped the UAE could welcome one million Russian tourists this year.

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Gareth Jones)
FILE PHOTO: Lynx fighting vehicles are pictured at a production line at the plant of German company Rheinmetall, which produces weapons and ammunition for tanks and artillery, during a media tour in Unterluess, Germany, June 6, 2023. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

By Sabine Siebold

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Rheinmetall will ramp up production of propellant powder for ammunition at its plant in the Bavarian town of Aschau by 500 to 600 metric tons per year, adding some 10% to its current global capacity of more than 6,000 tons, its CEO Armin Papperger said.

Rheinmetall has already kicked off an investment programme with this goal, Papperger told Reuters in an interview late on Thursday.

While this does not mean that earlier plans for a completely new powder plant were off the table, the construction of a new plant with a planned capacity of some 1,500 tons per year would only be commercially viable with state aid or a very large contract, he said.

"You can only do it if you have a very, very large order of, for example, 800,000 artillery shells," Papperger said. "This is not a situation we find ourselves in, which means we are finding other ways such as expanding our powder plant in Bavaria."

In January, Papperger told Reuters that Rheinmetall was considering building a new powder plant, possibly in the eastern German state of Saxony, but that the investment of 700-800 million euros would have to be footed by the government in Berlin.

He argued the plant was needed as shortages in the production of special powders could turn out to be a bottleneck, hampering efforts to boost the output of tank and artillery shells.

Global demand for ammunition has soared since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Feb. 2022, with Rheinmetall benefiting from it as one of the biggest global producers of artillery and tank shells.

(This story has been refiled to fix the spelling of powder in paragraph 1)

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Conor Humphries)
FILE PHOTO: Italian NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) peacekeepers guard the site near the village of Bare, Kosovo, June 14, 2023 REUTERS/Valdrin Xhemaj/File Photo

By Aleksandar Vasovic and Fatos Bytyci

BELGRADE/PRISTINA (Reuters) - A Serbian court on Friday ordered the continued detention and investigation of three Kosovo policemen arrested this week in a border area in disputed circumstances.

Kosovo says the three were arrested inside its territory by Serbian officers who had crossed the border. Belgrade says they were detained inside Serbia.

The Public Prosecutor's Office in Serbia's southwestern city of Kraljevo said it had charged the three policemen with unauthorised production, possession, carrying and trafficking of weapons and explosive substances.

"The judge for the preliminary proceedings of the Higher Court in Kraljevo ordered the detention of all suspects," the prosecutor's office said in a statement.

Kosovo's Justice Minister Albulena Haxhiu said the policemen must be released as soon as possible.

"The scenario to further deepening of tensions is continuing from an aggressive Serbia through the autocratic president Vucic," Haxhiu said in a statement.

Albanian-majority Kosovo declared independence from Serbia with the backing of the West following a 1998-99 war. Serbia still considers Kosovo part of its territory.

The detentions were the latest in a series of incidents that have led to unrest in the area and raised concern of renewed violence between Serbia and Kosovo.

The Kosovo government has called the arrests an act of aggression by Serbia and in retaliation has banned all trucks with Serbian licence plates and Serbian goods from entering its territory.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic denied the accusations and accused Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti of inciting conflict.

The United States and Britain have urged Kosovo and Serbia to reduce tensions and called for the immediate release of the policemen, while EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borell has called crisis talks with Kurti and Vucic for next week.

A U.S. envoy said the officers did not intentionally cross the border and the "likely scenarios" were that they were abducted from inside Kosovo or "inadvertently crossed the boundary".

The three "had no intention to be in Serbia and should be released", U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar told reporters.

The NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, which is responsible for maintaining the fragile peace since the war ended, said it had reviewed the location and based on available input, it remains unclear where the Kosovo police officers were at the time of the arrest.

We urge both parties to refrain from provocative rhetoric and to avoid any unilateral act that could escalate the tension in the area, it said.

Kosovo police said that nine journalists were attacked on Friday in the northern town of Leposavic by masked men who were protesting against a government minister visiting the Albanian mayor.

Police said some of the journalists had sought medical help and that their cameras had been broken.

(Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic in Belgrade, Jonathan Landay in Washington and Fatos Bytyci in Pristina; Editing by Alex Richardson, Angus MacSwan and Nick Macfie)
The headquarters of Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc, is seen in Wichita, Kansas, U.S. December 17, 2019. REUTERS/Nick Oxford

By Valerie Insinna

(Reuters) -Spirit Aerosystems has reached a tentative four-year contract agreement with the 6,000-member machinists union employed at its Wichita, Kansas plant, the union said Friday in a statement.

The agreement means the company will likely avoid a costly strike that would have rippled through the aircraft supply chain, as Spirit is a key manufacturer for aerospace giant Boeing.

The pact is set for a vote on June 21, just a few days before Spirit's current agreement with this branch of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union expires on June 24.

"This fair and competitive contract recognizes the important contributions of our factory employees and ensures that Spirit can successfully meet increasing demand for aircraft from customers," Spirit Aerosystems said in an emailed statement.

"We urge our employees to review the contract with their families, and vote 'yes' to allow all of us build a bright future together.

Spirits Wichita production facility is responsible for manufacturing major subassemblies of most Boeing jetliners, including the entire fuselage of Boeings lucrative 737 narrowbody aircraft and the forward fuselage of the widebody 787 Dreamliner. '

A slowdown could have impeded Boeing as it tries to recover from ongoing 737 and 787 production glitches. The company is trying to ramp up production to meet end-of-year objectives, bumping output from three to five 787s per month and 31 to 38 single-aisle 737s per month.

A stoppage could have also had a detrimental effect on already-fragile Spirit AeroSystems, which has been responsible for several recent production flaws affecting Boeing jets, including a 737 bracket installation problem.

Those problems could cut Spirit's annual gross profit by $31 million. In May, Spirit said it expects cash burn of about $100 million to $150 million in 2023.

Spirit shares were up 1.4% in Friday afternoon trading. Boeing edged 0.3% higher.

The new agreement includes additional health insurance and retirement benefits, makes overtime on Sunday voluntary, and "up to a compounded 34% average pay increase," the union said in a statement.

(Reporting By Valerie Insinna, additional reporting by Kannaki Deka; writing by David Gaffen, editing by Deepa Babington and Maju Samuel)
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The Swedish government has decided on a 12th support package to Ukraine, worth 250 million crowns ($23.7 million), that includes Ukrainian pilots test flying the Nordic country's Gripen fighter jets, it said on Friday.

It said in a statement the bulk of the money would be channelled through one British and one NATO fund for the procurement of defense and military training equipment among other things.

Sweden in May said it may allow Ukrainian pilots to test Gripen following inquiries from Ukraine about various kinds of aviation systems, repeating however that Sweden had no plans to send fighter jets to the invaded country.

($1 = 10.5604 Swedish crowns)

(Reporting by Anna Ringstrom, editing by Louise Rasmussen)
FILE PHOTO: Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott running for re-election as Governor of Texas in the 2022 U.S. midterm elections, speaks during a rally, in Conroe, Texas, U.S., January 29, 2022. REUTERS/Go Nakamura/File Photo

(Reuters) - All state-funded colleges and universities in Texas will have to close their diversity, equity and inclusion offices under a measure signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

The law, which one of its sponsors in the Texas state Senate called the most significant ban on diversity offices in higher education in the country, comes as the U.S. Supreme Court later this month is widely expected to ban colleges and universities from considering race as a factor in their admissions decisions.

Under the Texas law, signed by Abbott on Wednesday, any public college or university that does not certify it is in compliance with the measure would not be able to spend state funds allocated to it.

It also mandates that state officials every two years through 2029 conduct studies to gauge the impact of the law on students broken down by race. It will look at the rates of application, acceptance, matriculations, retention and graduation, along with grade point averages. The law does not explain the reasoning for conducting these studies.

The law is the latest salvo from Texas' Republican lawmakers and Abbott, also is a Republican, and comes as critics assail diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, efforts as divisive or anti-white, while proponents say they can help people from different backgrounds learn to work together.

"Texas is leading the nation and ensuring our campuses return to focusing on the strength of diversity and promoting a merit-based approach where individuals are judged on their qualifications, skills, and contributions," state Senator Brandon Creighton, a Republican who was one of the bill's authors, said in a statement.

But Paulette Granberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, said in a statement that the bill's signature marked a "sad occasion for all students at Texas' public universities."

"By dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and offices at these institutions, Texas lawmakers have chosen to prioritize a political agenda instead of the success of these students," Russell wrote.

She said all students, regardless of race, benefit from having a diverse student body, and that her organization would not stop working for Texas universities to be increasingly accessible and inclusive.

(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas; editing by Donna Bryson and Leslie Adler)
LONDON (Reuters) - A set of non-fungible tokens previously bought by bankrupt cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital sold for $10.9 million at Sotheby's in New York on Thursday, the auction house said.

Three Arrows Capital, which filed for U.S. bankruptcy a year ago, spent $15.5 million worth of cryptocurrency on the 37 NFTs in a series of purchases in July and August 2021, data from blockchain tracker DappRadar showed.

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are a blockchain-based asset that represents ownership of a digital item such as an image, video or piece of text.

The most expensive item "Ringers #879 (The Goose)" is part of a series of 1,000 computer-generated abstract images by Canadian artist Dmitri Cherniak.

It sold for $6.2 million on Thursday, Sotheby's said, having been bought by Three Arrows Capital for around $5.9 million in August 2021 according to DappRadar data.

"We see a growing interest and more non-crypto, non-NFT collectors starting to really understand the quality and why its interesting," said Michael Bouhanna, head of digital art and NFTs at Sotheby's.

NFTs only exist in digital form and anyone can view them online for free, but many of the items in the auction are accompanied by physical print copies which buyers can display, Bouhanna added.

Singapore-based Three Arrows Capital was the first in a series of major crypto firms to go bankrupt in 2022, following the collapse of cryptocurrencies Luna and TerraUSD.

The market for NFTs exploded in 2021, as cryptocurrency prices surged and technology enthusiasts bet that digital assets would become highly-valued in online virtual environments.

But the speculative frenzy has since cooled, with around $675 million worth of NFT sales in May 2023, down from a peak of $5.7 billion in January 2022, according to DappRadar data.

Another seven of Three Arrows Capital's NFTs were already sold for $2.5 million at a Sotheby's auction in May.

(Reporting by Elizabeth Howcroft; Additional reporting by Nilutpal Timsina; Editing by Sonali Paul)
Migrants, survivors of a deadly shipwreck after a boat capsized at open sea off Greece, board a bus as they are being transferred to Athens from the port of Kalamata, Greece, June 16, 2023. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on Friday for countries to clamp down on people smugglers and human traffickers after at least 78 migrants were killed in a shipwreck off the coast of Greece.

Witness accounts suggested between 400 and 750 people had packed a fishing boat that capsized and sank early on Wednesday morning about 50 miles (80 km) from the southern coastal town of Pylos.

"What happened on Wednesday underscores the need to investigate people smugglers and human traffickers and ensure they are brought to justice," Jeremy Laurence, U.N. Human Rights Office spokesperson, told reporters in Geneva.

"The High Commissioner reiterated his call to states to open up more regular migration channels and enhance responsibility sharing, ensure arrangements for the safe and timely disembarkation of all people rescued at sea, and the establishment of independent monitoring and oversight of migration related policies and practices."

Dimitris Chaliotis, a Hellenic Red Cross volunteer who was part of the rescue operations, said that most migrants were from Libya and Syria. In the immediate aftermath of the disaster 104 survivors and 78 people who drowned were brought to shore by Greek authorities, but nothing has been found since.

Nine people have been arrested over the shipwreck, a Greek shipping ministry official said.

Greece is one of the main routes into the European Union for refugees and migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

The United Nations has recorded more than 20,000 deaths and disappearances in the central Mediterranean since 2014, making it the most dangerous migrant crossing in the world.

Nearly 3,800 people died on migration routes within and from the Middle East and North Africa last year, the highest number recorded there since 2017, according to data published earlier this month by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Frances Kerry)
(Bloomberg) -- Tether Holdings Ltd. once counted securities issued by Chinese companies among the reserves backing its USDT stablecoin, the worlds largest, documents released by New Yorks Attorney General show.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Speculation that Tether had exposure to Chinese commercial paper had followed the stablecoin issuer for years. A Bloomberg investigation published in October 2021 found evidence that Tethers reserves did in fact include billions of dollars of short-term loans to Chinese companies, as well as a sizable loan to crypto platform Celsius Network. At the time, Tether denied having any exposure to the crisis-hit China Evergrande Groups debt but declined to say whether it held securities of other Chinese companies or issuers.

The quality of assets backing USDT has long been the subject of scrutiny because of the crucial role it plays in crypto markets. Traders use the stablecoin, which has a circulation of about $83.5 billion, to move money into and out of cryptocurrency markets, swap funds between exchanges and as a haven in times of high volatility. Should Tether be unable to redeem the tokens for dollars, confidence in cryptoassets would be shaken.

Tether, which in February 2021 reached a settlement with the NY AGs office over allegations that it lied about its reserves and hid losses, provided letters, banks accounts, reserve holdings and wallet addresses through the law firm Steptoe. The documents, which list Tethers assets as of March 31, 2021 and were handed over to the NY AG, also detailed procedures for detecting money laundering.

The NY AG released the documents in response to a freedom of information request from Bloomberg News, following an earlier request by crypto publication CoinDesk.

Tether is in a completely different position compared to 2 years ago, the company said in a blog post Friday. It demonstrated, leading the industry during the biggest black swan events in 2020 and 2022, that its reserves are extremely liquid, of high quality and ready to be made available to support any size of redemption.

Tether said in July last year that it held no Chinese commercial paper at that point. It also said its total commercial paper holdings had dropped to $3.7 billion, and that it planned to reduce the position to zero within a few months.

According to the documents released by the NY AG, Tether at one point held securities issued by major state-owned Chinese companies including Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., China Construction Bank Corp. and Agricultural Bank of China Ltd. The documents that list the individual securities dont display at which point Tether held them. The securities matured in 2020 or 2021.

Tether also held securities issued by companies ranging from Deutsche Bank AG to Barclays Bank Plc and ArcelorMittal SA, according to the documents.

Stablecoin issuers like Tether say their tokens are backed on a one-to-one basis with primarily cash and cash-equivalents to maintain their pegs with assets like the US dollar. There are also stablecoins that rely on other mechanisms, though they are much less widely used than USDT and the second-biggest token, USDC.

Countering Rumors

Documents detailing Tethers banking relationships, lending, and investments made through reserve assets as of the end of March 2021 also showed that the USDT issuer had made significant loans to third parties, and highlighted accounts held at several different Bahamian banks.

Read more: Tether Deviates From Dollar Peg as Market Mismatches

In the tumultuous summer of 2022, as crypto markets cratered in the wake of algorithmic stablecoin TerraUSDs collapse, Tether found itself once again having to counter speculation about its reserves.

In mid-June that year, as crypto firms including Celsius were failing, Tether issued a blog post in which it described as completely false rumours that its commercial paper portfolio is 85% backed by Chinese or Asian commercial papers and being traded at a 30% discount. The blog post further said that the Celsius position has been liquidated with no losses to Tether.

Below are some of the key facts about Tether outlined in the documents:

Banks

According to the documents, Tether maintained bank accounts at Deltec Bank & Trust, Ansbacher (Bahamas) Limited, Capital Union Bank and Far Eastern International Bank for assets backing USDT as of March 31, 2021. The documents include portfolio reports for some of the accounts.

Tether also held reserve assets in funds at Bradbury Investment as well as the Metis GY Harvesting Fund. In addition, it had US dollars and Bitcoin deposited on Bitfinex, the crypto exchange with which it has an affiliation. Tether also held more than $2 billion worth of reserves in gold storage as of March 31, 2021.

For corporate operational accounts, Bitfinex and Tether used Deltec and Far Eastern International Bank. Neither Bitfinex nor Tether used reserve funds for operational purposes, Tethers lawyer wrote. Only two people at Tether  the chief financial officer and the chief investment officer  had authority to move profits from the reserve account into the operating account, the lawyer wrote.

Lending

Tether issued loans in USDT to third parties. Its lending program reached $5.1 billion and had fewer than 30 borrowers as of March 31, 2021, the documents show.

The loans were secured with collateral in the form of digital assets, such as Bitcoin or Ether, or securities.

Tethers lending program was sizable in the crypto space. In comparison, Genesis Global Capital, then one of the largest lenders in the digital asset space, reported $9 billion total active loans as of March 2021.

The document also mentioned that Tether made a loan to Bitfinex, which repaid the full principal on Jan 13, 2021. Bitfinex borrowed more than $600 million from Tether in 2018, a transaction made public later in 2019 when the NY AG alleged the exchange lost $850 million in customer and corporate funds to payment processor Crypto Capital Corp.

--With assistance from Anna Irrera, Sidhartha Shukla and Dave Liedtka.

(The 16th paragraph was corrected to show Tether invested in the Metis GY Harvesting Fund. The story was originally published on June 16.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
By Nate Raymond

(Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday preserved the Justice Department's power to unilaterally dismiss lawsuits filed under a law that lets whistleblowers sue businesses on behalf of the government to recover taxpayer money paid to companies based on false claims in exchange for a portion of any recovery.

The 8-1 ruling, written by liberal Justice Elena Kagan, upheld a lower court's decision to allow the Justice Department to toss a lawsuit against a UnitedHealth Group Inc unit by a former employee named Jesse Polansky who accused it of wrongdoing.

Polansky had sought to bar the department from dismissing whistleblower lawsuits filed under the False Claims Act in instances in which the government initially declined to exercise its right to take over the cases.

The Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of Polansky's 2012 lawsuit that had accused UnitedHealth's Executive Health Resources unit of defrauding Medicare, the government health insurance program for people ages 65 and older, by falsely certifying hospital admissions as medically necessary.

"Today, we hold that the government may seek dismissal of an FCA (False Claims Act) action over a relator's objection so long as it intervened sometime in the litigation, whether at the outset or afterward," Kagan wrote.

Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas dissented.

Whistleblower cases brought under the False Claims Act resulted in $48.2 billion in recoveries from 1987 to 2021, according to Justice Department data. Most of that came from the 20% of cases that the government exercised its right to join and take over, with cases that whistleblowers litigated alone netting $3.5 billion in the same time period.

Business groups including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have said that the fact that few cases in which the government did not intervene are successful shows why the Justice Department should exercise its power to dismiss ones lacking merit. That is something the department began doing more often under a 2018 policy adopted during Republican former President Donald Trump's administration of seeking the dismissal of "meritless" or "parasitic" lawsuits that the government did not back.

The Justice Department sought dismissal of Polansky's lawsuit in 2019, citing concerns including the "tremendous" burden of requests for the government to produce documents. Executive Health Resources denied wrongdoing and argued that the department had the right to dismiss the case over Polansky's objections.

The Supreme Court on June 1 ruled in another whistleblowers case involving the False Claims Act. In that 9-0 decision, the justices 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.

(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Additional reporting by John Kruzel in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham)
FILE PHOTO: British Minister of State for Security Tom Tugendhat addresses a press conference, with Kenya's Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Interior and National Administration Kithure Kindiki, during his visit, in Nairobi, Kenya May 10, 2023. REUTER

By Andrew MacAskill

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's security minister, Tom Tugendhat, met Taiwan's digital minister on Wednesday, people with knowledge of the talks said, a meeting that breaks with conventional British foreign policy and risks infuriating the Chinese government.

Britain only has formal diplomatic relations with Beijing, but maintains a de facto embassy in Taipei. Although junior British ministers hold talks with their Taiwanese counterparts, the convention was that senior British ministers do not meet with Taiwanese officials.

One source said the meeting with the Taiwanese minister, Audrey Tang, was about mutual security interests.

China considers democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory and fiercely objects to perceived foreign interference with the island.

Tugendhat, who was sanctioned by China two years ago for speaking out about alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang, is not a full cabinet minister but attends cabinet meetings in his role as security minister, where he is responsible for countering terrorism, domestic state threats and economic crime.

Luke de Pulford, the executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a group made up of lawmakers from democratic countries concerned about Beijing's behaviour, said to his knowledge it was the first time a British minister who attends cabinet had met with a Taiwanese minister.

"This is extremely welcome and sends the right message," he said. "The security minister should be congratulated for facing down pressure from other departments and setting a new precedent, which all ministers can now follow."

The sensitivity of the meeting was borne out by the reluctance of several serving officials and departments to talk to Reuters about what was discussed.

A spokeswoman for the Home Office said: "We do not routinely comment on private ministerial meetings."

Tang's office declined to comment.

Tang on Thursday posted a picture on Twitter of her reading "The New Technology State: How Our Digital Dreams Became Societal Nightmares - and What We Can Do about It," a soon-to-be-published book whose author, Bill Raduchel, says it evolved from conversations with Tugendhat in 2019.

"Learning from @TomTugendhat delivers dividends," she said in the tweet. "Let's #FreeTheFuture  together!"

Tang was on a rare high-level ministerial trip to Britain this week. Her office said she was expected to visit government departments and meet a company specialising in low-earth orbit satellites.

The last Taiwanese minister known to have visited Britain was Taiwan's top trade negotiator, John Deng, who came last June.

Last November, Britain's then-junior trade minister, Greg Hands, went to Taiwan and met President Tsai Ing-wen. China denounced the trip, as it does with all such interactions.

(This story has been corrected to fix the description of Britain's relations with China and Taiwan to show that Britain only has diplomatic relations with Beijing in paragraph 2)

(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill in London; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
Danish F-16 fighter jet is seen at Fighter Wing Skrydstrup near Vojens, Denmark May 25, 2023. Ritzau Scanpix/Bo Amstrup via REUTERS/File Photo

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine plans to send "several dozen" combat pilots for training to fly U.S.-manufactured F-16 fighter jets, Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat said on Friday, as western allies prepared the necessary training programmes.

"Everything is being done to get it started as early as possible," Ihnat told Ukrainian national television, adding that the pilots picked for training would have combat experience.

"It's not training, it's retraining," Ihnat said.

Ukraine, which has launched a long-awaited counter-offensive, has repeatedly said it needs new Western aircraft to successfully counter Russia's aerial dominance.

NATO members the Netherlands and Denmark are leading efforts by an international coalition to train pilots and support staff, maintain aircraft and ultimately supply F-16s to Ukraine.

Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren told Reuters this week that training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s could begin as soon as this summer.

She said the aim would be to have the training programme fully operational within six months. Denmark, where there are flight simulators, is a possible location to host the program.

A final decision has not yet been taken on a request from Kyiv to supply dozens of F-16s, Ollongren said. The U.S.-backed training program will include Belgium and Luxembourg, while France and Britain have offered assistance, she said.

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
GENEVA (Reuters) - The U.N. Palestinian refugee agency said on Friday it had resumed delivering services in the West Bank after a months-long strike that affected thousands.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said its teams across the West Bank were preparing the agency's facilities to return to their regular activities as early as possible next week. It said resuming education and health services were its priority.

"As soon as the preparations are complete, UNRWA facilities will be open for services, some as soon as tomorrow," it said in a statement.

Established in 1949 following the first Arab-Israeli war, the agency provides public services including schools, primary healthcare and humanitarian aid in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.

In January UNRWA appealed for $1.6 billion in funding after its head warned it was struggling to fulfil its mandate due to spiralling costs and shrinking resources.

Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of UNRWA, said last month that contributions to the agency are set to decrease significantly this year.

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
By Timothy Gardner and Raphael Satter

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Department of Energy got ransom requests from the Russia-linked extortion group Cl0p at both its nuclear waste facility and scientific education facility that were recently hit in a global hacking campaign, a spokesperson said on Friday.

The DOE contractor Oak Ridge Associated Universities and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, the New Mexico-based facility for disposal of defense-related radioactive nuclear waste, were hit in the attack, which was first reported on Thursday.

Data was "compromised" at the two DOE entities after hackers breached their systems through a security flaw in the file transfer tool MOVEit Transfer. The software is widely-used by organisations around the world to share sensitive data.

From U.S. government departments to the UK's telecom regulator and energy giant Shell, a range of victims have emerged since Burlington, Massachusetts-based Progress Software found the security flaw in its MOVEit Transfer product last month.

The wide-ranging impact of it shows how even the most security-minded federal agencies are struggling to defend against ransomware attacks. Ransomware gangs typically scour for such widely-used tools.

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said Thursday that several federal agencies had been hit by the MOVEit breach. It did not say which ones, but added that there had not been much impact to the federal civilian executive branch.

Analysts say more victims are likely to emerge in the coming weeks.

The ransom requests to DOE came in emails to each facility, said the spokesperson, without revealing how much money was demanded. "They came in individually, not as kind of a blind carbon copy," the spokesperson said. "The two entities that received them did not engage," with Cl0p and there was no indication the ransom requests were withdrawn, he said.

The DOE, which manages U.S. nuclear weapons and nuclear waste sites related to the military, notified Congress of the breach and is participating in investigations with law enforcement and the CISA.

Cl0p did not respond to requests for comment, but in a post on its website, it said, WE DON'T HAVE ANY GOVERNMENT DATA and suggested that should the hackers inadvertently have picked up such data in their mass theft WE STILL DO THE POLITE THING AND DELETE ALL.

Recorded Future analyst Allan Liska said Cl0p was likely making a big deal out of how they purportedly deleted government data in an attempt to protect themselves from retaliation from Washington and other governments.

(Reporting by Timothy Gardner and Raphael Satter; Additional reporting by Zeba Siddiqui; Editing by Leslie Adler and Daniel Wallis)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers remarks at the release of the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report at the State Department in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 15, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will provide an additional $205 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday.

The aid "provides the people of Ukraine with critical support, including food, safe drinking water, protection services, education, livelihoods, legal assistance, accessible shelter, health care, and more," Blinken said in a statement.

The money also helps family members maintain contact if they been separated or displaced, he said. More than 6 million people have left Ukraine and more than 5 million have been internally displaced since Russia invaded in February 2022, Blinken said.

Washington has given more than $2.1 billion in humanitarian aid to help Ukrainians, Blinken said, urging other donors to help in the effort.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey and Doina Chiacu; Editing by Tim Ahmann and Philippa Fletcher)
FILE PHOTO: A bouy normally used to mark "No wake" zones sits on dry land at Medina Lake outside of San Antonio as majority of Texas experiences drought amid an extreme heat wave hitting the state, in Medina County, Texas, U.S., June 18, 2022. REUTERS/Jor

(Reuters) -A dangerous heat wave that helped spawn deadly tornadoes in Texas and Florida threatened on Friday to bring more extreme weather to the U.S. South, prompting the National Weather Service to warn Americans to limit time outdoors over the long Juneteenth weekend.

At least four people were killed in twisters that touched down on Thursday in the panhandles of Texas and Florida, where flooding also forced almost 150 people out of their homes, officials said.

Power was out to nearly 500,000 customers in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi on Friday, according to Poweroutage.us.

A mix of high humidity and temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius)could push heat index values above 115 in some parts of the South this weekend, National Weather Service meteorologist Matt Mosier said. The combination could cause atmospheric instability and create conditions ripe for more destructive storms.

"It's just been very humid and muggy out," Mosier said. "You'll end up getting strong gusts and large hail, and even with a few of these storms, you can get tornadoes as well."

The agency issued excessive heat warnings affecting millions of people in parts of southern Louisiana and Texas, saying the heat index could reach 110 degrees. South Florida and Mississippi were under heat advisories for Friday.

It recommended that people drink fluids to keep hydrated, stay in air-conditioned rooms and limit time in the sun.

President Joe Biden was briefed on the weather conditions on Friday morning, White House spokesperson Olivia Dalton told reporters aboard Air Force One while Biden traveled to an event in Connecticut. Afterwards, the president committed to offering federal assistance, she said.

While southern states are accustomed to high heat during the summer, extreme weather conditions have become more frequent and intense across the country in recent years. Climate change is driving the trend, scientists say.

The tornado that struck in the Texas Panhandle town of Perryton killed at least three people and injured dozens of others. Hundreds of homes, many of them in a trailer park, were damaged or destroyed.

In Pensacola, on Florida's Panhandle, a tornado downed power lines and toppled a tree onto a home, killing one person inside, Escambia County spokesperson Davis Wood said. Heavy rainfall also forced 146 residents to evacuate an apartment complex in the city of Warrington, he said.

(Reporting by Tyler Clifford in New York, Steve Holland aboard Air Force One; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Aurora Ellis)
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

(Amendment No. 1 )

(Rule 14a-101)

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant 

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant 

Check the appropriate box:

 Preliminary Proxy Statement  Confidential, for Use of Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))  Definitive Proxy Statement  Definitive Additional Materials  Soliciting Material Pursuant to 240.14a-12

CARTICA ACQUISITION CORP

(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 No fee required.  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.  Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

On June 12, 2023, Cartica Acquisition Corp, a Cayman Islands exempted company (the Company) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) its Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A (the Proxy Statement) for an extraordinary general meeting in lieu of an annual meeting (the Meeting), which was originally scheduled to be held at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 23, 2023 as a virtual meeting via webcast at https://www.cstproxy.com/carticaspac/2023. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Amendment No. 1 to the Proxy Statement (this Amendment No. 1) have the meanings ascribed to them in the Proxy Statement.

This Amendment No. 1 is being filed to amend the date and time of the Meeting and certain disclosure regarding the resolutions related to the Extension Amendment Proposal to be approved.

On June 16, 2023, the Company announced that the Meeting will be rescheduled from 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 23, 2023 to 1 :00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 30, 2023. The meeting can still be accessed virtually by visiting https://www.cstproxy.com/carticaspac/2023. The record date for the Meeting remains the close of business on May 19, 2023 (the Record Date). The Company encourages its shareholders to vote in favor of the proposal to amend its charter to extend the date by which the Company has to complete a business combination from July 7, 2023 to April 7, 2024 (the Extension) and to vote in favor of the proposal to ratify the selection by the Companys audit committee of Marcum LLP to serve as its independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2023.

Shareholders who have previously submitted their proxies or otherwise voted and who do not want to change their vote need not take any action. Shareholders as of the Record Date can vote, even if they have subsequently sold their shares. In connection with the postponement of the Meeting, the deadline for holders of the Companys Class A ordinary shares issued in the Companys initial public offering to submit their shares for redemption in connection with the Extension has been extended to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 28, 2023. Any demand for redemption, once made, may be withdrawn at any time until the deadline for exercising redemption requests and, thereafter, with our consent

Additionally, the Company is amending the resolution to be approved in connection with the Extension Amendment Proposal on page 31 of the Proxy Statement as follows:

Full Text of the Resolution to be Approved

The full text of the special resolution is as follows: RESOLVED, as a special resolution, that the date by which Cartica Acquisition Corp has to consummate a business combination be extended from July 7, 2023 to April 7, 2024 (or such earlier date as determined by the Board) and that the amended and restated memorandum and association and articles of association of the Company be amended by the deletion of Article 163(a) and Article 163(b) and the insertion of the language set out in Annex A.

Additional information is contained in the Proxy Statement, which was previously mailed to you, if you requested a hard copy. To the extent that the information in this Amendment No. 1 differs from, updates or conflicts with the information contained in the Proxy Statement, the information in this Amendment No. 1 shall amend and supersede the information in the Proxy Statement. Except as so amended or superseded, all information set forth in the Proxy Statement remains unchanged and important for you to review. Accordingly, we urge you to read this Amendment No. 1 carefully and in its entirety together with the Proxy Statement. Shareholders remain entitled to cast, revoke or re-cast their vote in relation to the proposals to which the Proxy Statement relates.

This Amendment No. 1 relates to the solicitation of proxies by our Board for use at the Meeting.

The date of this Amendment No. 1 to the Proxy Statement is June 16, 2023.
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G/A

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 3)

Great Elm Capital Corp. (Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

390320109

(CUSIP Number)

June 14, 2023

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

 Rule 13d-1(b)  Rule 13d-1(c)  Rule 13d-1(d)

*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 the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in 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. 390320109

1. Names of Reporting Persons Lenders Funding, LLC 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a)  (b)  3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization New York

Number of Shares Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person With: 5. Sole Voting Power 0 6. Shared Voting Power 0 7. Sole Dispositive Power 0 8. Shared Dispositive Power 0

9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 0 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9) 0% 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions) OO

2

CUSIP No. 390320109

Item 1. Security and Issuer. (a) Name of Issuer Great Elm Capital Corp. (b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices 800 South Street, Suite 230, Waltham, MA 02453 Item 2. Identity and Background. (a) Name of Persons Filing Lenders Funding, LLC is filing this statement on Schedule 13G (the Reporting Person). (b) Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence The principal business address for Lenders Funding, LLC is 9345 Terresina Dr., Naples, FL 34119. (c) Citizenship For citizenship of Reporting Person, see Item 4 of the cover sheet. (d) Title of Class of Securities Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 per share (e) CUSIP No. 390320109

3

Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:

(a)  Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o); (b)  Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c); (c)  Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c); (d)  Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C 80a-8); (e)  An investment adviser in accordance with  240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f)  An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with  240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); (g)  A parent holding company or control person in accordance with  240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G); (h)  A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); (i)  A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3); (j)  A non-U.S. institution in accordance with  240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J); (k)  Group, in accordance with  240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with  240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution: ____

Item 4. Ownership Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.

(a) Amount beneficially owned: As of June 14, 2023, Lenders Funding, LLC beneficially owned 0 shares of Common Stock of Great Elm Capital Corp. (b) Percent of class: 0%

(c) Number of shares as to which the person has:

(i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 0

(ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 0

(iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0

(iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0

Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the Reporting Persons have ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following . Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person N/A

4

CUSIP No. 390320109

Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company or Control Person N/A Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group N/A Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group N/A Item 10. Certification

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under  240.14a-11.

5

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Lenders Funding, LLC Dated: June 16, 2023 By: /s/ John Benkovich Name: John Benkovich Title: Chief Operating Officer

6




KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa  Lt. Col. Michael Mickus, commander of the 355th Fighter Squadron, dismissed fears Friday that rotating U.S. fighters through Okinawa diminishes the U.S. capacity to wage an air war in the Western Pacific.

Mickus, a pilot, stood next to an F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter on display for visiting reporters, most of them Japanese, at Kadena, the U.S. fighter hub on Okinawa.

Weve deployed out here our best fighters, so I think that shows our commitment to peace and stability within the region, he said.

The Air Force is six months into a two-year plan to replace 48 aging F-15C/D fighters of the 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons with rotating squadrons of more modern aircraft, including the fifth-generation F-35A and F-22 Raptors, F-15E Strike Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons.

The F-35s and F-15s are taking their turn on the Kadena flight line.

The F-35s arrived March 28 from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The F-15s arrived between April and June from the 336th Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., and the 391st Fighter Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.

In October, four Republicans in Congress  Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, and Reps. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin and Mike McCaul of Texas  wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin questioning the plans wisdom.

We believe that DODs plans to replace permanently-based fighters with rotational forces will lead to a tangible reduction in American forward combat power in the Indo-Pacific, the letter states, in part.

On Friday, Lt. Col. Jeremiah King, commander of the 391st, took questions alongside Mickus. The two explained the basic concepts behind their units and their aircraft.

The F-35s primary mission set is the suppression of enemy air defense, Mickus said. We find and hunt surface-to-air missile sites.

The F-15s specialize in air intercepts, King said. Both jets also escort other aircraft to their targets, Mickus added.

"We are determined to pursue peace first, Mickus said, but, if necessary, prevail in combat.
TOKYO  The U.S. military is moving to rid three Army installations on Okinawa of fire-suppressant foam that contains toxic PFAS compounds  forever chemicals suspected of causing serious health problems.

The three sites  tank farms where fuel and lubricants are stored  are among the last U.S. military installations in Japan where the foam systems remain in place.

The Defense Department has removed the firefighting foam from all its Navy and Marine Corps bases in Japan and from all Army bases and Misawa Air Base on Honshu, the largest of the countrys four main islands, according to a news release from U.S. Forces Japan on Thursday.

It has replaced legacy AFFF, meaning aqueous film forming foam, with new formulations that do not contain PFOS and PFOA, component chemicals in PFAS. After removal, the toxic foam was incinerated at licensed disposal facilities in Japan, according to USFJ.

Yokota Air Base, an airlift hub in western Tokyo, and Kadena Air Base, a premier fighter base on Okinawa, still have legacy systems in place, according to a Friday email from Air Force Maj. Tom Barger, a spokesman for U.S. Forces Japan.

The process has started and significant progress made, he said. It is just not yet fully complete.

The replacement process thus far has taken more than three years and was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Barger said.

The U.S. will soon begin replacing PFAS foam at three Army installations on Okinawa where petroleum, oil and lubricants are stored, according to USFJs release. The work should be finished in fiscal year 2024.

The command identified those sites as tank farms at Chimuwan, Kuwae and White Beach. The systems are already deactivated, and water-based systems will eventually replace the foam, USFJ said.

PFAS  manmade per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances  is used to make coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Studies show an increased risk of cancer and other adverse health effects from exposure to these substances, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A major U.S. manufacturer, 3M, announced Dec. 20 it will stop using PFAS by the end of 2025.

PFAS detected in water in and around bases in Japan frequently puts Japanese authorities at odds with the U.S. military. The chemicals have turned up in wastewater treatment plants on military bases and in local streams or groundwater near Misawa Air Base, Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Yokota Air Base and Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.

In some cases, the link between a nearby U.S. base and water tainted by PFAS chemicals is not certain. In others, there is a direct tie to an on-base leak.

In January 2022, a cracked pipe at a hardened aircraft shelter at Misawa released water through a fire-suppression system where the foam was previously kept. The air base and Japanese authorities tracked PFAS in wastewater on the base until they were satisfied no further measures were required.

On Sept. 23, heavy rain at NAF Atsugi caused a hangar control panel to malfunction, resulting in the release of PFAS into a small stream that runs through the base, Japanese officials in Kanagawa prefecture reported at the time.

On Sept. 29, Yokosuka Naval Base detected high concentrations of PFOA in its industrial wastewater, according to Yokosuka city authorities at the time. The Navy also found high levels of the chemical in the base wastewater in May.

At Yokosuka and Atsugi, the Navy removed the toxic firefighting foam and some equipment containing it after the contamination was discovered.

The Marine Corps removed its PFAS-based firefighting foam in 2021 after a spill at MCAS Futenma in 2019.

Yokota, where USFJ is headquartered, plans to remove its toxic firefighting foam over the next few years, base spokesman 1st Lt. Danny Rangel told Stars and Stripes in February.

The Japan Self-Defense Forces is also replacing the toxic foam at its facilities at Misawa, NAF Atsugi and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, south of Hiroshima, according to the release.
(Tribune News Service)  A charter passenger vessel sank after striking a rock off Santa Cruz Island in Southern California, forcing 14 people aboard to abandon ship, the U.S. Coast Guard reported.

The captain of the Sea Jay issued a mayday call at 2:33 a.m. on Thursday, June 15, the Coast Guard said in a news release.

The captain told the passengers and crew to abandon the ship while he anchored the vessel and released the life raft before boarding the raft as well, Coast Guard officials said.

Responding to a request for help, a nearby vessel began rescuing the 10 passengers and four crewmembers.

A California Department of Fish and Wildlife small boat and a Coast Guard boat and helicopter soon arrived to ferry the rescued people to shore for medical treatment, the release said.

This was a dynamic case that resulted in lives saved due to the quick actions of a good Samaritan, our Coast Guard watchstanders, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, said Capt. Ryan Manning, commander of Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles  Long Beach.

The Sea Jay is fully submerged with a sheen on the surface. The Coast Guard is working to respond to the pollution and investigate the sinking.

Santa Cruz Island is about 90 miles west of Los Angeles.

2023 The Charlotte Observer.

Visit charlotteobserver.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(Tribune News Service)  Col. John Lehane, who took command of the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment at a Thursday morning ceremony at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, has been getting lots of phone calls since taking over the Kaneohe-based unit.

Col. John Lehane, who took command of the 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment at a Thursday morning ceremony at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, has been getting lots of phone calls since taking over the Kaneohe-based unit.

"So much so that my phone stopped working and bricked for a little bit, " he told attendees at the ceremony. But he said there was one call from a general that called to congratulate him that stuck with him.

"He said, 'you know something John, you're gonna have to have that unit ready for combat, and there's a good chance it's going to happen on your tenure, '" said Lehane. "So I want to take an opportunity to publicly acknowledge that I understand that, and I will do everything I can to make sure these Marines and sailors are ready for that occasion should we be called to do so."

The 3rd MLR officially activated last year and is the first unit of its kind. It is meant to serve as a blueprint for an ambitious Marine Corps plan to restructure its entire force amid boiling geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China. Under an initiative called Force Design 2030, service leaders envision the Corps returning to its roots as a naval fighting force focused on the sorts of coastal and island operations it conducted in the Pacific during World War II, but with a 21st century twist.

Col. Timothy Brady, the outgoing commander, said that his Marines have worked hard at "thinking about what it means to be a Marine Littoral Regiment and how we're going to have to see the fight and flight differently than an infantry regiment."

Brady will be staying on Oahu, taking on a new position at Marine Forces Pacific at Camp Smith as the service continues to refine its vision for the Pacific while Lehane takes over the MLR. Lehane's most recent assignment was aboard the USS Blue Ridge as the Navy 7th Fleet's maritime operations director. Marine Corps leaders believe that experience makes him ideal for weaving the MLR into Navy operations and working with the other services.

Marine Corps brass want to see a leaner force that is more agile and adaptable, moving quickly across island chains while also packing a heavy punch. Among the changes is an ongoing effort to phase out all the Marines' traditional cannon-based artillery on Oahu to replace them with new ballistic missiles that commanders hope to use to sink enemy ships from batteries Marines would set up on islands and coastlines as they support U.S. Navy operations and allied forces.

The new design is geared largely with the Western Pacific in mind. A particular focus is the South China Sea, a busy waterway that nearly one-third of all global trade travels through. China claims nearly the entire sea as its exclusive territory over the objections of neighboring countries, and tensions are mounting over territorial and navigation rights.

In 2016, an international court ruled in favor of the Philippines and found that China's claims have "no legal " basis. Beijing rejected the ruling and has doubled down by building bases on disputed islands and reefs. The Chinese military has harassed and sometimes attacked fishermen and other marine workers from neighboring countries.

For its part, the U.S. and its allies have been sailing warships through the region conducting "freedom of navigation operations." Earlier this month a Chinese navy vessel cut across the path of Pearl Harbor-based Navy destroyer USS Chung-Hoon as it was conducting an exercise in the Taiwan Strait with a Canadian ship, forcing it to slow down to avoid a collision.

Beijing considers self-ruled Taiwan a rogue province, and Chinese leader Xi Jinpeng has vowed to bring it under its control by military force if necessary. The island is a major trade partner for the U.S. and a key provider of semiconductors that many American companies depend on to make their products work.

The 3rd MLR has conducted several training exercises across the region. Maj. Gen. Jay Bargeron, commander of the 3rd Marine Division in Japanof which the 3rd MLR is a partsaid that the unit has gone "from concept to realityfrom the conceptual unit to a combat credible unitin what I consider to be a pretty amazing, incredibly short period of time."

However, not all the pieces Marine Corps leaders want are in place as they push forward with Force Design 2030.

Marines in Hawaii are supposed to be the first to receive new Light Amphibious Warships, which would be crewed by a mixture of Marines and Navy sailors to carry troops and equipment to shore. But Marine Corps and Navy leaders are currently fighting over funding priorities. Marine Corps commandant Gen. David Berger has publicly expressed frustration that ships supporting amphibious operation aren't getting sufficient funding.

Even so, Marine forces in Hawaii are beginning to look a lot different than they did two years ago.

Among the most notable changes has been the departure of all the Marines' traditional helicopters from Oahu to replace them with ones that support long-range flight operations. Last month, outgoing MCBH base commander Col. Speros Koumparakis said that rather than having "aircraft that fly around Hawaii, " Marines on Oahu can now "depart today and, in less than 36 hours, be with our partners and allies in the first and second island chains."

Earlier this year in the Philippines during Exercise Balikatan 2023, troops from the 3rd MLR and the Army's Schofield Barracks-based 25th Infantry Division trained with the U.S. Navy and Philippines marines conducting island operations in the Luzon Strait just south of Taiwan.

During the exercise they also conducted a live-fire coastal defense exercise as well as a ship-sinking exercise off the west coast of the Philippines. Brady said "we brought more than 1, 300, the entirety of the MLR, forward into the first island chain where we are relevant, where we can do our mission, where we can get after (it )."

The seeming breakdown in U.S.-China relations has fueled deep unease in the region. On Monday, the New York-based Eurasia Group Foundation released the results of a survey that found that about 81 % of people in the Philippines and 67 % of South Koreans think rising tensions between China and the U.S. are likely to endanger their own national security.

Regional leaders have urged Chinese and American officials to turn down the temperature on tensions. At a recent international defense and diplomacy summit in Singapore, Chinese officials repeatedly refused to meet with American counterparts, though some reports suggest informal talks between the two did occur. This week U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is set to arrive in China in an effort to stabilize the relationship.

(c)2023 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan  A Marine whose conduct a Japanese judge described as bold, violent and vicious received a two-year suspended sentence Friday for stealing a car, driving drunk and injuring two others in a collision.

Lance Cpl. Dominic Youngren pleaded guilty June 6 to illegal entry, theft, drunken driving and negligent driving in December. He was formally convicted and sentenced Friday by Judge Soshi Okada in Yamaguchi District Court in Iwakuni city.

Youngren, an F-35B Lightning II mechanic with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 242 at the air station, broke into an Iwakuni car dealership at 7:08 a.m. Dec. 3, according to a case summary of Okada's remarks in court.

The Marine took a key to a car worth $38,000 and drove away in it at 7:57 a.m., drunk, according to the summary. These were bold, violent and vicious acts, the judge said.

After driving more than 2  miles on city streets, Youngren rear-ended a car at a stop light, according to the summary. The other driver and a passenger suffered neck and back injuries that required 10 days of treatment.

Youngren left the scene without reporting the accident, Okada said.

He had consumed 10 cocktails the previous night, the judge said. A Breathalyzer measured the Marines blood alcohol content at 0.05% after his arrest.

Although he paid $1,400 to the car dealership, Youngren has so far paid no further compensation, Okada said.

The lance corporal proved extremely self-centered, Okada said. There can be no extenuating circumstances.

But some circumstances weigh in his favor, the judge said before suspending Youngrens sentence. The Marine admitted his guilt, showed regret and apologized for what he did, according to the judge. He also promised not to drink again.

If Youngren commits another offense within four years, he must serve two years with hard labor on this conviction.

He also faces further action from the Marine Corps in accordance with U.S. laws, base spokesman Maj. Gerard Farao told Stars and Stripes by email Friday. We take all allegations of wrongdoing seriously and expect all our service members to show respect to the local community.

Youngren and his command cooperated fully with Japanese authorities, Farao wrote.
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  One of the U.S. Navys largest submarines, the nuclear-powered USS Michigan, sailed into South Koreas largest port Friday, less than a day after the North fired two short-range missiles.

The Michigan  an Ohio-class submarine with a capacity for 155 Tomahawk missiles  arrived for the purpose of responding to North Koreas advancing threats through joint special warfare exercises, the Souths Ministry of National Defense said in a Friday news release.

The port visit also honors commitments between the United States and South Korea and will further enhance the regular visibility of strategic assets on the peninsula, South Korean Vice Adm. Kim Myung-soo said in the release.

The Michigan will stay in South Korean waters until an unspecified day in the following week, a South Korean navy spokesperson told Stars and Stripes by phone Friday. South Korean officials regularly speak to the media on a customary condition of anonymity.

The visit reflects the United States commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, the Navys Submarine Group 7 said in a news release Friday. It also complements the many exercises, training, operations and other military cooperation activities conducted by U.S. submarine forces with our [South Korean] allies, according to the release.

U.S. Forces Korea and U.S. Naval Forces Korea did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday; the commands regularly do not comment on military training in the Korean Peninsula, citing security concerns.

Ohio-class submarines are the largest ever built by the Navy. As ballistic missile submarines, they were designed to carry the nuclear-tipped Trident II D-5 missile, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

But the Michigan and three other Ohio-class boats were converted to guided-missile submarines laden with Tomahawks, which can carry nuclear warheads though policy decisions have phased out their nuclear role, according to CSIS in February.

The Michigan last sailed into Busan in October 2017 for a routine visit during a scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific, the Navy said at the time. The vessels homeport is Naval Base Kitsap, Wash.

President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol agreed in April to send a nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine for a visit to the country at an unspecified date. The Michigan, however, is a guided-missile submarine.

Dubbed the Washington Declaration, the agreement promises Seoul and Washington will broaden their military and economic ties for the shared goal of achieving the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles off its eastern coast on Thursday. The missiles flew nearly 500 miles before landing in the East Sea, or the Sea of Japan, according to South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff.

We strongly condemn North Koreas ballistic missile launch as a grave provocation that harms peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, as well as the international community, the Joint Chiefs said in a message to reporters on Thursday.

The launches were the Norths first since it failed to send a spy satellite into orbit on May 31. The rocket lost thrust during flight due to an abnormal starting of its engine, according to the Souths Defense Ministry.
TOKYO  Communities around Mount Fuji want the government to limit the number of people allowed to climb Japans highest peak this summer amid an expected surge in visitors due to relaxed COVID-19 restrictions.

A group of six cities, towns and villages surrounding the iconic mountain, along with local tourism bureaus, petitioned Yamanashi prefecture Gov. Kotaro Nagasaki on June 12, calling for measures to prepare for an unprecedented number of climbers, according to a news release on Fujiyoshida citys website.

Yoshida Trail  the most popular hiking route on Mount Fuji  is on the Yamanashi prefecture side of the 12,388-foot-high active volcano.

"The number of climbers at Mount Fuji is expected to be unprecedented this summer based on the current status of reservations of mountain huts," the petition said.

The petition expressed concerns that increasing numbers of climbers, unable to reserve space in the huts, may hike straight to the summit without taking rests, increasing their risk of altitude sickness, hypothermia and falls.

The group is considering measures such as extending the period that first-aid stations are open and increasing patrols by emergency workers.

However, these moves may not be enough to respond to the number of climbers expected this summer, according to the petition.

"There is a need for fundamental measures, such as calculating the sufficient number of climbers and limiting the entry," it stated.

The petition also suggests temporarily limiting the number of climbers permitted on the mountain at night or during dangerous weather conditions.

Many visitors, including foreigners, are expected as Mount Fuji celebrates its 10th anniversary of being listed as a World Heritage site.

About 310,000 climbers visited the mountain in 2013 when it was registered as a World Heritage site, according to Environment Agency data.

Around 250,000 climbers ascended Mount Fuji every year before the COVID-19 outbreak. It was closed in 2020; around 78,500 climbers hiked the mountain in 2021 and about 160,100 in 2022, according to the Ministry of the Environment.

A Fujiyoshida city official urged visitors to come prepared to avoid injuries and sickness.

"There are people every year who come unprepared, who are injured or get hypothermia, especially foreigners," she said by phone Wednesday.

Some Japanese officials are required to speak to the media only on the condition of anonymity.

She warned that the weather may change drastically on the mountain and that temperatures drop suddenly at night.

She also recommended visitors bring rain gear. Winds sometimes blow rain up the mountain rather than down, meaning waterproof pants are essential to preventing climbers from getting hypothermia, she said.

Trails up the mountain will open July 1 on the Yamanashi side and July 10 in Shizuoka prefecture and will remain open until Sept. 10 in both prefectures, according to Mount Fujis official website.
(Tribune News Service)  The F-16s that NATO allies may send to Ukraine arent likely to arrive in time to help with Kyivs current offensive. The used planes wont be enough to turn the tide in the air war against Russia, either. The alliance has a different message in mind.

By providing some of the most sophisticated and expensive weapons to date, Kyivs backers will tie Ukraines military more closely than ever to the bloc, showing Vladimir Putin hes wrong to think he can outlast them in the conflict.

Its a potentially risky approach. While allies have managed to reduce the upfront expense by offering planes from its members existing fleets, keeping those aging F-16s in the air may cost hundreds of millions of dollars a year - just as pressure is growing in Europe and the US over the rising bill for continued support of Ukraine.

The big takeaway here is that flying a limited fleet of antiquated aircraft  through contractors and maintaining them with contractors  is going to be really freaking expensive, said Brynn Tannehill of the Rand Corp. in Washington. It bolsters the message that the long-term goal is to integrate Ukraine into NATO.

Alliance officials wont say when the planes might be delivered. But the Netherlands and Denmark are planning to set up a training center in Eastern Europe for pilots and repair personnel, including from Ukraine.

Then you have a sustainable solution because every pilot needs to continue training, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren told reporters Thursday. Of course were talking not only about pilots, also all the technical personnel you need for maintenance of the aircraft.

While hes welcomed the prospect of getting the planes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is hoping for stronger commitments from the alliance at its summit in July in Vilnius, Lithuania. So far, NATO members are divided on just how far to go in promising Kyiv a clear path to membership or providing other long-term guarantees of its security. But the alliance is pushing members to commit to contribute 500 million euros annually to modernize its military and tighten ties with NATO for years to come.

Of course, sustaining the F-16s and other sophisticated weapons and paying for missiles and other ordnance to keep them shooting is likely to be far more expensive. The older planes that NATO allies could send will cost less up front, but also have a shorter useful life because theyve already been flying for decades in some cases.

Since the start of the war, the US has provided more than $40 billion in security aid for Ukraine, but skepticism is growing in Congress over how long that can be sustained.

When you start going down this road, you are talking about a much longer-term security assistance package, said Seth Jones of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank. The logistics tail for an F-16 is just infinitely larger than it is for a Stinger or a Javelin, he said, referring to the portable anti-aircraft and antitank missiles that dominated alliance supplies to Ukraine early in the war.

Just flying older F-16s such as those Ukraine is likely to receive as NATO members get new fighters costs as much as $32,000 per hour, according to the Defense Department. Overall, maintaining the jets could cost as much as buying them, General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on May 25.

Sometimes certain things get labeled as, you know, This is going to be the magic weapon, he said. There are no magic weapons  and F-16s not, and neither is anything else.

Russias advanced fighters, including the MiG-31 and Su-35, have an advantage over Ukraines current jets, they also have more advanced radars and longer-range air-to-air missiles that might allow them to shoot down older F-16s before trained Ukrainian pilots would even be able to see them, according to Rands Tannehill.

The Pentagon had long argued that maintaining and supporting F-16s would take a lot of work, but Tannehill argues that F-16s with the right weapons systems  such as Lockheed Martins joint air-to-surface standoff missile, or JASSM  could still help Ukraine given the worn-down state of its current Russian-built fighter aircraft.

Its going to be expensive, but if you give it the right weapons systems to go along with the airframe, it could provide substantial combat value, she said, adding that the jets were a a bridge to a post-war, NATO-integrated Ukraine.

At the opening of a meeting of allies in Brussels Thursday, officials underlined that support for Kyiv is a long-term project.

Citing the F-16s, along with support for German-made Leopard tanks, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said allies are committed to ensure that Ukraines forces have the capabilities that they need to defend their country against Russian aggression in the future.

2023 Bloomberg L.P.

Visit bloomberg.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This story has been corrected

NAPLES, Italy  The U.S. Navy in Europe is experimenting with using ready-made, inexpensive unmanned boats to help rescue sailors, a method officials say will limit the risk inherent in many search-and-rescue operations at sea.

A commercial, remote-controlled speedboat was used to test the rescue of a pilot at sea for the first time as a part of the annual U.S.-led international sea exercise BALTOPS, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet said in a statement Wednesday.

The two-week exercise, which included the U.S., Britain, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Turkey and 13 other countries, ended Friday.

Using an unmanned surface vehicle, or drone boat, would allow the fleet to act quickly while eliminating the need to put more people and assets in harms way, especially in poor weather conditions or during combat, Joe Klein, the personnel recovery program manager for NAVEUR-AF, said in the statement.

"The military in general is working on building a capability to recover aviators who go down in high-threat areas, where weve been denied access  the (unmanned surface vehicle) is a possible solution to that dilemma, Klein said.

In adverse conditions, a failed rescue operation can compound a tragedy. For example, seven Romanian service members on a search and rescue mission for a downed pilot were killed in March 2022 when their helicopter crashed near the Black Sea.

The drone boat also could be used in other scenarios, such as rescuing an overboard sailor, according to its Florida-based manufacturer, MARTAC Systems.

Drones are still far from replacing highly trained search and rescue teams in many situations.

But for less complicated rescues, the boat can be programmed to go directly to a pilot, who would climb aboard from a life raft before being evacuated. In situations involving multiple pilots, their life rafts could be hooked onto the drone boat, the company said.

Use of the remote-controlled rescue boat highlights the experimental capacity of BALTOPS, which this year included testing surface, underwater and aerial drones.

Navy and allied forces also used a surface boat to launch a small, unmanned sub that scanned for potential mines. Such searches normally expose the crew of a rigid hull inflatable boat to potential death or injury, the Navy said.

That innovation and adaptation, along with exercise scenarios and interaction with allies, ultimately informs strategy in Europe, said Maj. Gen. Daniel Lasica, director of strategy, plans and policy for U.S. European Command.

A review of the exercises new ideas feeds into how we think about modifying those plans, adjusting strategy, moving forward as well, Lasica said.

If the Navy chooses, it shouldnt take long to incorporate the unmanned naval vehicles tested during BALTOPS into the theater of operations, MARTAC representatives said.

The company didnt say how much the 24-foot boat used in the rescue scenario cost. But the boat, which has a top speed of 58 mph and a range of up to 500 nautical miles, is significantly less expensive than a manned boat and crew, a MARTAC representative said.

A similar 38-foot boat in production will have a top speed of 69-92 mph and a range of up to 1,200 nautical miles at cruising speed. A version of that boat is being tested by U.S. 5th Fleet in Bahrain, according to MARTAC.

Its technology that is available today, said Karl Van Duesen, a retired Navy officer and senior vice president for MARTAC. They dont have to wait for another year or two or five years of research and development work.

bath.alison@stripes.com Twitter: @alisonbath_
KYIV, Ukraine  As a delegation of African leaders visited the Ukrainian capital Friday morning, bringing a proposal for "confidence-building measures" aimed at halting the war, Moscow launched a daytime barrage of airstrikes, bombarding Kyiv with a "massive combined attack" of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's official Twitter account posted a video of his arrival in Kyiv by train early Friday morning, along with leaders and top officials from Senegal, Egypt, Zambia and the Comoros - the first stop in a peace mission to Ukraine and Russia. Shortly after, air raid sirens sounded in the capital. Then, explosions from air defenses rang out.

The barrage was a departure from the Kremlin's typical strategy of bombarding Ukrainian cities during the early-morning hours as residents attempt to sleep and it is easier to detect Ukrainian air defenses in the dark.

On Friday, Russia launched six Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles, six Kalibr cruise missiles and two self-destructing drones - "a massive combined air attack on Kyiv," Serhiy Popko, the head of the city's military administration, said in a post on the Telegram social media app.

Ukrainian officials said air defense systems intercepted the entire bombardment.

Vincent Magwenya, a spokesman for the South African president, said that Ramaphosa and the other leaders arrived in Kyiv "safely" and that the mission was "proceeding quite well and as planned," but he did not mention the air attack.

Later, Magwenya tweeted: "Strangely, we didn't hear the sirens or explosions." However, the explosions were clearly audible to a Washington Post reporter and numerous observers on social media.

In a new conference later, however, Ramaphosa addressed the missile attack, saying it hadn't deterred the mission but only made it more important. "It's precisely this type of event that we saw today or witnessed or even experienced that makes us call for de-escalation."

He said peace talks were important even as a conflict worsened, noting how former South African president Nelson Mandela saw the need for negotiations when he was in prison to bring an end to apartheid.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, for his part, expressed a degree of bafflement at the delegation's plans to travel to Moscow after it had fired missiles at them: "How logical it is, I don't really understand." He reiterated Ukraine's long-held stance that negotiations could only happen once the Russians withdrew.

"We need real peace, and therefore, a real withdrawal of Russian troops," he said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted that "Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace."

Ruslan Kravchenko, the head of the Kyiv regional military administration, said six people were injured by falling shrapnel in the Kyiv region, including one child, and three houses were destroyed.

The attack follows Ukrainian officials' announcing modest but steady gains in their multipronged counteroffensive in the country's east, saying they have retaken some 40 square miles of territory and seven villages. The claims could not independently be verified.

On Friday, Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Kovalyov said Kyiv's forces had achieved "partial success" in the previous 24 hours. "Where Ukrainian soldiers are defending themselves, not a single position has been lost," he said.

Commander of Ukraine's ground forces Oleksandr Syrsky, in remarks posted on social media, said the battlefield situation in eastern Ukraine "remains tense." Moscow's "most combat capable units" were being transferred to the area around the eastern city of Bakhmut, while Russian forces carried out "powerful artillery fire and strikes by assault and army aircraft" on Ukrainian positions.

For its part, Russia's Defense Ministry in its daily briefing said it had repelled numerous attacks along the front line. None of these claims could be verified because of restrictions on reporting in the conflict zone.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Friday that allies are looking to create a new NATO-Ukraine Council and hope to hold the first meeting at the summit of NATO leaders in Vilnius, Lithuania, next month.

The summit is expected to focus on questions of Ukraine's membership in NATO, with Kyiv officials hoping for a clear path for joining the alliance, while other countries are looking more to short- and medium-term security guarantees.

The alliance says the upgrade from "NATO-Ukraine Commission" to "NATO-Ukraine Council" would give Ukraine a seat at the alliance table, allowing it to convene meetings and raise concerns.

"That is a different type of working together politically, and we will bring Ukraine closer to NATO in political terms," Stoltenberg said.

But the proposal falls short of what Ukraine says it needs: full membership, including Article 5 protection. U.S. officials have given tentative backing to a plan that would allow Ukraine to avoid a formal process of candidacy - a Membership Action Plan - thereby shortening the period needed before joining.

Meanwhile, at Russia's annual investment forum in St. Petersburg, once touted as Moscow's answer to the Davos Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on Friday that Ukraine's leader, Zelensky, was not Jewish.

"I have a lot of Jewish friends, since childhood." Putin said in a question-and-answer period, after delivering a 79-minute speech claiming Russia's economy was strong and growing. "They say Zelensky isn't a Jew."

Putin said Zelensky was a "disgrace" to the Jewish people and that he supported Nazis - a frequent but false assertion by the Kremlin. Both of Zelensky's parents are Jewish, and members of his family were among the estimated 2 million Ukrainian Jews who died in the Holocaust.

Putin repeated false claims that Russia did not start the war in Ukraine and said that he took military action to bring an end to the fighting that had taken place there since 2014.

Putin said Russia would use nuclear weapons only if there was a threat to its existence but said there was "no such need" to do so. He boasted about the quantity of Russians nuclear arms and dismissed any talk of reducing them.

"Russia has more nuclear weapons than NATO countries, they want us to reduce them, f--- them," he said.

He also confirmed earlier statements by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that Russia had started deploying nuclear weapons in Belarus and would complete the task by the end of the year, calling it a "deterrence measure."

Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum drew world leaders and hundreds of top international businesspeople, but this year's event failed to draw any high-profile Western guests, reflecting Russia's increasing economic and financial isolation.

The Washington Post's Natalia Abbakumova in Riga, Latvia, contributed to this report.
Extending Ukraine an invitation to join NATO will not be on the agenda when heads of state meet next month for a major summit, but other measures will be taken to bring the country closer to eventual membership, NATOs top official said Friday.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, following two days of talks at alliance headquarters in Brussels, said allies were on board with a plan to elevate Ukraines status inside the 31-nation security pact.

When heads of state meet in Lithuania next month, the hope is that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will have a seat at the table as part of a new NATO-Ukraine Council, Stoltenberg said. That council would give Ukraine an equal voice alongside member states, he said.

Still, Stoltenberg said it was premature to talk of a fast track to formal membership.

We are not going to discuss an invitation at the Vilnius summit, Stoltenberg said. While all allies agree that Ukraines future is in NATO, for now the focus is on how to deepen the war-torn countrys relationship with the alliance, he said.

I'm confident that we will find a good solution and consensus at the Vilnius summit on how to be able to move Ukraine closer to NATO, Stoltenberg said.

One possibility allies could consider is skipping the membership action plan for Ukraine, which typically is required for prospective NATO members.

The plan involves various steps to ensure a new member is up to alliance standards. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, following NATO talks Friday, was asked whether such a measure was under consideration, but he declined to comment.

In Brussels, Austin also held a meeting of some 50 partner countries that was focused on generating more support for Ukraines war effort. During the talks, Canada pledged more than 200 air defense missiles for Ukraine.

Italy, Germany and Norway also made additional commitments. Those pledges, along with a Dutch and Danish-led effort to train Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s, were among the issues hashed out in Brussels.

Longer-term aid efforts also are under review.

We are working on a multiyear package with substantial funding to help rebuild the Ukrainian security and defense sector, and transition Ukraine towards full (compatibility) with NATO, Stoltenberg said.

Such efforts will help Ukraine deter any future Russian aggression once the current fighting ends and bring Ukraine closer to NATO in practical terms, he said.
Fewer women are choosing to join the Army as the largest military branch struggles through another difficult recruiting year, according to data from the service.

Army recruitment overall has dropped more than 29% since the coronavirus pandemic began in March 2020, with female enlistments down by 31% during the same time, according to data that the Army provided to the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services at its most recent meeting.

Female prospects view the Army as an inferior employer  neither aligned with their aspirations nor providing desired outcomes, according to the Armys slide presentation to the committee, which has provided the Pentagon with recommendations for more than 70 years on how to address the challenges women face when serving in the military.

Only about 8% of women ages 16 to 24 have a propensity to serve in the military, according to a Defense Department document provided to the advisory committee, which will hold its next meeting June 27.

Though the crisis of sexual assault and harassment in the military attracts a lot of attention, Lory Manning, a retired Navy captain and board co-chairperson of the nonprofit Service Womens Action Network, said its not the only factor that affects a womans decision to join the service.

The Army has the biggest need for both men and women. It's [by] far the biggest service, so their recruiting job is harder, particularly in times when there's good employment opportunities in the civilian community, she said.

Manning also said the Army could be falling behind in recruiting women because women might be choosing other service branches.

In some ways, at least in some people's minds, it's kind of glamorous to be in the Marines or the Navy, or the Air Force or Space Force. The Army is something that I dont think is ever viewed as glamorous, she said.

The Army is struggling overall to attract enough recruits.

Last year, the service fell about 15,000 recruits short of its goal of 60,000. This year, the service set a goal of 65,000 recruits and projects it will fall short again.

The Army presentation made in March to the womens advisory committee might also point to another factor  the service does not assign recruiting goals based on gender or racial or ethnic background.

But retention remains high in the Army. Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston, the top enlisted soldier in the service, said Wednesday that the service has already met its goal this year for the number of soldiers it wanted to keep in the ranks.

More so, women are increasingly becoming a larger percentage of the active-duty force despite enlistments being down.

In 2010, women were 13.4% of active-duty soldiers. That percentage has grown slowly each year and has held at 15.5% since 2020.

To combat the drop in recruiting among women, the Army told the advisory committee that it has increased its number of female recruiters and expanded the locations where they work. It also has recruiters who speak 24 different languages, the service said.

The Army has also established a new Womens Initiative Team to advocate for female soldiers, said Madison Bonzo, an Army spokeswoman.

This team, composed of [active-duty], [National] Guard and Reserve soldiers along with civilians will advocate for Army policy, program, and resource changes to set conditions for success in womens recruitment, retention, readiness, health, well-being, empowerment and advancement across the total Army, she said.

To attract more young women interested in talking to a recruiter, Manning said she would find a way to share the good news stories of female soldiers and target recruiting to certain demographics of women, such as athletes. Many young women dont realize the variety of occupations available in the Army.

If you target the recruiting right at them, when they see somebody who looks like them, they say, Hey, there's a woman here, she said.
The Israeli spyware firm NSO Group destroyed the life of Hanan Elatr, the wife of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi, forcing her to live in fear and isolation, never able to safely return to, or even visit, her family in Egypt or have a normal life, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Virginia where Elatr lives and works as she awaits approval of her request for political asylum, asserts that NSO infected her cellphone with the Pegasus software to spy on him. It asks for unspecified damages.

The lawsuit relies heavily on facts uncovered in 2021 by an international consortium of news outlets that included The Washington Post and was led by Paris-based Forbidden Stories that detailed Pegasuss use against journalists, politicians and dissidents. The lawsuit also cites pioneering forensic work by Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto and Amnesty Internationals Security Lab.

Efforts to reach NSO Group for comment were unsuccessful. NSO has said it developed the spyware to track criminals and terrorists, but reporting showed that it was often deployed against opposition political parties, human rights activists and even disloyal family members.

NSO Groups former chief executive Shalev Hulio has previously denied that the companys spyware was used to monitor Elatrs phone or was linked to Khashoggis murder in Turkey. It has nothing to do with this horrible murder, he said of the spyware.

Elatr was a flight attendant for Emirates Airlines when she and Khashoggi became close, and he proposed to her in April 2018. By then he was a world-renowned critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and had left Saudi Arabia and taken refuge in the United States, where he contributed columns to The Washington Post. He knew to be careful with his electronic devices, Elatr and other associates have said.

After Khashoggis October 2018 murder and dismemberment inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Elatr, now 54, was put under house arrest in Dubai, lost her job of 20 years and went into hiding for 17 months in the United States, living with acquaintances in Northern Virginia. She now works at a local hotel but tries to keep her identity hidden.

By spying on Elatr, the lawsuit alleges, NSO Group violated federal and Virginia anti-hacking laws that make it illegal to hack a cellphone or computer without legal authorization or the owners consent. Beyond that, the lawsuit says, NSO spyware caused her immense harm, both through the tragic loss of her husband and through her own loss of safety, privacy, and autonomy, as well as the loss of her financial stability and career.

She lives in a state of constant hyper-vigilance, unable to safely participate in social activities, constantly looking over her shoulder, the suit claims.

NSO Group faces several other lawsuits over the use of its spyware against journalists, lawyers and political activists in other countries. Facebook parent company Meta has sued NSO for allegedly hacking the WhatsApp app, which it also owns. Apple also has sued NSO.

In the WhatsApp case, NSO argued that it was immune from prosecution because it was acting on behalf of sovereign governments; the sale of its spyware must be approved by the Israeli Defense Ministry and is sold only to foreign governments. But the court rejected that position, and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to take up NSOs appeal.

Hulio, who stepped down as CEO last year, also has asserted previously that the company vets the behavior of every potential client before approving a sale but that it does not know who its clients target with the spyware. That argument, however, is a contradictory one, said Annie E. Kouba, an attorney at the Motley Rice law firm that is representing Elatr. Its just not an argument they can have both ways, she said.

The suit alleges that NSO was negligent in repeatedly selling its Pegasus spyware to clients that were widely known to violate human rights and do harm to dissenters.

Several months after The Post published the Forbidden Stories series, the Biden administration added NSO Group to the Commerce Departments Entity List, saying its operations were counter to American interests. The designation prohibited U.S. companies from exporting hardware or software of any kind to the company. Because NSO Group requires the prior approval of the Israeli Defense Ministry for its sales, the move was seen as an unusual rebuke to the Israeli government. But the lawsuit asserts that NSO still paid more than $1 million to public relations companies and law firms in the United States in 2022.

The CIA determined that Mohammed ordered Khashoggis murder, but the limits of the Biden administrations willingness to act against Saudi Arabia, a long-standing ally and major supplier of oil, came in November 2022 when it ruled that Mohammed, as head of a foreign government, was immune from a lawsuit filed by another woman close to Khashoggi, his Turkish fiancee Hatice Cengiz.

Elatrs suit is different, however, because she is targeting the company that made and sold the spyware, not the country that used it. Also, unlike Cengiz, she was married to Khashoggi in an Islamic ceremony in Virginia and had shared an apartment with him in Fairfax County in suburban Washington before his murder.

One December evening in 2021, Hanan learned definitively that NSO had hacked her cellphone. Bill Marczak, a cybersecurity expert at Citizen Lab who had been analyzing her devices, told her via Zoom that he not only had found traces of NSO spyware but that he could see that a human had typed in the name of a known NSO website used to infected devices.

The time stamps corresponded to the day and hour that United Arab Emirates authorities had detained Elatr at the Dubai airport and confiscated her devices after she arrived on a routine work flight.

Marczak could see, he told her, that someone in possession of her cellphone had made several mistakes typing in the websites letters, then backspaced and typed them correctly.

Marczak said he could see her Android device trying to install Pegasus, but he could not determine whether the spyware had successfully infected the phone, which would enable Pegasus to steal its contents and turn on its microphone. But, he added, the UAE operator did not type the website address in a second time, which would be expected in the event of a failed first attempt.

We found the smoking gun on her phone, Marczak told her lawyer and a Washington Post reporter seated next to her.

Elatr was visibly shaken by the news. She gasped, covered her mouth and stared blankly at the table. They got to him through me, she said after a long pause.

She has been racked by guilt ever since, she says. She still does not socialize, avoids telling her co-workers much about herself and has not made any friends in the three years she has been trying to make a life in the United States.

I hope to achieve justice for Jamal and for me, Elatr said Thursday. It did destroy my life. Im the living victim.
Cryptocurrency exchange Binances French business is reportedly under investigation for aggravated money laundering and the illegal provision of digital asset services, according to the Paris public prosecutors office cited by CoinDesk.

See related article: SEC lawsuit sees Binance.US wobble, trading platforms delist cryptos

Fast facts

Binances French unit has been accused of illegally operating as a digital asset service provider in the country, despite the crypto exchange being registered as a digital asset service provider with Frances markets regulator since May 2022.

An investigation into Binance carried out in February 2022 led to a referral to the anti-financial crime unit of the French government, and the evidence collected during the investigation will be subject to an in-depth study, according to CoinDesk.

In France, surprise (no advanced notice) on-site inspections of regulated businesses are the norm, for banks, and now for crypto too. The surprise visit for Binance France happened a couple of weeks ago. Its not news. Binance France cooperated fully, Changpeng Zhao, chief executive officer of Binance, tweeted on Friday. Binance also isnt the only crypto business inspected. This happened to other well-known crypto businesses in Paris too. Binance France continues to be our flagship center in Europe.

The report comes hours after Binance announced that it will leave the Dutch market, as it could not register as a virtual asset service provider with the countrys regulator.

Binance.US was sued by the Securities and Exchange Commission last week, for charges related to securities violations. The agencys motion to freeze the exchanges assets was denied by a federal judge on Wednesday and the two parties have been ordered to continue negotiations.

Binances cryptocurrency BNB fell 1.31% to US$233.56 in the hour leading up to 7:50 p.m. in Hong Kong. The token fell under the US$300 mark last Monday after the SEC announced its lawsuit against the worlds largest exchange.

See related article: BlackRock files for spot Bitcoin ETF, taps Coinbase as custodian
WASHINGTON  Troops who are permanently stationed in Alaska can now fly to their home in the contiguous United States this year and the military will pay for it, according to a change in Pentagon policy.

The National Defense Authorization Act for 2023 specifies troops with a permanent duty station in Alaska are entitled to be reimbursed for a round-trip plane ticket to their home of record in the U.S. They are eligible for reimbursement for travel occurring between December 2022 and the end of 2023.

Section 603 of the FY23 NDAA directs the secretaries of the armed forces to reimburse eligible armed forces members the cost of airfare from the members permanent duty station to their home of record  and travel is authorized by an officer above the grade of O-5, says a memo from the Pentagons Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee.

Troops can be reimbursed for the cost of airfare to their home only once during that time, the Armys 11th Airborne Division  also known as the Arctic Angels  said in announcing the policy to its soldiers on social media.

Good news Arctic Angels  Were going to fly you home, the unit said on its Facebook page. This is retroactive  so, if youve already bought your ticket home, youre eligible for reimbursement.

The 11th Airborne Division has brigades at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage, Alaskas largest city, and Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks.

The travel reimbursement is part of the militarys effort to improve quality of life for men and women serving in Alaska, which can be a physically and mentally challenging place to live due mainly to factors such as limited daylight and extreme cold during the winter months.

In 2021, the state had a suicide rate of 31 for every 100,000 people, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, which was third highest in the United States after Wyoming and Montana, two other sparsely populated cold weather states. During the same year, suicides among soldiers stationed in Alaska spiked to 17, according to Army data.

We may never know all the factors for this recent spike or the reasons for each of these tragedies, Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commander of the 11th Airborne Division, wrote in a letter to the unit in the fall after four soldiers died by suicide within three weeks. These recent losses are a heartbreaking reminder that this battle is not over.

To stem rising suicide numbers, the Pentagon has invested more in prevention efforts such as mental health counseling, wellness checks and quality-of-life upgrades.

Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston, the services highest-ranking enlisted soldier, expressed delight with the travel reimbursement.

Impressive [quality-of-life] initiative, Grinston said in a tweet, in which he thanked Eifler and his unit for finding ways to take care of our soldiers.

There are several U.S. bases in Alaska, but most troops are stationed at the Armys Fort Wainwright or Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The locations are home to tens of thousands of service members and their families.

Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks traveled to Alaska last month specifically to meet with military families and listen to their concerns about quality-of-life issues. She said she returned to Washington with deeper insights on matters that affect our service members in Alaska.

Quality-of-life issues like access to quality, affordable child care; healthy, affordable food, and community connections are not only a workforce enabler, but a critical component of the readiness, efficiency and retention of the total force, Hicks said.

Earlier this year, the Pentagons Suicide Prevention and Response Independent Review Committee made more than 100 recommendations to help bring down the number of suicides in the military. A couple of its suggestions were to reform the militarys promotion system to select the right people for the right positions and raise the minimum age to buy firearms on military bases to 25.
This visit is expected to be longer and the talks more multifaceted than during the crown princes previous trip to Paris in July last year. It will provide the two leaders with an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations and the latest developments in numerous issues of common interest.

Additionally, the crown Princes visit will be punctuated by several other events, most notably an International Bureau of Expositions meeting, and a summit organized by France to discuss a new Global Financing Pact.

It also follows the recent announcement of the resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, an event that caught Frances attention. The Elysee responded to it by saying there is in this normalization of diplomatic relations with Iran a potential for easing tensions in the region that must be verified.

In the view of the French, the issue is not so much the normalization of relations with Iran but the demonstration of what Iran and Saudi Arabia together can make of this normalization on certain subjects where the two countries have so far been opposed.

Therefore, the meeting offers a chance to review the effects this normalization could have on the main issues of common interest between France and Saudi Arabia, in particular the situations in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, and the ongoing saga of the Iran nuclear deal.

Regarding Lebanon, Paris indicated it had heard the Saudis repeatedly say that this country was lost due to the domination of Hezbollah or Irans influence, and France wants to clarify this point and, without taking sides, make sure that the Saudis can engage with the Iranians in a discussion that creates favorable conditions for the election of a president in Lebanon.

With the political process in Lebanon deadlocked, and the country in the grips of a severe financial crisis, the presidents office has been vacant since Michel Aouns term ended in October last year.

Neither Saudi Arabia nor France are in a mindset to do things in place of the Lebanese, the presidential palace said, instead stressing the common need to promote stability and security in the country.

On the situation in Syria, the French President will be interested in hearing the crown prince tell him how to get President Bashar Assad to comply with a number of Saudi demands, the details of which are not yet known, the Elysee said.

Irans nuclear program will also be discussed as it is important for us to hear the crown prince's assessment of the intensity of the Iranian threat as he perceives it and what he expects from the restoration of diplomatic relations, as well as how he intends to deal with the Iranians on this issue.

Outside of the region, the war in Ukraine will not be overlooked despite the density of topics on the agenda. On this issue, Paris said it does not have specific requests to make to Saudi Arabia, apart from the request made to all our partners to fully consider the fact that the war in Ukraine is a conflict with global implications and risks repercussions throughout the world, including the Middle East.

It added: What we ask the Saudis, like all our partners, is to help us speed up the end of the war, which from a French viewpoint would mean victory for Ukraine on the ground, leading to peace negotiations with Russia aimed at restoring Ukrainian security and sovereignty.

In a broader context, the Elysee notes the crown princes visit, which takes place at his request, aims to define the objectives of bilateral cooperation that are necessary for the partnership we have with Saudi Arabia in perfectly identified areas.

These areas include issues related to security and defense, and the energy transition, in particular the Kingdoms lofty ambitions in terms of energy.

Regarding Saudi Arabias bid to host the Expo 2030, a decision on which is not due until autumn next year, France has already announced its support. It remains to be revealed whether the crown prince will attend the summit, organized by France, to discuss a new Global Financing Pact, which us due to take place on June 22 and 23.

During the gathering, Macron aims to assemble a broad coalition of willing countries to produce the necessary funding shock to address both the needs of poverty reduction in the South, and as fair a green transition as possible, the Elysee said.
Stephen Penrose (40) said he was letting off steam as he was annoyed and angry.

A convicted murderer who made a threat to burn down the home of a prison officer has been given a two-year sentence.

Stephen Penrose (40) is currently serving a life sentence for murder.

He also has a prior conviction for manslaughter, three convictions for assaults on prison officers and one for a threat to an officer.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Penrose, who represented himself in court, admitted the words were spoken but indicated during the trial that there was no intention to carry them out.

Penrose pleaded not guilty to threatening to damage the property of a named prison officer at Cloverhill prison on March 4, 2018.

A jury unanimously convicted Penrose of the sole count on the indictment at a trial earlier this month.

Detective Sergeant Sean Cosgrove told Katherine McGillicuddy BL, prosecuting, that on the day prior to the threat being made, there had been an interaction between Penrose and the named officer.

The officer made a complaint arising from this and was absent from work the following day.

Penrose told other prison staff that the officer had better drop the complaint.

He said he knew where the officer lived and would pour petrol through their letterbox and burn their house down. The staff reported that he was irate and aggressive.

Penrose told gardai during an interview that he was not happy a false allegation had been made against him.

He said he was letting off steam as he was annoyed and angry.

He said he had not made a direct threat to the named officer.

The officer did not wish to make a victim impact statement.

Penrose, defending himself, asked Judge Elva Duffy that any sentence would be backdated.

He indicated he intended to appeal and asked for a transcript.

Judge Duffy noted in sentencing that when Penrose was interviewed by gardai he accepted the threat was made but said he was angry and upset and did not intend that it would be carried out.

She said this was a serious matter and said prison officers should be in a position to go about their day without threats being made.

The judge said Penrose had represented himself very ably and made a number of concessions including that the words had been spoken, but the case for him had turned on intention.

Judge Duffy imposed a two-year sentence and ordered he be given credit for any time spent in custody solely on this charge.
He is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin later this morning.

A man is to appear in court charged in relation to the murder of a woman in north Dublin.

Anna Mooney, who was aged in her 40s, died after a violent assault in a house on the Kilbarrack Road, Raheny in the early hours of yesterday.

She is believed to have been stabbed several times during the incident which occurred around 1am.

It is understood an argument had broken out at the property a short time earlier.

A man in his 50s was arrested yesterday in relation to her death and gardai confirmed this morning that he has now been charged.

He is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin later this morning.

Two children are believed to have been in the house at the time of the incident, but were not harmed. They are currently being cared for.

Ms Mooney was found in the kitchen and pronounced dead a short time later.

Two children are believed to have been in the house at the time, but were not harmed. They are currently being cared for.

A man aged in his 50s was arrested yesterday on suspicion of murder and taken to Raheny garda station.

Local people reacted with shock yesterday as they watched the body of the mother-of- two being removed from the house and placed in an ambulance.

One woman became visibly upset when she was told about her violent death.

Another neighbour said: Its just absolutely tragic. There are no words, really. You dont expect to wake up one morning with the guards outside because someone has been killed. God rest her.
Jaroslow Kilian (39) had been the subject of an exclusion order and deported in December 2021 but returned illegally to Ireland

A man who assaulted five bus passengers in a series of unprovoked attacks on the C4 bus route from Dublin to Celbridge has been jailed for two years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Jaroslow Kilian (39) of Cloverhill Prison, Dublin, was the subject of a deportation order and should not have been in Ireland when he randomly attacked several bus passengers last August 21.

At a hearing yesterday, the court heard he slapped, punched and kicked several passengers, causing concussion to two people and lasting PTSD to a woman, before threatening to kill gardai, who arrived to arrest him.

Kilian pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and one count of assault, with a further three counts taken into consideration after the driver of the bus pulled over at the entrance to the Western Aerodrome on Celbridge Road in Lucan on the day in question.

One of the victims, who was punched full force in the face by Kilian after she tried to hide from him, continues to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and remains afraid to leave her house.

In a victim impact statement read out on her behalf, the woman said the attack has changed her life, and she can no longer use public transport. I have lost my confidence. I have constant nightmares, panic attacks, anxiety attacks and headaches. PTSD is ruining my mind, said the woman.

Kilian, a Polish national who suffers from schizophrenia, was highly intoxicated on the day, the court heard.

On his arrest at the scene, Kilian told gardai his name was James Bond and gave his address as The General Office, Underground.

He had been the subject of an exclusion order issued by the Minister for Justice and deported in December 2021 but returned illegally to Ireland two months later in February 2022.

He wasnt supposed to be in Ireland. He shouldnt have been on the bus, said Judge Orla Crowe, noting that Kilian could not have been unaware that he was the subject of an exclusion order.

Judge Crowe said the whole series of events had been utterly unprovoked and unnecessary and that each attack represented a very serious violation of personal autonomy.

She said Kilian had been misbehaving from the off by making inappropriate sexual remarks to girls on the bus and noted the very serious and lasting impact of the attack on the woman who made a victim impact statement.

He constituted a real threat to public safety and public order, said Judge Crowe.

She set a headline sentence of three years but reduced this on account of mitigating factors, including Kilians severe and enduring mental illness, for which he is now being treated.

The court heard that Kilian wrote a short letter of apology to the victims and another to the court, which he disrupted during a previous appearance.

The sentence was backdated to 27 August last, when Kilian went into custody.

Garda Michael Russell told Shaun Smyth BL, prosecuting, that the accused man got onto the bus at Aston Quay in Dublin.

He was heard talking loudly on the phone and making vulgar remarks to female passengers before he started to slap and punch an Asian man sitting at the back of the bus, culminating in a loud crunch.

This victim left his seat and got off the bus  he has not been identified by gardai.

An Irishman then got on the bus and sat beside Kilian before seeming to become afraid and attempting to leave his seat.

The accused then punched this man down the stairs, then pulled him back up and forced him to sit at the front.

This victim was also not identified.

Mr Danesh Ramesh, another passenger, became concerned for his girlfriend as Kilian approached her and told her to go downstairs. As Mr Ramesh tried to follow her, Kilian kicked him in the back of his head, causing him to lose his balance, fall down the stairs and hit his head.

Mr Ramesh didnt give a victim impact statement but told gardai he felt very afraid and in pain.

The court heard he suffered a concussion and blurred vision, for which he attended Connolly Memorial Hospital.

The bus driver then pulled over at Mr Rameshs request and called the guards. The driver also opened all the doors to allow passengers to alight for their safety.

Kilian then indiscriminately approached various passengers challenging them to fight, hitting one man.

A woman who was one of the last passengers to get off tried to hide from Kilian, but he came straight up to her and punched her full force in the nose and forehead, knocking her to the ground.

She passed out and later told gardai she felt her head was going to come off her shoulders.

One witness said the punch was so powerful that everyone heard it, and the woman had fallen straight to the floor.

Another victim saw Kilian demanding that two young girls give him their phones and intervened, telling him to go home.

Kilian responded by grabbing two of the fixed bars on the bus and kicking this man hard in the stomach. When this victim got off the bus, Kilian punched him hard in the nose.

Garda Russell said Kilian was aggressive and evidently intoxicated when they arrived, shouting and showing closed fists.

He immediately charged at two gardai, necessitating the use of force to bring him down.

On his arrest and while being restrained, Kilian said: I will kill you guys. I will break you fuckers. I will kill all of you. I will beat all of you on this bus.

He has 27 previous convictions in this jurisdiction, including drugs and theft offences, assault, criminal damage and possession of stolen property.

Kevin McCrave BL, defending, said Kilian was assessed and treated for schizophrenia while in custody in 2021 but that it took some time to find the correct medication for him.

Mr McCrave said his client tended to take medication for a time and then, when he felt better, would stop taking it as he felt he didnt need it.

Counsel said Killian identified himself as Jesus Christ when presenting himself to the hospital last year. Kilian has been on the correct medication since last November, the court heard.

Counsel said Kilian instructed that he had been taking a selfie with a man on the bus when the man touched him, and he became violent.

He said his client had come to Ireland in 2005 and had worked as a chef in many places, including in Tipperary and the Guinness Hop Store.

Kilian has expressed genuine remorse and understands not to take alcohol or drugs which seem to trigger his offending, the court heard.

The sentence was backdated to August 27 last, when Kilian was taken into custody on this matter.
(Reuters) -Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange, said on Friday that it was leaving the Dutch market because it had been unable to meet registration requirements to operate as a virtual asset service provider.

It is the latest in a string of setbacks for Binance including the June 5 decision by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to charge the company with evading securities laws. Binance disputes the SEC charges.

A spokesperson for Binance, which had been operating in the Netherlands without permission from regulators, said that the company had tried "many alternative avenues" to meet Dutch registration requirements.

"While Binance is disappointed that this has become necessary, it will continue to engage productively and transparently with Dutch regulators," they said.

The company said that starting July 17, trading in the Netherlands will be halted and existing Dutch users will only be able to withdraw assets from its platform.

The Dutch Central Bank (DNB), which registers financial service providers in the Netherlands said it had previously warned the company it was operating in the Netherlands without proper registration, and then fined it for the same reason in January.

Binance has also recently announced plans to leave Cyprus, Canada and Australia.

The company said on Friday however that it has received registration in other European Union countries, including France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden and Lithuania, and will continue to operate there.

(Reporting by Lavanya Ahire in Bengaluru and Toby Sterling in Amsterdam; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Dhanya Ann Thoppil, Elaine Hardcastle)
Adrian Holland, from Ardoyne in north Belfast, and Patrick Teer, from Ligoniel, also in the north of the city have been charged with Lawlors murder

The Robbie Lawlor gangland trial could be delayed until 2025, it has been reported, after the Public Prosecution Service added a third defendant to the case.

More than three years after the murder took place, Jim Fields, from Belfast, has been charged with assisting offenders in the murder of the Dublin crime boss.

According to the Belfast Telegraph, he is expected to appear in court next Tuesday.

Adrian Holland, from Ardoyne in north Belfast, and Patrick Teer, from Ligoniel, also in the north of the city have been charged with Lawlors murder and remain in custody, having been refused bail on a number of occasions.

Lawlor (36) was shot dead in broad daylight outside Holland's home at Etna Drive in the Ardoyne area on April 4, 2020.

The killing is suspected of being part of a violent drugs dispute between rival criminal factions with connections to Drogheda, Dublin and Sligo.

Neither Holland nor Teer, from Thornberry Hill in Belfast, are suspected of being the gunman.

Instead, they have both been charged with the murder as part of a joint enterprise with unidentified others.

The pair, who are currently remanded in custody, face further counts of conspiracy to murder and possessing a 9mm self-loading pistol with intent to endanger life.

They appeared together at Belfast Magistrates Court in April via video-link from Maghaberry Prison for a preliminary enquiry hearing.

Defence lawyers disputed claims there is sufficient prima facie evidence to prosecute their clients.

Barrister Joe Brolly, for Holland, previously said: We do not accept that there is a case to answer, but we will not be making any submissions (at this stage)."

He indicated that a legal bid to have the prosecution halted will instead be mounted when it reaches the Crown Court.

During the brief hearing Holland and Teer confirmed they understood the charges.

When asked if they wanted to call any witnesses or give evidence, both men replied: Not at this time.

Granting the Public Prosecution Services application, District Judge Steven Keown told the pair: You will be returned for trial at Belfast Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

He agreed to certify for senior and junior counsel to represent each defendant due to the seriousness of the charges.

Lawlor was shot dead in Belfast, less than three months after he was suspected of an active involvement in the murder of Drogheda teenager Keane Mulready-Woods.

Gardai believe Keane was killed with a single stab wound to the neck by Lawlor before the child's body was subsequently dismembered and dumped in three different places.

Earlier this year Paul Crosby was handed down a 10-year sentence, while his co-accused Gerard Cruise was given seven years in prison by the Special Criminal Court.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Tony Hunt said it was a heinous and appalling crime and the victims remains were treated in a disgraceful and inhuman way that beggars belief.

He expressed the courts condolences to the family, saying it was painful and unnatural for any parent to lose a child, particularly when it comes about by murder.

Meanwhile, a trial date had been expected to be set later this year after decisions to prosecute Adrian Holland and Patrick Teer were issued in March 2022

However, with the addition of Fields, legal sources said it could be late 2025 before the case is ready for trial.

It is understood the police reported Fields to the Public Prosecution Service in September 2021 and that a decision to prosecute was issued last month.
A judge heard allegations that a number of officers supervised the importation of drugs and controlled the flow of shipments to dealers

Explosive claims of garda collusion in the distribution of drugs have been made in the High Court.

A judge heard allegations that a number of officers supervised the importation of drugs and controlled the flow of shipments to dealers.

A detective sergeant, who later rose to a senior rank and is now retired, was identified in an affidavit as being centrally involved.

The affidavit was sworn by a person claiming to have worked in the drugs trade under the supervision and instruction of An Garda Siochana, who controlled what drugs got to what dealers.

Details of the allegations, which relate to the period between 1997 and 2014, were outlined in a ruling by Mr Justice Conor Dignam, in which the judge allowed the affidavit to be admitted in a civil action being taken against the garda commissioner by Jack Doyle (69), a former officer who was stationed in Blarney, Co Cork.

The affidavit lends credence to certain allegations made by Mr Doyle, who is suing for damages, claiming there was a conspiracy to force him into retirement in 1998 after he raised concerns that certain officers allowed criminals receive drug shipments.

Gardai directed drugs trade in Cork hears High Court

The former senior garda named in the affidavit  referred to as Detective Sergeant A by the judge  is one of six former gardai who have claimed they cannot remember drugs operations in the south of the country and other alleged events described by Mr Doyle due to the passage of time or ill-health.

Lawyers for Mr Doyle say the affidavit wholly undermines Detective Sergeant As contention that he cannot remember various matters.

The individual making the fresh claims has not been publicly identified, but he is known to have come forward to Mr Doyles legal team after reading press reports about the case last year.

In the affidavit, he said he did not know Mr Doyle and never had any dealings with him.

However, he said he was intimately involved in the type of operations described by Mr Doyle and dealt with many of the same gardai and criminals.

The man identified Detective Sergeant A as his contact and as the person who was in charge and made all of the key decisions.

He explained that Detective Sergeant A became less directly involved in 2001, handing over the direct role to another garda. However, he contends Detective Sergeant A remained in control and was at various meetings and involved in various decisions and approvals in 2008 and 2012.

Lawyers for the commissioner made an application last year to the court seeking the dismissal of Mr Doyles lawsuit, arguing there was a substantial risk there would not be a fair trial due to the passage of time. Some witnesses were said to be dead, some ill and others afflicted by memory loss.

The commissioner has not entered a defence in the case, claiming it has not been possible to do so. It was also argued that the case, initially filed in 2003, should be dismissed on the grounds of delay. A statement of claim was not filed until 2018.

However, before Mr Justice Dignam could rule on the dismissal application, lawyers for Mr Doyle informed the court that a person had come forward with new information. Mr Doyles lawyers applied for permission to adduce further evidence.

In an affidavit, Mr Doyles solicitor, Pat McMyler, of PA Dorrian & Co Solicitors, said that in light of the new allegations it was beyond belief that Detective Sergeant A would not have a sufficient recall of matters to deal with Mr Doyles claim.

It is clear [Detective Sergeant A] was centrally involved with the same characters and the same modus operandi for some significant time after the dismissal of the plaintiff, he said.

Lawyers for the commissioner questioned the relevance of the affidavit, describing its contents as hearsay, extremely tangential and almost all relating to a time after Mr Doyle was no longer a garda.

However, Mr Justice Dignam said he was satisfied leave to admit the further evidence should be granted.

He said matters alleged by Mr Doyle in relation to Detective Sergeant A were a significant part of his case and that the new allegations would probably have an important influence on the courts assessment of whether Detective Sergeant As lack of memory of these matters is as significant as claimed.

It was claimed that a detective centrally involved rose to senior rank in force

The allegations at the heart of Mr Doyles lawsuit date back to the mid-1990s, when he claims to have recruited an informer who provided information about people in the drugs trade and planned shipments.

According to Mr Doyle, the informant had infiltrated a serious drugs gang, providing gardai, including Detective Sergeant A, with information on major criminals. In time, Mr Doyle claims, the informant became a courier for the gang, bringing drugs into the country by ferry with the knowledge and agreement of more senior garda officers.

Mr Doyle alleges that a major dugs seizure in 1995 was staged and that only half of the consignment was seized. The remainder, he alleged, was allowed through to the drugs gang.

In his pleading, Mr Doyle alleges that a major dugs seizure in 1995 was staged and that only half of the consignment was seized. The remainder, he alleged, was allowed through to the drugs gang.

He claims that at the end of 1996, the informant provided him with information about drugs, including consignments of ecstasy and cocaine, getting through to gangs with the knowledge of gardai, including Detective Sergeant A, and that while there had been opportunities to arrest some of the leading criminal figures, they were not arrested.

Mr Doyle also claims the informant told him a certain criminal had a senior police officer in his pocket.

In the action, Mr Doyle claims he resolved to take action, in the public good and contacted a friend who was a customs intelligence officer and spoke to a journalist. He alleges he was subsequently unlawfully retired on medical grounds in 1998 and this had a devastating impact on his health, made it difficult to obtain work and led to him having to sell his home.

The court has previously heard that part of the reason for the delay in proceeding with the case was that Mr Doyle sought to have his complaints examined via other avenues, including a complaint to the Garda Ombudsman, ruled inadmissible in 2007.

The commissioner also decided not to initiate an investigation. His complaint was also examined in 2014 as part of an independent review of multiple cases where allegations of garda misconduct or inadequacies were made. The review recommended no further action.

Mr Doyles counsel, Miriam Reilly SC, said it was inconceivable the State had not conducted an investigation to get to the bottom of things.

.
A 17-year-old boy was arrested after he handed himself in to Blanchardstown garda station in the company of his mother.

A teenager is due to appear before court this morning charged in relation to a fatal assault in west Dublin.

It is understood that the victim, Aaron Keating, was stabbed twice with a knife in an incident which happened on Main Street in Ongar, west Dublin, at around 7pm on Tuesday.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested after he handed himself in to Blanchardstown garda station in the company of his mother.

In a statement this morning gardai said: The male juvenile arrested following the fatal assault which occurred in Ongar on Tuesday, 13th June 2023, has been charged.

The statement added that he will appear in Dublins Childrens Court this morning.

Mr Keating, who was aged in his 40s was taken to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown after the stabbing on Tuesday, where he was later pronounced dead.

Sources said that there had been very little hope that Mr Keating would survive the knife attack. He was a vulnerable person who had engaged with homeless services and other supports in recent years.

Locals leave flowers at the scene

Friends of Mr Keating held a vigil in his memory in Ongar village earlier this week, with those attending leaving floral tributes at the scene.

He has been described as a very well known member of the community, who was a daily feature of life in the village, according to one local.

It is understood that just before the stabbing, Mr Keating had been in a verbal altercation with a number of juvenile male youths on Main Street, who had told him to move on.

Sources say Mr Keating moved a short distance away but when he crossed the road he is believed to have shouted something at the group of male youths.

Its understood a teenager then approached him and stabbed him twice before fleeing down a nearby laneway.

The incident was witnessed by a number of people, including families, on the busy street.

A garda spokesman said in a statement on Wednesday that the male juvenile teenager had been arrested on suspicion of murder and was being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
A consultant in emergency medicine told Judge John Martin in the Circuit Civil Court today that Melissa McInerney, just over three years after the collision, walked with her head, neck and torso held very stiff.

A medical specialist has told a court that symptoms of injury displayed during his examination of a woman, claiming 60,000 damages arising out of a rear ending accident, were consistent with fabrication and gross exaggeration.

Aidan Gleeson, a consultant in emergency medicine, told Judge John Martin in the Circuit Civil Court today that Melissa McInerney, just over three years after the collision, walked with her head, neck and torso held very stiff.

Barrister Shane English said that Mr Gleeson had consulted with Dr John Simon who had six months earlier examined Ms McInerney on behalf of the Personal Injuries Board and who had found her unwilling to perform even the most simple movements of her neck and lower back.

Mr English, who appeared with Ennis Solicitors for defending motorist Aine Delaney and her insurers Allianz, told McInerney, of Drumcairn Green, Fettercairn, Tallaght, Dublin 24, that her behavior, together with information she had given examining doctors, had been preposterous.

Judge Martin, dismissing McInerneys claim, said doctors had found her symptoms to be somewhat incredible. He said she appeared to have been playing games with the doctors by whom she was being examined in relation to her claim.

You come to court with no other medical evidence than that presented by Mr Gleeson and Dr Simon and I have no option but to dismiss your claim, Judge Martin said.

McInerney was a passenger in a car driven by her aunt Mary Connors, (50) of Cherryfield Way, Firhouse, Dublin, who was awarded 5,000 damages and District Court costs by Judge Martin. She had been rear ended by Ms Delaney, a civil servant of Lealand Avenue, Bawnogue, Clondalkin. Ms Connors then 11 year old son, Dan, was also awarded 5,000 damages.

The court heard Ms Delaneys car had collided or rolled into the back of Connors car in bumper to bumper traffic near the Blackhorse Public House, Inchicore, Dublin, in December 2016.

Judge Martin had been asked to assess compensation to the three claimants on the grounds there had been a collision in which the impact had been minimal. He said Ms McInerneys case had caused the court more disquiet than the other two cases.

Allianz had defended all three cases on the basis the accident had been a minimal impact that could not have caused the extent of injuries claimed.

Judge Martin ruled that, however slight, there had been a collision involving minor whiplash injuries to both Ms Connors and her son, Dan. He granted Mr English a stay on the awards to facilitate consideration of an appeal in their cases to the High Court.
Former violent criminal Ian Moloney reveals how he has raised thousands from the sale of his poetry books

Reformed Dublin criminal Ian Mad Dog Maloney has revealed how he has managed to raise 2,500 for sick children through sales of his poetry.

The gangster-turned poet, who earned his nickname through a series of violent crimes that saw him rack up around 100 convictions, is now preparing to publish his second collection, with proceeds also going to charity.

The man who once struck fear though his enemies and was an enforcer for caged gangland boss Fat Freddie Thompson claims he has turned over a new leaf and written a heartfelt message of thanks to his supporters.

Hi folks my [Wrong Doing] book made 2,500 for a much needed charity [Our Ladys Childrens Hospital], he has posted on Facebook.

The people that bought and shared and help sell my books deserve all the credit. Thank you for your support and thank you from all the children in Our Ladys Childrens Hospital.

I wish yous (sic) all the luck in the world for your good deeds, my second book [Innocent] is written, and sent over to my publisher.

So after my publisher is finished, we will be sending it over to the printer and that book will raise money for another needed charity, it will raise money for autistic children.

I ask everyone like before to buy my second book and share my posts when I publish it, I am looking forward to working with a lot more charities in the near future, again thanks for all your kind words and support, have a great weekend and stay safe, god bless you all.

Maloney who has previously described his life of crime as a mugs game apologised to his victims in previous social media posts.

Saying he wants to make things right, Maloney insisted he was changing his life for my kids as they mean the world to me.

Maloney said that while everyone is entitled to there [sic] own opinion, the good the bad and the ugly, publicity is publicity, and its for a good cause.

I was around the block and back and wore every size t-shirt, did it all, he has written previously. I have no regrets in life, but when I look back on my life and ask myself was it worth it the answer is no, waste of good talent.

That life is a mugs game, its a true saying you have no friends in that game, youre only as good as your next wage. I am changing my life for my kids, they mean the world to me, its never to late to change, and I will set by example.

Maloney added that he wanted to thank everyone for their support as it means a lot for the children at Our Ladys Children Hospital.

He added: I will take this opportunity to apologize to all the people I caused heartache and pain over the years, after my brothers death I went down a bad road.

I am not using this as an excuse, but if that never happened my brother I dont think I would of turning to crime at that high level, I am not preaching but I just want to make things right.

And I would love to help kids from making the same mistakes as I did , thanks again for your support I wish yous (sic) all well, kindest regards.

Mad Dog served a number of lengthy prison cells, including a 12-year sentence for the armed robbery of Paul Sheeran Jewellers in Dundrum Town Centre, Dublin, in September 2008.

While serving that sentence he was also given a prison sentence for assaulting Joey OBrien in Charlies Restaurant, Dame Street, on January 4, 2009.

He was involved in the Crumlin-Drimnagh feud and was also suspected of involvement in a feud which saw a number of petrol bomb attacks and shootings in the Crumlin area.
According to the gangsters lawyer, wearing cuffs is an 'addition to suffering.

Kinahan buddy Ridouan Taghi has taken a case to court in protest about being made wear handcuffs by prison authorities in the Netherlands.

The screws make the lags wear cuffs in Holland whilst being moved across departments and there is no reason for this so it is being examined to see if it is legally tenable, according to Taghis lawyer, Thomas van der Horst.

Taghi is currently a suspect in the ongoing Marengo trial, where he is accused of multiple murders and every time he is brought to court, he is shackled.

No written decision has been issued on this, the decision is also explicitly motivated, van der Horst said.

Vught Penitentiary Institution

The head of one of Europes most feared gangs- accused of ten killings by his own hand and involvement in many more- is being humiliated, reportedly. Van der Horst told the Dutch Crimesite group about Taghis living conditions.

It is therefore about making detention conditions more difficult. After all, if there was a legitimate reason, the decision would have been explained.

You have to imagine that it is very humiliating and annoying to be handcuffed for these kinds of movements. After all, it is only a matter of walking a few meters, while during these walking movements nothing ever happened with regard to Taghi.

It is clear to him that this is a disguised punitive measure imposed by the director, he said.

The lawyer believes the decision to put Daniel Kinahans wedding guest in manacles is not legally tenable.

Client thinks not, and has requested the court to confirm the unlawfulness or disproportionality of this measure, Van der Horst added.

Marengo security

The handcuffs are not put on when Taghi is being moved to and from airports, however.

A spokesperson for the Vught Penitentiary Institution, would not comment on the case. The management of the Extra Secure Institution (EBI) in Vught transferred Taghi within the institution at the end of May.

Taghi is now staying in isolation in a new department consisting of one cell and one living space, where he is the only detainee.

Prosecutors have called for Taghi to face a sentence of life in prison. Five of his co-defendants were also recommended for the longest possible sentence.

At the start of the year, Dutch authorities accused Taghi of trying to bust his way out of prison with the help of a team of NAVY Seal style mercenaries.

It sounds crazy like something out of a movie and anyone else Id say theyre talking complete sh**e, said a Belgian detective in Antwerp, where Taghis organisation has been accused of using the port to import huge amounts of cocaine into Europe.

But Taghi and his guys are completely reckless, the most insolent criminals we have encountered in many ways and, honestly, he really would have tried it, said the detective.

Hes already been accused of killing witnesses, lawyers, and journalists, so why wouldnt he hire mercenaries to shoot his way out of prison?

The verdict in the case is scheduled for the October 20.
This is thought to be the first time cocaine concealed in this manner has been encountered in the UK

The cocaine was found concealed in sacks of charcoal

Two people have been arrested in Leicestershire after more than 1.6 tonnes of cocaine was found hidden in charcoal.

A major National Crime Agency operation targeted a suspected organised crime group that had imported the cocaine worth 120m into the UK.

Border Force officers, who were working with the NCA, discovered the drugs on June 8 as they searched a container carrying 800 sacks of charcoal that arrived into London Gateway port on a ship from Panama.

This is thought to be the first time cocaine concealed in this manner has been encountered in the UK.

However, this method has been used by crime gangs previously, using a sophisticated chemical process to conceal the drugs from law enforcement at ports.

The drugs would have had a street-level value of in excess of 120 million.

Yesterday (June 15) officers from the NCAs Armed Operations Unit, supported by armed units from Leicestershire Police, carried out a controlled delivery and raided two farm properties in Whitwick, Coalville, and Shepshed, the NCA said.

It came after the men, a 50-year-old from Coalville and a 31-year-old from Nottingham, were arrested at a location in Coalville town centre.

At the address in Coalville two self-loading pistols and a self-loading rifle were also recovered. They are now being forensically examined.

All of those arrested were detained on suspicion of importing class A drugs and are now being questioned. Searches are continuing.

NCA Regional Head of Operations Jacque Beer said: The NCA focuses on the organised crime groups presenting the most significant threat to the UK, and this includes those involved in the international trafficking of class A drugs.

This operation has prevented a huge amount of cocaine from making it on to the streets, where it would have generated criminal profit and fuelled further violence and exploitation.

Im grateful to Border Force, Leicestershire Police and partners from the Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service for the support they have provided to our ongoing operation and investigation.

Claudia Johnstone, Border Force Thames Command Assistant Director, said: With thanks to the joint efforts of the NCA, Leicestershire Police and Border Force, over 120 million worth of cocaine has been prevented from plaguing UK streets.

We remain committed to working round the clock to intercept drug supply chains and will continue to work closely with our counterparts to identify and prevent the new methods criminals take to smuggling illegal drugs.
The Chinese all-electric seven seater has VIP-style comfort in the second row

The MIFA9 from Maxus is very good but very niche

Ive driven some niche cars in my time, but this is a completely new one on me.

The Maxus MIFA 9 is a stupendously good car but unless you are a complete car geek you will not know about it. The Chinese manufacturer is better known for their commercial vehicles and the expansive plot out at Harris HQ on the Naas Road is testament to that.

But now they are venturing into the passenger vehicles with the T90 (an electric twin-cabin pick up) and this MIFA 9.

It is a fully-electric seven-seater in an unusual 2-2-3 seat configuration and is most definitely designed with the (lucky) passengers in row 2 in mind.

That is because the brainiac designers decided to install two gigantic fully-adjustable captains seats in row 2 that would not look out of place in the Business Class section of a transatlantic flight.

Not that the front row of seats has been ignored. In fact, far from it. But the USP here is definitely row 2 which became the target of most of the attention throughout the test week. I was the only one not to get driven around while sitting in it but a straw poll of the dozen or so others who tested the seats out would suggest a hundred percent satisfaction is guaranteed.

With colour touchscreens built into the armrest for adjusting them in every conceivable way, these are some of the most comfortable seats in any car on Irish roads.

One of the biggest USPs here is row 2

There is enough room to walk between the two chairs to access the bench seats of row 3. Obviously, boot space is compromised when the third-row seating is in use, but the Mifa9 has lots of storage areas dotted around the rest of the cabin.

Visually, this is a show stopper and definitely polarised opinion. While I was shocked on day 1, by the end of my test week I was not only happy with how it looked but I found myself quite defensive about it too.

The giant nose isnt perforated with the usual grille because it is an EV, so it is almost intimidating to look at front on. There is a clever and nicely designed LED daytime running lightbar that stretches across the entire front of the car and softens the harshness of the gigantic panel.

It is an incredible 5.2m long which makes it longer than anything aimed at passengers on Irish roads. Even the big ones like the Multivan, the Vito or the Torneo.

The size actually makes the 19-inch wheels look tiny. But they are there to be aerodynamic and retain enough tyre sidewall to provide a comfortable and quiet ride.

There are few physical controls, with a cabin setup that features a small digital instrument display directly in front of the driver and a larger touchscreen in the centre of the dash. The steering wheel (which has Maxus displayed across it to remind you of the name of your car) features controls for audio and a few driver assistance functions while climate controls use touch-sensitive areas on the centre console.

Maxus claims the average energy consumption figure is 17.9kWh/100 kilometres, which is impressive given the sheer size and weight of the car.

The steering is surprisingly light if lacking a little in feel, but the MIFA 9 isnt as intimidating to park as you would imagine thanks to the cameras and sliding doors (very helpful for finding spaces) and has good manoeuvrability.

I loved driving it, but this is not a drivers car. It is here in Ireland to transport the lucky occupants in utter comfort and safety.

You can get up to a 595km on a single charge but like a lot of EVsreal-time driving never reaches the full number. But it is closer than a lot of more-established European brands who are inflating the potential range a lot these days.

At around 80k this is not cheap but if my kids and neighbours, on the other hand, had a say in itwed have at least one in our driveway.
Hose of Prayer founder trying to encourage more Americans to become involved group

Fake visionary Christina Gallagher has been described as seeking material wealth in the guise of religion as she visits the multi-million House of Prayer in New York this weekend while claiming the antichrist is about to take over the Catholic Church.

Gallagher, who founded the controversial House of Prayer in Achill, Co. Mayo, 30 years ago next month, has lived a life of luxury in the intervening decades living in various mansions as followers pump money into her organisation.

Gallagher has visions

Over the years she helped grow the House of Prayer into America, where various offshoots were established  the most recent of which was opened in Brewster, New York, two years ago.

Gallagher was unable to travel over for the opening of the Brewster House of Prayer, which was a former synagogue bought for $2.2m, and instead did a live stream for the opening.

The House of Prayer announced that she and her sidekick Fr Gerard McGinnity were visiting the New York building last weekend and will be back again next weekend as they try to encourage more Americans to become involved.

Devotees of the group are encouraged to buy expensive items from the House of Prayer which are claimed to offer protection through Jesus, who Gallagher claims has officially endorsed the products while also warning the apocalypse is imminent.

As well as making money from the shop, followers have also handed over millions of euro to the House of Prayer in donations and in wills.

Mike Garde of Dialogue Ireland, which helps victims of cultism, has said he is currently working with relatives of people involved in the House of Prayer and former devotees who believe it is purely a money-making operation.

She has absolutely surrendered to material wealth in the guise of religion, Mr Garde told the Sunday World yesterday.

The fact she is going back to America means she has come out of her reclusive stage and is back on the field trying to get finances from members. She is likely using this American trip to kick off her 30th anniversary tour.

Gallagher regularly claims to receive messages from Jesus, including one just over a month ago in which she claims he told her the Catholic Church was about to be taken over by the antichrist.

My Church is about to fall into the hands of the antichrist through the authority of those who call themselves the one-world order, she said.

Antichrist is about to take over the Chair of Peter  it has been prepared for him for some time  and a destruction will take place of My Church, of Truth and of My Sacraments.

She has claimed a number of times that Jesus has told her people will only find salvation if they follow the House of Prayer and will be given extra protection if they purchase expensive items from their shop including 3D picture of Our Lady with the Roses, which sells for 250.

In her latest message from Jesus, she claims he told her people should pray before the expensive picture when the end of days comes.

It will be the wise who will close their blinds, light a blessed candle before My Mothers Picture with the roses and pray the Rosary continuously, she claims.
It is understood an argument had broken out at the property a short time earlier.

A man suspected of murdering a mother of two rang emergency services after she suffered fatal stab wounds.

Anna Mooney, who was agedin her 40s, died the violent assault in north Dublin in the early hours of yesterday.

She is believed to have been stabbed several times at a house in Kilbarrack Road, Raheny, at about 1am.

It is understood an argument had broken out at the property a short time earlier.

Two children are believed to have been in the house at the time, but were not harmed. They are currently being cared for.

Paramedics arrived and gardai were notified.

Ms Mooney was found in the kitchen and pronounced dead a short time later.

A source said: This was a violent attack and indications are that it developed from a row earlier on in the night.

Gardai are following a definite line of inquiry into this matter and are not looking for anyone else.

The man, who is aged in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of murder and taken to Raheny garda station.

A garda outside the house in Raheny. Photo: Colin Keegan/Collins

He remained in garda custody last night and was being questioned about the murder, and is being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, which allows him to be detained for up to 24 hours.

His period of detention is due to expire later today (fri) when he must either be charged or released from gardacustody, without charge, pending a file being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The area around the house remained sealed-off yesterday as members of the Garda Technical Bureau carried out a forensic examination.

Gardai were also conducting door-to-door inquiries and appealing for any witnesses, or anyone with information in relation to the incident, to come forward.

Local people reacted with shock yesterday as they watched Ms Mooneys body of the mother-of- two being removed from the house and placed in an ambulance.

One woman became visibly upset when she was told about her violent death.

Another neighbour said: Its just absolutely tragic. There are no words, really. You dont expect to wake up one morning with the guards outside because someone has been killed. God rest her.

Local Fianna Fail councillor Daryl Barron said local people were upset by the news.

It is very concerning. A young woman has lost her life and its extremely distressing, he said.

It is a very distressing time for neighbours and people in a community that has been quite quiet in recent years and hasnt had anything like this happening in recent times.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family, and we can only wait and see the outcome of the investigation.
Binance is set to exit the Netherlands after its attempts to secure a virtual asset service provider (VASP) license failed.

Starting from today, the crypto exchange is no longer registering new users residing in the country. It is also sending emails to existing users with information regarding their accounts and any assets they currently have on the platform, Binance said in an announcement Friday.

The company added that starting July 17, trading in the Netherlands will be halted and existing users will only have the option of withdrawing funds from its platform.

Binance has been in a comprehensive registration application process as a virtual asset service provider (VASP) with the Dutch regulator, the exchange said in a statement. Although we explored many alternative avenues to service Dutch residents in compliance with Dutch regulations, unfortunately this has not resulted in a VASP registration in the Netherlands at this time.

We regret to announce that Binance is leaving the Dutch market as we have been unable to register as a VASP with the Dutch regulator. We continue to be committed to working collaboratively with regulators around the world and are additionally focused on getting our business  Binance (@binance) June 16, 2023

The exchange added that it will continue striving to obtain authorizations that will allow it to provide products and services to Dutch users.

Furthermore, Binance claims that it is already compliant with EU standards on the prevention of money laundering and financing of terrorism, something that it says is evidenced by registrations obtained in other European countries, including France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden and Lithuania.

Binance didnt immediately respond to Decrypts request for comment.

Dutch regulator's previous warnings

Last year, Binance was fined $3.35 million by the Dutch central bank for offering services in the Netherlands without the appropriate license.

Prior to that, in August 2021, the Dutch regulator warned the crypto exchange, the worlds largest in terms of trading volume, that it was operating in the Netherlands without the appropriate license.

Todays news also comes hot on the heels of Binance applying to deregister with the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.

While the the Cyprus regulator didnt share the reasons behind the move, a Binance spokesperson told Decrypt that the exchange was working hard to be fully compliant before the European Unions Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) legislation is implemented next year.

Dutch Central Bank Imposes $3.3 Million Fine on Crypto Exchange Binance

According to the exchange, it is now focusing its efforts on fewer regulated entities in the EU, especially our larger registered markets where we already have a mature footprint, including France, Italy and Spain.

Earlier today, the Paris public prosecutor's office revealed that Binance's French unit is under investigation by local authorities for the "illegal" provision of digital asset services and "aggravated money laundering."
Sooo excited to go away with my gals

Aimee gets ready for her second hen

With a happy declaration of and so it begins Aimee Connolly has embarked on a second hen party, this time in Lisbon, Portugal, ahead of her summer wedding.

A clearly delighted Aimee said it feels a bit surreal that its my hen weekend in an excited Instagram post, but added that she was  sooo excited to go away with my gals.

Wearing white jeans and a white high-neck top, the Sculpted by Aimee founder also donned a veil to mark the occasion.

The bride-to-be received plenty of well wishes in the comments section with influencer Laura Drury writing: Happy hen Aimee xx

We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content

Fashion blogger Irene Feeney Steele added: Have an amazing time while beauty guru Sally Foran commented: Have a great time!

This is Aimees second hen do, as she celebrated with her Sculped By Aimee team back in May.

Last month the cosmetics queen enjoyed a summer brides hen with the girls she described as the best team.

She donned a veil to mark the occasion

The makeup mogul, who is preparing to say 'I do' to fiance John Greene, revealed that two other ladies in the office are also preparing to walk down the aisle.

Speaking to the camera in a series of clips on her Instagram stories Aimee revealed: We have our work hen party, we've three summer brides on the team so we're doing a work hen party tonight for all of us and I have to be in town, ready in 45 minutes.

Aimee announced her engagement to boyfriend John last July after he popped the question while they were in Mexico.

Aimee had shared the exciting news last year with her 156k followers that boyfriend John had proposed while on a romantic holiday to Holbox.

She announced: Last night while waiting on the sunset in Holbox, I said yes.

Aimee, who launched her cosmetics brand in 2016, sells a range of makeup brushes, palettes, lipsticks, lashes, foundations, and instant tan.

Aimee and pals celebrate

As the chief executive and owner of the popular make-up brand Sculpted by Aimee, Connolly (30) has become extremely successful at a young age.

While she is driven and self-motivated, Aimee said her ambition comes from her estate agent mother, Clare (63) who has been a huge influence on her.

As I get older I realise that a lot of my inner belief has come from my mum, she said previously.

She was a single mum who raised me on her own, and she went through financial challenges in the last recession and persevered through them. Then she started a new business in her fifties. She is the most resilient, hard-working woman I have ever met.
There have been significant falls in median property values in 20 suburbs across Tauranga in the past year, ranging from around 9 per cent in Tauranga central, Welcome Bay, and Bellevue to 12 per cent in Otumoetai and Maungatapu.

Otumoetai was the only suburb where values didn't drop over the past three months and no suburbs saw values rise.

Mount Maunganui remains Tauranga's most expensive suburb at $1.38 million despite a 10.8 per cent decline, equivalent to around $167,000, since June 2022.

By contrast, Gate Pa, Poike and Parkvale have median values of less than $600,000.

Despite soft market conditions persisting across most of New Zealand, dozens of suburbs have defied the downturn, increasing in value in the past three months and providing evidence the bottom of the market is approaching.

CoreLogic NZ's interactive Mapping the Market tool reveals detailed insights into the three and 12-month change in values across 917 suburbs nationally.

The data shows 128 suburbs increased in value in the past three months and of those 71 recorded an increase in median value of at least 0.5 per cent.

The Kaipara District, in the Northland Region had two top performing suburbs over the past quarter, with values in Maungaturoto and Kaiwaka up 4.7 per cent and 3.5 per cent respectively.

Over the past 12 months, 860 suburbs declined in value, with 729 of those suburbs down at least 5 per cent. The softest 18 suburbs are all in the wider Wellington area, with falls in the range of 19-24 per cent.

CoreLogic NZ Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson says the quarterly measure of housing value movements was a timelier measurement of the country's property market downturn.

'Over the past year, 57 suburbs saw values rise with 33 of them increasing by at least 2 per cent with the majority of these are located in the lower half of the South Island. However, when you zoom in to the past three months that figure increases to 128 suburbs where values have risen and more than half of those are up by at least half a percent, says Kelvin.

'The trend shows house price falls have effectively levelled out and provides further albeit tentative evidence that the downturn may be winding up, for better or worse, depending on your perspective.

'I'm still expecting further falls to come and there will be no neat end to the downturn rather the expectation is for a relatively subdued market, as stretched affordability and tight investor regulations contain demand and limit growth.

Auckland

Property values dropped in all 195 suburbs analysed over the past 12 months, ranging from less than 5% in areas such as Waiuku, Ponsonby, and Omaha, up to more than 16 per cent in Parau, Wattle Downs, and Totara Heights. More generally, 107 suburbs saw a drop of at least 10 per cent.

However, in the past quarter, the number of suburbs that fell in value reduced to 165, with 14 suburbs seeing a rise of at least 0.5 per cent. Red Hill was the strongest performing suburb in the three months to June, with values rising 2.5 per cent.

Hamilton

Over the past year all 34 suburbs analysed in Hamilton fell in value, ranging from a drop of 1.8 per cent in Queenwood up to more than 11 per cent in Temple View.

In the past three months, four suburbs saw a subtle rise in value, including Baverstock, Hamilton East, Flagstaff and Harrowfield.

Wellington

All 96 suburbs analysed in Wellington fell in value in the past year, ranging from 1.8 per cent in Te Marua, up to a decline of 21 per cent or more in Boulcott, Stokes Valley, and Southgate. In 80 of the suburbs, the falls have been at least 15 per cent, with another 15 areas falling between 10-15 per cent.

Over the past three months only Aotea saw values rise, while values were flat in Mount Victoria.

Seatoun remains the most expensive suburb $1.7 million despite recording a $350,000 drop in price over the past year. At $479,1000 Wellington Central remains the cheapest area due to the large proportion of flats/apartments.

Christchurch

Christchurch's 82 suburbs analysed have shown the most resilience, with Wainui seeing a rise in median values over the past year of 3 per cent. All other suburbs saw values fall over the past year, though areas such as Aranui, Beckenham, and Akaroa declined by less than 1 per cent, and the weakest suburb, Spreydon, has seen a drop of 9.3 per cent.

Over the past three months, 11 suburbs saw values rise with the Templeton the strongest, up 1 per cent.

Fendalton and Kennedys Bush are still Christchurch's most expensive areas, with median values of at least $1.6 million. Values in Waltham, Linwood, and Phillipstown are the most affordable at sub-$500,000.

Dunedin

Of the 62 Dunedin suburbs analysed, all saw a drop in median values in the year to June  ranging from a modest 0.3 per cent fall in Vauxhall, up to 13 per cent or more in Roslyn, North Dunedin, and Saint Leonards.

Nine suburbs saw values rise over the quarter, ranging from a 0.2 per cent increase Brockville to a 1.9 per cent lift in Normanby.

Maori Hill is still Dunedin's most expensive area ($973,100), down from $1.1 million a year ago. South Dunedin is the cheapest, with a median of around $405,000.

Property market forecast

Kelvin says overall the widespread downturn has continued in recent months, but the floor may be close as mortgage rates peak, migration spikes, employment stays high, and credit rules loosen.

'It wouldn't be a surprise to see a few more suburbs show increases in the next three to six months, but we do not anticipate a fresh boom. Indeed, mortgage rates are still high, affordability is stretched, and debt to income ratio restrictions loom large in early 2024.
A key milestone in the recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle has been achieved this week with all state highways in Hawke's Bay and TairAwhiti now open following completion of the Hikuwai Bailey bridge, says Associate Transport Minister Kiri Allan.

'This is a significant milestone in the ongoing recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle, marking the final stretch of State Highway on the East Coast and in Hawke's Bay to be reopened, four months on from the cyclone."

The Minister says "it's

a huge day for the mighty East Coast".

"This highway is a lifeline for residents of Tokomaru Bay, Waipiro Bay, Te Puia Springs and other communities along SH35 to Gisborne and residents have suffered over the past few months.

"While a locally-built bypass road has allowed some traffic to move through, travel has been limited, impacting communities."

Post-Cyclone Gabrielle work included replacing bridges in Hawke's Bay and TairAwhiti . Photo: Waka Kotahi NZTA.

At 85 metres, the Hikuwai Bailey bridge is the longest Bailey bridge in the post cyclone recovery and replaces the Hikuwai no.1 bridge north of Gisborne that collapsed during Cyclone Gabrielle.

'It will restore connectivity and improve travel times on this stretch of highway for local communities, whAnau and businesses while we investigate the best long-term solutions for infrastructure resilience in the area.

The bridge is one of 11 Bailey bridges the Government committed to building to reconnect cyclone affected communities.

Post-Cyclone Gabrielle work included replacing bridges in Hawke's Bay and TairAwhiti . Photo: Waka Kotahi NZTA.

The opening follows the completion of the Waikare Gorge Bailey bridge on State Highway 2 last month, reconnecting Wairoa and Napier.

'We know the last four months have been really tough for many communities and the Government has been focused on restoring access along State Highway 35 and other critical routes as quickly as possible.

'We've topped up the National Land Transport Fund by $250 million to cover the cost of emergency repairs and have earmarked a further $275 million for this work in Budget 2023.

The community-led bypass road opened in March to temporarily replace the washed out Hikuwai no.1 bridge.

'The hard work of our committed local roading crews, contractors and bridge engineers has been incredible and I know everyone has worked tirelessly to reopen these critical routes as safely and quickly as possible.

'SH35 is a lifeline for whAnau working and living on the coast. We need to ensure more resilience is built into the future of this network.

In Budget 2023, the Government committed $140 million over the next seven years to fund a pipeline of low cost low risk resilience works on local roads. A further $279 million has been set aside for resilience works on state highways over the same time period.

'The Government is committed to working on long-term solutions to ensure a safe and resilient transport network that communities can rely on now and into the future, says Allan.
The fate of Rottweiler Chopper, who bit a Tauranga vet, is still undecided after the judge reserved his decision during sentencing on Wednesday.

The dog's owner Helen Fraser was due to be sentenced at the Tauranga District Court after being found guilty of owning a dog causing injury.

Judge David Cameron said there was a lot of material to consider and he needed 'sufficient time before making a decision.

The charge carries a maximum sentence of three years imprisonment or a $20,000 fine, and the court must order destruction of the dog unless exceptional circumstances can be proven.

Fraser's dog Chopper bit veterinarian Dr Liza Schneider during an appointment to discuss the dog's neutering in October 2021.

The attack left Schneider, the owner of Holistic Vets, with a fractured ulna, four puncture wounds, nerve and muscle damage and required surgery.

Tauranga City Council initially failed in its prosecution when Judge Cameron dismissed the charge in July 2022, after a judge alone trial held in June that year.

The council appealed this decision stating they felt the judge had made an 'error of law by focussing on the conduct of the victim, rather than Fraser's legal responsibility to control her dog at all times.

The appeal judge Justice Timothy Brewer upheld the appeal and convicted Fraser of the charge.

He agreed with the council that 'Judge Cameron erred in his consideration of the test [for total absence of fault].

'The onus was on Ms Fraser to prove that she was totally without fault. In other words, that there were literally no practical steps she could have taken to avert the attack, said Justice Brewer's written decision.

Holistic Vets owner Dr Liza Schneider. File photo/SunLive.

During the sentencing hearing, Schneider read her victim impact statement to a crowded courtroom. One half of the public gallery was filled with people there in support of Schneider, the other half were there for Fraser.

'This was the most aggressive and unprovoked attack I have ever experienced in my 22 year career as a veterinarian, which has included working with aggressive and dangerous dogs, she said.

'Had I not put my arm up in defence, the dog would likely have caused damage to my head or neck, she claimed.

Schneider said the injury and two subsequent surgeries initially prevented her from performing her 'normal duties as a vet.

'My team of four other vets did everything they could to help, but my inability to do surgery and even basic procedures placed a massive strain on our team and we were unable to continue accepting new clients.

Schneider said the business had lost around $60,000 in lost revenue and her total costs to the business caused by the incident was more than $100,000.

She also alleged harassment and defamation had been caused from social media posts and comments on the Team Chopper' Facebook page and Fraser's and her adult son's personal Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as the Holistic Vets Facebook page.

'The physical injuries as well as the mental and emotional stress associated with Chopper's attack, pales in significance compared to the psychological damage caused by subsequent harassment, by Helen, her son  and their associates, alleged Scheinder.

She claimed there were 'untruths, discriminatory negative, derogatory and abusive comments directed at her and her business.

'While not all posts can be attributed to Helen and Ryan, they instigated and host the forums and their followers to attack me and the clinic, alleged Schneider.

'I wish to make clear that I have not had any part in the decision making regarding the prosecution against Helen, Chopper's impoundment, the appeal or Chopper's fate.

'As a vet it was my social responsibility and my duty to ensure that a serious and unprovoked attack  was reported to the appropriate authorities.

Helen Fraser and her son Ryan Tarawhiti-Brown outside court in April. Photo: Alisha Evans/SunLive.

Fraser's lawyer Lynne Mathieson filed for a discharge without conviction, which if granted by the judge would mean Fraser was guilty of the offence but have no criminal record.

The euthanasia of Chopper would also be at the judge's discretion rather than mandatory.

'We're submitting that the consequences of this conviction will be out of proportion to the gravity of the offending, said Mathieson.

She said it was 'quite a simple case where the two parties had different expectations of how the process should go.

During the trial, evidence was given that for Chopper's appointment it was agreed they would meet with the vet in the carpark because Fraser said the dog was anxious around people he didn't know.

Fraser said they waited around 30 minutes to be seen, so she got Chopper out of the car and had her son hold him while she went into the clinic to find out the cause of the delay.

When Schneider went to meet Fraser in the carpark, she approached Chopper and spoke in a loud voice to be heard through her mask, the court heard.

When the vet was within 2 metres of Chopper he lunged and bit her arm.

The trial showed there was a dispute over whether Fraser was asked to keep Chopper in the car for assessment.

The clinic staff testified they did so when arranging the appointment but Fraser said she was never asked to leave the dog in the car.

At Wednesday's hearing, Mathieson said Fraser had no criminal convictions and she was 'remorseful for the harm caused.

Prior to the charge being filed, Fraser worked as a financial advisor and mortgage broker, but because of the anxiety and stress, including caring for a dog in the pound, she took up a minimum wage retail job, said Mathieson.

Fraser visited Chopper at the Tauranga Pound almost daily for the 271 days he was there.

Fraser's supporters gathered outside the court on Wednesday. Photo John Borren/SunLive.

The defendant intended to return to work in the financial sector and a regulatory conviction although not criminal, could impact that, said Mathieson.

'She certainly intends to return to work in that sector if possible. And she has very real fears that a conviction of this kind will affect those wishes significantly.

'Given the gravity of the offending versus the potential impairment regarding future employment in her chosen field [that] she's experienced in, I would submit that a discharge without conviction is certainly appropriate.

Mathieson said a mitigating factor was that Fraser had gone to 'great lengths in consultation with an expert dog trainer to have Chopper 're-socialised and trained to try and make sure an injury like this doesn't happen again.

In regards to the claims of harassment and defamation, Mathieson said: 'We can't hold the defendant or try and hold her accountable for the actions of other people that she has no control over.

She said for the purpose of the discharge without conviction application, 'comments regarding social media should be set aside.

If Fraser were to be convicted, making Chopper's euthanasia mandatory, they would apply for exceptional circumstances, said Mathieson.

If exceptional circumstances could be proven then the judge would not order Chopper to be put down.

Counsel for Tauranga City Council Jodi Libbey responded to Mathieson's arguments: 'It is time for the defendant be held accountable for what she's been found guilty of.

'As the high court made clear, it is the defendant's conduct that is under scrutiny here.

'It's her dog and her responsibility to take all reasonable steps to avert an attack. The high court found she failed to take two very simple steps, keeping the dog in the car. Or otherwise she could have kept control of chopper herself rather than letting him be held by her 13-year-old son.

'In terms of the gravity of offending the defendant asserts the gravity is low. And I would say that the correct categorisation is moderately serious to serious," said Libbey.

'The defendant has asserted...as a mitigating factor, the great lengths she's gone to since the attack to ensure nothing like this happens again, when she is aware, she's been issued with two recent infringement notices relating to an incident on February 6 where Chopper was off his property and rushed a cyclist chasing her for 60 metres, in breach of his dangerous dog classification.

'He [Chopper] is not allowed off that property without a muzzle or being under leash control, said Libbey.

Fraser paid $600 for two infringements relating to the incident, she said.

These were failure to keep her dog under control and failure to comply with effects of a dangerous dog classification, said Libbey.

The sentencing has been deferred until August 21 at the Tauranga District Court.

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air
Five vape shops in Greerton is a cause for concern for some in the township as it is seen as 'not a good look for the community.

Greerton's Mainstreet manager Mahia Martelli has noticed the increasing number of vape retailers popping up in their area, and says it's led to negative community feedback.

'Three [vape shops] are right across the road from each other basically. So there's one on one side of the road, and then there's two opposite it, and there's two up by the Greerton shopping centre.

'The general public seem to think that a Mainstreet manager or the Greerton Village Association has a lot more power than we actually do. There's been some comments on Facebook about why hasn't Mainstreet Greerton done anything about it?' Well we can't because we don't own any of the buildings here. It's the landlords who are in charge of putting tenants in their properties  not us.

Community image

Earlier this month Government announced new vape restrictions including banning disposable vapes from August and banning new shops being within 300 metres of schools.

Mahia says the latest two vape shops have popped up in Greerton in the last two weeks. 'It's not a good look for our community and especially because one of the vape shops is right next to Greerton Village School, and one of the vape shops is in a government-owned building, which is the old New Zealand Post building, and I don't think that's a very good look either.

'I'm in a difficult position because I need to support my business community but I also need to think of the community as a whole. As a mum to teenagers and primary school-aged children, Mahia says: 'I just feel really passionate about not letting our young people get dragged into vaping or smoking, or drinking or anything like that.

Customer's convenience

Shosha at Greerton has been open for a couple of years, according to the store's Bay of Plenty Regional manager Pranav Malhotra. The Weekend Sun asked if he thinks there are too many vape stores in Greerton. Pranav says: 'I'm not sure what to comment on this one right now because we've already been there for a long time and recently we have also noticed that there are a couple of new vape shops opened over there.

'We are doing our job to be honest, so we just want to make sure that our customers always get Shosha as a convenience and have the easiest spot to come to.

Pranav says their customer base are in the 30s age range. 'We do only have loyal and regular customers over there and we don't approach the young market, under 18s, or anything because that's how I was trained and that's how I train everyone.

The latest vape store to open this week, Just Vape was approved for business prior to the Government's new laws and is within 300 metres of Greerton Village School.

The store's owner Raman Singh has been a vape retailer for five years and says: 'I'm looking at being a good professional vape retailer not an ordinary retailer.

Raman says he thinks there are too many stores that sell vapes in Greerton such as dairies. 'Every dairy shop in Tauranga has the little vape stalls. They're selling disposables. Disposables are not good.

Vape bylaws

Mahia thinks vape shops in Greerton should have distance between them. 'If there was a bylaw that had them a bit more spread out with a specific number only allowed in regards to how many people are in a community, but three jammed in one area is not okay in my opinion.

'[and] I would like [vape shops] monitored or enforced in exactly the same way as a liquor licensing certificate or process be put through which is extremely intense.

The Weekend Sun approached Tauranga City Council with multiple questions asking whether council thinks there needs to be bylaws limiting the number of vape stores in a community and whether tougher processes for selling vapes should be in place.

TCC's strategy and corporate planning manager Jeremy Boase responded: 'Under current legislation, councils can't pass bylaws that would restrict the location of vaping stores. New central government regulation will be coming into force in August.

Principal speaks out

A Tauranga-based primary school principal is also speaking out, saying she's horrified by how many vape stores are in proximity to their school in Greerton.

Earlier this week, The Weekend Sun was approached with concerns from the community about the number of vape stores in the Greerton area.

Greerton Village School's principal Kimberley Henderson-Ginns is making her stance clear on this situation. 'It's absolutely horrific. We take children in a walking school bus so we can walk our children through the community safely in the afternoon.

'Our walking school bus walks out of our school gate, across the crossing, up to where we drop students off  there are five [vape stores] and that's not including dairies  this is just vape stores.

Last week the Government announced tighter restrictions on vaping in New Zealand. Among the new rules, disposable vapes are being banned from this coming August and new vape stores will not be permitted within 300 metres of schools. 'We've got really young and impressionable students and I'm totally on board with them being banned from around schools. It's crazy.

Kimberley says she thinks the number of vape stores in the Greerton community is 'disgraceful. 'Primary school-aged children are vaping and it's just too readily available. I think it's disgusting. 'We haven't had vaping at our school but they're [students] just exposed to it so parents smoking, older teenaged children, intermediate-aged school kids  they're all vaping.

She says that the vape stores in Greerton are inviting to look at for kids. 'They're new, they've got different colours, they're appealing and they're appealing to children who walk past them.

'I just think [vapes are] too readily available and I think the names of them and the colours are designed to appeal to young people. When you've got this many shops around a school, which has got 366 kids, it's becoming normalisedI'm really anti them.

For wider community views on the number of vape stores in Greerton, turn to page 4 of this edition.
The luxury Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa on the shores of Lake Rotorua is officially open, after Prime Minister Chris Hipkins officially cut the tape this week.

Regional Development Minister Kiri Allan says she expects the tourism attraction will bring "thousands more" tourists to the region.

The opening follows a five year development with $52.21 million investment from the Government. The project employed up to 250 people through construction and supported a number of local businesses, according to Allan.

'This is one of the biggest developments in Rotorua in the last 20 years. It is the first major purpose-built spa and bathing facility since the original Rotorua bathhouse was built over 120 years ago, she says.

Tourism Minister Peeni Henare says the tourism data released this week, which shows an estimated 220,000 international visitors will come to the region in 2023, Rotorua is well-placed to welcome international visitors back and tap into the trillion-dollar international wellness tourism' market.

'Wellness tourism is a high-value visitor category, with total visitor spend on health and wellbeing over $1.7 m just this past April. Relaxation and wellbeing' is on the top three reasons Kiwis travel to destinations outside of where they live," says Henare.

'The mineral waters of our geothermally rich regions have long been a feature of New Zealand that our visitors love.

'This is New Zealand's only spa owned by mana whenua and offers services that incorporate the long standing and unique NgAti Whakaue practices and culture into their environment and services.

'A facility like this, combined with the manaakitanga provided by NgAti Whakaue and the team onsite providing the services, is a tourism offering of significant potential value for the region.

A spokesperson for the new attraction says the spa combines the region's healing geothermal waters with the centuries-old legacy of NgAti Whakaue culture, healing practices and manaakitanga.

"Wai Ariki offers an authentic wellness and spa experience for manuhiri unlike any other spa in the world, says the spokesperson.

Pukeroa Oruawhata Group deputy chairman David Tapsell says Wai Ariki is not only a unique development for NgAti Whakaue and Rotorua, but also reclaims Aotearoa New Zealand's preeminent position on the global wellness stage.

'Wai Ariki is the living embodiment of the reason the geothermal city of Rotorua was first established. Since the 1800s, people have been visiting our city from all over the world to experience the region's healing geothermal waters.

'Wai Ariki continues that legacy, reclaiming Rotorua's title and re-positioning it as an international spa and wellness destination. Wai Ariki will be a game changer for our city, economy, tourism sector, community and our people, he says.

'It has been a challenging journey to get to this point, to say the least, but to have opened our doors today and see our vision, conceived more than10 years ago, come to fruition, is phenomenal.

'We are proud to deliver a manuhiri experience that is tightly woven with who we are as NgAti Whakaue and to be able share our unique heritage and manaakitanga with the world in this way. We are also extremely proud to deliver this for the benefit of our whAnau, both now and into the future.

'Wai Ariki is not only the most significant luxury spa development in Aotearoa New Zealand for more than 100 years, it is also one of only a handful of indigenous-owned operations in the world, says the spokesperson.

Photo: Supplied.

'The 4,453 square metre development has surpassed many obstacles since first breaking ground in 2017, including Covid-19 lockdowns, supply issues and a changing economy. The luxury wellness spa now stands majestically amidst the newly redeveloped Rotorua lakefront.

'Elements of te ao MAori are infused throughout the development, including through the physical design of the building, its unique spa and wellness experiences and the development of its brand, created by Inia Maxwell of NgAti Whakaue.

Pukeroa chair Malcolm Short says there has been a deep focus on authenticity throughout Wai Ariki's development.

'Every element is founded on NgAti Whakaue principles, practices and stories, reflecting the whakapapa (kinship) we have with the natural environment, from the heavens, to the water and the earth.

'These have come to define us through time. In particular, the hot and cold experiences  while delivering therapeutic benefits  draw on the story of our ancestor, NgAtoroirangi, who called on life-saving geothermal heat when he was close to perishing on the cold and ice of Mt Tongariro.

The site has two main spa areas: Wai Whakaora (Restorative Journey) and Te Ahuru MAwai | The Sanctuary  a premium space for bathing and spa treatments. There is also a cafe and gift shop.

Tapsell says the opening of Wai Ariki is just the beginning.

'This is just the start of our vision for a unique health and wellness precinct. Tourism and manaakitanga are part of the fabric of Rotorua, and who we are as NgAti Whakaue. We will continue to build upon our strong foundations created with the opening of Wai Ariki, with exciting plans in the pipeline for the former QE Health site, which will be enveloped into the precinct.

Wai Ariki has been developed by Pukeroa Oruawhata Group and will be managed by Belgravia Leisure, an Australasian spa and wellness provider with more than 30 years of experience in the industry.
Assistants from across the Atlantic bring English to local classrooms Emily and Megan, both American, share their experiences working as language assistants in Malaga province

Anna Clift Malaga Compartir Copiar enlace

WhatsApp

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Telegram

Being an English language assistant is an opportunity to live abroad and discover a new culture chosen by many young people who are not quite sure what to do next after graduating from university. SUR in English spoke with Emily and Megan, both American, about their experiences with the programme this year.

Megan Thompson "I enjoy how much community I feel in Spain"

Ampliar Megan Thompson SUR

Megan Thompson, 24, has lived in Texas and Las Vegas in her native US and has a degree in Astronomy and Physics.

She chose to do the language assistant programme "to have an opportunity to move to Spain and work on my own". Another reason for coming to Spain was to be closer to relatives who live in Jijona, Alicante.

Megan has spent the year at the Gerald Brenan secondary school in Alhaurin de la Torre. At the school she worked 12 hours a week teaching all year groups (ages 12 to 16) in a range of subjects. Discussing her teaching approach, she said, "Sometimes I find videos on YouTube, or I bring in my own knowledge on the subject matter; this is for Physics and Chemistry."

She described being a language assistant as "lots of fun". "It's a low stress job and I have lots of free time. I like talking with the students and teaching."

However, Megan highlighted her struggles with the paperwork required to live here. "There are not very clear instructions on how to handle the legal processes in Spain."

She also spoke about the challenges faced at the school: "It's difficult to come into a school not speaking the language and having to learn how to connect with the students." She added, "I am lucky that I have experience as a tutor." What's more, she commented that her monthly salary of 700 euros "is not enough to cover living in Malaga".

Reflecting on life in Spain, "I enjoy how much community I feel in Spain," although, "I still forget siesta makes everything close in the afternoon."

Overall, Megan has enjoyed the experience, so much so that she is renewing the programme at the same school next year.

Emily Fiola "It's a lot cheaper here than back home"

Ampliar Emily Fiola SUR

Emily Fiola, 26, from Denver, was previously working in a secondary school in the US, but after two years wanted a change. She told SUR in English that she chose Spain as there is a large Spanish-speaking immigrant community in Colorado, and as a qualified speech therapist, she wanted to improve her Spanish to work more with this community.

Emily has spent the year working at Los Morales primary school in Puerto de la Torre, on the outskirts of Malaga. Initially she would commute on the bus, but later carpooled with a colleague.

She taught Social Science, Natural Science and English to students between the ages of five and eleven. "The activities I did would vary with each teacher," she said.

She worked 12 hours a week and had a monthly salary of 700 euros. "It's a lot cheaper here than back home," she said, but also explained that she and many other language assistants have faced issues with delayed payments.

Emily said at times it was difficult to control classes, as "the English level of students was sometimes quite low", making communication more challenging.

Nevertheless, there have been many benefits of the programme. She told SUR in English how she barely knew Spanish when she arrived. It is now at such a level that she has provided speech therapy to pupils at her school in Spanish. She also emphasised that her placement coordinator Aurora "has really made my time here".

Emily has now returned to the US and plans to continue working online as a speech therapist. "The good thing about working from home is that I can work from anywhere." The world is her oyster.
Pilar Martinez Compartir Copiar enlace

WhatsApp

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Telegram

Malaga Airport continues to add attractive destinations for tourism on the Costa del Sol and for locals who want to visit cities further afield. From this weekend, direct flights to Bahrain and Abu Dhabi will be available.

The connection from Malaga to the first of these destinations will begin on Saturday 17 June, with the first Gulf Air flight arriving from the Kingdom of Bahrain on Friday. The first Ethiad Airways flight to the capital of the United Arab Emirates will depart from Malaga on Sunday 18 June, at 10.35am.

The national airline of Bahrain, Gulf Air, has increased the volume of operations this high season from two to three a week. Flights will depart from the Costa del Sol airport on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays until 29 September.

The first flight that departed today from Bahrain was fully booked, while for the first flight from Malaga there are very few seats left, according to the travel agencies consulted. The company said that "this increase in operations responds to a sustained growth in demand between the Costa del Sol and the Middle East, as well as to selected destinations in Asia and the Indian Ocean".

This flight also opens a very convenient gateway to Dubai, Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Male (Maldives), Muscat (Oman), Riyadh or Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), with just one hour more flight time. Gulf Air has also chosen its flagship aircraft, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, for this connection.

Eva Bretos, director of Gulf Air's representative office in Spain, said at the launch of this flight in March: "It is a real pleasure to be able to present our direct route between Malaga and Bahrain for another year. Gulf Air continues to show robust growth in the Spanish market year after year. The company's differentiated approach as a boutique airline, the construction of a new modern terminal in Bahrain and the country's renewed commitment as an emerging tourist destination in the region, are allowing the Spanish traveller, both corporate and holiday, to continue to grow year after year".

As for the connection with the capital of the United Arab Emirates, from Sunday 18 June Ethiad Airways will start flying from Malaga to Abu Dhabi every Wednesday and Sunday. This company first flew to Malaga Airport in the high season of 2019. At that time, the company said that its aim was to "meet the strong demand for flights that customers from the United Arab Emirates and the countries of the Gulf area have to travel to this popular province".
Bankrupt cryptocurrency lender BlockFi has sued Connecticut Banking Commissioner Jorge Perez in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of New Jersey.

This comes after the state regulator has repeatedly refused to accept BlockFis offer to surrender its Connecticut money transmitter license, which it has had since April 2020. Instead, the regulator has been insisting on an administrative proceedingwhich means the company would need to represent itself in yet another court proceeding.

The company was one of many that felt the sting of the FTX collapse late last year. Its creditor committee revealed a $1.2 billion exposure to the exchange and its venture capital arm, Alameda Research. BlockFi also announced $227 million in deposits, which were not FDIC-insured, were being held at now-defunct Silicon Valley Bank.

BlockFi Creditor Committee Advisor Reveals $1.2B Exposure to FTX, Alameda Research

After BlockFi filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November, it was notified it would need to surrender its Connecticut money transmitter license. It tried to do so in December. The regulator never responded.

Instead, in February 2023, it sent the company a notice that its Connecticut money transmitter license was being revoked and it was being ordered to cease and desist doing business with the states residents. Never mind the fact that by the time the Connecticut Department of Banking issued its notice, the issue was moot. BlockFi halted all operations when it filed for bankruptcy in November.

Once it received the notices, the crypto exchange tried to avoid being pulled into another court proceeding by again offering to surrender its money transmitter license. Since March, one of BlockFis lawyers has had several calls with a Connecticut banking department staff attorney and been told the company would need to pay a $1 million fine if it wanted to avoid a court proceeding.

Crypto Lender BlockFi Filing for Bankruptcy and Conducting Major Layoffs as FTX Contagion Claims Another: Source

Thats raised a few concerns, according to BlockFi.

According to its lawsuit against the Connecticut banking commissioner, BlockFi now needs to retain Connecticut council experienced in lawsuits dealing with the banking department. The company has stated this will come at significant expense to the estate in addition to any time and other resources the directors will require to address the court case.

BlockFi currently owes $1 billion to its three largest creditors, not to mention the thousands of smaller, retail investors waiting to withdraw their funds. It was granted an approval earlier this year to sell its remaining assets in an effort to start making clients whole again.

Defunct Crypto Lender BlockFi Granted Approval to Sell Assets

Why then would the government insist on dragging the crypto exchange into a costly and lengthy court case over a license it has said it wont fight to keep?

The Departments self-help actions to revoke the License and assess monetary penalties are in pursuit of its pecuniary interest and do not seek to protect public health, safety, or welfare, BlockFi said in its complaint.

The lawsuit said the cryptocurrency company has two goals: First, it seeks to pause the court proceedings, setting a date to create a restructuring plan; and second, prove the department violated Section 525 by revoking BlockFis license and pursuing civil penalties.

A summons has already been sent to Perez and BlockFi will argue in favor of its motion to avoid the court proceeding on July 6. But for now, the administrative proceeding that the bankrupt crypto exchange has been trying to avoid is still scheduled to begin on July 20.
Centre-left coalition unseats PP on Alhaurin el Grande council The new coalition will govern with Antonio Bermudez as mayor

Alba Tenza Alhaurin el Grande. Compartir Copiar enlace

WhatsApp

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Telegram

Three political parties have confirmed they have reached an agreement for a coalition council in Alhaurin el Grande. Izquierda Unida, PSOE and 100% Alhaurin will form a left-of-centre alliance.

The change of power from the conservative PP had been predicted since the local election result on 28 May as the PP under Toni Ledesma did not achieve an absolute majority as it only won nine councillors compared to 11 in 2019.

After 20 years of PP rule in the town, this new coalition will govern with Antonio Bermudez as mayor. He came second in the elections with six councillors for his 100% Alhaurin party.

In 2019, these same parties succeeded in ousting the PP from power in a no-confidence vote just before the last local elections, but the PP under Ledesma came back in again with a majority soon afterwards.

This time the PP dropped votes andstayed the biggest party but without a majority.
Marina Rivas Fuengirola Compartir Copiar enlace

WhatsApp

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Telegram

The province of Malaga, and especially the Costa del Sol, has become a magnet for global travellers. People from all over the planet come here keen to start a new life, to study, to find better opportunities, or simply to enjoy the environment, climate and the people. It is no secret that one of the great values and emblems of the Costa del Sol today is its multiculturalism, the mixture of cultures from all corners of the world that live side by side here.

As such, a true reflection of this reality is the Mercedes Labrador secondary school right in the centre of Fuengirola. The school is recognised in the area for welcoming students of no fewer than 45 different nationalities, covering all five continents. Students who, by setting an example and putting in hard work, demonstrate that everyone can live together in harmony.

More than 600 students turn up daily at the sound of the school bell. It comes as a bit of a shock, especially to those who grew up in other times, to see how, behind the school walls, classes with more than ten different nationalities and such disparate features and skin tones can be seen studying together, or even just playing in the school-yard. But here this is a daily occurrence.

Every year the school holds an 'interculturality' day with workshops, music, sports, dancing and cuisine from around the world

Apart from the pupils who are Spanish nationals, most are South American and European. However, some students are from more diverse countries such as Senegal, the Philippines, Pakistan, China, India, Australia and the US. As the English teacher, Inma Casado, explained: "English helps a lot. It is a lingua franca that many have in common, because many of them have already studied a fair amount of it." However, although many are helped by using English to begin contact with other children, the ability of young people to grow and adapt to new situations is amazing. So, although many of them might have been born here, others arrive with little or no knowledge of Spanish.

This is where the work of Jesus Relinque comes into play, as the teacher for intercultural activities and ATAL (a transit class for foreign students needing language support).

In his classes these young people are taught about both the Spanish language and culture. In addition, to improve their chances further for better integration and adaptation, class schedules are also tailored for them at the beginning. That said, the teachers are adamant that the best learning happens when in contact with Spanish classmates.

"They also learn Spanish through contact with their peers, because most of them also want to integrate quickly. There are students who speak Spanish within three or four months, and it's amazing. In addition, it should be noted that the concept of traditional Spanish, with its traditional surnames, is seen less and less. The reality of today is different and this is it: multicultural," stated head of studies Santi Mora.

With the arrival of the noughties, the period when it was deemed that the number of nationalities in the area was really growing, the staff and management of the school came up with the idea of starting up a day for celebrating their cultural diversity. Intercultural Day, as it is known, is an event that, after around 20 years, has become the school's "big day". This year's day was held last month, although the preparations began several months previously, not only with the aforementioned staff, but also with Jesus Rojo (chief organiser), Adela Lopez (head teacher), Maria Esperanza Bolet (deputy head of studies) and many parents and pupils dedicated to the event.

For the day around 50 different activities are organised to showcase what is special and authentic about each of the cultures present within the school. A day for gathering together in harmony, friendship and mutual appreciation.

"We start with some talks about interculturality. Then we have a food-tasting in which many families participate. There are also 'stands' where [students] dress in the typical costumes of their countries. There have been writing workshops, henna tattoos, other years we had braiding and African hairstyling, music, dance, crafts..." explained Casado.

Sushi workshops, karaoke, traditional games from around the world, friendship twine bracelets, painting, a batucada (a Brazilian percussion musical genre with strong African roots), a Japanese aikido workshop... All these activities are carried out in just one morning, with the help of parents. For example, the preparation of a long tasting table of typical dishes from different countries. This culinary experience and the parade of flags, with music and dancing, are undoubtedly the star events of this annual fun day.
BlockRocks iShares Files for Spot Bitcoin ETF

Investment Giant BlackRock is the Latest Financial Firm to File for a Spot Bitcoin ETF

The world's largest investment firm, BlackRock, has applied for a spot Bitcoin ETF in the U.S., which would be a first of its kind if approved by the SEC. The iShares Bitcoin Trust would allow investors to access the Bitcoin market without the complexities and operational burdens of direct ownership. The fund would use Coinbase Custody Trust Company as its Bitcoin custodian and Bank of New York Mellon as its fiat custodian.

The spot Bitcoin ETF would track the CF Benchmarks Index, which updates the Bitcoin price at least every 15 seconds during regular trading hours. BlackRock, with more than $9 trillion in assets under management, argues that the spot Bitcoin market does not need to be regulated for the SEC to approve its proposal, as the regulator has previously relied on the underlying futures market for approving commodity-based trust shares.

BlackRock joins a long list of spot Bitcoin ETF applicants in the U.S., but none have been approved so far. WisdomTree, Fidelity and VanEck are among those who have faced rejection or delays from the SEC. Asset manager Grayscale is also in a legal battle with the SEC to convert its Grayscale Bitcoin Trust into an ETF. Meanwhile, Canada already launched a spot Bitcoin ETF, the Purpose Bitcoin ETF, in early 2021.
Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription.

Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service.
Judges this week selected two winners in The Post-Standard coloring contest that ran in the newspaper on Sunday, May 28.

Judges selected winners from two age classes: children 2 to 5, and children 6 to 10.

The winners are:

Class 1: Hana Ruhotiner, Age 5, Skaneateles

Class 2: Josie Ludington, Age 10, Baldwinsville

Winners will receive a $25 Visa gift card and a new box of crayons. The contest was sponsored by Hofmann.
Utica, N.Y.  The F.X. Matt (Saranac) brewery in Utica has acquired the rights to produce Guinness Blonde, a beer that has been brewed in Baltimore for the past five years.

Its the second big beer industry deal in the past month for the Utica brewery, and both involve beers formerly made in Maryland. In May, Matt / Saranac announced it had purchased Flying Dog Brewing Co, of Frederick, Md., and would move production of its beers to Utica.

The more recent deal involves a beer brand owned by Diageo, the London-based parent company of the world-famous Guinness Brewery of Dublin, Ireland. Five years ago, Guinness opened a production brewery and visitors center / taproom, called the Open Gate Brewery, just outside Baltimore.

The flagship beer brewed at the Maryland brewery was Guinness Blonde, also known as Baltimore Blonde. It is a light and citrusy lager that is much paler in color than the more famous Guinness Stout.

But Diageo announced in April it was closing its large production brewery in Baltimore, while keeping the visitors center and taproom open, along with a small pilot brewhouse.

In the new deal, confirmed by CEO Fred Matt, the Utica brewery has agreed to a contract to brew Guinness Blonde for Diageo.

The Utica brewery, best known for its Saranac line of craft beer and its Utica Club lager, has also long been a contract brewer for other companies looking for a facility to make their beers. Among the best known contract beers at Matt are those made for the Brooklyn Brewery, which now owns a 20% share of the Utica brewery.

Fred Matt credits a $56 million investment in renovations and expansion the brewery made in recent years with enabling it to win the new contract.

If you want to be successful, you have to keep notching things up, he said.

The brewery is now working on test batches of Guinness Blonde before starting full production, Matt said. Other beers could be made in the future under the contract, but Guinness Blonde is the focus now.

He said a decision on whether to keep Baltimore in the name will be made by Guinness / Diageo.

The deal to move Guinness Blonde production to Utica came despite an effort by officials in Maryland to keep the Guinness production brewery there and save more than 100 local jobs, according to a report at WBALTV.com. The Baltimore County executives office had offered Diageo $500,000 in incentives to stay in the Baltimore suburb of Halethorpe.

In a statement sent to WBAL this week, Diageo said: After conducting a due diligence process, which also considered options to keep production of Baltimore Blonde in the state, the supplier that best met the business case and production timeline was FX Matt Brewing Company in New York.

Matt Brewing was founded by German immigrant F.X. Matt in 1888 as the West End Brewing Co. Matt is the second oldest brewery in New York state (after Genesee in Rochester), and the oldest still owned by its founding family. Current CEO Fred Matt is the great-grandson of F.X. Matt.

It is the third largest brewery in New York, behind only only Genesee Brewery in Rochester and the Anheuser-Busch InBev plant near the Syracuse suburb of Baldwinsville.

Matt Brewing also makes many different beverages under contract for other companies and brands. Many of its products today are hard seltzers, canned cocktails and other products that are not strictly beer.

In one of its most recent ventures into the non-beer category, Matt Brewing partnered with Flying Dog and Boston-based Harpoon Brewing on a line of canned cocktails called Vodka Whips.

In 2021, Matt Brewing completed a $35 million expansion that was included giant new brew kettles and fermenting and storage tanks, along with a new digital/computer-operated control system. That was intended to help it move further into the category of alcoholic products like hard seltzers and canned cocktails.

Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
Vernon, N.Y.  The restoration of a state tax cut for Vernon Downs racetrack and casino will allow it to remain open, the union representing the majority of its employees said today.

Vernon Downs owner Jeff Gural had issued a warning last month that the track and related operations, including its hotel, might have to shut down completely by the end of the year unless the tax cut was restored.

State lawmakers responded last week by restoring a tax change first given to the racino in 2017. That deal, which allowed Gural to keep a higher share of the tracks revenues, had been tied to a pledge he made to retain employees. The tax cut was eliminated in 2021 when the Covid pandemic forced Gural to cut the number of employees.

The restoration of the tax deal for Vernon Downs passed both the state Assembly and Senate, and is now awaiting a signature from Gov. Kathy Hochul.

In May, the business officially called Mid-State Raceway filed a layoff notice with state Labor Department saying it may need to close its slot-machine casino and some restaurants by August, with the harness racetrack shutting in September and the hotel and other operations closing on or before Dec. 31.

The closing would have eliminated 249 union jobs, the notice said. It would also cost about 40 non-union employees their jobs, Gural told syracuse.com.

The harness track season, with races on Friday and Saturday nights, began in April and is scheduled to run through November. This is the tracks 70th season.

Gural said he lost $2 million operating Vernon Downs last year, a number he said could be made up if the state restored the 2017 tax reduction. The tax cut was based on maintaining the employees, but Gural said that was impossible during the pandemic and its still a struggle.

He said hes currently paying $13 million in what is officially called a vendors fee to the state, on $28 million in gross revenues. The restoration of the 2017 tax cut would drop his vendors fee to $11 million, which would be enough to break even.

A news release from Workers United Upstate New York, the union representing Vernon Downs hotel and racetrack worlers, also said Gural has agreed to give 25% of any of the benefits of this legislation to workers via higher wages.

The union news release credited Assembly Members Gary Pretlow, Marianne Buttenschon, and Donna Lupardo, and Senators Joseph Addabbo, Lea Webb, and Joseph Griffo for working to approve the tax cut.

We are incredibly appreciative of all of the elected officials who worked tirelessly to ensure that Vernon Downs, an important economic pillar of our community, will remain open, said Gary Bonadonna Jr, manager of the Rochester Regional Joint Board for the union. Members at Vernon are relieved it will stay open and their jobs will be protected. We now urge Governor Hochel to sign off on this legislation as quickly as possible.

Don Cazentre writes about Upstate New York casinos for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.
The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime.
Thank you for reading!

Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue.
Teagasc hosts EU conference on new technologies that support European farmers in becoming more efficient and sustainable

The FAIRshare project, an EU Horizon 2020 funded initiative focused on improving the uptake of digital technologies in agriculture, will hold its final conference on the 2nd and 3rd of October 2023 in Thessaloniki, Greece. The conference will bring together agricultural advisors, researchers, policy makers, and other stakeholders to discuss the project's outcomes and their implications for the digitalisation of agriculture in Europe.

"The project has made significant strides increasing the adoption of digital technologies among farmers advisors across Europe, and we're excited to share the valuable results of this five-year project, providing opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange, said Raquel Caetano Ferreira, manager of the FAIRshare project.

As part of FAIRshare, twenty advisors in the south east of the country were part of this project. They upgraded their Laptop to a Tablet to make using digital tools and advisory services (DATS) easier on farm and to reduce workload and paper as well. Bluetoooth enabled accessories were also obtained to increase usage. This pilot project worked extremely well to engage farmers and we got better usage of Teagasc DATS, said Richard O Brien Teagasc Regional Advisory Manager in Waterford and Kilkenny.

The central theme of the two-day conference is exploring how the use of digital advisory tools and services can help the adoption of improved farming practices. The event will feature a variety of presentations and panel discussions which, will focus on the learnings from the 42 different pilot projects (User Cases), across 19 European countries, as well as other projects outcomes. The conference will take place at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and is relevant to people who are interested in digitalisation of services in agriculture. Registration is already possible at the project website at https://www.h2020fairshare.eu/
Jeroen Distinguished - BHPian

Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Delhi Posts: 7,388 Thanked: 41,634 Times

View My Garage





Touring an original Russian submarine



I wrote a thread about that trip:



I managed to visit two other ships in harbour as well. The classic Dutch seagoing tug Holland (thread to follow) and the U- 434. A Russian Tango class submarine! I am fascinated by submarines. Being a former merchant Chief Engineer myself I am interested in anything that sails. Submarines though are a league on their own. The amount of technology packed into these large tubes is phenomenal. Apart from the odd tourist submarine I have never sailed on submarines. But over the years I have visited quite a number of them. I will list a few at the bottom of this article.



The so called U boot museum is located the famous St. Pauli Fishmarket. There is small entrance building, with a souvenir ship. You buy your ticket and walk outside along a ramp and you get your first view of U-434.







On the way you pass one of its torpedoes:







The U-434 carried 24 torpedoes. Each a little over 8 meters long and weighing two tonnes. They ran, when fired, at about 60 knots (about 111 km/h)



I picked up this little brochure that has some general information. All in German I am afraid. I have borrowed some of the below text from the museum website, which is very interesting too and available in English. (



Here you see a side cut away view of the U-434. She was built at the Russian submarine shipyard KRASNOE SORMOVO in Gorki (now Nizhny Novgorod), about 400 kilometers east of Moscow, in September 1975 and took only 8 months to complete Construction period started on April 29, 1976, fully operational. She was on operational service until 2002. Her original designation was B-515 Buki, but her "board nummer" became 434, hence she was known as U-434. Not quite sure about this term board number. I took it from their website, the English version is a bit of a wonky translation of the German version. I am also not sure about this U-434. SThe original U-434 was a German sub, that sunk on her first patrol in 1941. The designation U-xxx is typical German as far as I know. So I am not quite sure about the naming convention here. The website, which provides a lot of information, does not really provide an answer. Maybe one of our members has more insight in this?











She is well over 90 meters long and almost 9 meters wide. She can dive to 400 meters and crush depth is 600 meters. She is powered by three 1733 HP diesels when running on the surface and three 1740HP electrometers when running submerged. She has one additional motor for silent running. Surfaced she would make 13 knots and submerged 16 knots (almost 30 km/h). With a full complament of crew she could stay submerged for 3,5 days!







The Tango class is the successor to the Foxtrot class, the first Soviet diesel electric boat with an anti-sonar coating. It was the conventional counterpart to the Victor II-class nuclear submarines and was originally designed and built for anti-submarine combat. For the first time, the following innovations were used in this Soviet submarine type: a sonar complex instead of individual systems, a connection of the sonar complex with a combat command system, automatic data input into the torpedoes before the shot, an automatic ballast control system and automatic depth control incl. Autopilot. In contrast to the Foxtrot class, these submarines had a better streamlined shape, which made them even more useful for underwater use. Due to the cylindrical shape, which extended over the entire hull, the capacity of the batteries could be increased and a further developed electrical system (e.g. bow sonar and fire control system) could be installed. This special rubber coating made it almost impossible for the sonar equipment of the western secret services to locate this espionage submarine.



For this reason, the tango would probably not have been an easy target for submarine defenders in shallow water. The secret military project 641b, the Tango class, was used by the Soviet Navy on long patrols and submarine hunts from 1976. Due to the little concrete information about this ship, almost hardly any photos and reports made it to the public.



Her crew was a total of 84 men, of which 16 were officers.



A particular problem with submarines is the air supply on dives lasting several days. A closed system was therefore installed in the accommodations and on the combat stations, which regulated the air supply and air regeneration in a separate circuit.



U-434 was armed solely to defend the Soviet "bastions". The areas in which Russian submarines armed with SSBN missiles patrolled or waited for America to be shot down were designated as bastions. Due to the long range of these missiles, it was no longer necessary to cross the open ocean and carry them to America's doorstep.



The U-434 stood inn the service of the Russian Navy until April 2002. After a brief contract negotiation by Russian standards, it was bought by the U-Bootmuseum Hamburg GmbH. The U-434 is one of the last Tango-class submarines in the world. There were probably 20 of them, 3 of which belonged to a special series, including the U-434.



Let s go onboard!



This is an image taking standing on the forward hutch. A couple of relevant items; Look at that hull, it looks very iffy what with all the tearing and so on. What you actually looking at is the 10 cm think rubber coating on top of the metal hull. The rubber coating was to make the submarine more stealthy and more difficult to detect. You can also see the two large forward diving planes. Normally, when at the surface these would be retracted, you can see the outline of the doors.



You can also see the red/white emergency escape hatch. There is another one at the rear of the boat. In case of an emergency a support submarine could attach itself to the hatch and the crew could be rescued. It was supposed to work till about 60-80 meters depth.







Through the hatch you find yourself in the forward torpedo room. The torpedo rooms on these old sub are usually the largest open spaces in any sub, for obvious reasons. They would have to store all the torpedo tubes and associated machinery, pipes, and so on.



Very often on older subs, crew would sleep here as well. Simple hammocks hanging underneath, the torpedo storage racks. The U-434 could load two torpedos at the same time, which meant faster turn around time in port.



You can see all six torpedo tubes here, she did not have aft torpedo tubes.







Not sure whether they carried torpedoes in the tubes all the time. I know sometimes they do. It makes sense from a storage point of view.



In order to fire a torpedo, the command flood the tube would be given. The respective torpedo door at the bow of the sub would open. On the command fire compressed air would push the torpedo out of the tube, once in the water its own drive would engage. Many torpedos have a sort of mechanical trigger on the outside that would strike against a hammer as the torpedo would leave the tube, starting the torpedo own propulsion.



Here we are still in the torpedo room but looking aft. Notice the red emergency hatch that connects towards the red hatch on the hull as shown earlier.







Each submarine (and most ships) are divided in different water tight sections by bulkheads. On each bulkhead you will find this water tight doors. These are the only way in/out a particular section. The diameter is probably about 90 cm. You dont want to suffering from claustrophobia on a submarine. Being small and agile helps a lot too!



We are looking at the main accommodation area.







On submarines only the captain has his own cabin. (I wanted to type his/her, but I dont think there are female captains yet, though females are now serving on submarine services of various countries)



Officers were 2-4 to a cabin. As you would expect in those days, separate mess room for officers and crew. Mind you mess rooms would also serve as operating theatre, when required!



Even inside cabins you cant get away from the pipes and the valves!







Toilet facilities are pretty minimum and you need to dive and duck here as well!







Next we get to the command section. I must be honest, either I somehow missed the actual command space, or probably passed underneath it. Because you can see the periscope tube here on the right.







Wherever you go, every centimeter on this boat is crammed with machinery, valves, pipes, levers, indicators etc.







Through the next section, across the battery space, whole section packed with all kinds of stuff we reach the engine room.







There are two distinct parts to the engine room. The diesel space and the electric space. Initially you come through the control room. A completely bewildering collection of dials, buttons and levers.











It appears all of this is thrown together, in an utterly random fashion. As all the dials, indicators, buttons and levers are labelled in Russian (Cyrillic) it is difficult, even for a former Chief Engineer, to figure out what is what. You can see the telegraph indicator, at the top/middle of the panel. Hugely impressive to look at this old technology.











Next you enter the Diesel engine space. There are three 6 cylinder "turbo diesel direct injection" engines, each with an output of 1733 HP. At its time these diesels were pretty much state of the dirt. Very compact design, pretty power full. Diesels are used for propulsion when running at the surface, or at periscope depth by means of a snorkel.



The diesel drive the electric motors, which also act as generators.







Notice that most of the engine is below the steel plates here, we are effectively looking at the cilinder heads. Pretty roomy, relatively speaking here. I assume they left sufficient space above the cilinders so the could pull a piston out.



They had taken one of the valve covers off and replaced it with this perspex cover. So we can see the rockers and fuel injector.







Next we come to the various main electrical panels.



As I mentioned, the diesel drive the E-motors, which themselves are connected to an individual propellor, so three in all. When the diesels are switched on they drive the E-motors, acting as generators, charging the batteries and driving the propellor. I did not see any evidence, or read about any type of reduction gear and or couplings. So it looks as if each pair of diesel and E-motor was directly couple to the shaft/propellor. At the rear there is also a small E-motor. In German the Schleichmachine. Which translate roughly as sneaking up or creeping engine. Only 180 HP, it was used for ultra quiet running. Not sure how it connected to the shaft/propellor. Apparently it powered the middle shaft only. Notice the telegraph?







One of the main compressors. Compressors and compressed air are vital in a submarine. Compressed air is used to blow the ballast tanks, so the submarine can submerge. Compressed air is also used to launch the torpedos.







Another valve-galore image. No idea what these valves are for. If the Russian navy uses the same colour coding for its valves and pipes as all of the merchant navies, the blue valves control fresh water circuits and the red ones are for fire extinguishing, (which tends to be just sea water).







And then you climb the final ladder and find yourself at the stern of the submarine. We travelled all the way from that large dome on the front of the sub through 8 different watertight sections absolutely crammed with machinery, dials, valves, pipes and lots of other stuff. These submarines were not very big on creature comfort. Modern submarines are roomier, have better facilities. Still, as a crew member, no matter what, you find yourself locked up in a small metal tube for weeks, if not months!







I came across this very cool Panorama viewer on the inside of the U-434, have a look:



https://panoviewer.toolforge.org/#20...rine_B-515.jpg





As I mentioned at the beginning of this thread I have visited a number of (museum) submarines around the world over the years. There are many more, but to give you an idea, if you ever find yourself near these locations, you might want to visit them. Even if you know nothing about submarines, it is a truly unique experience.



In my home country, the Netherlands, there is an excellent Dutch navy museum, which features, very prominently, one of the earlier Dutch submarines. I visited it some years ago and wrote about it:



https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/comme...vy-museum.html (The Dutch Navy Museum)



There used to be an old Russian Foxtrot submarine as well, but that has long gone unfortunately.



The UK has a great Royal Navy Submarine museum in Portsmouth.



In the USA there are many submarines, open to the public. I visited one in San Diego and in San Francisco you will find an old Russian Scorpio sub!

You can visit the USS Growler in NewYork, combine it with a visit to the USS Intrepid, an old US carrier! Member Foxbat recently visited it, have a look at this great thread:



As we speak an old Russian submarine is being readied to be opened up to the public in the famous Speyer Technic museum in Germany.



So lots of submarine to see and visit. Most, if not all of these, are older types. It is very very difficult to get on board a modern, operational, submarine. The Dutch navy has annual open days and they allow the public into (parts) of one of their operational subs. You actually get to visit to command centre. But on a modern sub, it is all digital displays and all of that will be turned off for public visiting days.



Still, it makes for an interesting visit!



Jeroen A couple of weeks ago, I spend three days in Hamburg during the so called harbour days. Drove up there in my Mercedes W123. My main reason was to take a trip on the gorgeous Cap San Diego, a general cargo museum ship.I wrote a thread about that trip: https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/comme...g-germany.html (Touring the 1961 General Cargo ship - Cap San Diego, Hamburg, Germany) I managed to visit two other ships in harbour as well. The classic Dutch seagoing tug Holland (thread to follow) and the U- 434. A Russian Tango class submarine! I am fascinated by submarines. Being a former merchant Chief Engineer myself I am interested in anything that sails. Submarines though are a league on their own. The amount of technology packed into these large tubes is phenomenal. Apart from the odd tourist submarine I have never sailed on submarines. But over the years I have visited quite a number of them. I will list a few at the bottom of this article.The so called U boot museum is located the famous St. Pauli Fishmarket. There is small entrance building, with a souvenir ship. You buy your ticket and walk outside along a ramp and you get your first view of U-434.On the way you pass one of its torpedoes:The U-434 carried 24 torpedoes. Each a little over 8 meters long and weighing two tonnes. They ran, when fired, at about 60 knots (about 111 km/h)I picked up this little brochure that has some general information. All in German I am afraid. I have borrowed some of the below text from the museum website, which is very interesting too and available in English. ( https://www.u-434.de/en/u-boat-museum.html Here you see a side cut away view of the U-434. She was built at the Russian submarine shipyard KRASNOE SORMOVO in Gorki (now Nizhny Novgorod), about 400 kilometers east of Moscow, in September 1975 and took only 8 months to complete Construction period started on April 29, 1976, fully operational. She was on operational service until 2002. Her original designation was B-515 Buki, but her "board nummer" became 434, hence she was known as U-434. Not quite sure about this term board number. I took it from their website, the English version is a bit of a wonky translation of the German version. I am also not sure about this U-434. SThe original U-434 was a German sub, that sunk on her first patrol in 1941. The designation U-xxx is typical German as far as I know. So I am not quite sure about the naming convention here. The website, which provides a lot of information, does not really provide an answer. Maybe one of our members has more insight in this?She is well over 90 meters long and almost 9 meters wide. She can dive to 400 meters and crush depth is 600 meters. She is powered by three 1733 HP diesels when running on the surface and three 1740HP electrometers when running submerged. She has one additional motor for silent running. Surfaced she would make 13 knots and submerged 16 knots (almost 30 km/h). With a full complament of crew she could stay submerged for 3,5 days!The Tango class is the successor to the Foxtrot class, the first Soviet diesel electric boat with an anti-sonar coating. It was the conventional counterpart to the Victor II-class nuclear submarines and was originally designed and built for anti-submarine combat. For the first time, the following innovations were used in this Soviet submarine type: a sonar complex instead of individual systems, a connection of the sonar complex with a combat command system, automatic data input into the torpedoes before the shot, an automatic ballast control system and automatic depth control incl. Autopilot. In contrast to the Foxtrot class, these submarines had a better streamlined shape, which made them even more useful for underwater use. Due to the cylindrical shape, which extended over the entire hull, the capacity of the batteries could be increased and a further developed electrical system (e.g. bow sonar and fire control system) could be installed. This special rubber coating made it almost impossible for the sonar equipment of the western secret services to locate this espionage submarine.For this reason, the tango would probably not have been an easy target for submarine defenders in shallow water. The secret military project 641b, the Tango class, was used by the Soviet Navy on long patrols and submarine hunts from 1976. Due to the little concrete information about this ship, almost hardly any photos and reports made it to the public.Her crew was a total of 84 men, of which 16 were officers.A particular problem with submarines is the air supply on dives lasting several days. A closed system was therefore installed in the accommodations and on the combat stations, which regulated the air supply and air regeneration in a separate circuit.U-434 was armed solely to defend the Soviet "bastions". The areas in which Russian submarines armed with SSBN missiles patrolled or waited for America to be shot down were designated as bastions. Due to the long range of these missiles, it was no longer necessary to cross the open ocean and carry them to America's doorstep.The U-434 stood inn the service of the Russian Navy until April 2002. After a brief contract negotiation by Russian standards, it was bought by the U-Bootmuseum Hamburg GmbH. The U-434 is one of the last Tango-class submarines in the world. There were probably 20 of them, 3 of which belonged to a special series, including the U-434.Let s go onboard!This is an image taking standing on the forward hutch. A couple of relevant items; Look at that hull, it looks very iffy what with all the tearing and so on. What you actually looking at is the 10 cm think rubber coating on top of the metal hull. The rubber coating was to make the submarine more stealthy and more difficult to detect. You can also see the two large forward diving planes. Normally, when at the surface these would be retracted, you can see the outline of the doors.You can also see the red/white emergency escape hatch. There is another one at the rear of the boat. In case of an emergency a support submarine could attach itself to the hatch and the crew could be rescued. It was supposed to work till about 60-80 meters depth.Through the hatch you find yourself in the forward torpedo room. The torpedo rooms on these old sub are usually the largest open spaces in any sub, for obvious reasons. They would have to store all the torpedo tubes and associated machinery, pipes, and so on.Very often on older subs, crew would sleep here as well. Simple hammocks hanging underneath, the torpedo storage racks. The U-434 could load two torpedos at the same time, which meant faster turn around time in port.You can see all six torpedo tubes here, she did not have aft torpedo tubes.Not sure whether they carried torpedoes in the tubes all the time. I know sometimes they do. It makes sense from a storage point of view.In order to fire a torpedo, the command flood the tube would be given. The respective torpedo door at the bow of the sub would open. On the command fire compressed air would push the torpedo out of the tube, once in the water its own drive would engage. Many torpedos have a sort of mechanical trigger on the outside that would strike against a hammer as the torpedo would leave the tube, starting the torpedo own propulsion.Here we are still in the torpedo room but looking aft. Notice the red emergency hatch that connects towards the red hatch on the hull as shown earlier.Each submarine (and most ships) are divided in different water tight sections by bulkheads. On each bulkhead you will find this water tight doors. These are the only way in/out a particular section. The diameter is probably about 90 cm. You dont want to suffering from claustrophobia on a submarine. Being small and agile helps a lot too!We are looking at the main accommodation area.On submarines only the captain has his own cabin. (I wanted to type his/her, but I dont think there are female captains yet, though females are now serving on submarine services of various countries)Officers were 2-4 to a cabin. As you would expect in those days, separate mess room for officers and crew. Mind you mess rooms would also serve as operating theatre, when required!Even inside cabins you cant get away from the pipes and the valves!Toilet facilities are pretty minimum and you need to dive and duck here as well!Next we get to the command section. I must be honest, either I somehow missed the actual command space, or probably passed underneath it. Because you can see the periscope tube here on the right.Wherever you go, every centimeter on this boat is crammed with machinery, valves, pipes, levers, indicators etc.Through the next section, across the battery space, whole section packed with all kinds of stuff we reach the engine room.There are two distinct parts to the engine room. The diesel space and the electric space. Initially you come through the control room. A completely bewildering collection of dials, buttons and levers.It appears all of this is thrown together, in an utterly random fashion. As all the dials, indicators, buttons and levers are labelled in Russian (Cyrillic) it is difficult, even for a former Chief Engineer, to figure out what is what. You can see the telegraph indicator, at the top/middle of the panel. Hugely impressive to look at this old technology.Next you enter the Diesel engine space. There are three 6 cylinder "turbo diesel direct injection" engines, each with an output of 1733 HP. At its time these diesels were pretty much state of the dirt. Very compact design, pretty power full. Diesels are used for propulsion when running at the surface, or at periscope depth by means of a snorkel.The diesel drive the electric motors, which also act as generators.Notice that most of the engine is below the steel plates here, we are effectively looking at the cilinder heads. Pretty roomy, relatively speaking here. I assume they left sufficient space above the cilinders so the could pull a piston out.They had taken one of the valve covers off and replaced it with this perspex cover. So we can see the rockers and fuel injector.Next we come to the various main electrical panels.As I mentioned, the diesel drive the E-motors, which themselves are connected to an individual propellor, so three in all. When the diesels are switched on they drive the E-motors, acting as generators, charging the batteries and driving the propellor. I did not see any evidence, or read about any type of reduction gear and or couplings. So it looks as if each pair of diesel and E-motor was directly couple to the shaft/propellor. At the rear there is also a small E-motor. In German the Schleichmachine. Which translate roughly as sneaking up or creeping engine. Only 180 HP, it was used for ultra quiet running. Not sure how it connected to the shaft/propellor. Apparently it powered the middle shaft only. Notice the telegraph?One of the main compressors. Compressors and compressed air are vital in a submarine. Compressed air is used to blow the ballast tanks, so the submarine can submerge. Compressed air is also used to launch the torpedos.Another valve-galore image. No idea what these valves are for. If the Russian navy uses the same colour coding for its valves and pipes as all of the merchant navies, the blue valves control fresh water circuits and the red ones are for fire extinguishing, (which tends to be just sea water).And then you climb the final ladder and find yourself at the stern of the submarine. We travelled all the way from that large dome on the front of the sub through 8 different watertight sections absolutely crammed with machinery, dials, valves, pipes and lots of other stuff. These submarines were not very big on creature comfort. Modern submarines are roomier, have better facilities. Still, as a crew member, no matter what, you find yourself locked up in a small metal tube for weeks, if not months!I came across this very cool Panorama viewer on the inside of the U-434, have a look:As I mentioned at the beginning of this thread I have visited a number of (museum) submarines around the world over the years. There are many more, but to give you an idea, if you ever find yourself near these locations, you might want to visit them. Even if you know nothing about submarines, it is a truly unique experience.In my home country, the Netherlands, there is an excellent Dutch navy museum, which features, very prominently, one of the earlier Dutch submarines. I visited it some years ago and wrote about it:There used to be an old Russian Foxtrot submarine as well, but that has long gone unfortunately.The UK has a great Royal Navy Submarine museum in Portsmouth. https://www.nmrn.org.uk/visit-us/submarine-museum . As with the Dutch navy museum they have one of their old subs open to the public.In the USA there are many submarines, open to the public. I visited one in San Diego and in San Francisco you will find an old Russian Scorpio sub!You can visit the USS Growler in NewYork, combine it with a visit to the USS Intrepid, an old US carrier! Member Foxbat recently visited it, have a look at this great thread: https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/comme...one-place.html (A visit to two aircraft carriers, a space shuttle, a nuclear submarine and an airliner at one place) As we speak an old Russian submarine is being readied to be opened up to the public in the famous Speyer Technic museum in Germany.So lots of submarine to see and visit. Most, if not all of these, are older types. It is very very difficult to get on board a modern, operational, submarine. The Dutch navy has annual open days and they allow the public into (parts) of one of their operational subs. You actually get to visit to command centre. But on a modern sub, it is all digital displays and all of that will be turned off for public visiting days.Still, it makes for an interesting visit!Jeroen Last edited by Jeroen : 15th June 2023 at 12:29 .
This Estate Planning Tool Can Help Wealthy Households Save Big on Taxes, But Your State May Be Cracking Down

California would like to crack down on a type of trust that lets the very wealthy avoid state income and federal gift taxes. And the Golden State is not alone: A number of state officials have taken aim at the loophole, known as an incomplete non-grantor trust (ING). In its 2023 budget proposal, the administration of Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed banning the trust.

New York state passed a similar law in 2014, and the idea has begun picking up steam in states that have seen many of their wealthiest citizens use INGs to avoid taxes. Below we dive deeper into the controversy  and explain how an ING trust works.

You can work with a financial advisor to lower your tax bill.

California Wants to Ban ING Trusts

This Estate Planning Tool Can Help Wealthy Households Save Big on Taxes, But Your State May Be Cracking Down

Naturally, high-income, high-tax states have a lot to lose from tax loopholes on the wealthy. These trusts have also come under fire from some tax policy analysts, who cite it  alongside the carried interest loophole  as a substantial tax-avoidance practice employed by the very wealthy. This criticism is sharpened by the fact that an ING trust is only particularly useful to someone seeking to avoid the gift tax, which does not apply until a taxpayer has transferred roughly $13 million in total assets.

In 2014, New York state banned the use of ING trusts to avoid state taxes. They did this by redefining what New York state considers a grantor and non-grantor trust. Specifically, it updated its income tax laws to include any income generated by a non-grantor trust funded by an incomplete gift. (While this contradicts the IRS interpretation of the matter, because this law applies only to taxes in the state of New York it has not run afoul of any supremacy clause issues.)

California would like to follow New York's lead. Under Newsom's proposal, the state would update its own tax laws based on the Empire State's model. It would stop using the IRS definition of incomplete gifts and would instead set its own definitions for when a taxpayer has made a complete transfer of assets. As proposed, this change would apply to California residents, which could leave an open question regarding non-resident taxpayers. Legislators would have to resolve that issue when drafting the actual law.

This proposal "which would be effective beginning in tax year 2023, is projected to increase tax revenues by $30 million in 2023-24 and by $17 million annually thereafter," according to a state news release. At time of writing, this remained in the governor's proposed budget. However, the legislature appears to have omitted this issue from the text of the budget itself, which is scheduled for a vote later this week.

What Is an ING Trust?

An incomplete-non grantor trust is a specialized form of trust designed to shift the tax base of its assets. If properly created, it allows the creator to pay no state taxes on the assets they put in trust while also paying no federal gift taxes on the underlying transfer. Given the high IRS cap on gift taxes, an ING, which is a self-settled irrevocable trust, is typically only useful for taxpayers with a very high net worth.

To understand how this works, we need to look at the nature of trusts.

A trust is a legal entity set up to hold, manage and distribute assets. Every trust has three (or more) main parties to it:

The Grantor  The person or persons creating the trust and putting assets in it

The Trustee  The person or firm who manages and distributes the trust's assets

The Beneficiary  The person or persons getting assets from the trust

When you create a trust, you set its terms. This means you can identify who the trustee and beneficiaries will be, how and when its assets will be distributed, and any other rules for how the entity should work. The trust then becomes an independent third party that can legally own, control and distribute its assets.

While there are many kinds of trusts, there are two broad categories for tax purposes: grantor and non-grantor trust.

Grantor Trusts

This Estate Planning Tool Can Help Wealthy Households Save Big on Taxes, But Your State May Be Cracking Down

A grantor trust is one in which you, as the grantor, maintain some measure of control over the assets in trust. For example, you might allow yourself to take assets out of the trust. Or you may retain the right to change the trust's beneficiaries or rules, to take loans from the trust, or collect its investment income. However you do it, if you keep a meaningful measure of ownership or control over the trust's assets, the entity is considered a grantor trust.

With a grantor trust, you pay the trust's taxes. The assets are still considered functionally yours, so any income or capital gains that the trust generates are reported on your taxes.

Non-Grantor Trusts

A non-grantor trust is one in which you, as the grantor, have no meaningful control over the assets in trust. While you might retain some de minimis connection, you have made a complete gift of the assets to the trust. Any trust that is not considered a grantor trust is a non-grantor trust.

With a non-grantor trust, you pay any applicable gift taxes at the time of your transfer. Then, as the full owner of the underlying assets, the trust itself pays all applicable income and capital gains taxes.

Incomplete Non-Grantor Trusts

An ING is a type of trust designed to thread the needle between these two categories. It is a non-grantor trust, which moves the tax burden of the trust's assets onto the trust itself. However, it is funded with a legally incomplete gift, which allows the grantor to avoid federal gift taxes while maintaining a measure of control over the assets.

Grantors take three basic steps to set up an ING trust:

Create a trust that is legally based in a state with no taxes on income and capital gains. This effectively nullifies state taxes the trust would otherwise be liable for. Keep in mind, this will not affect the trust's federal income tax status. Fund the trust as a non-grantor trust. This shifts the tax base of any assets to the trust itself, which pays the taxes of the state in which it is based (thanks to step one, this will be zero). To do this the grantor must fund the trust with a gift that effectively relinquishes control and ownership of their assets to the trust. Structure the gift as a defective transfer. This is where an ING gets tricky. By carefully wording the asset transfer, you can structure it as complete enough to qualify for non-grantor trust status yet not complete enough for the IRS to consider it a taxable gift. This is typically done by transferring almost all ownership rights to the underlying assets, but still retaining some narrow, specific measure of control over them. A financial advisor can help guide you.

If properly structured, you will have created a non-grantor trust that assumes all the tax liability for its assets without paying gift taxes on the assets you transfer in. Since the trust is based in a tax-haven state, it will owe no state taxes on the income and capital gains that it generates, while leaving you a small measure of control over how those assets are managed.

Bottom Line

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed closing a tax loophole known as the incomplete non-grantor trust. This is a structure used by the very wealthy to avoid paying state income taxes and federal gift taxes, and which may soon be less available than it was before.

Estate Tax Planning Tips

A financial advisor with estate planning experience can help you plan for the future, including how to minimize future tax bills. Finding a financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you're ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

There are grantor trusts and non-grantor trusts. There are also revocable and irrevocable trusts, intentionally defective grantor trusts, lifetime trusts, testamentary trusts and many more. Let's take a look at which, if any, are right for you.

Photo credit: iStock.com/rarrarorro, iStock.com/Andrii Yalanskyi, iStock.com/EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER

The post California Takes Aim at Tax Loophole for State's Richest appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.
Why it matters: Since October, dozens of RTX 4090 owners have reported melting power adapter cables. Despite investigations from Nvidia and third parties, a definitive cause has yet to be determined. It was thought that pairing the GPU with an ATX 3.0 power supply was a safe solution until now.

A new report of a burnt GeForce RTX 4090 power cable has emerged on Reddit, but this case is fundamentally different from prior incidents. If it's connected to the same flaw, it could cast doubt on earlier theories as to the problem's source.

User "Shiftyeyes67k" posted a picture of severe burn damage on a 16-pin 4090 12VHPWR power cable connector and the corresponding connection port on a 1000W BeQuet Dark Power 13 ATX 3.0 power supply. This case is potentially significant because despite looking similar to previous examples of scorched 4090 cables, it lacks two common factors between the others.

The few dozen cases that have emerged since October resulted in damage to the connectors plugged into the graphics card. Furthermore, they all affected customers who used the 4090's bundled 16-pin connection adapters to plug the GPU into an ATX 2.0 power supply's 12-pin socket.

Shiftyeyes67k bought an ATX 3.0 PSU with a 16-pin socket specifically to avoid this problem. Prior incidents led users to blame the adapter, and upgrading to an ATX 3.0 power supply is a small investment compared to the $1,600 4090, but this instance involved no adapter. Another owner who reported the problem last month had used a high-end third-party adapter, casting early doubt on Nvidia's included attachments as the source of the issue.

Nvidia, acknowledging about 50 cases worldwide in November, blamed improperly connected cables. Multiple affected users claimed they were confident their cables were fully connected, but others say the 12VHPWR connector easily loosens and can be less secure than it appears. Those wishing to take extra precautions can use a new feature in GPU-Z to check their GPU's power cable connection firmness.

Whatever the true cause is, it remains unresolved over half a year after Nvidia's last public statement regarding the issue. One user launched a class-action lawsuit against the company in November, and the reports have provided AMD with verbal ammunition in its rivalry with Nvidia. If more ATX 3.0 owners report damaged 4090 cables, it could point to a deeper problem with Team Green's flagship product.
Editor's take: In the neverending game of spreading fake news and disinformation, generative AI has emerged as a massive business opportunity for unethical tech companies. And Google wants to be absolutely the best. Lens, the company's image-based search tool, is now introducing new features that will make a lot of hypochondriac and gullible users very happy.

Bard is the generative AI that Google employees described as a lying, useless and cringe-worthy service, so Mountain View is putting even more Bard and machine learning algorithms everywhere. Lens, the visual search tool born as a standalone app and now available as a feature in Google's main mobile app, has seemingly been improved with more "intelligent" features, more AI-based algorithms, and of course, more Bard.

In a recent blog post, Google highlights how users enjoy taking the Lens visual search feature for a spin: every month, the advertising corporation says, Lens provides more than 12 billion visual searches for the aforementioned users. To further increase Lens appeal, Google is now introducing new features which are heavily based on AI algorithms.

One of the most interesting (and dangerous) improvements for Lens is its new ability to search for skin conditions. After all, Google suggests, describing "an odd mole or rash on your skin" can be difficult with words alone. Lens can do that much better thanks to its image recognition capabilities, providing users results with similar skin conditions and potentially suggesting a diagnosis with no need to see a doctor.

Google is well aware of the fact that "AI" is just a dumb computer program and can provide unreliable information, so Lens is quick to highlight how search results are "informational only" and not a diagnosis.

A proper "medical authority" (i.e., a doctor with a bit of human intelligence) must be consulted for further advice, or maybe to understand if something that Lens says could be a melanoma (a dangerous type of skin cancer) really needs further medical attention, or it's just one of those unfortunate "false positives" of this new, exciting AI-generated world.

Furthermore, Lens is "unleashing" users' "creativity" thanks to a closer integration with Bard's AI. As previewed during the latest I/O conference, Bard will soon be able to work with images, too, invoking Lens in the background to "make sense" of images or photos included in users' prompts. The AI could provide information about a model of shoes we've seen during a vacation, Google says, or even suggest a new summer look.

Other advanced features available or coming to Lens include the ability to learn new things about landmark points during travel, real-time translation of street signs, menus and "more" in over 100 languages, getting step-by-step help with students' homework (math, history, science, etc.), shopping for interesting products, discovering what kind of "delicious food" is on sale near our location even if we don't know what it's actually named.
Why it matters: What's old is new again, at least in the European Union. The European Parliament recently voted in favor of new legislation that would overhaul the entire battery life cycle, from design to end-of-life, which includes important caveats for smartphone users.

Among the many changes, the new rules would require batteries in consumer devices like smartphones to be easily removable and replaceable. That's far from the case today with most phones, but that wasn't always the case.

In the earlier days of mobile phones (think Nokia 5190, Nokia 3310, Motorola Razr V3, Palm Treo 700p), swapping out the battery took mere seconds. Charging technology wasn't all that fast, and it wasn't uncommon to carry around a spare battery pack to switch out when your primary battery got low.

Most batteries were standalone modular units that could be traded out by releasing a latch and sliding it out, kind of like the battery on cordless power tools today. For phones with "internal" batteries, you'd simply pop off the rear cover of the device, lift the battery out, put a fresh one in, and button it back up.

Manufacturers eventually moved away from easily swappable batteries in favor of "sealed" handsets sporting sleeker designs. Many consumers were vocal about the change but over time, most accepted it as the new norm and moved on. The EU's new rules could force manufacturers to open up the history books for ideas on how to move forward.

This is not the first time the EU has prompted a rethink. Last year, the EU set a deadline of December 28, 2024, for phones and other small electronic devices to include a USB-C port for charging. That's a problem for Apple considering the iPhone uses a proprietary Lightning port. Apple has already confirmed that it'll comply with the mandate, meaning we could see this year's batch of new iPhones ship with USB-C (or next year's iPhones, at the latest)  at least, in the EU.

Image credit: David Ballew, Tyler Lastovich
Forward-looking: When people hear the name Foxconn, they often think of factories in mainland China producing US-designed iPhones. However, as tensions between the two countries become increasingly volatile, the company is plotting a course to manufacture electric vehicles in facilities outside China.

Foxconn chairman and CEO Young Liu recently detailed the company's plans to expand its electric vehicle business. The market could be an escape hatch for the iPhone manufacturer if rising US-China tensions threaten its current primary revenue stream.

The company has only made a few EV models but wants to capture around five percent of the global market over the next few years. It plans to produce EVs using US, Thailand, Indonesia, and possibly India factories.

Foxconn is primarily known for its plants in China that assemble iPhones. Headquartered in Taiwan, the company depends on China for its workforce, and its most important client is an American tech giant. However, geopolitical currents could endanger this delicate balance.

China sees Taiwan as a rogue province, while the US wants to preserve the island's self-governance. Many worry that disagreements between the two superpowers could turn violent. The world's leading manufacturer of the transistors that power most computers, TSMC, is similarly caught between US tech companies and Chinese manufacturing capacity.

In an extensive interview with the BBC, Liu said EVs are a reasonable prospect of expansion for Foxconn because they have some fundamental similarities with smartphones. The company is trying to transfer its expertise with electronic iPhone parts toward the batteries and motors that power EVs instead. Liu also referred to an EV's dashboard panel as essentially a big iPhone.

Liu commented on last year's controversy erupting from Foxconn workers desperately attempting to escape Covid lockdowns. The company denied reports that eight people died amidst the disruption at the factory, which significantly affected the supply of iPhone 14 Pros.

At the time, Foxconn replaced the workers who left and tried to appease some with pay bonuses. However, Liu said he would stop production if a similar situation emerged in the future, even if it risked damaging relations with Apple.
Applied Materials Inc., a top US supplier of chipmaking equipment, has taken legal action against its Chinese-owned competitor, Mattson, accusing the company of engaging in a 14-month-long campaign to steal valuable trade secrets.

According to Bloomberg, Applied Materials alleged in the court filings that Mattson orchestrated an employee-poaching spree and covertly transferred semiconductor equipment designs.

The lawsuit, which has not been previously reported, highlighted the growing concerns over China's efforts to circumvent US sanctions and develop its own world-class chip industry.

Applied Materials' Lawsuit Against Mattson

Applied Materials claimed that Mattson hired 17 of its most senior engineers over the course of a year, including a senior department manager and long-time collaborators with access to sensitive information such as chipmaking processes and technology roadmaps.

The court filings revealed that Applied Materials previously sued Mattson last year and the latest employee to leave, whom the firm said has finally provided solid evidence of espionage.

In the March 2022 filing, Applied Materials said that "many of these documents" contain highly sensitive technical information, including trade secrets and know-how, that could provide Mattson with a significant competitive advantage in its technology development.

The US company noted that it is taking legal action to protect its intellectual property rights but did not provide further comments due to the ongoing litigation.

Read Also: China's Semiconductor Industry Sees Huge Demand in Chip Industry for 2024: Here's What The Nation is Doing to Solve it

Mattson Denies the Allegations

Mattson, a Fremont, California-based company acquired and operated by Beijing E-Town Dragon Semiconductor Industry Investment Center, has denied the allegations, asserting that the claims are baseless and will be resolved in their favor.

The company argued that the initial complaint filed 16 months ago lacked evidence to support the allegations and that no evidence has emerged since then.

One of the employees implicated in the theft, Canfeng "Ken" Lai, admitted to sending documents from his Applied email address to his personal account but claimed that he did so only to retain "souvenirs" of his achievements.

Lai denied any intention to use or disclose confidential Applied information in his new role at Mattson. However, Applied Materials alleged a series of suspicious actions, including unsuccessful attempts by Lai to download data onto a USB drive and subsequently send volumes of emails to himself.

The transferred information allegedly included detailed designs and specifications for a new chamber used in deposition, a crucial step in the chipmaking process. Applied Materials emphasized that the new chamber, which enables the production of advanced high-performance chips, is the first of its kind.

Applied Materials also filed a lawsuit against unidentified individuals or corporations that allegedly helped Mattson in the misappropriation of trade secrets.

The company's investigation is ongoing, and the full extent of the defendants' involvement and potential additional wrongdoing remains unknown.

Related Article: South Korea is Now Part of 'Chip 4,' But Reportedly No Export Restrictions to China, A Known US Rival

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In a remarkable and unexpected turn of events, Ariel Valiente, a squadron leader, found himself in a hair-raising situation while piloting an airplane over Vinces, Los Rios Province.

Little did he know that his tranquil flight would take a terrifying twist when a bird crashed through the aircraft's windscreen, creating a scene that would capture the attention of people worldwide.

Pilot safely lands his plane after a huge bird struck his windshield in the Los Rios Province, Ecuador. Ariel Valiente was not injured during the incident. pic.twitter.com/Rl3Esonmtp  Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) June 15, 2023

Soldiering Through the Feathered Incident

Valiente, in courage and disbelief, decided to share his extraordinary experience with the world, leading to his video going viral on various social media platforms.

According to a recent report by HNGN, an enormous bird forcefully shattered the windscreen of Valiente's aircraft, leaving the bewildered pilot in a shocking state.

The viral footage portrayed the bird suspended above the squadron leader, its presence leaving Ariel's face and uniform drenched in blood.

While most people would find such an incident highly traumatic, provoking intense panic and fear, Valiente showcased remarkable composure that defied expectations. Astoundingly, the video footage showcased him expertly piloting the aircraft, maintaining a state of calmness despite the lifeless bird in his presence.

In the face of the chaos resulting from the bird strike, Valiente skillfully upheld stability, prioritizing the safety of both the aircraft and its occupants. Presently, aviation authorities are still in the process of verifying the altitude at which the airplane was flying during the incident, as well as the specific route Valiente was following.

This incident brings to mind a similar occurrence that took place back in April when an American Airlines flight en route to Phoenix encountered a bird strike. In this particular case, the impact of the bird strike affected the engine of the American Airlines aircraft, resulting in flames emanating from the No.2 engine.

Fortunately, the skilled pilots managed to land the passenger plane safely, averting a potential disaster. The aircraft is now undergoing repairs to restore its full operational capacity.

The recent bird airplane strikes serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of aviation and the importance of pilot preparedness and skill.

While these incidents may instill fear in the hearts of many, the calm and the composed reaction of pilots like Ariel Valiente is a testament to their unwavering dedication to ensuring the safety of their passengers and crew members.

Read Also: TikTok Star's 'Worst Flight' of Her Life on Emirates Goes Viral; Airline Company Responds

Dangers of Bird Strikes

Bird strikes in aviation are dangerous due to several reasons. When birds collide with aircraft, they can cause significant damage to vital components such as the windshield, wings, and engines.

Engine failure is a serious consequence of bird strikes, as birds can disrupt airflow and damage turbine blades. Reduced visibility can occur if birds strike the windshield, which impairs the pilot's ability to navigate.

In severe cases, bird strikes can lead to losing aircraft control and increase the crash risk. Passenger and crew safety is also at stake, as bird strikes can cause injuries and accidents within the cabin.

Repairing damages caused by bird strikes can be costly for airlines, including repairs, inspections, and delays. Additionally, bird strikes highlight the importance of wildlife conservation efforts to balance aviation safety and protecting bird populations.

Related Article: Call of Duty Boycott Drama [TIMELINE]: Content Creators Face LGBTQ+ Backlash

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A fired Amazon employee who organized a Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union drive will be reinstated to her job after filing a complaint with NLRB. She was terminated for what the union described as failures of the company's own systems.

(Photo : PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

Jennifer Bates, an Amazon.com, Inc. fulfillment center employee, stands for a portrait at the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) office in Birmingham, Alabama on March 26, 2021.

Reinstating Fired Union Organizer

Amazon announced that the company will be reinstating Jennifer Bates to her job after firing her a few weeks ago for missing work. According to a report from Bloomberg, Bates was a leader of a Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU) drive who works at the company's Bessemer, Alabama warehouse.

Spokesperson Mary Kate Paradis released a statement and said, "After a full review of her case, we're pleased that our appeal process continues to work as designed." She added that the company could have done better to ensure Bates had clarity about what was needed to avoid firing her.

The company added that they are encouraging her to file an appeal, following the announcement of restoring her employment. Bates will get reinstated with back pay, which is the case for any employee in a similar situation.

Firing Bates

RWDSU stated that Jennifer Bates was previously terminated from the company for what they believed as failures of the company's own system. She had to take a medical leave to sustain injuries during her job, but the app that handles many Amazon human resources functions would not allow her to submit documentation from doctors following her return to work.

As Bates returned to work after being sent home to deal with her injuries, she learned that her access to the AtoZ app was already disabled. The company argued that due to her unresponsiveness to requests for additional information about her leave, Paradis stated that the company decided to fire Bates.

Union President Stuart Appelbaum accused the company of attempting to stifle one of the drive's most outspoken leaders of this movement, as Bates made it clear that she would not be silenced despite the company's power and resources.

In a statement sent by the RWDSU, ABC News reported that Bates described Amazon's action as unjust for firing her and stifling a movement. But as she go through this process, she was incredibly humbled by the outpouring of support from the people.

She also shared the lesson that she has learned throughout this process. She stated, "If there's a lesson to be learned, it's that today Amazon workers everywhere now know that when you're under attack, you have to stand up and fight back, because when we fight, clearly, we win!"

Also Read: Amazon Employees Walkout Over Company's Climate Impact, Return-To-Office Policy



Prior to her termination, Associated Press reported that Bates led the charge in speaking out against the company's workplace safety issues as the company failed to treat workers with respect. She also testified in Washington at a hearing on income inequality.

Related Article: Amazon Faces Another Accusation of Illegal Anti-Union Behavior

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Linkedin removed the profile of the youngest hired engineer by Elon Musk's SpaceX for not meeting the platform's age requirement. As per the company's terms and conditions, LinkedIn services are not catered for anyone under the age of 16.

(Photo : Carl Court/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 03: The LinkedIn app logo is displayed on an iPhone on August 3, 2016 in London, England.

Removing LinkedIn Profile over Age Requirements

In an Instagram post, 14-year-old Kairan Quazi shared his disappointment with the removal of his LinkedIn profile after not meeting the age requirement on the platform. According to a report from Interesting Engineering, Quazi is SpaceX's youngest hired engineer, which is an enough qualification for him to have access to a professional social media platform.

This concept was described by Quazi as a concept that refers to a bias that favors adults over young people. He stated this move from the company as illogical, primitive nonsense as he faced this constantly. The young engineer also requested his followers to share this screenshot on their respective LinkedIn accounts and ask people to connect him with Instagram.

Aside from the removal of his profile, LinkedIn also canceled Quazi's premium membership on the platform. As per the company's spokesperson, they are bound by their user agreement which categorically states that no one under sixteen is permissible to make a user profile. LinkedIn encouraged him to come back to the platform once he turns 16 years old.

In a comment sent to Business Insider, Quazi stated that LinkedIn's age policies lack imagination and are rooted in adultism. The platform is very important for young people, especially to him who need a lot of access to mentors and industry discussions that take place on the platform.

Joining SpaceX as the Youngest Hired Engineer

Despite this, he remains hopeful that LinkedIn will update its age policy to at least align with most labor laws. As of the moment, Fortune reported that Quazi's LinkedIn account is no longer accessible. This was the same platform where he used to announce that would soon be starting a job as a software engineer at SpaceX, making him the youngest hired engineer of the company.

He noted, "I will be joining the coolest company on the planet as a software engineer on the Starlink engineering team. One of the rare companies that did not use my age as an arbitrary and outdated proxy for maturity and ability."

Also Read: LinkedIn Brings Ai-powered Writing Suggestions, Job Descriptions

Quazi will soon graduate from Santa Clara University and will make the move to Washington to join the Starlink team in Redmond. The Guardian reported that Quazi will not be the only youngest in the school, 172-year history, but is also about to be part of the list of people who have graduated from college in their childhoods.

As per him, the decisions made by Las Positas to accept him as a student and Intel to give him an internship changed everything in his life, leading him to this moment. He hopes that this opens the doors to more people like him.

Related Article: LinkedIn Announces 716 Job Cuts to Streamline Operations

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
BEIJING (Reuters) -China's cabinet met on Friday to discuss measures to improve the state of the economy, state media reported, passing plans to step up financing support for technology companies and draft rules for supervising private funds.

China's overall economic operation is recovering, the report added, while also pointing out that a slowdown in global trade and investment has had a direct impact on the recovery of the world's second-largest economy.

Policymakers pledged to roll out policies in a timely manner when the conditions are right and to take more forceful measures in response to changes in the economic situation, the report said.

These will include expediting the introduction of specific policies to promote the development of venture capital funds, providing more support to technology startups and introducing measures against illegal financing.

(Reporting by Joe Cash;Editing by Andrew Cawtorne, William Maclean)
A new social media policy for kids was recently passed in Texas. House Bill 18 aims to protect minors from harmful online content. With the passing of this law, parents will now have more control over their child's online privacy when it comes to social media platforms, mobile apps, and websites.

Minors will also need parental consent if they want to create new online accounts. Online service providers, including social media platforms are now required to make sure that age verification is done thoroughly for all users, identify minors, and ask for parental consent before granting access to their accounts.

Failure to do so will result in legal action from the state's attorney general or from parents who will pursue lawsuits against online service providers that fail to do so.

Texas Social Media for Kids Policy Recently Signed Into Law

HB 18, signed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, is now giving social media platforms until September next year to set up their age verification technology and to adhere to the new law's provisions, which center on social media usage for those under 18.

Texas' new law is requiring social media companies to tell parents what data is being collected on their kids and how it is being used to advertise to them.

HB 18 also requires them to protect children and teen users from harmful online content, which includes those that promote self-harm, bullying, and even eating disorders.

The Texas House Republican Caucus tweeted after the law was signed: "Online platforms have been collecting data and manipulating our children's online behavior."

On the other hand, Representative Shelly Slawson, sponsor of the bill, said: "Texas is leading to empower parents to protect our kids online."

Read Also: Social Media is Bad for the Mental Health of Teenagers During Puberty and Those About to Leave Home, Study Says

Social Media for Kids: Is It Safe?

In 2021, there has been a massive debate regarding how social media affects children, particularly teenagers who are adept in the nooks and crannies of the internet.

Meta, then known as Facebook, was accused of hiding information on how its Instagram platform affects the mental health of teenagers. Facebook then revealed it to the public, and since then, it has become a subject of national concern as to how Instagram has the most negative overall effect on young users' mental health.

The infamous whistleblower who also leaked important company information, Frances Haugen, also previously claimed the cover-ups done by the social media platform regarding the harmful effects. Haugen was a former Facebook product manager.

With many states already passing similar laws like in Texas, social media regulation is now expected to be something that other states would also consider.

Children's protection online is a massive topic now, and one of the ways to do it is to ask for parental consent before allowing access. Texas is now being firm about it with its new law passed.

Related Article: Parents Blame Social Media for Children's Mental Health Problems, According to Survey

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
One of the most important pharaohs of the ancient Egyptians was King Tut, and his early death was a massive loss, but new theory suggests that this may have been caused by his excessive wine drinking and high-speed driving.

The theory suggests that King Tutankhamun, also known as King Tut, died because of an infected open wound after an alcohol-induced chariot crash, contradicting other beliefs that the young Egyptian ruler was having problems riding a chariot as he was sickly and struggling to walk.

King Tut Allegedly Died In Alcohol-Induced High-Speed Chariot Crash

King Tut only served as a pharaoh for 10 years before dying at 19. His tomb was discovered in 1922, and it remains the most complete burial site of an ancient Egyptian ruler that was ever found.

King Tut was known to have died after getting a wound on his leg in a chariot crash, and this was the beginning of his untimely demise. Early researchers also believed that King Tutankhamun was a sickly and weak ruler due to several genetic abnormalities found within his body, like a clubfoot and a big overbite.

However, biomedical Egyptologist Sofia Aziz told the BBC's Science Focus that this was not correct. Aziz claimed that Tutankhamun was a fairly healthy teenager, and injuries from a chariot crash likely caused his death.

She believed King Tut's leg was broken and wounded after it hit the "dashboard" portion of the chariot during the crash while he was highly intoxicated with wine.

"He was like a typical teenager, drinking and probably driving the chariot too fast... This new theory says that he's more of a warrior king - that he did ride chariots," Aziz told BBC Science Focus.

According to Aziz, an overwhelming amount of dry white wine was found in his tomb. Six chariots, a breastplate, and other armor were also discovered in his tomb. Drunk driving is currently one of the top causes of death in the world.

Read Also: Archaeologists Uncover Massive Mummification Workshops from Ancient Egypt

The Mystery of King Tut's Life in Ancient Egypt

Some academics believed that King Tut was a fan of chariots and wines, as these were found in his tomb, which contradicts past studies that suggest that he was not able to drive chariots because of his physical disabilities.

The hundreds of walking sticks that were also found in his tomb support the theory that he needed canes to move around.

Legacy of King Tut

King Tutankhamun is arguably one of the most famous pharaohs and mummies of ancient times in Egypt, and his tomb's discovery in 1922 by Howard Carter and his team was phenomenal as it significantly grew the interest in the young ruler's life.

Almost a decade later, archaeologists and researchers are still looking into the alleged hidden chambers left undiscovered by past studies. Technology has already opened up many studies about King Tut.

Some researchers tried to unmask the young Egyptian king with the use of reverse imaging. A genetic study also claimed that King Tut was a product of incest that caused his physical deformities.

Despite being a 5,000-year-old mummy found in 1922, modern research is still finding new information and developments in King Tut's case, including the cause of his death at a young age.

This latest information from Aziz suggests that King Tutankhamun was a thrill-seeking and adventurous person who drove the chariot very fast while drunk.

Related Article: Here Are Five Interesting Facts About Egypt's Most Famous Pharaoh King Tutankhamun

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Europe's aspirations in space exploration suffered a setback as the final launch of the Ariane 5 rocket was delayed due to a technical issue, announced French company Arianespace on Thursday and reported first by AFP.

This unforeseen development adds to a series of challenges faced by European space endeavors.

"It has come to light that there is a risk to the redundancy of a critical function on the Ariane 5. Consistent with safety requirements, Arianespace has decided to postpone the roll-out of the #VA261 launch vehicle. Analyses are underway to determine a new launch date," Arianespace wrote in a tweet.

Ariane 5's 117th and Last Mission

With a remarkable history of 27 successful missions, the Ariane 5's 117th and last mission was slated for takeoff from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, between 2126-1001 GMT on Friday.

However, a critical concern regarding the redundancy of an essential function on the Ariane 5 was brought to light, prompting Arianespace to make the decision to postpone the rollout of the launch vehicle in adherence to safety protocols.

Arianespace said that analyses are presently underway to determine a suitable alternative launch date for the Ariane 5.

Meanwhile, the rocket, along with its payload consisting of a French and a German communication satellite, remains securely housed in the final assembly building, ensuring stable conditions for their preparation.

This delay arrives at a time when Europe grapples with the challenge of independently launching heavy-load missions into space.

The repeated setbacks faced by the next-generation Ariane 6 project, coupled with Russia's withdrawal of its Soyuz rockets due to Ukraine-related sanctions, have posed significant obstacles in achieving this objective.

It has come to light that there is a risk to the redundancy of a critical function on the Ariane 5. Consistent with safety requirements, Arianespace has decided to postpone the roll-out of the #VA261 launch vehicle.

Analyses are underway to determine a new launch date.  Arianespace (@Arianespace) June 15, 2023

Read Also: ESA's Solaris Program Will Study 24/7 Space-Based Solar Energy to Potentially Send Solar Farms Into Space

Europe's Space Setbacks

Moreover, European space initiatives suffered a significant setback in December 2022 when the inaugural commercial flight of the Vega C light launcher, the next-generation rocket, experienced a failure.

With limited alternatives at their disposal, the European Space Agency (ESA) found themselves compelled to seek assistance from their competitor, SpaceX, to conduct the launch of the Euclid space telescope mission in the subsequent month.

While confronting these obstacles, Europe's space program faces an uncertain future regarding the Ariane 6 project. Initially slated for a 2020 launch, the project's aspiration of achieving a successful liftoff by the end of this year now hangs in the balance.

The difficulties encountered thus far have raised doubts about the project's timeline and the overall feasibility, casting a shadow of uncertainty over its progress.

The delay in the ultimate launch of the Ariane 5 rocket serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities and uncertainties accompanying space exploration.

European space agencies and stakeholders will undoubtedly persist in their endeavors to tackle the technical challenges and setbacks, aiming to revitalize their initiatives and reclaim momentum in the fiercely competitive field of space exploration.

Related Article: ESA's Venus Probe Will Undergo 'Intense Aerobraking' Before Diving Into Venus' Hellish Atmosphere

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A mobile phone application has reconstructed the historic Moroccan quarter of Jerusalem's Old City more than 55 years after its demolition, according to a report by AFP.

The new app provides a unique and immersive 3D experience, allowing users to explore the vibrant past of the Mughrabi quarter that once thrived near the Western Wall.

The Six-Day War

In 1967, Israeli forces seized East Jerusalem during the Six-Day War, resulting in the destruction of the neighborhood and subsequent annexation, declared illegal by the United Nations.

The Mughrabi quarter, established by Saladin in 1187 to accommodate Muslim pilgrims from North Africa, was once a thriving community with approximately 1,000 residents. However, its vibrant existence was abruptly disrupted when Israeli bulldozers demolished over 100 buildings in a matter of hours.

This devastating act displaced the inhabitants and resulted in the loss of centuries of cultural heritage. Today, the former neighborhood has transformed into a plaza adjacent to one of the holiest sites in Judaism.

French historian Vincent Lemire joined forces with Italy's University of Modena and Reggio Emilia to create a mobile application. This innovative app provides visitors a virtual journey through the meticulously reconstructed Mughrabi quarter.

It offers users the opportunity to meander through its narrow alleyways, explore the mosques, schools, and courtyards, and delve into the captivating history of the Maghrebi quarter.

Through an immersive and interactive experience, the app brings to life the rich tapestry of this once-thriving community.

Lemire, who recently wrote a book on the neighborhood, emphasizes that the 3D technology enhances accessibility, reaching a wider audience beyond academic circles.

He believes that making the history of this quarter more accessible is crucial, given its often overlooked significance.

Read Also: Archaeologists Re-Excavate Ancient Tomb of Jesus' Midwife 'Salome' in Jerusalem

"We Will Never Forget"

During the app's launch press conference, Ashraf al-Jandoubi al-Mughrabi, a descendant of Tunisian residents of the quarter, expressed the enduring connection of the community, saying, "We will never forget our belonging to this district."

Lemire explains that the Mughrabi quarter serves as a compelling representation of Jerusalem's diverse and inclusive history, countering the simplistic narrative that dominates the city's present-day discourse.

He asserts that the dichotomy overshadowing the city neglects the multifaceted stories that have unfolded throughout its existence.

In January 2023, archaeological excavations conducted by Israeli experts unveiled the remnants of the neighborhood. However, concerns regarding the preservation of these valuable ruins arose when they were subsequently reinterred.

As part of a broader initiative called "Open Jerusalem," a collaborative endeavor involving 60 researchers, the 3D reconstruction of the Mughrabi quarter has been undertaken. This ambitious project aims to revive the neighborhood's vibrant history and is complemented by the publication of an extensive online archive.

The archive, available in 12 different languages, comprises approximately 40,000 documents that meticulously document the captivating history of Jerusalem.

Through the integration of the cutting-edge mobile app and the comprehensive "Open Jerusalem" undertaking, endeavors are being made to resurrect the glorious past of the Moroccan quarter.

This interactive platform allows visitors to embark on a virtual journey, providing an immersive experience of the quarter's remarkable cultural heritage.

By engaging with this digital reconstruction, individuals can gain a deeper insight into Jerusalem's complex and multifaceted history, fostering a greater appreciation for the significance of the Mughrabi quarter and its place within the city's narrative.

Related Article: 3,000-Year-Old Mummy Uncovered at Lima Trash Dump Site; What Does it Say About Ancient Peru?

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Sergey Kozlov)

In the last seven years, Sergey Kozlov has gone from a busy student to a bootstrapping entrepreneur and is now a successful company founder that leads a large team. Although every day is considered uncharted territory, Sergey continues to excel as a leader and creator, charting the path ahead and bringing his vision to life. With a lifelong passion for technology and a desire to make people's lives more convenient, the software Sergey created is fulfilling some of his deepest wishes and changing how businesses interact with their customers.

The idea for Passteam -- a full-stack solution that businesses use to improve marketing tactics and increase customer engagement - was actually born out of a frustrating experience on Sergey's backpacking trip. Spending the summer traveling was as incredible as he had hoped, but when the trip was wrapping up, Sergey and his future Co-Founder Vadim were trying to fly out of the Los Angeles Airport, LAX. Chaotic and overrun with people, the airport is overwhelming on a good day.

Unfortunately for Sergey, his flight was delayed, leaving him and a friend stranded at the airport for a number of hours. As they looked around at everyone else stranded there, they saw lines coming out of restaurants, stores crowded with people, and helpdesks overflowing with papers and receipts. As his brain struggled to problem-solve the current situation, Sergey and his friend began discussing the idea of an application that gave businesses a way to operate electronically, interacting with customers seamlessly and immediately and removing some of the chaos that comes with traditional paper methods.

When he graduated from his university, Sergey was ready to take his venture to the next level and start trying to make something of it. Harnessing the power of passes in the Apple Wallet, he started speaking with potential customers and businesses in his area to understand pain points and map out the functionality of the application. Before a prototype was ready, restaurants, coffee shops, and other small businesses were lining up to get involved. It wasn't long before large businesses got word of the product Sergey was building and began expressing interest, too.

Faced with the challenge every leader must combat at some point, Sergey poured energy into finding the right team to build the product he envisioned. Once the right people were in place, things began moving incredibly fast. He led his team through the application process to Startup 500, a competitive startup incubation program. Despite high competition and strict selection criteria, Passteam was accepted into the accelerator, and throughout the course of the program, the product was further developed, and over $400,000 in funding was secured.

The idea for Passteam started out as a loyalty program that offered businesses the chance to involve their customers in loyalty programs, send discounts, and gather customer information, but that was just the beginning. Today, it provides automation capabilities to sales and marketing teams, allows for multi-channel communication with the click of a button, and makes customers' lives easier by putting everything in a convenient place - the digital wallet on their phones.

Seven years ago, a new graduate took a chance on an idea, and that chance paid off. Like the platform, Sergey has grown into a marvelous leader over the years. He helps his team prioritize what to focus on, works on regular customer feedback groups to improve Passteam's product offerings, and tries to build a long-lasting community. Sergey is already recognized internationally as a product specialist, but as Passteam grows even further internationally, he will remain laser-focused and thoughtful in his approach.

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Shubhodeep Paul )

Breakthroughs in the biotech industry have led molecular diagnostics to slowly become a benchmark of modern healthcare. There is, however, an increasing need to streamline many such diagnostic approaches and find the proper correlation between diagnostics and treatment timelines. Struggling to provide rapid and precise screenings, healthcare providers rely on blood culture-based analysis and diagnosis to screen for infections. Such analysis can be slow and cumbersome, resulting in infections left untreated and delays before starting treatment.

As one of the first three employees at Melio, focused on screening infectious pathogens in newborn babies, Shubhodeep Paul contributed to the product development of Melio's platform. His contributions played an essential role in building upon the efforts of founder Mridu Sinha. Blood culture-based screening in neonates exacerbates the problem of slow and cumbersome diagnosis since clinically relevant results for treatment purposes must be obtained within 1-3 hours of the sample collection.

At Melio, he was in charge of researching, designing, and developing technology for multiple disciplines, including consumables, sample preparation, assay optimization, microfluidics, optics, and other system-level parts. One of his most significant contributions was the research concepts and paper prototyping for microfluidics-based sample preparation and enrichment of organisms, starting with direct blood samples. Thus, Shubhodeep added to Melio's patent profile and geared Melio towards productizing an automated end-to-end platform solution.

Today, Shubhodeep Paul works at Nautilus Biotechnology, an organization building a platform to map the proteome to accelerate therapeutic development, improve medical diagnostics, and make predictive medicine a reality. As a Bio-MEMs Engineer at Nautilus, Shubhodeep relies on his years of experience researching and finding solutions to build innovative technologies. Nautilus is one place where he gets to do that, but it's not the only place he's had an impact.

Prior to entering the Biotech Industry, Shubhodeep worked to improve the state-of-the-art in DNA analysis workflows, focusing on sample preparation, integrating liquid-liquid extraction protocol, and bead-free DNA extraction on Electrowetting on Dielectric (EWOD) digital microfluidics during his time at the University of Texas at Arlington. His work resulted in a cost-efficient solution that was easy to integrate with further assay steps, opening many nucleic acid-based workflows to be automation candidates.

Using the EWOD principle as a basis, the platform that came out of the project was an integrated microfluidic system capable of DNA extraction and purification. This technology inside an instrument could drastically reduce the amount of time it takes to make scientific discoveries related to nucleic acid research. Used in a molecular diagnostic medical device, it can also help diagnose a disease or infection in a fraction of the time it takes on average, saving countless lives. Presenting this work at MicroTas 2019 in Basel, Switzerland, was a highlight of Shubhodeep's career.

Shubhodeep is the lead inventor of multiple patents for the EWOD device that can perform liquid-liquid extraction in microdroplets. He made a significant contribution to Melio's patent portfolio. He has also been published in a major journal and presented his work at conferences worldwide.

Microfluidics is a powerful field with many untapped potentials, and Shubhodeep's expertise has uncovered many such potential applications. Capable of solving problems across industries and research settings, Shubhodeep often finds himself learning about and working to solve problems in the biotechnology field. Where innovation is needed, Shubhodeep goes, and with him, he brings unmatched determination, incredible problem-solving skills, and a deep understanding of scientific requirements.

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Several federal agencies, including the Department of Energy, fell victim to a global cyber-extortion attack orchestrated by a Russian ransomware gang, targeting a popular file-transfer program widely used by corporations and governments, according to a report by AP.

While Homeland Security officials assured that the impact was expected to be minimal, other sectors such as industry, higher education, and two state motor vehicle agencies experienced significant repercussions.

Relatively Short and Superficial

Jen Easterly, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, addressed the media, highlighting the distinction between this attack and the sophisticated SolarWinds hacking campaign attributed to state-backed Russian intelligence agents.

Easterly explained that the recent campaign was relatively short-lived, superficial, and swiftly detected.

According to Easterly, discussions with industry partners revealed that the intrusions did not aim to gain broader access or steal specific high-value information.

The attack appeared largely opportunistic, lacking the SolarWinds campaign's strategic depth. Easterly emphasized that the nation's networks and national security were not under systemic risk.

While the US military and intelligence community remained unscathed, two entities within the Energy Department were compromised, as confirmed by Energy Department spokesperson Chad Smith, who refrained from providing further details to AP.

The list of known victims continued to grow, encompassing entities such as Louisiana's Office of Motor Vehicles, Oregon's Department of Transportation, the Nova Scotia provincial government, British Airways, the British Broadcasting Company, and the UK drugstore chain Boots.

Businesses use The file-sharing program MOVEit extensively to ensure the secure transmission of files, including confidential financial and insurance data.

Officials in Louisiana made a public announcement, revealing that individuals with a driver's license or vehicle registration in the state likely had their personal information compromised.

This includes sensitive details such as their name, address, Social Security number, and birthdate. As a preventive measure against potential identity theft, Louisiana residents were strongly advised to freeze their credit.

Similarly, the Oregon Department of Transportation confirmed that unauthorized access had been obtained to the personal information of around 3.5 million individuals holding state-issued identity cards or driver's licenses.

Read Also: Ransomware Gang Breaches Coca-Cola Database? Hackers Conduct Telegram Survey To Choose Next Victim

Cl0p Ransomware GangThe: The Cl0p ransomware syndicate is responsible for the attack on its dark website, urging victims to contact them by Wednesday to negotiate a ransom and avoid the potential public release of stolen sensitive data. The cybercrime syndicate, widely recognized for its illicit activities, asserted its intention to erase any stolen data obtained from government entities, municipalities, and law enforcement agencies. A senior Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency official revealed that a "small number" of federal agencies were affected, refraining from disclosing specific names. The official emphasized that the breach did not constitute a widespread campaign targeting several federal agencies.

Additionally, the official confirmed that federal agencies had received no extortion demands, and Cl0p had refrained from publicly disclosing any data obtained from the affected federal entities.

Related Article: Ransomware Gang, Ragnar Locker, Issues Threat to Victims that will Contact the FBI or Other Authorities

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, recently made a visit to China, where he met with President Xi Jinping.

This visit comes shortly after Elon Musk's trip to the country earlier this month, indicating the continued interest of American tech billionaires in China.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted Gates' regular visits to China, an important location for Microsoft over the past two decades.

The purpose of Gates' meeting with President Xi has not been publicly disclosed, but official reports are expected to provide further details.

Gates Reveals Details on His Visit

In a blog post, Gates shared some insights from his time in China, highlighting the importance of addressing global health and development challenges such as health inequity and climate change. He emphasized the role that China can play in achieving progress for people worldwide.

Gates expressed his commitment to visiting various countries each year as part of his work with the Gates Foundation, including China, India, and countries in Africa and Europe. These visits allow him to engage with researchers, government leaders, advocates, and experts working on health and "development inequities.

Despite the setback caused by the pandemic, Gates remains optimistic about the potential for innovation in health, agriculture, digital finance, and energy to improve lives, particularly in African countries facing multiple challenges.

During his visit to China, Gates visited the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI), an organization established by the Gates Foundation in partnership with the Beijing Municipal Government and Tsinghua University.

He commended GHDDI's collaborative efforts in discovering new medicines for diseases that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations around the world. Gates also visited the National Crop Genebank of China, a renowned crop research center that preserves seeds and facilitates worldwide access to vital genetic data.

He met with agricultural scientists working on innovative rice varieties that help increase productivity while reducing the need for fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation.

Gates acknowledged China's achievements in disease elimination, poverty reduction, and investments in clean energy and climate adaptation. He appreciated the progress made since his last visit four years ago.

Read Also: Bill Gates Believes ChatGPT May Soon Replace Teachers

Gates Foundation's Work in China

The billionaire claimed that the Gates Foundation had witnessed promising work in China over the 15 years of its partnership, with initiatives like the genebank and GHDDI demonstrating the country's commitment to global health and agriculture.

Looking ahead, Gates mentioned upcoming opportunities for collaboration and innovation, including a summit on development financing in Paris, a meeting of the G20 in New Delhi, and the COP28 climate conference in Dubai.

He firmly believes that addressing climate change, health inequity, and food security requires global cooperation, and he looks forward to exploring new avenues for progress.

"It's great to be able to resume these regular visits. This was my first trip to China in four years, and immediately after this trip, I'm headed to West Africa for the first time in five years. And I went to India in March," Gates wrote.

Related Article: Microsoft co-Founder, Bill Gates, Disagrees with Open Letter 'AI Pause' from Elon Musk, Woz, and MORE

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Thierry Breton, the European Union's commissioner for the internal market, has called on more EU member states to take action against Chinese telecommunications companies Huawei and ZTE by removing them from their 5G networks, CNBC reports.

In a speech delivered on Thursday, June 15, Breton emphasized the importance of addressing national security risks associated with these "high-risk" suppliers.

He referred to the EU's adoption of a "5G cybersecurity toolbox" in January 2020, which aimed to identify potential risks of involving certain providers in the rollout of 5G infrastructure.

Several countries, including the United Kingdom, have banned Huawei due to security concerns.

EU Commissioner Urges Member States to Address Security Risks with 5G

Breton expressed his determination to work with member states and telecommunications operators to speed up the decision-making process regarding replacing high-risk suppliers from 5G networks.

Currently, only 10 EU countries have restricted or banned Huawei from their networks.

Breton also announced that the Commission would implement the 5G toolbox principles in procuring telecom services to avoid exposure to Huawei and ZTE.

China has vehemently opposed some EU countries' bans on Huawei and argued that the Commission lacks legal grounds to prohibit the company.

Germany, in particular, is considering a ban on Huawei and ZTE from its 5G network, leading to a strong reaction from the Chinese embassy in Germany. In March, we reported that the German government already blocked components from the said Chinese companies.

Read Also: UK Antitrust Regulator Approves Amazon's iRobot Acquisition

EU Demands Implementation of Cybersecurity Guidelines

According to a progress report by the European Commission, most EU member states have been slow in implementing the bloc's cybersecurity recommendations, particularly in excluding high-risk 5G vendors.

Thierry Breton stressed the need for swift action, stating that reducing dependencies on critical sectors, such as energy, has been achieved "in record time."

Referring to efforts to reduce reliance on Russian gas and oil, Breton asserted that the situation with 5G should be no different.

He emphasized that critical dependencies that could become a weapon against the EU's interests must be eliminated promptly.

Breton called on member states to adopt legislation banning these suppliers without delay.

Margrethe Vestager, the European Commission's executive vice president, also expressed concern about the slow progress, noting that the Commission is taking steps to ensure security in its networks and funding instruments.

The United States has been a vocal advocate for excluding Chinese telecom companies from 5G networks due to national security risks.

Concerns stem from China's 2017 National Intelligence Law, which allows the government to compel Chinese companies to hand over data if requested. Huawei argued that the law does not let the company install 'backdoors' in its networks.

The US banned the sale and import of communications equipment from five Chinese companies, including Huawei and ZTE, in November 2020.

Do you agree with the EU commissioner's latest statements? Let us know in the comments.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: UK Telcos Have Until December 2023 to Remove Huawei Equipment From 5G Network Cores

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, ended their Spotify podcast partnership. The couple, who had a lucrative contract to create podcasts, disclosed the termination of the deal in a statement issued on Thursday.

Both Spotify and Archewell Audio, the production business founded by the Sussexes, acknowledged their mutual consent to part ways. In the joint statement, the two companies expressed pride in the series they had jointly developed, according to NBC News.

"Archetypes," the lone series created under the agreement, debuted in August 2022 and was presented by Meghan. In keeping with Archewell Audio's purpose to uplift and amuse listeners while highlighting varied views and fostering a sense of community through shared experiences, the podcast sought to analyze and question the cultural labels placed on women.

Since signing the arrangement in 2020 for an estimated $20 million, Harry and Meghan has only produced a single season under their Archewell Audio podcast banner.

As stated by a Spotify official, the decision implies that Meghan Markle's podcast, "Archetypes," will not be extended for a second season. After the first season's popularity, executives from both organizations considered a second season, but the show's creators were told it would not happen.

According to sources cited by Variety, Spotify had anticipated additional material from Archewell Audio. Harry and Meghan wanted to find a different outlet for their audio projects to move away from Spotify's exclusive distribution.

Meghan Markle's Spotify podcast 'Archetypes' has been cancelled after only one series.



Royal commentator Kinsey Schofield: "She's challenging to work with... they're trying to say it was mutual. I don't believe it was mutual. I think she was fired."@kinseyschofield pic.twitter.com/DBf48LeVmu  TalkTV (@TalkTV) June 16, 2023

Read Also: Meet Kairan Quazi: The 14-Year-Old Engineer Hired by SpaceX

What Went Wrong?

The podcasting community praised "Archetypes" despite the untimely conclusion of the Spotify contract. At the December Los Angeles People's Choice Awards, the podcast won the best honor. Meghan acknowledged her appreciation for the endeavor, calling it a labor of love that allowed her to talk deeply with motivational speakers.

A spokeswoman for Archewell said that Meghan is actively working on creating new material for the "Archetypes" audience on a different platform.

Initially, it was hoped that the deal between Harry and Meghan and Spotify would result in many series, but ultimately, just one did. According to reports from US media, the contract was modified because "Harry and Meghan" fell short of Spotify's production standards, the BBC reported.

Harry and Meghan have aggressively explored numerous media endeavors since leaving their positions as members of the royal family to establish financial independence. In addition to their podcasting initiatives, the couple released Harry's autobiography, "Spare," and signed a content agreement with Netflix to create various streaming content, including a docuseries examining their connection with the British royal family, per The Guardian.

Related Article: Nintendo: King Hoopa Is 34-Year-Old!

 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Several U.S. federal government agencies were hit in a global cyberattack that exploited a vulnerability in a widely used file-transfer software, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) confirmed in a statement on Thursday.

Eric Goldstein, the Agencys Executive Assistant Director For Cybersecurity, in a statement to CNN, said, CISA is providing support to several federal agencies that have experienced intrusions. We are working urgently to understand impacts and ensure timely remediation.

CISA is working to ascertain the origin of the attack and whether any sensitive information was compromised or if government systems have been disrupted.

According to officials, the hackers exploited a vulnerability in a program called MOVEit, an electronic file transfer application tool generally used by organizations to transfer files between their partners or customers.

Many experts believe the attacks are coming from CL0P Ransomware Gang, which is known to demand multimillion-dollar ransoms. Last week, an alert was also issued by the FBI and the CISA noting that the file transfer software was vulnerable to ransomware attacks wherein data is locked or stolen, and payment is demanded in return.

CL0P has claimed credit for several other cyberattacks in the past with the MOVEIt exploit, which include the BBC, British Airways, Shell, and the governments in the states of Minnesota and Illinois. However, it is unclear if they are the ones behind intrusions faced by federal agencies.

CISA Director Jen Easterly told MSNBC that authorities do not expect the hack to have major impacts on the affected agencies. However, she refused to identify the impacted agencies.

Its a software that federal agencies and companies across the world use. We put out an advisory about this last week. And were responding to it, Easterly added.

Right now, were focused specifically on those federal agencies that may be impacted and were working hand-in-hand with them to be able to mitigate that risk. We want to work with our partners to make sure we fully understand the situation. I am confident, though, that given all of the advances that we have made with our partners that we are able to drive down that risk in an effective way so we will not see significant impacts.

When questioned if Russian ransomware could be behind the attack, Easterly said, Were tracking it as a criminal group and many of these criminal groups are located in places like Eastern Europe.

Progress Software Corp., which owns MOVEit, and distributes it as a secure managed file transfer software, has issued security advice as well as advised its customers to update their software packages.

It strongly suggests companies that use it disable all HTTP and HTTPS traffic to your MOVEit Transfer environment. Additionally, the company also released a patch for all its MOVEit Transfer customers on June 9, 2023, to close the exploit.

We have communicated with customers on the steps they need to take to further secure their environments and we have also taken MOVEit Cloud offline as we urgently work to patch the issue, the company said in a statement.
The House Republican Study Committee released a 2024 budget plan Wednesday that would slash federal spending by $16.3 trillion and cut taxes by $5.1 trillion over a decade, while balancing the budget in seven years.

The model budget from the largest Republican caucus, which includes about 75% of all GOP House members, would also gradually raise the retirement age for Social Security to 69, introduce market competition in Medicare, turn Medicaid funding into state-level blocks grants, and build a wall at the border with Mexico.

The RSC Budget is a reflection of our commitment to defending our constitutional rights, championing conservative values, and safeguarding the foundational principles that make our country great, Rep. Ben Cline, chair of the RSC Budget and Spending Task Force, said in a statement.

A values budget: The RSC plan, which includes more than 200 bills from individual members, explicitly links spending proposals with the cultural issues that are central to the Republican political project. Nearly every major problem facing our nation can be traced back to a failure to budget, said RSC Chairman Kevin Hern.

It all boils down to something weve heard the President say quite a few times this year: Show me your budget, and Ill show you your values, Hern added. Our values are clearly on display with this budget.

In their effort to protect conservative values, the RSC budget lays out a vision of smaller government funded by lower taxes on businesses and individuals. It calls for cuts in a wide variety of programs throughout the federal government, including rescinding IRS funding for additional personnel, eliminating climate funding at the Department of Energy, reducing foreign aid, prohibiting funding for high-speed rail, and eliminating the National Labor Relations Board, among many other things. And it takes aim at a variety of woke political enemies, including diversity programs in the military and proponents of critical race theory.

Democrats revive a line of attack: The White House was quick to highlight the fact that Republicans had renewed their efforts to reduce Social Security and Medicare benefits  something that GOP lawmakers seemed to have abandoned in the face of criticism from Democrats during the debt and budget negotiations earlier this year.

The hardcore MAGA budget just released by the Republican Study Committee  which represents a majority of House Republicans  amounts to a devastating attack on Medicare, Social Security, and Americans access to health coverage and prescription drugs, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. Worse yet, House Republicans want to impose these disastrous cuts for hardworking families alongside massive tax cuts for the super-rich and big corporations. In fact, theyre proposing a total of $5 trillion in tax cuts skewed to the wealthy and big corporations  cutting taxes by at least $175,000 per year for the wealthiest 0.1 percent with incomes over $4 million.

Saying that Republicans have shown us who they are this week, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also hammered the RSC plan. Extreme MAGA Republicans have a three-part economic agenda, Jeffries told reporters at his weekly press conference Thursday. One, they want to end Social Security as we know it. Two, massive tax cuts for billionaires and wealthy corporations. Three, dramatic spending cuts that will hurt the health, the safety and the economic well-being of the American people.

Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works, an advocacy group that seeks to protect and expand Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, was also highly critical of the Republican proposal. This budget would destroy Social Security as we know it, Altman said in a statement. The budget fearmongers about Social Securitys modest shortfall (still a decade away) but then rules out any options for raising revenue  That leaves benefit cuts as the only solution.

Even some conservatives have been critical. Rick Moran, a writer at the right-wing commentary site PJ Media, rejected the plan as a work of fantasy. The act of taking $16 trillion out of the economy in just a decade would destroy the nations finances, and force tens of millions of people into poverty, Moran wrote. It will never pass muster even in the House with the Republican majority.  Instead of playing politics, how about some serious thinking from the right?

The bottom line: The RSC budget plan is largely a messaging device, and its message of smaller government, lower taxes and anti-woke politics arrived loud and clear. While it has no chance of becoming law at the moment, it plants a flag for Republicans as they seek to shape the nations fiscal trajectory in the future.

Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter.
On June 17, the Russian president will receive a delegation of leaders from several African countries to discuss their peace initiative on the Ukrainian conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that this is a special year for the development of Russia's relations with African countries.

Putin said that 2023 "can indeed be called a special year for the development of Russia's relations with the African continent. Our contacts with African countries are more intense than ever."

The president's remarks came after talks with his Algerian counterpart, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, with whom he will continue talks within the framework of the 26th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which began on Wednesday.

The two leaders discussed efforts to expand transactions in national currency, increasing the quota of state-subsidized university admissions for Algerian nationals, the Russian president said.

 President Vladimir #Putin following talks with President @TebbouneAmadjid:



 Algeria is our key partner in the Arab world & in Africa. #RussiaAlgeria relations are mutually beneficial. We continue developing them in the spirit of mutual support.



 https://t.co/nnSA9eqc6V pic.twitter.com/v5eZjsaGtu  MFA Russia  (@mfa_russia) June 15, 2023

Putin highlighted the current visit of the Algerian president to Russia, noting that it will contribute to the further comprehensive development of the Russia-Algeria strategic partnership.

On this occasion, the Russian president said that on June 17, he will meet with a delegation of presidents and high-ranking representatives of several African countries "to discuss the initiative of the continent's states on the Ukrainian issue."

The leaders of South Africa, Egypt, Congo, Senegal, the Comoros, Zambia, and Uganda are expected to attend the meeting, which is part of the "Road to Peace" proposal that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced last month.

This year's Russia-Africa summit, in its second edition, will be held on July 2629, 2023, in the Russian city of St. Petersburg, Putin recalled.
Investigation into security in Nice during the attack: the prosecutor's office for a reclassification as "involuntary homicide"

These are the best roads in the Balearic Islands to travel on foot

Origin of life: Have you cracked the mother of all questions, Ulrich Schreiber?

The traffic business of the weight loss camp: key trainees as publicity gimmicks to star according to the script

The "new favorite" of cool home appliances: can air circulation fans really be comparable to air conditioners?

Summer addiction to mobile phones How to pull children from the "small screen" back to the "big world"

Demands to abolish the guardianship of men and ban polygamy. Why insist on amending and updating personal status laws in Arab countries?

(m+) That's it for the Internet: Oliver Samwer shuts down his start

96.8% of the interviewed young people felt that it was important to develop healthy living habits from an early age

Ahead of World Cup opening match in Auckland: Three dead in shooting in New Zealand

Visit Harbin's "Centennial Bus Exhibition Hall" to witness the butterfly changes of the era of public transportation-Chinanews.com video

Moving to Saudi Arabia or returning to their homeland: Zenit may lose Malcolm, Claudinho and Wendel before the start of the RPL

The queen stage in the Alps: The Tour de France has been decided

A fake smile and feelings of fear and anxiety. Body language expert: Messi is not happy with his move to Inter Miami

Conflict with the referee and provocation Toth: Shuai survived a panic attack and withdrew from the tournament in Budapest

"They will not participate on such conditions": Matytsin on declarations of condemnation of the NWO and the words of Isinbayeva

The latest of them is the Englishman Maguire, defender of Manchester United. Players stripped of the captain's armband

The world's first 16 MW ultra-large capacity offshore wind turbine is connected to the grid to generate electricity

Beijing strengthens the management of housing leases from the owner body It is proposed to require the publicity of fees

The "Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Promoting the Development and Growth of the Private Economy" were promulgated

China issued a document to promote the development and growth of the private economy and responded to four core concerns

French MP: sanctions against Russia have led to a catastrophe in the economy in Europe

Putin called the impudence of the failure of Russian conditions in the framework of the grain deal

The president of the Eurogroup distances himself from Calvino and avoids supporting Sanchez: "Full respect for the electoral process"

Iran: several convictions of artists for non-respect of the veil in public

China-North England Cooperation Forum Held Enterprises of the two countries are optimistic about the prospects of cooperation

Relief in the PSOE: "Sanchez has been less theatrical, he has made a debate not to lose"

The nine moments that gave life to the debate to three: from the tweets to the fight for the 'trans law'

The PP celebrates its absence of a "boring" debate to three: "It was better 'First dates'"

DRC: international investigators called upon in the case of the murder of Cherubin Okende

The price of wheat in the United States increased by 8.2% after Russia's announcement of ships in the Black Sea

It includes people of Palestinian origin. Israel signs agreement with Washington allowing all Americans to enter without a visa

Three killed in a shooting in the New Zealand city of Auckland as the Women's World Cup is about to start

There will be heavy rainfall in North China and other places The high temperature weather in Xinjiang will continue

Putin: The West is brazen in failing to fulfill the grain agreement, and there is "only one" condition for restarting

Antonov: The United States does not have the courage to admit that plans to defeat Russia are failing

Three activists arrested for sneaking into Ibiza airport sticking to a private jet and spraying it with paint

Activists of Futuro Vegetal spray paint on the megayacht of the Walmart heiress docked in Ibiza

WP: U.S. prepares sanctions against Kyrgyzstan to force it to stop trade with Russia

The astonishing data of the time trial in which Vingegaard swept Pogacar: "He scored more watts than expected"

Conflict with the referee and provocation Toth: Shuai survived a panic attack and withdrew from the tournament in Budapest

Putin called the impudence of the failure of Russian conditions in the framework of the grain deal

6 ways to fix WhatsApp and find out if the cause is a service outage

 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.
Walk into Melbas and youll find a vending machine full of free childrens books for the taking. Head over to the food counter and youll see signage offering a free piece of cake to any child who got an A on their report card  and a free poboy to their parents.

Pull Quote
People stand in line outside the Office of Motor Vehicles at 100 Veterans Blvd. before the doors open in New Orleans, La. Friday, March 13, 2020.
Amid the long commercial thoroughfares and sprawling subdivisions of New Orleans East is a little oasis of fruit trees, chickens and row after of row of leafy greens that Thanh Nguyen tends to so closely that they brush the brim of her wide sun hat.
Pseudonymous blockchain sleuth ZachXBT, who for years has conducted volunteer on-chain investigations into alleged financial misconduct in the cryptocurrency industry, has been sued for defamation by an entrepreneur he had previously scrutinized.

In June 2022, ZachXBT accused Taiwanese-American musician and tech executive Jeffrey Huang, known also by his online handle Machi Big Brother, of embezzling 22,000 ETHworth roughly $37.8 million at writingfrom a defunct crypto treasury management platform Huang had co-founded. The sleuth backed up the assertion with on-chain data.

On Thursday, Huang filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, alleging the accusations were false and that ZachXBT is now liable for damages to Huangs reputation.

1/ Its unfortunate I have to make this thread but I am being sued by MachiBigBrother for an article I published in June 2022. Today Machi filed the defamation lawsuit. The lawsuit is baseless and an attempt to chill free speech. I intend to fight back & defend free speech. pic.twitter.com/anVY6zXU5a  ZachXBT (@zachxbt) June 16, 2023

I have consistently maintained that the allegations in his article are false, Huang wrote on Twitter Friday. I look forward to proving through the lawsuit that [he] unlawfully defamed me.

Critically, to file the suit, Huang and his attorneys managed to ascertain ZachXBTs legal name and place of residence. As ZachXBT has, for years now, publicly probed numerous powerful actors in the crypto space, his ability to remain anonymous has been key to his sustained presence as a leading voice in the Crypto Twitter community, and the crypto industry more broadly. The investigators legal name is now visible in copies of Thursdays lawsuit uploaded to multiple public databases.

Biggest Crypto Exploits and Hacks of 2022

On Friday, ZachXBT took to Twitter to inform his 403,000 followers of the development.

The lawsuit is baseless and an attempt to chill free speech, he wrote. It is sickening to see it come to this, but I knew one day this would happen as the price of telling the truth is sometimes people dislike what you say.

ZachXBT also called on his supporters to donate funds to support his legal defense, as the analyst intends to fight the lawsuit in courta decision he anticipates will likely incur costs that could easily exceed $1 million USD.

In the hours following the appeal, a wallet address dedicated to ZachXBTs legal defense fund has already received about $320,000 worth of cryptocurrency from over 500 donors. While the majority of those donations have been made in Ethereum or USDC, a number of meme tokens including Jesus Coin, Pepe Coin, and Good Gensler Coin have also been sent to the wallet.

Along with Jess Meyers and the team at Brown Rudnick, Im honored to represent @zachxbt in his ongoing mission to speak truth to power. https://t.co/Hu2gBlcZD3  Palley (@stephendpalley) June 16, 2023

It appears that ZachXBT has already found legal representation for the suit: Brown Rudnick, a Boston-based law firm that in December was hired by the Bahamian government to advise on matters pertaining to the collapse of FTX, and previously successfully represented the actor Johnny Depp in his defamation suit against the actress Amber Heard.

Along with Jess Meyers and the team at Brown Rudnick, Im honored to represent ZachXBT in his ongoing mission to speak truth to power, Brown Rudnick partner Stephen Palley wrote on Twitter this afternoon. Meyers was a member of Depps litigation team.
Advertisement

Many Australians consider summer to be the prime time for seafood. Theyre wrong: sticking to fish and chips on the beach and prawns on the barbecue means missing out on a cool-weather bounty. Winter is a great time for seafood, says Sydney seafood consultant John Susman. A lot of seafoods go into their reproductive cycles in winter, so they put on a lot of fat. Pipis and clams are in their best condition at this time of year. The mussel season starts. Pacific oysters, rock oysters and scallops are all at their best. Scallops in the winter sunshine at Cirrus Dining in Barangaroo. Nikki Short Finned fish, too, are in excellent shape in winter because the water is colder, says George Kaparos, owner of Clamms seafood wholesaler in Melbourne.

Advertisement

Chef Jarrod Walsh has just opened Longshore restaurant in Sydney with a menu thats 90 per cent seafood. Walsh acknowledges that most diners lean into seafood in summer, but he hopes to turn that around with a winter launch. People think of sitting on the deck for oysters and champagne, everything fresh and light, but you can also do comfort cooking with seafood in stews and curries. Longshores seafood snacks, including the Rusty Wire oyster (bottom left). Jason Loucas Hes particularly keen to roll out a snack of Rusty Wire oysters from Moonlight Flat. Theyre a larger oyster that were steaming in the shell and dressing with a truffle and smoked soy brown butter. Winter means access to different species, too.

Advertisement

We have two major currents that move up and down the east coast of Australia, says Susman. Cooler water moves north and warmer water moves south, so we have migratory species that are dormant in summer and autumn on the move in the cooler months. He points to alfonsino  a big red fish that looks like a three-year-old drew it  and silver warehou  a delicious cousin of blue-eye  as examples. Wild barramundi from the Gulf of Carpentaria are abundant, and consumers should look out for threadfin and blue salmon, too. Joel Bickford of Shell House says theres a greater variety of seafood to work with in winter. Parker Blain At Shell House in Sydney, culinary director Joel Bickford is enjoying the variety winter brings to the seafood market. Were seeing fish like turbot and trumpeter. Theyre like golden nuggets for us. And when the water is colder, the fish put on extra weight: you have beautiful fuller fillets, and we know that fat means flavour, he says.

Advertisement

Prawns are also having a moment  theyre not only plentiful and keenly priced, but in excellent condition, too. Seafood species at their best in winter Bluefin tuna Albacore Pacific oysters Rock oysters Wild prawns Mussels Scallops Alfonsino Wild barramundi Kings, tigers, bananas  theres so much diversity. They are around half the price they were in summer, and theyre especially delicious in winter, says Susman, who says this years banana prawn catch is the biggest in 30 or 40 years. Scallops are at a keen price, too. The harvest has just started in Tasmania, says Kaparos. Theyll be very good towards the end of June until the end of September. Polly Mackarel and Aiden Stevens with a selection of seafood dishes at Cirrus Dining in Barangaroo. Nikki Short

Advertisement

Where to eat seafood in Sydney this winter Cirrus This seafood stalwart is the go-to pick for a sunny winter afternoon, when you can sit outside and enjoy the water view. Their new menu is creative and delicious, with dishes such as spice-crusted yellowfin tuna with red wine and bone marrow sauce ($58) and Murray cod fish pie with scallops, smoked eel and pickled jalapeno ($85). 23 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo, bentleyrestaurantgroup.com.au/cirrus Longshore is a new seafood-focused restaurant in the former Automata site. James Brickwood

Advertisement

Longshore The new restaurant and wine bar from former Hartsyard duo Dot Lee and Jarrod Walsh serves a 10-course seafood-focused snack menu for $80 during dinner service. Its presented in two stages, hot and cold, and features everything from coral prawn tartlets with shellfish mayo and finger lime, to glazed greenlip abalone crumpets with guanciale and sancho. 5 Kensington Street, Chippendale, longshore.com.au Fish Butchery and Charcoal Fish Saint Peter chef and restaurateur Josh Niland has pioneered the art of fish cookery in Sydney, and this winter hes turned his attention to the humble fish pie. For a limited time, you can pre-order a smoked King Ora pie from Fish Butchery or Charcoal Fish from $65. The pie comes ready to bake, with a side of salad, and the filling changes every week.

Advertisement

388 Oxford Street, Paddington, saintpeter.com.au, and 670 New South Head Road, Rose Bay, charcoalfish.com Chirashi at Kame House. Supplied. Kame House At Kame House, you can try chef Tomoyuki Matsuyas Hokkaido-style chirashi, a carefully curated selection of vibrant seafood, cubed like a colourful checkerboard and artfully layered over Japanese rice. The $145 dish is served with an appetiser, chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), miso soup and dessert. 729 Pacific Highway, Gordon, kamehouse.com.au

Advertisement

The tuna smashburger at Fish Shop in Bondi. Supplied Fish Shop, Bondi Wild-caught yellowfin tuna gets the smashburger treatment at Fish Shop, where its flattened and seared on the grill, creating a delicious golden crust. Its packaged up as the yellowfin tuna smashburger ($22), served with pickles, white onion and yellow American cheese. Its a winter special, but if you miss it, theres always the O.G. ($20). With golden crumbed fish and house-made tartare sauce, itll hit the spot. Shop 4, 17 Warners Avenue, Bondi, fishshop.com.au

Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up
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 The sun has barely set over the Horace Petty housing complex in South Yarra but retired Colombian policeman Jorge Gamba is getting jittery. His dark eyes scan every corner of the dated concrete buildings around him with the precision of a soldier trying to spot movement behind enemy lines. Its starting to get dangerous, he said. People dont come out this late. We are standing in a cul-de-sac in the heart of the public housing estate, just minutes after inadvertently interrupting a drug deal behind a flat. Children are playing in a park around the corner, but the mood is gloomy. Residents like Gamba rarely venture out of their apartments after dark. It is an unwritten rule they follow to avoid falling prey to a wave of drug-fuelled violence that has been gripping the housing complex for about four years. Used syringes litter the public stairwells of several buildings in the South Yarra housing complex. Credit: Jason South The residents are terrified, Gamba said. If they [authorities] dont do something, we will be lamenting another death. The Age visited the estate this week and spoke with several long-term tenants about the anti-social issues plaguing the site. Most said they were desperate for help but would not talk on the record for fear of retribution.

Advertisement

They described witnessing overdoses, assaults, fights, machete attacks, death threats and vandalism in common areas. They said drug dealers had cornered their children in the lifts to sell them drugs, and addicts shooting up in stairwells and common laundries had become a daily occurrence. Late-night banging on the door from people looking for drugs was also commonplace. There is a terrible despair spreading among tenants who are afraid to leave their units, suspicious and fearful because no one cares as its just public housing, said an elderly tenant who wanted to remain anonymous. It is clear to us that criminal activity goes on unchecked and the dealers are ever-present, it seems ... The security cameras are not watched by anyone, and were told its a privacy issue. Security guards are employed to do a walk-through of the public housing towers every evening, but several residents said the patrols are superficial and do not deter problematic tenants and visitors from terrorising others. Trouble has become so commonplace that Gamba keeps a log of incidents on a small whiteboard hanging by his front door. The latest item on the list is an attempted break-in at the ground-floor apartment of a disabled woman.

Advertisement

Authorities have given up on the residents and handed the building to the criminals, he said. This is an injecting room. Good people are suffering. When Gamba heard this month that Adam Brockhodt, a tenants carer, was stabbed to death, allegedly by a teenage boy, just metres away from Gambas front door, he was hardly surprised. Two years earlier residents found the body of another neighbour, Barbara Chabaud, on the concrete staircase inside the building. The 62-year-olds bloodied body could be seen from the apartment block next door. Gamba knew it was only a matter of time before another tragedy happened in the notorious public housing complex  named after the late former mayor and MP  and has for months been pleading with the housing authority to station security guards outside the building at night. Jorge Gamba believes it is only a matter of time before someone else gets seriously hurt at the estate. Credit: Jason South Prahran Greens MP Sam Hibbins also called for urgent action to address what he described as serious anti-social behaviour at the site, in a letter to Housing Minister Colin Brooks in February. But no measures were taken.

Advertisement

Residents fear its only a matter of time until someone is seriously hurt, Hibbins wrote. Brockhodt was killed three months later. Hibbins told The Age residents felt neglected by the government after years of raising safety and security issues at the site without results. Many of the residents are particularly vulnerable and have reported to me that they are too frightened to complain about threatening behaviour, or when they do, support is not provided, he said. Residents say they live in fear in the Horace Petty housing estate in South Yarra. Credit: Jason South The government needs to urgently strengthen security on the estate and have a much stronger presence of housing and support staff. From safe community to dangerous ghetto

Advertisement

At the northern end of the estate complex, a couple of dimly lit windows signal the only apartments still inhabited by public housing tenants. Several dilapidated low-rise buildings within the six-hectare site have been earmarked for demolition as part of a $5.3 billion state government public housing blitz that promises to deliver thousands of public housing dwellings. The government plans to turn the buildings into a mix of public and private homes, that will include specialist disability accommodation and affordable rentals. But residents worry the redevelopment wont address ongoing anti-social issues within the Horace Petty complex, since two of the buildings most affected by the violence are among those being retained. Since residents began vacating the apartments, the empty flats have become a magnet for squatters and addicts looking for a roof over their heads and a place to shoot up. Piles of personal belongings, rotten food and discarded items litter the floor of a vacated apartment. Credit: Jason South When The Age visited the buildings, large piles of personal belongings, rotten food and discarded wrappers littered the floor of several apartments. The front doors to most of them had been forced open and small ziplock bags, empty cans of alcohol and syringes were strewn across the carpet. One bedroom had been turned into a makeshift injecting room, with a torch, tourniquet, hand sanitiser, and syringes on a small desk.

Advertisement
Not a single stop on Melbournes tram network has been made more accessible in the past 12 months and only four were delivered over the past three years, as work grinds to a halt on upgrades to meet the needs of people with disabilities or limited mobility.

The delay comes almost six months after Victoria sailed past the legally binding deadline to make all tram stops in the network accessible as required by the Disability Discrimination Act after delivering just 458  leaving close to 1200 non-compliant stops across the city.

Christian Astourian said he will be locked out of the public transport network when his local train station closes in Brunswick because there are no accessible tram stops along Sydney Road. Credit: Jason South

The rollout of elevated level access platforms  which make it easier for the elderly, people pushing prams or anyone with restricted mobility to step onto a tram  slowed from 10 upgrades in 2019, 13 in 2020 to just two stops a year in 2021 and 2022, Department of Transport annual reports show.

The Andrews government committed to upgrading six stops along La Trobe Street in the 2022-23 budget but none have been completed, and the 2023-24 budget released last month makes no mention of tram stop upgrades.
Qantas has unveiled the final details of its long-anticipated Airbus A350 ultra-long-haul cabins that will be used on its Project Sunrise routes non-stop to Paris, New York and London from Sydney and Melbourne in late 2025.

Speaking at a press conference in New York one day after the inaugural QF3s non-stop flight from Auckland, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce revealed details for the A350s economy and premium-economy class cabins, as well as a specially designed area for passengers wellness.

The economy-class seats on board Qantas Airbus A350 will be larger than on any other Qantas aircraft.

Though none of the rumoured bunk-beds or gyms materialised, the 12 specially designed Airbus A350s will introduce a Wellbeing Zone between the premium-economy and economy cabins which gives passengers space to stretch, with sculpted walls and integrated handles to facilitate balance.

Guided content will be televised from an entertainment screen to encourage movement, but the area has also been designed for socialising with fellow passengers, with a self-serve snack bar.
Lee Tullochs article implies that travellers should be better behaved, but what if the hotel is at fault? When checking in at a hotel (part of a chain) in Lusaka, the staff at reception alleged that our room had not been paid for and wanted a credit card payment. Fortunately, we had brought all the credit vouchers that our travel agent had armed us with  we had the entire holiday of three weeks prepaid before we left the country. Despite taking photocopies of the relevant vouchers (including transfers to and from the airport), the issue of non-payment was again raised the next morning at check-out. It was only after confirmation of payment by the ground operator that we were allowed to leave. The reality was, the communication between their reservation and reception teams was poor and the result was an inconvenience to us.

Susan Chee, Brighton, Vic LETTER OF THE WEEK: ALL CREDIT Regarding Michael Gebickis column about global flight delay compensations (Traveller, May 17), I can counter with the way Italian rail operator Trenitalia provided two refunds on our recent travels. For the first, requested via their portal, the compensation was credited within 24 hours. The second, more complicated request, was dealt with well within their 30 days agreement and meeting their very clear obligations. Its just another reason to travel via train when in Europe.

David Lewis, Gladesville, NSW WINDOW SEAT Australians are almost famous for not exploring their own backyards before travelling abroad; I cannot express enough the wonder of taking the Indian Pacific from Sydney to Perth and the thrill of whizzing through Parramatta station with a glass of chilled sparkling wine, then climbing up through the mountains while planning our first off-train excursion. At 5am in Broken Hill, we opted for the trade union hall, where the first union was formed to protect miners rights back in the day. The food and service was five-star and we travelled comfortably in gold class. Nothing beats waking at 3am somewhere across the Nullarbor to witness a blanket of huge and brilliant stars.

Kate Klarwill, Earlwood, NSW

WELCOME TO COUNTRY It was grand to see Tess Atie of Northern Territory Indigenous Tours mentioned in your article (Traveller, May 27). My friends and I had the pleasure of meeting Tess in Litchfield National Park during April while on a private tour of the area. I wish we had known about this tour because she was so interesting and informative and has a wicked sense of humour. I would encourage tourists to seek out this wonderful person  it would be more than worthwhile.

Sally Wroe, Castle Hill, NSW WELCOME TO COUNTRY, AGAIN Many friends visiting from overseas are interested in finding out more about First Nations peoples and their communities. Showing them Bangarra Dance, exhibitions and artefacts in Sydney has been appreciated, but how much more rewarding would it be to have a 10-day immersive experience in the real Australia.

Judith Rostron, Killarney Heights, NSW GONE TO GREECE

How different was my experience to (Traveller Letters, May 27) Lissanne Olivers costly problems retrieving her earphones left behind on a Virgin flight. A couple of years ago I left my mini iPad on a Qatar flight to Rome, and contacted their office there. They quickly came back to me, advised it had been found and asked where in the world I would like to pick it up. I nominated Athens, the next airport on our trip, and it was there as promised  at no cost. So, Lissanne has lost confidence in Virgin, while Ive found excellent service in Qatar.

Frank Johnson, Peakhurst, NSW SNACK PACKS Ben Groundwaters article on travelling with children was spot on (Traveller, May 27), especially about the amount of food needed. On one trip with my then four-year-old, where the request for snacks started in the taxi to the airport, just two minutes after leaving home, continued throughout the taxi ride and then in the check-in and security queues, I had to restock at the airport! Lesson learned.

Jill Disint, Williamstown, Vic CHOICES, CHOICES I generally love reading peoples letters but the May 27 rants were too much. We should be extremely grateful that we can travel when others (maybe even our neighbours) have trouble putting food on the table for their family. Lets get over the complaints about the food, the cancelled fights, the delayed bags. Just be grateful we have the choice.

Anne Miller, Corio, Vic

TIP OF THE WEEK: KYOTO GO Morning in Kyoto, Japans former capital. Credit: iStock Kyoto  capital of Japan for more than 1000 years and home to thousands of temples and shrines is also a great travel base. Using the amazing fast train network (included with the Japan Rail Pass), you can be in Osaka in 15 minutes, Nara in 30 and Hiroshima in two hours. We stayed walking distance from Kyoto Train Station (although the subway system is excellent anyway) and had the benefit of visiting Osaka, Nara and Hiroshima without having to haul our luggage and waste time checking in and out of hotels. Even Tokyo is a 2 hour fast train trip so we left Kyoto in the afternoon, trained to Tokyo and flew home from Tokyo that night.

Leonie Jarrett, Hawthorn East, Vic MYSTERY CHARGE A Google search for rental cars in New Zealand revealed CarFlexi.com as one of the first hits. Many major brands were promoted but on selecting a car hire option, I noticed a $300 charge against my card and naively assumed it was a deposit. It wasnt and a fruitless email exchange about a non-existent insurance charge resulted in loss of the money. Incidentally Yes Rentals at Auckland airport were exemplary to deal with and had no knowledge of the issue I had with the web portal of CarFlexi.com.

Alan Haselden, West Pennant Hills, NSW
Signs explaining Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and other banking policies are shown on the counter of a bank in Westminster

By Manya Saini and Saeed Azhar

(Reuters) -Customers Bancorp said on Friday it acquired a $631 million venture banking loan portfolio from U.S. regulator Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) at about 85% of the book value.

The portfolio belonged to failed lender Signature Bank, which was put under FDIC receivership in March, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Customers Bancorp shares rose on the news to their highest level since early March, and were up 3.3% at $30.23 at midday.

The FDIC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Customers Bancorp has also recruited 30 team members from the group that originated these loans, who will help expand the bank's venture capital coverage in major cities including Austin, Boston, Southern California and Chicago.

Loans to the technology and life sciences sector will be combined with Customer Bancorp's technology and venture capital business based in Boston, the bank said.

"We view this deal and team addition as a fairly low-risk transaction to accelerate CUBI's (Customer Bancorp's) presence in a high-growth" market and it has the potential to improve deposit funding, said Michael Perito, banking analyst at Keefe Bruyette & Woods, in a note.

The 15% discount on the acquired loans provides a cushion to absorb some losses, particularly for capital call loans, or revolving lines of credit, to private equity and venture capital firms, Perito said.

A unit based in New York and Chicago will manage the capital call loans.

On March 12, state regulators closed New York-based Signature Bank, marking this year's second high-profile bank collapse sparked by an exodus of depositors seeking higher returns and safer institutions.

Later that month, New York Community Bancorp entered into an agreement with the FDIC to buy substantially all deposits and certain loan portfolios, and all 40 of Signature Bank's former branches.

Following the bank's closure, the FDIC had announced in April the marketing process for the roughly $60-billion loan portfolio retained in receivership from Signature Bank.

(Reporting by Manya Saini in Bengaluru and Saeed Azhar in New York; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Richard Chang)
We can readily understand why investors are attracted to unprofitable companies. For example, biotech and mining exploration companies often lose money for years before finding success with a new treatment or mineral discovery. But while the successes are well known, investors should not ignore the very many unprofitable companies that simply burn through all their cash and collapse.

Given this risk, we thought we'd take a look at whether Ebusco Holding (AMS:EBUS) shareholders should be worried about its cash burn. For the purposes of this article, cash burn is the annual rate at which an unprofitable company spends cash to fund its growth; its negative free cash flow. Let's start with an examination of the business' cash, relative to its cash burn.

View our latest analysis for Ebusco Holding

When Might Ebusco Holding Run Out Of Money?

A company's cash runway is the amount of time it would take to burn through its cash reserves at its current cash burn rate. As at December 2022, Ebusco Holding had cash of 95m and such minimal debt that we can ignore it for the purposes of this analysis. Importantly, its cash burn was 106m over the trailing twelve months. That means it had a cash runway of around 11 months as of December 2022. Importantly, analysts think that Ebusco Holding will reach cashflow breakeven in 4 years. Essentially, that means the company will either reduce its cash burn, or else require more cash. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time.

How Well Is Ebusco Holding Growing?

It was quite stunning to see that Ebusco Holding increased its cash burn by 336% over the last year. Given that operating revenue was up a stupendous 360% over the last year, there's a good chance the investment will pay off. Considering both these factors, we're not particularly excited by its growth profile. 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.

How Hard Would It Be For Ebusco Holding To Raise More Cash For Growth?

Since Ebusco Holding has been boosting its cash burn, the market will likely be considering how it can raise more cash if need be. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Many companies end up issuing new shares to fund future growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations.

Ebusco Holding's cash burn of 106m is about 21% of its 500m market capitalisation. That's not insignificant, and if the company had to sell enough shares to fund another year's growth at the current share price, you'd likely witness fairly costly dilution.

Is Ebusco Holding's Cash Burn A Worry?

Even though its increasing cash burn makes us a little nervous, we are compelled to mention that we thought Ebusco Holding's revenue growth was relatively promising. Shareholders can take heart from the fact that analysts are forecasting it will reach breakeven. Looking at the factors mentioned in this short report, we do think that its cash burn is a bit risky, and it does make us slightly nervous about the stock. Its important for readers to be cognizant of the risks that can affect the company's operations, and we've picked out 2 warning signs for Ebusco Holding that investors should know when investing in the stock.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies insiders are buying, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts)

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
Elon Musk is sounding the alarm again about the dangers posed to humanity by AI, warning that more has to be done to limit its development or risk sleepwalking into a disaster.

Speaking in Paris at the Viva Tech conference, Musk warned that regulations were needed to prevent artificial intelligence from morphing into something that can't be controlled. This, the Tesla founder said, could result in a catastrophic outcome for humanity.

I think there's a real danger for digital super intelligence having negative consequences, said Musk.

Musks warning echoes one he sounded in in an online petition he signed with over a 1,000 other technologists and researchers in March. The signatories warned that unchecked AI systems with competitive human intelligence would pose catastrophic risks to society, and called on OpenAI to pause further development of its artificial tool ChatGPT.

Elon Musk Warns AI Could Disarm Humanity to Achieve World Peace

Short of a voluntary halt, the authors called on governments to force a moratorium if the company does not pause development. Musk repeated this at Viva Tech, reiterating his support for regulation because of the risks it poses to the public.

As a whole, Musk predicted that AI would most likely bring positive outcomes, including ushering in an age of abundance in terms of access to goods and services. But, he said, this should not be taken as a given.

"That's not every possible outcome," said Musk. "We need to minimize the probability that something will go wrong with digital super intelligence."

Elon Musk, Steve Wozniak Urge OpenAI to Halt ChatGPT Upgrades

Warning against the risks of AI was only one part of Musk's appearance in Paris. It came as part of a wider expression of his vision for the future and his core philosophy around discovering the meaning of life. He connected this quest to his advocacy for sustainable energy to ward off global climate change, and expanding the possibilities for space exploration through his company SpaceX.

Asked how Twitter fit in with this framework, Musk again asserted that his purchase was motivated by a desire to preserve free-speech and steer it into being a positive force for civilization. In May, Musk stepped down as CEO in favor of former NBC executive Linda Yaccarino, but he will remain Twitters owner.
As the United States scrambles to make its mind up on tech regulation, the European Union is taking another major step towards Big Tech regulation in the world of artificial intelligence (AI).

The European Parliament overwhelmingly voted on Wednesday to pass a new draft law of the Artificial Intelligence Act with 499 votes in favor, 28 against, and 93 abstentions. The final version of the law is expected to be voted on sometime in late 2023.

The AI Act will set the tone worldwide in the development and governance of artificial intelligence, ensuring that this technology, set to radically transform our societies through the massive benefits it can offer, evolves and is used in accordance with the European values of democracy, fundamental rights, and the rule of law, said Dragos Tudorache, Romanian politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP).

Making history by shaping our future. This is what today's groundbreaking vote on the worlds first ever #AI legislation is all about. It is about Europe taking the lead in digital innovation. pic.twitter.com/jICNwcX9hy  Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) June 14, 2023

If passed, the law imposes a comprehensive risk-based regulatory regime over AI systems. Artificial intelligence that threatens the safety, livelihoods, or human rights of peoplesuch as those used for biometric surveillanceare deemed as posing an unacceptable risk and would be banned outright.

Next on the risk spectrum are high-risk systems such as AI used in public transport infrastructure, educational grading, medical surgery, law enforcement, or financial credit-scoring. These will require passing certain regulatory obligations of risk assessment and security robustness before commercial use.

Finally, the vast majority of AI systems used by retail consumers, such as generative chatbots, facial recognition software, and spam filters, will fall into the minimal or low-risk categories. At minimum, they will require companies to make clear to users how the products they are using actually function.

Elon Musk Predicts 'Catastrophic Outcome' Without AI Regulation

All eyes are on us today. While Big Tech companies are sounding the alarm over their own creations, Europe has gone ahead and proposed a concrete response to the risks AI is starting to pose," said MEP Brando Benifei. "We want AIs positive potential for creativity and productivity to be harnessed, but we will also fight to protect our position and counter dangers to our democracies and freedoms during the negotiations with Council."

The laws broad intent to curtail the social risks of AI systems directly addresses the many concerns of bias, discrimination, and job displacement that many prominent voicessuch as Twitter CEO Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altmanhave voiced in recent years.

Mark Surman, president of the Mozilla Foundation, praised the EUs AI Act for holding AI developers more accountable and creating more transparency around AI systemsincluding ones like ChatGPT.

Others fear, however, that the act may be extending overregulation into AI systems that pose limited risk to begin with.

Boniface de Champris, Policy Manager at the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), stressed that the new rules must address AI risks while leaving enough flexibility for developers to deliver useful AI applications.

The EUs progress on regulation is broadly welcomed, but it remains to be seen if the EU can overtake the US lead in the sector.

White House Meets With AI Leaders in Attempt to 'Protect Our Society'

Despite the United States lead on tech innovation though, America continues to lag behind its European counterparts on the tech regulatory front. While the White House has issued executive orders urging American AI companies to promote equity in its AI systems, Congress has decidedly taken a wait and see approach towards these new technologies.

The crypto industry on the other hand, has been forced to operate in a state of regulatory limbo as the SEC launched major lawsuits against two of the sector's biggest exchangesBinance and Coinbasejust last week.
Cheyenne, WY (82001)

Today

Variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 59F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low 59F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Ex-Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer says her experience as a startup founder is inspired by her former Google bosses Larry Page and Sergey Brin

Good morning, Broadsheet readers! Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle is making big moves as a new CEO, a British baroness is behind California's social media law, and Marissa Mayer is a founder now. The Broadsheet will be off on Monday to observe Juneteenth. Have a great weekend!

- CEO to founder. Marissa Mayer has had a storied career in Silicon Valley, from employee No. 20 at Google to Yahoo CEO. But until recently, she'd never held that other lauded Silicon Valley title: founder.

Mayer has spent the past few years building what is now Sunshine, an A.I.-powered contacts tool. She joined us at a Fortune Most Powerful Women dinner in Menlo Park, Calif., this week to talk about that career pivot. Even though she hasn't herself been a founder before now, she said, she's spent years surrounded by them.

"My whole career has been based around my interactions with great entrepreneurs," she told Fortune editor-at-large Michal Lev-Ram. "I got to witness and work with the best," she said, name-checking Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page.

Marissa-Mayer-MPW-Palo-Alto-Dinner-2023.B13A3614

In her executive roles at Google and Yahoo, she acquired dozens of companies, requiring her to judge what makes a good founder.

So when she landed on the idea that felt right for her, addressing a major product and design problem, she was ready to become a founder herself. She's bringing her legendary work ethicweekly all-nighters during her early time at Googleto a new startup with 25 employees, compared to Google and Yahoo's thousands.

Sunshine's platform aims to simplify and learn from people's digital address books. The typical person has 2,000 contacts, 20% of which are usually "stale" with a nonfunctioning phone number or email address, Mayer says. Mayer's goal is for Sunshine to learn information like which contacts are friends and which are colleagues, or even who's a colleague who became a friend or a friend who became a colleague. The platform aims to understand which relationships are on the upswingwith increased contactand which are trailing off. With that information, Sunshine can help people better take advantage of their networks, plan events, and more.

As a startup leader, Mayer says she's standing by the management principles that guided her Big Tech executive days. Not all of those were popular, like Yahoo's return-to-office mandate a decade ago. (Sunshine employees also work in the office today.) "I never ask someone to do something I wouldn't do myself," Mayer says. "And a lot of those values translate regardless of company size."

Emma Hinchliffe

emma.hinchliffe@fortune.com

@_emmahinchliffe

The Broadsheet is Fortune's newsletter for and about the world's most powerful women. Today's edition was curated by Kinsey Crowley. Subscribe here.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

More from Fortune:

5 side hustles where you may earn over $20,000 per yearall while working from home

Looking to make extra cash? This CD has a 5.15% APY right now

Buying a house? Here's how much to save

This is how much money you need to earn annually to comfortably buy a $600,000 home


The Daily News will sit down with your top performance player from the Week #7 Batavia Muckdogs games and talk baseball! Keep an eye out for our Week #8 poll, running next week (Tuesday - Friday)!

You voted:
Exclusive-China's Xi tells Bill Gates he welcomes U.S. AI tech in China-sources Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates visits the National Assembly in Seoul

HONG KONG (Reuters) -Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed the global rise of artificial intelligence with Bill Gates on Friday and said he welcomed U.S. firms including Microsoft bringing their AI tech to China, two sources familiar with the talks said.

Xi also discussed Microsoft's business development in China during their meeting in Beijing, one of the sources said.

Gates, who co-founded Microsoft, stepped down from the company's board in 2020 to focus on philanthropic works related to global health, education and climate change.

The comments on AI made at the meeting between Xi and Gates were not disclosed in reports of the meeting published by Chinese state media or in a Friday post by Gates reflecting on his China trip.

When asked for comment, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation directed Reuters to the post.

China's State Council Information Office, which handles media queries on behalf of the Chinese government, and Microsoft did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Xi has previously said China needs to seize opportunities to use AI to drive economic development, but has also cautioned about its risks, with the country weighing up a new law on the technology as well as rules for generative AI.

His meeting with Gates comes as U.S.-China relations are at their lowest point in decades, with AI a key flashpoint.

The U.S. has enacted a series of export controls aimed at restricting China's AI development, while China has unnerved the foreign business community with a crackdown on consultancies and a ban on some sales in China by U.S. chipmaker Micron.

Microsoft is a backer of OpenAI, whose chatbot ChatGPT ignited a global AI buzz last year that has spread to China.

OpenAI and ChatGPT itself are not blocked by Chinese authorities, but OpenAI does not allow users in some countries, including mainland China and Hong Kong, to sign on.

Microsoft has been in China for more than 30 years and has a large research centre there. Its Bing portal is the only foreign search engine accessible from within China's so-called Great Firewall, although its search results on sensitive topics are censored.

The U.S. tech giant has faced problems in China in recent years as the country tightened its control over the internet sector.

In 2021 it pulled the plug on LinkedIn China, replacing the social networking app with a stripped-down version focused only on jobs.

It announced in May that it would also shut that app in China, citing fierce competition and macroeconomic challenges, but said it would retain a presence in the country.

(Reporting by Hong Kong and Beijing Newsrooms; Editing by Jason Neely and Jan Harvey)
Over the past two decades, Imperial Valley farmers such as Ronnie Leimgruber have invested millions of dollars in efficient irrigation infrastructure. In March, Leimgruber worked on one of his linear hose-drag systems, which maximizes water efficiency by using hoses to irrigate fields of alfalfa.

Photo/Caleb Hampton
Destructive Tornado Rips Through Texas Panhandle Town, Officials Report Fatalities

A view of a damaged site in Perryton as the town was struck by a tornado, in Texas, on June 15, 2023, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. (Sabrina Devers via TMX/via Reuters)

Local officials say that at least three people are dead and more than 100 injured by a destructive tornado that swept through the northern Texas town of Perryton on Thursday afternoon.

The northern Texas town has suffered considerable damage in the northern and eastern sections, according to Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher.

He told a local ABC News affiliate that the tornado trailer houses have been demolished, and communication towers have been toppled. One of the fatalities was in a mobile home park that Dutcher said took a direct hit from a tornado. ABC7 Amarillo reported that three tornados were seen touching down.

Gov. Greg Abbott has directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to deploy state emergency response resources to provide support and assistance to protect Texans impacted by the tornadoes.

I encourage all Texans to heed the guidance of state and local officials and to take all necessary precautions to protect yourselves and your loved ones, Abbott said in a statement. We remain ready to quickly provide any additional resources needed over the course of this severe weather event.

The TDEM has mobilized several state resources to aid in the response to the tornadoes in Perryton, according to Abbotts office. Road crews from the Texas Department of Transportation are tasked with supporting traffic control and monitoring road conditions. A response team from Public Works will assist in the restoration of water, wastewater, and other utilities.

Emergency medical crews have also been dispatched in strike teams to provide urgent medical help while Urban Search and Rescue teams have been activated to help in rescue operations.

Game Wardens from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have also been mobilized to aid in the response efforts, along with saw crews from Texas A&M Forest Service and Incident Management Teams.

Crews from power provider Xcel Energy are assisting in removing lines from cars and across the roads, the company said in a statement.

We are patrolling the transmission feeds into the city and also assessing possible damage at the main substation in town, Xcel Energy stated. One of the three main transmission feeds into the city was apparently undamaged, but we deenergized it for safety reasons.

Its bad, its very bad. Its non-stop crazy. It couldnt have hit in a more vulnerable place, Mayor Kerry Symons said by telephone, adding that he would be unable to say how many people had died until Friday morning.

Perryton is a town of around 8,000 people. Its local hospital, Ochiltree General, had yet to receive any dead, according to Debbie Beck, the hospitals chief financial officer. But she said some people with life-threatening injuries were transferred to larger medical centers in Amarillo.

Injuries ranging from scratches to a collapsed lung were treated at the hospital in Perryton, Beck said. She did not know how many had been transferred to Amarillo.

This is a developing story. Reuters contributed to this report.
A Missouri Doctors Death Is Steeped in Mystery and SpeculationAuthorities Arent Talking

CASSVILLE, Mo.John Forsyth was known as a hard-working doctor who cared deeply for his patients and often teased nurses in the emergency room to ease tension. He was a father of eight and newly engaged. He also co-founded a cryptocurrency business with his brother.

His sudden disappearance from a southwestern Missouri town last monthand the eventual discovery of his body in an Arkansas lakehas led those who knew him to wonder what happened to the man who seemed happier than hed been for some time. A lack of information from law enforcement has only deepened the mystery, prompting amateur sleuths to espouse theories on Facebook.

Its like the world dropped on us; were just in shock said his sister Tiffany Forsyth. Theres a part of me thats not quite sure this is real yet. I guess it comes in steps.

Forsyth, 49, disappeared on May 21 from a parking area at a public swimming pool. His body, which had suffered an apparent gunshot wound, was found nine days later. An autopsy was done, but a report isnt expected for at least two months. Law enforcement officers have released almost no details, except to say there is no danger to the public.

The doctors family is adamant that his death wasnt a suicide: He had just recently become engaged, and his fiancee was pregnant.

Some true-crime followers on social media have speculated that his death may have been connected to the cryptocurrency company that he co-founded with his brother, Richard Forsyth. Multiple other theories also have surfaced in a Facebook discussion group that has grown to more than 1,000 members. Posts in that group are now closed to public view.

Only 10 days before his disappearance, a judge had finalized Forsyths divorcehis second from the same woman. The split was amicable, according to family members and the ex-wifes attorney, Ryan Ricketts, who said she was devastated by the doctors death.

Richard Forsyth said his brother was excited about his upcoming marriage and new child and had a plane ticket to go see one of his daughters.

He said, I cant wait to introduce her to you. Were going to have a wonderful life together. Were all going to spend a lot of time together, Richard Forsyth said. I hadnt seen him that happy for a long time.

Forsyth even texted his fiancee on the day of his disappearance, saying he would see her soon, according to his brother. The fiancee did not answer a social media request for an interview.

Alongside hopeful comments about his future life, however, John Forsyth had recently made cryptic remarks about possibly being in danger, his brother said, adding, I think he crossed paths with some bad folks and he didnt tell me about them.

Conflicting Information

There has been some confusion about what happened near the public pool where John Forsyth was last seen in Cassville, 40 miles west of the Ozark Mountains tourist destination of Branson and about half a mile from a hospital where he worked. On May 21, the pool had yet to open for the summer season. Beaver Lake, a man-made reservoir used for recreation and where his body was found, is at least an hours drive away from Cassville, over twisty highways that snake through the Ozarks.

Initially, Richard Forsyth said security camera footage showed his brother getting into someone elses vehicle. He now says the footage shows that a few minutes after the doctor parked his car, a white SUV arrived, then left shortly afterward. About 10 or 15 minutes after that, the doctor got out of his car and walked away, never to be seen alive again, Richard Forsyth said. Found inside his unlocked car were two cellphones, a laptop, and important documents, he said.

So far, authorities have not publicly indicated whether they believe he was murdered, shot accidentally, or took his own life. They have not said whether they found the gun that was used or whether the SUV was related to Forsyths disappearance.

Richard Forsyth said family members have been told it could be a long wait for answers, but they have confidence in the investigating officers.

Crypto Connections

Authorities have also not indicated how deeply they are looking into Forsyths connections to crypto.

Online publications covering the industry quickly took note of his death, which was confirmed just seven weeks after authorities in San Francisco charged a tech consultant with the stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee. Prosecutors believe the killing occurred over a dispute involving the suspects sister.

John and Richard Forsyth founded Onfo LLC, what they called a network mining venture, in 2018. At that time, Onfos website said account holders could earn credits without putting up cash, by referring others to the company.

Onfos website features a nearly eight-minute video titled, The U.S. Dollar is Doomed, which says all governments currencies could collapse. The video promoting the launch of Onfo portrayed bankers and political officials as pigs in suits, describing them as, drunk on expensive liquor, resting in palaces.

An online Forbes magazine story in 2020 described John Forsyth as a bitcoin millionaire.

But Richard Forsyth said he and his brother were looking to give large numbers of people, including poor people in developing nations, a chance to invest in decentralized, digital currency. He described Onfo as fighting what the brothers believed crypto had become: driven by greed, about Lamborghinis and billionaires and tax evasion.

Paul Sibenik, lead case manager for CipherBlade, an agency that investigates cybercrimes involving crypto, said Onfos business model resembles pyramid schemes, which rely on an ever-growing number of referrals and cannot be sustained.

There is not a single legitimate cryptocurrency project that operates in this way, Sibenik said in an email to The Associated Press.

Richard Forsyth acknowledged that others might question whether Onfo was a multi-level marketing operation, but added, The key difference is that we never sold anything. And, he said, its probably cost them millions of dollars, rather than turning a profit.

What we are just doing is saying to people, Lets build this together, he said.

John Forsyth had substantial crypto currency holdings when his second divorce became final last month. The divorce decree evenly split his and his ex-wifes holdings in bitcoin and another digital currency, Ethereum, valuing them at more than $800,000. The decree also required him to pay an additional $15,000 a month to his ex-wife as well as $3,999 a month to support four of their children, ages 10 to 18. The decree estimated the value of John Forsyths business interests outside his cryptocurrency holdings at $1 million.

A Friends and Familys Farewell

John and Richard Forsyth were among seven siblings in an extended family with more than 100 cousins. The brothers grew up both in southwest Missouri and Alberta, Canada, and had dual American and Canadian citizenship, Richard Forsyth said.

The family had a private funeral Saturday, followed by a public vigil Sunday night in a park in Monett just north of Cassville. There, about 40 people, mostly family members, lit memorial candles and shared poignant and humorous stories about him.

Colleagues remembered how Forsyth often tried to lighten the mood in the intense emergency room of a hospital in the town of Aurora where he worked. Nurse Leah Tate remarked that he liked to see just how much he could annoy you, drawing chuckles from those gathered for the memorial service. She said Forsyth once made it his mission to get a nurse to throw something at him at least once a day.

Louise Hensley, a Monett resident and former neighbor of John Forsyth, said he treated her husband, who had Lou Gehrigs disease, for several years.

He was always so caring about his patients. He was so helpful to my husband and me during that time, said Hensley, who described Forsyths death as tragic.

I was just shocked when I heard a doctor was missing and then saw it was him.

By Margaret Stafford and John Hanna
Vermont Man Charged With Killing His Mother at Sea Over His Inheritance Dies Awaiting Trial

The Vermont man charged with killing his mother off the coast of New England in a scheme to inherit millions of dollars has died in jail while awaiting trial, federal authorities said Thursday.

Nathan Carman, 29, pleaded not guilty last year to fraud and first-degree murder in the death of his mother, Linda Carman, and was scheduled to go on trial in October.

An eight-count indictment also says Carman shot and killed his wealthy grandfather John Chakalos as he slept in 2013, in order to obtain money and property from his grandfathers estate. But the indictment does not charge Carman with his grandfathers killing, and he had consistently denied any involvement in the two deaths.

The cause of Carmans death was not immediately clear. He was the sole occupant of a county jail cell in New Hampshire when guards found him dead at around 2:30 a.m., said Doug Losue, superintendent of the Cheshire Corrections Department, which runs the facility. Losue said the death was being investigated by police in Keene, which is near the Vermont state line.

The U.S. Marshals Service confirmed Carman died Thursday in their custody, adding that the service does not own or operate detention facilities but partners with state and local governments to house approximately 65 percent of its prisoner population.

One of his lawyers, Martin Minnella, said Carman appeared in good spirits when he last spoke to his defense team on the phone Wednesday.

We were meeting with some experts today over Zoom at 12 oclock. We were prepared to start picking a jury on Oct. 10 and we were confident we were going to win, Minnella said. Im just heartbroken because I wanted him to have his day in court.

Carman left a note for his lawyers, but they did not know what it said as of Thursday afternoon, said David Sullivan, Carmans other attorney. Federal prosecutors told them about the note.

Prosecutors say the deaths of Carmans mother and grandfather paved the way for him to inherit an estimated $7 millionLinda Carmans share of her fathers estate. That inheritance remains tied up in probate court in Connecticut, where his three aunts sought to block Carman from receiving any money from his grandfathers estate.

Chakalos three surviving daughtersCarmans auntssaid in a statement Thursday that they were deeply saddened to hear about his death and asked for privacy while we process this shocking news and its impact on the tragic events surrounding the last several years.

In September 2016, Carman organized a fishing trip with his mother, who lived in Middletown, Connecticut, during which prosecutors say he planned to kill her and report that his boat sank and his mother disappeared in the accident.

He was found floating in an inflatable raft eight days after leaving a Rhode Island marina with his mother, whose body was never recovered. Prosecutors allege he altered the boat to make it more likely to sink. Carman denied that allegation.

Minnella and Sullivan criticized the indictmentincluding allegations Carman killed his grandfather, saying he was never charged with that crime.

The whole situation would have come out in court, Minnella said Thursday. This young man would have been vindicated.

Prosecutors say the inheritance scheme spanned nearly a decade and began with Carman buying a rifle in New Hampshire, which he allegedly used to shoot Chakalos in the mans home in Windsor, Connecticut on Dec. 20, 2013. Carman then discarded his own computers hard drive and the GPS unit in his truck, prosecutors said.

Police say Carman was the last person to see his grandfather alive and owned a rifle similar to the one used to kill Chakalosbut the firearm disappeared. In 2014, police in Windsor drafted an arrest warrant charging Carman with murder in his grandfathers death, but a state prosecutor declined to sign it and requested more information. No criminal charges were brought until the federal indictment.

In court documents filed in 2018, Carman alleged there was stronger evidence that a woman he described as his grandfathers mistress was involved in the killing, suggesting a robbery motive because of Chakalos wealth.

After Chakalos died , Carman received $550,000 from two bank accounts his grandfather had set up and that he was the beneficiary of when Chakalos died. He moved from an apartment in Bloomfield, Connecticut, to Vernon, Vermont, in 2014.

He was unemployed much of the time and by the fall of 2016 was low on funds, prosecutors said, which is when he arranged the fishing trip with his mother.

In 2017, investigators began keeping tabs on a lawsuit filed in federal court in Providence, Rhode Island, where insurers and Carman were suing each other over his rejected $85,000 claim for the loss of his boat, named the Chicken Pox. The insurance case tied all the evidence together and may have spurred a new effort to charge Carman, current and former investigators said.

The insurers lawyers laid out a case accusing Carman of plotting both killings and covering them up, using police investigation findings and information they obtained themselves. A judge sided with the insurers in their rejection of Carmans claim.

By Lisa Rathke and Dave Collins
A Vote for Joe Biden Best Predictor of States With Lowest Birth Rates, According to Analysis

Researcher says faith is best indicator of high birth rate

Women in blue states have far fewer babies than those in red states as the U.S. birthrate plunges downward, according to a conservative think tank analysis.

While political affiliation may seem like an odd determiner of birth rates, states that gave Biden the largest share of votes in 2020 have the lowest birth rates, according to Chuck DeVore, vice president of national initiatives at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

On the other hand, birth rates appear to be highest in states with a lower cost of living, and where more people practice organized religion, he told The Epoch Times.

Red states generally have a lower cost of living because they tend to have fewer regulations and lower taxes. And the price of housing is usually lower in red states because of fewer land restrictions, he said.

Texas Public Policy Foundation, Chuck DeVore interview with NTD Capitol Report, July 6, 2022.

DeVore said the most significant determinant of family formation is a connection to organized religion and a conservative worldview.

His idea to analyze the connection between political affiliation and birth rate came after reading a Wall Street Journal essay, Why Americans Have Fewer Babies, in May.

Provisional monthly figures show that about 3.66 million babies were born nationwide last year, declining 15 percent since 2007. However, the number of women in prime childbearing years is up by 9 percent, according to the article.

Popular reasons for low birth rates cited by mainstream media point to material reasons such as unaffordable home prices, student loan debt, and the lower earning power of men compared to women, who tend to be better educated than men, DeVore said.

Another factor is a steep drop in the teen birth rate among females between 1519, which has declined 73 percent from its peak in 1991, according to a 2021 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The decrease has been attributed to greater access to contraceptives.

California Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gomez Reyes (L) and Democratic Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (R) march with parents and others who support the states subsidized childcare programs in Sacramento on May 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Adam Beam).

Faith Over Big Government

Pres. Joe Biden and Democratic leaders have proposed paid family leave, subsidized child care, and federally funded preschools to alleviate barriers to having children, DeVore said.

Yet the birth rate is lowest in some of the bluest of states with high wages and high-quality, affordable child care, he said.

Of the seven states with the lowest fertility rates, six are in the top 10 best states for child care, DeVore said.

States with the lowest birth ratesaccording to the Centers for Disease Controlare Vermont, Rhode Island, Oregon, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Connecticut.

Those with the highest birth rates are South Dakota, North Dakota, Alaska, Nebraska, Utah, and Louisiana.

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Real Personal Income, a measure of earnings that looks at a states cost of living, shows no meaningful statistical connection to the birth rate. The trend being slightly negativemeaning those states with higher income have slightly lower birth rates, he explained.

Families with children made up a large proportion of the congregation that attended a church revival ministry in Bakersfield, Calif., on March 12, 2023. (Allan Stein/The Epoch Times)

There were significant differences in the birth rate among women 15 to 44 years in 2021, he said.

Women in South Dakota, the top state for childbirth, bore almost 53 percent more babies per capita than their peers in last place, Vermont, he said.

The factand it is a factthat faith, a conservative mindset, and a low cost of living found mainly in red states are associated with family formation, confounds many politicians, DeVore said in a statement.

The solution to higher, societally healthier birth rates appears not to involve much government at all.

Faith is part of the gap between red and blue state birth rates, he said. Christians believe the world will end just like some hard-core environmentalists.

The difference is that Christians believe that God is in charge, whereas climate change disciples believe humanity is in control.

Students attend morning prayers in the courtyard at St. Joseph Catholic School in La Puente, Calif., on Nov. 16, 2020. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

Those who believe in God are not as fearful about the future, DeVore said.

Meanwhile, fear that time is running out for Earth is a talking point for many Democrats pushing the Green New Deal.

The notion that young adults do not have children due to planet-killing climate change has been bandied by New York Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The socialist lawmaker suggested in 2019 that it may be unethical to have children, given the ravages of climate change that will impact the Earth in the coming years.

Others have openly suggested that giving birth selfishly adds to the worlds carbon footprint.

A study published in 2009 by Oregon State University said a person is responsible for the carbon emissions of their descendants.

Former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) at a rally outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Nov. 14, 2019. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

So a grandparent would be responsible for one-quarter of each of their grandchildrens emissions, and so forth down the line, the study said.

Each child adds about 9,441 metric tons of carbon dioxide to the carbon legacy of an average female, which is 5.7 times her lifetime emissions, according to the study.

A persons reproductive choices must be considered along with his day-to-day activities when assessing his ultimate impact on the global environment, the study asserted.

Willingness to Sacrifice

But Catherine Pakaluk, an associate professor for the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America, doesnt believe fear of climate change is a significant reason behind the declining birth rate.

Pakaluk, who has been studying declining birth rates in preparation for a book, agrees theres a pattern of lower birth rates in many blue states.

Catherine Pakaluk, an associate professor for the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America, speaks at an Intercollegiate Studies Institute conference in Florida on Feb. 23, 2023. (Darlene McCormick Sanchez/The Epoch Times)

That definitely agrees with, or I would say, squares with the research that Ive been doing the last couple of years, she said.

The reason is both societal and economic, Pakaluk said.

After talking to women in red and blue states across the country, the decision to have children boils down to how willing they are to make sacrifices.

The two main reasons women delay having children are because it means a lifestyle change and a loss of career opportunity, which tend to be more substantial in blue states, she said.

Mothers and fathers know that their lives will be forever changed. They know that there will be sleepless nights and worry for their children for at least the next 18 years, she said.

Stamford Elementary school teacher Luciana Lira, 42, feeds baby Neysel, then two-and-a-half weeks old, in Stamford, Connecticut, on April 20, 2020. (John Moore/Getty Images)

Most new mothers like to have a part-time work schedule, she said. For many, that means the loss of economic opportunities that go along with promotions.

Things like child care, while expensive, are short-term, Pakaluk pointed out, but career opportunity loss for women could be much more costly.

In blue states, where incomes are higher, and women have to have greater education, that opportunity cost is a lot bigger, she said.

In her research, the thing that causes women to look past these barriers is their value of children.

Think about all those pieces; that is the cost, she said. It takes a very large appreciation for the value of children to do it anyway. And that comes from our faith. That comes from religion.

Children from a Manhattan child-care center get a look at two Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs that were introduced at the Central Park Childrens Zoo. (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)

Religion has been sidelined in red states, but more so in those dominated by blue states, she said. State and federal decisions have made it economically difficult for religious schools to exist.

We crowded out the role of religion in shaping our lives, she said.

And with the demise of organized religion comes the loss of values that go along with it.

And while having children may mean some sacrifice, the reward can be life-changing.

They make you work harder. They make you better, right? They make you less selfish, Pakaluk said. You discover things that you could do because you want to be better for your children.
Academic Group Recommends Expanding Los Angeles City Council to 25 Members

New Los Angeles City Council President Paul Krekorian (2nd L) presides as the council holds its first in-person meeting since he became president in the wake of a leaked audio recording in Los Angeles on Oct. 25, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The controversy over leaked tapes and racially disparaging remarks from city councilors that fueled outrage in Los Angeles last year has spurred a group of the citys top academic scholars and researchers to reimagine their local government.

Eight months later, the Los Angeles Governance Reform Project, a group of university scholars, researchers, and leaders, is asking residents to consider three recommendations on how to reform the citys governing structure.

In the groups draft report published June 15, they make recommendations to expand the Los Angeles City Council to 25 members, and create an independent redistricting commission.

They hope to eventually let voters decide whether to adopt their vision on Election Day in November 2024.

The moment is now for change, said Ange-Marie Hancock, co-chair of the project and professor of gender studies and political science at the University of Southern California, during an online presentation Thursday. The moment is now to really think about, how do we make the change that we need to make to the infrastructure of our government?

City Hall in Los Angeles, Calif., on Jan 27, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Redistricting council representative seats is a hot-button issue for the city of nearly 4 million, but recently took on new urgency.

A political firestorm over the issue grew in October after the Los Angeles Times published a leaked audio that included City Council President Nury Martinez and councilmen Gil Cedillo and Kevin de Leon, along with Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Ron Herrera.

The recording centered on the citys redistricting process to redraw council seats, but was laced with racial slurs about another councilmans white son and other disparaging comments about other officials and the citys black and brown communities.

After the audio became public, angry protestors joined California officials and political candidates to condemn the comments and call for the councilors to resign. Martinez quit within days but Cedillo stayed on until his term ended last year. De Leon remains on the council.

The City Council has wrestled with the creation of an independent redistricting commission over the past few years.

Under the current system, the 15-member council has the final say over district maps. Elected officials can also appoint their own members to the redistricting panel. The state and county already have independent redistricting.

Los Angeles City Council President Paul Krekorian has pushed for an independent commission in the past but the matter was dismissed by some other council members. He said he thinks its time for change.

Were at a turning point in the history of this city, Krekorian told The Epoch Times in a statement. In the wake of recent violations of the publics trust and failures to meet the standards of integrity the people deserve of their elected officials, we can no longer accept business as usual.

The people of Los Angeles are calling out for fundamental reform, and we intend to deliver it.

New L.A. City Council President Paul Krekorian presides as the council holds its first in-person meeting since he became president in the wake of a leaked audio recording in Los Angeles on Oct. 25, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Recommendations

The reform project has placed three recommendations on the table and plans to present them to community groups over the next several months.

The idea here was to try and find a way to address not just the very public, and very awkward, and very embarrassing events of last fall  but also to deal with the underlying issues, said Gary Segura, project co-chair and professor at the University of CaliforniaLos Angeless Luskin School of Public Affairs.

First, the group suggests creating two redistricting commissionsone for the City Council and a separate process for electing Los Angeles Unified School District board members. Each commission would have 17 members, comprised of residents who can represent the citys diverse communities, according to the project.

The commissioners would serve for the 10-year redistricting process and would be adults over the age of 18 who are residents of the city at the time of service and for the prior three years. They would not have to be legal citizens but could not be office holders, former political candidates, city employees, political appointees, lobbyists, campaign staffers, or married or related to officials, the group decided.

Our research found that commission memberships are increasingly open to non-citizens and there are no apparent legal obstacles to doing so, the group wrote in the report.

San Francisco, Costa Mesa, Santa Ana, and the state also allow noncitizens to serve on commissions, the group added.

Resizing the City Council

City Council districts would shrink as part of the projects goals, but the number of council members would grow from 15 to 25. Each council member today represents about 260,000 people in their districts.

The group recommends growing the council to 21 districts and four at-large council members elected to represent the entire city.

Smaller council districts could decrease the cost of local election campaigns in some cases and provide more opportunities for new types of candidates to run or win. The at-large seats could add more citywide perspectives to council, according to the project members.

Los Angeles voters have considered expanding the council three timesin 1970, 1985, and 1999but rejected the idea each time, according to the group.

A person walks past signs posted outside City Hall calling for the resignations of city councilors in the wake of a leaked audio recording in Los Angeles on Oct. 18, 2022. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Ethics Reform

Lastly, the project group recommends ethics reforms. The changes would allow the citys Ethics Commission to approve the City Councils ethics legislation and have the authority to place legislation directly on a meeting agenda.

Between June and September, the project group intends to gather community and stakeholder input by holding focus groups and creating a public opinion survey to improve the package of governance reforms to be placed on the November 2024 ballot.

I think we did a deep, deliberative process, said project participant Boris Ricks, a project also an associate professor of political science at California State University, Northridge. We brought forth some recommendations that could really be beneficial. This would be historic for the city of Los Angeles.

While the citys attempts at reforms in the past havent been successful, things are different now, Ricks added.

I think the time is right. The climate is right, he said. We want to ensure the residents of Los Angeles are represented and their needs are being met.
ANALYSIS: Not Every Republican Running in 2024 Has Sights Set on the Presidency

U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) during a working session regarding the Opportunity Zones provided by tax reform in the Oval Office on Feb. 14, 2018. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

As more and more candidates join the running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, speculation has mounted about their motivations. Do all of them really believe that they could be sitting in the Oval Office by January 2025or do some have a different destiny in mind?

Multiple insiders have stressed to The Epoch Times that anyone who enters contention imagines themselves winning, even with the perceived incumbent, former President Donald J. Trump, already enjoying a commanding lead in many polls (although his chief rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has outpaced Trump in fundraising).

After all, politicians dont have small egos.

In his mind and his consultants minds, theres a pathway, Trump-aligned consultant Alex Bruesewitz told The Epoch Times about Sen. Tim Scotts (R-S.C.) 2024 candidacy in a May 25 interview.

Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his wife, Casey, walk to the stage during the Roast and Ride event in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 3, 2023. (Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo)

Yet others from a wide range of political backgrounds who spoke with The Epoch Times voiced greater skepticism.

If all of them legitimately believe they can win, at least a few of them are clearly delusional, James Hartman, a Republican political consultant and self-described Never Trumper who has worked for Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) and other GOP politicians, said in a June 15 interview with The Epoch Times.

Charles Denyer, a cybersecurity expert and biographer of two Republican vice presidents, told The Epoch Times in a June 14 interview, Politics is about pole positioning, and the vast majority of Republican hopefuls clearly know they have no chance at winning the nomination, but theyre without question positioning themselves for the No. 2 slot.

President Donald Trump speaks with Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) after he delivered remarks on combatting drug demand and the opioid crisis in the East Room of the White House on Oct. 26, 2017. Christie is now a candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)

William Bike, a journalist and the author of Winning Political Campaigns: A Comprehensive Guide To Electoral Success, said in an interview with The Epoch Times on June 12, While all the Republican candidates say they are in the race to get the presidential nomination, thats not the case.

But another insider, Democratic presidential campaign veteran Richard Gordon, was less inclined to dismiss the presidential ambitions of even the least among the Republican 2024 field.

No one technically runs for vice president or a Cabinet position, and all [Republican hopefuls] would say they arent. Each of these candidates sees a pathway to victory, albeit narrow. Having said that, most of them would be beyond thrilled to accept the vice presidential nomination, and some, a Cabinet position, Gordon, who also serves on the Republican Governors Associations National Finance Committee, said in a June 14 interview with The Epoch Times.

Reality Check

The experts who spoke with The Epoch Times agreed that many Republicans in the 2024 race are putting themselves in a position to be tapped by the eventual nominee.

A strong showing in any number of early primaries allows the eventual nominee to take note of another candidates viability and their ability to help win the general election in November. With little money and marginal name recognition, the likes of Tim Scott, Asa Hutchinson, Nikki Haleyand othersare jockeying for that hopeful phone call to be selected as the nominees running mate or possibly a Cabinet position, Denyer said.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley arrives on stage at her first campaign event, in Charleston, S.C., on Feb. 15, 2023. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

In the case of Scott and Haley, the early primary in their home state of South Carolina could be the critical test.

Their names frequently recurred as plausible picks for vice president, as is often the case in conversations about the 2024 race. Other namesfor instance, that of former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christiedidnt.

But why?

One reason may be their reputation for hawkishnessa tendency that isnt uncommon in the state that produced Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). High-level Republicans, eager to put the Trump years behind them, may yearn for a return to the foreign policy stances of the McCain or Bush families.

Gordon suggested that at least some contenders may be thinking ahead to a post-Trump Republican party and want to carve a place for themselves in it.

For Scott, Haley, or some other hopefuls, 2028 might mean a lot more than 2024, particularly if conflict with Russia, China, or both has whetted Americans appetite for more vigor (or, to some, aggression) internationally.

Another obvious, if uncomfortable, explanation, at least for those conservatives who would prefer to think of themselves as colorblind, is demographics.

The United States is on pace to become majority minority within decades. The process is already complete in states such as California, now more Latino than whiteand the flow of illegal immigrants across the U.S. southern border has accelerated the trend, one in keeping with migrant-driven demographic changes happening across western Europe, Canada, and other countries.

In recent memory, most nonwhite ethnic groups in the United States have leaned heavily toward Democrats, although that could be changing in some places.

Nevertheless, at least in the eyes of some, the Republican Party must run nonwhite candidates to attract nonwhite voters.

Haley, whos of Indian descent, and Scott, whos African American, check the right demographic boxes for a party thats at other times willing to criticize diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Those boxes would also be checked by Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, now suddenly a part of the 2024 conversation.

I think Mayor Suarez could have an interesting impact on primary voter behaviorif he makes it that longespecially in Florida and, nationally, among Latino voters, Hartman told The Epoch Times.

Some Trump loyalists see Suarez and others as part of an establishment strategy to divide and conquer the former presidents fans.

Real story: Never-[Trump] cartel is invisible hand here. They back this puppet hoping he can drain off Trumps massive Cuban/Latino support in Florida. Puppet Pence carving Christians. Scott stopping Trump momentum in early primary SC [South Carolina]. On and on, Trump administration veteran Peter Navarro wrote on Twitter.

Peter Navarro, who was then-White House Trade and Manufacturing Policy Director, speaks during a briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic in the press briefing room of the White House in Washington on March 27, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Race and Gender

There may also be pressure to put a woman somewhere on the ticket.

Citing anonymous sources close to Trump, an Axios report from March claimed that the former presidents vice presidential short-list was made up of four women: Haley, former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.

Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung denied the assertions.

Anyone who thinks they know what President Trump is going to do is seriously misinformed and trying to curry favor with potential V.P. candidates, he said.

Bike told The Epoch Times that demographic considerations are guiding political calculations in both major parties. He pointed out that Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, both ran alongside black female lieutenant governor candidatesJuliana Stratton and Winsome Sears, respectively.

He also noted President Joe Bidens selection of Kamala Harris as running mate.

Biden had previously pledged to select a woman for his vice presidential slot. He likewise vowed to nominate a black woman to the Supreme Court, ultimately choosing current Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to replace Stephen Breyer.

U.S. President Joe Biden walks out of the South Portico with Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson and Vice President Kamala Harris as they arrive for a celebration of Jacksons confirmation to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court at the White House on April 8, 2022. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

From some angles, the future of American politics looks more and more racialized.

I think TrumpPence was the last all-white male ticket were going to see for a while, and maybe ever, Bike said.

I think with both parties, we will see a white male candidate for president and a woman or minority or both for vice presidentnot only in 2024, but from now on.

Tim Scott and Nikki Haley know they could win South Carolina, but theyre also savvy enough to know that they arent going to get the nomination, and theyre running for vice president.

Hartman was more optimistic about the odds for the pair of Palmetto State competitors.

I suspect [Scott] will do rather well at first and might certainly be a good VP pick if he doesnt finish on topunless, of course, Ambassador Haley prevails, in which case shed be ill-advised to choose a running mate from the same state, he said.

U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) announces his run for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination at a campaign event in North Charleston, S.C., on May 22, 2023. (Allison Joyce/Getty Images)

Whos Serious?

Rightly or wrongly, some candidates are taken more seriously than others.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was dubbed a kamikaze candidate by former Trump press secretary Sean Spicer.

For those people who dont like Trump because of the mean tweets, are they going to like the guy who is mean about Donald Trump? Spicer said.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer speaks to reporters during an off-camera briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on July 17, 2017. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Some who spoke with The Epoch Times had a more charitable take on Christieor, at the very least, see him as someone whos actually gunning for the top job rather than a lesser post.

I think Gov. Christie is a serious candidate, but I dont anticipate he will garner the momentum he would need to secure the nomination, Hartman said.

Bike listed Christie alongside DeSantis, Hutchinson, and former Vice President Mike Pence as those who are definitely running for president and not for VP or the Cabinet. Theyll either win or go home.

Christie and Hutchinson, in particular, have already proven this by being critical of Trump, Bike said.

Another contender, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, wasnt taken quite as seriously by the insider commentators.

Vivek is running to showcase himself and his brand, nothing more. While hes definitely a true firebrand conservative, his strategy is no different than countless other candidates who jump into a major political race because they have millions to spend at their free will, Denyer said.

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy speaks at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition in Clive, Iowa, on April 22, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

Bike categorized Ramaswamy with other smaller contenders who dont have a high enough profile to be VPthey wont contribute anything to the ticket.

Despite what they say, theyre running for Cabinet posts, he said.

Hartman said, Mr. Ramaswamy is probably well-intentioned but has no legitimate shot at the Oval Office. Among other things, his talk of raising the voting age to 25 could result in a miniature surge of young voters going to the pollsto vote for someone else.

Its possible that the unique circumstances in 2024, from Trumps legal battles to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s outsider bid, could open up unexpected opportunities for unusual candidates.

Yet to many informed observers, the broad outlines of the coming contest are already apparent.

President Donald Trump is greeted by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at Southwest Florida International Airport on Oct. 16, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski /AFP via Getty Images)

I dont see a dark horse for the GOP nominee. Its either Trump or DeSantisthat I say without much reservation. Both men have a massive war chest to spend, will spend it to the very last dime, with one coming out victorious in what could be a bloodbath march toward the nomination, Denyer told The Epoch Times.
The U.S. banking regulator, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), has issued a stern warning to cryptocurrency exchange OKCoin over false and misleading statements on its website and promotional channels.

In a June 15 letter, the FDIC alleged that the exchange and its senior executives made false representations stating or suggesting that certain crypto-related products were FDIC-insured.

Consequently, the FDIC ordered the San Francisco-based exchange to eliminate misleading statements on its website suggesting that its customers' accounts are insured by the FDIC.

OKCoin faces the risk of violating U.S. banking laws if it fails to address the FDICs demands promptly. Moreover, FDIC's call to action signifies a period of increased regulatory oversight over cryptocurrency operations, with the potential of enforcement action if these inaccuracies are not rectified swiftly.

Today, we issued letters to three companies, demanding they cease and desist from making false and misleading statements in English and Spanish regarding FDIC deposit insurance status. We ask that they take immediate corrective action.https://t.co/4fsINu8Fd1 pic.twitter.com/K5YtH8KXXu  FDIC (@FDICgov) June 15, 2023

The FDIC pointed out that OKCoin's lack of explicit distinction between U.S. dollar deposits and crypto assets on its platform has created a false impression. The regulator claims that OKCoin's statements imply that FDIC insurance, which is designed to safeguard traditional banking deposits, covers all types of customer funds, including cryptocurrencies.

The FDIC clarified that OKCoin does not fall under its insurance coverage, nor does it ensure non-deposit products. This is an oft-overlooked distinction, creating an impression that the FDIC's insurance covers crypto assetsa fact that it alleges OKCoin failed to clearly communicate.

Rep. Tom Emmer: Is the FDIC 'Weaponizing' Market Chaos to Kill Crypto?

In May 2022, the FDIC adopted a rule that outlines its authority to prohibit individuals and organizations from making misrepresentations about deposit insurance, or misusing its name or logo.

"This new decision from the American regulator is in line with the current prudential policy, particularly reinforced in this post-FTX era," Mathis Campestrin, head of the blockchain department at law firm Bruno Dubucq, told Decrypt.

In response to the FDIC's allegations, OKCoin has pledged to promptly assess the flagged statements and take necessary action to rectify them. A core principle at OkCoin is to respect applicable laws and regulations, and we remain committed to collaborating with stakeholders including regulators whenever possible, a spokesperson told Decrypt. OkCoin is aware of this matter and is taking immediate action to assess the statements flagged by the FDIC and address them as necessary."
A talented high school art teacher has produced an enormous, 40-foot (12-meter) patriotic military mural for an Iowa state park as a tribute to the nations brave veterans.

Dave Schaeffer, 43, of Blue Grass, Iowa, teaches art to ninth through twelfth grades at Davenport West High School in his hometown of Davenport. He was approached by the towns Friends of Veterans Memorial Park Committee, who knew of his large-scale work, to paint a mural for the park to be placed alongside an existing bench, plaque, and flag. The opportunity was too special to pass up.

The group had gone around and seen some of the other towns in Iowa or in the Midwest that had memorial tributes  and were like, We want something similar to this, but we want it to be unique  something roughly 40 feet long, is that doable? Schaeffer told The Epoch Times.

Dave Schaeffers patriotic mural in the process of being completed in his home art studio. (Courtesy of Dave Schaeffer)

Completed panels of Schaeffers panorama mural sequence. (Courtesy of Dave Schaeffer)

Schaeffer met with the mayor of Davenport and Vietnam veterans Lyle Peterson and Bill Churchill in June of 2020, sitting 6 feet apart with their masks on. I had a few designs, like mockups, Schaeffer said. We went through eight revisions until we got to the final.

The artist composed a digital sketch in preparation for the humongous undertaking. He was excited but a bit intimidated to begin.

I knew I had the possibility to show my talents off. I was very excited about this when they talked about a local landmark, and thinking about this being my legacy piece, something that people would travel to see, Schaeffer said. I also [was] excited when we started talking about the size, that you might actually be able to see it from Illinois.

He planned to execute the mural on ten 4-foot by 8-foot (1.2-meter by 2.4-meter) moisture-sensitive Masonite panels, placed side by side to create a continuous panorama. Before setting out, Schaeffer had no idea that there was a protocol on the order in which U.S. military branches must be represented. The sequence must run thusly: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, last of all.

Dave Schaeffer stands before his finished mural, nearly finished. (Courtesy of Dave Schaeffer)

Left to right, it should always be the way they go into military battle, he said.

Schaeffer and the veterans felt it would be inappropriate to depict real soldiers, reasoning that no matter who we picked, somebody else would be upset. So they opted for a collage of military signs with newspaper clippings from the Second World War, Vietnam War, and letters from veterans written home to their loved ones.

While gathering material, Schaeffer relished the research and the details, such as the difference between an F-14 and an F-15 fighter jet. He also chose to include a personal element.

Panels 1-4 Depict the U.S. Army and U.S. Marines

The U.S. Army and U.S. Marines are depicted in the now-finished patriotic painting. (Courtesy of Dave Schaeffer)

One of my grandpas letters, he said. I dont want you to be able to read all the letters, but I wanted you to get some of that energy and how it affected each of those soldiers.  I enjoyed hiding things.

My grandpa was on a battleship, so I hid his name inside of the battleship. Hes passed away now, but I hope that hes looking down. I hope that makes him proud.

Panels 5-8 Depict the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force

A sailor and fighter pilot are depicted alongside their respective branches in the finished mural. (Courtesy of Dave Schaeffer)

Using a process called posterization in his final design to simplify the colors and tones, Schaeffer mixed a whole rainbow of oil paints in his home studio. He spent ten months between spring break and Christmas 2022 working on what would become his magnum opus around being an active father of three and even had a little help from the kids.

Luckily I usually sleep four or five hours a night, he said. I dont want to give up my passion for my art or my creative side, but I also dont want to give up things with my own kids, my family, so I tried to make them the priority. When they went to bed, thats when I went to work.

To protect the surface from the elementsit will be on permanent display in the outdoor Veterans Memorial Parkand potential vandals, Schaeffer coated the Masonite in multiple layers of exterior enamel and clear graffiti guard. That way, if anybody would destruct it or spray paint on it, theres a chemical you would use to take the clear off that would not adjust or make any flaws in the painting underneath, he said.

Panels 6-10 Depict the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard

A U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and a sailor of the U.S. Coast Guard are depicted in the now-completed painting. (Courtesy of Dave Schaeffer)

At the time of writing, the finished mural is sitting in Schaeffers garage, as flooding in Davenport has delayed the opening. Meanwhile, a 40-foot (12-meter) frame is being prepared, with a glass cover and spotlights to accentuate the artwork.

He had not seen all of the panels together, said Schaeffer, until they were lined up against the back of his garage for a photo shoot for local media. Standing back, I became very emotional, he said. When its framed and we have the ribbon cutting, I know Ill lose it. Im an emotional guy and I poured so much into it.

Schaeffer, who has loved art since early childhood, switched majors several times before studying art at the University of Iowa. I think my parents were a little nervous, [of my] being an art major, that I was going to be a starving artist, Schaeffer said, adding their fears dissolved when he entered the steady profession of teaching with a lot of art on the side.

The finished mural in its entirety. (Courtesy of Dave Schaeffer)

That art has evolved from drawing and painting to incorporating found objects and sculpture, as well as chainsaw carving and large-scale muralsincluding one on his houseto inspire his students to think outside the box.

The thing I always tell my students is, I hope Im not done as an artist, Schaeffer said. Right now, Im getting my masters and taking classes, learning new techniques.

You should never stop learning.

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
Asteroid the Size of Brooklyn Bridge Labeled Potentially Hazardous Passes by Earth

NASA has said that a potentially hazardous asteroid measuring the size of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge is projected to make a close approach to Earth on June 15.

The asteroid is hurtling through space at an astonishing speed of over 48,000 mph. Its projected close approach marks the nearest encounter with an asteroid in recent history, sparking concerns about the potential threat it poses to our planet.

Designated 2020 DB5, the asteroid has been labeled a potentially hazardous object owing to its sheer size and proximity. It is currently positioned over 2.5 million miles away from Earth.

Although it may sound alarming, NASA assures that there is no risk of a collision with our planet.

The classification of being potentially hazardous is a precautionary measure, as even though the asteroid poses no imminent danger, continuous monitoring of potential threats is crucial.

The 50-foot-wide space rock, hurtling through space at tens of thousands of miles per hour, would release energy equivalent to the nuclear bombs dropped over Japan during World War II if it were to collide with Earth.

NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, is monitoring 2020 DB5. The agency says that near-Earth objects are asteroids and comets with orbits that bring them to within 120 million miles of the sun, which means they can circulate through the Earths orbital neighborhood. Most such objects range in size from about 10 feet to nearly 25 miles across.

The agency says that it calculates the trajectory of an object by finding the elliptical path through space based on available observations over many years. Experts are then able to fine-tune a more precise path by making more observations, making it possible to predict where an object will be years or even decades into the future, including whether it could come close to Earth.

This is not the first encounter with 2020 DB5, as it made its initial approach in 1904 and last in 2012.

Detecting such asteroids is crucial, and NASA relies on specialized telescopes like Pan-STARRS, located in Hawaii and Arizona, to gather data on their paths and attributes. The primary objective is to identify potentially dangerous objects, allowing for advanced preparation and mitigation measures.

In addition to 2020 DB5, another notable asteroid known as 99942 Apophis is currently under scrutiny. Previously believed to be on a collision course with Earth, scientists now predict a significantly close approach in 2029. This particular rock is projected to come closer to our planet than many geostationary satellites, raising concerns about the potential consequences if its path were to deviate.

Asteroids of varying sizes constantly pass in proximity to Earth. One measuring 59 feet wide had a close approach this week, while another asteroid, named 2023 jb3, measuring 160 feet wide, is also set to pass nearby, albeit at a slower pace.

The discovery and tracking of hazardous asteroids remain at the forefront of NASAs efforts. While numerous new asteroids are identified on a regular basis, some are detected mere days before their closest approach, leaving no time for defensive actions.

As scientists continue their vigilant watch over the skies, the importance of monitoring and mitigating the potential impact of asteroids on our planet remains a significant priority.
Attorney Parts Ways With Trump for 2nd Time, Citing Irreconcilable Differences

Jim Trusty followed by Chris Kise, part of former President Donald Trumps legal team, leave the Paul G. Rogers Federal Building and Courthouse in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sept. 1, 2022. (Marco Bello/AFP via Getty Images)

A lawyer representing Donald Trump has parted ways with the former president for the second time in a week, dropping out of a defamation lawsuit over irreconcilable differences.

Attorney Jim Trusty, of the Washington-based Ifrah Law, PLLC, filed paperwork (pdf) on Friday to stop representing Trump in a defamation case Trump is pursuing against CNN. The lawsuit alleges CNN harmed his reputation by referring to him as a racist, Russian lackey, insurrectionist, and even Hitler.

Mr. Trustys withdrawal is based upon irreconcilable differences between Counsel and Plaintiff and Counsel can no longer effectively and properly represent Plaintiff, reads Trustys motion to stop representing Trump in the defamation lawsuit.

Trustys legal filing did not specify the nature of his irreconcilable differences with Trump, but the move comes a week after Trump announced Trusty and another attorney, John Rowley, would no longer be representing him in a federal criminal proceeding over his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. Trump has thanked Trusty and Rowley for representing him in the documents case.

I want to thank Jim Trusty and John Rowley for their work, but they were up against a very dishonest, corrupt, evil, and sick group of people, the likes of which has not been seen before, Trump said in a June 9 post on his Truth social media account. We will be announcing additional lawyers in the coming days.

Trusty and Rowley issued their own statement after parting ways with Trump on the classified documents case.

It has been an honor to have spent the last year defending him, and we know he will be vindicated in his battle against the Biden Administrations partisan weaponization of the American justice system, Trusty and Rowley said. Now that the case has been filed in Miami, this is a logical moment for us to step aside and let others carry the cases through to completion.

Trusty and Rowley said last week that they also would stop representing Trump in legal matters pertaining to his efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results and the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

We have no plans to hold media appearances that address our withdrawals or any other confidential communications weve had with the President or his legal team, Trusty and Rowley added.

Trumps CNN Lawsuit

Trusty said his decision to withdraw from Trumps defamation lawsuit against CNN should have no negative impact on the case as oral arguments and discovery have not yet began and there are no pending deadlines before Miami federal court handling the lawsuit.

Trustys motion to withdraw also states that Trump continues to be served by co-counsel on the matter, Lindsey Halligan, a member of the Florida Bar.

The defamation lawsuit (pdf) alleges CNNs disparaging references to Trump went beyond mere opinion and hyperbole and instead were repeatedly reported as true fact, with purported factual support, by allegedly reputable newscasters.

The lawsuit notes a guest on CNNs Reliable Sources program earned a Pants on Fire fact-check from PolitiFact after claiming Trump is as destructive a person in this century as Hitler, Stalin, and Mao were in the last century. The Reliable Sources guest made this assertion without any pushback by the CNN programs then-host Brian Stelter.

Trumps lawsuit also argues CNNs use of the term Big Lie to describe Trumps claims of fraud in the 2020 election is an intentional reference to a quote by Hitler in his book Mein Kampf in which the Nazi German leader said if you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.

The defamation complaint also cites an undercover video by Project Veritas in which a CNN employee described the network crafting propaganda to hurt Republicans like Trump and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and said the network played a critical role in helping defeat Trumps 2020 reelection bid.

Our focus was to get Trump out of office, right? Without saying it, thats what it was, the CNN employee, technical director Charlie Chester said in the undercover video.

CNN has argued (pdf) that its use of the big lie reference against Trump is not actionable because they do not explicitly convey that Trump has the character of Hitler and the references were often presented as opinion rather than fact.

Average readers would not plausibly understand Big Lie to be an allusion to the Nazis (as opposed to just a lie that is Big), attorneys for CNN wrote in November motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

From NTD News
Australia Cancels Russian Embassys Lease Near Parliament House

The site of a planned new Russian embassy is seen in Canberra, on June 15, 2023. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

The Australian government is introducing legislation to terminate a new diplomatic lease for the Russian embassy near Parliament House in Canberra on national security grounds.

Announcing the decision at a press conference in Canberra on June 15, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government had received very clear security advice about the risks posed by Russia setting up a new facility near the Parliament House.

The government has received very clear security advice as to the risk presented by a new Russian presence so close to Parliament House. Were acting quickly to ensure the leased site does not become a formal diplomatic presence, he said.

To be clear, todays decision is one taken in the national security interests of Australia, and I thank the Coalition and crossbenchers in the House and the Senate for their cooperation in this matter.

The prime minister affirmed that the legislation, introduced on the morning of June 15, would pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

He also confirmed that Russias existing embassy in Griffith, Canberra, which is about 10 minutes away from Parliament House, will be able to remain.

Russia does have a diplomatic presence here, and that will continue at its existing premises in Griffith, just as Australia has a diplomatic presence in Moscow, Albanese said. This is not about changing that. This is about the specific risk presented by this site, and that is why we are taking this action.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on June 15, 2023. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil said the main issue with the proposed second Russian embassy in Canberra was its location.

This location sits directly adjacent to Parliament House. The government has received clear national security advice that this would be a threat to our national security, and that is why the government the acting decisively today to bring this longstanding matter to a close, she said.

We have made a decision that this land will not be used for a future diplomatic presence, and well come back to you when we have further information on the use of the land.

PM: Criticism of Australia Not Helping Ukraine Not Right

The prime minister again condemned Russias illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine and expressed support for the country.

We understand thatthat the struggle of the people of Ukraine is not just about Ukrainian national sovereigntyas important as that is. This is a struggle about the sovereignty of international law, about whether national borders are sovereign, about whether the rule of law will apply, he said.

So we stand very strongly with the people of Ukraine. We are continuing to make contributions and continuing to provide support which is occurring every day, every week, and every month.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (R) and Australias Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (L) give a press conference at Mariynsky Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine, on July 3, 2022. (Miguel Medina/AFP via Getty Images)

Albanese refuted criticism that Australia is not helping Ukraine as much as it could.

When you make an announcement of Bushmasters, it doesnt mean that the 90 Bushmasters arrived the next day. Theyre being built and transported to Ukraine, he said.

Australian soldiers are training Ukrainian soldiers in the United Kingdom, and there are a range of ways in which we are providing support. We are working consistently along with the Department of Defence to see what we can do to add further support to Ukraine.

As of February, Australia had provided almost $700 million (US$481 million) in aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, including medical and humanitarian assistance.

Australia also announced financial sanctions and travel bans on 90 other people and 40 entities, including Russias largest arms manufacturer, submarine developer, airline and missile designer, for helping the Russian government prolong and finance the war in Ukraine.
Pentagon Safety Concerns Delay Delivery of Newest Fighter Jet Tech to Australia

A pilot assigned to the 61st Fighter Squadron and 61st Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chiefs prepare an F-35A Lightning II for taxi, Jan. 15, 2019 at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Crew chiefs work with pilots to ensure the F-35 takes-off and lands safely. (U.S Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jacob Wongwai)

Australias new F-35A fighter jets may require technological upgrades after the Pentagons decision to delay the approval of the planes new weapons system.

Known as the TR-3, the top-tier software system allows the new F-35A Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) to run a software platform called Block 4 that provides a range of new weapon capabilities for the JSF, like enhanced electronic attack weapons and the ability to carry additional missiles.

This comes as the TR-3s development has been embroiled in delays, with the F-35 Lightening II Joint Program Office (JPO), which is in charge of the planes ongoing development, recently disclosing to the Breaking Defense website that the U.S. military would not accept any aircraft until ongoing testing for the system was completed.

This has meant that any newly manufactured fighter jets by Lockheed Martin that the United States takes delivery of will be mothballed until then.

A spokesperson for Lockheed Martin told The Epoch Times that the company would deliver Australias order of 72 fighter jets with the planes previous computational system, the TR-2, although they remain committed to providing TR-3 for the F-35 fleet as early as possible.

Lockheed Martin is fully dedicated to delivering TR-3 F-35 aircraft and will continue to work with the Joint Program Office on software development while maintaining the highest levels of safety and quality, a spokesperson for Lockheed Martin Australia said in an email.

We continue to deliver aircraft in the TR-2 configuration as planned.

The JSF has had issues with software platforms previously, with TR-2 struggling with the aircrafts open-air tests, including the AIM-120 missile trial, which was delayed until a software update in 2021, the U.S. Militarys Office of the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, said in a report.

The Lockheed Martin spokesperson also said that the company was not able to predict if there will be any future delays in the delivery of the TR-3 system to the Australian fleet of planes.

It is too early to predict any future delivery adjustments. We remain committed to providing TR-3 for the F-35 fleet as early as possible.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Australias Defence Department and the Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie to ask about the delay and its impacts on Australias capabilities but has not received a comment from either party.

A Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft at the ILA Air Show in Berlin, on April 25, 2018. (Axel Schmidt/Reuters)

The comments from Lockheeds spokesperson come after the companys head of international business, Steve Over, said in March that the manufacturer was on track to deliver Australias order of the F-35 Lightning II fighters by the end of 2023, reported Flight Global.

This is aligned with the Australian Defence Forces own operational own timeline (pdf).

According to the company, this will make Australia the second-largest operator of the fifth-generation jet, following the United States.

US Wont Accept Tr-3 Hardware From July

The delay in the delivery of the systems comes after the JPO told the U.S. Congress in March that they believed there was a risk of TR-3 delivery slipping until the December 2023-April 2024 timeframe.

Starting later this summer, F-35 aircraft coming off the production line with TR-3 hardware will not be accepted (DD250) until relevant combat capability is validated in accordance with our users expectations. The JPO and Lockheed Martin will ensure these aircraft are safely and securely stored, JPO spokesman Russ Goemaere told Breaking Defense on June 12.

Two Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 stealth fighter jets fly to the Avalon Airshow in Victoria (Australian Defence Force/Handout via REUTERS)

The decision to mothball the planes comes after the jets production was suspended for three months following a crash during testing in December 2022 at Fort Worth in Texas, where a pilot was practising vertical landings and takeoffs.

The pilot was forced to eject from the plane, with the U.S. military saying the jet suffered from a very rare form of harmonic resonance.

On Jan. 5, Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder said that the JPO office has agreed with the planes engine manufacturers Pratt and Whitney, to delay the scheduled delivery and acceptance of F-135 engines until further information from the investigation is known and the safety of flight can be assured.

In the meantime, our F-35s that are in the operational fleet continue to operate.

China Warned New F-35 is a Threat

The delay in the Tr-3 system comes after a study in the Chinese language journal Modern Defence Technology in April warned that the newest F-35 poses a more significant threat than the US F-22 Raptor Stealth Bomber, reported the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

The study analysed the threat levels of different U.S. military aircraft at different stages of a counter-air operation at a range of distances from Chinas coastline and found F-35A was likely to be a more versatile and capable aircraft in any potential conflict in Chinas home waters.

The SCMP said the study suggested that China should enhance its soft kill electronic warfare capabilities as well as physical weapons to provide a hard kill response

The F-35A poses a greater threat than the F-22A due to its more advanced avionics systems and multirole capabilities, the study argued, reported the SCMP.
Bank Executive Pay Could Be Seized for Failures Under Senate Bill Proposal

The Senate Banking Committee will consider a bipartisan bill that would allow government regulators to seize compensation from executives deemed responsible for a bank failure.

The committees chairman, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Sen Tim Scott (R-S.C.), the panels ranking Republican, came to a deal on June 16 after a wave of regional bank failures this year shook the financial services industry.

The collapse of three U.S. banks within months of each other led to calls from the Biden administration and Congress for tougher penalties for executives at failed financial institutions.

The 2023 bank crisis is now being met with broader criticism of the industry, as lawmakers are now expanding their tougher approach to the larger institutions.

2023 Bank Crisis Sparks Calls for Reform

The crisis began after federal regulators shut down Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in March over concerns about its solvency.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) called the collapse the largest bank failure since 2008, after the collapse of Washington Mutual.

The event prompted a massive bank and sell-off in stocks across the board, sparking fears that other regional banks were at risk of failure.

Within days, Signature Bank also collapsed, becoming the third-largest bank failure in U.S. history, after depositors withdrew billions in deposits from smaller institutions, after the seizure of SVB by the FDIC.

In May, the Senate committee held a hearing with executives of Signature and SVB, who were grilled by senators for how their failure to manage their banks, led to them being shut down.

SVBs former CEO Greg Becker sold $3.6 million of shares in his bank only days before the lender disclosed the $1.8 billion loss that triggered a fatal bank run on March 9.

Regulators seized the bank the next day, on March 10, and the Federal Reserve has said it is investigating bonuses paid to SVB employees just before the collapse.

The trades by the former bank CEO were scheduled on Jan. 26 via an SEC rule that allows executives to schedule sales ahead of time to allay suspicions of trading on insider information.

Becker has defended his compensation bonus last month and told Senate lawmakers that SVBs board believed it was fair and I believe that they were accurate.

The bill would now require banks to adopt corporate governance and accountability standards to boost responsiveness to federal banking supervisors.

SVB had 31 open supervisory findings before it failed, with the Fed admitting that the bank had three times the number of average warnings from regulators compared to its peers.

Senate Bill to Allow Regulators to Seize Bonuses From Executives for Bank Failures

Senators Brown and Scott, who is running for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, announced that their committee will hold a vote on June 21 for the Recovering Executive Compensation Obtained from Unaccountable Practices Act (RECOUP Act) to advance the measure to the full Senate.

The proposed bill would give the FDIC the ability to claw back two years worth of compensation paid out to executives after a bank failure and strengthen their ability to assess civil penalties on those who fail to adequately manage their banks operations.

This would include the seizure of bonuses, any earnings from the sale of securities that senior executives received in the 24 months before their bank failed, and other performance based compensation.

The bill would also require banks to include responsible bank management in their bylaws standards.

Thousands of community banks with less than $10 billion in assets would be exempt from the proposed bonus claw backs in the bill, which also does not apply to executives who are at a failed bank for less than a year

However, they must prove that they did not contribute to the failure of the lender.

Claw-backs of executive bonus in the financial sector have been made in the past.

In 2012, for example, UBS decided to revoke share-based payouts for investment-bank employees who were each due to receive bonuses of more than $2 million following a rogue-trading scandal.

Proposed Legislation May Face Opposition From House Republicans

The bipartisan backing of senior members on the Senate committee makes this legislation one of the best chances for Congress to enact a new law in response to bank crisis.

Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) introduced a related bill earlier this month with 11 co-sponsors.

Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) have also introduced legislations that would give regulators greater authority to revoke executive pay at larger banks that fail.

If the bill passes the Senate, it is likely to face opposition from House Republicans, with some suggesting that the bill is unnecessary.

A spokeswoman for House Financial Services Committee chairman Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) said regulators already possess the necessary authorities to claw back executive compensation.

The FDIC currently has the authority to pursue executives if a large bank fails through a special liquidation process, which the White House deems too limited.

Biden asked Congress in March to broaden the regulators authority so it can more easily pull executive compensation at smaller failed institutions subject to a more typical resolution process.

Americans have watched executives take their money, run banks into the ground, and get away with it too many times before. Its time for CEOs to face consequences for their actions, just like everyone else, said Brown in a statement.

Scott called the bill a common-sense solution to address executive accountability that is tailored to protect the American taxpayer and limit government overreach.

He said that this will be committees first markup on banking legislation since 2019 and that the bill represents a return to regular order.

Scott added that he hopes the panel will also hold markups in the future on housing reform and capital formation.

Financial Regulators Already Planning Changes to the Rules

The Federal Reserve and the FDIC are already considering a revisal of their existing rules since the two banks failed in March, reported The Wall Street Journal.

Regulators are expected to propose significantly increasing bank capital requirements and strengthen stress tests that assess an institutions ability to weather a severe downturn.

They are also planning to revive a long-dormant proposal that would require larger banks to defer a portion of senior executives bonus incentives.

In 2016, they discussed a rule that would allow banks to claw back pay from their own executives.

Proponents of the bill also say that bank executives would have more incentive to work for companies long-term interests if they face a bigger personal risk during a failure.

Critics have blamed massive bonuses for encouraging risky, short-term bets as a factor that led to the crisis.

Banks argued that they have already tightened compensation requirements since the financial crisis of 200809 and that additional bonus restrictions would make it more difficult to find qualified candidates for top positions.
BCs Largest Wildfire Still Threatens, as Conditions Elsewhere Ease

The Murtle Lake wildfire, located within Wells Gray Provincial Park, is shown in this handout photo provided by the BC Wildfire Service on June 9, 2023. (The Canadian Press/HO-BC Wildfire Service)

Rain and cooler weather over much of British Columbia has prompted two fire centres in the southern and central Interior to roll back campfire bans.

The Kamloops and Cariboo fire centres say the Category 1 open fire ban will lift at noon Friday, covering blazes no larger than 1.5-metres high by 1.5-metres wide.

Restrictions on all other types of fires, including prohibitions on equipment such as burn barrels, fireworks and sky lanterns, remain in place.

The change comes as the wildfire danger rating in B.C. falls to moderate, low or very low across much of the central and southern Interior.

Vancouver Island, the central and northern B.C. coasts and most northern regions of the province remain ranked at a high to extreme risk of fires.

Several fires are burning out of control in those areas, including the nearly 5,100-square-kilometre Donnie Creek wildfire south of Fort Nelson that has forced an evacuation alert along a section of the Alaska Highway, and remains out of control.

Rain farther south in the Dawson Creek area this week calmed the Kiskatinaw wildfire, allowing the 2,400 residents of Tumbler Ridge to return to their homes Thursday, one week after an evacuation was ordered.

But a statement from the wildfire service said most of the rain that eased the situation there will skirt the area south of Fort Nelson.

Saturday may be somewhat showery in the systems wake, but modelling suggests the Donnie Creek fire will remain dry, the statement said. Winds should ease but should be coming from the southwest and west.

The largest wildfire recorded in B.C. in recent times was the Plateau fire that charred 5,210 square kilometres northwest of Williams Lake in 2017.

Fire forecasts say conditions remain extremely dry in the boreal forest where the Donnie Creek blaze was sparked by lightning on May 12, meaning it still has the potential to burn vigorously and spread farther, possibly surpassing the Plateau fire as B.C.s largest.
Biden and Democrats Already Face Uphill Battle for Floridas Hispanic Voters in 2024

Over the past six years, Floridas Hispanic and Latino voters appear to be abandoning the Democratic Party, and as the 2024 elections get closer, President Joe Biden, and all other candidates sporting the blue Democrat label, could be in trouble.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez recently noted a steady rightward trend among Miami-Dade voters over the past four elections in a podcast interview. After a Hispanic majority has kept the southeast corner of the Sunshine State in a seemingly permanent shade of blue on the electoral maps, numbers show the essential guarantee for President Biden and the Democrats has faded.

In the 2016 presidential elections, Hillary Clinton held favor in the county by 30 percentage points over now-former president Donald Trump. By 2020, Trmps deficit to his Democratic challenger, sitting President Biden, was reduced to only 8 points.

In the 2018 gubernatorial election, Miami-Dade County chose Democrat Andrew Gillum over Governor DeSantis by 20 points. But in 2022, DeSantis won the county in his reelection bid by 10 points.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs legislation banning the financial industrys use of ESG principles on May 2, 2023. (Courtesy of the Florida Governors Office)

As the 2024 presidential election looms, Miami might find itself going red again.

Mayor Suarez has served the City of Miami since 2017, and just completed a term as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. While the office of the mayor officially takes no political stance, Suarez identifies himself as a Republican, citing his politics as pro-business and pro-police that have taken hold over the years. On June 15, he announced he would also run for the presidency.

But this seemingly rightward trend among Hispanic voters is not exclusive to South Florida.

Floridas Hispanic Voters Are Stepping Up

Peter Vivaldi lives in Osceola County, outside of Orlando, which boasts a population that is 68 percent Latino. He is the host of the Americano Media talk show Sin Miedo con Peter Vivaldi, as well as a Republican candidate for Florida state senate district 25 (losing the seat to the incumbent by only 200 votes). He reported that Republicans were winning over the majority of Hispanics in and around the Orlando metropolitan area and the stretch of land between Orlando and Tampa known as the I-4 Corridor.

Once you do a deeper dive, its even scarier for the Democrats, he said. I am of Puerto Rican descent. And one of the biggest fallacies that has been sold was that the Puerto Rican voters specificallybecause Im on the I-4 Corridor from Tampa to Orlandohas been that the Puerto Rican vote is pretty much Democratic. And when you look at the numbers that just happened with the vote, specifically with Ron DeSantis.

Several nationalities make up the Latino vote, and each has been assumed to vote in certain ways. Vivaldi explained that on a superficial level, Puerto Ricans had been assumed to be Democrats. At the same time, Dominicans have been staunchly Republicans, and then there are the Cubans and Venezuelans who are fleeing their communist homelands.

Not necessarily am I saying that they registered as a Democrat or as a Republican, he added, but definitely are more in tune with the conservative values when it comes to family, especially to education and our children. Those are real key. Not just [as] talking points, but actual living points for our community.

Peter Vivaldi, ex-candidate for Florida Senate District 25 and talk show host on Americano Media. Sin Miedo con Peter Vivaldi.

(Courtesy of Peter Vivaldi)

He goes on to say that the Puerto Rican community is becoming increasingly politically aware as it develops in the Sunshine State, which he sees as a big red flag for the Biden administration. Declaring that the voters are no longer being bought by the ideas of socialism or social issues, and their main focus turning to their bottom line and the quality of life they are able to provide for themselves and their families.

Along with the financial issues, Vivaldi credited a significant part of the voting change to divisive family matters, specifically the Lefts vocal support of LGBT issues and its permeation into the school systems, many of whom strongly supported the Parental Rights in Education Law and School Choice legislation.

Orange County is one of those where we have had issues with the school board, and now theyre handling the situations, he said. But what we see more and more is that parents, Hispanic parentsor, Puerto Rican parentswho have and said, We did not know that this was going on. We will not tolerate this kind of behavior from our school district.'

The population obviously in Osceola County, predominantly Puerto Rican, has gone to the right on mindset, he added. They do not want to see their children indoctrinated, they dont want to see an economy fall apart, and they want to make sure that they can get back to the days of when they could afford things.

While current issues have a major segment of central Floridas population voting more conservatively, the situation is not so clear in matters of party alignment.

Blurring the Lines of Party Politics

Jackie Espinosa is another politically active Osceola County resident who is noticing the shift among Floridian voters, along with the demographics. A registered Democrat from New Jersey, she has spent the last 30 years becoming heavily invested in central Florida, owning and operating several successful businesses, including restaurants and real estate, and venturing into local politics.

She explained that weve seen an uptick in the Latino community, mostly driven by a big exodus from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. And the people who decided to stay didnt know which way to register when they were pressed to register while updating their drivers licenses. She also reported the latest influx of Venezuelan immigrants.

Puerto Ricans are Americans, for all intents and purposes, so they dont have to wait for the whole process of legal immigration, she said. In Puerto Rico, they dont have Democrats or Republicans. Its a different party. Kind of the same philosophies, but different names. So they come here and most of them would start registering NPANo Party Affiliation.

She said that the number of NPAs has grown to supersede Democrats and Republicans, but many of them lean Republican in a historically Democratic state. She also credits the superficial sense of Democrat dominance to the flow of transplants from the Northeast who retain their party affiliation.

Jackie Espinosa, business owner, real estate agent, and candidate for mayor of Kissimmee, Fla. (Courtesy of Jackie Espinosa)

And while Orlando and Orange County seem to be turning a solid progressive blue, Osceola County, which receives an overflow of Orlando-centric residents, is thrown into a time of change where immigrants from Puerto Rico and Venezuela, northerners, and the old blood Floridians have to break down party lines to vote on matters of principle.

Its just such an interesting dynamic here, she said. I was born and raised in New Jersey. Everyone was a Dem, and its like everyone stood by the same principles. And you know, they had faith and family, but it wasnt radical to any extreme. So its interesting to see what we see here. Because it wasnt segregated, even as far as beliefs, because Christians were still holding on to their values, even if they were Dems. I think thats where the misnomer is.

Espinosa is currently running for mayor of Kissimmee, her third time running for public office. She constantly finds herself and her neighbors crossing traditional party lines quite often.

I go to the Republican meetings because they actually endorsed my campaign, she said. There will be a big sign sitting in front of the [supervisor for elections] Republicans Endorse Jackie. Thats never happened in Osceola, County. First time ever.

But I wont switch to being a Democrat, she confessed. Theres so many Democrats here, that if you switch you probably wont win a race. Because [it is] what it is. So theres a lot of us that identify right in the middle.

However, the party gatekeepers are not giving up so easily. Espinosa told The Epoch Times that she got in trouble for speaking positively about a Republican candidate shes known for years.

The Democrats said you cant say nice things about the Republicans, and I was like, Ill say nice things about anyone. Theyre human. So they hold you accountable for even something so simple, she said.

Pandering to Voters

Meanwhile, Vivaldi reported that Telemundo and Univision, the Spanish-speaking sides of the mainstream media, and [George] Soros-funded nonprofits like Alianza for Progress and Hispanic Federation Florida continue to push the liberal narrative.

Theyre trying, and theyre all about money, he said. Theyre not about the community. Theyre about winning elections, and they dont care what the result brings.

Using his platform on Americano Media, which has listeners in 26 states now, he says he tries to transmit conservative values, and truth about matters from immigration and parental rights in education.

You worry about CNN and MSNBC, and then Fox versus all those [stations]. But with us, there has been no voice. Zero voice. Its been Univision and Telemundo, and thats what the people have been buying for decades, he said. Were being bombarded by the left-wing media, I mean from Media Matters to everyone else with access because were bringing not just conservative values, but were speaking the truth.

Jose Diaz-Balart and Maria Celeste Arraras participate in the Telemundo 2017 Presidential Inauguration broadcast at The Newseum in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2017. (Noam Galai/Getty Images)

When you start speaking truth, thats the last thing they want. And then they start screaming louder and making an almost deafening sound for the Hispanics not to hear, but I believe weve been able to overcome that.

Vivaldi also stated that the Democrats continue to approach Latinos in the wrong way, calling Bidens infamous event opening when he played the song Despacito a complete insult.

Youre talking about cultural appropriation, he said. [Biden] comes to Kissimmee with Ricky Martin and Luis Fonsi to try to pander to the Puerto Rican vote. Are they going to use Bad Bunny next? Thats not how you want to vote. You dont pander to the folks. Its very offensive. And it doesnt represent our community.

Vivaldi also said spoke out against the Lefts push for the adoption of Latinx.

Yeah, thats not resounding in any way. You know, were talking about 3 percent of Hispanics are buying that because they want to put us in that non-binary, or whatever they want to call it, situation.

Suarez was also quoted by the Associated Press as saying that Biden and the Democrats have failed to connect with Hispanic voters and their adoption of Latinx instead of Latino/Latina has also done more harm than good.

Theyre missing leadership, Espinosa said of Floridas Latino Democrats. They dont have a voice, and thats what weve been fighting for. And the people that are sitting in the small pockets are not vocal enough. Theyre not out there enough.

We need to get different caucuses going, she added, reporting that a large number of Florida Democrats dont become active until the months leading up to an election. Youve got to stay active all year round. This is not a part-time thing. You know, youre a Democrat all year long.

But, despite the Democrats floundering, Vivaldi does not believe that Republicans can just walk their way to victory in the polls. Both he and Espinosa stress that each candidates message and mission needs to shine brighter than any generic party labels.

Suarez announced he was running for president as a Republican, but Vivaldi says that even the Cuban-American Miami mayor cant play the [Latino] card and get a leg up on other candidates after his time in Miami. Many Miami residents have spoken out against his tenure, and others are beginning to cry RINO as it becomes known that the Republican candidate has voted for Democrats in the last three elections.

President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez speaks during an event of bipartisan mayors attending the Conferences Winter Meeting, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, on Jan. 20, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Im not complaining about DeSantis, but I think it is time we have a good candidate, Vivaldi said, and I think that his voting record alone will turn off a lot of Republicans. He said theres no way Suarez goes anywhere with Anglo Republicans and theres no way he goes anywhere with Hispanic voters.

The Latino voter is a lot more educated than that, he said. I dont see this going well for him.

Still, both major parties endure. And they are steaming toward a voter base that appears to prioritize principle and policy over party.

Wanted: Message-Driven Candidates

I hear a lot of Republicans say, Oh, we have to get these people registered Republican. The first thing you have to do before you register anybody to change parties is give them a messaging thats correct, he said. If you dont have messaging, theyre not gonna register to anything.

Theyre tired of the pulling one side and the other. Now theyre voting not by party. Theyre voting by person.

Both he and Espinosa seem to agree that the independent voters are going to play a major role in the 2024 election, specifically in Florida.

All the NPAs are voting mostly based on people, she said. Theyre not caring about a party going through right now.

She also described the voter base as being tired of the parties and how disengaged elections have become.

The common storyline is, Both parties have failed us. Were just gonna stay NPA. Were voting for the person. Were not voting for the party.'

Whoever gets that message out to that group is going to win, said Vivaldi.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Biden Picks COVID-19 Vaccine Proponent as Next CDC Director

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a press conference with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the East Room of the White House in Washington on June 8, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

President Joe Biden has tapped an aggressive promoter of the COVID-19 vaccines as the next director of the CDC.

Biden, on June 16, announced hed chosen Dr. Mandy Cohen, the former top health official in North Carolina, to lead the CDC after the current director steps down this month.

Cohen is one of the nations top physicians and health leaders with a proven track record protecting Americans health and safety, Biden said in a statement.

Cohen, who departed the North Carolina role in 2022, currently works as executive vice president at the health care company Aledade. She previously worked in the federal governments Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services during the Obama administration.

Cohen will take over from Dr. Rochelle Walensky, who plans on stepping down before the end of June.

Walensky said Cohen is a respected public health leader who helped North Carolina successfully navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and that Cohen is perfectly suited to lead CDC as it moves forward by building on the lessons learned from COVID-19 to create an organization poised to meet public health challenges of the future.

No Senate confirmation vote is required for the position of CDC director. Senate confirmation will be required starting in 2025 under a recently-passed bill.

Dr. Mandy Cohen, COO and chief of staff of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, attends a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on Nov. 3, 2015. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Vaccine Proponent

Cohen repeatedly promoted COVID-19 vaccines while in North Carolinas government while, typical of health officials, downplaying concerns about side effects.

On Jan. 14, 2021, shortly after the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines were authorized, Cohen said in a statement: Its time to take action NOW. Stay home if you can. Avoid crowds. Wear your mask. Wash your hands. And when its your spot, take your shot.

She later said that she was protected against COVID after receiving the since-pulled Johnson & Johnson vaccine and alleged the vaccines protected against getting infected and transmission.

Clinical trials showed efficacy against symptomatic infection but did not provide evidence for protection against infection or transmission, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Even after evidence began emerging that the protection from the vaccines was waning, Cohen said they were remarkably effective. When boosters were cleared to try to combat the waning, Cohen went to get one and encouraged others to do as well.

In late 2021, Cohen said that there were no serious side effects detected in the trials. But by that time, officials around the world had linked potentially-fatal blood clotting to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and heart inflammation to the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. She also repeated the claim that vaccinated people were much, much less likely to spread COVID.

After the Pfizer vaccine was authorized for children aged 5 to 11, Cohen said parents should know that kids are vulnerable to COVID and that they should take advantage of the safe and effective vaccine.

She also supported COVID-19 vaccine mandates, claiming that vaccinations are our way out of the pandemic, and helped punish businesses that defied Gov. Roy Coopers lockdown orders.

The old vaccines have since been replaced by new versions, for which no clinical efficacy data is available. Data indicates that vaccines provide little protection (pdf) against infection and short-lived protection against hospitalization.

Cohen has not mentioned the vaccines since late 2021 in public.

Cohen did not respond to a request for comment on how she plans to approach the vaccines as CDC director, nor a previous request to respond to Republican criticism of her positions.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky testifies to a House committee in Washington on June 13, 2023. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

Flailing Trust

The CDC still recommends nearly every American get one of the vaccines, but few Americans have listened.

Just 0.6 percent of children ages 4 and under have received a bivalent dose, along with 4.8 percent of children 5 to 11, 7.8 percent of children ages 12 to 17, 7.4 percent of adults 18 to 24, 12.1 percent of adults 24 to 49, 21.7 percent of adults ages 50 to 64, and 43.3 percent of adults 65 and older, according to CDC data as of May 10.

The American public  is not getting these vaccines, Dr. Peter Marks, a top FDA official, said on Thursday.

Some 44 percent of people polled in 2022 (pdf) said they trust what the CDC says about COVID-19, down from 55 percent earlier in the pandemic. Other surveys have also found declining trust in and support of the agency.

Dr. Jay Bhattacarya, a professor of health policy at Stanford University, attributed the decline to CDC guidance.

Rochelle Walenskys tenure as CDC director led the agency to embrace positions at odds with scientific evidence, such as denying the importance of immunity after COVID recovery, Bhattacharya told The Epoch Times via email. It supported divisive, ineffective policies like masking toddlers and mandating COVID vaccines.

He said that the next director has an opportunity to restore public trust in the CDC, but she will need to honestly and directly address the shortcomings of the agencys pandemic management to make that happen.

Walensky, after tripling down this week on one of her false claims about the COVID-19 vaccines and saying the vaccines are remarkably effective at preventing severe disease and death, also disputed the evidence on declining trust.

I think that there is increasing confidence in the CDC, Walensky said.
Biden Targets Junk Fees Imposed by Businesses, Calls for More Transparency

America's leading business organization criticizes the administration for implementing 'price controls'

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on protecting consumers from hidden junk fees as (L-R) Co-CEO of TickPick Brett Goldberg, CEO of DICE Phil Hutcheon, CEO of xBk Tobi Parks, Director of the National Economic Council Lael Brainard, CFO of Airbnb Dave Stephenson, and President of Live Nation Venues Tom See listen during an event at Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington on June 15, 2023. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

President Joe Biden said on Thursday that his campaign to protect consumers from hidden junk fees is bearing fruit, with more companies agreeing to provide greater transparency in pricing.

Several companies in the ticketing, lodging, and other industries have pledged to eliminate hidden fees and provide customers with all-in, upfront pricing for their products and services.

Junk fees are not a matter for the wealthy very much, but theyre a matter for working folks, like the homes I grew up in, Biden said during a roundtable discussion with company executives at the White House. And they can add hundreds of dollars a month and make it harder for families to pay their bills. I think its just wrong.

Ticketmasters parent company Live Nation, SeatGeek, xBk, Airbnb, and TickPick are among the companies that have pledged to eliminate hidden fees.

In January, Live Nation angered thousands of Taylor Swift fans, as well as the White House and lawmakers, because of huge swings in ticket prices and platform outages during the pop stars tour.

Live Nation has committed to launching an upfront, all-in pricing experience in September so that customers attending events at its more than 200 venues and festivals around the country will see a single, transparent price.

SeatGeek, a ticketing platform, said it would roll out product features over the summer to make it easier for its users to purchase tickets based on an all-in price.

These changes, according to Biden, are a win for consumers and demonstrate that the fight against hidden fees is gaining momentum. However, he added that there is still work to be done to address the issues in the online ticketing market and to eliminate junk fees across all industries.

Iowa-based venue xBk also said it would implement all-inclusive pricing for tickets. Other companies that have followed suit include the Pablo Center at the Confluence, DICE, and the Newport Festivals Foundation.

A large body of research has shown that fees charged at the back-end of the buying process, along with other types of junk fees, make it harder to comparison shop, impede competition, and lead to consumers paying more, according to a White House fact sheet.

In March, Biden called on airlines to stop charging hidden fees to families traveling together. Three major airlines have agreed to waive fees for parents who sit with their young children.

In addition, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has proposed a rule that would force airlines to disclose all their fees, including those for checked bags, wireless internet access, and seat selection upfront to make it easier for passengers to compare rates.

In a statement criticizing the Biden administration, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the largest business organization in the country, claimed that attempts to dictate pricing amount to nothing more than government control.

Efforts to mandate changes in prices through government action are price controls. Full stop, said Neil Bradley, the chambers executive vice president and chief policy officer.

American businesses, consumers, and families know from experience what price controls lead to. Less competition, less innovation, fewer choices, and higher prices, Bradley added.
Ukraine Air Alliance flew this Antonov An-12 freighter to Guam from Washington, D.C., earlier this week. The plane is shown here on final approach in Malta on Sept. 25, 2015. (Photo: Shutterstok/InsectWorld)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is utilizing two Ukrainian cargo airlines to help provide emergency airlift for disaster-recovery efforts in Guam over the partial objections of two U.S. carriers.

Ukraine Air Alliance on Monday delivered eight pallets of computer equipment to Guam on a 57-year-old, four-engine An-12 turboprop built by the Antonov Co. in Soviet-controlled Ukraine, according to tracking site Flightradar24 and government filings. FEMA has also chartered at least eight flights from the U.S. to Guam with Antonov Airlines, an operator of giant An-124 freighters.

FEMA is organizing the flights in response to Typhoon Mawar, which slammed Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands last month, damaging essential water, energy and transport infrastructure.

Atlas Air, a major cargo airline based in Purchase, New York, complained to the Department of Transportation about permission it granted Ukraine Air Alliance to operate between U.S. locations, activity that is normally reserved for U.S. companies. Guam is a U.S. territory.

The DOT, under U.S. law, can authorize foreign carriers to carry goods in domestic traffic under emergency situations where the flights are in the public interest and U.S.-certified carriers are not able to provide service.

Attempts were made to move this cargo via U.S. carriers, but they did not have adequate availability to support our very urgent timeline, a FEMA transportation officer said in a letter seeking assistance obtaining traffic rights for the chartered flight by Ukraine Air Alliance.

Atlas Air last week filed an objection, saying it could have provided service from Washington Dulles International Airport on Tuesday  arriving in Guam on Wednesday  with a 747-400 jumbo jet that is faster and has a longer range that requires fewer refueling stops than the smaller An-12. Atlas Air noted that Ukraine Air Alliance, or its charter broker, didnt notify it, as required, of its plans and that if contacted earlier it likely could have arranged a flight more quickly.

The Ukraine Air Alliance flight for FEMA made technical stops in San Bernardino, California, Honolulu and the Marshall Islands before reaching Guam.

We note that the cargo to be transported, computer equipment, appears to be intended for ongoing recovery efforts, not food or medicine, which could create immediate jeopardy to human lives, Atlas Air said.

One aviation industry expert who spoke to FreightWaves on the condition of anonymity in order to speak freely, noted that the 2,500-pound load of computer equipment would take up a fraction of the available space on a 747-400 and cost taxpayers much more to operate than the An-12. Atlas Airs specification sheet for the 747-400 shows it can handle 30 main deck containers or pallets and about 10 smaller containers in the lower hold.

On June 6, Atlas Air filed a separate letter with the DOT voicing its concern that U.S. carriers are not being adequately consulted in the bid process for would-be domestic flights after Portuguese charter airline Hi Fly received an exemption to transport 250 FEMA personnel and equipment on a passenger jet from Honolulu to Guam.

Atlas is one of the largest providers of lift to the U.S. government for these types of missions, and we would like to ensure the processes for emergency cabotage operations are working correctly. If Atlas did have an airplane, it would put us in the untenable position of having to object when our priority is getting relief flights in the air as soon as possible.

The availability of U.S. carrier lift should be confirmed early in the bid process, not at the end stage of polling [U.S. carriers] on the application once the contract has been signed and flight preparations are underway. We urge the Department to put foreign air carriers on notice of the need to verify the availability of U.S. carrier lift, which would certainly include major Part 121 operators of large jet aircraft, such as Atlas. The Department should consider requiring that emergency cabotage application be supported by a signed verification of an officer of the applicant confirming that this has been done, Atlas Air wrote.

Ukraine Air Alliances fleet consists of four An-12 freighters, all older than 50 years, according to the companys website. The unit that flew to Guam (registration number UR-CGV) flew several times this year between Laredo, Texas, and Managua, Nicaragua, according to Flightradar24.

The Loadstar first reported the objection filed by Atlas Air.

Meanwhile, Antonov Airlines, which relocated from Kyiv to Leipzig Halle airport in Germany after Russia invaded Ukraine last year, is moving fuel trucks, tractor trailers, flatbed trucks and other large equipment to Guam on An-124-100 freighters  the largest aircraft in commercial operation today.

An-124s have two internal cranes, nose-and-tail loading with expanded ramps, and multileg landing gear each with 24 wheels that enable it to tilt the fuselage lower for easier loading and unloading.

The planes are so large that FEMA is able to load four large trucks, other vehicles, supply trailers and other cargo on a single flight. The planes are flying out of San Bernardino International Airport and Honolulu. FEMA and the DOT said no U.S.-registered carriers had available aircraft large enough to handle the unique shipments.

The DOT routinely approves Antonov Airlines to conduct cabotage flights within U.S. territory transporting oversize shipments for companies such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Boeing recently hired the Ukrainian carrier to quickly move a fuselage section for a 767 tanker from a supplier in South Florida to prevent a plant near Seattle from closing down.

Air Micronesia, which operates under the brand name Asia Pacific Airlines and is headquartered in Guam, dropped a protest after Antonov withdrew its request for an exemption to also pick up non-outsized cargo during fueling stops in Honolulu and the Northern Mariana Islands. Asia Pacific Airlines said it had cargo jets available to carry normal freight to Guam from Hawaii. Its fleet consists of four Boeing 757-200 narrowbody aircraft, according to the companys website.

In early May, the Federal Aviation Administration lifted a suspension of Asia Pacifics operating authority that had been in place since February because the airline was unable to produce records that its pilots were properly trained. The department said two trainers were not qualified and that flight checks provided by the individuals are invalid, nullifying the entire pilot pool. Asia Pacific disputed the claim and many charges were dismissed at an appeal heard by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Click here for more FreightWaves stories by Eric Kulisch.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Air cargo 2022: What went right and what went wrong

The post FEMA charters Ukrainian cargo airlines for Guam relief appeared first on FreightWaves.
Bipartisan Journalism Anti-Trust Bill Advances in Congress, Sparks Debate on Content Moderation

The U.S. Capitol building in Washington on March 27, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Thursday to advance a bill that empowers news outlets to collectively negotiate fair compensation with Big Tech platforms in exchange for distributing their content.

The bipartisan Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA) garnered support from senators across party lines in a 137 vote. In the last Congress, the bill passed the panel by a strong bipartisan vote but was not brought to the floor for a vote.

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said that despite the vital role of local newspapers in keeping the public informed and keeping those in power accountable, local news has declined in the last 20 years.

He attributed this to large online gatekeepers like Google and Facebook siphoning ad revenue that news organizations have traditionally relied upon.

The JCPA  will help reverse this trend by allowing news publishers  to band together and enter into structured negotiations with the biggest online platforms over access to news content, Durbin said.

The bill would allow news outlets to collectively negotiate with online platforms with at least 50 million U.S.-based users or subscribers. The platforms would be required to negotiate in good faith with the eligible news organizations. Eligible non-broadcaster news publishers could demand final-offer arbitration if a deal isnt reached within six months.

Australia implemented a similar law in 2021. It has since been proposed in several countries.

Content moderation emerged as a central concern for opponents of the bill from both sides of the aisle.

Critics from the Republican Party expressed apprehensions about potential content censorship and alleged anti-conservative bias resulting from the proposed legislation.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) voiced concerns that the bill could grant media and Big Tech companies the ability to censor conservative views. Despite the bills provisions to prevent content discrimination based on viewpoint, Cotton argued that it might still enable collective censorship against conservative voices.

Im afraid the bill would give media and Big Tech companies a free pass to censor the views of conservatives, he said.

On the Democratic side, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) dissented from the majority of the panel, citing worries that the bill could compel platforms to carry and pay for content they fundamentally disagree with.

Padilla also expressed concerns about the bills effectiveness in protecting local newspapers and its potential impact on moderating content, including election disinformation.

I worry the bill would be used to disincentivize efforts to moderate content including but not limited to election disinformation, he said.

Urgency for Legislative Action

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), a lead sponsor of the bill and chair of the antitrust subcommittee, emphasized the need for passing this legislation and other measures aimed at addressing the power of tech companies.

Klobuchar said that the United States is lagging behind other nations in taking action to address the broken market.

We know the market is broken here, and it is broken all over the world. Were starting to see country after country step in. It is our country that is the one that hasnt been moving on tech. It is our country, it appears, in this Congress, that there is always something found, Klobuchar said.

When the bill was introduced in March, Klobuchar said local news faced an existential crisis of plummeting ad revenues and AI changing traditional newsrooms.

To preserve strong, independent journalism, news organizations must be able to negotiate on a level playing field with the online platforms that dominate news distribution and digital advertising, she said in a statement at the time.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) also said in that statement that Big Tech companies were preventing small newspapers from making a profit on larger platforms, alleging that its killing independent newspapers, which he described as the heart of soul of journalism.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) echoed Klobuchars call for action, expressing that enough is enough concerning the power wielded by Big Tech companies.

Outside of Congress, the bill faces opposition from a diverse range of organizations.

The American Civil Liberties Union and Public Knowledge, along with tech industry groups such as the Chamber of Progress and the Computer and Communications Industry Association, jointly voiced their opposition in a letter to the committee.

They argued that the bill could worsen networked disinformation and hate speech while failing to provide significant benefits to local news outlets.

Additionally, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, strongly opposed the bill and previously threatened to remove news content from its platforms when a similar version of the JCPA advanced last year.
California Legislature Passes Revised $312 Billion Budget Proposal, Awaits Newsoms Response

Democratic supermajorities in both the Assembly and Senate approved a revised version of the states budget on June 15, the final day of the deadline based on constitutional obligation, with the proposal now on the way to the governors desk for review.

Votes were split by party line, with all senators present and voting 32 to 8, and five assemblymembers choosing to abstain, passing the bill 61 to 14.

This Protect Our Progress budget is a result of months of work and partnership in [the] Senate and Assembly, Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) said in a tweet following the vote. [The budget] includes essential funding to safeguard the progress weve made to create a more equitable economy for all.

Lawmakers on the other side of the aisle were not happy with the result and voiced their opinions on the floor and with their dissenting votes.

Today, the majority party voted to send a half-baked budget bill to the Governor, Assemblywoman Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach) said in a press release immediately after the vote. All this budget does is kick the can down the road so the Democrats can irresponsibly continue to overspend taxpayer dollars.

Legislators are presenting a $312 billion spending plan that mirrors Newsoms May proposalwhich revised his first offering made in Januaryby increasing funding for education and welfare and avoiding cuts to government programs. The package also expands the governors flood protection spending by $290 million.

Differences in the governors and Legislatures plans include a $1.1 billion transit agency bailout that the latter proposes, in addition to restoring $2 billion in public transit support that Newsom cut in the May revision.

The newly passed budget also removes several cuts to programs and payment delays that Newsom had advised, and with two weeks left before the new fiscal year begins, many details remain to be determined.

Just as it is understandable for the Legislature to not agree with every detail of the January 10 proposal, there should be no expectation for the governor to agree to every detail of the June 15 Legislatures version, the authors wrote in the introduction to the lawmakers proposal (pdf).

Newsom and lawmakers have until July 1 to settle the details, with multiple rounds of discussions expected in the next two weeks. Once a deal has been solidified, lawmakers will reconsider the amended budget for a final vote.

As in years past, once an agreement is reached between the Legislature and Governor, amendments to this budget bill will be introduced to reflect such an agreement, Senate President pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) said in a press release on June 12.

No Republican voted to support the bill, and lawmakers representing the party rose in both houses to speak against it.

We have become complacent with a broken budget framework, Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield) told colleagues while urging a no vote, he said, because spending exceeds anticipated revenues. No amount of budget gimmicks can escape this fact. How is this an example of fiscal responsibility?

Warnings issued by the states Legislative Analysts Office regarding budget deficits were key to Fongs disapproval, with multiple references to the impact the deficits could have on Californians.

Poor budget decisions force families  to pay more to cover the governments bills, he told the Assembly. The state indeed has a spending problem. Its straining the taxpayer base, and many are leaving California.

Fong said prudence was imperative and stressed the state cannot afford to keep spending more than it brings in, and instead, needs to focus on addressing challenges.

The states budget has doubled in size, but the problems have stayed the same, and in some cases got worse, he told lawmakers. Success is not defined by more spending, its defined by real, measurable results.

Complaints were also voiced by Assemblyman Devon Mathis (R-Porterville), who advised reconvening in November for a special session to review the budget after tax receipts are due in Octoberan unprecedented occurrence resulting from emergency declarations after winter storms impacted most of California.

This is California dreamin, but its a dream, Mathis told the Assembly. We dont really know what this budget is.

Democratic representatives offered cautious optimism, highlighting the increases in spending on education and welfare services.

This really is an A minus budget, Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) said in support. It invests in the people of California, and it is responsible.

While also supporting the proposed budget, Assemblywoman Jasmeet Bains (D-Delano) urged the need to provide funding for a task force and efforts to mitigate fentanyl overdoses, something the current proposal does not include.

We should not make the mistake of waiting until next year because were already playing catch-up, she advised her colleagues. We need to act swiftly to address the fentanyl crisis, and we need the budget to support these efforts.

Skinner, the senator from Berkeley, brought the bill to the Senate floor following the Assemblys approval by reflecting on the 102 sub-committees that participated in crafting the Legislatures proposal and suggesting that the bill is close to its final form.

Im very confident that [the] agreement [with the governor] will be very close to what were adopting today, she told the Senate.

Senators from the other side of the aisle were less enthusiastic about the proposal.

The most significant criticism of this budget that I have is that its unsustainable, Sen. Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks) told fellow lawmakers. What weve set ourselves up for is a deficit continuing for several years.

Some other senators took exception to the provision in the budget closing prisons and allocating the money to the general fund.

The party in control has a policy of not putting people in prison, but we have violent crime on the rise in California, Sen. Brian Dahle (R-Bieber) said while advising a no vote. Largely due to Prop 47 and Prop 57, crime is going up in California, and people and businesses are leaving because they dont feel safe.

The propositions Dahle referred to relate to reducing penalties for shoplifting and other non-violent crimes and increasing parole opportunities for those in prison in response to prison overcrowding concerns, with critics saying they are now, in part, responsible for the surge in retail theft and organized criminal activity plaguing metropolitan areas, leading to an exodus of businesses in San Francisco.

He also referenced concern about what many say is Californias unfriendly climate for businesses.

There is not one thing in this budget thats going to help a business in California, Dahle advised fellow lawmakers, citing high regulations and energy costs as also contributing to the problem. This is not sustainable. Real solutions would keep Californias businesses here, but theres no incentive for a business to stay.

Even though they didnt have the numbers to change the outcome, some Republicans took the opportunity to say they were speaking for an exasperated electorate.

Even though we dont have the vote to control, we do represent a lot of really frustrated people out there, Sen. Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) told the Senate before the vote was called.
Canada Deploying 15 Tanks and 130 Army Personnel to Latvia: Defence Minister

Minister of Defence Anita Anand responds to a question during a joint news conference with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Mariusz Baszczak at National Defence Headquarters, in Ottawa, May 8, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Canada will be deploying 15 Leopard 2 tanks along with support personnel and equipment to Latvia, joining a NATO-enhanced battle group meant to respond to any potential security threats in the Baltic Sea region, says National Defence Minister Anita Anand.

On June 16, Anand told reporters during an online news conference she held from Brussels, Belgium, that Canadas deployment of the army tank squadron will be part of a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) operation titled REASSURANCE, which is CAFs largest overseas mission and intended to support NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe.

Canadas tank deployment is set to take place over the next few months and will consist of all 15 Canadian tanks, initial support personnel, and equipment being sent to Latvia by this fall.

At full strength, Canada will be also be deploying around 130 personnel and over 35 vehiclesincluding two armoured recovery vehicles and some maintenance, fuel, supply, and transport vehiclesalong with the tanks.

The CAF tank squadron will be joining the Canada-led, NATO-enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia, a ten-nation battle group that Canada has led since 2017.

Anand told reporters that the Leopard 2 tanks will come from CAF bases in Gagetown, New Brunswick, and Edmonton, Alberta.

The deployment of a Canadian Army Tank Squadron to Latvia demonstrates Canadas continued commitment to Latvias security, and the collective defence of NATO, she said in a press release.

During her trip to Belgium, Anand participated in a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and a meeting of NATO defence ministers.

Simply Moving Tanks

Anand said its important to distinguish this tank deployment from Canadas previous donations of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

We are not donating these tank, were deploying them, she said, adding later, We are simply moving tanks and vehicles to Latvia, where we have a current operation.

Canada previously donated eight Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine in two separate instalments earlier this year, with Anand announcing the first batch of four tanks in late January and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing the second on the one-year anniversary of Russias invasion of Ukraine in February.

DND gave an update on the Canadian militarys current tank fleet numbers in an Inquiry of Ministry tabled in the House of Commons in late March.

DND said in the Inquiry that around 30 percent of the Canadian Armys Leopard 2 main battle tank fleetwhich consists of 74 in totalwould be out of commission due to required maintenance for about three years starting in May. DND also said it has not yet confirmed any date for retiring the Leopard 2 main battle tanks to replace them with newer models.

The Leopard 2 first entered service in the 1970s and the basic model has been upgraded numerous times since.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Candidates Clash Over Homeless Encampments in Toronto

Seven of Torontos mayoralty candidates clashed over how to deal with homeless encampments, during a debate hosted by CP24 on June 15. And one of the fiercest clashes came between Olivia Chow and Anthony Furey.

Furey, a journalist, vowed he would put families first in his drive to get rid of the encampments.

I am going to phase out those drug injection sites that are causing so much of this disorder, lawlessness in our streets, said Furey. There are people involved in the drug crisis, who are going up and saying abusive things to 4-year-old children, littering needles in front of the school  And Im the leader whos going to say were going to phase out those drugs sites and replace them with treatment centres. A compassionate society doesnt keep people on drugs.

Chow challenged that, saying many doctors believe safe injection sites are part of the solution.

What they have said is it has to be a housing first policy, [or] no kind of treatment will work, if they dont have a roof over their head, said Chow, a former NDP MP and former city councillor.

So, what, our children have to be harassed for eight years, ten years, when they build the homes for them? responded Furey.

Its hard for the doctors to provide the treatment that youre talking about until they have a roof over their head, said Chow. So, tent encampments  they have some of them addicted. They need mental health support, all these things you talk about, she said.

Im going to do all of that, but were going to put families first, said Furey. Were going to work with the province, the federal government

Where are you going to find the housing for them? challenged Chow.

My priority is families first, and children first, responded Furey.

At that point the debate turned to other candidates, but earlier in the debate Chow had made her position clear.

Just remember, she said, these tents have people inside, just moving them from one park to another park to the subway is not going to work.  What we need to do is to create respite centres 24/7. When they become homeless, they can get counseling, find a place get a meal, and be able to settle.

Toronto mayoral candidates at a previous debate. (LR) Josh Matlow, Olivia Chow, Mitzie Hunter, Brad Bradford, Mark Saunders, and Ana Bailao take the stage at a mayoral debate in Scarborough, Ont., on May 24, 2023. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)

However, Furey argued earlier that the status quo is not working.

Do we want our city to look any more like those awful scenes that we see in places like Seattle, San Francisco, downtown Vancouver? asked Furey. Because Toronto is starting to slip in that direction. We are a compassionate society, and we must care for these individuals. But at the same time, we cant let our standards slip any further.

The clash of philosophies was evident in the views of other candidates as well.

We need to use a housing-first approach, said Ana Bailao, a former city councillor. That is why as mayor I will have support for shelters. I will double the amount of modular supportive housing which happens quickly, and I will deal with the federal government to deal with the one-third of shelter users who are refugees today.

Mitzie Hunter, a former provincial cabinet minister, said the fallout from the pandemic has made the situation worse.

Weve just come through a global pandemic. And one of the reasons we have so much homelessness on our street is that people need more mental health and wellness support in this city, she said. Anyone can see that our city is slipping, is at a turning point and we cant afford for it to be at a breaking point. So that is why in addition to the shelters  we also need supportive housing. But we also need to actually have a program to build more affordable housing.

City councillor Josh Matlow warned against just evicting tent encampments.

A housing-first approach, rather than a violent and ineffective approach that only saw our homeless go to other parks, laneways, under bridges, it was not effective and it was not humane, he said.

I have a plan to ensure that we provide outreach to ensure that the individuals in our parks have access to shelters, as a band-aid solution  and also to ensure there are rental supplements to lift them up, to give them a path to housing.

Councillor Brad Bradford said building more shelter beds is not much of a solution.

A few years ago we had 6,000 shelter beds. Today we have 9,000 shelter beds and they are always 99 percent full, said Bradford. Building more shelters is not the answer. We need to build housing  We cant have people living in parks and thats why we need to build more supportive housing as quickly as possible.

Former Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders blamed much of the problem on years of inaction by authorities.

City Hall has  neglected this problem that didnt happen overnight but has happened from years and years of not paying attention, Saunders said. When we look at these encampments, this is not a safe environment. We have people that are living with mental health [issues]. We have people that are suffering from addiction. We have people that are going through economic situations, and we have criminals, he said. He added that a multi-faceted approach is needed.

But we have to have outward-facing resources 24 hours a day working with the issues.

The debate heard there could be over 200 homeless encampments in Toronto, in some 95 locations.

The by-election for mayor in Toronto is set for June 26, and advance voting has ended.
China Invests $10 Billion in Canal, but Experts Say It Is Redundant

An aerial view shows a container ship berthed at the container wharf of Qinzhou Port in Qinzhou in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region on Sept. 13, 2022. (Zhang Ailin/Xinhua via AP)

Pinglu Canal, the first canal built by the Chinese regime, is a 72.7 billion yuan ($10.18 billion) hydro project approved last August. China said it is the shortest, most economical, and most convenient land-sea passage for economic trade between Southwest China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Chinese Officials said the canallinking the Xijiang River with ports in the Beibu Gulfcan improve the navigation conditions of the Xijiang River and greatly enhance the transport capacity for west China.

However, experts criticized the project as more of a political concern than a true economic benefit.

The shortened voyage wont compensate for the huge debt resulting from the investment. One more port will not automatically increase the total trade volume. A sea port to the Western countries versus to ASEAN has a completely different significance, said the experts.

A Redundant Project

This land-sea passage is about 135 kilometers long, and will cut the voyage of ships in the middle and upper reaches of the Xijiang River Basin in Guangxi Province, southwest China, to sea by more than 560 kilometers compared to going to the sea via Guangzhou in the east, Chinese state media reported.

Commentator Heng He said: historically the canal is an important channel for grain transportation in China; such as Lingqu, the worlds first contour transport canal, and the Grand Canal that linked five of Chinas main river basins.

In the West, the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal harbor huge economic benefits, but Guangxi is less developed economically, He said, adding, so the economic benefit that Pinglu Canal would bring to China is highly questionable.

He further argued that among the many forms of transportation in modern times, the waterway isnt always the efficient and economical choice. Especially the huge investment of Pinglu Canal is not worth it, he said, if its completely government-funded, the taxpayers will pay the bill; if it is via private investment, the investor is not likely to recover the cost.

Davy Jun Huang, an American-based economist, said China has relied on infrastructure construction to maintain its GDP growth. After the construction of a network of highways, high-speed rails, and airports throughout China, now its hoped the waterway construction would help to recover the economy that has been devastated by the pandemic, and shadowed by the trade tension in the international community, he said.

Last year, China invested over one trillion yuan in hydro projects for the first time in the regimes history. It claimed that every 100 billion yuan invested in hydro projects will drive GDP growth by 0.15 percent, according to the Chinese state media report.

Huang agreed that the Pinglu Canal could have an immediate economic effect in the short term, but it wont last long.

One more port will allow the transportation to go smoothly, but only to some extent, he said. Its hoped to redistribute some of the import and export businesses to the ports of Beibu Gulf, but the overall volume in the region is the key.

Originally, containers from western China would go through ports in Zhuhai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Fujian in southeastern China. But, three railway lines already exist in the western regions that conveniently connect to the ports in Beibu Gulf. There is also the Yangtze River estuary and the Pearl River estuary available for shipment.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge at the Zhuhai Port terminal on Oct. 23, 2018. (Fred Dufour/AFP/Getty Images)

Betting on ASEAN Is Wishful Thinking

According to the CCPs 2019 strategic plan to build a new western land-sea corridor, the Pinglu Canal carried the mission to strengthen economic and trade ties with ASEAN.

The trade tension with the Western countries was believed to have caused China to shift its foreign trade focus to ASEAN.

Nanning, the capital of Guangxi Province, is the permanent venue for the China-ASEAN Expo, the window of Chinas opening up and cooperation with ASEAN, as the state media claimed.

According to the Chinese strategic plan, Chinas trade and investment ties with ASEAN have been growing. In the first eight months of 2022, China-ASEAN trade reached 4.09 trillion yuan ($590 billion), up 14 percent year-on-year and outstripping a 10.1 percent overall trade growth. It accounted for 15 percent of Chinas total foreign trade, customs data showed.

Huang was not so optimistic, and he argued that the anticipation of a benefit from the high-cost canal could be far from reality.

Guangxi is not an export hub, Huang said, rather it carries many products that are already produced in Southeast Asian countries.

He indicated the fact that ASEANs demand is mainly for small household appliances and industrial products from China, and China needs their agricultural products, industrial raw materials, mines, etc. Ports in Shenzhen and Guangzhou have basically well covered the volume, Huang said.

Overall speaking, its quite difficult to change the economic structure of the entire southwest region. The wish is good but at the high cost of debts, he said.

He said the shortened voyage would not necessarily bring in a large trading volume.

Heng He pointed out that the major issue of improving the trade relationship with ASEAN through the Pinglu Canal, as part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, is that it wont help compensate for the loss from the trade tension with the Western world.

Chinas economic reform gained great benefit for the regime because it was opening up to the Western community, especially the United States, He said.

The relation with ASEAN was competitive rather than complementary in the low-end consumer goods in the markets of Europe and the United States.

So, why does China engage in the construction of the Pinglu Canal now?

He said Chinas economic troika, the investment, consumption, and exports, is no longer functioning. It needs new growth points, but the image concerns the regime more than anything else.

Pinglu Canal functions as an image project, He explained, just like the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, which was touted as the worlds first in many aspects, and providing great convenience.

But no one cares if there are cars present on the bridge, he said.

Its still a planned economy, for the purpose of politics, he stated.

Song Tang and Luo Ya contributed to this report.
Climate Change a Factor in Unveiling of New Roadmap for Basin Review

A veiw of the Hume Weir at sunrise on February 23, 2007 in Albury, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Sir Angus Houston, chair of the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA), has unveiled a roadmap on how the authority will conduct its 2026 basin plan review (BPR).

Focusing on four key themes: climate change, sustainable water limits, First Nations, and regulatory design, the BPR will be released every 6 months or so until the delivery of the final report in 2026, according to the MBDA (pdf).

Angus said that climate change, one of the key themes, is the most plausible reason for the predicted 20 to 30 percent decrease in future water inflows to the basin.

I think there is a reality that we will have to face further downstreamthere will be less water available for everything that is required, Angus told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Weve got to use the plan to retain a river that remains healthy and a river that can support us.

Meanwhile, Greens Senator for South Australia Sarah Hanson-Young said that while the roadmap was all well and good, she asked how the Albanese government would deliver on its current plan.

South Australians are still waiting for the promised 450GL to be delivered on time and in full, Hanson-Young said.

This is not news for South Australians, who have long been fighting against upstream greed to ensure our communities and ecosystems receive the water they need to survive.

Under the Murray Darling Basin Plan, the final 450 gigalitres of water are an additional target on top of the legislated 2,750 gigalitres that basin states agreed on meeting back in 2018.

So far, only 4.5 of the 450 gigalitres, termed efficiency measures, have been recovered. In total, more than 2,100 gigalitres of water have been relocated back into the environment.

The roadmap will also support desired outcomes from Indigenous communities.

Well work with First Nations to determine how the review can be used to capture and contribute to the achievement of First Nations aspirations forwater management in the Basin, the MDBA said.

According to the MBDA, amendments to the Basin Plan could be recommended based on the findings from the review.

Basin Plan Seen as Model for Other Countries: Ecologist

Renowned ecologist Professor N. LeRoy Poff from the University of Canberra and Colorado State University said the Murray Darling Basin Plan was an example for other countries of how integrated water management at the basin scale can work.

In the Colorado River Basin, we are in a vicious water cycle of overuse, overtake and under regulation, and the latest projections are frightening, Poff said at the MDBAs annual river reflections regional water conference in Narrabri, reported Country News.

Demand for water in the Colorado River Basin is now exceeding supply, and by 2030, were looking at a shortfall in excess of 750 gigalitres, not accounting for climate change.

When you consider that 85 percent of the current usage is going to agricultural production, thats going to create ripples through the U.S. economy and our food production capabilities.

Water resources are highly contested, and there is limited scope for flexibility to achieve more equitable allocations, especially regarding Native Americans and the environment.

We also have the urgent challenge of how to plan effectively for a warmer and hydrologically more variable climate.

Poff added that he was particularly impressed by the balance achieved between community and industry needs and the protection of water for the environment.

However, Shelley Scoullar, chair and co-founder of the Speak Up Campaignan advocacy group for Basin communities impacted by the Murray Darling Basin Plansaid in January that policymakers need to look at the reality of the Basin Plan.

[W]eve ended up with a basin plan based on numbers and not on outcomes, Scoullar said.

The basin plan is a difficult topic or piece of legislation, and we feel that politicians know that there (are) flaws within the basin plan but yet, arent brave enough to call them out.

One major concern for Scoullar is the looming 2024 deadline for the Basin plans proposed targets.

Were seeing some concerning ecological issues that have been raised in their heads since the implementation of the Basin Plan. In more blue-green algae blooms, were seeing more hypoxic Blackwater events. And weve got carp breeding at the moment out of control, and weve got all these issues that are about quality that needs to be addressed, she said.

Water Entitlements Affected By Climate Change Too, Says Commonwealth Water Holder

Simon Banks, the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder who manages water entitlements bought by the federal government, said the outlook would mean his water portfolio would be cut, reported the ABC.

The challenge will be with climate change and potentially less water in the future, and that will be less water across all entitlement holders, including the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holdings, Banks said.

Its a tension we have all got to work with.

However, Michelle Ramsay, from Girraween Properties at Bonshaw near the Queensland border, said she was concerned that the roadmap did not include community impact.

Im hoping to see a really big change in the way MDBA understands impacts and proactively puts communities at the centre of conversations, Ramsay told ABC.

We care about the future of our basin too, but we live in our communities, and we care about thema buyback is good for the irrigator that sells the water, but what about the community they leave behind.

Meanwhile, Jan Beer, a representative from the Upper Murray River Catchment Association in Victoria, previously told The Epoch Times that the implications of the federal governments water buyback scheme would be far-reaching if pursued.

If they buy back that water or they take that further water out of the consumptive pool, then food production and food security will be greatly affected because the irrigators get the very last of whats left in the consumptive bucket of water, Beer said.

A review by the Productivity Commission into how effectively the basin plan has met its objectives is expected to be completed by December. The Commissions 2019 report said that some water projects were unlikely to be delivered by the 2024 deadline.
Bill Gates is kicking off a trip to China. Will he meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping? His trip overlaps with a top American diplomats visit there, but lately, Beijing has opened its arms to business leaders while giving politicians the cold shoulder. Whats behind Chinas power play with Washington?

Topics in this episode:

Cold Shoulders and Open Arms: Beijings Power Play with Washington Chinese Hackers Breached Hundreds of Networks: Report U.S.: Breakthrough Unlikely as Blinken Heads to China Sullivan Met with Counterparts on Taiwan Strait Stability Secret Chinese Spy Base in Cuba Back in Spotlight Yellen Calls Decoupling with China Disastrous Canada Suspends Ties with China-Led Bank Palau Requests U.S. Help with Nearby Chinese Ships Deeply Concerning: Gray on a Weakening America; Begging for an Audience Amid Blinken Trip

China in Focus is sponsored by Preserve Gold. Protect your IRA or 401(k) from the declining dollar with precious metals. Learn more now: http://offers.preservegold.com/ntd
Criticism Of Boris Johnson Conduct Divides Tory MPs

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson looks on during a tour after a meeting with Gov. Greg Abbott at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, on May 23, 2023. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Conservative MPs have been divided on a parliamentary committees criticisms of Boris Johnsons conduct and its recommended punishments for the former prime minister.

The House of Commons will vote on Monday on the Privileges Committees report, which recommended that Johnson should have faced a 90-day suspension had he not already resigned in advance of its judgment and be banned from holding a pass to access Parliament.

MPs will be given a free vote, meaning they will not be ordered to toe party lines but will be able to vote according to their own individual views.

But some Johnson allies warned Tory MPs they could face deselection by their local Conservative associations if they back the motion, as Johnson remains popular with many grassroots members.

The sanctions proposed by the committee are expected to pass, with only a relatively small group of Johnson loyalists set to oppose the reports findings, although many more Conservatives could simply not turn up.

Boris Johnson giving evidence to the Privileges Committee at the House of Commons, London, on March 22, 2023. (House of Commons/UK Parliament via PA Media)

Repeated Contempts

In its final report on the Partygate scandal, published on Thursday, the Privileges Committee said Johnson committed repeated contempts of Parliament that merited a 90-day suspension.

In addition to deliberately misleading Parliament over illegal parties held in Downing Street during COVID-19 lockdowns, Johnson has also been found guilty of attempting to undermine the democratic process and being complicit in the campaign of abuse and attempted intimidation of the committee.

Though his resignation means he will escape punishment, the committee recommended that he should be barred from having a parliament pass, which is normally available to former MPs.

The former prime minister hit out at what he called a deranged conclusion, accusing the committee of lying.

He called the committee beneath contempt and claimed its 14-month investigation had delivered what is intended to be the final knife-thrust in a protracted political assassination.

Definitely Not Defeated

Cabinet minister David Davies said he believed the report had killed off Johnsons hopes for a political comeback.

Asked if Johnsons career is now over, the Welsh Secretary told BBCs Question Time: I think it probably is. Im not saying whether thats a good thing or a bad thing. I dont really see any way back for Boris.

Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg delivers his keynote address during the National Conservatism conference at the Emmanuel Centre in London, on May 15, 2023. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, an arch-supporter of the former prime minister, said the 90-day suspension recommendation was extraordinary, and accused the committee of deliberately trying to do damage to Boris Johnson.

Talking to Sky News, he said the House of Commons will inevitably vote in favour of the report, because you have the whole of the opposition against him  but you also have the Boris haters in the Conservative Party.

But he said Johnson is definitely not defeated, though he predicted he would not attempt a comeback to Parliament before the next election.

Threat of Deselection

Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith and former Cabinet minister Sir Simon Clarke were among Johnsons allies to indicate they would vote against the report, with the latter saying this punishment is absolutely extraordinary to the point of sheer vindictiveness.

Johnson loyalist Nadine Dorries called for Tories who vote against Johnson to be kicked out of the party.

Nadine Dorries gives a speech during the Conservative Democratic Organisation conference at Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth, England, on May 13, 2023. (Andrew Matthews/PA Media)

The former culture secretary, who announced her intention to resign as an MP after being struck off Johnsons honours list, wrote on Twitter: Any Conservative MP who would vote for this report is fundamentally not a Conservative and will be held to account by members and the public. Deselections may follow. Its serious.

Commons leader Penny Mordaunt called for calm.

She advised MPs to read the report and to make their own judgments about it and take the task that is our privilege to do seriously and soberly.

It will be a painful process and a sad process for all of us, she said, but all of us must do what we think is right and others must leave us alone to do so.

PA Media contributed to this report.
A devoted dad gave his son and classmates a visual treat on their last day of school when he trotted up to the gates on a horse to keep a childhood tradition alive.

On May 18, the last day of school for Deer Creek School District, Oklahoma, 8-year-old Cale Moorman was met at the gates of Rose Union Elementary School in Edmond by his father, Mike Moorman, on horseback, leading another horse by the reins for Cale to ride.

Cale had been asking to get picked up by their horses periodically throughout the school year, Maggie Leftwich, the school districts public information officer, told The Epoch Times.

Mike Moorman on his way to pick up his son, Cale, on horseback. (Courtesy of Deer Creek School District)

In order to fulfill his beloved sons wish, Mike called the school for permission to pick up Cale with their familys horses as a way to celebrate the last day of school. The schools principal agreed to the request.

She knew it would be a memorable experience for not only Cale, but for his classmates too, Leftwich said.

Mike rode his 3-year-old Appaloosa horse, Nova, and lead his 12-year-old quarter horse, Grady, for the 2.5-mile (4.02-kilometer) journey.

Mike told Today: On the last day of school I rode my horses to school. A lot of the kids did it.

Deer Creek School District shared footage of Mikes arrival on Facebook, writing: If this isnt the sweetest way to get picked up on the last day of school, we arent sure what is!

Horse-fanatic, Cale was so excited, Leftwich told The Epoch Times since neither his friends nor the other students and teachers had ever witnessed a school pickup on horseback. Cale was pleased to show off his unique ride to the gathered crowd, who got to pet the horses.

(Courtesy of Deer Creek School District)

According to Leftwich, Mike was prepared.

His sons horse was wearing Cales car rider pickup tag, a security protocol required for all students being picked up from school, [and] they adhered to our strict safety rules, that all students must load or unload from the right side, she said.

To ensure safety while riding, Cale donned a cowboy hat helmet.

Cale on his horse with a cowboy hat helmet. (Courtesy of Deer Creek School District)

While Rose Union Elementary is close to the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, it is also near open countryside. Owning horses is not uncommon among residents, Leftwich said, adding, However picking up students by horseback definitely does not happen very often!

Watch the video:

(Courtesy of Deer Creek School District)

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
Delta Air Lines Resumes Dividend Suspended in 2020 During Pandemic

Delta Airlines passenger jets outside the newly completed 1.3 million-square foot $4 billion Delta Airlines Terminal C at LaGuardia Airport in the Queens borough of New York on June 1, 2022. (Mike Segar/Reuters)

Delta Air Lines said on Thursday it would pay a quarterly dividend, resuming a payout that the carrier had suspended in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The dividend, of $0.10 per share, will be paid on Aug. 7 to shareholders of record as of the close of business July 17, the U.S. airline said.

In December, Southwest Airlines became the first major U.S. airline to reinstate its quarterly dividend, more than two years after suspending it in the wake of the pandemic.

The resumption of Deltas payout reflects its progress on its three-year financial plan, the airline said, including more than $10 billion of debt repayment over the last two years.

The move comes as Delta forecast that strong summer travel demand will result in higher-than-expected profit for the quarter through June.

As a condition of receiving $54 billion government assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines were prohibited from paying dividends or repurchasing stock.

Those restrictions expired last fall. Delta Air Lines received $11.9 billion in U.S. assistance.

In March 2020, Delta paid a $0.4025 share dividend, which was its 27th consecutive dividend at the time.
(Bloomberg Law) -- LGBTQ+ dating app Grindr repeatedly violated state and global privacy laws by collecting and retaining highly sensitive data including nude photos without clear consent, the companys former chief privacy officer alleged in a wrongful termination lawsuit.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Ron De Jesus says he was fired in retaliation for raising concerns about the companys alarming data-privacy practices, according to a complaint filed Wednesday in a California state court in Los Angeles.

De Jesus accusations come after the company faced backlash for sharing users HIV status and was fined$7 million by the Norwegian Data Protection Agency for sharing user location and sexual orientation data with advertisers.

According to De Jesus, Grindr allegedly retained personal data including naked pictures and HIV status even after users deleted their accounts. That information was accessible by any employee or third-party vendor, he said.

Despite Mr. De Jesus best efforts, Grindr not only shared user dataand likely continues to do sobut allowed third parties to collect data which was then shared with their partners, upon the user merely viewing an advertisement, the complaint said.

Hours after he sent an email to Chief Financial Officer Vanna Krantz about his data privacy concerns, he said he received a notice of termination from the company, who he accused of placing profit over privacy.

De Jesus claims are definitively false, Grindrs Head of Communications Patrick Lenihan said in a statement emailed to Bloomberg Law.

Mr. De Jesus was terminated for being ineffective and for poorly managing Grindrs privacy practices, which were his primary responsibility, Lenihan said. Through his professional failings, Mr. De Jesus put Grindr and Grindrs users at risk.

Global, State Privacy

The lawsuit said the Grindr app had a bug that would reset user data collection consent settings, in violation of the EUs General Data Protection Regulation.

De Jesus also accused Grindr of violating the California Consumer Privacy Act and other state privacy laws, and said the companys practices contradicted its own privacy policy. Its treatment of user data may also constitute deceptive trade practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act, the filing said.

He further claimed that Grindr ignored the advice of its outside legal counselCooley LLPin one debate over data collection. The law firm allegedly advised against categorizing some data used for analytics as strictly necessary, saying it could violate the GDPR.

Cooley didnt respond to a request for comment.

De Jesus is seeking relief for wrongful termination, retaliation, and unfair business practices.

Schein Law Group and Sherman Law Corporation represent De Jesus. Attorneys for Grindr havent yet filed an appearance.

The case is De Jesus v. Grindr, Cal. Super. Ct., No. 23stcv13635, complaint filed 6/14/23.

To contact the reporter on this story: Skye Witley at switley@bloombergindustry.com

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jay-Anne B. Casuga at jcasuga@bloomberglaw.com

(Updated to add Grindr officials comments.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
DeSantis Says Trumps Going Soft on Abortion After Harsh Comments on Heartbeat Bill

Florida governor Ron DeSantis has accused his 2024 presidential rival Donald Trump of going soft on the issue of abortion after the former president said last month that some believed it was too harsh.

The Republican governor made the comments during an interview with Christian Broadcasting Network News David Brody set to air on the 700 Club on June 16.

Asked by host Brody if he feels Trump is going soft on abortion a little bit, DeSantis responded, I think so.

I was really surprised, because hes a Florida resident, DeSantis said. And I thought he would compliment the fact that we were able to do the heartbeat bill, which pro-lifers have wanted for a long time. He never complimented, never said anything about it. Then he was asked about it and he said it was harsh.'

These are children with detectable heartbeats, DeSantis added.

DeSantis signed the six-week ban on abortion, or the Heartbeat Protection Act, into law in April, although whether or not it will take effect depends on how the state supreme court rules in a challenge to the current 15-week ban in place, which the governor signed into law in 2022.

Under the Heartbeat Protection Act (pdf), abortions are banned after six weeks, although there are exceptions in place for cases when it is necessary to save the pregnant womans life or avert a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman other than a psychological condition.

Heartbeat Bill Explained

In those cases, a written determination must be made by two physicians certifying, in reasonable medical judgment, that the termination of the pregnancy is necessary.

Women are also exempted from the ban if their pregnancy is not yet in the third trimester and the unborn child has a fatal fetal abnormality.

Such an abnormality must be certified in writing by two physicians.

Other exceptions are included for pregnancies caused by rape, incest, or human trafficking, so long as the woman is less than 15 weeks.

At the time the woman schedules or arrives for her appointment to obtain the abortion, she must provide a copy of a restraining order, police report, medical record, or other court order or documentation providing evidence that she is obtaining the termination of pregnancy because she is a victim of rape, incest, or human trafficking, the bill states.

It will also make it a third-degree felony for any person who willfully performs, or actively participates in, a termination of pregnancy in violation of the legislation and prohibits state funds from being used to help a woman get an abortion in another state.

Shortly after DeSantis signed the bill, Trump said in a May interview with The Messenger that he believed many pro-life activists found the six-week ban on abortion too harsh.

Harsh Abortion Bill

He has to do what he has to do, Trump said of Floridas abortion restrictions. If you look at what DeSantis did, a lot of people dont even know if he knew what he was doing. But he signed six weeks, and many people within the pro-life movement feel that that was too harsh.

The former president did not explicitly state whether he himself believed the six-week ban to be too harsh. Asked if he would sign a six-week abortion ban, Trump explained that he was looking at all options.

Discussing Trumps comments about abortion further with Christian Broadcasting Network News, DeSantis explained, While I appreciate what the former president has done in a variety of realms, he opposes that bill. He said it was harsh to protect an unborn child when theres a detectable heartbeat.

I think thats humane to do, the Republican governor said. I think pro-lifers have been wanting to see good pro-life protections.

Elsewhere, DeSantis was asked why evangelical voters in particular would vote for DeSantis over Trump in 2024, pointing to the fact that Trump was able to garner plenty of support among such voters in 2016 and 2020.

Then-president Donald Trump arrives to speak at the 47th annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 24, 2020. (Nicholas Kamm /AFP via Getty Images)

Bold Leadership Means Florida Is Winning

In response, DeSantis touted his bold leadership and the need to beat current President Joe Biden, noting that the left is going to absolutely destroy this country even more than it is now.

I dont think theres any elected official in the country whos not only stood up for the values that we all share but has actually beat the left back on these things, he said, adding that Florida is winning against issues such as gender ideology, and Walt Disneys self-governing status.

Disneys ongoing legal battle with DeSantis was initially sparked by former CEO Bob Chapeks criticism of Floridas Parental Rights in Education bill, which was signed into law by DeSantis on March 28.

DeSantis, who launched his presidential campaign last month, later attempted to strip Disney of its long-standing self-governing power status in Florida by appointing a new board of supervisors.

However, Disney was able to circumvent the move by quietly entering into development and restrictive covenant agreements with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S. Inc., stripping the new board of its powers.

The legal dispute between the company and the Republican governor remains ongoing.

DeSantis told the Christian Broadcasting Network News that other Republican lawmakers have criticized him for standing up to Disney because theyre a big powerful company, but credited the state for standing its ground.

Polling shows that Trumpwho appeared in a Miami court earlier this week to plead not guilty to charges in the federal governments classified document caseis currently the leading Republican candidate in 2023 polls, at 53.4 percent, while DeSantis is at 21.4 percent.
Disney Chief Financial Officer Christine McCarthy Steps Down: Company

Magic Kingdom Park is pictured in this handout photo provided by Walt Disney World Resort, on Oct. 8, 2014. (Matt Stroshane/Walt Disney World Resort via Getty Images)

The Walt Disney Company confirmed that its chief financial officer, Christine McCarthy, is stepping down and will take a medical leave of absence, according to the media giant.

Disneys chief executive, Bob Iger, confirmed her departure in a news release issued Thursday, saying that McCarthy is stepping down from her CFO role as she takes family medical leave, but has graciously offered to move into an advisory position to assist her successor in assuming the duties she has so expertly handled these many years.

Christine McCarthy is one of the most admired financial executives in America, and her impact on The Walt Disney Company during 23 years of dedicated service cannot be overstated, Iger added. Christine has served as a key strategic anchor during a period of great transformation, and she and I have discussed her desire to ensure an orderly and successful CFO succession in advance of the companys transition to its next chief executive officer.

In the release, McCarthy also confirmed she would be stepping down, although she did not elaborate why.

Although I am leaving the CFO role, I look forward to helping with the transition and will always be rooting for the success of my extended Disney family, who have shown time and again that determination, teamwork and the pursuit of excellence are an unstoppable combination, she remarked.

Disneys stock dipped by more than 1 percent after it was announced McCarthy would depart the firm.

There were reports, citing anonymous sources, that McCarthy clashed with Iger and other top executives before she stepped down this week. An alleged person close to McCarthy told The Wall Street Journal that she had issues with how Iger and other executives handled spending on content and other issues.

McCarthys departure occurs in the wake of Disney reportedly terminating about 7,000 employees from its workforce in a bid to restructure the company and cope with losses stemming from its streaming business.

Starting July 1, Disneys Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Kevin Lansberry, will take over McCarthys job as chief financial officer, according to the release.

Over the past several months, Disney has faced controversy after the corporation issued a critical statement about a Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis-backed law that would prohibit Florida teachers from instructing young schoolchildren on gender and LGBT issues. Disney, at the time, repeated Democrat talking points, drawing condemnation from DeSantis.

Months later, the Florida Legislature passed a measure that stripped the companys authority over the formerly named Reedy Creek Improvement District, which encompasses the sprawling Walt Disney World. DeSantis signed that bill into law last year, although court battles loom.
Dozens of Ottawa High School Students Stage Walkout to Protest Gender Ideology

Dozens of students from Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School in Ottawa staged a walkout on June 15 to protest against gender ideology they say is being pushed by their school.

There are Muslim, white, and Asian students in the crowd. There are students from every ethnicity. This is not an ethnic or a religious protest, this is a protest for the students who just  want to not be indoctrinated. We just want to have our beliefs that differ from other people, said A.T., one of the organizers of the walkout.

A.T., who did not want to be named for fear of facing consequences from the school, said the event LDHSS Students for Change was created in response to LGBTQ indoctrination being pushed on students.

If you want to be transgender, I have nothing wrong with that. But let me live my life and let me follow my beliefs, and dont force me to believe what you believe, he said.

Sammy, a Muslim student who helped organize the event, explained that the protest was not against LGBTQ students themselves, but was focused on the schools administration promoting beliefs and values that go against the teachings of the schools religious circles.

There have been a few incidents in which biological males have walked in on [Muslim girls] adjusting their hijabs. So our problem is that they have now pushed it against religious circles and religious minorities, he said. Were here not because were against them existing. Were here because were against them forcing their beliefs against us.

Ali Elwayd, who is also Muslim, said his younger siblings have been punished for pushing back against being taught gender ideology, even though it goes against what they were taught at home. Elwayd said he is concerned that the pushing of gender ideology is leading children to believe that they should identify as LGBTQ.

Theyre kids and they dont have their own ideas yet. And childhood is like the wax to your adulthood. Whatever builds up on it comes with you. You might have grown up with something, like your traditions and beliefs, and you still have it now, he said.

Nearly a dozen counter-protestors were also at the event, including Tim Dunn, who has two children who attend Longfields-Davidson Heights.

I just wanted to come down because its heartbreaking that there are so many people standing against this, and the hatred is tough, he said.

[I see this as] hatred towards the kids that are part of this community. Kids have enough to deal with nowadays. They dont need to come to school and feel unsafe, and I think there are many kids that do feel unsafe, unfortunately.

Other Protests

The protest came two days after Muslim families led a protest against gender ideology at the headquarters of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, and a week after hundreds of protestors and counter-protestors gathered in Ottawa during an event held by Billboard Chris.

In an email sent out to parents on the day of the protest, Longfields-Davidson Heights principal Jennifer Borrel-Benoit said the school community is enriched by the diversity of perspectives, experiences and backgrounds, but students wanting to protest would have to do so off school property.

Student walkouts are one way to share a message, but there are many other ways to respectfully show support for issues that are important for students, she said.
This week, we feature a winning romance with a time-hopping heroine and a comprehensive history that explores how the Allies won World War II.

Fiction

In This Moment

By Gabrielle Meyer

The heroine in this time-traveling romp through history is known as Margaret or Maggie or Meg. It all depends on which time period youre in: 1861, 1941, or 2001. Blessed or burdened, she inherits the gift of time-crossing allowing her to live three separate lives. As the Civil War breaks out, she is the daughter of a senator. A navy nurse in 1941, she elects to join a hospital ship heading to Pearl Harbor. And in 2001, shes a brilliant medical student. Ultimately, she must choose one path.

Bethany House Publishers, 2023, 400 pages

History

The Second World Wars: How the First Global Conflict Was Fought and Won

By Victor Davis Hanson

This one-volume look at World War II offers conclusions that may seem obvious, but are they? Germany and Japan started wars they couldnt finish. The Allied powers could strike into the Axis heartland and occupy enemy homelands. The Allies outproduced the Axis 2 to 1. In fact, the U.S. gross domestic product alone was larger than all the Axis nations combined. This is an excellent starting point for those who know nothing about World War II, as well as a fresh look for those knowledgeable about it.

Basic Books, 2017, 720 pages

Exploration

Kon-Tiki

By Thor Heyerdahl

Thor Heyerdahl had a theory: The islanders of the South Seas had come by boat from the east. In 1947, he and five other men tested this theory by sailing on a hand-built, balsa log raft they named Kon-Tiki from South America to the Tuamotu Islands in Polynesia. His account of this three-month expedition of 4,300 miles details the many hardships and obstacles they faced, including storms and sharks. Its a triumph of the human spirit and a now-classic adventure story for young and old alike.

Simon & Schuster, 2013, 256 pages

Classics

The Greatest Minds and Ideas of All Time

By Will Durant

In this compendium, we find the barebones thoughts of one of the most prolific historians of the 20th century. Durant was noted for his belief in the importance of individuals in history, his gentle wit, and his broad knowledge of the past. In this short collection, John Little does readers a great service by bringing them the essentials of Durant, lists of historys greatest thinkers and poets, the best 100 books, vital dates, and more. This is an excellent introduction to the past and to Durant.

Simon & Schuster, 2002, 127 pages

Economics

Predecessors of Adam Smith: The Growth of British Economic Thought

By E.A.J. Johnson

Adam Smith, the Scottish economist, heavily influenced the economists who followed, specifically free-market economists. But who influenced Adam Smith? Johnson, who was an economist and a professor of economic history at Johns Hopkins University, takes the reader through the many influences on Smith, some well-known, some not, and some from the field of economics and some not. Originally published in 1937, this is a great read for those interested in the formation of our modern economic systems.

Literary Licensing, 2012, 438 pages

For Kids

Looking Closely Along the Shore

By Frank Serafini

This visually stunning book takes the reader on beautiful explorations of natural habitats, using close-up photography. The reader is invited to guess what a partial image of a photo might be, and then its full identity is revealed on the next page with facts about the object. Educational and engaging, this a great read to coincide with beach season.

Kids Can Press, 2008, 40 pages
Exciting Milestone: Canadas Population Hits 40 Million

New Canadians take the Oath of Citizenship in a ceremony at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax on Jan. 15, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Riley Smith)

Canadas population is about to hit a major milestone of 40 million people on June 16, according to Statistics Canadas Population Clock. This is an exciting milestone for Canada. It is a strong signal that Canada remains a dynamic and welcoming country, full of potential. As we head into Canada Day, this is certainly cause for celebration, said Statistics Canada chief statistician Anil Arora in a press release.

The country leads the G7 in population growth, having increased by a record 1.06 million in 2022, the agency said. Between July and October of that year alone, the population grew by 362,453 people, primarily due to a rise in non-permanent residents entering the country.

Canada is poised to take in 465,000 new permanent residents in 2023, 485,000 in 2024, and 500,000 in 2025, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

In 2022, Canadas annual population growth rate of 2.7 percent was the highest on record since 1957 at 3.3 percent.

The trend is being driven mostly by permanent and temporary migration, which accounted for 96 percent of all growth in 2022. Every province and territory, except the Northwest Territories, saw increases in population in 2022.

Statistics Canada said that based on current trends, the population could hit 50 million by 2043. In 2022, the agency estimated Canada would hit that number by 2068.

While several countries are bracing for the impacts of population decline, Canada continues to lead the G7 when it comes to population growth, the agency said.

Canadas population numbered around 3.4 million following Confederation in 1867, and did not hit 10 million until 1929. The population reached 20 million in 1967 and 30 million in 1998.
EXCLUSIVE: Republican Letter Asks Blinken to Visit Taiwan En Route to China

Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers remarks at the SelectUSA Investment Summit in National Harbor, Md., on May 4, 2023. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

A group of Republican lawmakers is urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken to visit Taiwan as he travels to communist China.

The lawmakers, led by Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.), say that the stopover is necessary to demonstrate that Chinas communist regime cannot dictate the terms of U.S. alliances and partnerships, according to a copy of the letter obtained by The Epoch Times.

As you prepare for your trip to the Peoples Republic of China, we are writing to once again request that you consider adding a stopover in Taiwan to your itinerary, the letter says.

It would send a clear message that the United States does not need a permission slip from the Chinese Communist Party to meet with our friends and allies in Taiwanor anywhere else.

The letter, which was also signed by Republican lawmakers Buddy Carter (Ga.), Dan Crenshaw (Texas), Byron Donalds (Fla.), Nancy Mace (S.C.), Andy Ogles (Tenn.), and Scott Perry (Penn.), further encourages Blinken to assuage both Taiwanese and American concerns about delays in shipments of weapons to the island.

Taiwan Key to US Security in Indo-Pacific



Asked about the letter, Tiffany said the Biden administration needed to increase engagement with Taiwan or else risk damaging vital U.S. interests in favor of appeasing China without apparent benefit.

Taiwan is a key U.S. economic and security partner in the region, Tiffany told The Epoch Times.

Avoiding high-level coordination and communication to try and appease Beijing doesnt reduce tensions in the region, it only encourages more Chinese bullying and brinksmanship.

The issue of U.S. communications with Taiwan has been a sticking point in Sino-American relations since then-President Richard Nixon first visited China in 1972.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which rules China as a single-party state, claims democratic Taiwan is part of its territory. The regime has never controlled any part of Taiwan, but CCP officials have nevertheless vowed to start a war to ensure the islands de facto independence is not recognized internationally.

Since 1979, the United States has maintained an uncomfortable balance in its relations with China and Taiwan.

On the one hand, the United States formally recognizes but does not endorse the CCPs claims to Taiwan. As such, it does not maintain formal ties with the island government, though it does have deep economic ties there.

On the other hand, the United States does maintain legal obligations to sell Taiwan the weapons it needs to defend its de facto independence from CCP aggression. Washington also maintains agreements with Beijing that neither side shall attempt to unilaterally change this status quo.

Despite the lack of formal ties, the United States and Taiwan have enjoyed robust informal dialogues for decades. Tiffany believes the Biden administration is overly eager to appease the CCP by slowing down such informal ties.

It has been U.S. policy for many years to encourage and facilitate meetings between senior U.S. officials and their counterparts in Taiwan, Tiffany said.

By ignoring that policy and operating under outdated, self-imposed restrictions, the Biden administration is allowing the CCP to dictate who American leaders can and cant talk to, and that is wrong.

The letter also encourages Blinken to visit Taiwan to assuage any unease arising from U.S. failures to deliver weapons systems that the island has purchased.

There is currently a $14 billion backlog of weapons systems that Taiwan has purchased from the United States but has still not received. Some of those orders go as far back as 2019.

For Tiffany, a Blinken stopover in Taiwan would greatly ease Taipeis worries and could go a long way in creating transparency for Taiwanese and American officials regarding what the Biden administration is doing to solve the problem.

Taiwan has demonstrated an enduring commitment to their own national defense through regular arms purchases, so when the deliveries of those systems are delayed, thats deeply concerning, Tiffany said.

Policymakers on both sides of the Pacific deserve a clear explanation about what is holding up these transfers, and what the Biden administration is doing to solve the problem.

L-R) Then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi participates in a ceremonial swearing-in with new Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.), with wife Christine, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on May 19, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Blinken Trip Counterproductive and Dangerous

Blinken is currently scheduled to meet with senior Chinese officials during a series of talks in Beijing on June 18 and 19. He will seek to reestablish regular communications between the United States and the CCP regime.

The visit is part of a larger effort by the Biden administration to erect guardrails around the two powers increasingly bitter competition, according to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

Intense competition requires intense and tough diplomacy to ensure that competition does not veer into confrontation or conflict, and thats what we intend for this visit, Miller said during a June 14 press briefing.

Miller added that Blinken would seek to achieve three broad objectives in Beijing: reestablishing normal communications, championing U.S. values and interests, and identifying potential avenues for mutual cooperation.

The visit comes during a CCP-imposed blackout of military-to-military communications between the two powers, which U.S. officials say risks a catastrophic miscalculation that could lead to conflict.

Some in Congress, like Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), believe that the Blinken trip could do well in resetting those lines of communication and easing tensions.

I hope that we can create some level of communication, particularly on the defense side, so that we can deconflict, Menendez told The Epoch Times.

Right now, the Chinese military leadership is unwilling to engage with ours, and thats a problem, especially with the risky behavior that theyve taken.

Many in Congress, however, consider the administrations push for talks without preconditions to be ill-advised, particularly given the rise in CCP military aggression in the region and the regimes continued campaign of spying and repression against ethnic Chinese living in the United States.

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), who chairs the bipartisan Select Committee on the CCP, is among them.

The attempts by the administration to revive engagement after its failed for 20 years, I just dont know what that achieves other than to force us to slow walk certain defensive actions, Gallagher told NTD, a sister media outlet of The Epoch Times.

My view is [Blinken] shouldnt be going right now, particularly in light of the revelations we saw last week about a CCP investment in Cuba for a massive spying station right in our own neighborhood.

To that end, Gallagher said the Blinken-China visit would not do anything to meaningfully help the United States in its competition with China and could even set U.S. security back.

Time and time again, engagement, particularly engagement just for the sake of engagement, has undermined the urgency we need to actually win the competition, Gallagher said.

The fact that the Biden administration is revising diplomatic and economic engagement as a core pillar of our grand strategy, I think, is counterproductive and dangerous.

Others in Congress view the trip as a wasted opportunity. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), for example, told The Epoch Times that Blinkens visit had great potential but would likely amount to nothing more than the administration kowtowing to China.

I hope that what [Blinken] accomplishes is he goes over there and tells them that the trade deficit is unacceptable. Were not going to allow them to cheat anymore on trade, were not gonna allow them to steal our jobs, and were gonna get that deficit down to zero, Hawley said.

But thats not what hes going to do. Hes going to go over there and beg and grovel.

A State Department official declined to comment on the letter, saying the department does not comment on Congressional correspondence.

Jackson Richman and Melina Wisecup contributed to this report.
Expert Calls for South Korea to Strengthen Intellectual Property Protection Against China Theft

Beijings Thousand Talents program is a front for Chinese industrial espionage

South Korea and China's flags flutter next to Tiananmen Gate in Beijing on Dec. 15, 2017. (Jason Lee/Reuters)

In recent years, Beijings efforts of technology theft were exposed one after another, primarily through its talent acquisition program called the Thousand Talents Plan. Many of those involved in the scheme, Chinese or foreigners, were subjected to legal consequences in the victimized countries.

However, analysts believe South Korea, in particular, has long lacked vigilance in preventing technology theft.

Just as the government announced on June 7 that it would toughen punishment for technology theft, a case was reported that same day.

The Seoul Police Department said they arrested a researcher of Chinese descent on charges of stealing about 10,000 files of advanced medical robot technology while operating in South Korea.

The accused, Mr. A, whose real name was not disclosed by the authorities, was charged with violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Act, according to Korean prosecutors.

Mr. A allegedly stole the data during his work at a research institute affiliated with a large hospital in Seoul from 2015 to 2020 and leaked them to China. The stolen files include technologies such as a cardiovascular intervention surgery assistance robot.

South Korean police revealed that Mr. A stole and leaked the core data for medical robot technology to China. The technology is reportedly about to be commercialized and has a market value of more than 600 billion won (about $4.7 billion). The Korean government reportedly invested 10 billion won (about $7.8 million) in its development.

Mr. A was reported to have worked at hospitals and robotics-related research institutes for more than 10 years. He was arrested at Incheon International Airport in March during his reentry. The police had also imposed a travel ban and initiated a non-custodial investigation into Mr. A, local media reported.

One report said the data leaked by Mr. A is not part of South Koreas national core technology, so the Industrial Technology Protection Act likely wont apply. Therefore, his punishment will not be severe if only found guilty of violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Act.

This wanted poster is displayed at the Justice Department in Washington on May 19, 2014. Then-Attorney General Eric Holder announced that a U.S. grand jury charged five Chinese hackers with economic espionage and trade secret theft, the first-of-its-kind criminal charges against Chinese military officials in an international cyber-espionage case. (AP Photo)

Chinas Thousand Talents Plan

The authorities found that Mr. A was part of the Chinese regimes Thousand Talents Plan (TTP) and reportedly received subsidies from Beijing. This program offers up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in incentives for overseas professionals to research and work in China for some time each year. It is widely criticized as a front for mass-producing Chinese industrial espionage.

The Korean intelligence authorities said they suspected that Mr. A came to South Korea intending to steal the technology [and leak it] to China.

This was not the first case of technology theft in South Korea related to the TTP program.

In 2020, a professor from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) was arrested and tried for charges of leaking research data related to Lidar, a technology used in autonomous driving vehicles. Lidar is known as the eye of autonomous driving and is the core technology of self-driving cars. The professor was found to have participated in the TTP and received about 3.3 billion won (about $2.5 million) in funding from Beijing.

The professor was later sentenced to two years in prison with a three-year suspended sentence.

Average of 1.6 Tech Leaks per Month

South Korea experiences frequent technology leakages, accompanied by massive losses.

According to data from the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) released on June 8, citing the Korean National Intelligence Service, at least 93 technologies have leaked overseas over the past five years, with an average of 1.6 leaks per month, mostly from critical industries such as semiconductors, rechargeable batteries, and autonomous vehicles.

The FKI on Oct. 27, 2022, released a survey it conducted on 26 industry security experts. About 85 percent of the respondents said the level of South Koreas protection of its advanced technology was weaker than that of the United States, while the countrys research and development capabilities are on par with its rival nations.

Based on the experts estimates, the report said the average annual damage caused by industrial technology leaks, including overseas leaks, is about $40 billion, equivalent to 2.7 percent of South Koreas GDP in 2021 and 60.4 percent of the countrys total R&D expenditure in 2020.

Meanwhile, 92.3 percent of the experts believe that China is the country that South Korea should be most wary of regarding leaks.

Punishment Is Too Light

The South Korean government has been criticized for its light punishment of technology leaks.

FKI data shows that in 2021, there were 33 first-instance criminal trials for violating the Industrial Technology Protection Act, of which 60.6 percent were acquitted, 27.2 percent were sentenced to probation, and 6.1 percent received prison sentences.

The FKI pointed out that although South Korea has stipulated penalties for crimes regarding intellectual property theft, the actual punishment is insufficient because the sentencing standards are lower than the statutory penalties.

It is necessary to raise the sentencing standards and establish different sentencing standards for the leakage of national core technologies and general commercial secrets, FKI said in the report.

Lee Yuanhua, a China expert and former associate professor of history education at Chinas Capital Normal University, echoed the FKIs assessment.

The reason why South Korean technologies are frequently stolen by the Chinese Communist Party [CCP] is that the punishment is too light, Lee told The Epoch Times on June 9, adding that the countrys laws and regulations for technology protection are lax.

However, he emphasized that Beijings frequent success in stealing South Korean technologies shows that Korea does not truly understand the nature of the CCP and lacks vigilance against those with CCP-affiliated backgrounds operating in South Korea.

He also pointed out that because China is South Koreas largest trading partner, South Korea has always prioritized its economy and ignored the issue of technology theft.

Technology theft prevention is lax, and the punishment is inconsequential compared to the huge profits gained. This makes thieving all the more rampant, Lee added.

However, according to a JoongAng Daily report in May, the Yoon Suk-yeol government plans to start a large-scale crackdown on industrial espionage in the near future.

Amid the fierce technology competition, South Koreas core technology continues to leak to places like China, but the previous government has always taken painless punishment measures. President Yoon realized the seriousness of the problem  will begin [working on] the sentencing standards in the near future, an unnamed aide in the Korean presidential office reportedly told the newspaper.

Kane Zhang contributed to this report.
Federal Government Tells Automakers to Not Comply With Massachusetts Automotive Law

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) told carmakers that Massachusetts right to repair law conflicts with and therefore is preempted by federal car safety legislation. The announcement on June 14 may effectively end the states controversial automotive law that required car manufacturers to give drivers access to telematic vehicle data. The Massachusetts Data Access Law has been facing legal challenges since voters approved it via referendum in 2020.

Supporters of the law said it would greatly enhance access to vehicle information and give consumers more choices when they need repairs.

Massachusetts Attempts to Provide Sensitive Vehicle Info to Improve Efficiency

The legislation required that carmakers selling vehicles in Massachusetts give consumers and independent repair shops wireless access to a cars telematics, which is the digital information used to diagnose its performance.

Independent repair shops would be just as capable of fixing vehicles as authorized dealers if given access to telematics.

Technical data for all models of cars had to be given to independent auto mechanics not employed by the automakers and thus grant them access to sensitive information from millions of vehicles.

Carmakers have yet to provide telematic data to comply with the law, which has been tied up in court since it was enacted.

Kia and Subaru have reportedly stopped activating telematic services on their cars sold in Massachusetts to avoid violating federal statutes, but there were no reports that state officials have taken action against the two companies.

In a letter to 22 carmakers, the NHTSA said that complying with the law would violate federal legislation since it could make it easier for criminal hackers to interfere with sensitive data stored in vehicles or even allow them to take control of them remotely. It explained that the law poses significant safety concerns because granting more access to telematic vehicle data could allow for the manipulation of vehicle steering, acceleration, breaks, and airbags.

A malicious actor here or abroad could utilize such open access to remotely command vehicles to operate dangerously, including attacking multiple vehicles concurrently, wrote Kerry Kolodziej, NHTSA assistant chief counsel for litigation and enforcement.

Vehicle crashes, injuries, or deaths are foreseeable outcomes of such a situation, he explained.

Kolodziej stated that the NHTSAs opinion supersedes the state law and expects vehicle manufacturers to fully comply with their Federal safety obligations.

Right-to-Repair Laws Face National Setback

The fight over the right to repair has been going on across the country over increasingly complex products that rely on electronic components, such as smartphones, farm tractors, and cars.

The order was immediately slammed by independent auto repair shops and other groups that pushed for the reform at the ballot box, with 75 percent of voters in favor.

NHTSAs letter angered Tommy Hickey, Director of the Right to Repair Coalition, which was a prime mover in enacting the Massachusetts law.

On behalf of two million voters and thousands of independent auto repair shops across Massachusetts, we are outraged by the unsolicited, unwarranted, and counterproductive letter from NHTSA, Hickey said in a statement.

This is yet another delay tactic the manufacturers are using to thwart the will of their customers, Massachusetts voters who voted 75-25 in favor of their right to get their car repaired where they choose.

Hickey said that the Justice Department previously refused to assert the right to preempt the state law.

However, the DOJ submission of the NHTSA letter to the Boston federal court suggests that the government concluded that federal law takes precedence.

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell refrained from enforcing the law until June 1, while its implementation was delayed by the challenges in court.
Federal Watchdogs to Investigate Offshore Wind Turbines Amid Surge in Marine Wildlife Deaths

An independent congressional watchdog organization has agreed to a congressmans request for an investigation into the impact of offshore wind development in New Jersey amid a surge in marine wildlife deaths.

Rep. Chris Smith issued statement on June 15 that the Government Accountability Office (GAO)a nonpartisan agency that conducts investigations for Congresswill be examining how the construction of coastal wind turbines is affecting the environment and the fishing industry, as well as military operations and navigational safety.

This aggressive, independent investigation into the ocean-altering impacts of the 3,400 offshore wind turbines slated for the Jersey Shore will help address the wide-ranging questions and concerns that the Biden Administration and Governor Murphy continue to dismiss as they plow full steam ahead with this unprecedented offshore wind industrialization of our shore, Smith said. It is absolutely critical that New Jersey residents understand all the impacts of these offshore wind projects  before its too late.

Smith and three colleaguesReps. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), Andy Harris (R-Md.), and Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.)sent a May letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro requesting that the GAO conduct a study on wind energy development in the North Atlantic Planning Area (pdf).

The North Atlantic Planning Area, which encompasses the waters off the eastern coast of the United States, has seen significant activity related to offshore wind energy development in recent years and several offshore wind projects are currently underway in this area, the letter states.

Smith also introduced an amendment to legislation titled the Lower Energy Costs Act that requested a study to investigate growing concerns, among those concerns being dead whales washing onto the shore.

Like canaries in coal mines, the recent spate of tragic whale and dolphin deaths and a well-founded suspicion that geophysical surveys including the use of sonar may be a contributing cause, has brought new light and increased scrutiny to the fast-tracking of approximately 3,400 offshore wind turbines covering 2.4 million acres by 2030more after that by 2040all embedded into the ocean floor by pile drivers in the North Atlantic Planning Area that includes New Jerseys coast, Smith said on the House floor in March.

Members of the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance practice a necropsy on the carcass of a humpback whale at Lido Beach in Long Island, N.Y., on Jan. 31, 2023. (Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images)

Absence of Environmental Advocacy Organizations

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), since December, 39 whales and 37 dolphins have washed up on beaches along the East Coast.

Though Republican lawmakers have called for a moratorium on wind farm construction, New Jersey state Sen. Michael Testa told Fox News that organizations like the Sierra Club and Greenpeace are fighting the pause to construct wind farms.

I always thought that those groups were there to protect the whales and create bumper stickers that say, Save the Whales, and I think that theyre being completely intellectually disingenuous here, Testa said. We know that if this were an exploration for offshore oil drilling that if one whale carcass were to wash up on one of New Jerseys shores, they would be surrounding that carcass, holding hands with tears streaming down their face singing kumbaya.'

According to Testa, these organizations argue that climate change, not the wind industry, is causing the record number of whale and dolphin deaths.

If you ever question their green energy agenda, youre labeled a science denier, a climate change denier, and it just shows how despicable they really can be, Testa said.

In 2021, the U.S. Department of Interior announced that the Biden administration opened up the U.S. coastline to the offshore wind industry to come in and start building.

According to Secretary of Interior Deb Haalland, the goal is to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.

The Interior Department is laying out an ambitious roadmap as we advance the Administrations plans to confront climate change, create good-paying jobs, and accelerate the nations transition to a cleaner energy future, Haaland said in a statement. This timetable provides two crucial ingredients for success: increased certainty and transparency. Together, we will meet our clean energy goals while addressing the needs of other ocean users and potentially impacted communities. We have big goals to achieve a clean energy economy and Interior is meeting the moment.

Waves come in around a beached humpback whale in Pacifica, Calif., on May 5, 2015. (Eric Risberg/AP Photo)

Arlo Hemphill, Greenpeaces senior oceans campaigner, told The Epoch Times there is no evidence linking offshore wind to whale deaths.

The manufactured hysteria is the result of fake news promoted by politicians, big oil, and their cronies to save the oil and gas industry, which is fueling the climate crisis, destroying biodiversity, harming peoples health, and hastening social injustice, he said.

Instead, Hemphill said NOAA has attributed the cause of whale strandings to human interaction as the primary cause of death, which includes ship-strike injuries, entanglement in fishing nets, and ingestion of marine plastic pollution.

We must not allow baseless accusations to stall the transition to green, renewable energy or address the true threats to whale populations, Hemphill said.

The Epoch Times also contacted the Sierra Club and NOAA for comment.

A Deaf Whale Is a Dead Whale

Meghan Lapp, a commercial fisherman in Rhode Island who also works in fishery management, told Fox News that whale deaths caused by wind turbines arent unprecedented.

In the UK at the height of their offshore wind activity in 2018, one thousand whales died and washed up dead on UK beaches, and when people started to make the connection between offshore wind and dead whales, the government and the media and the offshore wind industry quashed it and people began to think, Well, this is just normal, Lapp said. It is not normal.

In 2019, environmental groups in Taiwan began protesting the wind industry because whales were reported to be swimming in circles before washing on shore, where they were found to be deaf, which Lapp said isnt being investigated as it should be, because a deaf whale is a dead whale.

Lapp said that its the geotechnical surveying of the ocean floor that is emitting intense sound at the floor of the ocean which is disorientating whales.

This mass surveying of the ocean floors, as well as the droning sound put off by the constructed turbines, interrupt the navigation of the whales that communicate primarily by low-frequency sound.

This Is Alarming

Clean Ocean Action (COA) issued a petition on June 15 demanding that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management extend the public review and comment period for two offshore wind projects from 45 days to six months.

These projects will have serious consequences for the public use and enjoyment of the ocean, as well as significant consequences to marine life, COA said. Ample time is needed to carefully and comprehensively review these projects. People who will be impacted most directly by these projects earn their living along the shore during the summer season.

People walk down the beach to take a look at a dead whale in Lido Beach, N.Y., on Jan. 31, 2023. (Seth Wenig/AP Photo)

At a press conference on Funtown Beach in Seaside Park, New Jersey, Kari Martin, an advocacy campaign manager with COA, said that given the unprecedented death of whales and industrial activity in the ocean, its baffling that theres no investigation or transparency.

Our federal agencies so boldly and confidently contend that offshore wind energyone of the activities happening offshore nowhas nothing to do with the deaths of these marine mammals, Martin said. They provided no evidence.

Despite federal agencies claims, Martin said the same agencies have admitted that noise is a major factor contributing to marine mammal harm.

This is alarming, as the impacts on marine life from noise are only going to grow and intensify with an increased amount of activity related to offshore wind activities as well as other threats, Martin said.
Florida Man Executed for 1984 Killings of Teenage Babysitter, Mother of 2

STARKE, Fla.A Florida man was executed Thursday for killing a 14-year-old babysitter and a 38-year-old mother of two in separate attacks months apart in 1984 while children were sleeping in the homes he targeted.

Duane Owen was pronounced dead at 6:14 p.m. after a lethal injection at Florida State Prison, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis office. One of Floridas longest-held death row inmates, Owen was 23 at the time of the attacks and 62 when he was executed.

Owen declined to make a final statement. The procedure began at 6:01 p.m., with Owens arms twitching and his breathing becoming heavier as the sedative took effect. The warden made sure Owen was unconscious before before lethal drugs were administered.

Owen was sentenced to death for the March 24, 1984, rape and fatal stabbing of Karen Slattery, 14, and for the rape and deadly hammer attack two months later on Georgianna Worden, 38. Both killings occurred in Palm Beach County.

Authorities said Owen attacked two other women in Palm Beach County who survived. All four attacks occurred just before and after Owens 23rd birthday. Of the more than 290 people on Floridas death row, Owen was one of the longest held there.

Besides his death sentences, he also had received six life sentences.

Several family members of the victims witnessed the execution. No one in the witness room spoke, but after the execution, Slatterys younger sister, Debbi Johnson, who sat in the front row, called Owen a coward.

He didnt open his eyes, Johnson said. I know because I looked at them.

Johnson, who works as a deputy in the Florida Keys, was 10 years old when her sister died.

With this rain today, I was really hoping I was going to see a rainbow, Johnson said. Because thats what my mom always said, Whenever you see a rainbow, thats Karen smiling down on us. Theres no rainbow, but the rain will stop, and shell come through in her own way.

Johnson said closure is a myth, but justice is real.

The state of Florida said he was supposed to die by lethal injection, and that is exactly what happened today, Johnson said. He served his sentence. The end.

Debbi Johnson, whose older sister was raped and fatally stabbed in 1984, speaks to reporters after the execution of the sisters killer on June 15, 2023. (Brendan Farrington/AP Photo)

It was Floridas fourth execution this year after a hiatus in which there were none since 2019. Gov. DeSantis, a Republican, signed each of the death warrants in the months before announcing he was running for president.

Slattery was repeatedly stabbed and raped in a home in Delray Beach while two children in her care were sleeping. The children werent harmed during the attack.

Two months later, in May 1984, Worden was sleeping in her Boca Raton home when Owen struck her several times with a hammer and raped her, according to court records. One of Wordens children found her body the next morning while getting ready for school, according to the record.

Delray Beach and Boca Raton are both about 50 miles north of Miami, in Palm Beach County.

Owens lawyers had argued that he shouldnt be executed on grounds of insanity. The state Supreme Court rejected his latest appeal last week and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected it Wednesday.

Owens lawyers had also argued that he was schizophrenic and suffered from delusions.

Prosecutors had argued that while Owen had mental health issues, nothing would preclude his being executed because he was aware it was punishment for his crimes. Psychiatrists for the state testified that Owens schizophrenia was an act that he discussed when being evaluated, but he otherwise showed no signs of the illness.

And while the defense had argued Owen had dementia and gender dysphoria, psychiatrists for the state said Owen had a good memory, didnt appear to present himself as female and that gender dysphoria doesnt make people more aggressive or cause delusional thinking. They said instead that Owen was sexually sadistic, according to court records.

By Brendan Farrington
The regulatory challenges facing crypto exchange Binance continue to mount, now from Europe.

French newspaper Le Monde today reported that Binance is under investigation by the judicial finance investigation service under the direction of the specialized interregional jurisdiction of Paris (JIRS) for illegal acts relating to the function of service provider on digital assets, as well as "aggravated money laundering."

Crypto media site CoinDesk reported that it had confirmed the allegations with the Paris public prosecutor's office.

The JIRS is a specialized judicial body in France that investigates cases of national significance or those that transcend regional boundaries, such as corruption, terrorism, financial crimes, drug trafficking, and other serious crimes.

Le Monde reported that Binance was suspected of having failed to carry out appropriate know-your-customer (KYC) checks, and of having illegally advertised within France before it received appropriate licenses from the country's financial regulator, Autorite des marches financiers (AMF), to operate as a digital asset service provider in May 2022.

According to CoinDesk, the Paris public prosecutor revealed that a JIRS investigation was referred to the Service d'Enquetes Judiciaires des Finances (SEJF), a government body with oversight of financial crime, in February 2022. A search reportedly took place last week to collect documents and digital materials, which are now the subject of an in-depth study.

En France, les inspections sur site des regulateurs et des inspecteurs font partie des obligations reglementaires auxquelles toutes les institutions financieres doivent se conformer. Nous avons eu une visite sur site la semaine derniere par les autorites competentes. Binance,  David Princay (@davidprincay) June 16, 2023

Binance France president David Princay confirmed on Twitter that the exchange was visited by the authorities last week, stating that, "In France, on-site inspections by regulators and inspectors are part of the regulatory obligations that all financial institutions must comply with."

Princay added that Binance "has been fully collaborative and fully met obligations," and that the exchange will "continue to work closely with regulators and law enforcement agencies on all ongoing compliance requirements to maintain high standards."

Decrypt has reached out to Binance for comment.

Binances mounting legal woes

Binance CEO Changpeng "CZ" Zhao had previously praised France for its "pro-crypto" regulatory stance, adding that the country is "uniquely positioned to be the leader of this industry in Europe."

On June 5, CZ tweeted on June 5 that the exchange "obtained the ISO 27001 (information security) and the ISO 27701 (data privacy) certifications in France, UAE, and Bahrain.

Binance to Leave Netherlands After Failing to Acquire VASP License

Elsewhere in Europe, Binance called it quits in the Netherlands today after failing to register as a VASP despite exploring "many alternative avenues to service Dutch residents in compliance with Dutch regulations," the exchange said in a press release.

Last week, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Binance and its CEO for offering unregistered securities, failing to restrict U.S. investors from accessing Binance.com, and operating as an unregistered exchange, broker, and clearing agency.
Former Conservative Leader Erin OToole Steps Into Top Role at Global Strategy Firm

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole speaks during a media availability in West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Jan. 27, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

Former Conservative leader Erin OToole has been named as the president and managing director of risk advisory firm ADIT North America.

The firm provides services to companies, investment funds and agencies that operate or invest globally.

It describes itself as specializing in strategic intelligence, business diplomacy, due diligence, security and compliance.

The regional branch of the Paris-based firm that OToole will helm encompasses operations in both Canada and Mexico.

OToole, who served in the cabinet of former prime minister Stephen Harper, announced in March that he would not return to the House of Commons after the summer break.

He was leader of the Conservative party from August 2020 until February 2022, when the Tory caucus voted him out after a disappointing result in the last federal election.
Former Los Angeles High School Dean Arrested in Alleged Sexual Assault

WATTS, Calif.A 43-year-old man was arrested for allegedly pursuing a sexual relationship with an underage female student at a Watts high school where he once worked as a dean, and police June 15 urged other potential victims to come forward.

Roger Scott was arrested and booked last Thursday on suspicion of contacting a minor with knowledge and intent to commit specific sexual offenses, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). His bail was set at $25,000, which he posted the same day, according to jail records.

Detectives received a report from a female student alleging that Scott continuously sent her inappropriate text messages and emails and attempted to pursue her for sexual intercourse over two years, police said.

According to the department, Scott was a dean at a high school in the 9700 block of Holmes Avenue. That school appears to be College Bridge Academys Watts campus. It is a charter school with four locations.

Scotts employment was terminated in November 2022, police said, but it was unclear that was due to the sexual misconduct allegations.

Police released a public image of Scott and believe that there are potential additional victims who have not come forward. Anyone with information or victims who may want to come forward can contact LAPD Southeast Area detectives at 213-972-7851. Tipsters who choose to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
Franchise Businesses, DEI, and Wall Street: FTC to the Rescue?

Huge changes are coming to the franchise business industry. None of it good.

Commentary

The promise of franchise businesses is that any schmuck with the money to buy one, the grit to do it, and the extraordinary work ethic required to run a business can be successfuland even become wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. No highfalutin Ivy League college degree (let alone an MBA!) to succeed in business; not even a high school diploma. All you need is a license from a franchisor and an operating manual.

And for generations of would-be entrepreneurs, that was the case. And the model made hundreds of thousands of them multimillionaires. A few have even become billionaires!

A One-Sided Partnership

But the franchise model has always favored the franchisor over the franchisee. The franchisee makes the investment, does all the work, takes nearly all of the risk, and pays the franchise feetypically a percentage of the gross receiptsalways. No matter what. As one franchisors executive told Time Magazine in 1973, Were just like the Mafia; we skim it right off the top.

The franchisee also surrenders the rights to their own innovative genius. McDonalds has earned billions of dollars from the Egg McMuffin, Filet-o-Fish, and Big Mac sandwiches, all of which were first created by franchisees, sometimes to the less-than-tepid reception of the franchisor. Ray Kroc, the entrepreneur who built McDonalds into a global empire, is said to have told Lou Groen, the inventor of the Filet-o-Fish, Youre always coming up here with a bunch of crap! I dont want my stores stunk up with the smell of fish! Today, some 300 million Filet-o-Fish sandwiches are sold annually, adding some $2 billion in sales per year to McDonalds registers.

If Groen was treated like the franchisee innovators who gave McDonalds the Egg McMuffin or the Big MacHerb Peterson and Jim Delligatti, respectivelyhe received nothing more than an acknowledgment for the billions of dollars those innovations brought to the chains cash registers. Kroc called Petersons egg sandwich a crazy idea and Delligatti had to fight for his triple-decker sandwich and even violate corporate directives to use a sesame seed bun from a local baker. Even the name Big Mac was dreamt up by a lowly secretary, despite McDonalds being staffed by a whole platoon of marketers.

One doesnt have to be a lawyer to see the franchisorfranchisee arrangement is a one-sided deal.

One former franchisee in the ice cream business said the following:

Once I heard them call (franchisees  Ed.) suckers and not one of the key corp leaders owned a store. Corporates attitude was allow the franchise to make as little money as possible and take as many rebates as possible from the vendors. They considered the franchisee as workers.

Enter the FTC

Roughly three months ago, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a Request for Information (RFI) expressing its interest in learning more about the means by which franchisors exert control over franchisees and their workers. Specifically, the FTC is interested in how franchisors disclose certain aspects and contractual provisions of the franchise relationship. (but also) about the scope, application, and effect of certain contractual provisions and aspects of the franchise relationship.

In announcing the RFI, the FTC seemed to be referencing another aspect of some popular franchises.

Amidst growing concern around unfair and deceptive practices in the franchise industry, the FTC hopes to hear from a broad range of stakeholders about how the franchise relationship is working, and how it is not, officials said. Its clear that, at least in some instances, the promise of franchise agreements as engines of economic mobility and gainful employment is not being fully realized. (Emphasis is mine.)

The RFI came about 18 months after the nations largest restaurant franchisor, McDonalds, settled a lawsuit by the nations largest black McDonalds franchisee, who had alleged red-lining of restaurants, the practice of keeping black-owned franchises in mostly black neighborhoods, where revenues tend to be less and expenses for things like insurance and security are higher. Over 50 other black plaintiffs who had made similar allegations had their suits dismissed. But just a week before the chain settled with the largest black franchisee, it had announced a $250,000,000 program to provide alternatives to traditional financing, to help prospective franchisees who may face socio-economic barriers, as McDonalds described them.

Its an open question as to how the FTCs enhanced interest in franchised businesses will play out, and particularly how it will play out among minority franchisees and incumbent franchisees who may find their franchise renewals jeopardized by franchisors who are trying to increase emphasis on DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion). Wall Street hedge funds have emphasized social credit among their investment criteria and franchisors have obliged. Several incumbent McDonalds franchisees, for example, have expressed fear of losing their franchises.

Already, franchised businesses seem to be discriminating in favor of targeted minorities by offering them an array of financial incentives to sign agreements. Ben & Jerrys Ice Cream, for example, reportedly waives the franchise fee and rebates the first year of franchise fees for prospective minority franchisees. It also waives the transferor fee of incumbent franchisees if they sell to minorities. Other franchised businesses offer benefits to additional categories of preferred minorities, including women, veterans, and even members of the LGBT community who are not available to other prospective operators.

Summary

The franchisor has always had the upper hand over the franchisee in franchise negotiations, so I welcome reasonable FTC efforts to level the playing field in negotiations beyond take it or leave it. Any exploitation of franchisees should be prohibited by the FTC to advance the fair trade the agency promotes. I also welcome efforts to set guardrails against onerous and unilateral obligations placed on the franchisee without the franchisees input. Finally, franchisees like the late Jim Delligatti, who engage in the kind of shop floor innovation that gave us the McDonalds Big Mac, but who must first obtain the franchisors approval in order to sell their innovation, should have FTC protections. They should be able to protect their innovation and negotiate just compensation for themselves and not simply have to surrender rights to the franchisor. (And, yes, as someone whose innovation as an employee once reduced process time from several skilled man-weeks to a few unskilled man-hours, I feel the same about innovations created by employees.)

Finally, I would welcome closer scrutiny by the FTC, the Department of Labor, and the Justice Department Civil Rights Division of all these efforts that purport to enhance diversity among franchisees. Some of them reek of the kind of discrimination that is clearly illegal under federal employment law. While there is certainly an argument to be made that a franchisee is not really an employee, franchisors hold out their licenses to all comers and then select among those best qualified by their financial means and skills. But weighing opportunity for, perhaps, millions of dollars in income, more heavily for (or against) a franchise applicants immutable characteristics seems overtly unfair and un-American. A Supreme Court decision pertaining to race-based admissions, Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, that is expected to be rendered this month or next should shed light on the legality of such preferences.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Gen Z Climate Change Activists Call on the Court to Force Montana to Go Green

A group of Gen Z climate change activists is calling on the court to force the Montana government to go green in a fight over the states climate laws and regulations.

In Held v. Montana, 16 kids, ranging from ages 5 to 22, from across Montana argue that state legislators have put the interests of the states fossil fuel industry over their climate future.

Montanas governor, attorney general, and the Republican supermajorities of both houses previously tried to stop the lawsuit from going to court but failed. The government is still determined to produce oil, gas, and coal and keep the fossil fuel industry running.

The young activist is represented by Our Childrens Trust, which filed the climate lawsuit on behalf of the young plaintiffs, and is the first case in Montana to go to trial, which is set to last two weeks.

Climate change activists hold signs while taking part in a climate protest in Los Angeles, on May 24, 2019. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

The lawsuits primary focus is on a part of the Montana Constitution that was added in 1972 that states, The state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations.

The state and each person shall maintain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations, reads Article 9, and those pivotal words clean and healthful environment are also guaranteed separately in the states bill of rights.

This case is about the equal rights of children, attorney Roger Sullivan said in his opening argument in Held vs. Montana earlier this week, and their need now for extraordinary protection from the extraordinary dangers of fossil fuel pollution and climate crisis that their state government is exposing them to.

Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a new law in May that bars regulators like the Montana Department of Environmental Quality from looking at the climate impacts of proposed projects that should have environmental reviews, like coal mines or power plants.

Montana Renewables is a great example of whats possible when there arent unnecessary sideboards on innovation. The result is a healthier environment, greater opportunity for our ag producers, and more good-paying jobs in Cascade County, Gianforte said in a statement. Well continue to champion pro-jobs, pro-business policies to support cutting-edge, job-creating businesses like Calumet.

During the trial, the young kids have each taken the stand and testified how the effects of a warming planet are already causing them physical, emotional, and financial pain.

You know, its really scary seeing what you care for disappear right in front of your eyes, Sariel, a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, said after describing how the loss of consistent snow affects everything from native plants to tribal traditions.

Do you believe the state of Montana has a responsibility to protect this land for you? a lawyer asked Sariel, who is being referred to only by her first name. Yes, I do, she replied in a soft voice. Its not only written in our constitution, an inherent right to a healthy land and environment, but also about being decent.

Sariel also detailed how the climate changes to Montanas environment directly impact her Tribal identity.

The way we identify ourselves as Salish people, sqelixw, the root word translates to flesh and land, Sandoval said. That really shows the importance of our role as human beings and our connection to the land and the natural environment.

Nate Bellinger, attorney for Our Childrens Trust, said the high-profile trial in a Republican-run state has led to major backlash for the plaintiffs.

Some of them have lost friends and have been criticized by classmates, even teachers in some instances, Bellinger said. The fact that theyve stood up to their government, in the current landscape in Montana, where its really challenging to do that, it really demonstrates a lot of courage and persistence on their part.

Montanas state attorney generals office has slammed the legal efforts by the young teens and dismissed their argument as an ulterior motive.

This case should have never made it to trial, and we look forward to proving that. It would be impossible for the court to grant relief to the plaintiffs that would remedy their alleged injuries. The plaintiffs are just looking for another line in their next documentary, Emilee Cantrell, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Austin Knudsen, said in a statement to NBC News.

An Environmental Protection Agency report from 2016 (pdf) found that climate change over the next few decades would likely decrease the availability of water in Montana, affect agricultural yields, and further increase the risk of wildfires. Montanas glaciers have also been melting rapidly, with the EPA saying several glaciers will likely disappear by 2030 if no change is made.
Gender Critical Professor Forced From Job Raises 160,000 to Sue University

Undated handout of Professor Jo Phoenix who is suing the Open University. (Courtesy of Jo Phoenix)

A respected academic forced to quit her job after being labelled the racist uncle at the dinner table over her gender-critical views, has raised over 160,000 to take her former employer to court.

Prof. Jo Phoenix launched the crowdfunding appeal after leaving her criminologist role at Open University in 2021.

She says her employers failed to protect her from a bullying campaign mounted by colleagues after she expressed views about the silencing of academic debate on transgender issues.

Phoenix, who was the universitys chairman in criminology, claimed she had been made to feel like a pariah by colleagues and was subjected to a campaign of harassment for two years that made her life unbearable.

She is due to give evidence at an employment tribunal set for October this year.

The gender, law, and justice expert hopes the case will set a precedent for universities to better protect female academics from vicious bullying perpetrated by those who disagree with our beliefs on sex and gender.

Thousands of people, including fellow academics, have supported her campaign to raise the six-figure sum needed for legal costs to take the challenge.

Writing on her Crowd Justice page, Phoenix said: We desperately need to show that this type of treatment is unlawful harassment relating to protected gender critical beliefs.

These issues of sex and gender are so important, and we need to be able to talk about and research them without fear of being hounded out of our jobs.

Crushing

The academics legal fight comes just weeks after another university trans row involving Prof. Kathleen Stock.

The feminist academic faced calls to be deplatformed from a debating event at Oxford University last month after LGBT+ students labelled her transphobic.

It led to university chiefs, 40 academic dons, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, publicly defending Stocks right to speak.

During the event, activists stormed the philosophers talk, with one gluing themselves to the floor.

Speaking after the protesters were pulled out of the hall, Stock said she was concerned that institutions listen to the protesters and then become propaganda machines for a particular point of view and everyone else feels they cant say what they want to say.

That is happening, Im afraid, in lots of workplaces and universities, she said.

Writing on her Crowd Justice page last week, Phoenix said Stocks treatment was a perfect case study of why her claim against Open University was important.

Professor Kathleen Stock was invited by Oxford Union to give a talk. There were calls for it to be cancelled.

Oxford University staff and students passed motions, wrote open letters, tweeted condemnatory statements all calling on the Union to disinvite Professor Stock in one way or another.

The [now standard] accusation was that she is a transphobe, she said.

Phoenix described the constant abuse and labelling of gender-critical academics within universities as crushing.

In the documentary Gender Wars (which aired on Channel 4 last week), there was a very poignant moment when Prof Stock said it didnt matter what she says now, there is a contingent of people who have decided that everything she says is transphobic and she cannot dissuade them otherwise.

My heart broke for her and us when she said this. To be labelled and monstered is a dreadful thing. But for there to be such an intellectually and academically poor culture in our universities is crushing.

Kathleen Stock departs followed by security after her talk at the Oxford Union in Oxford, England, on May 30, 2023. (Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)

Rape Survivor

Phoenix began working with the Open University in 2016 which she described as a love match.

I took a massive pay cut to work here, having previously held senior leadership roles including being Dean at Durham University, she said.

This position at the OU was my dream job because adult education is personally so important to me.

When I was 15, I was raped by two men and then endured a rape trial in 1970s Texas.

During this time, I ran away from home and saw more of life than a child should. It was adult education which gave me a way out and allowed me to thrive.

She had been researching sex, gender, and justice for around two decades when she started experiencing issues with her previous employer.

She said things started to go horribly wrong when she expressed views about the silencing of academic debate on trans issues, criticising Stonewalls influence in universities.

I also expressed views that male-bodied prisoners should not be in female prisons, and I set up the Open University Gender Critical Research Network, she said.

As a result, I have been publicly vilified by hundreds of my colleagues in a targeted campaign against members of the Gender Critical Research Network; I have been called transphobic; I have twice been compared to a racist by managers; and I have been silenced and shunned within my department.

I have been made to feel like a pariah and have become very ill as a result, she said.

The academic, who has been diagnosed with acute Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from her bullying ordeal, claims a senior manager referred to her as like the racist uncle at the Christmas dinner table.

When I started to cry, she suggested that if I couldnt cope with it she could put me in touch with counselling services, Phoenix said.

Over 360 of her colleagues signed a public letter condemning Phoenixs Gender Critical Research Network calling for the university to remove all support and funding from the network.

Her name was also circulated online by members of the university on a so-called Terf list.

The derogatory term, which stands for trans exclusionary radical feminist, is aimed at those who believe that identifying as a woman is not the same as being born a woman.

Phoenix felt she had no option but to resign from Open University.

She intends to claim that she has been discriminated against owing to her gender-critical views, which were deemed by a tribunal earlier this year to be a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010.

The Epoch Times contacted Open University for comment but did not receive a response.
GOP Lawmaker Renews Push to Censure Adam Schiff

Before being elected to Congress, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) speaks during the Florida District 13 Congressional Republican Debate in Largo, Fla., on April 6, 2022. (Courtesy of Sovereign Nations)

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) introduced on June 16 another resolution to censure Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), just days after her initial censure resolution was tabled.

The new resolution, a copy of which was obtained by The Epoch Times, is privileged and, therefore, will force a vote on the House floor next week.

The revised resolution looks mostly similar to the initial one, with the biggest difference being that the fresh one does not have a $16 million fine for Schiff were he to be held accountable by the House Ethics Committee, which the resolution would refer him to in order to investigate his alleged falsehoods, misrepresentations, and abuses of sensitive information.

The new resolution, like the tabled one, blasted Schiff, who was the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, for perpetuating the notion there was collusion between former President Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign and Russiawhich was debunked by special counsel Robert Mueller in 2019, Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz later the same year, and special counsel John Durham in May. The $16 million fine is half of the taxpayer cost of the Mueller probe.

Unlike the previous one, the new resolution does not state that Schiff used his position and access to sensitive information to instigate a fraudulently based investigation, which he then used to amass political gain and fundraising dollars.

Twenty Republicans voted with Democrats for the motion to table the resolution as the tally was 225-196:

Rep. Michael Turner (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and Reps. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.), Young Kim (R-Calif.), Steve Womack (R-Ark.), Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Michael Simpson (R-Idaho), David Valadao (R-Calif.), Garret Graves (R-La.), Michael Lawler (R-N.Y.), Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), Kay Granger (R-Texas), Tom Cole (R-Okla.), Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), Thomas Kean Jr. (R-N.J.), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.), Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.), and Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.).

You know, were seeing the downward spiral of the House, which is terrible for the institution, Schiff told reporters following the vote.

I am surprised that she is obsessed with me, he told The Epoch Times.

Schiffs office did not respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times on the new resolution.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy gave credence on June 15 to the 20 House Republicans that joined Democrats in tabling the initial resolution.

I think everybody knows my thoughts of Adam Schiff, McCarthy told The Epoch Times. Thats why I removed him from [the House Intelligence Committee].  You have a number of members on principle that sat and argued for the last four years with President [Donald] Trump that you had to have due process and voted that way. And I think a number of them believe that they should [have] gone to [the House Ethics Committee] first.
GOP Senator Issues Warning to Fox News Over Matt Walshs Allegations About Network

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) warned Fox News that it could risk alienating its viewer base following allegations by Daily Wire writer Matt Walsh that the company is internally promoting pride month and other left-wing initiatives.

This kind of deliberate alienation of its own audience might not end well for Fox News. But for the fact that there is no other large cable news company in America that is widely known as conservative (or even right of center), this account could prove devastating, Lee wrote, responding to a Twitter thread issued by Walsh, where Walsh claimed he obtained internal [documents] from current Fox News employees about the networks LGBT-related initiatives.

Walsh wrote that Fox News, according to the internal documents and screenshots, is supporting a group that gives sterilizing hormones to homeless youth, [and] deployed woke AI to monitor everyone.

Fox News, he alleged, is currently promoting what were described as left-wing organizations that push for child gender transitions, including the Trevor Project, and he said the network encourages employees to read books written by transgender activists that feature explicit content.

Not all Fox employees are happy with this propaganda, Walsh wrote. That might be why, last year, Fox experimented with a solution to monitor employees commitment to DEI. Its an AI platform called Eskalera, which tracks employees commitment to the cult of DEI, he wrote, referring to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Epoch Times has contacted Fox News for comment regarding Walshs claims. The company hasnt publicly responded to Walsh.

Warning

Lee, in a Twitter thread, called on Fox News to issue a public statement if Walshs assertions are incorrect. But, he noted, the move could create opportunities for other right-wing broadcasters to step in.

Fox News has a lot of good talent and produces much-needed, conservative content, Lee told The Daily Signal after his Twitter comments. But if that network turns on its (currently loyal) fan baseand becomes like literally every other broadcast and cable news outletits most avid viewers will go somewhere else, and they will do so quickly, never to return.

In Twitter posts, Walsh made reference to New York City laws that may require employers based in the city to use transgender pronouns, titles, and names of certain individuals. Fox News is headquartered in New York City, and it has a significant presence in California, a Democrat-dominated state.

Do the executives and owners just not know whats happening in their company? he asked. Are they trying to comply with some onerous New York State Law? Do they not care? Do they actually support this nonsense? Fox News audience deserves to know.

An advertisement features Fox News personalities, including Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity, in New York City on March 13, 2019. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The New York City Human Rights Law mandates that employers use pronouns, titles, and the name with which a person identifies, regardless of whether it coincides with their biological sex. That law could be violated if a person intentionally refuses to use the pronouns, names, or titles.

That law also mandates that employees be permitted to use single gender facilities, such as restrooms or locker rooms  that most closely align with their gender, regardless of their gender expression, sex assigned at birth, anatomy, medical history, or the sex or gender indicated on their identification.

In the meantime, Fox released an article on June 14 saying that Fox News Digital continued to dominate online news organizations and generated some 3.1 billion multiplatform minutes, outpacing CNN and The New York Times.

Other Potential Issues

In recent months, Fox News also drew flak on social media after it parted ways with Tucker Carlson, its previously top-rated host, and reportedly sent a cease-and-desist order to his team earlier this month. Neither Fox nor Carlson have publicly addressed the letter, and the network has not responded to an Epoch Times request for comment on the matter.

Carlson has released several videos on Twitter that have drawn tens of millions of viewers in recent days.

Unconfirmed reports from Axios and other outlets say that Carlson is still under contract until early 2025. When Fox News announced Carlsons departure, it said that it was parting ways with Carlson and didnt say he was fired, which some legal analysts say is a key distinction.

There was an announcement that Fox was parting ways with Tucker Carlson, which is an important distinction, employment lawyer Peter Rahbar told the Observer. They didnt say he was terminated. They elected to exercise a clause in most of these contracts for TV personalities.

Rahbar then claimed that Carlson is desperate to get back on air and doesnt want to abide by the contract, adding: What it appears he is doing is knowingly violating his contract by broadcasting his show on Twitter. And hes challenging Fox to do something about it.

Behind the scenes, it means he tried to negotiate an exit, and it didnt work. Hes trying to put pressure on Fox to come to the table, and Fox isnt doing it. I assume the next step in these matters, if he doesnt stop, is probably going to be Fox suing for an injunction, Rahbar said.
Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says that he thinks many of the causes of sexual dysphoria, particularly with boys, are coming from chemical exposure. In particular, he mentioned the widely used herbicide atrazine.

In the June 5 interview, Kennedy and Jordan B. Peterson and Kennedy discussed a wide range of topics including Kennedys presidential bid. When the conversation turned to environmental issues, Kennedy noted that the huge levels of depression seen in todays kids, as well as a lot of the sexual dysphoria that were seeing, may be the result of toxic chemicals.

These kids are swimming through a soup of toxic chemicals today, and many of those are endocrine disruptors, Kennedy said.

Kennedy said that one of the big issues is atrazine, which he says can be found throughout our water supply. He went on to reference a study in which male frogs were exposed to atrazine in a tank, leading to their chemical castration and forced feminization.

Even more concerning, he noted that the study found 10 percent of the male frogs turned into fully viable females, able to produce viable eggs.

If its doing that to frogs, theres a lot of other evidence that its doing it to human beings as well, Kennedy said.

YouTube has since taken the video of the interview down, claiming that it violates the platforms community guidelines. It is available on Rumble, however.

The Science

The study that Kennedy referred to was led by Tyrone B. Hayes, professor of integrative biology at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley. It was published in March 2010 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The study noted that atrazine is one of the most commonly used herbicides in the world, as well as the most commonly detected herbicide contaminant. It taints ground, surface, and drinking water and can travel via rainfall more than 620 miles from its application site.

The authors stressed that the herbicide is a potent endocrine disruptor, even at low levels. Previous studies showed adverse effects that included hermaphroditism, reduced testicular volume, and lowered testosterone. The herbicide is also associated with both the demasculinization and feminization of male amphibians.

The study examined the long-term effects of atrazine on reproductive function in a genetically male population of African clawed frogs.

The male frogs were exposed to 2.5 parts per billion (ppb) of atrazine starting when they were tadpoles and continuing for up to three years after they metamorphosed into adults.

Ninety percent of the atrazine-exposed males appeared male, but suffered from depressed testosterone, decreased breeding gland size, decreased sperm production, feminized laryngeal (vocal) development, suppressed mating behavior, reduced spermatogenesis, and decreased fertility.

Functionally Female Frogs

Significantly, after exposure to atrazine, 10 percent of the genetic males developed into fully functional females with ovaries and viable eggs.

Two of the male-turned-female frogs were mated with control males and produced offspring. Further testing confirmed that these atrazine-exposed male frogs, although now functionally female (having undergone complete feminization) were, in fact, still chromosomal males.

In a 2018 keynote presentation, Hayes explained that exposure to atrazine induces the activation of an enzyme called aromatase. That enzyme converts androgens, which are involved in male sexual development, to different forms of the female hormone estrogen. In the atrazine-exposed frogs, aromatase converted testosterone into estrogen, leading to the feminization of male frogs.

According to Hayes, mammalsincluding humanswill not have the same extreme egg-producing reaction as some reptiles and amphibians do when exposed to atrazine. However, he noted that aromatase induced by atrazine exposure promotes breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Big Pharma, Big Herbicides

In fact, aromatase is so important as a cause of breast cancer that one of the leading treatments for breast cancer is a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor called Letrozole, Hayes said.

The developer of Letrozole is pharmaceutical giant Novartis AG.

Interestingly, in a 2003 toxicological profile, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) lists Novartis Crop Protection Inc. as one of six companies registered to produce products (pdf) containing atrazine.

Novartis Crop Protection was an affiliate of Novartis AG. In 2000, Novartis spun off its Crop Protection and Seeds sectors, merging them with AstraZeneca Agrochemicals to form Syngenta. Today, Syngenta is the chief manufacturer of atrazine, according to the Center for Food Safety. Syngenta was acquired by ChemChina in 2017.

Another study that Hayes mentioned in his presentation was published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 1997. It found that Kentucky women who were exposed to well water with medium to high levels of atrazine had a statistically significant increase in breast cancer risk, as compared with women who did not drink the contaminated well water.

The study notes that the results suggest a relationship between exposure to triazine herbicides and increased breast cancer risk, but conclusions concerning causality cannot be drawn, due to the limitations inherent in ecologic study design.

Per the EPAs website, atrazine is chemically related to two other herbicides, simazine and propazine, which together are called triazines.

Hayes emphasized that his study was not a singular study, but rather a comprehensive body of research.

In fact, 22 independent researchers from several different countries have examined the effects of atrazine exposure on various species including fish, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and birds.

These studies consistently reported similar findings, including the absence of sperm production, demasculinization, and feminization as a result of atrazine exposure, he said.

The 22 scientists consolidated their data, publishing it in a paper titled Demasculinization and Feminization of Male Gonads by Atrazine: Consistent Effects Across Vertebrate Classes in October 2011 in The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Known Harms Reported by US Agencies

In 2003, seven years before the study by Hayes, a detailed toxicological profile of atrazine (pdf) was issued by the ATSDR, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services.

The report cited studies indicating that atrazine affects health in several ways: One of the primary ways that atrazine can affect your health is by altering the way that the reproductive system works.

Atrazine has been shown to cause changes in blood hormone levels in animals that affected the ability to reproduce. Some of the specific effects observed in animals are not likely to occur in humans because of biological differences between humans and these types of animals. However, atrazine may affect the reproductive system in humans by a different mechanism.

Atrazine also caused liver, kidney, and heart damage in animals; it is possible that atrazine could cause these effects in humans. However, the report stated that this possibility had not been studied.

72 Million Pounds a Year

The report noted the widespread use of atrazine in the United States, although it is a restricted-use herbicide, meaning that it is not available to the general public.

An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) memorandum on the use of atrazine, published in July 2022, noted that the herbicide is registered for use in agricultural crops, including field corn, sweet corn, sorghum, sugarcane, macadamia nuts, and guava. It is also registered for non-agricultural uses, such as in nursery or ornamental plantings, turf, and rights-of-way (excluding roadsides). The memo noted that field corn, sweet corn, sorghum, and sugarcane are the most important agricultural use sites for the chemical.

Between 2013 and 2017, an annual average of 72 million pounds of atrazine was used in agriculture.

The ATSDR report stated that atrazine has the potential to be carried through the air or be washed away from the soil by rain, ultimately finding its way into nearby streams, lakes, and other waterways. Moreover, it can penetrate deeper layers of soil and contaminate groundwater. Additionally, plants growing in these areas can absorb atrazine.

Once atrazine enters streams, waterways, or groundwater, it tends to persist for extended periods because of its slow breakdown in water.

According to a June 2023 Market Watch report, the global atrazine market size was estimated to be worth $1.917 billion in 2022. Its forecast to grow to $2.343 billion by 2028.

EPAs 2021 Biological Evaluation

In November 2021, the EPA issued the finalized version of its Biological Evaluation of the herbicides atrazine, glyphosate, and simazine, examining the potential risks to endangered and threatened species from these herbicides.

The assessment was conducted as part of a legal agreement between the Center for Biological Diversity and the EPA.

The evaluation found that all three herbicides are likely to adversely affect species listed under the Endangered Species Act, or their designated habitats.

The EPA announced in 2021 that atrazine and simazine are prohibited in Hawaii, Alaska, and the U.S. territories.

Additionally, atrazine will no longer be used on roadsides, Conservation Reserve Program land, conifers, including Christmas tree plantings, timber and forestry areas, and miscanthus and other perennial bioenergy crops, according to the EPA release.

A Syngenta representative, responding to questions from The Epoch Times, said that the herbicide was primarily used to control weeds in corn, sorghum, and sugar cane crops.

Herbicides are crucial tools for helping farmers manage weeds and significantly increase crop yields while decreasing the amount of tillage, which prevents soil erosion and greenhouse gas emissions, and improves water and wildlife habitat, the representative said.

Atrazine has been extensively studied over the past 50 years. Nearly 7,000 studies have concluded it is safe for humans and the environment and it has been approved by international organizations and governments around the world.

In a TEDx talk posted to YouTube in 2018, Hayes details internal documents from Syngenta that explicitly state a goal to discredit him.

What topics would you like to read about? Please let us know at health@epochtimes.nyc
Scientists are increasingly interested in the medicinal benefits of meditation. Hemal Patel, who has a doctorate in pharmacology and toxicology and is a professor and vice chair for research in the Department of Anesthesiology at UC San Diego School of Medicine, has recently secured a $10 million funding commitment from the InnerScience Research Fund to study how meditation may impede the progression of serious terminal and chronic illnesses.

During an interview with Dan Skorbach from EpochTVs Frontline Health program, Patel emphasized the goal of integrating meditation into conventional medicine rather than treating it as merely an alternative approach.

Patel and his team have made several discoveries regarding the benefits of meditation for physical and mental well-being. They found that meditation can induce changes in peoples metabolites within just seven days, reduce the infectivity of COVID-19, and potentially treat various chronic diseases in clinical settings.

First Transformative Session

A few years ago, Patels former colleague, now managing pain clinics, explored alternative approaches to pain management amidst the opioid epidemic. This led him to discover the remarkable potential of meditation.

He later attended one of Joe Dispenzas retreats and was utterly amazed. Dispenza, a chiropractor and clinical researcher specializing in mind-body medicine, has built a thriving community dedicated to uncovering the healing power of meditation and the mind.

In April 2021, Patel reluctantly joined his first week-long meditation session. Despite hearing about its transformative effects and coming across intriguing data, the idea that 35 hours of closing his eyes and 25 hours of lectures could truly change him seemed foreign.

During that initial week-long experience, he encountered a flood of repressed emotions that had accumulated over the years. This discovery made him realize that he had indeed become a different individual.

Another aspect that piqued his research interest is the physiological changes and adaptations that occur within a person. He noticed that he had become less reactive by the end of the week. He could step back from situations without trying to control them or dictate their outcomes. Instead, he allowed events to unfold naturally.

This newfound state lasted about three to four months. Then he gradually reverted to his old self. It became apparent that evolving ones mind, body, thoughts, and behaviors is an ongoing journey, as it requires constant work and continuous reflection.

Changes in Brain, Blood, and Microbiome

Dispenzas community gathers in a location where they follow synchronized sleep-wake cycles and share meals. This setting is difficult to replicate in an academic environment.

Functional MRI data reveal distinct brain activation patterns during these retreats, according to Patel. Significant changes in blood factors surpass the effects of brief periods of eye closure. Theres something unique about when a mind and a person goes into this really deep, contemplative state, where they have these mystical experiences, Patel said. He believes they represent the forefront of meditative research, exploring deep realms of human potential, reshaping neural circuitry, and influencing the bodys dynamics.

His teams data show significant changes in microbiome, metabolites, and bloods potential to impact disease processes within only seven days of intensive workshops.

Meditation Can Help Fight COVID-19

Patel and his team are nearing completion of a publication focused on the effects of meditation, including factors that may enhance or potentially reduce the infectivity of COVID-19.

To investigate the impact of meditation on COVID-19 infectivity, Patel has developed a pseudo-virus that mimics the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This pseudo-virus features spike proteins on its cell surface, similar to the actual coronavirus, and contains red fluorescent protein (RFP) inside the cell. Given the crucial role of spike proteins in the pathogenesis and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2, the infectivity of this pseudo-virus accurately reflects that of the actual virus.

During the initial experiment, three groups were exposed to the pseudo-virus. These groups consisted of a control group, which comprised the spouses of the meditators who did not practice meditation but enjoyed the recreational facilities of the retreat; a novice group, consisting of individuals new to meditation; and an experienced meditator group.

Patel compared the levels of RFP in the plasma samples of the three groups before and after meditation. The presence of RFP indicated the extent of infection by the pseudo-virus. In the case of the control group, who did not engage in meditation, post-meditation refers to their relaxation period at the retreat.

Plasma showing red fluorescent protein. (Courtesy of Hemal Patel)

The control groups plasma showed a minimal reduction in RFP after relaxation. In contrast, the plasma of the novice group exhibited a noticeable decrease in RFP levels, and the experienced group displayed the most significant reduction. This suggests that the post-meditation plasmas of the meditators were more effective in preventing the invasion of the SARS-CoV-2 virus following exposure. Therefore, meditation can reduce the SARS-CoV-2 virus infectivity.

Meditation can improve physical health and immunity, which can help in fighting viral infections, including COVID-19. A large-scale study suggested meditations positive impact on pathways related to reducing oxidative stress, promoting detoxification, and regulating cell cycles. Furthermore, the study indicated that meditation can support mental health and help cope with pandemic-related anxiety, fear, and grief.

Meditation May Help Treat Cancer

Patels lab has been studying cancer biology, focusing on protein roles, cell migration, and how cancer cells generate and use energy.

In 2022, his team conducted two studies involving 1,800 subjects with over 60 diseases, including depression, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. By understanding common features activated by meditation across diseases, they tailor meditative experiences for specific processes and diseases.

In a Canadian study, 88 breast cancer survivors were randomly assigned to three groups: meditation, supportive therapy, and no intervention. The meditation group attended eight 90-minute weekly sessions, while the therapy group had 12 sessions.

Participants in the meditation and therapy groups maintained telomere lengths, potentially indicating extended lifespan compared to the nonintervention group. As telomere length, the length of repetitive DNA sequences at the end of a chromosome, has been linked to lifespan, this suggests potential lifespan extension through meditation and support therapy for cancer survivors.

Other Ongoing Research Projects

A Meditation Study Reveals Intriguing Synchronicities

Patel and his team are researching intense emotional and meditative experiences in twin sets, both when the twins are together and when they are separated.

Surprisingly, the team has discovered unexpected synchronicities in the twin sets responses. The researchers aim to investigate the interconnections between physiology, genetics, and behavior in these twin pairs. Their studies complement each other, as they have also begun considering unique pairings while conducting the twin study.

A Study That May Find Ways to Reverse Aging

Patels lab is deeply interested in aging biology. He and his team are currently conducting a pilot study called the Pair Study, pairing individuals aged 65 or older with someone aged 30 or younger.

This study explores the impact of day-long interactions, shared activities like meditation, meals, and lectures, on the older participant. Is there a change in the biological principles and factors within this older person? Is there a connection that can potentially result in a more youthful biological state for the older person?

This idea is inspired by observations from blue zones such as Loma Linda, near San Diego, where individuals live really, really long lives. And one of the things Patels team has noticed is that what builds this longevity in life is ones ability to form socially connected networks of individuals.

By connecting seniors with a partner several decades younger, the team is investigating the potential for altering aging dynamics while considering molecular, biochemical, and physiological aspects.

Meditation May Have Similar Effects as Medicine

Patel says he thinks meditation has the potential to be used in a clinical setting.

Recent studies have compared the effects of meditative mindfulness practices to medications like the antidepressant escitalopram oxalate (brand name Lexapro), revealing similar results. These studies highlight a 30 percent improvement, albeit with different timing windows (e.g., a daily pill intake versus an eight-week meditation training protocol).

Patel and his teams aim in publishing such studies is to promote the integration of meditation as a regular practice rather than just alternative medicine. The idea is to use all available tools, including meditation, to combat chronic diseases and improve mental well-being by reducing stress.

By combining these approaches, they can potentially witness significant changes in human disease treatment. With evidence to support these findings, the team hopes that clinical groups will embrace meditation as part of routine medicine and incorporate its elements into their practice.

Not Every Meditation Practice Is Effective

Patel thinks that different individuals resonate with different practices. He said, You can have this desire to change yourself through meditation. However, if its an empty desire, and youre just doing this from a superficial perspective, youre not going to achieve what you want.

He added, The other aspect is to find a practice that resonates with you and that works with your body, your mindset. And you must be willing to put time and effort into it.

What topics would you like to read about? Please let us know at health@epochtimes.nyc
Editors Note: This book excerpt has been reorganized to fit the needs of the article.

Evolution of Our Understanding of Memory

Collapse of a Banquet Hall

Many current principles used to strengthen our memories can be traced back hundreds or even thousands of years. And although I dont think its necessary to learn everything some of the wisest minds have written about memory over the years, some familiarity with their approaches and their concepts makes it easier today to understand and strengthen your memory.

To the ancients, memory was not just a means of preserving the past but was considered a tool for what we would now call creative thinking. By constructing within the mind a structured and orderly memory, the ancients thought it possible to forge new thoughts and establish original and creative connections.

Commenting on the depth and power of his memory, Saint Augustine wrote: The vast mansions of memory were treasured in innumerable images brought in from objects of every conceivable kind perceived by the senses. In these mansions are hidden away the modified images we produce when by our thinking, we magnify or diminish or in any way alter the information our senses have reported. In the immense court of my memory, sky and earth and sea are available to me, together with everything I have ever been able to perceive in them.

The Greeks were among the first to use special techniques to perfect the faculty of memory. The key discovery can be traced to the collapse of a banquet hall. The poet Simonides (556468 B.C.) was performing at a banquet and survived the collapse of the building (luckily, he had been called outside a few moments before the collapse). Using his memory, Simonides was able to identify the dead based on his recall of the places where each of them had been sitting during the banquet. Traditionally, many have claimed that he was not only able to envision and name the positions of the attendees but could identify what they were wearing and other indicators that differentiated one attendee from another. This remarkable performance suggested some of the principles of the art of memory. Here is Ciceros description of Simonides insight:

He inferred that persons desiring to train the faculty of memory must select places [the seats at the banquet hall] and form mental images of the things that they wish to remember [the identity of the banqueters].

By restoring the images of the banqueters sitting at their places at the banquet table, Simonides made it possible to use the order of the places as a means of preserving the order of the individual banqueters. The key principle of Simonides memory method was the formation of mental images coupled with their orderly arrangement.

Thinking in Pictures

Another Greek insight into memory can be dated to Aristotle (382322 B.C.) in De Anima. In a profound insight, Aristotle asserted that perceptions are transferred to the mind (we would now say the brain), where they are elaborated into mental images. To Aristotle, the formation of mental images was similar to a tracing made on wax by a signet ring; whether a memory result depends on the conditions of the wax (the brain) and the signet ring (the stimulation). In this analogy, the experiences conformed to the signet ring, and the wax to the brain.

Some men in the presence of considerable stimulus have no memory owing to disease or age, just as if a seal were impressed on flowing water. With them the design makes no impression because they are worn down like old walls in buildings or because of a hardness of that which is to receive the impression. For this reason, the very young and old will have poor memories; they are in a state of flux, the young because of their growth, the old because of their decay.

To Aristotle, images formed by imagination became the basis not only for memory but for all thinking. Indeed, Aristotle believed that thinking cannot take place without pictures. The thinking faculty thinks of its forms in mental pictures. Each memory becomes part of one or more networks associated with a particular past experience, and each person possesses unique networks. For instance, while one person raised in a northern climate may associate the word white with snow, another person not accustomed to wintry weather would be more likely to associate it with milk.

Over the next 2,000 years, Aristotles linking of thought with the formation of mental pictures gave rise to the development of various memory techniques.

Notice that all of the methods for enhancing memories discussed so far emphasize the central importance of concentration and repetition. If you pay attention (direct your mind), the judgment will better perceive things going through it (the mind), according to an ancient fragment of the Dialexis written in 400 B.C. Later, Saint Augustine referred to memory as venter animi, a kind of stomach of the mind. He compared the establishment of memory by reading and rereading a particular text to the action of a cow chewing a cud. In this pastoral comparison, readers digested their text by saying it aloud while meditating on it.

Rather than a mindless exercise, such focused concentration was considered a creative act leading to imagination, innovation, and invention. But before making an original creative contribution on ones own, it was necessary to master the works of earlier thinkers by committing their words to memory. From antiquity, the arts of memory were conceived of as investigative tools for recollected reconstruction and selection, serving what we now call creative thinking, according to Mary Carruthers, an international authority on memory. Memory craft was practiced as a tool of invention discovering and recombining things that one had previously learned.

Thomas Bradwardines Advice

Here are specific instructions for forming such images by the 14th-century Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Bradwardine. The images of what one tends to learn should be: wondrous and intense because such things are impressed in memory more deeply and are better retained. Such things are for the most part not moderate but extreme, are something greatly beautiful or ugly, joyous or sad, worthy of respect or derision, a thing of great dignity or vileness. In other words, in order for the images to be remembered, they should be as dramatic and exaggerated as possible.

If we consider our own memory for a moment, Bradwardines advice turns out to be true. We tend to remember things and events that arouse our emotions at the moment of memory formation. Thus we may not remember what we ate for lunch yesterday, but we will remember with great clarity a near accident we experienced while driving to the restaurant. Extreme things excite the human senses and the human mind with greater force than do average things, wrote Jacobus Publicius in the Art of Memory published in 1475. The reason for this is that things which are great, unbelievable, previously unseen, new, rare, unheard of, deplorable, exceptional, indecent, unique, or very beautiful, convey a great amount to our mind, memory, and recollection.

Over the centuries, various objects served as placemarks for memorization. The domestic and familiar species of a Roman housethe type of architecture most commended for memory work by ancient writerswere replaced by divine structures derived from descriptions in the Bible, such as the Ark, the Tabernacle, the Temple of the Heavenly City  the cosmos itself, according to Mary Carruthers, author of The Medieval Craft of Memory.

Metrodorus of Scepsis, a Greek scholar known for his works on rhetoric, relied on his knowledge of astrology to devise a memory system based on the 12 signs of the zodiac. Included with each of the signs of the zodiac were the decans, a subdivision of a sign divided into three equal parts of 10 degrees each. Both the astrological signs and the three accompanying decans functioned as memory placemarks. To increase the number of placemarks, Metrodorus assigned 10 background images for each decan. This resulted in a series of loci numbering from 100 to 360, which he could employ as a memory aid. (Three decans for each of the 12 signs of the zodiac multiplied by 10 images assigned to each decan).

As Quintilian described it, Metrodorus found 360 places at the 12 signs to which the sun moves. And since all of the loci were arranged in numerical order, Metrodorus could find any number of them by their number. By using this framework, Metrodorus could remember vast amounts of data and perform astounding feats of memory.

Perhaps at this point, you are thinking, whoa! Enough already. Thats pretty heavy stuff. And it is. But it only hints at the power certain mystics and philosophers suggested memory could achieve. As you will see, these ancient and honored systems and beliefs have been transformed and still linger today as the basic tenets of the art of memory.

This excerpt has been adapted from The Complete Guide to Memory: The Science of Strengthening Your Mind by Dr. Richard Restak. To buy this book, click here.

What topics would you like to read about? Please let us know at health@epochtimes.nyc
Aged just 26, Owen Simonin, better known by his pseudonym Hasheur, has hosted the most popular French YouTube channel on blockchain-related subjects for eight years, with more than 624,000 subscribers. In France, countless individuals have been introduced to crypto through his video tutorials.

Simonin told Decrypt that France, and Europe, have a significant role to play in the global crypto marketparticularly as U.S. regulators have cracked down on the industry in recent weeks.

The U.S. approach is killing crypto, he said, adding that it represents the most significant emerging global business and that stifling it is self-destructive. The U.S. crackdown, he added, could allow Europe and Asia to capture a lot of volume for a while."

France Moves Ahead With Tighter Crypto Rules for New Entrants

In addition to his YouTube endeavors, Simonin has established about fifteen companies, five of which specialize in cryptocurrency. He has also invested in approximately a hundred enterprises, including Waltio, NGrave, Helium, and XDefi.

The birth of Hasheur

A technology enthusiast, Simonin showed entrepreneurial spirit from an early age. By the age of 15, he was already managing dozens of moderators on Minecraft and paying them with the server's virtual currency.

Simonin discovered Bitcoin at 18 while interning at his brother William's company, Vivoka, which specializes in AI and voice recognition. "What I read in the whitepapera decentralized, inviolable systemfelt magical to me", Simonin told Decrypt. "You can't cheat with Bitcoin. I created two wallets and bought 15 worth of crypto, which then surged 20-30%."

Back then, the crypto community in France comprised a handful of enthusiasts. "Bitcoin.fr, le Cercle du Coin, there were just two or three of us," said Simonin. Feeling isolated, he became obsessively invested in cryptocurrencies and started an educational crypto channel on YouTube under the name Hasheur.

During the 2017 crypto bull run, his channel's viewership skyrocketed. Simultaneously, he and his older brother William launched Just Mining, selling user-friendly crypto miners created by William, combining PC hardware and simple, automated software for mining cryptocurrencies.

Now known as Meria, the company no longer mines but has become a major player in the French crypto market, offering diverse investment solutions. This enterprise stands as the core of an ecosystem nestled in Lorraine, Metz, housing the crypto-euro broker Deskoin among others. The network expands to Luxembourg, home to the communication agency, Hash Consulting.

A local entrepreneur

In a crypto world where many have chosen to become digital nomads, relocating to countries like Portugal or Dubai, Simonin stands out. He told Decrypt that he decided to stay in France out of gratitude for what his home country has given him.

He acknowledges the challenges, such as dealing with taxes and opening a bank account, which he describes as sounding crazy.

But his decision to stay in France has borne fruit; today, the country is considered a model for crypto regulation, providing a clear regulatory framework for businesses in the sector.

Despite it taking six years to establish the regulatory environment in France, Simonin emphasizes its lead over other countries, and how its been designed by those eager to be at the forefront of technology and attract innovation.

French Regulator Considers Fast-Track to MiCA For Registered Firms

He also believes that having to adhere to strict rules had positive effects. "We realized that it allowed us to offer decentralized solutions to the average person," Simonin explained. He now claims that the companies he runs have the most regulated and compliant processes in France.

In the coming weeks, Simonin revealed to Decrypt, he will be turning his attention to data and artificial intelligence. Vivoka, the voice recognition company founded by his older brother William in 2015, will launch a new project that combines data collection for AI and crypto. There are narratives where at a certain point, you have to fired up, he said. Thats why my brother, whos also my biggest partner, and I keep a close eye on demand in this sector.
Hong Kong Does Not Care About the United Nations

Chan Po-ying, chairman of the League of Social Democrats, was taken away by the police, in Hong Kong, on June 4, 2023. (Benson Lau/The Epoch Times)

Commentary

This year marked the 34th anniversary of the June 4th incident, a 1989 student-led demonstration in China that resulted in bloody suppression and massacre. Since then, the annual June 4th candlelight vigil has been part of Hong Kongs history until 2020, when the national security law banned such national security-threatening activities. However, with the ongoing exodus of Hongkongers, the candlelight of June 4 followed their footsteps and spread globally.

This year, I accepted invitations to make recorded speeches on June 4 for two UK cities. This may make me look like an activist, though I did not attend the June 4th vigil every year when I was in Hong Kong.

History is always paradoxical. Suppression may bring even more remembrance events, which applies to Hong Kong, where mourning activities are officially banned. The government sent an army of police to ensure there were no candlelights in Victoria Park, where the vigil had been held since 1990. However, Hongkongers still paid tribute in various waysa picture of candlelight on smartphones, electronic candles in hand, wearing yellow masks, and posters in bags as a sign of silent protest, all at the risk of being arrested.

What happened on this sensitive day went far beyond this. Performance artists walking around the Park were searched and taken away without explanation. A lamppost marked with the number FA8964 was fenced off. A candle poster outside a provision store run by a pro-democracy ex-councillor was seized by the police on the ground of inciting mourning. The same racing car, with the registration number US8964, went around the Park both last year and this year: last time, the driver was advised to leave, and this time the car was towed away.

According to the police, 23 were arrested or taken away for alleged breach of the peace, a charge seldom used before. In its official Twitter, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said that it was alarmed by reports of June 4th-related detentions in Hong Kong, and it urged the authorities to fully abide by obligations under the International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights. Hong Kongs Security Bureau strongly opposed and condemned OHCHRs confounding and smearing remarks.

The deprivation of the right to mourn for the June 4th martyrs is an unmistakable sign of the deterioration of Hong Kongs social and political situation. In turn, the rights of the other social groups will be more challenging to advance, which pro-establishment legislator Junius Ho Kwan-yiu openly denounces as a violation of Chinas tradition.

This reminds me of a recent visit to the Peoples History Museum in Manchester, UK. Its collection covers the two centuries of human rights history in Britain, such as Chartism, suffrage movements for men and women, and the communist labor movement.

Now the museum has a special exhibition on the history of disabled peoples activism, entitled Nothing about Us without Us, a slogan that no policy should be decided without the participation of members affected by that policy. Two pieces of information in the exhibition drew my attention. First, the UKs record on human rights for disabled people was condemned by the United Nations in 2017. Unlike Hong Kongs severe reaction to the OHCHR, the UK government welcomed the UNs report as an opportunity to conduct a constructive discussion on advancing the human rights of disabled people.

Second, in 2022, the British Sign Language Act was passed, making the language an official one on par with Welsh in Wales and Gaelic and Scots in Scotland.

The government has to legislate the promotion of its use. This move will promote inclusivity and accessibility for the deaf community, ensuring that they will have equal access to information, employment, and public services.

This exhibition made me believe that only a well-founded democracy will warrant improving the human rights of minor social groups.

How willing can a regime be to improve human rights if it does not care about the concerns of the United Nations and if it practices the Maoist philosophy of struggling against the sky with endless joy every day? The answer is quite apparent.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
House Appropriator Shares Growing GOP Support to Cut DOJ, FBI Budget Amid Political Woes

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland (L) and F.B.I. Director Christopher Wray hold a press conference at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington on Oct. 24, 2022. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Rep. Ben Cline (R-Va.), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that handles the budget for the U.S. Department of Justice, said Republicans are gathering in support to cut the departments budget.

Cline, who is a member of the staunchly conservative House Freedom Caucus, said members of the caucus are leaning on House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to implement deeper spending cuts after reaching a deal with President Joe Biden to raise the debt limit. A large number of Republican lawmakers, especially in the Freedom Caucus, opposed McCarthys debt limit agreement with Biden, saying the deal didnt go far enough on spending cuts.

Were pushing the speaker to go below those levels, cut even deeper, especially in the Justice Department, FBI category, Cline said in a radio interview with Washington Times reporter Kerry Pickett on Thursday.

Cline said the move to cut funding from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI already has the support of Subcommittee Chair Hal Rogers (R-Ky.) and other key Republicans on the Appropriations Committee are amenable.

Leadership is generally sharing our concerns, Cline said.

NTD News reached out to Rogers as well as House Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger for comment. Neither responded by the time this article was published.

Conservatives See Weaponization in DOJ, FBI

Many conservatives have taken issue with the direction of the DOJ and FBI in recent years, alleging widespread politicization and even weaponization against conservatives. Recent controversies involving the DOJ include efforts to investigate parents protesting curriculum items and COVID-19 measures at local school board meetings and efforts to infiltrate and surveil alleged radical Catholic congregations.

The FBI has also faced allegations of trying to entrap people in a plot to kidnap Democrat Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on the eve of the 2020 election. Two defendants in the alleged kidnapping plot were found not guilty after arguing FBI agents tried to entrap them.

In addition to targeting the political right, the FBI has appeared to slow-walk investigations into Biden and his family members. Leaked internal Twitter communications suggest the FBI sought to discredit negative reporting about Joe Bidens son, Hunter Biden. After Republican lawmakers alleged an FBI document described a bribery scheme involving the Biden family, FBI Director Chris Wray refused a subpoena to turn over the document and only shared it with lawmakers after Republicans threatened to hold him in contempt of Congress.

Another major point of focus for conservatives has been the DOJs treatment of former President Donald Trump, the current frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Last month, Special Counsel John Durham released a report showing instances of DOJ and FBI reliance on unvetted sources in pursuit of an investigation into allegations of collusion between Trump and the Russian government in the 2016 election.

Many prominent Republicans have again alleged political motivations inspired the recent decision by Special Counsel Jack Smith to indict Trump over his handling of classified documents and presidential records after leaving the White House.

Trump shared a call to defund the FBI and DOJ in April, as did Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who chairs the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government.

FBI Headquarters Move on Chopping Block

One major budget request that the FBI could lose out on is a new headquarters for the bureau. The Biden administration has been calling for a new FBI headquarters since at least March of last year, but the request faces growing pushback from Republicans amid concerns about politicization within the DOJ.

With the abuses that have been going on at the FBI, theres a real resistance to [a new FBI headquarters], not just in the Freedom Caucus, not just on the Appropriations Committee, but across the entire Republican conference, Cline said. So you are seeing pushback, and you are seeing a move to actually put the brakes on this new headquarters.

Cline said one option might be to shift funds around within the component agencies in the DOJ, taking money away from the FBI and moving it to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). He said DOJ funds could also go to Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which is organized under the Department of Homeland Security.

You look at the crime in our cities, the drugs, the DEA needs funds, you know, we should redirect a lot of the money that is there in the FBI to the DEA to CPB to make sure that our border is secure, to make sure that these are the priorities, Cline said.

Democrats Criticize DOJ, FBI Budget Cuts

Democrats have largely defended the DOJ and FBI against conservative claims that the government institutions have been politicized.

In a press conference this week, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) lambasted Republicans for defending Trump and insisted the former president was being held to a consistent standard of justice following the new federal indictment.

Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, has specifically condemned Republican talk of blocking the FBI headquarters move, telling Politico the idea would put our national security at risk.

This blatant hypocrisy is yet another example of congressional Republicans choice to prioritize their own political agenda over the security of all American people, Hoyer added.

NTD News reached out to Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.), the ranking member on the House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee, for comment, but he did not respond by the time this article was published.

NTD News also contacted Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee. She also did not immediately respond.

From NTD News
Bill Requiring Federally Registered Companies to Disclose Ownership Structure Approved by Committee

Bill seeks to combat money laundering and terrorist financing by creating a public registry

The Canadian flag flies near the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in a file photo. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

The Commons industry committee has approved a cabinet bill that will mandate federally registered corporations to disclose their ownership structure in an effort to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

Bill C-42, an Act to Amend the Canada Business Corporations Act, would require federally registered companies to make available the names and addresses of individuals holding significant control of the companies in a public registry annually.

What our bill asks for is, who is the human, the natural person at the very end of the chain who is actually exercising control? said Mark Schaan, senior assistant deputy industry minister, when he testified before the committee on June 12, as first reported by Blacklocks Reporter.

If that person is exercising greater than 25 percent of control, that is whose name appears.

The committee, which completed its study on the bills clauses, presented its amendments to the House of Commons on June 14.

Several witnesses who appeared before the committee on June 12 said the bill is not without its limitations.

This is a federal initiative that will only apply to a small percentage of companies in Canada given that most are incorporated under provincial laws, said RCMP Superintendent Denis Beaudoin.

To avoid leaving vulnerabilities that can be exploited by illicit actors, beneficial ownership transparency must be addressed across Canada as a whole to be useful. Otherwise criminals will simply use a province that doesnt have a registry.

Weakness Link

According to official estimates, there are a total of 458,790 companies federally registered among the 2,951,629 businesses nationwide, as reviewed by Blacklocks Reporter.

Justin Brown, senior director with the Department of Finance, said federal incorporation accounts for less than 15 percent of all incorporations in the country although incorporation is a shared jurisdiction in Canada.

This bill would represent an enormous step by implementing a federal registry for corporations. However there remain 85 percent of corporations that would not be covered, Brown told the committee.

Conservative MP Brad Vis agreed with the witnesses.

One of the big challenges I think everyone around this table has recognized is the undeniable fact that most corporations in Canada are not registered with the federal government, he said.

When we break it down with significant thresholds, the number of companies that would be included in this is actually quite small.

James Cohen, executive director of Transparency International Canada, an anti-corruption organization, said Bill C-42 was a first step to fighting corporate crimes.

The crooks are going to go where the weakest link is, he said. This is why this has to be a harmonized approach. Its not just a federal approach.
House GOP Vote to Protect Adam Schiff

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) walks through Statuary Hall to the House Chamber for President Donald Trumps State of the Union address in the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 4, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times)

Commentary

Sen. Adam Schiff?

Like the sound of that?

Twenty Republican U.S. House members who voted against and three who abstained in the vote to censure Rep. Schiff (D-Calif.) may not either, but, inadvertently or not, they have done their best to ensure not only Schiffs survival but his promotion.

There is nothing more that Schiff, of notoriety for Russiagate lies, would like than to be a U.S. senator from California. And California, being the one-party state that it is, would like nothing more than to elect him, to stick it to us heathens who might believe in such unfashionable items as God and truth.

Its hard to know what motivated the votes of those Republicans considering that Schiff, for years chairman or ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, used his high position in the world of state secrets constantly to mislead the public about the truth. He did this with regularity, almost daily on cable television. It was said of Schiff that he never found a camera he didnt like.

In doing so, he aided and abetted the FBIs pursuit of the Russia Hoax that almost allincluding Schiff, as he testified behind closed doorsknew was fallacious propaganda from the start. The Durham Report has explained that all in detail.

The result was massive public brainwashing, the equivalent of what was common in the Soviet era, that has yet to be undone here. Millions still believe the absolute untruth that Trump colluded with Russia.

This prepared the way for those people to be fed many subsequent untruths that they accepted, sheep-like, in the tradition of the original hoax. We have Schiffamong others but still majorlyto thank for that.

We also have him to thank, again among others, for the promulgation of an obvious lie whose investigation cost us taxpayers millions. Schiff was most noteworthy in shoring up the dishonesty when people were beginning to doubt what they were being told.

For this reason, it seems natural and, dare I say, equitable that a fine would be imposed on Schiff along with the censure by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), the Freedom Caucus member who proposed the censure as a privileged resolution.

The Republicans who voted with the (of course unanimous) Democrats to kill the resolution have some explaining to do.

One of them already hasthe sometimes-controversial Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.)who claimed this censure was unconstitutional, citing the Eighth and 27th Amendments. The latter is about pay raises and is quite a stretch. The Eighth might apply since it refers to excessive fines but looked at objectively, this fine is far from excessive considering the damage done to our country and its people by a leader of the House Intelligence Committee.

Luna says she picked the number as its about half the expenditure of the Mueller investigation. That damage done to our body politic, the country having been torn asunder, is, of course, inestimable.

But at least Massie has given a reason, dubious as it may be. The others so far havent.

Looking at the list of Republicans who broke with their own party on the Schiff censure vote, I am reminded once again of one of the disturbing parts of our two-party system.

On the Republican side, we are urged to donate to candidates through a rather opaque system called WinRed. Some of that money goes to the intended candidate, but the rest? Its out of our control. Some undoubtedly filters down to that list of 20.

Unless I hear a good explanation otherwise, Id prefer for those representatives to be primaried than to give them a penny.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Indigenous Victorians in Custody Enrolled to Vote in First Nations Treaty Negotiations

Ronald 'Ringo' Terrick, an elder the Wurundjeri tribe sits on the steps of Parliment House during Sorry Day May 26, 2007 in Melbourne, Australia. (Simon Fergusson/Getty Images)

Indigenous prisoners in the state of Victoria have enrolled to vote for the body that will negotiate treaties between the Victorian state government and First Nations groups.

This comes almost a year after Victoria became the foremost Australian jurisdiction to strike a deal with the First Nations Assembly that will provide a framework for First Nations groups in the state to negotiate an area of land with the state government.

Currently, more than 7,000 Indigenous Victorians over 16 have enrolled to vote in assembly electionsa figure that has tripled since 2019, reported The Guardian. Of the 7,000 Indigenous Victorians registered to vote, around 700 to 1,050 enrolled while in custody.

The assembly comprises 32 seats, 11 reserved for First Nations groups approved by the state government, and Indigenous Victorians elect 21 seats.

Additionally, 11 Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAP) in Victoria cover 74 percent of the state, according to the Aboriginal Heritage Council.

Amy Rust, the head of engagement and communications at the First Nations Assembly, said on June 14 that a statewide treaty would push for a permanent Indigenous decision-making bodywhich she described as a black parliament.

This is similar to what is in New Zealands parliament.

Indigenous groups can enter into separate negotiations with the state government.

Rust added that this would differ from the proposed Voice to Parliament as it would not just advise the government but have the power to make decisions on policies that affect Indigenous Victorians.

Indigenous Leader Says Australia Has Record Indigenous Groups

However, Warren Mundine, Indigenous leader and director of the Centre of Independent Studies Indigenous Forum, said there are record numbers of Indigenous people in the federal and state parliaments across the country.

There are Aboriginal Land Councils, numerous Native Title representative bodies, Native Title-prescribed body corporates, Aboriginal education consultative groups, Aboriginal medical and legal services, as well as their peak lobby and industry bodies, Mundine wrote in an op-ed for The Epoch Times.

In Aboriginal cultures, no Aboriginal person can speak for another country, only their own. That is our lore. How are individual First Nations represented in this Voice? Where is the seat at the table for the Bundjalung (my country on my fathers side) or the Gumbaynggirr or Yuin (my country on my mothers side)?

We have tried Indigenous representative bodies, Indigenous advisory bodies, and Indigenous consulting bodies multiple times over the decades. None have lifted Indigenous people out of poverty. None have Closed the Gap.

However, Mundine added that if the Voice to Parliament was passed, he would do what he could to make it work.

Id be committed to that even though I dont support it.

According to a Resolve Strategic survey published in The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH), support for the Voice to Parliament has fallen from 53 percent to 49 percent, with Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia backing the No campaign, while Victoria and New South Wales are at 56 percent and 53 percent in support of The Voice.

Resolve Strategics director, Jim Reed, said advocates for The Voice were failing to gain a national majority.

The No voters report being more committed in their choice than the Yes voters, he said.

This tells us that those people who have moved to No are locking in behind that choice, whereas the remaining Yes voters are wavering.

Treaty Negotiations in Victoria on Track

Negotiations between the First Nations Assembly and the Victorian state government over a statewide treaty are expected to take place later in 2023.

According to the Victorian state government, there will be one overarching statewide treaty, as well as multiple local treaties with individual First Nations groups; these will cover matters as diverse as political representation, land and water, and economic development.

[The] treaty will deliver long-term, sustainable solutions because First Peoples will be in the drivers seat, making decisions about the matters that impact their lives, according to the state government.

Victoria is also the first Australian jurisdiction to enact all elements of the Uluru Statement from the Heart manifesto.
Its Public Safety, Stupid: As Public Safety Declines, the Doom Loop Rages on Unabated

Commentary

In February 2022, I wrote this in my article What If San Francisco Doesnt Recover:

If you go downtown during the day, you can see the difference. The office buildings are empty. Vehicle and pedestrian traffic arent half of what they used to be. But what other effect does that have on the city?

Well, there are a lot of small businesses on the ground floors of those large buildings. These businesses have survived by servicing all the workers commuting to those buildings. As they start to realize the workers arent coming back, theyre forced to accept the new reality and close. The closing of those businesses will be the start of the economic death spiral.

Closed businesses put up boards to secure the storefronts. The closed-up shops lead to more homeless encampments taking over the area. Urban blight and homeless encampments dont exactly inspire people to risk their savings, open a business, and try to clean up the area. That only exacerbates the problem and makes it increasingly harder to get out of the abyss. The encampments will spread like a virus to cover the entire area.

Well, fast forward less than 18 months, and we are well into what I called an economic death spiral. Since then, it has been renamed the Doom Loop by the local press.

The mayor, the Board of Supervisors, and all their lemmings can continue to downplay the looming disaster, but to anyone with eyes, the spiral is evident. In addition to the declining state of the streets, businesses are closing daily.

I have truly never seen anything like it. The San Francisco Standard reported last month that 20 retail stores had closed in the Union Square area since 2020. This disaster, however, is continually overlooked by those in charge as not a big deal.

On May 29, Betty Yu tweeted that Mayor London Breed said: This is not about the issues and the conditions, this is about the changes to retail. And thats just where we are at this time. And its time for us to make some adjustments to that.

Retail is obviously changing, but the quote still refuses to even mention the problem of out-of-control retail theft and the squalid conditions of San Francisco streets.

While the city government continues to have its head in the sand, reality is much more illustrative of what is to come. Just last week, Park Hotels decided to default on its debt payments for the Hilton Union Square and Parc 55 Hotels, ABC7 News reported.

These two hotels contain almost 3,000 rooms. The Hilton Union Square is the largest hotel on the West Coast. Even with all of that going for it, Park Hotels decided to give the hotels to the bank due to the poor financial outlook.

Park Hotels stated on its decision to walk away: After much thought and consideration, we believe it is in the best interest for Parks stockholders to materially reduce our current exposure to the San Francisco market. Now more than ever, we believe San Franciscos path to recovery remains clouded and elongated by major challengesboth old and new: record high office vacancy; concerns over street conditions; lower return to office than peer cities; and a weaker than expected citywide convention calendar through 2027 that will negatively impact business and leisure demand and will likely significantly reduce compression in the city for the foreseeable future.

Park Hotels clearly lays out the problems that led them to walk away from what should be a large cash-cow. Instead of riding out the storm, they think the street conditions and vacancy issues will cause problems for the foreseeable future. In other words, the juice isnt worth the squeeze.

In the wake of that news, Mayor Breed said in a KGO News interview that we need to diversify uses for these properties. Breed talked about some of the vacant downtown space potentially being taken over by the University of California San Francisco.

Then just a couple days later, Westfield decided it would stop paying its loan on the San Francisco Centre and let the bank take it over. This enormous mall sits in the middle of Market Street, downtowns main artery.

Westfields move should not be too surprising, because their anchor tenant Nordstrom, which operated the top five floors of San Francisco Centre, announced it was closing shop just a few weeks ago. Maybe now it will all be available for these new diverse uses.

It did not take long for even more space to open up in the San Francisco Centre. Just two days later, Century Theaters announced it was closing the movie theater inside the San Francisco Centre.

In a bit of breaking news, I can report that a trusted source informed me that just across the street from San Francisco Centre, the flagship AT&T Store at 1 Powell will be closing in August 2023. How many businesses will be left on the 800 Block of Market?

All of these issues stem from San Franciscos major public safety issue. For the past four years I have been writing articles about the SFPD staffing crisis. While all of those articles seem to have fallen upon deaf ears, the crisis has only metastasized.

Since 2020, the SFPD has lost 435 members to retirement and resignation. This does not count the officers who were hired but could not complete the training program. In that time, less than 200 people graduated from the SFPD Academy, and only 67 percent of them were expected to make it through FTO.

Crime continues to become more blatant, homeless encampments are spreading all over downtown, and all the businesses are closing due to the lack of foot traffic and the constant shoplifting. As crime is rising, the police force is shrinking and unable to hire enough people to help patrol the city. The public safety situation is getting worse, not better.

While these closures were happening, there was also a shooting in the Mission District where nine people were struck. The following day, another three people were shot on Ocean Avenue.

Politicians will claim that crime is down and its just an anomaly. Well, if thats true, there have been an awful lot of anomalies the past couple years. Some would say that makes it a trend.

In 1992, Bill Clinton campaigned using the now famous slogan Its the Economy, Stupid. Clinton eventually won his election over the incumbent President George H.W. Bush. This simple phrase made it seem like President Bush was unable to effectively do his job.

Well, in 2023, those in charge of San Francisco may need someone to stand up and tell them, Its Public Safety, Stupid.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Justice Department Accuses Minneapolis Police of Violating Rights, Dangerous Tactics

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland delivers remarks during a meeting with U.S. attorneys at the Justice Department in Washington on June 14, 2023. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Following an investigation prompted by the death of George Floyd, the Justice Department accused the Minneapolis police on Friday of a consistent pattern of violating constitutional rights, discrimination against minorities, and excessive and unjustified deadly force in policing.

The sweeping civil rights investigation was conducted over a span of two years by the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorneys Office District of Minnesota Civil Division.

The probe culminated in a report, released Friday, that accused the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) of a pattern of violating civil rights, discrimination, and heavy-handed policing tactics.

To be sure, many MPD officers do their difficult work with professionalism, courage, and respect, the reports executive summary reads. Nevertheless, our investigation found that the systemic problems in MPD made what happened to George Floyd possible.

The probe was launched in April 2021, a day after former officer Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter in the May 25, 2020, death of Floyd.

People celebrate after hearing the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 20, 2021. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Floyd repeatedly said he couldnt breathe before going limp as Chauvin knelt on his neck for over 9 minutes. The incident was recorded by a bystander and sparked months of mass protests.

In the wake of the reports findings, the City of Minneapolis and the MPD have both agreed to a deal known as a federal consent decree, which will require reforms to be overseen by an independent monitor and approved by a federal judge.

The Epoch Times has reached out to the MPD for comment but did not receive a response by publication.

Dangerous Techniques and Weapons

The report revealed that Minneapolis officers frequently employed excessive force, including instances of unjustified deadly force, while also infringing upon the rights of individuals exercising their constitutionally protected speech.

The probe further highlighted that both the police force and the city exhibited discriminatory behavior toward individuals with behavioral health disabilities when officers were called upon for assistance.

We found that the Minneapolis Police Department routinely uses excessive force, often when no force is necessary, including unjust deadly force and unreasonable use of tasers, Attorney General Merrick Garland told a news conference in Minneapolis on Friday.

Garland expressed concerns that police officers were found to have fired their weapons at individuals without adequately assessing the presence of an actual threat.

The report further alleges that the police have, for an extended period, used dangerous techniques and weapons against individuals who, at most, committed a petty offense or sometimes no offense at all.

Moreover, it states that officers have resorted to using force to punish individuals who have angered or criticized the police.

Police also patrolled neighborhoods differently based on their racial composition and discriminated based on race when searching, handcuffing or using force against people during stops, the report said.

As per the report, the city dispatched officers to respond to behavioral health-related 911 calls, even when a law enforcement response was not appropriate or necessary, sometimes with tragic results. These actions put MPD officers and the Minneapolis community at risk.

The conclusions were drawn from examinations of documents and incident files, scrutiny of body-worn camera recordings, analysis of data provided by the city and police, and engagement in ride-alongs and conversations with officers, residents, and various individuals, as outlined in the report.

Joining Garland at the press conference were Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Police Chief Brian OHara.

Both the city and the police department have agreed to a federal consent decree in light of the reports findings. This agreement entails implementing reforms that will be supervised by an independent monitor and subject to approval by a federal judge. Similar reform initiatives have been undertaken in Seattle, New Orleans, Baltimore, and Ferguson, Missouri.

OHara, who led Newark, New Jersey, police through a consent decree, said the Minneapolis department was committed to creating the kind of police department that every Minneapolis resident deserves.

Frey acknowledged the significant work that lies ahead.

We understand that change is non-negotiable, Frey said. Progress can be painful, and the obstacles can be great. But we havent let up in the three years since the murder of George Floyd.

Considerable Daily Challenges

While the report was broadly critical, it did note the challenges of policing while acknowledging the city and Minneapolis police have already made headway with reforms.

We acknowledge the considerable daily challenges that come with being an MPD officer, the reports authors wrote. Policing, by its nature, can take a toll on the psychological and emotional health of officers, and the challenges of the last few years have only exacerbated that toll for some officers.

Besides having to make split-second decisions and risk their lives in the line of duty, officers at the department have faced dwindling morale as hundreds left the force since the Floyd protests engulfed the city in the spring of 2020, the report said.

MPD officers work hard to provide vital services, and many spoke with us about their deep connection to the City and their desire to see MPD do better, the report stated.

The investigators said in the report that to their credit, both the city and the MPD have pressed ahead with reforms since the death of Floyd led to heightened scrutiny and calls for change.

For example, the report noted that MPD policies now prohibit officers from using neck restraints.

Officers are also no longer allowed to use some crowd control weapons without permission from the chief, while no-knock warrants have been banned.

The city also has launched a promising behavioral health response program in which trained mental health professionals, rather than police officers, respond to some calls.
Lawmaker Decries State Dept. Report on Human Trafficking for Burying Rights Abuses in China, Cuba

A facility believed to be a reeducation camp where mostly Muslim ethnic minorities are detained, in Artux, north of Kashgar in China's western Xinjiang region, on June 2, 2019. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images)

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) has aimed heavy criticism at the State Department 2023 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report (pdf), claiming that it falls short of highlighting the genocide and forced labor of the ethnic Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China, and the exploitation of Cubas medical brigades.

On June 15, the State Department released its annual report on human trafficking. The TIP report assesses government efforts around the world to combat human trafficking and highlights strategies to address this crime and protect victims. This years report, the 23rd edition, includes narratives for 188 countries and territories, including the United States, according to the agencys June 14 press release.

Speaking at the report release ceremony, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, The United States is committed to combating human trafficking because it represents an attack on human rights and freedoms.

It violates the universal right of every person to have autonomy over their own life and actions. Today, more than 27 million people around the world are denied that right, he added.

The Report

Together with another 9 countries, China and Cuba feature strongly in the section of the report titled When the Government is the Trafficker: State-Sponsored Trafficking in Persons.

The report section includes 11 governments with a documented policy or pattern of human trafficking, trafficking in government-funded programs, forced labor in government-affiliated medical services or other sectors, sexual slavery in government camps, or the employment or recruitment of child soldiers.

However, no other details are provided on either the Chinese communist regimes brutal repression of ethnic Uyghurs in Chinas western province of Xinjiang, or the mistreatment meted out by the Cuban regime to its medical brigades.

Burying Human Rights Violations

It is absurd and shameful that the State Departments summary report fails to highlight two of the most alarming instances of modern-day slavery, said Rubio in a June 15 statement.

Starting with Chinas acts of genocide against the Uyghur population, where individuals are subjected to forced labor and unjust mass detentions, as well as Cubas medical brigades, which are nothing more than a profit-driven scheme led by the islands criminal regime.

Burying these human rights violations in the individual country reports means most people and reporters will assume the U.S. government does not take heinous crimes in China and Cuba seriously, Rubio added.

The senator stressed that democratic nations worldwide have a moral duty to hold oppressors accountable, and that the United States must continue to lead by example in the pursuit of both justice and accountability.

Repression of Uyghurs in Chinas Xinjiang Continues Unabated

The harsh repression of ethnic Uyghurs in Chinas far-western Xinjiang region continues even after the United States and other countries have recognized the atrocities as genocide, according to Salih Hudayar, the prime minister of the East Turkistan government-in-exile. He is also an advocate for the human rights of the Uyghur people and for the independence of East Turkistan, also known as the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

According to estimates from researchers, the Chinese regime has detained more than one million Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in internment camps in Xinjiang, where they are subjected to torture, rape, forced labor, and political indoctrination by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

In 2020, the Trump administration declared Beijings repression of Uyghurs a genocide. The declaration was later echoed by nearly a dozen parliaments, including in the E.U., the United Kingdom, and Canada.

But sadly, it hasnt been enough to stop the genocide, Hudayar noted.

The Chinese government continues to carry out genocide, even in 2023. It continues to deny the fact that its carrying out genocide, Hudayar told China in Focus on NTD, the sister media outlet of The Epoch Times, on Jan 18.

Hudayar said that despite the CCPs lifting of its strict zero-COVID policies nationwide, the situation in Xinjiang remains unchanged this year as the regime continues to build internment camps across the deserts of East Turkistan.

Hudayar highlighted the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in December 2021 and which went into effect in June. The act bans imports from Xinjiang unless companies can prove that the products werent produced using forced labor.

However, the advocate believes the legislation is not strong enough to end the practice of forced labor.

We need to understand that its not just in East Turkistan [Xinjiang], the Chinese government is relocating Uyghurs en masse, forcibly relocating them to other provinces in China, where theyre continuing to be used as slave labor, he said.

Another Group of Victims

According to China commentator Heng He, in the early years of the CCPs persecution campaign against Falun Gong, many persecuted adherents exposed the CCPs use of prisoners for large-scale manufacturing and the export of prison-made products.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual discipline involving meditative exercises and moral teachings based on three core principles: truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. The practice gained popularity in China during the 1990s, with estimates putting the number of adherents at 70 to 100 million at the height of its popularity.

The communist regime, fearing the number of practitioners posed a threat to its authoritarian control, initiated a sweeping campaign aimed at eradicating the practice starting on July 20, 1999a program that continues today.

Since then, millions of Falun Gong practitioners have been detained in prisons, labor camps, and other facilities, with hundreds of thousands tortured while incarcerated, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center.

In 2003 and 2004, the WOIPFG (World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong) reported on how the CCPs prisons and labor camps were exploiting imprisoned Falun Gong adherents in the production of Henan Rebecca Hair Products.

In 2005, journalist Jamil Anderlini of the South China Morning Post also investigated wig manufacturer Henan Rebecca Hair Products, which is listed on the Shanghai stock exchange. Anderlini found that the company is a frequent recipient of international investmentincluding from institutions such as Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, Merrill Lynch, and HSBC.

Cuban Abuse of its Medical Brigades

Under Cubas overseas medical missions program, the country has sent tens of thousands of its medical professionals abroad to work in countries facing natural disasters, pandemics, or health care emergencies.

However, Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch, accused the Cuban government of abusing its medical brigades, The Washington Post has reported.

What these doctors are doing is heroic. But how the Cuban [regime] treats them is disgraceful, taking credit for their good deeds while pocketing most of their earnings, denying them basic freedoms of speech and movement, and keeping them and their families back in Cuba in a situation of perpetual duress, Vivanco said.

Cubas deployment of medical missions overseas, while cloaked in altruism, is actually a scheme to generate income that exploits Cuban medical workers, the State Department said in a statement to The Washington Post. Cubas medical missions program is not inherently humanitarian; the regime earns income by retaining up to 90 percent of the doctors salaries.

In July 2019, then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced sanctions on Cuban officials involved with its medical missions.

@StateDept has imposed visa restrictions on certain Cuban officials & others responsible for exploitative & coercive labor practices under Cubas overseas medical missions program. Cuba must cease using this program to earn money on the backs of its citizens, Pompeo wrote on Twitter.

The Epoch Times reached out to the State Department for comment but did not receive a reply before this article was published.

Mary Hong contributed to this report.
Lawmaker Tells Californians to Flee State Over Bill Favoring Gender-Affirming Parents in Child Custody Disputes

A California state senator suggested at a packed Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on a pro-transgender bill that fighting to preserve parental rights in the state is a lost cause and advised California parents to leave if they know whats best for their children and families.

State Sen. Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) made the remark at a June 13 hearing on proposed legislation that critics claim has been crafted to pressure family court judges to favor gender-affirming parents in child custody disputes.

In the past, Wilk said he has encouraged people to keep fighting to protect parental rights. But, not anymore.

Ive changed my mind on that: If you love your children, you need to flee California, he said. You need to flee. We are moving towards the pathway of The Handmaids Tale. California is becoming the new Gilead.

Wilk, a native-born Californian who has served in the state legislature for more than a decade, said hes seen the state shift away from protecting children and parental rights.

Ive come to conclusion that we need to start protecting parents, and its just not happening. Ive been here and witnessed a full-frontal assault on charter schools, taking away parents choice on how their children can be educated, to the detriment particularly of children of color, he said. In recent years, we have put government bureaucrats between parents, children and doctors when it comes to medical care, and now we have this where if a parent does not support the ideology of the government, theyre going to be taken away from the home.  I can assure you this not going to end with divorce proceedings.

Wilk said he loves California but will leave the state someday because of its policies.

Im not going to stay in this state, because its just too oppressive, he said. I believe in freedom, and so Im going to move to America when I leave the legislature.

Assembly Bill (AB) 957 suggests that children are better off in the custody of parents willing to affirm their childs chosen gender identity than those who arent.

The original text of the bill stated it would require family court judges to consider a parents willingness to affirm their childs chosen gender identity as being in the best interest of the child, but was amended to include a parents affirmation of the childs gender identity as part of the health, safety, and welfare considerations in determining what is in the best interest of the child.

Abigail Martinez (R), the mother of a transgender teen who committed suicide, sheds tears as Erin Friday comforts her and transgender activists block TV cameras from capturing her story in Anaheim, Calif., on Oct. 8, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Custody Disputes

Erin Friday, a western U.S. regional co-leader of Our Dutyan international organization that opposes transgender ideologytold the committee that AB 957 would make California the only state in the nation to codify into law that parents who dont comply with pressure to affirm a childs chosen gender identity of the child are abusive.

Friday, an attorney whose daughter used to believe that she was a boy, said AB 957 will allow Child Protective Services to target parents who reject transgender theory and refuse to use a childs preferred pronouns.

In child custody cases, she said, family court judges will be compelled to favor the parent who will affirm their childs delusion, regardless of the childs age, comorbid mental health issues, or absurdity of the identity adopted.

Abigail Martinez testified at the hearing that a judge placed her teenage daughter, Yaeli, who identified as transgender, in a group home after a social worker accused her of child abuse for hesitating to call her daughter by male pronouns.

My daughter was murdered by a gender ideology. CPS took my daughter when she was 16 years old, she told the committee. I lost my daughter over a name and pronouns. Even after I promised to call her a male name, it wasnt enough.

Yaeli was in horrible mental and physical pain from taking testosterone, which she was prescribed without parental consent, Martinez said.

My daughter was not a boy trapped in a girls body. She had mental health issues, Martinez said. My daughter was given testosterone instead of therapy.

When Yaeli was taken from her mothers care, Martinez said LGBT groups used her story to raise money and promote the trans agenda.

By the time the child abuse claim against her was finally dropped, Martinez said it was too late.

My daughter knelt down in front of a train, Martinez said. I beg you. Stop pushing gender ideology. I dont want any parent to feel what I feel every day. Affirmation is not good for the health, safety, and welfare of any child.

It has been three years and 164 days since I lost my daughter, Yaeli, she told the committee. I miss her every single day.

California State Assemblywoman Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) speaks at a hearing in Sacramento on June 13, 2023. (Screenshot via California State Senate Judiciary Committee)

Assemblywoman Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), the mother of a transgender child, who introduced the bill, told the committee that when parents do not agree on affirming a transgender, gender diverse, or intersex (TGI) childs gender identity, California family law fails to provide guidance on how judges should consider the best interests of a TGI child.

Initially, the bill was written to amend a section of the states family law and the Code of Civil Procedure but was narrowed in scope to change only family code 3011. However, the amendments taken do not substantially differ from its previous version, she said.

The changes provide better clarity so that judges can include the affirmation of a childs gender identity as a factor when deciding what is in the best interest of the childs health, safety and welfare in-custody disputes, she said.

This amendment allows judicial discretion when conducting an analysis of the best interests of the child, Wilson said.

She argued that parental acceptance is a crucial to protect LGBT youth from depression and substance abuse, and that social support from friends and family members is strongly associated with the positive mental development, physical health and overall well-being of the child.

Being antagonistic to a childs gender identity dramatically affects a childs mental well-being. Conversely, in TGI children that experience familial acceptance, suicide attempts are reduced by half, she said. Many TGI children are not safe in their own homes because of a non-conforming or abusive caretaker. This leads many TGI youth to run away from home, leaving them vulnerable to housing, instability, exploitation, and abuse.

Melissa Thomas of the Womens Foundation of California, a co-sponsor of the bill told the committee current law doesnt address the unique needs of TGI kids, particularly in the really difficult situations where only one parent affirms their childs gender identity.

Thomas, who announced her preferred pronouns as they/them, said AB 957 would conform to guidelines set by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that affirming a childs gender identity is integral to their health, safety and welfare.

Jonathan Clay of TransYouth Liberation and TransFamily Support Services, said the amended bill would allow judicial discretion and simply add gender affirmation to the current list of factors to consider for custody and visitation.

We have served many families that have found themselves in family court with one parent whos following the lead of the child and affirming, and one parent whos not. The situation puts the child and the family in a very vulnerable position, Clay said.

All Democratic senators on the committee voiced support for the bill, although several suggested it lacked clarity on what constitutes affirmation. State Sens. Ben Allen and Angelique Ashby also warned that vague wording in the bill could cause problems with interpretation of the law and for judges in the family court system if the term isnt more clearly defined.

The committee voted 8-2 in favor of the bill, moving it further along in the legislative process. Democratic senators Allen, Ashby, Anna Caballero, Maria Elena Durazo, John Laird, Dave Min, Tom Umberg, and Scott Wiener voted in favor of it and while Wilk and Sen. Roger Niello (R-Fair Oaks) voted against it. Sen. Henry Stern (D-Calabasas) did not vote.

Sen. Scott Wiener at an event in San Francisco, Calif., on Oct. 23, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Wieners Rebuttal

Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) objected to Wilks reference to The Handmaids Tale, a popular TV series based on a science fiction novel by Canadian feminist Margaret Atwood first published in 1985. The story is set in a fictitious country named Gilead.

If you look at that story, what happened there is women were forced to give birth, and LGBTQ people were executed by hanging. I just want to say that, because I just strongly disagree with that remark, Wiener said.

As the principal co-author of the bill, Wiener pointed out he has been harshly criticized on social media as an an openly gay man without children, even more than Wilson, who introduced the bill.

As a lead member of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, Wiener has led the push for gender-affirming care, which advocates for transgender surgeries and the use of cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers on children. One of his billsSenate Bill 107, enacted on Jan. 1made California a trans sanctuary state and is intended to shelter out-of-state parents of transgender children who flee to California from laws against such medical interventions in their home states.

European Models

Niello raised concerns about gender-affirming care being pushed in the U.S. while several European countries, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, and Norway, are shifting away from this model of health care.

He referenced the independent and systematic Cass Review conducted in the United Kingdom which led to the closure of the Tavistock Clinic in London.

Niello said the bill would elevate the gender-affirming care model as an accomplished science, and the appropriate approach by parents in the California family court system, ignoring the warnings of European health authorities that data is inconclusive and that more study is needed.

Given the conclusions of the UK and those three Scandinavian countriesnot exactly restrictive type societiesI have concerns about making the conclusion that this bill does bring into a custody dispute, he said.

Britains National Health Service (NHS) announced on June 9 it would ban the use of puberty blockers on children, except in clinical trials.

In the U.S., President Joe Biden, in his remarks at the White House on June 8, condemned attempts to ban sex change surgeries and transgender medical interventions on children, calling such proposed legislation cruel and callous.

Parents protest outside the Davis Joint Unified School District offices over a talk featuring Rachel Pepper, co-author of The Transgender Child, in Davis, Calif., on Jan. 11, 2023. (Courtesy of Our Duty)

Parental Rights Poll

A recent survey by Rasmussen Reports and Real Impact found that 82 percent of likely voters in California disagree with the notion that parents surrender their parental rights when their children enter the public school system, including 69 percent who strongly disagree.

The survey also found that an overwhelming majority of California voters would support laws requiring schools to notify parents if a student identifies as transgender.

Meanwhile, California Democrats quashed a bill that would do exactly that. AB 1314, introduced by Assemblymen Bill Essayli (R-Corona), would have given school staff three days to notify parents in writing if they find a student is identifying as a gender other than what is stated on their birth certificate, but it was killed in committee.

Assembly Education Committee Chairman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) issued a statement on April 10 saying the committee would not hear the proposed legislation, not only because the bill is proposing bad policy, but also because a hearing would potentially provide a forum for increasingly hateful rhetoric targeting LGBTQ youth.

Parental Rights Rally

At a press conference organized by a coalition of parental rights advocates preceding the hearings, two fathers embroiled in child custody disputes with gender-affirming ex-wives described how theyve been shut out of their young sons lives.

Adam Vena, a father who is fighting for custody of his 5-year-old son, Aidan, claims the boys mother has been socially transitioning him for two years.

I have not seen, held or had contact with my son, Aidan, for over two years now, Vena said. At 2 years old out of nowhere, his mother started putting my son in a dress and identifying him as a girl. Her family bought him makeup and rainbow shoes. When Aidan was the age of 3, he told me his mom had given him a pink dress for his birthday.

Vena said he doesnt support the social gender transitioning of his son, nor AB 957.

This is crazy. The parent who wants to change the childs perfect body is abusive, Vena said at the state Capitol. My personal beliefs and my First Amendment rights were squashed, because I did not want my son  wearing a dress.

When Vena expressed to the boys mother that had concerns about how the child was being raised, he was called abusive and had a restraining order placed against him.

My son Aidan was not born in the wrong body. He was born in the wrong state, he said.

Another dad, Harrison Tinsley, said he lost custody of his 3-year-old son, and claims the boys mother is using they/them pronouns and dressing the boy as a girl against his sons wishes.

Ill never stop fighting for him no matter what law California puts in place. Theyre coming for our children, and we need to take a stand against it, he said. We need to stand together, draw a line in the sand and say, No more! Youre not taking our kids from us. Through the darkness, we will be the light for our kids. We will always fight.

Jennifer Kennedy, a parent and attorney, said AB 957, AB 223, and AB 665 are a series of bills linked with others to usurp the authority of parents over their children and push gender ideology.

These laws that have come out of the legislature this session  are like train cars, stacked one after the other with every single one aimed at our children, our relationships with our children, and our rights as parents, and they are barreling down the track at us, she said

Kennedy said AB 223, which would seal public records of name and gender changes, is unnecessary.

Its not protecting trans and non-binary youth. Its protecting the adults who wish to come into court and change a gender marker of a child and hide  what theyre doing from the public, she said. Theyre trying to create a problem in order to hook up this next train car in the train of all these anti-parent and anti-family bills.

Tara Thornton, founder of California-based civil rights group Freedom Angels, warned parents at the press conference that AB 957 will weaponize gender identity in family courts.

AB 665, which parental rights advocates have called state sanctioned kidnapping, would emancipate 12-year-old children and allow them to go to residential group homes if they disagree with their parents, she said. The bill is slated for hearing in the senate judiciary committee on June 20.

At 12, children are at their most vulnerable and are easily influenced by social media, peer groups and tend to behave impulsively, Thornton said.

We should be building programs, fostering communication between parents and children, and focusing on the mental health  not emancipating, she said.

But, moving to a group home might sound good to those dont want to abide by their parents boundaries, she said.

If you are outraged, if you are choking back tears, that is the appropriate human emotion for what is going on here, Thornton said. We can stop this because most peoplemost of humanitydoes not side with this extremism. They want healthy children and healthy families. Its in our hands.
Major US Defense Contractor Lockheed Martin Sponsored DC Pride Parade

Lockheed Martin's logo is seen during Japan Aerospace 2016 air show in Tokyo on Oct. 12, 2016. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

A major U.S. defense contractor that supplies aircraft equipment to all five branches of the U.S. military, Lockheed Martin, was front and center at the 2023 Capital Pride Alliance parade in Washington, joining Amazon and Target as a corporate sponsor for pride events.

Charlie Kirk, founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, shared a video on Twitter of Lockheed Martins sponsorship of the event, claiming Lockheed Martins participation is evidence of the military contractors going woke.

Lockheed Martin, enriched by Washingtons love affair with bombing far off lands, sponsors a Pride March in DC, Kirk said in the post. The woke Military Industrial Complex strikes again.

Recently, Target came under fire for promoting Pride Month by selling pride-themed childrens merchandise and tuck-friendly womens swimsuits for men identifying as women in front-of-the-store displays.

In response, customers boycotted the company, and Targets revenues fell from $72.52 billion to $58.61 billion between May 1 and June 9.

However, unlike Target, whose primary customers are suburban parents, Lockheed Martins primary customer is the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).

President Joe Biden has made it clear that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts are a major part of his administrations agenda. Just recently the DOD awarded Lockheed Martin a $7.8 billion contract modification for 126 F-35 aircraft.

Besides sponsoring the pride march in Washington, Lockheed Martin also sponsored a recent pride festival in Dallas.

The company has its own global diversity and inclusion department that employs inclusion councils to ensure that the company is meeting its DEI goals.

According to the defense companys 2020 report, they had a 60% increase in Business Resource Group (BRG) forum participation and supported over 80 Courageous Conversations on Race.

Courageous Conversation is an organization that conducts trainings and events to promote equity. The organization was founded in 1992 by Glenn E. Singleton, who said his goal is to achieve racial equity in the United States and beyond.

In 2018, Lockheed Martin donated $44 million to support its DEI efforts, with $25 million going to corporate philanthropy, $8 million going to sponsoring local organizations, and $11 million in employee donations going to local charities, according to the 2018 annual diversity and inclusion report (pdf).

According to PowerToFly, a diversity recruiting and retention platform, Lockheed Martin is one of the top 12 companies for supporting transgender employees.

Lockheed Martins transgender policy aligns with the Biden administrations LGBT agenda.

The company groups transgender women with biological women by allowing employees to self-identify their gender, regardless of their biological sex. The company said 23 percent of employees self-identify as female, and 8 percent self-identify as a person of color.

A person holds a transgender pride flag as people gather on Christopher Street outside the Stonewall Inn in New York City for a rally to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots on June 28, 2019. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

Moreover, Lockheed Martins human resources department supports employees who want to transition to another gender and has a written plan which provides specific steps and actions to ensure a smooth transition that addresses areas such as badge updates, potential security clearance changes, employee profile updates and developing individualized communication and transition plans for future coworker-management interactions, according to PowerToFly

The company also trains employees in trans awareness, gender identity and expression, policy statements, terminology, communication-building exercises, restroom use guidance, roles, and responsibilities as well as support resources.
(Bloomberg) -- A Hong Kong court ruled that Tsinghua Unigroup Co. breached a payment support agreement tied to dollar bonds, marking a key victory for creditors in a broader legal dispute over a practice long used by Chinese firms to raise debt.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Unigroup, a semiconductor giant previously affiliated with the elite Tsinghua University, was ordered to pay $483.8 million for failing to honor a so-called keepwell deed meant to backstop its US-currency notes. The lawsuit, filed by bond trustee Citicorp International Ltd. about two years ago, involves a $450 million bond from a Unigroup unit, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The note jumped 1.8 cents to 39.5 cents Friday, Bloomberg-compiled prices show, set for the biggest gain in a month.

The Unigroup ruling is significant in that it illustrates how keepwells can be a source of material credit enhancement, said Fergus Saurin, the legal adviser to the bondholders behind the trustees lawsuit. A keepwell is an agreement from the parent company of a unit issuing a bond to maintain the issuers solvency while stopping short of guaranteeing payment.

While the decision might not herald a keepwell renaissance, if a guarantee is not a commercially or legally practicable option then a keepwell is likely to be one of a range of potential credit-enhancement substitutes under consideration at the structuring stage, added Saurin, a Hong Kong-based partner at law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP.

The ruling may revive some confidence in Chinas offshore credit market, where the keepwell structure remains a dominant feature for many bonds that have either defaulted or are facing payment risks. Investor mood suffered a setback last month after the same Hong Kong court threw out three of four similar lawsuits against Peking University Founder Group Corp., another major defaulter.

A major difference between Unigroup and Founder cases is that the default on bonds issued by the Tsinghua Group, which lead to the present claims, took place before Tsinghua was ordered into reorganisation on 16 July 2021. This is not the case in Peking Founder, the court ruling cited Judge Jonathan Harris as saying. He also presided over the Founder cases.

The court accorded differential treatment to the claimants in the Tsinghua and Peking Founder cases on the basis of timing: whether or not the breaches took place before the keepwell provider went into reorganisation, said Tony Chow, director of restructuring and insolvency at law firm King & Wood Mallesons. This is not something investors would typically have control over. He expects more legal battles over keepwells.

To Saurin, the two cases establish that keepwell obligations are in principle binding and enforceable contractual obligations, and that the court is willing to make significant money judgments if the obligations are breached. While the results are creditor-friendly, especially the Unigroup decision, they arent guarantees, he said. The devil is in the detail, in particular around the circumstances in which the obligations are engaged and their sensitivity to the PRC regulatory regime.

Unigroup, a firm once at the forefront of Beijings tech race with Washington, entered court-led debt reorganization proceedings in China following a series of defaults on local and offshore bonds.

The case number for Unigroups keepwell-bond lawsuit is HCA 1269/2021.

--With assistance from Kiuyan Wong.

(Adds comments in the eighth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Man Gets 26 Years for Teenage Boys Fatal Shooting at San Diego Park

SAN DIEGOA man who fatally shot a 15-year-old boy at Chicano Park was sentenced June 15 to 26 years in state prison.

Bryant Ruiz, 33, pleaded guilty to a voluntary manslaughter charge in connection with the Oct. 23, 2020, shooting death of Brian Romo.

Just before 10 p.m. that night, officers responded to a parking lot at Chicano Park, where a large crowd was gathered, according to San Diego Police Department Lt. Andra Brown.

The group scattered, including two people who jumped out of a silver sedan and ran off, Brown said.

The victim was found inside the car, suffering from at least one gunshot wound. Medics took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

At Ruizs arraignment, Deputy District Attorney Kyle Sutterley alleged the shooting was committed in retaliation for the murder of one of Ruizs fellow gang members, who was killed one day before Brians death. Ruiz, who was on parole and wearing a GPS ankle monitor due to his parole status, was tracked going from his home to the scene of the shooting and back on the night of Oct. 23, according to prosecutors.

Ruiz was arrested about five months later in connection with the shooting.

The victims older sister, Perla Castrejon, said at Ruizs sentencing that Brian would have turned 18 next month.

The boy was a sophomore at San Diego High School at the time of his death and Castrejon said she and other family members accepted his honorary diploma on Wednesday during the schools graduation ceremony.

She said her brother was hanging out at Chicano Park on Oct. 23, as he typically did, and That night, Bryant Ruiz decided to go to the park and shoot up whoever was there.
Trump Politics: Minister Pans Opponents of The Voice

Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney and Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health Senator Malarndirri McCarthy announce new renal dialysis units for remote First Nations patients, Darwin, NT on April 13, 2022. (AAP Image/Annette Lin)

Australias Indigenous Minister Linda Burney has accused campaigners against changing the countrys Constitution of engaging in Trump politics and distributing misinformation.

Burney directed the withering comments against No campaigners who oppose the Indigenous Voice to Parliament proposal.

The proposal will change the preamble of the Australian Constitution to include recognition of Indigenous people and will also embed a near-permanent advisory body into the Parliament that will have the power to make representations on matters deemed relevant to Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.

I fear that the No campaign is importing American-style Trump politics to Australia. At the heart is a post-truth approach to politics, Burney told the Committee for Economic Development of Australias State of the Nation conference on June 14.

Its aim is to polarise people, and its weapon of choice is misinformation, she said.

Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney speaks during the NRL Indigenous Round Launch 2023 at Bare Island in Sydney, Australia on May 16, 2023. (Matt King/Getty Images)

The No campaign outfit, Fair Australia, regularly posts things on social media that are clearly false and taken out of context. For instance, it uses an image and quotes from Bob Hawke, as if to suggest the former prime minister did not support the recognition of Indigenous Australians.

Albaneses Warning of Jan. 6 Incident in Australia

Her comments follow those of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who said to avoid an incident like the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riots, Australians needed to support constitutional change.

We can condemn those eventsbut we must also heed the warning they carry, he told the Chifley Research Centre at the National Press Club on Feb. 5.

Democracy can never be taken for granted. It needs to be nourished, protected, cared for, treated with respect, he said.

Australias Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attends an orchid naming ceremony at the Istana presidential palace during an official visit in Singapore on June 2, 2023. (Roslan Rahman/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The prime minister has also accused opponents of The Voice of misinformation on social media.

In recent months, multiple polls have revealed declining support for The Voice across the country, which needs to go to a referendum vote later this year.

In Australia, a majority of voters nationwide and a majority of states (four out of six) must vote in favour of a change before the Constitution can be altered.

While Yes campaigners argue that The Voice is a necessary part of helping Indigenous communities, the No campaign has pointed to multiple issues with the proposal.

Indigenous leader Warren Mundine says multiple Indigenous advisory bodies have been set up before and were later dismantled when they were found to have either served their purpose or were ineffective.

Members of the Mutitjulu Aboriginal community walk through the grounds in Mutitjulu, near Alice Springs, Australia, on July 6, 2007. (Ian Waldie/Getty Images)

We have tried Indigenous representative bodies, Indigenous advisory bodies, and Indigenous consulting bodies multiple times over the decades. None have lifted Indigenous people out of poverty. None have Closed the Gap, he wrote in The Epoch Times.

While fellow No campaigner Gary Johns, a former Labor minister, said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were already assimilating into wider society and that The Voice would serve as an extra layer of bureaucracy that will only benefit Indigenous lobby groups.

Migrants Say The Voice Carries Echoes of Communism

Meanwhile, Burney and Albaneses comments come as some Australian migrants complain that the rhetoric towards opponents of The Voice is becoming vitriolic.

The government is not explaining anything about The Voice, just saying, Oh, well explain later; youll have to just vote yes. If you dont vote yes, youre marked as a racist or not caringwhich is completely wrong, said Tina Palushi, who lived under the communist regime of Albania.

So thats the same thing the Communist Party of Albania did, Im telling you to do this, you just have to say yes and vote for it, she previously told The Epoch Times.

Her views were shared by former High Court Justice Ian Callinan.

Theres a nasty feel about this, he told attendees of a Samuel Griffith Society symposium on May 17. But in addition to the nastiness, theres a kind of presumptuousness, condescension, [and] a paternalism.

All of you and I have been told by the Yes side that we must vote yes, he added.
Minnesota Judge Grants Temporary Injunction to Law Excluding Some Religious Schools From College Credit Program

A Minnesota federal judge delivered a win to some Christian parents in the state on June 14 after granting a preliminary injunction on a newly amended law banning some religious schools from participating in a state program known as the Post Secondary Enrollment Options Act (PSEO).

Judge Nancy E. Brasel sided with parents Mark and Melinda Loe and Dawn Erickson, as well as two Christian universities, Crown College and University of NorthwesternSt. Paul, who had sought an injunction on the newly-amended law.

The injunction will remain in place while legal disputes play out.

Defendants are enjoined during the course of this action and any subsequent appeals, from enforcing the Act of May 24, 2023, the judge wrote in a two-page order (pdf).

The case centered around the state-funded PSEO, enacted in 1985 to promote rigorous course taking and improve student transitions to postsecondary education.

The program allows Minnesota high school students to earn both secondary and postsecondary credits for college or university courses for free, without incurring debt, by taking courses at the college or university of their choice, or online or at high school, meaning they can get a head start on post-secondary education and save money.

Previously, the program allowed faith-based institutions to participate.

View of the campus of Northwestern University. (EQRoy/Shutterstock)

Walz Amends Program Criteria

However, Democratic governor Tim Walz in May amended the eligibility requirements for schools that are part of the program, stipulating that participating institutions, must not require a faith statement from a secondary student seeking to enroll in a postsecondary course during the application process or base admissions decisions on religious beliefs, race, ethnicity, disability, gender or sexual orientation or religious beliefs or affiliations.

The amendment meant that colleges including Northwestern and Crown were effectively left unable to continue using the program because they ask on-campus students to sign statements of faith.

Plaintiffs had argued in a lawsuit (pdf) filed in May that Walzs amendment to the program was discriminatory against religious students and schools.

Minnesota knowingly excluded Crown and Northwestern from the PSEO program because of their religious beliefs, even after being warned this was unconstitutional,  they wrote in their lawsuit, which listed Walz, and Education Commissioner Willie Jett as defendants.

In the last six years, the Supreme Court has three times held that once a state opens funding to private institutions, the First Amendments Free Exercise Clause forbids excluding participants based on their religion or their religious use of the funds, they wrote. States discriminating against religion have already struck out three times at the Supreme Court. Minnesota should not get a fourth attempt.

The effect of the amendment is to force religious families like the Loes and the Ericksons to forgo using PSEO funds within the religious environment provided by the religious schools of their choice, the plaintiffs added.

In a statement following the judges ruling, the Loes, whose older children have used PSEO funds in the past at both the Christian schools, said they were glad that Minnesota has agreed not to punish our children and many students like them for wanting to learn at schools that reflect their values.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz speaks during a press conference in St. Paul, Minn., on April 19, 2021. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

Schools Welcome Ruling

They should be able to pursue the same great opportunities as all other students in the state without politicians in St. Paul getting in the way. We hope the court will eventually strike this law down for good and protect all religious students and the schools they want to attend, the Loes said.

Corbin Hoornbeek, president at the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, said the state cannot single out schools such as Northwestern due to our campus culture and the integration of faith and learning, adding that he hopes the court will permanently recognize this going forward.

Andrew Denton, president of Crown College said he is thankful that the school can continue welcoming PSEO students in the future without taking on significant amounts of debt.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to upholding our mission of providing PSEO students a boldly Christian, biblically based education, and we are hopeful the court will permanently protect our faith-based culture and the students we serve, Denton said.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit were represented by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a non-profit public interest law firm based in Washington, which accused the state of failing to do its homework before passing the unconstitutional law.

The next step is for the court to strike down this ban for good, Becket senior counsel Diana Thomson said.

However, the Minnesota Department of Education defended the amendment in a statement to Fox News.

The Minnesota Department of Education believes no students should be discriminated against based on their religion, said Kevin Burns, communications director for the Department. The new law is designed to defend the rights and individual liberties of Minnesota students, and todays action will allow for a thorough legal review of the statute as passed during the 2023 legislative session.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Minnesota Department of Education for further comment.
Mississippi Becomes Ground Zero in National Fight Over Ballot Harvesting

The Mississippi state flag flies over the Mississippi State Capitol building in Jackson, Miss., on June 28, 2020. (Rory Doyle/AFP via Getty Images)

Newly passed legislation that would ban ballot harvesting in Mississippi is being challenged in court by several civil rights organizations that claim it would harm minority voters and those with disabilities.

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), Mississippi Center for Justice, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU-MS, and Disability Rights Mississippi (DRMS) filed a federal lawsuit challenging S.B. 2358, legislation which would prevent a third party from collecting an absentee ballot from a voter and delivering it to a polling place. Its due to take effect on July 1.

Across the country, weve seen how bad actors have used ballot harvesting to take advantage of elderly and vulnerable voters in other statesall so they can try to circumvent our democratic process and cut you out of it. But here in Mississippi, were just not going to let that happen. Here, we will make it easy to vote and hard to cheat. I was proud to sign Senate Bill 2358, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves told The Epoch Times.

The governors office describes ballot harvesting as a process where a political operative collects and handles massive amounts of absentee ballots and maintains the practice could take advantage of elderly and vulnerable voters.

National Democrats are pushing for a federal takeover of elections and are advocating to push ballot harvesting on states all across the U.S. This is nothing more than a blatant political power grab, and we must continue standing up to them, he said.

Meanwhile, plaintiffs in the lawsuit argue the new law would do the opposite by disenfranchising and preventing minorities or those with disabilities from voting.

Anti-voter politicians are trying to deny a fair voice in government to Mississippians with disabilities while criminalizing their friends and neighbors who want to help them deliver absentee ballots, said Ahmed Soussi, staff attorney for voting rights with the SPLC. This bill would diminish American democracy by punishing volunteers who facilitate voting for historically discriminated against communities.

Voting rights activists have described the terms ballot harvesting or voter harvesting as essentially pejoratives for voting.

The Democratic Governors Association (DGA), which has been trying to thwart Reeves from being reelected, has also voiced concern over the new law, using it as political ammunition in the groups attempt to turn Mississippi blue by electing Democrat Brandon Presley to the governors mansion.

Tate Reeves is trying to rip power away from everyday Mississippi voters because hes scared of being held accountable for his failures and corruption, DGA communications director Sam Newton told The Epoch Times. In fact, a new poll this week showed that over 20 percent of Mississippi GOP voters are crossing party lines to support Brandon Presley, who is launching a war on corruption and putting working people first with plans to axe the food tax, slash car tag fees in half and expand Medicaid to save rural hospitals.

Reeves has denied any allegations of corruption or misconduct.

Ballot Harvesting Bans in Other States

Mississippi isnt the only state to enact a law banning ballot harvesting.

Over 30 other states have placed restrictions or bans on the practice of third-party ballot collections and some have even made it a jailable offense.

In Arizona, a law passed in 2016 (pdf) made it a felony that could be punished with prison time if a third-party collected another voters ballot unless that person was a relative, caregiver, or household member.

After the law was passed, at least four people in the state were prosecuted for allegedly collecting ballots unlawfully, including a former mayor. A 66-year-old grandmother, Guillermina Fuentes, was sentenced to a month in jail and two years of probation for collecting several completed mail ballots and depositing them at a polling place during the August 2020 primary. Prosecutors initially wanted her sentenced to a year in prison.

Texas also has a ban on ballot harvesting, which is punishable by a felony and prison time. At least two people have been arrested for collecting absentee ballots from individuals and depositing them at polling places.

In 2021, 55-year-old Rachel Rodriguez, a campaign worker in San Antonio was charged with several counts of election fraud, including unlawfully assisting people voting by mail after she was caught on video by Project Veritas.

The Texas Attorney Generals Office filed charges after they said Rodriguez was seen on video describing how she convinces voters to change their ballots in return for gift bags.

Republican Party Leaders Shift

After years of criticizing mail voting and ballot harvesting, Republicans at the top of the party want to change course.

Since 2020, then-President Donald Trump would routinely sow doubt about mail voting and encourage voters to wait to vote in person on Election Day, but now he is asking donors to chip in for his ballot harvesting fundsaying in a fundraising email, Either we ballot harvest where we can, or you can say goodbye to America!

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has announced a Bank Your Vote initiative for 2024, saying the party has never said dont vote early, while also acknowledging the GOP will have to work to change voters thinking on early voting.

That certainly is a challenge if you have people in your ecosystem saying, Dont vote early or dont vote by mail, and those cross messages do have an impact, McDaniel said. I dont think youre seeing that heading into 2024. I think youre seeing all of us singing from the same songbook.

The nationwide GOP plan emphasizes in-person early voting, absentee voting, and ballot harvesting where legal, while also pledging to fight against bad ballot harvesting laws.

Democrats have been critical of the new GOP effort after years of messaging by Republicans against mail-in voting.

Donald Trump and extremist Republicans have spent years telling lies about elections to justify their losses. That includes demonizing mail ballots and ballot collection, said Jena Griswold, Colorados secretary of state and head of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State. These hypocritical extremists are only interested in spreading chaos and trying to gain power at any cost.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More Than 17 Million COVID Vaccine Doses Expired, Public Health Agency Reports

A health-care worker prepares a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at a UHN COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Toronto on Jan. 7, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Nathan Denette)

Over 17,300,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses procured by the federal government have expired, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

The figure was revealed in response to an Inquiry of Ministry by Conservative MP Kelly Block on April 25, in which she asked how many COVID-19 vaccine doses procured by the federal government had been lost, stolen, expired, or had broken down.

According to the information supplied by PHAC, a total of 11,023,365 Moderna doses, 6,301,270 Novaxax, 28,652 Pfizer, and 3,900 AstraZeneca doses expired before they could be used.

An additional 13,626,000 doses of AstraZenecas viral vector vaccinewhich were to be donated to other countries through GAVI-COVAXexpired offshore while in the manufacturers possession, awaiting the confirmation of a recipient country.

No COVID-19 doses procured by the government had been reported as stolen as of April 25, PHAC said.

In one incident, on July 12, 2022, the province of Ontario reported a shortage of one vial of Pfizer adult vaccine, containing 6 doses, during a delivery to a Shoppers Drug Mart. Innomar Strategies said the original tray was sealed and the vial was missing from the manufacturers packaging. The province accepted Innomars explanation, and no action was taken to replace the missing vial.

Auditor General Warns of Waste

In December 2022, a report from the Auditor General of Canada found that tens of millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines were likely to soon expire due to a failure to manage an oversupply, which would cost taxpayers an estimated $1 billion.

We found that the PHAC was unsuccessful in its efforts to minimize vaccine wastage, said Auditor General Karen Hogan.

The report said that out of the 169 million COVID-19 vaccine doses secured, a total of 84.1 million injections were given to Canadians, while 15.3 million were donated to other countries. But it also found that over 13.6 million doses expired awaiting donation to other countries, 21.7 million were awaiting donation to other countries and could soon expire, and another 29.7 million were sitting unused in federal, provincial, and territorial inventories.

The report noted that delays in implementing the PHACs information technology system to track the distribution and use of vaccine doses made managing vaccine inventories more difficult.

Although some provinces and territories consistently reported to the agency, the agency was unable to obtain complete data from most, said the report.

Additionally, after the pandemic began in 2020,vaccine doses were wasted because the PHAC had not finalized agreements with the provinces and territories to determine what public health surveillance information to share, and how best to implement it.
Chong Questions Why No Arrests in Relation to Chinese Police Stations After 8 Months

Conservative MP Michael Chong appears as a witness at the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs regarding foreign election interference, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 16, 2023. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)

Conservative MP Michael Chong grilled a cabinet minister on the issue of a Canadian resident being coerced into returning to China through the schemes of agents in relation to secret Chinese police stations established overseas, and why there have still been no arrests after eight months.

An unsealed Justice Department indictment in U.S. court revealed that a Canadian in Vancouver was coerced back to the PRC [Peoples Republic of China], Chong, the Tories foreign affairs critic, said in Parliament during question period on June 15.

Its been eight months since the first reports about Beijings illegal police service stations. Beijing brazenly admitted to five of these stations and another two have been identified. These stations are being used to coerce people back to the PRC. The minister has indicated that these stations were shut down, but they havent been. When will they be?

The indictment Chong referred to was unsealed by a New York court last November, charging seven Chinese nationals for harassing and coercing a U.S. resident to return to China as part of Beijings international extralegal repatriation campaign known as Operation Fox Hunt. The indictment said similar operations were planned in Canada, with Chinese agents trying to arrange a meeting with a victim in Toronto for more detailed intimidation and interrogation.

The implication is that Beijing is comfortable using Canada as its foreign interference playground, Chong said, pointing out that those Chinese agents have since been arrested by U.S. authorities, whereas no concrete action has been taken in Canada since then.

In response, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino defended his governments effort in combating foreign interference and clandestine operations.

We are getting the job done by making sure that we equip our national security establishment with the tools that they need to fight foreign interference, with additional resources for the RCMPwhich we put into the budgetand by raising the bar on transparency through the creation of NSICOP and NSIRA, and by continuing to engage Canadians on this. Thats what were doing, he said.

It has been 8 months since the first reports on Beijings illegal police service stations. These stations are being used to coerce people back to the PRC. The US has arrested Beijings agents for these threat activities. Why not here?#cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/OBFb0trkF6  Michael Chong ?? (@MichaelChongMP) June 15, 2023

Chinese Police Stations

News about the U.S. indictment came months after media reported about the operations of three secret Chinese police stations in Toronto that were run by a local police bureau in China. The police stations were first exposed last September by the Spain-based NGO Safeguard Defenders, which was studying Beijings long-arm policing and transnational repression.

In an update report published in December 2022, the NGO further identified two other Chinese police outposts in British Columbia. The Epoch Times also reported about a third location in Vancouver that has been included in a list from a Chinese police bureau as its overseas branch.

More recently, the RCMP announced investigations into two Chinese community service centres in Quebec that are allegedly doubling as Chinese police service centres. The two service centres in question are the Service a la Famille Chinoise du Grand Montreal and its sister organization, Centre Sino-Quebec de la Rive-Sud, located in the City of Brossard. The two organizations are run by Brossard City councillor Xixi Li, who has denied the allegations.

Mendicino said the RCMP has taken decisive action to shut down the so-called police stations, while testifying before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) on April 27. The two Quebec organizations refuted the ministers comment a day later, saying in a joint statement, We have not received any closure requests from the RCMP.

Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino rises during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on June 15, 2023. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

In the House of Commons, MPs have continued to question whether operations at locations alleged to be Chinese police stations have ceased.

On June 1, Jody Thomas, the national security and intelligence adviser to the prime minister, told the PROC that the Liberal government is aware of the two alleged Chinese police stations in Montreal and work is being done to ensure that they cease to operate. Thomas cited challenges including that the alleged police stations are often staffed, managed by Canadian citizens.

Meanwhile, Acting RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme told the PROC on June 13 that, based on the criminal intelligence the RCMP has, the activities in the specific areas suspected of functioning as Chinese police stations have shut down, while police investigations are still ongoing.

Concerns

According to the reports from Safeguard Defenders, a total of 102 overseas Chinese police stations have been identified in 53 countries. The NGO raised concerns that some of those police stations have been used to facilitate Beijings forced repatriation program, with the regime boasting the involuntary return of some 230,000 Chinese living outside of the country between April 2021 and July 2022.

Tactics used to compel the return of Chinese nationals living in a foreign country include harassment and intimidation of the targets or their family members back in China, and in rare cases, kidnapping, Peter Dahlin, founder and director of Safeguard Defenders, told The Epoch Times in a previous interview.

Such tactics were recognized by the U.S. court in the indictment unsealed last November.

Under Operation Fox Hunt, however, PRC government officials pursuing targets of Operation Fox Hunt traveled to the United States  frequently individuals with familial ties to the PRCto, among other things, surveil and harass Operation Fox Hunt targets, the court document stated.

PRC government officials and their assets threatened the targets and their families, including family members still residing in the PRC, with harm, including incarceration, to coerce the targets repatriation to the PRC.
Daniel Ellsberg, the whistleblower who leaked the Pentagon Papers on the Vietnam War and an anti-war activist, died at the age of 92 on June 16. He was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer in February.

Following an investigation prompted by the death of George Floyd, the Justice Department accused the Minneapolis police on Friday of a consistent pattern of violating constitutional rights, discrimination against minorities, and excessive and unjustified deadly force in policing.

Robert Bowers, the gunman who killed 11 worshippers at Pittsburghs Tree of Life synagogue in 2018, was convicted by a federal jury on all 63 charges against him.

The Iowa Supreme Court, in a 33 decision, declined to reinstate a six-week ban on abortions that was backed by the states governor.
Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) demanded answers from a Yale School of Medicine assistant professor on which studies provide evidence of the benefits of cross-sex procedures. The questions came during a congressional hearing on June 15. Meredithe McNamara didnt offer a single study before Crenshaws time ran out. The congressman is the sponsor of a bill that would remove funding from childrens hospitals if they provide such procedures for minors.

Americas youth are dying of homicide and suicide at the highest rate in decades. Thats according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC analyzed data on 10-to-24-year-olds from 2001 to 2021. NTD spoke to Brownstone Institute founder Jeffrey Tucker to find out his perspective on a path forward.

Marine veteran Daniel Penny speaks out after he was charged with second-degree manslaughter. He wants to set the record straight on what happened on the fateful day that ended in the death of Jordan Neely, after he put the homeless man in a chokehold on the New York subway.

Topics in this episode include:

1. Yale Professor Stumped on Cross-Sex Benefits

2. CDC: Youth Homicides, Suicides Way Up

3. Youth Saw Spike in Homicide Rate in 2020: CDC

4. Daniel Penny Speaks Out on Subway Death

5. U.N. Wants to Get Rid of All Fossil Fuels

6. Influencers Surpass News Media for Youth:RPT

7. Virgin Islands Aided Epstein: JPMorgan

8. Terrorist Financier Says He Would Do It Again

9. Man Accused of Killing 2 Girls Mistreated in Prison: Attorneys

10. 1978 Remains Found in Garment Bag Identified

11. Man Dies Awaiting Trial for Killing His Mom

12. Student Loan Resumption, Big Burden: Analysis

13. Planned Parenthood Execs Among Highest-Paid

14. U.S. Submarine Arrives in South Korea

15. Nine Arrested over Greece Migrant Shipwreck

16. Swiss Cyclist Dies After Ravine Crash

17. Rockslide Caught Near Evacuated Swiss Village

18. UK Prime Minister Ignored COVID Rules: Report

19. Experts on How to Keep AI Ethical

20. Climate Activists Vandalize Monet Painting

21. Ukrainian Students Take Final Exams in Poland

22. Army Dog Hurt in Ukraine Gets Another Chance

23. Americans Share Stories About Their Fathers

24.Gan Jing World Hosts Fathers Day Photo Award
Oregons Senate Walkout Ends as Republicans Rejoin the State Senate

Oregons six-week-long walkout is over as Republican members rejoin the Oregon Senate on Thursday and come to a compromising agreement on stalled bills relating to abortion, transgender health care, and gun safety.

The walkout happened after Republicans opposed measures on abortion and gender-affirming care that Republicans claimed went too far as the measure would allow doctors to provide abortions regardless of a patients age, with medical providers not required to notify the parents of a minor in certain cases.

The missing Republicans prevented the Senate from reaching the two-thirds quorum needed to pass bills as negotiations stalled over legislative votes.

Oregon Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp (R). (Oregon State Legislature)
Over 40 Australian Government Agencies Feared to Be Victims of Russian Cyber Attack

At least 40 Australian government agencies that hold sensitive information are feared to have become victims of the Russian cybercriminal group AlphV.

Departments such as Home Affairs, the Australian Taxation Office, Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), the Defence Department, and the Australian Federal Police have been impacted by the database hacking of HWL Ebsworthan Australian commercial law firm that has tens of millions of dollars worth of government contracts.

This comes after data from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) was reportedly stolen by AlphV, which hacked into HWL Ebsworths database and stole four terabytes worth of company data in April, reported The Australian.

Approximately 1.45 terabytes of sensitive information were allegedly published by the hacking grouping on the dark web on June 8.

Meanwhile, the Attorney-Generals Department has established a working group to analyse the extent of the data leaks, reported The Australian.

The Epoch Times has contacted the Attorney-Generals Department to seek clarification on the operations of the working group but was referred to the Department of Home Affairs.

The Department of Home Affairs has been contacted for comment.

While the hacking incident has only impacted HWL Ebsworths database rather than the government agencies themselves, there are concerns that sensitive data will be compromised. Such data includes company credentials, client documents, and legal advice provided to the agencies.

Other agencies and departments that are clients of HWL Ebsworth include the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Treasury, Education, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Industry, Science, and Resources, and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT).

Additional agencies include ASIC, the Parliamentary Budget Office, the Fair Work Ombudsman, and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.

The ATO told The Epoch Times in a statement that while it could not publicly comment on its cyber security posture, it was aware of the cyberattack at HWL Ebsworth. The ATO has also urged taxpayers to be on alert and to contact the ATO if they have been notified, been a victim of a breach, or have found issues accessing online systems.

The office of Federal Cyber Security Minister Clare ONeil said it was investigating the potential impact on government data, reported The Australian.

The government continues to actively engage HWL Ebsworth as it investigates the extent of the breach, including impacts on commonwealth information, the spokesperson said.

HWL Ebsworth first reported a cyber incident involving ransomware and claims of data exfiltration and publication to the dark web on 1 May 2023.

The government is working with HWL Ebsworth to understand and manage potential consequences of the publication of the data. As this matter is the subject of an ongoing joint investigation between the AFP and Victoria Police, it would not be appropriate to comment further.

The Epoch Times has contacted Clare ONeils office for comment but did not receive a response by press time.

Injunction Against Cyber Hacking Group

On June 12, HWL Ebsworth was granted an injunction by the Supreme Court of NSW to prevent hacking group AlphV from disclosing the stolen data online. The hacking group was also ordered to take down the data immediately. The injunction order was served using the contact information provided in three emails that demanded a ransom payment, which HWL Ebsworth had previously said it would not be paying.

However, HWL Ebsworth managing partner Juan Martinez admits there are practical limits to enforcing the injunction.

However, we have taken this step with a view to preventing, as far as possible, any further broader access to or dissemination of the data. This includes seeking to prevent the media from accessing or publishing any of the data, or indeed any party, Martinez said, reported the Australian Financial Review (AFR).

Martinez said he believes this to be the first time in Australia that an injunction has been granted against cyber hackers in circumstances such as these.

Opposition Responds

In a June 16 statement, Opposition cyber security spokesman James Paterson said that the Coalition was concerned by the hacking of government data.

Protecting Australian Government data is more important than ever in light of recent significant cyber incidents and our current strategic environment, Paterson said.

Senator James Paterson of the centre-right Liberal Party before a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Sept. 5, 2022. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

The Albanese Government must take every action necessary to secure the compromised data.

This requires complete transparency about what data has been stolen, the implications of the breach and measures being undertaken to inform and support affected third parties.

Paterson added that the Albanese government has yet to exercise powers under the Magitsky-style laws to sanction individuals who engage in egregious, offensive cyber activity against Australia.

HWL Ebsworth has said it prioritises the safety and privacy of its client and employee data.

We continue to work with the Australian Cyber Security Centre, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and all relevant government authorities and law enforcement. We will continue to provide updates as we progress our response, a spokesperson said, reported The Australian.

The Epoch Times has also reached out to HWL Ebsworth and the Defence Department but did not receive a response by press time.
Parole Board Says Double Child Killer Can Go Free but Minister Might Block Freedom Bid

Colin Pitchfork was the first murderer convicted on basis of DNA evidence

The Parole Board has cleared the way for child killer Colin Pitchfork to be released from prison but the justice secretary, Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk, will consider the case extremely carefully.

Pitchfork was jailed for life for raping and strangling Lynda Mann, 15, in Leicestershire in 1983 and Dawn Ashworth, who was also 15 years old, three years later.

He was the first person ever convicted on the basis of DNA evidence and, when faced with it, he pleaded guilty.

In 1988, Pitchfork was given a minimum term of 30 years by the trial judge, Mr Justice Otton, who said he, should only be released when the authorities are satisfied that he is no longer a danger to women.

At his appeal against the sentence, the Lord chief justice, Lord Lane, said, From the point of view of the safety of the public I doubt he should ever be released.

But Pitchfork was released in September 2021, only to be recalled two months later for breaching the conditions of his licence, namely by approaching a lone female.

Alberto Costa, the Conservative MP for South Leicestershire, said he was deeply disappointed by the decision to release Pitchfork and would be writing to Chalk to ask for an urgent review.

Pitchfork has changed his name by deed poll and his new identity has not been disclosed by the Parole Board.

Last year the government changed the law to allow parole hearings to be public but in the case of Pitchfork the Parole Board ruled his case was not suitable for a public hearing.

In their ruling (pdf) they gave a number of reasons for the hearing to be held in private, one of which was, There is information to suggest that a public hearing could add to Mr Pitchforks grandiosity and could make managing Mr Pitchfork more challenging either in the prison estate or if he is released.

Costa wrote on Twitter, It is simply unthinkable that a man who committed such egregious crimes should ever be released, and I will be asking the government to challenge this decision in the strongest possible terms.

MP: Pitchfork a Very Real Danger to the Public

It is quite clear to many, not only in South Leicestershire, but the country that this man still presents a very real danger to the public and I will do all I can to challenge this decision. My thoughts remain with the families of Lynda and Dawn at this most difficult time, Costa added.

A Downing Street spokesman said they did not want to pre-empt Chalks decision but added: The prime ministers thoughts and sympathies remain with the families of Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth. In terms of the process, though, Colin Pitchfork wont be released immediately.

The decision is provisional for 21 days to give the Lord Chancellor an opportunity to apply for reconsideration and he will of course be looking at that very carefully, he added.

A Parole Board panel said Pitchforks behaviour for most of his time in prison had not caused any concern and it was no longer necessary for him to be locked up for public safety.

A report said: He has made constructive use of his time and is now 63 years old. In general, age tends to reduce risk. Mr Pitchfork has completed many courses satisfactorily and the evidence before the panel demonstrated that he had learnt the lessons that he had been taught and had worked out how to apply them in practice.

The panel said the decision to recall him had been flawed and made on the basis of some of the allegations not being proved and upon some incorrect information.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: This will be a very upsetting decision for the families of Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth and our heartfelt sympathies remain with them. Pitchfork will remain in prison while the Lord Chancellor looks extremely carefully at whether to ask the Parole Board to reconsider its decision, he added.

Our number one priority is public protection which is why we are reforming the parole system and introducing a ministerial check to keep the most dangerous offenders behind bars, he added.

Released on Conditions

The Parole Board said Pitchfork should be released on condition he lives at a specific addresswhich would not be made publicbehave well, surrender his passport, attend supervision appointments and disclose any relationships with women.

Pitchfork will also be expected to accept monitoring by means of a GPS tag, obey a nighttime curfew and comply with an exclusion zone to avoid contact with women, children and any of his victims relatives.

A Parole Board spokesman said: Having considered all of the evidence, during a hearing observed by the victims and the local member of Parliament, the panel found that Mr Pitchforks recall to custody was flawed and not supported by the evidence.

Separately, the panel found that the prisoners continued detention was no longer necessary for the protection of the public. Parole reviews are undertaken thoroughly and with extreme care, he added.

Protecting the public is our number one priority, however, our sole focus in law is risk, not punishment, and must be based on evidence. This case is eligible for reconsideration if any party thinks the decision is irrational or unfair, they concluded.

PA Media contributed to this report.
Pentagon Leaker Jack Teixeira Indicted on 6 Charges, Faces Prison

Jack Douglas Teixeira poses for a selfie at an unidentified location in a file photo. (Social Media Website via Reuters)

Former Air National Guardsman and accused Pentagon top secret document leaker Jack Teixeira has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Massachusetts on six felony counts, each carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The indictment, released by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on June 15, accuses the 21-year-old Teixeira of willful retention and transmission of classified information relating to national defense.

Teixeira stands accused of committing one of the most serious U.S. security breaches since the infamous WikiLeaks fiasco in 2010, in which over 700,000 documents, videos, and diplomatic cables were leaked to the public.

Teixeira is charged with sharing information with users on a social media platform he knew were not entitled to receive it. In doing so, he is alleged to have violated U.S. law and endangered our national security, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement.

The leaked documents contained top-secret details about both allies and foes, covering topics from Ukraines air defenses amidst the Russian invasion to Israels Mossad spy agency.

Jack Teixeira was entrusted by the United States government with access to classified national defense informationincluding information that reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to national security if shared, Garland said.

Teixeira was arrested in April after allegedly posting the highly classified materials on the messaging app Discord, sparking concerns about how a low-level airman could have access to Pentagon secrets.

President Joe Biden has ordered an investigation into why he was privy to such sensitive information, while two commanders in Teixeiras unit were later suspended pending a probe.

Each of the six charges of unauthorized retention and transmission of national defense information carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years behind bars, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Teixeiras attorney wasnt immediately available for comment.

Jack Teixeira, in T-shirt and shorts, being taken into custody by armed tactical agents in Dighton, Mass., on April 13, 2023. (WCVB-TV via AP)

Top Secret

Charging documents state that Teixeira joined the U.S. Air National Guard in September 2019. Since 2021, he has held a top-secret security clearance, and its believed that at some point in early 2022, he started mishandling sensitive information. He is accused of inappropriately retaining and sharing national defense information that was classified as either top secret or secret. Teixeira allegedly shared this information on social media while aware that its disclosure could potentially harm the United States or benefit a foreign adversary. Individuals granted security clearances are entrusted to protect classified information and safeguard our nations secrets. The allegations in todays indictment reveal a serious violation of that trust, FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. Teixeira is accused of divulging this sensitive data on the Discord platform in two ways. First, after accessing sensitive from a classified workstation at the Otis U.S. Air National Guard Base, he wrote it down and shared it with other users on the platform. The second way was by posting pictures of classified documents directly onto Discord. The unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified information jeopardizes our nations security, Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said in a statement. Last month, a judge ordered Teixeira to remain jailed as he awaits trial, saying that he was at flight risk or might seek to obstruct justice. His lawyers had pressed the judge to release him to his father, arguing that he has no criminal history.

Jack Teixeira, a U.S. Air Force National Guard airman accused of leaking highly classified military intelligence records online, appears in court in Boston, Mass., on April 19, 2023. (Margaret Small/Reuters)

Recent Strike

The leak Teixeira is accused of carrying out led to a large number of images circulating online.

Among them, one seemed to depict a recent battle map from the Donetsk area in eastern Ukraine. Another alleged intelligence photo showed the aftermath of a recent strike that took place in February 2023, specifically in the city of Marinka, Donetsk.

A document, supposedly leaked from the Defense Intelligence Agency, seemed to detail potential scenarios involving the Israeli government supplying weapons to Ukrainian forces. It suggested several situations, ranked from most plausible to least plausible.

Another document claimed to display the number of Russian and Ukrainian casualties as of early March 2023. This document alleged that the conflict had resulted in the deaths of between 16,000 and 17,500 Russian soldiers and up to 71,500 Ukrainian forces since the outbreak of the conflict the previous year.

However, officials from both the United States and Ukraine have said that the leaked documents related to the war in Ukraine might have been altered or manipulated.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the chief of Ukraines presidential office, said in a statement following news of the leak that the posts looked like a Russian disinformation operation to sow doubts about Ukraines predicted counter-offensive.

The Epoch Times cannot confirm the authenticity of the documents.
Pittsburgh Synagogue Attacker Found Guilty of Hate Crimes

A makeshift memorial stands outside the Tree of Life Synagogue in the aftermath of a deadly shooting in Pittsburgh on Oct. 29, 2018. (Matt Rourke/AP Photo)

A jury on Friday found Robert Bowers guilty of dozens of federal hate crimes for the killing of 11 worshippers at Pittsburghs Tree of Life synagogue in 2018, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.

Bowers, 50, now faces the penalty phase of his trial at the U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh in which the 12 jurors must weigh whether he deserves the death sentence.

Federal prosecutors charged Bowers with 63 counts, including 11 counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death. The jury found him guilty on all counts, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys office in Pittsburgh confirmed.

Robert Bowers. (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation via AP)

During his trial, which began on May 30, jurors heard testimony from some of the survivors of the attack and evidence of Bowers antisemitism, including multiple posts attacking Jews made on a website in the months leading up to the attack.

In the sentencing phase, prosecutors will try to show that aggravating factors were involved, making a case that Bowers carefully planned the attack and that he targeted vulnerable victims. Most of the victims were elderly.

The victims of assault on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Oct. 27, 2018, top row (L-R), Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Rose Mallinger, Jerry Rabinowitz, Cecil Rosenthal, and David Rosenthal; bottom row (L-R), Bernice Simon, Sylvan Simon, Dan Stein, Melvin Wax, and Irving Younger. (United States District Court Western District of Pennsylvania via AP)

Defense lawyers for Bowers have argued that a death sentence would violate the Constitution on the grounds that he suffers from major mental illness, including schizophrenia.

All 12 jurors must vote unanimously in order to sentence Bowers to death. Otherwise, he will face life in prison.
Poor Forest Management to Blame for Canadas Wildfires, Not Climate Change

The Murtle Lake wildfire, located within Wells Gray Provincial Park, is shown in this handout photo provided by the BC Wildfire Service on June 9, 2023. (The Canadian Press/HO-BC Wildfire Service)

Commentary

As North America suffers from Canadas out-of-control forest fires, the Canadian government shuns responsibility. Instead of acknowledging its failure to follow tried-and-true forest-management procedures, the government instead points the finger at climate change.

Were seeing more and more of these fires because of climate change, Prime Minister Trudeau tweeted. These fires are affecting everyday routines, lives and livelihoods, and our air quality.

Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault concurred, tweeting: The ongoing wildfires remind us that carbon pollution carries a cost on our society, as it accelerates climate change.

Except Canada is not seeing more and more of these fires. According to the National Forestry Database, which shows year-to-year fluctuations in the number of fires, Canada on the whole has been seeing less and less of these fires. In the 1990s, Canada had years when 10,000 fires raged; more recently, the numbers have often been half that, at about 6,000 fires per year, with just 4,000 fires in 2020.

There is no correlation between the number of fires and the climate change the government refers to. This years number, despite the widespread calamity created in New York and other locations from the smoke, may not even surpass the numbers seen in the 1990s.

The governments confusion is understandable since carbon dioxide has indeed been increasing in the atmosphere. Thanks to this steady enrichment, the parts-per-million count of CO2also known as Natures Fertilizerhas now reached 418 parts per million. But the acceleration of CO2 hasnt accelerated climate change: Global temperatures have been dropping since 2015 and are also far lower than their peak in 1997, when the CO2 count was about 370 parts per million. Just as theres no correlation between the number of fires and climate change, theres no correlation between CO2 and temperatures.

One correlation with CO2 does exist, howeverthe more CO2, the more plant growth, including tree growth. As seen in satellite data since 1979, when satellites first started measuring Earths biota, Canadas forests have been thickening and the treeline has been expanding northward. Far from being the enemy of the forest, CO2 is its biggest booster.

Not so Canadas governments, which for decades have been mismanaging the countrys forests. As noted in a 2021 editorial by The Globe and Mail, Canadas massive wildfires are the result of decades of bad decisions. Time to make better decisions, governments have been playing with fire in their failure to take needed action to manage the countrys forests.

Widespread wildfires have become too common, as a result of decades of decisions around fire suppression, logging and replanting, it stated. Forest fires cannot be prevented. But tools are available to mitigate and contain the damage.

Those tools, which include thinning, pruning, and especially prescribed burns, are an ecological necessity. Many plant and bird species depend upon forest fires, as does the health of forestsfires prevent disease in trees by controlling insects that attack them. As explained by British Columbias Ministry of Forests, a prescribed fire is an effective tool for reducing fire hazards because it helps decrease fuel loads.  Prescribed fires also help reduce the intensity of future wildfires by removing understory vegetation.

Canadian governments, especially those claiming climate change to be a priority, had no excuse for their failure to order prescribed burns, since small prescribed burns of low-value trees and brush are widely believed to reduce CO2 emissions by locking in the carbon in the large, magnificent trees.

Had federal and provincial governments had the right priorities, and done right by forests by managing them prudently, they would have their forests as well as the carbon mitigation policy they seek. Instead, both trees and carbon policies go up in smoke, and all governments can then do is blame third parties for the firestorms they themselves brought down on us.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Rep. Jim Jordan Threatens White House With Subpoenas Over Social Media Censorship

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has threatened to subpoena the White House for records on how the executive branch allegedly colluded with social media companies to suppress Americans free speech.

Jordan made the demand in a June 15 letter (pdf) to White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, asking him to turn over records on how the White House coerced and colluded with companies and other intermediaries to censor speech.

The request comes as the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government that Jordan chairs has been probing allegations that the Biden administration pressured Big Tech to suppress dissenting views.

Jordans panel asked the White House in April to hand over information on its relationships with private sector entities in context of the probe, but Richard Sauber, special counsel to the president, declined, according to the letter.

The reason provided by Sauber was that the panel should first seek the information from executive branch agencies, but Jordan dismissed this argument as unpersuasive because some of the materials sought are unique to the Executive Office of the President (EOP).

We therefore reiterate our request for materials necessary to advance our oversight and inform potential legislative reforms, Jordan wrote.

He gave Zients until June 29 to comply with the records request, threatening to get them by subpoena if necessary.

Please be advised that the Committee may be forced to resort to compulsory process if these requests remain outstanding, he said.

Jordan added that there is already extensive evidence that the White House played a unique role in urging and directing social media companies to impose viewpoint-based censorship.

Based on this evidence, and in light of the EOPs unique position within the executive branch, the Committee has good reason to believe that additional material exists in the EOPs custody and control that would help the Committee to understand the nature and extent of its involvement in this censorship scheme, he added.

The White House did not return a request for comment.

Earlier Subpoenas

Jordan is working with the weaponization subcommittee to probe issues related to the alleged violation of the civil liberties of American citizens.

Documents brought to light by reporters who were given access to Twitters internal files and produced in a lawsuit filed by several states against the federal government have shown that officials with federal agencies were regularly in contact with Twitter and other Big Tech companies.

The documents and lawsuit showed that the actions of the officials focused on alleged mis- and disinformation, including making requests to crack down on specific users.

As part of the probe, Jordan sent subpoenas in April to several top Biden administration officials over the administrations coordination with Big Tech to censor users.

Jordan sent the subpoenas on April 28 to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Jen Easterly, and James Rubin, an official at the State Departments Global Engagement Center (GEC).

In letters accompanying the subpoenas, Jordan said that all three have responded inadequately to requests to provide records of communication between their respective agencies and social media platforms.

Freedom of speech is one of the most important rights we have in this country, Jordan told the Washington Examiner in April.

The collusion between our federal government and Big Tech undermines First Amendment principles and should be investigated, he added.

While the CDC and GEC did not respond to requests for comment at the time, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, CISAs parent agency, told The Epoch Times in an earlier email that the department does not censor speech and does not request that content be taken down by social media companies.

Instead of working with the Department, as numerous committees have done this Congress, the House Judiciary Committee has unnecessarily escalated to a subpoena, the spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email, adding that the agency will continue cooperating appropriately with Congressional oversight requests, all while faithfully working to protect our nation from terrorism and targeted violence, secure our borders, respond to natural disasters, defend against cyberattacks, and more.

Out to Get Conservatives

Earlier in February, Jordan subpoenaed the CEOs of top U.S. Big Tech firms as part of the weaponization probe.

Today, House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan subpoenaed the chief executive officers of Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft for documents and communications relating to the federal governments reported collusion with Big Tech to suppress free speech, Jordans office said in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times.

The House Judiciary Committee has repeatedly attempted to engage with the five companies since last December, the release continues. Unfortunately, the companies have not adequately complied with our requests.

Jordan was referring to a series of Dec. 14, 2022, letters his office sent to various tech executives.

Jordan alleged, in excerpts from the letter to the executives posted to his website, that Big Tech firms have colluded with the Biden administration to suppress conservative voices.

Big Tech is out to get conservatives, and is increasingly willing to undermine First Amendment values by complying with the Biden Administrations directives that suppress freedom of speech online, Jordan wrote.

The Republican lawmaker cited long-held concerns among conservatives that their viewpoints are disproportionately stifled on social media platforms through outright bans, removal of certain posts, and shadow banning, which dramatically reduce a persons reach on most social media platforms.

Joseph Lord and Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
Reviving Engagement With China Counterproductive and Dangerous: Rep. Gallagher

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis) speaks at a press conference and rally in front of the America ChangLe Association highlighting Beijing's transnational repression, in New York City on Feb. 25, 2023.

In trying to engage China, the Biden administration is reviving a China policy that hasnt worked for decades, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) warned.

Time and time again, engagementparticularly engagement just for the sake of engagementhas undermined the urgency we need to actually win this competition. The fact that the Biden administration is reviving diplomatic and economic engagement as a core pillar of our grand strategy, I think, is counterproductive and dangerous, he told The Epoch Times sister media outlet NTD on June 15.

Gallagher, who chairs the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), made the remarks as Secretary of State Antony Blinken prepared for his trip to Beijing, one that would make the top U.S. diplomat the highest-ranking Biden administration official to visit China amid rising U.S.China tensions.

Originally scheduled for February, the meeting was shelved because of fallout from the Chinese spy balloon that flew over the United States. In a tense preview just days ahead of the visit, Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang told Blinken in a June 14 phone call to stop meddling with what the regime described as its internal affairs, such as Taiwan.

Gallagher believes Blinken is making the trip at the wrong moment, noting that its only a week since the public found out about the Beijing regimes investment in Cuba for a massive spying station right in our own neighborhood.

The attempts by the administration to revive engagement after its failed for 20 years, I just dont know what that achieves other than to force us to slow walk certain defensive actions, he said, citing sanctions on key Chinese officials over continued human rights abuses and the need to tighten export licenses to U.S. suppliers of blacklisted Chinese telecom firm Huawei, as examples.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers remarks during an event honoring the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Heroes at State Department headquarters in Washington on June 15, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

In order to even get to the negotiating table, it seems we make these concessions to the CCP or they humiliate us in the process, he said.

Blinkens efforts mark the latest in a string of attempts for Washington to engage with Beijing, which has largely resisted bilateral exchanges on military levels, including since the U.S. downed the Chinese surveillance balloon off the South Carolina coast. Gallagher recalled Beijings refusal earlier to a U.S. invitation to have Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a summit in Singapore in early June.

They not only said no thank youthis is a sanctioned official, by the way, said the Wisconsin lawmaker, referring to 2018 sanctions imposed on Li over his role in the purchases of aircraft and equipment from Russia. They then sent a warship to buzz dangerously one of our destroyers in the vicinity of Taiwan.

Earlier this month, Daniel Kritenbrink, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, headed to Beijing for a candid and productive discussion with Chinese officials, which the U.S. side described as part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication.

But that move was inappropriate given the timing, Gallagher said, noting that it coincided with the 34th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, the regimes bloody military suppression that killed hundreds, if not thousands, of pro-democracy protesters.

The State Department has played down hopes that the Blinken meeting will yield a breakthrough or transformation in the way that we deal with one another.

Were coming to Beijing with a realistic, confident approach and a sincere desire to manage our competition in the most responsible way possible, Kritenbrink told reporters in a briefing call on June 14.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink (left) listens during a meeting with Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on July 12, 2022. (TANG CHHIN SOTHY/AFP via Getty Images)

Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.), a member of the House China Committee, echoed Gallaghers view.

We need to project strength, not weakness, he told NTD. And when you reward bad behavior, you get more bad behavior.

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) is supportive of Blinkens trip as he expressed hope to de-conflict by creating some level of communication on the defense side.

I hope that he will create some paradigm of how there will be competition, but it doesnt mean that we have to have conflicts, he told The Epoch Times, adding that he also hopes the topic of tackling illicit fentanyl, the precursor of which has primarily flowed from China, is included in the bilateral discussion.

Gallagher said he is all for a crisis communication channel, but believes the initiative should come from the Chinese side.

The problem is the Chinese Communist Party is not picking up the phone at the other end, he said. Theyre not willing to engage. Theyre not willing to abide by the international rules.

The alternative, he said, is to dramatically enhance our military deterrent in the Indo-Pacific in general and across the Taiwan Strait, reduce dependence on China for critical goods, and push back against Chinese espionage, while making sure that were working aggressively with our allies and partners to strengthen the free world as the Chinese Communist Party aggression grows greater.

Kurt Campbell, National Security Council coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs, said on June 14 in response to a query from The Epoch Times that there is nothing inconsistent with competing vigorously and talking with the PRC on a range of issues.

While noting that efforts to shape or reform China over several decades have failed, he said, intense competition requires intense diplomacy if were going to manage tensions.

The world expects us to work together on climate, health security, global macroeconomic stability, and other challenges. We cant let the disagreements that might divide us stand in the way of moving forward on the global priorities that require us all to work together, he said, adding that Blinkens trip will advance this approach, and a series of visits in both directions will follow in the future.

Jackson Richman and NTDs Melina Wisecup contributed to this report.

This article has been updated with a response from the State Department.
RFK Jr. Says Hes Aware of Possibility CIA Could Assassinate Him

Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that he has to be careful in the midst of his 2024 campaign, seemingly making note of the deaths of his uncle and father.

In light of the assassination deaths of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and President John F. Kennedy in the 1960s, podcast host Joe Rogan asked the younger Kennedy about what he might do if he were elected president. As a longtime proponent of the theory that the CIA killed former President Kennedy, he responded by saying: I gotta be careful.

Im aware of that, you know, Im aware of that danger. I dont live in fear of itat all. But Im not stupid about it, and I take precautions, he said. JFK, he added, often spoke of being at war with the military-industrial complex, a term that was popularized by former President Dwight Eisenhower in 1961 when he warned about what he described as collusion between defense companies and the federal government.

RFK Jr. also said that intelligence agencies in the early 1960s were trying to trick JFK into launching military excursions in Vietnam and Cuba. That came before his uncle proclaimed he must splinter the CIA into thousands of pieces and scatter it into the winds after the Bay of Pigs incident.

Former President Kennedy learned very early on that the purpose of the CIA and the intelligence apparatus was to create a constant pipeline of new wars for them, for the military-industrial complex, he told Rogan.

The younger Kennedy announced his presidential campaign in April and has garnered modest support among some Democrat voters. However, a recent HarrisX poll shows that hes behind President Joe Biden by about 40 percentage points.

Reports have indicated that Kennedy, however, could win New Hampshires Democrat primary after the Democratic National Committee (DNC) named South Carolina the first primary state. Its because Bidens name likely wont appear on the states primary ballot, leaving Kennedy and self-help author Marianne Williamson to vy for the states nomination.

In the 2020 contest, Biden famously finished fifth in New Hampshire. He took first place in South Carolina after a key endorsement from Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), a member of the House Democrat leadership.

If Biden doesnt compete in New Hampshire, he could lose out on valuable momentum and attention, wrote state Rep. Keith Ammon earlier this month. Not campaigning in New Hampshire could make it more difficult for him to win the nomination.

Other Claims

Earlier this year, Kennedy drew headlines when he again publicly claimed that he believes the CIA killed his uncle. The Warren Commission Report howeverreleased more than 50 years agoconcluded that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone gunman in the 1963 Kennedy assassination.

President John F. Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy walk down the steps of Air Force One as they arrive at Love Field in Dallas, Texas less than an hour before his assassination on Nov. 22, 1963. (JFK Library/The White House/Cecil Stoughton/Reuters)

On May 8, Kennedy wrote on Twitter that Biden should release all government records in connection to the assassination, claiming that the White House is still keeping thousands of pages heavily redacted, including 44 pages related to a shadowy CIA agent and a covert program that had contact with Lee Harvey Oswald just months before my uncle was killed.

Nobody should be surprised when Americans are distrustful of a government that refuses to reveal 60-year-old secrets. The American people are entitled to see every document, as the law requires, he wrote, adding that he believes the majority of people working at the CIA are good, patriotic people committed to their missions and the law.

My own daughter-in-law was a field agent, and she is among the bravest people I have known, Kennedy continued.

The Epoch Times contacted the CIA for comment on Friday. A previous Epoch Times request for comment was not returned by the CIA in connection to questions raised by Kennedys claims about his uncles assassination.

Kennedy also generated some controversy during a Twitter Spaces event in which he claimed that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) doesnt pose a military threat to the United States, calling for Washington to instead engage with the regime.

The Chinese cannot and do not want to compete with us militarily, Kennedy asserted earlier this month. So its kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy that says, Oh, the Chinese want to be our enemy and have a military competition, they dont. What we should be doing is de-escalating military pressure on China.

But John Mills, a retired Army colonel, said that some of Kennedys comments are dangerously naive about the nature of the CCP. Im a little puzzled by his comments, he told The Epoch Times. He has strong opinions on the virus and the vaccine. Well, where does he think the virus came from? Its kind of incongruent.
Romanian Prosecutors Change Human Trafficking Charge Against Andrew Tate

Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate are escorted by police officers outside the headquarters of the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism in Bucharest (DIICOT) after being detained for 24 hours, in Bucharest, Romania, on Dec. 29, 2022. (Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea via Reuters)

BUCHARESTRomanian prosecutors said on Tuesday that social media influencer Andrew Tate, his brother Tristan and two other suspects were being investigated for human trafficking in continued form, saying it was a more serious crime than separate counts of trafficking.

The Tate brothers and two Romanian female suspects are under house arrest pending a criminal investigation for suspected human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women, accusations they have denied.

Under Romanian legislation, prosecutors have filed charges against the four suspects, but the case is under investigation and has not yet gone to trial. Prosecutors are expected to commit them for trial later in June.

The four were held in police custody from Dec. 29 until March 31, when a Bucharest court placed them under house arrest.

On Tuesday, Romanias DIICOT anti-organized crime prosecuting unit notified the Tate brothers that the human trafficking charge had changed to trafficking in continued form, a DIICOT spokesperson said. Under Romanian law, trafficking of adults carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

One more victim was added to the case, which started out with six women, the spokesperson said.

The Tate brothers legal team said Tuesdays changes were in the suspects legal interest.

The legal framework has been revised and altered to ensure an impartial investigation is upheld, they said in a statement.

Also on Tuesday, DIICOT prosecutors said they had opened a separate criminal investigation against a Romanian man close to the Tate brothers on allegations of human trafficking and forming a criminal crime group to sexually exploit seven women.

Prosecutors have said Vlad Obuzic, whose social media platforms show pictures of him with the Tate brothers, and two other suspects recruited their alleged victims by seducing them and falsely claiming to want a relationship or marriage.

The victims were then coerced to produce pornographic content for social media sites, with the suspects keeping most of the gains.

To ensure the victims loyalty and that they will perform only to the benefit of the members of the group, they were forced to tattoo the name or face of the group member exploiting them, prosecutors said in a statement.
Russian National Charged for Alleged Ransomware Extortion From US, Foreign Businesses

A Russian hacker has been arrested and charged for allegedly deploying malicious software to dozens of computers and launching cyberattacks against multiple businesses in the United States and abroad.

Ruslan Magomedovich Astamirov, 20, of the Russian-controlled Chechen Republic, was arrested and charged in Arizona on June 15 with conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to intentionally damage protected computers and to transmit ransom demands, according to the Department of Justice.

If convicted, he faces up to 20 years behind bars on the first charge and a maximum penalty of five years on the second charge.

Both charges are also punishable by a maximum fine of either $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest.

According to prosecutors, between August 2020 to March 2023, Astamirov allegedly participated in a conspiracy with other members of the LockBit ransomware campaigna Russian-linked ransomware groupto commit wire fraud and intentionally damage protected computers and make financial demands via the deployment of ransomware.

Ransomware is a type of malware used by cyber criminals to encrypt data stored on victims computers, rendering it inaccessible and unusable by the victim. The criminals typically then transfer the data to another computer and demand a ransom payment from the victim in return for removing the encryption or not publishing the data online.

LockBit Group

LockBit ransomware attacks first began around January 2020, according to the DOJ, and members of the group have already conducted more than 1,400 attacks against victims, demanded more than $100 million in ransom, and received tens of millions of dollars in payments.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, LockBit-powered attacks made up 16 percent of ransomware attacks against state and local governments in 2022, including incidents impacting municipal governments, county governments, public higher education and K12 schools, and emergency services.

Most recently, the LockBit ransomware group was reportedly behind the cyberattack on Managed Care of North America (MCNA)one of the largest dental health insurers in the United Stateswhich saw the personal information of nearly 9 million individuals compromised.

The group stated that it published all of the files it extracted from MCNAamounting to 700 GB of dataafter the company refused to pay a $10 million ransom demand.

Astamirov himself directly executed at least five computer attacks against businesses in Florida and Virginia, as well as businesses based in France, Japan, and Kenya, according to a complaint (pdf).

Four of those five attacks were LockBit attacks, prosecutors said, with at least one of the victims coughing up $700,000 in an attempt to prevent their personal data from being publicly shared online.

3rd LockBit Arrest

Another victim refused to pay, and Astamirov subsequently uploaded the companys data to LockBits public server, according to the complaint.

Astamirovs arrest marks the second LockBit-related arrest by U.S. authorities in six months and the third in total. In November 2022, Mikhail Vasiliev, a dual Russian and Canadian national, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to intentionally damage protected computers and to transmit ransom demands.

Vasiliev is currently in custody in Canada awaiting extradition to the United States.

In May 2023, Russian national Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev was charged with multiple federal crimes after prosecutors accused him of conspiracies to deploy LockBit, Babuk, and Hive ransomware variants against victims in the United States and abroad.

This LockBit-related arrest, the second in six months, underscores the Justice Departments unwavering commitment to hold ransomware actors accountable, said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco in a statement.

In securing the arrest of a second Russian national affiliated with the LockBit ransomware, the Department has once again demonstrated the long arm of the law. We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to disrupt cybercrime, and while cybercriminals may continue to run, they ultimately cannot hide, Monaco said.

The Epoch Times has contacted an attorney for Astamirov for comment.
Rust Film Set Weapons Supervisor Was Likely Hungover, Prosecutors Claim

This aerial photo shows the movie set of "Rust," at Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, N.M. on Oct. 23, 2021. (Jae C. Hong/AP Photo/File Photo)

Prosecutors say Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the weapons supervisor on the set of the film Rust, where a gun was discharged and killed a cinematographer, was likely hungover when she loaded a live bullet into the gun Alec Baldwin used.

They accuse Gutierrez-Reed, 25, of drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana in the evenings during filming.

Last month, lawyers for the weapons supervisor filed a motion seeking to dismiss her involuntary manslaughter charges. The prosecutors new accusations were made in response to that motion.

The prosecutors accused Gutierrez-Reed of having a history of reckless conduct and argued that it would be in the public interest for her to finally be held accountable.

Jason Bowles, Gutierrez-Reeds attorney, said on June 13 that the prosecution had mishandled the case.

The case is so weak that they now have chosen to resort to character assassination claims about Hannah, Bowles told The Associated Press. The prosecution has abandoned the idea of doing justice and getting to the actual truth, apparently.

A preliminary hearing for Gutierrez-Reed is scheduled in August, where it will be decided whether the charge against her will be taken further. Gutierrez-Reed is the only person now charged for Hutchins death.

Prosecutors are also expected to decide within the next 60 days whether to recharge Baldwin, depending on the results of an analysis of the gun and its broken sear. The items were sent to the states independent expert for further testing.

Fatal Accident

In October 2021, Halyna Hutchins, 42, was killed after a gun Baldwin had been rehearsing with went off on set. The actor was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter over the incident, but the charges were dropped in April after new evidence suggested the guns hammer might have been modified, causing it to misfire.

People attend a vigil for late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was fatally shot on the film set of Rust, in Burbank, Los Angeles, on Oct. 24, 2021. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)

Baldwin, 65, has said he did not pull the trigger.

We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic incident, his attorneys, Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro, said in a statement at the time.

Dave Halls, the first assistant director on Rust, pleaded in a deal with prosecutors to negligent use of a deadly weapon for his role in Hutchins death.

Defense lawyer Bowles has previously said Gutierrez-Reed never bought nor had access to ammunition, the type of live round that killed Hutchins.

Gutierrez-Reed said she loaded the live round into the Peacemaker revolver used by Baldwin, thinking it was a dummy round.

Baldwin, who returned to work and just wrapped production of Rust in a new location, still faces other civil lawsuits, including one from the family of Hutchins, as well as a suit brought by Rust script supervisor Mamie Mitchell. Both parties are represented by Gloria Allred.

Actor Alec Baldwin attends the 2019 PEN America Literary Gala In New York, on May 21, 2019. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Photo)

Mr. Baldwin should know that we remain committed to fighting and winning for our clients and holding him accountable for pointing a loaded gun at Halyna Hutchins, pulling the trigger and killing her, Allred shared in a statement. Mr. Baldwin may pretend that he is not responsible for pulling the trigger and ejecting a live bullet which ended Halynas life.

He can run to Montana and pretend that he is just an actor in a wild west movie but, in real life, he cannot escape from the fact that he had a major role in a tragedy which had real-life consequences for Halyna, her mother, father, sister, and co-worker, the statement continued.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong regulators are planning a second meeting in less than two months to push banks to offer services to virtual-asset firms as the city seeks to become an international crypto hub.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The top financial regulators have called a meeting on Monday to bring together banks, crypto platforms and other industry participants, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named discussing a private matter.

The discussion will focus on how to address persistent challenges crypto firms face in opening bank accounts, said the people. It will be the second meeting since late April to push for more participation by banks, underscoring the struggle crypto firms have in gaining banking services. The meeting next week will cater to those not present at the inaugural dialog.

A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Monetary Authority said the de facto central bank has maintained close dialogue with the banking industry and relevant stakeholders on various topics from time to time, while declining to comment on the planned meeting. A spokesperson for the Securities and Futures Commission, which regulates crypto exchanges, declined to comment.

Hong Kong this month rolled out a new licensing regime to cover crypto exchanges, but banking access, a talent shortage and the crisis roiling the industry is hampering the citys ambitions.

Crypto firms have seen difficulties in gaining banking services due to stringent know-your-customer and anti-money laundering rules. The crypto industry is under fire globally from regulators including the US Securities and Exchange Commission, amping up the pressure on lenders while stoking greater caution than is customary.

After a $1.5 trillion digital asset rout in 2022, with several high-profile firms going bust, the US last week started lawsuits against Binance Holdings Ltd. and Coinbase Global Inc. Turmoil this week also gripped the industry in South Korea, where two crypto platforms halted withdrawals in the space of 24 hours.

Hong Kong market regulators in late April issued a circular to urge banks to support regulated virtual asset businesses with their legitimate need for bank accounts.

About 20 banks and a similar number of crypto-related firms attended the roundtable addressing banking needs at that time, according to the HKMA.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
Sacked School Worker Who Criticised Trans and LGBT Sex Education Wins Appeal

Undated handout of Kirstie Higgs who was sacked from her teaching assistance role for sharing Facebook posts criticising compulsory sex education and transgenderism in schools. (Christian Legal Centre)

A Christian school worker who lost an employment tribunal after claiming she was sacked because of her religious beliefs has won an appeal.

Kristie Higgs was dismissed in 2019 from Farmors School in Fairford, Gloucestershire, for gross misconduct after sharing social media posts criticising plans to teach transgenderism and compulsory sex education in schools.

A tribunal in 2022 agreed that her Facebook posts on LGBT relationships in primary schools were potentially homophobic or transphobic.

However, on Friday, the Employment Appeals Tribunal ruled she should be allowed a fresh hearing into her claims that she was sacked over her Christian beliefs.

Handing down the judgement, Dame Jennifer Eady said: The freedom to manifest belief (religious or otherwise) and to express views relating to that belief are essential rights in any democracy, whether or not the belief in question is popular or mainstream and even if its expression may offend.

Eady criticised tribunal judges in Bristol for failing to assess whether the investigation and dismissal of Higgs were prescribed by law and were necessary for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others, recognising the essential nature of [Mrs Higgss] rights to freedom of belief and freedom of expression.

The mother-of-two, from Fairford, shared and commented on posts that raised concerns about relationship education at her sons Church of England primary school.

She shared two posts in October 2018 to around 100 friends which referred to brainwashing children and suppressing Christianity and removing it from the public arena.

An anonymous complaint was made to the school and Higgs was suspended and later dismissed for gross misconduct.

Nazis Views

In 2020, Higgs took the school to an employment tribunal arguing she had been unlawfully discriminated against.

The school denied dismissing the teaching assistant because of her religious views and said she was sacked because of the language she used in the posts.

Employment judge Derek Reed ruled her dismissal was the result of a genuine belief on the part of the school that she had committed gross misconduct.

Higgs appealed the decision over the course of a two-day hearing in March.

The Christian Legal Centre, which is supporting Higgs, said Fridays ruling sets a legal precedent which confirms that the Equality Act 2010 protects employees from discrimination not only for their beliefs but also for expression or manifestation of their beliefs.

In a statement released after the ruling, the mother-of-two said she was pleased with the courts judgement but remained frustrated over continual delays in receiving justice.

From the beginning, despite the many attempts by the school to suggest otherwise, this has always been about my Christian beliefs and me being discriminated against for expressing them in my own time, she said.

I was, and still am, appalled by the sexual ideology that was being introduced to my sons Church of England primary school.

I will never forget the moment, shaking and tearful, that I was ordered to leave the school premises after my Christian beliefs were aligned with Nazism, she said.

Higgs said that since losing the job she loved, there have been so many disturbing revelations about transgender ideology in schools and children being taught inappropriate sex education.

She added: I feel so justified and vindicated for sharing and expressing the concerns that I did. Christian parents must have the freedom to bring their children up in line with their Christian beliefs.

I want young children to be protected from transgender ideology and Christians must also be able to share their opinions and beliefs without fear of losing their jobs.

One of the Facebook posts shared by Kirstie Higgs that led to her dismissal from Farmors School in Fairford, Gloucestershire, in 2019. (Kirstie Higgs/Christian Legal Centre)

Shared Petition

Higgs said she was sacked from her school post after a six-hour interrogation by school chiefs, who said beliefs, expressed in social posts she had shared, were akin to that of a pro-Nazi right-wing extremist.

She had made the posts after discovering that the Church of England school attended by her child planned under the radar to introduce No Outsiders books on gender identity.

The books included My Princess Boy and Red: A Crayons Story, she said.

The first post shared by Higgs to Facebook encouraged friends and family to sign a petition challenging the governments plans to introduce Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) to children in primary schools.

The post flagged that a government consultation on plans to make RSE mandatory for children as young as four was coming to a close and asked its readers to sign a nationwide petition calling on the government to uphold the rights of parents to have children educated in line with their religious beliefs.

A similar petition was subsequently signed by over 115,000 people and was debated in Parliament.

In the second post, Higgs shared an article from Judybeth.com on the rise of transgender ideology in childrens books in American schools and added her own comment: This is happening in our primary schools now.

The article critiqued the same No Outsiders books promoting transgenderism to children in her sons school.

An anonymous complaint was later sent to the headteacher of Farmors School which included allegations of illegal discrimination, serious inappropriate use of social media, and online comments that could bring the school into disrepute and damage the reputation of the school.

She was then sacked for gross misconduct.

The decision was made despite the posts being made under her maiden name on a profile that had no links to her employer.

The Christian Legal Centre said no evidence has ever been found that her posts brought the school into disrepute.

A pupil raises their hand during a lesson at Whitchurch High School in Cardiff, Wales, on Sept. 14, 2021. (Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)

Sex Education Review

In response, Higgs launched legal action for discrimination and harassment on the grounds of her Christian beliefs.

Fridays ruling overturns the previous October 2020 ruling which had upheld her dismissal.

Justice Eady said Bristol Employment Tribunal failed to engage with the question identified in a previous case Eweida and Others v. the United Kingdom (2013).

Had it done so, the judge said it would have concluded that there was a close or direct nexus between the claimants Facebook posts and her protected beliefs.

She remitted the case back to the Employment Tribunal to be reconsidered in light of her ruling on issues of law.

Setting out a guidance for reconsideration of the case as well as for similar cases in the future, Justice Eady said: First, the foundational nature of the rights must be recognised: the freedom to manifest belief (religious or otherwise) and to express views relating to that belief are essential rights in any democracy, whether or not the belief in question is popular or mainstream and even if its expression may offend.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said that although the ruling was a win for Higgs, she should not have to go through another hearing.

Mrs Justice Eady should have had the courage to exonerate her, Williams said in a statement Friday. Instead, she is suggesting a rehearing before the same tribunal that heard the case in the first place.

We press on in this important case. We are pleased that the force of the facts, in this case, meant the judge had to do the right thing.

I believe this for all our cases and here the judge couldnt go anywhere else, she said.

The ruling comes following plans announced by the government in March that it was undertaking an urgent review of RSE in UK schools.

The Department for Education said: We are putting together an expert panel that will inform the review and will advise on how to put in place protection from pupils being introduced to things that they are too young to understand properly.

The panel will also consider how age ratings can be introduced for different parts of the curriculum.

The review is expected to be completed before the end of 2023.
Longtime San Diego Attorney Dies After Collapsing in Court

Front view of the central courthouse of the San Diego Superior Court. (Courtesy of San Diego Superior Court)

Lawyers and friends are mourning the sudden death of San Diego criminal defense attorney Stephen Cline after he collapsed suddenly in court on June 13.

Cline was 58 years old. The cause of his death is currently unknown.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Cline was in the middle of an argument for a pretrial motion for a 27-year-old homicide case when he collapsed and was taken to Sharp Mercy Hospital, where he later died.

We mourn the sudden passing today of Deputy Public Defender Steve Cline, a long time and respected criminal defense attorney in San Diego County, the San Diego Deputy District Attorneys Office wrote on Twitter. We send our deepest condolences to his family and the entire Office of the Public Defender.

The San Diego Deputy District Attorneys Association also posted on Twitter about Clines death, saying he was a courthouse fixture in San Diego for 30 years.

Cline had been working as a public defender since closing his private practice, also in San Diego, in 2018.

I want to thank all of you for entrusting me with your criminal defense needs as well as those of your family and friends, Cline wrote in a 2018 letter to clients on his private practices website. I am sincerely grateful and humbled that you chose my firm to defend your rights as well as those of your family and friends over the past 15 years.

According to comments on his LinkedIn page and on social media, Cline was widely known as a hard-working criminal defense lawyer who handled criminal cases in local and federal courts from petty theft to arson, and was well-loved by his family, friends, and colleagues.

Stephen Cline is truly one of San Diegos most well-versed criminal attorneys, colleague Alyssa Wolven wrote in a recommendation of Cline on the LinkedIn page for his private practice. Walking alongside Stephen in any setting where attorneys, judges, and the like gather; it would seem that he knows everyone, and everyone knows and respects him.

Former high school peers and friends also filled Sacramentos John F. Kenney High School reunion of 82s Facebook page with memories of Cline and condolences to his family.

Cline served for many years on the board of Uptown Planners, which advises the city of San Diego about land use and development projects. He also, most recently, served as the president of the Mission Hills Town Council.

The San Diego Mission Hills Business Improvement District also wrote on Facebook that Cline was knowledgeable, no-nonsense, zealous, and tough as a skilled attorney.

Additionally, the National Trial Lawyers Association named Cline as one of the top 100 trial lawyers in the region in 2015.

He is survived by his wife, who, according to the San Diego Tribune, was in the court watching the proceedings when he collapsed.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin holds a press conference after a NATO Defense Minister meeting in Brussels at 9:15 a.m. ET on June 16.
Senator Oh Arranging 50 Buses to Bring Protesters to Ottawa to Oppose Foreign Agent Registry

Senators Woo and Oh working together to garner signatures for petition against registry

Addressing an audience recently in Montreal, Sen. Victor Oh said he is planning to rent buses to transport up to 3,000 people to Ottawa for an upcoming demonstration against proposed legislation to create a foreign agent registry aimed at combatting foreign influence.

We need to rent buses to [transport people] from Toronto. I plan to rent 50 buses.  Each can accommodate around 55 to 60 people, so with 50 buses, thats 3,000 people, Oh told his audience in Chinese at an event held at the Montreal Chinese Community United Centre (MCCUC), according to a video posted June 13 on Weixin, the Chinese version of WeChat. The videos caption said Oh spoke yesterday, indicating the event was held on June 12.

The demonstration is scheduled to be held on Parliament Hill on June 24, which coincides with the 100th anniversary of the introduction of the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923. The act is commonly known as the Chinese Exclusion Act because it resulted from an effort to stop Chinese immigration.

Oh said he and Sen. Yuen Pau Woo will be leading the demonstration to oppose anti-Chinese sentiment, highlighting the need to push back against a foreign agent registry.

Sen. Yuen Pau Woo, participates in a TV interview in the Senate foyer on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa on June 19, 2018. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang)

The federal government recently held public consultations on establishing a registry to tackle foreign interference activities on Canadian soil, allegations of which have increasingly come to light in recent months. These include meddling by Beijing in the past two federal elections and the operation of at least seven covert Chinese police stations in Canada.

A Feb. 25 Global News report said irregularities in the 2019 election included Chinese international students with fake addresses allegedly having been bussed to certain ridings and coerced into voting for certain candidates.

Proposed Bills

Bill S-237, introduced in November 2021 by Sen. Leo Housakos to create a foreign influence registry, is currently in second reading in the Senate but hasnt received government support. An earlier bill, C-282, was introduced in the House by former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu in April 2021.

Chiu told The Epoch Times in a previous interview that neither his nor Housakoss proposed legislation mentions China or Chinese, since a foreign influence registry is meant to comprehensively address interference attempts by all authoritarian regimes.

Sen. Oh, however, told his Montreal audience that the proposed legislation is unfair and very problematic because it targets specific countries rather than preventing infiltration from all countries.

The registration act for the transparency of foreign political intervention in Canadathis registration act is very important. Everyone needs to understand that this act currently before us only stipulates the inclusion of a few countries. This is very unfair to us, Oh said.

Housakos told The Epoch Times his bill does not single out any one regime but rather provides a tool for Canada to guard against foreign interference and intimidation targeting members of various diaspora communities, no matter from where they originate.

We owe that to people who come to Canada from afar looking for freedom and security, he said in an email statement. Its a shame that some people are using this as a tool to pit Canadians against each other.

Chiu reiterated Housakoss viewpoint, saying the claims by Oh and Woo are completely false.

Sen. Leo Housakos in a file photo. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

Even what Senator Leo Housakos had proposed in the Senatethere is no mentioning of any country, Chiu said in an interview. To accuse them [the proposed bills] of targeting China, Iran, its just a complete lie, unfortunately, coming from an honourable senator.

Chiu, who was defeated in his B.C. riding of StevestonRichmond East in the 2021 election, told the House of Commons ethics committee on March 31 that he was the target of a disinformation campaign by Beijing during the election due to his support of the foreign agent registry.

Petition

Oh urged his audience in Montreal to sign and help promote a citizen petition, e-4395, launched by Li Wang, a resident of Coquitlam, B.C. The petition, drafted by Woo, argues that a foreign agent registry poses a serious harassment and stigmatization risk for racialized communities.

Oh said he and Woo, as senators, are not allowed to sponsor a petition in the House of Commons, and they therefore asked Liberal MP Chandra Arya to do so in April.

The senator said he would liken a foreign agent registry to a disguised Chinese Exclusion Act that will be used to suppress future generations, adding that the Canadian intelligence agency could randomly target Chinese businesses should the legislation become law.

If we dont stand up and demand fairness, our future young people will find it difficult to climb up [the ladder] within major organizations and the government. And you wont be able to rise up, because youll always face suppression. This is why we must stand up, primarily for their sake, for the next generation, and the generation after that, he said.

Even in the future when you come to see me about an issue, our intelligence agency can say at any time, if youre part of a business association coming to see Senator Oh, then what are you discussing? Are you trying to influence our domestic affairs and influence Senator Oh? This could happen, if they think you havent registered. So this is a kind of disguised Chinese Exclusion Act.

Woo is also promoting their cause in B.C., according to Oh, while they and MP Arya have been participating in forum discussion with Chinese communities across the country on the issue.

On May 28, the three attended an event with a similar theme, also hosted by the MCCUC, where the Chinese consul general in Montreal was a keynote speaker and which the Chinese vice consul general in Montreal also attended.

Former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu (R) and Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a former senior manager with the CSIS, appear before the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy, and Ethics about foreign interference on March 31, 2023 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Oh and Arya didnt respond to multiple requests for comment from The Epoch Times.

Regarding the Montreal event, Woo told The Epoch Times previously that he was very pleased to show my support for members of the Montreal Chinese Community, who organized the event to remember the 100th anniversary of the enactment of the Chinese Exclusion Act. I have spoken at gatherings like this across Canada and hope to attend more such events in the second half of the year.

Legal Action

Oh said he is planning additional efforts to push back against so-called anti-Asian sentiment, including creating a national Chinese foundation to raise funds to take legal action against politicians or media outlets that say things or publish reports they deem to be slanderous to Chinese-Canadians.

We will provide funding [to counter] the baseless accusation and defamation from politicians, he said. We need to take legal actions against those unreasonable journalists, news outlets, and politicians who slander and defame Chinese people. We must stand up against them in various forms.

In March, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed former governor general David Johnston as special rapporteur to investigate Chinese interference in Canadas elections and to decide whether a public inquiry is needed to study the issue.

In his first report, published May 23, Johnston decided against holding a public inquiry, saying he found no evidence to support allegations of Beijing interference cited in various recent media reports, including the allegation that 11 candidates in the 2019 election had received funding from the communist regime.

Johnston later said he did not review all intelligence before reaching his conclusion and producing his report. He subsequently tendered his resignation on June 9 in the face of heightened criticism from critics and opposition parties.

The Liberal government has now said it is open to holding a public inquiry into foreign interference, and is asking the opposition parties to work together to come up with the terms of reference as well as a list of potential candidates to lead the inquiry.
Statewide Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws Are Threat to Military Readiness: Space Force General

The Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 12, 2022. (Boeing/U.S. Space Force via AP)

Space Force Lt. Gen. DeAnna Burt suggested that anti-LGBTQ+ laws passed by several states threaten military readiness and that these laws affected hiring and promotion decisions.

Since January of this year, more than 400 anti-LGBTQ+ laws have been introduced at the state level. That number is rising and demonstrates a trend that could be dangerous for service members, their families, and the readiness of the force as a whole, Burt said last week during a Pentagon Pride Month event. When looking for potential candidates for military assignments at various locations in the country, I strive to match the right person to the right job.

Burt is the deputy chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear, according to the U.S. Space Force website.

After considering a candidates job performance and relevant experience, Burt looks at personal circumstances while also considering the candidates family, she stated.

If a good match for a job does not feel safe being themselves and performing at their highest potential at a given location or if their family could be denied critical health care due to the laws in that state, I am compelled to consider a different candidate and perhaps less qualified, Burt said.

DeSantis War Room, the rapid response team for GOP presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, slammed Burts comments in a June 16 tweet, calling it shocking.

Space Force Lt. Gen. DeAnna Burt admits the U.S. military discriminates against Floridians when considering promotionsleading to less qualified officersbecause @RonDeSantis banned trans surgeries for KIDS. DeSantis will end this woke insanity on Day One, DeSantis War Room said.

On May 17, DeSantis signed a few bills into law aimed at protecting children from transgender ideologies, one of which outlawed transgender surgery and puberty blockers for minors.

100 percent inappropriate @SpaceForceDoD, Rebeccah Heinrichs, a senior fellow at Hudson Institute and member of the National Independent Panel on Military Service and Readiness, said about Burts comments in a June 7 tweet.

And they wonder why so many of the people who typically join the military are taking a hard pass, she added.

LGBT Agenda in the US Military

Burts comments come as the U.S. military has been under scrutiny for pushing a transgender agenda at its facilities.

In May, a group of 14 GOP senators sent a letter to Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro seeking more information about the services digital ambassador program that ran from October 2022 to March this year. The Navy had invited Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley, a drag performer, to participate in the program.

Does the Navy endorse drag shows? Where does the Navy draw the line on promotion of the personal activities of its influencers? Would the Navy enlist burlesque or exotic dancers to reach possible recruits? the senators wrote.

Such activity is not appropriate for promotion in a professional workplace or the United States military.

On June 1, the official Twitter account of the U.S. Navy posted an LGBT-themed banner depicting two warships and a fighter jet leaving the colors of the rainbow flag in their wake.

The feathers of the eagle icon the Navy uses in its Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram pics were also altered to match the colors of the rainbow flag. However, the Navy soon removed the banners and the altered icon.

Concerned about the growing LGBT influence in the military, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) introduced the Ensuring Military Readiness Act in February to regulate the service of transgender individuals in the military. Under the Biden administration, people identifying as transgenders or experiencing gender dysphoria can openly serve in the military.

The military has strict standards for who can and cannot qualify to serve. For example, under President Biden, you cant serve with a peanut allergy. Biden has turned our military into a woke social experiment, Rubio said in a Feb. 16 press release.

It is a stupid way to go about protecting our nation. We need to spend more time thinking about how to counter threats like China, Russia, and North Korea and less time thinking about pronouns.
Supreme Court Gives DOJ Power to Dismiss Whistleblower Lawsuits

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan stands for a group photograph of the justices at the Supreme Court in Washington on April 23, 2021. (Erin Schaff/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

The Supreme Court ruled 81 that the U.S. Department of Justice is allowed to seek dismissal of a whistleblower lawsuit despite the objections of a whistleblower who has a financial interest in the outcome of the lawsuit.

Justice Elena Kagan wrote the courts majority opinion (pdf) in United States ex rel. Polansky v. Executive Health Resources Inc. (court file 21-1052). Justice Clarence Thomas filed a dissenting opinion.

The case dates to 2012, when physician Jesse Polansky brought a lawsuit on behalf of the U.S. government regarding Executive Health Resources Inc., a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group Inc. that assists hospitals and physicians in submitting bills to the government for covered services as part of federal health care programs such as Medicare. Polansky worked as a consultant for Executive Health, the respondent in the case.

The lawsuit was brought under the federal False Claims Act (FCA), which is a key tool the government uses to crack down on health care fraud.

Sometimes called the Lincoln Law, the FCA was enacted in 1863 to deal with defense contractor fraud during the Civil War.

The act currently provides that anyone who knowingly files false claims with the government is liable for triple damages plus a $2,000 penalty for each false claim.

The FCA allows the government to pursue perpetrators on its own and for private citizenscalled relators in legal parlanceto sue those who defraud the government on behalf of the government in what are known as qui tam suits. Private citizens who prevail may be awarded part of what the government recovers.

During his work for respondent, petitioner [i.e., Polansky] discovered that respondent was systematically enabling its client hospitals to misclassify patientscertifying treatment as inpatient services that should have been certified as outpatient services, according to papers filed with the Supreme Court.

This scheme exploited the difference in reimbursement rates for inpatient and outpatient services, causing hundreds of thousands of claims for services improperly billed at higher rates.

Polansky said that Medicare generally pays about $4,500$5,000 more for inpatient services  than it does when the same services are provided to a patient classified as outpatient observation.

Given the size of respondents operation, petitioners experts provided uncontroverted evidence of a potential billion-dollar recovery.

The government spent years investigating the claim but decided not to intervene. Polanskys lawsuit kept going for years.

In February 2019, the government notified the parties that it intended to dismiss the entire lawsuit under the provisions of the FCA.

But after extensive negotiations with the parties, the government ultimately elected not to seek dismissal, and permitted the case to continue on the understanding that Polansky would substantially narrow the scope of his claims.

Polansky did narrow his claims but didnt go far enough, in the governments view.

The government cited in its subsequent dismissal motion the tremendous, ongoing burden on the government, the time needed for federal attorneys to prepare and for other personnel to collect and produce documents, the need to protect privileged information, and the governments doubts about Polanskys credibility and his ability to prove a violation of the FCA.

In light of those factors, the government concluded that the potential benefits of permitting [Polanskys] case to proceed are outweighed by both the actual and potential costs to the United States.

The U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania granted the governments motion to dismiss. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit upheld the dismissal of the lawsuit in October 2021.

Kagan wrote for the Supreme Court that the questions presented here concern the Governments ability to dismiss an FCA suit over a relators objection.

Everyone agrees that if the Government intervenes at the suits start, it can later move to dismiss. But the parties dispute whether, or in what circumstances, the same is true if the Government declines its initial chance to intervene.

The FCA gives the government discretion to reevaluate whistleblower claims and decide not to move forward, the justice wrote, adding that nothing in the statute suggests that the Government should have to take a back seat to its co-party relator, the justice wrote.

Today, we hold that the Government may seek dismissal of an FCA action over a relators objection so long as it intervened sometime in the litigation, whether at the outset or afterward, Kagan wrote.

The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the 3rd Circuit.

In his dissent, Justice Thomas wrote that the False Claims Act does not give the government power to unilaterally dismiss a pending qui tam action after it has decline[d] to take over the action from the relator at its outset.

The statutes whistleblower provisions have long inhabited something of a constitutional twilight zone, he wrote.

There are substantial arguments that the qui tam device is inconsistent with Article II and that private relators may not represent the interests of the United States in litigation.

The second article of the U.S. Constitution deals with the powers of the executive branch.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh filed an opinion concurring with the courts judgment but sharing Thomass concerns about the acts whistleblower provisions, which he said he hoped the court would consider in an appropriate case in the future. Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined Kavanaughs opinion.

Polanskys attorney, Daniel Geyser of Haynes and Boone in Dallas, and Executive Healths attorney, Mark Mosier of Covington and Burling in Washington, didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

U.S. Department of Justice officials also didnt respond by press time to a request for comment.

Attorney Debra Schreck of Arnold and Porter Kaye Scholer in New York told Bloomberg Law that the new decision reinforces that it is critical for the governmentthe real party in interest in these casesto retain the ability to rein in, for example, meritless qui tams, regardless of the stage of the case.

A whistleblower can mount an argument against dismissal, but ultimately the government must be permitted to determine whether, as the Court noted, the suit would vindicate the Governments interests.
Supreme Court Holds Bankruptcy Law Trumps Tribal Sovereignty

The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 that federal bankruptcy law supersedes Indian tribes sovereign immunity.

An Indian tribe in Wisconsin had argued it could not be sued and that bankruptcy protections, such as the laws automatic stay of collection efforts when an individual files for bankruptcy, did not operate to block its efforts to seek repayment of a debt from a person who filed for bankruptcy.

The Supreme Court disagreed in its ruling on June 15 in Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians v. Coughlin (court file 22-227).

In this case, Lendgreen, a payday lending operation owned by the tribe, tried to collect a $1,100 overdue account from the respondent, Brian Coughlin, one of its members who subsequently filed for bankruptcy.

Tribe Sued

Although the act of filing for personal bankruptcy is supposed to halt collection efforts, the tribe continued to press Coughlin to pay even when he went into the hospital after attempting suicide, an act he said the allegedly aggressive collection efforts drove him to. Coughlin sued the tribe for almost $173,000 in damages and attorney fees for the collection efforts that he says caused severe emotional distress.

The tribe argued that because it enjoys tribal sovereignty, it could not be sued.

Indian tribes are sovereigns that predate the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. They enjoy the same common-law immunity from lawsuits that sovereign governments possess unless Congress clearly expresses its intention to abrogate, or repeal, that immunity.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Code abrogates the sovereign immunity of governmental units, but does not specifically refer to Indian tribes in defining that term. Instead, the code provides a list of specific federal, state, local, and foreign entities and then adds or other foreign or domestic government in a residual clause, according to the tribes petition.

The Supreme Court has used a clear statement rule when Congress intends to waive tribal sovereign immunity, but the court has also said that legislation does not have to include specific or magic words in order to do so, the tribe argued.

Coughlin asked the U.S. bankruptcy court to stay Lendgreens collection efforts and sought damages.

The bankruptcy court dismissed the lawsuit, reasoning that it lacked jurisdiction because the bankruptcy code did not clearly express congressional intent to abrogate tribal sovereign immunity.

A divided U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit reversed, finding that the code unequivocally strips tribes of their immunity. The tribe appealed to the Supreme Court, which agreed on Jan. 13 to review the case.

The justices here were asked to consider if the bankruptcy laws waiver of immunity for various governments includes tribal governments.

The tribes attorney, Pratik Shah, told the court during oral arguments on April 24 that Congress has long treated tribes differently than the governmental entities enumerated in the law, including under the federal bankruptcy statute preceding the code.

Congress gave no indication, let alone an unmistakably clear one, that it newly intended to treat the tribes the same in the current code, Shah said at the time.

For two centuries this court has struggled to describe Indian tribes in its opinions.

It has said they are not clearly foreign because, obviously, they have connections to the United States. They are not purely domestic because they have pre-constitutional residual sovereign power, the lawyer said.

Speaking for the Biden administration, attorney Austin Raynor said, The bankruptcy code unequivocally abrogates the sovereign immunity of the United States, states, districts, territories, foreign states, instrumentalities or agencies of any of those governments, and other foreign or domestic governments.

That language unambiguously encompasses all governments, including Indian tribes, Raynor said at the time.

Biggest Hurdle

Telegraphing the courts June 15 ruling, Chief Justice John Roberts said that Congress has never waived sovereignty without specifically using the word tribe.

The biggest hurdle I think you have to get over is that  everywhere else they use the word tribe, and they didnt here, Roberts told Raynor during oral arguments.

So is this  the only instance where they havent used the word tribe or Indian when they meant to include them?

Raynor replied, This is the only one were aware of. That doesnt mean there arent un-litigated statutes out there that might encompass tribes.

Justices of the US Supreme Court pose for their official photo at the Supreme Court in Washington on Oct. 7, 2022. (Seated from left) Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John Roberts, Associate Justice Samuel Alito and Associate Justice Elena Kagan, (Standing behind from left) Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch, Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images)

The majority opinion (pdf), written by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, affirmed the 1st Circuit. Justice Neil Gorsuch, who frequently sides with tribal governments, filed the lone dissenting opinion.

We conclude that the Bankruptcy Code unequivocally abrogates the sovereign immunity of any and every government that possesses the power to assert such immunity, Jackson wrote for the court.

Federally recognized tribes undeniably fit that description; therefore, the Codes abrogation provision plainly applies to them as well.

Jackson wrote that Lendgreen continued to press for repayment even after the bankruptcy laws automatic stay of collection efforts was triggered when Coughlin filed for bankruptcy. Coughlin said the collection campaign was so aggressive that he suffered substantial emotional distress, and at one point, even attempted to take his own life, she wrote, recounting the facts of the case.

Jackson rejected the tribes contention that it was entitled to immunity because it was neither a foreign nor domestic government. U.S. bankruptcy law applies to all governments in the country, just as the phrase rain or shine is intended to cover all types of weather, she added.

Flawed Premise

Justice Clarence Thomas lamented that the majority did not go far enough.

The court should have rejected the flawed premise of tribal immunity, a judicially created concept that has no basis in federal law or the U.S. Constitution, Thomas wrote in a concurring opinion.

The justice said he warned nearly a decade ago that tribal immunity will continue to invite problems, including de facto deregulation of highly regulated activities; unfairness to tort victims; and increasingly fractious relations with States and individuals alike.

Tribal immunity creates a pathway to circumvent vast swaths of both state and federal laws, Thomas wrote.

In his dissent, Justice Gorsuch wrote that the Constitutions text  and two centuries of history and precedent  establish that Tribes enjoy a unique status in our law.

Gorsuch wrote that the bankruptcy code flunks this Courts clear-statement rule. He would have reversed the circuit court, the justice added.
Supreme Court of Canada Upholds Safe Third Country Agreement

The Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa on Aug. 10, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld)

A pact with the United States to control the flow of asylum seekers across the shared border is constitutional, Canadas highest courtruled in a unanimous decision Friday.

The Safe Third Country Agreement, which came into effect in 2004, recognizes Canada and the U.S. as safe places for potential refugees to seek protection.

Under the agreement, refugees must seek asylum in the first of the two countries they land in. If their claim is rejected by one then they will not be successful if they try again on the other side of the border.

Opponents of the treaty had asked the top court to declare the legislation underpinning the pact violates the right to life, liberty and security of the person, saying the U.S. is not actually safe for many asylum seekers.

The Supreme Court found the legislative scheme underpinning the pact does not breach Section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

A degree of difference as between the legal schemes applicable in the two countries can be tolerated, so long as the American system is not fundamentally unfair, the judgment read, which aligned with what the federal government had argued before the court.

In my view, the record does not support the conclusion that the American detention regime is fundamentally unfair, said the ruling written by Justice Nicholas Kasirer.

The top court has asked the Federal Court to take a further look at the opponents argument that the agreement violates Section 15 of the Charter over allegations of unequal treatment for women in the U.S. who are fleeing domestic violence.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed to expand the treaty in March so that it would apply along all 8,900 kilometres of the shared border, not just at official crossings.

Before then, a loophole allowed asylum seekers who arrived between official points of entry along the land border, such as the one at Roxham Road in Quebec, to make claims in Canada, and have them processed, despite having arrived in the U.S. first.

The Supreme Courts decision comes at the end of a legal battle first launched by several refugee claimants in Federal Court in 2007.

The Canadian Council for Refugees, the Canadian Council of Churches and Amnesty International also participated in the proceedings as public interest parties.

The first challenge was successful, but was later overturned. A repeated attempt by the same group of organizations that began in 2017 saw the same outcome.

In both cases, the applicants, who are citizens of El Salvador, Ethiopia and Syria, arrived at a Canadian land entry port from the U.S. and sought refugee protection.

In her 2020 decision, Federal Court Justice Ann Marie McDonald concluded the Safe Third Country Agreement results in ineligible claimants being imprisoned by U.S. authorities.

Detention and the consequences flowing from it are inconsistent with the spirit and objective of the refugee agreement and amount to a violation of the rights guaranteed by Section 7 of the Charter, she wrote.

The evidence clearly demonstrates that those returned to the U.S. by Canadian officials are detained as a penalty.

The Federal Court of Appeal overturned her decision in 2021.

Last year, Canada received 20,891 refugee claims from people who crossed the border outside of an official border crossing, federal data show.

In the first three months of 2023, before the agreement was extended to apply to the entire border, Canada received 14,192 refugee claims from irregular border crossers.

This years expansion of the agreement removed unofficial crossings such as Roxham Road in Quebec as viable options for potential asylum seekers to get to Canada.

The Supreme Court heard arguments in the case before Trudeau and Biden announced that update.

Amnesty International has said the updated agreement creates an even more dangerous and unfair situation for people seeking asylum in Canada.
SY Aesthetics Unveils New Cosmetic Surgery Center in Middletown

SY Aesthetics, a cosmetic center that aims to bring about long-lasting beauty through the holistic treatment of patients, opened a state-of-the-art surgery facility in Middletown on June 16.

Sitting on the Community Campus off Mohagen Avenue, the 5,500-square-foot facility contains two new operating rooms, each equipped with anesthesia machines and flat-screen monitors.

The monitored pre-operative suite can accommodate three patients, as does the recovery unit.

Available surgical procedures include face and neck lifts, rhinoplasty, breast augmentation, liposuction, and tummy tucks.

A cosmetic surgery operating room at SY Aesthetics in Middletown, N.Y., on June 16, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

What you are seeing is just the beginning of a journey that we are going to walk through the next 10 or 30 years, SY Aesthetics CEO Dr. Jingduan Yang said at the grand opening ceremony. We are building a world destination for health, beauty, and happiness.

Yang, a fifth-generation Chinese medicine practitioner and board-certified psychiatrist, developed his holistic approach to health over decades of practice in Eastern and Western cultures; it encompasses the physical, nutritional, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of patients.

This holistic view of health is at the foundation of SY Aesthetics, where plastic surgeries, nonsurgical procedures, nutritional guidance, psychological support, and lifestyle medicine converge to help each individual patient achieve long-lasting happiness and beauty.

(LR) Dr. Jeffrey Yager, Middletown Mayor Joseph DeStefano, Dr. Jingduan Yang, Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, and Brandon Holdridge, a constituent services specialist from the office of state Sen. James Skoufis at the SY Aesthetics ribbon-cutting ceremony in Middletown, N.Y., on June 16, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

Dr. Jeffrey Yager, the medical director of SY Aesthetics, said that he was excited to apply his medical expertise on a whole new level at the center.

A graduate of the medical school at Columbia University, Yager was the chief resident in plastic surgery at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center before opening his own plastic surgery practice in Manhattan.

It excites me to offer more to patients and make sure that they are happy, Yager said. Cosmetic surgery is beauty, but it is also happinessyou are not getting beautiful to be beautiful; you are getting beautiful because it makes you happy.

If your nose is crooked, I can straighten it. But if your life is out of balance and crooked, I cant fix that in the operating room.

Inspirational words and pictures on the wall of the staff lounge at SY Aesthetics in Middletown, N.Y., on June 16, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

Yager said that his deepened understanding of beauty led him to join Yangs team at SY Aesthetics, which he said has the potential to change the global paradigm of cosmetic surgery.

His Manhattan office serves as a satellite facility for SY Aesthetics.

Middletown Mayor Joseph DeStefano congratulated the SY Aesthetics team on the grand opening and highlighted the redevelopment of the Community Campus in recent years.

The campus was formerly the site of one of the largest employers in the areathe State Homeopathic Hospitalwhose gradual downsizing and final closure in the early 2000s left dozens of buildings on more than 200 acres abandoned.

In 2015, Fei Tian College in Middletown started purchasing and renovating the former hospital buildings, followed by Northern Medical Center, with whom SY Aesthetics shares a building.

We are just thankful for your investment and thankful for the friendship that we formed over the years, and we are certainly looking forward to many years of expansion, DeStefano said.

New York State Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther and Brandon Holdridge, a constituent services specialist from the office of New York state Sen. James Skoufis, also attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Taiwan Eases Restrictions on Canadian Beef Imports

Taiwans government agreed Thursday to ease restrictions on imports of Canadian beef from cattle aged 30 months or older, granting Canadian beef exporters full access to the Taiwanese market.

Taiwanese Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director Wu Shou-mei said the changes will take effect immediately, but six types of offal, including brains and eyes, will remain prohibited owing to safety concerns.

Wu said that Taiwan authorities will randomly select imported batches for inspection following the changes, and batches that do not meet specifications will be destroyed or returned, Taipei Times reported.

Taiwans government had previously banned imports of Canadian beef slaughtered more than 30 months earlier over concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease.

The FDA issued a notice regarding its plan to lift the ban, saying the decision was made because Canada obtained the negligible risk status for BSE from the World Organization for Animal Health.

Canadas Trade Minister Mary Ng said last month that Taiwan agreed to allow Canadian beef exporters full access to its market following their talks at an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation ministers summit.

As we negotiate our foreign investment promotion and protection arrangement, we continue to foster opportunities between our two economies, creating good jobs for Taiwanese and Canadian workers, Ng stated on Twitter.

In a statement on May 26, the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) said it welcomes Taiwans move and said the Indo-Pacific region holds the greatest potential for beef export diversification.

This sends a strong signal in the Indo-Pacific region and our industry is proud to support global food security by producing a sustainable and high-quality product destined for dinner tables around the world, CCA President Nathan Phinney said.

President Tsai Ing-wen speaks about recent Chinese military drills in Taipei, Taiwan, on April 11, 2023. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP)

Taiwan has been seeking greater diplomatic and moral support from major Western democracies, like Canada, as it faces growing military and political pressure from China to give in to Beijings sovereignty claims over the island.

Taiwan Aiming to Join CPTPP

Taiwan has been seeking more trade deals with Western countries, including launching negotiations with Canada for the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Arrangement.

The talks about the investment agreement aligns with Ottawas plan to increase trade and influence in the fast-growing Indo-Pacific region.

Taiwan, like China, has applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). It has been lobbying existing members such as Canada to back its application.

During her meeting with Canadian representative Jim Nickel in March, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said she hopes that Canada will support Taiwans accession in the CPTPP.

Taiwan is making every effort to join the CPTPP and hopes that Canada will support our accession to this trade bloc, so that we can promote greater global prosperity together, Tsai said, according to her office.

Taiwan is committed to working with Canada and other like-minded partners to uphold security, stability, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region, she added.

Nickel said that Canada looks forward to strengthening its economic and commercial partnership with Taiwan.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Idaho Republican to hold up arms sale to Hungary for delaying Swedens NATO entry

Sen. Jim Risch (Idaho), the top-ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, says he will hold up a $735 million arms sale to Hungary until it drops its opposition to Sweden joining NATO, of which Hungary is a member.

For some time now, I have directly expressed my concerns to the Hungarian government regarding its refusal to move forward a vote for Sweden to join NATO, Risch said in a statement.

Given promises that were made to me and others last year that this vote would be done, and the fact that it is now June and still not done, I decided that the sale of new U.S. military equipment to Hungary will be on hold. Hungary should take the actions necessary to allow Sweden into the alliance, and soon, Risch said.

Rischs hold will delay the sale of 24 HIMARS rocket launchers and more than 100 rockets.

The Washington Post first reported Rischs move to block the arms sale.

Hungary has blocked Swedens accession to NATO because of grievances over Swedens criticisms of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

President Biden and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met Tuesday at the White House and hope to announce Swedens membership into NATO at the alliances summit in Lithuania this summer.

Finland and Sweden applied for membership in NATO last year in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and Finland joined the group in April.

Turkey initially opposed Swedens accession to NATO because of concerns about how Sweden viewed its national security priorities. Turkey has accused Sweden of not taking a harder-line stance against Kurdish militant groups.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
An interview with author and historian Garry Wheeler Stone

In spite of the victory in New York at Saratoga in October of 1777, several losses around the same time in Pennsylvania resulted in the capture of the capital city of Philadelphia, which forced the Second Continental Congress to flee to York. The rather demoralized Continental Army would spend the winter at Valley Forge.

Miserably cold, hungry, and suffering from disease, the troops, led by George Washington, who had been defeated numerous times during the Philadelphia campaign, did their best to survive the winter. Rather than lick their wounds until spring, the Continental Army was whipped into shape through the militaristic demands of Prussian nobleman, Baron Friedrich von Steuben.

Baron von Steuben took a ragtag group of colonials and turned them into a unified army. Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, 1780, by Charles Willson Peale. (Public Domain)

According to Garry Wheeler Stone, the co-author of Fatal Sunday: George Washington, the Monmouth Campaign, and the Politics of Battle, von Steuben did more than instruct the ragtag soldiers on how to become more disciplined.

What von Steuben did was take a group of state armies and unify them [from] separate divisions into a unified army, he said during an interview on The Sons of History podcast. It was learning how to maneuver an entire army. It was standardizing the manual of arms across the entire army from Georgia to Massachusetts. He gave it a cohesion, a uniformity it had never had before.

Von Steuben used war games to prepare the Continental Army for future battles, battles that would continue for the next five years (the preliminary Treaty of Paris, which ended hostilities between Britain and America, was signed on Nov. 30, 1782). Stone said the war games taught battalions, brigades, and divisions how to maneuver cohesively.

Maneuvering thousands of men is an art, he said.

Discipline on Display

Stone said that this discipline was on display in one of the most consequential, though often overlooked battles of the American Revolution: the Battle of Monmouth. The author has studied the battle over the decades, and for nearly a quarter century was the historian at Monmouth Battlefield State Park.

Henry Clinton led the British forces at the Battle of Monmouth. General Henry Clinton, 1762-1765, by Andrea Soldi. (Public Domain)

The Battle of Monmouth was primarily the result of the Continental Armys defeat of the British at the Battle of Saratoga. When word spread across the Atlantic that a British army had surrendered to the Continental Army, the French were convinced to officially aid the Americans. This forced the British to recall many troops from the American campaigns and station them in other parts of the globe to protect the empire.

Some of those troops were under the command of Sir Henry Clinton, who led the Philadelphia Campaign. His orders were to vacate Philadelphia and return to New York City. To reach New York, Clinton and the British Army had to cross New Jersey.

Clinton intentionally moved his troops slowly through New Jersey in hopes of forcing a battle with the Continental Army. Washington knew he needed to do something with the opportunity, but feared a full scale battle would result in unacceptable losses.

Washingtons battle was much more immediate. It was with his detractors in the Continental Congress, and to a lesser extent the Continental Army, Stone said. Washington personally had to demonstrate successful leadership or he was going to be outmaneuvered by his opponents in the Continental Congress. They were trying to limit his authority.

Part of this attempt to undermine Washington was the Conway Cabal, a coordinated effort among some members of Congress and military officers, including generals Horatio Gates, Thomas Mifflin, and Thomas Conway. Although the cabal fell apart during the winter and spring of 1778, Washington still needed a positive military outcome. According to Stone, the goal was to have just enough fighting with the British Army so that it wouldnt have looked like they had done nothing.

A Noisy Victory

Washington and his council of war decided to target the British First Divisions rear guard. What resulted was a failure that nearly resulted in disaster. Gen. Charles Lee, who had just returned to command after being a captive of the British for more than 15 months, was ordered to attack with approximately 4,000 soldiers. Unfortunately, Lee was about as unfamiliar with his fellow officers as he was with the topography.

Maj. Gen. Charles Lee ordered a retreat that left Washington to finish the battle. Maj. General Charles Lee, circa 1776-1790, engraving by Johann Michael Probs. Library of Congress. (Public Domain)

What was supposed to be a hit-and-run attack on a small portion of the British rear guard quickly turned into a Continental retreat. Regardless, Lee conducted an orderly retreat, contrary to popular belief. He maneuvered the soldiers toward Washingtons main line and fought a delaying action at the Hedgerow. It was here that the exhausted British found themselves fighting Lee with Washington atop a hill with about a dozen cannon.

There is a huge artillery bombardment that accomplishes all of nothing. But it was noisy. It was stupendous, Stone said. Many letters home were about this giant fireworks show. At the end of that, as the British withdraw, Washington very cautiously sends detachments to harass their rear units while keeping most of his army safe on the hill.

The Battle of Monmouth was a key battle for George Washington. George Washington at Princeton, 1779, by Charles Willson Peale. (Public Domain)

Stone pointed out that Washington and Clinton had two very different military expectations for the skirmish. Washington had hoped to damage just enough of the British to impress Congress, restore the morale of the army, and move his position forward. These objectives were accomplished in spades.

Clinton, on the other hand, had hoped to lure the Continental Army into a large exchange and crush at least a large portion of the rebellion. This objective utterly failed. In fact, due to the massive artillery bombardment and the British Army making their escape in the middle of the night, it appeared as though the Americans had soundly defeated the British.

So when the army wakes up the next morning and finds that the British have left in the middle of the night, did that army feel like a loser or a winner? Stone asked rhetorically. From private to general, they all felt the winner. And its Washington who led this and he never anticipated leading this. Hed never anticipated bloodying the First Division (rearguard) of the British Army. He had just intended to harass them as they got out of the state. So this was a stupendous win, not only for the Continental Army, but personally for Washington. Afterwards, no one dares criticize Washington. And if they do, they are in danger of having to fight a duel.
Marjorie Taylor Greene held a press conference where she disclosed incredible details contained in the hidden FBI document pertaining to bribes paid to Joe Biden and his family.

Greene revealed the whistleblowers statement that Burisma had paid a $5-million bribe to Joe Biden, and another $5-million bribe to Hunter Biden. Furthermore, Greene confirmed our long-standing position that the bribes were paid in order to shut down the Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokins investigation into Burisma.

Now we know from Chuck Grassley that Burisma owner Mykola Zlochevskyor his top advisor, Vadym Pozharskyihas recordings of phone calls between him and Biden as a sort of insurance policy.

Weve told you some of the Burisma story before, but were going to dive into the period between the Spring of 2014 and early 2016, starting when Hunter Biden joined Burisma and ending when Shokin was fired.

We think many of the new details may surprise you.
Threat of Government Shutdown Looms as Spending Battle Heats Up in House

Rep.-elect Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) (C), Rep.-elect Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) (L), and Rep.-elect Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) (R) watch proceedings in the House Chamber during the third day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 5, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The word shutdown has been bandied about Capitol Hill as the standoff over raising the nations debt ceiling has morphed into an appropriations battle in the House between hardline Republicans and Democrats.

An outline for 2024 federal spending was hammered out in negotiations between Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and President Joe Biden, culminating in the bipartisan passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act. The bill was signed into law on June 3, ending a four-month standoff over federal spending.

Democrats agreed to slight reductions in non-defense discretionary spending and modest increases in defense spending in 2024, with discretionary spending growth capped at 1 percent for 2025. In exchange, Republicans agreed to suspend the debt ceiling through Jan. 1, 2025.

The deal didnt sit well with some of the most conservative House Republicans, who believed McCarthy had too easily surrendered their demands for even greater fiscal restraint.

Now, Republicans are reinstating their original demand in 2024 appropriations bills by limiting spending to the 2022 level.

Leverage

Republicans hold a small majority in the House, which has enabled a relatively small number of conservative members to exert pressure on McCarthy since the beginning of the 118th Congress in January.

Twenty-one Republicans were able to delay McCarthys election as speaker through 15 ballots, the most since before the Civil War. McCarthy ascended the rostrum only after making concessions to the group, six of whom voted present on the final ballot to avoid directly supporting his election.

After the passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, several members from the holdout group staged a protest against McCarthys handling of the bill by voting against the party on procedural rules on June 6, effectively bringing House business to a halt.

U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks during an event at the U.S. Capitol on June 5, 2023. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

McCarthy met with the dissidents and was able to mend relations six days later.

He just committed to us that he would forge ahead with a fiscally conservative agenda, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said in a CNN interview on June 15. And he gave us his word that he would work with us and keep us in the loop.

Line in the Sand

Meanwhile, the House Republican Study Committee (RSC) released a 2024 budget proposal on June 14 that would set non-defense discretionary spending at 2022 levels, as originally proposed by Republicans.

Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-Texas) later said she would move 2024 bills through the Appropriations Committee at that level, apparently drawing a hard line on spending.

That angered Democrats, who believed the agreement codified in the Fiscal Responsibility Act would be binding.

At the end of the day, any spending agreement that is arrived by the end of the year has to be consistent with the resolution of the [debt] default crisis. Otherwise, what was it all for? House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said on June 15.

We had a very clear, negotiated compromise with the president of the United States and the Speaker of the House, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said in a CNN interview on June 15. And now, they have just walked away from this deal.

Republicans see it differently.

Rep. Ben Cline (R-Va.), who chairs the RSC budget task force, said the spending levels McCarthy agreed to were maximums, not minimums. If the appropriations committee chooses to spend less than those ceilings, thats completely within the framework, he said.

Another Standoff

The Senate is expected to work on 2024 appropriations bills next week based on the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Most observers consider it highly unlikely that the Democrat-controlled upper chamber will agree to cut spending to the 2022 level, setting up a standoff between the two houses.

Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill on Jan. 10, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Apparently undaunted, some Republicans have spoken openly about the possibility that the conflict could result in a government shutdown after the end of the fiscal year on September 30.

We shouldnt fear a government shutdown, Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) said on June 15, his office confirmed to The Epoch Times. If we shut it down in order to try to bring fiscal stability and fiscal solvency, that will save the country from an economic and fiscal standpoint for our kids and grandkids.

Im not afraid of shutdowns. American life doesnt halt because government offices are closed, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) said, according to Punchbowl News. We have to be serious about spending.

Producing a government shutdown may be the goal of some Republicans, according to Jeffries. Shutting down the government is in their DNA because theyre irresponsible individuals, he said.

Fragile Unity

The fracas illustrates the range of opinions within the House Republican Conference.

Republicans should not be standing for shutdown, Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) said, confirmed to The Epoch Times by a staff member. Pointing to the near-impossibility of bringing the Senate and White House to heel on further spending cuts, Bacon added, Youre going to get a compromise.

Asked whether a particular member of Congress was on the McCarthy side of an issue, a Congressional staffer told The Epoch Times, I would call it the people that want to see this place function side.

Five major Republican caucuses in the House form a spectrum of political philosophy from the Problem Solvers Caucus, which includes Democrats and is focused on bipartisanship, to the House Freedom Caucus, known for championing staunch conservative positions.

So far, McCarthy has been able to manage tension in viewpoints. Communication with all the different factions of the party has been a key to that, according to Burchett.

Its a lot of moving parts, he said.
TikTok Reveals Everything About Users and Those Around Them: Expert

TikTok is under scrutiny by the U.S. government in light of national security concerns. An expert pointed out that the content hidden in TikToks terms of use and privacy policy is very concerning, that users who install the app voluntarily reveal everything about themselves and the information of those around them.

The cyber system in todays world is so complex that people can use them for a variety of purposes, Peter Hish, a sergeant with the Los Angeles Countys Sheriff Fraud and Cyber Crimes Bureau, told The Epoch Times on June 9.

For example, when people install an app, they need to click I read and agree to the terms and conditions to use it.

We dont read those things. Why? Because theyre 5,000 pages long, and theyre micro letters, Hish said. All the social media apps, Google, Facebook, Instagram, they all have that. TikTok is the worst of them all.

What TikTok Users Agree to

Owned by Chinas ByteDance, TikTok has 150 million users in the United States, primarily teenagers. Its privacy policy says, TikTok may transmit your data to its servers or data centers outside of the United States for storage and/or processing.

People walk past the headquarters of ByteDance, the parent company of video sharing app TikTok, in Beijing on Sept. 16, 2020. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images)

According to Hish, TikTok users inadvertently agree to three conditions. First, TikTok users who have installed the app agree that all content they create and publish using TikTok is owned by TikTok.

So you take a picture of yourself and video [of yourself] doing this and doing that. TikTok decides they want to use it on commercials or other ads or sell it; they can do that, he said.

Second, TikTok users agree to the companys collection of all information on their own devices and those of others.

If I have TikTok on this phone and I log on to the Wi-Fi here, TikTok is going to use my phone to probe every other device thats logged onto that Wi-Fi on this network, even [if] those devices dont have TikTok on it, he explained. My TikTok on my phone is going to go and utilize that Wi-Fi to probe and get as much information they can from all of the other devices.

TikToks Privacy Policy states: We automatically collect certain information from you when you use the Platform, including internet or other network activity information such as your IP address, geolocation-related data, unique device identifiers, browsing and search history (including content you have viewed in the Platform), and Cookies.

We collect certain information about the device you use to access the Platform, such as your IP address, user agent, mobile carrier, time zone settings, identifiers for advertising purposes, model of your device, the device system, network type, device IDs, your screen resolution and operating system, app and file names and types, keystroke patterns or rhythms, battery state, audio settings and connected audio devices.

We automatically assign you a device ID and user ID. Where you log-in from multiple devices, we will be able to use information such as your device ID and user ID to identify your activity across devices. We may also associate you with information collected from devices other than those you use to log-in to the Platform.

Third, Hish said that when users agree to TikToks terms, they allow the app to monitor all the keystrokes recorded on their phones.

What does that mean? Im on TikTok, Im doing my thing, and then Im going to check my bank account. I just swept TikTok off, and its still running in the background. I started my bank app, and I put in my username and password. TikTok just grabs that; they just copy that, he said.

TikTok Controlled by CCP

TikToks terms of use and privacy policy are much more than the above, the sergeant said.

People gather for a press conference about their opposition to a TikTok ban on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 22, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

The terms also state that TikTok collects personal information such as name, age, username, password, language, email, phone number, social media account information, and profile image provided by the user. It collects information about the users activity on other websites and applications or program stores. It collects purchase information, purchase history, shipping address, payment card number, and other third-party payment information (such as PayPal).

Its worth noting that TikTok may use the users image and audio information to enable special video effects, for content moderation, for demographic classification, for content and ad recommendations, and for other non-personally-identifying operations.

We may collect biometric identifiers and biometric information as defined under U.S. laws, such as faceprints and voiceprints, from your User Content, reads the Privacy Policy.

Another thing about TikTok, who controls TikTok? The Chinese Communist Party controls TikTok. So wheres all your data going? The CCP. You want the CCP having knowing everything that you do? I dont, Hish said.

He also suggested that parents shouldnt let their children use TikTok and that its best not to allow outsiders to use their Wi-Fi.

TikTok is under pressure to be banned nationwide to prevent Americans from being monitored by the Chinese regime. In May, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed legislation to ban TikTok, whose parent company is based in China, from operating in the state.
TikTok to Invest Billions of Dollars in Southeast Asia to Boost E-Commerce Business

TikTok Chief Executive Officer Shou Zi Chew delivers his speech during the launch of TikTok Socio-Economic Impact Report 2023 event at The Ritz Carlton, Pacific Place in Jakarta, Indonesia, on June 15, 2023. (Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana/Reuters)

JAKARTAShort video app TikTok, owned by Chinas ByteDance, said on Thursday it would invest billions of dollars in Southeast Asia over the next few years, as it doubles down on the region amid intensifying global scrutiny over its data security.

Southeast Asia, a region with a collective population of 630 millionhalf of them under 30is one of TikToks biggest markets in terms of user numbers, generating more than 325 million visitors to the app every month.

But the platform has yet to translate the large user base into a major e-commerce revenue source in the region as it faces fierce competition from bigger rivals of Seas Shopee, Alibabas Lazada, and GoTos Tokopedia.

Were going to invest billions of dollars in Indonesia and Southeast Asia over the next few years, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said at a forum it organized in Jakarta to highlight the social and economic impact of the app in the region.

TikTok did not provide a detailed breakdown of the spending plan, but said it would invest in training, advertising, and supporting small vendors looking to join its e-commerce platform TikTok Shop.

Chew said content on its platform was becoming more diversified as it adds more users and expands beyond advertising into e-commerce, allowing consumers to purchase goods through links on the app during livestreaming.

TikTok has 8,000 employees in Southeast Asia, and 2 million small vendors selling their wares on its platform in Indonesia, the regions biggest economy, he added.

E-commerce transactions across the region reached nearly $100 billion last year, with Indonesia accounting for $52 billion, according to data from consultancy Momentum Works.

TikTok facilitated $4.4 billion of transactions across Southeast Asia last year, up from $600 million in 2021, but it still trailed far behind Shopees $48 billion of regional merchandise sales in 2022, Momentum Works said.

TikToks investment plan comes as the Chinese-owned company faces scrutiny from some governments and regulators because of concerns that Beijing could use the app to harvest user data or advance its interests.

Countries including Britain and New Zealand have banned the app on government phones, moves TikTok said it believed were based on fundamental misconceptions and driven by wider geopolitics.

TikTok has repeatedly denied that it has ever shared data with the Chinese regime and has said the company would not do so if asked.

The app has not faced major bans on government devices in Southeast Asia, but it has been under scrutiny over its content.

Indonesia presented one of its first major global policy challenges in 2018, after authorities briefly banned TikTok for posts they said contained pornography, inappropriate content, and blasphemy.

In Vietnam, regulators said it would probe TikToks operations in the country because toxic content on the platform poses a threat to its youth, culture, and tradition.

By Stanley Widianto
Conservative MP Introduces Bill to Enhance Canada-Taiwan Ties

Conservative MP Michael Cooper has introduced a private members bill in the House of Commons aimed at bolstering Canadas ties with Taiwan.

Upon introducing Bill C-343 on June 15, Cooper said strengthening ties with Taiwan is in the national interest considering it is Canadas 11th largest trading partner and manufactures critical high-tech products such as semiconductors.

Our economies are in many respects, complimentary, he said at a press conference on June 16.

Taiwan offers high-tech products and services that Canada needs and Taiwan could become a major export destination for Canadian clean and ethical energy, as well as the opportunities to expand exports in terms of minerals, agricultural, and agri-food products, not to mention opportunities to collaborate on innovation.

Taiwan has increasingly been a geopolitical flashpoint in recent years, with the Chinese regime ramping up threats in an effort to claim sovereignty over the island nation, despite criticism from much of the Western world. Canadian MPs have shown solidarity for Taiwan amid Beijings increased military and economic coercion of the island nation, which includes staging live-fire drills and continuously sending military aircraft into Taiwans air defence identification zone.

In April, a parliamentary delegation of MPs from all parties visited Taiwan, with a focus on discussing national security and foreign affairs with its government. In October 2022, Liberal MP Judy Sgro also led a parliamentary friendship group to the island, voicing support for Taiwans participation in international organizations.

Cooper said his bill would pave the way for Taiwans involvement in international organizations and trade agreements like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which consists of 11 Pacific-region nations. He also called out Beijings effort to exclude Taiwan from organizations like the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The only reason why Taiwan has not been able to meaningfully participate in international organizations, such as ICAO, is because of Beijings bullying, he said.

Thats unacceptable. Its not in Canadas interests, its not in Taiwans interest, its not in the worlds interests. It is in our interest for Taiwan to be able to meaningfully participate and, to that end, the policy of the Government of Canada must be consistent in that regard.

Recognizing Taiwan

Coopers bill would strengthen support and collaboration with Taiwan in a number of ways. Notably, the bill seeks to enhance recognition of Taiwan as a de facto sovereign entity by renaming the two countries representative offices, whose current names reflect a lack of formal diplomatic relations. If the bill is passed, what is currently called the Taipei Economic and Cultural Officethe representative office of Taiwanwould be renamed the Taiwan Representative Office. Reciprocally, the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei would be referred to as the Canadian Representative Office in Taiwan.

What this bill fundamentally is about is recognizing Taiwan for what Taiwan is todaya vibrant island democracy of nearly 24 million people, with a world-leading advanced economy that is a true friend and ally of Canada. Im hopeful that this bill will receive broad support across party lines and that we can move it forward, Cooper said.

We have beyond strong economic ties, strong people-to-people links, and most importantly we share common values including a commitment to freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

He highlighted the support that Taiwan has provided Canada in times of need, pointing to the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic when there was a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE).

It was Taiwan that stepped up to deliver critical PPE to front-line Canadian health-care workers, Cooper said. Taiwan can help and Taiwan does help.
Trump Had Right to Records Central to Federal Criminal Case, Legal Analyst Says

According to legal analyst Mike Davis, former President Donald Trump had the right to hold onto records from his time as president despite federal prosecutors arguing the move constituted willful retention of national defense information.

Daviswho served as a legal counsel to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), as clerk for a federal judge, and who now heads the Article III Projectsaid the 37-count federal indictment against Trump is legally flawed when held against past court precedents surrounding presidential records.

Former presidents are allowed to have their presidential records when they leave office, whether they are classified or not, and that is in the Presidential Records Act. And thats why Congress gives former presidents secure office space, federally funded staff, and Secret Service protection in the heavily guarded office of the former president, Davis said in a Wednesday interview with NTDs Capitol Report.

Davis said President Joe Bidens Justice Department, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and special counsel Jack Smith have ignored the wording and case law surrounding what should have been an issue involving the Presidential Records Act (PRA) in order to instead charge him with violating the Espionage Act.

The 37-count indictment (pdf) against Trump includes 31 counts of willful retention of classified information, in violation of the Espionage Act.

They cant charge espionage for something a former president is allowed to have under the Presidential Records Act, Davis asserted.

Davis said there was no indication in the indictment that Trump sought to harm U.S. national security with the documents federal prosecutors found.

Theres no evidence whatsoever he tried to harm America with [the records] and hes allowed to have them under the Presidential Records Act, so how can you charge a president for retaining his presidential records under the Espionage Act and try to throw him in jail for the rest of his life? Davis said.

The Sock Drawer Standard

The PRA sets up a system whereby a president has to categorize records from his time in office as either presidential or personal.

Since the indictment, Trump and some of his supporters have asserted that past court cases had demonstrated that a president has unconstrained authority to make decisions regarding the disposal of documents and neither the [NARA Archivist] nor Congress has the authority to overrule a presidents judgment.

Trump has also cited a 2012 court case in which Judicial Watch sought to compel NARA to collect and then divulge recordings former President Bill Clinton had retained from his time in office. Clinton had reportedly kept dozens of these tapes in his sock drawer. Judge Amy Berman Jackson, an appointee of President Barack Obama, ruled in favor of allowing Clinton to withhold the recordings in a 2012 ruling (pdf).

This Obama judge held that President Clinton could have eight years of highly classified audio recordings of his presidency, including discussions with foreign leadersobviously highly classifiedin his sock drawer, Davis said. There was no raid. There was no indictment.

Political Motives Behind Charges

Davis, like Trump and several other Republican politicians, described the decision within the Biden administration to indict Trump over his retention of documents as politically motivated.

This is a bogus political hit by Biden to go after Trump because they fear hes going to win the next election, Davis said.

In a separate interview with Capitol Report, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) said, I think everybodys in agreement that this is disparate and politically motivated.

Biggs noted other political officials who have not been federally charged despite retaining classified documents, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Biden himself.

Biden has denied having any involvement in the decision to indict Trump, who was his opponent in the 2020 election and leads the 2024 Republican primary field.

Garland also defended Smiths decision to charge Trump on Wednesday, saying the prosecutor has assembled a group of experienced and talented prosecutors and agents who share his commitment to integrity and the rule of law.

The Peril of Process Crimes

Former Assistant U.S. Attorney John OConnor, like Davis, has expressed skepticism of the legal viability of the charges against Trump under the Espionage Act.

Even with the Presidential Records Act, the president has some unspecified time within which to hand over the documents, OConnor said. So mere possession of classified documents by an ex-president is not illegal, should not be looked at as illegal. And so, yes, its a very flimsy basis to say that theres anything wrong with him possessing classified documents. I dont buy it.

OConnor has, however, expressed concern that Trumps alleged conduct when faced with a subpoena for his documents could bring real legal peril to the former president. In addition to the 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information in violation of the Espionage Age, Trump is also charged with a count of withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record, concealing a document in a federal investigation, conspiring to obstruct justice, scheming to conceal materials, and making false statements.

The federal indictment alleges that in May of last year, federal officials issued a subpoena asking for Trump to turn over documents in his possession that bore classified markings. Trump allegedly discussed with his attorneys how he did not want anyone to go through his records. Trump allegedly asked his attorneys whether it would be better if they simply denied having the requested documents and referenced how representatives of Hillary Clinton had deleted thousands of emails from a private server she operated after the contents of that server were subpoenaed.

The indictment further states that on May 23, 2022, an attorney told Trump he would come by to review the documents in Trumps possession on June 2, 2022. Between May 23 and June 2, Trump allegedly directed co-defendant Waltine Nauta to remove 64 boxes from a storage room at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort. Trump allegedly spoke with Nauta by phone again on June 2 and Nauta subsequently moved 30 boxes of documents back to the storage room, which Trumps attorney later reviewed. One of Trumps lawyers disclosed the storage room as the location of Trumps documents, even though Trump had other boxes of documents elsewhere on his property.

OConnor said Trump could have legally challenged the subpoena for his documents, but you cant just simply lie to the government, you cant submit or cause to be submitted a perjurious statement. So I gotta say, even though these are process crimes, theyre important process crimes.

Trumps Chances With a Jury

Davis argued that prosecutors will have a hard time convincing jurors to convict Trump in the documents case, largely because they cannot demonstrate that he sought to harm national security.

Biggs offered a different view, saying Trumps chances of a fair trial have been complicated by years of allegations against Trump that have served as the basis for past investigations, a separate criminal prosecution, and two impeachment proceedings.

I think that the left has really done its job in tainting potential jury pools and thats part of the reason that this is just, in my opinion, really grossly unfair, Biggs said.

Biggs also said the fact that Trump faces 37 different counts gives multiple opportunities to catch Trump on at least one charge.

OConnor also said Trump is likely to be convicted on at least some of the charges but said that the judge assigned to his case, Judge Aileen Cannon, may favor leniency for the former president.

I dont see how any jury will not convict Trump, on some of those counts, OConnor said. You know, whether its six or eight counts, those counts are very, very tough for him to defend. Now, luckily, he has a judge who probably is not biased against him. And he may get probation, he may get a few months in a country club prison, but hes going to get convicted in my humble opinion.

From NTD News
UN Labor Agency Reports 29 Percent of Domestic Workers in Malaysia Face Forced Labor

A view of the Kuala Lumpur city skyline in Malaysia on Feb. 7, 2018. (Lai Seng Sin/Reuters)

About 29 percent of migrant domestic workers in Malaysia face forced labor conditions, such as restrictions on the freedom of movement, according to a survey released by the United Nations labor agency.

The report, released by the International Labor Organization (ILO) on June 15, revealed that 7 percent of domestic workers in Singapore and 4 percent in Thailand are facing forced labor conditions.

The ILO interviewed some 1,201 migrant domestic workers across the three countries between July and September 2022 and found that none of the respondents from the study earned the minimum wage.

In Malaysia, the survey results indicate high levels of isolation and restriction on migrant domestic workers freedoms, including freedom of movement and freedom to change employer, the report reads.

These are likely the result of the combined impact of a lack of labor protections in law, lack of enforcement of existing laws, lack of post-arrival orientation, and challenges to workers being able to change employers where work permits are tied to employers, it adds.

It reveals that employers may resort to locking in their domestic workers or restricting their mobility to prevent them from leaving. Malaysia has an estimated population of 300,000 migrant domestic workers.

In addition, the ILO said that there was evidence of substantial numbers of regular, full-time, live-in domestic workers in situations of forced labor and other forms of exploitation in Malaysia.

The Epoch Times has reached out to Malaysias Ministry of Human Resources for comments.

Domestic Workers in Poor Conditions

According to the study, about 90 percent of migrant domestic workers worked overtime without pay in Singapore, whereas in Thailand, excessive overtime, underpayment, and document retention persist.

The ILO urged Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand to ratify U.N. conventions on domestic workers and forced labor, to recognize the skilled nature of domestic work, and ensure migration pathways that did not tie the workers to their employers.

Domestic work is one of the most important tasks in our society, and yet provided with the least protection. This can no longer be accepted, said Anna Engblom, chief technical adviser at the ILO program which conducted the study.

By allowing them the opportunities to change employers or negotiate better working conditions, as other skilled migrants can, they would be far less likely to suffer exploitation, Engblom added.

Malaysia has faced criticism in recent years following multiple incidents of Indonesian domestic workers being abused in Malaysian households, while several of its companies have been accused of exploiting migrant laborers.

Indonesians make up about 80 percent of domestic workers in Malaysia, according to the ILO. Last year, Malaysia and Indonesia signed an agreement to improve protections for domestic workers.

Reuters contributed to this report.
US Guided-Missile Submarine Docks in South Korea for First Time in 6 Years

The USS Michigan was deployed after North Korea test fired two missiles

The guided-missile submarine USS Michigan arrives in Busan, South Korea, on April 25, 2017. The USS Michigan is in South Korea for a scheduled port visit while conducting routine patrols throughout the western Pacific. (USN Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jermaine Ralliford via Getty Images)

The United States on Friday sent a nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine to South Korea after North Koreas recent ballistic missile launches, which landed within Japans exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The USS Michigan is the first nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine to dock in South Korea in nearly six years, Yonhap News Agency reported.

South Koreas military said the USS Michigan arrived at Busan Port as part of the Washington Declaration signed between the two countries in April, but it did not specify how long the submarine will be in South Korean waters.

[It] demonstrates the overwhelming capabilities and posture of the South Korea-U.S. alliance to realize peace through strength, South Korean fleet commander Vice Admiral Kim Myung-soo told reporters.

This came after South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said North Korea fired two short-range missiles off its east coast on Thursday, which Japan said had landed within its EEZ near the Ishikawa prefecture.

The first ballistic missile was launched from the Sunan area in North Korea at around 7.25 p.m. (local time), followed by the second missile at 7.37 p.m. (local time), according to the JCS.

Japans defense ministry said the two missiles may have flown in an irregular trajectory and landed about 155 miles northwest of Hegura island, part of the Ishikawa prefecture.

Prior to the launches, a spokesperson for North Koreas defense ministry warned of an inevitable response and said the U.S.-South Korea joint drills escalated the military tension on the Korean Peninsula.

Our armed forces will fully counter any form of demonstrative moves and provocation of the enemies, the spokesperson was quoted as saying by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The latest action by North Korea came as U.S. President Joe Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, was in Tokyo for meetings with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts.

The three officials discussed North Koreas missile program and confirmed that they would work closely together to get North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons, according to a readout of the meeting released by Japan.

Washington Declaration

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Biden signed the Washington Declaration on April 29, outlining a set of U.S. extended deterrence measures involving deploying U.S. strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula.

In the declaration, South Korea expressed full confidence in U.S. extended deterrence commitments, and Washington pledged to make every effort to consult with South Korea on any possible nuclear weapons employment in the region.

Biden said at a joint press conference the United States will deploy nuclear-capable systems to the Korean Peninsula and warned that any nuclear attack by North Korea will result in the end of that regime.

North Koreas Kim Jong Un regime condemned the Washington Declaration as the product of heinous hostile policy against it and vowed to bolster its military deterrence, KCNA reported on May 1.

The regime said the U.S.South Korea accord aimed at strengthening extended deterrence and trilateral cooperation with Japan is equivalent to a dangerous nuclear war plot putting up the signboard of security.

A test launch of a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Hwasong-18, at an undisclosed location in this still image of a photo used in a video released by North Koreas Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 14, 2023. (KCNA via Reuters TV)

The country has conducted a series of missile launches this year, including one involving a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-18, and launched its nuclear-capable underwater drone.

U.S. nuclear envoy Sung Kim said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency that Washington will maintain close consultations with South Korea, Japan, and other allies on ways to deter North Koreas aggression and coordinate international responses to North Koreas violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The DPRK has increasingly engaged in threatening and irresponsible rhetoric, including by characterizing some of its missile launches and other military activities as trial runs for the use of tactical nuclear weapons, Kim said on June 4, referring to North Koreas official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

Reuters contributed to this report.
US Space Force Getting Off the Ground Despite ColoradoAlabama HQ Squabble

The U.S. Air Force has repeatedly delayed implementing its January 2021 decision to site Space Force headquarters at Redstone Arsenal near NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. (NASA)

A measure within the proposed fiscal 2024 (FY24) defense budget grounds U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall until he issues a much-delayed, politically fraught decision on moving the newly created Space Forces headquarters to Alabama from Colorado.

The stipulation was placed within the draft $874.2 billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) by House Armed Services Committee Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.).

The preliminary $8.6 billion Space Force spending plan also prohibits Space Command from spending any money on improving its current headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base near Colorado Springs, Colorado, and calls for the establishment of a Space National Guard.

The 412-page FY24 NDAA goes before the 59-member House Armed Services Committee on June 21, kicking off a summer of hearings. The Senate is debating its own version of the NDAA, which ideally will be adopted before the new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1.

Six House Armed Services Committee subpanels swiftly and unanimously on June 13 preliminarily endorsed their components of the spending plan, reshuffling to varying degrees budget requests by the five elder military branchesArmy, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guardand the Space Force, which was created in 2019.

President Donald Trump holds up an executive order for the creation of a Space Force, during a meeting of the National Space Council at the East Room of the White House on June 18, 2019. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Growing Into Its Mission

According to the Air Force Times, the Space Force consists of 4,286 enlisted and 4,314 officers, making it by far the smallest branch of the military and the only one in which officers outnumber enlisted.

Until it grows into its mission over time, the Space Force remains attached to the Air Force, similar to the way the Marine Corps is independent but a component of the Navy.

In addressing Space Force spending, the proposed NDAA outlines $3.752 billion in procurements, $60 million less than was requested, and $4.866 billion in operating and maintenance expenses, $32 million more than its budget request called for.

The proposed budget prevents Space Force from issuing a contract for procurement of the Wideband Global Satcom-12 (WGS-12) satellite Congress approved in 2023 until it can verify that commercial satellite providers could not perform the same functions.

The proposed NDAA requires Space Force to maximize competition in the acquisition strategy for the National Security Space Launch, a program that should provide opportunities for emerging launch providers while also assuring access to proven launch capabilities for low-risk tolerant payloads.

U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall speaks at the National Press Club in Washington on April 19, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Headquarters Flap

The draft NDAA also calls for freezing 90 percent of Kendalls travel funds and any spending to sustain his administrative offices at Peterson Air Force base until the Secretary of the Air Force delivers a report on the selection of a permanent location.

During the waning days of the Trump administration, the Air Force selected the Armys Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, as its preferred site for Space Commands permanent headquarters.

The command is projected to generate 1,400 jobs and draw millions in industry investment.

After that January 2021 announcement, Colorados congressional delegation criticized the evaluation process and aggressively lobbied for reconsideration, convincing the Air Force to do so.

In May 2022, a Department of Defense (DOD) Inspector General analysis agreed the evaluation process was flawed, but that siting the command in Huntsville was reasonable.

In June 2022, a Government Accountability Office report said the decision to move the command from Colorado to Alabama featured significant shortfalls in its transparency and credibility and didnt compare Colorado Springs and Huntsville.

In February 2023, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), in a Senate floor speech, criticized the decision to move the headquarters, which he said would cause upheaval in the newly created military branch and distract from addressing the militarization of space by China and Russia.

Bennets lobbying to keep the command headquarters in his state was countered by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who claimed that the decision to delay the move is politically motivated and a case of sore loser syndrome.

One factor that both Bennet and Tuberville say is affecting the decision but the Air Force has never acknowledged is the June 2022 Supreme Court repeal of Roe v. Wade, which returned abortion regulation to the states. Access to abortion is unrestricted in Colorado and illegal, with limited exceptions, in Alabama.

The Air Force maintained that it froze the move until environmental analyses were completed. Those were finished in September 2022. In March, Kendall said additional analysis related to financial modeling was necessary.

Illustration of defense forces using satellite tracking to deploy surface-to-air missiles. (Courtesy Space Development Agency)

Space National Guard

Creating a Space National Guard has been discussed for several years. The Biden administration rejected the proposal in 2021, citing a White House Office of Management and Budget finding that it would cost up to $500 million a year without adding any new capabilities.

National Guard leaders from all 50 states and the National Guard Association of the United States disputed that determination, as did House and Senate members from states with significant aerospace and technology industries.

In February, Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) co-sponsored a Space National Guard Establishment Act. Reps. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) and Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.), who chairs the House Armed Services Committees Strategic Forces Subcommittee, are co-sponsoring the House companion.

The House Armed Services Committees Military Personnel Subcommittee NDAA draft calls for creating a Space National Guard and funding for 800 Space Force guardsmen.

Under the proposal, Air Force Reserve specialists with specific knowledge and talents would be incorporated into the Space National Guard.
FILE PHOTO: India's Prime Minister Modi speaks with the media inside the parliament premises on the first day of the budget session in New Delhi

By Nandita Bose and Trevor Hunnicutt

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet the CEOs of top American companies including FedEx, MasterCard and Adobe during his trip to the United States for an official state visit, a source with knowledge of the matter said.

The CEO reception with more than 1,200 participants, including business leaders from U.S. and Indian companies such as Tech Mahindra and Mastek, will be held on June 23 at Washington's John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the source added.

It will follow the official state dinner on June 22 at the White House with President Joe Biden - a celebration billed as a milestone in relations between the two democracies.

Biden has been eager to strengthen ties with India as part of his bid to win what he has framed as a contest between free and autocratic societies, especially China.

Modi is not likely to directly address the threat from China in public remarks, a second source said, but he is expected to raise the issue during private discussions.

Decreasing India's dependence on Russia for its defense needs and increasing its own manufacturing capabilities will be among the top themes discussed between the two countries, the second source said.

The Biden administration is pushing New Delhi to cut through its own red tape and advance a deal for dozens of U.S.-made armed drones, sources told Reuters.

New Delhi has frustrated Washington by participating in military exercises with Russia and increasing purchases of the country's crude oil, a key source of funding for the war in Ukraine. Washington has been encouraging New Delhi to do more to punish Russia for the Ukraine invasion.

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, who recently visited India to make final preparations ahead of Modi's visit, said the United States is set to remove obstacles that prevent smoother trade with India in critical areas such as defense and high technology.

The U.S. became India's largest trading partner in fiscal year 2022-23 as bilateral trade rose by almost 8% to $128.55 billion, according to data from India's Ministry of Commerce. The rise is in contrast to the 1.5% fall in India-China trade to $113.83 billion in the same fiscal year.

Other key issues to be discussed, according to the second source, are how to spur chip manufacturing in India and lower its dependence on China for electronics. The countries will also discuss artificial intelligence, quantum computing and cybersecurity along with work visas for Indian workers.

Biden is expected to make his own trip to New Delhi in September for the G20 meetings hosted by India.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose and Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington; Additional reporting by Mike Stone Editing by Heather Timmons and Matthew Lewis)
Why ESG Is the Devil: How Inclusive Companies Crush ESG Ratings

Propagating skewed criteria, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards end up promoting companies with inclusive values and a progressive agenda rather than actual environmental or positive social impact.

Recently S&P Global gave Tesla an ESG score of 37, with the electric vehicle manufacturer garnering 60 points on the environmental front, 34 for governance and economic, and 20 social score. In contrast, cigarette companies like Philip Morris International Inc., Altria Group, and Imperial Brands had higher ESG scores. Why ESG is the devil, Musk said while responding to a June 13 tweet by journalist Aaron Sibarium explaining how ESG ratings discriminate between companies.

From S&P Global to the London Stock Exchange, tobacco companies are crushing Tesla in the ESG ratings. How could cigarettes, which kill over 8 million a year, be deemed a more ethical investment than electric cars? One answer: Tobaccos gone woke, Sibarium, a reporter at The Washington Free Beacon, stated in a tweet on June 13.

S&P Global has given Philip Morris International Inc., which makes the popular Marlboro brand of cigarettes, an ESG score of 84, with the brand scoring 85 points in the social aspect and 83 points in the governance and economic category.

Cigarette manufacturer Altria Group has an ESG score of 42, edging out Tesla in both social and governance and economic scores. Imperial Brands received an ESG score of 42 as well, beating Tesla.

ESG standards judge brands on how they deal with issues like diversity, adherence to transgenderism, and devotion to climate change hysteria rather than focusing on shareholder interest or company profits.

S&P Global is one of several ESG ratings providers, which include MSCI, Sustainalytics, Moodys, and Fitch among the biggest names. According to S&P Global, it collects data from over 13,000 companies with 99 percent global market capitalization.

Scoring ESG Points

Unlike Tesla, cigarette brands have openly pushed progressive causes like diversity and inclusion that tends to get them more ESG points. For instance, Altrias website clearly states: Our Corporate Governance Guidelines require that women and people of color be included in any search for potential new directors.

Back in June 2020, Altria announced $5 million to address systemic racism faced by black Americans and advance social and economic equity.

In February 2021, the company announced that it had received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundations 2021 Corporate Equality Index, the nations foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBT workplace equality.

The company also filed an amicus brief against Idahos law to ban transgenders from participating in female sports.

A 2022 report (pdf) from Philip Morris International made it clear that the company followed a policy of discriminatory hiring and promotion practices under the guise of advancing gender equality.

Our ambition is to maintain a gender balanced representation in management positions. To do so, we aim to maintain a minimum of 40 percent women in managerial roles globally.

In its 2022 ESG Review (pdf), Imperial Brands stated that they promote diversity within the business through awareness campaigns, career talks, unconscious bias training, and diversity celebrations. We have provided bespoke e-learning courses in 11 languages to help our people leaders understand the issues of unconscious bias and microaggressions.

Tesla largely avoids focusing on diversity appeasement. In June last year, the company laid off the president of its LGBT community as well as a lead who was involved in diversity and inclusivity initiatives at the firm.

A Polluting Industry

The three cigarette companiesPhilip Morris, Altria, and Imperial Brandswere given good scores by S&P Global in the environmental category. While Philip Morris got 87 points and comfortably bested Teslas 60, Altria and Imperial Brands both came close, with 51 points each.

The scores were given despite the fact that the cigarette industry is known to be highly polluting.

In May 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised alarm over the environmental impact of the tobacco industry.

Every year, the sector results in the loss of over 8 million human lives, 600 million trees, 22 billion tons of water, 84 million tons of CO2, and 20,000 hectares of land, the organization said in a May 31 post last year.

Tobacco products are the most littered item on the planet, containing over 7,000 toxic chemicals, which leech into our environment when discarded. Roughly 4.5 trillion cigarette filters pollute our oceans, rivers, city sidewalks, parks, soil, and beaches every year, said Dr Ruediger Krech, director of health promotion at WHO.

Popular commentators criticized S&P Globals ESG valuation standards online. So, cigarettes do more good for the climate than a Tesla? The hypocrisy of ESG scores. Tesla got just a 37 out of 100, while Philip Morris got an 84. Whos supposed to believe this nonsense? author Patrick Bet-David stated in a tweet on June 15.

The truth remains that electric vehicles do not perform well when taking into account real-world environmental factors. However, based on the scoring methodology, Tesla would garner better ESG rates if the company complied with progressive ideologies.

ESG standards are mainly adopted by companies to appease large investors like BlackRock that use these metrics to evaluate whether to invest or not.

The criteria mechanism has been facing heat lately with major retail brands like Bud Light and Target losing significant market share and capitalizations following marketing practices that have irked their core customer base.

These brands followed ESG guidelines to promote values which did not resonate with a large portion of their clients.
In-depth debates required to pass better laws





PANAJI,

SPEAKER of Lok Sabha Om Birla said on Thursday that longer and in-depth discussions in assemblies and Parliament lead to better legislations. He was addressing an event on Vikasit Bharat 2047 in the Goa Assembly.

Opposition parties, however, skipped the event, with the Congress questioning why Birla was not giving a chance to party leader Rahul Gandhi to represent himself over his disqualification in a defamation case. It is always better that laws are passed after extensive and proper debates, Birla told MLAs from the coastal State at the programme. He stressed that the debates in assemblies and Parliament should be non-political and unbiased. At times, I feel that in the legislative assemblies, rather than discussing peoples issues and finding the solution, there is a tendency to oppose everything, he said.

Birla said agreement and disagreement are the essence of Indias democracy. It is the speciality of our democracy that we can criticise the policies of the Government, he said, appealing to the elected members to ensure that discussions on the floor of the House represent the aspiration of the people. That is why in the House, there should be discussions on the action of the Government, he said. While passing laws, Birla said, there should be detailed and in-depth discussions and debates. Every Government frames laws for the welfare of people and gives them the rights. When laws are framed, there should be extensive, in-depth debates and discussions, he said. The more there is debate and discussion over legislations, we will have better laws, the Speaker said. Birla also hailed the Goa Assembly for holding longer sessions of more than 40 days, as he expressed concerns over shorter Assembly sessions in many states.

Despite being a small state, Goa has discussions, debates and dialogues leading towards policies for the welfare of the people, he said. The speaker said that all the elected representative bodies, from panchayat to assemblies, should be made accountable to the people. If Goa implements all the schemes in its respective constituencies, it can achieve the parameters under the sustainable development goals by 2030, he said. Birla said that if the Goa Government works on fulfilling the aspirations of the people, the coastal state will lead the country in achieving the goal of Vikasit Bharat by 2047. Opposition members, those from the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Goa Forward Party (GFP) and the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), boycotted the function. Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao called the move a mark of protest.
BJp sheds light on 9 years of Modi Govt at Centre during joint convention





Staff Reporter

Bharatiya Janata Party, on Thursday organised a joint convention in West Assembly under month-long Mahajansamparka Abhiyan being organised to mark nine-years of Modi Government at the Centre. Addressing a huge gathering of party leaders and workers, Member of Parliament Rakesh Singh said in a significant transformation, the country is witnessing construction of pucca houses for poor and establishment of a grand temple dedicated to Lord Ram, who is revered by millions. Likewise, success of Ayushman Bharat Scheme in providing better healthcare to citizens, abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir ensures complete arrangements for citizens security. Now, echoes of peace resonate through banks of river Ganga in Varanasi, replacing the sounds of bomb blasts.

This changing India is built upon the foundation laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and under his leadership, the Central Government has fulfilled needs of people of all sections of the society. MP Singh further said Service, good governance and welfare of poor have been the guiding principles of Modi Government in the past nine years. The BJP Government at the Centre has worked tirelessly to bring about positive changes in lives of poor and make them economically empowered and self-reliant. He said the Government has brought a new transformation in the lives of millions of poor people in the country through initiatives like free rations, pucca houses, Ujjwala Yojana, Ayushman Yojana, Saubhagya Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission and Jan Dhan Yojana.

Expressing views on the occasion, BJPs City President Prabhat Sahu said people have voted for us on the basis of works done by BJP Government, not on the basis of caste, creed or language. A number of senior office bearers and members of BJPs Youth Wing, Womens Wing, Farmers Wing, Backward Classes Wing, Scheduled Caste Wing, Scheduled Tribe Wing and Minority Wing were present.
Defence Ministry approves Predator drone deal with US





NEW DELHI :

AMID preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the US, the Defence Ministry on Thursday approved the deal for acquiring the Predator (MQ-9 Reaper) drones from America for which the final decision would be taken by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The deal for the Predator drones was given approval by the Defence Acquisition Council meeting on Thursday. The acquisition proposal will now have to follow a procedure after which it will have to be cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security, defence sources told ANI here. The DAC is the highest body in the Defence Ministry to take decisions on acquisitions.

All high value acquisitions are given final approval by the CCS. The Indian Navy is the lead agency for the deal in which 15 drones will be going to the maritime force for surveillance operations in its area of responsibility. The three services also have plans of going in for same type of medium altitude and long endurance drones from indigenous sources.
One killed, 2 critical after being shot ahead of West Bengal panchayat polls





Security personnel fire teargas shells amid violence in Bhangar during the filing of nominations for West Bengal panchayat elections, in Kolkata on Thursday. (ANI)

KOLKATA :

HC directs State Election Commission to deploy Central Forces in all districts within 48 hrs

ONE person was killed and two others were critical after being allegedly shot in West Bengals North Dinajpur district on Thursday when they were on their way to file nominations for the panchayat polls, officials said. CPI(M) state secretary Md Salim said they were supporters of the Left Front and the Congress, and the incident happened when they were going to the Chopra block office for filing nominations. After being shot, the three persons were taken to the district hospital where one of them died during treatment, officials said. The conditions of the other two persons were critical, they said. State Election Commissioner Rajiva Sinha declined to comment on the incident, saying that he was yet to receive a report regarding it. Salim alleged that the TMC was behind the attack. Activists and candidates have been fired upon by TMC goons just now in North Dinajpurs Chopra block. Left-INC supporters were going to Block office for filing nomination #PanchayatElection2023, he tweeted.

The ruling TMC dismissed the allegation. Polling for nearly 75,000 seats in the three-tier Panchayati Raj system will be held on July 8. WB panchayat polls: HC directs SEC to deploy Central Forces in all districts within 48 hrs: THE Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the State Election Commission (SEC) to requisition and deploy central forces across West Bengal for the July 8 panchayat elections in the State. The court noted that no appreciable steps have been taken ever since an order was passed by it on June 13 to deploy central forces in sensitive areas for the poll process. Petitioners had prayed for the deployment of central forces for ensuring peaceful elections.

Opposition parties have been alleging that the ruling Trinamool Congress supporters resorted to violence to prevent their candidates from filing nomination papers. Lawyer for a section of petitioners before the Calcutta High Court on Thursday alleged that they were attacked by goons when they were going to file nomination papers for the ensuing panchayat elections in West Bengal under police escort in South 24 Parganas district. Mamata blames Oppn: WEST Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused the Opposition parties of trying to malign the State by orchestrating violence while filing nominations for the panchayat polls. Talking to reporters outside a party office at Maheshtala near here, Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, asserted that those who were non-performers have been denied tickets by the party this time. Opposition parties are trying to create disturbances by orchestrating violence while filing nominations. They are doing it to tarnish the States image. The CPI(M) is behind todays violence in the Chopra area (in Uttar Dinajpur district), and ISF is attacking our party workers in Bhangore (South 24 Parganas), she said. Banerjee also slammed the BJP-led Central Government for stopping the due funds for the State and using central agencies to threaten the TMC. Violence has rocked various parts of Bengal for the last week over the filing of nominations for the panchayat polls.
Tomar calls on countries to work together to meet challenges in agriculture





HYDERABAD,

UNION Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday urged all countries to work together to face the challenges in agriculture as they are global. Tomar, who addressed a press conference on the sidelines of the inaugural day of the three-day meeting of G20 Agriculture Ministers, said the G20 would be a useful platform for the nations to work together.

Mainly, the challenges in agriculture today are not only Indias but global. All countries should work together in this. For this, a grouping like the G20 is a very useful platform. I feel all countries would be successful in finding solutions together to contemporary challenges through consultation, he said. We try to learn from each other and collectively give solutions to the world. Such an effort will be there from this meeting, he said. Three meetings of the agriculture working group were held earlier in Indore, Chandigarh and Varanasi.
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar to grace Yoga Day event in city on 21st





Staff Reporter

On the occasion of International Yoga Day, a grand yoga programme will be organised in the city, on June 21. Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar will be participating in the programme. Member of Parliament Rakesh Singh has recently sent an invitation to Vice President on behalf of the citizens. During a meeting with the Vice President, MP Singh expressed that the main event of International Yoga Day to be organised in Jabalpur in presence of the Vice President will not only make the city but the entire region an epitome of yoga. Singh discussed preparations and arrangements for the Yoga Day programme with the Vice President.

MP Singh also requested the Vice President to visit river Narmada and witness the beauty of Bhedaghat during his visit to Jabalpur, to which the Vice-President agreed.
Portable and fully automated direct lithium extraction plant owned by International Battery Metals is seen in Lake Charles

By Ernest Scheyder

LAKE CHARLES, Louisiana (Reuters) - The global battle to reshape the lithium industry is sucking in oil producers, tech startups and entrenched mining giants, each jockeying to be the first to reinvent how a metal key to the green energy transition is produced.

A fleet of direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies are on the verge of tapping salty brine deposits across Europe, Asia, North America and elsewhere that the U.S. Geological Survey estimates are filled with roughly 70% of the world's reserves of the metal.

At stake is influence over an industry expected to grow to more than $10 billion in annual revenue within the next decade as the successful DLE companies will supply lithium for electric vehicle batteries in hours or days, not months or longer as with existing large, water-intensive evaporation ponds and open-pit mines.

"The world needs abundant, low-cost lithium to have an energy transition, and DLE has the potential to meet that goal," said Ken Hoffman, co-head of the EV Battery Materials Research group at McKinsey & Co.

Chilean President Gabriel Boric spotlighted global attention on the once-niche sector in April by outlining a radical plan to phase out evaporation ponds and deploy DLE across his country's vast lithium reserves, although he did not choose a specific technology. Boric's shock announcement was all the more surprising as no DLE technology has reached commercial production without the use of those ponds, sparking competition to be the first.

Interviews with more than two dozen potential customers that have tested DLE technologies, industry analysts, consultants and investors show that tech startups EnergySource Minerals and International Battery Metals (IBAT), as well as oilfield service provider SLB and mining giant Rio Tinto are expected to be among the first to launch commercial DLE projects within the next 12 to 18 months. French miner Eramet and Chinese resin producer Sunresin are also seen as likely early winners.

"The industry is so close to a major leap forward," said John Burba, who helped invent a prominent DLE technology and is IBAT's executive chairman.

While DLE technologies vary, they are comparable to common household water softeners and aim to extract about 90% or more of the lithium from brines, compared to about 50% using ponds. That's enticed not only the lithium industry's customers but its investors, many of whom expect DLE to lower production costs.

"DLE technologies could increase the viability of resources that aren't necessarily viable with evaporative technologies," said Alec Lucas of the Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF.

DLE technologies that are portable, able to recycle much of their fresh water and limit hydrochloric acid use are seen as most appealing. By 2030, 13% of the world's lithium will be produced using DLE, projections by commodity price provider Fastmarkets showed.

By contrast, the U.S. fracking industry - also born from radical technological advancements - pumps just 5% to 9% of the world's oil but is seen as a key influence on energy markets.

Using the shale play-book, DLE is viewed as a potential swing producer in lithium as supply can be procured quickly and stopped just as quickly. Global appetite for the metal is projected to hit 2.7 million metric tons by the end of this decade, a nearly fourfold jump from 2022.

"Given those demand projections, there's definitely need for more supply from DLE," said Jordan Roberts, a Fastmarkets lithium industry analyst.

TANKS AND PIPES

In a rural Louisiana workyard, IBAT has built an automated DLE plant fabricated with thousands of feet of forest green-colored pipes and tanks that are able to filter 5,000 metric tons of lithium annually.

"We're confident we can be the first to market," said IBAT CEO Garry Flowers. The company engineered its 450 foot-long plant to be ported in 32 pieces and stacked like LEGO bricks, a design the company is hoping will be commercially producing lithium by December.

A customer aiming to produce 15,000 metric tons of lithium each year, for example, could buy three stackable IBAT lithium plants. The entire IBAT facility is less than three acres, compared to hundreds of acres for evaporation ponds or open-pit mines.

As part of a deal to buy more than 100,000 lithium-rich acres in Arkansas from Galvanic Energy earlier this year, Exxon Mobil acquired test results showing IBAT's DLE technology could recover more than 91% of lithium from that acreage's brine. IBAT has held talks with Exxon Mobil and Chevron about licensing its DLE technology, according to three people familiar with the matter and documents seen by Reuters.

Exxon has also held talks with EnergySource Minerals about licensing DLE technology, two of the people said.

EnergySource is building a lithium facility in California's Salton Sea and has licensed its technology to Koch Industries-backed Compass Minerals International to extract the metal from Utah's Great Salt Lake starting in 2025. Ford has agreed to buy lithium from both projects.

Exxon, Chevron and EnergySource declined to comment. IBAT said it does not make forward-looking statements and cannot confirm any discussions that have taken place to date.

For oil producers, DLE offers the tantalizing prospect of filtering lithium from water that is already extracted alongside hydrocarbons. Typically that water must be injected back underground at a cost, but DLE could allow oil firms to generate income. Much of this so-called produced water holds 10 to 15 times less lithium than in Chile, for example, a lower concentration that is uneconomic to filter with just evaporation ponds.

"It's absolutely the smart thing for them to be looking at," said Eli Horton of Exxon shareholder Engine No. 1, which helped elect three candidates to the oil giant's board in 2021. "It's always nice if you can turn a cost center into a profit."

SLB, the world's largest oilfield services provider, is expanding into lithium and plans to be operational by early next year using a DLE process that includes EnergySource's technology and water treatment equipment from others.

The company, previously known as Schlumberger, is building a portable DLE plant in Nevada and is in talks with 10 potential customers, said Gavin Rennick, president of SLB's New Energy division.

"The fact that you can have a completely domestic brine resource that is now economic is an enormous driver for DLE," said Rennick.

Mining giants are not letting new entrants dominate the space, though. Rio Tinto paid $825 million last year for a DLE project in Argentina and expects to have it producing 3,000 metric tons of lithium annually by next year.

"We are doing a lot of work on the process and are comfortable with the technology," said Sinead Kaufman, chief executive of Rio's minerals business.

'TAILORED TO EACH BRINE'

DLE has not garnered universal praise. Last year, short-sellers criticized processes developed by Standard Lithium and Lilac Solutions as likely inoperable. Both companies denied the claims.

Standard last month signed an agreement with Koch Industries - its largest shareholder - to deploy Koch's DLE technology in Arkansas and also hired French bank BNP Paribas to help secure debt financing.

Lilac, which is backed by BMW and Breakthrough Energy Ventures, said in April that a lithium pilot plant it built in Argentina with Lake Resources produced 2.5 metric tons of lithium. Most of that lithium was produced since January, said CEO Dave Snydacker.

Many brine deposits have varied chemical compositions, meaning it's unlikely that one DLE technology will emerge as a global leader. Many Chinese deposits have high concentrations of magnesium, for example, and Bolivian deposits have high potassium levels.

"One of the main disadvantages of these DLE technologies is that they really have to be tailored to each brine," said Steven Schoffstall of the Sprott Lithium Miners ETF.

Stellantis, General Motors and others have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into DLE firms, with aggressive timelines to launch electric fleets.

"Our window of opportunity doesn't last long," said Chris Doornbos, CEO of E3 Lithium, which is developing a Canadian DLE project with support from Exxon subsidiary Imperial Oil. "We need to get commercialized now."

(Reporting by Ernest Scheyder; Editing by Veronica Brown and Claudia Parsons)
Happy Friday! Dan DeFrancesco in NYC, and this might be the worst gift to inherit from a deceased relative.

Fun Fact Friday: The Wilhelm scream is Hollywood's go-to sound effect for action movies, having been used in over 100 films.

Today we've got stories on top CEOs talking about their approach to leadership, some charts to make sense of all the madness in the markets, and why intermittent fasting might be a good move for you.

But first, how did you make it to the top?

A conceptual photo of a man on a career ladder.

A man on a career ladder.Peter Cade/Getty Images

1. Moving on up.

How does a wunderkind become a wunderkind?

Achieving success at an early age is impressive in any industry, but it's particularly awe-inspiring on Wall Street.

Lucky for you, Insider's Emmalyse Brownstein spoke to someone who did exactly that. Soeren Kuenzel quickly rose the ranks at Citadel Securities, Ken Griffin's massive trading firm, to eventually lead the market maker's foreign exchange team at only 31 years of age.

Kuenzel, who started as an intern at hedge fund Citadel in 2018 and focused on quantitative research, spoke about his rise within Griffin's financial empire.

As Emmalyse details, a key turning point for Kuenzel early on in his career was asking his manager to take on a "real business problem." That should come as no surprise, as Griffin recently spoke to incoming interns at his hedge fund, Citadel, about how a programmer's career path will be defined by "your ability to solve problems."

It's a good lesson for how fixing issues at work is a surefire way to supercharge your career. People like employees who can make their problems go away.

That's relevant when one considers the rise of artificial intelligence. As fascinating as the tech is, finance executives' patience is bound to run thin if practical use cases aren't eventually evident.

The tug-of-war between innovative ideas and real-world application has long existed, but it feels particularly pertinent to AI when so much of the discussion is about what could be.

Read more about the Citadel Securities executive's rise.

In other news:

Cava in Anaheim Hills, California

Nancy Luna

2. Top CEOs sound off on what's next, from tech to DEI and work culture. Our newsroom asked 33 CEOs across various industries how they approach leadership in the face of rapidly evolving trends. Here's what they said.

3. A Goldman Sachs partner accidentally sent a sexually explicit recording of himself to a younger employee. The incident, which occurred in 2020, involved Adam Dell, and resulted in a settlement worth "several million dollars," per Bloomberg. A Goldman Sachs spokesperson told Bloomberg the "reporting contains significant factual errors." More here.

4. Odey Asset Management is being broken up in the wake of sexual harassment accusations against its founder. JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley have both cut ties with the London-based hedge fund following a Financial Times report on founder Crispin Odey. Here's the latest.

5. The regulators would like a word with Goldman Sachs about SVB. The Fed and the SEC are investigating the work Goldman did with SVB in the lead-up to its failure, The Wall Street Journal reports. For more on how Goldman tried, but failed, to help SVB, check out our feature.

6. Here are some charts to make sense of how wild the past 15 months have been in the markets. From the crypto winter to rising rates and a banking crisis, the past year-plus certainly has been busy. Here are five charts to help you make sense of all the madness.

7. The IPO market lives! Cava, the Mediterranean restaurant chain that this newsletter writer is a big fan of, hit the public markets in a big way on Wednesday, raising nearly $318 million in its IPO, CNBC reports.

8. What does being "wealthy" mean to you? According to one recent survey of Americans, you need to have $2.2 million to be rich. But it's more than just a number, as different generations' perception of what it means to be wealthy varies. Some more details.

9. A top NYC prep school is being accused of running a pay-to-play admissions scam in a lawsuit. The allegations are part of a wider suit accusing the owner of a tech company, Qi Tom Chen, of cheating on his taxes for years. A spokesperson for Horace Mann School said the claims are bogus. Read about it all here.

10. Why intermittent fasting might be good for you. If you're suffering from pre-diabetes or obesity, intermittent fasting could be a good way to control your blood sugar. Here's why.

Curated by Dan DeFrancesco in New York. Feedback or tips? Email ddefrancesco@insider.com, tweet @dandefrancesco, or connect on LinkedIn. Edited by Jeffrey Cane (tweet @jeffrey_cane) in New York and Nathan Rennolds (tweet @ncrennolds) in London.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Key Insights

Significant control over Deutsche Post by individual investors implies that the general public has more power to influence management and governance-related decisions

A total of 25 investors have a majority stake in the company with 45% ownership

33% of Deutsche Post is held by Institutions

Every investor in Deutsche Post AG (ETR:DPW) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. With 46% stake, individual investors possess the maximum shares in the company. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

Individual investors gained the most after market cap touched 53b last week, while institutions who own 33% also benefitted.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Deutsche Post.

View our latest analysis for Deutsche Post

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Deutsche Post?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

Deutsche Post already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Deutsche Post, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too.

Hedge funds don't have many shares in Deutsche Post. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is KfW with 21% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 4.9% and 3.0%, of the shares outstanding, respectively.

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. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.

Insider Ownership Of Deutsche Post

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. 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.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

We note our data does not show any board members holding shares, personally. Given we are not picking up on insider ownership, we may have missing data. Therefore, it would be interesting to assess the CEO compensation and tenure, here.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 46% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders.

Private Company Ownership

Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 21%, of the company's shares. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with Deutsche Post , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
Altus Power, Inc. (NYSE:AMPS  Get Rating) major shareholder Altus Holdings Lp Gso acquired 45,000 shares of Altus Power stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 14th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $5.47 per share, with a total value of $246,150.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now owns 21,116,125 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $115,505,203.75. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Major shareholders that own at least 10% of a companys shares are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC.

Altus Holdings Lp Gso also recently made the following trade(s):

Get Altus Power alerts:

On Thursday, June 8th, Altus Holdings Lp Gso bought 57,000 shares of Altus Power stock. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $5.25 per share, for a total transaction of $299,250.00.

On Tuesday, June 6th, Altus Holdings Lp Gso purchased 15,000 shares of Altus Power stock. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $5.17 per share, with a total value of $77,550.00.

Altus Power Trading Down 4.3 %

Shares of NYSE AMPS traded down $0.24 on Friday, reaching $5.28. 3,641,970 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,233,761. Altus Power, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $4.08 and a fifty-two week high of $14.72. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79. The company has a 50 day moving average of $4.84 and a 200 day moving average of $6.14.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Altus Power ( NYSE:AMPS Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, March 30th. The company reported ($0.03) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of $26.76 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $28.03 million. Altus Power had a net margin of 0.57% and a negative return on equity of 0.86%. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Altus Power, Inc. will post 0.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AMPS has been the subject of several recent research reports. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Altus Power from $12.00 to $9.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 3rd. B. Riley restated a buy rating and set a $14.00 price objective on shares of Altus Power in a research report on Friday, March 31st. Evercore ISI cut their target price on shares of Altus Power from $12.00 to $10.00 in a research note on Tuesday, May 16th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of Altus Power from $10.00 to $7.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, Altus Power has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $10.67.

Institutional Trading of Altus Power

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in AMPS. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc acquired a new position in shares of Altus Power in the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. acquired a new position in Altus Power during the third quarter valued at approximately $42,000. Sandia Investment Management LP purchased a new stake in Altus Power during the third quarter worth approximately $55,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. acquired a new stake in shares of Altus Power in the first quarter worth $39,000. Finally, ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Altus Power in the 1st quarter valued at $30,000. 43.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Altus Power

(Get Rating)

Altus Power, Inc, a clean electrification company, originates, develops, owns, and operates roof, ground, and carport-based photovoltaic solar energy generation and storage systems. The company serves commercial, industrial, public sector, and community solar customers. Altus Power, Inc was founded in 2013 and is based in Stamford, Connecticut.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Altus Power Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altus Power and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
New Found Gold (NYSE:NFGC  Get Rating) and Sandstorm Gold (NYSE:SAND  Get Rating) are both small-cap basic materials companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, profitability, dividends, earnings, valuation, institutional ownership and risk.

Volatility and Risk

New Found Gold has a beta of 1.41, indicating that its stock price is 41% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Sandstorm Gold has a beta of 0.98, indicating that its stock price is 2% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Get New Found Gold alerts:

Insider & Institutional Ownership

22.1% of New Found Gold shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 55.6% of Sandstorm Gold shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.5% of Sandstorm Gold shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets New Found Gold N/A -118.06% -91.50% Sandstorm Gold 53.82% 3.04% 2.27%

Analyst Ratings

This table compares New Found Gold and Sandstorm Golds net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for New Found Gold and Sandstorm Gold, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score New Found Gold 0 0 0 0 N/A Sandstorm Gold 0 0 5 0 3.00

Sandstorm Gold has a consensus price target of $9.66, indicating a potential upside of 86.77%. Given Sandstorm Golds higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Sandstorm Gold is more favorable than New Found Gold.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares New Found Gold and Sandstorm Golds revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio New Found Gold N/A N/A -$69.22 million ($0.38) -12.97 Sandstorm Gold $97.82 million 15.79 $78.36 million $0.37 13.97

Sandstorm Gold has higher revenue and earnings than New Found Gold. New Found Gold is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Sandstorm Gold, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Sandstorm Gold beats New Found Gold on 10 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About New Found Gold

(Get Rating)

New Found Gold Corp., a mineral exploration company, engages in the identification, acquisition, and exploration of mineral properties in the Provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ontario. The company primarily explores for gold deposit. It holds 100% interests in the Queensway project that includes 86 mineral licenses and 6,041 claims covering an area of 151,030 hectares of land located near Gander, Newfoundland; and the Lucky Strike project comprising 11,684 hectares located in Kirkland Lake, Ontario. The company was formerly known as Palisade Resources Corp. and changed its name to New Found Gold Corp. in June 2017. New Found Gold Corp. was incorporated in 2016 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

About Sandstorm Gold

(Get Rating)

Sandstorm Gold Ltd. engages in the acquisition of gold and other metals purchase agreements and royalties. It operates through the following segments: Aurizona, Black Fox, Bracemac-McLeod, Chapada, Diavik, Fruta del Norte, Hounde, Karma, Relief Canyon, Santa Elena, Vale Royalties, Yamana Silver Stream, Other, and Corporate. The company was founded by Nolan Watson and David I. Awram on March 23, 2007 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Receive News & Ratings for New Found Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for New Found Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shawcor (OTCMKTS:SAWLF  Get Rating) and Pason Systems (OTCMKTS:PSYTF  Get Rating) are both oils/energy companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, valuation, risk, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations and earnings.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Shawcor and Pason Systems top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Get Shawcor alerts:

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Shawcor N/A N/A N/A $2.27 5.69 Pason Systems N/A N/A N/A $1.07 8.21

Shawcor is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Pason Systems, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Shawcor N/A N/A N/A Pason Systems N/A N/A N/A

Analyst Recommendations

This table compares Shawcor and Pason Systems net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Shawcor and Pason Systems, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Shawcor 0 2 3 0 2.60 Pason Systems 1 1 1 0 2.00

Shawcor presently has a consensus price target of $14.58, suggesting a potential upside of 12.87%. Pason Systems has a consensus price target of $17.38, suggesting a potential upside of 98.12%. Given Pason Systems higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Pason Systems is more favorable than Shawcor.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

61.8% of Shawcor shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 46.7% of Pason Systems shares are held by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Dividends

Shawcor pays an annual dividend of $0.55 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.3%. Pason Systems pays an annual dividend of $0.47 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.4%. Shawcor pays out 24.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Pason Systems pays out 44.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years.

Summary

Shawcor beats Pason Systems on 5 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Shawcor

(Get Rating)

Shawcor Ltd. operates as a material sciences company that serves the infrastructure, energy, and transportation markets worldwide. It operates through three segments: Composite Systems, Automotive and Industrial, and Pipeline and Pipe Services. The Composite Systems segment manufactures flexible composite and high density polyethylene pipes that are used for oil and gas gathering, water disposal, carbon dioxide injection pipelines, and other applications; fiberglass reinforced plastic underground storage tanks for the retail fuel, water and wastewater, and oil and gas markets; and tubular management services to the Western Canadian onshore oilfield market, including inventory management systems, mobile inspection, in-plant inspection and the refurbishment and rethreading of drill pipe, production tubing and casing, and tubular products. The Automotive and Industrial segment manufactures heat-shrinkable products, including thin, medium, and heavy-walled tubing; sleeves and molded products, as well as heat-shrink accessories and equipment; and low-voltage wires and cables for control, instrumentation, thermocouple, power, and industrial applications. The Pipeline and Pipe Services segment offers specialized internal anti-corrosion and flow efficiency pipe coating systems, insulation coating systems, weight coating systems, and custom coating and field joint application services for onshore and offshore pipelines; provides ultrasonic and radiographic pipeline girth weld inspection services to pipeline operators and construction contractors; non-destructive testing services for oil and gas gathering pipelines and oilfield infrastructure integrity management; and pipeline engineering and integrity management services to North American pipeline operators and other infrastructure operators. The company was formerly known as Shaw Industries Ltd. and changed its name to Shawcor Ltd. in 2001. Shawcor Ltd. was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

About Pason Systems

(Get Rating)

Pason Systems Inc., an energy services and technology company, provides data management systems for drilling rigs in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company offers Electronic Drilling Recorder, which monitors and records drilling operations around the rig; DataHub for data and information collected from the rig for on-demand retrieval; DataLink service provides direct connection interfaces for IT systems and analytics tools; Pason Live for monitoring rig operations in real-time using desktop computers or mobile devices; and daily and end-of-well KPI reports provide visual statistics on rig performance. It also provides Drilling intelligence to suggest drilling parameters, detect disfunction, and send event alerts to onsite personnel and remote engineers in real time; and Drilling automation, a reality across rig platforms. In addition, the company offers Pason Gas Analyzer for real-time gas measurement; a robust system of alarms and sensors to monitor ambient gasses in the atmosphere and in the drilling fluids; and Pason Pit Volume Totalizer to track the volumes, gains, and losses of drilling fluids on location. Further, it provides phone and chat support, field support, proactive monitoring, drilling optimization support, and office support for data integration services. The company serves E&P operators, drilling contractors, and other oilfield service companies. Pason Systems Inc. was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada.

Receive News & Ratings for Shawcor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shawcor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Atalaya Mining Plc (LON:ATYM  Get Rating) crossed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 335.59 ($4.20) and traded as low as GBX 320 ($4.00). Atalaya Mining shares last traded at GBX 324 ($4.05), with a volume of 86,976 shares changing hands.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on the company. Berenberg Bank decreased their price objective on Atalaya Mining from GBX 480 ($6.01) to GBX 450 ($5.63) and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Monday, May 15th. Canaccord Genuity Group reaffirmed a buy rating and set a GBX 600 ($7.51) price objective on shares of Atalaya Mining in a research report on Monday, May 15th.

Get Atalaya Mining alerts:

Atalaya Mining Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 14.42, a current ratio of 1.69 and a quick ratio of 1.64. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 335.39 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 338.78. The company has a market cap of 454.61 million, a PE ratio of 2,193.60, a P/E/G ratio of -2.02 and a beta of 1.70.

Atalaya Mining Company Profile

Atalaya Mining Plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the mineral exploration and development in Spain. The company's flagship property is its 100% owned Proyecto Riotinto mine, an open-pit copper mine located in the Andalusia region of Spain. It produces copper concentrates, including silver by-products.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Atalaya Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Atalaya Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Bank of New Hampshire lifted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating) by 1.0% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 23,881 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 240 shares during the quarter. Bank of New Hampshires holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $1,655,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in BMY. Cedar Brook Financial Partners LLC boosted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 21.0% during the 1st quarter. Cedar Brook Financial Partners LLC now owns 8,371 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $580,000 after purchasing an additional 1,451 shares during the period. Cacti Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Cacti Asset Management LLC now owns 36,450 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $2,526,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the period. Boltwood Capital Management boosted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 9.4% during the 1st quarter. Boltwood Capital Management now owns 3,488 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $242,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the period. Park National Corp OH boosted its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Park National Corp OH now owns 28,602 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,982,000 after purchasing an additional 166 shares during the period. Finally, GoalVest Advisory LLC acquired a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.51% of the companys stock.

Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts:

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Rupert Vessey sold 50,385 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.06, for a total value of $3,378,818.10. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 47,751 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,202,182.06. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance

Shares of NYSE BMY traded up $0.28 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $64.95. The company had a trading volume of 3,686,492 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,984,950. The company has a current ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10. The stock has a market cap of $136.45 billion, a PE ratio of 18.86, a P/E/G ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $67.27 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $70.42. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1-year low of $63.07 and a 1-year high of $81.43.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.98 by $0.07. The business had revenue of $11.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.50 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 51.75% and a net margin of 15.95%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.96 EPS. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Investors of record on Friday, July 7th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs payout ratio is 66.47%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently issued reports on BMY. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $78.00 to $72.00 in a research report on Friday, April 28th. StockNews.com began coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. 51job reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Bank of America lifted their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Barclays cut their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $66.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $78.62.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Profile

(Get Rating)

Bristol Myers Squibb Co engages in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of biopharmaceutical products. It offers chemically-synthesized drugs or small molecules and products produced from biological processes called biologics. The company was founded in August 1933 and is headquartered in New York, NY.

Featured Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Copper Mountain Mining Co. (OTCMKTS:CPPMF  Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 904,200 shares, an increase of 59.7% from the May 15th total of 566,200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 171,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 5.3 days.

Copper Mountain Mining Stock Up 3.2 %

CPPMF stock traded up $0.06 during trading on Friday, hitting $1.95. The stock had a trading volume of 90,015 shares, compared to its average volume of 66,903. The companys 50 day moving average price is $1.82 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $1.60. Copper Mountain Mining has a 1-year low of $0.92 and a 1-year high of $2.06. The company has a current ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36.

Get Copper Mountain Mining alerts:

Copper Mountain Mining (OTCMKTS:CPPMF  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, March 27th. The company reported ($0.07) EPS for the quarter. Copper Mountain Mining had a net margin of 7.31% and a negative return on equity of 8.02%. The company had revenue of $66.50 million for the quarter.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

About Copper Mountain Mining

A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Copper Mountain Mining from C$3.00 to C$2.75 in a report on Monday, May 1st. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Copper Mountain Mining from C$2.20 to C$2.60 in a report on Friday, April 14th. TD Securities cut shares of Copper Mountain Mining to a buy rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. Desjardins lowered shares of Copper Mountain Mining to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, National Bank Financial lowered their target price on shares of Copper Mountain Mining from C$2.65 to C$2.60 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $2.64.

(Get Rating)

Copper Mountain Mining Corp. engages in the exploration, development and operation of mineral deposits. It holds interest in Copper Mountain Mine, Eva Copper, New Ingerbelle, and Cameron Copper Projects. The company was founded on April 20, 2006 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Copper Mountain Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Copper Mountain Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
HEXO Corp. (NYSE:HEXO  Get Rating) has been given a consensus recommendation of Hold by the two brokerages that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation.

Separately, Roth Capital reissued a neutral rating on shares of HEXO in a research report on Tuesday, March 21st.

Get HEXO alerts:

HEXO Price Performance

Shares of HEXO opened at $0.77 on Friday. The businesss 50 day moving average is $1.18 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1.41. HEXO has a 52-week low of $0.73 and a 52-week high of $3.84. The firm has a market cap of $33.70 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.11 and a beta of 1.35.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

HEXO ( NYSE:HEXO Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, March 16th. The company reported ($0.19) earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.22) by $0.03. The company had revenue of $17.42 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $26.38 million. HEXO had a negative net margin of 217.60% and a negative return on equity of 64.50%. On average, equities analysts expect that HEXO will post -0.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Swiss National Bank lifted its position in shares of HEXO by 57.7% in the 1st quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 703,700 shares of the companys stock worth $433,000 after buying an additional 257,500 shares during the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its position in shares of HEXO by 181.5% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 138,732 shares of the companys stock worth $86,000 after buying an additional 89,441 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its position in shares of HEXO by 10.9% in the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 428,874 shares of the companys stock worth $266,000 after buying an additional 42,220 shares during the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC lifted its position in shares of HEXO by 91.9% in the 1st quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 430,007 shares of the companys stock worth $267,000 after buying an additional 205,943 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in shares of HEXO during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $796,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 9.50% of the companys stock.

About HEXO

(Get Rating

HEXO Corp. engages in the provision of cannabis and cannabis products. The company was founded by Sebastien St. Louis and Adam Miron on October 29, 2013 and is headquartered in Gatineau, Canada.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for HEXO Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for HEXO and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Bank of New Hampshire grew its stake in iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF (BATS:GVI  Get Rating) by 0.3% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 77,962 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 264 shares during the quarter. iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF accounts for approximately 2.4% of Bank of New Hampshires portfolio, making the stock its 5th biggest position. Bank of New Hampshires holdings in iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF were worth $8,146,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Horizon Bancorp Inc. IN purchased a new position in shares of iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $62,363,000. United Capital Financial Advisers LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF by 73.0% in the 4th quarter. United Capital Financial Advisers LLC now owns 256,185 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,249,000 after buying an additional 108,130 shares during the period. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 247,180 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,326,000 after buying an additional 3,474 shares during the period. Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF by 9.4% in the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 222,176 shares of the companys stock valued at $22,764,000 after buying an additional 19,090 shares during the period. Finally, First Citizens Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF in the 4th quarter valued at about $22,432,000.

Get iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF alerts:

iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF Stock Performance

Shares of GVI traded up $0.36 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $103.39. The company had a trading volume of 611,155 shares. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $104.14 and a 200-day moving average price of $103.71.

About iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF

The iShares Intermediate Government\u002FCredit Bond ETF (GVI) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks a market-value-weighted index of US Treasury, agency and investment-grade corporate bonds with remaining maturities of 1-10 years. GVI was launched on Jan 5, 2007 and is managed by BlackRock.

Featured Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GVI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF (BATS:GVI  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Intermediate Government/Credit Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Pictet North America Advisors SA boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI Australia ETF (NYSEARCA:EWA  Get Rating) by 17.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 26,033 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after acquiring an additional 3,933 shares during the quarter. Pictet North America Advisors SAs holdings in iShares MSCI Australia ETF were worth $579,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of EWA. CreativeOne Wealth LLC raised its holdings in iShares MSCI Australia ETF by 81.9% during the 4th quarter. CreativeOne Wealth LLC now owns 22,968 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $511,000 after buying an additional 10,343 shares during the period. DRW Securities LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI Australia ETF during the 4th quarter worth about $1,778,000. Jane Street Group LLC raised its holdings in iShares MSCI Australia ETF by 521.9% during the 4th quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 4,883,495 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $108,560,000 after buying an additional 4,098,183 shares during the period. Toroso Investments LLC acquired a new stake in iShares MSCI Australia ETF during the 4th quarter worth about $659,000. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in iShares MSCI Australia ETF by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 937,322 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $20,837,000 after buying an additional 20,515 shares during the period. 60.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Get iShares MSCI Australia ETF alerts:

iShares MSCI Australia ETF Stock Performance

NYSEARCA EWA opened at $23.23 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $22.89 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $23.10. iShares MSCI Australia ETF has a 1 year low of $19.19 and a 1 year high of $25.22.

About iShares MSCI Australia ETF

iShares MSCI Australia ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI Australia Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, of publicly traded securities in the Australian market, as represented by the MSCI Australia Index (the Index).

See Also

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EWA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI Australia ETF (NYSEARCA:EWA  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Australia ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Australia ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
John Wood Group PLC (LON:WG  Get Rating) insider David Kemp acquired 3,237 shares of John Wood Group stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 15th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 130 ($1.63) per share, with a total value of 4,208.10 ($5,265.39).

David Kemp also recently made the following trade(s):

Get John Wood Group alerts:

On Monday, June 12th, David Kemp sold 14,883 shares of John Wood Group stock. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 135 ($1.69), for a total transaction of 20,092.05 ($25,140.20).

On Thursday, April 20th, David Kemp acquired 1,871 shares of John Wood Group stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 226 ($2.83) per share, with a total value of 4,228.46 ($5,290.87).

John Wood Group Stock Performance

WG traded down GBX 2 ($0.03) during trading on Friday, hitting GBX 130 ($1.63). The stock had a trading volume of 2,842,168 shares, compared to its average volume of 530,810. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 34.13, a quick ratio of 0.75 and a current ratio of 0.90. The firm has a market capitalization of 899.39 million, a P/E ratio of -159.04, a PEG ratio of 0.33 and a beta of 1.49. The companys 50-day moving average price is GBX 182.59 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 168.52. John Wood Group PLC has a twelve month low of GBX 102.05 ($1.28) and a twelve month high of GBX 228.66 ($2.86).

Analyst Ratings Changes

About John Wood Group

WG has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of John Wood Group to a hold rating and upped their price target for the company from GBX 190 ($2.38) to GBX 237 ($2.97) in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of John Wood Group in a research note on Tuesday, May 16th. Finally, Berenberg Bank reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 165 ($2.06) price objective on shares of John Wood Group in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of GBX 209.80 ($2.63).

(Get Rating)

John Wood Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides consulting, project management, and engineering solutions to energy and built environment worldwide. It operates through Projects, Operations, Consulting, and Investment Services segments. The Projects segment provides engineering design and project management services across energy and materials markets including oil and gas, chemicals, mining, minerals, and life sciences.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for John Wood Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for John Wood Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
The most you can lose on any stock (assuming you don't use leverage) is 100% of your money. But on the bright side, you can make far more than 100% on a really good stock. For example, the Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE:ABG) share price has soared 204% in the last half decade. Most would be very happy with that. It's also good to see the share price up 17% over the last quarter. But this could be related to the strong market, which is up 13% in the last three months.

Now it's worth having a look at the company's fundamentals too, because that will help us determine if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business.

View our latest analysis for Asbury Automotive Group

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.

Over half a decade, Asbury Automotive Group managed to grow its earnings per share at 44% a year. This EPS growth is higher than the 25% average annual increase in the share price. So it seems the market isn't so enthusiastic about the stock these days. The reasonably low P/E ratio of 5.24 also suggests market apprehension.

You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).

It is of course excellent to see how Asbury Automotive Group has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. This free interactive report on Asbury Automotive Group's balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

A Different Perspective

It's good to see that Asbury Automotive Group has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 46% in the last twelve months. That gain is better than the annual TSR over five years, which is 25%. Therefore it seems like sentiment around the company has been positive lately. Given the share price momentum remains strong, it might be worth taking a closer look at the stock, lest you miss an opportunity. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Asbury Automotive Group better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Asbury Automotive Group you should know about.

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

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.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
M&R Capital Management Inc. trimmed its position in Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX  Get Rating) by 5.2% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 7,240 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after selling 400 shares during the quarter. M&R Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Baxter International were worth $294,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Amundi grew its position in shares of Baxter International by 22.7% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 3,944,914 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $179,257,000 after buying an additional 729,426 shares during the period. Cooke & Bieler LP grew its holdings in Baxter International by 81.9% during the 4th quarter. Cooke & Bieler LP now owns 2,536,265 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $129,273,000 after acquiring an additional 1,142,000 shares during the period. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. raised its position in shares of Baxter International by 4.7% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. now owns 2,286,717 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $123,163,000 after acquiring an additional 103,076 shares during the last quarter. Coho Partners Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of Baxter International in the 4th quarter valued at $100,525,000. Finally, Cincinnati Financial Corp boosted its position in shares of Baxter International by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. Cincinnati Financial Corp now owns 1,617,648 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $82,452,000 after purchasing an additional 54,000 shares during the last quarter. 84.84% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Get Baxter International alerts:

Insider Transactions at Baxter International

In related news, Director Albert P. L. Stroucken sold 3,930 shares of Baxter International stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $37.52, for a total value of $147,453.60. Following the sale, the director now owns 36,835 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,382,049.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.21% of the companys stock.

Baxter International Stock Up 1.6 %

Shares of Baxter International stock traded up $0.71 during trading on Friday, reaching $45.17. The stock had a trading volume of 812,886 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,999,544. The company has a current ratio of 1.70, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.57. The company has a market capitalization of $22.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -9.11, a P/E/G ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 0.56. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $43.36 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $44.40. Baxter International Inc. has a 52 week low of $37.35 and a 52 week high of $67.42.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.59 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.48 by $0.11. Baxter International had a negative net margin of 16.34% and a positive return on equity of 24.29%. The company had revenue of $3.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.60 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.93 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 1.6% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Baxter International Inc. will post 2.91 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Baxter International Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 2nd will be given a dividend of $0.29 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 1st. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.57%. Baxter Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -23.77%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on BAX shares. KeyCorp increased their target price on Baxter International from $52.00 to $53.00 in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Baxter International from $54.00 to $58.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on shares of Baxter International from $40.00 to $50.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. UBS Group began coverage on shares of Baxter International in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. They issued a neutral rating and a $43.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of Baxter International from $45.00 to $54.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Baxter International currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $52.38.

About Baxter International

(Get Rating)

Baxter International, Inc engages in the provision of a portfolio of essential healthcare products including acute and chronic dialysis therapies, sterile intravenous (IV) solutions, infusion systems and devices, parenteral nutrition therapies, inhaled anesthetics, generic injectable pharmaceuticals, surgical hemostat and sealant products, surgical equipment, smart bed systems, patient monitoring and diagnostic technologies, and respiratory health devices.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Baxter International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Baxter International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR  Get Rating)  Analysts at Zacks Research boosted their Q2 2023 EPS estimates for AptarGroup in a report released on Monday, June 12th. Zacks Research analyst M. Das now forecasts that the industrial products company will post earnings of $1.12 per share for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $1.11. The consensus estimate for AptarGroups current full-year earnings is $4.17 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for AptarGroups Q3 2023 earnings at $0.96 EPS, Q4 2023 earnings at $0.93 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $3.96 EPS, Q1 2024 earnings at $1.03 EPS, Q2 2024 earnings at $1.14 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $1.06 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $4.27 EPS.

Get AptarGroup alerts:

AptarGroup (NYSE:ATR  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 28th. The industrial products company reported $0.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.05. AptarGroup had a net margin of 6.94% and a return on equity of 12.53%. The company had revenue of $860.07 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $829.92 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.96 EPS. The firms revenue was up 1.8% on a year-over-year basis.

AptarGroup Stock Performance

ATR has been the topic of several other research reports. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of AptarGroup from $132.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of AptarGroup from $121.00 to $132.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 21st. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of AptarGroup in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of AptarGroup from $115.00 to $125.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on shares of AptarGroup from $130.00 to $134.00 in a research note on Monday, May 1st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $131.33.

Shares of ATR stock opened at $116.05 on Wednesday. AptarGroup has a one year low of $90.23 and a one year high of $122.50. The companys 50-day moving average is $117.68 and its 200 day moving average is $114.17. The company has a market capitalization of $7.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.95 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 1.42.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On AptarGroup

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of ATR. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in AptarGroup in the first quarter valued at about $2,144,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp purchased a new position in shares of AptarGroup during the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in AptarGroup in the first quarter worth $30,000. 1832 Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in AptarGroup in the first quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Machina Capital S.A.S. acquired a new position in shares of AptarGroup during the first quarter valued at about $31,000. 89.37% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at AptarGroup

In other AptarGroup news, insider Marc Prieur sold 6,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.00, for a total transaction of $714,000.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 25,028 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,978,332. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock.

AptarGroup Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 25th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 4th were issued a $0.38 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 3rd. This represents a $1.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.31%. AptarGroups dividend payout ratio is presently 43.80%.

About AptarGroup

(Get Rating)

AptarGroup, Inc engages in the design, manufacture, drug delivery, consumer product dispensing, sealing and active packaging solutions, and services for the prescription drug, consumer health care, injectable, active packaging, beauty, personal care, home care, and food and beverages industries. It operates through the following segments: Pharma, Beauty and Home, and Food and Beverage.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for AptarGroup Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AptarGroup and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Victory Capital Management Inc. trimmed its stake in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK  Get Rating) by 10.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,558,224 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 411,924 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Graphic Packaging were worth $79,170,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Accurate Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in Graphic Packaging in the 4th quarter worth $34,000. Belpointe Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging during the 4th quarter valued at about $45,000. IFP Advisors Inc boosted its position in shares of Graphic Packaging by 1,275.3% during the 3rd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 2,668 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $54,000 after acquiring an additional 2,474 shares in the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. boosted its position in shares of Graphic Packaging by 22.3% during the 4th quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 2,810 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $63,000 after acquiring an additional 513 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CWM LLC boosted its position in shares of Graphic Packaging by 39.2% during the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 3,282 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $73,000 after acquiring an additional 924 shares in the last quarter. 94.47% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Get Graphic Packaging alerts:

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Graphic Packaging news, CFO Stephen R. Scherger sold 160,492 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.81, for a total value of $4,142,298.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 427,548 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,035,013.88. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.20% of the companys stock.

Graphic Packaging Trading Up 1.4 %

Shares of NYSE GPK opened at $26.18 on Friday. Graphic Packaging Holding has a 1-year low of $19.08 and a 1-year high of $27.56. The company has a market cap of $8.04 billion, a PE ratio of 13.09, a P/E/G ratio of 0.34 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a current ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.36. The company has a 50-day moving average of $25.26 and a two-hundred day moving average of $23.93.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK  Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The industrial products company reported $0.77 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.62 by $0.15. Graphic Packaging had a net margin of 6.46% and a return on equity of 38.99%. The company had revenue of $2.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.40 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.48 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 8.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 3.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Graphic Packaging Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 5th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be paid a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.53%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 14th. Graphic Packagings dividend payout ratio is presently 20.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

GPK has been the topic of several recent research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Graphic Packaging in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Mizuho lifted their target price on shares of Graphic Packaging from $30.00 to $31.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Raymond James lifted their price target on shares of Graphic Packaging from $29.00 to $30.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on shares of Graphic Packaging from $28.00 to $30.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, Seaport Res Ptn reissued a buy rating on shares of Graphic Packaging in a report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $29.25.

Graphic Packaging Profile

(Get Rating)

Graphic Packaging Holding Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides fiber-based packaging solutions to food, beverage, foodservice, and other consumer products companies. It operates through three segments: Paperboard Mills, Americas Paperboard Packaging, and Europe Paperboard Packaging. The company offers coated unbleached kraft (CUK), coated recycled paperboard (CRB), and solid bleached sulfate paperboard (SBS) to various paperboard packaging converters and brokers; and paperboard packaging products, such as folding cartons, cups, lids, and food containers primarily to consumer packaged goods, quick-service restaurants, and foodservice companies; and barrier packaging products that protect against moisture, hot and cold temperature, grease, oil, oxygen, sunlight, insects, and other potential product-damaging factors.

Recommended Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GPK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for Graphic Packaging Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Graphic Packaging and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Aldebaran Financial Inc. lessened its stake in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM  Get Rating) by 0.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 18,699 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 123 shares during the quarter. Waste Management makes up about 3.2% of Aldebaran Financial Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th largest position. Aldebaran Financial Inc.s holdings in Waste Management were worth $2,933,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. LWM Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in Waste Management by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. LWM Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,966 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $315,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its stake in Waste Management by 3.8% in the 4th quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 1,876 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $294,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares during the period. Financial Advocates Investment Management grew its stake in Waste Management by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Financial Advocates Investment Management now owns 4,055 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $650,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares during the period. Brooks Moore & Associates Inc. grew its stake in Waste Management by 5.2% in the 4th quarter. Brooks Moore & Associates Inc. now owns 1,388 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $218,000 after acquiring an additional 69 shares during the period. Finally, Hudock Inc. grew its stake in Waste Management by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Hudock Inc. now owns 2,351 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $369,000 after acquiring an additional 73 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.48% of the companys stock.

Get Waste Management alerts:

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on WM shares. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Waste Management from $158.00 to $167.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Waste Management in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Citigroup raised their price objective on Waste Management from $180.00 to $186.00 in a report on Sunday, April 30th. 51job restated a maintains rating on shares of Waste Management in a report on Thursday, April 27th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upgraded Waste Management from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their price objective for the company from $171.00 to $177.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $176.64.

Waste Management Stock Up 1.1 %

NYSE WM opened at $164.20 on Friday. Waste Management, Inc. has a 52 week low of $138.89 and a 52 week high of $175.98. The company has a quick ratio of 0.83, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.21. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $164.94 and its 200-day simple moving average is $159.29. The firm has a market cap of $66.80 billion, a PE ratio of 30.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 0.73.

Waste Management (NYSE:WM  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The business services provider reported $1.31 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.29 by $0.02. Waste Management had a return on equity of 33.23% and a net margin of 11.33%. The business had revenue of $4.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.86 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.29 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Waste Management, Inc. will post 6.03 earnings per share for the current year.

Waste Management Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 16th. Investors of record on Friday, June 2nd will be issued a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 1st. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.71%. Waste Managements dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 51.28%.

Waste Management Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Waste Management, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of waste management environmental services. It operates through the following segments: East Tier, West Tier, and Other. The East Tier segment consists of Eastern U.S., the Great Lakes Region, and Canada. The West Tier segment includes the upper Midwest region and British Columbia, Canada.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for Waste Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Waste Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
The worst result, after buying shares in a company (assuming no leverage), would be if you lose all the money you put in. But when you pick a company that is really flourishing, you can make more than 100%. To wit, the Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) share price has flown 126% in the last three years. Most would be happy with that. It's down 2.1% in the last seven days.

Let's take a look at the underlying fundamentals over the longer term, and see if they've been consistent with shareholders returns.

Check out our latest analysis for Exxon Mobil

While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

Exxon Mobil was able to grow its EPS at 79% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. The average annual share price increase of 31% is actually lower than the EPS growth. So it seems investors have become more cautious about the company, over time. We'd venture the lowish P/E ratio of 6.94 also reflects the negative sentiment around the stock.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

We know that Exxon Mobil has improved its bottom line over the last three years, but what does the future have in store? If you are thinking of buying or selling Exxon Mobil stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet.

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. 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. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, Exxon Mobil's TSR for the last 3 years was 164%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence!

A Different Perspective

Exxon Mobil shareholders have received returns of 20% over twelve months (even including dividends), which isn't far from the general market return. Most would be happy with a gain, and it helps that the year's return is actually better than the average return over five years, which was 11%. It is possible that management foresight will bring growth well into the future, even if the share price slows down. 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 Exxon Mobil .

If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

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.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
President Bola Tinubu is currently in closed-door meeting with a former Niger Delta agitator, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

While the agenda of the meeting is not made public, it is suspected not to be unconnected with the Presidents ongoing consultations with opinion leaders from the Niger Delta part of the country.

It would be recalled that President Tinubu had, during the week, met with some other key figures from the region, including former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Timi Alaibe, and former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). Dr Dakuku Peterside.
There is no denying the fact that since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was inaugurated as Nigerias President on May 29, 2023, that whenever he speaks, the people listen. More so, particularly when the speech is aimed at addressing the issue of corruption that has remained the bane of the country. Without a doubt, corruption has remained a bane that seems intractable from one political dispensation to the other. Without a doubt, the newly elected president has unarguably hit the ground running as he has been climbing up the dais and speaking against the issue. Given the foregoing scenario, it will not be mistaken to say that so did President Muhammadu Buhari, the immediate past president demonstrated his readiness to give his best, unfortunately not a few Nigerians are saying that his best was not enough.

In fact, what the immediate past president left behind were, glaringly, broken promises. It will be recalled that his mantra, whenever he mounted the soap box, was his resolve to root out corruption. He for the umpteenth time pledged to cripple it during the 2015 electioneering with his well-known refrain: If we dont kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. Sadly, the epidemic became so contagious that some argue that it reached fairly overwhelming proportions.

Without a doubt, each time he spoke about corruption, he was wont to seek peoples cooperation to take on the corrupt including the big-wigs. If I may ask, What has prevented him from doing this all through his eight years in power?

However, it is obvious that there is light at the end of the tunnel as President Tinubu is already fighting to nip corruption in the bud just as he promised during his campaign, and has reiteratively assured Nigerians that he will fight the monster called corruption during his inauguration as Nigerias president even as he has since then put his promise into practice.

It is expedient to recall that during his campaign that he promised to fight corruption by focusing more on preventive measures if elected as president in the 2023 election, saying that part of his strategy would be putting a system for effective wealth redistribution in place, to greatly reduce the temptation to commit corruption. He particularly made the foregoing disclosure during a discussion with the Arewa Joint Committee in Kaduna in October last year.

According to him, the socio-economic challenges the country faces are deeply rooted in corruption, noting that Nigeria ranked 154th out of 180 nations assessed in the latest Transparency Internationals 2021 Corruption Perception Index (CPI).

In as much as leaders have been either fighting corruption or have been victims of it for decades, and still appears as if it has been accepted as a feature of life, President seems poised as he has taken steps that show he is battle-ready for the fight against corruption. For instance, a few days ago, he suspended Mr. Godwin Emefiele as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, and on Wednesday night, he in the same vein suspended the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa from office. The suspension was made known through a terse statement issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Given the body language of President Tinubu, since he literarily hit the ground running, it can be fathomed from the foregoing views that he is poised to sanitize the entire sectors of the economy. If the foregoing conjecture is factual enough, then it cannot be wrong to urge him to work with the National Assembly toward sanitizing the countrys electoral process. The reason for the foregoing call cannot be farfetched as given the inanities that characterized the last general and presidential elections, from which he paradoxically benefitted, there is an urgent need for the president, INEC, and the National Assembly to work together in ensuring that the electoral system is refined and sanitized so that the best electoral environment in Nigeria can be engendered in the country.

The reason for urging the newly sworn-in president to sanitize Nigerias electoral landscape is that the last general and presidential election conducted under the watchful eyes of Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was widely assessed to be ridden by corruption.

At this juncture, permit this writer to opine that the exigency of sanitizing INEC cannot be pooh-poohed as doing that will further deepen the fact that elections are a central feature of democracy and that for elections to express the will of the electorate, they must be free and fair.

For the sake of clarity, Free means that all those entitled to vote have the right to be registered and to vote and must be free to make their choice. In Nigeria, every citizen over the age of 18 is entitled to vote, and an election is considered free when you can decide whether or not to vote and vote freely for the candidate or party of your choice without fear or intimidation. Not only that, a free election is also one where you are confident that who you vote for remains your secret.

Furthermore, Fair means that all registered political parties have an equal right to contest the elections, campaign for voter support, and hold meetings and rallies. This gives them a fair chance to convince voters to vote for them. A fair election is also one in which all voters have an equal opportunity to register, where all votes are counted, and where the announced results reflect the actual vote totals.
Key Insights

The projected fair value for Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima is US$12.84 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima is estimated to be 50% undervalued based on current share price of US$6.42

Our fair value estimate is 47% higher than Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima's analyst price target of AR$8.71

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima (NYSE:LOMA) as an investment opportunity by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example!

Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

See our latest analysis for Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima

Step By Step Through The Calculation

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (ARS, Millions) AR$58.5b AR$61.0b AR$77.1b AR$99.2b AR$116.5b AR$129.2b AR$139.9b AR$148.9b AR$156.6b AR$163.2b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 10.94% Est @ 8.29% Est @ 6.43% Est @ 5.14% Est @ 4.23% Present Value (ARS, Millions) Discounted @ 27% AR$46.2k AR$38.0k AR$37.8k AR$38.4k AR$35.5k AR$31.1k AR$26.6k AR$22.3k AR$18.5k AR$15.2k

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AR$310b

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 2.1%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 27%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032  (1 + g)  (r  g) = AR$163b (1 + 2.1%)  (27% 2.1%) = AR$675b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AR$675b ( 1 + 27%)10= AR$63b

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is AR$372b. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of US$6.4, the company appears quite good value at a 50% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

dcf

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. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima 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 27%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.926. 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 Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima

Strength

Debt is well covered by cash flow.

Dividend is in the top 25% of dividend payers in the market.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

Interest payments on debt are not well covered.

Opportunity

Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the American market.

Good value based on P/S ratio and estimated fair value.

Threat

Dividends are not covered by earnings.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima, we've compiled three pertinent elements you should look at:

Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Loma Negra Compania Industrial Argentina Sociedad Anonima you should know about. Future Earnings: How does LOMA'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 High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every American stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
BCCT Multi-Chamber Phuket Evening

Start From: Thursday 13 July 2023 06:00 PM to Thursday 13 July 2023 09:00 PM Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. Sun.

Medical Tourism - What value does it bring to the Phuket economy? Medical Tourism is the growth sector that everyone is talking about. How will it help boost the Phuket economy? The British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) is bring together industry leaders to explain the what, the why and how Medical Tourism can help Phuket as a whole. Join us on Thursday 13th July at the Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town from 6pm. Tickets for BCCT/partner members THB 500 net and guests THB 1,000 net. This includes free flow selected beverages and a light dinner. Book now by emailing events@bccthai.com
DSI raids Phuket accountants over B440mn in nominee companies

PHUKET: The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has raided a legal accounting firm based in Chalong that is now under investigation for its involvement in facilitating nearly 70 foreigners illegally operating companies with holdings worth an estimated total of B440 million.

propertycrime

By The Phuket News

Friday 16 June 2023 11:32 AM

DSI Director General Pol Maj Suriya Singhakamol was in Phuket yesterday (June 15) to lead the raid at 10:30am.

While none of the official reports of the raid identified the law firm raided, photos posted with one official report clearly identified the office as ST Accounting Plus Solutions, located on Chao Fa East Rd in Moo 8 Chalong.

The office is located in a small shop/office complex about one kilometre north of Chalong Circle, and right next door to the Mueang Phuket 2 Area Revenue Branch Office.

The owner of the company is a Thai woman with a British husband. There are about 40 employees and officers in the company, said one official report of the raid.

Joining the raid was Thawewat Surasit, Director of the DSIs Bureau of Financial and Banking and Money Laundering Crime.

Present to enforce the raid were officials from the Department of Business Development and police from the Institute of Forensic Science.

Maj Suriya explained to the press that three offices of the company were raided, with boxes of files seized as evidence. Photos taken during the raid showed that among the evidence seized was a pile of passports.

Maj Suriya told the press that almost 70 foreigners were found to be involved in the companies under investigation for using nominee shareholders to illegally allow foreigners to control such companies.

He said the practice of using nominee shareholders was illegal under the Foreign Business Act and brought much economic harm to the country.

In total, 44 real estate companies, eight tourism companies and 14 other service companies, were under investigation, Maj Suriya confirmed.

Each of the 44 real estate companies has real estate holdings to the value of B10-20 million, which is equivalent to approximately B440mn in real estate sales business, he said.

Accordingly, from the evidence found and as a result of previous investigations, we have found that the law firm set up almost 100 companies for foreigners, of which about 44 companies are related to land, Mr Suriya said.

Most of the customers are Russians. Each company carries out some of the business activities that are prohibited for foreigners, such as the possession of real estate or land or occupying and renting or trading [real estate], he added.

There is also evidence of foreigners working in occupations that are also prohibited, he said. The investigation also found [the company] has been operating for over 15 years but has never been raided.

This type of offence is widespread in Phuket, Chiang Mai and tourist areas in the east, and is an area of high value. Foreigners have come to rely on this method of acquiring or possessing high-value land, which causes the state to lose a lot of revenue due to land trading through a nominee company, not normal trading, Maj Suriya said.

Maj Suriya said that the root cause of the wrongdoing comes from law firms that prepare the accounts. It is the starting point to persuade some foreigners to believe [that the practice is legal]. Meanwhile, some people already know that it is illegal, and come to use the services of a law firm in submitting a company registration, he said.

This results in the right to occupy and hold the land as well as real estate and other mutually beneficial businesses as well, he added.

DAMAGE DONE

Officers had yet to determine the extent of the damage done by the companies under investigation for using nominee shareholders, Maj Suriya said.

Such companies were prone to tax evasion by not reporting transactions, he said.

According to the regulations, there will be various taxes and fees [on transactions] of approximately 10% on each purchase. Especially in provinces where land is highly valued, foreigners trade by changing shareholders to avoid paying taxes. Most of the problems that follow are that the land will belong to foreigners, he said.

The state loses taxes and fees in conducting these transactions. Through the Land Office alone, which requires about 8% each time [with each land transaction], the state has lost about B35mn in revenue from fees.

With a large volume of land transactions going unreported to the Land Office, the state could have lost revenues totalling as much as B200mn, Maj Suriya said.

MORE ACTION

Following the raid, Maj Suriya together with Mr Taweewat met with Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan at Phuket Provincial Hall at 3pm yesterday.

There are guidelines to consider for both prevention and suppression [of companies using nominee shareholders] in order to reduce the economic damage caused by the business of foreign companies in the form of nominees, Maj Suriya said.

There is a policy for officials to expedite the suppression to all provinces throughout Thailand because of such cases. It is a matter that seriously affects the stability and economic system of the country. It cuts off business opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs, he added.

From the discussions, Phuket [provincial officials] will work with the business sector, such as the provincial chamber of commerce to hold a seminar so that [business] operators understand the nature of foreign business operations and comply with Thai law., the DSI noted in its own report of the raid.

The Department of Special Investigation is to also take part in the aforementioned forum, the DSI report noted.
Islam Bank burglar arrested, confesses to more crimes

PHUKET: The man who broke into the Islam Bank branch on Yaowarat Rd in Phuket Town but left empty-handed after triggering the alarm has been tracked down and arrested by the police. The suspect, identified as Somchai Sae-In, 44, later confessed to a series of other more successful crimes.



By The Phuket News

Friday 16 June 2023 09:26 AM

Mr Somchai confessed to committing six bruglaries withing three weeks, from May 22 to June 13. Photo: PR Phuket

Mr Somchai confessed to committing six bruglaries withing three weeks, from May 22 to June 13. Photo: PR Phuket

Mr Somchai confessed to committing six bruglaries withing three weeks, from May 22 to June 13. Photo: PR Phuket

Mr Somchai confessed to committing six bruglaries withing three weeks, from May 22 to June 13. Photo: PR Phuket

Mr Somchai confessed to committing six bruglaries withing three weeks, from May 22 to June 13. Photo: PR Phuket

Phuket Police Chief Gen Maj Sermphan Sirikong announced the arrest of Mr Somchai at a press conference held yesterday (June 15) at Phuket City Police Station.

During the press conference, details of two cases were revealed  the theft of a Ford Everest from a Finnish man in Koh Kaew (read here) and the burglaries on Yaowarat Rd, namely the Islam Bank and Siam Bakery break ins on June 5.

As reported by The Phuket News last week, an unknown suspect, now identified as Mr Somchai, broke into Siam Bakery and Islam Bank on Yaowarat Rd in the early hours of June 5. The suspect entered both properties through their roofs and descended using a rope.

At Siam Bakery, the burglar stole a bluetooth speaker and B630 in cash. At the Islam Bank branch, he triggered the alarm and fled the scene without taking any valuables.

As part of their investigation, Phuket City Police officers studied CCTV footages and identified Mr Somchai as the primary suspect through the motorclyce he used.

On Tuesday (June 13), officers located and arrested him at a hotel in Phuket Town where he was staying. Seized in the arrest were a 9mm pistol, six rounds of ammunition, several thousand baht in cash, black gloves, and other pieces of evidence.

Mr Somchai, a native of Betong in Yala province, confessed that he arrived in Phuket in May and had committed a total of six burglaries since then.

In addition to the Islam Bank branch and Siam Bakery on June 5, Mr Somchai admitted to breaking into a khanom jeen shop on May 22, a motorcycle repair shop on May 28, a gold shop on June 11, and a massage parlor on June 13. Five of the places were in Phuket Town while the motorcycle shop was in Wichit, according to the map shown at the press conference.

When questioned by Phuket City Police investigators, Mr Somchai revealed that he used various methods to intrude the properties, which were described in the reports of the press conference as "Spiderman style." These methods included entering through roofs, second-floor balconies, or windows.

Mr Somchai now faces multiple charges, including burglary at night, possession of a firearm without permission, and possession of ammunition without permission.
Kremlin: Australia blocking new embassy Russophobic

MOSCOW: Russia yesterday (June 15) blasted Australias decision to block Russia from building a new embassy after intelligence officials warned it posed a security threat.

RussianUkrainepolitics

By AFP

Friday 16 June 2023 09:33 AM

Russia currently holds the lease for a parcel of land near Parliament House in Australias capital Canberra where it has plans to build a new embassy. Photo: AFP

To our regret, Australia diligently continues to follow the path created by the authors of the Russophobic hysteria, which is now active in the countries of the collective West, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said yesterday that the Australian government would block the construction of a new Russian embassy near the countrys parliament, citing threats to national security.

Russia currently holds the lease for a parcel of land near Parliament House in Australias capital Canberra, where it had planned to locate a new embassy building.

Albanese said that after receiving advice from intelligence agencies, new laws would be introduced to block the development on national security grounds.

The government has received very clear security advice as to the risk posed by a new Russian presence so close to Parliament House, he told reporters.

We are acting quickly to ensure the lease site does not become a formal diplomatic presence.

The new laws, which have secured bipartisan support, do not stop Russia from having a diplomatic footprint in Australia - only from building its embassy so close to the parliament.

Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil described the site as directly adjacent to the parliamentary buildings.

The principal problem with the proposed second Russian embassy in Canberra is its location, she said.

The government has received clear national security advice that this would be a threat to our national security and that is why the government is acting decisively today to bring this longstanding matter to a close.

Albanese said he expected some blowback from Russias diplomats in Australia, who have previously threatened to fight the case through the courts.

We will await what response occurs, but we have anticipated that as well, he said.

We dont expect Russia is in a position to talk about international law, given their rejection of it so consistently and so brazenly with their invasion of Ukraine.

Russias embassy has previously declared that it was committed to completing the construction, despite Australias objections.

Agreement terminated

With relations between the two countries souring at the onset of Russias invasion of Ukraine, the Australian government has been scrambling to have the agreement scrapped.

Russia acquired the lease to the site in 2008 through an agreement with the National Capital Authority, an agency of the federal government.

It was granted building approval to construct its new embassy in 2011.

The government has been forced to intervene after failing to have the lease cancelled through other legal avenues.

In August last year, the government announced it was terminating the lease because Russia had broken aspects of its building approval.

That argument was thrown out by the federal court last month, prompting the governments pivot to national security legislation.

The bill is straightforward, ONeil said.

It identifies a specific piece of land in Canberra which currently has a lease agreement between the National Capital Authority and the Russian Federation - and it terminates that agreement.
Lifesaving contributions praised as Phuket marks World Blood Donor Day

PHUKET: The Phuket chapter of the Red Cross Society of Thailand and relevant authorities organised an event to thank people for donating blood for medical needs. The event was held on World Blood Donor Day, celebrated worldwide on June 14.

charityhealth

By The Phuket News

Friday 16 June 2023 01:59 PM

The Phuket edition of the worldwide event was held on Wednesday (June 14) at the Royal Phuket City Hotel in Thailand. Welcoming blood donors at the event was Naiyana Yodrabam, Vice President of Phuket Red Cross Society which operates the Phuket Regional Blood Center (Phuket RBC), one of the two main blood banks in Phuket.

Miss Thailand Phuket 2023 Passanan Tadam and Miss Thailand Phang Nga Warisara Angkitanon joined Ms Naiyana to express gratitude to Thai and foreign blood donors.

The event was held under the motivational slogan of "Give blood, give plasma, share life, share often." All donors attending the event received commemorative t-shirts. Special souvenirs were handed out to donors who have completed over 10 donations, and brooches of honor were awarded to individuals with 96, 84, 72, 60, and 48 donations.

During her speech at the event, Ms Naiyana encouraged people to donate blood on a regular basis, as a stable inflow is crucial in maintaining sufficient supplies for medical use. She also reminded attendees that Phuket shares donated blood with other provinces when they need it for transfusions.

Although not mentioned in the official report of the event, it is worth noting that people with all blood types are welcome at the donation points, but Rh-negative blood is particularly in high demand, as it is very rarely found among Thais.

People can donate blood every day, including weekends and public holidays, at the Blood Bank on the 4th floor of Vachira Phuket Hospital and at the Phuket RBC in Phuket Town. For more details, click here.

Vachira Phuket Hospital and the Phuket RBC also organize mobile clinics every month, allowing people to donate near their places of residence or work.
An electric vehicle of the Italian startup Aehra is seen in this undated handout image

Italian EV startup Aehra unveils new premium sedan An electric vehicle of the Italian startup Aehra is seen in this undated handout image

By Giulio Piovaccari

MILAN (Reuters) - Italian electric-vehicle startup Aehra on Friday unveiled its new, European-made sedan which will serve the high-premium market segment and which joins the firm's sport-utility vehicle which was first displayed late last year.

Both models will start production in 2026, Aehra said. They will be priced in the 160,000 to 180,000 euros range ($175,000 to $197,000), placing them in what Aehra's co-founder and CEO, Hazim Nada, termed the "high premium and luxury" segment.

"When it comes to that segment, people are not yet ready for Chinese or American brands. Europe is still the reference," Nada, a 40-year-old Italian-American, told Reuters.

The new sedan follows Aehra's electric SUV which was unveiled in November 2022. Both will have a top speed of 265 kmph and a range of more than 800 km, Aehra said.

First deliveries are expected in 2026, beginning in key markets including the U.S., Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom. Aehra plans to open preorders next year.

Nada said full-scale production should occur in late 2027, with an annual production target of 25,000 vehicles for each model.

Both vehicles are so-called native EVs, which means most of the design is a new development and not based on a previous internal-combustion platform.

Aehra, whose chief design officer and chief engineer were formerly at Lamborghini and Ferrari, respectively, has said it plans a total investment of 750 million euros.

Aehra is still assessing options for assembly. The preferred one, at least in the short term, is to rely on a large contract manufacturer, either in central or northern Europe, Nada said.

Another option is to start a new facility in Italy or buy and refurbish an existing one, but that would be possible only if backed by state funds, Nada said.

"We see a decision on this around the end of this year."

Aehra is working on its supply chain, and recently clinched a deal with Austria's Miba Battery Systems for 120 KWh custom NMC (nickel manganese cobalt) batteries, Nada said.

($1 = 0.9264 euro)

(Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari in Milan; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
Police mediate Russian-American conflict in Phuket condo

PHUKET: Officers from the Phuket branch of the Tourist Police Bureau showcased their conflict-mitigation skills by resolving a dispute between tourists from the USA and Russia in a Phuket condominium project.

Russiantourismpolice

By The Phuket News

Friday 16 June 2023 03:46 PM

A Tourist Police officer witnesses the reconciliation between the Russian and American men as they seal their agreement with a handshake. Photo: Phuket Tourist Police.

The officers responded to an unnamed condo at an undisclosed date earlier this week to mediate a conflict between two foreign residents. The Phuket Tourist Police reported the case today (June 15) but did not specify the exact day of the intervention or disclose the identities of the individuals involved.

"A Russian tourist sought our assistance regarding a problem with his American neighbor residing next door. According to the informant, the American national had been daily using a laser pointer to flash in the Russian mans eyes, speaking rudely, provoking fights, and disturbing him by playing loud music," Phuket Tourist Police explained in a Facebook post.

A uniformed police officer, supported by two foreign volunteers, arrived at the condo and engaged in discussions with both men, helping them reach an agreement. The officer also mentions some further actions regarding the incident but it is not clear what exactly.

"The American tourist admitted to engaging in all of the reported behaviors and offered his apologies to the Russian man," Phuket Tourist Police stated.

A video posted by the officers captured the moment when the American man apologised to the Russian national, who expressed his belief in a neighborly reconciliation as of today. The men proceeded to shake hands and hug in a symbolic gesture of peace while the police officer witnesses the process with his gun in holster.
"We thought it was about time we came up for air", Devilskin bass guitarist Paul Martin enthuses via phone from a sandy Coromandel beach. "It's important to take a moment to breathe, enjoy the moment and celebrate when you can. For this band; writing, recording and most especially, playing live shows, that's our air."
Theres time to sort of investigate, you know, which is one of the blessings of going Down Under theres so much time off that you get a chance to actually roll around and take part in the city.
Country

United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
Juneteenth is the next federal holiday in 2023. Will the stock market be closed?

U.S. stock markets will be closed Monday in honor of Juneteenth.

In recognition of the federal holiday, the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange will close at 4 p.m. Eastern on Friday and reopen for the regular trading session at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. The U.S. bond market will also close for the holiday.

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. It's one of the 10 official U.S. stock market holidays, and the first federal holiday approved since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983. The next federal holiday will be Independence Day, with markets closing early on July 3 and reopening on July 5.

A sign is displayed on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York, Wednesday, June 14, 2023. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) ORG XMIT: NYSW109

When is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is on June 19.

What is Juneteenth? Why is it a holiday?

This years Juneteenth celebrates the 158th anniversary of the day when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and free the last enslaved Black Americans. The day came over two years after President Abraham Lincoln declared all enslaved persons free.

The holiday is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day.

Sam Collins III, left, and others celebrate at the Juneteenth historical marker on June 17, 2021, in Galveston, Texas, after President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. Communities all over the country will be marking Juneteenth, the day that enslaved Black Americans learned they were free. For generations, the end of one of the darkest chapters in U.S. history has been recognized with joy in the form of parades, street festivals, musical performances or cookouts. Yet, the U.S. government was slow to embrace the occasion. (Jennifer Reynolds/The Galveston County Daily News via AP, File)

Do US banks recognize Juneteenth?

The Federal Bank Reserve recognizes Juneteenth as a holiday, which means most banks will be closed Monday.

Is Juneteenth a federal holiday?

President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law in June 2021, which made Juneteenth a federal holiday. It passed the Senate with unanimous consent and reached near-consensus in the House, with 14 Republican lawmakers voting against the bill.

When did Juneteenth become a federal holiday?

Juneteenth was designated a federal holiday in 2021. U.S. financial markets observed the holiday for the first time in 2022.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is the stock market closed for Juneteenth? Here's what you should know
Key Insights

Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Keller Group's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions

The top 9 shareholders own 51% of the company

Insiders have been buying lately

If you want to know who really controls Keller Group plc (LON:KLR), 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 89% to be precise, is institutions. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Since institutional have access to huge amounts of capital, their market moves tend to receive a lot of scrutiny by retail or individual investors. Therefore, a good portion of institutional money invested in the company is usually a huge vote of confidence on its future.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Keller Group.

Check out our latest analysis for Keller Group

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Keller Group?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

We can see that Keller Group does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. 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 Keller Group's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Keller Group. Fidelity International Ltd is currently the company's largest shareholder with 10% of shares outstanding. With 9.8% and 5.2% of the shares outstanding respectively, Schroder Investment Management Limited and J O Hambro Capital Management Limited are the second and third largest shareholders.

We did some more digging and found that 9 of the top shareholders account for roughly 51% of the register, implying that along with larger shareholders, there are a few smaller shareholders, thereby balancing out each others interests somewhat.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.

Insider Ownership Of Keller Group

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of Keller Group plc. It seems the board members have no more than UK2.4m worth of shares in the UK493m company. We generally like to see a board more invested. However it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 10% stake in Keller Group. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 4 warning signs with Keller Group (at least 1 which makes us a bit uncomfortable) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process.

Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
Professor Paul Gewirtz of Yale Law School has, in a recent article, sparked a much-needed debate on the Group of Seven (G-7) countries decision that at the core of their economic approach to China henceforth would be de-risking, not decoupling. To the extent that decoupling from the worlds largest economy (when measured in PPP terms) and the second-largest in terms of nominal GDP after the USA would be highly disruptive ~ not least for the G-7 member-states themselves ~ given Chinas integration into global supply/value chains and emergence as a source of international capital over the past two decades, it seems like an appropriate policy.

Decoupling any major countrys economy from China was always impossible and sounds harshly radical, but it has been a commonly used and divisive word in China policy circles. The word de-risking sounds considerably more moderate, makes sense, and has now produced a highly publicised consensus on China policy among a large variety of different countries, adds Prof. Gewirtz. The essence of the argument being made by the Yale don is that in reality, however, the word de-risking is extremely ambiguous and its meaning uncertain.

The word itself tells us very little about the G-7s China policy. Its scope depends on how the word is interpreted. Very likely, different countries will interpret and apply de-risking differently, creating divergence and not consensus ~ in some countries producing a modest scope of economic separation, in some potentially a policy similar to de-coupling. A look at the trade data between leading G7 countries, USA and Germany, and China is informative. Sino-US trade hit $690.6 billion in 2022, with Chinese imports from the US at $153.8 billion and exports to the US at $536.8 billion resulting in a massive trade deficit for Washington. The exponential growth of trade between the nations since China joined the WTO (2001) has benefited both American and Chinese consumers and companies. China is the thirdlargest export market for the USA, behind Canada and Mexico, and exports to China support millions of jobs in America. Goods imported by the USA from China in 2021 included electronics worth over $120 billion, machinery and appliances ($120 billion), toys and games ($40 billion), and between $40 billion and $20 billion each of textiles, plastics and rubbers, metals, furniture, and chemical products. But emergent Sino-US rivalry implies an American bias towards decoupling, with Washingtons near-shoring/friendshoring strategies likely to be in vogue. On the other hand, Germanys trade overdependence on China is exemplified by the trade deficit of 84 billion it incurred with the latter in 2022. Trade between Germany and China too rose to a record level in 2022, making the Asian giant Germanys most important trading partner for the seventh year in a row.

Advertisement

Goods worth 298 billion were traded between the two countries, up around 21 per cent from 2021. In 2022, Germany imported goods worth 191 billion from China, a third more than in 2021. Exports of German goods to China, though, increased by only 3.1 per cent to around 107 billion. Its economy battered by having to end almost overnight its energy dependence on Russia, Germany is likely to want to prevent a double whammy. To that end, Berlin would prefer de-risking economic linkages with China rather than venturing down the path of de-coupling from it. These are mere examples of the likely different approaches of G7 states to China based on a reading of the statistics; when ideological and geostrategic factors are in the mix, matters get even more complicated.
Siddhartha Gautama spent almost his entire life after thirty working and wandering on foot in the Gangetic plain. He along with other monks travelled in cities and towns of this heartland and also in forests. The householders watched the wandering monks in orange robes on the streets to collect daily food. The four months of rains were the only deterrent. Ganges valley was the centre of modern civilisation in the sixth century BCE comprising of the renowned kingdoms like Kosala, Magadha and Videha. This region was the source of fertility and life of people. There was natural growth of towns and cities with urban development and increase in population at the time of the Buddha in the Gangetic plain.

Towns and cities were centres of administration and capitals of kingdoms. These were also the centres of business and trade resulting in presence of affluent people like merchants and bankers. The six great cities named in Buddhist literature were Sravashti, Saket (later called Ayodhya), Kaushambi, Kashi ( Varanasi), Rajagriha and Champa. Other renowned large towns were Kapilavastu, Vaishali, Mithila and Gaya. Gautama travelled through all these cities and towns during the last forty five years of life and preached his beliefs and thoughts.

The urban householders engaged in daily chores of life consisting of one doomed activity after another wanted solace in mind in religious beliefs, thoughts and activities. They used to take refuge as monks and lived in forests in the Gangetic plains. One school of thought, the believers in Upanishads, propagated that ignorance or lack of understanding of ones true self was the root cause of problems, of human sufferings.

Advertisement

But as soon as a person became truly aware that his true self was entirely free, absolute and eternal, he achieved liberation. Suffering would no longer touch him. He would say it suffers rather than I suffer. This was clearly an attractive ideology to someone like the Buddha. He retained some of the elements of this philosophy. But it was difficult for a householder to attain liberation. Another school of thought propagated by the Gangetic forest monks was that desire was the first and most powerful cause of sufferings. A householder has no chance to get rid of desire as his whole life is guided by his longing for family, money and fame.

All his actions are inspired by desire. The three fires of greed, egotism and delusion kept the householders bound to samsara. Tied to this activity the householder had no hope of liberation. The best they could expect was lesser pain in the next life. Though the monks were in a better position, they too experienced some amount of desire. But the Gautama Buddha sacrificed his life for the betterment of the lives of man, animal and nature. He attained nirvana, the Enlightenment, a sense of No self, Emptiness; and preached Dhamma not only among his disciples but also among common citizens. Dhamma denotes not only what is but also what should be.

The Buddhas Dhamma was a diagnosis of the problems and sufferings of mankind and a prescription for its cure. Buddhism was not a doctrine for privileged persons but a religion for the common people. The Buddha had great compassion for man and animal in his heart. He asked his disciples to go and travel for the welfare and happiness of the people. The cardinal virtue of Buddhism was compassion.

The virtue of compassion is centred round the principle of helping others in relieving their sufferings, to help them attain nirvana. The Buddha asked his disciples, the bhikkhus, to stay together in commune, live in harmony with others. The bhikkhus used to stay in the Sanghas, organisations of monks, situated at the outskirts of the towns, accessible by lay people but peaceful and secluded. Sanghas were the centres of spiritual discourse and meditation. The Buddhist monastic community initially was the wanderers. The short stays during monsoon months gradually developed into Sanghas which got patronage from the kingdoms, rich persons like bankers, merchants, and traders. These Sanghas gradually turned in to future years monasteries. Lay men and women would feed the monks and support them.

The householders could give alms to bhikkhus and thus build up a reserve of credit that could benefit them in the future (Karen Amstrong: Buddha). The monks had to prove that they were not parasites but useful to the society. They would in turn teach lay people how to live a simple and moral life. This was the fair exchange accepted by all in society. Buddhist Sanghas had profound influence on individuals, to build up their own characteristic values and attitudes as well as on nation building. It acted as an instrument of social reengineering and value creation.

Therefore the Sanghas and bhikkhus became an integral and important part of society at the time of the Buddha. The wandering monk, the Buddha, had direct touch with the householders. He mingled with them and arranged teaching sessions for them in cities and towns. Gautama used to travel on roads accompanied by hundreds of bhikkhus. The Buddha did not confine himself in isolation after attaining nirvana.

He attained nirvana not for himself only but to show the right path to the entire mankind to overcome grief and pain, to end suffering and sadness. He was concerned about the freedom and peace of the common man. Individualism loomed large in the society. He taught the escape route from desires and attachment; taught the way of peaceful living. His teachings won further adherents. Even the rulers, the monarchs too started admiring him, and became his followers. Siddhartha Gautama belonged to one of the royal families. He felt at ease in the company of kings and aristocrats.

King Bimbisara of Magadha offered him a kingdom. But Gautama refused a comfortable life. The Noble Eightfold Path preached by Gautama was the way to achieve nirvana from the world of sufferings. To follow this path a person must avoid evil actions that lead to negative consequences in life. The Buddha told people to be polite, sensible, and compassionate; to give alms to bhikkhus, to avoid debt, look after their dependents, save for emergency  the advices that are linked to the daily chores of life. People, businessmen, indeed everyone was advised to avoid alcohol, late nights, gambling, laziness and bad company. The Buddhas teachings were well accepted by society. It was out in the towns and in the cities, along the trade routes.

People attracted to the Buddhas teaching started to throng in large numbers to the Sanghas, which became a force to reckon with in the Gangetic plain. The Buddhas teaching thus was not at all religious but to counter individualism that gathered momentum in society due to urbanisation and a cut-throat market economy. The Sanghas too played a crucial role in society to maintain ethics and honesty. The Buddha was creating an alternative way of life that was instrumental in eradicating the shortcomings of society. In that way the Buddha was more a social reformer than a religious preacher.

(The writer is a cost accountant working in a senior position with a public utility. The views expressed are personal.)
Violence during the filing of nomination papers for the rural body polls continued on Thursday with unconfirmed reports of the deaths of four persons in two separate incidents of political clashes.

Considering the reports of poll violence, Calcutta High Court later in the evening directed that the rural elections should be held under the blanket security cover of Central forces. A Division Bench of the court ordered the State Election Commission to seek Central forces for deployment in the state within 48 hours. In an earlier order, the division Bench had ordered deployment of central forces in only seven sensitive districts of the state.

The SEC and the state government had filed a review petition of this order. With the reports of four deaths on Thursday, the last day for filing of nomination papers, the death toll in connection with the political clash since the dates of the gram panchayat polls in the state were announced by the West Bengal State Election Commission on 8 June has reached five.

Advertisement

Two persons were killed when CPI-M and Congress candidates along with their party workers were proceeding to the Chopra BDO office file nomination papers during the day. The procession was fired upon, and three CPIM workers sustained bullet injuries.

Two of the injured later died at a a local hospital. Bhangar in South 24- Parganas, the scene of clashes between the Trinamul Congress and opposition Indian Secular Front (ISF) and CPI-M, over the past few days, turned into a battle ground on Thursday, with rival groups hurling bombs at each other throughout the day, despite the presence of armed police. Two persons, said to belong to the ISF and Trinamul Congress died in the clashes during filing of nomination papers. The opposition that has recently won elections there in Bhangar has started trouble first on Tuesday.

They damaged establishments, torching fire and looted properties by shouting communal slogans there. They are misguiding locals. Our party has no involvement in any incident of violence related to filling of nomination papers in districts, chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee said in Diamond Harbour, blaming the ISF without taking its name.

Trinamul Congress was not involved in the Chopra incident either, she said. Leaders of the CPI-Mled Left Front, including Biman Bose, Bikashranjan Bhattacharya and others met the WBSEC commissioner Rajiva Sinha demanding adequate security arrangements for free and fair polls.

While speaking to reporters after meeting Mr Sinha, Mr Bose, the LF chairman, told reporters: The state election commission is sitting silent despite deaths being reported since the announcement of date of polls. CPI-M workers staged demonstration in front of the commission office in protest against the deaths of workers in the political clashes.
The Calcutta High Court ordered the deployment of central forces in 22 districts of the state for security during the panchayat polls. A Bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Uday Kumar passed the order on Thursday. The court told the State Election Commission that this order should be implemented within the next 48 hours. In its earlier order, the Division Bench had ordered deployment of central forces in only seven sensitive districts of the state.

The SEC and the state government had filed a review petition of this order. The hearing in the matter concluded at around 4 pm on Thursday, with the Division Bench reserving its order. However, at around 7 pm, the Bench pronounced its verdict in the matter, ordering deployment of central forces throughout the state for the rural civic body polls.

While passing the order, the bench also observed that any further delay in deployment of central forces might result in further damages due to pollrelated clashes and violence. The Bench also said that the cost of deployment of central forces should be borne by the Union government.

Advertisement

The indication of deployment of central forces came at the beginning of the hearing, as Justice Sivagnanam expressed ire over the lapses on the part of the SEC. He also expressed anguish over the SECs inability to identify the sensitive booths. During the prolonged hearing in the matter by a Division Bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya, the Chief Justice expressed ire over the lack of necessary security arrangements resulting in continuing clashes and violence in different pockets during the nomination phase. You have the scope for appearing at a higher court. But if you create a situation so that my order is not implemented, I cannot just remain silent. Section 144 has been implemented at different places.

The police should strictly enforce that, Justice Sivagnanam observed. The Division Bench also told the counsels of the state government and the commission that if they are not satisfied with the earlier order on deployment of central armed forces, they have the right to approach a higher court on this count.
Container ships wait to be unloaded at the Port of Los Angeles after Southern California dockworkers disrupted cargo activity at both ports June 2. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

The Los Angeles and Long Beach port docks were humming Thursday after the longshore workers union and employers reached a possible labor deal after months of increasingly contentious talks.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Assn., which represents shipping lines and terminal operators, said late Wednesday that they had tentatively agreed to a new six-year contract covering 22,000 workers at 29 West Coast ports. The two sides didn't release any details of the deal, which is subject to ratification by union locals and employers.

Union members have been working without a contract since early July. As the high-stakes negotiations dragged on for months, agreements were reached over benefits and the thorny issue of automation, but the union and employers remained far apart on wages.

The two sides finally agreed to a 32% wage increase through 2028 and a one-time pandemic hero bonus of $70 million, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing anonymous sources familiar with the negotiations. The proposed pay hike consists of a $4.62 hourly raise the first year of the contract followed by $2 hourly raises each subsequent year, the newspaper said.

Under the expired contract, union members earned an average of nearly $195,000 a year, not including overtime and bonuses, plus benefits worth an average of $102,000 a worker per year, including healthcare that is fully paid by employers, according to the Pacific Maritime Assn.

Retailers, manufacturers and other importers and exporters had called on President Biden to intervene in the negotiations because of repeated port disruptions caused by what employers claimed were deliberate labor actions. The union has denied that it ordered actions, blaming labor shortages on fed-up workers taking matters into their own hands.

Biden last week sent acting Labor Secretary Julie Su to San Francisco to meet with the negotiators, and both sides gave her credit for brokering the tentative deal. Biden in a statement also hailed Su's role, adding that the agreement showed "once again that collective bargaining  though sometimes difficult  works."

Read more: Southern California ports are losing to East Coast rivals, threatening L.A.-area jobs

The urgent tone from merchants and others  the National Retail Federation trade group issued a statement Thursday expressing its relief and urging quick ratification  underscores how important the ports are as an economic engine and a key link in getting goods to store shelves and consumers' doors. The pandemic shipping bonanza brought huge financial gains to ocean shipping lines but also created enormous congestion at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, creating a where's-my-stuff malaise among consumers and corporate customers.

The United States ports, particularly those on the West Coast, play a critical role in the vitality of the American economy. Thousands of retailers and other businesses depend on smooth and efficient operations at the ports to deliver goods to consumers every day," David French, the trade group's senior vice president of government relations, said last week.

As we enter the peak shipping season for the holidays, these additional disruptions will force retailers and other important shipping partners to continue to shift cargo away from the West Coast ports until a new labor contract is established," he said.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said a serious work stoppage at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach could cost the U.S. economy nearly $500,000 a day and a strike at all 29 West Coast harbors could cost about $1 billion a day.

The Los Angeles and Long Beach ports handle nearly 40% of U.S. imports from Asia, and they have lost market share during the contract negotiations as some shippers sent cargo through East and Gulf coast ports.

Read more: Workers want raises. Shippers want robots. The supply chain hinges on reaching a deal

That matters because of the large amount of economic activity and the number of jobs that depend on smooth port operations in Southern California and other port regions.

In Los Angeles, the ports support 1 in 15 jobs, Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement in which she hailed the agreement as a win for the working people of our city.

The twin ports' economic effects extend far beyond the people who work there, reaching truckers, warehouse workers and those who are employed by the vast industry supporting the international supply chain. In addition, those workers spend money in the regional economy, producing income for a broad range of businesses.

An estimated 175,000 Southern California workers  employed at the harbors themselves as well as in related businesses  move freight valued at $469 billion a year, port data show.

International labor economist Jock O'Connell of Beacon Economics called the proposed deal "a very positive sign for the West Coast ports and for everyone who sends their cargo through them."

The reputation of the West Coast ports as reliable conduits for Asian trade will be less tarnished, but they still have a long way to go in assuring shippers and customers, the importers and exporters, in the wake of recent disruptions that caused significant delays in the movement of goods, he said.

Read more: L.A., Long Beach port disruptions continue amid tough contract talks

The Pacific Maritime Assn. has accused the union of labor actions including failing to send enough workers and directing union members to take meal breaks at the same time instead of staggering breaks. The union has countered that its members are working diligently to move goods.

In April, the port complex shut down for about 24 hours because of a worker shortage; the labor union said individual members had gone to a union meeting or were observing Good Friday, as allowed under the contract. Last month, labor shortages disrupted operations at Los Angeles and Long Beach and caused the Oakland port to shut down for a time. The Seattle port has been closed in recent days because of the labor strife.

The lost freight represents a serious blow to the Southern California economy if that business doesnt return.

The proposed deal "will enhance the ability of ports along the West Coast to attract more shipping that had been diverted to ports along the Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports," O'Connell said. "Goods will more expeditiously arrive at their destinations.

"And to the extent that it does enhance the cargo flows through the ports, it means more job opportunities for everyone involved along the supply chain."

Consumers have trouble grasping why port delays are important, said Jonathan Gold, vice president of supply chain and customs policy at the National Retail Federation.

"Delays affect the ability to get goods to market, whether they are finished goods for retailers or materials for manufacturers, they will have just three to five days worth of inventory on hand," Gold said.

"If they can't get what they need on time, that has an impact on the manufacturing process. For [agricultural] exporters who have a limited amount of time to get their goods to market, if their cargo can't get loaded and depart, there's the potential of them losing the sale," he said.

The tentative agreement "brings the stability and confidence that customers have been seeking, said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, the nation's largest cargo container port. "We look forward to collaborating with our partners in a renewed effort to bring back cargo and demonstrate why Los Angeles is the first choice for trans-Pacific trade."

The East and Gulf coast ports that have benefited from the West Coast labor strike are in the middle of early negotiations for a contract with the International Longshoremens Assn. to replace the contract that expires in September 2024.

Times staff writer Christian Martinez contributed to this report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Without naming the CPM and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Trinamul Congress chairperson and chief minister Mamata Banerjee said they should maintain political courtesy and use proper language. In the same breath she also said if they (opposition) go on creating trouble people will retaliate as it takes two to make a quarrel.

Miss Banerjee visited Diamond Harbour this afternoon and tomorrow she will share the podium with Abhishek Banerjee, partys national general secretary at Kakdwip to mark an end of the two-month long Jono Sonjog Yatra. The yatra began from Dinhata in Cooch Behar district on 25 April. Miss Banerjee said in Islampur and Chopra, Trinamul Congress is not involved in any way. It was the result of a family feud.

They had asked for a nomination but we had refused them. In panchayat elections, it is often found that five members of a family are contesting for different parties in the polls. It is impossible to monitor everything, she said, adding, There are 74,000 booths and trouble has taken place only in three areas. But it has been shown in the media in such a way as if the whole of Bengal is burning.

Advertisement

Some media with vested interests are doing this deliberately, she remarked. She said in Bhangar trouble took place. There are leaders of the opposition who have delivered speeches to incite communalism. There was retaliation and I have asked the administration to take stern action. Coming down heavily on the CPM she said, They have forgotten the past and now they are talking big. They talk of resistance. If they do, people will retaliate. In the 2003 panchayat election, 36 people had died on the day of the poll.

In the 2008 panchayat election more than 30 people died and in 2013, when Meera Pandey was State Election Commissioner, 39 people had died during the panchayat election, she said, adding, The CPM is talking the way as if they are the most peace-loving people. Referring to the BJP she said, I feel ashamed to take their name. In Uttar Pradesh, murder took place in the courtroom. The president of the Wrestling Federation of India is not arrested. In the Narada case the traitor (meaning Suvendu Adhikari) was named in the FIR by the CBI but has not been arrested, she remarked.

In Uttar Pradesh and Tripura more than 90 per cent people of the opposition were not allowed to file nominations. This is what they do but still try to find faults with others.
Bilateral trade of India with Africa grew by 9.26 per cent in 2022-23, reaching almost $100 billion, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said while addressing the CII-EXIM Bank conclave on India-Africa Partnership.

Goyal expressed confidence in achieving the goal of doubling bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2030.

Blessed with demographic dividend, India-Africa partnership can drive the global progress in this century, the minister said further.

Advertisement

Goyal said that the exports and imports were approximately balanced with exports being $51.2 billion and imports being $46.65 billion in 2022-23.

The minister said that 27 least developed countries of Africa benefit from the duty-free tariff preference on non-reciprocal basis already and free trade agreements (FTAs), and comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) can be explored with other African countries as well.
The US Dollar Index (DXY) has slipped below $100 for the first time after April 2022. When the Dollar Index falls, the Indian rupee appreciates and the dollar weakens, which is leading to increase in fund flows from FIIs and FPIs, SBI Securities said in a report.
Delhi Education Minister Atishi has said here on Friday the first and the foremost important thing that the Kejriwal Government did after coming to power in the state is that it allocated a substantial budget to education.

The Aam Aadmi Partys is the only government in the country to allocate 25 per cent of the annual budget to education. It has been eight years now, Atishi said at Cambridge India Conference hosted by Cambridge Judge Business School on June 15.

Atishi was at Cambridge to speak on the topic Education- Building Indias Future at 100 during the conference. She also shared various success stories of the Delhi Education Model there.

Advertisement

The Delhi Education Minister said, When we first started improving Delhi government schools, people made fun of us, considering that education had no potential to bring political dividends for the party back then. But despite all the political and administrative obstacles, the work done by the AAP-led Delhi government has been a landmark in Indian politics. It has successfully made education a political issue in the country.

Not only that, but it has made education a political issue that brings dividends. This has made other state governments consider working on education and improving schools. I believe this change will determine the future direction our country takes, she said.
In a rare move, the Odisha Human Rights commission (OHRC) has decided to become an intervener in a civil litigation involving the restoration of land in possession for generations by barber community freed from customary bartan system practice under which dominant caste families extract service from them for 15 kg of paddy doles in a year.

Earlier the OHRC had directed the state authorities to restore the community their possession of the houses and proper rehabilitation under Section 8 of the Bonded Labour System Abolition Act, 1976. As the order could not be implemented due to civil litigations, the Commission decided to step in by roping in counsel to represent the panel to defend the community in the pending civil case

The barber community was allegedly socially ostracized in Manapur village under Bramhagiri police station in Puri district and was driven out of their houses from the land which they were in possession since time immemorial.

Advertisement

They were also rendering service to the deity of the concerned village and residing over the land belonging to the deity. They are being released from bonded labour as per Bonded labour Abolition Act.

After their release as bonded labour by the State Government, they refused to render service to the villagers as barbers under the Bartan Scheme. Later they were subjected to atrocity and were driven out from the house where they were residing for generations and those houses were damaged.

The unsavory episode contained several twists and turns lasting for more than a decade after a human rights activist, Baghambar Patnaik had taken up the cause of the victims of the Bartan scheme practice in 2011. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had asked the Orissa government to abolish the customary system.

The State government had issued a notification in 2011 to ensure that such an evil practice is discouraged at all costs with stringent action against the culprits under the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976.

Later the villagers filed a case at the Puri civil judge senior division seeking permanent eviction of the barbers in 2020. The case was later fought in various courts. Currently, the litigation is being adjudicated in the court of the Puri district judge. As the matter is stuck in judicial proceedings, the barber community is still dispossessed of their age-old place of habitation.

It is needless to say that the protection of human rights act, 1993 expects the Commission to take a proactive role in the protection of human rights of the citizens within the territorial jurisdiction and for that it must take all effective steps to prevent violation of the same. It can also intervene in any proceeding involving allegations of violation of human rights pending before a Court with the approval of that Court. Since, in this case, an element of violation of human rights emerged from the investigations made, this Commission passed the order for restoration of possession of their houses where they were residing for generations, the OHRC ruled in a recent order.

The Commission, therefore, thinks it to be a fit case to seek intervention in the said proceeding notwithstanding the victims are also defendants therein contesting the same in the interest of human rights, it said.

Accordingly, the Secretary, OHRC shall take necessary order from the Chairperson appointment of Counsel to represent the Commission for filing an intervention application in the said case for protection of human rights was in-accordance with law, the Commission said while listing the matter for further hearing on 24 July next.
The Very Severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy that hit Gujarat on Thursday night has now weakened to a Cyclonic storm and is presently centered 30 kilometers west-northwest of Bhuj, IMD Director Dr Mrityunjay Mohapatra said on Friday.

Biparjoy has now weakened. It is in the category of Cyclonic Storm. It is now centered 30 kilometers west-northwest of Bhuj, he said. Biparjoy is moving in an East Northeast direction at a wind speed of 80-90 kilometers per hour (kmph) as of 8:30 am, he said. By evening, it will weaken to a Deep Depression with wind speed of 50-60 kmph or even 70 kmph, he added.

The northern parts of Saurashtra, Kachchh and adjoining areas of north Gujarat is receiving heavy to very heavy rainfall at present with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places, Mohapatra said.

Advertisement

The storm will be heading towards the adjoining parts of Rajasthan from evening bringing heavy to very heavy rainfall in the region, he said. In south Rajasthan, rainfall will continue till Saturday he said adding that extremely heavy rainfall is likely at some isolated places in Rajasthan.

It will bring heavy to very heavy rainfall in Rajasthan and extremely heavy rainfall in isolated pockets of Rajasthan, he said. The wind speed will reduce to 40-50 kmph or even 60 kmph when it reaches Rajasthan, he said.

Cyclone Biparjoy crossed Jakhau between 10:30 pm and 11:30 pm on Thursday and brought heavy rainfall and gusty winds at a speed of over 115-120 kilometres per hour.

The windspeed at the coast of Saurashtra will reduce to 35-45 kmph by Friday afternoon, the IMD Director said adding that sea condition will remain rough till noon. He advised fishermen from venturing out into the sea.

Biparjoy created havoc in Gujarats Morbi district, damaging over 300 electric poles, leading to power outage in around 45 villages.

Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and took stock of the situation after the cyclonic storm Biparjoy made landfall in Gujarats coastal areas.

Honble Prime Minister Narendrabhai Modi had a telephonic conversation with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel late today to get complete details of the Biparjoy Cyclone situation approaching Gujarat. Honble Prime Minister also learned the details of the security arrangements for wild animals including lions of Gir Forest, Gujarat CMO tweeted.
The Indian Army on Friday foiled an infiltration bid and killed five heavily armed Pakistani terrorists in an encounter along the Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmirs Keran sector in the Kupwara district.

The Army and police were searching the Jumagund area where the encounter broke out in the wee hours when the terrorists crossed the LoC.

The Srinagar-based Chinar Corps of the Army said that alert troops foiled an infiltration bid and five terrorists were eliminated. War-like stores have been recovered and the operation was in progress.

Advertisement

The encounter started between terrorists and joint parties of Army and Police on a specific input of Kupwara Police in Jumagund area of LoC of Kupwara district.

In the recent past, a large number of intelligence inputs were received from various agencies about likely infiltration of terrorists from across the LoC. On 15 June, a specific intelligence input was received of likely infiltration along Jumagund Nar from JKP. Joint Operation by Indian Army and JKP was launched in Keran Sector on night 15/16 June wherein multiple ambushes were laid along the likely routes of infiltration.

On 16 June at around midnight hours ambush teams observed five heavily armed terrorists crossing the Line of Control. The terrorists were engaged by ambush teams along the fence in spite of adverse weather and terrain conditions. The ensuing fire fight resulted in elimination of five infiltrating terrorists without any collateral damage. The operation continued throughout the night and the detailed search of the area was carried during early morning.

Identity of the terrorists and their outfit affiliation is being ascertained. Meanwhile, five AK series rifles, 14 grenades, 500 AK rounds, night vision googles and other huge quantity of war-like stores were recovered.

This successful intelligence-based operation is yet another example of close synergy between Indian Army and JKP. The operation clearly establishes the evil design of terrorist groups which are determined to disrupt peace in Kashmir.

It also exposes the facade of false commitment to the ceasefire understanding by Pakistan which has repeatedly been exploited to perpetrate terror in Jammu and Kashmir, said the defence spokesman.

The security forces stand steadfast to defeat the nefarious designs of inimical elements to disrupt peace and harmony in Kashmir, he added.
Giani Harpreet Singh, who had been working as acting Jathedar of Akal Takht for the past four-and-a-half years, has resigned from his post. He was replaced by Giani Raghbir Singh at the post by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Friday.

While reasons behind the sudden resignations of Giani Harpreet Singh are not yet known, reports claim that he faced criticism from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leadership for attending the engagement ceremony of Raghav Chadda, an AAP leader. This incident provided an opportunity for anti-Jathedar factions to intensify their efforts to remove him from his position.

However, sources revealed that the issue was not the primary cause of the confrontation between Giani Harpreet and the SGPC. Instead, a section of SAD leaders openly expressed their discontent over his failure to take action against officials of the Haryana Gurdwaras Management Committee for demanding handover of management of the Haryana Gurdwaras to them as expected by the SGPC.

Advertisement

The appointment of Giani Harpreet Singh as the Acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht had come as a surprise. Despite the fact that his position was not officially confirmed, Giani Harpreet proved his mettle after assuming the role.

A notable incident that showcased his resilience was his refusal to heed to the constant calls of a radical preacher, Amritpal Singh, who requested for a Sarbat Khalsa, the highest assembly of Sikhs, to address a particular issue. Amritpal even insinuated that Giani Harpreets reluctance was due to alleged influence from a specific family, the Badals, further complicating matters.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, in a rare move, criticised the Akal Takht head for advocating the release of numerous individuals apprehended during the Amritpal controversy.

During the standoff between the Akali Dal and the BJP over the contentious farm laws, Giani Harpreet maintained his independent stance. While the Akali Dal severed ties with the BJP, the Jathedar commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi when the laws were eventually withdrawn.

Giani Harpreet expressed concern about certain groups within the anti-farm laws movement attempting to distance themselves from Sikh values, heritage, and unity with other communities. He acknowledged the potential ramifications of portraying the agitation as a conflict between Sikhs and the Indian government or Hindus. Consequently, he thanked the Central government and PM Modi for averting a potentially significant crisis.

Giani Harpreet Singhs tenure as Jathedar of the Akal Takht took an interesting turn following the agitation against farm laws, as he began to display a different attitude towards the BJP and the issue of separatism. This transformation was particularly significant considering his perceived affiliation with the Akali Dal, with the additional fact that he belonged to a Dalit family from Muktsar, the stronghold of the Badals.

In recent times, certain leaders within the Akali Dal grew envious of Giani Harpreets rise and had started accusing him of having close ties with the BJP. Notably, the president of the Akali Dals Delhi unit openly criticised him, highlighting the perceived influence of the BJP over the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee.

The Akali Dal leaders cited instances such as Union Home Minister Amit Shahs visit to Giani Harpreet at the Akal Takht office and the reported communication between him and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who serves as the BJP Punjab in-charge to prove their point.

Observers recognised Giani Harpreets ability to swiftly adapt to his role, taking advantage of his relative anonymity and lack of preconceived expectations when he replaced the unpopular Giani Gurbachan Singh as Jathedar. During this time, he was pursuing a PhD in comparative religion from Punjabi University in Patiala. This relative obscurity helped him gain support from anti-Badal factions within the SGPC, and his efforts to establish connections with jathedars appointed by the Sarbat Khalsa, who posed challenges to his authority and that of the SGPC, earned him goodwill.

Giani Harpreet received praise outside the Sikh community for his appeals to Sikhs to aid Kashmiri Muslim girls stranded in various parts of North India following the abrogation of Article 370. He grabbed attention by voicing his opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), citing concerns about its discriminatory nature towards Muslims.
A right-wing religious outfit, Hindu Dharma Sena, has announced that it would give a cash reward of Rs 11,000 to every Hindu boy who elopes with a Muslim girl and marries her.

Hindu Dharma Sena President Yogesh Agrawal on Friday said in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh the outfit would help the Hindu boys in their endeavour to get married to Muslim girls. He said the organisation would also help such boys financially by paying them Rs 11,000 cash.

Agrawal alleged that Muslim boys were indulging in Love Jihad and running away with Hindu girls. Calling it a very worrisome trend, he said the ratio of girls was in any case low as compared to boys in the Hindu society. The situation was further aggravated due to the Love Jihad by Muslim boys.

Advertisement

The right-wing activist asserted that it was necessary to bring Muslim girls to Hindu families. He pointed out that the outfit was supporting love between Hindu boys and Muslim girls and would help them only if they wanted to get married.

The Hindu Dharma Senas announcement has come at a time when a national debate is already raging over the issue of Love Jihad.

The BJP and RSS have openly come out against the issue and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has publicly repeated on several occasions that the ruling BJP government would not tolerate Love Jihad at any cost.

On the contrary, a few days ago some Muslim youth were booked by the police in Indore on charges of pasting and distributing objectionable pamphlets cautioning young unmarried Muslim girls to beware of being converted to Hinduism through the Bhagwa love trap conspiracy being carried out by the RSS and Bajrang Dal.
In view of the coming Shri Amarnath Yatra, Ajay Kumar Yadav, IG, Srinagar Sector, CRPF, undertook a rigorous security review of the designated routes and camps to ensure the safety of all pilgrims and security personnel.

Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, scheduled to take place from 1 July, holds immense religious significance, drawing pilgrims who embark on a sacred journey of devotion and spiritual enrichment.

Recognizing the paramount importance of securing the Yatra routes and CRPF camps, Yadav, being the nodal officer for the crucial Baltal axis of Yatra, personally went about assessing and enhancing the security measures for this two-month long pilgrimage.

A team of experienced officers consisting of Jaidev Kesri, DIG (Joint Nodal Officer of Baltal axis) and Kishor Prasad, DIG and other field commanders, meticulously analyzed the Baltal axis route and camps, assessing potential risks and vulnerabilities.

This security review aims to create a secure environment that fosters harmony, tranquility, and unhindered spiritual experiences for all attendees, said a CRPF spokesman.

Key aspects of the security review included, route assessment under which the designated Yatra route was examined, identifying any potential challenges, such as difficult terrains, traffic bottlenecks, or areas prone to natural hazards.

The camps, Manigam, Neelgrath, Rangamore, Sarbal, Baltal and Domail, along the Baltal route were rigorously evaluated for security.

During the review, the importance of effective emergency response planning was emphasised upon. Collaborating closely with CRPF medical teams, disaster management agencies, and other agencies, a robust emergency response framework has been established to address any unforeseen situations promptly and efficiently.

Yadav expressed his utmost commitment to the safety and security of all participants, stating, The Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra holds immense significance for the pilgrims as well as the residents of Kashmir.

Our primary objective is to ensure that pilgrims can partake in this sacred journey with peace of mind and a sense of security. We have left no stone unturned in assessing and enhancing the security measures for the event, aiming to create a safe and serene environment for all. I hope that the Yatra ushers in an era of peace of prosperity for everyone in the region, he said.
martin-dm / iStock.com

Though summer may be here, that doesnt mean you still cant plan a vacation that doesnt cost an arm and a leg.

Usually, I suggest our customers book flights two to six months prior to the trip, as those tickets will generally be less expensive, especially when it comes to holiday travel. However, it doesnt mean that you cant score budget-friendly deals when booking last-minute, said Mercedes Zach, travel expert at ASAP Tickets.

Watch Out: Dont Buy Airline Tickets on This Day of the Week

Learn: How To Build Your Savings From Scratch

GOBankingRates asked travel experts how travelers can get a good deal on their getaways this summer.

Be Flexible With Your Dates

If you want to get the best deal, youll have to get a little creative about what days you travel on. If you have flexibility in your schedule, try to avoid peak travel times, such as weekends and holidays. Booking your trip during weekdays or shoulder seasons can often result in lower prices, said Katherine Fleischman, publicist and travel expert at Do Tell PR.

Go To Less Popular Destinations

The hot spots like Miami, Cabo and Santa Monica might not be where you want to venture to if youre trying to save money. Fleischman recommends looking for some destinations off the beaten path. Popular tourist destinations tend to have higher prices during summer. Consider exploring less-visited or offbeat locations that offer similar experiences but with lower costs.

Avoid: 6 Vacation Splurges Youll Almost Always Regret

Monitor Price Trends

Fleischman says you can save a lot of money by keeping an eye on prices. Use online travel platforms and fare comparison websites to track fluctuations in prices. Set up price alerts to receive notifications when the rates drop, allowing you to snag the best deals, Fleischman said.

Use Comparison Tools

Justin Albertynas is the CEO of RatePunk, and says its important to use sites that can easily compare prices across many airlines and hotels so you know youre getting the best deal. Apps like Skyscanner, GoogleFlights and RatePunk help you save money easily with just a few clicks by comparing the best flight and booking rates. RatePunk even lets you negotiate the prices with Airbnb hosts, which could save you hundreds if not thousands while booking your next destination.

Book Direct To Save on Hotels and Some Vacation Rentals

You might think its best to use discount sites to book your hotel stay, but Lauren Gumport, vice president of communications and brand at Faye Travel Insurance, says thats not always the case. If you find the hotel you want to stay at on an online booking site aggregator like Booking.com, usually if you approach the hotel directly via their actual website, the price will be less as theyre not paying any commission to a third-party site where you found them. Same goes for vacation rentals. Lots of rentals are managed by larger property management companies that also have their own direct websites. Again, head to their website to book direct and youll likely knock 10% off your lodging costs, Gumport said.

Find Out: Why Nobody Is Buying Vacation Homes Anymore

Get a VPN

Albertynas says that a VPN can really come in handy when you want to stick to a budget when planning a trip. I advise using a VPN with a location set to where you want to book and fly. For example, Ive noticed that if you want to book a location in Europe, the price changes if your VPN is set in Europe or not.

Snag Last-Minute Deals

Many sites have last-minute offers on rooms and flights that didnt book up. Fleischman says these are your best bet for getting a good deal on summer travel. Keep an eye out for last-minute travel deals offered by airlines, hotels and travel agencies. Signing up for newsletters and following social media accounts of travel companies can help you stay informed about these deals.

Book Package Deals

Fleischman says booking packages that offer all of your amenities together can be a great way to save cash. Bundling flights, accommodation and sometimes activities together through package deals can result in significant savings. Travel agencies or online platforms often offer package options, allowing you to save money compared to booking each component separately.

Zach adds that often these packages are at resorts, which come with some extra perks as well. A benefit of a resort is that there is a lot to do around it, and you have access to the beach, pool, saunas, hot tubs, etc., at no extra cost.

Leverage Loyalty Programs and Credit Card Rewards

This is the summer to join hotel and airline loyalty programs and put your travel credit card to use. If you have loyalty memberships with airlines or hotels, redeem your accumulated points or miles to offset the cost of your summer travel. Additionally, some credit cards offer travel rewards or cash-back options that can be utilized to reduce expenses, Fleischman said.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Last-Minute Travel Planner? Here Are 9 Tips To Score the Best Deals on Your Summer Vacation
Hours after the swearing-in ceremony of a new minister, Ratnesh Sada, in the Nitish Kumar cabinet in Bihar, a war of words began between the chief minister and the founder of Hindustani Awami Morcha (HAM) and former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi.

Speaking to reporters here, Nitish Kumar said, Manjhi was spying on the activities of the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) allies for the benefit of the BJP. He used to share our activities with the BJP leaders. Thats why I asked him to either merge his party with the JDU or quit.

Talking about Manjhi for the first time after the resignation of his son Santosh Suman from his cabinet, the chief minister said, Woh BJP waalon se milte rahte the. Theek hua hamse alag ho gaye. (He (Manjhi) was constantly in touch with BJP leaders. Its good that he has left).

Advertisement

In his recent statement on possibilities of early Lok Sabha polls, he said the Centre has the right to convene it early. Any government with a majority can do it. There is always a possibility. During the regime of Vajpayee ji, elections were held ahead of schedule, though he was not in favour of conducting it early, CM Nitish recalled.

Nitish has already directed his officials to complete all the development related works on schedule. A couple of days ago, while reviewing the Rural Works Department, he had told them, Dont put any such work on hold. Election schedule may be announced any time.

The CM also said that the much-awaited meeting of non-NDA partners will be held on its scheduled date in Patna. Preparations are on. All the invited party leaders are expected to attend the meeting.

Manjhis son Santosh Suman had resigned from the Nitish cabinet on the pretext of merging his party with JDU, which he denied.

In a counteroffensive, Manjhi, while rejecting all these allegations against him, asked for proof from the CM Nitish Kumar.

Speaking to a private TV channel, the former CM took a jibe at Nitish, saying, He is not in the race for PMs post, why then should he be holding Opposition meet when a strong PM Narendra Modi is already ruling for the last nine years.

Stadium mein sirf darshak hein. Player Koi nahi hai. (Only spectators are visible in the stadium. There is no player on the ground), he said.

In the wake of widening rift between CM Nitish and the HAM founder, JD U leaders, including the newly-inducted minister, Ratnesh Sada, have started attacking Manjhi.

Soon after the swearing-in ceremony at the Rajbhavan, the Ratnesh Sada drove straight to the JDU HQ where he was accorded a warm welcome by state party president Umesh Kushwaha and other senior leaders.

Later, addressing a meeting with the party workers, he accused Manjhi of betraying CM Nitish Kumar. It was Nitish who had made him CM of Bihar. Nobody knows Manjhi in Bihar. What he has done for Dalits and downtrodden sections of the society during the tenure as CM, he asked.

Manjhi should be thankful to Nitish for making his (Santosh Suman) a minister, he said, adding Nitish is the real messiah of the Dalits.
The chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar came out in support of the latest textbooks rationalisation by the NCERT.

Taking to Twitter, he wrote NCERT has been revising textbooks from time to time in the past too and protests by some of the academicians were unwarranted. According to him, there was no merit in the hue and cry of these academicians. The objective behind protests seems to be other than academic reasons, he added.

In the recent past, the attacks by some academicians on NCERT for revising the textbooks are unwarranted. The current textbook modifications are not the only ones carried out. NCERT has been revising textbooks from time to time in the past too, UGC Chairman tweeted.

Advertisement

National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) recently dropped the full chapter on Periodic Classification of Elements, a full chapter on Democracy and Diversity, a full chapter on Challenges to Democracy, and a full page on Political Parties from the newly released textbooks of Class 10 students.

NCERT, according to him, is fully justified in carrying out the rationalization of its textbook contents.

NCERT stated that the revision of textbooks was based on suggestions and feedback from various stakeholders.

NCERT has also confirmed that it is developing a new set of textbooks based on the recently launched National Curriculum Framework for School Education and that current textbooks in which the contents have been rationalized to reduce the academic load are only a temporary phase, he tweeted.

Amid the row over the removal of certain portions of syllabi by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), as part of its exercise to reduce the content load among students, dozens of academicians have registered their protest.
Apart from the US, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Egypt during his upcoming foreign tour from 20-25 June, it was officially announced on Friday.

At the invitation of US President Joseph Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, the PM will begin his US tour with a visit to New York where he will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations Headquarters on 21 June.

In December 2014, the UN General Assembly had adopted a resolution proclaiming 21 June as the International Day of Yoga. Thereafter, he will travel to Washington where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on 22 June, and meet President Biden to continue their high-level dialogue. President Biden and the First Lady will host a State Dinner in honour of the PM the same evening.

Advertisement

At the invitation of Congressional Leaders, including Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Speaker of the Senate Charles Schumer, the PM will address a Joint Sitting of the U.S. Congress on 22 June.

The next day, he will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Bilnken.

In addition to the official engagements, the PM is scheduled to have several curated interactions with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders. He will also meet members of the Indian Diaspora.

The PM will subsequently travel to Cairo to pay a state visit to Egypt on 24-25 June. The visit is being undertaken at the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi which he extended to Modi in January when he visited India to attend Republic Day celebrations as the Chief Guest. This will be the PMs first visit to Egypt.

Apart from his talks with President Sisi, Modi is likely to interact with senior dignitaries from the Egyptian Government, some prominent Egyptian personalities, as well as the Indian community in Egypt. Relations between India and Egypt are based on ancient trade and economic linkages as well as cultural and deep-rooted people-to-people ties. During the State Visit of President Sisi in January, it was agreed to elevate the relationship to a Strategic Partnership.
In what the Congress party has termed as a notable ghar wapsi (homecoming), influential Madhya Pradesh leader Baijnath Singh Yadav, who had joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following Jyotiraditya Scindias rebellion in March 2020, has now returned to the Congress fold.

Yadav, a member of the BJP executive committee in Madhya Pradesh, announced his resignation from the saffron party on Wednesday, just months before the highly-anticipated assembly elections in the state.

Making a grand spectacle of his return, Yadav organized a remarkable rally of 700 cars, covering a distance of over 300 kilometers from Shivpuri to Bhopal. The event on Wednesday witnessed his warm welcome by former Chief Ministers Kamal Nath and Digvijay Singh. Alongside Baijnath, 15 district-level BJP leaders also joined the Congress party.

Advertisement

The 73-year-old leader has been serving as a member of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly since 2018, representing the Shivpuri Vidhan Sabha constituency.

Born in Shivpuri district, Madhya Pradesh, Yadav is a graduate of Government College, Shivpuri. He began his political journey as a member of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC).

In his youth, Baijnath actively participated in politics and served as the director of the Shivpuri Bhumi Vikas Bank for a decade. He was elected as the President of the IYCs Shivpuri district unit in 2008 and later became the President of the INCs Shivpuri district unit in 2014.

During the 2018 assembly elections, Yadav secured victory in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly by defeating his closest rival from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by a margin of over 10,000 votes. He is currently a member of the INCs state working committee.

Yadav has been a strong advocate for the rights of the poor and marginalized sections of society. He has openly criticized the policies of the BJP government, accusing them of being detrimental to the interests of the underprivileged and farmers. His popularity among the people of Shivpuri district is a testament to his leadership.

The return of Yadav and the accompanying support of 15 Janpad members signifies a significant shift in the political landscape as the state gears up for the upcoming election season.
Twitter under new CEO has suspended the account of online database provider PlainSite and its founder Aaron Greenspan, who is a known Tesla and Elon Musk critic.

According to a report in CNBC, at the time of suspension, the PlainSite account had more than 24,000 listed followers on Twitter and Greenspan had about 2,500 followers.

The account suspension comes under new Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino who just said in a memo that You should have the freedom to speak your mind. We all should.

Advertisement

In April last year, Musk said in a tweet: I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means.

However, the company has now suspended the accounts of its most prolific critic.

PlainSite began its focused research on Tesla in 2018 after the US Securities and Exchange Commission charged Musk and Tesla with civil securities fraud, the report mentioned.

I was not interested in Tesla until the SEC took action against the company and Elon that year. That got me thinking that it may be over-valued, given the fact it was running into trouble with financial regulators, Greenspan was quoted as saying.

Since 2018, Greenspan has made court filings and other public records available on PlainSite about Twitter and Tesla.

In February 2023, Musk sued Greenspan for publishing correspondence between the two of them on Twitter and PlainSite.
A 23 year-old man was charged on Thursday for stabbing Indian student Tejaswini Kontham to death and attempting murder on a second woman in north west London.

Keven Antonio Lourenco De Morais, of Neeld Crescent, Wembley, was remanded in custody to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates Court that same day, the Metropolitan Police said.

The charges follow police being called to a residential address in Neeld Crescent, Wembley on Tuesday to reports of a stabbing.

Advertisement

Officers attended along with the London Ambulance Service and found 27-year-old Tejaswini and another woman, aged 28, suffering from knife injuries.

Tejaswini, who had gone to London for higher studies from Hyderabad, died on the scene.

The other woman was taken to a hospital with stab injuries that were later assessed as not life-threatening.

Police said that the two other people arrested in connection with the investigation have been released with no further action.

I recognise the significant concern this incident has caused in the community and I would like to reassure the public that a dedicated team of detectives are working to establish what happened, Detective Chief Inspector Linda Bradley had said earlier.

Tejaswini had completed her Masters two months ago and was planning to return home.

She was sharing a flat in Neeld Crescent with three others including the Brazilian, who had recently moved in.

Tejaswinis family has appealed to the Centre, and the Telangana government to help in bringing her mortal remains home.
The upcoming movie Adipurush has sparked quite a buzz in Kathmandu, the vibrant capital of Nepal. Mayor Balen Shah has taken to social media to voice his dissatisfaction with a particular dialogue in the film that refers to Sita as a daughter of India. He threatened to ban Hindi films in Kathmandu if the dialogue is not removed from the movie within three days.

As curiosity surrounds this politician, lets delve into what we know about him.

Known by his stage name Balen Shah and affectionately called Balen daai by his young fans, Balendra Shah currently serves as the 15th mayor of Kathmandu. Before venturing into politics, he made a name for himself as a rapper. His appearance on the YouTube battle rap series Raw Barz in 2013 catapulted him to prominence among Nepali hip-hop enthusiasts. At the age of 33, he brings a unique blend of artistic flair and professional expertise to his role.

Advertisement

During his political campaign, Shah capitalized on his popularity as a rapper while emphasizing his training and experience as a structural engineer. He positioned himself as a competent professional rather than a conventional politician.

Sabina Kafle, a public health professional and poet, is Shahs wife. They reside together with their family in Gairigaun, a neighborhood in Kathmandu. He comes from a family where he is the youngest son of Ayurvedic practitioner Ram Narayan Shah and Dhruvadevi Shah. His ancestral roots can be traced to the Ekdara Rural Municipality in Mahottari.

After completing his 10+2 education at V.S. Niketan Higher Secondary School, Balen Shah went on to achieve a bachelors degree (BE) in civil engineering from Himalayan Whitehouse International College. Continuing his academic pursuits, he successfully attained a masters degree (MTech) in structural engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) located in Karnataka, India.

In recent times, Shah has faced criticism from Kathmandu residents over his decision to prohibit street vendors from setting up stalls along the roadside. He has also been accused of attempting to displace those residing along the banks of the Bagmati River, a vulnerable community largely living below the poverty line. These controversies have generated significant backlash against the mayor.
Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, is leading a delegation of African leaders to engage in diplomatic discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Additionally, he has a scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg on Saturday. For those who may be unfamiliar with him, heres a brief overview of Cyril Ramaphosa.

Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, a South African entrepreneur and statesman, is currently serving as the fifth democratically elected president of South Africa. She is 70 years old.

Before his political career, he was an anti-apartheid activist, a trade union leader, and a successful businessman. Furthermore, Ramaphosa is the president of the African National Congress (ANC), a prominent political party in South Africa.

Advertisement

Ramaphosa belongs to the Venda community, a Southern African Bantu people primarily residing near the border of South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Known for his commitment to socialism, Ramaphosa made a public declaration in May 2018 in which he pledged to donate half of his salary, amounting to R3.6 million annually, to charitable causes in honor of the late former South African president, Nelson Mandela. He intended to set an example for the wealthy by encouraging them to contribute a portion of their earnings to the nation-building efforts.

His personal life has garnered significant media attention. In August 2017, an article published by the Sunday Independent alleged that Ramaphosa had been involved in several extramarital affairs and had provided financial support to some of the women involved. However, Ramaphosa vehemently denied these allegations, attributing them to political motives aimed at derailing his presidential campaign.

Ramaphosa has been married multiple times. His first marriage was to Hope Ramaphosa from 1978 to 1989, with whom he has a son. He later married the late businesswoman Nomazizi Mtshotshisa from 1991 to 1993. In 1996, he tied the knot with Tshepo Motsepe, a medical doctor and the sister of South African mining billionaire Patrice Motsepe. Ramaphosa is believed to have five children in total.

The South African president owns a lavish mansion situated at the base of Lions Head in Cape Town, in addition to 30 other properties. In 2018, his net worth was estimated at R6.4 billion ($450 million) by Investing.com.

Ramaphosa is a skilled polyglot and often incorporates various South African languages into his speeches, showcasing his linguistic abilities.
The case of Dharmesh Patel, the Indian-American doctor involved in the cliff incident with his family earlier this year, has taken a new twist. The Medical Board of California has recently taken action to prevent Patel from practicing medicine, particularly if he were to be released on bail. This decision comes as he faces multiple charges of attempted murder related to the crash that occurred on January 2. According to regulators, Patels alleged impairment of cognitive abilities poses a significant danger to the public, making it necessary to bar him from practicing medicine.

Now, lets dig into who Dharmesh Patel is and what we know about him. Patel is a 41-year-old medical doctor based in Pasadena, California. On January 2, Patel was traveling with his wife and their two young childrena 7-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boywhen their Tesla Model Y veered off the cliff near Devils Slide, plunging a staggering 250 feet down to the waters edge. Miraculously, all four family members survived what can only be described as an absolute miracle, as confirmed by officials.

A recently unsealed search warrant affidavit revealed that Patel intentionally drove the family off the cliff,

Advertisement

In the affidavit, Neha Patel, Dharmeshs wife, shed light on the events leading up to the cliff incident. Neha expressed her belief that her husband intentionally drove them off the cliff in San Mateo County, indicating a potential desire to harm her and their two children. She mentioned his depression and stressed the importance of a psychological evaluation.

Patel specializes in radiology and holds valid medical licenses in Florida, Oregon, and California. He completed his medical education at Wayne State University in 2008 and currently maintains an active medical license in California. His professional journey included an internship in San Francisco, followed by a residency in Miami. He further pursued a fellowship at the University of Southern California Medical Center in Los Angeles, according to records from the medical board.

Previously, Patel had an association with Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in the Mission Hills neighborhood north of Los Angeles. Although he did not work there on a full-time basis, he possessed privileges to practice at the medical center, as confirmed by a spokesperson.
A Look at the Reserve Statements That Tether Tried to Conceal

The reserves backing USDT, a U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin issued by Tether, once included assets belonging to Chinese companies, documents from the New York Attorney General's Office revealed.

In documents obtained as part of the attorney generals investigation into Tether in 2021, long-running suspicions that Tethers USDT stablecoin was backed by Chinese securities were confirmed. According to an investigation by Bloomberg News in October 2021, Tether held billions in short-term loans to Chinese companies.

These documents were first obtained from New Yorks attorney general following a freedom of information request filed by CoinDesk. Decrypt has also obtained a copy of those documents from the attorney generals office.

Tether CTO Says 'Let Them Come' as Stablecoin's Dollar Peg Wobbles

Last July, Tether rejected claims that up to 85% of its commercial paper portfolio was backed by short-term debt issued by Chinese or Asian companies. The latest documents show that Tether did indeed rely on some Chinese securities to back USDT, including debt issued by the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd., China Construction Bank Corp. and Agricultural Bank of China Ltd.

According to the documents, Tether also held securities issued by other foreign businesses, including Deutsche Bank and Barclays Bank to support its reserves.

Tethers USDT is largest stablecoin by market capitalization, with a total valuation of $83,521,892,618, and its 24-hour trading volume stands at $17,019,479,905, according to data from CoinGecko. Following Bitcoin and Ethereum, it is the third most traded token in circulation.

Tether Hits Back at Rumors Regarding its Commercial Paper Portfolio

In a tweet, Tether's chief technology officer Paolo Ardoino said the documents proved its critics wrong on claims, such as it lacking a bank account. On the Chinese securities, Ardoino asserted that the documents vindicated Tether in the face of a few clowns who accused it of holding onto debt from the distressed Chinese property developer Evergrande.

"Remember when all Tether detractors tried to convince the crypto community that Tether was backed by 70% of Evergrande," said Ardoino.

As announced yesterday @Tether_to decided to stop the opposition to the FOIL matter in the U.S., in favor of transparency for our industry. Today the information has been digested and used by few media outlets, starting from Bloomberg. Others will follow soon. The information https://t.co/RhiUrZoh09  Paolo Ardoino  (@paoloardoino) June 16, 2023

These documents stem from an investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James back in April 2019.

Her office at the time was investigating whether crypto exchange BitFinex was hiding as much as $850 million in losses from investors, including about $700 million in Tether reserves as part of what James called BitFinexs slush fund. The case was settled in February 2021, and the two were barred from conducting business in New York.

Banned In New York, CoinEx Returns $1.7 Million to Settle Lawsuit

Initially, Tether resisted attempts to get access to the investigative documents from that case, but relented on June 15. In a statement on the company blog, Tether said it dropped its opposition to the request on what it said were transparency grounds. The company also said it was monitoring markets after alluding to collusion among others in the industry against it.

We find it suspicious that todays attack on USD via both DeFi and centralized exchanges occurred on the day that materials were handed over to CoinDesk. This timing raises questions," read the blog.
(Bloomberg) -- Micron Technology Inc. is close to an agreement to commit at least $1 billion toward setting up a semiconductor packaging factory in India, according to people with knowledge of the matter, a move to further diversify its geographic footprint at a time of US tensions with China.

Most Read from Bloomberg

An announcement could be made as soon as when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the US next week, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the details are private. The amount of money committed could go as high as $2 billion, one of the people said. The details could change as discussions are in progress, and theres no guarantee an agreement will be finalized.

The deal would mark a win for Modis ambitious Make in India plans, while offering Washington an opportunity to strengthen key supply chains outside of China. Removing barriers to technological trade between the two countries is a key part of Modis state visit, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The Indian investment would follow a Chinese ban on the use of Micron chips in what Beijing called critical infrastructure, a move that cast uncertainty over the status of US chipmakers in the worlds largest semiconductor market. On Friday, Micron pledged to invest $600 million more in its Chinese plant to create jobs and support the local market.

Indias Technology Ministry and Ministry of External Affairs didnt respond to requests for comment, while a representative for Micron declined to comment.

Read More: Micron to Get $1.5 Billion From Japan for Next-Gen Chips

The US is pushing to diversify advanced chipmaking as growing Chinese tensions spur concerns about the worlds reliance on Asian manufacturing centers such as Taiwan. Micron, the largest American memory chipmaker, also secured financial support for a $3.6 billion next-generation plant it aims to establish in Japan.

Modi starts his first formal state visit June 21, with President Joe Biden hosting him for a banquet the following day. The Indian leader will also address the US Congress. Modi has pledged $10 billion to woo chipmakers to India, promising his administration will bear half the cost of setting up all semiconductor sites.

The Business Standard newspaper had previously reported Micron was set to get Indian government approval for a $1 billion assembly and packaging facility in India.

Read more: China Bars Micron Chips in Escalation of US Tech Clash

--With assistance from Muneeza Naqvi and Ian King.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
The company logo is seen on the Micron Technology Inc. offices in Shanghai

(Reuters) -Micron Technology on Friday warned of a bigger hit to revenue from a Chinese ban on sale of its chips to key domestic industries, sending the memory chipmaker's shares down about 2%.

The company said it now expects an impact on about half of its revenue from China-headquartered firms, which equates to a low-double-digit percentage of its total revenue. It had earlier flagged a hit in the low-single to high-single digit percentage.

Micron was the first U.S. chipmaker to be targeted by Beijing after Washington imposed a series of export controls on certain American components and chipmaking tools to ensure that they are not used to advance China's military capabilities.

The Cybersecurity Administration of China said in May that Micron failed its security review and barred operators of key domestic infrastructure from purchasing the biggest U.S. memory chipmaker's products. It had neither provided details on what risks it had found nor what Micron products would be affected.

The company said on Friday that the conclusion by the Chinese regulator "continues to remain uncertain and fluid."

It also added that several customers, including mobile manufacturers, were being contacted by Chinese government representatives about the future use of Micron products.

Micron's revenue from companies headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong, including direct sales as well as indirect sales through distributors, accounts for about a quarter of its total revenue.

The company earlier in the day said it would invest 4.3 billion yuan ($603.8 million) over the next few years in its chip packaging facility in the Chinese city of Xian, a move that CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said demonstrated the company's "unwavering commitment to its China business and team."

($1 = 7.1218 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
(Bloomberg) -- Micron Technology Inc. warned that about half of its sales tied to China-headquartered clients may be affected by a cybersecurity probe being carried out by the Chinese government, representing a low-double-digit percentage of its global revenue.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Several of Microns customers are being contacted by officials as part of a probe by the Cybersecurity Administration of China, announced earlier this year, the company said in a regulatory filing. Microns revenue with businesses based in mainland China and Hong Kong, including direct sales as well as indirect sales through distributors, accounts for about a quarter of Microns global revenue and remains the principal exposure, the company said.

Micron is working to mitigate this impact over time and expects increased quarter-to-quarter revenue variability, the company said in the filing.

Micron, the largest US memory chipmaker, fell 1.5% in New York Friday morning.

The technology sector has become a key battleground over national security between the two largest economies. US lawmakers have decried Beijings moves against Micron as a thinly veiled attack on an American company, at a time Washington itself is imposing sanctions on China. The US has blacklisted Chinese tech firms, cut off the flow of sophisticated processors and banned Chinas citizens from providing certain help to the domestic chip industry.

In May, Chinas cybersecurity regulator said Microns products failed to pass a review and barred the companys chips from critical infrastructure. Beijing warned operators of key infrastructure against buying the companys goods, saying it found relatively serious cybersecurity risks in Micron products sold in the country.

Micron has said previously that it stands by the security of its products and commitments to customers.

The ban on Microns chips exacerbated the uncertainty dogging US chipmakers that sell to China, the worlds biggest market for semiconductors. Companies like Qualcomm Inc., Broadcom Inc. and Intel Corp. deliver billions of dollars worth of chips to the country, which imports more semiconductors than oil.

Despite the restrictions, the Boise, Idaho-based company on Friday announced it would be plowing another $600 million into an existing packaging facility in central China. The company will acquire equipment and add assembly lines at its existing facility in the central city of Xian over coming years, it announced in a post on Chinese social media platform WeChat.

Washington is seeking to strengthen key supply chains outside of China as it works to contain Beijings geopolitical ambitions. The US is pushing to build advanced chipmaking domestically and in friendly countries as growing global tensions spur concerns about the worlds reliance on Asian centers, such as Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory.

Intel announced on Friday a new $4.6 billion chip facility in Poland and Micron is close to an agreement to commit at least $1 billion toward setting up a semiconductor packaging factory in India, people familiar with the matter said.

(Updates with detail on probe and investment in packaging facility.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Cardiology (PGDCC) is a two-year full-time residency program in cardiology for post-MBBS doctors offered by the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It was launched in 2006 by the Honorable Health Minister of India, Dr Anbumoni Ramadoss, to provide specialized training to medical professionals in the field of cardiology. The course was designed to develop a cadre of non-interventional cardiologists to develop rural cardiology and was open to candidates holding an MBBS degree.

This PGDCC diploma is not a distance education or online program. It is the first face-to-face full-time clinical residency program in cardiology offered by IGNOU. This two-year clinical residency program was designed similarly to the way the National Board of Examinations (NBE) conducts DNB programs in the country. The course is conducted in 67 tertiary care hospitals, including seven government medical colleges in the country. The PGDCC course was imparted along with DM and DNB Cardiology programmes, and the teaching faculty remained the same for both PGDCC and DNB/DM Cardiology.

The course runs up to the year 2013, when the erstwhile Medical Council of India denied to recognize the PGDCC qualification. The IGNOU had applied twice to MCI; however, on both occasions, MCI refused to recognize the said qualification. The grounds taken by the erstwhile MCI for not recognizing the said medical qualification under section 11(2) of the erstwhile Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 were that the prior permission of the Central Government under section 10A of the said Act was not obtained; nomenclature of the qualification was not present in the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER), 2000 and as per section 10B of the Act, the medical qualification cannot be recognized.

Aggrieved by the decision of the MCI, the Indian Association of Clinical Cardiologists (IACC) filed a Writ Petition No. 11819/2016 in the Hon'ble High Court of Delhi. The Hon'ble High Court, after a thorough examination of the matter and after considering the provision contained under the Indira Gandhi National Open University Act, 1985 and the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, vide its Judgment dated 17.09.2019, held that prior permission of the Central Government under section 10A of the IMC Act, 1956 to IGNOU is not required and quashed the stand of the MCI.

The Honorable High Court directed the Central Government to consider IGNOU's application for recognition of the PGDCC qualification under Section 11(2) of the IMC Act, as stated in the aforementioned Judgment. However, after the Judgment, the erstwhile MCI and NMC came up with additional grounds for non-recognition of the PGDCC qualification, such as the issue of nomenclature, mandatory inspection of examinations, and non-conforming hospitals to MCI requirements. These grounds are not sustainable as the retrospective recognition was given to the Diploma in Cardiology of GSVM Medical College, Kanpur, in 2019 without assessment of the curriculum or inspection of the institution. Additionally, the university selected only teaching institutions approved by MCI and NBE for conducting super speciality programs in cardiology, like DM /DNB cardiology. The lack of thesis or research projects by candidates is also not sustainable, as no medical diploma courses in the country have a thesis.

Despite this, both the MCI and the National Medical Commission (NMC) continued to deny recognition of the PGDCC qualification. However, in May 2020, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) recognized a Diploma course in Non-Invasive Cardiology, further supporting the recognition of the PGDCC qualification. The retrospective recognition was granted to the Diploma in Cardiology of GSVM Medical College, Kanpur, in 2019, wherein not only was the qualification recognized from 1974 to 1993 by the Central Government itself, but the necessary requirement of assessment of examination and inspection of standards was not evaluated.

It is worth noting that after completing this 2-year full-time clinical residency program in cardiology, many doctors are working successfully outside India in countries such as the US, UK, UAE, Singapore, Oman, Maldives, Bahrain, Saudi, Kuwait, and Kenya.

The Government of India should deploy these 1706 PGDCC doctors to develop rural cardiology. The issue of recognizing PGDCC and appointing these doctors to rural hospitals has been raised multiple times in the Parliament, both in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

The author, Padmashri Prof Dr G Vijayaraghavan, is the Vice Chairman of Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences, and the former Head of the Department of Cardiology, Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Biparjoy will weaken into a Severe Cyclonic Storm on Friday morning before turning into a depression over South Rajasthan by evening.

The storm will bring strong winds with a speed of 60 to 70 km per hour. The districts of Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jalore, and Jodhpur in Rajasthan will witness heavy rainfall. Rains will lash Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Ajmer on Saturday too.



The latest tweet from IMD read: "At 0230 of Today, 16th June the SCS BIPARJOY lay centered over Saurashtra-Kutch region, 30 km north of Naliya. it would further move NE-wards and weaken into a CS by the early morning of 16th and into a depression by the same evening over south Rajasthan."



At 0230 of Today, 16th June the SCS BIPARJOY lay centered over Saurashtra-Kutch region, 30 km north of Naliya. it would further move NE-wards and weaken into a CS by early morning of 16th and into a depression by the same evening over south Rajasthan.  India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) June 15, 2023

IMD director Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said that the cyclone has now moved from sea to land and is centred towards Saurashtra-Kutch. "Cyclone Biporjoy moved northeastwards and crossed the Saurashtra-Kutch adjoining Pakistan coast close to the Jakhau port, Gujarat. The cyclone has now moved from sea to land and is centred towards Saurashtra-Kutch," Mohapatra told ANI.



"The intensity of the cyclone has reduced to 105-115 kmph. The category has changed from very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS) to severe cyclonic storm (SCS). There may be heavy rains in Rajasthan on June 16 (Friday)," he added.



Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Thursday that the state was prepared to face the cyclone and the accompanying heavy rainfall. "We have done a review. People of Civil Defense and Disaster Management have been deputed and there is no need to panic," he told reporters. Gehlot also warned people in Barmer and Jalore to stay alert ahead of the impending cyclone.



Power outage in Kutch



Biparjoy, which made landfall in Gujarat on Thursday, caused flooding in low-lying areas and widespread power outages across Gujarat's Kutch district. The storm packed high winds and heavy rains, causing trees and power lines to uproot at Mandvi in Kutch district.



The entire town of Mandvi plunged into darkness after the storm. "No casualties have been reported so far," district collector Amit Arora said. "Over 200 electric poles have been uprooted, 250 trees are uprooted, and we have cut power supply in five tehsils as a precautionary measure," he told reporters.



"We have shifted people to shelters from the areas which are going to be most affected by cyclone which is 10 kms from the shore. We shifted around 52,000 people to shelters. We have shifted 25,000 cattle to higher grounds too," he said. No major mishap had taken place so far, he said.



The Morbi district also witnessed widespread power outages in 45 villages after the storm damaged over 300 electric poles. Officials with the Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) said that efforts are underway to restore power in nine of the affected villages. "Strong winds broke electric wires and poles, causing a power outage in 45 villages of Maliya tehsil. We are restoring power in 9 villages and power has been restored in the remaining villages," PGVCL's executive engineer, Morbi, JC Goswami told ANI.



Villagers use plastic sheet to shield themselves during rainfall ahead of the landfall of Cyclone Biparjoy, in Kutch district | PTI

PM Modi rings up Patel



Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel over the phone on Thursday night and enquired about the situation. Patel said the Prime Minister sought to know the steps taken by the state administration for the safety of wild animals, especially the lions in the Gir forest.



Gujarat Forest Department had constituted 184 'rapid action' squads to rescue wild animals and to clear fallen trees in the entire Asiatic lion zone, it said. While some radio-collared lions are being tracked through satellite signals, others are being tracked by the forest staff. The movement of 40 lions living near the coastal areas is also being closely monitored, said the release. As many as 58 control rooms have been set up to address any wildlife emergency.


Five foreign militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces on Friday near the line of control at Jumagand, in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.



The encounter began on Thursday night after security forces launched an anti-militancy operation in the area.



In a tweet, ADGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, said five foreign militants were killed in the encounter and a search in the area is underway.



This is the second gunfight in the area this week. Police, on Tuesday, had claimed that two militants were killed in a joint operation by the Army and police at Dobanar in the Machil sector near the LoC.



The killing of the militants assumed significance in the wake of preparations for the Amarnath Yatra that will begin on June 30. Security has been beefed up because of the yatra.



The Centre has provided additional para-military forces for ensuring the safety of the yatra and deployed other assets for the safe pilgrimage that takes place every year.



Infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir decreased after the ceasefire between India and Pakistan in 2021. The peace at the LoC has helped the residents straddling the LoC either resume normal life, farming, and grazing cattle or enjoy celebrations like marriages without the fear of getting caught in the crossfire.



The police, in a statement, said based on specific intelligence gathered by Kupwara police about the likely infiltration of a group of five highly trained terrorists of J&K Ghaznavi Force (JKGF), seasoned in the guerilla warfare in Afghan-Pakistan theatre, a well-thought-out and tactically designed operation was planned with Army on the possible route of infiltration in Jumagund area of the district and ambushes were laid accordingly.



On being intercepted, the terrorists attacked the joint ambush parties which retaliated by superior and well-controlled firepower resulting in the encounter and consequent neutralisation without any loss to own side, the statement said. The operation started late at midnight and was completed in the early morning hours. The sanitization process is going on. All five dead bodies and arms have been recovered. Further details are awaited.



The statement said the group was affiliated to JKGF, which has Rafiq Nai and Shamsher Nai alias Zafar Iqbal, both residents of Poonch presently settled in Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) as handlers, and Murtaza Pathan alias Ghaznvi, resident of Faisalabad, Pakistan, an Afghan veteran affiliated with Deoband school of thought, as operational commander supervising tactical aspect from POJK.



Meanwhile, a defence spokesman in Jammu said the alert troops in a joint operation by Army and Police foiled an infiltration bid at the Krishnaghati sector in the Poonch district along the Line of Control on the intervening night of June 14 and 15. In the operation, one AK 47 rifle, nine magazines, 438 rounds, two pistols with sixty rounds, six hand grenades, clothing and medicines, two pouches and two rucksacks were recovered.


Five foreign militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces at the line of control at Jumagand in north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Friday.

The encounter began last night after security forces launched an anti-militancy operation in the area.

In a tweet, ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said five foreign militants have been killed in the encounter and a search in the area is going on.

This is the second gunfight in the area this week.

Police on Tuesday had claimed that two militants were killed in a joint operation by Army and Police at Dobanar in the Machil sector near the LoC.

The killing of the militants assumed significance in view of the heightened security arrangements for the Amarnath yatra that will begin on June 30 for 62 days.

The Centre has provided additional para-military forces for the security of the yatra and deployed other assets for the safe pilgrimage that takes place every year.

Infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir has decreased after the ceasefire between India and Pakistan in 2021. The peace at the LoC has helped the residents resume normal life, farming, grazing of cattle and enjoy celebrations including marriages without the fear of getting caught in the crossfire.
The residence of Union Minister R K Ranjan in Imphal was set on fire by a mob on Thursday night, officials said. The mob of over 1000 people hurled petrol bombs at Ranjan's house at Kongba in Imphal East district despite the presence of security forces.

There are no casualities as Singh and his family were not at their house in Imphal at the time of the incident. "I am currently in Kerala for official work. Thankfully, nobody got injured last night at my Imphal home. The miscreants came with petrol bombs and damage has been done to the ground floor and first floor of my home."



He added that he would continue to appeal for peace. "It is very sad to see what is happening in my home state. I will still continue to appeal for peace. Those indulging in this kind of violence are absolutely inhuman," he added.



Despite a curfew in place at Imphal, the mob managed to reach the minister's house at Kongba. Security personnel posted at the minister's house said the petrol bombs were hurled from all directions during the attack.



#WATCH | Manipur: A mob torched Union Minister of State for External Affairs RK Ranjan Singh's residence at Kongba in Imphal on Thursday late night. https://t.co/zItifvGwoG pic.twitter.com/LWAWiJnRwc  ANI (@ANI) June 16, 2023

There were nine security escorts personnel, five security guards and eight additional guards at the time of the incident. "We couldn't prevent the incident as the mob was overwhelming and we couldn't control the situation. They threw petrol bombs coming in from all directions.. from the bye lane behind the building and from the front entrance. so we simply couldn't control the mob," Escort Commander L Dineshwor Singh was quoted by NDTV.



Singh's house had come under attack earlier too. On May 26, a mob had stormed his residence, following which Imphal East Police rushed to the spot to control the situation. The RAP personnel on duty had resorted to tear gas shelling and fired five blank rounds to disperse the crowd.



The strife-torn state witnessed fresh incidents of violence on Thursday. More incidents of arson were reported after two abandoned houses were were set on fire by a mob. An attack in the Khamenlok area had left nine people dead and injured ten others. No casualty was reported.



The incident happened as the army and Assam Rifles intensified their area domination operations after violence broke out in a Kuki village in the Khamenlok area bordering Imphal East and Kangpoki districts on Wednesday. The villagers had fired at miscreants who attacked the village. Security forces tried to quell the mob used force and fired tear gas shells.



The miscreants also set on fire the official quarters of woman Manipur minister Nemcha Kipgen in the Lamphel area in Imphal West district. Firefighters reached the spot and doused the flames before the blaze could spread to the neighbourhood.


The BJP, on Friday, launched an all-out attack against the Congress following its remarks on renaming of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, saying the party's inability to accept the fact that there are leaders beyond "one dynasty" is a classic example of "political indigestion".

The ruling party also slammed the Congress, saying they are suffering from "Modiabind" blind opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This came after the Congress called the renaming the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library Society (NMML) in New Delhi as the Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society a "petty act" while asserting that legacies do not get erased by renaming buildings.

In a sharp reaction, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the move shows the "low mentality and dictatorial attitude" of the BJP and the RSS as they can never reduce the huge contribution of Jawaharlal Nehru, whom he described as the architect of modern India.

Hitting back in a series of tweets, BJP president J.P. Nadda said, "Classic example of political indigestionthe inability to accept a simple fact that there are leaders beyond one dynasty who have served and built our nation."

Every prime minister has been given respect in the prime ministers' museum and the section relating to the first prime minister Nehru has not been altered, he said.

The prime ministers' museum is an effort "beyond politics", Nadda asserted and alleged that the Congress lacks "the vision to realise this".

The NMML has been renamed nearly a year after the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya was inaugurated on the premises of the Teen Murti Bhavan.

"In the PM Sangrahalaya, every PM has got respect. Section relating to Pandit Nehru hasn't been altered. On the contrary, it's prestige has been enhanced," Nadda said.

The Congress' approach to the issue is "ironical" considering the party's "only contribution is to erase the legacies of all previous PMs to ensure that only the legacy of one family survives", he charged.

"For a party which ruled India for over 50 years, their pettiness is really tragic. It's also the reason people are rejecting them," Nadda said.

BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Sudhanshu Trivedi said the Congress is leveling allegations even though its leaders have not yet visited the museum to see how contributions and achievements of Nehru and those of his successors have been showcased in a much better way with use of technology.

He said the museum showcases the contributions and achievements of all the former prime ministers including Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, P.V. Narasimha Rao, Rajiv Gandhi and Manmohan Singh of the Congress.

"I am deliberately taking the name of their own prime ministers. I can understand if they have some bitterness with Narasimha Rao. But, I want to know what is their problem with the achievements of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Manmohan Singh whose terms as prime minister have been showcased in an organised manner," Trivedi said.

"In their opposition to Prime Minister Modi, they are suffering from 'Modiabind'. They do not hesitate to even insult their own leaders," he charged.

Trivedi reminded the Congress how the Modi government celebrated the 125th birth anniversary of Nehru in 2014 after the NDA came to power at the Centre.

"I am surprised and a bit perturbed also (with the Congress' reaction in the matter)," he said and asked, "How many Congress leaders have gone there to see the Nehru Memorial."

He said the memorial of India's first prime minister at Teen Murti Bhavan was not in a very good condition.

"It was gathering dust... The portion of Nehru ji's memorial has been reorganised in a much better way and it showcases his contributions and achievements with the use of advanced technology," the BJP leader added.

In a series of tweets, former prime minister Chandra Shekhar's son and BJP's Rajya Sabha member Neeraj Shekhar said every prime minister, irrespective of party lines, has "got dignity and respect" with their contribution being highlighted in the PM museum.

This shows Modi's "statesmanship", he said.

"Forget honouring prime ministers, Congress and their royal dynasty have insulted the prime ministers who do not belong to their dynasty. The treatment towards Narasimha Rao Ji will go down as one of the most shameful chapters of our political history," Shekhar charged.

"My father, former PM Chandra Shekhar Ji always worked for national interest. He even worked with Congress but they never looked beyond one dynasty. Now, when PM Modi honoured prime ministers across party lines, Congress is getting agitated," he said, dubbing it as "horrible attitude" of the Congress.

Reacting to Kharge's remark, BJP's IT department head Amit Malaviya asked if Nehru's legacy is "so feeble" that it can't stand alongside other prime ministers, who have also served the country with "great commitment".

"Or, is the Congress wary of Nehru's aura dissipating because it was built by erasing contributions of other leaders, several of them from the Congress?" he said in a tweet, adding, "The Congress must stop belittling the likes of Lal Bahadur Shashtri, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, PV Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whose contributions are no less."

The culture ministry on Friday said in a special meeting of the NMML, it was resolved to change its name to Prime Ministers' Museum and Library Society.

The meeting was presided over by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is the vice president of the society, it said.
Congress on Friday criticised the Centre's decision of renaming the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library to Prime Ministers Museum and Society.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh in his tweet said that it is Pettiness and Vengeance.

Pettiness & Vengeance, thy name is Modi. For over 59 years Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML) has been a global intellectual landmark and treasure house of books & archives. It will henceforth be called Prime Ministers Museum & Society. What won't Mr. Modi do to distort, disparage and destroy the name & legacy of the architect of the Indian nation-state. A small, small man overburdened by his insecurities is the self-styled Vishwaguru, he tweeted.

Pettiness & Vengeance, thy name is Modi. For over 59 years Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML) has been a global intellectual lamdmark and treasure house of books & archives. It will henceforth be called Prime Ministers Museum & Society. What won't Mr. Modi do to distort,  Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 16, 2023

On Thursday the decision of renaming the Society was taken at a special meeting presided by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is the vice-president of the Society.

The Society has Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its chairman, and among its 29 members include Union Ministers Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Anurag Thakur.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Manish Tewari said that legacies don't get erased by renaming buildings.

I wish those who want to erase Jawahar Lal Nehrus contribution to freedom struggle & building of Modern India would once read Discovery of India & Glimpses of World History to fathom the depth of Nehru. Legacies dont get erased by renaming buildings, tweeted Tewari.

Teen Murti House was the official residence of India's first PM Jawaharlal Nehru since 1948 till his death in 1964. Later, President S. Radhakrishnan dedicated the House to the nation and inaugurated the Nehru Memorial Museum.

In his address at the meeting on Thursday, Rajnath Singh welcomed the proposal for change in name, since in its new form, the institution exhibits the contributions of all PMs, from Jawaharlal Nehru to Narendra Modi, and their responses to various challenges faced by them, said a statement from the NMML.

"The executive council subsequently felt that the name of the institution should reflect the present activities, which now also include a sangrahalaya depicting the collective journey in Independent India, highlighting the contribution of each Prime Minister in nation-building," said the statement.
Former Special Director-General of police Rajesh Das was convicted on Friday by a Tamil Nadu court for sexually harassing junior officer.

He was sentenced to three years imprisonment and fine Rs 10,000. Also, a fine of Rs 500 was imposed on a male police officer who had tried to stop his colleague from registering the complaint against her boss.

Meanwhile, the TN local court granted bail to Das and allowed 30 days time for appeal.

The woman IPS officer had filed a complaint against the senior officer in February 2021, alleging the officer had made sexual advances when they were travelling on duty for the security of the then Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisami.

Ahead of the 2021 Assembly election, the incident had rocked the government. The state had set up a six-member committee to probe the complaint.

Later Das was suspended and Jayanth Murali, Additional Director General in-charge of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption took over.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, then Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader had assured legal process and punishment. He had said that such behaviour towards women will not be tolerated.
In the wake of unrest and violence in West Bengal ahead of the upcoming panchayat elections, Calcutta High Court had directed the state election commission (SEC) to send a requisition to the Centre for deployment of central forces within 48 hours.

A division bench of the High Court, led by Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam directed the SEC.

The chief justice also ordered the SEC to install CCTV cameras at every booth and corner of the counting centres to monitor the situation.

Allegations were raised by the Opposition that the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) was resorting to violence and intimidation to prevent their candidates from filing nominations.

The rural polls will be held in a single phase on July 8 and the counting of the votes will take place on July 11. Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in 2024, the rural polls hold significance in the state.

Meanwhile, the division bench had reserved the order on a PIL filed by Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the Opposition, alleging violence during the filing of nominations.

"There are two ways on how we understand the role of the SEC. We are not here to advise you (SEC) to accept our judgment as it is. If you are aggrieved, you can take it to appeal. But if you are of the view that your action is to thwart or make the judgment unworkable, we are not here to sit silent," the Chief Justice said, reported Times of India.

On the last day for filing nomination papers on Thursday, electoral violence escalated in West Bengal leaving three dead and several others injured.

Incidents of violence were reported in Bhangar of South 24 Pargana and Chopra of North Dinajpur.

HC in its earlier order directed the SEC to identify sensitive areas in the state and also sought the deployment of central forces.

The violence triggered a political slugfest between the Opposition CPI(M), Congress, BJP and the ruling TMC.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Opposition of trying to spoil the image of the state by unleashing violence. She denied involvement of her party behind the clashes.

Several incidents of clashes were reported from different parts of the state.

"In around 74,000 booths, some incidents have occurred in only two or three. Our party workers are not involved in those incidents," said Banerjee.

"Opposition parties are trying to create disturbances by orchestrating violence while filing nominations. They are doing it to tarnish the state's image. If they (the opposition) think they will unleash one-sided violence, then people will give a befitting reply," she said.

The state's three-tier panchayat election encompassing a significant electorate of approximately 5.67 crores, will exercise their franchise to choose representatives for nearly 75,000 seats in zilla parishads, panchayat samiti and gram panchayats.

In the 2018 rural polls, the TMC won 90 per cent of the Panchayat seats in the state and all 22 Zilla Parishads.

(With PTI inputs)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who recently predicted the possibility of early general elections, on Friday, reiterated that there is a chance that the ruling BJP may go for early polls sensing that the opposition unity is gaining momentum.



"What I said was in jest (aise hi kah diya tha), but the possibility cannot be ruled out. The current dispensation may feel that if our opposition unity bid gathered momentum, it would inflict on them bigger losses. So they could take recourse to early polls," the Bihar CM was quoted as saying, reported PTI.



A government at the Centre always has this option (to hold early polls), Kumar observed. "Early polls took place in 2004 too even though the then prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee was not in favour of the same, he added.



RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav too had concurred with Kumar's speculation on Thursday saying, "You never know, it is possible..... Everything is in the hands of the ruling dispensation at the Centre."



Kumar's claim that the polls will be held early had attracted criticism from the BJP which said the Bihar CM wants assembly elections in the state to be clubbed with general elections.



Union minister Giriraj Singh had dismissed Kumar's speculation with a dig: "It is great to see that Nitish Kumar has become a soothsayer." "Nitish Kumar is unable to govern Bihar but takes great interest in affairs outside his state," he added.



Manjhi was spying on opposition: Kumar



Meanwhile, Kumar, on Friday, also defended the ouster of former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi from the state's ruling 'Mahagathbandhan', alleging that the Hindustani Awam Morcha founder was virtually spying on opposition parties at the BJP's behest.



Kumar, who is till date criticised by his detractors for the unceremonious removal of Manjhi within less than a year of becoming the CM, said, "He started making a mess of everything within two months. I was left with no choice but to step in."



Kumar insisted that despite the bad blood between Manjhi and himself, he always treated the HAM chief with respect, and ahead of the 2020 assembly polls, "when he expressed the desire to join hands, the BJP was not ready to make any adjustments with him on seats, so we parted with a few from our quota".



The chief minister also chided Manjhi for crying hoarse over his "loyalty" never being respected, pointing out that "when he decided to come to Mahagathbandhan with me, Suman's (Manjhi's son) ministerial berth was protected".



"Of late he had begun to hobnob with the BJP people, said Kumar, apparently referring to Manjhi's meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in April.



"I had received inputs that he was informing on Mahagathbandhan and its plans. He was very insistent on being a part of the June 23 meeting as well, the Bihar CM claimed.



Kumar said, "I was apprehensive that he might be thinking of leaking to the BJP whatever deliberations would be held on June 23 when so many leaders from across the country will be sitting together".



With PTI inputs
Groundwater pumping has shifted such a large mass of water that the Earth tilted nearly 80 centimetres east between 1993 and 2010 alone, which could impact our planet's climate, according to a study.

The research, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, found that during the study period, the most water was redistributed in western North America and northwestern India.

Scientists have previously estimated humans pumped 2,150 gigatons of groundwater, equivalent to more than 6 millimetres of sea level rise, from 1993 to 2010. However, validating that estimate is difficult.

"Earth's rotational pole actually changes a lot," said Ki-Weon Seo, a geophysicist at Seoul National University in South Korea, who led the study.

"Our study shows that among climate-related causes, the redistribution of groundwater actually has the largest impact on the drift of the rotational pole," Seo said.

The researchers noted that water's ability to change the Earth's rotation was discovered in 2016, and until now, the specific contribution of groundwater to these rotational changes was unexplored.

The latest study modelled the observed changes in the drift of Earth's rotational pole and the movement of waterfirst, with only ice sheets and glaciers considered, and then adding in different scenarios of groundwater redistribution.

The model only matched the observed polar drift once the researchers included 2150 gigatons of groundwater redistribution. Without it, the model was off by 78.5 centimeters, or 4.3 centimeters of drift per year.

The researchers said attempts by countries to slow groundwater depletion rates, especially in those sensitive regions, could theoretically alter the change in drift, but only if such conservation approaches are sustained for decades.

The rotational pole normally changes by several metres within about a year, so changes due to groundwater pumping do not run the risk of shifting seasons. However, on geologic time scales, polar drift can have an impact on climate, they said.

"This is a nice contribution and an important documentation for sure," said Surendra Adhikari, a research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, US, who was not involved in this study.

Adhikari published the 2016 paper on water redistribution impacting rotational drift.

"They have quantified the role of groundwater pumping on polar motion, and it's pretty significant," Adhikari said in a statement.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will be in China tomorrow. Days before his departure, Blinken received a stern rebuke from his Chinese host, who blamed Washington for the recent spike in tensions between the two nations. The already fraught relationship worsened after Blinken scrapped an earlier trip in February over a suspected Chinese spy balloon that flew over the US.



Blinken's trip is a high-stakes one, an attempt from the US to improve ties between the two countries. In a phone call with Blinken, Chinas Foreign Minister Qin Gang urged the US to show respect for Beijings core concerns and stop interfering in its internal affairs, CNN reported.

When Blinken spoke to Gang, he stressed The importance of maintaining open lines of communication to responsibly manage" the relationship, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. Relations between the two superpowers have long been under strain over trade, the human rights of Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region, Taiwan and many other issues.

Daniel Kritenbrink, the top State Department official for East Asia, said that the United States was realistic" about what Blinken could achieve, AFP reported. Were not going to Beijing with the intent of having some sort of breakthrough or transformation," Kritenbrink told said.

Instead, Blinken is coming with a sincere desire to manage our competition in the most responsible way possible." reportedly, Chinese state media has stayed largely muted in recent days for a visit by a senior American official in five years. China, after the spy balloon incident, wants to avoid another potential embarrassment.



In recent months, the US signed a trade deal with Taiwan, slapped sanctions on Chinese companies and pushed allies to restrict semiconductor tech experts to China. These actions have caused Beijing to question Washington's sincerity.





According to experts, the US' control on technology export, especially curbs on the supply of advanced semiconductors and chipmaking equipment to China and Taiwan are the issues at the top of Beijing's agenda.





China has always viewed and managed China-US relations in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation put forward by President Xi Jinping," Gang told AFP.





Arms sales with Taiwan, visits by senior US lawmakers and other steps taken by Washington to help Taipei defend itself, have caused China to accuse the US of stirring trouble, experts observe.





In 2018, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited China. Post this, Joe Biden and Xi Jinping met in Bali in November 2022, where they agreed to try to prevent tensions from soaring out of control. On June 11, the US accused China of having an intelligence unit in Cuba for years.


Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. The billionaire and philanthropist will help China fight tuberculosis and malaria.



On Thursday, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announced that it will donate $50 million to help Chinese efforts to fight disease. This will be Gate's first visit in four years. This is one of the first few visits by a Western business leader since the country ended its strict COVID controls.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase visited China last month. Chinese state media CCTV said on the agenda is a rare sit down between Jinping and Gates. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit the US on June 17.

The $50 million will support "efforts to improve health outcomes worldwide through lifesaving therapies for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, which disproportionately affect the world's poorest", the Gates Foundation said in a statement, AFP reported.

"China has made significant gains reducing poverty and improving health outcomes within China," Gates said.



"I'm hopeful China can play an even bigger role in addressing the current challenges, particularly those facing African countries," he added. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said it would renew collaboration with the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute (GHDDI). The GHDDI is a Beijing-based group set up by Gates, the Beijing municipal government and Tsinghua University.

During Gates' visit to China in 2019, he met with first lady Peng Liyuan to discuss his foundation's work in the prevention of HIV/AIDS.
Drought and rising heat bring unusual wildfire warnings in northern Europe Summer is wildfire season in southern Europe, but this year the continent's north is also at risk, with forest fire warnings in effect across the Nordic and Baltic countries.

A lack of rain and rising temperatures have led to dangerously dry conditions in the region, leading to worries of a repeat of the summer of 2018 when major wildfires swept across Sweden in particular.

Small wildfires are already burning in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland and experts worry it could get much worse unless there's significant rainfall in coming weeks.

Unlike the sun-soaked Mediterranean countries, which have to deal with wildfires every summer, the phenomenon is rare in the countries of northern Europe, where summers are normally cool and wet by comparison.

These countries are relatively new to drought problems, said Niclas Hjerdt, head of hydrological forecasting at Sweden's weather agency SMHI.

We usually have an excess of water up here in northern Europe and Scandinavia. So there isn't this historic knowledge of how to deal with drought situations that you could find in countries further south in Europe.

SMHI says southern Sweden received very little rain in May and not a single drop so far in June, leaving the soil exceptionally dry. The agency says the risk of wildfires is now extremely high in the southern half of the country, including the Stockholm region, and even though there's some rain in the forecast this weekend, it's unlikely enough to have a significant impact, Hjerdt said.

In neighbouring Finland, the Finnish Meteorological Institute this week warned of dry terrain and a high risk of forest fires in most of the country, with a very high risk in southwestern Finland and the Aaland islands in the Baltic Sea.

Both Sweden and Finland are mostly covered by forests.

Similar warnings have been issued in Norway, Denmark and the Baltic countries. Campfires are banned in much of the region.

Experts say the drought could be related to the transition of La Nina to El Nino climatic conditions in the Pacific, which shifts weather patterns across the world, and often leads to dry summers in northern Europe.

Hjerdt said it's too early to draw any link to climate change but added that in general, a warming climate is making the Nordic region more vulnerable to forest fires by making summers longer and winters shorter, prolonging the vegetative season when most precipitation evaporates or transpires rather than sinking deeper into the ground.

Only small-scale forest fires have been reported in Sweden, Denmark and Norway so far but authorities warn the situation could escalate unless there's significant rainfall in coming weeks.

Meanwhile, temperatures are heating up in the region and are expected to hit 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) in coming days in Finland rare for a country straddling the Arctic Circle.

The heat wave can stay on the surface for next week as well and spread all the way to Lapland, said the Finnish institute's meteorologist Tuomo Bergman, referring to Finland's northernmost area.

No substantial rain was expected in Finland until around Midsummer, June 24, he said, when traditional bonfires will be banned.

Denmark's farming minister, Jacob Jensen, said that the drought has already had a major impact on our agriculture in the past few weeks, and with the prospect of a summer without rain, we will have to have a clear plan for how we can help agriculture in the best possible way.

The Federation of Swedish Farmers said the drought had already affected grassland crops and could have an impact on cereals.

If there is no rain soon, future harvests will suffer, the industry group said in a statement. It noted that due to the hot and dry summer of 2018, the industry lost almost the entire grain harvest at a cost of approximately 10 billion Swedish kronor (USD 1.2 billion).

Globally, the month of May was a joint-second warmest May on record, according to the European Commission's Copernicus Climate Change Service, with temperatures in Canada and the northern United States particularly warm.

Canada saw major wildfires that sent hazardous haze deep into the US.

In Europe, May was drier than average in southern Scandinavia, the Baltic countries and western Russia, Copernicus said. Most of Southern Europe saw wetter than average conditions, except the Iberian Peninsula which also experienced droughts.

This spring in Spain was the hottest and the second-driest on record for the country. That has created conditions for wildfires breaking out early this year and the need for restrictions on water for agriculture, industry and filling private swimming pools in the hardest-hit areas.

In mainland France, the water resources are still feeling the effects of a drought last summer, with two-thirds of the national water tables below normal levels.

Localised forest fires have broken out in parts of France including regions such as Lorraine and Vosges where extreme heat and forest fires are rare.

Sweden saw the worst forest fires in its modern history in 2018 during an unusually dry and warm summer. The wildfires also affected Denmark, Finland and Norway.

We are currently in a serious situation, it is similar to the one that prevailed before the summer of 2018, Sweden's Civil Defense Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin said Thursday, adding airborne firefighting units were on standby.
Authorities in Greece have detained nine persons, all Egyptian nationals, for piloting the fishing vessel crammed with migrants which sank off the Greek coast on Wednesday. Considered to be one of the worst disasters in the Mediterranean, authorities have confirmed the death of 78 persons and several hundreds missing.

According to reports, upto 100 children were travelling in the ship's hold. The Guardian reported that the accused, aged between 20 and 40, were suspected of masterminding the illegal voyage of hundreds of people to Italy from Libya after first setting out from Egypt with the trawler. The publication quoted Nikos Alexiou, the Hellenic coastguard spokesperson as saying, They are in custody and will appear before a local magistrate. They are being held by the coastguard in Kalamata.

According to reports, the ship's captain died in the incident. Authorities expected to press several charges, including mass murder, against suspects.

Greece's coast guard launched its third and final day of a search on Friday in the area where the fishing boat sank. The round-the-clock effort continued off the coast of southern Greece despite little hope of finding survivors or bodies after none have been found since Wednesday, when 78 bodies were recovered and 104 people were rescued.

Most of the survivors were being moved Friday to migrant shelters near Athens from a storage hangar at the southern port of Kalamata, where relatives also gathered to look for loved ones.

Alexiou, citing survivors' accounts, said that passengers in the hold of the fishing boat included women and children but that the number of missing, believed to be in the hundreds, remains unclear.

The fishing boat carrying the migrants had been travelling from Libya to Italy and was being tracked by the Greek authorities as well as European Union border protection agency Frontex.

Officials at a state-run morgue outside Athens have been photographing the faces of the victims and gathering DNA samples to start the identification process.

(With PTI inputs.)
The US Human Rights groups are reportedly planning protests ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's US visit, over the alleged "deteriorating human rights situation."

The Indian American Muslim Council, Peace Action, Veterans for Peace and Bethesda African Cemetery Coalition plan to gather near the White House on June 22 when Modi is due to meet the U.S. President Joe Biden, reported Reuters.

The report said the groups have also added flyers that read "Modi Not Welcome" and "Save India from Hindu Supremacy." The groups have also planned an event in New York featuring a show titled "Howdy Democracy", referring to 2019's "Howdy Modi!" rally in Texas featuring Modi and then-U.S. President Donald Trump.



This comes as two human rights groups decided to organise a screening of the controversial BBC documentary, 'India: The Modi Question'. As per reports, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have invited policymakers, journalists and analysts next week to a screening in Washington the BBC documentary.

Meanwhile, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters that human rights issue do feature in the conversations between the two countries.



On human rights issues in India, Miller said there are a number of issues with which the US work with India and it also regularly raises with Indian Government officials its human rights concerns. "We've been clear about that. We speak with them privately we speak about those privately with the Indian Government...," he said.



On the protests planned ahead of Modi's visit, Miller said: "I will also say that with respect to protests, we support the right of every American to exercise their First Amendment rights to make their voices heard. We just earlier in this briefing talked about a very vigorous exercise of the First Amendment right that's been happening outside our building for, I don't know, a week or two now, and we continue to support the right of Americans to do so, " Miller said.



However, analysts say the human rights issues are unlikely to change or influence the Biden-Modi discussions. "My guess is that human rights will not be much of a focus of the conversation," Donald Camp, a former State Department official and part of Washington think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies, told Reuters.

Camp added that for the Modi trip to be seen as successful on both sides, there would be a reluctance from Washington to raise human rights issues.



Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center think tank in Washington, too thinks the US views India as an important long-term partner. "The China factor is certainly a prime reason why the U.S. treats rights and democracy issues in India with kid gloves, but it goes further than that," Kugelman told Reuters.


A delegation of African leaders and senior officials reached Ukraine's capital Kyiv on Friday to broker peace between the warring countries. However, the delegation had to take cover in bomb shelters as Russian missiles rocked the city.



The delegation including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Azali Assoumani, African Union chairperson and President of the Union of Comoros are expected to meet Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday.

The delegation first went to Bucha, a Kyiv suburb where bodies of civilians lay scattered in the streets last year after Russian troops abandoned a campaign to seize the capital and withdrew from the area.

The delegation's stop in Bucha was symbolically significant, as the town's name has come to stand for the brutality of Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Russian occupation of Bucha left hundreds of civilians dead in the streets and in mass graves. Some showed signs of torture.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said last month that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to separate meetings with members of an African peace mission.

The delegation was set to travel to St. Petersburg later Friday, where Russia's top international economic conference is taking place, and meet with Putin on Saturday. It includes senior officials from Uganda, Egypt, the Republic of the Congo as well as South Africa, Zambia, Senegal, and Comoros.

While in Bucha, the visitors placed commemorative candles at a small memorial outside St. Andrew's Church, near one of the locations where a mass grave was unearthed.

Shortly after, air raid sirens began to wail in Ukraine's capital. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported an explosion in the Podilskiy district, one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods. Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.

Officials who helped lay the groundwork for the delegation's talks said the African leaders not only aimed to initiate a peace process but also to assess how Russia, which is under heavy international sanctions, can be paid for fertiliser exports that Africa desperately needs.

They are also set to discuss the related issue of ensuring more grain shipments out of Ukraine amid the war and the possibility of more prisoner swaps.

Life is universal, and we must protect lives Ukrainian lives, Russian lives, global lives, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema told The Associated Press. Instability anywhere is instability everywhere.

The African peace overture comes as Ukraine launches a counteroffensive to dislodge the Kremlin's forces from occupied areas, using Western-supplied advanced weapons in attacks along the 1,000-kilometer front line. Western analysts and military officials have cautioned that the campaign could last a long time.

China presented its own peace proposal at the end of February but it appeared to have few chances of success. Ukraine and its allies largely dismissed the plan, and the warring signs look no closer to a ceasefire.

Al Jazeera reported that according to a draft framework, the delegation could propose a series of confidence-building measures during initial efforts at mediation. Its measures could include a Russian pullback, removal of tactical nuclear weapons from Belarus and suspension of the implementation of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant targeting Putin. A ceasefire could follow and would need to be accompanied by negotiations between Russia and the West, Al Jazeera reported.

(With PTI inputs.)
The Biden administration has eased norms by releasing policy guidance on the eligibility criteria for those waiting for green cards to work and stay in America, days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US.

Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. They will host Modi at a state dinner on June 22.

The visit also includes an address to the Joint Session of the Congress on June 22. The guidance issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regarding the eligibility criteria for initial and renewal applications for Employment Authorisation Document (EAD) in compelling circumstances is expected to help thousands of Indian technology professionals who are in the agonisingly long wait for a Green Card or permanent residency.

A Green Card, known officially as a Permanent Resident Card, is a document issued to immigrants to the US as evidence that the bearer has been granted the privilege of residing permanently. Immigration law provides for approximately 1,40,000 employment-based green cards to be issued each year.

However, only seven per cent of those green cards can go to individuals from a single country annually.

The USCIS guidance outlines specific requirements that applicants must meet to be eligible for an initial EAD based on compelling circumstances.

These include being the principal beneficiary of an approved Form I-140, being in valid non-immigrant status or authorised grace period, not having filed an adjustment of status application, and meeting certain biometrics and criminal background requirements.

Further, USCIS will exercise discretion to determine whether an applicant demonstrates compelling circumstances justifying the issuance of employment authorisation.

These measures are a significant step towards supporting individuals facing challenging situations and ensuring their ability to work lawfully in the United States, said Ajay Bhutoria, a prominent community leader and advocate for immigrant rights. He highlighted the importance of these measures for individuals and their dependents who find themselves in challenging situations such as serious illness or disability, employer disputes or retaliation, significant harm, or disruptions to employment.

Bhutoria said the non-exhaustive list of qualifying circumstances, as provided by USCIS, offers individuals an opportunity to present evidence supporting their case.

For instance, individuals with approved immigrant visa petitions in oversubscribed categories or chargeability areas may submit evidence like school or higher education enrollment records, mortgage records, or long-term lease records to demonstrate compelling circumstances, he said.

This provision can prove crucial in situations where families face the potential loss of their home, withdrawal of children from school, or the need to relocate to their home country due to job loss, Bhutoria added.

Foundation of India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), which has been advocating for laid-off H1-B workers, applauded USCIS for taking such a step that would help a large number of Indian IT professionals.

I really feel proud that a sustained advocacy for more than six months started reflecting in considerations and adjustments by USCIS, said Khanderao Kand from FIIDS.
Kolkata, Jun 16 (PTI) Leading FMCG company Marico Ltd on Friday said its 'Nihar Naturals Hair Oil' brand now has over 50 per cent market penetration in West Bengal.

The company has launched a new television commercial featuring Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt.

Marico aims at boosting investment in consumer activation to further strengthen its consumer connection in the state and the eastern part of the country, an official said.

West Bengal has always been one of the key markets for us, with everyone in two households in the region trusting us for their hair care," Marico Ltd chief marketing officer Somasree Bose Awasthi said.

On the partnership with Alia, she said, With this ad campaign, we want to highlight how beautiful hair is not a result of any magic but the goodness of coconut and Methi for thick hair."
Guwahati, Jun 16 (PTI) Numaligarh Refinery Ltd on Friday signed a memorandum of agreement with the Institute of Frontier Science and Application and Kaziranga University to carry out research on the assessment of wind energy potential in north-east India.

The agreement was signed by NRL's senior chief general manager Nikunja Borthakur, Kaziranga University vice-chancellor Dr P K Mishra and IFSA chairman Dr P Goswami, a company release said.

The project aims at developing bankable wind energy assessment over Assam in a riverine environment using mobile lidar observations for three years.

According to the MoA, Kaziranga University, in technical collaboration with IFSA and with funding from NRL, will implement the project.

NRL director (finance) Sanjay Choudhuri and senior officials from all the organisations were present on the occasion.
World Council of Churches Marks 108Th Anniversary of Assyrian Genocide

The 11th Assembly of the World Council of Churches (WCC), meeting in Karlsruhe, Germany, recalls again both the historical reality and the persistent and present threat of genocide for some peoples.

In this context, we have been reminded of the 'Syriac genocide' or 'SAYFO' in which, in 1915, over half a million Syriac-Aramaic Christians are estimated to have lost their lives. Though taking place in the same historical and political context, these events are understood as distinct and separate from the Armenian genocide (on which the Busan Assembly issued a Minute). Alongside the Armenian genocide, the upheavals of that historical period were marked by genocidal acts against several -- mostly Christian -- communities of Aramean, Chaldean, Syrian, Assyrian and Greek descent, which have blighted history at the beginning of the 20th century. We acknowledge that these tragic events occurred, and that they must be named by their right name.

All too often, the victims of genocide and their descendants face silence and the denial of historical facts, and must struggle for recognition of what their people have experienced, compounding their anguish and despair.

This Assembly therefore requests the General Secretary to provide information to WCC member churches on this matter and to continue to pursue it in appropriate contexts.
Surat (Gujarat) [India], June16: The textile city of Surat witnessed a one-of-its-kind fashion show titled 'FASHIONATE 2023' hosted by the International Institute of Fashion Designing (IIFD) at the Surat International Exhibition and Convention Centre's (SIECC) Platinum Hall in Sarsana. The event brought together more than 160 talented fashion design students who displayed their unique creations and introduced their designer garments.







Under the guidance of founder Pallavi Maheshwari and founder director Mukesh Maheshwari, this fashion extravaganza was a testament to the institute's commitment to nurturing creativity and excellence in the fashion world.



Unveiling Creative Collections



The event witnessed a vibrant display of creativity and innovation as the student designers presented their collections for the upcoming season. The textiles and apparel industry experienced a wave of new techniques, treatments, and value additions through unconventional manufacturing processes. The fashion students from IIFD Surat pushed the boundaries by incorporating elements inspired by ancient Indian heritage, such as the Patrika Gate and Nalanda University. They also focused on thought-provoking concepts such as saving marine life, the cyber world of the future, sustainability, and the judicious use of polyester waste.



Innovations in Surat's Textile Industry



The fashion event also showcased a range of commercial and party wear suitable for various occasions. It highlighted the incredible innovations emerging from Surat's textile industry. Known as the 'Silk City' of India, Surat has a rich history in textile manufacturing. The student designers capitalized on the city's expertise and incorporated unique fabrics, patterns, and designs into their creations, paying homage to Surat's textile legacy.



Avant-Garde Presentations



The grand finale of 'FASHIONATE 2023' was a spectacle to behold. The students presented a mesmerizing display of avant-garde costumes that captured the attention of both the theatre and the international film industry. The daring and imaginative designs showcased the students' ability to push the boundaries of fashion, creating wearable art that left a lasting impression on the audience.



Founder Director Mr. Mukesh Maheshwari, while sharing exciting news during the event, stated that the IIFD students had the opportunity to work with renowned fashion designer Manish Malhotra at Fashion Connect in Jaipur, further enhancing their practical experience and industry exposure. Additionally, IIFD Surat has established an affiliation with Instituto di Moda Burgo, Milan, an esteemed Italian fashion college. This affiliation opens up new avenues for students, allowing them to benefit from international exposure and a global perspective on fashion design.



The success of 'FASHIONATE 2023' was further amplified by the presence of eminent personalities from Surat, including textile industrialists and fashion professionals. The show was graced by the esteemed couturier and fashion designer Mr. Amit Agarwal, who served as the chief judge for the event. His presence added a touch of expertise and industry validation to the show.



It is noteworthy that IIFD Surat has been consistently in the limelight since its inception in 2014. The institute has earned a reputation for providing exceptional education and grooming aspiring fashion designers, interior designers, graphic designers, and event managers. With its commitment to fostering creativity, industry collaborations, and international affiliations, IIFD Surat stands out as one of the premier institutions in the city, offering students a pathway to becoming successful professionals in their chosen fields.



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
Lucknow, Jun 16 (PTI) India is an important hub of manufacturing and local production will no longer be confined to assembling the components of an electronic gadget, a senior official of realme India said on Friday.

When asked how the business environment in Uttar Pradesh has evolved in the past few years, Sreehari, product manager, realme India, said, "See region-specific more than that, I would say that the smartphone business in India is growing, and it is certainly seeing more uptake as we have also seen in the northern part of India. Even for us, the north is stronger than the southern part, specifically for UP as it is a much larger state."

"Even if you leave the sales side, one of the most important states in the country for us is Uttar Pradesh, as our products are manufactured in Noida. So, for us, UP is an extremely important part not just from the sales (point of view), but also the manufacturing," he told PTI.

Sreehari was here to unveil the realme 11 Pro series 5G.

When asked to comment on the future prospects in UP and in the rest of the country, Sreehari said, "One of the things that we believe is going to happen at the faster rate is local manufacturing of components as well. Because, at this point of time, our local manufacturing is more of assembling for India as well. India is working on the capabilities of local manufacturing and India is improving.

"We will start to take advantage of working on the manufacturing of some more components in India. And eventually even for realme, in fact we are very few companies which are exporting products, and we will be working on improving that (aspect also)."

Emphasising the importance of local manufacturing he said, "Local manufacturing is very important, as India is becoming an extremely important part of the world, because currently, manufacturing is consolidated at one place, and it (manufacturing) should not be at one place (only). India is an important hub of manufacturing."

On being asked, whether he is referring to China, Sreehari said, "As well, manufacturing (of smartphones) is done there also. India has the potential, and India stands in a very strong position for being the other next country."

On the ease of doing business in UP, he said, "We have never necessarily had particular trouble with doing business in UP. Ease of business is more related to the processes. We are manufacturing (products) in UP, and I would say that it is one of the states which is actually more helpful for us."

Commenting on the new product's launch, the product manager, realme India said, "Our realme Number Series has garnered immense admiration and love from our users in India as well as globally, since its inception. With the commitment to providing users with leap-forward technology, we have constantly pushed our boundaries toward innovation with cutting-edge features, exceptional performance, and design."
HYDERABAD, India , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The School of Business, Woxsen University has achieved Level 5 in the Positive Impact Rating (PIR), 2023 at Global Level marking for the second time in a row. This prestigious recognition places Woxsen's School of Business alongside six other esteemed institutions with an impressive average score of 9.2, demonstrating Woxsen's commitment to making a positive impact in the world.



The Positive Impact Rating (PIR), a Swiss association, governs the rating globally and evaluates business schools based on their societal contributions. Aligned with the Global Agenda of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this rating offers a basis for measuring the positive impact of a transformed management education worldwide.

Woxsen University's consistent commitment to ethics, responsibility, and sustainability, coupled with its innovative approach to education, has solidified its position as one of the leading business schools in the country, that prepares students to be global change-makers in the 21st century. As part of the moral responsibility to contribute to the betterment of society, School of Business, Woxsen University has identified three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to focus on efforts:



Under SDG 3(Good Health and Well-Being), the university conducts sessions like Heart-Unlocked, Candid-talks, Mindficent Series & Human Library to enhance the mental health and well-being of the student community, providing a safe space for them to discuss their concerns and receive emotional support.



For SDG 4(Quality Education),the university's Centre for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has launched 'Project Aspiration', a rigorous three-week training program aimed at educating underprivileged female students and empowering them with quality education.



Woxsen University also ensures quality education through case studies and conferences, research contributions through 'Woxsen Business Review,' which has a sub-section for Sustainability and the SDGs to create awareness among students about companies' integration of sustainability and social responsibility practices.



Furthermore, in line with SDG 7(Affordable and Clean Energy),Woxen University has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2026, underscoring its commitment to affordable and clean energy. Minimizing any detrimental environmental impact, carbon footprint, global warming and exploitation of resources is key to the efforts.



The School of Business, Woxsen University remains resolute in pursuit of excellence, striving to empower students to become responsible leaders & progressive players who make a positive impact on society. The honour of receiving the Highest Level (5) in the PIR 2023 for the 2nd time, will only fuel the commitment to continue the journey towards a sustainable and inclusive future.



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.



Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1771070/4032896/WoxsenUniversityLogo.jpg



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
MUMBAI, India, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NIC Honestly Crafted Ice Creams (NIC), a part of Walko Food Company Pvt. Ltd., proudly unveils Rashmika Mandanna as their first-ever Brand Ambassador. With an exquisite synergy between Rashmika's innate charisma and NIC's unwavering commitment to excellence, this collaboration transcends mere endorsement, embracing a unique experience. Rashmika's association with NIC is poised to enhance its presence in the hearts and palates of ice cream enthusiasts nationwide.



NIC Honestly Crafted Ice Creams serves more than 60 lip-smacking flavours at 1000+ locations, spanning over 110 cities across India. They are committed to innovation and offer a diverse range of ice creams, from exotic blends to refreshing fruit selections. Further, all ice creams are made with pure milk and exclusively sourced pure ingredients, free from artificial flavours, colours, or preservatives. Their unwavering standards ensure that every scoop is both wholesome and delicious.



Expressing his views, Sanjiv Shah, Director, Walko Food Company Pvt. Ltd., stated, "We are filled with pride to have Rashmika Mandanna with us as NIC's first brand ambassador. Her charm and appeal make her the perfect embodiment of our brand values. This partnership holds immense significance for us as it represents our commitment to cater to a wide audience's diverse tastes and preferences. Together, we embark on a thrilling journey to create moments of pure happiness and share the bliss of indulging in the perfect ice cream treat."



Rashmika Mandanna, Indian Actor and Brand Ambassador of NIC Ice Creams, expressed her delight, "I am ecstatic to be associated with NIC Ice Creams! The brand's commitment to pure ingredients and honest flavours resonates deeply with my personal values. Like countless others, my love for ice creams began at a young age. I eagerly look forward to this association with NIC and sharing the joy of these ice creams with everyone."



NIC Honestly Crafted Ice Creams offers a delightful range that caters to the diverse palates of ice cream connoisseurs, with fresh fruit flavours like Ratnagiri Alphonso Mango, Tender Coconut, and Chunky Sitaphal to indulgent flavours like Mediterranean Sea Salt Caramel and Smooth n Creamy Belgian Chocolate and authentic Indian-inspired creations such as Gulab Jamun, Gajar Halwa, Sheer Khurma and Motichoor Ladoo Ice Creams.



About NIC Honestly Crafted Ice Creams:



NIC Honestly Crafted Ice Creams (NIC), a brand owned by Walko Food Company Private Limited, believes in the purity of ingredients and the pleasure of honest flavours. It has a presence in over 110 cities, and they have stores in over 1000+ locations, dolling out over 60 lip-smacking flavours of ice cream. They create diverse flavours that cater to discerning palates through meticulous sourcing and hand-crafted production methods. From internationally inspired creations like Mediterranean Sea Salt Caramel and Smooth n Creamy Belgian Chocolate to authentic Indian delights like Gulab Jamun and Motichoor Ladoo, their ice creams deliver an unforgettable taste experience. NIC prioritises quality, using no preservatives, the finest ingredients, and hand-crafted processes. This ensures that every bite is a testament to their unwavering commitment to exceptional taste.



Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2103904/NICRashmikaMandanna_Ambassador.jpg



(Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR

PWR
Washington, Jun 16 (PTI) India plays a crucial role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific that is connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient, the Biden administration has said, a week ahead of the Official State Visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the United States.

The US, India and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military manoeuvring in the region.

Our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relationships. We look closely with India on...we work closely with India on our most vital priorities. They play a crucial role in ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific that is connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient, State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters at his daily news conference on Thursday.

Secretary (of State, Tony) Blinken looks forward to seeing Prime Minister Modi and other members of the Indian delegation, while theyre here; and working to make progress on all the issues with which we consult with India, Miller said.

Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. They will host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. The visit also includes an address to the Joint Session of the Congress on June 22.

Responding to a question on visa delays in India, Miller said US consular teams have been making a huge push to process as many visa applications as possible in India, including in those visa categories that are key to the bilateral relationship.

This is a top priority for our government. We know that there is more work that we can do, and we are working hard to do it, he said.

When asked about human rights issues in India, Miller said there are a number of issues with which the US work with India and it also regularly raises with Indian Government officials its human rights concerns.

Weve been clear about that. We speak with them privately  we speak about those privately with the Indian Government...," he said.

I will also say that with respect to protests, we support the right of every American to exercise their First Amendment rights to make their voices heard. We just earlier in this briefing talked about a very vigorous exercise of the First Amendment right thats been happening outside our building for, I dont know, a week or two now, and we continue to support the right of Americans to do so, Miller said.

Responding to a question on US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, he said: Ive heard that the new American ambassador, Ambassador Garcetti, is actually a bit of a celebrity in India, as well.

Let me just say again that our partnership with India is one of our most consequential relationships. We really look forward to the visit next week. In addition to hosting Prime Minister Modi at the White House, there will be a state lunch here at the State Department, and were all very much looking forward to it, Miller said.

In March, Garcetti, the former Mayor of Los Angeles, was officially sworn in as the US Ambassador to India by Vice President Kamala Harris during a ceremonial event here.

Garcetti's nomination was pending before the US Congress since July 2021 when he was nominated by President Joe Biden.
Mumbai, Jun 16 (PTI) As someone who has parallel careers in Hindi cinema and Hollywood, actor Ali Fazal believes he hasn't been "pushed enough" as an artist.

The actor, who is known in India for movies "Fukrey", "Happy Bhag Jayegi" and "Bobby Jasoos", as well as hit Prime Video series "Mirzapur" and has done Hollywood features such as "Furious 7", "Victoria & Abdul" and "Death on the Nile, said the goal is to be part of great stories.

"Honestly, I havent been pushed enough as an actor here (Bollywood), anywhere, even in Hollywood. It is fine, I'm not worried too much because those are teething problems as I am somebody coming from outside. So I will take that much time, Fazal told PTI in an interview.

"I guess I fall into a weird mix where I have to juggle both sides... I just want to be part of good films. I think we have great stories here. In fact, that is one of the reasons why we have started producing but time becomes an issue," he said, referring to his production banner Pushing Buttons Studios with actor-wife Richa Chadha.

Fazal, 36, currently stars in "Kandahar", a Hollywood action drama, headlined by Scottish star Gerard Butler. The movie released on Prime Video on Friday.

Directed by Ric Roman Waugh of Angel Has Fallen and Greenland fame, the action-thriller draws inspiration from true events from the life of a former military intelligence officer.

In the movie, Fazal plays the role of Kahil, who goes up against Tom Harris (Butler) in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

Fazal said he was drawn towards the film as it gave him the opportunity to work with Waugh and Butler, known for Hollywood hits "300", "P.S. I Love You", "Den of Thieves", and the "Has Fallen" series.

Though the two actors have just one scene together, Fazal said they bonded over food and movies as well as Butler's next visit to India.

"We had conversations about films, food and about India, his next visit to India hopefully... He keeps going to Rishikesh a lot. Hopefully next time when he comes, I will host him. It is the start of a very good friendship, if I can call it that, Fazal said.

Butler is a very "generous actor", he added.

"There is only one time in the film when we come face-to-face. In the whole film, I am chasing him. There is this whole cat-and-mouse thing that is going on. We would have common locations and we were staying in the same hotel, so everything was happening according to a routine, he added.

Having worked with Hollywood bigwigs like Judi Dench in Victoria & Abdul, Butler in Kandahar and Kenneth Branagh in "Death on the Nile", Fazal said he doesnt get intimidated by his co-actors.

It only helps him in putting his best foot forward, he said.

"I have had some wonderful actors that I have gotten a chance to work with and that only enhances my performance. Maybe you can call me a little selfish. I enjoy when co-actors have a very strong hold on their craft, and have a great presence because then my job becomes easy. They make you look good."

Post "Kandahar", Fazal has two projects -- "Khufiya" with filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, and Anurag Basu's Metro In Dino.

Working with Bhardwaj was a rewarding experience, he said.

"With Vishal ji, I experienced that he really pushed me. Every actor, we have a scene, thinking of something that we would do but when a director has a different perspective, it surprises you, it throws you in an uncomfortable zone. Thats where magic happens. He has a fresh perspective," he added.

Fazal said Basu was "phenomenal" and a totally different kind of a director.

"I am excited. We havent shot the whole thing yet, there is still stuff to shoot, he added.

The actor is equally thrilled to be working on his forthcoming international film Afghan Dreamers, being helmed by Oscar winning director Bill Guttentag.

The movie presents the true story of a program that was started by Afghan tech entrepreneur Roya Mahboob in 2017 as a way to help young women develop their skills in the field of science and technology, despite a heavily patriarchal society.

"It was the biggest thing that happened recently. It is based on a true story about a women's robotics team. I play one of their mentors. Phoebe Waller-Bridge has also joined the cast, so it is exciting," Fazal said.
Washington, Jun 15 (PTI) The just concluded India visit of National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan underscored the dynamism of the India-US partnership in advance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic state visit next week, the White House said on Thursday.

The top Biden administration official travelled to New Delhi this week where he met with Prime Minister Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and his counterpart Ajit Doval.

"Sullivans visit underscored the dynamism of the US-India partnership in advance of Prime Minister Modis historic official state visit next week to the United States," the White House said in a readout of the call.

"He reviewed preparations for the upcoming official state visit of the Prime Minister, and discussed a range of strategic, regional, and bilateral issues including steps to advance the strategic technology and defense partnership between the United States and India, the White House said.

The two National Security Advisors unveiled a roadmap for cooperation at a stakeholder event on the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), Sullivan said.
Harare (Zimbabwe), Jun 15 (AP) Zimbabwe has reported record tobacco sales as the southern African nation reestablishes itself as one of the leading growers in the world, and yet the small-scale Black farmers now selling their crop mostly to China are heavily indebted and seeing "minimal" benefits, according to an association that represents their interests.

Critics say the farmers are not benefitting as they should from Zimbabwe's tobacco boom, largely because of a contract system that locks them into unfavourable loans and prices, often with Chinese companies operating under the state-owned China National Tobacco Corporation, the largest cigarette maker in the world.

China buys most of Zimbabwe's tobacco to feed its huge market. While other companies and local merchants are also involved in the contract system in Zimbabwe, it is dominated by Chinese firms and their agents.

The Zimbabwean government announced on Wednesday that the country, Africa's top producer and among the top 10 in the world, has so far sold 261 million kilograms of tobacco since the selling season opened in March, more than the previous record of 259 million kilograms in 2019.

It praised the numbers as proof of the success of a controversial and often violent land reform process that began more than 20 years ago. Starting in 2000, a few thousand white commercial farmers were forced off their land, which was then redistributed to tens of thousands of landless Black farmers.

Acting Information Minister Jenfan Muswere said that Black farmers given land under the reforms now made up 60 per cent of the 150,000 farmers who grew tobacco this season. Overall, small-scale Black farmers contributed 85 per cent of the crop, demonstrating that government policies in the agriculture sector are sound and continue to bear fruit, Muswere said.

But the government's celebrations were offset by the Tobacco Association of Zimbabwe, which represents the farmers.

This is a momentous achievement for the sector: it shows that farmers are working hard. But the benefits to farmers are minimal," said George Seremwe, president of the association. "It is worrying that most farmers are heavily indebted."

"We would be happier if this tobacco success story translates to improved livelihoods for farmers, Seremwe told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Tobacco production in Zimbabwe plummeted from a high of about 240 million kilograms in 1998 to less than 50 million kilograms a decade later, according to government figures, following the eviction of white farmers who accounted for the majority of growers.

It has firmly rebounded in terms of production volume, and China's involvement is largely responsible.

Under the contract system, the government-run China National Tobacco Corporation and its subsidiaries loan seeds, fertilizers, food and money to the Zimbabwean farmers. The farmers, in turn, are obligated to sell their tobacco crop to those firms or their agents, who generally set the price, although a regulatory body in Zimbabwe does provide a price guide.

Around 95 per cent of Zimbabwe's tobacco crop is financed through the contract system.

And while production is increasing, farmers say their position is not improving and the contract system is a debt trap as prices sometimes drop or they receive reduced inputs while still having to make the same repayments on loans.

Farmers are now losing prized assets like livestock after failing to make their repayments, Seremwe said.

The situation for Zimbabwe tobacco farmers is set amid recent scrutiny of how China's unforgiving lending tactics have brought hardship to some developing countries.

The Chinese embassy has defended the country's role in reviving Zimbabwe's tobacco production by offering zero-interest loans and free tech-services to farmers.

Yet authorities in Zimbabwe now seem to accept there are problems with the contract system, not least because most of the proceeds of tobacco sales leave the country to repay loans from foreign companies. The Zimbabwean government has promised to advance USD 60 million to farmers next season under a plan that seeks to increase local funding of the crop's production from the current 5 per cent to 70 per cent by 2025. (AP) PY

PY
Lahore, Jun 16 (PTI) Leading human rights organisation has expressed extreme concern over the crackdown launched by the Pakistani authorities to "silence critics" of the federal government and the powerful Army and the slew of cases registered against journalists following the dramatic arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan last month.

At least seven journalists and commentators have been charged with offences against the state and anti-terror laws in the past four days, Amnesty International said in a statement on Thursday.

The use of these laws to silence commentators and journalists is a violation of the right to freedom of expression, the statement said.

The seven individuals referred to in Amnesty Internationals statement include journalists Shaheen Sehbai and Wajahat Saeed Khan, anchorpersons Sabir Shakir and Moeed Pirzada, army-officers-turned-Youtubers Adil Raja and Syed Haider Raza Mehdi and an individual identified as Syed Akbar Hussain.

They are the latest to face action as part of the government crackdown on Khan and his party the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party members following the incidents of violence across the country on May 9.

On May 9, violent protests erupted after the arrest of Khan by paramilitary Rangers in Islamabad.

PTI workers allegedly 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 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".

Khan, 70, the chairman of PTI, is facing more than 100 cases across the country.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's National Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution demanding that the perpetrators of the May 9 violence be booked under the stringent Army Act.

The resolution -- presented by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif -- was approved by a majority vote in the lower house of Parliament, the National Assemblys official handle tweeted.
Washington, Jun 16 (AP) Just a year ago, President Joe Biden signed the first significant piece of federal gun safety legislation in nearly three decades.

It was a good start, Biden has said, but it didn't go far enough.

On Friday, the Democratic president will speak at a summit in Connecticut highlighting how the sweeping law has been implemented so far. He'll also use it as a moment to push for universal background checks and the banning of so-called assault weapons. Those are part of a 2024 political platform that was unthinkable to Democrats as recently as Barack Obama's term.

The gathering is being led by U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and major gun safety groups hoping to build on recent progress.

We actually had it wrong for a long time. We left an opportunity on the table for decades, Murphy said of the push for gun safety legislation.

Even before the Sandy Hook massacre in Murphy's state in 2012 spurred him to action, there was a mythology around Democratic election losses that dogged the party following passage of a crime bill in the 1990s  that voters weren't interested in gun safety and it was a losing issue politically. That was just a lie," Murphy said. "But it was a lie the gun lobby did a great job of selling, with some help from Democrats.

Last year's law, signed just weeks after a mass shooting that killed 19 elementary school children and two teachers in Uvalde, toughened background checks for the youngest gun buyers, sought to keep firearms from domestic violence offenders and aimed to help states put in place red flag laws that make it easier for authorities to take weapons away from people adjudged to be dangerous.

There's been success: Stepped-up FBI background checks have blocked more than 200 transactions of attempted purchasers under the age of 21. Prosecutions have increased for unlicensed gun sellers, and new gun trafficking penalties have been charged in more than 100 cases around the country. Prosecutions for those who sell firearms without a license doubled.

Millions of new dollars have flowed into mental health services for children and schools. On Friday, the departments of Health and Human Services and Education sent a joint letter to governors highlighting resources available to them to help support mental health  in particular if a student has been impacted by gun violence.

I think there's no question about it, the passage was a watershed moment, said John Feinblatt, head of Everytown for Gun Safety. The law clearly broke a log jam.

What we're really going to do is continue to build on the moment both at the federal and the state level," he said.

Yet since that bill signing last summer, the tally of mass shootings in the United States has only grown. As of Friday, there have been at least 26 mass killings in the U.S. so far in 2023, leaving at least 131 people dead, not including perpetrators who died, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

That puts the country on a faster pace for mass killings than in any other year since 2006, according to the database, which defines a mass killing as one in which four or more people are killed, not including the perpetrator, within a 24-hour period.

Firearms are the No. 1 killer of children in the U.S., and so far this year 85 children younger than 11 have died by guns and 491 between the ages of 12 and 17 have died. As of 2020, the firearm mortality rate for those under age 19 is 5.6 per 100,000. The next comparable is Canada, with 0.08 deaths per 100,000.

Too many schools, too many everyday places have become killing fields in communities across America. And in each place, we hear the same message: Do something. For God's sake, just do something,' Biden said on the anniversary of the Uvalde shooting. We did something afterwards, but not nearly enough.

The president has said he'd like to ban so-called assault weapons, a political term to describe guns most often used in mass shootings with the capacity to kill a lot of people quickly. Still, the idea of further action  or unilateral action by the White House  makes some Republicans who voted for the 2022 gun legislation uneasy.

I'm a little apprehensive, said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. I don't want them writing a rule that basically deviates from what we've negotiated or voted on.

After his speech in West Hartford, Biden will head to a fundraiser in tony Greenwich. In the coming days, he will accelerate his campaign travel, making stops in New York, California, Illinois and Maryland before the end of the month. (AP)

VM
Nikola Corp. is laying off 270 workers as it tries to hold onto enough cash to keep operating. (Photo: Alan Adler/FreightWaves)

Electric truck maker Nikola Corp. laid off 270 workers Friday as its cash to run the business shrinks. The moves came a day after convicted founder Trevor Milton took shots at company leadership on social media.

The layoffs affected about 150 employees at multiple sites. They spent at least part time supporting the companys manufacturing joint venture with Europes Iveco. Nikola cashed out of the 50-50 JV in May in exchange for $35 million and the return of 20 million shares of company stock.

Another 120 employees exited from company headquarters in Phoenix and Nikolas assembly plant in Coolidge, Arizona. Nikola said it expects to save $50 million a year in employment costs through the moves. The company released 100 employees, about 7% of its workforce in November.

Nikola cash burn to fall by 2024

Nikola said it expected its annual cash burn to fall below $400 million by 2024. The company had $208 million in cash as of March 31, $85 million of which was restricted.

The layoffs reduced total headcount to about 900 against a backdrop of an eight-day run up in the companys battered share price. The streak ended Friday with a 15% drop to close at $1.19. Shares traded slightly higher in after-hours trading.

We are proactively managing costs and reducing expenses. We are streamlining operations, including our organizational structure, to efficiently execute our objectives, CEO Michael Lohscheller said in a news release.





Nikola is trying to get shareholder approval for a doubling of authorized shares to 1.6 billion from 800 million. Registering and selling the new shares would help Nikola pay interest on a $200 million hedge fund loan. The company does not have the cash to pay the interest.

Milton lashes out and Nikola fires back

On Thursday, convicted founder Trevor Milton urged shareholders to vote against the proposal, which would dilute the value of current shares. He said in posts on LinkedIn and Instagram that he voted his 50 million shares against Proposal 2 and urged investors who voted in favor to change their votes to no.

In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Friday, Nikola chided Milton for misrepresenting facts and breaking his severance agreement requiring he vote in favor of directors put forward by the board. Milton said he voted against all proposals before shareholders at Nikolas virtual annual meeting on June 7.

The social media post made by Mr. Milton on June 15 misstates the facts. Mr. Milton is not able to block any proposal with his votes and did not block the passage of Proposal 2, the company said. Even with his opposing votes on all proposals, five out of the six proposals have received the necessary votes for approval, which demonstrates stockholder confidence in Nikola and its leadership.

Did Milton violate his non-disparagement agreement?

Nikola adjourned the annual meeting until July 6 when it will count the votes on Proposal 2 again. Even if it falls short of the 400 million plus one proxies needed, Nikola is likely to prevail. The state of Delaware, where Nikola is incorporated, is expected to change its rule that would allow a proposal to pass based on a simple majority of votes cast.

The company does not need new shares, they need new leadership, Milton wrote in his first social media post in nearly three years.

The comments could violate a non-disparagement clause in his separation agreement from Nikola in September 2020. Milton was indicted in July 2021 on federal securities fraud charges and convicted in October 2022. He faces sentencing Sept. 22.

It would be easy for Mr. Milton to comply with his agreements, Nikola said in its SEC filing. But his social media posts make it clear he will not. This is not the first time Mr. Milton willfully violated his obligations.

Related articles:

Nikola share increase proposal falls short of needed votes

Nikola cashes out of European JV and refocuses on fuel cells at home

Analysis: How would a Nikola failure affect hydrogen prospects?

Click for more FreightWaves articles by Alan Adler.

The post Nikola cuts 270 jobs as cash to survive runs low appeared first on FreightWaves.
Washington, Jun 16 (PTI) The Biden administration has eased norms by releasing policy guidance on the eligibility criteria for those waiting for green cards to work and stay in America, days ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US.

Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.

They will host Modi at a state dinner on June 22.

The visit also includes an address to the Joint Session of the Congress on June 22.

The guidance issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regarding the eligibility criteria for initial and renewal applications for Employment Authorisation Document (EAD) in compelling circumstances is expected to help thousands of Indian technology professionals who are in the agonisingly long wait for a Green Card or permanent residency.

A Green Card, known officially as a Permanent Resident Card, is a document issued to immigrants to the US as evidence that the bearer has been granted the privilege of residing permanently.

Immigration law provides for approximately 140,000 employment-based green cards to be issued each year.

However, only seven per cent of those green cards can go to individuals from a single country annually.

The USCIS guidance outlines specific requirements that applicants must meet to be eligible for an initial EAD based on compelling circumstances.

These include being the principal beneficiary of an approved Form I-140, being in valid non-immigrant status or authorised grace period, not having filed an adjustment of status application, and meeting certain biometrics and criminal background requirements.

Further, USCIS will exercise discretion to determine whether an applicant demonstrates compelling circumstances justifying the issuance of employment authorisation.

These measures are a significant step towards supporting individuals facing challenging situations and ensuring their ability to work lawfully in the United States, said Ajay Bhutoria, a prominent community leader and advocate for immigrant rights.

He highlighted the importance of these measures for individuals and their dependents who find themselves in challenging situations such as serious illness or disability, employer disputes or retaliation, significant harm, or disruptions to employment.

Bhutoria said the non-exhaustive list of qualifying circumstances, as provided by USCIS, offers individuals an opportunity to present evidence supporting their case.

For instance, individuals with approved immigrant visa petitions in oversubscribed categories or chargeability areas may submit evidence like school or higher education enrollment records, mortgage records, or long-term lease records to demonstrate compelling circumstances, he said.

This provision can prove crucial in situations where families face the potential loss of their home, withdrawal of children from school, or the need to relocate to their home country due to job loss, Bhutoria added.

Foundation of India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), which has been advocating for laid-off H1-B workers, applauded USCIS for taking such a step that would help a large number of Indian IT professionals.

I really feel proud that a sustained advocacy for more than six months started reflecting in considerations and adjustments by USCIS, said Khanderao Kand from FIIDS.
Johannesburg, Jun 16 (AP) A delegation of security officials, diplomats and journalists accompanying the South African president to Ukraine and Russia was stranded on a separately chartered plane at Warsaw's airport for more than 24 hours. Polish authorities said on Friday that the problem was over permissions for firearms.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is among a group of African leaders visiting Kyiv and Moscow on a mission to encourage a resolution to Russia's war on Ukraine.

According to the Poland Border Guard agency, Ramaphosa's security detail did not have permission for the weapons they were carrying, which resulted in a standoff.

The president's office described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply regrettable but said his security was not compromised.

Members of the delegation had weapons which they did not have permission to bring, but they could leave the plane themselves, the Polish agency tweeted Friday.

Our officials remain engaged with their Polish counterparts in trying to resolve the situation, said Vincent Magwenya, Ramaphosa's spokesman.

Among the group was Maj. Gen. Wally Rhoode, the head of Ramaphosa's personal protection unit, who claimed the delegation faced hostile treatment from Polish authorities, including one of their female colleagues who was strip searched.

Rhoode told journalists from the steps of the plane that Polish officials were being deliberately obstructive and had tried to confiscate firearms from them  even though the arms were being transported in secure cases in the plane's cargo hold.

South African journalists who were stuck on the plane were tweeting that they were later told to disembark and proceed to customs.

It was unclear whether they would be allowed to proceed to Kyiv, where Ramaphosa and other African heads of state are expected to hold talks with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The incident sparked debate in South Africa, where many suggested the standoff was an indirect message to the country over its non-aligned stance on the war that has led to diplomatic tensions with the West. (AP) VM
Kyiv, Jun 16 (AP) A delegation of leaders and senior officials from Africa sought in Ukraine on Friday ways to end the country's full-scale war with Russia and ensure food and fertiliser deliveries to their continent, though an air raid in Kyiv during their stay provided a reminder of the challenges they face.

The delegation, which included the presidents of South Africa, Senegal, Zambia and the Comoros Islands, first went to Bucha, a Kyiv suburb where bodies of civilians lay scattered in the streets last year after Russian troops abandoned a campaign to seize the capital and withdrew from the area.

The delegation's stop in Bucha was symbolically significant, as the town has come to stand for the brutality of Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Russian occupation of Bucha left hundreds of civilians dead in the streets and in mass graves. Some showed signs of torture.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said last month that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to separate meetings with members of an African peace mission.

The delegation was set to travel to St. Petersburg later Friday, where Russia's top international economic conference is taking place, and meet with Putin on Saturday. It also includes senior officials from Uganda, Egypt and Congo-Brazzaville.

The members of the delegation represent a cross-section of African views about the war. South Africa, Senegal and Uganda have avoided censuring Moscow for the conflict, while Egypt, Zambia and Comoros voted against Russia last year in a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia's invasion.

Many African nations have long had close ties with Moscow, dating back to the Cold War when the Soviet Union supported their anti-colonial struggles.

While in Bucha, the visitors placed commemorative candles at a small memorial outside St. Andrew's Church, near one of the locations where a mass grave was unearthed.

Shortly after, air raid sirens began to wail in Ukraine's capital. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported an explosion in the Podilskiy district, one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods.

Russian missiles are a message to Africa: Russia wants more war, not peace, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.

The Ukrainian air force said it shot down six Russian Kalibr cruise missiles, six Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles and two reconnaissance drones. It gave no details on where they were shot down.

Germany will deliver another 64 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Friday, to help shield it against Russia's relentless aerial attacks.

Officials who helped lay the groundwork for the delegation's talks said the African leaders not only aimed to initiate a peace process but also to assess how Russia, which is under heavy international sanctions, can be paid for fertilizer exports that Africa desperately needs.

They are also set to discuss the related issue of ensuring more grain shipments out of Ukraine amid the war and the possibility of more prisoner swaps.

Life is universal, and we must protect lives  Ukrainian lives, Russian lives, global lives, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema told The Associated Press. Instability anywhere is instability everywhere.

The African peace overture comes as Ukraine launches a counteroffensive to dislodge the Kremlin's forces from occupied areas, using Western-supplied advanced weapons in attacks along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line. Western analysts and military officials have cautioned that the campaign could last a long time.

China presented its own peace proposal at the end of February but it appeared to have few chances of success. Ukraine and its allies largely dismissed the plan, and the warring sides look no closer to a cease-fire.

Ukrainian troops recorded successes along three stretches of the front line in the south and east, Andriy Kovalev, a spokesman for the General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces said in a statement on Friday.

According to Kovalev, Ukrainian forces moved forward south of the town of Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia province, in the direction of the village of Robotyne, as well as around Levadne and Staromaiorske, on the boundary between Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk province further east.

Kovalev said Ukraine's troops also advanced in some areas around Vuhledar, a mining town in Donetsk that was the site of one of the main tank battles in the war so far.

It wasn't possible to independently verify the claims.

Russian shelling on Thursday and overnight killed two civilians and wounded two others in southern Ukraine's flood-hit Kherson region, where a major dam was destroyed last week, according to the region's governor, Oleksandr Prokudin.

Russian forces over the previous day launched 54 strikes across the province, using mortars, artillery, multiple rocket launchers, drones, missiles and aircraft, Prokudin said.

Floodwaters in the Kherson region have continued to recede, with the average level in flood-hit areas standing at 1.67 metres (about 5 feet). That is down from 5 metres (16 feet) immediately following the breach of the Kakhovka dam last Tuesday, according to the Ukrainian presidential office. (AP) PY

PY
London, Jun 16 (PTI) King Charles III has conferred Scotland's highest royal honour on his wife Queen Camilla, the Buckingham Palace said on Friday.

The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, which was revived by King James VII in 1687, are entirely in the personal gift of the British monarch.

It currently recognises 16 knights as well as men and women who have held public office or who have given a particular contribution to national life.

The King has been graciously pleased to appoint the Queen to the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle," the palace statement read.

The Kings son and heir, Prince William, and sister Princess Anne are also members of the Order of the Thistle, besides various members of the aristocracy and House of Lords.

Charles turned 74 on November 14 last year but this weekend marks his first official birthday as monarch, celebrations for which fall in early or mid-June as part of the royal Trooping the Colour display of regal pageantry.

The Kings Birthday Parade, to take place on Saturday, will involve over 1,400 military officers together with 200 horses, over 400 musicians from 10 bands and corps of drums.

The parade route extends from Buckingham Palace along the Mall to Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall and back again in the heart of London. During the ceremony, the King is greeted by a royal salute and carries out an inspection of the troops.

The parade concludes with the King joining senior members of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for a fly-past by the Royal Air Force (RAF). The RAF display this weekend is expected to be particularly spectacular as the display planned for the Coronation on May 6 was rescheduled due to rainy weather.

We have planned a fitting and appropriate tribute for our monarch, that should be a true spectacle for the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, said Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the UKs Chief of Air Staff.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said aircraft from across the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force will take part in a spectacular flypast for the Kings Birthday Parade, marking the first Birthday Flypast for King Charles III.

Around 70 aircraft will take to the skies, taking off from 15 different locations across the UK before joining up across the south-east of England and flying across London.
Washington, Jun 16 (PTI) India is much better suited than China to play a leading role in resolving the war in Ukraine because of New Delhi's old relationship with Moscow, a top Indian American Congressman has said.

Congressman Ami Bera said he would love to see the Indian administration use its full diplomatic capacities to help end the conflict in Ukraine.

He said he was not sure if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden will discuss the conflict in Ukraine in their meeting in the Oval Office next week.

I am not sure (talks on this issue) will happen, but I certainly think India can play a leading role in helping us resolve the Russia-Ukraine crisis. India obviously has an old relationship with Russia, Bera told PTI on Thursday.

The Prime Minister can have conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin that we're not going to be able to have. I think it's in everyone's interest to see some resolution to this conflict. So, you see (Chinese President) Xi Jinping trying to negotiate some sort of ceasefire or resolution. I actually think India is much better suited for this role, because of the relationship that they have with Vladimir Putin, Bera said.

During the White House meeting next week, he said Biden and Modi will talk about economic partnerships.

There'll be some conversations around trade relations. I think they'll talk about supply chains. India can be a critical supplier of raw ingredients. They certainly have a mature pharmaceutical sector, but also on the technology side, he said.

There will be a discussion around geopolitical security, Bera said, adding that it will involve what is happening on India's northern border with China and those border incursions.

It will also be in maritime space. I think there'll be conversations about the defence relationship, some of the opportunities for co-production, Bera said.

Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. They will host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. The visit also includes an address to the Joint Session of the Congress on June 22.

Bera said Modi's state visit to the US is a recognition of the strength of the India-US relationship.

The fact that he's invited by a Democratic President for a State Visit and by a Republican Speaker of the House for a joint session of Congress emphasises the bipartisan nature of the US-India relationship; how Congress and the administration see the importance of this relationship, he said.

Bera, who is in his sixth consecutive term, is the senior most and the longest serving Indian American Congressman in the House of Representatives.

He is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Select Committee on Intelligence.

(The address to the joint session of the Congress) gives Prime Minister Modi an opportunity to lay out how India is viewing the relationship to members of Congress; those important opportunities both in the economic space and supply chain, but also in regional security in Asia.

"I think it's a platform that the prime minister can use to emphasise the importance of the relationship from the Indian side, Bera said.

He said the US-India relationship could be the most important partnership of the 21st century.

Coming out of the pandemic, the opportunity for stronger partnerships in vaccine development in the pharmaceutical space, defence relationship has been very strong.

"I anticipate you'll see some announcements in the defence space that come out of the State Visit. So, I think President Biden has been a leader in this space and continues to be, Bera said.

The pandemic was a challenge for the US and India, he said, asserting that Modi and Biden should look at opportunities around supply chains, co-production technologies and how to work together on artificial intelligence.

Under President Biden, the Quad coalition has been elevated to the leaders level, he said.

That has placed an emphasis. Often people will say, this is about China, and certainly, China looms large in the conversation. But it's about more than that. It's about economic cooperation.

"It's about working together as leading democracies. It's about maritime security and freedom of navigation. I think you will continue to see the Quad take on more and more importance, he said.

Bera also said the diaspora is starting to play a role in moving the US-India relationship into a positive direction.
Belgrade (Serbia), Jun 16 (AP) Serbian prosecutors on Friday opened legal proceedings against three Kosovo police officers arrested earlier this week, defying US and other demands for their immediate and unconditional release.

Serbian officials have said the three Kosovo Albanians were arrested by Serbian security on Wednesday deep inside Serbia and close to the border with Kosovo, and that they were heavily armed when seized. Kosovo officials insist they were kidnapped inside Kosovo and taken to Serbia by force.

The dispute adds to tensions between the two countries that have flared into recent violent clashes in the Serb-majority north of Kosovo, stirring fears of a renewal of the 1998-99 conflict in Kosovo that left more than 10,000 people dead, mostly Kosovo Albanians.

The United States on Thursday joined calls from the European Union and other Western countries on both Kosovo and Belgrade to take immediate steps to deescalate tensions.

That includes the unconditional release of the three detained Kosovo police officers, the US State Department said.

Serbian prosecutors said on Friday that the three Kosovo Albanian officers were suspected of illegal possession of arms and explosive materials and ordered them formally detained, Serbia's state RTS broadcaster said.

Gabriel Escobar, a US envoy for the Balkans, said the three should be released because they most likely were abducted inside Kosovo, or they inadvertently crossed the boundary.

They had no intention to be in Serbia, he said.

In a statement on Friday, the NATO-led peacekeepers in Kosovo, or KFOR, said that based on available input, it remains unclear where the Kosovo Police officers were at the time of the arrest.

It reminded both sides that based on previous borderline deployment agreements, both the Institutions in Kosovo and the Serbian authorities have clear responsibilities to coordinate with KFOR."

We call on the parties to adhere to these agreements and procedures to cooperate with KFOR, the statement said. We urge both parties to refrain from provocative rhetoric and to avoid any unilateral act that could escalate the tension in the area.

The latest incident further raised tensions between Serbia and its former province. Serbia had put its troops on the border on the highest state of alert amid a series of recent clashes between Kosovo Serbs on one side, and Kosovo police and NATO-led peacekeepers on the other.

Tensions flared anew late last month, including with violent clashes, after Kosovo police seized local municipality buildings in northern Kosovo, where Serbs represent a majority, to install ethnic Albanian mayors who were elected in a local election in April after Serbs overwhelmingly boycotted the vote.

The tensions persisted Friday with three shock grenades exploding near Kosovo police stations in the north of the country, and with Kosovo Serbs staging protests in front of municipality buildings.

Serbia and its former province Kosovo have been at odds for decades, with Belgrade refusing to recognize Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence. (AP) PY

PY
Narsinghpur, Jun 16 (PTI) Two persons were killed and 10 others injured on Friday morning when their bus collided with a truck in Narsinghpur in Madhya Pradesh, a police official said.

The accident took place when the bus was on its way to Indore from Satna, Suatala police station in charge Jyoti Dixit said.

"The deceased have been identified as Sukhendra Vishwakarma (45) and Raju (25), who was working as a helper in the bus. The 10 injured persons have been hospitalised," the official added.
Ahmedabad, Jun 16 (PTI) The intensity of cyclone Biparjoy which lashed Saurashtra-Kutch region has reduced from 'very severe' to 'severe' category hours after making landfall in coastal areas of Gujarat, an official said on Friday.

The cyclone has moved northeastwards and has weakened into a cyclonic storm and will become a depression by the evening over south Rajasthan, the official said.

Biparjoy (meaning disaster or calamity in Bengali) unleashed destructive wind speeds of up to 140 kmph and incessant rains as trees and electricity poles were uprooted, while seawater entered villages located in low-lying areas.

A cattle-rearer duo of father and son died while trying to save their goats stuck in a flooded ravine in Bhavnagar district on Thursday.

Howling winds yanked hundreds of trees, damaged communication towers, toppled electricity poles, flung solid objects, and raised dusty squalls that virtually resulted in zero visibility in some areas.

Many areas plunged into darkness due to power cuts. Strong winds broke electric wires and poles, causing a power outage in 45 villages of Maliya tehsil, the official said.

A relief and rescue operation was underway with multiple teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) deployed in the affected districts, officials said.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel reviewed the situation and the rescue and relief operation at the State Emergency Operation Centre in Gandhinagar.

The landfall process of the 'very severe cyclonic storm' commenced at around 6:30 pm along the coast of Saurashtra-Kutch, and was completed after midnight, the official said.

The eye of the cyclone, which was churning across the Arabian Sea for more than 10 days, was located around 20 km southwest of Jakhau port, 120 km northwest of Devbhumi Dwarka and 50 km west-southwest of Naliya.

Landfall indicates a cyclonic storm moving over land after being over water.

While approaching the Gujarat coast, the cyclone moved with a speed of 13 kmph. During the landfall, the wind speed was 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph, the IMD said.

The state government said it has deployed 631 medical teams and 504 ambulances in the eight affected districts.

The state administration said that till Thursday evening it shifted more than 94,000 persons living in the eight coastal districts to temporary shelters.

Apart from teams of NDRF and SDRF, Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Border Security Force (BSF) have been roped in for relief and rescue operations, officials said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Patel over the phone on Thursday night and enquired about the situation in the state following the landfall.

Among other things, the PM sought to know the steps taken by the state administration for the safety of wild animals, especially the lions in the Gir forest.

"PM Modi held a telephonic conversation with me and took all the details about the current situation of Gujarat following the landfall of cyclone Biparjoy. He also enquired about the steps taken by the government for the safety of all wild animals, including the lions of Gir Forest," Patel tweeted.
Halol, Jun 16 (PTI) A court at Halol town in Gujarats Panchmahal district has acquitted all 35 persons in connection with four different post-Godhra 2002 riots in which three people were killed.

In its order of June 12, which was made available on June 15, the court of additional sessions judge Harsh Trivedi also slammed pseudo-secular media and politicians for claiming that the riots were planned.

The 35 persons were accused of murder and rioting after violence erupted near Kalol bus stand, Delol village and Derol station area on February 28, 2002, a day after the Sabarmati Express train burning incident at Godhra.

While the prosecution claimed that three persons were killed with deadly weapons and then their bodies burnt with the intention to destroy evidence, the court said it failed to produce evidence against the accused.

There were 52 accused in the cases of which 17 died during the pendency of trial that went on for over 20 years.

According to case papers, the police were informed about three missing persons during cops visits to relief camps set up in the wake of the riots that broke out in the area.

It was alleged that riots broke out between Hindus and Muslims in Kalol town and two other places. A few days later, the bodies of three missing persons from the minority community were found.

All the 52 accused, booked under charges pertaining to rioting, unlawful assembly and murder, were arrested and sent to sub-jails at Kalol, Halol and Godhra before being released on bail.

A total of 130 witnesses were examined during the trial.

The court said in its judgment that no charge of rioting can sustain against any of the accused persons, and the prosecution even failed to prove recovery and seizure of weapons.

As per the order, it is the duty of the court to see that no innocent persons are implicated along with the guilty because of the tendency of the parties in communal rioting cases to try to falsely implicate as many persons from the opposite community as possible.

In cases of communal riots cases the police usually prosecute members of both the community. But it is for the court to ascertain in such cases, which of the two versions is correct and the court can not shirk this duty on ground that the police did not ascertain which of the stories was true, the judge observed.

The court also came down on pseudo-secular media and politicians for rubbing salt into the wound of anguished people shocked at the February 27, 2002, Godhra train burning incident.

Peace-loving Gujarati people were shocked and anguished by this incident. We have seen that then pseudo-secular media and politicians rubbed salt into the wound of anguished people, it said.

Report says that sixteen of Gujarats 24 Districts were engulfed in communal rioting  post-Godhra riots. Nowhere mobs were less than 2000,-3000, more. Often they were more than 5,000-10,000 strong. There were spontaneous riots in Gujarat. They were not planned ones, as described by pseudo-secular persons, the court observed.
Indore/Bhopal, Jun 16 (PTI) Police lathi-charged a group of Bajrang Dal activists and arrested 11 of them in Indore city of Madhya Pradesh when they held a sit-in protest over registration of "false" cases against the outfit's members for complaining against those involved in illegal drug trade, an official said on Friday.

The incident took place late night on Thursday, he said.

The Bajrang Dal workers were staging a sit-in protest at Palasia square, a busy junction in the city, which led to a traffic jam, the police said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is ruling the state, alleged that some Bajrang Dal members suffered injuries in the police lathi-charge, while the party-led state government said it has taken cognisance of the protest as well as the police action, and ordered an inquiry into the entire episode.

"A group of Bajrang Dal activists suddenly gathered at the busy intersection without any permission and staged a sit-in protest, leading to traffic jams on all four roads. When the protesters refused to budge despite repeated appeals by the police, they were moved away from the spot using mild force," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Dharmendra Singh Bhadoria said.

Eleven protesters were arrested under Section 151 (preventive arrest to prevent commission of a cognizable offence) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), he said.

Five police personnel suffered injuries while trying to control the Bajrang Dal activists during their 'chakka jam' protest, while some people also hurled stones at the cops, he added.

The DCP said that appropriate legal action was being taken in this connection.

Eyewitnesses said the hour-long sit-in by the Bajrang Dal activists disrupted the traffic movement and led to long queues of vehicles at the Palasia intersection.

The state's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed that 11 Bajrang Dal workers were injured in the police lathi-charge.

"Bajrang Dal activists were brutally lathi-charged by the police, which led to 11 persons suffering injuries," BJP's Indore unit president Gaurav Randive told PTI.

He demanded that appropriate action be taken against the guilty police personnel after an inquiry into the incident.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters in Bhopal on Friday, state Home Minister and government spokesperson Narottam Mishra said he has taken cognisance of the incident and legal action was also taken on the matter.

"We have also taken cognizance of the police action against the protesters and decided to send an Additional Director General of Police (ADGP)-level officer to probe all issues related to it. We have also ordered that the in-charge of the police station concerned be line-attached (removed from field duty)," he said.
TOKYO (Reuters) -Nissan Motor's Chief Operating Officer Ashwani Gupta will leave the Japanese automaker later this month to pursue other opportunities after helping to steer a turnaround plan aimed at streamlining operations, the company said on Friday.

Nissan plans to announce a new executive line-up on June 27, coinciding with his departure, it said in a statement.

The automaker said last month that the former long-time Renault SA executive would step down from the board of directors on June 27 when his term expired, casting doubt on his future as he had been seen as a frontrunner to be the next CEO.

Gupta joined the company's leadership team in late 2019, when Japan's No. 3 automaker was looking to put an end to a period of turmoil triggered by the arrest and sacking of long-time leader Carlos Ghosn.

Allies of Gupta pressed the board in 2020 to promote him to the role of co-CEO, hoping he would push forward Nissan's turnaround and boost its alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi Motors, but the promotion did not materialise.

Nissan is working to finalise the terms of a sweeping reset of its decades-old alliance with Renault.

Gupta had clashed with Nissan Chief Executive Makoto Uchida over Uchida's desire to close the negotiations with Renault quickly, with Gupta urging more caution over terms of the deal, people with knowledge of the talks have told Reuters.

The company on Friday said Gupta had taken key leadership positions and been a "driving force" in various alliance projects over several years resulting in many achievements. It did not further detail the accomplishments.

Gupta joined Renault in India in 2006 and later became vice president in charge of its global commercial vehicle business, a job he held until 2019 when he moved to junior alliance partner Mitsubishi Motors.

(Reporting by Dave Dolan, Maki Shiraki and Daniel Leussink; Editing by Kevin Krolicki and Jamie Freed)
Imphal, Jun 16 (PTI) Union Minister of State for External Affairs R K Ranjan Singhs house in Imphal town was vandalised by a mob, officials said. Security guards and firefighters managed to control arson attempts by the mob and save the ministers house from being burnt down on Thursday night, they said.

The development comes after the burning of two houses, and clashes between the Rapid Action Force of Manipur and a mob in the heart of Imphal town on Thursday afternoon.

The mob which roamed the town late on Thursday also clashed with security forces, the officials said.

Sound of firing could be heard in Imphal East district till the early hours of Friday as security forces fired numerous rounds of tear gas shells and mock bombs to disperse angry locals protesting the killing of nine civilians on Wednesday.

Two protesters and one Rapid Action Force personnel were injured during the confrontation. RAF constable was hit by a stone on his head, said officials.

Protesters at Nongmeibung and Wangkhei blocked the main streets by piling up stones and construction materials and engaged in pitch battles with security forces, they said.

Reacting to the developments, RK Ranjan Singh told PTI Video, There was an incident at my residence in Manipur last night.

The Minister, who is currently in Kochi to attend a party program, said, I am trying to bring peace and stop violence since May 3 (when ethnic clashes began in the state)  this is all a misunderstanding between two communities. The government has set up a peace committee, the process is on. Civil society leaders are sitting together.

Singh said the government will talk to all communities and find a way out.
Patna, Jun 16 (PTI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) on Friday claimed to have received a shot in the arm with the induction of two close family members of legendary stone-cutter Dasharath Manjhi, whose feat had earned him the sobriquet "mountain man".

Manjhi's son Bhagirath and son-in-law Mithun joined the party here in the presence of senior leaders like JD(U) state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha, Rajya Sabha member Vashishth Narayan Singh and ministers Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Ashok Chaudhary and Sanjay Kumar Jha.

Also present on the occasion was Ratnesh Sada, the party MLA, who was, earlier in the day, sworn in as a replacement for Santosh Suman who gave up his ministerial berth earlier this week.

Suman, who heads Hindustani Awam Morcha founded by his father and former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, had resigned, alleging pressure from JD(U) to merge his party.

The induction of family members of Dasharath Manjhi is being seen as an effort by the JD(U) to blunt attempts to play the victim card by Jitan Ram Manjhi, who, like the legendary stone-cutter belongs to the Musahar caste, and has roots in Gaya district.

Unsurprisingly, JD(U) leaders present on the occasion took the opportunity to criticise Jitan Manjhi whom they accused of "ungratefulness" towards Nitish Kumar.

Dasharath Manjhi, who died in 2007, a year after the state government recommended his name for a Padma Shri, is remembered for having toiled with just a hammer and a chisel for 22 years to flatten a hill and carve a pathway that reduced the distance between two administrative blocks of Gaya by nearly 40 kilometres.

Having struggled to make both ends meet during his lifetime, Manjhi was nonetheless given a state funeral upon his demise.

Manjhi's herculean effort had followed the death of his wife who succumbed to injuries sustained while climbing the hill to carry lunch for her husband.

A biopic "Manjhi - The Mountain Man" in which Nawazuddin Siddiqui played the title role, came in 2015 and a commemorative stamp was issued a year later.
New Delhi, June 16 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested the nephew of a suspended judge, who was posted in a Panchkula special court, as part of a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged bribery case against the former judicial officer, official sources said on Friday.

Ajay Parmar, the nephew of former special court judge Sudhir Parmar, was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after the federal agency conducted searches of his premises, they said.

The arrest comes just a day after the agency arrested two directors and 'key managerial persons' of Gurugram-based realty group M3M-- Basant Bansal and Pankaj Bansal-- on June 14 in this case.

Basant Bansal and Pankaj Bansal were produced before a special PMLA court in Panchkula, which sent them to five-day ED custody, the agency said in a statement issued on Thursday.

The money laundering case in which the arrests have been made stems from a Haryana Police Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) FIR filed in April against Sudhir Parmar, a former special judge for ED and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases who was posted in Panchkula, his nephew Ajay Parmar and a third M3M group director Roop Kumar Bansal and others.

According to the FIR, the ED said, reliable information was received that Parmar was showing "favouritism" to the accused, namely Roop Kumar Bansal, his brother Basant Bansal and Lalit Goyal, owner of real estate firm IREO, in the criminal cases of the ED and other cases of the CBI pending against them in his court.

"It was further stated (in the FIR) that as per reliable information, instances of grave misconduct, abuse of official position and demand and acceptance of undue advantage/bribe from the accused persons in the cases pending in his court were observed," the ED said.

Parmar was suspended by the Punjab and Haryana High Court after the registration of the ACB case.

The ED said it has collected "incriminating evidence such as bank statements and money trail, etc. with respect to the allegations in the FIR before making the arrests (of Basant Bansal and Pankaj Bansal)".

The agency, on June 1, carried out raids against the M3M promoters and some others in another money laundering case linked to the IREO group and Goyal.

Subsequently, the agency arrested Roop Kumar Bansal. Basant Bansal and Pankaj Bansal had obtained interim protection from arrest till July 5 from the Delhi High Court in this case.

However, the ED arrested them in the money laundering case linked to the alleged bribery of the judge after filing a fresh case under the PMLA.

In a statement issued after the June 1 raids, the agency had alleged that a "huge amount of money running into hundreds of crores was siphoned off through the M3M group" in the case against the IREO group.

In one of the transactions, the M3M group received about Rs 400 crore from the IREO group through several shell companies in multiple layers, it had alleged.
New Delhi, Jun 16 (PTI) The CBI has filed a charge sheet in the infamous Rs 250-crore pulses scam involving the export of 60,000 metric tonne of pulses despite a government ban in 2006-07  nearly 17 years after a case was first registered in the matter , officials said.

The agency's investigation remained stalled during the period, with letters rogatory sent to three countries failing to elicit timely responses.

A letter rogatory  a judicial request sent by a court to a foreign country seeking its assistance in sharing information in a case  to New Zealand is still pending.

In its charge sheet filed recently before a special court, the Central Bureau of Investigation named Jet King, its owner Shyam Sunder Jain, Naresh Kumar Jain, and one Prashant Sethi.

It is alleged that Jet King circumvented the government ban on pulse export in collusion with some UAE-based companies by manipulating a backdated Letter of Credit issued by a Cook Islands bank.

The CBI has invoked IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy, cheating, and forgery against the accused, in addition to provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

In 2007, opposition leaders pointed out that pulses were being exported based on backdated documents, undermining the then UPA government's attempts to control the spiralling prices of pulses in the country.
Pune, Jun 16 (PTI) Union Minister of State for Education Subhas Sarkar on Friday called for collaborative efforts to explore multi-dimensional aspects of Indian knowledge systems, including "vastu vidya".

Sarkar also emphasised the importance of removing barriers to knowledge, promoting transparency and fostering multi-disciplinary collaborations. The minister made the comments at the inauguration of precursor events ahead of the fourth G20 Education Working Group and Education Ministers meeting.

"There is potential for collaborative efforts to explore multi-dimensional aspects of Indian knowledge systems, including Ganita and Jyamiti (Indian system of Mathematics and Geometry) and Vastu Vidya (Indian system of Architecture). It is very important to remove barriers to knowledge, promoting transparency, and fostering multidisciplinary collaborations," he said.

The precursor events began here on Friday with a seminar on "Accessible Science: Fostering Collaboration", organised at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in collaboration with ELSEVIER.

The minister also launched a report, titled "The status and relevance of research collaborations for development, considering G20 nations" on the occasion.

Higher Education Secretary Sanjay Murthy said, "NEP (National Education Policy) 2020 speaks about reaching out to institutions within and outside the country to improve our research output. The discussions and report launched today will lead to avenues and knowledge on how to further research collaboration and enhance regulatory framework to provide solutions to the global challenges."

Nick Fowler, Chief Academic Officer at Elsevier, noted that India's scholarly output has been steadily increasing.

"India is the third largest producer of scientific research, overtaking the UK in 2022. But India has not only succeeded in volume of research output, it also boasts achievements in academic quality. Field Weighted Citation Impact has jumped up from 0.85 in 2019 to 1.05 in 2021, putting India above the global average for publication citations," he said.

Carlos Henrique de Brito Cruz, Senior VP, Elsevier, noted India's surge in the global scientific community.

"India is bound to become to be the second largest publisher in AI-related topics with oldest AI article with Indian authors dating back to August 1968," Cruz said.

The seminar is part of the ongoing fourth and final Education Working Group meeting scheduled from June 19 to 21.

The overarching theme of the meeting is "Ensuring Foundation Literacy and Numeracy, especially in the context of blended learning." The EDWG meeting comprises various precursor events, seminars, exhibitions, heritage excursions, and will culminate with the Education Ministerial meeting on June 22.

On the sidelines of the meeting, an exhibition will be inaugurated on June 17 which will showcase innovative practices being adopted in education and foundational literacy and numeracy, digital initiatives, research and skill development, in particular by states and Union territories, besides other agencies in the field of education.

The first meeting of the G20 Education Working Group was held in Chennai in January, followed by the second meet in Amritsar in March and the third in Bhubaneswar in April.
New Delhi, Jun 15 (PTI) As many as 73 academicians, including vice chancellors of central universities, NIT directors and IIM chairpersons, on Thursday termed the withdrawal of names over the NCERT textbook row a "spectacle" by some "arrogant and self-interested" people.

They also alleged that it was disrupting the much needed curriculum updation process.

A couple of days earlier, a number of academicians and political scientists Yogendra Yadav and Suhas Palshikar, who were part of the NCERT's textbook development committee, had asked the council to drop their names from textbooks over "several substantive revisions of the original texts".

The joint statement issued on Thursday night alleged that in the past three months there have been deliberate attempts to malign the NCERT and it reflects the "intellectual arrogance of academicians who want students to study 17-year-old textbooks".

The signatories to the statement include Vice Chancellors of JNU, Tezpur University, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, The English and Foreign Languages University, Central University of Jharkhand, Ranchi University, Bangalore University, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, NIT Jalandhar Director, Chairman, Board of Governors, IIM Kashipur, ICSSR secretary and NIOS chairman, among others.

"In the past three months, there have been deliberate attempts to malign the NCERT, a leading public institution, and disrupt the much-needed process for curriculum updation.

"Academicians trying to capture media attention through this name-withdrawal spectacle seem to have forgotten that textbooks are an outcome of collective intellectual engagement and rigorous efforts," the statement said.

It added, "The scholars who have suggested the changes in the textbook have not suggested any epistemic rupture in the existing domain of knowledge but just rationalised the course content as per contemporary knowledge need."

"As regards the decision of who decides what is unacceptable and what is desirable it is argued that every new generation has the right to make additions/deletion to the existing knowledge base," the statement added.

The National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), however, had said the withdrawal of anyone's association is out of question as textbooks at the school level are developed based on knowledge and understanding on a given subject and at no stage individual authorship is claimed.

"Through misinformation, rumours and false allegations, they want to derail the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) and disrupt the updation of NCERT textbooks. Their demand that students continue to study from 17-year-old textbooks rather than updated textbooks in sync with contemporary developments and pedagogical advancement reveals intellectual arrogance," the joint statement said.

"In their quest to further their political agenda, they are ready to endanger the future of crores of children across the country. While students are eagerly awaiting updated textbooks, these academicians are continuing to create hurdles and derail the entire process," it said.

The dropping of several topics and portions from NCERT textbooks last month triggered a controversy, with the opposition blaming the BJP-led Centre of "whitewashing with vengeance".

At the heart of the controversy was the fact that while the changes made as part of the rationalisation exercise were notified, some of the controversial deletions were not mentioned. This led to allegations about a bid to delete these portions surreptitiously.

The NCERT had described the omissions as a possible oversight but refused to undo the deletions, saying they were based on the recommendations of experts.

It had also said the textbooks were anyway headed for a revision in 2024, the year when the National Curriculum Framework kicks in. However, it subsequently changed its stand and said "minor changes need not be notified".
New Delhi, Jun 16 (PTI) A 38-year-old man was arrested for allegedly duping job seekers by posting fake advertisements on social media platforms about recruiting playboys and masseurs, police said on Friday.

The accused, Ashraf Khan, a resident of Shaheen Bagh in southeast Delhi, is the mastermind behind the racket, they said.

Khan was previously arrested in two other cases, they said.

The matter came to light after a victim who was duped of Rs 40,000 by the accused filed a complaint at the cyber police station of Shahdara district, police said.

The victim, in his complaint, alleged that he found an advertisement on Facebook recruiting job seekers as playboys and masseurs.

When he contacted the number posted on the advertisement, he transferred Rs 40,000 as a registration fee to the bank provided by a woman caller. Later, he tried to contact the number but it was found to be switched off.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) Rohit Meena said after examining the alleged social media account and IP address, the accused was identified and arrested.

"During the investigation, it was revealed that the accused posted advertisements regarding recruitment of playboys, masseurs and others on Facebook and also mentioned a contact number on it, he said.

He also recruited three-four women callers to talk with the victims. Under the false assurance of high earnings, they lured victims and cheated maximum amounts. The accused person then used multiple fake accounts to withdraw the money," he said.

The mobile phone and SIM card used in the commission of the crime was recovered, police said, adding further investigation is underway.
Dehradun, Jun 16 (PTI) Swami Darshan Bharti, the founder of "Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan" which had allegedly pasted threatening posters on shops run by Muslims in the communally tense Purola, on Friday claimed that he has received a death threat.

He claimed that he received the letter threatening to behead him and rewarding the person who does it with Rs 5 crore on June 14. The letter was in a paper bag with stones in it and thrown on the premises of his residence, Bharti claimed.

The letter has been handed over to police, he said.

Meanwhile, a case under IPC section 153 (a) (wanton vilification or attacks upon religion), 505 (1) (c) (inciting one community against another) and 506 (threat to cause death or grievous hurt) has been registered against Bharti at Barkot police station in connection with the pasting of posters in Purola bazaar.

Bharti has been asked to record his statement at the police station on June 25. He has been asked to cooperate in the investigation and not destroy any evidence, Inspector in-charge Gajendra Bahuguna said.

Markets in Uttarakhand's Purola and neighbouring towns remained closed amid heavy police deployment on Thursday in protest against the imposition of prohibitory orders to prevent a "mahapanchayat" that was scheduled to be held there over alleged incidents of "love jihad".

Police were deployed in large numbers in Uttarkashi district's Purola where tension has been brewing for over a fortnight since an alleged attempt by two men, including a Muslim, to abduct a minor girl.

The alleged bid to abduct the girl on May 26 was foiled by locals following which, threatening posters appeared on the shutters of shops owned by members of the minority community in Purola asking them to leave the town immediately.

The posters pasted by Devbhoomi Raksha Abhiyan had asked "love jihadis" to leave Purola before a Mahapanchayat is held there on June 15 or face consequences. However, the call for the mahapanchayat was later withdrawn under the pressure of district administration.

Bharti, however, denied that the Mahapanchayat has been cancelled. "It has just been deferred. The Mahapanchayat will be held. The fight against love jihadis will continue," he claimed.

"Love jihad" is a term often used by right-wing outfits to allege a ploy by Muslim men to lure Hindu women into religious conversion through marriage.

The Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad's national president Mahant Ravindra Puri demanded action against those who had threatened to behead Bharti and said the seers are with him.

"We all are with him. Bharti has not just fought against love jihad he has fought many battles in the interest of Uttarakhand. People behind the threat should be identified and punished," Puri said.
Hamirpur (HP), June 16(PTI) President of Himachal unit of VHP Lekhraj Rana on Friday demanded death penalty for the killers of a man whose body was found chopped in eight pieces from a drain in Chamba district.

Protests over the murder of 28-year-old Manohar, whose body was found in Bandal panchayat in Salooni on June 8, would be held on June 19 and 20, Rane was quoted as saying in a statement.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader said that a fast track court should be set up for expediting the investigation in the matter. He also supported Leader of Opposition and former chief minister Jairam Thakur's demand for a probe by the National Investigation Agency into the case.

Rane said that the "brutal" incident has brought shame to the peace-loving "Dev Bhoomi" and that there was anger among the Hindus over the murder.

Prohibitory orders were imposed in Salooni on Thursday when a mob burned down the house of Musafir Hussain, accused of killing Manohar over an affair with his niece. Police have arrested three persons, including Hussain. The others are Hussain's wife Farida, and Shabir.
New Delhi, Jun 16 (PTI) A group of 40 bike taxi drivers have sought Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot's intervention against any enforcement or action by the city government against them.

The Delhi government launched a crackdown against bike taxis in February.

In a memorandum submitted to Gahlot's office, the group said the Delhi government is adamant about banning their services.

"We will face difficulties in meeting household expenses, getting our children educated and getting our parents treated," read the memorandum.

The memorandum also said that while the delivery services continued unabated, the bike taxi drivers were being "targeted".

The Supreme Court had on Monday stayed a Delhi High Court order that essentially allowed Rapido and Uber to operate in the national capital by asking the Delhi government not to take any coercive action against them till a new policy was formulated.

A vacation bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Rajesh Bindal at the Supreme Court granted liberty to the two aggregators to request an urgent hearing of their pleas by the Delhi HC.

Transport Commissioner Ashish Kundra said the government will write to the aggregators and also appeal to them through the media to comply with the Supreme Court order or face action.

The bench, which stayed the May 26 order of the Delhi HC, also recorded the Delhi government counsel's submission that the final policy will be notified before the end of July.
If you want to compound wealth in the stock market, you can do so by buying an index fund. But you can significantly boost your returns by picking above-average stocks. For example, the B&M European Value Retail S.A. (LON:BME) share price is up 48% in the last 1 year, clearly besting the market return of around 2.7% (not including dividends). So that should have shareholders smiling. Also impressive, the stock is up 46% over three years, making long term shareholders happy, too.

After a strong gain in the past week, it's worth seeing if longer term returns have been driven by improving fundamentals.

See our latest analysis for B&M European Value Retail

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.

During the last year, B&M European Value Retail actually saw its earnings per share drop 18%.

This means it's unlikely the market is judging the company based on earnings growth. Indeed, when EPS is declining but the share price is up, it often means the market is considering other factors.

We haven't seen B&M European Value Retail increase dividend payments yet, so the yield probably hasn't helped drive the share higher. Rather, we'd posit that the revenue increase of 6.6% might be more meaningful. Revenue growth often does precede earnings growth, so some investors might be willing to forgo profits today because they have their eyes fixed firmly on the future.

The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

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. So we recommend checking out this free report showing consensus forecasts

What About Dividends?

When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. 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. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. As it happens, B&M European Value Retail's TSR for the last 1 year was 61%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments!

A Different Perspective

It's nice to see that B&M European Value Retail shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 61% over the last year. And that does include the dividend. Since the one-year TSR is better than the five-year TSR (the latter coming in at 14% per year), it would seem that the stock's performance has improved in recent times. In the best case scenario, this may hint at some real business momentum, implying that now could be a great time to delve deeper. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand B&M European Value Retail better, we need to consider many other factors. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for B&M European Value Retail that you should be aware of.

Of course B&M European Value Retail 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.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
New Delhi, Jun 16 (PTI) The Petitions Committee of Delhi Assembly has summoned Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar in connection with a land-related complaint.

The committee has also requested the chief secretary of the Delhi government to furnish answers to some questions by June 21.

The Petitions Committee had received a complaint against IAS officer Ashish More who was recently removed from the post of secretary (services) on the order of Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj.

Last year, five sub-divisional magistrates and one additional district magistrate were suspended in connection with the transfer of a piece of land in Jhangola village in north Delhi, the government said in a statement.

"Ashish More used the same method to transfer the same type of land in the same village. Evacuee property belonging to the government was illegally transferred and people were given 'bhumidari' rights," it alleged.

More as the district magistrate of north Delhi used to decide the appeals where "illegal land transfers" were made, it claimed.

More, along with divisional commissioner Ashwani Kumar, was asked to appear before the committee on June 7 but they did not, according to the letter sent to Chief Secretary by the committee.

They appeared on June 14 before the committee and admitted that the land was evacuee property, the letter claimed.

Noting that it was a "serious matter", the panel has now sought some details in connection with the matter by June 21.
New Delhi, Jun 16 (PTI) A 26-year-old married woman and a man allegedly died by suicide at the former's apartment in outer Delhi's Shahbad Dairy area on Friday, police said.

Preliminary enquiry revealed that Meera and Manoj were in relationship but the man's family had fixed his marriage to another woman, police said. Upset about this, the duo hanged themselves on Friday, they said. However, no suicide note was recovered from the spot, they added.

According to police, a call about the incident was received around 9 am following which a team of police reached the apartment.

A senior police officer said Meera was married but was living alone in an apartment in Shahbad Dairy area. Manoj worked as a civil defence volunteer in DTC and was unmarried, he said.

On Friday morning, Manoj told his parents that he was going for work at around 6 am but went to meet Meera instead, he added.

After post-mortem, bodies were handed over to the respective families, police said, adding that inquest proceedings were initiated.
Shillong, Jun 16 (PTI) Two interstate drug traffickers were arrested here on Friday after heroin worth Rs 3 crore was recovered from their possession in Meghalaya's East Khasi Hills district, police said.

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma lauded the state police for their effort to arrest the drug peddlers.

Taking to Twitter, Sangma wrote, "Success saga continues! Two interstate drug traffickers tried to enable drug transactions at Shillong but alert @EKHPolice nabbed them & seized heroin worth Rs 3 crore, a bike and few incriminating documents. Kudos.

Meghalaya Director General of Police Dr L R Bishnoi thanked the chief minister for his appreciation and said that sustained crackdown will have a disruptive impact on drug traffickers.

During a raid at the residence of one of the accused, arms and ammunition, Rs 2 lakh in cash and four vehicles were seized, East Khasi Hills district SP S Nongtynger said.

Meanwhile, the Meghalaya Police arrested two persons and seized fake Indian currency notes with a total face value of Rs 10 lakh in West Garo Hills district.

The DGP said the two smugglers planned to supply the fake currency notes to weekly markets, adding that the hunt for other associates is on.
New Delhi, Jun 16 (PTI) The CBI on Friday conducted searches at 25 locations in connection with an FIR registered against 21 officials of the BSNL, including a former general manager, officials said.

The premier investigative agency alleged that the accused officials entered into a conspiracy with a contractor to cheat the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

The CBI registered the FIR against officials of BSNL Assam Circle, including a former general manager, deputy general manager, assistant general manager, and chief accounts officer in Jorhat, Sibsagar, Guwahati and other places, they said.

The FIR also mentions the name of a private person, officials said.

"It was alleged that the contractor was given a work order for laying National Optical Fibre Network Cable through open trenching method at Rs 90,000 per km," a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.

"It was also alleged that later on, the contractor made different pleas, including no right of way from the owner of private land, to convert the open trenching method to horizontal directional drilling method at Rs 2.30 lakh per km in spite of the provision of the right of way, easement clause in the contract, thereby violated tender clause and caused loss of Rs 22 crore (approximately) to the BSNL," the official said.

After the registration of the FIR recently, the CBI on Friday conducted searches at 25 locations, including the offices and residences of the accused in Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and Haryana, he said.
Westerly, RI (02891)

Today

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable.




We have all seen and heard about the string of Ponzis and dishonest business dealings in the frum community. Its been published and discussed on YWN, Lakewood Alerts, and now a magazine has placed it on their front cover.

But have you wondered why? Why are we getting hit over and again by financial scammers? Did something happen, has something changed? There have been numerous frauds exposed in just the past few weeks; 20 years ago, five frauds being exposed in the frum community would take years. What happened to us?

Id like to suggest a theory which I think also serves as a serious bit of mussar for all of us, myself included.

The theory is simple: Materialism has become our Avoda Zara, and the pursuit of it requires a literally endless amount of money.

Everyone has to go to Miami with their families for midwinter vacation, draining many of tens of thousands of dollars they dont even have. Everyone has to go to Orlando for Pesach, squeezing them for another $25,000 or so, at minimum. Everyone has to go to Eretz Yisroel for Sukkos  tack on another $35,000. Everyone has to own a home in the Catskills. Whats the big deal? Just a few more hundred thousand dollars. Oh, and weddings! The engagement through Sheva Brachos gotta cost a minimum of $200,000  you dont embarrass yourself, right? Youre making a bris? Beautiful. Make sure it costs at least $10,000, otherwise you might look like a neb. Dont forget your Tesla, magnificent house, and two full-time housekeepers (who of course come with you on vacation).

Dont you think its become a little disgusting? Were stuck in a rat race  a bottomless pit of trying to outdo each other, show how successful we are, live a pompous lifestyle to impress everyone else.

And none of this is being done for our own enjoyment, either. We have to do it because everyone else is. And everyone else? They have to do it because youre doing it! See how this works? Everyone is chasing everyone elses tail  an endless and pathetic game that leads to nothing but insecurity, inadequacy, and sadly, people winding up in prison.

Just take a look at whats become common on Purim. When one person who stumbled into a fortune makes a million-dollar Purim party, every other guy who found a nickel on the sidewalk feels the need to do it too. And who is attending these parties? For the most part, its teens  impressionable bochurim who are implicitly absorbing the concept that money and materialism is all that really matters. And as an aside, how pathetic is it that multi-millionaires feel the need to spend millions on impressing teenagers who are less than half their age? The psychopathology behind that has got to be fascinating. Regardless, the impression that these parties, and all the other materialistic garbage weve allowed to become mainstream in society, are truly ruining us.

The worst part? Barely anyone can actually afford it! I personally was involved in a story in which a familys home was destroyed in a fire days before a yom tov. I approached the familys rav and asked him to endorse a fundraising campaign to help the family rebuild. The rav couldnt believe that the family needed money, telling me how clearly wealthy the family was.

But I knew better, and I proved it to him, showing him this familys actual finances  they were millions of dollars in debt. Millions! All to keep up with everyone else.

Its very nice that we have articles telling people not to go into stupid investments, its wonderful that we have magazine articles advising us on how to invest our money, but youre not solving anything with them. Youre not treating the root problem, which is that everyone is following everyone else, and for some reason, materialism is thought to be the key to happiness. And because of this, people will continue going into stupid investments because they have no choice but to strike it rich if theyre going to keep up with the crowd.

What we have to do is rise up as one and stop this madness. Do whatever it takes to end this, because our children are being poisoned, our families are being ruined, our finances are being crushed, and fathers are being sent off to prison.

Chaim M.  Lakewood, NJ.

NOTE: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of YWN.

DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE POSTED ON YWN? SEND IT TO US FOR REVIEW.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Pollen Street PLC (LON:POLN) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 25% in the last quarter. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last five years have been less than pleasing. After all, the share price is down 37% in that time, significantly under-performing the market.

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.

View our latest analysis for Pollen Street

To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. 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.

Looking back five years, both Pollen Street's share price and EPS declined; the latter at a rate of 13% per year. The share price decline of 9% per year isn't as bad as the EPS decline. So investors might expect EPS to bounce back -- or they may have previously foreseen the EPS decline.

The graphic below depicts how EPS has changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image).

Dive deeper into Pollen Street's key metrics by checking this interactive graph of Pollen Street's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. So for companies that pay a generous dividend, the TSR is often a lot higher than the share price return. As it happens, Pollen Street's TSR for the last 5 years was -3.5%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

A Different Perspective

Investors in Pollen Street had a tough year, with a total loss of 16% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 7.7%. 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. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 0.7% 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. Case in point: We've spotted 3 warning signs for Pollen Street you should be aware of, and 1 of them shouldn't be ignored.

But note: Pollen Street 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 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.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here




Race has emerged as a central issue  and a delicate one  in the 2024 presidential contest as the GOPs primary field features five candidates of color, making it the partys most racially diverse ever.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who is of Cuban descent, announced his candidacy on Thursday, vowing to create a new brand of politics.

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, the first Black senator in the South since Reconstruction, entered the contest last month. He joined Nikki Haley, a former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador who is of Indian descent, as is Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur who describes himself as a cultural thought leader. Also in the race is Larry Elder, an African American raised in Los Angeles South Central neighborhood who came to national attention as a candidate in the failed effort two years ago to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The candidates of color are considered underdogs in a field currently dominated by former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Yet the partys increasingly diverse leadership, backed by evolving politics on issues such as immigration, suggest the GOP may have a real opportunity in 2024 to further weaken the Democrats grip on African Americans and Latinos. Those groups have been among the most loyal segments of the Democratic coalition since Republican leaders fought against the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Republican presidential contenders of 2024 walk a fine line when addressing race with the GOPs overwhelmingly white primary electorate.

In most cases, the diverse candidates in the Republican field play down the significance of their racial heritage. They all deny the existence of systemic racism in the United States even while discussing their own personal experience with racial discrimination. They oppose policies around policing, voting rights and education that are designed to benefit disadvantaged communities and combat structural racism.

The NAACP recently issued a travel advisory for Florida under DeSantis leadership, warning of open hostility toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. The notice calls out new policies enacted by the governor that include blocking public schools from teaching students about systemic racism and defunding programs aimed at diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Republican presidential candidates of color largely support DeSantis positions.

Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, said the GOPs policies are far more important than the racial and ethnic diversity of their presidential candidates. He noted there also were four Republican candidates of color in 2016, the year Trump won the White House after exploiting tensions over race and immigration.

White nationalists, insurrectionists and white supremacists seem to find comfort in the (Republican) Party, Morial said. I think were beyond the politics of just the face of a person of color by itself appealing to people of color. What do you stand for?

With few exceptions, the Republican candidates who have entered the presidential primary field have embraced the GOPs anti-woke agenda, which is based on the notion that policies designed to address systemic inequities related to race, gender or sexuality are inherently unfair or even dangerous.

DeSantis this past week described such policies as cultural Marxism.

Still, the GOPs diverse field is not ignoring race. Indeed, some candidates are making their race a central theme in their appeal to Republican primary voters even as they deny that people of color face systemic challenges.

Scott insisted that America is not a racist country in his recent announcement speech.

We are not defined by the color of our skin. We are defined by the content of our character. And if anyone tells you anything different, theyre lying, he said.

In her announcement video, Haley noted that she was raised in a small town in South Carolina as the proud daughter of Indian immigrants  not black, not white, I was different. Like Scott, she has defended the GOP against charges of racism.

Some think our ideas are not just wrong, but racist and evil, Haley said. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Elder is quick to criticize the Democrats woke agenda, Black Lives Matter and the notion of systemic racism.

Critics say such messages are actually designed to win over suburban white voters more than to attract voters of color. But at a town hall meeting Ramaswamy hosted on the South Side of Chicago on a recent Friday afternoon, there were signs that some Black voters were open to the GOPs new messengers, given their frustration with both political parties.

One audience member waved a flyer for a Biden boycott because the Democratic president has not signaled whether he supports reparations for the descendants of slaves, although Joe Biden did back a congressional effort to study the issue. None of the GOPs presidential candidates supports reparations, either.

Others condemned Democrats, in Chicago and in Washington, for working harder to help immigrants who are in the country illegally than struggling African American citizens.

Federal officials were preparing to relocate hundreds of migrants from the U.S.-Mexico border to the South Side, even as many local residents struggled with violence and difficult economic conditions.

It is certainly true that there are multiple shades of melanin in this Republican race, Ramaswamy said in an interview before the event. I think that in some ways dispels the myth that much of the left will perpetuate that this is somehow you know, a racist party or whatever drivel.

He added: But personally, I could care less what someones skin color is. I think what matters is, what are they going to accomplish? Whats their vision?

Before Suarezs announcement, the GOP did not have any Hispanic candidates in the 2024 contest. He said his ethnic background matters.

Im the only Hispanic candidate in both parties whos running. I think thats incredibly important, he said in an interview on ABC, noting that roughly 20% of the U.S. is made up of Hispanics, who have trended Republican recently. Im focused on not just winning the 2024 election. Im focused on creating a brand of politics that can win generational elections.

A majority of Latino voters supported Biden in the 2020 presidential contest, according to AP VoteCast, an extensive national survey of the electorate. But Trump cut into that support in some competitive states, including Florida and Nevada, revealing important shifts among Latinos from many different cultural backgrounds.

In last falls midterm elections, support grew for Republican candidates among Black voters, although they remained overwhelmingly supportive of Democrats, AP Votecast found. Overall, Republican candidates were backed by 14% of Black voters, compared with 8% in the midterm elections four years earlier.

While the shifts may be relatively small, strategists in both parties acknowledge that any shift is significant given how close some elections may be in 2024.

In Chicago, Tyrone Muhammad, who leads Ex-Cons for Social Change, lashed out at Republicans for being losers for not seizing a very real opportunity to win over more African Americans. While sitting next to Ramaswamy on stage, he also declared that the Republican Party is racist.

Later, he said he actually voted for Trump in 2020 because Trump enacted a criminal justice bill that aimed to shorten prison sentences for nonviolent drug offenders and address racial inequalities in the justice system. While the GOP has since embraced tough-on-crime rhetoric, Muhammed noted that Biden as a senator helped pass the 1994 crime bill that led to the mass incarceration of Black people.

Muhammad said he might vote Republican again in 2024, despite the partys shortcomings. He pointed to the GOPs fight against illegal immigration as a core reason for support.

I may not like you as an individual, but I like your issues, I like your policies, he said.

(AP)




Federal investigators tasked with uncovering the cause behind the catastrophic collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium building in 2021, have made a significant breakthrough in their preliminary analysis.

According to a report by The New York Times, investigators from the U.S. Department of Commerces National Institute of Standards and Technology have discovered a severe strength deficiency in the buildings pool deck, shedding light on a potential factor in the devastating incident that claimed the lives of 98 individuals, including numerous Jewish victims.

Utilizing a comprehensive approach that involved witness interviews, scrutiny of building records, material testing, and modeling, the investigators have concluded that the pool deck of the condo building exhibited insufficient strength in numerous supporting columns. The steel reinforcement within the concrete slabs of the pool deck was found to have been positioned deeper within the concrete than originally planned, while the weight of planters placed atop it exceeded the intended design specifications. These additional factors, as highlighted in the investigators summaries, amplified the load on the structure.

Moreover, layers of sand and paving stones were subsequently added to the top of the pool deck, exacerbating the strain on the already compromised structure. Compounding the issue, signs of corrosion were observed in some sections of the steel reinforcement, further reducing the buildings overall margin of safety against failure, as determined by the investigators.

The Champlain Towers South building experienced a partial collapse on June 24, 2021, and was subsequently demolished around ten days later. The families of the victims, along with survivors, reached a settlement amounting to $1 billion last year. Although the exact cause of the buildings collapse remains undetermined, these recent findings provide crucial insights into the potential contributing factors.

The New York Times reports that the federal investigators do not anticipate issuing their final report until May 2025, underscoring the complexity of the investigation and the meticulous approach being taken to ascertain the definitive cause of this tragic event.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




President Biden sparked a wave of social media mockery after making remarks that seemed to hint at a grand plan to construct a railroad stretching from the Pacific Ocean across the Indian Ocean.

Speaking at the League of Conservation Voters annual dinner in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday evening, Biden revealed, We have plans to build a railroad from the Pacific all the way across the Indian Ocean. We have plans to build in Angola, one of the largest solar plants in the world. I could go on, but Im not. Im going off script. Im going to get in trouble.

The presidents statement immediately raised eyebrows on social media, with some users referring to the idea as an ocean train. Fox News contributor and former GOP Congressman Jason Chaffetz took to Twitter to express his doubts, sarcastically calling it a bold initiative and others joking that it was time for bed for Joe Biden.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)




Who were the four Likud MKs who disregarded the instructions of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday and voted via secret ballot for the opposition MK to serve on the Judicial Selection Committee?

In a video that circulated on social media after the vote, Likud MK Yuli Edelstein is seen approaching opposition leader Benny Gantz after the vote and whispering in his ear.

Gantz then approached Chili Tropper, a member of his party who reportedly was in touch with the rebels earlier in the day and whispered in his ear.

Political analysts identified the other rebels, with Maariv commentator Ben Caspit claiming that in addition to Edelstein, Likud MK Dovid Bitan, the head of the Economy Committee, and two ministers, Environmental Minister Gila Gamliel and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant voted with the opposition.

These four Likud members have long been identified by the opposition as the weak link in the Likud and as the leaders of the group opposed to passing the judicial reform legislation plan in its original draft.

Caspit added that the scenario that materialized is exactly what Netanyahu wanted to happen and even Netanyahu himself voted for Elharrar. Bibi is breathing a sigh of relief, Capsit said. This is what he wanted. The opposition got its representative, the protests wont hit the streets, [Justice Minister Yariv] Levin was pushed into a corner, and he gained another month. According to this version, [Strategic Affairs Minister] Ron Dermer defeated Levin.

By the way, Dermer sat all day in the Knessetworking on tailoring the results. And who defected to Karin Elharrer, according to the assessment of opposition sources? Bitan, Edelstein, Gamliel, Gallant, and Netanyahu.

The right-wing camp and the media declared the results of the vote as a defeat for the coalition but the reported statements of a senior Likud member, one of the four who voted for Elharrar, painted a different picture.

Netanyahu knew that Elharrar would be elected, and was not surprised by the results, he was quoted as saying by Channel 12 News. We saved Netanyahu from Yariv Levin. If Elharrar had not been elected, there would have been [another] Gallant incident here on steroids, he said, referring to the mass protests that broke out in late March after Netanyahu announced he was firing Gallant for calling for the judicial reform legislation to be halted.

Galatz Radio reported that Tropper, MK Zeev Elkin and other senior opposition members knew in advance about five defectors from the coalition who had informed them in recent days that they would vote for Elharrar.

Ynet reported that while Gantz was excoriating Netanyahu and threatening to blow up negotiations, he was simultaneously working to recruit defectors. Throughout the day, Tropper and Elkin were working on Gantzs behalf, holding secret meetings and phone calls with coalition members. According to the report, Tropper already had a majority by noon on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Bitan said on Army Radio that its important that the Judicial Selection Committee should have one representative from the coalition and one from the opposition.

On the other hand, the right-wing members of the coalition are furious at Netanyahu for his concessions on the judicial reform and are planning to hold a protest on Thursday evening in front of the prime ministers home in Caesarea  the first time a right-wing protest will be held against Netanyahu.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




The Biden administration is once again choosing to trust the always reliable and truthful Islamic Republic, and a new US-Iran deal is imminent, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.

However, in order to avoid bringing the deal to Congress for approval, this deal will not be a deal  instead, it will be called an informal and unwritten understanding.

The details of the talks, which were carried out via Oman, were confirmed by an Iranian official, a U.S. official, and three senior Israeli officials.

The unwritten agreement has Iran agreeing not to enrich uranium beyond 60%, which is dangerously close to the 90% needed for nuclear weapons. Iran will also commit to halt attacks on US contractors in Syria and Iraq, cooperate with international nuclear inspectors, and stop selling ballistic missiles to Russia for its attacks on Ukraine.

In return for Irans benevolent concessions, the US will release billions of dollars of frozen Iranian assets (for ostensibly humanitarian purposes only), refrain from placing further sanctions on Iran, stop seizing foreign oil tankers, and desist from pursuing resolutions against Iran at the UN and the IAEA.

The US already issued a waiver last week for Iraq to pay $2.76 billion in energy debts to Iran. In exchange for the release of further assets, such as an estimated $7 billion worth of oil purchase payments held in South Korea, Iran will release three wrongfully detained Iranian-American prisoners.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told members of the Knessets Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday that the imminent US-Iran mini-deal is one that Israel can live with, and is inevitable in any case since the US is determined to forge an agreement.

Many US lawmakers, even Democratic ones, are skeptical of any deal with Iran. I have a hard time seeing an Iranian government thats cracking down on people in the way they are now as sort of having the credibility to deliver a [nuclear] deal, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) told Jewish Insider. I think you would find even those of us who were supporting the JCPOA, were so skeptical of Iran right now that you wouldnt just get people up here who  because they supported in the past  are just going to be [supportive].

Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN), who said he has not heard about the impending deal, told the JI: If if thats the case, Im extremely discouragedthis whole approach to Iran is a wrongheaded move that makes our nation less safe, makes the entire region unstable, and Im very disappointed to hear.

Hagerty is on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee but said that the Biden administration had not made any indication to lawmakers that new talks were on the agenda.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said that the Biden administration has not been upfront with Congress about the deal: I think what theyre trying to do is do sanctions relief, getting around Congress, Graham said. They want a deal so bad they can taste it. Theyll crawl through glass for it. Its unseemly.

Youre not going to solve the problem by being weak, Graham asserted. We have people in a hostage environment. I understand  Id like to get them out too, he said. But this idea of putting billions of dollars on the table is insane. Youll just get more hostages.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)




By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com

Yoseph, a Baal Teshuvah who was studying in Kollel, had a somewhat strained relationship with his non-observant father. At a bris for Yosephs son, the Mashgiach of the Yeshiva approached his father and said, I just wanted to let you know that your son has a brilliant mind, and the work that he is doing in his study of Talmud and legal codes is equivalent and beyond post-doctoral work at the most prestigious university in the country.. And he named his son after your grandfather! Wow, you must be so proud of him.

Later, Yoseph approached the Mashgiach and said, Rebbe, you have no idea of the impact of what you said to my father months ago. There has been a complete turn-around in our relationship, aside from kindling within him a strong desire and respect for Torah. Thank you so much.

Saying complimentary words, especially heartfelt ones, is one of the biggest chassadim that one can do for another person.

Rav Chatzkel Levenstein ztl (1:5) writes that when a person says a few kind words to another, all he has invested are a few words, but the return on the investment is untold reward:

Hashem provides for him with this act an abundant flow of bracha with His full and overflowing hand. [Authors suggested edit gedusha instead of kedusha  holy.]

DEPTH IN SHAS AND DEPTH IN STUDYING MIDOS

Boruch Hashem, we are a Torah nation, and many of us study Gemorah day and night  as we all should. The great Rav Yisroel Salanter ztl used to say that just as there is profound depth in a sugya in the Talmud, there is also profound depth in the study of Mussar and Middos. Indeed, the Mishna Brurah (1:12) writes of the obligation to study Mussar every day. With both of these ideas in mind, we present the following thoughts of our great Masters on Chessed.

Chessed, and the love of it, forms the very blueprint of the world. Hashem is the essence of Chessed itself, and He created the world so that He can reward us for doing Mitzvos (Derech Hashem Chapter one). Thus, the Mitzvos involved in the performance of Chessed form a large part of the reason why Hashem created the world.

Performing Chessed gives our life meaning. Since Chessed plays such a crucial role in life, it is important to understand what Chazal tell us about this most important subject. This article should be utilized to help inspire our daily Chessed, and to help us understand the significance of it.

SOURCE

What is the source for the Mitzvah of performing Chessed? The Gemorah (Bava Kamma 100a) identifies a posuk in Shmos (18:20) as the source, And inform them of the path that they should walk.. The Rambam in Sefer HaMitzvos (Shoresh 2) cites this as a biblical requirement. There is another Pasuk which one fulfill when performing Chessed, Vahavta lrayacha kamocha.  Love thy neighbor as yourself. The Rambam in Hilchos Aveilus (14:1) cites this as a biblical fulfillment, although the Rabbis provided illustrations as to how to fulfill it..

FURTHER SOURCES AND THREE OBLIGATIONS OF CHESSED

WALKING IN HIS WAYS The major obligation of Chessed stems from walking in Hashems ways. The Gemorah (Sotah 14a) discusses the pasuk which says, Acharei Hashem Elokecha taylechu  you shall walk after Hashem your G-d (Dvarim 13:5). The Gemorah poses a question. It asks, How is it possible to physically walk after the Divine Presence?

b. The Gemorah answers that it means to follow after the Chessed traits, kavyachol, of Hashem. Just as He provides for the unclothed, so too must you provide clothing to them. The Sefer Mitzvos Gedolos states that this verse is part of the related Pasuk of vhalachta bdrachav  and you shall walk in his ways. In other words, the verse of Acharei Hashem Elokecha Taylechu is referencing the verse of vhalachta bdrachav. It could very well be that the aforementioned verse in Shmos (18:20) is also referencing this. UNDERSTANDING THAT CHESSED CONNECTS US TO HASHEM The Gemorah in Shabbos (133b) discusses another entirely different pasuk, Zeh Kaili Vanveihu.. The Gemorah in Shabbos understands it to mean that we must attempt to liken ourselves to Him. Just as He is kind and merciful, so too must you be kind and merciful.

Rav Yitzchok Isaac Sherr zatzal explains (Leket Sichos Mussar p.76) that the pasuk of Zeh Kaili vAnveihu teaches us the obligation of feeling and understanding that the performance of Chessed brings us closer to Hashem. This is on account of the Gemorahs understanding of the word Anvehu to mean Ani vhu  I and Him. The meaning of this Pasuk is therefore, This is my G-d, and I shall bind myself to Him. I know that I can accomplish this binding through the notion of performing acts of Chessed. The consequences of this Pasuk are an obligation of thought, not practice. It is something that we must think  Chessed binds us to Hashem  Ani VeHu.

One means of achieving this is the further obligation that the sages placed on people to say (Tana DBei Eliyahu chapter 25), When will my actions reach the level of those of our forefathers? The forefathers personified these principles of Chessed and wholesomeness. They also are the paradigns of relationship with Hashem.

The Avos were so close to Hashem that they established the Tefilos. Chessed can bring us to such a high Madreigah, spiritual level, that it can bring us to the level of the Avos! And a person is obligated to view Chessed as the means of bringing us closer to Hashem and constantly ask, when will my actions of chessed bring me up to that level of spirituality?

LOVING CHESSED The posuk in Micha (6:8) states, ..What does Hashem require of you? Merely to do justice and love Chessed.. The idea is that we must foster and develop a love of Chessed. Rav Sherr explains that there are three elements to this love:

1] To love doing acts of Chessed ourselves.

2] To love and appreciate a situation where Chessed is being performed by others  either for another or for others.

3] To love the existence of opportunities for Chessed in the world.

The Chofetz Chaim writes (Ahavas Chessed 2:1) that not only must one love Chessed but one must stick to this character trait and always go beyond the measure of what is required. He give the analogy of a parent. A loving parent gives more food and clothing than the child requires, so too must we do likewise in sticking to the Midah of Chessed.

OLAM CHESSED YIBANEH  CHESSED BUILDS THE WORLD

The Alter of Slabodka writes that the notion of Olam Chessed Yibaneh tells us that just as Hashem built the world with Chessed, so too must we build the world with Chessed.

Everyone in the world needs Chessed. When we are born as babies we require the chessed of others. When we become elderly and sick, we also need the Chessed of others. There is no other way. Chessed is necessary for the world to be built. Hashem built this into the nature of the world in order to show us the very necessity of Chessed.

There is another element in Chessed too. It is a natural tendency for people to become miserable and crabby as we age. Living a life committed to Chessed changes that  it stops us from declining in this respect. Thus, Chessed not only builds the world  it builds ourselves as well.

There are other benefits of Chessed too. The Chofetz Chaim writes (Ahavas Chessed 2:4) that when the performance of Chessed saves a person from difficulties in life. It also ensures that Hashem will continue to maintain His love. It also awakens the Divine Middah of Chessed above. The Gemorah in Bava Kamma (17a) also explains that ones enemies fall away when one is committed to the performance of Chessed.

WHO IT APPLIES TO

The Mitzvah of Chessed applies equally to men and to women. It should also be taught to ones children. There is no better way to inculcate this most precious of traits than by example and by performing the Chessed with family members.

CONSTANT CHESSED

Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky ztl was the Gadol HaDor in the early twentieth century. After he had passed away, his notes to himself were found. He had a note that stated he should always make sure to perform at least two chassadim per day.

The Chofetz Chaim (Ahavas Chessed 2:12) writes that one cannot allow one day to go by without having performed Chessed. He cites Rav Chaim Vital (a student of the Arizal) that one must spend time to consider every day to do Chessed and by doing so one achieves atonement for ones sins.

We must also look for opportunities for Chessed. Hashem in His tremendous love for us has created new mediums and technologies for us to be able to better perform Chessed. Most people nowadays have a cell phone. The ability to store vast numbers and to call anyone no matter where we are are actually Divinely ordained developments for the purpose of our performing Chessed for others.

Chessed is such a remarkable Mitzvah, it is even greater than Charity, Tzedakah. How so? The Gemorah in Sukkah (49b) explains that it is greater than Tzedakah in three ways: Tzedaka is only with money  Chessed can be done with money or with ones physical body. Tzedakah can only be done for the poor. Chessed can be done for the poor and the wealthy. Tzedakah can only benefit the living. Chessed can benefit either the living or the dead.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHESSED

The opportunities for Chessed are indeed quite numerous. To name just a few:

There are:

Kind words to whomsoever we meet  even a smile is effective. The Avos DeRav Nosson (Chapter 13) says that if one greets a person with a smile it is as if he has given him all of the greatest gifts in the world.

Our homeless brethren The forgotten elderly in nursing homes People in hospitals Family members of people in hospitals Children who need extra attention The poor who need clothing The developmentally disabled Foreigners in a strange land that need assistance Loaning items or money to others

POWER OF CHESSED

The Midrash (Introduction to Aicha #24) tells us that all the Avos listed their own merits to Hashem in order that the nation of Israel should ultimately be redeemed. Avrohom Avinu mentioned his mesiras Nefesh involved in Akeidas Yitzchok. Yitzchok too cried out and responded that he was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. Yet, Hashem only responded to Rachel because her merits involved the notion of Chessed. She gave the simanim to her sisters so that she not be embarrassed. This is why the Pasuk in Yirmiyahu (31:14-16) states, A voice is heard on High  Rachel is crying for her children..

We should also be aware that there is no limit to the heights and growth we can accomplish in our chessed. This can be seen from a passage of the Targum Yonasan on Sefer Rus. Boaz tells Rus that he is aware of both how she came and joined up the nation of Israel, and also of all the Chessed that she had performed with her mother-in-law. The Targum Yonasan on this Pasuk explains that because they were written next to each other and said in the same breath, these two Mitzvos were equal to each other.

This is somewhat mind-boggling. Rus was a princess of Moav, a very powerful nation. It is a remarkable notion that one of the top women in society would give it all up to become a lowly member of the Jewish nation that must take Tzedakah. Is this lofty Mitzvah equal to the mere Chessed that she does with her mother-in-law?

The answer, according to Rav Henoch Leibowitz ztl. is that there is no spiritual limit to any Mitzvah that we perform. If we do a Chessed, any Chessed, with the right intentions and Kavannah  it can be equal to the greatest of Mitzvos.

IF CHESSED IS NOT DONE

The Gemorah in Avodah Zarah (17b) explains that one who engages in Torah but does not perform Chessed alongside it, it is as if he has no Elokah  as if he has no G-d. The Midrash (Koheles Rabbah 7:4) tells us that whomsoever denies Gmilas Chasadim, it is as if he has denied Hashem  kilu kofer bikkar. The Yalkut Shimoni (Parshas Shoftim #64) states that whoever performs Chessed acknowledges all the Chessed that Hashem has performed since the exodus from Mitzrayim, and whoever does not perform Chessed it is as if he denies all the Chessed that Hashem has perfomed since the exodus from Mitzrayim.

KAVANA IN CHESSED

The Mitzvah of Chessed is a fulfillment of the Torah commandment of Vahavta lrayacha kamocha  love your neighbor as yourself. Generally speaking, we rule that when a person fulfills a Torah Mitzvah, Kavana is required in order for it to count. Kavana means that a person must have in mind that he is fulfilling the Mitzvah of hashem as found in the Torah. This would seem to be the case in regard to Chessed as well (See Ahavas Chessed 2:23).

However, many Poskim have written that although it is required ideally, if one did not have the correct Kavana, the Mitzvah still counts, post facto. The Chazon Ish was of the opinion that this concept of not receiving credit for a Mitzvah when one does it by rote without intent does not apply in regard to Mitzvos that are between man and man (Toraso yehge, Miluim #10).

WHEN IT TURNS OUT THE RECIPIENT ENDED UP NOT NEEDING IT

What happens when it turns out that the recipient ended up not using or not needing the Chessed? The Maharsha in Sukkah (49b) indicates clearly that the person who performed the Chessed still receives full schar, credit. Thus, there is no need to feel disappointment when it turns out that the Chessed may not have been necessary. One still receives full credit.

OTHER ASPECTS OF CHESSED

Ideally, one should stand when doing the Mitzvah of Gmilas Chessed, just like the performance of any Mitzvah (OC 8, Bais Yoseph, Eliyahu Rabbah and Mishna Brurah). The rationale is that it is giving respect for the Mitzvah. Here too, of course, if one did not stand  one still fulfills the Mitzvah.

One does not recite a blessing when performing the Mitzvah of Chessed. There are a few reasons that are given. The Rashba explains (Vol. I #254) that any Mitzvah involving the benefit of other human beings, and when they refuse to accept it there will be no Mitzvah, does not receive a blessing. Rabbeinu Bachya in his Kad Hakemach (Tzitzis) writes that any intellectual Mitzvah that one would have performed anyway without a commandment from the Torah does not receive a blessing. The Ohr Zaruah (#140) explains that Mitzvos that apply all of the time do not receive a blessing.

WITH A SMILE

When performing the Mitzvah of Gemilas Chassadim one should do so cheerfully and with a smile (Chofetz Chaim in his Sefer Ahavas Chessed Vol. II #23). This is predicated upon the same halacha in Shulchan Aruch regarding the giving of charity (Yore Deah 249:3). At the opposite extreme, it is stated in Avos DRav Nosson (13) that if one gives someone enormous gift but greets him with a sour expression, it is as if he has done nothing. The same would apply to the Mitzvah of Chessed.

DIVINE SOURCE FOR JOY OF CHESSED

There are two Mitzvos in the Torah that imbue an individual with their own unique feeling of joy  they are the love of Torah learning and the joy of a Chessed. These special joys, in fact, have a Divine source to them. They emanate from the Ohr Panim kaveyachol of Hashem  the Divine light of Hashem. In the Tefilah of Shmoneh Esreh written by the Anshei Knesses HaGedolah we say, Ki bor panecha nasata lanu toras chaim vahavas Chesed.

The Divine source for the origin of the joy we feel when we perform Chessed explains why Chessed can be so life-changing. It can save us from depression, it can save us from the crabbiness that comes with old age, and so much more.

VIGNETTES OF CHESSED

There was an older woman who had lost her desire to eat and said, Hashem just wants me to die now. A young woman visited her, engaged her in conversation, empathized with her struggles, and gently offered her some ice cream. This little chessed snowballed and eventually the woman regained her desire to eat.

AVOID YETZER HARAH IN CHESSED

It is important not to allow the Yetzer Harah to enter into the performance of this wonderful Mitzvah. The Mesilas Yesharim describes the Yetzer Harah as ish milchama hu umelumad barmimus  he is a man of war and skilled in the art of deceipt. Thus, the Yetzer Harah can easily convince us to get angry at someone else involved in the Chessed. It is so upsetting, the Chessed leader does not know what they are doing!

Other Midos that the Yetzer HaRah can trip us up in, are: Gaavah, taking things that do not belong to us, etc. In short, there may be other temptations that the Yetzer HaRah will bring to us while we perform acts of Chessed in order to try to make the Chessed less pure.

ENCOURAGING CHESSED IN OTHERS

We must also realize that encouraging others to perform Chessed is in and of itself the fulfillment of Chessed. It should therefore also be done cheerfully and with a smile. The problem is that if one is encountering resistance, then it is likely that the second persons Chessed will not be performed in the cheerful loving manner that it requires. This area is one that is fraught with difficulty since doing Chessed is actually an obligation, just as other positive Mitzvos are obligations. The halacha is that if there is a good chance that you can change someones mind to do the Chessed  then one is obligated to give Tochacha. The obligation of Tochacha for doing a Mitzvah is found in Parshas Kedoshim (VaYikrah 19:17), Hochayach Tochiyach es amisecha  You shall surely rebuke your peer.. The obligation is discussed in Shulchan Aruch (Orech Chaim 608:2).

The suggestion therefore, is to keep the Tochacha as positive as possible. Guilting a person into performing Chessed or mildly chastising them will not necessarily result in a happy performance of it. The Chazon Ish has written that the art of giving Tochacha has been lost in the current generation. If this was true in the Chazon Ishs time, it is certainly true in our times. Therefore, one should try to encourage others as much as possible in doing Chessed, but one should avoid the harsher forms of Tochacha.

TZNIUS IN CHESSED

It is important to keep the Chessed as pure and pristine as possible and not to show off the Chessed. This is the fulfillment of Vhatzneya leches im elokecha (Michah 6:8). Such a person is described as an vyikarah Ish Emunim. It is also the understanding of the Pasuk in Mishlei (6:14) Matan bsaiser yikveh af. Just like in Torah, where Chazal tell us in Pirkei Avos (4:3) that we not make Torah a crown to show off in, the great Roshei Yeshiva have said the same thing in regard to the performance of Chessed.

At the same time, it is also important to spread the notion of doing Chessed and getting others involved in the Chessed. This is something that takes work  to make sure that the Chessed is done Lishma  with a purity, yet at the same time to help spread the notion of Chessed. The Tefilah that we say in the Shmoneh Esreh of Shabbos morning  Vetaher libeinu lavdecha bemes  and purify our hearts to serve you in truth is very instructive here.

The author can be reached at [email protected].
The hedge fund set up by Crispin Odey is being disbanded as it reels from the sexual misconduct allegations against its founder.

In a letter to clients yesterday, Odey Asset Management said it was in advanced discussions to break itself up, and transfer funds and staff to rivals.

The move looks set to mark the end of the road for one of Britains best-known investment houses, which was founded by Odey in 1991.

The Mayfair-based firm was plunged into crisis last week when the Financial Times reported the stories of 13 women who alleged they were abused or harassed by the 64-year-old boss.

Odey denied the allegations, saying they were rubbish. But he was forced out last weekend as the company struggled to contain the fallout.

Ousted: Odey Asset Management founder Crispin Odey (pictured) has been accused of sexual and abuse and harassment by 13 women

With banks providing key services to the group severing ties and investors rushing to withdraw their cash, bosses indicated that the end was nigh.

In a letter to clients, Odey Asset Management wrote: The firm is now in advanced discussions for rehousing funds and transferring certain fund management activities and individuals to other asset managers.

Any sale or rehousing is considered subject of course to any relevant regulatory approvals and due diligence, with a view to an orderly transition of any assets and investors.

According to the companys Linkedin page, Odey Asset Management has just under 60 employees.

The break-up is expected to be scrutinised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and any foreign regulators who may have interest in overseas funds.

The business has 3.5billion in assets under management, of which 1billion is held in funds previously run by Odey.

Partners at the fund have already broken their ties with Odey, stating on Saturday that he will no longer have any economic or personal involvement in the partnership.

The move came after a series of Wall Street banks, including Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs, said that they were either reviewing their relationship with the firm, or cutting their ties.

It is understood that Odey has 600million of his own money across five funds, which have now been taken over by other investment managers and will be part of this move to other funds.

The firm has been scrambling to shore up the business through asset sales, revealing a 75million deal to sell its holding in AO World to Mike Ashley-founded Frasers Group.

In an interview with The Mail on Sunday this month, Odey said he was the victim of an aggressive campaign.

When asked about the harassment and assault claims, he admitted to massaging a colleagues back but said this was not a criminal offence.

He compared himself to ousted Tesco chairman John Allan, who was forced to resign after four women made allegations about his personal conduct.

In 2021 Odey was found not guilty in a court case in which he was accused of an indecent assault, which allegedly happened in 1998.

MPs are set to quiz the FCA over how it has handled allegations of sexual misconduct against Odey and what action it has taken.

Odey, a staunch supporter of Brexit, founded the firm in 1991.

He made his name betting against banking shares during the 2008 financial crisis.
WASHINGTON, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Philos Project concluded a three-day trip that introduced American Christian and Jewish thought leaders to Armenia's rich history and the existential threats that face this Christian country from its neighbors. The trip, which comes nearly six months after Azerbaijan initiated a blockade of Armenian Christians in the adjacent Nagorno-Karabakh region was led by Philos Project President Robert Nicholson and former Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback.

Participants included leaders of Christian advocacy groups, like David Curry, President and CEO of Global Christian Relief; Carlos Duran, Founder and President of the National Association of Hispanic Pastors of America; Travis Weber, Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs at Family Research Council; and Denise Bubeck, Deputy Director of the Church Ambassador Network at THE FAMiLY LEADER, among others. They were joined by Jewish leaders and experts from several think tanks, including Michael Ruben, Greg Schaller, and Gregg Roman, as well as journalists from both secular and religious publications.

Since December 12th, Azerbaijan's blockade of the Lachin Corridor has cut the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, largely Armenian Christians, off from the outside world. The siege has created a humanitarian disaster that may soon become untenable for the 120,000 residents, precipitating what some have warned may be a Second Armenian Genocide. Constant, aggressive rhetoric from Azerbaijan's president Ilham Aliyev, a self-proclaimed ally of the United States, seems to lend credence to such warnings.

That same month Nicholson began examining the challenges Armenians face in an in-depth series on his podcast, The Deep Map. In January he stepped up his advocacy, sending a letter to President Biden urging his administration to help lift the blockade, provide humanitarian aid, and work toward a lasting and just resolution of the long-standing dispute. In May, he appealed to the House Committee for Foreign Affairs, yet the blockade remains.

Nicholson and Brownback co-led this trip to help American thought leaders better understand the crisis in the region and consider how Christian and Jewish communities might contribute to potential solutions. Participants visited medieval monasteries, conversed with local residents affected by Azerbaijani aggression in the city of Jermuk, and met with Armenia's President, Vahagn Khachaturyan. In a video statement, Ambassador Brownback expressed his gratitude to the president for spending "a huge amount of time" with the delegation discussing the "breadth of the issues," confiding that "central to all of this is the building of the relationship" between Armenia and American Christians that so far "hasn't been fully actualized."

"We cannot allow the crisis in Armenia to be dismissed as a simple territorial dispute," said Philos Project Founder Robert Nicholson. "This is a dispute about values." Adding further, Nicholson said. "Advocates for human rights, Christians concerned about preserving their historic roots, and Jews who know all too well the struggle against genocidal forces, all have a stake in advocating for Armenia's Christians. "

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/philos-project-leads-delegation-to-armenia-amid-crisis-301853298.html

SOURCE Philos Project
The Toronto-Dominion Bank, also known as TD Bank, is a Canadian multinational bank that provides a wide range of financial services to customers in Canada, the United States, and worldwide. The bank was founded in 1855 in Toronto, Canada, and has since grown to become one of the largest banks in North America, with over 85,000 employees and more than 26 million customers. TD Bank is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, and has additional offices in New York City and other major cities throughout the United States.

TD Bank's key highlights and achievements include its status as the sixth-largest bank in North America by assets, its recognition as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies for 20 consecutive years, and its commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility.

The management team at TD Bank is led by Chief Executive Officer Bharat Masrani, who has been with the company for over 30 years and has held various senior leadership positions before being appointed CEO in 2014.

Regarding financial performance, TD Bank has delivered consistent results over the past few years, with revenue and net income increasing yearly for the past several years. The bank's profit margins have also remained robust, with an average net profit margin of 25%. However, TD Bank has also faced challenges related to debt levels and changes in ownership, with a recent decrease in ownership by TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation. Regarding valuation, TD Bank's price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios align with industry peers. The company's market performance has also been relatively stable, with modest price movements and steady trading volume over the past few years.

TD Bank operates in a highly competitive and regulated industry, with other major players, including the Bank of Montreal, Royal Bank of Canada, and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. The broader banking industry is also subject to regulatory and political issues, such as changes in interest rates and financial regulations.

Despite these challenges, TD Bank has identified growth opportunities in new markets and product areas. These include launching new digital banking services and expanding the bank's presence in key markets such as the United States and Asia. TD Bank has also made several acquisitions in recent years, including the addition of Scottrade Bank in 2017 and the purchase of Chrysler Financial in 2011.

However, TD Bank also faces several risks and challenges, such as changes in consumer preferences and increased competition from fintech startups. The bank's focus on sustainability and corporate responsibility also presents risks related to environmental and social factors, such as climate change and social inequality. There are also recession risks involved. TD Bank could face challenges if there is a downturn in the economy.
StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of CIRCOR International (NYSE:CIR  Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Saturday morning. The firm issued a buy rating on the industrial products companys stock.

CIR has been the topic of a number of other reports. TheStreet upgraded CIRCOR International from a d+ rating to a c rating in a report on Monday, April 3rd. Stifel Nicolaus cut CIRCOR International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, June 5th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, CIRCOR International currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $32.33.

Get CIRCOR International alerts:

CIRCOR International Trading Up 4.9 %

Shares of CIRCOR International stock opened at $56.45 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $1.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.51 and a beta of 2.15. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $36.79 and its 200-day simple moving average is $30.54. CIRCOR International has a 1-year low of $13.26 and a 1-year high of $56.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.10, a current ratio of 2.30 and a quick ratio of 1.48.

Institutional Trading of CIRCOR International

CIRCOR International ( NYSE:CIR Free Report ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, May 11th. The industrial products company reported $0.53 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.12 by $0.41. CIRCOR International had a return on equity of 34.61% and a net margin of 5.03%. The business had revenue of $203.10 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $188.80 million. Analysts predict that CIRCOR International will post 2.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Dorsey Wright & Associates purchased a new stake in CIRCOR International in the first quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Credit Suisse AG raised its position in CIRCOR International by 10.0% in the second quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 14,690 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $241,000 after purchasing an additional 1,335 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in CIRCOR International by 0.7% in the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 185,617 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $3,061,000 after purchasing an additional 1,372 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers raised its position in CIRCOR International by 5.3% in the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 52,271 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,391,000 after purchasing an additional 2,648 shares during the period. Finally, BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC increased its position in shares of CIRCOR International by 52.4% during the third quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 8,910 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $147,000 after acquiring an additional 3,062 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.64% of the companys stock.

CIRCOR International Company Profile

(Free Report)

CIRCOR International, Inc designs, manufactures, and distributes flow and motion control products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, North America, and internationally. The company has a product portfolio of brands serving its customers' demanding applications. It operates through two segments, Aerospace & Defense and Industrial.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for CIRCOR International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CIRCOR International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Morgan Stanley is the 6th largest financial institution in the US. The company is ranked 61st on the Forbes Fortune 500 list and is the 39th largest bank in the world. A financial holding company, Morgan Stanley provides a full range of financial services to clients around the world.

Morgan Stanley was formed in 1935 as a result of the Glass-Steagall Act. Glass-Steagall separated commercial and investment banking in a way that forced the then-largest bank J.P. Morgan & Co to split into two groups. J.P. Morgan & Co. chose to retain the commercial side of the business while partners Henry S. Morga, grandson of J.P., and Harold Stanley took the investment end. In its first year, Morgan Stanley did 24% of the IPO business and maintains a lions share of the market to this day.

The original company existed and grew through acquisitions until 1987 when it merged with Dean Witter Discover & Co. The new Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Discover & Co existed for 14 years until 2001 when the name was shortened back to Morgan Stanley.

The bank is credited in part with both beginning and ending the financial crisis of 2007/2008. The Process Driven Trading unit lost $300 million in one day due to a short-squeeze that popped the bubble in the housing market. After teetering on the brink of failure Morgan Stanley agreed to become a bank holding company regulated by the Federal Reserve, a key factor in the original decision to split from parent J.P. Morgan & Co. Ironically when given the chance, present-day J.P. Morgan refused to buy Morgan Stanley but that was for the better.

Today, Morgan Stanley operates through three segments via offices in 41 countries and employs more than 75,000 people. Revenue in 2021 topped $49 billion and total assets topped $1.15 trillion.

The operating segments are Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management segments. The Institutional Securities segment is by far the largest and most profitable. It offers a range of services and products for businesses, institutions, and entities that include capital raising, strategic advisory, underwriting, advice on M&A, restructuring, and real estate. The Wealth Management segment provides brokerage and investment advisory services for individuals and employers. The services include brokerage, financial planning, company stock-plan administration, insurance, mortgage loans, lines of credit, and retirement planning. The Investment Management segment provides investment products to a range of institutions, organizations, corporations, and governments.
The following companies are subsidiares of UnitedHealth Group: 1070715 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1st Avenue Pharmacy Inc., 310 Canyon Medical LLC, 4C MSO LLC, 4C Medical Group PLC, 5995 Minnetonka LLC, ABCO International Holdings LLC, ACN Group IPA of New York Inc., ACN Group of California Inc., AHN Accountable Care Organization LLC, AHN Central Services LLC, AHN Target Holdings LLC, AMIL International S.a.r.l., APS  Assistencia Personalizada a Saude Ltda., ASC Holdings of New Jersey LLC, ASC Network LLC, ASC Operators-East Bay LLC, ASC Operators-San Francisco LLC, ASC Operators-San Luis Obispo LLC, ASC Operators-Santa Rosa LLC, ASC Operators-South Bay LLC, ASV-HOPCo-SCA Cornerstone LLC, ASV-HOPCo-SCA Florida LLC, AbleTo Behavioral Health Services P.C., AbleTo Inc., Accurate Rx Pharmacy Consulting LLC, Administradora Clinica La Colina S.A.S., Administradora Country S.A.S., Administradora Medica Centromed S.A., Advanced Surgery Center of Clifton LLC, Advanced Surgical Center LLC, Advanced Surgical Hospital LLC, Advocate Condell Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate Southwest Ambulatory Surgery Center L.L.C., Advocate-SCA Partners LLC, Aliansalud Entidad Promotora de Salud S.A., All Savers Insurance Company, All Savers Life Insurance Company of California, Alliance Surgical Center LLC, Allina Health Heart and Vascular Surgery Center LLC, Allina Health Surgery Center-Brooklyn Park LLC, Aloha Surgical Center LLC, Ambient Healthcare Inc., Ambient Holdings Inc., AmeriChoice, AmeriChoice Corporation, AmeriChoice of New Jersey Inc., American Health Network of Indiana Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Indiana II LLC, American Health Network of Indiana LLC, American Health Network of Kentucky LLC, American Health Network of Ohio Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Ohio II LLC, American Health Network of Ohio LLC, American Physicians Inc., Amico Saude Ltda., Amil, Amil Assistencia Medica Internacional S.A., Angiografia e Hemodinamica Madre Theodora Ltda., Anne Arundel-SCA Holdings LLC, Anne Arundel-SCA Surgicenter LLC, Antelope Valley Surgery Center L.P., Analisis Clinicos ML S.A.C., Apothecary Holdings Inc., AppleCare Medical Management LLC, Aquitania Chilean Holding SpA, Arcadia JV Holdings LLC, Arcadia Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., ArchWell Health LLC, ArchWell Health MSO LLC, ArchWell Health Professional Services Holding Co., ArchWell Health Professional Services of Alabama LLC, ArchWell Health Professional Services of North Carolina P.C., ArchWell Health Professional Services of Oklahoma LLC, Archwell Health Professional Services of Arizona LLC, Archwell Health Professional Services of Nebraska LLC, Arise Physician Group, Arizona Physicians IPA Inc., Arlington Surgery Center LLC, Aspectus Inc., Associacao Lusiadas Knowledge Center  Health Education and Research, Audax Health Solutions LLC, Aurora Hospitalist P.C., Austin Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., Avella Specialty Pharmacy, Aventura Medical Tower Surgery Center LLC, Avery Parent Holdings Inc., Aveta Inc., AxelaCare Intermediate Holdings LLC, AxelaCare LLC, B.R.A.S.S. Partnership in Commendam, BOSC Holdings LLC, BSC Holdings LLC, Ball Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Banmedica Colombia S.A.S., Banmedica Internacional SpA, Banmedica S.A., Barranca Surgery Center LLC, Beach Surgical Holdings II LLC, Beach Surgical Holdings III LLC, Beach Surgical Holdings LLC, Beaver Medical Group P.C., Bedford Physicians Risk Retention Group Inc., Behavioral Healthcare Options Inc., Beltway Surgery Centers L.L.C., Benefit Administration for the Self Employed L.L.C., Benefitter Insurance Solutions Inc., Bergan Mercy Surgery Center LLC, Bergen-Passaic Cataract Laser and Surgery Center LLC, Bessler MD PLLC, Bind Benefits Inc., Bind LH Holdings Inc., Bind Re Inc., Birmingham Outpatient Surgery Center Ltd., Birmingham Outpatient Surgical Center LLC, Bloomfield ASC LLC, Blue Ridge Day Surgery Center L.P., Blue Ridge GP LLC, Blue Ridge Properties LLC, Boca Raton Outpatient Surgery & Laser Center LTD., Bordeaux Barbados Holdings I SRL, Bordeaux Barbados Holdings II SRL, Bordeaux Barbados Holdings III S.r.l., Bordeaux Holding SpA, Bordeaux International Holdings Inc., Bordeaux UK Holdings I Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings II Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings III Limited, Bosque Medical Center Ltda., Brandon Ambulatory Surgery Center LC, BriovaRx Infusion Services 102 LLC, BriovaRx of Florida Inc., BriovaRx of Maine Inc., BriovaRx of Massachusetts LLC, CCEC Anesthesia Management LLC, CDC Holdings Colombia S.A.S., CLISA  Clinica de Santo Antonio S.A., CMO  Centro Medico de Oftalmologia S/S Ltda., CMS  Central de Manipulacao e Servicos Farmaceuticos Ltda., COI  Clinicas Oncologicas Integradas S.A., Cabin Enterprises LLC, Cabin Holdings LLC, California Medical Group Insurance Company Risk Retention Group, Camp Hill Ambulatory Centers, Camp Hill-SCA Centers LLC, Capital City Medical Group L.L.C., Cardinal Holding Company LLC, Care Improvement Plus Group Management LLC, Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus Wisconsin Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus of Texas Insurance Company, Care Logistics LLC, CareMount Dental Member LLC, CareMount Health Solutions ACO LLC, CareMount Health Solutions Employer LLC, CareMount Health Solutions LLC, CareMount Holding LLC, CareMount Medical Foundation Inc., CareMount Value Partners IPA LLC, Carr PLLC, Casa de Saude Santa Therezinha Ltda., Castle Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Castle Rock SurgiCenter LLC, Catalyst360 LLC, Catamaran 2 Unlimited Company, Catamaran Finance Ireland Unlimited Company, Catamaran S.a.r.l., Cedar Park JV Partners LLC, Cedar Park Surgery Center LLC, Cemed Care  Empresa de Atendimento Clinico Geral Ltda., Center for Quality Improvement LLC, Center for Restorative Surgery at Maple Grove LLC, Center for Surgery of North Coast L.P., Central Indiana Care Organization LLC, Central Ohio Care Organization LLC, CentriHealth Corporation, CentrifyHealth LLC, Centro Medico Hospitalar Pitangueiras Ltda., Centro Odontologico Americano S.A.C., Centro de Entrenamiento Capacitacion en Reanimacion y Prevencion Limitada, Centro de Servicios Compartidos Banmedica SpA, Centromed Quilpue S.A., Centros Medicos y Dentales Multimed Ltda., Centura-SCA Holdings LLC, Centurion Casualty Company, Channel Islands Surgicenter L.P., Channel Islands Surgicenter Properties LLC, Charleston Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Charleston Surgery Properties LLC, Charlotte Surgery Center LLC, Charlotte Surgery Properties LTD., Charlotte-SC LLC, Chatham Orthopaedic ASC LLC, Childrens Surgery Center LLC, Citrus Regional Surgery Center L.P., Claims Management Systems Inc., Cleburne Surgical Center LLC, Clinical Partners of Colorado Springs LLC, Clinton Partners LLC, Clinica Alameda SpA, Clinica Bio Bio SpA, Clinica Ciudad del Mar S.A., Clinica Davila y Servicios Medicos S.p.A., Clinica Iquique S.A., Clinica Medico Cirurgica de Santa Tecla S.A., Clinica Portoazul S.A., Clinica San Felipe S.A., Clinica Santa Maria S.p.A., Clinica Sanchez Ferrer S.A., Clinica Vespucio S.A., Clinica del Country S.A.S., Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare Inc., Coalition for Advanced Pharmacy Services Inc., Cobranzas Banmedica SpA, Cogent Healthcare IPA of New York Inc., Cogent Healthcare Inc., Cogent Healthcare Management of New York Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Arizona P.C., Cogent Healthcare of California Prof. Corp., Cogent Healthcare of Georgia P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Illinois LLC, Cogent Healthcare of Iowa P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Jackson MS LLC, Cogent Healthcare of Jacksonville LLC, Cogent Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Missouri Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Montana P.C., Cogent Healthcare of New Jersey P.C., Cogent Healthcare of North Carolina P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Oregon P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Pensacola L.L.C., Cogent Healthcare of Tennessee P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Washington P.C., Cogent Medical Care P.C., Cogent Patient Safety Organization Inc., Cogent/Endion Medical Care of New York P.C., Collaborative Care Holdings LLC, Collaborative Care Services Inc., Collaborative Realty LLC, Colmedica Medicina Prepagada S.A., Colonial Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Colorado Innovative Physician Solutions Inc., Colorado Springs Surgery Center Ltd., Comfort Care Transportation LLC, Comprehensive Hospital Physicians of Florida Inc., ConnectYourCare Inc., ConnectYourCare LLC, Connecticut Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Connecticut Surgery Properties LLC, Connecticut Surgical Center LLC, Consorcio Regenero S.A., Constructora Inmobiliaria Magapoq S.A., Consumer Wellness Solutions Inc., Continuum Physicians Group Inc., Continuum Physicians Group of Washington PLLC, Cornell Surgicenter LLC, Cornerstone Surgery Center LLC, Cornerstone Surgicare LLC, Corpus Christi Endoscopy Center L.L.P., Country Scan Ltda., Critical Care Physician of New York P.C., Critical Care Physicians of Illinois LLC, Critical Care Physicians of New Jersey PC, Critical Care Physicians of Pennsylvania P.C., Cross Timbers Surgery Center LLC, Cypress Care Inc., DBP Services of New York IPA Inc., DSP Flint Real Estate LLC, DSP-Building C LLC, DTC Surgery Center LLC, DWIC of Tampa Bay Inc., Dallas Inpatient Specialist PLLC, Danbury Surgical Center L.P., Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company LLC, Definity Health, Dental Benefit Providers Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of California Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois Inc., Denton Endoscopy Surgery Center LLC, Denton Surgery Center LLC, Derry Surgical Center LLC, Diagnostico Ecotomografico Centromed Ltda., Diasnostico por Imagenes Centromed Ltda., Digestive Disease Center L.P., Dilab Medicina Nuclear Ltda., Diplomat Blocker LLC, Diplomat Corporate Properties LLC, Diplomat Pharmacy, Diplomat Pharmacy Inc., Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy Great Lakes Distribution Center LLC, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy of Chicago LLC, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy of Ft. Lauderdale LLC, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy of Los Angeles County LLC, Distance Learning Network Inc., Divisadero Holdings LLC, DocASAP Inc., DocASAP India Technologies Private Limited, DocASAP US LLC, Doctor + S.A.C., Dry Creek Surgery Center LLC, Dublin Surgery Center LLC, Duluth Surgical Suites LLC, Durable Medical Equipment Inc., E Street Endoscopy LLC, EM Orange Tree LLC, EP Campus I LLC, EPIC Health Plan, EPIC Management Services LLC, East Bay Endoscopy Center L.P., East Brunswick Surgery Center LLC, Echo Locum Tenens Inc., Electronic Network Systems Inc., Elual Participacoes S.A., Emerald Coast Surgery Center L.P., Emisar Pharma Services LLC, Emmaus Holdings LLC, Emmaus Surgical Center LLC, Empire Physician Management Company LLC, Empremedica S. A., Endion Hospitalist North P.C., Endion Hospitalist of Western New York P.C., Endion Medical Healthcare P.C., Endion Medical Services P.C., Endoscopy Center Affiliates Inc., Enterprise Life Insurance Company, Equian, Equian LLC, Equian Parent Corp., Esho  Empresa de Servicos Hospitalares S.A., Everett MSO Inc., Excelsior Insurance Brokerage Inc., Executive Health Resources Inc., Executive Surgery Center L.L.C., Eye Clinic Oftalmologia Clinico Cirurgica e Diagnostico Ltda., Eye Specialists Surgery Centers LLC, FMG Holdings LLC, Family Health Care Services, Family Home Hospice Inc., Ferrell Physician Services P.C., Fideicomiso Clinica Barranquilla Portoazul FA-517, First Coast Orthopedic Center LLC, First Family Insurance LLC, Florence Surgery Center L.P., For Health Inc., For Health of Arizona Inc., Fort Sutter Medical Building a California Limited Partnership, Fort Worth Endoscopy Centers LLC, Fortified Provider Network Inc., Foundation Surgery Affiliate General of Huntingdon Valley LLC, Foundation Surgery Affiliate of Huntingdon Valley L.P., Franklin Surgical Center LLC, Freedom Life Insurance Company of America, Freeway Surgicenter of Houston LLC, Frontier Medex Tanzania Limited, FrontierMEDEX Inc., FrontierMEDEX Kenya Limited, FrontierMEDEX US Inc., Fundacion Banmedica, GLBESC LLC, GRANTS PASS SURGERY CENTER LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center LLC, Gainesville Surgery Center L.P., Gainesville Surgery Properties LLC, Genoa, Genoa Healthcare Inc., Genoa QoL Wholesale LLC, Genoa Technology Canada Inc., Genoa Technology Inc., Genoa Telepsychiatry Inc., Genoa of Arkansas LLC, Gladiolus Surgery Center L.L.C., Glenwood Surgical Center L.P., Glenwood-SC Inc., Global One Ventures LLC, Golden Gate Endoscopy Center LLC, Golden Outlook Inc., Golden Rule Financial Corporation, Golden Rule Insurance Company, Golden Triangle Surgicenter L.P., Grandview Surgery Center LTD., Greater New Haven ASC LLC, Greensboro Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Greenville Surgery Center LLC, Greenway Surgical Suites LLC, Grossmont Surgery Center L.P., Grove Place Surgery Center L.L.C., H&W Indemnity SPC Ltd., H.I. Investments Holding Company LLC, HCP ACO California LLC, HCentive Technology India Private Limited, HFHS-SCA Holdings LLC, HMG Holding Corporation, HMG Holdings LLC, HMP of Baltimore  USH P.C., Harken Health Insurance Company, Harrison Endo Surgical Center LLC, Hawthorn Place Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., Hays JV Partners LLC, Hays Surgery Center LLC, Health Care-ONE Insurance Agency Inc., Health Inventures Employment Solutions LLC, Health Inventures LLC, Health Plan of Nevada Inc., HealthCare Partners ASC-LB LLC, HealthCare Partners Affiliates Medical Group, HealthCare Partners Management Services California LLC, HealthCare Partners RE LLC, HealthEast Surgery Center-Maplewood LLC, HealthFirst IPA Inc., HealthMarkets Group Inc., HealthMarkets Inc., HealthMarkets Insurance Agency Inc., HealthMarkets LLC, HealthMarkets Services Inc., HealthSCOPE Holdings Inc., HealthScope Benefits Inc., Healthcare Solutions Inc., Healthplex America LLC, Healthplex Dental Services Inc., Healthplex I.P.A. Inc., Healthplex Inc., Healthplex Insurance Company, Healthplex of CT Inc., Healthplex of DC Inc., Healthplex of MD Inc., Healthplex of ME Inc., Healthplex of NC Inc., Healthplex of NJ Inc., Healthplex of TX Inc., Heartland Heart and Vascular LLC, Help Seguros de Vida S.A., Help Service S.A., Help SpA, Hemonefro  Hemodialise e Nefrologia Ltda, Highlands Ranch Healthcare LLC, Home Medical S.A., Honodav SpA, Hospice Inspiris Holdings Inc., Hospitais Associados de Pernambuco Ltda., Hospital Alvorada Taguatinga Ltda., Hospital Ana Costa S.A., Hospital Santa Helena S.A., Hospital de Clinicas de Jacarepagua Ltda., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of Broome County PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Binghamton P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Buffalo P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Newburgh P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Nyack P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Patchogue P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alabama  TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alabama  TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alaska  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alaska  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Goodyear Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Nogales Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Phoenix II Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Phoenix Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Sierra Vista Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Tucson II Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Tucson Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona  TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona  TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arkansas  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arkansas  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Buncombe County PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Apple Valley PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Bakersfield PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Camarillo PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Crescent City PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Fairfield PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Fremont PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Grass Valley PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Jackson PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Oceanside PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Oxnard PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Salinas PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - San Bernardino II PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - San Bernardino PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - San Leandro PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Sonoma PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Stockton II PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Stockton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Thousand Oaks PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Vacaville PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado - Brighton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado - Denver PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut - Manchester LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut - Rockville LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut - Wallingford LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of DC PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of DC  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of DC  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Delaware  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Delaware  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Ft. Lauderdale LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Jacksonville II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Jacksonville LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Palm Coast LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Fredericksburg LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - Atlanta PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - East Point PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - Lavonia PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - Savannah PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Hawaii - Kealakekua Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Hawaii  TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Hawaii  TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Idaho - Nampa PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Idaho  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Idaho  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Downers Grove LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Elmhurst LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Rockford LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Winfield LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana - Clinton LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana - Mishawaka LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana - Terre Haute LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa - Cedar Rapids PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa - Mason City PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas - Topeka LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas - Wichita II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas - Wichita LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Alexandria Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Bossier City Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Lake Charles Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Shreveport Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana  TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana  TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine - Bangor PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine - Lewiston PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Cheverly PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Cumberland PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Frederick PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Laurel PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Rockville PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Brockton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Dorchester PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Framingham PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Holyoke PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Natick PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Norwood PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Springfield PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Stoughton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Taunton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Worcester PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Alpena PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Dowagiac PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Escanaba PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Grand Blanc PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Grayling PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Kalamazoo PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Plainwell PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Port Huron PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Saginaw PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Tawas City PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Minnesota  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Minnesota  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Mississippi LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Mississippi  TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Mississippi  TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri - Bridgeton Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri - Richmond Heights Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri  TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri  TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Billings PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Butte PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Miles City PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Missoula PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Multiple Practice Sites LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nebraska  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nebraska  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Henderson Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Henderson II Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Las Vegas Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Las Vegas II Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada  TCG Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada  TCS Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Hampshire  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Hampshire  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey - Hackensack PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey - Paterson PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey - TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - Clovis LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - Rio Rancho LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New York PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Burlington PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Clyde PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Elizabeth City PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Jacksonville PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - New Bern PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Rocky Mount PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Dakota  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Dakota  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Akron Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Batavia Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Canton Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Cincinnati II Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Cincinnati III Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Cincinnati Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Circleville Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Columbus II Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Columbus Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Dover Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - East Liverpool Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Fairfield Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Martins Ferry Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Westerville Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Youngstown Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio  TCG Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio  TCS Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Oklahoma - Oklahoma City LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Oklahoma  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Oklahoma  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Oregon - Portland PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Oregon  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Oregon  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Pennsylvania P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Pennsylvania  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Pennsylvania  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Rhode Island  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Rhode Island  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Richland County Ltd., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of San Luis Obispo County Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of South Carolina - Aiken LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of South Carolina - Rock Hill LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of South Carolina  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of South Carolina  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of South Dakota  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of South Dakota  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Tennessee  Columbia PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Tennessee  Franklin PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Tennessee  TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Tennessee  TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Amarillo PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Atlanta PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Austin II PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Austin PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Bryan PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Burnet PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Corpus Christi II PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Corpus Christi PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Cypress PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Dallas PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - El Paso II PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - El Paso III PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - El Paso PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Fort Worth II PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Fort Worth PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Fredericksburg PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Houston PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Humble PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Kerrville PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Kyle PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Livingston PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Lubbock PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Lufkin PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Mount Pleasant PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Plainview PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Rockwall PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Round Rock PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio II PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio III PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio IV PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio V PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio VI PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Antonio VII PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - San Marcos PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Texarkana PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas - Tyler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Texas  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Utah  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Utah  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Vermont  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Vermont  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Alexandria LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Front Royal II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Front Royal LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Mechanicsville LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Midlothian LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Richmond II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Richmond LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Winchester LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia  TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Arlington PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Auburn PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Bellingham PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Bremerton PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Burien PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Coupeville PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Enumclaw PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Federal Way PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Gig Harbor PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Lakewood PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Mount Vernon PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Puyallup PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Tacoma II PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Tacoma III PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Tacoma PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Vancouver PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington County LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia  Martinsburg PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia  South Charleston PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia  TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia  TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of West Virginia  Wheeling PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wisconsin Ltd., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wyoming - Casper LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wyoming  TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wyoming  TCS LLC, Hospitalists Management Group LLC, Humedica, Humedica Inc., Hygeia Corporation, Hygeia Corporation Ontario, IEC Holdings LLC, IHD Holdings LLC, INOV8 Surgical at Memorial City LLC, INSPIRIS of Texas Physician Group, Illinois Independent Care Network LLC, Imagen Technologies Inc., Impel Consulting Experts L.L.C., Impel Management Services L.L.C., InTouch Pharmacy LLC, Indiana Care Organization LLC, Indiana Endoscopy Centers LLC, Inland Surgery Center L.P., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3001 S.A., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3600 Ltda., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo S.A., Inmobiliaria Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Inmobiliaria Vinamed Ltda., Inmobiliaria e Inversiones Alameda S.A., Inpatient Services P.C., Inpatient Specialists of California P.C., Inspiris, Inspiris Inc., Instituto Radium de Cammpinas Ltda, Inter-Hospital Physicians Association Inc., International Healthcare Services Inc., Inversiones Clinicas Santa Maria SpA, Ironman Holdco Inc., Ironman Intermediate Holdco LLC, Isapre Banmedica S.A., JPM Healthcare LLC, Johnston Surgicare L.P., Joliet Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Jordan Ridge Family Medicine LLC, Joyable Inc., Kansal Inc. A Professional Corporation, Knox Diagnostic Imaging Center LLC, Kokomo Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, LDI Holding Company LLC, LDI Management Services LLC, LGH-A/Golf ASTC L.L.C., LHC Group, La Esperanza del Peru S.A., Laboratorio ROE S.A., Laboratorios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., Landmark Group Holdings LLC, Landmark Health Holdings LLC, Landmark Health LLC, Landmark Health NY IPA LLC, Landmark Health NY PO LLC, Landmark Health Technologies Private Limited, Landmark Health of California LLC, Landmark Health of Massachusetts LLC, Landmark Health of North Carolina LLC, Landmark Health of Oregon LLC, Landmark Health of Pennsylvania LLC, Landmark Health of Washington LLC, Landmark India LLC, Landmark Intermediate Holdings LLC, Landmark MSO LLC, Landmark Medical of Idaho PC, Landmark Medical of Massachusetts PLLC, Landmark Medical of Tennessee PC, Landmark Primary Care LLC, Laser Acquisition Holdings III LLC, Leehar Distributors LLC, Lemhi Ventures Fund I LP, Lemhi Ventures Fund II LP, Level2 Medical Services P.C. Alaska, Lexington Surgery Center Ltd., Liberty Anesthesia Services LLC, LifePrint Health Inc., LifeWell. Ltd. Co., Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization LLC, Limestone Medical Center LLC, Litomedica S.A., Logan Surgical Suites LLC, Lotten-Eyes Oftalmologia Clinica e Cirurgica Ltda., Louisville S.C. Ltd., Louisville-SC Properties Inc., Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook Inc., Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook L.P., Lusiadas - Parcerias Cascais S.A., Lusiadas A.C.E., Lusiadas Algarve S.A., Lusiadas S.A., Lusiadas SGPS S.A., Lutheran Campus ASC LLC, MAMSI Life and Health Insurance Company, MCNA Health Care Holdings LLC, MCNA Insurance Company, MCNA Systems Corp., MD Ops Inc., MD-Individual Practice Association Inc., ME AHS UC LLC, MGH/SCA LLC, MHC Real Estate Holdings LLC, MIAMI SURGERY CENTER LLC, MSLA Management LLC, Main Line Spine Surgery Center LLC, Managed Care of North America Inc., Managed Physical Network Inc., Mansfield Endoscopy Center LLC, March Holdings Inc., March Vision Care IPA Inc., March Vision Care Inc., March Vision Care of Texas Inc., Marin Health Ventures LLC, Marin Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Marin Surgery Holdings Inc., Marlin Holding Company LLC, Maryland Ambulatory Centers LLC, Maryland-SCA Centers LLC, Massachusetts Assurance Company Ltd. PIC, Massachusetts Avenue Surgery Center LLC, McKenzie Surgery Center L.P., MedExpress Primary Care West Virginia Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care Alabama LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Inc. - Ohio, MedExpress Urgent Care Maine Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care New Hampshire Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach LLC, MedSynergies, MedSynergies LLC, Medical Clinic of North Texas PLLC, Medical Hilfe S.A., Medical Support Los Angeles Inc., Medical Surgical Centers of America Inc., Medical Transportation Services LLC, Melbourne Surgery Center LLC, Memorial City Holdings LLC, Memorial City Partners LLC, Memorial Houston Surgery Center LLC, MemorialCare Surgical Center at Orange Coast LLC, MemorialCare Surgical Center at Saddleback LLC, Mesquite Liberty LLC, Metro I Stone Management Ltd., Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee, Midlands Orthopaedics Surgery Center LLC, Midwest Center for Day Surgery LLC, Mile High SurgiCenter LLC, Mississippi Medical Plaza L.C., Mobile Medical Services of New Jersey PC, Mobile-SC LTD., Modality Accountable Care Organisation Limited, Moen M.D. P.C., Mohawk Surgery Center LLC, Monarch Management Services Inc., Montgomery Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Monument Health LLC, Moore Orthopaedic Clinic Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Morris County Surgical Center LLC, Mt. Pleasant Surgery Center L.P., Multiangio Ltda., Murrells Inlet ASC LLC, Muskogee Surgical Investors LLC, Mustang Razorback Holdings Inc., My Wellness Solutions LLC, NAMM Holdings Inc., NPN IPA Washington PLLC, NSC Channel Islands LLC, NSC Greensboro LLC, NSC Greensboro West LLC, NSC Lancaster LLC, NSC Seattle Inc., NSC Upland LLC, Naperville Surgical Centre LLC, National Foundation Life Insurance Company, National Pacific Dental Inc., National Surgery Centers LLC, Navigator Health Inc., Nebraska Spine Hospital LLC, Neighborhood Health Partnership Inc., Netwerkes LLC, Nevada Pacific Dental, New Orleans Regional Physician Hospital Organization L.L.C., New West Physicians Inc., New York Proton Management LLC, Newton Holdings LLC, Niagara Hospitalist P.C., Nomad Buyer Inc., North American Medical Management California Inc., North Coast Surgery Center Ltd. a California Limited Partnership, North Dallas Surgical Center LLC, North Kitsap Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, North Puget Sound Oncology Equipment Leasing Company LLC, Northern Nevada Health Network Inc., Northern Rockies Surgery Center L.P., Northern Rockies Surgicenter Inc., Northern Utah Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Hills JV Partners LLC, Northwest Medical Group Alliance LLC, Northwest Spine and Laser Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Surgicare LLC, Northwest Surgicare Ltd. an Illinois Limited Partnership, OC Cardiology Practice Partners LLC, OCC MSO LLC, OSB  Tecnologia e Servicos de Suporte Lda., Omesa SpA, OmniClaim LLC, Oncocare S.A.C., One World Surgery, Ophthalmology Surgery Center of Dallas LLC, Optimum Choice Inc., Optum Bank Inc., Optum Biometrics Inc., Optum Care Inc., Optum Care Networks Inc., Optum Care Services Company, Optum Care of New York Management Inc., Optum Clinics Holdings Inc., Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings Inc., Optum Compounding Services LLC, Optum Digital Health Holdings LLC, Optum Direct To Consumer Inc., Optum Financial Inc., Optum Frontier Therapies Holdings LLC, Optum Frontier Therapies II LLC, Optum Frontier Therapies LLC, Optum Genomics Inc., Optum Global Solutions Colombia S.A.S., Optum Global Solutions India Private Limited, Optum Global Solutions International B.V., Optum Global Solutions Philippines Inc., Optum Government Solutions Inc., Optum Growth Partners Holdings Inc., Optum Growth Partners LLC, Optum Health & Technology Holdings US Inc., Optum Health & Technology Hong Kong Limited, Optum Health & Technology India Private Limited, Optum Health & Technology Servicos do Brasil Ltda., Optum Health & Technology Singapore Pte. Ltd., Optum Health & Technology US LLC, Optum Health Plan of California, Optum Health Services Canada Ltd., Optum Health Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, Optum Health Solutions UK Limited, Optum Health and Technology FZ-LLC, Optum Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services LLC, Optum Inc., Optum Infusion Services 100 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 101 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 103 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 200 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 201 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 202 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 203 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 204 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 205 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 206 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 207 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 208 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 209 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 301 LP, Optum Infusion Services 302 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 305 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 308 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 401 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 402 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 403 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 404 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 500 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 501 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 550 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 551 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 553 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 554 Inc., Optum Insurance of Ohio Inc., Optum Labs Inc., Optum Labs LLC, Optum Life Sciences Canada Inc., Optum Management Consulting Shanghai Co. Ltd., Optum Networks of New Jersey Inc., Optum Operations Ireland Unlimited Company, Optum Oregon MSO LLC, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Pennsylvania Inc., Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Texas Inc., Optum Perks LLC, Optum Pharma Services Holdings Inc., Optum Pharmacy 601 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 700 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 701 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 702 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 704 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 705 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 706 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 707 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 800 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 803 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 805 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 806 Inc., Optum Public Sector Solutions Inc., Optum Rocket LLC, Optum SCA CS JV Holdings LLC, Optum Senior Services LLC, Optum Services Inc., Optum Services Ireland Limited, Optum Services Puerto Rico LLC, Optum Solutions UK Holdings Limited, Optum Technology LLC, Optum UK Solutions Group Limited, Optum Venture Global Partners II LP, Optum Venture Global Partners LP, Optum Venture Partners II LP, Optum Venture Partners III LP, Optum Venture Partners LP, Optum Washington Network LLC, Optum Women's and Children's Health LLC, Optum of New York Inc., Optum360 LLC, Optum360 Services Inc., Optum360 Solutions LLC, OptumCare ACO New Mexico LLC, OptumCare ACO West LLC, OptumCare Clinical Trials LLC, OptumCare Colorado ASC LLC, OptumCare Colorado LLC, OptumCare Colorado Springs LLC, OptumCare Endoscopy Center New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Florida CI LLC, OptumCare Florida LLC, OptumCare Holdings Colorado LLC, OptumCare Holdings LLC, OptumCare Management LLC, OptumCare New Mexico LLC, OptumCare New York IPA Inc., OptumCare Portland LLC, OptumCare South Florida LLC, OptumCare Specialty Practices LLC, OptumHealth Care Solutions LLC, OptumHealth Holdings LLC, OptumHealth International B.V., OptumInsight Holdings LLC, OptumInsight Inc., OptumInsight India Private Limited, OptumInsight Life Sciences Inc., OptumRx Administrative Services LLC, OptumRx Discount Card Services LLC, OptumRx Group Holdings Inc., OptumRx Health Solutions LLC, OptumRx Holdings I LLC, OptumRx Holdings LLC, OptumRx Home Delivery of Ohio LLC, OptumRx IPA III Inc., OptumRx Inc., OptumRx NY IPA Inc., OptumRx PBM of Illinois Inc., OptumRx PBM of Maryland LLC, OptumRx PBM of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx PBM of Wisconsin LLC, OptumRx PD of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx Pharmacy Inc., OptumRx Pharmacy of Nevada Inc., OptumRx of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumServe Technology Services Inc., Oregon Healthcare Resources LLC, Oregon Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Orlando Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., OrthoNet Holdings Inc., OrthoNet LLC, OrthoNet New York IPA Inc., OrthoNet West Inc., OrthoNet of the South Inc., OrthoWest MSO LLC, Orthology Inc., Orthopedic Center of Palm Beach County LLC, Orthopedic Surgery Center of Palm Beach County LLC, Orthopro Management LLC, Ovations Inc., Owensboro Ambulatory Surgical Facility Ltd., Oxford Benefit Management Inc., Oxford Health Insurance Inc., Oxford Health Plans CT Inc., Oxford Health Plans LLC, Oxford Health Plans NJ Inc., Oxford Health Plans NY Inc., P2P Link LLC, PCCCV Inc., PHC Subsidiary Holdings LLC, PHYSICIANS DAY SURGERY CENTER LLC, PMI Acquisition LLC, PMSI Holdings LLC, PMSI Settlement Solutions LLC, POMCO Inc., POMCO Network Inc., PPH Holdings LLC, PPH Management Company L.L.C., PPH-Columbia Inc., PPH-Gardendale Inc., PS Center LLC, PacifiCare Health Systems, PacifiCare Life Assurance Company, PacifiCare Life and Health Insurance Company, PacifiCare of Arizona Inc., PacifiCare of Colorado Inc., Pacific Cardiovascular Associates Medical Group Inc., Pacific Casualty Company Inc., Pacifico S.A. Entidad Prestadora de Salud, Panama City Surgery Center LLC, Park Hill Surgery Center LLC, Parkway Surgery Center LLC, Patient Care Associates L.L.C., PatientsLikeMe, Patrimonio Autonomo Nueva Clinica, Payment Resolution Services LLC, Peninsula Eye Surgery Center LLC, Penzo Enterprises LLC, Peoples Health, Peoples Health Inc., Perham Physical Therapy LTD, Perimeter Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., Pharmaceutical Technologies LLC, Physician Alliance of the Rockies LLC, Physicians Health Choice of Texas LLC, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland Inc., Physicians' Surgery Center of Downey LLC, Pinnacle III LLC, Plano de Saude Ana Costa Ltda., Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico Inc., Plus One Holdings Inc., Pocono Ambulatory Surgery Center Limited, Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes Multiestrategia, Polo Holdco LLC, Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center Inc., Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Post-Acute Care Center for Research LLC, Practice Partners in Healthcare LLC, Preferred Care Network Inc., Preferred Care Network of Florida Inc., Preferred Care Partners Holding Corp., Preferred Care Partners Inc., Preferred Care Partners Medical Group Inc., PreferredOne, PreferredOne Administrative Services Inc., PreferredOne Insurance Company, Premier Choice ACO Inc., Premier Surgery Center of Louisville L.P., Premiere Medical Resources LLC, Presidio Surgery Center LLC, Prime Health Inc., PrimeCare Medical Network Inc., PrimeCare of Citrus Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Corona Inc., PrimeCare of Hemet Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Inland Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Moreno Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Redlands Inc., PrimeCare of Riverside Inc., PrimeCare of San Bernardino Inc., PrimeCare of Sun City Inc., PrimeCare of Temecula Inc., PrimeDoc St. Francis P.C., PrimeDoc of Richmond P.C., ProHEALTH Care Associates L.L.P., ProHEALTH Care Associates of New Jersey LLP, ProHEALTH Medical Management LLC, ProHealth Physicians ACO LLC, ProHealth Physicians Inc., ProHealth Proton Center Management LLC, ProHealth/CareMount Dental Management LLC, Procura Management Inc., Professional Coverage Services PLLC, Progressive Enterprises Holdings Inc., Progressive Medical LLC, Promotora Country S.A., Pronounced Health Solutions Inc., Prosemedic S.A.C., Prospero Benefits Management LLC, Prospero Care Management LLC, Prospero Management Services LLC, Providence & SCA Development LLC, Providence & SCA Off-Campus Holdings LLC, Providence & SCA On-Campus Holdings LLC, Providence & SCA Outreach Markets Holdings LLC, Pulse Platform LLC, QoL Acquisition Holdings Corp., R Cubed Inc., RABessler M.D. P.C., ROC Surgery LLC, ROCS Holdings LLC, RX Ricardo Campos Ltda., Rally Health Inc., ReMedics LLC, Real Appeal Inc., Redding Surgery Center LLC, Redlands Ambulatory Surgery Center, Redlands-SCA Surgery Centers Inc., Reliant MSO LLC, Reliant Medical Group Inc., Reliant Medical Group The Endoscopy Center LLC, Research Surgical Center LLC, Resonancia Magnetica de Colombia Ltda., Resonancia Magnetica del Country S.A., RightCare Solutions Inc., River Valley ASC LLC, Riverside Corporate Wellness LLC, Riverside Electronic Healthcare Resources Inc., Riverside Medical Management LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Meadowlands LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Newark LLC, Robert A. Bessler MD PLLC, Rockville Eye Surgery Center LLC, Rocky Mountain Health Maintenance Organization Incorporated, Rush Oak Brook Surgery Center LLC, SC Affiliates LLC, SCA AHN JV Holdings LLC, SCA Alaska Surgery Center inc., SCA Athens LLC, SCA Austin Holdings LLC, SCA Austin Medical Center Holdings LLC, SCA Aventura Holdings LLC, SCA BOSC Holdings LLC, SCA Bloomfield Holdings LLC, SCA Cedar Park Holdings LLC, SCA Clifton LLC, SCA Colorado Springs Holdings LLC, SCA Community Service Foundation, SCA Cottonwood Holdings LLC, SCA Danbury Surgical Center LLC, SCA Denver Holdings LLC, SCA Development LLC, SCA Duluth Holdings LLC, SCA Duncanville Holdings LLC, SCA Duncanville MSO LLC, SCA ESSC Holdings LLC, SCA Englewood Holdings LLC, SCA Global One Holdings LLC, SCA Greenway Holdings LLC, SCA Grove Creek Holdings LLC, SCA Guilford Holdings LLC, SCA Hays Holdings LLC, SCA Health Value Enterprise LLC, SCA Heartland Holdings LLC, SCA High Point Holdings LLC, SCA HoldCo Inc., SCA Holding Company Inc., SCA Holdings Inc., SCA IEC Holdings LLC, SCA Indiana Holdings LLC, SCA Lutheran Holdings LLC, SCA Maple Grove Holdings LLC, SCA Mohawk Holdings LLC, SCA Murrells Inlet LLC, SCA Northern Utah Holdings LLC, SCA Northwest Holdings LLC, SCA Outside New Jersey LLC, SCA Pacific Holdings Inc., SCA Pacific Surgery Holdings LLC, SCA Palisades Holdings LLC, SCA Pennsylvania Holdings LLC, SCA Pinnacle Holdings LLC, SCA Premier Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, SCA Providence Holdings LLC, SCA ROCS Holdings LLC, SCA Rockledge JV LLC, SCA Rush Oak Brook Holdings LLC, SCA SSSC Holdings LLC, SCA Sage Medical LLC, SCA Sage Medical MSO LLC, SCA San Diego Holdings LLC, SCA Skyway Holdings LLC, SCA South Ogden Holdings LLC, SCA Southwestern PA LLC, SCA Specialists of Florida LLC, SCA Specialty Holdings of Connecticut LLC, SCA Stonegate Holdings LLC, SCA Surgery Holdings LLC, SCA Surgicare of Laguna Hills LLC, SCA Teammate Support Network, SCA West Health Holdings LLC, SCA Westgreen Holdings LLC, SCA Woodbury Holdings LLC, SCA eCode Solutions Private Limited, SCA of Clarksville Inc., SCA-Albuquerque Surgery Properties Inc., SCA-Alliance LLC, SCA-Anne Arundel LLC, SCA-Applecare Partners LLC, SCA-Bethesda LLC, SCA-Blue Ridge LLC, SCA-Bonita Springs LLC, SCA-Brandon LLC, SCA-Castle Rock LLC, SCA-Central Florida LLC, SCA-Charleston LLC, SCA-Chatham LLC, SCA-Chevy Chase LLC, SCA-Citrus Inc., SCA-Colonial Partners LLC, SCA-Colorado Springs LLC, SCA-Connecticut Partners LLC, SCA-DRY CREEK LLC, SCA-Davenport LLC, SCA-Denver LLC, SCA-Denver Physicians Holdings LLC, SCA-Derry LLC, SCA-Doral LLC, SCA-Downey LLC, SCA-Dublin LLC, SCA-Encinitas Inc., SCA-Eugene Inc., SCA-First Coast LLC, SCA-Florence LLC, SCA-Fort Collins Inc., SCA-Fort Walton Inc., SCA-Franklin LLC, SCA-Frederick LLC, SCA-Freeway Holdings LLC, SCA-Ft. Myers LLC, SCA-GRANTS PASS LLC, SCA-Gainesville LLC, SCA-Gladiolus LLC, SCA-Glenwood Holdings LLC, SCA-Grove Place LLC, SCA-Hagerstown LLC, SCA-Hamden LLC, SCA-Hilton Head LLC, SCA-Honolulu LLC, SCA-Houston Executive LLC, SCA-IT Holdings LLC, SCA-Illinois LLC, SCA-JPM Holdings LLC, SCA-Kissing Camels Holdings LLC, SCA-MC VBP Inc., SCA-Main Street LLC, SCA-Marina del Rey LLC, SCA-Mecklenburg Development Corp., SCA-Memorial City LLC, SCA-Memorial LLC, SCA-Merritt LLC, SCA-Midlands LLC, SCA-Midway Management LLC, SCA-Mobile LLC, SCA-Mokena LLC, SCA-Morris Avenue LLC, SCA-Morris County LLC, SCA-Mt. Pleasant LLC, SCA-Naperville LLC, SCA-Naples LLC, SCA-New Jersey LLC, SCA-Newport Beach LLC, SCA-Northeast Georgia Health LLC, SCA-PORTLAND LLC, SCA-Palm Beach LLC, SCA-Palm Beach MSO Holdings LLC, SCA-Panama City Holdings LLC, SCA-Paoli LLC, SCA-Phoenix LLC, SCA-Pocono LLC, SCA-Practice Partners Holdings LLC, SCA-River Valley LLC, SCA-Riverside LLC, SCA-Riverside Partners LLC, SCA-Rockville LLC, SCA-Sacred Heart Holdings LLC, SCA-San Diego Inc., SCA-San Luis Obispo LLC, SCA-Sand Lake LLC, SCA-Santa Rosa Inc., SCA-Somerset LLC, SCA-South Jersey LLC, SCA-Sparta LLC, SCA-Spartanburg Holdings LLC, SCA-St. Louis Holdings LLC, SCA-St. Louis LLC, SCA-St. Lucie LLC, SCA-SurgiCare LLC, SCA-Swiftpath LLC, SCA-VERTA LLC, SCA-VLR Holdings Company LLC, SCA-Wake Forest LLC, SCA-Western Connecticut LLC, SCA-Westover Hills LLC, SCA-Winchester LLC, SCA-Winter Park Inc., SCA-Woodlands Holdings LLC, SCAI Holdings LLC, SCLHS-SCA Holdings LLC, SCP Specialty Infusion LLC, SHC Atlanta LLC, SHC Austin Inc., SHC Hawthorn Inc., SHC Melbourne Inc., SJ East Campus ASC LLC, SRPS LLC, SSSC Holdings LLC, SVHS-SCA Florida JV LLC, Sacred Heart ASC LLC, Saden S.A., Sage Medical Prof. LLC, Salem JV Holdings LLC, Salem Surgery Center LLC, Salveo Specialty Pharmacy Inc., San Diego Endoscopy Center, San Diego Sports and Minimally Invasive Surgery Center LLC, San Francisco Endoscopy Center LLC, San Luis Obispo Surgery Center a California Limited Partnership, Sand Lake SurgiCenter LLC, Santa Barbara Endoscopy Center LLC, Santa Cruz Endoscopy Center LLC, Santa Helena Assistencia Medica S.A., Santa Rosa Surgery Center L.P., Santos Administracao e Participacoes S.A., Sanvello Health Holdings LLC, Sanvello Health Inc., Sanvello Health Limited, Scanner Centromed S.A., Seashore Surgical Institute L.L.C., Seisa Servicos Integrados de Saude Ltda., Senate Street Surgery Center LLC, Senior Benefits L.L.C., Serquinox Holdings LLC, Servicios Integrados de Salud Ltda., Servicios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., Servicios Medicos Bio Bio Ltda., Servicios Medicos Ciudad del Mar Ltda., Servicios Medicos Santa Maria Ltda., Servicios Medicos Vespucio Ltda., Servicios de Entrenamiento en Competencias Clinicas Ltda., Serviclinica Inmobiliaria S.A., Serviclinica S.A. Ex Los Leones La Calera, Servisalud Inmobiliaria S.A., Servisalud S.A. Ex Los Carrera Quilpue, Shark Holdings P.C., Sierra Dental Plan Inc., Sierra Health Services Inc, Sierra Health Services Inc., Sierra Health and Life Insurance Company Inc., Sierra Health-Care Options Inc., Sierra Home Medical Products Inc., Sierra Nevada Administrators Inc., Sistema de Administracion Hospitalaria S.A.C., Small Business Insurance Advisors Inc., Sobam  Centro Medico Hospitalar S.A., Sociedad de Inversiones Santa Maria SpA, Solstice Administration Services Inc., Solstice Administrators Inc., Solstice Administrators of Alabama Inc., Solstice Administrators of Arizona Inc., Solstice Administrators of Missouri Inc., Solstice Administrators of North Carolina Inc., Solstice Administrators of Texas Inc., Solstice Benefit Services Inc., Solstice Benefits Inc., Solstice Health Insurance Company, Solstice Healthplans Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Arizona Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Colorado Inc., Solstice Healthplans of New Jersey Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Ohio Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Tennessee Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Texas Inc., Solstice of Illinois Inc., Solstice of Minnesota Inc., Solstice of New York Inc., Solutran LLC, Somerset Outpatient Surgery L.L.C., Sound Inpatient Physicians Inc., Sound Inpatient Physicians Medical Group Inc., Sound Inpatient Physicians of Ohio LLC, Sound Inpatient Physicians of Texas I Inc., Sound Inpatient Physicians  Michigan PLLC, Sound Intensivists of Nevada RBessler M.D. PLLC, Sound Kenwood Hospitalists of Cincinnati Inc., Sound Kenwood Hospitalists of Cincinnati LLC, Sound Physicians Advisory Services Inc., Sound Physicians Alaska Hospitalist Group LLC, Sound Physicians Anesthesiology of Texas PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Arizona Inc., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Georgia P.C., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Illinois LLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Kansas LLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Kentucky PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Louisiana Inc., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Michigan PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Nevada Bessler PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of South Carolina LLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Southern California P.C., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Texas PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Washington PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of West Virginia PLLC, Sound Physicians Holdings LLC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of Arizona Inc., Sound Physicians Intensivists of Georgia PC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of South Carolina LLC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of Virginia LLC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of Washington PLLC, Sound Physicians Palliative Care of Maryland P.C., Sound Physicians Telemedicine Inc., Sound Physicians of Florida IV LLC, Sound Physicians of Georgia III P.C., Sound Physicians of Hawaii Inc., Sound Physicians of Idaho PLLC, Sound Physicians of Illinois LLC, Sound Physicians of Indiana LLC, Sound Physicians of Iowa PLLC, Sound Physicians of Kankakee Illinois LLC, Sound Physicians of Massachusetts II P.C., Sound Physicians of Massachusetts Inc., Sound Physicians of New Jersey LLC, Sound Physicians of New York PLLC, Sound Physicians of North Carolina PLLC, Sound Physicians of South Carolina LLC, Sound Physicians of Wyoming LLC, South Arlington Surgical Providers LLC, South County Surgical Center LLC, South Sound Inpatient Physicians PLLC, Southern California Medical Practice Concepts LLC, Southland Hospitalists P.C., Southwest Medical Associates Inc., Southwest Michigan Health Network Inc., Southwest Surgery Center LLC, Southwest Surgical Center LLC, Space Coast Surgical Center Ltd., Spartanburg Surgery Center LLC, Specialists in Urology Surgery Center LLC, Specialized Pharmaceuticals Inc., Specialty Benefits LLC, Specialty Billing Solutions LLC, Specialty Surgical Center LLC, Spectera Inc., Spectera of New York IPA Inc., Sports and Spinal Physical Therapy Inc., St. Cloud Outpatient Surgery Ltd. a Minnesota Limited Partnership, St. Cloud Surgical Center LLC, St. Louis Cardiovascular Institute LLC, St. Louis Specialty Surgical Center LLC, Stonegate JV Partners LLC, Stonegate Surgery Center L.P., Summer Street ASC LLC, SunSurgery LLC, Surgery Center Holding LLC, Surgery Center at Cherry Creek LLC, Surgery Center at Cottonwood LLC, Surgery Center at Grove Creek LLC, Surgery Center at Kissing Camels LLC, Surgery Center at South Ogden LLC, Surgery Center at St. Vincent LLC, Surgery Center of Boca Raton Inc., Surgery Center of Colorado Springs LLC, Surgery Center of Des Moines LLC, Surgery Center of Easton LLC, Surgery Center of Ellicott City Inc., Surgery Center of Fairfield County LLC, Surgery Center of Fort Collins LLC, Surgery Center of Lexington LLC, Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, Surgery Center of Maui LLC, Surgery Center of Mt. Scott LLC, Surgery Center of Muskogee LLC, Surgery Center of Rockville L.L.C., Surgery Center of Southern Pines LLC, Surgery Center of The Woodlands LLC, Surgery Centers of Des Moines Ltd. an Iowa Limited Partnership, Surgery Centers-West Holdings LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates, Surgical Care Affiliates LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates Political Action Committee, Surgical Care Partners of Melbourne LLC, Surgical Caregivers of Fort Worth LLC, Surgical Center of Greensboro LLC, Surgical Center of San Diego LLC, Surgical Center of South Jersey Limited Partnership, Surgical Center of Tuscaloosa Holdings LLC, Surgical Eye Experts LLC, Surgical Health LLC, Surgical Health of Orlando LLC, Surgical Hospital Holdings of Oklahoma LLC, Surgical Management Solutions LLC, Surgicare LLC, Surgicare of Central Jersey LLC, Surgicare of Jackson LLC, Surgicare of Jackson Ltd. a Mississippi Limited Partnership, Surgicare of Joliet Inc., Surgicare of La Veta Inc., Surgicare of La Veta Ltd. a California Limited Partnership, Surgicare of Minneapolis LLC, Surgicare of Minneapolis Ltd. a Minnesota Limited Partnership, Surgicare of Mobile LLC, Surgicare of Mobile Ltd., Surgicare of Oceanside Inc., Surgicare of Owensboro LLC, Surgicare of Salem LLC, Surgicenters of Southern California Inc., Symphonix Health Holdings LLC, T.M. Carr M.D. P.C., THE SURGICAL CENTER OF THE TREASURE COAST L.L.C., THR-SCA Holdings LLC, TeamMD Holdings Inc., TeamMD Iowa Inc., TeamMD Physicians of Texas Inc., TeamUP Insurance Services Inc., Tecnologia de Informacion en Salud S.A., Texas Health Craig Ranch Surgery Center LLC, Texas Health Flower Mound Orthopedic Surgery Center LLC, Texas Health Orthopedic Surgery Center Alliance LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Alliance LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Bedford LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Chisholm Trail LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Irving LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Las Colinas LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Preston Plaza LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Rockwall LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Southwest Fort Worth LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Waxahachie LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Willow Park LLC, The Advisory Board Company, The Alaska Hospitalist Group LLC, The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company, The Eye Surgery Center of the Carolinas L.P., The Intensivist Group of Langhorne LLC, The Lewin Group Inc., The Outpatient Surgery Center of Hilton Head LLC, The Polyclinic MSO LLC, The Surgery Center of Easton L.P., The Surgical Center of Connecticut LLC, Thomas Johnson Surgery Center LLC, Three Rivers Holdings Inc., Three Rivers Surgical Care L.P., Tmesys LLC, Topimagem Diagnostico por Imagem Ltda., Touchpoint Health Plan, Trails Edge Surgery Center LLC, Trauma Surgery Affiliates LLC, Travel Express Incorporated, Treasure Valley Emerald Properties LLC, Treasure Valley Hospital Limited Partnership, Tri-City Medical Center ASC Operators LLC, Tri-County Surgery Center LLC, Trinity Cardiovascular Care PLLC, Tufts Health Freedom Insurance Company, Tufts Health Freedom Plans Inc., Tuscaloosa Surgical Center L.P., U.S. Behavioral Health Plan California, UCSD Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, UCSD Center for Surgery of Encinitas L.P., UCSD Surgical Center of San Diego LLC, UCSD-SCA Holdings I LLC, UCSD-SCA Holdings II LLC, UHC Finance Ireland Unlimited Company, UHC International Services Inc., UHC of California, UHCG Holdings Ireland Limited, UHCG Services Ireland Limited, UHCG  FZE, UHG Brasil Participacoes S.A., UHG Holdings UK IV Limited, UHG Holdings UK V Limited, UHG Holdings UK VI Limited, UHIC Holdings Inc., UMR Inc., UPHT-SCA Holdings LLC, USHEALTH Academy Inc., USHEALTH Administrators LLC, USHEALTH Advisors LLC, USHEALTH Career Agency Inc., USHEALTH Funding Inc., USHEALTH Group Inc., USMD ASC IV1 LLC, USMD ASC IV2 LLC, USMD Administrative Services L.L.C., USMD Affiliated Services, USMD Holdings Inc., USMD Hospital at Arlington L.P., USMD Hospital at Fort Worth L.P., USMD Inc., USMD PPM LLC, Unidad Medica Diagnostico S.A., Unimerica Insurance Company, Unimerica Life Insurance Company of New York, Unison Health Plan of Delaware Inc., United Behavioral Health, United Behavioral Health of New York I.P.A. Inc., United Group Reinsurance Inc., United Health Foundation, United HealthCare Services Inc., United Medical Park ASC LLC, United Resource Networks IPA of New York Inc., United in Advancing Health Equity Foundation, UnitedHealth Advisors LLC, UnitedHealth Group Employee Assistance Fund, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, UnitedHealth Group International Finance Ireland Unlimited Company, UnitedHealth International Inc., UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services LLC, UnitedHealthcare Benefits Plan of California, UnitedHealthcare Benefits of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of California Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas L.L.C., UnitedHealthcare Consulting & Assistance Service Beijing Co. Ltd., UnitedHealthcare Europe S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Global Medical UK Limited, UnitedHealthcare Inc., UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of America, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Designated Activity Company, UnitedHealthcare Integrated Services Inc., UnitedHealthcare International Asia LLC, UnitedHealthcare International I B.V., UnitedHealthcare International II S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International III B.V., UnitedHealthcare International III S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International IV S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VIII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International X S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Parekh Insurance TPA Private Limited, UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley Inc., UnitedHealthcare Service LLC, UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits LLC, UnitedHealthcare of Alabama Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arizona Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arkansas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Colorado Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Florida Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Illinois Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Kentucky Ltd., UnitedHealthcare of Louisiana Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Mississippi Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New England Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New Mexico Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New York Inc., UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oklahoma Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oregon Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., UnitedHealthcare of South Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Utah Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Washington Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midlands Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Rockies Inc., Unity Health Network LLC, Upland Holdings LLC, Upland Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Urgent Care Holdings Inc., Urgent Care MSO LLC, Urology Associates of North Texas P.L.L.C., VERTA MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC, VPay Benefits Corporation, VPay Inc., VPay Intermediate Holdings LLC, Valley Hospital L.L.C., Valley Physicians Network Inc., Vascular Labs of the Rockies ASC LLC, Vascular Labs of the Rockies PLLC, Via Vitae MSO LLC, Vida Integra S.p.A., Vida Tres S.A., Virtua-SCA Holdings II LLC, Virtua-SCA Holdings LLC, Vivify Health Canada Inc., Vivify Health Inc., WESTMED Practice Partners LLC, Wake Forest Ambulatory Ventures LLC, Walnut Creek Endoscopy Center LLC, Walnut Hill Surgery Center LLC, Wauwatosa Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Wauwatosa Surgery Center LLC, Wayland Square Surgicare Acquisition L.P., Wayland Square Surgicare GP Inc., Waypoint Minnesota PC, WellMed Medical Management Inc., WellMed Medical Management of Florida Inc., West Coast Endoscopy Holdings LLC, WestHealth JV Holdings LLC, WestHealth Surgery Center LLC, Western Connecticut Orthopedic Surgical Center LLC, Westgreen Surgical Center LLC, Wilson Creek Surgical Center LLC, Winchester Endoscopy LLC, Winter Park LLC, Winter Park Surgery Center L.P., Woodbury Surgery Center LLC, XAS Infusion Suites Inc., XLHealth Corporation, XLHealth Corporation India Private Limited, divvyDOSE, divvyMED LLC, eCode Solutions LLC, gethealthinsurance.com Agency Inc., hCentive Inc., inPharmative Inc., naviHealth Care at Home LLC, naviHealth Coordinated Care LLC, naviHealth Coordinated Care SC P.C., naviHealth Holdings LLC, naviHealth Inc., naviHealth Michigan HBPC P.C., and naviHealth SM Holdings Inc..

Read More
Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in Public Bank Berhad implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

The top 6 shareholders own 50% of the company

Ownership research along with analyst forecasts data help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock

To get a sense of who is truly in control of Public Bank Berhad (KLSE:PBBANK), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 42% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk).

Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. Therefore, a good portion of institutional money invested in the company is usually a huge vote of confidence on its future.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Public Bank Berhad.

Check out our latest analysis for Public Bank Berhad

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Public Bank Berhad?

Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index.

We can see that Public Bank Berhad does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. 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 Public Bank Berhad's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

Hedge funds don't have many shares in Public Bank Berhad. Consolidated Teh Holdings Sdn Berhad is currently the company's largest shareholder with 23% of shares outstanding. Employees Provident Fund of Malaysia is the second largest shareholder owning 15% of common stock, and Kumpulan Wang Persaraan holds about 4.1% of the company stock.

We did some more digging and found that 6 of the top shareholders account for roughly 50% of the register, implying that along with larger shareholders, there are a few smaller shareholders, thereby balancing out each others interests somewhat.

While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily.

Insider Ownership Of Public Bank Berhad

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. 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.

Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances.

Our information suggests that Public Bank Berhad insiders own under 1% of the company. However, it's possible that insiders might have an indirect interest through a more complex structure. 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 RM126m worth of shares. It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying.

General Public Ownership

With a 33% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Public Bank Berhad. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Private Company Ownership

It seems that Private Companies own 24%, of the Public Bank Berhad stock. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Public Bank Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. Case in point: We've spotted 2 warning signs for Public Bank Berhad you should be aware of, and 1 of them makes us a bit uncomfortable.

Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
Devon Energy Corporation is an independent oil and gas company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The company was incorporated in 1971 by John Nichols and his son J. Larry Nichols and later went public in August 2000. The company has since grown to be included in the S&P 500 and is one of the first energy companies to introduce resolutions requiring the company to monitor its impact on global warming. One time a major player in the global oil market, Devon has since sold off its offshore holdings in an effort to focus on US production and its transition to a lower-carbon future.

Devon Energy merged with WPX in early 2021 in an all-stock merger of equals. The new company is primarily engaged in the exploration, development, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the US midwest. The company operates more than 5,100 wells in Oklahomas Delaware Basis, Eagle Ford Group, and the two locations in the Rocky Mountains. As of late 2022, the company laid claim to 1.625 million barrels of reserves including 44% petroleum, 27% natural gas liquids, and 29% natural gas. Daily production was running in the range of 300,000 BPD in petroleum liquids, 125,000 BPD in natural gas liquids, and 920 million cubic feet of natural gas.

Rick Muncrief, formally CEO of WPX, is now the head of Devon Energy. Mr. Muncrief comes to the table with more than 40 years of experience including 27 years with one of the US Big Three Oil Companies. WPX Energy (Williams Production and Exploration) brought properties in the Williston and Permian Basins to the combined company. Its proven reserves were roughly 527 million barrels of oil and equivalents. The company also owns and operates a midstream network of pipelines and storage facilities it uses to market and deliver its products.

Devon Energy Corporation has pledged to reduce its GHG impact to net zero by 2050. This will be done by a variety of methods that include improving efficiency and leakage, a reduction in flaring, and the electrification of its operations. Near-term goals include a 50% reduction in GHG by 2030 including a 65% reduction in methane release and a 100% reduction in flaring. The company is also focused on reducing its environmental impact by relying on recycled water wherever possible and plans to reduce freshwater usage by 90% in the most active areas. Total greenhouse gas emissions have been in decline since 2018 and fell 17% between 2018 and 2020 alone.
Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare company specializing in developing, manufacturing and marketing a wide range of healthcare products. The company has its headquarters in Abbott Park, Illinois and operates in more than 160 countries worldwide.

The company was founded in 1888 by Dr. Wallace C. Abbott, and it has since grown to become one of the world's largest and most respected healthcare companies. Abbott Laboratories has a diverse portfolio of products, including medical devices, diagnostic tests, nutritional products, and branded generic pharmaceuticals. The company is committed to developing innovative products that improve the quality of life for people worldwide.

Robert B. Ford is the current President and CEO of the company. He was appointed to this position in 2020 after serving as the company's Chief Operating Officer. He has been with Abbott Laboratories since 1996 and has held various leadership positions.

Abbott Laboratories has delivered strong financial performance, declining as investors seek growth. The company's net earnings have been increasing steadily. Abbott Laboratories has a solid balance sheet with a low debt-to-equity ratio. The company has consistently delivered strong cash flow, allowing it to invest in research and development and return value to shareholders. Abbott Laboratories has a higher price-to-earnings ratio than the industry average, and the company's price-to-book ratio is also higher than the industry average. These metrics suggest that the market has a positive outlook on Abbott Laboratories and is willing to pay a premium for the company's shares. Over the past year, Abbott Laboratories' stock has declined as consumers seek to see what the company will do post-pandemic. The company's shares have experienced some volatility, but overall, they have outperformed the broader market.

Abbott Laboratories operates in the healthcare industry, which is highly regulated and complex. The industry is characterized by rapidly evolving technology, changing regulatory requirements, and shifting consumer preferences. Abbott Laboratories competes with other large healthcare companies such as Johnson & Johnson.

Abbott Laboratories' robust product pipeline is expected to drive growth in the coming years. The company is focused on developing innovative products that address unmet medical needs and improve patient outcomes. In addition to its core businesses, Abbott Laboratories is expanding into new markets and investing in digital health technologies.

Like any company, Abbott Laboratories faces a range of risks and challenges. One of the most significant risks facing the company is regulatory uncertainty. Changes in regulatory requirements could impact the company's ability to bring products to market and could also increase the cost of doing business. Another risk facing the company is the threat of competitive pressures. The healthcare industry is highly competitive, and Abbott Laboratories faces competition from established companies and new entrants. Changes in consumer preferences could also impact the company's performance, particularly in the nutritional products segment.

Additionally, Abbott Laboratories is exposed to geopolitical risks, such as changes in trade policies or political instability in key markets. The company's international operations also expose it to currency fluctuations, which could impact its financial performance.
Russian President Vladimir Putin - GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images

The engineering crews and cranes have already arrived at the Drax power station in Yorkshire to dismantle two of the last remaining coal plants in the country.

Over the past decade, four of the facilitys six coal-fired units have been converted to run on wood chips with only two left that can burn coal.

Yet the end of coal combustion in Selby may now be delayed for the second year in a row, as the National Grid seeks to ensure that Britains lights stay on this winter.

On Thursday the Grid confirmed it is in talks with Drax about keeping the coal units going until April 2024, to provide an extra source of backup power for the country once again.

It is the latest example of how Vladimir Putins energy war continues to frustrate the UKs attempts to ditch King Coal.

The dirty fuel was lambasted by Boris Johnson just two years ago at the Cop26 climate conference, with the Government vowing to phase it out completely by the end of 2024.

The promise has proved easier said than done, with the reality of the war in Ukraine colliding with best intentions.

In the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has squeezed gas supplies to Europe, forcing countries including the UK to look to coal as a potential back-up option for generating electricity in the event of shortages.

Although Britain was never a large direct importer of Russian gas, it draws on gas piped from European storage tanks throughout the winter  making it vulnerable to supply shocks on the Continent.

The Drax power station is among several sites that have had their lifespans extended since Cop26, helping to shore up the nations power supply during times of stress.

One of the four coal-burning units at Unipers Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station, in Nottinghamshire, was originally scheduled to close in September 2022 but is now being kept on until September 2024.

Likewise, EDFs West Burton A power station in Lincolnshire was meant to be retired last September but was kept on until April.

The Grid paid all three plants to remain on standby throughout last winter to provide backup electricity, giving bosses a last resort option to stave off potential blackouts.

In the event, they were warmed up on seven occasions but only used once, in early March, with the contingency costing the Grid  and ultimately bill-payers  about 400m.

However, coal has not just been called upon during winter. The Grid has also relied on the Ratcliffe plant to boost supplies this summer, leaning on the facility this week as temperatures soared and households turned up the aircon.

The potential for coal plants to come to the rescue again this winter is much smaller simply because facilities are shutting.

Despite pleas to hold off from Grant Shapps, the Energy Security Secretary, EDF is pressing ahead with the closure of West Burton A.

Meanwhile, one of Draxs two remaining coal units in Selby is being dismantled and staff are set to retire, making it unlikely but not impossible the remaining one will return again, according to a source at the company.

The unit that was kept in reserve at Unipers Ratcliffe power station will now operate commercially, it was announced in January, making it unavailable as a contingency measure this winter.

Yet this all comes at a time when Britains electricity supplies are becoming progressively tighter.

An early forecast published by the National Grid on Thursday said there will be an estimated surplus of 4.8 gigawatts, or about 8pc of total capacity, during times of peak demand this winter.

However, that figure relies on Ratcliffe being operational and on Britain being able to depend on imports of electricity from Europe when it needs them most.

As with last winter, the Grid admits it cannot rule out the possibility of controlled blackouts in a worst-case scenario, where a cold snap causes a Europe-wide gas supply crunch.

Britain has much smaller reverses of natural gas than other European nations.

All things being equal, the system is in good health, says Jake Rigg, director of corporate affairs at National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO).

But if any of those risks further materialise, for example if there was a shortfall of gas in Europe or in Britain, that could have significant impacts on the British energy system.

The overarching message [is not] that we think that everything is fine. We are working on the basis that there is significant risk out there. And we are putting as many mitigations in place as we can.

Kathryn Porter, an energy analyst and founder of consultancy Watt Logic, says losing both the Drax coal units and West Burton A will take about 2 gigawatts of generating capacity off the table at a time when the country can ill afford to do so.

In the coming years, other factors are also set to squeeze supplies, including the expected shutdowns of the Hartlepool and Heysham 1 nuclear power stations  which provide another 2 gigawatts combined  in 2026.

Their lifespans have already been extended and cannot be again.

A really important question here is actually, what are we going to do next winter?, says Porter.

By law, all existing coal plants have to close next year, including Ratcliffe. So yes, you can try to secure the coal units again for this winter.

But even if you manage that this winter, what happens next?

Coal was burned to provide 60pc of the nations electricity needs as recently as 30 years ago but today it provides less than 5pc, according to data from the International Energy Agency.

Today, it has been supplanted by natural gas  which was used to meet about 40pc of Britains demand in 2021  and a mix of energy from renewables and biomass.

The countrys growing reliance on less polluting but inherently intermittent sources such as wind and solar power comes with drawbacks.

These were highlighted last December when what the Germans dubbed Dunkelflaute descended on Britain.

Consisting of thick, heavy clouds and little to no wind, this type of weather caused output from wind farms to drop just as darker weather prompted households to turn on lights and ramp up electricity usage earlier in the days.

Likewise, the Grid ordered Britains coal plants to fire up in March amid another bout of low wind that coincided with a sudden cold snap.

There were also fears that strikes at EDFs nuclear plants in France could reduce the amount of power available to import via interconnectors.

Porter believes that situations like these underscore precisely why the UK should delay the phase-out of coal beyond 2024, giving the Grid extra breathing space when electricity supplies become tight.

The Government is the only entity that can change this [the 2024 phase-out] and I really think they ought to crack on and do it, because from an environmental perspective, one coal power station isnt moving the needle, she adds.

It will not make the difference between climate change and not climate change, particularly when youve got countries like China building new coal power stations hand over fist.

And it contributes a lot to energy security  including in the summer, as weve seen recently.

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.
The conflict in Sudan hit the two-month mark on Thursday with no sign of a resolution as diplomatic peace efforts hit roadblocks and the risk of a broader ethnic war rises.

Fighting between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which a U.S. diplomat earlier this week described as suicidal behaviour, has displaced 2.2 million people and killed at least 1,000, an underestimate according to medics.

It has shut down the economy, plunging millions of Sudanese into hunger and dependence on foreign aid, and shattered the health system.

The army and RSF, which together ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir in 2019, began fighting in the heart of the capital on April 15 after disagreeing over the integration of their troops under a new transition to democracy.

The fighting has since expanded, hitting key cities in the west of the country, worst of all the city of El Geneina, West Darfur, where activists say 1,100 people have been killed and the U.N. says 150,000 people have fled to Chad.

EL GENEINA ASSASSINATION

On Wednesday, the governor of West Darfur, Khamis Abbakar, accused the RSF and allied Arab militias of carrying out a genocidal attack in El Geneina.

Hours later, Abbakar was killed, and the Sudanese Alliance armed group he led blamed the RSF for killing him while in their custody.

The RSF denied responsibility, saying that Abbakar had actually sought refuge with the forces but that rogue tribal actors had kidnapped him and killed him in cold blood.

The killing of Abbakar, who hails from the Masalit tribe he said was targeted by the attacks, threatens to expand the fighting in El Geneina which has already brought the city to its knees.

I saw many bodies in the streets. No one dares to bury them, said one man, asking to withhold his name.

Fighting has also broken out in other Darfur state capitals, including Nyala, Elfashir, and Zalingei and the Kordofan cities of El Obeid and Kadugli, threatening to agitate long-simmering ethnic tensions.

The longer the conflict lasts, it may end up taking an ethnic and regional dimension in  parts of the country, said Suliman Baldo of the Sudanese Transparency and Policy Tracker.

The incoming rainy season threatens to make the delivery of already limited assistance and migration of hundreds of thousands out of war zones, often on foot, impossible.

UNSUCCESSFUL DIPLOMACY

The RSF evolved out of the janjaweed militias that wreaked havoc in Darfur in the early 2000s, and in 2017 became a legalised government force under commander General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

Fighting between the RSF, which has embedded itself in residential areas of Khartoum, and the army, which has launched extensive artillery and air strikes, shows no signs of letting up.

On Thursday, residents in Khartoum and its neighbouring cities Omdurman and Bahri reported clashes, artillery shelling and air strikes near residential areas.

After multiple failed ceasefires, U.S. diplomats earlier this week conceded that negotiations in Jeddah had not been successful and were considering other paths.

IGAD, a regional East African organisation, this week also launched a mediation effort chaired by Kenya to bring Dagalo and army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan together at a meeting Ethiopia said it would host.

But in a statement on Thursday, Sudans foreign ministry, controlled by the army, accused Kenya of harbouring the RSF, and said it preferred South Sudanese leadership of the initiative.

Meanwhile Khartoum residents have accused RSF soldiers and armed gangs of looting homes. East Khartoum resident Waleed Adam said that two men, one in RSF uniform, showed up at his door pointing an AK-47.

They trashed my house and stole my money, he said.

The Combating Violence Against Women Unit, a government agency, said that the victims of most of the rape cases it has documented, which it said represent only 2% of real cases, blamed men in RSF uniforms.

The RSF has denied responsibility and says that criminals and Bashir loyalists have been known to steal uniforms.

SOURCE: REUTERS
The place for all things cold chain.

Hello, and welcome to the coolest community in freight! Here youll find the latest information on warehouse news, tech developments and all things reefer madness-related. Im your controller of the thermostat, Mary OConnell. Thanks for having me!

All thawed out

(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Walmart spreads its wings again but this time not in the form of a new store. Walmart announced the $257 million investment in Olathe, Kansas, to open a beef-packing plant. This new facility is expected to open in 2025, which is a ways away, but the good news is it will create more than 600 jobs for the Olathe area. The new facility will primarily focus on higher grades of beef, primarily the Angus beef from Sustainable Beef that Walmart has a minority stake in.

Also doing its own acquiring, Unilever is acquiring Yasso Holdings, a manufacturer of frozen Greek yogurt snacks. Yasso has threaded the needle of consumer desire by offering a comfort food thats healthier than the ice cream alternatives. This isnt Unilevers first foray into the dairy side of the freezer aisle as Yasso will join its current portfolio that includes Ben & Jerrys, Magnum and Talenti. If anything, this cements Unilevers claim to take over the ice cream section.

Temperature checks

(Photo: CPKC news release)

Canadian Pacific Kansas City has added 1,000 new 53-foot refrigerated intermodal containers. This addition more than doubles the existing fleet size. There is no doubt that the increase in refrigerated intermodal containers comes right after the announcement of the Mexico Midwest Express lane. This lane focuses on shippers with goods going from Mexico to the Midwest, with the inclusion now of temperature-controlled shippers. This new rail line is a single-line haul, including cross-border service that makes CPKC rail on par with trucks that commonly haul this freight but reduces emissions with the rail option.

Also on the expansion front, Lebanon, Indiana, is the home of an expansion in temperature-controlled warehouse space. NewCold, an automated temperature-controlled warehouse company, is expanding its facility in Lebanon for a cool $300 million price tag. This expansion will add about 100 jobs in the Lebanon area as well as make it the largest automated cold storage facility in the U.S. Better alert Guinness World Records.

Food and drugs

(Image: Transmedic news release)

Organ transportation has come a long wayfrom the ice and a cooler that has been the traditional method of transporting organs since the 1950s. This method of transport, while effective, came with many limitations, the primary one being the distance the organ could travel. Organs could only be kept in the cooler for a maximum of four hours. Also, there was a tricky problem of freezer burn on organs transported within the cooler as temperature wasnt regulated throughout the transportation.

All of that is about to change as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new way to transport donated organs. After quite a few clinical trials, a new organ donation transport device has been cleared for use. According to Duke University Med Schools publication the battery-powered device maintains the organ in a functioning state, perfusing it with warm, nutrient- and oxygen-rich blood, using wireless technology to monitor the organ and allow longer time for transportation. This device is currently available for heart and lung transplants, with the liver soon to come, through Transmedics.

Cold chain lanes

(SONAR Tickers: ROTVI.SEA, ROTRI.SEA)

This weeks market is in the corner of the Pacific Northwest, Seattle. Seattles reefer outbound tender volumes have dropped 33.75% week over week (w/w). On the flip side, reefer outbound tender rejections have risen 238 basis points w/w. This sharp rise in rejections and decrease in volumes signals a tightening in capacity for the reefer market in Seattle. Since reefer outbound tender rejections are above 25% in Seattle, carriers can expect to see inflated spot rates coming out of Seattle. Spot rates will continue to climb as long as the Reefer Outbound Tender Volume Index does.

Is SONAR for you? Check it out with a demo!

Shelf life

The United States Government Cold Chain Project: Trinidad and Tobago  YouTube

This is how frozen custard came to be  YouTube

Tyson Foods to Lay off 228 Employees Near Chicago Who Decline Move to Arkansas

Global logistics expertise to improve patient outcomes in clinical trials

Is Cryoport (NASDAQ:CYRX) A Risky Investment?

Wanna chat in the cooler? Shoot me an email with comments, questions or story ideas at moconnell@freightwaves.com.

See you on the internet.

Mary

If this newsletter was forwarded to you, you must be pretty chill. Join the coolest community in freight and subscribe for more at freightwaves.com/subscribe.

The post Running on Ice: Acquisitions, expansions and organ transport appeared first on FreightWaves.
A former government minister has expressed relief and satisfaction after receiving a Garda apology over leaks about an investigation related to him.

Pat Carey, a former Fianna Fail TD, quit as the partys director of elections amid the fallout from newspaper articles published in 2015 about a Garda probe into claims of child sex abuse involving an unnamed former minister.

Although not named in the reports, Mr Carey said he felt compelled to make a public statement about the allegations in response to speculation about him following their publication. At the time, he said he absolutely and unconditionally denied any improper behaviour.

In 2019, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) directed that Mr Carey would not face prosecution in relation to any historical abuse allegations.

The former politician took a case against the Garda, the state and publisher Independent Media. He claimed a breach of privacy and said the reports were based on investigation information leaked from within the Garda.

At the High Court in Dublin on Friday, he received an apology from lawyers representing Garda Commissioner Drew Harris as the case was settled.

Mr Carey also received a damages settlement described as substantial and will also have his legal costs covered.

I was subjected to the gravest allegations, my character vilified and my good name destroyed, he said outside court.

I welcome the end of the litigation and in particular I welcome the apology from the Garda commissioner and the vindication evidenced by the payment of substantial damages and my entire costs.

I was targeted because of my prominent position in public life but I did not and do not seek special treatment. No citizen should have their fundamental rights violated, as occurred to me.

He added: Im relieved and satisfied the due process has been followed. I hope that lessons will be learned  and something like this doesnt happen again.

In a statement, Mediahuis Ireland, publisher of the Irish Independent, said: We welcome the conclusion of this matter and that the proceedings against the Irish Independent have been struck out.

In 2015 we published an article on a matter of public interest which was the subject of a garda investigation. It did not identify Mr Carey and was widely followed up by other media outlets who added additional details.

We subsequently reported the Director of Public Prosecutions decision in 2019 not to pursue any charges in the matter. We recognise this was a difficult period for Mr Carey.

We take our duties and obligations as a news publisher very seriously and we will continue to publish articles that are in the public interest in a manner that is appropriate and responsible.

We note that the Garda Commissioner has made a statement to Mr Carey in relation to the matters for which he, as head of An Garda Siochana, is responsible.
[June 15, 2023] JD Martin Names Kelly Johns RVP of Houston Region Tweet

Latest addition continues to expand and broaden firm's existing leadership pipeline HOUSTON, June 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Greg Baker, CEO/President, of JD Martin is pleased to announce Kelly Johns has joined the company as Regional Vice President for the Houston Region, effective June 15, 2023. JD Martin Names Kelly Johns RVP of Houston Region continuing to expand firm's existing leadership pipeline "Kelly has a deep understanding of how our customer needs, distributors and manufacturers all fit together" said Matt Garaaglia, EVP of Texas and Oklahoma. "His background means he understands how to present solutions that create real value for our customers. His sales leadership made him a great choice to lead the Houston Market."



Kelly Johns said, "I'm honored for the opportunity to continue to develop my career at JD Martin." Johns added, "I really look forward to working with the entire JDM team, our world-class manufacturers and distributors. It is exciting to be part of such a great company and to be able to use my previous electrical distribution and contractor experience to help lead our successful efforts in the Houston area." As a Texas native, Johns has developed a strong reputation and service background in the electrical market. He brings a solid leadership and a sales focused approach that was developed from his deep experience while employed in electrical distribution, contractor and manufacturer roles.

Johns earned a B.A. from Texas Christian University. During his college career, Kelly was a student athlete and pitched for the Horned Frogs for four years. ABOUT JD MARTIN: JD Martin Company is an electrical manufacturers' representative agency that sells and markets premier lines of electrical products to OEM and MRO contractors, and end-user markets through wholesale distribution. For more than 68 years, we have supported industries such as oil & gas, mining, steel, waste water treatment, wind power generation and commercial construction. We offer impactful solutions and sell electrical products, through qualified electrical distributor channels, in over 16 states in territories that include Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, The Carolinas, Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. To learn more about JD Martin click here. Contact:

Greg Baker CEO/President

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jd-martin-names-kelly-johns-rvp-of-houston-region-301852693.html SOURCE JD Martin Co.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[June 15, 2023] Zahid F Sarder Saddi Welcomes Letter by Six Members of Congress Urging US Gov't to Support Fair Elections in Bangladesha Tweet

WASHINGTON, DC, June 15, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the United States government focuses on the 2024 national election in Bangladesh, Zahid F Sarder Saddi, who is the Foreign Advisor to the Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the Hon Begum Khaleda Zia, has issued a statement detailing his appreciation for a Congressional letter sent to Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken . Signed by US Representatives William R. Keating, James P. McGovern, Barbara Lee, Jim Costa, Dina Titus, and Jamie Raskin, the missive outlines their concern about the ongoing deterioration of the human rights situation in Bangladesh as elections approach in January 2024 and requests further details about the measures, steps, and indicators that the US government is taking to monitor and support human rights and fair elections in Bangladesh.

Photo: Six members of the United States Congress who issued a letter to Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken about free and fair elections in Bangladesh

Since early May 2023, Secretary Blinken and other members of Congress have been increasing their pressure on the Bangladeshi government, which has a documented track record of human rights abuses. The US State Department 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. Congressmen Scott Perry, Bob Good, Barry Moore, Tim Burchett, Warren Davidson, and Keith Self sent an urgent letter to President Biden requesting that President Biden impose stricter individual sanctions, banning Bangladesh law enforcement and military personnel from participating in UN peacekeeping missions. 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: Letter sent to Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken by US Representatives William R. Keating, James P. McGovern, Barbara Lee, Jim Costa, Dina Titus, and Jamie Raskin

The latest letter to Secretary Blinken outlines that repression in Bangladesh continues even as human rights activists continue their efforts to support a free election. In its annual Human Rights Report 2022, respected Bangladeshi human rights organization Odhikar documented 31 extrajudicial killings, 21 enforced disappearances, 68 deaths in jail, and 183 attacks on journalists committed by various law enforcement agencies including the RAB, Detective Branch, and the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence.

Photo: Large gathering of American-Bangladeshis joined by Zahid F Sarder Saddi in front of the White House in support of human rights and democracy in Bangladesh

All six members of Congress request further information on how the State Department tracks reports of human rights violations committed by law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh, the indicators that it is using to evaluate any progress in reducing impunity for serious human rights abuses committed by these entities, and other measures and efforts being taken to support a free society in Bangladesh. Photo: Human Rights Activist, Civil Society Leader and Bangladesh former Foreign Advisor Zahid F Sarder Saddi | US CONGRESS

I am deeply thankful for the concern of these Representatives , Secretary Blinken , and the US government about the ongoing violations being committed against Bangladeshis who are working for fair elections, says Zahid F Sarder Saddi . I look forward to working with more members of Congress across the aisle to bring back democracy in Bangladesh. As more global attention is paid to the human rights abuses committed each day, we will take back Bangladesh and have a society that is equal and includes all voices.

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

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[June 15, 2023] ASIA'S BANKING, PAYMENTS, E-COMMERCE AND RETAIL LEADERS TO GATHER IN SINGAPORE THIS MONTH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN FOUR YEARS AT SEAMLESS ASIA Tweet

SINGAPORE, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seamless Asia, the leading annual gathering of Asia's commerce leaders, will take place in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre on 27  28 June 2023. After a series of annual virtual editions, the event marks the first in-person edition of the event since 2019. Over 2,500 of the region's leading banks, payments players, digital wallets, e-commerce retailers, telcos, government bodies will attend Seamless Asia 2023 to reconnect, explore and shape the future of digital commerce in Asia. From structured round-table sessions to informal networking gatherings, there will be ample opportunities for attendees to build relationships and forge meaningful partnerships. "With digital payments in Asia forecast to exceed $350 billion USD by 2026 and with e-commerce spending in Southeast Asia expected to reach $180 billion USD by 2025 it's a time of tremendous growth in the region" says Paul Clark, Managing Director  Asia, Terrapinn Pte Ltd. "Over recent years, the payments, banking and e-commerce sectors have been at the forefront of innovation. Now is the perfect time to bring together the region's digital commerce leaders to explore how to truly capitalise on this growth, how to ride the waves of market volatility and to explore what we can expect next in the world's fastest growing commerce market." More than 200 thought leaders will share insights across seven key content pillars: Payments Innovation, Payments Security, eKYC & Authentication, Banking Transformation, E-commerce Strategy, E-commerce Marketing and Online Payments. The engaging presentatins and panel discussions will address pressing trends, challenges and opportunities in digital commerce. Speakers at the event include:



Albert Tinio, Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chief Commercial Officer , GoTyme Bank

, GoTyme Bank Alin Dobrea , Head of Marketing Solutions & Partnerships , Zalora

, , Zalora Carlo Brillantes, Head of Digital Payments , foodpanda

, foodpanda Chandana Sunder , Senior Vice President, LazMall Marketing Solutions , Lazada

, , Lazada Darrick Rochili, Chief Innovation Officer , DANA Indonesia

, DANA Dipashree Das, Head of Partner Marketing , APAC & ANZ, Amazon

, APAC & ANZ, Amazon Henry Aguda, CEO and President , UnionDigital Bank

, UnionDigital Bank Hung Nguyen, Head of Regional D2C & Emerging Verticals , TikTok

, TikTok Ida Mok, Co-Founder and President , Women In Blockchain Asia (WIBA)

, Women In Blockchain Asia (WIBA) Ingrid Rose Ann Berona, Chief Risk Officer , Gcash

, Gcash Julie Reyes, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer , Maya

, Maya Lito Villanueva , Executive VP & Chief Innovation & Inclusion Officer , RCBC

, RCBC Lucose Eralil, Executive Vice President and Head of Enterprise Technology and Operations , Security Bank

, Security Bank Lynn Huang, Ex-CMO, Asia Pacific , Honeywell SPS, Motorola Solutions

, Honeywell SPS, Motorola Solutions Sharon Tan, Chief Operating Officer , DBS Bank

, DBS Bank SheueChee Beh, Director, Payments APAC , Uber

, Uber Smriti Modi , Head of Consumer & eTail Marketing , APAC, Poly (HP)

, , APAC, Poly (HP) Sonal Kapoor , Senior Director , Flipkart

, , Flipkart Tiffany Chng, Co-Founder & Marketing Director , cheak

, cheak Will Vayakornvichit, Chief Financial Officer, Love, Bonito Over 170 sponsors, exhibitors and partners will showcase their cutting-edge products, services, and solutions, including Platinum Sponsors 8x8, Alipay+, CleverTap, HPS, Stripe and World First Asia Pte Ltd. On the exhibition floor, attendees will have the chance to demo solutions and interact directly with product experts to discover innovations that will propel their businesses forward and identify new partnership opportunities. Seamless Asia 2023 will help accelerate the transformation of digital commerce in Asia. For event information and full conference agenda, visit www.terrapinn.com/SeamlessAsia

About Seamless Asia 2023: Seamless Asia 2023 will take place at Marina Bay Sands Expo and & Convention Centre, Singapore on 27  28 June 2023. About Terrapinn: Terrapinn has been sparking ideas, innovations and relationships that transform business for over 30 years. Using our global footprint, we bring innovators, disrupters and change agents together, discussing and demonstrating the technology, strategies and personalities that are changing the way the world does business. Whether you're looking to make new connections, introduce product or inspire change in your industry, we invite you to join us as agitators of change. Terrapinn  spark something. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/asias-banking-payments-e-commerce-and-retail-leaders-to-gather-in-singapore-this-month-for-the-first-time-in-more-than-four-years-at-seamless-asia-301852775.html SOURCE Terrapinn

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[June 15, 2023] L'Oreal Groupe Launches North Asia's First Beauty Tech & Innovation Challenge at Viva Technology Tweet

L'Oreal Groupe signed an MOU with Korea Ministry of SMEs and Startups at Viva Technology 2023 on partnership for open innovation in Korea

L'Oreal's "Big Bang Beauty Tech & Innovation Challenge" in North Asia aims to drive open innovation and co-creation for future beauty together with start-ups across China , Korea and Japan PARIS, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- L'Oreal announced at Viva Technology 2023, Europe's biggest startup and tech event, its launch of the "Big Bang Beauty Tech & Innovation Challenge" ("Big Bang Program") in North Asia, the first regional open innovation initiative focused on driving co-creation and co-development of innovative beauty products and experiences across China, Korea and Japan. The initiative will discover, support and nurture promising start-ups and companies with beauty tech and innovative sciences that can be scaled regionally and globally. L'Oreal Groupe signed an MOU with Korea Ministry of SMEs and Startups ("MSS") on partnership for the Big Bang Program in Korea. In Japan, J-Startup, government project supporting entrepreneurs operated by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ("METI") and JETRO, will support the initiative. After a successful 3-year pilot in China, the latest expansion to Korea and Japan marks a significant milestone to leverage and activate the unique innovation ecosystem of the "C- J-K Beauty Triangle" in North Asia via cross-market and cross-sector collaboration for beauty innovation. Barbara LAVERNOS, Deputy CEO of L'Oreal Groupe in charge of Research, Innovation and Technology, said: "At L'Oreal, we embrace and nurture innovation, and believe in open innovation through partnerships. Therefore, we work with innovative start-ups, small and medium businesses, institutions and governments to inspire and be inspired. The signing of MOU with Korean MSS is a significant milestone for L'Oreal's journey in leading open innovation in North Asia. We are excited to collaborate with startups from China, Korea, and Japan through the Big Bang Program, and to scale up creativity and innovation from North Asia globally." Commenting on the partnership with L'Oreal, Ms. Young Lee, Korea Minister of SMEs and Startups, said, "Supporting promising Korean SMEs and startups to play an active role in the global market is a big mission for us at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. In this sense, collaboration with the global beauty leader L'Oreal Groupe is very meaningful. The ministry will continue to support Korean companies with innovative technologies to collaborate with global companies to strengthen their market competitiveness and expand into the global market." Dr. Yoshiaki Ishii, Director of Startup and New Business Promotion Office at METI, comments as follows: "Japanese govrnment is enhancing startup ecosystem to realize social benefit and economic growth and J-Startup is the flagship program. We believe that collaboration with the L'Oreal Big Bang Program will make the J-Startup more global and contribute to the better world."



Launch of the Big Bang Program in North Asia leverages the valuable experience from its successful pilot in China as the market's first startup challenge tailored for China's beauty tech ecosystem. Through the partnership with Oriental Beauty Valley and Business France, the Big Bang China Program has attracted over 1,500 Chinese startups and incubated over 50 projects in the past three years. In 2023, Big Bang China Program is in full swing with upgraded designs and resources.

In Korea, L'Oreal will partner with MSS to further expand and support promising Korean SMEs and startups with innovative digital and beauty tech technologies that can be scaled globally. Specifically, the Big Bang Korea Program will focus on beauty devices, beauty tech, skin diagnosis and delivery systems enabled by digital and AI technologies, leveraging the unique strengths of Korea's beauty eco-system. In Japan, L'Oreal will partner with J-Startup and Hello Tomorrow to support Japanese startups and cross industry collaborators through the Big Bang Japan Program for open innovation and co-development opportunities. Leveraging Japan's unique strengths in biotechnology, material science and environmental-friendly technologies, the Japan Program will focus on sustainable beauty and green sciences. Fabrice Megarbane, President of North Asia Zone & CEO of L'Oreal China, said: "North Asia is the most dynamic beauty market in the world with one third of the global beauty market and five geographically and culturally connected markets. Leveraging the unique 'Beauty Triangle' innovation eco-system and our strong Research & Innovation expertise in China, Korea and Japan, we believe the Big Bang Program in North Asia will unleash the power of co-creation through open innovation on disruptive beauty solutions with start-ups and partners across China, Korea and Japan. Let's inspire the world with innovations from North Asia, to create the beauty that moves the world." About L'Oreal Group For over 110 years, L'Oreal, the world's leading beauty player, has devoted itself to one thing only: fulfilling the beauty aspirations of consumers around the world. Our purpose, to create the beauty that moves the world, defines our approach to beauty as inclusive, ethical, generous and committed to social and environmental sustainability. With our broad portfolio of 35 international brands and ambitious sustainability commitments in our 'L'Oreal for the Future' programme, we offer each and every person around the world the best in terms of quality, efficacy, safety, sincerity and responsibility, while celebrating beauty in its infinite plurality. With 85,400 committed employees, a balanced geographical footprint and sales across all distribution networks (e-commerce, mass market, department stores, pharmacies, hair salons, branded and travel retail), in 2021 the Group generated sales amounting to 32.28 billion euros. With 20 research centres across 11 countries around the world and a dedicated Research and Innovation team of over 4,000 scientists and 3,000 tech professionals, L'Oreal is focused on inventing the future of beauty and becoming a Beauty Tech powerhouse. More information on https://www.loreal.com/en/mediaroom About L'Oreal North Asia Zone L'Oreal North Asia Zone was established in 2021 as L'Oreal Groupe regrouped the geographical scope of its zones to give greater coherence to consumer behaviour and to create synergy within the region. The North Asia Zone comprises of five geographically and culturally connected markets of Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Japan. L'Oreal North Asia Zone is the second largest region within the Group, accounting for 29.6% of the Group's global sales in 2022. Situated in the most beauty intense region with more than one-third of the world's total beauty consumers, L'Oreal North Asia shapes the future of beauty with its innovation centres in Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul, while investing in beauty tech transformation as one of the three beauty tech hubs globally. Here, our mission is to strategize, create and activate a powerful ecosystem around the North Asia Beauty Triangle as a competitive edge to unleash sustainable growth for all and inspire the world. Media contact:

Linda YAN / [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/loreal-groupe-launches-north-asias-first-beauty-tech--innovation-challenge-at-viva-technology-301852793.html SOURCE L'Oreal North Asia

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[June 16, 2023] Elliptic Labs Signs New Contract with a New Leading PC/Laptop Customer Tweet

Elliptic Labs (OSE: ELABS), a global AI software company and the world leader in AI Virtual Smart Sensors currently deployed in over 500 million devices today, has onboarded its fourth PC/laptop customer, one of the top six PC/laptop companies globally. This agreement empowers this new PC/laptop customer to utilize Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform for future laptop and PC systems. This PC/laptop maker has chosen Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Human Presence Sensor to bring 100% software-only human presence detection capabilities to these future PC and laptop products. "Signing on a new PC customer, one of the top six PC/laptop maker, demonstrates that our mission to make devices greener, smarter, and more human friendly with our 100% softwre-only AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform is truly resonating in the PC industry," said Laila Danielsen, CEO of Elliptic Labs. "We now have four leading PC OEMs as customers, leading Elliptic Labs to become the de-facto platform enabling PC OEMs to improve security, privacy, power-consumption, and frictionless user experiences."



AI Virtual Smart Sensor, AI Virtual Human Presence Sensor, and AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform are trademarks of Elliptic Labs. All other trademarks or service markets are the responsibility of their respective organizations.

Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Human Presence Sensor Elliptic Labs' AI Virtual Human Presence Sensor detects when a user is present in front of a PC/laptop system. This allows the device to sleep when a user is absent, conserving battery life and electricity and safeguarding it from unpermitted access. Human presence detection is becoming a core capability in the PC/laptop industry, but it is currently featured only in high-end devices due to the cost, risk, and design limitations associated with a dedicated hardware presence sensor. Elliptic Labs' software-only AI Virtual Human Presence Sensor delivers robust human-presence detection that allows OEMs to easily and affordably incorporate human presence detection across a wide range of devices. About Elliptic Labs Elliptic Labs is a global enterprise targeting the smartphone, laptop, IoT, and automotive markets. Founded in 2006 as a research spin-off from Norway's Oslo University, the company's patented software uses AI, ultrasound and sensor fusion to deliver intuitive 3D gesture, proximity-, presence-, breathing- and heartbeat-detection experiences. Its scalable AI Virtual Smart Sensor Platform creates software-only sensors that are sustainable, human-friendly and already deployed in hundreds of millions of devices around the world. Elliptic Labs is the only software company that has delivered detection capabilities using AI software, ultrasound, and sensor fusion deployed at scale. The company joined the Oslo Brs main listing in March 2022. Elliptic Labs is headquartered in Norway with presence in the USA, China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Its technology and IP are developed in Norway and are solely owned by the company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230615102888/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[June 16, 2023] Discover Cutting-Edge Solutions with ATEN at Interop Tokyo 2023 Tweet

The PresentONTM VP2021 Wins the Interop 2023 Best of Show Runners-up Award TOKYO, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Interop Tokyo 2023 is a premier networking event that is taking place from June 14th to 16th at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba City. ATEN Japan Co., Ltd, the subsidiary of ATEN international, is participating in Interop Tokyo 2023 to showcase its cutting-edge solutions and products. At the end of the opening day, it was announced that the PresentONTM 4K Wireless Presentation Switch with Quad View (VP2021) has been awarded with the Interop 2023 Best of Show Runners-up Award in the Enterprise & Cloud(Enterprise Appliance)category. ATEN Japan invites attendees to experience first-hand demonstrations that replicate real-life cases, offering an opportunity to understand the benefits of their products. The event serves as a platform for networking and knowledge exchange in the information technology industry. At Interop Tokyo 2023, ATEN Japan is showcasing the following main exhibited products: CL3800

Ultra Short Depth Dual Rail WideScreen LCD Console (USB, HDMI / DVI / VGA) Integrated KVM Console with short depth dual rail design and a 18.5" LED-backlit LCD monitor allows you to work in narrow spaces

Supports an external console with USB / DVI / VGA / HDMI connectors

The 18.5" LCD screen offers resolutions of up to 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) @ 60Hz for CL3800NW and resolutions of up to 1366 x 768 @ 60Hz for CL3800NX KX9970

5K DisplayPort KVM over IP Extender (5K resolution & 10GbE network compatible) Native DP signal processing with 8/10/12 bit color depth

bit color depth Compatible with HDR10 and Adobe RGB

Supports isochronous USB

Equipped with multi-screen control function CN9600

1-Local/Remote Share Access Single Port DVI KVM over IP Switch Over-IP capability for remote access to a dedicated PC/server via a direct BIOS-level, hack-proof network connection, as well as visual excellence up to 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz at both local and remote consoles by utilizing an FPGA graphics processor.

No need for software installation; there is no load on the management PC

Able to separate business network and information network PE4104AJ

4-Outlet IP Control Box (100V 15A Model) Power off/on is possible over the network - browser, telnet

Equipped with auto-reboot function in case of device freeze

Power-on sequence and delay time can be set for each port SN0108CO

8-Port Serial Console Server with Dual Power/LAN Dual power/LAN supported model

Secure access is possible to remote serial devices without using an IP network

Cisco pin arrangement and DTE/DCE auto-recognition function. It is possible to connect directly to a Cisco network switch without a console cable, significantly reducing the construction time of IT infrastructure. VM5808HA

8 x 8 HDMI Matrix Switch with Scaler Matrix distribution and switching of 8 HDMI signals to 8 systems

Local operation - Front panel push buttons, IR remote control

Compatible with Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio The award-winning product - ATEN PresentON VP2021 4K Wireless Presentation Switch with quad view features a multi-view function, BYOD wireless sharing, audio out, USB touch back, and PoE connectivity, allow for control with a mobile app, and are compatible with Airplay and Google Cast, bringing people together to share ideas easily and get more from meetings. The unique features of the VP2021 include: Multi-view function allows starting multi-party collaborations instantly USB touch back  allows for seamless operation of a presentation directly from a connected touchscreen or mouse Moderation Mode  the moderator can manage and control team members' connection status and the AV content being displayed Quad-view sharing in a snap Collaboration tools  Screen capture, annotation, whiteboard on screen Remote view on the ATEN Presentation App lets remote participants view presentations from their own screen For more information about ATEN PresentON VP2021 4K Wireless Presentation Switch with quad view, please visit the following link:

https://www.aten.com/global/en/products/professional-audiovideo/presentation-switches/vp2021/?utm_source=Press_Release&utm_medium=PR&utm_term=Interop_VP2021 ?Event Details?Interop Tokyo 2023







Date and Time June 14th (Wed) - 16th (Fri), 2023 10:00 - 18:00, until 17:00 on the last day Location Makuhari Messe 2-1 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba City ?261-8550

Transportation information Booth No. 5P21 Official website of the organizer https://www.interop.jp/

For more information of Interop Tokyo 2023, please download the event guide below:

https://assets.aten.com/webpage/shared/ATEN_japan/Invitaion/2023/Interop-Tokyo-2023.pdf About ATEN

ATEN International Co., Ltd. (TWSE: 6277), established in 1979, is the leading provider of KVM and AV/IT connectivity and management solutions. Offering integrated KVM, professional AV, SOHO, and intelligent power solutions, ATEN products connect, manage, and optimize AV/IT equipment in corporate, government, education, healthcare, manufacturing, broadcasting and media, and transportation environments. ATEN has 650+ issued international patents and a global R&D team that produces a constant stream of innovative solutions, resulting in a comprehensive portfolio of products available worldwide. Headquartered in Taiwan, ATEN International Co., Ltd. has grown to include subsidiaries and regional offices in China, Japan, South Korea, Belgium, Australia, the U.S., the U.K., Russia, Turkey, Poland, India, Romania, South Africa, Indonesia, and Mexico  with R&D centers in Taiwan, China, and Canada. For more information about ATEN, please visit www.aten.com. Press Contact

ATEN International Co., Ltd.

Irene Tsai / Ivy Lee

TEL: +886-2-8692-6789 EXT. 1835/1867

FAX: +886-2-8692-6577

Email: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/discover-cutting-edge-solutions-with-aten-at-interop-tokyo-2023-301852823.html SOURCE ATEN International

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[June 16, 2023] Vargas Launches AIRA - A NEW clean energy-tech company to serve 5 million homes Tweet

STOCKHOLM, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Vargas announces its fourth venture to accelerate decarbonisation. Aira will reduce CO 2 emissions from residential heating and dependence on foreign gas, whilst cutting consumer energy bills. The new venture is set to become Europe's number one direct-to-consumer brand within clean energy-tech, providing innovative and affordable solutions with intelligent heat pumps at the heart. Residential heating is a major, but overlooked, source of global carbon emissions. Heating of residential buildings constitutes 10% of Europe's direct emissions and is the third largest contributor of CO 2 emissions.

direct emissions and is the third largest contributor of CO emissions. Aira makes it easy for consumers to decarbonise their homes with a complete home energy system with a highly efficient and intelligent heat pump at the heart. Aira offers an affordable fixed monthly fee, with significant energy bill savings compared to current solutions, including gas boilers and other fossil-based alternatives.

Aira is currently piloting in Italy and will launch in Germany and UK later this year. The 2030 ambition is to be present in more than 20 markets, with more than 10,000 clean energy experts and technicians employed across Europe . Within ten years, Aira will serve 5 million European homes with much needed greener and cheaper residential heating.

and will launch in and UK later this year. The 2030 ambition is to be present in more than 20 markets, with more than 10,000 clean energy experts and technicians employed across . Within ten years, Aira will serve 5 million European homes with much needed greener and cheaper residential heating. To realise the company's ambition, Aira has secured a world-class production facility in Wroclaw, Poland , where production will start in 2024. Europe is facing a multitude of strategic challenges that together add up to a polycrisis, including a climate crisis, an energy crisis, and a cost-of-living crisis. Heating of residential buildings constitutes 10% of Europe's total emissions and is the third largest contributor of CO 2 emissions. Having already founded Polarium, Northvolt and H2 Green Steel, the Swedish impact company builder and investor, Vargas, is launching Aira to accelerate electrification of residential heating with clean energy-tech for every home. Heat pumps have long been recognised as a highly efficient alternative to oil and gas boilers since they are 4 to 5 times more energy efficient. The technology is the most efficient and affordable way to decarbonise homes at scale and will b pivotal to Europe's ability to effectively combat climate change. Widespread adoption of heat pumps in Europe has been hindered by high upfront costs, low awareness, and the absence of urgency to decarbonise the residential heating sector.



Harald Mix, Chairman of Vargas and Aira, says: "The EU's Fit-for-55 is a vital political framework for reaching the Paris Agreement, but we need bold business initiatives to meet the commitments. By applying Vargas proven model of vertical integration and scale, Aira can offer consumer cost-savings as well as greener residential heating  this is the most efficient way to achieve net zero. The heat pump technology is widely adopted across Scandinavia. Aira's offering, together with national regulations and subsidies, will accelerate adoption across Europe." Aira is a direct-to-consumer brand and offers a complete and intelligent clean energy-tech ecosystem for every home. Aira will start with a heat pump, as heating is a necessity and electrifying heating has the largest impact for a household in terms of reducing energy costs and usage, as well as CO 2 emissions. Aira makes heat pumps affordable and accessible with zero up-front costs and a monthly fee, lowering heating related costs by 30%. Aira will also provide a quick and smooth customer journey going from quote to installation within four weeks.

With a heat pump, homeowners can further unlock the true potential of more energy-saving solutions, including battery storage, dynamic electricity tariffs and solar panels. The complete energy ecosystem will be managed by Aira's fully integrated digital platform and increase customer savings up to 50% on energy related costs. Martin Lewerth, CEO of Aira says: "With clean energy-tech for every home, Aira is transforming residential heating and accelerating Europe's energy transition and decarbonisation. Today, consumers spend thousands of euros on inefficient, dirty and expensive gas based heating. We will make heat pumps affordable, cut energy bills and emissions. Our unique direct-to-consumer model will dramatically change how European families heat their homes." The market for clean energy-tech has a significant, and still largely untapped, potential. To meet a booming demand for heat pumps, Aira will swiftly establish and grow its business over the coming years. For more information, please contact Vargas press contact:

Maria Stern, mobile: + 46 70-571 04 17, e-mail: [email protected] About Aira Aira provides clean energy-tech solutions to consumers and is set to become Europe's number one direct-to-consumer brand within the industry. The company was founded by Vargas in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2022, with a mission to empower people to join the clean energy revolution, one home at a time. Aira accelerates electrification of residential heating with intelligent clean energy-tech to enable the net zero future we all need. With Aira, consumers across Europe have a go-to-provider for complete home energy saving solutions, with intelligent heat pumps at the heart. Our consumer-centric subscription model and vertical integration enables best-in-class consumer economics and cost leadership. For more information: www.airahome.com About Vargas Vargas is a long-term investor and an active owner of purpose-led companies. Together with bold entrepreneurs, we build companies from the ground up to realise ideas that push boundaries for a sustainable future. Vargas was founded in 2014 in Sweden. We have started with green batteries, steel and hydrogen, and Polarium, Northvolt, H2 Green Steel and Aira are our first impact companies  all with the aim to establish regional or global leadership. For more information: www.vargasholding.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/vargas-launches-aira--a-new-clean-energy-tech-company-to-serve-5-million-homes-301852836.html

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Russia eyes seizing the assets of 'naughty' Western firms operating in the country

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks via video call during a news conference in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. Aleksey Nikolskyi/AP

Russia is laying claim over the assets of "naughty" Western firms in the country, the Financial Times said.

Last week, the Kremlin secretly ordered legislation that allows Western assets to be seized a steep discounts.

The new rules will likely make it harder for Western firms to stop doing business in Russia.

Russia is laying claim over the assets of any "naughty" Western firms operating in the country, Kremlin officials told the Financial Times, likely making it harder for them to leave the country.

President Vladimir Putin secretly signed a new decree last week that gives Russia the power to seize Western assets at steep discounts and sell them later for a profit, people familiar with the matter told the FT.

The Kremlin intends to use the threat of nationalization to punish Western firms that don't abide by Russia's rules, the report said.

Though Western firms are "more than welcome" to pursue business in Russia, some foreign companies operating in the country have failed to pay their dues and have left Russia with huge losses, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the FT.

"If a company doesn't fulfill its obligations, then, of course, it goes in the category of naughty companies. We say goodbye to those companies. And what we do with their assets after that is our business," he added.

Meanwhile, Putin's decree also requires all private buyers of Western firms to be fully Russian or in the process of removing non-Russian shareholders.

The new rules mark an escalation in Moscow's crackdown. In December, Russia said Western companies must offer Russian buyers a discount of 50% or more and provide a "voluntary" contribution to the Kremlin's budget of 5%-10% of any deal's price tag.

That comes as Russia battles a slowing economy, and is scrambling to scrape together more money to fund its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Foreign firms leaving the nation could worsen the outflow of capital leaving Russia, which could do more damage to its economy and potentially hurt the ruble as well as investors, sources told the FT.

Read the original article on Business Insider
[June 16, 2023] Sodexo Benefits and Rewards Services becomes Pluxee, the new employee experience brand that opens up a world of opportunities Tweet

LONDON, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sodexo Benefits and Rewards Services activity, a leading global employee benefits and engagement partner, is adopting a new brand, Pluxee: To better support companies in the face of changes to the workplace, and individual expectations of well-being and fulfilment,

To support its growth strategy, by creating more value for all its stakeholders,

To prepare for the spinoff and listing project announced by Sodexo on April 5, 2023 . Aurelien Sonet, Pluxee's CEO said:  Pluxee is a new digital, optimistic and innovative brand that embodies our vision and our strong ambitions in a growing market. With this new brand, we stand out for who we are. Our stronger identity will be a key differentiator for our clients and partners and to attract new talent, particularly in digital . Why a new brand ? Pluxee, the preferred partner of companies for an enhanced and digital employee experience

By adopting a new identity, the Benefits and Rewards Services activity intends to differentiate itself more strongly in an extremely dynamic market.



Pluxee will allow its client companies to promote their employer brand by offering their employees innovative and personalised solutions, in the face of major changes in the world of work.



Pluxee aims to help each employee enjoy more of what really matters to them.



Pluxee, a strong player present in 31 countries, has all the assets to capture the potential of a growing and largely under-penetrated market: its know-how acquired over nearly 45 years, solid performance, the vision and long-term commitment of its reference shareholder, the Bellon family, and its CSR commitments, which drive the engagement of its employees. Pluxee at the service of an ambitious strategic plan

As part of its 2025 strategic plan, Pluxee primarily intends to:



Accelerate its historical activity, the meal and food benefits business, in particular by strengthening its penetration rate among SMEs .





Expand its offer on well-being, gifts, mobility or measures to support purchasing power and employee engagement.





Make its services more easily accessible to its clients' employees via a single digital platform.





To achieve these goals, Pluxee will invest each year, by 2025, 10% of its turnover in tech. Pluxee, a new brand to support an autonomous strategy

Pluxee is a modern and digital brand that reflects the vision, ambition and positioning of the activity in view of the spinoff project announced by Sodexo Group in April 2023 .

spinoff Sodexo

Pluxee will have its own governance and dedicated resources to deploy its strategic plan. Pluxee creates value for all its stakeholders

For its 500,000 client companies by offering ever more complete, rich and varied solutions based on an efficient and attractive digital ecosystem.



For its 36 million consumers , thanks to personalised services offering more freedom, responsible choices, and more purchasing power. Six million people use Pluxee's services every day in both Brazil and France respectively, and more than three and a half million in India .

Pluxee's

For its 1.7 million merchant partners by making their daily lives easier, helping to increase traffic at their points of sale, and enabling them to better understand and interact with their consumers through data.



For public authorities by helping them to innovate socially to address the new needs of employees and the self-employed, to manage social assistance or to direct spending in a specific area. In Europe , Pluxee manages four billion euros in social assistance annually.

Pluxee euros

For its 5,000 employees , by strengthening their sense of belonging, strengthened by the positive impact they can have on the lives of millions of individuals. Pluxee, created with the assistance of the Conran Design Group Agency of the Havas Group, will be gradually deployed in the 31 countries where the activity operates by the end of 2023, starting with Brazil in August. About Sodexo Founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo is the global leader in sustainable food and valued experiences at every moment in life: learn, work, heal and play. Operating in 53 countries, our 422,000 employees serve 100 million consumers each day. The Sodexo Group stands out for its independence and its founding family shareholding, its responsible business model and its portfolio of activities including Food Services, Facilities Management Services and Employee Benefit Solutions. This diversified offer meets all the challenges of everyday life with a dual goal: to improve the quality of life of our employees and those we serve, and contribute to the economic, social and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. For Sodexo, growth and social commitment go hand in hand. Our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all. Sodexo is included in the CAC Next 20, CAC 40 ESG, CAC SBT 1.5, FTSE 4 Good and DJSI indices Sodexo Key Figures







21.1 billion euros in Fiscal 2022

consolidated revenues

422,000 employees as at August 31, 2022

#2 France-based private employer worldwide 53 countries

100 million consumers served daily

13.3 billion euros in market capitalization (as at April 4, 2023)

About Pluxee Pluxee is the global leading employee benefits and engagement partner that opens up a world of opportunities to help everyone enjoy more of what really matters for them. Through a full range of innovative and digital solutions deployed in 31 countries, Pluxee creates meaningful, engaging and personalised experiences to contribute to the well-being of individuals at work and beyond. From meal and food, culture, gifts to wellness and mobility, Pluxee's products and services are designed to bring more value to people. Pluxee supports the purchasing power and promotes the well-being of more than 36 million consumers. Pluxee accompanies 500,000 clients to develop more meaningful relationships with their employees and improve their engagement. Pluxee simplifies the life of 1.7 million merchants every day. Strengthened by its historical ties with Sodexo, Pluxee with its 5,000 employees is committed to increase its influence as a CSR leader by giving its clients, partners and consumers the means to make more sustainable choices every day. Contact Lottie Hutchins at Octopus Group for Sodexo Engage, [email protected], +44(0)7951065119 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sodexo-benefits-and-rewards-services-becomes-pluxee-the-new-employee-experience-brand-that-opens-up-a-world-of-opportunities-301852379.html

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[June 16, 2023] IndusInd Bank partners with Wise on multi-partner Indus Fast Remit platform to offer low-cost and seamless online inward remittance to India Tweet

Partnership will enable NRI customers living abroad to seamlessly send money from 2 global markets to their beneficiaries in India directly from the Bank's platform

directly from the Bank's platform Customers will be able to send money to India at the mid-market exchange rate without hidden fees and rate markups MUMBAI, India , June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- IndusInd Bank has today announced its partnership with Wise, the global technology company specializing in moving and managing money around the world, to offer online inward remittance services to Non Resident Indians (NRIs) residing in US and Singapore. IndusInd Bank's multi-partner remittance service platform - Indus Fast Remit (IFR) and Wise Platform have integrated to offer multi-currency inward remittance service to NRIs. The integration of IFR and Wise Platform also marks the launch of Wise Platform, Wise's infrastructure offering for banks and non-banks, in India. The announcement also comes as the world observes the International Day of Family Remittances today. This partnership will enable customers of 'IndusInd Bank  Indus Fast Remit' to transfer money from 2 global markets namely the US and Singapore at highly competitive forex rates where they will be able to compare rates and know the exact credit amount without any mark-up being levied. The conventional way of cross-border money movement through traditional financial institutions typically involves high charges and hidden fees. Indeed, an earlier study conducted by Capital Economics[1] found that people sending money into India from abroad paid over ?21900 crores on foreign exchange fees in 2020, of which roughly ?7900 crores were hidden as exchange rate markups on currency conversions. The remaining ?14000 crores were spent on transaction fees. IndusInd Bank's customers can access Wise's lightning fast and low cost international money transfers directly through the Bank's Indus Fast Remit platform or its Internet banking platform. Customers will have visibility over their transfer status and estimated arrival time. Additionally, transfers are fast  about 55% of transfers sent through Wise are instant (less than 20 seconds). Furthermore, the process to initiate a transfer can be done online without visiting bank branches or going through the hassle of any paperwork. Through this collaboration, NRIs can book remittance transactions on IndusInd Bank Indus Fast Remit platform and credit to beneficiary will be routed under Rupee Drawing Arrangement (RDA) scheme of RBI through Wise's RDA partners in India. Indus Fast Remit platform will also facilitate NRI customers to open Non Resident External (NRE) / Non Resident Ordinary (NRO) accounts with IndusInd Bank, apart from using the remittance services. Speaking about the partnership, Mr. Soumitra Sen, Head - Consumer Banking and Marketing, IdusInd Bank, said, "At IndusInd Bank, it's been our constant endeavor to bring forth path-breaking propositions that provide customers with a seamless banking and remittance experience. In keeping with this approach, we are proud to partner with Wise for our revamped Indus Fast Remit platform which enables NRIs to send money to a beneficiary in India at lower cost and at competitive conversion rates from 2 countries globally. We believe that this proposition will witness substantial traction amongst the NRIs, providing them with a comprehensive solution for seamless transfers to India."



[1] Independent research carried out by Capital Economics in 2021, commissioned by Wise. More information: https://newsroom.wise.com/en-CAS/220697-indians-paid-263-billion-in-foreign-exchange-fees-in-2020-new-study-reveals Rashmi Satpute, Country Manager, Wise India said: "At Wise, our mission is to make moving money faster, cheaper and more transparent for everyone, everywhere. Having launched transfers from India in 2021, today we are thrilled to double down on our commitment here and bring Wise Platform to India with IndusInd Bank onboard as our first partner. IndusInd Bank and Wise share a common vision of modernising the global financial system, and we're delighted to team up to enable inexpensive, fast and transparent transfers to India for millions of NRIs abroad."

Indus Fast Remit is a first-of-its-kind multi-partner digital platform facilitating remittances to India especially by Non Resident Indians (NRI). The users of Indus Fast Remit will have an option to choose from multiple Exchange Houses/Money Transfer Companies offering competitive rates with a single sign on and an end-to-end digital journey. The remittance service will be offered through the licensed overseas Exchange Houses/Money Transfer Companies and the amount will be transferred to the beneficiary's account in India under RBI's Rupee Drawing Arrangement (RDA) Scheme. Wise Platform is live with more than 60 banks and businesses across the world, allowing them to leverage Wise's technology and embed the best way to send, receive and manage money internationally. About IndusInd Bank IndusInd Bank Limited commenced its operations in 1994 catering to the needs of consumer and corporate customers. Since its inception, the Bank has redefined the banking experience for its customers including various government entities, PSUs and large corporations. As on March 31, 2023, IndusInd Bank has a customer base of approx. 34 million, with 2606 Branches/Banking Outlets and 2878 ATMs spread across geographical locations of the country and covering 1,37,000 villages. The Bank has representative offices in London, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Bank believes in driving its business through technology that supports multi-channel delivery capabilities. It enjoys clearing bank status for both major stock exchanges BSE and NSE and settlement bank status for NCDEX. It is an also an empaneled banker for MCX. IndusInd Bank was included in the NIFTY 50 benchmark index on April 1, 2013. RATINGS Domestic Ratings: CRISIL AA + for Infrastructure Bonds program/Tier 2 Bonds

CRISIL AA for Additional Tier 1 Bonds program

CRISIL A1+ for certificate of deposit program / short term FD program

IND AA+ for Senior bonds program/Tier 2 Bonds by India Ratings and Research

IND AA for Additional Tier 1 Bonds program by India Ratings and Research International Ratings: Ba1 for Senior Unsecured MTN programme by Moody's Investors Service Visit us at https://www.indusind.com/

Twitter: @MyIndusIndBank

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialIndusIndBankPage

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indusind_bank/ About Wise Platform Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move money around the world. Over the last decade, Wise has built an entirely new cross-border payments network that will one day power money without borders for everyone, everywhere. Thanks to Wise Platform, large companies and banks can leverage Wise's technology and embed the best way to send, receive, and manage money internationally into their existing infrastructure. With over 60 partners worldwide, Wise Platform saves banks and businesses time and money by allowing them to seamlessly bring fast, cheap, transparent and convenient cross-border payments to their customers. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/indusind-bank-partners-with-wise-on-multi-partner-indus-fast-remit-platform-to-offer-low-cost-and-seamless-online-inward-remittance-to-india-301852898.html

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[June 16, 2023] L'Oreal Groupe and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) to initiate open innovation in digital and beauty tech in Korea Tweet

- Open innovation agreement signed at L'Oreal's booth at VivaTech 2023, Europe's largest startup event. - L'Oreal Groupe's Deputy CEO Barbara Lavernos and Minister Young LEE participate - Focus on beauty tech, device, skin diagnosis and delivery systems, enabled by digital and AI technology SEOUL, South Korea, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- L'Oreal Groupe and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) signed an open innovation agreement to launch L'Oreal Group's "Big Bang" program in Korea, to discover, support, and nurture promising SMEs and startups. The MOU for open innovation was signed at the L'Oreal booth at Viva Technology 2023, Europe's largest startup and tech event held in Paris, on June 15 2pm, local time. L'Oreal Groupe's Deputy CEO in charge of Research, Innovation & Technology, Barbara Lavernos and Minister Young LEE participated. Through this MOU, L'Oreal and MSS will discover and support promising SMEs and startups in Korea with innovative digital and beauty tech technologies that can be scaled globally. In particular, the program will focus on beauty devices, beauty tech, skin diagnosis and delivery systems, enabled by digital and AI technologies. Barbara LAVERNOS, Deputy CEO of L'Oreal Groupe in charge of Research, Innovation and Technology, said: "At L'Oreal, we embrace and nurture innovation, and believe in open innovation through partnerships. Therefore, we work with innovative start-ups, small and medium businesses, institutions and governments to inspire and be inspired. The signing of MOU today with Korean MSS is a significant milestone for L'Oreal's journey in leading open innovation in North Asia. We are excited to collaborate with startups from China, Korea, and Japan through the Big Bang Program, and to scale up creativity and innovation from North Asia globally." Young Lee, Minister of SMEs and Startups, said, "Supporting promising Korean SMEs and startups to play an active role in the global market is a big mission for us at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. In this sense, collaboration with the global beauty leader L'Oreal Group is very meaningful. The ministry will continue to support Korean companies with innovative techologies to collaborate with global companies to strengthen their market competitiveness and expand into the global market."



Globally, L'Oreal Groupe operates 20 research centers in 11 countries and has more than 4,000 R&I employees. The Groupe is focused on working closely with partners through open innovation, breaking down boundaries and exchange ideas to help shape the future of beauty. L'Oreal Groupe's "Big Bang" program is a startup incubation program launched in North Asia, which has been running in China since 2020 and will be rolled out in Korea and Japan starting this year.

About L'Oreal Group

For over 110 years, L'Oreal, the world's leading beauty player, has devoted itself to one thing only: fulfilling the beauty aspirations of consumers around the world. Our purpose, to create the beauty that moves the world, defines our approach to beauty as inclusive, ethical, generous and committed to social and environmental sustainability. With our broad portfolio of 35 international brands and ambitious sustainability commitments in our 'L'Oreal for the Future' programme, we offer each and every person around the world the best in terms of quality, efficacy, safety, sincerity and responsibility, while celebrating beauty in its infinite plurality. With 85,400 committed employees, a balanced geographical footprint and sales across all distribution networks (e-commerce, mass market, department stores, pharmacies, hair salons, branded and travel retail), in 2021 the Group generated sales amounting to 32.28 billion euros. With 20 research centers across 11 countries around the world and a dedicated Research and Innovation team of over 4,000 scientists and 3,000 tech professionals, L'Oreal is focused on inventing the future of beauty and becoming a Beauty Tech powerhouse. More information on https://www.loreal.com/en/mediaroom About L'Oreal Korea

L'Oreal Korea, established in 1993, offers consumers in the Korean market with innovative products and services to meet diverse beauty needs of Korean consumers, based on science, technological innovation, sustainability, and diversity. L'Oreal Korea works together with 1,800 employees including KIC (Korea Innovation Center) which was established in 2018 to connect with Korean beauty ecosystem for development of innovative products through Korean consumer insights. L'Oreal Korea is also committed to various social causes such as Korea L'Oreal-UNESCO For Women in Science (2002~), Citizen Day (2010~), etc. Media Contact:

Sang Ha KANG, L'Oreal Korea ([email protected]) View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/loreal-groupe-and-the-ministry-of-smes-and-startups-mss-to-initiate-open-innovation-in-digital-and-beauty-tech-in-korea-301852912.html SOURCE L'Oreal Korea

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[June 16, 2023] Korea Pavilion at US AUTOMATE 2023 Garners Significant Response Tweet

SEOUL, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- AUTOMATE 2023, renowned as the largest automation trade show in North America, was held from May 22nd to 25th in Detroit, Michigan. According to A3, organizer of AUTOMATE 2023, the show featured more than 750 exhibits, covering more than 300,000 square feet, with 25,000 registrants from all over the world. Korea Pavilion organized by Korea Association of Robot Industry(KAR) participated in this show, and received an overwhelmingly positive response; 9 companies in Korea Pavilion made their successful debuts at the show by presenting their flagship products and cutting-edge technologies. DOGU Co., Ltd., is a company specializing in autonomous mobile robots. The company demonstrated "Patrover", its outdoor patrol robot designed to detect obstacles to avoid collision and drive well regardless of road conditions. It also introduced "Iroi", its indoor guide robot designed to serve various purposes  providing guidance and delivery services during the day and patrolling at night. The company held a meeting with 'MGM', a global resort and casino company which expressed a significant interest in adopting "Iroi" that can be utilized for not only guidance but also advertising and disinfection. They both agreed to continue discussion on mutual cooperation after the show. HCNC Co., Ltd., with more than 20 years of expertise in manufacturing IT and facility automation, has supported manufacturers to improve their productivity and strengthen their competitiveness. The company introduced its soft gripper and Hyundai Robotics' small handing robot at the exhibition. The gripper and the robot displayed by HCNC Co., Ltd., captured attention of major companies such as 'Amazon', 'Effecto', 'Ford', 'General Motors', 'Schmalz' and 'Universal Robots'. Its soft gripper specially developed to handle random objects and delicate products impressed show attendees, and the company is now reviewing the agreement with 'Schmalz', a leading automation company in Germany and 'Effecto', a leading end-effector company in Italy. Neuromeka Co., Ltd., one of the leading cobot manufacturers in Korea, introduced its own robot model, the "Indy" series and collaborative robot-centered welding automation solutions. The company had numerous meetings with System Integrators on site, and 'Onyx Engineering(Windsor, Canada)' expressed strong interests in the laser cutting solution using a 3D vision camera that can be easily applied to welding wire extraction. Neuromeka Co., Ltd. had in-depth discussions with 'AP COM', a retailer based in Chicago. AP COM had a strong interest in Neuromeka Co. Ltd.'s frying solution and bubble tea solution, and also suggested signing a lease agreement for franchise stores in North America. Rainbow Robotics Inc., is a company which evelops a wide variety of robots, including cobots, autonomous mobile robots, humanoid robots and 4-legged mobile robots. The company introduced five different models of 'RB Cobot Series' at Automate 2023 and made its maximum efforts to recruit distributors in North America. The company had meetings with more than 30 companies including System Integrators(S.I.) during the exhibition and will continue to proceed agency contracts through continuous communication. Some of the meetings have already been proven successful : the company will sign a NDA(Non-Disclosure Agreement) with a U.S. System Integrator, 'P'(the company name not disclosed as agreed) and sign the agency contract later.



RS Automation Co., Ltd., as a specialist in the automation industry, has been providing smart factory solution, PLC, Motion controller and other automation products to over 500 customers for 30 years. At the show, the company introduced "MMC-EtherCAT", a real-time motion controller based on network which supports various motion profile and functions. It is able to control up to 64 axes of Servo drives and 5,440 points of I/Os at every 1 msec in position loop. The company conducted 14 successful consultations and the managing director stated "Due to COVID-19, global supply chain has collapsed and manufacturers are still having hard time getting the components as required. In this case, our products can be an ideal alternative because we can provide products that show high performance at reasonable price and deliver them in a timely manner." He added, "We are willing to provide samples and actively engage in technical support and training for customers in North America." Taeha Co., Ltd., a manufacturer specializing in liquid dispensing systems and facilities to various industries such as electronics, automotive, pharmaceuticals, machinery, semiconductor in the world. The company featured various pneumatic dispensing valves and "PRO CAN PUMP" facilities that boast accuracy and precision and essential accessories for the facility such as cartridges, barrels and needles. Taeha Co., Ltd. was one of the companies that received the most attention from the visitors on site. The manager from Taeha Co., Ltd. stated "We had 40 meaningful meetings at the show, and we expect to have sales worth $700,000. In addition to this, we have already accomplished one of our main goals of participating in AUTOMATE 2023 : to enter Mexican market. We met 'ERAT', Mexican manufacturer of automation equipment, and discussed technology exchange and cooperation for mutual benefit."

Twinny Co., Ltd., is a company which develops and supplies autonomous mobile robots for warehouse order picking and factory automation. At AUTOMATE 2023, the company introduced "Nargo Order picking", an autonomous mobile robot that performs advanced autonomous driving technology to resolve the strenuous labor of searching for goods. Twinny's advanced technology enables autonomous driving in broad indoor and outdoor environments such as factories and distribution centers without additional infrastructure and structural change. It is also possible fto interconnect any WMS(warehouse management system) . According to the sales manager from the company, it had meetings with 10 companies including logistics service providers in North America and computer manufacturers in Taiwan, and the consultations taken place on site are worth approximately $700,000. UND Co., Ltd. is a venture company that was awarded as 'Robot Company of the Year' in Korea in 2022 and as a 'Super Gap Start-up 1000+' by Korean Ministry of SMEs and Startups. It is also well-known for commercializing "Magbot", the world's first fully wireless robot automatic tool changer which received UR+ certification from 'Universal Robots'. The company's robot automatic tool changer and the ultra-power-saving robot magnetic gripper successfully captured the attention of many leading companies from all over the world : it had meetings with 'Ford', 'General Motor', 'Utec', 'Thyssenkrupp', 'Yushin America', 'Kawassaki USA', 'Gimatic', 'Effecto', 'Mindman', 'Techman Robot', etc., to count a few. The CEO, Chul-Soo Lee, stated that the company will proceed 15 PoC(Proof of Concept)s in the second half of 2023, and is expected to achieve sales worth more than $1 million in 2024 and $5 million in 2025. Throughout the exhibition, the Korea Pavilion along with 9 Korean companies witnessed an impressive outcome. 181 successful consultations worth $5 million took place at AUTOMATE 2023. An official from the Korea Association of Robot Industry(KAR) expressed enthusiasm about the huge response received from North American buyers who demonstrated keen interests in Korean robot companies. The official viewed Korean companies' participation in AUTOMATE 2023 as a significant milestone towards successful entry into the North American market. Furthermore, KAR pledged to continue supporting Korean robot companies in their pursuit of opportunities in North America, with plans to expand participation at renowned exhibitions as well as to host export promotion activities in the coming days. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/korea-pavilion-at-us-automate-2023-garners-significant-response-301852916.html SOURCE Korea Association of Robot Industry(KAR)

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[June 16, 2023] EY Announces Brian Stafford of Diligent Corporation as an Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 New York Award Winner Tweet

Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) earlier this week announced that Brian Stafford, CEO & President of Diligent Corporation, was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 New York Award winner. The Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards program is one of the preeminent competitive awards for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. Stafford was selected by an independent judging panel made up of previous award winners, leading CEOs, investors and other regional business leaders. The candidates were evaluated based on their demonstration of building long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact, among other core contributions and attributes. "I am honored to be named EY's 2023 New York Entrepreneur of the Year," said Stafford. "This recognition would not be possible without the tremendous efforts of our team here at Diligent. It is our mission to help leaders navigate complex business environments and create impact, so to be acknowledged for the outcomes of that work among the same exceptional leaders we strive to empower is truly special." Diligent is a leading governance, risk and compliance (GRC) SaaS company, providing solutions and insights across GRC, audit, and environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG). With leaders stepping up to create organizations that are more sustainable, ethical, and resilient, Diligent empowers them with the software, insights and confidence to make better decisions, faster, and drive greater impact. More than 1 million users from over 25,000 customers around the world leverage Diligent's platform of solutions to navigate an increasingly complex business environment. For nearly four decades, EY US has honored entrepreneurs whose ambition, courage and ingenuity have driven their companies' success, transformed their industries and made a positive impact on their communities. Entrepreneur Of The Year Award winners become lifetime members of a global, multi-industry community of entrepreneurs, with exclusive, ongoing access to the experience, insight and wisdom of program alumni and other ecosystem members in over 60 countries - all supported by vast EY resources. Since 1986, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program has recognized more than 11,000 US executives. As a New York award winner, Stafford is now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 National Awards. The National Award winners including the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will be announced in November at the Strategic Growth Forum, one of the nation's most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year  Award in June 2024.



The Entrepreneur Of The Year program has honored the inspirational leadership of entrepreneurs such as: Cesar Carvalho of Gympass?

David Heath? of Bombas

Hamdi Ulukaya of Chobani, Inc.

Holly Thaggard and Amanda Baldwin of Supergoop!

Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee Company

James Park of Fitbit

Aleksandr Yampolskiy of SecurityScorecard?

Diana Lee? of Constellation Agency

Kendra Scott of Kendra Scott LLC

Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn Corporation

Sheila Mikhail of AskBio

?Matt Cooper ?of Skillshare?

Jodi Berg of Vitamix About Diligent

Diligent is a leading GRC SaaS company that gives organizations the tools and solutions they need to bring clarity to complex risk, elevate impactful insights and get ahead of a world that is constantly changing. With solutions across governance, risk, compliance, audit and ESG, Diligent empowers more than 1 million users and 700,000 board members and leaders to make better decisions, faster. No matter the challenge. Learn more at diligent.com. Follow Diligent on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Sponsors Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, N.A.; SAP America; and the Kauffman Foundation. In New York & Connecticut, sponsors also include, Cresa, Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN), Marsh, Empire Valuation Consultants, ADP, DLA Piper, and Morgan Lewis. About Entrepreneur Of The Year Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National Overall Award winners go on to compete for the World Entrepreneur Of The Year. Visit ey.com/us/eoy. About EY Private As Advisors to the ambitious, EY Private professionals possess the experience and passion to support private businesses and their owners in unlocking the full potential of their ambitions. EY Private teams offer distinct insights born from the long EY history of working with business owners and entrepreneurs. These teams support the full spectrum of private enterprises including private capital managers and investors and the portfolio businesses they fund, business owners, family businesses, family offices and entrepreneurs. Visit ey.com/us/private. About EY EY exists to build a better working world, helping create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets. Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate. Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616029524/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[June 16, 2023] The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz Reminds Investors of Looming Deadline in the Class Action Lawsuit Against Teleperformance SE (TLPFY) Tweet

The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz reminds investors of the upcoming June 20, 2023 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the class action filed on behalf of investors who acquired Teleperformance SE ("Teleperformance" or the "Company") (OTC: TLPFY) American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") between July 29, 2020 and November 9, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. On August 4, 2022, Forbes published an article alleging that Teleperformance had subjected its workers to poor working conditions, using real, graphic images and videos of child sexual abuse to train its TikTok content moderators, while "conversations with former employees reveal[ed] the extent to which moderators were both under-trained and overworked." On this news, Teleperformance's stock price fell $7.75, or 4.6%, to close at $160.94 per ADR on August 5, 2022, thereby injuring investors. Then, on November 9, 2022, Time reported that "Colombia's Ministry of Labor has launched an investigation into TikTok subcontractor Teleperformance, relating to alleged union-busting, traumatic working conditions and low pay." On this news, Teleperformance's stock price fell $24.55, or 18.6%, to close at $107.77 per ADR on November 10, 2022. Then, on March 22, 2023, four months after the Company "unanimously" decided to exit the "highly egregious" content moderation business, Teleperformance announced that it would be reentering the field. Market analysts observe that the move was an indication of the Company's overall business and growth prospects. One HSBC Global Research analyst report stated that the "U-turn on content moderation raises concerns about communication, governance and broad fundamentals."



On this news, Teleperformance's stock price fell $6.87, or 5.7%, over three days to close at $112.82 per ADR on March 24, 2023, thereby injuring investors further. The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that Teleperformance's growth in Core Services had been achieved, in part, by requiring its content moderators to engage in inappropriate, traumatic, abusive, and potentially criminal activities; (2) that certain Teleperformance social content moderators had been trained with materials which included illicit images of child sexual exploitation; (3) that contraband images had been included in Teleperformance Daily Required Reading reports for its content moderation staff; (4) that Teleperformance had failed to safeguard child sexual abuse material and had potentially violated strict rules governing the handling of such materials, including rules relating to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children; (5) that Teleperformance had failed to provide adequate training or emotional and psychological support to content moderators exposed to egregious materials, including those exposed to extreme graphic violence and sexual images; (6) that Teleperformance had imposed unreasonable time and performance targets that compounded the occupational trauma suffered by its content moderators; (7) that Teleperformance had failed to implement or maintain the working conditions represented to investors, including by subjecting the Company's content moderation workers to widespread occupational trauma without psychological support, and with paltry pay, punitive salary deductions, extensive surveillance, and aggressive union-busting tactics; (8) that, as a result, Teleperformance was subject to a material, undisclosed risk of legal, regulatory, business, and reputational harm if the truth regarding the Company's content moderation services, treatment of its content moderation workers, and handling of contraband materials was ever publicly revealed; and (9) as a result, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

Follow us for updates on Twitter: twitter.com/FRC_LAW. If you purchased or otherwise acquired Teleperformance ADRs during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than June 20, 2023 to request appointment as lead plaintiff in this putative class action lawsuit. To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to [email protected], or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616719223/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[June 16, 2023] AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Kuwait Reinsurance Company K.S.C.P. Tweet

AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a-" (Excellent) of Kuwait Reinsurance Company K.S.C.P. (Kuwait Re) (Kuwait). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect Kuwait Re's balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. The ratings factor in no rating enhancement or drag arising from the company's ownership by Al Ahleia Insurance Company S.A.K.P. (Al Ahleia). Kuwait Re's balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation, which is assessed at the strongest level, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). Capital consumption under BCAR is predominantly driven by underwriting risks, due to the company's high premium retention and generally conservative investment allocation. The company's balance sheet strength is supported by a track record of internal capital generation, along with prudent reserving practices and sufficient liquidity to support operations. Partially offsetting factors include Kuwait Re's holding of higher risk investments, including real estate, equating to approximately 14% of its total invested assets at year-end 2022, which exposes its capital base to potential volatility. Kuwait Re has a track record of adequate operating performance. In 2022, the company reported net income of KWD 8.0 million (2021: KWD 6.3 million), which was equally generated by technical and non-technical operations. Kuwait Re's operating performance has trended positively in recent years, and results for 2022 translated to a return-on-equity of 12.0% (2021: 10.5%), compared with the five-year (2018-2022) weighted average of 9.9%. Enhanced underwriting selection and discipline has resulted in solid underwriting performance, wih the company reporting a five-year (2018-2022) weighted average combined ratio of 94.8%. The company's technical results in recent years have outperformed historic averages, with increases in earned premium and continued robust loss ratio experience contributing to a combined ratio of 92.3% in both 2021 and 2022 (as calculated by AM Best).



Kuwait Re's business profile assessment reflects its good diversification by geography and product offering. Operations span the Middle East, North Africa, Asia-Pacific and Central and Eastern Europe, where the company provides proportional and non-proportional cover to its cedants. Kuwait Re reported gross written premium of KWD 74.2 million in 2022, equivalent to USD 243.2 million, representing a combined (non-life & life) growth in premiums of 4% compared with 2021, driven in part by favourable reinsurance market conditions in its core markets. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Performance Assessments, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright  2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616936384/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[June 16, 2023] DiCello Levitt: Eight Akron Police Officers Who Killed Jayland Walker Used Excessive Force, Police Department Has Fostered a Culture of Violence and Racism, According to New Federal Lawsuit Tweet

Today the family of Jayland Walker filed a lawsuit in Ohio federal court against the City of Akron and the eight officers that brutally shot and killed him last summer. The suit, filed by the family through their legal counsel at DiCello Levitt, claims the officers used excessive force in their encounter with the unarmed Walker on June 27, 2022. It also notes that the violent behavior of the eight shooters was made possible by a culture of violence and racism within the Akron Police Department. The case, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, seeks not less than $45 million in damages, $1 million for each bullet that struck Jayland Walker. In addition to the City of Akron and the officers involved in the shooting, the lawsuit also names as defendants Akron Mayor Daniel Horrigan and Chief of Police Stephen Mylett. The Walker family legal team will host a press conference to discuss the lawsuit today, Friday, June 16, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. EDT outside the First Congregational Church of Akron (292 E. Market St., Akron, Ohio). The family's attorneys, Bobby DiCello and Kenneth Abbarno of DiCello Levitt will be joined by Jayland Walker's mother, Pam Walker, his sister, Jada Walker, and Akron community leader, Pastor Robert DeJournett. For members of the media who are unable to attend, the press conference will be streamed live HERE. On June 27, 2022, eight Akron police officers pursued Walker for a minor traffic violation. The pursuit ended as he ran from the officers unarmed, and they fired more than 90 rounds at him. He was struck at least 45 times and died as some of the officers attempted to reload their empty magazines. Walker was not under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or any other substance, according to a toxicology report. As Walker lay on the ground already deceased, the officers handcuffed his hands behind his back. The incident made national headlines for its excessive use of lethal force and the unethical handlin of the subsequent investigation by the City of Akron and the Akron Fraternal Order of Police. The FOP repeatedly inserted itself into a supposedly independent probe, gained access to confidential details of the investigation that it should not have had, and leaked inflammatory information to the media in an apparent attempt to influence public sentiment in favor of the officers. The officers responsible for killing Walker were allowed to return to police duty while still under criminal investigation, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation's process was weighted in the officers' favor, with a Fraternal Order of Police lawyer allowed to testify on the officers' behalf at a grand jury proceeding in place of the officers themselves. The grand jury ultimately declined to deliver criminal indictments.



"A year has passed since Jayland Walker was violently ripped away from his family, and still they have not been able to achieve justice and accountability," said Bobby DiCello, a DiCello Levitt partner and legal counsel to the Walker family. "The City of Akron and its police department have been given every opportunity to participate in a fair process to address what went wrong last June 27. At every turn, they protect their officers from accountability. Now we must engage the judicial process to accomplish what the city was unwilling to do-hold these officers accountable for their actions. We will use the judicial system to ensure that Jayland Walker and his family get the justice they deserve." In describing the culture of violence and racism within the Akron Police Department, the complaint points to an unofficial, satirical newsletter maintained by City of Akron employees titled "Signal 44 (PBS to Air a New Wildlife Documentary)," which repeatedly likened Akron citizens to wild animals and contained violent and overtly racist content. The newsletter was discovered in 1998 and was the subject of an Internal affairs inquiry. As part of the inquiry, several currently employed veteran Akron police officers were interviewed by investigators:

Officer Clay Cozart, currently an Akron police detective and president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #7, said at the time that he was not offended that his name was in the newsletter and that publicity about it was "unfair."

Officer Brian Simcox, currently a Lieutenant in the Akron Police Department, said he thought the newsletter's contents were "hilarious."

Officer Brian Harding, currently a Deputy Chief in the Akron Police Department, said he felt the newsletter had no adverse effect on the shift, and thought the contents were "funny."

The newsletter's author, Terry Pasko, remained employed as a City of Akron police officer until he retired as a Captain in 2019. "It's shocking that not only was no officer fired for his involvement in the Signal 44 newsletter, nobody was even disciplined and many of the officers who had no issue with the violent and racist content were allowed to advance to the leadership positions they hold today," said Ken Abbarno, a DiCello Levitt partner and legal counsel to the Walker family. "While the Walker family must be compensated for the unimaginable trauma it has endured over the last year, more than anything, this lawsuit seeks meaningful change that will hopefully end the culture of violence and racism that the City of Akron has long allowed to poison its police department." The case is Jada Walker, et.al. v. City of Akron, et.al. in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern Division, Case: 5:23-cv-01205. A copy of the complaint is available upon request, and the attorneys are available for media interviews. About DiCello Levitt At DiCello Levitt, we're dedicated to achieving justice for our clients through class action, business-to-business, public client, whistleblower, personal injury, civil and human rights, and mass tort litigation. Our lawyers are highly respected for their ability to litigate and win cases-whether by trial, settlement, or otherwise-for people who have suffered harm, global corporations that have sustained significant economic losses, and public clients seeking to protect their citizens' rights and interests. Every day, we put our reputations-and our capital-on the line for our clients. For more, visit our website: dicellolevitt.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230616098433/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[June 16, 2023] Saudi Space Agency: Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni return to the homeland after historic scientific mission to space Tweet

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni have arrived in Saudi Arabia today amidst celebrations and an official welcome home. They have accomplished the country's successful and historic scientific mission to space aboard the ISS. They have finished their quarantine and conducted all the medical tests required to evaluate the effects of microgravity on the human body. H.E. Al Swaha (Minister of Communications, Space & Technology) and H.E. Al Tamimi (Governor of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Communications, Space, & Technology Commission) welcomed the Saudi Arabian astronauts at King Khalid International Airport. Rayyanah and Ali returned to their homeland with the results of 14 scientific pioneering experiments conducted at the ISS which will contribute to science globally and enhance the Kingdom's global position within the field of space exploration, inspiring future generations. Three of the experiments were educational awareness experiments involving 12,000 Saudi students on the ground across 47 different locations in the Kingdom via a live feed. A team of Saudi Scientists and researchers will receive the 92 sample results of the 14 experiments. The Saudi Space Agency (SSA) congratulated Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni on their safe return to homelnd and praised their accomplishments. It stated that the two astronauts are now an example to follow for the next Saudi generation, they have set the pace for the growth and development of the nation's position in the space sector. The trip's global scientific accomplishments will be remembered as a historic moment of national pride and a milestone that would have not been possible without the support of the Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Space Council, thanks to whom, the Kingdom has now set foot into the realm of space.



SSA underlined the importance of the astronauts' mission to space and the astronaut program - both now a source of inspiration for the Kingdom's future generation and the whole Arab world. With Rayyanah Barnawi as the first ever Arab woman to fly into space, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is now one of the few countries to have had two astronauts from the same nationality simultaneously on board the ISS. The two Saudi astronauts, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni, and the AX2 space mission crew, returned to earth on 31st of May, when their space craft splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean.

Notes to Editors About The Saudi Space Agency (SSA): The Saudi Space Agency was established by the royal order in December of 2018 (Rabi II 1440). This bold step serves a future that is innovative and looks forward to the latest technologies and opportunities in the Saudi Space Industry. With the Kingdom moving towards a progressive quality of life, SSA demonstrates the aligned vision of creating better, secure environments for its citizens while actively enabling prospects of lucrative economic and monetary inventions. The SSA has strategized to create primary objectives that serve national security interests against space related risks and encourage cumulative growth and advancement. https://saudispace.gov.sa/en/about-us/ View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/saudi-space-agency-rayyanah-barnawi-and-ali-alqarni-return-to-the-homeland-after-historic-scientific-mission-to-space-301852228.html SOURCE Saudi Space Agency (SSA)

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
A quick glimpse at the worthwhile crime reporting . . . Along with public safety updates.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

KC activists want change after shooting involving police Some in the Kansas City community are calling for an officer to be taken off the streets after his involvement in another deadly shooting

'Get him off the street': Donnie Sanders' family calls for charges against KCPD officer "There is something terribly wrong with this officer," said the sister of Donnie Sanders, an unarmed man fatally shot by Kansas City police officer Blayne Newton in 2020.

Prairie Village argument leads to gunfire, ends with arrest Prairie Village police arrested a man after an argument at a home near West 80th Street and Nall Avenue led to gunfire and a standoff.

Smithville police looking for armed Subway robber An armed robber at a Smithville, Missouri, Subway is currently unidentified, and police are looking for the public's help.

Driver suspected of DUI involved in Shawnee Mission Parkway crash Merriam police arrest a man suspected of DUI for causing a crash at Shawnee Mission Parkway and Antioch that injured two people.

Police release details on car likely involved in January fatal road rage killing on I-435 Lenexa police believed the suspect vehicle that shot and killed a man to be a sedan, potentially a Ford Fusion. After the shooting took place, the suspect most likely continued eastbound on Interstate-435.

Clay County Sheriff's Office offer free steering wheel locks to Hyundai, Kia owners Clay County Sheriff Office joins Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department to offer free steering wheel locks to Kia and Hyundai owners.

Developing . . .
Right now we celebrate Jlo's enduring body of work along with checking pop culture, community news and top headlines.



Check TKC news gathering . . .

Toast To Legacy Of Good Times

J Rieger wants to be a 'showpiece for Kansas City' as distiller takes its whiskey international On the heels of expanding its distribution into several European countries in 2022, J. Rieger & Co. on Wednesday earned the 2023 Weida Award for International Small Business of the Year for the KC Chamber.

Building Boozy Weekend

What goes into building the Ferris wheel at Boulevardia? Watch this timelapse video to see The Ferris wheel at the center of Boulevardia activities in Kansas City took more that an hour to set up. See it erected in seconds in this timelapse video.

Don't Discount History

Another night at the Muehlebach : Lost gift certificate helps Kansas City couple celebrate 40th anniversary A Kansas City couple is celebrating their 40th anniversary this week and they're using a long lost gift certificate to mark the milestone.

Reconstructing Old Times

Man creates scale model of KCMO's Municipal Stadium A Kansas City, Missouri, man is building a model of Municipal Stadium depicting the Chiefs victory over the Raiders on December 12, 1971.

Double Take On Big Move

Kansas City Royals down to 2 sites in search for new stadium: Will it be Jackson County or Clay County? Franchise looking at East Village in KCMO and in North Kansas City.

Diva Shares Promo Peek

Jennifer Lopez makes rare move of flashing her UNDERBOOB The Mother actress was posing in a colorful green gown that had almost no back to it, flashing plenty of the Fly Girl's skin. And in another image, she held onto a green boa.

Prez Biden Bullies Newsie

Biden knocks reporter for 'dumb question' about corruption allegation President Biden on Thursday chided a reporter who asked about allegations of corruption pushed by House Republicans, dismissing the claims as a "dumb question." "Why did the Ukraine FBI informant file refer to you as the big guy?" a New York Post reporter asked at the end of an event focused on addressing junk fees....

MAGA Gentleman's Agreement

Trump Demands GOP Rivals Pledge to Pardon Him ... or Else Behind the scenes, the former president has been sending his minions after Ron DeSantis, demanding he bend the knee after Trump's indictment

SCOTUS Rules On Native Life

The Supreme Court leaves Indian Child Welfare Act intact The case pit prospective adoptive parents and Texas against the act, a federal law aimed at preventing Native American children from being separated from their extended families and their tribes.

Fog Of War Footage

Russian soldier seen surrendering to Ukrainian drone speaks out for first time Ruslan Anitin, a drafted Russian soldier who surrendered to Ukrainian forces via the camera of a military drone, spoke of his experiences for the first time.

Priced Out Of Conflict?!?

The US wants Europe to buy American weapons; the EU has other ideas Washington wants European defense euros to go to American companies; EU leaders hope to boost their own industries.

Faith Interlude

Hungry bear finds a snack in box truck in Sunapee A bear found its way into a company box truck and ate an employee's lunch.

Convenience Win Streak Cont'd

Kansas City convenience store chain to add dozens of locations Kansas City Casey's locations will take over 26 Minit Mart locations across the metro as the company works to add 345 stores in the US.

Eco-Forecast Updated . . .

More air quality alerts and storms in the forecast A few clouds will have Kansas City in the mid-60s overnight Thursday

And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
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.
Jeremy Grimaldi is the crime and justice reporter for yorkregion.com and its sister papers. He is the award-winning author of A Daughters Deadly Deception: The Jennifer Pan Story.
McCarthy, author of No Country For Old Men, among other books, died Tuesday at age 89; he seemed, like the western landscape, endless and eternal
Krissan Veerasingam stands in front of Thai Take Out and Catering, one stop on a summer food tour related to the coming closure of the Scarborough Rapid Transit line - Mike Adler/Metroland
Key Insights

MNRB Holdings Berhad's significant sovereign wealth funds ownership suggests that the key decisions are influenced by shareholders from the larger public

55% of the company is held by a single shareholder (Permodalan Nasional Berhad)

15% of MNRB Holdings Berhad is held by insiders

To get a sense of who is truly in control of MNRB Holdings Berhad (KLSE:MNRB), it is important to understand the ownership structure of the business. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 55% to be precise, is sovereign wealth funds. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

Meanwhile, individual investors make up 28% of the companys shareholders.

Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about MNRB Holdings Berhad.

See our latest analysis for MNRB Holdings Berhad

What Does The Lack Of Institutional Ownership Tell Us About MNRB Holdings Berhad?

Small companies that are not very actively traded often lack institutional investors, but it's less common to see large companies without them.

There are many reasons why a company might not have any institutions on the share registry. It may be hard for institutions to buy large amounts of shares, if liquidity (the amount of shares traded each day) is low. If the company has not needed to raise capital, institutions might lack the opportunity to build a position. It is also possible that fund managers don't own the stock because they aren't convinced it will perform well. Institutional investors may not find the historic growth of the business impressive, or there might be other factors at play. You can see the past revenue performance of MNRB Holdings Berhad, for yourself, below.

MNRB Holdings Berhad is not owned by hedge funds. Permodalan Nasional Berhad is currently the company's largest shareholder with 55% of shares outstanding. This essentially means that they have extensive influence, if not outright control, over the future of the corporation. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 5.0% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 1.0% by the third-largest shareholder.

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. While there is some analyst coverage, the company is probably not widely covered. So it could gain more attention, down the track.

Insider Ownership Of MNRB Holdings Berhad

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our information suggests that insiders maintain a significant holding in MNRB Holdings Berhad. Insiders own RM115m worth of shares in the RM764m company. It is great to see insiders so invested in the business. It might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying recently.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 28% stake in MNRB Holdings Berhad. 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 MNRB Holdings Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. Case in point: We've spotted 1 warning sign for MNRB Holdings Berhad you should be aware of.

If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
The Prime Minister says that the offer by the U.S. to assist the region and this country in 
The headquarters of Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc, is seen in Wichita

By Valerie Insinna

(Reuters) -Spirit Aerosystems has reached a tentative four-year contract agreement with the 6,000-member machinists union employed at its Wichita, Kansas plant, the union said Friday in a statement.

The agreement means the company will likely avoid a costly strike that would have rippled through the aircraft supply chain, as Spirit is a key manufacturer for aerospace giant Boeing.

The pact is set for a vote on June 21, just a few days before Spirit's current agreement with this branch of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union expires on June 24.

"This fair and competitive contract recognizes the important contributions of our factory employees and ensures that Spirit can successfully meet increasing demand for aircraft from customers," Spirit Aerosystems said in an emailed statement.

"We urge our employees to review the contract with their families, and vote 'yes' to allow all of us build a bright future together.

Spirits Wichita production facility is responsible for manufacturing major subassemblies of most Boeing jetliners, including the entire fuselage of Boeings lucrative 737 narrowbody aircraft and the forward fuselage of the widebody 787 Dreamliner. '

A slowdown could have impeded Boeing as it tries to recover from ongoing 737 and 787 production glitches. The company is trying to ramp up production to meet end-of-year objectives, bumping output from three to five 787s per month and 31 to 38 single-aisle 737s per month.

A stoppage could have also had a detrimental effect on already-fragile Spirit AeroSystems, which has been responsible for several recent production flaws affecting Boeing jets, including a 737 bracket installation problem.

Those problems could cut Spirit's annual gross profit by $31 million. In May, Spirit said it expects cash burn of about $100 million to $150 million in 2023.

Spirit shares were up 1.4% in Friday afternoon trading. Boeing edged 0.3% higher.

The new agreement includes additional health insurance and retirement benefits, makes overtime on Sunday voluntary, and "up to a compounded 34% average pay increase," the union said in a statement.

(Reporting By Valerie Insinna, additional reporting by Kannaki Deka; writing by David Gaffen, editing by Deepa Babington and Maju Samuel)
Pound for pound, Alaska mosquito packs punch

Photo from the J.B. Mertie Collection, U.S. Geological Survey Denver Library Photographic Collection, public domain.

R.L. Phillips pauses with his mosquito-proofed horse, Sparkplug, on a gravel bar of the Tatonduk River, a tributary of the Yukon River, on June 17, 1930.

In mid-June, while standing deep within the northern boreal forest, its possible to feel a sensation similar to one felt in mid-December at the same spot. Its a sting to exposed skin, delivered in December by bitter air and in June by the stab of the mosquito.

The mosquito has buzzed its way into most historic journals of Alaska summer visitors. Like that of Ivan Petrof, who counted 33,426 Alaskans while traveling the territory for the 1880 census. He wrote of what he encountered in the Kuskokwim River valley:

There is another feature in this country which, though insignificant on paper, is to the traveler the most terrible and poignant infliction he can be called upon to bear in a new land. I refer to the clouds of bloodthirsty mosquitoes . . . under the stress of whose persecution the strongest man with the firmest will must either feel depressed or succumb to low fever.

About 20 years later, during a military exploration of the Copper River valley, Army Lt. J.J. Rafferty described the days of June 9-13, 1898:

The men were compelled to wear veils day and night, with gloves to protect the hands. The ferocity of these mosquitoes I regard as something remarkable. The species found here is not the large, singing sort seen in the States, but a small, silent, business-like insect, sharp of bill, who touches the tender spot in a surprisingly short time after alighting.

Alaska hosts at least 27 species of mosquito. The "snow mosquito," Culiseta alaskaeensis, is a thumbnail-size insect that in autumn wafts down to the forest floor. There, it hibernates until its bunker warms in spring, when it ascends.

Photo by Anna Rozell

Female mosquitoes perch on Ned Rozells hood north of Fairbanks.

Photo by Ned Rozell

Female mosquitoes draw a blood meal from Cora the dog near Fairbanks.

By mid-June, the larger snow mosquitoes have lived out their few weeks of life. But the artful dodgers that Lt. Rafferty wrote about are plentiful. Many of those smaller mosquitoes emerged from eggs that females laid last fall. Mother mosquitoes either dabbed the eggs upon a water surface or placed them on the ground in areas that might be flooded by spring snowmelt.

Mosquitoes live in water during their wriggling larval and pupal stages. Thats one of the reasons most of the vastness of Alaska, with its magnificent swamplands, is excellent mosquito habitat.

(Water enough for mosquito rearing) may be in a small tin can or a vast tidal marsh, wrote an unnamed scribe in the 1961 U.S. Department of Agriculture publication The Mosquitoes of Alaska.

Upon emergence from the water as adults, clouds of male mosquitoes seek out females. Mating takes place in mid-air. Male mosquitoes lack the surprisingly complex needle-like proboscis of the females. Instead, they sport a pair of garish feathery antennae.

While both males and females eat plant nectar, mated female mosquitoes follow invisible trails of carbon dioxide exhaled by animals like us, as well as molecules of body odor. Blood protein, one of the richest foods in existence, helps make their eggs viable.

Once those blood-nourished eggs hatch, the numbers get a bit goofy. Derek Sikes, curator of insects at the University of Alaska Museum of the North, once calculated that about 17,489,393,939,393 mosquitoes hover over Alaska each summer. Yes, thats 17 trillion. Sikes did not weigh each one individually, but he calculated that the combined weight of Alaskas yearly mosquito crop is 96 million pounds.

Since the late 1970s, the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Geophysical Institute has provided this column free in cooperation with the UAF research community. Ned Rozell is a science writer for the Geophysical Institute.
Ukraine is asking the world for weapons only to make Ukrainian territory a territory of peace again, as stipulated by international law.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in his video address to the Swiss parliament, where a discussion is currently underway regarding permits for the re-export of weapons for Ukraine's defense, according to the website of the head of state.

Video: Office of the President of Ukraine

"I know that you are having a discussion about permits to re-export weapons to protect Ukraine. And I want every participant in the discussion to remember one fact: we are asking the world for weapons to make our Ukrainian territory a territory of peace again. All our land, all our people... Only for this! Exactly as envisaged by international law," he said.

According to him, our peace can withstand such Russian aggression only by force of arms. "I thank the world for every piece of weaponry that helps save people from Russian terror," Zelensky said.

He also emphasized the importance of maximum unity of the entire civilized world against Russian evil.

"Now, as we defend the lives of our people from Russian strikes and overcome the consequences of the terrible crimes of this war, including the largest ecocide in Europe, we need maximum unity. The unity of all those who share with us the key values - the value of life, the value of freedom, the value of law and the value of respect for every nation, every community and every person. [] The soul of the values that unite us is peace. Peace! Ukraine has never been the source of any wars of aggression. And even now, although it sounds somewhat paradoxical, the Ukrainian land is a territory of peace, because the source of this war, the source and cause of aggression, is outside our borders," he said.

Now, according to Zelensky, Ukraine is defending itself against aggression that replicates the worst wars of the past and seeks the best technologies of our time to terrorize people, states, and even continents. Therefore, he said, nothing but unity can stop this. "Our unity, Switzerland!" he said.

Switzerland continues to maintain neutrality, does not provide weapons and does not allow the re-export of Swiss-made weapons from other countries.

At the same time, on June 7, the upper house of the Swiss parliament approved an initiative that would allow other states to re-export Swiss-made weapons to countries participating in armed conflicts under certain conditions.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba thanked Switzerland for such a step in unblocking the re-export of Swiss-made weapons.

Before that, on June 2, the lower house of the Swiss parliament rejected a bill known as "Lex Ukraine," which would allow third countries to transfer Swiss-made weapons to Ukraine. However, following the decision by the upper house, this issue will have to be considered again.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has invited Switzerland to join preparations for the Global Peace Summit and to show its leadership in the part of the Ukrainian Peace Formula in which its experience can be most useful for the world.

He said this in his video address to the Swiss parliament, Ukrinform reports.

"Last year, in the autumn, at the G19 Summit, I presented the Ukrainian Peace Formula. Different states and leaders are already involved in efforts to implement the Formula. It is designed so that everyone in the world can choose the component of restoring peace and security they can help implement most effectively. [...] In March, in our conversation with Mr. President of Switzerland, Mr. Berset, I presented the points of the Peace Formula and our approach to its implementation. And now I invite all of you, ladies and gentlemen, all of you, Switzerland, to join the preparation of the Global Peace Summit and show your leadership in the part of the Formula where you consider your national experience to be most useful for the world and peace," Zelensky said.

He noted that there are partners who have chosen radiation and food security. "There are partners who are ready to help with the return of children who have been deported to the aggressor's territory by the Russian occupiers and are being kept away from their families and Ukraine. Thousands and thousands of children stolen by Russia! We must bring them all home, back to Ukraine. There are partners who are ready to help with the restoration of justice and protection from ecocide and mine clearance," he said.

Zelensky thanked Switzerland for not remaining indifferent to the suffering that Russia is bringing to our land with its aggression and for supporting joint European sanctions against Russia. "This is an important solidarity, because sanctions bring the end of this aggression closer. They should be intensified," he said.

In November 2022, Zelensky presented a ten-point Ukrainian Peace Formula in a speech to the participants in the G20 summit.

In his address at the G7 summit in Hiroshima in May, Zelensky proposed holding an international summit in July dedicated to the Ukrainian Peace Formula.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine
Ukraine is set to receive another batch of defense aid from the Government of Germany, which is sending 64 missiles for the Patriot air defense system.

This is reported by Ukrinform with reference to Welt.

The decision on the transfer of missiles was announced by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on the sidelines of the NATO defense ministerial in Brussels. According to Pistorius, this is important to ensure stable support of Ukraines Armed Forces at the current stage.

The missiles must be delivered immediately.

On Thursday, the USA, United Kingdom, Denmark, and the Netherlands announced hundreds of additional air defense missiles for Ukraine, including to support the nations counteroffensive against Russia. Shipments that are already underway are expected to be completed within weeks.

It should be recalled that Germany earlier handed over to Ukraine a Patriot air defense system to help protect its skies.
The United Kingdom will send an additional GBP 60 million ($77 million) to the Ukraine Support Fund.

This was reported by the press service of the UK government, Ukrinform saw.

UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has announced an additional GBP 60 million from the UK to NATO's Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP), bringing the UK's total contribution since February last year to over GBP 80 millioon.

NATO's comprehensive aid package for Ukraine has been in effect since 2016.

"The package provides secure communications; combat rations, fuel, medical supplies; body armour; winter clothing and equipment to counter mines and chemical and biological threats," the report said.

"This new contribution for NATOs Ukraine fund is part of our ongoing commitment to provide Ukraine with the equipment and training it need," said Ben Wallace.

As reported, the British government announced a package of military aid for Ukraine in the amount of GBP 92 million (almost $116 million) to improve the nations air defense efficiency.
The government of Estonia approved the principles of utilizing frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine. Thus, Estonia became the first European nation to develop such a legal solution.

This was reported by Estonias national broadcaster ERR with reference to the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Margus Tsakhkna, Ukrinform saw.

"The European Union is working on finding this legal option, but we have prepared a legal solution through which we can use frozen assets of Russia, an aggressor state, as compensation for the needs of Ukraine's recovery," Tsakhna said.

According to the top diplomat, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will submit to the government a draft of the corresponding amendment to the law in the near future.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked U.S. senators for filing a bill on the transfer of seized Russian assets to Ukraine.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal of Ukraine told the Vice Chancellor of Germany, Minister of Economy and Climate Protection Robert Habeck about the Russians blowing up the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plants dam.

The head of the government reported this on his Telegram channel, Ukrinform saw.

"He talked about the situation in the south of Ukraine amid the ecocide that Russia committed by blowing up the Kakhovka HPP. We managed to evacuate over 3,700 people from the flooded zone. I thank Germany for the immediate support provided within the framework of the EU civil protection facility," Shmyhals posting reads.

The parties also discussed Ukraine's needs in terms of armaments. Shmyhal expressed gratitude to Germany for the ongoing defense assistance.

As noted, a separate topic was the strengthening of sanctions and restrictions against Russia's nuclear industry.

"Urgent measures are also needed to stop Russian missile terror. I passed on all the information and proposals to our partners," the report reads.

Officials also touched on preparations for the Ukraine Recovery Conference set to be held in London.

"One of the priorities is quick recovery. We need to help people affected by Russian aggression as soon as possible. We are counting on Germany's assistance in this regard," Prime Minister Shmyhal emphasized.

As reported earlier, on the night of June 6, the Russian army blew up the Kakhovka HPP dam. In Kherson region, the evacuation of the population from the areas at risk of flooding is underway. Law enforcers have initiated an investigation under the "ecocide" article of the Criminal Code.

Ukrhydroenergo, the operator of Ukrainian HPPs, says that the facility in Kakhovka has been completely destroyed and cannot be restored.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a phone call with the Prime Minister of Belize, Juan Antonio Briseno, inviting his country to join the coalition for the establishment of an international tribunal for Russia, and discussed the possibility of holding a Ukraine-Latin America summit.

The president reported this on Telegram, Ukrinform saw.

"I had a phone call with the Prime Minister of Belize, Juan Antonio Briseno...Support for the Ukrainian initiative to establish a special international tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine is important to us, so I invited Belize to join the coalition to create this tribunal," Zelensky wrote.

He also noted that during the conversation with the Prime Minister of Belize, he discussed the possibility of holding a Ukraine - Latin America summit.

The president also expressed gratitude to the people of Belize for consistent support of Ukraine at the UN, the Caribbean Commonwealth, the Crimea Platform, and on other international platforms.

Zelensky invited Belize to participate in the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula and in the organization of the Global Peace Summit.
Today, French President Emmanuel Macron will host the Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, including to discuss Russia's war against Ukraine.

This was reported by Politico, Ukrinform saw.

Macron will press bin Salman during a private dinner at the Elysee Palace to use his influence on Russia, a French presidential palace official told the outlet.

In relation to Russia's war against Ukraine, Saudi Arabia has taken an ambiguous position in the past, voting for UN resolutions condemning Russian aggression, but at the same time resisting U.S. calls to increase oil output, which would reduce Moscow's profits off oil sales.

However, according to the Elysee Palace, Saudi Arabia has shown that it has "moved" on the issue.

What we are asking  is that [Saudi Arabia] helps us accelerate a Ukrainian victory, which would lead to talks between Ukraine and Russia  On the basis of conversations, we know they share this vision, said the same official from the Elysee in a briefing with reporters.

The talks between Macron and bin Salman will also focus on restoring relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran and on how the two countries can help resolve tensions in Lebanon.

As reported, French President Emmanuel Macron warned his Iranian counterpart Ibrahim Raisi about the consequences of Irans supply of deadly drones to Russia.

Photo: Bandar Aljaloud/EPA/Shutterstock
| By Alex Likowski

Affirmative action is the most important anti-discrimination technique ever instituted in the United States.  Affirmative action, by all statistical measures, has been the central ingredient to the creation of the Black middle class.

Those words from congresswoman and former Equal Employment Opportunity Commission chair Eleanor Holmes Norton appeared in Essence magazine 30 years ago. The facts havent changed, but our use of affirmative action, particularly in higher education, has changed.

Race does matter in college admissions, at least for the moment, as we wait for decisions in two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court that could change everything. Race is often used as one consideration in college admissions for this simple reason: Race can often provide insight into a persons life experiences, the challenges theyve faced and overcome, and what they bring to the table for the benefit of everyone else at the university. Resilience, creativity, and empathy, for instance, might prove more important qualities than having the highest MCAT scores when it comes to being an effective physician.

Race-conscious admissions evolved from true affirmative action as it was labeled in the 1960s. The original idea was to use policies to level the playing field and help overcome centuries of injustice and barriers to education and jobs for those disadvantaged because of their race, gender, religion, and national origin  the greatest number at that time being African Americans and women. Many have argued that while giving preferences to a select group based only on their race, sex, or ethnicity sounds like a terrible idea, the world we live in has given preference to one group. And in many ways, it still does.

In 1978, the Supreme Court outlawed set-asides and quotas in the Bakke ruling, but the court did find a compelling state interest in the benefits of diversity and allowed race to continue to be considered in college admissions in some cases.

Twenty-five years later, the court mostly reaffirmed Bakke in the 2003 Grutter case but did strike down points-based systems and required universities to consider applicants individually and more holistically.

The cases before the justices now  which could be decided any day  involve the University of North Carolina, a public university, and Harvard University, private. Both cases are brought by the same group, Students for Fair Admissions. The plaintiffs allege Harvard imposed a limit on the number of Asian students admitted, ignoring superior academic performance. Harvard denies that, saying a large majority of the 40,000 applicants it receives each year for just 2,000 spots are highly qualified, so the university applies other criteria as well, such as essays and personal references.

During oral arguments last October, there were quite a few questions about an endpoint for considerations of race. Chief Justice John Roberts also pointedly stated that if universities were not allowed to consider race when recruiting diverse student bodies, then maybe there will be an incentive for the university to, in fact, truly pursue race-neutral alternatives.

We already have some idea of what the impact might be on higher education if the court bans the use of race in admissions, because 10 states already do that. Immediately after Californias Proposition 209 went into effect in the late 1990s, enrollment of students from underrepresented minority groups dropped 12 percent systemwide, and from prestigious Berkeley and UCLA it dropped by about 60 percent.

Something very similar occurred at the University of Michigan. Following that states ban in 2006, Black student enrollment dropped from 7 percent to a little over 4 percent today. And what happened to those students who didnt get into UCLA and Michigan? Critics say its likely most of them were accepted at less-prestigious institutions, creating even more competitive environments there.

President Bill Clinton said in 1995 that affirmative action should not go on forever. It should be retired, he said, when its job is done. But the numbers show that the job isnt done. Its estimated that in 2036, just 13 years from now, half of U.S. high school graduates will be people of color. But a 2022 McKinsey study showed that at the rate the country is going, it will take 70 years for American higher education enrollments to reach parity with their states populations of underrepresented minority students.

How are the University of Maryland, Baltimores (UMB) enrollment efforts faring, and what plans are being made to react to a potential court decision? UMB Chief Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer and Vice President Diane Forbes Berthoud, PhD, MA, and Patricia Scott, assistant vice president for enrollment administration and university registrar, shared their thoughts and ideas on the June 15 edition of Virtual Face to Face. Watch the entire discussion by accessing the link at the top of this page.
Talking cars? Mercedes-Benz and Microsoft bring ChatGPT to the following models

Want to have a conversation with your Mercedes-Benz?

Now you can with ChatGPT via the vehicle's "Hey Mercedes" voice assistant. Partnering with Microsoft's Azure Open AI Service to provide customers with advanced language artificial intelligence services, Mercedes will offer drivers more interactive conversations with their vehicles.

Drivers opt in to a beta program by using the vehicle's Mercedes me app and saying, Hey Mercedes, I want to join the beta program.

The programs started Friday and will last three months, giving developers "helpful insights into specific requests, enabling them to set precise priorities in the further development of voice control," according to a Mercedes-Benz press release.

The beta program is available in more than 900,000 Mercedes-Benz vehicles.

What are the features included?

In a blog post from Eric Boyd, corporate vice president of the AI Platform at Microsoft, he highlighted the vehicle's new capabilities:

Interactive voice conversations with ChatGPT that also understands voice commands.

Enhanced and comprehensive responses while keeping your hands on the wheel. Drivers can ask complex questions or get more information about a destination or a recipe.

Drivers can get detailed responses with contextual follow-up questions.

Mercedes-Benz is also exploring how to integrate ChatGPT's third-party services which may allow drivers to accomplish tasks like booking a seat at a restaurant or getting movie tickets.

What does this mean for my data privacy?

Mercedes-Benz will retain complete control over the information technology processes in the background, while Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud will collect and retain voice command data which will be anonymized and analyzed.

According to Mercedes-Benz USA's Privacy Policy for the Mercedes me app, the company tracks the following for vehicles made after 2019:

How you drive your vehicle which includes how you speed, accelerate, brake, use the seat belt and how long your trips take.

Precise location of your vehicle.

Account information like name, address, payment information, email address, telephone number, and date of birth.

Vehicle data that is generated by the software and sensors in the car, like diagnostic codes, mileage, fuel, tire pressure, battery data, door and window status, climate control settings and more.

Service-related information such as routes, charging station information, calendar entries, contact numbers traffic and hazard information. They may also collect information from your address book, calendar, tasks, and email depending on whether you authorize the collection.

Which Mercedes vehicles can use ChatGPT?

The optional beta program is available in vehicles equipped with the MBUX infotainment system of the following series:

A 238

C 118

C 167

C 238

C 253

C 254

C 257

H 247

N 293

R 232

S 213

V 167

V 177

V 295

V 297

W 206

W 213

WV 223

X 167

X 243

X 247

X 253

X 254

X 294

X 296

Z 223

Z 296

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ChatGPT allows Mercedes-Benz drivers to converse with their car
He's out there at Sewell Park in San Marcos, taking in the sun, the energy and the calm pres Read moreThe Sun God: Behind the man, myth, legend
UNODC & BOMCA organized a workshop for investigators from Turkmenistan on countering cross-border crimes related to TIP & SOM.

On 22-24 May 2023, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) jointly with the European Union funded Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA) organized a workshop for investigators of cross-border crimes related to trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants(SOM) In Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

The workshop brought together a group of sixteen law enforcement and judiciary officers whose work duties are directly linked to the investigation of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants crimes.

Dr. Reda Sirgediene, the UNODC Regional Adviser for Central Asia on Countering Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants, Dr. Egle Matuiziene, Prosecutor of the Department for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Corruption of Prosecutor General 's Office of the Republic of Lithuania and Mr. Edvardas Cerniauskas, Head of the Criminal Intelligence Unit at Criminal Investigation Board of State Border Guard Service under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania discussed with the workshop participants the international legal framework and instruments on countering trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, and shared best practices in detection and investigation of trafficking in persons and migrant smuggling cases, as well as in identification and interviewing of victims of trafficking using advanced investigative interview techniques.

To facilitate the learning process and the experience exchange, interactive sessions were followed by cases studies, practical exercises, and role-play simulations.

This activity is a part of the technical support provided by UNODC to Turkmenistan aiming at the implementation of the provisions of the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, supplementing the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime.

I am pleased to support the law enforcement practitioners in Turkmenistan in strengthening their professional skills and capacity in combating trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants crimes. The approach and methodology used during the workshop were designed specifically to enhance the understanding of the matter issues and strengthen the investigation skills of the officers, as the appropriate capacity and professionalism of the law enforcement and justice officials is one of the key aspects to ensure effective criminal justice system response in addressing transnational organized crime, - concluded Dr. Reda Sirgediene.

The workshop was organized within the UNODC Global Programme against Trafficking in Persons, implementing the Regional Programme for Central Asia 2022-2025.

For further information please contact:

Arifa Fatikhova

Communications and External Relations Officer

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

Regional Office for Central Asia

Mobile: (+998 99) 825-05-43 | Email: arifa.fatikhova[at]un.org
Texas State Regulators Say Crypto Lender Abra Has Been Insolvent for Months

The Regulator Accused Abra and Barhydt of Misleading the Public

The Texas State Securities Board has issued an emergency cease-and-desist order against crypto lender Abra and its founder William Barhydt, alleging securities fraud and insolvency. The order claims that Abra has been insolvent since at least March 31, 2023.

The regulator accused Abra and Barhydt of misleading the public through investment offerings in Abra Earn and Abra Boost that contained materially misleading statements. The filing also stated that Abra Trade and Plutus Lending had been secretly transferring assets to Binance, and as of February 2023, they had assets valued at $118,581,732 on Binance.com. Abra has been in operation for nearly 10 years and had previously announced plans to launch a state-chartered bank in 2023.

Abra and its associated entities are still permitted to allow customers to withdraw funds while awaiting a scheduled hearing on the matter. The regulator revealed that Abra had substantial amounts of funds with various companies, including $30 million with Babel Finance, $8.8 million with Auros Tech Limited, $30 million with Genesis (owned by Digital Currency Group), and $10 million with Three Arrows Capital. However, these companies are undergoing liquidation or bankruptcy processes.

The filing highlighted an interview with Barhydt in which he did not contest the conclusion of Abra's insolvency. Despite this, Plutus Financial Holdings, Inc., or its affiliate or subsidiary, claimed on social media that Abra is not bankrupt and continues to operate normally, contradicting the regulatory findings.
Crime Scene Management Training for Maritime Police, Navy and Customs in Fiji

Suva (Fiji), 26 May 2023 - UNODC's Global Maritime Crime Programme (UNODC-GMCP) partnered with the US Navy - including the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS)  to organize a one-week training in Maritime Crime Scene Management with the Fiji Maritime Police, Fiji Navy, and Fiji Customs Enforcement Division in Suva, Fiji. This training program was specifically designed to enhance the capabilities of maritime law enforcement officers in the Pacific region, who play a crucial role in combating maritime crime and ensuring the safety of their respective exclusive economic zones (EEZs).



Building upon previous virtual trainings conducted in 2021 and 2022, which included participants from Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Kiribati, and Samoa, this in-person training marked an important milestone in the efforts to enhance the capacity of Pacific Island Countries to effectively address maritime crime. The aim was to equip law enforcement officers with specialized skills and knowledge related to crime scene safety, processing, management, photography, evidence collection, fingerprint analysis, and tactical verbal communication. To this end, the training concluded with an intensive practical exercise featuring a Mock Crime Scene investigation.

Participants engaged in Crime Scene Management Training  May 2023

The UNODC GMCP has a longstanding commitment to addressing maritime crime in the Pacific region. In addition to delivering virtual trainings, the program has been actively engaged in research and knowledge sharing initiatives. During the same period, UNODC-GMCP conducted a study on the maritime trafficking of cocaine in the Pacific, which was presented in a briefing to relevant stakeholders. The study's findings shed light on the challenges and trends associated with drug trafficking in the region, allowing for informed decision-making and the development of targeted strategies.



Further emphasizing the importance of collaboration and information sharing, the UNODC GMCP facilitated a side-event at the 64th Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in 2021. This event brought together law enforcement agencies from various Pacific Island countries, providing them with a platform to share their experiences and insights regarding drug trafficking in the South Pacific. The participation of these agencies further highlighted their commitment to combating transnational organized crime and fostering regional cooperation.

Participants conducting a practical investigation exercise  May 2023

With the success of the first in-person training in Suva, it is anticipated that similar training programs will be delivered to other Pacific Island Countries in the future. These initiatives will specifically target maritime law enforcement officers responsible for conducting surveillance and crime investigations within and between their respective EEZs. The aim is to ensure that these officers possess the necessary skills and expertise to effectively address maritime threats, safeguard their borders, and collaborate with other transnational crime units in the region.



By strengthening the capacities of maritime law enforcement agencies in the Pacific, UNODC-GMCP, in collaboration with the US Navy, Fiji Maritime Police, Fiji Navy, and Fiji Customs Enforcement Division, aims to create a safer and more secure maritime environment, thereby countering illicit activities such as drug smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal/unregulated/unreported fishing. The program's efforts align with the broader objectives of the UNODC to promote the rule of law, protect vulnerable populations, and promote sustainable development in the Pacific region.

Participants conducting the Mock Crime Scene final exam  May 2023

Other Useful Links:
SEOUL, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 16th Jun, 2023) The Sharjah Pavilion, guest of honour at the Seoul International Book Fair, hosted a series of artistic and creative workshops that brought together artists and researchers from the UAE and Republic of Korea.

The workshops were organised by the Sharjah Book Authority and aimed to promote cultural exchange and open horizons between intellectuals of the two countries.

The first workshop, titled "The Intersection of Images, Letters and Words," was led by artist Khalid Mezaina from the UAE and Jin Myung from Korea. The workshop explored the use of calligraphy, collage and photography to create artworks that combine images, letters and words.

The second workshop, titled "The Arts of Printing and Painting," was led by researcher Ali Al-Abdan and artist An Kyung-mi.

The workshop discussed the use of traditional symbols to represent local cultures in drawings and artworks.

The third workshop, titled "Digital Drawing," was led by teacher and visual artist Salama Al-Nuaimi and artist Ann Jo Sona. The workshop explored the opportunities for producing and developing simplified digital artworks.

The Sharjah Pavilion's workshop programme also includes a group workshop for Emirati and Korean artists who participated in previous workshops.

The activities of Sharjah Guest of Honour continue until 18th June and include 33 activities in which a group of Emirati and Korean writers, creators and academics participate. These activities include discussion sessions, literary activities and artistic performances that reflect the heritage of the emirate of Sharjah and the UAE.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

PARIS, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jun, 2023 ) --:The final launch of Europe's Ariane 5 rocket, mission VA261, initially scheduled for Friday at Kourou in French Guiana, is officially postponed by its operator Arianespace.

"It has come to light that there is a risk to the redundancy of a critical function on the Ariane 5. Consistent with safety requirements, Arianespace has decided to postpone the rollout of the #VA261 launch vehicle," the company said in a press release on Thursday.

Arianespace said that it would conduct analyses to determine a new launch date to carry two satellites into space.

According to the company, the satellites that the Ariane 5 rocket is supposed to carry are the German satellite Heinrich-Hertz-Satellite and the French military communications satellite Syracuse 4B.

In a previous press release, Arianespace said that the mission VA261 would last 33 minutes and 31 seconds and place both payloads into a geostationary transfer orbit.
(@FahadShabbir)

Islamabad Capital Territory Police (ICT) on Friday said they have registered a first information report (FIR) of former prime minister principal secretary Azam Khan "going missing"

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jun, 2023 ) :Islamabad Capital Territory Police (ICT) on Friday said they have registered a first information report (FIR) of former prime minister principal secretary Azam Khan "going missing".

According to a police spokesperson, the case has been registered under section 365 PPC at the Kohsar police station.

The application was filed by Azam's nephew Saeed Khan after he went missing in the Federal capital.

The police officials earlier had said that they would decide about lodging a case after investigating the matter. Islamabad police also urged Azam's family to approach the relevant police station so that legal action could be initiated in this regard.

The police also assured the victim's family that they would make all possible efforts to recover the missing government officer.
(@FahadShabbir)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th June, 2023) The last launch of the European launch vehicle Ariane 5 has been postponed due to a malfunction, French operating company Arianespace said Thursday.

"It has come to light that there is a risk to the redundancy of a critical function on the Ariane 5.

Consistent with safety requirements, Arianespace has decided to postpone the roll-out of the #VA261 launch vehicle," the company tweeted, adding that "analyses are underway to determine a new launch date."

Arianespace noted that the launcher and its satellites were "in the final assembly building in stable and safe conditions."

The 117th launch was expected to mark the end of the launch vehicle's 27-year service. The Ariane 5 was expected to put German experimental satellite Heinrich-Hertz-Satellit and French military communications satellite Syracuse 4B into orbit.
Mali's foreign minister called Friday for the UN Security Council to withdraw the peacekeeping mission in his country "without delay," denouncing its "failure" to respond to security challenges

United Nations, United States, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Jun, 2023 ) :Mali's foreign minister called Friday for the UN Security Council to withdraw the peacekeeping mission in his country "without delay," denouncing its "failure" to respond to security challenges.

The country's military rulers have increasingly imposed operational restrictions on peacekeepers and also broke Mali's longstanding alliance with former colonial power France.

"The government of Mali calls for the withdrawal without delay of Minusma," the name of the UN force in Mali, said Abdoulaye Diop.

"However, the government is willing to cooperate with the United Nations on this issue," Diop said, rejecting all options for changing the mandate of the mission as proposed by the UN secretary-general.

"Minusma seems to have become part of the problem by fueling community tensions exacerbated by extremely serious allegations which are highly detrimental to peace, reconciliation and national cohesion in Mali," said the minister.

"This situation generates a feeling of distrust among the populations with regard to Minusma," he added, noting a recent damning report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on an anti-militants operation in Moura in March 2022.

UN chief Antonio Guterres in January put forward three options for amending the mission, from an increase in personnel to a withdrawal of troops.

In a report published at the beginning of the week, he recommended to the Council an intermediate solution, to "reconfigure" the mission to concentrate on a limited number of priorities.

After the Security Council meeting, Minusma's head told reporters that conducting UN peacekeeping operations was "nearly impossible" without the consent of the host country.

"It's a decision that the council has to make," said El Ghassim Wane.

"But the point I'm making and I believe it's a point that everyone agrees on, is that peacekeeping is based on the principle of consent from the host country and absent that consent, of course operations are nearly impossible," he added.
USM Nurse Anesthesia Students Participate in Mission Trip to Honduras

Fri, 06/16/2023 - 08:41am | By: Van Arnold

Genuine kindness and gentleness. Those are the words University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Professor Dr. Nina McLain used to describe the residents of a Honduran village where she and other members of a medical mission trip team spent five days last month performing life-changing surgeries.

McLain, Nurse Anesthesia Program Administrator, accompanied six USM nurse anesthesia students for the trip led by Hattiesburg physician Dr. Joe Campbell and Hattiesburg resident Caroline Hood through the Baptist Medical Dental Missions International (BMDMI). For the past several years, USM students have participated in the mission trips.

The students provided anesthesia and performed other duties in 72 surgeries that included anterior cruciate ligament repairs, major hernia repairs, hysterectomies, bone deformity corrections, breast mass removals, gallbladder removals among others. Four operating rooms were used with Dr. David Holm (general), Dr. Petra Schneider Redden (plastics), Dr. Raymond Whitehead (orthopedic), and Dr. Libby Kot (OB/GYN) performing the operations.

The experience left quite an impression on McLain, who was chaperoning students on a medical mission trip for the first time.

The people were amazing. They were so grateful to the team and the missionaries, Chris and Denyse Williams, who run the clinic and the complex, said McLain. The patients would have to sit for hours, sometimes all day until 6 p.m. for their turn and would still smile as you passed by. Their patience was unbelievable. My impression of the country was similar to what I had experienced on my trips to Guatemala. While there is abject poverty, the people are hardworking and manage to somehow survive.

The USM students included:

Lauren Sherrill of Brandon, Miss.

Erin Travis of Picayune, Miss.

Laura Beth Hailey of Louisville, Miss.

Darienne Lowery of Charleston, S.C.

Stephanie Williamson of McHenry, Miss.

Alexa Hogan of Meridian, Miss.

McLain explained that the students were heavily involved in the surgical procedures, beginning on the first day when they met with the patients and completed their pre-anesthesia assessments.

Dr. Campbell would then meet with them and schedule their cases, she said. Four provided anesthesia for the patient cases while the other two would rotate between starting IV lines, monitoring patients in the recovery room, and giving breaks and lunch relief to those in surgeries. The next day, they would rotate rooms and jobs so all could have the same experiences.

On the final day, the entire 30-member BMDMI team delivered fresh water in the tanker truck to the village and handed out toys and gift bags to the children. McLain notes that faculty in the College of Nursing and Health Professions at USM take pride in graduating students who are more than anesthesia providers.

We feel it is our job as faculty to expand their roles to utilize what they are taught and what they are exposed to with their doctoral degrees in areas of their interest, said McLain. We support and push them to experience things like professional advocacy, community involvement, and service. We also incorporate service learning into the program and give them administrative release time to participate.

Added McLain: Our aim is that they would enjoy giving back and continue that after they graduate. The profession of nurse anesthesia is such an amazing career, and we are so fortunate. The mission trip was very rewarding for the students, and they were able to experience providing anesthesia in an environment very different from the United States.

Baptist Medical and Dental Mission International (BMDMI) serves 3 countries with both medical missions and village mission groups. More info information can be found at the website.
USM Honors College Alumna, Whose Thesis is Published in Scientific Journal, Praises Universitys Vibrant Community of Scholars

Thu, 06/15/2023 - 02:29pm | By: David Tisdale

Taka Nah Jelah hopes her undergraduate research as an Honors College scholar at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) will play a role in the improvement of health outcomes in her native Cameroon, where malaria presents a chronic threat to its people.

The 2022 USM alumna, who earned a degree in biological sciences with minors in chemistry and psychology, was featured, along with her then faculty mentor Dr. Donald Yee in the May issue of Journal of Medical Entomology, published by Oxford University Press for the Entomological Society of America, with their co-authored article Plant pollen as a resource affecting the development and survival of the mosquitoes Anopheles quadrimaculatus and Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae).

Nah Jelah, who begins her first year of medical school at Stony Brook University in August, was inspired to pursue her research goals at USM based on her experiences growing up in the southwest region of Cameroon, known for its warm and rainy climate that is ideal for the life cycle of mosquitoes, and transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.

Shes encouraged that the publication of her and Dr. Yees research, which was also the focus of her Honors College thesis, will result in its broader impact not only on the literature in this area but also for solutions to the challenges malaria presents in Cameroon that can positively impact the body of knowledge that could ultimately aid in combating insect-borne diseases.

Throughout my childhood, I suffered from multiple episodes of malaria infections, said Nah Jelah. While I was fortunate enough to recover from them, many children and adults in my community continue to lose their lives to this disease.

Although malaria is non-existent in the U.S., I aimed to undertake a research project relevant to my [then] current community, while also addressing the needs of my hometown in Cameroon.

With the guidance of Dr. Yee, Nah Jelah examined the impact of plant pollen on the development of mosquito larvae. Previous studies conducted in Africa revealed a correlation between the expansion of corn cultivation and the incidence of malaria.

Building upon this, we hypothesized that the presence of plant pollen, specifically corn and pine pollen, could potentially provide added advantages for mosquito larvae during their development, Nah Jelah said.

A professor in the USM School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences, Dr. Yee praised his former student as enthusiastic and hard working. Her [research] project not only added to our existing scientific knowledge, but was relevant to her personally, being a native of Cameroon where malaria is a reality, Dr. Yee said.

Nah Jelahs first exposure to research at USM was in Dr. Hao Xu's laboratory in her freshman year; however, the Covid-19 pandemic abruptly ended that experience, but her initial exposure left a lasting impression on her. A year later, when on-campus activities gradually resumed, she joined Dr. Yee's Mosquito Lab as an undergraduate researcher for an independent project, which she said, holds great sentimental value to me.

Dr. Yee guided me through the entire research process, teaching me new methods and providing the necessary resources, Nah Jaleh said. The Yee lab also had supportive graduate students who were always just a text message away.

Nah Jelah completed high school in 2017; however, due to the Cameroonian civil war that began in November 2016, pursuing a college degree was problematic. But USM stood out to her as an affordable option for an international student. After enrolling at the university, she sought to maximize her academic and scholarship opportunities by joining the USM Honors College through its Keystone program, a move she said resulted in invaluable support and opportunities.

Nah Jelah also served on the Academic Committee of the Honors College Leadership Council, which she said provided her with leadership opportunities and the chance to tutor and plan academic activities. She earned a Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research Eagle SPUR grant, which partially funded her research project, and presented an abstract of her research at USMs annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Her many accomplishments at the university earned her induction into the 2022 Student Hall of Fame Inductee, membership in USMs 2022 Whos Who, and recognition as a School of BEES Outstanding Graduate; she was also a USM Outstanding Freshman finalist.

Being an Honors College Keystone Scholar came not only with a scholarship, but also mentorship and guidance throughout my academic journey, along with the rewarding experience of being part of a vibrant community of scholars engaged in remarkable research, she said.
The UTSA Legislative Fellows Program started in 2004 as a collaboration with former Texas State Representative Ruth Jones McClendon. The competitive program is administered through the UTSA Honors College, but participants are not required to be honors students. It is open to UTSA students of all academic levels and disciplines.

To make the program accessible, participants receive a stipend from the Honors College and the UT System to assist with housing, transportation and other expenses during their time in Austin.

This program is a great experience, especially for our students with an interest in politics, public policy or service, said Kristi Meyer, assistant dean for special programs in the Honors College. Over eleven thousand pieces of legislation were filed by Texas lawmakers during the 88th Session, so this is a fantastic opportunity for our students to get an in-depth look at the legislative process and collaborate with our state representatives.

Gallegos, a senior studying finance, worked with Texas State Senator Jose Menendez during his time working at the Capitol. As a pre-law student, Gallegos was excited to get a closer look at the inner workings of how Texas laws are made.

The opportunity to engage in the creation of amendments and participate in negotiations was invaluable, Gallegos said. This experience not only honed my writing and analytical skills but also opened my eyes to the tangible impact that the legislative work has on San Antonio and the entire state of Texas.

Gallegos was inspired by the meaningful work he completed while in Menendezs office, despite initially being wary of the partisan nature of politics.

We never hesitated to advocate for what we believed was right, and although not all of our proposed amendments were successful, many of them were, he said. I have no doubts that I will return to the legislature, driven by the knowledge that the work carried out there can bring about real change.

Kidder is a junior majoring in political science and economics who worked with Texas Senate Finance Committee Chair and State Senator Joan Huffman.

Her interest in politics first began in middle school when she joined student government. She saw the Legislative Fellows Program as a chance to further explore this interest while living in a new city.

Ive known Ive wanted to be a legislative fellow since I enrolled as a student at UTSA, Kidder said. I knew this program would be the perfect opportunity to serve the state of Texas while simultaneously learning more about the legislative and policymaking process.

Kidder, an aspiring lawyer, credits the program for helping her hone a transferable skillset that she can take with her as she builds a career in law.
U.S. hotel markets recover from the pandemic; San Francisco an outlier

By Doyinsola Oladipo

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A snapshot of 15 major U.S. hotel markets shows that travel to cities is rebounding, with one notable exception: San Francisco.

Several hotel activity metrics, including average price per room, revenue per room, and supply growth, show most major cities have rebounded from the worst of the pandemic. Some, including Miami, Florida, and Austin, Texas, are seeing notable growth in both supply and revenue.

However, San Francisco, a top 3 locale in the decade before the pandemic, is struggling. It faces a decline in tech jobs, slow return of Chinese travelers, reduced downtown traffic as more people work from home, and rising crime and homelessness that has tarnished the city's image.

Revenue per available room (RevPAR), a key performance metric, for San Francisco was down 30% in May 2023 from the same month in 2019, data from hotel analytics firm STR shows. Daily room rates averaged $207.72 in May, down 14% from $242.51 in May 2019.

Metrics like ADR and RevPAR are affected by seasonal trends but in San Francisco, the recovery is taking longer than in other major cities.

Earlier this month, real estate investment trust Park Hotels & Resorts said it planned to remove two hotels in the city from its portfolio. Developer Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield will transfer its Westfield San Francisco shopping mall to lenders after 20 years as it deals with declining customer visits.

Hotel Council of San Francisco CEO Alex Bastian said the recovery has been slow partly because of the sluggish return of visitors from mainland China, the city's largest pre-pandemic tourist group.

European travel to the city is at 2019 levels and may even surpass them this year, Bastian added. "We are headed in the right direction."

Miami has seen the most growth, with average daily rates and revenue per available room up 36% and 23%, respectively.

"Miami has been on a fairly seismic run when it comes to hospitality metrics," said Scott Berman, board member of the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association. "I don't know a hospitality operator that doesn't want to be in this market."

Miami is "the poster child" for strong leisure and healthy business demand as companies move their headquarters to Florida, said Jan Freitag, national director for hospitality analytics at commercial real estate analytics firm CoStar Group.

San Francisco is an "unfortunate outlier," with companies still not back in the office and concern about social issues curtailing business and leisure travel, Freitag said.

"Those two markets are in essence the main storyline of the hotel industry after the pandemic."

(Reporting by Doyinsola Oladipo in New York; Editing by Richard Chang)
The University of Wyoming Police Department (UWPD), in coordination with the Wyoming Union, will host an active threat response training Wednesday-Friday, June 21-23, in the Wyoming Union.

The west-side entrance of the Wyoming Union will be temporarily closed. The University Store and dining entities in the building -- Rolling Mill, Panda Express and CJs -- will remain open and accessible via the south and east entrances.

While signage and reminders will be present throughout the Wyoming Union and at entrances, sounds and sights from the training simulations may be difficult for some visitors, says Erik Kahl, director of the Wyoming Union.

Visitors will notice an increased police presence around the building, he adds.

Every year, local and regional law enforcement officers participate in active threat response training. The training is a combination of classroom and intensive scenarios that are designed to evaluate and strengthen law enforcement response.

Active threat response training ensures every officer is capable and fully prepared to respond appropriately in the event of active violence, says UW Police Chief Josh Holland. Hosting the training on campus ensures greater familiarity with our buildings and improves response and recovery capabilities should we face such an incident on campus.

The Wyoming Union will resume normal operations Monday, June 26.

For more information, call the UWPD at (307) 766-5179 or the Wyoming Union at (307) 766-3160.
Kenny Overby

The Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network has hired Kenny Overby as its regional director for Laramie and Goshen counties.

Overby will provide business advising, leadership, training, vision and oversight for the southeast region of the Wyoming SBDC Network.

The Wyoming SBDC Network is hosted by the University of Wyoming with state funds from the Wyoming Business Council and funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Overby spent the past two years with the Colorado SBDC Network and brings experience in growing businesses from startup to expansion, marketing strategy and employee management.

Overby received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado and his bachelors degree in corporate finance from Colorado State University.

The Wyoming SBDC Network offers no-cost advising and technical assistance to help Wyoming entrepreneurs think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their business. In 2022, the Wyoming SBDC Network helped Wyoming entrepreneurs start 68 new businesses; support 2,411 jobs; and bring a capital impact of $5.3 million to the state.
By Jody Godoy

(Reuters) - A U.S. judge considered whether the digital assets created by Terraform Labs were securities at a hearing on Thursday, a question central to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissions fraud case against the company and its founder Do Kwon.

Kwon and Terraform Labs were behind two cryptocurrencies whose implosion roiled crypto markets around the world last year. They have asked U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan to dismiss the SEC's case alleging they defrauded investors and sold billions of dollars in digital assets that were unregistered securities.

TerraUSD, an algorithmic stablecoin supposed to maintain a 1:1 peg to the U.S. dollar, derived its value through another paired token called Luna.

Both tokens lost nearly all their value when TerraUSD, also known as UST, slipped below its 1:1 dollar peg in May 2022. Prior to its collapse on May 9, TerraUSD had a market cap of more than $18.5 billion and was the 10th-largest cryptocurrency.

According to the SEC's complaint, Terraform Labs and Kwon misled investors about the stability of UST, and claimed that the firm's crypto tokens would increase in value.

At the hearing, Rakoff questioned whether Terraform Labs offering of a so-called Anchor protocol, which offered up to 20% returns on deposits of TerraUSD, shouldnt be considered a security.

It is something you created, that only people who had taken this first step could take advantage of. I dont see why thats not a securities contract at that point, he said.

Terraform Labs and Kwon argue the case should be dismissed because its digital assets do not fit the definition of securities and the SEC lacks authority over the industry.

Were not doing anything new here, said SEC attorney Devon Staren at the hearing. We are simply applying the securities laws.

The judge said he will rule on the motion to dismiss the case by July 14.

The case is SEC v. Terraform Labs Pte Ltd. et al., No. 23-01346, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York.

(Reporting by Jody Godoy in New York; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
Recruitment Strategies for Foreign Manufacturers in Vietnam

Finding and recruiting staff with the current economic challenges Vietnam is facing can be difficult. Knowing a few key strategies, however, can help firms find and recruit high-quality candidates to continue to grow their business despite slowing economic growth.

In recent years, Vietnam has become a manufacturing powerhouse. This has been on the back of a number of changes in global supply chains but also the availability of low-cost labor in the emerging Southeast Asian nation.

Finding and recruiting labor, however, can sometimes be challenging. Its not just production line workers either. Accountants, lawyers, customer service and sales staff, and a whole gamut of other roles can be crucial to a manufacturing firms success.

With their huge size, factories and manufacturing plants, are often located in sparsely populated areas. This can make the local talent pools highly competitive and firms may need to innovate in order to fill vacancies.

Here, we outline several tried and tested recruitment strategies that companies can implement to attract top-tier talent.

Job fairs

Holding a job fair can be one great way to recruit a lot of staff in a short amount of time. Firms that hold job fairs have a number of key advantages over those that dont. For example:

Face-to-face interaction: At the end of the day, resumes and cover letters only get a candidate so far. The real decision-making, in most instances, happens after that all-important face-to-face interview. When an employer and an employee meet in person they can connect (or may not connect, as the case may be) on a human level. These interactions answer the crucial question, not does this person have the skills my firm needs but rather, can I work with this person?

Real-time responses: A job description only says so much and can often be more of a reflection of the communication skills of the author rather than of the role itself. In traditional hiring processes, the candidate normally tries to outline how their skills fit the needs of the job description. With a job fair, often the details of the role can be conveyed verbally with the prospective employee given the ability to respond and ask questions to clear up and clarify exactly what is involved.

Its faster: One of the best things about a job fair is that it can speed up the hiring process. Prospective employees can attend in a group and questions can be asked and answered in a forum setting rather than one-by-one. In manufacturing firms in particular, whereby staff are often hired en masse, this can save a huge amount of time and effort.

Online job fairs

Another option for job fairs is to hold them online. Vietnam has huge internet penetration, particularly after COVID saw many people shift, at least temporarily, to remote work. By holding a job fair online firms can widen the net they cast, potentially to the entire country. It can also simplify the hiring process whereby applicants can shift from the job fair live stream to the job application seamlessly.

Skills-based recruiting

FIND BUSINESS SUPPORT Tap into vibrant talent pools to build your team in Asia with our recruitment services 

Skills-based hiring, as opposed to qualifications-based hiring, can help employers to broaden the talent pool and give them the ability to pick from a more diverse range of talent.

Whereas traditional recruitment practices focus on education, background, and experience, skills-based hiring focuses on, as the name suggests, skills. This means putting more emphasis on what a candidate can do rather than what they are qualified to do.

Practically, this means testing an applicants ability to perform certain tasks, their problem-solving ability, or how they learn. In a dynamic role that changes regularly, skills like problem-solving and the ability to adapt to a changing environment quickly and effectively may be a better fit.

Upskilling and reskilling

FIND BUSINESS SUPPORT Get help with business matchmaking, location analysis, market entry strategy, market research, and supply chain re-engineering in Asia.

Another option for firms looking to recruit staff is to upskill or reskill their existing staff.

Often employees in one department, that are familiar with the company, can be better than hiring from outside. This is particularly true in challenging economic times when high-skilled workers might take entry-level roles to make ends meet.

By identifying these workers and developing clear paths to advance within the company, firms may find that they can more effectively fill roles. Whats more is that these workers are already familiar with the company, its culture, and their co-workers which can make the transition from one role to another much easier.

Furthermore, providing skills training in fields like management or leadership can see workers advance into supervisor positions leaving entry-level positions open to new hires.

This has added benefits too. It creates a stronger, more loyal workforce and it adds a level of efficiency to the recruitment process that can help firms to grow more effectively and strategically.

On an employee level, upskilling and reskilling can also help to motivate staff, stimulate their creativity, and boost their confidence, all traits that can be an asset to any business.

Referral programs

Referral programs can be another fantastic way to find new employees. These programs see existing employees refer their friends to the organization. If a referral is successful the firm usually provides the referrer with a bonus. These incentives help to encourage staff to participate in the recruitment process.

Collaborative hiring

Another option might be for a firm to collaborate with a recruitment agency. This can help to create a shared talent pool filled with a range of skilled candidates. This mechanism can be a very fast and effective way of finding employees.

This mode of hiring, particularly headhunting, has become very popular in Vietnam in recent years. Collaborative hiring comes with a number of advantages that other recruitment options may not.

Efficiency

Collaborating with a work-hire firm or recruitment agency can be a much simpler and faster way to hire than keeping it in-house. These firms are usually already well-connected in human resources circles, are on top of the most recent trends, and are familiar with the labor market already.

High-quality choices

When recruitment is outsourced to a professional agency they sort through the applicants and their resumes and select only the best for the role advertised. This can save firms hours and hours and should see only well-qualified candidates sit down with the key decision-makers in an organization.

Reduced risk of attrition

Recruitment firms are often only paid when an employee completes their probationary period. This motivates recruiters to only place the most suitable candidates that are likely to stay for at least the probationary period, usually longer. This means that firms should not need to hire again in the near future.

Online recruitment services

Finally, there are also several ways to recruit workers in Vietnam online. This is a very common practice and most Vietnamese look online first when searching for a new job. There are a plethora of websites but key among them are:

Vietnam Works

Vietnam Works boasts over 4 million registered users and has helped find employees for over 17,000 companies according to its own data. Its website is relatively simple to use for staff and it has become a well-known name in Vietnam.

Navigos Search

The Navigos Group is the parent company of both Vietnamworks and Navigos Search. While the former focuses on general workers from a broad range of sectors, the latest focuses on executive-level hiring.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn take-up has been rapid in Vietnam. There were about four million users in 2021 and that number is set to climb. This is a popular means of recruiting staff for both domestic and international firms. It is also popular for networking and sharing business news and intelligence.

Whats the best way to recruit workers in Vietnam?

The best recruitment solution in Vietnam will depend on what a firm needs and wants. Headhunting is often better for executive roles whereas job fairs and digital platforms can be better for production line workers. Ultimately, however, it depends on the unique needs of the particular roles and the enterprise more broadly.

For support with human resources and payroll in Vietnam, contact the experts at Dezan Shira and Associates.
Editor's note: Here is a look at immigration-related news around the U.S. this week. Questions? Tips? Comments? Email the VOA immigration team: ImmigrationUnit@voanews.com.

DACA, in Legal Limbo, Turns 11

A federal policy that protects from deportation hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the U.S. as children turned 11 on Thursday. But the program's future remains uncertain because of a six-year court battle. Republican-led states have challenged the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in court, aiming to terminate it. Immigration reporter Aline Barros has the story.

US Relocating CBP One Appointments Away From Texas Border Crossing

Biden administration officials are temporarily relocating CBP One appointments away from a Texas border crossing in response to complaints from migrants who said they are being targeted for extortion. Immigration reporter Aline Barros has the story.

Washington Nonprofit Helps Ukrainian Refugees Learn English

A nonprofit in Washington is helping refugees from around the world learn English. Ksenia Turkova met with some Ukrainians who wound up in the U.S. capital and are learning English. Produced by Ksenia Turkova.

US to Extend Deportation Relief for More Than 300,000 Migrants

The Biden administration said Tuesday it would extend through 2025 the temporary legal status of more than 300,000 immigrants from El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua who had faced the risk of deportation and loss of work permits under the Trump administration's policies. Immigration reporter Aline Barros has the story.

VOA: Emma's Torch

After arriving in the U.S., refugees face many challenges. A main one is finding jobs and building new careers. Emma's Torch, a nonprofit organization in Brooklyn, New York, and Washington, is helping refugees, asylees and survivors of human trafficking take the next step with their culinary training program and job placement help. Directed by: Aaron Fedor, Kathleen McLaughlin; Produced by: Aaron Fedor, Kathleen McLaughlin; Camera: Kyle Dubiel.

US, Guatemala Launch Site for Online Visa Appointments

The United States and Guatemala launched a website Monday where refugees and migrants can request U.S. visa appointments in the latest bid to curb illegal migration, the Central American country announced. Agence France-Presse reports.

Around the world

UNHCR: Forced Displacement Hit New Record in 2022

The UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, says that driven largely by the war in Ukraine, forced displacement hit a record high last year, with nearly 110 million people forced from their homes around the world. For VOA, Lesia Bakalets reports from Warsaw.

Migrants Traveling In and From Middle East-North Africa Region had a Deadly 2022, UN Agency Finds

Last year was the deadliest for migrants in the Middle East and North Africa since 2017, the United Nations' migration agency reported Tuesday. About 3,800 people died on sea and land migration routes within and from the Middle East-North Africa region, according to data released by the International Organization for Migration's Missing Migrants Project. The Associated Press reports.

Shelter in Mexico's Tijuana Serves Muslim Migrants

Muslim migrants on the U.S.-Mexico border have a safe place in Tijuana at a shelter with halal food, separate areas for men and women, and prayers five times a day. Genia Dulot has our story. Video editor: Barry Unger.

Ministers Gather in Uganda to Look for Solutions to East Africa's Refugee Crisis

Calls for countries in the East and Horn of Africa to address the needs of the millions of displaced people in the region came Tuesday at the start of a four-day ministerial conference being held by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in the Ugandan capital. Halima Athumani reports for VOA from Kampala, Uganda.

Donor Nations Commit $10.3 Billion to Syrians at Home and as Refugees Abroad

International donors Thursday committed $10.3 billion in aid for millions of Syrians battered by war, poverty and hunger, both at home and as refugees abroad. The funding pledges by 57 nations and 30 international organizations at an annual European Union-hosted conference in Brussels for Syria fell about $800 million short of a United Nations humanitarian appeal. The Associated Press reports.

Study Upbeat on Immigrants in World's Richest Nations

Despite surging far-right and anti-immigrant rhetoric in a number of rich nations, immigrants flocking to them are faring better in areas like education, jobs and integration than they were a decade ago, according to a new report by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Lisa Bryant reports for VOA from Paris.

Tibetan Muslim Community Thrives in Kashmir

A few hundred kilometers from Dharamshala, where most Tibetan refugees have lived and practiced their Buddhist faith since fleeing to India six decades ago, a unique community of Tibetan Muslims is thriving in Srinigar, summer capital of Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir. Bilal Hussain reports.

Recent Conflicts in Africa Spawn Fresh Wave of Refugees to Egypt

Egypt has been struggling to cope with a new wave of refugees from Africa after the latest round of conflicts erupted in Sudan and Ethiopia. The UNHCR appears to be having difficulties dealing with the large numbers of refugees, and Egyptian authorities placed a visa requirement on Sudanese refugees trying to enter the country several days ago. Edward Yeranian reports for VOA from Cairo, Egypt.

In brief

 Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas released the following statement on the 11th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. During his time as the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Mayorkas spearheaded the creation and execution of DACA.
The first large-scale battery to be built at an Australian coal site has been switched on in Victoria's Latrobe Valley, east of Melbourne.

The 150-megawatt battery is at the site of the former Hazelwood power station in the southern Australian state of Victoria. The station was built in the 1960s and closed in 2017.

The new battery was officially opened Wednesday and has the ability to power about 75,000 homes for an hour during the evening peak. The decommissioned coal plant produced 10 times more electricity, but the batterys operators aim to increase its generating capacity over time.

The Latrobe Valley has been the center of Victoria's coal-fired power industry for decades, but the region is changing.

The new battery will store power generated by offshore wind farms and is run by the French energy giant Engie, and its partners Eku Energy and Fluence.

Engie chief executive Rik De Buyserie told reporters it is an important part of Australias green energy future.

The commissioning of this battery represents a key milestone in this journey and marks an important step in the transition of the La Trobe Valley from a thermal energy power to a clean energy power provider, he said.

The state of Victoria aims to have at least 2.6 gigawatts of battery storage connected to the electricity grid by 2030 and 6.3 gigawatts by 2035.

Lily DAmbrosio, Victorias minister for climate action, energy and resources, told reporters that the state government is committed to boosting its renewable energy sector.

It is important that we just do not sit around waiting for old technology to disappear, close down, but we actually get in front of it and make sure that we have more than sufficient supply to meet our needs, she said. That is what keeps downward pressure on prices.

Australia has legislated a target to cut carbon emissions by 43% from 2005 levels by 2030 and to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Electricity generation in Australia is still dominated by coal and gas but there is a distinct shift to renewable sources of power.

In April the Clean Energy Council, an industry association, said that clean energy accounted for 35.9% of Australias total electricity generation in 2022, up from 32.5% in 2021.
The Biden administration says it remains hopeful about Swedens application to join the NATO security alliance, despite tepid words from NATOs main holdout, Turkey.

But the White House declined to say whether that could happen before a NATO summit scheduled for next month.

With less than a month before alliance members meet July 11 in Lithuanias capital, Vilnius, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Wednesday that the White House was optimistic.

We are still hopeful that this will get done, she said, I dont have a timeline, certainly. The sooner, the better, as I said, without delay. And so, well continue to be very clear. Well continue to communicate that with Turkey.

Sweden needs unanimous support from all 31 NATO members before it can join. So far, all but Hungary and Turkey have given it, diminishing hopes that Sweden can join by the summit.

Ankara has accused Stockholm of not doing enough to crack down on its branch of a political party that Turkeys government sees as extremists. And Hungarys leader objects to Swedens criticism of his record on democracy and the rule of law.

Sweden and Finland applied jointly for NATO membership last May, with both Nordic nations citing overwhelming popular support for the idea amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Finlands membership was finalized in April.

On Wednesday, newly reelected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters, "The expectations of Sweden do not mean that we will comply with these expectations. In order for us to comply with these expectations, first of all, Sweden must do its part.

Meanwhile, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday that his staff had reported that a meeting between Sweden and Turkey took place in a constructive atmosphere."

Some progress has been made, he said.

F-16 leverage

Stoltenberg cited the recent extradition from Sweden of suspects related to the Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the PKK.

This is good for the fight against terrorism, but also good for Sweden's efforts to fight organized crime in Sweden, because these groups are very often linked, he said Wednesday in Brussels.

But Erdogan on Wednesday took a harder line, telling journalists, What we told [Stoltenberg] was this: If you expect us to respond to Sweden's expectations, first of all, Sweden must erase what this terrorist organization has done. While we were expressing these to Stoltenberg at that particular time, unfortunately, terrorists were demonstrating again in the streets in Sweden."

Michael Kimmage, a professor at Catholic University and a senior nonresident fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told VOA that there are a few bona fide issues, and then there's also a little bit of gamesmanship that Ankara is engaging in.

One thing he pointed to  which Erdogan did not mention Wednesday when speaking to journalists  is that Turkey is seeking to buy 40 American F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits, a purchase that needs congressional approval.

Biden, who called Erdogan in May, has framed the deal for the jets as Washingtons leverage for fast-tracking Turkeys decision on Sweden.

He still wants to work on something on the F-16s, Biden said late last month. I told him we wanted a deal with Sweden, so lets get that done.

The Orban obstacle

Washington appears to be taking a harder line with the other holdout, Hungary. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has bristled under Western criticism  backed up by prominent rights watchdogs  accusing his administration of violating civil liberties, media freedom, the rule of law and democratic governance.

This week, Senator James Risch, the top Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee, moved unilaterally to block a $735 million U.S. arms sale to Hungary.

For some time now, I have directly expressed my concerns to the Hungarian government regarding its refusal to move forward a vote for Sweden to join NATO, he told U.S. media. The fact that it is now June and still not done, I decided that the sale of new U.S. military equipment to Hungary will be on hold."

Analysts say Orban  who has tightened his grip on power  can be unpredictable.

It is fair to say that he is the loose cannon within NATO and EU, Jan C. Behrends, a history professor at European University Viadrina in Frankfurt, Germany, said during a discussion with analysts convened by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peaces Europe program.

NATO members agree to come to each other's defense in the event of an attack. Hungary, a landlocked nation that shares a border with Ukraine, has yet to meet a 2014 pledge to spend at least 2% of its GDP on defense.

And by dragging his feet on letting in two larger, wealthier nations, analysts argue Orban is acting against his own interests.

Delaying the NATO accession of Finland and further blocking that of Sweden similarly have no justifiable reason and are harmful from a security perspective, said Zsuzsanna Vegh of the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Whats more, none of these steps can even be explained by the Hungarian national interest [that] Prime Minister Viktor Orbans Fidesz [Party] is so adamant to protect, he said.

VOAs Mehmet Toroglu contributed to this report.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken rejected reports Friday that Washington and Tehran were close to deals on limiting Iran's nuclear program and releasing U.S. citizens detained in the country.

"With regard to Iran, some of the reports that we've seen about an agreement on nuclear matters or, for that matter, on detainees, are simply not accurate and not true," Blinken said when asked about indirect talks via Oman.

Iran said Monday it was conducting indirect negotiations with the United States through the Sultanate of Oman, with nuclear issues, U.S. sanctions and detainees on the menu.

That sparked reports that the two sides, who haven't negotiated directly for years, could be closing a deal.

"We welcome the efforts of Omani officials, and we exchanged messages with the other party through this mediator" over the lifting of U.S. sanctions, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said Monday.

"We have never stopped the diplomatic processes," he added, emphasizing that the talks "were not secret."

The two sides have been unable for two years to reach a deal on President Joe Biden's desire to revive the 2015 deal which granted Tehran much-needed sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.

Biden's predecessor Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the deal in 2018, and since then Tehran has steadily progressed in development of its nuclear industry, though not  as feared  producing a nuclear weapon.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated last week that the country does not intend to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Khamenei said deals could be reached with the United States, provided they do not change "the existing infrastructure of the nuclear industry."

Kanani said Monday a prisoner exchange could be agreed "in the near future," if Washington exhibits "the same level of seriousness" as Tehran.

At least three Iranian Americans are being held in Iran, including businessman Siamak Namazi, arrested in October 2015 and sentenced to 10 years in prison for espionage.
Cameroon has prohibited the broadcast of television programs that it says propagate homosexuality in the central African state.

Joseph Chebongkeng Kalabubse, president of Cameroon's National Communication Council, which regulates media in the country, said this week media organizations that broadcast programs linked to homosexuality will be severely punished.

"The National Communication Council can suspend a media outlet for promoting values that go contrary to our cultural practices and also the laws of our republic," Kalabubse said. "We can suspend the media outlet from one month to six months or suspend its broadcast or its presence in Cameroon."

Kalabubse said acts of homosexuality are prohibited by Cameroonian law, and broadcasting scenes linked to homosexuality is against professional ethics and the laws of nature. The NCC says many of the programs promoting homosexuality are cartoons that are frequently watched by children.

On Friday, Cameroon state broadcaster CRTV reported that foreign media groups such as the Walt Disney Company are trying to represent homosexuals by airing cartoons like "Miraculous LadyBug." In some of these programs, women are seen kissing each other, which is taboo in Cameroon, CRTV reported.

Kalabubse said foreign TV stations that air LGBTI content will be suspended from broadcasting in Cameroon.

The NCC says Cameroon journalists should immediately remove programs linked to homosexuality or face sanctions.

Gbaka Ernest Acho, a Cameroon Bar Association member, said Cameroonian laws make it possible for journalists to be charged and sentenced heavily for promoting homosexuality.

"The chairman of the National Communication Council did just what is contained in the decree reorganizing the National Communication Council. Homosexuality is punished in section 347 of the Cameroon penal code and the sanction gets up to five years of imprisonment," Acho said.

Acho said the NCC, by prohibiting homosexual and lesbian content on TV, is ensuring the respect of people's dignity, and protecting children and youth from practices that are foreign to Cameroon.

The NCC decision came less than a month after authorities in Cameroon's capital, Yaounde, closed at least six bars and popular spots they say are LGBTI-friendly.

The police said lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex, or LGBTI, people had turned the popular spots into daily meeting arenas and are persuading young people to join the LGBTI community. Rights groups say the police arrested, detained and tortured LGBTI and suspected LGBTI persons.

Human rights lawyer Cyril Ayori said Cameroon laws are hostile to LGBTI people.

"Section 52 of the civil status registration ordinance is to the effect that no marriage may be celebrated if the spouses to be are of the same sex," Ayori said. "When this section of the law is read with section 347 of the Cameroon penal code which punishes homosexuality with imprisonment from six months to five years, you will discover that Cameroonian laws are very harsh on homosexuality."

The police say many poor youths are joining the LGBTI community with the false belief that they will become rich. The government says many young Cameroonians think that they can find LGBTI partners and travel to developed countries where the practice is legal and where living conditions are better.

In May 2022, Human Rights Watch said Cameroonian security forces are not protecting LGBTI people from violent attacks and are instead arresting victims.

The organization said Cameroon not only violates its obligations under national and international law, but it condones an atmosphere of violence and hate against LGBTI people by criminalizing LGBTI relations.
Ahead of International Day of the African Child on June 16, rights groups and officials in Cameroon are distributing birth certificates to 30,000 of several million children denied education for lack of the document. A majority of the children without birth registration are from western regions and Cameroon's northern border with Nigeria where separatist and Boko Haram conflicts have displaced several million people.

The Cameroon government says thousands of children have been visiting district councils all over the country this week to collect their birth certificates.

Among the children expecting the Youande City Council to establish their birth certificates is 17-year-old Mustapha Issa.

Mustapha said he is one of the several thousand children denied an education for lack of a birth certificate.

Mustapha said he went to the Yaounde City Council on Thursday and pleaded with the mayor to help him, alongside other children who have not received an education because they lack birth certificates. He said the mothers of some of the children yearning for an education gave birth to their children at home and failed to register their births.

Officials of the Yaounde City Council say they received at least a dozen humanitarian groups asking for birth certificates to be issued for children so they can obtain an education, health care and other government services.

The Ministry of Decentralization and Local Development is supervising the establishment and distribution of birth certificates to needy children. The document is free for babies younger than 90 days old. But older children have to spend about $20 to have birth certificates in a long process that involves officials of Cameroons Justice Ministry.

Cameroon's Ministry of Secondary Education said it is compulsory for children to present their birth certificates before continuing with their education after the primary level.

Mustapha said dropouts become street children, drug addicts and gangsters.

The Cameroon government said several thousand birth certificates were lost or destroyed in Cameroons separatist conflict that so far has displaced 750,000 people in English-speaking western regions, most of them women and children.

Tanjong Martin, mayor of the Tubah district in Cameroons English-speaking northwest region, said the number of applications for birth certificates is overwhelming.

"During this time of the anglophone crisis, schools were not functioning, councils were not running, and the children for these years had no birth certificates, Martin said. Now, we have about 3,000 applications, and as you know, new ones are coming up, so it is a big problem in areas where this crisis hit since 2016."

Cameroon also said tens of thousands of birth certificates were lost in attacks by Boko Haram militants that have displaced more than 3 million people in northern Cameroon, Chad and Nigeria.

George Elanga Obam, Cameroon's minister of Decentralization, said Cameroon is working in partnership with Nigeria for displaced children to have birth certificates.

"With Boko Haram, a lot of people came from Nigeria, he said. Most of their children do not have their birth certificates. The first thing we do as a state is education, talking to parents with all the means that we can use ... talking to the civil society. It is very important to be registered in civil status. We will reduce the amount of children not having birth certificates."

Cameroon said more 3.3 million children in the country of 26 million do not have required birth certificates. More than 2 million are of school-going age, the government said.
South Africas president leads a delegation visit to Ukraine and Russia in hopes of finding an end to the war. Nato defense leaders make new commitments to support Ukraine and debate its bid to join the alliance. A non-profit in Washington is helping refugees in the United States learn English.
Greek rescuers on Friday scanned the Ionian Sea by air and boat for survivors of a migrant boat sinking, as hope faded of finding more people alive two days after the disaster.

On Wednesday, a fishing boat overloaded with migrants capsized and sank, killing at least 78 people, off the Peloponnese. Some 104 people were found alive.

The exact number of people aboard the boat is unknown, with one survivor telling hospital doctors in Kalamata he had seen 100 children in the boat's hold, broadcaster ERT reported.

"Hopes of finding survivors are fading each minute after this tragic sinking, but the search must continue," Stella Nanou, a spokesperson for the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR, told AFP.

"According to broadcast images and accounts of some of the survivors, hundreds of people were aboard" she said.

The Greek coast guard said that rescuers scoured the sea through the night.

A helicopter, a frigate and three boats were scanning the waters Friday, a coastguard spokesperson told AFP.

Police on Thursday arrested nine Egyptians on suspicion of people smuggling -- one of them the captain of the boat carrying the migrants.

They were detained at the port of Kalamata, where the survivors are being cared for, said Greek news agency ANA.

The survivors, mainly from Syria, Egypt and Pakistan, were being housed in a Kalamata warehouse.

Greece, Italy and Spain are among the main landing points for tens of thousands of people who seek to reach Europe as they flee conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Following the Supreme Court's decision to effectively kill Bidens earlier student debt forgiveness proposal, the White House is trying again to ease the burden on those carrying student loans using a different legal approach.

Biden's original plan would have canceled up to $20,000 in federal student loans for 43 million people. Of those, 20 million would have had their remaining student debt erased completely.

With repayments set to begin in October, many borrowers are wondering if they still have to pay. Here's what to know about where the new Biden plan stands.

What is the new plan and how is it different?

Under the proposed approach, the White House is now planning to use the Higher Education Act of 1965  a sweeping federal law that governs the student loan program  to bring about relief for student borrowers.

Biden said the authority of the act will provide the best path that remains to provide as many borrowers as possible with debt relief.

The law includes a provision giving the education secretary authority to compromise, waive or release student loans.

In its previous attempt to forgive student loans, Biden's White House appealed to a bipartisan 2003 law dealing with national emergencies, known as the HEROES Act, for the authority to cancel the debt. The court's 6-3 decision, with conservative justices in the majority, said the administration needed Congress endorsement before undertaking so costly a program.

Who will be eligible and how much debt will be canceled?

So far, it remains unclear which loan holders will qualify and how much of their debt will be forgiven. To figure it out, the Education Department will go through a process known as negotiated rulemaking.

Should borrowers still make loan payments?

Hours after the Supreme Court decision, President Joe Biden announced a 12-month grace period to help borrowers who struggle after payments restart. Biden said borrowers can and should make payments during the first 12 months after payments resume, but, if they dont, they wont be at risk of default and it wont hurt their credit scores. Interest will resume in September, however, and it will accrue whether borrowers make payments or not. Biden reiterated that it is not the same as the student loan pause, adding that if you can pay your monthly bills, you should.

Experts at the Student Borrower Protection Center and Institute of Student Loan Advisors encourage borrowers not to begin to make payments again until the fall, when interest starts up again and the pause lifts, since there is no penalty for not doing so during the freeze. Instead, any savings that would have gone to payments can earn interest in those remaining few months.

Finally, after the year-long grace period, if youre in a short-term financial bind, you may qualify for deferment or forbearance  allowing you to temporarily suspend payment.

To determine whether deferment or forbearance are good options for you, contact your loan servicer. One thing to note: Interest still accrues during deferment or forbearance. Both can also affect future loan forgiveness options. Depending on the conditions of your deferment or forbearance, it may make sense to continue paying the interest during the payment suspension.

Following the year-long on-ramp offered by the Biden administration, if you dont make student loan payments, youll risk delinquency and default, which will harm your credit score and potentially lock you out of other aid and benefits down the line.

What about declaring bankruptcy?

The Biden administration is also working to make a clearer path for borrowers considering bankruptcy.

In November, the Justice Department announced a process with new guidelines for students with federal loans who are unable to pay. Under the new guidance, debtors will fill out an attestation form, which the government will use to determine whether or not to recommend a discharge of debt. If borrowers expenses exceed their income and other criteria are met, the government will be more likely to recommend a full or partial discharge of loans.

How soon could the new plan happen?

Get ready to wait.

The overall idea is to create a new federal rule by gathering together lots of people with different views and hashing out the details. The goal is to reach a consensus, but the Education Department doesnt need it to move forward.

Its possible the Biden administration will go through the process, fail to reach a consensus but still proceed with whatever it decides is the best cancellation plan.

Still, this could take a long time. The absolute minimum for something like this would be about a year, according to Michael Brickman, who was part of multiple rounds of negotiated rulemaking as an education official for the Trump administration. Theres bureaucratic red tape to navigate, and the process is designed to slow things down and force a deliberate negotiation.

The process of negotiated rulemaking requires a period for written feedback from the public, a public hearing (a virtual hearing is scheduled for July 18) and negotiating sessions.

Given that the administration is just starting the process, Brickman said its possible it could take up to two years.

Asked why the Education Department didnt try this route from the start, Secretary Miguel Cardona acknowledged Friday that it does take longer.

Is this plan on firmer legal ground?

Thats up for debate.

In a 2021 memo, the former top education lawyer for the Obama administration cast doubt on the presidents authority to enact mass student loan cancellation. The memo, from Charlie Rose, first reported by The Wall Street Journal and obtained by the AP, warned that the more persuasive analyses tend to support the conclusion that the Executive Branch likely does not have the unilateral authority to engage in mass student debt cancellation. Instead, it found that the education secretarys authority is limited to case-by-case review and, in some cases, only to nonperforming loans."

Some advocates had been urging Biden go this route all along, and the White House says its confident the plan will work. But its almost certain to face legal challenges. The Education Department has used the Higher Education Act to cancel student loans before, but never at the scale being discussed now. Backers including Sen. Elizabeth Warren have said the legal authority is clear, but lawyers for the Trump administration concluded in 2021 that mass student loan forgiveness was illegal. It could wind up being a gray area that courts need to sort out.

Brickman, who is now an adjunct fellow at AEI, a conservative think tank, predicts a similar fate to Bidens previous plan. The Supreme Court has told them no, and yet theyre undeterred, he said. Im sure theres a population out there that really admires that. But at some point the Constitution is the Constitution, and you have to just kind of accept that.
The University of Kentucky will stop operations at Good Samaritan Hospital in 2029 and move those services to the areas of Chandler Hospital that are planned for expansion in coming years, the university said Thursday.

No employees at Good Samaritan will lose their jobs, but will move to other UK HealthCare locations, said Eric Monday, co-acting executive vice president for health affairs. Monday said UK will continue to invest in and operate Good Samaritan until then.

The hospital was founded in 1888 and acquired by UK HealthCare in 2007. There are more than 600 clinical and ancillary staff and more than 600 physicians employed there, with 180 licensed hospital beds in the facility, according to the hospital. Good Samaritan houses the second-largest orthopaedic and joint replacement program in Kentucky.

The decommissioning of Good Samaritan and moving those beds into an expansion of UK Chandler Hospital is part of the overall plan to improve facilities that provide maximum flexibility to create capacity and ensure quality care, said Allison Perry, UK spokesperson.

There will be more updates as the plans for expanding UK HealthCare move forward, Perry said, and UK envisions the transitioning  over the next several years  of services and employees at Good Samaritan to new facilities with an overall increase in both our workforce and patient care services.

UK has plans for massive expansion of its health care system in the coming years, including plans to add 300 hospital beds to the Chandler Hospital campus with a new hospital tower and four new outpatient locations in and around Lexington.

Monday said the expansion of Chandler Hospital means UK HealthCare will need to hire 5,000 additional employees in the next six years, and the closure of Good Samaritan does not mean jobs will be eliminated.

We will ensure that everyone who has a job at Good Samaritan who wants to stay, and we want them to stay with the university, will have a job in some of our other health care facilities, Monday said.

In total, the UK HealthCare expansions could top $2.4 billion, university officials said earlier this year. More details and specifics about the expansion will come as the university works through the design phase of the project.

UK plans to open four new outpatient locations across the Lexington area, in Hamburg, Madison County, Frankfort and one under-served area of Lexington. Opening those locations, and others in progress, will include an additional 29 primary care providers within UK HealthCare by the end of fiscal year 2025.

Last year, the board approved plans for the new medical campus in Hamburg, which includes a regional hospital, medical office building and other clinical facilities.

Chandler Hospital and Kentucky Childrens Hospital need to expand in several areas, Monday said earlier this year, including the neonatal intensive care unit, the pediatric intensive care unit , acute care, behavioral health, and emergency and urgent care. One issue the health care system is facing is being able to accept transfers to UK because of the hospitals capacity.

By expanding in those areas, Monday said the goal is to not have to turn any patient away because of capacity concerns.
Italy's government said on Friday it had taken steps to limit the influence of Chinese investor Sinochem on tiremaker Pirelli, including a mandatory qualified majority for strategic decisions made by the company's board.

Rome's decision comes after Sinochem, Pirelli's largest shareholder with a 37% stake, notified the Italian government in March of plans to update an existing shareholder pact with Camfin, the holding company of Pirelli CEO Marco Tronchetti Provera.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's administration scrutinized the pact under "Golden Power" rules aimed at protecting assets deemed strategic for the country, at a time when relations between China and Western countries have entered a tenser phase.

Sinochem, a Chinese state-owned conglomerate, was not immediately available for comment, while Pirelli declined to comment.

Sources had previously told Reuters that the government was concerned about Sinochem's growing influence on Pirelli, as the proposed pact would have allowed the Chinese group to appoint more board members and potentially choose Pirelli's future CEOs.

On Friday, Rome said it had imposed prescriptions aimed at shielding "the autonomy of Pirelli," including a requirement that "some" strategic decisions by its board of directors should require approval by at least 80% of directors.

The government, saying it had accepted some proposals made by Sinochem to address its concerns, also mentioned specific measures to protect cyber sensor technology that can be incorporated into Pirelli tires.

"The relevance of such a technology can be identified in a variety of sectors: industrial automation, machine-to-machine communication, machine learning, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, critical sensor and actuator technologies, Big Data and Analytics," the government said.

Founded in 1872, Pirelli is one of Italy's most storied companies. It specializes in high-end tires for premium carmakers like Ferrari, Porsche and BMW and is the sole supplier for Formula One cars.

Changes needed

Meloni's government refrained from imposing even tougher conditions on Sinochem, including blocking its voting rights in Pirelli. Its requirements will nevertheless force Sinochem and Camfin to amend their shareholders' pact.

The Chinese group earlier this year confirmed its plans to remain a long-term investor in Pirelli.

The Italian company is due to appoint a new board at a shareholders meeting on July 31, with current Deputy CEO Giorgio Bruno set to become the new CEO and Tronchetti Provera staying as executive vice chairman.

Provera has been in charge of Pirelli since 1992.

The Italian government's move to limit Sinochem's grip on the tiremaker comes ahead of another key decision on whether to renew Rome's partnership with Beijing on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Italy in 2019 became the first, and so far only, G7 nation to join China's hugely ambitious BRI initiative, which critics said could enable Beijing to gain control of sensitive technologies and vital infrastructure.

The BRI envisions rebuilding the old Silk Road with large infrastructure spending to connect China with Europe.
Latest developments:

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, is expected to visit Moscow next week, the Interfax news agency reported, citing the head of Russian nuclear state company Rosatom. Grossi visited the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine on Thursday, after last weeks collapse of the Kakhovka dam, whose reservoir feeds the nuclear facility's cooling ponds.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said Friday that it had summoned the Australian ambassador after Canberra canceled the lease of land where a new Russian Embassy complex was being built. "The Russian side intends to use all necessary mechanisms to protect its interests, including possible retaliatory measures," the ministry said.

------

Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Moscow's deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus has already happened, reminding the West that it could not inflict a strategic defeat on Russia.

"The first nuclear warheads were delivered to the territory of Belarus. But only the first ones, the first part. But we will do this job completely by the end of the summer or by the end of the year," he said.

Speaking Friday at Russia's economic forum in St. Petersburg, Putin stressed he saw no need for Russia to resort to nuclear weapons, for now. His move delivering shorter-range nuclear weapons to Belarus, which could be used on the battlefield, was intended as a warning to the West about arming and supporting Ukraine, the Russian leader said.

The White House denounced Putins comments and said the United States had made no adjustments to its nuclear position in response to the rhetoric.

Putin warned Friday that there was a "serious danger" that the NATO military alliance could be pulled further into the military action against Ukraine. He made those comments during a plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where he touted Russias economy despite heavy international sanctions imposed because of the war in Ukraine. Western journalists were banned from the event.



Putin also alleged that Ukraine was running out of its own military equipment, making it totally dependent on military hardware supplied by the West. Everything on which they fight and everything that they use is brought in from the outside. Well, you can't fight like that for long," he said.

Additionally, he asserted that Ukraine had failed to make progress in its counteroffensive, adding its army had "no chance" against Russia's.



Independent military analysts say Ukraine has outperformed Russia's much larger army in the nearly 16 months of the war, forcing it to retreat around the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Kherson.

US humanitarian assistance

The U.S. announced Friday additional humanitarian assistance of $205 million for Ukraine that will provide critical support such as food, safe water, accessible shelter and more.

The U.S. response is advancing Ukraines overall security, economic recovery, energy security and capacity to cope with the humanitarian crisis created by Russias war. We welcome the contributions of other donors toward this crisis response and urge yet more donors to generously support the serious humanitarian needs in Ukraine and the region, said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The U.S. aid package brings the total humanitarian assistance for Ukraine to more than $605 million during fiscal 2023. Since February 2022, the United States has provided more than $2.1 billion in humanitarian assistance for the people of Ukraine.

The European Commission will propose additional funding to support Ukraine in the coming years. This year, the EU is providing $19.8 billion but aims at a longer-term solution to provide Kyiv with financing certainty as it repels Russia's invasion.



The EU is ready to provide Ukraine with sustainable and predictable financial support beyond 2023 to maintain both macro financial stability and support reconstruction," European Commission Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said Friday.

African delegation

Air defense sirens blared Friday in Kyiv as a delegation of African heads of state met with government leaders in hopes of brokering a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko posted on social media that there was an explosion in the central Podil district. Missiles are still flying towards Kyiv, he said on Telegram.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is part of the African delegation set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the first step in its mission to broker a peace deal.

The other members of the delegation are Senegalese President Macky Sall, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema and Comoros President Azali Assoumani, who currently leads the African Union.

African presidents from Congo, Egypt and Uganda also were set to participate in the peace mission but instead sent their representatives.

The group was expected to meet with Zelenskyy on Friday and then travel to Russia to meet with Putin.

Reuters reported that it had seen a draft of the peace proposals and negotiation points the African peace mission crafted, which include a Russian troop pullback and suspension of the implementation of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Putin.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
A prominent Sunni Muslim cleric in Iran called Friday for improved womens rights.

Leading Friday prayers in Zahedan, regional capital of Irans restive southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan, prominent Muslim imam Abdolhamid Ismaeelzahi praised the significant historical role of Iranian women, calling them heroes of numerous accomplishments whose voices government leaders should heed.

Long known for his vocal support of Irans ultraconservative president, Ebrahim Raisi, Ismaeelzahi's sermons have assumed an increasingly anti-establishment tone since nationwide protests roiled the country after the September 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian Kurd who had been arrested for allegedly violating Iran's strict dress code for women.

"You desire to suppress the protests of women, yet as long as these women do not attain their rightful status, neither I nor you can silence their voices," said Ismaeelzahi.

"Engaging in debates without addressing the underlying issues is futile," he added. "Unless you liberate women from prisons, release political prisoners and grant women the respect they rightfully deserve, it becomes meaningless."

Demonstrators took to the streets following prayers, chanting slogans against the Islamic Republic despite heightened security measures in the area.

The outspoken cleric also expressed his opposition to state mistreatment of practitioners of the Baha'i faith, saying these individuals may not adhere to Islam, but they are fellow human beings, citizens and Iranians, and their rights should be respected."

Although the Islamic Republic recognizes minority non-Muslim faiths, including Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism, it does not extend the same recognition to Bahaism.

Accusations of Israel ties

Baha'is in Iran are accustomed to accusations of links to Israel, whose northern port city of Haifa hosts a center of the Baha'i faith that was established following the exile of a Baha'i leader well before the state of Israel was created, according to Agence France-Presse.



The cleric in February told leaders of Irans government, If you cannot solve the peoples problems, leave and let someone come who can, according to activists interviewed by the French news outlet.

While Iran's ongoing protests are widely reported to be in reaction to the death of Amini, some of the regimes most brutal crackdowns have taken place in Sunni-populated regions such as Zahedan, where Iranian leaders call the protesters insurrectionists.

Although Iranian leaders say the uprisings have been effectively staved off, protests persist.

Ismaeelzahis office on Wednesday announced that Iranian intelligence officials had recently barred him from traveling outside the country as he was planning a Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

Some information for this report came from Agence France-Presse.
Researchers have been exploring the presence of cancer in animals from elephants to mollusks to learn about cancer in wild animals. They also hope their research will help with human cancers.

Studying wildlife cancer, and more generally the evolution of cancer across the tree of life, is extremely promising to develop innovative therapies to treat cancer in humans, Mathieu Giraudeau, a researcher at Frances La Rochelle University who has been focusing on cancer in wild animals since 2018, told VOA.

The idea behind this is that some species have evolved some mechanisms to limit cancer initiation and progression, he said. If we identify and understand these mechanisms, then the goal is to use them as a source of inspiration to develop new therapies.

Cancer affects both humans and animals but its impact on wild animals has been difficult to uncover.

There are no basic blood tests to detect cancer in the wild animals, Giraudeau told VOA, so most of the studies have to use necropsies [post-mortem examinations of animals] to detect cancer cases in wild animals. That's why using zoo animals is a fantastic opportunity, since a necropsy is performed for most of the animals dying in zoos.

Researchers say there are more questions than answers regarding cancer in wild animals, which are hard to study in their natural habitat because they move around and are therefore difficult to observe over time.

We don't really know much about the different kinds of animals species that get cancer or how much, biologist Carlo Maley, director of the Arizona Cancer Evolution Center at Arizona State University, where he is studying cancer in wild animals, told VOA.

We've been focusing on collecting data to find which species are super susceptible or super resistant to cancer, he said, and were looking at questions such as how has nature figured out how to prevent cancer and then, can we translate that to humans.

It seems large and long-lived species have evolved some powerful mechanisms to fight against cancer, and we now need to understand these mechanisms, Giraudeau said.

They include elephants and whales.

Elephant cells are super sensitive to DNA damage, and even with just a little DNA damage, the cell will commit suicide and not risk getting mutations, Maley said. So it seems to be a strategy for avoiding cancer by killing off a potentially dangerous cell, rather than risk getting a mutation that could lead to cancer.

In Australia, however, that has not been the case for a much smaller animal, the Tasmanian devil. The carnivorous marsupials have been nearly wiped out from cancerous tumors growing in and around their mouths.

Devils bite each other, particularly around the face, as part of their normal behavior, Cambridge University veterinary medicine professor Elizabeth Murchison told VOA.

Murchison, a researcher on the genetics and evolution of transmissible cancers, added, Tasmanian Devils have a transmissible cancer that spreads between the animals by the transfer of living cancer cells. There are, in fact, two independent transmissible cancers in Tasmanian devils, which was a surprise, and both are spread during biting, and result in fatal facial tumors.

Murchison, who grew up in Tasmania, passionately hopes the endangered species can be saved.

There is currently no way to control the disease, she said. Research directed towards developing a vaccine is ongoing, but it will be a long road to developing an effective protective vaccine.

Even much smaller creatures, like shellfish, are dying from cancer.

On Whidbey Island in Washington state, a massive die-off of cockles, a type of bivalve mollusk, were found on the beach. It turns out the cockles had a leukemia-like contagious cancer that affects the cells that live in their hemolymph, the equivalent of blood.

It is another transmissible cancer, found in many shellfish species worldwide, but first discovered in these cockles in 2018. The cancer cells in the sea can float to enter nearby cockles, spreading the disease.

The whole cell of the cancer moves from one animal to the next, unlike conventional human cancer that arises due to cell mutations that dont move from one person to another, said Michael Metzger, assistant investigator at the Pacific Northwest Research Institute in Seattle, Washington.

Researchers are working to find the cause of the contagious cancer and using genetic analysis, to learn how the disease evolves.

Its not clear how the cockles first got the disease.

Its possible it could have been brought to the area by a boat carrying diseased shellfish, he said. He also said environmental stressors may have played a part, including global warming.

Scientists say there is a long way to go before cancer in wild animals is widely understood and how that may help battle human cancers in the future. Besides genetics, they are also looking at the effect of viruses, pesticides, habitat destruction and pollution.

Human cancers are short-lived, from an evolutionary perspective, Murchison said. Our work gives us insight into how cancers evolve over long time-periods.

I think the main benefit is going to be preventing cancer as opposed to curing it, said Maley. But there's some possibility that the mechanisms that prevent cancer could also be translated into potential therapies.
Human rights activists and former officials are accusing Beijing of violating both Chinese and international laws, putting thousands of North Korean refugees in imminent danger.

Approximately 2,000 North Korean refugees are detained at the Chinese border "awaiting imminent forced repatriation" by a Chinese government that has been refusing to protect them, said U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, chair of the Congressional Executive Commission on China (CECC).

The commission held a hearing Tuesday to discuss the fate of North Koreans detained by Beijing since the border between the two countries closed during the pandemic. Repatriation for the North Koreans means torture, forced labor in camps that yield export income for the Pyongyang regime, or death.

The number of North Korean refugees detained by China could be higher as the number quoted by Smith was first cited in 2022 by Elizabeth Salmon, the U.N. special rapporteur on North Korea's human rights.

"China has failed to accord protection to North Korean refugees as it is required to do so under its domestic law, international law, and humanitarian principles," said Ethan Hee-seok Shin, a legal analyst at Seoul-based Transitional Justice Working Group. He spoke to VOA Korean Service before he testified Tuesday.

China considers North Korean refugees to be illegal immigrants. North Korea regards those who flee the repressive country as traitors. The regime denies its people freedom of speech, religion, mobility or assembly.

The U.N. defines refugees as those forced to flee their country because of persecution, war or violence.

A large-scale repatriation of some 2,000 North Koreans who were in China while seeking to reach a third country could mean a humanitarian and human rights crisis, according to the CECC.

Violating law

As a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol as well as the U.N. Convention against Torture, China is obligated under the principle of nonrefoulement to protect those who are at risk of facing human rights abuses upon return to their country.

Shin said in a statement submitted to the hearing that Beijing has been neglecting Article 32 of its constitution, which says China "may grant asylum to foreigners who request it on political grounds."

He also pointed out Article 46 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law that Beijing enacted in 2012, which says, "Foreigners applying for refugee status may, during the screening process, stay in China on the strength of temporary identity certificates issued by public security organs."

According to the CECC, Beijing has been blocking the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees from reaching out to North Korean refugees in China even though it agreed in 1995 to allow UNHCR staff full access to all refugees.

The UNHCR is responsible for determining refugee status and registering asylum seekers in China.

Jung-hoon Lee, a former South Korean ambassador-at-large for North Korean human rights who testified virtually at this week's Washington hearing, told VOA Korean in an email that it is time to call out both Beijing and UNHCR.

"Beijing is reneging on its obligation," he said, and "UNHCR on its part is not doing its job" of "resorting to binding arbitration" and putting pressure on China to allow its staff to access North Korean asylum seekers.

In response to the hearing, the spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, told VOA Korean on Wednesday that the government "has properly handled the issues related to the illegal entry of North Koreans in accordance with China's law, international law, and the principle of humanitarianism."

He continued, "This so-called committee, biased against China, is distorting facts, and making irresponsible remarks and accusations of China's social system and the relevant policies. Its rhetoric is full of ignorance and prejudice."

He added, "We urge the U.S. Congress and relevant parties to reflect on their own problems, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and do more things that are conducive to China-U.S. relations."

UN's role

During the hearing, Smith, the CEEC chair, said he had shared his "deep concern" about the plight of the North Koreans with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in an April meeting. On Tuesday, Smith appealed to Guterres to "please use your influence to the utmost to dissuade the Chinese government from forcibly repatriating these refugees."

In response, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a news briefing on Tuesday that Guterres "stands for the respect of international refugee law and against refoulement."

According to Robert King, special envoy for North Korean Human Rights during the Obama administration, who testified at the hearing, the U.N. is careful in its discussions with China on the issue.

He told VOA Korean that the U.N. is cautious about urging China to take steps to protect refugees or "publicly criticizing them" as Chinese officials who hold important positions at the U.N. wield considerable influence at the U.N.

Lee, the former South Korean ambassador, who is currently the dean of Graduate School of International Studies at Yonsei University in Seoul, said at the hearing that the U.N. General Assembly's (UNGA) Credentials Committee should examine North Korea's role at the U.N. as well.

"If South Africa was bad enough to be suspended from all U.N. activities for 20 years, shouldn't the U.N. General Assembly consider doing the same to North Korea until the nonproliferation and human rights goals are met?" Lee said.

In 1974, the UNGA suspended South Africa's participation at the organization over instituting apartheid as a state policy.

Risks refugees face

According to the Citizens' Alliance for North Korean Human Rights, a Seoul-based rights group promoting North Korean human rights, Beijing and Pyongyang profit financially by sending refugees back to North Korea.

In a statement sent to the hearing, the rights group said after refugees are forcibly repatriated by China, North Korea sends them to forced labor camps where they manufacture fake eyelashes and wigs that are exported to Chinese companies.

Business networks linking Beijing and Pyongyang that employ refugees as laborers earned an estimated $22.6 million in April alone for the North Korean regime and Chinese companies, according to the group.

"There is a high probability that [a] portion of products originating from North Korea but produced for Chinese companies have been made in prisons detaining repatriated North Korean refugees from China," the statement said.
U.S. allies in northeastern Syria are intent on prosecuting hundreds of Islamic State foreign fighters for war crimes despite a lack of support from the international community.

The Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) announced Thursday it would begin judicial proceedings for about 2,000 IS foreign fighters held in mostly makeshift prisons since the fall of Baghuz, the terror group's last Syrian stronghold, in March 2019.

"It's been almost five years," Bedran Jia, co-president of the AANES Foreign Relations Office, told reporters, speaking through an interpreter, during a virtual briefing Thursday. "We can no longer keep these people without a trial."

"They will be public trials," Jia added. "Everybody  monitors, observers, experts, all the lawyers  they will be welcome in these trials.  It will be very transparent."

While some AANES officials indicated the first trials could start within days, Jia said no dates had been set and that officials were still seeking both support and cooperation from the international community and from humanitarian organizations that may have collected evidence that could be used in the proceedings.

"They all remained non-responsive," he told reporters, acknowledging the autonomous government lacks the capacity and resources to fully meet international standards for such prosecutions, such as providing a lawyer for each of the accused, without international support.

Still, he said the AANES was determined to begin proceedings to bring the IS fighters to justice using the facilities and resources it has available, while adhering to the established penal code to hand out punishments for those convicted of crimes.

Jia said there is no death penalty, so any convictions would result in prison sentences while those exonerated of crimes would be set free.

He said it is possible that prosecutors will also charge some women who were captured as the terror group's self-declared caliphate collapsed, noting that there was evidence some of them took part in atrocities.

This is not the first time the AANES has sought to put captured IS fighters on trial. Over the past several years there have been multiple failed attempts to set up international tribunals.

But the U.S. and other members of the international coalition that formed to defeat IS have been reluctant to support such moves.

"The United States remains focused on repatriating detained foreign terrorist fighters to their areas or countries of origin to be rehabilitated, reintegrated, and prosecuted [or] held, as appropriate, for their crimes," a State Department spokesperson told VOA, discussing the matter on the condition of anonymity.

"Repatriation remains the only long-term, durable solution to the security challenges presented by the detention centers in northeast Syria," the official added. "We continue to encourage countries to repatriate their detained foreign terrorist fighters."

For its part, the U.S. has repatriated at least 39 citizens from Syria and Iraq, including 15 adults and 24 children, since 2016.

Of the adults, at least 11 have been charged with crimes. U.S. officials told VOA that some of the adults were not charged because they were minors when they were brought by their families to join the terror group.

And while other countries have increasingly repatriated the wives and children of IS fighters who have been held in displaced persons camps, the number of foreign fighters in prisons run by the AANES' military wing, the Syrian Democratic Forces, has stayed steady.

"It's a very heavy burden. There are so many accused," the AANES's Jia said.

It remains unclear, however, how holding trials will ease the burden.

Jia said any detained IS fighters convicted of crimes would serve out their punishments in the existing prisons in northeastern Syria. And it is unclear whether the AANES has any extradition agreements that would allow convicted IS foreign fighters to be sent back to their countries of origin.

"It will depend on the bilateral agreements between us and the relevant countries," he said. "But as the autonomous administration we are entitled to try and punish them [IS fighters] as a result of a fair trial."

Starting in 2019, the AANES began holding trials for thousands of detained IS fighters from Syria.

Jia said the majority of them were tried and convicted and are serving out their sentences in the SDF-run prisons while those who were exonerated were set free.

He said some trials are ongoing.
Thousands of Sudanese continue to flee the war in their country every day, with many making the long trek south to Kenya. While a fortunate few have friends willing to help them, most of the new refugees are forced to live at the Dadaab refugee complex. While the burden is heavy, analysts say it is in Kenyas interest to help the new refugees, and make an effort to end the war in Sudan. Victoria Amunga reports from Nairobi.
Saudi Arabia's top diplomat will visit Tehran, the latest step in the restoration of diplomatic ties between the two Mideast rivals, according to a statement from Iran on Friday.

The statement said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan would meet his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, on Saturday. Prince Faisal is also expected to officially inaugurate the kingdom's embassy in Tehran.

Each nation resumed the work of its diplomatic mission in the other country in recent weeks.

The foreign ministers' visit comes after a trip to Saudi Arabia by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier in June. In March, Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations and reopen embassies after seven years of tensions.

It was a major diplomatic breakthrough negotiated by China, lowering the chance of further conflict between Riyadh and Tehran  both directly and in proxy conflicts around the region.

Iran has been blamed for a series of attacks in recent years following the United States' unilateral withdrawal from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers in 2018, including one targeting the heart of Saudi Arabia's oil industry in 2019, temporarily halving the kingdom's crude production.

Relations between predominately Shiite Iran and majority Sunni Saudi Arabia have long been tense. The kingdom broke ties with Iran in 2016 after protesters invaded Saudi diplomatic posts there. Saudi Arabia had executed a prominent Shiite cleric with 46 others days earlier, triggering the demonstrations.
The U.N. children's agency said it was holding discussions with Afghanistan's ruling Taliban over "timelines and practicalities" for a possible required handover of its education programs and that classes would continue in the meantime.

Aid officials say that the Taliban had signaled international organizations could no longer be involved in education projects, in a move criticized by the U.N. but not yet confirmed by Afghan authorities.

UNICEF said it had received assurances from the education ministry that its community-based classes, which educate 500,000 students, would continue while they discussed the matter.

"As the lead agency for the education cluster in Afghanistan, UNICEF is engaged in constructive discussions with the de facto Ministry of Education and appreciates the commitment from the de facto minister to keep all ... classes continuing while discussions take place about timelines and practicalities," UNICEF Afghanistan spokesperson Samantha Mort told Reuters.

"In order to minimize disruption to children's learning, it is imperative that any handover to national NGOs is done strategically and includes comprehensive assessment and capacity building, Mort said.

A spokesperson for the Taliban did not respond to request for comment. The Ministry of Education has not publicly confirmed the policy.

The Taliban, who took power in 2021, have closed most secondary schools to girls, stopped female students attending universities and stopped many Afghan women working for aid groups and the United Nations in accordance with their strict interpretation of Islamic law.

International organizations have been heavily involved in education projects, and UNICEF made an agreement with the Taliban to run community classes before they took over the country.

Two humanitarian sources told Reuters this month that aid agencies had been told provincial authorities had been directed to stop the involvement of international organizations in education projects, possibly within weeks.

The U.N. spokesperson in New York said the move would be a "horrendous step backwards."

UNICEF runs many community-based classes including for 300,000 girls, often in homes in rural areas.

The Taliban took over Afghanistan after a 20-year insurgency against U.S.-led forces with a speed and ease that took the world by surprise.
The United Nations refugee agency has pledged its support of Malawi's move to resettle more than 50,000 refugees and asylum-seekers currently living at the overcrowded Dzaleka refugee camp in the central part of the country. Last week, Malawis government announced it had secured a new site in the northern part of the country to help reduce the number refugees at the Dzaleka camp, which was originally designed to accommodate 12,000 people.

UNHCR Regional Director for Southern Africa Valentin Tapsoba pledged support of the move after meeting Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera, in the capital, Lilongwe.

According to a statement released after the meeting, Tapsoba said UNHCR welcomes the government of Malawis commitment to improving living conditions and overall well-being of refugees living in the country by upgrading refugee settlements.

Malawi set up Dzaleka refugee camp in 1994 to accommodate about 12,000 people but now it is hosting more than 50,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia and Ethiopia.

Kenyi Emanuel Lukajo is the associate external relations and reporting officer for the UNHCR in Malawi. He says the governments relocation of about 8,000 refugees, who have been staying outside the camp, has strained the already scarce resources at the camp.

Life is very difficult," said Lokajo. "There is not enough water, not enough shelter, even the children who are pulled out of school in the city are not able to enroll in schools because there are not enough slots. So, everything is not there, so we dont have the money to provide for an additional number of people that have been relocated.

Malawi started forcibly relocating refugees, who were illegally living across rural and urban areas of the country last month, after the expiration of the April 15 deadline the government set for voluntary relocation.

In a statement, the UNHCR says that to date, approximately 1,900 individuals have returned to the congested Dzaleka camp amid financial challenges the agency is facing in taking care of the refugees.

The U.N. refugee agency says that as of 1 June, it has only received 15 percent of the required $27.2 million to adequately support refugees and asylum-seekers in Malawi this year.

However, the Malawi government says it has acquired land for a new resettlement site for the refugees in Chitipa district, north of Malawi, to solve overcrowding problems facing the refugees there.

Ken Zikhale Ngoma is the minister of homeland security in Malawi. He told a press conference last week that the new settlement will also help keep away potential criminals who enter Malawi under the pretext of being refugees and asylum keepers.

Which is why we want to change the system now. We will close Dzaleka anytime," Ng'oma said. "And we will open up a new site in Chitipa where we want to make sure that anybody who enters Malawi should be examined before entering Malawi just as Americans do. No asylum seeker will get in and say I will apply inside no. It is done at the gate. So, we want to borrow the American system.

The UNHCR says it stands ready to provide the necessary support toward the new site.

If the government says they have found a new site, UNHCR has no objection to that as long as UNHCR is involved in the process and then we assess the site to ensure that the site has got enough water, is not prone to flooding and the site is not very close to the border," said Lokajo. "So if all the conditions are met, then UNHCR will not hesitate to support the process.

Malawi government authorities have assured to involve UNHCR in the site assessment process and collaborate to secure resources for the development of the new settlement.
By Eva Mathews

(Reuters) -Britain's competition regulator on Friday cleared Amazon.com Inc's planned $1.7 billion acquisition of iRobot Corp, maker of the Roomba vacuum cleaner.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it had concluded that the deal would not lead to competition concerns in the UK.

"We're pleased with the UK Competition and Markets Authority's decision and are committed to supporting regulatory bodies in their work," a spokesperson for Amazon said. "We look forward to similar decisions from other regulators soon."

In April, the CMA had launched a "Phase 1" probe into the deal which was announced in August last year as Amazon sought to expand its stable of smart-home devices, which include the Alexa voice assistant, smart thermostats, security devices, wall mounted smart displays and a canine-like robot called Astro.

Regulators on both sides of the Atlantic are wary of Big Tech acquiring smaller rivals, especially those with access to big volumes of user data, and tend to demand remedies in return for approving such deals.

"It marks a significant milestone, and both companies are continuing to work cooperatively with other relevant regulators in their review of the merger," iRobot Chief Executive Colin Angle said in a statement.

The news sent shares in U.S-listed iRobot up 18%, while Amazon's stock was down 1.2%.

"In reality though, the 'fundamentals' of this deal means that the CMA's assessment was far less controversial than in other tech based cases given in particular iRobot's low market share," said Alex Haffner, competition partner at UK law firm Fladgate.

Meanwhile, EU antitrust regulators will decide by July 6 whether to clear the deal.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which is widely expected to file an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon.com, is also looking at the iRobot deal. The online retailer has confirmed that it has complied with the agency's document demands but has declined to comment on timing.

When Amazon.com closed a previous deal, its $3.5 billion takeover of primary care provider One Medical in February, the FTC sent a warning letter citing specific concerns about the transaction but took no future steps.

(Reporting by Eva Mathews in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Diane Bartz; Editing by Devika Syamnath, Jason Neely, Peter Graff)
U.S. security officials say the U.S. Energy Department and several other federal agencies have been hacked by a Russian cyber-extortion gang.

Homeland Security officials said Thursday the agencies were caught up in the hacking of MOVEit Transfer, a file-transfer program that is popular with governments and corporations.

The Energy Department said two of its entities were compromised in the hack.

The Russia-linked extortion group CI0p, which claimed responsibility for the hacking, said last week on the dark web site that its victims had until Wednesday to negotiate a ransom or risk having sensitive information dumped online. It added that it would delete any data stolen from governments, cities and police departments.

Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said while the intrusion was largely an opportunistic one that was superficial and caught quickly, her agency was very concerned about this campaign and working on it with urgency.

Reuters reports that the Britains Shell Oil Company, the University of Georgia, Johns Hopkins University and the Johns Hopkins Health System were also among those targeted in the hacking campaign. The Associated Press quoted a senior CISA official as saying U.S. military and intelligence agencies were not affected.

MOVEit said it is working with the federal agencies and its other customers to help fix their systems.

Information for this report was provided by The Associated Press and Reuters.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan is on an Asian diplomatic blitz this week, participating in a trilateral meeting with his counterparts from Japan and South Korea on Thursday.

On Friday, he met with his counterparts from Japan and the Philippines, in the first trilateral engagement of that group's national security advisers.

While the White House readout of both meetings contained standard wording including the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region, the statement on the U.S.JapanPhilippines trilateral meeting is notable in that it mentions "unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion," a veiled reference to Chinese actions.

Sullivan's meetings in Tokyo follow a stop in New Delhi earlier this week to finalize details for next week's official visit to the White House by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India  a country that is becoming increasingly indispensable for Washington's goals in the region.

While the timing is "coincidental," according to an administration official, Sullivan's meetings take place just days before Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to Beijing this weekend.

The State Department says the Beijing visit, which Washington postponed after it shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon flying over U.S. territory in February, is part of the Biden administration's efforts to repair deteriorating ties and keep lines of communication open between Washington and Beijing.

Strengthening alliances and partnerships is a clear component of the administration's strategy to effectively compete with China, while Blinken's trip to Beijing is aimed at stabilizing the relationship, said Yun Sun, director of the China Program at the Stimson Center. "They are two sides of the same coin," she told VOA.

Working with more than one country at a time to shore up allies is part of what's often called the administration's "minilateral" strategy. The goal is to play up the strengths of each partner and encourage them to work together.

"We will not be able to get one big grouping, so let's do lots of minilaterals," said Aparna Pande, director of the Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia at the Hudson Institute in Washington. That way, she told VOA, the U.S. carries less burden, even as it acts as the glue that keeps the groupings together.

Geostrategic Indo-Pacific

The busy week of diplomacy is designed to reaffirm the message that Washington wants to bolster ties with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific, which it sees as the world's key geostrategic region with vast opportunities for greater economic security cooperation, including on critical and emerging technologies.

The region's challenges include North Korean nuclear threats, highlighted by Pyongyang's launch on Thursday of two short-range ballistic missiles. China, meanwhile, has massively increased its military spending in the past decade and has engaged in what Washington calls "economic coercion," imposing economic costs on various countries to achieve political goals.

Amid Beijing's maritime expansion in the South China Sea and tensions with Taiwan, the war on Ukraine has amplified the region's threat assessment, reminding countries of the devastating impact of a potential Chinese invasion.

This leads to increased defense spending by individual countries and demands for an increasingly muscular American presence in the region, with more joint military exercises, a ramped-up defense posture and a stronger nuclear umbrella for South Korea, known as extended deterrence.

"We know they tend to balance against threats, and countries are feeling threatened," said Zack Cooper, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, at a recent event with the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The Philippines, whose coast guard has had increasingly frequent confrontations with the Chinese navy in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, is one example of such countries.

Even as Manila seeks good relations with both Beijing and Washington, it is increasingly concerned about moves "being made by our big neighbor to the north," said Philippines Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez. His government, he added, has made "a conscious effort into really bumping up our relationship with the United States, especially in the defense area."

Beijing characterizes the increased U.S. presence as a "distinct military provocation," a charge the Biden administration rejects.

"The fact that we are looking at ways to be more present is a response to changes in the security environment, not forcing changes in the security environment," said Lindsay Ford, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for South and Southeast Asia, during the CSIS event. "If that were not true, we would not have allies and partners who are so interested in having the United States there more."

Beyond the defense context, U.S.-China relations are "more than just an arms race," said Sheila Smith, senior fellow for Japan studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

"It's a competition now for the edge, the strategic edge in the future, on technology and economic power as well," she told VOA.

U.S. officials say Blinken's visit to China is aimed at restoring a sense of calm and normalcy and is unlikely to achieve any significant breakthrough in the myriad problems affecting Washington-Beijing ties.
The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says one person is dead following a crash early Friday morning near Alexandria. The crash took place on County Road 73 NE near the intersection with Berglund Mile NE, in Alexandria Township. Deputies arrived and the driver, a 17-year old male, was pronounced dead at the scene.
FENYESLITKE, Hungary, June 16, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the Intelligent Rail & Logistics Forum 2023 was held in Fenyeslitke, Hungary. During the forum, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) announced that it would establish the Global Alliance on Artificial Intelligence for Industry and Manufacturing with Huawei and international partners in July. This alliance will be committed to building a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing to promote the innovation and application of AI technologies in industry and manufacturing and boost the digital economy.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230615322685/en/

The Intelligent Rail & Logistics Forum 2023 was held in Fenyeslitke, Hungary (Photo: Business Wire)

In his speech, UNIDO Deputy to the Director General and Managing Director, Ciyong Zou stated, "We are witnessing how mobile connectivity and industrial innovation come together. 5G combined with AI and cloud computing bring many benefits to transport and logistics sectors. The efficiency and quality of jobs have been upgraded greatly. The safety of the site has improved. Participation of women in a previously male-dominated working environment has increased."

As the benefits of AI solutions become increasingly visible across industries, it is important to help businesses go digital. "The objective of the Alliance is to serve as a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and showcase best practices," added Zou.

Janos Talosi, CEO of East-West Intermodal Logistics Plc., explained, "The East-West Gate (EWG) intermodal terminal began operations in October 2022. At the terminal, 1 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) can be quickly loaded and unloaded between widegauge and standard-gauge railways each year, meaning high requirements for both efficiency and safety. As 5G enables the interconnection of all internal communications and technical equipments, the terminal's highly automated cranes can be controlled remotely and are capable of subtle movements. This greatly improves productivity while providing a more comfortable working environment for operators."

"The project marks a key milestone in the development of 5G technologies in Hungary and the digitalization of railfreight, and enables EWG to become an intermodal railway logistics hub in the digital era," Talosi added.

Radoslaw Kedzia, Vice President of Huaweis CEE & Nordic Region said, "East-West Gate Intermodal Terminal is a story of creating social value with excellent collaboration of different partners and dedicated investors. The facilitys digitalized, high-tech solutions attracts many young locals to stay in the area. The average age of the employees are 23-25 years. There is high safety, there is healthy and clean environment for workers, no harsh conditions anymore. The solution proves that 5G has been truly applied in Europe's smart railway sector using next-generation digital technologies and they solve common problems, promote digital transformation."

The Intelligent Rail & Logistics Forum 2023 took place in East-West Gate (EWG) intermodal terminal is located in Fenyeslitke, Hungary, covering an area of 5 million square meters, including the terminal, warehouses, and development zones. It is the largest and most modern inland intermodal terminal of its kind and the first private 5G-supported container railway port in Europe.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230615322685/en/

Contacts

corporate.comms@huawei.com
Theyre the same. Photo-Illustration: Vulture. Photos: Disney; Getty Images

Jeremy Strongs next move? Bambi, according to one Twitter user. That inspired bit of fan casting came about after anonymous sources gave away which director was in the running for the upcoming live-action remakes top job. The choice is what you get when you combine Disneys commitment to live-action remakes with its penchant for poaching prestige art-house directors to service tentpole fare. Sarah Polley, director of the indelible drama Women Talking, is in talks to steer a live-action remake of 1942s weepy environmental fable Bambi, per Deadline. Good for her! While Polley negotiates her Bambi bag, we can only assume shes sneaking in provisions that give her total creative freedom to transform the already affecting tale into a serious, heartrending project with serious actors. The girls deserve a gritty origin-story version of the tale about a fawn heir to the forest throne, traumatized by the murder of his mother and in thrall to his childhood friend. We need a film where the press tour is just stories about how Jeremy Strong lived in Utahs Uinta National Forest for months walking around on all fours and eating tree bark in the dead of winter. More than anything, we are owed stories about how sick Jared Leto was when he lost the role of Thumper to Austin Butler, even after the Method actor learned to chatter his teeth like a rabbit and poop tiny pellets. We rubbed our two brain cells together and came up with some more Bambi casting ideas, below.

Jeremy Strong as Bambi

Photo-Illustration: Vulture. Photos: Getty Images

No one plays a sad, tortured heir better than Strong. He can conjure so many degrees of loss in his eyes  just the thought of an extreme close-up of his face after witnessing the death of Bambis mom is harrowing (and would probably be similar to Kendalls gaze after losing Waystar). Hell appear only if he survives his self-inflicted Bambi boot camp, though. Someone captured a deer eating a snake whole earlier this week. Can Strong go full Method on this one?

Lady Gaga as Faline

Photo-Illustration: Vulture. Photos: Getty Images

If Lady Gaga can channel Ally Maines ability to love someone completely damaged into the role of Bambis love interest, then were cooking with grease.

Austin Butler as Thumper

Photo-Illustration: Vulture. Photos: Getty Images

Thumper is an overly energetic himbo type who sometimes doesnt realize hes making fun of his best friend. Butler can do this. Like, he was in Zoey 101.

Lee Pace as Flower

Photo-Illustration: Vulture. Photos: Getty Images

Imagine him as a bashful little forest creature.

Willem Dafoe as Friend Owl





Photo-Illustration: Vulture. Photos: Getty Images

Dafoe can do his wise-and-kooky bit.

Daniel Kaluuya as the Great Prince of the Forest

Photo-Illustration: Vulture. Photos: Getty Images

He can summon the majesty needed for a stag charged with leading the critters against the violent incursions of Man. Plus, wed like to see him play a dad, for science.

Michelle Williams as Bambis Mom

Photo-Illustration: Vulture. Photos: Getty Images

Williamss maternal energy has range. In Certain Women, shes a frustrated wife intent on getting her husband to see how undermined she is when it comes to raising their daughter. Manchester by the Seas Williams is a mother bubbling with grief in constant danger of boiling over. So yeah, she can play moms in various scenarios. Mostly, though, shes kind of Bambi-coded.

Viola Davis as Aunt Ena

Photo-Illustration: Vulture. Photos: Getty Images

Falines mom appears only briefly in the original film to encourage the young deer to greet Bambi. Davis would eat up this role  she has the tender gravitas of a mom trying to get her kids to play nice with the neighborhood children. Or else.

Frances McDormand as Mrs. Rabbit

Photo-Illustration: Vulture. Photos: Getty Images

Mrs. Rabbit is Thumpers mother, and she appears in the film to scold her little bunny son for making fun of the young Bambis wobbly walk. The Polley version could use McDormands comic chops for some much-needed relief, maybe even making Mrs. Rabbit absolutely neurotic a la Linda Litzke in Burn After Reading.

Barry Keoghan as Man

Killing of a Sacred Deer is literally on his resume. He may even be overqualified to play the species that killed Bambis mom.
Blue Ivy performing in London. Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

The Ivy Leagues colors are blue. Were not talking universities like Yale or Columbia, because, well, talking about college is fundamentally embarrassing. Were talking about Blue Ivy Carters fan base, who dotted Cologne, Germanys Rhein Energy Stadium with blue balloons on June 15, a gesture that delighted the 11-year-old manager after she showed her dancing prowess on a stage shared by her client and collaborator, Beyonce. The Renaissance Tour marks the Grammy Awardwinning artists first tour to date. Its not just any tour, though  Blue Ivy has been dancing to sold-out stadium shows with audiences of 50,000-plus all over Europe. In an extra-technical sense, shes really a super-special guest on her moms stage. On a spiritual level, though, Blue Ivy headlining Renaissance in the middle of the show is the encapsulation of everything the tween has been working toward. After years of managing the best pop act on the planet, Blue dipped her toe into songwriting for Browned Skin Girl, earned musics top honor, and is now taking on a second job: carrying the choreography of My Power and Kendrick Lamars Alright on her back (especially after some fans had criticisms over the energy of Yonces dancers). Were glad she pulled Beyonce to the side after those first shows in Sweden and explained why she was needed up there in costume. She brought a je ne sais quoi to that debut appearance in Paris on May 26 and has been replicating it ever since. Heres a roundup of the star performer painting the stage Blue.

Paris

Blue Ivy dancing with her mother Beyonce in Paris !!! pic.twitter.com/lEJsusA8xM  RENAISSANCE (@Ben_Dubaii) May 26, 2023

London

Rumi showing love to big sis Blue Ivy at the Renaissance Tour last night.



They made signs for her 



Too cute  pic.twitter.com/jMCF7h4E2D  I Choose Violence (@ourhermitage) May 27, 2023

Blue Ivy in London tonight. pic.twitter.com/pZQ3d2PzTQ  RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR (@RenaissanceWT) May 29, 2023

Barcelona

Blue Ivy was surprised last night when she spotted a sign for her in the crowd in Barcelona. #RENAISSANCEWorldTour pic.twitter.com/Akg9ETy1qi  RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR (@RenaissanceWT) June 9, 2023

Cologne, Germany

Beyonce thanks the #Cologne crowd for their gorgeous blue balloon tribute for Blue Ivy's portion of the show. #RWT2023 

 https://t.co/gQt79tz5wy pic.twitter.com/QIydPDVQaK  BEYONCE LEGION (@BeyLegion) June 15, 2023

aww the blue balloons when Blue is performing pic.twitter.com/4L3RMP9Ktx    (@beyswede) June 15, 2023
Photo: Craig Blankenhorn/HBO Max

When we watched the first season of And Just Like That , we had a lot to say. Some of the character choices were confusing, the jokes about wokeness were often cringey, and the absence of Samantha was glaring. But we couldnt stop watching, and talking, and watching and talking some more. And ultimately, we did find joy in seeing our beloved Sex and the City characters back onscreen.

And so, for the second season, were launching our next subscriber-exclusive newsletter, And Just Like That Club. If you read our previous TV newsletter, Succession Club, youre already familiar with the format, but if not, it works like this: Every week, were gathering writers and editors from all around the magazine to discuss, debate, and obsess over all the minutiae of the latest episode, alongside our subscribers.

Well be asking the folks at Curbed for help decoding the shows real estate and our friends at the Cut for their critiques of all the fashion. If Che Diaz needs notes on their pilot, the Vulture comedy team is here to help. Were already having spirited debates about Aidans return. And you know well be close-reading that Samantha scene.

New episodes of And Just Like That  are streaming on Max every Thursday starting June 22. Newsletters will go out on Thursday evenings, ready for you whenever youve had a chance to watch. Existing subscribers can click here to sign up for the newsletter. Not a subscriber yet? Click here to get started.
Photo: Scott Legato/TAS23/Getty Images

Any self-respecting Swiftie knows the more obscure your favorite Taylor song is the better. You need a deep cut like False God, Im Only Me When Im With You, or Babe (Taylors Version) (From the Vault) to truly impress  something that proves to your fellow friendship-bracelet-wielding fanatics that youve spent the requisite amount of time and emotional energy with the whole catalogue. Of course, Swift knows this too, which is why she dedicates a portion of her record-breaking Eras Tour to playing two surprise acoustic versions of typically lesser-known tracks.

Swift has a lot of songs to choose from for these weekly moments  and with 19 shows left on the American leg of her tour, only 38 more chances to do so before she heads overseas. So how good are the odds of her playing your non-main-set-list dream song? I crunched the numbers to find out.

The Field

There are ten Taylor Swift albums. If you count every song on the longest version of each (Bonus, 3 a.m., Taylors Version, et al.) and add in every B-side, collaboration, and stray Christmas-themed track, you end up with 204 in total. Of those, 43 are already on the main Eras set list each night, which takes us down to 161 options. We can then eliminate the songs shes already chosen as surprises so far this tour, as well as invisible string, which she removed after breaking up with its muse, former boyfriend/block of unfrosted vanilla cake Joe Alwyn.

That leaves Swift with 98 songs. Since they arent all equally likely to be played  surely shell use a spot on a widely beloved track like Picture to Burn and not, I dont know, Crazier from the Hannah Montana soundtrack  we need an objective, data-driven metric that takes into account each remaining songs commercial success, fan popularity, history on previous tour set lists, and suitability for a stripped-down acoustic cover.

An Objective Data-Driven Metric That Takes Into Account Each Remaining Songs Commercial Success, Fan Popularity, History on Previous Tour Set Lists, and Suitability for a Stripped-Down Acoustic Cover:

Billboard Hot 100 Chart data: The first listing on my model is a chart score, which factors in both peak position and total weeks on the Hot 100. One-hundred and ninety (!) Taylor Swift songs have spent at least one week on the Hot 100, and as of today, 69 of them remain in the running for the surprise set list. This is a good baseline for commercial success, although it typically focuses on success at the time of release. We also want to be able to measure a songs performance five, ten, or 15 years later, so I also included 

Spotify Streams and YouTube Views data: The nice thing about both of these is that you can see cumulative and current data (streams from last week on Spotify, views from yesterday on YouTube). Cumulative data alone will overrate older songs, while current data will tell you that Karma is a bigger hit than You Belong With Me; when combined they should give us a fuller picture of a songs commercial success.

Ranking of All Taylor Swift Songs: In her 2019 Tiny Desk, Taylor admitted that she loves it when people rank all her songs, and that shed paid particularly close attention to the ascent of All Too Well. While I dont weigh rankings very heavily compared with the other data above, I think its helpful for my metric to know that most fans and critics agree that Ivy is a better track than Come in With the Rain.

Reputation Tour B-Stage?: Throughout 2018s reputation tour, Taylor cycled through 46 different acoustic songs on the smaller B-stage, either because they were her personal favorites, she knew fans loved them, or maybe because they were easy for her to play acoustically. In any case, her reasons for choosing them probably still apply five years later. Since then there have been six new Taylor Swift albums, so I am giving rep-tour B-stage songs a small bonus to their overall score.

Intangibles/Unquantifiables:

The Ed Factor: Swift has been a generous collaborator (or, if you want to be cynical about it, a ruthlessly savvy marketer) her whole career, working with country icons Tim McGraw and the Chicks; indie sad boys Bon Iver and the National; and rap stars Kendrick Lamar and Future. But for Swift, theres one duet partner who is first among equals: Ed Sheeran. She helped anoint Ed as a pop star in 2013 when Swift invited him to collaborate on Everything Has Changed, a rather forgettable late entry on Red, and to open for that albums tour. Since then, Ed has contributed vocals to reputations End Game and Run. Taylor loves to bring out collaborators in live shows to sing duets, so all collaborations are fair game on my list  except that Ed will be headlining his own show in Toronto this weekend, which makes his appearance at Swifts Pittsburgh show (or any other show, as his tour extends through August) highly improbable. I actually do formally quantify this one: My metric penalizes the three Ed songs accordingly.

Local Color: Whenever possible, Taylor likes to play songs that reference the city shes in, or feature beloved local artists. For example, in her three nights at Metlife Stadium in May, she played Maroon, (And I chose you / the one I was dancing with / in New York) Holy Ground, (Back to a first-glance feeling on New York time) False God, (Staring out the window like Im not your favorite town / Im New York City), and of course, Welcome to New York. She also brought out her producer, co-writer, and friend for life Jack Antonoff for Getaway Car, considered by many experts to be one of the most stirring depictions of West Side Highway standstill traffic. Sadly, this is not super helpful because she does not mention Pittsburgh or most upcoming cities in any of her songs. As for collaborators, I couldnt find anyone from Pittsburgh, but looking ahead, the National are all originally from the Cincinnati area (although shes already played coney island), OneRepublic frontman and co-writer of I Know Places Ryan Tedder grew up an hour outside of Denver, and pretty much every pop star shes ever worked with probably has a house in L.A. None of these affects todays model, but feel free to make adjustments to your home citys show as you see fit.

Numerology/Patterns: Yes, we all know Swift loves to plant Easter eggs in her work for fans to frantically decipher. Shes also obsessed with numerology, has four songs with numeric titles (the 1, seven, Fifteen, and 22), and considers 13 her lucky number. So there must be some code or pattern that shes left us with the sequence of surprise songs so far, and  look, Ive spent more time staring at the colored dots on this USA Today graphic than I care to admit. Shes only played songs from Lover on odd-numbered days. She plays the two songs in alphabetical order about two-thirds of the time. If you add 13 to the number of vowels in the first verse of each song shes played  no, Im sorry, I have nothing. Let me know in the comments if youve cracked any codes Ive missed.

The Results:

98. The Outside (0.705 percent chance): This cut off her 2006 self-titled debut album implausibly depicts teenaged Taylor as a pariah who is never invited to the cool sleepover birthday parties. It has earned the ignominious honor of being my models least-favorite pick for her surprise set list. This seems like a good call to me, as she has not played this song live since her October 18, 2008 show at Chattanoogas McKenzie Arena.

97. Highway Dont Care (0.74 percent)

96. Id Lie (0.8 percent)

95. I Heart? (0.81 percent)

94. We Were Happy (0.82 percent)

93. Beautiful Eyes (0.82 percent)

92. Stay Beautiful (0.87 percent)

91. Dont You (0.895 percent)

90. Beautiful Ghosts (0.905 percent)

89. Run (0.955 percent)

88. A Perfectly Good Heart (0.965 percent)

87. Marys Song (Oh My Oh My) (0.97 percent)

86. Thats When (0.99 percent)

85. Girl At Home (0.995 percent)

84. Bye Bye Baby (1.04 percent)

83. Dancing With Our Hands Tied (1.105 percent)

82. I Wish You Would (1.205 percent)

81. Tell Me Why (1.28 percent)

80. Christmases When You Were Mine (1.285 percent)

79. King of My Heart (1.335 percent)

78. The Lakes (1.44 percent)

77. This Is Why We Cant Have Nice Things (1.46 percent)

76. Tied Together With a Smile (1.51 percent)

75. About Me (1.545 percent)

74. Its Time to Go (1.56 percent)

73. Everything Has Changed (1.635 percent)

72. Dress (1.64 percent)

71. I Did Something Bad (1.655 percent)

70. End Game (1.665 percent)

69. New Years Day (1.695 percent): As part of her 2016-17 Kardashian-induced exile from public society, Swift did almost no press for reputation. Two of the rare exceptions were a performance on Fallon, and a stunt for Good Morning America where she invited 100 fans to hear her play a song in the living room of her Rhode Island summer home. She played this tear-jerking love song both times, with no band backing up her solo piano and vocals. The model isnt impressed with its online performance, but Id be truly shocked if she makes it through the rest of the tour without playing this one.

68. So It Goes  (1.895 percent)

67. Closure (1.955 percent)

66. I Know Places (1.985 percent)

65. You Are in Love (2.045 percent)

64. Forever Winter (2.1 percent)

63. Superman (2.19 percent)

62. Carolina (2.215 percent)

61. Sweeter Than Fiction (2.255 percent)

60. Better Than Revenge (2.26 percent): I dont care what my model says, in the year 2023, Taylor Swift will not sing this iconic slut-shaming anthem about a girl whos better known for the things that she does on the mattress. Thats a bit of a bummer but luckily she has many other great songs to choose from.

59. Right Where You Left Me (2.285 percent)

58. Its Nice to Have a Friend (2.29 percent)

57. Starlight (2.35 percent)

56. Last Kiss (2.35 percent)

55. Superstar (2.375 percent)

54. Innocent (2.41 percent)

53. Im Only Me When Im With You (2.41 percent)

52. Only the Young (2.45 percent)

51. Stay Stay Stay (2.465 percent)

50. Christmas Tree Farm (2.465 percent)

49. Come in With the Rain (2.485 percent)

48. Crazier (2.54 percent)

47. The Moment I Knew (2.615 percent)

46. Hoax (2.62 percent)

45. You All Over Me (2.65 percent)

44. Epiphany (2.775 percent)

43. If This Was a Movie (2.805 percent)

42. The Very First Night (2.825 percent)

41. Never Grow Up (2.825 percent)

40. The Last Time (2.83 percent)

39. Soon Youll Get Better (2.83 percent)

38. Dear John (2.86 percent)

37. Dear Reader (2.9 percent)

36. Peace (2.91 percent)

35. Untouchable (2.95 percent)

34. Long Live (2.96 percent) One of the few songs that Swift has admitted is explicitly autobiographical, writing on her website that its about my band, and my producer, and all the people who have helped us build this brick by brick, [and] the fans, the people who I feel are all in this together [with me]. But the vague lyrics and dramatic, effusive nostalgia allow every high-school senior to relate, whether they have toured as an international pop star or not. My hunch is shell save this one for the last night of the North American leg of the tour and play it with a heart-wrenching montage of backstage pictures of her and her band and crew on the big screen.

33. Eyes Open (2.99 percent)

32. Ivy (3.005 percent)

31. Glitch (3.01 percent)

30. Dorothea (3.045 percent)

29. Happiness (3.065 percent)

28. Long Story Short (3.075 percent)

27. All of the Girls You Loved Before (3.21 percent)

26. Babe (3.235 percent)

25. Safe And Sound (3.26 percent)

24. Daylight (3.305 percent)

23. Evermore (3.36 percent)

22. Ronan (3.38 percent)

21. Message in a Bottle (3.485 percent): Its nuts to me that after their outrageous run with 22, We Are Never Getting Back Together, and I Knew You Were Trouble, Taylor and Max Martin wrote a fourth song for Red and then sat on it for a decade. Its as if George Lucas secretly made a fourth Star Wars movie in 1983, put it aside to work on the prequels, and then casually slid it onto the extras section of a DVD set next to some bloopers and directors commentary. And then the secret fourth movie was just as good as the first three if not better. Personally, I feel cheated that I never got to hear Message in a Bottle at all my middle-school dances.

20. Bigger Than the Whole Sky (3.49 percent): Marc Maron listened to this song on a hike, and was so moved (and/or dehydrated) that he passed out and smashed up his face. I dont know if Taylor listens to Maron, or if the knowledge that this song has this effect would make her more or less likely to play it in front of 70,000 fans, but its a good song!

19. No Body, No Crime (3.57 percent) She brought out Phoebe Bridgers for Nothing New during the Red era of the main set list for all the shows that Bridgers opened. I imagine shell do something similar with this song when Haim joins as an opening act.

18. Afterglow (3.575 percent)

17. Paris (3.58 percent)

16. Labyrinth (3.59 percent)

15. London Boy (3.7 percent): Can you imagine if she played this in Pittsburgh or some other American city? It would practically be a Third Amendment violation. This one is for Wembley or nowhere.

14. Sweet Nothing (3.775 percent): A lovely ballad about being sleepy and in love, featuring only piano and vocals, this song seems like it would fit perfectly in the acoustic section of the set list. Then again, it might not, both because the three-hour mark of a frenzied stadium show is probably not the best time to regale all the parents in the audience about the pleasures of having a lazy night in, and because the piano part is sneakily difficult.

13. Change (4.015 percent)

12. New Romantics (4.07 percent)

11. Paper Rings (4.105 percent)

10. The Way I Loved You (4.14 percent): The model is enamored with the streaming success that the re-recorded version of this song enjoyed, but Im not so sure, if only because I think Taylor might not want to give Avril Lavignes copyright team any more opportunities to belatedly realize that this song has an uncanny similarity to Complicated.

9. I Forgot That You Existed (4.16 percent): A song about not caring, which was always going to be a bit of a reach for an artist who cares so intensely. But its a fun time, and has a sparse production style that would translate very well to acoustic guitar.

8. Mr. Perfectly Fine (4.25 percent): Two years ago, we were introduced to the re-recorded Fearless with the release of this breezy From the Vault track. You can see why it didnt make the final cut of the original album, but it delivers a good dose of nostalgia for her early-empire snark. For fans devastated to have missed her Forever and Always performance in Philly, this might be the next best thing.

7: Cornelia Street (4.31 percent): This would be incredible. Taylor got famous writing cheerful songs about being heartbroken and rejected. This is the opposite, a devastatingly sad song about being in a perfect relationship with the love of your life and feeling miserable, because you know the hypothetical future breakup would be so crushing. Now that the breakup has transpired, it takes on a whole new meaning. She literally cant walk Cornelia Street again!

6: Picture to Burn (4.25 percent): One of the biggest early hits to be left off the reputation tour B-Stage set list, which is a shame because this song is hilarious. Perhaps shes still avoiding it as penance for the hastily scrubbed original line about telling her friends that the asshole ex is gay. But come on. Its been 15 years. She put You Need to Calm Down out as a single for Lover! She wrote an entire lesbian love triangle into folklore! She maybe even slept with Dianna Agron! Shes done enough to atone for this. Burn that picture!

5: Call It What You Want (4.52 percent): A lo-fi love song seemingly tailor-made (and Taylor-made, lol) for an acoustic cover on a stadium tour, except that once again, its probably too tainted by Joe. She put some particularly nauseating home footage of her playing it for him (and even telling him she loved him in between the chorus and the verse, Rodrigo style) in the 2020 Netflix documentary/propaganda vehicle Miss Americana. It seems like shes missed her moment for this, but if she had something similar to play for Matty Healy at one of the Nashville shows he attended, I think she might have broken the internet.

4: Exile (4.92 percent): Last year, Swift showed up onstage at a Bon Iver concert in London midway through this song, and the band had to stop playing for a full minute because the crowd was screaming so much. Personally, her returning the favor and bringing out Justin Vernon at her own show is a dream scenario  I love this song with my whole heart.

3: ME! (5.09 percent): Okay this song sucks. But. It would be SO FUNNY on piano. Hooooo hoo hooooooo, she would sing soulfully, in between angsty minor chords. Though a Brendan Urie cameo would probably be cool. (I know there are people out there who care more about Panic! at the Disco than Bon Iver. These people are crazy. But Panic! is good too.)

2: The Story of Us (5.25 percent): This would be incredible. The song is another masterful meta-commentary on the nature of storytelling, but its also about the awkwardness of being alone at a party (another theme shes kind of obsessed with). A bit up-tempo for this setting, but she did it acoustically on the reputation tour and people loved it.

1: Back to December (5.68 percent): She left this one off the reputation tour and I simply dont understand why. Its got everything. Massive streaming/charting success. Widespread critical acclaim. Slow, ballad-y verses that build to an epic one-note melody chorus. Blaming herself for the way a relationship ended (revolutionary for her in 2010)! I guess the one drawback is the one-instrument version would mean no cellos, and the cellos are (in this amateur cellists unbiased opinion) what elevates this song from good to incredible.

Related
Reanna Cruz: Weve seen a continuous stream of Latin music on the Hot 100 for several years now, but on the recent editions of Hot 100, theres been a particular influx of a certain category of Latin music, and thats Mexican regional. Twelve songs on the Hot 100 right now are Mexican regional. Ana, before we get into it, can you start off with a quick explanation of what is considered Mexican regional?

Anamaria Sayre: Sure, start me off with a hard question. So, some people would call it a genre. Its not really. It is quite literally what it sounds like: Its referring to a group of genres that are all regional to certain parts of Mexico. Here in the U.S., its generally easier to just group it together as a term that refers to all of these genres that come out of the northern part of Mexico, as well as the southern part of the U.S.

But what is it really? A marketing term used by U.S. labels and execs who didnt know what to do with the music. It encompasses norteno, it encompasses banda, it encompasses corridos. These are genres that have lived in the northern part of Mexico for a long time. I think people are now becoming more aware of the differences, but its basically a bucket term.

Charlie Harding: Ana, you call it a catchall term. Is it also like a radio format? A way of packaging different music into one kind of airplay?

AS: Yeah, exactly. Youll also hear people refer to it in different ways depending on where you are in the United States. If you talk to someone in Mexico, theyre never gonna package it as that because that doesnt mean anything to them.

CH: Even though this is not one genre, are there any hallmark sounds that we might hear across Mexican regional music?

AS: You might hear accordion, you might hear a lot of brass, like tuba and trumpet, things like that. 12-string guitars are pretty characteristic, and these vocal harmonies that come in when you have a larger group.

One thing Ill add is that the lyricism is generally really strong. Theres always a lot of storytelling involved. Stories of the heart. In terms of straight-ahead Rancheras, you have your guy drinking at the bar and el rancho wearing his boots being like, she left me, blah, blah, blah. So thats a key piece of this genre.

RC: There are a bunch of different subgenres inside the umbrella term of Mexican regional. Can you break a couple of those down?

AS: Yeah, theres a lot. So you have banda, which is kind of the bigger sound, like when you think of Grupo Firme and their 20 guys onstage and theyve got like the full brass section and all the guitars.

RC: The matching suits.

AS: If you heard it, you would know it. Thats kind of the bigger sound. You have Sierreno, which is more stripped-down guitar based. If you know the artist DannyLux, hes doing a lot of that lately.

People will argue with me on this  my co-host Felix argues with me on this all the time  but Tejano technically fits under it. A lot of the Tejana you would think of, the most famous obviously being Selena, had a little bit more of an electro-Cumbia flair to it.

You have Norteno, which is very ballady, but also has a kind of Cumbia sound to it. So theres really a huge variety. And a lot of it, again, is tied to specific states within Mexico. Its tied to a people, to a region, to a history and a heart that comes from certain places.

CH: Its helpful to hear whats going on on the charts as not just 12 percent of this music is representing all of Mexico, but rather is coming from very different styles and sounds.

AS: Its been a long-time goal of mine to try to break down a little bit more of what this is. And its been interesting to see the way different streaming platforms and things are responding. Apple has a huge playlist that they named Musica Mexicana. Like, they just called it Mexican music. And its like, Mexican music is extremely vast. And this is just one piece of one piece of one piece.

CH: Surely you have variations of metal and punk and electronic music and just, every kind of genre is gonna exist in Mexico. So yeah, thats an even more inaccurate umbrella term.

AS: Yeah. Dont even get me started on the Chilango music scene. Thats a whole other thing.

RC: Ana, before we dive into the songs that are on the charts right now: why do you think Mexican regional is having a moment? On the radio and on the charts, what is driving this push?

AS: Its partly due to streaming and young artists who are making the genre cool, but my theory is that its mostly because of an enormous increase of this young generation of Latinos in the U.S., many of them U.S.-born. You have a whole generation of really young Latinos in the U.S. who are listening to this music. And thats why were seeing such an enormous build.

Peso Pluma, for example, is touring right now and hes hitting Texas and California like five times back and forth. Its about whats happening here in this country and the way that its bringing Mexico to the world.

RC: Well, speaking of Peso Pluma, that takes us to our first song, which peaked at No. 4 on the charts. Its called Ella Baila Sola, and its a collaboration between Peso Pluma and another group called Eslabon Armado. Ana, right off the bat, what genre would you put this under?

.

AS: This very comfortably lies within the bucket of corridos tumbados.

Corridos has always been kind of an older genre, something your grandparents listen to. More melodic, a little ballady. In recent years it was popularized by Natanael Cano; he was the first young artist to really bring the corrido tumbado to a larger audience. Its basically this mix of your super-old corridos genre and hip-hop and rap sensibilities, mashed together and sped up. It has that kind of trumpet-y da da da in most of them, and you get a corrido tumbado, which is all of a sudden really cool.

CH: I think its notable that the song has spent multiple weeks in the top ten of the Hot 100 and doesnt really contain the hallmarks of pop production. We dont have any electronics. There is no 808 bass. It doesnt even have a chorus or any sort of real repetition in the lyrics.

It is clearly extremely narrative. Its full of hooks where my ears are like, Oh, Ive heard that hook. But its always under a new set of lyrics, and that rarely happens on the charts. The only thing that I hear thats contemporary is the production. Its very in your face: its bright, its aggressive. It feels like its mixed like a pop song, but its not looking to cross over by borrowing things that are already very cool on the Hot 100. Its in its own lane.

AS: A hundred percent. One thing that is so fascinating about the explosion of regional is that the last time that we saw anything within this space have a big U.S. presence, like, the thing that people think of is Selena. Because you think about 90s Latin pop and people around the U.S. actually listening to Selena doing this kind of techno-Cumbia thing. She almost had to popify to make her music interesting to people. And theres none of that in this music.

RC: She even had a song called Techno Cumbia  like, its right in the name. Shes bridging those culture gaps. For me, what stands out about Ella Baila Sola is Peso Plumas voice specifically, which Vultures music editor Alex Suskind once described as being squeezed through a sieve, kind of just ringing everything out of it, you know? And I dont find it particularly attractive to listen to, but it somehow works.

You can hear it more clearly on Peso Plumas recent session with Bizarrap, which is stuck in my head. Theres such a distinct texture to it that I think brings a lot to the production of whatever song hes in.

AS: Chalino Sanchez was one of the most widely beloved Narcocorrido artists. And his voice was famously kind of grating. I think that historically, the vocals of the genre are not always the most straight-ahead sweetest voices to listen to. Thats part of the roughness of it. If youre telling stories of the heart, youre sometimes telling stories of heartbreak.

I mean, this is a genre that is heart-wrenching, and its matched oftentimes by imperfect vocals. You just want to be as loud and as intense and as emotional as possible. Sometimes its more imperfect voices that are the best ones to communicate that.

CH: Yeah. A lot of the sound is in the nasal cavity. Its forward sounding, and I think that another reason it works is because the production here is so thick. Theres so much instrumentation filling up so much space. If you want to be heard, you gotta break through.

AS: It has to be a voice that you cant not listen to. You cant look away.

RC: Peso Pluma and Eslabon Armado linked up for the first time to make Ella Baila Sola. What is the significance of them and their collaboration, Ana?

AS: Peso Pluma is blowing up. He started making music a year ago, and its been a wild ride for him. Hes from Guadalajara, which is not a city in northern Mexico, where this music usually comes from. He went to high school in San Antonio, Texas, and is half Lebanese.

So hes a lot of different things that are not necessarily characteristic of a Mexican regional artist, but thats arguably why he is representing this. Its important to look at this phenomenon as something that is Mexican-American in many ways. For him to have that time in Texas makes sense.

Eslabon Armado, theyre a band from Patterson, California. So in a similar way, theyre a Mexican American group of kids bringing this music to the world. They started a couple years earlier, but both of these artists are really young. Peso is 23. Thats something thats really characteristic of whats happening with this explosion. Everyone whos participating is super-young.

CH: And theyre bridge builders between cultures.

RC: I mean, it has demonstrated success. Peso Pluma has eight songs on the Hot 100 right now. Thats a number reserved for the Taylor Swifts of the world, the Rihannas of the world.

AS: You have to understand, in Mexico, Peso Pluma is like Beyonce level. He is superstar-celebrity status.

RC: Well, speaking of superstar celebrity, lets transition to another Mexican regional collaboration featuring none other than Global Superstar Bad Bunny in his collaboration with Grupo Frontera, un x100to.

.

CH: Different vibe.

RC: This track peaked at five on the Hot 100. Charlie, what do you think?

CH: Well, it makes me want to know what regional style were listening to here, because this is a very different feel.

AS: Yeah. I was surprised when (a) I heard Bad Bunny was gonna be on a regional track and (b) when I heard what it was. This is him collaborating with Grupo Frontera, which is another Mexican American band. Theyre coming to us out of Texas. And this song is Norteno, with maybe like a Cumbia-light mix to it.

Its something thats kind of a straight-ahead Tejano Cumbia, if anything. Very characteristic of the southern part of Texas and the music thats come out of there  Selena included.

CH: Im hearing the accordion, you have the cha cha cha cumbia rhythm. But yeah, the sort of slower ballad kind of thing.

AS: Yeah. The ballad piece of it is key to any Norteno. Its also something that you get with a song like this that does have some of that cumbia feel. Its an interesting marriage, and I am fascinated that this was the track that Bad Bunny chose to participate in.

CH: Right? Because of course hes Puerto Rican, and this falls well outside the world of reggaeton or Latin trap that we know him for.

AS: Totally. And I mean, him doing a regional song is not that surprising because a lot of other artists are hopping on it right now. Its whats popular. Karol G had a regional track on her recent album. However, of all the things that you could do, Nortenos dont really move. Like we said, theyre ballads.

CH: Maybe the reason that Bad Bunny fits so well in this track is that the Cumbia rhythm layers really well with the dembow beat. Even though Cumbia and Reggaeton dont originate in the same place, they have this rhythmic overlap that makes sense for a Bad Bunny track, even if coming from different cultural pathways,

AS: Cumbia is originally a Colombian genre, and before that, it came over from Africa on the slave trade. But its something that has become one of the most pervasive Latin American sounds. You have your Mexican Cumbia, the Caribbean, Central America  Cumbia is all over the map.

The influence is present in much of Latin music because of how pervasive the genre is. And so when you look at regional, which is made up of polka and waltz and different things like that, too, the Norteno is practically a Cumbia but kind of mixed up a little bit. So it does make sense. I would say theres a bridge there for sure.

An interesting factoid about the Cumbia rhythm: Its a dance rhythm, right? Like, basically its like this step back and forth. As I mentioned, it came from the slave trade, and it was designed as something people could dance to while in shackles. Thats the origin and its what keeps it that tight. Thats pretty different from a lot of the other beats youll hear coming out of the north of Mexico.

CH: Wow.

RC: Something else about this track that I find exciting is that it leans more into the mainstream pop production. Right off the bat we have a reverberated vocal and a simple stripped-back guitar intro. It feels at home in the world of other charting, more ballad-y pop songs.

CH: And when Bad Bunny comes in, the song flips and becomes super-contemporary.

AS: Yes. The other thing worth noting is thematically how contemporary it is. Like the title itself, 1%, hes singing a song about his phone being on 1% and talking to this girl. What gets more contemporary than that? Theyre not just modernizing the sound, but theyre modernizing the subject matter.

CH: They even do it in the way that they sing it  the melodies feel like they could be sung by Post Malone or, certainly, Bad Bunny. They have this very 2020s sensibility in the melody.

RC: All right, lets keep going down the charts. Peaking at 35 we have TQM by Fuerza Regida.

.

RC: Right off the bat were hearing a lot of stuff that we already talked about: Rough, textured vocals, and brass-forward production. Ana, what would you consider this?

AS: Im gonna go once again with corrido tumbado. This has all of those characteristic sounds that we talked about earlier with Ella Baila Sola. You have that trumpet sound. You have the 12-string guitars in there. And weve talked about vocals a lot, and that is relevant here: Almost every Mexican mix, I would say, goes super-upfront on the vocals. Its just a thing everyone does. Its how Mexicans like to listen to their music.

CH: Its pop music.

AS: Exactly. And its about the lyricism too. Youre getting funny themes again here, these guys being like, When I roll up in my BMW, you pay attention to me, blah, blah, blah.

And when youre talking about corridos mashed with a hip-hop tone, theyre not in the traditional banda garb. Theyre rocking designers and they want everyone to know it. And thats characteristic of the music.

I love these guys. Fuerza Regida  they released a song earlier this year that blew them up, Bebe Dame, which was with our friends that we just discussed, Grupo Frontera. The thing that is amazing to me is that these songs work super-produced and they work superstripped down. I know the guy who wrote this song, and Ive heard him perform it with just a 12 string. It holds up 100 percent. The way these songs move, the way the melodies are written, theyre so strong. It doesnt really matter how much production you have on it, it still works.

CH: That usually is what defines a great song. When you strip it down to just its bare bones, does it still hold together? And this definitely does.

RC: Were going to move away from Mexican regional now and take a look at what else is happening on the Hot 100 
Unispace: "Returning for Good" Global Survey Do employers understand what workers need from the workplace?

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Malaysian employees are quitting roles due to a host of factors, including unmet job expectations post-pandemic and a disconnect with leaders and culture. This is according to a new study by global workforce creation experts Unispace.

Returning for Good, a Unispace Global Workplace Insights report surveyed 9,500 workers and 6,650 business leaders across 17 countries worldwide.

Expectations not met: The gap between employer and employee

'Privacy', 'Productivity', and 'IT' are the problems, not 'Convenience'

While both employers (51%) and employees (55%) in Malaysia expect to eventually return to greater levels of office-based work, a disparity exists between what employers and employees believe the office should look like and provide.

Half of the workers surveyed revealed that they are hot-desking when in the workplace. 92% indicated that they would be inclined to spend more time at work if they had an assigned desk. Indeed, over a third (36%) revealed that they dislike the lack of privacy in the office. 26% feel that they are more effective in their quieter, at-home environment.

Motivated and incentivised  but not provided-for

Remote working hinders career prospect

Three quarters of employees (73%) and four fifths of employers (86%) indicated that career prospects would be limited for those who work remotely. Compared with Malaysia's relatively low reluctance to return to the office (54% versus 60% in Singapore, 57% in the USA, and 67% in Hong Kong), the conclusion is that office spaces are the problem, not returning to the office, in principle.

Sean Moran, Senior Principal, Client Solutions, Asia at Unispace:

"We worked with clients across a variety of sectors, including banking and finance, legal, marketing, healthcare, hospitality and lifestyle. More companies are building larger, shared spaces with leisure elements like gaming areas, fitness facilities, and pantries with free beers; even the banking and legal industries - which are perceived as traditional and conservative - are open for hot-desking and meeting rooms with creative elements such as a graffiti wall to increase employee engagement and stimulate inspiration. These help balance their long working hours and high burnout rates"

For the full Returning for Good report, please download via this link.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/unispace-returning-for-good-global-survey-do-employers-understand-what-workers-need-from-the-workplace-301852853.html

SOURCE Unispace
(This June 16 story has been corrected to fix the date of contract expiration in paragraph 1)

By Lisa Baertlein

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - United Parcel Service (UPS) union employees have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike should contract talks break down after the current agreement ends at midnight on July 31, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters said on Friday.

The Teamsters, representing some 340,000 UPS workers in the United States, said 97% of voting members approved the strike authorization, "giving the union maximum leverage to win demands at the bargaining table."

The vote comes during relatively cordial talks as new Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien works to get a UPS deal that shares billions of dollars of its pandemic profit with workers and helps to recruit new members - including Amazon.com warehouse staff.

UPS again on Friday said it is confident that the two sides will reach an agreement that provides wins for all involved.

"The results do not mean a strike is imminent and do not impact our current business operations in any way," the company said.

UPS shares fell as much as 1.5% after the news but quickly pared losses to trade down 0.6% in midday trade.

The company and the union already have agreements on issues such as adding air conditioning in new delivery trucks. But talks continue on wages, a crucial issue.

Jeremy Tancredi, a former UPS manager turned industry consultant, expects the Teamsters to win a "healthy" raise without having to resort to a work stoppage.

"There is money out there to (pay for the) increase," Tancredi said, adding that the lift would not be "crazy drastic" or stressful to UPS.

There is precedent for significant wage increases.

U.S. freight railroad workers secured a 24% contract pay increase. Unions and FedEx reached a tentative deal that would give pilots for the delivery company a 30% raise. And the union and employers for U.S. West Coast port workers this week struck a tentative deal that includes a 32% pay increase and a one-time "hero" bonus.

Tancredi, a partner at consultancy West Monroe, said interdependence between the Teamsters and UPS reduces strike risk. That is because UPS management sells Teamster professionalism and teamwork as a strength over competitors, and the Teamsters count UPS as its largest employer at a time when union membership is struggling to grow, Tancredi added.

Still, employees told Reuters that Teamsters members are unified and would stop work if the company balks at raises that reflect the time and health risks they took to manage the COVID-19 pandemic-related cargo surge or their value to the company.

"We were working basically Christmas hours for two years straight" during the pandemic, when e-commerce surged, said Rikki Schreiner, a full-time UPS employee in Eagan, Minnesota.

UPS was more profitable than FedEx during the pandemic when animosity between that rival and its lower-cost delivery contractors festered.

"They get what they pay for," Schreiner said of UPS, adding that company delivery drivers, who make about $150,000 annually including base pay and benefits before overtime, "earn it."

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles and Shivansh Tiwary in Bangalore; Editing by Jamie Freed and Will Dunham)
Joyce may have been inspired to write The Dead during his unhappy time in Rome.

Rome was rather tense in 1906. Pope Pius X, still smarting from his loss of the papal states some 30 years earlier, refused to move beyond the sanctuary of St Peters while the Savoy family, his rivals and Italys new monarchs, built rather grand monuments, empty gestures of grandeur. Into this tension walked 24-year-old James Joyce; a man desperately trying to escape tensions of his own.

Since leaving Dublin, Joyce had been living in the Adriatic coastal town of Trieste, in northeast Italy. He had made quite an impact on the expatriate community and their hangers-on. Many people befriended Joyce and seemed endlessly willing to help him and his wife as they struggled to come to terms with the realities of raising a young family.

But Joyce was a restless and flamboyant character whose fondness for alcohol worried his wife and riled his English school employers. Joyce even lured his brother Stanislaus to Trieste, knowing full well the extra income would help maintain his indulgent lifestyle. To make matters worse, the school director absconded, leaving the school in disarray and Joyce without a regular income. There was always trouble in Trieste.

Perhaps Rome, with all its mysterious splendour and history, could inspire him to greatness. Destiny and fame surely awaited him. This was the city of the Caesars. It was where Keats died, where Goethe had roamed the Forum and Joyces great hero Ibsen spent many happy months. Joyce fixed his mind on the eternal city and went about securing a job for himself with little difficulty.

Aided by a letter of recommendation from a former lord mayor of Dublin, Timothy Harrington, Joyce was offered a temporary post in the bank of Nast, Kolb and Schumacher, which stood at the corner of Via del Corso and Via S. Claudio, today the site of a large department store.

Arriving in Rome on 31 July 1906, the Joyce family took lodgings on the third floor of a house at 52 Via Frattina, where today a plaque commemorates his stay. The accommodation was small but close to his work and the bars and cafes around the Spanish Steps. From the very beginning, however, his letters to Stanislaus speak negatively of the city and its people. According to Joyce, the area around the Colosseum was simply like an old cemetery with broken columns of temples and slabs.

In a letter to his brother, he wrote, Rome reminds me of a man who lives by exhibiting to travellers his grandmothers corpse. Its clear that the citys former glories did nothing for such a modern man. But he clearly admits his own shortcomings and demonstrates his indignation in another letter to Stanislaus, lamenting: I wish I knew something of Latin or Roman history. But its not worthwhile beginning now. So let the ruins rot. His work in the bank was soul-destroying.

He often had to work 12 hours a day, copying up to 200 letters in an office where he had no interaction with the public. He had nothing but contempt for his colleagues who spoke endlessly of their ailments. His brother received constant updates on how difficult life in Rome was. And although Joyce was earning more money in the bank, he frequently begged his brother to send more cash.

By November, Joyces landlady was tiring of his excessive alcohol abuse and requested that he leave the accommodation on Via Frattina. Joyce expected to charm his way out of the tight spot but the signora stuck firmly to her guns and Joyce found himself homeless with his young family. After four days spent searching, the young writer moved into Via Monte Brianzo 51, near Piazza Navona.

By Christmas, Joyce was forced to take another job as a teacher, but it wasnt enough and the family dined on pasta on a thoroughly depressing Christmas Day. While he struggled to make ends meet in Rome nothing came from his pen. He found no time to write and no immediate inspiration. The Roman ruins compounded his misery. He complained of nightmares involving death, corpses, assassinations, in which I take an unpleasantly prominent part.

The intrigues and gore of ancient Rome infiltrated his psyche and it seems he began to develop a strange appreciation of his native Dublin, something not so keenly felt since his departure. It was at this time that the ideas for his wonderful short story, The Dead, began their gestation.

Perhaps the simple Christmas lunch and signora Dufours apparently barbarous treatment of his family led to dreams of more lavish feasts and what the storys hero Gabriel Conroy refers to as unique Irish hospitality. In the same breath Joyce, through Gabriel, a character all the while fixated on the attractions and trappings of continental Europe, acknowledges those things that Ireland has to offer the world by way of this tradition.

Romes somewhat crude irreverence for the dead who are constantly on display, whether through imperial Romes whimsical caesars or greedy popes, is in sharp contrast to the quiet, melancholy image of Dublin covered in snow. The romance and bombast of Michelangelo, Bernini and Borromini contrasts with the humble but no less passionate Michael Furey in The Dead who, we find out, courted Gabriels wife Gretta and died of consumption but may, as Gretta reveals, have died for me.

Eventually, Joyce had had enough and he decided to leave Rome. The day before leaving he was given his last pay cheque from his bank job, and splashed out on a few farewell drinks. As he drank, two men managed to get a look inside his wallet and when Joyce left the cafe they attacked and robbed him. Luckily, he had left some of his pay at his lodgings and with it he packed his son and his wife onto a train for Trieste and left Rome. He never returned.

By Jonathan deBurca Butler

Bloomsday, to celebrate the events in Joyces masterpiece Ulysses, is marked on 16 June each year. In Italy, the 2023 edition of the Trieste Joyce School will be held from 25-30 June, for details see website.

This article first appeared in the June 2011 edition of Wanted in Rome magazine.
Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share

The first leftist presidency in Colombias history was almost paralyzed in June as senior officials became embroiled in scandals and onetime allies in congress broke away from the ruling coalition. After members of President Gustavo Petros inner circle were accused of illegal wiretapping and campaign finance violations, the nations assets rallied, as investors calculated that the stalling of the governments radical agenda reduced the risk of holding Colombias bonds and currency.

1. How did the scandal erupt?

In late May, a former nanny who worked for Petros chief of staff told Semana magazine that shed been interrogated and subjected to a polygraph test by members of the presidents security team in a government building across the street from the presidential palace. That happened after the chief of staff, Laura Sarabia, accused the woman of stealing thousands of dollars in cash from her home. The scandal, which pitted a powerful official against a low-paid nanny, was embarrassing to a government that claims to represent the poorest Colombians against the rich and powerful.

Advertisement

2. What was the reaction?

The attorney generals office opened an investigation into the conduct of the presidents aide, and soon revealed that the phone line of the nanny, Marelbys Meza, and another domestic employee of Sarabia had been improperly tapped by the police. Then a police colonel from the presidential security team, who was a subject of the investigation, was found dead in his car, in what Petro said was a suicide. Meza, the nanny, had previously worked for Armando Benedetti, who had managed Petros election campaign and was then made Colombias ambassador to Venezuela. Sarabia and others accused Benedetti of having been the source of the news stories that embarrassed her, according to local media. Benedetti has denied this, saying that Meza had sought out journalists on her own.

3. Whats to know about the former ambassador?

Advertisement

After Sarabia and Benedetti stepped down under public pressure, Semana magazine published a recording of a foul-mouthed tirade by Benedetti. In it, the former ambassador expressed anger at how the president had deserted him, and threatened to reveal dirt about Petros campaign. He implied that the campaign had breached legal spending limits and threatened to reveal the source of some of the money, leading to speculation that it may have come from criminal activity. Benedetti later backpedaled on his claims, saying in a Twitter post that anger and liquor had contributed to his outbursts.

4. Will Petro survive the scandal?

Ousting a president is difficult in Colombia, and no sitting head of state has ever been impeached. So most analysts think Petro will survive. But he cant easily put the scandal behind him, since it has led to investigations by several agencies. These include a probe by the attorney generals office into the unauthorized wiretapping. More serious for the government is an investigation by the electoral authority and a Lower House ethics committee into whether Petros campaign broke the law. This could potentially lead to criminal charges or an impeachment vote. Petro has said his enemies are attempting a soft coup to cripple his administration. With so many unanswered questions, the scandal could drag on for a long time with the government bogged down in investigations.

Advertisement

5. What reforms is Petro trying to pass?

The government sent ambitious bills to congress that would transform Colombias welfare state by reducing the role of the private sector in providing health care and pensions. Another bill would boost workers rights. Even before the scandal, powerful groups in congress, including the Liberal Party, the U Party and the Conservative Party, had already left the coalition after the government refused to moderate its proposals. At the same time, the government is seeking total peace with several guerrilla groups and drug-trafficking organizations. In June, the government started formal talks in Havana with the National Liberation Army, a revolutionary faction thats been fighting the Colombian state since 1964 and finances itself through extortion of both legal businesses and cocaine producers, as well as through kidnapping.

6. Why did markets react so positively to the scandal?

Advertisement

Many investors had feared that the welfare bills would blow out the fiscal deficit and were relieved that Petros proposals would be defeated or watered down. So Colombias currency gained as Petros coalition began to fracture, then extended its rally after the scandals broke. Petro has a history of spooking markets, including by criticizing the countrys central bank, opposing oil drilling and shaking up the management of Ecopetrol, the state-run energy company. The peso strengthened 16% in the year through June 14, the most among major emerging markets, while the nations bonds also gained.

7. Is Petros government finished?

No. Its ability to pass legislation may be severely curtailed at the moment, but that doesnt mean it couldnt rebuild its majority in congress. Colombias political parties are currently focused on regional elections coming in October but could be amenable to deals with the government after that, according to Sergio Guzman, the director of Colombia Risk Analysis, a Bogota-based consultancy. Petro still has three years remaining in office, and the presidency wields great power in Colombia, even without congress on its side. Petro has the ability to name high court magistrates, central bank co-directors and the military high command. He could also rule for a time by decree, though the constitutional court would probably overturn his decrees, which are intended for unforeseen and sudden emergencies, such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

--With assistance from Oscar Medina and Andrea Jaramillo.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

2023 Bloomberg L.P.

Gift this article Gift Article
An unusually long-lived solar flared occurred Monday and an associated geomagnetic storm could produce the northern lights in the U.S. and Europe.
Today we're going to take a look at the well-established TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG). The company's stock saw a decent share price growth in the teens level on the NYSE over the last few months. As a large-cap stock with high coverage by analysts, you could assume any recent changes in the companys outlook is already priced into the stock. However, what if the stock is still a bargain? Lets take a look at TransDigm Groups outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if the opportunity still exists.

View our latest analysis for TransDigm Group

What's The Opportunity In TransDigm Group?

According to my price multiple model, where I compare the company's price-to-earnings ratio to the industry average, the stock currently looks expensive. In this instance, Ive used the price-to-earnings (PE) ratio given that there is not enough information to reliably forecast the stocks cash flows. I find that TransDigm Groups ratio of 47.28x is above its peer average of 25.43x, which suggests the stock is trading at a higher price compared to the Aerospace & Defense industry. But, is there another opportunity to buy low in the future? Given that TransDigm Groups share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us another chance to buy in the future. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility.

What does the future of TransDigm Group look like?

Future outlook is an important aspect when youre looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the company's future expectations. TransDigm Group's earnings over the next few years are expected to increase by 83%, indicating a highly optimistic future ahead. This should lead to more robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value.

What This Means For You

Are you a shareholder? TDGs optimistic future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading above industry price multiples. However, this brings up another question  is now the right time to sell? If you believe TDG should trade below its current price, selling high and buying it back up again when its price falls towards the industry PE ratio can be profitable. But before you make this decision, take a look at whether its fundamentals have changed.

Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on TDG for a while, now may not be the best time to enter into the stock. The price has surpassed its industry peers, which means it is likely that there is no more upside from mispricing. However, the positive outlook is encouraging for TDG, which means its worth diving deeper into other factors in order to take advantage of the next price drop.

With this in mind, we wouldn't consider investing in a stock unless we had a thorough understanding of the risks. For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of TransDigm Group.

If you are no longer interested in TransDigm Group, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Join A Paid User Research Session

Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here
The ABCs decision to dissolve its standalone arts unit, announced as part of a sweeping restructure on Thursday, will see the organisations two most senior dedicated arts journalists made redundant, and the end of a distinct division dedicated solely to covering the arts and making arts-related content.

Onscreen arts content will be folded into a newly created Arts, Music and Events department. This new unit will have responsibility for the ABCs sole arts TV show Art Works, as well as the music show Rage (which was previously the responsibility of the ABCs audio team) and one-off events such as ANZAC Day, Gallipoli, the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras and New Years Eve.

Namila Benson, host of the ABCs Art Works program. Credit:

The move has been slammed by the broadcasters former national arts correspondent, Michaela Boland, who left the organisation in 2020.

ABC managements degradation of the arts continues, Boland tweeted on Thursday.
Stoker came forward after Thorpe on Wednesday accused Van in parliament of harassing and sexually assaulting her before withdrawing the comments to comply with Senate rules. Van on Thursday accused the former Greens senator of concocting her allegations and cowering under the umbrella of parliamentary privilege to make her claim. This masthead does not suggest any of the allegations are true. On Thursday, Thorpe told the Senate an unnamed man had cornered her in a stairwell, and alleged that during her time in parliament she had been aggressively propositioned and inappropriately touched.

Van, who left Canberra on Thursday, will face intense scrutiny if he returns for parliament next week. The opposition leader has referred the allegations to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service for investigation. Duttons call for Van to resign from parliament was backed by several prominent MPs, including his deputy, Sussan Ley  also the party spokesperson for women  whose office said she supports the strong words and actions of the leader in dealing with this very sensitive and serious matter. The oppositions leader in the Senate, Simon Birmingham, said he supported Dutton, as did senators Anne Ruston and Marise Payne. Birmingham said: It would be entirely appropriate for him to reflect upon his position in the Senate.

Liberal frontbench Senator Michaelia Cash said the Liberal leader had handled the matter in an entirely appropriate way. When asked whether the party should accept Vans vote in the Senate, Cash replied, we hope it wont come to that, as he should resign. Birmingham also told the ABC that former prime minister Scott Morrisons office had been aware that Thorpe had made allegations. In the press gallery corridor, Birmingham said while the Greens raised Thorpes complaint regarding Van two years ago, resulting in Vans office being moved, he was only made aware of the other two allegations against the senator on Thursday. Asked whether he should have known about Stokers allegation, Birmingham said: Not necessarily.

I think we must in all of these instances remember that a person with an allegation has a right to consult and engage with the people they choose to. That is part of their choice, their agency, he said. While Dutton has sent Van to the crossbench, the power to kick him out of the party rests with the Liberals Victorian division. Similarly, Van cannot be forced to quit the parliament  he must choose to resign. The Victorian branch released a statement on Friday saying it had taken action to suspend all organisational resources and support from Senator Van. There will be an urgent meeting this weekend of the partys Victorian administrative committee to further consider the allegations raised, it said.

Victorian party president Greg Mirabella met federal MPs from the state earlier on Friday before a meeting of the Liberals Federal Council in Canberra, which was already scheduled for this weekend. If Van were to resign from parliament, former Aston candidate Roshena Campbell and Mirabella would be among the frontrunners for a casual vacancy, according to Liberal Party sources who asked not to be named. Loading On Friday morning, Van released a statement saying he was stunned that my good reputation can be so wantonly savaged without due process or accountability. I will fully co-operate with whatever process Mr Dutton proposes to determine these matters as quickly and fairly as possible, he said.

While I understand the public interest is high, I will not be making any more public statements on the allegations until a proper examination of these claims is concluded. Hosting Sky News in place of Peta Credlin on Friday night, Stoker said she never wanted to go public with her claim, but Vans denial of inappropriate behaviour towards her affirmed that speaking up was the right thing to do. After all, the standard we walk past is the standard we accept, she said. I immediately registered the issue with a senior colleague to ensure a record of the event, and to ensure that any conduct that wasnt in my line of sight, could be detected and dealt with should patterns emerge. Though I would have preferred for the matter to remain private and in the past, I felt it important to ensure that if it was going to be reported, it was done so accurately.
Australias population swelled by a record 497,000 through 2022, driven by the nations single largest annual intake of migrants, even as COVID-19 infections lifted the number of deaths and weighed on natural growth.

Amid an ongoing political debate about the size of the population and pressure on the housing market, figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday revealed a net 387,000 migrants made their way into the country last year.

The return of international students has helped Australia record its largest annual increase in population. Credit: Oscar Colman

Almost 620,000 people arrived, while 232,600 departed.

Of the net migrant intake, 134,600 moved into NSW, with another 120,500 taking up residence in Victoria and 58,000 in Queensland.
The greatest revelation in the most ferocious argument in federal parliament this week was that Katy Gallagher knew one Thursday what most others discovered the next Monday. The ferocious dispute about an awful debate from February 2021  when Brittany Higgins went public with her allegation of rape  basically turned on four days before the claim went to air.

Parliament was consumed with a Coalition quest to prove a conspiracy by Gallagher, the finance minister, and her Labor colleagues to use inside knowledge from Higgins and her partner, David Sharaz, in a way that weaponised the claims against Scott Morrison and his government.

Illustration by Simon Letch. Credit:

The argument was bitter and personal. There were no winners. By the end of the week, the Coalition decision to settle old scores about an alleged rape in 2019 and a political firestorm in 2021 ended up rebounding on Opposition Leader Peter Dutton with a new sexual assault claim against a Liberal senator in 2023.

There was no political victory here  and certainly no triumph for parliament. Independent MPs wanted to lower the temperature but the argument only escalated to the point where independent senator Lidia Thorpe accused Liberal senator David Van of sexual harassment and assault. He denied this immediately. Thorpe withdrew her remarks and said she would not go to police, but what is said in parliament cannot be unsaid.
A senior group of Liberal women have demanded Victorian leader John Pesutto apologise to dumped MP Moira Deeming and reinstate her to the parliamentary party, claiming she had been silenced without basis.

Pesutto suspended the first-term MP from the Liberal benches in March after she attended the Let Women Speak rally, which was gate-crashed by neo-Nazis. He later succeeded in expelling her from the party room in May after she issued an ultimatum that he apologise or face legal action.

Moira Deeming exits the party room in March after surviving an initial move to expel her. Credit: Darrian Traynor

The saga has put Pesuttos leadership to the test as he enters a must-win byelection in Warrandyte, in Melbournes north-eastern suburbs, as the latest Resolve Political Monitor put the statewide Liberal primary vote at just 23 per cent.

On Friday morning, the Liberal Partys federal womens committee voted in favour of calling for Deeming to be recalled. A source who asked not to be named so they could discuss internal party matters said the motion passed by one vote.
Even without those sale fares, booking in advance, particularly for flights, will generally save you a lot of money. For overseas travel, try to book flights at least six months in advance. For domestic travel, aim for at least a few months. This also goes for hotels and domestic transfers. Even booking tourist attractions and other entry fees online in advance will generally save you money. Look for travel passes Once you have decided on your destination and your timings, its worth looking into local transport passes. Japans JR Pass is probably the most famous of these  a seven-day or two-week pass allowing all the travel you like on Japan Rail trains and other forms of transport (though it will shortly become more expensive)  though the Eurail Pass in Europe is also justifiably well known. Both of these passes, and similar products in other countries, could save you a heap on transport costs, depending on how often you will be moving around, and where you would like to go.

Search for discount codes Any time you're about to book something  a hotel, an attraction or similar  and you see a box that says "discount code", the first thing you should do is plug the name of whatever it is you're about to book, and "discount code" into Google and see what comes up. There's a good chance you will find one. Manage your money Credit: iStock Here is an absolutely fundamental way to keep unnecessary spending in check while you travel: ensure you can access your money, and spend it, in ways that don't attract too many fees.

Avoid dedicated travel money cards, which can make it expensive to reconvert unused funds once youre home, and instead use a debit or credit card that doesnt attract foreign transaction or conversion fees (there are several in Australia). Make sure, too, that you have a credit card to use for any transactions that involve a holding deposit (hotels, rental cars), so your own money isn't being restricted. Embrace hostels Hostels are the perfect accommodation for travellers on a budget. They're also so much better than the flea-bitten hostels of old, with modern conveniences, social areas, work spaces and plenty more. Plus, you can choose your style of accommodation, from shared dorms with a few people or a lot of people, to private rooms with ensuite bathrooms.

Another key feature of most hostels is that they have kitchen facilities, which will allow you to cook your own food when you want to. In some countries that won't save you much; in others, it will make a huge difference. Take the bus One of the keys to saving money is to do as locals do. How do locals get around their own country? Do they fly? Probably not. Do they take the train? Maybe. Or do they get the bus? This is highly likely. Do your research, and if bus trips are cheapest, while also being safe and reliable, then that's how you should be getting around. In the likes of South America, you will find bus services that are like business-class cabins on planes, with lie-flat seats and waiter service, meaning overnight trips will make a lot of sense. To get around cities themselves, try to walk where possible.

Eat from the streets Credit: iStock Street food is your friend. This is often the cheapest form of dining in any given place, and it's also a perfect snapshot of local culture and cuisine. If street food is a thing in the place you're staying, you should be eating it. Visit affordable countries Not all countries are created equal, particularly when were talking about affordability. The money you spend in a single day in, say, London, will probably last you a week in, say, Ho Chi Minh City.

This shouldn't be the sole deciding factor when it comes to your travel plans, but it's something to think about. If you are really strapped for cash, but you still want to do lots of activities and eat nice food and stay in good accommodation, then turn your focus to countries that tend to be on the cheaper side. Visit secondary destinations Instead of Barcelona, try Girona. Credit: iStock Speaking of London  yes, it's notoriously expensive. So is Paris. So is Barcelona. So is New York. So is Kyoto. The answer here is to consider "secondary destinations", cities that may not be as famous as the big-ticket destinations, yet offer similar experiences at a fraction of the cost. So, instead of London, spend more time in Manchester. Instead of Paris, try Lyon. Instead of Barcelona, spend time in Girona. And so on.

Travel off-peak If you're travelling on a budget there is no way you should be travelling at peak times (which are often summer, though sometimes winter in destinations that are wet and steamy in the warmer months). You will save a lot of money, both on airfares and on the ground, if you choose to travel off-peak. If that's going to be too hot, or too cold, or means you miss out on key experiences, at least travel in shoulder seasons. Pack light Credit: iStock
Berlin: An American man has been arrested over the death of an American tourist and an assault on another near Neuschwanstein castle in southern Germany after he allegedly pushed the two women down a steep slope.

The incident near the popular tourist attraction happened on Wednesday afternoon near the Marienbruecke, a bridge over a gorge close to the castle that offers a famous view of Neuschwanstein.

People watch the Neuschwanstein castle, in Schwangau, Germany. Credit: AP

The 30-year-old man met the two female tourists, ages 21 and 22, on a hiking path and lured them onto a trail that leads to a viewpoint, police said in a statement.

The younger of the two women was attacked by the suspect, said police spokesman Holger Stabik. The older one tried to rush to her aid, was then choked by the suspect and subsequently pushed down a slope. 
(Bloomberg) -- Multiple US agencies were compromised by a hacking campaign in which attackers have exploited flaws in a popular software tool to gather information from a range of victims.

Most Read from Bloomberg

The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a unit of the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed Thursday that several US government agencies were affected by hackers. Neither the names of the agencies nor the scope of the hacks were immediately clear.

Russian-speaking hackers known as Clop have carried out a spate of recent attacks that exploited a vulnerability in MOVEit, a popular file-transfer product.

CISA is providing support to several federal agencies that have experienced intrusions affecting their MOVEit applications, Eric Goldstein, CISAs executive assistant director for cybersecurity, said in a statement shared with Bloomberg. CNN previously reported the agency was responding to hacks.

CISA is working urgently to understand impacts and ensure timely remediation, Goldstein said. On June 1, CISA issued a security advisory about a vulnerability in MOVEit software.

The update Thursday comes after companies throughout the world have pointed to their own experience with the hacking campaign.

Shell Plc said it was investigating a possible data breach after it was targeted by Clop. The gang listed Shell among a dozen alleged new victims, spanning the US and Europe, on its website late Wednesday. Besides Shell, the others included a US university, insurance and manufacturing firms, as well as banks, investment and financial services companies.

While Clop gave affected companies until June 14 to get in touch about its ransom demands, the group doesnt appear to have published any stolen data on its website as of Thursday morning. Clop gained access via a flaw in the MOVEit product from Progress Software Corp. Shell said that the tool is used by a small number of Shell employees and customers.

There is no evidence of impact to Shells core IT systems, Amir Paivar, a company spokesman, said. Our IT teams are investigating. He added that the company was not communicating with the hackers.

German printing and packaging company Heidelberg was also on the list, though a spokesperson said the incident was countered and didnt lead to a data breach. Landal GreenParks, a Dutch campsite and recreation company, said the gang had accessed guest data, including names and contact details of about 12,000 people. A spokesperson said its unclear whether they have taken advantage of that access. The company informed the Dutch data protection authority and disabled the compromised server.

Previously disclosed victims have included IAG SAs British Airways, the British Broadcasting Corp. and the UK communications regulator Ofcom. Progress said it has issued a patch for the flaw.

We remain focused on supporting our customers by helping them take the steps needed to further secure their environments, including applying the patches we have released, according to John Eddy, a Progress spokesperson. We are also continuing to share information in a transparent way to better enable the entire industry to combat sophisticated cybercriminals intent on uncovering and maliciously exploiting vulnerabilities in commonly used software products.

The Clop gang has claimed it has information from hundreds of companies, though its unclear how many are affected.

British Airways, the pharmacy chain Boots and the BBC told staff that personal information may have been compromised after a cyberattack on their payroll provider, Zellis. Other victims included Aer Lingus, the government of Nova Scotia and the Minnesota Department of Education. In the latter case, the hackers stole files that included about 95,000 names of students placed in foster care throughout the state.

Clop has said it erased data from governments, cities and police agencies. But Kevin Burns, a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Education, said, We are taking all of that with a grain of salt.

Clop, sometimes referred to as Cl0p, 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. The gang is Russian-speaking and its attacks have caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage, according to the cybersecurity firm Trend Micro Inc.

While several alleged members of the gang have been arrested, the groups hacking activity wasnt interrupted, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Clop is the successor to CryptoMix ransomware, which was believed to have been developed in Russia, and it has frequently been used to target the health-care industry, according to HHS.

In addition to deploying ransomware, which encrypts a victims files, Clop hackers sometimes steal data. Hacking groups are moving toward stealing data rather than encrypting files as a way to blackmail victims.

(Updates with advisory from CISA in fifth paragraph.)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
The Whirlpool logo is seen at their plant in Apodaca, Monterrey, Mexico

By Blake Brittain

(Reuters) -Appliance maker Whirlpool on Thursday agreed to drop a U.S. lawsuit against its former Italian executive Davide Cabri that accused him of stealing trade secrets for a move to its competitor Haier.

Whirlpool and Cabri told a Delaware federal court they would dismiss the case with prejudice, which means it cannot be refiled. Whirpool said in a statement on Friday that the dispute had been resolved and that it was satisfied with the settlement.

Haier Europe and an attorney for Cabri did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday.

Cabri worked for Whirlpool for more than 32 years and was a high-level executive in Whirlpool's global laundry division. He told the company in 2021 that he was leaving for a position at Haier's Candy Hoover Group.

Benton Harbor, Michigan-based Whirlpool sued Cabri later that year. It said Haier had hired Cabri for its own laundry division because he knew Whirlpool's trade secrets and that it would be impossible for him to work there without disclosing them.

A federal judge rejected Whirlpool's bid to block Cabri's move last May, finding the Delaware court lacked jurisdiction over the trade-secret allegations.

The judge also denied Cabri's bid to dismiss Whirlpool's claim that he breached a contract by failing to repay the company over $400,000 in incentives.

The case is Whirlpool Corp v. Cabri, U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, No. 1:21-cv-00979.

For Whirlpool: Steven Zadravecz of Jones Day, John Sensing of Potter Anderson & Corroon

For Cabri: Ethan Townsend of McDermott Will & Emery

Read more:

Former Whirlpool exec dodges trade-secret claims over Haier move

(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington)
(Bloomberg) -- President Xi Jinping said China is willing to work with the world on technology innovation and global challenges including pandemic prevention during a meeting with American billionaire Bill Gates.

Most Read from Bloomberg

You are the first American friend Ive met in Beijing this year, Xi told the Microsoft Corp. co-founder on Friday, according to state broadcaster China Central Television.

Ive always said that the foundation of China-US ties lies among the people, the Chinese leader added. We always pin our hopes on American people and hope the two peoples can continue to be friendly.

Chinas top diplomat Wang Yi and Foreign Secretary Qin Gang attended the meeting.

Xis sit down with Gates raises expectations for the Chinese leader to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken who is set to visit Beijing on a two-day trip from Sunday. That rescheduled visit aims to reset ties between the worlds largest economies, after a spat over an alleged Chinese spy balloon derailed high-level exchanges earlier this year.

Earlier, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Beijing city government agreed to donate $50 million each to fight infectious diseases such as malaria. The money will go to the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute, according to a statement from the Gates Foundation. The institute is a nonprofit established in 2016 by the Gates Foundation, the Beijing municipal government and Tsinghua University.

In a speech Thursday at the institute, Gates congratulated China for eliminating malaria within its borders. He also praised Chinese scientists for working to fight the disease around the world, according to the Gates Foundation.

Gates also met Beijing Mayor Yin Yong on Thursday, according to the Beijing Daily. Yin credited the institute with achieving breakthroughs in recent years and vowed continued support.

In a tweet Wednesday announcing his arrival in Beijing, Gates said he was excited to visit with partners who have been working on global health and development challenges with the Gates Foundation.

(Updates with details of the meeting in the first four paragraphs)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2023 Bloomberg L.P.
By Rep. David Maloney Sr. (R-Berks)

Kaercher Creek Park is a 185-acre recreation area near Hamburg. Named for Martin Kaercher Jr., who founded the borough of Hamburg, the green space and fishing area is the result of a flood control project to tame Kaercher and Mill creeks, which run through the borough.

Potentially one of the crown jewels of our communitys recreation spots, it was abandoned by Berks County in 2014 when commissioners cancelled the lease, citing liability concerns over battery waste left from a previous manufacturing plant. They did this despite having spent plenty of taxpayer dollars on a building the commissioners ordered constructed to be used for recreational and educational purposes.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) owns the land, but they have no mandate to operate a government-administered park. So, it became overgrown and dilapidated. But the community didnt want to abandon it. Citizen groups formed to take care of the overgrown weeds, playing fields and removing vegetation to ease access to the PFBC boat ramp.

Interest within the community to bring a prime recreation area to fruition was, and still is, very strong. Cabelas/Bass Pro Shops was very interested in having a public fishing site near their Hamburg store and citizen community groups remain willing partners. So, I saw the lake as a perfect opportunity for a public/private partnership that would benefit everyone.

Soon, an effort was put together to remediate the park to remove Berks County Commissioners concerns. When all was said and done, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and PFBC all signed off on the testing and documentation establishing there is no longer any health hazard, and the park could move towards the dream everyone had for it.

Cabelas even contributed for free two $15,000 mowing machines and is still willing to expand the partnership to tens of thousands of dollars.

Everything was on track; the finish line was almost there. But, during a meeting in August 2021, the county commissioners  citing extensive costs to local taxpayers and lawsuit worries  continued to refuse to take any ownership of the park again, demanding that Berks County be provided with complete immunity from any lawsuit.

As a sportsman, I began to investigate this when the commissioners suddenly shut park down to the public in 2014. Now, as chairman of the House Game and Fish Committee, I have followed up with all the agencies involved to see if this dream could still be a possibility. Every entity in the original partnership is still willing to move forward except Berks County Commissioners.

In fact, I found out that Berks County is the only county in the entire state to refuse such an agreement blessed by every state and federal agency with any oversight on the issues involved. A PFBC official told me, David, there isnt a single place in the state that has declined this type of partnership and level of testing and remediation.

So, lets review. Berks Commissioners are concerned for cost and liability. The PFBC says the beautiful building they used taxpayer money to build, must now be torn down at the expense of our sportsmen and sportswomen who purchase fishing licenses and pay boating fees. Why? Because not only did Berks Commissioners abandoned a public investment, they didnt even winterize the building. And now it has deteriorated to the point where it needs to be removed.

Before releasing this news, I thought it prudent to make certain the Berks County Commissioners have not changed their mind. In the past few days, I received confirmation from the county solicitor that the decision would not be reversed.

So, there you have it. The normal functions of local and county government, roads, sewer, parks, seem beyond the management abilities of our county commissioners. Yet, unable to run a park, they are set on taking over the Reading Airport as self-proclaimed aviation storage, maintenance, training and refueling professionals which is going to cost taxpayers more money due to an unnecessary lawsuit.

Fishing in the wrong pond indeed.
READING, Pa.  Natalie Classen was a kind woman who was not involved in any trouble, neighbors say about the 30-year-old victim of a fatal shooting in Reading early Thursday morning.

Investigators say Classen and a group were walking down the street when they ran into another group at the corner of North 10th and Greenwich streets around 2:30 a.m. A man approached Classen and fired a single shot. Classen later died at the hospital.

The coordinator of Berks Community Action Program says the city's economy plays a huge role in the rise in crime.

"We're in poverty," said Seleda Simmons. "We are one of the biggest cities right now in the United States of America that has endured poverty, and it has to change or we're going to continue to have people in survival mode."

The BCAP program director mentioned other factors.

"There's definitely been an increase in gang activity in the area," said Stephan Fains.

He says it is important to listen to the youth of the community. Another big problem, he says, is education.

"I don't think we're dealing with a lot of bad kids," Fains said. "We're dealing with some kids that are in some bad situations, and they just don't know no better. They don't know what their options are."

The community needs to help kids get on the right path, leaders say.

"Kids are going to try whatever they want to try, but it takes for us to step in and say, 'No, you're worth it, you're better than, and I'm going to support you,'" Simmons said.

To Simmons, that means everyone needs to show they care.

"It starts at home, the corner store, school, the laundromat, walking down the street," she said. "It starts with all of us, and I would like to see more people actually care and stop with this 'to each to their own' because regardless of whether you are in it or not, we are all affected by what is happening."

Simmons says enough is enough.

"How many more times are we going to talk about the problem?" she said. "We need to start coming up solutions and effectively execute them."

The shooter is still on the run. Others involved have also fled, and the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Reading Police Department at 610-655-6166, or anonymously contact Crime Alert Berks at 877-373-9913 or text 847411 and start the message with the word ALERTBERKS and then the tip.
ALBANY TWP., Pa.  The Kempton Fair is back. The Kempton Community Center in Albany Township set up shop for another celebration.

There's plenty of food to enjoy, as well as live music, livestock shows, tractor and truck power pulls, fireworks and more.

According to the fair's website, the event is one of the Kempton Community Center's largest fundraisers for the year, which helps with capitalization projects among the buildings and grounds. The community center is a nonprofit, completely volunteer organization providing recreation and events for the Kempton community and surrounding area.

The fair runs until Saturday at 83 Community Center Drive.
BEIJING, June 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Under Jiangxi Yichun intangible cultural heritage experience program, recently, Serik Korzhumbayev, editor in Chief of Kazakh business newspaper Delovoy Kazakhstan took a five-day in-depth experience trip in Yichun, to make close contact with unique folk culture here.

Photo provided to Xinhua shows Mingyue Romance Park in Mingyue Mountain of Yichun in east China's Jiangxi Province (PRNewsfoto/Xinhua Silk Road)

Serik Korzhumbayev visited Mingyue Mountain Scenic Area, Gao'an Ruizhou Prefectural Government Office, the Yuan Blue and White Porcelain Museum, Fengcheng Hongzhou Kilnandand etc. He experienced intangible cultural heritage items such as Wentang hot spring and sponge cake, Wanzai Victory Drum, Fengcheng Yue Family Lion Dance, Zhangbang Chinese medicinal materials processing skills.

Serik Korzhumbayev first came to the Mingyue Mountain Hot Spring Scenic Area. "Yichun Mingyue Mountain has a moving legend of Chang'e running to the moon, and the selenium-rich hot spring in Wentang township is hailed as the most wonderful hot spring in China", Yuan Chengyu, member of the Party Working Committee and director of the Party and Mass Work Department, introduced the legend and history of Mingyue Mountain.

The production of sponge cake of Yichun began in the Song Dynasty, and every time there were banquets such as weddings, birthday wine, locals would invite cooks to make sponge cakes in advance as snacks and gifts. Peng Ming, general manager of Jiangxi Haocai Food Co., Ltd. introduced while making sponge cake for guests. In 2021, the technique of making sponge cake became an intangible cultural heritage of Yichun.

Walking into the ancient city of Wanzai, the national intangible cultural heritage Wanzai Victory Drum performance attracted attention of the visiting delegation. "I have never seen such an oriental dance, both ancient and mysterious." Serik Korzhumbayev marveled while taking pictures.

Coming to Fengcheng, the delegation admired another national intangible cultural heritage project, Yue Family Lion Dance. Yue Family Lion Danceis a kind of folk art activity created by the local people of Fengcheng to commemorate the national hero Yue Fei, which originated in the Song Dynasty and was formed in the Ming Dynasty, with a history of more than 400 years.

Chinese culture is broad and profound, porcelain culture and traditional Chinese medicine culture are very famous among countries along the Belt and Road routes. This is an unforgettable trip, and I can't wait to share the folk customs and culture of Yichun to more people, Serik Korzhumbayev said after his trip.

https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/334595.html

SOURCE Xinhua Silk Road
BETHLEHEM TWP., Pa. - A Bethlehem Township man is being accused of manufacturing child pornography.

Philip Adam OBrien, 52, is charged with sexual abuse of children-child depicted under 10 years old, a first-degree felony; possession of child pornography, a second-degree felony; and unlawful contact with a minor, sexual abuse, a first-degree felony, among related charges, according to a news release from the Northampton County District Attorney's Office.

On February 23, detectives received a report of suspected child exploitation material shared between a 9- year-old girl and O'Brien, located on the childs iPad, the DA's office said.

According to the DA's office, the first photograph was timestamped July 24, 2020, when the child would have been 6 years old. The second photo was timestamped June 5, 2022, when the child would have been 8 years old, the DA's office said.

Both photos depict the child without clothing, according to the news release.

Detectives executed a search warrant for the iPad, and recovered multiple videos and photographs of the child, according to the DA's office.

We must go above and beyond to protect our vulnerable youth and I commend the detectives who worked tirelessly on this case. For a parental figure to allegedly abuse his relationship with his child, and to take advantage of his childs innocence is a truly reprehensible act, District Attorney Terry Houck said.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Local interns are keeping busy this summer.

More than 250 interns from 11 businesses gathered at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown Friday for "Intern Impact Day."

It's put on each year by the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley.

The interns did a little networking.

Then, they helped out with 15 different service projects for local non-profits, like cleaning the Bethlehem Greenway.

Organizers say they hope the event will make the interns decide to stay in the Lehigh Valley later in life.
EASTON, Pa. - A Phillipsburg, New Jersey woman is being accused in a deadly hit-and-run in Easton Thursday.

Michelle Mackey, 61, is charged with accidents involving death or serious bodily injury, a felony, involuntary manslaughter, a misdemeanor, and careless driving, according to a news release from the Easton Police Department.

She was released to Northampton County Central Booking to be arraigned on the charges.

A 77-year-old man was hit on Larry Holmes Drive in the area of Scott Park shortly before 11 a.m. Thursday, Easton police said. He later died at a local hospital.

Identification of the man is pending confirmation of notification of the next of kin by the Northampton County Coroner's Office.

Anyone with further information or that witnessed the accident is asked to contact Officer Justin Liguori at jliguori@easton-pa.gov or Sgt. Ryan Celia at rcelia@easton-pa.gov.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - A west end Allentown Tudor may be all business on the outside. But with its sophisticated style reminiscent of the Rat Pack days of the 1960's, it is ready to party inside.

The house has many interesting objects, from a street sign from a Paris flea market, to a Zebra rug picked up in South Africa, to an original Hess chandelier, to a Bixler's Jewelers grandfather clock.

Owner Anthony Moyer says his home is an homage to his life.

"I enjoy when people enjoy being here and appreciating what's in the room," he said.

On Sunday, June 25 his rooms and those of nine other homes in and around West Park will be open to the public, in the return of the West Park House Tour. It was stopped during COVID.

Tom Yuracka heads the tour, now in its 38th year, to benefit the volunteer-based West Park Civic Association.

"People drive past these houses every day and probably don't give them a second thought and you walk in the front door and a lot of times you are wowed," he said.

There is a multi-leveled wooden staircase and a 1950's-style kitchen with original Hess Department store plateware, inside a shingled Victorian.

"If you're in my house any amount of time you know I'm a Francophile, I love France," said Michelle Olson.

Olsen transformed an Arts and Crafts home into a French Farmhouse. Inside you can find a dress form bust bought in Paris as well as Parisian couch slip covers.

"I was there myself and purchased the fabric myself at the flea market and now seeing on the furniture is cool," she said.

Each home tells an Allentown story that you can see for yourself. You can visit the West Park Civic Association for more information.
Montpelier Assistant Director of Archaeology Mary Minkoff says the lessons that can be learned from Juneteenth are broader than a single day in history. This year, Montpelier and its partner organizations are bringing that idea to life through an entire month of programming.

Throughout June, the Montpelier Foundation, Montpelier Descendants Committee, Orange County African American Historical Society and the Arts Center in Orange are working together to honor the emancipation of enslaved Black men and women.

Juneteenth, a federal holiday since 2021, commemorates the last community of enslaved persons receiving news of their emancipation in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. According to Minkoff, this years local events will highlight the ways in which Black community members fought for their freedom before, during and after emancipation.

The theme for this year is Celebrating Stories of Freedom, said Minkoff. Its the idea that freedom wasnt just on one day where African Americans were waiting to be told they were free. We wanted to also share the stories of local people who were doing things to secure their own freedom.

Each Thursday throughout June, a virtual panel discussion focuses on a different way in which African Americans worked to obtain freedom for themselves, their loved ones and their communities, and how the stories of those efforts continue to be passed down through the generations. Panelists include experts in a wide range of fields, from Ivy League scholars to historians, artists and agriculturalists.

The final two sessions, Stories From Our Congregation and Stories In Our Art, will shed light on the ways in which faith and creativity respectively have contributed to the freedom of Black community members. Those interested in participating can register for the live streams at www.ocaahs.org/juneteenth or watch anytime on the OCAAHS YouTube page.

In addition to the virtual discussions, several in-person events will take place in honor of the holiday. On Friday, June 16, MDC, OCAAHS and the Montpelier Foundation will host a dinner at Montpelier for descendants of the enslaved community in central Virginia. MDC board member Henry Anglin shared that the dinner is a way to connect descendants with one another and get them engaged in the committees ongoing work to memorialize the lives of the enslaved community at the historic site.

The memorialization were looking at is not necessarily just the burial grounds, but the contributions that were made and the effects of those contributions throughout the whole landscape of Montpelier, Anglin explained.

On Saturday, an all-day celebration will take place at Montpelier, starting with a libation ceremony on the burial grounds at 10 a.m. featuring Bailes African Drum Works. The festivities will continue with live music by Adwela and the Uprising, Calvin Earl, Dena Jennings and Horace Scruggs, in addition to specialty tours, historical interpretations, food and vendors until 4 p.m.

Another highlight of Saturdays event will be the Portraying Bravery art contest held in partnership with The Arts Center In Orange. Throughout the day, attendees will have the opportunity to vote on a series of paintings by community members inspired by Montpeliers historical records of Anthony, who escaped from slavery into freedom. The results of the contest will be announced at 3:45 p.m. and the winning artwork will be displayed in Montpeliers visitor center.

We took those descriptions of Anthony, who was a young man at the time, and asked people to portray him  not necessarily as a portrait, but using that description as a kind of starting off point to commemorate his bravery as a young person who found his own way and escaped, said Anna Pillow, executive director of The Arts Center In Orange. He found liberty, which is something I think that a lot of Americans can relate to  freedom as a core value.

On Monday, the Juneteenth celebration will move to downtown Orange. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Church Street Park, attendees can enjoy live music by local choirs, storytelling and food vendors, in addition to chatting with representatives of community organizations at information tables. The park, located at the corner of Church and Chapman streets, was dedicated by OCAAHS and the town of Orange on Juneteenth 2022, and sits on the former site of a prominent historic freedmens community and Black business district.

Monroe explained that in Orange County, celebrating Juneteenth has served to connect community members with their history, both nationally and locally.

I think Juneteenth has made people aware and even more curious, where theyre actually going out and researching to learn more about Black history and the history of Orange, he said.

Both events on Saturday and Monday are free and open to the public. To learn more, visit montpelier.org/events/juneteenth-month.
Air New Zealand Limited (OTCMKTS:ANZFF  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 277,000 shares, a decline of 21.3% from the May 15th total of 352,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 115.4 days.

Air New Zealand Trading Up 4.7 %

ANZFF stock traded up $0.02 during trading on Thursday, hitting $0.49. The stock had a trading volume of 10,000 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,498. The companys 50 day moving average price is $0.47 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $0.49. Air New Zealand has a 1-year low of $0.34 and a 1-year high of $0.52.

Get Air New Zealand alerts:

About Air New Zealand

(Get Rating)

See Also

Air New Zealand Limited provides passenger and cargo transportation services on scheduled airlines primarily in New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, and the United States. The company also offers ground handling services; engineering and maintenance services, including aircraft and component maintenance, repair, and overhaul services; aviation services; and aircraft leasing and financing services.

Receive News & Ratings for Air New Zealand Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Air New Zealand and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
American Business Bank (OTCMKTS:AMBZ  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 400 shares, a decrease of 20.0% from the May 15th total of 500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 32,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days.

American Business Bank Price Performance

Shares of American Business Bank stock traded up $0.01 on Thursday, hitting $28.36. The company had a trading volume of 11,408 shares, compared to its average volume of 11,467. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $30.63 and a 200-day simple moving average of $36.20. The company has a market cap of $255.50 million, a PE ratio of 5.05 and a beta of 0.77. American Business Bank has a 52 week low of $25.14 and a 52 week high of $41.35.

Get American Business Bank alerts:

American Business Bank (OTCMKTS:AMBZ  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Friday, April 28th. The financial services provider reported $1.42 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of $34.59 million for the quarter.

American Business Bank Company Profile

American Business Bank engages in the provision of financial services. Its services include deposit services, treasury management, credit services, consulting and referral services, personalized banking, and international banking. The company was founded by Robert F. Schack, Robin C. Paterson, Trent D.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for American Business Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Business Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO  Get Rating) saw unusually large options trading on Tuesday. Traders bought 362,709 call options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 1,605% compared to the typical daily volume of 21,273 call options.

Altria Group Trading Up 0.5 %

NYSE MO traded up $0.20 on Thursday, reaching $44.15. The stock had a trading volume of 8,450,550 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,907,561. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $45.54 and a 200 day moving average price of $45.87. Altria Group has a 1 year low of $40.35 and a 1 year high of $51.57. The company has a market capitalization of $78.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.20, a P/E/G ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.59.

Get Altria Group alerts:

Altria Group (NYSE:MO  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.18 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.19 by ($0.01). Altria Group had a negative return on equity of 245.43% and a net margin of 22.44%. The company had revenue of $4.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.89 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.12 EPS. Altria Groups quarterly revenue was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that Altria Group will post 4.97 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Altria Group Announces Dividend

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Altria Group

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 15th will be given a $0.94 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 14th. This represents a $3.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.52%. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 120.90%.

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Altria Group by 85.6% in the 4th quarter. Bourgeon Capital Management LLC now owns 542 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Ruedi Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in Altria Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Ellevest Inc. raised its holdings in Altria Group by 346.7% in the 1st quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 670 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 520 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NewSquare Capital LLC raised its holdings in Altria Group by 153.8% in the 1st quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 731 shares of the companys stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 443 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.68% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on MO. StockNews.com lowered Altria Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday. Citigroup cut their target price on Altria Group from $49.50 to $47.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on Altria Group in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $52.00 target price on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Altria Group presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $44.67.

Altria Group Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company provides cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; cigars and pipe tobacco principally under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco products and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; and on! oral nicotine pouches.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Jefferies Financial Group reiterated their buy rating on shares of Ashtead Group (LON:AHT  Get Rating) in a research report released on Tuesday, Marketbeat reports. They currently have a GBX 7,000 ($87.59) target price on the stock.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Peel Hunt reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 5,200 ($65.07) price objective on shares of Ashtead Group in a report on Tuesday, March 7th. Barclays reaffirmed an overweight rating and set a GBX 6,300 ($78.83) target price on shares of Ashtead Group in a research report on Monday, April 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Ashtead Group from GBX 5,500 ($68.82) to GBX 6,000 ($75.08) and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, February 13th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating and set a GBX 4,460 ($55.81) price objective on shares of Ashtead Group in a report on Wednesday, June 7th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 5,922.86 ($74.11).

Get Ashtead Group alerts:

Ashtead Group Stock Down 0.9 %

Ashtead Group stock opened at GBX 5,430.40 ($67.95) on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 154.56. The firm has a market cap of 23.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 1,892.13, a P/E/G ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.45. The business has a fifty day moving average of GBX 4,822.14 and a two-hundred day moving average of GBX 5,035.65. Ashtead Group has a twelve month low of GBX 3,269 ($40.90) and a twelve month high of GBX 6,012 ($75.23).

Ashtead Group Increases Dividend

Ashtead Group Company Profile

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 12th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 10th will be given a dividend of $0.85 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 10th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.26%. This is a boost from Ashtead Groups previous dividend of $0.15. Ashtead Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 2,404.18%.

(Get Rating)

Ashtead Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the construction, industrial, and general equipment rental business in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. It provides pumps, power generation, heating, cooling, scaffolding, traffic management, temporary flooring, trench shoring, and lifting services.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Ashtead Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ashtead Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
ASM International NV (OTCMKTS:ASMIY  Get Rating) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 700 shares, a decline of 30.0% from the May 15th total of 1,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 6,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ASMIY has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Morgan Stanley upgraded ASM International from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. Citigroup started coverage on ASM International in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. They issued a buy rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $347.20.

Get ASM International alerts:

ASM International Stock Performance

Shares of ASM International stock traded down $1.32 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $443.45. 5,528 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,918. The company has a market cap of $21.88 billion, a PE ratio of 31.61 and a beta of 1.74. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $394.48 and a 200-day moving average of $346.63. ASM International has a 12 month low of $201.38 and a 12 month high of $450.00.

ASM International Cuts Dividend

ASM International ( OTCMKTS:ASMIY Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $3.96 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of $761.74 million for the quarter. ASM International had a return on equity of 24.29% and a net margin of 24.66%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that ASM International will post 14.52 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, May 25th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 18th were paid a $2.2659 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 17th. This represents a yield of 0.61%. ASM Internationals payout ratio is 17.14%.

About ASM International

(Get Rating)

ASM International NV engages in the research and development, design, manufacture, and sale of equipment, and provision of service to customers for the production of semiconductor devices and integrated circuits. It operates through the Front-end and Back-end segments. The Front-end segment manufactures and sells equipment used in wafer processing, encompassing the fabrication steps in which silicon wafers are layered with semiconductor devices.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for ASM International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ASM International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Bank of Ireland Group plc (OTCMKTS:BKRIF  Get Rating) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,078,700 shares, a decline of 22.7% from the May 15th total of 1,394,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 4,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 224.7 days.

Bank of Ireland Group Stock Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS:BKRIF traded up C$0.51 during trading on Thursday, reaching C$10.40. The stock had a trading volume of 390 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,205. The business has a fifty day moving average price of C$9.98 and a 200-day moving average price of C$9.81. Bank of Ireland Group has a 1-year low of C$5.33 and a 1-year high of C$11.34.

Get Bank of Ireland Group alerts:

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Credit Suisse Group started coverage on Bank of Ireland Group in a research report on Monday, February 20th. They issued an outperform rating for the company.

Bank of Ireland Group Company Profile

Bank of Ireland Group plc provides various banking and financial products and services. The company operates through Retail Ireland, Wealth and Insurance, Retail UK, and Corporate and Treasury segments. It provides current and savings accounts, and business deposits and accounts; personal, car, home improvement, graduate, and student loans, as well as overdrafts; and business and farming loans, BREXIT loans, invoice finance, hire purchase, and leasing services.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Ireland Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Ireland Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Bank of New Hampshire reduced its position in iShares S&P 500 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IVE  Get Rating) by 21.1% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,550 shares of the companys stock after selling 950 shares during the period. Bank of New Hampshires holdings in iShares S&P 500 Value ETF were worth $539,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. First Commonwealth Financial Corp PA raised its holdings in shares of iShares S&P 500 Value ETF by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. First Commonwealth Financial Corp PA now owns 8,388 shares of the companys stock worth $1,217,000 after buying an additional 64 shares in the last quarter. Oarsman Capital Inc. increased its holdings in iShares S&P 500 Value ETF by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Oarsman Capital Inc. now owns 2,754 shares of the companys stock valued at $400,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. NorthLanding Financial Partners LLC increased its holdings in iShares S&P 500 Value ETF by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. NorthLanding Financial Partners LLC now owns 17,850 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,590,000 after purchasing an additional 69 shares in the last quarter. First Manhattan Co. increased its holdings in iShares S&P 500 Value ETF by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 15,916 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,478,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Connecticut Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in iShares S&P 500 Value ETF by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,017 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,018,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares in the last quarter.

Get iShares S&P 500 Value ETF alerts:

iShares S&P 500 Value ETF Stock Up 0.2 %

IVE stock traded up $0.36 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $161.02. 68,753 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 781,455. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $153.00 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $151.03. iShares S&P 500 Value ETF has a 1-year low of $127.33 and a 1-year high of $161.48. The company has a market cap of $25.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.85 and a beta of 0.94.

iShares S&P 500 Value ETF Company Profile

iShares S&P 500 Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P 500 Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P 500 Value Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization value sector of the United States equity market and consists of those stocks in the S&P 500 exhibiting the strongest value characteristics.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for iShares S&P 500 Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares S&P 500 Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
NIO (NYSE:NIO  Get Rating) had its target price decreased by Barclays from $10.00 to $8.00 in a research report sent to investors on Monday morning, The Fly reports.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on NIO from $16.10 to $12.00 in a report on Monday, March 20th. Citigroup cut their price objective on NIO from $13.40 to $11.50 in a report on Sunday, June 11th. Nomura cut NIO from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the company from $25.80 to $7.50 in a report on Monday. Mizuho cut their price objective on NIO from $25.00 to $20.00 in a report on Monday. Finally, Bank of America cut their price objective on NIO from $12.00 to $11.00 in a report on Sunday, June 11th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, NIO presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $13.63.

Get NIO alerts:

NIO Price Performance

Shares of NIO opened at $9.80 on Monday. The company has a current ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. NIO has a 1 year low of $7.00 and a 1 year high of $24.43. The stock has a market cap of $16.35 billion, a P/E ratio of -6.36 and a beta of 1.92. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $8.26 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $9.76.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

NIO ( NYSE:NIO Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Friday, June 9th. The company reported ($2.51) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.22) by ($2.29). NIO had a negative return on equity of 66.25% and a negative net margin of 35.03%. The company had revenue of $10.68 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.60 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted ($0.18) EPS. NIOs quarterly revenue was up 7.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that NIO will post -1.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in NIO. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. increased its position in shares of NIO by 127.6% during the 1st quarter. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. now owns 770,160 shares of the companys stock worth $15,172,000 after purchasing an additional 431,851 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its holdings in shares of NIO by 19.9% during the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 18,593 shares of the companys stock worth $392,000 after acquiring an additional 3,092 shares during the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. increased its holdings in shares of NIO by 23.6% during the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 38,708 shares of the companys stock worth $815,000 after acquiring an additional 7,396 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of NIO by 1.8% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,705,563 shares of the companys stock worth $57,007,000 after acquiring an additional 48,720 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. increased its holdings in shares of NIO by 45.6% during the 1st quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 338,913 shares of the companys stock worth $7,134,000 after acquiring an additional 106,140 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 30.06% of the companys stock.

NIO Company Profile

(Get Rating)

NIO Inc designs, manufactures, and sells electric vehicles in the People's Republic of China. The company is also involved in the manufacture of e-powertrain, battery packs, and components; and racing management, technology development, and sales and after-sales management activities. In addition, it offers power solutions for battery charging needs; and other value-added services.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for NIO Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NIO and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Amid pomp and ceremony and the gathering of legislators, law enforcement personnel and health care officials from across the state, Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday signed 24 bills aimed at improving behavioral health services for Virginians.

Youngkin stood on the Fauquier Health campus in Warrenton, in the shadow of the hospital on the hill, and signed legislation thats part of his Right Help Right Now plan to support people before, during and after a behavioral health crisis.

Having same-day care offered through mobile crisis units and crisis centers will reduce overcrowding at emergency departments, according to the plan. That will reduce the strain on police officers who currently spend hours in emergency rooms with patients who are under a TDO, or temporary detention order, waiting to be seen.

In addition, the actions reduce the criminalization of mental health in Virginia and work to bolster the behavioral health workforce, according to the plan website.

Virginians deserve same-day behavioral health services in their moment of need, and yet many people find themselves waiting days for a bed to become available, Youngkin said. When you need help, every moment matters. At times, that care arrives too late.

Behavioral health is a broad term that takes in both mental health and substance abuse issues. The two used to be treated separately, but theyre so interrelated, theyre often a dual diagnosis, Michelle Wagaman, prevention services director for the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board, said during a behavioral health summit last summer.

At that session, people from across the Fredericksburg region representing schools and businesses, mental health agencies and counseling services, gathered to talk about the growing need for more providers. They cited the gloom and doom report, the Virginia Health Care Foundations annual assessment of behavioral health workers. It found that Virginia is not producing enough new graduates to meet the population and that many of those currently working are nearing retirement.

While Virginia regularly ranks at the top of national scorecards as a place to do business and for public education, when it comes to availability of behavioral health services, that is not the case, according to the 2022 report.

The commonwealth ranks 39th nationwide for access to mental health care and 41st for the availability of its behavioral health workforce.

This years report hasnt come out yet, but a look at job openings in the health care field shows more than 10,000 vacancies statewide. Those openings are in all fields of medical work and are posted on the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association website.

A search for behavioral and mental health specialty shows 415 job openings across Virginia.

During the governors event on Wednesday in Warrenton, he and other state officials stressed that Virginia has lacked the necessary infrastructure to meet behavioral health needs, and that this is the first year of a three-year plan.

The intersection where behavioral health meets other systems like law enforcement, schools, courts and private hospitals is wide and complex, said Nelson Smith, commissioner of the states Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. These bills will improve Virginians experiences when navigating these roads.
Barratt Developments plc (OTCMKTS:BTDPF  Get Rating) was the target of a large decline in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 83,600 shares, a decline of 61.8% from the May 15th total of 218,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 418.0 days.

Barratt Developments Trading Down 9.5 %

OTCMKTS:BTDPF traded down $0.59 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $5.60. 2,140 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,594. Barratt Developments has a twelve month low of $3.65 and a twelve month high of $6.70. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $5.93 and a 200 day moving average price of $5.58.

Get Barratt Developments alerts:

About Barratt Developments

(Get Rating)

Featured Articles

Barratt Developments Plc engages in the development of residential and non-residential properties mainly in the United Kingdom. It offers services in land, design, construction, and sales and marketing. The company was founded by Lawrence Arthur Barratt in 1958 and is headquartered in Coalville, the United Kingdom.

Receive News & Ratings for Barratt Developments Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Barratt Developments and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
BILL Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BILL  Get Rating) has been given a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy by the twenty-one analysts that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $125.50.

A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their target price on shares of BILL from $150.00 to $110.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of BILL from $108.00 to $110.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of BILL from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $105.00 price objective for the company. in a research report on Monday. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of BILL from $95.00 to $104.00 in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $200.00 price objective on shares of BILL in a research report on Friday, March 3rd.

Get BILL alerts:

Insider Buying and Selling at BILL

In other BILL news, CEO Rene A. Lacerte sold 9,102 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.07, for a total transaction of $901,735.14. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 104,551 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,357,867.57. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, CFO John R. Rettig sold 6,008 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, May 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $95.00, for a total transaction of $570,760.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 28,866 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,742,270. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Rene A. Lacerte sold 9,102 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $99.07, for a total value of $901,735.14. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 104,551 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,357,867.57. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 34,531 shares of company stock worth $3,543,480. Corporate insiders own 5.00% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On BILL

BILL Stock Performance

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in BILL. CI Investments Inc. increased its position in shares of BILL by 121.4% during the 4th quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 279 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 153 shares during the last quarter. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI purchased a new stake in shares of BILL during the 1st quarter valued at $32,000. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S increased its holdings in BILL by 227.0% in the 1st quarter. BI Asset Management Fondsmaeglerselskab A S now owns 399 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 277 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP increased its holdings in BILL by 173.4% in the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 391 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 248 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. purchased a new stake in BILL in the 1st quarter worth about $38,000. 95.80% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

BILL stock opened at $114.47 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $12.18 billion, a P/E ratio of -41.18 and a beta of 1.94. The business has a 50 day moving average of $92.58 and a 200-day moving average of $95.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 1.92 and a quick ratio of 1.92. BILL has a 1 year low of $68.30 and a 1 year high of $179.85.

BILL (NYSE:BILL  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported ($0.11) earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of ($0.45) by $0.34. The business had revenue of $272.56 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $246.67 million. BILL had a negative net margin of 30.41% and a negative return on equity of 4.84%. On average, equities research analysts predict that BILL will post -1.37 earnings per share for the current year.

BILL Company Profile

(Get Rating

Bill.com Holdings, Inc provides cloud-based software that simplifies, digitizes, and automates back-office financial operations for small and midsize businesses worldwide. The company provides software-as-a-service, cloud-based payments, and spend management products, which allow users to automate accounts payable and accounts receivable transactions, as well as enable users to connect with their suppliers and/or customers to do business, eliminate expense reports, manage cash flows, and improve office efficiency.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for BILL Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BILL and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Black Stone Minerals (NYSE:BSM  Get Rating) had its target price trimmed by Piper Sandler from $15.00 to $14.00 in a research report released on Tuesday morning, The Fly reports.

Other analysts have also issued reports about the company. Raymond James lifted their price target on Black Stone Minerals from $19.00 to $21.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Black Stone Minerals in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $18.67.

Get Black Stone Minerals alerts:

Black Stone Minerals Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE BSM opened at $15.94 on Tuesday. Black Stone Minerals has a 52 week low of $12.81 and a 52 week high of $20.24. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.78 and a beta of 1.04. The stocks fifty day moving average is $16.01 and its 200 day moving average is $16.08.

Black Stone Minerals Announces Dividend

Black Stone Minerals ( NYSE:BSM Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 1st. The oil and gas producer reported $0.46 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $0.46. The company had revenue of $174.58 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $138.68 million. Black Stone Minerals had a return on equity of 54.18% and a net margin of 77.07%. Equities research analysts forecast that Black Stone Minerals will post 1.82 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 12th were issued a $0.475 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 11th. This represents a $1.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 11.92%. Black Stone Mineralss payout ratio is currently 68.84%.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP Luke Stevens Putman sold 100,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.06, for a total transaction of $1,506,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 486,421 shares in the company, valued at $7,325,500.26. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Luke Stevens Putman sold 100,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $15.06, for a total transaction of $1,506,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 486,421 shares in the company, valued at $7,325,500.26. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Thomas L. Carter, Jr. purchased 31,800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The shares were bought at an average price of $15.53 per share, with a total value of $493,854.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 2,652,791 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $41,197,844.23. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 19.60% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in BSM. Morgan Stanley lifted its position in shares of Black Stone Minerals by 144.9% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 4,004,701 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $67,559,000 after buying an additional 2,369,656 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG lifted its position in shares of Black Stone Minerals by 12,416.2% during the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 1,587,809 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $21,372,000 after buying an additional 1,575,123 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in shares of Black Stone Minerals by 239.2% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,152,661 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $19,445,000 after buying an additional 812,840 shares during the last quarter. Epacria Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Black Stone Minerals during the 4th quarter valued at $12,149,000. Finally, Natixis raised its stake in shares of Black Stone Minerals by 97.9% during the 4th quarter. Natixis now owns 1,409,600 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $23,780,000 after purchasing an additional 697,400 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 16.46% of the companys stock.

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.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Black Stone Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Black Stone Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Oracle (NYSE:ORCL  Get Rating) had its target price lifted by BMO Capital Markets from $96.00 to $132.00 in a research report released on Tuesday morning, The Fly reports.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on the company. Citigroup increased their target price on Oracle from $86.00 to $106.00 in a report on Friday, June 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Oracle from a sell rating to a neutral rating and increased their target price for the company from $75.00 to $120.00 in a report on Tuesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Oracle from $93.00 to $109.00 in a report on Monday. Piper Sandler increased their target price on Oracle from $104.00 to $130.00 in a report on Friday, June 9th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on Oracle from $120.00 to $135.00 in a report on Tuesday. Thirteen research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Oracle presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $115.21.

Get Oracle alerts:

Oracle Price Performance

Shares of Oracle stock opened at $126.56 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 55.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $341.69 billion, a PE ratio of 41.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.24 and a beta of 1.00. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $100.70 and its 200-day moving average price is $91.19. Oracle has a 12 month low of $60.78 and a 12 month high of $127.54.

Oracle Dividend Announcement

Oracle ( NYSE:ORCL Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, June 12th. The enterprise software provider reported $1.67 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.58 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $13.84 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.74 billion. Oracle had a negative return on equity of 470.73% and a net margin of 17.02%. The companys revenue was up 16.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.31 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Oracle will post 4.51 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 26th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 12th will be given a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.26%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, July 11th. Oracles dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 52.29%.

Insider Activity at Oracle

In related news, Director Jeffrey Berg sold 45,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.65, for a total transaction of $4,214,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 207,409 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,423,852.85. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, Director Jeffrey Berg sold 45,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.65, for a total transaction of $4,214,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 207,409 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,423,852.85. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Safra Catz sold 1,837,101 shares of Oracle stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.86, for a total value of $172,430,299.86. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,118,592 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $104,991,045.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 43.70% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Oracle

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of ORCL. Clear Investment Research LLC bought a new stake in shares of Oracle in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. NewSquare Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Oracle by 843.3% in the 1st quarter. NewSquare Capital LLC now owns 283 shares of the enterprise software providers stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 253 shares in the last quarter. Steward Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Oracle in the 4th quarter worth $27,000. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new position in shares of Oracle in the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Oracle in the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Institutional investors own 40.96% of the companys stock.

About Oracle

(Get Rating)

Oracle Corporation offers products and services that address enterprise information technology environments worldwide. Its Oracle cloud software as a service offering include various cloud software applications, including Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP), Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise performance management, Oracle Fusion cloud supply chain and manufacturing management, Oracle Fusion cloud human capital management, Oracle Advertising, and NetSuite applications suite, as well as Oracle Fusion Sales, Service, and Marketing.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Oracle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oracle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Capricorn Energy (OTCMKTS:CRNCY  Get Rating) had its price objective raised by Barclays from GBX 250 ($3.13) to GBX 275 ($3.44) in a research report released on Monday, The Fly reports.

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on shares of Capricorn Energy in a research note on Friday, March 24th. They issued a neutral rating for the company.

Get Capricorn Energy alerts:

Capricorn Energy Price Performance

Shares of OTCMKTS:CRNCY opened at $5.02 on Monday. Capricorn Energy has a 52 week low of $4.81 and a 52 week high of $5.05. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $10.45 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $12.05.

Capricorn Energy Announces Dividend

Capricorn Energy Company Profile

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 7th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 15th were given a dividend of $2.8298 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 44.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 12th.

(Get Rating)

Capricorn Energy Plc engages in the exploration, development, production of oil and gas properties. It operates through the following segments: Senegal, UK (United Kingdom) & Norway and International. The Senegal segment focuses to have a government-approved exploitation plan. The UK & Norway segment includes exploration activities in the North Sea, Norwegian Sea, and Barents Sea as well as management of the groups producing assets in the UK North Sea.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for Capricorn Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Capricorn Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Cedar Brook Financial Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Vanguard Real Estate ETF (NYSEARCA:VNQ  Get Rating) by 11.8% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 20,006 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 2,114 shares during the quarter. Cedar Brook Financial Partners LLCs holdings in Vanguard Real Estate ETF were worth $1,661,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Conservest Capital Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Vanguard Real Estate ETF by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Conservest Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 319,948 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $26,389,000 after acquiring an additional 1,760 shares during the last quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC boosted its holdings in Vanguard Real Estate ETF by 115.6% during the 4th quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 85,152 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $6,908,000 after acquiring an additional 45,662 shares during the last quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Vanguard Real Estate ETF by 80.0% during the 3rd quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 810 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $64,000 after acquiring an additional 360 shares during the last quarter. Catalyst Financial Partners LLC purchased a new position in Vanguard Real Estate ETF during the 4th quarter worth $478,000. Finally, Johnson Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in Vanguard Real Estate ETF by 40.5% during the 4th quarter. Johnson Financial Group LLC now owns 225,826 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $18,626,000 after acquiring an additional 65,092 shares during the last quarter.

Get Vanguard Real Estate ETF alerts:

Vanguard Real Estate ETF Stock Performance

VNQ traded up $0.36 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $84.34. 986,031 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,392,594. The stock has a market capitalization of $33.17 billion, a PE ratio of 28.40 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $81.74 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $84.20. Vanguard Real Estate ETF has a 1 year low of $74.66 and a 1 year high of $102.37.

Vanguard Real Estate ETF Profile

Vanguard REIT ETF (the Fund) is an open-end investment company. The Fund invests in stocks issued by real estate investment trusts (REITs), companies that purchase office buildings, hotels, and other real property. It tracks the return of the MSCI US RIT Index, a gauge of real estate stocks. The Vanguard Group, Inc provides investment advisory services to the Fund.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard Real Estate ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard Real Estate ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Chevron (NYSE:CVX  Get Rating) had its target price trimmed by Piper Sandler from $196.00 to $188.00 in a report published on Tuesday morning, The Fly reports.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Chevron from $204.00 to $199.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Chevron from $192.00 to $198.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 23rd. Mizuho decreased their price target on shares of Chevron from $206.00 to $196.00 in a research report on Friday, May 19th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Chevron from an underweight rating to a neutral rating and increased their price target for the company from $161.00 to $170.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 31st. Finally, UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of Chevron in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. They set a buy rating and a $212.00 price target for the company. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $191.68.

Get Chevron alerts:

Chevron Trading Up 0.8 %

NYSE CVX opened at $158.32 on Tuesday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $160.79 and its 200-day moving average price is $166.76. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The stock has a market cap of $299.96 billion, a PE ratio of 8.55, a PEG ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 1.17. Chevron has a 12 month low of $132.54 and a 12 month high of $189.68.

Chevron Announces Dividend

Chevron ( NYSE:CVX Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 28th. The oil and gas company reported $3.55 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.41 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $50.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $49.49 billion. Chevron had a net margin of 14.74% and a return on equity of 23.15%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.36 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Chevron will post 14.23 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 19th were paid a dividend of $1.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 18th. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.82%. Chevrons payout ratio is 32.61%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Chevron

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Callan Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of Chevron by 20.9% during the 1st quarter. Callan Capital LLC now owns 1,888 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $308,000 after purchasing an additional 326 shares during the period. Laraway Financial Advisors Inc acquired a new stake in shares of Chevron during the 1st quarter worth approximately $202,000. Bradley Mark J. grew its stake in shares of Chevron by 6.9% during the 1st quarter. Bradley Mark J. now owns 27,414 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $4,473,000 after purchasing an additional 1,765 shares during the period. Sweeney & Michel LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Chevron during the 1st quarter worth approximately $648,000. Finally, Atomi Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Chevron during the 1st quarter worth approximately $2,369,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.37% of the companys stock.

Chevron Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Chevron Corp. engages in the provision of administrative, financial management, and technology support for energy and chemical operations. It operates through the Upstream and Downstream segments. The Upstream segment consists of the exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas, the liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas, the transporting of crude oil by major international oil export pipelines, the processing, transporting, storage, and marketing of natural gas, and a gas-to-liquids plant.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Chevron Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chevron and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Pure Storage (NYSE:PSTG  Get Rating) had its target price hoisted by equities research analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $36.00 to $42.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday, The Fly reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschafts price objective suggests a potential upside of 10.85% from the stocks previous close.

Several other equities research analysts have also commented on PSTG. 888 reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Pure Storage in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. StockNews.com lowered Pure Storage from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on Pure Storage from $40.00 to $35.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. UBS Group lowered their target price on Pure Storage from $33.00 to $31.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Finally, TD Cowen lowered their target price on Pure Storage from $37.00 to $31.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $39.89.

Get Pure Storage alerts:

Pure Storage Stock Performance

Shares of Pure Storage stock traded up $0.29 on Friday, hitting $37.89. The companys stock had a trading volume of 573,502 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,210,639. Pure Storage has a 1 year low of $22.14 and a 1 year high of $38.36. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $26.88 and a 200-day moving average price of $27.18. The company has a market capitalization of $11.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,270.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.64 and a beta of 1.21.

Insiders Place Their Bets

Institutional Trading of Pure Storage

In other Pure Storage news, insider Ajay Singh sold 37,084 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.42, for a total transaction of $1,350,599.28. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 414,393 shares in the company, valued at $15,092,193.06. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . In other Pure Storage news, insider Ajay Singh sold 37,084 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.42, for a total transaction of $1,350,599.28. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 414,393 shares in the company, valued at $15,092,193.06. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, CAO Mona Chu sold 11,053 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, June 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.37, for a total value of $379,891.61. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 162,991 shares in the company, valued at $5,602,000.67. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 95,773 shares of company stock worth $2,927,553 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 6.50% of the companys stock.

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. FMR LLC increased its position in shares of Pure Storage by 11.8% during the first quarter. FMR LLC now owns 45,388,246 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,157,854,000 after acquiring an additional 4,800,883 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Pure Storage by 0.7% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 27,369,119 shares of the technology companys stock worth $966,403,000 after acquiring an additional 203,732 shares during the period. Champlain Investment Partners LLC increased its holdings in Pure Storage by 4.0% in the first quarter. Champlain Investment Partners LLC now owns 14,395,833 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $367,238,000 after buying an additional 557,025 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its holdings in Pure Storage by 24.9% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 14,091,077 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $359,464,000 after buying an additional 2,807,489 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Atreides Management LP increased its holdings in Pure Storage by 92.5% in the first quarter. Atreides Management LP now owns 7,261,847 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $185,250,000 after buying an additional 3,489,559 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.96% of the companys stock.

Pure Storage Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Pure Storage, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides data storage technologies, products, and services in the United States and internationally. The company's Purity software is shared across its products and provides enterprise-class data services, such as data reduction, data protection, and encryption, as well as storage protocols, including block, file, and object.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Pure Storage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pure Storage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Eaton Co. plc (NYSE:ETN  Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 5,990,000 shares, a growth of 32.2% from the May 15th total of 4,530,000 shares. Currently, 1.5% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 2,190,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.7 days.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Bank of America increased their target price on Eaton from $180.00 to $200.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 8th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Eaton from $185.00 to $200.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on Eaton from $188.00 to $189.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. StockNews.com lowered Eaton from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on Eaton in a research note on Tuesday, June 6th. They set a neutral rating and a $178.00 price target on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $178.71.

Get Eaton alerts:

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Taras G. Jr. Szmagala sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $183.93, for a total value of $367,860.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 7,300 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,342,689. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.53% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Eaton Trading Up 2.0 %

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. RB Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Eaton by 3.5% in the first quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 2,759 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $419,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares in the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board grew its stake in Eaton by 74.8% in the first quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 101,412 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $15,390,000 after purchasing an additional 43,381 shares in the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in Eaton by 0.6% in the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 374,204 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $56,790,000 after purchasing an additional 2,057 shares in the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. lifted its position in shares of Eaton by 9.1% in the first quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 2,682 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $407,000 after buying an additional 223 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ergoteles LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Eaton in the first quarter valued at approximately $1,188,000. 80.19% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

NYSE:ETN traded up $3.82 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $196.89. The company had a trading volume of 2,287,116 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,014,707. Eaton has a fifty-two week low of $122.50 and a fifty-two week high of $197.49. The businesss fifty day moving average is $171.93 and its two-hundred day moving average is $166.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.50. The firm has a market cap of $78.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.12, a P/E/G ratio of 2.09 and a beta of 1.12.

Eaton (NYSE:ETN  Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The industrial products company reported $1.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.78 by $0.10. Eaton had a return on equity of 18.70% and a net margin of 12.00%. The company had revenue of $5.50 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.23 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.62 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 13.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that Eaton will post 8.45 earnings per share for the current year.

Eaton Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 26th. Investors of record on Monday, May 8th were issued a dividend of $0.86 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 5th. This represents a $3.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.75%. Eatons payout ratio is presently 53.67%.

Eaton Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Eaton Corp. Plc is a power management company, which provides energy-efficient solutions for electrical, hydraulic, and mechanical power. It operates through the following segments: Electrical Americas and Electrical Global, Aerospace, Vehicle, and eMobility. The Electrical Americas and Electrical Global segments engage in sales contracts for electrical components, industrial components, power distribution and assemblies, residential products, single and three phase power quality, wiring devices, circuit protection, utility power distribution, power reliability equipment, and service.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Eaton Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eaton and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Mid-America Apartment Communities (NYSE:MAA  Get Rating) and Sino Land (OTCMKTS:SNLAY  Get Rating) are both large-cap finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, dividends, profitability, earnings, valuation and risk.

Risk & Volatility

Mid-America Apartment Communities has a beta of 0.77, meaning that its stock price is 23% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Sino Land has a beta of 0.52, meaning that its stock price is 48% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Get Mid-America Apartment Communities alerts:

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of recent recommendations for Mid-America Apartment Communities and Sino Land, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Mid-America Apartment Communities 3 5 7 0 2.27 Sino Land 0 0 0 0 N/A

Dividends

Mid-America Apartment Communities currently has a consensus price target of $168.57, suggesting a potential upside of 9.34%. Given Mid-America Apartment Communities higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Mid-America Apartment Communities is more favorable than Sino Land.

Mid-America Apartment Communities pays an annual dividend of $5.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.6%. Sino Land pays an annual dividend of $0.17 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. Mid-America Apartment Communities pays out 98.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Mid-America Apartment Communities has raised its dividend for 13 consecutive years. Mid-America Apartment Communities is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

91.2% of Mid-America Apartment Communities shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 0.1% of Sino Land shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.3% of Mid-America Apartment Communities shares are owned by 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.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Mid-America Apartment Communities and Sino Lands top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Mid-America Apartment Communities $2.02 billion 8.90 $637.44 million $5.70 27.05 Sino Land $1.99 billion 5.09 $734.70 million N/A N/A

Sino Land has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Mid-America Apartment Communities.

Profitability

This table compares Mid-America Apartment Communities and Sino Lands net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Mid-America Apartment Communities 31.92% 11.01% 6.06% Sino Land N/A N/A N/A

Summary

Mid-America Apartment Communities beats Sino Land on 12 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Mid-America Apartment Communities

(Get Rating)

MAA, an S&P 500 company, is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on delivering full-cycle and superior investment performance for shareholders through the ownership, management, acquisition, development and redevelopment of quality apartment communities primarily in the Southeast, Southwest and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. As of September 30, 2022, MAA had ownership interest in 101,769 apartment units, including communities currently in development, across 16 states and the District of Columbia.

About Sino Land

(Get Rating)

Sino Land Company Limited, an investment holding company, invests in, develops, manages, and trades in properties. It operates through six segments: Property Sales, Property Rental, Property Management and Other Services, Hotel Operations, Investments in Securities, and Financing. The company's property portfolio includes office, industrial, and residential buildings, as well as shopping malls, car parks, and hotels. It also provides cleaning, building construction and management, financing, administration, security, mortgage loan financing, secretarial, management, project management, securities investment, living, consultancy, and deposit placing services, as well as operates hotels. As of June 30, 2022, the company had a land bank of approximately 20.4 million square feet of attributable floor area in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia. The company was incorporated in 1971 and is based in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. Sino Land Company Limited is a subsidiary of Tsim Sha Tsui Properties Limited.

Receive News & Ratings for Mid-America Apartment Communities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mid-America Apartment Communities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
A presidential candidate is arrested in Miami in the morning and then makes a campaign speech in New Jersey that night.

Only in 21st century American politics! Only in the crazy world of Donald Trump.

I suppose this is just another adventure in the life of Americas most eccentric billionaire. After all, hes been everything from a TV star to president of the United States. Being arrested may just be something new to keep his life exciting.

Americans seemed to take the arrest of a former president in stride. No one was shocked. No one is ever shocked anymore when it comes to the happenings in Trumps life. Thats just who he is.

The story didnt rate all that high on the TV news. Murders were deemed bigger stories on D.C. stations than Trump being arrested.

Of course, the story was hashed and rehashed last week when news of the coming arriaignment was announced. The only furor that arose was when the local ABC station pre-empted Jeopardy! to air a special on Trumps legal troubles. You dont mess with Jeopardy!

As with Tuesday nights campaign speech, Trump just goes on about his business as if nothing happened. Almost any other American who was arrested on 37 counts of anything would be scared stiff. Trump, who seems truly to believe that he is invincible, just designates lawyers to handle the situation and goes about life as usual.

One curious aspect of Trumps arrest was the absence of his wife, Melania. Almost every time a politician or some other important person is arrested and appears in court, his wife goes with him, walking by her husbands side and usually holding his hand.

This is a show of solidarity that the defendants lawyers insist upon, even if the husband and wife despise each other. If gives the impression for those watching on TV or reading the story in the newspaper that the spouse is providing 100 percent support.

Tuesday, Melania was nowhere to be seen. In fact, she has not shown her face in public (that I can recall) since she moved out of the White House. She apparently is not a loving  or even hypocritical  hand holder.

Nobody even saw Donald. His motorcade was whisked into a basement garage at the courthouse, and he entered the courtroom without being observed by any member of the press.

Somebody figured it out and if Trump is convicted and gets the maximum sentence on every count, he would have to serve 400 years in prison. Man! When he got out, he would be as old as Joe Biden is now!

Someone else researched the laws and discovered that being convicted of 37 felonies would not disqualify Trump from running for or serving as president. And if there ever was a commander-in-chief who directed the country from a jail cell, it would be Donald Trump. Just another quirk to an already quirky life.

I suppose lawmakers figured such a law was unnecessary because no one would vote for a convicted felon. That was before Donald Trump. Prison would make him more of a martyr than he already is.

In fact, as Trump speculated when he was charged in New York three months ago (that charge still looms), being arrested will likely help his presidential campaign. Now he will get the sympathy vote from those who believe that the government is picking on the former president. And the sympathy vote just might make the difference in the crowded Republican primary.

It is unlikely, however, that sympathy votes will get Trump into the White House again. Still, you never know. The man seems to live a charmed life.

One question from this whole mess seems paramount. Why did Trump take highly classified documents to his Florida residence in the first place?

Refusing to accept the fact that he had lost the 2020 election, did he think he would continue to run the country from Mar-A-Lago? Did he believe that classified documents were part of his presidential papers?

Well probably never know. Nobody knows what goes on under that flop of hair. Trump has a mind like no other.

If the FBI did investigate Trump just to end his political career (which is possible), it miscalculated. The former president may well weasel his way out of this legal predicament and weasel his way back into the White House.

After all, we are talking about Donald Trump!
SJW Group (NYSE:SJW  Get Rating) and Severn Trent (OTCMKTS:SVTRF  Get Rating) are both utilities companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, dividends, institutional ownership, risk, profitability, analyst recommendations and valuation.

Dividends

SJW Group pays an annual dividend of $1.52 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.1%. Severn Trent pays an annual dividend of $0.80 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.4%. SJW Group pays out 57.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Severn Trent pays out 98.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. SJW Group has raised its dividend for 56 consecutive years.

Get SJW Group alerts:

Institutional & Insider Ownership

72.1% of SJW Group shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 37.3% of Severn Trent shares are held by institutional investors. 0.6% of SJW Group shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets SJW Group 12.88% 7.57% 2.28% Severn Trent N/A N/A N/A

Valuation and Earnings

This table compares SJW Group and Severn Trents net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

This table compares SJW Group and Severn Trents top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio SJW Group $620.70 million 3.68 $73.83 million $2.66 27.29 Severn Trent N/A N/A N/A $0.82 40.57

SJW Group has higher revenue and earnings than Severn Trent. SJW Group is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Severn Trent, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for SJW Group and Severn Trent, as provided by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score SJW Group 1 5 0 0 1.83 Severn Trent 0 2 0 0 2.00

SJW Group currently has a consensus price target of $77.60, indicating a potential upside of 6.90%. Given SJW Groups higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe SJW Group is more favorable than Severn Trent.

Summary

SJW Group beats Severn Trent on 10 of the 13 factors compared between the two stocks.

About SJW Group

(Get Rating)

SJW Group, through its subsidiaries, provides water utility services in the United States. It operates in two segments, Water Utility Services and Real Estate Services. It engages in the production, purchase, storage, purification, distribution, wholesale, and retail sale of water and wastewater services. The company also provides non-tariffed services, including water system operations, maintenance agreements, and antenna site leases; contracted services and sewer operations to water utilities; and a Linebacker protection plan for public drinking water customers in Connecticut and Maine. Its water supply consists of groundwater from wells, surface water from watershed run-off and diversion, reclaimed water, and imported water purchased from the Santa Clara Valley Water District. The company offers water service to approximately 232,000 connections that serve approximately one million people residing in portions of the cities of San Jose and Cupertino, as well as in the cities of Campbell, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, and the Town of Los Gatos; and adjacent unincorporated territories in the County of Santa Clara in the State of California. In addition, it provides water service to approximately 141,000 service connections, which serve approximately 459,000 people in 81 municipalities with a service area of approximately 270 square miles throughout Connecticut and Maine, as well as approximately 26,000 service connections that serve approximately 77,000 people in a service area comprising approximately 268 square miles in the region between San Antonio and Austin, Texas; and approximately 3,000 wastewater connections in Southbury, Connecticut. Further, the company owns undeveloped land in California and Tennessee; and owns and operates commercial buildings and warehouse properties in Tennessee. The company was formerly known as SJW Corp. and changed its name to SJW Group in November 2016. SJW Group was incorporated in 1985 and is headquartered in San Jose, California.

About Severn Trent

(Get Rating)

Severn Trent PLC operates as a water and sewerage company in England and Wales. It operates in two segments, Regulated Water and Waste Water, and Business Services. The Regulated Water and Waste Water segment offers water and waste water services to approximately 4.8 million households and businesses in the Midlands and Wales. The Business Services segment generates renewable energy from anaerobic digestion, hydropower, wind turbines, and solar technology; manages and sells land; and offers search services. It also provides contract services to municipal and industrial clients in the United Kingdom; and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense for design, build, and operation of water and waste water treatment facilities and networks, as well as services to developers. The company was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Coventry, the United Kingdom.

Receive News & Ratings for SJW Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SJW Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Ganfeng Lithium Group Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:GNENF  Get Rating) saw a large growth in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 1,232,000 shares, a growth of 56.0% from the May 15th total of 789,700 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 14,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 84.4 days.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Ganfeng Lithium Group from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, March 29th.

Get Ganfeng Lithium Group alerts:

Ganfeng Lithium Group Stock Performance

Ganfeng Lithium Group stock traded up $0.20 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $7.11. The companys stock had a trading volume of 13,277 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,137. Ganfeng Lithium Group has a 12 month low of $5.70 and a 12 month high of $13.68. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $6.70 and a 200-day moving average price of $7.39.

Ganfeng Lithium Group Company Profile

Ganfeng Lithium Group Co, Ltd. manufactures and sells lithium products in Mainland China, rest of Asia, the European Union, North America, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Lithium Metal and Compound, Lithium Battery, and Lithium Ore Resource and Others. The company has interests in the Mount Marion mine located in Australia; Cauchari-Olaroz project situated in Jujuy Province, Northwest Argentina; Mariana project located in Salta Province, Argentina; Sonora project situated in Mexico; Pilbara Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project located in Western Australia; Ningdu Heyuan mine situated in Ningdu County, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province; Avalonia project located in Ireland; Qinghai Yiliping lithium salt lake project situated in the Qinghai Province; Goulamina spodumene ore project located in southern Mali, Africa; PPG lithium salt-lake project located in Salta Province, Argentina; and Songshugang tantalum-niobium mine project located in Jiangxi Province.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for Ganfeng Lithium Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ganfeng Lithium Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Simpson Manufacturing (NYSE:SSD  Get Rating) and CompX International (NYSE:CIX  Get Rating) are both construction companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, valuation, profitability, risk, dividends, earnings and institutional ownership.

Risk & Volatility

Simpson Manufacturing has a beta of 1.22, indicating that its stock price is 22% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, CompX International has a beta of 0.61, indicating that its stock price is 39% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Get Simpson Manufacturing alerts:

Profitability

This table compares Simpson Manufacturing and CompX Internationals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Simpson Manufacturing 15.18% 23.71% 13.03% CompX International 13.28% 13.48% 12.13%

Dividends

Earnings and Valuation

Simpson Manufacturing pays an annual dividend of $1.04 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.8%. CompX International pays an annual dividend of $1.00 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.6%. Simpson Manufacturing pays out 13.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. CompX International pays out 56.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Simpson Manufacturing has increased its dividend for 3 consecutive years and CompX International has increased its dividend for 2 consecutive years.

This table compares Simpson Manufacturing and CompX Internationals top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Simpson Manufacturing $2.12 billion 2.66 $333.99 million $7.62 17.31 CompX International $166.60 million 1.59 $20.87 million $1.78 12.12

Simpson Manufacturing has higher revenue and earnings than CompX International. CompX International is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Simpson Manufacturing, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

91.5% of Simpson Manufacturing shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 8.3% of CompX International shares are held by institutional investors. 0.7% of Simpson Manufacturing shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 0.4% of CompX International shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Simpson Manufacturing and CompX International, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Simpson Manufacturing 0 1 1 0 2.50 CompX International 0 0 0 0 N/A

Simpson Manufacturing currently has a consensus target price of $137.50, suggesting a potential upside of 4.25%. Given Simpson Manufacturings higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe Simpson Manufacturing is more favorable than CompX International.

Summary

Simpson Manufacturing beats CompX International on 15 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Simpson Manufacturing

(Get Rating)

Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc., through its subsidiaries, designs, engineers, manufactures, and sells wood and concrete construction products. The company offers wood construction products, including connectors, truss plates, fastening systems, fasteners and shearwalls, and pre-fabricated lateral systems for use in light-frame construction; and concrete construction products comprising adhesives, specialty chemicals, mechanical anchors, carbide drill bits, powder actuated tools, fiber-reinforced materials, and other repair products for use in concrete, masonry, and steel construction, as well as grouts, coatings, sealers, mortars, fiberglass and fiber-reinforced polymer systems, and asphalt products for use in concrete construction repair, and strengthening and protection products. It also provides connectors and lateral products for wood framing, timber and offsite construction, structural steel construction, and cold-formed steel applications; and mechanical and adhesive anchors for concrete and masonry construction applications. In addition, the company offers engineering and design services, as well as software solutions that facilitate the specification, selection, and use of its products. It markets its products to the residential construction, light industrial and commercial construction, remodeling, and do-it-yourself markets in the United States, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Portugal, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Australia, New Zealand, China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. The company was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in Pleasanton, California.

About CompX International

(Get Rating)

CompX International Inc. manufactures and sells security products and recreational marine components primarily in North America. It operates in two segments, Security Products and Marine Components. The Security Products segment manufactures mechanical and electrical cabinet locks, and other locking mechanisms used in various applications, including ignition systems, mailboxes, file cabinets, desk drawers, tool storage cabinets, high security medical cabinetry, integrated inventory and access control secured narcotics boxes, electrical circuit panels, storage compartments, gas station security, and vending and cash containment machines. This segment serves recreational transportation, postal, office and institutional furniture, cabinetry, tool storage, healthcare, and other industries. The Marine Components segment manufactures and distributes stainless steel exhaust headers, exhaust pipes, mufflers, and other exhaust components; gauges, such as GPS speedometers and tachometers; mechanical and electronic controls and throttles; wake enhancement systems, trim tabs, steering wheels, and billet aluminum accessories; dash panels, LED indicators, and wire harnesses; and grab handles, pin cleats, and related hardware and accessories primarily for performance and ski/wakeboard boats for the recreational marine and other industries. The company sells its products directly to original equipment manufacturers, as well as through distributors. The company was incorporated in 1993 and is based in Dallas, Texas. CompX International Inc. is a subsidiary of NL Industries, Inc.

Receive News & Ratings for Simpson Manufacturing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Simpson Manufacturing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Hormel Foods Co. (NYSE:HRL  Get Rating) VP Mark J. Ourada sold 9,200 shares of Hormel Foods stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.00, for a total transaction of $377,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 20,684 shares of the companys stock, valued at $848,044. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website.

Hormel Foods Stock Performance

NYSE:HRL opened at $41.30 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.42, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.15, a PEG ratio of 4.09 and a beta of 0.18. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $39.97 and its 200 day simple moving average is $42.62. Hormel Foods Co. has a twelve month low of $37.78 and a twelve month high of $51.69.

Get Hormel Foods alerts:

Hormel Foods (NYSE:HRL  Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, June 1st. The company reported $0.40 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.39 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $2.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.06 billion. Hormel Foods had a net margin of 7.61% and a return on equity of 12.36%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 3.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.48 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Hormel Foods Co. will post 1.73 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hormel Foods Announces Dividend

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hormel Foods

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 15th. Investors of record on Monday, July 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.275 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 14th. This represents a $1.10 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.66%. Hormel Foodss payout ratio is 64.33%.

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in Hormel Foods by 10.1% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 13,823 shares of the companys stock worth $712,000 after buying an additional 1,273 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. lifted its holdings in Hormel Foods by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 37,906 shares of the companys stock worth $1,954,000 after buying an additional 1,468 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS lifted its holdings in Hormel Foods by 6.6% in the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 37,751 shares of the companys stock worth $1,946,000 after buying an additional 2,339 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its holdings in Hormel Foods by 7.3% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 8,977 shares of the companys stock worth $463,000 after buying an additional 611 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in Hormel Foods by 0.4% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,030,288 shares of the companys stock worth $104,640,000 after buying an additional 8,636 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 39.74% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have commented on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Hormel Foods in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Hormel Foods from $45.00 to $42.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. TheStreet cut shares of Hormel Foods from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Stephens lowered their price objective on shares of Hormel Foods from $52.00 to $47.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Finally, Piper Sandler lowered their price objective on shares of Hormel Foods from $44.00 to $43.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $43.71.

About Hormel Foods

(Get Rating)

Hormel Foods Corp. engages in the production of meat and food products. It operates through the following segments: Grocery Products, Refrigerated Foods, Jennie-O Turkey Store, and International and Other. The Grocery Products segment focuses on the processing, marketing, and sale of shelf-stable food products sold in the retail market.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Hormel Foods Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hormel Foods and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Integer Holdings Co. (NYSE:ITGR  Get Rating) reached a new 52-week high on Friday . The stock traded as high as $86.18 and last traded at $86.00, with a volume of 54512 shares. The stock had previously closed at $85.48.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on ITGR shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Integer in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. 1-800-FLOWERS.COM restated a maintains rating on shares of Integer in a report on Friday, April 28th. Piper Sandler assumed coverage on Integer in a report on Friday, February 24th. They issued an overweight rating and a $85.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on Integer in a report on Friday, May 26th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $87.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Citigroup assumed coverage on Integer in a report on Thursday, May 11th. They issued a neutral rating and a $88.00 price objective for the company. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Integer currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $88.67.

Get Integer alerts:

Integer Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 1.79 and a current ratio of 2.79. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $81.20 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $75.51. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 42.12, a P/E/G ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.12.

Insider Transactions at Integer

Integer ( NYSE:ITGR Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The medical equipment provider reported $0.87 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.82 by $0.05. Integer had a return on equity of 9.54% and a net margin of 4.71%. The firm had revenue of $378.79 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $352.43 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.78 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 21.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Integer Holdings Co. will post 4.15 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

In other news, Director Jean M. Hobby sold 3,625 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.85, for a total transaction of $303,956.25. Following the transaction, the director now owns 9,126 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $765,215.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 1.84% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Integer

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in Integer by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 6,018,773 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $484,933,000 after acquiring an additional 38,664 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Integer by 1.5% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,738,440 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $232,643,000 after acquiring an additional 54,575 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in Integer by 1.4% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,146,916 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $166,383,000 after acquiring an additional 30,583 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in Integer by 23.2% in the 1st quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,422,398 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $110,236,000 after acquiring an additional 267,565 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp lifted its position in Integer by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,334,832 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $103,449,000 after acquiring an additional 12,106 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 98.42% of the companys stock.

About Integer

(Get Rating)

Integer Holdings Corporation operates as a medical device outsource manufacturer in the United States, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and internationally. It operates through Medical and Non-Medical segments. The company offers products for interventional cardiology, structural heart, heart failure, peripheral vascular, neurovascular, interventional oncology, electrophysiology, vascular access, infusion therapy, hemodialysis, urology, and gastroenterology procedures.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Integer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Integer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
StockNews.com began coverage on shares of International Tower Hill Mines (NYSEAMERICAN:THM  Get Rating) (TSE:ITH) in a research report released on Monday. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the mining companys stock.

International Tower Hill Mines Price Performance

Shares of THM stock opened at $0.44 on Monday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $0.52 and its 200 day moving average price is $0.53. International Tower Hill Mines has a 1-year low of $0.38 and a 1-year high of $0.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $85.04 million, a PE ratio of -21.82 and a beta of 0.70.

Get International Tower Hill Mines alerts:

Institutional Trading of International Tower Hill Mines

A hedge fund recently raised its stake in International Tower Hill Mines stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its holdings in shares of International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:THM  Get Rating) (TSE:ITH) by 25.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 161,859 shares of the mining companys stock after buying an additional 32,559 shares during the quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned about 0.08% of International Tower Hill Mines worth $69,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 55.34% of the companys stock.

About International Tower Hill Mines

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.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for International Tower Hill Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Tower Hill Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Pictet North America Advisors SA cut its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI India ETF (BATS:INDA  Get Rating) by 0.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 193,252 shares of the companys stock after selling 1,565 shares during the quarter. iShares MSCI India ETF comprises approximately 1.4% of Pictet North America Advisors SAs portfolio, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. Pictet North America Advisors SA owned approximately 0.16% of iShares MSCI India ETF worth $8,066,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI India ETF by 3.8% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 15,725,497 shares of the companys stock worth $700,887,000 after purchasing an additional 579,672 shares during the period. State of Tennessee Treasury Department raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI India ETF by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. State of Tennessee Treasury Department now owns 8,432,698 shares of the companys stock worth $351,981,000 after purchasing an additional 85,135 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI India ETF by 9.4% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 5,618,572 shares of the companys stock worth $234,519,000 after purchasing an additional 480,819 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI India ETF by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,441,930 shares of the companys stock valued at $153,407,000 after buying an additional 127,200 shares during the period. Finally, UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. raised its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI India ETF by 28.6% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. now owns 2,852,526 shares of the companys stock valued at $116,326,000 after buying an additional 634,200 shares during the period.

Get iShares MSCI India ETF alerts:

iShares MSCI India ETF Stock Performance

Shares of BATS:INDA opened at $42.99 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $4.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.86 and a beta of 0.68. iShares MSCI India ETF has a one year low of $30.57 and a one year high of $38.21. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $41.21 and its 200 day simple moving average is $41.02.

About iShares MSCI India ETF

The iShares MSCI India ETF (INDA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI India index, a market-cap-weighted index of the top 85% of firms in the Indian securities market. INDA was launched on Feb 2, 2012 and is managed by BlackRock.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI India ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI India ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
JPMorgan European Discovery Trust plc (LON:JEDT  Get Rating) declared a dividend on Friday, June 16th, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 29th will be paid a dividend of GBX 7.80 ($0.10) per share on Friday, August 4th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.94%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. This is a boost from JPMorgan European Discovery Trusts previous dividend of $1.20. The official announcement can be seen at this link.

JPMorgan European Discovery Trust Stock Performance

Shares of LON JEDT traded down GBX 0.50 ($0.01) during midday trading on Friday, reaching GBX 402.50 ($5.04). 77,577 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 189,398. The company has a current ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.12. JPMorgan European Discovery Trust has a 1 year low of GBX 339 ($4.24) and a 1 year high of GBX 449 ($5.62). The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 413.21 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 415.61. The stock has a market cap of 633.86 million, a P/E ratio of -248.77 and a beta of 1.23.

Get JPMorgan European Discovery Trust alerts:

JPMorgan European Discovery Trust Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Read More

JPMorgan European Smaller Companies Trust plc is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by JPMorgan Funds Limited. The fund is co-managed by JPMorgan Asset Management (UK) Limited. It invests in the public equity markets of Europe, excluding the United Kingdom. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors.

Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan European Discovery Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan European Discovery Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Jushi (OTCMKTS:JUSHF  Get Rating) and Ascend Wellness (OTC:AAWH  Get Rating) are both small-cap medical companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, risk, institutional ownership, earnings and profitability.

Earnings & Valuation

This table compares Jushi and Ascend Wellness gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

Get Jushi alerts:

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Jushi $284.28 million 0.29 -$202.32 million N/A N/A Ascend Wellness $405.93 million 0.33 -$80.90 million ($0.38) -1.80

Ascend Wellness has higher revenue and earnings than Jushi.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

Analyst Ratings

0.0% of Ascend Wellness shares are owned by institutional investors. 21.0% of Jushi shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 17.5% of Ascend Wellness shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

This is a breakdown of current ratings and recommmendations for Jushi and Ascend Wellness, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Jushi 0 4 2 0 2.33 Ascend Wellness 0 2 2 0 2.50

Jushi presently has a consensus price target of $2.55, suggesting a potential upside of 517.13%. Ascend Wellness has a consensus price target of $2.75, suggesting a potential upside of 301.46%. Given Jushis higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Jushi is more favorable than Ascend Wellness.

Profitability

This table compares Jushi and Ascend Wellness net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Jushi -66.72% -161.43% -32.20% Ascend Wellness -16.45% -40.01% -7.88%

Summary

Ascend Wellness beats Jushi on 8 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Jushi

(Get Rating)

Jushi Holdings Inc., a vertically integrated cannabis company, engages in the cultivation, processing, retail, and distribution of medical and adult-use products. It focuses on building a portfolio of cannabis assets in various jurisdictions in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, California, Nevada, and Massachusetts. The company also offers hemp-based CBD products, including cannabidiol supplements, tinctures, capsules, softgels, and topicals under The Bank, The Lab, Nira+ Medicinals, Seche, Tasteology, and Nira brands. As of August 25, 2022, it operated 35 BEYOND/HELLO retail locations. The company was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida.

About Ascend Wellness

(Get Rating)

Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. engages in the cultivation, manufacture, and distribution of cannabis consumer packaged goods. It owns, operates, and manages cannabis cultivation facilities and dispensaries in several states across the United States, including Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The company's cannabis product categories include flowers, pre-rolls, concentrates, vapes, edibles, and other cannabis-related products. As of December 31, 2022, it operated 24 retail locations. The company also sells its products through company-owned retail stores and third-party licensed retail cannabis stores. Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

Receive News & Ratings for Jushi Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Jushi and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Keel Point LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG  Get Rating) by 101.7% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 283,840 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 143,123 shares during the quarter. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF comprises approximately 4.1% of Keel Point LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 4th biggest position. Keel Point LLCs holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $28,282,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of AGG. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management increased its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 145.5% during the first quarter. Empirical Financial Services LLC d.b.a. Empirical Wealth Management now owns 6,590 shares of the companys stock valued at $705,000 after acquiring an additional 3,906 shares in the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 36.2% during the first quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 52,003 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,570,000 after acquiring an additional 13,829 shares in the last quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF during the first quarter valued at $44,000. Baltimore Washington Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF in the 1st quarter worth about $241,000. Finally, West Michigan Advisors LLC increased its holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. West Michigan Advisors LLC now owns 14,640 shares of the companys stock worth $1,568,000 after buying an additional 292 shares in the last quarter. 80.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Get iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF alerts:

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Price Performance

NYSEARCA AGG traded down $0.35 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $98.10. The companys stock had a trading volume of 350,159 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,983,895. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a 12 month low of $93.20 and a 12 month high of $104.39. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $98.88 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $98.82.

iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Profile

IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
The renovation and expansion project of Keene Memorial Library is facing a funding conundrum  being short more than $3 million needed to pay for the project  Library Director Laura England-Biggs told members of the Fremont City Council on Tuesday, June 13.

Although the project is, on time and on budget, at the moment, England-Biggs told the council, city officials are proposing estimated cuts to assorted elements of the project costing between $387,000 and $519,000 in both combined hard and soft expenses.

She also explained how library and city officials planned to continue fundraising efforts to close the gap.

We have come a long way since 2018 when the voters passed the bond initiative by 67% for $2 million. I am happy to report that we are on time and on budget, England-Biggs said. We do have a deficit, which is the red section of the (agenda page 399).

In the pie chart England-Biggs referred council members to, the still-needed money to complete the library project totaled $3.111 million, which is more than 28% of the total cost of the project.

Potential hard costs cuts listed by officials totaled between $382,000 and $482,000 and included areas of low voltage; door access and security cameras; AV (audio-visual) allowance; FFE (furniture, fixtures, equipment) allowance; IT (information technology) equipment; artwork; signage; office equipment and other costs.

Soft costs cuts proposed totaled between $5,000 and $35,000 and included the areas of legal allowance; printing; moving; marketing; and miscellaneous expenses.

The maximum cost of the entire project is $10.75 million, she said, with $7.656 million already received or pledged, she explained.

The furniture, fixtures and equipment is where we see the most cost reductions, England-Biggs said. We are looking for efficiencies and cost reductions at every turn.

England-Biggs said fundraising has been a large part of the process for the library renovation and expansion project, and said more than 20 grants had been applied for, which yielded the city $2.27 million in funds.

At the city level, she said during the past three years, more than $47,000 has been raised from 144 gracious donors participating in the Fremont Area Big Give. Forty-five memorial bricks have also been sold, raising more than $11,000. More than 350 individual donors and 22 businesses and other organizations have also donated to the project.

In all, more than $4.387 million has been raised for the project, she added.

Part of the $3.111 million gap was due to the city not being selected to receive a requested $1.125 million Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF) grant from the State of Nebraska, which officials learned of in April.

Most of that (fundraising) work has been done by a small team of first-time fundraisers, including myself, Linda McClain, Mayor (Joey) Spellerberg and the Friends of Keene Memorial Library, she said. And were not done.

That fundraising will continue, she explained, in several manners. Letters will be drafted and mailed to major donors with an update on the project and requests for additional donations. There will also be a sneak peek social event, showcase the results of philanthropy and to encourage further donations.

Staff report provides

more detailsA staff report prepared for the council went into specific details about the renovation and expansion of the city library, including providing details on the costs for the project as it evolved.

The City of Fremont passed a $2 million bond issue to support the renovation and expansion of Keene Memorial Library in May 2018. An architect was hired and initial drawings completed. Preliminary costs were figured at $10- 12 million. The community was not receptive to that initial design, and the Library committee went back to the drawing board, city officials stated in the staff report.

A second round of interviews was conducted and Spangenberg Phillips Tice was engaged to reimagine the project, which is the design being executed by MCL Construction at this time. The original cost projections from Tetrad Property Group, now Rainwood Development Partners, on this second design were $7,192,800 for the construction, $1,310,000 for Hard Costs and $900,424 for Soft Costs.

In the report, city and library officials explained that the flooding of 2019 as well as the COVID-19 pandemic caused an increase in the price tag for the construction portion of the project.

The Guaranteed Maximum Price set by MCL in November 2022 is $8,569,209 for the construction. Hard Costs remain the same but soft costs were revised down to $888, 488, officials stated in the staff report. Hard and Soft Costs are being evaluated again for any cuts (or) cost reductions and an updated project estimate will be brought to the Council on Tuesday night June 13.

During the June 13 council meeting, City Administrator Jody Sanders said that the guaranteed maximum price set with MCL Construction, is a commitment the city made, noting that hard costs reduction proposals will come before the city council in the future as individual separate contracts are presented.

According to the staff report, to date, a total of $7,656,311 in funds have either been committed to the project or received.

A list of donors to the library renovation and expansion project was obtained by the Fremont Tribune via a public records request to the State of Nebraska Department of Economic Development.

Some of the donations pledged to the project have yet to be dispersed by foundations or organizations, with some larger gifts not being paid to the city until the project construction is fully completed. Other donors made pledges over a period of several years with segmented payments.

After England-Biggs presentation, Spellerberg expressed his deep gratitude to all donors as well as the library staff and others involved in fundraising for the project.

I just want express my gratitude to you, Laura and Linda and the whole team. Fundraising is hard work, very hard work. We when we started out, we had the bond issue and a gap, Spellerberg said. Youre looking at $7 to $8 million to get this project going and off the ground. It was phone calls and meetings and events and hours and hours of grant writing by you and Linda. Just the effort and support of getting that off the ground, it took community support to get there.

To be able to drive by there, and see the progress being made, and to know the long-term community impact that new library is going to have on Fremont for decades, it is something that all of us in this community should be proud of, he added. I just want to say thank you for all the hard work youve put in.
Kroger (NYSE:KR  Get Rating) had its price objective reduced by stock analysts at Evercore ISI from $56.00 to $54.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, The Fly reports. Evercore ISIs price target would suggest a potential upside of 17.52% from the stocks previous close.

Other analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Stephens lowered their price objective on shares of Kroger from $57.00 to $52.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, March 6th. Roth Capital reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Kroger in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on Kroger from $51.00 to $53.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Bank of America lowered their target price on Kroger from $75.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Friday. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group cut their price target on Kroger from $64.00 to $55.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Kroger currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $52.94.

Get Kroger alerts:

Kroger Stock Performance

KR stock opened at $45.95 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21. The firm has a market cap of $32.98 billion, a PE ratio of 14.97, a P/E/G ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 0.47. The business has a 50 day moving average of $47.87 and a 200-day moving average of $46.59. Kroger has a 12-month low of $41.81 and a 12-month high of $52.00.

Insider Buying and Selling at Kroger

Kroger ( NYSE:KR Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, June 15th. The company reported $1.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.46 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $45.17 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $45.26 billion. Kroger had a return on equity of 31.84% and a net margin of 1.51%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 1.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.45 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Kroger will post 4.52 earnings per share for the current year.

In related news, CFO Gary Millerchip sold 30,182 shares of Kroger stock in a transaction on Monday, March 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.88, for a total transaction of $1,475,296.16. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 185,423 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,063,476.24. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, VP Christine S. Wheatley sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.49, for a total value of $1,187,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 126,866 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,024,866.34. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Gary Millerchip sold 30,182 shares of Kroger stock in a transaction on Monday, March 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.88, for a total transaction of $1,475,296.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 185,423 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,063,476.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 132,206 shares of company stock valued at $6,402,118 in the last three months. Company insiders own 1.38% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in Kroger by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 81,265,986 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,555,388,000 after purchasing an additional 438,869 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Kroger by 5.5% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 65,735,592 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,875,933,000 after acquiring an additional 3,443,687 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Kroger by 2.4% in the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 13,640,088 shares of the companys stock worth $671,872,000 after acquiring an additional 322,040 shares during the period. Sanders Capital LLC bought a new stake in Kroger in the first quarter valued at $622,480,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in Kroger by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 11,733,282 shares of the companys stock valued at $579,248,000 after purchasing an additional 159,952 shares during the period. 78.03% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Kroger

(Get Rating)

The Kroger Co engages in the operation of supermarkets and multi-department stores. Its brands include Big K, Check This Out?, Heritage Farm, Simple Truth, and Simple Truth Organic. The company was founded by Barney Kroger in 1883 and is headquartered in Cincinnati, OH.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Kroger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kroger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA trimmed its stake in shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG  Get Rating) by 1.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,364,601 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after selling 13,263 shares during the quarter. EOG Resources accounts for 2.2% of Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MAs holdings, making the stock its 15th largest holding. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA owned about 0.23% of EOG Resources worth $176,743,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in shares of EOG Resources by 16.0% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 16,031 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $1,911,000 after buying an additional 2,213 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of EOG Resources during the 1st quarter worth $404,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of EOG Resources during the first quarter worth $278,000. Zions Bancorporation N.A. increased its holdings in EOG Resources by 237.7% in the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,155 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $138,000 after buying an additional 813 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. raised its stake in EOG Resources by 23.7% in the first quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 662 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $79,000 after buying an additional 127 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.40% of the companys stock.

Get EOG Resources alerts:

Insider Buying and Selling

In other EOG Resources news, COO Lloyd W. Helms, Jr. sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.87, for a total value of $579,350.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 149,689 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,344,464.43. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 0.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

EOG Resources Price Performance

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on EOG shares. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective 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 dropped their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $150.00 to $145.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price objective on shares of EOG Resources from $160.00 to $155.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Scotiabank raised shares of EOG Resources from a sector perform rating to a sector outperform rating and dropped their target price for the company from $150.00 to $145.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price target on shares of EOG Resources from $146.00 to $152.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 11th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eighteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, EOG Resources presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $148.17.

Shares of EOG opened at $111.70 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.17, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The stocks 50 day moving average is $114.42 and its two-hundred day moving average is $120.46. EOG Resources, Inc. has a twelve month low of $92.16 and a twelve month high of $150.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $65.33 billion, a PE ratio of 6.99, a P/E/G ratio of 0.34 and a beta of 1.54.

EOG Resources (NYSE:EOG  Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, May 5th. The energy exploration company reported $2.69 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.42 by $0.27. The firm had revenue of $6.04 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.28 billion. EOG Resources had a return on equity of 30.34% and a net margin of 33.83%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 51.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $4.00 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.34 earnings per share for the current year.

EOG Resources Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Investors of record on Monday, July 17th will be paid a $0.825 dividend. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.95%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 14th. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 20.64%.

EOG Resources Company 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.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for EOG Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EOG Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Ouster, Inc. (NYSE:OUST  Get Rating) General Counsel Megan Chung sold 2,503 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $5.66, for a total value of $14,166.98. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now directly owns 102,189 shares in the company, valued at $578,389.74. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website.

Ouster Trading Down 0.9 %

NYSE OUST opened at $5.70 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $5.11 and its 200-day simple moving average is $9.12. Ouster, Inc. has a 1-year low of $3.21 and a 1-year high of $20.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12, a quick ratio of 4.00 and a current ratio of 4.40.

Get Ouster alerts:

Ouster (NYSE:OUST  Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 11th. The company reported ($3.36) earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $17.23 million during the quarter. Ouster had a negative net margin of 570.30% and a negative return on equity of 88.07%. Research analysts anticipate that Ouster, Inc. will post -9.36 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ouster

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Amalgamated Bank lifted its position in shares of Ouster by 68.0% in the first quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 30,468 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 12,329 shares in the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Ouster in the first quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ouster in the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Two Sigma Securities LLC increased its holdings in shares of Ouster by 142.5% in the first quarter. Two Sigma Securities LLC now owns 31,776 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 18,674 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Principal Financial Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Ouster in the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 28.79% of the companys stock.

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Craig Hallum lowered their target price on Ouster from $15.00 to $10.00 in a research note on Friday, May 12th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating on shares of Ouster in a research note on Monday, May 15th. Chardan Capital downgraded Ouster from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $10.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Citigroup lowered their target price on Ouster from $17.00 to $10.00 in a research note on Sunday, April 2nd. Finally, Rosenblatt Securities lowered their price target on Ouster from $20.00 to $17.50 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Ouster presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $19.06.

About Ouster

(Get Rating)

Ouster, Inc designs and manufactures high-resolution digital lidar sensors and enabling software that offers 3D vision to machinery, vehicles, robots, and fixed infrastructure assets. Its product portfolio includes OS, a scanning sensor and DF, a true solid-state flash sensor. The company is based in San Francisco, California.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Ouster Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ouster and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
MetLife Investment Management LLC reduced its position in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) by 1.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 431,859 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 8,348 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $35,957,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Charles Schwab by 16.3% in the 4th quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 63,651 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $5,057,000 after acquiring an additional 8,932 shares during the period. Claro Advisors LLC grew its stake in Charles Schwab by 27.6% in the 4th quarter. Claro Advisors LLC now owns 9,662 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $804,000 after acquiring an additional 2,090 shares during the period. Mather Group LLC. grew its stake in Charles Schwab by 7.8% in the 4th quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 3,933 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $327,000 after acquiring an additional 283 shares during the period. Great Lakes Retirement Inc. purchased a new stake in Charles Schwab in the 4th quarter worth approximately $806,000. Finally, Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. grew its stake in Charles Schwab by 306.7% in the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 626,076 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $52,126,000 after acquiring an additional 472,150 shares during the period. 73.49% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get Charles Schwab alerts:

Charles Schwab Stock Performance

Shares of SCHW stock opened at $55.54 on Friday. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 12 month low of $45.00 and a 12 month high of $86.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.39 and a quick ratio of 0.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $98.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.17, a P/E/G ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 0.88. The companys fifty day moving average price is $52.07 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $66.69.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 EPS 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 firm had revenue of $5.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.13 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.77 EPS. The firms revenue was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 12th were given a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.80%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 11th. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is currently 27.32%.

Insider Transactions at Charles Schwab

In other news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total value of $4,018,646.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 59,771,278 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,093,761,349.28. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total value of $4,018,646.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 59,771,278 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,093,761,349.28. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Marianne Catherine Brown bought 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 28th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $53.47 per share, with a total value of $267,350.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 9,984 shares in the company, valued at approximately $533,844.48. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on SCHW shares. Credit Suisse Group upgraded shares of Charles Schwab from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and decreased their price target for the company from $81.50 to $67.50 in a report on Wednesday, March 15th. Raymond James upgraded shares of Charles Schwab from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $63.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, May 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $98.00 to $75.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $86.00 to $85.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $61.00 to $56.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 14th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $67.19.

Charles Schwab Profile

(Get Rating)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

Featured Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SCHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Nordwand Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 11,624 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,176,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 15,762 shares of the companys stock worth $1,308,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares during the period. Advisor OS LLC purchased a new position in shares of Philip Morris International during the 4th quarter worth $200,000. Prospera Financial Services Inc boosted its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 8.3% during the 4th quarter. Prospera Financial Services Inc now owns 12,912 shares of the companys stock worth $1,307,000 after acquiring an additional 987 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp grew its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 4.9% during the 4th quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 54,238 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,489,000 after acquiring an additional 2,545 shares during the period. Finally, Profund Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 10.1% in the 4th quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 17,092 shares of the companys stock worth $1,730,000 after purchasing an additional 1,568 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.85% of the companys stock.

Get Philip Morris International alerts:

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have issued reports on PM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price target for the company from $109.00 to $116.00 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage on Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $114.00 price objective for the company. 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 research note on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $110.60.

Philip Morris International Stock Performance

PM opened at $94.73 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $147.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.95, a PEG ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a fifty day moving average of $95.15 and a 200 day moving average of $98.39. Philip Morris International Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $82.85 and a fifty-two week high of $105.62.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 20th. The company reported $1.38 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.34 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $8.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.03 billion. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 128.55% and a net margin of 10.80%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.56 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.19 earnings per share for the current year.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 23rd will be given a dividend of $1.27 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 22nd. This represents a $5.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.36%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 90.88%.

Philip Morris International Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products that are sold in markets outside the United States.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
North West (TSE:NWC  Get Rating) had its target price trimmed by Royal Bank of Canada from C$38.00 to C$36.00 in a research report report published on Monday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a sector perform rating on the stock.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. CIBC lifted their price target on North West from C$37.00 to C$39.00 in a report on Thursday, April 6th. TD Securities cut their price target on North West from C$41.00 to C$39.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, June 8th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on shares of North West from C$41.00 to C$39.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 8th.

Get North West alerts:

North West Stock Down 3.0 %

Shares of NWC stock opened at C$33.03 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of C$38.26 and a 200-day moving average of C$36.95. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 62.13. North West has a 12-month low of C$30.55 and a 12-month high of C$40.49. The company has a market capitalization of C$1.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.25, a P/E/G ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.61.

North West Dividend Announcement

North West ( TSE:NWC Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, June 7th. The company reported C$0.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of C$593.60 million for the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts predict that North West will post 2.7480127 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.38 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $1.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.60%. North Wests dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 59.14%.

North West Company Profile

(Get Rating)

The North West Company Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the retail of food and everyday products and services to rural communities and urban neighborhood markets in northern Canada, rural Alaska, the South Pacific, and the Caribbean. The Canadian operations comprises Northern stores, which offers food, financial services, and general merchandise; NorthMart stores that provides fresh foods, apparel, and health products and services; Quickstop convenience stores that provides ready-to-eat foods, and fuel and related services; Giant Tiger junior discount stores, which offers family fashion, household products, and food; Valu Lots discount center and direct-to-customer food distribution outlet; solo market, a store in remote market; Pharmacy and Convenience stores; and North West Company motorsports dealership offering sales, service, parts and accessories for Ski-doo, Honda, Can-am and other premier brands.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for North West Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for North West and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
NuStar Energy (NYSE:NS  Get Rating) was downgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report released on Thursday.

A number of other analysts have also recently commented on NS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on NuStar Energy from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 7th. Mizuho dropped their price target on NuStar Energy from $18.00 to $17.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on NuStar Energy from $19.50 to $21.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. Barclays dropped their price target on NuStar Energy from $19.00 to $18.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, TheStreet upgraded NuStar Energy from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $18.33.

Get NuStar Energy alerts:

NuStar Energy Price Performance

Shares of NuStar Energy stock traded up $0.12 on Thursday, reaching $17.23. The companys stock had a trading volume of 580,568 shares, compared to its average volume of 332,444. The company has a market capitalization of $1.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.47 and a beta of 1.84. NuStar Energy has a 52-week low of $12.80 and a 52-week high of $17.75. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $16.25 and a 200-day moving average price of $16.14. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 17.71.

Institutional Trading of NuStar Energy

NuStar Energy ( NYSE:NS Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The pipeline company reported $0.24 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.16 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $393.87 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $374.40 million. NuStar Energy had a return on equity of 151.56% and a net margin of 18.98%. Analysts expect that NuStar Energy will post 1.02 EPS for the current year.

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of NuStar Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. Clear Street Markets LLC acquired a new position in shares of NuStar Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its stake in shares of NuStar Energy by 1,610.0% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 3,078 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 2,898 shares during the last quarter. Counterpoint Mutual Funds LLC acquired a new position in shares of NuStar Energy in the 1st quarter valued at $111,000. Finally, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of NuStar Energy by 6.4% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 12,661 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $183,000 after purchasing an additional 764 shares during the last quarter. 67.30% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

NuStar Energy Company Profile

(Get Rating)

NuStar Energy LP engages in the transportation of petroleum products and anhydrous ammonia, and the terminalling, storage, and marketing of petroleum products. It operates through the following segments: Pipeline, Storage, and Fuels Marketing. The Pipeline segment provides transportation of refined petroleum products, crude oil, and anhydrous ammonia.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for NuStar Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NuStar Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
First Financial Bank Trust Division cut its holdings in Oracle Co. (NYSE:ORCL  Get Rating) by 2.8% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 40,618 shares of the enterprise software providers stock after selling 1,177 shares during the quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Divisions holdings in Oracle were worth $3,774,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Clear Investment Research LLC purchased a new position in shares of Oracle during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Steward Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in Oracle in the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new stake in Oracle in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Oracle in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Tanglewood Legacy Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Oracle during the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. 40.96% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get Oracle alerts:

Oracle Stock Performance

NYSE:ORCL traded down $0.88 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $125.67. 3,327,363 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,266,774. Oracle Co. has a 52 week low of $60.78 and a 52 week high of $127.54. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 55.54. The stock has a market capitalization of $339.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.04, a P/E/G ratio of 3.41 and a beta of 1.00. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $100.70 and a 200-day simple moving average of $91.19.

Oracle Dividend Announcement

Oracle ( NYSE:ORCL Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, June 12th. The enterprise software provider reported $1.67 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.58 by $0.09. Oracle had a net margin of 17.02% and a negative return on equity of 470.73%. The firm had revenue of $13.84 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.74 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.31 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 16.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Oracle Co. will post 4.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 26th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 12th will be paid a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, July 11th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.27%. Oracles payout ratio is currently 52.29%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Safra Catz sold 1,837,101 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.86, for a total value of $172,430,299.86. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,118,592 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $104,991,045.12. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CEO Safra Catz sold 1,837,101 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $93.86, for a total value of $172,430,299.86. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 1,118,592 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $104,991,045.12. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Jeffrey Berg sold 45,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $93.65, for a total transaction of $4,214,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 207,409 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,423,852.85. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 43.70% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts recently commented on the stock. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Oracle from $113.00 to $126.00 in a research report on Tuesday. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Oracle from $96.00 to $132.00 in a research report on Tuesday. KeyCorp boosted their price target on Oracle from $105.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Friday, June 9th. DA Davidson raised their price objective on Oracle from $85.00 to $115.00 in a report on Tuesday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Oracle from a sell rating to a neutral rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $75.00 to $120.00 in a report on Tuesday. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $115.21.

About Oracle

(Get Rating)

Oracle Corporation offers products and services that address enterprise information technology environments worldwide. Its Oracle cloud software as a service offering include various cloud software applications, including Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP), Oracle Fusion cloud enterprise performance management, Oracle Fusion cloud supply chain and manufacturing management, Oracle Fusion cloud human capital management, Oracle Advertising, and NetSuite applications suite, as well as Oracle Fusion Sales, Service, and Marketing.

Featured Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ORCL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Oracle Co. (NYSE:ORCL  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for Oracle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oracle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Pensionfund Sabic increased its stake in Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR  Get Rating) by 8.4% in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 25,853 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 2,000 shares during the period. Pensionfund Sabics holdings in Equity Residential were worth $1,551,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. IFP Advisors Inc raised its position in shares of Equity Residential by 32.2% during the 3rd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 776 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $47,000 after acquiring an additional 189 shares during the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Equity Residential by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 5,961 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $400,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. United Capital Financial Advisers LLC raised its position in shares of Equity Residential by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. United Capital Financial Advisers LLC now owns 22,740 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,045,000 after acquiring an additional 212 shares during the last quarter. Kinneret Advisory LLC increased its position in shares of Equity Residential by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. Kinneret Advisory LLC now owns 9,989 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $904,000 after buying an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Arizona State Retirement System increased its position in shares of Equity Residential by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 97,358 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $5,744,000 after buying an additional 251 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.62% of the companys stock.

Get Equity Residential alerts:

Insider Activity at Equity Residential

In related news, Director Mark S. Shapiro sold 42,435 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.91, for a total value of $2,627,150.85. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 12,497 shares in the company, valued at approximately $773,689.27. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 1.69% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Equity Residential Trading Down 0.0 %

A number of analysts recently commented on EQR shares. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Equity Residential from $71.00 to $69.00 in a research report on Wednesday, May 31st. 3M restated an upgrade rating on shares of Equity Residential in a research report on Friday, June 9th. Mizuho lowered their price objective on shares of Equity Residential from $72.00 to $68.00 in a research report on Friday, May 19th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Equity Residential from $67.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, Raymond James cut shares of Equity Residential from a market perform rating to an underperform rating in a research report on Friday, May 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $70.59.

Equity Residential stock opened at $66.34 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $62.10 and a 200-day moving average of $61.63. Equity Residential has a one year low of $54.60 and a one year high of $80.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.69 and a quick ratio of 0.69. The company has a market cap of $25.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.30, a P/E/G ratio of 3.53 and a beta of 0.81.

Equity Residential Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 14th. Investors of record on Monday, June 26th will be paid a $0.6625 dividend. This represents a $2.65 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.99%. Equity Residentials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 109.05%.

Equity Residential Profile

(Get Rating)

Equity Residential operates as a real estate investment trust. It engages in the acquisition, development, and management of rental apartment properties, which includes the generation of rental and other related income through the leasing of apartment units to residents. The company was founded by Robert H.

Featured Articles

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EQR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for Equity Residential Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Equity Residential and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Northern Oil and Gas (NYSE:NOG  Get Rating) had its price objective trimmed by Piper Sandler from $47.00 to $42.00 in a report issued on Tuesday morning, The Fly reports.

Several other analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. Truist Financial increased their target price on Northern Oil and Gas from $44.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 11th. Raymond James cut their target price on Northern Oil and Gas from $52.00 to $48.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 8th. StockNews.com started coverage on Northern Oil and Gas in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating for the company. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on Northern Oil and Gas from $43.00 to $42.00 in a report on Tuesday, May 30th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $46.00 price target on shares of Northern Oil and Gas in a report on Friday, March 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Northern Oil and Gas currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $45.30.

Get Northern Oil and Gas alerts:

Northern Oil and Gas Stock Performance

Shares of NOG opened at $33.22 on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68. Northern Oil and Gas has a 52 week low of $21.45 and a 52 week high of $39.01. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $32.19 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $31.79. The stock has a market cap of $2.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 1.97.

Northern Oil and Gas Increases Dividend

Northern Oil and Gas ( NYSE:NOG Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.54 by $0.22. Northern Oil and Gas had a return on equity of 86.66% and a net margin of 60.39%. The firm had revenue of $582.21 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $395.37 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.58 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that Northern Oil and Gas will post 8.36 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 29th will be paid a $0.37 dividend. This represents a $1.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.46%. This is a positive change from Northern Oil and Gass previous quarterly dividend of $0.34. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 28th. Northern Oil and Gass dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 8.99%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Northern Oil and Gas

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of NOG. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Northern Oil and Gas by 137.7% in the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 10,915,028 shares of the companys stock valued at $331,271,000 after purchasing an additional 6,322,462 shares during the last quarter. Angelo Gordon & CO. L.P. lifted its stake in shares of Northern Oil and Gas by 400.6% during the 4th quarter. Angelo Gordon & CO. L.P. now owns 5,113,784 shares of the companys stock worth $157,607,000 after acquiring an additional 4,092,342 shares during the last quarter. Aventail Capital Group LP bought a new stake in shares of Northern Oil and Gas during the 4th quarter worth approximately $58,792,000. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of Northern Oil and Gas by 29.0% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,301,013 shares of the companys stock worth $93,518,000 after acquiring an additional 742,371 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Requisite Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Northern Oil and Gas during the 4th quarter worth approximately $17,654,000. 96.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Northern Oil and Gas Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Northern Oil & Gas, Inc engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of crude oil and natural gas properties. It focuses on the Bakken and Three Forks formation within the Williston Basin in North Dakota and Montana. The company was founded on March 20, 2007 and is headquartered in Minnetonka, MN.

Featured Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Northern Oil and Gas Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Northern Oil and Gas and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Call it a little added incentive to attend a youth rally.

Calvary Baptist Church will host the rally with the theme Relentlessly Pursuing Christ on June 23-24. The event is set from 7-9:30 p.m. in the church at 904 N. Bell St. in Fremont.

Teens from seventh to 12th grade or students whove recently graduated are invited to the rally, which will feature several door prizes. The door prizes will be given away both nights.

The grand prize will be a 2008 Ford Fusion donated by Trevor Wiskus, owner of Harvest Auto in Fremont, and Johnny Reyes of NP Dodge.

They split the cost of the car to donate it to the church to give away at the rally, said the Rev. Steve Cheuvront, lead pastor. At some point during the event, everyone will fill out a piece of paper and we will draw for the car.

This marks the churchs first youth rally since Cheuvront began serving here almost three years ago.

Cheuvront said the event, which is free and open to the public, will include indoor and outdoor competitions, free food, skits, a time of worship and Bible preaching.

Were bringing in a speaker for the event, Cheuvront said.

Pastor Aaron Finley of Grace Bible Baptist church in Catonsville, Maryland will speak on Relentlessly Pursuing Christ.

John Kaufman will lead worship. Kaufman is a youth pastor and worship leader at Victory Baptist Church in Vergennes, Vermont.

Cheuvront hopes area teens will attend the rally and said the church wants to share Christ with them.

They face a lot of different issues and challenges, Cheuvront said. We want them to come to Christ and know the hope that Christ can bring into their lives. We feel like we can have a good time while we do that.

Besides outdoor team competitions, the event will include indoor activities such as ice breaker games and trivia.

Cheuvront believes teens will benefit by attending.

Theres not a whole lot going on in Fremont so they can have two nights of hanging out with their friends and have a good time and free food and the possibility to win prizes, he said.

The church has a new associate pastor, Brian Collins, who also believes teens will benefit by attending.

Hopefully, theyll leave with what they need to navigate life, Collins said. We have a great ministry for young people and college age.

Cheuvront noted something else: If folks come that dont have a church home, we would like to be that. Wed like to be a place, where they can continue to learn.

Teens who register help give the church an idea of how much food to prepare, although walk-ins are welcome.

A registration form for the youth rally is at: bit.ly/43Je4CP
Radisson Mining Resources Inc. (CVE:RDS  Get Rating) fell 3.2% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as C$0.15 and last traded at C$0.15. 343,000 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 161% from the average session volume of 131,312 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.16.

Radisson Mining Resources Trading Down 3.2 %

The stocks 50 day moving average price is C$0.20 and its 200 day moving average price is C$0.18. The company has a market cap of C$42.74 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -15.00 and a beta of 1.39.

Radisson Mining Resources Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Radisson Mining Resources Inc, a gold exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mining properties in Canada. Its flagship project is the 100% owned O'Brien gold project that comprise 120 claims covering a total area of 5,875 hectares located in the Abitibi Temiscamingue region of Quebec; and the Douay property, which comprising 30 claims covering an area of approximately 1,606 hectares located in the James Bay territory.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Radisson Mining Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Radisson Mining Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Range Financial Group LLC cut its stake in shares of Infosys Limited (NYSE:INFY  Get Rating) by 2.3% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 34,244 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 814 shares during the period. Range Financial Group LLCs holdings in Infosys were worth $597,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Infosys by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 16,668 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $300,000 after buying an additional 523 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Infosys by 2.9% during the 4th quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 19,246 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $347,000 after buying an additional 534 shares during the last quarter. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in Infosys by 42.9% during the 4th quarter. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC now owns 1,922 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 577 shares during the last quarter. Glassman Wealth Services raised its stake in Infosys by 26.0% during the 4th quarter. Glassman Wealth Services now owns 2,800 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $50,000 after buying an additional 578 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Schubert & Co raised its stake in Infosys by 73.8% during the 4th quarter. Schubert & Co now owns 1,557 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 661 shares during the last quarter. 12.68% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Get Infosys alerts:

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Infosys in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Credit Suisse Group downgraded shares of Infosys from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, April 14th. Wedbush cut their price objective on shares of Infosys from $25.00 to $22.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, March 13th. Nomura downgraded shares of Infosys from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their price objective on shares of Infosys from $21.00 to $18.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 14th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Infosys currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $18.57.

Infosys Trading Up 0.6 %

Infosys stock traded up $0.10 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $15.72. The stock had a trading volume of 1,143,245 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,675,302. The firms 50 day moving average is $15.53 and its 200 day moving average is $17.35. Infosys Limited has a one year low of $14.71 and a one year high of $20.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $65.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.01, a P/E/G ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.99.

Infosys (NYSE:INFY  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 13th. The technology company reported $0.18 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.19 by ($0.01). Infosys had a net margin of 16.37% and a return on equity of 31.78%. The company had revenue of $4.55 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.73 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.18 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Infosys Limited will post 0.76 earnings per share for the current year.

Infosys Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.2134 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 1.5%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 1st. This is an increase from Infosyss previous semi-annual dividend of $0.17. Infosyss dividend payout ratio is 50.70%.

Infosys Profile

(Get Rating)

Infosys Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides consulting, technology, outsourcing, and next-generation digital services in North America, Europe, India, and internationally. It provides application management and application development services, independent validation solutions, product engineering and management, infrastructure management services, traditional enterprise application implementation, support, and integration services.

Further Reading

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding INFY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Infosys Limited (NYSE:INFY  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for Infosys Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Infosys and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
ResMed Inc. (NYSE:RMD  Get Rating)  Equities research analysts at Zacks Research increased their Q3 2025 earnings estimates for ResMed in a research note issued on Tuesday, June 13th. Zacks Research analyst U. Biswas now forecasts that the medical equipment provider will post earnings per share of $1.98 for the quarter, up from their previous estimate of $1.97. The consensus estimate for ResMeds current full-year earnings is $6.48 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for ResMeds FY2025 earnings at $7.93 EPS.

Get ResMed alerts:

ResMed (NYSE:RMD  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The medical equipment provider reported $1.68 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.58 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $1.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.05 billion. ResMed had a net margin of 21.49% and a return on equity of 25.82%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 29.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.32 earnings per share.

ResMed Stock Performance

RMD has been the topic of a number of other research reports. UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of ResMed in a report on Monday, May 22nd. They set a buy rating and a $290.00 target price on the stock. Mizuho started coverage on ResMed in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. They issued a buy rating and a $255.00 price target for the company. Finally, StockNews.com raised ResMed from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, June 3rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $263.43.

NYSE:RMD opened at $218.85 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $32.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.28, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.22 and a beta of 0.48. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $224.22 and its 200 day simple moving average is $219.47. ResMed has a twelve month low of $194.30 and a twelve month high of $247.65. The company has a quick ratio of 1.74, a current ratio of 3.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40.

Institutional Trading of ResMed

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Ossiam raised its holdings in ResMed by 2.4% during the 1st quarter. Ossiam now owns 1,919 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $420,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. Ascent Group LLC grew its position in shares of ResMed by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Ascent Group LLC now owns 1,995 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $446,000 after buying an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. Seven Eight Capital LP grew its position in shares of ResMed by 3.8% during the 3rd quarter. Seven Eight Capital LP now owns 1,265 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $276,000 after buying an additional 46 shares in the last quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of ResMed by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,400 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $291,000 after buying an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kentucky Retirement Systems grew its position in shares of ResMed by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems now owns 11,512 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $2,396,000 after buying an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 64.73% of the companys stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other ResMed news, insider David Pendarvis sold 1,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $219.79, for a total value of $329,685.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 89,729 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,721,536.91. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, CEO Michael J. Farrell sold 5,675 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $224.23, for a total transaction of $1,272,505.25. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 436,900 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $97,966,087. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider David Pendarvis sold 1,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $219.79, for a total value of $329,685.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 89,729 shares in the company, valued at $19,721,536.91. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 25,276 shares of company stock worth $5,774,066 in the last three months. 1.39% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

ResMed Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 11th were paid a $0.44 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, May 10th. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.80%. ResMeds payout ratio is 29.98%.

ResMed Company Profile

(Get Rating)

ResMed, Inc engages in providing digital health and cloud-connected medical devices. Its digital health technologies and cloud-connected medical devices transform care for people with sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, and other chronic diseases. The firm operates through the Sleep and Respiratory Care and Software as a Service segments.

Featured Articles

Receive News & Ratings for ResMed Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ResMed and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
SCSK Co. (OTCMKTS:SCSKF  Get Rating) saw a large drop in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 316,800 shares, a drop of 21.8% from the May 15th total of 405,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently  days.

SCSK Price Performance

Shares of SCSK stock remained flat at $16.02 during trading hours on Friday. The stock had a trading volume of 660 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,000. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $15.18 and a 200-day simple moving average of $16.04. SCSK has a twelve month low of $15.00 and a twelve month high of $15.00.

Get SCSK alerts:

SCSK Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Recommended Stories

SCSK Corporation provides information technology (IT) services in Japan and internationally. It operates through six segments: Industrial IT Business, Financial IT Business, IT Business Solutions, IT Platform Solutions, IT Management Service, and Others. The Industrial IT Business segment offers various IT solutions comprising core systems, manufacturing management systems, information management systems, supply chain management systems, customer relationship management systems, e-commerce systems, and other systems for manufacturing, communication, and energy industries.

Receive News & Ratings for SCSK Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SCSK and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shanghai Industrial Holdings Limited (OTCMKTS:SGHIY  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 300 shares, a drop of 25.0% from the May 15th total of 400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.0 days.

Shanghai Industrial Price Performance

SGHIY remained flat at $14.36 during mid-day trading on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average is $14.09 and its 200-day moving average is $13.67. Shanghai Industrial has a twelve month low of $12.35 and a twelve month high of $15.61.

Get Shanghai Industrial alerts:

Shanghai Industrial Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 26th. Investors of record on Friday, June 2nd will be given a $0.618 dividend. This represents a yield of 7.89%. This is a positive change from Shanghai Industrials previous dividend of $0.52. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 1st.

Shanghai Industrial Company Profile

Shanghai Industrial Holdings Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the infrastructure facilities, real estate, and consumer products businesses in Hong Kong, China, rest of Asia, and internationally. The company invests in toll road projects and water-related businesses. It also engages in the property development and investment activities, as well as operates hotel.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Shanghai Industrial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shanghai Industrial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd (OTCMKTS:SHPMF  Get Rating) was the target of a significant decline in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 41,900 shares, a decline of 56.4% from the May 15th total of 96,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently  days.

Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Stock Performance

OTCMKTS SHPMF remained flat at $1.97 during trading on Thursday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $1.95 and its 200-day simple moving average is $1.84. Shanghai Pharmaceuticals has a one year low of $1.28 and a one year high of $2.08.

Get Shanghai Pharmaceuticals alerts:

Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Company Profile

(Get Rating)

See Also

Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co, Ltd., an investment holding company, researches, develops, manufactures, distributes, and retails pharmaceutical and healthcare products in the People's Republic of China. It operates through four segments: Production, Distribution, Retail, and Others. The company offers chemicals and biochemicals, Chinese medicines, healthcare products, and medical devices in various therapeutic areas, including oncology, cerebrocardiovascular, CNS, general infection, immunology, digestive and metabolism, and respiratory.

Receive News & Ratings for Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Shanghai Pharmaceuticals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund (NYSEAMERICAN:EVV  Get Rating) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 17,200 shares, a decrease of 24.9% from the May 15th total of 22,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 329,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund Price Performance

Shares of NYSEAMERICAN EVV traded up $0.02 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $9.15. The company had a trading volume of 263,663 shares, compared to its average volume of 330,879. Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund has a one year low of $8.89 and a one year high of $11.40.

Get Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund alerts:

Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 20th. Investors of record on Monday, June 12th will be paid a $0.0772 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 9th. This represents a $0.93 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.12%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund

About Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of EVV. Wolverine Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund during the 3rd quarter valued at about $26,000. Gradient Investments LLC bought a new stake in Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $35,000. EWG Elevate Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund during the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. DT Investment Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund in the 4th quarter worth approximately $50,000. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors purchased a new position in shares of Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $60,000.

(Get Rating)

Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund operates as a closed-end investment fund/investment trust. Its investment objective is to provide current income with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. The company was founded on May 30, 2003 and is headquartered in Boston, MA.

Recommended Stories

Receive News & Ratings for Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
PPL Co. (NYSE:PPL  Get Rating) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest in May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 10,350,000 shares, a decrease of 18.3% from the May 15th total of 12,670,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 5,310,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.9 days. Approximately 1.4% of the companys stock are short sold.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on PPL. StockNews.com began coverage on PPL in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Mizuho decreased their price target on PPL from $32.00 to $28.00 in a research note on Monday, March 20th. TheStreet upgraded PPL from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on PPL from $29.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $31.00.

Get PPL alerts:

Insider Activity at PPL

In related news, insider John R. Crockett III sold 5,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.00, for a total value of $154,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 9,161 shares in the company, valued at approximately $256,508. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 0.17% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On PPL

PPL Stock Performance

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in PPL. Brookfield Corp ON bought a new stake in shares of PPL during the first quarter valued at approximately $118,809,000. Zimmer Partners LP bought a new stake in PPL during the first quarter worth approximately $97,265,000. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in PPL by 3.8% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 93,472,081 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,369,517,000 after purchasing an additional 3,419,854 shares in the last quarter. Cohen & Steers Inc. raised its holdings in PPL by 107.1% during the third quarter. Cohen & Steers Inc. now owns 6,209,560 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $157,412,000 after purchasing an additional 3,210,872 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Barclays PLC raised its holdings in PPL by 186.3% during the first quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 4,659,478 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $129,487,000 after purchasing an additional 3,031,843 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 70.02% of the companys stock.

PPL stock traded up $0.15 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $27.01. The company had a trading volume of 4,539,469 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,364,527. The company has a quick ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $27.73 and a 200 day moving average price of $28.30. PPL has a fifty-two week low of $23.47 and a fifty-two week high of $31.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $19.91 billion, a PE ratio of 25.72, a P/E/G ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 0.78.

PPL (NYSE:PPL  Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The utilities provider reported $0.48 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.44 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $2.42 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.86 billion. PPL had a return on equity of 7.81% and a net margin of 9.00%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 35.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.41 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that PPL will post 1.59 earnings per share for the current year.

PPL Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.24 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.55%. PPLs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 91.43%.

About PPL

(Get Rating)

PPL Corp. engages in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. It operates through the two reportable segments: Kentucky Regulated & Pennsylvania Regulated. The Kentucky Regulated segment consists of LKEs regulated electricity generation, transmission and distribution operations of Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company as well as regulated distribution and sale of natural gas of Louisville Gas and Electric Company.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for PPL Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PPL and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente (OTCMKTS:SEYMF  Get Rating) from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research note published on Monday morning, The Fly reports.

Separately, Societe Generale lowered shares of Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, May 15th.

Get Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente alerts:

Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente Stock Performance

Shares of SEYMF stock opened at $17.00 on Monday. Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente has a 1-year low of $15.25 and a 1-year high of $21.68. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $17.04 and its 200-day simple moving average is $18.35.

About Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente

Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente, SA engages in the solar photovoltaic power generation business. The company owns, manages, and operates photovoltaic plants in Spain, Italy, Uruguay, and Greece. The company was incorporated in 2002 and is headquartered in Madrid, Spain.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Solaria Energia y Medio Ambiente and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
South Mountain Merger Corp. (OTCMKTS:SMMCU  Get Rating)s share price rose 1.3% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $19.69 and last traded at $19.69. Approximately 300 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 88% from the average daily volume of 2,460 shares. The stock had previously closed at $19.44.

South Mountain Merger Trading Up 1.3 %

The company has a fifty day moving average of $19.69 and a 200-day moving average of $19.69.

South Mountain Merger Company Profile

(Get Rating)

South Mountain Merger Corp. focuses on effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The company was founded in 2019 and is based in New York, New York.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for South Mountain Merger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for South Mountain Merger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
They seem so alike  two pugnacious, ideologically flexible politicians who latched on to the 2016 global explosion of populism to lead their respective countries before falling from power.

However, Boris Johnson and Donald Trump appear headed down different paths as they navigate the fallout from their conduct now that they've left higher office  a reflection of the varying political cultures and systems in their nations.

On Thursday, a committee of the House of Commons released a scathing report about how Johnson lied to Parliament and intimidated those investigating lockdown-flouting parties in his administration during the COVID-19 pandemic. The committee said Johnson's conduct was so flagrant, it warranted a 90-day suspension from Parliament, though that recommendation was largely symbolic because he resigned from the House of Commons last week. He was ousted as prime minister almost a year ago, partly due to the "partygate" scandal.

On Tuesday, Trump became the first former U.S. president to appear before a federal judge in a criminal case, pleading not guilty to 37 charges of obstruction of justice and improper retention of classified documents. He also faces charges of filing false business documents in an unrelated matter in New York, and additional legal risk in two more investigations of his attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss.

Both men decried efforts to punish them as undemocratic, describing the investigations into their conduct as "witch hunts."

Both also want to return to power, but only Trump has a clear path  he is the front-runner for his party's 2024 presidential nomination. If he wins, he'll face President Joe Biden and stands a decent chance of winning back his old job in a country that's evenly divided between its two major political parties.

Johnson, on the other hand, has a much less direct route back.

Under Britain's parliamentary system, prime ministers are selected not by popular vote but because they are the leaders of the party that controls a majority in the House of Commons. That means Johnson would have to win back the support of luminaries in his Conservative Party before he had any chance of returning to Parliament, much less the prime minister's office.

We are a parliamentary as opposed to a presidential system. That means that actually there is probably less room for a thorough-going populist to capture both his or her party  and, indeed, the country  in the United Kingdom than there is in the United States, said Tim Bale, a political science professor at Queen Mary University of London.

In the United States, the parties nominate candidates in primary elections decided by their own voters, giving an edge to the most partisan or bombastic. Trump cemented his power by focusing on building loyalty among Republican voters, so any party member who criticizes him is vulnerable to a primary challenge.

That's effectively split the U.S. in two, making almost every facet of modern life, from sporting events to beer choice, a referendum on whether people side with Trump and his movement.

Both Trump and Johnson are native New Yorkers; Johnson's parents were studying in the U.S. when he was born. Both sport trademark locks of golden hair and penchants for sometimes farcical self-promotion.

Trump, son of a wealthy developer, became known for stamping his name in gold-plated lettering on his towers. When his business faltered, he became a reality television star on " The Apprentice," a show that portrayed him as the ideal tough-minded businessman, an image he rode into the White House in 2016.

Johnson as a child announced that he wanted to be "world king" and climbed the British elite educational system, from Eton to Oxford. He worked as a columnist for British newspapers  losing one job for concocting quotes  before winning a seat in Parliament in 2001, then becoming mayor of London in 2008. Johnson cultivated a zany style, reveling in stunts that often went awry, like the time he got stuck on a zipline promoting the 2012 London Olympics.

Once a proud cosmopolitan New Yorker who embraced gay and abortion rights, Trump veered to the right when he ran for president, appointing the judges who overturned the Supreme Court decision that guaranteed American women the right to an abortion.

His swing was initially slammed by none other than Johnson, who as London mayor took issue with Trump's claim that radical Muslims created "no-go" areas in his city. Johnson said Trump demonstrated "a stupefying ignorance."

The next year, though, Johnson embraced the ballot measure to leave the European Union and the anti-immigrant sentiment Trump tapped into. Johnson later lamented that women in burkas looked like "letter boxes."

Johnson became foreign secretary in 2016, then rose to prime minister by promising he'd "get Brexit done." He won an unassailable 80-seat majority in Parliament that allowed him to ram through the deal that severed virtually all ties with the EU.

His ability to win elections and entertain voters didn't translate into undying support from backbench lawmakers, who abandoned him after a series of scandals.

After Johnson attacked the committee that investigated him as a "kangaroo court," the opposition quickly compared him to his counterpart across the Atlantic.

"He's not fit for public office and he's disgraced himself and continues to act like a pound-shop Trump," Angela Rayner, the Labour Party's deputy leader, said Thursday.

However, among many Americans it's a compliment to be compared to Trump, even after the former president's lies about the 2020 election provoked the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

And no one in American politics would bother comparing a rival  or an ally  to Boris Johnson.
Surge Energy Inc. (TSE:SGY  Get Rating)s share price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as C$7.15 and last traded at C$7.17, with a volume of 262366 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at C$7.33.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

SGY has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. National Bankshares reduced their price objective on shares of Surge Energy from C$13.00 to C$12.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their target price on Surge Energy from C$14.75 to C$13.75 in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on shares of Surge Energy from C$12.00 to C$11.75 in a research report on Thursday, May 4th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of C$13.67.

Get Surge Energy alerts:

Surge Energy Stock Performance

The companys 50-day simple moving average is C$8.20 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$8.70. The stock has a market cap of C$716.83 million, a P/E ratio of 2.40, a PEG ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 2.78. The company has a current ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 39.28.

Surge Energy Dividend Announcement

Surge Energy ( TSE:SGY Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The company reported C$0.15 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$0.17 by C($0.02). The business had revenue of C$161.97 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$158.40 million. Surge Energy had a net margin of 44.74% and a return on equity of 39.63%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Surge Energy Inc. will post 0.8988903 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 17th. Investors of record on Friday, June 30th will be paid a $0.04 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.58%. Surge Energys payout ratio is 15.79%.

Surge Energy Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Surge Energy Inc explores for, develops, and produces oil and gas in western Canada. The company holds interest in the Greater Sawn Lake assets located in Northern Alberta; Valhalla/Wembley property located in northwestern Alberta; Sparky assets located between Provost and Wainwright in eastern Alberta and western Saskatchewan; and Shaunavon properties located to the southwest of Swift Current, Saskatchewan.

Further Reading

Receive News & Ratings for Surge Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Surge Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Birmingham Capital Management Co. Inc. AL lessened its holdings in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating) by 1.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 21,700 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 220 shares during the quarter. Birmingham Capital Management Co. Inc. ALs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $1,807,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Circle Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Circle Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,811 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $401,000 after purchasing an additional 131 shares during the period. Trustcore Financial Services LLC grew its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 3.1% during the 4th quarter. Trustcore Financial Services LLC now owns 4,395 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $366,000 after purchasing an additional 134 shares during the period. CVA Family Office LLC grew its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 26.8% during the 4th quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 638 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares during the period. Regal Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. Regal Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,918 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $326,000 after purchasing an additional 135 shares during the period. Finally, Signet Financial Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Signet Financial Management LLC now owns 49,378 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,111,000 after purchasing an additional 139 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.49% of the companys stock.

Get Charles Schwab alerts:

Charles Schwab Trading Up 2.2 %

Shares of SCHW stock opened at $55.54 on Friday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $52.07 and its two-hundred day moving average is $66.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a current ratio of 0.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $98.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.17, a PEG ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 0.88. The Charles Schwab Co. has a fifty-two week low of $45.00 and a fifty-two week high of $86.63.

Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement

Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.93 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.03. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 27.83% and a net margin of 34.82%. The business had revenue of $5.12 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.13 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.77 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 9.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 12th were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 11th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.80%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio is presently 27.32%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $61.00 to $56.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 14th. Morgan Stanley cut shares of Charles Schwab from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $99.00 to $68.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. Bank of America increased their target price on Charles Schwab from $46.00 to $53.00 in a research report on Thursday. UBS Group decreased their target price on Charles Schwab from $70.00 to $65.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their target price on Charles Schwab from $75.00 to $72.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Charles Schwab has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $67.19.

Insider Transactions at Charles Schwab

In other news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction on Monday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total transaction of $4,018,646.40. Following the transaction, the chairman now owns 59,771,278 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,093,761,349.28. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Charles Schwab news, Director Marianne Catherine Brown acquired 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 28th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $53.47 per share, with a total value of $267,350.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 9,984 shares of the companys stock, valued at $533,844.48. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.76, for a total value of $4,018,646.40. Following the sale, the chairman now directly owns 59,771,278 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,093,761,349.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock.

Charles Schwab Profile

(Get Rating)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

See Also

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SCHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
First Financial Bank Trust Division lifted its holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG  Get Rating) by 26.9% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 88,334 shares of the insurance providers stock after buying an additional 18,736 shares during the quarter. First Financial Bank Trust Divisions holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group were worth $6,156,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 29.5% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 24,773,081 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,878,543,000 after buying an additional 5,638,368 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 9.0% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 6,897,843 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $523,063,000 after buying an additional 566,895 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,457,861 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $488,795,000 after purchasing an additional 47,664 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $277,618,000. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted its position in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 3,540,392 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $219,292,000 after purchasing an additional 99,405 shares during the last quarter. 89.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Get The Hartford Financial Services Group alerts:

The Hartford Financial Services Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE HIG traded up $0.32 during trading on Friday, hitting $71.38. The company had a trading volume of 430,528 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,989,485. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has a 52 week low of $60.17 and a 52 week high of $79.44. The businesss 50-day moving average is $70.09 and its 200 day moving average is $72.93. The company has a market cap of $22.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.23, a PEG ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 0.32.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Announces Dividend

The Hartford Financial Services Group ( NYSE:HIG Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The insurance provider reported $1.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.68. The Hartford Financial Services Group had a return on equity of 18.45% and a net margin of 8.33%. The business had revenue of $5.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.70 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.66 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. will post 7.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 5th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.425 per share. This represents a $1.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 31st. The Hartford Financial Services Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 29.26%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently weighed in on HIG shares. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $84.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. Evercore ISI cut their price objective on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $85.00 to $80.00 and set an in-line rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. 888 reissued a reiterates rating on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in a report on Monday, May 1st. Citigroup reduced their price objective on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $92.00 to $85.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $86.15.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Profile

(Get Rating)

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc provides insurance and financial services to individual and business customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. Its Commercial Lines segment offers insurance coverages, including workers' compensation, property, automobile, general and professional liability, package business, umbrella, fidelity and surety, marine, livestock, and reinsurance through regional offices, branches, sales and policyholder service centers, independent retail agents and brokers, wholesale agents, and reinsurance brokers.

Featured Stories

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HIG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG  Get Rating).

Receive News & Ratings for The Hartford Financial Services Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Hartford Financial Services Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
Pinnacle West Capital (NYSE:PNW  Get Rating) had its target price boosted by Wells Fargo & Company from $85.00 to $89.00 in a report released on Friday, The Fly reports. Wells Fargo & Companys target price points to a potential upside of 6.52% from the companys previous close.

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the company. Mizuho boosted their price objective on Pinnacle West Capital from $74.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Wednesday, June 7th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Pinnacle West Capital from $71.00 to $78.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Bank of America upgraded Pinnacle West Capital from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $76.00 to $78.00 in a research report on Friday, May 26th. Credit Suisse Group upgraded Pinnacle West Capital from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $77.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 14th. Finally, StockNews.com cut Pinnacle West Capital from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, May 20th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Pinnacle West Capital has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $75.36.

Get Pinnacle West Capital alerts:

Pinnacle West Capital Price Performance

Pinnacle West Capital stock opened at $83.55 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $9.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.43, a PEG ratio of 3.32 and a beta of 0.46. Pinnacle West Capital has a 1 year low of $59.03 and a 1 year high of $83.62. The business has a 50-day moving average of $79.23 and a 200-day moving average of $77.24. The company has a current ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pinnacle West Capital

Pinnacle West Capital ( NYSE:PNW Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The utilities provider reported ($0.03) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.03 by ($0.06). Pinnacle West Capital had a return on equity of 7.50% and a net margin of 10.33%. The company had revenue of $944.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $808.33 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.15 earnings per share. Pinnacle West Capitals quarterly revenue was up 20.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Pinnacle West Capital will post 4.04 EPS for the current year.

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in PNW. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital during the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. Quent Capital LLC raised its stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 153.6% during the 4th quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 350 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 212 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp bought a new stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital during the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 128.3% during the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 411 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 231 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 85.21% of the companys stock.

Pinnacle West Capital Company Profile

(Get Rating)

Pinnacle West Capital Corp. is a holding company, which engages in providing energy and energy-related products. It offers regulated retail and wholesale electricity businesses and related activities, such as electricity generation, transmission and distribution through its subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Co The company was founded on February 20, 1985, and is headquartered in Phoenix, AZ.

See Also

Receive News & Ratings for Pinnacle West Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pinnacle West Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST  Get Rating) rose 3.7% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $374.02 and last traded at $373.08. Approximately 98,105 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 81% from the average daily volume of 507,831 shares. The stock had previously closed at $359.80.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WST has been the subject of several recent research reports. Bank of America upgraded shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the stock from $390.00 to $405.00 in a research note on Friday. Stephens upgraded shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and increased their target price for the stock from $330.00 to $400.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from $250.00 to $290.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. KeyCorp increased their target price on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from $315.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $344.00.

Get West Pharmaceutical Services alerts:

West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 3.62 and a quick ratio of 2.79. The stock has a market cap of $27.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 49.42, a P/E/G ratio of 7.31 and a beta of 1.10. The stocks 50-day moving average is $355.08 and its 200 day moving average is $305.20.

West Pharmaceutical Services Announces Dividend

West Pharmaceutical Services ( NYSE:WST Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.98 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.67 by $0.31. The firm had revenue of $716.60 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $697.28 million. West Pharmaceutical Services had a net margin of 19.15% and a return on equity of 24.14%. The firms revenue was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.30 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 7.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 2nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 26th will be given a $0.19 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, July 25th. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.20%. West Pharmaceutical Servicess payout ratio is currently 10.44%.

Insider Buying and Selling at West Pharmaceutical Services

In other West Pharmaceutical Services news, VP Charles Witherspoon sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $343.05, for a total value of $343,050.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 1,829 shares of the companys stock, valued at $627,438.45. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, VP Charles Witherspoon sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $343.05, for a total transaction of $343,050.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 1,829 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $627,438.45. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Eric Mark Green sold 44,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $363.10, for a total transaction of $15,976,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 134,574 shares of the companys stock, valued at $48,863,819.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 67,244 shares of company stock valued at $24,454,553. Corporate insiders own 1.13% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of WST. Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services during the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 103.6% in the 4th quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 112 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 57 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 253.4% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 205 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $48,000 after acquiring an additional 147 shares during the period. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA purchased a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services in the 4th quarter worth approximately $48,000. Finally, Clear Street Markets LLC grew its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 93.3% in the 1st quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 145 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $50,000 after acquiring an additional 70 shares during the period. 91.51% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About West Pharmaceutical Services

(Get Rating)

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare products. It operates through the following business segments: Proprietary Products and Contract-Manufactured Products. The Proprietary Products segment offers proprietary packaging, containment and drug delivery products, along with analytical lab services, to biologic, generic and pharmaceutical drug customers.

Read More

Receive News & Ratings for West Pharmaceutical Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for West Pharmaceutical Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter.
More than three decades ago, Yang Xiaoyue left his hometown, in East China's Anhui Province, to settle down in Shanghai. There, he got married and started a family. Shanghai has become a home away from home for Yang. He and his wife, Yuan Chenghong, have two children, a son and daughter, and they sell river fish in a market in Xuhui District. The couple has provided fish, for free, to elderly people and families coping with difficulties. Throughout the years, Yang and his family have adhered to the principle of "walking on a right path, and being good people."

His Hometown

Yang's father died when Yang was 2 years old. Yang and his siblings were raised mainly by their mother. When Yang was living in Anhui, during his childhood, he said people in his hometown could easily catch fish when farmland flooded during rainy season. Most of the children in the area learned to swim when they were 4 or 5.

Yang once caught a bighead fish, which weighed almost 4 kilograms. Unfortunately, the fish's gallbladder ruptured when the fish was being cooked. Yang says that was the most bitter fish he has ever eaten. In another experience, Yang and his brother added sugar, which they had mistaken for salt, when they were cooking a rice-field eel they had caught. Yang says that was the sweetest fish he has ever tasted.

Yang says, even though the family was poor, his mother always reminded him to do good things, and to help people in need. "When I was relocating from Anhui to Shanghai, Mom told me to do my best, walk on a right path, and be a good person," Yang recalls.

In Shanghai

In 1992, two years after Yang relocated to Shanghai, he opened a fish stall in Yishan food market, in Xuhui District. He married Yuan in 2001. The couple are honest businesspeople.

Once, a customer told them the fish he had purchased from their stall had not tasted right. Since receiving that feedback, the couple steams a fish to ensure it tastes right every time before they sell fish to the public. In Yang's opinion, customers come to his stall because they believe he will sell good-quality fish. Yang's goal is to ensure his customers have good fish.

Yang is busy working in the market every day. He enjoys his job. "I actually do a favor for others, if I run my business well," he says. Yang's fish stall is popular. Some customers continue buying his fish even after they move from the neighborhood.

'Nameless Grass'

By the end of their first year of operating the stall, Yang and Yuan had saved about 10,000 yuan (US $1,429). One day, in 2002, Yang saw a notice, which called for donations to help impoverished households, as he passed by the village committee office of Tianlin, near their market. He donated 50 yuan (US $7.14), and then asked himself: "What else can I do for residents in my community?"

Yang and Yuan discussed the matter. Eventually, they wrote a letter to Tianlin's village committee, indicating they wanted to provide fish, for free, to families living with special difficulties. "We hope to do our part to help people in difficulty. We used to live a poor life as well. The fish we offer are not expensive, of course, but those who receive it will probably feel the warmth from our community," Yang explains.

Since 2002, Yang and Yuan have provided fish to the disabled, the elderly living alone, and patients suffering from serious diseases in Tianlin. In addition to providing fresh, good-quality fish, they have also taken agricultural products from Yang's hometown, and have provided those products to people in difficulty.

"As long as one is warmhearted, he/she can bring warmth to others, wherever he/she is," Yang says. He and his wife have joined a team of volunteers in Tianlin. They sometimes visit the community's nursing home. Yang shares tips on how to select good-quality fish.

Yuan is an executive committee member of a grass-roots women's federation, in Xuhui District. She is an understanding sister, who does her best to help women who have relocated from their hometowns to Shanghai. She often takes part in charitable activities. For example, she once donated 1,500 yuan (US $214) to children in Yuanyang, a county in Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, in Southwest China's Yunnan Province. Yuan has been named a March 8th Red-Banner Holder in Shanghai. Last year, her family was selected a National Most Beautiful Family.

Yang also writes poetry. In one poem, he wrote: "At 28, I decided to leave my town, to be a warmhearted person who sells his fish. So far, I have walked to see this world, like a nameless grass, bringing vigor to wherever I take my root." Yang says the most important virtue he learned from his mother is "being kind and honest." He is determined to pass that virtue to his offspring.

(Source: The Department of Family and Children's Affairs of the All-China Women's Federation/Women of China English Monthly May 2023 issue)
A visitor chats with exhibitors at the 19th international women's fair in Algiers, Algeria, on March 7, 2023. [Xinhua]

"Half of people worldwide still believe men make better political leaders than women, and more than 40 percent believe men make better business executives than women," according to a UN report.

UNITED NATIONS, June 12 (Xinhua)  Almost nine out of 10 men and women worldwide still hold biases against women, according to a new UN report released on Monday.

"Half of people worldwide still believe men make better political leaders than women, and more than 40 percent believe men make better business executives than women," according to the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in its latest Gender Social Norms Index report.

"Social norms that impair women's rights are detrimental to society more broadly, dampening the expansion of human development," said Pedro Conceicao, head of UNDP's Human Development Report Office.

According to the World Values Survey, 25 percent of people believe it is justified for a man to beat his wife.

These biases are contributing to the dismantling of women's rights in many parts of the world, with movements against gender equality gaining traction and human rights violations spiking in some countries.

The underrepresentation of women in leadership is also a reflection of bias. On average, the share of women as heads of state or heads of government has remained around 10 percent since 1995 and in the labor market, women occupy less than a third of managerial positions.

Delegates attend the Tanzania Women and Technology Conference in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, held ahead of International Women's Day on March 7, 2023. [Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua]

The report also sheds light on a broken link between women's progress in education and economic empowerment. Women are more skilled and educated than ever before, yet even in the 59 countries where women are now more educated than men, the average gender income gap remains a 39 percent in favor of men.

"Lack of progress on gender social norms is unfolding against a human development crisis," Conceicao said, noting that the global Human Development Index declined in 2020 for the first time on record and again the following year.

"Everyone stands to gain from ensuring freedom and agency for women," he added.

The UNDP report emphasized that governments have a crucial role in shifting gender social norms, from adopting parental leave policies, that have changed perceptions around care work responsibilities, to labor market reforms that have led to a change in beliefs around women in the workforce.

"An important place to start is recognizing the economic value of unpaid care work," said Raquel Lagunas, director of UNDP's gender team.

"This can be a very effective way of challenging gender norms around how care work is viewed. In countries with the highest levels of gender biases against women, it is estimated that women spend over six times as much time as men on unpaid care work."

People take part in a rally to mark the International Day of the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Lima, capital of Peru, Nov. 25, 2014. [Xinhua/Luis Camacho]

Data shows that despite the continued prevalence of bias against women, change is possible.

In 27 of the 38 countries surveyed, the share of people without bias increased. The report authors said that to drive change towards greater gender equality, the focus needs to be on expanding human development through investment, insurance, and innovation.

This includes investing in laws and policy measures that promote women's equality in political participation, scaling up insurance mechanisms, such as strengthening social protection and care systems, and encouraging innovative interventions that could be particularly effective in challenging harmful social norms, patriarchal attitudes, and gender stereotypes.

According to the report, combating online hate speech and gender disinformation can help shift pervasive gender norms towards greater acceptance.

Several recommendations were made in the report, including addressing social norms directly through education, recognizing women's rights in all spheres of life, and increasing participation in decision-making and politics.

(Source: Xinhua)
KYIV, Ukraine  Under the plaintive painted eyes of the holy, a volunteer team of two United Nations-backed engineers watched as a whirling laser took a million measurements a second inside Kyiv's All Saints Church.

The laser swept quickly across the church, part of the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, while taking a series of incredibly high-resolution photographs.

Those images will be stitched together with navigational data to create a perfect three-dimensional rendering of the holy site, part of a project to protect and preserve historical places across Ukraine now in as much in danger as its people amid Russias war on the country.

Its a critical moment, said Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi, who oversees Ukraine for UNESCO, the U.N.s cultural agency. If its not protected now, we really risk that this heritage is lost forever.

Since Russia launched the war in February 2022, at least 259 cultural and historic sites have been damaged by the fighting, according to UNESCO. They include religious sites, museums, monuments and libraries. It remains common to see statues across the country surrounded by sandbags or scaffolding to protect them from airstrikes or other attacks.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is pouring money and the donations of Western nations backing it into its military as it tries to claw back more territory as the summer fighting months begin. That leaves little money for preservation of its historic sites, which already have faced cycles of destruction in the past from czarist Russia, the Nazis during World War II and the Soviet Union in the decades after.

That's where the work of Emmanuel Durand, a French engineer based in Geneva, and Serhii Revenko, a Ukrainian architect who has taken 3D models of other sites during the war, comes into play. In recent days, the two men, who volunteer through UNESCO, worked at All Saints Church, built between 1696 and 1698 at the Lavra, also known as the Monastery of the Caves.

The men used a donated device called a Zoller & Frohlich Imager 5010X, which has two rectangular boxes connected by a high-resolution, rapidly spinning camera in the center. The imager, as well as required software and supporting equipment, together cost about $70,000.

The two placed the imager atop a tripod, then slipped away from it as the device measured the heights underneath the churches golden domes.

The camera then whirled to life, spinning around to capture the inside so closely that even the textures of the brushstrokes will be recorded.

If due to the war, the church would be bombed in the next week or next month, it would be terrible, of course, but at least we would have this digitalization and it would help a lot in rebuilding the church, Durand said.

That danger is real. Revenko earlier shot 3D images of the Library of Youth in Chernihiv, about 80 miles northeast of Kyiv. That library, opened in 1902 in a building bearing the style of the Gothic revival with pointed arches, was targeted by a Russian airstrike on March 11, 2022.

The 3D image shows the massive hole torn into the side of the building, debris scattered everywhere. It also shows the depth and the power of the bomb that struck the site. That can be vital for historians  as well as for prosecutors or investigators  who later want to see such scenes long after any repairs.

This is important to preserve because what the enemy and the Russians are trying to destroy is who we are and what our identity is," Revenko said. "Our identity really is the heritage and culture that we can preserve and give to the next generation.

The men began their work at the All Saints Church in part because of its relative safety during the war. The Lavra's gates bear the blue shield emblem of the 1954 Hague Convention, in theory providing the protection of international law to the site.

But the site on a hill overlooking the Dnieper River is only about a mile from Ukraine's presidency and other buildings in Kyiv that could be targets for Moscow. In recent weeks, Kyiv has come under repeated missile and drone attacks by Russia, raising the risks of a strike or damage from falling debris.

Russia's embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment about its targeting practices regarding historical sites.

Durand and Revenko also traveled to the Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv, far closer to the front lines, to create images of other cultural sites.

As an architect, its like rediscovering your country, really, and rediscovering your culture, Revenko said, gesturing toward the artworks within the All Saints Church.

For Durand, who also volunteered at the 2020 Beirut port explosion and the recent earthquake that struck Turkey, doing the 3D scanning in Ukraine offers him a chance to use his talents when people are in need.

Im not a doctor. I cannot go to Kherson or places and heal people. Thats not my skill, Durand said. Im not a good cook. I cannot give food, but Im an engineer. I have this 3D skill and other structural assessment skills that I give.

50 fascinating cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites around the world 50 fascinating cultural UNESCO World Heritage Sites around the world Karnak Temple, Luxor, Egypt Machu Picchu, Peru Hierapolis, Pamukkale, Turkey Spis Castle, Slovakia Potala Palace in Tibet Petra, Jordan Ksar of Ait Benhaddou, Morocco Chefchaouen, Morocco Pompeii, Italy Meteora, Greece Piazza San Pietro in Vatican City Stonehenge, England Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya, Thailand Mausoleum of First Qin Emperor China Teotihuacan, Mexico Bryggen, Bergen, Norway Mont Saint Michel, Normandy, France Hawa Mahal Palace, Jaipur City, India Meroe Pyramids, Kabushiya, Sudan Djenne, Mali, West Africa Amarbayasgalant Monastery, Mongolia Kathmandu Valley, Nepal Great Wall, China La Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain Palmyra, Syria Kew Gardens, London England Sintra, Portugal Honghe Hani Rice Terraces Bete Giyorgis, Lalibela, Ethiopia Masada, Israel Skellig Michael, Ireland Douro Valley, Portugal Palpa Geoglyphs, Peru Bamiyan Buddhas, Afghanistan Borobudur Temple, Indonesia Hohensalzburg Castle, Salzburg, Austria Khiva, Uzbekistan Kizhi Pogost, Kizhi Island, Russia Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, USA Old City Prague, Czech Republic Cappadocia, Turkey Thingvellir, Iceland Struve Arc Triangulation Point, Hammerfest, Norway Eiffel Tower, Paris, France Taos Pueblo, New Mexico Alberobello, Puglia, Italy Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, Miyajima, Hiroshima Our Lady of the Rocks, Kotor Bay, Montenegro Venice, Italy Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
Email Sign Up For Our Free Weekly Newsletter

Singapore experiences world's highest rental price hikes, followed by London and Sydney

According to global property consultant Knight Frank, rents in global luxury residential markets are continuing to see strong growth. The Knight Frank Prime Global Rental Index rose by 8.5% in the 12 months to March 2023 this year - with rents in a majority of markets hitting new records.

While the rate of annual growth in Q1 2023 slipped back from the 10.2% recorded in the previous quarter, globally rents are still rising at a rapid clip - continuing the trend that started in 2021 as city economies recovered from the pandemic.

Prime rents are now 14% above their pre-pandemic high (Q3 2019) and 21.7% above the pandemic low (Q1 2021).

Of the 10 markets tracked, growth is being led by Singapore, which saw rents rise 31.5% over the past 12 months, with 6.4% in the last quarter alone. London follows with rents higher by 16.9% over the year to March. Sydney, Toronto and New York also recorded double digit growth.

Auckland and Hong Kong recorded negative annual growth, although rents in both cities have risen in the past three and six month periods.

Strong rental growth since the pandemic has been driven by: limited supply, as construction was disrupted during lockdowns and as a strong residential sales demand took stock out of the market; and a resurgence in demand as workers moved back to cities as economies reopened.

Knight Frank data shows rents in Singapore have surged across all market segments, the catalyst was the reopening of borders from late 2022 which led to international workers returning to the city. Additionally, successive hikes in stamp duty rates, up to 60% for some foreign buyers, have raised the cost of property purchases meaning many are now reliant on rental properties.

A stronger construction pipeline in Singapore, with over 2,000 prime units to be delivered in 2023 could see rental pressures ease by the year end in the city.

While Hong Kong languishes at the bottom of our table for annual growth, the luxury market has picked up here in recent months, with 1.9% growth in the first quarter of the year. Leasing demand has rebounded as more expats returned to the city given the border fully reopened in early January this year.

The Hong Kong government launched a talent attraction scheme last December to attract high-earners and foreign graduates from top universities. At the end of March, the government had granted approval to some 12,000 applicants which is expected to further support the rental market in the near term. Our view is that rents in Hong Kong will rise by up to 5% in 2023 as a whole.

Strong growth in rents in markets like Sydney, New York and London relate to chronic undersupply of existing rental properties as well as low new construction volumes. New York's prime market is experiencing record rents in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and with the busiest rental season yet to come, tenants are facing limited options and higher costs in a competitive market.

Strong rental growth in many markets has raised the possibility of governments taking policy action to protect renters from sharply higher costs. However, the arguments against rent caps - that they disrupt markets, weaken incentives to invest in new-build accommodation, and ultimately make a bad situation worse - seem to be winning out. In May of this year, the opposition Labour Party in the UK appeared to reject the policy.

Governments are increasingly promoting investment in the build-torent sector as a solution to reduce rapid rises in rents. Knight Frank predicts that the build-to-rent sector will become the world's largest investable real estate sector within the next ten years.

Liam Bailey, Knight Frank's global head of research says, "Despite a slowdown in the rate of growth, rental prices are hitting new records as workers return to city economies. With housing construction volumes remaining low due to material shortages and high build costs, rents are expected to continue to rise well above trend through 2023. The key question for investors is how governments will react to higher rental costs. For now, rent caps seem to be off the table in most markets, and policy focus is shifting to encouraging a surge in new build-to-rent accommodation."

Sign Up Free | The WPJ Weekly Newsletter Relevant real estate news.

Actionable market intelligence.

Right to your inbox every week. Go Thank you for your interest!

You will now be receiving our Weekly Real Estate Newsletter.
Weather Alert

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT CDT TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible. * WHERE...Portions of southern Illinois, western Kentucky and southeast Missouri, including the following areas, in southern Illinois, Alexander, Franklin, Hardin, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Perry IL, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union and Williamson. In western Kentucky, Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, Todd and Trigg. In southeast Missouri, Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Mississippi, Perry MO and Scott. * WHEN...From Midnight CDT tonight through Thursday morning. * IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - While rainfall from heavy rain and storms late tonight through Thursday morning will be around an inch with locally higher amounts, locations which experienced torrential rainfall this week have ground conditions susceptible to additional flooding. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding, and especially those who experienced flooding Tuesday night into Wednesday, should be prepared to take action should flooding develop. &&
This is the second part of a four-part article. Read Part 1 here, Part 3 here and Part 4 here.

Social media reveals brutal reality of ongoing mass infection

While many of Chinas health care experts falsely claim that COVID-19 symptoms are mild, reinfections are harmless, Long COVID is largely a myth and all is well, what is the actual social reality?

On June 11, the Chinese CDC released an update on the pandemic, reporting only 2,777 severe cases and 164 deaths between May 1 and May 31. Due to the dismantling of testing and data reporting systems, these figures are vast under-counts. Nevertheless, the test positivity rate for COVID-19 soared from about 3 percent at the beginning of April to 42.5 percent at the end of May, shedding some light on the scale of unreported infections and potentially severe cases and deaths.

Graph showing the test positivity rate for COVID-19 (orange line) and seasonal flu (blue line) [Photo: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)]

On social media, COVID-19 infections have again come to the center of discussion during the second wave of the pandemic. According to Baidu Index, a large data application that monitors internet activity related to certain keywords, the frequency of COVID-related searches nationwide peaked on May 23, when there were almost 23 million searches about COVID-19. This search index still remains at a high level of 14 million today. Another similar Baidu Index shows that on May 25 almost 280,000 people consulted doctors online about COVID-19 infections during a single day.

For many, the symptoms they have to suffer through are in no way mild. It is not uncommon to come across posts by young people who have ended up in the emergency room and hospitalized during this ongoing second wave of mass infection.

The term blade throatdescribing extreme soreness, so painful that it feels like someone is cutting ones throat with a bladehas been trending for quite a while. Other common symptoms among previously very healthy young people are body pains, headaches (as if someone is thawing my skull), cold sweats, nasal congestion (cement-sealed noses), loss of taste and smell, coughing through the night, low fever that will not go away, echoes in the ears, rashes, and more.

These common symptoms, though often not life-threatening, still torture millions of people at present and are by no means comparable to common colds. Most people report that it takes at least a few weeks to completely recover from the illness and resume daily activities. Even for those whose symptoms seemed relatively mild and who recovered quickly, many discovered later through a CT scan that they have already had lung damage or even partial pulmonary fibrosis.

A recent thread asking readers to share their most painful symptom after contracting COVID-19 garnered more than 1,500 replies. Some of the most representative comments are the following:

It hurts so much. Every swallow feels like torture to me.

I feel the same [soreness in the throat]. I really want to donate my throat to someone else.

I got blade throat as well  I want to smash my head into the wall so much.

This is the first time that my head aches so much that I threw up.

It feels like someone is drilling my head.

Another much-liked comment under the same thread says what hurts most after getting COVID-19 is losing all my salary because I asked for sick leave, echoing the dilemma shared by many forced to lose pay or their jobs by staying home to rest and protecting others from infection.

Under another comment that says, Testing positive means you are ill and you should rest at home, someone replied, but my boss disagrees. Similar comments were made about having to drag my sore body to work because working from home is not allowed.

Commuters wearing face masks walk along a street in the central business district during the morning rush hour in Beijing, Friday, May 26, 2023. [Photo: Mark Schiefelbein/WSWS]

In response to Dr. Zhong Nanshans prediction of 65 million weekly infections at the peak of the second wave, people expressed their doubts and anger about whether there will ever be an end to COVID-19 waves under the current let-it-rip policy:

My whole family tested positive. The pediatric clinic here has no more beds. If your kid is not feeling well, youll still need to make a reservation in advance. My baby is only a month old but still infected.

I think [the estimate is real] because Im the nurse at my companys hospital wing. Many employees came to get cold remedies from me recently.

Im panicking as I just got pregnant. [This comment received almost 100 likes]

Fine. I just tested positive. But I have to take Gaokao [the national college entrance exam] in just 6 days.

I dont understand. Are we just going to have wave after wave every half-year? Everyone would be dead after a few rounds.

If its really like a cold, then its not a big deal. But what if your health condition declines after every infection? Not to mention all the lingering symptoms! I feel like we at most can hang in there for a few years. Ive lost hope in life.

My 50-day old baby tested positive. I feel even worse when I see my kid suffer.

Others commented on the impossibility of preventing infections on ones own, without any public health measures:

Its too difficult! The first wave was okay, and none of [my family] got infected. But what should I do during this wave? My older kid is in middle school. He goes in at 7 in the morning and comes home at 8 in the evening. He [is at school] for 13 hours a day and has to eat two meals. How could he always keep his mask on? My older kid passed the virus to me and his dad, and I infected the younger kid. My whole family was infected during the second wave, three for the first time, and one for the second time! I just have to ask, how do we protect kids who have to go to school?

You just cannot [prevent infections at school]. At every class in my school, more than a dozen students are with fever. Teachers tested positive too. I was infected by a student myself.

There is also anger over the blatant lies promoted by the mainstream media and their efforts to deliberately sow confusion, with one comment stating:

It was you experts who said things will be fine and its just a cold! It was you who told us to let our guard down. If it werent for you, how would it be possible that kindergarten kids are not wearing masks at all? I put on a mask for my kid in the morning but it was gone when I picked her up from kindergarten in the evening. People dont wear masks not because the weather is getting hot, but because you experts say the virus is not that bad and its just a cold. A simple sentence from you has cost so many lives. No wonder no one trusts you anymore.

As health care experts declare that for normal people, COVID can be treated as regular flus, they ignore a large section of the population with underlying conditions, as well as the elderly and immunocompromised. According to WHO statistics, China is home to an estimated 141 million people with diabetes and 270 million with high blood pressure. Ample evidence has also shown that Omicron and its subvariants can be dangerous to people who are fully vaccinated and otherwise healthy.

Widespread reports of further deaths of loved ones

Even though social media platforms by no means give a panoramic view of COVID-related tragedies, they can still provide a glimpse into the social crimes committed by the lifting of Zero-COVID, whose scale is vastly greater than the 164 official COVID-19 deaths reported by the CDC in May.

One recent widely shared thread on social media said an elderly person in their family who was recently infected with COVID-19 for the first time has lung damage and has been admitted to the ICU. The thread says, the doctor told us the hope [of survival] is less than 20%  he cannot breathe without a ventilator  and his lungs are all white [in the CT image]. This thread received more than 1,200 comments from people with similar experiences, including the following:

My great grandfather is 86 years old. His lungs are more than half white. He has difficulty breathing. After being hospitalized for 8 days, he finally made it through. But it took him really long to recover.

My grandfathers lungs were all white too and he passed the day before yesterday.

My grandfather is 87. His temperature was fine during the day but a fever started in the evening. After he was hospitalized, his lungs were 40% white.  He originally started to recover after receiving proper treatment and was conscious. However, we were told today that his condition was unstable again. His blood oxygen is only 60 and white blood cell indices are going up. The doctor said theres not much hope, and we should take time to think about what to do.

My grandmother was recently infected for the first time. She had some low fevers but her [COVID] test result turned negative very soon. However, we found out that her lungs were all white.  She didnt want to be in the ICU and eventually passed away last weekend. It was only a week between infection and death.

My grandmother passed away the day before yesterday, and her lungs were all white.

My grandfathers blood oxygen was as low as 30-40 last weekend.

Each of these comments is echoed with several heart-broken responses of the same happened to me as well.

Under another thread titled, COVID took away my dad, over 100 comments spoke of similar tragedies.

COVID took away my dad. He is only 59.

COVID took away my dad as well. He is only 66. Im so heartbroken and filled with remorse. I wish it had all just been a dream.

My dad left on the same day, because of COVID. My kid is only about to enter middle school. Yesterday, I saw a daughter pushing her dad around in a wheelchair and was so envious. I wept again.

COVID took away my mom as well. It was only two-and-a-half days from her infection to death.

My dad passed away on May 10 because of COVID. Just a month from today. I never thought that after taking him to the hospital as usual, I would never be able to bring him home again.

My father also walked into the hospital himself, and we all thought he would walk out of there as well.

My father passed away during the first wave of infection, before the New Year, after the lifting [of Zero-COVID].

My father passed away around the same time, on the last day of 2022. It has been half a year, but every time I think about him, I feel so sad.

Same for my dad. He left us forever on January 26. I still wake up in tears in the middle of the night.

Threads and comments like these can be found everywhere on the internet in China. Another widely-shared post reads:

My grandfather was infected during this wave and passed away the day before yesterday. Everything happened so quickly. He was able to eat and talk before going into the ICU. Things went down so rapidly just in two days. Im so devastated. Before he passed, he was trying to speak but could not, because of the ventilator.

In some cases, COVID threatened to take away both parents. My mother died of COVID just 5 months ago. My father now was re-infected. He has a high fever of 39 and taking antipyretic doesnt seem to help.

To be continued
This week, discussion in the Australian parliament has been dominated almost entirely by sexual misconduct scandals, some long-running and others being aired for the first time on the floor of the Senate itself.

The furor began with clear evidence, published in the press, that Labor had weaponised and exploited murky sexual assault allegations while in opposition, to weaken the former Liberal-National Coalition government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Now, by weeks end, the focus has shifted to allegations that Liberal Senator David Van inappropriately touched and made advances to women, including parliamentarians, several years ago.

In the first instance, the discussion has a highly diversionary character. The preoccupations of the parliamentarians, staffers, other members of the political elite and corporate journalists are a world away from the issues facing working people.

While they have engaged in furious denunciations of one another, Labor and the Coalition have been in a bipartisan front on the key political issues. They include full commitment to Australias frontline role in US-led plans for war with China, including through the AUKUS purchase of nuclear-powered submarines, and an unprecedented onslaught on the social and living conditions of the working class.

The misconduct issue, however, is significant from two standpoints.

First, within the framework of official politics, dominated as it is by lies and keeping ordinary people in the dark, scandals are always a means through which other, unstated agendas, are fought out. Second, in the course of a years-long saga, the official parties, together with much of the media, have trashed the presumption of innocence in an attack on the democratic rights, not solely of those directly involved, but of the entire population.

The latest eruption was provoked by the Murdoch-owned Australian newspapers publication, beginning last week, of text messages between former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins and her partner David Sharaz, as well as the audio of a five-hour meeting the pair held with Lisa Wilkinson and producers of the Channel Ten program, The Project.

Brittany Higgins with David Sharaz [Photo: @BrittHiggins_]

The texts and the meeting were in the lead-up to a February 15, 2021 episode of The Project, which included an interview with Higgins. In it, she alleged that she had been raped by another Liberal staffer, since revealed to be Bruce Lehrmann, inside parliamentary offices almost two years before, in the early hours of March 23, 2019.

The text messages allegedly show Sharaz planning drops to reporters deemed to be favorable. They make plain that the public airing of the allegations was timed to have maximum political impact, being made at the start of the first sitting week of parliament in 2021.

The political motivations of the duo are also pointed to, with Higgins in one exchange reportedly writing, in reference to Morrison: Hes about to be f..ked over. Just wait. Weve got him. Roughly a month after the program aired, Sharaz allegedly texted Higgins: Dont ditch me now youre famous, and, We exude power.

Most explosively, Sharaz indicated that he had a close relationship with federal Labor MP Katy Gallagher, whom he described as a friend. The texts indicated that Sharaz was effectively briefing Gallagher, in the lead-up to Higgins public announcement. Sharaz assured Higgins that Gallagher would assist them, including by peppering the government with questions about the matter in parliament, after Higgins public announcement was made.

In 2021 and 2022, Higgins would be referenced in the Senate 338 times, 135 of those by Gallagher. The texts indicated that other Labor figures were also aware of Higgins planned media campaign before it began.

The thrust of the Labor Party line on the issue, together with the sympathetic media coverage, was that Morrison and the Coalition had somehow covered-up the alleged rape of Higgins.

This narrative was always vague and sketchy. Very little of it remains.

While aspects of the incident and its aftermath remain in dispute, it is now established that in the wake of the alleged rape, Higgins employers in the office of then Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, encouraged her to go to the police. They claim to have provided her with offers of counseling and other assistance, in keeping with standard workplace practices.

Higgins did make a police complaint, but withdrew it within several weeks, in April 2019. She has since stated that she was fearful that if she proceeded, her job would be in jeopardy. It seems inconceivable, however, that Higgins would have been sacked, as this would have been blatantly unlawful and political suicide on the part of the Coalition. It could have precipitated precisely the sort of media campaign Higgins and Sharaz later launched.

At the time, i.e., in 2019, Higgins also made it plain that she wished that her allegation be kept out of the media. That changed sometime in 2020, the same year Higgins met Sharaz. His critics assert that he has longstanding and deep connections to the Labor Party.

In February 2021, Higgins conducted the interview with The Project, before completing a formal police interview. Police have stated they strongly advised her against the move. Finalising the police complaint could have blocked the interview, and subsequent media appearances, under sub judice laws.

Labor latched onto the Higgins case so enthusiastically, not out of concern for women, but because it provided the party with a means of differentiating from the Morrison government, on a thoroughly reactionary basis, and of whipping an upper-middle class constituency into a frenzy.

At the time, Labor was supporting the Coalitions fundamental class policies, including intensifying collaboration with the US anti-China campaign, and preparations to dismantle successful COVID safety restrictions in the interests of business. Identity politics was all that separated Labor from the Coalition, then as now.

The Higgins case was also taken up by large sections of the corporate media, under conditions where powerful elements of the ruling elite were frustrated with the Coalitions performance. It was increasingly crisis-ridden and was not pressing ahead with austerity measures as rapidly as demanded.

The Labor and media campaign was all premised on the assumption that Lehrmann was guilty. In line with the broader MeToo onslaught on basic civil liberties, his right to a presumption of innocence was all but obliterated. A criminal trial against Lehrmann collapsed last October, after alleged juror misconduct. Significant discrepancies had emerged in Higgins evidence during cross-examination.

Lehrmann has commenced defamation action against several media outlets. Various official inquiries are examining the handling of the case by the police, prosecutors and other authorities.

The texts referencing Gallagher were significant, not only because they indicated a shadowy political-media operation. They also raised questions as to whether Gallagher had misled parliament, a sackable offense. In June 2021, she stated she did not have any knowledge of the Higgins allegations, before they were aired in the media. No one had any knowledge, how dare you, Gallagher declared, in response to a question from Reynolds.

Gallagher has faced intense questioning along those lines by the Coalition. She has now acknowledged that she did know about the allegations but has claimed that she did not mislead parliament because I did nothing with that information.

Gallagher and other Laborites have improbably denounced the Coalition for weaponising Higgins allegations, two years after they plainly did the same. They have also cynically warned that the parliamentary debates will deter sexual assault complainants from coming forward in the future.

Most victims of criminal assault, it may be noted, do not have access to senior national politicians and the countrys most prominent journalists before issuing a police complaint. Under the Australian Capital Territorys strict alleged victim protection laws, moreover, a sexual assault complainant can remain anonymous throughout the duration of criminal proceedings and beyond. In other words, Higgins name is only on the public record because she ensured it was there by speaking to the media.

Questions have also been raised about a federal compensation payment to Higgins, reportedly worth $3 million or more. It was approved by the Labor government, without contest, while Reynolds and other Liberal representatives were barred from giving testimony contesting the damages. Reports in the Australian have indicated that the payment was calculated based on Higgins, currently 30 years old, having lost the equivalent of 40 years future employment, with promotions and hypothetical career progression factored in.

Beyond all the immediate details, broader issues are no doubt at play.

There is every prospect that as in 2021 when the Higgins affair was used to place heat on the Morrison government, which was viewed as a squeezed lemon by segments of the ruling elite, so too is it being revived now to ramp-up the pressure on the Labor government.

Murdoch-owned outlets, while generally supporting Albanese, have expressed frustration over the pace of the countrys military build-up, as the US indicates that a planned war with China is evermore imminent. The business elites have also complained that Labor is not proceeding rapidly enough with its demands for productivity improvements, code for stepped-up exploitation of the working class, and budgetary austerity.

Whatever the exact backroom calculations, there are undoubtedly many more agendas at play than are being publicly discussed.

The fractious and increasingly chaotic scenes in parliament are playing out under conditions of a major crisis of the political establishment. Support for the Coalition has plummeted, but Labor, after decades of imposing the dictates of the corporate elite, has lost any stable mass base in the working class.

As they face demands from above for stepped-up militarism and austerity, the official parties look below and see the unmistakable signs of widespread and growing discontent. In its own way, the crisis and disarray of the political set-up is a harbinger of far more significant conflicts that will pit the working class against the entire capitalist establishment.
The recent indictment of Donald Trump represents the greatest potential risk to the criminal justice system and the rule of law in our lifetimes, and there is no easy way to avoid long-term damage. This is the proverbial damned if we do, damned if we dont scenario.

Admittedly, my perspective  my bias  is shaped by my career as someone committed to our uniquely American approach to the criminal justice system, as a top prosecutor and defense attorney in the civilian and military legal realms. I believe that America must continue to pursue the ideals that the law applies to all equally, and that the criminal procedure we follow gives us the best shot at generating justice. The outcome never justifies the means. Us vs Trump risks blowing up those ideals.

The optics are awful. Repeating the undisputed facts out loud makes your face crinkle. The prosecutor pursuing Republican Trump was hand-picked by the political appointee (Merrick Garland) of Trumps former and current political rival for the most powerful office in the world, Democrat Joe Biden, who appears to have unlawfully stored classified documents next to the 10W30 oil in his garage for years. The authority to prosecute Trump flows uninterrupted from Biden, who trails Trump in major polls.

Those looking for more potential bias in prosecutorial decision-making likely remember that Garlands prior nomination to the Supreme Court of the U.S. by Bidens then-boss (Obama) was derailed in favor of allowing Trump to appoint someone else into the SCOTUS vacancy. Garland has a four-year gig, instead of a lifetime appointment because of Trump and the Republicans.

Meanwhile, across the courtroom is the indicted Trump, our former president, who admits to taking from the White House numerous Top Secret documents and storing them next to the Soap on a Rope in his bathroom.

He is alleged to have obscured them from the U.S. government of which he was no longer a part and thwarted a grand jury subpoena by misleading his own attorneys to whom he suggested lying about his possession of the documents. Trump appears to be on an audio recording admitting that documents he showed to unauthorized folks remained secret, because he failed to declassify them while he was president. Trump denies that he did anything wrong as steadfastly as he denies the results of the 2020 election.

If the contents of the 49-page indictment are true, Trump is likely to be convicted. And yet, those who recall the elaborate, multi-year, FBI-involved Russian collusion hoax, the politically motivated DA Alvin Bragg prosecution, and the other Democrats-who-cried-wolf incidents over the past seven years remain skeptical of what appears to be yet another chapter in the Never-ending Get Trump Story. Are we at a place now where only Republicans can hold Republicans accountable, or is that even a bridge too far? I am asking for two-time Iraq veteran and former Rep. Adam Kinzinger.

What about Hillary? they demand, referencing the past secretary of state and failed political opponent of Trump, who stored classified emails on a personal server stored near the Head and Shoulders shampoo in a bathroom in Denver. Despite having evidence (cellphones and servers) destroyed, the FBI accused her of nothing. Trumps FBI and Department of Justice also did nothing to pursue the case. The perception of a double standard haunts the case against Trump.

Our options are obvious, but challenging in modern America. Whether Trump committed the crimes alleged is not the biggest question, despite the factual yoga Trump supporters engage in to try to explain how the audio recoded admission does not really exist, or is the product of AI. The most significant questions are whether Trump should be prosecuted, and if he is not  what would be left of our notion of the rule of law.

What will the party of law and order ever again be able to do to distinguish itself from the party of no personal responsibility?

Those who say this is selective prosecution, because Clinton, Biden and Pence and every other person ever have not faced similar investigations and prosecution, need to tell America what happens if Trump is not prosecuted. Will future former POTUSes be immune from criminal conduct, or just criminal conduct involving classified documents? What will they say to 29-year Air Force veteran and retired Lt. Col. Robert Birchum, who was sentenced this month to three years imprisonment for unlawfully possessing classified documents at his home? Sorry, Bob; you should have run for president.

The criminal justice system has long battled the perception that there are two systems, one for the rich, and one for us. This case has the potential to cement that belief and add to it the conclusion that the law applies differently to the politically elite than it does to us.

We should have long ago employed a zero-tolerance policy for every former president (and presidential candidate)  Republican and Democrat  who possessed classified documents beyond their authority to do so. That is what we do with those of us who serve in uniform. It should have been the same for our commanders in chief. But having failed to do that, are we now and forever foreclosed from holding any of them accountable to the law?

Selective prosecution. Rule of law. Politics-free justice. There is blame enough for everyone: Trump, Biden, Democrats, Republicans  a pox on all of your houses.

We should acknowledge the mistakes of the past without being palsied from taking action now and in the future. Trump is a politician and personality. Adherence to the rule of law is a principle. To which will we commit ourselves for the America we want for our kids and their kids?

George Brauchler is the former district attorney for the 18th Judicial District. He also is an Owens Early Criminal Justice Fellow at the Common Sense Institute and president of the Advance Colorado Academy, which identifies, trains and connects conservative leaders in Colorado. He hosts The George Brauchler Show on 710KNUS Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Follow him on Twitter: @GeorgeBrauchler.
More than 600 migrants fleeing war, environmental disaster, poverty and oppression are dead or missing after their ship sank southwest of Greece in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Among them are between 30 and 100 children.

An estimated 750 people crammed into a fishing vessel at Tobruk in Libya on June 10, setting sail for days without adequate food or water, hundreds at a time packed on the open top deck.

A handout image provided by Greece's coast guard on Wednesday, June 14, 2023, shows scores of people covering practically every free stretch of deck on a battered fishing boat that later capsized and sank off southern Greece, leaving at least 79 dead and many more missing. [AP Photo/Hellenic Coast Guard via AP]

Only 78 bodies have been recovered. The majority of the dead are likely still trapped in the hold at the bottom of one of the deepest parts of the Mediterranean. Just 104 survivors have been rescued, with the search called off Friday night.

The Greek government is complicit in this tragedy, refusing to organise a rescue operation until it was far too late, despite monitoring the dangerously overladen vessel for 14 hours and receiving reports of passengers in distress. Prof Erik Rsg of the University of Oslos Institute of Private Law told the Guardian they had a duty to start rescue procedures under maritime law regardless of whether help was requested by those on board.

After the coastguard claimed not to have had interacted with the ship because offers of help were refused, survivors have suggesting it capsized during an attempt to tow it. The coastguard now admit they had a mooring line attached, but insist there was no effort to tug the boat. One survivor said, Because they didnt know how to pull the rope, the vessel started tilting right and left. The coastguard boat was going too fast, but the vessel was already tilting to the left, and thats how it sank.

Large protests in Greece condemned the officials responsible for the countrys migrant policy as murderers and were attacked with teargas by police. (See video below).

That charge can be extended to all the European powers. They have poured billions into a vast anti-migrant apparatus at Europes borders, designed to ensure that as many people as possible either abandon the journey or die in the attempt. Frontex, the European Unions (EU) border force, had its annual budget raised from 535 million in 2021 to 754 million in 2022.

Billions more have been given to the dictatorial Libyan and Tunisian regimes, which between them intercepted more than 60,000 migrants attempting to sail to Europe in 2022, reportedly firing shots to ward off rescue ships this March.

At least 21,000 people have drowned in the Mediterranean due to the imposition of Fortress Europe since 2014. Countless more have been put through hell in detention camps across North Africawhere the United Nations has found evidence of crimes against humanity in which the EU is complicitand the Greek islands, or while passing through Europe by footsubject to state-sponsored violence, extortion, humiliation and deprivation.

Protesters hold a banner which reads in Greek with blue letters "Seas of Dead", during a demonstration in front of the parliament building, following a deadly migrant shipwreck off Greece, in Athens, on Thursday, June 15, 2023. [AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris]

Asylum seekers are victims twice over. The imperialist powers which treat them like vermin are responsible for them having to seek refuge in the first place, ripping apart societies around the world with wars, interventions, intrigues and economic sanctions, plus the growing impact of climate change.

Among the dead in the latest tragedy were people from Syria, devastated by a US-led proxy war; Egypt, under the heel of Western-backed dictator Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and of international investors; Pakistan, subject to US drone strikes and interventions in its politics and still suffering the effects of devastating floods; and Palestine, under imperialist-backed Israeli occupation and blockade.

Those arriving at Europes borders are only the tip of an iceberg of suffering. According to the latest Global Trends report from the UN Refugee Council, more than one in every 74 people on the planet is forcibly displacedover 108 million human beings, 40 percent of them children.

Numbers have soared in the last decade. Roughly 60 million were forcibly displaced globally in 2014, at the beginning of the migrant crisis in Europe. At that time, tragedies including several off the coast of Lampedusa between 2013 and 2015in which more than 1,000 people, including children, drownedand the image of two-year-old Alan Kurdi washed up dead on a Turkish beach, produced widespread outrage and a feeling this barbarism could not continue.

But Europes governments have acted to ensure that it has. After a fall in the number of migrants recorded missing or dead in the Mediterranean from its peak of 5,136 in 2016, the figure has been rising again since a 2020 low of 1,449. The first quarter of this year was the deadliest since 2017.

Politicians are responding by building the EUs walls higherin some cases literally. At a meeting in Luxembourg this month, European leaders agreed to sweeping attacks on the democratic rights of asylum seekers, allowing for their prolonged detention and fast-track deportation. The length of external EU border walls increased more than sixfold between 2014 and 2022, to over 2,000 kilometres, covering 13 percent of the unions land border, with more building planned.

The intention is to seal European capitalism off from the human consequences of a global society shattered by capitalist crisis, about which the media barely reports.

Of the 108 million forcibly displaced, most (62.5 million) are internally displaced in dire conditions within their own countries. Eighty percent of them are in just 10 locations: Colombia, Syria, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, Sudan, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Somalia and Ethiopia.

Low- and middle-income countries host three quarters of the externally displaced. They live in rudimentary camps like those at Bidi Bidi in Uganda (270,000 mostly South Sudanese refugees), Nyarugusu in Tanzania (150,000 mostly Congolese), or Zaatari in Jordan (76,000 mostly Syrians); or are housed in countries like Turkey in conditions exposed by the earthquake of this February, which killed over 50,000 and displaced millionsmany for the second time.

Far more leave their homes every year than can return22 for every one returnee last yearand vanishingly few have any chance of resettling in another countryjust 114,300 could do so in 2022. Most are left to rot, with those who try to find a job and a home in Europe violently repelled.

The horrific regular toll of migrant drownings and the global refugee crisis highlight the essential connection between imperialist war and the obliteration of democratic rights. The three birthplace countries of the largest groups of forcibly displaced people, according to the UNs latest report, are Syria, (6.5 million), Ukraine (5.7 million) and Afghanistan (5.7 million)locations of some of the most destructive US-NATO operations of the 21st century.

When the 5.9 million internally displaced in Ukraine are added, the total in that country rises to a staggering 11.6 million, the worlds fastest displacement crisis, and one of the largest since the Second World War.

Under conditions of the NATO-Russia war in Ukraine, with the imperialist powers directing resources into massive military spending programmes and repressive legislation at home, the attitude of the European ruling class to these displaced people is ever more hostile. The four million Ukrainians given temporary protection within the EU states and the paltry 60,000 allowed into the UK are considered a necessary exception to justify their friends, families and homes being used as NATO cannon fodder against the Russian army.

In that war, the ruling classes of the NATO powers advance themselves as defenders of democracy deeply concerned by humanitarian plight. Their brutal treatment of refugees exposes these hypocrites for what they are.
The largest caucus of House Republicans proposed Wednesday that the US retirement age for collecting full Social Security benefits be raised to 69 from the current 66. The Republican Study Committee (RSC), with 176 out of the 222 Republican members of the House of Representatives, made the proposal as part of a fiscal blueprint that would cut spending by $16.3 trillion over the next decade, compared to the projected baseline.

The plan also includes making the Trump tax cuts for the wealthy permanentthey are currently scheduled to expire in 2027while leaving Pentagon spending untouched, at a gargantuan $886 billion for the coming year.

Automatic (entitlement) spending programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid would absorb two-thirds of the cuts proposed by the RSC, with discretionary spending programs, those which must be voted on by Congress each year, absorbing one-third, or about $5 trillion. With military spending kept intact, the discretionary cuts would fall entirely on domestic social spending, and programs on the environment, mass transportation, housing and education would see cuts of 30 percent or more.

President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California walk down the House steps Friday, March 17, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. [AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib]

It was the first time since the Republicans gained a narrow majority in the House in the 2022 elections that so many Republican members have publicly committed themselves to a major cut in Social Security benefits. The RSC made a similar proposal last year; Republicans were in the minority and its recommendations had no prospect of receiving a vote on the House floor.

The RSC dropped a proposal, adopted a year ago, to raise the eligibility age for Medicare from the present 65. But the blueprint includes significant measures to promote the privatization of Medicare, an intermediate step towards dismantling the program entirely.

Social Security was established under the New Deal Roosevelt administration in 1935. Medicare was established under the Johnson administration in 1965, as the centerpiece of its loudly proclaimed war on poverty. The war was quickly abandoned by the Democrats, but Medicare has remained as a fixture in the lives of tens of millions of elderly and retired people, many of them entirely dependent on the federal insurance program to assure access to affordable health care.

The RSC proposal would phase in the increased retirement age for full Social Security benefits gradually, adding four months a year until it is age 69 for those turning 62 in the year 2033the more than 3 million people who were born in 1971. Age 62 will remain the lowest age at which people can take early retirement, but with severely reduced benefits.

The current retirement age is already going up gradually to age 67, a month each year, until 2027. This increase was agreed upon in the bipartisan deal between Democratic House Speaker Tip ONeill and Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1983, which supposedly saved Social Security but only postponed the crisis.

The bourgeois media portrays the crisis in Social Security as a purely demographic problem: the elderly are living much longer than envisioned when the program was first established, and changes must be made in eligibility and benefit levels to reflect that. Similar claims were made by French President Emmanuel Macron when he pushed through a two-year increase in the French retirement age, from 62 to 64, against explosive mass resistance among working people that was diverted and suppressed by the trade unions.

In reality, the program is running short of funds primarily because of the ceiling on taxation of the wealthywho pay Social Security taxes only on the first $160,000 in income, even if they take in millions or even billions in a year. Moreover, Wall Street looks upon the gargantuan amounts still remaining in the Social Security Trust Fund as a source of new investment funding for its parasitic financial operations, while the Pentagon views it hungrily as a potential resource for the military.

The Republican Study Committee proposal is unlikely to pass in the near future because Democrats control the Senate and the White House, and they will seek to demagogically present themselves as the defenders of Social Security in the 2024 elections. But it is highly significant politically, because it puts the question of Social Security cuts, once described as the third rail of American politics, squarely on the agenda of future congresses and administrations.

The pattern over many decades is that the Republican Party sets the most right-wing marker on social policy, the Democrats claim to oppose them and to defend the interests the poor, the sick and the elderly. Then the two parties make use of the next crisisor manufacture one, as in this years agreement on the federal debt ceilingto adopt a compromise proposal, taking a giant step in the reactionary direction first indicated by the Republicans.

There have already been a slew of right-wing Democrats, like Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who have indicated their willingness to consider changes in Social Security and Medicare eligibility that will devastate millions of retired people.

Biden continues the posture of irreconcilable opposition to changes in Social Security that he adopted in his State of the Union speech, when he charged that Republicans wanted cuts and they vociferously denied it, some interrupting him from the floor of the House of Representatives. But there is no question that if Biden has to choose between funding the war against Russia in Ukraine, and funding full benefits for the elderly, that he will join the Republicans in demanding sacrifices from the American people.

Besides enlisting more than three-quarters of all House Republicans, the supposedly mainstream conservative RSC includes Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the third-ranking Republican Elise Stefanik, Kay Granger, chair of the Appropriations Committee, and other top House Republicans. (By convention, Speaker Kevin McCarthy does not belong to ideological caucuses.)

The RSC also includes seven of the 11 Republican representatives who participated in last weeks disruption of House functioning. These 11, all members of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, voted against the rule proposed by the Republican leadership to schedule bills for consideration and govern debate for the week. Traditionally, these are party-line votes, and with all Democrats also opposed, the rules failed and the House could not take any action.

The 11 were venting their spleen against the debt-ceiling agreement between McCarthy and Biden, saying the spending cuts provided were too little and claiming that McCarthy could have forced an even bigger surrender by the White House by blocking an increase in the debt ceiling, an action which threatened to trigger a meltdown on Wall Street.

McCarthy met with the 11 on Monday and they agreed to unblock the work of the House in return for unspecified concessions by the Republican leader on bringing up legislation and seeking even more cuts in federal spending.

As part of this process of pushing the House further and further to the right, Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger announced Monday evening that most Appropriations subcommittees would receive smaller allocations of spending authority than agreed on in the Biden-McCarthy deal. Money for the Pentagon, the Veterans Administration and the Department of Homeland Security would be unaffected.

For all other programs, instead of freezing spending at 2023 levels, as Biden and McCarthy agreed, the subcommittees would be instructed to hold spending to 2022 levels, cutting another $160 billion. This was the central demand of the Freedom Caucus members, who claimed McCarthy had agreed to that as part of the wheeling and dealing that made possible his election as speaker in January after an unprecedented 15 ballots.

In both capitalist parties, the dynamic is the same: the most right-wing elements drive the policy-making process, because they have the support of the capitalist ruling elite. In the Republican Party, a handful of fascists hold the whip hand over McCarthy.

In the Democratic Party, such figures as Senator Manchin exercise decisive influence. This was shown by the Senate passage of a Republican-sponsored resolution to strike down Bidens executive action forgiving $400 billion in student loan debt, despite the Democrats holding a 51-49 majority. Manchin, Montana Democrat Jon Tester and Arizona independent ex-Democrat Kyrsten Sinema all voted for the bill, which Biden was compelled to veto Wednesday.
The World Socialist Web Site has learnt that Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation CEO Chandana Aluthgamage cited a May 30 WSWS article entitled Oppose the witch-hunting of Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation workers to warn union leaders not to provide information to online publications.



Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation workers protesting in Colombo on 8 December 2022.

Aluthgamage issued his anti-democratic directive during a meeting with various Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation (SLIC) union officials. The meeting was called to discuss the victimisation and forced transfer of Diwakara Athugala, general secretary of the Insurance General Employees Union (IGEU), and Nayomi Hettiarachchige, the unions media secretary.

Referring to the WSWS article, the CEO reportedly said that because the IGEU general secretary provided information to websites, his disciplinary transfer was being extendedfrom Panadura, 28 kilometres from Colomboto Kalawana, 127 kilometres away from Colombo. No evidence was provided to substantiate his allegation.

Hettiarachchige has been transferred to Panadura. SLIC management has also instructed the companys security officers to block both victimised officials from entering the Colombo head office.

According to information provided to the WSWS, officials from other unions present at the meeting did not object to the CEOs threats. Their silence further underscores the fact that these union leaders are not ready to defend workers publicising what is happening in their workplaces, a basic right crucial for themselves and the rest of the working class.

IGEU officials Athugala and Hettiarachchige have been victimised because they mobilised workers on December 8 and March 15 to protest government plans to privatise the corporation. The SLIC is the countrys leading insurance provider and currently employs 2,500 workers in 154 branches.

Insurance General Employees Union general secretary Diwakara Athugala addressing a protest on June 15 outside SLIC headquarters in Colombo.

Athugala and Hettiarachchi were sent forced transfer letters on June 5 after a disciplinary inquiry accused them of using company e-mails for union affairs. The use of company emails has been the general practice of the 15 different trade unions operating at SLIC.

Working-class opposition to the Wickremesinghe governments moves to privatise hundreds of state-owned enterprises (SOE), one of the main demands of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in exchange for a $US3 billion bailout loan, is rising across the island.

Privatisation of these enterprises will drastically impact more than half a million workers and several million of their dependents. Hundreds of thousands of jobs will be eliminated, wages cut and harsh attacks on pensions and working conditions imposed.

SLIC management has responded to workers opposition by banning all trade union activities, including meetings and discussions on corporation premises. It has transformed the Colombo head office into a virtual prison camp. The ongoing victimisation of IGEU leaders Athugala and Hettiarachchi is part of escalating repressive measures being unleashed by the government and state sector bosses to try and crush all working class resistance to its social attacks.

SLICs witch-hunting of union officials for using the companys email service and for allegedly providing information to the media is a dire warning and must be opposed by all SOE workers and the entire working class.



While two SLIC union officials have been victimised, the real target of this attack is the entire working class. It is yet another indication that the IMFs austerity measures are incompatible with basic democratic rights.

The Wickremesinghe government has systematically used draconian Essential Services laws to criminalise workers strikes and protests. It has unleashed the police to crush demonstrations by university students.

In March, the government deployed the military and the police to break up strike action by Ceylon Petroleum Corporation workers protesting privatisation. Twenty striking workers, including union officials, were victimised, and sent on compulsory leave. These workers were then sent letters on June 8 suspending their services.

Early last year, the previous government of Gotabhaya Rajapakse issued a circular to health workers prohibiting them from providing information to the public.

Wickremesinghe has maintained this anti-democratic gag while slashing funds to health and placing import restrictions on desperately needed pharmaceuticals.

Last September, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a circular titled State officers giving information to social media. It threatened any worker who violated this directive with disciplinary action under the so-called Establishment Code.

That month, the government suspended Dr Chamal Sanjeewa, president of the Medical and Civil Rights Professional Association of Doctors and former Hambantota Regional Director of Health, charging him with causing inconvenience to the government by presenting false information to a media briefing about child malnutrition in Sri Lanka. He was witch-hunted for releasing the results of a survey carried out by a group of doctors, including himself, on child malnutrition in the southern Hambantota District.

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP), Sri Lankan section of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), and the WSWS oppose these repressive measures. We have launched a campaign to mobilise the working class independently against privatisation and other IMF-dictated austerity demands.

That campaign and the SEPs forthcoming public meeting in Colombo on July 6, are receiving enthusiastic support from a wide layer of workers.

Elaborating on the program that the working class needs to adopt to fight the government attacks, our May 30 article said:

The governments privatisation agenda and its broader austerity measures can only be defeated by a unified movement of the working class, independent of the pro-capitalist trade unions and based on a political strategy that challenges the government and capitalist rule. This means that workers need to establish independent action committees in every workplace, factory, plantation and neighbourhood, including amongst SLIC employees and reach out to their international brothers and sisters via the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees.

Sri Lankan action committees need to fight for the perspective advanced by the SEP for a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses. This congress, which will be based on democratically elected delegates from workers action committees across the island, is to lay the necessary foundations to fight the Wickremesinghe regime and bring to power a government of workers and peasants that will implement socialist policies and secure the needs and rights of the workers and oppressed masses.

The SEP urges SLIC workers and all other sections of the Sri Lankan working class to take forward the fight for this perspective and to attend our public meeting.

Date and time: Thursday, 6 July, 4 p.m.

Venue: Public Library Auditorium, Colombo
A Leopard 2 tank is seen in action during a visit of German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius at the Bundeswehr tank battalion 203 at the Field Marshal Rommel Barracks in Augustdorf, Germany, Feb. 1, 2023. [AP Photo/Martin Meissner]

In a perspective at the start of the Ukrainian counter-offensive, the World Socialist Web Site warned:

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.

The National Security Strategy for Germany, underscores how correct this assessment was. The document, entitled On guard. Resilient. Sustainable. Integrated Security for Germany, is a blueprint for war abroad and the establishment of a police state at home.

It was presented on Wednesday by Social Democratic (SPD) Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Green Party Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Free Democrat Finance Minister Christian Lindner, and Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (both SPD) at the Federal Press Conference Centre in Berlin.

Even if the rhetoric, at least when it comes to some phrases about freedom and democracy, is somewhat different from that of the German Empire under the Kaiser or the Nazis Third Reich, the goals are basically the same. The ruling class sees the Russian invasion of Ukraine provoked by NATO and the current struggle for the redivision of the world as an opportunity for German imperialism to reassert itself as a military leader despite its historical crimes.

In his foreword, Scholz writes: Russias brutal war of aggression against Ukraine fundamentally challenges the European security order. At the same time, the global order is changing: New centers of power are emerging, the world of the 21st century is multipolar. Germany is prepared for such strategic changes and sees the new epoch as an opportunity to finally equip our Bundeswehr (German army) appropriately.

Already, with the Bundeswehr special fund totalling 100 billion, the government has begun the largest rearmament offensive since Hitler. This is now being intensified. In the light of the new epoch, we must invest particularly in our resilience and ability to defend, the document states. The costs are to be borne by the working population in every respect.

The government is pursuing the declared goal of increasing German military spending to 2 percent of GDP, excluding the special fund, and enabling the Bundeswehr to wage permanent war. The German government, while meeting NATOs planning goals, will make the Bundeswehr one of the most powerful conventional armed forces in Europe in the coming years, capable of reacting and acting quickly and sustainably, the document declares.

The scenarios extend to nuclear war. The document continues: In the transatlantic alliance, we must be able and determined to confront all military threatsnuclear, conventional, but also in cyber defense and in view of the threats that are directed against our space systems.  Germany will continue to contribute to this in the context of nuclear participation and will provide the necessary carrier aircraft without interruption.

At another point, the National Security Strategy commits to implementing NATOs Strategic Concept of June 2022 in all its aspects. This means nothing less than preparing for a nuclear Third World War. NATOs Strategic Concept states: We will individually and collectively provide the full range of forces needed for deterrence and defense, including for high-intensity cross-dimensional warfare against equivalent competitors who possess nuclear weapons.

Even if the German rearmament and war offensive is currently taking place within the framework of NATO and in close alliance with Germanys imperialist alliesin many places there is talk of close friendship and partnership with France and the USthe ruling class is systematically working to pursue its economic and geopolitical goals independently in the future. The old aim of German imperialism to lead Europe to lead the world, which spawned two world wars and fascism in the 20th century, is back.

The document states: Independent European capacity for action is increasingly a prerequisite for the security of Germany and Europe. This includes EU Member States with modern, high-performance armed forces as well as a high-performing and internationally competitive European security and defence industry, which creates the foundations of the military capabilities of the armed forces.

Elsewhere, the strategy states: We want to make the European Union a geopolitically capable actor that guarantees its security and sovereignty for future generations. The Federal Government is committed to the further integration of the EU, its cohesion and to the enlargement to include the states of the Western Balkans, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and, in future, Georgia.

The unification of Europe under German leadership itself becomes a military project. The German government will continue to expand and strengthen its military presence in the alliance area to protect our allies, also in order to be able to serve as a reliable military partner for our allies. In addition, Germany will assume special responsibility for the deployment of the EUs rapid deployment forces.

The National Security Strategy differs from previous foreign policy strategy papers in that it formulates more explicitly what is at stake. Not human rights and valueseven if these propaganda phrases repeatedly appear in the documentbut concrete imperialist interests.

When deciding on new projects for the extraction of raw materials, we will increasingly incorporate security policy considerations, says the section entitled Increasing economic and financial resilience and raw material security. The Federal Government will strengthen crisis management for critical raw materials and advocate for the creation of adequate framework conditions for the promotion of raw material projects in the strategic interest of Germany and the EU. In total, the term raw material or raw materials is found 29 times in the document, and the word interests 22 times.

German foreign policy is increasingly developing along similar lines as in the First and Second World Wars and pursues the same predatory interests. The same applies to domestic politics.

The National Security Strategy subordinates all areas of economic and social life to the concept of security and de facto declares them to be war-relevant. These include climate, health and fiscal policies, science, education and child care, the countrys critical infrastructure and the regulation of cyber spacea euphemism for the control and censorship of the Internet.

The coming geopolitical confrontations will not only take place between states, but increasingly also at the social level, the document states. And a box highlighted in blue says: Due to the strong interactions between external and internal security, the ability of the German state to act externally increasingly also depends on its internal resilience. This is the joint responsibility of the state, the economy and society.

In other words, the external war policy requires the militarist co-option of society internally. This includes the domestic deployment of the Bundeswehr. The Federal Government is striving to further develop the cross-country and cross-departmental exercises on crisis management (LUKEX) conceptually. Since 2018, the army has been involved in these exercises. Against the background of German history, this is a serious warning. The ruling class used the military as an instrument of oppression during the German Empire, the Weimar Republic and the Third Reich.

The National Security Strategy makes clear what confronts workers and young people. The NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, which is constantly escalating, is part of the development towards a Third World War, with all the consequences such a conflict would entail. While the SPD and the Greens in the government are organizing the war offensive and are supported by the Left Party, the Socialist Equality Party (SGP) has fought against the return of German militarism from the outset. The SGP warned in a resolution as early as 2014:

The propaganda of the post-war erathat Germany had learnt from the terrible crimes of the Nazis, had arrived at the West, had embraced a peaceful foreign policy, and had developed into a stable democracyis exposed as lies. German imperialism is once again showing its real colours as it emerged historically, with all of its aggressiveness at home and abroad.

This assessment has been confirmed in every respect. A similar development is taking place in every imperialist country. This means that the working class and youth worldwide are facing the same revolutionary tasks. In order to prevent a Third World War and the destruction of the planet, they must fight capitalist war policies and advocate an international socialist program.
We must accept the potentially transformative power of trade and trade policies to tackle these three critical planetary concerns without further delay, Ambassador Jose Valencia of Ecuador, chair of the CTE, said in his opening remarks for the event held on 13 June. He noted that trade policies can promote environmentally friendly technologies to drive down carbon emissions; improve waste management, including management of plastics waste; and champion the preservation of flora and fauna by preventing illegal wildlife trafficking and encouraging sustainable agriculture.

Yolanda Kakabadse, former Environment Minister of Ecuador, affirmed the increasing links between trade and environmental policy: We all can confirm that integration of trade and environment is a process that will never end. It's a process that grows with the innovation of technology, of new interpretations of traditional models. It's also a result of the growing awareness we have of every process and what it means in terms of impact on the climate.

Aik Hoe Lim, director of the WTO Trade and Environment division, noted the evolving discussions on environmental issues in the organization. The old debate on trade and environment has been about trade-offs. We need to go beyond that and in our World Trade Report last year, we tried to look at trade and climate change from the perspective of amplifiers or multipliers. We explored how trade can support, accelerate, and create new opportunities in building a new global economy based on environmental sustainability.

The purpose of trade and environment week is to underscore the WTO's contribution to facilitating the development of international trade practices that are environmentally friendly, sustainable and beneficial for all, Mr. Lim said.

Elisa Tonda, chief of the United Nations Environment Programme's resources and markets branch, emphasized how trade policy and the WTO can be enablers for environmental solutions in four areas: the elimination of environmentally harmful subsidies; the promotion of sustainable agri-food systems decoupled from deforestation; the establishment of a circular economy for reusing waste, including plastics; and the fostering of multilateral dialogue.

In the words of UN Secretary General (Antonio Guterres) at COP27 (climate conference) in Sharm el Sheik: Humanity has a choice: cooperate or perish. Trade is ultimately based on deep cooperation. It is critically important to recognize that trade networks, and indeed our whole economy, is bounded by nature, she said.

Focusing on the biodiversity loss crisis, Stewart Maginnis, Deputy-Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, said: There is a key role between the consumption and production of internationally traded commodities, and environmental loss. To take action, governments must consider regulations to lower deforestation risk in the production and trade of goods, repurpose subsidies that encourage environmental destruction, and increase the collaboration between conservation communities and the WTO, he said.

Ambassador Marie Chantal Rwakazina of Rwanda, a pioneer in the regulation of plastic and electronic waste in Africa, provided insights on addressing the triple environmental crisis from the perspective of a least-developed country.

My country established the Rwanda Green Fund since 2012. It is an environment and climate change investment fund with the mandate to invest in public and private projects with the potential to create transformative change in Rwanda; create an ecosystem to innovate, accelerate and provide growth capital to high impact green ventures; and to provide expert technical assistance to ensure the success of its investments, Ambassador Rwakazina said. Rwanda strives to balance economic development with environmental protection and climate resilience.

The video recording of the event and other sessions of Trade and Environment Week is available here. The week's program is available here.

Committee on Trade and Environment

Trade and Environment Week began with a meeting of the WTO's Committee on Trade and Environment on 12 June. Members considered proposals to reinvigorate the work of the Committee. The chair, summing up the exchange, said there is interest among members to hold thematic discussions and there are various ideas on the procedures for these discussions. The chair said he will convene an informal meeting to help members reach an understanding on a programme of thematic discussions.

Members also discussed possible contributions by the Committee to the 13th Ministerial Conference to be held in February 2024 in Abu Dhabi.

In addition, members were updated by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and United Arab Emirates on the preparations for the upcoming COP28 UN Climate Change Conference to be held on 30 November to 12 December 2023. The UAE announced that, for the first time, the conference will highlight trade as a specific theme under the UAE COP28 Presidency Thematic Program.

Members also heard presentations on two European Union Green Deal proposals concerning consumer protection against misleading and unclear environmental claims on products, and the promotion of repairability requirements on a wide range of products. The EU also provided further information on the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and deforestation regulations.

Members furthermore were briefed on developments concerning the Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (DPP); the Trade and Environmental Sustainability Structured Discussions (TESSD); negotiations on the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) among Costa Rica, Fiji, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland; and the Green Economy Agreement between Australia and Singapore.

UNCTAD, the World Bank, and the OECD organizations presented their recent work on trade, climate change, and the environment.

The next Committee meeting will be on 11-12 October.
Denver Public Schools board member Tay Anderson abandoned his reelection bid on Monday, announcing a run for the state House instead. Its time for me to take my talent to the Colorado legislature, he said. (W)e need to take the progress that weve made at DPS to the state level.

Since taking office in 2019, Anderson has courted countless controversies, generating significant dysfunction in Colorados largest school district. Not yet 25, he already carries more political baggage and personal skeletons in his closet than a political graveyard. No matter how vehemently he tries to deny it, thats precisely why Anderson couldnt win reelection  and is leaving the school board. This is not about walking away from not being able to win again, he claims.

Au contraire, Auontai: Andersons popularity hit rock bottom, dwindling to a meager 9% support for reelection  an astonishingly low figure considering his outsized media coverage and name recognition. Andersons funding sources dried up, too. The teachers union helped create Frankensteins Monster in the first place  contributing $65,000 to his 2019 campaign  but after ravaging the town, Anderson became an absolute liability, so theyve since abandoned him. Multiple sources indicated for months the union planned to back another at-large candidate, potentially former East High School Principal John Younquist.

The Gazette reported Monday that Anderson raised $35,170 through June 1. However, nearly $30,000 of that total remained from his 2019 campaign  almost $12,000 of which was spent on outstanding expenditures. As of June 1, Anderson had raised less than $5,700. After expenses  including at least $2,184 last July in self-reimbursements for legal fees and payments to his personal lawyer, Issa Israel  Andersons campaign had $4,300 remaining. Such financials are a bad sign for a citywide campaign.

Lets be real: Plunged into the abyss of abysmal unpopularity, deserted by his once-fervent backers and bound by paltry fundraising, Tay Anderson had no choice but to withdraw  to acquiesce to his unseriousness and the insurmountable hurdles for a successful reelection bid. Now, hes scrambling to save face  running for the legislature under the guise of grander goals.

Anderson recalled how, following a March shooting inside East High School, he began reconsidering school boards inability to make sweeping change on political issues like gun control. Im taking the call from community, he told Denverite. In claiming to virtuously answer the call of duty, Anderson couched himself in a sympathetic light  purporting to have learned from mistakes that Ive made as a young person while asking people to remember that Im in my 20s.

Memo to ambitious 20-somethings everywhere: If you cant take responsibility for your personal misdeeds, stay out of elected office. In 2021, a months-long DPS investigation revealed Anderson aggressively pursued illicit relationships with multiple underaged high school girls  while a school board member and candidate. It also found that Anderson used social media to intimidate investigation witnesses at least twice, among other disturbing conclusions. The 96-page report led his colleagues to unprecedentedly censure him.

Yet Anderson attempted to discredit the investigation through the courts. In two separate cases, judges rejected and rebuked those arguments, upholding the validity of the investigation and its findings. He still portrays himself as a victim, however. Anderson published a since-deleted rap song (Slavin Up in DPS) in December 2021 and began a November 2022 video  in which he originally declared his reelection campaign  with inflammatory footage of a man tying a noose, implying hed been lynched.

Trivializing slavery and Jim Crow for political gain is beneath any leader, but its par for the course for Anderson, who has a penchant for accusing critics of racism, white supremacy and anti-Blackness.

Anderson glosses over his own history, grandiosely depicting his tenure as an Anderson era of monumental significance  evoking an amusing, if deluded, sense of self-importance. Even if I am never elected to another seat in government again, Im walking away having no regrets, he told Chalkbeat.

Lets be serious: The idea that Anderson has brought about a lot of progress is absurd. He led the effort to remove cops from campuses and weaken disciplinary protocols  triggering a complete collapse of institutional credibility as well as disastrous school safety and discipline breakdowns. Student achievement has suffered, too: Last years math and English scores showed just 29% and 39% proficiency among DPS students, respectively. This reportedly includes 15% and 26% of Black students, respectively  after years of emphasizing Black Excellence in the district. Anderson has repeatedly failed Denvers children.

Andersons bid for House District 8  currently held by his longtime mentor, Leslie Herod  already faces stiff competition from four other candidates. If Herod resigns early for Mayor-elect Mike Johnstons administration, Anderson is unlikely to meet the 12-month residency requirement in time for the Democrat-run vacancy committee appointment  depriving him of incumbency benefits for his election next November. But if he wins, hell fit right in with the legislatures far-left, self-aggrandizing misfits  while leaving DPS kids alone.

At last, the incompetent Anderson era of discord, dysfunction and distraction will come to a close. Where Andersons antics go next will be up to the voters of House District 8.

Either way, when Tay Anderson is gone, Denver Public Schools will have no excuse but to finally refocus on boosting student outcomes for Colorado kids.

Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and host of The Jimmy Sengenberger Show Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. on News/Talk 710 KNUS. Reach Jimmy online at JimmySengenberger.com or on Twitter @SengCenter.
Find the perfect way to celebrate dad at these Father's Day events happening around town this weekend.

For the adventurous dad:

- Father's Day With The Wolves | June 18 @ 9 - 11 a.m. Enjoy a wolf tour at the Colorado Wolf & Wildlife center along with breakfast burritos and a raffle. Space is limited. Click here to reserve your spots.

- Dads and Dinos | June 18 @ 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Head to the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center in Woodland Park on Father's Day, where dads get in free with one paid adult or child admission. Click here for more information.

For the foodie dad:

- Front Range Barbeque Summer Sundays Series | June 18 @ 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Kick back and enjoy grilled barbeque and live music with dad at this local restaurant. Special guest Lewis Mock will join Blue Frog this week. Click here for more details.

- Father's Day Ice Cream & Pie Social | June 18 @ 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Head to The Village Green in Palmer Lake for a free ice cream social open to the public. Bring your own chairs and enjoy live music. Click here for more information.

For the sporty dad:

- Father's Day Special: U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum | June 17 & 18: All fathers will enjoy free admission at the well-known Colorado Springs museum Saturday and Sunday. Museum hours are Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Click here for more details.

For the artsy dad:

- June Jubilee | June 17 & 18 @ 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Located in downtown Colorado Springs at Acacia Park, June Jubilee resembles an artisan marketplace, complete with live music, craft fair and the work of more than 70 artists in various media. Click here to learn more.

For the up-for-whatever dad:

- Pikes Peak Celtic Festival | June 16-18: Located at the Western Museum of Mining & Industry, this festival includes authentic Celtic cuisine, a pipe band competition, whiskey tastings, and so much more. Click here to buy tickets and learn more.

- Victor Gem & Mineral Show | June 16 - 18: Head to the town of Victor to view and purchase hand-crafted jewelry, rough slabs, cabochons, geodes and more from statewide vendors. Stop by the Lowell Thomas Museum for gold and gem panning. Show is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Click here for more information.
Like the hazy horizons of people who find themselves without a permanent place to sleep at night, the size of El Paso Countys homeless population appears to be shrinking in some ways and expanding in others.

The overall number of people who self-identified as homeless in the annual Point in Time and Housing Inventory count conducted Jan. 22-23 decreased to 1,302  the same amount recorded in 2016, and the lowest since then, according to statistics released Wednesday.

This is part of the trend weve seen, that with more permanent housing and street outreach to meet people where theyre at, what were doing is working, said Evan Caster, senior manager of homeless initiatives for Community Health Partnership.

The organizations Pikes Peak Continuum of Care performs the yearly survey, which the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development requires for communities to receive federal funding.

Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade, who was sworn into office last week, said the drop in overall homelessness is something the community should view as an accomplishment but with an awareness that the work is not done.

While we celebrate, we know that challenges are in front of us, he said. Its good to go back to 2016 numbers, but there are a number of people reaching out to express concerns around homelessness.

That could be because of the total homeless population, the number of unsheltered residents  defined as those temporarily sleeping in tents, their cars, abandoned buildings or other uninhabitable places  grew by more than 100 people over last year, to 374.

One reason, Caster said, could be that organizers employed a new counting methodology, which they believe improved accuracy.

In addition to 80 volunteers, homeless clients of Westside Cares were paid to help with this year's census, particularly to reach those living in encampments and on the streets.

Not only did we meet more people who were unsheltered, but we got more honest responses, Caster said.

Still, the unsheltered result is troubling, said Andy Barton, president and CEO of Catholic Charities of Central Colorado, which offers services from assistance with medical care and job searches to running a daily soup kitchen.

Thats a concern for everyone, he said. Thats where homelessness is most visible, and that has been a focus: the need to get folks off the streets and into housing. Its the best thing for those individuals, its the best thing for the community, and its the way we start to move people into stability.

This years unsheltered count is still lower than it was from 2017 through 2019, organizers said.

Also, the communitys chronically homeless, which HUD defines as single adults or heads of households with a disability and living in an emergency shelter, other safe haven or on the streets for longer than a year, reached an all-time high of 470 people.

Mobolades mayoral campaign included three initiatives: adding supportive, permanent housing, addressing the mental health of homeless people and continuing working with outreach teams from police and fire departments to ensure were taking care of illegal camping and as we do that provide the next steps for our residents experiencing homelessness with compassion.

The fact that Colorado Springs added hundreds of units of affordable and low-income housing stock in recent years is evident from the survey, Caster said.

An all-time high of 740 people who formerly were homeless had moved into permanent housing, which he said has been key in reducing the communitys overall homeless population.

Its the most weve ever reported and is huge for us, Caster said.

A disturbing trend, organizers say, is that racial disparity among the homeless is more apparent.

This year, 4.9% of people who took the voluntary survey reported their race as American Indian, Alaska Native or Indigenous, and 17.4% reported their race as Black or African American.

More than a quarter of the 130 homeless families polled said they were Black or African American.

Race and ethnicity among the homeless population are disproportionate to El Paso County demographics. In 2022, 1.4% of all county residents reported their race as American Indian, Alaska Native or Indigenous. And 6.9% of the countys population said they were Black or African American.

We know statistically theyre overrepresented, Caster said, pointing to systemic and institutional factors.

Expanding access to services, including health care and housing, are among the ways to address the disparities, he said.

The solution boils down to investing in the interventions that we know are going to move people out of homelessness, and that is housing, shelter and wrap-around programming, Barton said.

The Point in Time is an annual reminder we need to get more units in this community because its ultimately how were able to get folks out of shelters, he said.

El Paso County has 109 fewer emergency shelter beds than last year, at 698. That's primarily due to two homeless shelters closing last year and another reconfiguring its space, Caster said.

Shelter utilization rate was at 80%; of the total homeless count, 555 people were staying at emergency shelters in January, down from 688 in 2022.

Even though we lost shelter beds, we were doing a good job of using the beds we had, Caster said.

Also, 87 youths and young adults ages 16 to 24 were living on their own in homelessness in January. That's fewer than previous years, said Shawna Kemppainen, executive director of The Place, which runs the citys only licensed homeless shelter for youths. However, the monthly average of homeless youths in that age group currently is 185, she said.

Young people want the chance to change their lives, Kemppainen said. Increasing their access to quality housing and healthcare has the biggest impact on ending homelessness.

It costs on average $37,000 per year per chronically homeless adult, she said.
A master sergeant at Fort Carson will face a court-martial next week over allegations of abusive sexual contact and domestic violence.

Master Sgt. Clayton Brachtenbach, with the 10th Special Forces Group, is accused of sexually touching a woman without her consent on or near Fort Carson on Oct. 24, 2021.

On a separate occasion in October 2021, Brachtenbach is accused of wrapping his arm around his wife's neck and throwing her to the ground. She was holding a child and he also faces accusations of endangering the child and culpable negligence.

He was informed of the charges during November 2022, according to official documents.

Brachtenbach, 39, has served for 20 years and nine months and has received several military honors, including a Silver Star for protecting fellow soldiers in Afghanistan during January 2014. According to the citation, he exposed himself multiple times to suppress enemy fire.

Sign Up for free: Military Brief Your weekly local update on local military news and events, sent straight to your inbox. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

His court-martial is expected to start Tuesday.

Military defendants can pick between a judge or a jury to decide their cases. A two-thirds majority can decide a military case, rather than unanimous consent as required in civilian cases.

In recent years, sexual assault and sexual harassment have been major challenges for the military and Congress has set aside $479 million in 2023 to hire a prevention workforce among other changes, according to the 2022 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military.

In 2021, the Department of Defense estimated that 10% of active-duty men report sexual assault and 29% of active duty women reported it.
A decorated Denver Police officer could lose his leg after it was run over by a Denver Fire Department truck as he was trying to keep fans who had breached the gates during the parade Thursday away from the truck.

The incident occurred about 11:30 a.m. as a fire truck carrying several players rounded the corner of 13th and Cherokee streets.

Fans had breached the barricades Denver Police Sergeant Justin Dodge, a member of the SWAT team, tried to keep them away from the truck carrying several players.

The fire truck began to roll up the back of his left leg, trapping him underneath the vehicle causing a very significant lower leg injury, Thomas said. We were able to extricate him from underneath the fire truck, load him up in an ambulance and rushed him to Denver Health.

Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

A doctor from Denver Health said Sgt. Dodge was immediately sent to surgery and is in stable condition.

He was protecting those community members from the fire trucks, Thomas said. Hes a veteran officer, a sergeant assigned to our SWAT team for a number of years and a very decorated officer.

Sgt. Dodge has served the Denver Police Department since 1997, a spokesperson said.

Mayor Michael Hancock estimated more than 750,000 to 1 million people descended on downtown.

Hancock said there were an estimated 200 officers on the streets Monday night and again Thursday.
The star of '1883' tells PEOPLE how she landed the role of a lifetime, and why playing Faith Hill and Tim McGraw's daughter was 'so organic'

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

It isnt every day Taylor Sheridan writes a character for you, but thats precisely what happened to Isabel May.

May, 22, had a handful of acting credits, including Alexa & Katie and Young Sheldon, when she previously tested for a role in one of Sheridans other shows, Mayor of Kingstown, and didnt get the part. But the Santa Monica-bred actress made such an impression on Sheridan. He called her two weeks later and offered her the lead role in the Yellowstone prequel series 1883, playing Elsa Dutton, the 18-year-old daughter who embarks with her parents, James Dutton (Tim McGraw) and Margaret Dutton (Faith Hill), on a treacherous trek across the Great Plains to Montana.

I want you to be this character in this show called 1883 that I havent written yet, May tells PEOPLE, recalling Sheridans offer. But I want to nail you down so you dont go do something, and I cant have you anymore. And I was thinking to myself, 'Well, that's not an issue, for sure.'"

Signing onto a Taylor Sheridan drama requires dedication and perseverance, and in Mays case, that meant gun training, horseback riding lessons in Santa Claritas summer heat and practicing the piano for hours in a chapel. It also meant a lack of sleep due to long shooting days and weathering the frigid cold of Montana, where the series was partly shot.

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

Related: Everything to Know About the 'Yellowstone' Prequel '1883'

But May loved the experience. A voracious reader whose eclectic reading tastes range from Fyodor Dostoevsky to novelist Katherine Dunn, the actress gets the best dialogue on the show as its protagonist and narrator. She also had the unwavering support of McGraw and Hill, who she quickly formed an organic connection with.

Theyre so affectionate towards one another, and theres this remarkable respect, May says. As someone whos a young woman and maybe will one day be [in] a relationship, to observe a marriage like that, thats sustained for so long and so healthy, was really insightful. It was beautiful.

Story continues

Buoyed by their offscreen and onscreen support, Mays portrayal is mesmerizing, a nuanced evolution of a naive teenager quickly hardened by the brutality of nineteenth-century America, experiencing more in six months than most people endure in a lifetime,

Shes someone that was faced with hardship, pain and loss, and despite all of that, still found beauty in the world around her and still found a way to live fully, May explains. Its hard to do when everything around you is wanting to suck you into this kind of miserable role. She became a woman. It's [the story of] a girl becoming a woman.

Related: '1883' 's Faith Hill, Tim McGraw: How They Make Sure Their Real Marriage Is Different Than the Show

Emerson Miller/Paramount+

Sheridan, for his part, has previously called May a generational talent, comparing the actress to Jennifer Lawrence earlier in her career, requiring little, if any, formal acting training. Its high praise the actress has difficulty accepting.

He's giving me far too much credit, she says. He really is. I was watching and learning and soaking. I was trying to be a sponge. And there were really remarkable actors on the set of 1883 that I got to soak up and learn from.

Related: Rita Wilson Shares Behind-the-Scenes Photo with Pal Faith Hill Ahead of Her '1883' Appearance

Sheridans judgment of her talent cant be entirely off base, as May has several projects in the works, including a leading role in the upcoming film The Smack, costarring Casey Affleck, Marisa Tomei and Kathy Bates.

The actress demurs when asked for details about the project, but once production wraps, May is looking forward to jumping in the pilots seat again this fall. She needs to log 33 more hours of flight time before she gets her pilots license.

I've always been envious of birds, that they can just fly up there all alone, be up there by themselves, just enjoy, and look down, she says. Now I get to do it.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

1883 premieres on the Paramount Network on June 18 at 8 p.m. ET and is currently available to stream on Paramount+.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Arnold Schwarzenegger talks about higher political aspirations ahead of the 2024 presidential election. (Photo: AP Photo)

Could Arnold Schwarzenegger be president of the United States? The Terminator star, who was born and raised in Austria, believes he "absolutely" would win the 2024 election if he was eligible to run.

The Republican and former California governor appeared on Who's Talking to Chris Wallace on Max and CNN, where he confirmed he'd throw his hat in the ring if it was an option.

"The Constitution says that the President has to be a natural born U.S. citizen. If not for that, would you have run for president?" Wallace asked.

"Well, yes, of course. I mean, I think the field was wide open in 2016. And I think the field is open right now," Schwarzenegger, 75, replied. "I mean, think about it right now. I mean, who is there that is really a person that can bring everyone together? Who is there today that people say OK, he's not too old or he's not too this or too that and all this stuff, because it's now a question about who do you vote against than who do you vote for."

"You're saying you would run for president in 2024?" Wallace followed up.

"Absolutely," Schwarzenegger confirmed. "It's a no-brainer. I see so clearly how I could win that election."

The Fubar star likened it to when he ran for governor in 2003. (Schwarzenegger won a recall election and ultimately served until 2011.)

"It was clear that people are looking for some new answer, not a right wing or left wing, but someone that can bring the nation together," he continued. "There's just so many things that need to be done, and can be done. And what makes it so wonderful is because it's doable. It's all doable, or at least it's just people coming together and say yes, we can do it."

Schwarzenegger went on to say he's "not worried" that Donald Trump will win next year. Earlier this week, the former president pleaded not guilty to all federal charges stemming from a 37-count indictment in the Justice Department's investigation into his handling of classified documents and alleged efforts to obstruct the investigation.

"If the charges are correct, then he's going to be in deep trouble," Schwarzenegger shared. "But at the same time, I have to say that, you know, we're always innocent until proven guilty. So we will find out what the courts say in the future. But if the charges are right, I think then he's going to be in deep trouble."

When Wallace asked why he didn't think Trump would get reelected, Schwarzenegger replied: "I just don't think that you get reelected with 30% or 33% of the people voting for you in your polls. I think that's  those are great poll numbers amongst conservatives. But I think if you put it all together, it's not enough. You need the swing voters. You need the independents, you need everybody to jump in there in order to win. You have to drag a lot of people over across that line. And so the question is, can he do that? I believe he can't."
Arnold Schwarzenegger says he'd run for president in 2024 if he were eligible: 'Put me in'

Forget the Governator  Arnold Schwarzenegger thinks he'd make a pretty good Presidentator.

The action star, who previously served as governor of California from 2003 to 2011, told journalist Chris Wallace that "of course" he would throw himself into the presidential ring if he were eligible.

"I mean, I think the field was wide open in 2016. And I think the field is open right now," Schwarzenegger said on Friday's episode of CNN's Who's Talking to Chris Wallace. "I mean, think about it right now. I mean, who is there? There is really not a person that can bring everyone together. Who is here today that people say okay, he's not too old or he's not too this or too that, or is that because it's now a question about who do you vote against then who do you vote for?"

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images Arnold Schwarzenegger

Schwarzenegger, who was born in Austria, is unable to run for the Oval Office because the Constitution requires that all presidential candidates are natural born U.S. citizens. Still, if he could, he said he'd "absolutely" be gearing up for a 2024 campaign.

"Put me in because it's, look  it's a no brainer," he said. "I see so clearly how I could win that election."

The Terminator actor explained that he'd be a good candidate because U.S. citizens are looking for someone that can break up the growing political tensions in the country.

"I mean, it's like me and California," Schwarzenegger said. "And when [I] was, you know, running for governor, it was clear that people are looking for some new answer, not a right wing or left wing, but someone that can bring the nation together and doesn't see the other party as the enemy."

He continued, "There's just so many things that need to be done. And can be done. And what makes it so wonderful is because it's doable. It's all doable, or at least it's just people coming together and [saying] yes, we can do it."

Story continues

Who's Talking to Chris Wallace? air Fridays on Max and at 10 p.m. ET on CNN.

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more

Related content:
The post Arnold Schwarzenegger Thinks He Would Win 2024 Presidential Election If He Could Run appeared first on Consequence.

According to the Constitution, Arnold Schwarzenegger cant run for US President, but the former California governor believes he could win the 2024 election if he was eligible.

The Austria-born action movie star said as much during a recent episode of CNNs Whos Talking to Chris Wallace? series, in which the host asked Schwarzenegger if he would run for president should he have eligibility.

Well, yes, of course, Schwarzenegger responded (via Variety). I think the field was wide open in 2016, and I think the field is open right now. Think about it right now, who is there? There is really not a person that can bring everyone together.

He continued, Who is here today that people say okay, hes not too old or hes not too this or too that, or is that because its now a question about who do you vote against then who do you vote for? When Wallace asked Schwarzenegger to confirm that he would run, the actor called it a no-brainer.

I see so clearly how I could win that election, Schwarzenegger added. Its like me and California. When [I] was running for governor, it was clear that people are looking for some new answer, not a right-wing or left-wing [politician], but someone that can bring the nation together and doesnt see the other party as the enemy.

Schwarzenegger further expressed his belief that there are so many things that need to be done, but thinks all it takes is the right politician to unify the nation. Its all doable, or at least its just people coming together and say yes, we can do it.

The iconic actor served as the 38th governor of California from 2003 to 2011, during which the media dubbed him the Governator. After being elected as a Republican, hes lambasted members of the party in recent years for enabling Trumps election and even gave a rousing speech calling for political unity after the January 6th Capitol Riot.

Story continues

On the acting side of things, Schwarzenegger recently took on his first regular TV role in the Netflix series Fubar.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Thinks He Would Win 2024 Presidential Election If He Could Run

Eddie Fu

Popular Posts

Subscribe to Consequences email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
Late Tuesday night, a Quincy police officer on patrol spotted a black bear near the BJ's Wholesale Club on Crown Colony Drive.

On Friday, Marshfield police said the black bear was spotted in Marshfield.

The black bear  or perhaps now bears  has captured the attention of the South Shore in recent weeks.

A Cohasset family's dog recently came face to face with a bear..

Vincent Dunn, of Jerusalem Road, said the family's 110-pound Great Pyrenees, Lars, encountered the bear in the backyard of their home, Patriot Ledger news partner WCVB reported.

"It was ... holy moly!" Dunn said. "I haven't seen a black bear even in Alaska, never mind in Cohasset."

Lars calmly wagged his tail and didn't bark as he looked at the bear from across a row of plants.

"He generally saves (the barking) for the middle of the night," Dunn said of his dog.

Dunn said he could hear the bear make a low growl.

"He was not all that excited to see Lars," he said.

He said he grabbed Lars by the collar and walked him back to their house.

"I thought about it for a second, then I was like: 'I don't want this to go south,'" Dunn said.

The bear left.

"Climbed down these rocks and into the pond. He started swimming and swam right across, and then just ambled into the woods like he owned the place," Dunn told WCVB.

The latest black bear sightings on the South Shore also included Hingham and Hull.

More: Black bear sightings on the South Shore raise questions. Here are some answers.

Hingham police said the bear entered the 400-plus acre World's End park Monday. They wrote this on Facebook:

"Interesting day so far...Our officers helped with safe passage through #Cohasset for our furry friend. He made his way through Border St., South Main St., 100 Pond St., Clay Spring, CJC Hwy, Stop and Shop, Chittenden Lane, Fairoaks, #Dunkin Donuts, #CHOPS, Rose Hill, King Street, and was last seen on North Main headed towards the RTF / Cedar Street."

Story continues

A black bear heads to World's End in Hingham. This photo was taken from North Truro Street in Hull on Monday, June 19, 2023.

A black bear visits Cohasset on Monday, June 19, 2023.

Hanover police reported a black bear sighting not far from the Hanover Crossing shopping center last week.

The bear was seen between 1775 Washington St., which is Hanover Crossing's street address, and Mercedes-Benz of Hanover near routes 3 and 53.

Facebook posts also reported sightings of the bear in Scituate, Marshfield, Norwell, Mansfield, Cohasset and Pembroke.

So what to do if you see the bear? Hingham police have this advice on Facebook:"Please note that if the bear is sighted in Hingham you do not need to call to report it to the Hingham Police Department unless it is a hazardous situation for you or for the bear. The Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game will only take steps to relocate the bear if it is a danger. Published reports by local Police Departments and various Facebook groups have said this has not been the case so far. The bear has been very docile and is a sight to see!"

The bear was seen in Cohasset on Monday, June 19, 2023, and was seen entering World's End in Hingham.

There have been black bear sightings throughout the region in recent weeks, including one in Carver where a bear reportedly crashed a wedding reception. And in New Hampshire, a bear climbed into a truck window and helped itself to the driver's snacks.

WCVB also reported a sighting in Needham and posted a picture on its website of a bear walking past an unsuspecting gardener Friday.

State wildlife experts advise anyone encountering a bear to leave it alone and back away. Also, do not leave food sources outside, everything from bird feeders to pet food, since bears have long memories for where they found food.

"If a bear is seen in town, leave the animal alone and keep pets leashed," Nicole McSweeney, assistant director of outreach and education for MassWildlife, told WickedLocal.com. "A gathering of people not only stresses the animal but adds to the risk of having a bear chased out into traffic or into a group of bystanders."

Black bears can grow to between 4 and 6 feet in length and weigh up to 660 pounds, according to Britannica. They prefer to avoid people, but do not like to be surprised.

The South Shore black bear was spotted in Cohasset on Monday, June 19, 2023.

MassWildlife estimates 4,500 black bears live in Massachusetts, but they are not common in the southeastern part of the state. They typically live and breed in western Massachusetts, but their territory has been expanding eastward in recent years.

May through July are the peak months for bear activity, with yearlings leaving their mothers to strike out on their own. The peak of the bears' mating season is in June.

The state's Large Animal Response Team, made up of MassWildlife biologists and Massachusetts Environmental Police, will only intervene and relocate a bear if poses a significant risk to the public or has no safe way to leave the area, she said.

Material from WickedLocal.com and Patriot Ledger staff writer Fred Hanson was used in this story. If you've see a bear or caught it on camera, we'd love to hear from you at newsroom@patriotledger.com.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Patriot Ledger subscription. Here is our latest offer.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: South Shore black bear still roaming the South Shore
The heralded wave of New York restaurants can best be viewed  for the moment, anyway  at the downtown West Palm Beach plaza known as The Square. This is where three notable restaurants with New York roots have opened this year.

A few years ago, it was Palm Beach island that witnessed a New York wave with the openings of La Goulue and later Le Bilboquet, both Manhattan-born French bistros. They joined Almond, a Bridgehampton-founded neighborhood bistro, on the island that had welcomed the chic Sant Ambroeus just a few years earlier.

I mention this because the New York/Palm Beach interzone is not a new phenomenon when it comes to restaurants. It may feel like it is because the wave of openings coincides with the pandemic-era migration of new residents from the north. And because the wave also extends to south county.

A courtyard view of Le Bilboquet restaurant, which opened on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach in 2021.

In February, downtown Delray Beach greeted an outpost of New Yorks old-school Le Colonial French-Vietnamese restaurant. Last year, Boca Raton welcomed New Yorks Blue Dog Cookhouse, a daily-brunch favorite.

But back to whats shiny right now: The restaurant openings at The Square. The debuts are part of the plazas larger efforts to cater to a new, thriving, more high-end segment of the metropolis while maintaining its community-hub status. Hopefully, when the dust settles, it means something for everyone, in terms of price and accessibility.

Right now, theres still a good mix of restaurant offerings at the plaza: Mainstays like City Cellar and Il Bellagio. Fun spots such as El Camino. Healthy spots like Sweetgreen, Planta, True Food Kitchen and Pura Vida. Decadent, easy stops like The Salty Donut, City Pizza and BurgerFi. And local gems such as chef Lindsay Autrys restaurant, The Regional Kitchen and Mockingbird bar.

These and the newcomer restaurants are all good reasons to venture into the hub and explore.

Speaking of Delrays Le Colonial

New summer menu at this downtown Delray Beach restaurant

On the menu at Le Colonial in downtown Delray Beach: Vietnamese-inspired chicken curry (ca-ri ga).

The prix-fixe deals of summer continue to roll in. This weekend, the newish French-Vietnamese restaurant Le Colonial launches two of them, a deal for weekend lunch and another for early, weeknight dinner.

Story continues

Le Colonials kitchen in Delray Beach is in the hands of executive chef Huy Hoang, a Vietnamese native whose family owned a restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Heres a glimpse of his summer specials.

Le Colonials Rose Lunch  The $35 prix-fixe weekend lunch includes your choice of small plate, main plate and soft drink. The rose? Pink wine pairings are offered for an upcharge ($14 to $18). The special lunch menu is available summer Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through September.

Saigon Sunset Supper  Priced at $40, the early dinner includes a small plate, a main entree and a soft drink. The early supper special is available Monday through Friday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. through September.

Huy Hoang is executive chef at Le Colonial French-Vietnamese restaurant in Delray Beach.

Menu highlights: Menu items for the special lunch and dinner menus include a chilled veggie roll (bo bia), chicken curry (ca-ri ga), crispy pork and shrimp spring roll (cha gio) and others.

But something to know before you go: Theres a strict dress code. Le Colonial frowns on athleisure attire (sneakers, flip flops, sweats, hoodies, jerseys, ball caps). A restaurant statement says this on the topic: Given the love and effort we put into our decor, service, food and drinks, we politely ask that our guests return the favor by joining us sans any (athleisure attire). We reserve the right to deny a reservation if any party does not adhere to these rules.

Le Colonial is at 601 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561-566-1800, DelrayBeach.LeColonial.com.

This Vietnamese-inspired chilled veggie roll (bo bia) is on the menu at Le Colonial in Delray Beach.

Want more hot summer dining deals? Here you go!

Warren Delrays Saturday brunch

An array of brunch offerings at Warren restaurant in suburban Delray Beach.

This popular suburban Delray steakhouse, which opened two years ago this month, kicked off a Saturday brunch series last weekend.

Warrens Saturday brunch, which goes from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., features an extensive menu of breakfast/lunch dishes and drinks, plus a live DJ.

Whats to eat? The a la carte brunch menu includes raw bar items and towers, salads ($15-$19), bourbon-brined chicken-and-waffles ($23), steak and eggs ($28), bread-pudding French toast ($19), various omelets and egg dishes ($17-$22), and burgers ($19-$20).

Whats to drink? Rose, of course ($10 glass, $35 bottle), endless bloody marys ($27, $47, depending on ingredients) and a large variety of a la carte cocktails.

Warren is at 15084 Lyons Rd., Delray Beach, 561-455-4177, WarrenDelray.com.

Want more weekend brunches to try? Here you go!

Have a delicious weekend!

Liz Balmaseda

Here's how to stay up-to-date with your local dining scene: follow our food & dining writer, Liz Balmaseda on Twitter @LizBalmaseda, Instagram at @silkpalm or sign up for our free weekly foodie newsletter, At the Table.

Read recent columns by Liz Balmaseda

Liz Balmaseda is The Palm Beach Post's food critic.

 Tasty travels. Joys of Pride Month.

 Donut Day treats. Summer eats. Worth Ave feats.

 Hello, Memorial Day weekend eats. Goodbye to two longtime restaurants.

 Finding authentic Mexican food on Cinco de Mayo

 A porchetta sandwich that spirits you to Italy.

 Local gem celebrates a big birthday. New BBQ debuts in West Palm.

 The joy of finding new treats at old neighborhood favorites

 What to eat at Guy Fieris local DDD picks? Some favorites.

 New Southern Sunday brunch and hot Irish bar bites

 Fish fry-days, a new bottomless brunch and great charcuterie

 Five hot restaurants to visit in Lake Worth Beach

 A new Lebanese restaurant, great BBQ + vegan burgers.

 From ribs to rotis, Black-owned restaurant favorites to savor

 Meet the 'Oscars of Food contenders in the 561.

 Whats hot? The best restaurant of 2022

What Im craving, loving, ordering.

Liz Balmaseda is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network. She covers the local food and dining beat. Follow her on Instagram and Post on Food Facebook. She can be reached by email at lbalmaseda@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Best New York restaurants in West Palm Beach, Delray brunch, hot deal
WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden and director Eva Longoria welcomed hundreds to the White House lawn Thursday to screen the new movie, "Flamin' Hot," a feel-good story about how a Mexican American janitor working at Frito-Lay sold his superiors on his idea to spice up the crunchy snack's cheesy coating.

They held out the tale of one-time janitor Richard Montanez, which is based on his memoir, as an inspirational account of how one man reached for a dream and overcame the odds  gliding past indications that Montanez' account is dubious.

Biden told the crowd: "When I think about tonights movie, I think about courage. So many of you, your ancestors left behind all that they knew to start a new life in the United States."

President Joe Biden listens as Eva Longoria speaks before a screening of the film "Flamin' Hot," Thursday, June 15, 2023, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington.

Longoria said Montanez' story inspired her because she has been told "no" during her career, that ideas dont come from people like her, that she couldn't do certain jobs because she is a woman. She said she and her team worked hard "to produce this authentic film steeped in inclusion."

First lady Jill Biden said Montanez helped change the way companies think about Latino customers, adding: "This film isn't just about Richard. Its about everyone who has been overlooked or underestimated."

But The Los Angeles Times has published allegations that Montanez fabricated his role in the snack's creation. And Frito-Lay says he "was not involved."

Who really invented spicy Cheetos? Fact checking Eva Longoria's 'Flamin' Hot' movie

A White House official defended the decision to screen the film, saying it is not a documentary and was shown to give Americans from different backgrounds a chance to see themselves reflected in film and celebrated by the president, as was done with other movie screenings this year. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal White House deliberations.

Story continues

First lady Jill Biden (L), President Joe Biden and actress and director Eva Longoria (R) arrive for a screening of the film "Flamin' Hot" on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, June 15, 2023.

In the film, actor Jesse Garcia stars as Montanez, a one-time Frito-Lay floor-sweeper in southern California who persuaded his bosses to make a snack that celebrates the flavors of Mexico.

The Bidens and Longoria stressed what they said was the movies broader message of inclusion.

"Richard Montanez disrupted the food industry in the '90s by channeling his Mexican American heritage to help turn Flamin' Hot Cheetos into a multibillion-dollar brand today and a cultural phenomenon," Longoria said. "We are telling a story that celebrates the American entrepreneurial dream without sidestepping the fact that the dream isnt available in the same way for everyone."

Heroes are 'never brown, never Chicano': Why Eva Longoria embraced the story of 'Flamin' Hot'

Biden said it was the first White House screening of a film focused on Hispanic characters.

Eva Longoria speaks before a screening of the film "Flamin' Hot," Thursday, June 15, 2023, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington.

The film marks Longoria's debut as a film director. The former "Desperate Housewives" actor is also very active Democratic politics. She spoke at the party's past three national political conventions and has helped raise money for Biden, former President Barack Obama and other Democratic candidates.

Biden, a Democrat, announced in April that he is running for reelection in 2024 and Hispanic Americans are a core part of the Democratic Party base.

Hundreds of people, including cast members, Latino community leaders, members of Congress, state legislators and others gathered on the lawn on blankets, wooden benches or folding chairs while munching on tortilla chips and salsa or Flamin' Hot Cheetos and sipping cool drinks. A mariachi band on the Blue Room balcony warmed up the crowd.

A woman holds bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos during a screening of the film "Flamin' Hot," hosted by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden on the South Lawn of the White House on June 15, 2023, in Washington, DC. The movie tells the story of Richard Montanez, a janitor at Frito-Lay who claimed to have created the recipe for Flamin' Hot Cheetos, which turned the snack into a global phenomenon.

Biden has screened other films this year, each time eschewing the small, 42-seat White House movie theater for the much larger East Room or the sprawling lawn.

For Black History Month in February, the president hosted a screening of "Till," a drama about the 1955 lynching of Emmett Till, who was brutally killed after a white woman said the Black 14-year-old had made improper advances toward her.

Biden marked Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month last month with a screening of the streaming series "American Born Chinese."

"Flamin' Hot" was released June 9 for streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden, Eva Longoria screen 'Flamin' Hot' Cheetos movie at White House
Hot on the heels of Elon Musk's visit to China earlier this month, the country welcomed another American tech billionaire. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, met President Xi Jinping on Friday in Beijing, China's state media reported.

Like Musk, this is Gates' first trip to China since the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted his frequent visits to the country where Microsoft has had a presence for two decades.

The goal of the meeting hasn't been announced publicly, but official media reports will likely follow. A reporter from China's English state tabloid Global Times tweeted what seemed to be quotes from the meeting, giving us an early glimpse into the mood of the conversation.

Gates previously said he'd be meeting partners working on global health and development challenges. These are the few remaining areas where China and the West find common ground amid rising geopolitical tensions.

"You are the first American friend I've met in Beijing this year," President Xi told Gates on Friday. "As the world is emerging from Covid, people should move around more, communicate more, and enhance their understanding of each other."

President Xi also told Gates that China is willing to engage in "extensive technological innovation cooperation with countries around the world" and "actively participate in and promote the response to global challenges, such as climate change and public health," according to the reporter.

Gates is visiting China at a curious time. Last week, the Financial Times reported that Beijing-based Microsoft Research Asia (MSRA), the tech giant's largest R&D outfit outside the U.S., is moving some of its top AI talents from China to Vancouver to mitigate the impact of the increasingly strained relationship between China and the U.S.

The Biden Administration is weighing restrictions on investments from the U.S. into Chinese cutting-edge technologies, including AI, semiconductors and quantum computing.

Story continues

MSRA, which started in 1998, has played a pivotal role in training China's AI talent, many of whom have gone on to found their own ventures. That includes autonomous driving upstart Momenta, which has attracted funding from Bosch, General Motors and Toyota.

It won't be a surprise if Gates is eschewing the touchy topic of the U.S.-China tech war and focuses on philanthropic endeavors on the trip.

A day before meeting President Xi, he announced a renewed collaboration with the Beijing Municipal Government and Tsinghua University on innovative therapies for infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries. As part of the partnership, the Gates Foundation pledged a donation of $50 million to the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute, a nonprofit institution established in 2016 as "China's first public-private partnership on innovative research between the Beijing Municipal Government, Tsinghua University, and the Gates Foundation," according to the institute's website.
Rapper Boosie Badazzs federal gun charge this week came after San Diego police tracked his Instagram account and even used a helicopter to locate him in an allegedly gang-affiliated neighborhood, according to newly unsealed court records obtained by Billboard.

In a criminal complaint unsealed by a judge Friday (June 16), federal prosecutors said Boosies May 6 arrest was sparked by local police spotting the rapper (real name Torrence Hatch) in an Instagram video of a known gang member, sporting a black handgun tucked into his back waistband of his pants.

More from Billboard

Switching to Boosies Instagram account, prosecutors say police used an Airborne Law Enforcement Unit to locate the rapper in an allegedly gang-associated neighborhood of San Diego. After a traffic stop a short while later, they say Boosie was found in a black SUV with a matching black pistol in the vehicle.

The newly unsealed documents, reported first by Billboard, detail the timeline of events that led to this weeks widely reported charges filed against Boosie by federal prosecutors. The rapper was suddenly arrested on Wednesday (June 14) at a California courthouse, just minutes after an appearance in which charges from state prosecutors based on the May traffic stop were dismissed.

But based on that same May arrest, federal prosecutors have now charged Boosie with violating federal laws barring a previously convicted felon from possessing a firearm (the rapper was previously convicted on drug charges in Louisiana in 2011). Court records show that Boosie made his initial appearance before a federal judge Thursday, but any decision on bail was pushed back until June 19.

An attorney for Boosie did not immediately return a request for comment on Friday.

Story continues

The newly unsealed charging documents offer ample new details on the events that led to Boosies arrest in May.

While a San Diego police detective was conducting intelligence gathering by monitoring the Instagram account of a known Neighborhood Crip gang member, prosecutors say an unidentified man was spotted filming a music video in what appeared to be a backyard of a residence.

When the video was tagged with Boosies handle, the detective switched to watching the rappers Instagram account, which was at that moment streaming a live Story at a location that prosecutors say is associated with the Neighborhood Crip criminal street gang.

According to the complaint, that information was then relayed to an airborne unit, which prosecutors say was able to locate Boosie and observe him getting into a black Mercedes SUV. Police then followed and eventually pulled over that vehicle after the driver allegedly failed to stop at a red light.

When the car stopped, Boosie allegedly told officers that his security guard was in possession of a single gun. But two pistols were later discovered in the car, including one in the rear passenger seat that prosecutors say is the same weapon pictured in Hatchs rear waistband in the Instagram video.

During processing, Hatch yelled at his security, and asked why the security guard told the detective the gun was on the seat, federal prosecutors wrote in the charging document unveiled Friday. SDPD officers heard Hatch tell his security, You told me they were in the bag. This statement demonstrated Hatchs knowledge of the firearms in the Mercedes.

Its unclear why federal investigators chose to charge Boosie after the state-level case was dismissed. Under U.S. Department of Justice internal policies, prosecutors sometimes choose to avoid filing federal cases after earlier state law charges. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorneys Office in San Diego did not immediately return a request for comment.

Best of Billboard

Click here to read the full article.
Ask Carlos Santana to describe his inimitable guitar tone, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer doesnt hesitate.

My sound is the sound of a woman, says Santana, 75, adding his current playlist is heavy on Nina Simone, Etta James and the recently departed Tina Turner.

Some people, like John Coltrane and Wes Montgomery, they sound like men, he says. But Miles Davis on his horn and me on my guitar, we sound like women because we got it from the greats like Billie Holiday and Mahalia Jackson.

Its fitting then that women play an outsized role in Carlos, a new documentary premiering on Saturday at Tribeca Festival in New York, which will be followed by a Santana concert. The movie will have a theatrical release this fall.

In this 2005 performance photo, Carlos Santana dives into yet another solo. The musician grew up in Mexico and found fame as a 22-year-old at Woodstock. His story is the subject of a new documentary, "Carlos."

While two of Santanas sisters, Maria Santana Vrionis and Lety Santana, along with wife and frequent drum collaborator Cindy Blackman Santana, all provide context for his improbable journey from Mexican barrio to global rock heights, the biggest presence is that of his late mother, Josefina Barragan de Santana.

She was my GPS, Santana says softly, recounting all the times during the heady and drug-filled days of his precocious success in late-'60s San Francisco when his mothers voice would appear.

I can still hear her saying, No, thats not for you, he says of parties where cocaine was the elixir of choice. It helped me say, No, thats OK, Im good. Im already higher than an astronauts butt on my own trip.' People looked at me funny, but it guided me.

From Woodstock to 'Supernatural,' with a winding spiritual journey in between

Carlos, directed by Rudy Valdez, takes viewers on a complete tour of Santanas musical pilgrimage, anchored to reflective narration by its subject and buttressed by vintage concert footage and home video jam sessions.

Carlos Santana was barely in his 20s and had no albums released when he and his blues band appeared at Woodstock in August of 1969. It would prove the start of a long career.

Theres Santanas meteoric rise (he and his band played the 1969 Woodstock Festival before they even had an album out), transcendent detour (in the 70s he followed the teachings of guru Sri Chinmoy), and explosive hit-making return (1999s Supernatural collaboration album equaled Michael Jacksons eight-Grammy haul for Thriller).

Story continues

Throughout, there were personal challenges as well. They included suffering sexual abuse as a young boy in Mexico (first recounted in his 2014 autobiography, The Universal Tone), a divorce from his first wife Deborah Santana (the couple share three adult children), and the 2020 passing of his brother Jorge (who led the band Malo).

Whats made clear in the documentary is music was and remains Santanas muse, medicine, salvation and purpose.

Santana started out playing the violin under the tutelage of his violin maestro father, Jose, who would enter him in local contests. He sensed something was different from the start.

Id put the bow on the violin, hit a note, and people would stop and look, he says. It made me realize I had a sound that was beyond my years, beyond where I grew up.

In 2000, Carlos Santana tied Michael Jackson's impossible "Thriller" haul by winning eight Grammys for 1999's collaboration album, "Supernatural." That moment is featured in the new documentary, "Carlos."

That sound soon would find its expression through the guitar, as Santana became entranced by the haunting blues sounds of future mentors such as John Lee Hooker.

I was this young kid from Tijuana (on the border with San Diego) who winds up in San Francisco with tickets to Disneyland rides waiting for me, and those rides were B.B. King, Tito Puente, Eric Clapton, Miles Davis, Jerry Garcia, he says. America for me was this vast land of opportunities.

Santana fused Latin rhythms with guitar-driven rock to create a signature sound

Santana intuitively alchemized tropical Latin rhythms with the emerging blues-rock scene being cultivated by San Francisco promoter Bill Graham, who insisted that the Santana Blues Band, with its 22-year-old frontman, be given a slot at Woodstock despite being nationally unknown. But not for long.

That debut 1969 Santana disc would land months later and feature the instant hit, Evil Ways. More big records followed in short order, with soon-to-be classics such as Black Magic Woman and his take on the Tito Puente tune, Oye Como Va.

But as Carlos recounts, financial success eventually caused Santana to double down on imbuing his music with spiritual impact, a quest that he says continues daily.

Santanas music assaults the senses, he says of his songs. What does that mean? It means you give people chills, they laugh and cry at the same time. The music is there to liberate people from the illusion that were not worthy of our own divinity and light.

Carlos Santana and his wife, drummer Cindy Blackman Santana (shown here in 2012), often perform together. She is featured in the new documentary about the musician's life, "Carlos."

With a new tour launching in June, Santana sees no reason to stop delivering his sonic message

Speaking with Santana is an elliptical journey thats as lyrical as one of his solos.

Speaking of his Cindy, he describes her as being like Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, with world-class athlete energy. Ask if artistry is a gift visited upon the few, he says there are only two kinds of people in this world, artists and con artists.

Toward the end of Carlos, its subject quietly reflects on being sexually molested as a child, which brought him shame and anger. He says he has journeyed past those emotions.

Im not joining the pity party, theres a way out to the best part of your life thats a lot brighter, he says firmly. And I play music to get people out of their quicksand.

Santana and his guitar will unfurl that lifeline once again on his new 1001 Rainbows Tour that starts June 21 in Newark, New Jersey, followed by dates in Ohio, Michigan, Maryland and other East Coast cities. The thought of stopping doesnt cross his mind.

Theres still more up ahead, he says. I am thirsty for adventure.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Carlos Santana doc explores fame, sexual abuse and spirituality
NEW YORK  Meet Tyler Rake, black ops mercenary and walking fire hazard.

In a staggering 21-minute fight sequence from Extraction 2 (streaming now on Netflix), Chris Hemsworth's burly action hero gets grazed by a nearby explosion during a prison break, causing his hand to catch fire. So he stamps out the flames the only way he knows how: punching bad guys until they light up like Christmas trees.

Shooting the scene with 400 extras, the fear was always there, says Hemsworth, seated at a hotel overlooking Central Park. You know youve got a great safety crew around you. The other stunt performers had rehearsed it for weeks and weeks, and the preparation leading up to it had been insanely detailed. But the moment my arm ignites, my brain tells a very different story, which is, What am I doing?! 

'Blown out of proportion': Chris Hemsworth clarifies comments about stepping back from acting

"It was one hell of a ride," Chris Hemsworth says of shooting a 21-minute, uninterrupted action scene in "Extraction 2."

The epic 'Extraction 2' single-shot action scene also involved running on top of a train

The insane Extraction 2 sequence begins with Tyler, who is tasked with rescuing a young woman (Tinatin Dalakishvili) and her kids from a Georgian prison, where they are being held by a nefarious drug dealer (Tornike Bziava). Tylers plan quickly goes awry when a bloody jailyard riot breaks out. He then must usher the family to safety with gangsters on their tail, leading to a car chase through the forest and a snowy showdown on top of a speeding train.

Thanks to ingenious shooting and editing techniques, the strenuous scene is made to look as though it all happens in one long, uninterrupted camera shot. With the sequel, stuntman-turned-director Sam Hargrave wanted to up the ante from the first Extraction in 2020, which featured a 12-minute, single-take action sequence that was similarly intense.

After the first movie, Chris was pretty adamant, like, I dont know if I want to do that anymore. That was the hardest thing Ive ever done,  Hargrave recalls. So to walk up and be like, Hey, Chris, were going to do another one and its twice as long! He was like, Are you joking? 

Story continues

Rehearsals for the scene lasted nearly five months, and it took 29 days in all to shoot. The technically precise sequence was filmed out of order at different locations and times of day, which made it mind-blowingly difficult to stitch back together seamlessly, Hargrave says.

Chris Hemsworth says he walked away from "Extraction 2" with "a greater sense of confidence" and only "a couple scrapes. Nothing serious."

Chris Hemsworth did most of his 'Extraction 2' stunts without special effects

For Hemsworth, 39, the most intimidating stunt was being on top of a moving train going 50 mph, shooting at an enemy helicopter hovering 20 feet in front of him. Hargrave gave the "Thor" actor ample time to rehearse and find a speed he felt comfortable with. A walkway was also built on top of the train so Hemsworth and the camera operator could move safely across.

"It was wild," Hemsworth says. We did that eight or nine times, and every time, your heart rates through the roof. Its exciting and exhilarating and all a bit of a blur. Ive done a lot of films and a lot of action sequences on green screen, and you can cheat your way through things (using special effects). But with this, 95% of what youre seeing on screen happened there on the day. The risk is high, but the reward is far greater too.

Hargrave notes that the only part of the train sequence that uses digital effects is when Tyler shoots down a helicopter and it crashes in the snow. (Thats because we love our pilot, he quips.)

The train scene was actually the hardest part to get Netflix on board with because you could make the argument, Why are you doing it practically? And the answer was, Chris was on board. He said, The DNA of this franchise is doing real action  seeing Tyler Rake doing real things is whats going to thrill audiences. His commitment is unparalleled.

"I remember feeling huge elation that there was such a warm reception to it," Chris Hemsworth says of the first "Extraction" movie.

Is 'Extraction 3' happening on Netflix?

After arduous days of shooting, Hemsworth would unwind each day by watching episodes of HBOs Succession. (To be honest, Im not sure that led to a state of relaxation, he jokes. That had the opposite effect some days.)

The first Extraction ranks as one of Netflixs most-watched movies ever, meaning expectations are high for the sequel to draw in similarly huge viewership. And if there is a third film, Hemsworth and Hargrave may be asked to take the action to even greater heights.

Weve set ourselves up, Hemsworth says with a grin. Somebody said, Youd have to do the whole film as a oner. Which could be a possibility  weve talked about that.

New movies this week: Watch 'The Flash,' 'Elemental,' 'Extraction 2,' 'The Blackening'

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Extraction 2': Chris Hemsworth breaks down wild 21-minute fight scene
Leer en espanol

Thursday marks the 11th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, commonly known as DACA, which since 2012 has allowed hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants to live and work legally in the U.S.

According to the New American Economy, formerly the American Immigration Council, as of 2022 there were nearly 37,000 DACA-eligible undocumented residents in Arizona. And while the program has offered a sliver of relief for some, activists have sought to create a permanent pathway for recipients, and all undocumented folks, to remain in the country.

DACA has seen constant challenges in the eleven years it has existed, leaving beneficiaries, known as Dreamers, in a constant state of uncertainty and fear. Court rulings from federal judges and administration changes have weakened the program, limiting its access and putting into question its legal standing.

Irasema Coronado, director of the School of Transborder Studies at Arizona State University, said that the uncertainty will continue to take its toll on undocumented people until there's a "champion that says lets do this.

A bold politician will need to say this is important, these young people are worth it, and let me help them achieve their goal, Coronado said.

A Dreamer's Guide: What is DACA and who is eligible?

Despite the constant legal challenges, however, in the decade since its implementation, undocumented immigrants have seen a number of changes that have reshaped lives and the outlook of an entire state.

Here's a look at what has changed for immigrants living in Arizona since DACA began.

What is DACA?

In 2012, President Barack Obamas administration signed an executive order creating the program. This was meant to minimize the number of deportations for people that had come to the United States when they were children and did not have legal residency or citizenship.

DACA allows recipients, known as Dreamers, to remain in the country, obtain work permits and get health insurance if offered by the individual's employer.

Story continues

Advantages for participants in the program include pursuing higher education, getting drivers licenses in some states and growing their respective careers. Attaining DACA, however, does not guarantee or create a pathway to citizenship, and recipients have to pay a fee and file paperwork every two years to renew.

'Show me your papers' law forces action

In 2010, Arizona implemented one of its strictest immigration policies: Senate Bill 1070, also known as the show me your papers law, which allowed law enforcement to demand immigration documents of people they stopped based on reasonable suspicion.

SB 1070 made being in the country illegally a state crime. It also made it illegal to fail to carry immigration papers, barred people from hiring or knowingly transporting unauthorized immigrants and allowed police to detain anyone suspected of being undocumented, among other provisions.

But those who remained in the state told The Arizona Republic they feared reporting crimes  including domestic violence  to law enforcement, afraid that officers would ask immigration questions that would eventually lead to their deportation, forcing them to live in the shadows during the first years of the law's implementation.

The law was met with boycotts and protests in Phoenix and across the U.S., and at least 100,000 immigrants without legal status left Arizona, affecting multiple sectors of the state's economy. The law was partially struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012.

Consular registration cards become official form of ID

In early 2021, former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed into law Senate Bill 1420. The bill declares Mexicos consular registration card (matricula consular) an official form of identification.

The consular card is a document issued by the Consular Offices that certifies the nationality and identity of a person as a Mexican residing abroad. It's used to identify residents with some local governments and Mexican authorities.

Arizona governments must now recognize cards issued by countries that use strict biometric identity verification techniques  such as Mexico  as valid forms of identification.

There is a $33 fee to obtain the card and recipients must renew every five years. Arizona has five Mexican consuls (Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma, Nogales and Douglas). The matricula consular, unlike a passport, must be issued in the county where a person lives.

Prop. 308 grants in-state tuition to undocumented students

During the last general election in November 2022, Arizona passed Proposition 308.

After a 2006 referendum barred Dreamers from receiving in-state tuition, community groups and organizations like Aliento, urged lawmakers to reconsider. By May 2021, the Arizona Legislature passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 1044 which launched Proposition 308 to voters last November.

Under the proposition, any college student, regardless of their legal status in the U.S., qualifies for in-state tuition if they graduated from an Arizona high school and have lived in the state for two years prior. The proposition also allows students to receive state-funded aid like grants and scholarships.

While in-state tuition access took effect soon after Proposition 308 passed, the process to provide financial aid to "Dreamers" is taking longer as Arizonas public colleges and universities come up with a system to determine financial need and distribute aid.

Prop. 308: Arizona universities still implementing system to provide state financial aid to 'Dreamers'

Hobbs promises $40 million Dreamer scholarship

Earlier this year, Gov. Katie Hobbs hosted students with the community group Aliento and told them about her push for funding a $40 million scholarship available to anyone regardless of immigration status.

As previously reported by The Arizona Republic, Hobbs said the scholarship is right in line with the will of the voters who voted to ensure that you would have in-state tuition to help provide more accessibility to college."

"Earlier this year, I proposed that we expand scholarships to Dreamers and undocumented students who want to go to one of Arizona's universities," Hobbs said during a June event in which she celebrated Latino initiatives across the state. "And I am so pleased to be able to share that the Arizona Board of Regents have made a commitment to ensure that Dreamers will have greater access to scholarships that will make their college education more affordable at ASU, NAU and the University of Arizona."

The future of DACA

For many Dreamers, DACA was always a temporary solution. Blanca Collazo, an organizer for Living United for Change in Arizona and a Dreamer, said that DACA is nothing more than a band-aid on a bigger problem.

A DACA recipient for over six years, Collazo said the program was never meant to be permanent. She worries because of the lack of security DACA provides.

What we need is a pathway to citizenship, Collazo said, We are celebrating 11 years of DACA and it's something thats really beautiful, but at the same time were hearing about the DACA litigations and hearings. It's difficult because I can be here right now and in the next few years, not be.

The Department of Homeland Security is not processing new applications for DACA. Those currently enrolled are still able to live and work in the U.S. and can renew, however, new legal challenges continue to put this action on shaky ground.

In the event that Congress is unable to pass legislation, the fate of DACA and Dreamers will likely be at the hands of the Supreme Court next year.

Republic reporter Rafael Carranza contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: From SB 1070 to Dreamer scholarships: 11 years of DACA and changes in Arizona
MEGA

Actress Denise Richards is reportedly making a significant amount of income from her OnlyFans page!

Although her 19-year-old daughter, Sami Sheen, is stirring up drama by referring to herself as a "sex worker" on TikTok, the 52-year-old actress is reportedly the one making over $2 million a month despite her lack of "risque " content.

Denise Richards Makes MILLIONS A Month From Her OnlyFans Page

Instagram | Denise Richards

Trending:

District 9 Star Sharlto Copley Files For Divorce From Model Wife Tanit Phoenix

California Legislators Pass Hollywood Safety Bill Inspired By Rust Shooting

Bam Margeras Wife Claims He Threatened Her Holding A Knife To His Own Throat

Jesse James Is A New Dad Again: Welcome Baby Bishop!

Colleen Hoover Admits Blake Lively Age Blunder In Upcoming Film Adaptation Of It Ends With Us

Although the "Real House of Beverly Hills" alum is not putting much risque content online, it seems that she is still drawing a substantial income. A source told said that the "Wild Things" star "doesn't do anything that risque," but noted that she "has 100,000 followers and makes $2 million a month doing it."

Denise Richards first joined the website last year. Her daughter, Sami Sheen, joined the platform on her 18th birthday, which put her at odds with her father, Charlie Sheen. At the time, the "Two and a Half Men" actor told E! News, "I do not condone this, but since I'm unable to prevent it, I urged her to keep it classy, creative and not sacrifice her integrity."

"She is 18 years old now and living with her mother. This did not occur under my roof," he added, although Denise was quick to come to her daughter's defense. She told People magazine that the time that Sami's ability to use OnlyFans "wasn't based on whose house she lives in," adding, "All I can do as a parent is guide her and trust her judgment. But she makes her own choices."

Story continues

Daughter Sami Sheen Makes Much Less Than Her Famous Mom

Instagram | Denise Richards

Although she referred to herself as a "sex worker" on TikTok, a source told People magazine that the 19-year-old actually shows less skin than one would suspect. However, they did not that Sami's "sex worker" comments are "causing a lot of drama" between her two famous parents.

People.com posted the shocking financial information concerning Richards.

The insider said that the former Bond girl "knows her daughter is not a sex worker, adding that Sami is "just saying outrageous things." They alleged that "this may be something that Sami is doing to bother her father" before adding that the influencer is just "teasing" her followers.

Instagram | Sami Sheen

"She doesn't even show any skin on OnlyFans. Sami has 4,000 followers. So she's making $80,000 a month doing almost nothing and barely showing anything. She's just teasing the audience," they said, adding, "She's not really doing any nudity at all. So this is just her titillating people by saying that."

"Denise says she wants to support her daughter. She believes that when they turn 18, it's really hard to control what they do. You can only advise them. And Denise realizes she did Playboy herself  OnlyFans is just the modern version of that," they added, noting that Denise's decision to join OnlyFans last year was a great way to throw cold water on the situation with her daughter and all that drama."

Denise Richards Is Still Close With Her Daughters Despite 'Hell House' Comments

Instagram | Denise Richards

In September 2021, Sami alleged in several TikTok uploads that she felt "trapped" at her mother's house, according to Page Six. "Now finally moved out of the hell house, had a spiritual awakening, own 2 cats, happy single, full of self love, and dropped out of high school," she wrote at the time, as per the outlet.

Now, however, it looks like things have changed. According to People magazine, the two girls are no longer living with their father. Instead, Sami, 19, is living on her own in a place near her mother due to her OnlyFans income. Her sister, Lola, who recently turned 18, is now living with The World Is Not Enough actress.

Instagram | Sami Sheen

"Sami has her own place  Denise helped her get set up and decorate everything and get settled in," the source told the magazine. "They're really closer than ever now. Denise really wants to keep her girls close to her. She doesn't want to push them away."

"For Denise, it has been traumatizing trying to stay on top of everything and work full time," the insider continued. "But she's a great mom and she has limitless energy for her kids. She puts them first above everything."
Warner Bros. and DC Studios tentpole summer release, The Flash, finally hits theaters this weekend, but the superhero movie had been beset by delays and off-screen controversies involving star Ezra Miller in the years before its release.

The Flash was initially revealed back in October 2014 as part of the inaugural DC Universe slate. It received a 2018 release date, alongside eventual releases like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Shazam. However, parts of that plan didnt come to fruition. Standalone Cyborg and Green Lantern movies were scrapped, and a two-part Justice League movie by Zack Snyder became one film.

More from Variety

Miller, who uses they/them pronouns, first debuted as the Flash in a cameo in 2016s Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, before joining the cast of Justice League in 2017. Ahead of the solo Flash movie, their only other appearances as the hero were cameos in the CW series Arrow in 2020, the directors cut of Justice League in 2021 and James Gunns Peacemaker show in 2022.

The original Flash release date didnt stick, and neither did a director. In April 2015, Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) were writing a story treatment with the possibility of directing, but then Seth Grahame-Smith (The Lego Batman Movie, Beetlejuice 2) came on to write and direct. In April 2016, Grahame-Smith exited, and Rick Famuyiwa (The Mandalorian) entered  only to leave in October. The Flash release date was pulled, and Joby Harold (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) rewrote the script. In January 2018, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (Spider-Man: Homecoming, Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves) stepped in to write and direct, but left in July.

Story continues

Finally, Christina Hodson (Birds of Prey, Bumblebee) was confirmed as the writer with Andy Muschietti (It, It Chapter 2) as director in November 2019. After their hiring, The Flash got a July 2022 release date and was slated for pre-production in January 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the strain on the visual effects industry, it was first delayed to November 2022 and then, finally, got its June 2023 release date. Production began in April 2021 and wrapped in October.

Behind the scenes, though, Miller had troubles of their own. In April 2020, they were caught on video appearing to choke a woman at a bar in Reykjavik, Iceland. The woman told Variety, I think its just fun and games  but then it wasnt. All of a sudden, [theyre] on top of me, choking me, still screaming in my face if I want to fight. My friend whos filming sees [theyre] obviously not joking and its actually serious, so he stops filming, and pushes [them] off me as [theyre] still trying to fight me. Two guy friends of mine are actually holding [Miller] back as [theyre] screaming, This is what you wanted! This is what you wanted!

Nearly a year later in March 2022, Miller resurfaced and was arrested in Hawaii for disorderly conduct and harassment at a karaoke bar. They pleaded no contest to the charges and paid a $500 fine. A month later in April, Miller was arrested again in Hawaii, this time for second-degree assault for throwing a chair at a 26-year-old woman. A Hawaiian couple also filed a restraining order against Miller, but dropped it after two weeks.

In June 2022, Miller was accused by activist Chase Iron Eyes and his wife Sara Jumping Eagle of grooming and manipulating their child Tokata Iron Eyes. The allegations dated back to 2016 when Tokata was 12 and met Miller at Standing Rock Reservation North Dakota. Tokata later released a statement, downplaying the allegations and saying Miller provided loving support and invaluable protection. Another parent in Massachusetts made similar grooming allegations regarding their child and Miller. A woman also came forward to Variety and alleged that Miller had harassed her in Germany in February 2022.

In August 2022, Miller was charged with felony burglary in Vermont for allegedly stealing several bottles of alcohol. That same month, Miller spoke out for the first time, saying in a statement, Having recently gone through a time of intense crisis, I now understand that I am suffering complex mental health issues and have begun ongoing treatment. I want to apologize to everyone that I have alarmed and upset with my past behavior. I am committed to doing the necessary work to get back to a healthy, safe and productive stage in my life.

After Millers public apology, some of the Vermont charges were later dropped and they pleaded guilty to unlawful trespassing. They agreed to pay a $500 fine, go on one year of probation and seek mental health treatment in January 2023. The first trailer for The Flash debuted at the February 2023 Super Bowl, and James Gunn, who became co-CEO of DC Studios with Peter Safran, called the film one of the greatest superhero movies ever. The hype for the movie began to grow, despite Millers past legal troubles, and it debuted at CinemaCon in April 2023 for attendees.

The films promotional campaign kicked off, without Miller making many public appearances besides the June 2023 premiere. They thanked Gunn, Safran and Warner Bros. Discovery execs for your grace and discernment and care in the context of my life. And in bringing this moment to fruition.

So far, there arent any current plans to continue Flashs story in Gunn and Safrans rebooted DC Universe, but director Andy Muschietti said that Millers role would not be recast in a potential sequel: I dont think theres anyone that can play that character as well as they did. The other depictions of the character are great, but this particular vision of the character, they just excelled in doing it.

Best of Variety

Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked an Indiana law that would have prevented doctors from providing gender transition care to minors.

The law was set to take effect July 1, but on Friday U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Indiana James Patrick Hanlon issued a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit brought by four transgender youth, their parents and a medical provider who said it violated the U.S. Constitution.

More: These new Indiana laws affect transgender and other LGBTQ Hoosiers

Todays victory is a testament to the trans youth of Indiana, their families, and their allies, who never gave up the fight to protect access to gender-affirming care and who will continue to defend the right of all trans people to be their authentic selves, free from discrimination, Ken Falk of the ACLU of Indiana, which represents the plaintiffs, said in a prepared statement.

A spokesperson from Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokitas office, which is leading the state's defense, said in a statement the decision was a "disappointment" but "not the end of the story."

Hanlon's decision recognizes the unsettled questions around the safety and efficacy of puberty blockers and hormone therapy, the spokesperson said, and how that gives the state reason to regulate these procedures for minors. "Our office will continue to defend the democratically passed laws of the Indiana General Assembly, and we will continue to fight for the children," the spokesperson continued.

The ban targeted cross-sex hormone therapy, puberty-blocking drugs and gender reassignment surgery, according to Hanlon's order. The judge specified that under the injunction the state can't prohibit gender transition procedures for minors except gender reassignment surgery and ... speech that would aid or abet gender transition procedures for minors" while the lawsuit continues to move through the court.

More: 'I just feel powerless': Trans teens share their stories as new Indiana laws target them

Story continues

The minors request that a judge freeze the ban on gender reassignment surgeries was denied, however, as Hanlon said they lack standing to challenge that ban because gender reassignment surgeries are not provided to minors in Indiana.

If the law were to take effect, physicians who provide these procedures could face discipline by the states medical licensing board.

In their original complaint, which was filed in early April just hours after the law was signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb, the plaintiffs say the care at the heart of the ban is evidence-based and medically necessary as it treats minors suffering from gender dysphoria, a widely-recognized condition that can cause serious mental health challenges.

More: Federal judge considers block on Indiana law banning transgender health care for minors

By denying this medically necessary treatment to minors, the State of Indiana has displaced the judgment of parents, doctors, and adolescents with that of the government, the lawsuit states. In so doing, the state has intruded on the fundamental rights of parents to care for their minor children by consenting to their receipt of doctor-recommended and necessary care and treatment.

The state argued in its response to the preliminary injunction request that these procedures pose a risk of leaving youth with irreversible negative medical consequences.

More: New Indiana law against sex education in lower grades is too vague, ACLU lawsuit alleges

The question here is not whether parents have a right to choose among otherwise lawful treatment options but whether they have a right to override legislative judgments that the specific gender transition procedures sought are too risky, unproven, and invasive to be offered to any minor, the response reads.

In his decision Hanlon noted that the state has a strong interest in enforcing the laws enacted by democratically-elected officials, but plaintiffs have shown some likelihood of success on the claim that their rights  specifically, equal protection rights under the 14th Amendment and freedom of speech rights under the First Amendment - would be infringed upon by the law.

Contact the reporter at 317-273-3188.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Federal judge blocks state law banning gender transition care
House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) claimed Thursday that another source in the GOPs Biden family probe has been missing  for the last three years. The lawmaker complained to Fox News host Sean Hannity that MSNBCrides him over informants who have disappeared. (Watch the video below.)

Hannity asked Comer if he had any contact with an unidentified oligarch who claimed he bribed President Joe Biden as vice president.

Comer answered: Unfortunately, nobodys had any contact with him for the last three years. You know, MSNBC makes fun of me when I said that there are a lot of people that were involved in the Biden shenanigans that are currently missing. But with respect to this oligarch, we think we know where he is. He just hasnt been seen in public in a long time, but were following the money.

Hannity: Have you had any contact with him?



Comer: Unfortunately, nobody's had any contact with him for the last three years. pic.twitter.com/m1TmpgCvhK  Acyn (@Acyn) June 16, 2023

Comer raised eyebrows last month when he admitted to Fox News Maria Bartiromo that a key informant was missing. He chalked it up to the mystery person likely being in the spy business. Comer indicated that others also could not be found.

Nine of the 10 people that weve identified that have very good knowledge with respect to the Bidens, theyre one of three things, he said. Theyre either currently in court, theyre currently in jail or theyre currently missing.

Republicans have produced no proof of shady dealings by the president in their investigation.

As for Comers concern about MSNBC razzing him, that will likely continue. After Comer confessed to Bartiromo, MSNBCs Joe Scarborough had a field day.

Come on! You lost an informant? You lost the informant, the guy that you claimed gave you all this information that you built this entire charade on! the host exclaimed.

Related...
Bob Dylan Performa at Hyde Park - London - Credit: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

Two months after stunning fans in Japan by working Grateful Dead songs into his otherwise rigid setlist, Bob Dylan has moved onto the catalog of Van Morison. At Alicante, Spains Plaza de Toros Alicante on Thursday evening, he broke out a cover of Morrisons 1970 classic Into the Mystic for the first time in his career. Check out this remarkably clean audience recording.

Van Morrison has been playing Dylan songs going all the way back to his days as the frontman of the Sixties garage band Them. They covered Its All Over Now, Baby Blue on their 1966 LP Them Again, and the song has remained in his live repertoire ever since. Over the years, Morrison has also broken out Just Like a Woman, I Shall Be Released, and Rainy Day Women #12 & 35.

More from Rolling Stone

Dylan has returned the favor by covering the Morrison tunes One Irish Rover, Carrying a Torch, Real Real Gone, And It Stoned Me, Crazy Love, and Moondance throughout the course of his Never Ending Tour. The two icons also toured together in 1998, and shared the stage on several other occasions, most notably at Irelands Slane Castle in 1984 where they duetted on Its All Over Now, Baby Blue and Tupelo Honey. Five years later, they sang Crazy Love together in Athens for a BBC documentary crew.

They are both on tour in Europe right now, so its inside the realm of possibility, though quite unlikely, theyll once again play together in the coming weeks. Dylans tour continues Saturday night in Huesca, Spain, and wraps up July 9 in Rome, Italy. Morrison, meanwhile, is playing tonight in Oslo, Norway. He begins an American leg August 31 in Boston.

If Dylan is going to continue with the Van Morrison catalog, we recommend he try out Madame George next time. Lets hope he keeps up with these surprise covers whenever Dylan comes back to America. We love hearing When I Paint My Masterpiece, Key West (Philosopher Pirate), and Every Grain of Sand every night, but this has added a really fun level of unpredictability.

Story continues

Best of Rolling Stone

Click here to read the full article.
For 25-plus hours, I  and 28 Vietnam-era veterans  lived in the real America.

Not the United States we fight about, turning each other into enemies because we belong to different political parties or support different paths to the future. Not the one dominated by conspiracies and distrust and fear, where we're quick to presume bad intentions.

From 1:45 a.m. Saturday to 3:30 a.m. Sunday, I lived in the real America.

Space Coast Honor Flight veterans get a warm welcome from students at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The America where we care for one another. We step in to help. Were brave enough to acknowledge our past: the good and the bad. We chuck aside labels or, at least, we try to. Were full of gratitude. We show respect to our elders and teach respect to our children.

We cherish what binds us rather than focus on what divides.

I was a guardian on a Space Coast Honor Flight whose mission is to take World War II, Korean and Vietnam veterans to visit their war memorials in Washington, D.C. I was on Flight 73. To date, the nonprofit has taken 1,889 veterans to the capital, said retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Jim Hart, president of Space Coast Honor Flight.

Honor Flight Send-off: The 73rd Space Coast Honor Flight on their way to D.C.

To accompany our veterans as a guardian is an honor.

For me, it was also a reminder of who we  Americans  are. I dont know about you but I sure needed that reminder.

Retired Judge David Dugan, a board member of Space Coast Honor Flight, warned me that I would likely be moved to cry during the experience. I didnt realize, though, the tears would start for me before our team of 28 Vietnam-era veterans, 28 guardians and Space Coast Honor Flight board members and volunteers left the Wickham Park Senior Center to embark on our whirlwind journey.

I was paired with James Tracy Pittman Jr., a Vietnam War veteran with 21 years of U.S. Army service who had a special forces assignment in the Military Assistance Command Team 28 in Vietnam from 1971-73.

Tracy Pittman Jr., a Vietnam veteran, on a Space Coast Honor Flight with FLORIDA TODAY Executive Editor Mara Bellaby. (Credit: Mara Bellaby)

Tracy, a native of Alma, Georgia, speaks with a soft southern drawl. He's 79, incredibly modest but, let it be known, this man carried out multiple parachute jump landings. He's a tough guy, although Tracy would frown at me saying that.

Story continues

As Tracy and I walked out the doors to board the bus, we moved through a corridor of applauding and cheering supporters .

Those cheers became a theme, repeated throughout the day and night. The TSA agents at Orlando International Airport. Passengers hurrying to their gate. Children in strollers. Students who gave up their Saturday to line the walkway into the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. A Vietnamese man who brought his two children to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to thank our veterans.

Again and again, people stopped to say: Thank you for your service. Welcome home.

Strangers gave a thumbs-up. They saluted. They smiled. They wanted to shake hands with our veterans.

Its hard to put into words how proud you feel as an American to see this from your compatriots. I cried for Tracy and all the others, who told stories of what a different experience some of them had when they came home from the war.

28 Vietnam-era Veterans, including seven women

The 28 veterans on our flight included seven women. Our guardians featured nine firefighters: seven from Cocoa Beach, one from Palm Bay and one from Brevard County.

Group photo of the Space Coast Honor Flight 73.

This special day began at Arlington National Cemetery, which felt appropriate: a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice made for our freedom. As we drove inside the cemetery, a swath of the green hillside dotted with white gravestones was pointed out to us  the tombstones there were closer to each other than is usual. The reason: This is the In Memoriam section. Those gravesites are for veterans who didnt make it home, not even in death.

As the road continued rising, tombstones filled every bit of the grassy hillside.

Freedom isnt free. Id heard that cliche so many times and yet it ceased being a slogan for me there at Arlington Cemetery, witness to the very high cost.

Virtual Experience: New VR experience brings Washington, D.C., monuments to Space Coast veterans

Tracy wanted to see the resting place of Audie L. Murphy. I need to admit: I didnt know who he was. When I mentioned the name to my 14-year-old son, he knew. Now I know, too: Audie Murphy was among the most decorated American soldiers in World War II. Tracy told me seeing Murphys resting place meant a lot to him. He was hardly alone; there was a line of people waiting to pay tribute to Murphy. We waited our turn.

Next came an honor that is hard to even put into words. Tracy and veteran Kay Robinson, who gave 16 years of service, were selected to help lay the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I got to participate alongside Tracy. As we moved out beyond the cordons and stood with the Honor Guard, I put my hand over my heart as taps played. Tracy saluted. I felt gratitude. I knew I was there only because of Tracy. Tracy was there because of his service to our country. We were all there to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

What America stands for

Ive always felt my Americanness keenly. I think its because I lived for years overseas. Being an American became part of who I was in a way that doesnt happen when you live only among other Americans. And, perhaps ironically, when I lived in Russia and Ukraine and traveled across the former Soviet Union in the early 2000s, I saw how my Americanness was often something aspirational.

Standing at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the side of the Honor Guards, behind Tracy and Kay, I saw the foundation on which our American dream rests. I didnt cry; I felt chills, the good kind.

Now lest you think Im some Pollyanna, Im not. As editor of this newspaper, I get the phone calls and emails. I hear the anger and nastiness. I know how divided we are and how toxic that division has become.

But this journey reminded me of what we stand for. Of who we are.

As we drove toward Arlington cemetery, our bus passed two trucks pulling parade floats  one a rainbow presumably headed to or from a Gay Pride event  I felt what could be more appropriate: a bus of veterans alongside a demonstration of the freedoms we hold so valuable. The freedom to be ourselves.

Im not naive; not everyone, even on my bus, Im sure would see it the same way. Were in a challenging time for America, and maybe thats why this trip got to me so much. Why it made me feel so proud (and, yes, hopeful) for us, even though some of the memories reawakened for our veterans were not easy ones.

Tracy told me hed always been most moved by the Korean War Veterans Memorial. Why? It was the expressions on the statues, he said. It captures what it was like: the fear, the tiredness, the wetness, he said.

Korean Veterans War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

I looked at the faces more closely than I would have otherwise.

By the time the day ended, wed been awake more than 24 hours and visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, World War II Memorial, Military Women's Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial and the Air Force Memorial. I get tired just typing that list.

We were all exhausted.

But then, talk about a jolt awake. It was around 2 a.m. Due to delays, we were departing the Orlando airport for home hours later than scheduled. And yet as we walked off that plane, we were met by cheers and applause. We were serenaded by the sound of bagpipes. Outside the security entrance stood cheering families, including a Cocoa Beach firefighter with his children. Theyd waited hours for our veterans to give them the homecoming they deserved.

Welcome home. Thank you for your service.

I didnt even try to stop my tears that time.

America, that is who we are.

Contact Executive Editor Mara Bellaby at mbellaby@floridatoday.com.

How to Participate

Space Coast Honor Flight is always looking for veterans interested in making this very special trip. There is a waiting list but they continue to add names. For more information, go to spacecoasthonorflight.org. You can also email veteran@spacecoasthonorflight.org.

Volunteers and Guardians are also needed. If you're considering it, let me tell you: it's worth it. Go to spacecoasthonorflight.org for more information.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: America at our best: why Space Coast Honor Flight made me proud
Jazz Musician Charlie Haden with His Bass

Over a period of some six decades, Charlie Haden redefined the language of jazz double bass, playing on hundreds of records as a leader, co-leader, and sideman. It all began with pianist Paul Bley in 1958; a year later, he went into the studio with the Ornette Coleman Quartet for a landmark session that was released on the aptly titled Atlantic LP The Shape of Jazz to Come.



Haden's instinctive understanding of melody, coupled with a distaste for double-bass histrionics, led to studio dates with the likes of Ringo Starr, Ginger Baker, Pat Metheny and Diana Krall. Rather than listing all of those albums, we assembled this representative selection, which is intended to give a sense of the tremendous range of Haden's recorded work. Start here  but rest assured that any record with the name Charlie Haden in the credits is well worth listening to.



This article was first published in the August 1996 issue of Bass Player Magazine.



1. Ornette Coleman Quartet: This Is Our Music

"Our first three records  The Shape of Jazz to Come, Change of the Century, and This Is Our Music  really tell a story," said Haden. The first two records gave startled listeners a sense of how this group was changing the face of jazz forever, but it was This Is Our Music, recorded in 1961, that revealed the full extent of that revolution. "We're not playing in the pattern of the songs anymore," he said. "I was taking my notes from what Ornette and Don Cherry were playing and creating a new chord structure. I developed a way of handling that, harmonically, where it was almost as if I were the pianist."

2. Charlie Haden: Liberation Music Orchestra

The Liberation Music Orchestra is one of Haden's most cherished endeavors. It is a sort of repertory company of free-thinking players, powered by the strength of Charlie's convictions and featuring the innovative arrangements of Carla Bley. "In 1969, when the Vietnam war was happening, I started really thinking about the injustices in the world, and I wanted to express how I felt. I started to put together the first album in New York, and I called Carla, who was an old friend from the Hillcrest days in L.A. She was really enthused about it."

Story continues

3. Keith Jarrett: Survivor's Suite

In the late '60s and '70s, Haden was a member of a highly regarded quartet led by pianist Keith Jarrett. "That was a great band and I love the records we made, but the mixing on the early Atlantic and Impulse records could have been better. The bass was mixed really `electric'  mostly with the pickup rather than the microphones. We got a much better mix on Survivor's Suite."

4. Old & New Dreams: Old & New Dreams

Old & New Dreams was, essentially, the Ornette Coleman Quartet with Dewey Redman rather than Coleman on reeds. The group recorded three albums between 1979 and 1987. "I like all three," said Haden. "The one that's just called Old & New Dreams, where we do Lonely Woman  that's a great one."

5. Charlie Haden & Pat Metheny: Beyond the Missouri Sky (Short Stories)

"The first time I heard Pat's music, I really got a feeling of true Americana from his unique, innovative vision. We talked for years about different things we wanted to do. We ended up recording some of my tunes and some of Pat's, as well as other tunes we both like, like Precious Jewel and Jim Webb's The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. It's about celebrating the music that comes from this country."

6. Charlie Haden: Silence

This solo album (recorded in 1987 and released in 1989) features a unique international cast with trumpeter Chet Baker, drummer Billy Higgins, and Italian pianist Enrico Pieranunzi, a disciple of the great Bill Evans. "I was real happy we got to do that record with Chet because he died a few months after that. Maybe that's why jazz musicians develop this sense of urgency when they play  they never know when they're going to stop playing, you know?"

7. Charlie Haden: Quartet West

The five albums by Quartet West are like one long movie, so you may as well start with the first reel. Released in 1987, their debut features saxophonist Ernie Watts, pianist Alan Broadbent, and drummer Billy Higgins; all remained with the group except Higgins, who was replaced by Larance Marable on the subsequent discs. "I think the take we got on Body and Soul on the first one is really special," said Haden. "Alan takes a solo on there that's unbelievably great. And I'm not usually happy with my playing, but once in a while I feel as if I almost played what I was hearing, and my solo on that song was one of those."

8. Charlie Haden: The Montreal Tapes

In 1989, the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal organized a series of tribute concerts to Charlie Haden that took place on eight successive nights. Each concert featured Charlie playing with one or more of his noted colleagues, in settings that ranged from a duo with Brazilian guitarist Egberto Gismonti to the Liberation Music Orchestra. The concerts were recorded, and two CDs have been issued so far: one with pianist Paul Bley and drummer Paul Motian, the other with trumpeter Don Cherry and drummer Ed Blackwell. In the liner notes, Haden wrote: "These were some of the most memorable moments of my life, and I will cherish them forever."

9. Gonzalo Rubalcaba: Discovery

Haden encountered the brilliant young Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba in 1986, while on a concert tour with the Liberation Music Orchestra. "I was so impressed by his playing that I went backstage to meet him. Then I just tried to figure out a way we could play together." Given the political situation with Cuba, that wasn't easy  but Charlie found a way. This live album, with drummer Paul Motian, was recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1990.

10. Charlie Haden & Carlos Paredes: Dialogues

After playing with Portuguese guitarist Carlos Paredes in 1978, Haden began the negotiations to arrange a recording session. The session eventually took place in Paris in 1990, under the auspices of Jean-Philipe Allard of French Polygram. Haden set the scene: "At the rehearsal, there was no written music. I just listened to what he was doing. I didn't feel very secure, but the next day we went to the studio and just started playing. Carlos has his own musical language, and the journey he takes you on is really beautiful."

11. Rickie Lee Jones: Pop Pop

"I like the way Rickie Lee Jones sings. She called me to make a record with her, and I really liked doing it. It was the same with Bruce Hornsby." Haden's formidable ear and sensitive touch make a mighty contribution to Jones's 1991 collection of pop songs from different eras. His sprightly backing on I Won't Grow Up is worth the price of admission alone.

12. Charlie Haden & Hank Jones: Steal Away

"The old hymns I sang when I was a kid came over from Ireland and Scotland and England and France, and went into the Appalachian Mountains and the Ozark Mountains, where I was raised," said Haden. Several of those classic hymns, along with spirituals such as Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen, folk songs such as Danny Boy, and Haden's own Spiritual, make up this Grammy-nominated 1994 collection of duets with pianist Hank Jones. If you really want to understand the way Charlie Haden plays, you must hear this.

13. Ginger Baker Trio: Going Back Home

Imagine Cream with Bill Frisell on guitar and Charlie Haden on bass ... and you've got this brilliantly unconventional 1994 album. "Ginger always told me, `I'm not a rock & roll drummer, I'm a jazz drummer,'" said Haden. "That's what he wants to be. And when you approach your instrument and your passion to communicate your music to people in an honest way, then there is no category."

14. James Cotton: Deep in the Blues

If folk music, spirituals, and hymns are three essential elements of Haden's sound, then the blues is another. His solos are often steeped in the feeling of the blues, and that aspect comes into sharp focus on this recording that teams Charlie with 'Superharp' Cotton and guitarist Joe Louis Walker. "I knew James Cotton's work because he had played harmonica with Muddy Waters for years, so I was honored to get a call from asking me to play with James and Joe Louis Walker. I learned a lot about the blues by playing with these blues masters."

15. Gavin Bryars: Farewell to Philosophy

British composer Bryars wrote the adagio By the Vaar especially for Haden; it was recorded in London with the English Chamber Orchestra, conducted by James Judd. The bass melody for the first movement was written, but the second section was improvised on the spot. "Gavin had written out all of these chord symbols, but when I got to that part, I just closed my eyes and played."

In September 2014, three months after Hadens death, the Impulse! label released a duo performance from the 1990 Montreal International Jazz Festival. Charlie Haden & Jim Hall is available to buy and stream.
The Vital Proteins supplement was sold at Costco in 20 states, and some canisters may contains shards of plastic

Instagram/jenniferaniston Jennifer Aniston

The Food and Drug Administration has announced a voluntary recall for canisters of collagen powder from the popular Vital Proteins brand  often touted as the top collagen supplement on the market.

According to the recall notice, nearly 60,000 24-oz. canisters of the Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides powder may contain plastic shards  specifically, pieces of a broken blue plastic lid that may have found their way into the collagen powder.

The wellness brands most famous supporter is, of course, Jennifer Aniston, who signed on to be their spokesperson in 2020 and was named Chief Creative Officer.

Two weeks after the recalls announcement, Aniston shared an Instagram video where she made coffee with the collagen powder.

As a California resident however, Aniston, doesnt live in a state affected by the recall.

Affected states and territories include Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, and Puerto Rico.

According to CBS News, the affected products were sold at Costco stores between April 17, 2023 and April 24, 2023. The product was marked UPC 8 57273 00866, and has an expiration date of January 9, 2028.



Related: Jennifer Aniston Says She 'Feels Better in Mind, Body and Spirit' Now Than She Did in Her 20s

In addition to the collagen powder, Aniston uses its Vitality Immune Booster supplement powder sticks in Clementine and the Collagen Creamer in Vanilla.

Years ago I started using Vital Proteins regularly... so when the opportunity presented itself to be a part of the brand in a bigger way, I jumped on it . Ive always been an advocate for finding wellness from the inside out - and Im so happy to share the importance of collagen, Aniston said at the time.

Story continues

Aniston is not the only enthusiastic supporter of the brand; The collagen supplements  which purport to support healthy hair, skin, nails, bones and joints  are beloved by celebrities including Kris Jenner. The powder even appeared on Season 14 of Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

Instagram/jenniferaniston Jennifer Aniston

Gwyneth Paltrow is another Vital Proteins supporter, and included it in a Goop-themed gift bag.

And Kourtney Kardashian teamed up with the collagen company to release a line of exclusive flavors for her Poosh brand, saying shes been taking collagen every day for years.

The collagen company issued a statement about the voluntary recall, saying it was initiated out of "an abundance of caution and our commitment to product quality and consumer safety."



Related: See Jennifer Aniston's Debut Vital Proteins Campaign  and Empowering Commercial!

Vital Proteins added that its "worked with Costco to both notify their members who may have purchased impacted product and remove any potentially impacted product from stores."

Costco also issued a statement, pointing out that "the potential risk to the consumer is low."

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Inauspicious start for Gorell

During his first six months in office, Ventura County Supervisor Jeff Gorell has taken credit where none is due, ditched local campaign limits, and is being investigated by the FPPC for violations of state law.

He pushed for a vote to end a public health emergency order despite Governor Gavin Newsom already announcing months before that the order would expire.

He led the charge to abandon local campaign contributions and dramatically increase the amount of special interest money that can flow into his re-election account starting now.

And because Gorell underreported the fair market value of office space during his primary and general election campaigns, the matter has been sent to the Fair Political Practices Commission.

Some honeymoon.

Joan Edwards, Westlake Village

The minority is getting its way

Re: Lloyd Forresters June 12 letter, Amendment attempt is a waste:

Mr. Forrester makes a good point: 30 states are pro-gun; five of those states (Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and North and South Dakota) have a population of less than 6 million people. They are represented by 10 senators. California has a population over six times greater than all five and is represented by two senators.

This is why the minority can get their way in both enacting laws and electing our president. The majority of people in America want something done to alleviate the problem with guns in America but as you can see, it will never happen.

Morris Scoggin, Ventura

Welcome change in admissions?

The Supreme Court often releases controversial opinions before going on summer recess. This term will be no different, as the two affirmative action cases involving Harvard and the University of North Carolina will be released in just a few weeks.

The predicted outcome would overturn decades of established practices in an effort to end reverse discrimination, but most agree little will change after the decision. Schools will simply pivot, changing the names of practices of what are in effect quotas, and continue the status quo to prevent the public shame of having only Asian and white students.

Story continues

It is similar to what schools did in the South and suburbia nationwide after Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. Ventura County has its own history with forced integration, but that is another story.

As the tone of this letter suggests, I believe the decisions will be a favorable change to the admissions landscape, regardless of implementation. Court observers often reference Chief Justice Roberts 2007 line the way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race, which despite its naivete rings true. Bias, conscious or otherwise, will always exist in human societies, but one way to tamp down its effects is to remove government coercion from the equation.

I hope, however foolishly, that a downstream effect of the decisions will be an decrease of racial guilt promoted by public and private schools alike. White and light-skinned people of color ought not carry cultural shame for decisions made by their ancestors generations ago. The sins of the father are not passed to the son.

Elwood Lake, Camarillo

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Letters: Bad start for Gorell; minority is ruling; affirmative action
The August 2022 launch of the podcast was an immediate success, landing number one on charts internationally

Spotify Podcasts/Instagram

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are parting ways with Spotify, PEOPLE can confirm.

A joint statement from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's production company Archewell Audio and Spotify said: "Spotify and Archewell Audio have mutually agreed to part ways and are proud of the series we made together."

A representative from WME, the talent agency that the Duchess of Sussex signed with earlier this year, told the Wall Street Journal, The team behind Archetypes remain proud of the podcast they created at Spotify. Meghan is continuing to develop more content for the Archetypes audience on another platform."

Archetypes aired 12 episodes last year.

"We're working on other ways to keep the conversation going but just know that as we close out this season of Archetypes, that I thank you. Thank you for listening and learning with me. This has been liberating and healing, and it's been fun," said Meghan, 41, during the final episode, which aired in November 2022.

"And many moons ago, I heard a quote that I will share with you today because as we talk about labels and tropes, boxes some may try to squeeze you into, and roles and stereotypes that are attributed to you that don't quite fit the full person that you are this is what I wanted to leave you with," she continued. "It's from a couplet within a piece of writing by Greek poet Christianopoulos. And he says, 'What didn't you do to bury me / but you forgot, that I was a seed.' "

She left listeners an encouraging message to "keep growing, and I'll see on the flip side."



Spotify

Meghan and Prince Harry announced a multi-year partnership between Spotify and their production company Archewell Audio in 2020 with the goal to "build community through shared experience, narratives and values."

Story continues

Meghan's podcast aired in August 2022 and had a successful first season on Spotify. Two days after its premiere, Archetypes was the number-one podcast in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada on Spotify's international charts.

Each episode of the podcast featured different guests, including Serena Williams, Mariah Carey, and Paris Hilton, who all explored the stereotypes that hold women back with the Duchess of Sussex. The show even won a Peoples Choice Award for pop podcast of 2022.

"Thank you to all the supporters and fans of Archetypes who voted for us for this special People's Choice Award," Meghan said in a statement on her Archewell site at the time. "I loved digging my hands into the process, sitting up late at night in bed, working on the writing and creative. And I loved digging deep into meaningful conversation with my diverse and inspiring guests, laughing and learning with them, and with each of you listening."

"It has been such a labor of love with an amazing team who were each instrumental in helping to bring this series to life," Meghan added.

Related: Meghan Markle's Biggest Revelations in Her 'Archetypes' Podcast

Meghan was also named a digital media national winner for the 48th Annual Gracie Awards for her Spotify podcast in December 2022.

On June 5, Spotify announced they were cutting approximately 200 employees, 2% of Spotifys workforce, as they "recently embarked on the next phase of our podcast strategy." A source close to the situation tells PEOPLE there's no connection between the recent layoffs and Spotify parting ways with Meghan and Harry.

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

After Meghan and Prince Harry stepped back from their working roles as members of the royal family in 2020, they signed deals with Netflix and Spotify.

In December 2020, the pair debuted their podcasting skills with a two-minute audio clip.

"He has a podcast voice!" Meghan said after Harry gave an introduction.

The same month, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex released their first podcast episode, a holiday special tied to the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021.

The podcast episode's celeb-filled lineup  including Elton John, Tyler Perry, Stacey Abrams, James Corden and more  also featured a special cameo: their then-19-month-old son, Archie. At the very end of the episode, Meghan and Harry had Archie take a turn on the microphone.

"You can speak into it," Prince Harry told Archie.

"Archie, is it fun?" Meghan said, to which Archie responds, "Fun?" Then Meghan repeats, "Fun!"

Archie even gave a special message to listeners  "Happy New Year!"  with help from his parents.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
The search for a missing 4-year-old girl in Memphis has ended after police announced a body has been found.

Authorities began the urgent search for Sequoia Samuels, who had a feeding tube inserted in her side, on the morning of June 15 in the Uptown neighborhood of Memphis, according to an endangered child alert.

Sequoia was seen on security footage walking out of her home at about 3 a.m., and her family members noticed she was missing at about 6 a.m. when they found the door open, WHBQ reported.

The Memphis Police Department enlisted the help of the Shelby County Sheriffs Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to search the neighborhoods near where Sequoia was believed to have gone missing, Officer Teresa Carlson said in a June 15 news conference.

Missing ENDANGERED Child



Have you seen Saquoia Samuels?



She was last seen in the Uptown area in Memphis, TN.



If you stay in the area, we ask that you please check your cameras, yard, and cars.



If located, please call 9-1-1 pic.twitter.com/oHewIR3fgb  Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) June 15, 2023

Police also called on neighbors to look in their yards, cars and on security cameras to see if Sequoia was potentially hiding somewhere in the area, Carlson said.

Sequoias great uncle told WHBQ she was born prematurely and required special medication and the feeding tube, adding additional urgency to the search.

If yall see her, if yall know anything, if yall heard anything please bring her home, Sequoias great uncle, Samuel Bass, said, according to WATN.

After hours of relentless searching, at 11:50 p.m. June 15 officers discovered human remains on the same block where Sequoia lived, according to a tweet from police.

Officers discovered a body believed to be the childs remains. The remains were found in close proximity to the apartment where Sequoia resided with her family; however, a positive identity has not been confirmed at this time, according to a June 16 news release.

Story continues

Police also announced that Sequoias mother, Brittney Jackson, and her alleged boyfriend, Jaylon Hobson, had been taken into custody, according to the release.

Jackson and Hobson were charged with false offense report, police said.

Jackson was also charged with aggravated child neglect and abuse of a corpse, according to the release.

This has been an emotional time for our employees and our community as we worked relentlessly together to find her, Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn CJ Davis, said in the release. We are beyond heartbroken this morning and are praying for strength for everyone involved as we investigate this tragic loss.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

5-year-old Summer Wells vanished 2 years ago. New photos released as search continues

11-year-old boy dead after shooting at Charlotte home. Police investigating homicide.

Mother of 2 found strangled, stabbed and burnt in bedroom, Detroit cops say

Teen with autism dies after hes given medicine to shut him up, SC coroner says
aew collision

Tony Khan has confirmed the broadcast team for AEW Collision.

The AEW CEO announced that Nigel McGuinness and Kevin Kelly will be the weekly commentary team, and they will be joined by expert analysis from Jim Ross.

#AEWCollision debuts TOMORROW NIGHT on @TNTdrama at 8pm ET/7pm CT at the @UnitedCenter in Chicago!



We're going to have a great announce team on Saturday Nights with your new weekly commentary team @realkevinkelly + @McGuinnessNigel, joined by expert analysis from legend @JRsBBQ!  Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) June 16, 2023

The commentary team had not been confirmed prior to Khans tweet. The lineup reunites Kelly and McGuinness, who used to work together in Ring of Honor. Years ago, Kelly and Jim Ross were part of the RAW commentary team when Kelly worked for WWE. In recent years, Kelly has been doing English commentary for New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

Kelly subsequently tweeted that he would continue to do commentary for NJPW, and he will have fill-in help while he is in Japan for the G1 Climax 33 tournament.

WWE released McGuinness, who had been part of the commentary team for NXT UK and other shows, in October 2022. He returned to Ring of Honor at ROH Supercard of Honor on March 31, and he made his AEW debut on the April 5 episode of AEW Dynamite. Khan then announced that McGuinness had signed with the company.

The card for the June 17 episode of AEW Collision can be found here. WrestleZone will have coverage of the show as it airs.

The post Nigel McGuinness, Kevin Kelly, And Jim Ross Announced As AEW Collision Broadcast Team appeared first on Wrestlezone.
LAFAYETTE, Ind.  A lawsuit was filed against JaShon Burks, the former choir director of Lafayette Jefferson High School, alleging that during his time employed at the school, Burks had been using his position to groom female students.

This lawsuit was filed on June 13, 2023, by Mary Doe and John Doe, the parents of Jane Doe, a minor, and one of Burks' alleged victims.

The Lafayette School Corporation and the LSC school board were also listed as defendants in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claims the school and the district failed to ensure the safety of the students who had allegedly been groomed by Burks.

Ja'Shon Burks faced similar accusations at previous job

Burks had formerly been hired as a teacher at Huntington North High School, where he was released over allegations of sexual misconduct, according to the lawsuit.

The Journal & Courier reached out to LSC superintendent Les Huddle regarding the lawsuit; the school district provided no comment regarding the matter since it's now being litigated.

Burks resigned from his position in early December 2022 after the Lafayette Police Department, Indiana Department of Child Services and the districts Title IX Coordinator opened an investigation on the matter.

The allegations against former choir director JaShon Burks

The lawsuit alleges Burks used his position as Lafayette Jeffs choir director to prey on female students to groom them in hopes that, once the students turned of age, they would eventually become his sexual partners.

Burks was hired at Jefferson during the 2019-2020 school year, and held this position until Nov. 22, 2022, once his resignation was approved by the board.

The lawsuit alleges that he had been grooming students for approximately three and a half years while employed at Jefferson.

Although the lawsuit does not indicate how many students he allegedly groomed, the suit does claims that there was more than one student targeted.

The allegation towards Burks ranged from making inappropriate and sexual comments towards female students to touching and kissing students on the forehead.

Story continues

Lawsuit alleges Ja'Shon Burks touched students during private lessons

The lawsuit alleges that he would offer students private voice lessons in the choir room at Jefferson High School, and during those lessons, the lawsuit alleges that Burks would place one hand on the students abdomen and the other on the students back.

Dont go telling your parents that Im touching you, because thats the world we live in today, the lawsuit alleges Burks told Jane Doe.

The lawsuit claims Burks would allegedly put his hand under Jane Does shirt and put his hand on her back.

On at least one occasion when Burks hugged Jane in his office, he put his hand underneath her shirt and her bra and touched the side of her breast, the lawsuit alleges.

The lawsuit also alleges that Burks would also pop or crack the backs of female students by having them sit on his lap, and hug them before lifting to adjust their backs.

There was one moment where Burks allegedly told Jane Doe that if he were her age, she would be his 'type' and that he would divorce his wife for her, according to the lawsuit.

Lawsuit describes messages Ja'Shon Burks is accused of sending to female students

Burks would communicate with female students from the choir team via text message, Instagram and Snapchat, where he allegedly would make inappropriate comments toward the students.

Come see me when youre eighteen, Ill leave my wife for you, and Id like to make a baby with you, were some of the comments claimed in the lawsuit.

He allegedly would ask the students to send him photos of themselves in their competition outfits and would make inappropriate comments about them, like not sexy enough."

The lawsuit also alleges that Burks had covered the windows to his office with black paper and would close the door when he would have private meetings with students.

School district learned about behavior in Fall of 2022, lawsuit says

The lawsuit claims that the LSC district did not become aware of Burks behavior until the Fall of 2022. On Sept. 28, 2022, the lawsuit claims that Jefferson's principal Mark Preston had asked students to stay behind after choir practice to give a statement to the Lafayette Police Department.

The Lafayette Police Department began investigating Burks in September 2022, as well as the Indiana Department of Child Services. To date, Burks had not been charged in relation to allegations in the lawsuit.

Several female students were interviewed as part of the investigation and shared their experiences with Burks, the lawsuit states.

The parents of one of the students filed a protection order for their child from interacting with Burks out of concern for their students safety.

Ja'Shon Burks resigns from Lafayette Jefferson High School in November 2022

Burks was not fired from the school district during the investigation, although the district did accept his resignation which was effective on Nov. 22, 2022.

In December 2022, parents received an email explaining that the high school would be providing students in the choir with a licensed mental health counselor to offer consoling support, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also claims that in March 2023, parents received an invoice from Jefferson's choir department, with the balance of $1,050 paid by an anonymous patron."

The lawsuit claims that these payments came from Preston and had been paid out to other parents whose children were affected by Burks.

Noe Padilla is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email him at Npadilla@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter at 1NoePadilla.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Lawsuit accuses Lafayette Jefferson High choir director of grooming
Daniel Ellsberg, who became one of the most important anti-war whistleblowers in U.S. history when he leaked the Pentagon Papers to the media in 1971, died Friday, according to a statement from his family.

The 92-year-old revealed in March that hed been diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer and had about three to six months left to live.

As I look back on the last sixty years of my life, I think there is no greater cause to which I could have dedicated my efforts, Ellsberg wrote of his anti-war activism in a letter he shared to Twitter announcing his diagnosis.

When I copied the Pentagon Papers in 1969, I had every reason to think I would be spending the rest of my life behind bars, he wrote. It was a fate I would have gladly accepted if it meant hastening the end of the Vietnam War, unlikely as that seemed (and was).

Daniel Ellsberg, co-defendant in the Pentagon Papers case, talks to reporters in Los Angeles on April 28, 1973, after the judge in the case released a government memorandum saying G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt, convicted Watergate conspirators, had burglarized the office of Ellsberg's psychiatrist.

Daniel Ellsberg, co-defendant in the Pentagon Papers case, talks to reporters in Los Angeles on April 28, 1973, after the judge in the case released a government memorandum saying G. Gordon Liddy and E. Howard Hunt, convicted Watergate conspirators, had burglarized the office of Ellsberg's psychiatrist.

The Pentagon Papers  a highly classified study on U.S. conduct in Vietnam that Ellsberg helped work on  revealed that multiple U.S. presidents had lied to both Congress and the American people about circumstances regarding the Vietnam War. The documents Ellsberg leaked showed that U.S. authorities had long known American forces had no chance of winning in Vietnam.

Ellsberg, whod been a staunch supporter of military action in Vietnam until he began mingling with anti-war activists in the late 1960s, was charged under the Espionage Act and faced a potential 115 years behind bars for his actions. But due to governmental misconduct and illegal evidence-gathering in his case, he evaded punishment.

Thanks to [former President Richard] Nixons crimes, I was spared the imprisonment I expected, and I was able to spend the last fifty years with Patricia [Ellsbergs wife] and my family, and with you, my friends, he wrote in March.

Story continues

Over the course of 15 days in 1971, The New York Times published excerpts from the Pentagon Papers it received from Ellsberg. Forty years later, the government declassified them and released them to the public.

Ellsberg went on to be active in many more anti-war movements, speaking out against U.S. military intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan. At 74 years old in 2005, he was among those arrested for protesting the Iraq War at then-President George W. Bushs Texas ranch.

He also voiced his support for government whistleblowers Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden.

All the young activists rising up give me hope as I leave my life, Ellsberg tweeted in March. As the movement against the Vietnam War showed, young people can save lives when they make their care known in action. Keep going. The world is in your hands.

Ellsberg speaks during an interview in Los Angeles on Sept. 23, 2009. A former Pentagon analyst, Ellsberg was indicted for leaking classified government information about the Vietnam War in 1971 to The New York Times and other newspapers.

Ellsberg speaks during an interview in Los Angeles on Sept. 23, 2009. A former Pentagon analyst, Ellsberg was indicted for leaking classified government information about the Vietnam War in 1971 to The New York Times and other newspapers.

Related...
Ellsberg supplied outlets including The New York Times and The Washington Post with documents detailing the Vietnam War

Bettmann Archive/Getty

Daniel Ellsberg, a former military analyst who leaked the Pentagon Papers in 1971, has died at the age of 92, his family announced on Friday. Ellsberg was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer in February, Reuters reports.

Ellsberg had three degrees from Harvard and served in the Marine Corps before going on to work as an analyst at the Pentagon and the think tank RAND Corporation. It was while working at RAND that Ellsberg read one of 15 copies of a 7,000-page report put together by Pentagon officials that detailed the U.S. involvement in Vietnam from 1945 through 1967.

He would later copy pages of the documents on a Xerox machine, eventually sharing them with reporters at the New York Times more than a year after he first read them.

Related: A Secret Plot, Charts and an Easel: Remembering a Bizarre Snafu During Watergate Scandal

In June 1971, the Times ran its first installment of the Pentagon Papers, which detailed how U.S. officials weren't confident that the war could be won and had downplayed casualty figures.

Eventually, Ellsberg leaked the papers to various other outlets including The Washington Post, and the Richard Nixon administration was granted an order halting the publication of further documents. Media outlets appealed the decision, with the Supreme Court agreeing to hear the case within days, and ultimately allowing the publication of the papers to move forward.

Once Ellsberg came forward as the leaker of the documents, Nixon himself sought to humiliate him, ordering some of his top aides to break in to Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office in an attempt to discredit him.

That break-in  and another, of the Democratic National Committee's office, located in the Watergate complex  would go on to be Nixon's undoing.



Ellsberg, meanwhile, was charged with espionage, theft and conspiracy, though a 1973 trial would end in a dismissal due to the government misconduct tied to the break-in.



Story continues

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In a 2011 story penned for The Guardian, Ellsberg wrote of his deep regret at having not leaked the Pentagon papers earlier  and urged others, with similar access to incriminating information, to release it as soon as they could.

"Don't make my mistake. Don't do what I did. Don't wait until a new war has started in Iran, until more bombs have fallen in Afghanistan, in Pakistan, Libya, Iraq or Yemen. Don't wait until thousands more have died, before you go to the press and to Congress to tell the truth with documents that reveal lies or crimes or internal projections of costs and dangers," he wrote. "Don't wait 40 years for it to be declassified, or seven years as I did for you or someone else to leak it."

He continued: "The personal risks are great. But a war's worth of lives might be saved."



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Actor and comedian Pete Davidson was charged with reckless driving Friday after he crashed into the side of a Beverly Hills home in California earlier this year.

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County district attorneys office told HuffPost on Friday that Davidson was charged with one misdemeanor count of reckless driving over the March 4 collision.

Though the spokesperson said that no one was seriously injured as a result of the crash, he noted that reckless driving can have devastating consequences.

Photos published by Page Six showed Davidson speaking to police after his Mercedes-Benz jumped a curb, skidded across a lawn and slammed into a home. The incident took place at around 11 p.m. on a Saturday night, and Davidsons girlfriend, Chase Sui Wonders, was reportedly also in the car.

This is an alarming trend that we cannot ignore, the DAs spokesperson said. As a result, its crucial that we take all allegations of reckless driving seriously and hold those responsible accountable.

A lawyer for Davidson did not immediately respond to HuffPost on Friday. The Saturday Night Live alum is scheduled to be arraigned July 27.

Subscribe to our true crime newsletter, Suspicious Circumstances, to get the biggest unsolved mysteries, white collar scandals, and captivating cases delivered straight to your inbox every week. Sign up here.

Related...


Prince Harrys ex-girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, may have received a very different treatment from the British media than Meghan Markle has experienced but that doesnt mean the two women dont have something in common.



Aside from their shared romances with Prince Harry, Davy and Markle had a similar perspective on the British Royal and that is the fact that they didnt care about him at all. Well, they didnt care about his titles.

More from SheKnows



In his memoir Spare, Harry described meeting Davy for the first time in 2004 during a trip to South Africa shortly before he began military training. The pair would go on to have an on-off relationship until 2011 but, off the bat, Davy was surprisingly disinterested in his background.



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, Harry wrote of their first meeting in his memoir. 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.'

Click here to read the full article.



Davy, a Zimbabwe native, apparent lack of care for Harrys Royal roots is similar to how Markle described her reaction in a 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey. She was also surprisingly unaware of what to expect from dating him.



I didnt do any research about what [marrying a royal] would mean, Markle told Winfrey in the couples bombshell interview after exiting the Royal Family. I didnt feel any need to because everything I needed to know he was sharing with me. Everything we thought I needed to know, he was telling me.

Story continues



Though not as severe as Markle, Davy also faced intense scrutiny in the media during her relationship with Harry. Ultimately, it would lead to the demise of their relationship, as Harry confirmed in his memoir.



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.



Little did he know, that same scrutiny would eventually lead to his now-infamous exit from Royal duties after Markles mental health suffered due to the pressure of the role. Now, the Prince seems to have finally gotten his happily ever after away from the glaring lens of British tabloids.

Before you go, click here to see everyone Prince Harry dated before meeting Meghan Markle.

Best of SheKnows

Sign up for SheKnows' Newsletter.

For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Photo Credit: Bill Pritchard

It sounds like All Elite Wrestling has made another backstage hire in former IMPACT Wrestling talent Kevin Matthews.

Last night it was reported that Jimmy Jacobs had signed with the company as a producer and started last night at AEW Dynamite in Washington, DC. But it sounds like hes not the only one.

According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider, Kevin Matthews, whos best known for his time as KM in IMPACT Wrestling, was backstage at AEW Dynamite last night working in a behind the scenes capacity.

This isnt Matthews first time backstage for All Elite Wrestling, as he has also been present at some past tapings and did some work for AEW Dark and Dark: Elevation.

The exact position that Matthews has with All Elite Wrestling has yet to be confirmed.

READ MORE: Report: Jimmy Jacobs Joins AEW As A Producer

What do you make of this report? Do you think Kevin Matthews is a good backstage hire for All Elite Wrestling? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.

The post Report: Kevin Matthews Has Been Hired By AEW In A Behind The Scenes Capacity appeared first on Wrestlezone.
The Emmy-winning TV host was photographed with her real estate agent at the property, the sale of which she once described as "one of the saddest days of my life"

Felipe Ramales/Splashnews

Sandra Lee may be looking to buy back her beloved New York home, Lily Pond, two and a half years after selling the property. She was spotted at the home on Thursday.

"Sandra has been shopping the Bedford and Newcastle area in anticipation of her move back to New York," a source tells PEOPLE. "Shes been searching for some time and hasnt found anything that she likes more than her house, Lily Pond,"



After selling the home in 2020, Lee had been spending her time primarily in California, but now, the source says, work is bringing the Emmy-winning TV host back to the East Coast.

"Sandra has several new television projects, one of which will require her to spend much time in the New York area," the source says.

Related: See Inside Sandra Lee's New York Estate That 'Smells Like Cookies and Feels Like Heaven'

Felipe Ramales/Splashnews

The move will also mean the international lifestyle icon can reconnect with her previous life in the region, where she was based for many years and served as first lady of New York during the administration of her former longtime partner, Governor Andrew Cuomo, from whom she split in 2019.



A friend and former neighbor of the star tells PEOPLE, Sandy has many friends, and a great network of support here. Shes a New Yorker through and through. Everyone is thrilled Sandras coming back to the area.

Felipe Ramales/Splashnews

Greg Schriefer of Sothebys International Realty, a preeminent agent in the area, is representing Lee, who has been touring potential properties for two months, and shared a statement with PEOPLE about her decision to relocate.

Related: Sandra Lee Spends Final Day in Home She Once Shared With Andrew Cuomo: 'I Cried and Cried'

Felipe Ramales/Splashnews

At this stage of her life, she just wants to be settled and focus on her professional and personal priorities," he says. Sandra always gives 100% to whatever she does whether her friendships, her personal relationships or her career objectives. Shes trying to do whats best for her. I think after everything shes done, been through and given up, she deserves that.



Story continues

Lee bid her roughly 4,000 sq. ft., six-bedroom house an emotional farewell in 2020, writing on Instagram at the time that her moving day was "one of the saddest days of my life."

Felipe Ramales/Splashnews

"Today is the day that I do the final move out from Lily Pond," she shared. "I love that house and I have a personal relationship with every single room of that home. I hope the new owners take care of it as well as I did and I will love it forever. #thehousethatbuiltme"

In another Instagram post, Lee recounted her final moments before she left the house for what she thought was the last time.

"I stopped at the top of the hill where I planted one of 6 tree lines of evergreen trees and 200 daffodil bulbs  I just looked at the house, I prayed the next owners would be kind to it and love it as I did  I cried and cried," Lee wrote.

The estate went on the market in May 2019 for $2 million, PEOPLE reported at the time. It sold in October 2020 for $1.85 million, according to Page Six.

Lee moved west and purchased a beachfront house in Malibu for $3.38 million in February 2020. She put that home on the market last month, PEOPLE confirms.



David A. Land

Related: Sandra Lee Loads Up a U-Haul Van as She Moves Out of Home She Once Shared with Andrew Cuomo

She purchased the 1940 property in 2008, updating its design and incorporating her own family heirlooms over the years, while thoughtfully maintaining the home's history.

She opened the doors of Lily Pond to PEOPLE for a Hollywood at Home feature in 2019, sharing all of the details that made it so special to her, such as copies of letters from the Founding Fathers on display in the dining room and a collection of china passed down from her grandmother.

When she first bought the house, the same family had owned it for decades and as a result, featured some less-than-delightful decor, like ca. 1980 bunny-motif tiles in the kitchen and a powder room with a duck theme.

David A. Land

Related: Sandra Lee Celebrates Boyfriend Ben Youcef's Birthday and Valentine's Day: 'You Make Life Better'

Ten years later, Lily Pond, which is named for the body of water in the front yard, paints a very different picture. We worked hard to make sure that we honored the home, Lee said at the time. She kept the original brick floors, doorknobs and bulky, beautiful hardware while adding in what she calls places to plop.

Making the home feel warm and welcoming was her top priority. As she put it to PEOPLE, This house smells like cookies and feels like heaven."



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Steven Spielberg had a surprise up his sleeve for audience members at the Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny premiere, which took place at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles last night (June 14).

While on stage and addressing attendees, Spielberg gave thanks to the people "without whom, none of us would be here tonight," singling out Indy creator George Lucas and franchise star Harrison Ford. He then went on to introduce "the person who is the glue to all five of these films, who gave us all of our rhythm and all of our melody, the great maestro, John Williams" to rapturous applause. A curtain then rises behind him, revealing Williams and a full orchestra, who gave a surprise performance of the iconic Indiana Jones theme.

John Williams and a full orchestra play a surprise performance of the famous theme from #IndianaJones at the #DialOfDestiny premiere pic.twitter.com/o80x5Rg6cxJune 15, 2023

See more

Spielberg directed the first four Indy movies, 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1984's The Temple of Doom, 1989's The Last Crusade, and 2008's The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Although James Mangold took over the director's chair for The Dial of Destiny, Spielberg is still on board as a producer.

The movie, which sees Phoebe Waller-Bridge share the screen with Ford as the titular hero's goddaughter, takes a slightly different turn for the franchise  time travel is on the cards. "The question is, if you can control time, like in Back to the Future, would you change things? And what would that mean? Thats a big question for everybody, and certainly is in the movie," producer Frank Marshall said in a recent interview with SFX magazine.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny arrives on the big screen on June 30. In the meantime, check out our picks of the other best upcoming movies on the way in 2023 and beyond.
WATCH: Florida Black Bear Seen Wandering Around Tampa International Airport Before Being Safely Captured

"Ive never seen this in 35 years, a black bear running along the tree line inside the fence of Tampa Airport," onlooker Branden Blake tells PEOPLE

Tampa International Airport

Airplanes and runways and bears, oh my!

An unusual traveler made a trip to the Tampa International Airport (TPA) in Florida on Tuesday afternoon: A black bear was seen circling the property, an encounter that marked a first in the airport's 50-plus-year history, according to airport officials.

The Florida black bear was initially spotted by a Transportation Security Administration employee who witnessed the animal moseying around the airport's perimeter fence, per a TPA spokesperson.

In fact, airport officials believe the juvenile bear scaled the fence in order to make it onto the airport grounds before it was seen on the north end of the airport property and in the employee parking lot.

Perhaps the bear was a little jet lagged? Tampa police confirmed the bear reportedly slept inside the perimeter as infrared helicopter cameras were used to track the bear overnight.

Related: Black Bear Shocks Beachgoers By Swimming Out of Ocean and onto Florida Shore  Watch!

Tampa International Airport

Branden Blake, a 35-year-old Florida resident born and raised in Tampa, tells PEOPLE he spotted the bear Wednesday morning on his commute to work as he drove on Hillsborough Ave at 8:23 a.m. ET.

"Ive never seen this in 35 years a black bear running along the tree line inside the fence of Tampa Airport," Blake says.

"I happened to look to my right at a stoplight and 200 yards away, theres a giant black bear in the city," Blake says. He added that the bear "looked lost" in the environment, which he described as a "high traffic area" with "people everywhere."

Blake tells PEOPLE you're more likely to see wild hogs, deer, alligators and squirrels in Tampa, but "definitely not a black bear."

Related: Black Bear Startles North Carolina Man Relaxing on Sun Lounger at Home  Watch!

Story continues

Tampa International Airport

Not long after Blake's sighting, the bear was captured. Tampa Airport Executive Vice President of Operations John Tiliacos said of their plan to move the bear to safety, which involved local and state agencies called to the scene.

Tiliacos described the "robust perimeter" that was set up, while also placing traps surrounding the area. After two unsuccessful tranquilizing attempts, it was "eventually lured into one of the traps and was safely captured unharmed," Tiliacos told reporters during a press briefing.

Abiding by state protocols, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission took the bear to Ocala National Forest in central Florida on Wednesday. Tiliacos said airport operations were not disrupted and airport employees weren't at risk.

Related: 11-Year-Old Bitten by Rattlesnake After Falling Off Bike on Colorado Trail: 'He's a Tough Boy'

"All's well that ends well," Tiliacos said.

The fish and wildlife agency has been keeping a close eye on black bear sightings in Tampa for the past several weeks, as its staff believe the juvenile bear captured on Wednesday was the same one that was reported in the Carrollwood area of Tampa in May.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
U.S. officials are emphasizing the importance of face-to-face diplomacy as the nation's top diplomat prepares to embark on the first visit to China by a sitting secretary of state in nearly five years -- but insisting they are "clear-eyed" about the long odds of improving the strained relationship amid continued acts of aggression by Beijing.

The Biden administration emphasized the need for "intense diplomacy" with China despite the country's military carrying out dangerous provocations earlier this month in the Taiwan Strait, according to U.S. officials.

"Intense competition requires intense diplomacy to ensure that competition does not veer into confrontation or conflict and that's what we intend for this visit," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Wednesday.

Timing of the trip

Last week, White House spokesperson John Kirby condemned a close call in the Taiwan Strait that occurred days prior when a Chinese warship crossed just about 150 yards across an American destroyer's bow, a move the Pentagon described an "unsafe maritime interaction."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken's initially planned to journey to Beijing in February, but his travel was scrapped by the Biden administration at the last minute after a Chinese spy balloon was spotted hovering over sensitive sites in the U.S.

After repeatedly saying Blinkens visit would be rescheduled "when the time is right," the White House isnt clearly explaining why its moving forward with the trip now.

ABC News' Mary Bruce asked White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre "Why is this now the right time?" during a briefing on Wednesday.

"We believe that we are in the right footing, especially in the work that the president has done the last two years. When you look at the economy, when you look at the competition, and look at what we have been able to do. And so we want to continue to have those open lines of conversation. And this is about diplomacy, which is why the secretary of state is heading is heading to China on Saturday," Jean-Pierre answered.

Story continues

President Joe Biden confirmed Thursday that he had spoken with Blinken ahead of his trip, but he would not say what he hopes the secretary can achieve during the visit.

Months after the spy balloon incident, China's efforts to surveil the U.S. are still a hot button issue. Earlier this week, Blinken addressed Beijing's recently exposed intelligence-collection activities in Cuba and claimed diplomacy had slowed the country's efforts to expand its military power.

Although the relationship remains fraught and senior State Department officials don't anticipate a turnaround in the near future, they say there are still benefits to direct diplomatic engagement.

"We're not going to Beijing with the intent of having some sort of breakthrough or transformation in the way that we deal with one another," Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink said. "We're coming to Beijing with a realistic, confident approach and a sincere desire to manage our competition in the most responsible way possible."

Blinken's agenda

Still, senior State Department officials say that Blinken has three clear goals for his visit: keeping lines of communication with China open to avoid potential conflict, promoting American interests and exploring potential areas of cooperation.

A particular area of focus for Blinken will be revitalizing channels between the two countries' armed forces. Although diplomatic ties have warmed somewhat in recent weeks, dialogue between high-level military officials has been practically nonexistent.

PHOTO: Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during the President's Chiefs of Mission Reception at the White House in Washington, June 13, 2023. (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

That facet of the relationship was further strained last month when China rebuffed an invitation to meet with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and a summit in Singapore.

"We are going to continue to advocate for appropriate military-to-military contact and dialogues. We think that is an essential feature for maintaining communication. And these lines of communication can be critical during a crisis," said Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell.

Campbell added that the U.S. has "advocated for these discussions consistently" but said "China has resisted some of those efforts."

Officials also said that China's fentanyl production and trafficking activities would be on Blinken's agenda, as well as the American citizens wrongfully detained in China.

Despite intense preparations that have been underway for weeks, Blinken's schedule for the trip remains largely in flux, with the State Department confirming only that he is expected to meet with senior Chinese officials.

That will likely include China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang, and Wang Yi -- China's top diplomat who met with Blinken in Germany after the spy balloon incident. U.S. officials later described that interaction as remarkably contentious.

Whether Blinken will meet with China's President Xi Jinping during the upcoming trip is still not clear.

The future of U.S.-Chinese relations

Blinken's visit to Beijing could also pave the way for future engagement between the highest levels of leadership. Biden and Xi met in Indonesia last November, and there is speculation they could hold another in-person discussion later this year.

PHOTO: President Joe Biden shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping as they meet on the sidelines of the G20 leaders' summit in Bali, Indonesia, Nov. 14, 2022. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has attempted to set a firm tone in the runup to Blinken's visit. In a readout of a call between the Secretary of State and Foreign Minister Gang, the ministry warned Washington to "stop interfering in China's internal affairs."

But the U.S. sees what China classifies as "internal affairs" as pivotal international issues -- specifically, maintaining peace in Taiwan and the South China Sea as China makes preparations to invade the island nation. U.S. intelligence has indicated Chinese President Xi Jinping is instructing his military to "be ready by 2027" to invade Taiwan.

Officials said Blinken would raise both matters during his visit and promised he would continue to "push back" on China's "provocations" in the region.

"I think cross-strait issues and issues related to Taiwan have always been among the most important and challenging and sensitive issues between the United States and China," Campbell said.

"And I think you can anticipate, as has been the case in every bilateral meeting I've been in with the Chinese, that there'll be a candid exchange on the cross-strait situation," he added.

ABC News' Justin Gomez contributed to this report.

As Blinken departs for Beijing, US officials 'clear-eyed' about China originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Lt. Col. Andrew Selph, a retired federal probation officer that graduated from Alamogordo High School, will be recognized by the New Mexico Wing Civil Air Patrol (CAP) as the state Wing Commander.

Lt. Col. Andrew Selph, new Commander for the Civil Air Patrol, New Mexico Wing

After all these amazing years of serving as a volunteer in CAP, I am grateful for the opportunity to become wing commander, Selph said.

Selph is scheduled to be sworn in on July 22. His appointment is for three years, comes with the rank of colonel and is unpaid volunteer position.

Selph has been a volunteer with CAP for 45 years. When he takes command, he will replace Col. Annette Peters.

Colonel Selph has seen a lot of history in the New Mexico Wing. I have confidence that the wing will grow under his leadership, Peters said.

CAP is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. It is a nonprofit that operates a fleet of 555 single-engine aircraft and 2,250 small, unmanned aircraft systems, according to a news release. It also takes a lead role in aerospace education.

Assisting with transport of test kits to the State Lab during NMWG's support of Covid response operations

Selph will command over 600 members in the state's CAP wing. Members are middle school students to retirees and veterans. CAP squadrons are scattered across New Mexico in cities like Alamogordo, Albuquerque, Clovis, Las Cruces and Santa Fe.

One of his priorities will be grow the membership base.

Selph first joined CAP as a cadet. He served in five different squadrons around the state, including Alamogordo.

I joined Civil Air Patrol as a cadet in Alamogordo back in 1978 when my dad was finishing up his Air Force career assigned at Holloman, Selph said.

Lt. Col. Selph as a cadet

Selph earned the Carl A. Spaatz award during his time as a cadet. The award recognizes cadets who demonstrate leadership, character and excellence in aerospace education, according to the Spaatz website.

Selph also earned the Gill Robb Wilson Award as an adult volunteer with the CAP. This award is given to members who express leadership and personal development dedication in the CAP.

I am truly grateful for the opportunity to lead New Mexico Wing over the next three years, Selph said.

Juan Corral can be reached at JCorral@gannett.com or on twitter at @Juan36Corr.

This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: Alamogordo's Andrew Selph to command New Mexico Wing Civil Air Patrol
The routes will start in November and December.

Chad Slattery/Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines will launch three new routes this fall and winter  just in time for the holiday travel season.

Starting on Nov. 17, the airline will launch daily, year-round nonstop service from Portland, OR to Miami. With the new route, Alaska Airlines will fly nonstop to Miami from two cities after it first introduced service from Seattle last year.

In total, the carrier will now serve four cities in Florida from Portland with Miami joining Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Tampa.

Then on Dec. 14, the airline will add service from Palm Springs to New Yorks John F. Kennedy International Airport as well as service from San Luis Obispo to Las Vegas.

"We believe our guests are going to love these new nonstops, Kirsten Amrine, the vice president of revenue management and network planning for Alaska Airlines, said in a statement. We continue to see strong demand by travelers who want to go to leisure destinations and are already planning trips for next year. We're especially excited to launch a new coast-to-coast route in Portland, which is a key hub for us. Miami is the largest underserved city from Portland and vice versa, so plenty of flyers are ready to travel between the Rose City and South Florida."

The new flights between California and New York will be operated on a seasonal basis with a morning departure from New York (so travelers can get there in time to soak up all that Cali sun).

The new flight between California and Las Vegas will operate daily. From San Luis Obispo, the airline also flies nonstop to San Diego, Portland, and Seattle.

In addition to the newly-announced routes, Alaska launched daily nonstop flights between San Diego and both Washington, D.C. and Eugene, OR, this week. And on Oct. 5, the carrier will launch daily nonstop flights between San Diego and Tampa.

Alaska Airlines makes travel more affordable by allowing customers to earn miles for money they spend on Lyft rides in the U.S. and Canada. However, the carrier also limits access to its airport lounges for passengers booked on a first class ticket based on how far they are traveling.

Story continues

Alaska also offers a flight pass, which the airline first launched last year and has since expanded, that allows travelers to book six, 12, or 24 flights per year at a fixed monthly rate.

For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
LONDON  Australias largest prestige beauty retailer, Mecca, is making its first foray into Europe and the western market with the launch of its number-one bestseller, a multitasking SPF cream from its in-house label, Mecca Cosmetica.

To Save Face SPF50+ Superscreen will launch on Monday in the U.K., and is a milestone for the retailer, which was founded by Jo Horgan in 1997.

More from WWD

The sunscreen, which is made in Australia, will be sold direct-to-consumer on Meccas new U.K. site, and retails for 35 pounds.

The plan, according to Marita Burke, the companys chief Mecca-maginations officer is to roll out related SPF products, such as a serum and body care, in the next six to 12 months.

In an exclusive interview, Burke said Mecca is launching with To Save Face because its our best product, and we want to put our best foot forward into this market. SPF is becoming a category with quite a lot of momentum behind it because we are all acutely aware of the damage the sun can do.

Burke added that the active skin care people are using now is making their skin even more sensitive to the sun.

Mecca Cosmetica is launching its all-time bestseller, To Save Face SPF50+ Superscreen in the U.K.

Launching with a single sunscreen will give Mecca a really good sense of how well our product can stack up against the needs of the U.K. customer, who is very similar to the Australian customer in many ways, Burke said.

Its a key moment for Mecca.

The retailer celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, while Mecca Cosmetica, a collection of high-end essentials developed in tandem with in-house experts and consumers, turns 10 years this year.

It has 109 stores in Australia and New Zealand and a 25 percent share of Australasias 4.2 billion Australian dollar prestige beauty market.

Late last year, Horgan told WWD Beauty Inc. that Meccas goal is to be the worlds most loved beauty destination.

She added that if Mecca has an offer that appeals to customers and that customers love, which seems to be the case, then it is our responsibility to take that more broadly.

Story continues

Horgan suggested that it was time to explore new hemispheres, and described Europe in particular as a thriving market. We would clearly have to consider it along with other markets. Thats the phase we are in, she said.

To Save Face offers broad spectrum SPF50+ UVA and UVB protection. Mecca describes the cream as practically weightless and with no white cast. It was designed with makeup-wearers in mind, and can double as a moisturiser as its almost undetectable on the skin, according to the company.

Key ingredients include Vitamin E; Glycerin; Maritime Pine Bark extract, an antioxidant; and Sodium PCA, meant to hydrate the skin.

Mecca Cosmetica is launching its all-time bestseller, To Save Face SPF50+ Superscreen in the U.K.

In Australia, SPF is a way of life. Its like brushing your teeth in the morning. We wear it our entire lives, ant its a daily step within our skin care routine, Burke said. The reason we launched [To Save Face] was because we were all pretty tired of the clumpy, gooey, gluggy products that we were putting on our skin.

She added that To Save Face was the result of much in-house research and many consultations with Mecca customers who had been asking for an SPF that could work harder, and disappear into the skin like a moisturizer.

And so, over time, we found ourselves developing a product that was actually more than the SPF. It has an ability to sit underneath makeup, which made it the perfect primer Burke said.

Burke declined to detail Meccas sales targets for the U.K., but noted that the SPF category here is in double-digit growth. I do think that there is need for SPF that can actually deliver on the skin care benefits, she said.

Asked about a further rollout in Europe, Burke said Mecca sees the U.K. as a testing ground and wants to gauge the products popularity here before moving into other markets. Ultimately, we see this as a launch across the U.K., and the EU, she said, adding that the plan  eventually  is to feed more Mecca Cosmetica products into Europe.

Marita Burke of Mecca

There are a number of top sellers in Australia from the Mecca Cosmetica line that I think the U.K. would embrace. I think there is a real opportunity here, she said.

The U.K. is one of Europes most competitive beauty arenas. According to Euromonitor, it is the second largest European beauty market after Germany, and is in the top 10 worldwide.

Sephora reentered the market with a long-awaited opening in March, while Harrods has launched a new, stand-alone beauty concept called H Beauty, which has stores in cities including Edinburgh, Bristol and Newcastle.

Boots, meanwhile, has ramped up its beauty offer in major retail hubs, while Space NK is also in expansion mode, having opened its biggest unit at Westfield London, not far from Sephora, earlier this year.

The beauty floors at retailers such Harrods, Selfridges, Fenwick, Harvey Nichols and Liberty are buzzing with customers of all ages seeking new products, and personalized experiences across a range of price points.

Asked whether Mecca might eventually open a physical store in Europe, Burke said never say never, although the focus for the moment is direct-to-consumer, online distribution.

To support the launch, Mecca has set up a local website and fulfilment centers. Mecca will also benefit from the new Australia-U.K. Free Trade Agreement, which came into effect on May 31. It eliminates tariffs on more than 99 percent of Australian goods exports to the U.K.

The To Save Face launch wont be splashy. Burke said Mecca plans to rely on a group of brand alumni living in London who are perfectly placed to be able to bring the product to life as soon as it lands next week.

Best of WWD

Click here to read the full article.
And when to spot the Southern city's blooming azaleas, too.

joe daniel price/Getty Images

The historic architecture and palpable charm of Savannah, Georgia make it one of the most beautiful cities in the South. Live oaks dripping in Spanish moss loom over beautiful town squares, and 18th- and 19th-century homes abound, from those in the symmetrical Federal and Georgian styles to more ornate Greek and Gothic Revival structures. Savannah's thriving culinary scene is a draw as well, as are its riverside attractions and unique boutiques.

Thanks to its coastal location, Savannah has a relatively moderate climate much of the year, so long as you don't mind a dash of humidity. Of course the weather impacts when out-of-towners tend to visit. High season runs from March to July, shoulder season is August to December, and low season is January and February.

Spring brings azalea blooms and the lion's share of tourists, but don't overlook the shoulder season, says Amanda Marks, a Les Clefs dOr concierge at Thompson Savannah. I love our fall weather, and recommend coming to Savannah in November before Thanksgiving."

Keep reading for more details on the best times to visit Savannah for fantastic weather, smaller crowds, lower prices, and more.

Related: T+L's Guide to Savannah, Georgia

zimmytws/Getty Images

Best Times to Visit Savannah for Smaller Crowds

In my 20 years living here, Ive found that Savannah is most crowded in spring (March, April, and May) and fall (September, October, and early November), Marks said. So if youre looking to browse The Paris Market or make your way down River Street with fewer people, consider booking your trip in January or February. Marks says that January is the quietest month in terms of travelers, but that some attractions may be closed this time of year, too.

aimintang/Getty Images

Best Times to Visit Savannah for Good Weather

Savannah's best weather comes in spring and fall. Temperatures range from the high 50s to the mid-80s from March to June, and trees and flowers  most notably, azaleas  come into bloom and create a lush scene of greens and light pinks. Travel prepared by dressing in layers, and be sure to pack a rain jacket or umbrella this time of year as well. Nearly every afternoon, at around 3 p.m., it will rain for 30 to 40 minutes, Marks said. But dont let a little rain deter you. Savannah is beautiful during and right after the rain. When the Spanish moss is draped with raindrops, it sparkles in the sun, Marks explained.

Story continues

If you cant swing an early spring trip, Perry Lane Hotel staffer and lifelong Savannah resident Mandy Heldreth says to aim for June. You might eek in a trip just before the higher temperatures and humidity arrive, which tends to be in July and August.

The autumn portion of Savannahs shoulder season, from mid-September to mid-November, gives way to travel-friendly weather once more. Heldreth says that this is when the city begins to cool off again, with daytime temps in the low 70s.

Best Times to Visit Savannah for Lower Prices

No surprise, Savannahs off-season brings fewer visitors and therefore less demand and lower prices on accommodations. When visiting in the off-season  before Presidents Day, during the summer, or from November through the end of the year  more savings can be had, and exploring the city may be more enjoyable and easier to navigate with less foot traffic around, Marks said.

Best Times to Visit Savannah for Events and Festivals

Like its neighbor to the north, Charleston, Savannah hosts a variety of events and festivals during the spring and fall. St. Patricks Day is considered a holiday in Savannah, Marks said, and while many attractions and tours are closed, we do have a fantastic parade to watch and enjoy. Music and art are also a large part of local culture  the city is home to Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)  and spring celebrations include the Savannah Music Festival and the SCAD Sidewalk Arts Festival. The art students gather in Forsyth Park and draw on the sidewalks, creating beautiful masterpieces for everyone to enjoy, Marks said of the latter.

In September, Savannah Jazz Festivals live performances are held at Lucas Theatre, the Ships Of The Sea Maritime Museum, or Forsyth Park over the course of a week. October has its own set of events and festivals, too, including SCAD Savannah Film Festival, Savannah Pride, and the Savannah Greek Festival.

Starcevic/Getty Images

Worst Times to Visit Savannah

The months of July and August are known for sweltering temperatures and oppressive humidity, so unless you love heat, it's best to avoid visiting during this stretch of summer. It's also wise for prospective visitors to note that hurricane season runs from June to the end of November, and that brings the potential for coastal storms and flooding in parts of the city.



For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
A new launch is looking to capitalize on two big trends: quiet luxury and French pharmacy.

I like to say Le Balm is kind of the quiet luxury of the beauty world, said Dr. Natacha Bonjout, a French pharmacist-turned-skin care founder whose namesake brand launched last month with one product: Le Balm.

More from WWD

Similar to the quiet luxury trend that has been sweeping social media, Bonjout Beauty was built on the premise of high-quality minimalism. The brands debut stock keeping unit, Le Balm, is a waterless solid serum formulated with more than 60 active ingredients, including peptides, prickly pear native stem cells, vitamin C, squalane and ceramide NP.

The role of French pharmacists in French culture is very important; Im ready to bring that authority to the U.S., Bonjout said.

Le Balm boasts skin barrier-repairing and antiaging claims, and aims to cater to consumers of all ages and skin types. Retailing for $120, the clinically tested offering aims to simplify ones skin care regimen by multitasking as a moisturizer, serum, lip salve and under-eye cream.

Dr. Natacha Bonjout, the French pharmacist behind Bonjout Beauty.

Each active that I added to the formula is included at its highest concentration recommended by the lab, said Bonjout, who relocated from France to the U.S. in 2010, and has completed stints at beauty supplier Farevas Chromavis division and Givaudan-owned Naturex.

I felt there was this opportunity for me to create a brand based on the science and research of French pharmacists; I had this knowledge of the active ingredients and formulation, but also understood the business perspective from working on the manufacturing side, Bonjout said.

The founders vision appears to be resonating. Since launching mid-May, Bonjout Beauty has done more than $50,000 in direct-to-consumer sales, and the brand estimates it could reach $1 million in sales during its first year on the market.

Story continues

Our priority for the next year is to develop word of mouth around Le Balm, Bonjout said, adding the brands next product, a nourishing cream, will drop in 2024.

Were focusing on one product at a time  we want people to consume less, but consume better, she said.

The brand participated in the French Institute Alliance Francaises New York wellness and beauty pop-up last month, and plans for additional New York and New Jersey pop-ups are in the works.

[Pop-ups] werent in the business plan, but being a direct-to-consumer brand, its hard to see who your customer is. We want to host pop-ups as a way to have that direct contact with our consumer, allow them to try the product, ask me questions and start relationship-building, Bonjout said.

Best of WWD

Click here to read the full article.
Sometimes in Cannes its fun just to hover at the fringes of a party to observe the interactions, the body language, the eye-rolling, whos drinking what and who isnt.

The shindig for HBOs The Idol, which screened this week, was at the Palm Beach, with its interior shaped like an amphitheatre so that one could view the comings and goings as if it were a gladiatorial combat with participants in sequinned gowns and tuxedos. Lily-Rose Depp is The Idols undoubted star, no matter what The Weeknd thinks, and victory was hers as she was ushered into the VIP section. The Weeknd  aka Abel Tesfaye  may see it otherwise as he and his entourage arrived to stake their claim well ahead of Ms. Depp and her posse.

More from Deadline

But Depps the heat source in The Idol. Shes immensely watchable in all the ways that a star is but also because you want to leap out of your seat and protect her  both her character Jocelyn, a pop star whos a little whacky and way too vulnerable, and the actress herself.

RELATED: The Idol Review: Lily-Rose Depp Is Riveting As a Pop Star On The Verge In Sam Levinsons Cryptic HBO Show  Cannes Film Festival

What is she doing in this jumble of Fame meets Fifty Shades of Kaka meets All About Eve written by Euphorias Sam Levinson, Tesfaye and Reza Fahim? Its a show purporting to be viewed through a female gaze penned by three blokes.

Just as important, if not more, what was The Idol doing at the fabled Cannes Film Festival taking over the Grand Lumiere to show two 50-minute episodes of a six-part TV series?

Story continues

Levinson may well be the god of Euphoria but to walk the same path trodden by Godard, Truffaut, Hitchcock, Tarantino, Loach and Campion is not an honor given lightly, yet the festival authorities deemed The Idol worthy of a place in history.

RELATED: The Idol Isnt The Britney Spears Story, Sam Levinson Says; Creator On HBO Series Controversy; Weeknd Likens His Character To Dracula

No wonder Levinson burst into tears at the end of Monday nights screening  technically Tuesday morning because it was past midnight  Tears of relief that hed pulled it off. We can grant him that moment. Its a heck of a big deal to receive that level of adulation in that room at the Palais. Its likely never to happen again.

But Depp will be back here again.

RELATED: The Idol Gets Five-Minute Standing Ovation After Cannes Premiere; Sam Levinson Gets Emotional In Speech

She oozes with talent. Maybe Hylda Queally, her top rep at CAA, figures that Depp will garner such worldwide attention because of The Idol that shell land some classy, well-written movie with an A-list filmmaker attached.

One hopes so.

Partygoers worshipping The Idol.

Heres the thing though: The Idol is flashy and glossy but its also dangerous. Depps Jocelyn mutilates herself in the most horrendous ways.

Teenage girls, and boys, are going to watch The Idol. Of course they are. They watched Euphoria, and The Idol is being sold as scandalous TV. Of course theyre going to tune in to see what its all about. Its all dressed up to appeal to them, and impressionable young viewers will think its okay to gratify yourself with a crystal tumbler.

Its surely not. Is it?

RELATED: Full List Of Cannes Palme dOr Winners Through The Years: Photo Gallery

In some strange way Levinson, Tesfaye, Fahim and their enablers at HBO have already won because heres this column lambasting them; drawing attention to something high octane, something forbidden.

Adults can always turn it off, but kids will find a way to watch it. The fear is that theyll want to emulate the behaviour in it. Theyll want to be Jocelyn.

One of the smartest comments in The Idol is made by Nikki, a record company executive played by Jane Adams. She talks about kids in the flyover states, and by the same token those who dont live in big, sophisticated cities in Europe and elsewhere, who become obsessed by how a big star behaves. Its the complete antithesis of their humdrum, little lives. Theyll want what Jocelyns having.

Maybe the best way to view The Idol then is as a cautionary tale. What is the cost of fame for those who pursue it and for those who are bedazzled from afar by its false promise?

The Power Of May December

Charles Melton, a stand-out in Todd Haynes get-your-tongues-wagging-sex-scandal movie May December, departs Cannes in a few days to spend five weeks in Vancouver to complete the seventh and final season of Riverdale. The Canadian city has been his home from home for seven years.

I get to say goodbye to all my friends on the show, Melton reflected wistfully. Im ready for a new chapter.

You bet he is.

Charles Melton at the Kering Women In Motion Dinner

Melton is superb in May December, which also stars Oscar winners Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman. The younger school-age version of Meltons character, Joe, has an illicit affair with Gracie (Moore), a married co-worker who he meets in a pet shop.

I confessed to Melton that initially I was slightly confused by the age range because Joe was in seventh grade when he played grown-up games with Gracie, who was 36.

We have a different system in the U.K. so I cant deny being taken aback when later in the film its explained that Joe was 13 years of age. I was thinking about whether people would fully understand what the grade levels mean, Melton told me as we chatted at the Kering Women in Motion dinner honouring Michelle Yeoh.

The shattering consequences of that inappropriate relationship cant be swept away, but Gracie seems to be in almost total denial of her responsibility. Or as Haynes puts it to me, Shes blind to it.

I actually saw some of the consequences of those relationships first hand, as my foster mother sometimes cared for their children. It took me years before I could piece together how a kid barely in his teens was dad to a toddler, and that the (much) older woman who I thought was the teenagers parent was the mother of the baby. It happened the other way around too.

I had blocked all that out until May December rekindled it all and I now see it for what it was. Thats the beauty of great movies  they enable you to dig deeper, but only if you want to and youre if able to face up to what you discover.

The Kering dinner was terrific fun, by the way.

And I was thrilled to have met Lily Gladstone, the quiet power source of Martin Scorseses The Killers of the Flower Moon. What a performance!

Lily Gladstone at the Kering Women in Motion Dinner

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
Israels CoPro Foundation, the group behind Tel Avivs annual CoPro film and television market, is moving into film sales. The company, which will celebrate the 25th anniversary of CoPro in June this year, has set up its own film sales division to support the international distribution of Israeli titles.

CoPro is launching the new company at the Cannes Film Market with the timely documentary The Consultant. Directed by Eado Zuckerman, the film delves into the enigmatic life of Arthur J. Finkelstein, an influential American political consultant who played a key role in shaping the careers of such right-wing figures as Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Jesse Helms, Hungarys Viktor Orban and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While championing conservative ideologies Finkelstein privately lived as a gay man. The documentary promises a rare glimpse into this complex persona through never-before-seen home videos, interviews with Finkelsteins daughter, his husband Donald Curiale and exclusive access to Finkelsteins own words.

More from The Hollywood Reporter

A non-profit organization devoted to helping boost the production and distribution of Israeli films, CoPro has, over the past two and a half decades, helped facilitate more than $40 million in international investment in Israeli documentary projects. Over the same period, some 750 co-production agreements have been signed between Israeli and international production companies and broadcasters for the production of high-end documentaries.

This years Israeli Coproduction Market will include a series of in-person events including pitches, rough cut screenings, and meetings from June 5-7 in Tel Aviv, followed by a series of film tributes, running June 8-10.

Story continues

Best of The Hollywood Reporter

Click here to read the full article.
An international drug smuggling syndicate was thwarted by cops recently.

According to reports, surfboards that were stuffed with cocaine were flagged by drug sniffing dogs as the smugglers attempted to fly them from Uruguay to Europe.

Six surfboards in total were seized; 110 pounds of cocaine were found in them.

Per the BBC, drug dogs alerted their handlers of the suspicious luggage on May 23rd. It was noted that the bags were also unusually heavy for surfboards. Upon further inspection with a scanner, officials found hidden compartments carved into the cores of the surfboards. Then, after probing those compartments, they found the coke.

To find the alleged smugglers, police let one of the surfboards go through. Then, they arrested two Italians in Portugal who picked up the drug-filled surfboard. Another Italian was arrested in Uruguay for dispatching the drugs in the board.

According to the Uruguayan prosecutor's office, the operation was "a model of international co-operation.

Of course, this is not the first time surfers have used their boards to transport illicit substances across borders. Like in the 70s, when surfers in Indonesia were smuggling hash oil in and out of the country in their boardbags, along with other such cases.

Although, back then, TSA was a bit more chill.

***

Don't miss another headline from SURFER! Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of surfing. We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging surf-related videos to feature on our channels.

Whether you're a professional surfer or just an amateur, we want to see your best footage and help you share it with the world. Submit your video for a chance to be featured on SURFER and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch high-quality surf videos.
(Photo credit: AlenaPaulus / Getty Images)

A dog in Connecticut took an epic tumble at a state park earlier this week, prompting a harrowing rescue by firefighters.

Firefighters save dog following dangerous jump

According to Fox, the incident occurred on Monday around 3:30 p.m. at Mount Tom State Park. A dog mom called Bantam Fire Company to report that a dog named Babe jumped 34 feet from a tower. The pup could not walk as a result.

Firefighters from multiple fire departments arrived on the scene. They brought specialized equipment, including a Stokes Wheel and a Gator, to help rescue the dog from a trail in the woods. The crew managed to reach Babe, then stabilized the fur baby. Finally, they carried the injured pooch to safety. The whole ordeal took over an hour.

First responders transported Babe to a local veterinary hospital for an evaluation.

Were happy to report the dog has been examined and has no life-threatening injuries, Bantam firefighters shared in a Facebook post.

In a Facebook comment, the dogs mom expressed her gratitude for the first responders Words can not express how grateful I am to these first responders. They arrived quickly, were professional, kind, compassionate & empathetic. They are true heroes, she wrote.

Babe is now at an emergency hospital, she said. He is resting comfortably with pain meds. She continued, He is clear from internal injuries and is having more tests done as he has a torn ACL and injured carpus. He will need surgery but will recover. The veterinarian said he is a miracle dog to have so few injuries after such a bad fall. My heart is bursting with the love and appreciation I have for this rescue crew.

Dog safety tips

This dog was fortunate that firefighters rescued him so quickly. Not every pup would be so lucky to survive that kind of fall. There are several precautions you can take to keep your dog safe during outdoor excursions. First, always keep your dog on a leash. You should also consider using a harness instead of a collar to prevent neck injuries in case of sudden movements.

Additionally, avoid off-leash hiking in areas with steep cliffs or high towers due to the risk of accidental falls. Furthermore, make sure to train your dog with solid recall commands, reinforcing their response to your call, no matter the setting. Lastly, for areas with high vantage points, such as towers or lookout points, maintain a firm grip on your dogs leash, providing an extra layer of protection against impulsive leaps. By following these simple steps, you can enjoy a safe and enjoyable hiking experience with your four-legged friend, minimizing the risk of unfortunate incidents like what happened to Babe.

The post Dog Rescued by Firefighters After Jumping 34 Feet From Tower appeared first on DogTime.
A Salt Lake County Health Department employee prepares Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots at a free vaccine clinic at the Sanderson Community Center in Taylorsville on Nov. 9, 2022. Updated COVID-19 boosters shots could be available in fall 2023. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

All 21 members of an advisory panel for the Food and Drug Administration recommended Thursday that the COVID-19 vaccines being made for this coming fall should be updated to target a specific coronavirus variant, XBB, as reported by multiple online news sources.

Time said the vote specifically was to move away from the current bivalent vaccine, which targets the original virus and variants BA.4 and BA.5, and design a vaccine that protects against XBB variants, which are currently dominating in the U.S.

The committee said the XBB.1.5 omicron subvariant should be the first to be targeted by a new vaccine, per Reuters.

FDA official Dr. Peter Marks indicated the agency was likely to settle on XBB.1.5, which manufacturers suggested could be ready for inoculations soonest, Reuters said.

NBC News said an advisory committee meeting for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet next week and decide who should get the shots and when.

Related

XBB.1.5 omicron subvariant

A Yale Medicine article said this variant of COVID-19 is another descendent of the omicron variant. Like previous versions of the virus, it has been described as the most transmissible strain so far, more efficient and contagious than its predecessors.

XBB.1.5 accounts for about 40% of all new COVID cases as of Saturday, according to the CDC, said NBC News.

The updated vaccine would no longer protect against the original COVID-19 virus strain, CNN said.

Your immune response likes to react to what its seen before, said Dr. David Ho, a professor of microbiology and immunology and director of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center at Columbia University whose research is cited in the FDAs briefing documents, per CNN.

Related

NBC News said vaccine developers have already started to move forward with reformulated doses:

Story continues

Pfizer said it may have vaccines available by the end of July.

Moderna said, if the FDA approves, it could begin shipping reformulated vaccines by the end of summer.

Novavax said its updated vaccines could be available in the fall.

Reuters reported that meeting chair Dr. Arnold Monto said, The fact that most of the manufacturers are ready to work on XBB.1.5 is an added reason to select this strain or this variant given the immunologic data.

Concerning the future of COVID-19 vaccines, Kanta Subbarao, chair of the World Health Organizations strain selection committee, told the FDAs advisory committee that her group plans on meeting twice a year to ensure that the COVID-19 vaccine doesnt fall too far behind the ever-evolving virus, according to Time.

Ho told CNN getting an updated shot to protect against newer strains of the virus may make sense for people to consider.

The idea is that if we are able to broaden our antibody responses against the latest variants, that should protect even better against severe disease and death, Ho said, and perhaps would lower the infection rate, as well, per CNN.
The Justice Department has arrested and charged a Russian national for his alleged role in multiple LockBit ransomware attacks against victims in the U.S. and around the world.

According to a criminal complaint unsealed on Thursday, 20-year-old Ruslan Magomedovich Astamirov is accused of carrying out five cyberattacks between August 2020 and March 2023, four of which deployed the notorious LockBit ransomware.

"Astamirov allegedly participated in a conspiracy with other members of the LockBit ransomware campaign to commit wire fraud and to intentionally damage protected computers and make ransom demands through the use and deployment of ransomware," the Justice Department said.

Astamirov, a citizen of the Russian-controlled Chechen Republic, allegedly carried out attacks on two U.S.-based organizations, along with organisations headquartered in Japan, France and Kenya. According to the complaint, at least one of the victims paid $700,000. Another victim refused to pay, and Astamirov allegedly uploaded the companys data to LockBits public server.

LockBit first emerged as a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation in late-2019 and has since been used in approximately 1,800 ransomware attacks against victim systems in the United States and worldwide. In an advisory published this week, U.S. cybersecurity officials said that known LockBit attacks accounted for 16% of attacks on public entities, including schools, local governments and law enforcement agencies, in 2022.

Since January 2020, the LockBit group has been associated with approximately $91 million in ransoms paid in the U.S., the advisory said.

Astamirov, who was located and arrested in the U.S. after law enforcement traced a portion of a victims ransom payment to a cryptocurrency address under Astamirovs control, has been indicted on charges of conspiracy to transmit ransom demands, commit wire fraud, and intentionally damage protected computers. If found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in prison for the wire fraud charge and up to five years in prison for the charge related to damaging protected computers.

Story continues

Astamirov is the third LockBit affiliate the U.S. Justice Department has charged in the last seven months. In November, officials charged 33-year-old Mikhail Vasiliev - described as one of the worlds most prolific ransomware operators - for his alleged involvement in the LockBit ransomware gang. Vasiliev is now in custody in Canada and awaiting extradition to the United States.

In May, the U.S. government also indicted U.S. Mikhail Matveev, known online as Wazawaka and Boriselcin, for allegedly acting as a central figure in developing and deploying the Hive, LockBit and Babuk ransomware variants.

Since it emerged in 2019, LockBit has claimed multiple high-profile victims worldwide in recent months, including the U.K. postal giant Royal Mail, the government of Costa Rica, and financial software firm Ion Group. This week, LockBit also claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on Indian pharmaceutical giant Granules India and published portions of the data it allegedly stole.
classroom, foster puppies

A first-grade teacher will most certainly go down in history as her students favorite after she incorporated playtime with puppies into her classroom.

The opportunity not only allowed the children to unwind from their schoolwork and have the chance to cuddle with the animals, but also provided some of the puppies with a forever home.

The teacher fostered 18 puppies in her first-grade classroom for students to interact with during the day.

Brooke, a teacher and proud puppy-foster mom from Wilmington, Delaware, decided to combine both of her jobs by bringing puppies into her classroom, something she and her students were ecstatic about.

In a TikTok video that has been viewed over 1 million times, Brooke shares various clips of her students playing with the puppies, reading to them, walking them through the school hallways, and holding them on their laps during lessons.

RELATED: 6-Year-Old Boy Hailed As Hero After Saving Sister From Dog Attack

girl playing with foster puppy in classroom

Photo: @fostertalespt / TikTok

The children, and the puppies, are clearly having the time of their lives!

Brookes idea originally did not seem realistic to her colleagues. People originally laughed when I said wanted to bring foster puppies into my first-grade classroom! she captioned her video. However, the introduction of the foster puppies to her classroom led to the adoption of 18 of the foster puppies who were taken in by the families of her students.

This year we helped 18 puppies get out of the shelter and find fur-ever homes, Brooke revealed.

RELATED: A Mom Defends Keeping The Pet Dog Who Bit Her Daughter By Saying 'We All Make Mistakes'

TikTok users were touched by Brookes efforts and how her students interacted with the puppies.

The puppies get wonderfully socialized and the kids learn how to act around dogs! Lovely all around! one user commented. I would end up with 18 puppies getting adopted and coming to my house, another user admitted.

Story continues

Photo: @fostertalespt / TikTok

Other people who worked in schools were inspired by the idea and expressed their desire to introduce foster puppies into their own classrooms.

I am a principal who would do this in a heartbeat if I could figure out how. I think therapy dogs are life-changing, one user shared. Normalize fostering puppies in classrooms! another user added.

RELATED: Rescue Dog Returns The Favor By Saving Owner's Life

Research has demonstrated that the presence of dogs in the classroom improves students' reading comprehension and reduces stress levels.

Having dogs present in classrooms is actually more beneficial than we may assume. According to researchers at UC Daviss School of Veterinary Medicine, reading aloud to dogs has proven to improve a childs reading comprehension skills and confidence. In a study conducted by the school, a group of kids visited rescue dogs once a week for ten weeks, reading aloud to them for just 15 to 20 minutes each time. 75% of their parents reported a dramatic increase in their childs reading frequency and confidence.

Additionally, the presence of dogs helps encourage cognitive, social, and emotional development in children and reduces anxiety.

Introducing foster puppies to classrooms also allows the family of students to adopt them from a shelter, sparing them from euthanization and cruel treatment.

It looks like Brookes idea will become more popular with other teachers looking for interactive and improved methods to keep their students engaged in the classroom!

RELATED: 8-Year-Old Recovering From Dog Attack Faces Insults From Strangers, But His Mom Tells Him Hes Beautiful

Megan Quinn is a writer at YourTango who covers entertainment and news, self, love, and relationships.

This article originally appeared on YourTango
Plus, the chef gives us an exclusive sneak peek of her upcoming frozen food line!

Michael Simon; EatingWell collage

You may know her as Delicious Miss Brown on her namesake Food Network show, but Kardea Brown comes from an unexpected background. While she's always been passionate about food, she started her career as a social worker. Now, even as a well-known chef, host and cookbook author, she still looks for ways to give back.

So when Pepcid reached out to Brown and asked her to team up with them for the 36th Annual Chefs' Tribute to Citymeals on Wheels event, she said it was a "no-brainer" for her.

"I use Pepcid in my everyday life, but the mission is also important," Brown said in an interview with EatingWell. "They're feeding and they're combating food insecurities here in New York for older New Yorkers, so that was very important to me. Not only that, but they are also the only heartburn brand sponsor at Chefs' Tribute and are sponsoring $50,000 to Meals on Wheels America, so that was really important."

We were given the incredible opportunity to sit down with Brown herself and ask her all about the partnership and her background. Read on to find out what Southern dish defines home for her, a special preview of her upcoming frozen food line and her philosophy on eating well.

Related: I Worked on the Rachael Ray Show for 16 YearsThese Were My Favorite Recipes

EatingWell:Since starting your career as a social worker, you know the importance of giving back and helping your community all too well. How important is it for you to include charitable work in your current career as a chef?

Brown: My background is in social services, so not only did I work with children, but I also worked with mentally challenged adults as well. It's very important in my everyday life to be a part of initiatives like Citymeals on Wheels and Meals on Wheels America. There was a time in my life where what I was doing 24/7 was nonprofit work. I worked in the nonprofit sector for 11 years of my life before I started cooking full-time, and it's something that I still do to this day. That's why it was so exciting to team up with Pepcid and do this charitable event.

Story continues

EatingWell: Delicious Miss Brown focuses on your favorite Southern dishes. If you had to choose one meal that you think defines home for you, what would it be?

Brown: Shrimp and grits. It's one of my favorite things to cook, and it's one of the first meals that I learned how to cook for my grandmother. She taught me that, and her mother passed it down to her, so it's one of those family heirlooms that I will always cherish. It definitely represents Delicious Miss Brown and everything about the Lowcountry and Charleston, South Carolina.

Related: Smoky Collards & Shrimp with Cheesy Grits

EatingWell: What can you tell us about your upcoming frozen food line? What makes it unique from other brands?

Brown: OK, you'll get the exclusive scoop! It's a frozen food brand that represents everything that's near and dear to my heart, and that's Lowcountry, Southern cuisine. And I've never seen the things I'm coming out with on the shelves. I've never seen this perspective, this point of view, and since it's personal to me, it's all the things that I love cooking and remind me of the Lowcountry. So I wanted to wrap that up into four products that will be hitting the shelves on Labor Day weekend. It will be at a major retailer, and I believe it will be in all 50 states!

EatingWell: What does "eating well" mean to you?

Brown: I always say that you have to listen to your body, you have to listen to what your body needs. I don't think there's one thing that fits all. For me, I know there's times where I need to eat raw vegetables and fruits, and there's times where my body is really craving protein like a nice piece of steak. In the Lowcountry, we eat by the land and by the sea, so what's in season and what's at its freshest is what I always believe in eating. Eating well means listening to your body and eating the things that it needs for nourishmentand hey, if you want to enjoy some fried foods and some spicy foods, go ahead and do that!

Up next: Pecans and Buttermilk in a Brooklyn Kitchen: My Food Journey from South to North
It is obviously apparent that another sure to be incredible Copenhagen Open contest is underway in the magnificent country of Denmark. If you haven't been seeing highlights, clips, and FOMO-inducing IG stories, well, you just haven't been looking at your phone apparently.

Well the old reliable IG clip collector known on Youtube as ZUBR, has cobbled together a "Day 1" highlight reel to keep us all up to speed on how much more fun everyone else is having over in the Olde Country. Dig in.

No CPH coverage would be complete without Oski absolutely ripping or Kevin Bradley in rare form. And it's all here. It looks like Day One had a "1 UP" trio of quarterpipes to launch around on. Cody Chapman might have the heaviest clip on there. They had some wild smoke blowing out of the top tooalways stepping it up over there.

And of course Cory Juneau wowed the crowd with his backside Ollie landing in a noseblunt. Dude who got the hipper and then just ran off, that was pretty funny. A lot to watch in here! Crack a Tuborg and pretend you're there!

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay connected with the latest happenings in the world of skateboarding.

We're always on the lookout for amusing, interesting and engaging skate-related videos to feature on our channels. Whether you're a professional or just having fun, 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 skateboarding.com and our social channels. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more quality skate content.
Spacecrafting Photography

While current architectural trends tend to lean towards convenient, streamlined structures that prioritize technology, there's something to be said about historic homes. After all, the artistry and attention to hand-crafted detail they showcase are hard to come by in new builds. That said, buying and renovating an 80-plus-year-old space is a big commitmentboth financially and emotionally. We chatted with five homeowners who chose history over modernity to discover if such an investment is actually worth it.

Here's what they said.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Original

Richard Powers

Location: Piermont, New York

Year Built: 1959

In 2014, when Sarah Magness, founder of her eponymous New York City interior design firm, purchased a historic homebuilt by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1959 she had her work cut out for her. Now, after nearly a decade of living in her dream house, she says, "[The renovation] is ongoing. A historic house requires love and attention every day!" Her house, in particular, demanded some TLC that she was more than happy to take on. "It was a full restoration," says the mother of a young daughter and a Cardigan Welsh Corgi named Amsterdam.

"I did not change any of the detailing or design of the house," she says, mindful that she has a architectural gem on her hands. Instead, "I restored and maintained the original millwork, painting, plaster, concrete, linoleum, and tile." Most of the contemporary moments come into play with the furnishings, which connect the historic 20th-century architecture to the present day.

Sarah Magness

Pros: "The pros are that as a proprietor of the house, I know it's important to maintain its mark on history," Magness notes. "I am the caretaker of a home designed by a legendary American architect." Another pro was a shock that she happened upon unexpectedly: "The best surprise wasn't in the house itself but on the drawings. There were field notes by the project architect from Wright's office to make alterations and modifications to the house design, which was a special artifact to discover."

Story continues

Cons: Even in a showplace, some of the decades-old building materials won't always hold up. "I had to completely replace the plaster ceilings," Magness admits. "That was a dusty and time-consuming experience. It was also an endeavor for the plaster restorer, as it's difficult to work on an angled ceiling."

Worth it? Magness says, "Yes, it's worth all the time, effort, and cost! It is crucial to maintain the original design intent and continue the legacy of the builder, owner, and architect."

The Beachy Bungalow



John McCauley

Location: Coronado, California

Year Built: 1936

As is the case with many architectural overhauls, John and Mandy McCauley's gut renovation of a circa 1936 residence went a tad over budgetabout twice as much as the original estimate, Mandy admits. Perhaps that's because the couple was working with several buildings: the main historical residence, where they completely redid the kitchen and bathrooms, and a 1970s back house that they extensively remodeled. "We tried to stay true to the original Cliff May house, as it was worth preserving, but it was in real need of renovationespecially when it came to the plumbing, electric systems, HVAC, kitchen, and bathrooms," Mandy says. "We think we struck a really nice balance between honoring the past while modernizing the house."

John McCauley

She credits the success of the project to the experts she brought on to take the reins, architect: Christian Rice , landscaper ORCA , and interior designer Gordana . In the end, Mandy says, "Our new house is now perfect for our lifestyle, optimizes outdoor space, and is great for hosting others."

Pros: "We were lucky to work with the team we pulled together. I cannot recommend these people more. They are extremely talented," she adds.

Cons: "We lived in the house while we did all of the renovations, which was harder than we ever expected," Mandy admits. "Living in a construction site was brutal and. COVID really impacted the timing of this project. At times, this was very frustrating." And, of course, there's the fact that she and her husband also spent nearly double their original budget.

Worth it? "Absolutely! We believe in preserving both historic homes and the character of a local community," Mandy explains. "This house is unique in so many ways, from the 100-year-old Douglas fir to the tiled floors. There is no way we'd be as happy with a brand new build."



The Cozy Upstate Retreat

Sean Litchfield

Location: Mamakating, New York

Year Built: 1940



Co-founder and creative director of her namesake interior design firm Becky Shea and her husband Jake, the firms co-founder, COO, and photographer, bought their cozy two-bedroom homebuilt in 1940in December 2020. She notes, "We consider ourselves incredibly fortunate to have acquired a home that was exceptionally well-maintained by its previous owners. Their diligent care ensured that the house was in excellent shape, and our subsequent renovations were primarily driven by personal aesthetic preferences."

Shea, whose work is often inspired by a home's original architectural bones and its surrounding natural landscape, was keen on preserving as many of the mid-20th-century details as possible, including the floors. "Recognizing their beauty and timeless appeal, we decided to keep them intact," she says. Other spaces, however, got the full treatment. "We gutted the mudroom, completely stripping it down to its bare bones. This provided a blank canvas for us to reimagine the space according to our vision," Shea says.

becky shea

"We took on a comprehensive painting project, covering every room in the house, and to add character and a touch of charm, we installed shiplap in the lofted rooms," Shea shares. She also incorporated reclaimed beams onto the ceilings, added cedar shiplap to a kitchen-adjacent nook, and modernized the electrical plan, updating all of the fixtures throughout the whole home.

Pros: During their search for a place, "this particular house stood out among the rest, offering the most land and the largest square footage at a surprisingly affordable price," Shea says. "Our home met all our criteria, combining space, affordability, and a location that allowed for more regular visits into Manhattan. The waiting, the failed bids, and the long commutes were all worth it in the end. We now enjoy the benefits of this property on a weekly basis!" In addition to the lucky find of the home itself, the creative couple didn't encounter any of the unpleasant surprises that often come with old homes, such as mold and termites. Lastly, Shea says, "Being in the industry and knowing exactly what we wanted to achieve aesthetically made it very easy to communicate effectively with the team so that they could execute in a timely fashion."

Cons: "Following the completion of our extensive overhaul and the joy of finally settling into our renovated home, we faced an unforeseen and significant setback nine months after the renovation was complete," Shea says. "Our pipes froze during a cold spell, resulting in a devastating flood that affected not only our bedroom but also the guest bedroom, mudroom, and part of the kitchen." Though such catastrophic events can unfold in any cold-weather home, older ones are more prone to such mishaps.

Worth it? "Renovating historic homes has always been an incredibly enjoyable experience for me," Shea says. "I firmly believe that embracing and preserving history is an essential aspect of life as a whole. The cultural significance and architectural beauty of historic structures should be cherished and safeguarded." In other words, yes, the sometimes painful process was worth it.

The Turn-of-the-Century Lake House

Jacob Hand

Location: McHenry, Illinois

Year Built: 1901



"In the early days of COVID-19, [my husband, our daughters, and I] were starting to feel very trapped in Chicago because our usual outletsparks and museumswere all closed," homeowner Lisa Knobloch admits. "We always knew we wanted to have a lake home, and the time just felt right." So she and her family moved into a Fox River-adjacent, four-story home that was built in 1901. "Our original intention was to redo the kitchen and a couple of bathrooms," Knobloch explains. However, it turned into a full-gut renovation. "We renovated the home from top to bottom. All four levels were a major renovation," architect Diana Melichar says.

Diana Melichar

In addition to Melichar, the couple also enlisted Interior Design Partnership's Kendall Severson for finishes and furnishings. After all, there was a lot of work to be done. "The house had a lot of bad 1970s finishes from previous renovations, including vinyl sheet flooring, plastic cultured marble vanities, hollow aluminum porch columns, builder-grade cabinets, and sagging, water-damaged acoustic ceiling panels," Melichar says. "The basement was also quite creepy."

So she and her team reconfigured every inch of the home to make the floor plans functional and to take advantage of exterior views to the river. They gutted the basement, transforming it into an entertaining space complete with an arts and crafts room, game room, family room, and wine cellar; moved one of the two LaCornue-outfitted kitchens to a wing of the home that made more sense; and completely started over in the primary suite by combining bathrooms and closets and making the sleeping space a bit bigger.

Jacob Hand

That said, she retained as much of the original character-defining features of the home as possible, including the main staircase, detailed moldings, stained glass, and millwork.

Pros: "We wanted to honor as many original elements but also wanted to make the home more functional for our young family," Knobloch says. "I love the charm of old homes and every squeak of their original hardwood floors, but I also love the conveniences of modern appliances and the luxury of a spacious bathroom."

Cons: "It was a highly emotional process for us, and each original element we were forced to discard felt like a defeat at the time," she adds. "Our incredible team navigated each unexpected discovery and turned each one into a problem-solving exercise. Instead of a roadblock, they reframed each challenge as an opportunity." As for the financial investment, Knobloch says, "While we definitely experienced spending fatigue and never would have guessed the overall price tag, we look back and recognize how the process transformed us."

Worth it? "Absolutely," she exclaims. "Our home is our retreat, and we look forward to the decades of memories we will make here. We could have never constructed the partial stone foundation or enhanced the original Victorian details, as those are priceless artifacts of a bygone era."



The Old Charmer

TORY WILLIAMS

Location: Pelham, NY

Year Built: 1905



Though renovating a historic houseespecially one built in 1905comes with plenty of challenges, Lisa Schwert, founder and principal designer of Innate Studio, faced a big one: bad timing. She and her husband began their historic home's partial gut renovation in February of 2020, mere weeks before the whole world shut down. Once she was able to continue her worksupply chain delays and allshe got to work fixing up the place, from replacing the HVAC systems and electrical wiring, "which was the original knob and tube," Schwert notes. She also removed several non-load-bearing walls and a staircase to create a primary suite, reworked the kitchen's floorplan, added an entryway closet, incorporated heated tile floors, and restored the original Douglas fir hardwood floors, among other sweeping changes. "Wherever possible, we kept the existing finishes and restored original details to respect the character of the home," she explains.

Innate Studio

It was a successful renovation, but world events affected her and her family's plans to move into their brand-new, very old home. "As so many people did, my family completely rethought our situation during the beginning of the pandemic," Schwert says. "For numerous reasonsmostly to be closer to family and have a separate space for my mom to move intowe made the difficult decision to complete the renovation and sell the house." Not for nothing, her hard work and myriad upgrades to the home were well worth it in the resale. "We were able to recoup our costs and realize a profit that we actually used to renovate our new home," she explains.

Pros: "We were lucky that the interior of the home had been so well maintained. Being able to keep the existing flooring throughout helped with costs, added character to the home, and was less wasteful," the designer says.

Cons: Schwert explains, "This home was special because it had the most beautiful proportions and details, but aspects of the layout and property really needed to be reworked to bring it back to its original glory." Another issue she reluctantly tackled? Replacing decades-old systems. "It was expensive to have to completely redo the HVAC and electrical, but, in some ways, it was a good thing that we knew we just had to do it and didn't go down the path of trying to work with an older system only to have to start over in the middle of construction."

Worth it? "While it ended up being stressful to do the work during the early days of Covid, it was such a gratifying process and really made me realize how much I love working on single-family homesespecially older ones," Schwert admits.



So is buying a historic house worth it?

All in all, the answer seems to a resounding yes. That said, no old home is ready to move into without extensive renovations, so if you want to sashay across 100-year-old floorboards, you'll have to be willing to invest time, money, and effort into making the home appropriate and suitable for a 21st-century lifestyle. The aesthetic is just as important as the cost, so if you're not on board with one or the other, a historic house may not be for you.

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.

You Might Also Like
This article originally appeared on Backpacker

I was 14 years old when my family and I took a trip to Japan--my first time out of the country. The highlight of those two weeks wasn't my daily ice-cold bottle of fizzy C.C. Lemon. It was our hike up the highest and most prominent peak in the country: Mt. Fuji. It's one of Japan's three holy mountains and one of the most photographed mountains in the world. The year after my hike, UNESCO added Mt. Fuji to the World Heritage List as a Cultural Site because it has long been the object of pilgrimages and inspired artists and poets.

Hiking season on Fuji isn't very long--early July to early September--because that's the only time hikers don't have to fight snow and ice on the sometimes-scrambly trail. On one humid August morning, my family and I took a highway bus to the Fuji Subaru Line Fifth Station (the start of the Yoshida Trail) with hundreds of other tourists and began our ascent around 10 a.m. We hiked all day until about 5 p.m. when we stopped for the night at a hut partway to the 12,388-foot summit, and we woke up around 2 a.m. just in time to be at the top of Fuji for goraiko, the Japanese word for a mountaintop sunrise.

It's been over a decade, but I still have my boots from this hike. I've hiked thousands of miles since then, so I don't wear them anymore, but they're a memento to me. The toes are all gnarled up: Because Mt. Fuji is a volcano, after the treeline, most of the hike is uneven lava rock and gravel. My shoes weren't the only thing that changed that trip. Hiking Mt. Fuji solidified my passion for steeps and peaks, something I carry with me to this day.

No matter which trail you pick, there will be steep sections. Be sure to train and prepare. (Photo: Toshihiro Nakajima via Getty Images)

The Trails

Wilderness this is not: Mt. Fuji is the most climbed mountain in the world, collecting hundreds of thousands of hikers each season. There are four major trails to the summit: Each has its own trailhead and different color signage.

Like many mountains in Japan, Mt. Fuji is divided into stations. The first is the base of the mountain, and the 10th is the summit. Although you could start from the bottom, most hikers start at the fifth station of whichever trail they pick

Story continues

Yoshida Trail: 9 miles, 4,881 feet elevation gain

This is the most popular (and most crowded) trail on Mt. Fuji. More than half of Mt. Fuji's hikers each year use this trail--that means 149,969 hikers scaled it in 2019. Follow yellow signs on this trail.

Trailhead: The Fuji Subaru Line Fifth Station is extremely lush. At 7,550 feet elevation, a little less than two-thirds up the volcano, there are restaurants and gift and gear shops to purchase essentials before or after your trek. These shops, which also exist at other trailheads, are the last place to get just-in-case gear at a reasonable price before they skyrocket higher up the mountain.

Terrain: The ascent and descent travel on different trails. Going up, you'll take switchbacks on a relatively flat surface until the seventh station, where you'll encounter more sizable lava rocks on and off the trail. Once you reach the eighth station on the ascent, the Yoshida Trail merges with the Subashiri Trail until the summit. Watch your footing on the downhill; it can be steep and unstable with loose rocks, especially if it's raining. If it's not raining, dust can easily get in your shoes, so some hikers recommend packing gaiters.

Sleep: There are plenty of mountain huts with bathrooms, snacks on sale, and places to sleep on the mountain. On the descent, there aren't any available until you reach the trailhead.

Subashiri Trail: 7.8 miles, 5,744 feet elevation gain

With just over 20,000 hikers in 2019, this trail isn't as nearly as popular as the famous Yoshida, but it absorbs the crowds of it when the two merge after the eighth station. Before then, follow the red signs to stay on-trail.

Trailhead: At 6,560 feet in elevation, this trail's fifth station starting point is just a little over halfway up the mountain. This station is not as developed as some others on the mountain: There's only a parking lot, bathroom, and two small shops and restaurants. There aren't any coin lockers available, either.

Terrain: At the start, you're still under the treeline, so you'll hiking through a forest until you reach the seventh station, eventually join trails with the Yoshida Trail, and start scaling large lava rocks. The descent is similar to the Yoshida Trail's: steep and slidey.

Sleep: There aren't any mountain huts available on the descent below the eighth station, but on your way down, you can still access those that were on the ascending trail.

Gotemba Trail: 13.1 miles, 7,769 feet elevation gain

In 2019, only 12,230 hikers followed the green signs up the Gotemba Trail, the longest and least popular on the mountain.

Trailhead: Take the bus from Gotemba Station to the trailhead, which, at 4,750 feet, is about 40 percent the way up the mountain. This is the least-developed trailhead on Fuji: There's only a small shop, a bus stop, toilets and a couple parking spots.

Terrain: Because the fifth station trailhead is the lowest in elevation on the mountain, the hike to the summit is the longest. Here, you'll move through long, exposed slopes of volcanic gravel and fields of lava rock until the eighth station. Enjoy the pockets of foliage and ambient insect sounds as you hike. Known as the osunabashiri (great sand run), the descent trail is a quick route to the trailhead because you could literally run (or slide down) some of it if you'd like. The wide, straight path is covered in lava gravel, so you can extend your stride without worrying about tripping on a rogue root. Some call it monotonous; some call it efficient. You decide.

Sleep: There aren't many places where you can get shut-eye on this trail. There are only a few mountain huts on this trail, and none between Oishi-Chaya (near the fifth station) and the seventh station.

Fujinomiya Trail: 4.7 miles, 4,324 feet elevation gain

Because it's a quick burn and easy to access, this is the second most popular route to the summit.

Trailhead: The Fujinomiya fifth station is the second most developed of the four major trailheads going to the top of Fuji. It offers lots of parking, a shop to get last-minute gear or souvenirs, a restaurant, and bathrooms. Hikers start the trail at 7,870 feet elevation; it's the highest trailhead up the mountain, which means the hike is the shortest.

Terrain: Generally, the Fujinomiya Trail is very rocky and steep. It's the only out-and-back route, meaning the ascent trail is the same as the descent, sometimes making trails congested during hiking season. There were 53,232 hikers on this trail in 2019. Note that the west-facing trail does not offer views of the sunrise before reaching the summit.

Sleep: There are about half a dozen mountain huts along the way, one at every station leading to the summit (and back toward the trailhead, because it's an out-and-back trail).

Each trail has stations to camp, buy food, and use the restroom. (Photo: Kamal Zharif bin Kamaludin via Getty Images)

Transportation

There are lots of ways to get to the trailhead. Be sure to check for seasonality before booking--some routes and methods are only open during hiking season.

Yoshida Trail

From Fujikawaguchiko

Located in the foothills of Mt. Fuji, the Kawaguchiko Station is a fast, cheap way to get to the Yoshida Trail's Fuji-Subaru Line Fifth Station. A one-way trip takes 50 minutes and costs 1,780 yen ($12.75) or 2,800 yen round-trip ($20). During hiking season, there are hourly bus trips each way on the mountain, and in the off-season, there are four buses per day. There are no seat reservations.

From Tokyo

Start at Shinjuku Station's bus and taxi terminal (Busta Shinjuku) and take the bus directly to Fuji Subaru Line Fifth Station. There are two trips to and from the fifth station daily during the off-season and hourly buses in-season. A one-way trip takes about 2.5 hours and costs 3,800 yen ($27.20). Seat reservations are required.

Subashiri and Gotemba

These trail's fifth stations are the easiest to access from Tokyo's public transportation.

From Tokyo

You'll get to take the Japan Rail the entire 2-hour journey from Tokyo to Gotemba. The JR Tokaido Line goes from Tokyo to Kozu is a 75-minute journey and there are plenty of departures each day to accommodate all schedules. From there, change to the JR Gotemba Line to Gotemba Station, which is another 50-minute journey that usually has one or two departures each day. The whole journey from Tokyo to Gotemba Station will only cost 1,980 yen ($14.20).

The Gotemba bus station offers rides to the Gotemba fifth station and Subashiri fifth station trailheads.

Before the pandemic, there were buses daily during hiking season between Gotemba Station and the Subashiri fifth station and on weekends and holidays during the off-season. In 2023's off-season during the first six months of the year, there were no buses running, and the in-season 2023 bus schedule has not been announced yet.

When they do run, the bus ride to the Subashiri Trail lasts an hour and costs 1,570 yen ($11.25) one-way and 2,100 round-trip ($15.05). The one-way bus ride to the Gotemba Trail is 40 minutes and costs 1,130 yen ($8.10) and 1,570 yen ($11.25) round-trip. Both fares are likely to rise this year, though.

Fujinomiya

This trail's fifth station is the most accessible via public transportation from western Japan. Direct buses can take you there after riding the Japan Rail Tokaido Shinkansen to the Shin-Fuji or Mishima stations.

To Shin-Fuji Station

The direct one-way trip to the Fujinomiya fifth station is 2.5 hours long and costs 2,740 yen ($19.60) and 3,700 ($26.50) round-trip.

By bus from Mishima Station

The direct one-way trip takes two hours and costs 2,500 yen ($17.90) and 3,400 ($24.35) round-trip. This bus only runs during hiking season.

Weather can change quickly on Mt. Fuji. Pack for it all: cold-weather clothes, waterproof layers, and sun protection. (Photo: electravk via Getty Images)

Accommodations

Want a chance to watch the sunrise from the top of Japan's most famous peak? You'll need a place to spend the night. Each route offers huts up the mountain, which can hold between 70 and 350 other hikers. You'll also be well-fed in these huts. You'll get bento box meals: for dinner, usually a small amount of curry rice, and for breakfast, rice, meat, and pickled vegetables meant to eat on the go.

The average price to stay in these huts is between 5,500 yen and 8,000 yen ($40 to $57) per hiker each night. Some mountain huts don't accept hikers who arrive late at night. Plan accordingly when booking your accommodations and creating your trip itinerary.

Bring cash with you: The huts only accept cash for snack and drink purchases. Also, there are both public toilets and hut toilets available up the mountain. These are all ecological toilets that use oyster shells, sawdust, and more to collect human waste. There's a small fee to use the facilities on the trails, so be sure to bring some coins for that too.

Tips For Hikers

The weather can change quickly: One hour, you'll be hiking in sunshine, the next, rain. Gear that will keep you warm and dry in wind and rain is essential. June, July, and August are rainy months for Japan, so pack accordingly. Don't be fooled by the humid, hot temperatures you feel at sea level--at the summit, temperatures dip to a little above the freezing point.

The summit is at 12,388 feet, putting some hikers at risk for altitude sickness. If you start feeling symptoms, you can purchase cans of oxygen at the mountain huts at different stations.

As a large composite volcano made of basalt, Mt. Fuji is a rare wonder in the world. It's a composite (cone-shaped) volcano because of its layers and layers of hardened lava, lapilli, and ash from repeated eruptions. Basalt is an unusual volcanic byproduct in Japan, where many large volcanoes produce andesite.

For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today.
Moncherie / E+ - Getty Images

If you've almost given up hope on finding the job of your dreams, we've got some good news for you! The Center for Dairy Research in Madison, Wisconsin has just announced a stellar, new researcher position that requires you to sample cheese, pizza, and other foods all week.

The Descriptive Sensory Panelist position is completely paid ($15 per hour, to be exact), so you can make some extra cash while you nosh on all your faves!

"The Center for Dairy Research is looking for individuals passionate about all types of foods, but especially cheese, pizza and other dairy products," reads a description of the position. "Once hired, we will train you to become part of a group of expert tasters capable of verbally describing their sensory experience on the basis of appearance, texture, taste and aroma attributes for research and product development purposes. Panelists should expect to be tasting up to 24 cheese samples and 12 pizzas a week along with other food products."

Although sampling pizza and various cheeses is a big part of the job, you will be required to put in some additional work. Those chosen to serve as a Descriptive Sensory Panelist will have to describe a wide range of food products, take part in panel discussions, attend training discussions, and more.

Before you dust off your resume, it is worth noting that the job is based in Madison, Wisconsin. But if you think you're up for the job, you can apply directly to the position by visiting the University of Wisconsin-Madison website. Best of luck!

You Might Also Like
In the last eight months, Kings of Indigo (KOI) filed for bankruptcy and found new ownership, but the Amsterdam-based brand is not missing a step on its sustainability mission.

KOI outlined the collaborative actions it is taking to make good on its pledge of Doing It Right in the companys 2022 CSR report.

More from Sourcing Journal

In 2022, KOI reported that it used 99.2 percent more sustainable materials in its collection and just 0.8 percent virgin synthetic materials.

Cottoneither organic or recycledwas the most used fiber with 82 percent, followed by natural fibers like hemp and linen (6 percent) and man-made cellulosic fibers by Lenzing (5 percent).

Cotton-rich jeans accounted for more than 60 percent of KOIs product range in 2022. The brand said its working to further reduce denims impact on chemicals and water use by working with suppliers to implement innovative technologies.

KOI uses laser and ozone washing for lighter shades and worn effects. A Turkish supplier uses F-stones, a polymer-based stone that is 700 times more durable than pumice stones, as a substitute for conventional stonewashing. The brand has also replaced harmful bleach chemicals with organic bleach.

The brand relies on simpler ways to reduce its impact as well. Non-dyed ecru denim accounted for 5 percent of its 2022 assortment. Raw denim, which goes through zero wash processes, made up one percent. It also offers rinse denim, or dark blue jeans that are washes one time with only water. The softer than raw denim jeans accounted for 13 percent of collection.

Denim has a large role in the brands mission for making products with physical and emotional durability.

In 2023, KOI will set a minimum durability requirement for all its products and fine-tune its communication strategy to promote emotional attachment to jeans. It will do this with storytelling that highlights the cost per wear benefits of investing in durable pieces and through information about low-impact home laundry and repair.

Story continues

Durability plays into the brands circular goals. To celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2022, KOI launched two styles of rinse denim jeans made with 100 percent pre-consumer recycled cotton, organic cotton back patches and removable metal buttons.

Beyond products, the brand is taking steps to promote a circular economy. In 2023, it will begin to offer consumers at least two repair option and begin to reduce overstock by making smarter use of data. Goals for 2024 include launching a reuse program, establishing a system to have its own garments recycled and re-introduce Reuse the Blues, a 2019 concept collection made from recycled materials.

KOI also mapped out changes in its supply chain.

In 2023, KOI will move most of its production out of Tunisiaits biggest tier 1 production country in 2022to suppliers in Turkey, which already accounts for a quarter of its tier 1 production and half of its raw materials. Turkeys share will grow to 70 percent.

The report does not disclose why KOI is leaving Tunisia except to highlight the benefits of keeping its production local.

It is part of our strategy to source not only the ready-made garments as locally as possible, but also other processing steps and materials in the same area, the brand stated. In 2022, 12 percent of our production is sourced completely from Turkey. This way we avoid unnecessary impact from transport.

KOI said it is also looking closer at Bulgaria and Greece, which each accounted for 10.5 percent of its tier 1 production countries in 2022.

A roster of new suppliers means KOI will need to do the due diligence to ensure a studier social compliance system.

The brand said it will create a top three list of social compliance initiatives to join in 2023. By 2024, the company has goals to become a member of one of the initiatives, have a clear understanding of the social principles at all its fabric suppliers and factories past tier 1 and have insight into the wages (and wage gap) at its suppliers.

Click here to read the full article.
KITTERY, Maine  Police are warning residents Oscar-winning actor George Clooney's name was used in a scam targeting a short-term rental property owner in town.

The Kittery Police Department reported Monday a property owner recently received a letter, purportedly from the town, claiming they had not paid a short-term rental unit registration fee. Police wrote about the scam on social media, noting the letter called for the property owner to pay a false fee online.

The phony letter is signed "George Clooney, Senior Planner, town of Kittery," police reported. The scam warned of a penalty of $150 per day.

It goes without saying that George Clooney is a good actor, but he does not work for the Town of Kittery, the police department advised. If you receive any letter purported to be from the Town of Kittery, visit the town hall or at least call the actual town hall number to speak to someone about it. Do not send any money to George Clooney or anyone else just because they indicated they work for the Town.

The Kittery Police Department is warning residents of a financial scam involving short-term rental units in town and actor, producer and director George Clooney.

Clooney, 62, has most recently starred in Ticket to Paradise opposite Julia Roberts, and his work includes films such as Syriana, the Oceans movie series, and the television show ER."

Scammers can make letters and emails appear to come from the town and its worth it to make sure before paying, Kittery police wrote.

More local news: Glenn Close, 'Property Brothers' shoot 'Celebrity IOU' backyard makeover in Eliot, Maine

The truth on Kittery short-term rentals

Kittery does not have a registration fee for short-term rental units, though town code mandates each short-term rental operator must have a town-issued license renewed annually with a fee. Kitterys planning department is led by Jason Garnham, the director of planning and development, as well as town planner Maxim Zakian and project planner Kathy Connor.

According to the towns code, a short-term rental unit is defined as a residential unit used for dwelling, sleeping or lodging purposes for periods of fewer than 30 consecutive days; for compensation, directly or indirectly.

Story continues

The Kittery Town Council revised its rules surrounding short-term rental units earlier this year, establishing policies on the number of licenses issued and fees for licenses.

Kittery police can be reached at 207-439-1638. The Maine attorney general's office invites the public to report scams to 800-436-2131.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Kittery police: Scammer signs off as George Clooney, don't pay fee
A grainy photograph that shows a large blue battered fishing boat in the ocean filled with people

In this image provided by Greece's coast guard on June 14 shows scores of people on a battered fishing boat that later capsized and sank off southern Greece. Credit - Hellenic Coast Guard/AP

Rescuers fanned out off the coast of Greece on Thursday after at least 78 people died when a fishing boat carrying hundreds of migrants capsized off the southern Peloponnese in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The fishing boat may have been carrying as many as 750 people, of which around 100 were children, according to survivors. Only 104 individuals have been rescued and taken to shelter as of Thursday and experts say its unlikely anyone else will be found alive.

Greek authorities cited the incident as one of the largest migrant tragedies ever recorded on the central Mediterranean migration route. The E.U.s border agency, Frontex, spotted the boat Tuesdaywhich was packed with passengers who werent wearing life jacketsand alerted Greek and Italian authorities. Officials say the boats engine likely stopped working or ran out of fuel and began to veer off course before sinking at around 2 a.m. local time 50 miles south-west of Pylos, a town in southwestern Greece.

Its one of the biggest [search] operations ever in the Mediterranean, Greek coastguard spokesman Nikos Alexiou told state ERT TV of the ongoing search effort, Al Jazeera reported. We wont stop looking, he added. Overnight, six coastguard vessels, navy frigate, and other military transport were utilized in the rescue, but efforts have been hindered by strong winds.

Survivors were taken to the port city of Kalamata, where many are being treated for hypothermia and dehydration. Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased have been moved to Athens where the identification process will begin with the help of relevant embassies.

As the search continues, heres everything we know about the capsized boat.

Members of the Red Cross and UNHCR wait outside of a hangar where more than 100 migrants have been temporarily housed as the Greek Coast Guard ship with 79 recovered bodies arrives to a port in Kalamata on June 14. Byron SmithGetty Images

What happened to the boat?

The boat, around 20 to 30 meters in length (65 ft. to 98 ft.)as per aerial pictures released by the coast guardwas believed to be making its way from Libya to Italy carrying Egyptian, Syrian, Pakistani, Afghan, and Palestinian passengers, most of them young men. The boat had been traveling for a few days, according to local media.

Story continues

The Greek coastguard provided a timeline of the boats movements, according to the BBC. Initial contact by the Greek shipping ministry was made with the boat at 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday and no request for help had been made. It was then approached by a Maltese cargo ship and supplied with food and water at around 6 p.m. At around 1:40 a.m on Wednesday, the coast guard was alerted by someone that the boats engine had malfunctioned and the boat was capsizing. It took around fifteen minutes for the boat to fully submerge.

Survivors of a shipwreck sleep at a warehouse at the port in Kalamata, Greece on June 14, 2023. Thanassis StavrakisAP

Reuters reported that Alarm Phone, which operates a Europe-wide network supporting rescue operations, received alerts from people aboard the ship on late Tuesday. The volunteer-run project also said the captain fled the ship on a small boat.

Is this the Mediterraneans deadliest shipwreck?

The Mediterraneans deadliest recorded shipwreck took place on April 18, 2015; an overcrowded fishing boat, carrying as many as 1,100 migrants, collided off the coast of Libya with a ship that was trying to provide support. Only 28 people survived the collision. A record number of deaths were recorded that year in the Mediterranean, with 3,771 migrants and refugees perishing while trying to reach Europe.

The U.N.s International Organization for Migration has recorded more than 26,000 deaths or disappearances in the Mediterranean since 2014, including over 20,000 along the Central Mediterranean route, making it the worlds deadliest one.

Read More: The Inspiring True Story Behind Netflixs The Swimmers

People transfer body bags carrying migrants who died after their boat capsized in the open sea off Greece, onboard a Hellenic Coast Guard vessel at the port of Kalamata, Greece, on June 14, 2023. Stelios MisinasReuters

How are officials and aid workers responding?

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou has since visited rescued people and expressed sorrow for those who died. Greece currently has a caretaker government pending a runoff election on June 25, but politicians are halting their campaigns out of respect. A legal investigation has also been called to look into the circumstances of the deaths.

The Greek shipping ministry has said nine Egyptians were arrested over the shipwreck. According to witnesses, Greek Skai TV reported, the ship departed from Egypt before stopping at the Libyan port city of Tobruk, and then set sail to Italy.

Meanwhile, Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, said she is deeply saddened by the news and pledged further cooperation between the E.U. and neighboring countries to crack down on migrant smuggling practices.

But rights groups are criticizing the E.U. policies that they say force migrants to take life-threatening routes. Its really shocking to hear that Frontex flew over the boat and no one intervened because the boat refused all offers of help, Jerome Tubiana, a humanitarian researcher at Doctors Without Borders told French radio, adding that European and Greek authorities should both have intervened earlier. An overloaded boat is a boat in distress.

E.U. leaders must urgently expand safe routes so people are not forced onto these deadly journeys. They need to show a far greater degree of willingness to share responsibility with countries of first arrival like Greece and Italy than we saw in the recent New Pact negotiations, said Eftychia Georgiadi, head of programs at the International Rescue Committees Greece office.

She added: Its time to finally forge a coherent European approach to asylum and migration that puts the protection of its people at its heart. If they fail to do so, many in desperate need of protection will continue to perish in the Mediterranean.

On Thursday, thousands of protesters gathered in Athens and in Thessaloniki calling on the E.U. to relax its migration policies. In Kalamata, Reuters reported, protesters marched outside a migrants shelter. Crocodile tears! No to the EUs pact on migration, one banner read.
Among the LGBTQ librarians dedicated to keeping materials accessible to all include, from left, Jenna Ingham, Roy Kinsey, Gabby Womack and Kathleen Breitenbach. (Illustration by Aisha Yousaf; photos courtesy of subjects)

When Chicago branch librarian Roy Kinsey was a teen, he says, "I remember coming to the library and flipping through books and looking up 'gay,' looking up 'bisexual.' I was so hungry. I was looking for characters, people living my story."

Ditto for Gabby Womack, an academic librarian in the Boston area who was raised in a conservative Florida community. She didn't find representation in stories until she was an adult, which prompted a welcome realization: "Are you saying I'm worthy of love?"

Similarly, Jordan (who asked that his last name not be used), growing up in a conservative Appalachian family, was in high school by the time he read a book containing a gay character: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, from a school librarian who kept a secret stash of titles "she knew kids needed, but could not be displayed." Now a middle school librarian in South Carolina, Jordan realizes if he'd had access to queer-themed books at a younger age, "that could've changed how I viewed the world  and viewed myself."

Such early experiences, of searching for but not finding themselves in the stacks, motivate many of the queer librarians currently fighting on the frontlines of America's culture wars  pushing back against book bans to keep materials accessible, and to create safe, supportive spaces for LGBTQ youth.

It's something that's become harder and harder to do. According to the American Library Association (ALA), which began tracking such data over 20 years ago, 2022 brought the highest number of attempted book bans, or challenges, to date: 1,269 cases  a near doubling of the 729 reported in 2021  of a record 2,571 titles, a 38% increase from the 1,858 titles targeted in 2021. Of the challenges, 58% targeted materials in schools, while 41% focused on public libraries.

And more than ever before  in 90% of cases, in fact  challenges come in the form of long lists compiled by organized censorship groups; 40% involved 100 or more books, whereas prior to 2021, most library challenges involved a single book.

Story continues

What's being targeted? Mainly books written by or about LGBTQ people and people of color. Of the top 13 banned or challenged books of 2022, seven  including young adult titles Gender Queer: A Memoir, All Boys Aren't Blue and Flamer  were LGBTQ-themed.

Adding to the pressure on librarians, though, has been the passage of laws in at least seven states, including Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri, targeting librarians directly, imposing imprisonment and huge fines for providing "harmful" books to children, reports the Washington Post.

Gender Queer: A Memoir, by Maia Kobabe, pictured here with other LGBTQ-themed titles, is currently the No. 1 most-challenged book in America. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

"During the pandemic, it was like, 'librarians are everything! Educators are great!' And suddenly, everyone hates us. I'm seeing fellow librarians losing their jobs just for an LGBTQ display," laments Womack.

"If you go to a library and see what the librarians are doing, it's hard to imagine anyone being against it," ALA president-elect Emily Drabinski, who is queer, tells Yahoo Life. "We build collections that allow people to find themselves on the shelves."

Still, there has been a growing climate of censorship across the country, from New Jersey, where an attempt to ban six LGBTQ books at a local library was recently reversed, to Texas, where Gov. Abbott just signed a bill condoning the removal of books from shelves. It's why queer librarians and allies are seen by many as heroes right now.

"They call me the 'town hero,' which is adorable, but it shouldn't have to be that way," says Jenna Ingham, a branch librarian in a "not very diverse" New Jersey town of her supportive library and town officials.

"I grew up a queer teen on the fringes, and didn't feel like the world was made for me," Ingham tells Yahoo Life. "The goal is to be there for the teens, to make them feel seen, to make them feel valid." Because, Ingham adds, "When you see yourself reflected back at you in the book, you feel like there is a place for you."

She's made it her business to not only keep materials accessible and to create Pride displays, but to foster a safe space for LGBTQ youth and to be out, offering herself as a supporter and confidante.

"I had a teen tell me I was the only adult in their life that respects their pronouns," Ingham shares. "I recently had a trans teen come out to me. I had only just met them, but after 25 minutes of conversation they felt comfortable. I believe I was the first person they said it out loud to."

Sometimes, she says, "My existence as an out queer adult is kind of all they need."

'So much more than buildings that house books'

"I've been a big out librarian for like 15 years," says Kathleen Breitenbach, the teen librarian in Hamilton Township, N.J., who serves on the national Rainbow Book List Committee, and whose resource guide, LGBTQIA+ Books for Children and Teens, is about to be released in its second edition. "I wear a lot of stuff to indicate I am being purposely, visibly queer, so they are like, 'Ah, I can talk to that person.'"

Since Breitenbach, who uses they/them pronouns, began in the field, the number of possible Rainbow Book List titles has skyrocketed, from about 150 to around 700. "It's just exploded and gone more mainstream with the big publishers  so that's been really great," they say.

But then came the book challenges, which "were relatively flat for a number of years, but in 2021, just took off. And that, combined with all of the other issues for queer people in the U.S., and especially queer youth, trans youth, "has gotten frightening," they say. While there have been no formal challenges in their public library, the local school district has had several, mostly concerning queer memoirs. "So that, with the other stuff, is really pushing a message of, 'We don't want to show that queer lives exist.'"

When school-library challenges occur, Breitenbach is notified and steps in to speak out and get supports, like the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom, in place. Because access to these books, they reiterate, is everything.

"It's letting them know that they're not alone, that there's nothing wrong with them," they say. "It's so important for the queer kids, but also for the non-queer kids, to see, 'Oh this exists. They're normal, not three-headed dragons.'"

Adds Hal Patnott, the Rainbow Services Librarian for Oak Park district in Illinois, "Access is very much at the root of what my goals are  and not just access to books that reflect who you are, which can be lifesaving, but also to space where LGBTQ youth can experience joy  while feeling safe and affirmed. Libraries are so much more than buildings that house books." As a trans person who grew up "in a very conservative community," Patnott adds, "being an out queer role model means a lot to me."

As it does for Kinsey, in a nearby branch, pointing out that Illinois recently outlawed book bans.

"Chicago is not having it at all," he says, adding that the city declared its entire library system a Book Sanctuary in 2022. At his branch, Kinsey, also a rapper  and conscious of his importance as a Black man in the library field, "usually dominated by white women"  hosts an open mic series, and is dedicated to being out, including how he decorates his desk, with rainbows and James Baldwin quotes.

"This is what Pride means," he says. "People have fought for us to be visible  and not just for June."

A major development towards that goal has been the Brooklyn Public Library's Books Unbanned initiative, which invites individuals ages 13 to 21 to apply for a free BPL eCard, granting access to the entire eBook collection, including the many banned titles.

"We hear from a lot of queer teens, and especially trans and nonbinary teens, that books they want to read  Gender Queer comes up a lot  either have been pulled from the school or public library  or maybe was never ordered in the first place," Leigh Hurwitz, coordinator of BPL's school outreach services tells Yahoo Life. "Or maybe they do have Gender Queer in the library but they are 13 and tried to borrow it and staff members, against policy, have prevented the teen from borrowing the book  or it's been hidden on the shelf, or they're afraid to bring it to the front desk."

Since the April 2022 launch of the program  since replicated in Seattle  the library has given out over 6,500 eCards, to people in every state plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, used for over 100,000 checkouts.

The initiative aims to "give teens tools to be able to advocate for themselves," says Hurwitz, adding, "There is more privacy when you're reading an eBook  because nobody can see the cover. That's a safety concern not only at school, but at home, and it gives [teens] the chance to read what might otherwise be monitored by parents."

The power of allies

Bolstering the work of branch and school librarians is that of their supporters  social media influencers, pro-library alliances and straight librarian allies.

"I want to provide parents or educators a platform, so they can skim my feed to find something," says Forrest Evans, an Atlanta-based digital media specialist who shares LGBTQ titles on Instagram as Favorite Librarian and discusses them on her podcast. In Georgia, bills have targeted library professionals, and, she says, "What I provide combats that effortlessly and beautifully while uplifting queer authors and illustrators."

On the ground in Louisiana's St. Tammany Parish, meanwhile, the two founders of LGBTQ group Queer Northshore sprang into action when the Pride display at a local library was challenged, explain Jeremy Thompson and Mel Manuel. Together, they formed the St. Tammany Parish Library Alliance, active at library board meetings to protect Pride displays and LGBTQ books, many of which have been taken out of circulation.

It's not been an easy fight, Manuel tells Yahoo Life. Librarians have largely been warned to not engage. Plus, "We just found out that after a year of supporting our St. Tammy Parish library systems," says Manuel, who is funneling pro-library efforts into a run for Congress, "not a single branch has chosen to support us and celebrate Pride with us."

But the efforts are particularly vital in such rural and conservative communities  like in Donnelly, Iowa, population 134, where the library, until very recently, hosted a monthly LGBTQ book club for teens. Led by a student, it drew a dedicated crew of six, which was "big," library director Sherry Scheline tells Yahoo Life of what served as the only LGBTQ safe space around.

"One night, there was a horrible snowstorm, and they got off the bus and showed up two hours early, because they were afraid if they went home they wouldn't be able to go back out, and they didn't want to miss book club," says Scheline.

"Small-town librarians, especially since COVID, have had to step up  especially for the LGBTQ community," she says. "Every library should be a place for refuge, whether large or small. But especially in a small community, it's the only place that is the great equalizer."

Wellness, parenting, body image and more: Get to know the who behind the hoo with Yahoo Life's newsletter. Sign up here.
Louisville Burger Week, presented by the Kentucky Beef Council, will return to Louisville from Monday, July 17 to Sunday, July 23. Participants can download the Louisville Burger Week app from Google Play and the App Store for a chance to win prizes.

Louisville Burger Week will return in July, giving customers the chance to support local restaurants by purchasing $7 burgers for seven days from more than 45 vendors including Agave and Rye, Bambi Bar, Khalil's, Fistful of Ale, and more.

The annual event, held Monday, July 17 to Sunday, July 23, is presented by the Kentucky Beef Council. Customers can download the Louisville Burger Week app, available on both Google Play and the App Store, for a chance to win prizes. If you check in at four or more participating Burger Week locations, you will be automatically entered to win a grand prize of $250 in participating restaurant gift cards, according to a news release.

People can earn points for consuming $7 burgers, Against the Grain Beer specials, and Jack Daniel's Whiskey specials. The 10 users with the highest number of points will be entered to win another grand prize of $250 in participating restaurant gift cards.

Additionally, the app will allow users to receive real-time restaurant updates while viewing the full list of participating restaurants, specialty burgers, Against the Grain specials, Jack Daniel's specials, a map of restaurant locations, and more.

You may like: Restaurant known for its Chicago-style pizza and hot dogs announces immediate closure

For more information, visit louisvilleburgerweek.com

2023 Louisville Burger Week locations

A burger and fries at 80/20 at Kaelin's, one of the many restaurant participating in the 2023 Louisville Burger Week.

Story continues

You may like: INSIDE LOOK: Immersive farm-to-table shopping experience opens on River Road. Take a peek

Reach features reporter Leah Hunter via email at lhunter@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville Burger Week 2023: What restaurants participating, menu
A bicameral, bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is making another go at closing a loophole that it says gives e-commerce retailers an unfair trade advantage.

On Thursday, Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Neal Dunn (R.-Fla.) reintroduced the Import Security and Fairness Act, which seeks to prevent imports valued under $800 from non-market economies, such as China and Russia, from utilizing the de minimis provision to skirt duties, taxes or fees to the U.S. government. The legislation would also require Customs and Border Protection to gather more information on such shipments, including their country of origin and the identities of their importers.

More from Sourcing Journal

This loophole is essentially a backdoor way for competitors like China to ship goods into the U.S. without paying the tariffs and other taxes and fees they owe, Brown said. Ohio workers should not be forced to compete with foreign competitors that cheat. Our bill would stop Chinese companies from abusing our trade laws to undermine Ohio businesses and their workers.

Critics of the de minimis threshold also say that it allows e-tail juggernauts like Shein and Temu, which dispatch their packages directly from China, from evading scrutiny from customs officials under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). The law, which has been in effect for nearly a year, imposes a rebuttable presumption that any product with a nexus to the Chinese province of Xinjiang is the result of forced labor and therefore inadmissible to the United States.

A Bloomberg investigation last year uncovered traces of Xinjiang cotton in some Shein items purchased on separate occasions. This week, a Tel-Aviv-based supply-chain intelligence firm said it found at least 10 items made or sold by Xinjiang businesses that are available in the United States through Temu.

Story continues

The de minimis loophole is a threat to American competitiveness, consumer safety, and basic human rights, said Blumenauer, whose original version of the bill failed to pass Congress last year. It is used by primarily Chinese companies to ship over two million packages a day into the United States. It puts American businesses at a competitive disadvantage while flooding American consumers with undoubtedly harmful products. There is virtually no way to tell whether packages that come in under the de minimis limit contain products made with forced labor, intellectual property theft, or are otherwise dangerous. It is time to close this loophole once and for all.

Kimberly Glas, president and CEO of the National Council of Textile Organizations, which represents the interests of U.S. textile manufacturers, said that the gaping loophole allows more than 2 million shipments a day to enter the U.S. market duty-free and largely uninspected, undermining the competitiveness of domestic manufacturers and workers.

It also endangers American consumers by allowing tainted products like those made with forced labor and counterfeits to land on our doorsteps, she said. We look forward to continuing to work with Senator Brown and Senator Rubio on their legislation to address this serious problem.

The de minimis loophole allows for an import explosion of 2 Million+ uninspected packages per day into the U.S. Some contain illicit drugs, counterfeits, & products that avoid safety testing.



CPA applauds @RepBlumenauer for introducing the Import Security & Fairness Act to pic.twitter.com/xNbVwstVBs  The Coalition for a Prosperous America (@cpa_tradereform) June 15, 2023

Rubio has been a vocal opponent of Shein. Last week, he wrote to his colleagues on Capital Hill to ask them to join him in holding the Singapore-headquartered company accountable for its trade tricks and crimes. Shein is able to offer such a cornucopia of products at rock-bottom prices not because of any particular competitive advantage, but because it steals intellectual property, infringes copyrights, exploits U.S. trade law and uses fabric linked to Uyghur slave labor, he said.

Yet, Shein products have so far avoided punishment and scrutiny, Rubio said. In part, that is because Shein ships small packages direct-to-consumer using a trade loophole known as de minimis entry. Shein abuses this entry category to avoid customs duties and inspections on its unethically produced products. Sheins exploitation of de minimis entry prevents scrutiny under UFLPA, cheats taxpayers of customs revenue, and undercuts American competitors that play by the rules.

Shein has maintained that it has no manufacturers in the Xinjiang region and that its committed to respecting human rights and complying with local laws in the markets in which it operates, including the United States. Temu did not respond to a request for comment.

More than half (59 percent) of American voters support reforming the de minis law to include shipments valued under $800, according to recent polling conducted by Morning Consult for the Alliance for American Manufacturing, a nonprofit founded by American manufacturers and the United Steelworkers in 2007. A majority of those same voters87 percentwant the government to clamp down on unfair trade practices.

The existing $800 threshold undermines trade enforcement actions designed to level the playing field for American workers, said Scott Paul, the organizations president. Furthermore, customers are put at risk, as Shein and other brands like Temu take advantage of this trade loophole to ship counterfeits, dangerous products, and goods produced with forced labor through U.S. customs undetected.

Voters want de minimis reform, he added. Its time for Congress to act.

The new bill comes on the heels of Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Tammy Baldwins (D-Wis.) De Minimis Reciprocity Act of 2023, which they introduced Wednesday to stop Communist China and other countries from abusing U.S. trade laws that allow small dollar imports into the U.S. duty free.

Cassidy and Baldwins proposal would bar Chinese exports from using the de minimis channel, as well as reduce the threshold for other imports to an amount that matches the threshold other trade partners use, ensuring reciprocity and increasing transparency at our borders. If signed into law, the bill would also require the use of revenue proceeds to establish a fund for reshoring manufacturing away from China.

A trade loophole is allowing Chinese companies to import goods in the U.S. with no oversightletting them bring in cheap, counterfeit goods that undercut American manufacturers and traffic drugs into our communities, Baldwin said. Our bipartisan bill will close this loophole to create a level playing field for our Made in America manufactures, curb the illicit drugs like fentanyl from coming into the country, and help ensure Americans are not supporting goods made with forced labor.

Click here to read the full article.
A new lawsuit says Forman Mills violated federal and state laws when it laid off more than 50 headquarters employees without sufficient notice or severance.

Former assistant buyer Noell Del Rossi filed a class action lawsuit against the 46-store off-price fashion retailer on June 7, claiming that the Pennsauken, N.J.-based company violated the federal and state Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act when it terminated 33 percent or more of its workforce via a statement that read [b]ased on the economic circumstances and operational needs of the business, your position has been eliminated.

More from Sourcing Journal

According to New Jersey state law, the WARN Act requires employers with more than 100 full-time employees (Forman Mills had over 130) to give 90-day advance notice of a layoff of more than 50 employees. The federal WARN Act states that employers must provide a 60-day notice. Del Rossi alleges that Forman Mills failed to do so, as she claims that the affected employees were told the termination was effective immediately, according to the complaint. She also alleged that the off-price chain store failed to pay the federal WARN class members one week of pay for each year of service as required by the New Jersey WARN Act as well as an additional four weeks of pay for not providing the requisite 90-day notice.

Del Rossi is filing the class action to represent all the employees who were terminated without cause on June 6 by Forman Mills, which has a presence in nine states plus an e-commerce site.

The lawsuit is seeking damages in the amount of unpaid wages and salary, commissions and bonuses, accrued holiday and vacation pay, as well as retirement benefits for a 60-day period that would have been covered and paid under the employee benefit plans had that coverage continued for that period.

Story continues

Forman Mills was founded in 1985 by Richard Forman, who sold the business to New York City-based private equity firm Goode Partners in 2016.

Neither Forman Mills nor Goode Partners responded to Sourcing Journals request for comment.

Forman Mills isnt the only retailer accused of violating the WARN Act. Bed Bath & Beyond was sued on the same grounds after it let go of 1,300 workers. The plaintiff, one of the terminated workers, claimed the bankrupt retailer failed to provide the required advance notice and pay the full compensation owed. That lawsuit is now pending as the Chapter 11 case winds through the court system.

Click here to read the full article.
An offshore leasing plan has real benefits, including opportunity for President Biden to achieve his ambitious climate goals.

As the Russian war in Ukraine drags on, global energy markets grapple with continued disruptions and supply constraints and nations worldwide, including close allies, face indefinite reliance on Russian oil and natural gas. In a world eager to stop Russia from projecting geopolitical power by rationing energy supplies that sustain economies - and sometimes life itself - across Europe, the U.S. has an opportunity to provide relief. Unfortunately, the Department of Interior is playing a dangerous waiting game with overdue offshore leasing plans, one that could allow this historic opportunity to slip through Americas fingers.

We saw firsthand, for example, the need to grow available oil supplies as Russias invasion sent energy prices skyward, increasing for five straight months until markets stabilized. The recent G7 summit also reiterated, that we should continue efforts to decrease global reliance on Russian oil and natural gas. The obvious solution? Increase U.S. energy production both to decrease prices and to supply energy to nations wishing to escape Russias stranglehold.

However, bureaucratic gamesmanship here at home continues to obstruct this opportunity to tilt geopolitics in Americas direction. The Interior Department, responsible for oil and gas leases, failed to release its five-year offshore leasing guidance, leaving the U.S. without a renewed plan for the first time in history. Without this plan in place, the U.S. energy industry is left with question marks instead of new production opportunities, keeping them from producing energy supplies needed here at home and around the world.

This situation wont be resolved soon either, as the Biden administration and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced this March they hoped to offer a five-year offshore lease plan for review by September and complete the plan in December. After months without an approved plan, this extended timeline further delays investment and growth.

Story continues

An offshore leasing plan has real benefits, including opportunity for President Biden to achieve his ambitious climate goals. It would allow offshore wind leasing sales, growing Americas clean energy supplies and creating opportunities for offshore wind to stake its claim alongside oil and natural gas. It would also put more oil and gas supplies in the hands of producers whose innovations have produced significantly reduced greenhouse emissions. An analysis by the Clean Air Task Force and Ceres shows U.S. natural gas and oil producers cut methane and CO2 emissions intensity by 28% and 30%, respectively, between 2019 and 2021, all while increasing production.

In addition to environmental benefits, more available energy supply means less American dependence on foreign sources. Federal data shows that offshore leases are vital to U.S. supply, with the Outer Continental Shelf contributing 18% of U.S. oil production and 4% of U.S. natural gas production. The Gulf of Mexico, which produces nearly all of our nations primary offshore oil and gas, would see its oil production decline by 10-15% per year if a plan isnt finalized.

The Interior Department has undermined Americas energy security in other ways. Earlier this year, the Bureau of Land Management proposed a rule that would detract from the efforts already being made by the energy industry to maintain production levels, while reducing environmental impacts. By law, quarterly sales for onshore oil and natural gas development are required, but the rule calls for a larger focus on conservation, jeopardizing the federally leased lands that are used to advance our energy sector. Tools like the National Historic Preservation Act already allow for the preservation of critical areas and the federal lands currently leased for our national energy advancements make up a mere 4% of the total. With the Biden administration repeatedly failing to meet the lease sale requirement, the proposed rule would diminish more valuable resources that would have the ability to bolster our energy security.

In addition to constraining domestic supplies, missing out on increased production means less ability to help our allies in Europe. The U.S. has exported more than 213.1 million barrels to Europe to cover energy shortfalls during the Ukraine conflict, and American producers provided half of Europes liquefied natural gas supplies in 2022 and 12 percent of its oil, decreasing Europe and Ukraines dependence on Russian supplies. To safeguard U.S. energy independence and continue providing a lifeline to our allies, well need additional oil and gas from supply-rich offshore regions affected by federal leases.

The time is now for Interior to act, as the Consumer Price Index rose nearly 5 percent last year and the Energy Price Index is now more than 10 points higher than it was last May. A new offshore leasing plan will kickstart job creation, boosting an oil and gas sector that already supports nearly $1.8 trillion in U.S. GDP. Most importantly, it will allow the U.S. to not only offer relief for American consumers but impedes Russias ongoing efforts to bully Europe and play politics with global oil markets.

Tom Magness, a retired Army colonel, formerly served as a commander in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Opinion: Dept. of Interior must end waiting game on offshore leases
Ever since her splashy (yet classy) wedding to music executive Elliot Grainge, Sofia Richie Grainge has been riding the It Girl wave with her quiet-luxury-meets-old-money aesthetic in tow. Her honeymoon outfits were a total vibe, her designer wedding dress was to DIEEE for, and her new husband has been hilariously doing her beauty and fashion voiceovers  *insert the TikTok sound that goes thats on Amazon? Whered you get that? .

Sofia Richie was recently spotted stepping out in Beverly Hills, California to attend a Chanel dinner at Mr. Chow. She swapped her honeymoon whites for head-to-toe black, wearing a completely sheer black maxi skirt with a short-sleeve bow bodysuit that gave strong Blair Waldorf vibes. Sofia secured the skirt with a black Chanel belt (the whole fit is Chanel, BTW), carried the worlds tiniest, most adorable ball bag, and appeared to be sporting a pair of silver pointed toe heels.

Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin - Getty Images

Ever the trendsetter, Sofia declared that the side part is back for good (take that, TikTok haters) with a gorgeous set of loose curls draped over her left shoulder styled by Yuichi Ishida. Chanel makeup artist Kara Yoshimoto Bua gave Sofia a warm, peachy blush, a nude lip, and some subtle brown eyeshadow that perfectly complimented her hair.

"Sofia richie wore a side part so I wore a side part," wrote one fan.

The week prior, Sofia posted a poolside outfit on Instagram that her followers totally obsessed over. The model lounged under a vintage-style beach umbrella in a black blouse with a green printed maxi skirt and black stiletto heels, posing with a pair of white '60s-style cat eye sunglasses and a striped handbag.

"Mom can I be like Sofia when I grow up?" joked one of her followers.

Can't get enough of Sofia's classy style? Same, TBH. We put together a round-up of dupes so you can recreate her all-black Chanel outfit below.

You Might Also Like
Sen. Tim Scotts presidential campaign is tapping two longtime South Carolina political consultants to run his 2024 operations in the Palmetto State.

Political consultants Luke Byars and his wife, Drea, and Phillip Habib will run the senators South Carolina campaign leadership team.

Winning campaigns today need a powerful message, a strong messenger and plenty of momentum, the three said in a joint statement. Thankfully, Tim Scott has all three. This is personal for us. We believe in Tim, and no one will work harder than us to make sure hes our next president.

Luke Byars, a senior partner at strategy firm First Tuesday Strategies who served as a former South Carolina Republican Party executive director, will be the Scott campaigns senior adviser and general consultant.

His resume includes work for Mitt Romneys 2012 presidential campaign, the Bob Dole-Jack Kemp campaign in 1996 and for former U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, who Scott succeeded in the U.S. Senate.

Drea Byars will be senior national finance adviser, a role broader than South Carolina. She previously served as finance director for Scotts Senate campaign, and other campaigns, including education Superintendent Ellen Weavers, the S.C. Senate Republican Caucus and Congressmen William Timmons and Russell Fry.

Meanwhile, Habib  First Tuesdays vice president of campaigns, who most recently was campaign manager for Weaver, Fry and, most recently, he ran state Sen. Mike Reichenbachs campaign  will be Scotts state director.

Luke and Drea are not only two of the best conservative tacticians the Palmetto State has to offer, theyre also two great friends to both me and Sen. Scott, said Jennifer DeCasper, Scotts campaign manager. Phillip is a smart, young operative and someone who wont be outworked. Their collective leadership will help us earn South Carolina.

Luke Byars and Habib arent the only First Tuesday Strategies consultants supporting Scotts presidential campaign.

Story continues

Matt Moore, a former state GOP chairman and First Tuesdays managing partner, last month was tapped to be the state chairman on a political action committee backing Scotts candidacy, the Opportunity Matters Fund Action.

Scott formally kicked off his 2024 White House bid Monday.

Within a day of announcing, Scott raised $2 million, according to his campaign.

Official fundraising records for the second quarter of the year arent due to the Federal Elections Commission until July.

The money will help pay for a nearly $6 million ad buy in Iowa and New Hampshire, an effort to build Scotts name ID in the early voting states. Scott brought nearly $22 million saved from his 2022 Senate reelection campaign into his presidential bid.

In polls, Scott, who formed his exploratory committee in April, has continued to rank well under challengers former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and another South Carolinian, former Gov. Nikki Haley. But the launch of his 2024 bid has bumped his polling up, at least in South Carolina.

Among South Carolina Republican primary voters, Scotts support increased from 7% in April to 10% in May, according to a National Public Affairs poll released Tuesday.

The poll of 590 voters was conducted from May 15-17, in the week before Scotts official campaign launch.

A new national Quinnipiac University Poll of Republican primary voters released Wednesday had Scott at 2%.

A Quinnipiac poll released in March had Scott at 1%.
The residents of Perryton, Texas, are digging out after a deadly tornado ripped through the small town, destroying at least 200 homes.

The preliminary damage rating for the Perryton tornado is EF2, the National Weather Service said.

Devastation in Texas

Three people in Perryton were killed: Becky Randall, a woman in her 60s who was found in a print shop; Cindy Bransgrove, a woman also in her 60s who was found in a food bank; and Matthew Ramirez, an 11-year-old boy who died at a trailer park, according to Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard.

PHOTO: Debris covers a residential area in Perryton, Texas, June 15, 2023, after a tornado struck the town. (David Erickson/AP)

Becky Randall is survived by two sons and four grandchildren, who were "her world," Randall's daughter-in-law, Randi Cunningham, told ABC News.

"She loved life. She found joy in everything. There wasn't a single day that she wasn't smiling or laughing or making me feel better," Cunningham said.

PHOTO: Becky Randall is shown in this undated family photo. (Randi Cunningham)

Randall grew up in Perryton, Cunningham said.

"She loved this town, and loved the people in it. And they loved her," she said.

PHOTO: Buildings and vehicles damaged after a tornado struck Perryton, Texas, June 15, 2023. (David Erickson/AP)

Perryton Fire Chief Paul Dutcher estimated the tornado's path through Perryton, near the state line with Oklahoma, was about 1.5 miles. Dutcher said 2 1/2 blocks of the downtown area is "completely wiped out."

Tommy Kerbl's daughter's trailer park neighborhood was among the areas hit.

PHOTO: A handout photo made available by the Booker Fire Department shows the damages of an overnight tornado that has reportedly killed at least three people and injured dozens of others in Perryton, Texas, June 16, 2023. (Booker Fire Department Handout via EPA via Shutterstock)

Kerbl helped with the search and rescue efforts for hours and said he found the body of Ramirez, who was thrown more than 150 yards from his trailer home.

"It's such a panic mode," he told ABC News. "Mom was screaming crying, there was nothing we could do but cover the kid up."

"I've never seen anything like this in my 33 years doing this," Dutcher told ABC News as he held back tears. "We know these people. They go to our church, they live and volunteer here."

PHOTO: Tornado in Perryton Kills at Least 3 (ABC NEWS)

Julio Garcia Merces told ABC News that eight people were in his daughter's trailer home when the tornado touched down.

They first huddled in a back room and hallway, he said, and then he directed everyone to hunker down in a bathroom.

Story continues

MORE: Tips on how to stay safe from a tornado

As Merces ushered everyone into the small room, he said the wind threw him into the air and against the wall like a rag doll.

He said he yelled out to God to protect them.

They all survived, but the home is barely standing. They're now staying at a small hotel nearby while they figure out what's next.

PHOTO: Debris and damaged vehicles cover a street after a tornado hit Perryton, Texas, June 15, 2023. (Alex Driggars/USA Today Network/via Reuters)

PHOTO: Storm damage seen in Perryton, Texas, June 15, 2023 (Sabrina Devers/Facebook)

At least 56 people in Perryton were hurt, with injuries ranging from minor to severe, officials said.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to deploy state emergency response resources to meet urgent life-safety needs in Perryton and issued a disaster declaration to support recovery efforts from extensive damage due to the tornado.

Abbott said in a statement, "I encourage all Texans to heed the guidance of state and local officials and to take all necessary precautions to protect yourselves and your loved ones. We remain ready to quickly provide any additional resources needed over the course of this severe weather event."

PHOTO: Storm damage seen in Perryton, Texas, June 15, 2023. (Sabrina Devers/Facebook)

Fatalities in Mississippi and Florida

Perryton wasn't the only area hit; tornado warnings and severe thunderstorm watches extended across the South.

One person was killed and at least 69 homes damaged in Mississippi from the severe weather, state officials said, and a tornado struck Pensacola, Florida, killing one person after a tree fell on their home, according to Escambia County Fire Rescue.

PHOTO: A tornado forms on June 14, 2023, in Blakely, Ga. (Rand McDonald via AP)

More storms to come

More storms are still in the forecast.

A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for eastern Virginia for Friday night.

On Saturday, there's an enhanced severe weather threat for Oklahoma.

MORE: Extreme heat safety tips: What to know about heat stroke vs. heat exhaustion

On Sunday, tornadoes and strong winds are in the forecast for Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Jackson, Mississippi; and Birmingham, Alabama.

Meanwhile, dangerous, triple-digit heat is baking the South. Record-high temperatures are possible over the next few days in Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and New Orleans.

ABC News' Izzy Alvarez, Jenny Wagnon Courts, Jessica Gorman, Marilyn Heck, Chris Looft, Mireya Villarreal and Morgan Winsor contributed to this report.

Texas town devastated by tornado, 5 dead across South from severe weather originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Former President Donald Trump greeting supporters at Versailles Cuban Restaurant in Miami on June 13. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Trump made a quick stop at a Cuban restaurant in Miami after his second arraignment on Tuesday.

Trump said "food for everyone" after being greeted with birthday wishes from his supporters.

But his fans were left empty-handed when he left the restaurant within 10 minutes.

Eager supporters of former President Donald Trump were promised free food, but they were left hanging when he left a Miami restaurant before picking up the tab, per the Miami New Times.

On Tuesday, Trump made a quick stop at Versailles, a Cuban restaurant in Miami  just after he was arraigned on 37 charges related to the mishandling of classified information. Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges, 31 of which were under the Espionage Act.

The Cuban restaurant was packed with Trump fans, eager to offer him their support and birthday wishes. Trump turned 77 on Wednesday.

It was here that Trump said "food for everyone" to the supporters that had gathered at the Versailles, only to leave the restaurant within 10 minutes, per the Miami New Times.

A source told the Miami New Times that Trump's swift departure meant his supporters barely had the time to order anything.

The New York Times reported that Trump didn't get to enjoy any Cuban food either and instead opted for McDonald's fast-food on his plane ride back to New Jersey.

A spokesperson for Trump told Insider that the former president had "offered to buy food" for his supporters but they "followed him outside" when he was leaving "and did not place orders themselves."

The spokesperson added that the campaign's advance team paid for any to-go meals ordered.

This is not the first time Trump offered to buy food for his supporters. In February, Trump bought local first responders and residents lunch at a McDonald's outlet in East Palestine, Ohio.

Author's note: June 16, 2023  This story has been updated with a response from Trump's spokesperson.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Walmart has opened its largest fulfillment center to date.

The retailer on Thursday celebrated the opening of a new 2.2 million square-foot space, which is located at 5259 W 500 N. in McCordsville, Ind.

More from Footwear News

The new center is one of the four next generation fulfillment centers that Walmart last June committed to opening over the next three years. These centers feature high-tech adjustments including robotics and machine learning and are meant to be strategically placed in locations that complement Walmarts 4,700 stores and 210 distribution centers. The first of these centers opened last September in Joliet, Illinois.

The new Indiana center will help support Walmarts next-day and two-day shipping capabilities and will offer jobs to more than 1,000 Walmart employees, including in tech-focused roles. Almost half of the new employees at the new center transferred from the companys Plainfield center, which Walmart closed after a fire in March 2022.

Walmart said it employs over 43,000 people and operates 127 retail stores in Indiana. The retailer donated $5,000 to two local organizations to celebrate the new centers opening.

The McCordsville grand opening marks a major milestone in our supply chain modernization journey, said Karisa Sprague, SVP of fulfillment network operations for Walmart U.S. With more customers shopping online, were leveraging state-of-the-art technology to increase speed of delivery all while creating tech empowered career opportunities for our associates.

The opening comes after Walmart this year let go hundreds of employees in centers located in New Jersey, Texas, California, Florida and Pennsylvania, reportedly due to a reduction in evening and weekend shifts. In a statement, Walmart confirmed it had adjusted staffing levels at fulfillment centers in certain markets to better prepare for the future needs of customers.

Story continues

And in October, Walmart filed a notice that it would lay off over 1,000 workers at an Atlanta fulfillment center, which it would convert to support its WFS (Walmart Fulfillment Services) business.

In addition to the four new high-tech fulfillment centers, Walmart last month opened its first high-tech market fulfillment center in Arkansas, expanding the use of its stores as fulfillment centers. The new center is built within a Walmart store and is powered by a proprietary storage and retrieval system named Alphabot.

In October, Walmart announced its acquisition of Alert Innovation, a robotics company meant to help automate the order fulfillment process. Walmart said it will use this technology across its 4,700 stores to help fulfill orders more quickly.

Best of Footwear News

Sign up for FN's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.
NBC NewsWire - Getty Images

Content warning: The following piece contains mentions of sexual assault, abuse, and trauma and may be triggering for some. Reader discretion is advised.

Prime Videos latest docuseries Shiny Happy People reveals the dark details behind the seemingly picture-perfect Duggar family, who catapulted to TV fame in 2008 when their reality show 19 Kids and Counting premiered on TLC. The 10-season series, and its spinoff Counting On, followed parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, their 19 children, and their conservative Christian lifestyle in northwestern Arkansas.

19 Kids and Counting was cancelled in 2015 after the Duggars eldest child, Josh Duggar, was accused of sexually assaulting several underage girls. He was never charged for these allegations, but in December 2021, Josh was convicted on two counts of possessing and receiving child pornography, according to the Los Angeles Times, and was sentenced to 12  years in prison.

Shiny Happy People pulls the curtain back on the Duggars, their scandals, their ultra-conservative values, and involvement with the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), a controversial fundamentalist Christian organization founded by Bill Gothard (who was later ousted over sexual harassment allegations) in 1961.

Jim Bob and Michelle have maintained a relatively low profile since their shows cancellation and Joshs arrest, but upon the release of Shiny Happy People, the matriarch and patriarch released a statement on their website, pushing back on the series depiction of their family. The recent documentary that talks about our family is sad because in it we see the media and those with ill intentions hurting people we love, the statement begins.

We have always believed that the best chance to repair damaged relationships, or to reconcile differences, is through love in a private setting. We love every member of our family and will continue to do all we can to have a good relationship with each one, it continues.

Story continues

Where are Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar now?

In 2021, Jim Bob ran as a Republican candidate for Arkansass State Senate and lost in the primary election. He previously served four years in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 1999 to 2002, as depicted in Shiny Happy People.

Jim Bob and Michelle still live at the family home in Tontitown, Arkansas, according to their website. They are also still involved with the Institute in Basic Life Principles, and in Shiny Happy People, family friends Jim and Bobye Holt seemed to suggest that Jim Bob and Michelle lead the organization.

With him being on TLCs show, I think it has definitely given them a platform to encourage people to come to IBLP, Bobye said, per the Los Angeles Times. Theyve encouraged people to move to Arkansas, which is completely a cult move.

However, there is no information to support the claims regarding Jim Bob and Michelle's suspected leadership positions in the IBLP.

You Might Also Like
The rain-lashed isle of Islay off Scotlands west coast is not always easy to get to. Temperamental ferries run three times a day from the mainland port of Kennacraig and frequent sea mists can disrupt the small passenger planes that fly daily from Glasgow.

Even so, the island attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world each year. What do they come for? Whisky.

Despite its small size and a population of just 3,000, Islay is home to nine  soon to be 11  of Scotlands 145 active distilleries. The distinctive smoky flavor of its single malt has won it fans globally. A single page from the visitors book at Ardbeg distillery on the south of the island lists addresses from the UK, US, Australia, Ukraine, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Taiwan.

Jackie Thomson, who has worked in Ardbegs visitor center for more than 25 years, describes these visits as pilgrimages  as if there is a spiritual connection between the people and the whisky. She recalls arriving at the distillery one morning to find a man from the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra playing his violin by the waterfront; other fans from overseas have chosen to get married there.

Part of the reason is that when it comes to an Islay single malt, the place and the taste are so deeply intertwined. The salty breeze that blows in from sweeping white sand beaches settles in ancient peat bogs, which are harvested to fuel the kilns that dry the barley, giving the whisky its smoky, earthy flavor.

Its a liquid that runs through peoples veins, says Thompson. Its very much part of the lifeblood and the real beating heart of Islay  you just have to go to the pub on a Friday or Saturday night and youll feel that very strongly.

As well as being central to the islands identity, whisky also underpins its economy  and represents a significant portion of Scotlands international exports. More than 6 billion-worth ($7.5 billion) of Scotch whisky was sold across 174 markets last year, according to the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), accounting for three quarters of the countrys food and drink exports and almost a quarter of Britains. Whisky tourism has also rocketed, with distilleries receiving more than 2 million visits annually, making them collectively the countrys third most popular attraction.

Story continues

Islays own whisky production, though relatively small (according to the SWA, it accounts for around 6% of the total Scotch malt distilling capacity) is hugely valuable. Last summer, a cask of rare whisky from Ardbegs distillery sold for a staggering 16 million ($20 million) to an unnamed female collector in Asia  the highest sum ever paid at auction for a cask of single malt. It contained enough spirit to fill 440 regular bottles, making each one worth more than $45,000.

In a place like Islay, the news traveled fast. There was a buzz about the island, says Thompson. It was talked about in the local supermarket. There was a feeling of real pride and honesty about it, that somebody wanted to pay that much for a beautiful lot of liquid from 1975.

Boom and bust

Islays tradition of whisky-making goes back generations. Pictured here, circa 1912, are workers hand-cutting peat that is burned in the kilns to dry the barley. - The Glenmorangie Company

Islays whisky industry has not always been a boon for the island. Its early history is steeped in stories of illicit home distilling and smuggling from dark coves. Once whisky making became a legal activity in the early 1800s, distilleries were built near the coast so that they could export their wares  hence the tradition of the white walls facing out to sea with the distillerys name painted in black.

Periods of boom were followed by bust. In the 20th century, world wars, US prohibition and the 1929 Wall Street Crash took their toll and a global economic recession in the 1980s resulted in over-supply against demand, which led to a number of distilleries closing down  including Ardbeg for almost a decade. But these days the industry is thriving, with multinational companies such as Diageo and Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH) buying up some of Islays historic brands.

This new dawn of whisky distilling has also brought some new contenders. Kilchoman, founded in 2005, was the first distillery to be built on Islay in 124 years. It was followed by Ardnahoe in 2018, and this year or next, Portintruan and Port Ellen distillery, both currently under construction, are expected to open.

Islay has a population of around 3,000 people -- most are connected to the whisky industry. - NELL LEWIS/CNN

Initially, the response to the new comers was one of surprise and skepticism, says Anthony Wills, founder and CEO of Kilchoman: Peoples mindset was: Who is this guy? He must be bloody mad. Why do you need another distillery in Scotland? But Wills stuck to his guns, believing that there was a gap in the market for a smaller, family-run and more bespoke distillery.

So far, time has proved him right. In 2021, Kilchoman produced more than 600,000 liters of alcohol and 90% of this was exported to more than 60 markets, according to Wills. Despite being a new player, it prides itself on the revival of traditional farm distilling methods. Most Scottish distilleries use barley grown and malted elsewhere in the country, but Kilchoman is located on a 2,300-acre farm and its annual barley crop goes towards whisky production, while discarded husks are fed to a herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle. The barley is malted in the traditional way, much of the peat is hand-cut from a local bog, and the fiery liquid is distilled, matured and bottled on site. In fact, Kilchomans 100% Islay 12th Edition claims to be the only Scotch whisky to be entirely made on one farm.

Its taking it back to how it was done in the old days, says Wills. You can trace everything right back to the fields here at Kilchoman.

As the whisky industry continues to grow, keeping production local will be key to its survival, believes Kilchomans general manager, Islay Heads (who is named after his father, who was named after the island). To keep traditions alive, you need people, he says. Traditions are things that are handed down from one generation to another.

Like most people on Islay, Heads has strong links to the spirit. He was brought up within a stones throw of Lagavulin distillery, where his father worked and where he used to play as a child. His brother also works at a local distillery, and his son works in the stillhouse at Kilchoman.

Everybodys connected to the whisky industry, he says. Its such a big employer, its a very important part of the Islay economy, and it drives a lot of very positive things that are happening on the island.

Islay Heads, general manager at Kilchoman Distillery, was brought up on the island. This viewpoint, overlooking Machir Bay, is his favorite spot. - NELL LEWIS/CNN

There are some downsides, explains whisky consultant Blair Bowman. Tourism has swallowed up much of Islays housing stock in holiday lets, with some locals being priced out. But he notes that the industry has also created a number of jobs, which attract young islanders to stay and work there  more than can be said for neighboring Hebridean islands that struggle with declining populations.

To keep locals happy, distilleries need to invest back into the island, Bowman says, referencing Ardbegs decision to donate more than $1 million to the community after its record-breaking sale. It was a good opportunity for them to show that they couldnt have achieved this massive milestone without the island and without the people, he says.

On a visit to Islay, it is hard to ignore the overwhelming sense of pride locals have in their craggy isles global reputation. Today, a wee dram of Islays single malt can be ordered at most bars in most cities around the world  and a sip of it will transport you right to where it came from.

Im very proud to be Ileach (somebody from Islay), says Heads. Im very proud of what Islay brings to the world through its whiskies.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
PATRICK T. FALLON - Getty Images

Kevin Costner claims his estranged wife Christine Baumgartner is refusing to move out of the California home they shared, and where their children grew up, amid their divorce. Seeing as the $145 million compound exists off the coast of Santa Barbara, its not hard to imagine why.

According to court documents obtained by TMZ and NBC News , the Yellowstone stars wife had 30 days to leave the home per their prenuptial agreement. Christine has not moved out, despite multiple requests that she do so and despite Kevins offers to assist her financially in relocating to a new residence, Costners legal team wrote in the documents, Today reports. Instead, Christine has taken the position that she will not move out of Kevins separate property residence unless and until Kevin agrees to various financial demands.

PATRICK T. FALLON - Getty Images

Costner purchased the Carpinteria, California, home in 1988 before he officially tied the knot with Baumgartner in 2004 . Before they wed, he expressed that he wouldnt get married again without clarity that [his] separate property residences would remain [his] to live in no matter what happened in [their] marriage, per the documents.



Baumgartner responded to the claim through lawyers in a court document obtained by Insider, which states that Costner has no legal basis for his request. "This RFO (request for order) seeks to kick Christine and their three children out of the house that the children have lived in for their entire lives," the filing read. "Although the legal basis for Kevin's request to kick his wife and children out of their home is all but nonexistent, this is still a matter of critical importance for Christine."

A judge has not made a ruling on the issue yet. Luckily, Costner's real estate portfolio comprises many other residencesincluding a 160-acre ranch in Aspen, Coloradothat he can frequent in the meantime.

Love knowing what your favorite stars are up to? Same. Lets keep up with them together.

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.

You Might Also Like
Chris Christie has enjoyed a modest bounce in support since announcing his Republican presidential campaign with a series of blistering attacks on former President Donald Trump.

The former New Jersey governor, who has trashed Trump as a three-time loser, scooped 7% backing in a survey of New Hampshire GOP voters, which is up from nothing in a previous survey before he threw his hat in the ring.

Trump remained dominant in the poll, scoring 44% to extend his potent lead over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who slumped from 18% to 12%.

Most of Christies newfound support appeared to come from those who previously backed either DeSantis or favorite son Gov. Chris Sununu, who had 17% in the last New Hampshire poll before he announced he would not launch a White House run.

The poll marks a breakthrough of sorts for Christie, who plans to focus on New Hampshire, the first-in-the-nation GOP primary state.

While other rivals have avoided criticizing Trump, Christie has staked his campaign on stopping his onetime friend from getting back to the White House.

Hes a failure. Hes a failed leader, Christie told Fox News on Wednesday. He failed us by losing the House, by losing the Senate, and by turning over the White House to Joe Biden.

Christies campaign believes the Granite State offers his best chance to shake up the race, with Trump-skeptical independents and Democrats permitted to participate. He may largely look past Iowa where conservative evangelical Christians dominate the first Republican caucus state.

Behind Christie, the poll showed Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., former Vice President Mike Pence and ex-UN Ambassador Haley trailing the race.
A Colorado plastic surgeon has been convicted in the death of a 19-year-old female patient whom he performed breast augmentation on.

A jury in Arapahoe County cleared Dr Geoffrey Kim of negligent homicide, the most serious charge he faced, but did find him guilty of attempted reckless manslaughter and obstructing a telephone service following a week-long trial, The Denver Post reported.

Throughout the proceedings, prosecutors argued that Kim did not immediately call 911 after then-18-year-old Emmalyn Nguyen went into cardiac arrest while she underwent surgery at his clinic in August 2019.

The doctor only called emergency responders five hours later, but Nguyen had fallen into a coma and died a year later.

We understand medical procedures dont always go as planned, but this defendant showed a shocking and extreme lack of judgment and humanity by failing to call for an ambulance and denying his patient appropriate treatment in a hospital setting, Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Dawson told the newspaper in a statement.

This defendant made decisions based on what was best for his business, and not for his patient.

Emmalyn Nguyen went into cardiac arrest while she underwent breast augmentation surgery at his clinic in August 2019. She fell into a coma and died a year later (Nguyen Family)

Meanwhile, Kims defence argued that the large dose of fentanyl and other drugs administered by anaesthetist Rex Meeker were to blame for Nguyens complications.

Mr Meeker was initially charged in the investigation but the case against him was dropped last year.

He testified during the trial that Kim performed CPR on Nguyen but ordered staff at Colorado Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery not to call emergency services.

Dr Geoffrey Kim has been convicted on charges of reckless manslaughter and telephone obstruction for failing to call 911 immediately after Nguyen went into distress (Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office)

Mr Meeker surrendered his nursing license in 2021, while Kims license was briefly suspended in 2020 before it was reinstated on a probationary condition for three years.

Kim is now facing up to more than three years in prison, according to the Post. His sentencing is scheduled for September.
William Beaumont Army Medical Center has a new commander.

Army Col. Lee Freeman, 49, a 25-year Army veteran, took control of the Fort Bliss Army hospital during a change of command ceremony Thursday morning outside the new Beaumont complex in East El Paso.

His wife, also an Army officer, watched online from Iraq, where she's deployed.

He replaces Army Col. Brett Venable, who became Beaumont commander July 16, 2021, five days after the new, $1.5 billion medical complex opened after years of construction delays and millions of dollars of cost overruns. It's at 18511 Highlander Medics St., near Spur 601 and Loop 375.

Army Col. Lee Freeman gives the William Beaumont Army Medical Center flag to Command Sgt. Maj. James Ian Musnicki, the hospital's senior enlisted adviser, during the change of command ceremony Thursday outside the Fort Bliss medical complex in East El Paso. Freeman is the hospital's new commander. Army Col. Brett Venable, right, the outgoing commander, looks on.

The Army usually changes Beaumont commanders every two years.

The commander oversees a medical complex, which includes the 135-bed hospital, clinics and other facilities, with an annual budget of about $370 million and about 4,000 employees, including about 1,500 military personnel. The commander also serves as director of the Defense Health Agency's El Paso Market.

Over the past two years, this medical center has faced unprecedented change, unique missions, and formidable challenges, Venable said during Thursdays ceremony.

He rattled off a long list of things that happened during his short tenure, including the move from the old Beaumont in North-Central El Paso, the surge in COVID-19 cases in the winter of 2021, and what he termed the hospitals water advisory. Thats when the hospitals water system had to be shut down for about a month in April and May of 2022 due to a valve failure that caused the system to be contaminated with sediment.

The water system was fixed at a cost of $1.13 million.

Army Col. Brett Venable, outgoing commander of William Beaumont Army Medical Center, speaks at the change of command ceremony Thursday outside the Fort Bliss medical complex in East El Paso.

Through it all, you, the Beaumont staff showed nothing but resolve. Regardless of the task, you always ride to the challenge, Venable said.

During Venables tenure, Beaumont had a 95.9% patient satisfaction score in a recent survey, the best in the Defense Health Agency, and also had its best results ever for an accreditation survey done by the Joint Commission, a national organization that sets and measures health care standards for hospitals, Army Brig. Gen. Darrin Cox, commanding general of the Army Medical Readiness Command, West, which includes Beaumont, said at the ceremony.

Story continues

Venable, his wife and young son are moving to San Antonio, where he will be Coxs chief of staff.

Army Col. Lee Freeman, new commander of the William Beaumont Army Medical Center, speaks at the change of command ceremony Thursday outside the Fort Bliss medical complex in East El Paso.

More: $759M El Paso VA Medical Center to be built next to William Beaumont Army Medical Center

Freeman is moving from Louisiana, where he was deputy commanding officer of the Army Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Johnson, recently renamed from Fort Polk. Prior to that, he was commander of Fort Johnson's 32nd Hospital Center, which operates combat field hospitals.

Freeman's wife, Army Col. Rose Freeman, is currently commander of the 32nd Hospital Center, which in February deployed to Iraq. The couple have five children.

The new Beaumont commander saluted his wife, whom he said he talked with shortly before the ceremony from Iraq, where she was watching on Facebook Live.

Army Col. Lee Freeman, back to camera, the new commander of William Beaumont Army Medical Center; Army Col. Brett Venable, middle, outgoing commander; and Army Brig. Gen. Darrin Cox, right, commanding general, Medical Readiness Command, West, take part in the change of command ceremony Thursday outside the Fort Bliss medical complex in East El Paso.

"To the soldiers, civilians and professionals of William Beaumont Army Medical Center ... I am humbled beyond measure for this opportunity to serve alongside you. I look forward in sharing in our continued success and growth," Freeman said. He also praised Venable for his accomplishments at Beaumont.

All policies remain in effect, winning matters, Army medicine is Army strong and first to care," Freeman concluded.

Vic Kolenc may be reached at 915-546-6421, vkolenc@elpasotimes.com and @vickolenc on Twitter.

The new William Beaumont Army Medical Center complex is on 270 acres of Fort Bliss land at Spur 601 and Loop 375 in East El Paso.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: William Beaumont Army Medical Center at Fort Bliss gets new commander
Carol Daniel needed to jump start her career.

Yes, that Carol Daniel, the Carol Daniel who went on to become the beloved news anchor, talk show host, interviewer and reporter at KMOX in St. Louis for 28 years before retiring this spring.

But years earlier, she was hungry for that first full-time talk show position after working a variety of jobs in and outside of the broadcast world: spinning records, reading obituaries on the radio, covering news, selling cable subscriptions, working in retail and more.

She found that jump start 115 miles south of St. Louis, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where she spent three years as a radio and TV talk show host. Cape Girardeau was a ``relatively conservative place, she said, noting that she was liberal on some things and conservative on others.

I was blessed as a Black woman, to go into Rush Limbaughs hometown and represent a different point of view and did it in such a way that it was endearing to people, Daniel said. I know I opened minds. I know I was a revelation for some people.

 It was such a wonderful experience. I am a small town girl anyway so I totally understood covering school boards, the city council in a small town.

Townspeople didnt forget Daniel. We had her first and weve missed her for 28 years, someone posted on Facebook when she announced her retirement in St. Louis.

 To know you left that kind of legacy that people still remember you is such a blessing, Daniel said.

Daniel discussed her legacy, the challenges and joys of her 40-year broadcast career and influences on her life during an interview with the BND as her May 25 retirement date approached.

Well-known St. Louis area broadcaster Carol Daniel, who was an anchor, reporter and show host for 28 years.

Getting started down the broadcast path

Daniel describes herself as someone who grew up with ``deep faith, family oriented, hard working.  These are values that served her well during her career.

She was born at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, one of Isiah and Rosella Keelers five children. Her father was a drill sergeant at the Army post, where she spent most of her young life, except when the family was temporarily stationed in Germany.

Story continues

Her parents, married for 67 years, are Daniels heroes.

She said her personality is more like her fathers than her mothers.

My mother is an introvert. My father, the drill sergeant this is his voice, she said. We used to say he could sell a bald man a comb.

... He is still very talkative. He is such a comedian and a great, great storyteller. I get it all from my dad, Daniel said.

Daniel graduated from Waynesville Senior High School in 1980. She went to both the University of Missouri and Lincoln University, a historically Black land-grant university in Jefferson City, where she graduated in 1985 with a degree in communications.

She hadnt always been interested in being a broadcaster. Her first career choice was business.

I went to college as a business major. I wanted to work in corporate America. I wanted to be a woman with great suits and an incredible briefcase, working in a big city and going into a tall glass tower, Daniel said in her zesty voice.

But at Lincoln University, she decided to take a different path and get into broadcasting.

Initially, I wanted to be a jazz d.j. I had fallen in love with jazz. Then, I determined there werent that many jazz stations in the country in 1985, she said.

By then, Daniel had started writing for the school newspaper at Lincoln, doing interviews and writing public service announcements.

Thats how it really started. They had a campus newspaper and a radio station. They had a jazz station. I worked at the radio station as a class, Daniel said.

Eventually, Daniel went to work at a country music station in Jefferson City, where she read the weather, among other tasks. On the weekends, she played the top 40 hits.

The program itself came on an album. I played the first part of the album, lifted the needle, read the weather, read some headlines and then flipped the album and played the other part of the album, Daniel said, chuckling.

Daniel worked at the same time for Missourinet, a network that provides news and other content to radio stations across the state. Daniel said Bob Priddy, who was the news director at the network for over 40 years, was a big influence on her.

I gave him a cassette tape that I had recorded of myself. He wrote me, typed out on one of those old fashioned typewriters, a critique, a review of my newscast. I still have that letter he wrote to me in 1984, Daniel said.

He told me I had great delivery. He said I needed to make sure I was comfortable reading and not sound like I was reading, she said.  It was the first time anyone had said anything to me about my voice in a truly positive way. It came from a professional.

He was the first person who said to me I had what it took to be a radio journalist, Daniel recalled fondly.

Daniel works for Kansas City stations, cable company

After graduating from Lincoln University, Daniel moved to Kansas City, where she had jobs at two stations, including selling advertising at one of them.

Then I had the bright idea to go work for a cable company because the cable company had a community station, she said.  I thought I would go sell cable and work my way over to the on-air side and have my own show. Crazy, because I was able to volunteer and have a show, but I never got a paid job.

But it did, indeed, turn out to be a good idea to work for the cable company because Daniel met so many people.

It was a place where I learned the inner workings of non-profits, talked to activists, learned things I never knew about growing up on a military base. It was great experience, Daniel said.

She worked multiple jobs, including selling cable service door to door for three months.

 It was a horrible, horrible job. It was scary, Daniel said.

My mother wanted me to call her everyday when I got home, she recalled.  You would go into peoples homes to sell the cable and you would go in with the installer to install the cable. Walking into communities, I could hear dogs barking, and chains rattling. It was the worst three months.

Reading obituaries, covering the Gulf War

Daniel left Kansas City and went to work in her hometown of Waynesville, near Fort Leonard Wood, at another country music station, KJPW. It had a two-person staff, including a news team of one: Carol Daniel.

Daniel worked there at the time of Operation Desert Storm, the Gulf War, which started in August 1990. She was well equipped to cover the war from the Fort Leonard Wood angle.

I knew so many people. I was able to get stories and interviews with service men and women that other people couldnt get she said.  I was the only game in town. There was a newspaper, but the closest television station was in Springfield, Missouri, 90 minutes away.

 I was a one-man band, covering incredible stories and learning how the war affected people back home.

Part of her job as a reporter at the station was reading local obituaries live on the air at noon. And, my mother said to me one time Carol I just love the way you read the obituaries. I said to her that is probably the greatest compliment I will ever receive.

After working 18 months at the Waynesville station, someone let her know there was a job opening in Cape Girardeau that she should apply for.

I had no idea where Cape Girardeau was. Some women said to me there were no men in Cape Girardeau. Why would you go there? I said I am not going there for a man, I am going there for a job.

``This was my first chance to have a show and do talk radio. I always wanted to do a radio and television talk show, Daniel said.

So she applied.

Daniel laughed while relating this story:

The funny part is thats where I met my husband. I wasnt going there for a man. I was going there to jump start my career and thats where I met my husband. And, he is from the Virgin Islands.

She was in Cape Girardeau for about three years.

It was a rewarding experience for Daniel, who worked hard to prepare for her shows. She had to do a lot of research, spending hours at the library reading old editorials, magazines, peoples books.

The internet was coming into being and people could know more than you as a talk show host, Daniel said.

She was now working in conservative talk show host Rush Limbaughs hometown. Her talent and her success in Cape Girardeau laid the groundwork for what came next: Joining the staff of the large- market radio station, KMOX.







Moving on to KMOX to serve the St. Louis region

Daniel started at KMOX in 1995 as a news anchor and reporter before taking on the role of an afternoon co-host, where she spent much of her career. For four-plus years, Carol also was the co-host of the TV talk show Great Day St. Louis, which she helped launch at KMOV-TV.

Over the course of her career in St. Louis, she has been involved in community events and organizations around the region, as an emcee, featured speaker, host and board member. Shes an active member of her church, New Life in Christ Interdenominational Church in OFallon.

By its nature, the career Daniel chose requires one to cover tragedy of all kinds, and deal with negativity, anger, natural disasters and more. So it may seem like an oxymoron to ask her whether her job was fun.

You get to know people. I am such a people person. So, it has been a lot fun, Daniel said.  But it is a greater responsibility. 

Today we celebrated the legend that is @caroldanielKMOX. A queen. The flowers are yours pic.twitter.com/Lopq7y82vI  Gabrielle Hays (@thegabhour) May 26, 2023

You have to get it right under extremely tight time constraints and deadlines, she explained.

Then there are the challenges of working in talk radio, which she called an  argumentative media, with some people listening for information and others for ``arguments sake.

Even greater now, people are willing to disagree in a rude fashion, Daniel said.  It seems like a lost art to be able to disagree and try to find greater understanding.

...There has always been that element in talk radio of the disagreeable nature of mankind. And, that has made it not fun. 

Daniel also had to face even darker ugliness as a Black female journalist, especially earlier in her career.

There has been the element of sexism and racism where people send me nasty letters, unsigned, fake addresses and then my share of phone calls, Daniel said.  I havent got any of those in a very long time.

Early in my career I would get a lot of phone calls from people who were willing to be profane and say prejudicial and racist things to me or about my family. That was always present. Everybody gets negative calls - You fool! Youre an idiot! 

Every reporter gets that, but every reporter doesnt get You B or You whore, or You the N word. Your mothers a gorilla, she continued.  Somebody said to me once If I saw you in a car, I would assume you were a welfare mother.

I dont know if that is a result of bad education, segregation or what. It is a result of racism, thats for sure.

How did she stay motivated in the face of negativity and the other challenges during her career?

Well, from a practical standpoint, I have bills to pay, she said with a loud laugh.

From a spiritual standpoint, God brought me here, she said. From a career and destiny standpoint, I deserve this great job and I belong. That was something I did not always feel.

At many of her assignments, she explained, she was often the only Black person in the room, the youngest person in the room, or the only woman in the room.

For many, many years, my own insecurities, I carried them around and was insecure in the room, she said.

But she worked hard to fight that insecurity because she knew that so many people depended on her work and her presence, that it made a difference.

Women are listening. Everybody is listening. Thats the other reason to get up. I know they say dont worry about it, nobody is looking. But when you are doing radio and television and when people are reading your byline, people are looking. They are listening and reading.

 I have listeners, viewers and readers. They matter. I know my presence has always made a difference. It has rattled some nerves, but it made a bigger difference.

For a woman to see a woman in a male-dominated field be successful, be strong, be powerful, be well-spoken, outspoken, expressive, compassionate, insightful, express her wisdom and her faith all in one conversation. I know its been impactful. People have told me its been impactful.







The importance of family





For Daniel, family is paramount. She often talked about family values on the radio.

She has been married to Patrick Daniel since July 2, 1994, and they have two children, Patrick Daniel Jr. and Marcus Isiah Daniel.

For Carol Daniel, it was important that her children be able to know the power and importance of what she did for a living, but it was challenging because the demands of her job meant she often wasnt at home. So sometimes she was able to take them along to big events.

Not only was I reporting and anchoring, I was in the community helping raise money and serving on boards. I was gone a lot. I wanted them to be with me when they could. Theyve been on many stages with me and in many audiences with me.

She told the story about bringing her family to a dinner event hosted by 100 Black Men of America. Her youngest son was fascinated when the family got to stay in a hotel when he was about 11 years old.

He met Maxine Clark, the founder of Build A Bear. And, he had a Spiderman bear that he got when he was about 8 years old. He got to meet the woman who created the company, she said.  I could see the wheels turning. I could see his eyes bright. It was such a moment. It was just such a moment. They know each other to this day. He is 23.

It was a multi-purpose thing. They could physically be with me. It was a formal dinner. They got to meet people, and talk to adults. They could see their mother operate.

Daniels commitment to her family is one of the reasons why she ``retired from KMOX so early, at the age of 61. Shes had cancer twice and has beat it twice. And Daniel and her brother, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Al Keeler Sr., are helping to care for their aging parents, who now live near the Daniel familys OFallon home.

So really, she hasnt retired. She has lots to do. Caring for her parents, staying active in the church and community, writing another book and more will be keeping her busy. She also will continue motivational speaking, which she has been doing for years.

Having wonderful children and a supportive husband and being part of a great church, pastored by Bishop Geoffrey V. Dudley Sr., along with her professional success in the broadcast world, have helped her navigate the good times and the challenges in her career. Its all helped her become the confident, strong woman she is today, ready for a new chapter in life.

Dealing with difficult people and difficult situations, on the other side you are stronger and wiser. So, I have become a more courageous person. I have become a more confident woman. I am a wiser individual.
The former Loveland police officer who was fired after a video showed he punched a detained woman is now facing a misdemeanor assault charge.

Russell Maranto was fired by Loveland Police Department on May 23, accused of using inappropriate force after striking a woman he and another officer took to the hospital for help last month.

Maranto had worked at Loveland Police Department since June 2022 and was nearing the end of the departments standard one-year probationary period all officers must complete before becoming a full-fledged police officer.

Before working at Loveland Police Department, Maranto worked at the Montrose Police Department and the Wyoming Department of Corrections, the department said in a statement.

Body camera footage from the first officer who responded, Nick Hobbs, released by Loveland police Friday, shows Maranto striking the woman in the face after she continues to spit, yell and be generally uncooperative with officers and hospital staff after officers brought her in for help the evening of May 20.

Maranto and Hobbs had responded to multiple reports of a woman wandering in and out of traffic and speaking incoherently in the area of North Garfield Avenue and East 29th Street in Loveland about 8:30 p.m. that night, police Chief Tim Doran said in a prior video statement. They took the woman to the hospital, and Hobbs' body camera footage shows Maranto striking her there.

Officer Russell Maranto was fired by Loveland Police Department on May 23 after striking a woman he and another officer took to the hospital for help. This screen capture from a video released by LPD shows the use of force in question.

Hobbs called for another officer and a sergeant to respond and told the sergeant that Maranto had told him "ultimately he was just trying to get her face away" so she wouldn't spit on him but ended up hitting her "a little hard," according to the footage.

Hobbs also told the sergeant he stepped in because he felt Maranto's reaction to the woman spitting was "a little too excessive."

A criminal investigation by Larimer County Sheriff's Office, which was requested by Loveland police Chief Tim Doran, found probable cause to charge Maranto with third-degree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor, according to a sheriff's office news release.

Story continues

As of Friday afternoon, online court records did not show formal criminal charges against Maranto. The sheriff's office said it presented the case to the 8th Judicial District Attorney's Office on Thursday and that a court summons was issued to Maranto.

The woman involved has been charged with third-degree assault, as well, Doran said in a video update to the community on June 9.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court. Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Loveland police officer fired for striking woman now faces misdemeanor
Fallen FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried had his mammoth Manhattan fraud case split in two Thursday, with a judge agreeing to let prosecutors try him at separate trials.

After hearing arguments, Manhattan Federal Court Judge Lewis Kaplan granted a request by the government to divide the 13 charges facing the embattled crypto entrepreneur. He will head to trial this October on the first round of charges he faced upon his extradition from the Bahamas, where FTX was based. Hell return for a second trial in March 2024 for charges brought after his return to the U.S.

Prosecutors accuse Bankman-Fried of orchestrating a yearslong fraud while he was crowned the king of cryptocurrency. Hes accused of victimizing thousands of FTX customers by diverting billions in stolen deposits to repay his trading firm Alameda Researchs debts, among related crimes. Upon his December extradition, he was hit with eight counts, including wire fraud and money laundering.

In a rewritten indictment filed in February, Bankman-Fried was hit with four more charges in the multibillion-dollar fraud case related to bank fraud conspiracy and allegations he pumped millions in masked donations to Republicans and Democrats for personal gain.

In March, prosecutors revealed another charge, accusing the one-time wunderkind, commonly referred to by his initials SBF, of trying to bribe Chinese officials with $40 million in cryptocurrency to unfreeze $1 billion in his trading accounts.

Bankman-Fried, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, had argued that the newer charges should be dismissed because they werent included in the extradition agreement between the U.S. and Bahamas.

The feds, who say diplomatic issues arent Bankman-Frieds to raise, said they would wait for approval from a Bahamas court to proceed on the newer charges.

Once estimated to be worth $26.5 billion, the alleged mini-Madoff traveled from California for his Thursday court appearance. Hes asked the court to dismiss 10 of 13 charges he faces.

Story continues

At Thursdays hearing, his attorneys challenged multiple legal theories included in the governments case.

Christian Everdell said Kaplan should toss the bank fraud conspiracy charge. Prosecutors say Bankman-Fried and other Alameda staffers presented a false story when they opened a bank account for a shell company they surreptitiously used to receive and funnel FTX customer deposits.

Everdell argued the charge should be dismissed because his client wasnt accused of tricking the financial institution  just its customers.

[If] its fraudulently opening the account, youre not depriving the bank of any of the banks property, Everdell argued. Youre not taking funds. Youre not convincing the bank to release funds or divert funds elsewhere by fraudulent means.

Kaplan sounded unconvinced.

[It] alleges [he] did it for the purpose of getting his hands on the customer funds for the benefit of Alameda and himself, the judge said.

Bankman-Fried remains under house arrest at his parents Palo Alto home on a $250 million bond, the largest federal pretrial package in history. He also faces civil action by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

As Everdell finished addressing the court, the judge lauded his efforts.

Id like to congratulate you on an extraordinarily imaginative argument, Kaplan quipped.
The owner of a German Shepherd was reunited with their pup after she fell off a cliff and onto a remote, rocky beach in Oregon.

The dog had plunged 300 feet off a cliff to a rough part of the beach only accessible by rappelling down from a hiking trail in Ecola State Park, officials with the U.S. Coast Guard with the Pacific Northwest region said in a June 15 post on Twitter.

The fall injured the dog, officials said. Video taken from the rescue helicopter on June 14 shows her sitting down on the rocks around 8:20 p.m. as a wave crashes into her and sends her limping farther up the shore to escape the cold ocean water.

#BREAKING Last night, Wednesday, at around 7 p.m. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria rescued a German Shepard after she fell off a cliff and was injured in Ecola State Park. pic.twitter.com/xN5Lhzw8R0  USCGPacificNorthwest (@USCGPacificNW) June 15, 2023

Coast Guard officials lowered a rescue diver into the waves, who crab walks up the shore wearing flippers, video of the dramatic rescue shows. Both the diver and the dog are then hoisted back into the helicopter, and the rescuers bring the dog back to her owner in the parking lot of the state park.

So glad you rescued that poor baby, someone commented on the post. Great work yall.

Several also wished the dog a quick recovery.

Dog playing fetch falls off cliff chasing ball  but gets lucky, Washington rescuers say

Dog takes 34-foot plunge from Connecticut state park tower. Then rescuers rush in

Lost dog survived alone for weeks in Colorado mountains  then hiker hears barking
First foreign sale of Israeli Merkava tanks could be to a European country.

The Israeli government says that it is in very active talks with two countries about what could be the first confirmed international sales of variants of the country's unique Merkava main battle tank. The identities of those nations have not been disclosed, but one of them is in Europe, which has already led to speculation that Merkavas may eventually be bound for Ukraine.

Yair Kulas, the head of the Israeli Ministry of Defense's International Defense Cooperation Directorate, also known by its Hebrew acronym SIBAT, disclosed the potential foreign Merkava sales in a recent interview with the Calcalist newspaper. SIBAT work includes negotiating the sale of weapon systems and other materiel from Israel Defense Forces (IDF) inventory.

IDF Merkava tanks. IDF

There are two potential countries with which we are holding advanced negotiations [on a sale of the Mervaka tanks], according to a translation of a part of the interview published by The Times of Israel. I am barred from naming them, but one is on the European continent.

Kulas did not say what variants of the Merkava might be on offer, but The Times of Israel noted that the IDF has largely transitioned to the latest Mk 4 variant. So, older Mk 3s could be available for sale now. Mk 2s, the last of which were only withdrawn from service in the late 2010s, would be another possibility.

The origins of the Merkava  which means chariot in Hebrew  trace back to experiences from the Six-Day War in 1967 and a desire for a more advanced and better-protected main battle tank than older Western designs that were in Israeli service at the time. Development of the new Israeli tank began in the early 1970s drawing further lessons learned from the Yom Kippur War in 1973.

British-made Centurion tanks in IDF service in 1967. IDF

The resulting core design remains unique among main battle tanks in service anywhere in the world. Unlike most modern tanks, the Merkava's engine is located in the forward part of the hull, better shielding it from enemy fire, and the turret is positioned toward the rear.

Story continues

It also has a rear compartment that is more in line with an infantry fighting vehicle. This allows it to carry up to 10 fully-armed troops in addition to its crew of four, and even act as an armored ambulance if required.

A particular unique feature of the Merkava tank is its internal compartment in the rear, which can carry troops and other gear. The compartment's door is seen open in this picture. IDF

The original Mk 1 variant, which entered service in 1979, weighed around 60 tons and had a top speed on improved roads of just under 29 miles per hour (46 kilometers per hour). It was armed with a 105mm main gun and could be fitted with up to three 7.62x51mm machine guns. In additional traditional rounds, the 105mm could also be used to fire LAHAT laser-guided anti-tank missiles.

A 60mm mortar was often carried in the rear compartment. The mortar could be used to fire high-explosive rounds, giving the crew an indirect fire capability, or smoke rounds to help conceal the tank from enemy fire. Illumination rounds could also be fired to help during combat at night.

A Merkava Mk 1 now on display in a museum in Israel. Bukvoed via Wikimedia

The inclusion of the mortar was a by-product of experiences Israeli forces had with British-made Centurion tanks, which were fitted with a 2-inch mortar that could be fired from inside the turret, primarily for launching smoke rounds.

In 1983, the IDF began receiving improved Mk 2 variants, which incorporated a number of improvements, including improved armor and powertrain components. The new version also moved the 60mm mortar inside the turret, allowing the crew to fire it from inside the hull even while buttoned-up.

An early generation Mk 2 Merkava, now also on public display. Bukvoed via Wikimedia

Additional subvariants of the Mk 2 added new thermal optics to improve the tank's night-fighting capabilities and add-on armor packages. The Mk 2D version took the armor upgrades one step further with the introduction of a composite armor package with modular sections that were easier to replace after being damaged.

The Mk 3 variant, introduced in 1989, represented a more significant boost in all-around capability. This version was the first to be armed with a larger 120mm main gun. It also received a more powerful engine, further improved drive train, and significant fire control and optics upgrades. As a result, the Mk 3 is some five tons heavier than the original version, but is also faster, with a top road speed of around 37 miles per hour (60 kilometers per hour).

A number of subvariants of the Mk 3 were also developed with further upgrades sensors and other improvements.

A Merkava Mk 3D fires its main gun. IDF

The newest Mk 4 builds on the improvements of the Mk 3. It features an improved 120mm gun and a redesigned hull that is needed to help accommodate its even more powerful engine. It also has improved sensors, battle management, and data-sharing capabilities.

A Merkava Mk 4. IDF

Starting in 2009, the IDF began fitting Mk 4 variants with the Trophy Active Protection System (APS), giving the tanks another layer of protection against anti-tank guided missiles and other infantry anti-armor weapons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uD84dG-JAY

A number of Merkava derivatives have also been developed and fielded, including a turretless heavy armored personnel carrier called Namer and the Ofek command vehicle.

A Namer heavy armored personnel carrier during a test in the United States. US Army

Altogether, with all this in mind, it is not surprising to learn that multiple countries are currently interested in acquiring even older variants of the Merkava. Though neither of the parties that are actively in talks with the Israeli Ministry of Defense now have been identified, there have been reports in the past that Colombia and Turkey have been interested in buying examples. Reports that Singapore purchased dozens of Merkavas in the mid-2010s have never been confirmed.

Last year, the Philippines did receive two Merkava-derived Armored Vehicle Launched Bridges. That raises the possibility that country might be the non-European nation now in talks to buy actual Merkava tanks.

The European country that SIBAT head Kulas mentioned as having an active interest in buying Merkavas now could be Turkey, but this seems less likely to be the case than it might have in the past. Turkey has worked with Israel previously on variant defense programs, including upgrade packages for older tanks, especially variants of the U.S.-made M60.

Though they have warmed more recently, Turkish-Israeli relations had significantly cooled in the past decade or so. The Turkish Army has been pushing ahead with the acquisition of a domestically developed main battle tank called Altay. Turkish defense firms like Roketsan are continuing to offer new M60 upgrades, as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDJqlBZG2Yw https://twitter.com/roketsan/status/1669370853920759810

There are various European countries who might now be in the market for new tanks, including smaller nations still operating variants and derivatives of older Soviet designs. Croatia, with its T-72-based M-84A4 tanks, is one example and already has a history of engaging with Israel over the potential sale of second-hand, but higher-end military hardware. In the late 2010s, the Croatian Air Force had been in line to get ex-Israeli F-16A/B Netz fighter jets before the U.S. government blocked that deal.

Of course, the big question in the current geopolitical context is whether the unnamed European country is Ukraine. There has already been speculation that this could be the case, but so far nothing has emerged to indicate this is the case. Another country in Europe could of course also buy these tanks and then transfer them to Ukraine.

It's no secret that the Ukrainian government has been actively seeking to acquire more modern tanks to help in the fight against invading Russian forces. Ukraine's Western partners have now begun supplying various types, including British Challenger 2s and German Leopard 2s, but those deliveries are taking time. U.S.-made Abrams, in particular, are still months away from being delivered.

At the same time, Ukraine's military is now actively engaged in a major counter-offensive where heavy armor is already playing an important role. That has, unsurprisingly, resulted in notable combat losses. The United States and other countries have pledged just this week to keep up the flow of tanks and other heavy armored vehicles to the Ukrainian armed forces.

https://twitter.com/deaidua/status/1668633430127697924

Interestingly, in his recent interview, SIBAT head Kulas highlighted the speed with which Israel could supply retired Merkavas as a key selling point.

"The world is chasing systems, and production processes require time, and not everyone has the time to wait, said.

At the same time, it is worth noting that the Israeli government has been very reticent to provide explicit military assistance to Ukraine since Russia launched its all-out invasion in Febraury 2022. Israeli authorities announced a policy shift of sorts in March, but stressed that approval would only be granted for sales of "defensive" systems like those used to protect against drone attacks.

A tranche of classified U.S. government documents that recently emerged online included one that indicated American officials believe that Israel could be pressured into changing its position further. Pictures have also been circulating online in the past week or so claiming to show a Ukrainian soldier with an Israeli-made Spike anti-tank missile launcher, but the circumstances surrounding those images remain unclear and unconfirmed.

https://twitter.com/ostap/status/1667810078496374786

On top of everything else, Kulas only confirmed that negotiations about Merkava sales are progressing. Whether those deals are finalized remains to be seen.

Altogether, only time will tell if Israel will actually secure its first foreign sales of it unique Merkava tank and whether Ukraine may be among the recipients.

Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com
Racist shitposter and classified documents leaker Jack Teixeira was charged on Thursday with six additional counts of illegal retention and transmission of national defense information.

Teixeira, a National Guard airman, was arrested in April and charged with violations of the espionage act, and unauthorized removal and retention of classified information. Teixeira is accused of having posted highly classified documents on a private Discord server, which were later reposted to other public forums.

According to a statement released Thursday from Attorney General Merrick Garland, Teixeira is charged with sharing information with users on a social media platform he knew were not entitled to receive it. In doing so, he is alleged to have violated U.S. law and endangered our national security.

The Justice Department alleges that beginning in or around January 2022, Teixeira willfully, improperly, and unlawfully retained and transmitted National Defense Information classified as TOP SECRET or SECRET and/or Sensitive Compartmented Information, which he had reason to believe could be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of a foreign nation, on a social media platform to persons not authorized to receive such information.

Each charge leveled against Teixeira carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison and an up to $250,000 fine.

The case against Teixeira is only the second biggest espionage case currently being pursued by the DOJ. On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump was arrested and arraigned on 37 criminal counts related to the investigation into classified documents he retained following his departure from office. The indictment against Trump included 31 counts of willful retention of national defense information, a violation of the Espionage Act.

More from Rolling Stone

Story continues

Best of Rolling Stone

Click here to read the full article.
Jon Stewart pointed out on Thursday that former President Donald Trump really is proof of a two-tiered justice system after Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) complained about the 37-count federal indictment of Trump.

Youngkin, commenting last week on Trumps Espionage Act indictment for mishandling classified documents, wrote on Twitter that Trump was being victimized by selective prosecution that ignores some peoples lawbreaking.

Other Trump-defending Republicans have offered similar selective-prosecution arguments, including 2024 Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence and Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio).

Stewart, host of The Problem with Jon Stewart retweeted a clip from his show acknowledging the existence of a two-tiered justice system before schooling the Republican governor on Trumps place in it.

Trump has used privilege and wealth to protect himself from legal accountability at every turn, said Stewart in a clip initially shared in April following Trumps indictment on charges involving hush money payments.

He has lived his entire adult life in the space twixt illegal and unethical. Hes in the tier where you get the platinum arraignment package  no cuffs, no mugshot, all-you-can-eat fingerprint ink.

Stewart went on to question if regular people surround themselves with a meat shield of henchmen to go to prison in their place, a reference to the many Trump associates who have been prosecuted.

The former Daily Show host later analyzed the New York state attorney generals civil lawsuit against Trumps now-defunct charitable organization, which Trump was ordered to settle for $2 million.

Yes. Its all selective prosecution, Stewart said. And when youre in the good tier, you can do whatever you want and youre probably going to be fine.

In fact, you might even be elected president  twice.

A two-tiered system of justice, you say? We agree! https://t.co/J1fB99onrrpic.twitter.com/2oWqqaMAI3  The Problem With Jon Stewart (@TheProblem) June 15, 2023

Related...
Nathan Carman was rescued after spending a week at sea in a life raft (AP)

Nathan Carmans rescue from an inflatable life raft 200 kms off the coast of Cape Cod in 2016 after spending eight days adrift in the North Atlantic Ocean was hailed as a miracle.

The then 22-year-old and his mother Linda Carman had set off for an overnight fishing trip from Rhode Island on 17 September that year to try to mend their fractured relationship.

She was never heard from again, and authorities quickly realised something about his extraordinary tale of survival wasnt adding up.

It would take prosecutors nearly six years to charge Nathan with her murder, and also name him as a prime suspect in the 2013 murder of his grandfather John Chakalos.

The 29-year-old was arrested last May and pleaded not guilty to murder and fraud charges. He had been due to stand trial in October.

Prosecutors alleged he had been plotting for more than a decade to claim his grandfathers $40m estate, and stood to inherit millions with both elder family members dead.

On Thursday morning, he was found unresponsive in his cell in Cheshire County Jail in Keene, New Hampshire. He was pronounced dead about 40 minutes later, an official said.

Who was Nathan Carman?

Nathan Carman grew up in Connecticut, the only child of Clark and Linda Carman.

The family had a web of strenuous and often combative relationships, according to a 2018 New York article. Linda Carman had suffered from depression, and reportedly had struggled with a gambling addiction.

Nathan was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome, and underwent years of psychiatriac analysis and pharmaceutical treatment, according to a 2022 investigation by Air Mail.

He was described by those close to him as an angry, wayward, unpredictable child, who matured without empathy, or recognition of the reality of anyone other then himself, according to the article.

His mother, the second of four daughters, separated from Clark Carman and struggled to maintain a harmonious relationship with Nathan.

Story continues

Nathan Carman was accused of killing his millionaire grandfather and his mother in an attempt to claim an inheritance (AP)

Prosecutors said they would go on fishing trips to try to mend the fractured bond.

In spite of this, he had a good relationship with his grandfather, who he considered his best friend, Nathans lawyers have said.

After finishing high school in 2012, Nathan Carman enrolled in community college but failed to complete most of his courses.

He then began showing an interest in his grandfathers businesses and attended several meetings with him in 2012 and 2013, according to prosecutors.

During this period, his grandfather convinced Linda Carman to designate her son as a beneficiary of her trust.

Chakalos also paid for his grandsons personal expenses, funding the purchase of a truck and an apartment, and a white Irish Sport horse named Cruise.

Killing of John Chakalos

John Chakalos was found dead at the age of 87 from gunshot wounds in his home in Windsor, Connecticut, on 20 December 2013, one month after his wife of 59 years Rita had passed away from cancer.

Chakalos had made an estimated $40m fortune in real estate, primarily from building and renting luxury nursing homes, and continued to work right up until the day he died, according to an obituary.

Even after amassing enormous wealth, he and his wife continued to live in the modest home where they had raised their daughters and lived for much of their married lives.

The obituary stated that Chakalos had showered his grandchildren, nieces and nephews with paternal love. His motto was without family youve got nothing.

John Chalakos was shot dead as he slept in his home in Connecticut in 2013. His grandson Nathan Carman was suspected of being responsible (Carmen Community Funeral Home)

However, prosecutors believed his then 19-year-old grandson was secretly plotting to murder him and claim his fortune.

Carman was never charged over his grandfathers death. But authorities laid out in detail in a 2022 indictment how they believed he had carried out the killing.

Authorities said that Nathan purchased a Sig Sauer rifle about a year before the shooting.

They alleged that he drove from his apartment in Bloomfield, Connecticut, to his grandfathers home at about 3am and shot him twice in the head while he slept.

Carman then discarded his computer hard drive and a GPS unit in his truck, they stated, preventing them from tracing his movements and plans.

He received $550,000 after his grandfathers death. In 2014, he moved to Vernon, Vermont, and by 2016, had allegedly squandered most of his inheritance.

Linda Carmans mysterious death

In 2015, Nathan Carman purchased a 31-foot fishing boat, the Chicken Pox, using his newfound wealth from his grandfathers death.

Prosecutors stated that fishing had been a way for Nathan and Linda Carman to get together, and put aside their differences.

In September 2016, Nathan arranged to go on a fishing trip with his mother around Block Island, off the coast of Rhode Island.

They left from Ram Point Marina in South Kingston, Rhode Island, late on the evening of 17 September, and Linda told friends they would return by noon the next day.

Prosecutors say that prior to the departure, Nathan removed parts of the engine and a part of the hull that stabilises the boat.

Nathan Carmen's mother Linda (WTNH News8 / Youtube screengrab)

At some point soon after departing, he murdered his mother and deliberately sank the boat, prosecutors alleged.

The US Coastguard was notified that the boat was missing on 18 September, and mounted an extensive search and rescue effort.

On 25 September, Nathan Carman was found floating on an inflatable life raft by the Orient Lucky commercial boat 200kms off the coast of Cape Cod.

The then 22-year-old would later tell investigators that he had noticed the engine making unusual noises on the day he had set off, and the Chicken Pox started taking on water.

He said he saw his mother in the cockpit, and grabbed three bags containing food, flares and life jackets. But when he looked back, his mother was no longer there.

The unlikely survival tale set off a media frenzy as outlets tried to secure interviews with the survivor and the ships captain.

I was yelling, Mom! Mom! Nathan Carman said in an interview with the Associated Press describing the sinking. I loved my mother and my mother loved me.

The Hartford Courant reported at the time that police were investigating Nathan Carman for knowingly operating an unsafe vessel and putting his mother's life in danger.

Police obtained a search warrant for his Vermont home, and found Nathan had removed his computer prior to leaving.

When asked about the police search, he told the AP: I dont know what to make of people being suspicious. I have enough to deal with.

Arrest and death

In 2019, Chakalos three surviving daughters filed a lawsuit in New Hampshire seeking to block Carman from receiving any more of his grandfathers inheritance.

They publicly accused him of involvement in his mothers death.

The case was dismissed after a judge ruled that Chakalos was not a New Hampshire resident. It was later refiled in Connecticut and was still pending at the time of his death.

In May 2022, Carman was charged with murder on the high seas by US attorneys in Vermont. He was also charged with insurance fraud, relating to an attempt to claim $85,000 for the loss of the Chicken Pox.

Carman leaves federal court in Providence, Rhode Island, in August 2019 (Associated Press)

Authorities said his arrest was the culmination of a multi-year investigation conducted by the FBI, the US Coast Guard, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Connecticut State Police, the Windsor Police Department in Connecticut, and the South Kingstown Police Department in Rhode Island.

Carman denied the charges and was ordered to be held in custody pending the trial.

On Thursday morning, he was found unresponsive in his cell at the Cheshire County Jail and was pronounced dead soon after, according to the CT Insider.

A cause of death has not yet been released, and police are investigating.

Carmans attorney Martin Minnella told the Associated Press that he had been in good spirits when they spoke on Wednesday, and they had been due to meet again on Thursday.

Its just a tragedy, a tragedy.

Carmans three aunts issued a statement to the AP saying they were deeply saddened by his death.

While we process this shocking news and its impact on the tragic events surrounding the last several years we ask for your understanding and respect relative to our privacy, they said through a lawyer.
A district court judge in Tarrant County has signed a temporary restraining order against a fireworks stand and truck lot owner near Mansfield.

Kate Zimmerman and Neil and Laura Foreman, who are being represented by Arlington lawyer Frank Hill of Hill Gilstrap, P.C., asked a judge in the 342nd District Court to halt the operations at Joe Sterlings truck lot and fireworks stand in unincorporated Tarrant County.

The court filing cited the lights from the lot, the noise from the trucks, and the fire hazard and threat to livestock safety from the possibility that Sterling will allow his customers to shoot off fireworks on the property.

The neighbors have been dealing with the problems arising from Sterlings lot for months. As county leaders hit walls in their search for a solution, the neighbors have searched for loopholes for relief. One of those loopholes is the loose definition of what a church is in Texas and the line in the fireworks code that says they cant be shot within 600 feet of a church.

Neighbors Jay Hasbrouck and Neil Foreman set up two churches, both within 600 feet of Sterlings property.

Zimmerman and the Foremans are seeking actual, mental anguish and exemplary damages in addition to the restraining order.

The restraining order asks that the lights from Sterlings lot be directed away from Zimmermans and the Foremans homes, that trucks on the lot not be allowed to idle for more than 30 minutes when not moving or between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. and that no fireworks be shot off on Sterlings property.

When reached Thursday, Hill told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that the neighbors situation points toward a need for state legislation that will allow counties to protect their constituents in residential areas.

Hill also said that Sterling parking 100 trucks on his lot may also lead to societal problems  ask anyone in the truck parking industry, he says, and youll find that drugs come with it.

But Hill said he will look for a solution even without assistance from state lawmakers.

Story continues

This is not just a fireworks problem, Hill said.

Sterling reached out to Foreman Thursday morning and asked for a neighborhood meeting. Hill said they dont plan to respond  he wants Sterling to see the restraining order first.

Late Wednesday evening, Zimmermans security camera caught about a minutes worth of fireworks being shot off on Sterlings property. Zimmerman said it sounded like the world ended.

Foreman and Zimmerman dont know who shot them off. Tarrant County rules allow them to be shot in unincorporated areas 24/7, 365 days a year as long as the person shooting them has permission from the property owner.

Foreman thinks it was in response to the Star-Telegrams coverage of the property dispute in the neighborhood.

Sterling did not immediately return a phone call for comment Thursday.

Foreman hopes the legal system does the right thing and helps the people who he says have been hurt by what Sterling has done to the community. Zimmerman said the restraining order was about the neighbors trying to protect themselves, and said she wished it wasnt necessary.

She called Sterling a bully.

We do not bow down to bullies, Zimmerman said.
Rich McKeown, 76, works out with Paul Holbrook at Age Performance in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

While older adults often picture Florida as the perfect spot to retire, the Beehive State may deserve future consideration. Thats because Utah is the healthiest state in the nation for older Americans, according to the United Health Foundations 2023 Senior Report, released in May.

The 11th annual report analyzed 52 measures from 22 data sources to provide a portrait of the health and well-being of older adults across the United States. Five components  social and economic factors, physical environment, clinical care, behaviors and health outcomes  each with their own subcategories, were used to determine overall state rankings.

Rounding out the top five were New Hampshire, Colorado, Minnesota and Vermont. On the other end, Mississippi ranked last, followed by Louisiana, Kentucky, West Virginia and Oklahoma.

Nationally, the 2023 report found a continued rise in the early death rate among seniors, along with an increase in drug deaths. However, the number of geriatric providers and home health care workers per capita grew.

Rich McKeown, 76, works out at Age Performance in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Where does Utah rank highly and why?

Utahs landscape  complete with arches, canyons, mountains and more  doesnt just look beautiful. It is a driving force behind the health of older adults.

There is a reason Utah has the lowest risk of social isolation in the country, with a physical inactivity rate nearly 7% below the U.S. value.

If you compare Utah to some of our less healthy states, I guess you could call them, theyre more of your metropolitan states, Nichole Shepard, program manager for the Healthy Aging Program at Utahs Department of Health and Human Services, said.

There arent concrete jungles in Utah, she said. Instead, theres more opportunity for participating in physical activity and just simply being outside.

In fact, the states with the five largest metropolitan areas in terms of population  New York, California, Illinois and Texas  do not crack the top 20. Take out New York, which ranks 22, and Illinois leads the pack at 32.

Story continues

Related

Utah also boasts the best rate of high-speed internet access in the nation and ranks first in volunteerism. That, along with the states low poverty and food insecurity rates, is a big reason Utah paced the nation in social and economic factors in this years report.

Additionally, only 4.0% of Utah adults ages 65 and older smoked, the best mark in the country, and 3.9% excessively drank.

Shepard also referenced Utahs Healthy Aging Program, which offers evidence-based programming to help adults age well, as another contributor to the states overall health. It offers exercise classes and programs, often used at local senior centers, that address issues like fall prevention, chronic pain, diabetes and more.

However, as Dr. Megan Puckett, a geriatrician at the University of Utah, notes, seniors need help accessing the abundance of resources that the state provides.

I found that the patients that are really successful and getting plugged into all the resources they need to age well, they have a care provider, like a child or a spouse or someone who is highly engaged and proactive in helping them with that, she said. Then theres this other set of people that dont have that kind of person  and they end up falling through the cracks a bit.

Rich McKeown, 76, works out with Paul Holbrook at Age Performance in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

In which areas can Utah improve?

Though Utahs natural environment contributes to its residents physical health, mental health is another story.

Utah has a high suicide rate  19.1 deaths per 100,000 adults ages 65 and older, to be exact  and researchers think high altitude could be one contributing factor. One study, available on the National Library of Medicine website, found moving from low to high altitude is associated with increasing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.

Anne Asman, the program manager for the geriatric psychiatry clinic at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, says this phenomenon has been proven countless times in mountainous regions throughout the world. But why?

Because theres less oxygen, Asman said. Oxygen is a very important part of the body, the brain, everything else, and with less of it, people who are more prone to being depressed and having that particular illness  it can become very severe.

When it comes to seniors, depression is even more dire. Adults 85 and older had the highest suicide rates out of any age group in the U.S. in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, followed by the 75-84 age group. Asman attributes this to a number of factors, including medication side effects, a lack of purpose and simply not seeking help.

Related

(Seniors) dont go to the doctors to get help when they are depressed, and they dont recognize it as depression, Asman said. Many of them are single and have lost their loved one  it really becomes (an issue of) purpose in life and a lack of seeking help.

Diagnostic screenings can help identify mental health issues early and save lives, but Asman says most older adults dont get tested until after they are released from the hospital. Annual screenings are key to curbing high suicide rates, as well as helping seniors continue to find meaning in life.

I think that keeping older adults engaged, keeping them with a purpose in life  not throwing them away, but embracing them as older adults, utilizing and respecting them for what they have to offer, I think, will make a big difference in their mental health, Asman said.

In addition to mental health, Utahs low geriatric care provider rate, which ranked 39th in the nation, is another problem highlighted in the report. However, the issue is not exclusive to Utah. In 2023, 411 geriatric fellowship positions were offered, and only 43.1% of those were filled, according to the National Resident Matching Program.

I think its just a workforce issue, Puckett said. I think theres a lot of factors at play that disincentivize people to go into geriatrics, and thats the biggest issue.

However, institutions, like the University of Utah, are doing their part to change the trend by training the next generation of geriatricians through their own fellowship program. And Puckett is quick to point out that several graduates stay local, spreading their knowledge throughout the state. After all, she was one of them.

I came here from Nebraska, like seven years ago, and did not intend to stay here, she said. I thought I was going to do my three-year medicine residency and be done, and I just cant leave. I love it here. And I think thats happened to a lot of people.

Indeed, Utahs population has grown by over 1 million since the turn of the century, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau in May. The state is getting older, despite having the lowest median age in the country (31.3) in 2020, meaning senior health will only become more important in years to come.
Monuments in Catherine Park in Tiraspol, the capital of Transnistria, in November 2021. Alexander Hassenstein/UEFA via Getty Images

Moldova, next door to Ukraine, has been under pressure from Russia for decades.

Russia has long supported the breakaway region of Transnistria, even stationing troops there.

Amid the war in Ukraine, Kyiv and Western officials say Moscow is stepping up its interference.

The war in Ukraine has dominated headlines around the world, but that's not the only European country under pressure from Russia's military.

Moldova, formerly part of the Soviet Union and now one of Europe's poorest countries, is home to just 2.6 million people and is landlocked, surrounded by Ukraine and Romania. Moldova is also home to Transnistria, a breakaway region with a predominantly Russian-speaking population that Moscow has supported for decades, including with troops.

Moldova is often overlooked and the Russian force there is small, but amid growing tensions, especially in the Black Sea region, Russia's presence in Transnistria is still a problem for Europe.

Moldova "is in the danger zone probably more so than the Baltic countries and Poland," John Sullivan, the US ambassador to Russia from 2020 to 2022, said during a Georgetown University event in February.

Tilting West

Russian-speaking nationalist fighters of the newly proclaimed Trans-Dnestr republic in the city of Bender in June 1992. SERGUEI VORONIN/AFP via Getty Images

In 1990, as the Soviet Union was collapsing, Moldova looked to leave the federation. In an effort to remain part of the Soviet Union, Transnistria attempted to secede.

As a result of a 1992 war between Moldovan forces and Transnistrian separatists, Russian troops entered the breakaway region to support the separatists. Following that war, Transnistria gained a form of autonomy. Russia keeps 1,500 troops there, who it claims act as peacekeepers.

Transnistria is home to a large percentage of Moldova's industrial and manufacturing base due to the presence of Russian businesses there. The region also houses a large depot of Soviet weaponry  although much of it may no longer be usable  and has produced much of Moldova's electricity. (That electricity was produced using Russian gas and the war in Ukraine has interrupted production.)

Story continues

Despite Russia's 1992 intervention, Moldova maintained strong relations with Moscow. In exchange, it received Russian gas at considerably reduced prices. Chisinau has moved closer to the West, however, establishing relations with NATO in 1992 and signing an association agreement with the EU in 2014.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu a pro-EU rally in Chisinau in May. Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

That Western tilt accelerated after the 2020 election of President Maia Sandu, who has said Moldova "belongs in the EU," and in the aftermath of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has affected Moldova's economy and brought an influx of Ukrainian refugees.

In April 2022, the EU agreed to provide 150 million euros to assist Moldova in response to the "detrimental effects" caused by Russia's attack on Ukraine. That June, Moldova was accepted as an EU candidate member.

Moldova has synchronized its energy grids with the EU's and has diversified its gas supplies to reduce its reliance on Russia, which had increased gas prices citing unpaid bills. Moldova's prime minister said in May that integration with Europe means Moldova "no longer consumes Russian gas," but the country still uses electricity produced in Transnistria using Russian gas.

Moldova is constitutionally neutral, which means it cannot join NATO as a member, but the alliance opened a liaison office in Moldova in 2017 and is helping Chisinau improve its defense and security capabilities. The country will attend NATO's upcoming summit in Lithuania, where the accession of Sweden will be discussed.

Russian threats

A Transnistrian border guard at a checkpoint on the border with Ukraine in September 2021. SERGEI GAPON/AFP via Getty Images

Moldova declared a state of emergency after Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022, and it remains in effect.

That April, a top Russian general said control of southern Ukraine would give Russia access to Transnistria, where he claimed Russian speakers were being oppressed. A few days later, explosions hit government and military targets in Transnistria, leading to fears that the war was spreading to Moldova.

In February, Ukraine said it had intercepted a Russian plan to overthrow Moldova's government. In March, John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said US officials believed Russia was working "to weaken the Moldovan government probably with the eventual goal of seeing a more Russian-friendly administration."

"Russian actors, some with current ties to Russian intelligence, are seeking to stage and use protests in Moldova as a basis to foment and manufacture insurrection against the Moldovan government," Kirby added.

Russian and Moldovan officials lay flowers at a monument in Chisinau in February 2019. Pierre Crom/Getty Images

Pro-Russian sentiment remains strong in some regions of Moldova and there are other signs that feelings toward Moscow are mixed  Moldovan lawmakers voted in March to condemn the invasion only by a narrow margin  but the country is generally pro-European. In April, the EU announced that it would send a civilian mission to Moldova to help protect it against Russian interference.

Russia signaled this year that it may not respect Moldova's sovereignty over the issue of Transnistria, but Russian troops there may not be the best suited for pushing Chisinau around. Only a few are actually Russian, according to Thomas de Waal, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Europe think tank. The rest are Moldovans who have been given Russian passports.

Russian forces in Transnistria "without exaggeration" are probably "the least capable in all of the Russian army," Dara Massicot, an expert on the Russian military at the RAND Corporation think tank, said at a Georgetown University event in April.

Those troops are "isolated," their equipment "is not great," and they have "very little combat power," Massicot added. "It is a distraction, though, and Russia is more than happy to like suggest that Transnistria is going to get involved keep the Ukrainians off balance, to keep Moldova off balance."

Moldovan soldiers participate in an NATO exercise in Bulgaria in August 2018. US Army National Guard/Sgt. Jamar Marcel Pugh

Nevertheless, Moldova's military is also in poor shape. Its 6,000 active-duty troops and 12,000 reserves rely mostly on old Soviet equipment, and it has no fighter jets or significant armored forces.

In 2020, Moldova decided to transition to Western hardware and create a "mobile, modular, flexible and functional army." The EU is also helping Moldova boost its non-lethal military capabilities.

In late May, Moldova hosted the second European Political Community summit, during which Moldovan officials said they would press for accelerated EU accession. Sandu said the country could join by 2030 if it pursues economic reforms and fights corruption.

The gathering of 50 national leaders in Chisinau "gives a very strong message," Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, said upon arriving for the summit. "Moldova is at the heart of Europe. Moldova is Europe."

Constantine Atlamazoglou works on transatlantic and European security. He holds a master's degree in security studies and European affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. You can contact him on LinkedIn.

Read the original article on Business Insider
San Luis Obispo County is one of 22 California communities that will receive a share of $199 million in state funding intended to move residents of homeless encampments into housing, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday.

The Encampment Resolution Fund money would be distributed to a total of 23 projects across the state to move around 7,300 encampment residents into housing.

San Luis Obispo County will receive $13.4 million to move 200 people out of an encampment in a flood and fire danger zone, a news release from Newsoms office said. Its unclear where that encampment is located in the county.

Neighboring Monterey County will receive $8 million to move 70 people living in an encampment along a riverbed, and Santa Barbara County will receive $6 million to relocate 250 people from encampments along state rights of way and waterways, the release said.

Were doubling down on our investment to ensure that thousands of individuals in communities up and down the state move out of encampments and into housing where they can get the services and help they need, Newsom said in the release. Its not enough to simply clean up encampments. My administration will continue to work with local leaders and community members as they serve their unhoused neighbors and remove dangerous and unsightly encampments throughout California.

The Encampment Resolution Fund is administered by the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency and the California Interagency Council on Homelessness, the release said.

This funding is the third and largest round of Encampment Resolution Fund grants to be distributed. In the previous two rounds of funding, 26 communities were awarded a total of $96 million.

Newsoms administration has proposed using a total of $750 million to move around 10,000 individuals out of encampments, the release said.
By Soo-hyang Choi and Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea has recovered from the sea part of a rocket used in North Korea's failed attempt to launch its first military satellite last month, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said on Friday.

The announcement came about two weeks after North Korea unsuccessfully tried to launch its first spy satellite, with the booster and payload plunging into the sea.

The debris was salvaged on Thursday evening from the seabed about 75 metres (246 feet) below the surface off the west coast, the military said, adding that the search continued for additional objects from what the North said was a space launch vehicle.

South Korea began retrieving debris shortly after the launch, and had already recovered smaller parts. But the operation had faced difficulties partly because of a strong tide and bad visibility, prompting the military to dispatch 10 vessels and dozens of deep-sea divers.

Photographs released by the Joint Chiefs of Staff showed a large cylindrical object marked "Chonma," meaning a winged horse in Korean. North Korea had said the rocket was named "Chollima-1."

"The salvaged object will be thoroughly analysed in cooperation with the United States," it said in a statement.

South Korea's Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup had said that the debris appeared to be the second stage of the rocket, and that the military would keep looking for the payload and the third stage.

Lee Choon-geun, a honorary research fellow at South Korea's Science and Technology Policy Institute, said the newly retrieved object appeared to be a fuel tank.

If the military finds an engine attached to the tank, it could help discover some features of North Korea's new rocket engine, which is designed to produce greater thrust at higher altitudes, he said.

Chang Young-keun, a professor at Korea Aerospace University, said the debris would also offer hints at the technical progress made by North Korea on its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capability and whether it had procured any components overseas in a potential breach of sanctions.

Story continues

"This is important data," Chang said.

South Korea has said Chinese warships had also conducted salvage operations in waters where the North Korean rocket crashed, but it was not immediately clear whether the Chinese military was continuing its search.

Seoul and Washington have condemned the launch as a provocation and violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions banning the North's use of ballistic missile technology.

Pyongyang said it was exercising its right to space development to counter what it described as U.S. "aggression" and vowed to stage another launch soon.

On Friday, the U.S. guided-missile submarine USS Michigan arrived in South Korea for the first time since 2017 for joint special warfare exercises aimed at improving responses to North Korean threats, the South Korean navy said.

The submarine's dispatch was seen as a show of force against North Korea, which fired two short-range missiles off its east coast on Thursday and warned of an "inevitable" response to South Korea-U.S. military drills.

(Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi; Additional reporting by Hyonhee Shin and Ju-min Park; Editing by Ed Davies and Gerry Doyle)
Club Q

The alleged gunman in the massacre of the gay club Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colo., is expected to accept a plea deal.

The Associated Press reported the news on Thursday after conversations with several survivors of the mass shooting.

Anderson Lee Aldrich is reportedly making a plea deal to the state murder and hate charges that would result in a life sentence, according to the news wire.

The suspect, 23, spoke to the AP in a series of jailhouse phone calls where they spoke about being remorseful for the deadly shooting that killed five and wounded tens of others.

The suspect allegedly entered Club Q minutes before midnight on November 19 with an AR-style weapon and a handgun and opened fire, killing Daniel Aston, Raymond Green Vance, Kelly Loving, Ashley Paugh, and Derrick Rump. Most of the injured suffered gunshot wounds, according to police.

November's attack was halted by two patrons who took down and contained the suspect until police arrived at the club, which was seen as a safe space for the LGBTQ community in Colorado Springs.

I have to take responsibility for what happened, Aldrich said.

The AP writes that it had sent Aldrich a handwritten letter asking about the 2021 kidnapping arrest that many say should have made Aldrich known to local police. Charges in the case were dropped. Aldrich phoned the AP asking for money in exchange for an interview, which the wire declined. However, Aldrich ended up calling late last month.

While local authorities and Aldrichs defense attorneys declined to comment to the wire, survivors of the attack as well as people who lost loved ones in the shooting told the AP that authorities gave them notice that Aldrich would be pleading guilty.

The AP spoke with Aldrich in six calls.

Nothings ever going to bring back their loved ones. People are going to have to live with injury that cant be repaired, Aldrich said. When asked why the shooting happened, Aldrich replied, I dont know. Thats why I think its so hard to comprehend that it did happen. ... Im either going to get the death penalty federally or I will go to prison for life, thats a given.

Story continues

They told the AP they were on drugs during the attack.

Authorities have also reportedly asked survivors to prepare a victim-impact statement before a June 26 hearing, and that they should also prepare for the potential release of the video showing the carnage.

Aldrich is facing more than 300 charges, and the U.S. Justice Department is considering federal hate crimes charges.

Some of those who listened to the APs recordings of Aldrichs statements called them calculated and lacked motivation behind the violence.

Statements like I just cant believe what happened and I wish I could turn back time, were meaningless to them in the face of evidence found by officers that included online screeds and maps of Club Q.

This community has to live with what happened, with collective trauma, with PTSD, trying to grieve the loss of our friends, to move past emotional wounds and move past what we heard, saw and smelled, said Michael Anderson, a bartender at Club Q who saw several people die at the bar.

He said no one has sympathy for Aldrich.
The office of Texas State Attorney General Ken Paxton has requested that Pfizer and several other companies turn over advertising data tied to the social media giant Meta. The lawsuit was filed after consumer data privacy concerns were raised by the state in its latest legal battle with Meta, according to a report by Law360. The Texas Attorney General claims that millions of Texas residents have had their private biometric data misappropriated over the past ten years.

The order requires the vaccine maker to share any records it holds regarding Metas use of facial recognition technology over claims that the company was collecting biometric data from Facebook users without their consent. This decree over Pfizers records follows a February 2022 filing against Meta by the Texas Attorney General that claimed Facebook knowingly captured biometric information for its own commercial benefit in order to train and improve its in-house facial recognition technology powered by AI.

The Texas lawsuit cites Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerbergs commentary that photo tagging is more important than every other [Facebook] feature put together as evidence in their case against the company under a section that highlights its allegations against the company. The February 2022 petition against Meta over data privacy concerns came shortly after Facebook decided to discontinue its face recognition systems in 2021. Meta said its move to cut back on its facial recognition tech development was necessary because of the lack of regulator guidelines.

The Texas Attorney General has been aggressive in its pursuit of Metas data on the issue. The state has cast a wide net with its series of lawsuits, subpoenaing a number of other big-name companies affiliated with the company through its advertising arm. Pfizer is just one of many companies subpoenaed in the attempt to discover data incriminating Meta. Others ordered to turn over advertising data include Procter & Gamble, Home Depot, The New York Times, SmileDirectClub and Clarity Media Group. Although the exact investment value of Pfizers advertising deals with Meta are undisclosed, we do know the companys selling, general, and administrative expenses, which include marketing and advertising, reached a whopping $34 billion in 2022.



Meta is hardly the only name in big tech being targeted by the Texas AG over data privacy concerns. Google is similarly facing the Texas Attorney General in court over its facial data collection practices. Last year, Google was sued by Texas for engaging in years-long practices of capturing biometric data from millions of Texans without consent. In that same year in a separate lawsuit with the state of Illinois, Google paid $100 million to settle a class action that accused the tech giant of violating the Biometric Information Protection Act. The case resembles the Texas suit filed against Meta, which claims the company violated Texas Capture or Use of Biometric Identifier Act. Confirmation that a violation of that specific Texas act by Meta can result in a penalty of up to $25,000 per violation of the law. So far, an infraction fine against the social media giant has not been determined.

Both Pfizer and the Texas AG office could not be reached to comment on the ongoing case.
Kyiv Offensive Armor Leopard

Ukrainian officials acknowledge that they are facing a tough fight as they conduct counteroffensive operations across the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

Over the course of the day, the enemy increased the number of missile and air strikes and artillery and mortar attacks, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Thursday on her Telegram channel. Our troops are dealing with strong enemy resistance and their superiority in numbers of men and weapons.

https://twitter.com/revishvilig/status/1669396234828644372

As Ukraine conducts offensive and defense actions in several directions, Maliar said the Russians are pulling up reserves from several areas and concentrating forces in the eastern sector of the front lines, which is in the Donetsk Oblast.

Still, Ukraine is making progress, said Maliar.

https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1669353976318537729 https://twitter.com/Tendar/status/1669301769048866816 https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1669497124143153152

Ukraine's forces in Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk Oblasts have advanced about a kilometer each, Maliar said.

Fighting continues in the areas of Makarivka, along the Mokri Yaly River in western Donetsk Oblast said Maliar. Fighting is also taking place around Novoprovka in central Zaporizhizhia Oblast, she said.

Maliar also claimed success in fighting around war-scarred Bakhmut.

https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPress/status/1669482668164263937 https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1669502165331636226

In an interview with NBC news, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also acknowledged the tough fight.

I cannot give you all the details, he said about the counteroffensive. There are also defensive and offensive actions. Things look not bad. I would say its generally positive, but it's difficult. Our heroic people, our troops are now at the front of the frontline are facing very tough resistance. And you understand why? Because for Russia to lose this campaign to Ukraine, I would say, actually means losing the war.

Story continues

https://twitter.com/KyivPost/status/1669396201647505429

The Russian Defense Ministry, meanwhile, claims that it has pushed back Ukrainian forces across the front lines.

Near the Vremevka salient in western Donetsk Oblast close to the Zaporizhiz border near the Mokri Yaly River, aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems of the Vostok Group of Forces have repelled two attacks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the areas of Novopol in Donetsk Oblast, and Levadnoye in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the Russian MoD claimed. Up to 25 Ukrainian troops and three tanks have been neutralized.

The Russian MoD also claimed small victories elsewhere across the front lines, as well.

But Russian Telegram channels, like the Kremlin-connected Rybar, anticipate an increase in Ukrainian attacks, with a possible offensive in the Robotyne area of central Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

https://twitter.com/rybar_force/status/1669462787016511488

Determining what is actually happening is challenging given that we are forced to rely largely on Ukrainian and Russian sources who obviously have their own spins to add in this heated information battlefield. But it is likely the picture will become clearer over time. You can read the U.S. Defense Department's take on the status of the counteroffensive a little deeper into this story.

Before we head into the latest news from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can catch up on our previous rolling coverage here.

The Latest

As it continues to face Russian missile and drone attacks on its cities, Ukraine will receive hundreds more air defense missiles, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Thursday.

Several countries stepped up today with new commitments for Ukraine, Austin told reporters Thursday after the conclusion of the 13th Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting, held today in Brussels, Belgium.

Canada committed another $500 million package to support Ukraine, and that will include more than 200 critical air defense missiles to help protect Ukraine skies and the United States along with the UK, Denmark and Netherlands, all contributed funding for additional critical air defense missiles for Ukraine, Austin said.

Italy also announced this latest tranche of assistance which includes highly critical capabilities that Ukraine most urgently needs to defend itself.

In addition, Norway and Germany announced multi-year packages and Denmark just announced its own nearly $2.6 million package for military assistance through 2024."

https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1669343037837950979

Austin downplayed Ukraines loss of military equipment like U.S.-donated M4A2-ODS Bradley Fighting Vehicles and German-donated Leopard 2 tanks seen in widely-publicized imagery, which you can read more about in our interview with an armor expert here.

Regarding battlefield losses of vehicles and equipment, this is a war so we know that there will battle damage on both sides, he said.

And what's important is that the Ukrainians have the ability to recover equipment that's been damaged and repair it where possible [and] get that equipment back into the fight.

https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1669178544126132225?s=20

Its also important, he added, that the U.S. and allies have a means to continue to push capability forward.

So there will continue to be battle damage. I think the Russians have shown us the same five vehicles about 1,000 times from 10 different angles, he said. But quite frankly, the Ukrainians still have a lot of combat capability, combat power.

https://twitter.com/OAlexanderDK/status/1667190618248847360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1667190618248847360%7Ctwgr%5Ee8ea13fb44709e2fd714eacc4297f6df8ae2106f%7Ctwcon%5Es1_\u0026ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedrive.com%2Fthe-war-zone%2Farmor-expert-breaks-down-ukraines-loss-of-bradleys-during-breaching-operation

Sustaining equipment will be a key to victory, said Austin, a major reason why the US. and its allies are continuing to provide security assistance to Ukraine.

This will continue to be a tough fight as we anticipated, and I believe that the the element that does the best in terms of sustainment will probably have the advantage at the end of the day. So our focus is on making sure that we continue to push for what Ukraine needs in order to be successful.

Speaking at the same media briefing, Army Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said it was too early to assess the progress of the Ukrainian counteroffensive or how long it could take.

Its very, very premature to put any estimates on how long - time on an operation of this magnitude. There are several hundred thousand Russian troops dug in, in prepared positions, all along the frontline. And Ukraine has begun their attack and they're making steady progress.

https://twitter.com/OSINTNic/status/1668946207861776384

This is a very difficult fight, he added. It's a very violent fight. And it will likely take some amount of time and high costs but at the end of the daythe Ukrainian morale, their leadership, their skill, the tenacity, the resilience is very high. The Russians on the other hand, their leadership is not necessarily coherent. Their troops morale is not high. They are assuming defensive positions and many of them dont even know why they are there. So Ill say its too early to tell. We'll see how this plays out."

But to give Ukraine its best fighting chance, Milley said that tens of thousands of its troops have been trained by the U.S. and partners.

More than 6,000 Ukrainians are being trained right now at 40 different training locations, training locations, in 65 courses in 33 nations on three continents. That is all happening right now. Today,.

Since the beginning of the all-out war, the United States has trained over 11,000 Ukrainians in combined arms maneuver and staff training.

The U.S. training effort, he added, has created over 12 maneuver battalions - nearly 5,000 operators that are fighting in those machines right now, along with their combined arms staffs.

In addition, the U.S. is currently training three additional Ukrainian battalions - a tank battalion and two National Guard battalions, Milley said.

The international effort has trained almost 60,000 Ukrainian soldiers for this current operation, many of whom are engaged in close combat as we stand here today, Milley said.

https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1649442910213926912

As for the training of Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s, Austin said that UDCG attendees were briefed Thursday on the outline of the Danish/Dutch-led international effort. You can read more about that in our story here.

This work continues, he said. We were briefed today on kind of the outline of the plan and the steps for the way ahead. And I have to tell you that 30 days that we've been after this, they have leaned into this in a major way. As you know the United States will have to provide approval for the training and also some other aspects of this. And as you would expect, we continue to work with the Netherlands and Denmark as they put this plan together. But, again, this will take some time, but they're really moving out in a very impressive way. And they're getting support from other partners in the UDCG.

Milley, however, said "it would be premature to give a specific date...that F-16s or any other type of advanced aircraft will be employed in combat in Ukraine. There's a lot of work to do. You have to do language training. You have to pilot training. You've got to get all the systems set in place. So those those wheels are in motion, but we're a ways from completion of that project."

Speaking of training for Ukrainian troops, the Defense Department's Inspector General Office issued a report today that says the effort is largely succeeding.

From April through December 2022, the 7th Army Training Command (ATC) facilitated training for Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel on 17 platforms approved for transfer to Ukraine, including howitzers, mortars, and the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS.

Ukrainian troops were already familiar with many of the weapons systems being donated by the U.S. before they underwent training last year. (DOD IG chart)

Based on our analysis of the training provided and platforms approved for transfer to Ukraine, we did not identify any instance when the 7th ATC did not provide [Ukrainian]-requested operational or maintenance training, the report stated.

In fact, much of the training was truncated because the Ukrainian troops were already combat experienced.

Officials from the 7th ATC said that operational units did not train the Ukrainian personnel to U.S. Army standards or doctrine because Ukraine sent its personnel to Grafenwoehr for training for a short time which enabled them to rapidly return to the fight in Ukraine.

For example, the operational training provided to Ukrainians for the M119 howitzer was six days; by comparison, advanced individual training for a cannon crewmember in the U.S. Army lasts seven weeks. Similarly, the M119 howitzer maintenance program of instruction was nine days, but artillery mechanic advanced individual training in the U.S. Army lasts 15 weeks.

Training for Ukrainian troops on weapons like the M777 155mm howitzer was truncated because they already were combat hardened, (DOD IG chart)

A Ukrainian official explained that short-duration programs of instruction were sufficient because the UAF attending platform training were, generally, experienced fighters who needed only familiarization training with the platforms provided through the presidential drawdowns.

In some cases, the Ukrainians didnt even want training on some of the platforms.

The report states that 7th ATC officials explained that "the Switchblade 300 was an easy drone to operate, and the [Ukrainian troops] were proficient in using drones and did not need training for it. In addition, equipment such as the AT4 [anti-tank weapon], did not require training because it is a simple, single-use launcher that is discarded after firing. Furthermore, the TPQ/AN-49 radar was provided to Ukraine in 2015 after Russias annexation of Crimea. Therefore, [Ukrainian troops] already knew how to operate this radar.

The Ukrainians also didn't ask for training on Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems or Stinger surface-to-air missile systems for the same reason.

https://twitter.com/DoD_IG/status/1669337016566181889

Meanwhile, Operation INTERFLEX, the U.K.-led effort to train Ukrainian recruits, is continuing apace. Since the start of the training program back in June 2022, Operation INTERFLEX has trained over 10,000 recruits, according to the U.K. Defense Ministry (MoD). The program has been extended with an aim of training up to 20,000 in 2023. the MoD said.

https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1669013130385543170

The Ukrainians have clearly mastered the HIMARS.

"In the area of the city of Bakhmut, operators of one of the units of the [Ukrainian special operations forces] SSO in cooperation with HIMARS destroyed two enemy complexes," the SSO claimed today on its Telegram channel.

"Soldiers of the SSO scouted the positions of the ZOOPARK-1 artillery reconnaissance radar complex and the Borisoglebsk-2 electronic warfare station. Information about the location was quickly transferred to the comrades from the missile and artillery unit. In the course of the fire attack, enemy equipment and almost all of the enemy's manpower were destroyed. A few managed to survive, but not for long. We continue to work."

Analyst Rob Lee, however, posited that the HIMARS strike may have taken out a Zhitel EW system instead of the Borisoglebsk-2.

https://twitter.com/ralee85/status/1669374054594228224?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

The Zoopark-1 systems are a popular Ukrainian target, as this video below shows.

https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1669413193637085185?s=20

Japan is in talks to provide artillery shells to the U.S. to bolster stocks for Ukraines counteroffensive against Russia, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. Such a move would represent a major change for Japan, which has long avoided exporting lethal weapons.

As Ukraine presses its counteroffensive, the global hunt for artillery shells has increased. With the U.S. already having provided Ukraine with more than two million 155mm artillery rounds since the beginning of the all-out invasion, finding additional supplies are important.

"Japan is considering supplying 155mm artillery shells to the U.S. under a 2016 agreement that allows the two countries to share ammunition as part of their longstanding security alliance," the newspaper reported, citing people familiar with the talks. "The shells would help replenish U.S. supplies as it supports Ukraines war effort, according to these people."

https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1669239510486351872

Norway and Denmark agreed to donate an additional 9,000 rounds of artillery to Ukraine, the Norwegian Defense Ministry (MoD) reported Thursday.

"Norway provides the shells, while Denmark donates fuzes and propellant charges. Norway is also donating 7,000 rounds from own stocks. These are already sent to Ukraine."

"Ukraine has an urgent need for artillery ammunition. We have therefore decided to join forces with Denmark for a new donation, so that Ukraine receives the ammunition as quickly as possible," said Defense Minister Bjrn Arild Gram.

https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1669257190501232642

So far, the Bradleys provided to Ukraine have been saving lives, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Thursday on her Telegram channel.

During a combat mission, a Bradley belonging to the 47th brigade received a direct missile hit in the tower and caught fire, Maliar wrote, citing the brigade. The crew evacuated safely, and the driver-mechanic took the armored vehicle to a safe position and extinguished the fire. The consequences are a slight contusion of one of the soldiers.

This incident proves that the unsurpassed combat survivability claimed by the manufacturer of armored vehicles is not just words, said Maliar. Bradley helps save the most precious thing  the lives of military personnel. And steel can always be restored. There is no technology that cannot be destroyed, there is technology that saves lives.

You can read more about what the Bradley brings to the table for Ukraine, including crew survivability, in our deep dive here.

https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1669277371118022656

Ukrainian Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov denies the official Russian media outlet RIA Novosti's claim that he was injured during a May 29 missile barrage on Kyiv.

"Im not ghost ))))," he told The War Zone Thursday afternoon. "And believe me, Im not wounded and stay in my headquarters."

He did acknowledge that the building was slightly damaged during that attack.

"A little bit," he said when asked if the headquarters was damaged during the barrage.

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1669354829192515587?s=20

Apparently not so lucky were about 100 Russian troops killed in a HIMARS strike while waiting for a general to speak, according to Russian Telegram channels.

The incident took place near Kreminna in Luhansk Oblast, according to the Kremlin-connected Rybar Telegram channel

A tragic incident occurred in one of the divisions that were going to go on the offensive. For two hours people stood in a crowd in one place and waited for the division commander to say his motivating word. But instead of him, the HIMARS MLRS and enemy artillery had their say.

As a result, in the Yuzhnodonetsk direction, in a few days there were fewer victims in the battles than from the criminal stupidity of the division commander.

Other Russian Telegram channels were equally incensed.

Bitch, you can't stand in a column for two hours in one place!" the Two Majors Telegram channel wrote. "Well, what are you doing, father commanders, you are commanding people! The Armed Forces of Ukraine have no merit in this war. We are at war with our own stupidity and sloppiness, smeared from above with beautiful reports.

"If by the middle of the second year of the war there are commanders that carry columns to the front and build personnel in one big pile, and then wait for the enemy artillery to strike, then such commanders must be shot before the formation, even if they are colonels or even generals," the Older Than Edda Telegram channel complained.

https://twitter.com/ChrisDYork/status/1669286777629048833?s=20

Ukraine's national security service, the SBU, claims its "White Wolf" drone unit scored 14 kills on Russian equipment overnight, including seven tanks. SBU posted video of the kills, which you can see below.

https://twitter.com/Maks_NAFO_FELLA/status/1669434308560297985

Ukraine's "Magyar Birds" drone unit also posted video of the destruction of Russian equipment, which you can watch below.

http://youtu.be/ZV1d04IHDTU

Russian drone operators are also working, but sometimes they miss, as appears to be the case in this video below - of attempted Iranian-made Shahed-136 strikes - shows.

https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1668969101094539267?s=20

Ukrainian forces weren't so lucky in the video below of a Lancet strike on a P-18 surveillance radar shows. Clearly, the wood shelter built around it didn't do the job.

https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1668989306684203008?s=20

The first image of a Swedish-donated CV9040C infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) in Ukraine has emerged. As we wrote about back in January, Sweden promised about 50 of these vehicles, among the best IFVs available in Europe.

https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1669425579202957317?s=20

The Wall Street Journal posted a really interesting interview with Russian draftee Ruslan Anitin, who became an internet icon of sorts after surrendering to a Ukrainian drone last month.

"He stood up without his rifle and gestured with his hands to stop attacking. Footage recorded by the drones shows him drawing his finger across his neck and shaking his headhis plea to the Ukrainians not to kill him if he surrendered.

He didnt have a clear plan, he said, but thought it was worth a shot.

In another set of trenches a few hundred feet away, the Ukrainian drone pilots were suspicious, they later recalled, fearing a trap.

The pilots watched Anitins body language and used the drones to respondup and down for yes, left and right for no. They would flash a light on the dronesonce for yes and twice for noa system that he proposed to them through a series of hand gestures.

Anitin didnt know whether he would be understood. When the drone started moving away, he said, he was filled with relief and decided to follow it."

https://twitter.com/WSJ/status/1669015624217968640

Ukraine isn't just capturing tanks and other armor during this conflict. Its troops are also collecting a wealth of small arms from the Russians, as you can see from this video below.

https://twitter.com/CalibreObscura/status/1669243325587640320

The fallout from the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka Dam across the Dnipro River continues.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi visited the Zarporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP)Thursday, Ukraine's Energoatom atomic energy agency reported on its Telegram channel.

Despite the reduced flow of the Dnipro resulting from the dam destruction, water levels are adequate needed to keep the ZNPP safe, Energoatom reported on its homepage.

"As of 10 a.m. on June 14, the water level in the Kakhovsky Reservoir in the Nikopol area continues to decrease, and the water level in the cooling pond of the Zaporizhzhya NPP is 16.67 m. This is quite enough to meet the station's needs."

"It is worth reminding that the ZNPP power units have not been operating since September 2022, so since then active evaporation of water from the cooling pond has not occurred."

https://twitter.com/hromadske/status/1669291158827327490?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

The water levels have dropped so far that resident of Nikopol can almost walk across the drained Dnipro to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

https://twitter.com/IntelCrab/status/1669012477999284225?s=20

And there are health concerns as well, with indications found of rotavirus A and salmonella.

https://twitter.com/gerashchenko_en/status/1669390244406231046?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

Ukrainian residents living on the Russian-occupied side of the Dnipro claim they were not provided any services, but instead left stranded and screaming for help.

https://twitter.com/yuliagorbunova_/status/1669250400761835521?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A

And finally, a tall, shaky structure in the middle of a war zone is probably not the best place to set up defenses, as these Russian troops found out.

https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1669333824805666817

That's it for now. We'll update this story when we have more news to report about Ukraine.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
The three victims Barnaby Webber, Ian Coates and Grace O'Malley-Kumar. (PA)

Valdo Calocane has been charged with the murder of three people killed in Nottingham in a knife and van attack, police have said.

Students Barnaby Webber and Grace OMalley-Kumar, both aged 19, and 65-year-old school caretaker Ian Coates were stabbed to death on Tuesday.

Calocane, of no fixed address, is also charged with three counts of attempted murder, Nottingham Police said, in connection to three people who were struck by a van later the same day.

Chief Constable Kate Meynell, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: These charges are a significant development and arise as a result of our thorough investigation into these horrific incidents that occurred in our city.

Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of all those affected by these attacks, and we will continue to provide support and reassurance.

OMalley-Kumar and Webber were found dead in Ilkeston Road in the city at around 4am on Tuesday.

Coates - described by his sons as everyones friend - was then found dead in Magdala Road after his van was allegedly stolen.

Vigils have been held for 19-year-old students Barnaby Webber and Grace O'Malley-Kumar, and school caretaker Ian Coates, 65,. (Getty)

Calocane is accused of using the van to drive at pedestrians in Milton Street  an incident which resulted in one person being taken to hospital in a critical condition and two others suffering minor injuries.

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust said two patients are now stable and one has been discharged following the van incidents.

What we know

Calocane is believed to be a university graduate from a churchgoing family and came to Britain in 2007 with his parents, who are originally from Guinea-Bissau in West Africa.

His father reportedly moved to Britain with his wife and three children, gaining settled status as EU nationals before the family moved to Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, where Calocane's mother worked as a registered nurse while his father found a job as a carer in the local community.

According to reports, Calocane was known for being bright and studious, and the family were described as churchgoers, regularly worshipping at the Calvary Church in the area.

Story continues

The families of Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber attend a vigil at the University of Nottingham after they were killed. (Getty)

On 15 June, Nottingham police said the suspect was a former University of Nottingham student.

Despite two of the victims also being from the university, police have said they do not believe these details are linked at this time.

One report said that Calocane's father had been living and working on the island of Madeira when he was granted Portuguese citizenship in 2006. It also said Calocane graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering last summer.
On Oct. 28, 1980, Ronald Gilchrist left his parents winter home in Clearwater to drive down to Miami.

The 29-year-old drove his in-laws blue 1977 Ford LTD to spend a few days in South Florida before he had to pick them up from Miami International Airport on Nov. 3. He was supposed to help his in-laws move into their new Marco Island condo.

But he never made it to the airport.

The last time he was seen was when he bid his parents farewell in Clearwater.

Decades later, Miami-Dade detectives solved one part of Gilchrists mystery. They identified him on June 7 as a John Doe found in November 1980 in Miami-Dade.

The discovery came after Pinellas County Sheriffs Office detectives sent the department photographs of Gilchrist from 1980. The resemblance was uncanny  and detectives were able to make a match, though its unclear how. The Miami Herald reached out to Miami-Dade police but hadnt received a response as of Thursday night.

According to a St. Petersburg Times article from 1982, Gilchrist was traveling from Toronto before stopping in Clearwater. He had picked up a hitchhiker in Georgia known to his family as Gene from Calhoun, Georgia.

Gilchrists last communication with his family was on Oct. 29 from a restaurant payphone in Mulberry, a city a little more than an hour east of Clearwater. His last trace was on a receipt for gas and a car wash in Miami. It was dated to Nov. 2, a day before he was supposed to pick up his wifes parents, according to the Times.

Pinellas County detectives had found credit card slips from the middle of November, but determined they werent authentic, according to the 1982 article. They had a fake signature and license plate of 123456-Quebec scrawled on them.

Gilchrists family told reporters in 1982 that he was going through a rough patch when he vanished. He and his wife were splitting up. He had quit his job at a Toronto radio station because his father-in-law was an executive at the station. And he had developed a fear of crowds and open places.

Story continues

He started spending most of his time in the house with me, wife Patty Gilchrist told the Times in 1982. He didnt want to go out. He wasnt socializing, and it really started to bother him.

Family speculated fate

With the lack of answers, loved ones developed their own theories. Some were more optimistic than others.

Brother-in-law Harvey Wright believed that Gilchrist, who was known for his love of boats and water, found a new life working at a marina in the Florida Keys, according to the 1982 article. Sister Linda Wright thought he may have been lured  and brainwashed  by a cult.

He didnt feel like his world was together like everyone elses, she told the Times, adding that he could easily fall into a cult due to his mental state.

But father William Gilchrist had the darkest theory. He believed his son was drugged, robbed and murdered by the hitchhiker they had met days prior.

His mother, Elizabeth Gilchrist, told the Times that she hoped her son would eventually come back and help her plant flowers in her yard.

If hes alive, Ill cry for days, she said in 1982. But if hes dead, well have to accept it. But I think Id like to know what the Lord has willed.

Miami-Dade police are now investigating Gilchrists murder.
If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules:

Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy.

The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party.

We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste.

Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters.

Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month.
Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business.
Cat costa o masa de pranz pentru un deputat si ce contine meniul

Deputatii schimba bucatarul, dar tot pe preturi mici. Pe e-licitatie.ro, Camera Deputatilor a publicat un anunt privind concesionarea serviciilor de alimentatie publica pentru restaurantul Salon Brancovenesc de la nivelul S1, pentru bufetul de la nivelul 1M, [citeste mai departe]
This year, athletes will take over runway I of Budapest Airport on the 1st Saturday of September again.

Following last years success, the now-traditional 11th Runway Run will once again start at sunset and the organizer, Budapest Airport is opening up the registration to an audience wider than ever before.



One hundred percent of the proceeds from the entry fees will be donated to charity this year as well.



Budapest Airports ever-popular charity race, Runway Run, will take place on 2 September.



As in the previous 10 years, Budapest Airports charity run will serve a noble purpose this year as well, since the entire proceeds raised from the entry fees will be donated to the SUHANJ! Foundation, which supports sporting opportunities for handicapped and disabled people and another foundation helping the recovery of sick children.



Donations since the first rendition of the race in 2013 have exceeded 90 million HUF.



Held in a special location on the closed runway I of Budapest Airport, the competition is traditionally one of the most popular sporting events for aviation professionals, where the athletes of SUHANJ! Foundation, and a limited number of civilian sportspeople can also enter.



The latter option is open to everyone interested this year on a first-come, first-served basis, according to a call for entries posted on Budapest Airports online interfaces, where 100 registration opportunities will be available.



As the company believes it is important for everyone to be able to experience the thrill of sport, it is also launching a category called Kids Fun Run, in addition to the traditional distances for adults and children.



In this category, children aged 14 or under can compete on their own or accompanied by their parents. This year, children can compete in three age groups at a distance of one or two kilometers for the very first time.



You can enter the 11th Runway Run in the following categories:

Adult

Womens or mens 5 km

Womens or mens 10 km

Children

Aged between 6 and 8: 1 km

Aged between 9 and 11: 2 km

Aged between 12 and 14: 2 km

Kids Fun Run

Parents and children aged 14 or under: 1 km

To help participants prepare, Budapest Airport will draw up a six-week training plan, which will be sent to entrants after registration.



Source and registration details: Budapest Airport
IAMX, Chris Corner's dark and cult electronic project, back to Budapest. IAMX will be back on tour after 2019, and the FAULT LINES1 Tour will arrive to Budapest on 29th September at the A38 Ship.

The concert promises to include new songs alongside IAMX classics, as Chris Corner and his band have two new albums planned for next spring and autumn.



IAMX is the solo project of Chris Corner, formerly known from Sneaker Pimps. IAMX is an exciting experimental project, where visuals play an important role alongside the music, and the songs are influenced by electronic rock, dance, burlesq and emotional ballads.



This beautiful, dark, cult electronic project is a fascinating impression of Chris Corner's world.



The band last performed in Budapest in 2019, when they launched their new album Alive In New Light, and now they're stepping out of the rehearsal room and back on the road.



The FAULT LINES1 Tour will feature the usual strong visuals and suggestive performances, as well as IAMX classics and songs from two brand new albums, to be released in spring and autumn of 2023.



On 29th September at the A38 Ship.



Expect IAMXs psycho-sexual explosive and passionate performance paired with striking theatrical lights, visuals, filth glam and the never-ending existential need to become one with the audience.



Source and tickets: Livenation.hu
PATNA: Ratnesh Sada, the Janata Dal-United MLA from the Sonbarsa assembly seat, on Friday took oath as a minister in Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's cabinet. The oath of office and secrecy was administered to Sada by Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at the Raj Bhavan here. Sada is a three-time MLA from the Sonbarsa (SC) seat. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav and several other dignitaries were present at the swearing-in ceremony. Santosh Kumar Suman, the son of former CM and Hindustani Awam Morcha HAM(S) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi, had recently quit the Nitish Kumar cabinet paving the way for Sada's induction.

Who Is Ratnesh Sada?





cre Trending Stories

Ratnesh Sada, who represents the Sonbarsa assembly constituency, is a Dalit leader and belongs to the Musahar community like former Bihar chief minister and HAM chief Jitan Ram Manjhi. In what is being seen as a masterstroke by the Bihar Chief Minister, Sada may also be given the SC and ST welfare portfolio, which was earlier held by Santosh Suman. Suman resigned recently alleging "pressure" from the JD-U to merge his party Hindustani Awam Morcha with the ruling party. Sada, the three-time legislator from JD-U is associated with the Kabirpanthi sect.

Early Life

Ratnesh Sada has faced a lot of hardship and struggle in his life. Before making his foray into politics, Sada used to drive a rickshaw for his living. According to media reports, Ratnesh Sada is a resident of Simar village of the Mahishi police station area. His family resides in Ward No. 6 located in Kahra Kuti of Sonbarsa. His father Lakshmi worked as a contract labourer. According to the affidavit filed in the Election Commission, Ratnesh Sada is a graduate. MLA Ratnesh Sada has three sons and two daughters.

Political Career

Ratnesh Sadas political career set off in 1987. However, he became an MLA from the Sonbarsa reserved seat from the JDU quota in 2010. He has won thrice in a row. He is also the president of JDUs Mahadalit Cell. He has also held other key positions in the party including JDU vice president. MLA Ratnesh Sada is the president of JDU Mahadalit Cell. Sada won the 2020 assembly election from the Sonbarsa reserve seat, defeating Tarni Rishidev of the Congress. He is at present the whip of the JD-U and is considered very close to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. His total declared movable and immovable assets are worth 1.30 crores and has no criminal case registered against him.

Masterstroke By Nitish Kumar

The elevation of Ratnesh Sada, who hails from the populous north Bihar, is being seen as a masterstroke by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who is looking to neutralise the damage Jitan Ram Manjhi could inflict, especially if he returned to the BJP-led NDA ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

The Sonbarsha MLA has also accused the father-son duo of HAM of having ditched Nitish Kumar because of their "insatiable greed and vaulting ambition". Sada also charged Manjhi with "paying lip service to Dalits, especially Musahars despite being a minister in several governments since 1980s besides a brief tenure as the CM."

Bihar Cabinet Expansion

A Cabinet expansion has been due for a long time after JD(U) snapped its ties with BJP to form Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) government in August 2022. Presently, there are 30 ministers in the Bihar Cabinet following the resignation of Suman. Based on the total strength of the Assembly, there can be a maximum of 36 ministers. The Mahagathbandhan has 164 MLAs in the 243-seat Bihar assembly. The RJD has 16 ministers, JD(U) has 11 and Congress has two in the Cabinet. There is also one independent member. While Santosh Suman is a member of the legislative council, HAM has a total of four MLAs in the assembly.
New Delhi: The online Zoho Office Suite and other business software are produced by Zoho Corporation (previously AdventNet Inc), whose creator and CEO is Sridhar Vembu. He is best known for starting from scratch and raising millions of dollars for the Zoho Corporation, which currently competes head-to-head with industry heavyweights like Microsoft, Google, Oracle, and Salesforce.com and gives them a run for their money.

The most intelligent unknown Indian entrepreneur who has a huge fan base in the start-up business, mostly because he refused venture capital funding.

Sridhar Vembu Family Background

cre Trending Stories

Sridhar comes from a very modest middle class household in Chennai, where his mother was a stay-at-home mom and his father worked as a stenographer in the High Court. Neither of them attended college.

Sridhar Vembu Education

After finishing the 10th grade in a government-funded school with a Tamil-language curriculum, he transferred to IIT-Madras to complete his undergraduate studies. After that, in 1989, he also earned his Electrical Engineering degree from Princeton University.

Sridhar Vembu Professional Career

In San Diego, Sridhar joined Qualcomm in 1994. Being an Electrical Engineer, he used to work on Wireless Communication throughout this period of almost two years, including aspects like CDMA, power control, and some really intricate wireless communications challenges.

Journey Of Zoho Corporation

Sridhar Vembu had a strong interest in political science and economics while at Princeton, which led him to read a number of books and research the growth strategies used by successful economies like Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan.

He was aware that socialism was India's issue and was sincerely motivated to make things right. So when his brother Kumar brought up the idea two years later, he decided to join him, quit his job, and return to their native country in an effort to use technology to alleviate some of the country's problems.

Tony Thomas, who had some network management software and was knowledgeable in the field, joined forces with them. Together, they launched Vembu Software in 1996 from a modest flat in Chennai's suburbs.

After experiencing ups and downs, the company has finally been recognised to be expanding at an electrifying rate. In 2016, revenues increased from $300 million with 12 million users in 2015 to $500 million with 18 million users, with consumers based in the US, Europe, West Asia, and Japan.
Jhumri Telaiya: Before the quick-paced textile industry dominated the marketplace, hand-crocheted products were a common sight in most homes. The majority of moms and grandmothers would sit with their crocheting tools after finishing their daily housework and make everything from tablecloths and drapes to sofa covers and toys. A 61-year-old woman from Jharkhand is hand-crocheting toys to revive the art form, even though such things have been dwindling over time. Since its launch in 2021, Kanchan Bhadani's company, 'Loophoop', has sold over 3,500 hand-crocheted toys. She also offers free training to homemakers and girls from tribal villages so they can support themselves. She has taught the craft of crocheting to more than 50 native women thus far. Most of them collaborate with her to create toys for business.

A Lady From Bengal

Kanchan was born and raised in Kolkata, where she learned to crochet toys and tablecloths from her grandmother and aunts. She acquired the skill in a similar way as her aunts and grandmothers. She received specialized instruction in art at school. Kanchan continued to practice since she always loved doing it. She married and relocated to Jhumri Telaiya in Jharkhand in 1982.

cre Trending Stories

Also Read: Engineer Quit High-Paying Job To Promote Camel Milk

Tribal Women And Jhumri Telaiya

Even though she was passionate about her art, she also had another love that she eventually decided to follow. She had encountered numerous illiterate tribal women since relocating to Jhumri Telaiya. They could only find employment in the mines, which paid a meager daily salary. Kanchan was always considering ways she could significantly improve the lives of these women after witnessing their suffering.

Crochet Classes For Tribals

Although the tribals didn't use it as frequently, all the women around her were familiar with the skill. Every girl was taught how to sew, weave, and crochet back then. Kanchan occasionally taught crochet classes to ladies who were eager to acquire the skill until 2021, but the majority of the time she was a homemaker. So far, she has trained more than 50 native women. Even though there are no prerequisites for learning to crochet, the majority of people need between 10 to 15 days to get the hang of it. Additionally, if they keep practicing, they can become more skilled. She currently has 25 regular coworkers out of those 50. Kanchan's female employees are paid for the service they produce. If they labor for 2-3 hours per day on average, they might expect to make more than Rs 5,000 every month.

Also Read: Why Can't She Stand And Pee?

Kanchan creates a variety of soft toys, including elephants, dolls, caterpillars, octopuses, etc. So far, she has sold almost 3,500 toys. The toys may be purchased on their official website and Instagram account, as well as on websites like Flipkart and Amazon. The business currently brings in more than Rs. 14 lakh annually.

When most individuals were planning to retire, Kanchan started her business. She has no intention of stopping. Also, in order to better the lives of these tribal women, she intends to continue her efforts.
New Delhi: Two men who used to extort money from people by impersonating as a journalist and policeman have been arrested, police said on Friday. The accused have confessed that they have extorted money from more than 100 persons in other states as well. They have been identified as Mohit Kumar Tank and Devkinandan, residents of Jaipur. Both of them were produced in a city court after which police have taken them on three days remand, police said. Their driver identified as Sunil was arrested on June 5 and a car which was being used in the crime was also recovered from his possession.

According to the police, a person had lodged a complaint on June 4 that someone contacted him through a website to avail escort services. They contacted him and asked him to come to the Cyber Park at Sector 39 in Gurugram. When he reached there, he was taken in a car where the accused introduced themselves as police officers and threatened to send him to jail for committing cybercrime.

According to complainant, they then drove the victim to Sector 39 where another person posing as a senior police officer demanded Rs 1 lakh from him, threatening to send him behind bars if failed to pay the sum. The victim transferred Rs 50,000 to an account provided by the accused using his brother's account. They had threatened him with dire consequences if he told anyone about the incident.



cre Trending Stories

Also Read: Crypto Investment Fraud: Rajasthan Teenager Arrested In Connection Of Cyber Fraud

An FIR was registered at Sadar police station on June 5. A police team nabbed accused Sunil from Jaipur on the same day.

During interrogation, the accused confessed to his involvement in the incident along with his associates. Two main accused were arrested on Thursday from Jaipur, said police.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Varun Dahiya said, "During interrogation, it was revealed that the accused Mohit Kumar Tank, resident of Jaipur, worked as a tourist guide in Jaipur. Nine years ago, he went to work in a disco club where he met Ibrahim Sheikh, owner of Tehelka Channel. Due to his proficiency in English, he started collaborating with Sheikh to carry out sting operations of influential people."

"After the pandemic-induced lockdown, Tank returned to Jaipur. He then started collaborating with Devkinandan and Sunil, who lived nearby, to devise a plan. They targeted their victims through various websites like RentMan, Skoka, Locanto, Gigolo, Massage Republic etc and asked them for services.

"As per their plan, Devkinandan would wait near the gate of a police station and when the targeted person used to arrive at the designated place, Tank would introduce himself as a journalist and threaten to send him to jail by accusing him of cybercrime.

"To create more pressure on the victim and to convince him, they would take him to a secluded place near the police station, where Devkinandan would already be present. He would then pretend to be a police officer, and then they would extort money from the victim in the name of avoiding jail," he said.

Dahiya added that they had also extorted Rs 50,000 from the victim in this case
A monstrous storm slammed into the coast of East Pakistan, now known as Bangladesh on November 12, 1970, a. It was the worlds deadliest tropical cyclone, according to the World Meteorological Organisation. It killed hundreds of thousands of people and unleashed a chain of events that led to a civil war, a foreign intervention and the birth of a new country. It was a stark example of how shock mobility - the sudden displacement of people by natural disasters or conflicts - can trigger profound political and social changes and alter the course of history.

Worst Natural Disaster Of 20th Century

Cyclone Bhola was a powerful storm that formed in the Bay of Bengal and intensified as it moved towards the low-lying islands and tidal flats along the shore. It brought fierce winds and a massive storm surge that submerged vast areas of land and swept away entire villages. The death toll is estimated to be between 300,000 and 500,000, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters on record. Millions more became homeless and destitute overnight.



cre Trending Stories

The storm exposed the vulnerability and neglect of the region by the Pakistani government, which was based in West Pakistan (todays Pakistan). The government failed to warn the people adequately about the impending danger.

The government also failed to provide timely and effective relief to the survivors. It claimed that it found about 192,000 bodies and that another 150,000 were missing. But it did not count the tens of thousands who were washed out to sea, buried in the mud or died in remote islands. Some of the worst-hit areas were Tazumuddin, where over 45 per cent of the population of 167,000 died, and Noakhali, where corpses littered the beaches. The people clung to trees for survival but were ripped off by the winds and tides.

Also Read: Biparjoy Landfall In Hours; Here Are Deadliest Cyclones That Hit India In A Decade

The Spark That Ignited A War

The cyclone outraged the political leaders and activists of East Pakistan, who had been demanding more autonomy and rights from West Pakistan for years. They accused the government of indifference and incompetence in dealing with the disaster. They also blamed it for exploiting the resources and suppressing the culture of East Pakistan.

One of the first political leaders to visit the devastated areas was Maulana Abdul Hamid Bhashani, who led the National Awami Party. He called for a jihad or holy war against the injustice and oppression of West Pakistan. He said East Pakistan should become an independent nation.

He was followed by Sheikh Mujib, who led the Awami League, the largest political party in East Pakistan. He inherited the mandate to stand up for the victims of Cyclone Bhola and to demand more autonomy for East Pakistan.

The government tried to appease them by holding national elections in December 1970. The Awami League won a landslide victory in East Pakistan but was denied power by West Pakistan. This sparked widespread protests and violence in East Pakistan. The government responded by launching a brutal military crackdown on March 25, 1971. Sheikh Mujib declared independence on March 26, 1971, before being arrested. This marked the beginning of the Bangladesh Liberation War.

The war lasted for nine months and involved guerrilla warfare, mass killings, genocide and refugee crises. It also drew in India, which supported East Pakistans cause and intervened militarily in December 1971. The war ended on December 16, 1971, when West Pakistan surrendered to India and East Pakistan became Bangladesh.

Also Read: Cyclone Biparjoy Live: 54,000 People Relocated In Gujarat

A Historical Turning Point

Cyclone Bhola was not only a natural disaster but also a historical turning point. It exposed the fragility and injustice of the Pakistani state and catalyzed the movement for independence in East Pakistan. It also showed how shock mobility can have far-reaching consequences for peoples lives, identities and aspirations. It can disrupt social order, create grievances and mobilize resistance. It can also inspire solidarity, resilience and transformation.

Cyclone Bhola is still remembered as a tragedy that shaped Bangladeshs history and identity. It is also a reminder of the challenges and opportunities that shock mobility poses for human development and security.

Catalyst For A Bloody Conflict

The catalyst for this conflict was Cyclone Bhola, which had ravaged East Pakistan a year earlier. The Yahya Khan government failed to provide adequate relief to the millions of victims and tried to downplay the extent of the damage. They blamed the local politicians for exaggerating the situation. But the world media soon exposed their incompetence and indifference. For the entire political leadership of then East Pakistan, the Bhola cyclone was a golden opportunity to capitalize on their political advantage for the upcoming election. This opportunity soon turned into a revolution.

The Bengali people rose up against the oppression and injustice of the West Pakistani regime. They demanded autonomy, if not independence, for their homeland. They fought a bloody war that shook the very foundation of Pakistan. That eventually led to foreign intervention and the birth of a new nation: Bangladesh. This violent change is a stark reminder of the profound societal and political disruption that can result from a natural disaster.
Kupwara: In a big breakthrough, five foreign terrorists have been killed in the encounter that broke out between terrorists and security personnel near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district on Friday. "Five foreign terrorists killed in the encounter, search operation underway," Additional Director General of Police Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, said.

The encounter began after the Indian Army and J&K Police launched a joint operation on Thursday night based on specific input about the presence of terrorists in the Jumagund area near the LoC in the north Kashmir district.

"An encounter has started between the terrorists and joint parties of Army & Police on a specific input of Kupwara Police in Jumagund area of LoC of Kupwara district. Further details shall follow," Kashmir Zone Police said in a tweet earlier.



cre Trending Stories

Kupwara encounter | Five foreign terrorists killed in the encounter, search operation underway: ADGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar https://t.co/MvNPn65jBQ June 16, 2023

Meanwhile, a massive search and combing operation is underway in the area. The ongoing encounter is part of a series of counter-infiltration operations foiled by the security forces in recent.

On Thursday, Army foiled an infiltration bid in the Poonch sector and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition. On June 13, two terrorists were neutralised in a joint operation of the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police in the border area of Kupwara district.

Since February, 10 major infiltration attempts have been foiled across the Line of Control, indicating Pakistan's desperation to push terrorists into the Indian side of the border in J&K.
Manipur: In the latest incident of violence in the northeast state of Manipur, some unidentified miscreants set on fire Union Minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh's house in Imphal late on Thursday. The incident took place in the wee hours of Friday. Union Minister RK Ranjan Singh was not at the house at the time of the incident, officials said. Earlier this week, State Minister and BJP leader Nemcha Kipgen's house was also set on fire by miscreants.

Meanwhile, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has said that the government is holding discussions at multiple levels and assured that action will be taken against those involved in violence. In a fresh violence case reported on Wednesday in Manipur, nine people were killed and 10 others were injured on Wednesday. Notably, Manipur has seen ethnic violence since last month.





cre Trending Stories

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, CM Biren Singh said, "As per our commitment, we are contacting everyone, we are discussing at various levels. The governor has also constituted a peace committee and consultation with peace committee members will start. I hope that with the support of the people of the state, we will achieve peace at the earliest." He said that it is not easy to say that the situation will improve suddenly but the incidents of violence are reducing in the state.

"Most people have some feelings because someone has lost their near and dear ones. Somebody has lost their property. So, those kinds of emotions are there. So, we can't immediately say that everything will be alright. But you have seen that with the efforts of the government, and by involving the people, it is reducing," Singh further said.

The Chief Minister further assured that action will be taken against the culprits of violence. "Nine people were killed, and incidents of arson were reported. This is very sad. The combing operation has started to find out the culprits. I assure the people of the state, we will definitely book the culprits as per the law of the land," he said.

Manipur Ethnic Violence

Manipur has seen violence since early May following clashes during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest against the demand for the inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category.

The Manipur High Court had asked the state government to consider including the Meitei community in Scheduled Tribes (STs) list. The state government has extended the internet ban in the state until June 15 in view of the prevailing situation.

In the wake of the violence, Home Minister Amit Shah visited Manipur for four days from May 29 and announced a series of measures to restore peace in the state. He held meetings with Chief Minister N Biren Singh, leaders of various political parties, civil society, women and tribal groups and senior officials. Shah had also announced that a peace committee would be formed in the state.
A seasoned and committed career educator who served as Denvers superintendent  before being run off by its dysfunctional, union-controlled school board  was named education commissioner this week for the entire state.

Susana Cordova also served briefly as a senior exec with Dallas school district and an education nonprofit since leaving Denver in 2020, but she spent most of her professional life living and breathing public education in her native Colorado.

Cordovaa return is cause for hope and has the potential to provide lift to our states sagging student achievement. It also could represent the resurgence of the education-reform movement within the ranks of Colorados dominant Democratic Party.

If so, it would be a welcome development. Colorados public schools  in which only a minority of students perform at grade level in math and English  urgently need reform.

A Denver native and graduate of the citys Abraham Lincoln High School, Cordova spent much of her career in Denver Public Schools. She served as deputy superintendent, chief schools officer, chief academic officer and executive director of teaching and learning. She also was principal of Remington Elementary School and began as a bilingual language arts educator.

She has served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Denvers School of Education. She is a member of the Board of Trustees at the University of Denver.

Her appointment  announced in late May but made official Wednesday by the independently elected Colorado State Board of Education  has drawn accolades, including from Gov. Jared Polis.

"Her prior work boosting academic progress and improving access to high-quality education for learners of all backgrounds as superintendent of Denver Public Schools is sure to benefit students across the state as she brings this passion and experience to this new role," the governor said in a news release issued by his office.

Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

"I look forward to working with Susana as a member of my cabinet as we continue to carry forward our bold education priorities.

Its a telling compliment from this particular governor. Polis is, of course, a longtime exponent of education reform and an agent of change in public schools, having personally helped found two of Colorados 260-plus charter schools. Cordova hails from the same part of the policy spectrum  which helps explain her short time as super at Colorados largest school district.

The fact that Cordova wasnt a good fit for Denvers notoriously inept, heads-in-the-sand, anti-educational choice school board speaks well of her  and is a testament to the promise she holds in her new post.

As chief of the state Department of Education, she will oversee public education statewide and execute policy enunciated by the state board. Among the priorities she will attend to in her post will be the work of a task force that is looking at changes to the accountability system for the states schools.

Lets hope she is wary of efforts to water down accountability in ways that might paper over the states glaring deficiencies in student achievement.

Heres also hoping Cordova will help renew Colorados overall commitment to educational choice. The charter schools and innovation schools her former employer in Denver had scorned, in fact, have played a big role in previous strides made by our public education system  and should be expanded. While their creation is largely a matter reserved to local school districts, lets encourage Cordova to do her part in advocating for more school choice.

We will be watching with interest.
Ms. Anuradha Sharma, the visionary founder of Anuvi Business Solutions, carries irresistible charisma and unmatched commercial expertise. It results in growth and popularity, transforming the way businesses work. From her humble beginnings to her meteoric rise, Ms. Sharma's journey is inspirational. With a burning desire to simplify the process of forming a company in the UAE and beyond, she founded Anuvi Business Solutions. This trailblazing enterprise has disrupted the corporate world.

Anuvi Business Solutions is a market leader in Corporate Service Providers & Business set ups in Dubai. They have become the go-to partner for organizations seeking strategic counsel and operational excellence, with a broad range of services geared to satisfy the particular needs of modern enterprises.

Ms. Sharma's expertise in company formation, business management, consulting, and corporate services has propelled her to the forefront of the industry. With over a decade of experience, she has successfully guided countless companies, regardless of nationality, to establish themselves in the UAE market.

cre Trending Stories

As we dive deeper into Ms. Sharma's remarkable journey, her impressive educational background becomes apparent. An ICSI Associate Member, she holds Bachelor's degrees in Law and Commerce from Delhi University, India. Prestigious organizations and government departments have recognized her dedication and passion, validating her tireless pursuit of excellence.

Anuvi Business Solutions has garnered immense trust from more than 2500 satisfied customers worldwide. By simplifying the company formation process, providing Company Registration in Free zone & Local Market, Investor & Employment Residence Visa, Auditing and Accounting services, Opening Bank Account and other Corporate PRO services in Dubai, UAE, and ensuring a success rate of 98% in navigating the UAE's operating jurisdictions, Ms. Sharma and her team have become the catalysts for entrepreneurial success.

But it doesn't end there. Ms. Sharma's drive extends beyond business ventures. Known for her philanthropic endeavours, she has instilled a culture of corporate social responsibility within Anuvi Business Solutions. The company actively contributes to the community, engaging in various initiatives that positively impact society.

In a rapidly evolving business landscape, Ms. Anuradha Sharma's entrepreneurial spirit shines through, illuminating the path to success for countless organizations. With Anuvi Business Solutions leading the way, enterprises can expect a transformational experience, redefining the limits of what's possible. Get ready to embark on a journey of empowerment and innovation, guided by an exceptional leader who continues to leave an indelible mark on the business world.

(This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Lts Consumer Connect Initiative, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the article.)
Women Empowerment: While men have it easy, women take numerous precautions to avoid the dangers of using public restrooms. Men don't have to touch any surfaces, which is the distinction. PeeBuddy is a straightforward, funnel-like gadget that allows women to urinate while standing. It is a kind and much-needed invention. PeeBuddy, headed by 40-year-old entrepreneur Deep Bajaj, has become an absolute hit with women, particularly athletes and others who spend a lot of time outside.

PeeBuddy: How It All Started

The term "Stand-To-Pee" was coined by one of his buddies while they were on vacation. Bajaj claimed that when he and his wife used to travel frequently for work, finding clean restrooms was always an issue. Even during her pregnancy, his wife found it extremely challenging to urinate outside, and they were constantly in need of a solution. He was on vacation with his pals in 2013 when one of them joked that she had once seen someone using a device to stand and urinate. Deep's thought was sparked by these words, and he declared that he would bring this into being. Bajaj created a funnel for ladies to stand and urinate, and they called it the "PeeBuddy" brand. His business patented that design in 2015. They discovered it was more popular than they had anticipated when they began to advertise their goods and received feedback from the women about how PeeBuddy had benefited them.



cre Trending Stories

PeeBuddy: The Challenges

The major problem with this line of work is that these topics are still taboo in society and are never discussed. We did not have anything other than period pads because of this. Bajaj discovered that if he sticks with it, he will find solutions regardless of how vast the industry is. For PeeBuddy to work, women need restrooms. Unlike men, women are unable to use this product without a toilet. Even so, ladies who are expecting, have arthritis, or have any other personal issues can benefit from using PeeBuddy. This served as the product's fundamental concept.

Deep Bajaj: Background

Deep Bajaj is a driven serial entrepreneur who holds a graduate degree (B.Com.) from Delhi University and a postgraduate degree from the Australian National University. He began working as soon as he graduated from class XII in 2001. His one and only job was in the insurance industry, where he later discovered his passion for entrepreneurship. Since then, he has started various enterprises, some of which have failed, and some of which he has exited. He began working in the sector of events and advertising after his return from Australia, which he left in 2011, and he assisted his wife in starting her own business, Carpet Couture, which is a couture brand for handmade carpets. He established Carpet Couture's worldwide sales branch in 2011, and between 2011 and 2014, he completed super-luxury projects around the world, including the finest hotels and high-end houses. Deep enjoys helping new businesses, and he has interests in both home healthcare and education. With the debut of PeeBuddy, India's first FUD (Female Urination Device), which allows women to now stand and urinate, he began working on a range of innovative products for women in 2014 with his co-founders.

How often are you concerned with feminine hygiene? How often have you heard people discussing these topics in public? How at ease are you talking to your friends and family about personal hygiene? I believe not much. Today, we introduced a man who is working to address these taboo topics for women in our culture. The social entrepreneur of the year award has previously been given to Deep Bajaj, the founder and CEO of Sirona Hygiene Private Limited, better known by his brand name PeeBuddy. With their innovative products like the stand-to-pee, menstrual cups, period pain treatment patches, etc., Sirona Hygiene aims to address the intimate and menstrual hygiene problems that women confront.
New Delhi: Ration cards are provided for the people to get subsidised food grains and gasoline. Apart from documentation such as a passport and a PAN card, the ration card also serves as confirmation of identification and residency.

The Centre has extended the deadline for linking Aadhaar to ration card from June 30, 2023, to September 30,2023, according to a notification issued by the Department of Food and Public Distribution. (Also Read: Father-Mother Never Went To College, Now Son Runs Multi-Million Dollar Company: Read All About Zoho Founder Sridhar Vembu)

Ration cards are provided to all households in order for them to get subsidised food grains and fuel. Apart from documentation such as a passport and a PAN card, the ration card also serves as confirmation of identification and residency. (Also Read: Who Is Rajinder Gupta, Used To Earn Rs 30 Per Day And Now Runs The Rs 3,616 Crore Trident Group)



cre Trending Stories

However, there have been occasions where an individual obtains more than their fair share of rations or where individuals who are not entitled for rations receive them, depriving deserving others.

By linking the Aadhaar card to the ration card, the government will be able to prohibit individuals from obtaining duplicate ration cards. It is also feasible to detain those who are disqualified for collecting rations because their income exceeds the threshold.

This would also ensure that only those who are deserving obtain subsidised fuel or food grains.

The linkage also helps to prevent duplicate ration cards and dishonest middlemen, allowing genuine and worthy beneficiaries to receive government-sponsored benefits.

Documents needed to link Aadhaar card to Ration card

- Photocopy of original ration card

- Family member's Aadhaar card photocopy

- Family head's Aadhaar card photocopy

- Bank passbook photocopy

- Family's head passport size photo: 2
New Delhi: Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme 14th Installment latest update:-- Farmers waiting for the disbursal of amount under PM Kisan, may get it by the end of this month. The Central government may very soon roll out the 14th instalment under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM Kisan Yojana) in the last week of this month, as per media reports.

PM Kisan Yojana 14th instalment: Some farmers may get Rs 4,000 instead of Rs 2,000, check eligibility

So far, the government has released 13 instalments under PM Kisan Yojana. While most farmers will be receiving Rs 2000 instalments for the PM Kisan Yojana 14th instalment, a few are expected to get Rs 4000. According to reports, farmers who didnt receive Rs 2000 in the 13th instalment are likely to get Rs 4000 in the 13th instalment.



cre Trending Stories

Many farmers were not able to complete the process of their verification, owing to which they did not get the money for the 13th installment. However, a large number of farmers have now got their verification process completed. These farmers would now get Rs 4000 instead of Rs 2000.

PM-KISAN 14th Installment: How To Check Name on Beneficiary List

Eligible farmers can easily check their names on the official PM Kisan website. On the homepage of the website, you need to visit the Farmers Corner, followed by clicking on the Beneficiary Status option.

On the next page, you need to enter your details to find out if youre eligible for receiving the benefits under PM Kisan Yoana or not.

PM KISAN Scheme was launched by PM Narendra Modi in 2019, aims to provide income support to all landholder farmer families across the country with cultivable land, subject to certain exclusions. Under the Scheme, an amount of Rs 6000 per year is released in three-monthly instalments of Rs 2000 each directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. While lakhs of eager farmers are waiting for the disbursal of Rs 2,000 in their account, there are several farmers who are not eligible for the PM KISAN Scheme.

Those excluded from the PM-KISAN include institutional land holders, farmer families holding constitutional posts, serving or retired officers and employees of State or Central government as well as Public Sector Undetakings and Government Autonomous bodies. Professionals like doctors, engineers and lawyers as well as retired pensioners with a monthly pension of over Rs 10,000 and those who paid income tax in the last assessment year are also not eligible for the benefits.
WASHINGTON: Indian-Americans are preparing for a cultural extravaganza for Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrives in the American Capital from New York City after leading a yoga session at the UN Headquarters. On the 9th International Day of Yoga on June 21, Prime Minister Modi will lead a yoga session for the first time at the UN Headquarters.

Prime Minister Modi is visiting the US from June 21-24 at the invitation of US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. They will host Modi at a state dinner on June 22. The visit also includes an address to the Joint Session of the Congress on June 22. Modi will address an invitation-only gathering of diaspora leaders from across the country at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington on June 23.

More than 160 artists are rehearsing for the past week to stage as many as 25 cultural programmes representing 15 Indian states. Most of them are dances, songs and musicals reflecting the rich cultural diversity of India. The performance would be staged at the historic Freedom Plaza near the White House in front of the Willard Hotel from 10 am in the morning to 2 pm which would coincide with the arrival of the Prime Minister.



cre Trending Stories

A large number of Indian Americans are planning to gather at the Freedom Plaza to welcome the Prime Minister with 'Vande Mataram' and wave the tricolour. Engagement with the Indian Diaspora has been a signature part of Modi's overseas travel. Most of the time, the prime minister spends some time with his diaspora followers, interacts with them and takes selfies.
Crisis-hit airline Go First on Thursday announced that its scheduled flight operations will remain cancelled till June 19 due to operational reasons. Earlier, it was supposed to be till June 16.

"We regret to inform you that Go First flights scheduled till 19th June 2023 have been cancelled due to operational reasons. We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the flight cancellations," Go First said in a tweet.

Also read: IndiGo Aircraft Grounded After It Strikes Tail During Landing At Ahmedabad Airport



cre Trending Stories

"We acknowledge the flight cancellations might have disrupted your travel plans, and we are committed to providing all the assistance we can," they said in a letter.

Due to operational reasons, Go First flights until 19th June 2023 are cancelled. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and request customers to visit https://t.co/FdMt1cRR4b for more information. For any queries or concerns, please feel free to contact us. pic.twitter.com/KXAAxwqFWS  GO FIRST (@GoFirstairways) June 15, 2023

The letter further said that the company has filed an application for immediate resolution and revival of operations. "As you are aware, the company has filed an application for immediate resolution and revival of operations. We will be able to resume bookings shortly," it added.

On June 13, Go First announced that its scheduled flight operations will remain cancelled until June 16. The airline operator had filed for voluntary insolvency in early May, and since then, its operations have stalled.

Civil aviation regulator DGCA had advised the airline to submit a comprehensive restructuring or revival plan within 30 days. The regulator shall review the revival plan once submitted by Go First for further appropriate action in the matter.
Found of Shaadi.com and Shark Tank India, Judge Anupam Mittal recently blamed the domestic airlines for following a last-minute cancellation and rescheduling pattern. Specifically, Mittal accused IndiGo and Vistara Airlines of cancelling flights at the last minute due to a shortage of passengers on the flight. Sharing his views on Twitter, he also said that the airlines also arranged alternate options to accommodate other flyers.

The Shark Tank India judge's statement comes after his flight was rescheduled while he was travelling with his family to attend a funeral. In his Tweet, he said, "Clear pattern emerging on Indian airlines especially Vistara and Indigo when they dont have enough load on a flight, they cancel last minute with impunity and without giving any reasons and combine with an earlier or later flight and call it rescheduling..."

Also read: Go First Flight Cancellation Extended Till June 19, Refunds Initiated



cre Trending Stories

Mittal further urged his followers to retweet and share his post to get the attention of the Indian aviation watchdog, the Directorate General Of Civil Aviation (DGCA). He requested that the problem be solved to reduce inconvenience and stress for passengers, especially senior citizens.

Clear pattern emerging on Indian airlines especially @airvistara & @IndiGo6E .. when they dont have enough load on a flight, they cancel last minute with impunity & without giving any reasons and combine with an earlier or later flight and call it rescheduling  Pls RT so  Anupam Mittal (@AnupamMittal) June 15, 2023

In his Tweet, he said, "Pls RT so@DGCAIndia takes note and saves passengers, especially senior citizens, from inconvenience & stress."

Once Anupam Mittal's tweet started gaining traction on social media, many users came forward with similar stories and shared their opinion. While sharing their stories, some of the social media users blamed other Indian airlines for the same.

While another faction of netizens sided with the airlines, saying, "So if the load is not enough, then is it not the right thing to do? These aircraft already produce so much emission. Time to think about global warming very seriously. If they don't have (enough) load, it's good to club two aircraft loads and make a full load. Of course, with enough planning time." Anupam Mittal replied to the user, saying, "Try telling that to somebody going to attend their loved one's funeral."
New Delhi: Industrialist Gautam Adani and family like to stay away from spotlight, but there are millions of readers who are keen to know the billionaires family tree. Gautam Adani is married to Priti Adani and they are proud parents to sons Karan and Jeet Adani.

Today we shall talk about Paridhi Shroff who married Billionaire Gautam Adanis elder son Karan Adani, and is herself a celebrated lawyer.





cre Trending Stories

Paridhi Adani Family, Husband, Children

Paridhi Shroff nee Adani married Gautam Adanis elder son Karan Adani who is the CEO of Adani Ports and SEZ Limited. The couple got married in 2013 while their wedding was attended by the stalwarts of industrial, social and political fraternity that included RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, Anil Agrawal and Anand Mahindra.

Paridhi and Karan were blessed with a baby girl in 2016 who they named Anuradha. The couple lives in in Ahmedabad with their family.

Paridhi Adani Birth, Parents

Paridhi was born in June 1989 and she is the daughter of Shroff Cyril Shroff and his lawyer wife, Vandana Shroff. Paridhi is a partner at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas --Indias leading law firm with a global reputation. The Firm advises a large and diverse set of clients, including domestic and foreign commercial enterprises, financial institutions, private equity and venture capital funds, start-ups, government and regulatory bodies.

Paridhi Adani Education

Paridhi pursued a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance at the University of Mumbai. Then she pursued her Bachelor of Laws in the Government Law College in Mumbai. She went to the French business school INSEAD in Fontainebleau in 2013. Additionally, she also attended the traditional finishing school Institut Villa Pierrefeu in Montreux, Switzerland.

Paridhi Adani Career

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas's head of the Gujarat office, Paridhi Adani, currently works in the group responsible for general corporate practise at the firm.

Paridhi's LinkedIn profile describes that she has expertise working with clients in the infrastructure sector, particularly in the areas of logistics, urban infrastructure, and renewable energy. She has also assisted her clients in coping with the growing digitalization of their businesses, including their move to cloud-based platforms, adherence to new tech legislation, and associated advising.

She has been involved in numerous cases involving joint ventures and partnerships in different industries, corporate governance-related advice, and mergers and acquisitions (including public M&A transactions). She frequently counsels both domestic and international clients about the Indian regulatory framework that applies to such transactions (especially in relation to foreign investment in India). She also gives companies advice on matters relating to their personnel database and workforce, such as contracts, terminations, and statutory compliance.

Paridhi Adani Is Passionate Supporter Of Equality And Diversity

Paridhi is a passionate supporter of equality and diversity, particularly at work. She has a passion for animals and is a strong believer in sustainability and mental health.
JAISALMER: Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has challenged Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot to an open debate on the allegations levelled by the latter against him on the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society scam matter. Gehlot has repeatedly accused Shekhawat, who is an MP from Jodhpur, of being involved in the scam in which a large number of investors were duped of crores of rupees.

Shekhawat has dismissed allegations linking him to the credit society and has also filed a defamation case in a Delhi court against Gehlot. "I challenge him and his lawyers to stand on any platform in India and argue in front of me," he told reporters in Jaisalmer on Thursday when asked about the allegations levelled by Gehlot.

Shekhawat said the chief minister levelled the allegations against him because of the defeat of his son Vaibhav Gehlot in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The Union minister had defeated Vaibhav Gehlot in the Jodhpur Lok Sabha seat. Jodhpur is the hometown of CM Gehlot. The BJP leader also said that he will prove the corruption allegations levelled by BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Kirodi Lal Meena against Gehlot and his son.



cre Trending Stories

"They do the work of converting black money worth crores of rupees into white," he charged. No immediate reaction was available from Gehlot to the charge. Shekhawat also said that the Centre has done remarkable work with the theme of service, good governance, and welfare of the poor.

As a result of the working of the Modi government, people today have faith in the system, he asserted. "The poor realise that the government works for them. If the right party is chosen in democracy, then the right work is done," he said.
KOLKATA: With two more deaths being reported in the past 12 hours, the total fatalities in the Bengal panchayat poll-related violence rose to five on Friday. Late on Thursday night, Trinamool Congress`s local area secretary Mohammel Haque was killed in Nabagram in Murshidabad district of the state. Confirming the incident, the district police superintendent of Murshidabad Surinder Singh said that the police have started investigation in the matter.

Amid heightened tension in Nabagram, a huge police contingent has been deployed. Besides, an All India Secular Front (AISF) activist Selim Mollah, who had suffered bullet injuries following day-long nomination-related clashes at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district on Thursday, the last day for filing nominations, succumbed to his injuries on Thursday night.

Earlier in the day, one AISF candidate and one Trinamool Congress activist was killed in inter-party clashes during the nomination phase on Thursday at Bhangar. The same morning, a CPI(M) candidate was shot dead at Chopra in North Dinajpur district while he was going to the local block development office to file his nomination.



cre Trending Stories

The series of nomination-related deaths started on June 9, which was the first day of nomination, when a Congress activist was shot dead at Khargram in Murshidabad district.

Political observers are of the opinion that although panchayat elections had traditionally been marred by massive violence and bloodbath since 2013, never ever before so many deaths have been witnessed during the nomination phase.

They feel that this time the early violence is because unlike 2013 and 2018 which was basically a one-sided supremacy by the ruling party, this time there had been a massive counter- retaliation from the opponent parties as well.
No taco special any longer

How many readers have experienced the same blatant lies when trying to receive the many years long Rockies Taco Special at your local Taco bell franchises?

This started many years ago when Carlos Gonzalez was hitting home runs. Tonight when I attempted to order a Rockies Taco Special, I was told by a manager that it is no longer available and has not been for quite some time! He told me that corporate headquarters stopped supporting it months ago with the Yum brands takeover. He also told me he has had many upset customers as a result. Some managers might choose to honor it as they try to keep customers but they are no longer compensated.

Why has this not made news? Does Taco Bell corporate management not wish to be held accountable? I realize the Rockies are a perpetual doormat due to poor management but it is disingenuous, and they should be held accountable or quit promoting the Rockies Taco Special every time they score more than 7 runs since it is no longer supported.

Curtis Kosley

Colorado Springs

Absolutely no need to rush

The Gazette Viewpoint yesterday detailed the costly ($2.6 billion) Colorado energy regulations that mandate energy cuts of 7% by 2026 and 20% by 2030 in more than 8,000 buildings in the state. The Viewpoint concludes with the question: Why the rush? I would add the question: Why has Gov Polis Greenhouse Gas Roadmap bill not been suspended/reconsidered since China has withdrawn from the Global Climate Change program and is building coal-fired electric power plants at the rate of 26 plants per year?

Global warming emissions went up 6% during 2021, and there is now zero chance that the 1.5 degree Celsius warming threshold by 2030 can be avoided.

So the answers to the questions above are that the local, state, and federal climate change programs must all be reevaluated in terms of long-term benefit versus short-term costs, and there is absolutely no need to rush.

Russell L Elsberry

Colorado Springs

Water-saving ideas

I enjoyed the article on Arizona and its extreme need for more water. The proposed plan to desalinize water from the ocean off Mexico and pipe/pump it to Arizona has many problems, as pointed out by the well written article. Piping it 200 miles inland and 2,000 feet uphill makes no sense.

I have been studying the water shortage issue for 20 years. I recently sent a formal letter with a mind map of alternative solutions, to the Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, about saving the Colorado River. Here are a few ideas:

First, the upper basin states along the Colorado River should help California fund many additional water desalinization plants along the California Coast, so that its agriculture could use that water and reduce its need for water from the Colorado River. The Imperial Valley uses huge amounts of river water to grow food for the whole country. The less water California needs to pump from the river means more water for Arizona and other basin states and more water left in the river.

Second, the high power transmission lines from the turbines at Lakes Mead and Powell crossing many miles to Nevada and California are very old and inefficient losing lots of energy along the way. The company American Super Conductor and others make a much more efficient high voltage cross country transmission line. Less energy lost in transmission equals less energy needed to be generated by the water turbines, equals more water left in the reservoirs and river.

Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

Third, require land developers in the basin states, as part of their development costs, to help fund water pipe replacements in cities where there are many acre feet of water lost due to old leaky pipes. I have many more water-saving ideas.

John Hawk

Colorado Springs

Cartoon captured the response

Kudos to Bill Bramhall for his political cartoon published in the Wednesday edition of the Gazette. He has captured the essence of the Republican response to Donald Trumps indictment perfectly. And kudos to The Gazettes editorial staff for choosing to print it.

Barbara Strain

Colorado Springs

Biden dishonest, too

While I agree with William Coopers opinion that Ron DeSantis would be a great choice for POTUS, his statement about Donald Trump: in stark contrast to Biden, he is dishonest, .... Seriously? Even though the Democratic machine and mainstream media choose to ignore it, Biden Inc. has clearly sold influence on many occasions. That is dishonest.

Mike McTigue

Colorado Springs

A lost tradition

It used to be that the Gazette, Denver Post and past newspapers, The Free Press and Rocky Mountain News would show on their front pages an American flag and Fly your flag for such holidays as Flag Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, etc.

Sadly, somehow that has been lost over the years.

Michael L. Larsen

Colorado Springs
Villupuram: A local court in Tamil Nadu on Friday convicted and sentenced a suspended IPS officer in connection with a sexual harassment case. According to the PTI news agency, the Villupuram court sentenced former Additional Director General Of Police Rajesh Das to three years imprisonment for sexually harassing a fellow officer.

The court also slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on him. Das was charged with sexually harassing a junior woman police official based on her complaint filed in early 2021. In her complaint, the woman IPS officer had alleged that Das - his superior officer - made sexual advances when they were travelling on duty for the security of the then Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisami. Attempts were also made by fellow officers to dissuade the woman from filing a complaint against Das but she went ahead with it.

Taking serious note of her complaint, the previous AIADMK government had suspended Das and constituted a six-member committee to probe the allegations against him. During the trial, the prosecution recorded statements of 68 persons including police personnel. After his conviction and sentencing, Das can appeal against the court order and seek immediate bail, according to the prosecution.



cre Trending Stories

It may be recalled that the sexual harassment case had become a big poll issue in 2021 and the then Leader of Opposition and now Chief Minister MK Stalin had assured due legal process and punishment if voted to power.
New Delhi: A mob burnt down a warehouse near the Imphal palace grounds on Friday evening and then clashed with personnel of the Manipur`s Rapid Action Force (RAF) when the security personnel tried to prevent them. Police said that the RAF personnel used tear gas shells to disperse the crowd as the mob tried to burn other nearby private properties. Fire-fighters and RAF jawans rushed to the area and brought the warehouse fire under control and prevented flames from spreading to the adjacent houses.



Meanwhile, supplies of various essentials, including life saving drugs, food grains, transport fuel, baby food, and movement of officials and security forces have been hit in several districts of Manipur due to the blockades of Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (via Nagaland) and other highways.

Also Read: Rahul Says BJP's 'Politics Of Hatred' Is The Reason Behind Manipur Violence



Various organisations including those of youth and women bodies have been blockading the highways and arterial roads accusing the other community. Over 4,000 trucks carrying essentials reached different districts of Manipur during the past one week through the Imphal-Jiribam (via southern Assam), which is the only highway that is open for now.



The blocking of vital roads at many areas in both valley and hill districts has become a new challenge for the security forces to move their destinations or to rush to violent prone areas immediately after any incident. A security official said that due to the blockade and damage to the bridges forced security forces to walk on foot with heavy equipment on their backs.

Also Read: Manipur Violence: Union Minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh's House Set On Fire In Imphal By Miscreants



"These cause delay to movement of the security personnel allowing miscreants to flee after attacking people or properties," the official said.



cre Trending Stories
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Friday lashed out at Chief Minister M K Stalin for his critical remarks against the BJP, saying he spoke like an "ordinary platform speaker". Annamalai, a former IPS officer, also questioned the Tamil Nadu government withdrawing the general consent given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), reminding Stalin's numerous demands made as an opposition leader for the agency probe on many issues.

Annamalai was responding to Stalin's strident attack against the BJP on Thursday, in a video, over the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arresting his cabinet colleague V Senthil Balaji in a money laundering case. Stalin, president of the DMK, had said provoking the party and its workers could have its own repercussions, telling the BJP it was not a threat but a warning.

Annamalai said words like "daring someone" are used by ordinary platform speakers to keep the crowd engaged. "But respected Stalin, ponder over whether your speaking like this suits the chief minister post being held by you," the BJP leader said in a statement. The DMK, founded in 1949, has been in the ruling saddle and the opposition over the years, he pointed out.



cre Trending Stories

"As someone well aware of all laws and probe procedures and with a 30 year legislative experience, is it fair for you to talk like a second-level (platform) speaker to protect someone (Balaji) who has shifted five parties," Annamalai asked. He wondered why Stalin was batting for a man accused in a particular case and sought to remind him he had not made any statement when Income Tax officials were allegedly assaulted when they came to conduct searches at some places linked to Balaji's brother and acquaintances last month.

In fact, the ED searches against Balaji was pertaining to allegations raised by Stalin in 2016 against Balaji, who was not in DMK then, seeking action. "What has changed in seven years. Now, that action has been taken on your plea, shouldn't it have been welcomed on behalf of your party," Annamalai asked.

On the issue of TN withdrawing general consent to the CBI, the BJP leader said the decision has been taken in "haste". As an opposition leader during the AIADMK regime, Stalin had sought a CBI probe into matters including the death of then CM J Jayalalithaa, a building collapse in the city, investigation against then ministers, the gutkha scam, Tuticorin police firing on anti-Sterlite protesters.

"You had sought CBI probe in May 2016 during elections regarding money distribution at Aravakurichi and Thanjavur. You had made the allegations against this very Senthil Balaji at Aravakurichi then," Annamalai said. "Now you asking the CBI to get prior approval of the state government to conduct a probe shows the sad state of affairs of this regime," he said.

Questioning Stalin's choice of words in his video, Annamalai asked who were they aimed at and asked him "how are you leading your party workers." "Using such words don't befit our state known for many specialities," he said. "You have to decide if you are chief minister for 8.5 crore Tamil people or for your family and a small circle around you."

"When you sought CBI probe for the mistakes committed by others, what wrong did you see in us doing the same for your mistakes. Why are you charging in panic like this," he asked Stalin.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US next week is expected to be high on substance as both sides are looking at concrete outcomes in a range of key areas such as defence and critical technology and ways to simplify regulatory framework for deeper industrial cooperation. People familiar with the preparation for the trip said a major aspect of Modi's state visit to Washington will be to lay a ground for forging a strong technology partnership and enhance economic engagement between India and the US. There is a "very genuine and widespread interest" on both sides to use the visit to take the relationship to the next level, they said.

"In terms of focus areas of discussions, it would perhaps be a very forward leaning visit," said one of the people cited above.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday formally announced Modi's two-nation state visit to the US and Egypt from June 20 to 25. Following Modi's talks with US President Joe Biden, the two sides are expected to firm up a number of arrangements and deals, including one for India's procurement of 30 armed drones.

Both the leaders are also likely to deliberate on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the situation in the Indo-Pacific, China's aggressive behaviour in the region and other pressing regional and global issues of mutual interests. Modi's visit to the US will commence in New York, where he will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the headquarters of the United Nations on June 21.



cre Trending Stories

Also Read: Indian-Americans Preparing For Cultural Extravaganza To Welcome PM Narendra Modi

From New York, he will travel to Washington where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22, and meet President Biden to continue their high-level dialogue. Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host a state dinner in honour of Modi the same evening.

The prime minister will address a joint sitting of the US Congress on June 22, according to the MEA. On June 23, he will be jointly hosted at a luncheon by US Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Bilnken, it said. In addition to the official engagements, the prime minister is scheduled to have several curated interactions with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders, the MEA said.

Also Read: PM Narendra Modi - Joe Bidens Relationship So Far: A Brief Overview

He will also meet members of the Indian diaspora. The people cited above said Modi's visit will be "high on substance".

"Even the symbolism would also be very highly substantive in terms of the political messaging," said one of them, adding there is a "deep, genuine, strong and widespread interest" on the visit by both sides.

In the second leg of his two-nation visit, Modi will travel to Cairo to pay a state visit to Egypt from June 24 to 25.

The visit is at the invitation of Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the President of Egypt, which he extended to Modi in January when he graced India's Republic Day celebrations as the 'Chief Guest'. This will be Modi's first visit to Egypt as prime minister.

"Apart from his talks with President Sisi, the prime minister is likely to interact with senior dignitaries from the Egyptian government, some prominent Egyptian personalities, as well as the Indian community in Egypt," the MEA said. "Relations between India and Egypt are based on ancient trade and economic linkages as well as cultural and deep-rooted people-to-people ties," it said.

During the state visit of Sisi to India in January, it was agreed to elevate the relationship between the two countries to a strategic partnership.
Camel rides are out of date; camel milk is the current rage. Aadvik Foods, founded in 2016 by Hitesh Rathi as a bootstrapped business with a capital of less than Rs 10 lakh, currently includes a variety of products made from camel milk, including camel milk powder, chocolates, and a cosmetics line. Aadvik Foods distributes their camel milk powder through channels in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Bathinda, and Chandigarh, as well as to wholesalers in the US, Malaysia, and the Philippines. After working for years in their various fields, Hitesh Rathi and Shrey Kumar made the decision to explore the organic food industry and fill the gap in the farm-to-table paradigm. Aadvik Foods was created when they expanded on their concept of processing camel milk.

Hitesh Rathi: Background

Hitesh Rathi was born to uncomplicated middle-class parents. His mother is a housewife, while his father worked as an agent for the LIC. He attended Kota to study for the engineering admission exam after finishing class in Bikaner, Rajasthan. The Punjab Engineering College in Chandigarh eventually awarded him a civil engineering degree. After originally working for Punj Llyod Infrastructure Company and then for PE Analytics, Gurugram, he moved to work as a construction manager in Myanmar in 2015. He realized in Myanmar that he could not work for someone else for the rest of his life. He quit his job and began doing market research. Rathi once, in an interview, described his foray into entrepreneurship, which was not encouraged by his parents.



cre Trending Stories

Procurement Of Camel Milk

The company works closely with camel breeders in Gujarat and Rajasthan, giving them a reliable source of revenue while also assisting them in caring for the animals and preserving their population. More than 200 camel breeders have been involved in the founders' effort so far. Camel milk was already being sold elsewhere in the world. Hitesh, a native of Rajasthan, reasoned that it could be beneficial to develop a means of revenue for the wandering camel herders.

Camel Milk And Its Popularity

Recently, camel milk and its byproducts have gained popularity as healthier options. Additionally, it offers therapeutic advantages and functions as a treatment for chronic illnesses like diabetes, autism, and boosting immunity generally. Additionally, camel milk can be drunk by those who are lactose intolerant, and fitness enthusiasts are big fans of it because it has so little fat. Given that this is a perishable product, it is packaged in accordance with certain requirements that maintain its shelf life for 60 days in frozen form and nine months in powdered form.

Aadvik Foods: Success Story

Initial orders were taken on the phone and on their website. The camel milk products of Aadvik Foods eventually spread to all the major e-commerce sites, and today they can be found widely on sites like Amazon, eBay, Flipkart, Bigbasket, Shopclues, Snapdeal, and Doodhwala, among others. They ship their goods all around the world and are Amazon.com's top sellers. The brand, which has been lucrative since day one, has so far taken more than three lakh orders from all around the world.

Currently, the company sells many liters of camel milk per month. But it's unclear if they will be able to meet demand in the future given the declining camel population.
NAGPUR: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has said that there is no role for religious gurus in politics and said that such religious leaders should limit themselves to Mutts, instead of "infiltrating" into politics and giving their opinions on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). The BRS chief also accused the central government of involving religious figures in politics.

The Telangana chief minister and chief of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) said this on Thursday at a press conference after inaugurating his party's office in Nagpur. He also held a meeting of the party as part of efforts to expand in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. The remarks by Telangana chief minister also known as KCR came in the wake of the Law Commission on Wednesday solicited views and suggestions on the Uniform Civil Code from the public and recognised religious organisations.

Asked about the UCC, the Telangana chief minister said, "From where they (Centre) are bringing dharma gurus (religious leaders) into politics?" "Religious leaders should run Mutts, conduct worship and perform yagnas, they are creating a lot of ruckus in the country by infiltrating into politics," the BRS leader said.



cre Trending Stories

"Seers have no business in uniform civil code and so they should stay in the Mutts and worship. We will see when Modi brings the Uniform Civil Code, there is no need to think about it from now only. We want to bring change in the country and there is no rush for it, whether we will win or lose elections, but our fight will continue till the change comes," said KCR.

The Law Commission has given 30 days to the respondents to present their views on the UCC. The 22nd Law Commission of India is among other things examining the Uniform Civil Code on a reference sent by the Ministry of Law & Justice, officials said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, accusing the BJP-led Central government for misusing central agencies, KCR said: "BJP government at the Centre is misusing the central agencies and it is not appropriate to end political parties in such a manner in a democracy. There is no need for privatization of power as it causes losses."

When KCR was asked whether the BRS was acting as "B team of the BJP", he said: "It does not matter to us who gains and who loses, it has become a fashion in this country these days, when a party comes forward, call it B team, call it C team, call it A team, such a spectacle is created. There is no meaning to this, those who say this will keep saying that our work will be for the public, for the benefit of the public."

When asked if he will join the opposition meeting in Patna on June 23, he said, that "it has not been decided yet, once a decision is be made I will tell you." Telangana will go to polls by the end of this year.
In the face of financial hardships and with unwavering determination, Pooja Yadav, a remarkable IPS officer, has emerged as a beacon of inspiration for countless individuals. Born on 20 September 1988 in Haryana, Pooja Yadav's journey is a testament to the power of resilience and the pursuit of one's dreams. From humble beginnings to a successful career in the civil services, her story is a reminder that with dedication and perseverance, one can overcome any obstacle and achieve greatness.

Early Life and Education:

Pooja Yadav spent her formative years in Haryana, where she encountered both the joys of childhood and the challenges of limited financial resources. Despite these obstacles, her family provided unwavering support, fostering her dreams of making a difference in the world. She pursued her education at a local school in Haryana, eventually earning a degree in MTech in Biotechnology and Food Technology. Pooja's academic achievements served as a stepping stone towards her ultimate goal of becoming an IPS officer.



cre Trending Stories

A Journey of Struggle and Sacrifice:

Determined to secure a stable and fulfilling career, Pooja embarked on a path that took her across borders. After completing her studies, she ventured to Canada, where she worked diligently to establish herself. The allure of financial stability and personal growth overseas could have easily held her captive, but Pooja's heart yearned for something more profound. Driven by her love for her country and a desire to uplift those from disadvantaged backgrounds, she made the courageous decision to return to India.

The Road to Success:

Pooja Yadav's return to India marked the beginning of a new chapter in her lifeone defined by tireless preparation and unwavering dedication. While simultaneously working as a tutor and a receptionist, she devoted herself to studying for the rigorous UPSC civil services examination. Despite facing setbacks and failing in her initial attempt, Pooja refused to succumb to discouragement. Instead, she channeled her failures into fuel for her determination, working even harder to achieve her dreams.

Triumph and Impact:

Through sheer perseverance and unwavering resolve, Pooja Yadav triumphed in her second attempt at the UPSC civil services examination, securing an impressive rank of 174th. Her remarkable achievement opened the doors to a fulfilling career as an IPS officer in the esteemed Gujarat cadre. Pooja's journey serves as a testament to the fact that success is not always immediate or straightforward. It requires resilience, grit, and an unwavering belief in oneself.

Love and Support:

In a beautiful twist of fate, Pooja Yadav's personal and professional lives intertwined. In the year 2021, she married Vikalp Bhardwaj, an accomplished IAS officer from the 2016 batch. Vikalp, who was serving in the Kerala cadre, made the selfless decision to request a transfer to the Gujarat cadre after their marriage. Their serendipitous encounter took place at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie, where their shared dedication to public service blossomed into love.

A Beacon of Inspiration:

Beyond her exceptional achievements, Pooja Yadav serves as an inspiration to aspiring civil servants and individuals from all walks of life. Her story embodies the transformative power of perseverance, determination, and the pursuit of one's passions. Through her active presence on social media, Pooja continues to uplift and motivate others, sharing her insights and experiences to encourage individuals to overcome their own challenges and strive for greatness.
NEW DELHI: In the wake of the resignation of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi's son Santosh Suman, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is most likely to expand the state Cabinet on Friday. Ratnesh Sada, a Janata Dal-United legislator from the Sonbarsa assembly seat, is most likely to be inducted as a Cabinet Minister in place of Suman. Apart from Sada, some other leaders from Congress and RJD may also be inducted as ministers. According to sources, the oath-taking ceremony will be held at Raj Bhavan at 11 am.

Who Is Ratnesh Sada?





cre Trending Stories

Ratnesh Sada, who represents the Sonbarsa assembly constituency, is a Dalit leader and belongs to the Musahar community like former Bihar chief minister and HAM chief Jitan Ram Manjhi. In what is being seen as a masterstroke by the Bihar Chief Minister, Sada is likely to be given the SC and ST welfare portfolio, which was earlier held by Santosh Suman. Suman resigned recently alleging "pressure" from the JD-U to merge his party Hindustani Awam Morcha with the ruling party. Sada, the three-time legislator from JD-U is associated with the Kabirpanthi sect

Early Life

Ratnesh Sada has faced a lot of hardship and struggle in his life. Before making his foray into politics, Sada used to drive a rickshaw for his living. According to media reports, Ratnesh Sada is a resident of Simar village of the Mahishi police station area. His family resides in Ward No. 6 located in Kahra Kuti of Sonbarsa. His father Lakshmi worked as a contract labourer. According to the affidavit filed in the Election Commission, Ratnesh Sada is a graduate. MLA Ratnesh Sada has three sons and two daughters.

Political Career

Ratnesh Sadas political career set off in 1987. However, he became an MLA from the Sonbarsa reserved seat from the JDU quota in 2010. He has won thrice in a row. He is also the president of JDUs Mahadalit Cell. He has also held other key positions in the party including JDU vice president. MLA Ratnesh Sada is the president of JDU Mahadalit Cell. Sada won the 2020 assembly election from the Sonbarsa reserve seat, defeating Tarni Rishidev of the Congress. He is at present the whip of the JD-U and is considered very close to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.

His total declared movable and immovable assets are worth 1.30 crores and has no criminal case registered against him. Even before his induction into the Bihar cabinet, there is a lot of enthusiasm in his village and people say that it is the result of his hard work in politics.

Masterstroke By Nitish Kumar

It is being speculated that by elevating Ratnesh Sada, who hails from the populous north Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is looking to neutralise the damage Jitan Ram Manjhi could inflict, especially if he returned to the BJP-led NDA ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

The Sonbarsha MLA has also accused the father-son duo of HAM of having ditched Nitish Kumar because of their "insatiable greed and vaulting ambition". Sada also charged Manjhi with "paying lip service to Dalits, especially Musahars despite being a minister in several governments since 1980s besides a brief tenure as the CM."

Bihar Cabinet Expansion

A Cabinet expansion has been due for a long after JD(U) snapped its ties with BJP to form Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) government in August 2022. Presently, there are 30 ministers in the Bihar Cabinet following the resignation of Suman. Based on the total strength of the Assembly, there can be a maximum of 36 ministers. The Mahagathbandhan has 164 MLAs in the 243-seat Bihar assembly. The RJD has 16 ministers, JD(U) has 11 and Congress has two in the Cabinet. There is also one independent member. While Santosh Suman is a member of the legislative council, HAM has a total of four MLAs in the assembly.
New Delhi: Google Domains business is "winding down following a transition period," with Squarespace, a design-driven platform helping entrepreneurs build brands and businesses online, taking over the business and assets.





cre Trending Stories

Squarespace announced on Thursday that it "entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement with Google, whereby Squarespace will acquire the assets associated with the Google Domains business".This purchase includes "approximately 10 million domains hosted on Google Domains spread across millions of customers". The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2023.While the majority of the benefits of this transaction will be realised in 2024 and beyond, Squarespace believes it will be significantly accretive to its business in terms of revenue and free cash flow over time."In keeping with our efforts to sharpen our focus, we have entered into a definitive agreement with Squarespace for the acquisition of customer accounts of the Google Domains registrar business," Matt Madrigal, Vice President and General Manager, Merchant Shopping of Google, said in a statement.Moreover, Google on its support page mentioned that the domain name registration and DNS delegation users will not be affected by the migration to Squarespace. Once they are a Squarespace customer, they will be able to manage additional services (as available) through their management console.
Isnt it time to stop? What should Ukraine do with the transit of Russian gas, oil, and ammonia?

 depositphotos/3d_generator Author Mykhailo Honchar President of the Centre for Global Studies Strategy XXI Author Oksana Ishchuk Executive Director, Centre for Global Studies Strategy XXI Author Ihor Stukalenko Center for Global Studies "Strategy XXI" Author Andrii Chubyk Executive Director, Centre for Global Studies Strategy XXI, Member of MSGL

It has repeatedly been asked and still is  why does Ukraine continue the transit of Russian gas and oil through its territory while Russia is waging a genocidal war against our country for the tenth year? The issue became more acute after February 24, 2022, and especially after September 11, when the Russian Federation launched massive missile strikes on Ukraines energy infrastructure. Well, the detonation of the Kakhovka HPP by the Russians on June 6 and the disguised preparation of a nuclear accident at the Zaporizhzhia NPP raise a serious question: isnt it time to stop transit?

Gas transit

On December 31, 2024, the Agreement on the provision of services for the organization of natural gas transportation through the territory of Ukraine between PJSC Gazprom and JSC Naftogaz of Ukraine dated December 30, 2019, expires. The agreement was the result of difficult negotiations with the assistance of the European Commission.

At that time, the Russians, together with powerful European companies, zealously implemented the Nord Stream 2 project in order to make the Ukrainian route simply unnecessary, increasing Europes dependence on Russian supplies via a transit-free route through the Baltic. In some years, 4547 percent of imported gas came from Russia. And the dependence of some countries members of the European Union was even greater. After all, Russia, represented by Gazprom, lost most of its positions on the European gas market after the special draining operation it in 2021 and the blowing up of the Nord Streams in September 2022. However...

However, Russian natural gas continues to flow and be consumed in the European Union. Although the EU decided to reduce gas consumption, intensify the transition to renewable energy sources, and most importantly, to replace Russian energy carriers on the market of gas and other fossil fuels (the RePowerEU plan), the EU is still unable to completely abandon supplies from Russia. The share of Russian pipeline gas fell significantly. In the first quarter of 2023, it was only 5.7 percent, with other gas coming from North Sea fields, North Africa, the Caspian, and liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as being transported from underground storage.

However, the EU has still not managed to make a decision on a complete ban on the import of pipeline natural gas and LNG from the Russian Federation, and some countries continue to receive Russian gas in the previous contractual volumes. Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and Italy remain consumers of pipeline gas. But they too, according to the European press, are persistently looking for alternative sources of gas in order to replace Russian supplies as soon as possible. For example, according to Politico, Austria imported 57 percent of gas from Russia in February. Russian LNG arrived at terminals in Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands, and after regasification entered the pan-European gas network. In general, according to the estimates of the Finnish Center for Energy and Clean Air Research CREA, for the five months of the current year, pipeline and liquefied gas were imported into EU countries for a total amount of about 6.3 billion euros, which is significantly less than in 2022, when the price of Russian gas was five times higher.

Recently, Russian gas has been entering Europe in two ways. In June of this year, about 4042 million cubic meters of gas (15 billion annually) were transported daily through the territory of Ukraine. Another 25 million cubic meters per day are supplied by Turkish Stream through Turkiye and Bulgaria. Despite all the efforts of Gazprom to destroy the Ukrainian gas transportation route, it has once again become the main route for supplies to Europe.

The Ukrainian gas transportation system (GTS) is a reliable gas transit route for the European Union. Does the transportation of Russian gas make economic sense for Ukraine? So far, considering that today 70-80 percent of the income of the GTS operator comes from the gas transportation service. Still corporate interest is not the main thing for the preservation of transit. In Ukraine, both at the governmental, corporate, and expert levels, it has always been emphasized that the Ukrainian GTS is a reliable direction of gas transportation for the EU. The European Union helps Ukraine, Ukraine helps the EU to the best of its ability.

A responsible attitude to the transit transportation of gas is enshrined in the Strategy of Foreign Policy of Ukraine dated August 26, 2021. According to point 62 of the Strategy, Ukraine will remain a reliable and responsible partner of the EU in the matter of gas transit, which will serve as a guarantee of strengthening Europes energy security and will develop a strategic partnership with the EU in the energy sector. Work will be continued to ensure full integration of the energy markets of Ukraine and the EU.

Transit guarantees are stipulated in the UkraineEU Association Agreement. According to paragraph 1 of Article 276 Interruption, each Party shall ensure that transmission system operators take the necessary measures to:

minimize the risk of accidental interruption, reduction or stoppage of transit and transport; expeditiously restore the normal operation of such transit or transport, which has been accidentally interrupted, reduced, or stopped.

Therefore, the issue of further transportation of Gazprom gas must be coordinated and comprehensive and depends on the decision of the EU regarding the possibility/prohibition of its import. The second year of full-scale war is underway, but Russian gas continues to be consumed in the European Union. And this is the main reason for maintaining its transit through our territory. However, the Ukrainian GTS needs to be prepared both technically and financially for the new working conditions. Operator costs should be optimized by decommissioning redundant facilities or repurposing the use of currently idle compressor stations for shunting power generation.

Should the aggressor continue to receive funds in Europe for its gas in order to further destroy Ukraine, which is a candidate country for joining the EU? To say the least, it is illogical to buy gas from a country that the European Parliament recognized as a state sponsor of terrorism. But as long as Russian gas is consumed in some EU countries, its transportation must be carried out. The decision on the complete ban on gas imports from the Russian Federation (both pipeline and LNG) must be adopted by the Council of the EU.

  Energoatom: in search of a partner for serious relations

Transportation of oil

Ukraines oil refining and oil transportation industries became targets for Russia to attack with the beginning of Putins rule. The Russian Federation purposefully invested funds and made efforts to build bypass oil transport capacities to limit transit through Ukraine and increase the financial burden on the Ukrainian economy. From more than 53 million tons of transit in the early 2000s, about 12 million tons of Russian oil are now being transported to three Central European countries.

One way or another, the last ton of Russian oil for the EU will pass through the territory of Ukraine, since Orbans Hungary is its main recipient. But the completion of the transit function of the oil transportation system does not mean the end of the use of the oil transportation infrastructure.

The Orban regimes oil injections deter Russia from massive strikes on its oil transportation infrastructure, as opposed to its fuel and refining infrastructure, which suffered fatal damage.

The presence of own oil production, even in the amount of 1.41.5 million tons per year, preserves the need for oil transport infrastructure. The impossibility of a quick restoration of domestic oil refining makes it necessary to deliver the produced oil through the Druzhba pipeline for processing in neighboring Slovakia or the Czech Republic. For the next two years, the countries of Central Europe will continue to import Russian oil, using exceptions from the EU oil embargo of 2022, which leads to the preservation of transit to countries such as Slovakia and the Czech Republic, which consistently and systematically support us in countering Russian aggression.

A decarbonization course does not mean an automatic end to the use of oil. Of course, Ukrtransnafta should already be working out scenarios for stopping the transit of Russian oil, repurposing part of the infrastructure for other needs, or decommissioning it. At the same time, the use of oil transport infrastructure to ensure the energy security of the state, in particular, ensuring the stability of the oil product supply system, will be of great importance. After all, we must consider the danger of further missile strikes from the Russian side even after the restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine within the borders of 1991. It is quite possible that there may be a need for partial development of such a protected infrastructure.

Ukraines membership in NATO would provide a unique opportunity for the Alliance to expand its fuel supply network (supply pipelines), which is half a century behind todays realities, namely Russias war in Europe against Ukraine and against Europe. It does not even consider the realities of membership in the Alliance of Central European Countries. And here the Ukrainian oil transport system has its own prospects.

  European gas with a Russian flavour

Transit of ammonia

Until February 24, 2022, the main route for the supply of Russian ammonia to the world market was the Tolyatti (Togliatti)Odesa ammonia pipeline with a capacity of 2.5 million tons per year, through which about 76 percent of Russian ammonia exports passed. Russias share in the world export of ammonia in pure form is about 12 percent. It was delivered from the Russian company PJSC Togliattiazot (TOAZ) to the Odesa port plant, from where it was loaded into special ammonia tankers and headed to consumers. After the full-scale invasion, transit through the ammonia pipeline stopped, and only three of the seven TOAZ units are operating in reduced load mode. With cheap gas, Russia is one of the largest producers and exporters of ammonia and produces up to a third of the worlds ammonium fertilizers.

Russia is trying to create its own export capacity by sea transport. By the end of 2023, the first phase of the seaport complex for the transshipment of ammonia near Taman, with a capacity of 2 million tons per year, should be launched. The project should relieve TOAZ of dependence on Ukrainian transit and, according to plans, be fully completed in 2025. The total capacity of the new terminal will be 5 million tons per year. The choice of the location of the terminal is strange, because it will be in the zone of damage of long-range weapons of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Moscow calls the restoration of transit one of the conditions for extending the time scope of the grain agreement. The UN is mindlessly supporting the resumption of the ammonia pipeline in an effort to help global food security. Why is this important for Russia? Ammonia is produced from natural gas. Against the background of a significant reduction in the consumption of Russian gas in the EU, the increase in ammonia exports may allow to increase the volume of domestic gas consumption by the Russian chemical industry, which will bring additional funds for the war.

Why is ammonia transit unprofitable and dangerous for Ukraine? First, it will mean an increase in the Russian Federations income, which it will spend on the war in Ukraine. Second, ammonia is a toxic substance. An explosion as a result of another massive Russian missile attack or covert sabotage could lead to a large-scale disaster. In May 2022, an ammonia pipeline near Bakhmut was damaged, which was not in use at the time, but remained with process gas inside. Despite the fact that it did not work, the result was the formation of an ammonia cloud with a radius of 4 km. The pipeline runs in close proximity to the front line. And on June 6, 134 tons of ammonia leaked from the Tolyatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline in the Kupiansk district of the Kharkiv region as a result of shelling during hostilities. The situation with Kakhovka HPP showed that the enemy purposefully commits ecocide on the territory of Ukraine as well as any war crimes.

In 2021, 2.3 million tons of ammonia transited through Ukraine, for which Ukrhimtransamiak received about USD 108 million from Russia  a rather small amount, not worth the risks. Therefore, the reaction of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine is the only correct one: We have no right to support a terrorist country to make money using our infrastructure and our territory. It remains only to add that we have no right to expose ourselves to danger, because the transit of ammonia with a significant percentage of probability can be used for mass destruction.

How Akhmetov earned a billion hryvnias from the state company "Energoatom" in March alone  

Time is running out

What has a beginning has an end. The transit period ends. Russias nuclear blackmail is making serious adjustments. The (in)activity of international organizations and our partners after the aggressors undermining of the Kakhovka HPP forces us to reconsider traditional approaches. In the face of external aggression, Ukraine adheres to its obligations to its European partners. But when the aggressor begins to act according to the algorithm of mass destruction, we are unlikely to put the lives of our citizens at risk for the comfort of Europeans, as in the case of ammonia transit, or to continue the transit of oil to Russias Trojan horse in Europe, or the transit of gas to Alpine putinverstehers. By the way, one of the assumptions why Russia insisted so much on the restoration of ammonia transit is the planning of defeating the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine due to the detonation of the pipeline in the Bakhmut area during a counteroffensive operation, or sabotage under the guise of a technical incident at the terminal in the Southern port during the transportation of ammonia aboard.

Related video

The government of Ukraine should clearly warn its European partners that the actions of Russia, which is not stopped by insufficient Western sanctions, may at any time make further transit of gas and oil to the territory of the EU impossible. The enemy is striking the critical infrastructure of Ukraine to the entire depth of its territory. Ukraine does not have enough long-range weapons to adequately respond to these strikes deep into the territory of the Russian Federation  at least as far as Yamal and the Urals. Therefore, the answer must be asymmetric. War has a different logic than commerce. The enemy must be destroyed everywhere, it must be harmed everywhere. There can be no compromise with those who came to kill us. That is why the transit is counting down.

Share

Noticed an error? Please select it with the mouse and press Ctrl+Enter or Submit a bug
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), along with its partner agencies, are advising the public to avoid entering or getting close to the Arkansas River below the Lake Pueblo State Park dam, which is a popular place for tubing and fishing. The water flows in the river have surpassed 3,000 cubic feet per second (CFS) due to the combination of normal spring runoff from mountain snowmelt and heavy localized rainfall that has been falling in recent weeks.

The currents in the river below the dam are exhibiting significant fluctuations, leading to sudden surges in water levels. Moreover, the water temperature below the dam is extremely cold, measuring only 58 degrees Fahrenheit. This chilliness is a direct result of the spring runoff originating from the high mountains surrounding the Upper Arkansas River Valley. Temperatures of this nature can lead to a condition called 'cold water shock,' which can kill even the most skilled swimmers.

Joe Stadterman, CPW's park manager at Lake Pueblo, emphasized the importance of public safety, stating, "We urge everyone to stay out of the river until the flows calm down. And anyone fishing along the banks should wear life jackets. This is an especially important time to be safe around the river."

This is a typical situation, as spring runoff from snowmelt tends to cause a significant increase in water levels at Lake Pueblo, downstream of the dam, as well as throughout the city of Pueblo. Recent heavy rains have added to the increase of water in the lake, necessitating larger-than-normal releases from the dam. Presently, water is being discharged at a rate of about 3,365 cfs, significantly higher than the previous discharge rate of approximately 200 cfs.

The advisory is expected to remain in effect for at least one week. The public is urged to await further information on when the flows will decrease, and the river returns to normal levels.

CPW manages recreational activities at Lake Pueblo in partnership with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which constructed the lake as part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas water diversion, storage, and delivery project. The lake not only provides water for approximately 1 million Front Range residents, but it also supports agricultural irrigation primarily in southeastern Colorado.

This safety issue extends to many of Colorado's waterways, many of which are swollen due to consistent recent precipitation. It's recommended that people stay out of Colorado's waters at this time without proper training and safety gear  always, always, always wear a life jacket when being on, around, or in Colorado's waters. Water fatalities tend to make up the largest chunk of Colorado's outdoor recreation fatalities each year.
One judge on the state's second-highest court has suggested the Colorado Supreme Court clarify its own recent decision governing how convicted defendants may recover personal items seized by police, calling the ruling logically inconsistent.

In December, the Supreme Court decided Woo v. El Paso County Sheriff's Office, involving a convicted defendant who claimed law enforcement had failed to return more than $18,000 of property seized during the investigation. The justices explained that the proper protocol involves filing a motion for return of property through the underlying criminal case in any of three windows: before the deadline to appeal, after the appeal is decided or when postconviction proceedings are occurring.

The key factor for those three intervals is that a trial court still has jurisdiction over the case. But what if the defendant does not appeal or does not pursue postconviction relief, but he still wants his belongings back? In that scenario, he may be out of luck.

"Woo appears to create an inconsistency for which I see no basis in law," wrote Judge Jerry N. Jones in a June 15 concurring opinion. "According to Woo, if a defendant doesnt file a direct appeal and doesnt file a motion for return of property within the time for filing a direct appeal, the district court loses subject matter jurisdiction over the case and therefore cant rule on a later-filed motion for return of property."

Case: People v. Valdez Decided: June 15, 2023 Jurisdiction: Boulder County Ruling: 3-0 Judges: Stephanie Dunn (author) Katharine E. Lum Jerry N. Jones (concurrence) Background: State Supreme Court clarifies how defendants may ask government to return their property

In the case at hand, Tanner Anthony Valdez pleaded guilty in Boulder County in order to resolve multiple criminal cases against him. A judge sentenced him to five years of prison in 2019. Valdez did not appeal.

Two years later, Valdez filed a motion asking for a court to order the Boulder County Sheriff's Office to return 38 items allegedly seized as part of a search warrant. The possessions included electronics, clothing and cash.

"The seized property is not contraband and was not used in the commission of the offenses to which Mr. Valdez was charged," he wrote. "There are no longer any grounds for the continued retention of the seized property."

District Court Judge Thomas F. Mulvahill denied Valdez's request. He was not "in a position to determine who the lawful owner is, whether any items still have evidentiary value, and whether any items are contraband," Mulvahill wrote. The judge suggested instead that Valdez contact the sheriff's office.

Valdez, representing himself, then appealed, asking for Mulvahill to order the return of his property or else hold a hearing to determine who the rightful owner is. The Colorado Attorney General's Office opposed the request, arguing Valdez had filed his motion long after the trial court's jurisdiction over the case had ended.

A three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals, relying on the Woo decision, agreed Mulvahill's jurisdiction had ended in July 2019, when the deadline for Valdez to file an appeal had expired. While it was possible for trial judges to "reacquire" jurisdiction when a defendant asks for postconviction relief, a request to recover seized property is not grounds for relief by itself, wrote Judge Stephanie Dunn in the majority opinion.

Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

She added, as an aside, that the panel's decision came "as best we understand Woo."

Jones wrote separately with a more direct warning about the inadequacy of the Supreme Court's guidance. Why, he wondered, would trial judges regain jurisdiction over a criminal case following an unsuccessful appeal, but lose jurisdiction if there is never an appeal in the first place?

"In both cases, there is nothing for the district court to do and the defendant is in exactly the same place," he wrote. Yet, for purposes of seized property, a defendant can try to recover his possessions in only one of those scenarios.

Jones elaborated that the process endorsed by the Supreme Court means defendants whose personal items are still in police custody might file an appeal, however frivolous, just to ensure they can one day ask for their property back.

"This inconsistency creates odd incentives," Jones wrote. "Perhaps the supreme court will clarify this matter in a future opinion."

Antony Noble, a defense attorney, agreed the Woo decision did not acknowledge that seized property generally loses any value as evidence only after the time expires for a defendant to challenge his conviction  and the trial court has lost jurisdiction. He suggested changing the procedural rules to allow the return of seized property to be its own basis for postconviction relief.

"If that is the only claim, the seized property would no longer have an evidentiary use because," he said, "the defendant would have no further means of challenging his conviction."

A spokesperson for the Boulder County Sheriff's Office said it has not returned Valdez's possessions because, to date, "we have not received proof of ownership of the property from Mr. Valdez."

According to a 2017 legislative report, law enforcement in Colorado held onto seized property worth at least $2.9 million.

The case is People v. Valdez.
A Larimer County judge wrongly applied an unusual Colorado law when he overruled a decision by the district attorney's office to not prosecute one participant in a multi-person brawl, the state's second-highest court ruled last week.

Colorado is one of four states that allows judges to review prosecutors' decisions not to charge someone suspected of committing a crime. If the judge finds the district attorney's conclusion was arbitrary and capricious, they may order the prosecution to commence or else appoint an outside prosecutor.

In response to a complaint by the victim of an alleged assault, District Court Judge Stephen J. Jouard agreed the Eighth Judicial District Attorney's Office had no reasonable excuse in declining to prosecute the man who threw the punch. He ordered a special prosecutor from a neighboring county to file charges.

But last week, a three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals walked back that decision. Although there was video evidence of the group fight that culminated in Edgar Rios knocking out Peter Kuppinger, the panel affirmed the district attorney's office's belief that it could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt Rios was guilty of assault.

"Although the video does not clearly establish that Rios acted in self-defense," wrote Judge Jaclyn Casey Brown, "it is not clear that Rios initiated the physical confrontation by using or threatening the imminent use of unlawful physical force."

Case: Kuppinger v. Larimer County District Attorney Decided: June 8, 2023 Jurisdiction: Larimer County Ruling: 3-0 Judges: Jaclyn Casey Brown (author) Anthony J. Navarro David H. Yun Background: Criminal Enforcement Redundancy: Oversight of Decisions Not to Prosecute

Just before midnight on Feb. 26, 2021, Kuppinger arrived at a friend's apartment building in the 500 block of W. Laurel St. in Fort Collins. The friend asked Kuppinger for assistance in removing multiple drunk people from his home.

Outside the apartment, the assembled group of men became hostile and a fight broke out. A cellphone video captured portions of the melee. At one point, Samuel Jenkins punched Kuppinger. Then Rios hit Kuppinger, causing him to lose consciousness and hit the floor. Kuppinger suffered a broken nose.

Police investigated the fight and Officer Jason Lang told Kuppinger, "based off of the circumstances that either everyone was going to receive a citation, which includes himself" or "nobody would be charged." Lang also consulted with Deputy District Attorney Michael Deschenes, who allegedly said to offer Kuppinger the "option" of incurring a criminal charge for his own participation.

Kuppinger then filed a complaint against District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin's office under Colorado's compelled-prosecution law, seeking assault charges for Rios and Jenkins. Prosecutors responded that they had reviewed the evidence, debated the case internally and concluded they could not succeed at trial if they brought an assault case.

Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

Among other things, the video did not clearly show who caused Kuppinger's broken nose  but did reportedly capture Kuppinger himself acting belligerently.

"The fight broke out after the young men Mr. Kuppinger demands the Court prosecute left the party Mr. Kuppinger had sought to evict them from," Deschenes wrote. Jenkins and Rios could have "a strong self-defense argument at trial."

Jouard reviewed the video and determined that Jenkins appeared to be the initial combatant, but Kuppinger also voluntarily engaged with him. The district attorney's office, he felt, acted reasonably in not charging Jenkins. As for Rios, Jouard believed self-defense did not apply and Rios had clearly thrown the punch that caused Kuppinger's injury.

"It is troubling to the Court that a decision whether or not to charge Jenkins or Rios was apparently made, in part, upon consideration of whether the Plaintiff would 'accept' a charge of disorderly conduct," Jouard wrote last year. "Further, deciding that it would be unethical to prosecute Rios without prosecuting Plaintiff was not a proper factor for the prosecution to consider."

Jouard ordered the prosecution of Rios and appointed the Weld County District Attorney's Office to pursue the case.

The Court of Appeals, however, overturned that directive. After watching the video themselves, the appellate judges agreed with the prosecution's belief that it would be difficult to attribute Kuppinger's broken nose to Rios.

Even though Jouard was troubled by the "option" police gave to Kuppinger  either accept a criminal charge along with the other fight participants or drop the case entirely  Brown explained that the district attorney's office reached its decision independently of that ultimatum.

"The serious bodily injury at issue was Kuppingers broken nose. But based on the video, it is not clear who caused that injury," she concluded.

The case is Kuppinger v. Larimer County District Attorney.
A man with a history of raping women, who is serving 136 years in prison, will receive a new trial after the state's second-highest court concluded an Arapahoe County judge allowed a biased juror to serve in the 2021 trial.

On Thursday, a three-judge panel for the Court of Appeals concluded, by 2-1, that it was improper for a woman to remain on Tre Miekale Carrasco's jury after she admitted it would be "hard" to find him not guilty. District Court Judge Ben L. Leutwyler's refusal to dismiss the woman, identified as Juror H, was a mistake.

"Juror H adhered to an incorrect view of the law," wrote Judge Anthony J. Navarro in the June 15 opinion. "Her statements indicated plainly that she would have difficulty presuming Carrasco innocent of the charged crimes."

Judge David H. Yun believed a new trial for Carrasco was unwarranted. He honed in on a specific moment between Juror H's statements and Leutwyler's decision not to dismiss her. Leutwyler asked all jurors to raise their hands if they could not presume Carrasco was innocent until proven guilty. Nobody, including Juror H, raised their hand.

"By not raising her hand, Juror H affirmed that she could apply the presumption of innocence. No other reasonable conclusion, in my view, could be reached," Yun argued. "At some point, we have to trust that what a juror indicated is what she meant. And this is something that the trial court, not an appellate court, should decide."

Case: People v. Carrasco Decided: June 15, 2023 Jurisdiction: Arapahoe County Ruling: 2-1 Judges: Anthony J. Navarro (author) Jaclyn Casey Brown David H. Yun (dissent) Background: Serial rapist sentenced to 136 years in prison in Arapahoe County

Carrasco had a history of voyeurism and sexual assault that began in 2008 in Kansas and continued into Colorado. In February 2019, Carrasco carjacked a woman, then later drove to a Cherry Hills Village home and raped another woman. Prosecutors charged him with aggravated motor vehicle theft, sexual assault, kidnapping and other offenses.

An Arapahoe County jury convicted him in 2021 and Leutwyler sentenced Carrasco to 136 years in prison. Last year, a Kansas judge sentenced Carrasco to 96 years for another rape days before his Colorado spree.

During jury selection, Carrasco's attorney asked whether anyone believed Carrasco was more likely to be guilty because there were "two separate sets of allegations," referring to the carjacking and the sexual assault.

Juror H said she had thought to herself, "He's been busy," when she heard about the charges.

"It sounds like it's hard for you to come from a place where he's a hundred percent innocent before you've even seen the evidence," the defense attorney observed.

"That's fair," replied Juror H.

Later in jury selection, she reaffirmed that she was not "starting from zero" because of the dual sets of charges, and "that's going to be in the back of my mind."

Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

Leutwyler then told all jurors to remember the government needed to prove Carrasco guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

"Please raise your hand if you cannot give Mr. Carrasco, for any reason, the presumption of innocence," he said, observing "there are no hands."

The defense moved to dismiss, or "strike," several jurors for bias. Among those was Juror H, who, Carrasco's lawyer said, indicated it "would be difficult for her to give him that presumption of innocence."

Leutwyler declined to strike Juror H, calling it "speculative" that anyone would believe Carrasco was guilty solely because he was charged with two sets of crimes. He added that he invited the jurors to signal if they could not follow the law, "and I got no responses."

Defendants have a constitutional right to an impartial jury, but it is possible for a juror who initially misunderstands the law to serve if they are "rehabilitated." Rehabilitation entails additional questioning that secures a juror's commitment to set aside their bias.

On appeal, Carrasco argued Juror H was never rehabilitated from her initial bias, while the government claimed she was.

Navarro, writing for himself and Judge Jaclyn Casey Brown, acknowledged Leutwyler's explanation about the presumption of innocence could have corrected Juror H's preconceived opinion. However, under the circumstances, it was unclear whether Leutwyler's directive to "raise your hand" was effective.

Carrasco's jurors "were not highly responsive to group questioning. On several occasions where the parties and the court asked questions," wrote Navarro, "the jurors did not volunteer answers."

While Juror H's non-response could indicate she understood Leutwyler's description of the law, it could have also signaled her "reluctance to disagree with the court," Navarro added.

Because Juror H was biased and she was permitted to serve, the panel's majority ordered a new trial for Carrasco.

Yun, in dissent, maintained it was improper for the appellate court to second-guess Leutwyler's assessment of Juror H's impartiality based solely on an after-the-fact transcript.

Leutwyler "was in a superior position to evaluate Juror Hs state of mind," Yun wrote.
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert filed articles of impeachment last week against President Joe Biden, charging the Democrat with "dereliction of duty" by failing to "secure the southern border."

Joe Biden unconstitutionally violated his duty under Article II of the Constitution to take care that the laws be faithfully executed by intentionally disregarding our immigration laws and enabling an invasion along our southern border," the Rifle Republican said in a statement.

Added Boebert: "President Biden has pursued this open-border agenda purposefully and willfully, circumventing every safeguard, check, and balance required by law, resulting in mass illegal immigration into the United States, to the detriment of the American people."

"What a clown show," tweeted U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, an Aurora Democrat, in response to Boebert's online declaration that she had submitted the articles.

What a clown show!  https://t.co/MG0gpcZOmV  Rep. Jason Crow (@RepJasonCrow) June 15, 2023

Crow was one of the House managers who prosecuted former President Donald Trump's first impeachment trial in the Senate. Trump, the only president to be impeached twice, was acquitted both times, in early 2020 and early 2021.

Capitol Hill watchers say Republicans don't have the votes to impeach Biden in the House, much less obtain a conviction in the Senate, but Boebert insists she'll bring the measure to a full floor vote if GOP leaders stall.

The move to impeach Biden marks a shift in outlook on Boebert's part since January, when she speculated that fellow Republican lawmakers were balking at impeaching the president because removing him from office would elevate Vice President Kamala Harris to the presidency.

"Kamala Harris is Bidens shrewd insurance policy," Boebert told Fox News Digital, describing Biden's No. 2 as "historically unpopular."

Both, she added, deserved to "be held fully accountable."

That's what Boebert tried to do a year and a half ago, when she submitted separate articles of impeachment aimed at Biden and Harris.

The September 2021 resolutions argued that Biden should be impeached over his administration's handling of the U.S. military's withdrawal from Afghanistan a month earlier. Harris, for her part, drew Boebert's wrath for failing to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Biden from office.

While several Republicans were pushing to oust Biden at the time, Boebert's attempt at "solemnly introducing articles of impeachment" drew widespread attention and more than a little ridicule over a typo in the logo that accompanied her announcement.

"IMEACH BIDEN," read the red, white and blue graphic embedded in a Boebert press release.

Her office issued a corrected version a couple hours later, but not before online wags had a field day roasting the flub, with some even reviving the misspelling this week to comment on the new impeachment resolution.

Reaching for a silver lining, a Boebert spokesman said the "staff error" had put a spotlight on his boss's arguments, getting even liberal outlets to write stories about the topic.

Like other articles of impeachment introduced by Republicans during Biden's first two years in office, when Democrats held the majority in the House, Boebert's 2021 resolutions went nowhere.

But now that the GOP controls the chamber, Boebert says she has a mechanism to force a vote on the House floor if her resolution languishes in committee, like nearly a dozen other impeachment measures have so far this year.

She's got plenty of company drawing up articles of impeachment, with fellow Republican lawmakers targeting multiple members of the executive branch.

Boebert's June 13 resolution is the fourth Republican-led bill seeking to impeach Biden introduced in the last month and the second introduced this week. All four cite the flow of immigrants entering the U.S. across the southern border.

Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

A day before Boebert filed her resolution, U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, a Texas Republican, submitted two sets of impeachment articles, one aimed at Biden and the other at Harris. Boebert signed on to both bills as a co-sponsor.

Earlier resolutions to impeach Biden were submitted in May by U.S. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Bill Posey of Florida.

A White House spokesman denounced Greene's impeachment push, calling it an example of "silly political attacks" in a statement to NBC News.

Is there a bigger example of a shameless sideshow political stunt than a trolling impeachment attack by one of the most extreme MAGA members in Congress over national security while she actively demands to defund the FBI and even said she wouldve been armed and would have won the Jan. 6 insurrection if only shed been in charge of it? said Ian Sams. While some of the Jan. 6 rioters have been arrested and convicted, none yet been charged with insurrection.

Greene has been busy on the impeachment front. Since last month, in addition to the resolution devoted to Biden, she's filed legislation to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Matthew Graves.

Mayorkas has been a popular impeachment target in the months since Republicans took over the House, with six resolutions naming the cabinet official in charge of immigration enforcement. In addition to Greene, who filed two different resolutions aimed at Mayorkas, sponsors of those measures include U.S. Reps. Pat Fallon of Texas, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Roger Marshall of Kansas and Clay Higgins of Louisiana.

Boebert told Fox News she plans to invoke a House rule to call up her articles of impeachment under something called a privileged motion if Republican leadership drags its feet.

Her office didn't respond to a request from Colorado Politics for further comment, but Boebert described the maneuver in a June 15 interview with Eric Bolling on Newsmax.

Telling Boebert that her effort to impeach Biden "is music to so many people's ears," Bolling asked whether she anticipates getting "pushback from even those RINOs that you talk about," using an acronym popular among hard-line conservatives for "Republicans in name only."

"I introduced these articles of impeachment not for personal gain, or even political popularity," Boebert said. "I introduced articles of impeachment on behalf of the American people. And if there are members of Congress in the Republican conference who don't want to bring this up and debate it in committee, then I will make sure that a privileged resolution comes to the floor, and force members of Congress to vote on these articles of impeachment."

The way it would work, she said, is she would go to the House floor and read her resolution in its entirety, at which point GOP leaders have two days to send it to a committee or call for a vote of the entire House.

"I'm tired of waiting around," Boebert told Newsmax. "Americans all across the country are screaming that we need to do something. They're tired of only having hearings and investigations and just talking heads on TV saying what they want to do or what they're going to do."

Adam Frisch, the Aspen Democrat who narrowly lost a bid to unseat Boebert last year and is already running again, seeking a rematch, told Colorado Politics he considers the impeachment push a prime illustration that Boebert is "not focused on the job, she's focused on herself."

"I know she and a small group of people are always talking about impeaching this, impeaching that," Frisch said, "but the vast majority of people in the district want their representative to focus on ranching, farming, domestic energy, rural aspects of health care and water, water, water."

The bigger issue, Frisch said, "is that there is a border crisis. It remains a mess -- it's a humanitarian mess, it's a legal mess. We need to figure out how to process more people doing over in a legal process, and we need to stop more people from coming over illegally.... It's fair to be frustrated with it, but I think it's a much better use of people's time to sit down and work with Democrats and Republicans in the House and the Senate to come up with a plan. We should have a proud immigration policy, and instead we have a broken one."

Ernest Luning has covered politics for Colorado Politics and its predecessor publication, The Colorado Statesman, since 2009.

Colorado Democrats cast reluctant votes to raise debt limit as state Republicans splinter | TRAIL MIX

'More sopapillas, please': Casa Bonita's openings bracket decades of Colorado memories | TRAIL MIX

Yemi Mobolade's head-turning win echoes John Hickenlooper's first run for Denver mayor | TRAIL MIX
Colorado's state Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis and state Rep. Brianna Titone visited the White House on Thursday to discuss the state's laws protecting abortion.

The two Coloradans joined more than 80 legislators from 41 states who were invited to the White House this week to participate in panel discussions on their work "on the frontlines of the fight for reproductive rights," a White House statement said.

Jaquez Lewis and Titone sponsored Senate Bill 188, one of Colorado's newest abortion laws, this year. The law shields patients and providers of abortion and gender-affirming services in Colorado from penalties from other states. It was part of a three-bill package designed to protect and increase access to abortion, making Colorado among the strongest states in the nation for abortion rights.

Colorado is a leader when it comes to protecting access to reproductive and gender-affirming care, and it was an honor to share more about the critical work Colorado has been doing to keep patients and providers safe at the White House today, Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, said. I am excited to continue our work to break down the barriers that stand in the way of getting our communities the care they need.

The White House event comes days before the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, eliminating federal abortion protections.

Since the ruling, 14 states have banned abortion, with others restricting access and six more trying to enact blocked bans. Meanwhile, 20 states, including Colorado, have passed additional abortion protections.

Data shows more people are getting abortions in Colorado - the most since 1985

Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters.

On Wednesday, legislators from abortion-restricting states convened at the White House to discuss strategies to oppose those efforts. On Thursday, legislators from abortion-protecting states met at the White House to discuss how to further safeguard and support access.

"In a post-Roe America, people are relying on state legislatures to protect reproductive freedom, and Colorado is demonstrating exactly what states should do across the country," Titone, D-Arvada, said. "While some states have passed dangerous anti-abortion and anti-trans legislation, Colorado passed legislation I sponsored that protects Americans from being prosecuted for traveling here to receive abortion or gender-affirming care."

During Thursday's event, senior White House officials spoke of the Biden-Harris Administrations commitment to protecting reproductive rights, emphasizing the role state partners play in ensuring abortion access.

Vice President Kamala Harris attended the event and met with the Colorado lawmakers, along with Gender Policy Council Director Jennifer Klein, Domestic Policy Council Director Neera Tanden, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Office of Public Engagement Director Steve Benjamin.

Colorado was the first state in the nation to decriminalize abortion in certain cases in 1967. In 2022, shortly before Roe v. Wade was overturned, Colorado lawmakers enshrined abortion as a fundamental right.

Lawsuit challenges Colorado law for 'buffer distance' outside abortion clinics
Senate Bill 3-A, the bipartisan legislation that would increase financial education for Oregon High School students via a new graduation requirement, passed out of the Ways and Means Committee by a 22-to-1 vote last week, and now moves on to the full House and Senate.

I have been teaching personal finance for years, and passionately believe that it is one of the most important classes young people can take. My students are the best advocates to tell Oregonians why it should be a course every high school student should be guaranteed.

Omar recently testified before the subcommittee. He said that before he took this class, he had no clue how intricate and complex the financial world is. Now he feels confident about managing issues such as taxes, credit cards and savings for retirement.

Kobe believes the course is the most valuable he has taken in high school. He uses budgeting every day, started an emergency fund and is debt-free, and he knows how to make his money work for him instead of struggling to make ends meet. He has even purchased a brand-new car with cash, and has a decent-sized down payment saved up for a house, as well as multiple savings accounts with emergency money.

Naia knows the rule of Pay Yourself First, as it is important when creating budgets and knowing how to save for retirement, especially for women.

Baylee feels being able to write a budget and how to do taxes are skills she will use her entire life. She is thankful for this opportunity to have had access to this class in high school, and wishes every student in Oregon could learn the key skills to be a successful adult to be better prepared to handle their finances.

Trenton says he would have struggled financially entering college without prior knowledge and background information in personal finance. This class helped him manage his money and develop budgeting habits he continues to use today.

Most of my students come into my class not having access to personal finance subjects at home or elsewhere. If they are headed to college, what could be more important than understanding the cost of college and how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid?

If they are headed to the work world directly from high school, they need to know about renting, leasing vs. owning cars, 401k and 403b retirement plans offered by employers  or individual retirement accounts if no plans are offered.

I use games in my classes that help students solve problems, work in teams and think critically. My students love hearing stories about real people and how they overcame financial obstacles.

My students appealed to the administration of our school to offer an advanced course in wealth building and management because they wanted to learn more about investing and creating a portfolio, and how insurance plays into their future lives. That course debuted in 2018.

Many of my former students stay in touch, and they often thank me for helping them learn practical money skills. Personal foundations + behavioral economics + real-world reinforcement = financial literacy success.

The most important lesson that I teach, and that I believe every student in Oregon deserves, is that their present self is responsible for their future self. That person 40 years from now is depending on smart saving and investing to ensure a financially stable later life.

I believe this bill should pass into law, so that more Oregon educators will feel comfortable teaching personal finance and they can then join us in forever changing young peoples lives.
Linn-Benton Community College students, staff, and community gathered to celebrate the Class of 2023 on Thursday, June 15.

It was the school's 54th commencement but it ditched the "CARmencement," a drive-thru format, adopted during COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

This year the college opted to start a new tradition in which the families of students, including children and parents, could sit with the graduates as well as approach the stage to photograph them as they received their diplomas.

Here's a look of the Class of 2023, by the numbers:

Size: 830

Number of degrees and certificates awarded: 988

Number of students who participated Thursday: 753

What's next for them? According to the college, many will matriculate to Oregon State University as encouraged by the partnership between the colleges.
With the progress Pride flag now on display at Albany City Hall, city leaders adopted a policy on Wednesday, June 14 in anticipation of future requests to fly other flags on the building.

In city halls across the United States, there are discussions about raising the Pride flag.

In Sarasota, Florida, for example, city leaders unanimously voted to raise the flag, while Huntington Beach, California decided end a three-year tradition of flying the flag during Pride month.

In Los Angeles, a Pride flag was displayed on a county building for the first time, and in Dallas the banner is waving for the third consecutive year.

In Albany, the progress Pride flag is displayed in the window after city staff determined the flagpole couldn't accommodate a third flag. Someone added to the display: Outside City Hall, slanted chalk lines read, fly it with pride above a colorful drawing of the progress Pride flag. Similar sentiments are written in chalk at all entrances and exits of the building.

The flagpole's shortcomings prompted the City Council to devise a flag policy to govern any future flag displays.

At a Monday, June 12 council work session, Mayor Alex Johnson II said he would have vetoed the decision to fly the Pride flag on May 10, when Councilor Steph Newton put such a vote before colleagues.

It passed 4-1, with Councilor Marilyn Smith voting no and Councilor Matilda Novak not voting.

When I first ran for office, I didnt want Albany to be an activist council. I believe that on government buildings, only government flags should be flown. Anything else is inappropriate," Johnson said.

Just which flags should be hoisted was then considered Wednesday, when the council voted on a flag policy mirroring one the League of Oregon Cities authored as a model.

It says only council members can make a request to fly a commemorative flag. Residents who want to propose a flag must go through a city councilor of their ward or the Mayor.

Proposed flags eligible for consideration are ones the city defines as being consistent with the citys mission and priorities, commemorate a specific historical event, cause, nation or group of people that the council chooses to honor.

Flags electeds won't consider are religious in nature, represent a political party or advocate a particular election outcome.

With five yes votes and one opposition from Novak.

Only government flags should be flown on government property, Novak said.

Related stories:
A measure that attempts to ease hospital staffing shortages and improve working conditions is halfway through the Oregon Legislature after nurses, unions and hospitals worked on a compromise for months.

The legislation cleared the Oregon House on a 48-9 vote on Wednesday, June 14.

House Bill 2697 was easily the most complex of a three-bill package intended to deal with staffing shortages, which were made worse by the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a survey last year by the Oregon Center for Nursing, which focuses on workforce issues, 68% of those who responded specified physical and mental exhaustion  largely because of too many patients and not enough staff.

For the first time in any state, the Oregon legislation writes into law specified ratios of nurses to patients in 12 types of hospital units. For example, in the emergency room, nurses are limited to an average of four patients per 12-hour shift  and a single nurse cannot have more than five patients.

It also ends the buddy system, under which a nurse yields patients to another nurse who already has assigned patients.

Oregon already has such ratios, which are determined by nurse staffing committees of managers and workers set up under previous laws.

This legislation creates new staffing committees within hospitals, one for service and maintenance workers, the other for professionals and technicians other than nurses.

Rep. Rob Nosse, a Democrat from Portland who leads the House health care panel, said major credit for the legislation goes to those who negotiated it despite initial differences.

Ultimately, I believe it will provide for better patient care and working conditions, said Nosse, also the bills floor manager. A lot of compromises were made on both sides by the hospitals and the various unions that represent the workers to get to consensus.

"Now its our job to see their work through and pass this bill. I am optimistic that passage  will bring about better staffing retention in our health care workforce and better patient care.

The ratios within the legislation do not apply to psychiatric units, including the Oregon State Hospital, where staffing committees must draw up their own plans.

Oregons smaller hospitals  known as Type A and B for their Medicaid reimbursement status  can apply for two-year waivers from the Oregon Health Authority. All of the 32 hospitals are outside the three Portland metro counties.

The legislation also sets thresholds for hospital violations of required meal breaks and rest periods, which will be enforced by the state Bureau of Labor and Industries. If the number of violations exceeds six during shifts in any rolling 30-day period, the hospital must pay the worker $200 for a missed break. There is a 60-day time limit for violations to be reported.

Oregon Health Authority will have to write rules for three topics  meal breaks and rest periods, nurse-patient ratios in the emergency room, and the investigation process for complaints  and is empowered to levy penalties starting June 1, 2025.

This should make the law work better for all sides, including the Oregon Health Authority, Nosse said.
Sunday

Letitia Carson Legacy Project Juneteenth Gathering, noon to 5 p.m., Corvallis Museum, 411 SW Second St. Guests will have a chance to view the "Letitia Carson: An Enduring Spirit of Hope and Freedom" traveling exhibit, and hear Mariah Rocker of Oregon Black Pioneers speak about the history and significance of Juneteenth. Following the museum visit, participants will drive to the Letitia Carson Homestead Site for an opportunity to be present and grounded on the land, in community. Schedule: View the Carson exhibit, noon to 1:30. Mariah Rocker speaks, 1:30. Depart from museum to drive to the homestead, 3 (Take Highway 99W north; a quarter-mile past Adair Village (Arnold Avenue), turn left onto Tampico Road; go about 1.75 mi (a half-mile past the Soap Creek/Tampico intersection). The gate will be marked with orange traffic cones by the side of the road. Arrive at the homestead, 3:30. Welcoming to the land, 3:45. Larry Landis will speak about the history of the land, followed by time to socialize and ground into the space. People are encouraged to carpool from the museum to the homestead to minimize the load on the land. Guests are encouraged to bring their own camping chairs or blankets for comfortable seating at the homestead.
The change in the ISB essays underscores the school's commitment to encouraging deep self-reflection by applicants before they apply.

Essay 1. Provide an honest portrayal of yourself, emphasizing your strengths and weaknesses. Highlight the key elements that have shaped your personal journey. Give relevant illustrations as needed. (400 words)

The striking resemblance in wording between this question and the first prompt of INSEAD's motivational essay is hard to overlook.

"Give a candid description of yourself (who are you as a person), stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses, and the main factors which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary."

Sources of value formation may include childhood experiences, moments of triumph, events that reinforced certain values, or the guidance of mentors and role models.

Here is my own example of a compelling story about a weakness:

" In my pursuit of perfectionism, I often develop anxiety stemming from the fear that I may not succeed. In such cases, I have found that I can become impatient with my team or friends. In the past, I have regrettably experienced a situation where I was overly harsh with a team member who I felt was not doing his best to meet a critical project's timeline. This not only negatively impacted our professional relationship, but also caused discomfort within the team. When my mentor in my US team, who understood my ambitious nature, recognized the discomfort within the team and how it was affecting me, he gave me invaluable advice and taught me the life lesson of prudence and forbearance. Overcoming this weakness was a transformative experience for me as a team leader. I now make a conscious effort to respect each team member's inner clock for self-realization and understand their unique pace of growth."

Essay 2. Contemplate two distinct situationsone where you experienced success and another where you faced failure. Delve into the personal and interpersonal lessons you learned from these instances.

(400 words max)

ISB's Essay 2 presents a fascinating shift, urging applicants to

1. reflect on themselves

2. Meaningfully discuss about their own experiences- successes and failures in various situations



Some applicants measure success through their professional accomplishments, while others find triumph in overcoming personal challenges. Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. Articulate why certain values and specific accomplishments matter to you. Describe the obstacles you faced and the transformative journey that led to your success.

Here's a winning personal failure story from me as an example:

" One failure I recently experienced was missing the deadline for an important project to bring metro rail tires to market. The project team I led moved from the France office to the India office, and an experienced product designer handed over responsibility to an inexperienced colleague. As a project manager, I did not realize the impact of this geographic change on our tight launch schedule. In my haste, I rushed my team members and inadvertently overlooked critical risk factors in our product quality checklist. We proceeded to deliver the design for production according to the original schedule and naively assumed success.



Unfortunately, the quality team soon discovered the tests we had overlooked. Several tires had already been produced but were deemed unsaleable, resulting in significant losses. It took us several additional days to rectify the situation and perform the required quality testing before the product design could resume production. While my team was understanding of my oversight, I felt deeply embarrassed. This setback was a wake-up call for me to be more realistic and vocal about project deadlines and to exercise caution when assessing risks at every step. I consciously employed strategies to improve my attention to detail, such as taking meticulous notes, using comprehensive checklists, and diligently following up when needed. Although I learned this lesson the hard way, it has undeniably made me a more diligent and organized manager. "



Essay 3 (optional) Given your previous experience and future aspirations, how do you plan to use the PGP at ISB to fulfil your professional goals?

Note: It is not necessary for you to write this essay. Please use this space only if there is something really significant that you would like us to know.

(250 words max)

Even though the ISB doesn't ask for an in-depth essay about your goals, make no mistake: you need to be prepared for a comprehensive interview.

If you are facing an obstacle in your MBA application journey and need help overcoming it, I invite you to have an open and candid conversation with me.

Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, ex admissions interviewer)

MBAGuideConsulting
A powerful storm rocked Danville on Friday afternoon, sending thousands into darkness, toppling trees and crushing vehicles at the hospital.

There were more than 6,200 customers with Danville Utilities without electricity early Friday evening.

Officials said in a social media post that the outages were scattered.

"There is considerable tree damage in the Colquhoun Street and Paxton Street area," the post stated. "A main circuit is out of service in the Schoolfield area."

Over in Pittsylvania County  an area also serviced by Danville Utilities  there was a main circuit out that serves Ringgold.

"Crews are working to clean up the damage and restore service," officials wrote in the post.

A lot of the trees snapped utility poles, adding to more problems to restore power.

Due to the damage, Danville Utilities reported it likely would not be able to get the lights back on for everyone by Friday night.

"Our crews will work through the night to restore service to as many homes as possible," officials wrote in an update. "We have requested the assistance of available municipal utility crews from North Carolina to expedite restoration of service on Saturday."

The National Weather Service in Blacksburg placed Danville under a severe thunderstorm warning at about 3:15 p.m. That's when the storm over Westover Hills was moving southeast at about 40 mph.

It warned the storm could produce winds of up 60 mph and quarter-size hail.

The weather service reported the wind blew out a window at Sovah Health-Danville.

Corey Santoriello, a spokesperson for the hospital, confirmed the facility did suffer storm damage, but no patients or staff were impacted.

At the hospital on South Main Street, two cars parked in the parking lot were crushed by fallen trees during the storm.

Lori King's red 2002 Mustang GT was heavily damaged and beyond repair.

The Danville resident, who works in the hospital's Simpson Building at the back of the parking lot on the other side of South Main Street across from the emergency room entrance, said someone knocked on her window at work at around 3:30 p.m. and told her trees had fallen on two cars.

Though she was uninjured, she said of the loss of her beloved car, "My feelings are hurt."

She had driven the five-speed manual vehicle for 14 years and loved its road performance. The 21-year-old car had just 136,000 miles on it, she said.

"This is the only Mustang I've ever had," King said. "It's fun to drive."

She also has a Lincoln MKZ, which she said she will use from now on.

"It's a nice car, but it's a little old lady car," King said. "I'll probably just drive that one and cut my losses."

Officials in Blacksburg also reported multiple trees down in Danville, especially along the area of West Main Street and Ballou Park.

Danville Community College closed campus early because of a power outage.

The storm moved into Caswell County, North Carolina, also triggering a severe storm warning there.

The weather service also reported "Numerous trees have been reported down across southern Henry County including the Martinsville area."
Out of the miasma of Republican denial, a bold truth teller has emerged.

Of course, he doesnt stand a rats chance of winning his partys presidential nomination, but former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie should be celebrated for calling out former President Donald Trump.

On the eve of Trumps second arraignment  this time on federal charges  his former buddy and current 2024 opponent trash-talked him with zest during a CNN town hall Monday.

No insult Christie leveled at Trump was quite as poetic as his description last week of the former president as a lonely, self-consumed, self-serving mirror hog. He also called Trump a child, completely self-centered, completely self-consumed, a three-time loser, a loser, loser, loser, and victim me, poor me.

In the current GOP orthodoxy, Christies honesty is apostasy.

And yet his performance, I daresay, brought a touch of sanity to an otherwise delusional Republican presidential field.

Folks like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former Vice President Mike Pence have been reluctant to take on the former guy, who continues to dominate the polls regardless of his mounting legal woes.

Some of the Republican presidential candidates cant even bring themselves to utter Trumps name. A recent Iowa gathering of some Republican candidates, said Christie, was a case in point.

It was like he was Voldemort from Harry Potter, Christie said. Like, nobody wanted to mention his name. Like, say his name, man, say his name! Right? I mean, how do you beat someone if you wont talk about them? How do you beat them if you wont distinguish yourself from them?

Maybe they dont want to distinguish themselves from Trump. Maybe each is praying that Trumps candidacy implodes, opening the way for him- or herself as the Trump alternative.

A number of Republicans have been reluctant to talk about the substance of actually whats in [the indictment], noted CNN host Anderson Cooper.

I hadnt noticed, Christie replied dryly. How about you decide who is the most honest, forthright leader who has common sense and will put you first, and lets put that person behind the desk in the Oval Office?

Taking boxes of classified documents in violation of the Presidential Records Act, then trying to keep them away from federal officials who subpoenaed them and inducing others to lie, said Christie, is inexcusable in my opinion for someone who wants to be president of the United States.

As for the tiresome Republican refrain that President Biden has weaponized the Department of Justice against Trump, Christie, a former federal prosecutor was brusque: You know, look, I dont think so. This evidence looks pretty damning.  How about blame him? He did it.

If Trump had simply returned the boxes, said Christie, none of this would have happened. He is saying, I am more important than the country. These are my papers. This is vanity run amok, ego run amok.

And if the angry and vengeful Trump were to be reelected, Christie said, you can bet the rerun will be uglier than the original. A second Trump term would be all about him settling scores with everybody who he thinks wasnt perfectly nice to him.

In 2018, Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson authored the withering critique Everything Trump Touches Dies. Trumps friendship with Christie is no exception.

Christie supported Trump early on after he dropped out of the 2016 nominating contest, and helped Trump prep for his presidential debates that year and in 2020. (Christie nearly died after contracting COVID-19 from Trump during a 2020 debate prep session. Trump had not disclosed to Christie that he had tested positive that morning before the prep had begun and, Christie alleged Monday, later told reporters that Christie gave it to him.)

Christies breaking point with Trump came when the president stood behind the presidential seal in the wee hours after polls closed in November 2020 and declared himself the winner. CNN played the clip for the town hall audience: This is a fraud on the American public, Trump said. This is an embarrassment to our country. We were getting ready to win this election. Frankly, we did win this election.

Of course, no one knew who won the election at that point. It was far too early.

Trump, Christie said, behaved like a schoolchild who came home with a bad grade and blamed the teacher, or the kid sitting next to him for distracting him.

Its a childs reaction, he said, and I beg you to think about this. Dont allow the showmanship to obscure the facts. The facts are he lost to Joe Biden.

The town hall wasnt all Trump bashing, as refreshing as that was.

Christie refused to step into the culture wars muck, telling Cooper that states should make up their own minds about abortion. He disavowed his previous position that no one needs assault weapons, saying that its not a matter of need, its a matter of what the 2nd Amendment allows. He gave a remarkably sensitive answer about drug addiction and incarceration  telling a woman with a troubled son that addiction is a disease requiring treatment, not a moral failing.

Which is probably why hes polling at only about 1% among likely Republican voters.

In todays GOP, speaking truth to Trump is unforgivable. Necessary, if the party is to regain its sanity, but unforgivable.
Scholarships

Selby Chipman, a member of the inaugural class of female Eagle Scouts from the Old North State Councils Troop 219 in Oak Ridge, has been awarded the National Eagle Scout Associations prestigious Lawrence S. and Mabel Cooke Scholarship for 2023.

As one of five national recipients of the $25,000 scholarship established by Lawrence S. Cooke in memory of his late wife, Mabel Cooke, Chipman was selected from among thousands of applicants for her outstanding history of Scouting, community involvement and academic accomplishments. Also, she is one of 10 female Eagle Scouts chosen to participate in the Women of Character Event as part of Boy Scouts of Americas National Jamboree at Summit Bechtel Reserve in July 2023.

Since 2022, Chipman has served as an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 219. Both SCUBA and lifeguard certified, she helped chaperone her troops first trip to Florida National High Adventure Sea Base. In addition, she is the first female Eagle Scout to serve on staff at Camp Alpine at Kandersteg International Scout Center in Switzerland. Chipman is a Brotherhood Member of the Order of the Arrow, Scoutings national honor society, and she continues to be active in Sea Scout Ship 3 and Venturing Crew 1922.

As a Scout, Chipman was a Founding Member and Senior Patrol Leader for Troop 219. For her Eagle Scout Project, she led a group of volunteers in the design and construction of a nature observation platform along the NC Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

Chipman, who resides in Oak Ridge, is an honors college student and fourth-generation engineering major at The University of Missouri. She is pursuing a dual major in biological and biomedical engineering and participates in medical research as a Discovery Fellow.

Scouts BSA Troop 219 for girls meets Monday evenings at Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church. For information, visit troop219g.com.
GREENSBORO  With the warmer weather, police say they are seeing an increasing number of large car club gatherings prompting complaints of trespassing, careless driving and property damage.

These arent the traditional clubs that come to mind, where owners of a certain type or brand of car hold an event. Police are referring to groups of drivers of various vehicles who like to meet up, often in parking lots and quickly move from one location to another once law enforcement arrives.

You can gather, but think about where. You may be trespassing, said Assistant Chief Rick Alston of the Greensboro Police Department.

Greensboro police have responded to multiple complaints the past several weekends and seized one vehicle after the driver was arrested on various charges, Alston said during an interview.

Its when some people begin driving carelessly and dangerously, he said, that the situation can cause problems for the entire group and any nearby neighborhoods.

Such gatherings can quickly grow from dozens to a couple hundred cars depending on the location, Alston said. The gatherings will also quickly disperse and move to another large parking lot.

With a shortage of patrol officers, Alston said the department is trying to balance priorities and their responses to residents complaints about the gatherings.

Were just as concerned as they are, Alston said.

Alston encourages residents and business owners to contact the department or call 911, especially when it appears that a gathering is starting.

Call and tell us what youre seeing, Alston said.

The issue isnt new and other law enforcement agencies around the Triad have dealt with similar complaints. In November, High Point police were reaching out to business owners after tips about car swinging events.

High Point police said car swinging is when drivers meet in a parking lot or shut down an intersection to do donuts and burnouts. These events typically draw crowds of people and can be dangerous, as well as disruptive to traffic and businesses, police said.

Police said people caught trespassing or disrupting traffic could get a ticket, be arrested or have their vehicle towed.

Business owners concerned about groups coming to their parking lots can fill out a No Trespassing form available at the High Point Police Department at 1730 Westchester Drive. The form will allow officers to request unauthorized people to leave a property, arrest people for trespassing on the property, and issue citations or warrants against people trespassing on the property.

The goal is to stop an event when its only a small number of people, compared to 80 to 100 cars, Alston said. If you see individuals gathering in a lot that shouldnt be there and start to engage in bad behavior, call us so we can come out and address it.
GREENSBORO  Guilford County commissioners reworked a proposed budget to find $15.4 million more for K-12 schools while keeping the countys property tax the same.

By a vote of 8-1, the Board of Commissioners voted on Thursday night to approve a $926.5 million budget for fiscal year 2024, which begins July 1. It is about $65.5 million more than what was approved for the fiscal year 2023 budget.

MORE ONLINE Want to know more about Guilford County's budget for next year? Go to www.guilfordcountync.gov.

Next years budget maintains a tax rate of 73.05 cents per $100 of property valuation. For a $250,000 house, this would mean a tax bill of $1,826.25.

The budget includes a total of 2,938.3 positions  a net increase of 36.1 positions, according to a county news release. This is equivalent to about 5.3 positions per 1,000 residents, which the county said is among the lowest position-to-resident ratios in the state.

Commissioners heeded the pleas of classified school employees  such as bus drivers, teacher assistants and custodians  who rallied and packed the commissioners chambers two weeks ago seeking money for pay increases.

Commissioner James Upchurch, who voted against the budget plan, said the county tax rate is too high and that there needed to be a long-term plan to fund employee wages.

Every commissioners district got something in the budget, said Melvin Skip Alston, who chairs the board. Its about our people and our citizens getting something.

Under the adopted budget, Guilford County Schools will receive $395 million  or nearly half of the countys operating budget. Commissioners reduced the annual school capital maintenance budget to $6.5 million instead of $10 million.

Superintendent Whitney Oakley praised the cooperation between the county and the school district.

We will be able to implement 40% of our new compensation model to align classified pay ranges with the current labor market, Oakley said.

GTCC also received an additional $500,000, bringing its total operating budget to slightly more than $20 million.

Commissioners also included $319,250 to add five additional positions to the countys tax department. Tax Director Ben Chavis said the positions were needed to conduct the next property revaluation in 2026, as well as an auditor for tax-exempt properties.

Residents in the Colfax Fire District, which will be served by the Kernersville Fire and Rescue Department beginning July 1, will see their tax rate increase by 1.69 cents to 13.59 cents per $100 of property value.

Commissioners also cut spending to various departments by $500,000 and added nearly $7 million due to projected revenue increases.

They also provided $255,000 for community-based organizations for a total of $1.9 million. This includes $140,000 for the town of Oak Ridge to repair ramps for the disabled and to complete security improvements.

Other budget highlights include:

$12.2 million for staff recruitment and retention through the countys competitive pay plan and reinstatement of performance-based merit increases.

$5 million to add 59 positions to the Department of Health and Human Services in preparation for the expansion of Medicaid. Approximately 200,000 Guilford County residents are expected to qualify for Medicaid under the upcoming statewide expansion.

$3.5 million for mental health and medical services for people in the Greensboro and High Point jails and the Regional Juvenile Detention Center.

$1.1 million to add 10 school nurses.

$600,000 to implement a new specialized Child and Family Support and Early Intervention Team of seven social workers and staff. This team will work with community groups and service providers to improve child safety and address the disproportional representation of children and families of color in the welfare system.

$575,000 to support efforts to reduce infant mortality and improve infant well-being, especially among communities of color.

$550,000 for the Minority and Women Business Enterprise Department to establish a Capital Access Program to provide financial support to small businesses owned by minorities and women.

$430,000 to increase access to health care through a mobile clinic.

Commissioner Mary Beth Murphy said she was incredibly proud of the budget.

We accomplished a tremendous amount with very limited resources, she said.
Imagine receiving repeated hostile phone calls and then a stranger with a video

camera coming to your house, accusing you of not being a citizen  and of voting illegally, a felony offense in North Carolina.

That scary scenario happened to people several years ago because a self-anointed voter integrity group misused data from Wake Countys jury records to harass alleged noncitizens. The harassment was mean and personal. And it turned out the targeted individuals were actually citizens.

Some of those harassed had wrongly checked the not a citizen box on the jury summons form. Some became naturalized citizens after being summoned to jury duty. None of those targeted by Project Veritas had illegally voted.

The release of confidential jury records by Wake County was a one-time fluke, and the State Board of Elections pointed out the dangers of using such information to match with voter registration records. Nevertheless, groups claiming to be patriot protectors have repeatedly pushed a handful of lawmakers in Raleigh to introduce legislation that would give them access to jury records so they could carry out their voter integrity operations.

Vigilantes

Senior Republican leaders have helped block this legislation in the past; so has a veto from the Democratic governor. But the bill is back again  this time as part of a package of election security measures that closely track proposals from the most extreme voter-fraud conspiracy advocates, according to published reports.

As filed in early June, Senate Bill 747 specifically requires the State Board of Elections to give anyone the birth dates, drivers license numbers, addresses and other personal information about people who avoid serving on a jury because they marked a box indicating they are not a citizen. Its one thing for the State Board of Elections to use that information to carefully match and remove people on the voting rolls who are not citizens. But its totally different to let vigilante groups and self-appointed integrity teams use the court records to aggressively target individuals on social media and at their home or workplace.

Fortunately, Senate Republicans have changed the original bill to protect peoples confidential information, but extremists are expected to push the NC House to restore the dangerous provision that gives anyone unprecedented access to personal records.

The State Board of Elections already audits the voter rolls for noncitizens  and its not a simple process because of the complexities of immigration law and citizenship status, said Kim Strach in 2017, as the Republican-appointed board director. After her investigators examined dozens of cases, she cautioned, Even where data from the Division of Motor Vehicles, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the voter rolls matched exactly, a high proportion of flagged individuals were citizens.

Bad policy

Its a huge mistake to give confidential information to amateur advocates eager to prove their theories of widespread voter fraud. People will be falsely accused. Lies will be spread across social media. Lives will be damaged. Its happened before in North Carolina, and it will happen again.

A much better way to improve the integrity of our voter rolls is to provide the much-needed money to modernize the State Board of Elections aging voter registration computer system so professionals can perform reliable data matching, while also protecting confidential information from hackers.

Sadly, the strongest proponents of empowering vigilantes are among the North Carolina legislators most reluctant to increase funding for the staff and systems required to administer a secure elections system. Its imperative that smarter leaders step up and do the right thing.
Prophets are burdened with the duality of providing the people with hope while speaking truth to power. They assume a lonely perch as a hopeful cynic, willing to tell the culture the uncomfortable truth, rooted in an abiding love. For several decades that was how I viewed Professor Cornel West.

West brilliantly combined the lamentations of Socrates, the tragedy of the human condition found in the writings of Anton Chekov and the searing intellectualism of W.E.B. Du Bois, as well as the unseen hope rooted in the historical Black church tradition. Using jazz as a metaphor, Wests prophetic reflections open like Charlie Parker, hold our attention like Sonny Rollins and conclude like John Coltrane. He is nothing short of a modern-day prophet Jeremiah.

But now the prophet wants to live in the palace. West recently announced his intention to run for president.

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 video announcement on Twitter launching the third-party presidential bid.

West has since switched his affiliation to the Green Party. But he is running all the same.

I dont question Wests sincerity; his commitment to those on the underside of life is unquestioned. Now, paradoxically, he offers himself as the one who can save the empire from itself.

The odds of a sparrow making it to the moon unscathed with an anvil attached to its tail are greater than West ascending to the Oval Office on Jan. 20, 2025. But that misses the point. The motivation of most protest candidacies is to create change within the culture  change that moves the nation closer to its civic virtue of liberty and equality invariably begins at the bottom. Moreover, politics is an amoral enterprise; rarely do its moral outcomes originate from within its chambers. The prophet has been an indispensable, though often unwanted, ally within the American narrative.

Before the 13th and 19th Amendments were ratified, or the 1964 Civil Rights Act passed, morality, which began as the minority opinion supported by valiant truth-tellers, prodded those ensconced in the status quo to realize the courage for change. Thats the invaluable legacy of prophets in the American narrative. West is entrenched in that tradition.

Present-day America increasingly operates with a demagnetized moral compass. Fearing the inevitability of change, consuming the elixir of difference, some have opted to view certain Americans as existential threats.

But the prophetic voice differs from the political variety. Martin Luther King praised President Lyndon Johnson for landmark civil rights legislation but was equally undaunted in his criticism of the Vietnam War. Formal entry into politics organically neuters the prophetic voice.

One wonders if Wests decision to seek the presidency is a carryover from his tone deafness during the years Barack Obama was president. West was spot-on that the Obama administrations indiscriminate use of predator drones was immoral. I also agreed with West that it was deplorable no one was held accountable for actions that led to the 2008 financial meltdown.

But to suggest, as did West, that it rendered the 44th president a Republican in blackface was impossible to hear for those who supported Obama, especially the millions of African Americans who viewed the 2008 election as a divinely inspired transformation. West appeared peevish, effectively marginalizing his prophetic critiques.

Perhaps West finds himself situated similarly to Shakespeares Macbeth. Is this the final act of a poor player who has strutted and frets his hour upon the stage? Is running for president Wests way to delay the inevitability of being heard from no more?

The cost demanded whenever the prophet pursues the palace invariably is the permanent erosion of moral legitimacy. Once the protest campaign concludes, the prophets supporters will begin the cyclical process of searching for their next sacrificial lamb.

We need the prophetic voice of Cornel West holding those in high places accountable, inspiring those whom Jesus referred as the least of these.

Im not convinced we need that voice seeking the presidency.

Full disclosure: Professor West endorsed my 2013 book, 1963: The Year of Hope and Hostility.

Note: I am once again offering my civics course in July. If you are interested email me at the address below.
Episode 94: Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts have exploded on the scene in the past few years.

After the 2020 killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, many companies and organizations decided it was time  perhaps past time  to confront racism and inequality head on.

This led to the creation of an entire industry, which critics have called the DEI Industrial Complex.

A recent article in The Atlantic by Conor Friedersdorf titled The DEI industry needs to check its privilege, examines the time and expense many organizations have devoted to this topic, which some say are at best useless and at worst counterproductive.

Host Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss the opportunities and pitfalls with DEI training in public and private workplaces.

Links to stories discussed during the podcast:

Diversity training doesn't work, by Peter Bregman, Harvard Business Review

About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Witnesses called by the defense Thursday in the Helena trial for the 2011 killing of John Michael Mike Crites revealed some possible contradictions in his date of death and prior testimony on historical cellular data in the case.

Leon Michael Ford was arrested in September 2020 and charged with deliberate homicide in the Birdseye-area resident's death nearly a decade prior. He also faces a felony tampering with evidence charge. Ford and Crites were among the handful of neighbors off Turk Road who shared a long history of property access disputes. Crites would routinely block access to a road on his property that Ford had an easement to use for accessing his own property to the north.

In the trial Thursday, Ford's attorneys sought to call into question the date on which Crites was killed in 2011. Data from Arpad Vass  who specializes in post-mortem intervals as a forensic anthropologist  estimated a later date of death than June 26, 2011, for Crites. He was given Crites post-mortem report and received photos of the recovery site near Porcupine Campground on MacDonald Pass and a second recovery site off of Lime Quarry Hills Lane.

Based on the state of the remains and what evidence was made available to him, Vass relied on a last resort called the formula-based method to estimate a post-mortem interval. The method is based on the amount of decomposition that has occurred divided by environmental factors like temperature and moisture to estimate in days how long someone has been deceased.

Vass noted he only conducted the formula-based method on the remains found at recovery site one because all the tissue on the remains found at recovery site two had decomposed.

A constant in the formula derived from research is accumulated degree days -- based on the determination that soft tissue of a body will disappear completely after 1,285 accumulated degree days. He gave an example of the average temperature of a day being 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the next day being 80 degrees Fahrenheit. In this example the accumulated degrees for those two days would be 130.

According to Vass, a formula for the human body that the World Health Organization (WHO) created assigns each leg as 15% of the bodys mass, the torso as 50% and each arm 10%. The head is not accounted for because it doesnt have a lot of tissue on it, he said.

Although no organs were recovered, tissue analysis could still be done on Crites leg because the red skeletal muscle had not fully decomposed. Based on WHOs formula, Vass subtracted the leg's mass (around 15%) from the total body mass (100%) and found that between 85% to 95% of the body had already decomposed.

We know it wasnt 100% (decomposed) because of the soft tissue on the right leg, and thats how I came up with that number, the range, Vass said.

Vass used forensic climatology data from around the recovery sites between June 26, 2011, to Oct. 5, 2011, in his formula that was provided for the case by Professor of Meteorology at Purdue University Richard Grant, who testified on Wednesday.

Prosecuting attorney Jessica Best questioned the accuracy of Grants climatology date. She pointed out that Grant used data from four weather sites near Helena, but not all the sites took data each day, meaning he had to use standard atmospheric to do altitude corrections.

When Vass plugged in the accumulated degree days, the climatology data and the amount of body that hadnt decomposed into the formula, the estimated date range for Crites' killing was determined to be between July 2 and July 12, 2011.

The bottom line here is that if we use the maximum time of death according to site one, were off 4.8 days from when the state alleges Crites was killed, said special prosecutor and former County Attorney Leo Gallagher. ... And 14.9 days with respect to the minimum amount of time.

Gallagher brought up that the climate is not the same in Montana compared to Tennessee, where a lot of this forensic research was conducted. He cited some studies that contradicted the constant of 1,285 accumulated degree days being the time it takes for soft tissue to fully decompose in climates like Canada and Arizona.

I do agree in one aspect that extremes in temperature, extremely hot or extremely cold, could in fact create inaccurate formula-based methodology for the results, but the extremes were not present in this case, Vass said.

The defense also brought in a certified digital forensic examiner to call into question previous testimony from a state witness. Joseph Sierra was contacted by the defense in fall 2022 to work on historical cellular data from Crites case.

Defense attorney Juli Price questioned the reliability of the program Trax to conduct historical cellphone site analysis that was used by founder of Cellx Analytics, Michael Fegley, who testified for the state on June 7.

Sierra said that Trax is similar in that it uses call detail records, a cell tower list to identify location of the cell towers and directionality; however, he noted the program might take things too far when it provides an estimated footprint of a cell tower to see how much it may cover.

In reality, (estimated footprint) is not from the carrier, said Sierra. Its utilizing outside sources to get that information and to everyone Ive ever worked with, weve never been provided an answer as to where those sources are from.

Sierra utilizes the software CellHawk for his work, which he said gives him the base layer information and an error report as to what issues are found in a record.

Looking at the raw data, I can then verify that what Im seeing in the cleaned up version, is correct, Sierra said. ... Again the beamwidth is chosen by Verizon, how were they able to estimate these hand-offs or 120 degree roughly beamwidths if not provided by the carrier, so theres nothing to verify, which to me is forensically flawed.

Sierra did analysis from June 25 to June 30, 2011, on cellphone records for Ford, his wife Debbie Ford, Crites and Turk Road neighbors John Mehan and Katy Wessel, Marc and Gloria Flora, and Dennis Shaw and Linda Koontz.

Sierra stated that it didnt matter what cell tower a phone connected to in or around Helena because a location couldnt be pinned down. If true, cell tower information would no longer be as relevant to the case, such as Fords phone pinging off the Wolf Creek cell tower a little before 1 p.m. on June 26, 2011, and then pinging twice off the MacDonald Pass cell tower around 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

In reality, with tower ranges that high, we cant really decipher a general location because the general location is Helena, Montana, and the surrounding area for any relevant hits, said Sierra. We see activity from all custodians pretty much on all these towers that have been provided.

Attention was called to a detail on Crites phone record at 8:24 a.m. on June 28, 2011 -- a call was answered from Marc Floras number for 21 seconds that pinged a cell tower near Montana City based on its longitude and latitude, noted Sierra. Crites was alleged to have disappeared on June 26, 2011.

The only way a tower location is recorded is that the device is on, and a connection between the device and the handset is picked up. If the phone is off, you cant get historical location, live location or CVR location, cell site information.

Mehan, who was an original suspect in Crites killing, was called by the defense and took the Fifth on day 11 of the trial.

The trial continues Friday at 9 a.m. in Lewis and Clark County First Judicial District Court Judge Mike Menahans courtroom.
Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen on Friday pleaded not guilty in an alleged rear-ending accident in Helena earlier this week.

According to the citation filed in Helena Municipal Court, Arntzen was following another vehicle too closely Monday morning when turning west on Highway 12 from Centennial Drive at an intersection with a flashing yellow light. Arntzen's vehicle, a 2022 red Jeep, struck the first vehicle when it stopped at the intersection, the citation states.

A Helena police officer cited Arntzen with following too closely, a state traffic violation carrying a fine of not less than $10 or more than $100 for a first offense.

Arntzen did not immediately return a call seeking comment late Friday. A spokesperson at the Office of Public Instruction did not return an email seeking comment by press time.

It's been just over a year since Arntzen was cited for illegally passing a school bus in Helena. In that case, the school bus was picking up children and had its red lights flashing and stop arm down, the Helena Independent Record reported. Arntzen pleaded no contest in that case and was fined $135.

Arntzen is in her seventh year in the top post at OPI and termed out at the end of 2024.

On Tuesday, Arntzen's political strategist said she would "take a very serious look" at launching a bid for the eastern congressional district in the case U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale, a Republican, chose to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester in 2024.
PHOTOS: Kiwanis Pancake Days in 24 images

Kiwanis Pancake Days  Feb. 29, March 1  Bloomington Center for Performing Arts  Story by Kevin Barlow  Photos by Lewis Marien

The annual Kiwanis Pancake Days is a beloved community tradition that not only feeds thousands of hungry residents, but is also the longest running community service project in Kiwanis International.

More than 75,000 buttermilk pancakes prepared on specially designed griddles are served over the two-day event, said Mike Laffey, the co-chairman of the event. The event is estimated to raise $15,000.

Proceeds from this event and the Kiwanis Mothers Day Flower Sales help provide funds for up to 100 kids to Camp Limberlost at East Bay Camp at Lake Bloomington.

These are kids who for one reason or another, need a camp to help them, Laffey said. We also provide help for other programs for local kids including Harmony Park, The Baby Fold, Salvation Army and Childrens Miracle Network.
DECATUR  The Decatur Fire Department was dispatched at approximately 11:15 p.m. Thursday to a report of a house fire at 1536 N. College St.

According to Fire Chief Jeff Abbott, the first fire crews arrived to find the front porch of the residence with heavy fire and smoke. The fire had extended into the first and second floors.

"Fire crews made an aggressive fire attack with a handline starting from the exterior of the structure, then made their way into the residence to complete extinguishment," the chief stated in a news release.

Other fire crews assisted by searching for occupants, ventilating the structure and securing the utilities. The occupants were not home at the time of the fire. No firefighters were injured.

Firefighters cleared the scene at 3:20 a.m.

The cause of the fire, which officials suspect is an arson, is under investigation by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: A look back at Decatur firefighters through the years 
CLINTON  To become a resident inspector for Clinton's nuclear power plant, Arsalan Muneeruddin had to complete a two-year training program where he learned the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's inspection process and received hands-on experience.

But for candidates to even be considered for this program, a college education in nuclear science or relevant military experience typically is required.

The commission, an independent agency created by Congress in 1974, regulates commercial nuclear power plants and other uses of nuclear materials. Muneeruddin said it gets lost in the public eye that there are two NRC inspectors at every plant in the country who are ensuring that the facilities are operating safely.

"You can't know every single little thing, and so every day, you're getting something new, you're always learning and that's another thing I love about my job," Muneeruddin said. "You're always on your feet."

Muneeruddin and other NRC representatives visited Clinton City Hall on Wednesday to talk with residents about safety at the plant, which entered service in 1987 and employs roughly 500 people. They also addressed the commission's role in the plant owners' efforts to get a renewed license that would run through 2047.

The Clinton plant recently received a green performance indicator during a 2022 safety assessment, which means it had a very low number of significant safety findings.

Plants are given one of four performance indicators:

green means the plant has very low safety significance;

white means the facility has low to moderate safety concerns;

yellow means there are substantial safety concerns;

red indicates a high safety significance.

Jeffery Steward, senior resident inspector for Clinton's power plant, said a site's performance is evaluated on a quarterly and annual basis. If a plant scored low on its annual assessment, it could be subject to additional inspections.

"If (a plant) were to get a white or a yellow finding, then they would be into the regulatory response column (and) they would be subject to additional inspections," Steward said. "That's not the case here in Clinton."

In order to remain objective in their duties, NRC inspectors may work at a specific plant for a maximum of seven years.

"We can be friendly with the licensee, but we're not allowed to be friends with the licensee," Muneeruddin said.

Although there are two on-site inspectors in each plant in the country, NRC is in the process of trying to recruit younger employees to replace its retiring staff.

Steward said the NRC brought on about 400 people last year and is hoping to recruit another 300 to 400 in the next few years.

Constellation Energy, which owns the power plant, is trying to extend its reactor's license, which is scheduled to expired in 2027, for another 20 years.

Steward said as part of the renewal process, NRC will review the license and evaluate the facility to make sure it's structurally equipped to last another 20 years.

Robert Ruiz, an NRC branch chief, added that if the license renewal was approved, the facility would enter into a period of extended operation, which carries additional requirements to monitor the site's infrastructure and systems.

Constellation also is in the process of renewing the operating license of the Dresden nuclear plant in Morris, Illinois. The company estimates the extension of these two licenses would provide enough carbon-free energy to power the equivalent of more than two million homes.

Clinton produces electricity for the equivalent of about 800,000 homes while Dresden powers the equivalent of more than 1.3 million homes in northern Illinois, according to Constellation.

A look back at the Clinton Power Station Illinois Power Company Work on the reactor SECONDARY Clinton power station Winter lake Aerial Crane boom Aerial Construction continues Employees Rogh road Nuclear fuel bundle Tom Plunkett Uranium shipment Emergency operating center Workers Reactor pressure vessel Generator room Fuel rod simulation Control room Fuel assemblies Clinton nuclear power plant Eye on quality Turbine-generator Groundwork Water treatment plant Reactor pressure vessel Clinton power plant Ogee of the dam Power plant construction Earthen dam Illinois Power Reactor under construction Reactor Clinton power plant On-site storage Storm damage 1980 Concrete mixing Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety Radiation readings Radiation scanning
DECATUR  The Powers-Jarvis mansion, the spectacular Decatur address that always seems to be left home alone without anyone with pockets deep enough to take care of it, is going back on the auction block again.

Bidding opens Monday and is listed to start at $45,000 and will run until Wednesday. Maybe the second time will be the charm.

A previous auction earlier this month saw the 7,700-square foot and more than 100-year-old home knocked down for $301,750. But the winning bidder, IGBY International Ministries of Decatur, a religious group, ran into a problem with is financing and had to pull out of the deal.

The auction will once again be handled by ServiceLink Auction.

Auction rules stress that buyers must have adequate funds or access to adequate funds and will be required to pay an earnest money deposit of five percent of the winning bid within 24 hours of the sale.

But Renee Sommer, the Managing Broker and owner of County Line Realty, the local listing broker, said buyers will have the normal month or so period after that to complete closing and the sale.

She said interest is already hotting up and the auction is getting noticed. Weve had calls from all over the world about this property, she said. Were really had quite a bit of international interest in it.

The trick has always been finding a buyer able to invest in the place for the long term. Thats a hope that has proved pretty elusive since the mansion was sold at yet another auction in 2005 for $400,000. The winning bidders were the Grason family who later fell on hard times and saw banks foreclose on the building amid several prolonged court battles.

Some of their family members have launched a gofundme appeal to raise money to buy a house in Alabama where the current occupants can move to so they can be near family. An online post for the gofundme account  https://gofund.me/1cebe267  said the couple want to leave but, suffering from ill health and other problems, have not had anywhere to go.

There have also been court battles and even a federal lawsuit filed over the mansions water supply being shut off, but Decatur City Council Deputy Manager Jon Kindseth told the Herald & Review Thursday the water was now back on.

That was done at the request of the owner, the bank in this case, Kindseth explained.

And while the the five bedroom, five bath mansion  complete with its own ballroom  may now have running water, it wont have any potential bidders running through the halls. The existing tenants remain in place and so auction participants wont be able to tour before they bid, and must content themselves with walking around the faded grandeur of the dilapidated exterior, which sits on 1.3 acres at 357 West Decatur Street.

Sommer has got her fingers crossed that the conclusion of the latest auction on Wednesday will end the home alone isolation and open a bright new chapter in the mansions 113 year history.

We are hoping the property will go to someone who will restore it properly and enjoy it, she said. That is our biggest hope.

7 of Decatur's most historic homes John H. Culver home Linn House Oglesby Mansion A.E. Staley Residence Eli Ulery house James Millikin Home Powers Mansion
DECATUR  A jury took just less than four hours to convict Rahiam A. Shabazz of a home invasion that terrorized and brutalized a Decatur family.

The trial began Tuesday and jurors came back with their verdict Thursday afternoon, finding the 23-year-old defendant guilty of four charges of home invasion. They also convicted him of two counts of armed robbery and one charge each of aggravated battery and armed violence.

Shabazz was also acquitted on one charge of aggravated battery.

The charges date to the night of Nov. 20, 2018, when a gang committed a series of armed home invasions in Decatur. One of the houses targeted was in the 400 block of North 33rd Street and saw a grandfather beaten to the floor as the criminals demanded to know where he kept money and guns in the house.

Special Prosecutor Kate Kurtz said the gang then turned their attention to the victims 6-year-old grandson. The boy had a gun barrel shoved into his mouth while threats were made to execute him if the home invaders werent given the loot they wanted.

Police had been alerted however and, as the criminals fled the scene, they were chased down and intercepted. Shabazz had been sniffed out by a Decatur police dog while hiding under a vehicle in a nearby yard with a stolen gun and money lying on the ground next to him.

Defense attorney Susan Moorehead had tried to pick apart the prosecution case, asking the jurors to carefully look at all the evidence and decide how much of it supported the guilt of Shabazz.

Kurtz had argued that while there was no direct witness identification that put Shabazz at the scene, the rest of the evidence against him was overwhelming.

After his conviction, the defendant remains in the custody of the Macon County Jail and is due to be sentenced July 27; the range of penalties he faces make it likely Shabazz will spend most of the rest of his life in prison.

Of the other defendants in the case, Byron D. Theus, 23, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated kidnapping and a charge of home invasion in August and was sentenced to 33 years in prison. And in October, Dondrion L. Austin, 23, also received a 33-year sentence after admitting charges of home invasion and two counts of aggravated kidnapping.

Another man charged in connection with the crimes, Raymond D. Graham, 27, was sent to prison for six years in April of 2021 after pleading guilty to a charge of home invasion.

A fifth defendant, Mikhail D. Gordon, 21, is due in court July 27 for a status hearing on charges including home invasion, armed robbery, armed violence and aggravated battery.

2023 mugshots from the Herald & Review Lourash Hirstein Phillip Gehrken Joseph A. Williams Jetrevius O. Jarrett Edwards King-Woods Wilson Derrickson Colby J. Park
As I told you last week, the staid and conservative Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicagos latest and more liberal ideas on taxes and crime reduction have caused some folks to sit up and take notice, including Illinois Senate President Don Harmon.

I think that the Civic Committee is approaching major problems with a very different perspective, Harmon said.

Harmon suggested the business groups recently hired president Derek Douglas as a possible reason for the change. Douglas is an African American who worked for the Obama administration as Special Assistant to the President for Urban Affairs, and then the University of Chicago as Vice President for Civic Engagement and External Affairs.

Harmon also seemed impressed with how the Civic Committee was willing to put itself in the firing line, particularly on the crime issue and its insistence that Chicago must institute police reforms.

Crains Chicago Business and others have whacked the influential groups crime plan, which relies primarily on violence prevention, targeted investment and hiring, because it didnt specifically call for hiring more police officers. The group wants to reduce Chicagos homicide numbers below 400 a year within five years. Last year, 695 homicide victims were tallied by the citys police department.

A recent Crains editorial ended by saying that if the Civic Committee is going to issue a business-minded prescription on issues of law enforcement and reform  and if it is to truly reflect the sentiments not only of downtown businesspeople but their counterparts in neighborhoods hit hardest by violence  then it should also call for a fully staffed police force.

The Civic Committees most prominent member supporting its crime-reduction plan is billionaire James Crown, and he told me he didnt see the editorializing as hostility.

Instead, Crown said, its something we have seen along the way, which is people have got in their heads that this is the problem or this is what we need. And it's usually a very short phrase or answer. The problem is guns. The problem is jobs. The problem is the schools.

The frustration we have had in those conversations is theyre right, but it's not the whole answer. It requires many elements, many factors, some of which are immediate, some of which will take years before we have really addressed this problem satisfactorily.

As far as the specific criticism about additional police hiring, Crown said, There are people who will look at the understaffing of the police department relative to open positions or history and say that is a problem. And it might well be, and we're very supportive of the police department and want effective policing, and we may well join in the observation that Crains has been promoting. But there also is evidence that police departments with many fewer officers per 100,000 residents are very successful. Why?

Good question.

The Civic Committees President Derek Douglas was also asked about the Crains editorial and related attacks on WTTWs Chicago Tonight program: We were a little disappointed to see that, because the suggestion was as if we were against adding police, or increasing police, which we never said. What we said was the approach we want to take is to sit down with the leadership of CPD, sit down with the city, understand what is their strategy, what are their needs, how much do they want to grow and get behind that. So as opposed to us dictating, you need to do X, Y and Z, it was more of a collaborative approach to hear from the police themselves, Here's what we'd like to have, we'd like to add more of this, we'd like to add more of that, and then have the business community find ways to support it. So, it's just about the way you come at the issue.

Even with the somewhat conciliatory approach, its clear that things have changed.

Harmon is right. The Civic Committee has evolved from a standard businessperson group issuing standard businessperson demands which echoed standard pro-business publications, editorial pages and pundits, to taking a much more nuanced, holistic approach to actually solving very difficult, perhaps intractable problems.

Douglas, I think, said it best when he talked about a collaborative approach that focused on listening. There are way too many unilateral screamers on the crime issue in particular, and far too few people who want to take the time to listen, learn and collaboratively find a path forward.

While I dont know how long this approach will last (the Civic Committees membership being what it is), I wish them luck.
BRISTOL, Tenn.  It didnt take long after the unveiling of a Fast Charge station at The Pinnacle for a North Carolina couple to plug in.

This is the first time weve come up this way, and because of this charging station, we will be back, said Quinn Werthauer, from Charlotte.

The electric vehicle charging station that officials showed off on Thursday is part of the Tennessee Valley Authoritys Fast Charge Network.

This charging location does more than just charge vehicles. It connects Bristol, Tennessee, to the Fast Charging Network and plays an important role in putting our region on the leading edge of the new electric economy, said Erin Downs, board chair of Bristol Tennessee Essential Services, in her comments during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

As people travel south on Interstate 81, we are now the first Fast Charge location they will come to in the state of Tennessee, Downs said.

Fast Charge TN is a partnership among BTES, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, the Seven States Power Corporation and TVA, aimed at enabling long-distance EV travel throughout the TVAs seven-state service area as part of the Fast Charge Network.

The Werthauers were the first EV drivers to use the newly installed Fast Charge TN station at the Pinnacle, and expressed how excited they are to see more EV charging stations being installed, which will allow them to explore the region further.

Were looking forward to the time where there will be as many charging stations as gas stations or close to it, you know, and then it wont matter any more, Quinn Werthauer said. But now, you have to plan carefully, and you have to have a plan B in case your charging station is not working or its unavailable.

Quinn said charging an EV is similar to charging your phone.

Its just like a cell phone if youre very, very low on your battery, say you have 20% of charge left. You can get up to 80% in about 40 minutes, Quinn said. Most of the time, they have these charging stations near restaurants or malls, so very often youll stop, and youll eat and come back out, and youre ready to go.

Werthauer also highlighted that in his experience, once you start driving an EV, you just never want to go back.

Holy cow, I mean, its hard to go back once youve been in one! Instantaneous torque, I mean, you hit the go pedal, and youre gone, he said. Its so fast and quiet.

The TVA envisions a Fast Charge TN station every 50 miles within their seven-state service area.

This is a way to connect our seven-state region, and the way were going to do that is every 50 miles, wherever you go on major highways and interstates in our footprint, youre going to encounter a Fast Charging Network site similar to this, and thats going to enable folks to feel comfortable taking that road trip across the valley, said Ray Knotts, Senior Manager of the TVAs energy services and programs.

Knotts highlighted that not only do EVs benefit individual drivers economically, but through the TVAs Fast Charge Network, the local economy will also benefit.

It costs less to fuel your EV, costs less to maintain your EV, meaning drivers have money in their pockets to reinvest in their local community, Knott said. When you fuel at this charging station, the money stays here with BTES and is reinvested in this community, and we think that local benefit is tremendous.

Knotts also emphasized that transportation is the number one source of air pollution in the country, as well as in the TVAs service area, and highlighted the environmental benefits of driving EVs.

When you drive an EV and use TVA and BTES power, its cleaner than most in the nation, Knotts said. You have a low-carbon solution to fueling your car and making the air quality better right here in your community.
BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn.  The Sullivan County, Tennessee, Commission approved the first reading of the countys 2023-2024 fiscal year budget.

The spending plan, presented at the Sullivan County Commission meeting on Thursday, totals $231,879,670.

Larry Bailey, director of the Sullivan County finance department, highlighted the work that went into putting together the budget, and told the commissioners to reach out to his office with any questions that they have regarding the document.

I expect you will find a bunch of things that you want to question, some things that we may have overlooked, or we need to go back and relook through, and as you find those things, let us know, and we will, Bailey said. I would say that we got we moved rather quickly trying to get this thing out so we could get it approved by June 30 and our budget approved by July 1, so people know what they got to work with.

The proposed 2023-2024 budget includes an $82,947,466 general fund, an $89,919,142 general purpose school fund, a $20,372,524 general debt service fund and the $15,129,858 highway fund.

The total solid waste fund is $2,433,817, the ambulance service fund for emergency medical services is $9,873,991, and $165,000 is in the drug control fund.

Also included in the proposed budget is a $5,177,596 school cafeteria fund, as well as a $235,896 Discovery Academy fund, a $1,340,400 self-insurance fund, and a $699,000 employee benefits fund.

Sullivan County Commissioner Darlene Calton, vice-chair of the Budget Committee, highlighted that the property tax for Sullivan County residents would continue to be 2.4.

We are going to stay at the same property tax rate, Calton said. Thats something to be proud of because counties around us have had tax increases. A lot of them have.

The Commission will have a special called meeting on June 29, to vote on the budget.

A public hearing will be announced before June 29 in order for the public to provide input on the Sullivan County Commissions 2023-2204 fiscal budget.
A Conover man has been sentenced to more than three years in prison and ordered to pay nearly $1.7 million in restitution for embezzling from his Asheville-based employer.

Danny Dale Tremble, 49, pleaded guilty to federal charges of wire fraud and filing a false tax return in February, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolinas office.

Tremble was an accountant for Azalea Management & Leasing in Asheville. Between 2013 and 2021, he used at least $1.35 million of company money to cover personal credit card payments and to purchase items such as a boat, camper and pickup truck, according to court documents.

He wired money for many of these items directly from company accounts, according to the court documents.

Tremble also did not disclose the embezzled funds on tax returns. The amount of the unpaid taxes is $288,716, according to court documents.

In addition to the prison time and restitution, he will also be on supervised release for three years.

Court documents and voting records indicate Tremble lived in Buncombe County before recently relocating to Conover.
The transcendentalist movement, which emerged in the mid-1830s early nineteenth century, had a straightforward idea at its core. The New England transcendentalism adherents argued that every person possessed the light of Divine truth and should look within himself or herself to find it, rather than simply conform to whatever the powers that be wanted them to think. But from that notion of spiritual self-reliance, a lot of other ideas blossomed, from reverence for nature to the view that everyone in America was entitled to freedom and equality. That led transcendentalists to become an important part of other activist movements in America that sought to abolish slavery and achieve women's suffrage.

It was inspired in part by thinkers on the other side of the Atlantic, like the new Biblical Criticism in Germany touted in the writings of Herder and English and German Romanticism. The actual name of the movement "transcendental," came from the Critique of Practical Reason (1788) by the German philosopher Immanuel Kant. Emerson was a great admirer of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, both of whom he met when he traveled to Europe and helped shape his future writings. Frederick Henry Hedge, a Unitarian minister who studied in Germany and knew the German language well brought German philosophy to Americans through Hedge's Club to begin discussions of current topics through a German philosophers lens.

Advertisement

These emerging ideas eventually transferred over to the eastern United States, "Transcendentalism became the first distinctly American philosophy, because it fused several different currents, all of which converged only here in the U.S.," Laura Dassow Walls explains in an email. She's the William P. and Hazel B. White Professor of English at the University of Notre Dame, and author of the acclaimed 2017 biography, "Henry David Thoreau: A Life."

"So, even though the underlying philosophy first emerged in Europe, it was in America that it took hold as a philosophy one could actually commit to and live by," she says. Emerson urged in his essay "The American Scholar" for Americans to stop looking to Europe for inspiration and imitation and to be themselves.
While data points indicate that the climate is changing, we dont know exactly what that means for agricultural production. While some experts see the future with a rosier view, others believe detrimental or even catastrophic climate change could affect agriculture in the years ahead.

During an Illinois-Indiana Climate Series webinar, Trent Ford, a state climatologist with the University of Illinois, explained that for the last 40 years, the climate has been conducive for high agricultural production of crops such as corn, soybeans, and produce. Technological advances have been the main driver of this long-term trend, he added.

But, as the climate continues to change, what will the future bring?

Ford noted that Illinois, for example, has become warmer and wetter, and this trend looks to continue. He said the magnitude of climate change will be driven by human emissions, and that will determine the extent of the impact on agriculture.

The climatologist highlighted several ways a warmer and wetter climate may affect crop production. The first was the length of the growing season. He noted that the growing season in Illinois has extended 10 to 20 days in the last 50 years. This results from both an earlier last freeze in the spring and a later first freeze in the fall.

An earlier spring can lessen issues from delayed planting and emergence. On the flip side, Ford said a longer growing season can result in more weed pressure.

Overall warmer temperatures, especially in the fall, translate to warmer soil temperatures. The extension of warm soils in the fall reduces the window of opportunity for fall fertilizer application, and manure and fertilizer applications made on soil that is too warm can result in nutrient losses. The positive side of this trend is warmer soil temperatures in the spring that allow for earlier planting if precipitation is right and the opportunity for late-planted crops to mature in the fall.

It is not only longer, but the growing season is warmer, too. Ford said we are likely to see a higher frequency of hot days and warm nights during the summer and fall. Those warm nights in particular help add to the heat stress crops experience, and in turn, heat stress can impact silking, reproduction, and grain fill. Hotter summers also worsen disease, insect, and weed stress, compounding the effects of climate change. Ford noted that hot weather elevates the risk of heat exposure for farmers and farm workers, making it a public health issue as well. The warmer summers also feature more humidity, which can exacerbate disease pressure and heat impacts.

Flash drought is another emerging issue he mentioned. Warm summers induce more evaporation, pushing areas into drought conditions faster, Ford explained. High evaporative demand and depleted soil moisture lead to crop stress, which can be made worse in areas with poor soil health and low water holding capacity.

Wetter springs caused by climate change have probably been one of the biggest impacts to agriculture so far, Ford shared. Spring has gotten wetter and is expected to continue getting wetter at a faster rate than other seasons, he noted, and the overall moisture and intense precipitation have been problematic. In particular, spring fieldwork can be delayed due to excessively wet soils, and fieldwork done in wet fields can result in soil compaction and uneven germination and emergence.

Overall, intense precipitation, particularly in the spring and summer, has also been on the rise. Ford shared that in Illinois St. Clair County, the likelihood of getting at least 4.5 inches of rain in a single day has doubled since 1989. Heavy rainfalls can lead to standing water, crop inundation, soil erosion, and nutrient runoff.

Climate change makes important decisions that much more important, Ford summarized. He advised farmers to make careful decisions when it comes to pest management, nutrient application and timing, cropping rotations, soil conservation practices, and more.

To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com.

(c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2023

June 12, 2023


The Illinois General Assembly offers the Google Translate service for visitor convenience. In no way should it be considered accurate as to the translation of any content herein.

Visitors of the Illinois General Assembly website are encouraged to use other translation services available on the internet.

The English language version is always the official and authoritative version of this website.

NOTE: To return to the original English language version, select the "Show Original" button on the Google Translate menu bar at the top of the window.
Cagle graduates from U.S. Naval Academy

ANNAPOLIS, Md.  Lance Cagle of Concord, NC successfully completed four years of challenging academic, physical and professional military training, graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Cyber Operations with a minor in Chinese and a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Cagle is a graduate of Central Cabarrus High School.

At the academy he was the operations officer for the Cyber Security Team and competed in many capture the flag and cyber security competitions. He was Platoon Commander and Wardroom Officer for 25th Company. Lance also created the Army Navy spirit videos and was part of the Navy Beats DJ group.

Parker named to Troy chancellors listTROY, AL  Landon Parker of Concord has been named to the chancellors list at Troy University for the spring semester/Term 4 of the 2022-2023 academic year.

The chancellors list honors full-time undergraduate students who are registered for at least 12 semester hours and who earn a grade point average of 4.0.

Students named to Mars Hill deans list

MARS HILL  The following local students are among 332 Mars Hill University students named on the Honor Roll of the Academic Dean at the end of the spring 2023 semester.

To qualify for the deans list, students must earn a grade-point average of 3.5 on a minimum of 12 semester hours, and carry no grade below a C.

Students are:

China Grove  Noah Miles Steedley.

Concord  Landon Cole Hon eycutt, Brennen Robert Jones.

Mount Pleasant  Sara Grace Cook.

Wofford announces deans list

SPARTANBURG, SC  Dr. Timothy Schmitz, provost of Wofford College, has announced deans list students for the spring 2023 semester.

Students listed are:

Charlotte  Josephine Thillet.

Concord  Collier Leatherman, Michael Leatherman, Gracie Parker.

Davidson  Jacob Kwiatkowski.

Huntersville  Annie Heisel, William Mastrone.

Matthews  Henry McArthur, Darien Pisacano.

Mooresville  Remington Linker.

Wofford College, established in 1854, is a four-year, residential liberal arts college located in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Herrick named to DePauw deans list

GREENCASTLE, Ind.  Kendall Herrick from Concord has been named to DePauw Universitys Spring 2023 deans list.

The deans list recognizes students who achieve a semester grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
CONCORD  Libraries are changing, and Cabarrus County is changing with them.

Long gone are the days of stuffy, quiet spaces. Walk into a Cabarrus County Public Library and youll likely be greeted by a childrens storytime session or a community group meeting rather than a shhh! from behind an intimidating desk.

The county currently operates five library branches, with new Mt. Pleasant and Afton Ridge locations planned as combination libraries and active living centers.

The mixed-use facilities will house all the resources Cabarrus libraries offer, including a wide variety of books, information, materials, programs and resources along with the total wellness services offered by the countys active living centers.

Libraries are one place in our community where everyone is welcome, said Library System Director Melanie Holles. Library staff love helping people and are committed to being open and welcoming. These new combined facilities will allow us the opportunity to connect more people in our community with our services.

Active Living and Parks Director Londa Strong agrees.

This cooperative effort will result in visitors having more amenities to utilize, Strong said. We envision grandparents enjoying the active living center while their grandchildren are participating in an activity at the library  its a win-win for all.

Cabarrus County Library and Active Living Center at Mt. Pleasant and Virginia Foil Park

Sitework of the Cabarrus County Library and Active Living Center at Mt. Pleasant and Virginia Foil Park is expected to begin in September 2023, with an anticipated opening in late fall of 2024.

The roughly 20,000-square-foot facility will be located at 1111 N. Washington St., near Gordon Funeral Home of Mt. Pleasant and Cabarrus Family Medicine. When visitors walk through the main entrance, theyll be greeted by an informational reception area directing patrons.

The current design for Virginia Foil Park features a playground, three ball fields, restrooms, storage area and concession stand, with several other amenities being considered.

The current Mt. Pleasant Active Living Center is owned by the town of Mt. Pleasant, which has agreed to let the county continue their lease of the building as the Mt. Pleasant LunchPlus Club site. This will allow the county to continue providing nutritious meals to qualifying Cabarrus County residents ages 60 and above.

For more information on Cabarrus County LunchPlus Clubs, visit www.cabarruscounty.us/Government/Departments/Human-Services/Adult-and-Family-Services/LunchPlus-Clubs.

New library and active center at Afton Ridge

The Cabarrus County Library and Active Living Center at Afton Ridge will serve a rapidly growing part of Cabarrus. Construction is expected to start in October 2023, with a projected opening of January 2025.

Located at 6095 Glen Afton Blvd. in Concord, near the Afton Ridge Shopping Center, the roughly 40,000-square-foot space will welcome visitors much like Mt. Pleasant. The main entrance will open to a lobby with an informational reception area directing patrons.

The new space will offer a modern aesthetic, while efficiently providing residents the services they seek.

The Mt. Pleasant and Afton Ridge facilities are the future, said County Manager Mike Downs. They allow the county to better utilize large gathering spaces while fueling the minds and bodies of residents of all ages.

The countys Fiscal Year 24 (FY24) Recommended Budget includes several adjustments to support these new and expanded operations, including up to $17.5 million to complete the upfit for the new Afton Ridge facility through the Community Investment Fund.

The Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners will vote on the FY24 recommended budget during their June 19 board meeting.

Cabarrus libraries through the years

As with many community endeavors, library operations and funding have been a partnership among the county, municipalities and the public.

The current building of the Concord branch opened in February 1977. At the time it was owned and operated by the city of Concord, with Cabarrus County covering about 50% of the annual operating expenses.

In planning for the building, the mayor and aldermen of Concord announced 100% support for the new $1 million library, as well as a commitment to not use tax increases or bonds for funding.

The Canon Foundation pledged $500,000 and the mayor stated the remainder of the cost would come from federal revenue sharing. A group of residents  Concord-Cabarrus Friends of the Library  was formed in 1974 to raise additional money and support for the building.

In 1983, the North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $50,000 to build a public library in Kannapolis. The funds were placed in an interest-bearing account for a future date. In June of that same year, Cabarrus-Kannapolis Friends of the Library was formed to support development.

In 1984, Cabarrus County Commissioners voted to earmark $600,000 over the next two years to build the facility, prompted by the availability of a challenge grant that would provide $500,000 for the project if the remainder of the estimated $1.277 million cost was committed.

The Cannon Mills Company donated the land and architectural services, and the Cannon Trust provided the challenge grant. Library planners projected the General Assembly would allocate another $100,000 in the June 1984 budget session to complete the required amount.

The Kannapolis branch officially opened Jan. 9, 1986, making a Cabarrus County multi-library system a reality.

In keeping with the partnership tradition started by the Concord and Kannapolis branches, the Mt. Pleasant branch opened in August of 1996 with funding from the county, Friends of the Mt. Pleasant Public Library, private donations and the town of Mt. Pleasant.

Friends of the Mt. Pleasant Library raised $325,000 to build, furnish and landscape the library. County Commissioners committed to accept the library as a gift once built, assuming operating costs and agreeing to buy the librarys collection for $100,000.

The land, then worth $30,000, was donated. The Cannon Foundation pledged up to $100,000 as a matching challenge, pledging one dollar for every two dollars raised from other sources. The town of Mt. Pleasant pledged $65,000 for the matching challenge, and $25,000 for furnishings. The county committed $17,000 from a state grant.

The Harrisburg Library opened in July 2001. Harrisburg Friends of the Library raised $1.3 million to build and furnish the facility, with the county funding operating costs and collections. Of the money raised by Friends of the Library, $150,000 was from the Canon Foundation, $528,415 was from a federal block grant allocated by the town of Harrisburg, and $50,000 was from the town for architectural fees. The land was also acquired by the town of Harrisburg.

The countys newest branch, Midland, opened in January 2019, after operating Mobile Mondays on the first and third Mondays of the month since January 2017.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Midland branch, Midland Magic (a group of locals who put together a community festival with venders, carnival rides, fireworks, bands and more) presented the Friends of the Midland Library with a $10,000 donation.

At the time, one community services coordinator supervised the branch, working with two part-time assistants. A senior library assistant floater position was added to the library system in 2020 and covers Midland frequently. In January 2021, one full-time position was added to the staff and hours were extended.

To meet the continuing increased demand for services at the Midland branch, two new positions and an increase in part-time position hours for the proposed schedule expansion is recommended in the countys FY24 Recommended Budget.

Plan your next visit

The Concord, Harrisburg and Kannapolis Branches currently operate during the following dates and times:

Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Mt. Pleasant Branch currently operates during the following dates and times:

Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

And, the Midland Branch currently operates during the following dates and times:

Tuesday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Through Aug. 31, the Library System is hosting its 2023 Summer Reading Program. This years theme, All Together Now, promotes community and togetherness for all ages. Cabarrus residents can log time spent reading and participating in a variety of age-appropriate literary activities like reading, games, discussion and story development.

To participate, visit a Cabarrus County library branch to register for a library card or make sure your existing card is up to date. Then sign up for your Beanstack account at cabarruscounty.beanstack.com/reader365.

Reading logs are available at all five Cabarrus library branches, or online from the countys Summer Reading Program website.

Visit www.cabarruscounty.us/Government/Departments/Library or follow the librarys Facebook page @CabarrusCountyLibrary to stay up to date on library events, offerings and news.

The Concord Active Living Center currently operates during the following dates and times:

Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The Mt. Pleasant Active Living Center currently operates Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visit www.cabarruscounty.us/Government/Departments/Active-Living-and-Parks or follow Active Living and Parks Facebook page @CabCoALP to stay up to date on classes, events, programs and more.
Postcard

Kara and Andy thought theyd be able to find community in Chicago, the big city, and they went there partly for its diversity: they wanted to be in a place that was less white. But it was so expensive to live there, it meant they had to work a lot, and it seemed like everyone around them was stressed, so they decided to leave, and go to the small town in southern Indiana where Kara grew up: Paoli. Population 3,666. Its a whole lot cheaper to live there, which means they dont have to spend all their time working for other people. They bought an old factory building that used to make tomato products and now they live in it. Kara teaches yoga there. Andy makes bagels that he sells on Saturdays. They host lecture series there. Theyve been instrumental in putting on a festival for the town. Theyve been busy, in other words. This is a story about making community in a small town. Its also a postcard from Paoli, a photo taken from one angle, with a fairly narrow lens. Which means there are at least twelve other ways of looking at Paoli, Indiana.

Poetry

After the postcard from Paoli, we have a short (but great) poem. It's actually selections from a poem: Michael Luis Dauro, reading from his poem The Woman With No Name, originally featured on WFIU's Poets Weave.

Credits

Inner States is produced and edited by me, Alex Chambers, with support from Violet Baron, Eoban Binder, Mark Chilla, Avi Forrest, LuAnn Johnson, Sam Schemenauer, Payton Whaley, and Kayte Young. Our Executive Producer is John Bailey.

Our theme song is by Amy Oelsner and Justin Vollmar. We have additional music from the artists at Universal Production Music and Ramon Monras-Sender.

Special thanks this week to Kara Schmidt and Andy Gerber of the Tomato Products Company, as well as their friends and guests, Heather Nichols, Patricia Basile, Darren and Espri Bender-Beauregard, Rosemary Park, and Rosemarys good friend Lauren. And a special thanks to Gabriel Piser, of the Indiana University Center for Rural Engagement, for helping to make this happen.
A number of US Federal Government agencies have been breached through a vulnerability in the secure managed file transfer software MOVEit Transfer, a report claims.

CNN said the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency had informed it that it was providing aid to these agencies.

As iTWire reported on 6 June, the Cl0p ransomware group was claimed to have been carrying out attacks, using this vulnerability to gain access, from 27 May onwards.

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.

The TV outlet said the US Department of Energy was among those hit but a CISA spokesperson did not offer any comments when asked who was responsible and how many agencies had been affected.

In its latest advisory about mitigating the effects of the vulnerability, Progress said it would be wise to disable all HTTP and HTTPS traffic to the MOVEit Transfer environment. The vulnerability is yet to be given a CVE number.

Elaborating, the company said:

"Modify firewall rules to deny HTTP and HTTPs traffic to MOVEit Transfer on ports 80 and 443;

"It is important to note that until HTTP and HTTPS traffic is enabled again: "Users will not be able to log on to the MOVEit Transfer web UI; "MOVEit Automation tasks that use the native MOVEit Transfer host will not work; "REST, Java and .NET APIs will not work; and "MOVEit Transfer add-in for Outlook will not work.

"SFTP and FTP/s protocols will continue to work as normal."

And the advisory added: "As a workaround, administrators will still be able to access MOVEit Transfer by using a remote desktop to access the Windows machine and then accessing https://localhost/."

Commenting on the attacks, Robert Cattanach, a partner at international law firm Dorsey & Whitney, said: "Alarm bells that started in the UK private sector, then spread to the US, are now going off throughout the Federal Government after Russian cyber criminal group Cl0p boasted online that it had exploited vulnerabilities in MOVEit file transfer software to penetrate numerous organisations, most recently and significantly many agencies in the US Government.

"The hackers continue to add victims to their dark-web list of extortion victims, and as the full scope of the supply chain exposure continues to unfold exponentially, CISA is engaging in full-time damage control.

The depth and scope of the compromise are already believed to be staggering, and making matters worse, the only thing known for certain is that the extent of the vulnerability still isnt known.

"While some federal agencies (TSA and the US State Department) were quick to assert that their systems remain secure, its a sure bet that those agencies less fortunate are scrambling to assess the full impact of the hack on their systems before they offer any public assessment of the damage.

The latest round of revelations follows a now-familiar playbook: cyber criminals uncover a software flaw, exploit it surreptitiously to avoid drawing attention, then pounce quickly on unsuspecting victims to maximize leverage before software fixes are in place. Whats unique about this hack is the apparent ability of the attackers to move laterally among connected systems of different entities, allowing them access to companies that supposedly did not even employ the defective software, meaning that the MOVEit supply chain is only the beginning, rather than the end of the compromise.

While CISA has been increasingly focused on supply chain vulnerabilities in its contingency planning and regulatory initiatives, this latest round of expanding shockwaves is sure to add new impetus to those initiatives, and influence the ongoing debates between software developers and government cyber-policy experts about who should bear the ultimate responsibility for software that proves to be defective.
COMPANY NEWS: Nozomi Networks, the leader in OT and critical infrastructure security, today announced Marene Allison is joining the companys distinguished board of advisors.

The recently retired vice president and chief information and security officer for Johnson & Johnson will support the companys efforts to strengthen cybersecurity across healthcare and other critical infrastructure sectors.

We are honoured to have Marene join Nozomi Networks board of advisors, said Nozomi Networks CEO Edgard Capdevielle. Shes a trailblazer in cybersecurity for the healthcare industry and other critical infrastructure. Her real-world experience as well as her passion for innovation and solving complex cybersecurity problems make her a valuable ally to Nozomi Networks.

Protecting the healthcare industry from a growing list of advanced cyber threats is a complex and evolving problem, Allison said. Smart technologies that challenge the norm play a critical role in defending these organisations and all critical infrastructure. Thats what attracted me to Nozomi Networks. Over the years, Ive consistently been impressed with the sophistication of Nozomi Networks solutions and in their ability to quickly problem-solve and innovate. I look forward to helping this team continue to succeed in building a secure future for healthcare organisations around the world.

Marene brings more than 20 years of experience protecting Fortune 100 companies IT and OT systems. She recently retired as vice president and chief information and security officer for Johnson & Johnson, where she was responsible for protecting the companys IT and OT systems worldwide.

Before Johnson & Johnson, she was chief security officer and vice president for Medco, the largest pharmacy benefit manager in the United States.

She served as a special agent in the FBI working on undercover drug operations in Newark, New Jersey and on terrorist bombings in San Diego.

She received her Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point and was part of the first class to include women.

She is a member of the CISA Cybersecurity Advisory Committee and is a founding member of West Point Women, currently serving on their board of directors. She has received numerous awards, including being inducted into the CSO Hall of Fame in 2022 and named a 2023 Distinguished Graduate by the West Point Association of Graduates.

About Nozomi Networks

Nozomi Networks protects the worlds critical infrastructure from cyber threats. Our platform uniquely combines network and endpoint visibility, threat detection, and AI-powered analysis for faster, more effective incident response. Customers rely on us to minimise risk and complexity while maximising operational resilience.
It is more than somewhat ironical that HWL Ebsworth, the Australian law firm that is reeling after a ransomware attack that led to massive data theft, has a slogan on its website saying, "We're not your typical law firm".

The company also says "The traditional law firm model is tired. This is its wake up call". Observers would heartily agree with both slogans, given that the typical law firm is definitely not struggling to cope with the after-effects of such a huge theft of data.

On Monday, HWLE sought, and obtained, an injunction from the Supreme Court of NSW, preventing both the attackers and the media from publishing details about the intrusion. It informed many media organisations about this on Tuesday; as iTWire was not included, I wrote and requested a copy of said email. There was silence from the law firm.

But in seeking that very injunction, HWLE had to provide a lot of detail in affidavits to said court, and the Australian Financial Review has milked this trove of information to tell world+dog a lot more about the company that would have otherwise been put out there had it not tried to use legal means to curb the flow of information.

The AFR's Sam Buckingham-Jones and Michael Pelly, in two articles onand, have provided ample detail to satisfy even the most ardent voyeur.

For those who haven't heard of this attack, HWLE was hit by the Alphv ransomware gang sometime in April. The attackers then tried to negotiate a ransom of US$4.6 million (A$6.8 million) or US$4 million in the Monero digital currency.

Buckingham-Jones and Pelly have the gory details of the negotiations here, and it is well worth a read. One additional detail: the entry point for Alphv was a personal computer belonging to a staff member.

As to the information that was available for pilfering, there was government information, confidential information about corporate clients, and personal data from hundreds of clients going back five years, according to the affidavits.

Given that the injunction was obtained from an Australian court, iTWire asked another law firm, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, about how useful it would be in stopping someone in a foreign location from doing what he/she liked with the data.

Michael do Rozario, partner and cyber security expert at this company, replied: All Australian Supreme Courts have ample jurisdiction to issue injunctions to foreign defendants when the claim is founded on a cause of action arising in Australia.

"The NSW Supreme Court has jurisdiction on matters that can be connected to NSW. It does not matter whether the defendant is physically in the state or the country.

In relation to a case like this, the NSW Supreme Court clearly has jurisdiction to issue the injunctions that were obtained by HWLE and there is no relevant geographical limit.

"The extension of the orders to viewing or publication of the stolen data by third parties is a sensible move, attempting to limit the publication of the stolen data in the media and on the Internet.

"It will dissuade most law-abiding media companies, websites and news services from publishing the stolen data (or links to it) and commercial data hosting sites will have regard to the orders, and take down the stolen data on request, if a person attempts to use commercial hosting/cloud to publish the stolen data.

That is not to say that criminals will necessarily be dissuaded from publishing the data on the dark web, but by obtaining these orders HWLE has taken a sensible step to limit the access to the stolen data.

As iTWire has already reported, a seasoned ransomware researcher, Brett Callow of the New Zealand-based security firm Emsisoft, is of the opinion that such an injunction is unlikely to trouble the attackers in any way.

He pointed to other cases which had tried similar tactics to try and minimise exposure, noting that not a lot had been achieved.

iTWire understands that enforcing an Australian injunction in a foreign location will require a great deal of effort, both in terms of time and money, and success depends entirely on the extent to which the government in that jurisdiction co-operates with an Australian legal entity.

The flood of material about the HWLE attack is not restricted to the AFR's efforts. News Corp staffer Ellen Whinnett wrote on Friday that HWLE has among its clients "at least 40 government departments and agencies".

Among these, Whinnett added, were Home Affairs, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Taxation Office, the Department of Defence, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Commonwealth director of Public Prosecutions.

Callow was asked for a general comment on situations of this sort, and he responded: "Generally speaking, many ransomware attacks succeed because of basic security shortcomings such as not having implemented MFA (multi-factor authentication).

"The incidents can expose the victim companys information, the victims business partners information, the victim's clients information, and, in some cases, the information of the customers of those client companies.

"This not only provides the hackers with multiple options for extortion, it also provides them with lots of material that can used for phishing. A key element in combatting ransomware is swinging the risk-reward ratio more towards risk, and companies getting their security 101s right would help achieve that."

iTWire contacted HWLE on Thursday as well, inquiring about the injunction order, its enforceability abroad, what the company would do if a foreign website published full details of the material being progressively released by the Alphv gang, and also whether the injunction was just a bid to help protect against the legal fallout from the breach.

There has been no reply, but the AFR, once again, provides some light on why this policy of silence prevails at HWLE. In its Rear Window section, Mark Di Stefano says, in an article headlined "HWL Ebsworth gags the media": "In the middle of a corporate meltdown, a button that gags the media must sure be tempting. Why are we not surprised that the owner of the glassiest jaw in Australian law, Juan Martinez, has been fumbling around for the muzzle?"

This article, again, is well worth a read. In closing, this may be a subjective impression, but somehow that injunction does not seem to be doing what it was intended to achieve.
SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here.

include_once "/home/jwreview/public_html/$theme/includes/sidebar.php"; ?>

Their paths never crossed. They came from utterly different backgrounds. But Theodore "Ted" Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, and James "Whitey" Bulger, the South Boston gangster, had a few key things in common.

Both men were psychopathic murderers, responsible for killing, maiming, or terrorizing scores of victims during their criminal careers. Both evaded the FBI for years and were found only after lengthy manhunts. Both were eventually convicted and sentenced to multiple life terms. Both died of unnatural causes  Bulger after a savage beating in 2018 at the federal penitentiary in Bruceton Mills, W.Va., and Kaczynski at the federal prison in Butner, N.C., by suicide on Saturday.

In the days since Kaczynski's death, I have been thinking about something else the men had in common. Each had a younger brother who found himself in possession of information that could enable his homicidal older sibling to be brought to justice.

But that's where that similarity ended.

When David Kaczynski in 1995 read a 30,000-word manifesto written by someone claiming responsibility for the Unabomber's terror spree, he recognized his brother's style of writing and fanatical tone. David cared deeply about Ted, a brilliant mathematician who had gradually become a recluse, severing contact with his family and moving to a shack in the Montana wilderness. From an early age, David had understood that his brother, whom he idolized, wrestled with psychological demons. When their mother at one point pleaded with David to never turn his back on his brother, he assented. "I promised Mom that I would never abandon Ted," he later wrote.

But then he found himself confronted with evidence that his brother had become a homicidal monster, and realized that his obligation to keep others from being hurt overrode the ties of family loyalty. He contacted the FBI, providing the agency with letters and documents written by Ted. His information led to the Unabomber's arrest at his Montana cabin, where authorities found a bomb ready for mailing and a hit list of potential victims.

Whitey Bulger's younger brother made a very different choice.

It was in the same year of 1995 that Boston's murderous crime boss, tipped off that he was about to be indicted for his long reign of terror, fled from Boston. For 16 years, he would remain on the run, listed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list. In all that time, his younger brother William  the powerful president of the state Senate and then the president of the University of Massachusetts  refused to condemn Whitey's crimes. When his fugitive brother contacted him by phone, he kept it a secret. Years later, he admitted to a federal grand jury that he had never urged Whitey to turn himself in because, he said, "I don't think it would be in his interest to do so." In fact, he sneered, "It's my hope that I'm never helpful to anyone against him."

In David Kaczynski's moral code, no consideration outweighed the obligation to stop his brother before he maimed or murdered someone else. Bill Bulger lived by a different hierarchy of values, one in which nothing, not even the saving of human life, mattered more than tribal loyalty.

There were prominent voices that derided David Kaczynski for going to the FBI.

"No one will ever wholly trust someone who turned in his own brother," the novelist and screenwriter Michael Ventura wrote in the Los Angeles Times. The prominent radio talk host (and convicted Watergate felon) G. Gordon Liddy excoriated Kaczynski as a "snitch" who "violate[d] the taboo against turning on one's family." David Letterman mocked him as the "Unasquealer."

Conversely, there were leading figures who sang Bill Bulger's praises for showing more allegiance to his evil brother than to Whitey's past and possible future victims, or to the law he had repeatedly sworn to uphold. "My respect and admiration for President Bulger is stronger than ever," gushed a servile Grace Fey, the then-chair of the UMass board of trustees. Former governor William Weld, who was once a federal prosecutor, issued a revolting statement hailing Bill Bulger as "a man of honesty, integrity, compassion."

In the end, all that remains to most of us is the reputation we fashion during our lives. David Kaczynski is best known today for the moral decency he showed when faced with an excruciating personal dilemma. Bill Bulger, once so feared and fawned over, is living out his days in ignominy, remembered for his silence when a man of honor would have spoken.

The Unabomber and Whitey Bulger were vile human beings. But one of them, at least, is survived by a man of good character.

Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe, from which this is reprinted with permission."
100 years ago,

June 16, 1923

MATTOON  Miss Helen Roetker, 1312 Wabash Ave. and Miss Edith Pygott of 1320 Charleston Ave., were painfully injured, and their companions, Lewis McGinnis of 608 Wabash Ave. and C.H. Marlett of 921 Charleston Ave., were badly shaken up and bruised, in an automobile accident at Logan Street and Wabash Avenue about ten o'clock Friday night. The two men and two young women were driving east in Wabash Avenue, Marlett, owner of the car, at the wheel. On approaching Logan Street, the end of Wabash Avenue, the bright lights from an approaching westbound car blinded Marlett, he states, and in endeavoring to make the turn south from Wabash Avenue into Logan Street, to enter Lafayette Avenue, the speed of the car was such as to cause it to topple over when it struck one of the several high bumps in that short piece of the highway. The four were out for a pleasure trip when the accident occurred...MATTOON  W.R. Coppage, well-known citizen, came to Mattoon, fifty-seven years ago today. Mr. Coppage came to this city from Hamilton, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. He started in the drug business when he reached Mattoon, his store being located on Western Ave. In a few years the location of the store was changed to West Broadway. Mr. Coppage has not been actively engaged in the drug business for several years.

50 years ago, 1973

MATTOON  Police are searching for two armed bandits who robbed Kentucky Fried Chicken on S. Lake Land Blvd. at gunpoint Friday night. Taken during the robbery, which occurred at 10:34 p.m., as the establishment was closing, was an undetermined amount of cash. The two masked men tied up four employees and the husband of one of the employees during the robbery. Three of the employees and the husband were put in the freezer and the door wired shut. A fourth employee was put in another room. The bandits took a 1962 white Fairlane Ford belonging to one of the employees, Tom Janes of Route 2, and fled the scene. Police located the stolen auto at 6 a.m. today parked along the curb in the 1700 block of Lafayette. Employee Don Gherardini, 17, said that after the bandits had left, he managed to free himself. He then went to the freezer door and managed to push it partially open from the inside. Another employee, Jackie Simpson, came to the door of the freezer and Gherardini reached through the freezer door and untied her. The girl then got some wire cutters and "cut the wire on the door handle," Gherardini described the robbers as being "kind of nice." The two bandits were going to take the wallets of the employees, but returned them at the request of employee Sharon Turner. "They were calm at times," said Gherardini. "The big guy, he smelled of beer real bad."

25 years ago, 1998

CHARLESTON  It would be best to first try to pick a jury for drug trafficking suspect Brad R. Irons in Coles County before deciding whether his trial should be moved to another county. That was what Circuit Judge Paul Komada concluded Monday after a hearing on a motion from Irons' attorney to move the trial because of pretrial publicity and other reasons. Komada didn't deny the motion. Instead, he said he would consider it again if jury selection in the case proved difficult because of potential jurors' preconceived ideas about the case...TOLEDO  The Cumberland school board approved a "no pass-no play" policy for students involved in athletics beginning next year, during its regular meeting Monday. High School Principal Gary Calvert outlined the new policy, which he said has been required by state legislation. It is similar to the policy already in place by the Illinois Elementary School Association. In order for students to remain eligible in athletics, they must be passing everything they have been evaluated on each week or until the next evaluation.

The history behind all 63 national parks in the US The history behind all 63 national parks in the US Acadia National Park, Maine National Park of American Samoa, American Samoa Arches National Park, Utah Badlands National Park, South Dakota Big Bend National Park, Texas Biscayne National Park, Florida Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Colorado Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah Canyonlands National Park, Utah Capitol Reef National Park, Utah Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico Channel Islands National Park, California Congaree National Park, South Carolina Crater Lake National Park, Oregon Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada Denali National Park, Alaska Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida Everglades National Park, Florida Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska Gateway Arch National Park, Missouri and Illinois Glacier National Park, Montana Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming Great Basin National Park, Nevada Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas Haleakala National Park, Hawaii Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana Isle Royale National Park, Michigan Joshua Tree National Park, California Katmai National Park, Alaska Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska Kings Canyon National Park, California Kobuk Valley National Park, Alaska Lake Clark National Park, Alaska Lassen Volcanic National Park, California Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado Mount Rainier National Park, Washington New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, West Virginia North Cascades National Park, Washington Olympic National Park, Washington Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona Pinnacles National Park, California Redwood National Park, California Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Saguaro National Park, Arizona Sequoia National Park, California Shenandoah National Park, Virginia Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota Virgin Islands National Park, Virgin Islands Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota White Sands National Park, New Mexico Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming Yosemite National Park, California Zion National Park, Utah
CHARLESTON  Five years have passed since the Coles County Sheriff's Office implemented body camera use for its patrol officers.

The Charleston Police Department and Mattoon Police Department acquired body cameras of their own the following year, 2019. These cameras have since become standard equipment for law enforcement personnel throughout the county.

"They have been great. I actually can't imagine us working without them now," said Coles County Chief Deputy Tyler Heleine of the body cameras worn by all of their approximately 20 patrol officers. "I think the cameras, overall, are a great thing for the officers and the public, as well."

For example, Heleine said the sheriff's office squad car dash cameras (which have been in use for more than 15 years) and the body cameras combine to create a complete video record of the time officers drive up to the scene of a domestic disturbance and enter the residence.

Sgt. Brett Hildebrand, who oversees body and squad car cameras for Charleston Police Department, said this agency was aware that a new state law would eventually require body camera usage for all departments by 2025, so "we purchased ours and went with it" in 2019.

"It's changed law enforcement for sure. They just make our work easier," Hildebrand said of body cameras, which are worn by all of Charleston's roughly 32 patrol officers.

The Charleston Police Department has since found that the benefits of body cameras include enhancing officer safety, Hildebrand said. He explained that these cameras enable officers to gather report information while keeping their hands free of pens and notebooks.

Hildebrand said officers can later review the footage, which is quick to upload  less than a minute for one 20-minute video. He said the cameras also have extensive recording capacity, adding that calls of 1-2 hours in duration do not come close to filling up the available space.

Chief Sam Gaines of the Mattoon Police Department said the body cameras also have been great resources for reviewing complaints filed against officers to see what actually happened, gathering evidence at crime science, and presenting evidence in court.

"That's hard to beat in court," Gaines said of footage gathered by the body cameras worn by all of Mattoon's roughly 39 patrol officers. "Now it's not just the officer's statement on it. You have video footage."

Coles County Public Defender Duane Deters said police body camera video from arrests for driving under the influence and other incidents provide a good resource for seeing what the officers witnessed at the scene.

Deters said the footage also helps verify the statements of defendants before their cases proceed in court and ensure they "stick to the facts" without exaggerating.

"It helps keep people honest. They know exactly what has happened and what has been said could be examined," Deters said. "We are able to confirm what our client has told the police."

Deters added that body cameras do add to the workload for all parties involved in a case because there might be footage from multiple officers to review and each video might be 20 minutes to an hour in length.

The Coles County Sheriff's Office and the Charleston, Mattoon, Eastern Illinois University and Lake Land College police departments all use Safe Fleet's Coban brand body cameras, typically purchased with the help of reimbursement grants from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.

Gaines noted that the Mattoon Police Department applied for a $125,000 grant last year to reimburse the costs for replacing all of its aging body cameras with new units.

Hildebrand said the compatible equipment enables one agency to authorize another's officers to watch its videos if needed for writing reports and conducting investigations.

The Charleston, Eastern and Lake Land police departments also share a storage server at the sheriff's office for their videos, while Mattoon maintains its own server. Hildebrand said they store most videos for at least three years, and videos involving homicides or other deaths permanently.

Heleine said they have worked with the sheriff's office's information technology director, Mark Harris, to increase capacity in recent years for the terabytes of storage needs and will likely need to pursue grant funding for this in the future.

"It's always something we are going to have to revisit," Heleine said.

Few agencies remain camera shy Data gathered from October 2022 to May 2023 shows of the 142 agencies that answered questions on camera availability or use, 93 said they had both body and dashboard cameras for at least one of their members and vehicles.

Data gathered from October 2022 to May 2023 shows of the 142 agencies that answered questions on camera availability or use, 93 said they had both body and dashboard cameras for at least one of their members and vehicles.

Diversity underrepresentation in policing Data gathered from October 2022 to May 2023 from nearly 120 law enforcement agencies in 14 states shows frequent disparity in the racial and ethnic makeup of the agencies compared to the communities they are hired to protect and serve.

Data gathered from October 2022 to May 2023 from nearly 120 law enforcement agencies in 14 states shows frequent disparity in the racial and ethnic makeup of the agencies compared to the communities they are hired to protect and serve.
Proud Americans take full ownership of being a world standard-bearer for democracy, justice and equity. Our actions as well as our ideals ideally reflect that ownership and the pride in it.

But to fulfill that lofty goal, Americans also must be vigilant about acknowledging when we've stepped outside what is right and fair. There is no shame in righting a wrong and no shame in marking that a wrong has been corrected.

Monday, June 19, is the official federal holiday, also celebrated in most states. Juneteenth celebrates the liberation of African Americans from slavery in the U.S. While President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, it was on June 19, 1865, that the news was delivered to Texas, informing 250,000 slaves of their freedom.

The 13th Amendment ended one of the worst atrocities in this countrys history. It deserves a national celebration. Much of Americas Black history has been misstated or distorted. Juneteenth is a step toward trying to redress that concern.

Juneteenth provides an opportunity to honor and recognize African Americans' contributions, achievements and resilience throughout history. It celebrates their cultural heritage, traditions and those who fought for civil rights, social justice and equality. It highlights the diversity of African American experiences and acknowledges the enduring legacy of African Americans in shaping the United States. By acknowledging this history, society can work towards a more inclusive and equitable future.

Scholars take issue with the date, complaining that the 13th Amendment, which officially abolished slavery throughout the United States, was not ratified until December 6, 1865. Every state was then required by federal law to free its slaves.

The holiday is not exclusively for Blacks. Much of what weve been taught in our lives is a result of who is telling the tale, and there are large blocs of people who have not had seats at the table where history is written and disseminated.

The day can help us all grow as Americans. Giving historical context may help those who still struggle with the idea of Juneteenth.
Herbalife Ltd. is eliminating at least 95 mostly administrative job positions in California with the cuts occurring incrementally through April 2024.

The company filed a WARN Act notice that affected two facilities in Torrance and one in Los Angeles.

Herbalife reported in its fiscal 2022 annual regulatory report that it had a 2,800 U.S. workforce as of Dec. 31. The California job cuts represent about 3.3% of that total.

The company has its East Coast manufacturing campus in Winston-Salem with about 750 employees in its latest workforce disclosure.

Herbalife officials did not responded Friday to inquiries about whether there have been local job cuts. As of Friday, there has been no WARN Act notices filed with the N.C. Commerce Department.

After the article appeared online in the Journal, Herbalife said in a statement the California job cuts were "part of a transformation program, first announced in November of 2021, to realign both the front and back office."

The manufacturer reported in its first-quarter earnings report May 3 that it has taken a $27.3 million charge during the first quarter related to a $60 million transformation program that included a 7% workforce reduction. It had 10,100 employees worldwide as of Dec. 31.

About $25.2 million was dedicated to employee retention and separation expenses.

Kim Congdon, Herbalifes vice president for global human resources, said in the California WARN notice that the affected facilities are at 800 W. Olympic Blvd. in Los Angeles, and 950 W. 190th St. and 990 W. 190th St. in Torrance.

Some of the job cuts occurred on April 28, May 12 and June 9. The remaining workforce reduction dates are listed as June 21, Nov. 9 and April 12, 2024.

Among the eliminated jobs are: six senior vice presidents and vice presidents; 17 senior managers and managers; eight senior directors and directors; and nine senior analysts and analysts.

Congdon did not provide any reasons for the workforce reduction in the notice.

Herbalife reported a sales slump in North America and China contributed to a 70.2% plunge in first-quarter net income to $29.3 million.

First-quarter sales were down overall 6.3% to $1.25 billion, including an 8.9% decline in North America to $297.2 million.

Herbalife said it was not providing fiscal 2023 financial guidance at this time given the rapidly shifting macroeconomic sentiment and backdrop, as well as increased volatility in the market.

On May 12, Herbalife said it completed the payment of a $12.5 million federal settlement related to a potential $1 billion class-action lawsuit filed against the company in September 2017.

Herbalife reported in its first-quarter financial regulatory filing that it has reserved the settlement funds and final court approval was granted April 6.
In a major initiative, the Food and Drug Administration is pushing for cigarettes to contain a much lower level of nicotine than whats found on store shelves.

Nicotine is powerfully addictive, FDA commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said in a June 2022 statement. Making cigarettes and other combusted tobacco products minimally addictive or non-addictive would help save lives.

Enter cigarettes from New York-based 22nd Century Group, which are made with 95% less nicotine than competitors and whose plant is in Mocksville.

However, since the FDA disclosed the initiative, it has struggled to move forward with implementing the standard.

Some anti-smoking advocates have questioned whether cigarettes with a low nicotine level will only compel smokers to consume more. Others ponder whether it lead smokers to pursue black-market traditional cigarettes that contain the current levels of nicotine.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine recently released a hypothetical study addressing those potential consumer reactions. Their conclusion: Price levels of electronic cigarettes could be the deciding factor on whether smokers turned to illicit traditional cigarette purchases in a reduced-nicotine regulatory environment.

This future potential (very low nicotine) regulation may pose a significant public health benefit, the researchers said. However, black markets may arise to meet demand for normal-nicotine content cigarettes among smokers unwilling to transition to or use an alternative product.

****

The FDA proposal on lowering the nicotine level is controversial in part because the burning of tobacco leaves is the cause of most carcinogens associated with traditional cigarettes.

Nicotine, while addictive and potentially harmful to the brain, heart and lungs, is not considered as a carcinogen.

The federal Tobacco Control Act grants the FDA with the authority to establish a reduced-nicotine content standard in cigarettes.

In December, the FDA approved the designation of 22nd Centurys VLN King and VLN Menthol King brands as modified-risk options to traditional cigarettes. As part of 22nd Century gaining FDA approval for its modified-risk tobacco application, its packaging and advertising must include Helps You Smoke Less.

22nd Century said the FDA proposal represents the most powerful tool in the fight to reduce smoking and its grave health effects on citizens, according to John Miller, the companys recently named president of tobacco programs.

VLN from 22nd Century offers a new approach in this fight  a tobacco cigarette that actually helps adult smokers reduce their nicotine consumption and smoke less, Miller said. We are hopeful that many will also go on to quit their habit of smoking highly addictive cigarettes entirely.

The FDA proposal is expected to draw legal challenges from tobacco manufacturers that could take several years to address.

We think it will take a decade or longer for the FDA to introduce nicotine caps, Barclays analyst Jain Gaurav said in an investor note. The FDA will need to take into consideration inputs from scientific, legal, law enforcement, public health, industry and budgetary stakeholders, and respond to all the comments in an iterative process before it can publish a final rule.

Meanwhile, a proposed Republican-sponsored U.S. House appropriations bill could serve as a major roadblock. It would prohibit the U.S. health secretary from finalizing, issuing or implementing any rule, regulation, notice or order setting any standard that mandates a maximum nicotine level for cigarettes.

****

22nd Century said in early June it signed a three-state distribution agreement with the No. 1 convenience store chain for its very low-nicotine cigarettes. Although 22nd Century did not name the retailer, 7-Eleven is by far the largest convenience store chain in the U.S. with at least 9,437 locations nationwide.

The distribution agreement is for more than 1,450 corporate locations in California, Florida and Texas. An additional 3,100 franchise-owned stores in those markets have been incentivized to add VLN products with full support from corporate and the national franchise owners organization.

22nd Century already has a limited distribution agreement with Circle K, which is the No. 2 convenience store chain in the U.S. with at least 6,621 locations.

The manufacturers goal is to enter 18 states altogether in 2023, primarily through the Circle K chain. It has not confirmed plans for North Carolina.

If cigarettes with extremely low nicotine prove attractive to consumers, the result could be 22nd Century having a sharp increase in revenue and a potential buyout by a global tobacco manufacturer.

However, investors continue to take a cautious approach to 22nd Century even though it is the only tobacco manufacturer offering that product.

****

The Johns Hopkins findings drew mixed reactions from anti-smoking advocates.

Some questioned the relevancy of the study, in part because of its hypothetical nature rather than surveying smokers who have consumed 22nd Centurys VLN products.

There is a grave danger that this will reinforce inaccurate beliefs that it is the nicotine, rather than the inhalation of smoke, that is the cause of the harm from cigarette smoking, said David Sweanor, an adjunct law professor at the University of Ottawa and the author of several e-cigarette and health studies. Clearly, viable alternatives are critically important in replacing cigarette smoking, and regardless of whether cigarettes are subjected to an effective prohibition by the removal of nicotine.

Sweanor said that rather than the FDA pursue changing the nicotine level, the agency should attempt to raise public awareness of the risks from non-combustible tobacco products.

Those efforts should be combined with state and federal initiatives that tax non-combustible tobacco products at much lower rates than traditional cigarettes, thus creating a significant price differential.

There is now a large and growing range of low-risk alternatives to cigarettes, Sweanor said. If such measures were introduced now, cigarettes could be largely abandoned before a low nicotine standard could even get through legislative and legal challenges.
Each school year, students go missing from the rolls of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

At the beginning of the 2022-23 school year, the district beefed up its efforts to find these students by hiring an outside agency, Teach Tech U, to help them search for 1,000 students who stopped going to class in the previous school year and had yet to show up for the new year.

Through calls, knocking on doors, talking to neighbors and other means, the school staff and Teach Tech U were able to find the whereabouts of all but 96 students. Of the 1,000 students, 273 re-engaged in school by the 20th day of the 2022-23 school year and 727 were counted as drop outs, said Fredericca Stokes, the assistant superintendent of student services for the school district.

North Carolina counts students as dropouts if they have missed the first 20 days of school.

For the 2021-22 school year, the district had 630 high-school dropouts, which is up from the 2020-21 school year when there were 443 high-school dropouts, Stokes said.

The districts most recent dropout rate is 3.6% compared with 2.7% in 2020-21. In 2018-19, the most recent year not affected by COVID-19, the dropout rate was 3%.

The state dropout rate for the 2021-22 school year was 2.25%, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instructions annual report released in March.

Stokes said COVID-19 continues to impact students. In some cases, students went as much as 1 years without stepping inside a school building.

Its about getting students in school and engaged every single day, Stokes said.

The district learned that students dropped out of school for a number of reasons, including the need to go to work to support their families.

The school district used a $382,300 grant from the state to hire Teach Tech U to help them find the missing students. Stokes said there is enough money left in the grant to use Teach Tech U for another year.

Good attendance practices are what were really focused on for the next year, she said.
The White House confirmed Friday what had become one of its recent worst-kept secrets  the nomination of Dr. Mandy Cohen as director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cohen served nearly six years as North Carolinas health secretary.

During the initial 21 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cohen became the calming face of the states response, in particular during Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers press conferences.

President Joe Biden said in a news release that Cohen is one of the nations top physicians and health leaders with experience leading large and complex organizations, and a proven track record protecting Americans health and safety.

There was no comment from Cohen in Bidens statement.

Biden praised Cohens ability to develop innovative and nationally recognized programs that improved the health and lives of families across the state.

Her leadership through the COVID-19 crisis drew bipartisan praise, as did her successful transformation of North Carolinas Medicaid program and pivotal role in the bipartisan passage of Medicaid expansion that concluded with Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper signing the legislation into law on March 27.

Biden also cited Cohens previous work as the CDCs chief operating officer and chief of staff in the Obama administration, helping to implement the federal Affordable Care Act programs, including expanding insurance coverage and protections.

Dr. Cohen has been recognized by leaders from both parties for her ability to find common ground and put complex policy into action, Biden said.

I look forward to working with Dr. Cohen as she leads our nations finest scientists and public health experts with integrity and transparency.

The anticipated nomination of Cohen drew outspoken criticism from several North Carolina Republican elected officials, foremost U.S. Sen. Ted Budd, U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop and state Treasurer Dale Folwell.

Budd and Bishop were among six Republican U.S. senators and 22 Republican House representatives who submitted a letter Tuesday to the Biden administration of their opposition to Cohens nomination.

Budd spokesman Curtis Kalin said Friday that the senators views on Dr. Cohen are best explained in the letter.

Dr. Cohen is unfit for the position ... given her strong affiliation with the Democrat(ic) Party and the COVID-19 lockdowns, according to the letter.

It will be difficult for the American people to trust Dr. Cohen to run the CDC as a nonpartisan actor who makes objective decisions rooted in scientific data, and not in political expediency.

Shortly after Biden disclosed his nomination of Cohen, a statement was released by U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee.

We need a culture change at the CDC, and Mandy Cohen needs to show quickly that she is up to the task, said Cassidy, who is a medical doctor.

Its not going to happen over Zoom, Cassidy said. We need a leader, in-person in Atlanta, who understands public health and is independent from political interests.

CDC has to become more nimble, transparent and collaborative to quickly respond to threats and save lives.

Respect, criticism of Cohen

When Cohen announced in November 2021 her plans to step down as health secretary on Jan. 1, 2022, she received praises from Gov. Roy Cooper and legislative leaders from both parties.

Coopers office said in November 2021 that, under Cohens leadership, North Carolina has been a model for best practices to provide equitable access to COVID-19 testing and support to families so that they could safely quarantine and isolate; been recognized as best in the nation for data quality for vaccinations by race and ethnicity; and eliminated a vaccination gap between Hispanic and non-Hispanic North Carolinians and narrowed the gap for Black/African American communities.

Kody Kinsley, who replaced Cohen as N.C.s health secretary, referred Friday to comments earlier in June in which he said Cohen is a talented leader and passionate public servant.

Her deep experience in government and implementing public health interventions on-the-ground in all communities will contribute much to the CDC.

Senate leader Phil Berger, Rockingham, said in a November 2021 statement that Cohens leadership throughout her tenure at DHHS has helped our state navigate turbulent times. She made herself available to legislators to answer questions and kept us informed about issues facing the department.

Meanwhile, Folwell wasted little time expressing his displeasure with the expected nomination of Cohen as head of the CDC.

Folwell was one of the first statewide elected officials to call for the reopening of the states economy just two months after the COVID-19 pandemic surfaced in mid-March in North Carolina.

Over the past three years, Folwell frequently criticized how Cooper and Cohen handled the pandemic.

Folwell tweeted on June 2: Pray for our country. As a member of the N.C. Council of State, my observation is that the actions of Dr. Mandy Cohen during COVID resulted in more disease, death, poverty and illiteracy. As N.C. governor, I would be hard pressed to ever follow her lead at CDC if chosen by the POTUS.

On June 5, Folwell, who is running for the Republican governors nomination in 2024, doubled down on his tweet in a response to the Winston-Salem Journal.

I tried for months during COVID to get the Council of State to convene with Dr. Cohen to explain the lack of transparency in the data used to shut down our economy and our schools, Folwell told the Journal. These decisions disproportionately hurt lower- and fixed-income adults and kids.

By closing schools and the economy, it closed opportunity and upward mobility for students and citizens. The damage is generational.

A review of Twitter responses to Folwells Cohen tweet found the majority were critical of his stance, questioning the value of his advice as a non-medical person, and defending Cohens oversight.
Prophets are burdened with the duality of providing the people with hope while speaking truth to power. They assume a lonely perch as a hopeful cynic, willing to tell the culture the uncomfortable truth, rooted in an abiding love. For several decades that was how I viewed Professor Cornel West.

West brilliantly combined the lamentations of Socrates, the tragedy of the human condition found in the writings of Anton Chekov and the searing intellectualism of W.E.B. Du Bois, as well as the unseen hope rooted in the historical Black church tradition. Using jazz as a metaphor, Wests prophetic reflections open like Charlie Parker, hold our attention like Sonny Rollins and conclude like John Coltrane. He is nothing short of a modern-day prophet Jeremiah.

But now the prophet wants to live in the palace. West recently announced his intention to run for president.

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 video announcement on Twitter launching the third-party presidential bid.

West has since switched his affiliation to the Green Party. But he is running all the same.

I dont question Wests sincerity; his commitment to those on the underside of life is unquestioned. Now, paradoxically, he offes himself as the one who can save the empire from itself.

The odds of a sparrow making it to the moon unscathed with an anvil attached to its tail are greater than West ascending to the Oval Office on Jan. 20, 2025. But that misses the point. The motivation of most protest candidacies is to create change within the culture  change that moves the nation closer to its civic virtue of liberty and equality invariably begins at the bottom. Moreover, politics is an amoral enterprise; rarely do its moral outcomes originate from within its chambers. The prophet has been an indispensable, though often unwanted, ally within the American narrative.

Before the 13th and 19th Amendments were ratified, or the 1964 Civil Rights Act passed, morality, which began as the minority opinion supported by valiant truth-tellers, prodded those ensconced in the existing status quo to realize the courage for change. Thats the invaluable legacy of prophets in the American narrative. West is entrenched in that tradition.

Present-day America increasingly operates with a demagnetized moral compass. Fearing the inevitability of change, consuming the elixir of difference, some have opted to view certain Americans as existential threats.

But the prophetic voice differs from the political variety. Martin Luther King praised President Lyndon Johnson for landmark civil rights legislation but was equally undaunted in his criticism of the Vietnam War. Formal entry into politics organically neuters the prophetic voice.

One wonders if Wests decision to seek the presidency is a carryover from his tone deafness during the years Barack Obama was president. West was spot-on that the Obama administrations indiscriminate use of predator drones was immoral. I also agreed with West that it was deplorable no one was held accountable for actions that led to the 2008 financial meltdown.

But to suggest, as did West, that it rendered the 44th president a Republican in blackface was impossible to hear for those who supported Obama, especially the millions of African Americans who viewed the 2008 election as a divinely inspired transformation. West appeared peevish, effectively marginalizing his prophetic critiques.

Perhaps West finds himself situated similarly to Shakespeares Macbeth. Is this the final act of a poor player who has strutted and frets his hour upon the stage? Is running for president Wests way to delay the inevitability of being heard from no more?

The cost demanded whenever the prophet pursues the palace invariably is the permanent erosion of moral legitimacy. Once the protest campaign concludes, the prophets supporters will begin the cyclical process of searching for their next sacrificial lamb.

We need the prophetic voice of Cornel West holding those in high places accountable, inspiring those whom Jesus referred as the least of these.

Im not convinced we need that voice seeking the presidency.

Full disclosure: Professor West endorsed my 2013 book, 1963: The Year of Hope and Hostility.

Note: I am once again offering my civics course in July. If you are interested email me at the address below.
Q. I read that men who developed erectile dysfunction had, on average, a shorter life expectancy. Recently, I began experiencing some erectile dysfunction symptoms. My physician prescribed daily sildenafil.

To take the medication safely, I began to explore the internet regarding interactions with other medications, food and beverages. Much to my surprise, I also found several sites describing the health benefits of erectile dysfunction medications.

Specifically, a study of 23,000 men with diagnosed erectile dysfunction who were prescribed a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE-5i) found that they had a 13% lower rate of major adverse cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke or heart failure. This is in comparison to 48,000 men with diagnosed erectile dysfunction who were not prescribed a PDE-5i drug. In addition, those taking an ED drug had a 39% lower rate of death due to cardiovascular disease and a 25% lower rate of death due to any cause.

Is the information reporting the health benefits of sildenafil sound? If sildenafil does have such profound health benefits, why are physicians not prescribing it to improve health outcomes and longevity?

A. Thank you for alerting us to an interesting study (Journal of Sexual Medicine, January 2023). This research, based on insurance claims information from a large population, did indeed produce the results you have outlined for both sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis).

Scientists know that these ED drugs work by relaxing blood vessels and increasing blood flow. Consequently, it shouldnt be a big surprise that they could have health benefits throughout the body. Because they are so strongly identified with sexual medicine, it may take some time for researchers to confirm these broader health benefits.

Q. I had back surgery several days ago. The surgeon prescribed oxycodone to help with the pain. As a result, I have experienced severe constipation. Since returning home from the hospital, I have not had a bowel movement.

I tried MiraLax but it has not helped. Is there anything else that could ease my discomfort?

A. Opioid-induced constipation can be a serious problem. Doctors have a few prescription options for this problem, though. Medications that counteract the action of opioids within the digestive tract include naloxegol (Movantik), methylnaltrexone (Relistor) and naldemedine (Symproic). Your physician might prescribe you one of these until you no longer need the oxycodone. Fiber and fluids are also essential.

Unfortunately, these drugs are quite pricey. We dont know if your insurance will cover the cost. In addition, side effects may include nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

Q. Now that summers here, I see people slathering on sunscreen. I think thats a mistake.

I use just enough to keep from burning. Otherwise, I worry about developing vitamin D deficiency. Isnt sun exposure the main source of vitamin D?

A. Sun exposure is the most important natural source of vitamin D. But exposure to ultraviolet radiation leads to premature aging and an increased risk for skin cancer.

A review of the limited research that has been conducted on sunscreen use and vitamin D levels concludes that there is little evidence this poses a problem (British Journal of Dermatology, November 2019).

You can learn more about the importance of vitamin D and its sources in our eGuide to Vitamin D and Optimal Health. This online resource can be found under the Health eGuides tab at www.PeoplesPharmacy.com. Scientists have not studied the impact of high SPF sunscreens on vitamin D levels.
Susan Longhenry, director and chief curator at Marquette Universitys Haggerty Museum of Art, has been named the next director of the Sheldon Museum of Art.

She will succeed Wally Mason, who, in 2014, came from Marquette to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln art museum. Mason will retire from Sheldon on June 30. Longhenrys appointment is effective Aug. 15.

Susan Longhenry is an innovative leader of academic-based museums who offers a proven background in community engagement, strategic planning, fundraising and visitor experience, Chancellor Ronnie Green said in a news release announcing her appointment. Her ability to collaborate and build relationships across various audiences will certainly help elevate Sheldons role on campus, across Nebraska and in the museum community nationwide.

Longhenry was selected following a national search.

Im thrilled to join Sheldon Museum of Arts many stakeholders at this exciting point in its evolution, Longhenry said in the release. Ive long been an admirer of Sheldons renowned collection and its extraordinary building. Im inspired by the potential that I see for Sheldon to integrate even more deeply with the university community, city of Lincoln and Nebraskans across the state.

Longhenry is a specialist in modern and contemporary art with more than 30 years of leadership experience with art museums nationwide. She is recognized as a leader of academic art venues and brings a unique focus on the integration of academic and community engagement.

Longhenry is expected to continue Masons focus on engaging Sheldon with university communities and curriculum. At Marquette, which does not have an art department, Longhenry led interdisciplinary programming that included exhibitions developed in collaboration with faculty.

Under her leadership, the Haggerty Museum of Art was the only arts organization nationally to earn funding through the first round of the Institute of Museum and Library Services Community Catalyst program  an initiative aimed at connecting museums, libraries and their partners with local communities.

Susan has an impressive record of engaging multiple audiences in an academic art museum environment, Sheldon Art Association president Geoff Cline said in the release. During the past several years, Sheldon has strengthened its ties to academic disciplines across campus  from English and history, to engineering and business. We are expanding those collaborations in the broader community, and Susan is uniquely positioned to move Sheldon forward.

Longhenry earned a Master of Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University. Prior to her tenure at the Haggerty Museum of Art, Longhenry served as director of the University of New Mexicos Harwood Museum of Art. She also served in leadership roles at the Indianapolis Museum of Art and Bostons Museum of Fine Arts.

She is a member of the Association of Art Museum Directors, active in the groups Academic Museums Committee and Equity Task Force. She has served on national boards, including the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries, and as a peer reviewer for the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the National Endowment for the Arts.

60+ pieces of public art in Lincoln Torn Notebook Reflection Old Glory Pitch, Roll & Yaw Watchful Citizen Mbera Gettysburg Lincoln Clocktower Rebekah at the Well Sculpture of child Groundwater Colossus Ascent Tower Tem and Ptah Acklie Fountain Iron Horse Legacy Floating Figure Vase with Five Flowers Bench Doorways to Hope, Garden of Faith, Hope and Love Illuminating Lincoln Bicycle Star Art Snowplow art Look Ma, No Hands Noos Jay Tschetter mural Mural on Kiechel building Solar Semaphore Double Spinner War and Victory sculpture Candy Box Mountain Monarch 27th Street Hearth If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again sculpture Rarin' to Ride Frog Baby Daydreams Standing Bear Sculpture Harvest sculpture Four Seasons Terminals Kneeling figure Ako's Enso II Baroque Cherub "Nautilus" sculpture installation Arietta II Tilted Donut #7 Ascot Archie Balanced / Unbalanced Wheels #2 Palo Alto I Dementia Bop and Crazed Sluice Scythe & Wedgie Our Community / Larger than Life Breach Bather Liberty bell Nanticoke Bicentennial Cascade Fountain Rotary Pavilion Greenpoint Kaneko head sculptures
Hows it growing folks?! Welcome again to Here Weed Go!

For my regular listeners, youll know I did a few election-centered episodes of Here Weed Go! near the end of last year that focused on some of the most important races and ballot propositions and initiatives for cannabis advocates across the country.

One of those state initiatives was in Missouri, and it ended up passing resoundingly. Ive been looking to take a toke out of that market ever since.

It only makes sense then that I would reach out to one of the biggest operators in the Show-Me State to, well, show me what exactly is happening in the country's latest developing cannabis market.

I reached out to Greenlight Dispensary, one of the most prominent dispensary chains in the Midwest, who has a large presence in Missouri.

Greenlight is a chain of dispensaries found in Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, West Virginia and South Dakota. The chain is an example of what is known in the industry as a multi-state operator.

In our discussion, Mueller talks a little about growing Greenlight Dispensary into the Midwest giant it is today and how the company has grown in states both with recreational cannabis programs and ones without.

We then hone in on what makes Missouri special in the greater U.S. cannabis market, like being bordered by states that either arent as friendly to cannabis use or who have significantly higher taxes.

And we dive into whats next in the Midwest, from further Greenlight Dispensary expansion to the next possible states to drop cannabis prohibition.

MORE INFO

For more on Greenlight Dispensary: https://greenlightdispensary.com/

For more Here Weed Go! podcast episodes: https://omny.fm/shows/here-weed-go

To sign up for the Here Weed Go! newsletter: http://tucne.ws/hereweedgo

For all Here Weed Go! content: https://linktr.ee/hereweedgo
The Lux Center for the Arts, together with over 300 community members, celebrated a record fundraiser for art and arts education this spring at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center. The 46th annual LUXe Party and Art Auction helped raise critical funds for Luxs education, exhibition, artists-in-residence and outreach programs.

Over 75 local, regional and national artists contributed artwork this year to be auctioned off to help support Luxs programs, which provide accessible art experiences to all members of the community. The event raised more than $138,000 through artwork sales, sponsorships, donations and tickets sales, with over $30,000 in commissions paid directly to participating artists.

The Lux recognized Geoff and Kristen Cline with the 2023 Lux Art Champion Award, which honors individuals who have been champions of art in our community and have shown special devotion to the Lux Center for the Arts. They show exemplary leadership in sponsoring, championing and celebrating art in Lincoln.

The Lux also recognized Karen Kunc with the 2023 Lux Community Art Award, which is presented to an individual who has been a community leader that strongly supports arts education, public art and increased arts events in our community spaces. Kunc is Constellation Studios founder and director, and serve as the Willa Cather professor and professor of art at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she has taught since 1983. She is founder of the schools Under Pressure Print Club  a community-based support group for UNL printmakers.

Generous community sponsors made this years LUXe Party and Art Auction possible. Union Bank & Trust was the LUXe Art Auction and Party Presenting Sponsor.

LUX Center for the Arts is a member agency of United Way. For more information about the Lux Center for the Arts and its programs, call 402-466-8692 or visit www.luxcenter.org.
A Lincoln mother has filed a civil lawsuit against Lancaster County's chief deputy sheriff, who hit and hospitalized the woman's 9-year-old daughter as she rode her bike in northwest Lincoln last month, according to new court filings.

In a suit filed Thursday, Tiarrah Moton's attorney accused Chief Deputy Ben Houchin of driving his Dodge Ram pickup truck too fast for conditions on May 10, when he crashed into 9-year-old Janiece Moton near West Jennifer Street and Northwest Eighth Street at around 8:15 p.m. that evening.

Moton's attorney, Vince Powers, also accused Houchin of failing to yield the right of way, failing to keep his truck under proper control and failing to keep a proper look out in the moments before the crash, which left Janiece hospitalized and diagnosed with multiple skull fractures, a brain bleed, a fractured shoulder, an injured knee and road rash on various parts of her body.

Houchin, who was off duty and driving his personal truck, told investigators he was driving around 20 mph in the moments before he struck Janiece, who was not wearing a helmet, according to the crash report filed in the incident.

The posted speed limit on West Jennifer is 25 mph.

Powers, a prominent attorney in Lincoln who has won costly injury verdicts in crashes before, said in Thursday's filing that the Motons had incurred medical expenses of an "unknown" amount that are likely to continue to stack up.

And, Powers said, Janiece has suffered past, present and future "pain, inconvenience, humiliation, suffering, mental anguish and permanent loss of earning capacity."

Powers didn't specify an amount, but the family is seeking a judgment that will "fairly and justly compensate" the 9-year-old for her injuries and medical costs.

Houchin, who has not commented publicly on the crash, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment Friday. He nor his attorney had filed a response to the suit as of Friday afternoon.

Reached by phone in May, Houchin declined to comment on the crash itself, saying he wanted to keep his response to the incident "personal" and not conflate it with his role as chief deputy sheriff.

Thursday's filing comes just over a month after the crash, which put one of Lancaster Countys top law enforcement officers under investigation, left the Motons in shock and shook Tiarrah Moton's confidence in local law enforcement, she said then.

In the crash report, Lincoln Police Investigator Nicholas Vest said Houchin was driving his Ram 1500 east on West Jennifer Street when he glanced down at his radio as he proceeded through the road's intersection with Northwest Eighth Street on Wednesday, crashing into Janiece, who was riding her bike south on Eighth Street.

The chief deputy, who told investigators he had looked down for a "split second" to change his radio station, told police the girl came out of nowhere and that he never saw her approaching the roadway, according to the crash report.

There are no stop signs on either side of the three-way intersection.

Nine days after the crash, the Police Department announced Houchin would not face criminal charges for his role in the collision.

Police don't suspect drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash, Police Chief Teresa Ewins said. Investigators did not test Houchin for either drugs or alcohol, according to the crash report.

For Tiarrah Moton, the Police Departments failure to give Houchin a field sobriety test  along with comments she heard from officers at the scene, who seemed to be trying to make excuses for Houchin  called into question law enforcements response to the collision, she said in May.

The mother of five said, at first, she didnt care that Houchin was a sheriffs deputy. But by the end of last week, when she said she hadnt heard an investigative update from the Police Department and hadnt heard an apology from anyone at the sheriffs office, her attitude had changed from understanding to angry.

They promised a few phone calls that have still  today, two days later  have not been made, she said then. They have not kept those promises.

A week after the crash, when LPD announced Houchin would not be cited, Sgt. Chris Vollmer, a department spokesman, said that "efforts to contact the mother of the child by our staff have been made and are documented in our case file." He did not say whether police had actually spoken to Moton since the crash.

Police sought video evidence as part of their investigation, Vollmer said, but ultimately didn't find any. Vollmer said many residents who utilize Ring-style doorbell cameras dial back the sensitivity to avoid the cameras being tripped every time a car drives by.

In a statement issued in May, Sheriff Terry Wagner said he was saddened to hear of the crash and wished Janiece a quick and speedy recovery.

Wagner said the early information from the sheriff's office's internal investigation into the crash suggested Houchin did not violate any agency policies. The sheriff said he stopped at the scene, rendered aid and had cooperated with police.

As a parent myself, I cannot imagine the distress this has caused for the childs parents and family, Wagner said. I know that this event has also been difficult for Chief Deputy Houchin, who also has young children of his own.

In a brief phone interview Friday, Powers, Moton's attorney, said he agreed that the crash wasn't criminal, but said it caused "significant injuries" that "will be permanent."

"That's what the civil justice system is for: compensating people who are injured," he said.

He said Janiece had a medical check-up Thursday and is still recovering, adding that "everybody involved hopes she improves."

"It was a tough deal," he said. "It is a tough deal."

Powers said part of his rationale for filing the suit Thursday was the county and city's response to a public records request his office filed seeking reports, emails and texts, 911 recordings and communications between the sheriff's office and "any third party" regarding the crash.

Powers said the county intended to charge him more than $100 per hour to gather the records he requested, which he now plans to seek as a part of the discovery process in Moton's suit of Houchin.

"The county wanted some extraordinary amount of money, so I'll just file a lawsuit and issue a subpoena," he said. "It's counterproductive for government bodies to stonewall open records (requests)."

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 awards  no matter how frequent  never get routine, tiresome or mundane at Olsson.

On Thursday, with about 200 of its employees and their family members scattered throughout the crowd at Haymarket Park, the Lincoln-based engineering firm was named the Best Place to Work in the extra-large category.

It was Olsson's fourth straight Best Places to Work top finish and it came on the heels of a second-place showing in 2019.

"Awards like this really bring a great sense of pride for our employees," said Justin Stark, a team leader who has been at Olsson for 18 years  the only full-time job he has ever known. "You know, sometimes with the grind of the day to day  with everybody involved in projects  sometimes you have to find that extra energy.

"Nights like tonight where we can celebrate an award like this give us that extra energy."

A dozen businesses were honored Thursday before the Lincoln Saltdogs game for being among the 2023 Best Places to Work in Lincoln.

The 11th annual Lincoln's Best Places to Work award ceremony highlighted local businesses for their outstanding efforts to create positive environments for their employees.

Companies were awarded first, second and third places in four categories based on their number of employees.

According to survey results, Olsson, founded in 1956, puts an emphasis on its workforce by encouraging its workers to lead.

"Our employees are always a focus," Stark said. "We take care of the people who take care of our clients who take care of our community."

Assurity Life Insurance Co. finished second in the extra-large category  companies with at least 200 employees  while Nelnet finished in third place.

In the large category (50-199 employees), UNICO Group took home top honors, while Community Action Partnership of Lancaster and Saunders Counties was second and Cornhusker Bank third.

Horisun Hospice was awarded first place in the medium category (25-49 employees). Don't Panic Labs finished second, while Lutz was third.

In the small company category for businesses with 10-24 employees, Merrill Lynch took the top prize. Complete Hearing was second, while Children's Hospital Lincoln Specialty Clinic came in third.

Rankings were based on surveys submitted by employees that look at a number of attributes, including leadership, manager effectiveness and career development.

Quantum Workplace then takes the surveys and creates a score for each business.
WEST HARTFORD, Conn.  President Joe Biden made a passionate call for tougher gun restrictions Friday, celebrating the one-year anniversary of the first significant piece of federal firearms legislation in nearly three decades but declaring it was only an important first step. He urged voters to defeat lawmakers who resist.

Prayers are fine. Theyre important ... but its not going to stop it, Biden said, pressing Congress to take more aggressive steps to restrict access to guns. You have to take action. You have to move. You have to do something.

If this Congress refuses to act, we need a new Congress.

Biden applauded the crowd at a gun safety summit in Connecticut  full of survivors of gun violence and family members of victims  for turning your pain into purpose and vowed not to let up on his advocacy for tougher laws.

He spoke on the anniversary of last years legislation that tightened gun access, signed a few weeks after a gunman took the lives of 19 elementary school children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. A decade earlier, 26 children and staff were killed in the Sandy Hook school massacre less than an hours drive from Hartford.

Last years law toughened background checks for the youngest gun buyers, sought to keep firearms from domestic violence offenders and aimed to help states put in place red flag laws that make it easier to take weapons away from people judged to be dangerous.

Biden ticked off several ways that he said the 2022 law had already made an impact.

Stepped-up FBI background checks have blocked more than 200 transactions of attempted purchasers under the age of 21.

Prosecutions have increased for unlicensed gun sellers, and new gun trafficking penalties have been charged in more than 100 cases around the country. Prosecutions for those who sell firearms without a license have doubled.

If this law had been in place a year ago, lives would have been saved, Biden contended.

He also pointed to provisions that increased funding for mental health services and safety measures as well as the enhanced background checks for buyers under 21. He pushed anew for universal background checks for purchasers and the banning of so-called assault weapons.

Those are part of a 2024 political platform that was all but unthinkable to Democrats as recently as Barack Obamas term.

Fridays gathering was led by U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and major gun safety groups hoping to build on recent gains.

We actually had it wrong for a long time. We left an opportunity on the table for decades, Murphy said of the push for gun safety legislation. He said there was an impression after Democratic election losses that dogged the party following passage of a crime bill in the 1990s that voters werent interested in gun safety and it was a losing issue politically.

That was just a lie, Murphy said. But it was a lie the gun lobby did a great job of selling, with some help from Democrats.

In particular, Biden wants to ban so-called assault weapons, a political term to describe guns most often used in mass shootings with the capacity to kill a lot of people quickly. However, the idea of further action  or unilateral action by the White House  makes some Republicans who voted for the 2022 gun legislation uneasy.

Im a little apprehensive, said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. I dont want them writing a rule that basically deviates from what weve negotiated or voted on.

Millions of new dollars have flowed into mental health services for children and schools. On Friday, the departments of Health and Human Services and Education sent a joint letter to governors highlighting resources available to them to help support mental health  in particular if a student has been impacted by gun violence.

I think theres no question about it, the passage was a watershed moment, said John Feinblatt, head of Everytown for Gun Safety. The law clearly broke a log jam.

Yet since that bill signing last summer, the tally of mass shootings in the United States has only grown. As of Friday, there have been at least 26 mass killings in the U.S. so far in 2023, leaving at least 131 people dead, not including shooters who died, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.

That puts the country on a faster pace for mass killings than in any other year since 2006, according to the database, which defines a mass killing as one in which four or more people are killed, not including the perpetrator, within a 24-hour period.

Firearms are the No. 1 killer of children in the U.S., and so far this year 85 children younger than 11 have died by guns and 491 between the ages of 12 and 17 have died.

As of 2020, the firearm mortality rate for those under age 19 is 5.6 per 100,000. The next comparable is Canada, with 0.08 deaths per 100,000.

After his speech in West Hartford, Biden headed to a fundraiser in Greenwich. In the coming days, he will accelerate his campaign travel, making stops in New York, California, Illinois and Maryland before the end of the month.

Gun control legislation that passed and failed over the last 20 years Gun control legislation that passed and failed over the last 20 years Tiahrt Amendment Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act District of Columbia v. Heller Expanded background checks Lori Jackson Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act Domestic Violence Gun Homicide Prevention Act of 2014 Homemade Firearms Accountability Act Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2015 Criminalizing straw purchasing and gun trafficking Enhanced background checks 72-hour waiting period for those on terrorist watch lists Help End Assault Rifle Tragedies Act Preventing Gun Violence Act Gun Show Loophole Closing Act of 2017 Safer Neighborhoods Gun Buyback Act Handgun Safety Trigger Act Background Check Completion Act of 2017 Bipartisan bump stock ban Closing the Charleston loophole Universal background checks Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Protecting Our Kids Act Assault Weapons Ban of 2022
WASHINGTON  Joe Biden opened his 2020 presidential run at a Pittsburgh union hall, declaring, "I'm a union man. Period." As he gears up for reelection, the president's first political rally is being held at a union gathering on the other side of Pennsylvania, punctuating just how much Biden is counting on labor support to carry him to a second term  especially in a critical battleground state.

The symmetry is no accident. Rallying labor activists on Saturday at Philadelphia's convention center can help Biden's campaign spark enthusiasm and tap early organizing muscle. That may eventually boost Democratic voter turnout in the city's suburbs and other key parts of Pennsylvania, which in 2020 helped him flip the state, where Biden was born, from Donald Trump.

"It speaks to this president's visceral understanding that, when the labor movement in the United States is strong, the economy and our democracy are strong," said Mary Kay Henry, international president of the 2-million-member Service Employees International Union. "He sees the role that working people and unions play in everything that he's trying to make happen."

Many of the country's top unions, including the AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, announced Friday their endorsements of Biden's 2024 campaign  the first time the groups have done so in a coordinated manner and this early in the presidential election cycle.

"We wanted to have all of the unions onboard and making a very strong statement," said Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and head of the AFL-CIO's political committee, who pushed for the coordinated endorsements. "We're going to hit the ground running and make it clear that all of labor is supportive of the president, and we're going to do what is necessary to get him reelected."

The announcement was similar to one Wednesday night, when top environmental and climate groups teamed up for a joint endorsement of Biden's reelection.

Biden used executive actions to promote worker organizing, personally cheered unionization efforts at corporate giants like Amazon and authorized federal funding to aid union members' pensions. He's also traveled the country, trumpeting how union labor is building bridges and improving train tunnels as part of the bipartisan, $1.1 trillion public works package Congress passed in 2021.

Though the number of workers belonging to a union has risen, overall union membership rates nationwide fell to an all-time low in 2022. The country's largest unions nonetheless built sprawling get-out-the-vote efforts, which Biden is counting on to help turn out his supporters in pivotal swing states.

Still, the White House's relationship with labor has occasionally been tested, such as in December when some union activists criticized Biden for signing legislation preventing a nationwide rail strike. Ongoing strikes also sometimes complicated the administration's messaging.

The United Auto Workers said last month that it wasn't immediately endorsing Biden's reelection campaign due to concerns over the administration's efforts to transition the U.S. into a nation reliant on electric vehicles. Biden supporters attribute the holdout to the union's new leadership, which is taking a more confrontational posture ahead of bargaining sessions with the major auto companies.

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., who leads the Senate Democrats' campaign arm, said "we still have a lot of time right now between now and the election" and that the auto worker union will likely endorse Biden's reelection eventually.

"He's clearly, probably, the most pro-union president we've had in a very long time, if ever," Peters said.

Biden frequently addresses union gatherings and seems to revel in doing so. Hours after he announced that he was seeking reelection in April, the president made an official visit to the North America's Building Trades Unions Legislative Conference in Washington and declared, "I make no apologies for being labeled the most pro-union president in American history."

Even as Biden won major endorsements from union leadership in 2020, some rank-and-file members supported Trump. Biden won the support of about six in 10 union members then, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of the national electorate.

Brent Booker, general president of the Laborers' International Union of North America, which represents mostly construction and energy sector workers and endorsed Biden last week, said a key reason the union announced it was backing Biden so early was to ensure its members know how much his administration accomplished, especially with the public works law.

Noting that Trump is again running for president, Booker said, "If it is Biden vs. Trump part two, I can point to: 'What did the Trump administration do on infrastructure? And what did the Biden administration do on infrastructure?'"

Henry also noted that her union "had some small percentage of members that were for Trump" in the past. She said the group worked to counter that with ongoing messaging on union websites, through social medial campaigns and field staff work and even via paper leaflets  and that such efforts continue during canvassing this summer.
A group of state senators, community leaders and business owners is urging Nebraskans not to sign a petition seeking to repeal a law granting tax credits to individuals who donate to private school scholarships.

Keep Kids First on Friday announced a "decline to sign" campaign that seeks to keep the Opportunity Scholarships Act  introduced as LB753 by Sen. Lou Ann Linehan this year  in place.

A week after the bill passed with the support of 33 senators and was signed into law by Gov. Jim Pillen, the Nebraska State Education Association and other groups launched a referendum to put the measure before voters in 2024.

The committee said it plans to "correct the endless misinformation about the program from the teachers union and their well-funded political allies" in order to keep Nebraska's first school choice program in place.

In a statement, Linehan said the bill creating the tax credit program had support from rural, urban and suburban senators, and was backed by both Republicans and Democrats.

"After the Legislature passed historic increased funding for public education this session, the NSEA's efforts to strip families, especially lower-income families, of greater education opportunity shows they will do and say anything for their own self-interest, but not for Nebraska kids," Linehan said.

"The Keep Kids First campaign will put kids first," she added.

Omaha Sen. Justin Wayne, a registered Democrat who crossed party lines to support the bill along with Omaha Sen. Terrell McKinney, called LB753 "a pro-parent bill."

"Parents need more options when the only existing option has been failing kids for generations, which is the case too often in my community," Wayne said in a statement. "This is not just about school choice, it is about equal opportunity, hope, not being defined by your zip code or income, and ending the pipeline to the criminal justice system."

The Opportunity Scholarships Act allows individuals and entities to receive tax credits by donating to the scholarship funds for private and parochial schools in Nebraska.

A total of $25 million in tax credits will be available to donors in the first two years the law is in place, with the cap set to increase to as much as $100 million by year 10.

Supporters said the tax credits will help create opportunities for youth to access educational opportunities they couldn't otherwise.

But opponents, in a coalition called Support Our Schools Nebraska that has started circulating petitions throughout the state, argue the law will divert public funds to private schools, which they say are not required to serve all students, and gives the program favorable status over other tax credit programs.

Jenni Benson, president of NSEA, said in a statement in response to Keep Kids First, said support for the petition "has been overwhelming."

"Thousands of Nebraskans have already signed the petition to give Nebraskans the opportunity to vote on this issue," Benson said in a statement. "Nebraskans understand the importance of our public schools and keeping public funds for their local public schools."

Other members of Keep Kids First, including Sens. Dave Murman of Glenvil, Rob Clements of Elmwood, Tom Brewer of Gordon and Joni Albrecht of Thurston, accuse opponents of spreading misinformation about the program.

"This is about giving families a choice and kids a chance, not about taking anything away from our public schools," Brewer said.

Clarice Jackson, executive director of Voice Advocacy Center in Omaha; Dr. Britt Thedinger of Omaha; Kim Schroll, executive vice president of NebraskaLand Bank in North Platte; and John Dinkel, a business owner in Norfolk, also joined Keep Kids First.

"This year, Nebraska has taken a big step forward in giving parents and kids, especially those from lower-income families, a choice in education in our state," Dinkel said in a statement. "It's critical that we protect this progress so that we can help more kids and families achieve their dreams."

Top Journal Star photos for June 2023
With paintings and photographs of rivers, lithographs and sculptures about the Dust Bowl, pictures of flooded towns, dams and spillways and a couple abstractions, the Great Plains Art Museum examines Water in a Dry Land.

The exhibition, drawn from the museums permanent collection, doesnt have a tight thesis, nor is it hung chronologically, by medium or subject matter.

Instead it combines pieces, which range from Hopi artist Milland Lomakemas symbolic Bear & Kachina Migration Patterns to Herman Schwabes 1872 Nebraska from the Iowa Side, a painting of early Omaha seen from across the Missouri River, and a series of Michael Farrell photographs of the large dams on the North Platte River in Wyoming.

The exhibition only touches on the surface of the complex issues that surround water on the Great Plains, according to the exhibition statement. The purpose of Water in a Dry Land is to prompt visitors to contemplate waters importance in our world and how we can all be better stewards of that vital resource.

Such contemplation is unavoidable when seeing the pair of Robert Riggs circa 1941 lithographs  Dust Storm with a family, possessions loaded onto a horse-drawn wagon, walking and riding away from the giant black cloud behind them, and Jeff Gottfrieds 2020 Dust Bowl bronze of a cowboy leaning into the wind, holding onto his hat, his face covered with a bandana.

Could it happen again? With drought and climate change, maybe.

Similarly eye catching and thought provoking is Terence Durans 1951 The Sunken City (Republican City Underwater), an otherworldly imagined view of a gothic town that was submerged by a reservoir.

It inevitably brings to mind proposed water projects like the big lake on the Platte River near Ashland and their impact on the towns and area around them.

At the same time, Farrells striking black-and-white 90s photos of Lake McConaughys Kingsley Dam, the Pathfinder Dam and canyon spillway, the Glendo Power Plant, and an 1886-1888 painting of the water-operated Kearney Power House examine the management and use of rivers, whose flow is now threatened by drought, climate change and over appropriation.

And Augustus Dunbars Spring Flood, Platte River, a 1958 plein air painting that depicts a flooded tree-filled area around the river, a Farrell photograph of Oak Creek at 25th Road East of U from the day the rains began that created the 2019 flood, and Erin Jones Grafs Nebraska Strong painting of a submerged area from that flood examine the devastation too much water can bring.

Irrigation, another primary use of water in the Plains and in particular Nebraska, turns up in Charles Guildners 1992 black-and-white photo High as an Elephants Eye, which captures a stand of corn near Kearney with siphon irrigation down its rows; and in Kendall McMinimys wall-sized 1996 abstraction Aggrandizement 1, which uses giant acrylic paint circles in greys and blues to represent the movement of a center pivot.

The other abstraction is one of the most compelling pieces in the show  Christina McPhees 1999 Quivira West Wind/West Side, a gestural abstraction that alludes to the movement of water to a central blue splotch.

It shares a wall with a couple of my favorite pieces in the show  Roger Bruhns 1993 photograph of Chimney Rock from Faucus Springs, which captures the landmark in the distance over the placid pond created by the springs; and Hal Holouns 1999 impressionistic Niobrara River Painting with light flooding on the river scene from behind a cloud.

There are plenty of other associations that can be made among the works in the show  photographs of a stock tank, cattle at a Sandhills pond and a striking silhouette of horses Watering at a lake.

As always, Water in a Dry Land can simply be viewed as a grouping of objects with similar subject matter, some which are visually impressive and beautiful. But, with some thought, the exhibition creates an examination of the regions most important, and to some measure life-giving, natural resource, how water has been used and the implications for the future.

Water in a Dry Land is on view at the Great Plains Art Museum, 1155 Q St., through July 8.
While the closing after nearly 20 years of the Parthenon Greek Grille in June 2022 was not an easy thing for co-owners George and Mike Kazas, it was the right thing to do, according to the two brothers.

But within a month of the closing, the Kazas had focused their attention on their catering and food truck businesses.

The timing was right, says George. Our lease had expired, and while we could have extended it for five years, a large percentage of our business was on the catering side.

He says that the shift was a no-brainer. We had too many irons in the fire  trying to survive the pandemic, meeting restrictions, balancing staff and anticipating daily business.

Now with the truck and catering, we have a controlled busy as compared to the restaurant, where we never knew how busy we would be or the staffing necessities.

Booking the truck for events

The Kouzina food truck (Kouzina is Greek for kitchen) can be booked for special events or appearances at community gatherings such as farmers markets.

According to George, booking the truck can be tight  first come, first served  although regular customers are warned to book early. At the time of this interview, the truck was booked through August, going out some six times a week for special events such as Jazz in June and stops at doctors offices, Lowes, The Coffee Roaster, West Gate Bank or Sams Club. Even school events.

To keep track of the truck, the Kazas suggest customers check out the Kouzina food truck Facebook page, website, or sign up for a monthly email of truck sites. George emphasizes that all posted events are open for public patronage regardless of the site.

The food truck is also prepared for inclement weather and is out some four times a week during the winter.

A ton of people miss the restaurant, George relates, and a number of those regulars find out where the truck may be on a given day and seek us out.

Catering

As for the catering side, George says that business has almost tripled since the restaurant closed and makes up a larger percentage of business than the food truck.

The catering service numbers two to six lunches weekdays with weddings, graduations and receptions taking the forefront on Fridays and Saturdays. And as busy as both the truck and catering may sound, the Kazas say their return to the controlled busy is more favorable than the unknown busy.

In addition to serving Lincoln area patrons, the Kazas work with area farmers for food and produce. Were proud to partner with local farmers to provide the best seasonal and year-round items, George says.

Whats on the menu

The food truck features a regular menu of items available every time the truck is out. That includes nine sandwiches: Gyro ($8), Hot & Spicy Gyro ($8.50), Chicken Gyro ($8), Hot & Spicy Chicken Gyro ($8.50), Gyro Supreme ($9), Hot & Spicy Gyro Supreme ($9.50), Chicken Gyro Supreme ($9), Hot & Spicy Chicken Gyro Supreme ($9.50) and Falafel ($8).

Eight additional options include: Greek Salad ($8), Side Greek Salad ($5), Side Greek Fries ($4), Large Loaded Greek Fries ($7), Hummus & Pita ($3), Large Spanakopita ($5), Side Tzatziki ($1) and Baklava ($3).

For events, the Kazas will often create a special item menu to accompany the regular menu. Such additions as Cubano sandwich ($13), Muffaletta ($12) or loaded Greek nachos ($13) might be options. For a recent elementary school event, the special menu included four different burger choices.

George said that a customer favorite on the food truck is the Hot & Spicy Gyro Supreme, followed by a special menu item, the loaded Greek nachos.

He added that a customer is not going to get a fresher or faster meal anywhere when an order is produced at the Kouzina Food Truck  it is done fresh, not rewarmed.

As for Kouzina Catering, catering customers dont have to worry about a thing. Weve done events long enough to know what to expect  deal done.
The trial of the young woman facing a homicide charge in the shooting death of a Kenosha man who preyed on underage girls could begin next spring.

Chrystul Kizer, who faces a 2018 homicide charge for the death of a Kenosha man being investigated for sex trafficking, was back in a Kenosha County courtroom Thursday afternoon for a motion hearing.

Kizer, of Milwaukee, faces first-degree intentional homicide for the June 2018 death of Randall Volar, a 34-year-old Kenosha man who prosecutors admit had been preying on Kizer and other underage girls. Volar had also been under investigation for producing child pornography and sexual abuse.

Kizer, now 22, was 17 at the time she was charged and is accused of shooting Volar in the head twice and then setting his house at 7732 14th Ave. on fire. She then allegedly fled in his car.

Kizer appeared briefly with attorneys Jennifer Bias, Helmi Hamad and Gregory Holdahl before Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge David Wilk on Thursday. District Attorney Michael Graveley and assistant district attorney Zachary Brost appeared for the state.

Both sides requested adjournment Thursday for the filing of additional motions and for further review of materials. Graveley also asked that the court permit transcriptions of certain videos found inside Volars residence in lieu of digital recordings of sensitive materials being presented in court and shared publicly. Adjournment was granted and a motion hearing on the matter is set for September.

Graveley said both sides are hoping for a spring 2024 trial and they are gearing toward that sort of timetable.

Wilk said the case poses discovery challenges and is unique.

Still, although the court is patient, Wilk reminded the parties that patience is not endless.

Ongoing case

Last year, the Supreme Court of Wisconsin ruled that Kizer would be able to use an affirmative defense for any offense committed as a direct result of having been trafficked at her upcoming trial.

As the Supreme Courts majority decision, penned by Justice Rebecca Dallet, noted: Unlike many crimes, which occur at discrete points in time, human trafficking can trap victims in a cycle of seemingly inescapable abuse that can continue for months or even years.

For that reason, even an offense that is unforeseeable or that does not occur immediately after a trafficking offense is committed can be a direct result of the trafficking offense, so long as there is still the necessary logical connection between the offense and the trafficking, Dallet wrote.

At question is a lack of clarity in state law.

Under a state law passed in 2008, victims of sex trafficking are immune from prosecution from crimes they themselves may have committed as a direct result of having been trafficked.

The decision does not protect someone who has been a victim of trafficking from all prosecution.

As Dallet wrote in the majority opinion: It is not enough to say simply that because the defendant is a victim of human trafficking, any offense they commit subsequently must be a direct result of the trafficking. The offense must bear a logical, causal connection to the underlying trafficking offense; it must be a direct result of the trafficking. Thus, our interpretation does not create ... blanket immunity for victims of human trafficking.

The Kenosha County District Attorneys Office argued this protection cannot be stretched to include a defense against killing the trafficker themself, while those defending Kizer maintain it can be because the laws on the books have no restrictions on what crimes can be included.

Since June 2020 Kizer has been out of custody on a $400,000 cash bond raised by activists.

She also faces four other felonies of taking and driving a vehicle without consent, arson of a building without the owners consent, felony bail jumping and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Graveley has maintained his charging decision is not based on public opinion or politics and has asked people to reserve judgment until facts are presented at trial.

Kizer faces life in prison if convicted of first-degree intentional homicide, a Class A felony.
RACINE  When Norman D. Golden II was growing up in Racine, he knew he wanted to be an actor. His parents were supportive of his aspirations but had no idea he intended to pursue his dreams as a child.

A short while later, he would be working with some of the biggest names in the industry.

But despite his early success, the challenges that Golden faced when he broke into the business are remarkably similar to those that the industry is facing today.

Golden was inspired to go into acting by shows his family watched after dinner during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

I would see kids playing make believe, if you will, Golden said. I was old enough to know  I was around 6  to understand that it wasnt real, understanding it was make believe, but not understanding what Hollywood really was about.

Golden said that the fun the kids on screen were having intrigued him, and he bugged his parents for about a year to let him try acting, confident in what he wanted to do.

They always encouraged (me), Golden said. You know you can do anything you put your mind to, but unbeknownst to them, in my mind, I can do that now, not when Im an adult when I grow up.

Fortunately for Golden, his parents never shied away from indulging his passion, and eventually Goldens cries of I want to do that were answered.

Through family ties, Goldens mother enrolled him in a commercial workshop, kickstarting his acting career.

The workshop taught Golden about the audition process, gave him experience in front of a camera and introduced him to how to write for the screen, something that would benefit him in the future.

Golden quickly found representation, starting his acting career at 6.

After working in various commercials and the second season of the short-lived sitcom True Colors, Golden began working in films.

Cop and a Half

Golden got his motion picture start co-starring in Cop and a Half, a 1993 comedy about a boy who wants to be a police officer after watching cop shows on television.

Golden played the boy, who got paired with a police officer  who was played by Burt Reynolds.

Golden said the role was strange because he portrayed a Black boy wanting to be a police officer.

Just to have a co-starring role, Golden said, reflecting on what he considers to be his biggest acting role. Just the fact that I had a role that big for my demographic. There wasnt a lot of young African American kids, boys in particular, sharing a co-starring billing with a person like Burt Reynolds. I think thats what made it unique. People would see this poster and see this little Black kid sitting on Burt Reynolds shoulders and be like, What is this?

Golden also acknowledged the tensions between communities of color and law enforcement agencies, in relation to the complexity of his role.

There has been a long-standing clash with the Black community in particular and law enforcement, and theres reason for that, Gorden said, alluding to cases of police brutality both at the time the movie was released and today. That aint nothing new. Its been happening.

Golden said the premise of Cop and a Half, a young boy tagging along with a seasoned police officer to solve a murder the boy had witnessed, is a suspension of disbelief.

It played into the idea of children imagining themselves in grown up roles, like a police officer or a firefighter.

Along with that, Golden said he felt the fact that he was a Black kid wanting to be a police officer played into that suspension of disbelief as well.

Unfortunately what happens is when we grow and we get older, Black people typically have to grow up faster, Golden said.

Golden said the relationship between the Black community and law enforcement is not one of hate, but does require conversation and healing.

Black kids should be able to want to be a cop and protect and serve, Golden said. Really more to serve our community as a form of protection. We havent really been able to get that, not only because of our relationship with law enforcement, but society in general.

Golden equated the conversation about race relations to a pendulum: Sometimes a clear conversation can be had, while others may think there have already been enough milestones to mark the progress of race relations.

Later career

After the co-starring role, Golden went on to work with Oprah Winfrey and Maya Angelou in the television movie There are No Children Here, a story about a mother, played by Winfrey, and her struggles raising two boys in a Chicago public housing project.

Although many public housing projects in Chicago have been closed, Golden said the work reflected the struggles of the families living there at the time.

Back then, when that film was made in 93 ... it was crazy in Chicago, Golden said, calling his work on the film and the opportunity to work with Winfrey and Angelou poignant.

Goldens third film, On Promised Land, centered on a family of sharecroppers trying to get the land that was promised to them.

He said that many of his film roles after Cop and a Half spoke to the experiences of African Americans in various eras and times of their lives.

Golden continued his career as a child star into 1999, with a television adaption of Moby Dick.

The now

After he stopped acting, Golden shifted focus to nonprofit work, focusing mainly on education and spirituality.

He also began to write and produce films, some of which are available on Amazon Prime.

A few of his current projects have been stalled because of the Writers Guild of America strike.

I think it is unfortunate that after everything that history has taught us, and everything that a lot of the people that are at the helm of certain companies have even experienced or gone through, that we even have to be in this situation, Golden said.

The last writers strike, between November 2007 to February 2008, lasted three months and eight days. The current strike began May 2.

Theres so much money and so much opportunity thats out here in the world, Golden said, and people still feel the need to want to control and not really give them (the writers) a fair share.

Golden said the industry generates more than enough revenue for everyone to make a decent living.

If were gonna live, we want to have a life, he said. A healthy lifestyle, a descent lifestyle.

Golden also feels like the strike could cause the industry to go stagnant.

Now, everybody is clenched, so were not working, Golden said. Things have kind of stopped, so theres noting flowing. When nothing is flowing and everything is stagnant, then thats death.

28 celebrities you may not know are nonbinary 25 celebrities you may not know are nonbinary Janelle Monae Sam Smith John Cameron Mitchell Cara Delevingne Justin Vivian Bond Miley Cyrus Lachlan Watson King Princess Elliot Page Bex Taylor-Klaus Emma Corrin Jonathan Van Ness Miss Fame Sara Ramirez Angel Haze Ruby Rose Asia Kate Dillon Halsey Amandla Stenberg Rebecca Ray Sugar Grimes Indya Moore Nico Tortorella Emma D'Arcy Liv Hewson Bella Ramsey J. Harrison Ghee
RACINE  Racine Habitat for Humanity was joined by CNH Industrial this week to work on a new build and give back to the community.

Crews spent several days at the build site on Center Street, following Habitat for Humanitys efforts last week to lay down the bracing for the project.

Racine Habitat for Humanity Director of Development and Communications Rex Hamilton said rent in the neighborhood averages $950 per month, with the majority of residents renting, rather than owning, their homes.

Families that partner with Habitat for Humanity for affordable housing must be able to pay the mortgage, be a first-time homeowner, and show a willingness to join Habitat for Humanitys mission by donating 300 hours of sweat equity.

Families can volunteer for the organization in a variety of ways, including helping with construction of the house or working in the office.

They also must complete finance, mortgage and house maintenance classes during the 11-month building period.

Through our housing program, were able to build these affordable houses, sell them to our partner families at a very low rate, much lower than the actual rent, Hamilton said. Were not giving homes away, but were selling affordable homes to people to help build that stability, that strength, and that self-reliance in peoples lives.

The collaboration between Habitat for Humanity and CNH began Monday.

Bonnie Sikora, human resources manager at CNH, said that once Habitat for Humanity completes the initial building steps, employees from CNH spend a week volunteering at the site, helping with whatever they need.

Our employees are very passionate about giving back to the community, and this is a great example of that, she said. Its local to this community, which is where our employees work.

CNH employee and first-time volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Jeff Davenport also emphasized the importance of giving back to the community.

Its a lot of fun, besides helping another family out, he said. Its fun, and at the same time, its work, so I enjoy it.

Hamilton, who started as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in 2005 following Hurricane Katrina, said this project, without any setbacks, is expected to be complete next May.

He believes these builds exemplify the organizations mission.

What youre seeing here today is our mission on the sweat, and its very unifying, Hamilton said. I think that it brings a sense of joy and a sense of, not just giving back to the community, but really planting seeds of change and hope that will last for a long time in our city.

Photos from CNH and Habitat for Humanity's build week Making the cut Nailed it Stuck like glue Hammer it down big hammer
1. Yes. Voters across the city filled the seat in the first place. Voters should decide again.

2. Yes. An election is much preferable to back-room decisions among council members.

3. No. The charter calls for the council to fill the vacancy by appointment. Follow the rules.

4. No. An election would be expensive, both for the city and for the potential candidates.

5. Unsure. An election seems more transparent, but its not the perfect answer.

Vote

View Results
HOLDREGE  Chapter H, a local P.E.O. chapter, has completed a task some thought was impossible.

Its Memorial Committee has placed a permanent P.E.O. Star Memorial markers on 68 gravesites of its 106 past active members at Prairie Home Cemetery.

Star Memorials will soon be placed at past members gravesites in nearby cemeteries.

The project began last fall when the P.E.O. president brought home a new idea from a state convention. She had learned that some P.E.O. chapters placed P.E.O. stars on the graves of members (sisters) who had joined what P.E.O. calls the Chapter H Eternal.

In the past, the Holdrege chapter had given a book to the Holdrege library in memory of a sister who had died or marked her passing in some other meaningful way.

The chapter embraced the new star memorial idea, member Sylvia Person said.

Wed had two sisters pass away in 2021, and we thought placing memorial stars on their graves would be a nice thing to do, she said. But how could we mark the graves of these two recent sisters and not think about the others? Where do we draw the line in the sand?

They decided that other deceased sisters deserved star memorials, too. But that raised another question: How far back should they go?

Active members who pass away are considered members of Chapter H Eternal, but we had many more women who were members, but for many reasons were not active members when they passed, Person said.

Research begins

Last Nov. 1, the chapter officially formed a committee to look into placing PEO Memorial Star markers by graves of all Chapter H Eternal members.

Person volunteered to chair the group. Committee members included Ashley Maloley, Sherry McClymont, Susan Johnson, Sandra Slater, Roxine Nelson and Lindsay Ecklun.

On Dec. 6, the chapter gave the green light to the project. Nelson, Slater and Person began combing through cemetery records to find the grave of each member.

They found records that went all the way back to the founding of the P.E.O. Chapter H on Dec. 14, 1889. It was Nebraskas eighth chapter, hence the Chapter H name.

They learned that the first death of a member occurred in 1891, just two years after the chapter was formed.

With the help of Slater, who is the staff at the historical society at the Nebraska Prairie Museum, they were able to identify or recover specific information about all 106 members who have passed on since the chapter was founded.

In February, Person created a database with a list of names of Chapter Eternal members. To help pay for expenses, they asked each current member to pay for one marker.

It was kind of fun, I wanted to do my aunt and my mother, she said.

Research was taxing, but so interesting. Sometimes a member had a nickname. We looked for Minnie Swanson, but we found out her real name was Ora Fay Swanson, Person said.

On some grave records, a woman was recorded under the husbands name, so we had to find out who a mans wife was. That was another complication, she said.

Person cant say how many hours she spent scouring museum genealogy records. Quite a few, she said. I pretty much did the grunt work as far as getting proper grave locations.

The chapter then purchased 75 star markers from the Largen Manufacturing in Creighton and got busy.

The big dig

When it was time to install the stars at gravesites, Person and her husband Kent got training from Greg Swanson, the caretaker/manager of Prairie Home Cemetery. They watched as he installed the first star.

The stars had to be placed in the cement around the tombstone. That process required a hammer drill.The group needed a few generators as well.

On April 16, the first day, six people, using three hammer drills and a generator, put markers on 50 graves.

My family had a generator from an ice storm and Kent got that thing running, Person said. Rob Olson and Shawn Florell brought hammer drills.

The six placed the markers in three to four hours, Person said. She, Kris Olson and Sherry McClymont located and marked the graves and tried to keep track of which ones were completed.

On April 29, five workers  the Olsons, Sherry McClyont and the Persons  installed 15 more, using battery-operated hammer drills.

That left six graves they could not find. Finally on May 22, they found five of those. It is possible that the one remaining grave does not have a marker. A marker for her husband was not found, Person said.

Still looking

Currently, 68 Star Memorials stand on graves in the Prairie Home Cemetery. Two more are at the cemetery in Axtell. Others will soon be placed in cemeteries in places like Bertrand and other outlying towns.

Sylvia Person said cemetery records show that some of the lost members were buried there, but perhaps they never had a marker.

Chapter members found burial sites for all but nine of those 106 members who have passed. They learned that one was cremated. Another donated her body to science.

She said cemetery records show that some of the lost members were buried there, but perhaps they never had a marker, Person said.

Research continues for the graves of 18 more sisters who were probably buried in cemeteries in Bertrand and Gothenburg or in churchyards. We have seven others who probably were cremated or buried far out of state, like in Oregon, she said.

They also learned that the families of three deceased members had already put P.E.O stars on their graves. Families can still do that, but the chapter will do it from now on, and well volunteer to install it, Person said.

It was fun. We had a real good group of people, she said.
KakaoBank CEO Yun Ho-young, left, and SCBX CEO Arthid Nanthawithaya pose after signing a partnership on forming a consortium for a virtual bank license in Thailand at SCB Park Plaza in Bangkok, Thursday. Courtesy of KakaoBank





By Lee Min-hyung







Financial companies here are in a rush to expand their presence in Southeast Asia amid the toughening rivalry that is prevalent in the domestic market.







KakaoBank, the nation's leading internet-only bank, has recently signed a partnership with SCBX of Thailand. The latter is one of the country's leading financial groups, rapidly expanding its investment in the area of financial technology there.







Under the alliance, both companies decided to establish a consortium for a virtual bank license in Thailand. They will cooperate in not only the early phase of the consortium's operation but also after receiving the license, according to a statement from the Korean lender. The virtual bank refers to a kind of internet-only bank that does not operate any sales offices offline.







KakaoBank is expected to acquire at least 20 percent of shares in the consortium and become the second-largest shareholder.







Both sides have shared a common view on the growth potential of the Southeast Asian market and agreed to jointly develop diverse financial services. KakaoBank hopes to leverage its mobile financial technology and expertise in the mobile platform business, in its bid to tap deeper into Thailand and other Southeast Asian markets.







"KakaoBank is pleased to introduce its mobile banking expertise in the global market," KakaoBank CEO Yun Ho-young said. "KakaoBank is determined to build the future of finance and contribute to the advancement of financial technology in Thailand together with SCBX."







SCBX CEO Arthid Nanthawithaya said, "The strategic partnership will open up opportunities for Thai customers, particularly the underserved, to conveniently access a wide range of financial products and services at a greater accessibility through technology."







Other Korean non-banking players also identify Southeast Asia as their next major growth area.







Hanwha Investment & Securities decided Thursday to take over a controlling stake in Indonesia's Ciptadana Securities and Ciptadana Asset Management. The country's Lippo Group operates the affiliates. The Korean securities firm will acquire an 80-percent stake in Ciptadana Capital.







The logo of Hanwha Investment & Securities is seen at its headquarters in Seoul. Yonhap





The deal will be finalized as early as the end of 2023 after receiving approvals from the financial authorities of both countries.







Hanwha aims to expand its footing in Indonesia's lucrative digital finance sector after acquiring the companies.







"Indonesia is the world's fourth-most populous nation and the median age of its population is 30 years, so we have focused on the huge growth potential of digital finance there," Hahn Doo-hee, president of Hanwha Investment & Securities, said.


Madeline Adler and Bradley Guell of Tomah have been named to the fall 2022 Deans List at Ripon College. To qualify for the Deans List, students must achieve a 3.4 grade-point average or higher on a 4.0 scale and complete at least 12 credits of letter-graded work.

Adrian Degenhardt of Norwalk was named to the Milwaukee School of Engineerings Honors List for the 2023 winter quarter. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering. Undergraduate students who have earned a GPA of 3.2 or higher are on the Honors List.

Fifty-nine Western Technical College construction and industrial trade apprentices received $1,500 scholarships from Ascendium Education Group, a non-profit organization that helps students across the country repay federal student loans.

Local students who received the award are William Coppernoll of Tomah, Jacob Green of Norwalk and Ruth Schwichtenberg of Kendall. The scholarship money comes from the Tools of the Trade Apprentice Scholarship program, which helps apprentices purchase tools, clothing, and equipment vital to their trades.

Collin Dowson of Tomah was inducted to the Phi Beta Kappa academic society at the University of Wisconsin-Madison during a ceremony at Varsity Hall in Union South with 300 attending. The chapter, founded in 1899, seeks to honor students who rigorously explore the sciences, arts and humanities.

Stephanie Moroney of Tomah was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She was initiated at East Carolina University, located in Greenville, North Carolina.

Rocio Lucero of Tomah has been named to the Deans List at Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri. To be named to the Deans List, a student must have completed 12 semester hours in a 16-week period and achieved a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0-point scale. Lucero attends the college online.

Connor Genrich and Kenzie Herold are spring graduates of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Genrich graduated with a Master of Science in education, and Herold graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in the College of Letters and Sciences.
Three people are in custody on drug trafficking charges after multiple law enforcement agencies collaborated on an investigation in La Crosse and Vernon counties.

According to a press release, the La Crosse Police Department executed multiple warrants as part of an ongoing drug investigation into Stanley J. Holte, 33, and Julia A. Lloyd, 39. On Monday, June 12, Holte and Lloyd were taken into custody in Coon Valley as part of a joint effort with the Vernon County Sheriffs Department, La Crosse County Sheriffs Department, Onalaska Police Department and Campbell Police Department.

Police said Holte fled from officers as the warrant was served. He was arrested and transported to the Vernon County Jail for driving while intoxicated and possession of about 2 pounds of methamphetamine located under the drivers seat of his vehicle. The passenger, Damien Reinsvold, was also taken to Vernon County Jail on charges related to possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Lloyd was taken into custody at her residence without incident.

A search of the residence under investigation uncovered about 3 pounds of methamphetamine and over $49,000 in cash that police said was related to drug distribution. Police said they have evidence that Holte had been supplying large quantities of drugs to people in La Crosse, Vernon, Crawford, Monroe counties in Wisconsin and Houston County in Minnesota. Over 5 pounds of methamphetamine and 31.3 grams of fentanyl were seized as part of the investigation. Holte was released from prison in early 2022 and has previous methamphetamine and resisting convictions.

All three defendants appeared June 14 in Vernon County Circuit Court via Zoom from the Vernon County Detention Center for bail hearings.

On June 14, Reinsvold was released from custody on a $2,000 signature bond. Reinsvold listed a La Crosse address upon release. In addition to standard bail conditions, Reinsvold is not to possess or consume any controlled substances unless prescribed by a physician, he is not to possess drug paraphernalia and is to comply with random drug testing by law enforcement upon reasonable suspicious of recent drug use or possession.

Holte and Lloyd remain in custody on $500,000 cash bonds. All three are due back in Vernon County Circuit Court at 8:30 a.m. July 6 for an initial appearance.

An investigation into the drug trafficking cases is ongoing.

La Crosse Police Chief Shawn Kudron said the collaboration between agencies helps law enforcement better serve their communities.

We want to thank the Vernon County Sheriffs Department, La Crosse County Sheriffs Department, Onalaska Police Department, and Campbell Police Departments. We will continue to work together for the safety of everyone and to send a clear message these types of crimes will not be tolerated.

Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson said law enforcement will continue to aggressively pursue illegal drug dealers.

The dangers of these drugs, especially fentanyl, must be eradicated from our communities, Torgerson said. The collaboration, teamwork, and seamless communication amongst multiple agencies is truly amazing. I would like to thank all the investigators, officers, our emergency communications professionals, correctional officers, and support staff for all of your hard work and dedication keeping our communities safe.
Wisconsins Republican-controlled budget committee on Friday rejected Gov. Tony Evers request for $340 million to maintain a child care assistance program that will run out of federal funding next year.

The committees vote came in the early morning after more than 10 hours of closed-door discussion by GOP lawmakers. Evers and Democratic lawmakers raised concerns that rejecting the governors funding request could have a drastic negative impact on the availability of affordable child care in the state.

Evers requested in his 2023-25 budget more than $340 million to continue monthly payments to child care providers and make the program permanent in Wisconsin. The governor, in a statement Thursday, urged Republicans to approve funding for the program, which he called a lifeline for families and child care providers across our state.

The child advocacy organization Kids Forward noted that the median pay for child care workers in Wisconsin is $12.66 an hour. Before the federal funding was provided, the median pay was $10.66 an hour, said Brooke Skidmore, co-owner of the Growing Tree, a home-centered child care center in New Glarus.

Child Care Counts is the only thing that has really kept our doors open during this time, Skidmore said. And its frustrating because we have waitlists a mile long, but I have rooms that sit empty because I cant get the teachers, and I cant get the teachers because of the pay. The only thing that has helped right now has been the (federal) funding.

A recent national survey of early childhood educators, which included responses from 1,173 Wisconsin child care providers, found that 63.3% of Wisconsin centers have staffing shortages and that 79.8% of workers are facing burnout and exhaustion. Conducted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the survey also indicated that 32.1% of child care center owners would consider leaving their job or closing their program in the future if economic conditions dont improve.

At the Capitol

Democrats and advocates for the Child Care Counts program gathered outside the state Capitol building Thursday morning, demanding approval of Evers funding request. Democrats said failing to fully fund the child care program will result in additional child care provider closures, drive up the cost of the centers that remain open and force more parents to stay home to care for their children  further exacerbating the states longstanding workforce challenges.

Weve got the money, Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, said Thursday morning. If they end this program, if they kill it in this building today, I guarantee you we are going to have mass day care closures ... and we will be there and we will hold them accountable.

Rep. Jessie Rodriguez, R-Oak Creek, said Republican lawmakers are working on a package of bills that will address the child care deserts that we hear about. Rodriguez said that bill will look to spend $15 million.

The federal government originally provided more than $300 million to the Child Care Counts program to support providers during the COVID-19 pandemic by helping cover costs of staffing and operations. That funding dropped to $90 million this month and it will end entirely next year.

Given our states workforce challenges and our already historically low unemployment, Wisconsin literally cannot afford not to support our child care industry and make sure child care is affordable and accessible for families across our state, Evers said.

The Child Care Counts program has distributed in excess of $378 million to more than 4,300 child care providers in the state, impacting more than 22,000 child care professionals, according to the state Department of Children and Families.

Flood of letters

Ruth Schmidt, executive director of the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association, said in a statement Monday that more than 18,000 families, child care providers, employers and community leaders had sent letters to state lawmakers calling for at least $300 million in child care funding in the states next two-year spending plan.

It is time legislative leaders pay attention to the will of Wisconsinites to address longstanding child care challenges that will only worsen without state support, Schmidt said. There is no question we need a solution that matches the magnitude of the challenges.

The annual Kids Count report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, released Wednesday, found that the average annual cost for center-based child care in Wisconsin is $12,415. That is 11% of the median income of married couples and 36% of the median income of single mothers. The report also notes Wisconsin has the 18th-highest annual center-based child care costs in the country.

Measures approved by the budget-writing committee include:

$5 million in state funds to create a general dentistry residency program at Marquette Dental School.

$5 million in one-time funds over the biennium to expand health professional education and training grants with expanded eligibility to include registered nurses.

$2 million for a telemedicine crisis response pilot program.

$45 million in one-time funding to replace Wisconsins statewide public safety interoperable communication system used by local, county, tribal, state and federal first responders and public safety officials.

PHOTOS: Our House welcomes Easter spirit with window decorating 040522-port-news-easter09.jpg 040522-port-news-easter23.jpg 040522-port-news-easter25.jpg 040522-port-news-easter06.jpg 040522-port-news-easter14.jpg 040522-port-news-easter04.jpg
The Angie and Tim Werner family of Mindoro has opened Werners HD Drive-In at 612 N. Main St. in Holmen, 70 years after it began as an A&W
All of us in the La Crosse County District Attorneys office take very seriously our role working with victims of crime. Thats why we partnered with Marsys Law for Wisconsin recently to hold a mapping exercise where we, and other stakeholders from the community and the Wisconsin Department of Justice, literally mapped the journey of a victim through the criminal justice system  from the initial call to law enforcement all the way to post-conviction proceedings.

Our goal was to ensure that at every touchpoint in the process, we are connecting victims to available services and that they realize the rights given to them under Wisconsins crime victims rights constitutional amendment, also known as Marsys Law, and state law.

The mapping exercise helped us all to better understand what we are doing well and what can be improved on. We are fortunate to have some of the hardest working and most compassionate victim witness professionals in the state working here in La Crosse County. I know they will continue to do all they can to help crime victims through what is often a difficult time.

If you happen to find yourself as a victim of a crime, you can be certain that my entire office is doing all we can to make sure your rights are protected.

Tim Gruenke

La Crosse
Ninety scholarships are available for individuals looking to complete their community health worker certificate, according to a press release from the Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance.

The scholarships cover tuition and some related expenses but will not exceed $3,750 per individual.

Individuals are eligible to apply if they live in Minnesota or work in Minnesota as a community health worker with a high school diploma or GED. Students must be accepted and enrolled to a community health worker certificate program to be considered.

Schools that offer community health worker certificate programs include Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Worthington, Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Northwest Technical College in Bemidji, St. Catherines University in St. Paul and St. Marys University in Minneapolis. Classes are available in both online and hybrid formats, according to the press release.

Students who start classes in August can graduate in May 2024, the release says.

The priority deadline to apply is July 15, and you can apply online at mnchwalliance.org/chw-certificate-scholarship.
Winona resident Tim Breza was presented Wednesday night with the Honorary Badge under the Polish flag by the mayor of Bytow, Poland.

From hundreds of applicants, a mere 44 people have received the award that is both approved by the Polish national board and the president of Poland.

While the cordial Polish Heritage Dinner, hosted by the Winona International Friendship Association and the city of Winona at Signatures Vision Event Center, had many speakers, including soon-to-be chancellor of Minnesota State Dr. Scott Olson and Minnesota State Rep. Gene Pelowski, the event had its warmest moment when Bytow Mayor Ryzard Sylka presented Breza with the prestigious award.

The Winona and Bytow sister-city relationship is nearly 20 years old. In that time Breza, vice president of the Winona International Friendship Association, has been integral to both its development and success, including his work at the Polish Museum in Winona.

The honorary award is given to Polish citizens and for the first time in 2019 to people outside of Poland. It was announced Breza won the award in 2020 for his contributions to Bytow and Winonas relationship and, with COVID-19 postponing the ceremony and the Polish delegations visit, he accepted it Wednesday.

Breza has always been in touch with the Polish community, especially with people from the Bytow area, Sylka said. He was responsible for the cooperation and partnership between Winona and Bytow.

Sylka recognized Breza for his support of not only Bytow, the cultural exchange program the relationship has built, but even being an active leader and teacher for people traveling to Bytow.

We are very proud, at this side of the Atlantic Ocean, we have a great friend and ambassador of Polish and Kashubian matters, Sylka said.

Breza said the honor he has earned comes from three things: opportunity, heritage and service. The relationships he has made in Poland are personal.

Its a rare honor for a city to recognize a citizen of a different country as one of their own, Breza said. The honor is unexpected, and it deeply affects me.

With only 44 of the awards given out, and four of them to people outside of Poland, Breza said the privilege is special to him and something hell live with forever.

Its beyond words to describe, Breza said. Its like winning a President Medal and in a way it is.

Breza, whose grandparents are from the same Kashubian region of Poland as Bytow, said hes deeply attached to his heritage and has motivated his work in Bytow and Winona.

Its all about heritage and to keep repeating that year after year, generation after generation, to keep it alive, Breza said. Thats my intent and purpose to do that throughout the community.

Additionally, Michelle Alexander of Winona, chairperson for the Winona International Friendship Association, was awarded the Honorary Badge under the Polish flag.

She will accept the award at a formal ceremony in Bytow when she travels there in early July. She said shes touched and appreciative of the honor.

Its always nice when people recognize the effort you put into something. You dont expect it, you dont necessarily need it, but its nice, Alexander said. And its even nicer, really, that people in another country looked at our efforts to try to promote Kashubian and Polish culture here that they recognize theres something unique about that.

Alexander said she still hasnt fully processed the gravity of the honor but the ceremony in July will allow her a chance to reflect on its weight.

Tim and I were taken aback that they had considered our efforts to be worth putting us up for an award like that, Alexander said.
Officials from the Lake Geneva Business Improvement District are pleased with the results for this years Spring Wine Walk.

The Wine Walk, which is hosted by the Lake Geneva Business Improvement District, was held May 21 in Downtown Lake Geneva and featured participating businesses offering samples of wines and snack items. The proceeds from the Wine Walk will be donated to the Never Say Never Playground project.

Alexandria Binanti, executive director for the Business Improvement District, presented the results of the event during the Lake Geneva Business Improvement District Board meeting, June 7.

Binanti said this years Spring Wine Walk had a record attendance of about 479 people.

We sold out at 500 tickets, Binanti said. We did end up having about 479 attendees coming.

Binanti said the event generated about $22,206 in sales, and she initially projected that is would generate about $16,650 in sales.

She said it costed about $13,750 to host the event, whereas she initially projected that it would cost about $20,400. Binanti said the event had a net revenue of about $8,456.

Great job, Spyro Condos, president of the Business Improvement District Board, said.

Binanti said she sent out surveys to attendees and participating businesses to obtain their feedback about the event.

She said the attendees who responded to the survey indicated that they were overall pleased with the Wine Walk.

We had overwhelmingly good reception, Binanti said. The only compliant is maybe they wanted more food stops that were a little bit more robust in their offerings, but otherwise the traffic flow was great. People loved the pre check-in the day before, which we had 80 people check in the night before so that was nice.

Binanti said attendees indicated that they were pleased that there were descriptions for the different wines, and they liked the variety of wine that was offered.

That was different from years past, and they liked the variety, Binanti said. We had a good mix of red, rose and white wines.

The majority of the people indicated that they learned about the event through social media, email or word of mouth.

Binanti said the event attracted people from the Milwaukee area and the Chicagoland area.

There were some that commented that they stayed overnight and had a great time, Binanti said. They loved the restaurants and the shopping throughout the day.

She said some people indicated that they would have liked less stops to allow more time to visit each business. About 32 businesses participated in the event.

The recommendation was to reduce the amount of locations to 25, so I think in November thats what were going to try to target, Binanti said. So it will give them a little more quality time inside the businesses.

Several of the participating business also indicated that they were pleased with the event.

Binanti said several of the business owners indicated that they experienced an increase in revenue during the Wine Walk.

Overall, the majority of them said they saw a 25% increase in sales and some said they had about a 50% increase, Binanti said. There were about four businesses that said their sales stayed the same.

Binanti said several of the business owners said they liked how the event was organized.

They really loved the traffic flow, because we did two different routes on our passport, Binanti said. It allowed for groups to venture off into different areas at different serving points, so they werent getting a hundred people to stop in at one time.

Binanti said there were no major issues reported during the event.

There were less issues with over serving, Binanti said. There were less issues with over drinking in general.

The Lake Geneva Business Improvement District is set to host another Wine Walk, Nov. 5.

We will be planning our November one very shortly, Binanti said. We already have sent a save the date out with about 80% of our guests interested in returning.
This article appears in the June 16, 2023 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

[Print version of this article]

New World Coalition Formed for Coordinate d Actio n T o Sto p Worl d Wa r III

June 9The following release was posted June 7 by the Schiller Institute, whose founder and leader, Helga Zepp-LaRouche, is a participant in the international peace movement process.

International Peace Coalition Must Grow To Stop World War III

June 7A zoom meeting with over 25 representatives of peace organizations from about a dozen nations was held June 2, with the aim of bringing the diverse peace movements around the world together to counter the rapidly escalating threat of a U.S.-NATO full-scale war with Russia and potentially also with China.

Schiller Institute founder Helga Zepp-LaRouche opened the meeting, noting the extreme danger of the NATO escalation toward war: Air Defender 23 now ongoing, the largest multinational air operations exercise in NATOs history; the drone attacks on Moscow, and the virulent proposals for dismantling the Russian Federation. She said there were significant peace rallies in the U.S. and Europe in February and in March, but since that time the war escalation has rapidly increased, and the peace movement clearly needs to increase much more. So it is urgent to launch a much more integrated form of organization to unify and expand the worlds peace movements to end the march to war, before it is too late.

The discussion included the urgent need for the diversion of military spending to development, contrasting the cost of a single F-16 (in the tens of millions of dollars each) to the massive need for development financing in most parts of the world.

The challenge of mobilizing large numbers of Americans to become a voice for peace is one priority, and joining with the Global South, which is experiencing a renaissance of the Non-Aligned Movement to finally overcome all forms of colonialism, another. The voice of the majority of the human species must be heard, since the existence of all of us is at stake.

Over 25 world citizens from a dozen nationsFrance, Guyana, Germany, Italy, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, the UK, and the U.S.participated in the two-and-a-half hour meeting, discussing proposals for achieving these goals.

Discussion Excerpts

Following are excerpts from the discussion by some of the participants:

Helga Zepp-LaRouche, Schiller Institute founder, Germany:

The large demonstrations in February in Washington, D.C. and in GermanyBerlin having 50,000 people and many other local rallies sincedo not match the masses in the streets which protested the Pershing II SS-20 Middle Range Missile crisis in the 1980s, with hundreds of thousands of people in the street, who were aware that we were close to World War III then. I think that we really have to make an effort; and I would wish that this discussion today leads to a new form of organization where we would use this group of people as a kernel to try to unify the Peace movement internationally, across five continents.

Donald Ramotar, former President of Guyana:

We have to pull our minds together, and I hope this meeting will help to make a contribution in that way, to break out of this information blockade that most people in developing countries are facing.

Richard H. Black, former Virginia State Senator, U.S.A.:

We are in a great deal of danger, and I think it makes a great deal of sense to bring all those groups together, especially those who dont agree on many things, but where we intersect, where we overlap, this is where we need to act and join forces.

Ray McGovern, Veterans for Peace, VIPS, and Pax Christi, U.S.A.:

It doesnt matter if Ray McGovern believes that Putin is right on this. What matters is that Putin thinks this is the case! What we need is whistle blowers, like my former friends in the CIA. What we need is a mass mobilization to say Look, stop this Air Defender 23, because it can come to what the Chinese call a no good end.

Jack Gilroy, Veterans for Peace, and Pax Christi, U.S.A.:

There is a huge education needed in the United States to teach the American people, through writings and videos and various pronouncements by people in the existing Peace communities, that people must understand that Americans did provoke Russia to act.

Martin Schotz, author, History Will Not Absolve Us: Orwellian Control, Public Denial, and the Murder of President Kennedy, Massachusetts, U.S.A.:

My work is primarily trying to get President Kennedys American University speech distributed as widely as possible. The reason for that is that Kennedy has outlined in great detail and sophistication, what the peace process is all about and the various aspects of it. If one looks at U.S. foreign policy of the last 30 years, from my point of view, the U.S. is 180 degrees from that speech. The exact opposite process, its been following, and that is a war process.

Chandra Muzaffar, President, International Movement for a Just World (JUST), Malaysia:

Number one, I think that it is extremely important to create a strong Peace movement in the United States of America....

Number two, I think it is also very important to encourage groups at the grassroots level in different parts of the world. I come from the Global South, and I think it is quite possible to do this, not through Peace groups, since there are not many in the Global South, but there are other types of civil society movements. They should be enthused to act....

And the third, we have to try to get some voices within the corridors of power to act.

Angela McArdle, Chair, Libertarian Partys National Committee, and Rage Against the War Machine Organizer, U.S.A.:

What I hope we do is really laser-focus on the anti-war movement. What can we do to advance an agenda of Peace and how can we do it that makes room for as many people as possible? I dont believe that the bloods of monsters of the war machine, like Mitch McConnell or the McCain/Cheney types will have any interest in what were doing, but I would hope that people who are regular low-information voters on the right and left will see what we are doing, be inspired by it, and want to join with us.

Nick Brana, National Chair, Peoples Party, and Rage Against the War Machine Organizer, U.S.A.:

I have a format that I think would be really good for the next meeting, that I think would really help us work [on] this enormous challenge we face, and work backwards from our goal to end the war ... to what are the possible solutions. There have been Peace negotiation proposals by the Vatican, by Brazil, by China. There have been mass demonstrations to stop the war in the U.S., mass demonstrations to stop the war in Germany ... and then we can identify a number of different possible win conditions for us as an international Peace movement, that these are the routes by which the war can be ended. And then work backwards from those.

Alessia Ruggeri, Trade Unionist, Italy:

I remember very well our mobilization with the Schiller Institute to unblock Afghan funds being frozen by the Federal Reserve, funds which were needed to feed starving children. I share Helgas view that peace means also economic development, as the BRICS countries are demanding right now. It is very important that all peace movements come under a single cap, a single direction, thanks to this initiative of the Schiller Institute. This way we can be stronger.

Maurizio Abbate, Chairman, Ente Nazionale Attivita Culturali (ENAC), Italy:

Ive heard a lot of reports of large demonstrations, 300,000 people or so in important cities. But this reaches only people who know the problem, who are committed. But the great majority of people who listen to the mainstream media will not understand. So its important to reach the people who do not know and do cultural work. One should start from culture: schools and universities.

No2NATO Representative, UK:

Its clear that the mainstream media narrative across the West is the same. People listen to their television. They are hearing the same narrative day in and day out. We need to try to change that narrative. George Galloway and Chris Williamson send their apologies for not being able to attend the meeting, saying, We do hope to attend any future events that you do.

Bernie Holland, SGI-UK National Culture Centre, UK:

I am very touched by your sincerity regarding these problems. Now this word sincerity is important here in the context of statecraft and diplomacy. Im putting emphasis on this because for many years, we have seen the great lengths that President Putin and Secretary Lavrov have gone to build an entente cordiale with Western partners, only to be met with dissent and deceit.

Ulf Sandmark, President, Schiller Institute Sweden:

What I want to bring up is the Nord Stream issue, because the Swedish prosecutor is sitting on the proof, taking the material from the bottom of the Baltic Sea. They are saying that all traces on those materials are from explosives. They are not releasing the proof at all, but they are actually doing a cover up of the crime scene. We in Sweden dont have the power to force the prosecutor to release these things. So we need international pressure.

Johan Nordquist, Publisher, Truth Guardian, Sweden:

The ignorance is monumental amongst ordinary people. And I think we have to overcome that. One way to do that, which has inspired me, is Scott Ritters effort to counter Russophobia. In Sweden, it is very difficult to speak because of the widespread Russophobia. One very simple message to reach people who are not aware, or are still in the mainstream media bubbleand that would be to ban nuclear weapons.

Diane Sare, U.S. Senate Candidate, New York, U.S.A.:

I was just thinking about this challenge, Why arent people in the streets, why dont we have millions of people in the streets? I think there are two reasons. One is that Americans had believed that you change things through the electoral process. But many Americans, from both sides, have lost faith in their electoral system, with good reason. So they are at a loss. The other is a despair. If things get really bad, and worse, or that people realize they are worse, will this cause them to go out in the streets? I dont think so. I dont think its going to work that way.

Jacques Cheminade, former French Presidential Candidate, France:

What we have here [in France] at this point is the highest form of social demonstrations, I think, probably in the developed sector. These demonstrations are against the pensions reform, the counter reform of the French government. So as such, if its limited against pensions, it becomes a single issue and it doesnt work. What we have to do, is to transform this social ferment into a mobilization for Peace.

Steven Starr, Professor, University of Missouri; former Director, UM Clinical Laboratory Science Program, U.S.A.:

The hallmark of the Biden regime is irrationality. I think we have to find a way to get these people out of power. We cant wait for elections, and whether the elections would be rigged or not would be another question. There is a man named Francis Boyle, who wrote up articles of presidential impeachment; and I think it would be worthwhile to get someone to bring those up to the House of Representatives. Because the neo-cons running foreign policy are entirely corrupt and delusional. I think some of them think they can get Russia to back down, and I think some think they can win a nuclear war.

Also in attendance were:

Maria de los Angeles Huerta, former Mexican Congresswoman

Chris Fogarty, Irish-American leader

Marinella Correggia, Eco-peace activist, journalist, Italy

Christer Lundgren, Sweden

Gisela Neira, PC(AP), Communist Party of Chile

Kirk Meighoo, former Senator in Trinidad and Tobago

Juan Carrero, Fundacion SOlivar, Spain

Jose Vega, activist, interventionist, and Schiller Institute organizer, U.S.A.

Anastasia Battle, activist, interventionist, and Editor-in-Chief, Leonore magazine, U.S.A.

If you are interested in working with the International Peace Coalition, please contact the Schiller Institute, questions@schillerinstitute.org.
This editorial appears in the June 16, 2023 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

[Print version of this editorial]

EDITORIAL

How To Know What Peace To Seek

June 12Saying, It appears that your anti-war effort is very one-sided. It seems to completely justify Putins aggression, a questioner with a definite Ukrainian view of events asked the Schiller Institute the following questions during its June 10 seminar titled, The World Needs JFKs Vision of Peace. Schiller Institute founder Helga Zepp-LaRouche responded.

Questioner: [the questions were read by moderator Dennis Speed] After reading your conference literature, my questions are: Why dont you direct your criticisms and cries to Mr. Putin? Is it your view that he is a victim of the West? And, who is funding and supporting you financially?

Helga Zepp-LaRouche: I was asked by another interviewer, a few days ago, what I would say about the accusation that I am a Putinversteherthis is a German word which means, someone who understands Putin. I think Ray [McGovern] said at one point that one should understand Putin, because if you dont understand him then you have a wrong evaluation.

I think that the question reflects a minimum of 30 years of distortion of history. I am not an observer of history. I take with pride that my late husband and I, and our whole movement, we were trying to influence the development of history.

Lyndon LaRouche prognosed in 1984, that the Soviet Union would collapse if they would stay with their then existing rejection of a peace proposal he had made: the SDI, or what became known as the SDI when it was adopted by President Reagan on the 23rd of March, 1983. And he predicted that if the Soviets would remain on that course, they would collapse in five years. Now, that was pretty close to what happened.

Now, he also suggested in [19]88, that the Comecon was facing a terminal crisis, and that German reunification would happen soon, and that Berlin should be the capital. It happened exactly one year later; and because we had worked on a reconstruction program for the period after this would happen, we were on the scene. When the [Berlin] Wall came down, we were the only force that had a policy for what to do. Namely, we suggested the transformation of the Warsaw Pact countries (or, the Comecon countries) with Western, modern technologieswhich [program] we called the Productive Triangle Paris-Berlin-Vienna.

And that proposal, while it was well received by German industrialists and others, because of the geopolitical opposition it did not become realized. But, when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, we extended that [program], and we called it the Eurasian Land-Bridge. Now that proposal, today, is very much in affinity with what China is doing with the Belt and Road Initiative.

This is a long and complicated story. The only reason why I mention it, is because what we are saying is not some tea-leaf reading from newspapers, but we have been on the scene. We knew first-hand, because we talked to relevant peoplenot only in Poland, but in East Germany, in Czechia (in Czechoslovakia)so when we are saying certain things, this is based on the authority of being time-witnesses.

And from that standpoint, I can say absolutely clearly, that the promises by NATO, not to move one inch to the east were broken; NATO has moved 1,000 kilometers to the east; they are still moving east, in the form of global NATO. And that is what is the cause of this [current] disaster.

We were also on the scenebecause we had an interest in developing the Eurasian Land-Bridgeduring the Maidan coup in 2014 [in Ukraineed.]. We followed it every day. We knew what happened with [U.S. State Department official] Victoria Nuland. We listened to her strange tape with [U.S.] Ambassador Pyatt. We heard what she thought about the EU, which I dont want to repeat here, because Im a lady.

So, I think that your question reflects a complete bias being fed by the media for, I dont know how long. But I can only assure you: Youd better read up on your history.
This article appears in the June 16, 2023 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

[Print version of this article]

INTERVIEW: SIETA VAN KEIMPEMA

Dutch Farmers Mobilized To Defend Scienc e, Farmin g, an d  Foo d fo r th e Future

Sieta van Keimpema, prominent Dutch farm leader, was interviewed June 2 by Diane Sare, Independent LaRouche candidate for U.S. Senate from New York. The video interview was later broadcast on Sares weekly online New York Symposium, in a discussion with Mike Callicrate, cattle rancher from Kansas, and owner of Ranch Foods Direct in Colorado, and Bob Baker, from the Schiller Institute Agriculture Commission. The June 2 Symposium, titled, The World Is Hungry! Why Not Let the Farmers Farm? does not represent a political endorsement, but was livestreamed and is archived to contribute to voter education, Sare explained.

View full size

EIRNS/Robert Baker

Diane Sare: I know Americans have been following whats happening in the Netherlands, but may not have an idea of the details and some of the important victories. So, Im just going to ask you to go ahead and tell us who you are, what organizations you are with, and what the situation is.

Sieta van Keimpema: My name is Sieta van Keimpema, I have been a dairy farmer for a very long time, until three years ago. Today, I am still the President and a board member of the Dutch Dairymen Board, a group of dairy farmers, but most important is the group which also organized all the demonstrations. Its the Farmers Defense Force, but it was founded in 2019. Since 2019, I have been involved in the Farmers Defense Force. I am Secretary of its Board.

View full size

EIRNS/Robert Baker

Sare: How did the Farmers Defense Force get started? Why did farmers need to defend themselves?

Van Keimpema: In May 2019, animal extremists came into a pig farm and stayed there for 20 hours, without being removed by the government or the police. This shocked Mark van den Oever, the founder of Farmers Defense Force so much that he started a Facebook page. His Facebook page became in a few weeks time an enormous success. A lot of people became members. After that, we had a politician in August 2019 who said half of the farmers and half of the cattle had to go, to become more sustainable. Then the Farmers Defense Force became the organization it is today. We organized together with another group on October 1, 2019, and that was the demonstration where I came to the Farmers Defense Force. And since then, we have been actually fighting the government.

Sare: Now, I dont suppose we really have a lot of excess food. You would think so by these crazy politicians who keep trying to cut production, but actually there are millions of people on the planet who are starving. Are any of the consumers of this food aware that their supply is about to disappear?

Van Keimpema: Well, thats the egoistic effect of what these people who act like they are high priests of a new kind of sect, telling [us] that nature is something that they created. Since COVID, we have about 30% more hungry people in the world, the United Nations has said. Since the Ukraine-Russia war, there are a lot of people in Africa who cant get any grain anymore to bake their bread. So, we see that this is a very vulnerable system, but also that getting dependent on other regions of the world is very dangerous, because you could get left out. Although we export a lot in the Netherlands, we import more than half of what we consume. The Dutch inhabitantswe are 18 million nowneed 3.4 million hectares of land, but we only have 1.8 million. So, the rest of what we consume, we import. While we export our excess milk and meat and vegetables, more than half of what we consume comes from abroad.

Sare: What is the excuse for shutting down these farms? What are they saying the problem is? The alleged pollution and damage, what are they talking about?

Van Keimpema: They say that farmers pollute nature, actually. Some years ago, in 1990, Nature 2000 nature conservation areas were founded where specific species should live. Now, they are saying that the areas are very suitable for this and this plant, but if those plants arent there it is the fault of the farmers. And the emissions from their cows are the reason why those plants arent there.

But if I tell you that nature organizations are looking at the year 1900 or 1700, to get back to the state of nature that the Dutch nature was in but nobody really knows, you know how ridiculous and evil this system is.

Truth About Emissions

Sare: And theyre making a big deal about nitrogen. Can you say something about this?

Van Keimpema: I was at the European Parliament this week, and its CO 2 . In France, its methane. But it all has the same outcome. It amounts to at least half of the farmers in Europe should go. So, you see that it doesnt have to do a lot with nitrogen, because the surroundings are nitrogen; its even in our DNA. So, it all has to do with taking away the land. They just want us to move, and they are making legislation so that we have no other choice.

Sare: I read a speech by someone there, or maybe a translation, who said, How can you say the cows are the problem? We have more cows now than we had in 1900. But [then] there were bison, and other animals in the millions that would emit the same gases.

Van Keimpema: Yeah. Well, actually the Netherlands were, of course, first a swamp. And then because of the farmers and the building of dykes, the Netherlands became a dry country. We do have lakes of course, but now we have dry feet. It all has to do with agriculture, so what is really unspoiled nature in the Netherlands? Actually, it doesnt exist; its all manmade.

So, its a very peculiar discussion, and very often you feel like youre not on the same planet, because those people and what they say have nothing to do with science, and it has nothing to do with reality. So, they have an ideology, and politics very often is ideology, but it can also become very dangerous. We have seen in the past what ideology can do for regions. I think that the ideology today is that all the food production should be in the hands of the state, so a few people control food, and then you can control all your people.

Sare: Right. I think most of the people would be dead, actually.

Van Keimpema: Yes. Thats true.

Sare: If you dont have food, whats the conclusion? Youre not going to be there. I think this is terrible.

Now, theres been quite a revolt, so tell me about that. Whats happening? And what has happened in recent elections and the response, and so on?

Van Keimpema: There was a lot of framing of farmers, already before 2019, just blaming the farmers for everything there is; we are the fault of everything. So, what farmers also thought was that the Dutch people would also think badly of them. Then, we did the demonstration on October 1, 2019, when thousands of farmers came to The Hague, where our parliament is, to protest. We saw that most of the Dutch people were standing alongside the roads applauding and waving. They were so enthusiastic! So, then we knew that the Dutch people do know the worth of the farmers. Since then, we have never lost the sympathy of the civilians, but what we are facing is the government, and politicians who keep framing the farmers for doing everything wrong.

In the electionit was provincial electionsa lot of people voted for a new party that also started officially on October 1, 2019, and that is what we call the BoerBurgerBeweging; translated it is the Farmer-Citizen Movement. They went from one seat in the Parliament, to 16 seats today in the Senate.

In the provinces, everywhere they are the largest party. But what our government this week has done, is scheme like they always do with parties outside of the coalition. There were two seats that were not given yet for the Senate, and if our government got those seats, they would have again enough position to continue with all the harassment they are putting on the Dutch people. They managed now to have those two seats that actually should have gone to the Farmer-Citizen Movementthey came up like a rocketbut they have managed to move those two seats to the coalition.

A lot of people are furious, so I think we need to keep that fire going, because they really want to get rid of the farmers; its really not a joke anymore. They are making new legislation. Today we have seen some parts of it, they call it the regional legislation, its the biggest thing since we had our Constitution. Then, [with this legislation] your land can be taken away from you. Its horrible.

Sare: What would you like Americans to know, and what can we do to build this internationally? Are you getting a lot of international support? It seems farmers are marching in India and France and other places.

Van Keimpema: In March or a little bit later, we had American and Canadian people coming over to present us with a flag signed by a lot of Americans and Canadians, people with a lot of stature, also, to give us support, and for us, that was very meaningful. Also, in Europe we see that a lot of people support the Dutch farmers and know that they have to do something.

John Kerry Pushes Depopulation

In the U.S. you should be very aware, because here, in the newspapers, we readwe hn Kerry said that because farms emit 33% of emissions, that they should also come down to net zero. I dont know if he said that, but if he did, I think the American people should be very aware also, because you are going down the same road that we are going down today. John Kerry has forgotten that we do not only emit CO 2 and carbon and phosphates and nitrates, but we are the only sector that really captures CO 2 , nitrogen, phosphates, carbon, in our crops, in our grass, and in our soil. We are the only sector that does so.

I hear these politicians all boasting about the good work of forests, but a forest is large grass. They have exactly the same function; they capture, and as soon as you burn the trees for whatever reason or build furniture, all that was captured is going into the air again. So thats the cycle of life. What we are doing as food producers is the cycle of life.

Sare: If this really were a concern, if they were honest, then they would want to have more farmers. But you see, they are not honest.

Van Keimpema: No, they are not honest.

Sare: Its like the Nord Stream pipelines. We hear all about the environment, but here was the biggest emission of methane ever, a lot of evidence pointing towards certain American and British and other leaders, but no investigation.

Van Keimpema: And you have a professor that we even invited a few years back to the Netherlands, Dr. Frank Mitloehner, who is a real specialist on methane, and who explains also to the people from the IPCC [UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] that the methane from cows cycles back into the life cycle of CO 2 again in 12 years. So, theres actually nothing to worry about. It is the methane from swamps etc. that is much more of a problem. The biggest emitters of methane are manmade sources in the ground, open sources that man made, but not by farmers.

Sare: Right. We mentioned just before we started about the windmills and solar panels, which here in New York, for example, and across the United States, farmers are being forced in a way, coerced through financial agreements to put these things on their property, rather than growing food. Is there something like that there? Whats happening there?

Van Keimpema: Our whole North Sea is full of windmills now, and our fishermen have just been put down; I cant say it any other way. We have villages where a lot of peoplealso tourism comes because they are the fishermens places. Now, there is one boat which still fishes, and the others have already stopped. So, thats very sad, just in a few years time.

Sare: Thats unbelievable. I had a guest last year who is the head of the Long Island Fishermens Association, and they are in a huge battle against the windmills off the coast of Long Island, because they will destroy the fishing. Not to mention that in the hot weather, when you think you want the electricity from the windmills, there is no wind. So, its really crazy, and since theyre so unreliable, you have to build a gas-fired power plant with equal capacity to what youre supposed to get from the wind, because it doesnt work, so it doesnt save you anything; it just destroys, really.

Van Keimpema: Thats happening here, too.

Farmers Fighting Government Evil

View full size

EIRNS/Robert Baker

Sare: One other question about the political situation: What is the mood of the population regarding the war in Ukraine?

Van Keimpema: Well, the war already has been going on for about 18 months. Of course its still in the news, and people are still worried about it. But the panic from the first weeks has actually gone. There are a lot of people here from Ukraine who live in the Netherlands, who live in Germany, who live in Poland. Poland, of course, has a lot of Ukrainian people. Thats a fact. We also have a lot of immigrants coming in, migrants, and that is creating troubles. Housing is a big problem in the Netherlands. Young people cant get a house, and it all has to do with the nitrogen crisis that the government made up. So, its a real political

Sare: Wait, the young people cant get houses because of the nitrogen crisis? How does that work?

Van Keimpema: Because they have put a nitrogen ceiling for the Netherlands. Years ago, our politicians said we are not going to go above this ceiling. And then, all farmers needed permits, so all this nitrogen got into these permits. All the other firms also needed the permits but nobody did something. So, they are all without the permit. And now the people with the permits have to give way to people who do not have the permit.

The logical thing to do, intelligent people would do, is just go to Brussels and say that what we have done years ago is stupid, and we need to do it in another way, so this nitrogen ceiling has to go. We have to look at the state of nature, thats also what they say in the directive. The state of nature has to be protected. Well, we added a lot of nature, we added a lot of species, but we also have nitrogen. So, as long as our government keeps holding on to this stupid paper reality, we cannot build houses, we cannot expand certain firms. Actually, we cannot build roads, because then of course you also get more nitrogen.

So we have a very crazy situation, and there is a nature organization that goes to court and wins its cases against firms that want to expand, because they say, Judge, look at the law. You cannot emit more nitrogen, so you have to take away the right to build houses, etc. And he wins because we have a stupid law, and the judge looks at the law, and not at whats logical. So thats the stupid situation. If you would make a show of it, everybody would say, Well, you can laugh about it, but its not realistic. But we are living today in a soap [opera].

Sare: Right. Well, thank you very much. Is there a way that people can contact your association if people who hear this want to have farmers come or speak by Zoom to their meetings?

Van Keimpema: Yes, if they are sending an email its info@farmersdefenceforce.nl. I know that we are writing defense differently than you, so probably we made a small mistake. We are writing defence with a c, not an s. If they would email, they should pay attention to that. We also have a Facebook site they can be a member of, if they want to look at what we are doing, but thats all in Dutch of course, so it will be hard for them to understand.

Sare: Thank you for telling us what our own John Kerry is telling people.

Van Keimpema: It was spread here, and I asked a few people in the U.S. if he really said it, or if it was fake news, but most people said it was true, and that he said that 33% of the emissions came from farms, and to get to net zero, we had to get rid of those farmers. I thought to myself, its like I hear Brussels talk and I hear The Hague talk. But you need food; no farmers, no food, like a German farmer last week said, Kein Bauer, kein Essen. Its actually the same. Its very emotional for a lot of people today; thats also for the farmers. There are a lot of emotions, and there is a lot of distress. So its really this government has to stop its evil ways. We need fair policy, and we need food for the future.

Sare: Yes, I think there is nothing more evil than preventing people from doing the good. That is one of the most evil things; it destroys your soul if you are not able to use your talent for the good of mankind.

Van Keimpema: Well, we even get banned. If you want to get a buy-out, because the Dutch government is going to buy out farms, if you are going to do that voluntarily, you get a professional ban [from re-locating and farming elsewhere], not only for the Netherlands, but for the whole of the EU. Thats how evil they are getting. So in the European Constitution, it is said that you have the free right of profession, and even that is not respected anymore, so its really going the wrong way in the Netherlands, but also in Europe.

Sare: Right. Thank you very much. I hope we can talk again under happier circumstances when we have changed our governments.

Van Keimpema: I hope so too. Have a lot of success getting elected!
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR FRIDAY JUNE 16, 2023

Kennedy: The Power of Peaceful Cooperation

June 15, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)At this time of extreme world peril of the threat of nuclear war, the words that President John F. Kennedy gave at presentations on many occasions 60 years ago, ring true with guidance and inspiration in the anniversary year of his heinous assassination. On Sept. 10, 1963, when he addressed the United Nations General Assembly, he spoke of how, among all weapons, the power of peaceful cooperation is the strongest. He spoke of nations together having agreements which spring from our mutual interest.

This weaponry for the good, is seen this week in the deliberation and presentations at a number of venues, especially focussed on Eurasia, but not limited to that. The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) is underway (June 14-17), attended by some 18,000 people, from 34 nations. The SPIEF is titled, Sovereign Development as the Foundation for a Just World, and President Putin will address the attendees tomorrow.

On a smaller scale the foreign ministers of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) organization met June 13 online, under the presidency of Serbia, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the G20 Expert Group on multilateral development banks on June 12, stressing that lending must be widely available.

Concrete projects involving multinational cooperation are under discussion, including the Northern Sea Route along the Arctic, the International North-South Transport Corridor, the Black Sea Ring Motorway, the Turkiye Gas Hub, and others. Russian nuclear firm Rosatoms representative spoke of anticipating 15 floating nuclear power plants on the Northern Sea Route one day. Minister for Integration and Macroeconomics of the Eurasian Economic Commission Sergei Glazyev described the newly formed Consortium of Development Institutions, formed in Sochi on June 8, in his presentation on the sidelines of SPIEF.

In the Western Hemisphere, a Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) potential project is notable. At the June 8 meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, observer state Cubas Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz announced a proposal for the EAEU to create an industrial park at Mariel port. He said that establishing it would be a demonstration of joint efforts to create production chains leading to the kind of interregional integration that we strive for in a multipolar world. Cuba has been promoting such a project for more than a year.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, participating at the Black Sea meeting, summed up the collaborative development outlook, in his BSEC presentation: The multipolar global economic system is opening up opportunities for the region to acquire importance in its own right in the context of the objective process of forming the Greater Eurasian Partnership with the participation of the members of the EAEU, ASEAN, the SCO [Shanghai Cooperation Organization], and all other countries of our common continent.

It goes without saying that this is consistent with the peace approach spelled out by President Kennedy in many ways, after the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Kennedy, too, backed and envisioned projects from Africa, to the Americas, to the Missouri River dam system at home. The capstone was the space mission.

We have a fight on our hands today. Spread the reach of the new International Peace Coalition. Sign and circulate the Urgent Appeal by Citizens and Institutions from All Over the World to the (Next) President of the United States!.
The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine caused widespread flooding and might cause long-term environmental damage.

The Associated Press described some of the effects on the Dnieper River area recently. Here is what the AP found:

Short term effects

There are six dams along the Dnieper River. They were designed to operate together, so that water levels would remain more or less the same throughout the year. When Russian forces seized the Kakhovka Dam, the system fell into disrepair.

Whether done on purpose or carelessly, the Russian forces permitted water levels to rise and fall uncontrolled. They dropped dangerously low in winter and rose very high when snow melted, and spring rains filled the reservoir.

Since the dams collapse, the running waters have unburied landmines, destroyed weapons and ammunition, and carried 150 tons of machine oil to the Black Sea. Whole towns were underwater, and thousands of animals died in a large national park now under Russian occupation.

Oil can be seen on the water around flooded Kherson, the capital of southern Ukraines province of the same name. Homes smell of rot as cars, first-floor rooms, and underground floors remain underwater. Large oil slicks can be seen across the river from the citys port and industrial buildings, creating a new pollution problem for the Dnieper.

Ukraines Agriculture Ministry estimated 10,000 hectares of farmland were underwater in the territory of Kherson province controlled by Ukraine. It said, many times more than that in territory occupied by Russia.

Farmers are already having problems. Dmytro Neveselyi, mayor of Maryinske village, said everyone in the community of 18,000 people will be affected.

Today and tomorrow, well be able to provide the population with drinking water, he said. After that, who knows. The canal that supplied our water reservoir has also stopped flowing.

Long term effects

The water level began to decrease on Friday, showing the environmental damage.

The reservoir could hold 18 cubic kilometers of water. The Kakhovka Dam was the last along hundreds of kilometers of the Dnieper River that passed through Ukraines main industrial and agricultural areas. For many years, the Dnieper carried water containing industrial and agricultural chemicals which settled in the soil at the bottom of the reservoir.

Ukrainian officials are testing the soil for poisonous substances. It risks turning into poisonous dust with the arrival of summer, said Eugene Simonov. He is an environmental scientist with the Ukraine War Environmental Consequences Working Group, a non-profit organization of environmental activists and researchers.

The amount of long-term damage depends on the movement of the front lines in an unpredictable war. It is unclear if the dam and reservoir can be brought back or if the land will become what it once was.

Kateryna Filiuta is an expert in protected environments for the Ukraine Nature Conservation Group. She said it will take 10 years for the plant and animal populations to return and adjust to the new environment, and possibly longer for the Ukrainians who live there.

In Maryinske, a farming community, people are going through records to find old water sources.

Because a territory without water will become a desert, the mayor said.

All of Ukraine will have to think about either rebuilding the reservoir or thinking differently about the area, its water supply and its plants and animals.

Filiuta said, The worst consequences will probably not affect us directly, not me, not you, but rather our future generations, because this man-made disaster is not transparent.

Im Gregory Stachel.

Lori Hinnant, Sam Mcneil and Illia Novikov reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English.

______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

reservoir  n. a usually artificial lake that is used to store a large supply of water for use in people's homes or in businesses

slick n. an oil spill that floats on top of the water

rot  n. evidence of slow break down of organic material by microorganisms and weather

canal  n. a waterway created by people so that boats could pass through it or to supply fields or crops with water

adjust  v. to change in order to work or do better in a new situation

consequence  n. something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions

transparent  adj. easy to notice or understand

______________________________________________________________

What do you think of this story?

We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works:

Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free.

Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.
Charcoal is processed wood that is mainly used for cooking.

But in the East African nation of Uganda, charcoal making is causing conflict with local people in the countrys north and police. People who say they are concerned about the environment are acting as police to drive away charcoal makers.

In the poor northern part of Uganda, making charcoal is one of the only ways people can make money. Charcoal is very important for cooking and heating in Africa south of the Sahara Desert.

But for years, local people and government officials in Uganda have been concerned about the effects of charcoal. While there are still many trees in Uganda, deforestation is a problem. In 2022, the International Monetary Fund said Uganda has lost nearly one-third of its tree cover over the past 20 years.

The environmental concerns prompted the Ugandan government to pass a national climate change law in 2021. The law permits local officials to make rules to restrict activities that hurt the environment.

But there are still many trees in northern Uganda and people who make charcoal see the area as a good source of wood.

A conflict has developed between people who make charcoal and Ugandan officials. People who do not support the charcoal business are getting involved in chasing away charcoal makers and tree-cutters. They are called vigilantes.

Before the charcoal ban, a vigilante group in the Gulu area attacked a truck carrying over 300 bags of charcoal. Odanga Otto was one of the attackers. He was charged with robbery, but Ugandas top justice called him a hero.

Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, who is from northern Uganda, said this year: I have not heard anybody who is destroying our environment being charged. He went on to ask, If you steal from a thief, are you a thief?

One week after Owiny-Dollos statement, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni issued an executive order banning the commercial production of charcoal in northern Uganda.

Charcoal making is still permitted in other parts of Uganda, but the tree cover in the north makes the area attractive for illegal charcoal production.

Shortly after the presidents ban, reporters from the Associated Press went into the forest with officials from the Gulu area. They were 335 kilometers from Kampala, the capital.

Patrick Komakech is a local official from the Patiko sub-county. When he heard people running away, he chased them, but all he found was a recently cleared area. He saw tree stumps, still wet.

Komakech was upset and almost started to cry when he saw the missing trees. The cut trees had been piled up in one part of the clearing. Smoke came from another group of trees that were burning.

Charcoal makers collect the dust from burned wood, mix it with a material to make it stick together, and then press the mix into small balls or squares. They fill large bags, load them onto trucks and bring them into Ugandan cities for sale.

Komakech said the people who cut the trees and make the charcoal are outsiders. They do this thing without the mercy of leaving any vegetation.

He kicked at the logs on the ground and said they were from the shea tree, which can provide both fruit and oil if they are farmed.

After a time, the charcoal workers came back from hiding and spoke with Komakech. They said they were only trying to keep up with demand and earn some money.

Recent numbers from the World Bank show that Ugandas population is growing by about three percent each year. The organization says it will grow from about 46 million today to over 100 million by 2060.

As a result, the nation needs fuel that is not costly. Some homes have gas, but most people in cities still use charcoal for cooking meals.

Peter Ejal was one of the people making charcoal. Even those policemen who are coming to beat us, they are cooking with charcoal, he said.

Another charcoal-maker said: When we finish this place we will go on to another place.

A number of groups make money on each bag of charcoal. Landowners in the north sell charcoal rights by the hectare. In northern towns, the cost of one bag is about $14 but closer to Kampala, prices are higher.

Both President Museveni and Otto, the vigilante, said some members of the Ugandan military make extra money by protecting the charcoal trucks as they drive into the cities.

Otto said he and other vigilantes are working to make the charcoal business risky. He said vigilantes helped police take control of many trucks.

As of now, he said, you drive 100 kilometers, and you will not find any single truck carrying charcoal.

With the success of the vigilantes, it has become harder to make charcoal. But, the price will go up. That will make more people want to burn trees to make charcoal close to where they live.

Without the trucks to carry the charcoal bags, activists opposed to charcoal worry the producers will just give the bags to a large number of drivers on motorcycles who would then take them to a waiting truck somewhere else.

Alfred Odoch is an environmental activist in northern Uganda. He supports the vigilantes. He says they are preventing large numbers of trees from being cut down. He wants to limit charcoal making to families who want to sell two or three bags per week.

The fight for environmental justice, he said, is not only for one person.

Im Dan Friedell. And Im Caty Weaver.

Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a story by the Associated Press.

____________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

prompt v. to start something

executive order n. a rule made by a leader or president that does not go through the usual political process

commercial adj. describing something done as a business

vigilante n. a person who does not have authority but tries to catch and punish criminals

thief n. a person who steals

attractive adj. good looking or appealing

stump n. the part of a tree that remains in the ground and connected to the roots when it is cut

mercy n. kindness or forgiveness

vegetation n. trees and plants that cover the land

___________________________________________________________________

We want to hear from you. Do you think the ban on charcoal will help the environment in Uganda?

Here is how our comment system works:

Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free.

Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced recently that the United States plans to rejoin the organization.

UNESCO said the U.S. would pay more than $600 million to the U.N. agency that it had withheld in the past.

The change comes after a 10-year dispute caused by UNESCOs decision to include Palestine as a member.

U.S. officials suggested their decision was a result of concerns about Chinas possible influence in UNESCO policymaking. Of special interest to the U.S. are policies regarding artificial intelligence and technology education around the world.

The U.S. and Israel stopped financing UNESCO after it voted to include Palestine as a member state in 2011. In 2017, the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump announced its withdrawal from the agency. The withdrawal took effect in 2018. The U.S. pointed to what it called the agencys anti-Israel bias and management problems.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma submitted a letter to UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay explaining the plan to rejoin. Verma noted progress in the debate about the Middle East at UNESCO and improvements in the agencys management. The Associated Press (AP) reported that it looked at the letter Verma sent.

Delegates welcomed the news as Azoulay announced the plan at a special meeting. The return of the U.S., once the agencys biggest supporter, is expected to face a vote by its 193 member states next month, a UNESCO diplomat said.

UNESCO is known for its World Heritage program as well as projects to fight climate change and to teach girls how to read.

Chinas ambassador to UNESCO, Jin Yang, said his country appreciates UNESCOs efforts to bring the U.S. back, saying its absence had a negative effect on the agencys work.

Since her election in 2017, Azoulay said she has worked to deal with the reasons the U.S. withdrew. Azoulay is Jewish. UNESCO ambassadors praised her efforts to deal with U.S. concerns about Israel.

One UNESCO diplomat said she met with Democrat and Republican Party lawmakers in Washington to explain those efforts.

UNESCO diplomats expressed confidence that the U.S. decision to return is for the long term, regardless of who wins next years presidential election. The AP did not give the names of the diplomats.

Under the new plan, the U.S. government would pay its 2023 amount plus $10 million more this year. The extra payment is to be spent on Holocaust education, preserving cultural heritage in Ukraine, journalist safety, and science and technology education in Africa, Vermas letter said.

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has already requested $150 million for the 2024 budget to go toward UNESCO payments. The plan predicts similar requests for the following years until $619 million is paid.

Undersecretary of State for Management John Bass said in March that the U.S. absence from UNESCO has strengthened China.

He said UNESCO is important in deciding how technology and science teaching takes place around the world. We cant afford to be absent any longer, he said.

Im John Russell.

Angela Charlton reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English.

___________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

bias  n. a tendency to treat some people unfairly

management n. the act of, process or people supervising or overseeing the activities of a group or organization

appreciate  v. to be grateful for (something); to understand the importance of something

preserve  v. to keep something in good condition

absent adj. to not be present
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland is expected to announce the findings of a two-year investigation of the Minneapolis Police Department, prompted by the death of George Floyd. Here's more on that, plus celebrity birthdays, a look at today in history, and more top stories.
ELWOOD  Its not often that someone sets fire to something on purpose and expects positive results.

But thats exactly what was going on Wednesday, June 14 when Gosper County landowners and area conservation agencies reviewed the results of a prescribed burn that took place in in May.

The burn had taken place in a pastured owned by Larry and Cheryl Brell, two miles east of Elwood.

The agencies on hand included Central Platte Natural Resource District, Natural Resources Conservation Service  a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Tri-Basin Natural Resources District and Pheasants Forever.

The burn boss in charge of the prescribed burn was Mark Alberts, with Alberts Tree Cutting near Gothenburg, which operates in Dawson, Gosper, Custer, Buffalo, Phelps, Frontier and Sherman counties.

Larry and his son Bill Brell said they had started the process for the prescribed burn two years ago and were all ready to go in 2022.

Tragically, on April 7, a 35,000 acre wildfire erupted amid severe drought and conditions and strong winds. Elwood Fire Chief Darren Krull was killed while responding. The Brells decided to postpone the burn for a year.

The goal of the prescribed burn was to clear out the cedar trees out of the pasture, Larry B. said.

Bill B. said they burn had been on their radar for several years, as they had tried to mechanically clear the cedar trees from the area but it seemed that no matter how many they cut, new seedlings would sprout the next spring.

The group would walk down a hill and survey the pasture. Amid the vibrant green grasses, there were smatterings of brown cedar trees on the hills and through the gullies that had been killed as a result of the burn.

Alberts, who encourages landowners to consider prescribed burns as an effective method of land management, asked the Brells what they would have done in hindsight.

They answered that they would have done more prep work, which included cutting grass further and cutting more trees away from fence lines. Alberts said he has never run into anyone after a burn who said they did too much preparation.

Alberts said his first prescribed burn was in 2000 in Lincoln County. He said they have vastly improved their methods since then and learn something new from every burn they conduct.

Alberts noted during their first burns in 2000, they were killed off around 30-40 percent of the cedar trees, but estimated they hit 90 percent in the Brells pasture. He said he was very happy, with the results.

In addition to clearing out cedar trees, Alberts said they also promote the growth of warm season grasses.

Most grasses can be categorized as either cool-season or warm-season grasses. The terms refer to the timing of the majority of the growth of a given grass.

Cool-season grasses begin growing in late winter to early spring, putting out new leaves. They will then flower and set seed in the spring to early summer, going dormant in the summer. Warm-season grasses, in contrast, will wait until late spring to early summer to push out new leafy growth, flower and set seed in summer to early fall, and then go dormant through the winter, per the University of Illinois extension.

Gazing across the green pasture, Larry B. said he cant believe, how fast the grass grew back after the burn in May. Bill B. said their plan is to let the pasture rest and put cattle out next spring.

The burns are also good for the wildlife, even during the review of chipping birds; including quail could easily be heard.

Bill B. said the day after the burn they were surveying the area and saw more turkeys in the pasture than he had seen at any other time in the past.

Burn Day

The day of the burn itself is not a set date, Alberts said, instead a time period is selected that works for all parties and the weather forecast is closely monitored.

In the case of the Brells pasture, the group waited for a day with a calm north wind, as the fire would be started on the southern side of the pasture so it could burn against the wind, rather than being fanned by it.

Temperature and relative humidity are also monitored closely ahead of the burn. For instance, if there is relative humidity below 20 percent and winds over 15 knots, local National Weather Service offices will consider issuing fire weather advisories.

Ongoing drought conditions also play a part in these considerations.

However, its not as simple as picking a random week early in the spring. A burning permit from the fire chief with jurisdiction over the area to be burned is required.

The fire chief will need to know the location and the proposed burn date. After receiving the burning permit, any changes in the burn date must be approved by the fire chief.

Alberts said if they are considering a prescribed burn, they should first meet with the members of their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office, who can help guide landowners in the process.

The NRCS also requires their own prescribed burn management plan, the nine page document required detailed information about the area being burned, the objective, burn history, structures in the area, existing conditions, highway locations, adjoining landowners, area law enforcement and fire departments, acceptable weather conditions, firing method, escape response, smoke management, etc.

Bill B. said the prep work for the burn took a long time and was extended because of the one year delay but he said the results are worth it.

Some major components of a prescribed burn include a regulation review, evaluation of the prospective burn site, preparation of a burn plan for the site and a pre-burn site and equipment preparation.

Alberts said a map is created of the burn area with established points of reference.

On the day of the burn, fires are started in lines with drip torches, the process is coordinated by two-way radios carried by everyone involved and there is constant communication.

Cedar trees less than one foot tall are killed by nearly any type of fire and burning conditions. With taller trees, fuel loading becomes the most important factor, according to Oklahoma State University.

Alberts noted that temperatures of 160 degrees can kill a cedar tree.

Larry B. said there were 35 people involved with their prescribed burn. The fires were stared around 12 p.m. and by 3 p.m., most of the area had been burned. The Brells said they spent the next several days patrolling the area to monitor for hotspots.

Green Glacier

Cedar trees, especially eastern red cedar, are considered an invasive species, even though it is a native plant.

Originally limited to rocky bluffs and other areas where fire couldnt reach them, eastern red-cedar tree populations expanded with the introduction of European land management practices to the United States.

Since the Europeans settled the plains, there have been very few fires to control the red cedar, according to the University of Nebraska  Lincoln.

The steady spread of cedar trees through the central and northern plains has been referred to as the Green Glacier.

The main point thats problematic especially for ranchers who make their livelihood on grass from their pastures is that the cedar trees shade out the forage thats directly underneath the canopy and as those trees grow and the canopy area increases, then youre losing more and more forage, said Sandy Smart, SDSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Senior Program Leader.

Research shows that smaller cedar trees drink up to six gallons of water per day, but the largest can consume 13 to 16 gallons daily. This high consumption level takes water away from native grasses that need it to stay alive.

Alberts said some landowners consider fire a four letter word and have an aversion to using it as a tool for land management.

Ironically, the indigenous peoples of North American have long used fire as an integral tool to used fire to clear areas for crops and travel, to manage the land for specific species of both plants and animals, to hunt game, and for many other important uses. Fire was a tool that promoted ecological diversity and reduced the risk of catastrophic wildfires, per the National Park Service (NPS).

Cultural burning refers to the Indigenous practice of the intentional lighting of smaller, controlled fires to provide a desired cultural service, such as promoting the health of vegetation and animals that provide food, clothing, ceremonial items and more, per the NPS.

In the northern Great Plains, unlike in other parts of the country, tribes lit large fires instead of smaller, contained burns, to drive animals such as bison herds in a specific direction. Fire was even used to herd grasshoppers as a food source.

Burning of the prairie improved the grazing for horses and helped to propagate medicinal plants.

As European colonizers spread across the United States, fire suppression became more common. Without cultural burns, organic matter built up, putting forests at risk of devastating fire. Suppression, along with urban development and climate change has led to more large, uncontrolled fires that can quickly spread through areas with lots of underbrush, the NPS states.

This increased understanding of Indigenous traditions has led to many partnerships between Tribal, state, and Federal governmental agencies, with the goal of reintroducing cultural burns in many parts of the United States, per the NPS.

Burn Associations

Alberts said the current burn group is a non-profit and essentially a spin off from a prescribed burn group in the Curtis area.

At the moment there are 10 prescribe burn associations (PBA) in Nebraska, the closest being Southwestern Nebraska PBA, which includes Frontier, Hayes, Hichcock and Red Willow counties, Buffalo/Sherman PBA and Custer PBA.

He said he would like to see producers and landowners in the local area form their own prescribed burn association. At the moment there are no PBAs in Dawson or Gosper counties.

NRCS staff said there are cost share plans available for owners that choose the prescribed burn route.

Burn association members must attend a basic burn workshop and participate in at least 1-2 burns each year. While private landowners often request assistance in completing CRP management burns, prescribed burn associations are not a work-for-hire operation. Rather, their success relies on a neighbor-helping-neighbor model, per Pheasants Forever.

Using grant money from the Nebraska Environmental Trust, Pheasants Forever developed mobile prescribed burn units for every burn association, complete with $28,000 worth of burn equipment.

For more information contact Prescribed Fire Coordinator Brian Teeter at bteeter@pheasantsforever.org or (402) 219-2572.

In addition to all of the land management benefits, Alberts said prescribed burns like this are large undertakings and can help connect ranchers, ag producers, conservation agencies and neighbors together through the process and working together.
Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates says he is in Beijing, joining a series of foreign business figures who have visited China as the ruling Communist Party tries to revive investor interest in the country.

Gates, who stepped down as Microsoft chairman in 2014, said on Twitter yesterday [Macau time] that he would meet partners who have worked with his charitable foundation. However, Gates is revered in China as an entrepreneur, giving Chinese leaders a chance to show their interest in foreign business by publicizing any meetings with him.

CEOs of global companies including Elon Musk of Tesla Ltd. and Apple Inc.s Tim Cook have visited China this year and met Premier Li Qiang, the top economic official, and Cabinet ministers following the end of anti-virus controls that blocked most international travel.

Im excited to visit with partners who have been working on global health and development challenges with @gatesfoundation for more than 15 years, Gates wrote on Twitter. He gave no details.

The ruling party is trying to revive foreign interest in Chinas slowing economy and reassure companies that have been rattled by anti-monopoly and data-security crackdowns, raids on consulting firms, tension with Washington and pressure to align their plans with official development goals. MDT/AP
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to China this weekend as part of the Biden administrations push to repair deteriorating ties between Washington and Beijing and keep lines of communication open, the State Department said yesterday [Macau time].

Blinken will be the most senior U.S. official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office. His visit had initially been planned for early this year but was postponed indefinitely after the discovery and shootdown of what the U.S. said was a Chinese spy balloon over the United States.

Since then, however, there have been lower-level engagements between the U.S. and China despite ongoing hostility and recriminations over both sides actions in the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, Chinas refusal to condemn Russia for its war against Ukraine, and allegations from Washington that Beijing is attempting to boost its worldwide surveillance capabilities, including in Cuba.

The State Department said Blinken had spoken with his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Qin Gang, on Tuesday night to confirm his trip, which will begin on Sunday and was first reported by The Associated Press and other news organizations last week. Blinken will leave Washington late today [Saturday, Macau time].

While in Beijing, Secretary Blinken will meet with senior PRC officials where he will discuss the importance of maintaining open lines of communication to responsibly manage the U.S.-PRC relationship, the department said, using the acronym for the Peoples Republic of China. He will also raise bilateral issues of concern, global and regional matters, and potential cooperation on shared transnational challenges.

Two senior U.S. officials downplayed the prospects for any significant breakthrough on the wide array of problems between the countries during Blinkens visit. Instead, they said it was aimed at restoring a sense of calm and normalcy to high-level contacts.

This is a really critical series of engagements that well have in Beijing at a crucial time in the relationship that we again hope will, at a minimum, reduce the risk of miscalculation so that we do not veer into potential conflict, said Daniel Kritenbrink, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia and the Pacific.

Were not going to Beijing with the intent of having some sort of breakthrough or transformation in the way that we deal with one another, he said. Were coming to Beijing with a realistic, confident approach and a sincere desire to manage our competition in the most responsible way possible.

Were clear-eyed about the PRC, said Kurt Campbell, the top Asia expert at the National Security Council. We know efforts to shape or reform China over several decades have failed and we expect China to be around and to be a major player on the world stage for the rest of our lifetimes.

As the competition continues, the PRC will take provocative steps  from the Taiwan Strait to Cuba  and we will push back, Campbell said. But intense competition requires intense diplomacy if were going to manage tensions. That is the only way to clear up misperceptions, to signal, to communicate, and to work together where and when our interests align.

In its readout of the Blinken-Qin phone call, Chinas foreign ministry said Qin urged the United States to respect Chinas core concerns such as the issue of Taiwans self-rule, stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs, and stop harming Chinas sovereignty, security and development interests in the name of competition.

Qin noted China-U.S. ties have encountered new difficulties and challenges since the beginning of the year, and the two sides responsibility is to work together to properly manage differences, promote exchanges and cooperation and stabilize relations, it said.

Blinken, who will be the first secretary of state to visit China since 2018, expects to meet with Qin on Sunday, as well as Chinas top diplomat, Wang Yi, and possibly Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, according to U.S. officials.

The trip will take place amid myriad complications in U.S-China relations, which have steadily declined over the past several years dating back to the Trump administration, starting with trade and industrial espionage.

Those concerns grew rapidly to include human rights concerns over the treatment of Uyghur Muslims and other minorities in Chinas western region of Xinjang, Hong Kong, Tibet, and increasing Chinese assertiveness toward Taiwan, and then escalated over questions about the origin of the COVID-19 virus.

Blinkens visit came out of a meeting in Bali last year between Xi and Biden, who agreed that the worlds two largest economies must remain in contact and take precautions to ensure there are no miscalculations in their global rivalry that could lead to conflict. The trip came within a day of happening in February but was delayed after the spy balloon incident. Beijing insists the craft was a weather balloon that strayed off course.

Contacts after that have taken place, but they have been rare as tensions have risen over Chinas conduct in the South China Sea, aggressive actions toward Taiwan and support for Russias war against Ukraine. Earlier this month, Chinas defense minister rebuffed a request from U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for a meeting on the sidelines of a security symposium in Singapore.

However, shortly after postponing his trip to Beijing, Blinken met briefly with Wang at the Munich Security Conference in Germany. And, CIA chief William Burns traveled to China in May, while Chinas commerce minister traveled to the U.S.. And Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Wang in Vienna in early May.

More recently, the top U.S. diplomat for the Asia-Pacific region, Daniel Kritenbrink, traveled to China last week along with a senior National Security Council official to finalize details of Blinkens trip.

Just in the past several days, though, the Biden administration has said that it has quietly blunted Chinese efforts to bolster its intelligence collection and military capabilities around the world, including in Cuba.

Blinken said on Monday that when Biden took office in January 2021, U.S. intelligence agencies briefed him on a number of sensitive efforts by Beijing around the world to expand their overseas logistics, foreign collections infrastructure to allow them to project and sustain military power at a greater distance.

Although the Chinese had already upgraded their facilities in Cuba in 2019, Blinken said Biden determined that more needed to be done because Trump administration officials werent making enough progress on this issue and we needed a more direct approach.

He did not elaborate on what had been done since, although the Biden administration has moved rapidly to expand its diplomatic presence, especially in Indian Ocean and the Pacific island nations, where it has opened or has plans to open at least five new embassies over the next year or so.

Weve been executing on that approach quietly, carefully, but in our judgment, with results, Blinken said. Weve engaged governments that are considering hosting PRC bases at high levels. We have exchanged information with them. Our experts assess that our diplomatic efforts slowed down this effort by the PRC.

After his meetings in Beijing, Blinken will travel to London to attend a Ukraine reconstruction conference on June 21, the State Department said.

MATTHEW LEE, WASHINGTON, MDT/AP
The 18th China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF) is scheduled to take place in Guangzhou from June 26 to 30. In a press conference, Xu Xiaolan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), stated that the fair, jointly organized by MIIT, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the provincial government of Guangdong, will prioritize addressing the specific needs of small and medium-sized enterprises. During the fair, the second International Cooperation Summit for Small and Medium Enterprises will also be held. As of now, approximately 1,600 domestic exhibitors and 300 international exhibitors have registered for the fair, according to Lyu Yuyin, Vice Governor of Guangdong Province. As of the end of 2022, China had a total of 52 million micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, with the MIIT having nurtured nearly 9,000 little giant firms.

Related
This summer holiday will see 35 MICE events being held in or followed up by Macau, Sam Lei, local trade and investment official, disclosed yesterday afternoon.

Lei is a member of the Executive Committee of the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), which in the past few days hosted a group of 40 regional MICE stakeholders, such as event organizers, exhibitors and industry critics, on a familiarization trip in Macau.

The aforementioned 35 events  which will include some professional meetings with over 1,000 participants  are expected to draw over 240,000 cumulative participants, Lei added.

Reiterating the IPIMs stance, Lei emphasized the confidence in more events in the rest of the year, reaching the target of having 1,000 MICE events in this year.

Looking into the future, Lei disclosed that the IPIM would lead delegations to MICE events in the Thai capital of Bangkok in September and Barcelona in Spain in November to promote MICE in Macau-Hengqin. The event in Spain, he underlined, will have international impact.

Yesterday saw the negotiation session of the familiarization trip. A multitude of local enterprises, such as venue owners, MICE groups, event coordinators, leisure facility operators and Air Macau, held discussion sessions with stakeholders.

Lei highlighted that the trip was conducted both online and offline. Over 400 matching sessions that connected 27 MICE-related companies in Macau and Hengqin as well as 168 mainland and international buyers were held.

Before yesterdays physical discussion sessions, Lei briefly introduced Macaus conditions to participants, highlighting facts such as the city having 240,000 square meters of event space and 39,000 hotel rooms. He emphasized that Macau is one of the few locations in the region that is capable of hosting events with over 10,000 participants.

Delegates astonished by new facilities

When asked to recap their visit to Macau, several delegates made special reference to the new arena at the Galaxy Macau resort, describing it as world-class and magnificent. Many of the delegates had not visited Macau in the past few years, and remarked at the development of MICE facilities.

Shawn Li, vice president of growth at Dragon Trail China, a marketing firm, expressed his confidence in Macau in terms of his companys global development. He also sees Macaus advantages and competitiveness as a mid- to long-range destination.

Holding similar views was James Beacher, director at Venue Hub and Martin Donovan, director at Greater Bay Strategies. The former is a MICE information platform and the latter a MICE intelligence collector. Both are based in Hong Kong.

They saw opportunities in Macau amid Hong Kongs experience and Guangdongs size. Nonetheless, their view is that it can only be achieved by regional collaborations, such as breaking down a major event into smaller sections for each location to host those events at which they are proficient.

In addition, Beacher suggested that facility operators in Macau should start seeing the entire picture to allow better experience and transportation during MICE peak periods.
Australias Parliament passed legislation yesterday to prevent Russia from building a new embassy near Parliament House citing threats of espionage and political interference, as tensions grow between Moscow and a major supporter of the Ukraine war effort.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the legislation would extinguish Russias lease on the site of a second embassy based on the advice of security agencies.

The government has received very clear security advice as to the risk presented by a new Russian presence so close to Parliament House, Albanese told reporters. We are acting quickly to ensure the lease site does not become a formal diplomatic presence.

Albanese said Australias government condemns Russias illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine.

Australia is one of the most generous providers of military hardware, training and aid to Ukraine of any country outside NATO and has escalated sanctions against Russia since the war began in February 2022.

Australias growing hostility toward Russia became apparent last year when Australian officials demanded Moscow be held accountable for Russian cybercriminals suspected of hacking the nations largest health insurer, Medibank, and dumping customers personal medical records on the dark web. It is unusual for Australia to attribute blame to a country for an unsolved cybercrime.

Albanese said opposition and other lawmakers that are not aligned with the government were briefed on the legislation on Wednesday night and had agreed to pass it through both chambers yesterday. The government holds a majority in the House but not the Senate.

Within three hours of Albanese publicly announcing the bill, it had become law, passing the House then the Senate. The law is expected to take effect later when it is rubber-stamped by Governor-General David Hurley, representing Australias head of state, King Charles III.

Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil was later more specific about the Russian threat while addressing Parliament, saying the scope for espionage and foreign interference from the site would have been a substantial risk for the nation.

The action is direct and decisive. We do not have any interest in sugarcoating this message, ONeil said. We will not stand for espionage and foreign interference in our country. We will act in the face of danger to our democracy and our citizens and we will do so without any apology to anyone.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton said the Parliament was united against the Russian threat.

We wont tolerate foreign espionage conducted in a way that is against our national interest. We wont tolerate people seeking to interfere with electoral processes in our country, Dutton told Parliament.

Albanese did not directly answer when asked if there were also security concerns about the Chinese Embassy across a street from the Russian site.

Were dealing with this very specifically, and its based upon very specific advice as well about the nature of the construction thats proposed for this site, about the location of this site, and about the capability that would present in terms of potential interference with activity that occurs in this Parliament House, Albanese said.

The Russian Embassy said it would comment today [Macau time].

The Australian government decided to act after Russia won a Federal Court case last month that prevented its eviction from the site now under construction.

The 99-year lease was canceled by local Canberra authorities on the basis of a lack of construction activity since Russia was given the lease in the diplomatic precinct of Yarralumla in 2008 and plans for the complex of buildings were approved in 2011. ROD McGUIRK, CANBERRA, MDT/AP
Andrew Tan, a billionaire from the Philippines, has set his sights on expanding his casino empire beyond the bustling streets of Manila. Alliance Global Group Inc., the investment company led by Tan, is actively seeking opportunities in other thriving tourist destinations across the country, as reported by Bloomberg.

Yesterday, during the companys annual meeting, Kevin Andrew Tan, CEO, expressed the Alliance Global Groups interest in key tourism hubs nationwide.

The move comes as the Group anticipates a resurgence in the tourism sector, fueled by the global recovery of travel.

They aim to capitalize on the recent years downturn in Macau, following Chinas crackdown on money fleeing the country, which has cast a shadow over the regions gambling hub. Meanwhile, the Philippine gaming sector itself is undergoing significant changes, with the government contemplating the privatization of state-owned casinos.

Travellers International Hotel, the gaming venture under Alliance Global, witnessed a notable turnaround in 2022. Boasting a record-breaking gross-gaming revenue and recovering non-gaming earnings, the company recorded a net income of 1.1 billion pesos ($19.6 million), according to the Bloomberg report yesterday.

As part of their expansion plans, Alliance Global has allocated approximately 4 billion pesos from this years 70 billion peso capital expenditure for the ongoing development of Travellers Newport World Resorts casino complex.

In a strategic move, Alliance Global recently acquired the casino-venture partner, Genting Group, further consolidating its position in the industry.

Tan leads Alliance Global Group Inc., an investment company with interests in various sectors, including the gaming industry.

With the anticipation of a tourism rebound and the changing landscape of the gaming sector, the Philippine billionaire aims to position his company for success in the countrys evolving gambling market. PC
Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday in a drive by Beijing to elevate relations and increase its overall presence in the Middle East.

Li, who took office just this spring with little foreign policy experience, called Abbas an old friend of the Chinese people who has made important contributions to the promotion of China-Palestinian relations.

The meeting came a day after Abbas was greeted with full military honors by Xi Jinping, Chinas president and head of the ruling Communist Party.

The sides then announced the formation of a strategic partnership, paving the way to boost Chinas influence in the region at a time when Beijings chief rival for global influence, the United States, is seen as withdrawing from the region following the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and complications in ties with regional power Saudi Arabia.

China, meanwhile, is seeking energy resources and markets for its military and civilian exports while also promoting its version of authoritarian government as part of joint challenge with Russia to the Western-led democratic world order.

Beijing has long maintained diplomatic ties with the Palestinian Authority, and it appointed a special envoy to meet with Israeli and Palestinian officials. But its experience in the region is mainly limited to construction, manufacturing and other economic projects.

China relies on such partnerships to bolster its diplomatic posture and give large Chinese corporations a leg up when negotiating infrastructure deals in line with the governments Belt and Road Initiative.

China also has sought close ties with Israel to expand its diplomatic presence and to gain access to high technology.

Abbas visit follows Chinas hosting of talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia that resulted in the restoring of diplomatic relations between the two Mideast rivals and boosting Chinas standing in the region.

The Riyadh-Tehran rapprochement was seen as a diplomatic victory for China as Gulf Arab states perceive the United States as gradually withdrawing from the wider region.

China has hosted a growing list of world leaders since reopening its borders in the spring after a three-year virtual shutdown due to its extreme zero-COVID policy.

Those have included French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, whose visits sparked controversy over Chinas pursuit of its campaign to cut off foreign support for self-governing Taiwan and block criticism of its human rights record.

This weekend, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to visit Beijing after previous plans were postponed over the presence of an alleged Chinese spy balloon over the U.S.

Following that visit, Li is travelling to France and Germany, marking his debut on the international stage as premier and the second-ranking member of the ruling party. The Foreign Ministry announcement yesterday that Li would take part in a seventh round of China-Germany government talks and attend a financial summit in Paris during the June 18-23 visits. MDT/AP
It's a weekend to celebrate Juneteenth, jazz, dad, opera and more, starting with these great live events:

Madison Juneteenth Celebration: Family-friendly, outdoor festivities Saturday, starting with the annual parade, with staging at 10 a.m. at Fountain of Life Covenant Church, 633 W. Badger Road. The parade departs at 10:45 a.m. and travels to Penn Park, Buick and Fisher streets, with a noon ceremony followed by an afternoon of activities and music until 6 p.m., featuring local performers and honoring Tina Turner, Michael Henderson, Irene Cara and Ramsey Lewis. Free. www.kujimcsd.org

Sun Prairie Juneteenth Celebration: Youth-led spoken word, plus performances by the Black Storytellers Alliance and Atimevu Drum and Dance Ensemble, food and activities including kickball, Double Dutch and a community resource fair. 2 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Wetmore Community Park, 555 North St., Sun Prairie. facebook.com/cityofsunprairie

More Juneteenth Events: More events in and around Madison to celebrate Juneteenth all weekend long are listed online at diversity.wisc.edu/2023/06/celebrating-juneteenth-2023.

Madison Jazz Festival: Citywide celebration of jazz continues with Marques Carrol Quintet, 8 p.m. Friday at Cafe Coda, 1224 Williamson St.; $20 to $25. Saturday: Jazz on the Terrace, all day starting at 1 p.m., Union Terrace, 800 Langdon St., free; A Conversation with Lakecia Benjamin, 3 p.m., UW Memorial Union Play Circle, 800 Langdon St., free; Performance by Lakecia Benjamin and Phoenix, 8 p.m., Shannon Hall, Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St., tickets $8 to $45. Sunday: Juneteenth Celebration of Black American Music, all day starting at 2:30 p.m., Union Terrace, 800 Langdon St., free; Ranky Tanky with Lisa Fischer, 8 p.m., Shannon Hall, tickets $8 to $45. go.madison.com/jazz

Madison Circus Space 24Hour Circathon: Free activities, performances and drop-in classes for all ages to celebrate 10 years of Madison Circus Space, starting with an opening parade at noon Saturday, 2082 Winnebago St. Free, donations encouraged.Complete schedule is at madisoncircusspace.com.

Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society:"Off the Cuff": BDDS continues its series over three June weekends, with classical and contemporary chamber music performed by musicians of national and international renown. Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Collins Hall, Hamel Music Center, and Stoughton Opera House. $47 to $53, students $10. Additional information is at bach dancing.org or call 608-255-9866.

Columbia County Moo-Day Brunch: Pizza, grilled cheese, ice cream sundaes and more to celebrate dairy month. Petting zoo, wagon rides, clogging, pedal tractor pull and other activities. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Darian Acres, W4598 County Road G, Rio. $9, $5 ages 4-10, ages 3 and younger free. $1 discount with donation of non-perishable food item. More information is at Columbia County Dairy Promotion Group page on Facebook.

Madison Opera broadcast: Wisconsin Public Radio broadcasts the November performance of Richard Strauss's "Salome" by Madison Opera at noon Saturday. Madison Opera's "The Marriage of Figaro," performed in April in Overture Hall, will be broadcast at noon June 24. madisonopera.org

Edible Plants Tour at Starkweather Creek: Naturalist Sean Gere leads a free, family-friendly educational walk along Starkweather Creek to talk about native plants and ways that humans have used them. 10 a.m. Saturday; meet by the bike trail at the Goodman Community Center, 214 Waubesa St. More information is at facebook.com/FriendsofStarkweatherCreek or call 608-6980104.

Garage Opera: Fresco Opera returns with its Garage Opera Series featuring "Figaro: Bachelor of Seville," performed at 2 p.m. in residential driveways and neighborhoods. Saturday, 21 La Crescenta Circle; Sunday, 2110 Vilas Ave.; June 24, 6002 Galley Court; June 25, 5013 Hammersley Road. Bring a chair or blanket. Free, but donations gladly accepted. www.frescoopera.com

Atimevu 20th Anniversary: The Ghana-inspired drumming group Atimevu celebrates 20 years, and the new band Sunday Wahala makes its debut, with "An Evening of Afro-Beats" at the Harmony Bar, 2201 Atwood Ave, 9 p.m. Saturday. The new group's name comes from "Wahala," or "trouble," and the "chill" day of the week it rehearses. $10 cover. harmonybarandgrill.com

"Be a Forager-Steward" at Warner Park: Naturalist Kathlean Wolf guides a family-friendly guided nature hike along easy walking paths at 1:30 p.m. Sunday to look for an amazing variety of natural sources of food, micronutrients, medicine and more. Warner Park, 2930 N. Sherman Ave., meet at the Warner Park Rainbow Shelter. Free. 608-6980104.

Shakespeare in the Park: Wisconsin-based traveling theatre company Summit Players Theatre returns with live, outdoor performances in state parks through Aug. 19. A 75-minute version of "Macbeth" will be performed at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Blue Mound State Park, preceded by a 45-minute educational workshop at 1 p.m. The troupe returns to the area on July 21 at Kegonsa State Park and July 22 at Mirror Lake State Park. Free. www.summitplayerstheatre.com/calendar

Father's Day at Old World Wisconsin: Dads get free general admission from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Father's Day, at the historic living village. Old World Wisconsin, W372 S9727 Highway 67, Eagle. www.wisconsinhistory.org

"Material World": Four short new works by the inclusive company Encore Studio for the Performing Arts. 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Mary DuPont Wahlers Theatre, 1480 Martin St. $10 to $20. encorestudio.org/tickets

"And Then There Were None": Strollers Theatre presents the Agatha Christie classic at the Bartell Theatre, 113 E. Mifflin St. 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday. $23 to $25. bartelltheatre.org

American Players Theatre: Repertory performances this weekend of "The Liar" and "The Royale" on Friday, "The Merry Wives of Windsor" on Saturday, both 8 p.m. Spring Green. $71 to $97. americanplayers.org
Christa Bruhns first book, a memoir, has been 10 years in the making and looks at her personal story and impressions of the Palestinian people  first as a student and later as a mother. Its been a journey, said Bruhn, who lives in Madison.

Crossing Borders: The Search for Dignity in Palestine was published in May and Bruhn said having it out has been super exciting.

The book is about my family, what I have experienced and witnessed, she said. To be able to write from my own life and share my story with the world is really a privilege.

Q: Congratulations on Crossing Borders. I understand youd worked on the memoir for several years. Why was it important to you to have it published this year?

A: It was really important to me to release the book this year with the 75th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel. For Palestinians, it marks the commemoration of the loss of Palestine, the loss of their homeland, what Palestinians call the Nakba, which is Arabic for Catastrophe. It was very important to me to commemorate that moment in history.

Q: You have very personal connections to Palestine. What is your background?

A: I grew up in Detroit, so I witnessed the fallout of racism and marginalization firsthand. My kids dad is from Palestine. We felt it was important to raise our kids in the United States ... so they had all the opportunities and privileges of being American. We always went back to Palestine, almost every year, to let our children spend time with their extended family and be exposed to the Arabic language and Palestinian culture. Its made for an interesting, challenging life. We have many chapters in our lives.

Q: How did you come to Madison?

A: For a while we were coming to Madison as food vendors at Art Fair on the Square with German-roasted almonds, then Middle Eastern food. We decided to make Madison our home and opened a restaurant, the Shish Cafe. Weve been here 28 years now. I have an academic background. I did my bachelors in International Studies at the University of MichiganDearborn. Thats when I met my husband at a campus event about Palestine at Wayne State University in Detroit, where I was studying Arabic. I went on to do my masters in Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Michigan. I always wanted to go back to school for my Ph.D. and ended up doing it here in Madison in Education.

Q: So, you collected much of what you learned about daily Palestinian life during your visits to Palestine? How often did you go?

A: We went mostly in the summer during school vacations, or extended winter breaks. One year I spent the whole year there with our sons before our daughter was born. I had studied Arabic, but that year I really got the spoken language down and experienced what its like to live under Israeli occupation and contrast that to the freedoms we have here as Americans. The book is really a braided memoir of weaving my personal experience as a mother with ... the story I needed to tell about the day-to-day lives of Palestinians, the challenges they face living in what I call the shadow of the State of Israel.

Q: How did you first become interested in Palestine?

A: I was only 18 when I went to Gaza and Jerusalem. I was a student studying abroad in Germany during the Cold War and had the opportunity to visit these two families, one Palestinian refugees from Jaffa, the other new Jewish immigrants to Israel, two completely different worlds. That experience planted the seed for the rest of my life.

This book is the culmination of a lifetime of experiences. As a reader, you really go along on this journey with me. I didnt speak Arabic when I first went there so you get to learn about the language and culture with me. You get to see Palestine through my eyes. Im coming at the situation through the lens of dignity. Thats the golden thread that weaves all the stories together and where the title of the book came from.

Q: You mention a reason for writing the book is that some people find this part of the world too complicated to understand. How do you make it understandable?

A: People talk about the situation on the ground as so complicated. Thats not true at all. Its really quite simple. Its a conflict over land. The Jewish peoples history is tied to the ancient land of Israel and the Palestinians are the Indigenous population of that area. They both see the whole land as their own. For Israelis, Palestine is Israel. For Palestinians, Israel is Palestine. For me, its that simple. Two peoples and one land.

And yet thats where the problem starts. Two historical narratives tied to the same land. One of them has power over the other. Its not a democracy. The very definition of the state favors Jews over Palestinians. Theres the Law of Return that gives any Jew anywhere in the world the right to citizenship in Israel. Palestinians want equal rights and the Right of Return to live with dignity in their homeland.

Q: Do you have plans to travel to Palestine anytime soon?

A: I definitely will be getting over there this year. I plan to do some events related to my book in Europe on the way and also in Palestine locally.

Q: What can you tell us about the artwork used as the books cover?

A: The artist who painted the painting is the late Palestinian artist Ismail Shammout, whose family was forced out of their hometown of Lydd in 1948. I reached out to his family to use this painting called Life Prevails. Even though theres been all this history and fighting over land and borders, this painting is full of life. It includes celebrations like scenes of marriage, the market with the orange cart symbolizing the famous Jaffa oranges, lots of kids representing the next generation, and places very dear to Palestinians like the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, the Church (of the Annunciation) in Nazareth, the White Tower of Ramle, and the Mediterranean Sea.

Q: You also have a passion for food and photography  how have those interests complemented your work and research about Palestine?

A: Our family has had a journey of food. Weve done food vending, which led to a restaurant. Now we have this family business overseas, Canaan Palestine, exporting olive oil on a fair trade organic basis. My sons are both working in that operation. We have that whole culture of food in our family. You cant read my book without getting hungry. So much of the day-to-day culture in Palestine is around food  wild harvesting, going to the market, being invited to these elaborate dinners as a guest. Perhaps in the future, Ill do a book focusing exclusively on food and the cultural history of Palestine.

I also take a lot of pictures and theyre basically what I am seeing and trying to convey as raw perception to others. However, my book has zero pictures. Twenty maps, but no photographs. Maps and the people who draw maps and borders have power over others. Even as American citizens, Israel has power over my family. I put maps instead of photos in the book for that very reason. I will be divulging a repertoire of photographs on my website. Pictures can speak a thousand words. It is a big part of my life, but Ive had to focus on the written word.
The Madison-based nonprofit Mundo Esperanza (World Hope) will escort five local Ho-Chunk Nation members to Cusco, Peru, as part of an international cultural exchange experience Friday.

Mundo Esperanza was founded in 2021 to promote greater awareness of Indigenous communities and sponsor the Madison Cusco Sister City partnership. In January of 2022, Madison and Cusco became official sister cities.

This is the trip of a generation, said Vic Villacrez, president of Mundo Esperanza. Indigenous culture is so prevalent in Cusco, and we wanted to share that with our Indigenous Ho-Chunk friends.

The five local Ho-Chunk travelers are Ho-Chunk tribal historic preservation officer Bill Quackenbush, first Ho-Chunk Nation president JoAnn Jones, tribal elder Linda Hopinkah, Ho-Chunk gaming manager Kyla Beard and tribal veterans services officer Randall Blackdeer.

Villacrez, who is a descendant of the Andean people, will lead the trip alongside Rene Heiden, co-founder and vice president of Mundo Esperanza. While Villacrez has been leading trips to Cusco since 1999, this will be the first trip that he has led that is focused on cultural restoration and has been offered solely to Ho-Chunk community members.

Along with individual sponsors, the trip is financially supported by the city of Madison, Old National Bank, Graef Engineering, and the UW-Madison Department of Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies.

During the three-day trip, the travelers will meet and exchange information with Peruvian Qero elders, an Indigenous community of the high Andes.

Over the three days, the travelers will tour a remote farming village, celebrate the Andean New Year with a trip to Perus Sacred Valley and be honored guests at a 500-year-old sun festival called Inti Raymi.

As guests, they will witness one of the largest Indigenous ceremonies in this hemisphere, the Inti Raymi, which happens on the evening of the New Year and it is the festival of the sun, Villacrez said.

As one of the Ho-Chunk members headed to Peru, Quackenbush is looking forward to not just exploring South America, but to the opportunity for the experience to inform his work as a tribal historic preservation officer.

I was curious to see what type of cultural awareness an Indigenous group from South America had and how we could possibly share or network collaboratively to enhance some of our preservation programs that we incorporate within our tribal system here in Wisconsin, Quackenbush said of his decision to join the trip. Were really grateful for Victor and Rene for reaching out to us and asking us to go.

While there is not a specific date set yet, Mundo Esperanza plans to arrange a trip for some Qero elders to visit the Madison area and connect with the broader Ho-Chunk community. With these two trips, the hope is that two different communities with very different cultural practices and backgrounds can connect and learn from one another.

We went through a variety of social change within our ancestral areas here within the last four or five hundred years and we managed to weather it all, Quackenbush said. Were looking forward to hosting them and sharing our culture and some of the processes that we had to create in order to ensure that we remain a vibrant tribe within the state of Wisconsin.
A Black student who sued the Monona Grove School District, alleging that he was unreasonably searched by white staff members in Louisiana during a school trip to the South last year, has accepted a $25,001 settlement offered by the district, according to court papers filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Madison.

The district and four teachers who were defendants in the case admit no wrongdoing under the settlement and also will pay $25,000 in attorney fees and costs for the student.

Our client is happy he won his case, attorney Rick Resch, representing the student, said in a statement Friday. Obtaining judgment in his favor was very important to him. And he hopes that the judgment will empower other people to stand up for themselves when their constitutional rights are violated. Our clients other main goal was to make an impact in the Monona Grove School District. We think hes accomplished that too.

District superintendent Daniel Olson had not responded to a message seeking comment.

According to documents, the offer was extended by attorneys for the district on April 7, and in an emailed response on April 19, attorneys for the student accepted the offer. The acceptance was formally filed in U.S. District Court on Friday.

In a lawsuit filed in May 2022, the student, a member of Monona Grove High Schools Black Student Union, accused school staff members of carrying out an unreasonable search for drugs during a trip to tour historically Black colleges and other sites.

The lawsuit states that while on the bus headed back to Wisconsin, the student and five of his peers had their bags searched after two white staff members noticed the scent of marijuana wafting from a McDonalds restaurant in Amite, Louisiana, during a stop for a meal. Nobody in the restaurant was seen smoking.

After re-boarding the bus, the student who sued and one other student were told by a teacher and chaperone to grab their bags and get off the bus, and they, along with another boy, had their bags searched by white Monona Grove staff members, the lawsuit alleged. It also alleged the group was told to confess that they had marijuana.

They were also told they would be searched and to empty their pockets, but that was interrupted by two Black staff members who were also on the trip. The students were angered by what had happened and received half-hearted apologies, according to the lawsuit.

It takes a lot of courage for a 17-year-old to file a civil rights lawsuit against his teachers while he is still a student in the same school, attorney John Bradley, who also represented the student, said in a statement. Our client didnt make the decision to pursue this injustice in court lightly.
Dane County will join mounting local government opposition to changes to solar power rates getting proposed by Madison Gas and Electric and Alliant Energy.

Under a measure passed by the County Board on Thursday night, county attorneys will oppose the two utility companies' application for a rate change before the Public Service Commission. The county now joins Madison and Middleton who also plan to oppose in the rate change request.

"This is a very sudden shift without a lot of information," Kathryn Kuntz, county energy and climate change director, said of the rate change on Thursday.

The county is a significant customer for MGE and has in the past year reached a goal of using 100% renewable energy to power county operations, Kuntz said. To ensure the county's goal of cutting its emission by 50% by 2030, it needs to maintain its current reliance on solar energy, according to the board's resolution introduced by Chair Patrick Miles, 34th District.

Kuntz added it remains unclear how much the rate change will cost the county.

"Honestly so far we haven't seen enough math to really know how big of a deal it is," Kuntz said. "It seems like it's not insubstantial."

Under the new rules at the utility companies, new residential customers who sign up for the program after March 2024 would get paid back less than current residential customers get for unused energy. Instead of customers getting reimbursed monthly for the energy they don't use, they'd be reimbursed off of 15-minute increments through MGE and 60-minute increments through Alliant Energy.

Current residential customers and those who sign up before April 1 won't be affected by the rate change, MG&E said, and the company also proposes a $1,000 credit to customers who would receive the lower rate.

MG&E would pay around 7-1/2 cents per kilowatt for residential customers, which is far less than their current rate of 15 cents per kilowatt. That's the same rate paid to other, larger customers, an MG&E spokesperson said.

On its part, Alliant would pay customers 5 to 8 cents per kilowatt, which is lower than its current reimbursement of 13.5 cents.

The utilities are also proposing rate changes, according to the applications to the Public Service Commission. MG&E has proposed a rate hike of 3.75% in 2024 and 3.41% in 2025. Alliant's proposed hike would raise rates by 8.4% in 2024 and 5.4% in 2025.

"Like any customer we don't want to pay more if we don't have to," said Carlos Pabellon, corporation counsel for the county.

Pabellon noted that it doesn't happen often for the county to intervene in a rate change, adding that it last happened at the county in 2014.

[Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect corrections. Under the proposal, net metering would not be eliminated. The rate for new MG&E customers who sign up for the program after March 2024 would be 7 1/2 cents.]

5 smart strategies to lower your air conditioning bill this summer 1) Optimize your thermostat settings. Optimizing your thermostat settings can keep you cool without major changes to your comfort level. Experiment with setting your thermostat a few degrees higher than you normally would during the day. You might find youre unnecessarily blasting the AC. Turning your thermostat down during cooler nighttime temperatures can also add up to major savings. A programmable smart thermostat can also help you track your cooling costs, reduce unnecessary energy usage, and adjust your settings when youre away from home. 2) Use natural ventilation. Maximizing natural ventilation is an effective and eco-friendly way to cool your home. During cool morning and evening hours, open your windows to let in a fresh breeze. Then, once temperatures rise during the middle of the day, close windows and doors to keep the indoor temperature low. Ceiling and window fans also use less energy than HVAC units while increasing air circulation to keep you cool and comfortable. 3) Maintain your HVAC system. If you cant remember the last time you had your HVAC system serviced, youre probably paying more than you need to in cooling costs. To optimize your HVAC, clean and replace any filters every few months, and schedule a professional maintenance visit once a year. An HVAC specialist can ensure your system has proper airflow and check for issues that make your air conditioner less efficient. 4) Increase insulation to block outside heat. Upgrading your homes attic or wall insulation can be costly, but keeping the heat out could be as simple as installing energy-efficient window treatments. Adding blinds, blackout curtains, or reflective film will block out sunlight during the hottest parts of the day and keep your homes internal temperature cooler. 5) Skip the mid-day chores and cooking. Modifying your routine could help you reduce your cooling costs. Instead of cooking lunch in the oven, opt for sandwiches or salads while the sun is up. You can also line dry clothing or wait until the evening to use your dryer. A few simple changes to your habits could add up to some fun-money savings for your summer vacation.
The thefts of a boat and two jet skis in Walworth County last week are believed to be related, authorities reported.

On June 8, a blue 2017 Moomba Mojo 23-foot motorboat with Wisconsin registration WS 1132 PM was reported stolen from Gage Marine in the town of Delavan, Det. John Rusfeldt of town of Delavan police said in a statement.

Its believed the boat was last seen on a Boatmate Mojo trailer in the Janesville area early last Friday, Rusfeldt said.

On Saturday, two jet skis were reported stolen from One Powersports in the town of Delavan. The first was a Yamaha VX1050A RA with Wisconsin registration WS 1034 TE and the second was a Yamaha VX1050 RB with Wisconsin registration WS 1034 TD. One was blue and silver and the other red and white, Rusfeldt said.

The suspect vehicle in the theft of the jet skis is believed to be a black Chevy Tahoe or GMC SUV, Rusfeldt said.

Any agencies with similar thefts are asked to contact town of Delavan police, and anyone with information about the thefts is asked to contact Rusfeldt or Sgt. Erik Voss of town of Delavan police at 262-728-8787.
Idaho Farm and Ranch Museum holds 40th annual event

Jeff Mecham was busy on Wednesday evening, working to get everything into place at the Idaho Farm and Ranch Museum before the 40th annual Live History Day, taking place on Saturday.

Having worked for weeks on the IFARM, located just north of the crossroads of Interstate 84 and U.S. Highway 93 on 33 acres of the historic Albert Lickley Homestead, Mecham told the Times-News that the seemingly endless list of chores and tasks needed to prepare for Live History Day is a lot like farming.

"It's an ongoing project," Mecham said in a phone call. "Once you get something cleaned up it's time to do something else."

As president of the Jerome Historical Society, Mecham and a small handful of volunteers donate hundreds of hours every summer to maintain the grounds and preserve the buildings there.

The volunteers say the work is worth it because it's important to share the legacy of the ancestors who settled in the Magic Valley.

"It's history we need to at least try to remember, realize what it was like for our grandparents when they were alive," Mecham said. "A lot of people don't know how this stuff was actually done, as far as spinning wool, churning butter."

The Idaho Farm and Ranch Museum has one of the largest collections of agriculture equipment in the Northwest, with some 600 tractors and implements on-site, ranging in age from the late 1800s to around 1950.

The 33 developed acres also have many old buildings, including the Albert Lickley family homestead: the family home, barn, carriage house, granary and corral.

IFARM live history day The Idaho Farm and Ranch Museum is just north of Interstate 84 and U.S. Highway 93, east of the Flying J in Jerome County. Gates open to the public at 9 a.m. and events go until about 4 p.m. Entrance for adults $5 (cash only). Children 12 and under free. Parking is free near the gate. For more information call 208-324-5641.

Guests can see demonstrations of old-timey activities like loom-weaving, wool-spinning, butter-churning, sheep-shearing, cowhide-tanning, and blacksmithing, all done the way it was before automation, smartphones and electricity made everyone's lives easier.

"People need to know how it was in the early days of this valley," Jerome County Historical Society member Linda Helms told the Times-News. "There wasn't anything much here before 1905.

"And people need to know what the history of their area is, if they call this area home."

Visitors can see the inside of the Albert Lickley home, making up some of the first structures in the area. Many of the original structures have received a fresh coat of paint and are looking as sharp as ever.

The Boy Scout Troop 139 and Girl Scout Troop 1139 will raise the flag at 10 a.m. at the White Canyonside Building on the lawn. An antique tractor parade starts right after the flag raising.

At 1:30p.m. there will be a memorial for Jim Rowe, who passed away in December 2022. Rowe was a long-time truck driver and member of the Antique Truck Association and Jerome County Historical Society.

"He was just a great old guy; everybody loved him," Helms said about Rowe. "And he wore bib overalls all the time. Maybe going to church, he might wear a suit, but I never saw him in anything but bib overalls. And he was a friend to everybody."

Rowe was instrumental in developing the Antique Truck show, now in its fourth year as part of the Live History Day lineup. In 2020, the truck show drew 115 trucks from eight different states, as one of the only truck shows that summer due to the Covid-19 pandemic and shutdowns in other states. Helms said she thought about 70 trucks would be on site this year.

Rowe also had a collection of model trucks, reported to occupy a substantial portion of his house. Some of his models will be on display on Saturday, and in the future, many of the models will be permanently housed on IFARM grounds, Helms told the Times-News.

At 2 p.m., the famous pie auction will be held on the lawn. The auction has taken place for 20 years and raises money for the preservation of the historic buildings. If you have $20 in your pocket, Helms said, you'd be lucky to get a winning bid on a pie auction. Pies usually go for $60 to $100 dollars.

"Some of those pies, if they get a bidding war, and it's the right kind of fruit that they want ... they've gone as much as $240," Helms said.

Your news on your smartphone Your story lives in the Magic Valley, and our new mobile app is designed to make sure you dont miss breaking news, the latest scores, the weather forecast and more. From easy navigation with the swipe of a finger to personalized content based on your preferences to customized text sizes, the Times-News app is built for you and your life. Dont have the app? Download it today from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

PHOTOS: Live History Day gives a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past Live History Day gives community members a glimpse of the past
Local students win 2023 Governors Cup Scholarships

Eight students from the Magic Valley were among the winners of 2023 Governors Cup Scholarships, announced this week by Idaho Gov. Brad Little.

The recipients were chosen from among more than 3,000 applicants by the scholarship programs 13-member board of directors, based on their commitment to public service, academic achievement, leadership and community involvement, according to a news release.

Kimberlys Grayden DeVries (College of Idaho), Jeromes Kamille Mirkin (University of Idaho), Wendells Madison Myers (University of Idaho), Careys Franco Ocampo (Idaho State University) and Burleys Elizabeth Tarbet (BYU-Idaho) were recipients of Academic Scholarships worth $5,000 per year, renewable up to four years.

Kimberlys Brianna Askew (College of Southern Idaho), Oakleys William Praegitzer (CSI) and Burleys Ethan Randklev (Idaho State) were recipients of Career-Technical Education awards worth $3,000 per year, for 2-3 years depending on the length of the program.

A reception honoring the 2023 scholarship winners will be June 20 at the Capitol in Boise.

AARP Idaho to hold telephone town hall

AARP Idaho will hold a statewide telephone town hall with the Idaho Division of Veterans Services on Wednesday, beginning at noon

On the call, Bill Heyob, bureau chief and state service officer with the Office of Veterans Advocacy, and Tom Ressler, an AARP Idaho executive council member and retired U.S. Air Force command chief master sergeant, will discuss veteran benefits and answer questions.

Of the 122,000 veterans in Idaho, only 32% have used benefits at VA health care, according to U.S. Census Bureau.

To access the town hall, call toll-free 1-866-767-0637 or go online to the AARP Idaho Facebook page. To register in advance, go online to https://vekeo.com/aarpidaho/.

For more information, go online to www.aarp.org/veterans.

 Times-News
In our society, the trust and confidence of the people in government institutions is vital. The misuse of law enforcement to target political rivals has deeply eroded Americans faith in our institutions.

Conservative Republicans have always emphasized the need to preserve the delicate balance of power outlined in our Constitution. Misusing law enforcement to target political rivals undermines this balance and is antithetical to the American way. We need only look at the experiences of citizens in troubled countries such as Cuba, Russia, and Nicaragua, where dictators routinely persecute their political opponents, to see how dangerous of a precedent this sets.

The American public has been inundated for six-plus years with endless allegations of criminal activity by President Donald Trump. The media and our government agencies worked hand-in-hand to spin a web of alleged Russian collusion by our president. These allegations were subject to extensive investigation, which concluded there was insufficient evidence to establish any criminal conspiracy, but not before the media and partisan politicos used it as a bludgeon to attack their key political rival.

Not surprising, when Russian collusion fell apart, new allegations of criminal activity quickly followed.

The recent indictment of Trump by Bidens Department of Justice has a chilling effect on political discourse. It not only undermines the principles of fairness and justice, but also stifles the political process when a candidate for president is indicted by the DOJ of the incumbent.

When citizens fear retribution for their political alignment, the foundation of democratic debate crumbles. Americans must be able to freely engage in political discussion, without the risk of retribution. The dangers associated with a sitting U.S. president misusing the DOJ to indict and arrest a top political rival cannot be ignored.

It is essential to consider this context when evaluating the misuse of the DOJ and intelligence agencies and its impact on public trust.

Transparency, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law should be the cornerstones of our efforts. Implementing rigorous oversight mechanisms, promoting ethical conduct, and reinforcing the impartiality of our justice system are critical steps toward restoring public confidence.

This week, the House of Representatives had an opportunity to exhibit such rigorous oversight and promote ethical conduct, when a resolution to censure Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff was presented.

The resolution alleged unethical behavior when he was chair of the House Intelligence Committee; that he purposely deceived his Committee, Congress, and the American people and used his position and access to sensitive information to instigate a fraudulently based investigation, which he then used to amass political gain and fundraising dollars.

The vote failed, with 20 Republicans voting with Democrats to block the censure. This is yet another disappointing failure by our government to hold accountable the actions of our elected officials.

Many Americans are left wondering if there is any hope for restoring faith in our government institutions.

It would require a commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that our law enforcement agencies and our elected officials operate independently and impartially, devoid of political influence.

It is imperative we champion the restoration of trust in our justice system. Only when we begin to uphold these principles of transparency, accountability, and impartiality, can we begin to rebuild the faith of the American people in our institutions and ensure a stronger, more resilient democracy for our children and grandchildren.
Libraries are the brick-and-mortar embodiment of the First Amendment. They are there to educate, entertain, and challenge us. Unfortunately, there is an organized movement to have certain books removed from our libraries.

A number of Republican lawmakers in Idaho want to do that by offering cash bounties to parents who find books with a paragraph or illustration they find objectionable.

I recently talked with student writers at high schools in Boise and Moscow. These are young adults eager to learn how to become published authors. They take inspiration from books with characters like them, characters who are sometimes Black, Native American, or gay. Keeping certain books out of libraries might solve one familys concerns about their child reading a particular text, but it removes the opportunity from another child.

GUEST COMMENTARY: I visited our local libraries  and heres what I found GUEST COMMENTARY: When you hear about what is going on at your local library, stop in, meet the people, and observe what is happening, writes Janet Franklin of Buhl.

Yes, some books are inappropriate for younger readers. Librarians make every effort to place books in age-appropriate sections. The Kite Runner, a book often banned, might be wrong for lower grades. But the book would be fine for high school students who want to learn how people in Afghanistan lived before America engaged there in our countrys longest war.

If a parent is concerned about that book, or any other book a student is assigned to read, they have every right to say no. If that parent believes a book is not age-appropriate, they can ask that it be reviewed. Every library already has a policy and procedure on how to do that. With parental rights comes parental responsibility. Parents cant expect a librarian to know what their child should be allowed to read. Parenting isnt easy. This job cant be passed to librarians or anyone else.

Librarians dont need the threat of lawsuits hanging over their heads when they choose a new book for their collection. Imagine the chilling effect it would have if parents were turned into vigilantes looking for a reward if they find a book they dont like. Libraries are full of books that people dont like. They contain books that I dont like. Good for them.

Libraries  especially school libraries  should hold our countrys history. It is not your fault or mine that the history of the United States includes some attitudes and actions that are embarrassing to think about today. Its essential that we know the history that makes us uncomfortable, not just the history that inspires us.

The freedom to read is essential to our democracy. Parents can say which books their children can and cannot read. They do not, and should not, have the right to say which books other children cannot read. Idaho Democrats will continue to fight censorship and any effort to roll back our freedoms.
Kaya Founders, a Philippines-based venture capital firm, said Friday it raised $12 million to support the next generation of technology-enabled, industry-shaping start-ups across Southeast Asia.

The company is targeting $25 million across two new funds to invest in pre-seed to Series A start-ups in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

The funding round was anchored by the Gokongwei family and technology solutions provider Accent Micro Technologies Inc., both key pillars of the local tech ecosystem.

It also saw the participation of other institutional investors, family offices, high-net-worth individuals and prominent entrepreneurs. This brings the total committed capital managed by the firm to $16.5 million.

Kaya Founders will be particularly focused on nurturing start-ups in the Philippines, which has been at the center of attention for start-up investing in the wider region.

Founded in 2021 by veteran entrepreneurs and angel investors Paulo Campos, former chief executive Zalora Philippines; Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, president of Summit Media and senior vice president of JG Summit; and Constantin Robertz, CEO of Locad, Kaya Founders established itself as the leading early-stage investor in the Philippines.

Kaya Founders has 31 companies in its portfolio, spanning e-commerce, digital health, fintech, B2B SaaS, agritech, proptech and more. Some of its most notable portfolio companies are e-commerce enabler Etaily, salary-on-demand start-up Advance and MSME point of sale app Peddlr.

The burgeoning tech scene in the Philippines is reminiscent of previous growth narratives seen in markets such as India in the 2000s and Indonesia over the past decade, Campos said.

The surge in these countries echnology sectors were propelled by a confluence of factors, including favorable demographics and supportive government policies, but arguably no other factor played a more pivotal role than the critical mass of tech talent, he said.

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
WASHINGTON  Online attackers with clear links to China are behind a vast cyber espionage campaign targeting government agencies of interest to Beijing, Google subsidiary Mandiant said on Thursday.

This is the broadest cyber espionage campaign known to be conducted by a China-nexus threat actor since the mass exploitation of Microsoft Exchange in early 2021, said Mandiant chief technology officer Charles Carmakal.

The cyber attackers compromised the computer defenses of hundreds of organizations, in some cases stealing emails of prominent employees dealing in matters of interest to the Chinese government, Carmakal added.

Mandiant reported having high confidence that a group referred to as UNC4841 was behind the wide-ranging espionage campaign in support of the Peoples Republic of China.

The hackers targeted victims in at least 16 different countries, striking organizations in the public and private sectors worldwide, the report said.

The targeting focused on issues of high policy importance to the Chinese government, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region and Taiwan, according to the report.

Victims included foreign ministries, research organizations, and foreign trade missions based in Hong Kong and Taiwan, Mandiant said in its findings.

The attacks involved email messages booby-trapped with malicious code and exploited a vulnerability in Barracuda software for screening such missives to make sure they are safe, according to the report.

The cyber espionage activity was detected in May and is believed to have started as early as October of last year.

We continue to see evidence of ongoing malware activity on some systems that were compromised, Barracuda Networks told AFP.

The 2021 hack of Microsoft Exchange, which security researchers attributed to a Beijing-backed group, affected at least 30,000 organizations in the United States including businesses and local governments.

Washington has frequently accused Beijing of cyberattacks against US targets, with the issue contributing to a deterioration in relations

between the two powers in recent years.

China has consistently denied the claims, and has railed against alleged US cyber espionage, last year accusing the US National

Security Agency of carrying out tens of thousands of malicious attacks on network targets in China.

The latest hacking revelations come as Secretary of State Antony Blinken heads to China for talks on Sunday and Monday, the first visit

by a top US diplomat in nearly five years.

A senior State Department official said the trip is aimed at helping the two countries manage their competition responsibly, and at a

minimum, reduce the risk of miscalculation so that we do not veer into potential conflict.

Meanwhile, in an apparently unrelated cyberattack, CNN reported Thursday that several US federal agencies had been caught in a Russian

groups hack of the commonly used software MOVEit.

When asked for comment by AFP, the White House pointed to an advisory issued last week by the FBI and CISA, the federal governments lead

cybersecurity agency, warning of the softwares vulnerability and offering information on how to mitigate it.

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
The Philippines, Japan, and the United States on Friday stressed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait following the first three-way talks in Tokyo among the countries security advisors.

The three countries also pledged to deepen their trilateral cooperation to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order, in a joint press release issued after the meeting, Kyodo News reported.

The agreement comes amid Chinas increasing military assertiveness toward Taiwan and other parts of the Indo-Pacific region.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano represented the Philippines in the meeting with Takeo Akiba, secretary general of Japans National Security Secretariat, and his US counterpart Jake Sullivan.

The gathering took place amid rising tensions between Washington and Beijing over issues such as Taiwan, a self-ruled democratic island that Communist-led China regards as a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland, by force if necessary.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to push through with his long-delayed trip to China this weekend aimed at stabilizing tense relations between the worlds two superpowers, but the mood in Beijing is hardly welcoming, CNN reported.

China has been stepping up its military pressure on Taiwan, which has been governed independently since it split from China in 1949 following a civil war.

Based on bilateral US security alliances with Japan and the Philippines, respectively, the three countries will work together and enhance their response capabilities in order to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, the statement said.

A free and open maritime order, characterized by freedom of navigation, and a free, fair, and equitable economic order are essential, especially given unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion, it added.

The statement is apparently addressed to China, which has been exercising military and economic assertiveness in the region including the East and South China seas, where Tokyo and Manila are facing challenges related to Beijings territorial claims in their nearby waters.

Referring to the three nations first joint drill by their coast guards earlier in June off Manila Bay, the three security advisors also discussed opportunities to conduct combined maritime activities.

North Korea, whose missile and nuclear programs have been posing threats to the region, was among other regional security challenges brought up during the gathering, according to the press release.

The officials also shared that the three nations should boost their collaboration in such fields as humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and economic security while deciding to hold additional trilateral exchanges in the coming months among their organizations.

The three countries held their first quadrilateral defense ministerial meeting involving Australia in Singapore early this month, where they pledged to step up their security cooperation.

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
Senator Imee Marcos and the leaders of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and National Bureau of Investigation are worried about sleepers or terrorist agents who may be among the refugees from Afghanistan that the United States is asking the Philippines to temporarily shelter in the country.

In a Senate hearing, Sen. Marcos first asked NBI Deputy Director Jose Justo Yap about the agencys position that it was highly probable there were sleepers among the Afghan refugees endorsed by the US, and that their presence in the country could make the Philippines a target for Taliban and splinter groups.

I think the apprehension that we noted is that they may have sympathizers from the Southern Philippines, from our Muslim brothers. So that is a possibility, madam chair, Yap told the Senate panel.

NICA Director General Ricardo de Leon echoed the NBI position, saying the move could be used as propaganda by pro-Taliban or Al Qaeda groups and other sympathizers even though the refugees are supposed to have worked for the US government.

Our apprehension is about the sleepers, they could always be activated and have an impact as far as the revival of some activities in the south, he said.

The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, on the other hand, did not seem concerned about the possibility of sleepers, but said these special immigrant visa (SIV) applicants might be a target of an attack.

This request is still being evaluated, the Palace said last night, after Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalos statement that the request was made by US President Joe Biden during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s US visit in May.

Senator Marcosthe Presidents sisterasked why the US was seeking to house the Afghan refugees, who are former US government employees, in the Philippines instead of bringing them directly to America.

Doesnt the fact that the US no longer wants to house these foreigners in safe havens within the territory of the US raise concerns for us? They are claiming that there will be very low risk in security, that highly vetted groups will be the only ones coming, and that the SIV is assured, and yet, they dont want them, Marcos said.

But Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said SIVs should be processed in other jurisdictions before they are allowed to enter the United States.

He said once their applications for special immigrant visas are accepted, they would go to the United States to work and live there.

Thats how we understand the special immigrant visa works, said Romualdez, who attended the hearing virtually from the US.

He also said the US proposal was not a secretin response to Senator Marcos charge that there was a lack of transparency in the plan.

DFA chief Manalo said US President Biden had briefly raised the request for the Philippines to temporarily house Afghan refugees with President Marcos during the latters state visit.

The (US) Secretary of State (Antony Blinken) directly raised this to me on a few occasions verbally and also in a letter and in fact, President Biden also briefly raised the issue with President Marcos during the visit last May, Manalo told a Senate hearing.

Manalo said the Department of Foreign Affairs received a concept note from the US government on Oct. 22, 2022 which indicated a request for the Philippine government to allow Afghans formally employed by the US government and their qualified dependents to temporarily stay in the Philippines to process their SIV applications with the US Embassy in Manila.

The DFA chief said after receiving the request, they launched informal consultations with the relevant Philippine agencies to study the concept note and assess the request.

Ma. Teresita Daza, DFA spokesperson, also confirmed that Manila is currently in talks with Washington on whether it would allow Afghan nationals to stay in the Philippines while waiting for their SIVs for eventual relocation to the United States.

Daza said the Philippine government has not yet entered nor finalized any agreement with the US on its request on behalf of the Afghan nationals.

Consultations with relevant Philippine government agencies are ongoing, Daza said.

Daza also said while the proposed arrangement is humanitarian in nature, it will not involve the admission or hosting of Afghan refugees.

Romualdez, who first received the request from Washington, earlier said the request would only be for Afghan nationals who worked for the US government and their families.

He said Manila would only be providing an area where Afghans could stay while waiting for their Special Immigrant Visas to the US cleared. Washington would cover the operational expenses and provide manpower to accommodate them, he added.

US and allied forces pulled out of Afghanistan in 2021 to end Americas longest war, launched after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Tens of thousands of Afghans fled their country in the chaotic evacuation of August 2021.

Many of those who had worked with the ousted Western-backed government arrived in the United States seeking resettlement under a special immigrant visa program.

But thousands were also left behind, waiting for their visas to be processed.

Afghanistans Taliban rulers insist no harm will come to anyone who collaborated with Western powers or the former government and is encouraging those who have left to return and help rebuild the country.  With Vince Lopez and AFP

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
KhartoumSudans devastating war raged on into a third month Thursday as the reported death toll topped 2,000 and after a state governor was killed in the remote Darfur region.

Since April 15, the regular army headed by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has been locked in fighting with paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo.

The fighting has driven 2.2 million people from their homes, including 528,000 who have fled to neighbouring countries, according to the International Organization for Migration.

In our worst expectations, we didnt see this war dragging on for this long, said Mohamad al-Hassan Othman, one of more than a million civilians who have fled heavy fighting in the capital Khartoum.

Everything in our life has changed, he told AFP. We dont know whether well be back home or need to start a new life.

The death toll has risen above 2,000, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Projects latest figures, which cover fighting until June 9.

In long-troubled West Darfur state, the violence claimed the life of Governor Khamis Abdullah Abakar, hours after he made remarks critical of the paramilitaries in a telephone interview with a Saudi TV channel.

The United Nations said compelling eyewitness accounts attribute this act to Arab militias and the RSF, while the Darfur Lawyers Association condemned the act of barbarism, brutality and cruelty.

Burhan accused his paramilitary foes of the treacherous attack. The RSF denied responsibility and said it condemned Abakars assassination in cold blood.

Sudan analyst Kholood Khair of the Khartoum-based think tank Confluence Advisory said the heinous assassination was meant to silence his highlighting of genocide in Darfur. AFP

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
ParisFrench President Emmanuel Macron on Friday hosts Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for talks in Paris, seeking to nudge the de-facto leader of the oil-rich kingdom into more full-throated support of Ukraine against the Russian invasion.

The visit of the 37-year-old, widely known as MBS, comes less than a year after his last visit to the Elysee Palace and underlines the warm relationship between Paris and Riyadh that has irked rights activists in the wake of the 2018 killing of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi.

Meanwhile, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Ukraine on Friday as part of a group of African leaders seeking to broker peace between Kyiv and Moscow, officials said.

Four presidents and three representatives are due to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv before heading to Saint Petersburg on Saturday to meet his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

The high-profile diplomatic team hopes to bring to the table the voice of a continent that has been badly hit by rising grain prices and the wider impact on global trade since Russia invaded Ukraine last year.

Over their lunch at the Elysee Palace from 1115 GMT, Macron is also expected to seek support from MBS to find a solution in the search for a new president in Lebanon, a stalemate that is causing increasing exasperation for France.

His stay in France appears set to be a long one, with the crown prince due to attend a Paris summit on a New Global Financing Pact hosted by Macron on June 22-23.

On Monday, he will also attend an official Saudi reception for Riyadhs candidacy to host Expo 2030, a bid for which Saudi wants strong French support.

The prince can reside comfortably in France, given he owns the opulent Chateau Louis XIV near Versailles outside Paris, a modern building that seeks to replicate the look of French imperial palaces.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived at the Nemichaeve train station, the South African presidency tweeted.

Ramaphosa will be joined by Senegals Macky Sall and Zambias Hakainde Hichilema, plus Comoros President Azali Assoumani, who currently heads the African Union.

Three other leaders who had been due to join the tripUgandas President Yoweri Museveni, Egypts Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Congo-Brazzavilles President Denis Sassou Nguessohave pulled out of the visit and have sent other representatives instead.

A French presidential official, who asked not to be named, said Paris wanted MBS to understand the scale of the Ukraine conflict and help us speed up the final outcome of the war, which means a victory for Ukraine on the ground. AFP

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
Leading online food and grocery platform foodpanda recently expressed its commitment to fighting hunger and promoting sustainability through its flagship advocacy program, Lets Do Our Pau-rt! (LDOP).

The announcement was made during the launch of their 2021-2022 Corporate Social Advocacy Report, where they shared the companys outreach initiatives and key programs for the past two years, including during the height of COVID lockdowns.



At the event, foodpanda simultaneously launched its enhanced sustainability program, Lets Do Our Pau-rt.

The company first introduced LDOP late last year as a program to help build an economically inclusive and environmentally-resilient Philippines. With the programs expansion, LDOP will still include protecting the environment and fostering community development as key pillars, while adding the mission to fight hunger as one of the focus areas.

Focusing on these main pillars, we are looking at a clearer path towards creating meaningful change to communities, said foodpanda Philippines Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Daniel Marogy, adding that they want their efforts to make a broader and more holistic impact not just to the country, but also to the world.

In 2015, United Nations (UN) member states, including the Philippines, committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 everyone would live in peace and prosperity. Marogy pointed out that the three pillars of LDOP will touch on key areas of the SDGs.

We are at the forefront of a growing movement that will positively impact our surroundings and the communities we serve. The launch is also perfectly timed with the celebration of our 9th anniversary as we showcase what else we can offer to make a difference to the lives of our partners and the society, Marogy said.

Taking action against hunger

The latest Sustainable Development Report data shows that the country faces major challenges in SGD 2 (Zero Hunger), which also supports what the local Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey found that around 2.7 million Filipino families experienced hunger in Q1 2023.

To help address this challenge, foodpanda has developed several initiatives under the LDOP umbrella such as the ShareTheMeal program, which is a meal donation feature built in the foodpanda app that will allow users to easily donate meals after checking out their orders.

Launched in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the ShareTheMeal program will benefit local farmers from disaster-prone areas in the country. Since the Philippines faces a trend of frequent climate emergencies, thousands of farmers and fisherfolks livelihoods are affected yearly, leaving them with wiped-out harvests and farm income loss.

Farmers are one of the most affected by natural calamities as it destroys their crop and livestock production  which is their source of income and oftentimes, what they also eat. By joining and partnering with WFP in this advocacy, we can help provide meals to thousands of Filipino farmers, Marogy explained.

The ShareTheMeal program is an extension of a global partnership launched by parent company Delivery Hero SE with the WFP. As of December 2022, the food meal initiative has now donated over 10 million meals globally. As we want to be the complete food ecosystem in the market, its only fitting that we also do our part to help address hunger with the abundance of food resources that we have so that we can also join the fight against global hunger, Marogy said.

Aside from the app feature, foodpanda is also partnering with Scholars of Sustenance, a global food rescue foundation, to donate food items from its pandamart grocery delivery service to communities in need. Marogy shared that they are also planning to enlist the help of its partner restaurants to also encourage them to donate their excess food items.

Being pau-rt of a better PH

Throughout 2021-2022, foodpanda implemented key programs supporting its social responsibility and sustainability goals.

LDOP encourages its community of employees, vendors, delivery partners, consumers, and other stakeholders to take part in taking care of the environment. The foodpanda PH Chief added that a huge part of their LDOP program is focused on promoting biking as a safe and sustainable mode of transport. Our delivery fleet consists of 22% of Ka-pandas using bicycles, which allowed us to achieve 25% of orders delivered using bicycles.

This advocacy also led them to form a formal collaboration with the National Bicycle Organization (NBO) and support biking-related activities and initiatives.

Marogy declared that they intend to ramp up efforts to tackle the protection of the environment as this is still an existing problem in the country. The recent SDG report revealed that the country continues to face significant challenges in SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities). As this is ingrained in our company core values, we want to continue and strengthen our efforts to contribute to a more sustainable future through and for our people, partners, and communities.

Meanwhile, foodpanda also did its share of providing livelihood opportunities and building resilient communities.

With our pandaBIZ program, many displaced workers, especially during the pandemic, had the opportunity to find alternative sources of livelihood as part of our Ka-panda fleet. On the other hand, our BuyAnihan Palengke initiative connected beneficiaries  consisting of former Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), out-of-school youths and single parents  with sources of resaleable agricultural produce.

BuyAnihan Palengke

Meanwhile, pandaSHARES mobilized donations and emergency assistance to the marginalized sectors or communities affected by natural disasters as part of the companys corporate social responsibility program. The Bayanihan spirit is deeply rooted in the Filipino culture; thats why we supported relief efforts directed at disaster-stricken communities and programs that help uplift the less fortunate, Marogy said.

pandaSHARES  Typhoon Odette Relief

Marogy concluded that all their past and upcoming programs are both a continuance and a fresh new start for its corporate social advocacy. Starting yet another chapter, we want to bring and carry on with the good that we did while also looking ahead with brand-new initiatives that will benefit a greater number of beneficiaries and an even bigger impact on society.

View the full foodpanda 2021-2022 Corporate Social Advocacy Report here.

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
A CURSORY look at the Philippine banking landscape may look grim: 30 percent of the overall population remains unbanked with little or no access to the formal lending sector. Worse, many of them do resort to informal loans which bury them in insurmountable debt and restrict, rather than expand, their financial freedom. However, when you look at the area of digital payment, there has been significant and steady growth, as Filipinos, known for their resilience and adaptability, are looking for ways to gain financial inclusion, that can better their lives.

UNO Digital Bank, known as a full-spectrum bank, paves the way for Filipinos successful transition into this brave new digital world, through digital services that make banking simple, better, and accessible, as described by the companys Founder and Chief Executive Officer Manish Bhai.

Bhai, who is also the co-founder of the Singapore-based financial technology firm UNOAsia Pte. Ltd., shared his knowledge and insights with the Manila Standard on how digital transformation can break through the usual traditional barriers against financial inclusion.

First, he explained the reasons for his optimism when asked if this trend toward digital transformation, especially in the financial sector, is sustainable. Yes, it will not only be sustained but will keep on increasing, he affirmed. I go back to our data which shows that the trendline is up and there is no reason to believe that this will change. Digital services in the financial sector will continue to grow by 35 to 55 percent. From credit cards to digital insurance, to digital apps, every parameter will grow in the Philippines.

Our goal is to be the digital bank that understands ethical and responsible lending,  UNO CEO, Manish Bhai

To accelerate this progress, UNO Digital Bank is committed to accompanying these newbie customers on their journeys to acquire digital financial footprints that will open up the world of online payments and responsible lending to them.

Our vision is to elevate banking in the country, Bhai continued, and we have noticed a significant change in the behavior of our customers.

People are getting more comfortable with the idea and practice of doing online banking. At the same time, they do want to know more about cybersecurity and if their money is safe.

As to these concerns, he addressed them, saying, We are proud to say that we are completely built up on AWS cloud which is secure technology.

We have not cut corners when it comes to putting software for cybersecurity and security monitoring. We have a command center and a monitoring team which do all that.

The trend toward digital banking is reflected in the increase in customers who are using UNO Digital Banks services. From 150,000 accounts in the last quarter of 2022, they have risen to more than 200,000 in the present. Probably one incentive to joining is that a new UNO Digital Bank account holder does not have to pay any fees; nor do they have to meet any minimum account balance requirements. The virtual card the bank holders receive is free. Another service that comes free of charge is doing fund transfers.

Bhai pointed out the rationale for all the free services: Everything is free because we want to really encourage people who dont have bank accounts or people who are underbanked, who had bank accounts but didnt find any incentives to use the bank account to start operating and using UNO.

UNO Digital Bank made opening accounts even easier in two ways. First, new customers can use the UNO Digital Bank mobile app to open their own individual savings accounts. Second, GCash customers can also avail of their own UNO account by clicking on their GSave feature; savings can be transferred from GCash funds to UNO Digital Bank accounts in less than 60 seconds.

He acknowledged that many of these account holders are first-time bankers. What helps get them onboard is awareness and getting educated.

Financial literacy, which also encourages customers to adopt digital banking and other platforms of online transportation, is a core value that undergirds UNO Digital Banks vision. The full-spectrum bank partnered with Singaporean organization Proxtera to launch the SME Financial Empowerment Program last year. The partnerships goal is to teach and immerse 10,000 Philippine MSMES in financial knowledge and techniques.

But far from being armchair seminars, the participants will be equipped and given support to use this learning to grow their businesses while being integrated into the overall banking system.

MSME owners who finish the training do get certified. Afterward, they automatically get an UNO account and privilege rates of interest, Bhai expounded. Similarly, other initiatives which we have on the lending side are to offer loans both to the salaried class and self-employed through a combination of general purpose loans, conventionally financing loans, and working capital loans.

Our goal is to be the digital bank that understands ethical lending and responsible lending, Bhai pointed out. Bhai further said that UNO Digital Bank loans are designed to teach borrowers responsible lending, making loans accessible and turning them into tools for growth and progress, instead of debt.

UNO Digital Banking will be focusing more on this area which will bring greater and safer credit inclusion in the next few months. They will also be reaching out to millions of Filipinos on the lending side and teaching them how to do transactions that are secure and empowering. Bhai hinted that insurance might be in the pipeline. In the meantime, the UNO NOW online loan feature is already available in the UNO app, this enables borrowers to apply for loans right within the app, and have them credited in as few as 20 minutes.

Throughout all these, they will be identifying areas where unbanked Filipinos remainand experience hardshipin the informal banking space, and then encourage them to move to the formal banking space through digital platforms.

A strategy that combines the UNO Digital Bank app, a drive towards innovation, and partnerships with institutions like GCash can bring financial inclusion to 70 million people everywhere from the north of the country to the southernmost, east, west, anywherecan have access. And thats how we are creating this impact.

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
YOU can now get your very own HONOR Magic5 Pro starting June 16, 2023 for P59,990!

The leading smart devices provider in the country, HONOR Philippines, recently launched its latest flagship available both offline and online.

We are proud to finally bring the best flagship smartphone in the Philippines and starting June 16, HONOR fans can get their hands on the new HONOR Magic5 Pro. Experience the real magic with its powerful camera, display, and water resistance feature, said HONOR Philippines Vice President Stephen Cheng.

Unrivaled Camera and Display

With a powerful Triple Main Camera combination alongside the AI-powered upgraded HONOR Image Engine, the HONOR Magic5 Pro has achieved the #1 position in the DXOMARK Smartphone Camera ranking for the first quarter of 2023.

Delivering an exceptional photography experience, the HONOR Magic5 Pro debuts an all-new Millisecond Falcon Capture feature, enabling users to capture complex scenes with remarkable ease and clarity.

The camera also boasts a breakthrough AI Motion Sensing Capture, enabling users to shoot their best moments, every time. The HONOR Magic5 Pro is equipped with IMAX Enhanced Movie Master to produce cinematic-style videos, bringing also an exceptional videography experience to smartphone users.

HONOR Magic5 Pro also guarantees an immersive viewing experience whether you are browsing, gaming, or reading with its 6.81-inch1 LTPO Quad-Curved Floating Display with a Novel Display Luminance Enhancement Technology.

HONOR Magic5 Pro Price and Availability

HONOR Magic5 Pro is now available in Midnight Black and Meadow Green starting June 16 for P59,990 with FREE HONOR Band 6 smartwatch and HONOR X3 Lite Earbuds both worth P6,000 at select HONOR and partner dealer stores or online via Lazada (https://s.lazada.com.ph/s.hsr3z), Shopee (https://shope.ee/1LApXmPIen), and Tiktok Shop (https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSLN2DNm1/).

Great news, you can also avail via Home Credit for as low as P1,718 per month without insurance, P2,085 with insurance, and on a 0% interest installment payment.

For more updates and announcements, you may visit HONORs website www.hihonor.com or social media platforms: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorph/) and TikTok: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines). To check out HONORs complete list of retail stores, go to https://www.hihonor.com/ph/retailers/.

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.
CELEBRATION

Fayette Street Christian Church, 420 Fayette Street, Martinsville, will have its 134th anniversary celebration at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Rev. Dr. William L. Lee, former senior pastor of Loudon Avenue Christian Church in Roanoke, will speak. Everyone is invited to attend.

GUEST SPEAKER

Shiloh Way of the Cross Church of Christ of the Apostolic Doctrine, 938 Brookdale St., Martinsville, will have guest speaker Sunday Fathers Day at 11:30 a.m. the WOTCC, Int Virginia Diocese District Elder Christopher Hairston, Pastor of Triumph Way of the Cross Church, Vinton. Sunday Services are streamed on Facebook and YouTube beginning with live Broadcast service at 10:30 a.m. and the service at 11:30 a.m. Broadcast airs on WHEE AM 1370 from 9:10 a.m-9:40 a.m. Wednesdays Midweek Prayer & Bible Study service is at 6:30 p.m.

VBS

Smith Memorial United Methodist Church, 2703 Daniels Creek Road., Collinsville, will hold Vacation Bible School, Stellar Shine Jesus Light June 25-29 from 6 to 8 p.m. for all PreK-5th graders. There will games, experiments, snacks, and songs. Can register online at www.smithmemorialUMC.com or call 276-649-8150.

Mount Vernon Baptist Church will hold vacation Bible school Who Helps You with Lifes Twists & Turns from 6-8 p.m. June 19-22. Registration will begin at 5:45 June 19 or online at mtvernonaxton.com)

DIALOGUE

First Baptist Church of Martinsville will host this summers 2023 Interfaith Community Dialogue on June 25 from 6-7 p.m. at the church at 23 Starling Avenue. The topic will be How can interfaith dialogue create a more cooperative community? Speakers will be Libby Mae Grammer, Christian; Martha Woody, Jewish; and M.Ali Zaghad, Muslim. The event is organized by Khalil Shadeed with the Interfaith Council of Martinsville/Henry County.

BIBLE STUDY

Traditional Christian Church, 2630 Virginia Ave., Collinsville has begun holding a weekly non-denominational Bible study each Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring their Bibles.

Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church, 120 Old Bassett Heights Road, Bassett, hosts Community Bible Study, a gathering of Christians of various denominations for Bible study, every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to noon in the fellowship hall.

MUSIC

Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church holds Pickers and Fiddlers on the second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon. Breakfast-type refreshments are served, and both the program and refreshments are free. Come to listen or bring your harmonica or stringed instrument and join in.

CLOTHES

Christ Church Community Clothes Closet is open on the fourth Saturday of each month.

MEALS

First Presbyterian Church, 1901 Patrick Henry Ave., Martinsville, (across from Patrick Henry Elementary School) will hold a free community breakfast Saturday, June 17 from 8:30-10 a.m. This breakfast is held the third Saturday of each month.

Ridgeway United Methodist Church, will hold a free community breakfast on Saturday, June 17 from 8:30-10 a.m. This breakfast is held the third Saturday of each month.

Smith Memorial United Methodist Church, corner of John Redd Boulevard and Daniels Creek Road, Collinsville, serves take-out community meals each month every other Wednesday from 5-6 p.m. Call 647-8150 before 3:30 on Wednesday to reserve meals. Next meal is June 28.

Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church, 120 Old Bassett Heights Road, Bassett, holds its monthly community meals at 6 p.m. each third Thursday of the month, in the fellowship hall.

Starling Avenue Baptist Church, 932 Starling Ave., Martinsville, serves meals in the fellowship hall the last Tuesday of each month from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Doors open at 5:15 p.m.

Christ Episcopal Church, 311 E. Church St., Martinsville, will serve a free community meal the last Wednesday of each month from 5-6 p.m. in the Undercroft with a sit-down community meal (and takeout will be available only at the end of the meal if there are any leftovers). There are limited parking spaces behind the church for people with mobility issues. Masks are required for unvaccinated adults. Hand sanitizer is available for use.
A Winston-Salem man is facing a murder charge after authorities said he assaulted his roommate at a Statesville adult living home.

Greggory Gerald Warner, 61, was charged with first-degree murder. A magistrate ordered him held without bond.

The roommate was identified as Mark Gray Leggette, 69, of Lincolnton.

Iredell Sheriff Darren Campbell, in a news release, said Warner was initially charged with assault inflicting serious injury and a magistrate set bond at $20,000. That charge was upgraded to murder when Leggette died on June 9. An autopsy, Campbell said, indicated that Leggette died of injuries sustained in the June 2 assault.

Campbell said deputies were called to Heritage Place Adult Living Center at 1392 Eufola Road on June 2 regarding an assault. He said employees called 911 after finding Leggette had been assaulted.

Campbell said Leggette had been beaten repeatedly in the head with a blunt object. Leggette was transported via Iredell EMS to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem.

Warner was still on the scene and was taken into custody, Campbell said.

After the autopsy, Campbell said, deputies served the murder warrant on Warner who was still in custody on the $20,000 bond.
An Outer Banks wild horse died of an apparent broken neck Thursday evening after an encounter with an aggressive stallion.

Around 5 p.m., witnesses in Carova saw a stallion chasing and trying to breed with the horse, a 12-year-old wild mare called Caroline.

The mare then fell to the ground and died nearly instantaneously, said Meg Puckett of the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, which manages the herd of about 100 Spanish mustangs roaming the northern beaches in Currituck County.

The herd veterinarian performed a field necropsy and found that Carolines neck had been broken. She showed no other injuries or abnormalities.

Blood was taken and will be processed but we do not anticipate finding any abnormalities there either, Puckett said.

Carolines injury was in line with the behavior witnesses reported and appeared to be the result of natural wild horse behavior.

Carolines death should serve as yet another reminder of just how truly wild and dangerous these horses are, especially when hormones are involved, Puckett said.

Watch as two wild stallions kick and bite during brutal fight on Outer Banks road The brutal side of North Carolinas Outer Banks went on display when two wild mustangs began brawling in the middle of a road.
Nigerias President Bola Tinubu has suspended the countrys anti-corruption Chief who is under investigation for abuse of Office, the Government has announced.

The ousting of the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdul Rasheed Bawa, is the second of a senior official ordered by Mr. Tinubu since he took office on May 29, promising economic reforms.

Mr. Bawa has been ordered to immediately transfer the management of his offices affairs to the Commissions Director of Operations, who will be in charge until the conclusion of the investigation, the government announced in a statement released Wednesday evening. This sanction was taken because of heavy accusations of abuse of power against him, it added without detailing them.

Mr. Bawa was then questioned in this context by the States security and intelligence services, the government added. His suspension comes on the heels of the ousting and arrest last week of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, also under investigation.

The EFCC investigates money laundering, embezzlement and other financial crimes, including online scams. The previous president, Muhammadu Buhari, made the fight against corruption one of his hobby horses during his 2015 and 2019 election campaigns. However, Nigeria remains one of the most corrupt countries in the world, according to Transparency International.
The Namibian Government said on Thursday that it would put some 40 crocodiles up for sale and issue more permits to kill the reptile following a rise in attacks on humans.

Environment Minister Pohamba Shifeta said the decision came as the countrys crocodile population surged and posed a safety problem. We have focused on several areas where the crocodile population exceeds the maximum capacity and deploys on the shores where they start attacking people, says the minister.

In a press release on Wednesday, the Ministry announced that 40 crocodiles would be captured from rivers in the north-eastern regions of Kavango and Zambezi, before being auctioned off. The government said the reptiles would be sold to anyone who can prove they have suitable crocodile habitats, as well as proper export papers.

We are also looking at the areas where attacks have taken place in the reserves and we will increase the quotas in terms of killing permits, said Mr. Shifeta, who clarified that they could be doubled. The decision is based on a study of the crocodile population conducted after an increase in attacks on humans by the reptile, Mr. Shifeta said.

Since 2019, the ministry has paid out more than 2.3 million Namibian dollars (140,000 euros) in compensation to families affected by crocodile attacks, some of them fatal. The sum includes compensation for attacks on humans but also on livestock.
This Friday morning, June 16, the African continents diplomatic delegation is due to arrive in Kiev to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, before heading to St Petersburg the following day for talks with Russian head of state Vladimir Putin.

According to our information, Azali Assoumani, President of the Comoros and current Chairman of the African Union, travelled to Poland on Wednesday. According to the Fondation Brazzaville, which initiated the mediation, the Heads of State of Senegal, Macky Sall, South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa and Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, are due to arrive there on Thursday.

Abdelfattah al-Sissi, who is unable to attend, must be represented by his Head of Government, and Ugandas Yoweri Museveni, who has Covid-19, must be represented by his Minister of Foreign Affairs. Denis Sassou-Nguesso will be the big absentee on this mission, as one of his close associates points out: The deteriorating situation on the ground, the absence of Heads of State, the conditions do not appear to be ripe for a peaceful and constructive dialogue. Brazzaville, however, has confirmed its presence via the Minister of State at the Presidency, Florent Tsiba.

The stakes are nevertheless high, according to the same source close to the Congolese president: The launch of the Ukrainian counter-offensive poses a risk to the sustainability of the cereals agreement, which is very important for Africa.

In the end, four of the seven Heads of State announced were involved in this mediation attempt, according to one diplomat. They are due to travel to Kiev by special train on Thursday night. In the morning, the delegation is due to visit Boutcha, a town where the Russian army is accused of committing serious abuses against civilians. In the afternoon, there will be bilateral talks, followed by an official ceremony with Head of State Volodymyr Zelensky. A joint press conference is also on the agenda.

Early Friday evening, the African delegation is due to leave Kiev for St. Petersburg in Russia, the second stop on the mission, to meet and exchange views with President Vladimir Putin.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Abigail McGowan went numb the day after the music stopped.

The drum major and French horn player helped lead the Anna High School marching band to the state finals in November 2021, the farthest the team had ever advanced. The next morning, after years of climbing the band ranks and months of preparing their set, McGowan realized the pinnacle of her high school music career was over.

What now?

Weekly Starbucks runs with friends and hours spent in the band room after school suddenly brought McGowan no joy. She wasn't sad, per se; she felt nothing at all.

Physicians and counselors across the country have raised alarms about the worsening mental health among children and adolescents for years. Even before the crisis was amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, there were shortages of psychiatrists, therapists and beds at in-patient treatment facilities.

Texans have less access to mental health care than residents in any other state, according to a 2023 Mental Health America ranking. Less than 30% of Texas youth with major depression received mental health treatment.

Investments in youth mental health care are in the works. The Texas Legislature created the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium in 2019 to leverage 13 state universities and science centers. But the process is slow.

In the meantime, doctors and nurses say they're overwhelmed by the flood of young people suffering from anxiety and depression.

"I think the impulse is, 'Well, we need more hospitals. We need to crack down on social media. We need to do whatever.' And that's all important," said Andy Keller, president and CEO of the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. "But really, to me, the most important thing to do is we need to get upstream."

Pediatricians are often the firstand sometimes, onlyhealth care contact for children but have minimal training in psychiatric care. Hospitals and clinics are experimenting with training frontline physicians and nurses to act as a safety net to catch mental illness before it becomes an emergency.

Asking the right questions

Children's Health put veteran nurse practitioner Piper Merrill through a six-month training to bolster her confidence in recognizing and treating her patients' mental health concerns.

It helped Merrill when McGowan told her that she didn't want to get out of bed in the morning, a symptom Merrill immediately identified as a sign of depression.

"Kids come in with stomach aches, and a lot of times it's anxiety, it's fear, it's emotional stuff," Merrill said. "So now I have the tools to know how to ask the right questions, because a lot of times they're not comfortable talking about their emotions or talking about their thoughts."

Children's launched the proactive pediatric behavioral health program in 2022 in partnership with the Texas-based Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute in response to the mental health epidemic primary care providers are seeing on a daily basis. About 75 providers went through the training in its inaugural year, Children's said.

The number of pediatric mental health hospitalizations rose nearly 26% between 2009 and 2019, according to one recent study. Patients often sit in emergency departments for days waiting for psychiatric beds to become available.

"The only way we're going to get ahead of all these hospitalizations is to intervene sooner," said Meadows' Keller.

"What we're doing is we're filling this huge upstream gap which is to help pediatricians identify these needs when they're small, when we can deal with them, when we can keep the child on a healthy trajectory, and we never get to a point of crisis unless we don't win with the biology," Keller said.

Traditional training for pediatricians largely focuses on how to recognize and treat different physical illnesses rather than caring for a patient's mental and emotional well-being, said Children's pediatrician Dr. Mia Best, who specializes in mental and behavioral health.

Providers going through the Children's and Meadows behavioral health training complete online courses for around six months that cover different mental health conditions and scoring systems for evaluating patients.

The program also convenes participants for group discussions so practitioners can ask questions about specific cases and bounce ideas off one another.

Additional education while juggling heavy patient loads can seem daunting, but Merrill said the investment was worth it. The objective measurements used in screening tools made Merrill more confident in her diagnosis of and treatment plans for conditions like depression, anxiety and ADHD.

"I found that once I had the language, and I also had the resources, I was less intimidated by the behavioral health issues coming my way," Merrill said.

Surveys taken after completion of the program found that trained providers increased their use of mental health screening tools, use of related insurance billing codes and calls to the Child Psychiatry Access Network, which provides behavioral health consultations to pediatricians.

The program's impact also expanded beyond just children and adolescents. Some parents were exposed to open conversations about mental health for the first time when accompanying their children to their pediatrician's office.

"Some of the things that we've seen in our kids are generational from their parents because they have not been taught to talk about their feelings," Best said. "Not only are we providing education and we're treating our kids, but it's rippling to their parents as well."

Fighting a national emergency

Mental health professionals say it will take a variety of approaches to improve the youth mental health crisis. Several of the country's leading pediatric care organizations declared a national state of emergency in children's mental health in 2021, laying out a list of changes needed to reverse the trend.

Solutions include increased funding for screening, increasing access to telehealth and using schools as mental health care sites. Integrating mental health care into places like schools and pediatricians' offices increases the likelihood that a professional can preemptively spot worrying mental well-being signs.

The first person to notice McGowan withdrawing from her friends and activities was her band teacher, who quickly brought her to her school's crisis counselor. That counselor met with McGowan a few times before recommending her parents make an appointment with their pediatrician's office.

"We are seeing an increase in the mental health crisis in schools. And that manifests as behavior problems, it manifests in learning loss, it manifests in our school safety crisis," said Jill Adams, director of counseling and social work services at Lewisville ISD.

The number of in-patient psychiatric beds is also a concern that is years in the making and one that will take years to improve. Texas identified the need for another psychiatric hospital in North Texas in 2014. Health officials broke ground on the Texas Behavioral Health Center at UT Southwestern in December 2022.

The new, $482 million hospital is set to open with nearly 300 beds in 2025. About 100 of those beds are designated for kids and teens.

Even if there wasn't a bed shortage, doctors want to avoid in-patient treatments if possible. Hospital stays, though sometimes necessary, take children out of school and extracurriculars.

Kids are coming to the hospital sicker than before, due in large part to the shortage of mental health care options, said Dr. Kia Carter, a pediatric psychiatrist at Cook Children's in Fort Worth. Because they're getting help later, treatment options are more drastic and take longer to work, she said.

Cook Children's started a mental health training program for pediatricians last year with similarities to the Children's Health initiative. The training takes place in-person over a few days and is followed by discussion groups for the next six months.

"The goal is not for our pediatricians to become child psychiatrists or therapists. The goal is to prevent the kiddos' symptoms from worsening and that early intervention is truly what helps us," said Carter, co-medical director of Cook's inpatient and consultation liaison psychiatric services.

'There is a way through it'

Behavioral health training for primary care providers won't undo the need for additional mental health specialists. Some patients, including McGowan, need care beyond what's offered by pediatricians. The training has, however, helped primary care providers feel more comfortable referring their patients to other professionals for additional treatments.

McGowan was experiencing suicidal thoughts when she started seeing Merrill, so she was referred to a partial hospitalization program where she saw a therapist daily and worked with a psychiatrist. After she finished the program, she continued to see Merrill for anxiety and depression.

"I had kind of developed an understanding of everything and actually started to believe things are going to be OK," McGowan said. "It's going to take work, but this isn't going to be my life. I think that [Merrill] put that in my head that we're going to get through this."

More than a year after seeking help, McGowan has her passion for life back. She completed her freshman year at Texas A&M University-Commerce and is studying to become an elementary school teacher. She found solace in her Christian faith, which helped her through her treatment.

McGowan also rediscovered joy in music. She took French horn lessons last semester and, though she'll be too busy with student-teaching to take them again next fall, she still plays on her own time.

"The way I experience or go through trials now is not the same as I did a year ago, and there's progress through that," McGowan said. "I want people to know that there is a way through it and that life has meaning and that you have purpose."

2023 The Dallas Morning News.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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:

Menopause, a natural stage of a woman's life marking the end of menstruation, can bring many physical and emotional changes that may leave her feeling bewildered and alone. Hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings can disrupt her daily routine and affect her overall well-being.

Sound familiar? Think you might be starting menopause? Here's how to identify the most common menopause symptoms.

Menopause symptoms

The menopausal transition typically begins between 45 and 55 years of age, marking a significant time in a woman's life. This phase usually spans around seven years, although it can extend up to 14 years, according to the U.S. National Institute on Aging (NIH).

"Menopause is no [menstrual] period for one year," said Dr. Adi Davidov, associate chair and director of obstetrics and gynecology at Staten Island University Hospital in New York.

And the duration of this transition can be influenced by factors such as lifestyle choices, including smoking, the age at which it begins, as well as race and ethnicity. As women journey through menopause, they may grapple with various physical and emotional changes that can disrupt their daily lives.

These symptoms can vary in intensity and duration, from irregular periods to hot flashes. "The most common symptoms of menopause are hot flashes and vaginal dryness," Davidov said.

The Cleveland Clinic lists these as the symptoms most often experienced:

Irregular periods

During menopause, hormonal fluctuations can lead to irregular menstrual cycles. Periods may become shorter or longer, lighter or heavier, and the time between them may vary. Some women may miss periods altogether. These changes occur due to the decline in estrogen and progesterone levels.

Hot flashes

Dr. Wen Shen, a gynecologist specializing in perimenopause and menopause at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, describes hot flashes as quick bursts of hot skin and drenching sweat that last anywhere from 30 seconds to about five minutes. "Your face and neck may turn red, your heart rate may increase, and you will most likely break out in a sweat," she said on a Hopkins site. "Night sweats are the same thing, only you're asleep and are jolted awake by the heat and sweat sensation consuming your body."

Vaginal dryness and discomfort

Declining estrogen levels can cause thinning and drying of vaginal tissues, leading to vaginal dryness. This can result in discomfort, itching and pain during intercourse. It may also increase a woman's risk for urinary tract infections.

Mood swings and emotional changes

Hormonal fluctuations during menopause can impact a woman's emotional well-being, leading to mood swings, irritability, anxiety and depression. Some women may also experience difficulty concentrating or memory lapses, commonly called "brain fog."

Sleep disturbances

Many women experience sleep disturbances during menopause. This can include difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up too early. Night sweats, caused by hot flashes during sleep, can further disrupt sleep patterns, leading to fatigue and daytime drowsiness. The NIH suggests some women with trouble sleeping related to menopause try over-the-counter sleep aids such as melatonin. Others may opt for prescription medications to help them get a good night's sleep.

Changes in sexual function

Menopause can affect a woman's sexual health and function. Decreased estrogen levels can reduce libido, cause vaginal dryness and make it more difficult to achieve orgasm. These changes can impact a woman's sexual satisfaction and intimacy.

Early and premature menopause symptoms

The Office on Women's Health notes that premature menopause refers to the occurrence of menopause before age 40, while early menopause typically happens between the ages of 40 and 45. About 5% of women experience early menopause.

This transitional phase brings about unique challenges for these women as they navigate the physical and emotional changes associated with menopause at a relatively younger age.

Some symptoms to look out for include:

Irregular or missed periods

Hot flashes

Mood swings

Vaginal dryness

Sleep disturbances

Changes in sexual function

By understanding and recognizing the common early menopausal symptoms and signs of menopause, women can better navigate this phase of life. Seeking support from health care providers, exploring various treatment options, and leveraging insights from online resources such as the Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman's Empowerment Guide from the Society for Women's Health Research, can help manage symptoms effectively, improving overall well-being and quality of life.

Transitioning through menopause can be a complex and transformative journey for women. Whether experiencing irregular periods, hot flashes or emotional changes, women must prioritize self-care and consult health care professionals who can provide guidance, empathy and tailored treatment options to help manage symptoms effectively.

Remember, you are not alone on this journey, and with the proper support, menopause can be embraced as a new chapter of growth and empowerment.

Copyright  2023 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Psychedelics stand at a pivotal crossroad in mental health, offering the prospect of novel therapeutic avenues to address multiple mental conditions, from treatment-resistant depression to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, their mind-altering properties present unique ethical and clinical challenges.

In a newly published article in Nature Medicine, leading psychiatrists, psychologists and psychotherapists highlight the importance of protecting patients during these vulnerable states of altered consciousness and the imperative for regulatory frameworks and collaborative efforts to fully realize the potential benefits of this emerging treatment paradigm.

The exploration of alternative therapeutics for hard-to-treat mental health disorders has brought into focus an array of psychedelics such as psilocybin, present in magic mushrooms, and LSD, substances once associated more with counterculture than clinical practice.

Alongside atypical psychedelics like ketamine and MDMA, these substances are increasingly being recognized for their potential therapeutic attributes. For example, synthetic psilocybin has shown promising results in alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety associated with cancer diagnosis, while its efficacy is being investigated in relation to conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and substance use disorders.

Moreover, while the subjective experiences they elicit may differ, both typical and atypical psychedelics are generally deemed safe with limited potential for abuse. However, a seamless transition from clinical trials to regular clinical practice is by no means guaranteed. As Albino Oliveira-Maia, senior author of the article and head of the Champalimaud Foundation's Neuropsychiatry Unit, notes, "Up until now, psychedelic therapies have largely been confined to the realm of research and clinical studies. But this looks set to change. We're already witnessing off-label use of ketamine, once solely viewed as an anesthetic, in treating depression and substance use disorders, despite the lack of clear guidelines, formal approval from regulatory agencies, and recommendations regarding psychological support."

Unlike most drug treatments, psychedelics are typically coupled with psychotherapy to safeguard patients and potentially enhance clinical effectiveness through shaping the drug-induced subjective experiences. The authors emphasize the necessity of assessing the clinical effectiveness of the accompanying therapy.

"If psychotherapy during the psychedelic experience offers substantial additional benefits to the patient, defining and standardizing optimal therapeutic procedures for these dosing sessions becomes essential," says Oliveira-Maia. "Our goal is also to ensure that the promise of psychedelics does not come at the expense of patient safety." Psychedelics can provoke heightened suggestibility or feelings of intimacy, which may increase vulnerability to potential abuse and boundary transgressions in the therapist-patient relationship.

An alleged example of such a transgression occurred in a Canadian clinical trial of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, where a participant and her unlicensed therapist were involved in an out-of-court settlement for a sexual assault claim. Such incidents underscore the necessity for certified and professionally trained practitioners, regulatory oversight, and enhanced informed consent procedures to address possible use of touch and patient susceptibility during altered states of mind.

"This will demand a collective effort," says co-author Ana Matos Pires, Director of the Mental Health Department at Unidade Local de Saude do Baixo Alentejo and Member of the Board of Psychiatrists at the Portuguese Medical Association. "Not only will it involve the physicians who prescribe the treatment and the psychologists who administer it, but also a range of other stakeholders at national and international levels, from regulatory bodies like the US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency, to policy makers, ethics boards, pharmacists, nurses, and of course, the patients themselves."

In Portugal, researchers working with psychedelics are already engaging with professional societies of psychiatrists and clinical psychologists, as well as ethical authorities, to preemptively address the regulatory challenges that may surface if these psychedelic treatments become mainstream.

"We see our proactive approach serving as a blueprint for other countries preparing for the potential incorporation of psychedelic treatments into clinical practice," says Matos Pires. "Health literacy is also critical in this area. It's crucial that we clearly inform the public about this kind of treatment. Psychedelic therapies are not a panacea but another tool with which to treat mental illness."

Many aspects remain to be clarified, from determining appropriate dosages and antipsychotics to counter adverse effects, to identifying the ideal settings for treatment, whether within traditional hospital environments or alternative therapeutic spaces. Time, though, is of the essence. Recently, Australia declared its intent to authorize the therapeutic use of MDMA and psilocybin starting July 2023, while the FDA could approve the use of MDMA for treating PTSD as early as 2024.

"We agree on the potential benefits of psychedelics," says co-author Luis Madeira, President-elect of the Portuguese Society of Psychiatry and Mental Health, and Counselor of the National Council of Ethics for the Life Sciences. "Nevertheless, it's vital to acknowledge the associated challenges and avoid rushing the process. Given that trials typically pair psychedelics with therapy, further research will be needed to better understand the individual effects of both the drug and the therapy. It's plausible that one may prove more efficacious than the other."

One notable challenge Madeira brings up is the difficulty of conducting unbiased double-blind studies, as the distinct psychoactive effects make it obvious to both participant and researcher who has received the treatment or placebo. Additionally, the question of accessibility in the public health system arises, given that each psychedelic experience can last eight hours and usually involves two trained therapists. "A potential solution," explains Madeira, "might be group therapy, allowing therapists to treat multiple patients simultaneously, thereby reducing costs and making the treatment more feasible within public health systems."

The article's first author Carolina Seybert, Clinical Psychologist at the Champalimaud Clinical Center, stresses the need for an agile process. "These protocols need to be flexible and dynamic as our understanding of these therapies evolves. In a rapidly changing field like this, in which our knowledge base is constantly updating, it's key that our guidelines and regulations are not just robust, but also adaptable. We need a uniform framework in place that can be modified as new information comes in. If we leave this process to the self-regulation of individuals, the patient's experience may vary substantially from one case to the next."

In a sense, our exploration of psychedelics in mental health mirrors the very nature of the treatment itself, a venture into uncharted territory and new possibilities. The authors' article provides a timely compass and a lucid appreciation of the ethical and regulatory realities ahead.

More information: Carolina Seybert et al, Psychedelic treatments for mental health conditions pose challenges for informed consent, Nature Medicine (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02378-5 Journal information: Nature Medicine

Provided by Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Mary Zhelyazkova was surprised when pharmacists at Florida's largest safety net hospital said they could not fill her prescription.

Zhelyazkova, 40, was living at a homeless shelter and needed Suboxone, a medication to manage the symptoms of opioid withdrawal.

She said she had been getting Suboxone at the Jackson Memorial Hospital pharmacy for free through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, which provides medical care at little or no cost to people with HIV.

But at the end of 2021, she said, a stranger approached her on the street and offered her $5 to sign up for a "free" health insurance plan with Florida Blue. The person instructed her to use a false address and falsify her income so she could be seen as eligible for coverage, she said.

When the plan took effect the following year, Zhelyazkova learned the downsides.

Signing up for private insurance disqualified her from Ryan White coverage. And Florida Blue's provider network did not include the hospital pharmacy; she would need to go to Walgreens, which would require transportation. She'd also need to come up with a $20 copay, which she could not afford.

"I went into withdrawal. It was horrible," said Zhelyazkova, who added that she went without medication for days, until a nonprofit needle exchange program paid for the drug.

Zhelyazkova is one of potentially hundreds of homeless people in Florida who have been approached by commission-seeking agents and brokers, who sign them up for zero-premium health plans on the Affordable Care Act marketplace, according to state insurance regulators, doctors, and enrollment counselors.

The presumption is that dishonest agents and brokers are signing up homeless people to earn a sales commission and that they are engaging in fraud by lying about the enrollees' income and home addresses.

And though the federal government pays the monthly premium for qualified low-income consumers on an ACA plan, the policies often come with copayments, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs that are unaffordable to people earning little to no income.

Amid an uptick in reports, state and federal regulators are investigating cases of agents and brokers providing fraudulent information on applications for ACA coverage.

The federal agency that oversees the ACA marketplace said that for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2022, the agency received more than 25,000 complaints from people who alleged they had been enrolled in policies without their consent or that incorrect information was submitted on an application by an agent or broker. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services also said it performed more than 700 license verifications to identify potentially problematic brokers during that same period.

Opportunistic recruitment of homeless people into ACA plans is most likely in states like Florida, one of 10 that have refused to expand eligibility for Medicaid to nearly all low-income adults. In one case from 2015, a North Carolina agent signed up hundreds of homeless people for ACA coverage. That state adopted Medicaid expansion in March, though the change has not yet been implemented.

In an expansion state, most single adults in poverty would qualify for Medicaid. In non-expansion states, including Florida, consumers generally must earn at least 100% of the federal poverty level to qualify for the health law's tax credits, which reduce monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs. In 2023, that would equate to $14,580 for a single person and $24,860 for a family of three.

But having no income in the current year does not preclude a consumer from projecting they will earn enough next year to qualify for tax credits. Consumers are not required to document their income on a marketplace application if government data shows their income was insufficient in prior years.

On the surface, it may look like uninsured homeless people are gaining coverage, said Sabrina Corlette, a health insurance policy expert at Georgetown University. "That's not such a bad thing," she said.

But that doesn't make it a victimless crime. The federal government ends up paying subsidies to health insurers to cover people who are not qualified for the plans. Meanwhile, people who are homeless lose eligibility for more suitable programs, like hospital charity care and Ryan White. "That's a serious problem," Corlette said.

Doctors who work with homeless people also say disruptions in care put these patients at risk of relapse into drug use, a mental health crisis, or having to stop ongoing treatment for chronic illnesses, such as cancer and diabetes.

"Patients are stuck in this situation where they can't afford copays under their insurance plan," said David Serota, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine. "But they also cannot get those services through our programs for the indigent uninsured."

Serota sees patients at Jackson Memorial, a Miami-Dade County hospital that provides charity care. In the past three years, he said, at least 20 of his patients, and "many more" seen by his colleagues, have been affected.

Canceling a new health insurance policy and reapplying for public benefits can take weeks or months. And the disruption can reinforce suspicions marginalized communities have about the system, said Erin Richards, a certified application counselor and ACA program coordinator for Pinellas County, near Tampa. She has helped many people reapply for a local program for homeless residents after they were deceived into signing up for an ACA plan.

"We're working to get them to trust systems again and get the care they need that they may have been neglecting for a long time," Richards said.

Agents and brokers have signed up ineligible consumers for ACA coverage since marketplace enrollment began in fall 2013. "It's just not been at the level that we've seen recently," said Katie Roders Turner, an enrollment navigator and executive director of the Family Healthcare Foundation, a Tampa nonprofit that helps low-income residents access free or low-cost care.

Richards and Turner said the health insurer they see most often among homeless people is Florida Blue, the state's largest health insurance company. Fifteen companies offer plans in Florida on the ACA marketplace. Only Florida Blue provides coverage in all of the state's 67 counties.

A Florida Blue executive said the company's compliance team investigates "individuals who wrongfully sign up consumers for health care coverage," but did not respond to questions about how often such fraud occurs.

The most common way agents receive commission is on a per-member, per-month basis. That means that for every consumer an agent or broker signs up, they receive a monthly commission for as long as that consumer is enrolled.

Most plans pay $20 to $30 per member per month, estimates Dave Sherrill, an insurance broker and executive director of the Florida Association of Health Underwriters.

Florida insurance regulators are investigating cases with police and CMS, said Devin Galetta, communications director for the state's Department of Financial Services and Chief Financial Officer.

Since 2020, the state has received three consumer complaints about the issue, in South Florida and the Tampa and Gainesville areas, Galetta said. No "arrests or administrative action" have been taken, he said.

But Turner worries the incidents aren't being reported. This type of fraud can be difficult to investigate, she said, because victims who are homeless may be fearful of law enforcement or unwilling or unable to keep up with the reporting required to document such crimes.

"That's been a big challenge," Turner said.

New federal rules, finalized in April, require agents and brokers to document that the consumers they sign up for coverage are eligible and to confirm the accuracy of application information.

CMS investigates agents and brokers identified as potentially problematic through data analytics or consumer complaints, Ellen Montz, deputy administrator and director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight at CMS, said in an email.

The agency can suspend or terminate an agent or broker's ability to sell plans on the marketplace or refer them to law enforcement, Montz said.

But Corlette, the Georgetown expert, was astonished at how long it took CMS to require agents and brokers to document consumer consent for marketplace coverage. "It is remarkable that here we are almost 10 years in," she said, "and they're just now getting around to it."

Montz said CMS worked with marketplace health insurers to cancel more than 34,000 fraudulent policies in 2022, though it's unknown how many of those cases involved homeless consumers.

Richards, the ACA program coordinator near Tampa, said lately fraud on homeless people has happened so often that she drafted a consumer alert in March to warn of "bad actors."

In Miami, Zhelyazkova is once again enrolled in Ryan White, as well as an opioid use disorder treatment program at a homeless shelter. Among the many issues she has to navigate, she said, are the frequent pitches from strangers who offer her cash to sign up for "free insurance."

Zhelyazkova's roommate at the shelter, 53-year-old Kathryn Knox, echoed her complaint.

"They're getting people constantly," Knox said, adding that over the years she had been paid to sign up for an ACA plan "probably, like, five times."

2023 KFF Health News.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

The stop-signal task may be valuable for assessing inhibitory control deficits in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published online June 10 in Neuropsychology Review.

Daniel Senkowski, Ph.D., from Charite-Universitatsmedizin Berlin, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review to understand neurocognitive deficits underlying adult ADHD. Analysis included 26 publications examining the stop-signal task in 883 adults with ADHD and 916 controls.

The researchers found reliable inhibitory control deficits expressed in prolonged stop-signal task response times, with a moderate effect size g = 0.51. Study quality, sample characteristics, or clinical parameters did not moderate these deficits, suggesting that they may be a phenotype in this disorder. Greater stop-signal task omission errors and reduced go accuracy in patients, indicative of altered sustained attention, were detected in secondary outcome measure analysis, although not all studies were available for these measures (only 10 studies available).

"Our review and meta-analysis suggest that the stop-signal task in conjunction with other neurocognitive tests and clinical questionnaires, could become an important tool for the assessment of inhibitory control deficits in adult ADHD," the authors write.

More information: Daniel Senkowski et al, Assessing Inhibitory Control Deficits in Adult ADHD: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Stop-signal Task, Neuropsychology Review (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s11065-023-09592-5

Copyright  2023 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reported study results showing that the targeted therapy fruquintinib significantly improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. Findings from the global FRESCO-2 trial, published today in The Lancet, were first presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2022.

The OS was 7.4 months with fruquintinib versus 4.8 months in the placebo arm, while the median PFS was 3.7 months with fruquintinib compared to 1.8 months in the placebo arm. These results represent a statistically significant improvement relative to controls.

"Patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer have very limited treatment possibilities and poor outcomes," said principal investigator Arvind Dasari, M.D., associate professor of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology. "These results are very encouraging and confirm that fruquintinib may be a novel treatment opportunity for patients who previously had no other options."

The randomized Phase III FRESCO-2 clinical trial was conducted at 153 sites in the United States, Europe, Japan and Australia. The double-blind study evaluated treatment with the novel oral therapy fruquintiniba small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR)plus best supportive care compared to placebo plus best supportive care in heavily pre-treated patients with treatment-resistant metastatic colorectal cancer. The primary endpoint was OS.

According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in men and in women, and the second most common cause of cancer death for men and women combined. Despite treatment advances, patients with metastatic colorectal cancer still have poor long-term survival rates. After patients progress through several lines of therapy, they typically live only four to five months. Therefore, there is a large need for treatment alternatives after current therapies are exhausted.

In the original Phase III FRESCO study, which led to the drug's approval in China in September 2018, fruquintinib given as third-line therapy or later improved median OS in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer compared with placebo (6.6 months versus 9.3 months). At that time, standard of care for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in China differed from the U.S., the European Union and Japan.

In June 2020, the Food and Drug Administration granted fast track designation to fruquintinib for the treatment of some patients with previously treated colorectal cancer.

The FRESCO-2 trial randomized 691 patients with advanced refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. Patients were eligible for treatment if they had documented metastatic colorectal cancer and were previously treated either with chemotherapy, anti-VEGF therapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors (if their disease was microsatellite instability-high or mismatch-repair deficient). Patients had an ECOG performance status scale score of 0 or 1, measurable disease and expected survival of 12 weeks or more.

Patients received either fruquintinib or placebo daily for three weeks, followed by one week off, in 28-day cycles. Subsequent anti-cancer therapies were given to 29.4% in the fruquintinib arm and 34.3% in the placebo arm. The disease control rate was 55.5% for fruquintinib versus 16.1% for placebo.

Grade 3 or 4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 62.7% of patients in the fruquintinib group and 50.4% in the placebo group. The most frequent events seen in those receiving fruquintinib were hypertension (13.6%), asthenia (7.7%) and hand-foot syndrome (6.4%).

"This study supports the meaningful survival improvement and manageable safety profile of fruquintinib," Dasari said." I am excited that this treatment could extend the lives of advanced colorectal cancer patients and preserve their quality of life."

The investigators will continue to review quality of life data from trial participants, as these patients have high tumor burden and residual side effects from multiple therapies that are known to reduce quality of life measures. Ongoing and future studies will explore additional fruquintinib treatment combinations for patients with colorectal cancer.

More information: Fruquintinib versus placebo in patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (FRESCO-2): an international, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, phase 3 study, The Lancet (2023). DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00772-9 www.thelancet.com/journals/lan  (23)00772-9/fulltext Journal information: The Lancet
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Cedars-Sinai investigators have identified several steps in a cellular process responsible for triggering one of the body's important inflammatory responses. Their findings, published in the journal Science Immunology, open up possibilities for modulating the type of inflammation associated with several infections and inflammatory diseases.

Specifically, the investigators have improved understanding of the steps that lead to the production of IL-1 beta, a potent inflammatory protein signal released during many inflammatory responses.

"We now have a clearer understanding of the stepwise process that leads to the production of IL-1 beta," said Andrea Wolf, Ph.D., assistant professor of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine at Cedars-Sinai, and a senior and corresponding author on the new study. "By understanding the process, we hope to one day find a treatment for diseases associated with this inflammatory response."

When the innate immune systemthe defense system we were born withidentifies a potentially harmful bacterium, virus, or other external invader, it unleashes white blood cells to surround and attack the foreign agent. This can cause swelling, redness, heat and pain in the body's tissues thatin a healthy bodyeventually go away.

Some people, however, get stuck in the inflammation phase. This causes what is known as chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation can damage healthy cells in the body and is thought to lead to serious conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and depression.

"Inflammation, in many instances, is vital to a thriving immune system and healthy body," said David Underhill, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences and the Janis and William Wetsman Family Chair in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, who is also a senior and corresponding author on the study. "However, prolonged inflammation can wreak havoc on the body. This underscores the importance of understanding the cellular process of how inflammation is activated so we can work toward finding new treatments to curb chronic inflammation."

The study is a follow-up to Cedars-Sinai research published in 2016 that explains how cells act to detect an infection. In that study, investigators discovered that an enzyme called hexokinase, typically used by cells to convert glucose into energy, has a second, inflammatory function. They discovered that hexokinase binds to a sugar from the cell wall of bacteria and activates the inflammasomes, leading to the production of IL-1 beta. Inflammasomes are receptors of the innate immune system that recognize microbes and tissue damage. The current work presents a more complete picture of this process.

The investigators discovered that hexokinase leaves the mitochondria, the part of a cell that generates energy. This jump-starts an immune response: The release of hexokinase destabilizes the mitochondria and alerts the cell that something is wrong. This leads to clustering of a channel called VDAC in the membrane of the mitochondria, which interacts with another protein called NLRP3 to initiate inflammasome assembly. The inflammasomes then produce IL-1 beta, a driver of inflammation.

Investigators studied cells that were derived from laboratory mice to understand the steps involved in the IL-1 beta pathway. The team used substances called inhibitors that block cellular functions as well as gene-editing technology to turn off certain genes and the proteins they express. This allowed them to understand which proteins are vital to triggering inflammation.

Cedars-Sinai postdoctoral scientist Sung Hoon Baik, Ph.D., used the super-resolution microscope that is part of the Cedars-Sinai Biobank and Research Pathology Resource to visualize and measure the steps of this inflammatory process within individual cells.

"Being able to target specific steps in this pathway is vital, because in addition to being important for inflammation, the components of this pathway also play a vital role in maintaining energy within the cell," Wolf said. "We want to home in on its inflammatory role, not just turn it all off, because that would be bad for the cell."

The investigators are continuing to study the cellular steps leading up to, and resulting from, hexokinase's role in the activation of inflammasomes. They are also using the results from this study to begin to target this inflammatory pathway in different diseases.

More information: Sung Hoon Baik et al, Hexokinase dissociation from mitochondria promotes oligomerization of VDAC which facilitates NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and activation, Science Immunology (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.ade7652. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciimmunol.ade7652 Journal information: Science Immunology
DAVAO CITY - Nine Filipino fishermen were missing and another died after their boat was battered by huge waves before dawn Thursday off the ...
An IRS investigation of a Great Falls gun dealer this week has outraged U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale, who said federal agencies are being weaponized for harassment.

Wednesday, agents from both the IRS Criminal Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms spent several hours searching records at Highwood Creek Outfitters, a Great Falls gun shop and indoor firing range.

ATF deferred all questions about the search to the IRS, which confirmed the search but would only say that IRS Criminal Investigation was on site as part of their official business.

Im incredibly disturbed by initial reports that the IRS and ATF closed Highwood Creek Outfitters without any warning today, Rosendale said in press release. This is yet another example of the Biden Administration weaponizing federal agencies to target and harass hardworking Americans. We cannot allow Biden to continue expanding these agencies to infringe on our liberties.

The Republican congressman said he sees a pattern of sudden gun shop closures, likening the Highwood search to an ATF inspection in March of Adventure Outdoors, a Georgia store which bills itself as The Actual Largest Gun Store in the World. The Georgia search not only featured more than dozen ATF agents, but also Republican members of Congress dressed for business. In a video that went viral, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene stands in the store parking lot questioning an ATF spokesperson, who called it a routine search.

The Highwood search began at 7:30 a.m., more than two hours before the store usually opens, said owner Tom VanHoose. IRS agents served a warrant that specifically said they were looking for financial records. The search lasted more than six hours. The agents took no guns, but VanHoose said records taken, in his opinion were beyond the warrants scope.

They took records that have no financial data in them. Those were related to gun transfers and thats bullshit, VanHoose said. The agents were very professional. They didnt trash the place like other alphabet agencies might have. They were professional, but why they were doing it isnt.

Highwood is no Adventure Outdoors, but it does sport an eight-lane shooting range with a max distance of 25 yards. VanHoose said he carries the scary guns, the AR-15 semiautomatics, once banned for a decade, is targeted again by new legislation drafted in response to the proliferation of mass shootings. Highwood also sells silencers, something VanHooses big box competitors dont.

The state Department of Revenue audited the business earlier this year, VanHoose said. He characterized the issue as a few things needing to be classified correctly. He doesnt think the IRS search is related.

Rather, VanHoose suspects the IRS search is related to two other incidents involving federal agencies. More than a year ago, a man appeared opposite the parking lot from the gun shop. VanHoose said the man was taking pictures with a telephoto lens. The shop owner said he called deputies who identified the man as an FBI agent.

Six months later, we get interrogated by Homeland Security. Where were you on January 6? Im like guys, you know every move we make. No one here was anywhere near the Capitol on January 6.

A spokesman for IRS Criminal Investigation said the agency would reach out when more information became available.
Montana congressional leaders are reintroducing a $1.3 billion Fort Belknap water settlement bill to the U.S. Senate with bipartisan support for the first time.

The settlement would bring new water from the Missouri River, provide safe drinking water, and enable projects to improve long-neglected water systems on the Fort Belknap Reservation along the Milk River.

We have worked extensively with our tribal community, Milk River water users, other irrigators, the Department of Interior, and the State of Montana to negotiate the settlement of our Indian water rights, Fort Belknap Indian Community Tribal Council President Jeff Stiffarm said in a press release. This bill would benefit the Fort Belknap Indian Community for generations to come and boost the regional economy with funding for infrastructure projects.

Fort Belknap is the last Montana reservation without a water settlement, with the Flathead Reservation having just approved the largest water rights settlement in the nation for $2.1 billion last year.

The reservation is home to rights established by the 1908 U.S. Supreme Court case Winters v. United States after a dispute between tribal and non-tribal irrigators on the Milk River. The court held that a reservation had established rights to water based on promises of creating a permanent homeland. Under the ruling established by the case, dozens of tribes across the U.S. have entered into water settlements to define their water rights and to secure federal funding for water development projects.

Fort Belknap agreed to begin negotiations around their water rights in 1981. The Montana Legislature approved a water compact that would quantify their water in 2001. The Fort Belknap Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 2023 would ratify that compact.

This is Sen. Jon Testers fifth time introducing the water settlement after introductions in 2012, 2013, 2019 and 2021. It never made it out of committee those years. This time Tester will be introducing the bill with unprecedented bipartisan support after pushing for it alone in previous introductions. Sen. Steve Daines will help introduce it in the Senate alongside Tester with the backing of Gov. Greg Gianforte, Rep. Ryan Zinke and Rep. Matt Rosendale.

After years of work with the Fort Belknap Indian Community, farmers, ranchers, local leaders and a wide array of Montana stakeholders, Im proud to reintroduce this revised FBIC water settlement which will give certainty to all water users in the region, Tester said in a press release. This is a made-in-Montana solution, and Im looking forward to getting this long overdue settlement across the finish line.

Other parties that previously opposed the settlement now support it, too. Revisions led to past opponents of the settlement like the Phillips County commissioners writing a letter of support in March.

Water settlements seek to restore tribal management of state and federal land. The revised settlement would restore 37,852 acres to the tribes.

The removal of a parcel of roughly 15,000 acres of land in the settlement is what led to the county commissioners support. The land was formerly held by the tribes in the Little Rocky Mountains where the vacated and toxic Zortman and Landusky gold mines now preside south of the reservation.

The removal of the land and subsequent support by Phillips County commissioners helped lead to the first-time pledging of support by Gianforte back in March.

This bipartisan bill is the result of extensive coordination between the State of Montana, the Fort Belknap Indian Community, and the federal government, with valuable input from local leaders, farmers, ranchers, and other water users over many years, Gianforte said in a statement around the bills introduction. Its time we get this done for the benefit of the tribes, our farmers and ranchers, and all water users in northcentral Montana.

In interviews earlier this year, tribal leaders said they were pushing for the settlement more than ever before. The reservation has faced years of successive, exceptional repeated droughts in the Montana Hi-Line affecting water scarcity all across the region.

Additionally, the Supreme Court heard a case on tribal water rights in Navajo Nation v. Arizona in March as the American Southwest goes through its worst drought in centuries. The case could upend the Winters case that has obligated the government to meet tribes current and future water needs. Fort Belknap signed onto a briefing in support of the Navajo Nation in February.

The Fort Belknap settlement would provide funding for new sewage systems, irrigation improvements, rehabilitation of reservoirs and for a dam on the Milk River.

The bill is also supported by other nearby counties, the St. Mary Rehabilitation Working Group, Milk River Joint Board of Control, Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council, The Wilderness Society and Montana Farmers Union.

After years of effort and good faith negotiation, its time to pass our bipartisan bill to resolve Montanas final Indian water rights settlement, Daines said in a release. I am grateful to Montana Tribes and communities, our farmers and ranchers, local leaders and diverse water users in the region for their input during this process that helped us arrive at a solution that will provide certainty, much-needed infrastructure improvements, and protection of the rights of all water users in northcentral Montana.
A Missoula Starbucks store might soon be the first Starbucks to unionize in Montana with an election next week. However, union organizers allege Starbucks stalled as the date approaches.

Workers filed a petition to the National Labor Relations Board to unionize at Starbucks on Brooks Street and Central Avenue on May 20. Up until Friday, union organizers have been uncertain of the date for the election that would certify the union. The corporation challenged the terms of an agreement that has previously been used for the growing hundreds of unionized Starbucks across the nation.

Its a delay tactic, said Jacob Welsh, a Starbucks Workers United member representing the employees trying to organize at the store. They (Starbucks) have agreed to these terms hundreds of times. Especially when organizing starts to break out in new regions, they become really innovative.

Currently, there are 328 stores which have organized under Starbucks Workers United across the United States, almost all forming in the past two years. No Starbucks in Montana or surrounding states have unionized.

Union organizers were informing employees at the Starbucks of an in-person June 21 election. The date remained uncertain after the corporations challenge. Starbucks objected to a COVID-19 policy that allowed for change of date of an election or for mail-in ballots.

A Starbucks spokesperson said they prefer in-person elections and considered mail-in elections unnecessary since the pandemic has been declared over.

In a decision by the National Labor Relations Board dated June 15, it noted that mail-in ballots only happen under very specific circumstances with COVID-19. Furthermore, it objected to the claims made by Starbucks, saying it had already rejected the primary arguments made by Starbucks in another case involving the corporation.

The election date for the union will now be June 23.

Union organizers estimate that they've gathered about 70% support for the union with efforts to keep morale up for the stores roughly 23 employees as they advance to the election. Kate Alexander, one of the organizing committee members, said there have been talks regarding unionization for two years as employees dealt with safety concerns and problems with understaffing at the Missoula Starbucks.

This sort of thing has always been important to me, said Alexander, a barista at the Starbucks for several months. Its not always to improve your situation, its to secure your situation. It helps to see the change you want to see in the store and it reduces the risk often imposed on workers.

Hayden Cook, another member of the organizing committee who has worked at the Brooks Starbucks for more than two years, said staffing has been a consistent problem at the Starbucks. Last December, the 35 to 40 hours he worked in a week were cut to 20 hours for months as some shift supervisors saw a 50% cut in hours.

I just barely could afford working there anymore, Cook said. And I like working with everyone here, I just didnt like some of the staffing measures. I dont want to leave.

Theres regularly times too where its just Cook and a barista at closing shifts, which is often inadequate for him. Other times he experiences situations like with medical emergencies or drug emergencies. Cook has dealt with two overdoses in the Starbucks bathroom since joining.

While Starbucks helped train me for those situations, once those situations did happen, I didn't feel that the training was enough, Cook said.

After filing the petition, the Starbucks has seen upgrades and changes around safety to the store like a box for disposing needles in the bathroom and new locks installed on the bathroom doors.

Cook said hes been requesting a box for needles for over a year, but his requests have always been delayed or deferred. A union representative told him it should only take a week and a half to get for a Starbucks store to address such concerns.

A Starbucks spokesperson said the changes are unrelated to the union filing. They are instead the responsibility of the new interim manager after the previous manager took a leave of absence.

Since filing, Cook said theres been some turnover and issues with some workers feeling intimidated and overworked.

Several employees reported having 1-on-3 conversations involving the store manager, a district manager, and a person from Starbucks' human resources where the corporate officers discuss their stance on the union.

We believe that our direct relationship as partners  where we have the flexibility to listen and learn from one another, address issues and share in success  is core to the culture and experiences we create in our stores, a Starbucks spokesperson said in a statement.

Alexander said those conversations on the floor have yet to reduce morale, with them seeing support in the community too. Those changes that Starbucks mentions wont be lost with the union, she said.

Seeing the response in our store has brought us closer as we come together to express our concerns about such things, she said. On a coworker level, passing the union vote would quell a lot of the anxieties on where something like this is possible. And it will prove to coworkers that we can fight for the things we need.

Not the first to organize

Other Montana Starbucks stores have tried to organize in the past few years, including another Starbucks in Missoula currently going through the process.

Last year, workers at a Reserve Street Starbucks alleged intimidation when they started discussing unionizing, saying people associated with union talks were fired at the same time.

In Butte, a Harrison Avenue Starbucks was part of a settlement around alleged union-busting in its store after workers announced their intention to unionize last year.

A complaint filed by Workers United Labor Union in August to the National Labor Relations Board alleged the unfair labor practices by Starbucks. According to the complaint, the employer threatened to withhold wage increases to union members or to those voting for the union and prevented the wearing of union insignia.

One of the former union organizing members of the Butte Starbucks, Cody Ray Reichard, said union support in the store dissipated after actions by the store.

Unfortunately, union-busting in my store became rampant during that time, and the 70% majority we held at one point was quickly squashed, Reichard said in a message to the Missoulian. They were cutting hours, taking discriminatory disciplinary actions, mainly in the form of write-ups, telling us we couldn't wear union attire, that we would lose our benefits if we proceeded, etc.

The settlement was reached with Starbucks regarding the Workers United Labor Union allegations this January. According to Reichard, the settlement amounted to the corporation putting up a poster for three months stating the corporation will not interfere with any of the rights entitled around unions and will not prohibit the wearing of union pins.

Alexander said labor activism is valuable as the Brooks Starbucks could start a larger trend in labor organizing in the region. Employees at coffee store Black Coffee Roasting Company voted to form a union.

Missoula and Montana is an entirely new region for Starbucks Union to be formed, Alexander said. I think what well do here will have great impacts across the region as people see how we progress. People are coming together right now and really seeing the power a union can offer.
Friday marks five years since Jermain Charlo, a young Indigenous woman, disappeared from downtown Missoula.

Shes not just another person whos gone missing, Jermain's aunt, Valenda Morigeau, said in an interview this week. She was a big piece in our family.

Jermain was last seen in the early morning hours of June 16, 2018, and in the half-a-decade since, there haven't been many developments in her case. No arrests have been made and her bodys whereabouts remain unknown. Security camera footage from the Missoula Housing Authority last showed Jermain near the Badlander, a downtown Missoula bar, at about 1 a.m. June 16. She hasnt been seen or heard from since.

Here we are five years later, no closer to finding her than we were at the beginning, Morigeau said.

Most searches for Jermain have been on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Missoula Police Detective Guy Baker, the lead detective on the case, said he doesnt think shes in Missoula.

When I got this case in June of 2018 I never fathomed it would not be solved five years later, Baker said in an interview last week. Most homicides are solved rather quickly within days or weeks and most homicides Ive worked have been solved in conviction. So this ones unique in that regard.

The disproportionately high rates of missing and murdered Indigenous people is a nationwide crisis, and experts say Montana is an epicenter. While Native Americans account for 6.7% of Montanas population, they account for, on average, 26% of the states active missing persons cases. A 2016 National Institute of Justice report found that more than four in five Native men and women have experienced violence in their lifetime.

Jermain's case is still active, and Baker still works leads as they trickle in.

Weve identified numerous suspects, some of whom have been ruled out and are no longer suspects and others who remain suspects, he said. "But weve never identified any of the suspects in the disappearance of Jermain Charlo."

Baker said he has three theories related to Jermain's disappearance that he's investigated. One is the possibility that Jermain was sex trafficked; another relates to drug activity; and the third involves someone she previously had a relationship with. Baker maintains a level of ambiguity when talking about Jermain, but repeatedly mentioned missing puzzle pieces when he talked about solving her disappearance in an interview this week.

Im still hopeful that someone will come forward with the information that will be what we need to get this case to a prosecutor, he said. As it stands, I feel like I have most of the puzzle pieces on the table, but not all of them.

Finding Jermains body would bolster the investigation, but its not the only thing Baker needs. No-body murder cases sometimes lead to prosecution, and Baker even called in a nationally recognized no-body homicide expert to assist with Jermains case. But not having remains poses obstacles for a prosecutor, he said.

Although not much information has emerged in Jermains case over the last five years, her relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Michael DeFrance, was brought to the public eye at a trial in April. DeFrance was convicted of four federal charges stemming from accusations that he illegally possessed firearms.

Evidence in the trial largely dealt with Jermain and DeFrances relationship in its early stages. The two started dating in the early 2010s. A misdemeanor assault charge was filed in Sanders County against DeFrance stemming from a domestic violence incident between the two in 2013, something that effectively barred him from owning guns.

Photos and evidence shown at the trial depicted evidence seized during a search warrant served by Baker at DeFrances Evaro Hill house shortly after Jermain went missing. Law enforcement found three guns on-site.

On a rainy day last week, Baker drove to Evaro Hill to a heavily wooded stretch of land about a 20-minute drive northwest of Missoula.

Its an area hes familiar with, as its been the site of several searches for Jermain. Baker turned onto Whispering Pines Road, which leads to more rural roads lined with dense forest. Not too far off the roadway animal bones were scattered on the ground.

Baker was vague about why Evaro Hill is significant in Jermain's case.

Evaro Hill is one area that the investigation has led us to look for Jermain for a couple different investigative reasons, he said, but didn't provide additional details.

Jermains loved ones sat through DeFrances two-day trial in April. Morigeau said his firearms conviction is a sliver of justice, but shes frustrated hes out of custody while he awaits sentencing, which is scheduled for Sept. 21. After DeFrance was arraigned on the firearms indictments, Jermain's family said they wish the charges DeFrance was brought in on were in stronger connection to the whereabouts of their niece.

Through five years of minimal answers, Jermains two sons are what gives Morigeau a shred of hope. Morigeaus family hasnt had any contact with her boys, who are living with their father, except a single chance encounter at a local grocery store years ago.

Theyre what drives me to continue looking and never stop, Morigeau said. Jermain's boys have been absent from family celebrations, gatherings and holidays.

Weve been robbed of that for the last five years, Morigeau said.
As Pride events take place in Missoula this weekend, members of state and local criminal justice and administrative personnel gathered on Friday to discuss how hate crimes in Montana are investigated and handled by law enforcement.

Anti-LGBTQ+ laws swept the nation during the last round of state legislative sessions, but hate against LGBTQ+ individuals in Montana is documented locally, too.

We havent just had national and international incidents grounded in hate, Montana U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said at the panel, hosted at the University of Montanas Alexander Blewett III Law School. Weve experienced them right here, in Montana, as theres been an increase in hateful rhetoric against historically marginalized groups, such as our LGBTQ+ community members.

With the recently concluded Montana legislative session, new laws have targeted transgender youth and the drag communities.

Montana Pride President Kevin Hamm asked the panel what theyre doing to address hateful rhetoric from neo-Nazis that show up to Pride events in Montana.

How are you taking that seriously? Hamm asked.

Missoula Police Detective Ethan Smith serves at the departments LGBTQ+ Community Liaison.

Smith said he monitors social media posts and decides what to focus resources on.

My biggest concern, of course, is if theres going to be something dynamic, its going to happen at an event like this, Smith said of Missoulas Pride events. So we do investigate that stuff.

He said the department has safety measures and a security plan in place in the event a large protest gets violent.

Specific to Montana, there were 17 reported hate crimes in 2021, Assistant U.S. Attorney and Civil Rights Coordinator Paul Vestal said.

This week, a Montana man was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for threatening a woman with violent, homophobic slurs and shooting at her house with an AK-47 assault rifle as part of a self-described mission to clean the small town of its LGBTQ community.

In May, Zephyr faced swatting threats. Swatting refers to a dangerous prank-call tactic where a caller falsely reports that a crime is happening at an area, usually someones house, with the intention to trigger a law enforcement response to the persons location.

An individual reported an anonymous tip targeting my home in Missoula, and the police recognized that it was likely a hoax and called me, Zephyr wrote on Twitter. I will say again. We will not be deterred. The fight for trans rights goes on.

When asked if those threats were investigated, Smith said it was determined not to be a direct threat.

Vestal noted underreporting of hate crimes is an issue across the country, citing data that 38% of victims didnt report because cases were handled a different way, and roughly 23% of people declined to report citing concerns that police could not or would not do anything to help.

An audience member asked what officers are doing to ensure hate crimes in Montana are being taken seriously.

The best thing that we can do is make ourselves available and participate in events like this and open up communication with members of our community because I absolutely agree with you, Smith responded. Theres a lot of under-reported stuff and I think that thats our fault, not the communitys fault.

Montana itself doesnt have a specific state-level hate crime law, but cases can be investigated for possible federal hate crime penalties.

If a federal agency determines that a crime has been committed, a federal crime has been committed, they would refer it to us at the U.S. Attorneys Office for prosecution, Vestal said.

Locally, there is something called a sentencing enhancement for hate crimes, which means if someone is charged with another crime such as assault with a weapon, theres a possibility the enhancement might be applied if the crime was based on hate. Local agencies like the Missoula Police Department investigate crimes that happen in communities, which are then referred to county attorney offices for possible prosecution. Laslovich said his office is steadfast in protecting Montanans civil rights.

Vestal and other panel members encouraged people to report any suspected hate crimes to their local authorities or the FBI.
Tribal leaders in Montana are celebrating the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act.

The 7-2 ruling represents a win for tribal sovereignty and affirms decades of federal Indian case law.

Commonly called ICWA, the law dictates how Native children are placed in foster or adoptive homes. The law was enacted in 1978 in response to decades of state child welfare and private adoption agencies separating Native children from their families. Even with the law in place, Native children are still disproportionately represented in child welfare systems.

Frank Edwards, an assistant professor at Rutgers University who studies child welfare, said one of every four Native American children in Montana have a lifetime risk for being in foster care and more than one in 10 Native 1-year-olds are in foster care in the state.

Hundreds of tribes filed an amicus brief in 2019 defending ICWA, and Chrissi Nimmo, deputy attorney general for the Cherokee Nation, a defendant in the case, told Lee Montana newspapers in November that ICWA is probably the only thing in Indian Country that is universally supported and that tribes agree upon.

"Tribes face lots of issues, but one thing that we know is universally true is you dont have a tribe if you dont have tribal members, she said. If we dont have any kids here, our entire tribe could cease to exist.

Montanans react

Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, who introduced a bill that ultimately codified ICWA into Montana state law, said he was surprised by the courts decision.

Just because of the makeup of the court and who appointed who, he said. But Im glad they looked at the facts. Our children have been under attack for years, whether in boarding schools in the U.S. or residential schools in Canada. Protecting our children is very important.

The ACLU of Montana said the courts decision affirms that Native families have a right to stay together.

ICWA offers critical and crucial protections for Native children and allows for Indigenous futures to be possible to our most vulnerable, the organization said in a statement.

Marvin Weatherwax, chairman of the Coalition of Large Tribes, applauded the decision, saying Our children, children of federally recognized Indian tribes, children of the first peoples, are our most precious resource.

President of the Fort Belknap Indian Community Jeffrey Stiffarm said children "are our future."

"They will carry on our traditions and cultures," he said. "Who better to nurture them and teach them? ICWA allows us to do this by keeping our children with their own people."

Tajin Perez, deputy director of Western Native Voice, said he was relieved by the ruling.

There was a powerful political element here, which aimed to undermine tribes existence and undermine centuries of Indian case law  and essentially roll back any sort of progress made towards self-determination and nation-building for tribes, Perez said. This is a very clear victory not just for Native children and families in keeping culture and family together, but a clear affirmation of the unique status of tribes.

Perez said he hopes the ruling will inspire others to learn more about ICWA and the historical context in which it was enacted.

This is an opportunity for everybody to learn more about the unique status of tribes and history therein, he said. It shows how contemporary things are based on those relationships established even before the U.S. was a country.

National leaders and entities also celebrated the decision. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Laguna Pueblo, called the ruling a welcome affirmation.

The Protect ICWA Campaign  made up of the National Indian Child Welfare Association, National Congress of American Indians, Native American Rights Fund and Association on American Indian Affairs  said the group was overcome with joy.

The positive impact of todays decision will be felt across generations, the group said in a statement.
It turns out there was some truth to the viral "nature is healing" memes that circulated during the spring 2020 pandemic lockdowns.

Anecdotes of animals retaking human environments sprang up nearly as soon as billions of humans around the world began staying home to slow the spread of the nascent coronavirus pandemic. Wild boar ventured farther and more confidently into Haifa, Israel, during the lockdown than before. Dolphins in the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul played in waters usually crowded with commercial vessels. Cougars explored Santiago, Chile. Monkeys inundated India's presidential palace. And, perhaps the incident shared most online, Great Orme mountain goats roamed through the vacant streets of Llandudno, Wales, in the United Kingdom.

The episodes quickly gave rise to an internet meme that lampooned those who earnestly claimed that a deadly global pandemic was nature's healing way of cleansing the "real" virus: humans. Predictably, the memes veered absurd  in one variation, rubber Crocs sandals floating in water were accompanied by text joking that "crocs" had returned to the rivers.

But a new study illuminates the degree to which pandemic lockdowns actually did, in fact, allow animals to rapidly expand their movements into human development and closer to roads. The research includes Montana wolves and bison whose tracking collars testified to their exploratory freedom.

"We show that human mobility is a key driver of some terrestrial mammal behaviors, with a magnitude potentially similar to that of landscape modifications," the authors wrote. "Therefore, when evaluating human impacts on animal behavior or designing mitigation measures, both physical landscape alteration and human mobility should be taken into consideration. Disentangling the effects of human mobility and landscape modification will allow the implementation of conservation measures specifically targeted at mitigating the impacts of human mobility, such as enticements to adjust timing, frequency, and volume of traffic in areas important for animal movement."

The global study published June 8 in the journal Science found that many mammals ranged significantly farther over 10-day periods  sometimes deeper into human environs  when lockdowns kept humans largely homebound and left streets and other public spaces devoid of human activity. Some got much closer to roads that were newly free of traffic.

Over shorter time periods, however, animals' movement decreased, the study found. Researchers attributed the short-term movement decreases to animals having to evade humans less often.

The study, "Behavioral responses of terrestrial mammals to COVID-19 lockdowns," examined GPS tracking data from 2,300 mammals across 43 species, from creatures as small as opossums to as big as elephants. Data on animal movement was collected from every continent except Australia and Antarctica. The study compared animals' movements during the period when a given country enacted its strictest COVID lockdown to the animals' movements during the same date range in 2019. The study also correlated changes in animals' movements to the relative strictness of the lockdown in the country where the animal was located, and to the degree of human development around an animal.

Mark Hebblewhite, a professor of habitat ecology at the University of Montana, has been collaring large mammals to study their movements for more than 20 years. He was one of the first in the world to track wolves and elk with GPS collars.

Hebblewhite was one of nearly 200 total authors on the study. He contributed troves of data he's collected on collared elk and wolves in and around Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. Hebblewhite and his team study the animals' movements in the bustling Bow Valley, home to the town of Banff itself, as well as in remote, backcountry areas with little human presence.

In an interview Thursday, Hebblewhite said that the latest study came after a similar one four years ago also by lead author Marlee A. Tucker.

"Having a global network of people studying large mammals was really helpful," he said, explaining that the group was ready to jump on the "anthropause" when lockdowns were enacted.

Dan Stahler and Chris Geremia of the National Park Service were also authors on the study, with data on Yellowstone's wolves and bison, respectively.

With human activity restricted for a few weeks or months, the researchers were able to study how animals reacted when humans largely disappeared but human development remained on the landscape. Previously, it was difficult to separate the effect of human infrastructure and human activity on animals, because humans were generally using the infrastructure. The researchers described humans' hiatus from leaving the home as the "anthropause," derived from the Greek prefix "anthropo-," meaning human.

"As large-scale, high-resolution human mobility data are rare, our ability to decouple the effects of landscape modification and human mobility has been limited," the authors wrote. "In particular, little is known about the overall impact of human mobility on terrestrial mammalian behavior across species and continents. Here, we make use of the quasiexperimental alteration of human mobility during COVID-19 lockdowns in early 2020 to study the effect of human mobility on animal behavior, specifically on movement and road avoidance in terrestrial mammals."

Displacement differences

The study examined animals' travels, or "displacements," over one-hour periods and 10-day periods. Researchers honed in on median displacement distances for animals  the normal distances they moved in a time period  and 95th percentile displacements, or an animal's farthest movements in a time period.

Hebblewhite explained the difference between median and 95th percentile 10-day displacements in human terms: "Most of the time we drive around Missoula dropping off kids, but once a week I drive to my cabin."

Across all the animals in the study, scattered around the globe and across countries with varying degrees of lockdown, the study did not find a collective difference in their longest 10-day movements. But when looking just at animals in countries that had the most restrictive lockdowns, their longest movements over 10 days increased in distance by an average 73%.

"This may indicate that tighter restrictions on human movements, including confinement to living spaces and reduced human mobility in green spaces, led to increased landscape permeability for mammals," the authors wrote.

Hebblewhite said, "Those are the movements that take animals to really important habitat patches," like migratory corridors, new home ranges or places to mate.

In contrast, nations that implemented relatively mild lockdown measures saw animals' longest trips over 10 days decrease anywhere from 22% to 72%  something the researchers attributed to humans' increased use of open, outdoor spaces during lockdowns in countries with less-restrictive measures.

"The reduction in movement may reflect increased human mobility in semi-natural areas such as parks and other green spaces," the authors wrote. "In fact, green space use by people in some areas of intermediate lockdown increased up to 350%."

The lockdowns did not seem to affect animals' median movement distances over 10-day periods, regardless of lockdown stringency. That suggested that stringent lockdowns facilitated an increase only in wide-ranging behavior like "migratory movements, long-distance dispersal, exploratory excursions, or long displacements within individuals home ranges."

Reduced avoidance

The study documented a 12% reduction in the length of the most distant displacements animals made during one-hour periods, compared with 2019. The authors wrote, "This may indicate reduced avoidance and escape behavior of humans (e.g., less need to hide from people) as a result of altered human mobility levels during lockdowns." The study did not find a difference in median one-hour displacement distances.

"In some ways," Hebblewhite said, "on your average daily, hourly movement rate  one-hour displacement  animals actually moved less. They seemed to be less stressed out about humans and they just hung out more."

Animals in areas of high human development were, on average, 36% closer to roads during lockdowns. That means that animals in high-development areas ventured closer to roads when traffic drastically decreased during lockdowns, but their counterparts in less-developed areas didn't exhibit the same behavior.

The study's findings aligned with species-specific studies with similar results on pandemic behavior.

"For example, evidence suggests that during the lockdowns, mountain lions usual aversion to urban edges ceased," the authors wrote.

"(Also) crested porcupine abundance increased in urban areas, diurnal activity of invasive Eastern cottontails increased, and brown bears exploited novel connectivity corridors."

Hebblewhite previously studied European brown bears  a subspecies related to North America's grizzly bear  and mapped out corridors that bears would likely travel through if given the opportunity. During the lockdowns, he said, the bears were observed actually traveling those corridors.

"They really did cross highways way more during COVID than they did before COVID," he said.

Local observations

That dynamic played out locally around Montana and around the Northern Rockies, Hebblewhite said. When national parks like Yellowstone and Banff were suddenly vacated by humans, data shows that animals in places that normally have lots of human activity began making longer travels, avoiding humans less on the shorter term, and venturing closer to roads. In remote areas that wouldn't have many humans anyway, he said, behavior was largely unchanged. Around Banff, elk and wolves in the normally busy Bow Valley ventured closer to roads during the lockdown. But "in the backcountry remote areas, we didn't see any difference."

In places like Missoula, he said, people flocked to the outdoors during lockdowns that were less restrictive than those in Italy or France, where people were strictly confined to their homes.

"That, based on our paper, wouldve been predicted to have negative effects on animal movements," he said of people flocking to outdoor recreation.

"It depends both on the level of lockdown and on the level of human activity," he said of how or whether animal behavior would change. Regions with no humans in an area anyway produced no change in animal behavior.

The authors wrote that further data collection and analysis could determine if animals retain any of their lockdown behavior changes. And, Hebblewhite said, forthcoming research using remote cameras to better track human activity could provide more granular insight into exactly how various levels of human activity affect mammals. A weakness of the study released last week, he said, was that "we have much better data on what animals were doing in the lockdown than what people were doing. We had a gross approximation of what people were doing by the country or state level of stringency indices," but no GPS data for humans like they had for animals.

Nonetheless, the authors were able to conclude, "Mammals have been living with human disturbance for a long time, but we demonstrate that many wildlife populations retain the capacity to respond to changes in human behavior, providing a positive outlook for future mitigation strategies designed to maintain animal movement and the ecosystem functions they provide."
An older, disabled couple in Missoula recently had their monthly rent raised by over $700 after a new company bought their apartment complex and are baffled about what to do or where to go in the expensive housing market here.

"I'm going into major panic attacks," said Janice Hensel. "I don't know what to do, either laugh or go crazy. It takes my breath away. I don't know where we're going to go.

"It's like climbing Mt. Everest with no oxygen, I just kind of sink into a frozen incapacity."

Their story illustrates Missoula's red-hot housing market, where strong demand and tight supply means landlords are incentivized to get the maximum possible rent. When income properties come into new ownership, tenants are bearing the cost of paying off the exorbitant new mortgage.

Rent prices in Missoula, and across Montana and the region, have steadily increased more than wages for much of the last decade.

The median household income in Missoula County, according to the Montana Department of Labor, increased 23.9% from 2017 to 2021, from $54,311 per year to $66,803.

In that same time, the median monthly rent in Missoula County rose from $782 to $1,034, a 30.5% increase, according to the Missoula Organization of Realtors.

The statistics are largely the same for Montana as a whole, and the state is in the midst of a severe affordable housing crisis.

Hensel and her husband Bob Burt, ages 63 and 68, respectively, have lived for eight years in a complex on Harrison Street in the Rattlesnake neighborhood. Up until late last year, they were paying $1,200 a month for the three-bedroom apartment. The complex was owned by a local attorney for many years, but when he passed away his family sold the property. In December of last year, the property became owned by an LLC called BlueSky1998, according to public records. The company has an office in Missoula.

Hensel and Burt's year-long lease expired last year, and the new property owners gave them a new monthly rent rate of $1,930, a rent increase of roughly 60%.

The new owners also told them they were going to a new month-to-month lease and that they'd eventually need to move out because the apartment was going to be renovated. After they were given nine months to find a place, they were given a notice to vacate.

Hensel worked as a paralegal for many years but is now on disability income. Her husband recently suffered a brain aneurysm.

"My take on this entire situation is they want to move us out so they can increase the rent," Hensel said. "I'm losing my own mind as I go trying to box and pack everything from living here for eight years. And looking at the apartments in Missoula, everyone has a long list of waiting periods."

The Missoulian spoke with a person who identified themselves as the "landlord agent" for the apartment complex. The agent declined to give their name on the record but agreed to be quoted.

"We are reaching up to the market price with all the properties we have," the agent explained. "We can't control market price. Our prices are relatively low compared to what is in the market. We have this place scheduled for renovations, as the bathroom needs upgraded and other renovations are needed."

The agent said they've cooperated with housing authorities to help the couple find new housing and have followed all legal responsibilities. The agent also noted that they didn't charge the couple the service dog fee, because Hensel is disabled, and they gave them the nine-month extension.

"The market is pushing us in different directions," the agent explained. "There are people waiting for units and people offering us higher rent from out-of-state. We're trying to keep existing prices as much as we can."

When an apartment gets put on the market, the agent said, there might be 50 to 60 people who immediately call.

"So now we're not even putting units on the market due to high demand," the agent said. "Last year we had 66 people ask for one apartment and we had to stop advertising. It was a one-bedroom, one-bath and people were offering $1,500 and we were only asking $1,250. It's reasonable for us because demand is so high. We try to support what we have in front of us and not go after big money. We understand not everyone can afford it."

Hensel said she believes Montana needs to do more to protect renters from exorbitant price increases.

"You know, our Legislature has got to get a hold of this," she said. "This is happening throughout the community. They're just saying 'move, vacate.' We're not 20 years old anymore, to pack boxes and everything we've got in there."

She said they're working with a social worker to find housing, but as of early this week they still hadn't found anything they could afford that they could move into right away.

Several bills that would have strengthened renter protections died in the last session of the Montana Legislature.

House Bill 785, a bill that would have required landlords to give a 60-day notice when changing rental agreement terms or if they refuse to offer a new lease, died in the Montana Senate. The current law allows for just a 30-day notice. It was sponsored by Rep. Zooey Zephyr, D-Missoula.

House Bill 927, which would have allowed state coal trust funds money for loans to support price-controlled housing for low-income residents, died in the Senate. It was sponsored by Rep. Matt Regier, R-Kalispell.

Another bill, that strengthened protections for landlords, passed the Legislature and was recently signed into law by Gov. Greg Gianforte.

Sponsored by Rep. Steven Galloway, R-Great Falls, HB 282 revises rental laws. It allows a landlord to issue a 24-hour notice to correct or obtain immediate injunctive relief to compel access to a unit if a tenant refuses to allow lawful access or replaces a lock. If the 24-hour notice to correct is not remedied, the landlord is able to issue a three-day notice to terminate the rental agreement.

For Hensel, trying to take care of her husband as basically a 24/7 caregiver and moving is too much for her to take.

"It's just exhausting," she said. "Like, I can't cope with this."
WASHINGTON  First came the crypto winter, then the alleged fraud wrought by FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, and now the lawsuits.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed lawsuits last week against the worlds biggest cryptocurrency exchanges, Binance and Coinbase, deepening tensions between the government and a volatile industry that has been marred by scandals and market meltdowns.

Binance and Coinbase are both alleged to have violated the law by operating as securities exchanges without registering their businesses with the SEC. Binance faces additional charges, along with its CEO, of diverting customer funds to a separate business, among other accusations. Most recently, the SEC asked a federal judge to freeze the assets of Binances U.S. platform.

The lawsuits are the latest in an ongoing tussle between government officials who describe the crypto industry as the Wild West, and creators of digital assets who seek to legitimize cryptocurrency as a currency of the future.

Industry leaders say that, with their latest actions, U.S. regulators are more clearly signaling that they seek to ensure cryptocurrency has no room in the traditional financial system.

And leading regulators are more open about their thoughts on the merits of cryptocurrency. SEC Chair Gary Gensler told Bloomberg on Tuesday: We dont need more digital currency  we already have digital currency  its called the U.S. dollar.

What results from the legal battle could greatly diminish the growth of the crypto industry or, alternatively, restrict the scope of the SECs regulatory authority.

Federica Pantana, an attorney at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron in New York who handles SEC cases, has been watching the episode unfold and is now clear with her crypto clients in the interim: With the SEC taking a strong enforcement agenda, there is no question that firms have to take the view that crypto assets are securities and platforms that exchange these assets have to accept that.

Whether companies that trade in crypto decide it makes business sense to register with the SEC, or drop their businesses all together, will determine the landscape of the industry in the future, Pantana said. The reverberations of the litigation could put some companies out of business, she said.

The crypto industry already knew it was under a tough spotlight from Washingtons regulators and politicians. The collapse of crypto prices last year as well as the demise of several notable crypto companies  including FTX  exposed investors to billions of dollars in losses. Gensler had repeatedly stated, both to Congress and in public appearances, that he believes the SEC has more than enough authority to regulate the industry.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told CNBC Wednesday that shes very supportive of the SEC using the tools it has to protect consumers and investors.

Despite the increased scrutiny from regulators, the crypto industry was expecting Congress to eventually intervene and help legitimize the industry through new laws. Several bills were introduced last year by Democrats and Republicans that would have put crypto under the authority of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and made other products, including stable coins, more legitimate by standardizing what assets those products could hold.

Yellen said Wednesday that she sees some holes in the system where additional regulation I think would be appropriate and we would like to work with Congress to see additional legislation passed.

Crypto lobbyists now believe that those laws are more urgently needed to stop the SEC from moving forward with its lawsuits.

The most viable piece of legislation sits in the House Financial Services Committee, spearheaded by Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., who chairs the panel. The legislation was co-authored by Glenn Thompson, R-Penn., chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture.

Their discussion draft of legislation seeks to delineate agencies jurisdiction over certain digital assets and strike the appropriate balance between consumer protection and encouraging responsible innovation, McHenry said in a news release.

New legislation would grant digital-asset issuers an exemption from securities laws if they meet certain conditions and would exclude digital commodities and payment stablecoins from the definition of a security under the securities laws, among many other provisions.

Congress has no choice but to thoughtfully move forward with legislation to clear up this confusion, said Kristin Smith, CEO of the Blockchain Association.

Perianne Boring, founder of the Chamber of Digital Commerce, one of the top lobbyists for the cryptocurrency industry, said the lawsuits the SEC filed against Binance and Coinbase are arbitrary and capricious and the SECs vigorous enforcement in this space is politically motivated, opening up legal risk against SEC.

She said Genslers public comments about the merits of cryptocurrency in the backdrop of the traditional financial system go outside the scope of his role as SEC chair to protect consumers and investors.

Theyre not a merit regulator, Boring said.

A beginner's guide to crypto lingo Bitcoin Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency created in 2009 by an unknown person (or people) using the alias Satoshi Nakamoto. Unlike traditional currencies such as the US dollar, bitcoin isn't controlled by a bank or government. Bitcoin is by far the most valuable and popular cryptocurrency in use today. Blockchain A blockchain is a digital ledger and the key technology underpinning most cryptocurrencies, non-fungible tokens (more on those later) and other unique digital items. Blockchain can be used to store all kinds of information, but so far its most common use is in recording cryptocurrency transactions. Once a transaction is made, it's entered on this public ledger, which is managed by a global peer-to-peer network  millions of computers, in bitcoin's case. Blockchain is fundamental to bitcoin's appeal: As a decentralized database, it can't be controlled by any one person or group  unlike a fiat currency such as the US dollar, which is managed by a central bank. Buy the f****ing dip (BTFD) A rally cry for crypto bulls that urges investors to buy coins when prices drop. Coinbase The leading cryptocurrency exchange platform. The company went public in April, an event that many viewed as a turning point in the story of cryptocurrencies' journey into the mainstream marketplace. Cryptocurrency An all-digital money system made up of "coins" or "tokens" that are controlled by a decentralized ledger. Dogecoin The oddball of the crypto family began as a joke based on the "doge" meme in 2013. But as cryptos have broadly gained mainstream interest, dogecoin has emerged as an unexpected heavy hitter. It now has a market cap of more than $30 billion and it has surged more than 5,000% so far this year. And unlike its more popular brethren, a single dogecoin is still cheap  it hit an all-time high of about 45 cents in April. Whether or not its a smart investment remains an active question. Elon Musk Tesla CEO whose tweets have been known to spark rallies in cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and dogecoin. Ethereum An open-source blockchain-based software that controls the cryptocurrency Ether. It is the second-largest digital currency by market cap at nearly $300 billion. FUD ("fear, uncertainty, doubt") In crypto parlance, FUD refers to negative information that weighs on an asset's value. Mining The complicated process by which new bitcoins are entered into circulation. Mining is not for amateur enthusiasts: It requires high-powered computers that solve complex mathematical puzzles to create a new "block" on the blockchain. The mining process eats up a lot of computing power and electricity, which has led to concerns about bitcoin's environmental impact. NFT Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, are pieces of digital content linked to the Ethereum blockchain. "Non-fungible" essentially means one-of-a-kind, something that can't be replaced, unlike, for example, a dollar bill that you can replace with any other dollar bill. In the simplest terms, NFTs transform digital works of art and other collectibles into one-of-a-kind, verifiable assets. Satoshi Nakamoto The pseudonym that refers to the person (or people) who invented bitcoin. Their real identity remains unknown. Satoshis, aka "Sats" The smallest unit of bitcoin ever recorded on the blockchain, equal to one one-millionth of a bitcoin. Wallet Like the physical thing you carry your cash and cards in, a wallet in the crypto world is a place to store digital currency. The main thing you need to know about wallets is that you must never, ever lose or forget your password.
Xuan Nghi departs for Miss Teen International 2023 in Cambodia

Contestant Bui Vu Xuan Nghi left Vietnam on June 15 for Cambodia where she is competing for a title at Miss Teen International 2023.

Xuan Nghi departs for Miss Teen International 2023 in Cambodia





The 19-year-old girl hailing from Dong Nai province is bringing with her 10 pieces of luggage, including costumes and gifts to international contestants and friends.



Xuan Nghi, a student at Hong Bang International University in Ho Chi Minh City, was the winner of a local beauty contest Net ep Thieu nu Viet (Vietnamese Womens Beauty) in December 2022.



She has performed in many fashion shows in Vietnam and joined charity activities across the country.



Miss Teen International 2023 is scheduled to take place in Cambodia from June 16 to 25. The Vietnamese girl is set to compete against dozens of other contestants aged 14-19 in order to win the beauty pageant.



Last year saw Ngo Ngoc Gia Han, a 16-year-old girl of Ho Chi Minh City crowned Miss Teen International during the pageants grand finale held in India on July 30.
Vandree Old Person grew up hearing about Ashley Loring HeavyRunner.

HeavyRunner, 20, went missing on the Blackfeet Reservation in 2017  and six years later, no progress has been made in her case. Unlike most cases of missing Indigenous women, HeavyRunners story made national news, covered by The Associated Press and several crime podcasts. Her sister Kimberly addressed Congress about the persistent missing and murdered Indigenous women epidemic  a crisis so prevalent it has its own acronym, MMIW. Billboards with photos of HeavyRunner at one point lined Highway 89 on the reservation, and flyers with her face still hang on bulletin boards in gas stations and grocery stores.

After listening to a podcast about HeavyRunner, Vandree turned to her mother and said, If anything happens to me, you better find out who did it.

This spring, something did happen. Vandree went out with friends on Tuesday, March 28, and never returned home. She was found dead on the Blackfeet Reservation three days later.

Vandree, 20, is one of thousands of Indigenous people who go missing or are killed each year. In 2016, there were 5,712 reported cases of missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls, according to the Urban Indian Health Institute. And in the same year, a National Institute of Justice report found that more than four in five Indigenous women and men have experienced violence in their lifetime, and more than one in three experienced violence in the past year.

The crisis is pervasive, and it affects Indigenous people statewide. On March 31, the same day Vandree was found, about 200 miles away, Mika Westwolf, a 22-year-old Blackfeet, Navajo, Cree and Klamath woman, was killed while walking along Highway 93 on the Flathead Reservation.

Located in northwest Montana, the Blackfeet Reservation is home to 10,706 people. In the close-knit tribal community, everyone knows someone whos been affected by the crisis. Feeling let down by law enforcement and tangled in a web of complex legal jurisdictions, it's not uncommon for grieving family members to conduct searches and investigate their loved one's disappearance or death.

But because the crisis is so pervasive, mothers seeking justice for their children must sometimes pause their efforts to help search for another missing child. Family members who are still grieving are flooded with messages from other community members asking for help in their own cases. Sometimes, community members leave one search to help another. While many feel called to get involved and bring awareness to the issue, some community members do so at the risk of re-experiencing past trauma.

Up against a flawed criminal justice system  which has stripped tribal police and courts of their power and was not designed with Indigenous people in mind  families must also grapple with the idea that justice in their cases may never be done. Some people consider taking justice into their own hands, and others, who may have information that could further an investigation, stay silent, unwilling to put themselves or their families at risk for a justice system that doesn't seem to work.

Unable to depend on law enforcement or the justice system, members of the Blackfeet community  and tribal communities everywhere  instead turn to each other for support, healing, advocacy and action.

Who was Vandree Old Person?

Carlene Old Person describes her daughter Vandree as outgoing, full of life and outspoken.

If someone needed help, shed be there for you, Carlene said. As Carlene spoke, one of Vandrees three sisters chimed in.

She was long-legged! Loud! Clumsy! the sister shouted, and they both chuckled.

Standing 5-foot-7, Vandree had a big smile, framed by dimples on both cheeks. Her thick brown hair fell past her shoulders, and her brown eyes were enhanced with long lashes.

Vandree was especially close with her grandfather, Carlenes father, Joseph Bugsy Old Person. She liked the same music as Bugsy  always listening to Jimi Hendrix and Willie Nelson.

Carlene struggled with alcoholism for years, so her father helped raise her girls.

My girls, they called him Dad, Carlene said. They didnt call him Papa or Grandpa. He was Dad."

When Bugsy became sick, Vandree didnt leave his side, sometimes spending nights with him in the hospital. And when he died in January, the family was left without its foundation. Carlene said after her fathers death, she could tell Vandree was going down the wrong path, spending time with people she didnt approve of.

My daughter is missing

When a major crime is committed by or against an Indigenous person, the investigative agency is determined based on where the crime occurred and whether the victim and perpetrator are Native or non-Native. Frantic after her daughters disappearance, Carlene wasnt sure which law enforcement entity she should contact. So she reached out to Rhonda Grant-Connelly, another community member who is active in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People movement, for help.

Carlene messaged me saying, My daughter is missing. I dont know what to do, Grant-Connelly recalled.

Grant-Connelly knows first-hand what its like to grapple with complex criminal jurisdiction processes in Indian Country. Her nephew Matthew Grant was found dead on the Blackfeet Reservation in 2016. Seven years later  just as in many instances in the tribal community  there have been no charges in his case. Trauma from Grants death rippled through his family, and his mother, Eileen Rattlesnake, was caught in its wake. Shortly after his death, she took her own life.

Its really depressing, Grant-Connelly said. I know people are hurting. I know the feeling. I know how it is to feel helpless.

She told Carlene shed do what she could to help find Vandree.

Indigenous people face a broken justice system

Feeling let down by law enforcement, news media and the criminal justice system in general, when a loved one goes missing, its not uncommon for Indigenous people to turn to community members for support.

The criminal justice system was not designed with Native people or their communities in mind, and a patchwork of laws  enacted at different times and in different historical contexts  often leave grieving Native families tangled in a complex web of criminal jurisdiction.

Prior to colonization, tribes had their own justice systems, often reliant on embarrassment, shaming and social appeals, according to a 2008 report on crime and policing in American Indian communities. According to the paper, families, clans or kinship groups would often settle justice among themselves, rather than relying on a formalized legal system.

Congress formally authorized the creation of reservation police forces in 1878, and the implementation of Western law-enforcement practices was central to Americas greater assimilationist policy.

Then, in 1885, Congress passed the Major Crimes Act, asserting federal power over Native legal systems and limiting tribal jurisdiction. The Major Crimes Act granted the federal government exclusive legal jurisdiction over most major crimes on tribal land, and, according to the report, greatly diminished the importance of tribal judges and police officers.

Now, if an Indigenous person is killed, the investigative agency is determined based on whether the crime occurred on tribal land and whether the perpetrator is Native or non-Native.

Because Vandree was found dead on the Blackfeet Reservation, for example, her case is being investigated by a federal entity, the FBI. But if Vandree was found dead just 15 miles west outside the reservation border, her case would instead be investigated by state police.

Annie Belcourt, Native American Studies chair at University of Montana, grew up on the Blackfeet Reservation, and her sister was killed in Billings. She said in some ways, her family was fortunate that her sisters murder happened in a city as opposed to on a reservation.

The individuals were prosecuted, and theyre in prison now, she said. So the things that dont often happen, happened.

While tribal police do not have jurisdiction over major crimes in Indian Country, they can provide help and support in some cases. But tribal police forces too often are underfunded, understaffed and under-resourced.

Former Blackfeet Councilman Mark Pollock told Lee Montana newspapers last June that about 18 tribal police officers patrol the reservation, which spans 1.5 million acres. But because officers must take time off between shifts, Pollock said sometimes two officers might be responsible for patrolling the entire reservation, which is larger than Delaware.

Per the Major Crimes Act, when a Native person is killed or goes missing in Indian Country, its often up to the FBI to get justice. But Indigenous people have routinely criticized the FBI, saying agents are slow to respond, poor at communicating and sometimes seem to not care about individual cases.

Sandra Barker, public affairs specialist for the FBI, said the agency cannot comment on ongoing investigations but acknowledged the wait can be difficult for loved ones.

Like tribal police, the FBI faces its own challenges in administering justice. While the FBI does not provide staffing numbers, Barker said the federal agency has nine satellite offices in Montana. She said that agents assigned to Indian Country have significant caseloads, and most cases they handle are violent in nature.

They also have to deal with remote locations and vast distances between offices, communities and the courts, Barker wrote in an email to Lee Montana newspapers. The combination of these factors poses a unique and sometimes daunting challenge.

Doris Kicking Womans niece Elaine Oscar Lazy Boy was killed on the Blackfeet Reservation in April. Oscar Lazy Boy was the third member of Kicking Womans family to be killed, and Kicking Woman said her family is still grieving each of those deaths.

The FBI is taking so long, she said. They tell everybody, Were investigating the case. Well, were tired of waiting. How much more patient do you want us to be before we seek justice? How much more patience can we have?

Carlene Old Person said the FBI didnt speak to her until April 21  almost a month after Vandree was found dead. She said when she told an FBI agent that her 20-year-old daughter was last seen with people in their 40s, the officer scoffed and said something to the effect of, That happens a lot around here, doesnt it?

I just thought, He isnt going to give this his full attention, Carlene recalled. Its a nonchalant attitude. My daughter is not a priority to him. Shes just another life lost on this reservation.

Without consistent communication from the FBI, Carlene said she feels like shes in limbo.

We just want to know what happened, she said. I call the office, and they say they have no updates.

'There's more and more cases. It's just too much.'

When Wilma Fleury saw posts on Facebook saying Vandree was missing, she was quick to share them. Fleury used to be a substitute teacher at an elementary school on the reservation, and she had Vandree as a student. She remembers her as an easy-going kid. She wanted to raise awareness, and she hoped that one of her Facebook friends had information that could help.

Fleury lives in Browning, just a few miles away from where Vandree was last seen, but when Fleury saw a post advertising a community search for Vandree, she was reluctant to go.

It was awful, she said. I didnt want to go up there. I couldnt handle going up there.

Fleury couldnt bring herself to search for Vandree because the young womans disappearance reminded Fleury of her son, Willy Pepion.

Pepion, 22, died while in custody of the Blackfeet Tribal Jail in 2020. The coroner classified his death as a homicide, and three years later, his case is still unsolved.

The first two years after Willy died were really foggy  I was just trying to adjust, Fleury said. And then this year, theres more and more cases. Its just too much. Theres no justice for our people.

In small communities, avoiding trauma is difficult

Annie Belcourt, the UM Native Studies chair, is Mandan, Hidatsa, Blackfeet and Chippewa descent. She said when people are reminded of past trauma, as Fleury was, the feeling can be symptomatic of post-traumatic stress disorder. One natural response to trauma is to avoid it.

But avoidance is really tough in small communities, Belcourt explained. Its very hard to avoid things that remind you of your trauma experience because very few people live there.

Though Fleury avoided Vandrees search, reminders of Vandree and her son Willy are everywhere on the Blackfeet Reservation. She ran into Vandrees mother in the grocery store. She doesnt live far from the tribal jail where her son died. She avoids attending funerals for young people because it makes her think of her sons death. In the absence of law enforcement, Fleury has heard rumors about who couldve caused Willy's death. And in the small community, she sees potential suspects walking around town.

Belcourt said trauma and stress can not only have adverse mental health consequences but can also affect someones quality of life, physical health and chronic conditions. If someone has PTSD, for example, Belcourt said, they may be at greater risk for depression, substance abuse disorder or obesity.

Kicking Woman, whose niece Elaine Oscar Lazy Boy was killed, said without justice, the grief works on your mind.

You cant trust anyone anymore, she said. Its devastating. Its so hard to think about these things. Its hard to talk about. Its hard to put behind us.

Carlene made a promise to her father on his deathbed that shed stay sober, and she has. But the trauma of her daughters death has, at times, felt impossible to deal with.

Somedays, I dont even want to get up to shower, Carlene admitted.

Families carry out searches, investigations

Frustrated with law enforcement and tangled in the web of law enforcement agencies, its not uncommon for Native communities to conduct their own searches for missing loved ones.

When Hanna Harris, a 21-year-old Northern Cheyenne woman, went missing in 2013 on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation, it was her mother, Malinda, who posted on Facebook to organize a search. When Selena Not Afraid, 16, went missing near the Crow Reservation in 2020, her aunt Cheryl Horn helped coordinate the search, gather resources for volunteers and share updates on Facebook.

The searches are so common and so burdensome that this year, the Legislature got involved.

Diana Burd helped lead and organize massive searches on the Blackfeet Reservation for Arden Pepion, a 3-year-old girl who went missing in 2021 and still hasnt been found. In searching for Arden, Burd learned the importance of communication, organization and how to map the areas that have been searched and identify the ones that havent.

You look for footprints or tracks or clothes or things that dont belong, like cigarettes, she explained. We try to fill the gaps, but were not professionals.

While the Blackfeet community turned out for Ardens search, because they werent experts, the search didnt go as planned. Burd addressed the Legislature this session, and in her testimony, she said the search was chaotic, lacking a leader, coordination, resources and direction.

Because of the lack of collaboration  (Arden) was not found, she told the Legislature in January. Thanks, in part, to testimony from Burd and others who traveled from tribal communities across the state to make their voices heard, Gov. Greg Gianforte recently signed a new law that allows community searchers to apply for grant funding to assist their efforts.

When Diana Burd heard about Vandrees disappearance, her daughter Kelsey Mad Plume begged her to help her search.

Burds daughter was a close friend of Vandree's  they shared the same birthday and ran on the Browning High School cross-country team together.

Burd and her daughter drove to Sweet Pine, an area on the reservation where Vandree was last seen, to join other community members in looking for her. Sweet Pine is a rural area located just north of Starr School. Carlene said back in the day, it was a place where people would sit by a stream to drink and visit with each other.

As she and her daughter searched for Vandree, Burd thought of Arden.

It never gets easier, she said. I didnt say anything to my daughter, but I had this ugly, ugly feeling when we got to Sweet Pine. Id been in this scenario before.

At the search, Vandrees cowhide purse was recovered. Inside it, was her late grandfathers phone that shed been using.

Carlene cried when it was found. She knew something was wrong.

About an hour after Burd and her daughter arrived, Vandrees body was found.

Burd said her daughter is taking Vandrees death pretty hard.

Their birthday came and went, she said. There are little reminders of everything they were supposed to do together this year. Its hard because Kelsey knew this happens around here, but she never thought it would be her best friend.

'That's not my girl'

Carlene doesnt know what happened to Vandree, and she wants answers.

Bugsys phone was special to Vandree, so Carlene knows her daughter wouldnt just leave her purse and his phone behind. Instead, she suspects foul play.

Vandree was also a runner  she ran the 3-mile race for cross-country and competed in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter events in track. Carlene said when Vandree went out with friends, it wasnt rare for her to run home in the rural community that doesnt have taxi or rideshare services. She said Vandree was once left in Babb, in the northwest corner of the reservation, and ran 5 miles in flip flops.

When Vandree's body was recovered, there were scrapes and bruises around her right eye.

The Glacier County Sheriff/Coroner's Office on Wednesday told Lee Montana newspapers that Vandree's cause of death was listed as "hypothermia associated with acute ethanol (alcohol) intoxication," and the office classified her manner of death as an accident.

The report doesn't mention the scrapes on Vandree's eye, and for Carlene, the idea that her daughter just walked off and died of hypothermia in the Sweet Pine area is unimaginable.

The FBI doesnt want to hear me, she said. Its mind-blowing to us to think she just walked away.  For her to leave her purse and my dads phone, thats not my girl.

A justice system that doesn't work for everyone

Joseph P. Gone, Aaniiih and a professor at Harvard, said Indigenous people and communities have been coping with violence and grief for generations.

Our people were violently dispossessed, detained and deprived of resources that sustained life, he said, referring to reservations. Indian agents acted like dictators. And then you have trafficking and trade and alcohol and drugs. Theres a way in which violence begets violence. Students were taken away from their homes and abused by people in boarding schools  and when these people grew up and came home, they, in some instances, brought that with them and became perpetrators themselves."

But Gone said when a justice system doesnt work for Indigenous people, its no shock that community members dont feel like they can trust law enforcement.

Back when Indian agents had pervasive power, people could be jailed because the agents didnt like them, he explained. Theres not really due process. There arent resources to hire lawyers.  Structural racism is built into the criminal justice system, so people dont trust it.

When community members havent seen the justice system work well for them, Gone said it makes sense that they wouldnt want to put themselves or their families at risk by talking with the FBI.

It fuels insularity and self-protection, he said. Its perfectly understandable why its very difficult to get justice for violent crimes in Indian Country. Its true in any community that has investment in its own self-protection.

In the absence of justice, Carlene, like other victims family members, said she clings to rumors. She heard her daughter may have been killed because of a dispute over drugs. Similarly, Wilma Fleury has heard rumors about who couldve been responsible for her sons death, and Kimberly Loring has heard rumors about what happened to her sister Ashley HeavyRunner.

While the tribal community is close-knit, Carlene, Fleury and Loring have expressed frustration that people dont seem to come forward with information. HeavyRunners family has even offered a $50,000 reward for information on her location.

Because major crimes committed by Native people on tribal land are prosecuted federally, the corresponding sentences are often longer than they would be for the same crime prosecuted at the state level.

A 2008 report on sentencing disparities, for example, stated that in South Dakota, a person convicted of sexual assault in state court receives an average sentence of 29 months, whereas a Native American who committed the same crime on tribal land, would be prosecuted in federal court and receive an average sentence of 47 months.

Even if law enforcement were properly resourced  which its not  even if they valued Indian lives as they do white lives  which they dont  then people still have to decide what the right thing to do is, Gone said. Is it right to turn someone over to the criminal justice system, which will lock someone away for two to four times longer than it would a white person who committed a comparable crime? Its no mystery to me that people dont come forward. Whats amazing to me is when someone cooperates with the FBI in furthering an investigation. It takes courage.

Without justice in her sons case, Fleury said its difficult for her to heal and gain closure.

My mind spirals, she said. It feels like Willys case is just floating around out there. And I just dont want it to float away. Right now, it seems like a lost cause. Like my daughter said, If you want to get away with murder, come to Browning.

When Carlene looks at Fleury and Grant-Connelly, who have both lost family members too soon and who have both not seen justice, she sees an unfortunate future for herself.

I dont want what happened to them to happen with my girl, she said. It scares me. I get comfort from them, but I dont want that fate. I look at them, and I think, How can they sleep? They have so much strength.

Community advocacy for the MMIP crisis

As justice stalls, community advocacy and activism are on the rise on the Blackfeet Reservation.

Grant-Connelly founded a new group, called Two Medicine MMIP (Missing and Murdered Indigenous People). The organization, which runs on volunteers, shares information, raises awareness and organizes searches primarily using Facebook.

Fleury said the group has helped her connect with people in similar situations, and its given her some hope.

I thought maybe if I attend all these meetings and join all these committees, it will get more attention for Willys case, she said. Maybe it will, and that would be wonderful.

Though shes grieving herself, Grant-Connelly said she feels called to bring awareness to the issue.

Its hard sometimes, she said. Sometimes I think, How can I help others when I cant even help myself? I think about stepping away, but I have more and more people reaching out to me saying they need help.
Man sentenced in DUI that killed Fresno man once hailed as hero for saving newborn

A 24-year-old Fresno man was sentenced Thursday in superior court for a 2021 DUI crash that killed one person and injured two others.

Israel Douglas received six years and eight months in prison for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing great bodily injury, according to a statement from the Fresno County District Attorneys Office.

He pleaded no contest to the charges in February.

Douglas had been driving at more than 70 mph when he broadsided a car leaving the parking lot of the Amazon Warehouse at Cedar and Florence avenues.

Police at the time determined his blood alcohol count was .09 nearly an hour after the crash.

Two passengers inside his car were seriously injured  a broken leg, fractured ribs and a fractured spine.

The driver of the other car, Aurelio Fuentes, was taken to Community Regional Medical Center, where he died the following week.

Fuentes, 23, was a contract employee with Amazon who had just finished a shift when he was struck.

Fuentes himself had been in the news in 2019 after discovering and rescuing a newborn girl abandoned in the middle of the roadway in Madera Ranchos. Fuentes was delivering copies of The Fresno Bee at the time.

Awful, chilling moment: Fresno Bee newspaper carrier finds newborn on Madera County road
The city of Morganton and town of Hildebran, along with 27 other cities and towns, are getting some state help with economic development projects.

Gov. Roy Cooper made the announcement on June 15 that 29 local governments in rural areas across the state have been awarded grants from the Rural Transformation Grant Fund for rural economic development projects in North Carolina. A total of $8 million will be issued in this third round of grants from the fund, which helps local governments overcome challenges that limit their economic competitiveness, a release from Coopers office said. The North Carolina Department of Commerce and its Rural Economic Development Division administers the fund.

These transformative grants can make a real difference in rural communities by reviving downtowns and strengthening neighborhoods, Cooper said. These funds, with the support of our rural development team at the Department of Commerce, will bring more economic opportunity to people across the state.

The city of Morganton was awarded $450,000 in the Downtown Revitalization category for its North Green Street Landscape. The grant will help improve three blocks of North Green Street between East Union Street and Fleming Place. The downtown project includes sidewalk extensions for outdoor dining and streetscape improvements, according to the state commerce department.

The town of Hildebran received two grant awards in two categories.

Hildebran was awarded $300,000 in the Resilient Neighborhoods category to renovate the Hildebran Auditorium. The grant will support the renovation of the town auditorium to create more cultural and economic opportunities within the community. Renovations will seek to provide ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) accessibility and enhance the usability of the existing auditorium, according to the state commerce department.

In addition, Hildebran was awarded $49,500 in the Rural Community Capacity (RC2) category for the design of its renovations of the auditorium. The grant will be used to create architectural plans to support the renovation of the historic Hildebran High School auditorium, according to the state commerce department.

The Rural Transformation Grant Fund, the centerpiece of a broader Rural Engagement and Investment Program from Commerce, addresses a wide variety of needs, from revitalizing downtown districts, building the capacity of local government staffs, revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering small business recovery, and generally supporting economic growth initiatives.

The Rural Transformation Grant Fund awarded grants in four categories Thursday:

The Downtown Revitalization category

supports downtown development initiatives that help grow and leverage a communitys commercial core into an asset for economic growth and prosperity.

The

Resilient Neighborhoods category

offers grants focused on community development and quality of life improvements, such as eliminating food deserts, creating healthy living initiatives, and increasing access to affordable housing options, among other initiatives.

The

Community Enhancements for Economic Growth category

provides grants to local governments to smooth the way for economic development opportunities, such as the acquisition of land and buildings, the preparation of business sites, and the removal of structural and physical barriers that may be limiting development.

The

Rural Community Capacity Building (RC2) category

provides educational and professional development opportunities for local government staffs, with the additional ability for local governments to then apply what theyve learned by developing funding proposals for projects in their local areas.

The Rural Transformation Grant Fund was established in March 2022 and has now awarded its total available funds of $48 million, according to a release from Coopers office. In that time, even greater community needs were identified, as local jurisdictions submitted for consideration projects totaling $165 million. In this third round of grants, the N.C. Department of Commerce received project applications totaling $44 million, and therefore could not meet the entire demand, given the available funding, the release said.

Other local governments in North Carolina awarded project grants in the latest round of grants from the Rural Transformation Grant Fund include:

Downtown Revitalization Category

City of Albemarle: $270,000

City of Archdale: $180,000

City of Burlington: $425,000

City of Clinton: $350,000

City of Mount Airy: $475,000

City of Whiteville: $400,000

Town of Belhaven: $380,000

Town of Boiling Spring: $195,000

Town of Canton: $390,000

Town of Jefferson: $270,000

Town of Franklinton: $230,000

Resilient Neighborhoods Category

City of Reidsville: $250,000

Town of Bethel: $200,000

Town of Faison: $180,000

Town of Hudson: $250,000

Town of Nags Head: $650,000

Town of Star: $200,000

Town of Williamston: $180,000

Community Enhancements Category

City of Hamlet: $400,000

Town of Cameron: $400,000

Town of Cramerton: $400,000

Town of Elizabethtown: $150,000

Town of Wagram: $70,000

Rural Community Capacity (RC2) Category

Town of Carthage: $49,999

Town of China Grove: $49,999

Town of Marshville: $49,999

Town of Vass: $49,999

More information about the Rural Transformation Grant Fund is available at commerce.nc.gov/transform.
Two people were charged after investigators recovered a stolen $70,000 camper and travel trailer from a home in Morganton.

April Michelle Richardson, 52, and Robert Paul Hubbard, 57, both were charged with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny after breaking and/or entering and felony injury to property to obtain nonferrous metals, according to a news release from the Burke County Sheriffs Office.

Richardson also was charged with two counts of felony possession of stolen property, the release said.

The charges came after deputies were called to Amber Lane for a larceny June 2, the release said. Amber Lane is off Dentons Chapel Road in Morganton.

Their investigation led them to another home on Amber Lane. They found multiple stolen items from several different larceny reports, including a stolen camper/travel trailer that was valued at $70,000, according to the release.

Detectives returned to the home June 5 where they found a second stolen camper/travel trailer on the property that was valued at $25,000, the release said. In addition to the camper/travel trailer, detectives also recovered other stolen items like furniture and lawn equipment.

Richardson was arrested then without incident, the release said. Further investigation led to charges against Hubbard on June 7, the release said.

Richardson has previous convictions of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, obtaining property by false pretense and credit card theft, according to records from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. Hubbard has previous convictions of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and driving while impaired, NCDPS records showed.

Richardsons bond was set at $40,000 secured, and Hubbards bond was set at $10,000 secured, the release said. Richardson is due back in court June 29, while Hubbard is due in court June 30.
ICARD  Authorities said a man who had seven outstanding warrants led them on a chase around Burke County on Friday, June 9.

Charles David Gilmore Jr., 33, of Morganton, received new charges of felony fleeing to elude arrest, possession of stolen firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of stolen goods, along with misdemeanor charges of possession of a gun on educational property, damage to personal property, speeding and driving while license revoked, according to a release from the Burke County Sheriffs Office.

The chase started after BCSO narcotics investigators recognized Gilmore in the parking lot of the Motel 6 on Miller Bridge Road in Icard. Investigators knew Gilmore had multiple outstanding warrants from Iredell, Alexander and Catawba counties, including five felonies, the release said.

They saw Gilmore and a woman get into a blue Volkswagen before pulling out onto Old N.C. 10 toward East Burke Middle School, the release said.

Investigators attempted to stop the vehicle just before the rear entrance of the school, but Gilmore took off, the release said.

While he was on school property, investigators said they saw Gilmore throw a gun, later identified as a stolen Smith and Wesson 9 mm, of the drivers side vehicle of the car before running the vehicle through the front gate of the school and turning onto Miller Bridge Road, the release said.

Scanner traffic indicated the chase took off down Miller Bridge Road where investigators said one of the occupants threw $7,500 in cash out of the car, onto N.C. 18 South, then back onto Interstate 40 eastbound from Morganton. The chase came to an end when Gilmore wrecked down an embankment on Icard Grove Avenue in Morganton, the release said.

Gilmore was transported to the hospital to be checked for injuries before he was taken to the magistrates office, where his bond was set at $453,001 secured, the release said.

He has previous convictions of common law robbery, malicious conduct by a prisoner, possession of a firearm by a felon and interfering with an electronic monitoring device, according to records from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

Court records indicate Gilmore has other pending charges of:

Alexander County: felony possession of a Schedule II controlled substance; felony maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for a controlled substance; misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia

Iredell: felony probation violation, felony possession of a firearm by a felon; misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia

Catawba: felony habitual felon; felony possession of a controlled substance on prison or jail premises

Gilmore is due back in Burke County District Court on his newest charges July 3.
Prosecutors charged a Butte man with three felony counts of aggravated animal cruelty after two dogs were found dead in his house and a third was near death from malnourishment and starvation.

Kurtis Podgorski told police he was having problems in life so he locked the dogs in a bedroom three weeks before, prosecutors say.

When authorities found them on March 29, two were dead and the one still living appeared to be lying on top of one of the deceased dogs. It was so weak, it couldnt stand without assistance.

Podgorski, 30, pleaded not guilty to the charges Thursday and faces up to six years in prison and fines up to $7,500 if convicted on all counts. He is free with conditions attached. District Judge Kurt Krueger set the next hearing for July 27.

Neighbors notified Animal Control about the dogs on March 29, and police were called to the home in the 300 block of Granite Mountain Road.

Podgorski stated that he was having a hard time in life lately and just couldnt handle the dogs anymore, so he locked them up in one of the bedrooms of the residence about three weeks ago, prosecutors said in charging documents.

A police officer asked him when he last had the dogs out and about and he stated that its been over a month since hes had much interaction with them.

The officer asked if they were getting food and water.

Podgorski stated that he does buy dog food every two weeks and was under the impression that they have been getting fed and taken care of by other individuals, prosecutors said.

Podgorski was asked when the last time he gave them food and water. Podgorski stated he wasnt sure the last time that he personally checked on the animals.

Another man told police he had been staying in the home with Podgorski for about a week and a half. He said Podgorski told him he was not allowed to go into the bedroom at all due it being a mess and he didnt want anyone in there.

The man said he never heard a sound come from the room until that day, and when he did, he saw there were dead dogs inside. He left the home upset, told neighbors about it, and they took pictures of the dogs and contacted Animal Control.

The charging documents said one dog was a young German Shepherd, one was a black-and-white adult dog and the other was a brown adult dog.

It was not clear from the documents which of the three survived, but it was named Noggin, and it was taken to a veterinarian.

The dog was severely emaciated with a body condition score of 1 out of 9, indicating a prolonged state of malnutrition and starvation, prosecutors said. Noggin was hypothermic, significantly dehydrated and was unable to stand without assistance due to generalized weakness.

He suffered from numerous other conditions and his nostrils were covered with thick, adherent crusts, inhibiting his ability to breathe through his nose.

The veterinarian said the dog would have died within two days to a week if he had not received medical intervention, prosecutors said. It survived and is still alive now.

The charges allege that Podgorski purposefully or knowingly killed or inflicted injury on the dogs with the purpose to torture or mutilate them.
Irate patron

At about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, officers were called to McGraths Pub, 2201 Silver Bow Blvd., to investigate a report of a customer wreaking havoc inside the bar.

When officers arrived, Stanley E. Olsen, 48, of Butte had already left but before he did, he reportedly had moved some tables and chairs. The bartender said she had asked Olsen to stop and he responded by throwing a barstool, which landed behind the bar, hitting a large glass cooler and breaking it. The bartender told Olsen to stop and leave, but he allegedly responded by throwing another stool behind the bar.

Olsen then left and officers located him just down the street, where he reportedly resisted arrest and attempted to kick an officer. He was taken to jail for resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief

Arrest warrant

Leta Marie Matteson, 40, of Butte, was arrested on a warrant Wednesday for violating release conditions.

Sound asleep

Early Wednesday morning, Rachel D. Jackson, 26, of Butte was found sound asleep in a white Cadillac parked behind Safeway, 2500 Massachusetts Ave.

When police attempted to wake Jackson, an officer saw a glass pipe next to her, along with burnt foil and a baggie of suspected fentanyl.

She was arrested for criminal distribution of dangerous drugs and criminal possession of drug paraphernalia.
Butte-Silver Bow commissioners have appointed Beth Parks to succeed Clerk of the District Court Tom Powers when he retires in late June with 17 months left in his four-year term.

Powers hired Parks as chief deputy clerk after he was elected to his first term in November 2016. On a second ballot Wednesday night, seven commissioners voted to appoint Parks while four voted for Shaunna Ogolin, a longtime paralegal in Butte.

Eighteen people applied for the post but only nine appeared before commissioners for brief interviews Wednesday night, each getting the same three questions.

Parks cited a combination of education and experience as her strengths and said her appointment would make the transition very smooth for our office.

She was a paralegal for the Butte law firm of Poore, Roth & Robinson for 25 years before joining the Clerks Office and earned bachelors degrees in paralegalism and criminal justice from the College of Great Falls.

I have big shoes to fill with Tom Powers, who has over three decades of experience in this office, and prior to him, Lori Maloney, Parks said. Thats one of the main reasons our office has always operated so well.

None of the other five deputy clerks in the office applied, and Powers recommended Parks during a public comment period at the start of the meeting.

Powers had been a deputy clerk in the office for 29 years and chief deputy clerk for nearly three years when he was elected as clerk in 2016. Longtime clerk Lori Maloney did not seek re-election that year, and Powers ran unopposed. Nobody challenged his re-election bid in 2020, either.

Powers told commissioners that hiring Parks was the best decision he has made since he became clerk.

Beth knows what we do, how we do it, and most importantly, why we do it, he said.

The office oversees all District Court records and filings, including those in criminal and civil cases, and matters involving adoptions, search warrants, probate estates, marriages and divorces.

The office also issues marriage licenses, processes passport applications and prepares all District Court jury trials and summonsing jurors for trials.

Ogolin said she has been a paralegal for 30 years and has legal and office management experience.

I have extensive knowledge of civil, criminal, family law, probate, guardianships, conservatorships and quiet title actions, she said. Im familiar with and can research Montana Code Annotated, and I know and have worked with clerks all over southwest Montana.

After the brief interviews, commissioners first narrowed the field by naming their top two choices. Parks and Ogolin were the only two names they put down. On the second ballot, Parks won out.

Other applicants who appeared were Rob Cox, Rita Jean Freebourn, Kassidy Johnson, Kristen Lacombe, Richard Merenz, Tracy Seeger and Jake Sorich.

Sorich is the son of Commissioner John Sorich, who recused himself from voting on candidates because of that.

If Parks wants to keep the post, she must win election in November 2024.

Commissioners set the salaries of Butte-Silver Bows elected officials every year. It is currently $84,260 for the clerk of District Court.

Commissioners thanked Powers for his service, and he said it was a privilege. He also said it was a distinct honor to be chosen by voters for the elected position twice.

I did not make my decision to leave my office prior to the end of my term impetuously, he said. After much consideration, I concluded it would be most beneficial for me personally and for the operation of the Clerks Office.

Personally, it gives me the opportunity to retire when Im still in relatively good health, and institutionally, it affords you the opportunity to appoint a successor in the Clerks Office, he said. This office has a long tradition of exemplary service to the citizens of Butte-Silver Bow and the legal community.

Parks told commissioners she would be able to make the transition a smooth one.

We have a great staff that works well together and they get along and they understand and know their job, she said.
Earlier this month the state of Iowa took a moment to recognize Senior Resources and its team for all their hard work, with one of its counselors receiving a bit of extra recognition for her dedication to the job.

Senior Resources, specifically its dedicated Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), was recognized on June 6 for its years of service, while counselor Kim Thompson was recognized with the Iowa Governor's Volunteer Award for her outstanding contributions to the community.

Thompson has committed five years to her role as a SHIIP counselor while the SHIIP program itself has been running for three decades, thanks to support from Senior Resources, which has acted as a host location for the program since the beginning.

Together, Thompson and the rest of the SHIIP team have been able to further Senior Resources goal of providing services to the communitys elderly population.

I was honored to be able to participate in the Governor's Volunteer Award presentation on June 6 in Vinton, Thompson said. Helping seniors and others is fulfilling, can sometimes be frustrating, but it is always rewarding. Even though I enjoy being a SHIIP volunteer, I appreciate being recognized and hope that others would consider joining this effort.

SHIPP counselors work with people who are on Medicare or are nearing Medicare age. Those people are receiving what can be an "overwhelming" amount of information, which the counselors help guide them through, Thompson said.

We want to give our huge congratulations to Kim Thompson, and a thank you for the five years that she has been dedicated to this program and the seniors of Muscatine County, Megan Francis, marketing director for Crossroads, Inc. and Senior Resources, said.

As a trained SHIIP counselor, Thompson has been able to help numerous seniors with their Medicare insurance, allowing them to still receive the important coverage and care they need while also helping them on a financial level.

All of the counselors are trained by the state, so theyre all very knowledgeable, and they have saved people thousands of dollars  from a couple hundred dollars off medication or their regular plan, to people who have saved up to $5,000-$10,000 from it, Francis said.

Senior Resources has also strived to be a supportive and welcoming host location for any seniors who are eligible for Medicare and who are seeking assistance or financial counseling through the program, continuing to provide easy access to it and other programs and services through Senior Resources, such as its outreach Meals on Wheels.

The five counselors that we have at our office are so dedicated to the program, and Senior Resources is happy to support everything that they do, Francis said. We may take their phone calls, but they do all of the work meeting with individuals. During last years open enrollment, I believe they did over 400 hours of consultation, with it being about 800 hours over the full year. Our goal is to maintain the program in this spot so that people know how to access it.

Those wishing to learn more about SHIIP or who would like to schedule an appointment with a SHIIP counselor can either call Senior Resource at 563-263-7292 or visit https://muscatineseniorresources.org.

Photos: Quad Cities Senior Olympics
People in Muscatine with a hankering for iconic Chicago cuisine need look no further than the downtown area, as Capones offers a full menu of Windy City dishes.

Owner Christopher Marsiglio, a native of the South Side of Chicago but an 18-year resident of Muscatine, goes to great lengths to make sure the food at Capones is traditional Chicago food  to the point that he only gets his ingredients from Chicago.

I had always missed the Chicago flair of food, he said. Gyros, Italian beef, Chicago-style hot dogs I think are the greatest thing in the world. I had an opportunity. My buddy owns the Land of Oz, and he was renting the space. He said that he didnt really need the space and that I should take it and follow my dream.

Even though he works for HNI, Marsiglio said he had always wanted to open a restaurant. He said in Chicago the cost of opening a business was prohibitive. When the opportunity arose he leapt at it.

Having taken several culinary art courses and worked as a cook for a summer, Marsiglio set out to create the perfect Chicago cuisine. He stresses consistency. He asks his workers to make the foods a certain way, down to the order the toppings are put on.

Still, creating a traditional Chicago restaurant was a challenge, especially with the country just going out of the lockdown for COVID-19. With some hard work, the restaurant opened to the public on Jan. 7.

I wanted to have something different than anything else in town, he said. I wanted that Chicago vibe. Al Capone  I know Al Capone is a gangster, but in Chicago he is a legend. I have always been fond of the name and finally got to put it to use. I wanted to make sure we had something that was fast and very good, and good portions.

He commented the Italian beef sandwiches and gyros had over one-half-pound of meat on them.

The first week of business, Capones ran out of food three times. Marsiglio said he hadnt expected the large volume of people during the opening days.

Marsiglio said he had had great feedback on the food. He is planning to add a few items to the menu in the near future, including such things as a meatball sandwich. He said he did not want to add items simply for the sake of adding items but rather because they were something the area customers would enjoy.

He also said that one thing that was mentioned by people was the one Chicago food item not offered  Chicago-style pizza. He said it would not be on the menu anytime soon, as there was no way to prepare pizza in the current restaurant. He also commented there were several excellent pizza restaurants in downtown Muscatine, and his goal is to do something different than everyone else.

Capones is located at 211 W. Second St. It is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Photos: Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - File Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022
More than a dozen women have sued Bill Cosby since his June 2021 release from prison. That includes nine new cases brought Wednesday in Nevada, by accusers who successfully lobbied to eliminate the state's statute of limitations for adult survivors.
Iowa Democrats intend to forge ahead with a plan for both a mail-in and an in-person 2024 caucus process, despite national Democrats on Friday finding the plan fails to comply with national party rules and could lead to sanctions.

The Democratic National Committee's Rules & Bylaws committee met Friday in Minneapolis to review and vote on a dozen or more state's delegate selection plans for the 2024 presidential nominating calendar. The committee approved a DNC staff recommendation, finding Iowas delegate selection plan noncompliant.

The Iowa Democratic Party will have 30 days to work with DNC staff and come back to the committee for approval but could be granted additional extensions by the panel.

State party chair Rita Hart, in a statement, said she was not surprised by the decision, given missing pieces in our draft delegate selection plan.

She also criticized Iowa Republicans for passing and signing into law a bill requiring in-person participation in Iowa caucuses when selecting presidential preference, calling it a partisan attack to meddle in our party business.

Republicans expressed concerns that New Hampshire  which is required by its state law to hold the nations first presidential primary election every four years  would try to supersede Iowa if the new Democratic Party caucus process was put in place for fear it would be too similar to a primary.

"No matter what, Iowa Democrats are united in moving forward with the most inclusive caucus process in our history, Hart said in a letter read by Iowa DNC member Scott Brennan during the meeting. We will do whats good for Iowa, whats good for Democrats and whats good for democracy."

Under the plan, Iowa Democrats would caucus on the same night as Iowa Republicans, and at least eight days before any other states presidential nominating contest, as has historically been the case and as prescribed in Iowa law.

Democrats would meet to pick delegates to the state primary convention and conduct other party business, but no expression of presidential preferences would be tabulated at the precinct caucuses.

Iowa Democrats would calculate and announce the results of the presidential preference card votes and assign delegates to candidates at a later unspecified date. When presidential preference mail-in cards would be sent to Democrats or returned to the party is also not yet clear.

Hart, in her letter, said that was intentional to provide flexibility and an ability to adapt to uncertainty still surrounding the Democratic presidential nominating calendar.

While the national party has announced a new slate of five early-voting states  South Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Georgia and Michigan  there have been issues with the implementation of that schedule as states wrestle with their own laws, including New Hampshire.

The DNCs rule committee voted Friday to give New Hampshire Democrats at least 90 more days, until Sept. 1, to change when and how the state plans to hold its 2024 Democratic presidential primary.

Rules committee co-chair Minyon Moore said while theres disagreement between the national party and New Hampshire Democrats on when the state should hold its primary, President Joe Biden, who is running for reelection, had made clear he wanted New Hampshire in the early window.

In Georgia, the states Republican secretary of state has set the battleground state's 2024 presidential primary for March 12, rebuffing the wishes of Democrats to move the Southern state into the early weeks of the nominating calendar as a part of elevating a more diverse electorates.

It doesnt seem to make sense to extend the Georgia waiver at this point, Moore said. Regardless, I think the foundation has been laid for 2028, and it is a discussion we need to continue.

The Iowa Democratic Party had put forward the mail-in proposal to make the caucuses more accessible, which was one of the main criticisms from national Democrats, in an effort to maintain its first-in-the-nation status after the national party decided to rewrite the early nominating calendar.

Following the 2020 presidential election, many national party leaders expressed a preference for primary elections over party-run caucuses. National Democratic Party leaders also said they wanted to elevate diverse states that better reflected the makeup of the party.

Though Iowa Democrats were eventually knocked off the coveted spot, state Democrats kept their plans  even though it risks being sanctioned by the national party, which has warned state parties it could strip them of delegates to the national convention if they jump the gun.

During the mail-in portion, Iowa Democrats would be able to request a presidential preference card through the mail or online. Hart, in her letter, said the Iowa Democratic Party is working with potential vendors to ensure the mail-in part reflects a classic in-person caucus while also increasing accessibility for all Iowans.

The second part will be traditional precinct caucuses held in person on the same date as Iowa Republicans, who kept their spot as the lead state in the party's presidential nominating calendar.

During the caucuses, Democrats would elect unbound delegates to county conventions, precinct committee persons to county conventions and discuss platform resolutions.

For the first time, a police officer or firefighter working a third shift, a single parent who may not have access to child care or those in the disability community who may be unable to leave their homes will be able to participate in the Iowa Democratic Caucuses and make their voices heard in the presidential selection process, Hart wrote.
There was drama in Mathare slums, Nairobi on Wednesday, when a suspect threw money into a crowd in a desperate attempt to evade officers from Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

The incident happened during a sting operation to arrest the Assistant County Commissioner for Roysambu Division in Nairobi, Mercy Kavoi, and her agent David Musyoki.

Ms Kavoi and Mr Musyoki had been accused of soliciting a Sh.50,000 bribe from a Mathare slum trader.

The EACC said it received a complaint on June 9, that Ms Kavoi demanded the bribe in exchange for construction materials that she had confiscated during the demolition of the complainants structure.

It is said that the assistant commissioner, working in cahoots with a local Chief, coordinated the demolition of the structure in Mathare North. They claimed it had been constructed on a road reserve, and confiscated the iron sheets, window frames and other construction materials in Ms Kavois office.

After receiving the complaint, the EACC launched undercover investigations and laid a trap to catch the suspect in the act.

A meeting was arranged at Assistant County Commissioners office, where the complainant pleaded for leniency and requested a reduction in the bribe amount.

Kavoi reportedly agreed to decrease the demand to Sh25,000, with the condition that the payment be made promptly and in its entirety.

They also agreed the bribe would be collected and delivered through Kavois agent, Mr Musyoki.

Without the suspects knowledge, EACC officers had been monitoring the progress of the deal. They moved in to arrest Musyoki as he received the money.

In an unexpected turn of events, Musyoka tried to flee, throwing the Sh25000 to members of the public in Mathare.

Chaos erupted, with residents scrambling to grab a share of the bribe, and Musyoka taking to his heels within Mathare slums.

However, the officers caught up with him; they also arrested assistant commissioner Kavoi and escorted them to the EACC Integrity Centre Police Station.

Kavoi was granted bail pending a recommendation of appropriate charges to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). On the other hand, Musyoki, unable to pay the bail amount, was escorted to Kilimani Police Station.
Multimedia journalist Ciru Muriuki is moving on to better things after being laid off by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) last year.

In a social media announcement on Wednesday, June 14, the media personality revealed her next move while reintroducing herself to her followers.

She described herself as a millennial mentor and storyteller as she prepares to share her knowledge on The Undiscovered Podcast.

Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Ciru, the Millennial Mentor. Im a story teller, and I love to learn and consume knowledge, she wrote.

Ciru acknowledged facing challenges during the last three years.

Life has tried to show me dust these past three yearsbut your girl is still standing! Youll see more of me on your timeline and on @theundiscoveredpod with THE @charlesjouda. How about we do this together?

Ciru Muriuki will be co-hosting the The Undiscovered Podcast with actor Charles Ouda. The podcast delves into various topics such as art, culture, music, and engages in conversations surrounding these aspects of life.

We have been cooking this up for a few months now, and we cant wait for you to hear it, said the podcasters.
Dj Brownskin(born Michael Macharia Njiiri) has this week suffered a double blow as he faces charges related to the death of his wife, Sharon Njeri Mwangi, who died by suicide on July 29, 2022.

The first setback came on Wednesday, June 14, when a Nairobi court dismissed his application to have DCIO Kasarani Jimmy Kimaru summoned to appear for disobeying court orders.

Through lawyer Duncan Okatch, DJ Brownskin had requested the court to issue orders that would require the DCIO and the investigating officer involved in the case to personally appear and provide an explanation for their non-compliance with a previous order issued last week. The previous order had instructed them to release Brownskin from custody.

The court heard that though the accused was granted Sh50,000 cash bail the police had not released him.

On June 9, 2023, in blatant disrespect of the court orders, the DCIO Kasarani and investigations outright declined to release the accused person on the face of the original court order over the weekend. On Monday the police extended the non-compliance and rushed him to court for plea, Okatch told the court.

But in his ruling, Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina rejected the application, stating that it should have been filed at the Makadara Law Courts, where the initial case was registered.

This court cannot interfere with Makadara courts matter, for that reason I dismiss the application, said Onyina.

DJ Brownskin suffered another blow on Thursday when the court adjourned a ruling on his bail application.

The DJ was ready for his release on bail but the prosecution informed the court his pre-bail report was not ready and requested more time.

Magistrate Lukas Onyina scheduled the case to be heard on June 19, when the report will be prepared and available.

Dj Brownskin is remanded at the Industrial area prison until June 19, when the case will be mentioned.
A court in Kisumu has handed down a 10-year prison sentence to a man who was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to his sister-in-law over a Sh500 dispute.

Winam Law Courts Principal Magistrate Fatuma Rashid found Isaac Onditi, 43, guilty of the March 11 incident that blinded Ms. Janet Awino.

During the trial, it was revealed that Onditi became enraged when Ms. Awino requested her share of Sh500 after he had sold timber from trees located on their shared property in Nyalenda. Onditi was adamant that he solely planted those trees and refused to give her any portion of the money.

Later in the evening, the accused approached Awino while she was engaged in a conversation with a relative. Onditi inquired about the nature of their discussion and then proceeded to assault Awino by striking her right eye with a pair of pliers.

The attack resulted in the removal of Awinos right eye, and it also caused significant damage to her second eye, leaving her partially blind.

The court considered the testimonies of eight individuals, including the victims daughter, as key evidence in the case. All the witnesses provided statements that implicated the suspect in the crime.

Despite initially denying the charges, Onditi, during cross-examination by the prosecution, admitted that he had encountered the victim on the day in question. He admitted that a confrontation occurred between him and the complainant but denied causing grievous harm to her.

The court however ruled that could not absolve himself from the heinous act.

I have considered the defense of the accused. He stated that he did not commit the offence in question. However, he confirmed that he met the victim on the day in question and that a fight ensued between them. I find the defence by the accused person a mere denial and dismiss it, Magistrate Rashid ruled.

In mitigation, Onditi appealed to the court for forgiveness, saying he had a young family dependent on him.

I have considered the defendants mitigation. I note that he is a first offender. However, I note the seriousness of the offence and the harm caused to the complainant and sentence the accused person to 10 years imprisonment, the court ruled.
President William Ruto has challenged the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to expand its dialogue to include the unemployed.

He said ILO system has been chiefly worker-oriented yet labour rights also touch the unemployed.

This, he explained, will pave the way for sustainable solutions to unemployment.

As we speak about matters pertaining to work, we must also speak about the millions of jobless people whose voices cannot be heard at conferences like this, he said.

President Ruto made the remarks on Thursday during the International Labour Organisations World of Work Summit in Geneva, Switzerland.

The President said it was concerning that Africa has recorded the highest unemployment rates in the world with many countries reporting between a quarter and a third of their populations as jobless.

He called on African States to accelerate the actualisation of Agenda 2063 and the sustainable development goals to create more opportunities for the people.

President Ruto said consolidating the African market through the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area will bring more job opportunities.

Africa has a vast opportunity to radically transform economic productivity, thereby creating employment on an unprecedented

scale, he said.
During the budget reading on Thursday, opposition Members of Parliament led by Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, staged a walkout from the National Assembly. They booed Treasury Cabinet Secretary Professor Njuguna Ndungu and left the assembly before he began reading the Sh3.6 trillion budget.

Speaking outside Parliament Buildings, the Azimio lawmakers protested both the budget and the Finance Bill 2023.

On the contentious bill, the Azimio MPs accused Speaker Moses Wetangula of misleading the house regarding the timing of the vote on the second reading stage of the Finance Bill 2023.

We have walked out on CS Njuguna Ndungu who has come to make some speech on two accounts. We are protesting against the arbitrary manner in which the debate and the vote on the Finance Bill were undertaken. We feel it was rushed to achieve an objective and we are protesting against the manner of the budget estimates were taken, said Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi.

Embakasi East MP Babu Owino added: We are walking out because the budget has been fuelled by the illegal Finance Bill which increases the high cost of living. The government ignored the plight of poor Kenyans. We will use all the necessary means enshrined in the constitution to stop this Government from suppressing citizens.

Suna East MP Junet Mohamed on the other hand voiced Azimios lack of confidence in the budget.

We walked out because Azimio does not believe in the budget. This is not a budget for the people, it is a budget for the Kenya Kwanza government, so until we get a budget that is based on the premise of the Kenyan people, we will not participate, said Junet.

H added: The most important part of the Bill is coming on Tuesday (next week) for the third reading, we are setting the stage for a showdown. We dont believe in this government until we get a budget that is people-centered we will not agree.
For anyone familiar with the "Peanuts" comic strip, it should be no surprise that Charlie Brown's multitalented wonder beagle Snoopy has been to outer space and back.

Download Napa Valley Register news app today! Your story lives in the Napa Valley. Get in-depth stories from the Napa region and beyond  including news, sports, features and politics.

A Snoopy plush doll was aboard NASA's Artemis 1 rocket when it launched in mid-November from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It was more than just a passenger. It served as zero-gravity indicator.

Freshly returned from his lunar adventures, Snoopy is now at home at the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa, where the doll will be exhibited as part of "Snoopy in Orbit" opening July 13, alongside other never-before-exhibited space-flown "Peanuts" artifacts.

The museum shared photos of the doll's arrival on social media June 9.

The "Snoopy in Orbit" exhibit will run through Jan. 14. With the help of Peanuts Worldwide in New York City, which manages the "Peanuts" comic strip, DVDs and television shows, the Snoopy doll now will find its permanent landing place in the Schulz museum's permanent collections of more than 40,000 objects.

The Minneapolis-born Charles Schulz, who moved to Sonoma County in 1958, died of colon cancer Feb. 12, 2000, in Santa Rosa at age 77. By the time of his death, he had written and drawn the "Peanuts" comic strip for nearly 50 years.

The "Peanuts" comic strip debuted in 1950 and garnered hundreds of millions of readers worldwide, and in the mid-1960s it began to spawn television specials, movies, books and a Broadway show. At its height, the "Peanuts" strip ran in as many as 2,800 newspapers, and reprints still run in about 2,000 papers, including the Napa Valley Register.

Photos: Napa High School graduates its Class of 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023 Napa High School graduation 2023
A plan for the city of Napa to lease the Motel 6 on Solano Avenue to help transition 120 of Napas homeless residents out of encampments and into supportive housing might soon move forward, following a Tuesday announcement that California had awarded the city $15 million in grant funds for that purpose.

Download Napa Valley Register news app today! Your story lives in the Napa Valley. Get in-depth stories from the Napa region and beyond  including news, sports, features and politics.

But that plan has not yet been approved by the Napa City Council. With the grant funds now approved, the plan will be coming before the council on July 18, according to Deputy City Manager Molly Rattigan.

Back in January, when the council unanimously approved the application to Californias Encampment Resolution Funding Program  amid several fierce calls from community members and business owners in the area to not move forward with the lease  several councilmembers specifically noted that they werent voting to approve the Motel 6 project at that time. The project would need to come back to the council for approval should the state award the city the requested funding, the councilmembers stated.

"The site will include robust wrap around case management services, security, and other services with the goal of transitioning clients from encampments to temporary shelter to permanent housing," Rattigan wrote in an email Thursday.

Should the plan go forward as initially proposed in the grant application, some of the funding would be used to pay for a three-year lease of the property, at a cost of roughly $6 million, Rattigan said at the time.

That would be matched with a staffing plan that would make sure theres always two staff members on site, and that mirrors staffing at the citys south Napa shelter, according to Rattigan.

The grant funding awards announced by the state Tuesday  which totals $199 million, adding on to $96 million awarded in previous rounds of grant funding  is specifically intended to move people living in encampments into housing, according to a California press release.

The city said in the application it would prioritize closing down encampments on state property  including property owned by the California Department of Transportation, such as Highway 29 encampments and those under the Maxwell Bridge  as well as encampments around Napa's various creeks, the Napa River and Kennedy Park.

California is largely trying to tamp down on the growing number of homeless people living in encampments by providing housing and supportive services, and Napas potential lease of the Motel 6 would fit into that goal. Another reason the city needs the rooms is because of a legal restriction on clearing encampments unless alternative shelter options are available.

It is really only with increased shelter capacity that we're really going to be able as a city to effectively address unsheltered encampments, Rattigan said in January.

Napa previously housed homeless residents at the Motel 6 during the COVID-19 pandemic. As originally proposed, the new program would seek to serve 120 individuals in total, bringing about 65 residents on site at any one time to fill 66 rooms.

The city of Napa was awarded the fourth-most of any jurisdiction in the grant cycle, with Los Angeles County awarded the most by far  $59.5 million to serve 3,000 people on Skid Row  and San Diego County and the city of Fresno granted $17 million apiece.

Other Bay Area cities also received awards, including an $8.6 million award for Richmond, $6.5 million for San Francisco, $4.9 million for Berkeley, $4.6 million for Sonoma County, $3.9 million for Santa Rosa, $2.7 million for Marin County and $250,000 for San Rafael.
Three men were arrested early Thursday morning after the robbery of convenience stores in Vacaville and American Canyon, according to police.

Download Napa Valley Register news app today! Your story lives in the Napa Valley. Get in-depth stories from the Napa region and beyond  including news, sports, features and politics.

Just before 1 a.m., American Canyon officers were alerted to look out for a Chevrolet Impala that had been used in the robbery of a 7-Eleven in Vacaville and was headed toward the city, the department said in a news release.

An officer found the car near a local 7-Eleven at Rio del Mar and Highway 29, according to police. The officer looked inside the store and saw three suspects inside while another robbery appeared to be underway, the department said.

Meanwhile, the officer placed a tire deflation device under the Impala while waiting for other officers to arrive, according to the police statement. When three men emerged from the American Canyon 7-Eleven, the officer ordered all of them onto the ground, and one of the men  identified as 19-year-old Younger Sampson of Antioch  surrendered and was detained, police said.

The remaining suspects, 19-year-old Jaharri Wheatley and 20-year-old Deavion Ivory of Antioch, ran away, American Canyon Police reported. An officer arriving on the scene saw Wheatley reaching into his waistband as if to grab a firearm when running away, according to police.

Afterward, Wheatley circled back to the car, kicked away the tire deflation device, and drove off when officers pursued him and Ivory, the police statement said. Ivory was found hiding in a nearby creek near the 7-Eleven after a foot pursuit and arrested, according to the department.

A vehicle pursuit ensued, with Napa County sheriffs deputies and a California Highway Patrol helicopter joining the chase, American Canyon Police reported. Wheatley later crashed the Chevrolet into a center median on Flosden Road and then ran from the vehicle, and police sent the patrol dog Brick to search for Wheatley, according to police.

Wheatley was detained, and a loaded and unregistered gun dropped from his hand during his arrest, police added. He then reached toward the gun on the ground but was handcuffed before he could grab the weapon, according to the police statement.

Wheatley received medical treatment and then was booked into the Napa County jail on suspicion of evading police officers, carrying an unregistered and loaded firearm, resisting arrest, and committing a crime while free on bail.

The other suspects, Ivory and Sampson, were returned to the custody of Vacaville Police, which also received stolen items from the Vacaville 7-Eleven that were found in the suspects car, American Canyon Police said.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Eduardo Enrique Navarro Garcia was located Friday. Read more here.

Police are seeking to learn why a 33-year-old man has not been heard from for nearly a week.

Eduardo Enrique Navarro Garcia, an employee of Silverado Upholstery at 300 Taylor St., was last seen at the shop around 3 p.m., Saturday, June 10, Napa Police Sgt. Tommy Keener said Thursday afternoon. Navarro, who had worked at the business for eight months and had living accommodations on its property, has been entered into Californias Missing and Unidentified Persons Section.

The disappearance caught his family, friends and colleagues completely off guard, according to Kayla Chambers, Navarros manager at Silverado Upholstery and a member of the family that owns the business.

He left everything: $3,000 (cash), a ring from his father, his passport, his ID, his wallet, she said Thursday. Its not normal for him at all.

Download Napa Valley Register news app today! Your story lives in the Napa Valley. Get in-depth stories from the Napa region and beyond  including news, sports, features and politics.

The latest known clues to Navarros whereabouts are a phone call he made to his mother around 8 p.m. June 10, and security video footage captured shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday showing him walking around the upholstery shops parking area for about 10 minutes, according to Chambers.

Another employee checked Navarros trailer on Sunday and did not find him. According to Chambers, a second search Monday revealed a torn-up note in a toilet  dated June 9, written in Spanish and apparently directed toward Navarros deceased father.

Chambers did not describe the notes contents but said we were able to tape it together and its in pretty good shape.

Navarro has not returned to work, and his daily phone calls to his mother and daughter have ceased, according to Chambers.

No further signs of Navarro have surfaced, and text messages sent to his iPhone have showed up green instead of the blue of iPhone-to-iPhone messages, likely indicating that his phone has been switched off, according to Chambers.

Most of Navarros possessions were in place except for two missing items, she added  his purple iPhone 14 Pro Max and a brown twin-size blanket.

There have also been no public or private communications from Navarros Instagram account, which has 1,044 followers, Chambers added. (Public posts on the account have been scant, numbering only 18 in 5  years  with the latest dated April 24.)

Navarro moved to the U.S. about a year and a half ago from Mexico, where he had worked as a teacher, and had held jobs in the East Bay before coming to the Napa shop eight months ago to work on automotive upholstery, according to Chambers.

Napa Police described Navarro as 5 feet, 10 inches and about 195 pounds, with medium-length black hair, brown eyes and a 3-inch-long scar on the left cheek.

The clothes Navarro is last known to have worn include a blue button-up short-sleeve dress shirt, khaki pants, and brown dress shoes, Chambers said.

Anyone with information about Navarros whereabouts is asked to call the Napa central dispatch center at 707-527-9223 and ask to speak with Napa Polices investigations bureau. Callers also may contact Napa Police Detective Tyler Olson at 707-257-9592.

Who are they? CA children reported missing as of June 3 These are recent reports of missing children made to local law enforcement. If you think you have seen a missing child, contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
World's water in focus as clean supplies squeezed

It's one of the world's most vital resources. In Paraguay, a man displaced by a rising river hauls heavy buckets of it to his temporary home. In the Philippines, a girl uses a manual pump to get just enough to wash. In Venezuela's neighborhoods, it's collected in wells to flow into hundreds of homes.

Water is the lifeblood of every community around the world. But a sustainable, clean supply for drinking, hygiene and farming is not guaranteed for hundreds of millions of people, according to United Nations figures.

From droughts stifling once-reliant sources to destructive downpours and floods, what the world does about its water woes is the central question at the U.N.'s three-day water conference that begins Wednesday. Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of World Water Day, it's the first dedicated U.N. conference on water in nearly 50 years.

Climate change, pollution and waste have compounded water concerns by squeezing the Earth's resources. Some supplies have dwindled from lack of rain, with dry spells often lasting months if not years in some places. Others have had essential supplies contaminated by chemicals or toxins from human activity.

A punishing winter drought in southern Europe left reservoirs so dry that officials are moving fish for their survival. Kenya's dry weather and a lack of infrastructure means many people gather water at local hubs to collect enough. Peru's water workers must treat water contaminated by waste from abandoned mines, bacteria and garbage. In Haiti, where running water is unavailable in some homes, people, including children, fill large jugs in dwindling ravines.

Some countries exposed to too much or too little water have already found ways to keep water flowing in the needed amounts. In the Netherlands, where about a third of the country is below sea level, wind pumps prevent regions from being flooded.

Delegates attending the conference in New York will agree on an agenda on Friday aimed at advancing toward a goal of having readily available, sustainably managed water and sanitation for everyone across the globe.
Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and ... housing?

Download Napa Valley Register news app today! Your story lives in the Napa Valley. Get in-depth stories from the Napa region and beyond  including news, sports, features and politics.

California lawmakers are trying to enshrine the right to housing in the state's constitution. But what exactly does that mean in a state that lacks the resources to give everyone a roof over their heads?

Supporters say the constitutional amendment would hold state and local officials more accountable for solving California's homelessness crisis.

"It's really a way to make sure elected officials and the government does its job and doesn't continue to fail so miserably in ensuring access to housing for all," said the author of Assembly Constitutional Amendment 10, San Francisco Democrat Matt Haney.

But the language of the measure is brief and vague, and doesn't specify what a right to housing entails or how it would be enforced. Some critics worry the amendment wouldn't do much. Others fear it would do too much  with unintended consequences.

While several prior attempts to create a right to housing in California have failed, this one recently passed its first committee vote. Even if it passes, the proposed amendment would still need approval from California voters.

What would a right to housing do?

The proposed amendment recognizes the fundamental right to "adequate housing" for everyone in California. Local and state lawmakers must work toward fulfilling that right "by all appropriate means."

That's about it. What that looks like in practice and how it is enforced would be hammered out by local officials and the courts.

Haney, one of the few state legislators who rents rather than owns a home, called the measure a "game-changer" during a recent rally in front of the Capitol. He was backed by several dozen people carrying signs that read "Housing is a human right" and "Keep families home."

He said the amendment could influence local planning decisions, such as by empowering lawsuits against zoning rules or policy decisions that restrict affordable housing development. It could also help the state enforce existing pro-housing laws, he said.

According to Michael Tubbs, former mayor of Stockton and now an adviser to Gov. Gavin Newsom, a right to housing also would require the government to regulate landlords, potentially by enacting rent control or tenant anti-harassment policies, or guaranteeing renters a right to counsel during evictions. It also would create an obligation for the government to budget for housing programs, he wrote in a recent op-ed for CalMatters.

Newsom has not endorsed the right-to-housing amendment.

What would a 'right to housing' cost California?

Declaring a right to housing wouldn't immediately solve California's homelessness crisis, Haney acknowledged, nor would it require cities to provide housing to everyone or entitle people to free housing.

Decades of underbuilding have led to soaring housing prices and more people living on the streets. The state needed to build 220,000 new homes per year for two decades to meet its population's needs, California's Department of Housing and Community Development estimated in 2000. Last year, the state added just 113,130.

As a result, rents are unaffordable for many Californians. The median rent for a two-bedroom home in San Jose, for example, is $3,100, according to Zillow. It's the same in Los Angeles.

Ann Owens, a sociology professor at the University of Southern California specializing in social inequality and housing, believes everyone has a right to housing. But she's not sure how much good putting it in the state's constitution will do.

"The resources part, I think, is where the right to housing often hits a wall," she said. "You can have this constitutional amendment, but what happens when you don't actually have the money to provide it?"

In 2020, Newsom vetoed a bill that would have guaranteed a right to housing, citing its estimated price tag of more than $10 billion a year. An analysis by the Senate Appropriations Committee laid out billions in potential costs for state agencies to design programs and connect people with housing and other services.

Haney's amendment doesn't yet have a cost estimate. California would have to spend $8.1 billion a year for the next dozen years to house all its homeless residents, according to a 2022 analysis by the Corporation for Supportive Housing and the California Housing Partnership.

At the same time, several lawmakers expressed concern that a right to housing would go too far.

Assemblymember Joe Patterson, a Granite Bay Republican, voted against the measure in committee last week. He said he's "really scared" about the leeway California's judges would have when interpreting a right to housing.

Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, a Democrat from Woodland Hills and an attorney, worried it would subject every budget decision the Legislature makes to litigation. If legislators allocate money to clean energy or health care, he asked, could someone sue because that money wasn't being spent on housing?

"The major, major heartburn I'm having right now is around enforcement and implementation of this," he said, though he ended up voting for the amendment.

Haney dismissed Gabriel's argument as a "straw man if there ever was one." But he promised to work with legislators, constitutional experts and housing leaders to address his colleagues' concerns.

The measure narrowly passed the Assembly's housing committee and next must clear appropriations.

California renter groups back amendment

If this idea makes it onto the ballot and voters OK it, California would become the first U.S. state to legally recognize a right to housing.

"It would be a really big deal," said Eric Tars, legal director for the National Homelessness Law Center.

It's not for lack of trying that it hasn't been done before. Attempts in 2020 and in 2022 to put the right in the state constitution both failed; neither was heard in committee. And Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg proposed a right to housing in his city, paired with an obligation for unhoused people to accept a bed when it was offered, but it didn't get far.

The new state proposal likely will meet the same fate, said political consultant Steven Maviglio, who served as spokesman for the campaign against California's Proposition 21 rent control initiative in 2020. Local officials likely will balk at the cost, he said, as will individual homeowners worried about tax increases.

"I don't see it having a very long future," he said.

More than 100 housing and renter advocacy groups and other organizations support the amendment, which is co-sponsored by the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment Action, ACLU California Action, Abundant Housing LA and several others.

No organizations are on the record opposing the amendment, but the League of California Cities has expressed reservations.

"Cal Cities has concerns with ACA 10, as it does not include the significant investment needed from the state to jumpstart the construction of sorely needed affordable housing throughout California," Jason Rhine, assistant director of legislative affairs said in an emailed statement.

What's next?

To make it onto the March 2024 primary ballot, the right-to-housing amendment must pass the Legislature before it adjourns in mid-September. To hit the November 2024 ballot, it has until June 2024. It needs a two-thirds vote in both houses.

After hearing the feedback from his colleagues Wednesday, Haney said it might take longer than this year to pass his measure.

"I'm not trying to rush this just to force it to the ballot," he said.

If it does pass, Haney hopes it will help people like Peggy Pleasant, who spoke at the committee hearing on behalf of the amendment. The Los Angeles mother lost her job in 2008 and became homeless, sleeping with her daughter in her car until it was repossessed. She eventually found housing, but recognizes she's one of the lucky few who did.

"When you're homeless, you lose housing, whatever, you lose family members," Pleasant said. "But you lose your hope. And when you lose your hope, that makes you an inadequate person."

PHOTOS: Napa County conducts point-in-time count of homeless population Point in Time Count 10 Point in Time Count 1 Point in Time Count 4 Point in Time Count 3 Point in Time Count 2 Point in Time Count 5 Point in Time Count 6 Point in Time Count 9 Point in Time Count 7 Point in Time Count 8 Point in Time Count 11 Point in Time Count 12 Point in Time Count 13 Point in Time Count 14
Armenian-French cooperation will continue to strengthen. Nikol Pashinyan received French Ambassador

The process of the program of formation of Digital Society and Economy discussed at Government

State minister: We may have situation when we cant wait for the 7 days noted by Karabakh President

The Prime Minister hosts Aram Arzumanyan, disabled as a result of the 44-day war

Nikol Pashinyan, Mikhail Mishustin hold phone talk

Nersisyan. The more Armenia lowers bar on Karabakh issue, the harder it will be for people of Artsakh to raise it

Karabakh official: Armenia has only one thing to do in discussions with Azerbaijan

Artsakh state minister: Many illogical things are happening on European platform; is it serious conversation?

Karabakh minister of state: We managed to make our voice heard by all to which nationwide movement was directed

Lachin corridor has no alternative: Several Armenia NGOs issue joint statement on Charles Michel statement

Karabakh state minister: We are in disaster but we will never surrender

Karabakh ex-official Vitaly Balasanyan is charged on 4 counts

Analyst: Armenia has not recognized Azerbaijan territorial integrity with Karabakhs inclusion

Armenia PM is briefed on plan to establish EHL Hospitality Business School branch in Gyumri

Our link should be with Armenia only: Karabakh residents comment on their blocking of Askeran-Aghdam road

Missing servicemens parents reopen Yerevan major intersection, but on condition

Armenia army General Staff chief meets with US Air Force chief of staff (PHOTOS)

Parents of missing soldiers close off major avenue in Yerevan

Edmon Marukyan: Azerbaijan has no plan to integrate Christian Armenians

Azerbaijan MFA responds to Armenia FM with series of absurd accusations

Livestock sector is in much worse situation in besieged Karabakh, agriculture minister says

Agriculture minister: Scheduled power outages, lack of diesel fuel also cause problems in Karabakh irrigation system

Karabakh MoD: Defense Army did not carry out fortification work in Askeran Region

Newspaper: What 'tougher actions' Karabakh will take?

MoD: Armenia army did not fire at Azerbaijan positions

Worlds most expensive iPhone is sold in US

US returns 105 antiquities illegally exported from India to latter

David Babayan: Karabakh grandpa who fought at Stalingrad, took Berlin never imagined he could die of hunger

Russia, Iran FMs interested in consultations with participation of Armenia, Azerbaijan

Austria FM: Lachin corridor blockade must be stopped immediately

Deputy PM Grigoryan's office: Armenia, Azerbaijan have not made decision on any map

Armenia FM briefs OSCE Secretary General on situation in Karabakh

Armenian Foreign Minister expresses Yerevan's readiness to hold talks with Turkey in Vienna

Armenia is not going to become a space where sanctions could be bypassed: Ararat Mirzoyan

Dollar, euro increase in Armenia

Armenia FM: Regrettable that instead of engaging in dialogue, Azerbaijan pursues policy of ethnic cleansing in Karabakh

FMs sign protocol on implementation of Armenia-EU readmission agreement between Armenia, Austria (PHOTOS)

Karabakh residents block Askeran-Aghdam motorway, with concrete barriers (PHOTOS)

Armenias Pashinyan receives ex-MP Francois Rochebloine of France

Yerevan municipal election events schedule announced

Karabakh NGOs: Support being provided to Artsakh people cannot be at cost of trampling on their dignity

American University of Armenia has new president

Hyundai releases first photos of new generation Santa Fe crossover

Public Television to present dire situation in Karabakh every day live from capital Stepanakert's Renaissance Square

Teen found dead in Armenia river

European Parliament committee calls on Turkey to recognize Armenian Genocide

Armenia FM visit to Vienna kicks of with private talk with Austria colleague

Karabakh operational headquarters chief: Presidents sit-in could be beneficial

European Parliament accuses Azerbaijan of bribing PACE lawmakers, some other offenses

Karabakh presidential advisor warns of taking extreme measures

Iraqi Kurdistan leader visits Azerbaijan

In support of Karabakh demonstration participants march to US Embassy in Yerevan

US embassy: Passengers are denied entry to Armenia for possession of drugs

Azerbaijan continues to settle occupied Berdzor-Lachin town of Karabakh

Armenia army chief attends US National Guard State Partnership Program 30th Anniversary conference (PHOTOS)

Public transport to not operate in Karabakh capital Stepanakert as of today

Karabakh interior ministry: No vehicle passed through Askeran police checkpoint to Akna-Aghdam

Azerbaijan FM repeats proposal to use Aghdam road to Karabakh

Protests in support of Karabakh continue in Yerevan

Grigory Karasin responds to accusations against Russia from Azerbaijan

Armenia PM: It will be very good if we do European track and field tournament in Artashat

Newspaper: More Armenia military commanders to be arrested soon

Karabakh minister of state: Today nationwide movement will continue awareness actions started in Yerevan

Karabakh parliament speaker joins Presidents sit-in

Armenia MoD: Azerbaijan again disseminated disinformation

MFA spox: Armenia demands lifting of illegal blockade of Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan

Karabakh President: People of Artsakh are facing real threat of physical destruction

Russia MFA confirms readiness to hold Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs meeting in Moscow

Karabakh presidential adviser on Azerbaijan proposal to transport humanitarian goods to Artsakh: This is greatest danger

Armen Grigoryan presents humanitarian crisis in Karabakh to Matthias Luttenberg

Karabakh capital Stepanakert public transport to operate in very limited capacity

Armenia ex-ruling party official Armen Ashotyan to remain in custody

Armenias Matenadaran museum and institute of ancient manuscripts has new director

Armenia PM follows road construction work in Ararat Province

MFA spox: Armenia calls on other international players to follow ICJ, ECtHR

Son dies on the spot, father hospitalized after car overturns in Armenias Gegharkunik Province

Armenia parliament vice-speaker briefs Germany MFA official on South Caucasus security situation

Zangi company launches 'ArtsakhX' project in Karabakh, which will operate even when internet is cut off

Armenia ambassador-at-large: Azerbaijans non-compliance is violation of conventional obligations

Armenia PM pays tribute to heroes who sacrificed their lives for Motherland

Karabakh minister of state on Armenia protests in support of Artsakh: Put aside all differences, try to unite

Protester in support of Karabakh to Russia's Putin: Keep your word, we believed in you

MFA spox: Armenia did not receive trilateral meeting proposal from Russia

Protesters in support of Karabakh march from UN office to Russia embassy in Armenia

UAE new envoy to Armenia conveys Dubai Aviation Exhibition invitation to defense minister (PHOTOS)

Karabakh President to deliver address

Karabakh children sing Artsakh national anthem in front of UN office in Armenia

Russia antiterrorism committee: Crimea bridge was attacked by 2 Ukraine UAVs at night

Karabakh applicants unable to take Armenia universities entrance exams

First ombudsperson to PM: What do you have to do with territories on which Armenia sovereignty doesnt extend?

Azerbaijan must reopen Lachin corridor: ECtHR reaffirms necessity of implementing its previous decision

Pickets in support of Karabakh being staged outside UN office and Russia embassy in Armenia

Motion to arrest Karabakh ex-official Vitaly Balasanyan submitted to court

Karabakh state minister: Nationwide movement that started in Artsakh will also take place in Armenia as of today

Armenia opposition MP: International players try to exonerate themselves in advance from Karabakh tragedy

Emergency situation on Crimea bridge, there are casualties and injured

Karabakh state ministers father-in-law dies suddenly, no necessary medical aid provided

Armenia MoD: Azerbaijan fired at Armenian positions

Humans pumped so much groundwater from Earth that it caused planet's axis shift, new study finds

Armenia ex-PM: Perfectly legal robbery
Azerbaijan continues to fail to fulfill both its obligations assumed by the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020, and the international courts legally binding decision, according to which unhindered passage through the Lachin corridor was to be ensured; this is blatant contempt. Vahan Kostanyan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, said about this on the air of Public Television, noting that the international community, including the members of the UN Security Council, should make a clear assessment in this regard.

"If we look a little wider at the events, we see that during the last days Azerbaijan is attempting to destabilize the situation in the region, which raises big questions about whether Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani leadership are in any way interested in building peace in the South Caucasus," he said.

When asked why Russia or the CSTO did not issue a statement regarding the firing in the direction of the Armenian borders, Kostanyan stated that it is difficult to say why there no reaction, and recalled that the CSTO has not yet given a political assessment of the Azerbaijani military aggression of September 2022, but they are working so that the CSTO will make a political assessment.

Reflecting on the fact that the Russian side declares that there is no peace after the deployment of EU observers in Armenia, the Armenian deputy FM noted that the deployment of these EU observers has somewhat contributed to stability in the South Caucasus.

With respect to the Turkish president's statement that only Iran is against the opening of the Zangezur corridor, Kostanyan said that such a corridor does not exist for the Armenian side, there is a concept of Armenian Crossroads, which shall link the North-South and East-West roads, and the only limitation on the part of Armenia is that the unblocking should take place within the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the parties.

The deputy minister of foreign affairs of Armenia emphasized that the road should be controlled by the Armenian side.
The installation of an illegal checkpoint by Azerbaijan in the Lachin corridor, the blocking of electricity and natural gas supplies to Nagorno-Karabakh, which basically continues for six months, have extremely aggravated the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this at Fridays Cabinet meeting of the Armenian government.

"And if during the previous month, for propaganda purposes, Azerbaijan had provided some access through the Lachin corridor through the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers, since yesterday this access has also been reduced to zero, and even the supply of essential food to Nagorno-Karabakh has been stopped. That is, food does not enter Nagorno-Karabakh from the outside world; also, people in need of urgent medical assistance are not allowed to pass through the Lachin corridor. These actions once again substantiate our fear that Azerbaijan is conducting a policy of [Armenian] ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh," added the Armenian PM.

According to him, it is no longer about fear, but about the start of operations by Azerbaijan.

"And how else does ethnic cleansing happen? The supply of food, [natural] gas, and electricity to the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh is blocked, people doing agricultural work are targeted with constant firing, the possibility of movementeven for patients in critical conditionis blocked, Pashinyan emphasized.

The premier said that Armenia's response to this situation should also be to increase international awarenessnot only at the level of organizations and foreign governments, but also at the level of societies.

"Our efforts in this direction should not decrease," Pashinyan added.

He said that they continue to believe that the Azerbaijan-Karabakh dialogue, which is necessary for ensuring the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, is extremely important within the framework of the international mechanism, and we should hope that concrete steps will be taken in this regard.

"At the same time, no matter how difficult, our work toward normalizing relations and establishing peace with Azerbaijan must be continuous; we must be consistent in this matter," added the Armenian premier.
The Russian peacekeepers in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) are the guarantors of the physical safety of Artsakh Armenians. Opposition MP Hayk Mamijanyan stated about this at Fridays press briefing in the National Assembly of Armenia.

In particular, he was asked to comment on the incident at the Hakari bridge, where Azerbaijanis tried to place their flag in the presence of Russian peacekeepers Thursday.

Mamijanyan noted that the security guarantees should be considered and analyzed in comparison with the existing possibilities, not what we would like to see.

The noted that he cannot say that he is 100 percent satisfied with the effectiveness of the "Russian umbrella of security."

"Nevertheless, I understand that currently the [Russian] peacekeepers stationed in Artsakh are protecting the safety of my compatriots [in Artsakh], in the case when the prime minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, has essentially washed his hands [of Artsakh]," added the opposition MP.
Russian Ambassador Sergey Kopyrkin is at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Armenia. The RFE/RL Armenian Service correspondent observed how the ambassador entered the MFA building, and the ministry has confirmed it.

Kopyrkin did not answer the question whether he was summoned to the MFA due to the recent events in the Lachin corridor or whether it was a pre-planned visit.

The MFA said it will provide information about the meeting later.

Armenia reported Thursday that an attempt by the Azerbaijanis to advance towards the Hakari bridge on the Lachin corridor was prevented. According to the National Security Service, Azerbaijanis tried to place their flag on the territory of Armenia.

Armenian authorities announced Friday that they consider the aforesaid incident in the Lachin corridorin the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeepersto be a very big problem, and that they were talking about it with their Russian partners.

From the videos on the attempt to place an Azerbaijani flag on the Hakari bridge, it is assumed that the process was monitored by the Russian peacekeepers; in one case, forming a human wall.

The Russian ambassador to Armenia on Friday did not give any comment to RFE/RL Armenian Service about how he evaluates the actions of the Russian peacekeepers in the Lachin corridor.
Due to the Azerbaijani provocation on the Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)-Armenia border near the Hakari bridge, at the illegal Azerbaijani checkpoint in the Kashatagh (Lachin) corridor, the two-way movement of Artsakh medical personnelamong all, humanitarian transportation by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)has been prohibited by Azerbaijan since Thursday. As a result, it was not possible to organize the planned transfer of 102 people (52 from Artsakh to Armenia, 50 from Armenia to Artsakh) during these two the days. This is stated on the Facebook page of the Artsakh Ministry of Health.

Thursday morning, ICRC vehicles were transporting 25 medical patients and their relatives from Artsakh to Armenia. But at the illegal checkpoint operating in the Kashatagh corridor, the Azerbaijani side prohibited their further movement. As a result, these vehicles returned to Artsakh capital Stepanakert, at the same time not being able to organize the return of another 25 medical patients and relatives from Goris, Armenia, to Stepanakert.

On Friday, it was planned to transfer 27 medical patients and their relatives from Artsakh to professional medical centers in Armenia for immediate medical assistance, as well as to return of 25 medical patients and their relatives to Artsakh.

In the conditions of disruption of all humanitarian shipments, naturally, the limited supplies of medicines and other medical supplies to Artsakh, which were carried out exclusively by the ICRC, have also completely stopped. As a result, the already scarce supplies in medical facilities of Artsakh are reducing day by day, putting the Artsakh citizens' proper medical assistance at additional risk.
Since yesterday, Azerbaijan has completely blocked the road connecting Artsakh to Armenia. Since yesterday, the humanitarian cargo transportation being carried out by the Russian peacekeeping forces, as well as the process of transporting the patients to Armenia through the International Red Cross Organization in order to provide proper medical care, has been stopped. Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) Minister of State Gurgen Nersisyan announced this on Facebook livestream Friday.

According to him, taking into account this circumstance, since Thursday the entire state system of Artsakh has gone into austerity mode, the services providing public service have been given appropriate assignments, and restrictions are being applied.

Keeping in mind that the situation has changed dramatically, we have quickly made some revisions in the existing approaches.

I ask the leadership of the state administration system to address fuel and other similar issues only in case of extreme necessity, to stop or minimize the use of official vehicles.

Territorial management and local self-government bodies will provide necessary supplies to organize the process of supplying food and bread to the population.

We will provide the Ministry of Health with the conditions necessary to organize emergency medical assistance.

We will try as much as possible to assist the implementation of agricultural work in order to maintain its continuity. That process will be carried out under the direct coordination and management of the Minister of Agriculture.

Public transport will continue to operate, inter-district routes will be organized," added the Artsakh minister of state.

Also, he addressed the Artsakh citizens, stating as follows, in particular: "I ask, urge, somewhere also demand to act as sparingly as possible. At this moment, the process of providing fuel to individuals has been stopped.
Cecelia Bellcross, PhD, founder of Emorys Genetic Counseling Training Program and a leader in the field of communicating cancer genetics risk, died unexpectedly on June 8, 2023.

Bellcross dedicated her academic career to genetic counseling: advising patients and their families about their genetic risk for various medical conditions. She led the development and validation of a breast cancer genetics screening tool (B-RST) that was endorsed by the United States Preventative Task Force (USPTF).

We are all devastated by the loss of an extraordinary individual, says Peng Jin, PhD, chair of the Department of Human Genetics at Emory University School of Medicine. Cecelias creative energy and dedication to her students have left an incredible legacy.

Bellcross came to Emory in 2010 to develop the Genetic Counseling Training Program, the first of its kind in the state of Georgia. She was the first genetic counselor to achieve the rank of full professor at Emory.

Bellcross taught several courses and oversaw a program that has graduated more than 100 students. In 2020, she received the Provosts Distinguished Teaching Award for Excellence in Graduate and Professional Education.

Cecelia would be the first to insist that our program was a team effort, and her proudest accomplishments were all of the students successes, says Lauren Lichten, MS, CGC, assistant professor of human genetics and co-director of the training program with Bellcross.

Working with the Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education (Georgia CORE), Bellcross strongly advocated for reducing cancer disparities among minority groups and high-risk populations. She also served as co-chair of the Department of Human Genetics diversity, equity and inclusion committee, at a time when the department was broadening faculty recruitment and bringing clinical practices up to date.

Bellcross was born in 1960, grew up in the Seattle area, and attended the University of Colorado. After three years teaching high school biology in Washington state, she became interested in the relatively new field of genetics counseling after attending a conference. She received her master's degree in medical genetics through the University of Wisconsin-Madison Genetic Counseling Training Program in 1990, and her PhD in population health sciences from UW-Madison in 2007.

At Dean Healthcare in Wisconsin, she practiced as a clinical genetic counselor specializing in cancer genetics, and she developed and directed the Dean Cancer Risk Assessment Clinic.

In 2010, Bellcross completed a two-year American Society of Human Genetics public health genetics fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. While at the CDC, she was involved in projects related to population-based screening and education for hereditary cancer syndromes, and promoting the use of family history to identify risk for common disease.

Outside of her career, Bellcross was an avid bicyclist and completed several rides of more than 100 miles. According to her family, she enjoyed knitting, dancing, hiking, playing cribbage and making delicious pesto from homegrown basil. She is survived by her husband Wayne and two children.

An Emory University memorial is being planned for Bellcross in September; details will be provided on the Genetics Counseling Training Program website. Family services will be held separately in Michigan and Seattle, Washington. Her family requests that instead of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Genetic Counseling Training Program
Askar Jalalian, Iran's deputy justice minister for human rights and international affairs, elaborated on the latest transfer of prisoners between the two countries in a statement published on the ministry's website, reports Xinhua news agency.

The convicted would continue their jail terms in Afghanistan under Taliban authorities' supervision, according to the Iranian official.

Jalalian added Afghanistan has also sent back three Iranian prisoners.

According to the Iranian ministry, 1,131 Afghan nationals from various prisons in Iran have been repatriated.

--IANS ksk/

( 108 Words)

2023-06-15-12:20:03 (IANS)
Amid the growing global rivalry between the US and China, Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar, has said that her country is not interested in picking sides between the two powers since it has always been on good terms with both, media reports said. Instead, Khar told a news outlet that Islamabad is apprehensive about the fallout of an all-out rupture between the US and China, The News reported. In such an instance, Pakistan would face an unfavourable strategic choice. "We are highly threatened by this notion of splitting the world into two blocs," Khar said, The News reported. She added that the country is very much concerned about this decoupling or anything that splits the world further. "We have a history of being in a close, collaborative mode with the US. We have no intention of leaving that. Pakistan also has the reality of being in a close, collaborative mode with China, and until China suddenly came to everyone's threat perception, that was always the case," she said. Front-line states closely watch Pakistan in the contest for strategic influence in Asia. Over the years, as Washington's cooperation with India has increased, Pakistan has gotten closer to China especially after the latter's investment in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). However, Washington is still a significant military partner for Pakistan, while Beijing has recently pledged to deepen economic investment and military cooperation with the country, The News reported. In April this year, Khar had made headlines when the Washington Post leaked records termed 'Discord Leaks' of a discussion between her and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif surfaced. As per the leaked documents, Khar said that Pakistan should avoid appeasing the West and that its desire to maintain a strategic partnership with the US would sacrifice the full benefits of its original strategic partnership with the long-term friendly nation China, The News reported. --IANS san/arm ( 332 Words) 2023-06-15-16:08:04 (IANS)
The police in China are keeping up their harassment of prominent rights lawyers, putting pressure on recently-evicted Wang Quanzhang and his family, slapping a travel ban on Li Heping and his family, while denying rights attorney Xie Yang a phone call with his ailing father, a media report said. A police officer from the Beijing suburb of Changping pushed his way into the Wang family home on Wednesday, refusing to show ID and demanding to read the couple's lease agreement, according to a video clip posted by Wang's wife Li Wenzu on Twitter, RFA reported. The renewed harassment is the latest in a slew of "stability maintenance" actions by Beijing police and other Chinese officials, who have targeted the families of prominent rights attorneys and other activists, who were previously jailed in a 2015 crackdown on rights lawyers and public interest law firms, the report said. Meanwhile, the family of Li Heping is now banned from leaving China, after their landlord smashed a window at their rented apartment in a bid to get them to leave last month, RFA reported. The police at Chengdu's international airport prevented the family from boarding a flight to Thailand last week, as Li and his wife Wang Qiaoling are considered to be "danger to national security". And a court in the central city of Changsha recently denied detained rights lawyer Xie Yang a video meeting with his ailing 90-year-old father, who is terminally ill with Covid-19, RFA reported. --IANS san/arm ( 261 Words) 2023-06-15-17:38:04 (IANS)
India's Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboj has offered Pakistan the "utmost sympathy" for what she described as its mindset of ignorance and inability to comprehend the culture of peace. In a voice dripping with sarcasm, she blew off a Pakistani attack on India at the General Assembly on Wednesday saying: "We have nothing but the utmost sympathy for such a mindset that utters falsehoods repeatedly, arising undeniably out of ignorance, and a total lack of appreciation for a culture of peace." Although she did not name Pakistan, Kamboj said: "Most regrettably, we've heard some deeply distorted and inaccurate not to mention malicious remarks from a delegate." The Permanent Representative said that she would not waste the Assembly's time with a response to Pakistan's remarks and advised the delegation to look at previous statements by India responding to its taunts. "Our agenda will always be constructive, progressive and for the greater good of humanity. In the spirit of our civilization ethos, we remain committed to spread the message of humanity, democracy, peace and non-violence." While speaking on the resolution on the culture of peace, Pakistan's Permanent Representative Munir Akram had brought up "Hindutva" as a threat to Muslims and Christians. While his own country is constitutionally an Islamic state that curbs the rights of minorities, including members of some Muslim sects, and legally prescribes the death penalty for perceived slights to its official religion, Akram accused "the Sangh Parivar" of wanting to turn India into a Hindu state. Kamboj's advice to refer to previous responses could, in addition to serious rebuttals, bring forth a flood of humour and lampoon that Indian diplomats have contemptuously wielded to de-fang Pakistan. Pakistan, "the land of Taxila, one of the greatest learning centres of ancient times, is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism", was one of them. On another occasion, an Indian diplomat called it "the country which is an arsonist disguising itself as a firefighter". It was also called "Terroristan with a flourishing industry producing and exporting global terrorism". After remarks by former Prime Minister Imran Khan about terrorism, an Indian diplomat wondered if he was referring to himself. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) --IANS al/ksk/ ( 388 Words) 2023-06-15-08:50:03 (IANS)
Re. Mayor suing city councillor (Castanet, June 15)

(In December, 2022) I wrote a letter to Castanet calling out Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson as being abjectly ignorant of key issues in Kamloops, cited his fear-mongering and divisiveness, and called him out as being unfit to serve as mayor and an abject threat to corporate governance.

Yet Hamer-Jackson never bothered to file a lawsuit against me, or Castanet for that matter. Why is that?

Perhaps it's because in British Columbia, fair comment is a defence to both libel and slander (i.e. forms of defamation). In other words, if what is written or said about a person is, in fact, true, the person cannot sue for damages.

The same can be said of Reid Hamer-Jackson's spurious lawsuit against Kamloops city Coun. Katie Neustaeter, who the mayor claims overstepped when she read aloud a statement in council chambers asking Hamer-Jackson to stop calling her father, former Kamloops South-Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger.

Did it not occur to Hamer-Jackson that, on the heels of his now-infamous public statements suggesting Kamloops' homeless should be rounded up and shipped off to Rayleigh, Krueger did not want his name associated with Kamloops' version of Donald Trump?

Is it possible Hamer-Jackson's lawsuit is nothing more than a feeble attempt to draw media and public attention away from his governance circus?

Andrew Schaer, Kamloops
As the very severe cyclonic storm Biparjoy is set to make landfall in Pakistan and India on Thursday, authorities in Sindh province are "prepared for the worst", with tens of thousands of people being evacuated to safer areas. The Pakistan Meteorological Department's (PMD) latest advisory released on Wednesday night showed that Biparjoy had moved north-eastwards during the past six hours, reports Dawn news. Late on Wednesday night, the cyclone lay at about 310 km south of Karachi, 300 km south-southwest of Thatta and 240 km south-southwest of Keti Bandar. The cyclone is likely to reduce its strength after hitting the land, but the PMD has asked fishermen not to venture into the open sea until Saturday. Addressing reporters, Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman warned that both thunder and rainstorms were expected to occur, which could cause substantial damage, Dawn news reported. She urged people, especially in Karachi, to refrain from dabbling in "disaster tourism" and going to the beach to witness the storm and called on them to cooperate with authorities. The Minister also informed that 75 relief camps had been set up to accommodate those who were evacuated, and most of them were places with stable roofs, such as schools and colleges. Driven by winds of around 100 to 120 km per hour and a huge cloud mass spanning over 200 to 300 km over the sea, Biparjoy is projected to make landfall between Keti Bandar in Sindh and India's Gujarat's coast on Thursday evening, posing multiple threats to the coastal areas in the two countries. Keti Bandar, one of the most impoverished towns of Sindh, is likely to face the cyclone's brunt and is officially stated to be completely evacuated. Several low-lying settlements in Thatta and Sujawal, most of which were already evacuated, witnessed high-tide flooding, with rising seawater levels reported fishing villages of Karachi's Ibrahim Hyderi and Badin. According to the Sindh Chief Minister House, 67,367 people have been evacuated from the three vulnerable districts of Thatta, Sujawal and Badin, where 39 relief camps have been set up. Meanwhile, the army is continuing its rescue and relief operations, evacuating scores of people in the coastal areas. "Over 82 per cent of the vulnerable population has been shifted to safe locations. Nine relief camps have been set up in Thatta and 14 in Sujawal and Badin. Troops are on high alert for the next 72 hours and the evacuation process will be completed tonight," Dawn news quoted the army's media wing as saying late Wednesday. --IANS ksk/ ( 432 Words) 2023-06-15-10:12:03 (IANS)
The former Director General of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed is not under arrest, a media report said citing sources. Some social media reports on Wednesday suggested that the former spy chief has been put under house arrest in his hometown Chakwal and is being probed in connection with the May 9 attacks, The News reported. The News contacted three different sources to ascertain the veracity of the social media reports. All three sources rejected these reports and insisted that Gen Faiz had not been arrested, with one of them saying he has met the former spymaster in the last few days. Gen Faiz has been the focus of discussion both in the media and politics because of the controversies surrounding his role during his days in the ISI, initially as DGC and later as DG ISI. These controversies followed him even after his retirement. Many in politics and media allege that he has been one of the closest advisers of Imran Khan after his removal from the Prime Minister's Office, The News reported. Some allege that Gen Faiz has also been advising Imran even during the recent months. There are also speculations about the Faiz-Imran connection behind the May 9 attacks. These reports, however, remained unverified, The News reported. A case of alleged assets beyond means against former Gen Faiz was, however, referred to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) before the arrival of the incumbent NAB chief. The reference was returned by the Bureau. The News had reported in March this year that the NAB Rawalpindi office had received a file, containing complete details of Gen Faiz's income tax record and a two-page complaint signed by some unknown locals from Chakwal for initiation of an inquiry against the former ISI chief. These sources said that the NAB Rawalpindi DG considered the file and after consultation with the-then chairman, the case was returned with the direction that a formal request be made to the Bureau by the concerned authorities. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah had also said a few months back that the investigation agencies are conducting an inquiry against Gen Faiz and any progress about it will be shared with the media. Sanaullah did not disclose which government investigation agency was conducting the inquiry against Gen Faiz. He also did not specify what was being probed against the former ISI DG. Rana Sanaullah, however, said: "Only the institution can conduct General Faiz's court martial." He added that the General Headquarters holds the military trial, not the Interior Ministry, The News reported. --IANS san/ksk/ ( 437 Words) 2023-06-15-11:18:03 (IANS)
GLOBAL PR CONNECT (GPRC) New Delhi [India], June 16: What started as a small idea back in 2017, Cake2homes has grown into a business spanning over 150 cities. Offering tailor-made gift packages for different celebrations, they're becoming popular for their punctuality and overall services. Cake2homes, as the name suggests, is an endeavor that wants to bring cakes to every home in India and has become one of the most popular and growing cakes, flower and gifts start-ups. Cakes are essential to make every special occasion even more special. But, there is a massive gap between customer expectations and the industry standards. Hemin Shah, who hails from a middle-class Gujrati family, never knew what destiny had in store for him. He was never inspired to be a businessman. Like every other person from a similar background, he went for a job right after college. Here, he went to a promotion celebration of his colleague and felt dismayed with others when the delivered cake wasn't at par with expectations and was delivered late. This ruined everyone's mood. This made him understand this gap, making him want to better this industry. With this idea, he started a small home brand, Cake2homes, that offers birthday cakes, birthday flowers, and birthday gifts in addition to other unique gifts. Cake2homes has grown into a vast chain catering to Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, and Delhi NCR, amongst other cities. But as they say, it takes years to become an overnight success, and Hemin will definitely agree to it. When he started, he juggled between his job and business, taking care of every aspect. He wanted to ensure that everyone who orders from Cake2homes gets an on-time and high-quality delivery. However, he soon hit a roadblock. The business fell short of funds. Showing faith in his idea, a friend decided to help him out that turned into an elixir for his business, and it started to thrive. But as the sailing was about to become smooth, Hemin had an accident, making him bedridden for months. This started impacting his business. This was the moment when Hemin decided to take his business online, and his fortunes turned slowly but steadily. Cake2Homes is presently becoming the go-to store for many households and corporate houses alike. Their top-notch quality products and service is rapidly gaining their popularity. In case you have an occasion that you want to make unique, you can order from the Cake2homes official website. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by GLOBAL PR CONNECT (GPRC). ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
SRV Media New Delhi [India], June 16: Black Coffee Brands, a prominent marketing and sales strategy consultancy, has recently celebrated the opening of its new office in Chennai on May 25th, 2023. In celebration, the consultancy has announced new packages, inviting foresightful companies to seek the innovative, forward-looking, holistic branding and sales-oriented services of Black Coffee Brands. Black Coffee Brands is set to leverage its improved operational capacity to further cement its position in the industry and to stride ahead in transforming the way marketing and sales are perceived. The expansion plan follows the resounding success of the company's already thriving operations, which have exemplified the core value of the organization: an intense and unwavering commitment to value creation. The consultancy will soon have a presence in Bengaluru and Coimbatore, with the aim of capturing not just another pool of clients but also those from the sectors that the brand has yet to tap into. More importantly, targeting a solid growth curve, Black Coffee Brands, which already has an extensive clientele in diverse domains such as Real Estate, Retail, E-commerce, Fashion, Automobile, IT, and ITES industries, has set the goal of generating a whopping 5 crore in revenue and acquire over 50 clients by September 2023. Towards clocking this ambitious goal, the company's carefully developed team of marketing and sales experts, who bring a diverse pool of capabilities to the table and have been the driving force behind the successful campaigns, have already geared themselves. "With immense pleasure, we announce the opening of the new office in Chennai, which is the latest step of our extensive expansion plans'', shared Shan T, Co-founder of Black Coffee Brands, about the inauguration of the new office. He continued, "Following the phenomenal response our services have garnered we have decided to expand the bandwidth of our ROI-driven consulting to many more businesses. Moreover, with the new office and the expansion, we would have a fresh set of talented professionals, which will increase the overall insight and capability of the company, adding more value to our clients." On a similar note, Vivekanandan N, the Co-founder, Black Coffee Brands, " The improved operational capacity that we have clocked with our new office will not only help us tap into new sectors but also help us grow our clientele in the existing domains that we operate in. Additionally, the new team of seasoned marketers and sales experts who have recently joined us will bring novel perspectives and abilities to the overall brainpower of the company and enhance its cumulative capacity. We have already set a legacy of excellence and we hope to push the envelope. Further, we are eying to set foot in metropolises such as Bangalore, where the trendsetters operate and we also want to spread our presence in emerging cities such as Coimbatore to explore opportunities in growing markets and help businesses hit their growth targets in today's competitive environment." Black Coffee Brands is a leading name in the marketing and sales domain, offering cutting-edge solutions such as 480-degree marketing to its clients. This proactive approach helps companies stay ahead of the trend and quickly adapt and thrive in the dynamic market. With expansion plans on the anvil, the brand is eyeing to expand its operational capabilities and increase its profitability and market share. For more information, please visit: https://blackcoffeebrands.co.in/ (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)
PRNewswire Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 16: The HeArt of Care, an international alliance of organizations dedicated to recognizing and valuing the crucial role of carers in the society, is delighted to announce its initiative to honour and celebrate caregivers around the world. With a mission to forge new perceptions of dignity, compassion, and joy of caregiving, the HeArt of Care invites carers to work with artists to cocreate films and poems that capture the grace of care and contribute to raising awareness about the invaluable contributions carers make to the communities. Caring for others is often an invisible act, performed by countless individuals within families and communities. The HeArt of Care aims to shed light on the profound impact of caregiving and acknowledge the dedication and selflessness of carers worldwide. Funded by Arts Council of England, this new project will culminate in a series of public projections in civic spaces that will help carers shape a new narrative that celebrates care. Founders of Caregiver Saathi and Rosetta Life, two organizations at the forefront of supporting caregivers, express their enthusiasm for the HeArt of Care Alliance and its transformative vision: Bhavana Issar, CEO and founder of Caregiver Saathi, said, "We are proud to be part of the HeArt of Care Alliance, an initiative that recognizes and appreciates the tireless efforts of carers or caregivers. Caregiver Saathi is committed to enhancing the well-being of caregivers, and this alliance aligns with our mission. By encouraging carers to participate in various art forms, we empower them to share their perspective, life experience and stories that can shift social narratives around Caregivers and Caregiving. In a culture where there is no equivalent term for a carer or family caregiver, We invite all carers to participate actively and showcase the beauty and strength of caregiving." Lucinda Jarrett, Artistic Director, Rosetta Life, said, "At Rosetta Life, we firmly believe in the power of art to inspire and transform lives. The HeArt of Care Alliance offers a unique platform for carers to express their experiences creatively and challenge existing stereotypes. Through this initiative, we can reimagine caregiving as a source of compassion, joy, and dignity without undervaluing the challenges we face as carers." The HeArt of Care Alliance launches the project with a series of master classes focused on poetry, dance, and visual art. These classes aim to challenge existing stereotypes surrounding caregiving and provide carers with an expressive creative outlet and an opportunity to share their perspectives with others. The project is being launched in India through Caregiver Saathi's website, https://www.caregiversaathi.co.in/heartofcare and in the UK via the website, https://heartofcare.net/. To gain inspiration and witness the power of collaboration, please visit the videos page, which showcases examples of how the HeArt of Care Alliance is working together. To submit images and contribute to this transformative initiative, please visit the submissions pages on the respective websites mentioned above. Let us raise awareness and honour the vital role of carers in our societies. Caregiver Saathi is a social enterprise dedicated to providing support, education, and empowerment to caregivers. By offering a range of resources and services, including counseling services, support groups, and caregiver training programs, Caregiver Saathi aims to enhance the overall well-being of caregivers. Caregiver Saathi is building a one stop tech enabled human GPS for helping family caregivers in navigating their care journey. For media enquiries, please contact:Bhavana Issar, CEO and founder of Caregiver Saathi.Bhavana.issar@caregiversaathi.co.in +91-9833312168 Rosetta Life is a pioneering arts and health innovation charity, whose vision is to ensure that every person living with life altering illness or facing loss has the opportunity to lead a full creative life. Rosetta Life develops innovative practices and delivers professional performances that challenge the stigma of life altering illness or loss, engaging participants in transformative creative processes that enable them to alter their own perception of a life altering illness. The charity's practices develop confidence and creative skills so that participants are able to co-create performances that change the perceptions of audiences about the experience of life with serious illness and build tolerant inclusive communities. For media inquiries, please contact:Lucinda Jarrett, Artistic Director, Rosetta LifeLucinda.jarrett@rosettalife.org Other partners include: Bristol Black Carers (https://www.bristolblackcarers.org.uk/) will work with Rosetta Life artists to deliver the live-streamed performance arts activities and will co create the final performance in partnership with Helix Arts. Kingston Carers (https://www.kingstoncarers.org.uk/) will lead the live streamed poetry workshops and carers will co-create the final performance in partnership with Helix Arts and Bristol Black Carers Helix Arts (https://www.helixarts.com/about-us/) will lead the art making aspect of the project leading online arts workshops for communities of carers in Tyneside and in Bristol. They will co create and project manage the performance in Tyneside muf architecture/ art (http://muf.co.uk/) will conduct an audit through use and test the capacity of public spaces in Tyneside and Bristol to offer capacity to create spaces that nurture Bristol Black Carers:Chief Executive: Anndeloris ChaconEmail: ceo@bristolblackcarers.org.uk Helix Arts:Chief Executive: Cheryl GavinEmail: Cheryl.gavin@helixarts.com (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
The precursor events of the 4th G20 Education Working Group Meeting and G20 Education Ministers Meeting kicked off here on Friday. It started with a seminar on "Accessible Science: Fostering Collaboration" organized at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research. The seminar was inaugurated by the Union Minister of State for Education Subhas Sarkar. The minister also launched a report titled "The status and relevance of research collaborations for development, considering G20 nations" on the occasion. Later, speaking at the inaugural session, Sarkar emphasized on the importance of removing barriers to knowledge, promoting transparency, and fostering multidisciplinary collaborations. He cited several 'accessible science' initiatives of his government -- Vaccine Maitri, Genome India Project, BHUVAN by the Indian Space Research Organisation, e-Shodhganga, SWAYAM, and SWAYAM-NPTEL platforms, as examples of successful collaborative efforts that have led to meaningful change and sustainable development. The 4th and final Education Working Group (EDWG) meeting under India's G20 Presidency is set to be held in Pune during June 19-21. During the course of the 4th Education Working Group meeting, attendees will engage in dynamic seminars and enriching workshops, painting a vision of innovation in education. (ANI)
NewsVoir New Delhi [India], June 16: Best Agrolife Ltd. (BAL), one of India's top producers of agricultural inputs, stated that it has been granted registration for the domestic production of Pyroxasulfone 85% WG and three other key technicals. In its 447th meeting, the Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee (CIBRC) authorized one of BAL's fully owned subsidiaries, Seedlings India Pvt Ltd, to manufacture Pyroxasulfone 85% WG domestically in accordance with section 9(3) FIM vs. FIT. "This is a significant advancement for us. In addition to our proud innovation Ronfen, we launched a number of 9(3) and generic products in FY23, and we have similar intentions for FY24. With this new registration in hand, BAL has become the first and only agrochemical firm in India to produce both AI and formulations of Pyroxasulfone. We already hold the registration for the manufacturing of Pyroxasulfone technical. We will launch this product in October of this year as we have both product registrations. For the same, we have also applied for a special process patent, which we will receive soon. We have already submitted registration applications in other countries since we intend to manufacture this product for both national and international markets," said Mr. Vimal Kumar, MD, Best Agrolife Ltd. Pyroxasulfone is a pre-emergence herbicide for wheat, corn and soybean that ensures increased yields while offering outstanding crop safety by eliminating weeds that pose a threat to these crops. It works by preventing plants from synthesizing, particularly long-chain fatty acids. It is more effective against broadleaf weeds and requires fewer applications than other commercial herbicides. The primary troublesome weed in wheat, Phalaris minor, is controlled by Pyroxasulfone 85% WG. "The market for Pyroxasulfone is already worth over 450 crore, and demand will only increase in the years to come. We are confident in our ability to successfully penetrate the 150 cr Pyroxasulfone market in the first year after introduction, and we want to steadily expand it in the following year. In total we are planning to achieve 300-350 cr of Proxysulfone market in the following three years. Pyroxasulfone was previously imported by India from other countries. But now, as part of the Indian government's "Make in India" drive, it will be locally produced and readily available to farmers. They will benefit greatly from this because they will receive a superior product at a lower cost," said Mr. Vimal Kumar. It is worth mentioning that, BAL has recently received the registration for the indigenous manufacturing of the combination product Trifloxystrobin 10% + Difenoconazole 12.5% + Sulphur 3% Sc under section 9 (3) FIM. This combination effectively controls several crop diseases like Sheath blight, Powdery Mildew, Scab, and Alternaria in Rice, Tomato, Grapes, Chilli, Wheat, Mango, and Apple. BAL is all set to launch this product in July with the brand name Tricolor. Best Agrolife Limited (BAL), one of the top 15 agrochemical firms in India, is committed to helping the entire farming industry. As a research-based company, BAL is renowned for supplying innovative agrochemical formulations that are top-notch, economical one-shot farm solutions. BAL has three manufacturing facilities in Gajraula, Greater Noida, and Jammu & Kashmir with a combined manufacturing capacity of 7,000 MTPA and 30,000 MTPA, respectively. In India, BAL presently has around 5200 distributors. It retains an impressive portfolio of 400+ formulations and more than 100+ technical manufacturing licenses. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Actor Varun Sharma, whose debut film 'Fukrey' recently clocked 10 years of its release, started his film career as a production runner and he is thankful for the experience as it proved to be a learning curve for him, broadening his horizons about the modus operandi of the film industry. The actor told IANS: "I was studying in college in Chandigarh and I had joined a production company where I was a runner. Every experience counts. Being on a film set, you learn a lot. You realise there are many people who are working towards the same goal and how teamwork is of utmost importance. I learned that if I do my bit as an actor, come on time, learn my lines and be sincere towards my craft then that makes the lives of others far simpler." The actor holds his character of Choocha from 'Fukrey' close to heart. 'Fukrey', which has over the years gained a cult following, is returning with its third part on December 1, 2023. The actor shared: "Choocha is indeed one of the most loved characters in the franchise and it's all thanks to the 'Fukrey' fans who made it possible for us to come back with a third instalment. To be accepted by the audience is the biggest achievement for any actor and Choocha gave me that. It gave me the love that I have today, and I think everything that I have achieved in my past 10 years is because of that character." A film franchise always comes with monumental expectations of the fans for the upcoming part but the actor doesn't feel the pressure. He told IANS: "There is no pressure but there's this responsibility towards my audience to deliver more than what they are expecting and making them happy and content, because it has given me a lot and everything that I have today is because of Choocha and my fans." On a closing note, the actor said that it's a great time for artistes with streaming, television and theatricals taking the content ecosystem forward. "It is a wonderful time to be a part of cinema. With films from the south garnering a pan India audience, it has opened up doors for actors who want to be part of cinema in all languages. The opportunities for actors today are many. There are films as well as web shows. Today, the story is King," he concluded. --IANS aa/pgh ( 422 Words) 2023-06-15-21:18:04 (IANS)
Actor Bill Cosby faces a new sexual assault lawsuit, this one in the state of Nevada. A case in the name of nine women was filed in the US District Court for Nevada, alleging that the disgraced actor and comedian exercised his "enormous power, fame and prestige" to isolate and sexually assault the individuals named in the case, reports 'Variety'. As per NBC News, a group of the women will speak in an interview on 'NBC News Daily'. Pam Joy Abeyta, Lili Bernard, Rebecca Cooper, Janice Dickinson, Linda Kirkpatrick, Janice Baker Kinney, Angela Leslie, Lise-Lotte Lublin and Heidi Thomas are named in the case. Cosby was convicted of a criminal sexual assault charge in Pennsylvania in April 2018. However, in 2021, the actor was released from prison after spending nearly three years behind bars; the conviction was overturned by the state Supreme Court. The actor, now 85 years old, has discussed plans for a comedy tour. In a statement to 'Variety', Cosby's spokesperson, Andrew Wyatt, confirms the new lawsuit and opposes the claims detailed in it. Cosby has continued to deny similar allegations levied against him over the years. "It's interesting that these 'Look Back Windows' are formulating only in those states (New Jersey, New York, Los Angeles and Nevada) where many of Mr. Cosby's alleged accusers reside. It makes all Americans ask the question, 'Who's funding these alleged accusers and who's funding these lawmakers?'" Wyatt wrote. The statement further read, "Mr. Cosby is a Citizen of [the] United States, but these judges and lawmakers are consistently allowing these civil suits to flood their dockets a" knowing that these women are not fighting for victims a" but for their addiction to massive amounts of media attention and greed. From this day forward, we will not continue to allow these women to parade various accounts of an alleged allegation against MrCosby anymore without vetting them in the court of public opinion and inside of the courtroom". More than 60 women have made public statements accusing Cosby of varying degrees of sexual misconduct. --IANS aa/svn/ ( 358 Words) 2023-06-15-10:12:02 (IANS)
Actor Ali Fazal is back with a new international film titled 'Kandahar', which stars Gerard Butler in the lead role. Ali's character in the movie has many action scenes, including one of the most difficult stunts that he had ever shot, which turned out to be his opening shot. Sharing details about the scene, Ali said, " So while shooting Kandahar I remember shooting one of the most difficult scenes and I suppose in my opinion the most iconic shot for me was my entry. A very cool chopper flying over a seabed. And just before it lands I open the door and I have to jump out, get into a running van. And we scoot off. And then the van goes into the valley, I get on a bike. The van stops and the back door is opened and the bike is there and then I have to ride off on the bike." "But the declining railing, I had to get off while taking a turn on off a moving bike on the sand and then rush off in the opposite direction. And that was probably one of the hardest shots I'd been part of in the film. Because it was all so back to back, keeping a straight path on a moving bike on sand was the toughest because I was constantly trying to maneuver, but trying to keep my balance and keep the bike steady because the sand is like in waves. So these things were really cool. On the big screen it just looks beautiful and I'm happy with the way it turned out," he added. Written by Mitchell LaFortune, 'Kandahar' follows the story of an undercover CIA operative, Tom Harris (Gerard Butler), taking viewers on an adrenaline-fueled journey deep into a hostile territory in Afghanistan. When an intelligence leak exposes his identity and mission, he must navigate through the perilous obstacles alongside his Afghan translator Mo (Navid Negahban), to an extraction point in Kandahar, all whilst avoiding the elite special forces unit tasked with hunting them down.Ali Fazal plays the role of Kahil in the movie who goes up against Tom Harris in a dangerous game of cat and mouse. The movie draws inspiration from true events from the life of a former military intelligence officer. 'Kandahar' is currently streaming on Prime Video. (ANI)
Photo: The Canadian Press Alberta's police watchdog has cleared an officer of wrongdoing for shooting three times at a car that had driven around barriers toward a military parade in Calgary in 2019. Calgary Police Service's headquarters building in Calgary, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Alberta's police watchdog has cleared an officer of wrongdoing for shooting three times at a car that had driven around barriers toward a military parade in Calgary in 2019.

In a decision released Thursday, Matthew Block, assistant executive director of the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team, said that the unnamed officer's use of force was "appropriate, necessary and reasonable" in the circumstances. He said no charges will be laid against the officer.

The shooting happened on Oct. 9, 2019, after a then 21-year-old man drove a stolen 2009 black Toyota Corolla toward a military parade in downtown Calgary. He and a 28-year-old female passenger both sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the shooting.

The ASIRT report says the officer, who was on a mountain bike, motioned for the driver to stop at an intersection along the parade route. The driver stopped briefly before turning right and accelerating toward the oncoming parade, which was approximately 100 metres away.

The report says after stopping, the driver backed up before accelerating and driving through a bike lane onto the sidewalk, then hitting a building.

Two other officers followed the vehicle on foot and said they repeatedly yelled at the driver to stop. The driver came close to hitting one of the officers, who had his firearm drawn and had to move out of the path of the vehicle, when the original officer arrived in the area.

As the vehicle was driving past, that officer fired an initial shot when he was directly beside the driver, shattering the driver's window. He then fired an additional two shots seconds later when the vehicle was about 10 metres away.

The driver's left arm was broken during the shooting and a bullet fragment was left in that arm. The passenger's left thigh was struck by a bullet fragment. The vehicle sustained damage to both doors on the driver's side, the ASIRT report says.

The driver then turned off the parade route and drove two blocks before colliding with a van at an intersection after running a red light, the report says. Police arrived shortly after the collision and arrested the driver and passenger, who they said attempted to flee on foot.

ASIRT said there was no evidence the driver knew about the parade or had any intent to harm the participants. It said his actions were more consistent with a drug-intoxicated driver in a stolen vehicle trying to get away from police.

The report said the driver admitted to smoking methamphetamine an hour before.

ASIRT found that the officer's use of force was reasonable and proportionate as the 21-year-old's "erratic and very dangerous" driving was a serious risk to the officers, as well as any pedestrians or cyclists.

The police watchdog also found the officer's first shot was necessary as the driver was directly beside him and had almost hit another officer.

While the second and third shots were not as clearly necessary, ASIRIT said it would not have been immediately clear to the officer that the driver was fleeing.
Sunny arrived at the function donning his character Tara Singh's look from his iconic film 'Gadar'. He wore a grey kurta, patiala salwaar and brown blazer and black shoes. He completed his ethnic look with a light brown turban.

The sangeet ceremony is being held at Mumbai's Taj Lands End.

Sunny's cousin Abhay Deol also marked his presence at the function.

Karan and his fiance Drisha Acharya's wedding festivities began with a roka ceremony on Monday night and videos and pictures from the festivities are trending.

A video of Sunny Deol dancing to the song Morni Banke from the 2018 film Badhaai Ho is everywhere on social media. Brothers Sunny, Bobby and cousin Abhay Deol also posed together at the roka ceremony. Karan and Drisha are all set to tie the knot on June 18. They have been in a relationship for a long time now. (ANI)
The Minister and his family had moved the court to shift him to Kaveri hospital from the present Omandarur government hospital.

A division bench of Justices Nisha Banu and Bharat Chakravarthy also considered the medical report of the minister from the government multi-specialty hospital.

It, however, allowed the Enforcement Directorate to examine the minister using an expert medical board on his complaint about a heart ailment.

Balaji, who held the portfolios of Electricity, Excise, and Prohibition, was arrested early on Wednesday by the Enforcement Directorate. The arrest had created ripples in Tamil Nadu with the DMK leadership including Chief Minister M.K. Stalin strongly condemning the arrest and directly challenging the BJP government at the centre.

The division bench said that the case would again be heard on June 22.

--IANS aal/vd

( 177 Words)

2023-06-15-17:52:04 (IANS)
The Tamil Nadu Health Department has commenced counselling for students who have not cleared the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET), the results of which were announced a couple of days before. State Health Minister Ma Subramanian, in a statement, said that of the 1.44 lakh students who have appeared for the NEET in Tamil Nadu, 54 per cent have cleared the exam and his department have collated the details of 65,823 students who have not cleared the examination. Counsellors from helpline '104' and 'TeleMANAS 14416' will reach out to the students who need counselling, he said, adding that the counsellors will speak to the students through helplines and if necessary to the parents of these students. Counsellors have started speaking to students who have taken the NEET since May and had managed to speak to 54,374 students. The minister said that of these 54,374 students to whom the counsellors have reached out to, 177 were high risk. "These 177 students were struggling with their mental health and counsellors are regularly speaking to them. District level counsellors have visited their homes to address their concerns." The minister also said that Tamil Nadu continues to strongly oppose NEET and added that the state government had opposed the proposed move of the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) to hold common counselling. Ma Subramanian said that the NEET would gravely affect the 7.5 per cent reservation in medical admissions for students from government schools and marginalised backgrounds. Meanwhile, the Health Minister lauded J. Prabanjan from Tamil Nadu who topped the NEET rank list. The minister also congratulated three other students who have reached the first ten positions in the NEET at the all India level. --IANS aal/vd ( 295 Words) 2023-06-15-17:58:02 (IANS)
Even as the UK government attempts to prepare for new pandemics, the country's scientists have warned about a new 'deadly virus' that kills nearly every second patient. The government's Science, Innovation and Technology Committee was informed of a "highly likely" arrival of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) due to climate change, the Mirror reported. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), CCHF has a mortality rate of up to 40 per cent and is difficult to prevent or treat as it spreads by ticks or animal tissue. It is also on the WHO's list of "priority" diseases, and it's found in eastern Europe and now France. The scientists noted that CCHF infections may not be picked up by doctors in the NHS, as previously they hadn't been expected, the scientists informed the Committee. Prof James Wood, head of veterinary medicine at Cambridge University, told the committee that it was "highly likely" that CCHF would reach the UK at some point but it is difficult to know which viruses will arrive and when, the report said. "We don't know what is going to arrive until it does. "Some tick-borne infections, so Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, are highly likely to spread in the UK through our ticks at some point," he was quoted as saying. Further, the scientists noted that warmer weather in the UK will also pave the way for other diseases including Rift Valley fever, which has a severe strain that is deadly for humans, Zika, and abreakbone' fever. There was a "slow march north" of diseases, Professor Bryan Charleston, Director of the Pirbright Institute, was quoted as saying. According to Professor Sir Peter Horby, Director of the Pandemic Sciences Institute at Oxford University, climate change was mixing up the map of where to find certain illnesses. "Dengue, which is classically a South American, South East Asian disease and is hyperendemic in those countries (has) spread North, you're now seeing transmission in the Mediterranean,"he said. --IANS rvt/vd ( 342 Words) 2023-06-15-19:36:02 (IANS)
The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which caused the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, first infected three scientists working at China's infamous Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), according to a new report that strengthens the theory of a lab-leak. "Patients zero" included Ben Hu, Ping Yu and Yan Zhu -- the scientists working on the controversial "gain-of-function" research on SARS-like viruses at the WIV, according to an investigation published on the Substack newsletter Public and Racket. It was previously noted that some WIV scientists had developed Covid-19-like illnesses in November 2019, but their identities were not known. "Ben Hu is essentially the next Shi Zhengli," Alina Chan, a molecular biologist at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, was quoted as saying. Shi is popularly known as "the bat woman of China," and led the gain-of-function research at the WIV. "Hu was her star pupil. He had been making chimeric SARS-like viruses and testing these in humanised mice. If I had to guess who would be doing this risky virus research and most at risk of getting accidentally infected, it would be him," Chan added. Together, Hu and Yu researched the novel lineage of SARS-like viruses from which SARS-CoV-2 hails. According to Jamie Metzl, a former member of the World Health Organisation's expert advisory committee on human genome editing: "It's a game changer if it can be proven that Hu got sick with Covid-19 before anyone else." "That would be the 'smoking gun'. Hu was the lead hands-on researcher in Shi's lab," Metzl was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, the role of WIV in the origin of Covid is also "becoming clear", a report said. "It has become increasingly clear that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was involved in the creation, promulgation, and cover-up of the Covid-19 pandemic," the Times UK quoted an anonymous US State Department investigator as saying. In May, former Chinese CDC head Dr George Fu Gao, said that the theory that Covid-19 is the result of a lab-leak should not be discounted. Gao directed China's CDC when Covid first emerged in Wuhan. "You can always suspect anything. That's science. Don't rule out anything," Gao was quoted as saying in an interview for the BBC Radio 4 podcast 'Fever: The Hunt for Covid's Origin'. China has since the beginning dismissed any suggestion the disease may have originated in a Wuhan laboratory. More than two years after the pandemic that has infected over 763 million and claimed more than 6.9 million lives globally, the origins of Covid-19 remain unclear. --IANS rvt/vd ( 431 Words) 2023-06-15-19:50:06 (IANS)
M. Srinivas, Director of AIIMS Delhi, and Madhusudan Sai, founder of SMSIMSR, signed the MoU to jointly work for undergraduate and postgraduate education in healthcare here.

According to a statement, both AIIMS and SMSIMSR will strive to promote and promulgate modules of teaching methodology, to work on and facilitate projects of national importance in healthcare services with a special focus on primary healthcare, preventive health and telemedicine to give combined impetus and augment research and innovation, and to promote and enhance scientific and academic collaboration, training, and interaction in healthcare services and medical education.

Srinivas said: "The collaboration between the two institutions will transform good doctors into extraordinary healers. Spirituality and compassion are keys to flourishing in any field."

Madhusudan Sai stressed that "competence and compassion are two watchwords that are needed in healthcare. There is a huge need for infusing values into healthcare, especially values like compassion, service, sacrifice, respect for colleagues, and respect for the patients who come to the hospital".

On March 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated SMSIMSR, a totally-free medical college built at a cost of Rs 400 crore at Muddenahalli, Karnataka.

--IANS aks/arm

( 248 Words)

2023-06-15-22:44:03 (IANS)
Hitting out at the Congress party, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj on Thursday came out with an 'offer' for the grand old party, saying that if it doesn't contest elections in Delhi and Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will also not contest the upcoming elections in Madhya Pradesh and in Rajasthan. This comes at a time when AAP is looking forward to getting support from the Congress against the Centre's ordinance over control of administrative services in Delhi. "Congress party got zero seats in the 2015 and 2020 assembly elections in Delhi. If Congress says they will not fight elections in Delhi-Punjab, then we will also say we will not fight elections in MP-Rajasthan," the AAP leader said while addressing a press conference here in the national capital on Thursday. Saurabh Bhardwaj also took a jibe at the grand old party calling it "Copy-Cat-Congress" and said that it lacks its own, that's why they are stealing the manifesto of the Aam Aadmi Party. "Congress is the oldest party of the country. But, today it has become C-C-C, Copy-Cut-Congress. They are stealing everything from Arvind Kejriwal. They have no idea of their own left. Now it is coming to the fore that Congress not only lacks leadership but also lacks ideas. Congress does not have such a mechanism to know the people's aspirations," he said. Bhardwaj added, "The biggest example of this is that today this country's oldest party is stealing the manifesto of the country's newest party AAP. Arvind Kejriwal called our manifesto a guarantee. Even this guarantee word has been stolen by the Congress". He further said that the Congress party had earlier mocked AAP's free electricity and monthly allowances to women, but now it is itself promising the schemes in other states. "When we talked about giving free electricity in Delhi, the Congress made fun of us. But, it copied Arvind Kejriwal's guarantee in Himachal Pradesh and promised 300 units of free electricity. It also mocked our free allowance to women in Punjab, but later itself announced it in Himachal and Karnataka," he said. He also took a dig at Congress for not being able to take the decision on whether to support AAP on the ordinance issue or not. "Decisions are often delayed in the Congress party. They could not form the government in Goa on time and the BJP took away the MLA by breaking the party," he added. From May 23, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal embarked on a nationwide tour to seek support from the Opposition parties against the Ordinance. The party also held a mega rally at Delhi's Ramlila ground on May 11 against the ordinance. The AAP national convenor has so far met with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, 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)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has welcomed the Calcutta High Court ruling regarding the deployment of central paramilitary forces in the state within the next 48 hours, and said that the decision will end political violence in the state. Notably, the filing of the process of filing nominations in the Panchayat election in the state has been marred by violence. Speaking to ANI, Bengal Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari said, "The decision that has come this evening regarding the violence that took place during the filing of nominations for Panchayat elections is very clear. The decision will end political violence in Bengal and restore democracy. The village panchayat will conduct these elections in a democratic and peaceful manner. It is a good judgement". "This is a very clear judgement. In the violence so far, 4-5 people have been killed and at least 100 workers of BJP and other opposition parties have been injured. Eight to ten thousand didn't allow nomination filing and 40-50 Block Development Office under the capture of goons," he added. A division bench of Calcutta High Court, led by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam, on Thursday, directed the election commission in West Bengal to request the deployment of central paramilitary forces in all districts of the state within the next 48 hours, ahead of the upcoming panchayat elections in the state. Meanwhile, in compliance with the Calcutta HC order, the West Bengal State Election Commission also extended the nomination filings for the candidates of 'Siksha Bandhus' and 'Voluntary resource Persons', under the School Education department nomination till close of hours on June 16. The final day of filing nominations witnessed continued clashes across various parts of the state, including an outbreak of violence at the Block Development Office in Birbhum's Ahmadpur, where crude bombs were reportedly thrown. However, as per the officials, no casualties have been reported in the incident. In an effort to maintain order, heavy security deployment has been made in the South 24 Parganas district. Tension and unease prevailed in several areas, particularly the Bhangar block, where clashes between supporters of the ruling TMC and Naushad Siddiqui-led Indian Secular Front (ISF) over the past two days. The Panchayat elections in West Bengal will be held in a single phase on July 8, with the counting of votes scheduled for July 11. The panchayat polls in West Bengal are likely to see a fierce contest between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress being touted as a litmus test for both parties ahead of next year's Lok Sabha elections. (ANI)
The meeting lasted for approximately an hour, during which the party president expressed his dissatisfaction with the inactivity of certain MPs.

According to sources, Nadda expressed his displeasure directly to these MPs, stating that many individuals are showing a lack of interest in the programs organized by the party.

"Some MPs are not sharing information about the programs they are conducting, which is neither appropriate nor conducive to the spirit of the ongoing outreach campaign," he said.

He also emphasized that the party possesses information about the activities of all MPs. Therefore, he urged them to actively participate in the scheduled programs, share relevant information, and make a concerted effort during the outreach campaign.

The BJP president also encouraged them to utilize the remaining time effectively and bring the welfare initiatives of the Modi government to the people.

Notably, upon the completion of nine years of the Modi government at the centre, the BJP has decided to organize a nationwide 'Maha Sampark Abhiyan' (Grand Outreach Campaign) from May 30-June 30.

This campaign aims to inform the public about the achievements of several welfare schemes and development projects initiated by the Narendra Modi government. (ANI)
The political temperature rose in Himachal Pradesh after the murder of a 21-year-old man in Chamba in the state last week. While, Bharatiya Janata Party has alleged the involvement of the main accused in "anti-national activities", Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu has urged the politicians to refrain from giving any political colour to the case. "The law and order situation in the state is not good. An incident occurred in Chamba, where Manohar, a Hindu Dalit was murdered. He went missing on June 6. Later, his body was found in a drain and his body was cut into eight pieces. Such incidents are rare in this state," BJP leader and former CM Jai Ram Thakur said on Thursday. He further alleged that the ruling party people are trying to influence the case and that the main accused "could be involved" in anti-national activities "Influential people are trying to help him. The influential leaders of the ruling party are also trying to divert the issue. They should be exposed. BJP demanded that this matter should be investigated by the NIA. He (main accused) could be involved in anti-national activities. We will visit Chamba tomorrow. I want to ask the Chief Minister to clarify what did he meant when he said that Congress has won elections in 99 per cent Hindu populated state," the BJP leader said. "This matter is not a normal issue; the accused is a suspect in many other cases. If the investigation is done through the NIA, the matter would be resolved. A normal person could not cut the body of a person into eight pieces. He has done a huge amount of transactions of Rs 95 lakh during demonetization. During the 1998 massacre and terrorist attack in the Satrundi area of Chamba, 35 people were killed and 7 are still missing. The main accused in this case was also a suspect in the 1998 case," he said in a press conference. Reacting to BJP's allegations, Chief Minister Sukhu said that the government is ready for any investigation if the former CM provides any evidence. "If Jai Ram Thakur provides any evidence on the allegations, the government is ready for any demand. BJP should not give it a political colour as they would not get any political benefit from this. There is no scope for communal colour. The Muslim community is very small in number here, and even if BJP wants CBI or NIA investigation on the matter we are open for all". "I think whatever has happened was very unfortunate, the accused have been arrested. There should not be any atmosphere of fear, I got to know that the houses have been burnt, it is not good," he said. Sukhu said that the accused have been arrested and no political colour should be given to the case. "The culture of the state does not allow this. The tourist season is also at its peak, so that should also be kept in mind. Anyone be it Hindu, Muslim, Christian or be it Buddhist it is my duty to provide safety and security to them. The law and order is in place, I am taking a meeting with the officials and I also appeal to the political parties to appeal for peace," the CM said. The matter pertains to the brutal murder of a man, whose body was found in a mutilated condition on June 9. Five people, including the main accused, were arrested. "A brutal murder took place in Chamba district and we found the mutilated body on June 9. We have already arrested all five accused in the matter and they all are members of a family. Today, a mob tried to set a house, which was vacated, on fire. The protesters tried to vandalise the SDPO's vehicle as well," Abhishek Trivedi, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), told reporters on Thursday. "The victim was a Hindu and there are allegations that he was in a relationship with a girl from the minority community. The situation is tense but under control. Some political leaders are expected to visit the area in the coming days. We have put the force on alert but there have been no communal incidents as yet. We are holding an investigation and are looking into all possible angles," the ADGP said. "The chief minister held a meeting with the deputy commissioners and other officials. We were told to alert all police stations in the state and ensure the safety and security of all minorities. The deputy commissioner of Chamba has enforced Section 144 in the Kihar police station area," he added. (ANI)
Photo: The Canadian Press Protesters hold a banner which reads "Seas of Dead" following deadly migrant shipwreck off Greece.

Nine survivors from a migrant boat that sank were arrested Thursday on suspicion of smuggling as hope faded for hundreds of missing passengers and attention turned to Greece's failure to act before the overcrowded ship capsized.

The trawler may have carried as many as 750 passengers, including women and children who were likely trapped in the hold as the vessel overturned and went down early Wednesday. That could make the sinking one of the deadliest ever in the central Mediterranean Sea.

A huge search-and-rescue operation initially recovered 78 bodies and picked up 104 survivors  all men and boys. But no more have been found.

Meanwhile, Greek authorities were criticized for not acting to rescue the migrants, even though a coast guard vessel escorted the trawler for hours and watched helplessly as it sank in minutes. Greek officials argued that the migrants repeatedly refused assistance and insisted on continuing to Italy. Legal experts said that was no excuse.

The coast guard said late Thursday that it had arrested nine survivors on suspicion of belonging to the smuggling ring that arranged the voyage. State-run ERT TV said the suspects were all Egyptians, adding that the ship originally left an Egyptian port for the area of Tobruk in eastern Libya, where it picked up the migrants.

Relatives of the migrants  who each paid thousands of dollars for passage on the battered vessel  gathered in the southern port city of Kalamata to look for their loved ones.

Kassem Abu Zeed said he caught the first flight from Germany to Greece after realizing that his wife and brother-in-law were aboard the trawler.

The last time we spoke was eight days ago, and (my wife) told me that she was getting ready to get on the boat, Abu Zeed told The Associated Press. She had paid $5,000 to smugglers. And then we all know what happened.

Abu Zeed, a 34-year-old Syrian refugee living in Hamburg, said Esra Aoun, 21, and her 19-year-old brother, Abdullah, risked the dangerous crossing from Libya to Italy after they failed to find a legal way to join him in Germany.

The chances are low that Abu Zeed's wife survived the sinking about 75 kilometres offshore. None of those rescued were women.

Now he hopes Abdullah may be among the men from Syria, Egypt, Pakistan and the Palestinian territories who are being temporarily housed in a Kalamata warehouse or recuperating in hospitals from hypothermia and exposure.

The chances of finding more survivors "are minimal, retired Greek coast guard Adm. Nikos Spanos told ERT.

The U.N. migration agency, known as IOM, estimated the number of passengers based on interviews with survivors and said the complement included at least 40 children.

Erasmia Roumana, head of a United Nations refugee agency delegation, said many of the survivors have friends and relatives unaccounted for.

They want to get in touch with their families to tell them they are OK, and they keep asking about the missing, Roumana said.

Mohamed Abdi Marwan, who spoke by phone from Kobani, a Kurdish majority town in Syria, said five of his relatives were on the boat, including a 14-year-old. Marwan said hes heard nothing about them since the vessel sank.

He believes his nephew Ali Sheikhi, 29, is alive, after family members spotted him in photos of survivors, but that has not been confirmed.

Those smugglers were supposed to only have 500 on the boat and now we hear there were 750. What is this? Are they cattle or humans? How can they do this? Marwan said. He said each of his relatives paid $6,000 for the trip.

Greek authorities said the vessel appeared to be sailing normally until shortly before it sank and refused repeated rescue offers. But a network of activists said they received repeated distress calls from the vessel during the same time.

The Greek coast guard said it was notified of the boat's presence late Tuesday morning and observed by helicopter that it was sailing on a steady course" at 6 p.m.

A little later, Greek search-and-rescue officials reached someone on the boat by satellite phone, who repeatedly said that passengers needed food and water but wanted to continue to Italy.

Merchant ships delivered supplies and observed the vessel until early Wednesday morning, when the satellite phone user reported a problem with the engine. About 40 minutes later, according to the coast guard statement, the migrant vessel began to rock violently and sank.

Coast guard experts believe the boat may have run out of fuel or experienced engine trouble, with movement of passengers causing it to list and capsize.

Alarm Phone, a network of activists that provides a hotline for migrants in trouble, said the problems began much earlier in the day. The network said it was contacted by people on the vessel seeking help shortly after 3 p.m. They said they "cannot survive the night."

Around 6:20 p.m., Alarm Phone wrote, migrants reported the vessel was not moving and that the captain had left on a small boat. The two accounts could not immediately be reconciled.

Experts said maritime law would have required Greek authorities to attempt a rescue if the boat was unsafe, regardless of whether passengers requested it.

Search and rescue is not a two-way contract. You dont need consent, retired Italian coast guard Adm. Vittorio Alessandro said.

An aerial photograph of the vessel before it sank released by Greek authorities showed people crammed on the deck. Most were not wearing life jackets.

Overcrowding, a lack of life vests, or the absence of a captain would have all been reasons to intervene, Alessandro said.

Professor Erik Rsg from the University of Oslos Institute of Private Law said Greek authorities definitely had a duty to start rescue procedures given the condition of the trawler.

He said a captain's refusal of assistance can be overruled if deemed unreasonable. It appears that the refusal in this case was highly unreasonable, Rsg said.

Greeces caretaker minister for civil protection, Evangelos Tournas, defended the coast guards conduct, saying it couldn't intervene with an unwilling vessel in international waters.

Consider also that an intervention by the coast guard could have placed an overloaded vessel in danger, which could capsize as a result, he said.
Violence continues in the northeastern state of Manipur, with miscreants torching the residence of Union Minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh in Imphal's Kongba on Thursday night. The residence in Imphal was set on fire while the minister was in Kerala. Speaking exclusively to ANI, MoS MEA said, "It is extremely sad to see what happened last night. I was told that more than 50 miscreants attacked my home at around 10 pm. Damage has been done to the ground floor and the first floor of my residence. Neither me or anybody from my family was present during that time. Thankfully, nobody got injured." While Singh comes from the Meiti community, he has continued to appeal to both sides to stay away from violence and restore peace in the state. "An eye for an eye will make the whole world go blind. Violence doesn't help any cause. Those who are indulging in this violence are doing a huge disservice to the nation. It also reflects that they are enemies of humanity," Singh tells ANI. On June 14 in Imphal East, nine people were killed while more than 10 were injured. Yesterday, the state government extended the clamp on internet in the state up to June 20. On Wednesday, miscreants tried to burn down the official residence of Manipur minister Nemcha Kipgen in Imphal West. His home was partly burnt. Since the last month and a half, there have been restrictions in the state of Manipur, including clamp down on the internet. On May 29, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the northeastern state for a period of four days during which he held meetings with Chief Minister N Biren Singh, leaders of all political parties, civil society, women groups, tribal groups and security personnel. Shah had announced that a peace committee would be formed in the state. The committee was formed days after the announcement by the Home Minister. Violence gripped Manipur on May 3, as clashes were witnessed during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest the demand for the inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. The ethnic violence continues to grip the state for over a month, in the wake of a directive of the High Court asking the state government to consider including the Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs). Central paramilitary forces were posted in the state to control the violence and they still continue to be deployed across the state. (ANI)
Amid the row over removal of certain portions of syllabi by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), as part of its exercise to reduce the content load among students, over 71 academicians have released a statement on "false propaganda" being spread against the top educational research institution. "Through misinformation, rumours, and false allegations, they want to derail the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP 2020) and disrupt the updation of NCERT textbooks," the statement signed by Prof. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, Vice Chancellor, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Prof Dhananjay Singh, Member Secretary, the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) among others read. "In the past three months, there have been deliberate attempts to malign the NCERT, a leading public institution, and disrupt the much-needed process for curriculum updation," the statement which has been signed by leading academicians from the country's top educational institutions including vice-chancellors of central universities and IIM chairpersons read. Hitting back at academicians for withdrawing their names as advisors from the NCERT, the statement said the "name-withdrawal spectacle" is just to "capture media attention". They "seem to have forgotten that textbooks are an outcome of collective intellectual engagement and rigorous efforts," the statement read. Explaining the changes in the textbooks, the statement said, "The scholars who have suggested the changes in the textbook have not suggested any epistemic rupture in the existing domain of knowledge but just rationalised the course content as per contemporary knowledge need." Responding to the question of who decides what is "unacceptable" or "desirable" for students, the academicians said, "Every new generation has the right to make additions or deletion to the existing knowledge base." The process of selection of the scholars for deciding the syllabi was "thoroughly liberal, democratic and humanistic," they said adding that the selection process was far more "transparent and ethically justified" than previous committees. Responding to questions on academic freedom, pedagogic integrity. and institutional propriety, the academicians said that the NCERT Director had clarified that a rigorous process was followed to maintain a high level of standards. Pointing out the long overdue need for the updation of school curriculum, the academicians said that school curriculum in India has not been updated for nearly two decades and the last updation of textbooks was done in 2006. Hitting back at those opposing the changes in the NCERT textbooks, the academicians called it their "intellectual arrogance." "In their quest to further their political agenda, they are ready to endanger the future of crores of children across the country. While students are eagerly awaiting updated textbooks, these academicians are continuing to create hurdles and derail the entire process," they said. (ANI)
A mahapanchayat that was called in Dehradun on June 18 was cancelled after Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami assured action, the police said. SSP Dehradun Dilip Singh Kunwar said, "There was an in-principle agreement between the parties and the proposed mahapanchayat has been cancelled after talks were held at several levels and on the assurance of the Chief Minister''s action." The Uttarkashi district administration on Wednesday refused permission for a Mahapanchayat proposed to be held on June 15 in Uttarakhand''s Purola town, which has been witnessing communal tensions over an alleged attempt to abduct a minor girl last month. The Chief Minister said, "We have appealed to all the people to maintain peace." He said that if anyone tries to vitiate the atmosphere, the law will take its course. "In the incidents that have happened so far, the administration has acted properly. If someone is guilty then the law will work against him. No one should take the law into their hands," he added. Earlier, the mahapanchayat at Dehradun was called following a meeting of the Ulema and some responsible people under the chairmanship of city Qazi Maulana Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi at Jama Masjid in Doon''s Paltan Bazar. People from the Muslim community hailing from Dehradun, Vikasnagar, Haridwar, Roorkee, Haldwani and Udhamsinghnagar were scheduled to participate in the mahapanchayat, the city Qazi had said earlier. (ANI)
Senior Member of Parliament from the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), Derek O'Brien has written to the chairman of the Standing Committee for Home Affairs demanding a discussion urgently on the situation of violence in Manipur. A copy of the letter by the AITC leader to the parliamentary panel chairman Brijlal, a BJP MP reads, "The recent incidents of violence in Manipur have raised concerns about the safety and wellbeing of the people residing in the region. Reportedly, many are dead and thousands have been displaced. Shoot-at-sight orders have further added to the atmosphere of fear in the State. It is imperative that we understand the ground reality, and assess the extent of the violence. In this regard, holding a standing committee meeting to discuss the ongoing violence in Manipur would provide first hand insights into the situation." Citing violence which has been continuing for over six weeks, O' Brien wrote, "I urge you to call for a meeting of the Standing Committee on Home Affairs to immediately address the issues that Manipur is facing. I remain hopeful that, together, we can work towards ensuring that normalcy is restored." Meanwhile, on Thursday night miscreants torched the residence of Union Minister Rajkumar Ranjan Singh in Imphal's Kongba. The union minister was away in Kerala during the time of the incident. Speaking exclusively to ANI, the Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs said, "It is extremely sad to see what happened last night. I was told that more than 50 miscreants attacked my home at around 10 pm. Damage has been done to the ground floor and the first floor of my residence. Neither me or anybody from my family was present during that time. Thankfully, nobody got injured." While Singh hails from the Meiti community, which is in majority in Manipur, he has continued to appeal to everybody, including Meitis and other tribal communities like the Kukis to to stay away from violence and restore peace in the State. "An eye for an eye will make the whole world go blind. Violence doesn't help any cause. Those who are indulging in this violence are doing a huge disservice to the nation. It also reflects that they are enemies of humanity," Singh told ANI. On June 14 in Imphal East, nine people were killed while more than 10 were injured. Yesterday, the state government extended the clamp on internet in the state up to June 20. On Wednesday, miscreants tried to burn down the official residence of Manipur minister Nemcha Kipgen in Imphal West. His home was partly burnt. Since the last month and a half, there have been restrictions in the state of Manipur, including clamp down on the internet. On May 29, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the northeastern state for a period of four days during which he held meetings with Chief Minister N Biren Singh, leaders of all political parties, civil society, women groups, tribal groups and security personnel. Shah had announced that a peace committee would be formed in the state. The committee was formed days after the announcement by the Home Minister. Violence gripped Manipur on May 3, as clashes were witnessed during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest the demand for the inclusion of Meitei/Meetei in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. The ethnic violence continues to grip the state for over a month, in the wake of a directive of the High Court asking the state government to consider including the Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs). Central paramilitary forces were posted in the state to control the violence and they still continue to be deployed across the state. (ANI)
After Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said the 2024 Lok Sabha election may take place before the scheduled time, Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday took a dig at him and said 'he has become a forecaster now'. "I don't know about the early election, but I must say that Nitish Kumar is a forecaster now. He knows everything and we are not knowing anything," Singh said. On Wednesday, during the inauguration and stone-laying foundation of 5,061 projects worth Rs 6,680 crore, the Chief Minister said in Patna, "I want to ask all the officers to complete these projects as soon as possible. Make the roads of even those areas where 100 people are living. The earlier you complete the projects, the better it will be for the people of state. No one knows when the election will take place. It is not necessary that an election would take place next year. It may take place early. Speed up the work and complete it quickly. Also give the good names of the roads as well." Reacting to the opposition unity meeting in Patna on June 23, Singh said, "Everyone has the right to do the meeting, but I must say that Nitish Kumar is failing to control his own state and is trying to address the issues of the country." Arvind Kumar Singh, the spokesperson of BJP Bihar unit said: "Why is Nitish Kumar scared of the Lok Sabha election? Don't worry, the election commission will conduct the poll at the right time. Election Commission would not run according to you. It runs under the Constitution of the country." Countering the BJP leaders, Neeraj Kumar, the MLC and the chief spokesperson of JU(U), said: "After the defeat of BJP in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka, and Assembly elections coming up in three states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, the BJP will be defeated there too. It is in this context that Nitish Kumar said the elections may take place early. Who would deny it." "BJP leaders are facing uneasy situations. They are frightened with the opposition unity and series of defeats. Hence, the BJP top leaders like Amit Shah and J.P. Nadda are coming soon after the mega meeting of the opposition unity that will be held on June 23 in Patna," Kumar said. Nadda is coming to Jhanjharpur in Madhubani district on June 24 and Amit Shah is coming to Lakhisarai under the Munger Lok Sabha constituency on June 29 for rallies. --IANS ajk/dpb ( 429 Words) 2023-06-15-13:22:03 (IANS)
Actor-politician Pawan Kalyan, who lost from both the Assembly seats he contested in Andhra Pradesh in 2019 elections, is determined to enter the House this time as he dared Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to stop him. The Jana Sena Party (JSP) leader launched his much-awaited yatra on his special campaign vehicle 'Varahi' on Wednesday from Annavaram in Kakinada district and addressed the first public gathering at Kathipudi Junction in Prathipadu constituency in East Godavari district. Pawan's Varahi Vijaya Yatra added to the political heat and dust in the state, where Assembly elections are due along with Lok Sabha polls next year. Amid the talk of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) advancing the polls, BJP national president J. P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah last week addressed public meetings in Tirupati and Visakhapatnam respectively. The BJP leaders launched an all-out attack on Jagan Mohan Reddy government, dubbing it the most corrupt government. The public meetings by Nadda and Shah came close on the heels of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu's meeting with them in Delhi to discuss reviving their alliance. Now Pawan Kalyan, an ally of BJP who is keen to see a grand alliance against YSRCP, has also hit the streets raising the political pitch. The actor had a disastrous electoral debut in 2019 as he lost from both Gajuwaka and Bhimavaram constituencies. His party, which contested the polls in alliance with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Left parties, could win a single seat in the 175-member Assembly. As the lone MLA defected to YSR Congress a few months after the elections, JSP has no representation in the House. However, the popular actor is now confident of entering the Assembly. "This time, I will enter the Assembly and I will see who stops me," he said while daring Jagan's party to stop him if it can. On the challenge thrown by YSRCP to contest alone, the JSP leader said whether he contests alone or in alliance with others, his entry into Assembly was certain. Pawan is still not sure if the TDP-BJP-JSP alliance against YSRCP will materialize but with the launch of the Varahi Vijaya Yatra, he has begun the preparations on his own. He predicted that Assembly elections would be held in November-December this year in Andhra Pradesh along the polls in neighbouring Telangana. Pawan, who already announced that Jana Sena will contest a limited number of seats in Telangana, also made it clear that he will contest the election in Andhra Pradesh. He is ready to adopt any strategy to enter the Assembly. He reiterated that his top most priority is to free Andhra Pradesh from the clutches of the YSR Congress. Pawan Kalyan also stated that he is ready to accept the post of Chief Minister. "If people make me the Chief Minister, I will humbly accept it," he said. He went all out to attack Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy over corruption and misrule. Referring to the murder of former minister Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy, he remarked that Jagan had his uncle's blood on his hands. The JSP leader alleged that Jagan looted public money and gave pittance to people in the name of welfare. He promised that if voted to power the JSP will focus on wealth creation and welfare equally. "The JSP takes inspiration from Che Guvera, Bhagat Singh, Nethaji Subas Chandra Bose, Dr BR Ambedkar. We are determined to ensure a social change for the development of Andhra Pradesh," he said appealing to people to give his party a chance. Opposing Jagan's plans for trifurcation of state capital, Pawan Kalyan promised that Amaravati will be the only state capital. Pawan's yatra will continue till June 23. He will be addressing public meetings at Pithapuram, Kakinada, Mummidivaram, Amalapuram and Narsapuram. --IANS ms/shb/ ( 650 Words) 2023-06-15-13:46:03 (IANS)
It has been exactly 60 days since gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were shot dead by three "amateur" assailants in Prayagraj on April 15. Though the three assailants were arrested immediately, the Prayagraj police remain completely clueless about the motive and the mastermind behind the sensational twin murders in police custody. The double murder was captured on live TV, as it took place when the mafia brothers were being taken to the Motilal Nehru (Colvin) Divisional Hospital for medical examination. The three assailants -- identified as Lavlesh Tiwari (22) of Banda, Sunny Singh (23) of Hamirpur and Arun Kumar Maurya (18) of Kasganj -- were posing as media persons to commit the crime and after the murder, all three of them surrendered themselves. So far, the UP Police, which claims to have a "zero tolerance policy" towards crime and criminals, has not been able to unravel the mystery behind the killings. According to police, the assailants claimed that they killed the mafioso brothers to make their name in the crime world but the sequence of events and circumstances hinted towards a larger conspiracy involved behind the incident. The questions that remain unanswered even after two months, include -- Did the three assailants plan the killing single-handedly? Was there any mastermind behind them who hired the three men to execute Atiq and Ashraf? What was the real motive behind the killing? How were the assailants aware of the exact spot where the mafia brothers would be brought? Why did the cops on duty not open fire on the assailants in retaliation? How did the assailants arrange high-end sophisticated firearms like two Turkish-made Girsan and Jigana semi-automatic pistols? And how did the three assailants, who hail from three different districts, come together to execute the killing? Police officials investigating the murders are yet to reveal how the three assailants kept in touch with each other before killing Atiq and Ashraf. As per police investigation, one of the assailants, Sunny, was not even using a mobile phone at the time of the incident. So, it is only obvious to ask how he contacted the other two assailants. During initial interrogation, one of the assailants, Sunny, claimed that he and his accomplices procured firearms from the Jitendra Gogi gang of Delhi to kill rival gangster Tillu Tajpuria. He also claimed that the idea of posing as media persons while killing Atiq and Ashraf also came from the Gogi gang, again in the context of killing Tillu Tajpuria. Sunny further said that he fled with the firearms after Gogi was killed in a shootout at Rohini Court on September 24, 2021. However, there are many loopholes in the statements of the three assailants. Following the double murder, a three-member SIT -- headed by Prayagraj ADCP, Crime, Satish Chandra -- and a three-member supervisory team for the SIT were constituted to investigate the matter. Besides, a five-member judicial commission -- comprising former chief justice of Allahabad HC, Dilip Baba Sahab Bhosle; former chief justice of Jharkhand HC Virendra Singh; retired justice Arvind Kumar Tripathi; retired IPS officer Subesh Kumar; and retired district judge Brajesh Kumar Soni -- was also constituted to probe the incident. A senior police official said that the three assailants have denied the involvement of any other person in the incident. The official, however, added that the probe is still underway and the SIT is not in a hurry to file a charge sheet. Meanwhile, three shooters involved in the killing of Umesh Pal on February 24 -- Guddu Muslim, Sabir and Armaan -- are still absconding. Shooter Vijay Chaudhary a.k.a. Usman was killed in an encounter in Prayagraj on March 6. Asad Ahmed and Ghulam were killed in another encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force on April 13 in Jhansi. Atiq's wife Shaista Parveen, said to be a conspirator in the Umesh Pal murder case, is also absconding. --IANS amita/shb/ ( 655 Words) 2023-06-15-14:22:04 (IANS)
Wife and son of YSR Congress Party MP M.V.V. Satyanarayana and his auditor were kidnapped in Andhra Pardesh''s Visakhapatnam, but acting swiftly the police rescued the trio within hours, police said on Thursday. The MP''s wife, Jyothi and their son Sharad were kidnapped by a gang, which demanded a ransom of Rs 1 crore. When the MP''s aide and auditor G. Venkateshwar Rao had gone to a place to handover the money, he too was kidnapped. Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner Trivikram Verma said all the persons were rescued within a few hours after they received the information. They are all safe, he said. A couple of police officers sustained minor injuries in the rescue operation. It was immediately not clear as to when the MP''s family members were kidnapped, but the police learnt about the auditor''s kidnapping on Thursday. Police arrested rowdy-sheeter Hemanth Kumar and another person for the kidnap, which created a sensation in the coastal city. The police traced the kidnappers with the help of their mobile phone signals and rescued the MP''s family members and aide on the Eluru-Amalapuram road. The kidnappers were apprehended after a chase and a police vehicle was also damaged in the operation. The police commissioner said the information about the kidnapping of Venkateshwar Rao was received around 8 a.m. and by 12.30 p.m., the police rescued all the three persons. The police were on the lookout for another accused. The police officer said the details of the case will be announced later in the day. The MP was not in the city at the time of kidnapping. Satyanarayana, who was in Hyderabad, was rushing to Visakhapatnam. Further details were awaited. --IANS ms/dpb ( 293 Words) 2023-06-15-14:26:01 (IANS)
Uttar Pradesh forest officials have asked their counterparts in Madhya Pradesh to share inputs from the radio collars attached to the two cheetahs who were reportedly moving towards Lalitpur on Wednesday. The two cheetahs, who strayed out from the Kuno National Park (KNP), are now reportedly returning to the terrains of Madhya Pradesh. "Our staff have been asked to stay alert. Though the latest input stated the cheetahs are reverting, the alert status will remain in place until it is certain that the two large cats are returning to MP," said Mamata Sanjeev Dubey, the chief of the forest force who is also heading the UP forest department. As the news of the cheetahs moving towards UP broke, a virtual meeting of forest officials from several states was held. The UP officials reportedly sought the GPS and radio collar inputs to track the animals' inputs. For now, however, the department has been directed to only track and monitor the cheetahs if they cross into the UP side. Any further decision regarding the matter will be taken by the Cheetah Project Steering Committee. Officials also said UP does not have a cheetah-friendly terrain as the animal needs large grassland to prey and the place they are heading to has a forest. "Feral dogs also pose a threat to the cheetahs," a senior forest official said. Cheetah reintroduction in India is an attempt to introduce a small population of Southeast African cheetahs in India, more than 70 years after the native sub-species became extinct here. It may be noted that this was the second time when cheetahs strayed out of KNP. Earlier, a male cheetah, named Oban/Pawan, was tranquilised, and brought back to the park when it was about to cross over to a forest in Uttar Pradesh. --IANS amita/uk/ ( 317 Words) 2023-06-15-14:40:02 (IANS)
Photo: The Canadian Press Defence Minister Anita Anand.

The Canadian Armed Forces will deploy 15 Leopard 2 battle tanks and 130 personnel to a NATO force in Latvia by next year.

Defence Minister Anita Anand made the announcement from Brussels, where she is meeting with defence ministers from countries that support Ukraine's efforts to fight Russia's invasion.

Canada already leads a 10-country NATO battlegroup in Latvia and negotiations are underway to grow that force to a battle-ready brigade.

The 15 tanks and 50 support vehicles will come from New Brunswick and Alberta.

It's expected that the vehicles will arrive in Latvia by the fall, with the full group of personnel in place by next spring.

Anand says her counterparts at NATO are enthusiastic about the idea of Ukraine joining the military alliance when the time is right.
Karnataka BJP on Thursday flayed the ruling Congress for accusing the Centre of creating obstacles in the way of procuring rice from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for implementing the Anna Bhagya scheme under which 10 kilograms of rice would be distributed free to the poor. Addressing a press conference former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai slammed the Congress government and warned that if the free rice scheme is not implemented by July, the BJP would launch a protest in the state. "The state government has continued the dhoka series. The statements of CM Siddaramaiah blaming the central government is nothing but betrayal of the people," he said. They have not kept the word given to the BPL card holders and the poor. Siddaramaiah has stated that the central government is bringing politics in the free rice distribution scheme. But, the Centre has been providing free 5 kilograms of rice to all states under the Food Security Act," Bommai said. Along with the cost of rice, the Centre is also bearing the expenses of the transportation which will come up to Rs 3 per kilogram. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah claims that his government is giving 10 kilograms of rice, but it includes five kilograms of rice given by the central government, Bommai claimed. In December, one kilogram of rice was cut and we had purchased the additional rice for distribution. It is clearly noted in the files that when the stock is over, the purchase should be made through central good reserves and outside agencies, he stated. "When it is your turn to provide free rice, you are misleading the people and want to blame the central government. Anna Bhagya is an important scheme of the Congress party. Why did the CM not write the letter directly to the central government? He (CM) could have spoken to the union minister directly. You could have floated a tender and found parallel means," Bommai questioned. Without doing any of these, blaming the central government is not tenable. The state government must make a purchase of the rice by outside agencies or transfer the amount to the accounts of the people. Otherwise people think that they are betrayed, he stated. Bommai reiterated that if rice is not provided, agitation would be launched. If the Congress government was serious about the implementation of the scheme, it should have spoken to the centre. You have been wasting time in getting publicity. The centre will decide after taking the future situation into consideration. The decision was taken in the backdrop of lack of rainfall and to ensure there is no good shortage. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday had accused the Centre of carrying out politics in connection with the free rice distribution scheme. "We are requesting the Chhattisgarh state government to supply rice," he stated. Addressing the reporters in Bengaluru, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had stated that the Food Corporation of India's (FCI) deputy manager has informed that there is seven lakh tonne rice stock. In Spite of the stock, why is the center not supplying rice? BJP leaders are anti-poor. To bring a bad name to the Congress government they are resorting to all these tactics, he said. "We had a discussion with the FCI's deputy manager. He had assured the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies K.H. Muniyappa and us to supply rice. He had also written a letter on June 12 and promised to supply rice with the consent from the centre. After this development, the central government has taken a political decision," CM Siddaramaiah had alleged. It was agreed to provide 2,08,425 metric tonnes of rice to Karnataka. But, they have written a letter on June 13 saying that the states can't be provided wheat and rice under the Open Market Sales Scheme (OMSS). The central government has taken a political decision deciding not to give rice for Karnataka state only to bring bad name to the Congress government, Siddaramaiah had charged. --IANS mka/shb/ ( 676 Words) 2023-06-15-14:50:02 (IANS)
The division bench of Calcutta High Court's Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya cautioned the West Bengal State Election Commission and the government of passing an order for deployment of central armed forces in the entire state for the forthcoming panchayat elections. The commission on Thursday filed the review petition at the division bench on an earlier order by the same bench for deployment of central armed forces in seven sensitive districts in the state. While hearing on the petition, the commission's counsel argued that since the commission is yet to identify the sensitive pockets in the state, the division bench should review its earlier order on deployment of central armed forces. "In that case, I will have to order deployment of central armed forces throughout the state," Justice Sivagnanam said. As the commission's counsel said that it needs certain time to give its observation of the sensitive booth, Justice Sivagnanam advised the commission to work according to its reputation since incidents of violence over the nomination process have been reported from various places. The division bench also told the counsels of the state government and the commission that if they are not satisfied with the earlier order on deployment of central armed forces, they have the right to approach a higher court on this count. "You have the scope for appearing at a higher court. But if you create a situation so that my order is not implemented, I cannot just remain silent. Section 144 has been implemented at different places. The police should strictly enforce that," Justice Sivagnanam observed. --IANS src/uk/ ( 283 Words) 2023-06-15-15:00:01 (IANS)
A Rs 10,000 fine has also been slapped on Zilla Parishad member Hanjala Sheikh.

At the same time, the court has accepted his bail application.

Pakur sub divisional judicial magistrate Nirmal Kumar Bharti found Sheikh guilty under Criminal Law Amendment Act Sections 17(1) and 17 (2).

An FIR was registered against Sheikh for creating unrest and having links with the PFI.

The prosecution produced testimonies of 12 witnesses and Sheikh was pronounced guilty on the basis of the testimonies and evidence.

As per rules, the Zilla Parishad membership of Sheikh will be terminated due to conviction in a criminal case.

--IANS snc/svn/bg

( 147 Words)

2023-06-15-15:10:03 (IANS)
The Anti-Communal Wing (ACW) formed by the Congress government in Karnataka to crackdown on the cases of moral policing in the communally sensitive coastal city of Mangaluru in Dakshina Kannada district has commenced its work. Mangaluru Police Commissioner Kuldeep Kumar Jain while addressing a press conference in Mangaluru made the announcement on Thursday. The Anti-Communal Wing has been formed two days ago as per the directions of the state Home minister, he said. "On his recent visit to Mangaluru, Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara had announced the establishment of ACW. Its established now. The team is headed by the City Special Branch inspector Sharif. The team will be monitored by the Assistant Commissioner of Police P. A. Hegde. ACP Hegde will report directly to the Police Commissioner," he said. "ACW will monitor all communal cases and the accused persons in such cases. Their activities will be watched. It will be ensured that the victims in the case are not troubled. Previous cases in this regard in the courts will also be followed," he explained. The team will monitor the 200 cases that have been reported in the last 10 years. The team will also keep an eye on any matter that incites communal violence, hate speeches, moral policing, spreading hatred on social media and cow thefts, he stated. "Any case in this regard would be first reported in the jurisdictional police station and will be transferred to the ACW. Action will be initiated by the wing," the stated. State Home Minister Dr. G.Parameshwara had stated that the cases of moral policing have brought disrepute to the state and proved roadblocks to the investment. Mangaluru city has become hyper sensitive in terms of communal harmony. There are incidents of small communal flare ups leading to crisis situation, he said. --IANS mka/dpb ( 312 Words) 2023-06-15-15:20:03 (IANS)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday came out strongly against the Centre, and said that the DMK was ready for a direct fight with the BJP. In a video message on Thursday, Stalin said, "Do not taunt DMK persons. We too know all kinds of politics. This is not a threat, it's a warning." The Chief Minister in an explanatory video to his party cadres said, "BJPs way of politics is to arrest opposition party leaders using central agencies like ED and CBI. Several leaders, including Manish Sisodia, D.K. Shivakumar, P. Chidambaram, Sanjay Raut have been treated in the same manner." Stalin alleged that raids were not happening in states ruled by the BJP and wondered as to why there was no action during the AIADMK regime till 2021. He also came out strongly against AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and said that he has no right to criticise Senthil Balaji. With the 2024 Lok Sabha elections approaching, the DMK is entering into an all-out war against the BJP and is likely to flip up the victim card against the arrest of Senthil Balaji. --IANS aal/dpb ( 211 Words) 2023-06-15-15:44:03 (IANS)
The opposition parties in Goa on Thursday boycotted the keynote address of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla over 'Viksit Bharat 2047: Role of Elected Representatives' in the Assembly. Speaking to media persons, the Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao said that the ruling party should not take opposition for granted. "We disassociated ourselves from attending this function because MLAs were not taken into confidence. It is a democratic process. Opposition plays an important role and we cannot be taken for granted," Alemao said. He said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was also treated the same way and disqualified after the High Court judgment. "No justice was given to him. Within a day, he was disqualified. This is a dictatorship. We condemn this... and hence we boycotted," he said. He alleged that BJP is trying to stifle the voice of opposition and keep on curtailing the assembly sessions. AAP MLA Venzy Viegas said that they boycotted because the government failed to give justice to wrestlers and for churches that are burnt in Manipur. "We also boycotted because assurances given by ministers have never been fulfilled," he said. Venzy Viegas, during the candle light protests in South Goa had demanded action against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who has been accused of sexually harassing young grapplers, including a minor. There are seven opposition MLAs in the 40-member Assembly, consisting three of Congress, two of AAP, one each of Goa Forward and Revolutionary Goans Party. --IANS sbk/uk/ ( 260 Words) 2023-06-15-16:02:04 (IANS)
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday said the situation in violence-hit Manipur was distressing and slammed the BJP-led Centre, saying it was not taking immediate measures to ensure safety of people. In a tweet, Priyanka Gandhi said, "The situation in Manipur is very distressing, and it is deeply disheartening to see that the Central government is not taking immediate measures to ensure the safety of the people of Manipur and the restoration of peace." Her remarks came after the reports of fresh violence in the northeastern state, which has been on boil since May 3 this year. Over 100 people have died and thousands have been displaced and forced to live in over 349 relief camps in the state. On Wednesday, in a fresh incident of violence, assailants burnt the official residence of Manipur's Industry Minister Nemcha Kipgen in the Lamphel area in Imphal West district. Kipgen, the lone woman minister in the state, was not at home when the attackers burnt down her official bungalow. At least 11 people were killed and 23 others injured after suspected militants attacked the Khamelock village in Imphal East district late on Tuesday night. Officials said the death toll is likely to increase as several of the injured are said to be critical. --IANS aks/dpb ( 223 Words) 2023-06-15-16:16:03 (IANS)
Both the officials -- Anish Mohammed and Nithin -- attached to the Customs Air Intelligence unit were asked to report at their office and arrested.

They were later produced before a court which remanded them to judicial custody till June 29.

While keeping a strict vigil at the Thiruvananthapuram airport, the DRI officials came across audio clips of certain officials on how they were allegedly helping those smuggling gold through the airport.

When a special squad of the DRI recently took into custody an international passenger who was cleared by the Customs, he was found carrying gold with him.

It was this probe by the DRI which exposed customs officials who were allegedly lending a helping hand to the smugglers.

--IANS sg/shb/

( 151 Words)

2023-06-15-16:48:02 (IANS)
A day after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the Centre is "doing politics" over the free rice distribution scheme and "deliberately not providing" the commodity to the state, the Congress launched a tirade against the BJP-led Central government. In a tweet on Thursday, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, targeting the BJP, said: "Is this what BJP president J.P. Nadda meant when he proclaimed Karnataka would not get Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'ashirwaad' (blessings) if it does not vote for the BJP?" Ramesh referred to Nadda's remarks made during the election campaigning in Karnataka. Ramesh, also a Rajya Sabha MP, said: "By forcing the FCI (Food Corporation of India) to discontinue the sale of wheat and rice to states through its Open Market Sale Scheme, the Modi government is hurting the most marginalised sections of society. How petty must the PM be to take out his frustrations from his Karnataka loss on the people. "But as CM Siddaramaiah says, every effort will be made to ensure the Anna Bhagya guarantee is implemented and 10 kg free food grains are provided to poor families," Ramesh added. Congress' Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala also took a swipe at the BJP at the Centre, saying: "The anti-poor BJP and inimical stance of PM Modi stands exposed as the Modi government denies sale of rice by puppet FCI to the Congress government in Karnataka." He said that the Congress guarantee of 'Anna Bhagya' is to supply free rice of 10 kg per person to every BPL family in Karnataka. "The beneficiaries would be 1.28 crore families or nearly 4.42 crore people. The Congress government is ready to pay the FCI Rs 11,000 crore for the supply of rice. However, the Modi government has directed the FCI to not sell rice to the Congress government in Karnataka," Surjewala said. The Congress leader said that FCI has stocks of rice that it wants to sell in the 'open market' to big traders but not to the Karnataka government. "Why is BJP's 'B Team', the JD-S silent on this anti-poor and anti-Karnataka policy decision of the Modi government? Kannadigas demand answers," he said, adding that let it be remembered that despite road blocks put by BJP, Congress will implement "Anna Bhagya" but Kannadigas will not pardon the state BJP leadership or the Modi government for its enmity towards the SCs, STs, OBCs and the poor. The Congress has made five guarantees to the people of the state in run up to the assembly election and Anna Bhagya scheme is one of them. The party won 135 seats in the 224 member assembly while the BJP was reduced to 66 and the JD-S which was hoping to play the role of kingmaker in Karnataka could only manage to win 19 seats. --IANS aks/pgh ( 482 Words) 2023-06-15-16:50:03 (IANS)
The Electricity portfolio of Balaji will henceforth be handled by state Finance Minister Thangam Thenarasu who has recently replaced P Thiaga Rajan (PTR).

Senior leader and Tamil Nadu Housing Minister Erode Muthuswamy will hold additional charge of Excise and Prohibition.

Stalin has made a recommendation to this effect to Governor R.N. Ravi.

Immediately after the arrest, Balaji complained of chest pain and was admitted to the Omandarur multi-specialty hospital, where he underwent angiogram test and doctors suggested an immediate bypass surgery as he has three blockages in his coronary artery.

Balaji was arrested by the ED sleuths on Wednesday in a case related to job-for-cash scam in Tamil Nadu transport corporation while he was a minister in the AIADMK government headed by the then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa during 2011-16.

After resigning from AIADMK, Balaji joined the DMK and was made a minister in the Stalin cabinet.

--IANS aal/svn/

( 199 Words)

2023-06-15-17:06:04 (IANS)